Author: KRDO

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Drivers and neighbors are adjusting to detours and daytime construction noise as Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) starts the first of two phases of a water line replacement.

Work began on Wednesday on 19th Street, between King Street and Koshare Avenue, covering two blocks on the city’s west side.

CSU is replacing two water lines that were installed 60 years ago.

“We identified this water line as one that’s reaching the end of its life cycle,” said CSU spokeswoman Cassie Melvin. “We’re coming in before the city comes through because this is part of the city’s 2C paving projects this year. We want to make sure that we go ahead and proactively replace this water line before the city comes in and paves.”

A CSU crew started digging into the street, and Melvin said that the first phase will take a month to finish.

Immediately after completion, CSU will begin the second phase farther south on 19th Street, between Platte and Armstrong avenues.

Both street segments will be closed during construction.

Local neighbor Karl Waunder was out viewing the scene, saying that any inconveniences will be outweighed by the need to replace the aging water lines.

“It’s about time they fixed this water main, because this whole area has flooded,” he recalled. “We had a flood right here with a water main break, and up the street here.”

Melvin said that the project will interrupt water service for an entire day at both locations, and that CSU has notified customers in advance.

However, Waunder said that he didn’t receive the alert.

“I didn’t know anything was happening until I saw the Road Closed signs,” he said.

19th Street is largely residential, and we’re more accustomed to water line replacements happening on busier streets, like a project starting soon on 8th Street, and another winding down on the east end of Galley Road.

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Rob Namnoum

The Sand Creek Scorpions came out stinging. Achilles Evans is giving up thirty pounds in the 215 pound weight class but that didn’t stop him from pinning Palmer Ridge’s Skyler Tolbert in the opening round. The Scorpion wins. Evans later advanced to the state semifinal, “I’m just my mindset and I’m just practicing hard with my coaches is the reason why I can go from one weight and 184 to wrestling to fit in and still winning. It gives me more confidence. I’m going to win the tournament this year,” says Evans.

Another Scorpion wins and this time it’s freshman Karris Carter who pinned her opponent in the first round to advance to the state semi’s and you wouldn’t know how ferocious she is by talking to her, “Oh, I’m so excited. I didn’t think I was going to make it this far my freshman year. It’s just part of the fun, you know, just having fun with the game and just wrestling the best you can,” says Carter.

Coronado Bella Arellano is off her rocker. After pinning her first opponent in the second round. She turned around and did it again by pinning Widefield’s Angelina Roller to clinch a spot in the semi’s. Once again. this is someone who can flip the rage switch at will because she has a pretty tempered mindset heading into Friday, “Take it one match at a time, period at a time, and stay confident and stay moving. I know I can work through anything if I’m down. I can always come back. So staying calm and composed,” says Arellano.

Then there’s Widefield’s Manny Mota, great name, in fact, it’s an exceptional name. Anyway, his name is exceptional as his skill. He won a tough match over Pueblo East’s Noah Sanchez despite getting bloodied up during the match. Luckily, winning is in his DNA, “I mean, it was a distraction, but I just had to keep pushing through it. And especially because I was down or we were tied up going in the third, just kind of keep wrestling,” says Mota.

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Rob Namnoum

The Pueblo Central girls wrestling team came out strong, eight girls won their opening round matches. One of them, Maliyah Sandoval in the 170 pound weight class. She kneaded her opponent like dough on her way to win by major decision, “I just really want to, like, do my best and perform well, even though I did score a lot of points. It wasn’t like my best performance, so it makes me glad to fire under me to have the next one better, like ten times better,” says Sandoval.

Central’s dominance continued in the quarterfinals. Acelyn Duran apparently had places to be, so she stuffed her opponent into a box and shipped her off to Timbuktu, pinning her early in the second round. She’s one of four Wildcats to reach the semifinals.

Calhan junior Kayleigh Reese treated her opponent like she was paper mache, folding her into oblivion on her way to a third round pin. The small town girl making big time noise at state, “It really gives me a lot of confidence coming from such a small school, coming out, performing at the highest level for girls wrestling. It’s really only good to be a part of that whole small town get up thing,” says Reese.

On the boys side, Alamosa’s Ryan Cordova put on a show in his opening round match, pinning Sierra’s Donnie Herrera late in the third round of his 3A 165 pound bout, “Feel great. I’m happy with where I’m going in the tournament now. It was a big step in going forward and it’s just setting the tone for the rest of the tournament,” says Cordova.

In the Class 2A 120 pound weight class, Fowler’s Stockton Sharon decided to clean the mat with his opponent’s face, winning by major decision and clinching a spot in the state semifinal.

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Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — On Wednesday, a crew began removing old concrete panels in a block-long drainage ditch that was crumbling and had accumulated thick brush and piles of debris.

The ditch is between the intersection of Ford Street and Seneca Road, and Valley Street to the south, in the Cimarron Hills community just east of the Colorado Springs city limits.

Neighbors and nearby business owners have complained about the ditch’s condition for years, but a complication in repairing it was that local governments couldn’t agree on who had responsibility for maintaining it.

In 2024, El Paso County accepted responsibility for repairing the 500-foot channel.

“Our plan is to come in here and install a reinforced concrete-lined channel,” said Thomas Donahue, senior public works engineer for the county. “We’ll be increasing the capacity, which will accommodate larger flows than we would anticipate with larger storm events.”

Donahue said that the previous channel layer wasn’t reinforced, and that was a factor in its deterioration.

He added that the project should be finished by the end of March — weather permitting.

Orlando Jiron owns Precision Finish, an auto body repair shop along the channel, and was observing the first day of construction.

“It creates a lot of worries,” he revealed. “But at the same time, now that this is going, I have a lot more confidence and less stress — seeing that the actual progress is moving forward to get this rectified.”

The clogged ditch also caused occasional flooding and erosion of business property on both sides of the channel.

Another issue is stormwater drainage from the upper Seneca neighborhood, which flows so quickly in street gutters downhill that it bypasses a storm drain into the channel and floods the intersection.

Donahue said that the county is considering plans to improve drainage from the neighborhood, and to replace a failing underground metal drainage pipe emptying into the channel.

“We are considering upgrading that with reinforced concrete pipe,” he explained.

The channel drains into a similar ditch in better condition west of Valley Street, which eventually connects to a newer, extensive drainage channel along Paonia Street.

A raccoon, apparently displaced by the construction, was seen slowly crawling through the ditch and into the metal drainage pipe.

Last spring, the county repaired another crumbling drainage channel in Security-Widefield.

The county continues to assess its overall stormwater infrastructure needs.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – As the country continues to celebrate Black History Month, the founder of the African American Historical and Genealogical Society of Colorado Springs (AAHGSCS) says it’s a topic they never stop documenting.

Candice McKnight, a third-generation Colorado Springs native, founded the museum in 2009. McKnight says after her great-great-grandmother heard the freedom bells, she left the McKinney plantation in Texas and moved to southern Colorado.

The AAHGSCS collects and preserves any and all artifacts that tell the story of Colorado Springs’ Black community throughout the centuries. It has books, newspapers, clothing items, replicas, paintings, pamphlets and more.

Anyone can tour the museum, but it is by appointment only. You can call 719-217-2647 to plan your visit.

The museum also hosts events and classes throughout the year. See their upcoming events below. You can also contact the museum if you are interested in genealogy lessons.

April 18: Black Women’s History Month

June 18: Juneteenth Celebration

Oct 17: AAHGSCS 45th Anniversary Open House

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Stella Girkins

PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – I-25 has reopened in both directions after Tuesday’s deadly crash shut down the highway south of Pueblo for more than 12 hours.

The Pueblo County Coroner has identified the four people killed as David Kirscht and his adult son, Scott Kirscht, both of Walsenburg, Mary Sue Thayer of Rye, and Karen Ann Marsh of Pueblo.

The crash happened in the Stem Beach area around ten in the morning. The interstate was closed in both directions, while law enforcement, fire and rescue, and emergency crews responded.

Southbound lanes reopened Monday evening, while northbound traffic remained detoured until early Tuesday morning.

According to the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), the pile-up involved 29 passenger vehicles, seven semi-trucks, and a livestock trailer.

CSP says the chain-reaction crash unfolded during sudden “brown-out” conditions – strong winds kicking up dust and dirt, drastically reducing visibility.

“The visibility was not bad until it wasn’t,” said Kimber Begano, who narrowly missed the crash. “There was no bracing yourself for it. You were just in the thick of it.”

What CSP says to do in a brown-out

Following the crash, viewers asked what drivers should do if they suddenly lose visibility on the highway.

Before heading out, CSP encourages drivers to check CoTrip.org and local weather.

“If drivers encounter a brownout while traveling, they should immediately slow down, turn on their light-beam headlights, and increase following distance,” says Trooper Sherri Mendez. “Reducing speed and increasing following distance gives drivers more time to react.”

Drivers should also avoid sudden braking or abrupt lane changes.

If visibility drops to near zero, CSP reminds drivers not to stop in the travel lane. Instead, carefully move completely off the roadway by taking the next exit or pulling off – well beyond the shoulder.

“Once safely off the road, drivers should turn off their lights, set the parking brake, and remain in their vehicle with their seatbelts fastened until visibility improves,” says Mendez. “Leaving lights on while stopped can unintentionally cause other motorists to follow those lights and collide with the parked vehicle.”

Authorities continue to investigate the crash as the southern Colorado community recovers from one of the most significant pile-ups in recent memory.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) also shared this guidance.

Similar to a blizzard, brownouts reduce visibility significantly. Motorists should avoid driving through a dust storm if possible. When that’s not possible, motorists should not stop in a travel lane but should exit the roadway, park, turn off headlights and use the emergency brake. 

CDOT works with State Patrol to determine whether and when wind-related restrictions or closures need to be put into place; typically, 60 mph gusts or sustained winds are a threshold we use to help make this determination.

If CDOT, in coordination with the Colorado State Patrol, determines that high winds – typically 60 mph+ – could compromise traveler safety, a High Wind Restriction will be issued for a particular segment of highway. High profile vehicles such as semi-trucks, loaded or with an empty load, will be required to park and shelter in place or turn around until it is determined winds have subsided and it is safe for such vehicles to resume travel. The restriction helps prevent a truck, trailer or light-weighing vehicles from suddenly entering into another lane or causing a rollover.

– The Colorado Department of Transportation.

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Josh Helmuth

4th and 5th-graders from a Pueblo charter school are making sure adoptable pets go home to loving families through a little effort and artistic vision.

The students from the Villa Bella Expeditionary School held a Valentine’s Day project to support PAWS For Life, an animal shelter in Pueblo. The goal? Collect donations to help support the shelter while using their art projects to inspire people to adopt the animals waiting for a home.

The fifth-grade class made acrylic pet portraits of the animals on canvas, now displayed at the shelter to highlight the animals in need of a home. The 4th-grade class made watercolor portraits of the animals that go home to the families that adopt the corresponding animal. Together, they also collected over 400 items for the shelter.

“We are so proud of our students for turning Valentine’s Day into an opportunity to give back and make a difference in the lives of animals in our community,” said Audrianna Martinez, the school’s art teacher.

Jessica Ortiz is the school’s principal, who says the effort was “designed to foster deep engagement and develop character by connecting students to a relevant, local issue.”

“Seeing the excitement and empathy for these pets has been truly heartwarming to witness,” she said.

Is there something or someone remarkable at your school? Tell us! SchoolBuzz@KRDO.com.

   

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Michael Logerwell

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – Dozens of cars colliding on both sides of I-25 around 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday led to dozens of injuries, several deaths, and the interstate closing for more than 12 hours.

While emergency responders continue to clear the wreckage from I-25, a clear picture of the bodily harm caused by the massive fatal crash has emerged.

The Pueblo County Coroner has notified next-of-kin for the five people who lost their lives on the highway:

David L. Kirscht and his son Scott L. Kirscht from Walsenburg, Colorado

Mary Sue Thayer from Rye, Colorado

Karen Ann Marsh from Pueblo, Colorado

Thomas Thayer of Rye, Colorado

29 others were transported to one of two area hospitals: UC Health or CommonSpirit. 11 of those injured went to Saint Mary-Corwin, and the others went out to the UC Health hospitals.

21 victims only sustained what the Colorado State Patrol is calling moderate to minor injuries. Seven sustained serious bodily injury, and one is in critical condition tonight.

“Today, everything stops. It’s all hands on deck. So whatever we had going on just stopped this. I won’t say it’s a strain because we’re prepared for it. And when we have to bring people in, bring additional staff, nurses, physicians, they’re all at the ready. They know that’s part of the deal,” said Mike Cafasso, president of Saint Mary-Corwin Hospital.

Cafasso said the Pueblo hospitals and first responders train for this type of mass casualty event annually, despite its rarity.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – For the volunteers with Richards Rubbish Roundup, their cleanup on Tuesday afternoon is anything but random.

“Some of them, their favorite thing to do, is see how many carts of trash they can get out of the waterway,” Director Sonja Walker said.

Despite the monthly pre-planning, Walker and her non-profit are not immune to coincidence.

Tuesday is National Random Acts of Kindness Day.” Walker was not aware. It’s just what they do! What better way to celebrate a holiday about randomness, than randomly (and accidentally) planning its celebration?

“If you see any area that needs to be cleaned up, maybe just call us, and you can start your own Rubbish Roundup with us,” Walker said.

Walker and Richards Rubbish Roundup will meet on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the Templeton Gap Trail near 3333 Templeton Gap Road. Everyone is welcome to come and help as they clean the local waterway.

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