The Durango Herald
@durangoherald.bsky.social
Daily news and feature stories from The Durango Herald, an award-winning, family-owned newspaper in Southwest Colorado.
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Festival of Trees & Wreaths, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train Museum, 479 Main Ave. Free admission. Details: Call 259-2464 or email festivalof...
Festival of Trees & Wreaths, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train Museum, 479 Main Ave. Free admission. Details: Call 259-2464 or email festivalof...
Durango Events Calendar
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Festival of Trees & Wreaths, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train Museum, 479 Main Ave. Free admission. Details: Call 259-2464 or email festivalof...
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November 26, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The San Juan Mountains Association has launched a search for its next executive director as Stephanie Weber, who has led the organization for the past five years, prepares to take a step back.
“Leadi...
“Leadi...
San Juan Mountains Association looks for new executive director
The San Juan Mountains Association has launched a search for its next executive director as Stephanie Weber, who has led the organization for the past five years, prepares to take a step back.
“Leadi...
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November 26, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The San Juan Mountains Association has launched a search for its next executive director as Stephanie Weber, who has led the organization for the past five years, prepares to take a step back.
“Leadi...
“Leadi...
A deadly horse virus has spread to eight states, including Colorado, prompting Montezuma and La Plata counties to temporarily close their fairgrounds to equine activities as officials work to limit it...
Montezuma, La Plata fairgrounds close amid 8-state outbreak of equine virus
A deadly horse virus has spread to eight states, including Colorado, prompting Montezuma and La Plata counties to temporarily close their fairgrounds to equine activities as officials work to limit it...
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November 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A deadly horse virus has spread to eight states, including Colorado, prompting Montezuma and La Plata counties to temporarily close their fairgrounds to equine activities as officials work to limit it...
Fort Lewis College senior cross country runner Hannah Hartwell has consistently proven she can compete with the top runners in the country, and Saturday’s NCAA DII Cross Country Championships was anot...
Skyhawks’ Hartwell finishes fourth at cross country national championships
Fort Lewis College senior cross country runner Hannah Hartwell has consistently proven she can compete with the top runners in the country, and Saturday’s NCAA DII Cross Country Championships was anot...
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November 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Fort Lewis College senior cross country runner Hannah Hartwell has consistently proven she can compete with the top runners in the country, and Saturday’s NCAA DII Cross Country Championships was anot...
Life on the Grigg family homestead in Hesperus is good – at least for the turkeys.
A flock of 58 birds roam freely, graze for bugs and plants, and roost in a warm shed, protected from wild animals by...
A flock of 58 birds roam freely, graze for bugs and plants, and roost in a warm shed, protected from wild animals by...
La Plata County poultry farmers raise Thanksgiving turkeys
Life on the Grigg family homestead in Hesperus is good – at least for the turkeys.
A flock of 58 birds roam freely, graze for bugs and plants, and roost in a warm shed, protected from wild animals by...
bit.ly
November 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Life on the Grigg family homestead in Hesperus is good – at least for the turkeys.
A flock of 58 birds roam freely, graze for bugs and plants, and roost in a warm shed, protected from wild animals by...
A flock of 58 birds roam freely, graze for bugs and plants, and roost in a warm shed, protected from wild animals by...
The Crafty Folk Craft Bazaar, a staple of Durango’s Christmas festivities for 50 years, was abruptly canceled last weekend after rumors – or miscommunication – led vendors to believe the city would ch...
Longtime Christmas bazaar canceled over confusion about city of Durango license rules
The Crafty Folk Craft Bazaar, a staple of Durango’s Christmas festivities for 50 years, was abruptly canceled last weekend after rumors – or miscommunication – led vendors to believe the city would ch...
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November 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The Crafty Folk Craft Bazaar, a staple of Durango’s Christmas festivities for 50 years, was abruptly canceled last weekend after rumors – or miscommunication – led vendors to believe the city would ch...
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a California woman who was found Oct. 31 by a family of hikers on a remote trail in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness about 24 miles sou...
California woman found dead on Bisti trail in San Juan County
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a California woman who was found Oct. 31 by a family of hikers on a remote trail in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness about 24 miles sou...
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November 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a California woman who was found Oct. 31 by a family of hikers on a remote trail in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness about 24 miles sou...
Grindr, the dating app for gay men, is not known for fostering enduring love stories and successful business partnerships.
But Casey Baird and Kytt McLaughlin, flower farmers tucked into the hills ab...
But Casey Baird and Kytt McLaughlin, flower farmers tucked into the hills ab...
This Vallecito couple wants to make La Plata County a hot-spot for gay weddings
Grindr, the dating app for gay men, is not known for fostering enduring love stories and successful business partnerships.
But Casey Baird and Kytt McLaughlin, flower farmers tucked into the hills ab...
bit.ly
November 26, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Grindr, the dating app for gay men, is not known for fostering enduring love stories and successful business partnerships.
But Casey Baird and Kytt McLaughlin, flower farmers tucked into the hills ab...
But Casey Baird and Kytt McLaughlin, flower farmers tucked into the hills ab...
An evacuation warning was issued for 25 structures in southwest La Plata County, where a 542-acre wildfire was burning out of control.
bit.ly/3IyBTHI
bit.ly/3IyBTHI
Wildfire in southwest La Plata County prompts pre-evacuation notice
REDMESA – An evacuation warning was issued Wednesday for 25 structures in the southwest corner of La Plata County, where a 542-acre wildfire was burning out of control.
The Ute 63 Fire was first repor...
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July 18, 2025 at 2:00 AM
An evacuation warning was issued for 25 structures in southwest La Plata County, where a 542-acre wildfire was burning out of control.
bit.ly/3IyBTHI
bit.ly/3IyBTHI
Crashes are a part of the Tour de France, and Durango’s Sepp Kuss experienced that on Tuesday during Stage 4 of the Tour.
bit.ly/3TQ5jnf
bit.ly/3TQ5jnf
Tour de France update: Kuss inside top 40 after four stages despite crash in Stage 4
Crashes are a part of the Tour de France and Durango’s Sepp Kuss experienced that on Tuesday during Stage 4 of the Tour.
Kuss was involved in a crash in the middle of the peloton on Tuesday during th...
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July 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Crashes are a part of the Tour de France, and Durango’s Sepp Kuss experienced that on Tuesday during Stage 4 of the Tour.
bit.ly/3TQ5jnf
bit.ly/3TQ5jnf
He's building a spreadsheet that ranks every burger in town based on seven criteria: patty size, patty quality, bun quality, topping quality, sides, service and atmosphere.
bit.ly/4nBPY77
bit.ly/4nBPY77
One man’s quest to rank 38 hamburger joints in Durango area
Steve Harris stared down the massive hamburger smothered in spicy green chiles and American cheese piled atop a fluffy brioche bun. Gazpacho Restaurant’s green chile burger was his latest challenge in...
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July 8, 2025 at 12:06 AM
He's building a spreadsheet that ranks every burger in town based on seven criteria: patty size, patty quality, bun quality, topping quality, sides, service and atmosphere.
bit.ly/4nBPY77
bit.ly/4nBPY77
The N.M. scheme involved law enforcement officers allegedly colluding to get DWI cases dismissed in court in exchange for money.
bit.ly/441VKaz
bit.ly/441VKaz
Durango police officer resigns after being linked to New Mexico DWI scandal
A Durango Police Department officer who had recently completed training resigned Wednesday after being linked to an alleged DWI scandal in New Mexico, where he previously served as a law enforcement o...
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June 26, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The N.M. scheme involved law enforcement officers allegedly colluding to get DWI cases dismissed in court in exchange for money.
bit.ly/441VKaz
bit.ly/441VKaz
Wednesday is Clean Commute Day, Thursday is live jazz, Friday is a fundraiser for the Southwest Safehouse, Saturday is the Durango Farmers Market ... and the list goes on...
bit.ly/3IdNqvG
bit.ly/3IdNqvG
Durango Events Calendar
Now-Sept. 27
Bar D Chuckwagon Suppers, 4:30-9 p.m., 8080 County Road 250. Registration and details: https://tinyurl.com/bdhx5h6n.
Wednesday, June 25
Clean Commute Day 2025, 7-9 a.m., city of D...
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June 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Wednesday is Clean Commute Day, Thursday is live jazz, Friday is a fundraiser for the Southwest Safehouse, Saturday is the Durango Farmers Market ... and the list goes on...
bit.ly/3IdNqvG
bit.ly/3IdNqvG
Emergency responders are worried flaming trees from the 0.3-acre blaze could fall onto U.S. Highway 550.
bit.ly/4lgMDsb
bit.ly/4lgMDsb
Wildfire closes Red Mountain Pass south of Ouray
A wildfire has closed U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass between County Road 18 and the Ironton Park snow gate, south of Ouray.
Named the Snow Shed Fire, the fire was reported adjacent to the high...
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June 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Emergency responders are worried flaming trees from the 0.3-acre blaze could fall onto U.S. Highway 550.
bit.ly/4lgMDsb
bit.ly/4lgMDsb
The story of why construction took longer than expected is more interesting than you’d expect. The story begins with lawyers...
bit.ly/45Gpo6B
bit.ly/45Gpo6B
Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. reopens after months of construction
Dear Action Line,
Do you know what’s going on with Brown’s shoes and when it will, if ever, reopen? It closed in late February for a remodel to open in March. It’s still closed. I see that th...
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June 23, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The story of why construction took longer than expected is more interesting than you’d expect. The story begins with lawyers...
bit.ly/45Gpo6B
bit.ly/45Gpo6B
Jennifer Sokol, a former firefighter with Los Pinos Fire Protection District, who was assaulted by her then-boyfriend and fellow firefighter, settled a wrongful termination lawsuit with the department.
bit.ly/3RA2Agu
bit.ly/3RA2Agu
‘I lost an entire career after being assaulted’
Jennifer Sokol was a firefighter for the better part of two decades.
“I was good at my job,” she said. “I loved it.”
Sokol received an award in 2020 from her employer, Los Pinos Fire Protection...
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April 28, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Jennifer Sokol, a former firefighter with Los Pinos Fire Protection District, who was assaulted by her then-boyfriend and fellow firefighter, settled a wrongful termination lawsuit with the department.
bit.ly/3RA2Agu
bit.ly/3RA2Agu
Two Durango residents who illegally entered and disturbed a cultural site in Canyonlands National Park will pay a combined $1,550 in restitution and fines, and are barred from visiting federal public lands in Utah for one year.
bit.ly/43H5xTE
bit.ly/43H5xTE
Durango duo fined for disturbing Canyonlands cultural site
Two Durango residents who illegally entered and disturbed a cultural site in Canyonlands National Park will pay a combined $1,550 in restitution and fines, and are barred from visiting federal public ...
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April 4, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Two Durango residents who illegally entered and disturbed a cultural site in Canyonlands National Park will pay a combined $1,550 in restitution and fines, and are barred from visiting federal public lands in Utah for one year.
bit.ly/43H5xTE
bit.ly/43H5xTE
The Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees conducted a competitive national search with more than 75 candidates.
bit.ly/440EanE
bit.ly/440EanE
Fort Lewis College trustees name sole finalist in presidential search
The Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees named Heather Shotton as the sole finalist in its search for a new president on Wednesday, concluding a nearly four-month search.
The board voted unanimously t...
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March 27, 2025 at 12:26 AM
The Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees conducted a competitive national search with more than 75 candidates.
bit.ly/440EanE
bit.ly/440EanE
LPEA's new chief executive is trying to assure LPEA members that rumors of 40% bill increases at other co-ops are untrue – and "not going to happen to us."
bit.ly/4gMXHL9
bit.ly/4gMXHL9
Truth or fiction: What will happen if La Plata Electric Association leaves Tri-State?
The La Plata Electric Association convened Friday and formally voted to propose a rate increase slated to go into effect April 1. On average, rates will go up 7.7%.
The rate increase is surrounded by ...
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February 19, 2025 at 9:45 PM
LPEA's new chief executive is trying to assure LPEA members that rumors of 40% bill increases at other co-ops are untrue – and "not going to happen to us."
bit.ly/4gMXHL9
bit.ly/4gMXHL9
The Old Main Post Office, located at 1060 Main Ave., was built in 1929 and served as Durango’s Post Office for 49 years. And for $5 million, it can be yours.
bit.ly/4jJWpDl
bit.ly/4jJWpDl
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February 6, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The Old Main Post Office, located at 1060 Main Ave., was built in 1929 and served as Durango’s Post Office for 49 years. And for $5 million, it can be yours.
bit.ly/4jJWpDl
bit.ly/4jJWpDl
La Plata County officials denounced the city of Durango's legal actions, saying they have damaged city-county relations.
bit.ly/4hnCOY3
bit.ly/4hnCOY3
Durango to drop jail lawsuits against sheriff, La Plata commissioners
The city of Durango is dropping its lawsuits against La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith and the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners over the county’s refusal to hold inmates sentenced on mun...
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February 6, 2025 at 7:31 PM
La Plata County officials denounced the city of Durango's legal actions, saying they have damaged city-county relations.
bit.ly/4hnCOY3
bit.ly/4hnCOY3
The Snowdown board is still working on the official tagline but have hinted that it may be a play on the mouthful of a word, “sesquicentennial.”
bit.ly/4hKmsIV
bit.ly/4hKmsIV
And the theme for Snowdown 2026 is … Sesquicentennial?
Its time for Durango residents to polish up on their state history because Snowdown 2026 will be celebrating 150 years of Colorado.
Keeping with tradition, the theme for Durango’s annual winter carni...
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February 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The Snowdown board is still working on the official tagline but have hinted that it may be a play on the mouthful of a word, “sesquicentennial.”
bit.ly/4hKmsIV
bit.ly/4hKmsIV
The 23,000-gallon spill south of Durango is the largest the Colorado Department of Health and Environment has responded to in the last five years.
bit.ly/40XYK65
bit.ly/40XYK65
23,000 gallons of gasoline spilled into their yard; now, this Durango couple can’t go home
Heather Houk was at work one December afternoon when her husband called to say they had to evacuate their house. By the time she returned to their 3-acre property on the Florida Mesa around 5 p.m., fi...
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February 3, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The 23,000-gallon spill south of Durango is the largest the Colorado Department of Health and Environment has responded to in the last five years.
bit.ly/40XYK65
bit.ly/40XYK65