In Brief: Airport closes; Aspen police partner to recover stolen motorcycles; Black Hills Energy seeks rate hike
Airport closes on Wednesday for most of May
The Aspen/Pitkin County Airport starts its two-week closure Wednesday for airfield pavement maintenance. From May 10-24, work will focus on the taxiway and de-ice pad. The work is part of the facility’s Federal Grant Assurance obligations.
The time frame for the construction is aligned with the off-season, after efforts to schedule construction outside of the airport’s curfew conflicted with a local ordinance that prevents the acquisition of pavement materials after 10 p.m.
Staying open during the repairs would have extended the construction schedule to two months, instead of two weeks, county officials said, adding that the maintenance work would have reduced the runway, and therefore, airport operational capacity.
The shorter time frame with the closure will avoid peak season impacts at the airport, they said.
The closure will also allow time for the completion of projects, including the installation of a new Federal Aviation Administration navigational aid and also provide an opportunity to replace worn runway markings.
Stolen motorcycle recovery, arrests a team effort
The Aspen Police patrol and investigations divisions worked together with help from several outside police agencies to recover four stolen motorcycles and a trailer, following the theft of five motorcycles and a trailer stolen in Aspen in the past two weeks, officials said Tuesday in a statement.
According to Aspen Police:
On April 30, the Grand Junction Police Department arrested Silt resident Ryan Matthew Fazzi for first degree aggravated motor vehicle theft for being in possession of a KTM motorcycle stolen from Aspen.
On May 7, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office arrested Rifle resident Scott Allen Martin for first degree aggravated motor vehicle theft for his role in the thefts of a trailer and two motorcycles stolen from Aspen. Martin was apprehended because of an arrest warrant written by Aspen detectives.
The Aspen Police Department worked closely with the Grand Junction Police Department and the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office on both investigations.
The Aspen Police Department expects to make more arrests in the coming days as the investigation continues.
“We would like to thank the Glenwood Springs Police Department for their assistance with license plate readers. This technology was instrumental in solving our cases,” said Aspen Police Chief Kim Ferber. “We would also like to thank the Silt Police Department for their assistance in executing a search warrant in Silt on May 1 and the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in executing a search warrant in Garfield County on May 7.”
Police officials said they wanted to remind residents and visitors to lock vehicles, secure bicycles with a robust bike lock, and consider purchasing comprehensive insurance.
In 2022, Aspen Police responded to two motor vehicle thefts. Both stolen vehicles were recovered and returned to their owners.
For more information on on auto theft trends and further prevention tips, visit lockdownyourcar.org.
Aspen girls golf ties for second at 3A championship; Persson, O’Sullivan in top 10
Playing in the final group of the Class 3A girls golf state championship on Wednesday, Lenna Persson finally discovered the nerves that had been absent two days earlier in her practice round at Aspen Golf Club.
