Homelessness – The Durango Herald

Pop-up testing tracks COVID-19 in hard-to-reach groups

Weekly effort provides access to those experiencing homelessness

DATE: Feb 2, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Is accessing health care a Catch-22 for Durango’s homeless population?

A rule that patients first get sober might cut off services for some

DATE: Jan 29, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango renews site search for homeless community

Officials aim to identify location by May 1 deadline

DATE: Jan 28, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Temperatures drop below zero across Southwest Colorado

Weather station at Durango airport records low of minus 14 degrees

DATE: Jan 27, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Authorities identify homeless man found dead Monday

Autopsy did not find cause of death, coroner says

DATE: Jan 21, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Man found dead Monday morning in downtown Durango

Police say autopsy Thursday should determine cause of death

DATE: Jan 18, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

2 fires extinguished at Purple Cliffs homeless camp

Many residents have makeshift fireplaces inside living structures

DATE: Jan 12, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Outbreak of COVID-19 reported at Durango homeless camp

Two residents test positive, state health department says

DATE: Jan 7, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

COVID-19 stresses services for the unhoused in Farmington

Daily Bread food pantry doubles number of meals it serves

DATE: Dec 27, 2020 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Durango eighth graders bake for shelter residents

Cookies form the heart of their ‘Care Packages’

DATE: Dec 22, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

Eviction levels could be ‘catastrophic’ in Durango if freeze is not extended

United Way rental assistance almost doubles this year

DATE: Dec 22, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

Is Durango Police Department’s mission aligned with community values?

Advisory panel offers feedback about issues of homelessness, social reform

DATE: Dec 19, 2020 | 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