Christmas came early to Jefferson County residents. On Thursday, December 15, Jefferson County Open Space completed the acquisition of 613 acres as an addition to Coal Creek Canyon Park in the northern portion of the County. 

Colorado foreclosures fell more than expected last month to a 42-month low in metropolitan counties.

Colorado Division of Housing spokesman Ryan McMaken says a report released Wednesday shows auction sales were down 28 percent over October last year. He says sales fell from more than 1,300 in 2010 to around 940 for the same period this year.

Communities outside the Front Range are feeling the foreclosure pain despite a 27 percent drop in foreclosure filings in Colorado.

A report released early Tuesday by the Colorado Division of Housing says new foreclosure notices fell to 23,338 during the first nine months of 2011, down from 32,009 filings during the same period last year. All 12 of the Denver metro counties saw drops in filings, with Adams falling 32 percent and Denver down 31 percent.