1. 50CENTS
TRINIDAD
COLORADO
Proudly Serving Southeastern Colorado and Northeastern New Mexico • www.thechronicle-news.com
~
Vol. 139, No. 25
WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY4,2015
FEBRUARY 5
Continuum of Care
THURSDAY (8 a.m.) Group will meet
at Fisher’s Peak Soup Kitchen, 308 Church
St. Info: Charlene Tortorice, 719-846-9159.
Network Council
THURSDAY (8 a.m.) Regular meet-
ing will be held in the Bell Block Building’s
Trinidad Community Foundation room.
Information: Margaret Apodaca, 719-
846-3943.
SPPRCD Meeting
THURSDAY (1 p.m.) Spanish Peaks
Purgatoire River Conservation District
meets at the District Office. Information:
719-846-3681 Ext. 117.
Carnegie Library Teen Action
THURSDAY (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
felicity.boepple@trinidad.co.gov.
PRCWD Water District
THURSDAY (7 p.m.) Purgatoire River
Conservancy meeting will be at City Hall
Council Chambers, 135 N. Animas. Infor-
mation: Thelma Lujan, 719-846-7285.
Today’s Quote
“People don’t notice
whether it’s winter or
summer when they’re
happy.”
~Anton Chekhov
FEBRUARY 6-8
Attention Republican Women
RIDAY (11:30 a.m.) The Las Animas
CountyRepublicanWomen’sClubwillmeet
atthePrimeroCaféatMt.Carmel,911Rob-
inson. Info: Paula Marshall, 719-845-9544.
Carnegie Library Event
FRIDAY (3:45-5 p.m.) The Library
will host a Jane Austen Tea Party for all
Austen lovers (teens and adults). Info: Fe-
licity Boepple, 719-846-6841 or felicity.
boepple@trinidad.co.gov.
American Legion
FRIDAY (6 p.m.) The Trinidad Ameri-
can Legion meets at the Sayre Senior
Center, 1222 San Pedro. Info: Adjutant
John Garduno, 719-680-1277.
ABSTRACT WORKSHOP
SATURDAY & SUNDAY (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 College
Art Department. Registration and info: Jo-
sephine Chacon, 719-846-5474.
PUBLIC SERVICE
GET ‘EM WHILE THEY LAST!
The Chronicle-News 2014 Collec-
tor 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.
ASK A LAWYER
FEBRUARY 10 (3-6:30 p.m.) Walk-
in for a free 20-minute consultation (any-
thing other than criminal cases) with an
experienced attorney at the Las Animas
County Courthouse, 200 E. First St. Child-
care will be provided. Info: 719-680-7333.
VALENTINE CANDY GRAMS
THRU FEB 9: Place your order for a
fun Candy Gram to be delivered to your
beloved on Feb 13. by a member of the
Chamber of Commerce. Info: 719-846-
9285. Proceeds benefit the Chamber of
Commerce Projects Fund.
Abstraction & Refraction
FEBRUARY 11: A fine abstract art and
jewelry show hosted by the Trinidad Area
Arts Council opens at Gallery Main, 130 E.
Main. Info: Chloe Butler, 719-846-1441. Pro-
ceeds benefit the TAAC Youth Art Program.
Senior Driving Class
FEBRUARY 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 Moz-
engo, 719-868-2288.
VALENTINES BAKE SALE
FEBRUARY 13 (7:30 a.m.-Noon) Treat
your Valentine to a special treat from the
ChamberofCommerceBakeSalethatwillbe
held at the Las Animas County Courthouse,
200 E. First St. Info: 719-846-9285. Proceeds
benefittheChamber’sProjectsFund.
Art of Marriage
FEBRUARY 13 (6 p.m.) & FEBRU-
ARY 14 (8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) Couples who
want to refresh their lives will not want to
miss this inspiring seminar at the Fisher’s
Peak Community Church, 10377 Santa Fe
Trail. Info/Registration: 719-846-6018.
SCRT Performance
FEBRUARY 13-22: The Dixie Swim
Club runs at the Southern Colorado Rep-
ertoire Theatre, 131 West Main St. Info:
719-846-4765 or www.scrtheatre.com.
OPERA TRINIDAD
FEBRUARY 14 (NOON) Enjoy the fa-
mous opera LA FORZA DEL DESTINO by
Guiseppe Verdi that will be showing at the
Movie Picture Showhouse.
FREE Felting Workshop
FEBRUARY 15 (2-5 p.m.) Felting
with Cat Fur, a super fun workshop will be
at Gallery Vivant, 218 E. Main St. Materi-
als will be provided. Info: Susan Palmer,
805-603-6181.
THEFINEPRINT
WEATHERWATCH
Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a
high near 45. West wind 10 to 15 mph be-
coming northeast in the afternoon. Night:
Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly
cloudy, with a low around 23. Light and
variable wind becoming west southwest 5
to 10 mph after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming
light west in the morning. Night: Partly
cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest
wind around 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
West southwest wind around 5 mph.
Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
West wind 5 to 10 mph. Night: Mostly
clear, with a low around 34. West wind
around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
West southwest wind around 5 mph.
Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
RIVERCALLPurgatoire River Call as of:
02/03/15. Johns Flood ditch: Pri-
ority # 5 --- Appropriation date:
03/20/1862.
Trinidad Reservoir Accounting:
Release 0.10 AF
Inflow 29.10 AF -- 14.67 CFS
Evaporation 0 AF
Content 16,311 AF
Elevation 6,178.11
Precipitation 0
Downstream River Call / John
Martin Reservoir: (Conservation
Storage) 05/31/1949.
THECHRONICLENEWSDIFFICULT DECISIONS
TSJC explains athletic department
reorganization, cutting golf program
By Eric John Monson
News Editor
The Chronicle-News
Late last week Trinidad State
Junior College (TSJC) announced
the reorganization of their Ath-
letic Department. The most pain-
ful part of that reorganization ap-
pears to be the cutting of the very
successful boys golf program,
but concurrent announcements
including the search for a new
athletic director and a national
search for a new volleyball coach
were also made.
According to TSJC, in her
weekly staff briefing, TSJC Presi-
dent Dr. Carmen Simone said
“We will be posting an internal
search for an Athletic Director.
This change will allow Rich Hold-
en, who currently wears three
hats [AD, Women’s Basketball
and Men’s Golf], to focus his at-
tention on our Women’s Basket-
ball program in the coming years.
His efforts as Athletic Director
have taken our programs to high
levels of success and we owe him
a debt of gratitude. As Rich passes
the torch to his successor, he will
remain available to offer guidance
and advice. With his support, our
quest for athletic excellence will
not miss a beat.”
“The trigger was the departure
of our volleyball coach [Ellen Mc-
Gill who took a head coaching job
atNCAA,DivisionII,Universityof
North Carolina Pembroke],” said
Greg Boyce, Director of Marketing
and Communication at TSJC. “I
think anytime you have a change
like that coming to a program you
have to look at the department
and decide what’s best moving for-
ward and how to do that most effi-
ciently. So, yes, I think it’s correct
to call it ‘reorganization’. We’re
reorganizing to get the best utiliza-
tion of our resources.”
From the catacombs of Scott
Gym at TSJC, Assistant Athletic
Director (and a regular contribu-
tor to The Chronicle-News, cover-
ing TSJC sports) Mike Salbato
Photo courtesy TSJC
The Trojan Golf Team (L-R) Carlos Sisneros, Jake Ice, Justin Frederick, Frazer
Pomfret, Justin Carlock, Coach Rich Holden and Donovan Masias.
Continued on Page 2 ...
AN ENDEARING LEGACY OF HOPE
Rachel’s Challenge —
Working to inspire youth
By Steve Block
The Chronicle-News
Rachel Joy Scott was the first student to be murdered by two crazed
gunmen in the Columbine High School shooting on April 20, 1999. Scott
left behind six diaries and journals describing her positive outlook on
life and the importance of treating other people with respect and dignity,
and her uncle, Larry Scott, gave a presentation about her life and the
Columbine shooting Monday afternoon to high school students at the
Trinidad Middle School auditorium.
Assistant Superintendent George Dasko told the students that it was
very important that they treated everyone they met with respect and
compassion. Student Sally Jane Ruybalid thanked the Bar N-I Ranch
Community Service Fund for providing the grant funding that brought
the Rachel’s Challenge presentation to Trinidad. Student Curtis Dun-
ford told the Community Service Fund leaders about a previous Rachel’s
Challenge presentation he had attended, thus sparking the fund’s inter-
est in funding such an event in the Trinidad school district.
The Challenge uses Rachel’s writings through 40 motivational speak-
ers, including three of them from Rachel’s own family, who spread Ra-
chel’s message about compassion and respect for others across the coun-
try and across the globe. Among her writings was this statement. “I havePhoto courtesy of the Scott family
Rachel Joy Scott
Continued on Page 6 ...
CARING FAMILY SUPPORT
SafeCare
Colorado
begins work
in Trinidad
By Steve Block
The Chronicle-News
A new program designed to
help children and their families
has started working in Trinidad,
under the auspices of Catholic
Charities of the Diocese of Pueblo.
SafeCare Colorado offers pro-ac-
tive, in-home voluntary services
that support families in under-
standing the health, development
and safety needs of young chil-
dren.
SafeCare is part of a group of
cornerstone prevention programs
included in Governor John Hick-
enlooper’s 2013 Child Welfare
Plan, “Keeping Kids Safe and
Families Healthy 2.0.” Michelle
Kinder is the local caseworker for
the program and her phone num-
ber is: 719-859-4480.
SafeCare is a nationally recog-
nized, evidence-based, in-home
program that provides direct
skills training to parents in the ar-
eas of parenting, child safety and
child health. It’s a voluntary home
visiting program for families who
do not currently have an open case
with the Department of Human
Services (DHS).
A review of Colorado’s substan-
tiated child abuse reports clearly
shows that young children under
the age of five are at the greatest
risk for child abuse or neglect. Saf-
eCare gives counties the chance to
provided services to families after
DHS is closed, to prevent future
interactions with the child welfare
system. It also gives counties the
opportunity to provide services
to families before they become in-
volved with the DHS, thereby pre-
venting child maltreatment, abuse
or neglect.
The first program year began
in September. 2014 and concludes
in June 2015. During that time pe-
riod Catholic Charities expects to
reach out to 130 families, accord-
ing to Ida Rhoads, Director of Pro-
grams for Catholic Charities of the
Pueblo Diocese.
“SafeCare will strengthen fami-
lies and will reduce the amount
Steve Block / Chronicle-News
Michelle Kinder is a caseworker for SafeCare Colorado, a group that works to
help at-risk families with young children.
Continued on Page 6 ...

2. Page 2 Wednesday, February 4, 2015 The Chronicle-News Trinidad, Colorado
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
To our Loyal Friends and
Customers;
We want to thank you for your many
years of loyalty and felt the need to
inform you all that our family is
no longer a part of day-to-day
operations at
Bueno’s Restaurant.
Thanks again & God bless.
The Bueno Family
The Johns Flood Ditch
will hold its annual
Stockholders Meeting on
Saturday, February 7, 2015
in the Hoehne Community
Center at 10 a.m.
Senior Day!
1st Friday of each month
Seniors receive 50% off purchases
Books & More
132 N. Commercial St.
Trinidad
L
Sponsored by Friends of the Library
65 Comi Funeral Home
Eric Cole
Eric R. Cole, age 48 of
Trinidad Colorado passed
away Sunday, January 25,
2015.
A Celebration of Life
Service will be held Friday,
February 6, 2015 at 11 a.m.
at the Comi Chapel.
Arrangements made under
the direction of the Comi
Funeral Home.
62 Memorials
In Loving Memory of
FELIX BUENO
Who passed away 2 year ago
February 8th
Do not ask us if we miss him,
For there is such a vacant place,
Oft we think we hear
his footsteps
Or see his smiling face,
Sad and mournful was
our parting,
Lonely are our hearts today.
For the one we loved so dearly
Passed away two years
ago today.
Sadly missed by
Catherine, Rich, Richie,
Nene, and Troyster
In Loving Memory of
Isidro Tapia
(Little Cid)
On his 43rd Birthday
Today Feb 4, 2015
Sadly missed along
life's way.
Quietly remembered
everyday.
No longer in our
lives to share
But in our hearts,
he's always there.
Happy Birthday Little Cid!
We love and miss
you so much!
From
Aunt Pat and Reuben,
Richard, Shawn Bazanele,
Damon & Louise Bradley
62 Memorials
In Loving Memory
of
Willa "Belle" Garia
On her fist birthday in
heaven.
Warmly thought of and
sadly missed by
Marleen, Orlie, Keith, Clay,
Misty, Derek, Beth, Alex,
Erika, & Belle
Happy birthday Mom,
Grandma, & Great Grandma
TSJC explains athletic department reorganization
... Continued from Page 1
cringes a little and shrugs
when asked about the golf
program and the general
emotion in his department,
“You know, it’s been really
positive for the most part,
but yeah, it’s tough. It’s really
tough just because the pro-
gram has been so successful.
This year we probably have
easily one of our most talent-
edteamsoverall.They’vehad
fourregionaltournaments,in
their split schedule this year,
and they’ve won all four. Five
are left. They’re a National
Tournament team for sure.
And no, the kids are not
happy about it, but they’re all
sophomores and I think they
get it. I know we’ve cut golf
twice before and it’s come
back. Who knows? I think
as an Athletic Department
we’re excited that we have
seven solid sports programs
that aren’t going anywhere.
And we’ve had a really great
year in sports.”
Salbato said, after TSJC
staff, the college’s boosters
were the first to hear the
news. “Obviously, their first
question was, ‘Why cut such
a successful program?’ But
when you just look at [Rich]
Holden’s schedule it gets eas-
ier to understand. He’s doing
three jobs right now. There
are a lot of times around here
when he’s required to be in
three different places at once.
I don’t know how he’s done
it and been so successful.
We’ve grown pretty quickly
here recently. I think [the ad-
ministrators] are giving us a
chance to slow down and give
the programs we do have bet-
ter support.”
“It’s about budget, yes and
man-power, and about giving
Coach Holden some freedom
and making sure he’s in a
good position to support the
next athletic director and so
he has time to recruit,” said
Boyce in a Monday phone
call with The Chronicle-News.
“I know it was a difficult deci-
sion. And I don’t think that’s
easy at any level, but it goes
back to taking a look a our
programs and what we can
emphasize.”
Boyce explained that the
posting for a new AD would
begin in-house. If there’s a
proper candidate, the an-
nouncementofareplacement
will be fairly quick. If the col-
lege widens its search nation-
ally, the search will be lon-
ger. “There’s no timetable. I
think [the administration] is
focused on finding the right
fit,” said Boyce.
As for the hiring of a new
volleyball coach, administra-
tors stated their timetable
and addressed rumors that
the delay in the process
meant they were consider-
ing cutting the program
with their release last week.
Departed coach McGill left
behind her a program that
has grown into successful
regional power, and in their
release—published by The
Chronicle-News last Thurs-
day—the college said:
“The Trinidad State ad-
ministration, consisting of
President Carmen Simone,
Vice President Kerry Gabri-
elson and Athletic Director
Rich Holden, took a long look
at how to best staff that posi-
tion in order to continue the
fabulous success it has had
in recent years. The decision
has been made to go out on
a national search for a new
Head Volleyball Coach. The
job description is currently
posted on national sites and
thepositionwillbefilledlater
in the semester. The return-
ing volleyball players are
working hard to prepare for
the coming year.”
COMMUNITYARTS DISTRICT
PBS to honor the
man and his artBy Catherine J. Moser
The Chronicle-News
Rodney Wood, famous
in his legendary role as Mr.
ArtCarFun and host of the
annual Trinidad ArtoCade
Festival, is also a a talented
and gifted artist in his own
right.
In an effort to bring to-
day’s art world creation-
ists from Colorado into the
public spotlight, the Rocky
Mountain Public Broadcast-
ing System features a series
of interesting interviews
showcasing many of the art-
ists now identified as people
on the cutting edge of their
craft — the people in the
know, bringing to the mass-
es the people to watch for on
the art scene.
The PBS show “Arts
District” has selected Trini-
dad’s own Rodney Wood as
a subject in it’s next produc-
tion to air on Channels 8
and 6 on Thursday, Feb. 5 at
7:30 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 6
at 2 p.m.
Woods segment features
his interview with Car-
rie Saldo from PBS and
includes four other artists
from around the state.
Woods and his partner,
Susan Palmer are the own-
ers of the Oasis Studio and
Gallerie Vivante at 214-218
East Main St. Artwork that
stuns the senses and takes
fans to a new level of ap-
preciation is the trademark
of Wood’s creative imagi-
nation. It is the dreamlike
quality and fluid motion of
his work that his many fans
adore and that also made his
PBS selection for the “Arts
District” a natural choice.
The Chronicle-News file photos
Rodney Wood in his Oasis Studio on Main Street and a picture of
his work, below, titled “Evanescence.”