Breaking News: APD officer fired for suspected intoxication

by Troy Hooper
The Aspen Police Department fired an 18-year veteran of its force Friday after another officer suspected he had been under the influence of alcohol on the job. A breath test allegedly confirmed it.

Jim Crowley, a patrol officer and former detective, was arrested for suspicion of driving while ability impaired (DWAI) and prohibited use of a weapon, both of which are misdemeanor charges, at 9:45 a.m. Thursday — just a little over two hours after he had reported to duty at the police station.

Obama delivers historic speech in Denver

by Andrew Travers, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

DENVER — A foot-stomping, flag-waving crowd larger than any other in political convention history greeted Barack Obama last night in Denver in anticipation of his speech accepting the Democratic party’s nomination for president.

In the speech before an audience of more than 80,000 people — and only eight weeks from election day — Obama linked his Republican opponent, John McCain, to President Bush’s unpopular presidency and forcefully promised a positive change for America.

Locals turn out for DNC’s final night

by Troy Hooper, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

DENVER — Barack Obama’s speech on the gridiron drove Pitkin County Commissioner Dorothea Farris to tears last night. But that might not be saying much. “When they play the national anthem, I cry,” Farris elaborated.

While tears and patriotism might not be out of the ordinary, Obama’s speech unquestionably was, and its historic nature is what compelled Farris to make the trek down to Denver. But in her view, it isn’t the color of Obama’s skin that makes his political journey unique; it’s his entire family tree — all the roots and shades that make it.

Lift One task force endorses site plan

by Brent Gardner-Smith, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

The Lift One Task Force voted 21-0 Thursday in support of a conceptual site plan for the neighborhood at the base of Aspen Mountain. The plan includes a chairlift approximately 200 feet higher up on the mountain than it is today, and a new ski trail down to Dean Street.

“Twenty-one to zip — pretty good for a public process,” said Tim Ditzler, the task force facilitator.

A Musical Circus

by Christine Benedetti, Time Out Staff Writer
It all starts with a place called Tipitina's.

Well, actually Tipitina's got its name from a woman in one of Professor Longhair's songs, and Professor Longhair is one of those acclaimed New Orleans blues musicians. On Napoleon Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street in uptown New Orleans, the joint opened in 1977, and Longhair played there until his death in 1980.

It's Time to Cash Out

by Jason Hood, Time Out Music Columnist
Lately, I've been thinking of putting together a tribute band with my good friend Jimmy the Pit Bull. The Good Mr. Pit Bull is trained in the art of tributes, having not only played the trombone in a trio of Charlie Pride cover bands, but also singing for a group that paid tribute to the world famous new age Christmas band Mannheim Steamroller.

I too have the chops to copy the best the musical kingdom has to offer. For example, I learned to play the opening riff of Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" at the tender age of 11. When I was 15, I learned the opening riff to "Mountain Song" by Jane's Addiction for no other reason than to impress a punk-rock girl I wanted to ... date.

That's A Wrap

by Linda Gerdnick, Tim Out Guest Writer
It has been pure pleasure writing this column for the summer. Special thanks to the Aspen Daily News for understanding that there's an entire life backstage.

And, thanks to all who shared their stories:

'Traitor' is Good, Twisty, Absorbing Work

by Michael Phillips, AP Movie Critic
"Traitor" asks a question that can only be answered by that cruel mistress, the marketplace: How much moral ambiguity and narrative intricacy will an audience handle in the realm of a terrorism-themed contemporary thriller? Enough, I hope, to respond to "Traitor." It tells a good, snakelike story, slithering in some unpredictable directions.

All along the way Don Cheadle, who plays the mysterious operative creating and running an espionage maze of his own design, reaffirms his excellence. He is an honest, responsive actor, and as a rogue ex-U.S. Special Operations officer and highly conflicted Muslim, Cheadle recalls a variety of old-school stars -- everyone from Spencer Tracy to Sidney Poitier -- in the way he keeps it simple and puts the story needs ahead of his own.

Rushing Around With Slow Food

by Drew Stofflet, Time Out Wine Columnist
This past Monday I had the pleasure of attending the 5th annual Summer Harvest Social at Restaurant SIX89 down here in Carbondale as assistant sommelier for their legendary wine guru, Bill Bentley. The event is put on by SIX89 owner Mark Fischer at the end of every summer as a benefit for the Roaring Fork Valley's chapter of the national Slow Food group.

The Slow Food movement was founded in 1978 by Carlo Petrini, an Italian food and wine writer as a response to the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome and Paris in the late 1980s. Petrini was also dismayed at the industrialization of the food industry, the harm it was doing to the environment, the lack of nutrients in processed foods and the annihilation of thousands of food varieties.

Editor's Pick: Jam Time After Dark

Aspen Daily News Staff Report
Obviously, it's all about music in town this weekend. While acts such as Widespread Panic, John Fogerty, Bob Dylan and other legends will be playing to the masses in Snowmass' Town Park through Monday, Sept. 1 (check out Time Out's calendar for a complete listing), the real deals happen in the Snowmass Village after concert hours

Hey Jack Kerouac

by Kristine Crandall, Aspen Daily News Columnist
School is in the air. It has that crisp yet warm feeling — you know, the excitement of shopping for school supplies, the crack of the bat launching fall prep sports, and once again seeing one’s friends on a daily basis.

There are also sharp edges that come with the start of school, if I remember back with any objective accuracy. To shift from summer’s wanderings and occasional naps along the river to the severity of a schedule has to be one of them. Another is the need to reacquire an accomplishment-oriented mindset. Then again, after getting through the jolting transition, I remember liking school’s structure and unrelenting pursuit of goals.

Obama is on the ropes

by Ted Rall, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Democrats are fired up about Obama.

Belying Will Rogers’ adage that as a Democrat he didn’t belong to any organized political party, this year finds the DNC uncharacteristically well funded and startlingly organized. Running against an incumbent likely to go down as this country’s worst leader in history, Democrats couldn’t ask for a more favorable political climate. “Watergate is the last time things were so overwhelmingly tilted against the Republicans,” Duke University political scientist David Rohde tells the Bloomberg wire service.

Contrary to Rall

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Editor:

Are the Bushies just nuts? Crazy end timers? Or are they just doing business as usual, in a worldwide military industrial marketplace?

Politicians put money first

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Editor:

I had initially wanted to write to implore the Americans who have not made up their minds whom to vote for and why to realize that there may be up to four Supreme Court seats available in the next presidential term.

Watch the county commissioners

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Editor:

I attended the Pitkin County Commissioner meeting Aug. 27 and learned the following: