New home Sounds of celebration on the ranch SEE LIFE Page 6A SEE LOCAL PAGE 1B WWW.CHIEFTAIN.COM FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015 COLORADO’S OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER/148TH YEAR UNION AVENUE AREA City’s commercial demolition ban expires Black Hills to tear down old Downtown power plant The handcuffs that City ten to expire June 30 and Hills’ offices on Victoria Council put on Black it did. Street. Hills Energy last winter, “As of now, the future As of now, the future of Old power plants barring the utility from of 5 & 6 is up to Black have become shopping demolishing the old Sta- Hills,” City Manager Sam 5 & 6 is up to Black Hills. malls, microbreweries tion 5 & 6 power plant Azad confirmed Thurs- and other attractions in in the Downtown, fell day. “Of course, the city SAM AZAD CITY MANAGER other cities. But the usual off this week with little expects Black Hills to players, like the Pueblo fanfare. clean up any environ- Urban Renewal Author- Council’s six-month mental problems as part ity, didn’t see an oppor- moratorium on the of the demolition pro- to give local groups and CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/FILE tunity in the power plant demolition of any large cess.” individuals time to con- and other redevelopment The old Black Hills Energy old Station 5 & 6 power plant commercial building — a Council put the demo- sider ways to redevelop is reflected in the water of the adjacent Lake Elizabeth at ban aimed directly at the lition ban in place back the old power plant, advocates haven’t shown the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo power plant — was writ- in December in order which sits behind Black SEE EXPIRES, 2A SUMMER RECREATION Fantastic flows As the Arkansas River lowers, whitewater rafting is taking off BY TRACY HARMON THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN CANON CITY — Raft- ing outfitters are rolling in the deep. Gary Walker For most of June, the SOUTHERN Arkansas River was DELIVERY SYSTEM raging between 4,000 and 6,200 cubic feet per second at the Park- Springs, dale gauge, so outfitters were steering clear of the Royal Gorge sec- Walker tion above Canon City. The Numbers section above Buena Vista also settle for was avoided due to high water advisories. When that happens, $7.1M outfitters adjust trip loca- tions along the 15.2-mile Parties must now stretch of river between Granite and Canon City. work together Many focus on the Big BY CHRIS WOODKA Horn Sheep and Browns THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN Canyon areas. “This is an exceptional Colorado Springs year and the boating is Utilities and Gary out-of-this-world great,” Walker have reached said Dennis Wied, owner a $7.1 million settle- of Raft Masters in Canon ment for the damage to City. COURTESY PHOTO/RAFTTHEBEST.COM Walker Ranches from Starting Wednesday, Rafts have returned to more technical sections of the Arkansas River after water levels dropped. the Southern Delivery boats returned to the System pipeline. Royal Gorge and other The pipeline crosses more technical sections One of Wednesday’s of his customers like Numbers also have the duration of the sum- 5.5 miles of the 63,000- of the river. groups was “perfect” to try the Royal Gorge dropped. Flow is below mer,” said Mike Kissack, acre property on its “We stop running the for the gorge trip, Wied section of the river while the 2,400 cut-off and is Arkansas River Outfitter route from Pueblo Dam gorge at 3,200 cubic feet said, as it included Fort the remaining two-thirds more appropriate for Association president to Colorado Springs. per second and Wednes- Carson soldiers who are prefer Big Horn Sheep commercial rafting. and owner of American The $841 million SDS day it was running at in special operations and Canyon because they are “Although our high wa- Adventure Expeditions project is scheduled 3,100, so it is definitely an accustomed to adrena- families with children ter season has concluded “The Arkansas is a to go online next year exciting trip through the line rushes. and first-time rafters. for the year, we’re antici- and will supply water gorge.” Wied said about a third Water levels in The pating fantastic flows for SEE RAFTING, 2A to Colorado Springs, Fountain, Security and Pueblo West. ELECTION 2016 On May 6, a jury awarded Walker $4.75 million, which in- cluded a $4.665 mil- An untangled Webb begins to weave lion judgment beyond the $82,900 stipulated value of the easement Democratic candidate brings outsider’s view to presidential run across Walker Ranches. website, acknowledged But he added, “We Damages plus interest BY KEN THOMAS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS he would face major hur- need to shake the hold would have brought Former dles but vowed to bring of these shadow elites the total payment to Virginia Sen. WASHINGTON — an outsider’s voice to the on our political process” Jim Webb $5.78 million, according Jim Webb, a decorated 2016 race, dominated by and find fresh answers to to a joint press release. on Thursday Vietnam veteran and ac- Clinton. the nation’s problems. Utilities disputed the announced complished novelist who “I understand the odds, Webb, 69, was a Navy amount, and filed an his became a fierce critic of particularly in today’s secretary under Repub- appeal on May 7. Walk- campaign for the the Iraq war in the Sen- political climate, where lican President Ronald er Ranches appealed Reagan who became a the decision on May Democratic ate, announced Thursday fair debate is so often presidential Democrat in response 14. Those appeals were that he’s challenging drowned out by huge nomination. Hillary Rodham Clinton sums of money,” Webb to the Iraq war that he opposed, and Clinton SEE WALKER, 3A AP PHOTO/FILE and other rivals for the wrote. “I know that more Democratic presidential than one candidate in supported. More on the web nomination. this process intends to He surprised many CHIEFTAIN.COM/ Webb, in a statement raise at least a billion fellow Democrats when WATER posted on his campaign dollars.” SEE WEBB, 3A Inside today Underdog Grass stain WEATHER Daily 50¢ - Sundays $1.50 May vary outside Pueblo Vol. 148 BUSINESS 5C CLASSIFIED 6C Against all odds, a homeless A second-round 85/61 No. 33 COMICS 3D 32 pages ENTERTAINMENT 10A terrier mix finds love with a match proves 4 sections FUNERALS 4B Canon City family and some to be another Mostly cloudy LIFE 6A furry friends. Wimbledon with afternoon LOCAL 1B OPINION 4A disappointment thunderstorms. SPORTS 1D UPPER for Rafael Nadal. TV 9A UPPER ARK 3B ARK, 3B SPORTS, 1D DETAILS, 11C Friday, July 3, 2015 Page 2A The Pueblo Chieftain ■ Pueblo, Colorado EXPIRES/from page 1A ____________________________ council much more than demolition moratorium to take the risk of taking ambitious drawings. in its path. ownership of the old Only a week ago, “We are pursuing the plant and any environ- council acknowledged necessary permission mental issues it might that the moratorium to demolish from the contain. was about to expire. Colorado Public Utili- And it has. ties Commission,” Black Black Hills, on the Which puts Black Hills spokesman Bret other hand, will have to Hills where it was a Jones said this week. remediate environmen- year ago — wanting to The utility had given tal problems in getting demolish the old diesel- council several choices tear-down permission powered station. Its de- — the city could take from the PUC and from molition contractor was ownership of the power the Colorado Depart- in the area last winter plant as is; let Black ment of Public Health and tore down the old Hills demolish it and and the Environment. coal-powered plant in remediate whatever soil Canon City. contamination problems Jones estimated that Black Hills planned the plant created; or process — from autho- to bring the contractor have a third party take rization to cleanup — to Pueblo afterward, over for redevelopment. would take about a year. COURTESY PHOTO/RAFTTHEBEST.COM but council dropped the Council hasn’t wanted [email protected] Somewhat lower water levels still are providing plenty of waves in the Royal Gorge section of the Arkansas River, which is one of the most technical stretches. FOR THE RECORD The Pueblo Chieftain makes every effort to RAFTING/from page 1A ____________________________ print all news stories accurately. fun river. This year it is will be augmented to the through Labor Day and If an error does as good as it gets — it’s flow of 700 cubic feet per beyond,” Kissack said. occur, please call huge,” Wied said. second if storage water Wied said his Raft the city desk 544- To put things into is available and the flows Masters business was 3520 immediately so perspective, during a drop below that level be- slower than he would a correction can be low water year, the river tween July 1 and Aug. 15. have anticipated until the printed here in the “This year, we are last week of June. next day’s edition. probably not going to “Now we are busy. The COLORADO LOTTERY need to call on the flow Fourth of July week and CASH 5 program,” Wied said. the next couple of weeks “Rafters will be able to after that will be crazy 5—10—14—16—30 enjoy great weather and busy,” Wied said. Jackpot: $20,000 great rafting all the way [email protected] PICK 3 0—7—9 To verify official results, go to www.coloradolottery.com or call 546-2400. GOT NEWS? Call 544-3520 The Pueblo Chieftain Copyright© 2015 1868-2015 COLORADO’S OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER/148TH YEAR The Pueblo Chieftain (ISSN07473559), an independent newspaper, is published daily by the Star-Journal Publishing Corp., 825 W.