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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Front Page

  • Colorado Named 10th Most Haunted States in the Nation

    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:

    Rank States Haunted Houses Searches per 10,000 Ghost hunters or adventures filmed in each state Haunted Locations reported by GhostQuest Ghost Searches Per 10,000 Haunted Obsessed (out of 40)
    1 California 431.6 45 1351 1263.3 30.4
    2 New York 625.1 41 460 1250.3 23.1
    3 Nevada 1322.2 17 93 1354.4 22.7
    4 Pennsylvania 432.3 40 709 1214.3 22.3
    5 Ohio 627.9 23 630 1338.0 20.6
    6 Rhode Island 870.4 24 215 1373.3 20.5
    7 Massachusetts 447.5 37 317 1274.6 19.3
    8 Illinois 912.7 14 399 1262.0 18.1
    9 Texas 717.9 8 922 1176.1 17.5
    10 Colorado 818.5 5 289 1433.8 16.3
    11 Wyoming 841.4 1 112 1578.0 15.8
    12 Connecticut 420.3 31 215 1162.6 15.0
    13 Kentucky 453.9 24 405 1143.7 14.7
    14 Utah 599.6 10 153 1412.3 14.2
    15 Georgia 717.9 13 392 1109.5 13.7
    16 Vermont 730.6 0 89 1520.5 13.3
    17 Missouri 496.2 14 334 1217.6 12.8
    18 Louisiana 700.0 20 293 930.8 12.4
    19 Oregon 604.8 3 252 1373.0 12.3
    20 Indiana 494.7 10 344 1226.5 11.8
    21 Michigan 648.6 3 425 1212.4 11.8
    22 Florida 360.3 16 601 1040.8 11.7
    23 Alaska 654.9 0 66 1440.7 11.3
    24 Washington 489.5 4 305 1311.6 10.9
    25 North Dakota 656.4 0 61 1412.8 10.9
    26 Nebraska 571.3 1 114 1427.4 10.9
    27 Tennessee 597.6 5 281 1205.7 10.8
    28 New Mexico 528.9 6 122 1314.3 10.7
    29 Delaware 723.3 2 54 1294.2 10.5
    30 Arizona 428.7 10 231 1196.1 10.2
    31 West Virginia 563.7 4 152 1285.8 10.1
    32 South Dakota 696.5 1 86 1278.6 10.0
    33 Kansas 470.8 3 181 1341.7 9.9
    34 Virginia 389.8 7 348 1217.0 9.7
    35 New Jersey 481.5 15 177 1005.9 8.7
    36 Wisconsin 529.2 0 326 1176.2 8.5
    37 New Hampshire 488.4 0 101 1324.9 8.3
    38 North Carolina 385.2 3 365 1171.0 8.1
    39 Maine 453.0 1 166 1270.2 8.0
    40 Oklahoma 423.9 3 238 1193.1 7.9
    41 Montana 479.2 4 131 1150.0 7.4
    42 Hawaii 517.4 1 127 1194.8 7.3
    43 Maryland 458.8 2 203 1171.0 7.3
    44 Minnesota 374.1 2 196 1193.5 6.7
    45 Alabama 448.6 1 364 1005.2 5.9
    46 Iowa 431.2 2 204 1079.6 5.8
    47 Arkansas 443.1 4 160 1054.6 5.8
    48 South Carolina 431.8 2 372 950.7 5.3
    49 Idaho 423.2 3 99 1078.6 5.2
    50 Mississippi 440.6 0 112 833.7 1.3

     

  • 2023’s Best Cities for Vampires

    Whether you wear a cape daily or just once a year for Halloween, you can fang Lawn Love for ranking 2023’s Best and Worst Cities for Vampires.

    To encourage blood donations during the national shortage, we compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities based on 5 categories.

    We looked for cities with plenty of warm bodies, blood centers, and vampire-friendly dwellings like homes with basements. We also considered community and entertainment factors, such as vampire groups and tours, as well as deterrents like sunshine and garlic festivals, among 17 total metrics.

    See the 10 best (and 10 worst) cities for vampires below, followed by key stats from our report.

    Key insights:

    • Big cities like New York (No. 1), Chicago (No. 2), and Philadelphia (No. 4) fly to the top of our ranking with a plethora of potential victims and blood donation centers.

    • 23 states — such as Massachusetts, Ohio, and Illinois — and the District of Columbia rank in the better half. Cities across New Englandand the Midwest dominate, thanks to lower rates of sunshine and scores of underground lairs (aka basements). All 8 Connecticut citiesin our ranking impress in the top 100 due to high historical cloud cover.

    • 4 sunbaked states — Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, and Idaho, the only U.S. state that has outlawed cannibalism — lurk in the bottom half. Las Vegas is the lone exception at No. 233 overall.

    • 7 Arizona cities melt into the bottom 10 with bountiful sunshine and few basements to evade the rays. However, not all sunny cities deter vampires. Tucson (No. 159) ties with Atlanta (No. 25) for the 3rd-highest number of vampire groups. Phoenix (No. 222) and Scottsdale(No. 417) are each home to vampire-friendly clubs.

      Helpful links:

  • Byers faces big game in Littleton

    BYERS — Now 7-1, the Bulldogs face an important game at 6-2 Front Range Christian in Littleton at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27.
    “They’re fighting for their playoff lives, and we’re kind of in that spot where we’re fighting for a home game,” Pelton said. “We would love to be in that seven or eight spot and host a game.”
    Both Byers and the Falcons have been defeated by Lyons, which has clinched the A-8 Central League title.

  • Colorado Green Business Network announces annual recognition event to honor 2023 green businesses

    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. 



    —


    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.

  • Colorado State Troopers Seize 290 Pounds of Cocaine During Traffic Stop

    drugs on hood

    (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)

    Stokleycampbell

  • Outdoor skills to master this fall: discover expert tips on how to recreate responsibly

    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.

    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.

  • Anythink Libraries announces Training Day closure

    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. 
     

  • Adams County Regional Economic Partnership Seeks Nominations for 2023 Gamechangers Awards

    Westminster, CO – The Adams County Regional Economic Partnership (AC-REP) will host its second annual Gamechangers Awards event on October 26th to celebrate and recognize projects or activities demonstrating innovation, inclusivity, sustainability, and economic vitality across various business sectors in the Greater Adams County Region. This year, AC-REP is seeking nominations for the most deserving projects and activities.
    If you wish to nominate a project or individual, nominations have been extended to Friday, October 6th. Please click here to submit your nomination.
    Award categories are:
    • Sustainability award in partnership with Xcel Energy
    • Innovation award in partnership with Manufacturer’s Edge
    • Inclusivity award in partnership with Rocky Mountain Partnership
    • Economic Vitality award in partnership with Adams County
    NOMINATIONS EXTENDED!!
    AC-REP will honor the 2023 Gamechangers on October 26, 2023 from 4:00PM to 6:30 PM at The Delta Hotel in Northglenn. More event information is available on the AC-REP website at www.ac-rep.org.

  • It’s leaf-peeping season: Find fall colors at Colorado state parks

    When heading outdoors to find the perfect scenic view this fall, practicing the Care for Colorado — Leave No Trace principles is essential in keeping our landscapes colorful and clean.
    (Photo: CPW/Bridget O’Rourke)

    DENVER – Colorado’s vibrant “leaf-peeping” season has officially begun as patches of color pop among the trees. While the stunning fall foliage display is worthy of the annual crowds at Colorado state parks, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) encourages park visitors to protect our natural resources while enjoying them.

    “We ask that folks “rushing for gold” plan ahead and have location backup plans because parks get crowded and parking is limited at certain trailheads,” said Todd Farrow, park manager at Golden Gate Canyon State Park. “Please only park in designated areas and remember that parking along roads is prohibited because it destroys vegetation, can ignite wildfires and blocks emergency vehicles.”

    All Coloradans and visitors can contribute positively to conserving our natural resources by respecting our outdoor shared spaces, as outlined below.

    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. CPW also recommends having a backup plan if your desired trailhead, park or location is crowded or closed.

    Use CPW’s Park Finder Tool to see a Colorado state parks map. To learn more about outdoor activities at Colorado state parks, visit cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo.

    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 extensive network of trails.

    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. Show you care about our state parks by not driving over plants, flowers, rocks or through water streams.

    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.

    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 wild animals from a safe distance to avoid startling or forcing them to flee.
    Keep dogs leashed when enjoying dog-friendly trails and put waste bags in a trash can. Do not hang waste on trees or put waste bags in toilets.

    Do not feed or approach young wildlife and be bear aware on trails. 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.

    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.

    “We want everyone to have a great time experiencing the vibrant colors and the natural wonders our beautiful state has to offer,” said Farrow. “No matter where you plan to explore this fall, please respect our natural resources, park staff, volunteers and fellow recreationists out searching for Colorado gold.”

    Join us in keeping Colorado, Colorado. Read about the Keep Colorado Wild Pass and how it benefits Colorado’s wildlife and state parks at cpw.info/keepcoloradowild and cpw.info/keepcoloradowildpassspanish.

  • New research reveals the Most Popular Pizza Toppings in Colorado

    The Most Popular Pizza Toppings in America

    • New research from Casinos.com in the run up to National Pepperoni Pizza Day on the 20th of September has revealed the most popular pizza toppings across the US.
    • The research revealed that Pepperoni is by far the most popular topping in the US, being the most popular topping across 29 states in total!
    • Bacon came out in second place as it is the most popular topping in 11 states across the country, and Sausage placed 3rd leading the popularity ranking in 5 states.

    Pizza is one of the most popular foods not only in America but across the globe, with everybody having different preferences and traditions for enjoying their pizza, and with National Pepperoni Pizza Day on the 20th of September, have you ever wondered which are the most popular pizza topping across America?

    Well, Casinos.com decided to analyze Google Trends data across all 50 US states for some of the most commonly ordered pizza toppings in the world in order to reveal the most popular pizza toppings in America.

    The following table ranks each pizza topping analyzed in order of highest to lowest Google Trends score, along with the number of states in which it ranks as the number one topping:

    Rank Topping Avg. Google Trends Score #1 Spots
    1 Pepperoni 71.62 29
    2 Bacon 67.58 11
    3 Sausage 66.48 5
    4 Mushrooms 64.78 1
    5 Chicken 60.10 1
    6 Peppers 58.58 2
    7 Ground Beef 56.56 0
    8 Tomatoes 48.86 0
    9 Onions 47.56 0
    10 Olives 46.26 0
    11 Jalapenos 45.58 0
    12 Pineapple 39.32 1
    13 Ham 37.70 0
    14 Basil 35.30 0
    15 Anchovies 22.22 0

    Pepperoni is the overwhelming favorite across the US with an average Google Trends score of 71.62 out of a possible 100 and is the most popular pizza topping in 29 US states. In second and third place are Bacon and Sausage who have scores of 67.58 and 66.48 and are the number one topping in 11 and 5 states, respectively.

    As far as some controversial toppings go, Anchovies finish dead last in the ranking with a score of just 22.22 out of 100, and Pineapple is 12th with a score of 39.32. Pineapple does however rank first in one state: you guessed it, Hawaii.

    If you’d like to read more about this research or about Casinos.com, then please visit https://www.casinos.com/us/news/america-s-most-popular-pizza-toppings