Pagosa Springs Daily Digest Thursday, October 15, 2026
Ty's Take
October's here and the papers are full of it, same as always: kids playing hard into the fall season, fire district budgets that never quite stretch far enough, water questions that won't get answered by November, and two editorial boards telling you exactly how to think about growth and development and whether this town even wants what's coming. The Pirates are holding their own, the health fair's coming, and somebody's worried about AI in the schools. It's the kind of week where you can feel the season turning and the community taking stock of itself, which is exactly what should happen before an election. Do your homework before you vote. The people running things around here, whether they're pushing change or pumping the brakes, deserve to face voters who actually know what they're asking for.
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Pagosa Springs SUN
Pagosa Springs residents are encouraged to thoroughly research candidates and ballot measures ahead of the November 3 election, as voting decisions will significantly impact schools, the medical center, and tourism infrastructure locally and statewide. The publication urges voters to examine the...
Looking Back: October 15, 2026
This brief item references past news from Pagosa Springs but provides no substantive content to summarize.
Historical records from Pagosa Springs in 1926, 1951, and 1976 document local cattle shipments, hunting season preparations, livestock sales records, health concerns about polio, and a growing number of registered voters in Archuleta County. These archival excerpts illustrate community life and...
Pirates move to 5-5-1 on season
The Pagosa Springs High School boys soccer team dropped to 5-5-1 after consecutive losses to Crested Butte and Alamosa, though they defeated Bayfield at home on October 8 with goals from Hudson Davis, Ryder King, and Ryan Rich. Coach Trevor Gian noted the team played well despite injuries that...
Lady Pirates set to return to action after rest period
The Pagosa Springs High School volleyball team will return to action after an eight-day break with matches against Centauri in La Jara on October 15 and Monte Vista on October 20. Coach Chelsea Caler emphasized that improved communication, reducing unforced errors, and greater team trust will be...
Mountain bike team closes regular season at Chalk Creek Stampede
The Pagosa Springs Mountain Bike Team (DUST2) completed its regular season at the Chalk Creek Stampede in Nathrop on October 11, with riders competing on a challenging sandy 6.7-mile loop course. Team captains Adelyn Hittle and Justin Sewell led the team in a cowboy-themed event that included a...
Pirates lose close game against Aspen, prepare for homecoming match against Gunnison
The Pagosa Springs High School football team fell 29-28 to Aspen in a close game on October 9, despite scoring 28 points in the first half and holding a 14-0 early lead. Coach Nathan Morales attributed the loss to struggles in the second half when the team was shut out, turnovers, and defensive...
Pirate teams take second at league meet
The Pagosa Springs High School cross-country teams placed second at the Intermountain League XC Meet in Durango on October 8, with Rylan Ash leading the boys' squad to a second-place finish with a time of 17:05.00. Both the boys' and girls' teams earned multiple all-conference honors, with several...
Fire district board hears 2027 draft budget
The Pagosa Fire Protection District board reviewed its 2027 draft budget on October 6, noting that total property valuations dropped $142,000 due to declining house values but the district maintains $350,000 in capital reserves. Chief Robert Bertam indicated the district has billed $1.1 million for...
PAWSD considers Knolls requests
The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District board voted on requests from the Knolls Property Owner's Association regarding billing changes and information sharing related to hangar connections to the subdivision's wastewater collection system. The KPOA seeks to establish an extra-territorial...
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Pagosa Daily Post
EDITORIAL: Do We Even Want Development in Pagosa Springs? Part One
A Pagosa Daily Post editorial examines the connection between the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District's anticipated 2027 fee increases and the town council's consideration of the Ponderosa Mountain mixed-use development agreement, arguing that growth policy and municipal budget pressures are...
EDITORIAL: Here are Your ‘Daily Post’ Ballot Recommendations, Free of Charge
The Pagosa Daily Post provides ballot recommendations on Colorado amendments and propositions, advising voters to vote no on most measures including Amendment 81 (federal immigration cooperation), Amendment 82 (natural gas rights), and Amendment 83 (hunting and fishing rights). The editorial...
READY, FIRE, AIM: Are We Getting Dumber Every Day?
A Daily Post column discusses the cultural decline in reading nationwide while noting that the Ruby Sisson Library in Pagosa Springs continues to circulate books to local residents, suggesting the community is bucking a national trend toward shorter content consumption. The author cites research on...
REPORT: Colorado’s ‘Affordability Tax Credit’ Effective at Lifting Children Out of Poverty
Colorado's Family Affordability Tax Credit, created by the state legislature in 2024, lifted an estimated 22,500 children out of poverty in its first year, according to research from the Colorado Children's Campaign and Columbia University. The credit faces uncertainty for the 2026 tax year due to...
HEALTHY ARCHULETA: What to Expect at the 2026 Archuleta Health Fair & Expo
The fourth annual Archuleta Health Fair and Expo will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Pagosa Springs High School from 7 a.m. to noon, offering low-cost preventive labs, vaccinations, health screenings, and connections to local providers. Pre-registration is encouraged for blood draw...
Telehealth Use in Rural Communities Is No Better Than in Urban Ones
A study by Elevance Health examining 11.5 million members with chronic conditions found that telehealth usage remains significantly lower in rural areas (4.6 percent of visits) compared to non-rural areas (7.5 percent), despite the initial surge during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research suggests...
Data Center Backlash Set to Affect Midterm Elections?
Opposition to data center development has grown into a significant political issue across the country, with voters in dozens of communities considering ballot measures to ban the facilities in November. A poll from UMass Amherst found that only 11 percent of Americans support artificial...
Parent Advocates Seeking AI Chatbot Protections in Colorado
Parent advocates in Colorado are calling for stronger protections against harmful artificial intelligence chatbots and social media, pushing for revised language in a law passed this year that currently allows tech companies to self-regulate safety measures. The group Blue Rising argues that terms...
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