San Juan Basin Public Health will close this December, in accordance with agreements with La Plata and Archuleta counties, who will be responsible for providing public health services to their counties. Two Durango School District 9-R Board of Education members received the McGuffy Award for their service. Snowmaking has begun at Purgatory Resort in preparation for the 2024/25 ski season, and Noel Night is returning this December. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Tafoya Barrett & Associates

Daniel Seddiqui, titled the “Most Traveled Person in America” by Rick Steves, finally crossed Southwest Colorado off his list of places to visit. As of this fall, Seddiqui had visited every pinpoint on the U.S. map except for four. As part of his motto to “live the map,” Seddiqui makes it a priority to emerge himself in the culture and community of the places he visits: connecting with locals, working jobs, and participating in various activities. A career counselor by profession, Seddiqui also does public speaking and encourages teens and young adults to be curious and step outside their comfort zones. By Rachel Hughes. This story is sponsored by Serious Texas BBQ and Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings

A new business in Dolores caters to outdoor enthusiasts traveling through Montezuma County. The Dolores Bike Hostel has 23 beds ranging from bunk rooms to private rooms and one private suite. Owner Jacob Carloni hopes his lodge helps travelers access the world class outdoor recreation the Four Corners has to offer. The Dolores Bike Hostel is pledging to work within local artists, organizations and businesses on future collaborations ranging from gallery nights to group events and anything in between. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Blondies Trophy Room and Big-O Tires

DHS Troupe 1096 opens their 2023-24 season with a magical journey to Middle Earth. The Hobbit, based on JRR Tolkien’s epic adventure tale, runs from November 3rd to November 11th at Durango High School. Troupe 1096 provides robust opportunities for high school students to explore theatre art, technical design, and theatre management. Students are empowered to create and lead in all aspects of production. Tickets are available online. By Jessica McCallum. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings and Kroegers Ace Hardware

With the return of an El Niño winter, the City of Durango wants to help make sure homes and pipes are insulated and ready to prevent unexpected costs from a burst pipe. Durango Transit recently launched the DuranGO! microtransit app to provide on-demand service after hours within city limits, and the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles has announced that Android users will be able to add their Colorado ID to Google Wallet. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Tafoya Barrett & Associates