Battle over Village Reignites

From cycling supremacy to the Snowdown royalty, and a parade that drew thousands, get the numbers behind Durango’s biggest winter celebration. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS Durango and FLC Center for Innovation.

The fast fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental pollution. Find out how you can shop sustainably for used clothing and sports gear at Durango Outdoor Exchange. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and FASTSIGNS Durango.

Don’t miss out on this month’s First Friday and a featured artist who will show you how to make the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Brett Dennen returns to Durango for his annual Lift Series joined by local singer-songwriter Julianne Marqua. Merely Players gears up to present the premiere of Rebecca Gilman’s new play. Registration for the 2025 Dave Spencer SKI Classic is officially open! Don’t miss out on this incredible Adaptive Sports Association fundraiser. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings and Kroegers Ace Hardware.

Anderson’s American speed skiing record will turn 19 in April. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Payroll Department and Serious Texas Bar-B-Q.

Snowdown 2025 has arrived! Find out what’s happening and how to join the fun. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts and San Juan Regional Medical Center.

Hibbeler plans to make the demons an athletic, aggressive group. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Tafoya, Barrett & Associates and Sky Ute Casino.

Miller Middle School welcomed the community to celebrate the long-awaited grand opening on Tuesday, Jan. 7, after a series of challenging events. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Payroll Department and Serious Texas Bar-B-Q.

La Plata Electric Association opens applications for the Board of Directors election - find out how you can apply. Be WinterWise with top tips from the Colorado Department of Transportation this winter. Learn how you can help with snowtography studies this winter with the Mountain Studies Institute. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings and Kroegers Ace Hardware.

From stricter phone regulations while behind the wheel to new child passenger safety rules, here are five laws that could impact you. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Big O Tires and Hospice of Montezuma.

National Champions Riley Amos and Todd Wells meet students at Durango School District 9-R’s smallest school. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS Durango and Durango Gelato, Coffee & Tea.

Purgatory Resort aims to improve guest safety along with Ski Patrol efficiency by using AirFlare technology. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by M&R Plumbing and Crystal Mart.

How does a community address repeat offenders when it comes to often marginalized communities? An initiative called the Problem-Solving Court, a city-community partnership, is looking to develop systematic programming addressing the root issues in Durango and the surrounding area. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Durango Gelato, Coffee, & Tea and M&R Plumbing.

Choice Athletics indoor facility provides year-round analysis, coaching for baseball and softball players previously sacked by snow. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Serious Texas BBQ and Sky Ute Casino.

The La Plata County Public Health Department plans to relocate within the next few months. Find out the latest updates on this transition. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank.

Four Corners Writers hosted their inaugural kick-off event on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Cortez Public Library to celebrate the upcoming anthology, Four Corners Voices, featuring writers from across the region. Look forward to a collection of regional stories, essays, and poetry, arriving soon at local bookstores. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Big O Tires and Hospice of Montezuma.

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is seeking public feedback on its Water Quality Standards revisions. The 50-day public comment period opened Nov. 12 and will close Jan. 2, with a public hearing scheduled for Jan. 16 at 10:00 a.m. Last month, the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum was awarded the 2024 Community Impact Award from the Association of Tribal Libraries, Archives, and Museums for its Reflections of Honor Exhibit. The exhibit is a year-round space for Tribal veterans to share their stories through interviews, photos, military objects, digitized military documents, and more. Applications for the MOLAS Scholarship - Meaningful Opportunity through Learning and Achievement - are open. The Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado administers the scholarship and is open to all first-generation college students. There are observations all day long for the Winter Solstice on Saturday, Dec. 21. Chaco Canyon will host a sunrise observation, Farmington Public Library will host a noon observation, and Aztec Ruins National Monument will celebrate a sunset observation. Each will feature a celestial alignment with the shortest day of the year. Ignacio Community Library has new hours for 2025. Starting Jan. 1, the library will be open 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. t0 5:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday - the library will remain closed on Sundays. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Payroll Department and Tafoya Barrett & Associates.

The Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado announced record-breaking donations for this year’s Colorado Gives Day, with a 26% increase in donations to nonprofit organizations in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan counties. The annual giving day reported over $50 million in donations state-wide. The City of Durango is seeking interested individuals to join a stormwater focus group to pursue funding options for the current stormwater program. Applications to join the group are due Jan. 8, with meetings to begin in January. Applications for the MOLAS Scholarship - Meaningful Opportunity through Learning and Achievement - are open. The Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado administers the scholarship and is open to all first-generation college students. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts and Kroegers Ace Hardware.

San Juan Mountains Association is holding its Christmas Trees for Conservation fundraiser. Come pick up your Christmas tree and support stewardship and conservation education on Southwest Colorado’s public land. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by FLC Center for Innovation and Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.

Matt Martensen is trying to change the paradigm of internet monetization. His tech startup, User Cooperative, is a user-owned internet browser structured as a member-governed cooperative. He says trillions of dollars and our well-being are on the line. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Payroll Department and Sky Ute Casino.

Durango School District 9-R announced the purchase of a permanent home for Big Picture High School at the end of November. The new home, Unit 4 in the Coumbine Center, will provide the school with 12,698 square feet of space, which will be renovated before the school moves in Fall 2026. County Road 251, also known as 32nd Street, has re-opened for the winter after construction work began on the road redesign. The first half of the project included dedicated bike lanes, a shared-use path, landscaping, and drainage work from Holly Avenue to East Animas Drive. Next summer work will continue on the redesign from East Animas Village Drive to Metz Lane. The American Red Cross warns of increased fire risk during the holiday season, so keep homes safe from fire with a few safety precautions. Especially with people visiting and more indoor activities, it’s always a good idea to review your safety precautions, especially with holiday decorations. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings and San Juan Regional Medical Center.