Author: Pam Zubeck
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Community aids family that lost home in early morning blaze
Residents of a house that burned early Thursday in the 7000 block of Blazing Trail Drive said they were grateful no one was hurt and for the generosity displayed by neighbors, firefighters and charity groups. “We had people that we’ve never met bring us food, bring us clothes,” said homeowner Chris Greene, who’s lived in…
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NORAD on a mission to track Santa
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin doesn’t pop up in U.S. airspace without NORAD being the first to know, and neither does Santa’s sleigh. Protecting North America from a surprise missile or air attack is a full-time job for the joint American-Canadian command at Peterson Air Force Base. Except on Christmas Eve. On that one night…
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El Paso County budget cuts will slice deep
Recently, a sign appeared in the County Attorney’s Office next to the copy machine that read: “Important Announcement: Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.” El Paso County’s budget cuts have claimed 180 jobs this year…
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Budget cuts fall on victims, patrols
Fewer El Paso County sheriff’s deputies will be on patrol beginning in January because of layoffs caused by deep cuts in the department’s funding in next year’s budget, the Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.The office said in a statement that 24 positions would be eliminated, although not that many people will be laid off. That’s because…
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Recycling plan for tire dump gets county’s OK
An “environmental catastrophe” waiting to happen would be converted into a source of energy cleaner than coal under a proposal given the green light Thursday by El Paso County commissioners.A 58-acre tire disposal site, with 30 million to 60 million tires about 25 miles south of Colorado Springs, will be taken over by Colorado Energy…
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County layoffs, cuts hold line on spending
El Paso County commissioners approved a $232.3 million budget for 2009 Monday, holding the line on spending at about the same level as this year by laying off dozens of employees and cutting back office hours and services. Residents will likely have to wait longer at the motor vehicle department, see animal control services curtailed…
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Humane Society: Animals will pay the price
Jerry Renick is no fan of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, largely because of its 30 percent euthanasia rate. But as founder of a rescue agency, Renick knows how crucial animal services are, and the idea of El Paso County sharply curtailing the society’s contract makes him cringe. “That would be a…
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County cuts park fees for 1st time in a decade
Developers will get a break amid the deepening recession after El Paso County lowered park fees for the first time since they were enacted more than a decade ago. The reduction isn’t likely to benefit many developers, though, because new construction has dried up because of the credit crunch and worsening economy. “It’s been incredibly…
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Humane Society under county budget ax
Animal cruelty, vicious animals and animal bites would largely be ignored in unincorporated El Paso County because of new shortfalls being forecast in next year’s revenues. County commissioners Thursday discussed paying the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region only $70,000 next year for animal control, 80 percent less than this year. Even if the…
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Layoffs mean longer waits
Longer lines for marriage licenses and renewing vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses are almost a certainty after El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Bob Balink sent 19 workers home for good Monday, reducing his staff to 1995 levels. The layoffs, along with not filling seven vacancies, come after voters rejected the county’s sales tax hike…