WATTS UP: Increase Comfort, Save Costs

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rural Northern New Mexico and Southwest Colorado are suffering from teacher shortages, particularly in secondary math and science classrooms and special education classrooms. The Three Rivers Education Foundation hopes to put a dent in the problem with a unique teacher-training program for professionals considering a change in their careers. This story is sponsored by Boons Family Thai Barbecue and Pop's Truck and RV Center

Get your calendars ready! This week's Local News Roundup offers a slew of special events to keep you entertained while you support good causes. This story is sponsored by Serious Texas Barbecue and The Cave Man Barber

SkillsUSA is an organization that assists students from middle school students through college with career and technical education, leadership experience, and more. Durango High School has a long history of successful SkillsUSA students in their local chapter, and after a COVID-related hiatus, club advisor Shaun Smith and a team of six DHS students are headed to the national SkillsUSA Championships in June, paying for and fundraising their way. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by StoneAge Tools and Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado

After five years of looking, La Plata County and the City of Durango have found a site to establish a managed camp for residents experiencing homelessness. This story is sponsored by Closets Plus and Happy Pappy's Pizza and Wings

Montezuma County residents Frank Dean and Wendy Walker run a worm farm. Yes, WORM farm. Four Corners Worm Farm. And they're on a mission to introduce worm composting and worm fertilizer as a practice in regenerative agriculture that reduces the amount of waste thrown in landfills and rids the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers – and provides bait for the occasional fisherman. This story is sponsored by the LOR Foundation of Montezuma and Keesee Motors

Summertime in the southwest means blue skies, warm weather, and, unfortunately, drought conditions. Fires already are burning across the Four Corners, so how best do we balance having fun in the sun, with taking precautions and being safe with fires? By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by TBK Bank and Pop’s Truck and RV Center You can visit San Juan County Fire & Rescue, Cortez Fire & Rescue, La Plata County Search & Rescue, and Durango Fire & Rescue for updates

Emergency services will have to undergo more scrutiny for land-use changes, Men Who Grill returns to Buckley Park, and Durango Arts Center summer camps begin. This story is sponsored by Kroegers Ace Hardware and ServiceMaster Restore

Dog lovers united for the Durango Kennel Club’s annual American Kennel Club All-Breed Dog Show at McGee Park in Farmington. On their best behavior, 600 dogs and their owners, handlers, and judges came from across the United States and Mexico to participate. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Ute Mountain Casino and ServiceMaster Restore

Community Concert Hall at the Park returns this summer with free performances every Thursday evening starting on June 16. Find out who will be on stage. This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank.

At the first of two debates for the 3rd Congressional District Republican Primary, the two Republican candidates, Don Coram and Lauren Boebert, debated policy issues, gun rights, and water issues. Sky Ute Casino hosted the debate. This story is sponsored by 2180 Lighting and Design Studio and Man Cave Barber

The Aztec Museum complex houses one of the finest collections of authentic western Americana in the country. Tour a dozen structures in the “Village,” among them a doctor’s office, general store, black smith and foundry, Aztec’s first jailhouse, and the old Cedar Hill Church. The Museum also offers a summer concert series. Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by ServiceMaster Restore and Distil Beer Wine Spirits

A simple desire by Durango business owners to share their success with the community has turned into a formal funding mechanism for local businesses to have an impact on local social equity issues. This story is sponsored by TBK Bank and The Norm Phillips Team, at Draper & Kramer Mortgage

Get ready to celebrate the Ute Mountain Casino's 30th anniversary – it's 'Still the One' for gaming, dining and serving as central headquarters for visitors who want to explore Southwest Colorado and the Four Corners Region. This story is sponsored by the LOR Foundation and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan and Foley

The Durango City Council will hold a public hearing to determine whether it should adopt a proposed ordinance changing whether emergency services like the Durango Fire and Rescue Authority should undergo a more stringent public review process for land-use proposals; the Durango Botanic Gardens annual garden tour returns, and the San Juan National Forest will impose Stage 1 fire restrictions beginning May 25. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy's Pizza and Wings and Closets Plus