Thursday, September 27, 2007

Two arrested in downtown drug raid

By Karl Isberg
Staff Writer

Officers from the Pagosa Springs Police Department, assisted by deputies from the Archuleta County Sheriff Department, arrested two Pagosa residents last week, charging them with posession of marijuana, with intent to distribute.

Based on information developed in an investiation by Det. T.J. Fitzwater, a search warrant for a residence on South 10th Street in downtown Pagosa Springs was obtained last week. Arrest warrants were also obtained for Richard Leher, 51, and Josephine Leher, 52, residents of the home.

Officers executed the warrants Thursday, Sept. 20. During a search of the residence the officers found and confiscated approximately two pounds of marijuana, assorted drug paraphernalia, cash and firearms.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Shot fired draws response by local law enforcement

An incident that began with a phone call Friday alerting authorities to a suspicious person, ended Saturday when William James Billings, 51, of Chandler, Ariz., died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a site near U.S. 84 south of Pagosa Springs.

According to Archuleta County Sheriff Sgt. Sean Curtis, dispatch received the suspicious person alert Friday, Sept. 21. A deputy returned the call, but was unable to connect with the caller.

Saturday, said Curtis, two Colorado State Patrol Troopers responded to the Lower Blanco trailer park, south of Pagosa Springs on U.S. 84, to investigate a vehicle noted in the report.

Curtis said, when the troopers arrived at the scene, they saw Billings heading to a tent he was occupying at the trailer park. A pickup truck was parked near the tent.

Curtis reported that, when the troopers sought information related to the license plates on the vehicle, they were alerted to the fact it was possibly stolen. When they attempted to call Williams out of the tent, they heard a gunshot and immediately sought cover, thinking the shot might have been fired at them.

When the troopers called for backup, numerous agencies responded. Curtis and four other deputies from the sheriff’s department arrived, with Curtis taking over as incident commander at the site. Five officers from the Pagosa Springs Police Department arrived, as did other CSP personnel, and officers from the DOW.

Curtis said a perimeter was established and when he and the sheriff’s tactical team began to plan a move on the tent, incident command was assumed by Jim Saunders, assistant chief of the Pagosa Springs Police Department. When the tactical team moved in on the tent, said Curtis, Williams was discovered dead, with the self-inflicted wound.

Sheriff’s department personnel took charge of the investigation at the scene; the CSP took control of the vehicle.

“We all worked well together,” said Curtis of the response. “At least three other incidents occurred in the county at the same time, and we handled all of them smoothly, using other deputies to cover the town in the absence of its officers.”

Thursday, September 27, 2007

SUN photo/Ben Bagwell
On Sunday, Rev. Phil Janowsky read a spiritual thought during the Habitat for Humanity of Archuleta County Sunday celebration of completion of the group’s 16th home. Janowsky also led the gathering of some 40 persons in a sing-along.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Habitat completes 16th local home

By Ben Bagwell
Staff Writer

Habitat for Humanity of Archuleta County marked completion of its 16th home on Sunday as 40 persons gathered to celebrate occupancy by the partnering family.

The new family consisted of a mother and three children.

“The house wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the volunteers,” said the Rev. Phil Janowsky, who led the gathering with music and spiritual thoughts. Janowsky provided a blessing for the new home in the Hatcher Lake area.

Out-of-state Habitat volunteers joined with local Habitat volunteers to help complete the 1,196 square-foot structure. The dwelling has four bedrooms, a bath, a kitchen and a single car garage. The home has zero-maintenance siding.

The land was donated and members of Habitat provided the labor for free. Work on the new structure took just under five months to complete.

Those present enjoyed a potluck meal.

Habitat for Humanity of Archuleta County has followed a pattern of building one new home per year. In 2008, the organization plans to build two new homes for qualified persons who can make monthly payments as Habitat partners.