Brief by Marcia Darnell
San Luis Valley – February 2005 – Colorado Central Magazine
Dunes Roll On
The Dunes saga, like the dunes, is apparently endless. The newest National Park is still the subject of water spats.
The National Park Service filed a claim for water rights, seeking all unappropriated groundwater under the park. This action pleases water watchdogs on a local, state, and national level, as they see it protecting the water and holding future brokers at bay. In fact, the Rio Grande Water Conservation District helped with the filing.
Meanwhile, AWDI lost its appeal for more money for its share of those rights. The Colorado Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the district court against AWDI to block the sale of water rights to The Nature Conservancy, saying the price was too low.
In other nature news, the Alamosa Ranch is open to the public. People are invited to the 1,350-acre site north of the city for hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing.
Leaving for a Cause
Dr. Bob Linden, an internist, and his wife, Maureen Orr, a nurse practitioner, are joining Doctors Without Borders. The couple will work with the international humanitarian organization 12 hours a day, six days a week, for nine months. Their destination was unknown at press time, but the group serves people everywhere.
Unity for Ouster
Democrats and Republicans in Saguache County have joined together to remove County Clerk Audrey Conley from office. A court order has barred Conley from her duties since before the election, but she has refused to resign. A recall petition is circulating.
Conley, a Democrat, is accused of excess absenteeism, errors on both primary and general election ballots, and failing to attain certification for her job.
Good Turns
Adams State student Tj Moy has started Colorado Children’s Charities. After a hard childhood filled with tragedy, the 22-year-old has turned to helping other kids in need. He started by refurbishing donated bicycles, moved on to setting up a “giving tree’ last Christmas, and has branched into several simultaneous projects.
For more info check www.geocities.com/ccidirector.
School Daze
The North Conejos County school district is considering switching to a four-day school week. The idea has generated a to-do in the district, with parents threatening to pull their kids out of school if it goes through, and others threatening to withdraw their students if it doesn’t. As it stands, 13 of the slated 36 school weeks are four days or less.
Changes
The city of Alamosa will make its first historic designation, the Adams State College’s president’s residence. The mission style home at 1415 Second St. will be the first entry on the city’s registry of historic places. Other college buildings on Second, including the radio station, the campus cop shop, and an apartment building, will be razed.
Brief Briefs
— The 14th community Christmas dinner set a record. Over 125 volunteers cooked, served and cleaned to serve 1,529 people, including homebound diners. “We ran out of everything except green beans,” said Margy Robertson, one of the organizers. “And tell Ed Quillen to come down here next year,” she added.
— Saguache County foresees a budget deficit for 2005, the third consecutive year of financial shortfalls. Staffing cuts will continue.
— Sangre de Cristo Elementary School Principal Dan Barney rewarded his students for reading by letting them duct-tape him to a wall.
— Friends of Wolf Creek, a private group in Mineral County, is gathering signatures on a petition to put the county’s OK for Wolf Creek Village to a popular vote.
— Antonito needs a new mayor. Rafael Gallegos was elected to the state house, leaving the top town job vacant. The burg also needs another town board member.
— Mineral County Commissioners gave the OK for the site plan for a new clinic in Creede. Rio Grande County hired a new town administrator, Bernie Martinez.
— Dr. Frank Armijo is retiring as president of Trinidad State Junior College – Valley Campus. Teri McCartney is the new director of Adams State’s graduate program.
— Colorado’s last lay judge, Robert Wardell, retired, and Vern Rominger retired after 24 years as a Rio Grande County Commissioner.
— Alamosa County is experimenting with GPS home detention to alleviate jail crowding.
— The Saguache County Task Force has been formed to identify and solve critical problems in the county.
— Rio Grande County approved a public water delivery system in South Fork.
— Alamosa National Bank is now Alamosa State Bank.
