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TRI LAKES 12.5.12

Tri-Lakes

Tribune

Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County • Volume 47, Issue 49

December 5, 2012

75 cents

A Colorado Community Media Publication

ourtrilakesnews.com

Search continues for missing 13-year-old Lewis-Palmer Middle School student disappeared near Durango By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com A Lewis-Palmer Middle School student has been missing since Nov. 19. Dylan Redwine, 13, disappeared in Vallecito, 22 miles northeast of Durango, after a courtordered visit with his father for the Thanksgiving holiday. A task force made up of the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Durango Police Redwine Department and the Bayfield Marshal’s Office is searching the area and conducting door-to-door canvassing. A two-day search of Vallecito Lake turned up nothing. Redwine’s father, Mark Redwine, said he last saw his son at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 19 when

he left to run errands. He returned home about 11:30 a.m. and his son was gone. When Dylan Redwine did not return by the evening his father reported him missing. A postal worker who knows Dylan reported seeing him and another boy walking on County Road 501 Nov. 19. Both boys were wearing hoodies and backpacks. It has not been confirmed if this was Dylan Redwine. It was initially believed that Dylan was a runaway; however, in a press release sent out by the sheriff’s office, investigators no longer believe he ran away. According to the Durango Herald, Elaine Redwine, Dylan’s mother, stated in an interview with ABC News Radio that she was afraid that her ex-husband may have had something to do with Dylan’s disappearance. In an interview with KRDO News 13, Mark Redwine said he couldn’t believe his ex-wife would consider him a suspect. A search warrant was issued on Nov. 29

The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, with help from the New Mexico State Police Search and Recovery team, search Vallecito Lake for 13-year-old Dylan Redwine The boy went missing Nov. 19 while on a court ordered visit with his father in Vallecito. The FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are involved in the search as well. Courtesy photo to search Mark Redwine’s home because that is the last place Dylan was seen. “The sheriff’s office is not calling Mark

Redwine a suspect,” Dan Bender, spokesperson for the La Plata County Sheriff’s Missing continues on Page 4

Hunt for Yule log begins Annual event set for Dec. 9 By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com

An excited little girl tells Santa Claus her Christmas wish list while she sits on his lap. Many children visited with Santa at La Casa Fiesta. Photos by Lisa Collacott

Small Town Christmas brings people downtown By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews. com The weather was perfect for a Small Town Christmas in downtown Monument this year. A blizzard last year kept many from getting out and en-

joying an old fashioned Christmas that residents and visitors alike have come to enjoy. This year merchants were busy with people shopping, enjoying refreshments, taking hay rides and even visiting Santa Claus. Kids made crafts and a couple of businesses even had live reindeer and alpacas on display.

There may no snow on the ground and temperatures are unusually warm right now, but the holidays are right around the corner and the Tri-Lakes area is gearing up with plenty of activities to celebrate the season. One of those activities has been a tradition in Palmer Lake for 79 years and attracts hundreds to the area. The Yule Log Hunt has been going strong since 1933, when Palmer Lake residents Lucretia Vaile and Evalena Macy wanted to bring the tradition of the hunt to their little town so they took it upon themselves to request a splinter from a Yule log in Lake Placid, N.Y. That first Yule Log Hunt attracted a mere 50 people but today there can be anywhere from 200-500 people searching the forest for the log. “We are the second oldest Yule Log Hunt in the U.S.,” Kurt Voelker, one of the organizers of the hunt, said. Ironically Lake Placid eventually discontinued their Yule Log Hunt but two years ago the city wanted to start it up again and requested a splinter from the Palmer Lake Yule log. Over the years Palmer Lake has given splinters to other towns in Colorado so that they could start their own Yule Log Hunts. Green Mountain Falls received a splinter from them and the town of Beulah received one in 1952. The tradition of hunting for the Yule log involves hiding a log, which measures 8 to 14 feet long, in the forest. The hunters wear red or green capes and set off in search of the log. The person who finds Yule Log continues on Page 5

POSTAL ADDRESS

Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.

Live reindeer from Siberia made their debut during Small Town Christmas Dec. 1. The reindeer were a big attraction for families out and about in downtown Monument that day. For more Small Town Christmas photos, see Page 2.

TRILAKES 12/12/12

Tri-Lakes

Tribune

Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County • Volume 47, Issue 50

December 12, 2012

75 cents

A Colorado Community Media Publication

ourtrilakesnews.com

Monument looking at pay increases 2013 budget includes COLA and performance increases By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com

Children hitch a ride back to town hall on the Yule log after it was found. Despite the cold and snow plenty of kids and adults showed up for the Yule Log Hunt Dec. 9.

PHoTos BY LIsa CoLLaCoTT

The snow and frigid temperatures didn’t keep away those in search of the Yule log. Hunters, dressed in their winter warmest and red and green capes, searched for the Yule log in 13 degree temperatures and the first major snowfall the season. While there may not have been as many hunters as last year’s hunt, close to 200 people showed up at Palmer Lake town hall on Dec. 9 to search The Glen for the Yule log and drink some wassail. Scott Lydenberger joined the elite club of hunters that have found the Yule log.

Hunters are led away from the Palmer Lake town hall and towards the Glen in search of the Yule log. The cold kept away many hunters but die-hards still turned out to take part in the annual tradition.

Scott Lydenberger, in black hat, found the Yule log and helps cut the log in half as is tradition. Half the Yule log goes into the bon fire and the other half will start the fire next year. The Yule Log Hunt took place Dec. 9 and has been a tradition in Palmer Lake for 79 years.

IN SEARCH OF THE YULE LOG

The Monument Board of Trustees will approve one of two budgets at the next meeting. Two proposed 2013 budgets were presented to the board of trustees at the Dec. 3 board meeting however they held off on approving one and will wait until the Dec. 17 meeting when all trustees are present. The initial budget has a three percent Cost of Living Adjustment and a one percent performance evaluation increase with full capital leased capital projects and equipment. The second budget has a two percent COLA and a one percent performance increase with no leased capital. The town of Monument staff has not seen pay increases in a few years. Not everybody will necessarily see a performance increase however town treasurer Pam Smith said it is in the budget as if everyone should get it. Town Manager Cathy Green said the one percent increase isn’t what staff gets but rather that is what goes into the pot. It will be given out based on performance. There was discussion about how it would be distributed and how soon. Mayor ProTem Jeff Kaiser said they would like to award employees for exceptional behavior. “We would like to have budgeted some form of mechanism that can be distributed and we’re putting this at the discretion of the staff that they can distribute this how they see fit,” Kaiser said. “If staff believes that everybody has equally done the same amount of work or the same effort or there’s nothing exceptional or everybody’s exceptional that’s up to the discretion of staff how to handle that.” Kaiser said there was no rush in implementing it but rather a rush on the board’s part in approving the dollars so that staff leaders can implement it as to how they see fit.

No new leads in search for missing 13-year-old tween 6 p.m. Nov. 18 and noon Nov. 19 of vehicles travelling beIn addition the San Juan tween Durango and County Sheriff’s Office is conVallecito Lake. Anyducting a helicopter search of one with photographs Vallecito Lake, Lemon Reseror video can call 970voir, Haviland Lake, Lake Nigh385-2900. thorse and Electra Lake. There is video footRedwine “These new searches are not age of Redwine arriving based on new tips either,” Bender at the airport on Nov. 18 and later added. “We are just trying to be as that day at Wal-Mart. Redwine is thorough as possible and look as seen wearing a blue baseball cap many places as we can.” with a white front panel with the The task force is still request- words “Duke Blue Devils”. He was ing photographs and video footage also wearing a black t-shirt with from citizens that were taken be- a large, possibly grey, “DC” logo on the front with a thin light colored square border around the logo. He had on black basketball shorts that went below the knee Printed on recycled with light, possible light blue and newsprint. Please white, stripes on the sides and recycle this copy. black “Jordan” shoes with a white tongue and white shoelace area. Elaine Redwine, Dylan’s mother, told CNN Headline News on Dec. 3 that she and her ex-husband Mark Redwine, Dylan’s father, took poly-

Task force continues search, parents take polygraph test By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews. com Investigators continue their search for Dylan Redwine, the 13-year-old Lewis-Palmer Middle School Student, who disappeared from his father’s home on Nov. 19 near Durango while on a visit for Thanksgiving. Boats equipped with sonar equipment searched Vallecito Lake

again while the task force searched the shoreline. “We have no new tips that have sent us back to the lake but we’re checking in case changes in water and lake conditions could have resulted in any changes from last week,” Sgt. Dan Bender, spokesperson for the Dylan Redwine Task Force, said in a statement. “Those searches have not found anything at this time but are continuing throughout the day.”

POSTAL ADDRESS

graph tests. She said she passed the lie-detector test but authorities will not release the results. Mark Redwine’s home was searched last week because that was the last place Dylan was seen. “As this is an ongoing investigation the task force cannot comment on details about the search of Mark Redwine’s home, details about video and photographs from community members that are being analyzed or any other details on the investigation,” Bender said. Family members continue to hold on to hope that Dylan Redwine will be found. At a prayer vigil held by family members Dec. 2 in Limbach Park his grandmother Maria Goodall urged people to keep praying.

TIPLINE If anyone has any information that may aid in the search for Dylan they are asked to leave a voice mail message on the Dylan Redwine Tip Line at 970-382-7511.

December 19, 2012

The Tribune 3

Santa gets a hug from one little boy who was happy to see him. Monument Police Chief Jake Shirk delivered toys to kids in need during the annual Santa on Patrol on Dec. 15.

Santa Claus is coming to town Santa delivers to needy boys and girls By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com Santa Claus delivered toys to needy boys and girls in the Tri-Lakes area on Dec. 15. Monument Police Chief Jake Shirk donned a Santa suit for his annual Santa on Patrol. Santa on Patrol has been a part of the Tri-Lakes area for seven years. Shirk origi-

A little girl tells Santa what she wants for Christmas. Santa is surrounded by his elves, ready to hand him toys to give to boys and girls. Santa delivered brand new toys in the TriLakes area on Dec. 15. Photos by Lisa Collacott nally started it 20 years ago in Aurora. Members of the Tri-Lakes first respond-

ers serve as elves and toy donations came from the community. Nearly 1,000 toys are

collected. Kids and their families were overjoyed to see Santa and receive gifts.

Officials warn of Facebook Non-emergency line not operational scam in Dylan Redwine case Calls into and out of dispatch center affected line for 45 minutes By Lisa Collacott

Someone is trying to capitalize on boy’s disappearance By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office is warning of a scam involving the disappearance of 13-year-old Dylan Redwine. Someone, identifying himself as Abass Gadafi, is using Facebook to try to scam people out of money demanding ransom money for the release of Redwine. The man claims to be the boss of a kidnapper gang and says he is holding the boy captive and for $1000 he will release a photo of him and if given another $4,000 he will release Redwine. He claims to be new to the Bayfield area however requests that the money be sent to an address in the United Kingdom via Western Union.

“This is a scam,” Capt. Jim Ezzell of the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office warned. “Do not send any money.” Anyone who has contact with this individual is asked to call the sheriff’s Redwine office at 970-385-2900. Meanwhile the Dylan Redwine Task Force continues to investigate the disappearance of Redwine. During a community search on Dec. 8, items were recovered and are being evaluated. The task force also continues to receive tips from across the country. If anyone has any information on Dylan Redwine’s disappearance they are asked to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-8435678, Crime Stoppers at 970-247-1112 or the Dylan Redwine Tip Line at 970-3827511.

SO MUCH INSIDE THE TRIBUNE THIS WEEK POT BROWNIE: A student at Air Academy High School is hospitalized after eating a brownie laced with marijuana. PAGE 5

KEEPING THE MEMORY ALIVE. Sailfish sculpture pedestal in Monument’s Sculpture park for soldier.

PAGE 7

SCIENCE PAYS OFF: Two DCC science teachers were awarded a grant to purchase hand-held devices to collect scientific data. PAGE 10

ON TOP. The United States Airforce Academy is No. 1. PAGE 10

TEAM EVENS THE SCORE: Classical Academy IN CHARGE: Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts director appointed to Fountain Watershed Taskforce. PAGE 13

defeats Woodland Park and Evangelical Christian Academy. PAGE 14

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com

El Paso County residents encountered problems when they tried to call the EPC Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line on Dec. 10. For approximately 45 minutes calls could not be made in to or out of the dispatch cen-

ter. Calls made on either end were encountering a busy signal. The cause of the phone outage was determined to be technical difficulties with new equipment that was recently installed. Once the problem was found it was quickly fixed and normal operations resumed. Sgt. Joe Roybal, public information officer with the sheriff’s office, said 911 was not affected by the outage.

December 26, 2012

The Tribune 3

Increased security measures at local schools In the wake of the Connecticut school shooting, schools across the country are reevaluating school safety By Lisa Collacott

lcolacott@ourcoloradonews.com The mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school has raised concerns about school safety across the country including the Tri-Lakes area. On Dec. 14 a gunman forced his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School and despite the security measures the school had, he was able to get in anyway and kill six adults and 20 children. Larry Borland, Academy School District 20 chief of security, said immediately after the shooting happened and for the foreseeable future the district has increased patrol operations particularly around the elementary schools.

“We’ve also had our patrol officers going in and actually physically checking things like our panic alarms, radio communication systems and the buzzer systems that we use to grant entry into our elementary schools,” Borland said. Since the shooting the district has had concerned parents call and email asking what the district is doing to keep their kids safe. Sandy Hook elementary also had a buzzer system but the shooter was able to force entry into the school by using one of his weapons. “There is not any fool proof way to keep someone from breaking into a building. I think we all know that if someone wants to get into a building or door badly enough they’ll find a way in,” Borland added.

Borland said typically armed patrol officers patrol the elementary schools throughout the day and there are armed security officers assigned to all the middle schools and high schools in the district. In addition they also have a Colorado Springs Police Officer assigned to all the high schools within the city. Borland said they will evaluate the increased patrols after students get back from holiday break. “We’re going to judge it by what we think we need to do. We’ll see what else transpires over the holiday break and kind of how our community is feeling once we get back,” Borland said. Students in school districts around the state and country practice evacuation and lock down drills in case such an incident should happen. Borland said a lock down is when there is an imminent threat to the school either from somebody inside the school or in the vicinity outside the school. The procedure is to put ever student and every staff mem-

ber behind a locked door. “We don’t get out from behind the locked doors until a police officer or armed security officer comes and opens the door for you,” Borland said. “We also train our staff to use their best judgment. If they’re in a situation where they can take their kids and they can get out of harm’s way we’re certainly not against having them do that.” Lockdown drills and evacuation drills are required to be done in the district. Additionally every school is required to participate in a tabletop exercise once a year. Next month Air Academy High School will participate in an evacuation drill where the district will take buses to the school and load the kids up to find out how fast they can get kids loaded on the buses and out of the United States Air Force Academy. Other schools have participated in this exercise in the past. “It’s been this way since April of 1999. Unfortunately it’s the new normal,” Borland said.

Search continues for missing boy Dylan Redwine has been missing for more than a month By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com

The center stage is set for the return of Dotsero for an evening a jazz, food and excitement as Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts kicks-off the new year early with a party on Dec. 29. Photo by Norma Engelberg

Party close to home this New Year’s Eve By Norma Engelberg

nengelberg@ourcoloradonews.com While nearly every neighborhood bar, saloon, restaurant and coffee shop in the country celebrate New Year’s Eve but a few local parties stand out. The Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts New Year’s Eve party is earlier than most. Art center members and nonmembers alike are invited to see and hear Dotsero when the band returns to center stage on Dec. 29. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and dinner, including chocolate-raspberry tiramisu for dessert, will be provided by Catering by Nikki. The name “Dotsero” means “something unique” in Ute and for many people the fusion jazz band has become a perennial favorite and its name has come to mean something unique in smooth jazz. The band was founded in 1990 in the small Colorado town of the same name by David Watts on guitars and Stephen Watts on sax and synthesizer. It has returned to the art center several times since the nonprofit home for local art opened about 14 years ago. The band has 11 CDs on the music market. For more information, visit www.dotsero.org. Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts is located at 304 Colo. 105 in Palmer Lake. Party tickets are $25 each for members and $30 for nonmembers. Reservations are due by 4 p.m. Dec. 27. For more information, call 719481-0475 or visit www.trilakesarts.org.

Going to the art-center party will leave Tri-Lakes residents plenty of time to party hardy a second time before the date changes to 2013. One of the biggest in the area will be at the Pikes Peak Brewing Co., 1756 Lake Woodmoor Drive in Monument. This event celebrates the New Year in three time zones, New York, Chicago and Monument. Capacity is limited and reservations are required. Tickets to this gala casino-night event are available for $45 each at Pikes Peak Brewing, at the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce office or www.trilakeschamber.com. Tickets include unlimited hors d’oeuvres, starter Casino Cash, two drinks and a midnight champagne toast. Food will come from local caterers and restaurants and the brewery will be providing its own unique brand of microbrews. Dance music will be live by The Chimney Choir, a band whose biography says combines folk with world music and adds a touch of “psychedelia.” Find out more at www.chimneychoir.com. More information on sponsorship and participation opportunities for this and other chamber events call 481-3282. For a bit of nostalgia, Dec. 31 will be the last time people will be able to party at Pinz Bowling Center, 855 Colo. 105, Palmer Lake. The bowling alley will be closing its doors after its very last New Year’s Eve party. Put on party hats and ring in the New Year with a few frames before the champagne toast at midnight. The event is open to all but only patrons age 21 and older will be allowed in the bar area. For more information, call 719-487-7469.

INSIDE THE TRIBUNE THIS WEEK IREA court followup: Woodland Park man loses case against IREA. Page 4

BSA treecycling: Boy Scouts recycle Christmas trees for summer camping funding. Page 8

Penny Pony: Penny ridge is a lasting legacy for King Soopers owner. Page 9

Sports: Thunder winning streak still strong. Page 10

It’s been a little over a month since 13-year-old Dylan Redwine disappeared while visiting his dad in Vallecito for Thanksgiving break and the search for him continues. Sgt. Dan Bender, spokesperson for the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, said a five agency task force continues to follow-up on tips they receive, some nationwide due to the fact that Redwine’s disappearance has received national exposure. Bender said they have searched vehicles and other places based on tips that have come in, however the tips haven’t turned up anything “As long as we have leads to follow we will continue to search until Dylan’s found,” Bender said. “We are pursuing this as a criminal investigation.” Redwine disappeared Nov. 19 after arriving at his dad’s Vallecito home the day before. His father, Mark Redwine, left the house on the morning of Nov. 19 to run errands and when he returned Dylan was gone. Dive teams and boats with sonar equipment searched nearby Vallecito Lake but found nothing.

In addition his parents have taken a polygraph test. Initially Dylan’s mom, Elaine Redwine, pointed the blame at her ex-husband for being responsible for Dylan’s disappearance. Bender said both parents are cooperating and Redwine are in constant contact with the sheriff’s office on a regular basis for updates to the investigation. Elaine Redwine moved to Monument this past summer and Dylan is an eighth grader at Lewis-Palmer Middle School. Bender said he doesn’t know how often Elaine Redwine goes back and forth from Monument to Durango where she has been staying following her son’s disappearance. The area has had a significant amount of snow recently but an extensive search of the area between Durango and Vallecito and around Vallecito Lake was conducted. “We feel satisfied with the areas we have searched prior to the snowstorms,” Bender said. A reward for any information leading to Dylan Redwine’s whereabouts has increased to $11,000. The Durango La Plata Crime Stoppers can be reached at 970-2471112. Citizens may also call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 if they have any information.

Arrest made in multiple burglaries Special to The Tribune Deputies from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 7000 block of Wildridge Road in Black Forest on Dec. 18 to investigate an attempted burglary. The victim of the crime reported a white male left her residence in a hurry after she discovered he had kicked in the side door to her garage. The victim gave deputies a vehicle description for the suspect and a partial license plate. While conducting this investigation deputies received a report of a separate, but near-by burglary in the 7900 block of Forest Heights Circle. Numerous items of property had been stolen from the residence, including collector’s coins and jewelry. A short time later and while still in the Black Forest area deputies observed a vehicle traveling on Black Forest Road which matched the description provided by the first victim. The vehicle was stopped and deputies immediately recognized property items inside the vehicle as items reported as stolen from the second victim. The driver was identified as 43-year-

old Kevin Lee Mosher, joint owner of Fast Cash Pawn and Loan located at 203 Chelton Drive in Colorado Springs. While the roadside investigation continued deputies were told by another motorist of an additional Mosher burglary in the 15000 block of Milhaven Place. Evidence found at that location was linked back to Mosher as well. One additional burglary on Dec. 18 in the Black Forest was also attributed to Mosher. Mosher was taken into custody and booked into the Criminal Justice Center on charges of Second Degree Burglary and Theft. Information became available to deputies which indicated Mosher may be connected to additional burglaries from Douglas County. A collaborative effort began between the El Paso County and Douglas County Sheriff’s Offices. Several search warrants were executed today, to include one at Fast Cash Pawn and Loan. Stolen property was recovered from that location. Investigative efforts will continue to determine if Mosher is responsible for other burglaries committed prior to these reports.

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January 9, 2013

Redistricting changes state legislative map Not easy to see who represents whom By Norma Engelberg

nengelberg@ourcoloradonews.com The elections are over but there is still some confusion about who will represent whom in the Colorado General Assembly when the 2013 legislative session starts on Jan. 9. The U.S. Congressional district map was affected by redistricting after the 2010 U.S. Census but there was little change in Congressional District 5 where Doug Lamborn remains the representative. However, redistricting has made big changes in the state senate and house

district maps. For example, state Senate District 2 used to cover all of southeastern Colorado starting at Fremont County and was represented by Sen. Kevin Grantham (Senate District 2-R). Grantham still represents Fremont County but his district has moved north to include all of El Paso County outside of urban Colorado Springs, Teller, Park and Clear Creek counties. The district he used to represent is now District 35. People who live in northwest and north-central El Paso County, including Palmer Lake, Monument, U.S. Air Force Academy and Black Forest are still represented by Sen. Kent Lambert (Senate District 9-R) and people in southern Douglas County, including Larkspur, are still rep-

Reward money increases for missing 13-year-old Reward money has grown to $20,000 for information leading to Dylan Redwine’s whearbouts By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com The reward for missing Dylan Redwine, a Lewis-Palmer Middle School student, has increased. The Durango Herald has reported that the reward for any information about Redwine’s whereabouts has increased to $20,000. The reward money has come from do-

Redwine

nations, a benefit dinner and silent auction, the Durango La Plata County Crime Stoppers and an anonymous donor according to the newspaper. The 13-year-old went missing No. 19 after visiting his father in Vallecito for the Thanksgiving break. Redwine moved to Monument

this summer. If anyone has any information leading to the whereabouts of Redwine is asked to call the Durango La Plata Crime Stoppers at 970-247-1112 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800843-5678.

resented by Sen. Mark Scheffel (Senate District 4-R). The state house of representatives has also seen changes with redistricting. People living in Palmer Lake, on the Air Force Academy, Cascade, Chipita Park, Green Mountain Falls and other areas in El Paso County near the Teller County line are in House District 20 and are represented by Republican Bob Gardner. New House District 19, which includes most of Monument, Woodmoor, Black Forest, Peyton, Hanover and points east to the Elbert and Lincoln county lines, is represented by Republican Amy Stephens. House District 18, which includes Manitou Springs and the western edge of Colorado Springs, is represented by Democrat Pete Lee.

Quiet New Year’s Eve for Tri-Lakes No arrests in Monument or Palmer Lake By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com New Year’s Eve was a relatively quiet one in the Tri-Lakes area for law enforcement. The Monument Police Department had several calls for service but made no arrests and no one was charged with driving under the influence. Lt. Steve Burk, public information officer for the Monument Police Department said in the past there have been times when the

holiday has been quiet and other times it’s been a typical New Year’s Eve and they have been busy. This year happened to be a quiet one. Palmer Lake rang in the New Year quietly as well. Lt. Jason Vanderpool of the Palmer Lake Police Department said their department didn’t even have any calls for service. “It was very uneventful for us,” Vanderpool said. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office reported several traffic stops on the police blotter and responded to a call for reckless endangerment and someone shooting a gun in the air in unincorporated El Paso County.

Suspects arrested in holiday vandalism Fire set to holiday decorations, three juveniles charged By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com

Would you like to become an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER?

All of Teller County is now in new House District 39 along with rural parts of Douglas County, including Larkspur and Westcreek. Republican Polly Lawrence won the new seat in the Nov. 6 election. People living in Park, Chaffee, Fremont and Custer counties are living in House District 60 and are represented by Republican James Wilson. Once the 2013 legislative session is underway, constituents will be able to contact all state representatives and senators through directories at www.leg.state. co.us. As of the time of this writing, the state website had not been updated with new district information but redistricting maps and information are available at http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/ CGA-ReDistrict/CBON/1251581769173.

Three juveniles have been arrested for setting fire to holiday decorations and damaging mailboxes in Woodmoor and Kings Deer. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office received reports from multiple residents on the morning of Dec. 30 that their outdoor holiday decorations had been burned and some had significant damage done to their mailboxes as well. Deputies and arson in-

vestigators went to the residents to investigate and confirmed fires had been set. Lt. Jeff Kramer said vandals had hit at least eight different locations on North Sherwood Glen, South Sherwood Glen, Royal Archers Lane, White Fawn Drive and Winding Hills Way. He said several hundred dollars’ worth of damage was done to the decorations and mailboxes but no structures were damaged. After an investigation the sheriff’s office identified three suspects. The three juveniles were each charged with Second Degree Arson which is a Class 4 felony and Criminal Mischief which is a Class 1 misdemeanor. They were released to the custody of their parents.

INSIDE THE TRIBUNE THIS WEEK State representation. Who represents you at the state legislature? Page 4

Do you already have a Bachelor’s Degree? The UNC Elementary Education MAT with Teacher Licensure program begins May 2013 and is offered in Denver and Colorado Springs. Earn your teaching license in one year and finish your Education Master of Arts in Teaching: Elementary Education degree with 2 more courses.

INFORMATION MEETINGS – 6-7 PM COLORADO SPRINGS—Thursday, January 24 UNC Colorado Springs Center 12320 Oracle Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 DENVER—Thursday, January 31 UNC Denver Center at Lowry 1059 Alton Way, Denver, 80230 (1 Blk. S. of 11th Ave and Yosemite St)

WMMI director. New mining museum director has big plans. Page 5

TLCA Mural. North wall of Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts gets a new look. Page 8

Referee. Local NCAA football official gets the important call. Page 10

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Tribune TRI LAKES 2.13.13

February 13, 2013

Tri-Lakes

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Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County • Volume 48, Issue 7

Family continues search for Dylan Redwine His mom’s heart aches but she doesn’t give up hope By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com Her son just turned 14 but he wasn’t home to celebrate it with his family. Dylan Redwine had a birthday on Feb. 6 but instead of having cake and opening presents with his loved ones, his family is still trying to find him after he disappeared without a trace. The teen disappeared on Nov. 19 after going to visit his dad in Vallecito for Thanksgiving. His mom, Elaine Redwine, said when she first got the news that he was missing she thought he would be back the next day. But now it’s nearly three months later and Dylan has not been found. “I’ve followed all the missing people cases. I’ve followed the missing children, the missing women and my heart ached for them. You never think it’s going to be you in that position,” Redwine cried. “When I was

driving up to Durango I thought we’ll get a call from one of his friends or we’ll find him up in the mountains or something and when it was prolonged I knew someone else was involved because two-and-a-half months later Dylan couldn’t have done this himself.” Redwine said the investigators are doing what they can despite the little information they have. She doesn’t believe Dylan just walked away or that he went off somewhere and hitched a ride. “Vallecito is a small area and if he would have gotten a ride with somebody or if he would have been up in the woods all by himself we would have found something by now,” Redwine said. She added that if Dylan would have left on his own he would have called her or texted his friends. She said he was looking forward to going to visit his friends. His last text was at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 18. His phone went missing along with his backpack that contained his belongings. Redwine didn’t come out and say her Redwine continues on Page 9

Family and friends gathered in Monument at Limbach Park Wednesday in a ‘beams of hope’ observance of Dylan Redwine’s 14th birthday. Older Brother Cory, and his mother, Elaine, (black knit cap) spoke to news organizations and the crowd in continuing eﬀorts to find the boy who has been missing since before Thanksgiving. Family members blew out candles on a cake decorated with a “Hope for Dylan” message. Photo by Rob Carrigan

Fireworks to take place in Monument By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews. com The “best small town fireworks show” has been given the green light to take place at Monument Lake this year. After careful consideration the Monument board of trustees unanimously approved for Monument to host the fireworks. The board had some concerns about hosting the fireworks initially and asked the Palmer Lake Fireworks Committee to consult with Chief Jake Shirk of the Monument Police Department and the pyrotechnics company about their concerns. Mark Kirkland, owner of Kirkland Photography and vice-president of the Palmer

The Palmer Lake Fireworks Committee has asked the Monument board of Trustees to consider hosting the annual fireworks display in Monument this year. There are a number of safety concerns that were brought up at the Jan. 7 meeting. File photo

Commissioner address Tri-Lakes businesses Government cuts will effect the military, defense contract workers By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com

Fireworks Approved- The Monument board of trustees approved for the fireworks show to take place at Monument Lake this year provided there is no fire ban. Parking and viewing areas will be oﬀ of Mitchell Road, pictured, on Ernie Biggs property. Photo by Lisa Collacott Lake Fireworks Committee, presented a report from the pyrotechnics committee to the board of trustees and a map showing where the fireworks would be set off and the parking and viewing areas. Property owner Ernie Biggs has given his permission for people to park on his property. Kirkland said there would be a $5 parking fee to help generate funds for future fireworks shows and anyone parked west of the railroad tracks would have to leave through Monument Lake Road to Colo. 105. “It is a good opportunity as a community to show the world what we really have,” Kirkland said. “It helps the economy of our area to keep new faces coming up here and enjoying what we have to offer.” The board of trustees had concerns about people park-

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ing on side streets and at businesses and how the downtown merchants feel about the fireworks show. John Dominowski, owner of the Front Street Square, said he welcomes it. “Our shopping center won’t be open that day. Happy to open it up for parking, happy to do whatever we can to assist as far as our property goes,” Dominowski said. Kirkland said he understands the concerns and there will always be some objections but people have to think about the long-term economic health of the area. He said the visitors to the area on the Fourth of July will be return to fish in the lake, shop and eat at the local restaurants. “These little stay-cations that are exploding because of the way our economy is; we’re a natural stay-cation location. It would be nice to see that

the bump for Fourth of July weekend or day of Fourth of July has a lot more legs to its longevity rather than just one day. We’re hoping that these people come back and want to see the flavor of our town,” Kirkland added. Kirkland said one of the reasons for moving the fireworks show to Monument is because Palmer Lake is dry and that could cause a lot of potential problems. There is still a lot of mud in the lake prompting rescues if people were to get stuck in the mud. “Our basic intention of having the fireworks at all is just to continue on the tradition of having a good celebration on Independence Day,” Kirkland said, adding that it is a Tri-Lakes event. The approval of the fireworks show is contingent on if there is a fire ban.

El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn was the key note speaker at the annual State of the Chamber breakfast. Glenn, who is the county commissioner over district one which includes the Tri-Lakes area, spoke on topics that included the fiscal cliff, county budget, the Affordable Care Act, Amendment 64 and sequestration. When Glenn spoke about the fiscal cliff that Congress was trying to avoid late last year he said the good news was that we no longer need to look at cuts of $109 Glenn billion dollars but that bad news was that we are still looking at a cut of $85 billion dollars. One of the topics that is of great concern to Glenn is sequestration. Sequestration is cuts to government agencies such as defense. That means the Pikes Peak Region would take a direct hit because it is home to four military bases. The cuts will occur over the next 10 years and take effect March 1. Glenn told chamber members that Fort Carson recently sent out a memo regarding their facilities maintenance improvement budget. “They are already giving out notices, 160-300 jobs potential jobs. A lot of us in here you either were in the military or Glenn continues on Page 5

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OFFICE: 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863 PHONE: 719-687-3006 A legal newspaper of general circulation in El Paso County, Colorado, The Tribune is published weekly on Wednesday by Colorado Community Media, 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WOODLAND PARK, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display advertising: Thurs.11 a.m. Legal advertising: Thurs. 11 a.m. Classified advertising: Mon. 12 p.m.

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Tribune TRI LAKES 2.20.13

February 20, 2013

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Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County • Volume 48, Issue 8

Murder, suicide suspected Ethan Courrau allegedly killed his girlfriend’s children and then himself By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com

Air Force Academy Cadet Fourth Class Zach Graf shows students at Lewis-Palmer Elementary School how to attach the legs to their jitterbugs. The Jitterbugs are electric cars and is all part of the electric unit the students just finished. Cadets from the academy’s STEM club assisted students during the project Feb. 14. Photos by Lisa Collacott

STEM comes to a D-38 classroom Students at LPES build their own electric cars with help from cadets By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com To conclude their unit on electricity local fourth graders put what they learned to use by making electric cars with the help of United States Air Force Academy cadets. Cadets joined fourth graders at LewisPalmer Elementary School for breakfast on Valentine’s Day and then assisted them in making electric cars called jitterbugs.

Fourth grade teacher Neva Nardone said she participated in the STEM Bootcamp for teachers at the academy last summer and also oversees the STEM club at LPES. “One of the things we did in the STEM Bootcamp was to build these jitterbugs and I thought it would be a good to have the cadets come help the students,” Nardone said. Nardone said the kids have a basic understanding of circuits. To make the jitterbugs the kids used recycled CDs, hobby motors, batteries, paper clips, wire strippers and pipe cleaners. Cadet Fourth Class Zach Graf showed students in Nardone’s class how to attach the different parts to make them work while Cadet Third Class

Winston Sanks assisted in Jennifer Hayden’s class. Both cadets are part of the academy’s STEM club. Capt. Caitlin Thorn, an aeronautical engineering instructor at the academy accompanied the cadets to LPES and said it’s important to teach the students all about STEM. “The goal is to make sure they know what STEM is all about so they pursue these subjects in college,” Thorn said. Nardone said the students also had a family assignment where they built electric bumper cars and they will be racing the cars in class next week. As part of their STEM learning students will also be participating in their own Mars mission.

A former Monument man is suspected in the stabbing death of two young children in Falcon. Ethan Courrau, 22, allegedly stabbed his girlfriend’s children and is believed to have then turned the weapon on himself. According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office a call came in at 11:12 p.m. on Feb. 13 of a reported stabbing. When deputies arrived at a mobile home located on the property of the Remington Ranch Equestrian Stables in Falcon they found 19-month-old Scarlett Gallagher dead and her three-year-old brother Ryan Willhite with serious injuries. Willhite was transported to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. The young boy would have been four-years-old on Feb. 26. Deputies also found Courrau with injuries and transported him to the hospital where he too died. El Paso County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Lt. Jeff Kramer said all indications lead to Courrau’s injuries being self-inflicted but they are still waiting on the autopsy results to confirm that. Kramer said Courrau was the boyfriend of the victim’s mother Katie Cane but was uncertain if Courrau lived at the mobile home. He did say that the 9-1-1 call was made by the grandmother of the victims. It is believed that Cane was not at home at the time of the stabbing and when she arrived home she found her children and Courrau. Courrau is the son of Beth Courrau, a member of the board of directors for Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District and the former president of the North Murder continues on Page 7

Police seek potential witness in disappearance of Monument teen Man seen in the area the day Dylan Redwine went missing By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a person that could be a potential witness in the disappearance of 14-year-old Dylan Redwine. Redwine went missing Nov. 19 near Vallecito Lake, the day after he arrived in Vallecito to visit his dad for Thanksgiving. The sheriff’s office interviewed someone the weekends of Feb. 9 and 10 who remembers seeing a man on the day Redwine disappeared. This person told investigators POSTAL ADDRESS

that the man indicated he was looking at rental properties and asked this person where the nearest gas station was. The person didn’t have a description of the vehicle but described the man as Hispanic, between 45-50 years old, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 170 pounds. He had dark hair. Sgt. Dan Bender, public information officer for the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, said this person is not a suspect or a person of interest. “When that person passed that along to us we put that other person’s description out in hopes that they will see that on the news and contact us because they were apparently on that county road the day Dylan went missing and we want to know if they

REDWINE FAMILY TO APPEAR ON DR. PHIL According to the Facebook page Finding Dylan Redwine, it has been confirmed that Elaine and Mark Redwine and their son Cory and Brandon, Mark’s son from a previous marriage, will be taping the Dr. Phil show on Feb. 20 to talk about Dylan Redwine’s disappearance. An air date has not yet been scheduled. saw any vehicles, if they saw anyone that looked like Dylan or anything of that effect,” Bender said. Bender said it is possible that the person was not from the area and is not familiar with the ongoing case. The number of tips that has come in

has dropped but information continues to come in and they are investigated by the Dylan Redwine Task Force. Anyone with any information about the whereabouts of Dylan Redwine is asked to call the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office Investigators Dan Patterson at 970-382-7015 or Tom Cowing at 970-382-7045. There is a tip line available at 970-382-7511 where tips can be left on an answering machine that is checked by investigators regularly. People can also call the Durango-LaPlata Crime Stoppers at 970-247-1112 and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. A reward for information leading to the teen’s whereabouts is available and now totals more $50,450.

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Tribune TRI LAKES 3.6.13

March 6, 2013

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Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County • Volume 48, Issue 10

County could see effects of federal cuts By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com

Nearly 70 friends, family members and local supporters attended a vigil for missing teen Dylan Redwine, in Limbach Park in Monument last month, on the missing teen’s 14th birthday. Photo by Rob Carrigan

Suspicion lies with missing teen’s father Several family members point finger at Mark Redwine in Dylan’s disappearance By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com Elaine Redwine just wants her son, Dylan Redwine, home and she hopes that her ex-husband had nothing to do with his disappearance but she said it is possible. Appearing on the Dr. Phil show on Feb. 26 and 27 Elaine Redwine said that when she first heard that Dylan was missing her gut reaction was that her husband had something to do with it. “I do believe that Mark had something to do with Dylan’s disappearance. I do believe he knows more,” Elaine Redwine said. Elaine and Mark Redwine came face-toface for the first time since their son went missing. She and other family members believe Mark Redwine knows more than he is letting on and that he is not doing anything to help find Dylan. Elaine Redwine said her ex-husband has been very evasive and when he informed her that their son was missing he did it by text message and has refused to talk to her. In fact he hasn’t talked to her in three years. She said she has tried on a number of occasions to talk to him and being on the show would provide a forum for her to do so and

get questions answered. Dylan Redwine disappeared on Nov. 19 after going to visit his father for Thanksgiving in Vallecito. Mark Redwine has said that he went to run errands that morning and when he got back Dylan was gone. He assumed that the teen was with his friends because he was supposed to meet up with them that day. When he didn’t return later that afternoon he reported him missing. Dylan’s backpack and cell phone were also missing. The last text Dylan sent was at approximately 9:30 p.m. the night before. A mail carrier has said she saw Dylan and another boy walking down the road the day he went missing and reiterated that during a pre-recorded message on the Dr. Phil show, however the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office has not been able to confirm that. Mark Redwine told Dr. Phil that he believes Elaine Redwine could have something to do with Dylan’s disappearance because over the last few months she has been trying to keep Dylan from him. He also said that she did not try to call him after Dylan disappeared. She responded by telling him that he always lies. “Where is Dylan? You know where Dylan is Mark. You where the last one to see him, you were the last one to have any contact with him. It was on your watch. Where is the responsibility? When do you sit back and say `I lost Dylan’,” Elaine Redwine yelled. Elaine Redwine isn’t the only one who thinks Mark Redwine had something to do

with Dylan’s disappearance. Their older son Cory believes Mark is responsible as well as Betsy, Mark’s first wife, and their son Brandon.

Cloud of suspicion

During the show Cory Redwine, who refuses to call Mark Redwine dad, said that, “I do believe that he took Dylan to punish my mom and essentially hurt her. I do believe Mark is paying someone to keep Dylan hidden.” “I don’t like you. I hate you. You have been nothing of a father for the last 10 years,” Cory Redwine said to Mark Redwine. It was revealed on the show that in May of 1990 Mark Redwine violated a court order and kept his sons Brandon and Mark Allen from Besty. And then in 2003 and 2006 Mark had taken Cory and Dylan without telling Elaine. Mark Redwine said there was a time when he took the kids to a friend’s house until he could talk to his attorney the following day. He said he was concerned because of Elaine’s alcohol use. Dr. Phil said Mark’s first wife Betsy had told him that Mark was abusive. Betsy said Mark threatened to take the kids from her several times and that there was an incident when Mark threw her on the ground and repeatedly punched her in the face. “I believe that Mark could do something Redwine continues on Page 11

Sequestration could mean furlough days March 1 deadline, furloughs could start in April for DOD civilians By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com As of March 1 sequestration is scheduled to go into effect and if so that means the loss of jobs and furlough days for many civilian workers within the Department of Defense. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta notified congress on Feb. 20 that sequestration could mean furlough days for the civilian workforce. Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jessica Wright stated on the Department of DePOSTAL ADDRESS

fense website, www.defense.gov, that furloughs would mean civilians would see a 20 percent decrease in their pay between April and November. For the Air Force alone this could impact 180,000 civilian workers resulting in 22 working furlough days and the loss of 31.5 million man hours of productivity according to an article at www.af.mil. This would have a huge impact on the United States Air Force Academy, Schriever Air Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base and Fort Carson. El Paso County is home to four of the five military installations in Colorado. “We don’t know how this is going to unfold,” John VanWinkle, spokesperson for the academy said. VanWinkle said that the academy has

Sequestration could be a huge blow to El Paso County. The $85 million budget cuts each year for the next 10 years means that Colorado can expect a 10 percent across the board cuts in federal defense funds according to a presentation given by El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn on Feb. 8 during the State of the Chamber breakfast. El Paso County is home to four of the five military installations in Colorado and the budget cuts not only affect the Department of Defense civilian workforce but the whole community as well. Glenn told chamber members that in 2011 the military bases provided a $5.89 billion impact to the region. According to his presentation the military generates 25-30 percent of the county’s gross metropolitan product. The United States Air Force Academy released its economic impact analysis last year and for the fiscal year 2011 the economic impact to the community was more than $999 million. However with the federal cuts the county can expect a negative impact of $4.71 billion annually. Sequestration would mean furlough days for civilian workers of the DOD and that means decreased pay.Cuts to the military will undoubtedly trickle down to the community. Glenn said that businesses outside the military installations would be directly impacted. On the Department of Defense website, www.defense.gov, Jessica Wright, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, stated that families of civilian workers will have to make tough financial decisions. “Loss of pay won’t only be felt by each employee but it will be felt in the business communities which they serve, where there kids go to school and the neighborhoods where they live in,” Wright said. More information about sequestration and the impact to the county will be discussed at a March town hall meeting that Glenn is hosting.

approximately 1,500 appropriated fund civilian employees that could be affected by the furloughs. Of those 1,500 at least 300 are civilian academic instructors which make up 37 percent of the academy’s instructor force. VanWinkle said they would just have to wait and see what happens. Sequestration doesn’t just affect the DOD. Several other government programs will be hit with cuts.

What is sequestration?

It is automatic cuts to the federal budget. According to the Budget Control Act of 2011 discretionary spending must be cut over a 10-year period. Congress put in the act that Sequestration continues on Page 7

The Cadet Chapel at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., is the most distinctive feature on the Academy and hosts approximately 500,000 visitors annually. Photo by Staff Sgt. Don Branum

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Tribune TRI LAKES 3/27/13

March 27, 2013

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Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County • Volume 48, Issue 13

Corrections director murdered at home High-speed chase, shootout in Texas tied to crime

‘We are most appreciative for law enforcement at all

levels in Colorado and Texas and are anxious to learn more as the investigation continues.’

By Rob Carrigan, staff reports

Gov. John Hickenlooper

rcarrigan@ourcoloradonews.com The Colorado Springs Metro Crime Lab has completed the analysis of shell casings collected in Texas by El Paso County Sheriff’s Office investigators. The analysis done by ballistics experts has concluded the gun used by Evan Ebel in Texas was the same weapon used in the shooting death of Tom Clements. The confirmation goes well beyond acknowledging the same caliber and brand Clements of ammunition being used, but rather is based on unique, and often microscopic

markings left on the casings at both scenes, according to a release by El Paso County Sherrif’s Office at 2 p.m. Monday. “Investigators are actively pursuing all pieces of information and angles to determine whether Ebel acted alone in the shooting of Tom Clements or if others were involved. There are no answers at this time surrounding motive and gaining these answers could be a lengthy process for investigators. To safeguard the investigation, we will not provide details on what our investigators have learned thus far, nor will we

share details in the future until such time the information does not jeopardize the investigation. Please be mindful that if other people are implicated in this crime, it is imperative we do all we can to aid in the successful prosecution of those responsible, and that starts with the integrity of the investigation,” the release said. Sheriff David Walker of Wise County, Texas, said that a vehicle matching earlier descriptions was involved in a high speed chase and shootout. At a news conference, Walker said that

Road closure forces change in bus route D-38 bus pick-up was temporarily moved in the aftermath of a shooting that caused a road closure

the suspect was wounded by deputies in that gunfire exchange and collision with a tractor-trailer, and described the suspect as being on life support and considered brain dead, in briefing on Thursday. The suspect exchanged fire with Texas deputies using a handgun before and after the crash. David Walker confirmed during the news briefing Friday that Evan Spencer Ebel, the 28-year-old driver of the Cadillac and a parolee in the Denver metro area, has died in a Texas hospital. Gov. John Hickenlooper issued this statement Friday night about his relationship with the Ebel family: “Every killer has a mother and father, usually with broken hearts. I met Jack Ebel some 30 years ago when working for an oil company soon after moving to Colorado. Jack is one of the most kind and generous people I know. His son had a bad streak that I know he tried desperately to correct. Clements continues on Page 12

Tri-Lakes area still a safe place Area has a low crime rate but crime does happen anywher By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com

By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com Students who normally catch the school bus on Colonial Park Drive had to meet the bus at a different location because of a road closure. Portions of Colonial Park Drive were closed while the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office investigated the shooting death of the Department of Corrections executive director Tom Clements after he answered the door. A suspect has not been identified or located. The shooting took place after 8:30 p.m. on March 20 but the road was still closed the next morning when it was time for Lewis-Palmer School District 38 students to catch the bus. D-38 community relations manager Robin Adair said parents were notified that they needed to bring students to Colonial Park Drive and Scarsbrook Court because of the road closure.

Media and other vehicles line a normally quiet road on Wednesday morning. Photo by Rob Carrigan There are several bus stops along Colonial Park Drive. Adair said the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office informed the district that at no time was there any danger to students

at bus stops or the schools. The sheriff’s office recommended that the district proceed with their normal schedule.

Tips in Redwine disappearance lead nowhere Investigators find that there is no connection to Redwine’s disappearance By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews. com A tip in the Dylan Redwine disappearance that came in from a postal worker when the Monument teen first went missing has come up empty. According to the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office a postal

worker reported seeing Redwine and another boy walking down a road around 2:00 p.m. on the day he disappeared. Investigators have identified and contacted the two young men and determined that it was not Redwine and that the young men have no connection to his disappearance. Additionally the sheriff’s office had also trying to locate a

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man who was seen in the area looking for gas the day Redwine disappeared. They were able to identify and locate the man and said he was in town on legitimate business and has not been linked to the teen’s disappearance. Redwine went missing on Nov. 19 from Vallecito the day after he arrived in town to visit his father for Thanksgiving. He had made plans to visit his friends the day he went missing. The last communication anyone had from Redwine was

a text message at approximately 9:30 p.m. the night before. Investigators continue to seek any information from the public and are investigating all tips that come in. If anyone has any information leading to the whereabouts of Redwine they are asked to call the Dylan Tip Line at 970-382-7511. They can also call the Durango-La Plata Crime Stoppers at 970-247-1112 and leave an anonymous tip or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

Despite the tragic shooting death of the Department of Corrections director Tom Clements, the Tri-Lakes area is a safe place to live. Sgt. Rick Tudor of the Monument Police Department said he has lived in the area since 1968 and the Tri-Lakes Area, which has an estimated population of about 40,000 between Monument, Palmer Lake, Woodmoor, Gleneagle and Black Forest, still has substantially less crime than other cities including Castle Rock. “It’s horrendous what happened and we just don’t experience that type of crime,” Tudor said. Monument Police Chief Jake Shirk said when any type of crime happens in the Tri-Lakes area it shocks people because the area has a low crime rate. Clements was shot to death after answering the door in the 17400 block of Colonial Park Drive off of Higby Road. The home is located in unincorporated El Paso County. There are no suspects at this time and law enforcement is looking for a late model two-door, “boxy”, dark color car similar to a 1990s Lincoln. The sheriff’s office has not given a motive for the shooting but it is possible Clements was targeted. However they are considering all possibilities. Shirk said he feels the Tri-Lakes area is a safe place and crime can happen anywhere. He said that the latest shooting was an isolated incident and there will probably more isolated incidents in the future. Other isolated incidents in the Tri-Lakes area have occurred over the years. In 2010 construction workers found the remains of eight-year-old Genesis Sims in a crawlspace of a Monument home. Sims was beaten to death by her father and his girlfriend in December of Safe continues on Page 12

THE TRIBUNE (USPS 418-960) OFFICE: 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863 PHONE: 719-687-3006 A legal newspaper of general circulation in El Paso County, Colorado, The Tribune is published weekly on Wednesday by Colorado Community Media, 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WOODLAND PARK, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display advertising: Thurs.11 a.m. Legal advertising: Thurs. 11 a.m. Classified advertising: Mon. 12 p.m.

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Tribune Tri Lakes 7.10.13

Tri-Lakes

July 10, 2013

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Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County • Volume 48, Issue 28

Fire marshals stress importance of mitigation Homeowners help the firefighters when they reduce fuels around the outside of the home By Lisa Collacott

lcollacott@ourcoloradonews. com By now everyone living in the Pikes Peak region has seen the destruction from the Waldo Canyon Fire and Black Forest Fire. For years local fire departments have been stressing the importance of mitigation because as they have said repeatedly about wildfires “it’s not if but when.” Margo Humes, fire marshal for Westcott Fire Protection District, said the department has received

two grants recently to do fire mitigation in Pleasant View Estates and Shamrock Ranch. A lot of mitigation was done along Colo. 83 to create a shaded fuel break and she said the Black Forest Fire did not cross over the shaded fuel break. “It made a difference,” Humes said. Humes and John Vincent, fire marshal for the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District, stress the importance of homeowners doing their part in saving their homes and that’s by fire mitigation. “As I’ve told the HOA’s when I’m briefing them, I am not going to die to protect your home. None of the fireman are,” Vincent said. “It should never be sacrificing life to save a property,” Humes added. “Homes are important to

us. We don’t want anybody’s home to burn. That’s what we’re trying to avoid but people have to help themselves to. We can’t do it all.” “We are not callous,” Vincent said, adding that fire departments have minimal resources to fight a fire. “If we spent the amount of money we spend on fighting a forest fire in pre-mitigation efforts we would spend less.” Vincent and Humes have been working to get the message of mitigation out and have even been approached by other towns and municipalities to give presentations. “John and I have really, really tried to get the message out to people. We continue to do so. We’ve had homeowner Mitigation continues on Page 10

Members of the Westcott Fire Protection District put tree branches in a chipper during a community clean-up day for Pleasant View Estates in May. The community has a bi-annual fire mitigation day. Local fire departments have stressed the importance of fire mitigating to protect homes from wild land fires.Photo by File photo by Lisa Collacott

Family looks for justice for Dylan Redwine Sheriff ’s office has not named any suspects, active investigation By Lisa Collacott

lcollacottourcoloradonews.com

The Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief team will remain in the Black Forest area through the end of July. Volunteers from around the United States are helping victims of the recent fire. Pictured from left to right are Wes Johnson (incident commander), John Wells (senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Black Forest) and Fritz Wilson (national executive director for disaster relief). Photo by Danny Summers

Disaster relief team lends hand to fire victims Volunteers will remain in the area through the end of the month By Danny Summers Volunteer teams representing Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief will remain in the Black Forest area until at least the end of July. That word came from Fritz Wilson, national executive director for disaster

relief, who has been in the area overseeing teams and projects. “Things are going really well,” Wilson said. “We’ve had volunteers in from California, Arizona, Missouri, Georgia, Oklahoma and Washington. People from all around the country are coming here to help and lend a hand. “Many of our volunteers came from Moore, Oklahoma, where they were helping clean up after the violent tornado.” The relief workers are POSTAL ADDRESS

doing everything from operating heavy equipment and cutting down charred trees, to cleaning up ash to helping homeowners sift through soot trying to find valuables. Chaplains are also brought in to help residents deal with the emotional and spiritual trauma in their lives. “Every disaster is unique,” Wilson said. “Whether its fire, flood hurricane or tornado. For the people in Black Forest, this is their Katrina. “I try not to make too

many comparisons, but this is a big event.” The volunteers first arrived shortly after the fire erupted on June 11. As many as 125 folks are on location each week. Most of them are being housed at the First Baptist Church of Black Forest (10865 Black Forest Road). The over flow are staying at Vista Grande Baptist Church (5680 Stetson Hills Blvd.). “This is just another opportunity for us to do Relief continues on Page 10

The bracelets read “Hope for Dylan Redwine” and for seven months his family and friends held on to hope that he would come home. On June 27 the family was notified that the teen had been found but it wasn’t the ending they were hoping for. After investigators conducted a search of Middle Mountain Road near Vallecito Lake the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office received news back from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation that human remains found during that search were that of Dylan. Now instead of searching for him investigators are now focusing on what happened to him. “We have no new breaks in the case. We have not labeled anyone as a suspect,” Dan Bender, public information officer for the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, said. Dylan Redwine went missing Nov. 19, the day after arriving in Vallecito to spend Thanksgiving with his father during a court ordered visit. Dylan was 13-years-old at the time and was an eighth grader at Lewis-Palmer Middle School. Dylan and his mom had moved to the

Monument area from Bayfield a few months before. Dylan’s father, Mark Redwine, said he left his home to run errands that morning and when he returned Dylan was gone. During an interview with The Tribune in February Elaine Redwine, Dylan’s mom, said she had “hope that Dylan will come home safe.” Her thoughts were consumed with bringing Dylan home safe and wondering what happened to him. Elaine Redwine had Redwine to eventually return to her job but made the six hour drive to Durango every weekend to search for her son. The search of Middle Mountain Road was not based on any recent tips or new information. “The search of Middle Mountain Road was one of a series of searches since the snow melted. It’s an area we have searched in the past and we always intended to go back there,” Bender said. The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office along with several other agencies had been searching the area around Vallecito Lake since Dylan disappeared and had to wait for the snow to melt to go back into some areas. According to the Durango Herald Mark Redwine continues on Page 10

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Tribune Tri-Lakes 8-21-2013

August 21, 2013

Tri-Lakes

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A Colorado Community Media Publication

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Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County • Volume 48, Issue 34

Investigators search home of Mark Redwine La Plata County Sheriff ’s Offices: It’s part of ongoing investigation, third time father’s house searched By Lisa Collacott Authorities have searched the Vallecito home of Dylan Redwine’s father, Mark Redwine, nearly two months after the remains of the teen were found in rugged terrain nearby. Dan Bender, public information offi-

cer for the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, said the search was part of an ongoing investigation. In a statement sent to the media, Bender said he was only authorized to say that the La Plata County SherRedwine iff’s Office along with assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation served a search warrant on Mark Redwine’s home on Aug. 14. “La Plata County Sheriff’s Office has no

comment and will have no comment regarding what was taken during the execution of the search warrant nor regarding the nature of yesterday’s search,” Bender added. “As we have stated in the past, we have not labeled anyone as a suspect in this case. Due to the active nature of this criminal investigation we have no further comments.” According to KUSA Channel 9 in Denver, Mark Redwine told reporters that investigators searched his home for three hours and removed sections of carpet and wood flooring and took a fireplace poker, clothing and a cell phone. Redwine also said investigators dug a hole in his yard underneath

an outdoor staircase. Redwine’s home has been searched before. Dylan Redwine went missing from his father’s Vallecito home on Nov. 19, the day after arriving for a court ordered Thanksgiving visit. Mark Redwine said he had left home that morning to run some errands and when he returned, Dylan was gone. Dylan Redwine was 13 at the time and had recently moved to Monument with his mother. After months of searching for him, investigators found remains on Middle Mountain Road near Vallecito Lake and positively identified them on June 27 as Dylan’s.

Group says voters need to decide on pot sales Group wants to overturn Town Council’s ban By Danny Summers

Dsummers@ourcoloradonews.com

Boy Scout Troop 70, chartered by the Black Forest Community Club, helped out serving the annual breakfast at this year’s festival. Photos by Rob Carrigan

spirit of renewal AFTER LOSS

Black Forest Fesitval sees record crowds By Rob Carrigan

rcarrigan@ourcoloradonews.com

he weather and a spirit of renewal and support contributed to record tunouts at the Black Forest Festival this weekend. “It was bigger than ever,” said Sherrie Lidderdale Saturday, a volunteer with Black Forest Community Club working at the pancake breakfast sponsored by CenturyLink. “I have helped with it every year for at least the last 10 years. We counted 870 served this year. That’s 200 more than we have ever done before,” she said. “We helped serve a lot of people,” Troop 70 Scoutmaster Nate Dowden said. Troop 70 is chartered by the Black Forest Community Club and regularly meets in the club house. There was also volunteer help from the Wonderful Waldo Women from Colorado Springs. Festival continues on Page 2 POSTAL ADDRESS

Troop 70 and other volunteers served more than 870 at the annual breakfast, this year sponsored by Century Link. That is nearly 200 more than any recent year according to Sherrie Lidderdale, a volunteer with Black Forest Community Club.

Some Palmer Lake residents are not happy by the Town Council vote earlier this month to ban sales of marijuana for recreational use, and they plan to do something about it. According to Jim Adams, on Aug. 12, a group of Palmer Lake citizens filed a letter of intent to repeal the ordinance. The town clerk, Tara Berreth, received the letter that seeks to circulate a petition to overturn the council’s 4-1 vote on Aug. 8. “I’m just a normal citizen,” Adams said. “I want to be treated the same as anyone else who buys Budweiser. Men and women like me just want to go to the corner store and buy our 1/8 ounce of marijuana and go back to our house and smoke our pot. We don’t want to be bothered and we don’t want to bother anyone.” Amendment 64 was passed by Colorado voters in last November’s general election. It was a ballot measure to amend the state constitution, outlining a statewide drug policy for cannabis. The amendment makes the personal use, possession and limited home growing of marijuana legal for adults 21and older. It establishes a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol. While El Paso County as a whole voted against the amendment, Palmer Lake residents passed the vote by about 55 to 45 percent margin, according to statistics kept by the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Office. Some Palmer Lake council members who voted to ban the sales said they didn’t want their family-friendly town to become the Amsterdam of El Paso County. On July 2, town attorney Larry Gaddis and Berreth said the town must opt in Pot continues on Page 2

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