Those wishing to avoid driving down the pass can now make the trip in comfort aboard the new Ute Pass Express buss. $4 pays your fare down the pass while you relax in reclining seats and enjoy free wireless internet access (you can get up to a $1 per ticket discount by buying tickets in bulk in advance). The buss also makes stops in Green Mountain Falls, Cascade, and Manitou Springs, in addition to the two stops in Colorado Springs (downtown, and the I-25/Tejon park and ride). Click here for complete information.
The Cruise Above the Clouds car show here in Woodland Park last September raised $12,100 for local charities (not quite as good as the $13,900 they raised last year). The money is being distributed as follows:
Prospect Homecare & Hospice: $5800
Aspen Mine Center: $1100
Community Cupboard: $1100
Help the Needy: $1100
Teller Senior Coalition: $1100
Charitable Treasures Workshop: $500
Pikes Peak Regional Medical Center Foundation: $500
American Legion: $300
Rotary Club: $300
Ute Pass Kiwanis: $300
Barack Obama handily defeated John McCain in yesterday's presidential election, coming as a surprise to few. What was a bit surprising was the results in Colorado, where Obama had 53% of the vote to McCain's 46%. Here in Teller county, McCain scored 7,939 votes (63.25%) and Obama had 4,370 votes (34.82%), which isn't all that unexpected as Teller county hasn't voted for a democrat president since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. We're thrilled that this is finally all over and the barrage of ads, commercials, and newspaper stories will finally be over! For more detailed information about how Teller County voted, check out the Rocky Mountain News' website.
More details have emerged regarding the 'shortage' that a recent audit turned up in the local school district's finances. More than $500k was stolen/embezzled over about four years; while no arrests have been made, a 20 year employee of the school district, Deanna Moore, was fired and police executed a search warrant of her home, computers and financial records (Moore's most recent position in the school district was supervisor of finance). The school district doesn't expect this loss to have any immediate impact, though it will impact future projects like a full-day kindergarten and a new School in the Woods. Read more in the Gazette.
Those of you looking to try out some new outdoor activities this winter might be interested in the free classes that the local REI store offers. They offer clinics on such things as snowshoeing, climbing a 14er in the winter, avalanche awareness, etc. Quite a few classes are coming up in November; you can check out the schedule at REI's website (or click through to read this full post for a copy of what's on their website).
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