Category: krdo-local-news

Bart Bedsole

Barbecue lovers, the wait is over for a perfect scoring restaurant. 

But first, mouse droppings are just one of 19 violations (a new Restaurant Roundup record) found at a local kitchen near the Citadel Mall.

LOW SCORES

The low-scoring restaurant this week is the First Wok near East San Miguel and North Academy. 

Among the 19 violations found: 

The inspector observed a food handler observed food handler wipe their nose with their hand and continue to cook 

Several items, including cooler handles, prep table covers, shelving, walls, and containers, had a buildup of grease and grime 

There was a large gap observed in the back screen door, potentially allowing pests inside

Mouse droppings were found in several areas, including the furnace room, storage closet, and dry storage area

KRDO13 went to First Wok to ask about the violations, and the visit was not a total surprise because the health inspector had warned the staff that KRDO13 might be stopping by due to the extensive violations. 

A worker told KRDO13 that most of the violations had to do with cleaning and were addressed. 

Regarding the mouse droppings, the worker denied having a problem with mice and said the droppings were several years old. 

He didn’t explain why the droppings were still there, but added that a pest control company came by after the health inspection and didn’t find any problems. 

First Wok passed its re-inspection on June 6 with four violations. 

Not far away, the King Buffet on North Academy also failed its health inspection. 

It was the second failure in the month of May. 

The problems here include: 

No dates marked on several items, including crab salad and seafood salad

The staff failed to put on new gloves when switching between tasks

Containers were rinsed and washed, but not sanitized, before being put away 

KRDO13’s call to the King Buffet was not returned. 

It has yet to be inspected for a third time. 

The Boil Daddy at Stetson Hills and Powers also failed. 

The seven violations here include: 

An employee switching tasks without first washing their hands, while another was spotted washing their hands while wearing gloves

A worker was also spotted cutting a lemon without wearing gloves at all

The restaurant was also using an improper method to thaw out frozen fish. 

No one from The Boil Daddy responded to our request for comment. 

The restaurant did pass its re-inspection on June 4 with just a single violation. 

HIGH SCORES

Several restaurants scored very well on their health inspections. 

Border Burger Bar – 934 Manitou Ave – 2 violations 

Front Range Barbecue – 2330 W Colorado Ave – 2 violations 

Arby’s – 4456 Venetucci Blvd – 1 violation

Pho Brothers II – 562 W Hwy 105 – 1 violation 

Bird Dog BBQ – 5984 Stetson hills – 0 violations

The barbecue at Bird Dog BBQ is Oklahoma-style, smoked over oak wood with sauce on the side.

“Good meat shouldn’t need sauce, but we have fantastic sauce, so we think you ought to put it on there anyway,” says owner and founder Brad Cleveland with a smile.

Cleveland worked in the industry for several years, then went back to college to finish his degree and get out of the restaurant business, but then graduated and realized what he knew best was how to run a restaurant.

He opened the location at Stetson Hills and Powers in 2004, and later added two more locations on Centennial and on Mesa Ridge Parkway in Fountain. 

However, he recently sold the other locations to two of his employees so he could focus exclusively on the Stetson Hills location. 

Cleveland says the brisket is the big seller by far, but he’s just as proud of his ribs. 

“We’ve won several awards, not just locally but nationally, for our ribs here,” he says. 

From the time it’s cooked until the time it’s cut, safety and sanitation are always critical components in the process. 

“Food safety is always top of mind, and it’s really important to us,” he says, “I think we have 8 people who are certified food protection managers, so it’s not just a one-man show doing it.  It takes a whole team of people that know how to do it.” 

The Stetson Hills location recently underwent a major makeover for the first time since it opened, helping it to look as sharp as it scored on its health inspection.

Click here to view all the recent health inspections in El Paso County.

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Celeste Springer

Photo: Sammi Halloran

CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. (KRDO) — If there’s anything you can say about Gunny the English Bulldog, it’s that she is well-loved. Take one look at her owner, David Ketcham, and you’ll figure that out. Ketcham, a marine veteran, always adored bulldogs; he has one in Gunny’s likeness tattooed on his arm.

But the Ketcham family is learning something new about the pampered pooch. Turns out, she can live up to the Marine Corps nickname “Devil Dog.”

Sammi Halloran, the Ketcham’s daughter, says Gunny went missing from her parent’s rural, off-the-grid Cripple Creek home on May 3. Just two days prior, she says the pup underwent mouth surgery.

Only a few days after Gunny’s disappearance, a strong spring storm hit Southern Colorado. Halloran says her family also saw a bear on their property at one point, which didn’t help their hope that Gunny was unharmed.

Photo: Sammi Halloran

After 29 days of her being gone, whatever hope they had for her return was dwindling.

That is, until the Survival University came along. According to their Facebook page, Survival University teaches basic to advanced-level survival skills. The company confirmed to KRDO13 that they found Gunny while out teaching classes.

Jason Marsteiner, owner of the Survival University, says the class was having dinner around a campfire, and students said Gunny came and found them.

“I was quite surprised,” said Marsteiner. “She’s a survivor and she found a group of people… with the same energy as her.”

Marsteiner says his group saw a mountain lion in the area just about a week before Gunny’s appearance; it’s a miracle she is alive.

Source: Sammi Halloran

It’s impossible to know exactly how far Gunny traveled throughout her journey, but Halloran says she ended up on the opposite side of nearby Rhyolite Mountain.

Gunny’s arrival was a major blessing to Diana and David Ketcham, but also a shock.

“I just wish this dog could talk,” said Halloran.

Halloran says Gunny lost roughly 20 pounds. However, it appears she was hunting or foraging to some extent; when it was “potty time,” the family said they found animal bones. While English Bulldogs aren’t exactly known for their speed, Gunny has proven that her strength and wit aren’t something to be reckoned with.

“My family would like to thank everyone who shared, prayed, and helped look for our family dog,” said Halloran.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A 14-year-old Colorado Springs boy is in custody after an alleged shooting that killed a 15-year-old girl and injured two others, according to the Aurora Police Department.

Officials in Aurora held a press conference Thursday afternoon, which can be watched below, courtesy of our partners at 9News:

The Aurora Police Department says that the shooting happened early Sunday morning near a fire station located in the 12600 block of East Hoffman Boulevard in Aurora.

During a press conference Thursday, the Aurora Police Department said they believe there was a “pop-up party” in Denver that relocated to the area of the shooting. The department said the “pop-up party” was being live-streamed to social media, encouraging others to come join in. They say they believe a fight broke out, and then the suspect fired into the group at the victims.

Police say the suspect drove up from Colorado Springs with a group, likely to attend the party. They say the group from Colorado Springs was the “initiator of causing problems.”

The police department said they have reason to believe some of the involved teens participate in “girl fight clubs.”

According to officials, firefighters were returning back from a call when they found a 15-year-old girl and a 20-year-old woman shot and started rendering aid. Later, police say they learned that a third victim, a different 15-year-old girl, suffered a graze wound.

“We cannot have, you know, anyone being murdered at the hands of gun violence. But it’s especially shocking when it’s a juvenile,” said Mark Hildebrand of the Aurora Police Department.

Officials said in a release that the 14-year-old suspect faces one count of first-degree murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and two counts of possession of a handgun related to the shooting.

Aurora Police say a large number of tips started to flood in, leading their suspect search to Colorado Springs. When connecting with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), detectives learned CSPD had recently submitted an arrest warrant for the suspect for motor vehicle theft.

Colorado Springs and Aurora police investigators partnered on the investigation. On Wednesday morning, CSPD’s Strategic Investigations Unit served its motor vehicle theft warrant and arrested the suspect.

Police say a search of the suspect’s Colorado Springs home resulted in the recovery of two firearms, 9mm and .380-caliber handguns. The firearms were provided to the Aurora Police Department for ballistics testing in its homicide investigation.

“It is unconscionable to think that a 14-year-old would have access to two firearms and then make the conscious decision to use them against a group of people. And end up, murdering a 15-year-old in the process,” stated Mark Hildebrand of the Aurora Police Department.

Aurora Police say the 10-15 shell casings they found at the scene of the shooting are consistent with the weapons they found in the 14-year-old’s home.

As of Thursday morning, the 14-year-old was being held in the El Paso County Jail, however, the suspect will ultimately be transferred to the Arapahoe County Jail to face charges in Arapahoe Juvenile Court. Formal charges will be filed by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

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Sadie Buggle

PALMER LAKE, Colo. (KRDO) – Palmer Lake Mayor Glant Havenar has resigned, stepping down from her role just months into her second term as mayor.

Her resignation – effective Thursday – follows a lengthy political saga over a proposed Buc-ee’s location in the small town.

Havenar was re-elected as mayor of Palmer Lake in November 2024. A Palmer Lake resident since 2003, she previously served two terms as a trustee before taking on the role of mayor.

“It is with sadness that I acknowledge and agree with Glant’s decision to step down,” saidDennis Stern, Mayor Pro Tem, in a release. “During her tenure serving as Mayor, and prior as Trustee, Glantmade many contributions to our Town, and it’s clear she loves Palmer Lake.”

In addition to her work at the local level, Havenar represents Palmer Lake on the Board of Directors for the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) and the El Paso County Board of Health.

Her resignation marks a turning point in a months-long debate over the potential arrival of the Texas-based convenience store Buc-ee’s – a matter that has sparked lawsuits, recall efforts and deep divisions among residents.

While supporters have touted the economic benefits the project could bring the small town, opponents have voiced concerns about traffic congestion, environmental impact, water usage and impact on local businesses.

LATEST: Palmer Lake Board deems land eligible for Buc-ee’s annexation, but community stays divided

In a statement, the town said the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees will be determining how to fill Havenar’s vacancy at a board meeting on June 12.

Havenar has not yet cited a specific reason for her resignation, but provided KRDO13 with the following statement Wednesday night:

“To the Citizens of Palmer Lake, the Town Board, and Town Staff,

It is with a full heart and deep reflection that I tender my resignation as Mayor of Palmer Lake, effective June 5, 2025.

Serving this town for the past 12 years—in many capacities—has been one of the greatest honors of my life. From community events to difficult decisions, every moment has been rooted in my unwavering love and commitment to this extraordinary community and its people.

I leave this position with every confidence in the integrity and strength of the current Town Board. They are good people with sincere intentions, and I ask you to continue supporting them. Fight for them when necessary. Stand by them when it matters most.

To the community—my neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens—keep standing up for what is right and just. Don’t let the bullies win. Your voice, your courage, and your unity are what makes Palmer Lake a place worth believing in.

Thank you for the trust, the support, and the memories. I will always carry this town in my heart.

With deep gratitude and unwavering hope,

Glant Havenar, Mayor, Town of Palmer Lake”

This is a developing story and may be updated as we learn more.

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Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The county has nine wooden bridges, also called timber bridges, that are at least 75 years old but remain in use.

A timber bridge on McClelland Road, just north of US 24 and slightly west of Calhan, will be the first of that group to be demolished and replaced.

The county is scheduled to start the project on June 16, which will close that section of the road for up to six weeks.

Officials inspected the bridges last year after the sudden closing and replacement of a timber bridge on Ramah Road West, several miles to the northeast, following an inspection that found evidence of rotting underneath.

The subsequent inspections determined that the bridges remain safe to drive on and that there were no significant or critical levels of deterioration.

County officials, however, want to replace those bridges before they become problems gradually.

Because the timber bridges are on gravel roads in sparsely populated rural areas, they don’t require as much construction as traditional bridges; the county replaced the Ramah Road West bridge with a low-water crossing and will take a similar approach with the McClelland Road bridge.

“We are going to replace it with a culvert,” said Amy Dahlberg, a county engineer. “We looked at various options. We compared a traditional bridge design with a culvert design. We found that if we did an in-house culvert design, we could more than fulfill the needs for a long-term replacement, and we could save costs.”

The projected replacement cost for the bridge is less than $100,000, she explained — millions less than other types of bridges. — and allows the county to have more money available to replace the others.

Jessica Riccardelli is the nearest resident to the bridge and said that she wasn’t aware of the upcoming replacement project.

“We drive it every day or every other day,” she said. “The condition, when we drive over it, makes noises. We always wonder if it’s going to crack or anything can happen. But it’s a good bridge. We’ve lived out here four years and never had an issue until we learned about this.”

Murphy Road to the north, and North Ellicott Highway to the east, are the detours for the project; Riccardelli said it will take ten minutes to get around it.

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Bradley Davis

CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. (KRDO) – The Old Homestead House Museum will host its sixth-annual Pearl DeVere Bed Races Saturday at 12 p.m.

Board members said they were inspired by the Emma Crawford Coffin Races in Manitou Springs. The event honors Pearl DeVere, Cripple Creek’s most famous madame. She was an 1800s millionaire socialite who owned the Old Homestead House.

Board members said DeVere called it a “parlour house”, but it could be more accurately described as a brothel. They said it cost $250 to stay the night in the 1800s, or over $9000 in today’s money.

Board member Kirstie Crawford said they wanted to do a fun fundraiser to help maintain the museum. It’s fitting, considering her daughter is named Emma Crawford (no relation). She said they chose a bed instead of a coffin due to the unique nature of DeVere’s 1800s homestead hotel.

You need three people to race. Two “Johns” push the bed, and one “Madame” rides on the bed. It’s a short out-and-back route, with a slight uphill on the way back. One John rides with the Madame on the way out. At the turnaround point, the Johns switch places, so choose your role carefully!

The Old Homestead House Museum has beds to rent out, or you can make your own. You can design your moving bed on wheels however you like, as long as it’s not motorized or pedal-powered.

You can contact the event organizers if you are interested in participating or sign up Saturday morning starting at 10:30 a.m. The race kicks off at 12 p.m. with a shotgun start. There will also be a cornhole tournament and a beer garden.

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Paige Reynolds

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado is taking a major step forward in how it handles sexual assault investigations.

Governor Jared Polis has signed a new law aimed at addressing the state’s years-long rape kit backlog; something survivors say is long overdue.

For many victims, delays in processing sexual assault kits have meant delays in justice. For some, justice never came at all.

Right now, Colorado has one of the worst rape kit backlogs in the country. As of early 2025, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation reported an average turnaround time of more than 500 days to process sexual assault kits, with over 1,300 cases still pending.

Now, the newly signed Miranda Gordon Justice for Survivors Act aims to change that.

The law creates a new forensic medical review board and sets strict timelines for how quickly evidence must be processed. Under the new rules, rape kits must be tested within 60 days.

Governor Polis signed the bill Tuesday, stating: “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

That’s something sexual abuse survivor Jules Woodson understands firsthand.

“I reported it the next day, but I was told that it was my fault,” Woodson recalled.

For 20 years, she stayed silent — until she went public with her story in 2018. She says her abuser later received a standing ovation from his Tennessee megachurch after a public admission she describes as a “pseudo apology.”

“There was no accountability in my case,” Woodson said. “So seeing the state take responsibility for processing these rape kits is something that I think is a really good step.”

She says knowing the state is taking survivors seriously makes a difference.

“It’s confidence-boosting for the survivor to know that the state of Colorado is taking this seriously.”

In addition to faster testing, the new law also gives survivors a voice in how cases are handled, including victim advocates on the oversight board.

For Woodson, it’s not just about the kits; it’s about dignity.

“Sexual abuse is not a victimless crime. Even though there might not always be a gory crime scene, there are emotional wounds,” she said. “My hat’s off to other survivors. Know you’re not alone. And I pray that this new law will allow justice to be more swift.”

The new oversight board is expected to meet by August 1. Survivors will now have a seat at the table, and many advocates are calling this law a model for other states to follow.

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Rob Namnoum

The Fountain Fort Carson football team is getting ready. They can’t hit the field yet but they can hit the weight room. When they do take the field, several players will be wearing sleek new helmets, “It almost looks futuristic. Like a spaceship on your head,” says Myren Johnson.

The helmets are part of the Broncos “All in, All Covered” program. The Broncos are donating more than fifteen thousand helmets to every high school in the state over the next four years. The first round of donations, covering about twenty-five precent of each teams’ players, begin this year and they are top of the line Ridell helmets. The ones the pros wear and Riddell is visiting each school to custom fit the helmets, “They have this app and they like take pictures of your head with this, with this like ski mask over your head and then they send it. in. So this this helmet with all the padding and everything inside of it, it’s fit to only my head. Next year, say, one of our sophomores that already got their head scanned, they would put them in this helmet to make it fit them. Everything feels balanced in the helmet, doesn’t feel heavy in the back, doesn’t feel heavy on top, it almost feels like a a perfect helmet,” says Johnson,

The helmets also include “in sight” technology that helps track head and neck injuries. Each school will get a free four year subscription, “These helmets, it’s a lot less concussion protocol with the the different gadgets and different things they use and different padding that they have for this helmet,” says Johnson.

There are still some things to be ironed out long term. If reconditioned properly, helmets can last up to ten years but the cost and efficiency of reconditioning of the helmets for each school will vary. Something Fountain Fort Carson head coach Jake Novotny would like to see addressed to maximize the program’s impact, “What’s the future after the four years? How do we make it sustainable, affordable? Maybe there is a buy-in program where we get them at half off or whatever, if they can’t flip the bill down the road. And I don’t think we should expect them to. Now we have an expectation with our communities that it’s gonna be a different way. That’s the one thing for me. I think we’ve got to sit down and figure out what that looks like,” says Novonty.

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Emily Coffey

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)—A tight-knit family and community are devastated by the loss of Aiden Hernandez, a soon-to-be father and recent Woodland Park High School grad.

Those who knew him say he was a pillar of the community and a bright and driven athlete with a passion for the culinary arts.

“Incredible young man, great energy, A smile that would just melt your heart.  Very intense. Very driven young man, even from an early age,” His former football coach, Chad Drummond, said.

El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says they were called out to assist with a work accident on 9500 Escondido Road on May 29th, at 9:58 a.m. They say that after administering CPR, he was pronounced dead on the scene. EPSO says a tree branch fell on Hernandez, but other details on the incident and his death are unclear.

“It dropped me to the floor,” Former Football coach Chad Drummond said. “I don’t know if I’ve still accepted it.”

Aidan was expecting a child with his longtime girlfriend, Michaela Boring. The Hernandez family did not agree to go on camera today.

“You will not find a closer family from when he was little until he graduated. If he had an event, everyone was there. If someone else in the family had an event, they were all there,” Drummond said. “They supported each other from morning to night, which is why my heart breaks for this family. It is absolutely a catastrophic loss.”

To contribute to the Meal Train, click here. For donations to the baby registry, click here.

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Mackenzie Stafford

BOULDER, Colo. (KRDO) — On Wednesday, witnesses from the Boulder terror attack and many religious leaders came together to denounce hate in any shape or form. The group stood united in the same spot along Pearl Street where the Sunday attack took place.

The group was all speaking out against the alleged actions of Mohammad Soliman, who lived in El Paso County. 

On Wednesday, a letter could be seen posted to the front door of the Soliman residence. It’s an eviction warning from the landlord looking to collect rent, however, no one is home to pay it. While the Soliman family is in ICE custody, on Wednesday, a judge issued an order blocking the deportation of Mohammed Soliman’s family.

The new message comes as leaders from a multitude of different faiths stood together to share their message of love overcoming hate. 

A crowd filled the space outside of the Boulder County courthouse to hear from Jewish, Islamic, and Catholic leaders. 

“The whole Jewish community is reeling, shocked that this hideous hate crime could happen right here in downtown beautiful Boulder.  And yet, we have seen this coming, and Jews here and all over America and the world have not been feeling safe, physically or emotionally, in the face of demonizing hate speech and dangerous rhetoric.  We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from our neighbors and friends, faith leaders from across the county, state and the world. Demonization of others has to stop. The hate speech has to stop,” said Rabbi Marc Soloway. 

Some shared that an attack on one religion and the ability to share your beliefs freely is an attack on all religions. 

“A threat to one faith community is a threat to all. The values, the values that we and I love so dearly, of pluralism and freedom and democracy. We cannot have those threats. And though we differ in faith and practice, we can be united in our care and attention for each other and for those in need,” stated Reverend Mary Kate Réjoius, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.

Others explained how being neighborly is a common thread in all religions, a pillar needed in the community in the wake of the attack. 

“We stand firm on our Islamic shared values of neighborliness, which are American values. We stand firm on that with our neighbors, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim, at all times and especially at times like this,” said Imam Nader Elmarhoumi, Islamic Center of Boulder.

Ed Victor says the Run for Their Lives awareness group has held these walks since Oct. 7, 2023. Victor spoke about his experience on Sunday. 

“Suddenly, right by me, I think I heard a crash, and I felt a lot of heat. And a person is on fire, a woman is on fire. I’m saying this because that’s what happened. That’s what I saw. And I’ll tell you that my focus got extremely narrow at that time. I didn’t notice anything else. I was worried about that woman,” recounted Ed Victor, a participant in the Run for Their Lives awareness group.

Victor continued to explain the distress, trying to extinguish the fire.

“I’ll tell you what. Someone on fire takes too long to put out. Whether it took 1 minute or 2 minutes, I don’t remember. But I know it took too long. What did we have to put them out? You look around, you’re like, there are some flags. We have a banner. You do what you can. It was myself and three other people doing what we could,” explained Victor.

He shared how speaking out against anti-Semitism is so important right now– a message echoed by many of the speakers on Wednesday.

KRDO13 also reached out to the local Islamic Society of Colorado Springs, which shared this statement.

We at the Islamic Society of Colorado Springs are heartbroken by the tragic attack that occurred yesterday in Boulder, Colorado. Acts of hatred and violence have no place in Islam. Our faith teaches us to uphold justice, show compassion, and honor the sanctity of every human life. We stand firmly against all forms of extremism and violence, and we condemn yesterday’s attack in the strongest possible terms.

In times of tragedy, we are called to respond with empathy, kindness, and a shared commitment to peace. We pray for unity and understanding in our society, and we pledge to continue working alongside people of all faiths and backgrounds to build a more compassionate and just world.May Allah (SWT) guide us all to be sources of peace, mercy, and healing in our communities

-The Islamic Society of Colorado Springs.

The suspect, Mohammad Soliman, claimed that his attack was not an attack against Jewish people broadly, but against Zionist supporters of the state of Israel. 

Soliman is expected back in Boulder County court Thursday afternoon. 

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