Durango Local NEWS by LNN

When Nicholas Random decided to open another coffee shop downtown, his main goal was to make a family-friendly space. Inside the Main Mall, Stimulus Cafe has open space for kids to run around, a book nook filled with books for all ages, and freshly-baked pastries always at the ready. This story is sponsored by TBK Bank and Closets Plus

Create Art and Tea has a new space, where high teas mingle with local artwork. It’s a space to slow down and enjoy the little things in life. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Pop’s Truck and RV Center

Kirtland native Alexander Chambers opened Chambers Steakhouse five months ago in Farmington. Now, with a staff of 15, his USDA-certified mutton steaks, ribs, and other mutton dishes are being gobbled up by locals. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by ServiceMaster Restore and Boons Family Thai Barbecue

The Women’s Resource Center, in collaboration with the Durango Public Library and Wild Child Adventure Collective photography, has put together an exhibit highlighting several of the frontline women workers in the Durango community as part of the WRC’s Women’s History Month Events. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS and Closets Plus

La Plata Search and Rescue has a variety of teams that deploy according to need. One such team is Rae Randolph and her German Shepherd Oso, who is a certified cadaver detection dog. They work with Search and Rescue, Colorado Forensic Canines, and law enforcement officials to assist in investigations and recovery work. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS and ServiceMaster Restore

Wendy is a professional diet yo-yo’er. But, PHD Weight Loss and Nutrition is showing her how to take the weight off and keep it off.

Local NEWS Network anchor, Wendy Graham Settle, shares her personal struggle with weight loss and how PHD Weight Loss will help her through it.

Dr. Toni Hopper Pendergrass re-established her roots here, when she returned home and joined San Juan College as president in July 2012. In the meantime, she has increased the number of graduates by 143 percent and continued to advance student success while shouldering a pesky pandemic. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and ServiceMaster Restoration Specialists

Fort Lewis College will offer a new Musical Theater Degree beginning in Fall 2022 that combines music, dance and acting classes under the umbrella of a Performing Arts Program. And the new professor who’s leading the effort will make his directorial debut in Durango with a production of Sweeney Todd March 31 through April 3. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett and Associates and Happy Pappy’s Pizza and Wings

ROAR, Recognizing Opportunities Around Resilience, is a coalition of organizations addressing issues of substance abuse among youth in La Plata County through education, resources, and changing the language around substance abuse. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Payroll Department and Kroeger’s Ace

Snowpack in the San Juans and La Platas are near normal for this time of year, but reservoirs are well below what they should be. This story is sponsored by Pop’s Truck and RV Center and Service Master Restore

Every March, the Professional Women’s Network of Durango puts on a marketplace event to support the Women’s Resource Center. This year, multiple vendors joined to create a market supporting and benefitting women in the community. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza and Wings and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan and Foley

Interest rates on a 30-year mortgage are expected to increase, which may affect how many investors buy up real estate deals. Could that presage more housing on the market and lower prices? Dan Korman, owner broker with Alpenglow Properties, looks at what past trends may predict.

Former firefighter from Colorado, Chadd Drott, gave a presentation at the Farmington Public Library on Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Western Montana, the largest of the unique species in the world. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and Three Rivers Brewery

Colorado Parks and Wildlife searches for a young mountain lion that clawed a Montezuma County man; San Juan Mountain Association will offer a number of outdoor youth camps this summer, and get a preview of what your next driver’s license will look like. This story is sponsored by Kroegers Ace Hardware in Durango and Choice Building Supply Ace Hardware in Cortez

Registration for the spring Durango Baseball and Softball program is now open with games starting in mid-April. And in the words of Yogi Berra, it’s a great way to ‘keep parents off the streets.’ This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank

The American SkiBike Association and Purgatory Mountain Resort hosted the 19th Annual SkiBike Rally, a celebration of all things SkiBike. An alternative to skiing and snowboarding, SkiBiking is experiencing a rise in popularity across ski areas in the country. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Closets Plus and Tafoya Barrett and Associates

You can own a one-of-a-kind snowboard and help the La Plata County Humane Society raise funds for its $1.2 million maintenance and renovation project during the fourth annual Powder Hounds Art Auction that runs March 5-12. This story is sponsored by Serious Texas Barbecue and Pops Truck and RV Center

This week’s roundup includes information about a fiber-optic network expansion, Durango School District 9-R’s decision to drop mandatory masking, and a new attraction at the Durango Public Library. This story is sponsored by Stoneage Tools and Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado

A special exhibit at the Canyons of the Ancients Visitors Center highlights 15 years of documentation research on sites in the national monument and how science and art together can give us a greater understanding of the Ancestral Puebloans’ culture and relationship to the landscape. This story is sponsored by Pop’s Truck and RV Center, Choice Building Supply Ace Hardware, Kroegers Ace Hardware, and Ace Hardware of Farmington