News from neighbors
Fire set in school library, two suspects face criminal charges
THE WAUNETA BREEZE, March 8 — The Chase County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at Wauneta-Palisade Schools’ Wauneta Attendance Center Feb. 27 to investigate an alleged case of arson.
According to the official Sheriff’s report, Geier reported the school’s administration believed a fire had allegedly been set intentionally inside of the school. Around 11:55 a.m. MT/12:55 p.m. CT, Geier requested law enforcement’s immediate assistance.
On the arrival of Deputy Duncan Einspahr, members of WP’s faculty, administration and students fully cooperated and assisted with a subsequent investigation of the situation.
The official Sheriff’s report stated, “Such cooperation was essential in determining what had taken place, the details of which were disturbing.”
The report went on to say that the investigation revealed two Wauneta-Palisade students allegedly set an intentional fire to a bookshelf inside the school’s library.
The identities of the two students are being withheld given their status as juveniles.
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Haxtun BOE hears from Gun Club representatives; Bulldogs to switch to 1A
HAXTUN-FLEMING HERALD, Feb. 28 — The Feb. 21 meeting of the Haxtun Board of Education opened with a presentation from representatives from the Haxtun Gun Club. They hope to start a Colorado State High School Clay Target League for Haxtun High School students.
The USA High School Clay Target League is a nonprofit corporation that operates the Colorado State High School Clay Target League as the independent provider of shooting sports as an extracurricular co-ed activity to students in grades 6-12 who have earned their firearms safety certification.
Members from the Haxtun Gun Club asked the Board of Education for permission to form a Haxtun High School team to participate in the league. As proposed, there would be no cost involved to the school; however, students would be required to follow school eligibility requirements in order to participate.
The Gun Club is asking for permission to use Haxtun High School as the team name, along with the school’s logo.
Darin Smith, representing the Gun Club, would serve as the team’s coach. Smith has completed all necessary training to do so. He added that there would be a cost to the student to participate, roughly $200-$250 per year.
Competition for the league includes a nine-week spring season and a six-week fall season.
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Court rules against Tip Jack diversion point
YUMA PIONEER, Feb. 22 — The Jim Hutton Educational Foundation’s attempt to amend its Tip Jack Ditch water right in southeastern Yuma County has been denied in Water Court Division 1.
Water Judge James Hartmann issued his ruling on Feb. 11 in Weld County District Court. He dismissed the Foundation’s original application and denied the Foundation’s motion to amend the application.
The ruling is part of the larger issue concerning the Foundation’s efforts to de-designate the groundwater basin, claiming that groundwater pumping from the Ogallala Aquifer has damaged its surface water rights. The Foundation, based in Burlington, has several senior surface water rights and farmland located in extreme southeastern Yuma County.
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HHD announces appointment of Dewane Pace as CEO
HAXTUN-FLEMING HERALD, Feb. 21 — Haxtun Hospital District Board of Directors recently announced Dewane Pace, MBA, as the new chief executive officer. He has over 20 years of hospital leadership experience with four of those years as hospital chief operating officer at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs.
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