A new coalition of civic, business and environmental leaders is warning that Colorado's water and sewer needs are still growing, but the budgets to get the projects done are not. Monte Vista estimates it will need $48 million, or nearly $10,000 per resident, for future water, sewer and storm projects. It plans to replace water lines throughout the city and repair sewer lines. It wants to connect its two wastewater-treatment plants. And it faces a state order to chlorinate its drinking water, a project of unknown cost. In nearby Alamosa, as many as 1,300 people were sickened and one man died when salmonella bacteria invaded its unchlorinated water supply.

City council could see a series of votes to finance a new City Hall as early as next month, City Manager Nathan Cherpeski said Wednesday.

Andrew Romanoff brought his U.S. Senate campaign to the San Luis Valley, where he received a bipartisan greeting Friday and heard about the demand for jobs and balancing local concerns on federal lands. Republican candidate for Secretary of State, Ali Hasan, says he loves the San Luis Valley during a recent visit.

Adams State College officials have accelerated construction plans thanks to a favorable bond market and hope to tackle an additional $27 million in building renovations and street closures by spring of 2011.

Another employee of the Alamosa Housing Authority has been charged with embezzling from the agency, bringing the total people charged so far to five. Doris Marie Abeyta, the acting executive director, was charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court with embezzling and money laundering.

The Monte Vista teen accused of shooting his mother and stepfather will have his day in court, but where he'll be held in the meantime remains to be seen.

I stepped into the yurt, and was pleased with what I saw. The website had said they provided towels and robes to guests; but the flashlight, extra blankets, tissue box, and clock were an unexpected surprise! Anticipating the need to somewhat rough it, I had brought all those things myself. All that was lacking...was heat! Indeed, even the delicious cinnamon taffy they had left on our bedspreads had turned rock hard. A winter's night in the San Luis valley is no joke. My friend and I quickly assessed the chilly situation and plugged in the second space heater to begin warming our yurt up while we went to soak in the springs.

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A county that's hard to count hopes the 2010 Census takes its full measure come spring. Costilla County officials have appointed a count committee in hopes of boosting the 46 percent response rate the county had in 2000 and, in turn, improving the level of federal funding for the county.

The National Labor Relations Board heard arguments from attorneys representing the Teamsters Local 455 and from the World Minerals Corp., the Lompoc, Calif.-based parent of Harborlite, but the biggest outcome of the Wednesday morning session is that a decision is at least two to three months away.

One of the most scenic and wildlife-rich ranches in the San Luis Valley will stay that way, thanks to a recently completed conservation easement. Alan and Patricia Lisenby, owners of the Rio Oxbow Ranch, and the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust signed off on an agreement protecting 565 acres.

Eighteen months since the downturn first hit in Southern Colorado, the region's rural areas are struggling, according to unemployment and population statistics. But according to Charles Thompson, head of the federal Office of Rural Development in Alamosa, Alamosa and other rural areas are in fact faring better than many big cities, which, he added, is not uncommon.

San Luis Valley potato farmers got a small boost for a glutted market Friday, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $9 million for the purchase of fresh potatoes off the national market.

Alamosa County commissioners gave their conditional approval Wednesday to land-use permits for a 35-megawatt solar plant at the north end of the county.

On Wednesday Alamosa County Public Health Department Director Julie Geiser confirmed that a death has been associated with hantavirus. To protect confidentiality, the health department was unable to disclose the identity of the deceased adult.

A billionaire who objects to a proposed power line crossing his ranch in south-central Colorado says the utilities behind the project have illegally met separately with state regulators who will decide whether to approve it. The ranch claims that Xcel Energy employees took part in discussions with PUC commissioners that violate state regulations and deprived the ranch of its right to due process, the ranch's attorneys say.

Habitat for Humanity is planning a ReStore Sale in order to divert usable building materials from going to the landfill and to help make home improvements more affordable for everyone. The sale will be held on Saturday, February 6 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Apple Tree Storage on south State Avenue in Alamosa. All proceeds from every sale will go towards building Habitat for Humanity homes in the San Luis Valley. Habitat continues to accept donations of new and gently used building materials. Call the Habitat office at (719) 589-8678 for more information.

This weekend, Senator Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass) will be joined by Rep. Ed Vigil (D-Alamosa) and John Stulp, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture, at several SLV events. Please join them!

SATURDAY:

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Morning get-together
Where: Lu's Main St. Cafe, 609 Main St., Blanca, CO

11:00 AM - Noon: Meeting Colorado Potato Administrative Committee with Commissioner Stulp
Where: CPAC Building, 1305 Park Avenue, Monte Vista, CO

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Town Hall meeting
Where: Carnegie Public Library, 120 Jefferson Street, Monte Vista, CO

SUNDAY:

10:00 AM: Open conversation with the public
Where: Wolf Creek Lodge (at the Wolf Creek Resort), Top of Wolf Creek Pass Hwy 160 E
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147

1:00 PM: 10TH ANNUAL Celebration of Ranching and Frontier Spirit
Where: Saguache Community Building, Saguache, CO

The lead attorney in Lobato vs. Taylor - the courtroom portion of a 50-year range war over access to the Mountain Tract near San Luis - was sent off to a new job with a resounding hurrah Jan. 11.