Author: KRDO

Scott Harrison

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — There’s so much road and bridge construction in the Steel City this year, it seems a good time for KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior to check on the status of four projects in particular.

City crews completed one project earlier this spring, ending a five-month closure of the Mel Harmon Bridge connecting Highway 47 to an Interstate 25 frontage road with a handful of businesses.

Workers improved the bridge structure, resurfaced the lanes, and made safety upgrades.

Anahi Arias, a manager at the nearby 3 Margaritas restaurant, reflected on how the bridge closure affected business there.

“It affected us because, since we changed the ownership, a lot of people didn’t know about the bridge,” she said. “And people saw the bridge closed, so they asked: Are you guys closed? Are you still open? How do I get there? So, it affected us a little bit.”

The bridge was built in 1976 — the same year that the adjacent Pueblo Mall opened — and was named after a noted community leader.

Two more projects are happening in the same general area: a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) replacement of five bridges at the redesigned I-25/US 50 East interchange and several utility projects along 29th Street west of the freeway.

On the I-25 bridges project, northbound traffic has shifted east, and the exit ramp to 29th Street is longer than before; the shift allows crews to continue building a new overpass connecting to US 50 East.

Damian Romero describes himself as a former construction worker who’s monitoring the changes.

“I don’t know if there are efficient enough traffic control signs that there is a hard turn before it,” he explained. “But I’ve seen numerous vehicles already slam on the brakes, or they don’t notice it, and they’re in the other lane. Do I like what they’re doing? I know it’s a big improvement.”

Finally, crews have begun laying new asphalt on a mile of 6th Street through downtown; drivers should watch for detours and lane closures in that area.

Meanwhile, paving work continues on US 50 between Pueblo West and the Fremont County line, and CDOT is installing cable guardrail in the center median of I-25 in northern Pueblo County.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – It’s the classic “try before you buy,” but with no strings (or fishing line) attached. Multiple partnering organizations are coming together on Saturday at Memorial Park to provide southern Coloradans with a no-cost adventure experience.

“Get Outdoors Day” is a partnership between Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the City of Colorado Springs, and the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance. It’s an effort to expand interest in outdoor activities by providing all the necessary equipment with none of the typical costs.

“This is a chance for them to experience something they may never have had the chance to do,” CPW Education Coordinator Tracy Predmore said. “I love when kids hit the (archery) target, and they hear that thunk, they get so excited. They are kind of nervous because it seems a little scary, but as soon as they hear that hit the target, they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so cool.'”

CPW is waiving all fishing license requirements across the entire state to encourage families to give it a try. At Memorial Park, the first 650 kids 15 and younger will get free poles, bait and fishing lessons for the day.

The event lasts from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free and includes no-cost access to archery, paddleboarding, fly fishing, a climbing wall, a ‘Touch a truck’ zone, a dunk tank, outdoor safety instruction and more. In addition, dozens of vendors will have other free activities for guests.

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Julia Donovan

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – This week on Restaurant Roundup, a repeat offender is once again drawing scrutiny from the health department. Meanwhile, a diner on the northeast side of town is serving up a blast from the past — along with plenty of flavor.

Coal Mine Dragon Fails Inspection Again

Coal Mine Dragon on South 8th Street failed its recent routine health inspection with 11 violations.

According to the inspection report, officials found a “significant build-up of food debris and dirt” on prep tables. Inspectors also noted that other kitchen equipment was covered in grease and that the dishwashing machine did not contain sanitizer.

If Coal Mine Dragon sounds familiar, there’s a reason.

The restaurant was temporarily closed twice last year following failed health inspections, accumulating 30 violations in July and 21 more in November.

KRDO13 stopped by following the latest inspection to learn more about the issues. An employee argued that the restaurant had passed its most recent inspection.

However, inspectors noted that requiring a re-inspection means a facility did not initially pass, even if it was not temporarily closed this time.

Top Scores of the Week

Earning a perfect score this week is La Conchita on Barnes Road.

Other top performers include:

Patsy’s Candies in Manitou Springs

Rico’s Cafe & Wine Bar on North Tejon Street

Gunther Toody’s Diner on East Woodmen Road

This week, we’re shaking things up and stepping back several decades to visit Gunther Toody’s Diner, where checkerboard floors, jukeboxes, and retro décor transport customers to another era.

One employee even goes by the name “Shaggy.”

“We just keep it clean by staying on top of everything,” Shaggy told KRDO13. “We like to serve great-quality food. We’ve got some of the best cooks in town.”

The restaurant’s strong inspection score reflects that commitment to cleanliness and customer service.

Keep an eye out for the KRDO13 Restaurant Roundup awards at your favorite restaurant to know the kitchen inside is clean.

Reminder: all of our high and low-scoring restaurants are based on routine health inspections conducted by the El Paso County Health Department.

Click here for a look at all the most recent health inspection scores.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The ongoing improvements project on the north end of 8th Street has presented its share of challenges for drivers, pedestrians, business owners, and city officials.

But the latest challenge is an issue separate from that project.

Because of repair work next week by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to fix a broken water valve, water service to 26 businesses must be shut off for three days.

Therefore, CSU has started a “hoseover” operation that will provide water to affected businesses from individual hoses to fire hydrants.

“We don’t really love running unknown water into the machines, because the sediment really messes up the espresso machine,” said Liana Horrace, a manager at Corto Coffee Roasters. “But having some water is better than nothing at all. I don’t think we’ll be affected because we use a different water line — at least I hope that’s the case.”

The operation started on Wednesday and continues on Thursday, with a crew of 14 connecting hoses and, in some cases, carrying them over hills and across fence lines.

Water from the hydrants will connect to CSU service lines that provide water to the affected businesses.

“We’ll be using 6.5 miles of hose in this operation,” said Michael Myers, CSU’s manager for water and wastewater. “And while we’re underground, we’ll also take the opportunity to repair a cross junction, where four pipes meet.”

Water leaking from the valve flows onto 8th Street.

CSU said that the businesses are between Fountain Creek and Motor City Drive, and include a car wash and several restaurants.

The water valve repair will occur Monday through Wednesday, and CSU expects to return to normal water service by the end of next week.

Construction in that area has had significant traffic impacts; both southbound lanes of 8th Street between Costilla Street and Moreno Avenue will be closed for two weeks, and westbound Moreno traffic also will be closed at the intersection

The water valve requiring repair is connected to a smaller distribution line, and not to the water main that is currently being replaced under 8th Street.

Most passers-by likely won’t notice the temporary lines because most will be attached to hydrants that are behind the affected businesses.

KRDO 13 is one of the affected businesses.

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Bradley Davis

MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) – The U.S. Taekwondo Center in both Monument and Colorado Springs is celebrating 40 years this Saturday with its annual Break-A-Thon to help children of fallen Veterans.

Each student makes their own fundraising website to raise money for Angels of America’s Fallen. The Break-A-Thon is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Vista Ridge High School. It’s a pep rally-type environment open to the public where students will break board after board.

The center will have a bounce house, face painting, and will teach board breaking to beginners in the audience who make a donation to Angels of America’s Fallen. If you would like to break a board, they ask you get to Vista Ridge before 11:30 a.m.

Grand Master Sang Lee founded the U.S. Taekwondo Center in Colorado Springs in 1986 after becoming the first U.S.A. Taekwondo Olympic team head coach. An immigrant from South Korea, Lee was undefeated with 12 Korean national titles and is in the country’s sports hall of fame. He’s the most decorated U.S. Taekwondo Olympic head coach in history. His son, master Jay Lee, now leads the program.

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Bradley Davis

CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. (KRDO) – This Saturday, teams will push a bed on wheels up and down Myers Avenue as fast as they can to celebrate “Pearl DeVere” day in Cripple Creek.

“It’s brutal. The distance, the weight, and the rollers on the bed make a huge difference, and it’s devastating on your heart and lungs,” said museum board member and bed pusher Cody Schwab.

It’s an homage to Cripple Creek’s unique flash-in-the-(gold) pan history. The city was Colorado’s last major gold rush, drawing wealth to the once-small community like moths to a flame.

The sudden prosperity led to the development of Cripple Creek’s renowned Red Light District. Brothels were common, and Madame Pearl DeVere owned the most prominent in town.

DeVere built the “Homestead House” in 1896 after her original building burned down. According to the city, her going rate was $250 a night, or around $10,000 in today’s dollars.

DeVere died in June of 1897. The Homestead House continued operating for another 20 years before becoming a boarding house and later a private residence.

Artifacts from DeVere’s gold rush ventures remained, and the building became the “Old Homestead House Museum” in 1958.

Pearl DeVere Day is one of two major fundraisers for the museum. The event starts at 10 with vendors, a beer garden, live music, live skits and more. Race check-in starts at 10:30 a.m. and races begin at noon. Racers can sign up on race day.

“We were just looking for something fun. We needed a fundraiser to raise some money. We probably needed to repair something, I’m sure. We were like, ‘Well, let’s have some bed races!'” Museum assistant manager Kirstie Crawford said.

Teams of three will build their own bed on wheels and race them up and down Myers Avenue. Two will sit on the bed while the third pushes. Team members switch places at the turnaround point. It’s $30 per team. Teams that can’t make a bed can rent one from the Old Homestead House for an additional $40. You can register here.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Within the past week, crews have finally repaved the mile-long west end of Rio Grande Street on the city’s southwest side.

However, it has created mixed feelings among drivers, neighbors, and viewers who contacted KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior, who ask why the new asphalt layer wasn’t laid until nearly two months after work began in mid-April.

According to Corey Farkas, the city’s manager for operations and maintenance, crews discovered that the existing base under the old pavement sank after the pavement was removed.

“It might have been groundwater under there,” he said. “We do have ground-penetrating radar in that process. That tells us the approximate thickness of the pavement, but it does not go deep enough to tell us what is under the ground, what the subgrade should look like. We knew the base was an issue there, but sometimes we’re not sure what we’re getting into until we actually start digging.”

Farkas explained that the street needed a more time-consuming and more expensive full rebuild, instead of a routine repaving.

“It means digging up the old base, hauling it away, replacing it with better material, and then repaving,” he said. “Another option is a less-expensive chemical process, but it doesn’t work in every situation.”

Many citizens don’t understand why a street needing a full rebuild may take longer to fix than the average repaving job.

The city hopes to finish all work on Rio Grande by the end of the month; Farkas added that recent rainy weather also slowed progress on the street.

As if all of this weren’t enough, neighborhood streets connecting to Rio Grande are having fiber optic cable installed underneath.

Rio Grande is a well-traveled route between 8th Street, 21st Street, and Cresta Road, and is used by many drivers to reach the popular Bear Creek Dog Park and the Gold Hill Mesa subdivision.

Farkas said that a similar full rebuild will start soon on the west end of Costilla Street, just off 8th Street.

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Michael Logerwell

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – The Pueblo Police Department (PPD) says one person is receiving treatment in the hospital after being shot by a police officer.

PPD was initially called to the 900 block of Alexander Circle on report of a domestic fight with weapons at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Police said the suspect left the area before officers arrived, but officers continued to check known addresses for the suspect.

PPD officers then went to the 800 block of East 5th Street, where they reportedly found the suspect’s vehicle. When officers attempted to contact him, PPD said he fired a gunshot at responding officers.

A sergeant in the department said that suspect barricaded inside a home along East 5th Street. The SWAT team had come out to assist at 7:41 p.m.

While the SWAT team was at the scene, gunfire was exchanged between police officers and the barricaded suspect, PPD said. It’s not clear how many shots were fired.

The person inside the residence was struck, but no police officers were harmed. Involved officers and dispatchers in the incident have been placed on administrative leave per department policy and procedure.

The suspect is currently receiving medical treatment. The extent of their injuries is unknown.

KRDO13 is working to learn more about this incident.

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Josh Helmuth

CANON CITY, Colo. (KRDO) — Cañon City High School might be the New York Yankees of Colorado show choirs.

The school has a “murderer’s row” of talent who, as “Encore!” just won their second straight show choir state championship last month at the Colorado Show Choir, Jazz, and A Cappella Festival.

The group also earned a Superior Rating — the highest score possible.

Ryan Walter is the choir director. 

He said this year has been incredible, and the students have created an amazing culture.

“Really, we are in the business of creating feelings and lasting memories. And in that respect, I think we succeeded majorly this year,” he said.

A student-created jazz choir called Striata — formed as part of a senior capstone project and rehearsing during lunch just twice a week — also captured a state championship in the Jazz Choir Division.

Like Encore!, Striata earned a Superior Rating and first-place honors.

Throughout the two-day festival, Cañon City singers racked up individual awards as well. Senior Savannah Cobler earned the Outstanding Stage Presence Award and was one of six Encore! students recognized as Outstanding Soloists.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Next week, a group of former women’s pro football players will host an all-girls flag football camp at John Venezia Park.

The campers will be able to use the new skills in pursuit of state championships after the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) added girls’ flag football as an official high school sport two years ago.

According to the High School Athletics Participation Survey, over 25,000 new girls signed up for high school flag football during the 2024-2025 school year, increasing the total number to over 68,000.

The group has hosted co-ed camps in Colorado Springs for over two decades, but it’s just the second year for the Girls Pro Flag Football camp. Professional women’s football players from the Denver Rush and the Rocky Mountain Thundercatz will coach the campers.

“These women have that heart and passion that you’ve read about in other pioneer women in our country,” Domann said. “They’re doing the same thing in the sport. Not only sharing proper football skills, but also sharing character and leadership skills.”

The camp is for girls between the ages of 9 and 18. It’s $150 for the three days: Monday, June 8, through Wednesday, June 10. The camp has full and partial scholarship applications based on financial need.

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