Woman Crashes Into Sheep
Forty two sheep were killed after a drunk Monte Vista woman plowed into them with her car.
Lynn Ann Michel, 47, was driving westbound on Rio Grande C.R. 8 South when she rammed the flock. After fleeing the scene, her license plate was recovered by Colorado State Patrol troopers. In addition to the dead sheep, another eight were injured. Investigators found no evidence that the driver had attempted to slow down. Michel was arrested for DUI, driving without insurance and failing to remain at the scene of a property damage crash.
Sawmill Proposed by Billionaire
An estimated 20 million board feet of timber per year could be produced if a proposed sawmill is constructed in the San Luis Valley.
The Trinchera Blanca Ranch near Blanca in Costilla County hopes to build the sawmill to help improve forest health and to employ up to 70 workers. The ranch, which covers about 172,000 acres, has fought years of drought, spruce budworm, spruce beetle and bark beetle infestations. The ranch is owned by billionaire conservationist Louis Bacon. Pending final approvals, the mill could open in late 2016 and be fully operational by early 2017.
Good News for the Alamosa River
A water court in the San Luis Valley signed off on an in-stream-flow right, allowing the storage of up to 2,000 acre-feet in Terrace Reservoir. The ruling allows for a water release after irrigation season, which would help in efforts to restore the polluted Alamosa River, according to The Pueblo Chieftain.
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UAS Project a Go
The Federal Aviation Administration awarded two certificates of operation for testing of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to fly at a height of up to 15,000 feet in an 8,000 square mile airspace in the San Luis Valley.
The University of Colorado-Boulder, a partner in the project, announced in September a university-wide “Grand Challenge” to build on the strengths of its aerospace-related science and technology. The university is investing $2 million in an Integrating Remote and InSitu Sensing Initiative to use UAS to improve research collection from the ground, in the atmosphere and in space.
Adams State University is discussing adding UAS classes for pilots to its curriculum.
Corrections Staffer Assaulted
A San Luis Valley Community Corrections staff member was assaulted by a client, identified as Matthew Gray, 42, on Nov. 25. Gray fled the facility after other staff members removed him from the attack.
Gray was being held at the facility on a direct sentence for a case out of the 12th Judicial District. As of press time, he was still at large.
Generous Counties
The Chronicle of Philanthropy has named Conejos and Saguache Counties in its top 10 of the most generous and giving Colorado counties. The rankings are based on the percentage of adjusted gross income given to charity as determined using the charitable deductions reported on income-tax forms.
Shorts
• The town of Del Norte has been awarded $7.2 million in funding by the USDA’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to complete repairs to the town’s sewer collection system.
• The historic 1883 locomotive engine No. 168, also known as “Old 168,” was moved to Antonito from Antlers Park in Colorado Springs. It is undergoing restoration in order to be used on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad line.
• The USDA is making $350 million available to help landowners protect and restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands across the nation. A land trust hopes to use some of those funds to enroll 1,805 acres for protection of critical sage grouse habitat in Saguache County.
