"CSPD investigates possible S. Academy meth lab"

4/5/08: Colorado Springs Police were called out to the Lamplighter Mobile Home Park on S. Academy Blvd, early Saturday afternoon after CSFD personnel discovered possible evidence of a meth lab.  Officers responded and investigated the premises. It is unknown if an actual meth lab was found.

Photos by News Blab

"Sailing on air currents... turns to tragedy"

4/5/08: Earlier this morning I was admiring a parasailer as he or she was drifting far above me not far from Red Rock Open Space.  I took a couple of pictures as that soaring was taking place above.  Then when I got home I read about the tragedy that happened in Longmont today.  What an eye opener...

Photos by News Blab

See the parasailer at top of the photo.. a little yellow spot in the sky.

Screen captures from Longmont Times-Call website

"Attempted armed robbery at local CU"

Photos by News Blab

4/5/08: At approximately 9:35 a.m. on Saturday morning a man entered the Colorado Springs Credit Union on Willamette Place., and with his hand in his pocket, he told a teller he had a weapon, then demanded money. Police searched the area for the individual described as an African American Male, between 28-35 years of age, wearing a blue sweatshirt and a baseball cap with the word "Corona" on it.  It's unknown if he got any money.

A temporary "CLOSED" sign on the door kept customers from entering the building, but they were still able to use the drive-up windows while police investigated the morning crime.

"$1.9 million in Gold missing near here"

4/5/08: Okay, now that I have your attention, and you know they need help with the search for Bekime "Becky" Elshani, read on...

True story: In 1873 a stage with $1,927,131.00 (today's price) in gold buillon disappeared between Colorado Springs and Woodland Park.  Neither the gold or the stage were ever found.  The old stage route between here and Woodland Park is a route they say might be a place where Becky's body could be found.  So, if you hadn't planned on helping to look for her, you may want to reconsider.  The family needs all the help searching they can get.

"Life in the Garden"

4/5/08: Even though I was hiking areas of Garden of the Gods on Friday afternoon for reasons of urgency, I was still able to 'take-in' the beauty that surrounded me.  It is one place you can go, and think about the past... when times were much simpler.  Some areas, I imagine, have not changed much since the time photographer William E. Hook may have walked the same areas I now walked, and stood where I now stood... taking pictures of things that caught my eye.  Besides the plant life and rock formations, I was able to capture a few shots of Garden of the Gods wildlife, as it roamed.  Check it out...

Photos by News Blab

"Searching for signs of Bekime Elshani"

Area I searched today.

4/4/08: This afternoon I dedicated some time and hiked some of the back areas in Garden of the Gods (area within red line, above) in search of any sign for the missing Colorado Springs woman, Bekime "Becky" Elshani.  I hiked in places tourists probably would not wander regularly, but someone who knows the area might.  I looked in rock crevices, and places that might hide a body, including some high brush areas, but unfortunately I did not find any sign of her.

One of the areas I searched was once called "Mushroom Park", until it was incorporated into the Garden of the Gods proper. They then dropped that original name.

Photos by News Blab

Mushroom Park

When I was finished my search I noticed the KKTV LIVE van on Rampart Range Rd. I stopped and talked with reporter McKenzie Martin for a bit. She said police released more information about Becky's disappearance.