Pagosa Springs Daily Digest Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Ty's Take
Two bear attacks in a handful of days will get anybody's attention, and Parks and Wildlife is doing what it can to remind folks out here that we're sharing country with animals that were here long before the subdivisions. What matters now is the practical stuff: secure your garbage, don't leave pet food sitting around, keep your distance if you see one. The prescribed burns planned across the National Forest are part of the same equation, really, working the land so it doesn't blow up on us come next dry season. Both are about respect for how things actually work out here instead of how we wish they'd work.
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Weather Alerts
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued September 16 at 3:04AM MDT until September 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...A portion of southwest Colorado, including the following areas, Animas River Basin, Four Corners/Upper Dolores River, Northwest San Juan Mountains, San Juan River Basin and Southwest San Juan Mountains. * WHEN...From noon MDT to...
Pagosa Springs SUN
Archuleta Seniors Inc. to host second annual Masquerade Ball
Archuleta Seniors Inc. will host its second annual Masquerade Ball on September 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ross Aragon Community Center in Pagosa Springs, featuring live music, dinner, dancing and a silent auction. Proceeds support ASI's programs including Meals on Wheels and senior health services...
End of Life Education announces fall meetings, topics
End of Life Education will hold fall classes starting September 17 at Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis St., in Pagosa Springs, meeting on Thursdays through December. Sessions will cover topics such as what to do after a death, working with the county coroner, emergency response...
Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Southwest Region responds to two reported bear attacks in recent days
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating two black bear attacks that occurred in recent days, including one at Park Creek Campground near South Fork on September 11 and another in Durango on September 13. These incidents bring Colorado's confirmed bear attacks to 10 this year, the most on...
Prescribed burns planned to reduce wildfire risk
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service will conduct prescribed burns across multiple locations in southwest Colorado from mid-September through November on federal and tribal lands. Burn sites include Cabezon Canyon south of Chimney Rock, Transfer Road southwest of Olathe, and several other locations...
Breakfast with Balloons to benefit Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership
The Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership will host Breakfast with Balloons on September 19 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. in Centennial Park in Pagosa Springs as part of Colorfest, featuring a locally sourced breakfast and live music. Early-bird tickets are available through September 10 at $50, with...
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Pagosa Daily Post
EDITORIAL: Higher Taxes Coming to Cloman Industrial Park? Part Two
This editorial examines multiple tax increase proposals facing voters in Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County, including increases to lodging tax and school bonds. The writer discusses concerns about whether government should constantly seek more revenue and raises questions about cost-benefit...
U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Trump Administration Restrictions on Mail Ballot Voting
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court's order blocking Trump administration restrictions on mail ballot voting for the 2026 midterm elections. The court found that voting rights groups challenging the rule were likely to succeed, though justices disagreed on whether the restriction was...
READY, FIRE, AIM: Shut Up and Talk!
This column questions research suggesting Americans are speaking fewer words per day than in 2007, noting that declining conversation rates may reflect life changes like children leaving home and divorces rather than a broader social trend toward isolation. The writer argues that people in small...
Majority of Coloradans Dislike AI, New Survey Finds
A survey of Colorado voters found that two-thirds of state residents have unfavorable opinions of artificial intelligence, with younger people most opposed and women more skeptical than men. Concerns included environmental costs, job loss and distrust of tech companies, while supporters highlighted...
Join Downtown Businesses at Sept. 19 ‘Sidewalk Sale’
Pagosa Springs Main Street is inviting downtown businesses to participate in an End-of-Season Sidewalk Sale on September 19 during Colorfest. Participating businesses can offer promotions, clearance items or special pricing while promoting the event through social media and their customer bases.
Archuleta County to Host ‘Waste Tires’ Event Sept. 25
Archuleta County will hold a free waste tire collection event on September 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the County Public Works building at 1122 Highway 84. The first 1,000 tires will be accepted at no cost with a limit of nine tires per vehicle.
ESSAY: How 9/11 Changed Government Surveillance of Citizens, Part Two
This essay examines how post-9/11 government expansion of surveillance authorities has become more powerful through the growth of digital data collection by private companies and smartphones. Experts note that Americans have become accustomed to sharing personal information without full...
OPINION: Making Daylight Savings Time Permanent Makes No Sense
This opinion piece argues that making Daylight Saving Time permanent would harm agricultural communities that operate by natural rhythms, not clocks. The writer notes that farmers have historically opposed Daylight Saving Time and suggests that permanent standard time would better serve rural areas...
LETTER: Respect for Religious Differences, a Moral Imperative
This letter criticizes recent statements by members of Congress describing Islam as incompatible with Western values and incompatible with American society. The writer calls for public officials to reject language that portrays Muslim Americans as inherent threats and instead affirm their equal...
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