Local News: IndyBlog, Colorado Springs Independent

Sand bags to the rescue

Pam Zubeck — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:08:00 -0600

Today's drippy skies serve as a reminder that people who live in a potential flood zone can pick up some sand bags today, compliments of the Colorado Springs Office of Emergency Management.

They're available today starting at 5 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless building, 2424 Garden of the Gods Road, the city says in a news release.…

Tonight's flood-insurance meeting is for business owners

J. Adrian Stanley — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:51:00 -0600

Ever since the Waldo Canyon Fire, we've been hearing about the risk of severe flooding off the burn scar. Risk has largely been discussed in terms of lost lives and homes.…

Baby boom at the zoo!

J. Adrian Stanley — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:31:00 -0600

Full disclosure: I get really excited about baby zoo animals.

But this year even those of us not overcome by the "cute factor" should be thrilled about the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new arrivals.…

Homeless population growing, survey shows

J. Adrian Stanley — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:28:00 -0600

There are at least 1,171 homeless people in El Paso County, a one-day headcount revealed, up from 1,127 in 2012.

Performed as a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the headcount shows how many people were accessing services for the homeless on Jan. 29, 2013.…

Federal government fails third-grade punctuation

Bryce Crawford — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:21:00 -0600

I kid you not: The lack of apostrophes in the names of landmarks — Zebulon Pike's peak, for instance — is on purpose. This heinous bit of punctuation slaughter is actually condoned and encouraged by the federal government, comes the word from today's Wall Street Journal.…

Anti-fracking group sues city

Kirk Woundy — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:51:00 -0600

Yesterday, Colorado Springs Citizens for Community Rights filed suit against the city in its ongoing effort to put a ban on fracking before local voters.

As explained in this week’s paper, the Initiative Title Setting Review Board last week rejected CSCCR’s proposed amendment to the city charter that would prevent “the extraction of natural gas or oil, including but not limited to, the processes commonly known as hydraulic fracturing and/or directional natural gas and oil well drilling, within the City of Colorado Springs.” The board contended the amendment violated the city’s rule against having multiple subjects addressed in a single ballot measure; CSCCR disagrees with that assessment, and even argues that the single-subject rule itself may not be legally valid.…

Five playful tigers at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Bryce Crawford — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:54:00 -0600

Inspired by user grapeormelon's posting of a playful tiger at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to Colorado Springs' Reddit page, we collected a few other videos of the zoo's big kitties. There's something vaguely terrifying about watching them move — primal instincts, y'all — but we still can't get enough.…

The Academy Ring Dance invite that should go viral

Kirsten Akens — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:59:09 -0600

This isn't about the cadet invite that already went viral and got a lot of national news this week.

Instead it's about the video invitation to attend the May 24 Air Force Academy Ring Dance, made by cadet Aileen Herrera to celeb Ellen DeGeneres.…

Bargain hunters: Check out D-11's online auction

J. Adrian Stanley — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:25:00 -0600

Think of it as a really strange, online garage sale.

As Colorado Springs School District 11 prepares to close several schools, it is offloading excess supplies.…

Strong turnout for local race in Boston's name

Miguel Bustamante — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:47:00 -0600

Yesterday the Pikes Peak Road Runners hosted a 5k to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. Stephanie Wurtz, coordinator of the quickly organized event, estimates that 400 to 500 runners came out.…

How (not) to hit Colorado College kids with your car

Bryce Crawford — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:43:00 -0600

It's interesting. As somebody who has lived here my whole life, I notice I find myself annoyed at the Colorado College students who seem to — what's the opposite of "consciously"?…

Manitou eliminates free parking (and the much-beloved battle for it)

J. Adrian Stanley — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:28:50 -0600

It is with sorrow that I announce the end of an era. Specifically, the end of free parking in Manitou Springs.…

The Springs honors Boston

Miguel Bustamante — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:54:00 -0600

Often at the Independent we look forward to brightening your week with fun articles, witty commentary, and entertaining local news. But sometimes we find ourselves affected by non-local news, as was the case a few weeks ago when the country became transfixed by the events at the Boston Marathon.…

Encounter Africa opening delayed at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

J. Adrian Stanley — Wed, 01 May 2013 09:19:00 -0600

If you were planning on taking the kids to the unveiling of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Encounter Africa exhibit today, your plans have changed.

The exhibit won't open until Friday because the weather today is too nippy for the African elephants to come outside.…

Woo-hoo! Flood study to come out May 2

J. Adrian Stanley — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:30:00 -0600

In normal times, the Watershed Assessment of River Stability and Sediment Supply (WARSSS) Study would only interest the most hardened infrastructure geeks.

Let's be honest.…

Venetucci will have water, and pumpkins, in 2013

Ralph Routon — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:05:24 -0600

Michael Hannigan sounded an alarm earlier this month, as the Pikes Peak Community Foundation’s executive director warned everyone that the storied Venetucci Farm might not have water for its crops, livestock or pumpkins in 2013.

“We have to do whatever we can to save this farm,” Hannigan said in the Between the Lines column of the Indy’s April 10 issue.…

Recent series from KRCC shows burning homes, looks at 'living with wildfire'

Bryce Crawford — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:01:00 -0600

In case you've missed it, Andrea Chalfin and Michelle Mercer at KRCC have been doing good fire reporting of their own in a series called "Flash Point," which explores "how wildfire is changing life in Colorado."

And though it's radio-centric, of course, the web reports have some cool features, like a timeline of major events in the history of forests and wildfires, or the intense video of live footage shot at the time by the Colorado Springs Fire Department.…

Palmer High School to host 'Unity Fest'

J. Adrian Stanley — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:58:00 -0600

On Friday, Palmer High School students will gather in a courtyard to celebrate "unity, tolerance, and diversity." And though its Unity Fest is only an hour long — taking place over lunch break — It means a lot in light of the recent past.…

UPDATE: Bridge repairs on North Nevada start April 25

Matthew Grieson — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:50:00 -0600

Update, 2:33 p.m., Thursday, April 25: As some of the commenters have noted, this project has been on-going. Here's a note we received from Julie Smith, with the city's communications department:

"Just a heads up ... this construction has been going for about 4 months," she wrote this morning.…

What's shakin' for Waldo victims

Pam Zubeck — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:46:00 -0600

If you're one of the families who lost their home in the Waldo Canyon Fire or have another affinity to the part of the city that burned, here's a lineup of activities you might want to participate in.

First, at 6:30 tonight (Wednesday), Mayor Steve Bach will make an appearance at the Colorado Springs Together office, 6840 Centennial Blvd., for the Mountain Shadows Community Association (MSCA) annual meeting.…

Sheriff Maketa, not letting evil prosper

Chet Hardin — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:35:00 -0600

If the soon-to-be-enacted state gun regulations have been good for any one person in this state, that person is El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa.

Just take a look at his Facebook page.…

Puppy dies after being thrown from vehicle

J. Adrian Stanley — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:53:00 -0600

One question: What the hell is wrong with people? From a press release:

Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region veterinary staff worked for several hours to save a 4-month-old blue merle Australian cattle dog puppy after she was thrown from a vehicle.…
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Flood and insurance meetings coming up

J. Adrian Stanley — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:10:00 -0600

For some, the concern is salvaging what they can from a ferocious fire. Others want to protect themselves from the next disaster — massive floods that are expected to sweep into town this summer and in future years.…

Local GOP to bring in the ever-surreal Herman Cain for Lincoln Day dinner

Chet Hardin — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:46:00 -0600

If, like me, you've spent the entire workweek staring out the window at this abomination of springtime, you too may have come to an existential crossroads. You might feel that the universe is trying to tell you something.…

Taking more pride in PrideFest

J. Adrian Stanley — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:06:00 -0600

In December, Charlie Irwin, head of Colorado Springs Pride, announced that the organization was coming completely out of the closet.

Pride was forming a political nonprofit; it was moving into a more visible location; and it was going to be bigger and louder than ever.…