Manitou Springs gears up for 30th annual Great Fruitcake Toss

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Bradley Davis

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Manitou Springs welcomed KRDO13 for a special preview ahead of the 30th annual Great Fruitcake Toss on Saturday.

“I love this event for being 30 years strong in this community,” said Manitou Springs events manager Jenna Gallas. “As everyone knows, we like to do things a little weird in Manitou Springs, and we’re keeping that tradition with the great fruitcake toss.”

Manitou Springs is credited as the inspiration for National Fruitcake Toss Day and as the originator of the event.

“Oh, we are definitely first. Yes, there are copycats out there, but you can rest assured that the original fruitcake toss was right here in Manitou Springs,” Gallas said.

The event runs from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Memorial Park in Manitou Springs on Saturday. You do not need a reservation. You can bring your own one-pound fruitcake or pay $1 to rent a fruitcake. It’s another $1 to participate in each event. People can also trade canned goods for tickets, up to 10 tickets, which Manitou Springs will donate to the St. Andrews Food Pantry.

The Great Fruitcake Toss hosts throwing competitions for distance and accuracy, an obstacle course carrying a cake with a spatula, the “too good to toss bake off” and more.

Breaking from normal expectations, all of the fruitcakes will get eaten, except those people save to throw for next year. Judges will dig into the tasty-baked variety, while the city will give its rented cakes to farmers to feed their pigs.

Repairs underway on crumbling drainage channel in Security-Widefield

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Many neighbors and drivers have complained about the negative impacts of a deteriorating drainage channel for years before KRDO 13 began reporting on it in the summer of 2020.

John Bailey’s backyard faces the channel and he reflected on how he has tried to live with it for 33 years.

“There were times that flooding would cover half of my backyard,” he recalled. “The channel itself would look like rapids in a river.”

KRDO 13 reported on how cracked, broken, eroding concrete in the channel — along with flooding debris and trash from homeless camps — clogged the drainage flow and contributed to flooding on nearby streets.

The channel parallels Highway 85/87 and railroad tracks to the west, and Security-Widefield Boulevard to the east; much of the deterioration is south of Fontaine Boulevard at the south end of the community.

There’s now relief at hand for homeowners and businesses along the creek; repairs promised by county officials two years ago, have begun.

KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior visited the site last week and spoke with a worker who said that the project started in November with cutting down trees along the channel.

That pleased Jacqueline Crane, owner of Eden Apothecary & Spa.

“I’m glad. I love it back there. It’s awesome,” she said. “I think now, people can also see our sign from the highway, as well. So, I think it might help us out.”

The Road Warrior spoke with one homeowner who said that he’ll miss the trees.

“They were good windbreaks and they absorbed traffic noise from the highway,” he explained.

Crews are pumping water in the channel through a temporary pipe around the construction area; the water drains into a creek ant the south end of the channel.

The project will gradually install a new concrete liner in the channel.

“We’re in a race to get this done before spring runoff season comes,” the worker told The Road Warrior.

In a summer 2022 story, KRDO spoke with county officials who said that the project would cost between $3.5 million and $5 million.

The channel has a troubled history that hasn’t been entirely resolved.

According to documents in the agreement, the channel — officially called the Security Ditch — dates back to 1961, when Security Water (now Security Sanitation District) acquired an easement for drainage in the area and the easement was transferred to the county in 1972.

At some undetermined date afterward, the concrete-lined channel was built and apparently there are no records to indicate who built it and when; documents show that it’s owned by Fountain Valley Investment Partners, believed to be the original developers of Security-Widefield.

The county and Security Water disagree on the transfer of the original easement; they also disagree on which is responsible for maintaining the channel.

In reaching the agreement, the county assumed no responsibility for future repairs and maintenance; federal money from the American Rescue Plan Act will fund the current project.

It’s unclear how long the project will take to complete, and whether damaged parts of the channel north of Fontaine will also be addressed.

Monument firefighters undergo ice rescue training amid warm up

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Julia Donovan

MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) – With a warm stretch of days ahead, it’s especially important not to trust the ice on frozen ponds and lakes. That’s the message Monument firefighters are sending after finishing up a week of ice rescue training Friday.

“This is probably one of the guys’ funnest exercises that they get to do,” Battalion Chief Shannon Balvanz of the Monument Fire Protection District confessed.

You heard that right –  ice rescue training is fun! You get to wear insulated, waterproof suits and hangout on the lake.

“They’re in freezing water right now and they’re actually sweating,” Balvanz explained. 

But falling through the ice and needing a rescue? Obviously not a good time. Balvanz estimates it happens up here in Monument once every couple years.

“It’s not very often that we have to do an ice rescue, which is why we train on it so that when it does happen we’re ready to be able to do so,” Balvanz told KRDO.

Firefighters practice their skills quickly rigging the rope, tossing the boogie board, and pulling people in. There’s a serious need or speed when someone is stuck in near-freezing water.

“We want to do what we can to try and get to them before their body gives out on them and they’re not able to hold onto the ice shelf anymore,” Balvanz told us.

He says you can lose muscle function in less than ten minutes and die in around 25 minutes submerged in extremely cold water.

“We started doing our ice rescue training on Monday and the ice was twelve inches thick. By Tuesday, it had already melted four inches,” Balvanz said. “The ice down here on the Front Range fluctuates so often – that’s why we tell people you should stay off the ice because it’s just really not that safe.”

‘Considerable’ avalanche danger in high elevations of Pikes Peak area this weekend

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) says areas above the treeline in the Pikes Peak region have considerable avalanche risk for Saturday.

Experts with the CAIC say recent snow will start to move around in plumes as westerly wind picks up.

Example photo of snow coming off the peaks close to Red Mountain Pass (Source: CAIC)

The CAIC says those nearby should pay close attention to wind-drifted areas, which will be the most dangerous this weekend.

“You can trigger an avalanche where new snow and strong winds create a dense surface slab in steep terrain. The most dangerous slopes will face northeast to east to southeast, where slabs formed over a foot deep on hardened old snow surfaces,” read a blurb on the CAIC website.

Wind slabs (Source: CAIC)

Colorado Springs sued over “do-over vote” on recreational marijuana sales

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A local veteran and medical marijuana store owner is suing the City of Colorado Springs over a ballot measure that could overturn previous results legalizing recreational marijuana sales.

In November, voters passed Ballot Question 300, which allowed for recreational weed sales. It passed by 54.68%. There was also another ballot measure opposing recreational marijuana sales which failed by 50.67%.

Source: Colorado Secretary of State’s Office

Some city council members said they felt as though voters may have been confused by the two conflicting questions.

This week, Colorado Springs City Council voted to put the measure back on the ballot in April to clarify; essentially a “do-over vote.” On Friday, the group Citizens For Responsible Marijuana Use announced a lawsuit.

The main argument of the lawsuit is that the Colorado Springs City Council violated the Colorado Constitution by deciding to bring the measure to voters once again this coming April.

Amendment 64, which legalized recreational marijuana use statewide in 2012, says cities can prohibit retail marijuana stores, but it must go to voters during a general election in an even-numbered year. The next election in April is not during an even-numbered year.

“It’s so specific and direct on this situation. How could anybody have decided to spend the time and energy to refer an initiative to April 1st? My assumption is they just missed it,” Tom Scudder is the President of the Colorado Springs Cannabis Association.

The lawsuit also argues that the city violated a city statute by using vague language when adding the measure to the April ballot. Read the full lawsuit here.

As for the city’s rationale for holding another vote, Councilman Dave Donelson told KRDO13 several weeks ago that citizens were confused by the language of the two competing ballot measures. Scudder doesn’t buy it, pointing to the vote margins of the two respective questions decided last November.

A spokesperson for the city said they will not comment on pending litigation.

Pueblo Police charge 24-year-old in connection with double shooting, homicide

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Michael Logerwell

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – The Pueblo Police Department arrested and charged 24-year-old Destiny Trujillo with second-degree murder in connection to the death of David Trujillo, 45. 

In the early morning hours of December 26, 2024, Pueblo Police Officers responded to the 1100 block of Egan Ave. on reports of a shooting. When officers arrived on the scene they found two men. One was alive with a gunshot wound and the other, David Trujillo, was declared dead at the scene by first responders.

Destiny Trujillo was arrested and booked into the Pueblo County Detention Center on January 30.

Cañon City Fire District shares update on big fire station renovation

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Michael Logerwell

CAÑON CITY, Colo. (KRDO) – Fire Staton One in Cañon City is undergoing a major renovation.

On Saturday the Cañon City Fire Protection District shared a progress report on bringing the nearly 50-year-old station into the 21st century.

Cañon City Fire said the remodel includes modern building insulation, a code-compliant fire sprinkler system, ADA-compliant bathrooms, and a new energy-efficient heating system.

The station will continue to be fully staffed during the renovations, which are expected to be completed this year.

For the latest updates on the Cañon City fire station renovation visit their Facebook page.

Colorado law enforcement return car & baby supplies to young family after arresting 5 in connection to multiple vehicle thefts

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado Springs Police, Colorado State Patrol, and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office working together on a BATTLE (Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement) deployment arrested five people and recovered seven stolen vehicles.

One of the vehicles was filled with baby supplies and belonged to a family expecting their first child. Police say that car was returned with all the supplies inside.

The BATTLE deployment arrested five people in all:

Ashley Ikener-Contratto, age 28

Edward Ruiz, age 30

Dakota Mayer, age 27

Mykal Lala, age 23

Craig Doty, age 59

Fruitcakes take to the skies in 30th edition of the Manitou Springs Fruitcake Toss

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Michael Logerwell

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Fruitcakes were flying in Manitou Springs today for the 30th annual great fruitcake toss after the event was delayed multiple weeks due to bad weather.

Organizers say lots of other places have adopted fruitcake tosses, but Manitou Springs was the first. The tradition started in 1996 with locals tossing fruitcakes in Memorial Park.

Today, it’s grown into a 30-year tradition and even inspired a national holiday for the event.

More than just throwing fruitcakes, the event also helped give back to the less fortunate. Canned goods collected at the event will go to the St. Andrews food pantry.

While the uneaten fruitcakes will either be saved for next year, or given to farmers to feed their pigs.

Pueblo King Soopers union members vote to authorize strike; when and where will the picket line begin?

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Karla Sosa

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Following union members in the Denver area and Colorado Springs, grocery store workers in Pueblo have voted to strike.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 Union says 97% of Pueblo retail workers and 100% of Pueblo meat department workers voted to strike.

The last time the UFCW Local 7 went on strike was in 2022, that strike lasted 9 days just for stores in Denver. 

The union is asking King Soopers’ shoppers to shop at other grocery stores as a way to support their cause. 

RELATED: Colorado Springs King Soopers union workers vote to strike

“We want customers to support us and transfer their prescriptions over the Safeway or another pharmacy and support us by not shopping at King Soopers while we’re engaging in this dispute over their unfair labor practices,” said Kim Cordova, President of UFCW Local 7.

King Soopers officials said those comments are concerning. 

“She’s also said she wants to give the communities time to transfer their prescriptions from King Soopers to Safeway. I’m a little concerned about [that]. So when we talk about bargaining in good faith and she’s treating Safeway different than King Soopers, it makes no sense,” said Joe Kelley Division President, King Soopers.

Originally, the contract was set to expire on January 4th, but both parties agreed to extend the deadline to January 17th.

The union said they are not satisfied with the plans for their health benefits and they want better security at the stores.  

King Soopers said their health care is the best in the class and safety is a core value for them.

On Friday, union members in Colorado Springs voted to authorize a strike against King Soopers. Workers in the retail department voted 96% in favor of a strike and more than 97% of meat department workers voted to go on strike. Other stores in Colorado voted in favor of a strike, we could soon see picket lines.

“We will advise them, when and what stores and at what time the picket lines will start,” said Cordova.

King Soopers says they’re disappointed by the outcome of a strike. But they say this won’t affect their stores and they will all remain open.

“Our stores will remain open, and we’ll have anywhere from 1000 to 2000 temporary workers, not replacement workers, because nobody can replace, a great, King Soopers in City Market team. But we have to run our stores and we have a responsibility to the communities that we serve. And stores remain open,” said Kelley.

It’s still unknown when union members will go on strike.