For the first time in its history, Animas High School has permanence. After operating in strip malls and mobile units through its developmental years, the school is finally in its permanent home on the campus of Fort Lewis College. Both students and staff feel an important presence from the school’s new structure. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by ServiceMaster Restore and 2180 Lighting & Design Studio.

Cortez’s WildEdge Brewing Collective, open since 2017 is finally completing an expansion that’s been in the works since before the Covid pandemic. Owner and Brewer Tucker Robinson says the smaller, more intimate space located behind the main taproom can fill a variety of roles. He believes the room can be anything from a meeting space to a lecture site. By Connor Shreve This story is sponsored by FastSigns and The Lor Foundation

The City of Durango has launched a new system to report issues in and around the city called SeeClickFix. The name is fairly self-explanatory – see something amiss, click a photo of the issue (e.g. a pothole on a busy road), and send it off to the City to fix. The process is meant to be more streamlined than the previous reporting tool the City used, and the hope is that it will be more user-friendly for everyone. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barret and Associates and Pop’s Truck & RV Center

After the passing of the Colorado Plastic Pollution Act, many stores are now charging 10 cents for single-use bags. The City of Durango and several non-profit organizations are offering up to two free reusable bags for residents to encourage more people to bring their own bags when shopping. The Durango-La Plata County Airport will soon welcome a larger United Airlines flight, and SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab will have garden plots available for reserving later this month. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by 2180 Lighting and Design Studio and Kroeger’s Ace Hardware

A grant funded visit from the Colorado Springs-based Mobile Earth and Space Observatory brought three days of hands-on education for students at Riverview Elementary School and Miller Middle School. Education concepts included orbit, imaging and gravity among other topics. By Connor Shreve This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett & Associates and Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings

Centura Health committed four million dollars to Fort Lewis College for a renovation of the Aquatics Center into a state-of-the-art performance, rehab, and wellness center for student-athletes and students. The Centura Sports Performance Center will include training and recovery guided by Mercy Sports Medicine trainers. By Connor Shreve This story is sponsored by the Man Cave Barbers and The Payroll Department

Fort Lewis College announced the start of its Employee Mortgage Assistance program to ensure employees are able to buy homes in Durango. 70% of polled voters are in favor of creating a library district to fund the Durango Public Library and tickets are now on sale for the annual Durango Rocks event recognizing local businesses, individuals, and nonprofits for the work they are doing in the county. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by Pop’s Truck & RV Center and Serious Texas BBQ

Durango School District 9-R has a new addition to the teaching staff. Although she’s smaller than most of the students she works with, Misty has already made a significant impact. Assisting students with everything from practicing interview questions, learning how to read facial expressions, learning different types of coding, and hall patrol, Misty the Robot shows a new way to help students learn how to interact with the world around them. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by ServiceMaster Restore and The Payroll Department

The River Roost Apartments offers a different take on obtainable housing in Durango. A hotel conversion apartment complex, River Roost aims to attract residents with a love for the outdoor lifestyle and minimalistic aesthetic. A large common room, a well-equipped fitness center, and a communal working space aid in building the sense of community the Roost brand aspires to have in its complexes. Although the River Roost has only recently opened, the excitement for starting something different is palpable. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and 2180 Lighting and Design Studio

It’s time to dust off those fat bike tires or ring up your coworker down the street to carpool! Winter Bike to Work day returns as part of the Winter Business Commuter Challenge, hosted by Get Around Durango. You have a chance to make history by voting on the Colorado 150th anniversary commemorative license plate, and prospective City Council candidates need to submit their verified signatures soon for the upcoming City Council elections. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Kroeger’s Ace Hardware and The Payroll Department