K9 injured

Gunner, a K-9 with Teller County Search and Rescue, was seriously injured during a training exercise. She got trapped in a cluster of downed tree limbs which sliced a vein in her front right leg. Gunner started bleeding uncontrollably. Andy, Gunner’s K-9 handler, rushed the wounded dog to an emergency clinic where vets stabilized and stitched her up.

“Thanks to Andy’s quick thinking and her experience as a Critical Care Tech, Gunner survived this frightening ordeal and was able to return home that evening,” fellow Teller County SAR K-9 Handler Cherie Dregalla wrote on GoFundMe. “However, the emergency vet bill was substantial, and unfortunately, there is no insurance coverage for K9s injured during training.”

The community responded in a big way to a GoFundMe effort, raising enough money to cover Gunner’s vet bills in just a few days.

“Thanks to your generosity, Gunner’s vet bills following her training accident will be 100% covered by this GoFundMe account,” Dregalla wrote on GoFundMe. “The outpouring of love and generosity from all of you has been overwhelming, leaving us with nothing but gratitude for your support and kindness! THANK YOU!”

Here is the fundraiser link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-andy-gunner-k9-emergency-vet-care

Dock opens

The ribbon was cut for the new dock at Rampart Reservoir on June 8.

The project was completed last month to provide an ADA-accessible dock for boating access to the reservoir. The decision to replace the 56-year-old dock stems from safety and cost concerns after needing to replace rotten boards nearly every year.

“We are excited to provide enhanced access for boaters on the Rampart Reservoir,” said Pikes Peak District Ranger Carl Bauer. “We thank our partners who worked with us on this project. Their support is critical for ensuring a safe, enjoyable experience for recreationists.”

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Deadly crash

A deadly crash involving a mountain biker and a vehicle was reported along Rampart Range Road over the weekend, according to Gazette news partner KOAA.

Colorado State Patrol responded to the wreck around 6 p.m. May 30 at mile 7 of Rampart Range Road. According to State Patrol, the crash was between a man on a Santa Cruz bike and a Jeep Wrangler.

“The bicycle was southbound on Rampart Range Road, driving in the opposing lane of traffic,” Colorado State Patrol wrote to News5. “The Jeep was northbound on Rampart Range Road. As the Jeep approached, the bicyclist attempted to brake, lost control, rolled onto its left side, and collided with the Jeep’s left front tire. The Jeep steered to the right and attempted to stop to avoid the collision. After the initial impact, the bicycle continued southbound and collided with the left rear tire of the Jeep. The bike rider was ejected from the bicycle.”

The rider was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the rider will be released by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office at a later date.

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Forest Service app

The Forest Service has launched a new visitor-information mobile app, National Forests and Grasslands, now available for download as visitors plan their summer trips to recreation sites across the National Forest System. The app provides complete and accurate collection of Forest Service recreation sites along with important planning tools like critical safety alerts, closures, amenity details and more.

“Due to the sheer size and remote nature of our 165,000 miles of trails and more than 30,000 recreation sites, we know that mobile service can be limited once you reach your destination,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “We encourage everyone to download the National Forests and Grasslands app – your own pocket-sized Forest Service guide – to check trail conditions, download offline maps, and view safety alerts before your trip.”

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Education accolades

• Samuel Johnson of Woodland Park earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Cedarville University.

• Steven Jensen of Cascade was named to the spring 2026 dean’s list at Middle Tennessee State University.