Durango Fire Protection District

Small fire had big potential at St. Columba

Light bulb in storage area sparks blaze

DATE: Aug 9, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango residents to vote on property tax increase to fund fire district

Location for rebuilt Station No. 2 remains undecided

DATE: Aug 8, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango fire district asks for property tax increase

Voters may decide whether to fund new station, more firefighters

DATE: Aug 4, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Exact causes of three Durango-area fire remain undetermined

1111 Camino, Tercero Townhouse and Lightner Creek fires under investigation

DATE: Aug 2, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango fire chief asks city, county for new impact fees

Funding needed to help pay for fire protection services, he says

DATE: Jul 25, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Animas River tuber injured Sunday identified, in critical condition

GoFundMe campaign says man ‘fighting for his life’

DATE: Jul 18, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Man tubing Animas Whitewater Park requires rescue Sunday

Tuber transported to hospital with pulse and blood pressue, EMS captain says

DATE: Jul 16, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Exact cause of Lightner Creek Fire to remain ‘undetermined’

Firefighters know it started in a house, but that’s all

DATE: Jul 7, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Photos: Smoke clears Main Avenue building

DATE: Jul 6, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Cost of Lightner Creek Fire tops $2 million

All county roads reopen to public

DATE: Jul 5, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Lightner Creek Fire burning itself out

Residents asked to use discretion when calling 911

DATE: Jul 4, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Firefighters cautiously optimistic about Lightner Creek Fire

Evacuations, pre-evac notices remain in place

DATE: Jun 29, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

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 donned 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 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 the 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 years 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 it’s 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 years fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unphased 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

Small fire had big potential at St. Columba

Durango residents to vote on property tax increase to fund fire district

Durango fire district asks for property tax increase

Exact causes of three Durango-area fire remain undetermined

Durango fire chief asks city, county for new impact fees

Animas River tuber injured Sunday identified, in critical condition

Man tubing Animas Whitewater Park requires rescue Sunday

Exact cause of Lightner Creek Fire to remain ‘undetermined’

Photos: Smoke clears Main Avenue building

Cost of Lightner Creek Fire tops $2 million

Lightner Creek Fire burning itself out

Firefighters cautiously optimistic about Lightner Creek Fire

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