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LITTLETON MAN CHARGED WITH DEATH OF FORMER STEAMBOAT RESIDENT
A Littleton man has been charged in the death of a former Steamboat resident. 39-year old Jeff Harrington was charged with vehicular homicide and driving under the influence Friday after 50-year old David Truax was killed jumping from Harrington’s vehicle. Truax reportedly jumped out near the intersection of Cherry Creek Drive North and University Boulevard in Littleton, and hit his head. He was taken to Denver Health Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. It’s not clear why Truax jumped from the vehicle, and toxicology tests are underway. Formal charges were filed Tuesday and Harrington is scheduled to make his first court appearance January 10th.
STEAMBOAT MAN ARRESTED AFTER CRASHING INTO BURGESS CREEK
A Steamboat man was arrested Tuesday night, on suspicion of drunk driving, after crashing his vehicle into Burgess Creek. Police say 45-year old Foster Harrison drove into the creek at the intersection of Apres Ski Way and Village Drive. Harrison wasn’t hurt, but he was taken into custody. The crash is still under investigation.
EMERGENCY ROADSIDE WORK ON CAMERON PASS
The Colorado Department of Transportation is working on an emergency hillside fill project on Cameron Pass. Crews finished stacking styrofoam like blocks that stabilize the hill, and now have started the concrete work. The repair site is larger than the size of a football field, and the concrete work is expected to take several weeks. Highway 14 will not be entirely closed, however traffic may be reduced to one lane at times, with reduced speed limits. The repairs became necessary when melting snow deteriorated a 600-foot stretch of hillside adjacent to the road. The project will also include repaving the road. Drivers should expect 15 to 20 minute delays.
STEAMBOAT MUSICFEST TENT GOING UP FOR NEXT WEEK’S EVENT
The Steamboat Music Festival Tent goes up next week. The tent will be erected for the festival that takes place January 6th through the 9th. There will be a free concert a day, along with private performances. The tent will be placed in the north portion of the Ski Area’s Knoll Lot, which means parking in the lot will be limited. The south half of the lot will still be available, and the resort will continue to offer free parking in the Meadows Lot, and paid parking in the Gondola Square Parking Structure. The tent will stay up through the 13th, with parking available again on the 14th.
MARIJUANA QUESTION HEADED TO 2012 BALLOT
A group pushing for a citizens’ initiative to legalize small quantities of marijuana will submit more than 155,000 signatures next week to put the amendment on next year’s ballot. The group plans to turn in petitions to the Secretary of State’s Office next week. Not only does the proposed constitutional amendment allow for the legal possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana and six plants, it calls on the Legislature to establish a regulatory scheme for retail outlets similar to liquor stores, and to set sales and excise taxes. Additionally, the measure would legalize hemp in the state, allowing farmers an easy crop to grow. Hemp is a fiber-like herb often used to make rope, clothing and paper products. Marijuana proponents say the economic impact to the state from the ballot question could be in the millions of dollars in tax revenues for state and local governments, and into the billions of dollars when considering jobs and other economic development around the industry. The effort requires a minimum of 86,000 signatures of valid registered voters to qualify for the ballot.
COLORADO ELIGIBLE FOR MILLIONS IN FEDERAL HEALTH DOLLARS
Twenty-three states, includingColorado, are eligible for a piece of $296 million that will be doled out by the federal government to cover health insurance costs for children. Under the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, states can qualify for federal money if they surpass a specified Medicaid Enrollment target and adopt procedures that improve access to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The new money is a bonus, which comes a week after new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 1.2 million more children nationwide have been insured in the last two years. The bonuses are intended to offset states’ costs when enrolling children from low-income families in Medicaid. Colorado’s share will be over $26.1 million.
RED CROSS RELIES ON END-OF-YEAR DONATIONS
The American Red Cross says end of the year donations make up about 20% of annual donations to the organization. They’re now urging the public to keep up with that tradition by making a tax deductible donation by the end of the year. Donations can be made in a number of ways, including through their Holiday Gift Catalog. The gifts purchased are also tax deductible, and can include military comfort kits for those overseas, disaster preparedness kits, and world aid.
