Dylan McClain and Dalton Bevill may have practical construction skills, but they wanted to do more to express their artistic side, so they joined forces to start Animas Artisans, a Design and Fabrication Studio. This story is sponsored by Ute Mountain Casino Hotel and The Norm Phillips Team, at Draper & Kramer Mortgage

No fireworks, but a drone show will light up the skies this Fourth of July weekend. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Museum reopens to the public, and take a gander at the latest conceptual drawings for a redesigned downtown. This story is sponsored by Pop’s Truck and RV Center and Tafoya Barrett and Associates

The Southwest Civic Winds, founded in 2012, boasts a robust band of 40 members, give or take, playing a variety of instruments, music, and songs from across the world. While they can and do perform in concert halls and other similar venues, you can catch a glimpse of them at the Fourth of July Rotary Park Pancake Breakfast this year. This story is sponsored by TBK Bank and the Payroll Department

Bright and early every Saturday morning during the summer, come join local food and craft vendors at the Durango Farmers Market in TBK Bank. Pick up some fresh lettuce, radishes, mushroom, and perhaps a hat or cake, all the while enjoying live music, community fun, and support your local farmers while you’re at it. This story is sponsored by The Norm Phillips Team, at Draper & Kramer Mortgage and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan & Foley, LLC

Mesa Verde Country hopes to manage and market the Trails of the Ancients Byway so that visitors to Southwest Colorado will find a reason to extend their stays by one or two more days. This story is sponsored by StoneAge Tools and Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado

Horse Empower has a unique way of approaching a ladies’ night out – in the midst of the staples of good food, drinks, and conversation, a horse might just make its appearance. Kim Hardesty, owner of Horse Empower, and her herd of horses offer a range of services, from equine therapy to equine-assisted learning. One of the programs though, might just offer new options for a night out. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Ute Mountain Casino and The Norm Phillips Team, at Draper & Kramer Mortgage

Persistent drought has caused severe fire weather conditions, so area agencies have moved to Stage 2 fire restrictions. That means no fires whatsoever. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and Ute Mountain Casino

The San Juan Basin Public Health District may become another casualty of the COVID pandemic. Whether that happens remains to be seen. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza and Wings and Pop’s Truck and RV Center

KSUT Public Radio wants to reduce polarization between people in the Four Corners with a new conversation series and it invites residents from throughout the region to participate. This story is sponsored by TBK Bank and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan and Foley

Rural Northern New Mexico and Southwest Colorado are suffering from teacher shortages, particularly in secondary math and science classrooms and special education classrooms. The Three Rivers Education Foundation hopes to put a dent in the problem with a unique teacher-training program for professionals considering a change in their careers. This story is sponsored by Boons Family Thai Barbecue and Pop’s Truck and RV Center