Author: I-70 Scout

ECT 11-05-23 Flyer

Halloween tips for drivers and trick-or-treaters (COLO) – Tomorrow is Halloween, and the Colorado State Patrol wants motorists and pedestrians to do their part as they share the road for an evening of trick-or-treating and fun. According to statewide statistics, 2022 was a record-setting year for pedestrian fatalities with 111 people killed on Colorado roadways, representing 15% of the state’s total traffic fatalities. “Kids love the magic of Halloween, so we all need to do our part to ensure they are practicing road and pedestrian safety,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Talk to your older kids and go with your younger ones. Being a good role model by crossing at intersections and wearing something bright shows them they can have fun and also do it safely.” Drivers are also asked to stay alert for pedestrians and follow the following tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): Drive slowly around neighborhoods and residential streets, even if you don’t see trick-or-treaters around. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive high. Watch for children who may dart out into the street, and always yield to pedestrians. If you see one child, there are likely to be more who are ready to cross. When driving, ensure your headlights are on—not just your daytime running lights. Try to park in a spot where you won’t need to back up. But if you must, have an adult outside to make sure no children are in the way of your vehicle when you do. Don’t use a cell phone, adjust your vehicle controls or eat while driving. Pull over safely to do all of those things, if necessary. Troopers continue to take a low-tolerance approach to the top fatal crash factors, including lane violations while launching a yearlong campaign called “Drive Safe.” This campaign reminds people to control their lane position based on their current driving environment.

Halloween is creeping upon us, attracting the attention of Ghostbusters across the nation. But with ghost stories dating back centuries around the world, which U.S. states are the most haunted house-obsessed?

AirportParkingReservations.com took a deep dive into all things ghost-related to reveal the states that are most obsessed with haunted houses. They examined the number of searches for haunted houses, haunted house reports, and the number of ghost stories and Ghost Adventures episodes filmed in each state.

California Named the Most Ghost-Obsessed State

California takes the number one spot in the US for paranormal lovers. The data revealed that there are 431 searches for ‘haunted house’ per 10,000 residents, with 45 total episodes from Ghost Hunters & Ghost Adventures being filmed in the state. Ghost Quest, a ghost reporting site, found 1351 total haunted locations have been reported.

The Big Apple came in second, with New York having the second-highest number of episodes filmed within the state, and with a total of 1250.3 searches for ghosts for every 10,000 residents.

Nevada came in third across the nation – the state came in number one among haunted house searches per 10,000 residents with 1322 searches per 10,000. Pennsylvania and Ohio round out the top five among the most haunted house-obsessed states.

The full US ranking can be found below:

The network helps businesses increase energy efficiency, save money, and create a greener Colorado

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Colorado Green Business Network is pleased to announce that it has accepted 117 new businesses into the network. These businesses now join 36 other green Colorado businesses in gaining access to funding resources, a support system, mentorship, technical assistance, and statewide recognition. 

The program recognizes organizations as Bronze-, Silver- or Gold-level Members, based on points accumulated in their certification application, for voluntarily going above and beyond compliance with state and federal regulations and working toward the goal of true, operational sustainability. These newly-accepted businesses will be honored at the annual recognition event on Friday, September 29 at the Denver Zoo. 

“Our goal is to make Colorado greener and more sustainable, and we are eager to recognize this year’s round of environmental leaders who are making important strides to support Colorado’s sustainability goals,” said Rayna Oliker, Colorado Green Business Network Administrator. “These businesses have advanced their operational sustainability by demonstrating notable reductions in emissions and reducing their use of water, energy, waste, and transportation. We are proud of their work and are eager to honor them at our upcoming recognition event.” 

The program provides free, off-site coaching and on-site assistance to any organization that requests it and recognizes organizations that take the initiative to reduce their carbon footprint resource use at their facility. The program can help businesses track their energy usage data, install conservation measures, such as low-flow toilets or LEDs, and upgrade their equipment to more efficient models. In addition, the program helps Colorado businesses assess opportunities for improvement, recognizes outstanding sustainability successes, and provides connections to like-minded businesses. 

The Colorado Green Business Network community represents businesses across the state, large and small, that implement unique and inspiring projects to reduce their environmental impact. The network aims to support any business, industry, office, educational institution, municipality, government agency, community, nonprofit, and organization from all corners of the state. A map of recognized businesses is available on CDPHE’s website. 

For more information, visit the Colorado Green Business Network website or contact . 

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The Colorado Green Business Network is a voluntary program that encourages, supports, and rewards organizations that make the move toward the goal of true, operational sustainability. Its goal is to support organizations throughout the state at any level of implementation in increasing the efficiency and sustainability of their operation through assessing opportunities for growth, recognizing success, and providing connections to like-minded businesses throughout the state.

(GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO) – Two men have been arrested for drug trafficking along Interstate 70 after a traffic stop with a Colorado State Trooper which resulted in the seizure of over 290 pounds of cocaine.

On Monday, September 25, 2023, around 3:30 AM, a Trooper with the Colorado State Patrol Smuggling-Trafficking-Interdiction-Section stopped a Chrysler minivan for a traffic violation on Interstate 70 near milepost 27.

During the stop, the Trooper became suspicious of criminal activity and asked for consent to search the vehicle.  The driver declined and a search warrant was obtained.  A vehicle search resulted in the Trooper locating a significant amount of drugs hidden in suitcases.  The drugs are suspected to be kilos of cocaine and had a total approximate weight of 290 pounds.

After the drugs were located, Tyleke Stokley (28) from North Carolina and Darvin Campbell (55) from Alabama were arrested.  Mr. Stokley and Mr. Campbell were booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility for Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 112 grams of cocaine, Drug Felony 1 charge, and Special Offender for transporting more than 7 grams of cocaine into the State of Colorado, a Drug Felony 1 charge.  The Trooper was assisted by Deputies from the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and Fruita Police Department.

Please note: This case remains open and active. No interviews or further information will be released at this time.

*The person(s) involved has not yet been convicted of a crime and are presumed innocent. The presumption of innocence shall continue until such time that the person(s) accused may be found guilty by a court of law.*ached)

(Three photos attached)

Discover expert outdoor tips on how you can make a difference and recreate responsibly this fall season.

DENVER – Colorado’s vibrant fall season has officially begun as colors change along the landscapes. As sportspeople gear up for hunting trips and people flock to scenic trails to see fall foliage, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) encourages all outdoor enthusiasts to protect our natural resources while also enjoying them.

“Whether hunting, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, biking, boating or leaf peeping, all outdoor activities have the potential to impact our state’s natural resources,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis. “At CPW, we want to inspire and educate people that they can positively give back to the outdoor spaces we all enjoy by balancing our recreation with mindful conservation.”

Below are a few expert outdoor tips on how you can make a difference and recreate responsibly this fall season to keep Colorado state parks and our wildlife thriving.

Know Before You Go
The fall season is busy at Colorado state parks and parking lots get full. If a parking area is full, move on to the next designated parking area and follow instructions given by park rangers. Park rangers can issue parking tickets to people who park illegally or block traffic.

• Plan your visit with the Colorado State Parks Guide (el folleto de parques en Español).
• Use the Park Finder Tool to see a Colorado state park map.
• Camping reservations at Colorado state parks are required.
• Find park events, classes and festivals on the CPW Events Calendar.
• Read the 2023 Colorado State Recreation Lands Brochure to find changes for permitted activities in state wildlife areas.
• Plan your outdoor adventure based on the weather forecast and your skill level. If the area you want to explore has bad weather or appears too complicated, help yourself and our outdoor first responders by changing your outdoor plan to avoid hazardous conditions.
• Have a backup plan if your desired trailhead, park or location is crowded or closed.

Be Safe on the Water
So far in 2023, Colorado has seen 29 confirmed water-related fatalities with three missing persons from water-related incidents. In 2022, a state record of 40 documented fatalities was reported. As people venture outdoors for waterfowl hunts and ice fishing this fall, all water-safety best practices are still in place as water flows still prove to be more dangerous this year compared to previous years.

• Wear a life jacket​. The majority of fatalities occur because people don’t wear a life jacket.
• Protect your​self from the dangers of cold-water shock. Regardless of your age or experience level, cold water can quickly create a drowning emergency.
• Paddle boards and kayaks are considered vessels, and life jacket requirements apply.
• Get a safety inspection of your vessel.
• Boat sober. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths.
• Help prevent the spread of Aquatic Nuisance Species by keeping your vessel clean, drained and dry.
• Check out the map of Statewide Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Sites​​​​​​ in Colorado.

Stick To Trails
Shortcuts and that perfect selfie can be tempting, but staying on the path will decrease your risk of injury and protect trailside plants and local wildlife.

• Download the COTREX app to discover Colorado’s expansive network of trails.
• Show you care for Colorado by not driving or walking over plants, flowers, rocks or streams.

Leave It As You Find It
Parking in designated areas is critical — undesignated parking can destroy vegetation, ignite wildfires in dry grass and block first-responder vehicles in case of an emergency.

• Colorado’s trees provide beautiful leaf-peeping photos, shade and oxygen. Help keep them thriving by not carving into them or pulling down branches that may kill or disfigure them.
• Avoid stacking rocks because they play an essential role in stabilizing and protecting the erosion of trails.

Trash the Trash
Together, we can trash the trash. Always dispose of waste properly when on the trail.

• Pack it in, pack it out. Whatever you bring into the outdoors, take it out with you.
• Remove makeshift toilets from hunting camps that contain human waste, dog waste, toilet paper, trash or leftover camping gear.
• Don’t leave a pet waste baggie on the trail even if you mean to pick it up on your way out. People forget that pet waste is not just unsightly but disruptive to wildlife. Do not hang waste on trees or put waste bags in toilets.
• Bring plastic grocery bags to carry trash when trash cans are not available or full.

Keep Wildlife Wild
Many species call Colorado home, making it the perfect destination for wildlife watching on state park trails.

• Protect yourself and your loved ones from potential wildlife conflicts by watching and photographing wild animals from a safe distance to avoid startling them or forcing them to flee.
• Keep dogs leashed when enjoying dog-friendly trails to help prevent moose attacks, causing wild animals to flee, or get aggressive.
• Do not feed or approach young wildlife.
• During fall, bears eat more calories before hibernation and may be more active on trails and venture into urban areas looking for food. Help reduce human-bear conflicts, bear-proof your home and be bear aware on trails.
• Elk are in a rut during the fall, so give them space and do not approach them because they can get territorial and attack when they feel threatened.
• If you see wildlife that appears sick or injured, leave it alone. Call a Colorado Parks and Wildlife office and consult a trained wildlife officer for guidance.
• Take down hammocks, outdoor ropes and other tangle hazards from your yard that may impact wildlife as they migrate this fall.

Be Careful with Fire
Although parts of Colorado have received high levels of moisture this year, drought conditions are still present and impact if campfires are allowed or restricted this fall.

• Check fire restrictions or bans at www.coemergency.com.
• Use designated campfire areas when allowed and available.
• Keep campfires small and manageable.
• Put fires out with water until you can touch the embers.
• Never leave a campfire unattended.
• Avoid parking or driving on dry grass. Check your tire pressure and if chains or exposed wheel rims are dragging from your vehicle that may create sparks.

Share our Trails and Parks
Being kind and considerate to others outdoors helps build more inclusive spaces and allows everyone a personal connection to nature.

• Please respect our natural resources, park staff, volunteers and fellow recreationists out searching for Colorado gold this fall.
• Be mindful of your group’s noise level so everyone can appreciate our shared spaces.
• Yield to the uphill hiker and biker — they need the momentum. Wheelchair users and equestrians always have the right of way.
• People interested in exploring Colorado state parks for $29 should consider buying a Keep Colorado Wild Pass during their annual vehicle registration with the DMV. With the pass, you save $51 off the regular price of an annual state parks pass if purchased directly through CPW, and the pass funds search and rescue teams, avalanche safety and outdoor education. Learn more at cpw.info/keepcoloradowildand cpw.info/keepcoloradowildpassspanish.

THORNTON, Colo.–Oct. 2, 2023–All Anythink libraries and administrative offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 for a staff training day. Anythink locations will return to regularly scheduled hours of operation on Tuesday, Oct. 10.