Bailey United brings community together

On a crisp fall day, surrounded by a halo of golden aspens, the community of Bailey once again came together. This time, it was not a day to mourn, but a day to celebrate a sense of fellowship. On Sept. 27, the one-year anniversary of the school shootings at Platte Canyon High School, several hundred people gathered at Bailey United - an event that included free food, music, talk, a bonfire and candlelight vigil. Friday, October 05, 2007 More...

Final shooting report releases more details

News media filled the Bailey substation Aug. 9 to get a first look at the full report of the Sept. 27 Platte Canyon High School shootings. No non-media people showed up that day to get a look at the volumes. Friday, August 17, 2007 More...

Gunman's actions were random

Portions of a Colorado Bureau of Investigation report that were released March 27 found no connection between the Sept. 27 gunman at Platte Canyon High School and the school or any of the seven female student hostages, including slain student Emily Keyes. "It turns out it was just that, a random event," said Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener in a press conference Tuesday. Friday, March 30, 2007 More...

Gunman actions were random

Portions of a Colorado Bureau of Investigation report that were released March 27 found no connection between the Sept. 27 gunman at Platte Canyon High School and the school or any of the seven female student hostages, including slain student Emily Keyes. "It turns out it was just that, a random event," said Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener in a press conference Tuesday. Wednesday, March 28, 2007 More...

CBI report details events of September 27

According to the report completed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation posted today on Park County's website at www.parkco.us, the first 911 call came in to the Park County Sheriff's Office at 11:41 a.m. A member of Platte Canyon High School's administration reported that a lone gunman was holding several students hostage in a classroom. Reports indicated the gunman was in possession of explosive devices that he would detonate if law enforcement attempted to intervene. Tuesday, March 27, 2007 More...

Keyes stress students did everything right

The students acted appropriately. That's one of the key findings to come out of portions of a report by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation dealing with the Platte Canyon High School shootings of Sept. 27, according to the parents of Emily Keyes, the student who was slain that day by a gunman in a school classroom. Tuesday, March 27, 2007 More...

Park County Sheriff's Office honors responders to Sept. 27 tragedy

In a moving tribute to those involved in responding to the tragic events at Platte Canyon High School on Sept. 27, Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener recognized the contributions of 142 men and women. Over 300 people attended the invitation-only event held Dec. 11 at the Farmers Union in Bailey. The ceremony began with the mournful notes of a lone bagpiper as the flags were presented by the Park County Sheriff's Color Guard. Friday, December 15, 2006 More...

Park County Sheriff's Office to hold ceremony Dec. 11

The Park County Sheriff's Office has scheduled an awards ceremony honoring individuals for their actions in connection with the Platte Canyon High School hostage crisis of Sept. 27. The ceremony will be Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Farmers Union in Bailey. Friday, November 24, 2006 More...

Why school can symbolize love

It's only recently dawned on me how special the last text message of Emily Keyes really was - coming from a 16-year-old girl being held hostage by a gunman bent on molestation and death. She did not express fear. Or anger. Or grief. In a situation of terror, Emily Keyes thought of love. "I love U guys," said the message. Tuesday, October 10, 2006 More...

Columbine to Canyon Ride draws thousands of bikers

U.S. 285 was filled with motorcycles as thousands of bikers participated in the first annual "Columbine to Canyon Ride" on Saturday, Oct. 7, to raise money in honor of Emily Keyes. Saturday, October 07, 2006 More...

"It wasn't supposed to happen that way"

This past week, the world watched as Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener stood in front of television cameras and detailed the tragedy that unfolded at Platte Canyon High School, sometimes with tears running down his face. At the same time, the Bailey community quietly stood up in support of him, hanging signs, sending supportive letters and offering him their help. Friday, October 06, 2006 More...

Flume reporter waits with anxious parents

There were about two dozen people gathered on the road on that sunny, windy September afternoon. It was as close as we were allowed to come to the school where we were told a gunman was inside, holding six hostages. From where I was, I could see a little of what was going on. I could see students filing out of the school and occasionally SWAT team members running in and out. Friday, October 06, 2006 More...

First day back at school goes smoothly

Platte Canyon High School and Fitzsimmons Middle School Students returned for their first day of school Oct. 5 to find everything almost back to normal. There were a few signs that betrayed the fact that this wasn't an average school day. Thursday, October 05, 2006 More...

Bailey community not broken

Speakers protested the idea that Bailey is a broken community at a vigil held for Emily Keyes on the evening of Oct. 1. Instead, they said, the community is stronger than ever before. Monday, October 02, 2006 More...

New press release details plans for Platte Canyon Schools

Platte Canyon High School and Fitzsimmons Middle School will be closed for students on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 2-3; they will have a partial day on Wednesday; and classes will resume normally on Thursday, according to a statement released on Sunday, Oct. 1, on the school district's Web site at plattecanyonschoolsinfo.org. Sunday, October 01, 2006 More...

Community of Park County feels the pain

With relationships that seem to traverse distances that separate the mountain towns in Park County, many residents from communities across the county feel a connection to their neighbors in Bailey who are reeling after the death of a high school student. Saturday, September 30, 2006 More...

No PCHS, FMS classes to be held Monday and Tuesday

Platte Canyon High School and Fitzsimmons Middle School will be closed for students on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 2-3, and they may or may not have a partial day on Wednesday, Oct. 4, said Jan Howard, secretary to Superintendent Jim Walpole and the school board, in an interview with The Flume Friday. Friday, September 29, 2006 More...

Publisher's Comment:

The death of junior Emily Keyes at Platte Canyon High School slams home the message that tragic incidents like what happened Wednesday can happen anywhere, at any time. Stories about shootings at schools have cropped up periodically from across the country - the most infamous attack in April 1999, when 13 people died at the hands of two students at Columbine High School, just up the highway from the hamlet of Bailey. Friday, September 29, 2006 More...

Undersheriff believes SWAT team hit gunman when returning fire

Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore said Thursday that he believed that a gunman who held students hostage Wednesday at Platte Canyon High School was hit by return fire from SWAT team members. Thursday, September 28, 2006 More...

Friend of Keyes says family wants random acts of kindness, no memorial set yet

A friend of the family of Emily Keyes - the Platte Canyon High School student who was killed Wednesday after being held hostage at the school with five other female students - said Thursday that no time has yet been set for a memorial service. Thursday, September 28, 2006 More...

With Platte Canyon parents, a first-person account

There were about two-dozen people gathered on the road on that sunny, windy September afternoon. It was as close as we were allowed to come to the school where we were told a gunman was inside, holding six hostages. From where I was, I could see a little of what was going on. I could see students filing out of the school and occasionally SWAT team members running in and out. Thursday, September 28, 2006 More...

Text message from Emily Keyes expressed love

John Michael Keyes was able to hear from his daughter via text messaging while she was held hostage at Platte Canyon High School. Thursday, September 28, 2006 More...

Platte Canyon shooting summary

A lone male gunman entered Platte Canyon High School late Wednesday morning, fired shots and took hostages. During a press conference at the Bailey Substation at about 2:30 p.m., Jefferson County Sheriff's Public Information Officer Jacki Kelley confirmed that two female students are being held hostage by an armed man inside the high school. Thursday, September 28, 2006 More...

Update: Gunman at school identified

The gunman who held hostages and shot and killed Platte Canyon High School student Emily Keyes before killing himself Wednesday has been identified as a 53-year-old transient named Duane Morrison. Thursday, September 28, 2006 More...

One student killed, gunman dead after hostage crisis at PCHS

One Platte Canyon High School student and a gunman were dead Wednesday after the gunman took six female Platte Canyon High School students hostage. Wednesday, September 27, 2006 More...