A little over a year ago, 'SandBox Nanny' received a thoughtful, appreciative and detailed email letter from a follower.
This individual has been writing their frequent letters to the editor in the valley for many years. Long, long before SandBoxBlogs or SafePlaceBlogs ever came to be. (Notice the present tense, yes..they are still at it.)
Their purpose in sending the letter was to share a long laundry list of 'saved' news stories off the (mostly, there were a few other regional media enclosed as well) PI and the Aspen Times.
Amazing (stunning in some cases, actually) how the past that plays such a role in the present has been 'tracked' by area news media, despite their very best efforts to quash a number of issues. The content of the tracking system in their letter was fascinating reading material!
Lest we 'forget', let's walk back to the fairly recent past and talk about the old Members Hub for a bit.
Checking in on the comments to Nancy Heard's letter to the editor today up on the Aspen Times would be a good stop for you to head to first. Click title.
Granted, Nancy may not have communicated her 'snark' as well as she might have, but the point is that Nancy Heard obviously cares about her community and is obviously noticing some patterns that should be concerning to all. Regardless of your political views, etc. etc.
Who knows why Nancy decided to try a letter to the editor. Let's toss a hypothetical out. Let's say Nancy thought she would give the Times another try because things seem to be better and more open to unbiased, uncensored channels of communication. Let's say Nancy is paying attention to her valley wide goings on and thought that just maybe..there was room for her voice too in an environment where she wouldn't be targeted by the old 'bad' or 'predator' style 'trolls' from the old Times members hub.
After all, they have to login with DNA now. No 'room to hide' as the Times and PI are so fond of using as an excuse for their own shortcomings in handling responsibility.
Have we now gone full circle for the Times and the PI, folks?
Blatantly obvious from the growing numbers of alternate media and chat forums that it was a huge mistake censoring and banning the voices of the folks.
Acute awareness, given the failure of their new comment system, that they didn't hold as much of a commodity on the market out here as they thought. Heck, it's doubtful that they will ever get the 'good ones' back on again. Even if they nix the DNA login.
Keenly aware, that the level of discussion they do get when the sparse few logon, is sorely lacking in both content and attention-grabbing power.
But, the hypothetical today is a blast from the past regarding chats, good trolls, bad trolls, predator trolls and the overall sense of security and wellbeing of the folks when it comes to local news media. Not the blind eyes of Swift management.
Moderation works two ways.
The first is the elimination of content that is undesired. Such as rudeness, swearing or whatever the forum rules and regs do not allow.
The second is to protect the person whose voice might not be the most popular in content or person. The concept of a watering hole is that everyone gets to belly up.
What a shame that sitting around the Aspen Times newsroom today are lazy journalists and writers who could care less about Nancy Heard's viewpoint (or) Nancy Heard herself. Just letting her letter shift for itself and/or not bothering to join in the dialogue. Gosh, there must be major, attention grabbing goings on in Aspen today and they must be way too busy to participate.
To mimic some of the more dramatic commentators that drop by: "Are we forever doomed to be stuck in their version of what gets censored and banned...and what does not?"
A shout out today to Nancy Heard of Basalt. Keep talking.
Nancy Heard:
"Dear Editor:
Perhaps the city would be a better place to raise my children? We left good jobs in the city for a rural mountain community. “A nice place to raise our kids,” we thought.
The recent events of a foiled murder plot at the park where my children hang out just 100 yards from my house has me rethinking whether this rural mountain community is in fact a good place to raise my children.
In recent years, all within a half-mile radius of our house we have experienced: shooting at 7-Eleven, armed robbery at Clark's market, a sex offender stalking kids as they leave school (yes, my kids walked right past his car), three suicides, two overdose deaths and a felony embezzlement charge. Wow!...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label gang activity in Basalt Colorado. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gang activity in Basalt Colorado. Show all posts
April 26, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Second teenager in alleged kidnapping plot is arrested"
Chad Abraham:
"A 17-year-old Basalt resident was arrested Wednesday for his alleged role in a plot to kidnap, tie up and leave for dead another Basalt teenager.
The 17-year-old, described by Basalt police as the main accomplice to the 15-year-old boy who allegedly admitted last week to planning the attack, was arrested on felony charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree kidnapping.
Mark Hurlbert, head prosecutor in the 5th Judicial District, said Wednesday that no decision had been made yet as to what charges will be formally filed against the youths. Only the 17-year-old could potentially be charged as an adult, another decision that is pending, Hurlbert said. His office is handling the case because the alleged plot occurred in the Eagle County portion of the midvalley.
The 15-year-old, a Basalt High sophomore who was taken into custody Friday for an unrelated probation issue, and others planned to lure the potential victim to Arbaney Park. The main suspect said he had a beef with the other youth related to drug dealing and a girl, Basalt police Sgt. Stu Curry said last week.
At the park, they allegedly intended to beat the teen with baseball bats until he was incapacitated, tie him up with duct tape and drive up to Ruedi Reservoir.
There, according to the alleged confession, they would “take him out into the woods and let him starve to death,” says a police press release. “The juvenile suspect admitted he wanted the victim to suffer [and] admitted to planning this for the last four weeks.”
“I’ve never seen this level of planning for any crime, whether it’s an adult or a juvenile,” Curry said Friday. “This is very unique to our valley.”
Early last week, parents of some of those allegedly involved found a diagram of the assault plan drawn by the 15-year-old. They contacted police, thinking it involved a drug deal....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"A 17-year-old Basalt resident was arrested Wednesday for his alleged role in a plot to kidnap, tie up and leave for dead another Basalt teenager.
The 17-year-old, described by Basalt police as the main accomplice to the 15-year-old boy who allegedly admitted last week to planning the attack, was arrested on felony charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree kidnapping.
Mark Hurlbert, head prosecutor in the 5th Judicial District, said Wednesday that no decision had been made yet as to what charges will be formally filed against the youths. Only the 17-year-old could potentially be charged as an adult, another decision that is pending, Hurlbert said. His office is handling the case because the alleged plot occurred in the Eagle County portion of the midvalley.
The 15-year-old, a Basalt High sophomore who was taken into custody Friday for an unrelated probation issue, and others planned to lure the potential victim to Arbaney Park. The main suspect said he had a beef with the other youth related to drug dealing and a girl, Basalt police Sgt. Stu Curry said last week.
At the park, they allegedly intended to beat the teen with baseball bats until he was incapacitated, tie him up with duct tape and drive up to Ruedi Reservoir.
There, according to the alleged confession, they would “take him out into the woods and let him starve to death,” says a police press release. “The juvenile suspect admitted he wanted the victim to suffer [and] admitted to planning this for the last four weeks.”
“I’ve never seen this level of planning for any crime, whether it’s an adult or a juvenile,” Curry said Friday. “This is very unique to our valley.”
Early last week, parents of some of those allegedly involved found a diagram of the assault plan drawn by the 15-year-old. They contacted police, thinking it involved a drug deal....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
April 23, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "School: Only one suspect in kidnapping plot attends Basalt High"
And the adults in this Valley wonder why they keep getting sandbagged by kids valleywide bringing forward very serious issues. From drugs to gangs to inappropriate sex crimes, to now alleged attempted murder.
Could it possibly be that the trickle down effect of corruption, power abuse and the most entrenched social hierarchy in the region (all the problem of adults, BTW) has oozed its way all the way down to the kids?
The only new news for them is the escalation of violence and still yet more intimidation to perform.
Wonder what the kids have on their minds? All their minds and not just the outside perceptions being stroked and cultivated by adults who are placed into their lives.
Wonder how important it is to local investigative reporters to start rattling some cages and getting the real, the tough and the hard questions asked?
One way or the other, for sure we can count on the kids and the parents/adults who refuse to back down to those same pressures will be the ones eventually letting us all know.
From 'SandBox Nanny's' perspective and experiences with Basalt High School, it doesn't sound like much has changed in the past aprx. 15 years. The same social serving, rather than student serving positions of trust seem to still be in place.
Scott Condon:
"BASALT — Four boys facing possible criminal charges in an alleged kidnapping and beating plot against another youth live in the Basalt area, but only one of them attended Basalt High School, authorities said last weekend.
Adriana Hire, assistant principal of Basalt High School, said Sunday she had learned that only the young man identified by police as the prime suspect in the kidnapping plot was attending the school.
“That was a very short period of time,” Hire said.
Hire said none of the other three suspects in the case is currently a student. She said she was prohibited by school policy from discussing if any of the three students previously attended Basalt High School. Authorities could offer limited information about the suspects because they are juveniles.
A Basalt Police Department spokesman said Friday that all four kids attended Basalt High School. Hire said she wanted to correct that information because it could affect perceptions of the high school...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Could it possibly be that the trickle down effect of corruption, power abuse and the most entrenched social hierarchy in the region (all the problem of adults, BTW) has oozed its way all the way down to the kids?
The only new news for them is the escalation of violence and still yet more intimidation to perform.
Wonder what the kids have on their minds? All their minds and not just the outside perceptions being stroked and cultivated by adults who are placed into their lives.
Wonder how important it is to local investigative reporters to start rattling some cages and getting the real, the tough and the hard questions asked?
One way or the other, for sure we can count on the kids and the parents/adults who refuse to back down to those same pressures will be the ones eventually letting us all know.
From 'SandBox Nanny's' perspective and experiences with Basalt High School, it doesn't sound like much has changed in the past aprx. 15 years. The same social serving, rather than student serving positions of trust seem to still be in place.
Scott Condon:
"BASALT — Four boys facing possible criminal charges in an alleged kidnapping and beating plot against another youth live in the Basalt area, but only one of them attended Basalt High School, authorities said last weekend.
Adriana Hire, assistant principal of Basalt High School, said Sunday she had learned that only the young man identified by police as the prime suspect in the kidnapping plot was attending the school.
“That was a very short period of time,” Hire said.
Hire said none of the other three suspects in the case is currently a student. She said she was prohibited by school policy from discussing if any of the three students previously attended Basalt High School. Authorities could offer limited information about the suspects because they are juveniles.
A Basalt Police Department spokesman said Friday that all four kids attended Basalt High School. Hire said she wanted to correct that information because it could affect perceptions of the high school...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
April 21, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Teen in alleged murder plot arrested"
It is true that the Basalt Police Dept. is not the 'same' as Aspen and Pitkin County law enforcement. There is an aura of community and some similar beliefs. But Basalt is more pro-active and not as 'blinders on' tolerant.
There is also the need, the same as there is for any of our community forces, for more bodies and more training to look deeper into some areas. But overall, SandBox has to agree with Curry on the point that gang activity is not out of control and that Basalt PD is on top.
Where he falls short in his perception is that there is just a 'beginning' of gang related activity in the Basalt jurisdiction that includes so closely El Jebel and Blue Lake which are partially in Eagle County.
Since 1995, which is as far back as my own memory can take me where kids and gang activity are concerned, there have been a majority of parents who realized how closely the gang problems in Carbondale relate to Basalt kids.
For at least the past 17 years it has not been fully safe to let your kids out at night past a certain hour anywhere between Basalt and Carbondale. But especially Carbondale.
For at least the past 12 years, there has been gang activity at Basalt High School, Arbaney Park, the middle school and certain pocket points downtown and on the Pan.
What a mistake it is, for Basalt law enforcement to be so casual in reporting this to the public. You see, the parents out here will see right through the press release for the falsity it is.
What a tough wake up call this is for the Town of Basalt to have the second/third warning bell be one of such severity. Now, the question is. What, exactly, is the Basalt P.D. and Eagle S.O. going to do to step up their game?
Chad Abraham:
"...Curry said authorities were taken aback by the amount of detail in the alleged scheme, which he said also involved the use of walkie-talkies.
“I’ve never seen this level of planning for any crime, whether it’s an adult or a juvenile,” he said Friday. “This is very unique to our valley.”
The bad blood between the main suspect and the potential victim allegedly involved drug dealing and a relationship with a girl, the release says....
....Much credit for disrupting the plot, Curry said, should go to Brian Lemke, the Basalt Police Department’s school resource officer.
Lemke “spoke with a juvenile who told him that the event at Arbaney Park was actually a planned assault and abduction, and not a drug deal,” the release says. “The juvenile informed officer Lemke that the map and description was for a plan by local gang members to beat, kidnap and potentially murder a rival gang member by luring him to that location.”
The juvenile who spoke to Lemke might have been approached to take part, Curry said.
Basalt police are not releasing the name of the purported gangs to protect against potential future violence. The possible victim is in police custody for an unrelated case.
Besides the diagrams, police recovered a BB gun pistol that Curry said was spray-painted black to look like a real handgun.
“It looked exactly like one of our guns,” he said.
Multiple messages left with 5th Judicial District prosecutors were not returned Friday. But Curry said the boy could be charged with conspiracy to commit assault, kidnapping and, possibly, homicide....."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
There is also the need, the same as there is for any of our community forces, for more bodies and more training to look deeper into some areas. But overall, SandBox has to agree with Curry on the point that gang activity is not out of control and that Basalt PD is on top.
Where he falls short in his perception is that there is just a 'beginning' of gang related activity in the Basalt jurisdiction that includes so closely El Jebel and Blue Lake which are partially in Eagle County.
Since 1995, which is as far back as my own memory can take me where kids and gang activity are concerned, there have been a majority of parents who realized how closely the gang problems in Carbondale relate to Basalt kids.
For at least the past 17 years it has not been fully safe to let your kids out at night past a certain hour anywhere between Basalt and Carbondale. But especially Carbondale.
For at least the past 12 years, there has been gang activity at Basalt High School, Arbaney Park, the middle school and certain pocket points downtown and on the Pan.
What a mistake it is, for Basalt law enforcement to be so casual in reporting this to the public. You see, the parents out here will see right through the press release for the falsity it is.
What a tough wake up call this is for the Town of Basalt to have the second/third warning bell be one of such severity. Now, the question is. What, exactly, is the Basalt P.D. and Eagle S.O. going to do to step up their game?
Chad Abraham:
"...Curry said authorities were taken aback by the amount of detail in the alleged scheme, which he said also involved the use of walkie-talkies.
“I’ve never seen this level of planning for any crime, whether it’s an adult or a juvenile,” he said Friday. “This is very unique to our valley.”
The bad blood between the main suspect and the potential victim allegedly involved drug dealing and a relationship with a girl, the release says....
....Much credit for disrupting the plot, Curry said, should go to Brian Lemke, the Basalt Police Department’s school resource officer.
Lemke “spoke with a juvenile who told him that the event at Arbaney Park was actually a planned assault and abduction, and not a drug deal,” the release says. “The juvenile informed officer Lemke that the map and description was for a plan by local gang members to beat, kidnap and potentially murder a rival gang member by luring him to that location.”
The juvenile who spoke to Lemke might have been approached to take part, Curry said.
Basalt police are not releasing the name of the purported gangs to protect against potential future violence. The possible victim is in police custody for an unrelated case.
Besides the diagrams, police recovered a BB gun pistol that Curry said was spray-painted black to look like a real handgun.
“It looked exactly like one of our guns,” he said.
Multiple messages left with 5th Judicial District prosecutors were not returned Friday. But Curry said the boy could be charged with conspiracy to commit assault, kidnapping and, possibly, homicide....."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
January 7, 2012
SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Historic Emma town site defaced"
There has been a gang element in Basalt Middle and High School since 1999.
Parents who live in Basalt haven't let their kids travel between Basalt and Carbondale and then hang out in Carbondale after dark for years.
Why?
Because of the Latino gangs.
This is not new news and it is very disappointing to see Pitkin County officials acting as though they're surprised and shocked over this happening again.
This time, spend the money to protect the building with a high quality graffiti protectant. Tnemec's Dur A Pell GS is one of the best. The Paint Store in Carbondale can help you figure it out.
And consider pulling all elected officials heads out of the sand in the upper Roaring Fork Valley and taking a good, hard look at the gang and drug problems we have.
Voters, you have some commissioners, city council, a D.A. and in another year or so a PitCo Sheriff to look at in the voting booth. Focus on getting in those that will support law enforcement's most major challenges in our area.
"...The sheriff’s office is investigating the crime. The open space department is offering the reward for anyone with information leading to the vandal or vandals’ arrest.
Multi-colored spray-painted tags run across two sides of the building facing the highway. Armstrong said authorities believe they might be gang-related and have enlisted a graffiti expert to interpret their meaning, in the hopes of tracing them to the perpetrators.
Cleaning the graffiti is particularly challenging because chemical paint thinners or blasting would damage the brick.
“Whatever we use, we have to be careful because that brick is 125 years old,” Armstrong said. “Sand-blasting is not an option....”
(Andrew Travers)
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
Parents who live in Basalt haven't let their kids travel between Basalt and Carbondale and then hang out in Carbondale after dark for years.
Why?
Because of the Latino gangs.
This is not new news and it is very disappointing to see Pitkin County officials acting as though they're surprised and shocked over this happening again.
This time, spend the money to protect the building with a high quality graffiti protectant. Tnemec's Dur A Pell GS is one of the best. The Paint Store in Carbondale can help you figure it out.
And consider pulling all elected officials heads out of the sand in the upper Roaring Fork Valley and taking a good, hard look at the gang and drug problems we have.
Voters, you have some commissioners, city council, a D.A. and in another year or so a PitCo Sheriff to look at in the voting booth. Focus on getting in those that will support law enforcement's most major challenges in our area.
"...The sheriff’s office is investigating the crime. The open space department is offering the reward for anyone with information leading to the vandal or vandals’ arrest.
Multi-colored spray-painted tags run across two sides of the building facing the highway. Armstrong said authorities believe they might be gang-related and have enlisted a graffiti expert to interpret their meaning, in the hopes of tracing them to the perpetrators.
Cleaning the graffiti is particularly challenging because chemical paint thinners or blasting would damage the brick.
“Whatever we use, we have to be careful because that brick is 125 years old,” Armstrong said. “Sand-blasting is not an option....”
(Andrew Travers)
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
December 6, 2011
SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Teens advised on auto theft charges"
Rick Carroll:
"...The 14-year-old, who was arrested Oct. 30 by Garfield County sheriff's deputies, did not have legal representation at Monday's advisement, but Nichols noted that the Public Defender's Office is handling his cases on both ends of the valley.
Both defendants asked if they could speak, but the judge implored them not to since their lawyers were not present.
“What if it wasn't my decision to steal them cars?” the 14-year-old asked Nichols. The judge, in return, advised him not to speak any further.
If convicted, each suspect faces potential punishments of up to years in the custody of the Division of Youth Corrections. Or, they could be sentenced to the custody of the Department of Social Services until they are 21 years old.
In a press release issued after the teens' arrests, the Garfield County Sheriff's Office said both defendants are believed to be members of the criminal Sureno gang. The investigation into the vehicle thefts involved law-enforcement agents in Garfield and Pitkin Counties, Aspen and New Castle police, and ICE Homeland Security Investigations." (Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"...The 14-year-old, who was arrested Oct. 30 by Garfield County sheriff's deputies, did not have legal representation at Monday's advisement, but Nichols noted that the Public Defender's Office is handling his cases on both ends of the valley.
Both defendants asked if they could speak, but the judge implored them not to since their lawyers were not present.
“What if it wasn't my decision to steal them cars?” the 14-year-old asked Nichols. The judge, in return, advised him not to speak any further.
If convicted, each suspect faces potential punishments of up to years in the custody of the Division of Youth Corrections. Or, they could be sentenced to the custody of the Department of Social Services until they are 21 years old.
In a press release issued after the teens' arrests, the Garfield County Sheriff's Office said both defendants are believed to be members of the criminal Sureno gang. The investigation into the vehicle thefts involved law-enforcement agents in Garfield and Pitkin Counties, Aspen and New Castle police, and ICE Homeland Security Investigations." (Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
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