Colorado
Aurora firefighter reclaims Colorado pumpkin record with one-ton gourd
An Aurora firefighter’s prodigious pumpkin was recognized as the heaviest ever grown in the state of Colorado on Saturday, topping the list at more than a ton.
The lord among gourds — named Winifred Sanderson after the character of the same name from the 1993 film “Hocus Pocus” — weighed in at 2,083 pounds when it hit the scale at the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off held Saturday at Nick’s Garden Center in Aurora.
Fire medic Brad Bledsoe said 2024 marks his family’s third year growing competition-sized pumpkins on their property in Fort Collins.
The former plant nursery employee described carefully managing the growing process, from measuring the nutrients present in the soil, to researching the genetics of the Atlantic giant pumpkin seed used, to watering his plant every day.
“It’s a whole can of worms,” Bledsoe said.
He said his friend brought a skid steer to help load the pumpkin onto a trailer that Bledsoe used to haul Winifred Sanderson from Fort Collins to Aurora.
“It was my favorite thing to do, was driving with the pumpkin and seeing people’s faces light up,” he said. “You can see the curiosity, like people asking if it’s even real and asking if they can take pictures with it.”
Aurora Fire Rescue announced in a news release and Nick’s Garden Center confirmed that the pumpkin took first prize at the weigh-in organized by The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth.
Bledsoe claimed Colorado’s pumpkin record earlier this year with the first of three competition-sized pumpkins, named Mary Sanderson after another of the Sanderson sisters from “Hocus Pocus,” which weighed in at 1,955 pounds.
The record was briefly taken by another grower last month before Bledsoe took it back with the first Colorado pumpkin to weigh more than a ton Saturday. A third competition-sized pumpkin grown by Bledsoe, Sarah Sanderson, is slated to be weighed in Fort Collins on Oct. 12.
As for the heaviest recorded jack-o’-lantern, Bledsoe said Travis Gienger’s world-record-breaking pumpkin was carved into one in 2023.
“But, there’s always next year,” Bledsoe said.
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.
Originally Published:
Colorado
Suddenly hazy skies in Denver prompt some residents concerned about wildfire smoke to call 911
Some people who live in the Denver metro area on Thursday afternoon were making calls to 911 after skies became noticeably hazy and winds kicked up. It was due to smoke from wildfires in Nebraska moving into Colorado. A cold front also was moving through the Front Range, and there is dust in the air.
The poor air conditions led to reduced visibility downtown after 3 p.m. Several of CBS Colorado’s City Cams showed dust or smoke in the air.
Temperatures were expected to drop by as much as 20 to 30 degrees with the cold front.
The suddenly dusty skies prompted at least one fire agency to put out a plea to residents to please only call 911 “if you see flames.” That warning was put out by South Metro Fire Rescue, which shared a photo on X of an office building with haze visible outside.
South Metro Fire Rescue said in their post that the smoke is from Colorado’s neighbor to the east. They called it a “significant haze” in the air.
Earlier this month, the Morrill Fire and the Cottonwood Fire burned a significant amount of Nebraska grassland and ranchland. They have mostly been contained by firefighters. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said those two fires combined with several others have burned approximately 800,000 acres of land. On Thursday, Pillen announced that he is signing several executive actions intended to ease the burden caused by the fires.
There were no wildfires burning in the Denver metro area on Thursday afternoon.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – A homicide suspect based out of Colorado, wanted in a fentanyl-related death, is back in the state after being captured in Colombia.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) said 33-year-old Max Arsenault had been on the run since January 17.
Deputies said this stemmed from an incident in May 2023, where deputies responded to a call for a man named Nicholas Dorotik, who was found unresponsive.
ACSO said the cause of death was a mixed drug overdose involving meth and fentanyl, having about three times the lethal amount of fentanyl in his system.
One year later, Arsenault was arrested. He was scheduled for trial in January 2026 when deputies said he fled the country while on bond three days before the trial was set to start.
He was caught in Medellin, Colombia, on March 4, following a two-month international investigation. He has since been extradited back to Denver, where he is facing charges and awaiting trial.
Copyright 2026 KKTV. All rights reserved.
A surprise resignation could open the door for an independent to win a Montana Senate seat
Metro Detroit weather forecast, March 26, 2026 — 11 p.m. Update
Man convicted in the deadly 2021 assault of a Thai grandfather in San Francisco avoids prison
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is confident about cost estimates to repair, rehab City Hall and insists the process has been transparent
Miami Gardens community rallies to help retired teacher rebuild after a fire tore through his home
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
A surprise resignation could open the door for an independent to win a Montana Senate seat
Video: Savannah Guthrie Says She Believes Her Mother Was Taken for Ransom
Stefanik grills University of Michigan leader on lack of audit after string of Chinese national arrests
Photos: More than one million displaced by Israel’s evacuations in Lebanon
DHS shutdown live updates as Senate holds test vote on funding bill
-
Detroit, MI1 week agoDrummer Brian Pastoria, longtime Detroit music advocate, dies at 68
-
Science1 week agoHow a Melting Glacier in Antarctica Could Affect Tens of Millions Around the Globe
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago‘Youth’ Twitter review: Ken Karunaas impresses audiences; Suraj Venjaramoodu adds charm; music wins praise | – The Times of India
-
Science1 week agoI had to man up and get a mammogram
-
Sports6 days agoIOC addresses execution of 19-year-old Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi
-
New Mexico4 days agoClovis shooting leaves one dead, four injured
-
Texas7 days agoHow to buy Houston vs. Texas A&M 2026 March Madness tickets
-
Tennessee3 days agoTennessee Police Investigating Alleged Assault Involving ‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson