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Stephen Nicholson, keynote speaker at the Southern Rocky Mountain Agricultural Conference in Monte Vista, on Feb. 5 spoke frankly about challenges and opportunities in agriculture.  

Supply, demand and the elephant in the room

MONTE VISTA — When Stephen Nicholson opened his keynote speech “Our Challenges and Opportunities: There is Much to Consider” at the Southern Rocky Mountain Agricultural Conference on Wednesday, he began with the challenges facing the San Luis Valley. He didn’t pull any punches. But no one in the room was caught by surprise, either. 
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Prescribed burns planned Alamosa, MV NWRs

ALAMOSA — Through April 30, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to conduct prescribed fire operations on the Monte Vista and Alamosa National Wildlife Refuges to remove old and matted vegetation and improve wildlife habitat. 

Project to revitalize regional GIS services receives grants

ALAMOSA — The San Luis Valley Development Resources Group (SLVDRG), in partnership with the San Luis Valley Council of Governments (SLVCOG), is moving forward with plans to develop a comprehensive GIS Strategic Plan for the region. The project, which aims to ensure the continuation of critical Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services in the Valley, has been awarded two State of Colorado grants. 

Historic market may open in March

SAN LUIS — After numerous delays over the last several years, the San Luis Peoples Market may be opening soon. 

Law enforcement, ASD statements regarding ICE

ALAMOSA — In recent weeks, actions taken in major U.S. cities by agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have raised questions about the role local law enforcement will play when ICE conducts large scale immigration arrests in local jurisdictions.  

Bombs discovered in Hooper storage unit

HOOPER — Two bombs were found among the contents of a storage container in Hooper this week, prompting the Pueblo Police Department bomb squad and individuals with the U.S. Air Force to come to the site for detonation.  

SLV Health announces new state-of-the-art MRI

ALAMOSA — In continuation of its ongoing commitment to providing high quality health care, SLV Health recently unveiled its new 128 GE Signa Artist Evo 1.5T MRI, which they describe as “highly beneficial for SLV Health and our patients”. 
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Community
SLVTU: Cultivating Conservation and inspiring future stewards
THE VALLEY — The San Luis Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SLVTU) is making waves with a year full of exciting updates, achievements, and initiatives aimed at fostering a love for conservation, education, and our valley's waterways. From new logos to student programs, scholarships, and well-deserved state recognition, SLVTU is truly “Cultivating Conservation” in every sense. 
Artists at the Paint Date held at the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center on Feb. 8, display their artwork.
Fort Garland Museum celebrates Paint Date
FORT GARLAND — Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center expressed thanks to Taylor Bradley Hubbard for a successful Paint Date on Feb. 8.  
Cover of ‘Somos Agua,’ written by Belinda Garcia under her pen name Manuko G. Garcia, taken in homage to her late son. Graphic design by Michelle Otanez. Garcia will be doing a book reading at the Narrow Gauge on Feb. 21.  
‘Somos Agua’, how water connects us all
ALAMOSA — There’s a new book on the shelves at Narrow Gauge Book Co-operative titled “Somos Agua” written by local author Belinda Garcia. The title of the book is simple. The images on the cover are vibrant and alive. And both are actually promises of what’s found inside the book which, simply put, is powerful and profound.  
Beth Robinson, Director of Choral Activities at Adams State University spoke to the audience at the Top of the Nation concert at Sacred Heart Church in Alamosa in February 2024.  
High School Mixed Choir Festival returns to Alamosa Feb. 20-22
ALAMOSA — The Adams State University “High School Mixed Choir Festival,” a prestigious event, returns on Feb. 20-22. It features some of the finest high school choral musicians in the Southwest, including both an auditioned (symphonic choir) and director-recommended choir (concert choir). 
The Arellano Brothers will play Society Hall on Saturday, Feb. 15.  
Arellano Brothers with Stadler, Pearcy and Richmond at Society Hall
ALAMOSA — Society Hall, the performance space, concert hall and community gathering place at 400 Ross Ave. in Alamosa, is proud to welcome the Arellano Brothers with Jimmy Stadler back to the Society Hall stage, on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6. 
Sports
Alamosa's Jeremiah DeLaCerda (left).
16 SLV wrestlers advance to state semifinals
ALAMOSA – The first day of the 2025 Colorado High School Activities Association state wrestling tournament took place Thursday at Ball Arena in Denver. A total of 16 wrestlers have …
Alamosa High School’s Jeremiah DeLaCerda (right) looks to score against Centauri’s Matthew Salazar in a dual meet in January. Both DeLaCerda and Salazar qualified for the Class 3A State Tournament which begins on Thursday.
43 SLV wrestlers qualify for state tournament
ALAMOSA – The Colorado High School Activities Association hosted its regional wrestling tournament at several different venues across the state with 43 competitors from the San Luis Valley …
Center High School’s Aaron Valadez (right) locks up with Salida’s Samuel Johnson at the Valley Classic earlier this month. Both wrestlers qualified for the State Tournament.
First round opponents for local state qualfiers
ALAMOSA – The 43 San Luis Valley qualifiers for the state wrestling tournament found out their first-round opponents on Monday. The tournament begins on Thursday afternoon and the end of …
Opinion
Once again, we are staring down another celebrated Holiday of sorts or at least a day to remember especially for all you men out there. Ol’ Dutch is not sure how us men got saddled with this day, but we surely are, and you best not forget it if you are smart. As with anything, Valentine’s Day has an origin not quite what one would expect, and I had to look it up. I knew of course that there was a Saint Valentine and thought that was the end of the story or shall I say the beginning. But it turns out that the day actually was a pagan holiday called Lupercalia.  
Obituaries
Obituaries
Sharon Edmiston Seago
Sharon Edmiston Seago (born April 24, 1942, Perrytown, Texas) departed this earth in the early hours of Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in Colorado Springs.
Charlene Elizabeth Ameel
Charlene Elizabeth Ameel, 78, beloved and deep-rooted member of the Creede community, passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 28, 2025. Her multi-faceted involvement and love have been vital to Creede’s ultimate well-being and have stretched across generations. Her passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. 
Kirk Rhoton Thompson 
Kirk Rhoton Thompson, 78, of South Fork, Colo., passed away peacefully on Jan. 21, 2025, in Highland Village, Texas. Kirk was born in Arizona on April 1, 1946, to June Rhoton Thompson and JW (Dub) Thompson.  
Mary Louise ‘Mary Lou’ Bassett
Mary Louise "Mary Lou" Bassett, age 84, passed away peacefully on Nov. 17, 2024, at home in Cibolo, Texas, surrounded by her family. 
Mary Patricia Karr
Mary Patricia Karr, 76, of Creede, Colo., passed away in peace on Dec. 16, 2024.  Mary was born April 27, 1948, in Milwaukee, Wis., the daughter of John E. Crowley, Sr. and Delores "Pat" Patricia Conley. 
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