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• New bill would repurpose Fort Lyon Play Video

  March 17, 2013 4:34 PM

  A bill at the state capitol could possibly change the fate of Fort Lyon in Bent County. Several possible uses have been discussed for Fort Lyon, but as we found out, this one could become a reality. Fort Lyon used to be a correctional facility. Now it... more »

• Fort Lyon Receives Funding

  March 16, 2012 7:55 PM

  Fort Lyon is slated to receive $5 million from the mortgage settlement funds as announced this morning by the governor. The news is very welcome to the small community of Las Animas. As we've been reporting, the closure of the prison has forced some 200 employees to commute, some... more »

• CO may spend part of mortgage settlement on prison

  March 13, 2012 1:14 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado may use part of its share of a national mortgage settlement to repurpose a closed prison as transitional housing for veterans. Most of last month's $25 billion settlement with the nation's top mortgage lenders goes directly to homeowners affected by the mortgage crisis. But states were... more »

• Final inmates transferred from Colorado prison

  February 22, 2012 5:45 PM

  It's the end of an era for a prison in Southern Colorado. The Ft. Lyon Correctional Facility in Bent County is closing. A local leader says the last 30 inmates will be transferred to other prisons by the end of this week. The state decided to close the prison... more »

• Bent County officials works on future of Fort Lyon

  May 25, 2011 6:44 PM

  Bent County Commissioner Bill Long and Gov. John Hickenlooper's Chief of Staff, Roxane White, led a delegation to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with federal officials about new uses for the Fort Lyon Prison in Las Animas. Governor Hickenlooper made the decision to close the prison next year,... more »

• Congressman pitches feds on Fort Lyon

  May 22, 2011 11:37 AM

  DENVER (AP) - A Colorado congressman is pushing for the federal government to find a new purpose for a Bent County state prison due to be closed next year because of state budget cuts. Republican Rep. Cory Gardner has written a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs urging... more »

• Bent County Fire: 100% contained

  April 15, 2011 7:37 PM

  A wildfire in Bent County is now 100% contained. The fire started last Saturday and spread to about 14,000 acres. Today crews were mopping up and saw no flare-ups in the past 24 hours, enabling them to declare containment. In the past week the fire flared up twice---forcing evacuations. more »

• Bent County fire grows but is 90 percent contained

  April 13, 2011 7:09 PM

  FORT LYON, Colo. (AP) - A wildfire in southeast Colorado has spread to nearly 22 square miles, but it is about 90 percent contained after drops of water and fire retardant from the air and work by ground crews. A single-engine airplane dumped water and an air tanker made... more »

• Fire in Bent County now 11,000 acres

  April 12, 2011 11:24 PM

  Fire crews in Bent County set a backburn tonight in an effort to stop the spread of a stubborn wildfire. 5 homes were evacuated while crews set fire to 1,200 acres to rob the fire of fuel. That bring the total acres burned to about 11,000. This fire started... more »

• Bent County fire now 85 percent contained

  April 12, 2011 3:01 PM

  FORT LYON, Colo. (AP) - A large wildfire in southeast Colorado has been 85 percent contained. Fire managers said cooperative weather Monday night helped crews fighting an 11-square-mile wildfire near Las Animas, about 85 miles east of Pueblo. Crews were working Tuesday to put out hot spots and protect structures... more »

• Evacuations underway for fire in Bent County

  April 11, 2011 9:06 PM

  About 30 homes are being evacuated in Bent County due to a wildfire. The evacuations are between County Road 14 and 15 and south of County Road HH. The fire has burned 11 square miles. It started Saturday. Photo Courtesy: La Junta Fire Chief Aaron W Eveatt more »

• Evacuations lifted in Bent County

  April 10, 2011 4:52 PM

  CAMPO, Colo. (AP) - Authorities have lifted an evacuation order for about a dozen homes in Hasty that were threatened by an 11-square-mile wildfire. This pictures was taken by Prowers County firefighters today. The blaze near Las Animas is one of three that started Saturday in southern Colorado and... more »

• Bent County Wildfire re-surges after 85% containment

  April 10, 2011 3:28 PM

  A fire that flared up Saturday that forced the evacuation of several homes in Bent County was reported at 85% contained by 5:30 p.m. last night. Today, Bent County EMS reports that the fire has re-flared and grown to over 7,000 acres. Strong winds have pushed the fire from the... more »

• UPDATE: Highway 50 back open between Lamar and Las Animas

  April 9, 2011 6:21 PM

  Bent County Sheriffs Office tells News First 5 Hwy 50 is back open tonight between mile markers 405 and 427, the stretch between Las Animas and Lamar. It was closed earlier due to a fire in the area. Officials say it burned 100-150 acres. It started in the area... more »

• Fire in Bent County promts evacuations

  April 9, 2011 5:18 PM

  A fire in Bent County has burned approximately 150 acres according to the Bent County Sheriff's Office. It started in the area of County Road 16 & JJ and is moving northeast. Officials say there are evacuations in the area but haven't said how many homes have been evacuated. ... more »

• Hickenlooper seems to soften on closing prison

  March 2, 2011 7:29 PM

  Governor John Hickenlooper spent the day in the lower Arkansas Valley, listening to concerns about closing the Fort Lyon Correctional Facility near Las Animas. Hickenlooper toured the prison this morning, then met with local officials. The state plans to assign about 200 prison employees to other facilities. Bent County... more »

• Governor to discuss prison closure

  March 2, 2011 7:25 AM

  After announcing two weeks ago that he would close the Fort Lyon Correctional Facility, Governor John Hickenlooper is visiting Bent County in person today to explain the need for it to community leaders. The prison closure is expected to save the state around $6 million a year. It's one... more »