Brief by Marcia Darnell
San Luis Valley – June 2005 – Colorado Central Magazine
Primitive Preferred
Steve Chaney, head ranger at the Great Sand Dunes National Park, reported that the public input for the new park leaned toward preservation over development. Folks seemed more interested in primitive camping at trailheads rather than construction of new facilities, he said. The biggest issue is vehicle access to the northern part of the park, near Crestone. The Park Service, the Division of Wildlife and the Fish and Wildlife Service must complete their studies, probably in another four years, before changes can be made.
School Daze
San Luis voters will decide on May 23 whether to recall two members of the Centennial School Board. All schools in the district are rated low in academic performance.
In the South Conejos district, voters failed to recall board chairman Andrew Gurule after allegations of poor academics and finances. Farther north, the Alamosa School District considered and dropped the idea of a four-day school week. And Janet Nelson has retired as president of Evans Elementary.
Bad Guys Need Beds
The Alamosa County Jail added some bunk beds to bring the total number of cots from 52 to 66, but that still means a bed shortage. The county has been outsourcing housing its prisoners, but that’s getting expensive — over $170,000 last year. An expanded facility has been proposed, but would cost $350,000 a year to maintain, over and above construction costs.
C-C-See-Ya
CCS, Christian Community Services, is no more. The conglomeration of services in Alamosa is dead, but the programs live on under different agencies. The Layette Program, the low-cost dentistry program, VIDA, and service projects, which performed home repairs for the elderly, are now run by others.
La Sierra, mas
More than 100 people have been granted access to La Sierra, also known as the Taylor Ranch, based on historic land deeds. The ranch was opened to nine people last year for grazing and gathering wood. District Judge Gaspar Perricone expects to rule on a few hundred more claims this summer.
Brief Briefs
Six more lynx were released near Creede. The Colorado Division of Wildlife plans to introduce another 32 this year.
Saguache County Clerk Audrey Conley will keep her job. The effort to recall her failed to garner enough signatures for a vote.
The old Kelloff’s Super Market in Alamosa was razed to make way for a Walgreen’s.
Creede artist Stephen Quiller won the Winsor and Newton Award from the American Watercolor Society for “Sheep Drive, San Juans.”
The Division of Wildlife successfully completed the removal of carp from San Luis Lakes. The local eagles gorged themselves on the fish kill.
The Alamosa City Council approved the license for a microbrewery in town.
Rocky Mountain Stage Productions in Monte Vista celebrated 25 years of hometown entertainment.
The Alamosa County Commissioners approved plans for an animal shelter east of Alamosa.
Antonito native Craig Quintana received a Fulbright Fellowship to teach in Indonesia.
Alamosa County is on the state’s digital trunked radio system, meaning state and local agencies will be able to communicate better. The project was funded by the Dept. of Homeland Security.
Theresa Rudder retired after 30 years with the Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs.
Center had to borrow money to pay its payroll taxes.
The Surface Transportation Board has ruled that the D&RG railway (from South Fork to Creede) has full use of its right of way, and that the citizens group opposing the railway could not reopen abandonment proceedings.
