Homelessness – The Durango Herald

La Plata County considering purchase of various sites for managed camp

Properties could address concerns of Ella Vita and Crestview residents

DATE: Mar 30, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Manna opens resource and navigation center in Durango

Facility will support nonprofit’s expansion of services and its new model of empowerment

DATE: Mar 25, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Man with ‘metal spikes’ suspected of threatening Sheriff’s Office staff

Suspect was apparently upset his vehicle had been towed

DATE: Mar 18, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango City Council approves $170,000 for homeless support plans

Manna soup kitchen receives extra funding for 2022 endeavors

DATE: Mar 2, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Why can’t Durango’s unhoused manage themselves?

Some Purple Cliffs residents say they already have a managed camp; La Plata County and advocacy groups disagree

DATE: Feb 23, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango nonprofit starts peer recovery support services program in La Plata County

Effort aims to help those suffering from substance use disorders and mental health conditions

DATE: Feb 9, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Dispersed camping is out of control in Chaffee County; officials are seeking solutions

An explosion in visitors and degrading outdoor ethics are wrecking natural areas

DATE: Feb 4, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

List of locations for a managed homeless camp in Durango grows

La Plata County and city of Durango vetting 18 additional sites after protest from residents

DATE: Jan 31, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Pandemic reveals health disparities in La Plata County

Some community members face higher burden of disease, greater economic consequences

DATE: Jan 20, 2022 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

What is a ‘managed’ homeless camp and who does it serve in Durango?

City, county and unhoused advocates think they’re making progress, but campers aren’t so sure

DATE: Jan 10, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

What will a new year bring to Southwest Colorado?

A new fire station? An end to drought? Here are a few things sure to make news in 2022

DATE: Jan 1, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

La Plata County’s plan for managed homeless camp divides Durango residents

Those who live near proposed location oppose the project, but others say it will help tackle homelessness

DATE: Dec 14, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

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Patriotic drone show unfolds above Durango’s night skyAbout 1,200 people watched production from city Transit Center

One hundred forty drones took to the skies above Greenmount Cemetery at 10 p.m. sharp Saturday in a glowing and patriotic spectacle featuring vibrant images colored red, white and blue against the black backdrop of night.About 1,200 people gathered Saturday at the Durango Transit Center to watch the city’s premiere drone show produced by Verge Aero after a street dance and band performance by McCurry Trio and Desert Child for Independence Day celebrations.Spectators were treated to drone depictions of the American flag, star patterns, a soaring bald eagle and a homage to the city with drones flying in formation to spell out “Durango” to close out the street dance that started at 6 p.m. Across the valley from Greenmount Cemetery, the headlights of cars shined from Rim Drive near Fort Lewis College where more spectators watched.

Ellen Babers, Durango community events administrator, said the show went well. She heard “Ooh’s” and “ah’s” from the crowd when the drones transitioned from one image to another.She said a segment that consisted of stars rotating at various intervals, shrinking into smaller stars before expanding into the shape of a larger star, appeared to be a crowd favorite.“People really liked the Durango part,” she said. “When it spelled out Durango, people seemed surprised. Like, ‘Oh, this isn’t just a generic show, this is about us.’”Other images included an outline of the continental United States, the letters “USA,” and a spinning globe shape that gave the drone show a 3D feel.

The drones were laid out earlier in the evening in a square grid, with each drone placed 4 feet apart. Peter Smiatek, pilot and designer of the drone show, worked with a crew of about six people, including volunteers. Saturday evening at Greenmount Cemetery where the drones launched and landed, Peter Smiatek, pilot and designer with Verge Aero, and his crew of about six people, including volunteers, had laid all the drones out on the grass in a square grid. Each drone was placed four feet apart. Smiatek synced the drones to a GPS and radio tower in preparation for the evening’s show. Six minutes before takeoff, a deer wandered straight past the drone grid, narrowly avoiding stepping on them.“That could have been a disaster,” Smiatek said as his crew scanned the nearby area with flashlights. No other deer were visible.Two minutes before takeoff, the crew’s portable generator shut off – out of gas.

“We have double secure power,” he said. “The generator fell off two minutes before the show started. It’s like Murphy’s law, anything that could happen will happen. So it’s best to be prepared.”During prep, the crew ran several tests with the drones. The drones shot up 3 to 4 meters, hovered for about one second and then dropped back to their designated grid space on the grass.

Smiatek worked from a makeshift command station where his laptop and transmission tower were perched.“The base station is the heart of the show,” he said. “It’s a computer and it’s a distribution system connected to radios and an antenna. And that’s it, basically. Very flexible and a good system.”Chris Lutts, vice president of sales at Verge Aero, said he thinks Durangoans enjoyed the performance. From Greenmount Cemetery, he could hear the cheers and whistles of the audience at the Durango Transit Center.“The people we’ve been working with have been great,” he said. “Clearly, the city enjoyed it, so that’s awesome. That’s why we do this. It’s no different than any other entertainment, man. You love that feedback. It’s validation that what you’re doing is something that people really like.”cburney@durangoherald.com