SAVING US FROM WEED

Boulder County Wildland Fire Cooperators (We know, what the hell is
that?) proudly announces a new firefighting helicopter program. It's
one of only a few helicopter programs in the country that's supported
by local fire departments.

The helicopter, contracted by Geo-Seis out of Fort Collins, comes with
a three-to four-person firefighting crew, a giant water bucket and
equipment for lowering supplies into inaccessible areas. It's the only
fire helicopter program exclusively for the Front Range.

What's fascinating about this development, and all the excitement
surrounding it, is that we haven't had a helicopter for this purpose
until now. As we've watched helplessly as thousands of acres burn
waiting on aerial equipment to arrive from far away, we've had no
local firefighting helicopter. Yet various cop agencies have had
absolutely no trouble getting helicopters, on a routine basis, for the
purpose of finding and eradicating marijuana plants. Last year, county
cops hovered over Ward-disturbing the town for hours-because a deputy
spotted pot plants on a front porch.

Well, at least we've decided that forest fires are somewhat of a
concern. But we still spend far more time in the air, with dozens more
helicopters, looking for perfectly healthy, green weeds that aren't
burning homes and killing wildlife and humans.