Local Briefs GUV: NO WHITE HOUSE RUN WITH KASICH

Gov. John Hickenlooper dispelled the possibility of seeking the presidency alongside Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the 2020 election.

“We’re in a two-party system, and that kind of a campaign generally distracts. It’s symbolic, and I can understand the point of that,” said Hickenlooper, who is term-limited and will leave the state Capitol in 2018. “I don’t think it’s in the cards.”

Kasich and Hickenlooper have been leading efforts by a group of U.S. governors to urge congressional Republicans and Democrats to work together on health care over the past several months.

Aspen area’s Elk Mountains are some of Colorado’s deadliest.

PITKIN

Capitol Peak is considered one of the toughest hikes among Colorado’s fourteeners, but some of its neighbors in Pitkin County remain more deadly.

Two hikers have died at different places under different circumstances on Capitol Peak this summer.

“The bottom line is none of the Elks is easy, and all of them have inherent risks,” said Lloyd Athearn, executive director of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative.

Some of the more technical fourteeners are in the Elk Range. Castle and Conundrum Peaks are easier to scale, but Maroon Peak, North Maroon Peak, Pyramid Peak, Snowmass Mountain and Capitol Peak are among the most treacherous for incidents and fatalities, Athearn said.

Diving spot off limits after fatal fall.

GREEN

The U.S. Forest Service has banned access to a popular cliff jumping spot, the site of a death last week and an attraction that has been growing in popularity and keeping first responders busy with rescues. Last week James Cummings of Denver died after jumping from the cliffs around 4:45 p.m. and not resurfacing. Temporary signs were put in place noting that the area is now closed indefinitely to climbing, jumping and diving.

Pair arrested in illegal pot grow.

EL PASO

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a large-scale illegal marijuana grow in El Paso County. Maritza BorgesAlmeida, 44, and Silvio Marquez, 48, were arrested Tuesday, according to the sheriff’s office.

On Thursday members of the sheriff’s office executed a search warrant at a property in the 4500 block of South Calhan Highway. Investigators seized 149 marijuana plants, processed marijuana, cash and firearms, valued at about $125,000.

Business owner’s sign blasts Ironman event.

LONGMONT» The co-owner of a Longmont wood processing yard told the Ironman 70.3 exactly what he thought Saturday — in big, red letters. Raul Bustamante is the co-owner of United Wood Products Inc. along the Diagonal Highway between Airport Road and Niwot Road. Bustamante grew frustrated last year when use of the highway for the Ironman 70.3 half-triathlon made access to his business become nearly impossible.

This year, Bustamante reached out to local law enforcement asking if organizers could put up a sign letting passers-by know local businesses along the road would still be open during the race. After chatting with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and State Patrol, Bustamante felt reassured that would be a simple fix.

But when he called to double-check with Ironman race organizers that everything was set, his

Sfrustrations ballooned.

“She told me she was too busy and that she couldn’t do that,” he said of an Ironman representative.

That’s when Bustamante decided to hang a yellow sign across the length of his pickup truck that read, “Thanks Boulder Iron Man” with “Go To Hell” spelled out in red letters.

Dave Christen, operations manager for Ironman, said he sent staffers out to ensure people could access the business.