The pandemic and social protests gave us indelible images – but the year unfolded in other ways, too
Amy Semel with Mercy Regional Medical Center performs a COVID-19 test June 2 on Colton Carr at a drive-up testing site.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The pandemic transformed our lives in 2020. In March, we were told to stay home. Schools closed, restaurants went dark, workplaces emptied out. Zoom meetings became the way to do business and commune with family and friends.
As summer arrived and some public health restrictions were loosened, the country was rocked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. The Black Lives Matter movement joined people across the country in calls for police reform and social justice. Weekly rallies were held throughout the summer at Buckley Park in Durango, with most attendees wearing masks because of the pandemic.
School resumed in the fall, with students mixing remote learning and in-school learning in cohorts. Sports were canceled or delayed.
The Durango High School football team played an abbreviated season, but perhaps its most memorable. The Demons are Class 3A state champions. The players and coaches not only beat their competition on the field, finishing undefeated, they persevered through the health restrictions and uncertainty of the pandemic. Their triumph brought genuine celebration and joy to Durango.
In early November, the pandemic seemed to catch fire in La Plata County. COVID-19 cases increased dramatically week after week, leading to new and challenging health restrictions. Students were told to stay home and restaurants went dark once again. And our holidays will be without many traditional family and community gatherings.
Even in its last days, 2020 has left us with indelible images.
Keri McCune, infection prevention program manager at Mercy Regional Medical Center, holds a transport vial March 5 with a swab inside that the hospital would use as part of a COVID-19 test kit.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
An Upper Pine River Fire Protection District crew member wears a Tyvek suit March 18 as a protective measure against the COVID-19 outbreak.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mercy Regional Medical Center Emergency Department staff members, from left, Dr. Kendall Rockler, Dr. Jack McManus, physician’s assistant Mark Foster and Dr. Darcy Rumberger, work April 17 in the negative pressure area in the Emergency Department at the hospital. Hospital staff members have had to take extra precautions because of COVID-19.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Angela Whitten, an occupational health nurse at Mercy Regional Medical Center, administers the first COVID-19 vaccination in La Plata County to Dr. Jennifer Heinicke on Dec. 16 at the hospital.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
People gather June 5 for a vigil in Buckley Park for George Floyd and others killed by police across the country.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
About 350 people gather June 5 in Buckley Park for a candlelight vigil to recognize George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others killed by police.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
People gather May 30 for a Justice for George Floyd march on Main Avenue. About 300 people marched past the Durango Police Department to Buckley Park.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
People gather May 30 for a Justice for George Floyd march on Main Avenue. About 300 people marched past the Durango Police Department to Buckley Park.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
People gather June 5 for a vigil in Buckley Park for George Floyd and others killed by police across the country.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Durango Community Relations Commission members, Tirzah Camacho, left, Olivia Lopez-DePablo, center, and Lexie Stetson-Lee, stand in front of the Black Lives Matter mural June 26 at the Everyday store at East Eighth Avenue and College Drive.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Duane “Chili” Yazzie stands Oct. 14 in Farmington where he marched in 1974 during civil rights protests tied to the murder of Navajo men, which prompted a federal investigation. As a community leader, he represented the Navajo perspective in a 2005 follow-up federal investigation.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Ethan Ryan of Durango High School hoists the CHSAA Class 3A state championship trophy after defeating Roosevelt High School on Dec. 5 in Pueblo.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Durango High School defense played a tough game against Cañon City on Nov. 13 at DHS.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Sitting 6-feet apart from her fellow students, Mary Jane Ramos, 13, works on her robot in applied science class during a summer school session July 23 at Escalante Middle School.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Twenty-five residents and numerous staff members gathered in front of Four Corners Health Care Center on May 8, as about a 100 cars, motorcycles, cyclists, an engine from Los Pinos Fire Protection District and a cruiser from Durango Police Department participated in a Mother’s Day Parade on Junction Street. The parade also went to the Cottonwood Inn Rehab and Extended Care Center in Three Springs.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
An air tanker leaves the Ice Fire on Oct. 19 to get another load of slurry, as it fights the Ice Fire burning near Ice Lakes west of Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A hand crew sets burnouts June 16 to reduce fuels at the Canyon Fire along the west side of Cherry Creek Road (County Road 105).
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Durango High School seniors parade down Main Avenue after their drive-in graduation ceremony in June in the parking lot of the high school.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Animas High School senior Nathan Foster celebrates as he parades down Main Avenue on May 29 with his fellow graduates after their drive-in graduation ceremony in the county.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Keri Carlson checks out a Remington 870 tactical 12 gauge shotgun March 18 at Rocky Mountain Pawn & Gun as Renee Dominey assists her. “This will be the first gun I’ve ever owned, I’ve shot guns regularly through my life but now the way things are I’m just not sure what’s going to happen, so I wanted one to hunt with and keep ourselves safe,” Carlson said.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
After warmer temperatures created open water, a bald eagle snatches breakfast from a pond March 19 in the Animas Valley.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mexican immigrant Rosa Sabido first sought sanctuary from deportation at Mancos United Methodist Church in June 2017. In February, she marked 1,000 days at the church, supporters said.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Klaus Sonntag looks at photographs of his son, Benjamin Sonntag, before a memorial service for Benjamin on March 14 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Benjamin, a professional cyclist, was killed in a crash with a motor vehicle while riding his bike.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kerry Guy, on-scene coordinator for the Environmental Protection Agency, is seen inside the Red Bonita Mine north of Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The bear burned in the East Canyon Fire in June sprints off with healthy feet, after being released from a cage Aug. 25 on the west side of the La Plata Mountains. The bear was captured with severely burned feet and was sent to a rehabilitation center in Del Norte before being released back into the wild.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
In a scene before the pandemic, a Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train pulls to a stop Feb. 1 for the Snowdown Balloon Rally and Mass Ascension in the Animas Valley.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Sayer Fronte, 17, makes a splash Aug. 11 after he let go of a rope swing at Bakers Bridge on East Animas Road (County Road 250) north of Durango.
