Letter to the Editor ;
I have spent the last 19 years in the United States Air Force living out my childhood dream of serving my country. In every community I lived in, I was always encouraged by the generosity and appreciation that has been shown to me just for doing my job. I truly believe that the area around Hill Air Force Base supports the military better than anywhere else in the world. The community consistently reminds us with picnics, Thanksgiving dinners and the constant “thank you” when I’m out in the community in uniform. However, every once in a while there are things that happen that really make me take a step back and think about the job that our country has asked us to do. Last week I had the opportunity to listen to Mr. Gregory Salicido teach his students at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, CA, that those of us in the military are “not high-level thinkers. They’re not academic people. They’re not intellectual people. They’re the lowest of the lowest of the low”, and “that our parents didn’t love us enough to push us” to make something of ourselves. For some reason this put my “low level of thinking” into a slightly elevated state. Several days have passed since I heard the video, and I have been unable to get his words out of my head. We (the military) failed Mr. Salicido because there is not doubt that he believes his words are true and it is disappointing that we have Americans that could feel this way. Continue reading Lt. Col. Bart Wilbanks “Sets the Record Straight” on U.S. Military
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Easter Services
Abounding Grace Full Gospel Fellowship
At High Altitude Fitness
50 Main St, Silver Cliff
Hal 783-3347, Dan 720-436-7335, Ron 318-840-4799
Friday, March 30, 6-8 p.m.
Cody Park Community Church
0157 CR 27A, Cotopaxi
719-942-3526
April 1, Easter Sunday Sunrise Service, 6 a.m.
Followed by Potluck Breakfast
Regular Service @ 10:30 a.m.
Community United Methodist Church
202 S. 6th St, Westcliffe
719-783-2511
March 30, Good Friday Service 6 p.m.
April 1, Easter Sunday, Service 9 a.m., Brunch 10 a.m.
Cotopaxi Community Church
20326 Hwy 50, Cotopaxi
719-942-4339
April 1, Easter Sunday
Sunrise Service, 7 a.m. above Cotopaxi Cemetery
8 a.m. Breakfast at the Church
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
11 a.m. Sunday Morning Service & Easter Cantata
Cowboy Church at Crossroads
4th & Illinois, Penrose
719-784-9126
With Bagpipes
Join us for a time of reflection and remembrance this Easter
Sunrise Service 6:30 a.m. Breakfast Brunch following
Regular Sunday Service 8 a.m. with Communion
All are welcome
First Baptist Church of Westcliffe
417 S. 6th St, Westcliffe
March 30, Good Friday 10 a.m.
Children’s Mega Egg Hunt 2 yrs old –
6th Grade On the Bluff 5,000 candy-filled eggs
April 1 Easter Sunday 8 a.m.
Community Sunrise Service On the Bluff
10:45 a.m. Service at the church with Choir and Communion
Hope Lutheran Church
3rd & Powell Sts, Westcliffe
719-783-9773
March 30, Good Friday Service, 7 p.m.
April 1, Easter Sunday Service, 10:30 a.m.
All are welcome
Livingstone Calvary Chapel
830 Bridge Street, Cañon City
719-276-0863
April 1, Easter Sunday 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
(Outdoor Service)
Our Lady of the Assumption
Roman Catholic Church
109 S 5th St, Westcliffe
719-783-3507
March 30, Good Friday Services, 3 p.m.
March 31, Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Mass, 7:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday Mass of the Resurrection
of our Lord – 11 a.m.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
3rd & Rosita Sts, Westcliffe
719-783-2477
March 30, Good Friday 12 Noon Service
April 1, Easter Sunday, 10:30 a.m. Service
Potluck following. Church providing the ham
St. Patrick’s Anglican Church
403 S. 2nd St. Westcliffe
719-783-3242
March 30, Good Friday, 3:30 Holy Communion
March 31, Saturday, Hat decorating—call 371-3277
April 1, Easter, 11 a.m. Holy Communion followed by coffee hour
Sangre de Cristo Fellowship
120 Jerry Court, Westcliffe
719-783-0903
March 30, Good Friday Service at 6:30 p.m.
April 1, Easter Sunday coffee & donuts at 9 a.m.
Easter Service 9:30 a.m.
Wetmore Baptist Church
Junction of Hwy 96 & 67, Wetmore
719-371-1230
April 1 Easter Sunday, 6:30 a.m.
Sunrise Service @ New Hope Cemetery, Wetmore
Potluck Breakfast 9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. Western Gospel Singer/Preacher Greg Waggoner
Wetmore Community Church
699 CR 395, Wetmore
719-784-0596
April 1, Easter Sunrise Service 6:30 a.m.
At Jackson Hill, look for signs
Pancake Breakfast at The Wetmore Community Building 7:30 a.m.
Worship Service at the Wetmore Community Church 10 a.m.
Wild West Cowboy Church
60260 Hwy 69 North, Westcliffe
April 1, Easter Sunday
Children’s Bible Study 3 p.m.
Church Service 4 p.m.
Followed by Potluck
March 21 2018 BOCC
Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)
—March 21, 2018
Wetmore, CO
by Jackie Bubis
The meeting started at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. Introductions of the public in attendance followed.
Commissioner Items
Commissioner Printz reported his attendance at an Early Childhood Development meeting, the DOLA grant meeting in Golden and the Tourism Board meeting. He sent a firmly worded letter regarding the toilet in the Wetmore Community Center that has never worked properly. He reiterated that the mop sink was going to have to simply remain as is. Continue reading March 21 2018 BOCC
Candidate for Clinic Board Mike Haga Speaks about the Past and the Present
Redemption From a 37-Year-Old Error
by George Gramlich
Last week a concerned citizen sent the Sentinel (and apparently others in the area) a reference to a United States District Court (Denver) case from 1990. It was an appeal by the plaintiff to have his 1981 felony conviction of federal bank fraud be overturned due to the fact that at the time of the crime and sentencing, the plaintiff/defendant was mentally incompetent. The court rejected the request.
That plaintiff/defendant was Mike Haga, Custer County native and local high school graduate, is a candidate for the May 8th election for the West Custer County Hospital District Board.
His is a story of success after failure. A story of how mental and physical illness can be conquered and controlled. A story of determination to succeed. A story of how God can provide a path to fulfillment. Continue reading Candidate for Clinic Board Mike Haga Speaks about the Past and the Present
Custer County Republican Assembly: Baltzly and Nordyke Both Make Ballot for Coroner
by Sentinel Staff
The Custer County school’s multipurpose room began to fill with people signing in, seeing friends and neighbors leading to the ensuing conversations and meeting new people. Gubernatorial candidates, Steven Barlock from Denver and Teri Kear from Westcliffe were in attendance to meet people and answer questions. Continue reading Custer County Republican Assembly: Baltzly and Nordyke Both Make Ballot for Coroner
Custer County Republican Assembly March 20, 2018
Custer County
Republican Assembly
for all Custer County Precincts
Tuesday March 20, 2018 at 7 p.m.
Custer County School Multipurpose Room
The thirty delegates elected at the County Precinct Caucuses will attend the County Assembly where candidates will be nominated for open county elected positions. The elected delegates to the County Assembly will then vote from the nominations for county candidates for the June 26, 2018 Primary election ballot. Candidates must receive 30% of the delegate vote to be on the Primary election ballot. Statewide race candidates will also be nominated this evening. Ten State Assembly Delegates and Alternate Delegates will be elected to attend the State Assembly held April 13th and 14th, 2018.
All Republicans, 18 years of age and older, are invited to attend this Custer County Republican event to meet your delegates and county Republican candidates.
“Patients First” Reform Slate Running for Clinic Board
by George Gramlich
The troubled West Custer County Hospital District (aka “Clinic”) is having an unusual election come May 8th: All five Board of Directors positions are up for election. The five current Board members, Bob Tobin, Ann Evans, Janny Candelaria, Bob Weisenbach and Katherine Ripley-Williams have all indicated that they are running for re-election.
In an interesting twist, a group of local citizens concerned with the chronically poor performance of the Clinic and the never-ending management issues have banded together to form a reform slate and are running a team of five new candidates for the Board, dubbed the “Patients First” team.
The Patients First Team consists of Mike Haga, Mike Kienbusch,
David Brothers, Ann Barthrop and Larry Luikart. Their intent is to change the orientation of the Clinic’s efforts to a “Patients First” priority with a reform platform (noted below). Continue reading “Patients First” Reform Slate Running for Clinic Board
March 7th BOCC: Jet Fuel at Airport, NEW Landfill Issues, Bogle Wants More Money
Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)
—March 7, 2018
Westcliffe, CO
by Jackie Bubis
The meeting started at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. Introductions of the public in attendance followed.
Minutes from February 23rd and 28th were approved.
Commissioner Items:
Commissioner Canda reported a conversation with County Surveyor, Kit Shy and the Reis family about a possible right-of-way through the landfill for their property.
Commissioner Printz reported that he is satisfied with the response from the Tourism Board regarding the question Mr. Canda asked about the makeup of the Board. “They are an excellent board and they’re doing well.”
Chairman Flower reported on the Republican caucus. Continue reading March 7th BOCC: Jet Fuel at Airport, NEW Landfill Issues, Bogle Wants More Money
March 6th BOCC: Wetmore Center Issues, Hibbs Tower, Hermit Bridge Project
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)
—March 6, 2018
Westcliffe, CO
by Jackie Bubis
The meeting started at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. Introductions of the public in attendance followed.
A question from this reporter started the meeting: Can the agenda be amended at the beginning of the meeting on an item that will require a vote, or must there be 24-hour notice on such agenda changes? The answer from all three commissioners and the county attorney was that those changes required the 24 hour notice.
Commissioner Items:
Commissioner Printz met with the Wetmore Community Center (WCC) Board. There are still lingering issues and the new construction is nearing the end of the warrantee period. Mr. Printz sent a note to Mr. Duke regarding these issues. The consensus of the BOCC was that the WCC would be under the same maintenance as the rest of the county buildings. He also reported meeting twice with the Custer County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC.) Continue reading March 6th BOCC: Wetmore Center Issues, Hibbs Tower, Hermit Bridge Project
In Custer County, Colorado, We Protect Our Own
Letter by J Cascarelli,
Westcliffe CO
It was fourteen years ago that our Sheriff put an ad in the local paper to initiate the formation of the Sheriff’s Posse. About 40 of us volunteered; today we have about twenty active Posse members. Twelve years ago, the Posse command staff, Robin Schmutzler, offered to provide the local school district with daily security patrols when the school was in session, at school athletic events and during school dances including the annual prom. In the beginning, some teachers and at least one School Board member objected to having a uniformed, armed presence at the school. Some of us asked for a tour of the school. This one building school district was built in three phases over the years. There are a dozen little “cubby holes” all over the school. The high school principal conducted a tour for Posse members prior to the school’s opening day. The Posse invited security experts to present the special challenges that school security presents. Continue reading In Custer County, Colorado, We Protect Our Own