ASD, city council negotiating placement of school downtown 

ALAMOSA — Executive staff and board members with the Alamosa School District (ASD) met with Alamosa City Council members and city staff Wednesday night. The work session, which lasted several hours, was held to determine how ASD goes forward with purchasing property downtown to use as a site for two schools and administrative offices.  
Photo of Harris-Walz sign vandalized along Highway 160.

Political signs stolen, vandalized 

SAN LUIS VALLEY — “I’ve been with the Democratic Party for 18 years, and I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this.” That was part of a statement made by a spokesman for the Alamosa Democratic Party in response to numerous reports of Harris/Walz yard signs being vandalized or stolen off people’s private property. 

La Jara names Swartz as its new police chief 

LA JARA – The Town of La Jara recently announced the hiring of three new police officers. Former Chief of Police Jerry Lujan has retired as of July after serving the town for the past 26 years, the last 7 years as chief.  The newly hired chief is Michael Swartz, originally from New York and raised in Colorado. He is a graduate of the Glenwood Springs Spring Valley Police Academy in 2014. He has several years of experience in various law enforcement roles. 
Flowers and a photo await the new owners of a house recently completed and purchased through the program. 

Front Range leaders, legislators tour SLV highlights

SAN LUIS VALLEY — Rep. Matt Martinez (D-62) brought a group of visitors from Denver to tour the San Luis Valley, including a bipartisan cohort of four fellow legislators from the State House and representatives from 40 powerhouse businesses in Colorado.   
Get ready for those weekend garage sales ...

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Alamosa commissioners receive balanced budget 
ALAMOSA — At the Oct. 9 meeting of the Alamosa County Board of County Commissioners, Maricruz Mora, Controller, presented a preliminary 2025 budget which is balanced. Expenditures in the operating budget are $57 million, revenue $53 million with the difference coming from budget reserves. 
Workers have been constructing a new Town Plaza in San Luis.  
San Luis is creating an outdoor plaza 
SAN LUIS — The community, along with workers from Baha Construction and Ayres Associates, have been actively involved in constructing a new public plaza in San Luis.  According to Teddy Leinbach, Assistant Town Manager of San Luis, "The new San Luis Town Plaza is being constructed so that we have a centrally located gathering point within our small town."
Enterprise Zone training held in Alamosa 
ALAMOSA — Sarah Stoeber, Executive Director of the San Luis Valley Development Resources Group and Council of Governments (left) and Alamosa County Commissioner Lori Laske (right) welcome representatives from an Enterprise Zone Administrators Retreat on Oct. 8.
The Firewise program in Saguache County can help homeowners prepare for wildfires.
In 2009, Sam Pace, then a Saguache County commissioner, asked Daniel Johnson, a local firefighter with years of wildfire experience to be involved in a new program called Firewise, to help residents living in forested county areas prepare for wildfires. Up to that point, his experience protecting houses was when a roaring fire was approaching, and we had to decide which houses might survive if we put in some quick work before the flames arrived. 
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Obituaries
Andrew Paul Sandoval 
Andrew Paul Sandoval went to join his Tia Yoli in heaven on Oct. 11, 2024, Andrew was born on Aug. 12, 1992, to Roberta Martinez and Pablo Sandoval. 
Beatrice Lucille Lucero 
Beatrice Lucille Lucero, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on Oct. 4, 2024, at the age of 91. Born on June 8, 1933, Beatrice lived a life filled with love, family, and service to her community. 
Donald Glen Larsen 
Donald Glen Larsen, known affectionately as Don, left this world on Oct. 8, 2024, at San Luis Valley Health in Conejos County, Colo. Born to parents Harry Larsen and Mary (Carter) Larsen Creel in the crisp winter of 1940, on Feb. 18, in Colorado, Don's journey began amidst the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains which he so cherished throughout his life. 
Donald David Salazar 
Donald David Salazar, age 72, passed away peacefully on Oct. 1, 2024, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Born on Dec. 3, 1951, Donald grew up in Antonito, Colo., where he developed his love for the outdoors that would last throughout his life. He graduated from high school in 1969 and proudly served in the United States Navy from 1970 to 1974, specializing in interior communications and electronics. 
Erma June Defee 
Our mom, Erma June Defee, died on Sept. 20, 2024, in Colorado Springs. She was born on Jan. 25, 1942, in Woodville, Texas, to Morris Elmo and Sally Mae Miles. 
Community
Alamosa Councilor Connection
At the Alamosa Farmers Market on Oct. 12, Holly Martinez, left, and City Councilor Jamie Dominguez met with people and discussed their concerns.
Two powerhouse Austin singer-songwriters, Michael O'Connor, left, and Jason McIntyre, right, will perform on Friday, Oct. 18, at Society Hall. 
Society Hall welcomes Austin singer-songwriters O'Connor and McIntyre 
ALAMOSA – Society Hall is excited to bring two powerhouse Austin singer-songwriters, Michael O'Connor and Jason McIntyre, to the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, at Society Hall, 400 Ross Ave., Alamosa.  
Mean Moose Homecoming Royalty 
Alamosa High School crowned its Homecoming royalty at halftime of the boys soccer game against Gunnison.
Sports
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Alamosa volleyball wins league title

ALAMOSA – The Alamosa High School volleyball team concluded Intermountain League play this past weekend with a trip over Wolf Creek Pass and against Bayfield and Montezuma-Cortez. The Lady Mean …

ALAMOSA – The Alamosa High School football team hosted its annual Homecoming game on Friday with winless Gunnison coming to town. The Mean Moose had a slow start but picked up the pace in …
ALAMOSA – The Alamosa High School boys soccer team hosted its Homecoming contest on Thursday as it faced Gunnison at the AHS stadium. However, an unfortunate goal proved to be the …
ALAMOSA – The Alamosa High School softball team defeated La Junta 12-11 in 10 innings in the regular season finale Tuesday at the Adams State University softball field. The Lady Tigers …
Opinion
We need mountain lions to do their job as predators 
I am against hunting mountain lions in Colorado. Today, I join many wildlife professionals and hunters who support Colorado’s Proposition 127—Cats Aren’t Trophies, on the ballot this November.  I’ve never been much for so-called “trophy hunting,” especially when the animals are chased to exhaustion by commercial outfitters using dogs and GPS tracking. Once these lions are perched helplessly in a tree, they are shot by a so-called “hunter.” 
Coulda been worse 
The past weeks have been a real hardship on Ol’ Dutch. What with the loss of Cooper the Yorkie, and then my father it's been hard. Neither was unexpected but somehow that does not make it any easier. 
A slot canyon that spent decades under Lake Powell. 
Glen Canyon Dam faces dead pool 
In 1998, when I was in fourth grade, I joined a class field trip to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. But when we got to Cortez, the road was barricaded. Hours earlier, three men had stolen a water-tanker truck and killed a police officer before fleeing into the desert. 
Alvin and The Chipmunks
Ol’ Dutch has spent a lot of time lately up in the forests in pursuit of the elusive elk. In doing so, I have been able to see a lot of animals in their everyday activities. I love watching them as they go about their daily lives not knowing that I am hiding a few feet away from them.
I love a good story 
Because I spent a week in Kansas helping to take care of my Dad, I missed out on the first week of archery elk season. Before he passed away, one of the last things he said was, “Go home so you can hunt.” 
Features
This old backpack now serves as a go-bag and resides in the back of a vehicle. Water and a sleeping bag are also ready.

Prepare for emergency evacuations now

SAN LUIS VALLEY — As wildland fires rage in Colorado and throughout the West, the time to prepare for an evacuation is now, and a simple to-go bag is an excellent first step. Wildfires can …

Rhythms on Rio lineup has ‘something for everyone’

Rhythms on the Rio, the San Luis Valley's largest and longest-running music festival, will return to Del Norte on Aug. 2-4.
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