The literary magazine Chinook has a thirty-year history in the Arkansas Valley. Chinook, meaning warm wind, was introduced to the Otero Junior College campus by veteran professor, Dr. Tim Walsh who sponsored the publication for roughly twenty-five years. Over the years, it has supported hundreds of writers’ voices through poetry, essays, short stories, and art, which are submitted each year from not only La Junta, but also surrounding schools, businesses, and individuals.

Before retiring in 2002, Walsh invited Jean Armstrong to become the next faculty sponsor and senior advisor, and Armstrong added to the length of the publication and incorporated color. Armstrong worked closely with OJC's Art Department, and for the previous five years students’ artistic talent has been showcased. Armstrong has since moved to Wyoming to be with her husband, who is now the President of Eastern Wyoming College. Now, the publication has changed hands to Christina Roberts. Roberts will continue on in the tradition set by Walsh and incorporate the art established by Armstrong. In addition, Roberts 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.

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 Sara Pearce. 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 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 Sara receives it.

This is Chinook’s 35th year, and we anticipate another warm wind of new talent to arrive in our new edition. We look forward to many fine voices–those poets, essayists, and artists–bring your works to the Chinook.