Salida Daily Digest Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Ty's Take
The housing numbers hit different when you see them in black and white. A needs assessment saying nobody around here can actually afford to live in Chaffee County isn't exactly news to folks who've watched rents climb and young families bail for cheaper valleys, but there's something clarifying about the data. Meanwhile the city council's tinkering with land use codes tonight, which matters more than it sounds, because how we zone and what we allow shapes whether this stays a working town or becomes something else entirely. The Collegiate Peaks don't care either way, but we should.
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Ark Valley Voice
Comedy Night at Tabor Theater to Benefit Wildfire Relief for Leadville Businesses
Comedian Dan LaMorte will host a benefit comedy show on August 20 at the Tabor Theater in Leadville to raise funds for wildfire relief in Lake County following the Willow Fire. Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can basis with a suggested donation of $15 for the 7:00 p.m. event.
Central Colorado Humanists Scholarships for Nontraditional Students
The Central Colorado Humanists are accepting scholarship applications from nontraditional students aged 25 and older who live in Chaffee and Fremont Counties and plan to remain in the area. The program aims to expand career opportunities for returning students in the region.
Buena Vista School Board Issues Back to School Month Proclamation
The Buena Vista Board of Education has proclaimed August as Back to School Month, recognizing the importance of students, families, educators, and community support as the school year begins. The declaration celebrates the roles that families and community members play in young people's educational...
Salida City Council Considers Land Use Code Amendments, Citizen Appointments Tonight Aug. 18
The Salida City Council will hold a regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. on August 18 at the Touber Building in Salida to consider land use code amendments and citizen appointments. The agenda includes discussion of energy conservation code updates.
Lake County Office of Emergency Management Asks Residents to Share Impact of the Willow Fire
The Lake County Office of Emergency Management is asking residents to report how the Willow Fire affected their properties, businesses, infrastructure, and mental health. The agency wants to gather comprehensive information about the wildfire's far-reaching impacts across the community.
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The Mountain Mail
Columbine Gem and Mineral Society holds rock sale, will have future meetings
The Columbine Gem and Mineral Society held a rock sale and announced plans for upcoming meetings.
The Upper Arkansas Watershed Partnership will hold an open house in Buena Vista on August 20, and numerous music performances and community events are scheduled across the region from August 20-27, including blues performances, open mic nights, and a free movie night at the Comanche Drive-In.
According to Housing Needs Assessment, no one can afford to live in county
A Housing Needs Assessment presented to the Salida City Council reveals that no single-income worker in Chaffee County can afford to purchase a typical home valued at $651,282, and 60 percent of county renters are cost burdened. The assessment found that only a handful of industries could afford...
Walmart calls Code Brown on individual carrying firearms
Walmart security called a Code Brown alert in response to an individual carrying firearms at the store.
School board discusses AI, cyberattacks and MOU
The Salida School District Board of Education held an August 11 meeting to address AI usage, cyberattacks that affected staff computers in June, and a memorandum of understanding with the county as the school year gets underway. The board also heard updates on facility improvements, electric bus...
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