Author: I-70 Scout

Due to severe weather and heavy rain, numerous roadways in Adams County are closed due to flooding and road damage. These roadways are unsafe and will remain impassable to the public until flood waters recede and necessary repairs are made.

The Adams County Public Works staff is currently mobilized and ready to assess damage and begin repairs. Thank you for your patience as we work to repair these segments of roadways.

The following roads are currently closed to the public and will remain closed until further notice:

• 26th Ave., between Yulle Rd. and Wolf Creek Rd.
• 64th Ave., between Piggott Rd. and Wolf Creek Rd.
• Piggott Rd. from 80th Ave. to 88th Ave.
• Old Victory Rd., from Hwy. 36 to Hwy. 79
• 72nd Ave., from Bradbury-Krebs Rd. to Xmore Rd.
• Road 15, from Bradbury-Krebs Rd. to Xmore Rd.
• 26^th Ave., from Strasburg Rd. to Comanche Dr.
• 26^th Ave., from Piggott Rd. to Yulle Rd.
• 48^th Ave., from Strasburg Rd. to Piggott Rd.
• 112^th Ave., from Headlight Rd. to Nordbye Rd.
• 112^th Ave., from Behrens Rd. to Horrogate Rd.
• 72nd Ave. from Converse Rd. to SH 79
• 80th Ave., from Schumaker Rd. to SH 79
• Cameron Dr., from Guy Ct. to O’Brien
• Converse Rd., from 128th Ave. to 144th Ave.
• Converse Rd., from 88th Ave. to 112th Ave.
• E. 112th Ave., from SH 79 to Converse Rd.
• 104^th Ave., at Manilla Rd. and at Tumbleweed Ct.
• 64th Ave., from Converse Rd. to Schumaker Rd.
• Converse Rd., from 88^th Ave. to 64th Ave.
• 72^nd Ave., at Converse Rd. and SH 79
• 80^th Ave., from SH 79 to Schumaker Rd.
• 112^th Ave., from Himalaya Rd. to Picadilly

For more information on the road closures, please call 303.853.7137.

In addition to road closures, all Adams County Trails are closed until further notice. These include:

• South Platte River Trail

• Clear Creek Trail
• Niver Creek Trail
• Little Dry Creek Trails

Please stay safe, and we will notify you as soon as roads and trails reopen.

BUENA VISTA, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife euthanized a young mountain lion after it swatted an 11-year-old girl, leaving a puncture wound on her face, on Wednesday evening.

The girl was attacked when she entered the family chicken coop to check on her chickens. She found one dead on the ground. When she opened the wooden hen house, the mountain lion was inside and swatted her in the face.

CPW wildlife officers responded to the house, located in a rural area southeast of Buena Vista, to find the small, sub-adult mountain lion still in the wire mesh coop. 

They quickly euthanized it and its remains were sent to a CPW animal health lab in Fort Collins for examination. It was a young female that weighed about 30 pounds and appeared in good body condition.

The girl was treated for a small puncture to her cheek and released at a Chaffee County hospital.

“This was a small mountain lion probably just looking for an easy meal in the chicken coop,” said Sean Shepherd, Area Wildlife Manager based in Salida. “The victim likely surprised the lion. It probably felt threatened and it swatted at her as she entered.”

He believes it was a defensive swat by the mountain lion and not a stalking-type of attack because the animal did not pursue the girl. Either way, CPW takes such incidents very seriously and officers responded aggressively to protect human health and safety.

“Mountain lion attacks are rare, but we can’t take any chances when any predator makes contact with a human,” Shepherd said. “And we need to know if there was anything else going on with this lion, such as rabies, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza or some other infection that may have influenced its behavior. So it must be euthanized and tested.”

Shepherd called it an unfortunate coincidence that CPW responded to another mountain lion attack in March in nearby Nathrop. In that incident, a man soaking in an in-ground hot tub was clawed in the head by a mountain lion. 

“Both of these incidents are highly unusual,” Shepherd said. “I do not believe there is a pattern here. These were unfortunate coincidences. Nothing more.”

CPW encourages residents to report mountain lion sightings or activity near their homes by calling their local CPW office or by calling Colorado State Patrol after business hours.

Prior to these two mountain lion incidents in Chaffee County, there had not been a mountain lion attack on a human in Colorado since Feb. 27, 2022.

This is the 25th known attack of a mountain lion causing injury to a human in Colorado since 1990. Three other attacks in Colorado since 1990 have resulted in human deaths. CPW does not characterize lion depredation of pets or other animals as attacks.

Though mountain lion attacks are relatively rare, it is important to know how to avoid or manage potential encounters. To learn more about living with mountain lions in Colorado, go to https://cpw.state.co.us/lions.

To reduce the risk of problems with mountain lions on or near your property, CPW urges you to follow these simple precautions:

• Make lots of noise if you come and go during the times mountain lions are most active: dusk to dawn.

• Install outside lighting. Light areas where you walk so you could see a lion if one were present.

• Closely supervise children whenever they play outdoors. Make sure children are inside before dusk and not outside before dawn. Talk with children about lions and teach them what to do if they meet one.

• Landscape or remove vegetation to eliminate hiding places for lions. Make it difficult for lions to approach unseen.

• Planting non-native shrubs and plants that deer often prefer to eat encourages wildlife to come onto your property. Predators follow prey. Never feed any wildlife.

• Keep your pet under control. Roaming pets are easy prey and can attract lions. Bring pets in at night. If you leave your pet outside, keep it in a kennel with a secure top. Don’t feed pets outside; this can attract raccoons and other animals that are eaten by lions. Store all garbage securely.

• Place livestock in enclosed sheds or barns at night. Close doors to all outbuildings since inquisitive lions may go inside for a look.

The international event will highlight local efforts to increase the quality of life in every community.

Adams County marks the week of May 8-12, 2023, as the next Economic Development Week. During this week, communities across North America will celebrate and recognize the contributions made by professional economic developers to create more economically vibrant and livable communities.

Created in 2016 by International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest international professional trade association for economic developers, Economic Development Week aims to increase awareness for local programs that create jobs, advance career development opportunities, and improve the quality of life in communities everywhere.

“As local and regional economies evolve, the role of economic developers and development organizations are crucial in energizing, preparing, and promoting local economic growth,” says IEDC President & CEO Nathan Ohle. “The 2023 Economic Development Week will recognize, distinguish, and show appreciation for the innovation and leadership of our community leaders building an equitable, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future. I hope communities everywhere will join us in celebrating the accomplishments and important work economic developers perform in their communities year-round.”

At public hearing on Tuesday, May 9, the Adams County Board of Commissioners proclaimed May 8-12 as Economic Development Week in the county. The proclamation highlights how economic development professionals promote and improve the economic well-being and quality of life of our residents, how those professionals support and enhance existing businesses, and how economic development is rooted in critical community partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Our Community & Economic Development (CED) Department works to support all businesses and residents of Adams County with direct business engagement in unincorporated areas and in partnership with the economic development professionals within our cities, as well as with our state and regional partners, to attract and retain high-quality jobs and improve the quality of life in our community.

“Adams County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Colorado, and our CED Department, working with many of our local partners, is responsible for facilitating that growth,” said Steve O’Dorisio, Chair, Board of County Commissioners. “Economic Development Week is a wonderful time to celebrate their successes.”

By COLLEEN SLEVIN
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) – A lawyer for a Colorado woman who repeatedly stabbed and then shot her 11-year-old stepson before driving his body across the country said Friday that the brutality of the attack was the strongest evidence that the killing was the result of a “psychotic break.”

During closing arguments in Letecia Stauch’s murder trial in Colorado Springs, Josh Tolini urged jurors to find her not guilty by reason of insanity. He emphasized that she would be kept confined at the state mental hospital if they reached that verdict in the 2020 killing of Gannon Stauch. Tolini said prosecutors had not shown why the special needs teacher would want to kill the slight 80-pound boy she cared for and lived with in such a violent way.

“This wasn’t a pre-planned calculated killing for some gain. This was a
psychotic break fueled by rage attacking a demon from the past,” he said in
court before jurors began deliberations.

Prosecutors say Gannon was stabbed 18 times before being hit in the head and then shot by Stauch, suggesting that she first tried to kill him by burning him and drugging him with an opioid. His father, Stauch’s husband Al, was on a National Guard deployment at the time. They say Stauch then put Gannon’s body in a suitcase, drove it across the country in a rented van and threw the suitcase over the side of a bridge in the Florida Panhandle.

Prosecutors are not required to prove a motive but District Attorney Michael Allen said they had shown that Stauch killed Gannon because she hated him and because it was a way to hurt her husband, whom she planned to leave. He pointed to how Stauch had done a Google search for “I don’t like my stepson” and had also researched getting a moving truck and places to live in Florida before killing him.

”The brutality of it speaks to the abject hatred she had for Gannon and the pure determination she had to kill Gannon,” Allen said.

Stauch is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree murder of a child by a person in a position of trust, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence.

Experts at the state mental hospital concluded that Stauch had a personality disorder with borderline and narcissistic features but was sane at the time Gannon was killed. Under Colorado law, that means understanding the difference between right and wrong and being able to form the intent to commit a crime.

The defense claims Stauch suffered a psychotic break because of trauma from being physically, emotionally and sexually abused by her mother’s string of partners during her childhood. Its main witness, Dr. Dorothy Lewis, author of the book “Crazy, Not Insane” and featured in an HBO documentary with the same title, concluded Stauch suffered from dissociative identity disorder – when someone has two or more personalities as the result of trauma – and was not sane at the time. Allen pointed out that Lewis did not know how sanity is defined under Colorado law.

Prosecutors have argued that Stauch took steps to cover up her actions – proof that she knew what she did was wrong – and was therefore sane. They said she cleaned up blood in Gannon’s bedroom, where he was killed, and moved his body to various locations to hide it before disposing of it off a bridge that crosses a river flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. It was discovered shortly after by a bridge inspector doing a biennial safety check.

Eds: UPDATES: Adds attempts to reach second deputy, more comment from sheriff.

By COLLEEN SLEVIN
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) – A man who says he was repeatedly stunned with a Taser while handcuffed, including once in the face, is suing a Colorado sheriff’s department, alleging excessive force by two deputies and also a failure by leaders to train and discipline their employees.

Kenneth Espinoza was arrested Nov. 29, 2022, after he stopped to wait when Deputy Mikhail Noel of the Las Animas County Sheriff’s Office pulled over his son, whom he had been following to a car appointment.

According to the lawsuit filed in federal court this week, Lt. Henry Trujillo
and then Noel ordered Espinoza to leave, saying he should not be near a traffic stop. After initially refusing, Espinoza then started to drive away but Noel pointed his handgun and ordered him to stop.

The suit alleges that Noel used a Taser to stun Espinoza directly on his body while he was in his truck, calling them “drive stuns.”

As the deputies struggle to get Espinoza into the car, video shows, one warns that he is going to use the Taser on him, and uses an expletive.

One device can be seen contacting Espinoza’s body along with the wires that carry Taser electrodes, as crackling sounds are heard.

Espinoza was hit in the lip after he turned toward the deputies because of the pain of the shocks, according to the lawsuit. The video does not appear to show Espinoza being stunned in the face, but photos released by his lawyer, Kevin Mehr, show him with large scabs on his lip.

Mehr said one probe was lodged 3 centimeters into Espinoza’s gum, according to medical records. He estimates Espinoza was hit about 35 times by Tasers, mostly in the “drive stun” mode directly to his body.

Trujillo and Noel were placed on paid leave during an investigation by an
outside agency, Sheriff Derek Navarette said in a statement.

He added that the investigation did not start until April 24 because sheriff’s
officials were waiting to find out whether prosecutors would pursue charges against Espinoza. Prosecutors informed them that day, the same one that Espinoza’s lawyer released the body camera video, that they were not going to prosecute. Navarette said prosecutors acknowledged there had been a delay in telling the sheriff’s office of their decision.

He said he would not comment further because of the lawsuit.

A message left at a phone number believed to belong to Trujillo was not
immediately returned. A telephone number could immediately not be found for Noel.

Nathaniel Espinoza, the plaintiff’s son, who joined Mehr at a news conference announcing the lawsuit Tuesday, said he and his father were the only “cool heads” during the whole interaction with the deputies, which he thinks helped prevent them from being killed. He added that he does not have a problem with all police, but some are problematic.

“Cops are people, and there are bad people all over,” Nathaniel Espinoza said.

AURORA, Colo. (AP) – Six people were hurt — two with life-threatening injuries – when part of a heating and ventilation system collapsed at a resort pool in Colorado on Saturday, fire officials said.

Aurora Fire Rescue said there were 50 to 100 guests in the pool when the
collapse occurred Saturday morning at the Gaylord Rockies resort near Denver International Airport.

Fire Chief Alec Oughton said crews were already at the resort for training when the collapse happened.

Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW) is a federal initiative that seeks to share information with the public about protecting and improving air quality. This year’s theme is “Working Together for Clean Air.” The week runs May 1-5, 2023, and each day has a different topic. The themes include:

• Wednesday, May 3 – Air Quality and Transportation
• Thursday, May 4 – Air Quality and Climate
• Friday, May 5 – Participatory Science

The Denver metro area, including communities throughout Adams County, is experiencing increasingly worse air quality conditions. The Denver Metro-North Front Range does not meet the EPA’s standards for ozone, and residents are increasingly being exposed to high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM). Absent dramatic changes in behavior and policy, we will continue to see worsening air quality conditions across the Front Range due to impacts from climate change, such as increased temperatures, drought events, and the number and severity of wildfires both inside and outside of Colorado.

Both ozone and PM can cause a multitude of health impacts. Ozone impacts include short-term effects such as coughing, scratchy throat, and difficulty breathing. Long-term impacts include lung and airway damage. Ozone can aggravate respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. Particulate matter is the most common trigger of asthma attacks.

Like ozone, PM is associated with conditions like chronic bronchitis, asthma, and heart disease and has been linked to increased respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and early death. Adams County has a higher age-adjusted asthma emergency department visit rate of 29.67 than the statewide average of 20.1.

To help address these issues, Adams County is receiving EPA funds ($400,000) to support and expand our existing Particulate Matter (PM2.5) sensor network and local government partnerships to increase AQ monitoring, community awareness about AQ, and policy/systems changes to improve public health.

“The EPA commends Adams County for their leadership in building a strong, community-based air monitoring network,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “As we continue to address persistent air quality challenges in Colorado, these types of projects provide critical information on conditions in our neighborhoods. Through Inflation Reduction Act funding, EPA is helping local leaders, health experts, and families secure real-time information about air quality near locations where people gather.”

The Adams County Health Department is working with a number of partners, including the City of Northglenn, Adams 12 School District, City of Thornton Parks and Rec, Adams County, Anythink Libraries, Arapahoe Libraries, City of Sheridan, and City of Englewood. We would like to thank them for their partnership in this work.

“Northglenn is excited to be working together for clean air with the Adams County Health Department and many other great partners in our region. The ability for our residents to monitor PM2.5 in real-time is a true benefit and can help them make decisions about their health regarding outdoor activities on bad air quality days,” said Becky Smith, Planning Manager for the City of Northglenn. “Residents can also use it as a tool to take steps to reduce their air quality impacts on days when PM2.5 is higher.”

We urge everyone to take part in AQAW and help spread awareness about air quality. Working together, we can all help ensure clean air for ourselves and future generations.