D’DAT, a local music trio, were invited to the WOMAD World Festival experience in South Africa. Members collaborated with local artists, indigenous musicians, and more, learning and exchanging personal experiences and cultural perspectives. With a new album on the way inspired and produced during their trip, D’DAT wants to continue to explore themes and ideas they learned along the way. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewing and Pop’s Truck & RV Center

Fort Lewis College Men’s Basketball Coach Bob Pietrack will coach his 200th game as the Skyhawks Head Coach this season. Expectations are for the team to make another push for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title. Pietrack is 19 wins away from notching 150 wins as Head Coach. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by StoneAge and The Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado

San Juan Symphony opened their 37th season with a program devoted to French composers. Big and bold, it was the symphony’s largest assemblage in years, featuring Lili Boulanger, Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, Arthur Honegger, and the concert’s center piece: Maurice Ravel’s Bolermo! By Donna K. Hewett.

EnergySmart Colorado is offering free energy assessments to residents as the weather turns colder, LPEA has opened applications for high school juniors to represent the Coop at the National Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. this summer. A new website is launched for the River City Hall project, and the 2022 EDIE Awards are announced. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Law Firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan, and Foley and Happy Pappy’s Pizza and Wings

Karin Romero, the Aquatics Coordinator at the Community Recreation Center, was recently awarded the National Lifesaving Award by the Red Cross, one of the highest awards from the organization. The award recognized Romero’s lifesaving work when a 5-year-old boy was drowning at the Recreation Center pool this summer. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by 2180 Lighting and Design Studio and Pop’s Truck and RV Center