Tragedy struck on Christmas Eve day here in Dolores with the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Chadd being completely destroyed by fire. Apparently the fire started when Chadd was attempting to thaw frozen pipes under the bathroom of the home. There was an almost total loss of personal belongings as well as the home. Mr. and Mrs. Chadd are staying with their son, Kenneth Chadd for the time being.

David S. Johns, Supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest since 1972, retired with thirty years service on December 21. Johns and his wife, Mae, plan to move from Custer, South Dakota to a new home in Durango, Colorado, in the near future.

A 27-year-old Cortez woman has been charged with first degree murder in connection with the shooting death of her former husband,Charles Sluder, Sunday morning. District Attorney George Buck identified the woman being held in custody as Diane Marie Sluder of Cortez.

After one death and over 80 slides in two days, the Forest Service has issued a general avalanche warning for all Colorado's snow country.

While snowfall in December has been very light, snow depth and moisture content readings this year are still well ahead of last year with Wolf Creek Summit reading 30.3 inches of snow with 8.5 inches of meltwater as compared to 25.5 inches and 7.2 inches last year.

Announcement was made this week of the resignation of County Clerk Chuck Herndon, who has accepted the position of business manager for Southwest Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Jean DeGraff, County Clerk elect, will be sworn in to handle her new position as county clerk a little sooner than scheduled to fill the vacancy created by Herndon's resignation and will take office Jan. 2.

The Dolors River Garden Club has announced names of the winners of their annual Christmas lighting contest held Sunday evening in Dolores. In the business division the Remuda Gallery won first, Corky's Plumbing and Heating took second, the Medical clinic took third and Taylor Hardware received honorable mention.

In the religious division, the home of Mike Welch took first place and the Methodist Church took second.

In general residences, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Ball took first place. Mrs. Loava Bartholomew took second place and Mr. and Mrs. Aryol Brumley took third place. In the windows and doors category,the home of Bill Wagner took first, Mary Jane McRae second, Frank Gonzales took third and Dale Johnson won honorable mention. Honorable mention also went to Wilson Brumley on a decorated large tree and to Roy Setser whose home featured luminarios.

Jimmy Goode came home on Christmas Eve to spend Christmas with his family.

The Dolores Rainbow girls enjoyed a Christmas party at the home of their Rainbow mother, Carolynn Nunn on Monday night. The girls have a skating party planned for January 2nd.

Mrs. Myrtly Biard and daughter Olivia enjoyed a pre-Christmas dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jackie Biard in Dolores on Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Nielson and children arrived on Saturday afternoon from their home in Rupert, Idaho to spend the Christmas holidays with Mark's family, Mr. and Mrs. Art Nielson.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Ryan from Collbran will be here through the Christmas holidays visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Corky McClain. Steve Saltsgaver and Laurie Ryan went to Grand Junction on Sunday to bring them down.