City Considers Tax Measure

When did you first begin learning financial literacy? For many students in Durango and surrounding areas, they’ll be able to say they started learning in elementary school, thanks to Know Your Dough. Founded in 2013, Know Your Dough has age-appropriate courses and lessons for children and young adults to better prepare them for the future - from learning about positive saving and spending habits to what to look for when it comes to student loans and mortgages. By Hannah Robertson. This story is brought you by Alpine Bank.

Doctor Lisa Snyder started as the Executive Dean at Pueblo Community College Southwest on February 1st. Snyder and her family have lived in Durango since 2013. Prior to joining Pueblo Community College Southwest, she was the dean of the School of Humanities at San Juan College. She also worked as the associate vice president for academic affairs at Fort Lewis College. Snyder is based at the PCC Southwest campus in Mancos and also oversees sites in Durango and Bayfield. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by the Lor Foundation and Choice Building Supply Ace Hardware

As part of the City of Durango’s Sustainability Plan, the City wants to engage with local businesses and organizations to create long-lasting, sustainable projects in and around town. The Green Durango Grants is coming off a successful inaugural year with five different local organizations receiving grants for projects ranging from solar panel installation to wildfire mitigation to land and habitat restoration. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Kroegers Ace Hardware and Serious Texas BBQ

The City of Durango has announced $5.2 million for affordable housing. Local land conservancy groups (The Old Fort at Hesperus, La Plata Open Space Conservancy, Montezuma Land Conservancy to name a few) are hosting a series of meetings on the top of equitable land access in the Durango and Montezuma/Cortez areas, and the City of Durango has announced an e-bike rebate for local individuals and businesses. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza and Wings and Pop’s Truck & RV Center

The 2021 infrastructure bill earmarked more money for broadband internet access than ever before. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is one beneficiary, getting nearly $44 million to connect nearly 1,800 Native American households to high speed internet. Funds will be deployed locally to help close the digital divide faced by Tribal communities. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Southwest Health System and Big O Tires

La Plata Open Space Conservancy announced the protection of 218 acres of land from future development through the use of conservation easements in La Plata County. A proposed plan to turn the former 9-R Administration Building into a community civic center is available for the public to view. Highway 172 between Ignacio and Elmore’s Corner began a resurfacing project this month, and Lake Nighthorse opens for summer recreation on March 31st. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by 2180 Lighting and Design Studio and Serious Texas BBQ

When Robert Holmes noticed a need for sober housing in La Plata County, Colorado, and San Juan County, New Mexico, he decided to do something about it, founding a nonprofit organization called Pura Vida for Good. Holmes, who is the owner of the river resort Tico Time on the Colorado/New Mexico border, plans to turn the resort festivals into benefits to fund the construction of and upkeep of sober housing and recovery homes in the two counties. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College

La Plata Youth Services is here for youths and teens at all stages - whether they need a bit of help at school or a safe place to spend the afternoon or weekend. With a variety of programs designed to target specific needs within the community, La Plata Youth Services aims to ensure the wellbeing and success of every young person it serves. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and Serious Texas BBQ

The International Fly Fishing Film Festival will visit Durango for the first time Saturday, April 1. Two screenings will be hosted by the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton at 5 pm and 8 pm. Tickets are available online through Five Rivers Trout Unlimited or in-person at Duranglers for $20. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Pops Truck & RV Center and The Payroll Department

RoundUp for Teachers, a brainstorm from this year’s Leadership La Plata class, aims to fill the much-needed gap between teachers’ salaries and their cost of living. Inspired by similar movements on the Front Range, RoundUp for Teachers encourages local shoppers to round up their purchases at participating stores throughout the month of March. The end goal is to help teachers in Durango and La Plata County earn a sustainable, living wage through informational campaigns. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings and Pop's Truck & RV Center

How high will interest rates rise and what does that mean for the Durango real estate market? Dan Korman of Alpenglow Properties discusses interest rates, active listings, sold homes, and pricing for single family homes in February. This story is sponsored by Alpenglow Properties, LLC

Durango School District 9-R has released the plan to make-up the missing school contact hours from the snow days earlier this year. Flowstone Education, a nonprofit out of Pagosa Springs aiming to bring unique experiences to low-income and minority youths has announced its schedule of events for 2023, and the winners of the Department of Motor Vehicles Historic Colorado license plate design contest are announced. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett and Associates and 2180 Lighting and Design Studio

The Colorado Brewers Guild Collaboration Fest returns for a second year in 2023, after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. Ska Brewing is partnering with long-time colleague but first-time collaborator, Cannonball Creek Brewing for its entry into this year's festival. The two brewers are releasing a West Coast Pils for the event, and in limited quantities in the Four Corners and out of the Cannonball Creek taproom in Golden, Colorado. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett & Associates and Pop’s Truck & RV Center

The Lor Foundation is awarding rural farmers and ranchers in Colorado and New Mexico grants to implement innovative water solutions. LOR believes those closest to a problem—Western farmers and ranchers in this case—have the best solutions. Through the Field Work initiative, farmers and ranchers in rural parts of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming are eligible for up to $10,000 to implement innovative water projects. The goal is to find the best solutions for using water to grow food in the West. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Southwest Health System and TruWest Auto

The partnership between the City of Durango and TWG Development, LLC to rehabilitate the Best Western Motel on Highway 160 for affordable housing is underway. The City of Durango has approved the donation of 49 acres of land adjacent to Oxbow Reserve, which will expand wildlife habitat preservation and may include an extension of the Animas River Trail. The Durango Police Department in partnership with Hyundai USA is offering steering-wheel locks to owners of the most frequently stolen vehicles in Southwest Colorado, and it’s not too late to bid on one-of-a-kind artwork to support the La Plata Humane Society through its annual PowderHounds fundraiser. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Serious Texas BBQ and The Payroll Department

To celebrate National Youth Art Month, the Visual Arts Teachers from multiple Durango schools are hosting an exhibition of student artwork. The display is open in the Main Mall from 12 pm to 6 pm through Sunday March 12th. The display features hundreds of works from students spanning grades and schools throughout Durango School District 9-R. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by 2180 Lighting & Design Studio and Kroegers Ace Hardware

For many individuals living in the Durango area, the dream of owning a home is just that - a dream. However, organizations like HomesFund work to make homeownership an attainable reality. From programs like mortgage assistance to housing counseling and a homebuyer education class, HomesFund ensures prospective buyers know what to expect and how to navigate owning a home. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank

The Durango La Plata County Airport earned a reward from the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association for the runway project, completed last fall. The City of Durango encourages eligible residents to apply for the food tax rebate program and utility refund program, and TBK Bank opened its TBK Bank Scholars Program scholarship to current high school seniors. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy's Pizza and Wings and The Payroll Department

For the first time in its history, Animas High School has permanence. After operating in strip malls and mobile units through its developmental years, the school is finally in its permanent home on the campus of Fort Lewis College. Both students and staff feel an important presence from the school’s new structure. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by ServiceMaster Restore and 2180 Lighting & Design Studio.

Cortez’s WildEdge Brewing Collective, open since 2017 is finally completing an expansion that’s been in the works since before the Covid pandemic. Owner and Brewer Tucker Robinson says the smaller, more intimate space located behind the main taproom can fill a variety of roles. He believes the room can be anything from a meeting space to a lecture site. By Connor Shreve This story is sponsored by FastSigns and The Lor Foundation