Chama Valley & Abiquiú Daily Digest Friday, July 31, 2026
Ty's Take
Oso Canyon is still burning, which means smoke drifts through the high country and settles in the valleys depending on wind and weather, and if you've been up near Chama or watching the ridgelines from down toward Abiquiú, you know what that looks like by now. Fire season never really stops up here anymore, and the canyon's been at it long enough that folks have stopped asking when it'll be out and started asking whether the water will hold and what comes after. Meanwhile the DWI checkpoint Friday night will catch some people coming back from Española or Chama proper, and the courthouse docket keeps filling with the kinds of cases that don't make much sense until you live in a place this small and this complicated, where everybody knows everybody and the law still has to show up. The news moves slow when the season's dry and the fire's still going, but that's when you pay attention to what's actually burning and what's just smoke.
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Rio Grande SUN
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White Sands National Park draws night sky visitors during its Full Moon Night events held between May and October, when the reflective white gypsum sands brighten the landscape under lunar light. Guests can explore the park's vistas and viewpoints without needing headlamps, creating a unique New...
Man Wants Police to Take Daughter to Jail or the Casino
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The Oso Canyon Fire has burned 30 acres in the Española Ranger District, located west of Española up Rio Del Oso Canyon near Chicoma Mountain. The fire was discovered on the afternoon of July 26 and continues to be fueled by timber in the area.
RASO DWI Checkpoint Set for Friday
The Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office conducted a sobriety checkpoint within Rio Arriba County on Friday, July 31st to detect and arrest drivers operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The operation targeted streets, roadways, and highways throughout the jurisdiction.
1 Held Without Bail in Salazar’s Kidnapping, Death Case
A suspect is being held without bail in connection with the kidnapping and death of Jeanette Salazar, who disappeared on July 9 following a shooting incident in Chimayó. Her abandoned vehicle was later found near the Cordova Transfer Station on July 13.
All But 1 Charge Dropped Against Medanales Man
A Medanales man will be released on bail pending trial after District Judge Anastasia Martin reduced most charges against him to misdemeanor status. Nicholas Roybal-Martinez, 32, was bound over on three misdemeanor counts of battery against a household member.
Stephanie Garcia Richard wins New Mexico Democratic Lt. Governor nomination
The New Mexico Democratic Party has selected Stephanie Garcia Richard as its nominee for lieutenant governor.
Española will soon add a Wingstop fast-food restaurant at the former GameStop location off Riverside Drive, according to City Manager Michael Ortiz. The new establishment will join a pair of car washes coming to the area.
Hypnotized by the Siren Song of Envy
A personal essay explores how carefully chosen words can define identity, create meaning, and reveal the human soul through storytelling. The writer reflects on a particularly moving moment when well-arranged words made a lasting impression.
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