ASPEN – Authorities say a 44-year-old Denver man died after falling from a raft on the Roaring Fork River in Aspen.
The Aspen Daily News reported that the man, whose name has not been released, was one of two people to fall out of the commercial raft Monday afternoon. He was in the water for about five minutes before he was pulled back into the boat. He then said he couldn’t breathe and collapsed unconscious.
Pitkin County Coroner Steve Ayers said “it’s not a straightforward drowning,” adding that in such cases, rapid body cooling can significantly reduce heart rate and cause arrhythmia. He said it’s unclear how the man fell into the water.
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office said the other man who fell into the water got back to the raft and is doing OK.
Angler’s body recovered from Arkansas River
CAÑON CITY – Search crews have recovered the body of a Cañon City man who disappeared after wading into the Arkansas River to rescue his dog.
The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says 42-year-old Shane Bollig was fishing with a friend near Florence on Monday when he vanished. His body was pulled from debris just after noon Tuesday.
Bollig was able to get his dog back to the river bank before he disappeared.
Tim Woodward of the Colorado Drowning Prevention Task Force says at least nine other people have died in Colorado rivers this spring. Many rivers are running high because of runoff from deep mountain snow.
Woman rescued after fall in national park
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK – A 56-year-old woman suffered multiple injuries when she tumbled down a snowfield in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Park officials say the woman fell Sunday near Chasm Lake, partway up Longs Peak.
Her name, condition and hometown have not been released.
Park officials say the woman fell about 65 feet. A park search and rescue team put her in a litter and moved her to a meadow, where a helicopter picked her up and flew her to a Denver-area hospital.
West Nile mosquitoes found in Weld County
GREELEY – Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been trapped in Weld County.
County officials say the mosquitoes were found this week in two of the three testing zones in the county.
Dr. Mark Wallace, executive director of the Weld County Health Department, said the overall risk posed by the virus remains low, but he noted that in recent years it usually hasn’t shown up until July.
Initial human symptoms of the virus can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, weakness and rash. More severe symptoms can include stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis and even death.
Embattled sheriff defends himself
COLORADO SPRINGS – El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa is defending himself before the county commissioners, who have asked him to resign amid allegations including sexual misconduct.
Maketa told the commissioners Tuesday he’s performing his duties as well as or better than the community expects, The Gazette of Colorado Springs reported.
The commissioners voted last week to ask Maketa to resign.
Maketa is elected, and a recall vote would be required to remove him. Opponents are gathering signatures for a recall petition.
Maketa is term-limited and will leave office in January. A recall election would be in November.
He’s been accused of having affairs with three female subordinates, along with discrimination, budget improprieties and creating a hostile work environment.
He has apologized for what he called inappropriate behavior but said he wouldn’t resign.
Arizona eatery shames art thieves on Facebook
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Two accomplices in the theft of a painting at a Flagstaff restaurant have come forward after a shaming campaign on Facebook.
The Arizona Daily Sun reported Tuesday that Tyler Christensen, owner of McMillan Bar and Kitchen, went to social media instead of police after the painting went missing June 9.
Christensen posted an open letter and surveillance photo of a man putting the painting in his backpack while two accomplices acted as lookouts.
He said the two accomplices since have come forward and given $500 to cover the cost of the artwork.
Christensen’s Facebook post has been shared more than 7,900 times and received more than 4,300 likes and nearly 770 comments.
The artwork, however, was last seen hanging from a tree.
Associated Press
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