Local NEWS Network Supercast!

The Powerhouse Science Center hosts rock band ORA on Wednesday as part of its weekly Community Concert Series. The Durango Brewers Trail Series wraps up on Thursday with the High Trestle Brewing Series Finale at Overend Mountain Park. And the 7th Annual Buckley Park Arts and Crafts Festival closes out the week on Saturday with local artisans and makers.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts and the Payroll Department.

Brett Lanier is a born-and-raised Aztec local who was elected city commissioner in 2025 and recently chosen as the city's newest mayor.Under the city's commission-manager government, Lanier and four fellow commissioners set policy and direct a city manager who handles day-to-day operations. His priorities include strengthening infrastructure and supporting local jobs and businesses to keep the next generation in Aztec. Watch the full interview to hear his vision for Aztec's future.By Tanner WaiteWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College and Boon's Family Thai BBQ.

Fort Lewis College has been selected as one of five rural Colorado colleges to participate in CO-WIL, the Colorado Work-Integrated Learning Consortium. The three-year pilot program connects students with real employer projects inside the classroom, allowing them to earn a minimum $250 stipend while getting academic credit. The state intentionally selected rural colleges first, with the goal of scaling the program statewide if successful. The program will initially support courses in computer information systems, psychology, nutrition and studio art and is expected to get underway in the coming months.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Durango Gelato, Coffee & Tea.

This week, Durango has a free outdoor concert, a boozy peach brunch and tickets on sale for an intimate songwriter festival. The Jon Stickley Trio performs Thursday, July 23, at Buckley Park as part of the Community Concert Hall at the Park free concert series. On Sunday, July 26, Graze Colorado hosts Peaches and Prosecco, a three course boozy brunch celebrating Palisade peach season. And the San Juan Songwriter Festival comes to downtown Durango September 24 through 27, featuring Nashville hitmakers and local songwriters performing across intimate downtown venues. Tickets start at $40.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by RMW  Tafoya Barrett & Associates and FASTSIGNS Durango.

Analyss Benally grew up in Shiprock on the Navajo Nation and went on to play Division I basketball at San Jose State before launching her professional basketball career in Europe. Today, her nonprofit, AB Five Basketball, brings free camps and clinics to Native youth across the Southwest.This summer, AB Five returned to Shiprock with volunteer coaches, including former Los Angeles Lakers guard Andre Ingram.By Tanner WaiteWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Ace Hardware in Farmington and Fitness World.

Durango exists because of a railroad that almost went somewhere else. In this documentary, Jeff Johnson traces the arrival of the Denver and Rio Grande in Southwest Colorado — from General William Jackson Palmer's original 1870 push south out of Denver, to the mining boom that pulled the rails toward the San Juans, to the founding of Durango itself in 1881 as a town built by and for the railroad. Jeff follows the line through its boom years serving the Silverton mining district, its near-collapse after the Silver Purchase Act was repealed in 1893, and its unlikely second life as a beloved tourist attraction in the postwar decades. It's a story about how a railroad meant to carry a young civilization toward the future became, in time, our clearest window into the past.The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage.By Jeff JohnsonThis story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater HotelWatch the full series, Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado.

Jeff Johnson's connection to Durango began with a single train ride in 1973, when a family vacation turned into a lifelong calling. That trip aboard the narrow gauge to Silverton set him on a path of decades-long devotion to Colorado railroad history, from the earliest push of the Denver and Rio Grande down through Walsenburg, Alamosa, and Chama into Southwest Colorado, to the mining boom in Silverton that the rails were built to chase. In this episode, Jeff traces the routes, the resources, and above all the people — the laborers, the families, and the women who left comfort behind to build new lives in a rugged frontier. It's a conversation about how the past never really feels that far away, and why understanding the people who came before us matters for where we're headed.The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage.By Jeff JohnsonThis story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater HotelWatch the full Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado series on our YouTube.

The City of Durango Parks and Recreation Department hosts a free community celebration Friday, July 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center featuring food and drinks, live music, games and more to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month. On Saturday July 18, Durango Nordic hosts a running biathlon at the Durango Nordic Center combining trail running with laser rifle shooting. And the 91st annual Durango Fiesta Days Rodeo runs Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19, at the La Plata County Fairgrounds with multiple performances running over the weekend. By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Durango Gelato, Coffee & Tea.

Lickety-Split Comedy is a comedy and improv group based in Pagosa Springs, founded by veteran performers Karisa Bruin and Scott Morehead. After years of working as improvisers, actors and writers in Chicago and Los Angeles, the two moved to Pagosa Springs and launched Lickety-Split. The group offers classes and workshops in unscripted theater as well as monthly shows on the third Monday of each month at Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts. For more information visit LicketySplitComedy.com.By Christi BodeWatch this story at LNN.news.This story is sponsored by RMW Tafoya Barrett & Associates  and Dunkin Donuts.

Under the sandstone bluffs of Farmington, a professional musical theater company draws record crowds with its production of "Grease." Artistic Director Randy West sits down to talk about how Four Corners Musical Theater grew from a request by city leaders seven years ago into New Mexico's only professional musical theater company, and why he says nights at Sandstone, rainbows and all, are unlike any other stage in the state.By Tanner WaiteThis story is sponsored by Express Employment  and Dickey's Barbecue PitWatch this story at LNN.news

The Elmore's Corner Midweek Market is a new, weekly makers market running every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Grange on Highway 172 between Durango and Bayfield. Vendors sell fresh produce, local honey, sourdough bread, frozen meats from local ranchers and handcrafted goods. By Sadie Smith. Watch this story at LNN.news.This story is sponsored by Durango Pizza and Serious Texas Bar-B-Q.

This week, the Total Archery Challenge comes to Purgatory Resort July 10 through 12. The 72nd annual Four Corners Gem and Mineral Show runs July 10 through 12 as well, bringing 67 dealers from around the world to the La Plata County Fairgrounds. And on Monday July 13, the La Plata County Farm Bureau will host a free drought response presentation at the fairgrounds featuring the Colorado Department of Agriculture.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and FASTSIGNS Durango.

Mancos United started in response to tragedies the Mancos community experienced in 2021. From there, the organization worked to identify gaps in support for families and kids. Their flagship program, Summer Hub, provides full-day summer care for working families on a pay-what-you-can model, funded by community donations and business sponsorships.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Keesee Motor Company and Blondie's Trophy Room.

The Mancos BurroFest returned for its seventh year and drew in over 2,500 attendees for a day of art, food, music, and burros. What began in 2019 as a small gathering of local artist-ranchers has grown into the Mancos Creative District's number one fundraiser and the biggest sales day of the year for many local galleries and restaurants. This year's theme, the Burro Birthday Bash, celebrates Colorado's 150th birthday with Colorado-themed obstacles, costumes, and community joy.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by The LOR Foundation and Big O Tires.

Business owners and community members gathered in Aztec on Friday, June 5, for the State of Aztec Breakfast, an event that gives local residents a rundown of what's happening in the city and the wider region. Speakers from across San Juan County delivered a consistent message: the four corners is a great place to live and to do business. One of the event's central themes was keeping young people in the community by continuing to grow the local economy.By Tanner WaiteWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Four Corners Regional Airport and Dr. Graff Orthodontics

This week's roundup covers a packed Fourth of July weekend in Durango, including the annual Main Avenue parade and a free street dance featuring the Grammy Award-winning Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Old Barrel Tea Co. hosts a matcha ceremony and tasting event Friday evening, and Pagosa Springs will host Beyond the Embers, a community film screening and panel discussion on wildfire and flood preparedness following the region's devastating 2025 disasters.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino and FASTSIGNS Durango.

The Ute Mountain Roundup returned to Cortez for its 96th year bringing thousands of visitors and top PRCA cowboys and cowgirls to the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. From the board members who organize the event year round to the stock contractor who drives twelve hours from Wyoming to bring the animals, this is a look at what it takes to put on one of the biggest events in Montezuma County.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Keesee Motor Company and Hospice of Montezuma

Durango has a packed week ahead with the True Western Roundup Rodeo at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, the Durango Youth Theater's production of Peter Pan and Treasure Island at the Durango Arts Center, and the Durango Botanic Gardens' 13th Annual Gardens on Tour.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by the Payroll Department and Kroegers Ace Hardware.

Colorado was shaped by the people who fed it. In this documentary, Scott Perez traces the agricultural history of the region from its earliest roots — from the orchards that sprang up near Hermosa Creek in the 1870s to serve hungry miners, to the ditch irrigation systems first developed by indigenous communities and later adapted by American settlers, to the narrow gauge railroads that opened new markets and transformed farming across the valleys. Drawing on diaries, oral histories, and a lifetime of working the land himself, Scott paints a vivid portrait of how agriculture has always been both a livelihood and a lifeline in Southwest Colorado — and why the small farms still taking root here today carry that legacy forward.The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage.By Scott PerezThis story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater HotelWatch the full series, Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado.

Scott Perez grew up in farm country and spent nearly 50 years as a working cowboy. But it was his passion for oral history that led him to dig deeper into the agricultural past of Southwest Colorado — poring over old journals, talking to longtime residents, and uncovering the small, vivid details that bigger histories tend to overlook. In this episode, Scott shares what drew him to write for the Power of Place Magazine, why he believes local agriculture deserves protection, and what indigenous land stewardship can still teach us today. It is a candid, grounded conversation about the hidden costs of losing farmland — for wildlife, for water, and for the communities that depend on both.The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage.By Scott PerezThis story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater HotelWatch the full Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado series on our YouTube.

The City of Durango accepts photo submissions through August 1 for the cover of the 2026 budget book. This week Durango also has a firefly viewing party at Sunnyside Farms on Friday, June 19. And Purgatory Resort's Summer Opening Day Celebration on Saturday, June 20, just in time for Father's Day weekend.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS Durango and the FLC Center for Innovation.

Dr. Larry Grogin, 71, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. Rather than let the diagnosis define him, he set out to run 100 marathons in 100 consecutive days from New Jersey to Los Angeles to raise awareness for the Davis Phinney Foundation and prove that movement is medicine.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Serious Texas Bar-B-Q and Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings.

The Farmington Public Library hosted New York Times bestselling author Douglas Preston as part of its ongoing effort to connect the Four Corners region to the wider world. Preston, who lives part of the year in New Mexico, visited the library with support from the Farmington Public Library Foundation, which covered his speaker fee.The library, open to anyone who visits Farmington regardless of home address, is funded through the gross receipts tax rather than property tax. It has served the community since it opened in 2003 and offers programming from baby story times to teen zones, plus book clubs, online databases and public computer access. For events and more information, visit infoway.org.By Tanner WaiteWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Home2 Suites by Hilton and Durango Motor Company.

Montezuma County has a packed month ahead with the Ute Mountain Roundup PRCA Rodeo, Monster Truck Militia at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, and the Cortez Celtic Fair at Parque de Vida.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Big O Tires and Blondie's Trophy Room.

Durango's event calendar this week includes the Women's Resource Center's Inaugural Golf Open, KSUT's 50th Anniversary Party at Ska Brewing, and Manna's Beyond the Plate fundraising evening at Destination Ranch.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino Resort and Kroegers Ace Hardware.

Madison Smith moved back to San Juan County after nine years and found a community short on resources for young families. She opened Piper's Play Cafe in Aztec, a sensory-inclusive indoor toddler play space offering free-range exploration for kids and a rare moment of rest for parents. The cafe includes a slide structure, dramatic play areas, a pretend kitchen and market, free snacks, free drinks and coffee, a free little library and an outdoor clothing donation bin. Smith built it for the parents as much as the kids, particularly those without a support network nearby.By Tanner WaiteWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Sunray Park & Casino and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College.  

Durango has a packed weekend ahead with the Mesa Verde Foundation's 120th Anniversary Celebration of Mesa Verde National Park at the EsoTerra Arboretum on Friday, June 5, the 4-Corners Rough Stock Challenge at the La Plata County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 6, and the Durango Cowboy Gathering's 12th Annual Barn Dance, Picnic, and Silent Auction at River Bend Ranch on Sunday, June 7.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at lnn.newsThis story is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts and RMW  Tafoya Barrett & Associates

A San Juan County program called UmattR is putting high school seniors in front of younger kids, not with lectures, but with their own stories. The program gives $1,000 scholarships to selected seniors who then spend the year visiting elementary and middle schools across the county. This cycle drew more than 300 applicants; 24 made the cut. Together they log about 650 service hours. The younger kids do not forget them. At community events around the county, elementary students bring trading cards featuring the seniors and stop them with questions about hard situations they are facing. The program accepts donations and sponsorships at umattr.com.By Tanner WaiteWatch this story at LNN.news.This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware in Farmington and Boon’s Family Thai BBQ.

One of the earliest San Juan River peaks on record has whitewater guides and river engineers watching closely. Here is what it means for rafting and recreation this summer in Pagosa Springs.By Christi BodeWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings.

There are several events happening in Durango this week including the Durango Bluegrass Train, the 43rd Annual Animas River Days at Santa Rita Park, and the Durango Barbershoppers annual show at the Durango High School Auditorium.Watch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by the Payroll Department and the FLC Center for Innovation.

Long before the roads came to Southwest Colorado's high country, the San Juan Mountains were shaped by the labor and lives of Hispano and Basque sheepherders who drove their flocks through these rugged passes each season. In this video, Peggy Montaño reflects on that deep legacy through her own written words — one that runs through her own family across multiple generations. Drawing on oral history, on-the-ground exploration of ancestral sites, and collaboration with Forest Service researchers, the film traces the parallel journeys of two immigrant communities who found common ground in these mountains. It is a portrait of sacrifice, resilience, and the enduring bonds between people and place — and a reminder that the landscapes we treasure have always been shaped by those who came before us.The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage.By Peggy MontañoThis story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater HotelWatch the full series, Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado.

Farmington Museum is hosting the Smithsonian's "Lowrider Culture in the United States" traveling exhibit through July 25, 2026. The museum added its own touches: three lowrider cars, three motorcycles and artwork inside, plus a Park and Chill car show in the parking lot with live music and food vendors. Museum director Nathan Augustine says the event brought out a broad slice of the community and highlighted the strong connection between lowrider culture and Northern New Mexico's Hispanic heritage. The museum is targeting September or October 2027 for a follow-up event during Hispanic Heritage Month. If you're a lowrider or connected to the culture, reach out to curator Michelle Zupan at the Farmington Museum to get involved.By Tanner WaiteWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Dickey's Barbecue Pit and Fitness World.

Southwest Colorado's mountains are celebrated today as a playground — but for Peggy Montaño, they have always meant something more. As a descendant of Hispano sheepherders with deep roots on both sides of her family in northern New Mexico and the Ignacio area, Peggy grew up understanding these peaks as a place of labor, sacrifice, and identity. In this podcast episode, she reflects on why she felt called to write and share this story — and why she believes understanding the full history of a place matters not just for those living here now, but for the generations still to come. It is a thoughtful, personal meditation on what it means to belong to a landscape, and to honor the people who shaped it long before recreation ever entered the picture.The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage.By Peggy MontañoThis story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater HotelWatch the full Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado series on our YouTube.

Durango has a busy Memorial weekend ahead with the 23rd Annual Downtown Clean Day on Friday, May 22, the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic running Saturday and Sunday, and the Narrow Gauge 10 Mile Run on Sunday, May 24. By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Serious Texas Bar-B-Q and Durango Gelato, Coffee & Tea.

Skyring Water is a Cold War thriller bestselling author Louis L'Amour wrote around 1960 but never published. After L'Amour's death in 1988, the manuscript sat unfinished for decades until his son Beau L'Amour completed it, describing the book as a partnership across time. Skyring Water releases June 2, 2026.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino Resort and Kroegers Ace Hardware.

Music in the Mountains is celebrating its 40th anniversary season this summer, running July 9th through August 2nd across the Four Corners region. What started in 1987 with just 11 musicians has grown into a world-class orchestra featuring performers from around the globe. This year's festival features free community concerts from Durango to Bayfield, Ignacio, Pagosa, and Mancos, along with full orchestra performances, family concerts, and chamber music. Tickets are on sale now at musicinthemountains.com.By Sadie Smith. Watch this story at lnn.news.This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS Durango and Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings.

Today we're spotlighting one of Farmington's finest — Loren Healy, a born-and-raised San Juan County native who turned a love of desert rock crawling into a full-blown professional motorsports career. Loren has won the King of the Hammers multiple times, captured five consecutive Baja 1000 victories in the stock class, and now runs RTR Off-Road Shop right here in Farmington. He's currently building a trophy truck with dreams of an overall Baja 1000 win — something he's called a boyhood dream. If you want to follow the build and catch live race streams with in-cab cameras, find him on Facebook and Instagram under Loren Healy. And keep an eye out — an open house at the new RTR Off-Road Shop is coming up, and the whole community is invited.By Tanner WaiteWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Sunray Park & Casino and Four Corners Regional Airport.

The Garden Guys are back with practical advice for Southwest Colorado gardeners. Tom Bartels and Darrin Parmenter break down planting timing, drought prep, compost versus fertilizer, and what to look for when buying transplants this spring.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at durangolocal.news.This story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and the Payroll Department. 

iAM Music celebrated its 11th annual Music Fest in downtown Durango from April 30th through May 3rd, bringing 25+ artists across eight stages throughout the city. Founded in 2015, every ticket sold supports iAM Music's mission of funding scholarships, performance opportunities, and music education for youth across the Four Corners region.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at durangolocal.news.This story is sponsored by the FLC Center for Innovation and Durango Gelato, Coffee & Tea.

A new hospital is now open in Farmington, New Mexico — and the community response has been nothing short of remarkable. Exceptional Community Hospital celebrated its ribbon cutting after more than four years of planning and three years of construction, opening its doors Feb. 18 to the public.Since that first day, the facility has been seeing 50 patients daily — a pace that hospital leadership says has never been matched across any of their nine operating locations nationwide. The hospital focuses on acute care, treating patients for conditions like chest pain, difficulty breathing, cuts, infections and more. They also have the capacity to admit patients for conditions such as pneumonia or minor abdominal infections, and will transfer more critical cases to higher-level facilities when needed.Leadership describes their model as concierge-style medicine — getting patients into a room quickly and delivering warm, personalized care. And judging by the numbers, Farmington is all in.By Tanner WaiteWatch this story at farmingtonlocal.news. This story is sponsored by Graff Orthodontics and Arkins Juice Tavern.

It's a great week ahead in Durango with the 4th Annual Manna Plant Sale running Friday and Saturday, May 8th and 9th, the first Durango Farmers Market of the season on Saturday, May 9th, from 8 AM to noon, a community tennis fundraiser benefiting the Durango High School Boys Tennis Team also on Saturday May 9th from 10 AM to 1 PM, and a free Women's Mountain Bike Basics Clinic at Purgatory Sports on Monday May 11th.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at durangolocal.news.This story is sponsored by Kroegers Ace Hardware  and Serious Texas Bar-B-Q.

High on the slopes of Galena Mountain at 12,500 feet, the Old Hundred Mine's 1908 boarding house stood as a testament to the audacity of Colorado's early miners — until decades of heavy snow and neglect brought two-thirds of its roof caving in. In 1996, Beverly Rich and a consortium of partners launched what they called "extreme preservation," airlifting supplies by helicopter up a precarious mule trail to save the historic structure before it plummeted 3,000 feet into Cunningham Gulch below. Workers stayed a week or two at a time, rebuilding the roof and securing the building to the rock cliff with cable. A year later, the tram house was also restored. The effort was immortalized in a documentary, Castle in the Clouds: The Saving of the Old Hundred Boarding House — a tribute to the immigrants from around the world who left everything behind to chase the promise and adventure of America in one of its most remote corners.The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage.By Beverly RichThis story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater HotelWatch the full Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado series on our YouTube.

Beverly Rich was born in Silverton in 1950 and has been involved with the local Historical Society since she was 14 — making her one of the most dedicated keepers of San Juan County's storied past. In her article, Rescuing Relics: Extreme Preservation and the Old Hundred Boarding House, she reflects on what made Silverton remarkable from the very beginning. Few people realize that Silverton is nearly ten years older than Durango, and that without Silverton, Durango wouldn't exist. In its heyday, this remote mountain town was the Silicon Valley of its era — a hub of technological innovation, incredible wealth, and relentless ambition. But like all mining towns, Silverton rode a cycle of boom and bust, its fortunes tied closely to World Wars and commodity prices. The hardest blow came in 1991 when the Sunny Side Mine shut down, taking half the town's population with it. What followed was a period of honest reckoning — and visioning. Silverton leaned into its two greatest assets: spectacular scenery and fascinating history. Today, for the first time ever, Silverton is no longer primarily a mining town. It has become a thriving high-mountain destination, with a booming recreation industry, rising property values, and a new generation discovering what Beverly Rich has known her whole life — this place is something special.The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage.By Beverly RichThis story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater HotelWatch the full Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado series on our YouTube.

It's a packed week ahead in Durango with the iAM Music Fest taking over downtown April 30th through May 3rd featuring 25 plus artists across eight venues. On May 1st, the La Plata County Humane Society teams up with Durango Motor Company for a special National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day adoption event from 12 to 2 PM. And also kicking off May 1st Love Locals Week runs through May 10th with deals and events at over 40 downtown businesses including a BOGO Heart of Durango Dollars gift card promotion.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at durangolocal.newsThis story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino Resort and Serious Texas Bar-B-Q

On what would have been his 93rd birthday, friends, family and fellow leaders gathered in Ignacio on April 13th to honor the life and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Campbell. Those who knew him best reflect on a man who transformed Native American representation in American politics, championed tribal sovereignty, and proved that anybody can make a real difference.By Sadie Smith. Watch this story at durangolocal.news.

Fort Lewis College has launched a new dietetics program, clearing a key milestone toward national accreditation and opening new career pathways for students across the Four Corners.By Sadie Smith. Watch this story at durangolocal.news.This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS Durango and Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings 

A packed weekend ahead in Durango! The Durango Wine Experience kicks off Friday April 24th with a Walkabout Tasting through downtown from 4 to 6:30 PM, followed by the Grand Tasting at Buckley Park on Saturday April 25th from 3 to 6 PM. Also this weekend the Devo Bike Swap runs Friday and Saturday  from 9 AM to 7 PM. And Friday evening Lively Boutique hosts its 8th Annual Fashion Show at the Henry Strater Theater with shows at 5:30 and 7:30 PM, with all proceeds benefiting iAM Music's youth programs.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at durangolocal.newsThis story is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts and Durango Gelato, Coffee & Tea.

Southwest Colorado spans dramatic terrain from desert floors to towering mountain peaks — and the wildlife that call it home have a story as compelling as the landscape itself. By the late 1800s, bighorn sheep, elk, deer, turkeys, and native trout were pushed to the brink of vanishing entirely. What followed was one of the most extraordinary conservation turnarounds in the American West. Today, Colorado boasts the largest elk population of any western state, wild turkey numbers have rebounded from just 250 birds to over 35,000, and native bighorn sheep once again navigate the craggy high country. But the story isn't over. Gray wolves are returning, Gunnison sage grouse are being protected, and the native Colorado Pikeminnow is being restored to the Colorado River Basin. All thanks to the ongoing efforts from communities that care.The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage.By Patt DorseyThis story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater Hotel.Watch the full series, Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado.

Retired Colorado Parks and Wildlife manager Patt Dorsey spent 28 years protecting the wildlife of Southwest Colorado. Now, in honor of Colorado's 150th birthday, she's telling the region's untold wildlife story — digging through old biological reports and vintage archives to uncover history that even surprised her. Her core message: wildlife needs people. Without public connection and care, species disappear from our landscapes forever. To read the full article, visit coloradol50southwest.org. The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage.By Patt DorseyThis story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater Hotel.Watch the full series, Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado.

Maria's Literary Foundation is hosting its second annual Read-a-Thon from April 10th through April 20th, raising funds for the Reading Room — a free bookshop and reading nook for Durango youth. This year's goal is $25,000 with all donations up to $10,000 matched by Maria's Bookshop. By Sadie Smith Watch this story at durangolocal.news.This story is sponsored by the Payroll Department and Serious Texas Bar-B-Q.