Wild Times in Boulder

All sorts of fun and games going on in Boulder -  I awoke this morning to hear about a shooting involving police officers (not another elk, but a young man).  It seems that there was a dispute very early this morning between a cab driver and his fare.  The driver called the police because the passenger, after refusing to pay, began to threaten him.  Just before the police arrived, the passenger exited the car (through the window), and started to walk away.  When the police officers yelled at the man to stop, he ran away - going two blocks to his apartment building.  He barricaded himself within his apartment for over two hours, and neighbors were evacuated. Then the young man appeared to point a gun through a window.  Police officers opened fire and wounded the man.  He was taken out, and EMTs attended him.  A man who saw the wounded man being treated said that the wounded man did not seem to comprehend what had been happening - he couldn't understand or remember what had led to that point in time.  The observer said he thought the man was "very inebriated."  The intersection at 11 Street and College Avenue is currently closed while the police continue their investigation.
  With the rains of the past week and the past several days of high temperatures, we are expecting more flooding.  The Cache le Poudre River is more than one foot above flood stage, and Boulder Creek, which runs past my apartment, is barely staying within its banks.  At this time of year, Boulder Creek usually has a flow rate of of 80,000 to 110, 000 cubic feet of water per minute; the Creek is running at 800,000 to 850,000 cubic feet per minute.  Boulder Creek has been closed to all tubing, rafting, floatation devices, canoes, etc. from Barker Reservoir (on the east side of Nederland) all the way to the Erie city limits.  Kayaking is permitted; but people are urged to use extreme caution due to the enormous rate at which the waters are flowing.  Tickets resulting in fines will be given out to those breaking the law.
    I spent yesterday afternoon and evening watching the next-to-last and last episodes of Vikings again. I thoroughly enjoyed the bath scene with Kings Aelle and Ecbert, Prince Aethelwulf, and the Bishop.  I also enjoyed seeing Floki tell King Horik that he did not betray the Gods, nor Ragnar - "... only you, King Horik."  And, wonder of wonders, my sister actually watched the final episode with me...  I was completely amazed.
   All of the town of Collbran is now under eminent evacuation orders.  It is believed that the lake forming in the mudslide above the town could break through at any minute, and completely bury the town.  Currently, a memorial service for the three men lost last Sunday is scheduled to take place this Sunday.
  And, yesterday, on the witness stand, ex-Boulder police officer Brent Curnow stated that he did not believe that he had broken the law on the morning of 1 January 2013, when he drove from home to pick up and butcher the elk (Big Boy, aka Edward the Elk) that fellow officer Sam Carter had shot while on duty.  When asked about his guilty plea deal on his charges, he stated that his attorney had suggested he agree with them, because his attorney felt that he'd be found guilty at trial.  Sam Carter's attorney still states that his client is "not guilty of anything."