Local News

A headline in the May edition of The Crestone Eagle is incorrect regarding theannual SLVREC meeting in June.The story is correct.The Crestone Eagle regrets the error. Here is the full story as published: San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative (SLVREC) has announced that thecooperative’s June board of director’s election will not take place. The two positions upfor election this year were uncontested by the April 9 deadline. Incumbent board members Keenan Anderson, representing Saguache County, andStephen Valdez, Conejos County, were the only candidates who filed to run for theirrespective seats. With no additional candidates filing to run, it is anticipated that the incumbents...

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...

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,...

By Tricia Toney, Photo by Matt Lit By Tricia Toney Nine residents of Villa Grove have won a significant court ruling against the approval of a conditional land use permit that allowed Viaero Wireless to construct a new cell tower near the town center. The lawsuit, spearheaded by retired teacher Paula Maez and Reverend Marquita Oliver, argued that county commissioners were misinformed about their legal authority over the permit. This misunderstanding, influenced by legal counsel and compounded by ex parte communication rules, ultimately led to a costly lawsuit. Initial land use application and resident concerns In April 2024, residents living within 2,500 feet...

By Kimberly Black Saguache County Undersheriff Royce Brubacher and Deputy Chavez attended a Crestone Peace Patrol meeting to address concerns about the group’s role in community safety in February. The discussion aimed to ensure Peace Patrol members operate within appropriate boundaries and strengthen collaboration. Brubacher said, “Some of the citizens in the area have come to me with concerns.” Additionally, “I observed body cam footage where I felt some individuals were getting a little forceful in how they were inserting themselves into situations,” said Brubacher. The Peace Patrol, a volunteer group dedicated to promoting safety and de-escalation, plays an important role in...

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...

By Kimberly Black Local law enforcement, school districts and local organizations report no increase in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the San Luis Valley, despite recent news of ICE raids in Denver and Aurora. Officials from Moffat and Alamosa School Districts, Saguache County Sheriff’s Office, and the SLV Immigration Resource Center (SLVIRC) in Alamosa confirm that there has been no uptick in ICE operations in the area. However, with heightened concerns during Trump’s term these institutions are reviewing and updating their protocols in accordance with state law.  By Colorado House Bill (CHB) 19-1124, local agencies cannot be forced...

Photo by Matt Lit By Anya Kaats Adam Kinney, long-time Crestone resident and member of the Town of Crestone Board of Trustees, announced his resignation in mid-January. Kinney cited an opportunity for personal growth and family well-being as his primary motivations for resigning. “I have an opportunity to go have an adventure somewhere else and maybe learn a little bit more about how to take care of my home and my family,” Kinney said, adding that he was not planning to sell his property in Crestone, but that he didn’t know if he would be gone a year, five years, or...