The Indigenous Of Pinon Canyon

Questions regarding The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Army's
request to expand the maneuver site at Pinon Canyon


April 22, 2010
Dear Congressman Coffman - re: TNC/Pinon Canyon by Roni Bell Sylvester

November 23, 2009
Pinon Canyon Expansion Parcel Map: Planned Acquisition of Private and Public Land Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado - Source: Pinon Vision 15-18

February 20, 2009
Army removes Pinon Canyon manager - Tom Warren has been reassigned pending an investigation, according to Fort Carson garrison commander. By PETER ROPER , THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN - The top Army civilian overseeing the proposed expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site has been "temporarily reassigned" to other duties pending an administrative investigation, Fort Carson officials said Wednesday

February 6, 2009
Pinon Canyon: “One Colossal Land Grab” - Published February 5, 2009 by Trey Garrison - Folks in Southern Colorado don’t trust the Army. And with good reason. In 1983, when the Department of Defense established the 500-square-mile Pinon Canon Maneuver Site (PCMS), the Army acquired almost half the 285,000 acres by using eminent domain. To read the rest of the story, please click here:

January 26, 2009
DOD - The Largest Landlord In The world

November 24, 2008
Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Group, "Not 1 More Acre!" - Exposes Army's Documented 7 Million Acre Land Grab

September 22, 2008
TNC government grants

September 22, 2008
Senator Allard Announces $40 Million Included in Defense Authorization to Create Buffer Zones Around Military Installations - Fort Carson on list to receive conservation funding.

September 22, 2008
2006 Defense Authorization Bill (section 10, subtitinon Canyon: “One Colossal Land Grab”le E, Section 1045)

September 22, 2008
$7 Million for Nature, Fort Carson - Copyright 2006, The Nature Conservancy.

September 22, 2008
Pinon Canyon/ Fort Carson Conservation Act of 2005


June 21, 2008
Not 1 More Acre! Lawmaker: Uranium Found In Soil At Pinon Canyon Site - McKinley Also Wants To Know Why Army Didn't Ask For Help Fighting Wildfire

June 18, 2008
Update on Pinon Canyon fire (CO) - from Kimmi (Kim) Lewis's sister Sparky Turner

June 18, 2008
Piñon Canyon Blaze Proves Army is in the Wrong Place - People of SE Colorado Demands Answers on Spread of Fire

April 9, 2008
County joins opposition to Pinon Canyon expansion by Jeff Tucker, The Pueblo Chieftain

April 9, 2008
Musgrave wants GAO probe on Pinon Canyon spending by Peter Roper, The Pueblo Chieftain

April 1, 2008
Pueblo County Tells Army 'No" - Colorado Springs Gazette

March 28 2008
Commissioners voice opposition to any expansion of Pinon Canyon by Peter Roper, The Pueblo Chieftain

February 26, 2008
Hawaii site, not Fort Carson, preferred [chosen] for combat team

2007
Pinon Canyon, Super Slab, Water, and any other Private Property Rights in Colorado by Chuck Sylvester

December 20, 2007
Army Will Send Fifth Combate Brigade to Fort Carson By PETER ROPER THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

September 6, 2007
The Nature Conservancy Letter to Chuck Sylvester

November 7, 2006
United States Senator Wayne Allard to Roni Sylvester


Pinon Canyon Petroglyph
The Fight
 
The U.S Government posts “Land for Free”
Our Great Grandfathers say lets go take a look and see.
 
They proved up on Homesteads, with blood, sweat and tears
The Great Depression came, they tell their family we may not have enough to
eat but, please don’t have any fears.
 
World War II came; they sent their sons to fight for the land they love.
The War was won, but the price was paid in Blood.
 
They sent their sons and daughters to fight and die in Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East.
The politicians and leaders say it is your duty at the very least.
 
The families, farms, ranches and businesses grew.
They fought drought, fire, flood, blizzards and wars too.
 
This morning it is eight below, this on top of feet of snow.
At first light, its out we go, we gather up cold calves, how many will live? I don’t know.
 
As I watch the news, the army says they need our land to train.
When we really need a sunny day it always seems to rain.
 
Some want to sell, and I guess that is their right.
But to most of us it is just one more fight.
 
They form a peaceful organization to lead this charge.
Pinon Canon Expansion Opposition Coalition membership continues to grow,
to say the least it is very large.
 
Now I’m not a political man and I’m sure no expert on what the army may need.
But, I for one will do all I can to stop this, this  government’s greed.
 
Now all four of my grandparents came to this country without two dollars to rub together.
They stayed only because they had the fight. I don’t know what the future
generations will do, but I hope this land stays in our family forever.
 
People are asking, how far should we take this fight?
For me it ends when I breathe my last, for you, well whatever you think is right.
 

By Dale Yocam - 35600 Rd. 215.5 - Kim, CO 81049 - Ph.(719)643-5354
 
 

 

   


Kimmi Clark Lewis

Kimmi Clark Lewis is a cow-calf producer from Kim, Colorado.  She resides and manages a working ranch in the Purgatory Canyonlands in rural Southeast Colorado, where she was raised.

Kimmi is the past President of the Southern Colorado Livestock Association and Kim School Community Association.  She is the Secretary of the Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association and the National Chairwoman of the R-CALF USA Property Rights Committee.  She and her family, are working passionately against the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site Expansion, which could take her ranch by eminent domain.

Kimmi and her late husband, Dave Lewis, who passed away from leukemia in 2000, raised six children.  The older three are college graduates and the younger three are currently in college. Kimmi remarried in July 2004, and with her husband Marty, continues to fight land grabs and fervidly stands up for private property rights

Mack Louden, Branson, CO
 
Mack is a fourth generation rancher and resident of Las Animas County in Colorado.  He was born in Trinidad and graduated from Branson High School, Trinidad State Jr. College and Southern Colorado State College with a degree in business.  For the past fifteen years, he has owned and managed Marty Feeds in Trinidad.  Mack has served on the Branson School Board and participated in the first ag leadership program in Colorado.  He served on the Las Animas County Economic Development Board and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Bank of Trinidad.  The Louden family has done very important work on the historical and archaeological findings in Southeast Colorado.  Mack and his wife Toyleen ranch near Branson.  They have three children and four grandchildren.  Mack is an avid hunter and enjoys sports.