Pine River Times Opinion - The Durango Herald

Youth should repair museum damage

The Pine River Valley Heritage Society Museum was notified by the marshal's office regarding racial epithets and graffiti on our building. We thank the business owner who provided the marsh...

DATE: Jan 22, 2015 | CATEGORY: Opinion

$18 million available for training for beginning farmers, ranchers

By Traci Bruckner Center for Rural Affairs The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced more than $18 million in funding available to support training, mentoring, and d...

DATE: Jan 22, 2015 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Preschool thanks Bells for BEEP supporters

Bayfield Early Education Programs completed its Bells for BEEP fundraiser on Dec. 18. Sponsors of the bells were CRG Construction, Horizon Environmental Services, F & M Construction, Sun Cle...

DATE: Jan 15, 2015 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Vandalism is sad commentary

Looking at racial epithets spraypainted on your church is sad. Along with the Lions Club, where my husband is a member, the museum where I've covered events and learned about our ...

DATE: Jan 15, 2015 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Lions Club appreciates Santas, donors

The North Pole has sent a special message to the Bayfield Lions Club. Santa Claus would like to thank all his helpers in the Bayfield community. Santa would not be able to visit all the chil...

DATE: Jan 8, 2015 | CATEGORY: Opinion

BEEP appreciates support for breakfast

Bayfield Early Education Programs recently completed its 10th annual Breakfast with Santa and silent auction fundraiser on Dec. 13. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jennifer ...

DATE: Jan 8, 2015 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Preparedness begins at home, resulting in stronger communities

By Sharon Loper As 2015 begins, it's an opportunity to take stock of our lives and examine what we can do to make them better and improve the community around us. While the holida...

DATE: Jan 8, 2015 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Leadership La Plata thanks supporters

We are writing of behalf of all of Leadership La Plata to sincerely thank the businesses, organizations and individuals who contributed to making our LLP Business session in December a great...

DATE: Dec 18, 2014 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Ignacio Wrestling Association promoting sport

The Ignacio Wrestling Association is a nonprofit organization that began in May to promote wrestling in Ignacio and the surrounding communities. Our meetings and membership are open to anyon...

DATE: Dec 18, 2014 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Postal worker, coach thanks community

Before I leave my home of 20 years to begin a new chapter of my life, I would like to say thank you to all of you. Thank you to all the parents who over many seasons entrusted me ...

DATE: Dec 11, 2014 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Bell ringing can be hectic this year

It's easy in December to get too caught up in presents, cards, cookies and parties and blow off the true meaning of Advent and Christmas. I'm not pointing fingers. I've done it to...

DATE: Dec 11, 2014 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Roth family thanks friends for support

We would like to send a big thank you to everyone who called, sent cards, sent flowers, sent donations to charities, visited with us and gave us so much support after Ella's passing. ...

DATE: Dec 4, 2014 | CATEGORY: Opinion

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Photos: Wrestling at Durango High SchoolDurango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Durango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Photos: Where there's smoke there's firefightersDurango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Durango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Photos: Durango plays Montezuma-Cortez in boys, girls high school basketballDurango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Durango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Year in photos: A look back at Southwest Colorado in 2024Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is the people, their emotions, different cultures and varied forms of entertainment that make for impactful images. Add to that Southwest Colorado’s gorgeous scenery, abundant wildlife and range of weather events, and you have the makings for stunning photos. We hope you enjoy Photo Editor Jerry McBride’s photos from 2024.

Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is...

Montezuma County DA Christian Hatfield charged with DWICharges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New MexicoMontezuma County District Attorney Christian Hatfield was charged Friday with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs 16 weeks after he crashed his SUV on U.S. Highway 64 outside Bloomfield.The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office charged Hatfield, 59, with petty misdemeanor charge of DWI and an open container in connection to the Aug. 30 single-car crash.The charges come after results from a blood test by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory showed alcohol and a drug in Hatfield’s body after the crash.

“The results show that at the time of the blood draw, which was approximately eleven hours after the time of the crash due to medical issues, were 0.05 g/100 ml of Ethanol and 0.04 mg/L of Zolpidem (Ambien). Both Ethanol and Ambien are Central Nervous System Depressants,” the law enforcement report states.Two vials of blood were taken from Hatfield at 1:33 p.m. Aug. 30, which was more than 12 hours after the crash occurred about 1 a.m. Those vials were received by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory at 10:26 a.m. Oct. 11, which was six weeks after the crash, according to records from the lab.An investigation into the blood warrant by The Journal newspaper in Cortez, Colorado, showed that the blood sample sat in a refrigerator at the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office until Oct. 3, because paperwork to send it to the state laboratory was not processed.“I think it’s a non-prosecutable case because of all the errors made by law enforcement,” said Arlon Stoker, a high-profile defense attorney secured by Hatfield to fight the charges.

The charges made by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office are “based on the observations made by law enforcement officers on scene and the presence of intoxicating drugs and liquors in Christian's blood,” according to the report that was given to The Journal by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.Amanda Lavin, legal director for NMFOG, assisted The Journal in accessing public records from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in Aztec. The records had been redacted, leaving out Hatfield’s name and information about the blood warrant filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.Public records requests by The Journal and the Tri-City Record went unresolved for 14 weeks.The Journal requested body camera footage and lapel camera video on Sept. 3.The Tri-City Record requested any and all warrants, investigative reports and laboratory reports as well as photos, lapel cam videos and dash cam videos on Oct. 23.On Dec. 9, Lavin made the same requests.

The Journal received access to photos and videos in an email on Dec. 19, and Lavin, after making a legal argument for unredacted information, received the full report Dec. 19 and was advised that charges would be forthcoming.The report detailing the crash states that Hatfield was found “unresponsive and barely able to stand” about 1 a.m. Aug. 30 near the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and County Road 5099.Investigators and medics noted a “pungent” odor of alcohol coming from Hatfield, and investigators found “an open 12-ounce can of Mexican Lager with residual liquid inside,” an “empty wine glass,” and a “bottle of Ambien prescribed to Christian,” according to the report.The affidavit for search warrant for blood submitted by sheriff’s deputy Avery Killifer states he had an “opinion that the defendant was driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance.” The deputy “placed the defendant under arrest” at the time, but Hatfield was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center, because of “extensive injuries.”A summons was issued for Hatfield, and an arraignment is set for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 8 in Aztec Magistrate Court.

Charges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New Mexico