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Monte Vista’s Annual Crane Festival will be flying in March 7-9

The 42nd Annual Monte Vista Crane Festival will take place from March 7-9. Crowds of people and thousands of Sandhill Cranes will be at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. 
MONTE VISTA – The 42nd Annual Monte Vista Crane Festival is less than a month away. This year, the festival will take place from March 7-9. Thousands of people attend this unique event.  
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SpringHill Suites breaks ground downtown

ALAMOSA — On April 10, Alamosa businessman Manish Patel was joined by city and county officials, family members, and many other well-wishers for a ceremonial groundbreaking for his new 90-room SpringHill Suites in downtown Alamosa. 

Adapture Renewables has solar plan for Alamosa County

ALAMOSA COUNTY — Adapture Renewables/Haynach Solar LLC has submitted a preliminary application to Alamosa County to develop 110 MW of solar PV generation and a 110 MW battery energy storage system capable of harnessing four hours of electricity. This project, if approved, could bring significant economic and environmental benefits to the community. 

Bennet announces run for Colorado governor

DENVER — On April 11, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced his campaign for Colorado governor in Denver’s City Park, surrounded by his family and supporters.  

Alamosa County denies Korsail Energy application 

ALAMOSA — Korsail Energy’s proposed 900-acre solar energy site – Cornflower Solar – again had its 1041 application denied by the Alamosa County Commissioners during a public hearing on Wednesday, April 9, a decision that will directly impact the local community. 

Study highlights the importance of the Rio

SAN LUIS VALLEY — American Rivers, a nonprofit environmental advocacy group, and One Water ECON, a strategic planning and economics consulting firm, have collaborated and published “The Economic Value of Water Resources in Colorado's San Luis Valley,” a 29-page study analyzing the river's importance to the region. 

Hotter + drier = evaporative demand

ALAMOSA — “For the April, May, June seasonal outlook in Colorado, we have pretty high confidence that it’s going to be warmer and drier,” said Russ Schumacher, Colorado State Climatologist in a recent presentation to water users in the San Luis Valley. 
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Community
A Craft and Bake Sale was held at the newly remodeled Center Town Hall Annex, Senior Center, and Court Building on April 12.  
Center shows off remodeled building with Craft and Bake Sale
CENTER – On April 12, the newly remodeled Town Hall Annex, Senior Center and Court Building was the place to be as the Town of Center hosted a Craft and Bake Sale for the community.  
The fifth annual Monte Vista Cinco de Mayo Festival will again have a car show on May 3.
Fifth annual MV Cinco de Mayo Festival is May 3
The fifth annual Cinco de Mayo Festival is set for Saturday, May 3, from 12 to 5 p.m. on Adams Street in downtown Monte Vista. It was started by the OptiMystics Citizens Action Network, who decided not to do it this year leaving the event’s future uncertain.  Sandra Marquez and Terry Carroll have stepped up and are organizing the event this year with the help of volunteers.  
The Rainbow’s End Fashion Show was held on April 12 at The Church Project in Monte Vista. 
Fashion Show spotlights what Rainbow’s End has to offer
MONTE VISTA - La Puente’s Jessica Apodaca Ornelas was all smiles at the Fashion Show on Saturday, April 12, at The Church Project Community Art Center in Monte Vista. 
El Pomar Foundation approves $50K to nonprofits in SLV region
COLORADO SPRINGS — El Pomar Trustees approved $50,000 allocated to four nonprofit organizations in the San Luis Valley region at the Foundation’s February Trustees meeting. Through the Foundation’s grant making process, the following organizations were awarded grants:  
Jenene Holcomb with the Sangre de Cristo Preschool.  
Sangre de Cristo Preschool receives high-quality childcare rating from Colorado
MOSCA-HOOPER – Sangre de Cristo Preschool announced recently that it has been rated by Colorado Shines, the state's quality rating and improvement system for early care and learning programs. Sangre de Cristo Preschool received a Level 5 rating, a testament to its commitment to providing a high-quality learning environment that supports the development of Mosca and Hooper's children.
Sports
Alamosa High School’s Lexany Heredia kicks the ball down field in Friday’s game against Montezuma-Cortez at the AHS stadium. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Lady Mean Moose gain one win, one draw this week
ALAMOSA – It was a vast contrast of games this week as the fifth-ranked Alamosa High School girls soccer team hosted a pair of contests at the AHS stadium. On Tuesday, the Lady Mean Moose …
Rye wins Monte Vista girls golf invite
ALAMOSA – The Monte Vista High School girls golf team hosted its annual tournament Wednesday at the Monte Vista Country Club. Alamosa finished in second place with 292. The Lady Mean Moose …
Alamosa High School’s Brayden Moeller (center) set a new school record in the 100-meter dash at the Thunderstorm Invitational last Saturday at CSU Pueblo.
Moeller breaks AHS 100-meter record
ALAMOSA – Alamosa High School’s Brayden Moeller set a new record in the 100-meter dash last Saturday at the Thunderstorm Invitational which took place at CSU Pueblo. Moeller’s …
Opinion
Most people around today only have a faint recollection of who Gene Autry was. For those of you who do not, he was America’s Singing Cowboy, birthplace Tioga, Texas, near Miss Trixie's home turf. 
Obituaries
Obituaries
James (Jim) Pomeroy
On Sunday March 23rd, 2025, James (Jim) Pomeroy passed from this world at the age of 87. Surrounded by a loving family, he passed away quietly and without pain at Hope West Hospice in Grand Junction. 
In Loving Memory of Jeffrey Carpenter
Jeffrey Carpenter left this world to seek adventures in the next on March 27, 2025. He was a simple kind of man, so we’ll keep this simple too — just like he would have wanted.  
Dwight Alan Montano
Dwight Alan Montano, a man of loving spirit and boundless enthusiasm, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2025, in Lake Elsinore, Calif. Born on March 10, 1963, in the beautiful state of Colorado, Dwight's journey through life was marked by his unwavering kindness, his infectious sense of humor, and his remarkable intellect. 
John A. Hurt
John A. Hurt passed away the evening of Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at Collier Hospice Center in Wheat Ridge, Colo. He was a native Coloradan, born in Monte Vista and spent the majority of his youth in the middle of the San Luis Valley, where his grandfather had provided land to found the small town of Center.
Donna Gayle Graham 1937 – 2025 
Donna was born Aug. 31, 1937, in Morgantown, Ky., to Fred Ragland and Leona Pearl Wyley, the third of three girls. She came with her mother and sisters to Colorado in 1939, first to Monte Vista and then to Wagon Wheel Gap, where her mother’s extended family was building Cottonwood Cove resort. She attended Creede schools and then moved with her mother to Truth or Consequences, N.M., in 1952, where she attended Hot Springs High School. 
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A Springtime Twist on Classic Chicken Soup
(Family Features) This Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup calls to mind those classic brothy soups from when you were a kid but with a flavorful spring twist. Serve with fresh cucumber sandwiches for a veggie-forward meal.
Classic Tales Make Great Easter Gifts For Little Ones
(NAPSI)—This Easter parents, grandparents and friends can hop to it and give kids great books about bunnies, such as these sweet stories.   Ten Little Rabbits by Maurice Sendak This magical …