Crestone, Baca Grande & Casita Park

By Tricia Toney. The already-storied history of the Crestone Kiosk will soon be adding another chapter. A coalition of public and private partners hopes to re-develop the once-upon-a-time commercial hub into a stop on a network of recreational trails.  Kiosk history Around 2016, private citizens began using the open space between Crestone and the Baca as a marketplace and informal used car lot. Commerce escalated over time, with farmers, diesel trucks, small vendors and customers vying for space.  Many assume the county owned the land but that is not true. By 2022, the private landowners had become so concerned about congestion and liability...

By Anya Kaats. After years of providing volunteer services to the town of Crestone, Elaine Johnson sent a letter to the board in July explaining that she will no longer be providing assistance and guidance to the town on financial matters.  The last straw for Johnson concerned a “non-existent sales tax number” inserted into the town’s financial information, prior to the Town actually receiving that sales tax check from the state. “The town operates on a cash basis and there should never be imputed numbers in the business records. This could, under certain circumstances, be considered falsifying business records.” Johnson claims...

By Karen Barbee. It’s a Win, Win. In this small community of Crestone, Colorado and the Baca Grande people take care of each other. Inevitably, when a community member expresses a need for help and support someone will step up and say, “I can help with that”. It can be a flat tire, stuck in the snow, getting old stuff to the dump, giving out Good Cheer bags, working to get the Food Bank up and running, clearing trails, helping someone through a hard time, notarizing legal documents, keeping each other safe and much more. There are many people and organizations...

By Shahna Lax. Come, be inspired, experience and celebrate what can be grown in the unique environments of Crestone and the Baca. Artists join the gardeners to enhance the beauty of the growing season, on August 11. Ginny Ducale will be joining us this year at the community garden at the Little Shepherd in the Hills Episcopal Chapel in downtown Crestone.  This garden is not only a food forest, but an experimental space for such medicinal herbs as ashwagandha, baikal skullcap and clary sage, among many others. During the tour Ginny will be in the community center across from the garden, where...

By Matt Lit.This story was updated 8/03/2024 at 4:24 p.m. Aug. 3, 2024–Crestone-Baca–A Saguache County Sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a suspect July 25 on Camino Baca Grande, near the Baca Fire Station.  On July 29, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation identified the suspect as 40-year-old Jonathan Wood, of the Baca.  The deputy’s body camera footage, released by the Sheriff’s Office Aug. 2, showed him approach Wood, who was walking southeast along the road. The deputy attempted to talk to Wood. Wood was carrying bundles on a 4-foot piece of copper plumbing pipe. While the deputy addressed Wood, Wood brought the pipe from...

By Nancy Telos with Matt Lit Earlier this afternoon a man was allegedly shot by Saguache County Sheriff’s deputies near the Baca Fire Station. There are conflicting statements, though witnesses stated they saw the still-unidentified man brandishing a pipe and fighting with a deputy along Camino Baca Grande and Baca Grant Way.  Emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene within minutes.  The Saguache County Sheriff’s Office has declined to comment stating, “It is still under investigation.” The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is participating in the investigation and events leading up to the shooting.  Camino Baca Grande remains closed to through traffic. There is...

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 and Joan Stigliani — will offer a song bath to the community on Saturday, July 20, 3 p.m., at Shumei International Institute in the Gallery, 3000 Dream Way, Crestone, CO. Audience members will be invited in pairs to take seats in zero-gravity chairs encircled by the...

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 1. Why and how does this affect Aventa members: Mergers in the financial industry often signify growth and progress, and this decision is driven by a heartfelt commitment to enhance the members’ experience. This anticipated merger between Blue Federal Credit Union and Aventa Credit Union signifies...