by Gena Dellett
Playground Gets Facelift
La Puente and the City of Alamosa are partnering with KaBOOM, a Washington. D.C.-based grantmaker, to replace all the play equipment in Zapata Park, located on the southside of Alamosa. The park is three blocks away from La Puente’s homeless shelter. The new play equipment will be valued at over $60,000.
New Grant Funds Benefit TSJC Students
First-generation students and others from disadvantaged backgrounds at Trinidad State Junior College in Alamosa will benefit from $1.1 million in grant funding between now and 2020. Funding is from the U.S. Department of Education and will provide students with academic tutoring, assistance with course selection, information about financial aid, and additional support and resources.
Snowpack Measured by Radar
Valley water officials will use radar again during the winter to measure snowpack and to predict stream flows. The models will aid water officials in complying with the Rio Grande Compact. The Valley is the only place in the country that uses radar to measure snow.
Environmental Activist Receives Award
Christine Canaly, executive director of the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council, received the Jasper Carlton Activist in the Trenches award from Rocky Mountain Wild. Christine has worked on environmental issues in the Valley for over 25 years.
New Master’s Program at ASU
The Public Education and Business Coalition’s Boettcher Teacher Residency is launching the Adaptive Leadership Master’s Degree in partnership with Adams State University this fall. Current teachers will be able to complete their master’s degree while working. The program is seeking active classroom teachers from across the state for its inaugural cohort.
“Tip a Cop” Raises $3,625
Adams State University’s police department joined the Alamosa Police and Sheriff’s departments and the Colorado State Patrol for the Tip a Cop campaign at Chili’s restaurant. The officers worked as servers during the campaign. The Alamosa campaign was fifth place out of 35 participating Chili’s restaurants. All proceeds went to benefit Special Olympics Colorado.
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Shorts
• Local government and water officials have determined that illegal marijuana growing operations are also illegally taking water from private wells.
• Alamosa and Rio Grande Counties hosted school supply drives with a twist. Used tires were accepted for $1 and a donation of school supplies. The supplies were distributed around the Valley.
• A Costilla County resident was hospitalized with West Nile virus, the Valley’s first human virus contraction this year.
• The Crestone Music Festival enjoyed a successful 17th year in the Sangre de Cristo mountains.
• Timm Rosenbach, former NFL quarterback and offensive coordinator at UNLV, is the new head football coach at Adams State University. Rosenbach last coached in Las Vegas.
