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DAILY NEWS UPDATES

Monday - September 10, 2007

In a press conference on Friday, U.S. Senator Wayne Allard further explained his vote against Sen. Ken Salazar’s amendment to the Senate Military Appropriations Bill last Thursday. Salazar’s amendment, which passed the senate by a vote of 47-45, postpones the army’s proposed expansion of the Pinon Canyon training site northeast of Trinidad for one year. Allard said Friday that he believes “the amendment will unnecessarily tie the hands of the army and prevent the army from conducting a necessary environmental impact statement and collect important information.” Allard said that the interest in expanding the Pinon Canyon site was heightened when some of the landowners in the area put their properties up for sale. He said that other ranchers who do not want any property sold to the army are taking away the rights of those who want to sell. Allard did say that he agreed that the army needs to justify the expansion and agreed that imminent domain was not an option. Allard said he had received assurance from the army that “they don’t think they are going to need imminent domain”. Allard said his office has tried to serve as a mediator between property owners and the army.

Cody Lakey, 27, of Alamosa, turned himself into Alamosa Police late Thursday in connection with the death of his six-month-old daughter Alexis Lakey. Lakey has been charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death in connection with the child’s death. Emergency personnel found the child unconscious and without a pulse last Monday evening. She was taken to the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center and was later flown to Children’s Hospital in Denver while on life support. Alexis died on Wednesday in Denver. An autopsy was performed on the child on Thursday. A determination of the cause of death is pending the results of toxicology tests. Lakey turned himself in just before midnight last Thursday after a warrant for his arrest was signed earlier in the day. The child’s mother, Jocelyn Alegria, is not a suspect in the case.

About $85,000 worth of marijuana was discovered and seized last week in two different areas on the Forbes Trinchera property near the Sangre De Cristo Ranches development in Costilla County. One area netted 80 plants and five large bags filled with pot. The other area netted 64 plants. In all, about 895 pounds of marijuana were confiscated. The find was a joint effort between the San Luis Valley Drug Task Force, the Costilla County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado Air National Guard. No arrests had been made as of late on Friday.

Las Animas County Sheriff Jim Casias says that the heavily traveled Colorado 12 is in need of improvement now. The two-lane highway the connects Trinidad and La Veta through the Sangre De Cristo mountain range has seen a huge increase in industrial traffic due to the coal bed methane gas industry in the area. The installation of 2,500 more new gas wells in the area is also anticipated in the near future. That means more construction and other heavy traffic on the road, creating an even more dangerous situation if nothing is done. CDOT officials say the road is scheduled for upgrades in 2035. Sheriff Casias says that’s too far off.

Governor Bill Ritter on Friday appointed Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Gonzales, 36, to be the Alamosa County Judge. The judgeship was vacated last month when former Alamosa County Judge Martin Gonzales assumed the new district court judgeship. Michael Gonzales has served in the district attorney’s office for the 12th judicial district since February of 1997, when he was initially hired by then-DA Robert Pastore. He has continued serving under current DA Peter Comar. Michael Gonzales, who is not related to Martin Gonzales, was born in New Mexico, but grew up in Cortez, Colorado. He received his law degree from the University of Colorado in 1996. Gonzales says he is excited about the new position.

Friday - September 7, 2007

The United States Senate yesterday narrowly passed an amendment offered by Senator Ken Salazar that would force a year’s delay in the army’s expansion effort for the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site northeast of Trinidad. The vote was 47 to 45 with two Kansas Republicans, Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, breaking ranks to support Salazar, who had the backing of all the other senate democrats on hand for the vote. Sen. Wayne Allard led the opposition to Salazar’s amendment, but is co-sponsoring the legislation that calls on the army for a full report of its reasons for wanting a larger training area. Officials with the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce said yesterday that they felt Salazar was ignoring his earlier commitment to support Fort Carson when he offered the amendment yesterday which mirrors language that his brother, Rep. John Salazar, and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, added to the house version of the Military Construction Bill in June. On the other side, ranchers who fear losing their lands in a future expansion were “ecstatic” that Salazar offered his amendment and won. Ranchers do remain unhappy that the senator is willing to give the army more time to justify its plan, however.

The Alamosa City Council, in a 5-1 vote Wednesday night, approved a permitted use by special review to accommodate a Home Depot at the former Kmart site in Alamosa. Mayor Farris Bervig, who abstained from the voting because of his interest in Bervig’s True Value Hardware, a competitor, said that while he is a champion of free enterprise, “to spend one dollar of taxpayers’ money… to bring a Home Depot to this town is wrong.” Councilor Ron Green was the lone vote against the permitted use because he said he believed conditions should have been attached to the approval. Green said the company needs to do something to address the problems with Walker Road, however, the approval passed without any such condition. The former Kmart building is expected to be demolished and a new 102,000-square-foot building will be constructed. The Home Depot is expected to have its grand opening in October of next year.

Conejos County Sheriff Robert Gurule has named Richard Garcia as the suspect in connection with an incident in which shots were fired in San Antonio. Garcia allegedly traded gunshots with sheriff’s deputies early Monday morning after deputies responded to a 911 call involving a fight between Richard and his wife Lori at their home near Conejos County Road C and U.S. Highway 285. Gurule said an affidavit for an arrest warrant for Garcia is being prepared. Charges could include menacing with a deadly weapon and other charges.

The Fisher’s Peak Fire Protection District Auxiliary will hold a cowboy concert and dinner to be held on Saturday, September 22nd, from noon until 6pm. Sons of the San Joaquin will perform the concert. The event will be held at the Colt Ranch at 10,000 County Road 43.6, near Trinidad. There will also be a live auction and stage coach rides. Tickets are $40 per person for the concert and the meal, or $25 for the concert only. Tickets will be $45 and $30 respectively at the gate. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Fisher’s Peak Fire Protection District. For more information, call 846-3862.

The Alamosa Senior Center will hold a fundraiser next Thursday, September 13th. The menu for the fundraiser includes sloppy joes, potato salad, coleslaw, deserts, coffee and punch. Price is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Proceeds will benefit the senior center and everyone is welcome. Tickets will be available at the door.

Thursday - September 6, 2007

U.S. Senator Ken Salazar yesterday asked the full senate for a one-year delay in any expansion of the army’s Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site northeast of Trinidad. Salazar has been in the spotlight since June when his brother, Rep. John Salazar, and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave startled the army by getting the full house to approve a similar year-long ban on the proposed 414,000 acre expansion. Ken Salazar said yesterday that a year’s delay is needed to provide a “cooling off” period in the intense, emotional dispute between ranchers and the army. Salazar said he will also offer a separate amendment to the 2008 Defense Department Authorization Bill that will require the army to give an extensive report to congress on its justification in asking for more land around Pinon Canyon. Salazar’s decision yesterday was welcomed by the Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition which is the group of southern Colorado ranchers and business people trying to stop the army from acquiring more land.

Garry Mattox, 31, of Alamosa, pled guilty yesterday to two counts of felony arson. Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Gonzales told District Judge Pattie Swift that the truth behind several 2006 arsons emerged after Mattox reported the theft of some guns from his residence on July 16th, 2006. Mattox admitted to setting at least five to six area fires to Alamosa County Sheriff’s investigator Harry Alejo while Alejo interviewed Mattox over the course of about 4 days. Judge Swift had already condensed Mattox’s cases to two and accepted the guilty pleas in both cases yesterday. Mattox could be sentenced to 2 to 6 years in prison on each of the charges. His sentencing is scheduled for October 22nd.

George Bibber, Jr., of Trinidad, was arrested Tuesday morning under suspicion of arson after a passerby found him unconscious in an overturned motor home just 7 miles from his home. Authorities say they believe an explosion that completely demolished a home in Santa Fe Trails Ranch late Monday night was the work of Bibber, who was the caretaker. Bibber allegedly told the Las Animas County Sheriff’s Department that he was headed toward the residence when he rolled the vehicle and knocked himself unconscious. Authorities say Bibber was trying to flee the scene. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is still looking into the fire, however a preliminary report indicated that the fire was deliberately set. The owner of the home, Maria Graham, was out of town at the time. Five of her seven dogs escaped the blaze. Two were trapped inside the home and died.

Visiting Judge William Fox yesterday modified the sentence given to Loral “Cassie” Hall, 32, to allow her to be around youth under age 18. Hall pled guilty to misdemeanor unlawful sexual contact in a case involving a 17-year-old female victim at Alamosa High School where Hall was working at the time. Former Alamosa County Court Judge Martin Gonzales placed Hall on two years probation, sentenced her to 60 days in jail, required sex offender treatment and prohibited Hall from contact with youth under age 18. Judge Fox lifted that ban yesterday and only restricted Hall from contact with the victim in the case. The victim and her family were not present for yesterday’s hearing.

The Rio Grande National Forest has scheduled prescribed burns in southern Conejos County today, weather permitting. The forest service will conduct two burns covering nearly 1,600 acres to reduce the buildup of natural fuels and improve winter range for big game animals. One burn will take place in the Rio Hondo area. The other will take place to the north and west of the community of Fox Creek. Smoke in those two areas today will most likely be coming from the prescribed burns. For more information, call the SLV Public Lands Center at 852-5941.

Wednesday - September 5, 2007

The United States Senate returned from their August recess yesterday to find that the first item up for business is the 2008 Military Construction Appropriations Bill. Senators are expected to vote on the bill this week, however, the focus for ranchers in southern Colorado is on Colorado Senators Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard and whether or not they may offer an amendment on the Pinon Canyon expansion. The Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition wants one or both of the senators to block the expansion by supporting the house version of the Military Construction Bill which includes an amendment authored by Representatives Marilyn Musgrave and John Salazar that would prohibit the army from spending any money on expanding Pinon Canyon next year. Sen. Wayne Allard, a “lame duck” this session, has already said he supports the expansion. Sen. Ken Salazar met with ranchers in Trinidad as well as backers of the expansion in Colorado Springs back in August. A spokesman for Salazar said yesterday that the senator “has not yet indicated what he will do on Pinon Canyon.”

Alamosa District Attorney Peter Comar yesterday filed charges against Alamosa County Commission Chairman Darius Allen, 51, and against self-appointed community watchdog Leon Moyer, 54, for an altercation during an Alamosa County Commission meeting on August 15th. Comar filed misdemeanor assault and disorderly charges against Allen. A misdemeanor refusing to leave a public building, misdemeanor harassment and a petty offense disorderly conduct charge were filed against Moyer. Allen went after Moyer at the conclusion of the August 15th meeting when Moyer called Allen a liar. Comar determined that both parties were at fault in the incident and therefore charged Moyer for his part in provoking the incident and Allen for his response.

A second fatality has been listed in connection with the accident that took place on Colorado 12 near Primero High School last month that claimed the life of 18-year-old Ashleigh Haag. Haag, the co-valedictorian of the 2007 Primero High School graduating class, was reportedly 8 months pregnant when the accident occurred and her unborn child also died as a result of the incident on August 24th when the car she was driving pulled out onto Colorado 12 into the path of a dump truck at Las Animas County Road 18.3. Haag’s siblings were both injured in the accident. Her brother Christopher, 8, was released from the hospital last week. Ashleigh’s sister, Kayla, reportedly remains in critical condition at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. The driver of the dump truck will not be charged in the incident.

The Colorado Judicial Branch has selected Alamosa District Judge O. John Kuenhold as the Outstanding Judicial Officer of the Year. Kuenhold said he was “deeply honored to receive [the] award”. He said, “There are many fine judges in our state and to be chosen for this award is deeply gratifying”. Kuenhold was appointed as a district court judge in 1981 and has been chief judge of the twelfth judicial district since 2004. He is also the water judge for water division 3, the Rio Grande basin. Kuenhold received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1969 and was admitted to the Colorado bar in the same year.

Alamosa District Judge Martin Gonzales yesterday sentenced Brandon Valdez, 30, to 30 days in jail on two charges related to an incident at Loaf ‘N Jug in Alamosa involving a $16 gasoline purchase and subsequent run-in with a law enforcement officer. Valdez pled guilty in April of 2006, however he fled before he could be sentenced last spring. The jail time will be part of a year long supervised probationary period. Judge Gonzales also required a mental health evaluation and treatment for Valdez. Valdez is also being held on a Costilla County case.

Tuesday - September 4, 2007

Annual state severance tax and federal mineral lease distributions were doled out last week to 26 southern Colorado counties and towns. $11.4 million was collected on oil, gas and mineral taxes this year. 15% of the tax revenues (or $610,388) are required to be distributed to local communities affected by oil, gas and mining operations. Colorado is also required to distribute revenues from mineral extraction operations on federal lands, which totaled $4.7 million this year, and remaining funds collected from severance taxes and mineral leases go to fund other DOLA grants. Those receiving monies last week include the city of Aguilar $17,110, Center $1,555, Cokedale $9,332, Huerfano County $18,665, Las Animas County $166,437, La Veta $3,110, Pueblo $7,418, Pueblo County $3.777, Starkville $1,555, Trinidad $283,098, and Walsenburg $20,221.

U.S. Rep. Mark Udall met with area ranchers in Trinidad and La Junta on Saturday to listen to the ranchers who are fighting the U.S. Army’s plan to add 414,000 acres to the Pinon Canyon training site in Las Animas County. Udall echoed what other lawmakers have said, that the army has failed so far to make its case for acquiring more land for the training area, however, he stopped short of making any guarantees about what will happen in congress this year or even if he is elected to the senate next year. Udall is the only democrat who has announced his senate campaign so far. He is also the only Colorado lawmaker on the House Armed Services Committee. After the meeting, Udall said he agreed with ranchers that a temporary moratorium on the use of eminent domain could create additional pressure on them to sell. Udall said he was “far from convinced that this expansion is necessary, particularly to fight … the kind of war on terror we are currently facing, which is urban-based”.

Land Use Supervisor Ken Vaniwarden told the Alamosa County Commissioners last week that he has begun advertising for a construction manager for the new Alamosa Social Services building, and proposals for the construction are due on September 18th. Vaniwarden said he had also met with architect Jim Zapf and Zapf was scheduled to meet with Alamosa County Department of Social Services Director Larry Henderson regarding the new building’s design. County commissioners had previously approved a $165,000 proposal from Zapf to design the social services building, however, the contract between the county and Zapf is still being ironed out. The new social services building will be located adjacent to the county administrative / nursing service building and will also contain the chamber of commerce, a visitor welcome center and economic development offices.

The driver who tried to beat a train in the semi he was driving north of Pueblo last week has been identified as Justin Polley of Calhan. Polley tried to beat the train, but didn’t. The semi he was driving was struck by the Burlington Northern train on Thursday and was torn in two. Polley, who limped away from the accident, was treated at Parkview Medical Center and was released. Polley only received minor injuries in the mishap. His age was not available. Polley was ticketed for careless driving and failure to provide proof of insurance.

About 60 people, including business owners and other interested residents, participated in a visioning session last week in Alamosa to discuss downtown revitalization. Participants indicated that they would like to see more of include: signage, parking, a more viable retail mix, more pedestrian friendly, clean public restrooms, longer hours of operation, a river walk, landscaping, street lighting, streetscape, bicycle racks, a pedestrian mall, and more police presence. The group also listed displeasing issues and talked about ways the city and businesses could work together to address downtown issues.