Saguache News

The Saguache County Commissioners approved the final draft of their oil and gas operation regulations July 8. Minor changes were made to better clarify their stringent restrictions on oil and gas drilling ...

Prices to exceed $500K By RUTH HEIDE ALAMOSA - While water management sub-districts in the San Luis Valley will eventually cost the farmers who participate in them, the sponsoring Rio Grande Water Conservation ...

Yesterday brought in the birthday cake for the Rio Grande National Forest. "Happy birthday to us, happy birthday to us," sang Public Affairs Officer Michael Blakeman.

In the San Luis Valley, a crew with the Rio Grand National Forest had contained the Mill Creek Fire, which had burned a half-acre west of Saguache, although Mike Blakeman, a spokesman for the forest service ...

The towering ponderosa pine trees are among the treasures at the Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Family resemblance? Chloe Thomas Hanscom and Yoda. COURTESY GREG HANSCOM Kevin Haley , the "founder, publisher, editor, janitor and copyboy" of the San Juan Horseshoe , dropped by to say hi.

Federal officials are withdrawing most of the proposed oil and gas leases up for sale in a May 8th auction. via The Summit County Journal

Rep. John Salazar and his brother, Sen. Ken Salazar, are asking federal officials to withdraw some of the oil and gas leases up for sale in a May 8 auction. via KRDO-TV Colorado Springs

“Basically we have no surface occupancy stipulation on all those areas.”

BLM to review protests By RUTH HEIDE ALAMOSA - The Bureau of Land Management will be busy during the next two weeks sorting through numerous protests to a proposed oil and gas lease sale covering 145,000 acres ... via Valley Courier

“If you are close to a county or in a county that has positive bulls then it's a good idea to test your animals. It's up to the producers to manage their herds accordingly and to know the potential exposure the cattle has seen”

A bovine venereal disease that causes infertility, early abortions and delayed calving seasons is on the rise in Southern Colorado, the state commissioner of agriculture said Tuesday. via Pueblo Chieftain

Alamosa businesses who suffered financially from the salmonella outbreak can begin applying for low-interest loans for assistance.

The U.S. Small Business Administration says they have declared Alamosa and surrounding counties a disaster area so businesses can qualify for the loans. Other counties included in the declaration are Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Rio Grande and Saguache.

The disaster declaration Friday comes a day after state health officials said Alamosa residents could use city water for drinking, cooking, making ice and brushing their teeth -- as long as they boiled the water for one minute. Read more

“These loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses affected by the salmonella outbreak to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing”

Area businesses to benefit STAFF REPORT ALAMOSA - Area businesses affected by Alamosa's salmonella outbreak may obtain low-interest economic injury disaster loans. via Valley Courier

Alamosa businesses who suffered financially from the salmonella outbreak can begin applying for low-interest loans for assistance. via KMGH-TV Denver

“We have to share a building and just don't have a lot of very nice things for our kids. To not have to sit and wait for an hour for a page to load on our old computers is really nice.”

Photo by Ruth Heide Stephanie Steffens, left, presents $25,000 to Frances Valdez, South-Central Colorado Seniors, for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program that serves residents in Alamosa, Conejos, ... via Valley Courier

Mullen reported that 86 percent of those who voted favored planned growth in the County as long as they did not have to sacrifice current levels of basic services. via SLV Dweller

“There's nothing you can do once it goes over the spillway”

The San Luis Valley is bracing for possible flooding this spring owing to the monster snowpack accumulating in the mountains, according to The Valley Courier . via Coyote Gulch

“At this time, the board does not believe that proper consideration has been given to such factors and that substantial more information is required before the (state commission) can in good faith take action on Lexam's permits”

The Saguache County commissioners have asked the state to deny an extension of a Canadian company's permits to drill on the Baca National Wildlife Refuge. via Pueblo Chieftain

Photo by Ruth Heide Alamosa Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Debra Goodman spearheads the San Luis Valley Tourism Conference in Alamosa on Thursday. via Valley Courier

“We just wanted to get him to comply more than anything else”

Noncompliant well owner fined By RUTH HEIDE ALAMOSA - The first irrigator to challenge new well metering requirements in the San Luis Valley found out the Colorado Division of Water Resources meant business ... via Valley Courier

“We had had one issue in the jail since he's been in. He tried to harm another inmate. He was in a cell by himself because that's the only way I could keep other people safe.”

Photo by Valley Publishing Felix Granados being led from the courtroom after his advisement hearing last week apparently took his own life Tuesday night in his jail cell in Saguache County. via Valley Courier