Colorado Springs – Obstruction charges have been dropped against five of seven peace activists who were accused of intentionally blocking a parade route on St. Patrick’s Day.
The city intends to pursue obstruction charges again against Eric Verlo and Elizabeth Fineron, 65, for failing to disperse when asked to do so by police. Fineron suffered road rash after she was dragged across Tejon Street by police.
An August trial for the seven, accused of obstructing Tejon Street, ended in a hung jury.
Verlo received a permit to march in the parade under his business, the Bookman. He and other activists, many associated with the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission, wore green shirts with peace signs. Parade organizers asked police to stop them from marching because parade rules say groups promoting social issues are not allowed to participate.
Verlo said he has no plans to plead guilty to the charges. He said he would be willing to accept a deferred sentence if the city apologizes and admits that “its officers acted with excessive force and are willing to reform their policies and training.”
-Erin Emery, The Denver Post
Woman crossing street hit, killed
Englewood – A woman walking across West Belleview Avenue late Sunday was struck and killed by an automobile that sped from the scene, police said.
Witnesses told police the woman was walking across Belleview near the Kmart store two blocks west of Broadway when a westbound car hit her. The car sped away, they said.
The woman, whose identity hasn’t been released, was found dead on the north side of the road shortly after 10 p.m.
Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call Englewood police at 303-762-2460.
Public’s help sought in finding Alzheimer’s patient
Fremont County – A 63-year-old Alzheimer’s patient from Cotopaxi has been missing for a week, and authorities are asking for the public’s help.
Gary Lorenz, a retired Air Force colonel said to be in good physical shape, has not been seen since he left his house Sept. 24. He, his wife and mother-in-law live on 180 acres in Fremont County, west of Colorado Springs.
Lorenz left his home with his two golden retrievers, who also are missing. He was wearing a gray sweat shirt with a wolf on the front, a burgundy windbreaker, bluejeans and light tan shoes.
Lorenz does not have an Alzheimer’s bracelet. He suffers from aphasia, which makes it difficult for him to communicate as well as understand what is being said to him.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office at 719-276-5555 or the Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return Program at 800-572-1122.
Delta County commissioner enters Senate race
Delta County – Republican Delta County Commissioner Wayne Wolf entered Colorado’s U.S. Senate race Monday, saying his campaign message would focus on fiscal conservatism.
The fifth-generation rancher joins former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer in a GOP primary. The only Democrat currently running for the seat is Congressman Mark Udall of Eldorado Springs. The seat is being vacated by U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, who is retiring after two terms.
Wolf is a former teacher. As commissioner, he founded the Delta County Meth Task Force.
Signatures sought for ballot initiative limiting affirmative action
Denver – A ballot initiative to ban “preferential treatment” by the state and local governments in Colorado has entered the signature-collection phase, Secretary of State Mike Coffman said Monday.
The proposal would limit affirmative-action efforts, but opponents say it could prohibit health care programs for women.
Proponents Valery Orr and Linda Chavez must collect the signatures of 76,047 registered Colorado voters for the issue to appear on the November 2008 ballot. Those signatures are due to the secretary of state’s office by Dec. 20.
Teller County gets new hospital
Woodland Park – Pikes Peak Regional Hospital, a 15-bed facility west of Woodland Park, opened Monday.
The $25 million hospital offers Teller County’s first 24-hour emergency and trauma unit and a variety of medical and surgical services. The hospital has room to expand to 75 beds.
“For a region the size of Teller County, we are extremely fortunate to have a hospital with the quality of resources available to everyone,” said Debbie Miller, president of the Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce.
