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This week in history for March 22 2018

Walsenburg

1864: Alex (?) W. Robb, deputy county clerk, certified the election of Jno. B. Rice as chairman of the board of county commissioners, and the appointment of Benjamin B. Fields as probate judge. 1870: The county commissioners set a toll schedule for the Cucharas and Sangre de Cristo Wagon Road Companies roads, ranging from one cent per each loose head of livestock to 75 cents for vehicles drawn by two animals, with each additional pair costing 25 cents. 1877: On the civil docket in Trinidad but little business was done, in fact, as is usual in this county, the attorneys were in a chronic state of never being ready. In the case of Beshoar vs. Rice, a change of venue was taken to Douglas County, where there is a republican judge and a democratic county. 1883: Benton Canon will remove his family next week from town to the cattle ranch for the summer. 1889: Walsenburg’s Robinson, Cameron and Walsen mines have the capacity to produce 2500 narrow gauge cars of coal monthly. 1895: An Italian at Walsen mines was arrested Tuesday for marrying another man’s wife. The woman was also taken into custody. 1902: Professor Curtis closed a successful six month term of school at Gardner on the 19th, when Paul Chenowith was recognized for being neither absent nor tardy during the term. 1908: Loma Poultry Farm offers thoroughbred Houdan, Buff Plymouth Rock and Black Langshan cockerels. L.B. Sporleder, proprietor. 1914: State troopers are to be removed from Walsenburg this week and those at Rouse, Lester, Primero, Rugby and Oakview will police this district. 1920: The Opera House Café is moving from across from the post office to the former location of Matteroli’s soft drink parlor. 1925: Huerfano County produces 20 percent of all coal mined in Colorado, and Las Animas County, 32 percent. 1931: Mrs. Grace Huffman and Mrs. Gertrude Murphy, managers of the Avalon Cafeteria in Trinidad, will open a cafeteria in Walsenburg in the location of the old Eidelweiss Café. 1936: A total of 531 old age pensioners in Huerfano County received their monthly payment of from $10 to $12 each. 1941: There are numerous reports of flowers blooming around the city – a little early. 1947: An oil well will be drilled on the Claude Capps ranch three and a half miles southeast of Walsenburg near Saliba Lake by Rainbow Drilling of Denver. 1952: Although it was the second day of spring, snow up to 18 inches and strong winds practically isolated Walsenburg yesterday. 1958: Eleven little girls were guests at Sharon Solomon’s 10th birthday party and enjoyed refreshments and a matinee at the Fox Theater. 1964: Joe Kopine, first elected county commissioner in 1960, announced he will be a candidate for re-election. Born in Walsenburg February 12, 1911, he is a partner in the La Veta Oil Company and has been in the oil business for 15 years. 1970: More than 200 dogs were vaccinated against rabies in clinics at the county fairgrounds by Dr. Marcus A. Piano of Aguilar. 1975: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2643 will dedicate its new flag pole on the building March 29, Vietnam Veterans’ Day. 1981: Walsenburg’s cable television system is now called Heritage Cablevision. New additions available are Home Box Office (HBO) and an all sports station. 1987: The county commissioners approved a 3.2 carry out beer license for Onesimo “Butch” Romero Jr., the new lessee of the Highway 10 Conoco station. 1993: Huerfano County’s five 4-H Clubs, Snowy Range, Eight is Enough, Huerfano Highlanders, Twin Peaks and Spanish Peaks Wranglers, currently have about 100 members collectively.

La Veta

1878: An eleven day meeting at the La Veta Baptist Church brought in 13 new members. 1883: The school exhibition raised $11.50 for the purchase of maps and charts. 1890: A.A. Foote resigned as trustee of the town and J.M. Francisco will be asked to fill the vacancy for one year. 1896: Dave Ryus this week was computing the weight of his assets and by the smile on his face, we presume he is satisfied with the lay-out. 1901: More than $2,200 was paid out last payday at the Occidental coal mine, according to Mr. Allen, the foreman, and eight teams are constantly busy hauling the coal to Francisco Switch for shipment. 1907: No mail or trains of any description passed through this place yesterday on account of the long bridge at Sand Creek east of Cucharas Junction burning out. 1913: David Firm has rented Mrs. Patton’s house in McComb Addition while he builds a stone house east, or closer to Main Street, than his present home. 1919: A Mr. Breckenridge of Florence has arrived here to take Will Boyd’s place as forest ranger. 1924: La Veta has been practically marooned from the outside world the past two weeks due to high winds and continuing snowstorms. 1930: Representing the La Veta school in the county oratory contest were Raymond Kirkpatrick, fourth grade, Wilma Lauth, second, Vernoye Tracy, seventh and Lois Prator and Bonnie Doles, both of the eighth grade. 1935: It is rumored that more cottages are to be built this coming summer in Cuchara Camps. It is possible some summer visitors would build in La Veta if taxes and bonds didn’t act as a bug-a-boo. 1940: Homer Bell was the only senior student on the honor roll for the past six weeks. Juniors were Mary Brownell, Edna Jean Vories and Violet Zember. 1946: Voted to be the handsomest boy in La Veta High School was Clyde Beamer, and Virginia Sager was first choice for the prettiest girl. Jewel Parker was elected as the smartest. 1951: Local farmers are eligible for government assistance in obtaining feed, seed, fertilizer and other materials because Huerfano County was designated a disaster area September 7, 1950 due to the continuing severe drought. 1957: Betty Willis is the first Huerfano County student to be named Daughters of the American Revolution “Good Citizen of Colorado” for 1957. She receives a $75 savings bond. 1962: Jim Carver, a sophomore at La Veta High School and son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Carver, won the annual mathematics pin for this year at the school. George Albright was second and Karen Kmetz, third. 1967: LVHS students participating in the speech tournament at Adams State College were Dee Ann Disert, Cindy Britton, Patsy Magnino, Carrie Dee Engman, DeEtta Brgoch and Kent Flowerdew. 1974: Jeter Shearer wrote and says his family rented a ranch in 1901 six miles south of La Veta and he attended school in an old log house between the Mack and Powell ranches . Other students with him were the three Baysinger boys, two Arnolds, four Galassinis and Otto Mack. 1979: The county 4-H Talent Show featured Penny Kreutzer as mistress of ceremonies. Winning blue for their instrumental duo in the sub-teen ensemble division were Richelle Falk and Susan Keeling. 1984: The Quick Response Team netted more than $700 on their St. Patrick’s Day Benefit in the La Veta Lodge. 1990: Coral Anderson of the Earth Day Committee says it will be a day for trial recycling so the town board can assess the viability of a full time recycling center.

Cement plant concerns

Building inspector suggests a negotiated move out of Northlands to site near prison WALSENBURG — The Walsenburg City Council convened a special meeting Friday, March

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