News https://www.the-journal.com/feeds/news/ 2026-05-25 11:15:14 -0700 en-us https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-cortez-school-board-tables-salary-decision-requests-audit-of-pay-structure/ The Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 school board voted to table the 2026-27 salary schedule until an audit of step placements for all director-level and above employees is completed, citing concerns about impro... 2026-05-25 04:10:49 -0700 27759a86-1c15-4e53-b601-7aa3bec72e86 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-rico-residents-honor-fallen-service-members-on-memorial-day/ At the Cortez Cemetery, small flags billowed next to the graves of soldiers who died in combat while veterans and community members alike gathered at the American Legion Ute Mountain Post 75 to honor ... 2026-05-25 02:41:51 -0700 3c4d6c7e-87b4-4152-a1ec-0debb6614e52 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/how-fire-agencies-across-southwest-colorado-work-together-to-get-ahead-of-wildfire-season/ With the arrival of summer comes the reminder that a pronounced wildfire season across the West is swiftly approaching. In La Plata County, fire departments, utility providers, and county, state and f... 2026-05-25 05:00:00 -0700 49af9b69-71ec-4586-b337-74b4870ea003 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/mchs-graduates-urged-to-embrace-their-journey-at-commencement/ The sun began to set Thursday as nearly 100 graduates from Montezuma-Cortez High School received their diplomas and confetti rained down in celebration of the special milestone. Principal Jennifer Bon... 2026-05-24 04:00:00 -0700 9eec3616-2f4a-4313-ad50-bbaefd360eac https://www.the-journal.com/articles/dolores-high-school-graduates-contemplate-whats-next-after-ceremony-friday/ When the Dolores High School Class of 2026 marched into the school’s main gym on Friday, excited anticipation filled the air as the graduates took their seats. The class was welcomed and congratulate... 2026-05-23 12:26:21 -0700 d59f25e9-c527-4b1c-9fe0-c7ea27bb3ae4 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/three-montezuma-county-graduates-receive-rodney-ems-memorial-golf-scholarships/ The Rodney Ems Memorial Golf Scholarship has awarded $14,000 to seven high school graduates from the Four Corners region for 2026. Three of those graduates are from Montezuma County schools. The Monte... 2026-05-23 11:30:00 -0700 af77f253-9b9f-4104-a110-775e863fd239 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-county-4-h-members-sweep-district-officer-positions-for-second-year-in-a-row/ Members of the Montezuma County 4-H Program have once again claimed all three district officer positions, continuing a streak that now spans two years. Montezuma County 4-H’s Zane Herrmann was elected... 2026-05-23 07:45:00 -0700 0428a24f-e559-4d58-81f4-1ae417289f28 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/judge-hears-oral-arguments-in-dollar-general-civil-case/ Questions on the meaning of rural character and statutory power were emphasized in 22nd Judicial District court Thursday as attorneys debated whether county officials lawfully denied a proposal to bui... 2026-05-23 05:30:00 -0700 3f6ef8bb-277b-4fed-a7bd-8accea637f14 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-district-attorneys-office-resolves-yearslong-child-sex-abuse-cases/ The District Attorney’s office in Montezuma County said recent convictions and plea agreements in four sexual assault crimes against children shows persistence from survivors and dedication among comm... 2026-05-22 08:01:20 -0700 917cb6ed-bcf7-4108-aa2d-0f99969db553 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/moco-compo-brings-food-curbside-composting-service-to-montezuma-county/ A new curbside composting business has been launched in Montezuma County, marking the first time residents can have food scraps picked up from their homes. MoCo Compo was founded by Dolores residents ... 2026-05-22 09:00:00 -0700 00da0472-b0ed-4134-b1d4-9f19289ca111 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/dolores-ffa-chapter-earns-bronze-in-agricultural-mechanics/ The Dolores High School Future Farmers of America Chapter achieved a bronze team ranking in agricultural mechanics at the Colorado FFA State Career Development Events held in Fort Collins at the end o... 2026-05-22 08:15:00 -0700 0d434549-84a4-4561-b844-1f39755a34d1 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/the-bikes-they-ride-and-the-stories-they-tell/ Cyclists from all walks of life sign up to take part of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic every May – a hallowed tradition of Durango’s cycling scene that goes back to 1971. They are drawn by the iconic... 2026-05-22 05:00:00 -0700 f3898a1a-697e-4bc5-a817-728902332c2d https://www.the-journal.com/articles/san-juan-national-forest-implements-stage-1-fire-ban/ Stage 1 restrictions will go into effect Friday across lower-elevation areas of the San Juan National Forest, primarily on the western side of the Dolores Ranger District, according to forest official... 2026-05-21 08:16:06 -0700 a0e25f00-8698-4ce3-94a5-94a209017f11 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/mancos-school-board-celebrates-graduates-at-end-of-year-meeting/ The Mancos RE-6 school board celebrated graduates, received a report from a student board member about student sentiment regarding the district’s cellphone policy, said goodbye to retirees and more at... 2026-05-21 11:00:00 -0700 39ec656e-8b7b-42fb-a927-454f6e987445 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/peace-run-relay-runners-to-stop-in-cortez-during-50-state-tour/ The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, known as the world's largest international peace torch relay, will reach Cortez on the morning of May 27 as part of its 2026 journey across the U.S. The event i... 2026-05-21 04:00:00 -0700 ee32337d-ee1a-4ef0-891a-cbdc604f9eb2 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/prescribed-burn-carried-out-12-miles-north-of-dolores/ DOLORES — Smoke may be visible across much of Southwest Colorado Wedneday night through Thursday as fire crews conduct a prescribed burn north of Dry Canyon near Dolores on roughly 1,660 acres to impr... 2026-05-20 05:32:31 -0700 489576da-0f58-488a-8356-02d4f4f073ad https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-cortez-drug-task-force-seizes-1-1m-in-meth-fentanyl-during-undercover-operation/ Alternative lead (your choice): The Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office this week announced the seizure of more than 60 pounds of methamphetamine and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills ‒ with a co... 2026-05-20 03:45:01 -0700 d8cd6c69-799f-4e86-9529-763f53a10f70 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/mancos-graduates-encouraged-to-be-resilient-as-they-embark-on-their-new-journey/ The Mancos School District’s Performing Arts Center was packed and cheers echoed throughout the space as the 35 seniors from the district’s Class of 2026 were introduced to the family, friends and tea... 2026-05-20 12:02:58 -0700 42ec04f7-2dc7-4c78-9654-b427e1151821 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/wildfire-ready-plan-for-upper-dolores-enters-next-phase/ As wildfire conditions worsen across Southwest Colorado, the Dolores Watersheds Collaborative and partnering agencies are coordinating a “wildfire ready” action plan for the Upper Dolores River waters... 2026-05-19 09:47:06 -0700 1b69c3bd-be5c-4658-b150-37e681462439 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/pueblo-community-college-southwest-graduates-367-students/ Pueblo Community College celebrated its graduates on Saturday, May 16, with students ranging in age from high school and up graduating with bachelor’s, associates degrees and certificates. The two cer... 2026-05-19 02:49:49 -0700 aee82a9c-e5be-4cde-a202-1a35c2fb2b9f https://www.the-journal.com/articles/the-mysterious-disappearance-of-vallecitos-35-foot-tall-logjam/ A massive logjam left blocking Vallecito Creek after the October floods has seemingly disappeared into thin air. Well not exactly. It was likely burned by an unknown person and carried away in billow... 2026-05-19 05:00:00 -0700 db92cf36-385c-4441-b148-329071bbea80 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/man-dies-while-swimming-at-lake-nighthorse-near-durango/ A 20-year-old man from Dallas, Texas, died Friday afternoon while swimming at Lake Nighthorse, according to the Durango Police Department. edit >>> The man, Eric Granados-Barcenas, was swimming w... 2026-05-18 05:48:31 -0700 173fae12-6bd7-4b8d-a6d7-108200441853 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/colorado-house-passes-bill-to-send-k-12-funding-initiative-to-november-ballot/ Bailey, it looks like the state Senate reapproved this bill after the House’ approval on Tuesday. Can you update the article to reflect that the bill was last approved by the Senate and is headed ... 2026-05-18 01:54:19 -0700 65f205cf-d9ab-460e-8b69-0cf58e67ac01 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/durango-therapist-tackles-trickle-down-effect-of-burned-out-bosses/ When bosses are burned out, employees can feel it – and according to Barbara Ferri, a therapist with Durango-based Solum Life Therapy, that can create tension in a workplace that might ultimately lead... 2026-05-18 11:00:00 -0700 0b7e5c52-2182-4040-ae9f-e30c28c0bd06 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/dolores-school-district-wraps-up-school-year-with-celebrations-student-successes/ As the 2025-26 school year draws to a close, the Dolores RE-4A School District’s students, staff members and families are celebrating student achievements, staff commitment and more while preparing fo... 2026-05-18 04:00:00 -0700 b70c7133-a797-4409-9244-46e5d1fdd187 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-water-plant-expansion-near-dolores-approaches-completion-delayed-to-july-2026/ Montezuma Water Company’s long-awaited water treatment plant expansion southwest of Dolores is nearing completion after years of work, with the expanded portion of the plant expected to be operational... 2026-05-17 05:30:00 -0700 44d54494-1fdc-4f7d-8051-72e7a37bf313 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/dolores-school-district-bands-earn-top-honors-at-denver-music-in-the-parks-festival/ The Dolores RE-4A high school jazz band and choir earned first-place at the Music in the Parks Festival in Denver in April, with the groups also taking home the prestigious Esprit de Corps award for t... 2026-05-16 01:55:01 -0700 6203749c-0a68-4273-b8c0-9689be11c014 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/988-mental-health-team-to-host-informal-gathering-in-dolores/ DOLORES – Colorado’s 988 mental health support line is preparing an outreach tour through the Four Corners Area next week and is planning an informal gathering for Dolores on Thursday. The hope is to ... 2026-05-16 07:45:00 -0700 631fce04-50db-41dd-8eb1-a6281c283b27 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/southwest-health-in-cortez-spotlights-fiscal-report-during-community-picnic/ Southwest Health System leaders highlighted expanded medical care, investments in employees and a unified patient records system during the organization’s annual community picnic in Cortez on Wednesda... 2026-05-15 08:10:15 -0700 ab7b9371-b426-49c6-b176-53521df7dd4b https://www.the-journal.com/articles/one-case-confirmed-of-vesicular-stomatitis-virus-for-montezuma-county-horse/ A Montezuma County horse tested positive for vesicular stomatitis virus, a contagious livestock disease spread by insects causing painful, blister-like sores in horses and cattle, according to the Col... 2026-05-14 08:05:06 -0700 db457706-3b86-444d-8cc7-c194c8df727b