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Denver’s weed police on patrol

DENVER — No, not that kind of weed.  We’re talking real weeds which quickly become eyesores in the neighborhood when left uncut by property owners.

Denver Code Enforcers are on patrol this week looking for weeds growing taller than six inches in height and length — much to the delight of neighbors on the block where big weeds live.

“We have power to notify owners of violations, but after the second posting, we can even levy fines,” said Robbin Bruning. “After the fines go unpaid we can even put a lien on the property to get the violations corrected.”

The city has lists of volunteers who will come out and cut weeds for those who simply cannot do the work. They will also send out abatement crews from the city to cut down the unattended vegetation.

The whole code violation program is designed to keep the city looking as beautiful as it can.

If you have a weedy yard to report just call your complaint into Denver’s 311.

Disabled Denver teen says Elitch’s employees humiliated her on ride

DENVER — A teenager who has been disabled since birth says she was humiliated by three workers at Elitch Gardens amusement park.

The honors student and college freshman volunteers to mentor disabled children.

She says the amusement park needs to better train its employees on how to deal with people who have disabilities.

“One of the employees came up to me and said, ‘I’m sorry ma’am but you can’t ride this ride because you need all your body parts,’” Samantha Lobato says.

She was born with a disorder that required partial amputation of her right arm. It forced her to get off the ride.

“I’ve been going to Elitch Gardens since I was a young child ever since I was tall enough to actually ride on the rides and I have yet to hear this.”

‘Trick-or-Treat’ bandits accused of robbing 9 banks in Metro area

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  • A surveillance photo from a bank robbery allegedly committed by the 'Trick-or-Treat' Bandits in the Denver Metro area between December 2012 and May 2013. (Photo: RMSSTF)

Garden Grapes and Hops at Denver Botanic Gardens

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  • (Photo: Denver Botanic Gardens)


  • (Photo: Denver Botanic Gardens)

Colorado schools prepare for severe weather emergencies

DENVER — Staff at the Windmill Child Enrichment Center in Windsor say they will never forget the tornado that ripped through their town five years this week.

Shawna Bruntz says, “Every time May 22nd comes around, it’s not just a day.” Five years ago, it was a cold, rainy day in the town of Windsor, but Bruntz says a tornado never crossed her mind. “Nobody would have gave one thought to it.”

Her day would much worse. With roughly 100 children in the school, Bruntz says the weather changed quickly and out of nowhere, “A parent walks in and says, ‘there’s a tornado up on the hill, you guys need to take cover now.’”

Bruntz and the other teachers huddled together with the children in the gymnasium, and pressed against a wall for cover as debris circled around them.

Weld County Launches "Discover Weld" Web Site

Weld County Launches "Discover Weld" Web Site

The Weld County Board of Commissioners will launch a new web site on May 1, 2013, to highlight the attractions, events and people of Weld County.

Weld County Highlights Projects During Ad Valorem Check Presentation

Weld County Highlights Projects During Ad Valorem Check Presentation

During a special presentation held on the Fort Lupton campus of Aims Community College, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and Noble Energy presented their 2012 ad valorem checks to Weld County. The total of the two checks was $148,557,244 or nearly 33% of all taxes paid to the Weld County Treasurer.

The Weld County Board of Commissioners and Aims Community College used the event as an opportunity to talk about the projects and programs the revenue from the oil and gas industry helps to fund.

"This event was a great opportunity for the Board to talk about what projects the county is able to undertake as a result of the oil and gas revenue," said Commissioner Chairman William Garcia. Those projects include:

TABOR Refund: Every real property owner in Weld County receives a temporary tax credit on the County mill levy, and the County is able to extend the tax credit primarily due to the revenue from oil and gas.