Friday, July 26

The Crestone Eagle is a nonprofit monthly newspaper serving Crestone and the San Luis Valley

Pipe-Wielding Suspect Fatally Shot by Deputy in Crestone

Breaking News
By Nancy Telos with Matt Lit and release from Colorado Bureau of Investigations report July 25, 2024–CB–Crestone, CO–A pipe-wielding suspect was fatally shot by a Saguache County sheriff deputy Thursday afternoon. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now assisting the Saguache County Sheriff's Office into the investigation of the fatal shooting. On Thursday July 25, 2024, at approximately noon a Saguache County sheriff deputy was driving near the town of Crestone, Colorado to serve papers when he observed a 40-year-old white male walking about a mile from the entrance of the Baca Grande Subdivision. The deputy recognized the man as having an active warrant. The deputy attempted to talk with the male suspect when the man began attacking the deputy with a 4-foot metal pipe. The...

Front Cover
Kids flee from water balloons during a past Crestone July Fourth celebration. Photos by Matt Lit

From our current editions

Crestone Threshold Choir performs in July

By Sharon Corcoran. The Crestone Threshold singers are a familiar musical accompaniment to cremations at the Crestone pyre, and, more privately, to community members who are transitioning, whether into death or birth. The Crestone Threshold Choir — Anrahyah Arstad, Sharon Corcoran, Joanna Bolek, Jillian Ellzey, Hamida Nur (Kate Steichen), Darci Myers, Susan Skellenger, Julia Voss...

Housing gets new director

By Maureen VanWalleghan. Saguache, CO—Saguache County Housing Authority (SCHA) recently hired Cathy Maestas as the new housing director to replace Evan Samora, who has transitioned to a position with the State of Colorado.  Maestas brings 15 years of extensive experience in property management from her work throughout Colorado. Her appointment aligns with the SCHA goals and...

Fentanyl grips the San Luis Valley  

Understanding the crisis By Kimberly Black. The San Luis Valley faces a troubling reality as the rampant use of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, has surged to alarming levels in recent years. As local healthcare providers, law enforcement and community organizations grapple with the escalating crisis, a multifaceted approach is emerging to combat addiction and provide...

Aventa – Blue merger

By Chandler Elmore​​​​, Blue public relations manager. Who & what: Blue Federal Credit Union’s Merger with Aventa Credit Union Where: Aventa Credit Union, based in Colorado Springs, has fully merged with Blue Federal Credit Union, based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. When: The merger was approved by Aventa members on February 26, 2024, and officially took effect on March...

Hollyhock Festival  arrives in Saguache  

By Carita Ginn, Saguache Chamber of Commerce. Enjoy the Magic of the 2024 Saguache Arts Walk and Hollyhock Festival. The Town of Saguache is busy preparing for its signature annual event, the Saguache Arts Walk, Hollyhock Festival and Fairy House Tour to take place on July 27 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.  Each summer downtown Saguache comes...

July Fourth: Theme centers on what makes Crestone the community it is

By Nick Nevares, July Fourth organizer. As the sun rises over Crestone on the Fourth of July, the community comes together to celebrate not only our nation’s independence but also the unique spirit that defines our town. This year’s theme, “Unique, United and Undivided” is a mantra of hope for the future of the Crestone-Baca...

County commissioner candidates interviewed

By Chris Ryan Editor’s note: Both interviews have been edited for brevity and clarity. The full interviews are available on The Crestone Eagle website: www.CrestoneEagle.org. Tom McCracken What have you learned in your experience that you think would be especially valuable for you moving forward? There’s a lot to learn about this job. I didn’t even have my legs...

Range View Apartments puzzle pieces fall into place in Saguache

By Tricia Toney. Pieces of an complicated puzzle are beginning to fall into place on the way to funding 32 units of affordable housing in Saguache. The proposed Range View Apartment complex will require an estimated $16.1 million to complete. Puzzle pieces include cooperation with multiple governmental agencies, grant approvals, partnership with private business enterprises, private...

Samora moves from local housing to state-level housing

By Tricia Toney. Although he remains committed to the completion of two large-scale affordable housing projects in Saguache County, Evan Samora is moving on and up. Director of the Saguache County Housing Authority since 2011, Samora has accepted a new job with the state of Colorado as housing development specialist for the Southwest Region. As such,...

Building alternatives displayed by CEF

The team behind the natural-build demo site on the corner of Birch St. and Golden Ave., in Crestone, is gearing up in anticipation of the 35th annual Crestone Energy Fair (CEF), September 14-15, 2024. Last year, Benjamin Byer and Michelle Beelendorf-Byer donated use of some of their land to CEF to help bring increased...

Crestone Energy Fair Home Tour provides amazing homes and views of construction. Home tour have included Jeff and Ruth Beard's whimsical Hobbitat. Photo by Anya Kaats

Betty Jo Lea, sixth grade, Moffat school (left) and Tori Gibson, seventh grade work on the bus barn while teacher Rachel Kellum works on the lower part. Photo by Matt Lit
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The July 2024 issue is on sale! Get the full story with the full edition. $3 digital download. Click HERE: https://crestoneeagle.org/product/july-2024-digital-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

Deputy Coroner needed

Experienced individual needed for On Call Part time position assisting the Saguache County Coroner. The position will be an on call/as needed position.  Coroner calls are paid at $150.00 per call and Transports...

Come join our Team!

Baca Grande Water and Sanitation District is accepting applications for a part-time Administrative Assistant.Candidates must have excellent customer service and organizational skills, proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and have the ability to learn...

Firewood for Sale

Call or text Mark 662-361-7530. Located in Saguache.

Unique Opportunity to live in Crestone

                  Available 1st of September Beautiful, quiet, 1 bedroom furnished apartment, private entrance, surrounded by trees and nature. Walk to restaurants, stores, organic market, art gallery,...

Call for Candidates:Board of Directors For the October 11th, 2024 Annual General Meeting & Election

There will be two (2) seats on the Board of Directors open this fall for election or re-election, with three (3) year terms. Members in Good Standing are eligible to become a candidate. There...

Assistant Road Supervisor Position

Saguache County Road and Bridge and Landfill is looking to hire an Assistant  Supervisor … Starting at $67,000/year - DOE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:  Applicants must possess a current Colorado Class “A” Commercial Drivers License...

MS/HS Science Teacher

MS/HS Science Teacher The Crestone Charter School is attracting skilled educators for a MS/HS Science Teacher position. Qualified applicants will have a breadth of knowledge in biology, physics, chemistry, and earth science as well...

Letters to the Editor

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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.

Quotes to vote

“We in America do not have a government by the majority — we have government by the majority who participate...All tyranny needs to gain...
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Jason Ensz for commissioner

To the community, My name is Jason Ensz. I’m running for Saguache County Commissioner district two. I have been a resident of Saguache County for...
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Weir for commissioner

Editor’s note: Some of the claims in this letter regarding Constitutional rights are the opinion of the writer and not that of The Crestone...
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Kinney offers congrats

To the community, Congratulations to Thomas McCracken and all the other candidates who made it onto the November ballot. “Winning” these days comes in many...
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Skeeters: A poem for the season

By Frankie J. Meyer i seen a scouting scoundrel fly by pre-cursor of bloody bugs a comin’ a city, a county, hell…a world of sneaky little suckers out...
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Features from our B Section: "Living on the Earth"

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...

White Mountain Farm

Sustaining the legacy of an ancient crop By Anya Kaats. Paul New’s family has been farming in the San Luis Valley (SLV) for more than 100 years, going back to around 1917. Originally the News grew organic wheat, alfalfa, and raised sheep, but in 1984, New’s father Ernie, alongside their friend John McCamant, started experimenting with quinoa. In 1987, White Mountain Farm was incorporated and became the first large-scale quinoa operation in North America, located in Mosca, CO.  Known as “The Mother Grain” of the Incas, quinoa has been cultivated for over 5,000 years, originating from the Andean region of South America, particularly...

Valley Roots Food Hub: Multi-farm brings fresh to the table

By Maria Karahalios. Valley Roots Food Hub Mosca, Colorado—Valley Roots Food Hub (VRFH) launches the Summer 2024 Fresh Box multi-farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program on June 20 through September 11. The program runs alongside the fresh harvest season to bring shareholders fresh and local produce from growers across the Colorado bio-region.  Every Thursday, shareholders will receive a box of specially curated produce that aims to supplement a family of two to three people. In addition to the produce, shareholders will receive a weekly newsletter filled with valley happenings, producer bios, creative recipes, warehouse highlights, and how to store produce. For June,...

Empowering the heirs to the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant

An interview with Move Mountains Project Executive Director, Shirley Romero Otero By Anna Lee Vargas. Since its official inception in 2014, Move Mountains Project (Move Mountains) has served as an art and entrepreneurship community education program that builds sustainable platforms for the youth leaders of San Luis, Colorado. Move Mountains’ mission is to encourage youth, as heirs to the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant, to develop deeper understandings of art, resource preservation and entrepreneurship in order to empower active community citizens through a focus on local and global social justice issues.  Since lack of employment is a major obstacle for youth of...

The legacy of Buddhism in La Jara’s  Japanese American community

By Brandon Gonzales. Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is commemorated annually every May. This designation aims to celebrate the contributions made by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout history as well as today.  The San Luis Valley has long been a crossroads and meeting place for different groups, from its Native American roots to its Hispano settlements to its Anglo pioneers. Asian Americans, specifically Japanese Americans, also contributed to the history of the Valley, especially its agriculture and religious diversity. One example of this rich history is found at La Jara’s Buddhist temple, which was built in 1936 to serve...

Artist mural projects engage Crestone and Moffat

San Luis Valley artist Gigi Douglas brought together students and volunteers in Crestone and Moffat with her mural painting skills. Douglas worked with kids from both the Moffat school district and the Crestone Charter School to create themed murals at the Moffat school bus barn and the Crestone town stage. Funding for the projects came from a Saguache County sales tax grant. Douglas also worked with the La Jara community to create a mural there. 
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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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