Columnists - The Durango Herald

Durango, you truly rock!

Behind every thriving community is a camaraderie of businesses, nonprofits and individuals who are dedicated to making a difference and paying it forward. And Durango is fortunate to have so...

DATE: Mar 6, 2024 | CATEGORY: From the Chamber

Chaco Canyon the subject of symphony

Musician, composer, teacher and illustrator Gary Gackstatter has always been fond of the Southwest as well as a fan of musician R. Carlos Nakai. So when Gackstatter was approaching a deadlin...

DATE: Mar 6, 2024 | CATEGORY: Downtown Lowdown

San Juan River’s ‘ever-moving pile of sediment’ requires new vigilance

When the San Juan River flows out of the San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado, it contributes 15% of Lake Powell’s water. But there’s a problem: The river carries a hefty 55% of the s...

DATE: Mar 6, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

On water compact: ‘Colorado will never get a better deal’

I’ve been a water engineer in Southwest Colorado for 50 years and watched the importance of the Colorado River Compact increase from a background document to front and center as the current ...

DATE: Mar 6, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Two sons turn back on mother

DEAR ABBY: Eight years ago, my oldest son, a police officer, quit talking to us. We had no fights, no arguments – he just stopped answering our calls, and I no longer was allowed to see my g...

DATE: Mar 5, 2024 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Husband pressures wife to dress more provocatively

DEAR ABBY: My husband wants me to wear more revealing clothing. I’ve always enjoyed dressing attractively, and have never felt behind the times or like a frump, but I do have my opinion abou...

DATE: Mar 5, 2024 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Husband gives spouse unthinkable ultimatum

DEAR ABBY: My husband has a poor relationship with our son and his wife. They want nothing to do with him and don’t want him around the grandchildren because of how he acts. My husband tells...

DATE: Mar 5, 2024 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Catching up on local trail talk

Dear Action Line: Where the heck have you been? Do we need to start looking for a new Action Line? Did you just run out of things to say that (you think) are witty? – A.L. Dear A.L.: Lo...

DATE: Mar 4, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

NRA, the U.S. Supreme Court and the public trust

A parallel exists between Wayne La Pierre, former leader of the National Rifle Association, and Clarence Thomas, a Supreme Court justice. Both men have damaged public trust in their respecti...

DATE: Mar 3, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Will retain competent attorneys, prevent wrongful convictions’

I’m running for district attorney in the 6th District so my neighbors will live in the safest place in the state. I have 18 years of overall criminal law experience and prosecuted well over ...

DATE: Mar 3, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Experience, vision to continue the work with leadership’

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two groups: defense attorneys, representing clients, and district attorneys, prosecuting crimes and seeking justice for victims....

DATE: Mar 3, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Another layer of cleaning out

I’m trying to clean out a bit. My house feels cluttered and it’s a good winter project. As I age, it feels good to not leave all this for my kids to deal with when I die. My house is small, ...

DATE: Mar 3, 2024 | CATEGORY: Authentic Aging

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members wore costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho’s bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the Secret Circus Society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this year’s costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don’ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since its inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this year’s fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unfazed by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns

Durango, you truly rock!

Chaco Canyon the subject of symphony

San Juan River’s ‘ever-moving pile of sediment’ requires new vigilance

On water compact: ‘Colorado will never get a better deal’

Two sons turn back on mother

Husband pressures wife to dress more provocatively

Husband gives spouse unthinkable ultimatum

Catching up on local trail talk

NRA, the U.S. Supreme Court and the public trust

‘Will retain competent attorneys, prevent wrongful convictions’

‘Experience, vision to continue the work with leadership’

Another layer of cleaning out

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