News

A former employee of the Las Animas County Clerk & Recorders Office, who had been accused of embezzling nearly $40,000 of county funds through a transaction reversal scheme, saw those charges dismissed, after the Las Animas County District Attorney’s Office found it could not prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Consuelo “Connie” Victoria Vigil (age 39), saw all charges dismissed, including theft over $20,000 while less than $100,000 (a class four felony), embezzlement of public property (a class five felony), abuse of public records (a class one misdemeanor) and first-degree criminal misconduct (a class two misdemeanor).

A Trinidad science fiction author has been recognized on the national level, after being named the “Alignable Local Business Person of the Year.” Alignable.com, an online referral network for small businesses, named Trinidad author Adam Gaffen (Adam Gaffen, Author, LLC) as the network’s Local Business Person of the Year. The award, issued after a nationwide nomination process, is given to leaders “who’ve gone above and beyond guiding peers and supporting entire communities as many small businesses continue to combat major economic challenges,” the network said in a statement.

People who are not from the area may not realize Walsenburg is home to a hidden gem. Lathrop State Park is Colorado’s only state park that has a golf course. This spring, another treasure is coming to the area: The Walsenburg Golf Course is opening a new, 10site RV park.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis directed state health and energy agencies to work together to reduce ozone pollution by focusing on regulating the oil and gas industry.

Trinidad’s Urban Forestry Board plans to increase the city’s canopy with the help of nonprofit grant funding, yet specific details are unable to be shared at this time, according to a city official.