Community
Summer Fun Arts & Crafts Show to be held
The Summer Fun Arts & Crafts Show will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 21 at La Plata County Fairgrounds & Event Center, 2500 Main Ave. The er…
Southwest Lifestyle
Community
Youth workshops to be held at Chimney Rock National Monument
The Chimney Rock Interpretive Association will hold summer youth workshops, now in their fifth year. The workshops, scheduled for June 24 and July 8 and 22, offer elementary-aged children the…
Community
71st annual Four Corners Gem and Mineral Show coming soon
The Four Corners Gem and Mineral Club will hold its 71st annual Gem and Mineral Show, July 11 to July 13 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds and Events Center,…
Community
La Plata County Commissioners go On the Road
The La Plata County Board of County Commissioners will again hold its On the Road meetings at several locations this summer. The first meeting will be held from 6 to…
Travel
Headed to the White City to meet Juanita the Ice Maiden
Juanita the Ice Maiden, perfectly preserved after over 500 years. (The Andean Sanctuaries Museum) Griffin I feel her call in the blood. The breathiness of it is a soaring melody…
And the West is History
And the West is History: Durango train yard – ca. 1958
This photo shows Denver & Rio Grande Western engine 478 entering the south train yard in the late 1950s. Closer inspection reveals the tracks leading west from Durango had been…
Community
Nurturing healthy nonprofits and youths
“School’s out for summer” resounds from the lips of students, teachers and parents alike. Children are delighted with less structured time, while parents fret about how to keep their youngsters…
Community
Bayfield resident graduates from DSU
Alexia Wold of Bayfield graduated from Dickinson State University on May 17 in Dickinson, North Dakota. DSU remains committed to its mission of providing high-quality, accessible programs; promoting excellence in…
Community
Southwest Safehouse celebrates 40th anniversary
Celebrate the legacy of the Southwest Safehouse at 5 p.m. June 27 at Four Leaves Winery, 528 Main Ave. There will be fine wine and live music. The evening honors…
Community
12th annual Gardens on Tour to be held
The 12th annual Gardens on Tour will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 21. The 2025 Tour is produced by the all-volunteer, nonprofit Durango Botanic Gardens. The…
Community
Durango teacher named semifinalist for Colorado Teacher of the Year
Teri Kopack The Colorado Department of Education announced 22 teachers have been selected as semifinalists for Colorado’s 2026 Teacher of the Year, including Teri Kopack from Durango High School. Kopack…
Community
Veterans eighth annual free river raft trip and picnic to be held
Mountain Waters Rafting & Adventures, the Durango VFW Post 4031, American Legion and Elks Lodge are sponsoring the eighth annual picnic and free raft trips for veterans and their families…
And the West is History
And the West is History: American Smelting and Refining Co. band – 1916
The San Juan and New York Smelter relocated from Silverton to Durango in 1881, immediately becoming the region’s economic engine. Its name changed in 1899 to the American Smelting and…
Community
Powerhouse hosts summer concert series
The Powerhouse will hold another summertime community concert series beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at 1333 Camino del Rio. The final concert of the series will be Aug. 6. The…
Community
‘Festival of the Arts’ to be held in Pagosa
Pagosa Springs Art Council will hold the second annual free “Festival of the Arts” event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 7 and 8 at the Tennyson Sculpture Garden,…
Community
Powerhouse offers free admission on June 10
The Powerhouse will celebrate International Day of Play from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 10 at 1333 Camino del Rio by offering free admission to all visitors. Bring the…
And the West is History
And the West is History: Basin Petroleum – ca. 1950
Organized in May 1948, Basin Petroleum integrated Durango Oil Co., Triangle Oil Co. of Cortez and Tri-Gas & Equipment Co. of Durango into a stand-alone business that became one of…
Community
Four Corners Gem and Mineral Show seeks volunteers
Organizing for the 71st annual Gem and Mineral Show is underway and volunteers are needed. The Gem and Mineral Show is a much-beloved, three-day event happening this July 11 to…
Community
Man 2 Man Prostate Cancer Support Group of Durango to meet
Man 2 Man Prostate Cancer Support Group of Durango will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. June 3 via Zoom. The group consists of survivors of prostate cancer and men…
Community
Cancer survivor celebration to be held
In recognition of National Cancer Survivors Day, CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital and Cancer Support Community Southwest Colorado will host the Southwest Colorado Cancer Survivor Celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.…
And the West is History
And the West is History: Women at Electra Lake – 1937
Hazel Hood, left, and her friend Florence Erickson stand next to an excursion boat named Silverton at the Electra Lake boathouse. Both graduated from Durango High School in 1935. Hazel…
Community
Higgins named to SNHU dean’s list
Jamie Higgins of Mancos has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s Spring 2025 Dean’s List. The spring terms run from January to May. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned…
Community
Southwest Colorado eSchool holds graduation
Southwest Colorado eSchool will hold its 2025 spring graduation 4-5 p.m. Thursday at Rotary Park, 1565 West Second Ave. The local, free, public, online sixth-12th grade school supports only students…
And the West is History
And the West is History: Race at the Fairgrounds – ca. 1905
No pastime was more popular in the early days of La Plata County than horse racing. The original Fairgrounds were established expressly for that purpose. Horse racing meets were held…
Community
Service, potluck to be held on May 15
A special service and potluck will be held 5:30 to 8 p.m. May 15 at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 419 San Juan Drive, led by UU’s People of Color Collective. The…
Community
League of Women Voters to host annual Legislative Lowdown
The League of Women Voters of La Plata County will host its annual Legislative Lowdown from 2 to 4:30 p.m. May 17 at the Pine River Library, 395 Bayfield Center…
Community
Florida Grange to hold yard sale
The Florida Grange is hosting a community yard sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 17 in our parking lot located at 656 Highway 172. Community members are invited…
Community
Durango Daybreak Rotary presents Carol McGuire Vocational Excellence Award
Rotary Club of Durango Daybreak will present the Carol McGuire Vocational Excellence Award at 6:45 a.m. May 14 at its weekly meeting at La Plata County Fairgrounds Extension Building, 2500…
Community
Animas Valley Grange to host one-room schools presentation
Animas Valley Grange will host a presentation, “One-room Schools in Southwest La Plata County,” at 6:30 p.m. May 19 at the Animas Valley Grange Hall, 7271 County Road 203. Refreshments…