A new unit has been created in the Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division: The Cybercrime and National Security Section. The section will be staffed with six Assistant United States Attorneys who are experts in investigating and prosecuting cyber-enabled crimes and national security cases. 

Daniel Anthony Garcia, 28, of Pueblo, Colorado, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christine M. Arguello to serve 37 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer and ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Ron Humphries announced. Following his prison sentence, Judge Arguello ordered the defendant to serve three years on supervised release. The defendant, in custody since his arrest January 25, 2016, was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Garcia pled guilty to the charge October 13, 2016. 

By Bob Garver

The nominations for the 89^th Academy Awards were announced this past Tuesday. I was reasonably happy with them, though I wish the Academy would have shown some love to Martin Scorsese’s underappreciated “Silence.” Here are my thoughts on ten major categories, who I want to win, who I think will win, and in some cases who’s so sure to win that a lot of analysis isn’t necessary. Sadly, that’s true of many of the major categories, and it’s the lesser ones that inspire the most debate.

One of our most popular features over the past 16 years - a full-page color photo on the front of the Kiowa County Press showing various impressions of life in Kiowa County. While a limited number of copies continue to be printed and distributed each week at Kiowa Healthmart, COOP C-Store in Eads, Haswell Propane, and Thunderbird Petroleum, we wanted to bring this feature to our online readers as well.

Shown below - the front page of the February 3, 2017, Kiowa County Press - Moonrise over central Kiowa County. Photo by Jeanne Sorensen.

15 Years Ago

February 1, 2002

• USDA in the process of establishing a uniform data base of producer names and address that will be used by all agencies within USDA

• About Town: We took a ride south of town to see “The Little House” on the Prairie. A small structure is being built, but it looks comfortable.

• Plainview School held a potluck for the community. Afterwards a meeting was held to discuss the declining enrollment of the school.

Driven to lower taxes on the wealthy, Congress prepares to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Lowering what the Federal government spends on health care allows for lowering the taxes on the wealthy. Never mind that this will push costs onto already strained state budgets and drive more Americans into bankruptcy. The budget vultures are circling.

The internet is a wonderful place to stay in touch with friends, conduct business and get information. Scammers also really like the internet because it gives them access to the billions of people who are online every day. When you are online make sure to take proper precautions to keep your personal and financial information safe and avoid these common scams:

Saturday, Feb. 4

9:00 a.m. HS W at Ordway

3:00 p.m. HS BB (H) Holly 4 Games 

Gooden and Barnett K-4^th Free Basketball Camp 9:00 to 10:30 

Monday, Feb. 6^th

HS Regional KB 8:30 a.m. at Eads

NO School

Tuesday, Feb. 7^th

FBLA at OJC Leave Time 6:00 Return 3:45 

Lunch:  Shaine – BBQ Ribs 

Wednesday, Feb. 8^th

HS Regional KB Make Up Day

Lunch:  Lane – Cowboy Hash 

Thursday, Feb. 9^th