Shopping Season Brings Warning From Police

The Christmas shopping season is upon us and Fort Morgan police are warning residents to be aware of thieves. Public Information Officer Roger Doll says while you're shopping don't forget to lock your vehicle...






TAG: Doll says thieves have been targeting electronics, purses as well as shopping bags. He says you should put your shopping bags and anything else visible in the trunk or in another place where they won't be easily seen.

Its An Advisory, Not a Watch

The snow that's falling will taper off this afternoon, and the weather's not been as bad as we were first told. Now, the National Weather Service says its only a winter weather advisory, not a watch. It's still in affect until about 2 this afternoon, its for snow and blowing snow, and we could see up to five inches on the ground when its all over. Travel could be difficult, so NWS suggests staying put if you can; be prepared if you must.

Longmont Landscape Company Fined In Employee's Death

(Longmont, CO) -- A Longmont landscaping company is being fined by OSHA in connection with an employee's death in a ditch collapse. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined SJ Ward Landscape 84-hundred dollars for failing to properly train workers and to shore up a trench. Forty-five-year-old Jose Hernandez Cortes of Longmont was killed September 16th, when he was buried under ten feet of earth.

President Obama To Light New National Christmas Tree

(Washington, DC) -- It's a Washington tradition, but when the National Christmas Tree is lit this evening, it will be for the very first time. This year there's a new Christmas tree on the Ellipse. The Colorado blue spruce replaces the tree that was blown down by high winds last March. President Obama will flip the switch on the 26-foot-tall tree, decorated with energy efficient LED lights. The First Family will be joined by the Black Eyed Peas and Kermit the Frog.

Up To Six Inches Of Snow Expected

(Denver, CO) -- Forecasters are expecting up to six inches of snow in Denver today, most of it after daylight. The National Weather Service said winds could hit 30-miles-per-hour this afternoon. The northern mountains are expecting ten inches and the northeast plains might see at least eight. The storm is expected to move out tonight.

Springs mayor hires $56,000 social media expert

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach has added a $56,000 a year position to communicate with the public using social media.

The Gazette reported Wednesday that the new post comes at a time of staffing reductions in the city.

Bach's office hired Laura Benjamin, president of Laura Benjamin Communications. Benjamin volunteered on Bach's mayoral campaign and will keep operating her company while working for the city.

Underground pipe eyed in seepage

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Colorado state health officials fear that a broken underground pipe that leads to a tank at a Suncor Energy refinery may have leaked vast amounts of petroleum near the South Platte River.

Hazardous Waste Corrective Action Unit supervisor Walter Avramenko says they're concerned because the reported break at the refinery is about a half-mile away from where an oily substance began seeping into Sand Creek earlier this week.

He says more tests are needed to confirm the break is the source.

Avramenko says Suncor reported the break in a spur of pipe that runs between a storage tank and the refinery. Suncor officials didn't immediately return a message.

EPA officials on the scene say they're focusing on clean up and haven't pinpointed the source.

Colorado Supreme Court hears congressional map appeal

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Supreme Court will hear arguments today in a Republican appeal challenging a judge's ruling siding with Democratic-drawn congressional lines.

The lines would put Rep. Mike Coffman's safe GOP district in play next year.

Republicans are objecting to a lower court ruling last month because it divides Coffman's district in the southern Denver suburbs by putting GOP-leaning portions of his seat on the Eastern Plains.

The proposal also puts all of the city of Aurora in Coffman's district. Aurora is currently split into two districts.

Republicans argued for minimal changes to congressional lines in place for the last 10 years.

But Denver District Judge Robert Hyatt criticized that approach and said the Democratic proposal best reflected demographic changes during the last decade.

Arson victims prompt abrupt guilty plea

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — A man on trial for starting a blaze near Fort Collins last April cut short his own trial by pleading guilty after testimony from witnesses who described how close they came to dying.

The Coloradoan reports that Thomas Howie pleaded guilty to a single count of felony arson Wednesday, the second day of his trial.

Howie said he felt a moral obligation to take responsibility for what happened in the Crystal Fire, which destroyed '13 homes and structures.

Howie is still facing a civil lawsuit from homeowners in the area. They declined to comment following his plea, citing their ongoing lawsuit, scheduled for trial in August.

Howie is due to be sentenced Feb. 10, but remains free on bond.

Ex sheriff accused of offering meth for sex

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — A former Colorado sheriff is being held on a half-million-dollar bond in the jail named for him, suspected of offering methamphetamine in exchange for sex.

Arapahoe County chief judge William Sylvester doubled the bond for the county's former sheriff, Patrick Sullivan, on Wednesday. He also ordered Sullivan not to try to contact anyone else who may be involved in the case.

Sullivan's attorney protested the increase because no charges have been filed yet.

Sullivan appeared at the court hearing dressed in an orange jail uniform.

The 68-year-old walked with a cane but still had handcuffs around his wrists that were attached to a chain around his waist.

Lighting of Community Christmas Tree

The City of Fort Morgan will hold its annual lighting ceremony for the Community Christmas Tree on Monday, December 5th. The tree is located in City Park, south of the Library-Museum building and close to the Main Street sidewalk on the west side of the Park. Everybody's welcome

NORAD is ready to track Santa’s flight

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The North American Aerospace Defense Command is getting ready to track Santa’s yuletide journey! The NORAD Tracks Santa website, www.noradsanta.org, went live today featuring a Countdown Calendar, a Kid’s Countdown Village complete with holiday games and activities that change daily, and video messages from students and troops from around the world. With the addition of Brazilian Portuguese, the website is now available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Chinese.

This year, using free apps in the Apple iTunes Store and in the Android Market, parents and children can countdown the days until Santa’s take off on their smart phones! Tracking opportunities are also offered on Facebook, Google+, YouTube, and Twitter. Santa followers just need to type “@noradsanta” into each search engine to get started.

Also on the website, fans can go to the Operation Good Will page and watch the live stream of the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, presented by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service, on Dec. 1 beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST by clicking on the http://www.thenationaltree.org link.

Starting at 12:00 a.m. MST on Dec. 24, website visitors can watch Santa as he makes all the preparations for his flight. Then, at 4:00 a.m. MST (6:00 a.m. EST), trackers worldwide can talk to a live phone operator to inquire about Santa’s whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or by sending an email to noradtrackssanta@gmail.com. NORAD’s “Santa Cams” will also stream videos as Santa makes his way over various locations worldwide.

It all started in 1955 when a local media ad directed kids to call Santa direct – only the number was misprinted. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone rang through to the Crew Commander on duty at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center. Thus began the tradition which NORAD has carried on since it was created in 1958.