Friday, July 25, 2008 9:30am
On The Air
Amy Oliver
KFKA News
Air patrols search for Fort Collins kidnapper and victim
An airplane and a helicopter scoured the northern Colorado foothills yesterday for accused kidnapper Travis Kness. Fort Collins cops believe he snatched ex-girlfriend Rosanna Martinez Saturday night as she left work at a Dollar Tree store. Neither has been seen since. Police spokeswoman Rita Davis is encouraging back country travelers to watch for the pair this weekend. They might still be driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a Colorado license plate: F-H-X-5828.
Accused murderer Ricardo Cortez will get mental evaluation before standing trial
Accused of killing his pregnant wife and shooting and injuring another man, Ricardo Cortez will undergo a mental evaluation before standing trial. Cortez entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity to allegations he shot Nikki Fix-Cortez and Sam Jantz last September. That plea's prompting a six-week stay at a state-run mental hospital in Pueblo. Weld County District Judge James Hartman delayed a trial to allow the evaluation, but will reschedule it at a Wednesday hearing.
Service held for unclaimed fetus
The human fetus that turned up in an outhouse outside of Carr will be given a funeral in Greeley today. The funeral will take place at 3:30 Friday afternoon at Linn Grove Cemetery. The stillborn child is believed to have been short of full-term between two-and-three months. Weld County deputies are still seeking information in the case.
A missing Maryland man turned up safe in Hell's Canyon near Estes Park yesterday, after two nights alone
A Civil Air Patrol plane spotted Patrick Higgins around 1 p.m. A Colorado National Guard helicopter couldn't hoist him out from the air or land in the rugged terrain, but two rescuers hiked in with food and water. Rescuers found Higgins tired, hungry, and thirsty, but able to walk out under his own power.
A second rescue near Estes Park Thursday, inside the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park
Around 4 p.m., a Berthoud man started having severe chest pains on the Chapin Creek trail off Old Fall River Road. He was the co-leader of a church youth group on a backpacking trip. Park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson did not name the ailing man, or update his condition, other than to note he was taken to Medical Center of the Rockies.
Arrest made in car crash involving cyclists
Two days after his car crashed into a pair of women on bicycles, Fort Collins Police arrested Daniel Price yesterday for vehicular homicide. Rebecca Allen died when Price's Saab hit her from behind at Drake Road and Moore Lane on the southwest side of the city. The crash at 5 a.m. Tuesday also seriously injured Jennifer Garvey. Investigators believe Price was drunk at the time, but they have not charged him with driving under the influence.
Gerards Bakery in Longmont unexpectedly closes
Gerards Bakery in Longmont closed its doors for good yesterday morning, surprising 100 workers with news that they won't even get paid for the last two weeks. Some wouldn't leave until police forced them to go. The parent company shut down the Longmont plant and one in Livermore, California. It leased a third bakery in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Gerards made baked goods for the wholesale market, plus restaurants like Quizno's and the International House of Pancakes.
Two years in jail for contributing to the delinquency of a minor
One of three people accused of giving alcohol to a 12-year old girl earlier this year will serve two years in jail. Herbert Eala of Garden City agreed to plead guilty late last month on a felony count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in exchange for a child abuse charge being dropped. Sarah Wrede and Gilbert Snedigar each still face court dates related to the case in the next 45 days. The girl has since recovered since being found with a blood alcohol content nearly four-times the legal limit.
Another constitutional change is headed for the Colorado ballot in November
Secretary of State Mike Coffman says supporters of “Amendment 49" turned in almost 88,000 valid signatures, 12,000 more than they needed. In effect, "Amendment 49" says government agencies may not deduct union dues or fees from employee paychecks. It prohibits payroll transfers to any group that contributes to political candidates or lobbies public office holders.
Tom Roche connected to prank calls to Stitt family
NewsTalk 1310 KFKA has confirmed an investigation is underway by Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck into possible charges against Greeley businessman Tom Roche. Phone calls made to the extended family of Remington Stitt, the 15-year old involved in an altercation with Mayor Ed Clark last month, came from Roche's Blackberry via a caller I.D. spoofing website, using Clark's number as the one to be displayed. Buck is not commenting currently on the investigation, but is tentatively scheduled to join NewsTalk 1310 KFKA's Luke Shilts this afternoon.The records obtained by NewsTalk 1310 KFKA from Spoofcard dot com indicate five calls were made at approximately 11:04 the night of June 25th, one night after a restraining order was placed on Clark from contacting the teen or his family. Each of the calls originated from Roche's Blackberry, through the Spoofcard website, using Clark's cell phone number as the Caller I.D. to be displayed. Roche even utilized Spoofcard's pay services to disguise his voice during the calls. Additionally, one call was placed the following evening, directed to Clark's cell phone with an I.D. displayed as the phone number of the Stitt's. Finally, an email from Roche's Blackberry was directed to the help desk at Spoofcard on June 27th, referencing calls made. Roche had opened the account.Phone records obtained from Verizon, through which Clark has his cell service, show that at the time two of the spoof calls were being made by Roche on June 25th, Clark was using his phone to talk to a neighbor, whose children where with Clark's family at the Greeley Stampede.Early evidence of spoofing at play was given local media, including at the time Clark was questioned by a local newspaper reporter. However, such evidence was dismissed by said reporter, despite being given material both audibly and visually. Clark responded to the allegations by placing a return call to the reporter via a spoofing website himself, using the reporter's own phone number as the caller I.D. to be displayed.Earlier today it was announced by the Larimer County D.A.'s office that no charges will be filed against Clark for the incident that occurred June 23rd as he tried to get the teen to stop illegally riding a mini-motorcycle through a neighborhood park after sundown. Tim Stitt has alleged Clark assaulted his son in removing the 15-year old from the bike. The teen was ticketed by police, but no further charges are being pursued by the Weld County D.A.'s Office.
AdoptaPlatoon works in Northern Colorado to support troops
Three local businesses, Wm Moore Jewelers, NewsTalk 1310 KFKA, and Jackson's All American Grill, announced today that they have formed Northern Colorado AdoptaPlatoon in conjunction with the national AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort based in Lozano, Texas.Northern Colorado AdoptaPlatoon has been assigned marine, army and air force troops in both Afghanistan and Iraq. In total, over 1,200 troops will be supplied from Northern Colorado during their deployment. A consolidated list of troop needs has been developed which includes every request received. "Letters of support and encouragement, grab and go snacks, board and card games, and a variety of personal hygiene items are just some of the items being requested," says Moore-Pelzer.Donor collection sites are being set up throughout Northern Colorado for citizens to drop off troop supplies. In addition to Wm Moore Jewelers, 1310 KFKA, and Jackson's, donation sites have been set up at the Champion Dealerships, New Frontier Bank locations, Red Roaster Hand Crafted Coffee Shop, Farmer's Inn, Offen Ace Hardware, Westlake Wine & Spirits, Culver’s, Ambrosia Day Spa & Salon and Rocky Mountain Shooter's Supply (Fort Collins). Other locations will be coming on board in the near future.Thanks to the generous up front donations from New Frontier Bank, The Tointon Family Foundation, Traffic Tools, Inc. and Noble Energy, the postage fund has a beginning balance of $3,250 to be used for mailing packages. Additional postage sponsors are being sought.Additional activities are being planned to foster community spirit including the Greeley Benefit golf tournament at Boomerang Links, listen for more details. The Downtown Development Authority will be hosting donation collection sites at every Friday Fest and Farmer's Market this summer and has some other exciting programs in the idea stages.AdoptaPlatoon is a non-partisan, grassroots 501C-3 non-profit organization of volunteer moms which was founded in 1998 when a soldier called his mom asking her to send support to his fellow battle buddies who were not receiving any letters and packages from home. From those humble beginnings, this organization has grown to a national support network that has shipped over 1,000,000 pounds of support to our deployed sons and daughters.
KFKA voted “Favorite Radio Station” by Tribune readers
On Friday, April 25th, KFKA learned that it had won in the category of “Favorite Radio Station” in the Greeley Tribune’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Owner and General Manager Justin Sasso had this to say, “We’re extremely honored to be recognized as your ‘Favorite Radio Station’. As a family owned radio station, we depend on local businesses and listeners to support and guide us. We work diligently everyday to deliver live and local programming and this recognition makes it that much more worthwhile.NewsTalk 1310 KFKA is Colorado’s first radio station. It signed on the air in 1921 and is the 2nd oldest station west of the Mississippi and 5th oldest in the nation. KFKA is family-owned and prides itself on delivering around 12 hours of live and local content each day, instead of just piping in national satellite shows. KFKA also delivers local news, local weather and local high school and collegiate sports.
KFKA’s Amy Oliver and website honored with Awards of Excellence
For the second year in a row, this very website won “Best Radio Website in a Major Market” from the Colorado Broadcasters Association. KFKA’s Amy Oliver was also recognized for “Best News/Talk Personality in a Major Market”. Once again we thank you, the KFKA listeners, for supporting NewsTalk 1310 KFKA in helping keep local radio alive.The Colorado Broadcasters Association holds an annual Awards of Excellence ceremony for radio and television stations statewide in March. The awards are judged by our peers in the industry through a cooperative effort between state broadcast associations.
CBS News Headlines
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Jumbo Jet Lands Fast With Hole In Fuselage
A Qantas flight en route to Australia from Hong Kong has made an emergency stop in Manila after something punched a hole in the Boeing 747-400's fuselage, officials and passengers said.
Tasered Grandpa Sues Hospital
Al Poisson claims guards in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio got outraged over what he meant as a joke. Poisson, a pastor, says he had to give up his work at a local soup kitchen, which has since closed.
McCain May Act Soon On VP Pick
Anxious to counter the media coverage that has followed Barack Obama on his overseas trip, John McCain is weighing whether to announce his running mate in the coming weeks before the spotlight shifts to the Olympics, the Washington Post reports.
U.S., NATO Press Pakistan To Fight Terror
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Pakistan should do more to stop the rise in terrorist violence in neighboring Afghanistan, as the NATO chief more gently urges Pakistan to step up their anti-terror commitment.