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The Crestone Eagle is an independent, monthly newspaper published by Crestone Eagle Community Media, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Since 1989, the Eagle has been crucial to the community in and around Crestone, Colorado. Recent investigative stories include erroneous taxation by Amazon and AirBnb that saved local residents hundreds of thousands of dollars, reporting on threats to local aquifers by those who want to redirect our water outside the San Luis Valley, and disruptive low-altitude military flights over migratory bird sanctuaries. We report on alternative building techniques, culture and events, and keep an eye on local politics and anything else of interest to our readers.
Like so many small independent newspapers, our advertising and subscription dollars can no longer sustain our operations, which is why we became a non-profit community newspaper in 2022. While we live in an area of great natural resources--US National Forest and Wilderness areas, The Baca Wildlife Refuge and The Great Sand Dunes National Park, we operate out of one of the poorest counties of Colorado.
Serving a community of just a few thousand people presents economic challenges even more severe than those faced by new organizations in major cities. In addition to producing trustworthy local news, we are committed to helping enhance economic development and community engagement. We rely on community support to carry out these efforts.
With an entirely new board as of November, 2024, and a restructured business model, The Eagle is committed more than ever to the principles of transparency and community engagement, and has restructured the organization to enhance long-term sustainability.
Thank you for supporting The Crestone Eagle.
Our mission is to produce trustworthy local news in rural Saguache County, to promote community engagement, enhance economic development and connect residents throughout this low-income, isolated region.
Statement from the new Board of Directors of The Crestone Eagle:
“May you live in interesting times.” – Ancient Chinese curse
Well, we are certainly living in very interesting times, indeed. We face challenges of every kind: political, environmental, economic, cultural, technological, spiritual…. While there is no way to fully anticipate or prepare for the myriad difficulties that lie before us, we believe that the most effective way to face them is together, as a community.
When word got around that The Eagle was in trouble, we received an outpouring of concern from folks who love the paper and don’t want to lose it. We agree. This is why we’ve come together to try to save The Crestone Eagle and make sure the people of Crestone/Baca have access to each other in the ways only a community newspaper can provide.
Since 1989, The Crestone Eagle has helped local residents function together as a community, and we believe this is more important than ever. To that end, we pledge that going forward, the Eagle will exemplify the principles of effective, honest, transparent communication with you, our readers and supporters. As a non-profit, we believe our budget should be open to public review, so from now on, it will be. Constructive criticism will be as welcome as donations and subscriptions. We will display the same organizational transparency we expect from local government. Those of us on the board, as well as Managing Editor, Matt Lit, staff and writers are investing as much of our own resources as we ask of you. (This issue has been produced almost entirely pro-bono, and all board members are unpaid.)
If you agree with our mission, please help us in any way you can by lending your skills, insights, advice, donations, subscriptions and well-wishes. We intend to preserve The Crestone Eagle as a paper of the people, by the people, and for the people of this community. Please join us.
Organization name
Crestone Eagle Community Media
other names
The Crestone Eagle Newspaper
1989
Tax id (EIN)
82-4685970
Category
Public & Societal Benefit
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
180 W GALENA AVE, UNIT 101Crestone, CO, US, 81143
Saguache County, CO, US
CO, US
US