Action Line – The Durango Herald

Without cannon, Fort Lewis College football looking elsewhere for boom

Dear Action Line: I understand that since Fort Lewis College football stopped firing its famous cannon after touchdowns, the team hasn’t won a game at all. Do you know why they stopped u...

DATE: Dec 3, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

It’s time for waste, and blurring state lines

Dear Action Line: As responsible rural citizens who can’t stand the sight of litter, we regularly pick up trash on our county road. What’s one to do, however, when the number one source ...

DATE: Nov 25, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Sheer dredgery needed at Oxbow boat launch

Dear Action Line: The end of the concrete ramp boat “launch” at the Oxbow north of town was buried all summer. I realized how massive of an obstacle the sediment had produced when I watc...

DATE: Nov 17, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Parsing Durango’s deep bumper sticker wisdom

Dear Action Line: Is it just me, or is there some mixed messaging going on here? More importantly, is this the most “Durango” of bumper sticker combinations ever? – Double Take Dear Dou...

DATE: Nov 10, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

What’s up with the Lamppost Trail waterfall feature?

Dear Action Line: Just wondering if the waterfall that runs down the hill behind Animas High School and enters the drainage creek along Lamppost Trail is a planned water feature or an un...

DATE: Nov 3, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Just mining our business in Horse Gulch

Dear Action Line: Durango is such a unique town in a million ways. Many interesting things grab our attention such as the old generator on Florida Road, Malfunction Junction, all the sid...

DATE: Oct 27, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Three Springs access to County Road 235 not so public

Dear Action Line: County Road 235 is a short road off County Road 234 that goes toward the Spur Line Trails of Three Springs. However, the road apparently goes through a sliver of privat...

DATE: Oct 21, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Rally, others look to put screeching halt to ‘rolling burnouts’

Dear Action Line: Black lines have appeared on all highways leading into Durango and in town as well. They appeared during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally. I don’t find them offensive,...

DATE: Oct 13, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

The mystery of the Home Depot sidewalk

Dear Action Line: I’ve lived on the south end of town for the last 10 years and seen a lot of new development along Escalante Drive: Sunnyside Market, Rocket Pointe, Freddy’s, Dunkin’ Do...

DATE: Sep 29, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Should we resist bear-resistant containers?

Dear Action Line: How are the city’s bear-proof garbage cans remotely compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act? The lids are almost impossible to open, requiring total dexterit...

DATE: Sep 22, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Why not reopen Wilson Gulch exit off U.S. Highway 160?

Dear Action Line: Why is the eastbound exit ramp to Wilson Gulch Drive still closed? I like to get gas at the new Maverik station. It appears all that needs to be done is a final grading...

DATE: Sep 17, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Some very important idle chatter

Dear Action Line: Boy, are we trying to reduce our carbon emissions here in Durango! The Trolley has been free; there are incentives for e-bikes; our town has quite a few charging statio...

DATE: Sep 9, 2023 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Photos: Funeral procession for Cortez Police Sgt. Michael MoranHundreds of law enforcement vehicles escort the body of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran

Hundreds of law enforcement vehicles escort the body of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran

PHOTOS: Fort Lewis basketball teams entertain Adams StateFLC men win 100-80 on Tuesday, women lose 76-56

FLC men win 100-80 on Tuesday, women lose 76-56

Hundreds attend Candlelight vigil for Cortez police Sgt. Michael Moran

Skyhawks score 41 points off turnovers Monday at Whalen Gymnasium

Snowstorm moves through the areaThe season’s first big snowstorm causes problems for drivers and makes for a winter wonderland

The season’s first big snowstorm causes problems for drivers and makes for a winter wonderland

Photos: Singing with SantaSanta Claus makes his first appearance in Durango

Santa Claus makes his first appearance in Durango

Snow descends on DurangoForecasters say storm could dump 6 inches in Durango area

A fall storm that moved into Southwest Colorado Friday morning was expected to dump 6 inches of snow in the Durango area – more than weather forecasters had initially predicted.Snow started falling about 9:15 a.m. Friday and intensified shortly before 11:30 a.m., blanketing parks, vehicles and the hilltops overlooking the city. Roads became slick about 2:30 p.m. As of 4 p.m., the Durango Police Department had responded to six crashes, in addition to a few stranded motorists.U.S. Highway 160 at County Road 44 near Mancos Hill was closed from around 4 p.m. to just after 6 p.m. because a vehicle carrying an “oversized load” had spun out and blocked both the eastbound and westbound lanes, according to Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Lisa Schwantes.“Right now our officers are able to keep up with the crashes that are coming in,” said Cmdr. Nick Stasi, with the Durango Police Department. “As always with winter weather, we remind drivers to slow down and give extra space for the cars in front.”Snow started accumulating very fast as the day went on, making it “challenging for plow operators to keep up,” according to CDOT.

Southwest Colorado’s five major mountain passes were icy and snowpacked Friday afternoon. But all five remained open as of 4:15 p.m.The Pacific storm favored the southern and central Colorado mountains, said Dave Byers, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.“Durango looks like a 70% chance of getting 6 inches or more of snow by the end of tonight (Friday),” Byers said.He expected a half inch to three-quarters of an inch of moisture from the storm, which is up from the one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch that was predicted earlier this week. Meanwhile, the mountains could receive 1 to 2 feet of snow from the storm, he said.“In the last few days, it has really picked up,” Byers said. “The southern mountains are catching the brunt of it.”The snowy weather didn’t stop Liz Ferrill and her family from stopping by Cream Bean Berry for a Unicorn Sundae. “We thought it might be a festive way to celebrate,” said Ferrill, who was visiting from Snowmass, where the first snow occurred in September.For others, the snow provided the impetus they needed to swap out tires or purchase new snow tires. Andre Payne, a sales person at J/P Tire in Durango, said the phone began ringing shortly after 9 a.m. with people wanting to switch to snow tires.“We’ve been pretty busy,” he said.

It is not unusual for drivers to wait until they see the first snow and then want to swap out tires. The tire shop began advising customers to switch to snow tires about three weeks ago. Some people take the advice, other choose to wait.“We can always tell people what to do, but if you're not ready for it then you have to suffer the consequences of waiting two hours or maybe getting in an accident,” Payne said.Byers said Friday’s storm was the result of a southwest flow pulling moisture from Southern California, Arizona and the Gulf of California.As the moisture-laden atmosphere hits the San Juan Mountains, it wrings out the moisture, he said.Temperatures are expected to cool off as the storm makes its way out of the region this weekend. The highs this weekend will be in the upper 30s, and the lows could dip into the single digits, he said.“There’s still a northerly flow that is pulling cold air down out of Canada,” he said.Byers characterized Friday’s storm as a “shoulder storm” between summer and winter, but he said it is a sure sign that a regular track is settling in for Southwest Colorado.“We’re expecting regular storms … from now on, more into that winter pattern,” Byers said.Residents can expect mostly clear conditions through Wednesday, with clouds moving in the following day ahead of another storm that looks “very similar” to Friday’s storm, Byers said.shane@durangoherald.com; mhollinshead@durangoherald.com

Forecasters say storm could dump 6 inches in Durango area

PHOTOS: Turkey Trot returns to DurangoNearly 600 competitors ran before they gobbled down their Thanksgiving feasts on Thursday

Nearly 600 competitors ran before they gobbled down their Thanksgiving feasts on Thursday

PHOTOS: Durango faces Lutheran in 3A state football quarterfinalsDemons fall to Lions, 39-30, on Saturday

Demons fall to Lions, 39-30, on Saturday

PHOTOS: Fort Lewis basketball teams host doubleheaderThe men’s team beat Western New Mexico 87-68, while the women’s team fell in the final minutes to Northern New Mexico, 67-62

The men’s team beat Western New Mexico 87-68, while the women’s team fell in the final minutes to Northern New Mexico, 67-62