Pagosa Springs Daily Digest Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Ty's Take
The Rio Blanco fire is moving the way August fires move around here, and that means the Lower Blanco drainage is waking up to the kind of morning nobody wants to see. Smoke like that brings the whole county into sharp focus real quick, because fire doesn't care much about property lines or whether your house is a primary residence or a weekend place. What matters now is whether the county's got the resources to back up its firefighters and whether the roads they've been quietly discussing cutting maintenance on will actually hold together when people need to get out. Around here we know August isn't the end of fire season, it's the middle of it, and this week reminds us why you can't treat infrastructure like a luxury item when the mountains are this dry.
Sponsor Slot AvailableReach Pagosa Springs Locals Every MorningGet your business in front of engaged local readers. Boat dealers, realtors, restaurants, contractors, home services your audience is reading this right now.Become a Sponsor
Pagosa Springs SUN
The Pagosa Springs SUN features a weekly bird identification segment with additional items of local interest.
August Colorado Proud recipe of the month: Mayocoba Bean Salad with Peaches, Honey and Mint
A new Colorado Proud recipe pairs Palisade peaches with creamy Colorado-grown Mayocoba beans, fresh mint, and feta cheese for a summer salad that celebrates the state's agricultural heritage. The dish is complemented by a Colorado Palisade Shrub and Sage Spritz mocktail that balances the sweet,...
Great Colorado Time Capsule to make stop in Pagosa Springs
The Great Colorado Time Capsule will visit the Pagosa Springs Visitor Center on Monday, August 10, from 9 to 10 a.m., allowing residents to view the capsule and contribute items that represent life in Colorado during 2026. Created to commemorate Colorado's 150th anniversary and America's 250th...
A resident's account describes the terror of the Lower Blanco wildfire on July 28, when flames raced through the canyon and destroyed more than 1,000 acres near her daughter's home. With firefighters battling the blaze day and night, the family had only minutes to evacuate, grabbing essentials...
Sponsor Slot AvailableReach Pagosa Springs Locals Every MorningGet your business in front of engaged local readers. Boat dealers, realtors, restaurants, contractors, home services your audience is reading this right now.Become a Sponsor
Pagosa Daily Post
RIO BLANCO FIRE UPDATE: Sunday, August 9
The Rio Blanco Fire has reached 79 percent containment as of Sunday, August 9, with 1,388 acres burned and 202 personnel continuing mop-up and rehabilitation work across the landscape. All residential evacuations in the Lower Blanco area have been lifted, though residents are advised to remain...
EDITORIAL: Archuleta County Hints at Plans to Discontinue Road Maintenance, Part One
Archuleta County officials presented data to county commissioners showing that the county maintains 482 miles of roads (70 paved and 525 gravel) but lacks sufficient funding from sales and property taxes to sustain them. County Commissioner John Ranson has indicated a need for an additional $1...
OPINION: Will the Real USDA Rural Housing Reorganization Plan Please Stand Up?
Conflicting statements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture raise questions about whether a proposed reorganization plan will eliminate or reduce rural housing programs that have helped over two million low-income families become homeowners since 1950. A recent USDA filing claims the March 2025...
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: ‘Women Build’ Events August 21 and 22
Habitat for Humanity of Archuleta County is hosting its first-ever 'Women Build' event on August 21 and 22, with two days of activities including 'Heels to Hammers' on Friday and 'She Nailed It' on Saturday. Participants will help construct homes for local families while building community and...
READY, FIRE, AIM: Drones in the School Hallways
Florida has invested over $1 million in a pilot program deploying 'Campus Guardian Angel' drones in schools to respond to active shooter threats within 15 seconds. At a cost of approximately $400,000 per school, the technology represents a controversial approach to school safety that raises...
Pagosa Community Band to Perform Benefit for Chimney Rock Interpretive Association
The Pagosa Springs Community Band and Chimney Rock Interpretive Association are hosting a benefit event on Saturday, August 22, at the Tennyson Sculpture Garden Gazebo featuring a presentation by historian Sue Fischer on Chimney Rock National Monument followed by musical performances. Admission is...
Senior ‘Masquerade Ball’ Fundraiser Set for September 26
Archuleta Seniors, Inc. will hold its second annual Masquerade Ball on Saturday, September 26, at the Ross Aragon Community Center to raise funds for programs serving older adults in the county. The event will feature dinner, live music, dancing, and a silent auction, with proceeds supporting Meals...
Free Showing of Documentary ‘Reviving Our River’ at Liberty Theatre, August 19
The Upper San Juan Watershed Enhancement Partnership will screen the documentary 'Reviving Our River' on Wednesday, August 19, at Liberty Theatre, showcasing a $1.5 million effort to restore nearly two miles of the San Juan River. The free community screening will be followed by an interactive Q...
HIGHER EDUCATION: Budget Challenges at Colorado Colleges
Colorado's public colleges and universities are implementing significant budget cuts and staff reductions due to projected enrollment declines, loss of federal grants, and rising inflation. While lawmakers kept higher education operations funding flat for the 2027 fiscal year and allowed tuition...
OPINION: The Plot Thickens, as Aurora Seeks Colorado River Diversion
The City of Aurora's proposed Wild Horse Reservoir in Park County has raised concerns among Western Slope water stakeholders that the project may attempt to divert 83,000 acre feet of water through existing transmountain diversions without triggering local permit requirements. An anonymous water...
Rural News Wire is a daily local news digest for Pagosa Springs and rural America. We aggregate and curate, original reporting belongs to the sources linked above. Support local journalism by visiting their sites.
Subscribe free to get this digest in your inbox every morning.