by Marcia Darnell
Marmot Alert!
Usually when a mechanic pops a car hood, he expects to have to investigate to find the problem. But on June 3 the workers at Caton’s Super Lube in Alamosa didn’t have to dig deep at all. The flashing lights and weird sounds in a local woman’s vehicle were due to a marmot (aka groundhog, woodchuck or whistle-pig) in the engine compartment.
“We opened the hood and everybody went ‘WHOA!’” said George Rivera of Caton’s. “It took off and went into the break room and hid behind a file cabinet.”
Animal control officers trapped the marmot and took it away. According to Rivera, finding animals under the hood isn’t that rare, but this type of animal was a surprise.
“It was a trip,” he said.
Spring Cleaning
A fire at the Great Sand Dunes, sparked by lightning on June 6, was judged “good” for clearing brush and dead trees and was allowed to burn. The fire exploded to 3,000 acres on June 17, fueled by dry winds, and grew big enough to earn a name: the Medano fire. An intense column of smoke alarmed residents on both sides of the Sangres, but it died to a wisp overnight.
Park officials and firefighters let the fire do its thing within the limits of protecting the public and the most-used parts of the park, but were not actively fighting it. Forces did mobilize in the San Isabel National Forest, as the fire moved toward its border.
Energy Action
The San Luis Valley Board of Cooperative Services won a $104,000 grant from the Governor’s Energy Office to hire an energy manager for Valley schools. Objectives include conservation of energy and cutting energy costs.
And Alamosa County OKD another solar project, this one by Cogentrix Solar Services, to be built at the north end of the county.
Mountain Tragedy
Kevin Hayne, 18, of Highlands Ranch was killed in a fall on Little Bear Peak in the Sangres on June 15. His climbing partner, Travis Winder, 17, also of Highlands Ranch said ice contributed to the fall. Both are said to be experienced climbers.
Health Treatment
The SLV Regional Medical Center is partnering with Centura Health. The merger will expand local services, including trauma, cardiology and stroke care. Medical records will be shared, expediting care, say the principals.
Brief Briefs
• Former state representative Rafael Gallegos died of kidney cancer at 71. He served in the state house from 2005 to 2009, after a stint as mayor of Antonito.
• The burglary spree is officially over. Jaime Viallnueve-Garcia, 26, was sentenced to seven years for his role in the string of break-ins in Alamosa and Monte Vista last year.
• For the first time, the Alamosa Roundup rodeo will be an official Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association event. Another event, the Rally in the Valley, was celebrated with a special postmark, courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service.
• It’s up to voters: the issue of financing a new Alamosa library/city complex will be decided by election in August.
• Monte Vista schools will run on a four-day week beginning in August. The Valley’s second-largest school district expects to save nearly a quarter million with the move.
• The Alamosa City Council extended the moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries yet again. Regs won’t be put into place before the end of the year.
• RiGHT, the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust, is now accredited by the National Land Trust Alliance.
• The Alamosa City Council revoked the liquor license of Othelo’s restaurant following a show cause hearing citing numerous crimes at the business.
• The Knowledge Bowl team from Sierra Grande High School in Blanca is headed to the national match in Washington D.C.
• The new elementary school will be named Alamosa Elementary, an unimaginative decision after many creative suggestions.
