Local News
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is requesting federal emergency relief funds to repair significant flood damage to highways across Southwest Colorado as part of the Federal Highway …
Community
The SouthWEST Opioid Response District (SWORD) Council announced that it has awarded nearly $1 million in community grants to 12 organizations addressing opioid misuse and strengthening community …
Local News
Recovery efforts continue in Pagosa Springs following the October 23-24 flooding. Town crews are making progress clearing debris, assessing damage, and restoring public spaces. Following are …
Local News
Archuleta County Public Health Department (ACPHD) reminds residents to take precautions during and after flooding. Floodwater can contain sewage, harmful germs, chemicals and debris that can cause …
U.S. 160 was opened Tuesday afternoon to single-lane alternating traffic between South Fork and Pagosa Springs. Motorists are urged to use caution and slow down for their safety and the safety of crews repairing flood damaged areas close to the travel lanes.
Local News
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) opened U.S. 160 between Pagosa Springs and South Fork to travel in both directions on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 3:30 p.m. Although the highway has been …
Local News
As of Tuesday morning, Oct. 27, flood incident officials reported that 29 missions have been completed, resulting in 33 people and 18 animals being evacuated. The Archuleta County Sheriff's …
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Local News

Community flood update meeting set for Tuesday, Oct. 27

Archuleta County residents are invited to attend a community meeting to learn the latest information about the flooding and what comes next. The meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the …
Local News

Flooding Incident Call Center hours to change Tuesday, Oct. 27

The Incident Call Center hours will be changing starting Tuesday, Oct. 27. The call center will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please use this number, (970) 508-9928, for general questions …
Local News

Sheriff's office: Evacuate now if needed, while help is available

For all areas affected by the flood: If you need to evacuate, please do so now. If you need assistance and are contacted by ground search and rescue, or if you see a helicopter overhead, flag …
Things to Do

SpiritFire Inspirational Living Center announces upcoming events

Save the dates for the following activities at the SpiritFire Inspirational Living Center: • Nov. 7 and 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: “Refresh Body, Mind and Spirit Sessions.” Call or text (970) …
Local News

Black Hills Energy responding to heavy rain, flood damage in area

Heavy rain and flooding have damaged an Xcel Energy natural gas supply line and access roads in the area around Pagosa Springs. To support and maintain our system, we have dispatched extra crews to …
Local News

Crisis Clean-up hotline activated

The Crisis Clean-up hotline has activated for the 2026 October Colorado floods incident and can now be reached at (970) 283-7325. Crisis Cleanup has launched an incident to help coordinate the …
What Readers Are Saying
Senior News

Get ready for winter: tips for seniors to stay safe and warm

As winter approaches in Colorado, now is the perfect time for older adults to prepare their homes and vehicles for snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Make sure your snow shovel is in good …
Things to Do

San Juan Stargazers to discuss new galaxies Nov. 5

The next meeting of the San Juan Stargazers will be on Thursday, Nov. 5, starting at 6 p.m. with our social hour. The program will begin at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend because we will …
Things to Do

Volunteers needed for annual Red Kettle campaign

The Archuleta County Salvation Army will kick off its annual Red Kettle fundraising campaign on Nov. 21, and we’re looking for volunteers to help make this year’s campaign a success. As a …
Community

Domestic Violence Awareness Month: when leaving is only the beginning

When we talk about domestic violence, leaving an abusive relationship is often viewed as the turning point when someone finds safety, begins a new chapter and moves forward with their life. …
Matter of Faith

The beautiful gate

I knew I couldn’t get to the Beautiful Gate on my own. The Highway of Holiness stretched out ahead. This road would lead me there, but when I approached, a toll booth barred the way. Bold …
Library News

Join us as we imagine the future

Do you remember the day you graduated high school? For me, it felt like a whole world of possibilities lay before me. I could do anything and be anything with my new found freedom. It was a magical …
Library News

Friends of the Library hosts successful open house

On Saturday evening, Oct. 17, the Friends of the Library Committee hosted an open house event. Friends of the Library members were invited to bring a friend to tour the newly renovated …
Community

Subtle signs of bullying

Bullying is a pervasive problem that continues to affect children of all ages. According to the initiative StopBullying.gov, about 20 percent of students between the ages of 12 and 18 experience …
Community

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority donates more than $1.4 million to 134 colorado nonprofits

The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) has announced the recipients of the 2026 Round Two Direct Effect Awards. In this round, CHFA is donating $1,462,500 to 134 nonprofits across …
This week’s Bird of the Week, compliments of the Weminuche Audubon Society and Audubon Rockies, is the yellow-rumped warbler. An early-spring and late-fall migrant, of the birds with “warbler” in their names this is one of the earliest to show up and the last to leave our area. It is one of the most common warblers and the main winter warbler in North America. While most of them migrate to the tropics in fall, some remain as far north as New England and Seattle year-round. Their ability to digest the wax coatings of bayberries and wax myrtles, unique among warblers, is an adaptation that allows these birds to find food and winter so far north. Like other warblers, they mainly eat a wide variety of insects and spiders in summer and rely on them to feed their young. Showing up in their diet are spruce budworms, a serious forest pest. In trees, where males forage higher than females, they search among leaves, twigs, branches and trunks for food. They also fly out to catch insects on the wing and will pick them from the surface of rivers and oceans, from spiderwebs and manure piles. When insects become less abundant, they will eat berries, including those of juniper, poison ivy, poison oak and dogwood, and fruits of grapes. They will also eat wild seeds and may come to feeders for sunflower seeds and suet. Yellow-rumped warblers have a patch of yellow feathers on the head, referenced in their Scientific name, Setophaga coronata, which translates as crowned moth-eater. The more visible yellow patch on the rump has given them the name butterbutt. In the Audubon’s group, which resides in the mountainous west, yellow patches are also found on the throat and sides of a gray body with dark and white patches. Members of the Myrtle group in the eastern U.S. and the boreal forests of Canada have a white throat. In both, winter and female colors are more subdued than those of breeding males. In spring and summer, the song of the male yellow-rumped warbler is a common sound in conifer forests. In fall, the frequently given “chek” call made by both sexes while flitting within the trees will help to locate it, at least for the second that one stays still. For information on events, visit www.weminucheaudubon.org and www.facebook.com/weminucheaudubon/.
Bird of the Week

Bird of the Week

Artist's Lane

The truth about the eighth day

“Why doesn’t anyone know about the eighth day?” “Because it isn’t taught.” I gave my daughter a quick lesson about the “eighth day” when she asked how my Zoom Bible study …

County releases flood impact map

In an effort to provide up-to-date information, the Archuleta County GIS analyst has created a map to help identify affected roads, road closures, impacted areas and evacuation zones. Feel free …

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Oct 22, 2026

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Obituaries
 William ‘Bill’ R. McElhinney
William (Bill) R. McElhinney passed away on Oct. 14, 2026, in Dewey, Ariz., after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Tara McElhinney; sons Tim …
Ronald Baker ‘Bud’ Forman
Ronald Baker “Bud” Forman, lovingly known as “Buddaddy,” age 86, of Aledo, Texas, passed away on Oct. 9, 2026. He was born on Sept. 10, 1940, in Denison, Texas, to Walter Inskip “Skip” …
Dave Richardson
On Sept. 11, Dave Richardson, devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, went to be with his Heavenly Father. After struggling with dementia for three years, his mind and body are at peace. …
Lynn Anthony
Lynn was a man who brought people together. He was loving, energetic, playful and full of life, with a gift for making people feel seen, valued and cared for. He loved people deeply and never seemed …
Joel T. ‘Tom’ Hall
Brig. Gen. (USAF Ret.) Joel T. “Tom” Hall lived a life of service devoted to his country and his family. He passed away quietly in Chandler, Ariz., on June 23, 2026, at the age of 90. Born …
Mary Jo Gwaltney
Mary Jo Gwaltney, born Mary Jo Bottoms, passed away on Sept. 3, 2026, in Pagosa Springs, Colo. She was born on Oct. 18, 1944, in Arkansas, and lived a life marked by kindness, devotion to children …

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