ALAMOSA — At the beginning of the county’s meeting on Wednesday long-time San Luis Valley resident Roy Honeycutt cautioned Alamosa County officials to avoid the marijuana pitfalls of Saguache County.

He and Pastor Dan Pacheco also told the officials that they prayed for them, and they thanked the county commissioners for their leadership and efforts in the county.

“We pray for you all,” said Pacheco, who pastors the College Heights Baptist Church in Alamosa. “I know how important your job is. We want you to know you have people in the community … who appreciate all that you do.”

Honeycutt added that he appreciated all of the county’s support with projects in the past with which he had been involved like the rodeo grounds. When Barbara McCoy was one of the county commissioners, the county provided the lighting system for the rodeo grounds, he said.

“I appreciate the county stepping up when I really needed them to finish that project.”

Honeycutt said the rodeo has become a popular event, and his son Jerry and wife Dawn have added several events to Alamosa Round Up as well as additional events throughout the year.

“It’s been very successful,” he said. “A lot of the success comes from the support the county has given us.”

Honeycutt, who has lived in Alamosa County since 1962, said he is concerned that marijuana is negatively affecting this area, however.

“I feel our way of life has kind of deteriorated here in the Valley,” he said. “I attribute that a lot to this marijuana problem we have in the Valley.”

He said he was concerned that Alamosa might become like Saguache County, which is dealing with marijuana problems. He said he had heard concerns particularly about the way marijuana was affecting children in households where it was used.

Honeycutt added that God is the answer, and he wished prayer could be put back in schools. He said children need to grow up saying the “Pledge of Allegiance” and have pride in their country.

He thanked the commissioners for curtailing marijuana in Alamosa County and for their support of the Round Up and their assistance for him personally when he was trying to deal with a land use issue.

Pacheco said he previously lived in Saguache County and knew that marijuana was a problem there and affecting children.

“We appreciate what you are doing,” he added.