DLN News

The Colorado Department of Transportation announced plans for the start of paving on the CO 172 project, which will cause alternate lane closures and possible delays of up to 30 minutes. The Multimodal Department is looking for volunteers to help with a pedestrian and bicycle counting survey and the City of Durango has been approved for funds from Proposition 123 to construct 184 affordable housing units over the next three years. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings and Sky Ute Casino

La Plata County and the San Juan National Forest have enacted fire restrictions as the summer heats up. Durango School District 9-R introduces the two new leadership teams for Miller Middle School and Escalante Middle School. The City of Durango is looking for volunteers to join local boards and commissions, and La Plata Conservation District and Pine River Conservation District are looking for landowner input on land use concerns through an online survey. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett and Associates and Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings

Sustainable Goods and Omni Cafe are now in their permanent home at 1259 Main Avenue in Durango. After operating as wholesalers and pop-up specialists, owners believe the climate is right to showcase sustainable and local products. Sustainable Goods features everyday goods and gifts from local and environmentally conscious companies, while collaborator Omni Cafe offers baked goods and coffee from local producers. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings and Sky Ute Casino

San Juan College is inviting Native American students to join a new program, in partnership with New Mexico State University’s American Indian Business Enterprise Center, to help jumpstart entrepreneurial careers. The Southern Ute Economic Development Department is hosting an online networking opportunity for members of the Southern Ute Tribe, and Ignacio School District announced the retirement of its Finance Director, Lucina Lounge. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Kroeger’s Ace Hardware and The Payroll Department

Organizers have announced they are closing the public search for missing hiker Ian O’Brian after two weeks of searching. The City of Durango has voted how best to distribute the $361,084 in excess 2022 Lodger’s Tax. Come celebrate 100 years of one of the iconic engines from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad at the Animas Museum, and voluntary water restrictions are in place as repairs progress on the pipeline under Goeglein Gulch. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett and Associates and Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings

Durango Transit is halfway through its second summer of free transit, thanks to funding from Senate Bill 260 and the City of Durango. With an eye to reducing carbon usage over the summer, and removing barriers to transportation, the program so far has been an overwhelming success, with buses being full more often than not. By Hannah Robertson. The story is sponsored by Tafoya, Barrett, and Associates and Serious Texas BBQ

Fundamental Needs, a Cortez-based non-profit, began by helping out on the Navajo Reservation during the pandemic. Ultimately, the founder’s discovered water was one of the most desired resources on the reservation. It developed a program that installs water systems for individual dwellings that don’t have access to clean water. In 2023, the non-profit will continue its expansion into the Farmington and Shiprock areas. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewing and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College

The City of Durango has announced that parking meters in high-occupancy areas downtown will see a 25¢ price increase as of July 1st, in accordance with the comprehensive parking plan. Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites amateur sportswomen to apply for the Ladies Cast, Blast, and Fling event this August, and participate in a survey to determine the “livability” of Durango this July. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino and Kroeger’s Ace Hardware

The Grand Canyon Trust, an organization dedicated to preserving the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau, initiated the Pinyon Jay project to involve volunteers in wildlife conservation. Pinyon Jays have a symbiotic relationship with pinyon trees, making them a key marker in forest preservation for the pinyon and juniper forests dotting the Colorado Plateau. The project aims to gather data and protect the ecosystem while engaging amateur birders and outdoor enthusiasts, making the project accessible to everyone. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and Three Rivers Brewery

When some people see an issue, they go out of their way to find a solution. Mandy Magill realized that many places in Durango still used pesticides and other toxic products on landscaping and gardening, and decided through her organization – Project Dung Beetle – to create a speaker series designed to address all the different ways we can incorporate regenerative practices in our own backyard. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Kroeger’s Ace Hardware and Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings

The end of April marked the beginning of a multi-year expansion project at the Durango La-Plata Airport with a groundbreaking ceremony. The project, currently in Phase 1A, plans to address the growing services at the airport while simultaneously enabling day-to-day operations to continue. Since its construction in 1988, the airport has seen over a 100% increase in use with no major renovations or additions. By Hannah Robertson and Andy Wingerd. This story is sponsored by Tafoya, Barrett and Associates and Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings

The City of Durango Municipal Court is now offering in-person, court-certified Spanish translation once a month to ensure equal access and aid in court decisions for cases requiring translation. The upcoming week is filled with Fourth of July celebrations across town, including events like pie-eating contests, ice cream socials, and the popular pancake breakfast. The week concludes with Elder Grown’s Summer Camp, a one-night music festival showcasing diverse talents and music styles at Tico Time Resort, hosted by the Durango-based band Elder Grown. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Kroeger’s Ace Hardware

Ideal weather conditions have allowed local fire crews to do more mitigation work than in recent years, but they caution against letting your guard down heading into our warmest months. The Colorado State Forest Service, Live Wildfire Ready, teaches homeowners how to take simple measures to reduce the risk of losing a home to fire. The San Juan National Forest urges recreationists to know about current fire restrictions. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Tafoya, Barrett & Associates and Serious Texas BBQ

The Southern Ute Food Distribution Program aims to better the relationship between food and the people on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and beyond. The Ignacio Community Library wants to see your art grace its walls this summer, and come join the Books and Brews book club for fresh reads and roasts this July. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Kroeger’s Ace Hardware and Serious Texas BBQ

Dan Korman of Alpenglow Properties, LLC discusses commercial and residential real estate in this installment of The Durango Real Estate Update.

Four local students from Durango High School and Big Picture High School will join the Durango School District 9-R Board of Education to help provide a student perspective on meetings and the like. The Southwest Rural Philanthropy Conference proved a wide success with over 350 participating individuals brought together with the focus on improving funding to southwest nonprofit organizations, and Durango has made it on to yet another unique list – one of 175 “alternative” romantic destinations in the United States. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Sky Ute Casino

As temperatures rise, so too does the number of D.U.I. and impaired driving cases. The issue is particularly bad in Southwest Colorado. Local non-profit, School Community Youth Collaborative, is bringing awareness to Ride Responsible. A program highlighting the problem of impaired driving and making safer modes of transportation more widely available. The organization partners with rideshare alternatives and works with transportation departments for special events. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Sky Ute Casino Resort

Santa Rita Park is the location of a new demonstration garden and landscape program, showcasing sustainable landscaping techniques for the arid Southwest region. At next week’s City Council meeting, the allocation of an extra $361,084 in lodger’s tax will be discussed, with proposed funding for electric vehicle chargers, transportation signage, and Visit Durango projects. Clean Commute Week, starting on June 24th, will feature various sustainable transportation activities and challenges, culminating in Bike to Work Day and the Love Your Commute celebration at Buckley Park. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Kroeger’s Ace Hardware and Serious Texas BBQ

The call is out to share your story with the Ignacio Community Library to help contribute to the preservation of Ignacio’s unique history. Voices of Ignacio aims to find, curate and preserve stories from and related to our residents and region. Organizers hope the project unifies and promotes the community. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Tafoya, Barrett & Associates and Kroegers Ace Hardware

Nearly five hundred dogs strutted their stuff at the Durango Kennel Club’s Show at McGee Park in Farmington. Dozens of breeds and their handles traveled from across the country to compete in the four-day event. Categories included conformation shows, obedience trials, and rally trials. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Northern Edge Casino and Ace Hardware in Farmington