Sen. Udall clears up confusion over Hotter ad    
A local political ad has grabbed attention in Washington, D.C.

Last Monday, Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., issued a formal statement setting the record straight on what was seen by some as a misleading ad for La Plata County Commissioner Kellie Hotter.

The ad, which ran in the Sunday edition of the Durango Herald, featured a picture of Hotter, a Republican, next to the headline, “People across the political spectrum agree, Kellie Hotter is doing a great job.” Next to that statement was an official letter signed by Udall.

Hotter’s Democratic opponents immediately cried foul, claiming that the juxtaposition in the ad insinuated Hotter was endorsed by Udall. As a result, Udall  wrote a letter Monday officially endorsing Democratic candidate for La Plata County commissioner, Gwen Lachelt. Although Udall said he supports all Democratic county commission candidates across the state, he wrote a letter of endorsement for Lachelt lest there be any doubt.

He also noted that the letter in the ad was a standard congratulatory letter he sent Hotter last January upon her election to the Colorado Counties Inc. Board of Directors.

“It was not even remotely a campaign endorsement of her as a commissioner in La Plata County, and I’m disappointed that she has construed it as one in a campaign ad,” wrote Udall. “Gwen Lachelt, Ms. Hotter’s opponent, has my support, and I am honored to endorse her candidacy for La Plata County Commissioner.”

Hotter said the ad was not meant to insinuate endorsement from Udall. “There was intentionally never any mention of endorsement, as there was none,” she said Wednesday via email. “The letter was printed in it's entirety for transparency.”

Rather, Hotter said the letter was meant to demonstrate her “proven leadership and recognition around the state and from our D.C. leadership.”
 However, Lachelt isn’t buying the explanation, saying the ad was part of an “ongoing pattern of deception” perpetrated by Hotter. “Pretending that Senator Udall somehow endorses her is part of a pattern. She’s obfuscating her record; she’s trying to convince voters that she’s a moderate voice of reason. But she isn’t,” said Lachelt.

Airport sets new passenger record
Passenger numbers at the Durango-La Plata County Airport continue to soar.

For each month of the third quarter of 2012, July - September, air passenger numbers set a new record. Overall, the quarter saw 137,967 people boarding planes at Durango, an increase of 4.8 percent over the third quarter of 2011.

   
Director of Aviation Ron Dent said he expects the upward trend to continue. “US Air and American Airlines have announced additional service during the holiday season, each adding one additional flight,” he said. “Both United and Frontier airlines are also flying larger aircraft, adding a significant number of seats in the market."

The four airlines have increased the number of seats departing Durango to as many as 870 daily, which is good for local flyers but has taken a toll on facilities. “The significant increase in passenger traffic is straining the terminal and auto parking facilities at the Airport,” Dent said.

A major terminal expansion is being designed, which would reduce security wait times and provide a more pleasant experience for passengers in the waiting area, said Dent. The overflow parking lot was also scheduled to be paved this fall but heavy use has forced a delay until next year because the lot is needed to handle the overload of parked vehicles. Dent said the parking crunch will likely be felt the most over the holidays.

“We are very concerned about the ability of the airport to accommodate all vehicles planning to park here during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, so we are urging our customers to utilize alternative transportation,” Dent said.  “We are also suggesting that passengers arrive well before their scheduled departure to avoid waiting in long lines at the security check point.”

Students nabbed in series of break-ins
Four Fort Lewis College freshman have been arrested for an alleged burglary spree that took place earlier this month.

Over the course of Mon.-Tues., Oct. 15-16, Durango Police arrested Nicholas Chadwell, Tachine Hayden, Samuel Adkisson and Kris Jarldane, all 18, after a tip led police to the mens’ dorm rooms residences.

The men, who all moved to Durango from out of state at the beginning of the school year,  are accused of breaking into cars and a business in Durango. All four have been charged with felony trespass. Jarldane was also charged with second degree burglary, a felony. All four were booked into the La Plata County Jail. Bond for Chadwell, Adkisson and Hayden was set at $5,000; Jarldane’s was set at $25,000.

Over, the last three weeks, detectives have been working on a rash of more than 15 car break-ins at the college and had identified at least one of the suspects. They got a big lead the night of Sat., Oct. 13, when an informant called to report individuals pulling on door handles of parked cars in the parking lot at Allen Theaters, next to the Durango Mall. The caller gave police a description and license plate number from the black Ford SUV they were allegedly using as the getaway vehicle. The SUV’s description matched one from an earlier incident at the Marriot Residence Inn.

Detectives tracked the car back to one of the suspects, and served search warrants for the men’s rooms and vehicles, recovering property believed to have been stolen in at least 12 of the cases. Ironically enough, as detectives were searching one man’s residence, a call came in about a burglary at Alpine Clinic, an outpatient mental health clinic at 22nd Street and Main Avenue. Property missing from the Clinic was later located during a search of Jarldane’s residence.

This investigation is on-going. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Trish Hutchens, 375-4733.

– Missy Votel