Pagosa Springs Daily Digest Friday, October 16, 2026
Ty's Take
The 2027 tourism budget coming out this week is worth reading between the lines, because it tells you where town leadership thinks Pagosa Springs is headed, and whether they've learned anything from watching what tourism money does to mountain communities that can't say no. We've got the hot springs, we've got Wolf Creek thirty minutes away, and we've got people with money looking for a second home in the San Juans. The real question isn't how much we're spending to attract more of them, but whether we're spending anything on the infrastructure and character that made this place worth visiting in the first place. Water rights matter when your economy runs on hot springs and your neighbors are ranching on the same aquifer. Roads matter when a single accident on 160 backs up traffic for hours. Schools and services matter when you've added a thousand people who aren't here to work. Nice to see the town council thinking about 2027, but the harder work is figuring out what we keep and what we're willing to lose.
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Pagosa Springs SUN
The Pagosa Springs Area Tourism Board presented its 2027 budget to Archuleta County commissioners, projecting revenues of $1.56 million as construction activity winds down in town. Executive Director Jennifer Green noted that wildfire concerns and industry-wide headwinds have tempered summer...
U.S. 160 reconstruction information
U.S. 160 reconstruction work continues through Pagosa Springs with multiple street intersections affected by utility installations and paving operations through late October. The 1st Street intersection remains reduced to one lane around the clock for utility work, while the 5th Street intersection...
School board discusses importance of defining athletic philosophy
The Archuleta School District Board of Education discussed the athletic advisory committee's efforts to create a unified athletic philosophy spanning grades seven through twelve rather than relying on individual coaches' approaches. Superintendent Rick Holt explained the initiative aims to provide...
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Pagosa Daily Post
EDITORIAL: Do We Even Want Development in Pagosa Springs? Part Two
Home construction has slowed in Pagosa Springs as builders nationwide face rising costs, labor shortages, and elevated financing expenses, a shift some recall from the 2008-2009 recession when skilled workers left the area. The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District will discuss its 2027 draft...
4-H Clubs Making a Difference in Colorado
Weld County's Juntos 4-H program, which expanded nationally from roots at North Carolina State University, helps prepare youth and their families for life beyond high school through workshops and summer academies. The program launched its first high school workshops in January and will begin middle...
EDITORIAL: More Information… and More Disinformation
A group called Pagosa Citizens for Responsible Schools is urging community members to vote no on Ballot Measure 5A, a proposed $156 million bond to build a new PreK-8 facility at the west end of town and abandon downtown schools. The opposition emphasizes that downtown schools offer natural...
Republicans Endorsing Democrat Phil Weiser for Governor
Republican Ken Buck, a former five-term U.S. congressman and ex-chair of the Colorado GOP, endorsed Democrat Phil Weiser for governor on Wednesday alongside more than a dozen other state and local Republican officials. Buck cited Weiser's honesty and inclusive approach, while Weiser faces...
Meet Dr. Arturo Montaño, Neurologist at PSMC
Pagosa Springs Medical Center welcomes neurologist Dr. Arturo Montaño to its medical team and invites the community to meet him at a gathering Friday, October 23 from noon to 1 p.m. at the PSMC Board Room on South Pagosa Boulevard. The event will include a question-and-answer session for residents...
LPEA Opens Applications for Local Energy Action Fund Grants
La Plata Electric Association is accepting applications through November 30 for its Local Energy Action Fund, offering grants up to $15,000 for energy efficiency and renewable projects across its Southwest Colorado service territory. Tax-exempt organizations can pursue additional funding up to...
LIBRARY NEWS: The World Reads. Why Don’t We?
The Pagosa Springs librarian reflects on the global reverence for libraries and reading while noting Americans often take their free library systems for granted despite proven mental and physical health benefits of reading. The library is launching strategic planning next month and seeks community...
ARCHULETA SENIORS: Protect Yourself and Others From the Flu
Archuleta seniors are encouraged to get flu shots before the season peaks, available at local pharmacies and health clinics, and to stay home when sick to protect their community. The Pagosa Senior Center offers free activities including Monday senior conversations with local resident Bill...
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