Hail to the chief! San Juan County Fire & Rescue named Dave Vega as its new Fire Chief. The Pagosa Springs native beat out five other candidates in a nationwide search to fill the job. The former deputy chief will face lots of challenges, including rebuilding volunteer ranks. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Traegers Bar and SunRay Park and Casino

Calling themselves Team Guardian, three men from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge to fund their non-profit organization, called Guardian Initiatives, dedicated to raising awareness and support for mental health for first responders in the Four Corners. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Boon’s Family Thai BBQ and Ace Hardware in Farmington

Delbert Anderson, Navajo trumpeter and front man for the jazz ensemble D’DAT, was just awarded a $10,000 thousand-dollar grant from Cultural Capital to mentor a local tour for The Third Hour, a band made up of eight Farmington High School, he fellowship was presented by the First People’s Fund, a national organization that supports indigenous arts. It marks Anderson’s ninth endowment in a single year. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware in Farmington and Traegers Bar

The Farmington Theater Ensemble Arts opens its 25th Season with the beloved classic “Steel Magnolias”, Team Guardian Initiatives celebrates its return from the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, and San Juan Regional Medical Center announces a new CEO. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Northern Edge Casino and Distill Beer Wine and Spirits

After an impressive run through the regular season and district play, the Farmington Scorpions High School girls basketball team has cemented itself as one of the state’s top 5A State Championship contenders. The State Tournament begins March 3rd and Farmington hopes it ends at The University of New Mexico, which plays host to the final rounds, including the Championship game on March 11. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Pop’s Truck & R.V. Center and Three Rivers Brewery

Crumbl Cookies the four-year-old viral cookie brand, has over 6 million followers on TikTok alone, and seven hundred locations across the country. And currently, there’s one nearby on East Main Street in Farmington. Six types of cookies are made from scratch daily. They’re made in the front of the house so customers can watch the process in real time. Crumbl stays open late and delivers by Door Dash. By Donna K Hewett. This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewery and CMIT Solutions

Tres Rios Habitat for Humanity will likely delay the beginning of their construction season, as none of the applicants in the previous round qualified for a new home. Come and check out the new Tyrannosaurus - Meet the Family exhibit at the Farmington Museum and enjoy renditions of your favorite Broadway musicals at the Caliente Chorus annual fundraiser brunch. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College

Centura Health committed four million dollars to Fort Lewis College for a renovation of the Aquatics Center into a state-of-the-art performance, rehab, and wellness center for student-athletes and students. The Centura Sports Performance Center will include training and recovery guided by Mercy Sports Medicine trainers. By Connor Shreve This story is sponsored by the Man Cave Barbers and The Payroll Department

Two hundred gymnasts from New Mexico and Colorado participated in the first-ever Four Corners Invitational at Farmington’s McGee Park Convention Center. Twelve teams competed, ages 6 to 17, in the all-day event presented by Farmington Gymnastic Academy. Events included balance beam, floor exercises, vault and the uneven parallel bars in all levels of competition—including components of the Junior Olympic program. By Donna K. Hewett This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware of Farmington and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College

The Farmington Chamber of Commerce recognized Nancy Shephard for Citizen of the Year and M & R Plumbing Service for Business of the Year at its annual banquet. The Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments wants more small businesses to know about loan opportunities, and a free Narcan training by Ideal Option and San Juan County Partnership will be offered this weekend. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by Northern Edge Casino and Boon's Family Thai BBQ

The Farmington Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation will be host to the second annual National Civics Bee in an effort to encourage more students to take an active interest in local government. Open to all middle-school students in Farmington, Bloomfield, Aztec, and Kirtland, the first round is an essay, due February 24th. The Farmington Chamber of Commerce is hoping for at least 100 essay submissions to better introduce the world of local business and government to area schools. The prompt and information about the contest is available online for anyone interested in applying. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewery and Boon's Family Thai BBQ

Blood supply is at its lowest level in about nine hundred hospitals across the nation. Vitalant, a nonprofit national blood bank with locations in Farmington, declared a blood supply emergency in January. Your blood is vital: It saves lives. Donations are essential for trauma patients, those undergoing surgeries and transplants, and those with chronic illnesses and blood disorders. By Donna K. Hewett This story is sponsored by Pop’s Truck & RV Center and Boon’s Family Thai BBQ

Country music singer Brent Payne was inducted into the California Music Hall of Fame - his roots in the Farmington community kept alive by family living in the area. The Bloomfield Library renovation has created new spaces and lent an overall feeling of a fresh new space to the building, and the way to request public records from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is now easier with the implementation of a new program. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Traegers Bar and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College

After a family trip, Rosalyn Fry was inspired by public pianos out in the open for anyone to play. A donated piano and an artist friend later, and the first of what would become nine painted pianos was displayed in Aztec. Artists volunteer their time to paint a piano donated to Fry - upright pianos are surprisingly easy to come by - and the City of Aztec puts on events to highlight the pianos and local musicians. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewery and Northern Edge Casino

For nearly two decades, the Colavita Foods brand was synonymous with amateur bike racing. Recently the core group of members that make up the team, decided to get back into the local community for race team support. Now, with the help of Easy Coffee Roaster and a handful of Four Corners businesses, the team will target a slate of races throughout the region in 2023. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings and Kroeger’s Ace Hardware

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Juan County is always on the lookout for new ways to engage their “littles’ - the youths who sign up for the program - with their “bigs” - the adult volunteers with the program. With no lack of activities in and around Farmington, the idea for a program designed to embrace outdoor activities was born. Over the last year, the program has helped bring in more male Bigs and provided a new way for Littles and Bigs to interact with each other outside. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware of Farmington and Boon's Family Thai BBQ

San Juan Regional Medical Center opened its new and improved pediatric center on Wednesday, January 11th. The space, which includes elements meant to help lessen the stress of caring for sick children, boasts brightly painted walls, fun paintings, and a playroom for visiting children. The new unit plans to offer quality care for families and sick children for years to come, continuing its work as the only designated pediatric unit in the Four Corners area. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by Pop's Truck & RV Center and Three Rivers Brewery

The Aztec Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers to continue the Painted Pianos Project started three years ago. The holiday storms have boosted Farmington’s total precipitation above the 30-year average with snowpack levels in Southwest Colorado over 100%, and the City of Farmington received a grant to start work on the Juniper Basin Recreation Area. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by Distill Beer, Wine, Spirits and Sunray Park and Casino

Initially a local geologist’s dream office located seventy feet below sandstone ground, Kokopelli Cave became a five-star bed and breakfast in Farmington. It’s located on a three-hundred-foot desert cliff overlooking the lovely La Plata River Valley. Seventeen hundred square feet of carpeted cave offers a full kitchen, and jet tub water flow. Open March first through December first, it accommodates up to eight people for a one-of-a-kind experience. By Donna K. Hewett This story is sponsored by The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College and CMIT Solutions

San Juan Regional Childbirth Center has announced four new childbirth classes for it’s January schedule - including a class specifically for new fathers. The classes will be offered in conjunction with previously offered classes through the Childbirth Center. And the Aztec Museum has received a grant to assist in repairing its “Pecos West” cyclorama, constructed in the 1960s and donated to the museum in 2015. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by Northern Edge Casino and ServiceMaster Restore