LCSO received reports of a small plane that crashed west of Horsetooth Reservoir in the area of Sawmill Trail on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at about 7 p.m.,.  Deputies, Larimer County Department of Natural Resources rangers, and Poudre Fire Authority responded.

Responders reached the crash site of the single-engine fixed-wing plane at about 7:16 p.m.  The two adult occupants were out of the plane and appeared to only have minor injuries.  They were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

LCSO investigators are assisting the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration with the investigation and are seeking the public’s help.  Anyone with photos and/or video of the plane before, during, or after the crash are asked to send them to larimercso.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/horsetoothreservoircrash.

Photo courtesy of CPW – A bull elk found itself entangled in fencing and got stuck in the middle of a busy highway on Tuesday morning in Estes Park.

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Monday, Sept. 12 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, Oct. 2, there will be a full closure of eastbound and westbound Highway 60 at I-25 for 21 days. Various intermittent I-25 ramp closures will be in place throughout the 21-days. After the 21-day closure, CO 60 over I-25 will be one-lane in each direction in a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) configuration. These closures will allow crews to complete drainage, paving and striping work necessary for the new DDI planned for this location.

Additionally, Sept. 12 from 6 a.m. to Sept. 20 at 5 p.m.Gateway Drive southbound lanes at Weld County Road 48 will be closed for paving and left turns from Weld County Road 48 to northbound Gateway Drive will be prohibited.

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In coordination with the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD), Rocky Mountain National Park is hosting a free workshop for individuals of all ages with permanent disabilities, “Fly Fishing in the Rockies,” on Saturday, September 24, 2022.

This workshop will take place on the Colorado River at the Holzwarth Historic Site on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. During this workshop, participants can expect to learn the basics of fly fishing, including learning about the fish species that live in the park, how to read the water, and how to cast. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. To register, visit https://nscd.connectintouch.com/admin-multi-daymulti-activity-short-intake-registration or call the NSCD Customer Service number at 970-726-1518.

Assistance will be provided for any interested program participants, including an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, adaptive fishing gear, and fishing locations that are accessible by visitors in wheelchairs. One-on-one fishing guides will also be available.

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Last week the Department of Defense (DoD) announced the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $675 million to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs. This authorization is the Biden Administration’s twentieth drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.

In addition, State Department notified Congress of its intent to make $2 billion available in long-term investments in Foreign Military Financing: $1 billion to bolster the security of Ukraine and $1 billion for 18 of Ukraine’s regional neighbors.

In total, the United States has committed approximately $15.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since January 2021. Since 2014, the United States has committed more than $17.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine and more than $14.5 billion since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked and brutal invasion on February 24.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers rescued a bull elk stuck in the middle of a busy intersection between Highway 7 and Highway 36 near Estes Park and were able to remove 30 feet of burdensome fencing tangled in its antlers.

Around 11 a.m. Tuesday, a local resident reported seeing the bull elk with fencing caught in its antlers on the highway. CPW wildlife officers arrived on the scene at 12:45 p.m. and were assisted by the Estes Park Police Department unit to stop traffic and help assist the animal out of the intersection.

A CPW wildlife officer tranquilized the bull elk so it could be freed of the fencing entanglement and released outside of the intersection to its natural habitat. By 2:30 p.m. the fencing was removed and, after receiving a reversal agent to wake it from the sedation, it ran off.

Wildlife officers did not observe any serious injuries and, other than being exhausted, they believe the elk will have a full recovery.

“Land managers rope off areas to try to prevent elk from damaging them,” said District Wildlife Manager Clayton Brossart. “It is an aspect of the landscape and shows the intersection of humans and wildlife in our urban interface. We were grateful for the opportunity to free the elk of the fencing on its antlers and remove it from the dangerous intersection. We also want to thank the local residents who reported this to us immediately, so we were able to have a quick response and freed the elk without it sustaining any serious injury.”

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Friday, September 16 residents have the chance to take in the beauty of the night sky over the Rockies with members of the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society (NCAS). Telescopes will be available for viewing stars, galaxies, planets and more at Hermit Park Open Space in Larimer County.

This open house-style program is located near the pavilion across from Krueger Rock Trailhead near Estes Park. Parking is located towards Bobcat campground. Dress warmly for evening temperatures and bring binoculars if you have them. For up-to-date weather information, visit the NCAS website at www.nocoastro.org. Viewing begins at 7:30 p.m. and will conclude around 9:30.
The program is free but attendees are asked to please purchase a Daily Entrance Permit. Registration is also encouraged, but not required. Visit larimer.gov/events/natural-resources/skygazing-northern-colorado-astronomical-society-2022-09-16.