Sunday, June 15

The Crestone Eagle is a trusted nonprofit monthly newspaper serving Crestone, the San Luis Valley, Colorado & beyond. Our mission is to connect each other, one story at a time.

Food banks affected by fed cuts

Breaking News
By Kimberly Black As the U.S. Senate prepares to take up H.R.1, passed by the House at 1 a.m. on May 22, local food banks are already feeling the effects of shrinking federal support. The bill proposes $267 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade. It would expand work requirements to individuals aged 18 to 64 (currently 18 to 59), shift more financial responsibility to states, repeal the SNAP Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program, limit caregiver exemptions to those with children under age 7 (down from under age 18), restrict states’ ability to waive work requirements in high-unemployment areas and limit eligibility to U.S. citizens. These changes are projected to result in millions of individuals losing access to...

BGWSD & Town of Crestone sign 20-year wastewater IGA

Breaking News
By Anya Kaats  The town of Crestone and the Baca Grande Water and Sanitation District (BGWSD) have signed a 20-year Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for BGWSD to process the town of Crestone’s wastewater.  While the town of Crestone has been paying BGWSD for ongoing wastewater treatment services since 2002, the two entities had been operating without a signed IGA since Feb. 2022.  Negotiations of the new IGA provoked questions among Baca residents about discrepancies between the cost they pay for wastewater treatment service versus what the town of Crestone pays.  On average, the town of Crestone currently accounts for around 20% of the monthly wastewater flow, and around 30% total Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). According to an Operations Update provided by BGWSD, in December 2024, “the town of Crestone...

From our current editions

Psychedelic mushroom therapy licenses have been issued by Colorado regulators

By Kate Ruderfrom KFF Health News Colorado regulators are issuing licenses for providing psychedelic mushrooms and are planning to authorize the state’s first “healing centers,” where the mushrooms can be ingested under supervision, in late spring or early summer. The dawn of state-regulated psychedelic mushrooms has arrived in Colorado, nearly two years since Oregon began offering...

OBITUARY: Harun Magnuson, 79

Harun Magnuson, 79, a 20+-year Crestone resident who spent seven years building his own off-grid home in the Baca before completing it in 2004, passed away Monday, Jan. 20 in Chattanooga, TN. His wife, Susannah Ortego, currently of Chatsworth, GA, reported that he suffered a stroke and took his final breath under hospice care...

Back in the saddle again

By Bruce Becker It was a perfect summer day in Colorado, with a sunny blue sky. My friend and I were saddled up by sunrise and rode off from where we had camped for a couple days at Jasper Lake, which is just at timberline on the Continental Divide in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. We...

Daniel Johnson: a hero’s heart and adventurous spirit

By Gussie Fauntleroy When Daniel Johnson was in Alamosa attending Adams State College in the mid-1970s, he and some friends saw smoke from a wildfire near Zapata Ranch, south of the Great Sand Dunes. So they drove over to see if they could help put it out. They had no firefighting experience, no plan and...

Saguache County found liable for inmate’s suicide; $4 million award to mother of inmate

By Lisa Cyriacks A federal jury in a Colorado District civil court case awarded $4 million to the mother of a man who died in 2019 in the Saguache County jail. In opening arguments, the plaintiff’s attorney argued Jackson Maes died by suicide after jail personnel deprived him of his federal constitutional rights under the...

Commissioners finalize solar land use regulations

By Tricia Toney After months of research, expert input, and public feedback, Saguache County commissioners have approved new land use (1041) regulations for large-scale solar development. With regulations now in place, it remains to be seen if Saguache County will transform into a hub of solar energy production or remain largely unchanged by this industry. The San...

The Aurora Borealis and the Yeshe Rangsal Stupa with bonus appearance by the International Space Station on May 11, 2024 in a composite from time lapse sequences. photo by Mike Lewinski

Little Bela got on stage with two members from the band The River Arkansas, at T-Road's Open Mic night, Thursday, July 25. Bella is the son of one of the players. photo by Matt Lit

Fog hangs in the trees looking north up North Crestone Creek. photo by Stephen Hume
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The June 2025 issue is on sale! Get the full story with the full edition for only $3. Click the image to download.

LISTEN IN!

NEW! Recorded for community radio station KRZA 88.7 FM. Janet Woodman reads about the mushroom coop growing in Alamosa, CO from our April 2024 edition.

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PODCAST

Chris Ryan interviews Liza Marron for his podcast "Tangentially Speaking." Liza came to the San Luis valley about 30 years ago to work on a buffalo ranch with her husband. Since then, she’s lived a lot of life in this valley. Raising kids, horses, dogs, working as school board president and County Commissioner, and founding and running the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition are just a few of the things that have kept her busy over the years.

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Classifieds

HELP WANTED: Saguache County Chief Financial Officer

HELP WANTED: Saguache County Chief Financial Officer Saguache County is in search of a Chef Finance Officer that will takecharge of the financial health of Saguache County by administeringaccounting operations to meet legal requirements, also...

Help Wanted: Bilingual (Spanish/English) Program & Grassroots Organizer

Bilingual (Spanish/English) Program & Grassroots Organizer Location: Remote within Western Colorado, strong preference for San Luis Valley. Limited in-state travel required depending on location of candidateDeadline for submission: June 27, 2025Position details: Part-time salary...

Press Release: SAGUACHE COUNTY IMMIGRANT PROTECTION TEAM

San Luis Valley residents are supporting their immigrant friends and neighbors. The Saguache County Immigrant Protection Team and Crestone/Baca Grande Indivisible are hosting a town hall on immigration at Society Hall in Alamosa,...

For Rent: Studio in Chalet 1

Sunrise Studio available now. New studio with full bath & kitchen + storage. Ground floor. Private entrance, quiet neighborhood.Located high in Chalet 1. Mountain views. 450 sf. $800 month +$150 utilities. Text 719-539-5030 Thank you, Sharon Borch 719-539-5030

Saguache County Draft 1041 Regulations

The Board of County Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing at the Saguache County Road and Bridge meeting Room located at 305 – 3rd Street, Saguache, Colorado, on the following date: MONDAY , JUNE...

SAGUACHE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Accepting Comment Concerning: “AFFIRMING SAGUACHE COUNTY AS A SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTUARY COUNTY AND FORMALLY OPPOSING COLORADO SENATE BILL 25-003”

SAGUACHE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL BE ACCEPTING COMMENT CONCERNING “AFFIRMING SAGUACHE COUNTY AS A SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTUARY COUNTY AND FORMALLY OPPOSING COLORADO SENATE BILL 25-003” RESOLUTION UNTIL MONDAY, MAY 30, 2025, AT...

Help Wanted: DSS Attorney

Job Title: DSS AttorneyLocation: Saguache County, ColoradoJob Type: ContractorDepartment: Department of Social ServicesSalary: Depending upon qualifications and agreed hours. The position may not include benefits. Summary:Saguache County, Colorado is seeking an attorney to represent...

Help Wanted: Department of Social Services Accountant/Bookkeeper

Job Title: Department of Social Services Accountant/BookkeeperLocation: Saguache County, ColoradoJob Type: Full-TimeDepartment: Department of Social ServicesSalary: $22.00 – Depending on experience Summary:This position is responsible for complex accounting and finance functions including: processing, accounts...

Help Wanted: Social Caseworker

Job Title: Social CaseworkerLocation: Saguache County, ColoradoJob Type: Full-TimeDepartment: Department of Social ServicesSalary: $24.00 – Depending on experience Summary:Saguache County is seeking a Social Caseworker for the Saguache County Department of Human Services.Position provides...

Help Wanted: Housing Manager

Crestone Peak Community Housing is seeking a Housing Manager to oversee the daily operations of Living Wisdom Village. Responsibilities include processing applications, income calculations and recertifications, collecting and processing rent payments, tasks associated...

Help Wanted: Saguache County Clerk’s Office (Motor Vehicle Clerk / Everything)

Job OpportunityCome Join THE AWESOME ONES!! Job Title: Motor Vehicle Clerk / EverythingLocation: Saguache County, ColoradoJob Type: Full-TimeDepartment: Clerk and RecorderSalary: $17.85/hr Summary:The Saguache County Clerk’s Office is seeking an experienced individual for general office...

Help Wanted: On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Inspector

This position is responsible for maintaining and enforcing public health regulations relating to the community’s environmental health.  Through investigation, inspection, education and enforcement, the On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Inspector takes action to mitigate...

1br 1ba Rental in Baca (Chalet One)

Large apartment in a three story quiet home, on peaceful land in Baca, Chalet One. Has own entrance, kitchenette, bathroom, cattery. Talk to us about pets. No smoking. $900, monthly lease in which...

Help Wanted: IT Tech/Communications Director

Saguache County Administration Job Title: IT Tech/Communications Director Location: Saguache County, Colorado Job Type: Full-Time Department: Information Technology Salary: $55,304/yr. Summary: Saguache County is seeking a highly skilled and experienced IT Tech/Communications Director to oversee and manage our technology infrastructure...

Help Wanted: Chef & Hotel Cleaners

The Bliss Now Hiring for Chef & Hotel Cleaners blisscafecrestone@gmail.com

Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor criteria:
We’re glad you’re part of this community. Here’s how it works:
Max Length: 350 words. If your letter is longer than this, we will return it to you to trim.
Must include: author’s name, town/city, organization affiliation (if relevant), contact information in case we have a question. Contact information will not be published with your letter. The decision to print any letter to the editor is completely at the discretion of The Crestone Eagle editor, and we reserve the right to edit all letters. Letters considered libelous, obscene, in bad taste, or containing personal attacks will not be printed. Form letters and letters containing long lists of names will not be printed. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Thank-you letters are welcomed and encouraged, and letters regarding local news and issues will be prioritized.

Send letters to editor@crestoneeagle.com by the 16th of the month.
Thank you.

Villa Grove FD thanks

To the community, Our Villa Grove/Bonanza VFD annual fundraiser on June 22nd was a huge success. We greatly appreciate our community and donors that continue...
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What we can do

Dear community,  With the recent Supreme Court decision on Presidential Immunity, it is clearer than ever that this election is a choice between Democracy and...
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NHN Thanks

Dear community, On behalf of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Crestone, a big thanks goes out to the entire community, volunteers and the Baca Grande Property Owners...
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Features from our B Section: "Living on the Earth"

The Valley is vital to threatened bird populations

By Kaitlyn Fletcher Photo Credit: John Rawinski The 2025 State of Birds report raises alarm for birds across every habitat, again. Nearly one-third of America’s bird species need immediate conservation action. About 50% of all bird species found in the U.S. can be spotted in Colorado, which boasts a total of 521 species from 63 different families. The state of valley birds Local bird expert John Rawinski has documented 369 bird species in the San Luis Valley as of 2024, adding one to three new species annually. That’s over two-thirds of Colorado’s birds. Lined by rugged mountains, the desertscape slopes into piñon-juniper and conifer...

Crestone Energy Fair secures $75K grant to advance sustainable building research

By Anya KaatsPhoto by Anya Kaats The Crestone Energy Fair (CEF) has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Mountain and Plains Environmental Justice Grant Hub (MAP EJ) to further its research on alternative building techniques. The funding will allow the organization to refine its data collection methods and continue advocating for sustainable housing solutions and preserve Saguache County’s lack of building codes. This grant comes on the heels of the recently concluded Sustainable Home Showdown (SHS), a citizen-led research initiative that evaluated a diverse array of homes in the Crestone area. The SHS aimed to collect data on home efficiency,...

The Crestone Energy Fair returns for 36th year

By CEF Crew, Photo by Anya Kaats The theme for this year’s Energy Fair (CEF) is Nurturing Resilience, and the event will be focused on what it means to cultivate communal solidarity and forward-thinking leadership to navigate change on our own terms. CEF has remained a pillar of Crestone’s commitment to natural and regenerative building and living, and is one of the longest-running sustainability festivals in the nation. CEF features hands-on workshops, educational panels and presentations, and on-going learning opportunities centered around innovative, sustainable and regenerative ideas and practices in construction, lifestyle and community. The event has become a reliable resource...

Buffalo Soldiers: A tribute to the Buffalo Soldiers and their place in SLV history

by Brandon Gonzales.  Having been shaped for thousands of years by many different Indigenous nations, and more recently by non-Indigenous settlers, the San Luis Valley (SLV) has always been a crossroads of different cultures and traditions. The Fort Garland Museum is showcasing a sliver of the region’s unique human history with their newest exhibit, Buffalo Soldiers: reVision. The exhibit draws from the work of 8 artists to explore the legacy that the “Buffalo Soldiers” left on the SLV and its peoples during American western expansion.  For some background, the Buffalo Soldiers were six Black cavalry regiments that were established by Congress...

Beavers in the SLV: Why you should start giving a dam about this keystone species

By Zaylah Pearson-Good. Due to a history of hunting and habitat loss, beaver colonies have diminished across the San Luis Valley in the last few centuries. Though beaver populations are stable in parts of the Valley, efforts are underway to restore the species to key waterways that they once occupied. Beavers play a major role in maintaining ecological balance, protecting endangered fish and mitigating the impacts of wildfire.   It takes a beaver approximately 24 hours to completely re-engineer an ecosystem. These stout, orange-toothed rodents use sticks, mud, leaves and grasses to build watertight dams that slow and redirect water across...

Partnership: Utes partner with USDA

Reprinted from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. DENVER, CO—Southern Ute Indian Reservation - A historic partnership is forging between the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Through the USDA or NRCS Agency's Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the entities have jointly entered an alternative funding arrangement (AFA) to improve rangeland resiliency and health on Tribal lands. This project is funded through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). "This is an exciting partnership", said Clint Evans, NRCS State Conservationist in Colorado. "The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is the first Tribe in the...

La Colcha: Weaving history with present day HEART

By HEART of Saguache. The San Luis Valley Colcha Embroidery project recently hosted a free workshop at the Saguache County Museum in early June. The workshop was at capacity, with most of the attendees being residents of Saguache County.  Participants delved into the history of colcha embroidery in the San Luis Valley, learned the traditional colcha stitch, and examined artwork examples and a library of publications on the topic. Afterwards, everyone picnicked in the front of the museum.  HEART thanked its dedicated instructors from San Luis and Monte Vista, who traveled to Saguache to lead the workshop: Maria Eufemia Barela, Donna Madrid Hernandez, Aurora Martinez, and Julia...

Hiking in the SLV:  Discovering the hidden oasis of San Luis Lake State Wildlife Area

By Tegan Welsch-Rainek Just beyond the edge of the Great Sand Dunes National Monument, nestled at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo range, lies the San Luis Lake State Wildlife Area. This time of year, it's a hidden oasis brimming with water and life. The recent snowmelt and rains have revitalized the grasslands, wetlands, and lakes, bringing the area to life. Setting off on my journey, I noticed a storm brewing over the Sangre de Cristos and the distant sand dunes. The clouds cast a purple hue over the dunes, but beams of sunlight still pierced through, creating a striking...
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From our columns...

Sports season nears end for school year

By Ziah Knight-Pesqueira. Basketball Wrap Up - Boys and Girls Following the end of the basketball season, all seniors from both girls’ and boys’ teams participated in the Arby’s All Star Game. Seniors from teams around the San Luis Valley (SLV)  region were able to practice and compete together one last...

CCS students to create mural for Crestone Town Park stage

By Sequoia Sirois The town of Crestone has always had many community projects going on throughout the years. Projects range from cleaning up the roads of trash for Earth Day, establishing a new town park for the kids, to building a new show stage for community performances.  This year a new...

Sports transition: Bball ends and track runs

By Ziah Knight-Pesqueira  HS Boys Basketball ends After a tough 73-39 playoff loss against the Stratton Eagles the Moffat Cowboys season officially comes to an end. The Cowboys finished their season with a 13-8 record while also qualifying for the Colorado Regional Playoff. Over the course of the past four years...

Puerto Rico! 

CCS Seniors mix education, culture, art and fun in their out-of-country trip By Sequoia Sirois. The Crestone Charter School (CCS) gives amazing diverse learning opportunities to all students.  LINK high schoolers are given the lucky chance to go places out of the United States mainland. LINK is a reference to seniors...

Moffat Archers participated in the 2024 NASP Colorado State Virtual Tournament on Tuesday, February 27th, with 30 students participating. This is the most important tournament of the season for our archers. Competitors will shoot 30 arrows to score. Scoring officials will submit results to the State NASP Coordinator and...

Moffat sports 

By Ziah Knight-Pesqueira  Moffat Boys Basketball: The Moffat Cowboys have finished the regular season with a 13-6 record; solidifying themselves a place in the regional playoffs. The Cowboys most recently faced the Sierra Grande Panthers in a district play-in tournament. Unfortunately, the team came short, taking a 48-43 loss in a...
At the end of the road

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