BRIEFLY METRO

Man arrested in child-sex case

A Colorado Springs man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion ofsoliciting for child prostitution and sexual exploitation ofchildren.

Gregory Whitehead, 45, is accused of offering two 15-year-oldgirls money and alcohol in exchange for sex, and taking sexualpictures of them to post on the Internet. It was reported Oct. 2,police said.

Few details of the incident were released Wednesday. Sgt. BillDehart of the Colorado Springs Police Internet Crimes AgainstChildren Team wouldn't say whether Whitehead knew the girls. Dehartalso wouldn't comment on the circumstances surrounding the pictures,citing an ongoing investigation.

Whitehead was arrested Tuesday at his home on East High PointLane, police said. He was released from El Paso County jail on$150,000 bail.

Police cadet ahead

of learning curve

The Colorado Springs police Cadet Explorers program is supposedto interest young people in law enforcement careers, but police sayone teenager might have jumped the gun.

A 16-year-old in the program was cited Wednesday on suspicion ofimpersonating a police officer for allegedly trying to pull overanother teen, police said. The 16-year-old was suspended from theprogram.

Both are students at Doherty High School. Police spokesman Sgt.Creighton Brandt said it happened after a car show there Sept. 28.

The cadet attached blue lights to his car but was not in hiscadet uniform, Brandt said. The other teen didn't stop. Policedidn't release the teen's name because he was cited as a juvenile.

Prescribed burn

at fossil beds

Smoke will be visible in the skies over Teller County next week.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument officials will conduct aprescribed burn on 154 acres, beginning Tuesday, if weatherconditions allow, through early November.

The project is designed to clear overgrown brush in an area onthe northern boundary of the park, near Upper Twin Rock Road.

No roads will be closed, and the park will remain open during theprescribed burn, officials said.

Benefit planned

for 2 Wasson grads

The Wasson High School Counseling Department will sell a burgeror hot dog plus a soft drink for $3 a person from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.at a tailgate party before the Wasson homecoming game Friday in thesouth parking lot, 2115 Afton Way.

Proceeds will benefit two graduates of Wasson High School, DavidWolfe, who has been diagnosed with melanoma, and Levi Kelly, who hasbeen diagnosed with a rare connective tissue malignancy.

There will also be a drawing for donated items and cash donationswill be accepted. For information about making a cash donation ordonating an item for the drawing, call Jan Rennie, 328-2007. Formore information about the events, call Judy Fisher, 328-2006.

D-11 board candidate

to talk issues today

Colorado Springs School District 11 board candidate Tom Standwill be at Wooglin's Deli from 5 to 6 p.m. today to talk with peopleabout issues in the area's largest school district.

Wooglin's Deli is at 823 N. Tejon St. Strand was appointed to theboard in January after Craig Cox resigned.

Wildfire good forbirds in long run

Saturday's 4-acre wildfire near Academy Boulevard and East PikesPeak Avenue did more than scorch grass -- it temporarily scared offsome feathered friends.

The fire burned almost a quarter of the 18 acres occupied by theAiken Audubon Society Bird Sanctuary, behind Family Furniture.

Society president Rise Foster-Bruder said the fire acted like acontrolled burn, cleaning out old weeds and plants.

"In the long run, I think it'll be better for the property,"Foster-Bruder said. "It'll be nice and green in the summer."

The fire, which started about 9 a.m. Saturday, scared away birdsand sent gophers underground, but by Sunday they had returned, shesaid.

No structures were damaged in the fire since none sit on theland, Foster-Bruder said. The fire also avoided the treed area, shesaid, leaving plenty of bird perches.

Colorado Springs fire officials said they don't know how or wherethe fire started.

THE GAZETTE