Western Fringe

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Latest Episodes:

To the Top Part 1: The Fast and the Fuhrerous Jan 02, 2022

Show notes

We talk about Camp Hale, the Colorado Army base that was home to the 10th Mountain Division during World War II, but also home to 400 German POWs and the 620th Engineer General Service Company, a misfit unit of Nazi sympathizers. One of those soldiers would go AWOL with 2 German POWs in one of the biggest treason cases of the war.

Sources:
Something Like Treason by Bill Sonn
Colorado Encyclopedia
"The War" by Lucero

Further Listening:
Programmed to Chill: Who Financed Hitler? pt. 2, or, Detroit Krautrock City
Programmed to Chill: Spyclopedia #1, William Stephenson pt. 2, or, FBI Foot Guys

Nuke-O-Rado Part 5: Fallout Dec 19, 2021

Show notes

The final installment of the Nuke-O-Rado series, we discuss the Grand Jury investigation into Rocky Flats' alleged environmental crimes, the clean-up effort, and the ongoing legacy of Rocky Flats. We're also joined by Giselle Herzfeld and Usama Khalid of the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center to discuss their efforts regarding Rocky Flats.

Sources:
Ambushed Grand Jury by Wes McKinley and Caron Balkany
My reporting in the Colorado Springs Independent
Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center
excerpt of "Radiation Suit" by Hot Rod Circuit

Nuke-O-Rado Part 4: Waste Disposal Dec 13, 2021

Show notes

Things get weird in the waning days of Rocky Flats. A UFO sighting, two missing persons cases, and of course continued concerns about the disposal of nuclear waste and the rising rates of cancer for Denver-area residents. It all culminates with a raid on the plant by the FBI.
Sources:
Dark Side of the Mountain
Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Brother Tony's Boys by Mike Echols
Ambushed Grand Jury by Wes McKinley (there was a website where you could download a free .pdf, which I did a few weeks ago, the page is gone now. Weird.)

Nuke-O-Rado Part 3: Swords to Plowshares Dec 06, 2021

Show notes

In this episode we talk about Colorado's Operation Plowshare projects in Rulison and Rio Blanco. Were they covers for the construction of Deep Underground Military Bases? That makes about as much sense as the stated purpose of natural gas exploration. We also look into how the rise of the Environmental Protection Agency along with local and federal health agency oversight convinced Dow it was time to pass the baton to Rockwell International, who took over in 1975, trying to reform the image of the plant and prove how safe it was while the Jefferson County Health Department conducted damning studies on cancer rates and public sentiment turned against the nuclear weapons plant.

Sources:
AEC Promo video
Archival news clippings (Thanks Pikes Peak Public Library!)

Nuke-O-Rado Part 1: The Manhattan Project and the Nuclear Arms Race Nov 22, 2021

Show notes

In this episode we take a look Colorado's role in the Manhattan Project with the Uranium mining operations in Uravan and the Uranium refinery in Grand Junction. After World War II, Colorado was chosen as the site for Dow Chemical's plutonium manufacturing plant, Rocky Flats, which had it's first series of accidents in 1957.

Sources:
Atomic Heritage Foundation
Department of Energy
Rocky Flats Timeline by Pat Buffer
Demon Core Incident
Many of the documents I will be citing in this series came from the Office of Legacy Management's website, and it appears those .pdfs aren't available anymore, LOL. If you want to take a look at the source documents feel free to email westernfringe@protonmail.com

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