Regional News – The Durango Herald

Colorado avalanche forecasters sound red alert as new snow piles deep for MLK weekend

Colorado Avalanche Information Center forecasters are sounding the alarm for backcountry travelers as feet of new snow blankets weak layers

DATE: Jan 12, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, Jan. 11

Thursday 10:25 a.m. A person near the intersection of East Fourth Street and East Seventh Avenue was arrested for driving under the influence. 10:49 a.m. A person near the intersecti...

DATE: Jan 12, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

First year of optional Keep Colorado Wild Pass sees drivers deliver $41.1 million in revenue for parks and wildlife

Nearly 1.5 million Colorado drivers paid an extra $29 to include the parks pass on their vehicle registrations, outpacing expectations and helping fund Colorado Parks and Wildlife

DATE: Jan 11, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, Jan. 10-11

Thursday 3:58 a.m. A person in the 600 block of Main Avenue was arrested for criminal mischief. Wednesday 11:30 a.m. A man at the Hampton Inn, 3777 Main Ave., was arrested for trespa...

DATE: Jan 11, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Ex-husband of Rep. Lauren Boebert arrested for assault following restaurant altercation

Jayson Boebert, ex-husband of U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, was arrested Tuesday by the Garfield County Sheriff's Office on multiple charges, including third-degree assault, harassment and prohi...

DATE: Jan 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

As lawmakers return to work, cost of living, challenges of governing are top of mind

The Colorado Capitol will be bustling today for the start of the state’s annual legislative session. Lawmakers convene under the backdrop of high national political tensions, international c...

DATE: Jan 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, Jan. 9

Tuesday 12:37 p.m. A person in the 15000 block of County Road 240 was arrested for a warrant. 2:37 p.m. A person at the Espero Apartments, 1053 Avenida del Sol, was arrested for a wa...

DATE: Jan 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

TABOR refunds will remain tax-free this filing season

Looks like Colorado's TABOR refunds won’t be considered taxable income by the IRS this tax season. Sen. Michael Bennet confirmed in a meeting with the IRS and Gov. Jared Polis that TABOR ref...

DATE: Jan 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Funeral home scandals prompt new calls for regulation in Colorado

‘It is clear that the public is harmed by the general lack of regulation’

DATE: Jan 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, Jan. 8-9

Tuesday 3:25 a.m. A person near T-Mobile, 1125 South Camino del Rio, was arrested for violating a restraining order. 3:54 a.m. A person on the 100 block of West 12th Street was arres...

DATE: Jan 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado’s outdoors are always a winner in the state lottery … even if you’re not

Ever taken a walk through Colorado's state parks? Notice the scenery. The well-maintained trails. It’s the outdoors that people think about when they think of Colorado. And it takes millions...

DATE: Jan 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Federal judge rejects Tina Peters’ attempt to halt her Mesa County criminal trial

Former county clerk’s trial on 10 counts connected to a breach of Mesa County’s election system set to begin Feb. 7

DATE: Jan 8, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Photos: Parade launches 2024 Connie Mack World Series in FarmingtonFans line street as players march on Main Damp, overcast weather cooled off the crowd lining Main Street on Friday morning for the 2024 Connie Mack World Series Parade. The hourlong parade began shortly after 10 a.m. in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Fans line street as players march on Main

Photos: ‘Mini Takes the States’ tour stops in DurangoHundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Hundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Photos: Boxing returns to DurangoAnimus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Animus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Photos and video: Going for the gold by devouring piesContestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Contestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Photo: Fireworks light the sky in DurangoDurango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Durango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Photos: Working with woodLocal craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

Local craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

2024 Fourth of July Parade draws crowd Thursday in downtown Durango

Photos: Downtown Durango hosts Fourth of July ParadeDowntown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Downtown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Durango Rotary Club, Parks and Recreation department host Independence Day events

Law enforcement conducts active threat training at Park Elementary SchoolResidents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday

Law enforcement agencies across Southwest Colorado sent officers to participate in active threat training this week at Park Elementary School in Durango. Those in the neighborhood can expect police vehicles parked on the premises, officers in tactical gear conducting exercises inside and outside the school, and signs advising that training is in progress. The sounds of shouting, airsoft weapons and the popping of a starter pistol will also be audible near the school, said Karla Sluis, spokeswoman for Durango School District 9-R.Sluis said that members of the school district’s safety department have gone door-to-door with flyers notifying residents around Park Elementary School about the training.

Hosted by the Durango Police Department and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, this week’s voluntary training invited officers from law enforcement agencies across a five-county region of Southwest Colorado encompassing La Plata, Archuleta, San Juan, Montezuma and Dolores counties.

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office deputy Durango Police Department Deputy Mike Latham, lead instructor for this week's training, said Wednesday and the first half of Thursday were mostly preparatory, teaching officers the school’s layout and devising scenarios, whereas the latter half of Thursday and Friday residents should anticipate some noise as active threat scenarios play out.

Latham said active threat training teaches officers proper protocol during active threat scenarios, especially in densely populated areas where they have become increasingly common.Park Elementary School is not the only Durango School District facility law enforcement has conducted active threat training. Latham said schools lend themselves well to this sort of training because, “It gives us all kinds of doors to work on, different rooms, different scenarios we can run. We can pretend it’s a mall with nice big corridors, we can even pretend it’s an outdoor area in the gymnasium.”Latham has participated in active threat training multiple times in the past and described the drills as exhilarating and nerve-wracking. He said one of the training’s main goals is teaching officers how to manage stress and remain calm with lives on the line.

“I take a pulse oximeter in the morning and get a baseline on their heart rates,” Latham said. “And sometimes, just before they’re about to engage a threat, I say ‘Timeout.’ Put it (the oximeter) on there, and their heart rate’s skyrocketed to 140, 150, 160 just in training.”

Latham said throughout his career active threat training has evolved to become safer for officers and fall in line with increasingly professional police standards.“When I first started we were just running into halls and rooms hoping for the best,” Latham said. “Now the tactic is still to get there, still stop the taking of lives, but tactics are much better than they were 20 years ago.”

Residents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday