All that’s needed before anthropology professor Charles Musiba’s study is ready to publish are high-resolution photos of fossilized primate teeth 3 million years old.
But there’s one problem: The teeth are missing.
They were reported lost or stolen from the Auraria campus’ administration building last week, and Musiba, his students and colleagues are holding off on publishing the report about primate existence in East Africa until the teeth are found.
“They’re tiny little teeth,” Musiba said. “They’re not going to be of use to anyone else aside from scientific use.”
The teeth are valued at $30,000, according to a police report, and are on loan to the campus from Tanzania. Police have no leads or suspects.
“You can’t put any value on material like that,” the University of Colorado at Denver professor said. “There will be no questions asked if someone can bring them back.”
FORT CARSON
2 moves underway to aid returning GIs
The Army has launched a nationwide program to teach soldiers and their families how to identify signs of possible psychiatric injuries suffered in the war on terror that may have gone unnoticed.
Fort Carson also announced Friday that it had created a Wounded Warrior Transition Brigade, one of many units that will be formed around the country for wounded soldiers to prepare them to return to service or civilian life.
“The priority is to ensure that all soldiers are able to recognize the signs of symptoms of mild brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as know how to seek treatment for themselves, their buddy or their family,” Col. Kelly A. Wolgast, commander of Fort Carson’s Evans Army Community Hospital, told the base newspaper, The Fort Carson Mountaineer.
In the new program, soldiers and their families will learn how to spot possible indications of post-traumatic stress disorder, brain damage and other injuries resulting from service in combat.
LA JUNTA
Adobe structures need volunteer help
Parks officials are searching for volunteers to help conserve and restore historic stone and adobe structures in the Picketwire Canyonlands south of La Junta.
Volunteers would learn about adobe building materials and adobe conservation practices, the National Park Service said. The area is on the historic Comanche National Grasslands, the site of the largest known set of dinosaur tracks.
For more information about the effort – scheduled for Sept. 17-20, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. – call 719-384-2181.
ASPEN
Climber, 27, who fell died on his birthday
A 27-year-old climber who died in a fall on South Maroon Peak has been identified as Peter Jessup of Glenwood Springs.
The Gunnison County Sheriff’s Department says a search and rescue team reached the body on the southwest face of the peak after getting a 911 call reporting the accident. South Maroon is 14,156 feet high.
According to the Aspen Daily News, the last words he likely wrote were on the South Maroon register: “It’s my 27th birthday” was one of two entries that day on the leaflet stashed at the top of the mountain for people to sign and share their thoughts.
BOULDER
Courthouse to flip the switch to solar
The historic Boulder County Courthouse will go “green” on Monday with a 3 p.m. “powering-up” ceremony to celebrate installation of a 46-panel solar power system on the roof of the west wing.
Located at 1325 Pearl St., the courthouse system will produce about 14,500 kilowatt hours of power, about enough for five moderately sized homes for a year.
The project is expected to reduce carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions by 12 metric tons annually.
GOLDEN
Two Mount Zion paragliders injured
Jefferson County sheriff’s officials say two men who were paragliding off Mount Zion were injured in a 300-foot fall.
9News reports that two men were tandem paragliding Saturday afternoon when the paraglider folded up for an unknown reason.
One man was treated at the scene for some cuts and bruises. The other man was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. He was conscious and breathing when he was taken to the hospital.
TATUM, N.M.
Police all leave, for better-paying jobs
All officers at the Tatum Police Department have left for higher-paying jobs, and the town is scrambling to find replacements.
“We simply could not compete with salaries and benefits that were being offered in other places,” Deanne Gruben, city clerk, said. Lea County Sheriff Rod Coffman said his short-staffed agency will provide law enforcement until the town hires new officers.
Tatum averages about two police-related calls daily, Coffman said. Three officers and a chief resigned in the past few months. Two officers joined the Hobbs Police Department.
CHARLESTON, W.VA.
GOP operative Robert Gould dies
Longtime Republican operative Robert Gould, who managed the unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign of Colorado Republican Marc Holtzman last year, died unexpectedly Saturday of cancer. He was 48.
Gould had just been named chairman of Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani’s West Virginia campaign last week, state Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, said.
