В архивах газеты Sun обнаружены исторические сводки о нефтяной разведке, смертельном ударе молнии и налоговых проблемах округа Арчюлета

100 years ago Taken from SUN files of August 27, 1926 Word of drilling actively eight miles west of Pagosa Springs, Colo., on the Sunetha structure, where showings of gas and oil have been had, and where a lively speculation is being carried on in adjacent lands, was brought to Denver today by a local man just back from the region, says the Denver Times. A test well begun in mid-July by Wirt Franklin, wealthy Ardmore, Okla., independent, had been drilled to more than 1,400 feet yesterday, and the operators were sanguine of the commercial possibilities of the hold. Franklin is using a standard rotary rig and drilling is to be carried to the Pennsylvania sands, which are expected to be encountered from 1,800 to 2,500 feet. Location of the well is in section 28, township 35 north of range 2 west, it being in the midst of a 6,000-acre tract that is held by lessors who scent possibilities. 75 years ago Taken from SUN files of August 24, 1951 Since finishing the cleaning up of the town dump grounds on the Trujillo road, signs have been erected showing citizens where to dump their trash. Failure to obey these signs will result in fines. The County has been receiving quite a bit of moisture the past few days, particularly in the northern and eastern parts. This is probably due to the fact that many ranchers and farmers are in the midst of haying and grain harvest. At any rate the rains are most welcome and the much needed moisture will be a great help to fall and winter pasture as well as next year’s crops. School buildings and busses are being prepared for school opening on September 4 and many of the teachers are arriving for the term of school. Most of the schools in the county have received repairs and the work incident to general maintenance and the busses have been checked over. The school building in town has been painted inside and several extensive remodeling jobs accomplished. 50 years ago Taken from SUN files of August 26, 1976 Enrollment in the local schools is up 56 students after the first two days of school to a record high of 843. More students are expected to enroll during this week and next, and possible more will arrive after the Labor Day weekend. The schools, especially the high school, are bulging at the seams and it is a full house for the district. A Bayfield man, Jack Talbot, was killed by a bolt of lightning Monday afternoon. Talbot, along with several residents of the Pagosa Springs area, was on a pack trip on the Continental Divide when struck by lightning. The bolt of lightning also killed six horses and mules, and caused injuries to two local men, Wm. Downey and Ray Johnson. Also injured was Fred Lucero of Ignacio. None of the three were seriously injured. Rain has fallen often the past week and as a result some of the streams are muddy or roilly. Rainfall at lower elevations has been scattered and not too heavy, but there have been some heavy rains high up in the mountains. 25 years ago Taken from SUN files of August 23, 2001 County sales tax income has pumped about $5.9 million into Archuleta County’s Road Capital Improvement Fund starting with 1995, according to a report compiled from information supplied by the county’s road and bridge and finance departments. One-half of a two-cent sales tax last approved by voters during November of 1994 is devoted to the RCIF. The 1 percent levy has financed a multitude of road projects, equipment purchases, and equipment leases. Language on the ballot when the tax was approved by the voters dedicates the county’s 1 percent portion to the RCIF. Since the 1994 two-cent tax was approved for seven years only, it will expire Jan. 1, 2003. With the thought of that expiration at the front of their minds, the county commissioners are considering a renewal election before the expiration date. Without the income from that tax, we are dead in the water, all of the commissioners say. As justification for the statement, they point to road projects and equipment purchased since 1994 using the 1 percent sales tax. Capital construction projects have consumed about $4.2 million since the 1994 tax was initiated. Another $1.2 million has been invested in capital equipment purchases and lease payments for capital equipment.