Posts published in January 2016

Sheriff department funding is $100k in the hole by Bill KnowlesTRINIDAD — Facing a packed spectators gallery, the Las Animas County Commission on Tuesday, December 29, voted 3-0 to transfer over $12 thousand from the commissioner’s budget to the budget of the sheriff’s office in an effort to help the…

by Aaron Lopez Refuel Colorado Fleets   TRINIDAD — The Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has awarded a $60,000 Alternative Fuels Initiative grant to South Central Council of Governments Transit to buy down the purchase cost of three compressed natural gas (CNG) minivans and one CNG transit bus.  The award…

by Bill KnowlesTRINIDAD — After a year of wrestling with numbers, elected officials for the county have arrived at a budget most can live with, but most are not happy with.  Approved on a 2-1 vote, the county has a $6,013,337 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2016.  Appropriations…

by Eric MullensWALSENBURG —  The Huerfano County Hospital District Board of Directors met for their final session of the year on December 10, combining the November and December sessions as they usually do at the end of the year. With a slight property valuation increase to $127,121,136, the district’s mill…

by Bill KnowlesTRINIDAD — The man alleged to have committed robberies in both Bent County and Trinidad made his appearance in District Court in Las Animas County Wednesday, Dec. 23. He is charged with 6 felony counts and four misdemeanor counts.  Alfredo Valazquez-Hernandez is being charged with a string of…

by Bill KnowlesTRINIDAD — The Trinidad City Council met for the last time in 2015, on Tuesday, December 22, for both a work session meeting and a special meeting, seeking to wrap up old business and clear the way for the incoming City Council in January 2016.  Les Downs, out…

Reality based budgeting puts city on positive footing for future growthby Bill KnowlesTRINIDAD — With a total general fund budget of $8.1 million, the City of Trinidad stands to end 2016 with a surplus while still covering all necessary services.  Services such as water, gas, electric, and sewer will see…

staff reportWALSENBURG —  Recently published reports indicate alcohol problems are nothing new at The Career Building Academy, with incidents reported to local law enforcement agencies as far back as May 2015. In mid-November, a Huerfano County sheriff’s deputy responded to the alternative high school located west of Walsenburg on a…

WJ Staff WALSENBURG — Colorado is suffering from a shortage of teachers.  All 178 school districts are affected.  Classes are canceled, schedules changed, class sizes increased, and curriculums altered due to the lack of staff. Huerfano RE-1 has been short staffed this year, and has made do with alternative licensed teachers,…