Saguache County commissioners will host an informal meeting in Center Sept. 14 regarding a proposed solar project. SolarReserve, a California company, hopes to build a pair of 100-megawatt solar plants on roughly 3,000 acres northeast of Center in the San Luis Valley and needs to secure the county's approval.

“The only available space for indoor PE is the Auditorium stage- 4’ above the seating area. A temporary fence acts as a safety barrier to keep the children from falling off the stage.”—Bill Metz Elementary School, Monte Vista BEST application

“A sewer line is broken under the kitchen and not accessible for replacement causing the kitchen floor to heave and crack; it is also likely contaminating the soils beneath the kitchen with sewage.”—Monte Vista High School BEST application

“The existing facilities and the site of the Center School District fail to meet the minimum standards for security and life safety, adequate performance of building systems.”—Haskin Elementary School and Skoglund Middle School/ Center High School, Center BEST application

“Roof vents and skylights are leaking throughout the building…The local fire department has provided the school district with a six-page document listing health and safety violations regarding the current elementary school… most of the key violations are structural in nature and cannot be remedied in the short run.”—Salida Longfellow Elementary School BEST application

In the third year of the B.E.S.T grants, or Building Excellent Schools Today, the stories still hit hard: leaking roofs, inadequate ventilation, overcrowding classrooms and cafeterias, and schools without working fire alarms. Thankfully, the BEST program is working to fix all that. Today, the State Borad of Education announced approval for the latest rounds of BEST grants for 2010-11. The State Board of Education approved more than $176 million in grants today; nearly $67,600,000 will go to Senate District 5 which includes the San Luis Valley. The Center, Salida, and Monte Vista school districts will be getting brand new school buildings thanks to this latest round of grants. (click here for a complete list of BEST funding in Senator Schwartz's district: Schwartz BEST grants 08-10.pdf)

Potato grower-shippers in Colorado’s San Luis Valley report minimal damage from poor weather in the spring and look forward to stronger markets this fall.

A California company hopes to build a 100-megawatt solar plant in the southeastern corner of Saguache County. SolarReserve submitted a preliminary land use application to the county last month and a company official briefed commissioners on the project Tuesday. The company hopes to build the plant on 1,700 acres roughly six miles northeast of Center near the intersection of county roads G and 53.

The grant applications of 10 area school districts have been recommended to the Colorado State Board of Education for awarding of Building Excellent Schools Today grants including:

- North Conejos School District: $240,240 for partial roof replacement for the elementary school.

- Center School District: $26.7 million for PK-12 school replacement.

- Monte Vista School District: $27.6 million for an elementary school addition and renovation and high school replacement.

There's a good chance that if you drive by a potato field in the San Luis Valley, the spuds waiting to be pulled from the earth got their genetic start at a greenhouse that sits just a few miles southwest of Center.

On Saturday March 27 Center High School inducted Aucencio Martinez into its Athletic Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place at the track complex at Center Community Park.

If some taxpayers believe that Center Schools’ pursuit of a BEST Schools grant to build a new Pre-K-12 facility is "pie-in-the-sky" thinking, Center Consolidated Schools Superintendent wishes they could see what he sees.

Center water tower still needs repair

Students participate in school facilities planning

Lobato suit update: It's not all about politics

The Center School District will be kicking off a Facilities Master Planning Process in anticipation of applying for a Colorado BEST (Building Excellent Schools Today) Grant.

The death blow for the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights might come not from its powerful foes in Denver, but from parents in a little potato town in the San Luis Valley. Parents led by Anthony and Denise Lobato have sued the state for the poor condition of their kids' schools - a lawsuit their lawyer says just might spell the end of TABOR.

Authorities released the identity of the suspect who led authorities on a seven-mile chase Friday, in which he allegedly rammed three patrol vehicles and drew gunfire from authorities.

A suspected drunken driver is in custody after leading authorities on a Friday morning high speed chase in which he rammed several police cars and drew gunfire from officers.

Utility System Mended
Center residents heard findings from a study conducted by utility master Stephen Duree Oct. 21 confirming that while Center’s utility department was mismanaged and undermanned in the past, remedies are now in place.

Valued Viking
First grader Eddie Aragon and fifth grader Aspen Paiz have been named "Vikings for Values" for the month of September.

A review of the town of Center's electric and gas utility pointed to a checkered past and made some suggestions for future operations. The 39-page report issued at a meeting Wednesday night by Special Master Stephen Duree came as part of an out-of-court settlement between the town and local business owner Martin Palma.

MADD Addresses Youth
During the Saguache County Youth Coalition retreat “Life At Its Best — Add Nothing,” Mothers Against Drunk Driving spoke to area youth last week about the consequences of driving while intoxicated.

Viking Homecoming
Center High School Student Council met on Monday to complete their plans for Homecoming, scheduled for Oct. 16 this year.

Bill Coors has been studying barley production longer than most of the company’s San Luis Valley growers have been alive. Coors, who has passed his 90th birthday, was the keynote speaker at this year’s Barley Field Day. “I’ve been on the brewery payroll 70 years,” he said.

The concussions signal the start of hail season in the San Luis Valley. The reverberations follow blasts from hail cannons deployed around vegetable fields. The theory is that the vibrations from shock waves aimed into approaching storms will disrupt the formation of hailstones that could devastate the crops, but the cannons are both hailed and blasted.

Commissioners announced last Tuesday that Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Americas presented a “preliminary sketch application” recently to the Saguache County Planning Commission for the construction of two 100-megawatt solar power plants to be located northeast of Center.

Center High School bowlers disqualified from competing in the State bowling championship in Denver this February were honored by SLV Superbowl Conference leader Ken Freeman with a plaque Monday as SLV Conference Champions.