Year in review: Here's a look at the top stories in Pueblo in 2021

Dec. 31—With the end of 2021 here and 2022 underway, we look back at the biggest stories from the past year.

From the COVID-19 pandemic to Pueblo's booming real estate market, there was no shortage of headlines in 2021 in the Steel City.

The year also marked the 100th anniversary of the Great Flood of 1921.

The following is a look at Pueblo's biggest stories in 2021.

In March, a 12-person jury found Donthe Lucas guilty of murdering Kelsie Schelling who went missing in 2013.

Lucas, 28, was found guilty of first-degree murder March 8 at the Dennis Maes Judicial Building. He was sentenced to life in the Colorado Department of Corrections without parole.

The conviction came after 13 days of testimony where expert witnesses talked about cell phone towers, DNA and blood and previous interviews with Lucas in which his story often changed.

Schelling went missing Feb. 4, 2013 and several years went by without any discernable progress on the case, but Lucas was charged with her murder Dec. 1, 2017, despite the fact her body was never found.

Also during the trial, a key witness for the prosecution was murdered in Denver.

Roxann Martinez was killed in Denver days before she was scheduled to appear on the stand. Her boyfriend was arrested in connection to the case, and it was determined the murder was not related to the case.

One of the major stories dominating headlines this past year was Pueblo's red-hot real estate market.

According to the Pueblo Association of Realtors, in November alone, 520 residential properties sold for nearly $73.8 million. The median home price is $292,500 for single family homes and $249,000 for condos and townhomes.

Housing developments — mainly subdivisions — are being developed throughout the county.

Villa Bella, North Vista Highlands and Crestview Hills are among the subdivisions being built in Pueblo.

Pueblo's Planning and Zoning Commission has given initial approval to expand city limits as housing developments continue to help further Pueblo's growth.

This year has been one of the deadliest, most violent in Pueblo.

As of Dec. 22, there were 29 reported homicides in Pueblo.

According to law enforcement, there doesn't seem to be a pattern or similar causation between homicides.

Despite the arrival on vaccines and antibody treatments, COVID-19 continues to be an issue in Pueblo and the rest of the world.

March marked the year anniversary of Pueblo's first case, and while cases declined earlier in the year they rose through the summer and fall into winter.

The delta and omicron variants have become more contagious and in some cases more deadly to those unvaccinated.

Pfizer has recently announced that it has been FDA approved for a pill that will treat the disease and vaccines along with boosters continue to help fight the virus.

Vaccines first rolled out to health care and at-risk individuals in December of 2020. However, vaccines and subsequent boosters are now available to everyone in Pueblo County.

As of Dec. 22, 54% of Pueblo County were fully vaccinated as vaccine hesitation and out-right refusal continues.

Boosters have also been rolled out to help continue the fight against COVID-19.

Pueblo elected four new city council members and re-elected an incumbent in the Nov. 2 election.

Heather Graham, Vicente Martinez Ortega, Regina Maestri and Sarah Martinez are all newly elected city council members.

Meanwhile, incumbent Dennis Flores held on to his at-large seat.

Pueblo County School District 70 saw an entire new board elected and two new board members were elected to the Pueblo School District 60 board.

City voters also approved Ballot Initiative 2A which clears the way for the city to "debruce" tax money in order to fund road repairs.

Longtime city councilman Ray Aguilera died at age 78 in May.

Aguilera left a legacy as a champion of the Bessemer community as well as Pueblo's Hispanic community.

His legacy continues as his daughter has carried on the Bessemer Christmas Extravaganza.

Fellow Bessemer staple Zolanye McCulley-Bachicha was appointed to take on Aguilera's seat on city council and Martinez Ortega was elected to that seat in November.

A longtime champion of Pueblo's business efforts and growth, Rod Slyhoff died in March at age 66.

Slyhoff was the long-time president of the Chamber of Commerce, serving as such up until his death.

Slyhoff began working for the chamber in 1988 and became its president in 1994 after he'd previously served as vice president of membership and small business development, membership director and account representative.

He was known throughout Pueblo as one of the city's fiercest advocates and greatest boosters and oversaw a period of unprecedented growth and expansion for the chamber. As its head, chamber membership grew from 800 to more than 1,300.

Colorado 3rd Congressional District Representative Lauren Boebert grabbed her share of headlines in 2021 — mostly for controversial issues.

Recently, Boebert made racially insensitive remarks against fellow Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

Boebert made an off-color joke about Omar's backpack while the two were getting on to an elevator. Speaking to followers at a rally, she recounted the story and said Omar was part of the "Jihad squad."

Pueblo leaders spoke out against Boebert's comments and demeanor, including Rep. Donald Valdez, former HD47 Representative Bri Buentello an CO-3 candidate Sol Sandoval.

FEC filings showed that Boebert made rent payments for her Rifle bar using campaign funding in August reports. Boebert said it was an error and reimbursed the funds.

Boebert also tweeted just a few days prior to the riots on Capitol Hill a cryptic "1776" on her Twitter page.

These are just a few of the headlines Boebert nabbed in her first year.

She will be up for reelection in November.

June 3, 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the Great Flood of 1921.

The flood forever changed Pueblo, forcing key railroad stops away from the Steal City.

Hundreds died, businesses and homes were ruined and the flood has left a lasting mark on Pueblo and many Southern Colorado towns.

Events were held throughout Pueblo to commemorate the disaster. Museum and art exhibits, fireworks and a dedication of a mass grave likely found at Roselawn Cemetery all marked the anniversary.

Luke Lyons is the news director of The Pueblo Chieftain. He can be reached via email at LLyons@chieftain.com.