MONDAY BRIEFING | Aug. 22, 2022

WHERE did summer go? The yellow school buses are circling the neighborhoods, Adams State students have moved back in and suddenly we’ve shifted into the idea of fall.

Then you have people like Lori Smith, who pretty much spent her summer getting ready for the 2022-2023 school year. Why? Because she’s now running two schools – the new Alamosa Alternative High School and Alamosa Online Schools. You can read about the new set up and Smith’s new roles in this story.

Here are a few more news items to get your Monday started:

historic postcard of downtown Antonito taken in the 1950s

1. History Colorado in Antonito

History Colorado is teaming up with the town of Antonito to create a community collection of stories that reflect and spread knowledge of Antonito. The project kicks off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, when current and former residents gather to have their stories recorded. History Colorado calls it “A project to interpret, preserve and share Antonito’s history and culture.” Pretty cool.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Town residents will gather at the Outdoor Nutrition Center at 515 River St.

2. SLV PrideFest this weekend

The weekend ahead will be punctuated by the annual SLV PrideFest parade and celebration in downtown Alamosa. The parade will start at 10 a.m. at Sixth Street and LaDue Avenue and end near the Trinidad State campus. More events are planned for after the parade.

It’s difficult to measure the impact of the Valley’s LGBTQ population since the U.S. Census Bureau and its various surveys have only recently begun to survey same-sex households. A 2019 Census survey of select metro cities showed that 2 percent of the households in Denver were same-sex households, one of the highest percentages in the country. Demographers note that same-sex households are generally undercounted.

Here in the Valley, SLVPrideFest is a celebration of a vibrant community of our own.

3.Three-day closure on US 160
in Monte Vista

The Colorado Department of Transportation announces a temporary, restricted closure of US Highway 160 for through traffic as crews pave Main Street/US 160 from Jefferson Street to Henderson Road in Monte Vista. The three-day closure and paving operations will begin on Monday, Aug. 22, and continue through Wednesday, Aug. 25. The highway will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will reopen at the end of each workday for through traffic.

Local traffic will be able to access all businesses along US 160 within the city of Monte Vista. Drivers should exercise caution through the work zone and pay close attention to traffic control signage, cones, barrels, and flagging personnel.

Detour and traffic impacts
Motorists traveling east and west through Monte Vista will be detoured south of US 160 through city streets.

Eastbound
At the intersection of 1st Avenue and Broadway Street (US 160 and US 285), travelers will turn south onto S. Broadway Avenue (CO 15). Travelers will turn east at 6th Avenue, then travel north on Henderson Road to US 160.

4. Next on The Valley Pod

Myra Manzanares and Kathy West serve as co-presidents of the Alamosa Education Association, and in those roles helped secure an across-the-board 8 percent pay increase for Alamosa School District personnel. They discuss the significance of the new contract and also talk about the work being done to move Alamosa Schools to a four-day school week for 2023-24.

5. Two weeks till kickoff

Adams State Head Football Coach Jarrell Harrison has two more weeks to prepare Adams State for its season opener Sept. 3 against Western New Mexico in Silver City. We caught up with Coach Harrison following the weekend practices to get an assessment of where the Grizzlies stand two weeks before the start of the season. Take a view.