HOW warm have the recent years in Alamosa been getting? According to the National Weather Service-Pueblo station, 2021 was the fourth-warmest year on record, rivaling the warmest year Alamosa has ever had in 2017 and the second warmest year in 2015. You have to go back to 1934 to find the third warmest year in Alamosa’s history. That three of the four warmest years occurred over the past seven years says something about the overall warming environment and the drought-induced impact to the Rio Grande.
Alamosa Main Street to get
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
The city of Alamosa expects to resume work on the Main Street revitalization come spring. Rachel Baird, Alamosa’s development services director, said engineering work is being completed on the city’s efforts to add Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons crossings to Downtown at Main Street and San Juan Avenue and Main Street and Hunt.
“Engineering is wrapping and we should be installing as soon as it is warm enough to do concrete work,” Baird said in an email exchange with AlamosaCitizen.com.
The city received funding through the Colorado Department of Transportation Revitalizing Main Streets grant program to help cover the costs of its work on Main Street.
A second Republican challenger
to Rep. Boebert steps forward
Montrose state senator Don Corum (R) is the latest to jump into the 3rd Congressional District race, a congressional seat that includes the San Luis Valley and is currently held by Lauren Boebert (R); he is also from the western slope of Colorado in Silt. His announcement was made Wednesday. Here’s coverage from the Montrose Press, Corum’s hometown newspaper.
Why it matters: Corum’s entry is interesting. He was first elected to state House District 58 in 2010 and in 2017 was selected by the Senate District 6 committee to replace state Sen. Ellen Roberts who had resigned. As a candidate from the same region of the 3rd Congressional District, his entry presents a serious challenge to Boebert, a first-time winner in 2020. Out of the gate, in his announcement, he worked to establish himself as a “moderate” Republican more in tune with the 3rd Congressional District that includes the 6-county San Luis Valley.
Others in the race: Marina Zimmerman, who resides in Archuleta County, is also challenging Boebert in the Republican primary. She’s been building a social media following as a challenger to Boebert over the past six months. With both Zimmerman and Corum running in the Republican primary, questions arise on whether they split mainstream Republicans and unaffiliated registered voters, making the path to a Republican nomination easier for Boebert. She’s been a controversial representative for the 3rd CD with an inflammatory political style. Drawing two Republican challengers is evidence of disharmony in the party.
The other side: On the Democratic side, state Rep. Donald Valdez has his hat in the ring. He’s in a crowded field that includes five other candidates seeking the Democratic nomination. Included in that group is Sol Sandoval of Pueblo, Colin Wilhelm of Glenwood Springs, Debora Burnett of Cowdry, Kellie Rhodes of Crested Butte, and Root Rutledge of Durango.
Key dates: Primary races are June 28, 2022; General Election is November 8, 2022.
CPW virtual meeting is Jan. 12-13
DENVER – At its upcoming virtual meeting, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission will conduct an annual review of big game regulations, including annual changes to season dates, limited license areas, and manner of take provisions for bighorn sheep, mountain goat, deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, moose and bear, among other topics.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Wed., Jan. 12, and will adjourn at 5 p.m. The commission will reconvene at 8:30 a.m. on Thu., Jan. 13 and adjourn at 3 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live on CPW’s YouTube page.
Additional agenda items include:
- Department of Agriculture update
- Department of Natural Resources update
- Financial update
- Awards and presentations
- Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) update
- Wolf Planning update
- Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program 2021 RFP update
- Species Conservation Trust Fund update
A complete agenda along with all materials for public review for this meeting can be found on the CPW website. The public is encouraged to email written comments to the commission at dnr_cpwcommission@state.co.us. Details on providing public comments for virtual meetings are available on the CPW website.
The CPW Commission also will discuss regulations making it unlawful for any person to place any olfactory attractant with the intent to lure gray wolves unless permitted by the division; regulations authorizing livestock owners and their agents to haze gray wolves to prevent or reduce injury to livestock; annual changes to waterfowl and migratory bird hunting seasons; and property-specific regulations for the new SKCK State Wildlife Area (SWA), Fish Creek SWA and the Big Springs, Brett Gray Ranch, Karval and Punkin Center State Trust Lands. The Commission will also consider its policy for naming CPW properties, the CPW Fishery Management and Hatchery System, and management plans for B-11 Roaring Fork and Eagle Valley, B-12 Gunnison Basin, D-40 Upper Rio Grande, E-35 Cimarron, D-36 Upper Rio Grande, and E-34 Upper Rio Grandeat its meeting on Wed., Jan. 12 and Thu., Jan. 13.
