30 years ago – May 8, 1987
High County Volunteer Fire Department battled its first forest fire of the season on April 29. The fire occurred one half mile north of Magnolia Road in Boulder County in the Roosevelt National Forest. Lighting ignited two large trees and spread to smaller trees and about 1,500 square feet of grass. Eleven firefighters from High Country, aided by six Sugar Loaf Fire Department members, put the fire out after two hours using hand tools and water backpacks. “It’s the earliest lightning strike forest fire that any of us could remember,” said High County Fire Department Chief Dave Thomas. According to Deputy Chief Fran Etzkorn, about 60 to 65 percent of High Country’s forest fires are caused by lightning. “These fires are usually very difficult to locate. There isn’t generally a path leading to the fire.” said Etzkorn.
Alleged rumors that have been circulated in the county concerning a former First Interstate Bank, Gilpin County Facility employee were verified to be untrue. Employees at the Weekly Register-Call received several inquiries regarding the alleged wrongdoing that concerned the former employee, the bank, and the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Department. Accusations were made that the employee released information to the sheriff’s department regarding activity on certain accounts. Last week, Sheriff Rosetta Enderle said, “If the allegations are true, the bank would, by law, have to press charges.” Enderle said that it had been determined that the rumor was being circulated by a person that has a problem with the sheriff’s department. Pamela Vincent, facility manager of the bank, confirmed that charges were not filed. She refused to comment further about the employee’s dismissal. Francis Sweeney, president of the First Interstate Bank, said Wednesday that the bank normally does not respond to rumor, but he agreed to look into the matter due to the possible outcome it may have. Sweeney said, “It was not the reason the young lady left our bank at all. She left our firm, but not for any reason of misconduct.” Sweeney explained that all employees sign a form upon being hired agreeing to not release information regarding customer’s accounts. The information or activity of an account is strictly confidential. He added, “We don’t think that it has been violated.”
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