The literary magazine Chinook has a thirty-year history in the Arkansas Valley. Over the years it has supported hundreds of writer’s voices; poetry, essays, short stories, and art, are submitted each year from not just La Junta, but surrounding schools, businesses, and individuals. Chinook, meaning warm wind, was introduced to the Otero Junior College campus by veteran professor, Mr. Tim Walsh who sponsored the publication for roughly twenty-five years. Before retiring in 2002, Walsh invited Mrs. Jean Armstrong to become the next faculty sponsor and senior advisor. Armstrong has since added to the length of the publication and incorporated color. Working closely with OJC's Art Department, the publication has for the past five years also showcased student art talent. Armstrong chooses the student editor each spring semester and provides a writing scholarship through the English Department. The student editor also receives three elective Humanities credits.

This thirty–third year, 2007, we celebrate another welcome warm wind. We look forward to many fine voices–those poets, essayists, and artists–bring your works to the Chinook.

We’ve been fortunate over the years to have had many student editors willing to take the task of creating the final publication. This year our editor is Sheryl Kurtz. She looks forward to reading your submissions. Take time to click – Submit to Chinook – and attach your poem, short story, or essay. If you’d like to submit art, it can be either scanned and sent electronically using the homepage link; or feel free to leave a photo of your piece with the Humanities secretary and she will make sure Melanie receives it.