News
ELBERT 3.7.13
Elbert County
March 7, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourelbertcountynews.com
Elbert County, Colorado • Volume 118, Issue 6
Chief: Arson suspect often first on scene Volunteer reported earlier blaze in same area By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com Court documents show that a volunteer firefighter, accused of starting a blaze that scorched more than 600 acres in Elbert County last summer, had reported a fire at the same location three months earlier. According to a statement given to the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office by Elbert Fire Protection District Chief John Gresham, 19-year-old Alex J. Averett reported a fire
on the north side of County Road 102, “across the street” from the June 24 fire that Averett is accused of setting. Gresham told Elbert County investigator Joel Heap that Averett called in a fire on March 17, 2012, Averett the same morning his fire department conducted training. Averett was present for training that morning. On June 24, ECSO deputies and Elbert Fire were dispatched to a grass fire on the south side of County Road 102, about a mile west of Elbert Road. The fire spread quickly due to high winds and extremely dry conditions.
Gresham and Averett were the first to respond to what became known as the CR102 Fire. Averett was pulled off the fire three hours later and treated at the scene for heat-related injuries. Gresham also told authorities Averett has a history of being the first to arrive and had reported “three other fires of similar circumstance in the last six months.” Averett was interviewed twice by ECSO, on Aug. 24 and Jan. 31. Statements given during the Jan. 31 interview indicate that Averett, who had only been with the Elbert Fire Department for six months, admitted to setting the June 24 fire. While he had hoped the fire would stay smaller, he realized he “messed up and tried to hide it,” according to authorities.
More than 100 fire and law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies responded to the fire at a time when state firefighting resources were strained due to the Waldo Canyon and Hyde Park fires. Ground crews required assistance from county road and bridge teams, law enforcement personnel, and two single-engine aircraft tankers to contain the fire. Elbert County Sheriff Shayne Heap said he will seek restitution on behalf of the ECSO for expenses incurred in connection with the fire. The Elbert Fire Protection District covers more than 18o square miles and serves 1,500 people. Averett, a 2011 graduate of Elbert High School, faces felony arson charges and remains in custody. He will be back in court March 8.
Immigrant tuition bill advances
Handful of Republican votes help measure get through Senate By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com
Texas native Kevin Weatherby is the founder of Kiowa-based Save the Cowboy, a non-denominational Christian church that emphasizes simplicity. Photos by Deborah Grigsby
Old-time religion, new brand Cowboy church hopes to rustle up variety of strays By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com
Decorative spurs adorn the conference table in Kevin Weatherby’s office. The Texas native is the founder of Kiowa-based Save the Cowboy, a non-demoninational Christian church that removes many of the barriers that keep people at home on Sunday mornings. He says his church embraces a simplistic approach to religion with a Western flair.
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What if religion could be as comfortable as a well-worn pair of boots? Pastor Kevin Weatherby says it already is, and one can find it every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at the Elbert County Fairgrounds where he holds cowboy church. “Cowboy church is really just church without all the fuss,” said Weatherby in his native Texas drawl. “We just do everything in a cowboy fashion.” That cowboy fashion, according to the former oil company inventory man, is one of simplicity and practicality, right down to baptism by immersion in a horse trough. “Oh that trough’s not a prop,” said Weatherby. “That’s the same horse trough I water my own horses in, except I drain it and rinse it before service.” Prior to the 1980s, cowboy churches were few and far between. While it is unclear where the movement began, it is thought to have its roots in outCowboy continues on Page 9
Undocumented immigrant children are part of the “melting pot” of our society, and they should have “the same opportunities as other kids do.” And that’s just Republicans talking. A bill that would allow undocumented students in Colorado to pay in-state tuition rates at colleges and universities passed the Senate on Feb. 25, with three Republicans joining all 20 Democrats in voting yes on Senate Bill 33. The bill, which has been dubbed ASSET — Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomor- Report row — would apply to all students, so long as they have graduated from high school and have attended a Colorado school for at least three years. “There are some pretty great kids out there who could benefit if we pass this,” said Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, during a Senate floor debate in the days leading up to the final vote. Joining Brophy in voting for the bill were fellow Republican Senators Owen Hill of Colorado Springs and Larry Crowder of Alamosa. Any issue involving illegal immigration has been a dicey one for Republicans in recent years. On one hand, the number of Hispanic voters only continues to grow — and they overwhelmingly support Democrats. At the same time, Republican lawmakers face pressure from the right wing of their party to oppose any efforts that it sees as being akin to softening on issues surrounding illegal immigration. “(Republicans) who vote for this bill are risking everything, politically,” Brophy said. “It takes a lot of courage to vote for this bill.” Crowder said that it’s wrong to expect undocumented immigrant students to forgo life goals and “flip burgers.” “We just look at it differently down there,” he said of his Senate District 35. “I’m of the opinion that this is a very conservative idea.” Crowder also reminded his Senate colleagues that the country needs more workers to pay into Social Security, and that can be helped by creating an environment
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Bill continues on Page 9