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Storm Mountain News Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java. Local News Listen to this article Suspected Impersonator Identified Wednesday August 15th - Suspected Impersonator Identified... Larimer County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that the subject of the alleged police impersonation incident of Monday, August 13th, has been identified.  The subject is a sworn deputy from Routt County.  He contacted LCSO on Tuesday morning after seeing the composite sketch and media coverage of the incident. Although his actions did arouse suspicion and alarm the young female who reported the incident, no crime has been committed. Larimer County has a history of police impersonators and, in the interest of public safety, Sheriff Alderden believes in following up on any possible incidents involving such reports.  Actions such as these instill a measure of fear in both the victim and the public in general. Sheriff Alderden is pleased this incident has been explained but assures the public that LCSO will respond to any similar incidents in a like manner. Alderden said.  “I would like to thank the members of the media for their quick response and for the part they played in locating the subject.” The matter has been referred to Routt County Sheriff’s Office. Listen to this article Photo of suspect vehicle Monday August 13th - Police Impersonator Alert... Larimer County Sheriff’s Office would like to alert the public to a police impersonator who is approaching women in the area.  At 12:30 AM on August 13th, an 18-year-old female was approached at the Sandy’s Convenience Store at Link Lane and Highway 14 by a 20 to 25 year-old male.  He had an athletic build with a short haircut and was wearing a black shirt with “Sheriff” on the sleeves and a badge embroidered on the left chest.  He was also wearing a hat with a badge on the front and “Sheriff” on the back. He asked her for directions to “Club Opulance” and wanted her to get into his vehicle.  He also asked her where she went to school and if she had a boyfriend.  When she refused to get in his vehicle, he circled the pumps twice, watching her. Suspect vehicle is a new grey/charcoal colored 4-door Dodge pick-up, with an open bed and a tool box.  It has a large cab and an unknown Colorado license plate. If the vehicle or suspect is sighted, please call Larimer County Dispatch Center at 970-416-1985.  Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Investigator Heffernan at 970-498-5171 or 970-567-4857. Listen to this article Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep along Highway 34 Sunday August 12th - Photo Of The Week... Taken early this morning, this week's photo features a herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep along Highway 34 in the Big Thompson Canyon west of Drake, Colorado. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep are in the class Mammalia (mammals). Order is Artiodactyla (cloven-hooted mammals). Their family is Bovidae (antelope, cattle, sheep, and goats), and their genus is Ovis (sheep). For protection, the bighorn's own good sense gives it plenty of warning. If it cannot outrun its enemy, then it may turn and charge. The bighorn must watch out for predators such as wolves, bears, coyotes, bobcats, and lynx. It prefers open areas. The bighorn's horns grow from the top of its head, and then curve away around the neck. A bighorn horn is very heavy and may weigh up to 14 kg (30 pounds), and measure 115 cm (45 inches). The record length of the horns in the United States is 50 inches. The bighorn uses them to fight for females during mating season or to fight off predators. The Rocky Mountain bighorn has a brown and white coat with a dark line that runs down the back of its spine. Like a lamb, the bighorn has wool, but it is hidden under a covering of long guard hairs. Its lower belly, rump, and muzzle tip (nose) are all a creamy white. Its short tail is dark and its ears are small. Males can weigh 155 kilograms (340 pounds.) The females, or ewes, are much smaller. A full grown male, also known as a ram, may stand one meter (3.3 feet) tall at the shoulder. The mating season starts in October and continues through the long winter. The bighorn begins breeding at the age of four. Its neck becomes thicker and it starts competing for the females with its horns. When babies are born they feed from their mothers and when they are strong enough, they are led down to the grassy slopes. From there, another bighorn keeps an eye on the baby. A female can produce one to three babies at one time. Listen to this article Perseid fireball over Colorado on Wednesday evening Thursday August 9th - Here Come The Perseids... The annual Perseid Meteor Shower is currently underway and will peak on Sunday evening with rates of 100+ meteors per hour possible. This year's display will be especially impressive due to a new Moon occurring on Sunday the 12th. This will allow for dark skies and prime viewing for the meteor shower.  Over the past couple of nights fireballs have been reported from several locations. These "Earthgrazers" are often very bright and colorful and are a spectacular sight in the evening sky. For best viewing, find a location as far away as possible from city lights. Rocky Mountain National Park will be an excellent place to view the Perseids. The show begins at sundown and lasts until dawn. While you will be able to see a few Perseids over the next few evenings, the main event will be on Sunday night.  The source of the shower is Comet Swift-Tuttle. Although the comet is nowhere near Earth, the comet's tail does intersect Earth's orbit. We glide through it every year in August. Tiny bits of comet dust hit Earth's atmosphere traveling 132,000 mph. At that speed, even a smidgen of dust makes a vivid streak of light--a meteor--when it disintegrates. Because Swift-Tuttle's meteors fly out of the constellation Perseus, they are called "Perseids."  More information about this year's Perseid Meteor Shower can be found by visiting Science@NASA.com  Previous Week

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