Salida Daily Digest Saturday, August 08, 2026
Ty's Take
Water's on everybody's mind this week, which shouldn't surprise anyone who lives in the Arkansas Valley. The boil water advisory up at Monarch and Garfield reminds us that even in a year when the upper Arkansas is running high enough to release extra flows downstream, the pipes that carry water to our small towns can still fail us. Meanwhile, the state's shut down Butala Piling after racking up violations, and you have to wonder what that means for water quality on the other end of things. Summer's here, the river's running good, and folks are out celebrating everything from Pack Burro races in Buena Vista to the Brewers Rendezvous and Fourth of July parades. But underneath all that, water remains what it's always been in Chaffee County: the thing we argue over, depend on, and never quite have enough of when it matters most.
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Ark Valley Voice
BV Gold Rush Days and Pack Burro Race Embrace Community Heritage with Fun and Competition
Buena Vista's Gold Rush Days festival celebrated the town's mining heritage while featuring the popular BV Pack Burro Race, which kicked off at 10:00 a.m. The BV Chamber of Commerce and BV Heritage Museum partnered to organize the 2026 event, blending community fun with local history.
2026 Chaffee County Fair Ranch Rodeo Showcases Ranching Skills
Cowboys and cowgirls showcased authentic ranching skills at the Chaffee County Fair and Rodeo during the annual Ranch Rodeo on Saturday, August 1, with teams competing in cattle work that demonstrated real working ranch techniques. The event gave spectators insight into the teamwork and practical...
Fire in Villa Grove Consumes Several Structures
A fire broke out in Villa Grove, in Saguache County in the northern San Luis Valley, around 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, destroying several buildings including some structures central to the town. Multiple fire crews from across the county responded to the blaze, while U.S. 285 remained open...
Monarch Mountain Lodge and Town of Garfield Issued “Boil Water” Advisory
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a boil water advisory for Monarch Mountain Lodge in Garfield and the nearby town of Garfield, affecting approximately 250 lodge guests and residents. The advisory was issued due to a drinking water concern at the facility located along...
Butala Piling Up violations, Operations Shut Down by State of Colorado
The State of Colorado shut down operations at Butala mining facility in Smeltertown after the company accumulated multiple violations, with dust from the operations becoming a persistent problem on windy days even affecting traffic on U.S. 291 into Salida. The closure marks a significant...
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The Mountain Mail
Structure fire in Villa Grove burns three buildings
A structure fire in Villa Grove destroyed three buildings, according to reports from emergency responders. Investigators worked to determine the circumstances of the fire.
Additional water to be released in the Upper Arkansas
The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Bureau of Reclamation, and other state agencies approved releasing up to 2,500-acre-feet of water from the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project into the Upper Arkansas River between August and November to combat historically low flows. The multi-agency...
Brewers Rendezvous sees returning vendors and attendees
The annual Brewers Rendezvous returned to Riverside Park on July 11, drawing back familiar vendors and loyal attendees who have supported the event year after year. The gathering continues to foster community connections and demonstrate strong local support.
Poncha celebrates Fourth of July with parade, games
Poncha Springs held Fourth of July celebrations featuring a parade and games in Chipeta Park for residents and visitors. The holiday festivities brought the community together for traditional Independence Day activities.
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