law and justice - The Durango Herald

Effort to make it easier to deliver death sentence fails in Colorado

Ellen Roberts joins Democrats in opposition

DATE: Feb 10, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

Man shot at End-O-Day Motel in Durango

Joshua Gonzales flown to Albuquerque hospital in critical condition

DATE: Feb 10, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

Cortez police likely to face lawsuit in Make My Day case

A Denver attorney has confirmed that a civil lawsuit is likely against the Cortez Police Department in connection to a 2014 Make My Day criminal trial. In a 1,154-word letter date...

DATE: Jan 30, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

2 remaining escaped inmates arrested in San Francisco

Three broke out of California jail on Jan. 22

DATE: Jan 30, 2016 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Gold King Mine spill legislation drowns in Colorado Legislature

Measure sought to make it easier to sue federal government

DATE: Jan 27, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

Gunman kills 4 in Canada

Residents reeling in remote aboriginal community

DATE: Jan 23, 2016 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Burkina Faso hotel seizure ends with 27 dead

Four Jihadists killed Saturday after forces storm building

DATE: Jan 16, 2016 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Man questioned in Colorado prison chief’s death held after new attack

Thomas Guolee faces charges including attempted first-degree murder of a police officer

DATE: Jan 7, 2016 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Aaron Williams sentenced for involvement in shooting at Durango hotel

Accused gunman in case scheduled for February trial

DATE: Jan 5, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

Albuquerque homicides up 53 percent in 2015

Spurs calls for tough sentencing for repeat offenders

DATE: Jan 4, 2016 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado still not sure whether legal marijuana made roads less safe

Three years after Colorado voted to legalize recreational marijuana, little is known about whether the state’s roads are less safe – and law enforcement efforts remain largely focused on alc...

DATE: Dec 29, 2015 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado’s pot credit union begs for access to nation’s banking system

Bank challenges Federal Reserve’s denial of access to financial system

DATE: Dec 28, 2015 | CATEGORY: Regional 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 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

Effort to make it easier to deliver death sentence fails in Colorado

Man shot at End-O-Day Motel in Durango

Cortez police likely to face lawsuit in Make My Day case

2 remaining escaped inmates arrested in San Francisco

Gold King Mine spill legislation drowns in Colorado Legislature

Gunman kills 4 in Canada

Burkina Faso hotel seizure ends with 27 dead

Man questioned in Colorado prison chief’s death held after new attack

Aaron Williams sentenced for involvement in shooting at Durango hotel

Albuquerque homicides up 53 percent in 2015

Colorado still not sure whether legal marijuana made roads less safe

Colorado’s pot credit union begs for access to nation’s banking system

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