Local News - The Journal

Four burials, three deaths in San Juan avalanches

Snowmobiler missing since Saturday found Monday in Conejos County

DATE: Feb 27, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado launches study on native pollinators

New state law calls for research; insects important for agriculture and ecology

DATE: Feb 27, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Two skiers die in avalanche near Vallecito Reservoir

Men were declared missing Saturday night and found early Sunday

DATE: Feb 26, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

A Colorado land swap was meant to benefit rivers and the public. Not everyone is cheering.

The watchdog Colorado Wild Public Lands wants more transparency, plans to oppose the Blue Valley Ranch deal

DATE: Feb 24, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Highways reopen in Southwest Colorado after blizzard conditions pass

Crews remove snow from high passes, U.S. 491 near Utah

DATE: Feb 24, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Keetch Motors of Cortez is sold to Farmington dealership

Webb Automotive Group takes over operations; plans include new name, more inventory, upgraded facilities

DATE: Feb 24, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Silverton gets funding to improve economic diversification

The San Juan Development Association received a $75,000 grant from Colorado’s REDI program

DATE: Feb 24, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

City of Durango to allow long-term permits for food trucks

Mobile businesses were having to move every six months under a temporary permit

DATE: Feb 24, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Hesperus, Chapman ski areas thrive after previous lackluster seasons

Hesperus reports a foot of new snow, with 2 feet on the way

DATE: Feb 23, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Parade of storms to march through Southwest Colorado over next several days

Wind gusts reached nearly 70 mph this week in Durango area

DATE: Feb 23, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Lightner Creek Mobile home park residents without running water for 11 days

Landlord suspected of violating state law by failing to provide toilets and alternative water source

DATE: Feb 22, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Whiteout snowstorm shuts down highways in Southwest Colorado

U.S. highways 491 and 550 have closures; Lizard Head and Wolf Creek passes closed

DATE: Feb 22, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Ring, ring … aggressive bear in the neighborhood? Emergency calls sent to Delwood, Arroyo Drive area residents

Emergency officials warned residents of an “aggressive” bear Tuesday evening in west Durango. An aggressive bear ‒ allegedly ‒ was seen in the area of Delwood Avenue and Arroyo Drive on Tuesday evening. A Code Red alert from “La Plata Emergency” was issued at 8:15 p.m. to residents in the Delwood Avenue and Arroyo Drive neighborhoods. The alerts, sent by text and phone call, urged residents to stay indoors.At 8:15 p.m. a code red alert, in the form of a phone call and text message, went out the area residents informing them of the bears presence, and urged them to stay inside. Durango Police Department sent the alert after the bear had reportedly entered an unoccupied home, said John Livingston, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman. By the time DPD and CPW officers made it to the scene, the bear had left the house and was found lingering in the area, Livingston said. It did not respond to hazing techniques, and attempts by CPW officers to tranquilize it were unsuccessful, at which point the code red alert was sent out. The alert was largely to inform the residents about the large law enforcement presence in the area, Livingston said. CPW officers chased the bear through the residential area, as far down as north Main Avenue, but they were unable to catch it. As of now, the bear remains “at-large.” If caught, CPW will euthanize it. “We all want to help wildlife persist and thrive in their natural habitat, and help our populations continue to thrive,” Livingston said. “But in situations such as this, we just can't have bears inside people's homes.”Colorado has a two-strike policy for black bears. If CPW receives a call about a bear rifling through trash, a car trunk or a kitchen – wildlife officers capture it, mark it and relocate it to the wild. If the same bear is then caught engaging in similar behavior a second time – it’s euthanized.

This may have been one of the few incidents of aggressive bear behavior reported this summer, however it is far from the first bear sighting. As of July 14, Colorado Parks and Wildlife had logged 231 bear sightings or incidents in La Plata County, Livingston said last week. “It’s always alarming when we get a lot of incidents this early in the summer, but it’s not totally uncommon for Durango,” he said. Around late summer and early fall, bears are on the hunt for more food as they prepare for winter hibernation. “So bears get more active and more involved in conflicts with humans, typically the time of year where they’re trying to just really pack on those pounds late and are desperate for calories,” Livingston said. In recent years ‒ and especially this year ‒ bear conflicts involving chicken coops have been slightly higher than usual, which Livingston attributed to an increase in “hobby chicken farming.” That trend is especially notable northeast of city limits along Florida Road (County Road 240). Especially in the areas Northeast of Durango, along Florida road. Livingston recommended electric fencing as the best way to protect chicken coops but noted that it’s only permitted outside city limits, since Durango prohibits electric fencing. In addition to chicken coops, human food and garbage are major attractants. Bear Smart Durango fielded 42 reports of bears in July ‒ 86% of which involved a human food source, according to a post on the organization’s Facebook page. Bear Smart Durango and CPW urge residents to report bear sightings immediately. A common misconception is that calling CPW to report a bear will lead to it being trapped, relocated and potentially euthanized, Livingston said ‒ but that is usually not the case. There is a common thought among people, that if they call CPW about a bear sighting, CPW will end up trapping, relocating or potentially euthanizing the bear Livingston said; but he emphasized that is not the case. “We want to encourage people to call us early while we still have a chance to intervene, without ever having to set a trap,” he said. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Emergency calls sent to Delwood, Arroyo Drive area residents

Congressional candidate in hot water with Southern Utes over social media postTribe rebukes Hope Scheppelman for Instagram video

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe publicly rebuked Hope Scheppelman, a congressional candidate from Bayfield, for a social media post it says misrepresented the tribe’s political stance and disrespected cultural practices. The post, shared on Scheppelman’s personal Instagram account on June 2, shows a Southern Ute ceremonial sweat lodge with the words “Paid for by Hope Scheppelman for Congress.” The image then cuts to a video of a ruddy-faced Scheppelman sitting in her car, apparently after taking part in a sweat ceremony. In the clip, she claims she was invited to participate.

Scheppelman, a Republican, announced last month she will challenge U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Grand Junction, in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. Since then, she has actively promoted her campaign on social media. In a statement posted Friday, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe said the post falsely suggested the tribe invited Scheppelman to the ceremony and used the event for campaign purposes, misrepresenting the tribe’s involvement and the nature of the event.“These actions are not only misleading, but deeply disrespectful and will not be tolerated,” the tribe said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.A spokesperson for the tribe declined to comment further until the tribe has a chance to speak with Scheppelman. In addition to implying tribal endorsement, the inclusion of a photo of the sweat lodge disrespected a sacred cultural practice, according to Friday’s statement. Sweat ceremonies carry a deep spiritual and cultural significance for the Southern Ute people. The lodges themselves are considered sacred spaces of healing, reflection and renewal.

Including the image in a political post for personal gain exploited and tokenized those practices, and demonstrated blatant disregard for their sacred nature, the tribe’s statement said. It is not Scheppelman’s first public controversy. She previously drew widespread backlash for her involvement in disputes with Durango School District over the display of pride and Black Lives Matter flags in schools. Her time in Republican Party leadership was also marked by internal conflict and public controversy, including an attempt by local Republicans to remove her from a county-level position.Scheppelman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Tribe rebukes Hope Scheppelman for Instagram video

Photos: Fireworks show lights up Cortez sky on Fourth of JulyTopping off the Independence Day celebration Friday in Cortez, the fireworks show was grand as ever.Just west of Parque de Vida was a car show, put on by BumzArodn. Crowds leisurely strolled by looking at the cars while more canopies of families and friends stationed themselves on the grass.The pyrotechnics began blasting into the sky just after 9 p.m., as Parque de Vida had filled with an evening crowd of ready onlookers. Cascades and bursts, sparkles and twists, even the periodic fireball – the fireworks worked their magic as the crowd roared with excitement and watched in awe, with the evening show ending around 9:30 p.m.

Topping off the Independence Day celebration Friday in Cortez, the fireworks show was grand as ever...

Photos: Durango gets ‘Wet and Wild’

Coal Bank Pass rockfall, wall work planned through NovemberDrivers going between Durango and Silverton for fireworks should expect delays

Colorado Department of Transportation crews are racing to complete rockfall mitigation and replace a retaining wall on U.S. Highway 550 at Coal Bank Pass before snow arrives this fall.Crews are working on slopes between 45 and 90 degrees with boulders perched on a ledge at mile marker 59.3, near Deer Creek. CDOT Project Manager Jeff Reichle said the plan is to excavate from the top down, reducing slopes to about 35 degrees so rocks slide to a stop rather than rolling downhill.

After heavy excavation, CDOT will bring in rope crews to perform lighter excavation, he said. A rockfall catchment wall will be built that will gradually fill with rocks and sediment, eventually becoming a retaining wall.At mile marker 56.9, crews will replace a failing timber crib wall with a mechanically stabilized earth retaining wall on the northbound downslope. Reichle said drivers will see centerline barriers, with lanes narrowed to about 10 feet, as crews dig into the road and install wires and cribbing.“We’re going to cut the road in half, basically right at center line, and dig a hole in the road,” he said. “That’s really the only way to do the work because of the steepness.”

The rockfall work will remove about 12,000 to 14,000 cubic yards of rock and dirt, which will be stockpiled at Andrews Lake for future use in road shouldering and other projects, he said. That’s enough to fill 1,300 dump trucks or nearly four Olympic-sized pools. The work will require patience from motorists, with the rockfall mitigation and wall replacement scheduled to be completed by Oct. 1.The projects have been on CDOT’s list for about 10 years, Reichle said.

The retaining wall at mile marker 56.9 is in poor condition. If it fails or a major rockfall hits, CDOT could face an emergency project and extended full closures.Falling rocks near Deer Creek dwarf the current Jersey barriers, Reichle said. Some boulders are as large as 10 cubic yards – comparable in size to a small dump truck.What to expect over Fourth of July weekendRockfall and wall work on Highway 550 between the summits of Coal Bank and Molas passes will pause through Sunday for the holiday weekend.However, drivers should still expect delays at two traffic signals at mile markers 56.9 and 59.3, according to CDOT.

Reichle said wait times will be about two minutes, but could be longer depending on traffic volumes and the automated signals.“Peak periods before and after the Silverton fireworks show will have longer waits,” he said.

Where did the boulders come from?Reichle, a geologist, said he often wonders how these slopes formed.The first and foremost answer is the road itself cuts across the slope, he said. If a road had never been built, there wouldn’t be a falling rock hazard. But it’s also possible a landslide occurred thousands of years ago, or that it and boulders are remnants of glaciers that moved through the canyons thousands of years ago.“It could have been a lateral moraine or a terminal moraine, or something like that, that deposited the large stones as it traveled through this area,” he said.cburney@durangoherald.com

Drivers going between Durango and Silverton for fireworks should expect delays

Photos: Cortez BMX hosts state qualifying racesOver 100 riders from youth striders to adults competed Saturday at the Baxter Family BMX track in Cortez

Over 100 riders from youth striders to adults competed Saturday at the Baxter Family BMX track in Cortez

Photos: Hundreds gather to honor fallen Bloomfield Police officer Timothy OntiverosA solemn procession stretched for blocks Monday morning along West Apache Street in Farmington – a display of unity, grief and honor for Bloomfield Police Officer Timothy Ontiveros, 32.About 7 a.m., a large contingent of law enforcement, motorcyclists, friends and grieving family prepared to embark on the motorcade to the 9 a.m. service at the Bloomfield High School football stadium to celebrate the life of the officer.

A solemn procession stretched for blocks Monday morning along West Apache Street in Farmington – a d...

Families and friends packed the Dolores High School gymnasium to celebrate 26 graduates walking acro...

Photos: Hundreds send off the Montezuma-Cortez Class of 2025Friends, family fill Panther StadiumHundreds of family and friends piled into the bleachers at Panther Stadium to watch the graduating seniors receive their diplomas.M-CHS Principal Jennifer Boniface served as emcee, and told the gathered crowd that this ceremony was a testament to 12 years of hard work by this class. “Your journey has not always been easy, but you have persevered and achieved this significant milestone,” she said.The warm evening event opened with music by the Red Sky Drummers, a “Pomp and Circumstance” processional performed by the M-CHS Symphonic Winds, a presentation of colors by the VFW Post 5231 Color Guard, the national anthem sung by the M-CHS Choir, and a blessing given by Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Councilwoman Tawnie Knight.

Friends, family fill Panther Stadium

Durango police nab pet kangaroo for second time in less than a yearIrwin hopped around a downtown neighborhood before being captured

For the second time in less than a year, the Durango Police Department captured a pet kangaroo that escaped its confines and went for an early-morning hop through a downtown neighborhood.Irwin, the red kangaroo, was reported on the lam shortly before 6:30 a.m. Monday near East Second Avenue and College Drive – “about where it was the last time we dealt with it,” said Cmdr. Nick Stasi, with the police department.“Somebody driving by saw the kangaroo near the street, and they were concerned for its safety, so they gave us a call,” Stasi said.

Officers last dealt with Irwin in September, when he led police on a pursuit through the same neighborhood. While officers may have doubted the reporting party’s veracity eight months ago, this time they had no reason to second-guess the eyewitness’ account.“Our officers, kind of knowing a little bit of the backstory and just the uniqueness of the kangaroo, were very excited to go find this thing again and rescue it one more time,” Stasi said. “It’s not something our police officers do very often, and the chance to snuggle a kangaroo is pretty interesting for us, considering all the other things that are part of our normal duties.”Officers’ biggest concern was keeping Irwin safe, especially making sure he didn’t get hit by a car.“There was really no concern that it was going to attack anybody,” Stasi said. “It was actually very calm.”

It is legal to own red kangaroos, but with pet ownership comes certain responsibilities, he said. “We are hopeful that the owners of this animal, and any animal, understand that it is the owner’s responsibility to have care over their animal to make sure that it is not getting into dangerous situations,” he said.It was not immediately known how Irwin got loose. It is believed he escaped through an open or unlocked door. No citations were issued.The roo was eventually cornered. Officer Shane Garrison, who grew up on a farm, gave Irwin a little pet, then grabbed it and picked it up like a goat or a calf and carried it to a waiting police vehicle.

Irwin, named after Steve Irwin – aka ‘the Crocodile Hunter’ – was taken to the La Plata County Humane Society. He was picked up later that day by his owners. No officers were scratched or injured.“Apparently, it is very soft, and it was very docile,” Stasi said.Police fielded several media calls Tuesday about the escaped kangaroo, including news outlets from Denver, Albuquerque and The Associated Press.“It’s entertaining,” Stasi said. “I don’t know of any other police agencies in the country who have captured a kangaroo – let alone twice.”shane@durangoherald.com

Irwin hopped around a downtown neighborhood before being captured