Headlines — April 11, 2022

Headlines April 11, 2022

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Wildfire in Pueblo Mostly Contained

Emergency responders in Pueblo report that the fast moving grassfire ignited Sunday is 75% percent contained as of this morning. Strong winds intensified the blaze which began near the PAWS For Life Animal Shelter and complicated the fire response effort. By early evening Sunday, the Red Cross had opened an evacuation center in Pueblo’s Goodnight Elementary school. 

Pueblo’s fire department is urging residents to sign up for its emergency SMS alert system. 

Fire in El Paso Causes Mandatory Evacuations and Closes Highway 94 

In other fire news, El Paso County sent out mandatory evacuation notices Sunday afternoon. The fire forced the closure of Highway 94. Multiple emergency service workers and fire crews were sent to protect the surrounding area and aid in evacuation efforts.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s office lifted evacuation orders around nightfall. 

Federal Officials to Visit Colorado Today to Launch Rural Infrastructure Tour

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore will be in Colorado today to talk rural fire protection. The officials will meet with Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Congressional Representative Joe Neguse in Boulder County.

Here they will meet with wildland fire experts to discuss fire risk and mitigation strategies and federal investments in hazardous fuels management and post wildfire restoration activities. 

The federal funding is part of the 1.2 trillion dollar Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress last year. 

Avian Influenza Confirmed In Pitkin County

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed a flock of 35 backyard chickens fell victim to the highly pathogenic avian influenza this past week in Pitkin County. Experts linked the exposure to sick waterfowl, showing how easily the virus can spread from wild birds to backyard Coloradan flocks.

State health officials are ramping up detection efforts among poultry flocks in Pitkin County.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is urging all bird owners, from commercial to residential, to reduce the chain of contact between wild and domestic birds and to report any symptoms of disease as soon as they arise. 

Colorado Springs Unveils New Projected Concert/Live Music Venue

A new outdoor concert venue is in the works in Colorado Springs. The venue will feature a west facing view of Pikes Peak and have a capacity of around 8 thousand seats.

The site is near North Gate Boulevard and Interstate 25 and tentatively scheduled to open in the 2023 outdoor concert season.

Teller County Deputy Fired After Threatening Violence

 In a rare instance of police accountability, teller county takes swift action against police officer. An off-duty Teller County Deputy, Mark Bissett, was arrested on Saturday morning following an investigation for burglary, felony menacing, trespassing, and prohibited use of a weapon. Bisset had allegedly threatened a property owner and trespassed on the home in Florrisant multiple times. He was later fired by the Teller County Sheriff’s Office. 

An initial 911 call had been placed when Bisset threatened the owner with a revolver in a holster while appearing intoxicated and claiming to be the Sheriff’s Deputy. Another 911 call was reportedly placed when Bisset returned with a rifle, forced his way inside the home, and threatened people inside. 

The Sheriff’s Office put out a report condemning the behavior on Saturday. 

Drunk Driving Suspected as Cause Behind Fatal Crash in Boulder Saturday

A 17-year old girl going south in the northbound lanes of Foothills Parkway crashed her dodge pick-up into a Subaru killing the Subaru’s female passenger and injuring the 33-year-old driver on Saturday at around 11:20 PM. The police patrol suspect the 17-year-old driver, who sustained only minor injuries, was drunk at the time accident.  

After the Subaru was hit, it flew into the railing, knocking into a Honda driven by a 65 year-old woman, who was also seriously injured. 

Iris Berkeley Wins Westword DJ Recognition

KGNU DJ Iris Berkeley was named Westword’s Readers Choice Best DJ of the Year 2022. Berkeley hosts a wide range of music programs on KGNU, including A Classic Monday, Swing Shift, Electronic Air and the Afternoon Sound Alternative. She is also able to pivot comfortably to live emergency coverage as was the case during the Marshall Fire. As with most on-air hosts at KGNU, Iris Berkeley is a volunteer.