As a result of the ongoing Northern Colorado Drug Task Force (NCDTF) investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Joshua Edward Prull, 42, of Fort Collins alleging two different offenses for unlawful distribution of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia, and violation of a protection order. Prull’s bond was set at $500,000.

Fort Collins Police Services Criminal Impact Unit was asked to apprehend Prull for that warrant and took him into custody on September 20 near the intersection of Troutman and JFK Parkways. Prull had additional narcotics on him at the time and received two new charges alleging unlawful possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. The bond for these new charges is an additional $500,000.  Prull is being held in the Larimer County Jail.

Previously on Aug. 30 a search warrant was served in the 1300 block of Kirkwood Drive in Fort Collins. During the search, NCDTF investigators recovered several hundred suspected Fentanyl pills, two loaded handguns, several thousand dollars in cash and felony distribution amounts of suspected methamphetamine.

As a result of that investigation, Charlotte Elizabeth Haywood, 32, of Fort Collins was arrested and booked into the Larimer County Jail on allegations of distribution of Fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, special offender controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

In a press release, the NCDTF thanked all its members and partner agencies who, “…continue working to make our community safer by getting these dangerous drugs and the people who traffic them off our streets.”

The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife has selected specific deer hunts for mandatory chronic wasting disease testing in 2022 to inform how and where to fight the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease.

Beginning in early October, CPW will be sending letters to Colorado rifle season deer hunters who have been selected for mandatory CWD testing. CPW will require mandatory submission of CWD test samples (heads) from all deer harvested during rifle seasons from specific game management units to better evaluate the infection levels of CWD in herds. There will be no charge for mandatory testing. Find the hunt codes selected for mandatory testing of deer on pages 21-31 of the 2022 Colorado Big Game Brochure.
A complete list of CWD testing submission sites along with hours and locations can be found on the CPW website.
The results of annual mandatory testing are yielding new insights into varying infection levels in deer herds throughout Colorado. As of April 2022, CWD has been detected in 40 of 54 deer herds, 17 of 42 elk herds, and 2 of 9 moose herds. The estimated proportion of sampled animals that are infected (or disease “prevalence”) appears to be rising in many Colorado herds.
CWD is a prion disease that affects Colorado’s deer, elk and moose. CWD is a progressive disease, meaning it gets worse with time. It primarily impacts the spinal cord, brain, and other tissues in the affected animal. The disease course generally lasts 2 – 3 years and is always fatal.

Signs an animal may have CWD include stumbling, confusion, weight loss, lack of fear around humans, drooling, drooping ears, lack of coordination and listlessness. Although there has been no evidence that CWD has yet been transmitted to humans, the Center for Disease Control, along with CPW, recommend that hunters not eat the meat of a CWD-infected animal.

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Thursday, Sept. 29 Govern Jared Polis issued an executive order declaring a state of disaster emergency due to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Colorado, enabling State agencies to coordinate for mitigation of disease spread, response, consequence management, and recovery efforts.

Cases of the disease have continued to increase across the state. The National Veterinary Service Laboratory confirmed new cases of the bird flu at the end of September, including at an egg-laying facility in Weld County with more than 1.1 million chickens. Cases in Mesa County were also confirmed late last month.

These were the latest in the more than 4.7 million birds that have been impacted by the bird flu in Colorado this year, the third most cases of any state.

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The Larimer County Clerk and Recorder Recording Department is a one-stop-shop for passport processing in Fort Collins and will be hosting a special Passport Day, Saturday, October 8, 8a to 1p.

“This is especially unique because an appointment is typically required for passport services during the week.  Making an appointment on a weekday can sometimes be challenging for working families,” says Clerk Myers.  “We’re hoping this extra Passport Day will ease that challenge just a bit.”

Any citizen (from Larimer or not) who needs to obtain a new passport, can come in during this special event – no appointment required – and have the photo taken and passport initiated all in one trip.  This event will be located on the first floor at 200 West Oak Street in Fort Collins, in the Clerk and Recorder Recording Department.

Parents obtaining passports for their children must both be present with the child.  Two separate payments will be required, and one must be by check or money order.
Go to larimer.gov/US-passports for all the details.

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The Colorado Department of Transportation, Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization and Wyoming Department of Transportation are studying the feasibility of a public transit connection between the North Front Range region of Colorado and the Cheyenne, Wyoming area. A self-guided online meeting for the community to learn more about the study and provide input can be accessed anytime through October 17 at cowytransitstudy.com.

“As northern Colorado and southern Wyoming continue to grow, a regional transit system connecting the two regions becomes more desirable,” says Tom Mason, Cheyenne MPO Director. “We will evaluate the community input we receive from this online meeting to develop a recommended transit service that provides a convenient and equitable connection for all future users.”

The online meeting will provide a study overview and six initial alignments between the North Front Range region of Colorado and the Cheyenne, Wyoming area. The public will have the opportunity to provide input through a survey, including which alignments they prefer. The CO-WY Transit Feasibility Study will build on recent and ongoing planning efforts, examining travel markets, population/employment growth and other infrastructure improvements across the two regions. It will also examine existing service models and evaluate how to maximize connectivity for users through integration with local transit providers.

For more information on the project, visit the online meeting at cowytransitstudy.com.

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At their regular Administrative Matters public meeting, the board voted 3-0 to pass a resolution to support a sales tax and use exemption on essential hygiene products in Larimer County, outlined in  Colorado House Bill HB22-1055, known as the Don’t Tax Dignity Bill.

The bill exempts the sales tax on period products, incontinence products, and diapers. The exemption will help make these products more accessible and affordable by exempting the tax on these items, especially for those on fixed incomes, women, and lower-income populations.

“These products are expensive. It can be really difficult for people to budget for these items. They’re necessary for hygiene and other reasons,” said Larimer County Commissioner Kristin Stephens. “To give some relief to people in our community is a really great thing to do. We’re all really enthusiastic about this, and it is really a way to make a difference when people are struggling with expenses. This is a small step in a way we can help people in our community.”

To celebrate the exemption, during the month of October, three essential products donation drop boxes have been placed at three Larimer County facilities locations: Larimer County Administrative Services, 200 W. Oak St., Fort Collins; the Larimer County Loveland Campus, 200 Peridot Ave., Loveland; and the Larimer County Justice Center, 201 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins. Collected items from all three locations will be donated to local charities.

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The Colorado State Patrol says they need community members to help to make them a better law enforcement agency by asking one simple question.  How are they doing?

Beginning October 3 through October 31, 2022, the Colorado State Patrol will open a Public Opinion Survey. According to a press release CSP values the opinions and candid feedback from those they serve to help them provide the best service possible.

Every two years, the Colorado State Patrol uses an online survey to ask our communities how they are doing at providing public safety services. The results will help identify what CSP is doing well and identify areas needing improvement.

The Public Opinion Survey can be accessed now by visiting cspsurvey.com. The survey will remain open from October 3 to October 31, 2022.  The survey only takes 5-10 minutes. The results of the survey will also be shared on their website beginning in January of 2023.