Year in Review – January 2025

Year in Review – January 2025

Grand Jury indicts 10 in drug trafficking ring

Colorado’s statewide grand jury indicted 10 people in an alleged drug trafficking ring that stretched from the far southeast corner of the state to the Denver metro area.

Criminal cases were filed in Adams County and 200 miles away in Prowers county for distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, the Colorado Attorney General’s office announced on Friday.

Joshua Hyatt, Edward Monroe, and Asia Ralstin face the most combined charges. Steve Yang, Carlos Robinson (also known as Big R), Chester Gray, Dayla White, Chelsea Hall-Chavira, Juan Mendoza and Louie Gonzales were also indicted.

Of those, only Hyatt and Hall-Chavira were in custody Friday afternoon.

It’s unclear how the investigation started, but law enforcement relied on surveillance, including GPS on the suspect’s vehicles to intercept drugs though traffic stops. They also intercepted calls allegedly detailing drug transactions, according to the indictments.

While the ring trafficked in a variety of drugs, the largest seizures were for fentanyl: Almost 30 pounds of fentanyl, and pills containing fentanyl, were recovered, according to the Colorado Attorney General’s office.

“By holding these traffickers accountable and keeping these dangerous drugs out of our communities, we can save lives in Colorado,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser in a prepared statement.

Weiser’s office said he could not comment beyond the press release, since it is an open case.

The first named defendant in the indictment, Joshua Hyatt, 37, has a lengthy Colorado arrest record starting back in 2006 when was 18. He has been in and out of prison on numerous charges for motor vehicle theft, menacing and burglary in southern Colorado. He was sentenced to 12 years for a felony robbery that occurred in 2013. In 2020, he was arrested in Pueblo for cocaine distribution and for felon in possession of a weapon charges. He was sentenced to six years in prison.

Three months ago, on Oct. 19, Hyatt was arrested in Adams County — the federal Drug Enforcement Administration is listed as the agency on the case, according to court records. The DEA would not comment on the case, but the Colorado Attorney General’s press release says investigators seized a cache of drugs from a search of his vehicle in October: more than three pounds of fentanyl, more than four pounds of methamphetamine, 126 grams of cocaine, and 87 grams of heroin.

The indictments come as federal and local law enforcement appear to have stepped up work on large drug cases. According to the DEA, fentanyl pill seizures in Colorado topped 2.8 million in 2024, breaking the previous record of 2.6 million in 2023.

The DEA helped dismantle a fentanyl and methamphetamine drug trafficking ring in Northern Colorado last March, resulting in the seizure more than 19 pounds of fentanyl, or 85,000 dose units. And in November, the DEA teamed up with Colorado Springs Police and New Mexico authorities on a bust, resulting in the recovery of 670,000 pills.

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Ben Markus/Colorado Public Radio

 

Grand Opening ribbon cutting for new Lamar’s Arby’s restaurant

Monday, January 6, 2025 was a day that has been long-awaited by many in Lamar.  Arby’s restaurant had their Grand Opening ribbon cutting at 9 am, bringing to completion a project that has been five years in the making. A large crowd was in attendance, filling the interior space of the business due to the extreme cold temperatures.  Present were members of Lamar City Council, Lamar Chamber of Commerce, City of Lamar employees, Prowers County Commissioners and multiple interested citizens and community leaders.  Mayor Kirk Crespin has worked tirelessly on this project since its inception and had a huge smile on his face throughout the ceremony seeing his hard work come to fruition.  He told me that when asked why he specifically wanted an Arby’s here, he said “this is beef country”.  Representing LV Petroleum at the ceremony was Calum Naugher, District Manager.  Mr. Naugher spoke before the ribbon cutting saying “This project has been in the works for quite a long while. We’re super excited to see this bad boy finally get opened”.  He has been with LV for just over six months and this was his first major project and one he’s very proud of.  He also said that the company is excited to have Wendy Williams as the local General Manager, as she will be the one running the restaurant in its day-to-day operations, although he will remain in Lamar for another couple of weeks to ensure that things are running smoothly.

Mayor Crespin then addressed the audience saying that it has been a five-year ongoing mission of his to try and recruit an Arby’s for Lamar.  “It’s been a long time coming so it’s great to see it get to this point.  It’s taken plenty of people to get this accomplished.  I appreciate everyone’s help”.  He mentioned that it has taken multiple individuals throughout the city to accomplish this and that it has truly been a community project.  Jeanette Davis, Senior VP of LV’s food and franchise brands, was unable to attend the ceremony but Crespin said “I can’t thank her enough.  She heard my sales pitch and took the time to listen to me”.  He went on to say that LV Petroleum and Food Services has been a great partner to the City of Lamar, bringing TA, Charleys Cheesesteaks, Kentucky Fried Chicken and now Arby’s to the city.  “We appreciate everything they do” said Crespin.

Lamar City Administrator Rob Evans said that there have been “a couple of times” that the project hit what they were afraid were roadblocks but it all worked out.  He shook the mayor’s hand saying “I want to thank you in front of everybody” for everything he’s done and said that he really appreciated it.  He followed by complimenting LV for being such a great organization and that the construction team said it was the best they’d worked with.  Naugher said in response that the General Contractor told him that it was great to work with the City of Lamar and that he was “very complimentary of you guys”.

Crespin closed with remarks similar to those made at the groundbreaking last summer.  “If you’re watching this (video) and if you’re a business looking for a new location, we’re wonderful to work with.  We try to do our best to have an open mind.  We in Lamar are open for business and we’d welcome you if you’re looking for a place for your business”.

Arby’s is located at 1002 N. Main Street in Lamar.  Hours of operation are 10 am to 10 pm daily.

 

Lamar Area Hospice receives donation from Backyard Bash and Angel Open

The Lamar Area Hospice was recently the recipient of a very generous donation.  Presenting a check for $75,000 was Rose Ann Yates of the Lamar Hospice Foundation’s fundraising committee.   Several other members of the fundraising committee were also present. The donation was made possible from the committee’s two large fundraisers held each year – the Backyard Bash and the Angel Open golf tournament. Volunteering for the Angel Open in addition to the committee members were Ron and Joyce Reedy.

Lamar Area Hospice has served our community for 27 years and has seen exponential growth since its humble beginnings.  Deb Pelley, Executive Director of Lamar Hospice since 2006, recalls how when she joined the group, it occupied just a small portion of the building it now owns.  The building was the old Lamar Hotel and she had some very colorful stories to tell of the occupants who lived on the upper floors of the building.  When she was hired, the only employees besides herself were one R.N. and one part-time C.N.A.  Ms. Pelley spent many hours in those early days writing grants so that the group could function.  The only payor source for hospice is Medicare.  Everything else they provide – the Helping Hands for Independent Elderly program, medications not covered by Medicare, durable medical equipment, grief support, etc. relies on corporate donors, grants and fundraisers.

From those early days of Lamar Hospice, they now boast a large staff of RNs, CNAs, Family Services staff, Administration staff as well as volunteers and respite care providers.  The number of persons needing hospice care, grief support and seniors utilizing the Helping Hands program grows each year.  Pelley says not a day goes by that someone doesn’t come in needing to borrow medical equipment (wheelchairs, shower benches etc,) which are provided at no cost.  No one is turned away because of lack of insurance or finances.  The entire premise of the organization is to provide loving end-of-life services so that patients and families don’t need to stress about what they can afford for care.  The generosity of our local community allows Lamar Hospice to go above and beyond state regulations concerning numbers of nursing visits.  The group is able to take good care of its nurses who in turn provide patients with the best of care – “Hospice work is hard” Pelley said.  There is always an RN on call 24/7, something not all hospices can provide.

Pelley says the group is blessed this year to have 35 new corporate sponsors.  She still marvels at the generosity of a community our size and the hard work the volunteers and fundraising committee members do.  She calls it a “community effort” and said the diversity of the fundraisers appeals to a broad range of people.  Not only are the fundraisers a great time, they allow local hospice patients to have one less thing to worry about, knowing they are being taken care of by people who love what they are doing. “We think we’re the best hospice in Colorado” Pelley said.  Hospice workers are true angels among us and our community is lucky to have such a wonderful group here.