SAN LUIS — The community, along with workers from Baha Construction and Ayres Associates, have been actively involved in constructing a new public plaza in San Luis.  According to Teddy Leinbach, Assistant Town Manager of San Luis, "The new San Luis Town Plaza is being constructed so that we have a centrally located gathering point within our small town."

SAGUACHE COUNTY — A solo hiker was rescued after activating their Garmin inReach device on the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 6. This initiated a large-scale multi-agency rescue effort in the Kirk Couloir, a narrow corridor splitting the cliffs between Kit Carson and Challenger peaks. 

ALAMOSA — U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, attorney, and statesman spoke to a warm and receptive crowd on Saturday where he presented a strong message centered around the importance of unity and partnerships. 

MONTE VISTA — As part of office consolidation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be closing its outdated office in Monte Vista.  The closure does not affect any of the wildlife refuges in the area and all of the impacted employees have already been reassigned to the Alamosa office on El Rancho Lane.

ALAMOSA — Capulin resident David O’Brien, 50, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and domestic violence over the weekend in connection with the death of his wife. Her name is not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin. The homicide took place on the outskirts of Capulin in Conejos County.  

MONTE VISTA – The Sargent School District notified parents and guardians Monday morning, Oct. 7, that it terminated a teacher after a claim of sexual harassment was substantiated by the district. 

CENTER – Twin brothers and sworn officers of the Center Police Department have both been charged with theft, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. CPD Chief Aaron Fresquez and his brother Sgt. Adam Fresquez were both issued summons for theft, while Chief Fresquez was also cited with a misdemeanor count of official misconduct. 

CENTER – The Center Community Park will be receiving a facelift. Town Manager Cole Webb said the park’s old playground equipment would be removed and new equipment would be installed. 

DENVER —SLV native and colcha artisan, Josephine Lobato will be celebrated with an art showing in Denver.  This fall, the University of Denver will host a significant event in the art world. The retrospective exhibition, Mi Vida en Colcha, by San Luis native and colcha embroidery artist Josephine Lobato, will be a celebration of our cultural heritage.  

ALAMOSA – The rescue of a man from a burning home on Bell Avenue in February has earned a San Luis Valley fire fighting unit the Directors Award from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC). 

ALAMOSA — The clear blue skies over the San Luis Valley looked a little different earlier this week when a large, white object was seen floating overhead. No, it wasn’t a spycraft from a foreign country. It wasn’t even a weather balloon. It was a Stratollite high-altitude balloon system owned and launched by World View Experience, a company based out of Arizona.  

SAGUACHE COUNTY — Villa Grove is a small town of about 30 residents located on Highway 285 in northern Saguache County. Last summer, after the Saguache County Board of County Commissioners approved a land use application from Mountain Tower and Land LLC and Tower West LLC (Viaero) to construct a 195-foot cell tower near the center of this small hamlet, many residents were outraged. 

ALAMOSA — Slightly more than two years after signing a contract to buy the former Atencio’s Market in Alamosa, the doors are opening again as the new site of La Puente’s Food Bank Network of the San Luis Valley. Not all the renovations are complete, but the food bank, 802 State Ave., on Alamosa’s south side, began serving the public on Monday. 

ALAMOSA — “Welcome to your new normal.” Jan Mortensen recalls those words spoken to her 10 years ago by nurses working in the burn unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO) after two of her young children had been severely injured in a fire. “They knew what they were talking about,” Mortensen says. 

DENVER — Governor Jared Polis and former Republican gubernatorial nominee Heidi Ganahl announced their joint endorsement of Proposition 129, an initiative aimed at increasing access to veterinary care for Colorado's pets. This measure, which will establish a Veterinary Professional Associates (VPA) position, is poised to play a critical role in veterinary practice, offering a promising future for pet care in the state. 

ALAMOSA — In the course of conducting a traffic stop on Thursday, officers with the Alamosa Police Department (APD) discovered a large amount of fentanyl and a significant amount of cash, resulting in the arrest of the driver. 

In an effort to provide information to voters about how their votes will align or not align with the candidates, the Valley Courier presented these same questions to the two candidates running for the state legislature. Today will be the responses of the two candidates for the Colorado Senate District 6. On Friday, Sept. 27, candidate responses from the House of Representatives District 62 were in the Courier. 

In an effort to provide information to voters about how their votes will align or not align with the candidates, the Valley Courier presented these same questions to the two candidates running for the state legislature. Today will be the responses of the two candidates for the Colorado Senate District 6.

DENVER — A trial resulting from a lawsuit filed by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser to block the merger between Kroger and Albertsons is set to begin on Monday, Sept. 30, in Denver District Court.  

ALAMOSA COUNTY — On the morning of Sept. 27, an adult male fell and hit his head on a rock at the end of the trail to Zapata Falls. Alamosa County Sheriff's Office confirmed the hiker died at the scene.