"Oh no... who's gonna warn the squirrels?"

4/11/08: I saw this sign recently at an entrance to Monument Valley Park. But, squirrels can't read...  Who's gonna warn the little fellas?

Photos by News Blab

"Colorado Springs bound Frontier Airlines... a sad tale (tail)?"

Frontier Airline graphic

4/11/08: Wasn't it not too long ago that the Mayor and other City leaders were touting about that new $25 million Frontier Airlines maintenance facility coming to Colorado Springs?  And the local media was buzzing with excitement about this prospect.  And now... I read that Frontier Airlines just filed for bankruptcy protection.

Part of the City's original lure package was to rebate 100 percent of both personal property taxes and sales use taxes of the facility, for the duration of their operation here.

Maybe now the offer will need to be more like $54 million...???

"Ah Oh... here we go again"

Space Foundation says they're being 'courted'... wants HQ deal like USOC???

Space Foundation Graphic

4/10/08: The Gazette is reporting...

Less than two weeks after Colorado Springs officials came up with $53 million to keep the U.S. Olympic Committee here, the U.S. Space Foundation went public Thursday with a plea for help with a new and expanded headquarters.

Bill Tutt, chairman emeritus of the foundation's board, told 192 business and community leaders at the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. luncheon that the group is being courted by other cities and is looking for help find a larger headquarters. Tutt made the comments during an introduction at the luncheon.

Read the entire article, here: http://www.gazette.com/articles/foundation_35130___article.html/space_springs.html

"Now... this won't hurt a bit"

4/10/08: I forgot to share these couple media shots from this weekend.  They were taken in America the Beautiful Park at the end of a charity race/walk.

Photos by News Blab

"Who's on first?"

4/10/08: Someone wants you to know... what they're hearing is not what they believe actually happened.

I received the following "Got a tip?" form this afternoon:

"KRDO is repeatedly reporting they arrived to the brush fire first... in reality, KXRM then KOAA arrived first... followed 15 minutes later by KRDO."

Note: I wasn't there... so I can't confirm any media timeline.

UPDATE: KRDO's Scott Harrison did report LIVE on the phone when he first arrived. And KRDO did go on-air prior to their regular evening broadcast to air Scott's phone report.\

4/11/08 - UPDATE: I received another "Got a tip?" form saying; "The reality is KRDO was there first, but then were moved by authorities to the other stations staging location. First on the web, on the air. Sorry guys, nice try."

Note: I've seen this happen before.  A station is the first there, but is then asked to move to where the PIO wants them.

"Banning-Lewis Ranch developers putting downstream home owners at risk?"

4/10/08: According to a report in today's Pueblo Chieftain:
At a meeting held last night to discuss the Southern Delivery System, once again concern was brought up that the proposed Jimmy Camp Creek reservoir, which will be used to hold water pumped up from the Pueblo reservoir (if approved and built), may present a flood danger to over a thousand home owners. Concerns centered around the fact that homes located in the new flood plain, once the reservoir is complete, might be destroyed or damaged if the reservoir spilled over or the dam broke.

From the Chieftain -

Flooding risk from the dam, either through spills or dam failure, is remote, said Chip Paulson, an engineer with MWH engineering, primary consultants for the EIS.

“It won’t aggravate flooding conditions, except in the very unlikely event of a dam failure,” Paulson said.

There was an analysis of failure risk in the dam engineering report, which is not part of the EIS. The dam would be built on bedrock and drains only the upper tip of the Jimmy Camp Creek watershed, so would not collect a large amount of water in a rainstorm.

Paulson said the biggest risk of flooding for downstream residents in Jimmy Camp Creek could come from increased impervious surfaces when the 24,000-acre Banning-Lewis Ranch is developed."

To read the complete article, go here: Springs mayor claims pipeline benefits region - http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1207807200/3

"Lewis-Palmer District 38 red alert on their web"

4/10/08: Here's what it says on their website... with red blinking lights.

 All Elementary Schools closed due to winter driving conditions.

Bus Drivers on routes this morning will return students to homes. Some buses will be delayed due to icy roads.

Students unable to return to their homes will be taken to school, where parents should arrange for them to be picked up.
 

"Community Meeting to Discuss Proposed Changes to Alarm Ordinance"

4/10/08: News from the CSPD:

The Colorado Springs Police Department will hold a Community Meeting on April 23rd, 2008 at 6:00 PM in the Community Room of the Police Operations Center, located at 705 S. Nevada Ave. The purpose of this meeting is to solicit additional input from members of the community that wish to voice concern or support for the proposed changes to the Alarm Licenses and Registration Ordinance.

The Colorado Springs Police Department responds to over 10,000 burglar alarms each year. During the period from June 2006 to May 2007, 10,643 alarms were responded to. Of that number, 98% or approximately 10,430 of those alarms were false alarms. At a time when the Colorado Springs Police Department has fewer officers per 100,000 residents than many similar jurisdictions and facing saturation rates of 45%, there is a need to ensure that all available resources are being used in an efficient and effective manner.

For additional information, go here: http://www.springsgov.com/NewsResults.asp?NewsID=3236

"Space Symposium free stuff... only so-so"

4/9/08: I've been attending the Space Symposium held at the Broadmoor for a number of years, and I can remember better days; better "free stuff" days to be exact.  Gone are the days when companies displaying their products at this week long event, went all out with their give-away-goodies... placing on their tables nothing but the best.  One year I even did a story about who had the best free stuff.  I would be very hard pressed to pick a winner, any more.

But, you should never look a gift horse in the mouth, they say.. whoever "THEY" are.  And after all, it is still FREE stuff, so the price is right.

And it's still a sight to see each year... all those grown men and women in suits and uniforms... grabbing one, two, or even three empty bags; hoping to fill them up with all sorts of space related treasures.

I wonder if they are aware of the difference in the quality of give-aways past and present?  Oh well, I guess if you view it like kids do at Halloween... it's not the quality... but the quantity.  He who has the heaviest bag,  is the happiest.

My best freebie this year...???  I'd have to say the pen with the built-in laser pointer.  Most of the other stuff I plan on giving to my boss for his grandkids.  They'll enjoy all those cool, out-of-this-world trinkets.

"Don't eat the yellow snow & some other Zoo Blabs"

4/9/08: Here are a few Zoo Blabs for you... Photos and captions.

Photos by News Blab

Ahh... the good white snow...

... Yum

Now... where's that CAT?

Ahh... there it is!

I'm getting bored playing with this piece of cardboard...

Ahh... there's something that looks interesting...

... now where can I stick this...???

"Unresponsive man brought back with a touch"

Photos by News Blab

4/9/08: Here's an interesting story I thought I'd share...

The call went out as an unresponsive man laying in some bushes in front of Skate City on Academy Blvd.  When police arrived, it was confirmed that the individual was not responding to verbal commands, questions, or the sound of the patrol car engine just feet away.  It wasn't until the officer looked for identification on the person that a response was gained.

Turns out... the man was a deaf-mute who was asleep, and could not hear the commands, questions or engine.  Further investigation uncovered... the man had a fight with his wife the night before, and had come to the bushes in front of Skate City to sleep.  Medical personnel found that his body temperature was down, as was his pulse rate, and he needed nutrition.  Precautions were taken before police took him back to where his wife resided.

"Fight at the golden arches"

- Would you like fries with that? -

Photos by News Blab

4/8/08: Fights and fighting seems to be a major player in the daily news lately... and a local golden arches establishment was not exempt from becoming a part of that type news story today.

Colorado Springs Police were dispatched to a burger joint on Wahsatch this afternoon, and not for a happy meal, but to investigate a report of possibly 8 or more people fighting.

When police arrived, those involved scattered, and the chase was on.  CSPD patrol units fanned out in the area, and soon had the main players in cuffs.