Pagosa Springs Daily Digest Saturday, July 04, 2026
Ty's Take
You can read through the budget meetings and the power outage plans and the workforce housing vote and see the bones of a town trying to hold itself together while the heat turns up. Council greenlit property purchases for workforce housing the same week the county approved new blackout protocols—which means somebody's finally connecting the dots: you can't keep people here if the lights don't stay on, the rent stays manageable, and the power company doesn't have to choose between your neighborhood and the next one when August hits. Slow burn of good sense, maybe. Around here that's worth noting.
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Pagosa Springs SUN
The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District avoided raising fees this year after determining its budget shortfall was smaller than initially feared. District officials discovered they need $250,000 rather than $800,000 to cover revenue gaps, a reduction they believe can be managed through...
Town council green-lights bids to purchase properties for workforce housing
Pagosa Springs Town Council approved bids to purchase three condominium and townhome complexes totaling 70 units for workforce housing. The town is pursuing Masters Place, Village Point, and Elk Run properties currently owned by Club Wyndham, with combined offering prices exceeding $9 million.
Weather and fuels trigger increased restrictions, power outages
The San Juan National Forest and Bureau of Land Management implemented Stage 2 fire restrictions across their lands as of July 1-2 due to drought conditions and increased fire activity in the region. Archuleta County and Pagosa Springs remain under Stage 1 restrictions, with residents urged to...
County approves extended power outage mitigation and response plan
Archuleta County commissioners unanimously approved an updated power outage emergency response plan and alert notification system following potential public safety power shutoff threats from La Plata Electric. The plan addresses recent extended outages caused by weather and downed infrastructure,...
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Pagosa Daily Post
PHOTO ESSAY: Artisans in Pagosa Springs, July 2026
More than 100 vendors showcased handmade crafts, art, and food at Pagosa Springs' 'Park 2 Park' Artisan and Food Market during the Fourth of July weekend. The event featured pottery, jewelry, paintings, live music, and regional cuisine across Town Park and the Athletic Field.
EDITORIAL: Can Archuleta County Save Itself? Part Four
An opinion piece examines how accessory dwelling units could help address Archuleta County's housing shortage through zoning changes that allow homeowners to build separate rental units on their properties. The author notes that many Colorado communities and states have successfully legalized ADUs...
Summer Repertory Season in Full Swing at Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts
Thingamajig Theatre Company's summer season is in full rotation with three musicals—Come From Away, Company, and Fiddler on the Roof—running simultaneously at Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts. Youth theatre camp has also launched, preparing young performers for a production of Disney's The Jungle...
BORDERLANDS HEALTH: Pedestrian Dignity Is Health Infrastructure
A health essay reflects on how pedestrian safety and walkable public spaces are essential health infrastructure, using a childhood accident in Pagosa Springs to illustrate how street design directly affects community safety and dignity. The author advocates for communities to prioritize pedestrian...
READY, FIRE, AIM: Please, No Politics on the Fourth of July
An opinion columnist questions the Archuleta County Board of Commissioners' decision to advertise their July Fourth parade as apolitical, arguing that celebrating Independence Day is inherently political and should embrace rather than avoid discussion of democratic values. The parade was moved to...
A local writer publishes a public apology after his satirical column about late musician Brian Flynn upset Flynn's daughter, who felt the piece was disrespectful to her father's memory. The author acknowledged that his humor crossed into cruelty and committed to more thoughtful writing going...
League of Women Voters to Present Documentary Film on July 9
The Archuleta League of Women Voters will screen the documentary 'Join or Die!' on July 9 at the Liberty Theater, exploring how civic participation strengthens democracy and community health. The $25 tickets support local nonprofits, with the screening coinciding with the League's first anniversary...
Archuleta County Primary Election Results
Republican Randy Betts won the primary race for Archuleta County Commissioner District 3 with 67 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Veronica Medina in a competitive contest. The county recorded 39 percent voter turnout for the June 30 primary, with all other county offices running uncontested.
An essay marking America's 250th anniversary expresses alarm about threats to democratic institutions and constitutional protections in the nation's current political climate. The author warns that unchecked executive power and partisan polarization are eroding the foundational principles the...
24 State Attorneys File Formal Protest to USPS Voter List Requirement
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser joined 23 other state attorneys general in opposing a U.S. Postal Service rule that would restrict mail voting by requiring ballots be sent only to voters on a federal list. The multistate coalition argues the proposal violates election law and a recent federal...
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