Policy a key issue in APD firing

by Troy Hooper, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

The firing of an Aspen police officer who allegedly reported to duty under the influence of alcohol appears to contradict city policies that recommend rehabilitative measures for a first offense and job termination for a second.

The City of Aspen Personnel Policies and Procedure Manual states that if an employee is impaired, he or she should be driven home and charged with nonscheduled sick leave until he or she can pass a drug or alcohol test. “The employee will be advised by his or her supervisor of the resources available to him or her in evaluating and addressing the employee’s alcohol or drug abuse problem. ... Any employee failing a drug or alcohol test a second time will be immediately terminated.”

Failed art deal settled in court

by Andrew Travers, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

A Pitkin County judge yesterday denied a claim by a New York auctioneer against an Old Snowmass man who owns the largest collection of French Moulin Rouge-era Mistinguett performance posters.

The auctioneer, Jack Rennert of Poster Auctions International, sued the collector, Edwin Glickman, for not paying him after he traveled to Aspen in late 2005 to survey Glickman’s 170-piece collection.

Condo must pay bear fine

by Curtis Wackerle, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

Slow year for bear problems

The owners of a condominium complex were convicted of violating Aspen’s bear ordinance in Aspen Municipal Court Wednesday. It was the first bear ticket issued during a summer that has been a stark contrast to last year’s bear madness.

Man spends two nights in wilderness after fall

by Catherine Lutz, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

A Denver-area man was rescued from a remote wilderness area near Marble after falling down a 50-foot waterfall, suffering internal injuries and spending two additional nights out in the open.

James Heinritz, 51, and his brother Gary Heinritz were on a bow-hunting trip in the vicinity of the Placita Trail, which is accessed from Highway 133 about two miles north of the Marble turnoff (in the direction of Redstone). Heinritz has a nephew who lives in the area and brought the men out on horseback, then left, according to Joe Bauer of the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.

SkiCo housing won’t be ready till February

by Curtis Wackerle, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

Fifty beds of affordable housing at the Holiday House that the Aspen Skiing Co. hoped would be ready by Christmas of this year will not be ready until February.

SkiCo spokesman Jeff Hanle cited a longer than expected permitting process and what he described as standard delays for the extended opening date.

Independence Pass getting permanent bathrooms

by Brent Gardner-Smith, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

Motorists and bicyclists can expect to find new concrete Forest Service bathrooms at the top of Independence Pass within the next two weeks.

“I’m hoping they come up this week or next week to be installed,” said Jon Morrissey, the ranger for the Leadville District of the San Isabel National Forest. “They will be just south of the walkway about 10 feet off of the parking lot.”

Community Briefs

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Night work at Carbondale entrance

(Editor’s note: Some incorrect detour information was published yesterday, so we are relaying the following information again.)

Take the gloves off

by Jeremy Madden, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Today marks the end of the Republican National Convention. With it comes the closing of the longest primary in American history.

For nearly a year, candidates from both major parties struggled to gain their constituents’ consent to earn the right to fight for the oval office. As it turned out, each winning candidate started as an underdog, then, little by little, made his way to the top.

‘Democracy Now!’ producers arrested at RNC

by Amy Goodman, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Government crackdowns on journalists are a true threat to democracy.

As the Republican National Convention meets in St. Paul, Minn., this week, police are systematically targeting journalists. I was arrested with my two colleagues, “Democracy Now!” producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, while reporting on the first day of the RNC. I have been wrongly charged with a misdemeanor. My co-workers, who were simply reporting, may be charged with felony riot.

Krabloonik protesters are ignorant

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

In her article about swimming in the Northwest Passage in The April 21, 2008, edition of The New Yorker  magazine,  long-distance swimmer Lynne Cox observed when leaving her Greenland hotel with her Danish host, Konrad: “Dogs with long coats were staked in tiers along the steep hillsides. When, at one point, a puppy bounded down to greet us, the adult dogs broke into loud, anxious barks and high-pitched howls.

What a humanitarian

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

What a humanitarian, this Dan MacEachen of Krabloonik’s.

Unilateralism doesn’t work

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

This letter is in response to Sue Gray’s letter of Sept. 1.

Change needed at Krabloonik

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

I read and watched with despair the conditions of the sled dogs at Krabloonik kennels. I cried when I saw the anguish and hopelessness on the faces of those dogs. As guardians of the animals we owe them at minimum the standards of humane living, at best they deserve our love, kindness and respect for their ability to love us unconditionally.