February 9th 2026
Former RTN Funeral Home co-owner sentenced Friday.
Jon Hallford, one of the owners of the former return to nature funeral home in Penrose,
was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Friday. Co-owners Jon and Carie Hallford were
arrested following the discovery of 189 improperly stored bodies inside the funeral home
in October of 2023. A state judge accepted plea deals for both Hallfords on their state
charges back in December. Those plea deals mean that Jon Hallford could have been
sentenced to 30-50 years in prison. Cari Hallford could face 25-35 years. The plea
agreements include dropping the financial charges the pair are facing and basing the
sentence on the abuse of a corpse charges. The 40-year sentence Jon Hallford received
Friday will be served concurrently to his 20-year federal sentence that was handed down
last summer. Carie Hallford will be sentenced in April.
Pueblo Corrections inmate recaptured in Colorado Springs Friday morning.
Richard Capek, 37, who walked away from a Pueblo Community Corrections Facility last
week, was recaptured on Friday morning in Colorado Springs. According to Colorado
Springs Police, Capek was tracked to the Chapel Hills Walmart on North Academy
around 10:30am Friday. After Walmart was placed on lockdown, law enforcement
surrounded Capek's vehicle in the parking lot. After Capek refused to exit his vehicle,
officers used pepper spray to force him out. Capek was then apprehended and turned
over to the State of Colorado. No officers or community members were injured during
the incident.
Walsenburg man arrested in connection to fatal hit and run.
Carlos Daniel Vicuna, 40, of Walsenburg, has been arrested in connection with a fatal
hit-and-run in Walsenburg on Sunday, February 1st. According to Walsenburg Police,
officers executed an arrest warrant for Vicuna on Friday around noon. Police were
dispatched to a report of a possible person lying in the street at South Hendren Avenue
and west 9th street in Walsenburg a week ago yesterday. Upon arrival, officers found a
man that had apparently been hit by a car. While officers and medical personnel
attempted to render medical aid, the man died at the scene. He has not been officially
identified. Vicuna was arrested Friday on suspicion of vehicular homicide. He was
booked into the Huerfano County Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with any information related to this incident is asked to call Walsenburg Police at
719-738-1044.
City of Trinidad announces planned power outage for today.
The City of Trinidad has announced that a planned power outage will take place today,
Monday, February 9th, beginning at 10am and lasting until approximately 2pm this
afternoon. The planned outage is to complete essential maintenance. The outage will
include portions of Pine Street, West Colorado Avenue, Kansas Street, Baca Street,
Topeka Street, Johnson Street, Frost Street, White Street, Godding/Goddard Avenue,
Strong Street, North Avenue, Rico Street, State Street, Nevada Avenue, Arizona Avenue,
San Pedro Avenue, North Commercial, Rosita, San Luis Street, North Linden, Buena
Vista Street, Denver Street, Hainlen Street and Lane Street. For questions or more
information call the City at 719-846-6643.
Red Flag Warning issued by NWS for today.
Temperatures are expected to warm up quickly today along with increasing winds, with
relative humidity in some areas dropping to below 10%. That has prompted The National
Weather Service to issue a red flag warning today for the following counties in Southern
Colorado: Western El Paso County, Teller County, Pueblo County, Eastern Huerfano
County, Eastern Las Animas County and Baca County. The Red Flag Warning will be in
effect today between 10am and 6pm. A red flag warning means that conditions are ideal
for wildfire development and the rapid spread of any fires that may ignite.
February 6th 2026
New CO Senate Bill set for first hearing later this month.
Senate Bill 26-059, a bill set for its first hearing later this month, would bar Colorado
lawmakers from holding more than one elected office at a time. The bill aims to address
an issue that has surfaced at least 6 times in the last few years, namely, lawmakers
holding more than one elected office at the same time. Under SB59, a member of The
Colorado General Assembly, or a member-elect, would be prohibited from holding
another elected office. That also includes legislators chosen by vacancy committees.
The issue of lawmakers serving in other elected offices has raised the potential for
conflicts of interest, and continues to revive a recurring debate at the State Capitol. The
bill is not intended to impact anyone currently serving in the legislature and another
elected office. The bill is slated for a February 24th hearing in The Senate State, Veterans
and Military Affairs Committee.
New Senate bill to prohibit discharge of plastic materials passes committee.
SB26-016, the prohibit discharge preproduction plastic materials act, would prohibit the
discharge of plastic pellets and other preproduction plastic materials through land
application or into state waters, wastewater, storm water runoff, or other runoff by a
facility, point source, or person that makes, uses, handles, packages or transports plastic
pellets or other preproduction plastic materials in the state. The American Chemistry
Council says that it shares the goal of preventing pellet pollution, however, it notes that
there have been no significant pellet incidents in Colorado. Backers of the bill say
California already has similar legislation. The bill passed The Senate Transportation and
Energy Committee in a 5-3 vote and now will go before the Full Senate.
Prescribed burns to begin SLV wildlife refuges.
Efforts to plan and conduct prescribed burns during the fall were impacted by the
government shutdown, however, that is not an issue currently. As such, The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service plans to conduct prescribed burn operations on The Monte Vista,
Baca and Alamosa National Wildlife refuges to improve wildlife habitat. Professional
fire personnel will conduct the fire operations and safety monitoring. Weather and
circumstances permitting, prescribed burns may begin as soon as March 9th. Smoke may
be visible for several miles from the perimeter of the refuge and people in the area may
small smoke. For up-to-date information, check the refuge website, or contact Assistant
Refuge Manager Dean Lee at 719-589-4021.
Deer herd management plans to highlight CPW roundtable meeting next week.
Deer herd management plans and the east slope lion plan will highlight discussions at
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife southeast region sportsperson's roundtable meeting
next Wednesday, February 11th, from 6 to 8pm, at CPW's southeast regional office.
Residents of the state's southeast region with an interest in outdoor recreation, wildlife
conservation and advocacy are encouraged to attend. The meeting will be held at 4255
Sinton Road in Colorado Springs, and will also be available online via zoom. For more
information, call 719-227-5200, or visit cpw.state.co.us.
NPS seeking vendor for Great Sand Dunes campground.
The National Park Service is seeking a vendor to provide sales of vended beverages,
firewood and ice at the Pinon flats campground within the Great Sand Dunes National
Park and Preserve. These services will be conducted under a commercial use
authorization and the agreement period will cover the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The
campground is open April though October and typically hosts 50,000 campers per year.
The vendor is responsible for vending non-alcoholic beverages in vending machines and
selling firewood, bagged ice, sundries and limited camping supplies at the campground
store. For more information, email grsa_permits@nps.gov, or call 719-378-6321.
February 5th 2026
CO GOP Vice Chair announces resignation from position.
Saying that it is "impossible" to work with Colorado State GOP Chair Brita Horn,
Colorado GOP Vice Chair Richard Holtorf has announced his resignation from his
position effective at the end of the month. Holtorf, a third-generation cattle rancher,
former state lawmaker and congressional candidate, is the 2nd State GOP Vice Chair to
resign in the past year, following last summer's departure of Darrel Phelan, a former Las
Animas County GOP Chair, who also blamed frustration with Horn for his decision.
Holtorf was elected to replace Phelan in July after calling on fellow Republicans to "build
bridges between our divided factions" and to "focus on our candidates, not our bickering
and infighting". A statement from the State Republican Party says that the vacancy
created by Holtorf's resignation will be filled at an upcoming state central committee
meeting.
SLV Research Center to receive appropriation to rebuild facility.
The San Luis Valley Research Center, located in Center, Colorado, has learned this week
that it will receive a $1 million appropriation to rebuild a potato storage unit at the
facility. The money has been secured by 3rd Congressional U.S. Representative Jeff
Hurd. In 2018, the facility experienced high winds that severely damaged a potato
storage unit. Staff has rented space in a warehouse since 2018, however, being offsite
presented a number of challenges, including keeping staff safe while hauling large loads
of potatoes back and forth. The research center works in cooperation with programs
across the western U.S. to support San Luis Valley growers and communities with
research, educational programs, and work toward optimizing agricultural productivity in
current and future markets.
Former Pueblo County detention deputy arrested.
Andrew ward, a now-former Pueblo County detention deputy, has been arrested for
charges related to sexual crimes against children. According to The Pueblo County
Sheriff's Office, they began investigating ward in late December after receiving a report
that he had sexually assaulted a child. Deputies identified two child victims during their
investigation, the most recent being in 2020. Ward also had "substantial and extensive"
sexual abuse material on his electronic devices. Ward was fired on January 14th. He had
been employed with the sheriff's office since June 2nd of 2014. He is facing charges of
sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and sexual exploitation of a child.
He is currently being held without bond.
Colorado snowpack continues to drop thanks to persistent high pressure ridge.
A persistent ridge of high pressure over the Western U.S. has dominated weather patterns
this winter, keeping storm systems away while maintaining unusually warm temperatures
across the region. Unfortunately that also means that statewide snowpack continues to
drop with statewide levels dropping from 57% of average last week to 55% of average
this week. By river basin, The North Platte is on top with 66% of average snowpack.
Followed by The Yampa & White at 62%, The South Platte at 59%, The Gunnison at
56%, The Colorado at 55%, The Upper Rio Grande at 49%. The San Juan & Dolores at
48% and The Arkansas River basin comes in at 47% of average currently.
Lathrop State Park Rangers honored at CPW annual awards.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently honored 21 employees for their outstanding service
and commitment to protecting the state's citizens and natural resources. The annual
awards recognize CPW wildlife officers, park rangers and staff who demonstrate a
sustained commitment to preserving and enhancing Colorado's outdoors and a
willingness to put their lives on the line to protect outdoor recreationists. Award
recipients in our area include: for outstanding ranger of the year, Park Ranger Erin
Steinman at Lake Pueblo State Park. Lathrop State Park Ranger Heather Prather was
recognized for exceptional leadership with the columbine emerging leader award. And,
Lathrop Senior Park Ranger Jennifer Ives was recognized with the exceptional service
award.
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