Category: krdo-local-news

Marina Garcia

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – A fallen tree put an end to river fun for tubers and kayakers on the Arkansas River Sunday. The large tree fell straight across the channel, creating a dangerous obstacle.

Colorado Springs Parks and Wildlife are advising recreationalists to be careful around the area. It’s just a little over three miles above the area known as the Swallows.

But it’s not just at the river; we’re seeing this happen all over Pueblo this weekend.

A local tree trimming business tells KRDO 13 that the weather during this time keeps them very busy.

“It’s been really random. These storms come through, and all of a sudden it’s 70-mile-an-hour gusts and trees are failing,” says Danny Moberly, owner of Moberly’s Tree Service.

This last month, the owners say they have seen people get trapped in their houses, and they’ve had to use cranes to safely remove the fallen trees. 

Danny tells us, one factor that could keep trees from falling over is proper pruning practices.

He suggests thinning out the limbs so the wind can blow through them while also keeping the snow from building up and breaking the branches.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says they’re still assessing what it will take to remove the tree from the river, but we will keep you updated as crews continue working during these high winds.

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Michael Logerwell

PAGOSA SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado Governor Jared Polis has made a verbal declaration for a fire burning in Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County.

The Oak Fire is burning just west of Pagosa Springs, north of Highway 160. The governor’s office says that due to the fire quickly spreading, it exceeded the capacity of the local fire department and county resources. Then the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office requested help from the state.

As of Sunday night, the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office says the blaze is at 150 acres and mandatory evacuations are in place up to and including the Elk Park subdivision.

With this declaration, the State Emergency Operations and Resource Mobilization Plans are activated. In addition to local, county, and federal agencies, the Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and Colorado State Patrol are all helping in this time of emergency. The National Guard is also helping fight the blaze.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs Police Department announced they are investigating the deaths of two people after a 911 call came in reporting a shooting on Sunday afternoon.

The police department says the 911 call came in just before 2:30 p.m. The caller described a shooting along Sod House Trail, a residential street near Oro Blanco Dr and Barnes Rd.

When officers arrived at the house in question, they say they located one adult male and one adult female with at least one gunshot wound. CSPD says all parties involved in the incident are accounted for.

After the initial response by police officers, the homicide unit arrived and took over the investigation.

Now the police department is asking if anyone has any additional information regarding this incident to call 719-444-7000 or Pikes Peak Crime Stoppers.

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Samantha Hildebrandt

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released the identification of the motorcyclist who died after a crash around 6 p.m. on Aug. 9 on N. Union Blvd. and Garmish Rd.

El Paso County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on the deceased rider and identified him as 20-year-old Spencer Lehmkuhl. 

Police say on the day of the crash, officers learned a motorcycle had struck an SUV along N Union Blvd.

Medical personnel responded to the scene, and life-saving measures were attempted, but the motorcyclist died at the scene.

The Colorado Springs Major Crash Team has since taken over the investigation and believes speed to have been a factor. No arrests have been made at this time.

CSPD says this is the 35th traffic fatality in Colorado Springs in 2025.

This intersection was the scene of two motorcycle deaths within 48 hours. For more information on the city’s response, read previous reporting: Traffic tragedy in Colorado Springs: Another fatal motorcycle crash; what’s next at dangerous intersections?

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Rob Namnoum

For the second straight season, Pine Creek has a new coach. Trevor Hudson takes over as the man in charge and he is eager to get started, “Like a fat kid with a piece of cake, man. I’m excited to be here, man. I’m excited to get it in. I’m excited to just be here and build something.  We’re trying to take it to new heights. We try to do things better than everybody else,” says Hudson.

Hudson’s career began at Falcon. He’s coached in Las Vegas, and is coming off of a state championship in California. So naturally, Pine Creek is a perfect fit, “You come into a program where there’s a culture and an expectation of winning. I mean, I couldn’t ask for a better job,” says Hudson.

Hudson’s practices are tough, “He brings us a whole new standard and discipline in how we work and how hard we work,” says Pine Creek quarterback, Brady Walden.

Malakai Harkley adds, “We’ve been doing morning weights. Monday to Thursday. And then we have a second practice from Monday to Saturday, 3 hours a day for the practice and 2 hours in the morning. Pretty intense.”

His players like his style, “Coach Hudson is definitely more intense, but he’s also a very highly energized guy. So he definitely makes practices fun, and interacts with us more,” says Pine Creek tight end, Caleb Petree.

Jackson Minton says “A practice with him is like… it has like it’s little mood swings. He’s hard on us. Like he’ll make sure we’re on your percent. But he also has a side where, you know, he can joke around. He can be a funny guy.”

Coach Hudson adds, “I want to be a coach who relates to his players who be able to have a good time. But at the same time, you know, when it’s time to work. I want to get invited to some weddings some days, so things of that nature. So to do that, you have to build that relationship.”

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Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Many drivers who shop at the Walmart in Falcon are glad that the road behind it, Foxtail Meadow Lane, is currently being repaved, and that the Rolling Thunder Way intersection on the south end is part of that project.

However, some drivers are unhappy that all of the mile-long stretch of Rolling Thunder, between Meridian Road and Golden Sage Road, has not been repaved.

Since KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior reported a week ago on the start of the Foxtail Meadow project, several viewers have sent email messages expressing frustration, saying that county officials promised five years ago that Rolling Thunder would be repaved.

“It’s been bad for a long time, since I moved here 19 years ago,” said Ross Isaacson, who lives in neighboring Peyton but noted that shopping at Walmart is his only reason for driving on Rolling Thunder.

Isaacson gives the county credit for occasionally filling potholes there.

“My wife has driven down it and banged her head on the roof because she hit something,” he recalled. “They just spot-patch it, and then they’re done. They leave it for about three years, and then we don’t see anything. The school buses used it as a shortcut to the bus barn, but had to stop because it injured students.”

The Road Warrior drove the length of Rolling Thunder and saw many of the same conditions that led to the resurfacing of Foxtail Meadow.

When told of the concerns, a county spokesman confirmed that officials are considering whether to include Rolling Thunder on next year’s repaving list.

“That list is budget-dependent, but will likely be approved no later than the first quarter of 2026,” he said.

Isaacson said that he can’t wait to see it happen.

“If it doesn’t, I don’t know what we’ll do out here,” he said.

Meanwhile, crews have finished removing the old asphalt in the Foxtail Meadow project; they’ll grind up the material and use it as part of the new base on which to apply new asphalt.

The project could be finished by next weekend, weather permitting.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Cheyenne Mountain State Park will host a free “Adventure Day” Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a dozen different activities for kids.

All parents need is a state parks pass or a Cheyenne Mountain park pass. If families do not have a park pass, Cheyenne Mountain State Park sells day passes for $10 at a kiosk at the gate. There is no additional cost for Adventure Day after you get into the park.

Activities include BB gun target practice, archery, a rock wall, disc golf, hatchet throwing, knot tying, animal education, fishing education, geocaching, a raffle and more.

Once you enter the park, head to the Limkiln Trailhead parking lot.

Adventure Day is one of several free programs the park is offering with the standard park entry fee in August.

Families can join Cheyenne Mountain State Park’s Naturalist every Sunday for a guided “Meadow Walk” through the park. The park offers free archery and mountain bike classes throughout the month. Every state park is free for veterans in August for “Veterans Appreciation Month.” The park has free “Terrain Hopper” off-road vehicle rentals to help people with disabilities enjoy the park.

To register for the Meadow Walk, click here.

To find free classes on the Cheyenne Mountain State Park calendar, click here.

For more information on how to get your free Veterans Appreciation Month pass, click here.

To rent a Terrain Hopper at Cheyenne Mountain State Park, click here.

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Rob Namnoum

It was the greatest moment in TCA football history. The Titans taking home their first ever state championship. “It’s crazy because you imagine it for so long when you’ve been here three years and then that moment finally hits you was like, Wow, All the summers, all the days in the weight room, all the practices after school, all the games. They finally got to that moment. We finally did it. It was just a great feeling, like seeing all the coaches over, you know, the players like hugging and crying each other,” says Zach Mediavilla, TCA receiver/cornerback.

Johnny Howe adds, “It’s something we’ve been talking about for a long time, something I’ve been dreaming about for forever. So to finally have that feeling happen and come through was just sweet.”

Hayden Kenney says, “We’re in the state championship and we win and it’s crazy. And like, I don’t know, it just felt like I was floating.”

But that was last season. This year’s edition of TCA features a ton of new faces but the goal remains the same, “It’s obviously a new year. It’s becoming worthy of that feeling again” says Howe.

Kenney adds, “There’s also like a lot of expectations, and like kind of a target on our back.”

And for the returning players, they’re a little more hyped as practices begin, “Now you actually know, like what it feels like to get there. So, like, every practice is like a fight towards getting back to that stage,” says Mediavilla.

The Titans will lean on their championship culture, and look to build on it, “It’s just about a high standard, right? The way we practice, the way we lift in the weight room every day. Um, those little details that’s what gets us to Pueblo after Thanksgiving,” says Howe.

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Bart Bedsole

With only 9 violations, it wasn’t a terrible showing, but the Omelets Etc. on Interquest did score lower than any other restaurant last week.

It was also an improvement over the 14 violations found at the restaurant in November of 2024.

Some of the reasons it failed this time include: 

A server used a bare hand to add a lemon to a drink

A cook with gloves put raw meat onto the grill, then continued cooking with the same gloves 

Instead of washing, rinsing, and sanitizing a cutting board, the restaurant was only using a chlorine sanitizer to clean it 

Instead of being kept at a temperature of 41 degrees or less, a few containers of liquid eggs were being kept on the cook line at a temperature of 70-73 degrees

When KRDO13 stopped by the restaurant six days after the inspection, the general manager said he had still not seen a list of the violations found and wasn’t familiar with the specifics. 

Ruben Torres added that he was out last week when the inspector stopped by, explaining that it’s a relatively new crew in the kitchen and they are still working on receiving their food safety certifications. 

Torres says they try to do their best, and doesn’t feel that customers should feel unsafe eating there. 

Omelets Etc. passed its re-inspection on August 6 with just a single violation. 

OTHER LOW SCORES

Jersey Mike’s Subs – 1250 Interquest Pkwy 

Pho Toi – 6320 S. US Hwy 85 87 

Little Caesars – 5859 Constitution Ave 

HIGH SCORES

Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers – 1264 Interquest  

Papa John’s – 1779 Lake Woodmoor Dr 

Arby’s – 1220 Interquest Pkwy 

McDonald’s – 4310 Barnes Rd 

Trinity Brewing Company – 1466 Garden of the Gods Rd 

Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop – 1286 Interquest

Capriotti’s is a chain restaurant, known for its cheesesteak and the “Bobbie” that is essentially Thanksgiving on a bun, but all three locations in town are locally owned, and co-owner Christen Sanders says they treat it like a family-run restaurant. 

“My cousin moved out here last year, so he helped me out at the Barnes store. I went to the high school graduation for some of my high school students that work here for me, got invited to some of their parties, so really we care about the employees like they are our own family,” she said. 

Sanders says that was her goal from the beginning. 

She explained that she and her husband, Ron, always enjoyed visiting a Capriotti’s restaurant when living in Las Vegas because everyone seemed to know each other, so when the opportunity came to open locations in Colorado Springs, they jumped on it. 

“The classic cheesesteak here is my favorite cheesesteak, and we just started looking to see if they were expanding into the Springs at all, and it turned out they were.”

The Interquest location opened in January of 2024, and the Sanders put in 80-90 hours a week operating it. 

Ron is actually a class of 1985 graduate of the Air Force Academy. 

They have sold sandwiches there during football games for the past four years, and plan to continue that in 2025. 

The restaurant also recently launched its “Bigger Better” offer, adding 25 percent more meat to most of the sandwiches.

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

Click here for a complete list of high and low scores. 

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Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – On Thursday, a spokesperson with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirmed two search warrants were executed at the Village East Apartments on Hathaway Drive in Colorado Springs.

The DEA says the raid happened Thursday morning. They allege the apartments were being used to distribute drugs by Mexican cartel members.

During the execution of the warrants, agents say they seized a handgun, fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, in addition to a large amount of money. 

The agency says 5 individuals were arrested inside the apartments for immigration violations and transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The DEA says it is committed to removing individuals who are “poisoning our community with deadly drugs.”

The DEA tells KRDO13 they can not confirm if the 5 people taken into custody are cartel members, as they say it’s an ongoing investigation.

KRDO13 reached out to the Village East Apartments, who said they had no comment.

A coworker of one of the men who’s now in ICE custody tells KRDO13 the man is a hard worker trying to grow his family.

Video of the raid shows masked agents on the ground and some in the back of a truck. 

KRDO13 spoke with a neighbor who asked not to use her name, since she has family who fear for their safety. She said that around 7 a.m. Thursday morning, she heard the sound of flash bangs. 

“I heard really loud bangs. We thought it was fireworks. And we came out of our apartment to see a heavy ICE presence,” explained the neighbor.

She says as a mother, watching what happened this morning was incredibly hard. 

“They put the mom on the ground, put her in shackles in front of her children. Children were screaming. It broke my heart to have to deal with that. Because, like I said, some of my family’s not from here. So, yeah, it’s really hard,” she recounted.

The Village East Apartments are directly across the street from Christa McAuliffe Elementary School. 

“My son went to the school across the street for his whole school life. He’s in second grade now, so going on three years. It’s quiet over here. Everybody minds their business. They go to work, they take care of their kids, and we come home. Never. Not one time did I ever think that there was anything like that going on here,” she explained.

The neighbor tells KRDO13 the raid was very unsettling.

“I was definitely scared. Having family that’s not from the U.S., it’s definitely scary to have to call family, let them know not to come visit me. Because I’m afraid that something’s going to happen to them,” she shared.

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