While 2017 was notable for what happened: two state championships, and the arrest of Mark Redwine, it also can be remembered for what didn't happen - the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally. The following is a list of highlights of the year from the Times archives.
Zachary Hollingsworth, a tuba player at Bayfield High School, was named to the Colorado Symphonic Band. He was the first BHS player selected for symphonic band, which has members from all classifciations of schools throughout the state.
County planning commissioners started re-writing the county land use code.
The intent is "to streamline and simplify the process for simple things like boundary adjustments and lot consolidations, and some final plats, to save time and money for applicants and the county," county officials said.
These are "the most common processes that we deal with," added Jason Meininger, a county planning staffer who later was named the county's planning director.
Anne Hillerman, the daughter of Tony Hillerman, read from some of her works, Spider Woman's Daughter, Rock with Wings, and Song of the Lion, on Jan. 10 at the Pine River Public Library.
On Jan. 19, Bryan Gram was named this year's winter Homecoming king at Ignacio High School, and Tori Archuleta was crowned queen. Freshmen royalty honors went to Elco Garcia, Jr., and Autumn Smith. Sophomore Royalty were Clay Seibel and Heile Pearson. Junior Royalty were Marcus Chapman and Leela Rosa. Second senior attendants were Hunter Frost and Rachel Cooper, while first senior attendants were Lorenzo Peña and Veronica Gonzales.
Charles Trogdon of Vallecito, who had been convicted of multiple burglaries, had two years removed from his 21-year sentence. Chief District Judge Jeffrey Wilson wrote the order on Jan. 19.
Bayfield School District hosted a school safety night on Jan. 30 to discuss Safe 2 Tell and student safety in school.
Annabella Shocklee performed with the Colorado All State Women's Choir on Feb. 4 at the Colorado Convention Center. An alto, she was the first female student at BHS selected for all all-state honor choir.
On Feb. 6, family and friends gathered at the memorial bench of Dylan Redwine in Pine River Cemetery to celebrate his birthday. He would have been 18. He was also remembered at Bayfield High School's graduation in May.
The Air Force Band performed at the Bayfield Performing Arts Center on Feb. 18. The capacity crowd provided a standing ovation for the band's performance of classical and contemporary pieces.
The Deming family of Bayfield was featured on the show "Log Cabin Living" on HGTV. The network ran the episode on Feb. 11.
A former Ignacio High School teacher accused of assaulting a student no longer faces misdemeanor charges for child abuse.
La Plata County Judge Martha Minot ruled on Feb. 24 that Harris Murphy is immune from prosecution under state law, which allows teachers to use physical force if they're acting in self-defense or in good-faith compliance with the school code of discipline.
Benefit events were held throughout the winter to benefit Jim and Lorna Bulwan. The Ignacio couple was in a vacation rental in Mexico on New Year's Eve when it exploded, apparently from a propane leak. The two were flown to Texas hospitals and are recovering from their injuries.
BHS wrestlers Ryan Nava, Cody Speece, Jake Sandrey, Sam Westbrook and Garrett Beebe qualified for the 3A state tournament. For Ignacio's run at the 2A state tourney, Ethan Appenzeller, Stocker Robbins and Lorenzo Pena journeyed to Denver.
The Upper Pine River Fire Protection District obtained a better fire insurance rating, meaning homeowners could pay less for their fire insurance. Insurance Services Organization ratings for most properties in the area are now a three or four, on a scale of one to ten.
The Bayfield Marshal's Office hosted a fundraiser for Maddy Abdella on Feb. 24 that filled Pine River Valley Church.
The turnout and donations were "unbelievably amazing," said Marshal Joe McIntyre.
The Bayfield boys basketball team, along with the Ignacio boys and girls teams, moved into regional basketball play. The
The Bayfield School District finalized plans to start construction of a new elementary school on Oak Drive.
The Ignacio High School basketball girls lost two basketball games at the state 2A tournament in Loveland, ending their postseason play.
Work started on the replacement of the twin green bridges on Bayfield Parkway. The project was budgeted at $4.5 million.
The Bayfield High School Knowledge Bowl team captured second at state 3A competition March 13 and 14 in Ft. Collins.
On March 31, Carole McWilliams ended her 30-year career as a reporter for the Times after the newspaper's owners, Ballantine Communications, Inc. announced layoffs of news staff. The newspaper also moved from its longtime office on Mill Street in downtown Bayfield, and is now located at Bayfield Realty on County Road 501.
BHS students traveled to the Front Range for the state Skills USA competition after placing in regionals,
Students competing for BHS were Cordell Ashcraft, who took first in regional competition in architectural drafting; Chad Winkler, second in architectural drafting; Tyler Conner, third in carpentry; Mikhael Hagman, third in cabinet making; Kaleb Koerner, first in carpentry, and Dylan Burress, first in cabinet-making.
The Bayfield School District and Marshal's Office held a training during a simulated school shooting at Bayfield High School. Officials from schools and police departments in Ignacio and Durango also participated.
Several students from Ignacio Middle School qualified for state competitions in the spring. Five attended the state science fair, one went to the state spelling bee, and 11 attended Colorado History Day to make presentations on state history.
Capes billowing in the air, small superheros ran with parents and teachers to honor Ignacio Elementary School third-grade teacher Laura Wagner. Wagner fell ill in November with a lesion at the base of her brain and needed emergency surgery.
The BHS boys track team took seventh at a state meet compressed into two days after a spring storm hit Denver. The girls took ninth. Two Ignacio boys qualified for the 2A track competition.
On Memorial Day weekend, the Pine River Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Bayfield. The Bayfield Chamber of Commerce also hosted the first of its three summer block parties on Mill Street in downtown.
Developers of the seventh phase of Clover Meadows in Bayfield received approval from the planning commission of a revised sketch plan moving through the town's planning process. After several meetings during the summer and fall, the developers agreed to pipe part of the Schroeder Ditch that runs through the subdivision.
A bear that came within a few feet of two children playing in Vallecito was tracked down and euthanized.
Amy Lyons is named interim superintnendent of the Bayfield School District after Troy Zabel steps down following a cancer diagnosis.
Mark Redwine is arrested on July 22 and charged with second-degree murder in the 2011 disappearance of his son, Dylan Redwine. The case had gathered national media attention.
Bayfield and Ignacio residents start circulating petitions asking the La Plata County Commission not to close the Bayfield office of the county clerk, which locals use for vehicle licensing. In November, the county announced it would keep the office open one day per week.
After 20-plus years in Ignacio, the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally doesn't return in 2017. In its place, the Ignacio Chamber of Commerce held a chili cookoff and cornhole contest at the Farmers Fresh Market. Motorcycle events also took place in Durango.
Locals gathered in Bayfield and Ignacio, including at a solar party at the Pine River Library, to view the solar eclipse on Aug. 21.
Ignacio Community Library celebrated 10 years in their current location with a community fair and live entertainment.
The Bayfield High School football team defeated Durango for the first time - ever! The win was also the BHS homecoming.
Also for the first time ever, Bayfield Heritage Days celebrations had to be cancelled after a huge lightning and rainstorm arrived in downtown Bayfield on Sept. 28.
Former La Plata County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremiah Lee was found dead inside of his home outside Bayfield as it was burning to the ground on Oct. 19. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is continuing to investigate his death.
The BHS Marching Wolverines capture second at state in 1A-2A competition, following an ice storm in Parker.
Michael Fisher Wilson, 20, was arrested Oct. 30 on suspicion of motor-vehicle theft, attempted robbery, felony eluding and burglary, said Bayfield Marshal Joe McIntyre.
On Nov. 7, Daniele Hillyer was re-elected to her seat on the Bayfield School Board, and Peggy Whiteman won a seat that was open on the board.
Rep. Barbara MacLachlan visited the construction projects at the Bayfield schools on Nov. 14.
Southern Ute Community Action Programs had to unexpectedly close classrooms for its Head Start Program after asbestos was found inside the school building. The classes were relocated to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Cultural Center and Museum.
The BHS football team defeated La Junta on Nov. 25 for the 2A state championship, hosted at home at Wolverine Country Stadium.
On Pearl Harbor Day on Dec. 7, Bayfield's three men who died aboard the USS Arizona in Hawaii were honored.
On Dec. 9, the BHS dance team won the 3A state poms title at the Coloradao Spirit championships in Denver. The BHS cheer team was third in the 2A-3A co-ed category.
Two BHS musicians have been selected for the 2018 Colorado All State Philharmonic Orchestra. Jack Ferguson and Reed Merchant, both double bass players from Bayfield High, are the first Bayfield musicians selected for the philharmonic.
On Dec. 19, the Bayfield Town Board instructed Town Manager Chris La May to study ways Bayfield could license a marijuana dispensary in town limits.
