Page 8 Thursday, October 30, 2014 The Chronicle-News Trinidad, Colorado

I would like to introduce myself. I am James W. Casias. I was born and raised in Trinidad. I am a graduate of Hoehne High School. I am proud to have been married to Evelyn (Vecellio) Casias, for 40 years, a native of Sopris. We are the parents of six children, all who have graduated from local high schools, and the proud grandparent of sixteen grandchildren.

My Qualifications and Skills:

My “Civic employment began with the City of Trinidad, as a Fire Fighter, a then to local coal miner, and returning to civic duties as a Trinidad Police Officer, and then with the Las Animas County Sheriff ’s Office. I had 19 years of Law Enforcement service, prior to being elected in 2002 as your Sheriff for Las Animas County. My experience with the Sheriff ’s Office began when hired by Sheriff Lou Girodo in the capacity of a Detention Officer, working my way to being the Jail Administrator, Road Deputy, Sergeant, andl then Captain of the Road Division. I am well versed in the aspects of management of the Detention Center, in both Adult and Juvenile case investigation, and in the preparation of budgets, also in the duties as the Fire Warden for Las Animas County in working to obtain the needed resources for the fire districts of this county, Stonewall, Fisher’s peak, Hoehne, Spanish Peak/Bon Carbo and the two volunteer fire departments of Kim and Branson. I have had the privilege to serve you as your Las Animas County Sheriff for the past twelve years. During this time I made changes in our dedication to the serving you the citizens in obtaining training, equipment, school presentations and community involvement. I have worked towards unity with all Law Enforcement Agencies in our County and a networking system with all agencies where we work to provide the best services and protection for the citizens of Las Animas County and the City of Trinidad, and this will continue.

Community Involvement:

I serve on various boards and coalitions within the City of Trinidad and Las Animas County, including: Domestic Violence Board, Las Animas County Adult Services Team, Child Protection Team, Crossroads Managed Care System, Las Animas County Fire Chief ’s Association, Member of E-911Authority Board, Local Region Board member of the Senate Bill 94,in regards to youth.

Member of various Organizations.

In 2004 I was elected as the Law Enforcement Officer of the year by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and the Colorado Brand Board. Selected as the Hispanic Leader of the year for 2012. I have served on the State Advisory Board for Search and Rescue, State Domestic Violence Board, past board member of the Police Officers Standards Training. I serve on various City and County boards, coalitions and School programs. This year of 2014 voted in as President for the County Sheriff of Colorado by my fellow Sheriffs.

I am aware of the various problems facing our community, which includes Unemployment, wages, manpower, crimes and the economic struggles, in having to do more with less. As your Las Animas County Sheriff, know together we can make a difference in our community both City and County and I ask for your support and your vote on November 4th

Thank you.Vote: James W. Casias for Las Animas County Sheriff

Paid for by Candidate

On behalf of the Las Animas County Sheriff ’s Office and the County Sheriffs of Colorado,I would like to say, Thank You, to the following agencies and persons for

making the 2014 Fall Sheriff ’s Conference a success:

To the Holiday Inn & Suites, Pamela Sandoval & Ashley Velasquez, Victoria Avila, and staff, in the hosting of the Undersheriffs Conference.

To the La Quinta Inn and Suites, Cy Michaels & Yvette Dominquez, and staff, in hosting the Sheriff ’s Conference.

To Mr. Jim Cuccia, of the Trinidad Museum for the tour. To Virgil Micek, for the trolley tour of the City of Trinidad.

To Marty Hackett of Mt. Carmel Health and Wellness Center in assisting in preparing the gift bags for both the Undersheriffs and Sheriffs.

To Mary Strange of Primero Cafe and Catering for the excellent meal for the luncheon for both the Undersheriffs and Sheriffs.

To Chris Simpleman of Mt. Carmel Health Wellness Center, in his tour of the Center. To Pastor Cary Nelson for his prayer to open the conferences.

To the City of Trinidad in their representatives: Mayor Joe Reorda, City Manager Audra Garrett, KimMarquez and Chief Charles Glorioso.

To Sgt. Tanya Billinger of the Colorado State Patrol.Dennis Williams in his musical performance of the Bag Pipes.

To Mike Romero and Bob Butera in their efforts to do a tour of the Miners Ludlow Memorial, but had to content with Mother Nature. (Rain)

To the Council of Governments in willing to do the transport to the Ludlow Memorial. To Dave Santistevan for his fine offering of music.

To Rino’s for their excellent and fine dinner. To the staff of the Las Animas County Sheriff ’s Office in all their help.

We proved in togetherness, we can accomplish anything for the betterment of all. Sheriff James W. Casias, Las Animas County

SPORTSTRINIDAD STATE SOCCER

TSJC men play Region IX semifinals FridayBy Mike SalbatoSpecial to The Chronicle-News

Trinidad State defeated Northwest College on Saturday at Central Park to advance to the semifinals of the Region IX Tournament in Powell, Wyoming this Friday and Saturday. The Trojans, along with the other south division teams, Central CC and Otero JC, will join the College of Eastern Utah to decide the re-gion title and see which two teams will qualify for the District Tournament.

Saturday’s game was a physical battle between the No. 8 Trojans and the Trap-pers that saw five yellow cards and two red cards issued by the officials. Nei-ther team was able to score in the first 45 minutes but the Trappers came close on a pair of occasions. Two great saves

from Christian Rico kept Northwest off the board and the Trojans in the game. In the second half TSJC swung the mo-mentum in their favor and forced a free kick from the corner at the 55th minute. Alan Garcia Pena sent a perfect ball into the box to a wide-open Aleksa Blagojevic

who headed it into the net for the only goal of the game. The Trojan defense clamped down the rest of the way to pre-serve the shutout and the 1-0 win. Rico finished with 8 saves in the contest.

The Trojans (16-1-1) will face the Col-lege of Eastern Utah (8-6-2) on Friday. The teams met three weeks ago in Price, Utah with the Trojans coming home with the 1-0 win. Otero will face Central in the other semifinal. The winners of Friday’s games will qualify for the Dis-trict Tournament and also play for the Region IX title on Saturday.

Photos courtesy of Mike Salbato / TSJCAleksa Blagojevic scores the game winner off an assist from Alan Garcia Pena as teammates Ricardo Zacarias (9) and Saad Hissien (13) look on. The Trojans will play in the Region IX semifinals on Friday where they will face the College of Eastern Utah. The two teams met in regular season play three weeks ago and the Trojans were able to sneak home with a 1-0 win.

Photo by Steve Block / The Chronicle-News

These girls from the TSJC softball team helped out at the great pumpkin giveaway at the State Farm Agency on East Main Street last week. Left to right are, Tori Atencio, Vicki Gon-zales, Samantha Glover and Teaja Rivera.

Saturday’s game was a physical battle from Christian Rico kept Northwest off

Shooting team to hold fundraiserBy Greg BoyceSpecial to The Chronicle-News

November 15, starting at 9 a.m., the Trinidad State Clays Shooting Team will hold a trap and skeet com-petition at the Prator Gun Range southeast of Trini-

dad. Shooters will compete in three categories: Men, Women and Junior (under 18 years old). Junior com-petitors must be accompa-nied by an adult. Contes-tants must provide their own shotgun and ammuni-tion.

Cost for trap and skeet will be $20 for two rounds of 25 clays, or $35 for four rounds. Prizes to be award-ed include gift certificates, knives, a gun case and shooting gloves.

There will also be an An-nie Oakley match pitting

three contestants against each other for an entry fee of $10.

Food will be sold dur-ing the event.

All proceeds will ben-efit the Trinidad State Clays Shooting Team. In case of inclement weather the event will be resched-uled. For more informa-tion contact Ryan New-port at 719 846-5525 (ryan.newport@trinidadstate.edu). Prator Gun Range is located about six miles southeast of Trinidad on Country Road 24.6.