SUNRISE: Testimony in Farries trial to continue Monday morning

Jurors are expected to continue hearing testimony Monday in the trial of a woman accused of dragging a tow truck driver to death in early 2011.

The sixth day of testimony in the trial of Detra Farries is expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. in front of 4^th Judicial District Court Judge Jann P. DuBois.

On Friday, an El Paso County coroner testified that he ruled Allen Lew Rose’s death a homicide because Farries drove away while Rose tried to tow her vehicle.

“Everything that happened after that, from my standpoint, is irrelevant,” said El Paso County assistant coroner Dr. Daniel Lingamfelter.

Much of the testimony has centered on whether Farries knew whether or not Rose was being dragged by her SUV. Farries faces three felonies — manslaughter, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a deadly accident — in connection with Rose’s death.

Follow @lancebenzel throughout the day for updates from the courtroom.

WEATHER

Expect mostly sunny skies on Monday, with temperatures forecast to hit 42 degrees in Colorado Springs, according to the National Weather Service. A few more clouds should roll into the region Monday night as temperatures dip to 19 degrees.

High temperatures should be similar on Tuesday, with Colorado Springs topping out at 41 degrees.

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AROUND COLORADO

Man dies after accidentally cutting leg with saw

FRISCO — Authorities say a 67-year-old Parker man was accidentally killed while cutting two-by-fours with a circular saw in Breckenridge.

The Summit County Coroner's Office says the man, whose name has not been released, was sitting on a stool and was sawing the lumber when he accidentally cut the femoral artery in one of his legs Saturday afternoon.

The Summit Daily News reports the coroner's report indicates the man bled to death.

Electric blanket on cat sparks Arvada house fire

DENVER — Authorities say an electric blanket placed over a cat resting in its favorite chair sparked a fire that killed the pet and significantly damaged an Arvada home.

Arvada Fire Protection District spokesman Scott Pribble says three adults living in the home were awakened by a fire alarm just before 4 a.m. Saturday. They escaped without injury, but the fire destroyed the home's two-car garage and spread to the attic.

Pribble tells The Denver Post that freezing temperatures meant firefighters had to contend with slick conditions outside.

Using shoulders looked at to ease I-70 ski traffic

FRISCO — Colorado highway officials say they are considering allowing motorists to use the shoulders on Interstate 70 to ease weekend ski traffic.

The Summit Daily News reports the Federal Highway Administration paid for state transportation officials and a handful of county commissioners to travel to Minnesota last week to observe the hard-shoulder lane system first hand.

A hard shoulder lane on I-70 would run from the U.S. 40 Junction to the Twin Tunnels east of Idaho Springs.

CDOT engineer Peter Kozinski says he's excited about the possibility of "using the pavement we have." But the concept would require additional research, an environmental process and an estimated $30 million to implement.

Kozinski says, "It's not something we're walking away from at this point, but it's also not something we're just going to charge into blindly."

Wild horse allies: BLM panel stacked against them

RENO, Nev. — Wild horse protection advocates are accusing the federal Bureau of Land Management of stacking a public advisory board with friends of cattle ranchers at the expense mustangs. And they say they are worried the panel is becoming increasingly sympathetic to the idea of slaughtering excess animals in overpopulated herds on U.S. lands in the West.

BLM spokesman Tom Gorey denies the charges. He told The Associated Press the horse defenders are resorting to dishonest scare tactics to help push their "anti-management agenda by any means possible."

Leaders of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign say their fears are valid based on recent BLM appointments to a nine-member advisory board.

Twice in nine months the agency has replaced opponents of selling captured horses for slaughter with proponents of the idea.

HAPPENINGS

-- “Monday Morning Movie - The Help,” 10:30 a.m., Cheyenne Mountain Branch Library, 1785 S. 8th St., free.

-- The Ruth Holley craft group, bring your crochet, knitting or other crafts, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Ruth Holley Library Branch, 685 N. Murray Blvd., free.

-- “A Women Like That” film, 4:30 p.m., Colorado College, Screening Room, Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center, 825 N. Cascade Ave., free.

-- “Encounters with Artemisia” panel discussion, 6-7 p.m., Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center, 825 N. Cascade Ave., free.

-- Artist talk with Holly Parker And Kevin Thayer, 7 p.m., GOCA 1420, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, free.