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50 CENTSTRINIDADCOLORADO
Proudly Serving Southeastern Colorado and Northeastern New Mexico • www.thechronicle-news.com
~Vol. 139, No. 24
TUESDAYFEBRUARY 3, 2015
FEBRUARY 3Las Animas CountyTUESDAY (9 a.m.) PLEASE
NOTE THIS CHANGE: The Board of County Commissioners regular meet-ing has been rescheduled for next Tuesday, Feb. 10. in the Las Animas Courthouse, 200 E. First St., Room 201. Information: 719-845-2568.
VETERAN’S TOWN HALLTUESDAY (5-6:30 p.m.) All veter-
ans and their families are invited to at-tend an open Town Hall meeting at the Raton VFW Post, 106 Park Ave. Speak-er will be Director Andrew Welch with the NM VA Health Care System. Ques-tions will be taken. Info: 505-256-6495.
Trinidad City Council TUESDAY (7 p.m.) Regular ses-
sion will be held in Council Chambers, City Hall, 135 N. Animas St. Informa-tion: Audra Garrett, 719-846-9843.
Today’s Quote“Be happy with being you. Love your flaws. Own your quirks. And
know that you are just as perfect as anyone
else, exactly as you are.”~Ariana Grande
FEBRUARY 5Continuum of CareTHURSDAY (8 a.m.) Group will
meet at Fisher’s Peak Soup Kitchen, 308 Church St. Info: Charlene Tor-torice, 719-846-9159.
Network CouncilTHURSDAY (8 a.m.) Regular
meeting will be held in the Bell Block Building’s Trinidad Community Foun-dation room. Information: Margaret Apodaca, 719-846-3943.
SPPRCD MeetingTHURSDAY (1 p.m.) Spanish
Peaks Purgatoire River Conservation District meets at the District Office. In-formation: 719-846-3681 Ext. 117.
Carnegie Library Teen ActionTHURSDAY (4-6 p.m.) Teen Anime
and Manga (Japanese animation) Club meets at the library, 202, N. Animas St. Info: Felicity Boepple, 719-846-6841 or [email protected].
PRCWD Water DistrictTHURSDAY (7 p.m.) Purgatoire
River Conservancy meeting will be at City Hall Council Chambers, 135 N. Animas. Information: Thelma Lujan, 719-846-7285.
PUBLIC SERVICEGET ‘EM WHILE THEY LAST!The Chronicle-News 2014 Col-
lector Mugs with beautiful artwork by Trinidad Artist Paula Little are here and waiting for you to come pick them up, 200 West Church St. Info: 719-846-3311.
Attention Republican WomenFRIDAY (11:30 a.m.) The Las
Animas County Republican Women’s Club will meet at the Primero Café at Mt. Carmel, 911 Robinson. Info: Paula Marshall, 719-845-9544.
Carnegie Library EventFRIDAY (3:45-5 p.m.) The Library
will host a Jan Austen Tea Party for all Austen lovers (teens and adults). Info: Felicity Boepple, 719-846-6841 or [email protected].
ABSTRACT WORKSHOPFEBRUARY 7-8 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.)
TSJC’s Professor of Art Vilas Tonape will offer the second part of a 2-weekend abstract painting workshop at the Col-lege Art Department. Registration and info: Josephine Chacon, 719-846-5474.
Senior Driving ClassFEBRUARY 12 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
The AARP Driving Class will be held at the Sayre Senior Center, 1222 San Pedro St. Registration and information: Carl Mozengo, 719-868-2288.
SCRT PerformanceFEBRUARY 13-22: DON’T MISS
THIS! The Dixie Swim Club runs at the Southern Colorado Repertoire Theatre, 131 West Main St. Info: 719-846-4765 or www.scrtheatre.com.
FUN & FUNDRAISER DINNERFEBRUARY 28 (6 p.m.) The Trini-
dad State Educational Foundation will host their annual fundraiser dinner and silent auction “Aim for the Fence” with featured guest speaker Colorado Rock-ies great Todd Helton at the THS Don-nelly Gym. Info: Linda Perry (719-846-5649) or Toni DeAngelis (719-846-5520).
CALL FOR FUN!MARCH 14 (entry deadline) Call
for artists for “There’s No Such Thing as an Ordinary Cat” all-media art show scheduled for March 20 at Oasis Stu-dios/Galerie Vivant, 214/218 E. Main. Info: Susan Palmer, 805-603-6181.
THE FINE PRINT
WEATHER WATCHTuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West
southwest wind around 10 mph.Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a
high near 51. West wind 5 to 10 mph be-coming north northeast in the afternoon. Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph be-coming south in the evening.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. West southwest wind around 5 mph. Night: Partly cloudy, with a low
around 32. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 64. West wind around 5 mph. Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. West south-west wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 65. West wind around 5 mph. Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. West north-west wind around 5 mph.
RIVER CALLPurgatoire River Call as of: 02/02/15. Johns Flood ditch: Pri-ority # 5 --- Appropriation date: 03/30/1862.
Trinidad Reservoir Accounting:Release 0.10 AFInflow 31.10 AF -- 15.68 CFSEvaporation 0 AFContent 16,282 AFElevation 6,178.06Precipitation 0.04
Downstream River Call / John Martin Reservoir: (Conservation Storage) 05/31/1949.
THE CHRONICLE NEWSMARIJUANA PRODUCTION
New business serves growing demand
By Steve BlockThe Chronicle-News
People wanting to grow marijuana or other
plants might not have access to the kind of fertile soil they need to get the most benefit out of their growing operation. Those folks now have a new option as Grow Generation opened for business two weeks ago at its location at 2395 Nevada Ave., behind The Water Station. Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Mondays through Sat-urdays.
Grow Generation offers a full line of hydropon-ic and other types of indoor and outdoor growing equipment. Store Manager Stavi McClees said the store would beat any price offered by other grow-ing stores. McClees said marijuana growers have made up approximately 95 percent of his clientele so far at the 14,600 square-foot facility. Hydropon-ic growing uses a circulating water system rather than soil.
“We please the customer, so any kind of ma-terials the customer wants we will get,” McClees said. “If you want to build your own hydroponic system, we’ve got the supplies for you to do it. You can buy individual parts or you can buy complete packages.”
The soil in and around Trinidad tends to have a lot of shale, which isn’t ideal for growing plants. McClees said that for growers with poor soil, he recommends Smart Pots, which are made of fab-ric mesh and don’t have the hot pockets plastic or rubber pots are prone to, which lead to uneven
Steve Block / The Chronicle-NewsStavi McClees is the manager of the new Grow Generation facility at 2395 Nevada Ave., behind The Water Station. The facility offers a full line of hydroponic equipment for every size of greenhouse grow application. Continued on Page 3 ...
MASONIC AWARD
By Eric John MonsonNews EditorThe Chronicle-News
The banquet hall of Trinidad’s Masonic Lodge was filled Satur-day evening by local Masons, com-munity members and supporters of one of Trinidad’s most popular local characters, Colorado Parks and Wildlife District Wildlife Man-ager Bob Holder, as the Mason’s honored him as their Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
“So one day I’m out with Bob and if you don’t know, Bob has
bought fishing poles for local kids for years. And we come across a couple of kids and Bob says ‘they’re using my poles, we should go down and check on them.’ As soon as we get there both kids bolt in two directions. Bob’s strength isn’t a foot race… But eventually one kid couldn’t run anymore and Bob catches up with him and their both gasping. ‘Son… I need to… see… you’re license.’ The kid gives it to him. ‘Son… this here… is a valid license.’ The kid says, ‘It… was… my buddy… that didn’t
CPW’s Holder honoredReceives Outstanding Law EnforcementOfficer of the Year Award for efforts
Eric John Monson / The Chronicle-NewsColorado Parks and Wildlife District Manager Bob Holder.Continued on Page 3 ...
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Trinidad State offers free tax filing services to families through Tax Help Colorado ProgramBy Greg BoyceSpecial to The Chronicle-News
Trinidad – This tax season, Trinidad State Junior College is partnering with the Denver-based Piton Foundation to help hard-working families become more financially secure by providing free tax preparation assistance through the Tax Help Colorado program. Beginning February 7,
IRS-certified Trinidad State stu-dents will prepare and e-file tax returns free of charge for individu-als with household incomes of less than about $52,000 a year.
Tax Help Colorado has a pres-ence on 18 college campuses and
operates 29 free tax sites statewide. More than 30 percent of Colorado families are eligible to participate in the program, which was created to help alleviate the financial bur-
den of tax preparation on families that are striving to achieve finan-cial stability.
Many of the families that qual-ify for free tax help are also eligi-ble for valuable tax benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit, and the preparers at Trinidad State’s
site specialize in ensuring that taxpayers receive the refunds they deserve. One of the nation’s most successful anti-poverty tools, the EITC helps struggling families make ends meet. Last year more than $700,000 was sent back to
southern Colorado residents who had their tax returns prepared at Trinidad State’s two campuses.
In 2014, Tax Help Colorado helped nearly 10,400 taxpayers re-ceive more than $20.5 million in tax refunds, including nearly 7.8 million from the Earned Income Tax Credit. In addition, the pro-
gram saved lower-income taxpay-ers nearly $2 million in commer-cial tax preparation fees.
This free service, which is quick and confidential, will be of-
Individuals with household incomes less than $52,000 qualify for free tax assistance
Continued on Page 2 ...
Hydroponic facility offers area growers multiple options
Page 2 Tuesday, February 3, 2015 The Chronicle-News Trinidad, Colorado
Trinidad State offers free tax filing services ... Continued from Page 1
fered at Trinidad State Ju-nior College, 600 Prospect Street, Freudenthal Li-brary, Main Floor on the following dates: February 7
– March 5, Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursdays 5 to 7 p.m. from February 7 through March 5.
People who are getting
their taxes prepared at Trinidad State should bring the following documents:
nAll W-2, 1099s and other income-related documents.
nProof of mortgage in-terest, property taxes, day-care payments, college edu-cation expenses, charitable contributions, and all other tax-deductible expenses.
nFor college expenses: In addition to Form 1098T from your college, you must bring your own records of expenses paid for tuition, books, fees and supplies.
nSocial Security cards (or ITINs) for all family members. Photo I.D. for tax-payer required.
nA copy of last year’s tax returns, if available.
nForm 1095-A if you or any member of your house-hold got tax credits to pay for health insurance.
nBank account num-ber and routing number to direct deposit the refund. With direct deposit, refunds are received in 10 to 14 days.
A list of all the Tax Help Colorado sites, as well as the locations of other free tax assistance sites in Colo-rado, is available by dialing 2-1-1 (it’s a free call), visit-
ing http://www.piton.org/tax-help-colorado, or finding Tax Help Colorado on Facebook at www.face-book.com/taxhelpcolo-rado and Twitter @Tax-HelpCo.
About Trinidad StateTrinidad State is Colo-
rado’s first Community Col-lege. Established in 1925, it operates two campuses; one in Trinidad, the other in Alamosa, Colorado.
About The Piton Founda-tion
The Piton Foundation, which is part of Gary Com-munity Investments, is a private, operating founda-tion established in 1976 by Denver oilman Sam Gary. We are committed to im-proving the lives of Colo-rado’s low-income children and their families by in-creasing access to quality early childhood and youth development opportunities and fostering healthy fam-ily and community environ-ments.
62 Memorials
In Loving Memory ofManuel Martinez
Feb 3, 1932 - Dec 12,2010It's been along time since
God took you away from us.But we still feel you aroundus. We love you more and
more everyday.Sadly missed by,
Your Wife, Daughters, Sons,and Grandchildren
RIPIn Loving Memory of
Our dad, husband, andgrandpa
Andy Martinez Jr.
Who passed away3 years ago on Feb 3, 2012
Sometimes we just sit quietlyreflecting for a whileimaging your voice,
your faceyour warm smile.
For its so lovely to recallthe happy times we hadwhen you played such a
special roleas dad, grandpa, and
husband.And at this very special timewe only wish you knew that
we would giveall the world today for one
more hour with you.But we still have our
memories andsince weʼve been
apart it comforts us so muchto know that youʼre
right here in our hearts.We love and miss you!
Sadly missed byDebbie, Mandy, Ed, Andres
& Jeremiah
Help ServiceSCOMMUNITY RECYCLENEW LOCATION: Terra Firma
Recycling (Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sat. 9 a.m.-Noon) will open at 201 W. Indiana and will recycle paper, cardboard, tin can and plastic #1-#7. Info: Kelli Van Ma-tre, 719-859-3998.
THE SAMARITAN CLINICHere to serve the under-in-
sured and non-insured commu-nity with free health care and low-cost lab work from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 1st and 3rd Tues. each month at 413 E. Frost. Info: 719-846-3536.
SUICIDE/CRISIS HOTLINES:*ADULT HOPE: 800-784-2433 *TEEN: 877-968-8454 *GLB-YOUTH: 866-488-7386*VET-2-VET: 877-838-2838
“It is often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars.”
~ABUSE HOTLINES:*Domestic Abuse Hotline:
In Trinidad call 719-846-6665 (24-hours a day). In Walsenburg call: 719-738-0770. National Hot-line: 1-800-790-SAFE (7233).
*Animal Abuse: Report ani-mal abuse and dog/cock fighting at Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line: 720-913-7867.
General ManagerAllyson Sheumaker
AdvertisingSales-Adam Sperandio
Classifieds, Memorials, & Circulation- Joey Loewen
Design & Legals- Lauri [email protected]
News RoomEditor: Eric John Monson
Features Editor & Fine Print Catherine Moser
Reporter: Steve [email protected]
Business Hours:Monday - Friday
8 AM - 5 PM
USPS #110-040200 West Church Street
P.O. Box 763, Trinidad, CO 81082(719) 846-3311 • Fax (719) 846-3612
Member: Associated Press, Colorado Press AssociationPeriodicals Postage Paid For At Trinidad, CO.
Published Monday - Fridayw w w.thechronicle-news.com
Subscription RatesEffective Aug. 1, 2013
Home Delivery Trinidad1 Month ................$7.003 Months.............$21.006 Months.............$42.001 Year....................$84.00
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communityClarifying the llama death case actionBy Eric John MonsonNews EditorThe Chronicle-News
On Friday, Jan. 30 The Chronicle-News reported that criminal charg-es of animal cruelty against a juve-nile who killed a runaway Llama named Sally last April, 2014, were dismissed. In fact, Third District Judge Claude Appel found the lone juvenile defendant not guilty—not dismissed as previously stated.
In pursuing due-diligence for the story The Chronicle-News acquired court documents pertinent to the case. Those documents provide the following narrative:
“On April 16 [Trinidad Police] received calls to impound a large female brown llama that was run-ning at large on the [Trinidad State Junior College] campus and at vari-ous locations on the west section of [Trinidad].”
In attempting to corral the llama police chased the animal up Atchi-
son Canyon.“As a result of this incident, a vid-
eo was posted to local news media de-tailing the llama’s activities at TSJC as a ‘human interest’ story. This story subsequently was broadcast nationwide on the Today Show.”
On April 17 Trinidad Police were notified that there were Facebook posts that stated that the llama had been killed. Photos showed three seventeen-year-olds and an 18-year-old posing with the llama that had been shot with a bow and arrow and had it’s throat slit. One post stated “And in current events, the infa-mous llama escapee has been located and irradiated. We are open for hire! But please, only domesticated ani-mals.”
The posts resulted in an outpour-ing of public contempt for the teens involved.
Investigation found that the lla-ma was owned by Josh Mondragon and one of the juveniles involved in the killing. Mondragon told police he had gotten several llamas from
an elderly man in Hoehne who just wanted the llamas gone, because he could no longer care for them. Mon-dragon said he planned to sell the animals as soon as he could, but af-ter the llamas broke out of a corral, he was only able to recapture two of the three and took those to sale. The other llama remained on the loose and continued to elude capture.
After the llama was seen at TSJC, the teens again tried to capture the animal, but at about 10 a.m. the next day decided it would be easier to kill it and claimed public safety as a pos-sible defense.
Once alerted, Trinidad Police be-gan their investigation and decided that the four teens had violated Ag-gravated Cruelty to Animals and conspiracy to commit animal cruel-ty statutes. Due, in part, to the asser-tion that one of the owners had not asked that the animal be killed and because the llama had not attacked a person and had not damaged prop-erty and the teens had not contacted police to request assistance with cap-
ture of the animal. Originally, it was thought one in-
dividual shot the llama and one slit the animals throat, but those actions were later attributed to the one juve-nile who was found not guilty by the Third District Court last week.
Charges against the three other teens involved were dismissed by the District Attorney in an attempt to bolster a case against the one who committed the actual act and be-cause cases against the other three were greatly weakened with the animal’s owners not being full will-ing participants for the state’s case, explained District Attorney Frank Ruybalid in a Sunday conversation with The Chronicle-News.
The chief concern of Ruybalid, in respect to The Chronicle-News article published last week was the inappropriate use of the word “dis-missed.” “It gives the public the in-correct perception that this case nev-er was brought to trial. It was, and Judge Appel delivered a not-guilty verdict,” said Ruybalid.
History Colorado State Historical Fund gearing up for preservation grantsFunding Available for Community Revitalization and Preservation Projects
History ColoradoSpecial to The Chronicle-News
The History Colorado State His-
torical Fund is gearing up for its spring 2015 grant roundand is ac-
tively soliciting historic preserva-tion grant applications for educa-tional programming, community planning, documentation and sur-vey, and acquisition and physical rehabilitation historic properties. Community Roundtables are be-ing planned and scheduled for in-terested parties to learn how to ap-ply and win a grant.
“Historic preservation projects can culturally, economically and aesthetically transform a town,” says Steve Turner, Director, His-tory Colorado State Historical Fund. ”We know from experience that preservation creates opportu-nities for innovation and is an in-vestment that yields tremendous returns with a ripple effect that strengthens a community.”
For many organizations, pre-serving a historic property can feel like a financial burden that leaves fewer funds available for carrying
out their mission. But a grant from the State Historical Fund allows an organization or community to rehabilitate a historic property properly so that existing funds are applied to achieve a collective idea, mission or sense of community pride.
Since 1993, the State Historical Fund has awarded 4,102 grants, totaling more than $265 million. In FY2014 alone, the State Historical Fund awarded more than $8.8 mil-lion dollars to nonprofit organiza-tions and public entities through-out Colorado.
Want to learn how to get a grant? Connect with State His-torical Fund staff at Community Roundtables happening around Colorado. The Roundtables guide participants in the proper way to apply for a grant. They also show-case current and past grant recipi-ents and applicants in each market
to share best practices as well as provide direct access with staff to plan a strong preservation project. The next deadline for grant appli-cation submission is April 1, 2015.
Community Roundtables:n February 12: Alamosa
Alamosa Masonic Lodgen February 17:
Online through Adobe Connect n February 19: Glenwood Springs Garfield County Courthouse
n February 19: Pueblo El Pueblo History Museum
n February 26: Golden Alpine Mountaineering Center
All Community Roundtables begin promptly at 10 a.m. Round-tables are free to attend, but reg-istration is recommended. RSVP to Kristi Roberts, Historic Preser-vation Outreach and Technology Specialist, at 303-866-3493 or [email protected].
Associated Press
State drilling panel weighs disclosure of fracking chemicals
DENVER (AP) — Gov. John Hick-enlooper’s task force on oil and gas is discussing proposals to force energy companies to disclose all the chemi-cals they use in hydraulic fracturing.
The 21-member task force opened two days of public meetings in Den-ver on Monday. The group is sched-uled to make its recommendations to Hickenlooper on Feb. 27 on ways to resolve disputes over local control and landowner rights.
The panel hasn’t taken any final votes but is winnowing down a long list of recommendations suggested by its members.
Among the proposals discussed Monday was one that would no lon-ger allow companies to withhold information about hydraulic frac-turing chemicals they consider to be trade secrets.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves pumping water, sand and
chemicals underground to make it easier to extract oil and gas.
Colorado plunges into gun debate with GOP flexing new muscle
DENVER (AP) — Senate Repub-licans advanced a bill to repeal ex-panded background checks for gun sales in Colorado.
The law took effect in 2013 and was one of the most hotly debated issues of the year when Democrats passed it.
At the time, they controlled both legislative chambers, but Republi-cans regained the Senate in Novem-ber and have made undoing the law a priority.
The law expanded background checks to sales conducted online and between private sellers.
On Monday, a Senate committee passed the repeal bill on a 3-2 vote and advanced it to another panel. It still faces several legislative hurdles and could be blocked by Democrats who control the state House.
Republicans also want to repeal
a law limiting the size of ammuni-tion magazines to 15 rounds.
Democrats passed the laws in response to mass shootings in Colo-rado and Connecticut.
Stacey Cook fastest in women’s downhill training
BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — American skier Stacey Cook clocked the fastest time in a windy downhill training session at the world championships Monday with teammate Lindsey Vonn not that far behind.
Cook finished in 1 minute, 48.16 seconds despite blowing snow, 0.09 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Lara Gut and Norway’s Ragnhild Mowinckel, who tied for second. Vonn was tied for fourth, 0.62 sec-onds back, but stood up after the fi-nal jump and cruised into the finish area.
It was an important performance for Cook because she’s vying with three other teammates for two re-maining spots on the U.S. downhill team. Vonn and Julia Mancuso are
already in.The event was delayed three
hours as workers removed snow on the course.
Vonn will be one of the favorites for the super-G on Tuesday.
Denver DA clears officer in shooting that injured armed man
DENVER (AP) — A police officer was justified in shooting and injur-ing a man who had been firing a pis-tol, Denver’s district attorney said in a letter released Monday.
In his Jan. 30 letter to the Au-rora police chief, District Attorney Mitchell Morrissey said a Denver police investigation showed that Aurora Police Department Officer Jeffrey Olson had reason to fear he was going to be fired on when he shot once at Omari Cook-Nunn, grazing his neck.
“I conclude that the use of force by Officer Olson was justified,” Morrissey said. “Therefore, crimi-nal charges will not be filed by this office against Officer Olson.”
CORRECTION
STATE NEWS
