Unfair Hunting Practices
Someone poached five deer on the Adams State College campus April 22. The three mule deer and two fawns were shot and stabbed at the south end of campus. The college has offered $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the poacher(s), matching the reward offered by the Humane Society.
Enviro News
The Forest Service has approved mineral exploration in Rio Grande National Forest near Creede. Creede, which was built on the silver rush of the late 1800s, could benefit from a new silver boom.
Alamosans are unhappy with the fallout from Hurricane Katrina. As a result of the New Orleans disaster, levee standards were amped up nationwide. Alamosa’s levee of the Rio Grande must be upgraded, say the feds, and that includes removing trees from the dikes. More than 100 people turned out at a public forum to express their displeasure at the prospect of ripping out trees. A task force is forming to come up with a solution.
The SLV Irrigation District is exploring the possibility of developing hydropower at Rio Grande Reservoir.
And the uncertain future of a proposed transmission line is affecting others’ plans. A high-power transmission line could export power across the mountains, making the Valley a huge solar power producer, but debate over the line is causing plant builders like Xcel Energy to scale back its plans for more plants.
Brief Briefs
• The last of the four known embezzlers at the Alamosa Housing Authority, Doris Abeyta, got 37 months for her part in the scheme. Terri Lucero has pleaded guilty but has yet to be sentenced.
• Center severed ties with town clerk Bill McClure, town attorney Michael Trujillo and utility worker Ysidro Garcia.
• A pair of local businessmen are planning to buy Splashland Hot Springs and re-open it this summer.
• A group of kids is asking the Alamosa City Council to ban smoking in public places such as parks. A decision is pending.
• The town of San Luis is nearly broke. A recent town meeting involved looking over how much money the town has, how much is owed to it, and much it owes to others, like police officers. Money is tight when a town can’t pay its cops.
• Marguerite Salazar is stepping down as head of Valley-Wide Health Services to join the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. The new head is VWHS is Dr. Ricardo Velasquez.
•Now it’s three: Alamosa gave the OK for another solar plant, this one south of town by Lincoln Renewable Energy. The facility will employ 75-125 people.
• Monte Vista was nominated to participate in the Sustainable Main Streets Initiative program, meaning free expert input in achieving goals.
• The Alamosa City Council extended its moratorium – again – on medical marijuana dispensaries for another 90 days.
• It’s lights out for Ace Hardware in Alamosa after 87 years, another victim of the down economy.
• The Alamosa City Council is considering legalization of alcohol tastings in liquor stores.
• LeRoy Salazar of Manassa (brother of politicos Ken and John) was named by Gov. Ritter to the ASC Board of Trustees.
• Monsanto Corp. gave Alamosa High student Brandy Marrinan the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award.
• The Orient Land Trust in Saguache County was named Conservationist of the Year by the Center Conservation District.
• ASC instructors Clarence Parks, Stephen Roberds and Tracy Doyle each received the Presidential Teaching Award.
• Felix Lopez is the new president of Trinidad State Junior College. Kirk Banghart is the new superintendent of Moffat School District.
• Christy McBee is the new principal at Boyd Elementary in Alamosa. She was also named SLV teacher of the year.
• Gwen Nelson is the new district conservation tech in Center.
• Evan Valdez retired as the veteran service officer for Costilla County after 33 years.
