Buena Vista – A bridge over the Arkansas River has reopened after work crews repaired a fracture that was discovered during an inspection prompted by the Minneapolis bridge collapse.
The fracture was found Tuesday in the structure on U.S. 24 about 80 miles southwest of Denver. The southbound lane was reopened Wednesday evening after the repair was completed.
The bridge was one of six in the state given special inspections at the urging of federal officials after the Aug. 1 bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
All had structural similarities to the Minneapolis bridge.
Additional local news briefs:
RIDGWAY
Actor’s widow gives 60 acres for park
The wife of late actor Dennis Weaver is donating a 60-acre park along the Uncompahgre River to the town of Ridgway.
Dennis Weaver Memorial Park will offer hiking and biking trails and river access, and Gerry Weaver intends to dedicate the remaining portion of their 175-acre property to a conservation-oriented housing development.
The park, 1.8 miles north of town along U.S. 550, will be dedicated at a ceremony at 5 p.m. Aug. 25. Weaver died in 2006 of cancer at age 81.
DENVER
Suspect charged in 7-Eleven shooting
Prosecutors formally charged Broderick Roddy with attempted first-degree murder Wednesday in connection with the shooting downtown of a 7-Eleven clerk Sunday.
Roddy, 22, remained in custody on $100,000 bail. He is scheduled to be advised of the charge at 9 a.m. today in Denver County Court.
The charge alleges that Roddy shot 37-year-old clerk Ali Bashir Abu Zama, a Sudanese immigrant, in the head Sunday afternoon after an altercation at the store. Zama continues to recover and recently had reconstructive surgery on his face.
BOULDER
Teen held in shooting at mobile home park
Boulder police arrested a teen Wednesday in connection with a shooting Monday night that may have been gang-related, according to a statement.
The 17-year-old Boulder male was arrested in the 2600 block of Mapleton Avenue on charges of attempted murder.
Police are searching for other suspects. The gun used in the shooting has not been found.
No one was injured Monday night.
Investigators believe the shots were fired from the mobile home park area at 2637 Valmont Road and were aimed at several people standing in the road of the mobile home park at 2635 Mapleton Ave.
DENVER
Dem convention gets a “green” thumb’s up
A longtime environmental advocate has been picked to help Denver make its hosting of the 2008 Democratic National Convention the “greenest national political convention to date,” city officials announced in a news release Wednesday.
Parry Burnap, who has worked as a pollution-control manager for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and a string of other environmental positions, will work as “director for greening” for the committee charged with hosting the convention.
Burnap will work out of the mayor’s office to coordinate planning efforts that mesh with the mayor’s Greenprint Denver environmental program, officials said.
DENVER
Party to mark 1 year until ’08 convention
The Democratic Party has announced it is hosting a one-year-out celebration of its 2008 National Convention at the Pepsi Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will be on hand with Mayor John Hickenlooper and Gov. Bill Ritter, the party’s convention committee officials said.
The “Convention Countdown Kick-off” is to be held at the Pepsi Center’s grand, or west, entrance at 12:30 p.m. and will include refreshments and entertainment.
DENVER
Romney camp adds Allard, Suthers, Owens
Three prominent Colorado Republicans have been named to honorary leadership roles on presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s state finance committee.
U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, state Attorney General John Suthers and former Gov. Bill Owens were appointed honorary chairmen Wednesday.
