Two Fort Carson GIs killed by roadside bomb in Iraq
Two Fort Carson-based soldiers were killed when their Humvee hit a roadside bomb in Balad, Iraq, one of the soldiers’ family members said Tuesday.
Pfc. Grant Allen Dampier, 25, of Merrill, Wis., died Monday in the area, which is 50 miles north of Baghdad, said his sister, Rae Ann Dampier, 22.
Staff Sgt. Marion Flint Jr., 29, of Baltimore also died, the Department of Defense confirmed late Tuesday. The Defense Department said the soldiers’ vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Baghdad. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy. Both soldiers were assigned to Fort Carson’s 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team.
Dampier was deployed in December and was to return home in September, his sister said. He had been serving in the Army for about two years and seemed stressed the last time she spoke with him, she said.
Dampier leaves behind a wife, Heidi, and three children: Alexis, 5, Star, 4, and Kylie, 1. He had two sisters and six brothers.
Info sought on ’97 Intrepid with illegal emergency lights
Douglas County authorities are seeking the public’s help about a black 1997 Dodge Intrepid with blue flashing lights installed in the headlights that police recently discovered, Lt. Alan Stanton of the Sheriff’s Department said in a prepared statement.
The Intrepid was found by deputies investigating an unrelated incident Thursday, Stanton said. The vehicle contained a pair of replica handcuffs and four replica firearms, he said.
The owner of the car, who wasn’t identified, has been cited with a traffic offense for having emergency lights illegally installed. Stanton said the man was arrested Tuesday in an unrelated incident by another jurisdiction.
While there are unsolved police impersonation cases in the metropolitan area, including a few involving a dark-colored Intrepid, there are no cases in Douglas County, Stanton said. Investigators would like to hear from anyone who recognizes the car.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department at 303-660-7579.
COLORADO
Poll shows education is voters’ top issue
An education advocacy group released a poll Tuesday showing that education is the top issue for likely voters, according to a news release.
The poll, of 1,408 likely voters done for Great Education Colorado, showed that 43 percent named schools as their top priority in November’s gubernatorial and legislative elections.
“Coloradans expect the next governor and legislature to work together to provide better funding, small classes, and well-trained teachers so that all of our kids can thrive,” said Liane Morrison, a Great Education Colorado parent, in a statement.
The poll’s margin of error is 2.6 percentage points.
DENVER
Inmate sentenced for threatening judge
A Colorado prison inmate was sentenced Tuesday to 41 months in federal prison for making a death threat against a federal magistrate judge.
Derek Barringer, who was serving time for assault, had filed a legal action in federal court that U.S. Magistrate Judge O. Edward Schlatter was handling. Schlatter dismissed the action, which angered Barringer.
The prisoner wrote the judge a letter that said, “… I wish to see you dead and as soon as I get out in 65 days I will see to it.”
He drew a stick figure of a person hanged by a rope, and also signed the letter. As part of the sentencing, the court recommended that Barringer, 28, be sent to a facility where he could undergo psychiatric evaluation.
DENVER
Woman accused of molesting 2 kids
A 38-year-old woman was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting two young children who were living with her.
The charges allege that Annette Conqueringbear sexually assaulted a 5-year-old boy as punishment in May 1997 and later began assaulting a 4-year-old girl. Investigators allege the assaults continued until the children left the home in 2001 to live with adoptive parents out of town.
Conqueringbear was arrested Thursday and remains in custody in the Denver County Jail. Her bond is set at $100,000.
DENVER
GOP accuses Dem of taking donation
The political potshots over ethics are continuing even though the state legislature is no longer in session.
On Tuesday, the Colorado Republican Party accused Democratic Rep. Debbie Benefield of Arvada of taking an anonymously made $6,464 donation during the legislative session.
In an interview, Benefield said gay-rights activist Tim Gill donated the money, which she uses to send birthday cards to her constituents. “They don’t even say ‘Vote for Debbie,”‘ Benefield said. The Republicans never asked who gave the money, which is a legal donation, Benefield said.
Lawmakers are required to disclose such gifts each January, but Benefield provided documents earlier this month after Republicans filed an open-records request. After Benefield named the donor when asked by a reporter, Republicans accused Gill of using money to influence votes. “It’s what we’ve suspected all along,” said Republican Party spokeswoman Rachael Sunbarger. “Now there’s physical evidence of Tim Gill trying to buy votes in the legislature to advance his own personal social agenda.”
VICTOR
Wildfire containment likely this morning
A 106-acre wildfire burning 3 miles southwest of Victor at 9,600 feet in Teller County was expected to be fully contained by this morning, according to Ken Smith, spokesman for the Bureau of Land Management in Cañon City.
