Local News https://www.the-journal.com/feeds/local-news/ 2026-08-02 07:50:16 -0700 en-us https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-county-fair-celebrates-tradition-and-future/ CORTEZ – Wandering between the barns at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in the final week of July is like stepping through a living time capsule. The livestock and handiwork on display tell the tale ... 2026-08-02 06:40:11 -0700 9e3989b7-f945-4989-b578-76093f95459d https://www.the-journal.com/articles/splitting-hares-the-life-of-a-montezuma-county-fair-livestock-judge/ CORTEZ – Nearly a dozen cloven animals circle with their handlers around the main barn at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. In the center of the ring, Bradie Midcap keeps a watchful eye on each, her e... 2026-08-02 06:29:53 -0700 5cd2f92b-79cd-49e4-9874-73c0879c8144 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-middle-schooler-chooses-her-own-path-in-raising-grand-champion-goat/ CORTEZ – When asked what drew her to raising goats, rising seventh-grader Avery Spruell smiled and said, “I wanted to do something different from my sister (Kaydence).” The Spruells have lined up for ... 2026-08-02 06:21:46 -0700 81b051fc-276c-41bb-bd8f-f05fcc8ca122 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/phil-weiser-points-to-enterprise-gas-spill-as-example-of-states-culture-problem/ The Colorado governorship is just within Phil Weiser’s grasp. When he gets there, the state should expect a “culture change,” he said. After coming out victorious over his opponent, U.S. Sen. Michael ... 2026-08-02 02:00:00 -0700 85331a5e-37e1-40c3-8ac2-e648f9a8de9a https://www.the-journal.com/articles/autopsy-results-released-for-both-drivers-of-tuesday-crash-near-dolores/ The Montezuma County coroner released the cause of death for both drivers in a Tuesday car crash on Colorado Highway 184 near Dolores. Social media: A heart attack may have been the cause of a two... 2026-08-01 11:38:42 -0700 c1159e10-4f07-4ad6-a698-8671950711ee https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-county-sheriffs-office-plans-to-join-regional-southwest-drug-task-force/ The Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office is preparing to shift its narcotics enforcement efforts from the former local partnership between it and the Cortez Police Department to a regional High Intensity... 2026-08-01 05:00:00 -0700 095a7f9b-8d6e-4cb9-bc21-419434671b2e https://www.the-journal.com/articles/crash-involving-two-motorcycles-leaves-one-dead-atop-coal-bank-pass-north-of-durango/ A crash involving two motorcycles left one person dead and another with serious injuries Friday on Coal Bank Pass between Durango and Silverton. The crash was reported just before 2 p.m. Friday near m... 2026-07-31 04:09:45 -0700 8e8b8c83-7ba1-4d78-aa5e-f024954969e7 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/motorcyclist-airlifted-with-serious-injuries-after-alleged-hit-and-run-south-of-durango/ The driver of a flatbed truck is suspected of hitting a motorcyclist and leaving the scene of the crash Friday morning on U.S. Highway 550 south of Durango, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The... 2026-07-31 11:34:19 -0700 c73c9e57-4527-4c40-958f-dc71bf29691f https://www.the-journal.com/articles/what-is-being-done-to-address-food-insecurity-in-southwest-colorado/ Food insecurity remains a deeply felt issue among Southwest Colorado’s residents, which is why emerging initiatives like the Pine River Shares Community Food Farm are so important. Social media: ... 2026-07-31 05:00:00 -0700 f4e4d0ef-15dd-49ba-82a5-516d42d2da47 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/a-century-in-cortez-wwii-veteran-richard-lindsay-celebrates-100th-birthday/ At 17 years old, Richard Lindsay felt an impassioned call to serve the country. It was the early 1940s, he said. The plan to enlist involved him and a group of teens from Cortez, then characterized as... 2026-07-31 05:00:00 -0700 941e606a-4a2b-4edd-8dc8-1b5e78e69616 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-city-council-approves-guidelines-for-proclamations/ On Tuesday, Cortez City Council approved a series of guidelines for its proclamations which have recognized events like Pride Month and the Montezuma County Fair with ceremonial documents signed by th... 2026-07-30 05:28:24 -0700 a704446f-14b1-422c-9b60-7e63764fc673 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/u-s-highway-550-between-silverton-and-ouray-closed-for-mudslides/ Intense rain triggered mud and rockslides Wednesday along U.S. Highway 550 between Silverton and Ouray, causing that stretch of road to be closed through at least Friday morning. The highway, which in... 2026-07-30 03:41:26 -0700 88ac6890-0d60-4f08-bd43-4416d81ec1bd https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-city-council-appoints-five-members-to-new-airport-advisory-committee/ Cortez City Council appointed five members to the Airport Advisory Committee Tuesday night, marking the official formation of the new board meant to provide recommendations to council on the growing C... 2026-07-30 05:00:00 -0700 b6c10e65-52bf-4a8d-b7fb-35d2bef92018 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/southwest-colorados-domestic-water-supplys-vulnerabilities-unknown/ As Southwest Colorado faces persistent drought, growing demand for water and an expected population boom, water planners say they still lack a clear picture of where many residents get their domestic ... 2026-07-30 05:00:00 -0700 afbc0796-aca1-4faa-8cb2-67a64e72a8d1 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/roads-campsites-reopen-in-san-juan-national-forest-blm-lands-with-ferris-fire-97-contained/ Emergency land closures were lifted Wednesday for areas within San Juan National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands impacted by the Ferris Fire, allowing visitors to return to sites recently s... 2026-07-29 04:16:07 -0700 9c7413f9-c054-4c28-925e-2038fa2d71b7 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/duo-from-banshee-tree-to-play-free-show-at-fenceline-cider-in-mancos/ Saxophonist and guitarist Thom LaFond and Jesse Shantor will perform a rare jazz duo concert Saturday at Fenceline Cider. Social media: A saxophonist and guitarist from the Colorado band Banshee T... 2026-07-29 02:00:00 -0700 9b2feec7-e2f9-4ebb-86d2-35eef76e7b8a https://www.the-journal.com/articles/fundamental-needs-raises-funds-for-cortezs-first-recording-studio/ The Cortez-based nonprofit Fundamental Needs is raising money to construct the first-ever recording studio in the city in the Cortez Makerspace, a creative workplace on Main Street. Social media: ... 2026-07-29 02:00:00 -0700 d310cf2a-8464-4e48-9c97-3ac9c57af24f https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-mancos-dolores-libraries-conclude-summer-of-dinos/ As July hurries to a close, libraries in Dolores, Mancos and Cortez are concluding their paleontology- and archaeology-themed programming, which staff say brought excited kids of all ages to these che... 2026-07-29 11:00:00 -0700 5b9928dd-f6af-4b99-adcc-0dcaca979126 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-water-co-completes-treatment-plant-expansion/ Clean water generally arrives in seconds from the kitchen sink or garden hose. At Montezuma Water Co.’s treatment facility southwest of Dolores, however, advanced processes are taking place before all... 2026-07-29 05:00:00 -0700 ade4e60f-db16-41ef-beeb-358c2dfb8e9e https://www.the-journal.com/articles/fatal-crash-reported-tuesday-morning-on-highway-184-near-dolores/ A head-on crash between two vehicles around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday resulted in two confirmed fatalities on Colorado Highway 184 west of Dolores, according Colorado State Patrol. The crash between a Dodge ... 2026-07-28 10:19:57 -0700 6cd8afd5-ca80-404b-a7db-8591c3e17061 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/monsoonal-rains-slow-ferris-fire-recovery-efforts-crews-hope-for-drier-week/ Heavy afternoon rains interfered with cleanup and rehabilitation efforts along the Ferris Fire last week, forcing crews to intermittently pause work to avoid lightning strikes and to prevent damage to... 2026-07-27 06:17:14 -0700 ddd66057-c332-426f-85d5-d0c655f97efc https://www.the-journal.com/articles/motorcyclist-suffers-serious-injuries-after-crash-on-u-s-highway-145-northwest-of-dolores/ A 56-year-old Dolores woman was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon on Colorado Highway 145 about 12 miles northeast of Dolores. The single-vehicle crash was reported about 1:40 ... 2026-07-27 02:28:48 -0700 97bf0ec9-607b-4017-9be5-0cd9d5e863d9 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/four-corners-community-band-to-premiere-local-composers-cortez-overture-at-anniversary-concert/ The Four Corners Community Band is set to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Colorado’s 150th anniversary and Cortez’s 140th anniversary with a free outdoor concert that will feature the premiere ... 2026-07-26 01:00:00 -0700 12fcd531-625a-4c0f-b17a-c77154b7cef2 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/durango-la-plata-county-airport-breaks-passenger-record-not-stopping-there/ The Durango-La Plata County Airport broke passenger records in June with more than 59,000 travelers passing through. High marks for June are not the only sign of increased travel and growth at the air... 2026-07-26 05:00:00 -0700 ad75f192-ff46-4693-bc5b-eb9e5ba6f96d https://www.the-journal.com/articles/dolores-to-host-50th-escalante-days-on-aug-8/ Dolores will celebrate a half-century of its signature summer tradition Aug. 8 when Escalante Days returns for the 50th year. Escalante Days serves as the town’s annual celebration, gathering residen... 2026-07-26 05:00:00 -0700 1fdfcef2-0f8f-451f-9a56-f2e24f5073c1 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/mancos-opposes-federal-grant-administration-revisions-in-letter/ As the federal government considers an overhaul of its grant oversight processes, the town of Mancos submitted a letter opposing the revisions. Social media: The town of Mancos sent a letter expre... 2026-07-25 05:00:00 -0700 23d5454d-f02c-4a3a-8859-f63fdf8a7884 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/colorado-broadband-office-opens-public-comment-for-connectivity-initiative-in-southwest-colorado/ The Colorado Broadband Office released a report Friday listing 27 corridors as priorities in internet infrastructure development, including segments of Wolf Creek Pass on U.S. Highway 160. The report ... 2026-07-25 01:00:00 -0700 f5557b1b-52e0-464b-9a86-786c4a0bd679 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/fourth-firefighter-dies-from-burn-injuries-in-western-colorado-blaze/ A fourth firefighter has died from burns after he and several colleagues were overcome by a fast-moving wildfire near the Colorado-Utah border last month, officials said Saturday. Nathan Matthews, 43,... 2026-07-25 09:23:40 -0700 1e3146c1-d3fa-40e8-a87c-cbf1e61a105f https://www.the-journal.com/articles/kara-mikkelson-and-clydesdale-tilly-capture-showmanship-grand-champion-at-montezuma-county-fair/ Kara Mikkelson, 18, and her Clydesdale, Tilly, 5, recently captured top honors at the 2026 Montezuma County Fair horse show last weekend. They will compete for Master Showman at the county fair Aug. 1... 2026-07-25 05:00:00 -0700 2aa66abc-f7d3-4971-9820-df06f05a47d1 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/rockslide-closes-red-mountain-pass-on-friday-night/ A mud and rockslide closed U.S. Highway 550 north of Silverton in both directions for more than five hours Friday night, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The slide occurred about 5 p.m., 10 mil... 2026-07-24 07:06:05 -0700 c0dc39bd-823a-433b-9923-7bed2023f0cb