Brief by Marcia Darnell
San Luis Valley – November 2007 – Colorado Central Magazine
New Jack City?
A facilities review committee in Alamosa reported the worst: the city buildings suck. Even the newest are not ADA compliant, and some are not up to code as to wiring and insulation. The group recommends all the city’s facilities be revamped or rebuilt. Next step: getting the money to do it.
Splashland Draining
Splashland, the 55-year-old swimming pool in Alamosa, is in hot water. The facility is in need of upgrades and repairs and is in dire financial straits. Former manager Colleen Hudson pleaded guilty to stealing over $15,000 from Splashland. Operated through a nonprofit organization, the facility’s board of directors is asking the city to take over the hot-springs pool. The matter is under discussion.
No-go
Red McCombs and Bob Honts have suffered another setback for their proposed Village at Wolf Creek. The state court of appeals voided Mineral County’s approval of the project. The Texas developers say it just means a delay in the village, not an end to it.
Brief Briefs
It was the biggest concert in Valley history: more than 30 acts played a benefit for musician Don Richmond, who is battling colon cancer. The all-day-and-into-the-night event helped Don and his wife, Teri McCartney, with their financial burden and gave to two who have given much.
A new publication is out: The 811, which covers the San Luis Valley weekly. The paper, based in Alamosa, is produced by Tonya Poole.
Alamosa County is in financial trouble. The county had negative fund balances in several areas at the end of 2006, a violation of state statute and bad news for residents. The county is asking voters to approve a one percent sales tax to fix the problem.
In a controversial move, the Alamosa City Council approved funding for a new golf clubhouse and restaurant, totaling over $500,000.
Laura Haefeli, Del Norte, won a bronze medal at the World Mountain Running championship in Switzerland, a first for an American woman.
The Alamosa City Council voted to support a luxury RV resort in the area. The facility was originally slated for the Alamosa Ranch, but nixed there. A new location hasn’t been specified.
Volunteers at Adams State set up a memorial consisting of a series of white crosses, each representing a U.S. military member killed in Iraq. The piece was called “Remembering Lives Lost, Bringing It Home.”
The Ride for Life raised $5,200 for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society. The biker poker run is in its sixth year in Antonito.
Alamosa now has a full-time police officer at its high school and middle school.
Lance Cheslock, director of La Puente in Alamosa, was appointed to the Colorado Community and Interagency Council on Homelessness. Kathy Rogers of the SLV Regional Medical Center was appointed to the Colorado Rural Health Care Grant Council.
Michael Gonzales was sworn in as the new district court judge. His replacement, Beth Garcia, is the new Conejos County judge.
The city of Alamosa supports a feasibility study for a prison near Antonito.
The town of San Luis is booming, with a new health and human services complex, new church, and a $600,000 street paving project.
The SunEdison solar plant on Colorado 17 is partially on-line. Full power should be on by the end of the year.
The Colorado Water Conservation Board granted $104,000 for stream bank restoration on the Alamosa River, and $83,700 to repair a channel on the Conejos River.
The divorce is final: The experiment to combine the Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce, tourism office and downtown marketing is over. The entities are splitting and reconfiguring.
