by Gena Akers
Wolf Creek Development Approved
The Rio Grande National Forest (RGNF) has completed The Village at Wolf Creek Access Project analysis. The land exchange between the National Forest and Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture (LMJV) will provide the opportunity for LMJV to develop year-round access to their property. Approximately 177 acres of privately held land will be conveyed to the RGNF in exchange for approximately 205 acres of National Forest System land managed by the RGNF.
The land exchange would create a private land parcel of approximately 325 acres extending to U.S. Hwy. 160. The Village at Wolf Creek plans to build up to 1,711 units, comprised of hotels, condominiums, townhomes and single-family lots.
Residents Hope Cats Can Keep Their Claws
Veterinarian Dr. Aubrey Lavizzo, codirector of the Paw Project in Colorado, asked the Alamosa Housing Authority board to revise its policy on requiring residents to declaw their cats because it’s “really pretty vicious. It’s an amputation. It’s a mutilation.” Declawing cats is prohibited in the United Kingdom, Japan, Turkey, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and many other European countries, as well as eight California cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Saguache H2O Under Advisory
Residents of Saguache, a town of about 600 people, were put on a boil water advisory on Nov. 10. The Red Cross delivered 600 gallons of water to residents. Coliforms were found, which can indicate fecal contamination. The ban has since been lifted.
No Town Manager for Center
Center Interim Town Manager Jane Berry resigned last week, the fourth in a series of town managers/interim managers to tender their resignation over a three- year period. Berry said, “Center was not a good fit … The political situation here is pretty volatile, and there are still elements in the community that give me an uneasy feeling.” Center will delay hiring a new town manager until a treasurer/accountant can be appointed for the town.
“Make My Day” … All the Way to Prison
The “Make My Day” defense failed for Bradley Douglas Faux, 21, of Capulin, accused of first-degree murder in the September 2013 shooting death of Mason Anthony Rodriguez, 21. The judge advised him of presumptive sentencing for each of 14 charges filed against him in connection with Rodriguez’s death. Faux faces murder in the first degree, which carries with it a sentence of life in prison; he also faces charges of false imprisonment, tampering with physical evidence, corpse abuse, four crimes of violence, three counts of second-degree kidnapping and three counts of menacing.
Water Projects Soak Up Money
Projects in the Rio Grande Basin, which encompasses the San Luis Valley, have drawn more than $12 million since legislative action set up the roundtables and funding for them several years ago. This roundtable has garnered the biggest portion of the total $58 million that has been allocated for all nine river basins in the state since the roundtables were established.
Shorts
• Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust received a $1 million grant from the Gates Family Foundation to support their work with private landowners to protect working ranches and farms through the creation of conservation easements.
• Monte Vista Kiwanians celebrated their 85th anniversary on Oct. 28.
• Wolf Creek Ski Area opened Nov. 8 with a six-inch base and 14 inches of snow year-to-date.
• Dogs in Alamosa County are now required to wear a rabies tag. Dog owners failing to vaccinate will face a verbal warning, following by fines ranging from $60 to $300.
