ALAMOSA – Annette Sisneros was sending her fifth-grade class off to their music lesson this week when Curtis Garcia and the entourage from the Adams State School of Education arrived at her classroom at the Alamosa Elementary 3-5 building. 

Larry Vigil sent this photo of a nuthatch in a Cole Park tree. ‘Sometimes, to find natural beauty all you must do is look up,’ said Vigil.

SOUTH FORK — Earlier this January, South Fork Fire Protection District sent a type six engine to California as part of a massive, first-of-its-kind, state-to-state mobilization to assist with the wildfires in Los Angeles County.  

CENTER – Center Consolidated School District’s Transportation Department Director Tony Garcia was excited to help the school get two new-to-the-school buses. 

RIO GRANDE COUNTY – During the Rio Grande County Board of Commissioner meeting on Jan. 22, Adams State University President David Tandberg provided a brief update and introduced ASU’s new Vice-President Jake Rissler. 

ALAMOSA — Come out and hear great music while supporting the Alamosa Live Music Association’s work in bringing quality live music to the San Luis Valley. The annual ALMA and Friends concert is on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. Society Hall at 400 Ross Ave. in Alamosa. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for complimentary finger foods. 

MONTE VISTA – The Monte Vista Cooperative Dedication to Education Foundation has announced the presentation of two of their annual scholarships. The Dennis Kay Memorial Scholarship ($6,000) and the Mike Kelly Memorial Scholarship ($1,000). 

ALAMOSA – A total of 233 runners – 108 males and 125 females – braved the below-freezing temperatures to run in the annual Rio Frio 5K race on Saturday at Cole Park. 

GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE — The results of the annual Christmas Bird Count have been compiled, showing a remarkable diversity of species for winter and an unexpected abundance of some species. 

DEL NORTE — The Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust (RiGHT) proudly announces the successful conservation of the historic Sutherland Company Ranch, marking our 60th conservation easement and a major milestone of over 35,000 acres conserved across the San Luis Valley. 

BILLINGS, MONT. — Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA), the largest system of privately owned campgrounds in the world, is proud to announce that Alamosa/Great Sand Dunes KOA Journey has been recognized with the prestigious KOA ICON Award. This recognition highlights campgrounds that demonstrate exceptional operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and a commitment to the KOA brand. 

ALAMOSA – A collegiate distance runner, artist, and social media influencer, Amalia Dorion inspires entire communities. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in painting from Adams State University in the spring of 2024. 

ALMONT — Colorado Trout Unlimited will host the Annual River Conservation and Fly-Fishing Camp for teens aged 14-18 at AEI Basecamp in Almont from June 8-14.  The San Luis Valley Trout Unlimited Chapter (SLVTU) is proud to sponsor two scholarships for local youth to attend this unique camp, covering registration fees and tuition costs. 

TRES PIEDRAS, N.M. — Carson National Forest has announced the opening of the Aldo Leopold House for overnight stays, a place steeped in the legacy of the renowned conservationist. Reservations for this historic site are now available for the first overnight stays scheduled to begin on May 1. 

ALAMOSA — Only one year after it was formed, Alamosa’s Creative District Committee – now renamed as “Alamosa Creates”- has made significant progress in the city being officially designated by the state as a Colorado Creative District. Alamosa Creates intends to apply for the designation in late 2025. 

DEL NORTE — Krista Nadwodny recently opened Sincerely, Yours Bakery, which brings an assortment of baked goods to the Del Norte area. 

MONTE VISTA — One of the best barometers of a restaurant is the number of patrons waiting to enjoy the cuisine. On my first visit to Fire Noodles, the takeout food trailer located on Monroe Street in Monte Vista, the line of six cars waiting for their food was a good sign. 

MONTE VISTA — On Jan. 14, about 25 people attended a meeting at the Monte Vista Church Project as part of the San Luis Valley History for All Initiative, a subset of the Colorado Heritage for All program led by History Colorado. 

ALAMOSA — With an Arctic blast of cold weather set to chill large parts of the country this weekend, the outdoor enthusiast community in Alamosa and beyond who participate in the annual Rio Frio Ice Fest fun are eagerly anticipating the colder weather.  

ALAMOSA – In effort to transform education to workforce, Valley-Wide Health Systems (Valley-Wide) is proud to announce the donation of its Heart & Eagle Mobile Unit to The Attainment Network. The fully equipped mobile unit includes one medical exam room and one dental operatory, which will now support the creation of a new Mobile Learning Lab.