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News in Brief

Aspen Times staff report
Aspen CO Colorado

ASPEN – Aspen Police are investigating a phone call made Monday that referenced a bomb threat to US Bank on Main Street.

The call came in at 9:30 a.m. to an employee of the bank, which immediately evacuated its employees from the bank and a nearby office building, according to a press release issued by the Aspen Police Department.

Police searched both buildings and found no explosive device, the release says. Employees were allowed back to work and bank operations resumed.



The investigation is open and the FBI has been notified.

“We want citizens, visitors, and workers to know that we take calls of this nature seriously,” said Police Chief Richard Pryor in a prepared statement, “assuring safety within the community is our number one priority.”




ASPEN – Executive sous chef Robert McCormick of The Little Nell has been named executive chef. His promotion becomes effective next Monday.

McCormick has been the hotel’s executive sous chef since October. In that role he oversaw and supported all back-of-house culinary operations, and worked to create a culinary apprenticeship program.

“Robert quickly established himself through his professional poise, focus and discipline,” said Sabato Sagaria, director of food and beverage operations for The Little Nell. “Robert becomes the seventh executive chef in the history of The Little Nell and will no doubt carry on our traditions and standards.”

In his new role, McCormick will oversee all culinary operations at the hotel, including the award-winning restaurant Montagna.

McCormick has worked at some of the top restaurants in the country. He spent five years with Daniel Boulud as corporate sous chef and helped open The Daniel Boulud Brasserie at the Wynn Las Vegas. Other highlights include time with Michelle Richard at Citronelle in Washington, D.C.; three years with Guenter Seeger and a stint at the five diamond Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park.

“From Chef Seeger I learned a strict etiquette in the kitchen, and from Chef Richard, I learned to cook ‘outside of the box.’ With Chef Boulud, it was figuring out how to cook with soul,” McCormick said.

McCormick replaces Ryan Hardy, whose run at The Little Nell, including four James Beard nominations, lasted more than five years. Hardy will be fulfilling his lifelong dream of opening his own restaurant in New York City.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS – The Colorado Department of Transportation will continue the multi-year project of repaving the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon with work scheduled to run from April 16 through the end of June.

Paving work will be done along a four-mile stretch from the Grizzly Creek Rest Area to Hanging Lake Tunnel. It will replace the current asphalt pavement with more durable, longer-lasting concrete pavement.

Lawson Construction of Loveland holds the $2.9 million contract to carry out the job.

A public open house is set for 4-6 p.m. on Thursday at the Glenwood Springs Community Center, 100 Wulfsohn Road.

Those with questions or concerns about the project may also call Tom Newland, public information manager for the project, at (970) 773-3457.

The project will affect I-70 motorists, bike path travelers and recreational boaters as follows:

I-70 work zone traffic switch, No Name to Hanging Lake Tunnel: Eastbound lanes will be closed to expedite project completion. Eastbound and westbound traffic will move in single lanes using the westbound lanes. The speed limit will be 40 mph with a width restriction of 12 feet.

No Name, Exit 119: The I-70 westbound on- and off-ramps will remain open. There will be an exit at the No Name Tunnel traffic crossover that will allow No Name residents and visitors to access the No Name area. The I-70 eastbound on-ramp will be closed to the public, but will be open to commercial rafters/guides needing access to Grizzly Creek Rest Area. Travelers who need to access eastbound I-70 from No Name must first go west to Glenwood Springs Exit 116 and turn around there to head east on I-70.

Grizzly Creek Rest Area Exit 121: Access to and from westbound I-70 at Grizzly Creek will be maintained. The I-70 eastbound off-ramp at Grizzly Creek will be closed to the public and to commercial rafting outfitters from April 16 to May 28 (approximate dates). Motorists who need to access the Grizzly Creek Rest Area from eastbound I-70 must continue east to I-70 exit 125, Hanging Lake Rest Area, turn around and travel west back to the Grizzly Creek at Exit 121.

Shoshone Power Plant and boat launch Exit 123: The I-70 ramps at the Shoshone exit will be closed to the public but will remain open to power plant employees only. It is anticipated the ramps will be open to the public by Saturday, May 28.

Hanging Lake Rest Area Exit 125: Both the eastbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp will remain open throughout construction.

Glenwood Canyon Trail: the bicycle path through the canyon will remain open throughout construction.

For updated information on this and other CDOT projects, visit http://www.dot.state.co.us/TravelInfo/currentcond/ or call 511.

To receive project updates via wireless device or e-mail, visit http://www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cellphone icon in the upper right corner. The link takes you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including traffic alerts for northwest Colorado. (From the Post Independent)