100 years ago: The following appeared in the section titled High School Notes: “Last week’s baseball activities showed strongly the need of better coaching and better teamwork in the teams.”
75 years ago: “Durango will be host to a police training school, at which three experts from the federal bureau of investigation will be instructors.”
50 years ago: “Chickens in La Plata County are being bled to determine the rate of encephalitis activity in the area. Chickens are used because they stay in one place – they don’t fly around like birds or travel like people. If encephalitis is present in the area, the virus will be found in the blood of chickens. Three possible cases of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) have been diagnosed this year in the county.”
25 years ago: “For most high school football players, rushing for 600 yards would be a good year’s work. For Durango High School’s Joey Mestas, 600 yards would barely be within the same stadium compared to how far he’s run in just four games. Mestas, a 160-pound tailback, piled up 310 yards against Mullen to bring his yardage total for the year to 687, a respect able amount no matter what level of ball is being played and especially significant of a team whose offensive line is up against bigger opponents.”
Most items in this column are taken from Herald archives, Center of Southwest Studies and Animas Museum. Their accuracy may not be verified.
