Durango Local News Archives

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Highway 550 Traffic Lane Changes

Paving of two new northbound lanes on US Highway 550 is completed, and from October 7th drivers will be directed onto the new traffic lanes for the rest of the project, slated to be finished in fall 2023. The Durango Community Recreation Center will be closed for its annual maintenance week from October 16-22, the Aquatics Center will be closed from October 9-31 to accommodate the replacement of pool equipment and resurfacing. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Serious Texas BBQ

October 12, 2022

The Stillwater Foundation Building Performance Venue

The Stillwater Foundation has been teaching music since 2005. Now the non-profit is fundraising to add a two-thousand square foot performance space for the community. This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank

October 12, 2022

Overcoming Adversity with Three Legs

After an accident when Dexter Dog Ouray was a puppy left him with three legs, the industrious pup decided he wanted to get back to moving as fast as he could, by teaching himself to walk on his back legs. Living in Ouray, he has amassed a large fan base across the world through social media, and took a little jaunt down to Durango during the annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering to bring some light, laughter, and smiles to the town. This story is sponsored by the Payroll Department and Happy Pappy’s Pizza and Wings

October 12, 2022

Wines of the San Juan Celebrates 20 Years

After ten tons of red and white grapes are picked, it’s time to party at Wines of the San Juan’s annual Harvest Festival. Visitors arrived by the thousands for the two-day event to enjoy wine, art, food, live music, and the celebrated Great Grape Stomp. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and Boon’s Family Thai BBQ

October 12, 2022

DHS Boys Soccer on a Roll

The Durango High School boys soccer team started this season undefeated, now prepares for stretch run as the region’s top team. The Colorado High School Activities Association has ranked DHS as one of Colorado’s top teams this season. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and 2180 Lighting & Design

October 12, 2022

Fall Clean-Up Begins!

The City of Durango has announced the schedule for the fall clean-up, make sure your lawn debris is set out for clean-up. Early Bird pass deals for the Durango Independent Film Festival end at the end of the month, and the City of Durango won a grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health to increase the accessibility of secure bicycle parking around town. This story is sponsored by Kroeger Ace Hardware and TBK Bank

October 12, 2022

Taking Flight in the Big Blue Yonder

After over a decade, hot air balloons returned to the Farmington skies for the first annual Four Corners Balloon Rally, September 23rd - 25th. 18 balloons representing the Four Corners states managed mud and wind to jump-start what looks to be a yearly festival in Farmington. From candlestick balloon glows to actual flights, concerts and chilly mornings, the rally was deemed a success by organizers and participants alike. This story is sponsored by Traegers Bar and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College

October 5, 2022

Building the Future

Bond Issue 4A provided a boost of funds for schools in Durango, including Mountain Middle School. Through funding provided in part by the bond, Mountain Middle School added an additional 12,000 square feet of classroom space - including an outdoor classroom, a digital Makerspace, and more. The new construction finished just in time to welcome the 300 students, staff, and teachers for the 2022-2023 school year. This story is sponsored by Serious Texas BBQ and 2180 Lighting and Design

October 5, 2022

Making an Impact

Durango High School announced the start of construction for the new IMPACT Career Center with a groundbreaking ceremony on September 19th. The new center will provide new space for career and technical exploration at the high school. The building, funded by Bond 4A funds, will provide new spaces for CTE classes, breakout spaces, and more. This story is sponsored by Kroegers Ace Hardware and The Norm Phillips Team, at Draper & Kramer Mortgage

October 4, 2022

Dial-A-Ride Expands Service, Fall Balloon Glows

Dial-A-Ride, a part of RoadRunner transit, has announced expanded service areas to better serve rural La Plata Residents. Table to Farm Compost is offering three months of free compost service in exchange for filling out a short survey, and LPEA is looking for area builders to partner with. Watch this story again and more at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/dial-a-ride-expands-service-fall-balloon-glows. This story is sponsored by Tafoya & Barrett & Associates and the Man Cave Barber

October 5, 2022

Spoketober: Celebrate Durango's Cycling Community in October

Get ready to celebrate all things bicycle with the inaugural Spoketober celebration, a month-long series of citizens tours, jump-jamming, and more that highlights Durango's reputation as a top cycling destination in the nation. This story is sponsored by Ute Mountain Casino Hotel and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan and Foley

October 5, 2022

Reinventing Oneself

The Four Corners Professional Women’s Summit returns for its fourth year with a new theme: Reinventing Yourself. The Summit, a conference for and by women in the four corners region, is a unique opportunity for professional networking and relationship-building. The theme for this year is purposefully open - allowing every attendee to choose their own definition of what it means to reinvent themselves. This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware of Farmington and Boon's Family Thai Barbecue

October 5, 2022

Chimney Rock Celebrates 10 Years as National Monument

Chimney Rock National Monument will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a day of educational events and tours. Purgatory Resort announces its 2022-23 season opening date. And get your work done at the La Plata County Clerk and Reporter's Office before Fridays. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and TBK Bank

September 23, 2022

Rare Access to Unexcavated Ancient Pueblo Indian settlement

Fifteen lucky visitors recently toured what’s mostly unexcavated at Aztec Ruins National Monument. Aztec Ruins East normally is off limits because of its fragile archaeological resources. The great kiva is 16 feet high, and has nearly 300 rooms. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and Three Rivers Brewing

September 22, 2022

Region 9 Applies for $87 Million Broadband Infrastructure Grant

The Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado, along with municipal and county governments in the five-county area, hope to win an $87 million grant from the new federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act to build one of the largest regional fiber optics infrastructure projects in more than 20 years. This story is sponsored by TruWest Auto and the law firm of Downs McDonough Cowan and Foley

September 22, 2022

City to Pursue E-Bike Amendments for Horse Gulch

The City of Durango will pursue amendments to Horse Gulch open space easements to provide limited access to e-bikes, but the research required could take more than a year. In the meantime, lace up your hiking boots for guided tours to rarely visited sites in Canyons of the Ancients this fall. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett & Associates and the Man Cave Barber

September 14, 2022

Navajo Nation Sells Produce to Whole Foods

Organic melons and green chili are just some of the many fresh products grown and sold by Navajo Agricultural Products Industry, better known as NAPI, located six miles south of Farmington on 100,000 irrigated acres. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by SunRay Park & Casino and the Big Idea Makerspace

September 14, 2022

Art Room a Delightful Surprise in Smiley Building

Walk into the main entrance at the old Smiley Middle School, and an auditorium that once hosted student performances and plays, now hosts a different kind of performance. Stop by and see the ArtRoom Collective. This story is sponsored by Ute Mountain Casino and Pop's Truck and RV Center

September 8, 2022

Kiwanis Club Celebrates 75th Anniversary at Pancake Supper

Get your hunger on! The Kiwanis Club of Durango will celebrate its 75th anniversary during the 68th annual Pancake Supper on September 15th. This story is sponsored by StoneAge Tools and Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado

September 8, 2022

Growing Community – and Veggies – on Rohwer Farm

The Rohwer Family was in the middle of planting season on their truck farm in Pleasantview when they were struck head-on in a tragic accident while on their way to their second week at the Durango Farmers Market. This year's crops could have died, but dozens of volunteers have rallied around the family to plant, harvest, and sell crops – and pull weeds, lots of weeds. This story is sponsored by Big-O Tires and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan and Foley

September 6, 2022

Autumn Arts Festival Features More than a 100 Artists

As summer draws to a close, you can look forward to the Autumn Arts Festival, Hazardous Waste Collection, and the Cowboy Poetry Gathering. This story is sponsored by TBK Bank and The Payroll Department

September 8, 2022

Inflation Reduction Act Provides Incentives to Reduce Carbon Footprint

A local group of climate change activists is on a mission to educate Four Corners Area residents about the incentives now available to them to play a significant role as individuals in reducing climate change. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy's Pizza and Wings and The Payroll Department

September 8, 2022

New School Year: New School Improvements

Durango School District 9-R spent the summer making improvements in several schools using money from the bond referendum passed in November 2020. The projects focused on everything from improving safety features to helping create cleaner school spaces. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by 2180 Lighting & Design Studio and Serious Texas Barbecue

September 8, 2022

Farmington Celebrates New Student Housing at San Juan College

Students will be living on campus at San Juan College for the first time this fall. A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was hosted by the San Juan College Foundation. The community had an opportunity to tour the three-level, state-of the art facility, featuring a Great Hall, fancy elevators, and pergola-covered courtyard with a fireplace and a grill. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and Boons Family Thai Barbecue.

September 8, 2022

Voters to Decide on Lodgers Tax, Ursine Feeding Frenzy

The Durango City Council voted unanimously this month to ask voters to keep nearly $1.2 million in excess Lodgers Tax revenues, the majority of which will be used for affordable housing. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and The Norm Philips Team at Draper and Kramer Mortgage

September 8, 2022

The Power of “Just”

The Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team, or WESST, was founded with the goals of helping women, people of color, and low-income New Mexicans learn about best business practices, to support new entrepreneurs with financial and business advice, and provide resources within their communities. Farmington’s WESST center in San Juan College’s Quality Center for Business assists local entrepreneurs at every step of their small-business journey. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Ute Mountain Casino Hotel and Service Master Restore

August 19, 2022

Safer Wildlife Crossing, Lodger's Tax Update

The Durango City Council has identified three priority areas that it has asked residents to rank as part of its proposal to ask voters to retain $1.3 million dollars in excess Lodgers Tax revenues; find out what they are. A new wildlife crossing on U.S. Highway 160 is expected to lower wildlife-vehicle collisions; and find out what's new at this year's San Juan Brewfest. This story is sponsored by the Man Cave Barber and Kroegers Ace Hardware

August 19, 2022

The Buzz Bus is Back!

The Buzz Bus has begun making its rounds once more in Durango, now operated by The Hive. Originally a service provided by the City of Durango, the Buzz Bus provides an alternative to driving impaired, picking up and dropping off people for free. Since it restarted in spring, the Buzz Bus has become a staple on the streets of town on the weekends. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Tafoya Barrett & Associates

August 10, 2022

What’s the Big Idea?

A makerspace is what it sounds like, a space to create and make…well, just about anything! At the Big Idea, 3D printers, a fully-stocked woodshop, laser printers, and more combine to create a space to design, create, and develop any variety of projects and more! By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Pop’s Truck and RV Center and The Big Idea at San Juan College

August 8, 2022

Flying Golf Balls and Free Transit Services

Now this is a new take on birdies and eagles. Big Brothers Big Sisters will drop more than a hundred golf balls at Dalton Ranch for a fund-raiser in August. Adopt your ball now! This story is sponsored by StoneAge Tools and the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado

August 4, 2022

New School Year, New Building, New Ideas

Animas High School has a new building, finally. After starting in a strip mall and moving to modular trailers, the school, through funding from a BEST grant, will now have a permanent location for students. Construction began last spring, and while there is still more to be done, the building already more than shows the promise of a new space for students. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Norm Phillips Team, at Draper & Kramer Mortgage and ServiceMaster Restore

August 2, 2022

Durango Considers Lodgers Tax Refund Ideas

The Durango City Council reviews Lodgers Tax refund ideas and mulls ballot language for a possible tax question on the November ballot. Fort Lewis College receives a substantial grant that will cover four scholarships every year for the next 10 years, and the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally returns. This story is sponsored by Tafoya, Barrett & Associates and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan and Foley

July 28, 2022

Interest Rates Up, Sales Down in Real Estate Market

How will mortgage rate increases affect real-estate sales in Durango and La Plata County? Well, that depends, says Alpenglow Properties' Dan Korman.

July 28, 2022

Education Plan Connects Learning to Making a Living

When students can't connect with why they're learning what they're learning, they become disengaged and perform poorly, but if they understand that their classes are a stepping stone to becoming what they want to be in life, they will be more successful. That's the idea behind Durango School District 9-R's new Portrait of a Graduate education plan. This story is sponsored by 2180 Lighting and Design and Kroegers Ace Hardware

July 28, 2022

City Looking at $1.2 Million in Excess Lodgers Revenues

The tourism industry rebound in the pandemic's wake last summer generated far more in Lodgers Tax revenues than TABOR allows. Voters may be asked to decide what to do with the money. Will the Camino del Rio underpass be delayed again? And you have only a few Fridays more to enjoy free movies in the park. This story is sponsored by Ute Mountain Casino and TBK Bank

July 20, 2022

Tico Time Resort Tones Down Music; Neighbors' Ire Abated

We took a deep dive and looked at the naked truth behind the infamous Tico Time River RV Resort. What we discovered was that the noise and nudity complaints have abated—along with many changes. Now in its third season, the relaxed beach vibe is finally clicking for campers and neighbors alike. Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewing and The Big Idea Makerspace

July 20, 2022

Local Filmmaker Film Premiere: RAMBO of the Carracas Mesa

Laura Harper began writing the script for a film about Rambo, her once-wild mustang who came from the Carracas Mesa. As she learned more about Rambo’s past, she found parallels between the horses and the evolution of New Mexico’s history, as well as her own life in the Southwest. The resulting film, “RAMBO of the Carracas Mesa,” ties together New Mexico history, wild horses, and everyday people to tell the story of the mustangs of San Juan County. This story is sponsored by Distil Beer Wine Spirits and SunRay Park & Casino

July 19, 2022

Region 9 EDD Releases Latest Livable-Wage Study

Study finds that average annual wages in most employment sectors do not provide enough income to meet a family of four's basic needs. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy's Pizza and Wings and the Man Cave Barber

July 14, 2022

Has DGOV TV Outlived Its Usefulness?

The City of Durango's over-the-air television broadcasts of city council meetings may soon come to an end, but live broadcasts and video archives will still be available on the Internet. This story is sponsored by Serious Texas Barbecue, and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan and Foley

July 12, 2022

Team Durango Derailers Rides for SWCO Kids

The Durango Derailers. What started out as a way to say thank you has turned into an invaluable service to defray travel costs for families with children who need out-of-town medical treatments. This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank

July 8, 2022

Building Freight Train Service in the Four Corners

San Juan County, the City of Farmington, and the Navajo Nation hope to bring a freight rail system to the Four Corners, and a $2 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will pay for a feasibility study, now in its early stages. Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and Three Rivers Brewery

July 5, 2022

Animas Artisans Turn into Custom Treasures for Your Home

Dylan McClain and Dalton Bevill may have practical construction skills, but they wanted to do more to express their artistic side, so they joined forces to start Animas Artisans, a Design and Fabrication Studio. This story is sponsored by Ute Mountain Casino Hotel and The Norm Phillips Team, at Draper & Kramer Mortgage

July 19, 2022

City Moves to Next Phase of Downtown's New Design

No fireworks, but a drone show will light up the skies this Fourth of July weekend. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Museum reopens to the public, and take a gander at the latest conceptual drawings for a redesigned downtown. This story is sponsored by Pop's Truck and RV Center and Tafoya Barrett and Associates

July 19, 2022

Music For Life

The Southwest Civic Winds, founded in 2012, boasts a robust band of 40 members, give or take, playing a variety of instruments, music, and songs from across the world. While they can and do perform in concert halls and other similar venues, you can catch a glimpse of them at the Fourth of July Rotary Park Pancake Breakfast this year. This story is sponsored by TBK Bank and the Payroll Department

June 28, 2022

Fresh Food, Friends, and Local Fun

Bright and early every Saturday morning during the summer, come join local food and craft vendors at the Durango Farmers Market in TBK Bank. Pick up some fresh lettuce, radishes, mushroom, and perhaps a hat or cake, all the while enjoying live music, community fun, and support your local farmers while you’re at it. This story is sponsored by The Norm Phillips Team, at Draper & Kramer Mortgage and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan & Foley, LLC

June 28, 2022

Mesa Verde Country Hopes to Ramp Up Visitors to Byway

Mesa Verde Country hopes to manage and market the Trails of the Ancients Byway so that visitors to Southwest Colorado will find a reason to extend their stays by one or two more days. This story is sponsored by StoneAge Tools and Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado

June 28, 2022

Girls’ Night Out - Just Add Horses

Horse Empower has a unique way of approaching a ladies’ night out - in the midst of the staples of good food, drinks, and conversation, a horse might just make its appearance. Kim Hardesty, owner of Horse Empower, and her herd of horses offer a range of services, from equine therapy to equine-assisted learning. One of the programs though, might just offer new options for a night out. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Ute Mountain Casino and The Norm Phillips Team, at Draper & Kramer Mortgage

June 23, 2022

Fire Restrictions Increase in Region, COVID Cases on the Rise

Persistent drought has caused severe fire weather conditions, so area agencies have moved to Stage 2 fire restrictions. That means no fires whatsoever. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and Ute Mountain Casino

June 23, 2022

Will San Juan Basin Public Health Cease to Exist?

The San Juan Basin Public Health District may become another casualty of the COVID pandemic. Whether that happens remains to be seen. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy's Pizza and Wings and Pop's Truck and RV Center

June 21, 2022

KSUT Receives Grant to Become Story Corps Station

KSUT Public Radio wants to reduce polarization between people in the Four Corners with a new conversation series and it invites residents from throughout the region to participate. This story is sponsored by TBK Bank and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan and Foley

June 20, 2022

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