Oops! The light side of lawmen

Thursday, March 7th, 2013 at 2:51pm

by Nancy Christofferson
HUERFANO — Huerfano County has had mixed success with the hiring of law enforcement officers throughout its history. There’ve been the good, the mediocre, and the really bad. You can be the judge of which category the following fit into.
La Veta started off on the wrong foot by hiring one W.M. McOmber on Nov. 22, 1876 as its very first marshal. He lasted less than three months before being removed from office for public drunkenness. The town, the City of Walsenburg, and the county itself have all had mixed luck ever since.

This week in history for February 28, 2013

Thursday, March 7th, 2013 at 2:50pm

Walsenburg

1900: Last week the Pension Board increased the pension of George Markham, war veteran living in the St. Mary’s community, from $6.00 to $8.00 per month.
1906: The Walsenburg Foundry and Manufacturing Company formally opened last Thursday and already have enough orders for pit cars for the mines to keep them busy for several months.
1912: The resources of the First National Bank have increased to $886,968.04.
1918: The democratic ladies of the Jane Jefferson Club gave a dance last Saturday night in Maccabee Hall.

Despite This We Stay for February 21st, 2013

Thursday, February 28th, 2013 at 12:06pm

by Carol Dunn
HUERFANO— ­I know, I know, we’ve been praying for moisture. And if you’ve lived here any length of time, you know the weather is unpredictable. You know that a 20% chance of precipitation means FOR SURE it will snow, and a 90% chance means the sun will probably shine all day, especially on your house, especially if it’s drier than a popcorn tart.

This week in history for February 21, 2013

Thursday, February 28th, 2013 at 12:01pm

Walsenburg

1882: Saturday night there was a dance in Naranjo’s hall in Gardner and Sunday Rev. Burch of the Baptist Church in Walsenburg gave services there.
1890: About a dozen good new houses will be built in the early spring in Tourist Addition, with one of the best for George Anderson in a lovely location.
1898: One of the peculiarities of this term of district court was the use of three interpreters at once, getting dialectic Italian to a partially Spanish jury.

Juan de Dios Montez

Thursday, February 28th, 2013 at 12:00pm

by Nancy Christofferson
HUERFANO — “One of the most colorful careers in Huerfano County ended this morning with the death of Juan de Dios Montez, 87, who held nearly every county office during his 76 years in the area. He was also a school teacher, farmer and stockraiser.” Walsenburg-Independent, Feb. 21, 1938.
Juan de Dios Montez didn’t actually hold all the county offices, only two, and he campaigned for two more, but he went on to become a state legislator (twice) and a very influential citizen.

This week in history for February 14, 2013

Thursday, February 21st, 2013 at 12:13pm

Walsenburg

1895: The Cactus is falling into the style of compliment employed by the La Veta papers during the campaign. Everyone to his own taste.
1902: Putting up ice is the order of the day at Gardner where people are taking advantage of this cold snap.
1909: Pasquale Pellino, an Italian who was found violently insane at Rouse and put into the county jaill, committed suicide in his cell in the basement of the court house. He has no known relatives.

The smallpox epidemic of 1899

Thursday, February 21st, 2013 at 12:12pm

by Nancy Christofferson
LA VETA — Walsenburg World, Feb. 16, 1899. Two cases of smallpox have been reported in Cucharas.
Such an innocuous sentence, yes? No.
Cucharas was an important point on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad line, where the tracks branched from the north to head either west to La Veta Pass and beyond, or south to El Moro and the coalfields of Las Animas County. If railroad workers were exposed to smallpox, they could carry the virus all along the line.

Fundraising continues for Fox Theatre projector

Thursday, February 21st, 2013 at 12:09pm

WALSENBURG — During the past year, the film industry has announced the pending conversion from 35 mm film to digital film distribution.
In order to continue showing new movies at the Fox Theatre in Walsenburg, it will be necessary to purchase a digital project at an estimated cost of $70,000. 3-D capability would be an additional cost for equipment and a new screen. For now, however, the theatre is equipped with a workable sound system.

La Veta locals dish up flavor at the Deli

Thursday, February 21st, 2013 at 12:09pm

by Kathryn Johnson
LA VETA — Last Thursday, the La Veta Public Library, together with Lance Freeman and Cheryl Bailey, sponsored a cooking demonstration at the Next Door Deli.

Despite This We Stay for February 7th, 2013

Thursday, February 14th, 2013 at 12:36pm

by Carol Dunn
HUERFANO — Perhaps the greatest loss we face as a result of not having a ski resort in the area are the half dressed skiers doing their pre-ski exercises on the sidewalks of town. We recently visited Vail, and right away I could see that we Huerfanos are missing out on a fascinating public spectacle.