About

The Pagosa Springs Journal blog site has transitioned from a traditional site as part of Pagosa.com into its own interactive web site. We like to think of it as THE source for good news in Pagosa Springs! We combine visitor information, recreation articles, and area photos with local news stories, business/people feature articles, and fun opinion articles and humor. Pagosa Springs slogan is “Refreshingly Authentic” and the Pagosa Springs Journal is a clear reflection of our character and characters of our beautiful town!

About the Editor, Norm Vance
Norm was born and grew up in Kentucky. He moved to Dallas, Texas to continue his education in the arts at North Texas State University. During a semester off he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he trained for and became a medic. Following the service, he began education in the medical field. He graduated and went on to extended education and a first career at The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School at Dallas. Norm worked in the Coronary Intensive Care Unit at Parkland Hospital doing nuclear medicine research on active heart attack patients along with a host of related research projects.

Norm fell in love and married Ruth Jacober. Ruth had grown up in India as the daughter of missionary parents and moved to the states to go to nursing school. She also worked at the medical school on a pediatric hypertension research project.

After a decade in this intense and high stress job, as Norm says, “I turned gray and turned loose!” Norm and Ruth moved to south of Pagosa Springs, Colorado and began a new life building a self sufficient/alternate energy homestead. Ruth became a town nurse and Norm began a publishing business printing seasonal tourism/recreation/real estate magazines, The San Juan Adventure Guide and Pagosa Country Living.

Norm published for two decades when a cancer/surgery ended the magazine. Currently, Norm is involved with various printing projects and maps as well as writing articles for the Pagosa Springs Journal and the  Adventure Guide on Pagosa.com. He has been involved with these online publications since 2003.

Advertising Manager, Jacque Aragon
6th generation Pagosa native Jacque (pronounced Jackie) Aragon. Having spent so much time in Pagosa and having a rich and unique understanding of the area and its people, Jacque has much to provide the local market in terms of services and advice. Jacque has managed pagosa.com for 5 yrs. She also publishes the local Pagosa Springs Dining Guide.

Jacque has graphic design & publishing and sales experience. She attended Black Hills State University in South Dakota. She and her partner Jeremy Black are parents to 8-year-old Patty.

Internet Marketing Manager, Marcy Mitchell of MTECH
MTECH Internet Marketing provides the web site managment of pagosasprings.com and pagosa.com. Having relocated to Pagosa Springs 7 years ago from the Milwaukee/Chicago area, Marcy Mitchell enjoys helping local businesses traverse the digital divide.

As owner of MTECH, Marcy has provided web design, SEO, Flash animation and Internet marketing strategies for the past 14 years. Prior to moving to Pagosa Springs, Marcy worked in various marketing departments for large and mid-sized companies. She specialized in public relations and copywriting and then handled the web site design and multimedia design for a graphic design firm for more than 10 years.

Marcy received a B.A. degree from Indiana University in Journalism and Spanish. She enjoys climbing 14ers in Colorado, hiking in the woods, traveling, 4-wheeling, reading and spending time with family.

Sponsor, Jim Smith Realty
Jim Smith is the Broker/Owner of Jim Smith Realty in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Established in 1987, the company is the oldest and largest real estate firm in Pagosa Springs. Before that, beginning in 1978, Jim worked for Eaton International and then Fairfield Pagosa as a real estate sales agent selling properties in what is now known as Pagosa Lakes. Having lived and worked in the real estate field in Pagosa Springs for over 30 years, Jim Smith is very familiar with the local real estate market. Even though Jim no longer takes listings nor does he actively sell, he tries to keep in touch with the market and the needs of Buyers and Sellers.

Jim Smith Realty employs some very excellent Broker Associates. As a result, Jim Smith Realty handles more transactions than any other Pagosa Area real estate firm and has done so since the early 1990′s. Jim Smith Realty maintains two locations within Pagosa Springs. One downtown next to the Courthouse and the other on Putt hill near the Piedra Road intersection with Hwy 160.

Jim Smith Realty has also produced one of the most outstanding and unique Real Estate Guides produced by anyone. The first issue of The Pagosa Magazine and Real Estate Guide was first produced 20 years ago. It has receive nothing but praise from both Buyers and Sellers as well as from other visitors to our community. It recently has franchised the look and feel of the Magazine to other real estate firms, one in Pinedale, Wyoming. Take a look at our online version at www.ThePagosaMagazine.com.

Jim Smith Realty leads the way with the Web. Always on the outlook for a new and interesting Web Site concept, Jim Smith Realty has created over 8 different websites providing a vast assortment of Pagosa Springs information. Take a look.

www.JimSmithRealty.com

Our real estate web site covers all you need to know about relocating to Pagosa Springs. From Property Searches, Hot Sheet, Property Watch, Featured Homes, Real Estate News, Articles, FAQs, and Columns and many valuable links.

www.Pagosa.com

Pagosa Springs #1 area website. Filled with community information and visitor attractions. Check out our web cams, the Adventure Guide, area photos, a powerful real estate section with our County Interactive Map, and so much more!

www.ThePagosaMagazine.com

Home to out Digital Version of our Pagosa Magazine and Real Estate Guide.

www.PagosaData.com - Research real estate property taxes and sales information.

www.PagosaFSBO.com – For Sale by Owner Site