News – The Durango Herald (2024)

Trending:

Democrat Adam Frisch is running TV ads in 3rd Congressional District GOP primary Strategy an apparent attempt to shape race and give himself a better chance to win in November

Local/Region

Herald to host ‘Business After Hours’ on Thursday

Bayfield FLC graduate completes 22-day solo trip through Southwest Colorado

The Blotter, June 13-14

Farmers Market: La Plata Lavender grows and sells products featuring the calming plant

The Blotter, June 12

The Blotter, June 10-12

Education

Unnamed arsonist proves to be struggle in demolition of Shiprock BIA buildings

Update: Farmington Schools and Police issue belated statements on sex case, shooting threat

2 years of college covered for Colorado students under new law

Montezuma-Cortez school district receives primarily positive outlook in state teacher survey

Bayfield Middle School student-athletes gain insight on post-high school sports

Montezuma School District providing free meals for local youths in summer

PlayFest sets sail for sixth season

Check out what’s playing in Durango movie theaters

‘Fancy Dance’ with Lily Gladstone balances heartbreak, humor in story of a missing Indigenous woman

Durango Events Calendar

Olympics-themed Burro Fest draws a crowd to Mancos

League of Women Voters to host screenings of ‘Undivide Us’ ahead of June primary elections

Health

Finding balance in your eating habits, not fads

Durango Derailers to pedal the passes Saturday in support of sick children

Coloradans’ injuries from guns have cost $8.4 million in health care in six-year span

Native Americans have shorter life spans. Better health care isn’t the only answer

La Plata County Health staff meet director candidate

The key to long-term weight maintenance: Reverse dieting

Timberline Academy taps new leadership

Porky’s Smokehouse to add new drive-thru

Roxy’s closes after sudden death of co-owner

Investment banker says Walmart is enough competition in Albertsons-Kroger merger

How a Boulder resident bought a used EV for less than $700

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory board chair steps down to lead the company

Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes

Biden uses feisty State of the Union to contrast with Trump, sell voters on a second term

Marijuana banking bill advances in the Senate

House Republicans push off Biden impeachment bid for now

King Charles III crowned with regal pomp, cheers and shrugs

Funding made available to support recording oral histories from boarding school era

Southwest Life

Concert on Durango Mesa a success

Cancer support group to meet July 2

Housing Solutions for the Southwest to open waitlist

And the West is History: Horse-drawn parade float – 1910

Senior Center Calendar

Center of Southwest Studies hosts solstice window viewing

Food

Olympics-themed Burro Fest draws a crowd to Mancos

Photos: 2024 Burro Fest puts local arts, music and food on display

Composting business begins every-other-week service in Durango

Farmers Market: La Plata Lavender grows and sells products featuring the calming plant

Seoul street food: A Cortez journalist provides the scoop

Montezuma School District providing free meals for local youths in summer

Columns

Downtown Lowdown

GA-20 plays the punky-blues

Action Line

Birds disappearing, or just looking for tastier meal?

Thinking Green

Village at Wolf Creek Staggers Onward

Videos & Photos

PHOTOS: Navajo Trail Open golf tournament wraps up with Round 3 actionWil Collins shot 6-under-par on Sunday, 18-under-par overall, to win the tournament at Hillcrest Golf Club

PHOTOS: Navajo Trail Open golf tournament wraps up with Round 3 action

Wil Collins shot 6-under-par on Sunday, 18-under-par overall, to win the tournament at Hillcrest Golf Club

Photos: 2024 Burro Fest puts local arts, music and food on displayOn Saturday, more than 1,000 people head to Mancos for burrosFor the town of Mancos and its businesses, it’s the biggest day of the year, said Stephanie Hallum, event coordinator for Mancos Creative District, in an interview with The Journal.This year’s Burro Fest featured 10 animal artists, a Makers Market with 20 additional local artists and makers, live bands, a kids area, a silent auction and food trucks.Photo gallery by Ilana Newman, for The Journal

Photos: 2024 Burro Fest puts local arts, music and food on display

On Saturday, more than 1,000 people head to Mancos for burros

PHOTOS: Navajo Trail Open golf tournament features tough Round 2 competitionMultiple golfers started Saturday within several strokes of defending tournament champ Wil Collins, who pulled ahead by day’s end

PHOTOS: Navajo Trail Open golf tournament features tough Round 2 competition

Multiple golfers started Saturday within several strokes of defending tournament champ Wil Collins, who pulled ahead by day’s end

An exciting end to the Ute Mountain RoundupOver half of Ute Mountain Roundup’s first-place performances came on night threeSaturday was a barnburner for the Ute Mountain Roundup.The last night of Cortez’s annual PRCA rodeo sold out every seat, and fans were not disappointed.The third night was the charm for the bull riders, who finally posted qualifying rides.Scotty Knapp took home the big check after an 83.5-point ride.However, Josh Frost, the four time Linderman Award winner and three time Reserve World Champion bull rider, walked away with the audience’s support, who loudly booed the judge’s 78.5 score for his ride on Powder River Rodeo’s “Rez Dawg.” Frost’s brother, Jate Frost, took second with an 80.5-point ride.Keenan Hayes, who stunned the rodeo world last season by becoming the first-ever person to win Rookie of the Year and the World Championship in the same year, visited the UMR just long enough to win the bareback competition. Hayes tied the arena record with his 85-point ride.The ladies of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association tallied first-place performances in barrel racing and breakaway roping posted on night three. Maddy Deerman of Hope, New Mexico, won the breakaway roping title with a time of just 2.4 seconds, and Doskie Edwards swept to the top of the barrel racing event in 17.35 seconds.Jake Hannum won the tie-down roping event with a time of 8.7 seconds. In a total of five out of eight events, the first-place performance happened on Saturday night, marking an exciting end to the three-day UMR.In all the excitement, the crowd also saw a few warmhearted moments.The UMR celebrated Military Appreciation night by recognizing HD Randolph, Jerry Huskey and Gerald Goodall for their service. The crowd also welcomed 82nd Airborne veteran and skydiver Mike Semanoff, who made his third and final descent into the arena carrying the American flag.Rodeo clown Matt Merritt was tasked with choosing a “fan of the night” for each night of the UMR.On Night 1, he chose a couple who had been married for 62 years. On Night 2, it was a Vietnam veteran in the front row. On Night 3, it was a pair of 91-year-old twins who had attended every UMR Rodeo since 1953.Merritt had the audience believe that the award and accompanying gift card is given to the loudest, rowdiest person in the arena. However, being unable to give the award to himself, Merritt seemingly chose the winner based on merit.

An exciting end to the Ute Mountain Roundup

Over half of Ute Mountain Roundup’s first-place performances came on night three

Photos: It’s rodeo timeUte Mountain Roundup Rodeo electrifies the crowd on Saturday

Photos: It’s rodeo time

Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo electrifies the crowd on Saturday

Video: Montezuma-County rodeo star Amber Moore puts on showMoore, a Lewis, Colorado native and 2015 champion, took center stage in the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo's barrel racing event on Friday

Video: Montezuma-County rodeo star Amber Moore puts on show

Moore, a Lewis, Colorado native and 2015 champion, took center stage in the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo's barrel racing event on Friday

Video: Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo competitors take center stageRiders hail from Northwest New Mexico, Northeast Arizona and Southwest Colorado

Video: Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo competitors take center stage

Riders hail from Northwest New Mexico, Northeast Arizona and Southwest Colorado

Photos: A day for boatersAnimas River Days boaters compete on Saturday at Durango Whitewater Park

Photos: A day for boaters

Animas River Days boaters compete on Saturday at Durango Whitewater Park

Artists reveal ‘Droplets’ mural at Animas River DaysProject involving nine artists was a ‘massive undertaking’ to portray collective visionThe city of Durango and nine artists unveiled the “Droplets” mural on Saturday during Animas River Days at the Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility.The reclamation center and Santa Rita Park were bustling with residents and visitors who showed up for a day of water sports in 82-degree weather.The mural features a series of water droplets containing depictions of wildlife along the Animas River, and the personalities or styles of each artist who worked on them.

Silas Armstrong, an artist who worked on the piece, said the project was a massive undertaking for a group of artists who would presumably find trouble fitting all of their unique ideas into one piece.But they pulled it off.“They initially thought there’s gonna be way too many cooks in the kitchen, but we managed to make it work,” he said.The nine artists are: Armstrong, Cindy Atchison, Chelsie Begoody, Laurie Cullum, Mariah Kaminsky, Parker Ledford, Jordanne Pelkey, Maddie Sanders and Hannah Wilson.“Droplets” uses a color spectrum representing the seasons. The largest droplets break up the major scenes of the Animas River depicted in winter through autumn.“I chose to depict mine in yellow because it just happened to fall in the summer location, but also to represent the 2015 (Gold King Mine waste water spill) disaster that tainted the river and turned it yellow,” he said.He said a shining sun portrayed over the entire scene is a symbol of hope. The mural also includes depictions of how ecological damage effects the community and the ecosystem downriver from Durango.Armstrong said locals might recognize his art behind Jean Pierre Bakery, Cafe and Wine Bar, a mural of Bart Simpson from “The Simpsons.”He also had a mural at The Hive, a youth community hub, before it announced the closure of its 1150 Main Ave. location.“It’s been one of the best experiences of my life,” he said of the project. “Super-talented artists. Really just honored and flattered enough to work with some of the great artists that are here.”“Droplets” came together through a partnership between the artists, the city of Durango and The Walls Project, a nonprofit that uses art and creativity to drive positive change in communities.The art project came together right on schedule. Tom Donley, The Walls Project’s chief financial officer, said in March the public unveiling of the mural was slated to happen during Animas River Days.Tommy Crosby, economic opportunity manager for the city, said in March the mural was made possible because a separate landscaping project at the reclamation center was completed under budget by about $100,000. The mural’s price tag was about $45,000.Two art installations, a sculpture by Alex Bond called “Whispers in Water” and a kinetic piece depicting a kayaker riding waves by Jeff Wise, were also included in the mural project.cburney@durangoherald.com

Artists reveal ‘Droplets’ mural at Animas River Days

Project involving nine artists was a ‘massive undertaking’ to portray collective vision

Photos: Riders compete in the IHBC mountain bike pro races