Local News https://www.durangoherald.com/section/new-mexico-local-news/feed/ Stay informed with the latest breaking news, local stories, sports, business, weather, and community events from Durango, Southwest Colorado, and the Four Corners region. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 03:55:21 -0600 en-us 30 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/hutton-broadcasting-buys-nine-radio-stations-in-four-corners/ American General Media sells stations in Cortez, Durango and Farmington Tue, 25 Apr 2023 23:38:50 -0600 87413642-885B-4535-B0E9-D0412EF5533F https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/new-mexico-allocates-grants-from-32m-mine-spill-settlement/ Aztec, Farmington will get six-figure settlement Thu, 29 Dec 2022 22:03:44 -0700 A1AD9EDA-F45C-56C6-A926-A30890DDEACB https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/san-juan-county-emergency-management-to-conduct-drill/ Watch for major first responder presence Wednesday in Farmington Mon, 03 Oct 2022 18:46:53 -0600 7EE0F2DE-76D1-489B-888A-2F11054C99F6 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/u-s-shift-away-from-coal-hits-tribal-community-in-new-mexico/ Realities of closing San Juan plant and mine setting in for surrounding communities Mon, 03 Oct 2022 02:20:07 -0600 1CBDD062-45D0-50B7-815E-5BE8CAD5DAEB https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/chaco-park-to-host-equinox-sunrise-event-and-astronomy-festival/ Tradition followed by astronomy discussions, viewings Mon, 05 Sep 2022 21:06:50 -0600 3C4B89D5-57F7-48DC-9BB3-B6247F348B22 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/two-new-faces-in-new-mexico-oil-and-gas/ Ryan Merrion and Sean Dugan take over family businesses during disruptions of pandemic and war Sat, 16 Jul 2022 22:01:57 -0600 73FA2591-D675-4B8C-BF7A-BC879360C5EC https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/farmington-police-shoot-and-kill-armed-man/ Reports say officers asked the man several times to put down his weapon Sun, 10 Apr 2022 23:26:30 -0600 ADA295D0-C611-48E9-B204-CB8BF7FC53F5 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/san-juan-generating-station-requests-extension-to-keep-burning-coal/ Delays in converting to solar blamed on supply chain issues Sat, 19 Feb 2022 01:38:19 -0700 5A162F49-C463-4225-85CD-077DDADBED89 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/durango-man-suspected-of-jail-escape-shooting-police-officer-appears-in-court/ Elias Buck waives right to hearing, will be held without bail Fri, 18 Feb 2022 02:32:45 -0700 1CAF6201-7335-4A83-B3AD-FB1F2A0E9211 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/durango-fugitive-suspected-of-shooting-farmington-officer-is-arrested-in-phoenix/ Elias Buck spent 19 days on the run after escaping from the La Plata County Jail Fri, 14 Jan 2022 18:08:52 -0700 11BCF397-EA11-40F1-91F1-F6412F9B0C0A https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/fentanyl-a-game-of-russian-roulette-for-new-mexicans/ Hezekiah Beltran ,17, is spending time at the Serenity Mesa Recovery Center, poses on Dec. 3, 2021, in Albuquerque. (Roberto E. Rosales/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)Roberto E. Rosales/The Albuquerque Journal via AP ALBUQUERQUE — He had been sober for years,... Tue, 21 Dec 2021 18:20:21 -0700 B2C11A91-0C5A-5517-AA4B-C2484F159180 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/man-says-couple-pepper-sprayed-him-before-stealing-his-suv-suspect-officer-struggle/ Suspect is denied admission to jail because of COVID-19 rule Sat, 30 Oct 2021 17:00:00 -0600 AC3F6AE9-2403-46B3-868C-26959A961B7F
Cortez Police Department badgedu1-i-synSuspect is denied admission to jail because of COVID-19 ruleA couple suspected of pepper-spraying an elderly man and stealing his car on Oct. 17 in New Mexico might face additional charges including resisting arrest and possessing meth after officers tried to detain them on Oct. 24, according to a Cortez Police Department incident report.Donovan Denetdeal was found in possession of a stolen black Chevrolet Trailblazer at Sleeping Ute Apartments at 516 S. Madison St. in Cortez.The vehicle went missing Oct. 17.According to the police report, the elderly driver gave Donovan Denetdeal and Lindsey Yazzie a ride up a bluff to drop them off. Once up the bluff, he said, the couple pepper-sprayed him and attempted to pull him out of his seat, although he had a seat belt on, he told police. After they removed the seat belt, the couple threw the man into the dirt, took his phone, wallet and keys, and left him there.The man remained on the ground, his vision impaired by the pepper spray and a recent cataract surgery.Denetdeal originally was denied admittance into the Montezuma County Detention Center, the report said. Police turned over the investigation to officials in San Juan County, New Mexico, because that is where the theft occurred, Assistant Chief of Police Andy Brock said Friday.As of Friday, neither Denetdeal nor Yazzie were in custody at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center in Farmington, a representative said Friday.Denetdeal has a history of crime, Brock said. In 2020 alone, he was charged as a suspect in an assault, two stolen vehicle cases, a bicycle theft case, for a traffic incident, two shoplifting cases and for trespassing.Yazzie does not have a previous criminal record, Brock said.The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office was closed Friday and unavailable for comment.Denetdeal is scheduled to to appear in Montezuma County Combined Courts for a jury trial Nov. 15 through Nov. 17. He has a virtual status conference Nov. 10 at 8:30 a.m.A criminal complaint against Denetdeal also was filed Oct. 25 in New Mexico through the Aztec Magistrate Court for robbery, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor aggravated battery with no great bodily harm. Yazzie also was issued the same criminal complaint charges on the same day in New Mexico.After soliciting help in finding the vehicle with a Facebook post, the owner’s grandson received a tip that it was parked at Sleeping Ute Apartments, 516 S. Madison St., the police report continued.Cortez Police responded just after 10 a.m. Tuesday and confirmed that the stolen vehicle was parked at the apartment complex. Police recognized Denetdeal from previous interactions as he walked out of an apartment toward the stolen car, the report said.Denetdeal told police he didn’t know about the missing Chevrolet. He tried to reenter the apartment, but police told him he was detained.Police patted Denetdeal down to check for weapons, and they observed him to have a foldable knife – and keys to the missing Trailblazer – in his pockets.Police Sergeant Rogelio Maynard instructed Denetdeal to put his hands behind his back, but he twisted out of Maynard’s hold and used his body weight to throw a second officer, Kristin Cannon, around, the report said.Police brought Denetdeal to the ground, and he continued to struggle with Cannon as she lay on top of him to restrain him. Another officer arrived, and Denetdeal was taken into custody, the police report said.A woman came out of the same apartment Denetdeal exited and asked to retrieve items she claimed to be hers from the stolen car, which she told police she had borrowed. Police said they would speak with the owner to determine ownership of the items.Montezuma County Detention Center staff did not accept Denetdeal into custody, so Cannon issued him county court summons for aggravated motor vehicle theft, resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer. Cannon noted that she would seek additional charges as the investigation revealed details of the car’s theft, the report said.A later search of the car produce a mix of items including two narcotics syringes, an unloaded pistol, pepper spray, and a bag of methamphetamine, according to the incident report.Although he was unfamiliar with the case, Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin said Friday that the presence of drugs and a gun alone would warrant admission to the jail if there was room.At the time of the report, it was not disclosed who possessed the items.Nowlin previously called for a limit on the intake of inmates Oct. 12 because of a rise in COVID-19 cases at the jail. Under the order, only individuals suspected in Class 1 through Class 3 felonies, sexual assault, and mandatory domestic violence arrests and/or protection order violations would be admitted to the jail.The jail will begin to ease up on those restrictions starting Monday, he said. Minor misdmeanors still won’t warrant admission.Last week, the jail saw its outbreak double, resulting in 26 inmate virus cases and two staff cases. All but one of the cases has been cleared, Nowlin said. The last case should be cleared Saturday, and until then, that inmate is isolated.The car – stolen for eight days – suffered severe scratching and had an AAA sticker scratched off. Police estimated the cost of repairing the damages to be more than $3,000.Receipts under Yazzie’s name showed two stays at the Tomahawk Lodge at 728 South Broadway: one on Oct. 17 — the date of the theft — and one the next night on Oct. 18. Surveillance showed the couple in the missing vehicle.The manager told police the couple tried to rent a room Sunday, as well — after the encounter with Cortez police officers. Yazzie told the manager her car and wallet had been stolen and that she needed to use her uncle’s card to book a room. The manager refused their request, and told police she was suspicious of their behavior.Yazzie refused to provide more details about allegedly borrowing the car when later questioned, the report said.Cannon wrote that she would seek a warrant for Yazzie’s arrest as well.]]> https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/tico-time-brings-joy-to-some-misery-for-others/ Neighbors of RV resort say loud music, nudity has made life ‘hell’ Wed, 29 Sep 2021 11:00:00 -0600 EDF2FE57-C728-48AE-B1AE-81EADAF23B6D https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/new-fire-station-in-san-juan-county-built-on-land-once-owned-by-family-of-firefighters/ Volunteers can train, keep equipment at site west of Farmington Fri, 10 Sep 2021 22:40:00 -0600 929C8FE8-F821-4514-9465-A591232FFD40 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/mental-health-issues-prevalent-even-with-state-reopening/ Pandemic to blame for increased depression and anxiety, medical professional says Sat, 03 Jul 2021 00:22:00 -0600 D415EB39-18F8-49AA-AB98-54075606A898 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/man-killed-in-motorcycle-crash-on-south-camino-del-rio-in-durango/ Collision with pickup truck occurred Friday evening Tue, 22 Jun 2021 01:05:00 -0600 DDABCE6E-27BA-47E3-B4F2-8BEBA2F3D1E4 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/san-juan-college-opens-fire-tower-for-training/ Structure will be used by students and area firefighters Fri, 18 Jun 2021 22:58:00 -0600 2FF49B13-D9A1-4871-A901-D8C34ECB9260 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/farmington-urges-residents-to-refrain-from-fireworks-and-other-fire-sources/ San Juan County is in the ‘worst level’ of drought Fri, 11 Jun 2021 21:22:00 -0600 14E8F313-A5ED-4052-910D-933AFC21F08D https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/man-killed-in-head-on-collision-on-colorado-145/ Crash occurred Friday northeast of Dolores Wed, 02 Jun 2021 02:23:00 -0600 9532486C-F14F-407C-BD14-2DAB3EBE2730 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/dinosaur-replicas-get-a-permanent-home-at-san-juan-college/ Sherman Dugan Museum of Geology features six full-size replicas Tue, 12 Nov 2019 17:59:59 -0700 9728F28B-66D7-5EE6-E053-0100007FAD6F https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/without-aid-of-books-and-pictures-kids-use-movement-to-interpret-stories/ Storyteller incorporates Diné language and American Sign Language Mon, 04 Nov 2019 20:06:32 -0700 968A1183-74B8-7DEB-E053-0100007F4EA3 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/dia-de-los-muertos-display-honors-loved-ones-in-farmington/ Display helps share Hispanic culture with community Wed, 30 Oct 2019 22:35:04 -0600 96260F83-DF88-48B3-E053-0100007FADFE https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/school-resource-officer-resigns-after-tussle-with-11-year-old-girl/ Farmington Police Department releases lapel footage of incident Mon, 21 Oct 2019 21:31:14 -0600 956F9FBE-1DE7-22E3-E053-0100007F8436 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/new-mexico/invasive-russian-olive-a-nuisance-for-colorado-new-mexico/ ‘We can be good neighbors by working on our parts’ Sun, 13 Oct 2019 11:03:07 -0600 94A5AF60-0A11-39E3-E053-0100007F9C80