Brief by Marcia Darnell
San Luis Valley – November 2000 – Colorado Central Magazine –
CS-You?
A legislative committee recommends that Adams State College become an outpost of Colorado State University. The ensuing debate covers changes to funding, enrollment, and curricula.
Illness Inventory
Two men who work near the Great Sand Dunes were diagnosed with a super strain of strep. The cases of “flesh-eating” bacteria were isolated, with no other victims found in a mass culture-taking of Dunes employees.
Another killer virus, a case of hantavirus, was diagnosed in a 50-year-old Mosca man.
Valley View
The Medano/Zapata Ranch was host to a film crew making a commercial to promote The Nature Conservancy. The ad is set to air next spring, and is focused on making viewers aware of the conservancy and its work.
Meanwhile, archæologists have uncovered a pit house on the ranch. The house, resembling the cliff dwellings in southwest Colorado, is 3,000 to 8,000 years old.
Historical Helpers
Pike’s Stockade near Sanford will be looking better soon, thanks to aspiring Eagle Scout Landon Jackson. He and his troop of 20 will paint, repair, and replace parts of the decaying structure.
The stockade was the first U.S. fort in Colorado, built in 1807. Its replica was constructed in 1952.
On A Roll
One woman put many members of the Monte Vista government in wheelchairs — to teach them the realities of access problems. Nancy O’Loughlin, advocate for the disabled, decided a “wheels-on” approach was necessary to show the city council and staff why it’s so hard to get around in Monte Vista. The participants were inspired by their experience to suggest some changes around the city.
Whistle Stop
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad treated some guests to a bigger adventure — a derailment. The engine derailed near Cumbres Pass, leaving the passengers without heat, lights, or food for about 12 hours. No one was hurt, and the passengers were issued vouchers or refunds to make up for the inconvenience.
A second engine derailed a day later a few yards from the first incident. This time, there were no passengers aboard.
In Creede, a petition against the creation of a tourist train into town garnered 912 signatures. Rail line owner Don Shank’s insistence that he has right of use to public property was quashed by state Attorney General Ken Salazar. Salazar says the branch was abandoned, and that the property, now home to a playground and public parking, is not Shank’s to build upon.
Dunes Deal Drivin’
The bill to convert the Great Sand Dunes into a national park has passed the U.S. Senate and is movin’ on to the House. The revived and revised bill now states that the feds will have no reserved water rights on the land.
San Luis Valley residents are largely behind the plan, which is said to include purchase of the Baca Ranch, which has been the center of a water-selling controversy for years. President Clinton signed a budget last month which included funds for the purchase.
Ranch managing partner Gary Boyce, however, says no one has contacted him about buying the ranch, and that it is not for sale.
On the other hand, the Denver Post reports that Farallon Capital Management of San Francisco, which financed the Baca sale several years ago, is willing to sell for about $35 million.
