Bessemer Christmas Extravaganza continues: Honors life of late city councilman Ray Aguilera krdo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from krdo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) The legacy of late Pueblo City Councilman Ray Aguilera continued on Thursday when volunteers across the city came together to host the Bessemer Christmas Extravaganza.
Pueblo council member health declining, according to family
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) A sad update about a longtime Pueblo City Council Member and a familiar face in the Bessemer neighborhood.
According to his family, Ray Aguilera s health is declining. His daughter recently told the city council she moved him to her home in the Denver area to be more comfortable. He is currently receiving hospice care.
On January 25, Aguilera suffered a heart attack in the middle of a work session. According to council members, he left to go to the bathroom and when he returned, he was pale and struggled to get back to the dais. That s when he passed out and was unresponsive for several seconds.
The foundation hosted a modified version of its annual Bessemer Christmas Extravaganza.
The annual event, started by city councilman and Pueblo Poverty Foundation founder Ray Aguilera, took place as a drive-thru celebration.
For more than two decades, Aguilera has hosted the event to reward the hardworking young scholars of Carlile, Columbian and Minnequa elementary schools.
“It may seem like we just do this,” Aguilera said. “But there is an alternative motive.”
Aguilera has partnered with the three elementary schools to encourage the children to find joy in learning.
The Vocabulary Challenge tasks students with enhancing their lexicon with as many new words as possible over the course of a school year.