AUTO SHOW STARTS TODAY

Denver Daily News staff report

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

AUTO SHOW STARTS TODAY: The Denver Auto Show Ń the largest new car display between the Mississippi River and Los Angeles Ń is revving into gear today at the Colorado Convention Center. The show features more than 500 vehicles. For more information, visit DenverAutoShow.com.

FELON IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM SENTENCED: William James Rucker, 35, of Colorado Springs, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer to serve 210 months (over 17 years) in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm, prosecutors announced yesterday. Rucker, a five-time felon prior to this offense, appeared at the hearing in custody.

MAN SENTENCED IN DEFRAUDING IRS/SEC: Joshua Neale Wolcott, 36, of Denver, was sentenced April 1 by U.S. District Court Judge John L. Kane to serve six months of home confinement as part of a five-year term of supervised release for conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, prosecutors announced yesterday. Wolcott was also ordered to pay $127,000 in restitution to company shareholders-investors, who reported that they were victims of the fraud. Wolcott’s co-defendant, Eric Richfield Major, was sentenced on March 19 to five years in federal prison, and was also ordered to pay $127,000 to responding shareholders-investors.

60% MAILED BACK CENSUS FORMS: As elected officials and community leaders across the nation take part in “Census Day” activities to increase local participation in the 2010 Census, the Denver Regional Census Center yesterday announced that 60 percent of the state’s households have mailed back their census forms. The Census Bureau will continue to accept 2010 Census questionnaires by mail through mid-April. Beginning May 1, census workers will begin going door to door to households that failed to mail back their forms Ń a massive operation that costs taxpayers an average of $57 per household versus the 42 cents it takes to get a response back by mail.

NEW BOOK TELLS STORY OF DENVER’S SECOND-LARGEST INDUSTRY: The Convention & Visitors Bureau has worked with local historians Thomas J. Noel and Debra B. Faulkner to produce a new coffee table book that tells the history of the city’s tourism industry. Called “Mile High Tourism: Denver’s Convention & Visitor History,” the 164-page book has more than 200 photos and documents the history of Denver’s $3.1-billion-a-year travel industry. The new book is available at the Tattered Cover Bookstores or at the VISIT DENVER information center at 16th and California, and sells for $39.95.

TAX CHECK-OFF BILL MOVES: Rep. Dianne Primavera, D-Broomfield, is helping to extend the tax form check-off program that benefits a wide range of causes, from animals to cancer research to victims of domestic abuse. Senate Bill 172 passed yesterday with unanimous bipartisan support in the Finance Committee by a vote of 11-0. SB 172 would extend three check-offs so that they can appear on the 2010 income tax form: the Pet Overpopulation Fund, the Colorado Domestic Abuse Fund, and the Colorado Breast and Women’s Reproductive Cancers Fund.

ECHO MOUNTAIN CUTS HOURS: In response to Daylight Savings and spring conditions, Echo Mountain is adjusting its operating hours beginning today, through closing day on May 2. The hours of operation will be: Mondays, Wednesdays through Fridays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Tuesdays Echo Mountain will be closed. Unrestricted season pass products will remain on sale throughout the season. More information can be found at www.echomt.com.

SEX OFFENDERS NOT WANTED: House Bill 1366, which unanimously passed in the State Affairs Committee yesterday, will prohibit those convicted of a sex offense or felony fraud from working as a petition circulator. Rep. Dennis Apuan, D-Colorado Springs, introduced the bill.

RENEWABLE ENERGY INVIGORATED: House Bill 1349 which passed the House Transportation and Energy Committee yesterday, 6-4, will create Re-energize Colorado Program, a program that encourages renewable energy projects in state parks to supply or offset their electrical energy needs. It will also create a map of renewable energy generation locations so that the state is able to better identify what resource areas are available and appropriate for renewable energy. The bill is co-sponsored in the House by Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Larimer, and Rep. Sal Pace, D-Pueblo.

MAYOR ANNOUNCES NEW YOUTH AGENDA: Mayor John Hickenlooper yesterday announced a new citywide agenda for youth during a reception with community and youth organizations. Denver’s Youth Agenda is a framework in which individuals and organizations can see how they work with and support Denver youth, according to a pres release. The 12-page Denver’s Youth Agenda report identifies the interconnectedness of health, education and safety factors as being essential to the well being of Denver’s youth. For more information, visit DenverGov.org/Education.

VETERANS TO TALK ENERGY AND SECURITY: Local Iraq and Afghanistan veterans today are holding a roundtable discussion at the Alliance Center for Sustainable Colorado, 1536 Wynkoop St., on the connection between climate change and national security. The veterans will describe “how oil money funds terrorism around the world and how climate change creates terrorist safe havens as it destabilizes weak nations through flood, famine, and drought.” For more information, visit OperationFree.net.

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