Wildfires
No active fires were burning in Archuleta  County as of Friday morning, July 11, with smoke in the area stemming from fires in surrounding regions. According to the Pagosa Fire Protection …
Wildfires
Another season of wildfires has begun across Colorado and much of North America, and the Alzheimer's Association offers a reminder about the unique risks that wildfire smoke poses to our cognitive …
Extension Viewpoints
By Cindi Galabota PREVIEW Columnist The Archuleta County Colorado State University (CSU) Extension office, Archuleta County Public Health Department, Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office …
This week’s Bird of the Week, compliments of the Weminuche Audubon Society and Audubon Rockies, is the American goldfinch. The finches of North America is a diverse group of species that includes the rosy-finches of alpine tundra; siskins, crossbills, house and Cassin’s finches, and evening and pine grosbeaks of forested areas; and the goldfinches that inhabit more open, brushy areas. Its members are colorful birds with stout, conical bills adapted to eating seeds. American goldfinches breed later than most other North American songbirds. Not until late July and August, when many young of other songbirds are already on their own, does this one nest. They time their breeding to coincide with the abundance of seeds in late summer and use the down of thistle to line their nests. Unlike many migratory bird species that travel long distances to take advantage of a bounty of insects to feed their young, American goldfinches are vegetarians that only eat an insect inadvertently. They eat a variety of seeds from weeds, flowers, trees and grasses. Parents feed regurgitated seeds to young in the nest. On this strict vegetarian diet, cowbird chicks that hatch in a goldfinch nest cannot survive. Goldfinches rely on small size and dexterous legs and feet to climb plant stems and hang onto seed heads to harvest seeds unavailable to heavier birds. They display a preference for composite flowers with tightly packed seeds in the center. They love the plant we often fight, musk thistle. At feeders, they prefer Nyjer and black oil sunflower seeds. Male American goldfinches molt into their canary yellow plumage in spring, so different from their drab brown winter colors that it seems they have just migrated in, when in fact they have been around all the time. A black forehead and black wings with white markings set off his bright yellow. Breeding females have black wings, but their yellow is duller and their backs are olive-colored. You can plant for goldfinches and other seed eaters with native wildflowers like coneflowers, sunflowers, asters and native thistles. Just don’t deadhead your flowers when they have gone to seed. Leave them standing for late-season food. For information on events, visit www.weminucheaudubon.org and www.facebook.com/weminucheaudubon/.
Outdoors
The 2023 cast of “Newsies Jr.” celebrates another successful youth theater camp production a joyful tradition continued this year with “James and the Giant Peach Jr.,” set to hit the stage July 12 and 13.
Arts & Entertainment
This weekend, audiences have th e chance to witness something truly special: Two casts of young actors will bring “James and the Giant Peach Jr.” to life on the Pagosa Springs Center for …
Healthy Archuleta will host its next Garden Conversation on Saturday, July 12, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Pagosa Springs Community Garden.
Outdoors
Join us this Saturday, July 12, for the next Garden Conversation. These Garden Conversations are from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Pagosa Springs Community Garden, located downtown in Centennial Park …
Most popular stories
Things to Do

Aspire’s Barn Bash to return July 26

After last year’s unforgettable 25-year celebration at Keyah Grande, Aspire is excited to bring back its highly anticipated Barn Bash, a beloved community tradition filled with music, food and …
Government

Sen. Bennet's staff to hold office hours in Archuleta County

Do you need help dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration or another federal agency? Do you have a suggestion for Congress that will …
Community

Pagosa Peak Genealogical Society to meet July 12

The Pagosa Peak Genealogical Society will hold its next monthly meeting on Saturday, July 12, at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis St. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. We will …
Senior News

Join the Senior Center for health and fun

Why does Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) have programs, classes and games in addition to healthful lunches and other services? What’s so important about having a place to gather? The National …
Local News

New technology drives culvert repairs in southwest and south-central Colorado

A new technology for culvert repairs is coming to five counties in southwest and south-central Colorado, with 20 culverts receiving improvements by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) …
Numerous Fourth of July events were held over the patriotic holiday weekend, among them the inaugural Stars and Strips Stroll, a fireworks display, Freedom Float, Pagosa Springs Community Band concert, Park to Park Artisan Market and 75th annual Red Ryder Roundup Rodeo.
Community

Independence Day celebration

What Readers Are Saying
Outdoors

Weak monsoons could ‘ramp up,’ drought remains

Pagosa Country could see above-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation in mid-July, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Center’s outlook for July 14-18.
Business

Disagreement over ranch, reservoir between water boards continues

The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) and the San Juan Water Conservancy District (SJWCD) solidified their unwillingness to reach a compromise over the potential sale of the Running Iron Ranch at a June 30 joint work session.
Local News

U.S. 160 reconstruction information

Week of July 14-19 Work activity • A one-lane closure will be in place beginning at 7 p.m. through the night on Monday, July 14, to replace the storm drain between 1st and 4th streets. …
Editorial

Keep public meetings public

Thursday afternoon, we logged on for the San Juan Water Conservancy District’s (SJWCD’s) special meeting, interested in what the next chapter of the ongoing disagreement over Running Iron Ranch might hold.
Columns

Legacies: July 10, 2025

100 years ago Taken from SUN files of July 10, 1925 Pagosa Springs was one “dead” burg on July 4th — we know, because we spent the day here, but not as a holiday. Sam …
Government

County amends public notice requirements in land use regulations

On Tuesday, July 1, the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2025-36, amending the Archuleta County Land Use Regulations (LUR) relating to public notice requirements.
Business

Chamber of Commerce announces new executive director

The Chamber Board of Directors has hired my replacement. I welcome Sandy Douthey to the position as the next executive director of the Pagosa Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. 
Community

Charter school board hears student performance results

Pagosa Peak Open School (PPOS) Director Emily Murphy presented the board with last school year’s student testing data from Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) standardized testing during the board’s June 18 meeting.
Outdoors

Weminuche Audubon presentation to focus on aquatic insects

The Weminuche Audubon Society invites you to join us at our July 16 meeting when Patti Spindler introduces us to the diversity of macroinvertebrate life that exists in our rivers, streams, wetlands, ponds and lakes. 
Library News

Friends summer book sale and Audubon birds event set for next Thursday

The hugely popular three-day Friends of the Library book sale happens next week at the Community United Methodist Church located downtown at 434 Lewis St.
Community

July 15 final day to register for 2025-2026 Rangers youth soccer

Pagosa Youth Soccer is wrapping up registration for the 2025-2026 season, with the final deadline set for Tuesday, July 15. 
The 75th annual Red Ryder Roundup Rodeo, presented July 3-6, featured cowgirls and cowboys competing for prizes and showing their skills in a variety of traditional events.
Local News

75th annual Red Ryder Roundup Rodeo

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Obituaries
 Harold Wayne Walls
Harold Wayne Walls, 83, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home in Pagosa Springs, Colo., on Saturday, June 28. He was born Jan. 30, 1942, in Belton, Texas, the youngest of 13 children, to Alma and Jesse Walls.
Firma Lucas
Firma Lucas was born Firma Boxler in Garden City, Kan., on Aug. 18, 1936, and died peacefully at Pine Ridge Rehabilitation Center in Pagosa Springs on June 25, 2025.   She met Gary Lucas …
Penny Searles
Penny Searles, 77, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2025, in Alva, Fla. She was born on Oct. 2, 1947, in Middletown, Ohio, to Robert Boyd and Pat (Juanita) Boyd.
Lorrie ‘Yia Yia’ Colvert Carpino 
The most loving, caring and accepting soul ever created, Yia Yia, born Feb. 16, 1930, left us on May 30, 2025.
John Snider
Friends and family will remember John Snider at a celebration of life service this Saturday, June 14, at noon at the Archuleta County Colorado State University Extension Building. Bring a dish to …
Emma Lujan
Beloved mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and godmother Emma Lujan (95 years old) peacefully transitioned to her heavenly home surrounded by family and reunited with her husband of 69 years, Santana …

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