Hopes for a state Senate vs. House snowball melee briefly flickered Thursday at the Capitol, prompting taunts and trash talk as piling snow delayed more serious legislative business.
A cadre of senators first challenged House colleagues via text message. “Chamber versus chamber. House is going down. Hereafter known as the House of Pain,” wrote Littleton Sen. Mike Kopp.
Things got a bit personal when Sen. Josh Penry of Grand Junction called out Republican House colleague Rep. Frank McNulty of Highlands Ranch.
“He’s all talk and no rock,” Penry said. “Speaking of rocks, I’m going to put one in my snowball.”
In the end, the snowball-fight challenge melted away as a lengthy agenda kept House lawmakers in their seats.
Senators, tired of waiting and worried about the weather, headed home — but for a few. A handful gathered on the west steps of the Capitol after they adjourned to lob a few snowballs at one another. — Jessica FenderATV makes chore “fun”
By 1 p.m. in Loveland, skies had lightened, winds had died down and a parade of vehicles was slowly navigating side streets, full of sent-home workers and schoolchildren.
Keith Quick had fired up his Polaris ATV. He had left Avago Technologies in Fort Collins to pick up children Kristina, 15, Kaitlin, 12, and Kendrick, 10, from their schools; his wife, Kandi’s, workplace, TenderCare Pediatrics, also had closed.
“It’s kind of fun,” Quick said as his machine made quick work of clearing his driveway.
But it had taken him more than an hour to get home from the south side of Fort Collins, and he wasn’t planning on going anywhere in the car he had cleared a path for. “Oh, no,” he said. “There’s enough crazy people out there.” — Susan ClotfelterTo sleep, perchance to dream
Kim James, 19, of Lakewood and Marissa Newton, 18, of Sanger, Texas, were repeatedly told that their 5:30 p.m. Southwest flight was on time. So the Colorado Christian University students headed out to Denver International Airport, where they were informed their flight had been canceled.
The pair camped out at the entrance to an airport tornado shelter, where they planned to spend the night. “I hate flying. . . . This isn’t going to help me,” said James, noting that any sleep she might get before their 7 a.m. flight would be “with one eye open.” — Mike McPhee
Long trip to nowhere
Michael Orta, 38, of Decatur, Ga., spent five days skiing then five hours on a shuttle from Breckenridge, making it to DIA just in time to see his 4:30 p.m. flight to Atlanta canceled. Thursday afternoon, he was debating bunking in the terminal. “I have a pillow with me,” he said. — Mike McPhee
Attendant fall grounds flight
Government contractor Tony Williams, 38, of Virginia Beach, Va., knew his 4 p.m. flight east was canceled, so he felt lucky to get on a 1:30 p.m. flight to Philadelphia. But just after boarding, one of the flight attendants fell while doing a final cabin check.
The U.S. Airways crew looked for a replacement for an hour before canceling the flight. Williams hoped the woman was OK but admitted “everyone cursed” when they found out they were stuck at DIA. — Mike McPhee
Jam brews as semi chains up
Drivers southbound on Interstate 25 just after noon Thursday wondered why there was zero traffic heading north past Longmont. The answer became apparent at the Erie exit, where a semi hauling Corona had stopped in the center northbound lane. A Coors van was parked nearby, and it looked as if the local beer guy was helping the imported-beer guy put chains on while traffic backed up south to Colorado 7. — Kristen Browning-Blas
