Homelessness – The Durango Herald

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

Where are homeless people with cars supposed to park?

Overnight car camping is against the law in most public spaces, and can get you towed

DATE: Dec 10, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

First project for newly formed wildfire mitigation group: Durango homeless camp

Crews build half-mile line around encampment

DATE: Dec 3, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango’s Espero Apartments opens to applause

Supportive housing offers place to heal and thrive for unhoused, low-income and disabled residents

DATE: Oct 28, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Homelessness, mental health top residents’ wish list for how to spend COVID-19 relief money

La Plata County in no rush to determine how to dole out nearly $11 million

DATE: Sep 16, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

La Plata County man finds new job, new hope

Window washing company helps lift Nathan Pease out of homelessness

DATE: Sep 8, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

People at Purple Cliffs grow frustrated with talk of closing campsite

Campers, government officials and experts favor managed camp

DATE: Sep 6, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

La Plata County takes over search for new homeless camp

Purple Cliffs is too small and unsuitable for campers

DATE: Aug 23, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Resource center for homelessness in Durango takes shape at Manna

Hub for support services top priority in city, county strategic plan

DATE: Aug 18, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

ACLU pushes Boulder to abandon ‘unconstitutional’ homeless policies

Civil rights group takes aim at two policies targeting unhoused residents

DATE: Jul 30, 2021 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Boulder clears way for immediate removal of tents from public spaces

New ordinance is part of city’s monthslong push to enforce Boulder’s urban camping ban

DATE: Jul 21, 2021 | CATEGORY: Regional 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