DLN News

Fort Lewis College is renaming its School of Business Administration to the Katz School of Business in recognition of a generous donation of $10.4 million by Marc and Jane Katz. Durango School District 9-R is hosting a school safety training event, organized by the I Love U Guys Foundation. The City of Durango is inviting artists to contribute to various art projects at the Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility, and celebrate Halloween at the Children’s Halloween in downtown Durango with businesses offering treats, and a Halloween carnival and trunk-or-treat organized by TBK Bank and the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Sky Ute Casino

Residents in Montezuma County and surrounding areas are frustrated with solar development in the community. They cite loss of views, loss of wildlife habitat, land degradation, and construction noise and dust as main concerns. But, agrivoltaics, the combination of agriculture and solar, could provide a potential solution for concerns and give farmers another source of income. By Ilana Newman. This story is sponsored by Boon’s Family Thai Barbecue and Northern Edge Casino

Come celebrate the final weeks of the “We Are Water” exhibit at Ignacio Community Library with a book discussion and a free book. Make your very own Frankenstein’s monster to celebrate Halloween – pick up a design from the library’s desk and remember to vote for your favorite! The Halloween Carnival promises to be a family-fun event, enjoy the celebrations with friends and family. And applications are open for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Environment Program’s cost-share programs for landowners. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings and Tafoya, Barrett & Associates

Exciting plans are in store for Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings, with a planned expansion to Denver and beyond! Owner Mark Anderson has announced that Happy Pappy’s will soon become a chain, creating stores beyond Durango while providing opportunities for Durango students with a $1,000 scholarship for the career and technical education program. As part of the planned expansion, Anderson is looking for a local family to take over the running of the Durango location. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Serious Texas BBQ and The Payroll Department

WIIN grant funds are available to private landowners within the mapped program area in the Florida River watershed who complete a free home wildfire risk assessment and hire a contractor to complete wildfire mitigation on their parcel. La Plata County’s goal is to protect the Florida River, improve emergency response and evacuation times and reduce the threat of severe wildfire. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino and Tafoya, Barrett & Associates

The City of Durango and Table to Farm Compost are partnering to provide leaf composting services to city residents as part of a new pilot program. The Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles has announced record sales of the commemorative plates for the sesquicentennial anniversary of Colorado, and motorists and pedestrians are asked to use alternative routes while work on the Highway 160 Animas River Bridge is completed. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Serious Texas BBQ

Dan Korman from Alpenglow Properties discusses the third-quarter stats for single-family homes in Durango. He highlights the challenges for buyers due to rising interest rates nearing 8% and the scarcity of affordable homes. Despite a 10% increase in single-family home listings in town compared to last year, there’s a surprising dip in September sales due to low supply. The median price for in-town homes is $817,000, up 7% from the previous year. County-wide, it’s $750,000, an 11% increase. With low inventory, high prices, and increasing interest rates, the future is uncertain, but Dan remains cautiously optimistic for 2024.

This past September, Pueblo Community College Southwest moved back into the Commons Building in Durango from its Durango High School location. The move will provide more opportunities for community involvement between the school and Durango, as well as provide opportunities to expand existing programs and add new programs. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the move, PCC staff and administrators expressed excitement about the move and the opportunities now available to the school and its students. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings and Tafoya Barrett & Associates

Dancing with the Durango Stars is an annual fundraiser for the Durango Derailers’ Patient Assistance Fund. This couple’s dance competition is choreographed by Leslie Carlson and is one of Durango Derailers biggest fundraising events and a whole lot of fun! In the fund’s 17-year history, they have fund-raised over $1 MILLION in aggregate support. This fund is available to children and families living in SW Colorado to help with travel expenses when they need to go to a pediatric hospital or pediatric specialist for a higher level of pediatric specialty care (outpatient or inpatient). The fund provides gas cards and hotel assistance. By Kristi Dean and Andy Wingerd. This story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino and Kroeger’s Ace Hardware

A golf tournament that started as a way to introduce women golfers to the golf courses in Durango is now a powerful fundraising event. Founders Dolly Turner and Doris Douglass started the Columbine Classic Charity Golf Tournament in 1995 at Dalton Ranch Golf Club, and in 2004 became a charity event for local nonprofit organizations in Durango. This year, members presented a $25,000 check to the Fort Lewis College Women’s Varsity Golf Team for the Nick Turner Scholarship Fund – a fund that aids the young women with their academic and athletic futures. Dalton Ranch and the Glacier Club play host to the annual two-day tournament, supporting the next generation of golfers. By Hannah Robertson and Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings and Tafoya Barrett & Associates

The 2023 annular solar eclipse will pass directly over Colorado, one of nine states that will be able to see the “Ring of Fire” astronomical event in its entirety. Find some of the best viewing towards Mesa Verde National Park, or join the fun in Durango at the Chili Chase at Backcountry Experience. And come join Bode Miller and filmmaker Brett Rapkin at the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado’s Making a Difference Speaker Series. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Serious Texas BBQ

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Southwest Colorado was recently voted Small Agency Board of the Year at the national Big Brothers Big Sisters convention. Rebuilding after the challenges of the pandemic, BBBS of Southwest Colorado has implemented a new three-year strategy that emphasizes leadership and development within the staff and board. By Rachel Hughes. This story is sponsored by Kroeger’s Ace Hardware and Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings

Merely Players brings Shakespeare to life for modern audiences and contributes to a thriving local theatre scene in Durango. Talented actors, artists, and technicians in the local community come together to create collective art that celebrates imagination, innovation, and creativity. Merely Players has a diverse and interesting season ahead in 2023-24, kicking off with a Shakespearean classic, the Bard’s final play, The Tempest, showing from October 6th – October 15th at the Merely Underground in the Durango Tech Center. By Jessica McCallum. This story is sponsored by Tafoya, Barrett & Associates and Kroegers Ace Hardware

San Juan National Forest has released its annual Fall Colors Report, catch the leaves when you can! Cowboys abound this weekend with the 35th annual Cowboy Gathering, bringing poets, musicians, artists, and cowboy enthusiasts to downtown. Spoketober starts October 1st, catch the kick-off concert at Durango Hot Springs on October 4th, and there is no hazardous waste collection event this fall. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Tafoya Barrett and Associates

On a sunny fall Saturday, 140 dogs and their owners took part in a rattlesnake avoidance training course, hosted by Durango Kennel Club. Professional Trainer Terry Chandler (Rugerheim Kennels) has over 35 years of experience training field dogs, and he brings that expertise from Las Cruces, New Mexico to help keep dogs and their owners safe while hiking in the southwest. The aim of the training is to replace curiosity with founded fear, and keep dogs from getting bit by rattlesnakes. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett & Associates and Serious Texas BBQ

Dancing Spirit Community Arts Center, like the artistic endeavors of its founders and participants, is a constantly evolving work. While its roots as an artistic co-op have not been forgotten, the non-profit has grown into a community center for visual and performing arts, offering classes, co-op space, and opportunities for the community of Ignacio to express themselves through art. The newest evolution – Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts, has broken ground to create and develop a location that will house galleries, performances, and more – and is built with the ongoing support of the community it serves. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank

With school in full swing, Ignacio School District 11-JT would like to remind parents to fill out the free meals form so that every student can get free lunch. There is still the option for corporate sponsorships with the school district – support the students with athletics, clubs, and more! The Ignacio Community Library has added new events to its line-up heading into fall, with a teen night and Silly Science Saturdays happening once a month! By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Kroeger’s Ace Hardware and Tafoya Barrett & Associates

Durango School District 9-R teachers achieved their certification for teaching Native American Games over the summer, thanks to a three-day training program through the Montana Office of Instruction. The traditional Native American games offer students of all grade levels various challenges and benefits, mental and physical. Title VI Program Manager Orlando Griego believes the addition will bring a sense of belonging to Native American students in the district. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Kroegers Ace Hardware and The Payroll Department

The City of Durango voted unanimously to annex nearly 2,000 acres of land from the Durango Mesa Park Foundation. If you’re a poet, and you know it, applications are open for the first-ever Durango Poet Laureate position, there is an adult and youth position available, both are three-year terms And come celebrate with SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab with the completion of Phase One development. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Sky Ute Casino

The Durango Derby hosts its inaugural event Saturday, September 23rd, looking to add another option for amature and pro mountain bikers in Colorado. Traffic has switched once again on the US Highway 550 project as construction to connect the highway with the existing US Highway 160 interchange. Durango Kennel Club invites you to sign up for its Rattlesnake Avoidance training this Saturday to keep your furry furiends safe, and don’t forget to enjoy the Kiwanis Club of Durango’s pancake breakfast all day Saturday! By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings and Kroeger’s Ace Hardware