SAFE ARRIVAL INTO AUSTIN

-One Whataburger down the pipe
-CMT on TV

Life gets no better than this......

WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM

THIS IS WHAT I SPENT MOST OF SATURDAY COORDINATING FROM OUR 911 CENTER...

LAKEWOOD - Police shot and killed a one-year-old bison after spending much of Saturday afternoon trying to capture it as it roamed along Green Mountain.

"I think the coyotes probably separated it," said Mike DeBell, the animal's owner. "It jumped over the fence and then it got lost like a dog. It was gone."DeBell purchased two bison to raise for meat. He kept them at a farm adjacent to the southwest edge of Green Mountain. He said after a thorough search, he found no breaches in his fence line which stands five feet tall.DeBell estimates the bison, or commonly called buffalo, traversed Green Mountain for more than six miles before ending up in a neighborhood on the south side of 6th Avenue.

Authorities say they were first notified about the bison around 8 a.m. Police cornered the bison at McIntyre, and DeBell tried to get his Bison back."We tried to get some panels and get it corralled and pushed into the trailer," DeBell said. But, that did not work and it busted out of their makeshift fence, breaking though the perimeter, and jumping over a police car conntining its tour of Lakewood and unincorporated Jefferson County.

DeBell was worried at what his 400-pound animal might do. "It was away from the herd, so it was just plain scared," DeBell said. "It would've gone through anything, over anything, and around anything, just to get away."Lakewood Police corneded it in the backyard of a home. It rammed a parked pick-up truck, knocked over a cemented-in basketball hoop, and nearly knocked down a privacy fence when police decided that was enough.

An officer shot and killed the bison around 2:15 p.m. near 1st and Flora. "I gave the directive to do that," DeBell said. "Because, I didn't want anybody to get hurt.""He was jumping around the patrol cars here, busting through that fence and we had civillians getting in the way. It was a dangerous situation," said Sergeant Creighton Bates, Lakewood Police.

An animal control officer was within a block with a tranquilizer gun when the bison was killed."We couldn't understand why they weren't going to use a tranquilizer," said Irene Smith, witness. "We were told by one of the park rangers that it wouldn't have done any good and right now I don't understand why.""If it would've gotten hit by a tranquilizer, I believe it would've started running again and who knows where it would've gone then," DeBell said.DeBell said he is happy with the outcome because no people were hurt.

Reba Sheehan owns the yard where the bison was killed. She said, "Sometimes you just have to give up and do what is best for the public."The Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office were trying to help to capture the animal.

THE OTHER SIDE....

Well, no doubt, you have probably surmised over my brief blogging career that my other career is full of humor and tales of the misfortunate, uneducated and the intoxicated. But, for the 3rd time in my brief 18 years at our 911 center, the dreaded 'officer involved shooting' on our shift arose today.

What started out as an argument between a mom and her boyfriend turned tragic. It was the type of call we take ten times per day that more often than not turns out as separating the 'actors' for a cool down period and we are on our way.

This call started out much the same way. The upset lady was reporting her boyfriend had stormed out of the house, but nothing physical had ensued. He was just pacing in the front yard between the house and his car with a brief mention by the caller that she thought he owned a pistol that was located in a blue pouch under the front seat. He had no local history with law enforcement. As officers drove in mid-block they commented they saw him outside, then noted he was running toward the car. Thirteen seconds of air silence and then the dreaded words "shots fired, male down inside the car". It appears he reached for his gun and made a motion toward the officers who were given no choice but to fire. Simultaneously, the subject had decided he was going to place a bullet in his own head, all while the girlfriend watched in horror as she spoke with the 911 operator. DOA at the hospital.

It was a rare moment when an officer informs a dispatcher that he thought his life was saved when the calltaker and the radio dispatcher were able to convery the 'blue pouch' may contain a gun. The officer indicated withouth that knowledge, it may have ended bad for them as the item looked like your simple CD holder you see in an automobile and would have not otherwise heightended their concern.

Three in a career is enough.....

>>>

Ø Austin doing well with his driving. In the last week or so, he has chauffeured Mr. Daisy to the Pepsi Center downtown to see an Arena Football game and to Boulder to eat a treat at Dairy Queen---about 25% done.

Ø For the 1st time since mid-December, Standley Lake is completely ice-free. Enjoying 60 degree temps today.

Ø Cam enjoyed a long weekend in Phoenix last week with his flight school. As all students, he is looking forward to Spring Break in a week.

Ø Austin’s high school basketball team lost in the State 4-A championship last night, but he enjoyed being in attendance.

Ø Cameron was co-pilot today for his first time ever ‘tail dragger’ experience, a 1946 front-back seater with a cruising speed of 70 mph.

Ø 2 of 6 ‘2007’ resolutions completed: Austin has a car and we have found a church home….

Ø Peace to my Uncle Dwight’s family tonight as he passed away of cancer this morning—85 yrs of age I believe.

Ø “JAMES”, the 1971 Jimmy, is on 2007 goal list to sell—looks like he may sell with a new engine as I discovered anti-freeze coming out of the exhaust—classic blown head gasket symptom

Ø It must be March---illnesses, injuries and aging (birthday month)—this year, a.m. sinus infection seems to have returned. Feel fine after lunch…..hummm..

Ø Four hours later, 2006 tax return about 99% complete---looks like there will be a family vacation after all

Ø Ebay sales still hitting about 90%

Ø Austin starts his track meets this week—will be running the 1mile and 2mile runs, we think.

Ø March Madness—Hook Em Horns!

Ø Two more weeks, Teri, Austin and I will be munching on Whataburgers—Cam house sitting while we are in Lone Star state

Ø Two more months, Teri and I are in Nashville for 4 nights, courtesy of my job—seeing Phil Vassar live at the Wildhorse Saloon while we stay at the Opryland Hotel.
Praise the Lord for a 7pm sunset time in Mid-March—gonna love this new D.S.T.

THERE, NOW YOU ARE CAT-SUPed......