Dear Action Line: So, those silly colored letters up the road on U.S. Highway 550 that spell, of all things, Durango? Duh, like we don’t know where we live? They are quite tacky to say the least, an eyesore at best. If people aren’t oriented to where they are, so be it. Any info as to whether these are just temporary would be appreciated. – Cranky Local
Dear Cranky: This question takes us back to memorable controversies of days past: The pink house in Falcon Heights west of downtown. The Arc of History at the DoubleTree intersection. Gosh, what else? Probably shouldn’t bring this one up, but there’s the Toh-Atin pointing Native American statue.
All these are Durango landmarks, past and present, that aren’t universally loved but have many proponents nonetheless.
So now, apparently, and with admittedly much less fanfare, it’s the colored letters.
Before writing this, Action Line, by unrelated suggestion from Sister of Action Line, put on J.S. Bach. It’s some fancy orchestral suite in D major. Those ready to simmer down and let silly controversies pass perhaps should do the same. It’s catalog number BWV 1068, if that helps, and whatever that means.
Ahh. There. So peaceful here in the realm of beautiful strings and arpeggios and timpani. Action Line is now just blurting out symphonic-type terms – andante, philharmonic, cadenza – to sound intelligent and refined. Not working, is it.
Here’s the deal on the letters. Homebuilder Owen Dake, co-owner of Durango-based Skywalker Construction, was just trying to create something colorful and fun. From talking to “North County” folks who pass by these letters quite often, he is aware that his letters have detractors as well as proponents.
“People either love it or hate it,” he said.
Last time Action Line drove by the property in the 41000 block of U.S. Highway 550, under the Hermosa Cliffs, basically across the highway from the Golf Wall, the letters were on display. Skywalker is building a custom house there.
“My guys and I built them,” Dake said last week. “We take them to parties and have fun. Parents, and their kids, are just loving them.”
They debuted at a neighborhood block party. They’ve been to James Ranch. Dake said people like to pose with them. He set up an Instagram page that includes photos of people with the letters.
They were crafted from materials including plywood. They’re three-dimensional, about 10 inches deep and 3 feet high. They were painted the colors of the Colorado flag, then waterproofed. They’re not exactly light, so they’re not easy to carry and transport.
They will continue to move around, so no telling where they might turn up next. And no, they won’t be there forever.
“It’s all for fun,” Dake said.
Dear Action Line: I’ve been curious lately about the increase in New Mexico news in the Herald, particularly since Albuquerque and Farmington have their own papers. We need more Colorado news! I don’t want to see our news become that of an “orphan” like TV channels here. What’s the rationale? – A Loyal Reader
Dear Loyal Reader: You sure know the way to Action Line’s heart.
For an answer we turned to Herald Deputy Editor Shane Benjamin.
Some background: Ballantine Communications, the family-owned business that controls The Durango Herald, launched the Tri-City Record in May 2023 in an effort to better serve our neighbors in northwest New Mexico. About a year later, BCI purchased the Farmington Daily Times and merged the two papers, making the Tri-City Record the paper of record in San Juan County, New Mexico.
Since then, Benjamin said, “We have significantly increased news coverage in Farmington, Aztec and Bloomfield, which are about an hour south of Durango. Despite a state line separating our two communities, many people live and work in the adjacent communities.”
Before the launch of the Tri-City Record and the merging, the Herald wasn’t able to deliver news from across the state line to readers in Southwest Colorado. Now, it can. Benjamin emphasized that the number of Herald reporters has remained constant since the launch of the Tri-City Record.
“Herald readers are not receiving any less Colorado news as a result of BCI’s expansion into northwest New Mexico,” he said. “The Herald’s staff size and mission remain the same.” Sources such as The Associated Press and The Colorado Sun help the Herald distribute news of statewide importance.
“The notion that we might become a news orphan in the same way that La Plata and Montezuma counties are TV orphans is not an apples-to-apples comparison. If anything, BCI has expanded news operations at a time when most local news organizations are contracting.”
The hope is that expanded regional coverage raises readers’ understanding of and appreciation for their neighbors.
Email questions and suggestions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Father of Action Line, a serious classical music fan, definitely could have told you that BWV stands for Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis, which in English means “Bach works catalog.” And before Action Line gets in trouble, let’s emphasize that some people do not consider the Toh-Atin controversy to be silly. (See? Shouldn’t have brought it up.)
