Search for missing teen grows colder
The search for a missing teen-age boy dragged into its third week on Monday, with searchers returning their focus to local waterways but failing to turn up any big breaks in the case.

Dylan Redwine, 13, was reported missing Nov. 19 from his father’s home in Vallecito. After ruling out the possibility that he ran  away, law enforcement formed a Task Force made up of the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, Bayfield Marshall, Durango Police and the Colorado and Federal bureaus of investigation.

On Tuesday morning, three boats equipped with sonar resumed a search of Vallecito Reservoir while other Task Force members combed the shoreline. “We have no new tips that have sent us back to the lake, but we’re checking in case changes in water and lake conditions could have resulted in any changes from last week,” said Dan Bender, Public Information Officer for the Task Force. “Those searches have not found anything at this time, but are continuing throughout the day today.”

 
A helicopter from the N.M. San Juan County Sheriff’s Office flew over Vallecito as well as other area lakes Tuesday afternoon, including Lemon, Haviland, Lake Nighthorse and Electra Lake. “These new searches are not based on any new tips either,” clarified Bender. “We are just trying to be as thorough as possible and look as many places as we can for Dylan.”

More information has surfaced on what Dylan was wearing when he arrived in Durango on Nov. 18. Surveillance footage at the Durango-La Plata County Airport and the Durango Wal-Mart show Dylan wearing a blue “Duke Blue Devils” baseball cap; a black, short-sleeved T-shirt with the large letters “DC” (possibly in grey) on the front; a pair of black basketball shorts that went below the knee with light-colored (possibly light blue and white) stripes on the sides; and black “Jordan” sneakers with white laces.

The Task Force spent about three days last week searching the home of Dylan’s father, Mark Redwine, where the boy was last reportedly seen. Dylan, whose parents divorced in 2007 and had recently moved from Bayfield to Colorado Springs with his mother, was on a court-ordered visit.
The Task Force was mum about any findings at the home, as the investigation is ongoing, but is still asking people for any videos or photographs that include vehicles traveling between Durango and Vallecito between 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18 - noon, Mon., Nov. 19. Anyone with such footage is asked to call (970) 385-2900. A tip line has also been set up at 970-382-7511. Durango La Plata Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to Dylan’s whereabouts. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 970-247-1112.  People can also call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE LOST.

LPEA's 'off-peak' incentive to dim
La Plata Electric Association customers used to doing their laundry during off hours may have to stay up an hour later to get the best deal. This week, the local coop announced its time-of-use "WattWatcher" program is also undergoing a change in rate structure.

The program, which rewards customers for consuming power during off-peak hours with a rate of 4.6 cents per kilowatt hour, as opposed to 15.1 cents per kwh during peak hours, will see an increase starting Jan. 1 to 7.3 cents per kwh hour during off-peak hours. At the same time, the cost for power during peak hours is expected to drop slightly, to 14.4 cents per kwh.

In addition, the base rate of participating in the program will go up nearly 30 percent, from its current monthly charge of $15.60 to $20.50. The "off-peak" hours will also be reduced, from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. All day Sunday and major holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas) will be considered "off-peak."

The time-of-use change is a result of the impending overall rate hikes from Tri-State, LPEA's wholesale supplier, which were announced last month. Greg Munro, LPEA CEO, said although the plug is not being pulled on the time-of-use program at this moment, such programs seem to be dimming.
“Time of use still will exist under Tri-State’s new rate structure, but as we analyze it, we’re seeing that it is just not going to be as financially beneficial for our members to participate," he said. "That may very well be the future of systems that have optimized their electrical use periods one way or another. Tri-State now does not need as much off-peak sales."

The new time-of-use rate structure would not apply to those who have invested in electric thermal storage (ETS) space heating systems, which LPEA has been promoting and selling for many years. The cooperative encouraged Tri-State to support those who had invested in the systems, which involve a significant amount of power to “charge” or heat ceramic bricks, which in turn radiate heat throughout the day. To that end, Tri-State agreed to retain the off-peak hours in the middle of the day for customers with ETS heating systems. However, the rates will change in accordance with the new time-of-use rates.

Musician seeks local help with project
A former Durango resident and aspiring author is looking to fulfill his dream of being published while also keeping the dream of his late mother alive.
Marcos Garibay, a 28-year-old songwriter and music producer from Denver, lived in Durango from 1992-98 with his family. During that time, his father, Guillermo, an immigration lawyer, was active in the local Latino community and his mother, the late Ramona Garibay, started Ballet Colores Latinos – Durango’s first folklorico group. It was here that Marcos began his career in entertainment, performing with his mother’s troupe.

In 1998, when Marcos was 14, his mother, along with two other members of the dance group were killed en route from a performance in Kansas to Durango. Also killed in the crash was Marcos’ childhood friend Mallory Gonzales, 11.

Although Marcos and his father and brother, Armando, then 12, soon left Durango for Pueblo, the community left an indelible mark. With their background in music, Marcos and Armando founded their own music production company, The Blackout Beat, which they have since moved to Denver.

Aside from music, Marcos’ other passion in life is comic story-book telling. However, it wasn’t until a recent life-changing experience that he found the inspiration to combine the two.

“Like any diehard comic fan, I had bought early tickets to the midnight showing of ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’” recalls Marcos. “For this particular film, I had purchased tickets in the now infamous Aurora 16 theater.”

However, by a “freak” twist of fate, he gave the tickets to a friend. Although the friend managed to escape the massacre with his life, the near miss forced Marcos to face his own mortality. “I’m no stranger to death, but I had never really considered that my own time may be a lot shorter than I had thought,” he said. “I began thinking about legacy. I didn’t have anything that really told my story.”

The project, titled “A is for Authentic,” is a graphic novel that includes an original soundtrack, both written and produced by Marcos. The novel is described as an autobiographic epic that centers around his life, living in the “blurred line between fantasy and reality.” The book includes stories of his costumed events as a child, his time as a dancer in his mother’s group, her untimely death, and his journey to move past her death.

“It takes the story of my mom’s dream full circle, tying it into my own,” said Marcos. “The main message that is echoed in the book is ‘live your life in a way that is true to who you are, be authentic.’”

The project will also pay homage to his friend, Mallory Gonzalez. Ten percent of proceeds from the sale of the book and CD will go toward a folklorico scholarship in her name.

However, there is a sense of urgency to the project. Marcos is seeking $6,600 in Kickstarter funding to cover the cost of book printing, artist fees and CDs. Currently at 20 percent, he must reach his funding goal by Dec. 18. As a result, Marcos is reaching out to the local community. “I’m seeking locals who may remember my mother’s contributions to the community and others who see the beauty in the story to help make this project happen,” he said.

To go to Marcos’ Kickstarter page, visit: http://kck.st/UyA9Jz

 

– Missy Votel