Bevier Cattle Backgrounder Indicted

The owner of Fink Farms was indicted today on several charges with respect to his cattle operations in Bevier. Fink Farms is a backgrounding farm, which means Fink gets cattle from its customers, feeds them and gets them ready for feedlot operations. Fink gets paid on how much weight the cattle gain while they're on his farm. The indictment says that when two cattlemen from Iowa sent Fink some 1800 head of cattle for backgrounding, some of their cattle died in Fink's care when Fink continually reassured them that the cattle were gaining weight and they continued to pay him. Between these cattle and a third cattleman's accusations, the indictment says Fink defrauded them out of more than half a million dollars. If he's convicted, Fink could get 20 years in prison and a quarter million dollar fine.

More Cuts Needed in Morgan County Budget

Can you get blood from a stone? If Morgan County is the stone and the budget cuts are the blood, you'd better! County departments have already cut more than 650 thousand dollars from their budgets for next year, ans still, they're being asked to cut more. County Finance Director Michelle Covelli said this week that with everything down, interest rates, revenues and more, its going to be tough to balance the 2011 county budget. Commissioners say they won't approve the budget until more cuts are made, but the budget has to be approved by December 15.

Colorado Guide, Clients Fined for Illegal Hunting

A Longtime Colorado hunting guide and three out-of-state clients have been fined nearly $40,000 after pleading guilty to illegally hunting deer on the state's eastern plains.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife says 56-year-old outfitter Thomas Tietz of Parker has been fined $13,750 and faces the lifetime loss of hunting and fishing privileges in Colorado and several other states. Authorities say his clients illegally transferred their licenses to each other and one person hunted outside the permitted area.

Authorities say 56-year-old Thomas Franks of Harrisburg, Ill., and 35-year-old Amy Word of Newburgh, Ind., were each fined $11,968. Fifty-seven-year-old Blaise Pignotti of St. Louis, Mo., was fined $1,968.

Colorado Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

The Department of Defense on Thursday said that a 26-year-old soldier from Colorado Springs was killed in Afghanistan. Officials say Specialist Justin E. Culbreth died from injuries after insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device on Wednesday in the Panjway district. Culbreth enlisted in the Army in 2004, then in 2009 was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Left behind are his wife, Kimberly Culbreth; son, Brandon; step-daughters Katelyn and Hannah Carbaugh, Mariah J. Bailey and stepson, Cole R. Carbaugh.

Sheriff: Twins Had Suicide Pact

Twin sisters found shot in an Arapahoe County shooting range this week had agreed to a suicide pact sometime before they pulled the triggers of the guns that left one dead and another critically injured. After finally being able to interview the surviving twin for the first time yesterday, Arapahoe County Sheriff's officials confirmed the identical 29-year-old Australian sisters planned to commit suicide at the same time at the Cherry Creek State Park Family Shooting Range Monday afternoon. One sister's attempt to kill herself was successful while the other's gunshot left her in critical condition. Authorities say they won't be handing out charges because the women -- who were living in the U.S. on a cultural exchange visa -- had turned their own weapons on themselves.

Springs has Best Teeth

Colorado Springs residents have reason to smile. A new survey that "Men's Health" magazine conducted showed Colorado Springs has the best teeth in the nation. The magazine looked at a variety of factors, including community water fluoridation, the percentage of people who saw a dentist in the past year as well as the number of dentist offices per capita. In second place for the best teeth was Anchorage, Alaska, while the magazine deemed St. Louis had the nation's worst teeth.

"we're Just Trying to Get Rid of All Pot"

Police said Thursday that three Fort Carson soldiers claim they were attempting to dispose of marijuana when they allegedly broke into a pot dispensary. An arrest affidavit says Private First Class Ramone Hollins told police officers, after their arrest inside Rocky Road Remedies, quote, "We were just trying to get rid of all the marijuana." Officials say 22-year-old Hollins, 23-year-old Private First Class Darius Thomas and 22-year-old Private Cory Young were arrested after they allegedly locked themselves in the dispensary by mistake early Saturday. The three, who were in the 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, face second-degree burglary charges.