COLORADO

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jul 3, 2001

Suburb officials charged with drunken driving

ASPEN - City managers from two suburban-Denver cities face drunken-driving charges after being cited during a Colorado Municipal League conference in Snowmass Village.

Authorities said Glendale City Manager Veggo Larsen and Commerce City City Manager Perry VanDeventer were cited in separate incidents last week. Both said they plan to fight the charges.

VanDeventer was stopped for weaving on June 25 and then arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office said.

Larsen was issued a summons on suspicion of drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident where an injury occurred and failing to notify police of an accident, said Steve Smith, assistant patrol supervisor for the Aspen police.

Udall wants to expand Land Board's authority

WESTMINSTER - Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., wrote a letter to Colorado's five other House members asking for their support for a bill to amend a federal law governing some state lands.

Udall wants the State Land Board to be allowed to permanently protect land for its natural and environmental qualities.

He says the move keeps a promise with voters who passed a 1996 amendment to the Colorado Constitution that allows the State Land Board to preserve 10 percent of the 3 million acres of state school- trust lands.

Republican Sen. Wayne Allard has introduced a similar bill in the Senate. That bill would limit the amount of land that could be protected while Udall's does not, Udall said.

Westminster youth hurt in high-speed crash

RED FEATHER LAKES - A 16-year-old was critically injured Sunday when he drove off an embankment at 94 mph and crashed into boulders and a utility pole, police said.

Ryan Barnibei of Westminster was airlifted to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins with massive injuries, the Colorado State Patrol said.

Two passengers were also injured. Hung Huynh, 16, of Arvada, suffered a broken arm and was treated at Poudre Valley. Justin Giacomini, 16, of Westminster, was in fair condition at the hospital with a broken neck.

The state patrol said Barnibei was passing cars on Larimer County Rd. 74 when he lost control and ran off the road at about 1:30 p.m.

Stray ordnance worries Camp Hale officials

MINTURN, Colo. - Authorities fear visitors to a former military camp aren't taking the threat of leftover munitions seriously.

A sweep last month of Camp Hale turned up a rocket motor and a bazooka shell, which were detonated Thursday. Eight pieces of munitions have been discovered at Camp Hale since August.

Officials said they are concerned with visitors who take home mine triggers in their backpacks and hunters who have been known to shoot at potentially live mortar rounds.

Reorganizing Broomfield to affect redistricting

BROOMFIELD - A change in Broomfield's political structure may be felt all the way to the Legislature.

The city will become the state's 64th county Nov. 15, and officials have asked a commission redrawing legislative districts to make the boundaries conform to those of the new city/county.

That will likely mean fewer representatives for Broomfield in the Legislature.

- The Associated Press