From the Extension Office

Nicole Clark

Position: La Plata County Extension Office

Email: nicole.clark@co.laplata.co.us

Darrin Parmenter

Position: La Plata County Extension Office

Email: parmenterdm@co.laplata.co.us

Restless teens rely on melatonin to initiate sleep, but should they?

It’s December. Darkness engulfs us 11 hours a day. It’s not even 5 p.m. and the world’s biggest light bulb retires for the night. This should leave plenty of time for our eyes to communicate...

DATE: Dec 6, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

With holidays upon us, what are you wishing for?

We are about halfway between the two holidays celebrated in our house – Thanksgiving and Christmas – and I am somewhat torn about what to write about: what I am thankful for or what’s on my ...

DATE: Dec 2, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Consider nutrition security when donating to a food drive

Somewhere out there, a handbook has been passed down from generation to generation advising that parents instruct their kids to clean their plate. The carrot on the stick was that you got to...

DATE: Nov 8, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Batten down the hatches: Deer are in their fattening-up stage

I live smack dab in the middle of Durango – Test Tracks five minutes away; Fairgrounds 10 minutes; downtown 15. I appreciate that we share our neighborhood with old-time Durangatangs, new fa...

DATE: Nov 1, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

What the future holds may improve your mental well-being

Choosing the topic of pumpkins or Halloween for this month’s “From The Extension Office” seems too predictable. It may be relevant, but predictable nonetheless. Now, where’s the excitement i...

DATE: Oct 12, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

When it comes to green chiles, can you take the heat?

Forgive me if I’ve said this before, but my dad likes to eat green chile that burns your face off. Or maybe that’s just how I like to remember the story. Or maybe he still like his chile hot...

DATE: Oct 3, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Despite shorter days, colder weather, we can still be active

You know fall and winter are approaching when ... golden leaves emerge, you leave 10 minutes early to get ahead of the school bus, shadows lengthen, you’re shopping for firewood, it’s pumpki...

DATE: Sep 9, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Thrips can wreak havoc on your plants

Just over a week ago, we hosted – alongside Manna soup kitchen – the 14th annual Tour de Farms. The tour was a leisurely bike ride through the neighborhoods of Durango, where we visited a sc...

DATE: Sep 2, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Throw in late summer mushrooms for a healthful meal

Mother Nature, if you’re listening, this article is a friendly reminder that our summer monsoons could use a little boost. August is a wonderful time of year to find mushrooms in nature, but...

DATE: Aug 12, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

75 years of kids, critters and cowboys

Our La Plata County Fair will be here before you know it. Mark your calendars for Aug. 9 to 13 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Come out and enjoy some fair food, awesome projects, cute a...

DATE: Aug 3, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

2023 has turned into the year of the ‘pirouette’

Pivot (intransitive verb): To turn on or as if on a pivot; to adapt or improve by adjusting or modifying something. Side note: I would like to start a movement where the definition of a word...

DATE: Jul 28, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Cooking for one: Simplify and satisfy

Where does inspiration come from? It’s a question I ponder every month in preparation for this column. When two different people presented the same idea, I couldn’t help but hear the calling...

DATE: Jul 6, 2023 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

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