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STEAMBOAT DUI, OFFICER ASSAULT
A Steamboat man is in trouble after fighting with a State Trooper. 41 year old Donald Kidder was pulled over just east of Steamboat Saturday night on suspicion of driving drunk. After Kidder failed roadsides, the trooper attempted to place him under arrest, but says Kidder fought back, trying to disarm him. However, the trooper, who hasn’t been identified, was able to overpower him. The trooper was treated for minor injuries at Yampa Valley Medical Center. Kidder was booked in the Routt County Jail on charges of 2nd Degree Assault, Resisting Arrest, DUI, invalid license plates, invalid registration, speeding, driving without insurance, and driving on a license that had already been revoked for an alcohol related offense.
OVER-THE-COUNTER BIG GAME LICENSES AVAILABLE
With the start of the 2011 big-game hunting seasons now less than two months away, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds hunters that they can begin purchasing unlimited over-the-counter big game licenses for elk beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 12. A capped number of over-the-counter licenses for black bear will also go on sale at that time.
Hunters can pick up their over-the-counter licenses starting July 12 at more than 730 authorized license sales agents around the state, at Colorado Parks and Wildlife service centers, by phone, or on-line.
For elk hunters who missed the draw or failed to draw their first choice, over-the-counter elk licenses offer the opportunity to hunt bull or cow elk during the archery season or bull elk during the second and third rifle seasons in many game management units in Colorado. Unlimited over-the-counter bull elk licenses may be purchased at any time before the season begins or at Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices during the applicable elk season.
Colorado’s elk population is larger than any other herd in North America. With roughly 283,000 elk, 23 million acres of public land and elk seasons that run from August through January, Colorado offers a tremendous variety of hunting opportunity. Last year, more than half of the bull elk harvested in Colorado were taken by archery and rifle hunters with over-the-counter tags.
Colorado is the only state that offers non-residents and residents the opportunity to purchase unlimited over-the-counter licenses for bull elk. In a select number of units, archery hunters can purchase both an unlimited over-the-counter bull tag and an over-the-counter antlerless elk tag.
Hunters with questions about what licenses they can purchase and where licenses are valid can find more information on-line or by phone with one of the new Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunt Planners at (303) 291-PLAN or (303) 291-7526. Hunt planners are hunters themselves and well versed in the opportunities available around the state.
A small number of antlerless, or cow, over-the-counter rifle licenses are also available for game management units 25 and 26, which are located north of I-70, approximately between Gypsum and Yampa. The number of these licenses is capped, so they are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Archery, muzzleloader and some rifle bear licenses are also sold over-the-counter with a cap. That means that there are a preset number of these either-sex licenses available on a first-come, first-served basis. Hunters who wish to obtain one of these licenses are advised that they generally sell out within days. Some bear units sell out in minutes.
Anyone who wants to hunt bears during the regular rifle season must hold a deer or an elk tag for the same manner of take, the same season and the same unit in which bear will be hunted. To properly manage bear harvest, all bear licenses for Colorado are area specific and limited in quantity.
Availability of over-the-counter licenses that have limited cap numbers can be viewed on-line at http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunt/BigGame/pdf/otccap.pdf. Once sales begin, the “OTC Cap License List” will be updated every 15 minutes in an effort to continually inform hunters and license agents how many are left during the rush.
Information about season dates and license application requirements can be found in the “2011 Colorado Big Game” brochure. The brochure features include easy-to-read tables, a detailed list of new hunt opportunities in the state and a reference page with important information about Colorado hunting regulations.
Printed copies of the brochure are available at license agents and Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices. An on-line interactive brochure can be found at http://wildlife.state.co.us/RulesRegs/RegulationsBrochures/BigGame.htm.
For more information about OTC licenses, to purchase a license on line, or locate a license agent, please go to http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/.
INPUT ON PARKS AND WILDLIFE MERGER SOUGHT
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission Thursday discussed a range of issues related to the merger of the state’s former parks and wildlife agencies to create the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife. The merger became effective July 1.
Kim Burgess, chief operating officer of the Department of Natural Resources, explained that DNR is currently taking public comments on the development of a unified agency mission, the composition of the permanent Parks and Wildlife Commission, achieving full consolidation of the two divisions and other suggestions for making the new agency more efficient and effective.
“The legislature gave us specific subjects to make recommendation on, but that doesn’t preclude the public giving us their thoughts on other issues as well,” said Tim Glenn, who was elected chair of the new body. “If it’s something that will help this agency do its job better, we’d like to hear about it.”
The deadline for the initial round of comments is July 29.
The Hickenlooper administration won broad bipartisan support in the General Assembly for its proposal to merge Colorado State Parks and the Division of Wildlife during the 2011 legislative session as the spearhead of an effort to streamline state government. Mike King, the director of the Department of Natural Resources, said one of the benefits of the merger is the opportunity to build a broader and more robust constituency for natural resources in Colorado.
“As director of DNR, one thing I worry about is 30 years from now citizens making decisions on natural resources without understanding things like where water comes from or where energy comes from,” King said. “That’s a huge risk. The merger of Parks and Wildlife will help us keep this from happening by using outdoor recreation as a tool to make those connections clear in peoples’ minds.”
In the coming months, King, Rick Cables, the new Director of Parks and Wildlife, and the Parks and Wildlife Commission will explore alternatives to complete the merger. Already, a transition team of employees and 10 employee working groups are evaluating agency functions from field operations to capital development and real estate to customer service in order to identify options for consolidation and improvement.
Burgess said that major decisions about the merger will move through a three-step process. During the next few weeks, issues that will need to be resolved will be developed through public and employee input. At the second, or “draft” step, alternatives will presented for review and refinement. A final recommendation will then be presented to the board for consideration and possible adoption.
Timelines for decisions, as well as the request for public input, are posted on the web at:
http://dnr.state.co.us/DPW/Pages/PublicInput.aspx
During the Commission’s afternoon session, board members discussed a number of issues related to the merger, such as the composition of their membership, the public input process and meeting protocols.
In a show of unity, board members unanimously decided to approve items by a simple majority, rather than by the dual majority of the former Parks Board and Wildlife Commission members called for in statute. The body also voted to call itself a “commission,” rather than “board,” as was specified in the legislation.
As well as electing Glenn, of Salida as Chair, members elected Gary Butterworth of Colorado Springs as Vice-Chair and Mark Smith of Center as Secretary.
The Commission approved several actions regarding season regulations for small game, including two prairie game bird species. Commissioners approved eliminating the additional permit required to hunt greater prairie-chicken, expanded the number of game management units open to prairie-chickens on the eastern plains and extended the season to coincide with end of quail season.
The Commission also approved opening six units in northwestern Colorado to greater sage-grouse hunting because sage-grouse lek counts have reached levels indicating populations can sustain limited hunting harvest. Commissioners voted to close one unit in far northwestern Colorado because lek counts fell below that level.
In other action, Commissioners approved improving waterfowl hunting opportunity at James M. Robb Colorado River State Park and Highline Lake State Park and increasing the bag limit on dark geese in the Pacific Flyway portion of Colorado. They approved migratory game bird hunting seasons for 2011-2012, but deferred until August final action on duck hunting regulations in the Central Flyway portion of Colorado pending a federal decision on allowable zones and splits options.
The Commission asked staff to work with bowfishing proponents who have asked that archery be allowed as a manner of take for kokanee salmon during the snagging season in areas open for snagging.
In other action, Commissioners unanimously upheld a 15-year suspension of hunting and fishing privileges for a Parker outfitter who pleaded guilty in 2010 to three counts of illegal possession of wildlife in Lincoln County Court. One of the charges to which Thomas Tietz pleaded guilty carried a $10,000 Samson surcharge for the killing of a trophy white-tail. Tietz also pleaded guilty to a separate count alleging he was responsible for the illegal take of three or more deer. Tietz did not appear for the hearing.
Thursday’s meeting was held at the Hunter Education Building, located at the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife’s campus at 6060 North Broadway.
The Parks and Wildlife Commission will meet monthly and travel to communities around the state to facilitate public participation in its processes. The Commission was formed July 1 by combining the Colorado State Parks Board with the Colorado Wildlife Commission. During the remainder of 2011, the Commission has scheduled meetings in Alamosa in August, Colorado Springs in September, Steamboat Springs in October, Burlington in November and Fort Collins in December.
Members also voted to continue the Wildlife Commission’s practice of broadcasting proceedings through a link on the Division of Wildlife website. This opportunity is provided to keep constituents better informed about the development of regulations by the Commission and how they are working with Parks and Wildlife staff to manage parks, wildlife and outdoor recreation programs administered by the agency.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is a 14-member board appointed by the governor that sets policies and regulations for the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife. More information about the Parks and Wildlife Commission may be found by clicking on the Board or Commission links at http://wildlife.state.co.us or at http://parks.state.co.us.
Public input on the merger may be submitted by input via email to: DPWPublic.Input@state.co.us. Comments may also be mailed to:
Colorado Department of Natural Resources
ATTN: Transition Team
1313 Sherman Street, Room 718
Denver, CO 80203
WYOMING FORGERY
A Farson-Eden, Wyoming resident has been bound over for trial in a case in which she is accused of spending money that wasn’t hers. 30-year old Chiaretta Johnson is accused of forging two checks totaling over $400 in Rock Springs on the account of a girl scout troop. However the forgery charges are just part of a broader forgery investigation. Police say Johnson is also in trouble for opening several bank and service accounts in her sister’s name. Her sister, who lives in California alerted the authorities, when she found out a credit card account had been opened in her name, and suggested they look at Chiaretta as a suspect. Trial dates have yet to be set, but each count of forgery carries with it the possibility of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
ROAD WORK
C-DOT maintenance crews will start work on a much needed resurfacing project in Steamboat tomorrow. Officials say potholes and wheel ruts have gotten bad. The project will take place at the intersection of Highway 40 and Trafalger Drive/Hilltop Parkway. Weather permitting, the intersection will be torn up tomorrow, and then replaced Wednesday. The work should be done by the end of the day Wednesday. During the work, which will last between 8AM and 6PM each day, traffic will be affected. There will be a single lane open, and at times the entire intersection may close down. If that happens, the alternate route will take drivers to Trafalger Drive’s south connection with the Highway just south of the Hampton Inn.
AMERICA’S GREAT OUTDOORS: SALAZAR ANNOUNCES $26.7 MILLION IN GRANTS TO STATES, TERRITORIES AND PACIFIC NATIONS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced $26.7 million in grants from the Historic Preservation Fund to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, and three independent Pacific island nations. The grants will enable the states to preserve and protect our nation’s historic sites without expending tax dollars.
“These grants will enable citizens of every state and territory to keep alive their heritage as a vital part of the American experience,” Secretary Salazar said. “The grants are not only an investment in the story of America, but will also drive tourism and strengthen local economies.”
The Historic Preservation Fund is supported by revenue from federal oil leases on the Outer Continental Shelf. The National Park Service administers the fund on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior and uses the majority of appropriated funds to distribute matching grants to State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers.
“Throughout the country, HPF grants and other federal historic preservation programs help sustain and revitalize communities,” National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said. “Historic preservation promotes heritage tourism and can transform under-utilized and often-vacant historic buildings into revenue-generators for local economies. The National Park Service is honored to be invited into so many communities and is proud to assist in saving and sharing history.”
States officials use the grants to fund preservation projects, such as survey and inventory, National Register nominations, preservation education, architectural planning, historic structure reports, community preservation plans, and bricks-and-mortar repair to buildings.
Ten percent of each state’s allocation must be sub-granted to Certified Local Governments – city and county governments certified by the National Park Service and the state as having made a local commitment to historic preservation. These funds are spent on local projects, with selection decisions made at the state level.
Grants and programs funded by the HPF encourage private and nonfederal investment in historic preservation efforts nationwide. Recent achievements of the HPF can be found in its annual report at http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/hpg/downloads/2010_HPF_Report.pdf.
For information about other National Park Service preservation, conservation, and recreation assistance programs available to communities, please visit http://www.nps.gov/communities/index.htm.
