Pagosa Springs Daily Digest Saturday, August 01, 2026
Ty's Take
The county fair opens today with the Rio Blanco Fire still pushing evacuation orders through the north end of the county, which tells you something about who we are. Most years you've got families cruising the midway without much on their minds beyond funnel cakes and prize ribbons. This year the Public Health Department is setting up a cool refuge at the fairgrounds because some folks can't leave their homes safely to enjoy it any other way, and others are running on fumes from weeks of smoke and worry. The fair goes on, the fire stays real, and both things matter equally right now. That's just how it works when you live in country this beautiful and this fragile.
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Pagosa Springs SUN
Public Health Department to provide cool, comfortable place for families at Archuleta County Fair
The Archuleta County Public Health Department is opening a private, air-conditioned breastfeeding room for mothers at the Archuleta County Fair running July 30 through August 2. The portable space was purchased with grant funding and will also be available at other community events throughout...
‘Into the vault: Preserving Pagosa Springs’ past’ set for Aug. 1
Pagosa Springs Main Street and the Pagosa Springs History Museum will host a free Colorado Day event on August 1 celebrating the region's diverse histories from Indigenous peoples and Chimney Rock to Hispanic settlement, ranching, and mining. The event marks the completion of the Pagosa Springs...
Stage 2 fire restrictions rescinded, drought remains
The San Juan National Forest is lifting Stage 2 fire restrictions effective July 30, though Stage 1 restrictions remain in place for lower elevations in Zone 1. Archuleta County has also rescinded its Stage 2 restrictions effective immediately, leaving the county in Stage 1 status with continued...
Evacuation order, pre-evacuation warnings remain in effect for Rio Blanco Fire
The Rio Blanco Fire has grown to 430 acres with crews working on structure protection and containment efforts in the area near CR 335 Lower Blanco. An evacuation order remains in effect for CR 335 Lower Blanco, with pre-evacuation warnings for CR 337, CR 339, and the Pinon Hills area, while Pagosa...
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Pagosa Daily Post
PHOTO ESSAY: The 75th Archuleta County Fair Starts Today
The 75th Annual Archuleta County Fair opened this weekend with animal exhibits, contests, games, demonstrations from Pagosa Fire crews, educational booths, and food vendors throughout the fairgrounds. Attendees can explore 4H projects and view local creative works in the air-conditioned Exhibit...
EDITORIAL: Data Centers in Pagosa Springs? Part Five
A new petition signed by 1,319 key employees from leading artificial intelligence companies urges the U.S. government to develop tools for pacing the rapid development of frontier AI technology. The editorial connects this broader concern about uncontrolled AI advancement to local Pagosa Springs...
UPDATE JULY 31: Rio Blanco Fire
The Rio Blanco Fire has burned 440 acres with zero containment as firefighters intensified efforts Wednesday following critical fire weather predictions for Friday, July 31. A secondary mandatory evacuation was issued for CR 335 residents due to increased fire behavior on north-facing slopes, with...
Colorado Democratic Legislators Eyeing a Supermajority in 2027
Colorado Democrats announced plans to flip four state House seats and one state Senate seat in the fall to achieve supermajority control in both chambers of the state legislature. Success would allow Democrats to refer constitutional amendments to voters and override gubernatorial vetoes on...
READY, FIRE, AIM: Taking on the Annoyance Economy
The Annoyance Economy costs American families collectively at least 165 billion dollars annually through wasted time and lost money across numerous sectors including healthcare, according to a new report by Chad Maisel and Neale Mahoney. The editorial notes that while the national tourism economy...
EVIL MISTRESS: A Lifelong Affair with Music, Part 30
Groove Kitchen, a popular Pagosa Springs dance band featuring vocalist Lisa Saunders, formed in 2010 and quickly built a large following with their repertoire of R and B, Motown, soul, pop, and rock music. The band performed weekly in Pagosa Springs and expanded to venues including the Sky Ute...
Colorado School District Sues Trump Administration Over Funding Cuts
Jeffco Public Schools filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Tuesday over threatened cuts to 50 million dollars in annual federal funding due to district policies protecting transgender students' access to restrooms, sports teams, and accommodations. The district says it faces an...
Early Childhood Presentation at Democratic Club Luncheon, August 5
Ben Fox, director of Wings Early Childhood Center, will speak at the Archuleta County Democratic Club luncheon on August 5 at 11:30 a.m. at Uncle's Social Club and Bar about how the nonprofit preschool and daycare serves Pagosa Springs families and what challenges it faces. The monthly club meeting...
INTEL FROM THE IVORY TOWER: America Shifts on Transgender and Marriage Issues
Recent polling shows a clear majority of American voters (56 percent) favor the Democratic position on transgender issues, while support for same-sex marriage has grown dramatically across religious communities over the past 20 years. Support among mainline Protestants jumped from 32 percent to 78...
Pagosa UU Considers ‘Radical Hospitality’
The Pagosa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will explore radical hospitality and acceptance in its Sunday August 2 service at 10:30 a.m., examining how diverse communities can overcome natural reluctance to engage with people different from themselves. The month continues with additional programs...
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