ALAMOSA — During their Wednesday night meeting, members of Alamosa’s city council gave unanimous approval on first reading to Ordinance 25-2024, an ordinance “amending the established pay plan city officer and employees”. If passed on second reading, the ordinance will raise employee pay in 2025 by 4.2% for cost of living adjustment (COLA) with a potential additional 0% to 4% performance pay raise for those who are performing notably well in their positions. 

ALAMOSA — The 2025 budget for the City of Alamosa breezed through the vote on first reading during Wednesday night’s meeting of the Alamosa City Council and a similar response is anticipated when the ordinance goes up for the final vote at the October 16 meeting. 

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. 

Clayton Allen Ferrell was born on May 14, 1951, in Alamosa Community Hospital to his mother Elsie and father Kenneth. He died on the open road in Montana on Sept. 27, 2024, and given how much he hated hospitals, he probably picked the right place to depart from us. 

Mark Colman, 63, of Alamosa, Colo., passed away on June 28, 2024. He was enjoying the freedom of flight when his plane crashed in Big Creek, Idaho and he succumbed to a fatal injury as a result. 

Jane Moeller passed away on July 16, 2024, in Alamosa, Colo.  Jane, the daughter of Helen and B Howard Padgett, was born in Walterboro, S.C.

Debra Ann (Puzick) Hallisy passed away on Sept. 24, 2024, at her home in Del Norte, Colo. She was 70 years old.  Deb was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Nov. 26, 1953. She graduated from Wasson High School in Colorado Springs in 1971.  

Our beloved cowboy, Ernesto “The Barber” Sanchez took his last ride on Sept. 30, 2024, at the age of 78. Ernesto was born in Cañon de Chama on Jan. 15, 1946, to Patricio S. and Rebecca G. Sanchez. 

DEL NORTE – The Rio Grande National Forest jointly organized and hosted a well-attended meeting in September with numerous Native American Tribes. Working with the San Luis Valley Field Office BLM, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex, the purpose of this event was to review, update and re-commit to a locally special agreement aimed at enhancing the intent of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. 

TRINIDAD and ALAMOSA — Trinidad State College (TSC) recently marked a milestone, celebrating 30 years as a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The week-long celebration in Alamosa and Trinidad coincided with National HSI Week, honoring the college's ongoing commitment to fostering educational opportunities for Hispanic students and supporting the diverse communities it serves in southern Colorado. 

ALAMOSA -— Customers of 7 Brew Coffee, the drive-thru beverage stand located on Main Street, were surprised on Wednesday morning when officers with the Alamosa Police Department (APD) engaged them in conversation while they moved through the line to order coffee.  

The past weeks have been a real hardship on Ol’ Dutch. What with the loss of Cooper the Yorkie, and then my father it's been hard. Neither was unexpected but somehow that does not make it any easier. 

In 1998, when I was in fourth grade, I joined a class field trip to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. But when we got to Cortez, the road was barricaded. Hours earlier, three men had stolen a water-tanker truck and killed a police officer before fleeing into the desert. 

Ol’ Dutch has spent a lot of time lately up in the forests in pursuit of the elusive elk. In doing so, I have been able to see a lot of animals in their everyday activities. I love watching them as they go about their daily lives not knowing that I am hiding a few feet away from them.

Because I spent a week in Kansas helping to take care of my Dad, I missed out on the first week of archery elk season. Before he passed away, one of the last things he said was, “Go home so you can hunt.” 

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, continuous professional development is essential for teachers and staff to remain informed, inspired, and equipped with the necessary tools to foster student success. Recently, a collaborative professional development day was held, bringing together multiple school districts from across the San Luis Valley.

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