La Plata County Public Health Department plays a crucial role in safeguarding the community’s well-being. Beyond behavioral health and communicable disease prevention, the department oversees on-site water testing, waste management, and rigorous restaurant inspections. Megan Graham highlights these vital responsibilities, emphasizing the department’s commitment to the overall health and safety of the community. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank.

Durango High School Troupe 1096 presents the satirical comedy musical Urinetown from February 29th through March 9th at Durango High School. Urinetown envisions a dystopic future where water shortages have led to government regulation and corporate control of bathroom use, and the divide between the rich and the poor comes down to the right to pee freely. The critically acclaimed, Tony Award-winning musical is known for its clever storytelling and impressive musical score. Troupe 1096’s production will be sure to entertain audiences and make them think. For ticket sales and information on how to donate, visit Troup 1096’s website. By Jessica McCallum. This story is sponsored by Kroegers Ace Hardware and Tafoya Barrett & Associates.

The Fort Lewis College Theatre Department presents the award-winning one-act play The Wolves, written by Sarah Delappe and directed by Associate Professor Felicia Lansbury Meyer. The play features an all-female cast and centers on the conversations of a high school girls’ soccer team. The Wolves runs from February 29th through March 3rd at the Gallery Theatre in the Fort Lewis College Theatre Building. By Jessica McCallum. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.

32 students from Ignacio Middle and High Schools attended the San Juan Basin Regional Science Fair at Fort Lewis College. A handful of students joined the competitive portion of the event, like Sophomores Evan Perkins and Max Montoya. Judges awarded Montoya and Perkins third place for their A.I.-based voice recognition project. The fair is a collaborative effort to encourage learning and exploration through the scientific process. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings and Dunkin’ Donuts.

The brainchild of snowboarder Travis Rice, the Natural Selection Tour showcases the world’s top riders from Olympians to big mountain film icons all competing on the world’s most iconic locations. Natural Selection DUELS feature six mountain venues from around the world, where head-to-head competition between two top riders will decide who moves on to the next stages in the Natural Selection Tour. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts and Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings.

Beverage businesses can lose as much as ten percent of revenue during January. But “dry-January” represents a trend that goes beyond one month. Drinking less, or not at all is becoming accepted culturally, and businesses are taking note. Tesstastic Mixers opened in October, with an equal focus on alcoholic and non-alcoholic offerings. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino Resort and Serious Texas BBQ.

The City of Durango plans to contribute $250,000 to the Housing Catalyst Fund to support housing projects in La Plata County, building on previous grants. The 2024 DurangoScape Conference theme centers on native plants and climate adaptation, with featured speakers including Ross Shrigley and John Wickman. Additionally, the Powerhouse received a $100,000 nonprofit grant to enhance its services, while the Colorado Department of Revenue announced the start of tax season for 2023 income tax returns. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Serious Texas BBQ and Sky Ute Casino.

There’s something exciting about seeing a movie or a tv show and recognizing the landmarks. With the opening of a film backlot – a place created to provide a backdrop for a scene – in San Juan County, Four Corners residents may soon be able to see the place we call home featured on-screen. With growing interest in the film industry and tax breaks for New Mexico, San Juan County hopes to draw in both the shows themselves, but also the people who make the movie magic happen. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College and Home2Suites.

Dan Korman, owner/broker of Alpenglow Properties in downtown Durango, CO, highlights a data packed episode outlining real estate numbers of 2023. Some of the stats include average price, number of sales, as well as some commercial real estate insights and predictions for the future. By Dan Korman. This story is sponsored by Alpenglow Properties.

Durango School District 9-R has partnered with energy solutions provider Veregy for solar power and energy improvements across ten district schools and sites, reducing carbon emissions by 1,836 metric tons annually. Fort Lewis College will host a screening and discussion of the film “making of buffalo soldiers: reVision,” exploring the complex history of the Buffalo Soldier regiments, followed by a panel discussion with artists involved in the creation of the exhibition. Amidst ongoing winter storms, viewers are advised to take precautions when planning winter travel, ensuring preparedness for snowy mountain passes and staying updated on road conditions and closures. This story is sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts and Tafoya Barrett & Associates.