The Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) has issued this Thanksgiving Message –  CDPHE-COVID-Letter.pdf (10 downloads) and link for Thanksgiving Do’s and Don’ts.  Please think about your plans, and decide if it is really worth the risk of traveling and seeing family members that may be at risk. 

The Colorado COVID-19 dial is a tool that allows Colorado to balance the urgent need to contain the virus with the need for localized guidance during the pandemic. “We are adding a new level to the dial in response to out-of-control levels of COVID-19 transmission across the state,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director, CDPHE. “Coloradans must take proactive steps to reduce the spread of the virus to protect their families and communities. Wear a mask, avoid in-person interactions with people from outside your household, and wash your hands frequently. If we are not careful now, we risk plunging into the deep end of the dial, where hospitals are not able to serve everyone who needs care, whether they are COVID-19 patients or other types of patients. It’s up to all Coloradans to help our essential health care workers save lives.” The new dial levels, effective Nov. 20, are:

1. Level Green – Protect Our Neighbors: for counties that are able to locally contain surges. Most businesses are open with generous capacity limits. 
2. Level Blue – Caution: for counties with low transmission levels that aren’t quite ready for Protect Our Neighbors. Capacity limits are more permissive than yellow.
3. Level Yellow – Concern: the baseline level for counties with elevated transmission levels but stable hospitalizations. 
4. Level Orange – High Risk:  for counties where numbers are going up but not to the point where everything needs to be shut down. The capacity limits are moderate.
5. Level Red – Severe Risk: for counties with high levels of transmission, hospitalizations, and positivity rates. Most indoor activities are prohibited or strictly limited, and outdoor activities are encouraged as an alternative. The capacity limits are significant.
6. Level Purple – Extreme Risk: for counties where hospital capacity is at extreme risk of being overrun. At this level, all businesses must significantly curtail in person functions and people must stay at home except for necessary activities.

https://covid19.colorado.gov/data/covid-19-dial-dashboard 

https://covid19.colorado.gov/press-release/several-counties-move-to-level-red-on-state-dial

We wish you all a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday.  

We have had some power surges in our area and when that happens, it affects our weather station.  The camera is working okay but I’ll have to reset and do a little work on the weather station. I appreciate your patience and ask that you give me a few days and hopefully we’ll have it back up by first of next week at the latest.  Thank you!

When picking up your mail or taking trash please be respectful of those properties along the road in that area.  When you make a U Turn and even slightly go over on to private property it starts to rut out and cause damage to the property owners lot.  It doesn’t take much effort to back up using our well maintained roads.  Thank you for doing your part in keeping our lots in good condition. 

Scholarship Fundraising Results – August/September 2020

What an amazing group of caring landowners in our Association! Even though we were denied our usual annual meeting social gathering, many folks stepped up and sent in donations to our scholarship fund. We received $3,913 in donations and sold $220 worth of maps (Thank you Leah), bringing our total to $4,133. That brings our bank balance up to $7,458.71. At the end of August we delivered 39 bottles of spray disinfectant and 2 cases of tissues to the Antonito schools along with a tray of cookies to the teachers and staff with a thank you note from the Sheep Creek Landowners Association thanking them for all they do. Thank you all for making a difference in our community.
Sheep Creek Ranch Scholarship Committee
Vicki Bader, Mary Thorne, Debra Crowe and Debra Castro

Annual Meeting Minutes and Financial reports are located in the Members only Section under “Meeting Minutes” 

How exciting is this? Rhonda Sego snapped these pictures of a moose over by the wetlands area and pond.  If you spot him, remember to not get too close! Moose can become agressive if feeling threatened by people or dogs.

May 20, 2020 

Fire Restrictions Update from the National Forest Service: 

Stage 2 fire restrictions (see below) are in effect for all National Forest System lands in the Rio Grande National Forest. 

Current conditions are not being updated by district. 

Our Sheep Creek fire danger signs will continue to be set to Extreme

Due to the continued drying trend and wind, Conejos County Sheriff Garth Crowther has initiated Stage 2 fire restrictions for all of Conejos County. 

• Fires, campfires, charcoal grills, coal and wood burning stoves are prohibited including use in developed recreation sites.
• Devices using pressurized liquid or gas that include a shut-off valve and wood stoves used to heat a residence are allowed. 
• Smoking is allowed only within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or buildings where smoking is permitted. 
• Welding or operating acetylene or other torches with open flame is prohibited, unless it is within an enclosed building.
• Also prohibited are all explosives, including fireworks, exploding targets, and tracers or incendiary ammunition.
• Operating or using any internal combustion engine, such as a chainsaw, generator or all-terrain vehicle is only allowed with a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting USDA Forest Service or SAE approval. Additionally, chainsaw operators must have a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher and round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use.
• The entire Stage 2 fire restrictions order may be viewed on the Rio Grande National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande. For more information, call the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office at 719-376-2196.  This Order will be in effect from 12:01 am on April 15th, 2020 and will remain in force until rescinded. 

COVID-19 May 20, 2020 Daily Update

Saguache County confirmed their first COVID-19 related fatality today, bringing the total deaths in the SLV to three. Four more cases have been confirmed positive, bringing the total number for the SLV to 110. County case counts and other San Luis Valley data are updated weekdays at slvemergency.org/slv-covid-19.

Conejos County Public Health is investigating possible COVID-19 exposures at the Conejos County Jail. One employee has been confirmed to have the virus. Close contacts of the confirmed positive employee have been instructed to isolate at home, monitor symptoms, and be tested.  Due to use of masks, proper cleaning and hygiene, and limited contact, inmates are at relatively low risk. Right now, there is no outbreak at any facility in Conejos County. Conejos County Public Health is actively monitoring the situation and updates will be available soon.

In Emergency Management, one of the main focuses is Recovery, what to do after the crisis is over. When there’s a fire, flood, or other natural disaster, there is usually a clear beginning, middle, and end. Public Health emergencies are a different kind of disaster in that they are often long-term. The Governor says, “This isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon,” and like a marathon, we need to pace ourselves. That is why local governments are seeking a balanced, gradual approach to reopening. While it seems to many that the major crisis is ramping down or even over, Public Health activity is starting to ramp up as response efforts begin to bring results. Our focus at this point needs to be on stability, rather than recovery.

 REMINDER OF HOW COVID-19 can effect you here in the Conejos Canyon. 

• Resources: Our local health care system, Conejos County EMS and Conejos County Sheriff are not equipped to handle cases of the Coronavirus that could arrive with increased population.
• Grocery stores: Please be aware grocery stores in Conejos county have limited quantities of stock and availability.
• Healthcare: Valley Wide Health Services and SLV health are extremely limited in their capacity to care for those affected by COVID-19. SLV Health hospitals have very limited testing resources. Hospital beds and ICU capabilities throughout the SLV are very limited. An influx of population will potentially put added pressure on nearby regional hospitals that will be taxed by other areas too.
• Altitude: Conejos County’s high altitude is not well suited for a respiratory illness such as COVID-19.
• Quarantine: Conejos County is requesting you to self-quarantine in your home for 14 days upon returning to our County for the prevention of spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).