Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown is today frantically looking for a snow-removal contractor to make good on a promise to a Washington Park-area resident.
On Saturday night at an auction to benefit Steele Elementary School, Brown donated snow removal for the winning bidder’s block. The snow removal will not be done by city crews, nor will it involve the use of taxpayer dollars, Brown said.
Instead, the money will come out of Brown’s pocket.
“I don’t know what it’s going to cost me,” he said with a laugh Sunday. “I have no idea. I did wake up this morning a little bit concerned.”
After numerous snowstorms, many metro-area streets are still snow- and ice-packed. In Denver, officials estimate that about half the city’s 14,000 blocks have not been plowed.
Saturday’s winning bidder, a man who Brown said lives on Virginia Avenue near Washington Park, got the street clearing for $200. Brown said he must now secure the required permits and find a contractor willing to take on the work. He started by thumbing through the yellow pages Sunday.
“I wish I had gotten more money for the school,” Brown said.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Out-of-control driver dies in 3:30 a.m. crash
The Colorado State Patrol reported that Benjamin Huizar, 22, of Colorado Springs died early Sunday after losing control of his Jeep while northbound on South Academy Boulevard.
The vehicle rotated clockwise just south of U.S. 8 5/87, went off the right side of the road and hit a highway sign, the patrol said.
The sport utility vehicle rolled three and a half times, ejecting Huizar, who was not wearing a seat belt. He died at the scene.
Speeding and alcohol are considered factors in the 3:30 a.m. wreck, according to the patrol.
PUEBLO
Alcohol suspected in wreck fatal to driver
Pueblo police reported that Herbert Miller, 45, was driving east on the U.S. 50 bypass approaching Norwood Avenue about 12:30 a.m. Sunday when his Chevy pickup drifted to the right and hit a curb.
The vehicle then sideswiped a traffic-light pole, crossed Norwood and hit a second pole.
Miller was partially ejected through the driver’s door and died at Parkview Medical Center.
The Pueblo Police Department said in a news release that alcohol appeared to be a factor.
LARAMIE
Driver arrested after 70-mile police chase
A man allegedly led police on a chase of more than 70 miles from Laramie to Cheyenne and then nearly to Fort Collins.
Police said they finally blew out the tires on his truck with spike strips and arrested him at Wellington early Saturday.
Douglas Weglin, 36, of Laramie was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, felony eluding, driving without a license and driving without proof of insurance, according to Colorado State Patrol spokesman Josh Napper.
Witnesses said bartenders at Coppers Corner Bar in Laramie called police after kicking out Weglin for being drunk and belligerent.
Police said the chase began in an alley behind the bar. Weglin turned onto Interstate 80 and police said they followed him east to Cheyenne, with the Wyoming Highway Patrol taking over the pursuit.
At Cheyenne, Weglin turned south onto Interstate 25. The Wyoming Highway Patrol said Weglin tried to run other cars – including patrol cars – off the highway.
GREELEY
CBI called in to probe death of officer’s wife
Police Chief Jerry Garner said state authorities are “strongly involved” in investigating the slaying of a police officer’s wife.
The case has raised questions about a possible conflict of interest because of the department’s connection to the people involved.
Garner has said his department has the professionalism to conduct the investigation into the fatal shooting of Heather Garraus, wife of Officer Ignacio Garraus.
Garner said last week that while his department is the lead investigative agency, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation was called within 48 hours of the shooting.
“There are multiple CBI agents involved in this investigation,” Garner said.
Garraus, 37, was gunned down outside the Colorado State Employees Credit Union in Greeley as she left work Jan. 23.
Shawna Louise Nelson, 35, has been charged with first-degree murder in the slaying. Her sister, Debbie Smith, has said Nelson had a three-year affair with Garraus’ husband that resulted in Nelson giving birth to Garraus’ son.
Nelson is married to a Weld County sheriff’s investigator.
Officials said she was transferred to a jail in another county for her safety because she could have run into an inmate investigated by her husband.
