The following messages were included in our most recent newsletter that was sent to subscribers earlier this week.

Chaffee County Build A Generation and the sheriff’s office will be holding a forum for parents, students and all interested community members on Tuesday, April 17^th from 6:30pm to 8pm at the Buena Vista High School cafeteria.  The focus will be on providing education and building awareness.  We’ll be talking about the results from the student and parent surveys and hearing updates from the sheriff’s office.  Principal Brian Yates will address parents going into prom weekend.  We won’t be doing small group discussions like the last forum but will make it interactive and encourage youth participation as much as possible.

A similar town hall forum will be in Salida on Wednesday, April 18^th from 6:30pm to 8pm at the Salida High School cafeteria.

We are also organizing a Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 28^th from 10am-2pm as part of the national event through the DEA.  Both the Buena Vista and Salida police departments are active partners in this event.  Drop-off locations are listed below.

Buena Vista: Parking lot of the County Annex on Lindeman Avenue, across from the library.

Salida: Touber Building parking lot, 448 East First Street.

Another liquor server training program was conducted at the Fairgrounds, instructed by agents of the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division.  The training on this occasion was jointly sponsored by Salida Police Department, Salida City Clerk, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, and Chaffee County Clerk.

Enforcement remains an essential element in our efforts.  Last Saturday evening sheriff’s deputies and Buena Vista police officers, responding to tips from several people, contacted seven young adults and three 16-year-old juveniles at a large bonfire in the Four Mile Recreation Area north of Buena Vista.  A large amount of liquor and beer was present at the site, as well as small amounts of marijuana.  Two adults were arrested, summonses were issued to two 20-year-old adults and the three juveniles for underage possession of alcohol, and three others, all in their late teens, received summonses for minor violations.

This incident led to an agreement between US Forest Service officials and the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office to enter into a collaborative effort of active patrol in the Four Mile area this summer to deter similar underage alcohol and drug activity.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support of our efforts.