Parishioners of Grace Church and St. Stephen’s Parish in Colorado Springs have filed a complaint against the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado to retain ownership of church facilities.
The claim, filed Friday in El Paso County District Court, follows the March 26 decision by the Grace Church governing body to secede from the diocese.
Parishioners decided to file the complaint after the diocese denied members access to church accounts last week, said Alan Crippen, church spokesman.
“From our part, that was a hostile action on the part of the Diocese of Colorado,” Crippen said. “Filing the complaint was a defensive measure.”
The parish’s governing board decided to leave the Episcopal Church and join the Convocation of Anglicans in North America in part because of the Episcopal Church’s more permissive views on homosexuality.
Whatever the outcome of the court battle, both parties said they would continue to hold services at the church, on the corner of Tejon Street and Monument Avenue, rather than sell the building.
AURORA
Mother in custody after girl, 3, dies
A 3-year-old girl died early Saturday, and her mother is in police custody on misdemeanor child-abuse charges.
Police were called to the house in the 11300 block of East Utah Place about 12:30 a.m. because the child was not breathing. She was pronounced dead at 1:05 a.m.
Officers from the Crimes Against Children Unit later arrested the child’s biological mother. She is being held at the Aurora City Jail on $500,000 bail.
The identity of the child and mother have been withheld, pending notification of family members.
Aurora police are seeking more information from the public about this case. Anyone with information can call Detective Audrey Crawford at 303-739-6113.
WELD COUNTY
Man dies of injuries in truck rollover
A Greeley man died from injuries sustained when he was ejected from his pickup during an accident Friday night.
Bryce L. White, 46, was not wearing a seat belt when his Ford F-350 went off the road and rolled over at Colorado 392 and Weld County Road 53, said Trooper Gilbert Mares of the Colorado State Patrol.
White was airlifted to Northern Colorado Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor in the accident, according to the State Patrol.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Driver hurt when SUV lands in creek
A vehicle plunged into Clear Creek along U.S. 6 on Saturday morning after colliding with a car about 6 miles east of Black Hawk.
The green Chevrolet Blazer,driven by David Patterson, 25, of Arvada missed a right- hand curve about 7 a.m. and lost control, hitting an Audi driven by Herbert Kothe, 79, of Boulder, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
After the impact, Patterson’s vehicle rolled down a steep embankment and landed in Clear Creek.
Kothe, who received a minor injury, refused medical treatment.
Patterson, who was rescued from the water, received minor injuries and was taken to St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver.
Patterson was charged with one count of careless driving resulting in injury, authorities said.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Move of Northcom, NORAD detailed
Moving air and space surveillance missions from Cheyenne Mountain will cost more than $50 million, according to a draft of a government analysis obtained by The Gazette.
The draft report said no estimates are available on how much it will cost to fortify the new location at Peterson Air Force Base.
Nor has it been determined how the move will affect national security, the Government Accountability Office report said.
At issue is relocation of the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center’s primary occupants – North American Aerospace Defense Command and Northern Command – from the 1960s granite bunker to the headquarters at Peterson. There, the commands are housed above ground about 100 yards from the base’s boundary.
HOLLY
Stricken residents seek household items
Residents of Holly, still cleaning up from a deadly spring tornado, are seeking household items to aid in their recovery.
Prowers County Administrator Linda Fairbairn said Holly residents need paper products of most types, including plates, towels, napkins and toilet paper.
The 1,000 residents also need personal-hygiene items, kitchen items, dressers, tables and chairs.
Items can be delivered to the tornado donations warehouse at 207 E. Elm St. in Lamar, or donors can call 719-537-6047 for more information.
METRO DENVER
Perlmutter to lead forum on vets’ issues
Veterans’ issues will be discussed at a public forum Thursday.
U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat from Golden, will hold the session to hear about issues that military members face as they transfer to civilian life, spokeswoman Les lie Oliver said.
Panelists will talk about post-traumatic stress disorder, other aspects of medical care and how well the Department of Veterans Affairs is meeting needs.
The event is set for 10 a.m. in the Nighthorse Campbell Native Health Building at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
