CLEAR CREEK, Colo. (KKTV) – The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office said they spotted a suspicious vehicle with a fake license plate and covered VIN parked in a dirt lot in Silver Plume on Monday.

After eventually getting the VIN, deputies said they identified the owner of the car, 40-year-old Brian Cope, who had a warrant from Summit County for failure to comply and was reported to have violent tendencies.

Deputies said they then saw him walking down a mountain trail towards them. Cope then reportedly placed an item behind a rock before being spoken to by deputies. Cope was then arrested on the Summit County warrant without further issues.

Deputies then checked behind the rock, finding a handgun. Cope’s vehicle was to be towed due to the fake plates, so deputies said they also did an inventory check of the vehicle.

Inside the car, deputies said they found a loaded, short-barreled rifle without a serial number, six high-capacity magazines, multiple boxes of ammunition, a Kevlar tactical vest with metal plates, a tactical helmet, a police scanner, a federal law enforcement replica badge, burglary tools and drug paraphernalia.

After the search of Cope’s car, deputies said he is also facing charges of possession of a weapon by a previous offender, impersonating a peace officer, two counts of a violation of a protection order, unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, prohibited large capacity magazine, possession of burglary tools and three counts of drug paraphernalia. The 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office is scheduled to determine the final charges.

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Deion Sanders addressed the media in his first press conference since Early Signing Day and Travis Hunter’s historic Heisman Trophy win, as the Colorado Buffaloes prepare to face BYU in the Dec. 28 Alamo Bowl. Sanders, who has revitalized the Colorado football program in just his second season, highlighted the team’s achievements while emphasizing the importance of staying focused on the upcoming challenge.

The Buffaloes, enjoying one of their best seasons in over two decades, have reached nine wins for only the second time in 22 years. The remarkable turnaround has been spearheaded by Sanders’ leadership and the stellar performances of key players like Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Shedeur has been a revelation this season, leading the nation with a 74.2% completion percentage while throwing for 3,926 yards and 35 touchdowns. His efficiency and poise under pressure have made him one of the most effective quarterbacks in college football. Coach Sanders praised Shedeur for his consistent growth, calling him “a leader on and off the field.”

Hunter’s season took center stage, as Sanders celebrated his standout player’s Heisman Trophy win. He became the first two-way player in decades to claim the prestigious award, delivering dominant performances on both sides of the ball. On offense, Hunter recorded over 1,100 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, while his defensive presence included five interceptions and numerous key breakups. Sanders expressed immense pride in Hunter’s achievement, noting that it was “bigger than just Colorado—it’s about changing the narrative and inspiring the next generation.”

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As they gear up for their Alamo Bowl showdown against BYU, Sanders acknowledged the Cougars’ talent and resilience, particularly pointing out their opportunistic defense, which leads the nation with 20 interceptions. “BYU is well-coached and hungry. We’re going to need to play our best football,” Sanders remarked. He also emphasized the importance of preparation and focus, encouraging his players to enjoy the moment while staying committed to the task ahead.

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For Sanders and his sons, Shedeur and Shilo, the Alamo Bowl marks both a celebration of the season and a symbolic step toward future goals. The game represents a culmination of hard work, resilience, and a belief in what many doubted. As Colorado fans celebrate their team’s resurgence, the Sanders-led Buffaloes look to finish strong, continuing a story that has captivated college football fans nationwide.

Beavers are having a moment. In October in Boulder, I joined hundreds of people from around the globe at BeaverCON 2024. It was one of the hottest tickets in town and it did not disappoint. I got to hear firsthand from top beaver experts (yes, that’s a thing) about how one small mammal can have a huge positive impact on waterways and ecosystems.

Beavers are one of the best ways to maintain and restore ecosystems — and they do it in addition to the good work by landowners and scientists. As diligent architects of the ecosystem, beavers reshape stream and river corridors by dispersing water across the floodplain, saturating the terrain before it descends through valleys. 

Healthier riverscapes help support wetland vegetation, sustain fish species that thrive in calm water and ponds, and encourage more water to seep into the groundwater. Numerous fish and wildlife species favored by hunters and anglers rely on thriving wetlands and streams, and beavers play a vital role in creating and maintaining these essential habitats. Without beavers and the winding streams they construct, water rushes down the channel unrestrained, transporting sediment and causing erosion along its course.

Beavers could once be found across North America and numbered from 60 million to 400 million, but their populations suffered significant declines in the 1800s due to widespread historic trapping and removal across the West, including Colorado. Their disappearance from much of their natural range has negatively affected the health of riparian and wetland areas, leading to the deterioration of water and land habitats.

Rivers and river systems are integral to the health of Colorado’s natural habitat, and as a headwaters state, our state is the home to the origins of four of our nation’s major rivers. In the Colorado River Basin, we’ve seen climate change fuel extended drought, invasive species and intense wildfires. Increasing demand on water resources from municipal and agricultural users has placed the entire system under greater stress.

While beavers are known to be effective hard workers, their widespread removal over the past 150 years means they need a little help to carry out this function effectively. This is where a tool called low-tech, process-based restoration comes in. This tool focuses on restoring degraded river ecosystems by working to mimic natural processes (hint: beaver dams) and creating improved habitat that could better support beaver populations.

The Cameron Peak and East Troublesome mega fires of 2020 provided a look at how beavers have contributed mightily to resiliency of our landscape: The areas with beaver stuck out like green oasis in the middle of the burn scars. Watershed groups and some landowners have taken notice and are adopting this low-tech restoration tool in other communities in Colorado.

Some agricultural and other private landowners, as well as the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, are working together to restore river ecosystems. This is a positive step forward. 

And, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is beginning its work to develop a statewide beaver management plan. They are laying the foundation for a well-rounded approach to bring beaver populations back to some upper elevation watersheds. The goal is to improve drought resilience, boost water quality, and increase biodiversity — all while keeping human-beaver conflicts in check.

State support behind beaver management will help Colorado become more climate-resilient while addressing social and economic needs. Successful beaver recovery in Colorado will depend upon engaging more agricultural and private landowners from the start and addressing their concerns.

Surrounded by experts from around the world, BeaverCON truly reinforced the idea that beavers aren’t some comic book superheroes — they are actual superheroes with the potential to play a meaningful role in restoration and recovery efforts for Colorado’s river and stream ecosystems.

Madison Martin, of Lakewood, is a biologist, an avid outdoorswoman and the deputy director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation.

The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy. Learn how to submit a column. Reach the opinion editor at opinion@coloradosun.com.

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