Clear Creek County

Ryan Hicks suspected of murder after roomie David Noren's body found (2)

Beginning last month, the Lakewood Police Department issued regular alerts about David Noren, who was last seen on May 19 -- and the urgency increased as investigators became increasingly convinced something bad had happened to him. Now, the mystery of Noren's whereabouts have been solved, albeit t ... More >>

Ten unsolved Colorado murders: Read personal stories of the victims

The Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons website draws attention to unsolved murders, and we tried to do likewise in three posts last year -- in May, September and November. The ten crimes featured in this installment include two of the most famous unsolved crimes in Boulder history: the ... More >>

Animal cruelty case: Shelter upset at deal that returned animals to part-time Santa Bill Lee

Last week, we told you the latest in the case of Bill Lee, an Idaho Springs rancher and mall Santa whose animals were seized in a cruelty investigation. Lee has agreed to plead guilty to one count of animal cruelty and has been granted a two-year deferred judgment -- meaning that if he complies with ... More >>

Bill Lee, mall Santa charged with animal cruelty, pleads guilty to one count, gets reindeer back

Bill Lee, the Idaho Springs rancher and mall Santa charged with 32 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, has agreed to plead guilty to one of those counts. He's been granted a two-year deferred judgment, meaning that if he complies with a set of conditions for two years, he won't be convicted of any ... More >>

Santa Bill Lee and animal cruelty: Two cases dropped, some animals (but no reindeer) back

Mall Santa Bill Lee has gotten sixteen more of his seized animals back. That number doesn't include any reindeer, though. Not yet. As we explained in our cover story, "Santa is Grounded," Clear Creek County animal-control officers seized about one hundred of Lee's animals last year and slapped him ... More >>

Reader: That Santa gave my kids a Christmas to remember

Even a miracle may not bring Bill Lee's animals back

See also: Bill Lee, mall Santa whose animals were seized, gets two of his reindeer back

Anthony Ortolani wants dog he left on a mountain to go to one of her rescuers

Last month, Anthony Ortolani insisted he wanted to retain custody of Missy, a dog he left on a mountain to die -- a prospect that spurred Facebook outcry and a petition to stop that from happening. Now, however, he's done an about-face, saying at a news conference that he wants Missy to stay with o ... More >>

Anthony Ortolani faces petition against getting back dog he left on a mountain

Accusations of animal cruelty tend to inflame passions -- and that's certainly true in the case of Anthony Ortolani and his German Shepherd, Missy. Ortolani reportedly left an injured Missy on a mountain but now wants the dog back -- a prospect that's inspired Facebook criticism and a petition tryi ... More >>

Despite a tragic summer, Colorado is still the real sunshine state

Also read: Fifty latest reasons Colorado is the best state in the country

Joseph Shematek's death means 2012 Colorado ski season tied for most lethal ever

On Sunday, Joseph Shematek, a 71 year old from Windsor, died at St. Anthony's Hospital following a skiing accident in Loveland. By our count, he's the seventeenth person to pass away as a result of injuries on the slopes of a Colorado resort this season, tying it for the deadliest on record.

Vincent Groves may have slain 24 women: Colorado's most prolific serial killer?

Update below: The Denver District Attorney's Office has announced that it's solved four cold cases: the murders of a quartet of women between 1979 and 1988. The slayer: Vincent Groves, who may be the most prolific serial killer in the state's history.

The ten worst skateparks in Colorado

The November issue of Thrasher included the results of a contest in which the magazine had asked readers for the worst skateparks in their towns for a list titled "Certified Piece of Suck: Doo-Doo Skatepark Construction." One of these pieces of suck is located in Colorado.

Denver Burger Battle, Dinner In White and more on this week's culinary calendar

​With Euclid Hall's first anniversary party, the Denver Burger Battle and the Dinner in White, the Denver dining scene already has a very full plate this week. But there's more, lots more, including Vesta Dipping Grill's Menu Classic Mondays ((those are Vesta's samosas you see before you). Her ... More >>

David Lawless, charged as Colorado Mills mall bomber, is in the Earl Moore tradition

Big pic below.​David Lawless stands accused of planting anemic explosive devices at Colorado Mills on Saturday, around the same time a bunch of windows were broken at a nearby Best Buy -- and Lawless is the suspect in that incident, too. As for his reasons, they're not clear yet, as remains th ... More >>

Marijuana as sacrament: Jason Wimler to use religious weed defense in possession case

Rev. Jason Wimler.​Earlier this week, we spoke with Roger Christie of THC Ministry, who's readying an injunction that, if successful, would essentially treat medical marijuana dispensaries like churches. In the meantime, Jason Wimler, a reverend with the ministry, is preparing to defend himse ... More >>

Marijuana ministry plans injunction to treat dispensaries like churches

Roger Christie.​Roger Christie, head of Hawaii's THC Ministry, is in Colorado for a series of events to promote using religious exemptions to get around new medical marijuana laws. And he hopes to take action in court by Independence Day to make the concept stick.

Ricky Lee Harnish gets a lot less time than he deserves for Holly Andrews murder

Ricky Lee Harnish gets a relatively small book thrown at him.​After news broke in October about Ricky Lee Harnish facing a likely ten-to-24-year sentence for the 1976 rape and murder of teenager Holly Andrews, even Clear Creek County Sheriff Don Krueger admitted to mixed emotions. But no such ... More >>

Double the sentence for rapist/murderer Ricky Lee Harnish? He's certainly earned it...

Anybody for locking up Ricky Lee Harnish for longer than 24 years? A show of hands, please.​Ricky Lee Harnish traded a confession in the 1976 Holly Andrews case for a reduced charge with a potential ten-to-24-year sentence -- waaaay too sweet a deal for a guy who admits to raping and murdering ... More >>

Sheriff has "mixed emotions" about plea deal with rapist/murderer Ricky Lee Harnish

Clear Creek County Sheriff Don Krueger.​Earlier today, I expressed astonishment that Ricky Lee Harnish, who's admitted to having raped and murdered teenager Holly Andrews in 1976, will likely face a sentence that maxes out at 24 years. Clear Creek Sheriff Don Krueger, in whose jurisdiction And ... More >>

Xcel Energy, others accused of OSHA violations in incident that killed five

​In October 2007, five employees of RPI Coating Inc. were killed by carbon monoxide generated by a fire at the Cabin Creek Hydro Plant outside Georgetown that's operated by Xcel Energy and Public Service Company of Colorado. Now, a federal grand jury has issued indictments against RPI, Xcel, P ... More >>

Drive safely this weekend -- or else an army of cops will bust your ass

This weekend, law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force to make sure you don't do anything stupid behind the wheel over the Memorial Day weekend. This link on the Colorado Department of Transportation website details the specific plans of 85 separate organizations. For instanc ... More >>

Public TV stations grapple with digital switchover

The Message column "DTV or No TV" discusses a likely complication in the move from analog television signals to the digital kind, which is scheduled to take place on February 17. Specifically, some viewers west of the main digital tower on Lookout Mountain who have been receiving free analog signa ... More >>

Mining the Past for the Future

Passenger rail study for I-70 and I-25 corridors kicks off

A Multi Modal Solution to I-70 Congestion

Road Block!

Best of Westword 1991 Winners

Still Lost, Not Found

Bob Briggs Is Off the Train

Get Lost!

These troubled teens found themselves at Lost and Found. But now the program is finding itself out of options.

CDOT Reconsidering Trains Along I-70?

Rail Roaded

Finding a solution to I-70 traffic has been one long, strange trip. But the end could be in sight.

Snow Time

An Uphill Climb

Coors brews up another terrain park.

Ticket to Ride

After thirty years, Squaw Pass is ready to make a comeback — as Echo Mountain Park.

Paving the Way

Central City gambles on its future. Again.

Best Anti-Socialite

Koleen Brooks

Best Place to Learn About Mining's (Ugly) Legacy

Idaho Springs Heritage Museum and Visitor's Center

Tower Failure

Community groups and broadcasters widen their battle over proposed tower construction.

Backwash

Idaho Springs' KGOAT proves there's radio in them thar hills!

Ghost Story

The truth about what really happened to Holly Andrews still haunts her family.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

These cops have a beat, but can you dance to it?

Dog Eat Dog

From shooters to lawmakers to developers to environmentalists, prairie dogs are wagging everyone.

Strange but True

Off Limits

Mutual Contempt

A defense attorney accused of being disrespectful to a judge is off the hook--for now.

What Hit Us?

Long Before "Asteroid," moviemakers made their mark on Colorado. A guide to some high and low points.

Beyond Contempt

A judge and a prosecutor in Gilpin County are after a new breed of criminals: jurors and defense attorneys.

STRANGE BUT TRUE

THINGS YOU DID IN DENVER WHILE YOU WERE STOPPED DEAD IN TRAFFIC ON THE WAY TO DIA.