Brief by Marcia Darnell
San Luis Valley – January 2007 – Colorado Central Magazine
Hot Time in Creede
It was just like the silver-rush days. A fire broke out in Creede on Dec. 1 and spread quickly through the abutting old buildings. The blaze began in Journeys Cafe on the main drag, spread to the First National Bank next door, and did some damage to the Holy Moses gift shop. No one was hurt, and the volunteer firefighters of Creede and South Fork worked for hours to douse the fire. Creede, being a community of survivors, already plans to rebuild. Meanwhile, the town is open for shopping, food, and fun — as always.
Snippy for Sale?
Snippy the Horse is the subject of dispute once again. Descendants of his original owners put the equine skeleton up for sale on eBay, only to face protests in the Valley. Snippy, who died in 1967, was the first of the Mysterious Animal Mutilations. The remains passed from person to person to institution to trash to person again. Current ownership is in hot debate.
Belt-Tightening Blues
Fallout from the voters’ rejection of a sales tax increase includes cuts in both Alamosa city and county budgets. Staff are being cut back or eliminated; bonuses axed; and departments will have to function on less money.
New Tracks
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has restructured its
commission, recruiting new members with strong business backgrounds. Colorado’s appointees are Lon Carpenter, a banker from Grand Junction, and Peter Foster, an engineer from Durango. The commission is responsible for operations and oversight of the railroad.
Brief Briefs
The Wolf Creek Village dispute is now affecting R&R. Cross-country skiers are being blocked from their former playground, now under the ownership of B.J. “Red” McCombs.
Former Conejos County sheriff Isaac Gallegos was sentenced to two years in Community Corrections for embezzlement and extortion. Gallegos forced inmates to work on his house and to cut firewood which he sold.
Water Judge O. John Kuenhold ruled that water withdrawals from the confined aquifer should be restricted. That resource is being used faster than replenished.
The Costilla County commissioners are being sued by the owner of Melby Ranch Properties for their denial of a zoning change application for the Little Norway subdivisions.
Alamosan Betty Shawcroft received the Honorary Lifetime Membership Award from the Colorado Cattlewomen
The Alamosa team of Dr. Greg Caesar, Jennifer Harrod, and Melanie Chavez received Heroes in the Fight Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses.
Mediator Alice Price was honored by El Pomar Foundation with the Henry McAllister Award.
