Election takeaways
With Tuesday’s local elections in the books, here are a couple takeaways on how voters saw things. A full list of election results is here:
Takeaway 1
Voters are open to approving a local tax increase for a specific project or on a particular vice evidenced by successful ballot initiatives in Conejos County and Saguache County.
In Conejos County Ballot Issue 1A, which looked to impose a new countywide retail sales and use tax of two percent to improve or maintain levels of public service, passed. And in Saguache County, voters approved a ballot initiative that imposes an additional five percent sales tax on retail and medical marijuana products sold in the county.
Takeaway 2
The Alamosa School Board will have some interesting discussions coming up with four new school board members elected, two of whom defeated current school board members. Expect new school board members to push on the fact the school district currently does not include “religious exemption” as an opt out of the school district’s health and safety protocols. “I absolutely believe there should be a religious exemption,” new school board member Patrick Colvin told Alamosa Citizen’s Owen Woods in a post-election interview. Stay tuned.
NCAA the topic for
Adams State faculty lecture
With the recent Supreme Court decision on name and image likeness, the NCAA is facing significant restructuring and new challenges as athletes can market themselves for money. The Adams State University Faculty Lecture “What is Next for the NCAA?” by Rich Loosbrock, Ph.D., professor of history, begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, in McDaniel Hall 101 and is free and open to the public. Masks are required in all Adams State indoor public spaces.
The regulatory powers of the NCAA are being reexamined, and Division I football is driving realignment. The recent Division I basketball tournaments revealed a significant gap between the money spent on men and women. This lecture will provide a brief history of the NCAA and examine the current climate for college athletics, and the possible impact on the Adams State campus community.
For more information on the Faculty Lecture Series contact Jess Gagliardi at 719-587-8921 or jgagliardi@adams.edu.
City of Alamosa recycling center
shifts to winter hours
The city of Alamosa’s Rickey Recycling Center is shifting to its winter hours starting Sunday, Nov. 7. The winter hours are: Monday-Friday, 8:00am -5:00pm; Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm.
The recycling center will be closed on Sundays and Holidays. For questions please contact the Public Works Department at 719-589-6631.
Alamosa sets date
for annual Celebration of Lights
Plan on Friday, Dec. 3, for the 14th annual Alamosa Celebration of Lights. Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. at Alamosa City Hall with the Adams State Brass Quartet and Clarinet Duo. At 6:30 p.m. will be the Illumination of City Hall followed by a Walk to Santa.
Prescribed burn near Sand Dunes postponed
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve has postponed the Liberty prescribed burning operation that was scheduled for November 8-12. The prescribed burn is part of Great Sand Dunes National Park’s hazardous fuels reduction efforts. Fire managers from the park in partnership with Rio Grande National Forest were preparing to burn up to 3,300 acres near the park’s northern boundary, located south of Baca Grande Subdivision, and approximately three miles south of Crestone, Colorado.
Rio Grande National Forest and National Park Service firefighters determined the conditions over the burn area were not expected to be within the pre-defined parameters, or prescription. The burn will be delayed until conditions become favorable.
“We appreciate all the work that our partners at Rio Grande National Forest put into helping us plan this operation and also their patience as we postpone it to a future date,” said Pam Rice,
Great Sand Dunes National Park superintendent. “Prescribed burning is an important part of fire management on public land. We look forward to working with our partners in the future to conduct projects like this that will ultimately help reduce the risk of high intensity high severity fires and make it safer for local communities.”
