The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or monster
On the cover A kayaker keeps cool, calm and collected while surfing a decidedly frothy Smelter wave at nearly 6,000 cfs on Tuesday./ Photo by Missy Votel
Ear to the ground:
“I’m about 40 pounds lighter.”
– One of the, shall we say “purgative,” effects of getting in one’s kayak for the first time in several months when the river is flowing at 6,000 cfs
Power talk
La Plata Electric Association is bringing energy experts to the stage for CommunityPowerX, a TEDx-style evening exploring the technologies and innovations shaping the future of power in the Four Corners. The event will take place Thurs., Oct. 23, at the Gaslight Theatre.
Attendees will hear from leading voices in regional power markets, hydroelectric energy and battery storage, and how these innovations can benefit LPEA members through cleaner, local and more reliable electricity.
“CommunityPowerX is about connecting people, ideas and innovation,” LPEA CEO Chris Hansen said. “We want our members to see how local hydro projects like Vallecito Dam, battery storage at Shenandoah, and regional markets are all part of building a cleaner, more resilient energy future.”
CommunityPowerX is part of LPEA’s effort to educate and engage members as the co-op embarks on two major milestones. On April 1, 2026, LPEA will leave its wholesale contract with longtime supplier Tri-State. At the same time, the co-op will join a brandnew regional transmission organization (RTO), Southwest Power Pool. According to the co-op, these steps will help open the door to broader, more competitive energy markets and give LPEA new tools to manage electricity during high-demand periods through innovations like utility-scale battery storage.
Guest speakers include:
• Carrie Simpson, Southwest Power Pool (SPP) - Simpson will discuss how RTOs connect utilities across the West, enabling access to cleaner, lower-cost electricity while improving grid reliability.
• Sam Perry, HydroWest – Operator of the Vallecito Dam hydro facility, Perry will discuss the role of hydroelectric power in delivering clean, local energy. A fourth-generation hydro operator, Perry continues his family’s legacy by restoring and operating grid-scale hydro systems.
• Katie Guerry, Convergent Energy + Power - This talk will share insights on how battery technology is shaping the future of energy use to help utilities keep the lights on, integrate more renewable energy, and make grids more flexible and reliable. Convergent Energy + Power is a New York-based developer with experience in utility-scale batteries and Colorado co-ops.
CommunityPowerX is part of LPEA’s Co-op Month celebration, marking more than 85 years of service. Seating is limited and registra-
LaVidaLocal opinion
Union Alt-Cycliste Internationale
In my early 20s, when I started biking more regularly, I didn’t know what the UCI was. At the time, I was riding my bike almost every day to school, to work and around town for all my errands. I let my 1995 Toyota Corolla sit in my driveway untouched for months while I rode everywhere and all during that time, I’d never watched a Tour de France or heard of the Vuelta a España
After I graduated college, my then-boyfriend and I moved to a cabin on Vallecito Reservoir. He didn’t have a car, and we both loved riding bikes, so we often chose to pedal the 24 miles to Durango to run errands in the morning (in our street clothes and flip flops nonetheless), and then we’d ride back to Vallecito in the afternoon to work our night shifts at a popular lakeside restaurant. On weekends, we rode our bikes to area trailheads, and sometimes we’d pop over to Lemon Reservoir just for a picnic and a change of scenery. At that point I had heard of Lance Armstrong, but I didn’t know who Greg LeMond or Mark Cavendish were.
By the time I was 24, I had sold my ’95 Corolla, so I rode my bike every day to my slightly out-of-town landscaping job. Every morning, I took the Animas River Trail about 7 miles south to work; sometimes I’d ride my bike the 7 miles back home, and sometimes I’d accept a lift from one of my coworkers. At that point I didn’t really care, specifically, how I got around. Just so long as I didn’t have to own a car.
I hated driving, but I became obsessed with researching touring and utility bikes, specifically ones with rugged, indestructible reputations. I dreamed of steel frames, cargo racks and lofty panniers, and at that point, I don’t think I’d ever uttered the words “titanium” or “aero.” I did, however, talk about Brooks saddles, braze-ons and eyelet mounts with my other bike nerd friends.
25, I did my first long-distance bike tour starting in the Olympic Peninsula. A couple of friends and I toured about 500 miles down the West Coast to San Francisco, biking through mountain passes, coastal roads and redwood forests. We guerrilla camped on empty beaches with rising tides and poached closeddown camp sites, slept in baseball dugouts, soccer fields and once, in a closeddown elementary school. We ate peanut butter on the side of the road and stopped to play pool at dive bars in desolate towns.
I started studying parts of bikes and bike maintenance and spent my evenings leafing through “Zen and the Art of Bicycle Maintenance.” I didn’t know what pelotons or watts were, but I did know how to change rim brakes, fix a tube flat and break a chain.
I didn’t really know much about the Olympic Cycling Team, but when I was
Thumbin’It
Kudos to La Plata County, particularly the Road and Bridge Department, which worked nonstop over the course of the super storm to clear roads, fix bridges and make sure residents were safe.
A $50,000 contribution from the Michael and Elaine Moravan Foundation has officially launched the La Plata Childcare Investment Fund. The gift will be matched by public revenue sources, such as county and city lodgers taxes, to create 420 childcare slots in La Plata County.
Durango’s Christopher Blevins won the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Overall Title last Sunday, making him the first American male to win the title since 1991, which was won by John Tomas (incidentally, also of Durango.)
We pedaled our hearts out, never being professionals, knowing who the professionals were or keeping track of stats, data or any of the Grand Tours. We rode through three states, and the last things on our minds were big races, UCI rules or who won what. We were really thinking about campsites, what snacks we had, which ones we wanted, and when was the next time we could eat.
We didn’t know about Bernard Hinault or rainbow jerseys, but our lives did revolve around bicycles. And, while I didn’t think so at the time, even though none of us had ever put a number plate on our handlebars or zipped up a Lycra jersey, we were still cyclists.
We still rode all day, and we still do. Often referred to as “alternative cyclists” (but also, just plain “cyclist”), we spend a lot of our time riding from point A to point B and not necessarily toward finish lines. We pack our heavy steel bikes with even more heavy gear, and we go on great adventures, or short ones through the mountains or the desert for the weekend. We pick up our groceries, and we go to work and back home every day on our bicycles. We’re generally not really concerned with speed and often don’t keep track of the current pro cycling stats or know who had which jersey when.
But we do know the best bike bags for your cargo-carrying adventure, and how to find a good tour route. We’ve discovered the best, packable snacks and are always down for a round of pool at a good, desolate dive bar. We might know about the UCI now, but often don’t know what race is happening, or who’s involved. However, if you want – if you’re interested – we can recommend a really great snack, and a spot to guerilla camp after a long day of pedaling with your friends.
– Jennaye Derge
SignoftheDownfall:
OK, OK - we know we need the moisture, just not all at once. Those poor people at Vallecito are probably still looking for their hot tub.
The Supreme Court appears poised to strike down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act prohibiting states from using race as a factor in creating election districts, thus cementing Republican control of Congress. So basically more of what we have now but, like, forever. Yay.
House Speaker Mike Johnson must be busy tracking down antifas before Saturday’s “hate America rallies” because he has yet to swear in Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election in Arizona 22 days ago. We’re sure this has nothing to do with that little old list.
Croc-o-style
When they started filming “Idiocracy” in 2006, the costume designer was tasked with finding ridiculous shoes for the cast that nobody would actually wear in the future, so she chose Crocs because they were cheap, unknown and absurd. But now that the future is here, Crocs are everywhere, and “Idiocracy” is more prophetic than laughable. In fact, this month is “Croctober,” and in years past, we endured Croc cowboy boots and high-heel Crocs, which should’ve been rock bottom. Nope: Crocs just teamed up with rapper T-Pain to release Croc “boots with the fur,” which are knee-high Crocs wrapped in “vegan leopardprint.” And now, 2025 feels like we’re all wearing applebottom jeans to see how low low low low low we can go.
Wake-up call
More grizzlies are dying, and we’re a big part of the problem
by Molly Absolon
This summer, a grizzly cub in Grand Teton National Park gained international fame after an adult male bear killed the yearling’s two siblings. The sole survivor of the attack, dubbed “Miracle,” then separated from its mother to fend for itself, sometimes hanging around a busy area of the park.
As Miracle’s story spread, the cub became the object of fascination for thousands of people. Perhaps that’s no surprise, as many of us are intrigued by the grizzly’s power and strength, along with the reality that it’s an apex predator, like us.
Miracle’s survival is precarious. Since she left the protection of her mother so early, she’s on her own finding food before hibernating. Seventy-seven grizzlies died in the Yellowstone area last year –the highest number yet. As of September 2025, 63 bears had been killed; at this rate, the number of dead bears will surpass last year’s record. What’s going on?
You could say that grizzly bear recovery in the Lower 48 is a success story. Prior to European settlement, an estimated 50,000 bears roamed throughout the Lower 48. By 1970, though, only about 800 remained, with perhaps 130 of them in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
In 1975, grizzlies were listed under the Endangered Species Act, which ended their indiscriminate slaughter, and bear numbers slowly rebounded. Today, the Forest Service says an estimated 700 grizzlies live in and around the Yellowstone area, with maybe 1,000 more in the Northern Continental Divide region of Montana. Despite the increase in numbers, mortality rates are on the rise.
Most wildlife managers say the current rate is not a matter of concern. They say the species is stable.
And yet, is it? Roughly 200 cubs are born in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem recovery area each year, but of those, only around 40 survive. Wildlife managers assure us bears are doing well, but is this sustainable – especially when the mortality rate keeps inching upward year after year?
The most obvious reason for bear deaths is us. We are everywhere. 2024 marked the second-busiest year in Yellowstone National Park’s history with more than 4.7 million visitors. In August 2025, the park was on track to see a 2% visitor increase over 2024.
On top of increased visitation, the human population in the Rocky Mountain West where grizzlies roam is growing steadily. Teton County, Wyo., has seen a 10% increase in residents over the last decade. The population in Teton County, Idaho, is up 74% since 1990. Gallatin County, Mont., has grown about 40% in the last 10 years.
On the ground, you can’t miss the impacts of growth: Trails are crowded. Parking is at a premium. You need reservations at restaurants, and the traffic is often stop and go. Not surprisingly, bear-human conflicts are more frequent:
Vehicle collisions kill bears, interactions with landowners kill bears.
Grizzlies might do fine with more people if their habitat were intact and healthy, but much of their home ground has been in moderate to severe drought for several years, according to U.S. Drought Monitor. This year’s berry crop was dismal. Whitebark pines, whose seeds are an important food source for bears, are threatened by beetles and blister rust.
All this forces grizzlies to search out new food sources, and some of the best ones turn out to be ours. Our cows and sheep. Our apple trees. Our bee hives.
Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., has introduced legislation to take away endangered species protections for grizzly bears, which would be a major blow to their survival. “People shouldn’t have to live in fear of grizzly bears rummaging through their trash or endangering their children,” Hageman said. Such comments are deliberately inflammatory.
I have heard three people describe surviving a bear attack decades ago. All three insisted that the bear was only acting in self-defense. One even remembers how awed he was by the diamond-like glint of water droplets on the bear’s fur as she ran toward him.
I’m not sure what would happen if I faced a charging bear. I just want enough wherewithal to pull out my bear spray. While I hope I never have to deploy that spray, I am willing to take the risk to know wild bears roam the landscape. If grizzlies were gone, something vital would be missing from our world.
While grizzly bear mortality may not yet be alarming wildlife managers, I hope we’ve gotten a wakeup call.
Molly Absolon is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. She hikes and writes in Yellowstone bear country. ■
Despite a 50-year increase in population, grizzly bears are now dying at an alarming rate. While wildlife managers deny a problem, the increasing numbers in deaths are likely linked to an increase in national park visitors and population in the West./ Courtesy photo
SoapBox
School meals for all
Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program is in danger of ending as soon as this January. Commonly known as universal school meals for all school children, the program began during the pandemic with the successful passage of Prop FF in the ‘22 election. The program funds meals –breakfast and lunch – for all schoolkids, regardless of family income level.
On the ballot Nov. 4, Prop LL would fund HSMA through the end of the ‘26 school year, while Prop MM funds it beyond that. Additionally, Prop MM would help schools purchase locally sourced food, increase wages for cafeteria workers and supplement SNAP. As a parent myself of three kids in Durango 9-R schools, I consider HSMA to be a vital program that is well-worth Colorado voters’ support.
In fact, the need for Props LL/MM stems from the fact that HSMA has been so popular, with more students taking advantage of school meals than initially expected. In the case of LL, the funds have already been collected by the state. Approval of LL means those funds
will go to HSMA, while rejection of LL will send those funds (by way of tax deductions) to taxpayers whose households earn $300,000 or more. Therefore, supporting Prop LL is a no-brainer for households (like mine) whose yearly income is less than $300,000. Unless, of course, you are opposed to kids having meals available to them in school on principal alone (you’re a mean one, Grinch!)
Similarly, Prop MM to extend HSMA to future school years is funded by decreasing deductions for households earning above $300,000. The fact that HSMA is very popular, and benefits all schoolkids regardless of parents’ incomes, demonstrates the need for the program to continue.
Multiple studies (and common sense) have confirmed that kids of any age learn and pay attention better in school with food in their stomach. HSMA also benefits parents like me, because we don’t have to worry about providing breakfast and lunch to kids. HSMA saves parents up to $1,300 per year per child on food costs!
While opponents of school meals for kids might argue that school meals lead
to waste, the fact is that hungry kids will eat them, even if they’re picky. Teachers and other school staff likely would also
agree that kids learn and are better behaved when they are well-fed. It’s refreshing to vote for an initiative
on the ballot that is nonpartisan, noncontroversial and beneficial for all kids in Durango, and indeed, statewide. I urge my fellow Durangoans, parents and nonparents alike, to vote yes for LL and MM on the November ballot to fund healthy school meals.
–
Joseph Borum, Durango
Support firefighters, county
I am asking for your support for the firefighters of Durango with a yes vote on Issues 2A (in the city) and 7A (in the county). A yes vote will ensure that we remain fully funded after recent property tax assessment plans by the state have cut some of our funding. A yes Vote will also approve an increase in funding that will support construction of a new station in Three Springs and add 20 full-time firefighters.
This increase will have large impact on the emergency coverage for everyone in the community by adding another layer to the system. Our community is growing quickly and so is our call volume. We hope that you will support the growth of the fire department with a yes Vote on 2A and 7A on Nov 4.
You can also support us by donating to our campaign efforts at givebutter.com/gtSQoA.
–
John Brennan, DPFD, Durango
Iran may be lying about nukes
Hopefully, the U.S. airstrikes on the Iranian nuclear development sites were highly successful and destroyed Iran’s capability to develop nuclear weapons. Our military performed well to complete a complex operation. Some members of the Trump Administration said the U.S. strike destroyed the Iranian nuclear sites, which I
hope is accurate. The Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) initial damage assessment report said the sites were partially destroyed, entrances were blocked, and Iran’s nuclear development program was pushed back a few months. Also, the UN nuclear watchdog chief said Iran could be enriching Uranium again in a few months. It will be interesting to see the DIA’s final damage assessment report.
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said the sites were destroyed. Since Iran tends to distort the truth, it lends credence to the DIA report of lighter damage to the sites. Iran wants the U.S. and Israel to believe their nuclear weapons development program was put out of action to avoid follow-up attacks. It is hoping to be able to continue its nuclear weapons development program unhindered by outside intervention.
If Iran is able to continue its nuclear weapons development program, we might have to conduct a follow-up attack. However, it might take a sophisticated Israeli flyin air and ground operation to destroy the Iranian sites. Additionally, Iranian drone-manufacturing facilities should be destroyed. They provide drones to Russia to attack Ukraine.
– Donald Moskowitz, Londonderry, N.H.
I guess it’s all about the trees
I guess it’s all about the trees, How they stand strong in the rains, How they move in the wind, How they find a way Through time, growing stronger As years pass.
Yes, I guess it’s all about the trees. It’s about the birds alighting On their branches
In the warm spring mornings, Where light illuminates Their myriad colors.
Yes, I guess it’s all about the trees. It’s about shades of green. It’s about shades of life And how things are.
Yes, it’s all about the trees. We can all find strength in the resolute branches. Time will pass. We will pass, And the trees will remain.
I guess it’s all about the trees.
We’ll print damned near anything
The Telegraph welcomes healthy civil discourse in 750 words or less. Writers must include their (real) name and city/town/state of residence. Personal attacks, hate speech or any other kind of b.s. deemed libelous are not welcome. Please email your profundities to: telegraph@durango telegraph.com
– Burt Baldwin, Bayfield
TopStory
Food fight
Durango Food Bank, others across state, struggle amid federal cuts, inflation
by Missy Votel
Food banks across Colorado are facing a perfect storm. Recent cuts to federal food assistance programs are driving up demand while simultaneously shrinking the supply of food available for distribution. Meanwhile, food prices continue to rise. The 12-month increase in food inflation hit 3.2% in August, faster than overall inflation, and food prices in 2024 were 23.6% higher than in 2020, according to the USDA.
Supporters of federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) and The Emergency Food Assistance program (TEFAP) say the changes will help prevent fraud. A statement from the White House said the cuts will ensure food assistance is going to the “truly needy.”
But many food banks across the state, which use TEFAP to buy in bulk for pennies on the dollar from the USDA, say they are struggling to keep enough food on the shelves.
“The changes to SNAP and TEFAP are definitely affecting our operations and the clients we serve here in Durango,” Sarah Smith, Executive Director of the Durango Food Bank, said. While food drives and donations are important in helping keep the food bank afloat, Smith said it simply does not match the bang for the buck of getting food directly from distributors through TEFAP.
“Purchasing food in bulk allows pantries to get what we need, benefit from greater purchasing power and receive food in easily distributable cases,” she said. “It allows for a more consistent supply of food, better quality control and improved control over variety.”
Sue Ellen Rodwick, executive director of the West Slope’s Food Bank of the Rockies, said her organization is struggling, too. “We are having to get creative in finding new sourcing opportunities and distributing less food to each person,” she told Colorado Public Radio.
Nate Springer, CEO of Care and Share, a food bank based in Colorado Springs that serves 29 counties across Southern Colorado, said the organization has seen a 37% decline in the amount of food available to purchase through TEFAP due to federal cuts. That loss amounts to
about 4 million meals they are now unable to provide.
“We have lots of ways that we get food, lots of ways we acquire food, but there is absolutely no way to replace that purchasing power,” he told CPR. Federal cuts increase demand
In March 2025, the USDA paused $500 million in funding to TEFAP, which resulted in canceled food deliveries to food banks. In total, the cuts amount to $1 billion in federal funding, which includes cuts to TEFAP and another program called the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program. These cuts have led to a reduction in the amount of food, such as meat, dairy and produce, available to low-income families.
In addition, the so-called One Big Beau-
tiful Bill passed by Congress in July tightened eligibility for SNAP. To now qualify for SNAP, individuals must work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week, unless they are in an exemption category.
On Oct. 1, those exemptions became even more stringent. For starters, the age exemption for SNAP work requirements rose from 54 to 65. Furthermore, the definition of a dependent child also changed, from under 18 to under 14. Veterans, people experiencing homelessness and former foster youth also must meet work requirements to maintain benefits.
Additionally, SNAP recipients now receive $150 at the beginning of every month, down from $180. Springer said these cuts are going to bring a flood of new people in need of food, and there
won’t be enough resources to support the increase in demand.
“Across the country, people run out of money at the $180 level at about day 18 of the month,” he said. “So when you think about the last time you went to the grocery store, now consider you have $150 to get through the month.”
Doing more with less
According to Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” report, 12.7% of Coloradans were food insecure in 2023, with the rate for children at 14.3%. Furthermore, a 2024 study from the Urban Institute found that more than one in four adults (27.1%) experienced household food insecurity, a rate higher than prepandemic levels.
In La Plata County, there are an esti-
Shoppers at the Durango Food Bank pantry. Thanks to a perfect storm of federal cuts to food-assistance programs and rising food prices, food banks are struggling to make ends meet./ Photo courtesy Durango Food Bank
mated 6,420 food insecure individuals in La Plata County missing at least 1 meal per day, and 52% of food insecure county residents do not qualify for SNAP benefits, she said.
“They are the working poor – families and seniors who are just falling short but are contributing members of our society. This forces many families to make difficult choices,” she said. “For example: utilities and rent vs. adequate food supplies or seniors decreasing medication doses to make it stretch.”
At the same time, Smith said the Durango Food Bank has seen a significant drop in donations from local corporate contributors, specifically with regards to perishable items like produce.
“With increased need and decreased contributions, organizations are being forced to more firmly adhere to service area restrictions, reduce distribution quantities and rely more heavily on the private sector for support,” she said.
In 2024, the Durango Food Bank served 12,000 residents. The food bank is open to all La Plata County residents, with no income guidelines although people must first fill out a form and book an appointment online. Smith said the goal is to turn the food bank into a regional distribution hub for Southwest Colorado, including La Plata, Archuleta,
Montezuma, Dolores and San Juan counties.
“This will address the systemic need to acquire, store and distribute food to the many existing food pantries and organizations in the region,” she said.
To that end, the Durango Food Bank recently opened a new 3,100-square-foot facility in Bodo that includes a loading dock, pallet shelving, forklift and pallet jacks. The food bank also purchased a box truck with a lift gate to make deliveries to other pantries.
However, the recent cuts may put all of this in jeopardy. In addition to the cost of food, there is the cost of additional staff and transportation. The food bank has about $47,000 in infrastructure and facility needs right now, from the costs of a semi-truck to a stretch-wrap machine, refrigeration, entry gate and a truck with a snow plow.
Nevertheless, Smith is hopeful. “Our new facilities and strategic plans are the first step to addressing the impending crisis,” she said. “With the community’s help, we can build a transparent and efficient system to acquire, store and distribute food to those in need across the region.”
Havalin Haskell and Olivia Bagan from Colorado Public Radio contributed to this report. For more from Colorado Public Radio, go to: www.cpr.org. ■
The most fun outdoor Sunday brunch in Durango!
10 a.m.-1 p.m., featuring a new DJ every week and brunch dishes from all our food trucks
This week’s live music: 10/16, 6-9pm, The Original Vypers 10/17, 7-10pm, Columbine Trio • 10/18, 6-9pm, The Strays
Oh, SNAP! Demystifying Props LL & MM
In addition to tightening eligibility for SNAP benefits, President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed in July also made cuts to how much money the federal government gives states for program implementation on the local level. Specifically, the bill reduced federal contribution from 50% of SNAP administrative costs to 25%, leaving states on the hook for the difference.
The change is predicted to cost Colorado $50 million starting next year to fully fund SNAP at its current level.
At the same time, the state’s popular Healthy School Meals for All program, which offer free breakfast and lunch to all students, is facing a budget shortfall due to higher-than-projected costs and demand. The program, launched in 2023, is primarily funded by capping state income tax deductions for those making $300,000 or more (known as Proposition FF, passed in 2022). However, the funding was only enough to cover meal reimbursements and administrative costs, leaving no money for other promised elements like grants for local food purchases and increased wages for cafeteria worker wages.
To cover these costs, two ballot initiatives, Proposition MM and Proposition LL, appear on the November ballot. They would allow the state to retain $12.4 million excessive tax revenues from Prop FF while raising taxes on those making more than $300,000 a year. Revenues would pay for the shortfall in the free school meal program with the excess being used to fund SNAP.
Under the ballot measures, the state would have to fully fund the free school meal program before any of the money could be spent on SNAP. The remaining revenue would go to SNAP administration, outreach and nutrition education.
If voters approve the ballot initiatives, they’re projected to raise an additional $95 million for the state, which sponsors say would be enough to fully fund both school lunches and SNAP.
If the measures don’t pass and the state doesn’t come up with money to fully fund SNAP, most of the impacts would fall on counties who administer the program, including reviewing application, according to sponsors of the measures.
– Missy Votel
Improving outcomes
New FLC nursing program seeks to address shortage in rural areas
by Elaine Tassy / Colorado Public Radio
Liz Hatch just started her nursing studies as a junior at Fort Lewis College. From Los Alamos, N.M., she spent her freshman and sophomore years completing prerequisites like anatomy, biology and chemistry. Now, she’s learning how to take blood pressure, temperature and heart rate in the first semester in the college’s new $2.3 million nursing program.
She’s one of about two dozen students in the new program, which started this fall. Upon completion, they will earn a bachelor’s in nursing through a joint-degree program with the University of Colorado Anschutz.
“I had my sights set on the nursing program … Now we are learning skills that we’ve been waiting to learn and getting to play nurse every day,” she said during an interview from her on-campus dorm room.
The program is linked to CU’s Anschutz program, which is about 10 times larger. Amy Barton, a nurse, pro-
fessor and chair of rural health nursing with CU Anschutz, helped form the link between the two campuses.
“We have the strengths of Fort Lewis College, which really does a phenomenal job of supporting their students – and the top baccalaureate program in the state that’s already accredited and has a very strong program,” said Barton. “Combine those together, and we’re hoping for amazing outcomes to support the workforce in the future.”
According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, there was a shortage of 78,610 full-time RNs in 2025 and a projected shortage of 63,720 by 2030. Anticipating this future shortage, the program aims to lessen impacts on rural areas, which tend to be hit harder than their urban counterparts. “A lot of the nursing shortage is a distribution issue, with more nurses kind of concentrated in urban settings as opposed to in rural hospitals,” said Barton. “That’s also a pattern that occurs throughout the United States.”
The program has two full-time faculty members working alongside director Maggie LaRose, who pointed out some of the program’s features. Those include learning opportunities that can happen on one campus and benefit students on the other. “We have a project called SIM capture, that allows for the recording and broadcasting of simulation so the students have the potential to learn simultaneously from each other across the state.”
That could look like students checking blood pressure and lungs on a mannequin at FLC, while students at CU Anschutz watch the student on a screen, or the reverse.
Hatch has been using the life-like mannequins for practice during lab time.
“They speak, they can moan, they can breathe, give you all the vital signs,” said Hatch. “I’m trying to, as our professors say, suspend disbelief and walk in and just have an open mind. It’s a mannequin, but also you need to view it as a patient. Just having the technology that we have is so cool. It makes it feel as human as possible.”
Dr. Linden Lane, center, instructs Fort Lewis College nursing students on how to check for a pulse from each other, while standing over a mannequin that can be programmed to simulate different patient conditions on Sept. 15./ Photo by Hart Van Denburg/CPR News.
During a recent visit, LaRose pointed out rooms set up to simulate environments where nurses might find themselves: one looks like a homey living room with a couch, shelves and homey touches; another is set up like a hospital room: stark, with white linens on metal beds upon which the mannequins rest until activated. Students show up in the scrubs they might wear on duty.
A mannequin dressed in a hospital gown lay on a bed. When prompted from a computer by an instructor, it can make sounds of distress in a real-life type scenario. Instructors can make things more complicated by changing the mannequin’s vital signs or using a mannequin representing a different age to see how students adjust their efforts depending on specific needs.
“We could potentially have a kid with asthma and an 82-year-old man with COPD,” LaRose said. “So they’re thinking, ‘OK, these are both respiratory, but how different is it when it’s a pediatric patient? How different is it when it’s acute than someone who’s chronic and older?’
A lot of scenarios allow us to personalize the experience.”
She pointed out a room where the instructors can tweak the responses of the mannequins to see if the nurses will come up with the right intervention.
“Here is where we can manipulate all of the things,” said LaRose, standing in a small, dark room with a two-way mirror from which to watch the students. “We could change the pulse rate – would they have just given a blood pressure medication? So then, a little later, we can see the blood pressure go down. So this is what it looks like behind the scenes … It’s meant (for) students to make decisions ... If the students go a little off track, we can manipulate and make some changes. It’s essentially meant to be a learning tool.”
LaRose said after the two years of prep courses, students have to complete about 800 hours practicing both in health care facilities, like hospitals and mental health clinics, as well as in the simulation labs on campus.
The program has room for 24 students and is just one or two spots short. It takes five semesters to complete, and after that, they hope students will stay in rural areas rather than be snatched up by bigger cities or get burned out.
“We’ve been doing a lot of pipelining,” LaRose said, “recruiting from local high schools for people who want to be nurses and stay and work in this community.”
That’s what Hatch said she’s planning on doing – she said she might want to become an ER nurse. After earning about
Director of Nursing at Fort Lewis College, Maggie LaRose, with one of the program’s adaptable teaching mannequins. The program is in conjunction with CU’s Anschutz medical campus in Aurora and students must complete about 800 hours practicing in health care facilities as well as in simulation labs on campus./
$15,000 in scholarships and being cheered on by her older sister, younger brother and 2-year-old half-sister, she hopes to work in a rural setting rather than a large city.
“The city scene? Um, a little too pop-
ulated for my taste,” she said. “Here in Durango, it truly does feel like home. It just has a community feel that big cities don’t have.”
For more from Colorado Public Radio, go to: www.cpr.org. ■
Photo by Hart Van Denburg, CPR News
Thursday16
Craft and Connect, 3-5 p.m., Fort Lewis Mesa Library, 11274 HWY 140
Reliance’s HOA Board Member Celebration, 4-6 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Ross Douglas plays, 5-7 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Weekly Dart Tournament, 5:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Spanish Conversation Hour, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 East 3rd Ave.
Adam Swanson plays ragtime, 5:30-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Cult Movie Night featuring “Eraserhead,” 6 p.m., Mancos Opera House, 136 Grand Ave.
Open Mic Night, 6 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Lit Fest Keynote Speaker Author Peter Heller, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
The Original Vypers play, 6-9 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Andrew Schuhmann plays, 6-9:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
DHS Homecoming Powderpuff Game, 6:30 p.m., Durango High School
Comedy Open Mic, 6:30 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave.
Trivia Night on the Plaza, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio
Cardinal Bloom with special guest Ragged Oak, 7 p.m. Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Friday17
“Munch” casual vanilla kinkster social club, 910:30 a.m., Durango Pole Dance, 3600 Main Ave., Unit B
DHS Homecoming Tailgate 2025, 4-6 p.m., Durango High School
Euphoria Release Party, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Durango Open Studio Tour Opening Art Exhib, 5-7 p.m., Durango Creative District, 1135 Main Ave.
Dan Carlson & Nina Sasaki play, 5-7pm, Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
“Walking With Ghosts,” opening reception, featuring new work from Jon Bailey & Shawn Lotze, 59 p.m., Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Julian and Ryan play, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Barons Creek Winery, 901 Main Ave.
Adam Swanson plays ragtime, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
DHS Homecoming Football Game, 6 p.m., Durango High School Stadium
Downtown Balloon Glow, 6-7:30 p.m., 500 Block of Main Ave.
Lit Fest “How to Write a Great First Page” workshop, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Irish Music with Tom Ward’s Downfall, 6-8 p.m., Durango Winery, 900 Main Ave.
Dustin Burley plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
“Rivers, Rails and Roots” presented by Durango Choral Society, 7 p.m., Sacred Heart Church, 254 E. 5th Ave.
FLC Jazz Ensemble concert, 7-8 p.m., Community Concert Hall at FLC
Live Stand-Up featuring Comedy Cellar’s Jamie Wolf, 7-9 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Latin Dance Night with music by Seven Sharp 11, 7-10 p.m., The Light Box at Stillwater Music, 1316 Main Ave., Ste. C
Gothla Belly Dance Show & Dance Party, 7-10 p.m., Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave.
The Columbine Trio plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Saturday18
Durango Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-12 noon, TBK parking lot
Sunnyside Solar Tours, 10-11 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Sunnyside Community Solar Facility, 75 CR 218
Durango Open Studio Tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., maps at Durango Creative District, 1135 Main Ave., or online at durangoopenstudiotour.com
Fetch a Friend Dog Adoption Event, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Pet Haus Groom Room, 1430 Main Ave.
Frank N’ Stein Fundraiser, 12 noon-6 p.m., Joe Stephenson Park, Bayfield
Folk Jam, 1-2 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Silent Book Club, 1-3 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
#NoKings 2.0 rally, 2-4 p.m., Rotary Park
Halloween Mask Decorating Party, 3-7 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave.
Spirits with the Spectres, Durango Education Foundation fundraiser, 4 p.m. & 5:45 p.m., Strater Hotel & downtown venues, 699 Main Ave.
Harvest Dinner and 5-Year Celebration, 5-7 p.m., Fort Lewis Mesa Library, 11274 HWY 140
Adam Swanson plays ragtime, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Downtown Balloon Glow, 6-7:30 p.m., 500 Block of Main Ave.
Matt Rupnow plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
The Strays play, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave.
KNFRMST, Green Lizard, Existence A.D & Project B.C. play a night of metal, 6:30 p.m., The Swarm venue at The Hive, 1175 Camino Del Rio
Stillhouse Junkies with special guest Still House String Band, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
“Stay Tuned – A Dark Burlesque Circus Experience” presented by Secret Circus Society, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Falco and Book play Jerry Garcia, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at FLC
Contra Dance and Squares, 7:30-10 p.m., La Plata Senior Center Ballroom, 2424 Main Ave.
Sunday19
Eli Cartwright plays, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Durango Open Studio Tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., maps at Durango Creative District, 1135 Main Ave., or online at durangoopenstudiotour.com
Weekly Peace Vigil & Rally for Gaza & Palestine, every Sunday, 4 p.m., Buckley Park
Columbine Trio plays, 5-8 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
AskRachel Decoding laundry, going in circles and getting heavy
Interesting fact: Those fabric-care pictograms have, like, international standards and stuff. They even get periodic revisions. Imagine: someone is earning their retirement by reviewing and updating those things.
Dear Rachel, Laundry tag care instructions are absolutely indecipherable. How are those rows of icons supposed to make any sense? I get using icons because you can’t fit enough words on a little tag. But they’re not intuitive at all! There has to be a better way. Do other people just know what these things mean? Or are we all just fumbling about in the dark with our darks? Show me the light before I do another load of whites.
– Airing My Laundry Dear Laundry Illiterate, I was at a friend’s house getting something out of the laundry cupboard. They have a whole Rosetta Stone
“Queer Refuge” mindfulness with fellow queer & trans community, 6:30-8 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave.
Magoo performs, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Monday20
Climate Café, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Meditation and Dharma Talk, 5:30 pm, in person at The Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E 3rd Ave, Ste 109 or online at durangodharmacenter.org
ASL Learners Group, 5:30-7 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR 218
Joel Racheff plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Chuck Hank plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
“The Zia Tortilla Story,” told by Bob Lee and Tim Turner, 6:30 p.m., Animas Valley Grange, 7271 CR 203
on the door! Rows and rows of laundry tag pictograms, each with their definition. My first thought was, “Oh, those things mean something?” My second thought was I knew I would never bother to look up the right icons. I just know not to put new red clothes in with my wools, or something like that. Good enough for me.
– Spin cycling, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
My tire store tells me it’s not safe to drive on my tires once they hit 4mm tread. The warranty on my tires will replace them, but only once they wear down below 4 mm. So I essentially have to drive my tires until they’re unsafe before I can save money on new ones. How does this make sense?
– Worn Down
Dear Bumpy Ride,
Ah, the great American conundrum: how can we ever hope to re-tire? Big Tire just wants to milk you for every
Tuesday21
Food drive benefiting Pine River Shares and Good Sam Pantry, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Albertsons and S. City Market
Non-traditional Book Club:
Spooky Stories, 6-7:30 p.m., Bread Café, 135 E. 8th St.
Jason Thies plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Sean O’Brien plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Rotary Club of Durango presents San Juan Mountains Association’s Stephanie Weber speaking about protecting public lands, 6-7 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.
Barbershop tryouts, every Tues., 6:30 p.m., Christ the King Church, 495 Florida Rd.
Wednesday22
Food drive benefiting Pine River Shares and Good Sam Pantry, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Albertsons and S. City Market
Twin Buttes Farm Stand, weekly, 3-
dollar. If you value your life, you’ll spring for new tires on your own. If you try to go for the warranty, you’ll use up the warranty before you get there. You can’t win, unless you get out of the tire game altogether. We’re overdue for flying cars anyway.
– An old retread, Rachel
Dear Rachel, I swear I’m going to eliminate clutter and simplify my life. Maybe not right this second, but before I move again. Pretty sure I’ve worn out all my friends with trucks. No one wants to lift another box of books or rocks for me. But when it comes down to it, I can’t seem to part with any of my heaviest things. It’s becoming a weight on me, literally. How do I convince myself to let things go?
Dear Heavy Hoarder,
– Heavy Burden
Our physical world reflects our inner state. Your friends might see you as a
6:30 p.m., Twin Buttes, 165 Tipple Ave.
Young Professionals of Durango Happy Hour, 5-7 p.m., TBA, downtown area
Donny Johnson plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Terry Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Ongoing
“Nature’s Tapestry in Plein Air,” juried exhibit thru Oct. 25, 5-7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Matt Clark “From a Different Lens” exhibit, thru October, The Recess Gallery at Studio &, 1027 Main Ave.
“From the Fringes: Dine Textiles that Disrupt” exhibit, thru Nov. 13, Center of Southwest Studies, FLC
60-year celebration “A Legacy of Gifts,” thru Nov. 13, Center of Southwest Studies, FLC
Dementia/Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group, 1st, 3rd & 5th
Email Rachel at telegraph@durango telegraph.com
heavy burden. I see you as an awesome person. Anyone who likes books and rocks is a friend. Not the help-you-move kind of friend, of course. But the kind of friend who will never judge you for hoarding rocks and books, lest you judge me for my own rocks and books. Neither requires actual people! Which is good, because I can’t go in public, ever since I ruined all my clothes in the wash.
– Lighten up, Rachel
Wednesday of each month, 10:30 a.m.-12 noon, La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.
Upcoming
Food drive benefiting Pine River Shares and Good Sam Pantry, Thurs., Oct. 23, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Albertsons and S. City Market
2026 Snowdown Poster Reveal and Volunteer Recognition, Thurs., Oct. 23, 5:30-7 p.m., The American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.
“Community PowerX,” TEDx style talk by LPEA, Thurs., Oct. 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Gaslight Twin Cinema, 102 E. 5th St.
Open Mic Poetry Night, Thurs., Oct. 23, 5:30-8 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F
“Falliday Party” Durango Formal, Fri., Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m., Black Heron Lounge, 726 Main Ave.
Afrobeatniks, Fri., Oct. 24, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Oct. 16, 2025 n 13
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): I bet your upcoming night dreams will include marriages, mating dances and sacramental unions. Even if you are not planning deeper mergers with trustworthy allies in your waking life, your subconscious mind is musing on such possibilities. I hope this horoscope inspires you to make such fantasies more conscious. What collaborations and blends would serve you well? Give your imagination permission to ponder new and exciting connections. Visualize yourself thriving amidst new connections.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In winemaking, malolactic fermentation softens a wine’s tart malic acid into gentler lactic acid. This process imparts a creamier and rounder mouthfeel, while preserving the wine’s structure. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to adopt this as your metaphor of power. See if you can refine your intensity without losing your integrity. Keep things interesting but soften the edges a bit. Introduce warmth and steadiness into provocative situations so they’re free of irritation and easier to engage with, but still enriching.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to practice the art of strategic disruption. One way to do it is to interrupt your patterns so they don’t calcify and obstruct you. Just for fun, you could eat breakfast for dinner. Take a different route to a familiar place. Talk to a person you would usually avoid. Say no when you’d normally say yes, or vice versa. Part of your brain loves efficiency and wellworn grooves. But grooves can become ruts. As a rousing spiritual experiment, you could do things differently to prove to yourself that you can. Playful chaos can be a form of prayer. Messing with standard approaches will unleash creativity.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): In Shinto mythology, Ame-no-Uzume is the goddess of mirth and revelry. In one story, she seduces the sun out of its hiding place by performing a humorous and provocative dance. I am sending her over to your sphere right now in the hope she will coax you out of your comfort zone. While I’m glad you have taken this break to recharge your spiritual batteries, I think it’s time to come out and play. You have done important work to nurture and process your feelings. Now we would love you to express what you’ve learned with freewheeling panache.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Ancient cultures in Sumeria, Egypt and China used willow bark as a pain reliever. Many centuries later, European scientists isolated the chemical salicin from the bark and used it to create aspirin. What had been a folk remedy became a widely used medicine. Is there a metaphorically comparable development in your life? Something you’ve known or practiced could be evolving into its next form. The world may finally be ready to receive wisdom, a technique or an insight you’ve used for a long time. Consider refining and upgrading it. Share it in ways that meet the present moment.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In honor of your special needs right now, I am coining a new English word: edge-ucation. It’s like “education” but with an extra edge. Though book-learning is included, it also requires you to seek out raw teaching in all possible ways: on the streets, the bedroom, the natural world, everywhere. To properly pursue your higher edge-ucation, you must hunt down provocative influences, thought-provoking adventures and unfamiliar stimulation. Make the whole world your laboratory and classroom.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When I began writing horoscopes years ago, I had greater empathy with some of the signs than with others. But I worked hard to overcome this bias, and now I truly love and understand every tribe of the zodiac equally. I attribute this accomplishment to the fact that I have three Libra planets in my natal chart. They have propelled me to develop a warm, affectionate, fair-minded objectivity. I have a honed capacity for seeing and liking people as they genuinely are, without imposing my expectations and projections onto them. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to tap into these qualities in yourself.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Many cultures regard obsidian as having protective powers against negative energy. This makes it popular for healing talismans. Obsidian mirrors have often been used to scry for visions and prophecies. Because obsidian is so sharp, ancient peoples incorporated it into tools used to hunt for food, like knives and arrowheads. In modern times, obsidian is used for its beauty in tabletops, tiles and architectural components. Do you know how this precious substance forms? It’s born in the shock when molten lava meets water or cool air and hardens so quickly that crystals can’t form, trapping a mirror-dark clarity in volcanic glass. I propose we make it your symbolic power object in the coming months.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Medieval alchemists engaged in laboratory work to create elixirs of immortality, concoct medicines to heal and metamorphose lead into gold. But the modern practice of alchemy is primarily psychological to achieve awakening and enlightenment. In the early stages, the seeker experiences the metaphorical “black sun.” It’s a dark radiance, the beginning of creative decay that fuels coming transformation. I suspect you now have the potential to call on this asset. Though you must proceed with caution and discernment. What worn-out aspects of yourself are you ready to let rot, thereby fertilizing future growth?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In Japan, shakkei refers to the practice of “borrowed scenery.” The idea is to create a garden so that surrounding features become part of its expansive context: distant mountains, an expanse of sky or nearby water. The artistry lies in allowing the horizon to merge gracefully with what’s close at hand. I recommend this approach to you, Capricorn. Frame your current project with a backdrop that enlarges it. Partner with places, influences or long-view purposes that augment your meaning and enhance your beauty. Align your personal actions with a vast story so they send even more potent ripples out into the world.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Computer scientist Radia Perlman is the “Mother of the Internet.” She invented the Spanning Tree Protocol, a component that’s essential for the flow of online data. Despite her work’s importance, hardly anyone knows of her. With that in mind, I remind you: Some revolutions unfold with little fanfare; positive transformations may be inconspicuous. I suspect the next beautiful or useful thing you contribute may also be veiled and underestimated, at least at first. And yet it may ultimately generate a shift more significant than you can now imagine. My advice is to trust the long game. You’re doing good work, though its recognition may be late in arriving.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The mystical Persian poet Hafez wrote, “Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I’d like to see you living in better conditions.” Picture that shabby room: cramped, dim, damp. Now imagine you have resolved to never again live in such a place. Sometime soon you will move, metaphorically speaking, into a spacious, high-ceilinged place with wide windows and skylights, fresh air flooding through. I believe life will conspire on your behalf if you initiate this bold move. You now have extra power to exorcize at least some of your angsts and embrace liberating joy.
classifieds
Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon.
Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum
Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check. (Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)
Ads can be submitted via: n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133
Announcements
Roller Skating Club for adults forming. Interested? Come join us at Zia North upstairs 11/4 at 7pm. All are welcome! Questions? Call / text Todd @ 970-799-0139
Notice of Public Sale to enforce self-service storage facility lien Publication Dates: 10/2/25 & 10/16/25. “Personal Property,” stored at Unit E09 of The Animas Mini Storage at 20995 Highway 160, Durango, CO, 81301, described as: vinyl LPs, baby grand piano, upright piano, boxes of misc., which are stored under a Rental Agreement between The Animas Mini Storage and Mike Silvester, will be sold to the highest cash bidder unless all rents and fees are paid in full prior to the auction. Date and time of Sale: October 17, 2025, at 9:30 AM Terms of Sale: CASH Place of Sale: The Animas Mini Storage, 20995 Highway 160, Durango, CO. All bidders must present a valid state-issued picture ID to place bids
HelpWanted
Assistant Professor of Marketing (tenure track) sought by Fort Lewis College located in Durango, CO, to teach mktg courses at the undergraduate level with a standard teaching load of 24 credits per academic year (3 credits of time may be authorized for research release), supporting majors, minors, concentrations & certificate prgms across the Katz School of Business. For job details, rqmts & how to apply refer to: https://jobpost.works/SS8126
Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems (tenure-track) sought by Fort Lewis College located in Durango, CO, to teach Comp Info Systems courses at the undergraduate level within the School of Bus Admin, maintaining a 4-3 course load per academic year, including core CIS courses such as IT Security, Network Infrastructure & Introduction to Data Analysis. For job details, rqmts & how to apply refer to: https://jobpost.works/JGG8126
ForRent
Private Office Space for Rent in environmental consulting firm’s office, $400/mo (144 sf) 835 E. 2nd Ave. 3mo lease includes all utilities, Wi-Fi, shared kitchen and use of conference room. For more info please contact jhes ford@eroresources.com
Professional Office Downtown near Main Ave, sunlit patio with Buckley Park views. All utilities included. Lease terms negotiable. 970.247.1233
Lost/Found
Help Cid Come Home
Last seen in Durango, July 21, 2024, by St. Columba Church. He is chipped, missing left canine tooth, white, big black spots, green eyes. Reward $2000. 970-403-6192.
Classes/Workshops
Men's Yoga
Every Tuesday, 7:30-8:30 AM at Yogadurango. All levels welcome.
All Levels Yoga Thursdays 10am, Smiley Room 32.
Props provided. Accessible class for continuing beginners who want to focus on functional movement and fundamental actions within standing, seated, twisting, forward and backward bending postures. www.k-lea.com (303) 819-9076
West Coast Swing
Ready to dance? Join our 3-week West Coast Swing Basics series for beginners! It’s fun, social, and easy to learn—no partner or experience needed. A new series starts every few weeks, so join us for the next one! We also offer a weekly social dance – a fun drop-in option or included with your series registration! Sign up at: www.westslopewesties.com
Wanted
Books Wanted at White Rabbit Donate/Trade/Sell 970 259-2213
BodyWork
Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
Services
Chapman Electric
Specializing in remodels, repairs, and additions both big and small. Local and reliable. Colorado Licensed Master Electrician. Mike 970-403-6670
HaikuMovieReview
‘John Candy: I Like Me’ There was a goodness in this man that shone in his eyes and his smile –
Boiler Service - Water Heater Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
