Category: krdo-local-news

Rob Namnoum

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — It’s a new year and a new group of players, but it’s the same Mesa Ridge swagger we’ve come to love.

“We’re gonna eat on the football field. We’re gonna eat up that scoreboard. We’re gonna eat up your quarterback, wide receiver, DB, it don’t matter”, says Mesa Ridge running back, Cameron Tertulien.

The Grizzlies have a ton of experience on their roster between returning players and transfers. Head Coach Jeremi Calip says this is as talented a squad as he’s had, and his players agree,

“This is probably the best team I’ve been on, the energy with everybody is amazing. We all have the same goals and want to win. Get to state, hopefully,” says Mesa Ridge receiver, Ja’Kehlan Watts.

Kobe Dooley adds, “We’re really tough. We’re coming in with a new mindset, a new culture. You know, our mindset right now is dominant, everything…and we want that state title.”

Tertulien asks this question, “Who can handle us? No one can really.”

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Mackenzie Stafford

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – Dave Gill tells KRDO13 he was concerned on Monday morning when his Chief Deputy, Tanya Burnside, was not in right on time.

“Tanya was always punctual, and she had a long commute. She was driving from Colorado Springs up to Douglas County every day. And she was always on time. Almost always. If something was interfering, if there was an accident on the highway, and she was going to be late, she would call and let us know. And in this case, obviously, she hadn’t. So we were concerned and we’re trying to call her and to find out how she was because we were worried about her,” expressed Dave Gill.

He said they were trying to call her, but there was no answer.

“Eventually, we found out at about 9:30 that she was dead, that there had been a shooting, and that there were two bodies found. And we were fairly certain at that point that one of them was hers,” explained Dave Gill.

Gill says the news devastated the entire office.

“We shut down for the day on Monday. I sent people home. We were so sad that we couldn’t function,” recounted Gill.

Gill tells KRDO13 there are a few things that compare to the loss of Tanya Burnside.

“Bluntly, it has hit me harder than all of maybe three other things in my life. My father’s funeral, when I got called on to speak unexpectedly, that was a tough one. And, when my wife was in the hospital and close to death for three days. That was a hard one. And when we lost a previous chief deputy, that was it. So I am 77.5 years old. I’ve got a few years of experience in this life. And the loss of Tanya has hit as hard as any of those others,” shared Gill.

Tanya Burnside was Gill’s right hand at the Douglas County Treasurer’s Office.

“She was my chief deputy, and she was appointed to that position because of her ability and her work ethic. She was an incredible person, a joy to be around, but a very accurate and fast worker, obviously very highly intelligent. She was able to do work faster and more accurately than I or anyone else I know. Plus, she just radiated an energy, and she was just a joy to be around,” Gill continued, “she was just a ray of sunshine. Regardless of what the difficulty or problem was that we were having to work through. She was always there, with a smile and an answer. So…it wasn’t just the capability and the intelligence. The personality was just one of those rare people that when she enters a room, she just sort of brings an aura of energy that explodes around the room and affects everyone.”

A photo of Tanya Burnside shared with KRDO13 by a friend.

Burnside was also an employee at the El Paso County Treasurer’s Office. Chuck Broerman tells KRDO13 their office is devastated and that Burnside was a beloved employee, friend and colleague.

Past colleagues also shared that when Burnside was promoted to her role at the Douglas County Treasurer’s Office, she acted as a bridge between the counties. They say she was able to connect them on projects and help the two offices work together.

Gill says the importance of Burnside’s role cannot be understated and that she was irreplaceable.

“It is an extremely important position to the county and to the people. Without the treasurer’s office, nothing is funded. No one gets paid, no roads get plowed, no potholes filled. Nothing happens. So we’re the bankers for the county. Roughly $1 billion flows through the office, every penny of which has to be adequately accounted for and disbursed appropriately. And the chief deputy is one of the chief figures. I’m an elected official. I will be termed out in a year and a half. It has to go on. So the chief deputy is the one who is responsible for that continuity, because someone new is going to come in, and it’s going to take them four years to learn the job so well, they’re learning it. Who transfers the knowledge to them, and who keeps the show running? The chief deputy is that person,” explained Gill.

Police believe 45-year-old Tanya Burnside was a victim of homicide. The deceased man, 42-year-old Bryce Tallent, is suspected to have died by suicide.

According to police, they were called out on Sunday to the 4100 block of Sod House Trail. When they arrived, they found both a man and a woman deceased.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Colorado Springs police investigating suspected murder-suicide

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to call 719-444-7000.  Police say if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.

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Bart Bedsole

A popular restaurant at Voyager and Ridgeline in North Colorado Springs was temporarily closed last week due to its violations. 

When asked about the reason for the shutdown of Shri Ganesh, a spokesperson with El Paso County Public Health said, “This closure was the result of points from observed violations, many of which were based improper food handling. This can increase the risk and likelihood of foodborne illness occurring.” 

Among the findings on Aug. 6:

There was no certified food protection manager on duty

Basic questions about when food was prepared or the required temperatures could not be answered

Some of the food wasn’t marked with a date to show when it was made.

Containers of chicken and lamb were at the wrong temperature

There was no probe thermometer to check food temperatures at the time of the inspection. 

When KRDO13 stopped by on Monday, there was a sign that said it was closed for “kitchen remodeling,” but a look inside the windows showed there was clearly no remodeling going on.

Minutes later, the owner arrived and threatened to call the police, but later agreed to take our crew inside and show what he’s done to get back into compliance. 

Raj Adhikari, who was not there at the time of the inspection, said in its 10-year history, the restaurant has never failed a health inspection. 

“I mean, it was like very surprising,” he said, “It was very… like I lost sleep basically… because I’m always the best and always had a great past.  I never had any problem.  Nobody got sick ever.” 

Adhikari added that all staff members will soon have their food safety certifications, and customers shouldn’t be concerned about eating here. 

“We are fixing everything 100%, so they can come and we will serve them professionally and with all the health department’s rules and regulations,” he said. 

Shri Ganesh was allowed to reopen on Tuesday. 

The EPCPH spokesperson told KRDO13 afterward, “Shri Ganesh was allowed to reopen on August 12 after demonstrating it had met several requirements necessary to reopen, but it still must pass a full re-inspection in the next 5-10 days to get back into good standing.”

It also passed its full re-inspection (separate from the re-opening inspection) on August 26, despite six violations found at that time.

OTHER FAILING SCORES

Juanita’s Best Mexican Food – 2356 S Academy Blvd – 14 violations 

Rodolfo’s Mexican Grill – 15932 Jackson Creek Pkwy – 10 violations 

Coal Mine Dragon – 1720 W Uintah St – 10 violations 

Pikes Poke Bowl – 9290 Highland Rdg Hts – 9 violations 

(Previously failed in July with 13 violations) 

Marriott Colorado Springs – 5580 Tech Center Dr – 8 violations 

Camin Thai Cuisine – 6760 N Academy –  8 violations 

(Previously shut down by the health department in March 2025) 

HIGH SCORES

McDonald’s – 434 Garden of the Gods 

Papa John’s – 3755 Astrozon 

Mining Exchange Hotel – 8 S. Nevada Ave 

Cerberus Brewing Company – 702 W Colorado Ave 

Cerberus is about to celebrate 10 years of offering craft food as well as craft beer. 

The food menu far exceeds most other breweries in Colorado Springs, and is complemented by 22 beers and 2 sodas currently on tap, including the popular Elysium Hazy IPA and Drake High End Lager. 

Among the most popular menu items is the smoked brisket grilled cheese, featuring house-smoked meat. 

“It’s a unique niche to be able to say you do your beer and your food equally well,” says General Manager Melisa LeFebvre. 

LeFebvre credits her high score to not only the careful hiring of their executive chef, but also the constant commitment to food safety by his entire staff, as well as head brewer Troy Johnson. 

Johnson joked that as a kid, he thought beer was made by a wizard. 

It wasn’t until later in life that he learned there were people brewing beer for a living, and credits his consistency, processes, and cleanliness for creating batch after batch of quality beers. 

“Good brewers dump bad beer,” he explained, “and I’ve only had to dump a few beers in 17 years, but when you do have one that’s bad, you dump it and move on.” 

The restaurant side of Cerberus is inspected by the county, while the brewery side is inspected by the state. 

Keep an eye out for the KRDO13 Restaurant Roundup awards to know that the kitchen inside is clean. 

To see the full list of restaurants inspected last week, click here.

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Celeste Springer

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) says that an elderly resident was able to defend themselves, warding off a home intruder in the Stratmoor Valley area.

According to EPSO, they received a 911 call from the resident just after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. EPSO says that the resident, who lived in Stratmoor Valley Mobile Home Park, reported that a man had broken into their home.

The resident told dispatch that they asked the man to leave, but he refused. EPSO says a physical struggle ensued, and the resident stabbed the suspect.

Deputies say the suspect ran away, traversing through two yards before collapsing in a backyard.

The suspect, 37-year-old Gareth Webb, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to EPSO.

The resident was unharmed in the scuffle, EPSO says.

EPSO says Webb, a previously convicted felon, faces the following charges:

1st degree trespassing

2nd degree burglary

2nd degree criminal trespassing

Harassment

Criminal mischief

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) says that they are seeking information, believing is a possibility there could be more victims in a child sexual exploitation case.

According to police, 64-year-old Stephen Douglas King Sr. faces charges for sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and sexual exploitation of a child.

CSPD says he was recently employed with the train at the Royal Gorge; however, it’s important to note that these alleged crimes were not in the vicinity of the train, and the reported victim was not a train patron.

“Given the routine exposure to tourists, including families with children, this release is out of an abundance of caution to ensure nobody else has experienced anything unreported,” a spokesperson with CSPD said.

A spokesperson with the Royal Gorge Route Railroad confirmed King is no longer employed with the company.

CSPD says they obtained an arrest warrant on July 31, 2025, and he was taken into custody on Aug. 4, 2025.

Detectives are actively seeking additional information, including potential unreported incidents involving Stephen King Sr. If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of Stephen King Sr., CSPD asks that you contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000 or the Pikes Peak Area Crimes Stoppers at 719-634-STOP (7867).

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Celeste Springer

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) says that a domestic violence situation led to a late-night standoff on Tuesday night.

EPSO says their deputies were called around 5:30 p.m. because a victim said they had been assaulted at home near South Powers Boulevard.

Deputies identified the suspect as 32-year-old Tyler Babb and let other agencies know to be on the lookout for him.

According to EPSO, the victim called around 11:15 p.m. to inform deputies that Babb’s phone location was indicating he was back near the home. Deputies told the victim to leave, and they returned to the home.

According to EPSO, as deputies arrived, Babb entered the garage with his car and closed the garage door behind him. Deputies then parked a patrol car in front of the garage to prevent him from leaving.

EPSO said that they then heard the car engine revving inside, and the victim told deputies that Babb had sent a message saying he was “going to kill himself by CO2 poisoning.”

At that point, EPSO says deputies entered the home through the front door and entered the interior garage. Deputies allege that Babb got out of the car and charged at them. Deputies shot pepper ball rounds at him, according to EPSO.

Deputies allege that Babb got back in the car, opened the garage door, and, while trying to flee, hit the patrol car behind it. After that, deputies say they got him into custody.

Tyler Babb faces charges for third-degree assault, menacing, and harassment.

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Josh Helmuth

Canon City High School has some serious bragging rights as they start school this week.

The Carnegie Foundation recently named CCHS as one of the most innovative schools in the nation. Why? It has a lot to do with their Capstone Program. The school submitted this video, showcasing their innovative ways to learning.

The Carnegie Foundation included this response during its recognition of CCHS:

“Cañon City High School, the single 9-12 choice of the Cañon City School District in Colorado, serves students with a future-focused approach to education. Guided by the district’s vision of “Learning for Life,” the school emphasizes student growth and career-readiness for an ever-changing world. Instruction is grounded in clear learning targets and active engagement through project-based learning. At the same time, through a capstone requirement, students are equipped with essential traits, including innovation, integrity, and agility, as well as critical skills such as collaboration and leadership. Cañon City High School is a state leader in implementing the Big Three: concurrent enrollment, industry-standard certifications, and authentic internship experiences.”

Bill Summers is the principal at CCHS. He said, “Earning this honor stems from our staff’s hard work to transform. That entails a willingness to exemplify learning new skills, no matter what age you are. Our district’s motto is Learning for Life, and CCHS staff live it daily.”

Is there something or someone remarkable at your school? Tell Josh all about it: SchoolBuzz@KRDO.com.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Continued work on the 8th Street bridge over Fountain Creek was why crews planned a daytime closure of the right northbound lane during the middle of the day on Thursday.

A flashing message sign alerted drivers that the closure would start at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m., between the rush hour periods.

However, an on-site supervisor said that the closure wasn’t necessary because crews were able to access an area that required heavy equipment close to the right lane.

The closure would have lengthened the time required for drivers to access 8th Street from the Take 5 car wash exit road and to turn north onto 8th from Garner Street.

A city spokesman said the lane closure decision wasn’t made until Wednesday afternoon, but that drivers should be prepared for unexpected closures and lane shifts during the project.

The current traffic configuration in that area has created a fairly tight squeeze for traffic, as drivers navigate narrower lanes across the bridge.

Because construction has closed one of the two lanes on the US 24 Frontage Road from 8th Street, northbound drivers must make an abrupt right turn to enter the remaining open lane — causing many drivers to jump the curb there.

The bridge is the key focus of the first phase of the $12 million improvement project on busy 8th Street that began two months ago.

Crews have removed the previous pedestrian bridge on the northbound side and will replace it with a wider sidewalk, or multi-use path, that will create more space for pedestrians and cyclists and connect to the nearby Midland Trail.

Workers are also taking the opportunity to perform much-needed maintenance on the 75-year-old bridge.

Another step is to build a dedicated northbound right-turn lane onto the frontage road to avoid slowing traffic flow in the two northbound lanes.

Pedestrians and cyclists can expect occasional sidewalk closures and concrete work during the project.

The project’s second phase starts this winter with the replacement of a Colorado Springs Utilities water main between Cimarron Street (US 24) and Motor City Drive.

Crews will repave the affected stretch of pavement next summer.

Other project goals include drainage work to prevent flooding and erosion from hills above 8th Street on Moreno Avenue and Lower Gold Camp Road, and installing sidewalks and curbs in front of businesses between Costilla Street and Bear Creek on the west side of 8th Street.

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Bradley Davis

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – Pueblo native Frank Sagona broke the one-hour pull-up world record live with Bradley Davis and KRDO13. Sagona’s team will now send the video to Guinness World Records for approval.

“Once {the hands} hurt, you just grab hard, and you pull harder!” Sagona said while showing his bloody calluses.

After months of training since his last appearance on Good Morning Colorado, Sagona attempted his sixth world-record-setting performance, aiming for 1131 pull-ups in one hour. KRDO13 watched Sagona come down to the wire, digging deep late to eclipse the mark with 1142 pull-ups.

“The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat feel different, but they last about the same amount of time,” Sagona said. “I’ve also been denied 8 times, so it’s just another day in the office.”

Sagona did his world-record attempt at the gym used by the Addict2Athlete support group. They help people recover from addiction through fitness, something Sagona said he struggled with years ago.

“If I’m willing to go that low and get worse, then I have to dig that much harder to get higher and better,” Sagona said.

Sagona said he hopes his continued success post-addiction will help inspire others struggling to kick the habit.

“Human beings are more capable beyond measure,” Sagona said.

Before his attempt, Davis also put a little bit of his training to the test. He tried to hit 21 pull-ups in a row to match Sagona’s goal pull-up rate per minute. Unlike Sagona, he failed, tapping out after 18.

Bradley’s pull-up attempt before Sagona’s world record attempt

Sagona has five world record plaques and two standing world records: 1010 chin-ups in one hour and 5049 pull-ups in eight hours.

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Rob Namnoum

MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) Palmer Ridge is coming off another strong season. They went 10-2 last season, but after their season ended with a playoff loss to Broomfield, the players are itching to get back out there.

“That’s my main motivator, I’d say. Like we all have the sour taste in our mouth. We come to practice every day like we’ve got a group chat, and that background of that group chat is that final score from last year that does not sit well with us,” says Palmer Ridge wide receiver, Michael Toth.

The Bears have a lot to work with, due to having most of their starters from a season ago back, “We’ve never had a team like this. Like even Coach Carter told us he’s never seen potential like this and he knows like, we’ve got a shot,” says Toth.

The players have been putting in the time to be great yet again, and they also found a new way to build team chemistry and get better.

“We’re big at Pickleball.”

“Pickleball?” asked KRDO13’s sports reporter, Danny Mata.

“Pickleball. That’s our thing. We all go play,” Palmer Ridge linebacker Brody Elliott told our crew at KRDO13.

“I mean, I feel like it’s that competitive aspect. I mean, football’s a little more contact. But, you know…we go pretty hard on the pickleball court. 

Palmer Ridge defensive end, Tyler Himebauch, adds, “Almost every single night. We just go out and play from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. We’re just going out to play pickleball and go eat dinner as a team. Just like growing the brotherhood through that little competitive aspect of pickleball.”

You’d be surprised how pickleball helps them become better.

“I’m a bit lighter on my feet, like I’m swinging my hands a little bit more, so maybe I can use that for getting around a lineman,” said long snapper Tyler Himebauch.

Wide receiver Toth added that Pickleball helps with the team’s communication, allowing them to click on the field.

You can find the football game schedule for Palmer Ridge here.

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