business and finance - The Durango Herald

Residential gas bills to jump 26% next month in Southwest Colorado

Volatility in energy markets created by pandemic and war in Ukraine are behind the rise

DATE: May 21, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango Chamber of Commerce names Citizen of the Year

Karen Zink helped lead community vaccination clinics during pandemic

DATE: May 3, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

CJ’s Diner in Durango, a lightning rod during COVID-19 restrictions, is for sale

Jerry and Carrie Martinez to step away from restaurant after more than two decades

DATE: Apr 19, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Not déjà vu: Residents want to purchase Triangle Trailer Park in Durango

An initial offer was rejected Tuesday, but community groups are working to vie for the property

DATE: Apr 13, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Singletrack Café starts Beans for Benefit program

Proceeds from coffee sales will support Durango-area nonprofits

DATE: Apr 11, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Offer for Westside Mobile Home Park rejected

Owner received a more favorable bid; residents rally to submit a second proposal

DATE: Mar 18, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Judge dismisses lawsuit against San Juan Basin Public Health

CJ’s Diner challenged state and local health orders

DATE: Feb 28, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

La Plata County commissioner candidate accepts cryptocurrency donations

Jack Turner among the first in Colorado to take digital campaign contributions

DATE: Feb 15, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

11-year-old on rocky road to success

Kendrick Keene finances Roth IRA, brokerage account selling polished rocks, geologic knowledge to tourists

DATE: Jul 26, 2021 | CATEGORY: Business

Housing prices across La Plata County surge upward

Real estate market only got hotter in the second quarter of 2021

DATE: Jul 21, 2021 | CATEGORY: Business

Helping small firms get their fair share of the pie

Bond to Business program connects local contractors with $114 million in school construction projects planned for the next four years

DATE: Jul 18, 2021 | CATEGORY: Business

A ‘Wanderful’ COVID-19 success story

Wanderful Wheels’ cargo-to-campervan conversions was already hot, but pandemic superheated demand

DATE: Jun 7, 2021 | CATEGORY: Business

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Photos: People’s MarchAbout 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

About 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

Photos: Fort Lewis College basketballWomen’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

Women’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

Photos: Wrestling at Durango High SchoolDurango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Durango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Photos: Where there's smoke there's firefightersDurango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Durango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Photos: Durango plays Montezuma-Cortez in boys, girls high school basketballDurango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Durango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Year in photos: A look back at Southwest Colorado in 2024Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is the people, their emotions, different cultures and varied forms of entertainment that make for impactful images. Add to that Southwest Colorado’s gorgeous scenery, abundant wildlife and range of weather events, and you have the makings for stunning photos. We hope you enjoy Photo Editor Jerry McBride’s photos from 2024.

Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is...

Montezuma County DA Christian Hatfield charged with DWICharges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New MexicoMontezuma County District Attorney Christian Hatfield was charged Friday with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs 16 weeks after he crashed his SUV on U.S. Highway 64 outside Bloomfield.The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office charged Hatfield, 59, with petty misdemeanor charge of DWI and an open container in connection to the Aug. 30 single-car crash.The charges come after results from a blood test by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory showed alcohol and a drug in Hatfield’s body after the crash.

“The results show that at the time of the blood draw, which was approximately eleven hours after the time of the crash due to medical issues, were 0.05 g/100 ml of Ethanol and 0.04 mg/L of Zolpidem (Ambien). Both Ethanol and Ambien are Central Nervous System Depressants,” the law enforcement report states.Two vials of blood were taken from Hatfield at 1:33 p.m. Aug. 30, which was more than 12 hours after the crash occurred about 1 a.m. Those vials were received by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory at 10:26 a.m. Oct. 11, which was six weeks after the crash, according to records from the lab.An investigation into the blood warrant by The Journal newspaper in Cortez, Colorado, showed that the blood sample sat in a refrigerator at the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office until Oct. 3, because paperwork to send it to the state laboratory was not processed.“I think it’s a non-prosecutable case because of all the errors made by law enforcement,” said Arlon Stoker, a high-profile defense attorney secured by Hatfield to fight the charges.

The charges made by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office are “based on the observations made by law enforcement officers on scene and the presence of intoxicating drugs and liquors in Christian's blood,” according to the report that was given to The Journal by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.Amanda Lavin, legal director for NMFOG, assisted The Journal in accessing public records from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in Aztec. The records had been redacted, leaving out Hatfield’s name and information about the blood warrant filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.Public records requests by The Journal and the Tri-City Record went unresolved for 14 weeks.The Journal requested body camera footage and lapel camera video on Sept. 3.The Tri-City Record requested any and all warrants, investigative reports and laboratory reports as well as photos, lapel cam videos and dash cam videos on Oct. 23.On Dec. 9, Lavin made the same requests.

The Journal received access to photos and videos in an email on Dec. 19, and Lavin, after making a legal argument for unredacted information, received the full report Dec. 19 and was advised that charges would be forthcoming.The report detailing the crash states that Hatfield was found “unresponsive and barely able to stand” about 1 a.m. Aug. 30 near the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and County Road 5099.Investigators and medics noted a “pungent” odor of alcohol coming from Hatfield, and investigators found “an open 12-ounce can of Mexican Lager with residual liquid inside,” an “empty wine glass,” and a “bottle of Ambien prescribed to Christian,” according to the report.The affidavit for search warrant for blood submitted by sheriff’s deputy Avery Killifer states he had an “opinion that the defendant was driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance.” The deputy “placed the defendant under arrest” at the time, but Hatfield was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center, because of “extensive injuries.”A summons was issued for Hatfield, and an arraignment is set for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 8 in Aztec Magistrate Court.

Charges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New Mexico

Photos: Wreaths Across America honors fallen veteransDurango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Durango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Photos: Skyhawks men’s and women’s basketball Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Demons defeat Bobcats 62-47 on Friday at DHS

Residential gas bills to jump 26% next month in Southwest Colorado

Durango Chamber of Commerce names Citizen of the Year

CJ’s Diner in Durango, a lightning rod during COVID-19 restrictions, is for sale

Not déjà vu: Residents want to purchase Triangle Trailer Park in Durango

Singletrack Café starts Beans for Benefit program

Offer for Westside Mobile Home Park rejected

Judge dismisses lawsuit against San Juan Basin Public Health

La Plata County commissioner candidate accepts cryptocurrency donations

11-year-old on rocky road to success

Housing prices across La Plata County surge upward

Helping small firms get their fair share of the pie

A ‘Wanderful’ COVID-19 success story

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