Stories in this list received the most page views on postindependent.com from March 24-31.

1. Rifle man awarded Carnegie Medal for Heroism after saving mother and infant from burning car on Highway 82 

Alec Larson was on his way to work when he made a decision that would save two lives, all while risking his own — an act that has now earned him one of North America’s highest civilian honors.

The 27-year-old Rifle resident was awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism on Monday, a rare distinction given to civilians in the United States and Canada who risk their lives to save others. Larson is one of just a few dozen people to receive the medal this year.

Larson’s recognition stems from an April 11, 2024, crash on Colorado Highway 82 near Glenwood Springs that left a mother and her infant trapped inside a burning vehicle. Larson came upon the wreck moments after it happened. Flames had already started to spark under one of the vehicles when he pulled over.

-Taylor Cramer 

2. Glenwood Springs City Council denies tax rebate for Barnes and Noble at Meadows 

A plan to bring a Barnes and Noble bookstore to Glenwood Meadows will move forward — if at all — without taxpayer support from the city.

Glenwood Springs City Council voted 6-0 Thursday night to deny a sales tax rebate request totaling $750,000 over seven years. The incentive was pitched by Glenwood Meadows developer Steve Shoflick of Miller Weingarten Realty, who has led the shopping center’s development for more than two decades.

Mayor Ingrid Wussow was absent. The remaining five councilors, along with Mayor Pro Tem Marco Dehm, reached a unanimous decision after over an hour of discussion and public comment.

The proposal would have returned a portion of future sales tax generated by the bookstore to the property owner. No current tax revenue would have been affected.

Shoflick said Barnes and Noble had agreed to lease the 24,000-square-foot space previously occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond, pending support from the city. He said the company was drawn to Glenwood as a regional hub but that the financials were difficult to close without help.

-Taylor Cramer 

3. Glenwood Springs native drawing interest from top college football programs 

College scouts are digging deep into the graduating Class of 2027, but didn’t have to look far to find Landon Wolny. 

Wolny, a Glenwood Springs native now living in Naples, Florida, is a four-star tight end recruit and current sophomore at the Community School of Naples. According to 247Sports, he’s already earned 18 Division I football offers — and the list keeps growing.

“I think I have a special perspective by being from Glenwood,” Wolny said. “Moving from such a small town to a city makes you remember to stay humble. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth like a lot of the other kids here. I owe so much to Coach Sorenson, Joaquin (Sandoval), Mason (Markovich), and so many others that still live in Glenwood for lighting this fire inside of me that is still burning.”

-Jaymin Kanzer

4. What goes around comes round-a bout for New Castle 

Town Manager Jim Mann declared “Silt has your back,” following a frantic call from New Castle Town Administrator David Reynolds.

The Town of Silt is pleased to announce that the former Silt round-a-bout sculpture will be gifted to the Town of New Castle for their newly constructed round-a-bout.  Due to ongoing governmental efficiency efforts, the funds that were to be used to finish the round-a-bout were pulled from the project, leaving New Castle in a bind on how to complete the amenities of the round-a-bout.

Mann said Reynolds stated that New Castle had been contacted by Abril Tontos, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), informing the Town that the Highway Administration had removed funding for non-transportation amenities, including the costs associated with the landscaping and sculpture for the New Castle round-a-bout.  Reynolds further stated that it was a shock that the Town had gotten caught up in DOGE’s efforts and that they were scrambling to address the blank slate.

-Staff Report

5. Lawsuit claims Breckinridge, Vail Resorts were negligent in death of expert skier who fell from lift  

The wife of a skier who died after falling from a chairlift at Breckenridge Ski Resort is suing the resort and Vail Resorts over her husband’s death, according to documents filed in Summit County court last week.

John Perucco, 60, of Elgin, Illinois died March 17, 2023, after falling from the Zendo Chair at Breckenridge Ski Resort. The complaint filed in the lawsuit Friday, March 14, states that Perucco was an expert skier who volunteered as a ski patroller for more than 18 years.

The day of his death, Perucco used his Epic Pass to ski with a friend when he loaded the Zendo Chair just before 9:20 a.m., the lawsuit states.

“Before making it to the first pole, Mr. Perucco slid off the chair due to unsafe snow and ice accumulation on the seat,” and fell about 25 feet onto hard-pack snow, suffering critical injuries, according to the lawsuit. He died while being transported to the hospital.

-Ryan Spencer