Brief by Marcia Darnell
San Luis Valley – October 2008 – Colorado Central Magazine
Fall Pols
Rep. Mark Udall stumped through the Valley, campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat. Udall and Rep. John Salazar spoke together, promising to end the wars; create a “humane” immigration policy; and develop a clean energy strategy that will produce new jobs. The two also stressed health care, saying, “We need every American to be healthy so he or she can make a contribution.” Expanded benefits for farmers and veterans were also prioritized.
Udall noted that his brother Tom is running for the senate from New Mexico, and urged everyone to “vote for the Udall nearest you!”
When asked about the wisdom of making pre-recorded, automated phone calls to voters who hate such calls from telemarketers, Udall responded, “I have a desire to serve people and I need to know what they think. I’ll continue to do outreach.”
Closer to home, Creede Mayor Peter Calandruccio stepped down after just four months in office. He cited conflict with the city council as his reason for quitting.
Unnatural Disasters
A fire at the Alamosa County Courthouse was deemed arson. It seems someone lit three AC units outside the building.
There was no question as to the cause of damage to the Alamosa post office. An SUV driven by Mary Waldron, 79, crashed into the building, then plowed into a table, some PO boxes and Norman Peterson, before coming to a stop fully inside the building. Peterson, although pulled under the vehicle, has been released from the hospital. Waldron has been cited for careless driving causing injury. The damage to the post office will run at least $10,000, according to the postmaster. It’s the second time in fifteen years that a vehicle entered the facility.
RR KO’d
Don Shank has surrendered. The entrepreneur has conceded in his eight-year fight to bring daily railroad tourism to Creede. The town, heavily against daily runs from the beginning, won an abandonment application earlier this year, giving it control over the tracks within the city limits.
Sun & Sewer
The Alamosa School District is exploring the option of solar. The district is negotiating with SunEdison to build a solar facility to power a couple of the schools.
Some 40-plus householders are happy in Alamosa. The city is extending its sewer lines to the Stockton subdivision, putting an end to tainted water and septic back-ups.
Brief Briefs
Two more hikers have died in the Valley. One man fell near Cottonwood Lake, the other on Mount Blanca.
A committee is trying to salvage the Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce, which is suffering from low membership and intermittent leadership. The most recent director, Tammy Fuller, just resigned after a few months at the helm.
Wild weather led to mass destruction of crops. A storm created funnel clouds, a tornado, and golf-ball sized hail which destroyed at least $40 million worth of crops in the northern part of the Valley.
La Jara resident Britney Gallegos, 13, earned a fourth-place finish in the national motocross championship.
Veterans Memorial Park opened just east of Fort Garland. It features a T-33 jet.
The Alamosa city council voted to delay replacing or axing several of its advisory committees, after a community outcry.
The EPA has added the Nelson Tunnel near Creede to its National Priorities List.
Adam Daniels, 27, is the new board president of public radio station KRZA. Frank Martinez is the new regional director of the SLV Boys and Girls Clubs.
The San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center opened a sleep clinic.
Alamosa played host to a meeting of the Farmers Union. Local farmer and U.S. Rep. John Salazar was hailed for his work on the 2008 farm bill.
The Early Iron Festival set a record, showcasing 371 classic cars in Cole Park over Labor Day weekend.
Businesses in Alamosa will pay more for trash removal. The commercial rates in town will go up this fall and next fall.
Dr. Gladys Richardson, formerly a family practitioner, is now a psychiatrist.
Valley-wide Health Systems scored more than $1.4 million from the state’s Primary Care Fund.
