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SUMMIT COUNTY - A snowboarder died Wednesday afternoon in a backcountry avalanche, mile west of Arapahoe Basin on the south side of Highway 6.
The 20-year-old male was riding with two other male snowboarders in the Steep Gullies area, a popular backcountry spot outside the A-Basin ski boundary.
The three snowboarders triggered the avalanche at about 2:50 p.m. The slide carried the victim an estimated 1,000 feet, almost completely burying his body. It took the two friends 20-25 minutes to reach the victim and make a 911 call.
All three men were from Spring Grove, Ill., and two of them, including the victim, have lived in the Summit County area since November. The third had arrived for a visit two days before the incident. No one in the party was carrying avalanche rescue gear (a beacon, avalanche probe and shovel).
The victim's name is being withheld, pending notification of family members. The cause of death is also being withheld, pending further investigation. The victim wo

GLENWOOD SPRINGS - Interstate 70 through the Glenwood Canyon reopened about 3 p.m. this afternoon.
The Colorado Department of Transportation had been working on getting one traffic lane in each direction open on through the canyon since a rock fall closed the road early Monday morning.
Crews were able to open the interstate to one lane in each direction with a 14-foot width restriction, and speeds are reduced to 40 mph through the canyon.
CDOT Maintenance crews began clearing snow in the canyon early Thursday morning and began work to make the repairs necessary to open a single lane of traffic in each direction.
Crews cleared rock debris from all lanes which were brought down from yesterday's mitigation work removing a large boulder above the fall area. The blast brought down about a dozen larger boulders, and many smaller rocks.
Repairs to the elevated roadway's drainage system and roadway patching in numerous places where boulders punched holes in the road surface are curr

GLENWOOD SPRINGS - Colorado Department of Transportation geologists returned from the rock mitigation site on Wednesday evening and were satisfied with the work that was accomplished.
According to a news release Wednesday night, CDOT officials are expecting to open traffic lanes later today through Glenwood Canyon.
Crews blasted the rock they were concerned with and there was a clean break from the slope. All the rocks that officials were concerned about were knocked down from the area above Interstate 70.
As a result, mitigation work will not be required today. Since the blasting brought down additional rock, crews will begin cleanup work on the highway this morning. Crews will also do drainage work and final pavement repair to prepare traffic lanes for travel.
CDOT officials are hoping to have one lane of eastbound and westbound I-70 reopen by the end of the day today.
The area near the Hanging Lake exit in Glenwood Canyon has been closed due to a massive rock slide since

SUMMIT COUNTY - Summit School District, like all public school systems across Colorado, is beginning the unsavory task of slashing its budget for the 2010-2011 school year, in the wake of flagging state funding.
"We're continuing this very arduous and difficult task of figuring out how to operate next year with less revenue," district superintendent Millie Hamner said.
The past several months have been full of assessing possible budget-reduction scenarios for Summit School District leaders, as the financial outlook from the state shifts almost on a daily basis. On the chopping block are dozens of items across all programs, schools and departments, including teacher positions, student athletics, staff planning and development time, field maintenance and health insurance.
Summit Schools expect to reduce next year's education budget by anywhere from $810,000 to $1.3 million, relative to this year's. The cuts will represent 4-7 percent of the district's general fund. D

William Norris "Bill" Turnbull III passed away at his home in Granby on March 6, 2010. Bill was born May 9, 1944, in Denver, Colo., to William Norris and Louise (Bohmer) Turnbull Jr. He served his country in the US Navy. He married Kathleen Peterson in New York on June 11, 1966, and they raised two children, Mike and Wendy.
Bill was a pilot for many years with Polar Air Cargo. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association Granby Chapter, which he served as treasurer. Bill built his own aircraft that was proven airworthy in 2008. He was also involved with the Grand County Wilderness Association.
Bill loved to play the cello and bagpipes, and in his younger years played the French horn and bass. Bill was greatly loved by all whom knew him and he will be greatly missed.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife Kathleen; his son Mike Turnbull and his wife Karen; his grandson Evan Turnbull; his daughter Wendy Turnbull; his mother Louise Turnbull; his brother Carl Turnb

Donald James Leyba passed away on Feb. 15, 2010, in Lakewood, Colo., at the age of 69.
Born in Denver on Dec. 24, 1940, Don learned the plumbing trade early in life and was well known for plumbing projects in Denver and in Grand County. Over the years, he worked with many local contractors. His love for the mountains, hunting, fishing and camping was something he enjoyed over many years. Always taking different paths, he often hiked great distances for long hours and would tell of all the wildlife he came upon and how happy he was to be able to experience these adventures.
His greatest joys in life were his children, grandchildren and great-grand children. He leaves behind his sons, Troy and Anthony Leyba; daughters, Jamie Reiswig, Stacy Cochran and Briana Leyba; his brothers, Kenneth and Richard (sister-in-law Connie); sister, Gloria; grandchildren, Jennifer Quintana, Ben Reiswig, Coe Cochran; great-grandsons, Aiden Smith and Anthony Quintana; and many nieces and nephews.
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