Hotchkiss Marshal: Lock Your Car and Help Your Neighbors Shovel Snow

Deputy Marshal Gates Shaklee-  2015 Hotchkiss Citizen of the Year.

Lock Your Car and Help Your Neighbors Shovel Snow

By Thomas Wills

Hotchkiss Marshal’s Report

October and November, 2015

Despite Halloween and hunting season visitors in town it was another relatively quiet month for the Hotchkiss Marshal’s office.

Marshal Dan Miller reported that the department handed out some 300 glow-in-the-dark necklaces to kids trick or treating during Halloween evening in the Willow Heights neighborhood. There were no Halloween related issues reported that night (or observed the next morning) although there was one arrest for an un-related violation of a court protection order. There was also a minor problem at a local bar.

Deputy (and 2015 Hotchkiss Citizen of the Year) Gates Shaklee attended a two week school to become certified as an Arrest Control instructor.  Reserve office McDonald filled in during Shaklee’s absence. Miller also reported that the Department’s training schedule has been made a bit easier with the addition of  POST certified classes being available through an on-line company.

Deputy Shaklee reported during the November 9 Hotchkiss Neighborhood Watch meeting that a woman had recently reported her purse stolen from her vehicle in the City Market parking lot.  The victim had been shopping and had placed her groceries and purse in the vehicle and had then returned the shopping cart to the store, leaving the vehicle unlocked.  In that short period someone removed the purse.  This suggests the possibility that someone was waiting and watching for just such an opportunity to occur. The Marshal’s Department recommends that you secure your vehicle even when you’ll be gone for just a minute or two.

During the month of October there were 118 total logged items including  66 traffic/vehicle related items that in turn included 46 traffic contacts, 14, VIN inspections, 3 traffic accidents, and 3 parking problems.

Then there were 2 assualt/harassment reports, one shopflifting incident and one larceny theft.  There were also 2 logged disorderly conduct/ harassment items and a criminal mischief. There were 9 investigations of suspicious persons or circumstances and 7 burglar alarm calls.  Businesses are reminded to secure displays during heating season to minimize triggering motion sensor alarms when furnaces cycle on. As is usual there was one domestic violence/issue call.

Hotchkiss Neighborhood Watch

The HNW board met on November 9 and besides the items mentioned in the main Marshal’s report there was a mention of a non-reported incident of an intoxicated mother with an open container who had transported her kids to the Willow Heights trick or treat on Halloween.  HNW advisor, Deputy Shaklee was concerned that the incident had not been called in.

There was some discussion of Neighborhood Watch volunteers helping if needed with preparing the Santa baskets for local families in need for Christmas. The Marshal’s Department and town clerk’s staff has been doing the project for many years.

Deputy Shaklee would like to set up activities/training for a citizen’s police academy that would familiarize residents with what local police work entails.  The plan for the project should come together in early 2016.

Shaklee reported that so far there had been no traffic accidents/incidents involving the sewer line replacement project in the alleyways. Caution is encouraged.

Neighborly Snow Shoveling

Tom Wills reminded board members that it is being predicted that this will probably be a heavier snow year due to the strength of El Nino current system in the Pacific. Getting residents and owners of vacant homes to shovel their walks clear in a timely fashion has been a concern in the past and may be an extra challenge this winter. There are a large percentage of older people and others who walk to the post office, senior center, library and other places and icy, non-shoveled sidewalks are a danger, as is hard-to-see ice, especially on sloping driveway cuts.

Shaklee stated that according to a Town ordinance residents/property owners have 72 hours to clear their sidewalks after a storm.  Information on this will be posted on the Hotchkiss Marshal’s Department Facebook page as well as Hotchkiss Neighborhood Watch’s page. He stated that the department issued several warnings on the problem last winter

After some discussion it was agreed that the Neighborhood Watch volunteers could take positive action by pitching in with snow shoveling for those that are physically unable to do it, while noting things like vacant homes and areas where snow removal seems to be a problem.

If you think you may need help after a heavy snow call Tom Wills at 872-2664, 10:30 – 6 p.m. or leave a message after hours. You will be placed on a list to be divided up among volunteers.  If you are someone who plans to offer sidewalk shoveling as a business this winter contact the same number and we will share your information with those who are interested.

The board expressed appreciation to those Hotchkiss good neighbors who provide such help either with their bladed ATVs or by hand every winter.  An example of the best of small town life.  Neighbors caring about neighbors, which is what Hotchkiss Neighborhood Watch is all about.