Pagosa Springs Daily Digest Friday, July 24, 2026
Ty's Take
A horse came down with vesicular stomatitis virus somewhere in Archuleta County, which means every rancher and stable owner in these mountains just got a reminder that livestock diseases don't respect property lines or fence posts. The good news is this one's manageable if caught early, but it's the kind of thing that spreads fast through a county where horses aren't just ranch tools, they're part of the fabric. Meanwhile the water conservancy is still digging into demand studies, monsoon season's moving in, and somebody wants to rezone Cloman Park. Any one of those would be worth watching, but put them together and you've got the real story: this county's trying to grow and manage at the same time, and there's no such thing as picking just one problem to solve first.
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Pagosa Springs SUN
Vesicular stomatitis virus confirmed in Archuleta County equine
A horse in Archuleta County has tested positive for vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), marking the second confirmed equine case in Colorado counties as of July 20. The virus, detected in both Archuleta and La Plata counties, requires affected premises to be quarantined for at least 14 days from when...
Water conservancy talks water demand study details
The San Juan Water Conservancy District Board discussed a proposed $147,400 water study from engineering firm RJH Consultants at its July 20 meeting to assess whether a reservoir at Running Iron Ranch could address potential water shortages in the area. The study would examine current water...
Continued monsoon weather expected over next week
Pagosa Country is forecast to receive scattered thunderstorms every day through Sunday, July 26, with the heaviest rainfall expected to have fallen on Wednesday, July 22. The National Weather Service warns that storms may produce heavy rain over small areas while fire danger remains high in the San...
County considering possible administrative rezone for Cloman Park properties
Archuleta County is exploring an administrative rezone for three parcels in Cloman Park near Steven's Field Airport following a developer's request presented months earlier. The properties, owned partly by Ronnie Urbanczyk and partly by the county, are intended for industrial use consistent with...
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Pagosa Daily Post
EDITORIAL: A Satisfied Mind, Part Four
An opinion piece examines the San Juan Water Conservancy District's operations, noting that its appointed board members (selected by a Durango judge rather than elected voters) spend approximately $170,000 in annual taxpayer funds while drawing an additional $175,000 from savings to meet a budgeted...
Rural Residents Choosing Shelter Over Nutrition, Says New Study
A new study shows that low-income rural residents are increasingly forced to choose between paying for housing and affording nutritious food as home prices rise and proposed cuts to food assistance programs loom. Rural areas face additional challenges with higher food prices, limited variety, and...
READY, FIRE, AIM: The Colorado Candidate Who Can Exorcise Demons
Victor Marx, the Republican nominee for Colorado governor, has faced scrutiny over claims made on his campaign website about rescuing 45,000 women and children, which the candidate attributed to an overly ambitious website designer and said was corrected immediately upon discovery. During an...
Gubernatorial Candidate Phil Weiser Names Lesley Dahlkemper as Running Mate
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Weiser has selected Jefferson County Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper as his running mate for lieutenant governor, announced July 22 at the Colorado Democratic Party's office in Denver. Dahlkemper, who has served as a county commissioner since 2019 and previously...
INTEL FROM THE IVORY TOWER: Which Countries Have Voter ID Laws?
An analysis comparing voter ID laws in free versus unfree countries reveals that 90 percent of unfree nations require strict photo identification for voting compared to roughly 70 percent of free countries, contradicting claims widely shared on social media. The research identified numerous errors...
LIBRARY NEWS: Leaving CloudLibrary, Adopting Hoopla
Ruby Sisson Library will discontinue CloudLibrary and launch a new ebook platform called Hoopla beginning August 18 to provide more affordable digital content to patrons. The library is adopting Hoopla because ebooks can cost libraries $40 to $120 per copy with publisher-imposed borrowing limits,...
New Report Explores Pathways into Colorado’s Early Childhood Workforce
A new report from the Buell Foundation and Colorado Education Initiative examines how Colorado can strengthen its early childhood education workforce through better career pathways and increased investment. The report, informed by nearly 70 stakeholders including state leaders and educators,...
ARCHULETA SENIORS: Staying on Track with Medications
Taking medications as prescribed is critical for older adults to manage chronic conditions and maintain independence, with seniors urged to use pill organizers, reminder apps, or written logs to stay on schedule. Missing doses or incorrect timing can reduce treatment effectiveness and increase the...
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