August 11, 2022 Vol. 21, No. 38
e g a t n i V ase ball b
Photos by Larry Ferguson
Above, Neil Chapman of the Heritage Center Springers connects for a hit during the Colorado Vintage Base Ball Association contest on Aug. 6. Umpire Ferril “Mad Dog” Mason stands in the background. Left, Manitou’s Will Bishop records an “ace” as he crosses home base in the first inning.
Serving Manitou Springs, Old Colorado City and Lower Ute Pass
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City Council talks trees, downtown development and urban renewal By Rhonda Van Pelt Manitou Springs City Council spent most of its Tuesday, Aug. 9, meeting discussing plans for a tree care ordinance and committee, a potential Downtown Development Authority and options for the Manitou Springs Urban Renewal Authority. Skyler Beck, Parks & Recreation director, briefed council on the progress to update the city’s tree ordinance to comply with Tree City USA standards. Manitou was accepted to the program in October 2019. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Climate Action Work Group received a consultant’s recommendations in November 2021 and May 2022. Initiatives including an ongoing tree inventory; zero net tree loss; Organic Land Management policy; right-of-way tree permits; a Heritage Tree program; and a tree committee formed the foundation of a proposed tree care ordinance that city staff presented to council in mid-June of this year. Beck incorporated feedback from councilors, PARAB members, city attorney
See the full game story on page 8.
See COUNCIL/page 2
District attorney clears officers, deputies in April shooting Colorado’s 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office has completed its review of the April 11 officer-involved shooting in downtown Manitou Springs. That day, the Manitou Springs Police Department received a report from a bartender at the Royal Tavern, 924 Manitou Ave., that an intoxicated person had brandished a firearm at her. The bartender said the man left the bar and walked east on Manitou Avenue. MSPD Officers Levi Hoover and Jeffrey Schuelke, the initial responding officers, located an
older white male who matched the description in the 800 block of Manitou Avenue. He was later identified as Wilford Robert Deweese, 67, a Florida resident. He refused the officers’ requests to approach to discuss the matter, instead remaining partially concealed. Deweese indicated he had been in the Royal Tavern but continued to refuse the officers’ directions to approach them further to discuss the incident. Deweese would not keep his hands up, telling the officers that he was recording them with his phone
while also moving his hands toward his waistband. The officers tried to move closer to Deweese, but retreated when he told them to stay away and began reaching into his pocket. After more than 10 minutes, units from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado State Patrol arrived to help contain Deweese. Deputy Daniel LeBaron responded to the Royal Tavern and confirmed the felony menacing
See SHOOTING/page 4
INSIDE SURVEY ANSWERS MOSTLY POSITIVE FOR CITY.............. PAGE 3 URA SHOULD SPREAD THE WEALTH, GRAHAM SAYS...... PAGE 4 UTE PASS ELEMENTARY PROGRAM MAKES HISTORY...... PAGE 5