Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News

Breaking (mainly US) news. Specializing in weather/climate/lifestyle. Little to no politics, non-partisan. You Tube channel and website coming soon!

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

Hi, we're new! I'm Marla Hicks, creator and host of Top of the Hour to You. I'm a journalist and freelance writer of more than 20 years.Much of that time was in radio news, covering news and weather, in the studio and on scene.I'm excited to begin bringing Top of the Hour to You!

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

But,the idea to start this little channel came after losing everything as the disability progressed.I thought there was nothing left I could do that would be of help to anyone. Now I think there still is.Just have to figure out how. TY to my friends for their help setting up.💙

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

Welcome to the land of website difficulties, sound equipment that time and the USPS forgot, and helpers that ran away screaming.😱 I think it is safe to assume we are going to be delayed at least a couple more weeks. I will still try to provide stories on here as I'm able.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

For live streams to work,I had a few ppl to help me with much of the announcing,as my medical condition now makes my speech slur after a short time. At least for a while,it looks like I will be on my own. It's ok, still 💙 them, and don't blame them. I AM mad at my disability.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@ToriMasonTV @TrevorHughes @KyleClark @LarimerSheriff Sorry, I thought the fact that I would be talking to a PIO at the central staging area, well out of danger was pretty much implied. Though, in fairness, there isn't much we can count on as being implied anymore.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@ToriMasonTV @TrevorHughes @KyleClark @LaurenDerosa @LarimerSheriff Oh, yeah. I always stay behind or at the main staging area.Sometimes the fire chief would let me go in his truck, but unless with him I stayed put.Broke that rule once for a better pic, regretted it when fire jumped the road behind me. My only way out. It was complete terror.😬

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@CompleteScott @hartoutwest @KyleClark Yeah, fair point.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@CompleteScott @hartoutwest @KyleClark It was horrifying watching it unfold on TV. Still haunts me, we were very close. The stretcher came out,on live TV.That was the moment I found out. Safety of everyone is definitely first priority, but waiting until families are notified first should be next priority.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@CompleteScott @hartoutwest @KyleClark I found that CO as well. One county fire chief would often drive me in for a few pics & bring me back That was great. Here in AZ, our family learned via TV of my cousin's death in a fire.I will never forget the horrific images I saw.Oh,I wish they HAD blocked off the scene.😥

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@ToriMasonTV @TrevorHughes @KyleClark @LaurenDerosa @LarimerSheriff I think most do try to be careful. But last June 10,the lead 6 am story was my cousin's gutted home.Her fiance was shown 6 ft away on a stretcher, and they said the woman who lived there was killed.Her mom,sons, all of us found out on TV.I wouldn't wish that horror on anyone.😔

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@LifeALaLexie @EmilyAReports @gmvinca I see you had to make your acct private, and I can imagine why. I can't DM you, but if you would like my number, DM me. It looks like you have lots of support, but if you ever need to talk privately to someone who has experienced a similar loss, I would be honored.💙

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

We're still waiting for word from EMS on the fate of an elderly couple trapped in their homes due to the #EastTroublesomeFire .Firefighters were preparing to go look for them.Their EMS channel seems to be down the last hour or so on the scanner apps.Will update when there's more.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@LifeALaLexie @EmilyAReports @gmvinca But no need to apologize at all, friend. It is human nature, we consider these scenarios as we process.I think it is also natural to feel bad about those thoughts,but its normal.There will be up and down days for a while.May I DM you my phone number in case you ever need to chat?

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@scmike1229 I can see you are a kind person and didn't mean it to sound hurtful. If I hadn't lost my cousin that way (she never had time to escape her home) I might not have seen it the way I did. Comments about what she should have done hurt so much, even tho I knew most ppl meant well.💙

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

Oh no...this is the couple trapped in their home by the #EastTroublesomeFire last night. Their granddaughter has sent an update that they did not survive. Tragic, tragic news.😔😥

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@scmike1229 Of course, & thank you for making sure I had the other info.Sorry if my tone was too sharp. I lost my dear cousin in a fire last yr. It was so very painful, & the pain got 200x worse when I saw comments about it from strangers.I guess that's why I felt a little protective here.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@scmike1229 I did, tho it was a 2nd granddaughter who was the one to contact me with the news.I strongly believe that evacuation orders should ALWAYS be obeyed, full stop.
But it can't be undone now, & the surviving family deserves only compassion.They didn't choose this, either.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@mitchellbyars @TrevorHughes @ToriMasonTV @KyleClark @LaurenDerosa @LarimerSheriff Local news is SO vital. My favorite job was in Lamar, I was a one-person news dept for an FM station serving 6 rural counties. It was a lot of distance to cover, and I was on call 24/7. It could be tiring, but I am still so grateful for that experience.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@PalehornTea @GrassrootsJill So very sorry. It is obvious how special they must have been by the incredible amount of love within the family and community. Many people, even outside the US, had them on our minds constantly while waiting for news. Please know we will now hold your family in our hearts.😔💖💙

[Jay Polk @JayWxMan]

You see the numbers and hear how fast some of ther wildfires in Colorado are spreading, but it still doesn't prepare you for actually seeing it...especially when you know it's someone's home being engulfed. #EastTroublesomeFire

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@jmbarry @WildTeal @CBS4Dom @CBSDenver Exactly. If I remember correctly, (Grew up in Lakewood/Golden) The pine beetles really started getting bad way back in the 90s. Between the climate change and dried out trees which may have been damaged or dead for 25 years, it's a perfect recipe for catastrophe.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@KyleClark @skeeballmentor @LaurenDerosa I think it sounded fine..at the very least it matched the tone of the inquiry you were replying to...but yes, it is easy to misinterpret tone, etc.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@OrganizedStart @LaurenDerosa @KyleClark While they're at it, they should also question police and fire personnel and demand to know why an active fire area is not being opened to the press. Heck, have them open it up to everybody! Demand guided tours! 🙄🤦‍♀️

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

Fairly certain the OP was joking about the drone, but this is good, important info to know anyway, so here's today's public service announcement:

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

@rankloser @LaurenDerosa @KyleClark I am tired and my sarcasm meter is running on low.I think this is sarcasm, but just in case,or for others who don't know: NEVER fly a drone near a wildfire. It causes all air tankers to have to land for a while so there will be no collision. One drone could cost dozens of homes.

[Top Of The Hour To You - Breaking News @top_hour]

Here is a pic of the couple who firefighters searched for throughout the night in the #EastTrobulesomeFire. Heartbreaking news out of Grand County late last night. In an earlier thread, the couple's granddaughter confirmed to us that the two did not survive the fire.💔😔

[Taebear :: PalehornTea 🦋 Comms Monthly @PalehornTea]

I loving memory, Lyle and Marylin Hileman. Your family loves you and misses you, and will go forward with the love, dedication, kindness, and strength you taught to us.