FORMER ASPEN POLICE CHIEF DIES AFTER FALL

Former Aspen Police Chief Tom Stephenson died Wednesday at a hospital in Denver after suffering a head injury at his home in Basalt, sources said Friday.

“It’s just a shock,” said Keith Ikeda, who served as Stephenson’s assistant chief. “It’s really tragic that he went so young.

“He’s gonna be sorely missed.” Stephenson was 62.

The Arlington Heights, Ill., native spent about 20 years as a law enforcement officer with the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office and Aspen Police Department. He was first hired by the Sheriff’s Office in November 1980 and worked his way up to patrol supervisor before he was named police chief in 1993, said assistant chief Bill Linn.

Stephenson served as chief until 2000, when he resigned at age 44.

Colorado Springs to have most troops since Vietnam war. The new 800-soldier brigade planned for Fort Carson will give Colorado Springs more than 25,000 troops — the most since the Vietnam war. The new unit, to be added in the coming months, will be a security force assistance brigade designed to train, advise and assist the militaries of U.S. allies. Maj. Gen. Randy George said the troops will be among the Army’s most highly trained tactical leaders. The Fort Carson announcement follows news that Schriever Air Force Base will receive 150 troops from California and Peterson Air Force Base will add a new 100-member Colorado National Guard satellite squadron. Department of Defense officials are expected to decide by the end of July whether to relocate Fort Carson’s 4,000soldier 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

Smelly sugar plant owner agrees to $2 million settlement. State health officials say the owner of a Fort Morgan sugar plant will pay $2 million to settle claims that the plant violated air and water pollution laws.

The deal between Western Sugar Cooperative and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was announced Friday.

Fort Morgan residents said the sugar beet processing plant smells like dog feces.

Health officials say the plant exceeded the state’s odor limits and violated water-quality rules, including the discharge of fecal coliform and sulfide.

Officials say the water-quality violations likely caused the smell.

Along with the fine, Western Sugar agreed to several plant upgrades and to follow an odor management plan.