July 1, 2015 VO LUM E 54 | IS S U E 26 | 75¢
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Courier sold to local owners Plan to intensify community focus Staff report
The South Platte River spillway at Eleven Mile Canyon is running at high levels because snow melt and abundant rains have swollen the reservoir to capacity. Photos by Sonja Oliver
POSTAL ADDRESS
Run-off swells South Platte River 11 Mile Canyon Road closed By Sonja Oliver
Contributing writer
PIKES PEAK COURIER (USPS 654-460)
OFFICE: 1200 E. Highway 24 Woodland Park, CO 80863 PHONE: 719-687-3006
Recent rains combined with snow melt runoff has saturated the South Platte River to the point of overflowing its banks in areas located throughout the watershed. The U.S. Forest Service Pike and San Isabel National Forests Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands office in Pueblo, Colo. has issued an order closing Eleven Mile Canyon Rd., Happy Canyon Campground and the Platte River Trailhead parking area. The purpose of the order dated June 22, 2015 is to “protect public health and safety.” An updated U.S. Forest Service press release dated June 25, 2015 says the “Pike National
Forest-South Park Ranger District continues to experience high water flows in the South Platte River within Eleven Mile Canyon. “These conditions require that access to the South Platte River and all Forest Service campgrounds within Eleven Mile Canyon remain temporarily closed to public use until further notice.” Denver Water spokesman Travis Thompson said that Denver Water is allowing the same amount of water to be released as is coming into the reservoir - to pass through at the same rate it is coming in. “Obviously there have been high flows as a result of the rains and snow melt run-off. We (Eleven Mile Reservoir) are definitely at capacity. A lot of water has been spilling over the dam as it
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Teller County, Colorado, the Pikes Peak Courier is published weekly on Wednesday by Colorado Community Media, 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WOODLAND PARK, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 10 a.m.
PL E ASE RECYCLE T HI S C OPY
The South Platte River has overrun its banks on the north side of U.S. Highway 24 in Lake George.
River continues on Page 3
Your local newspaper, the Pikes Peak Courier, got a whole lot more local when it was purchased Friday by longtime residents of the Pikes Peak region: Cary and Bill Vogrin of Colorado Springs. To buy the Courier, the Vogrins teamed with Susie Burghart and Rich Tosches, who also have deep roots in the community. The two couples formed Pikes Peak Newspapers Inc. to purchase the paper from Colorado Community Media in Highlands Ranch. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. “Cary and I are thrilled to immerse ourselves in the communities served by the Courier,” said Bill Vogrin, who will serve as editor and write a weekly column. He will join longtime publisher Rob Carrigan, who will remain in that position. “We have accompanied Rob and his wife, Niki Miscovich, on frequent visits to the area,” Vogrin said. “With them, we have enjoyed tours of open houses, festivals, discovered great restaurants and pubs and made friends across Woodland Park, Cripple Creek and Victor and Divide.” The Vogrins have long admired the area. “Cary grew up in rural Wisconsin and we love the character, charm and friendly people unique to small towns. We know there are great stories to tell here and we’re excited to practice community journalism at its purest level.” The Vogrins and Rich Tosches are familiar names in the region, having worked 20-years plus at area newspapers. Cary Vogrin worked at the Rocky Mountain News and then the Colorado Springs Gazette after arriving in the area in 1994 from the San Francisco Bay Area where she was an award-winning editor at the Contra Costa Times daily newspaper. In 2007, she left The Gazette to start a Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake pizza franchise. Bill Vogrin came to the region in 1994 after 13-plus years writing for The Associated Press in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. He held various writing and editing positions at The Gazette, including City Editor, before launching his Side Streets neighborhood column in 2002. Tosches was a reader favorite as a columnist at The Gazette, the Colorado Springs Independent, the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post. He came to the region in 1993 from the Los Angeles Times, where he was a sports writer and humor columnist. He started his career at United Press International. And Burghart is well-known as a longtime resident, Colorado College graduate, philanthropist and member of her alma mater’s Board of Trustees. “The very best newspapers are the ones that readers, customers, sources and the community itself, take great pride of ownership and trust in. Bill and Cary, Rich and Susie understand that. I am proud to be associated with owners that demonstrate such high ideals Courier continues on Page 3