SunRay Park & Casino has unveiled its 24th annual racing season with a national assembly of young, majestic horses. Ten races are held every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until May 21st. SunRay Park also offers year-round simulcast horse racing, and over modern 400 slots. Margaritas and Tex-Mex are popular, as are the large-hearted staff. By Donna K. Hewett.
The Aztec Boys and Girls Club is hosting a spring craft fair on April 29th featuring local artists and craftsmen. San Juan College has received a $1.1 million federal appropriation secured by U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez for the construction of a new student health facility, and access to McPhee Reservoir in Southwest Colorado is increasing as summer approaches. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware of Farmington and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College
Wolves, in their haunting beauty and untamed wildness, are both a source of adoration and fear among people. At WolfWood Refuge, Paula Woerner and her team of volunteers provide experiences and opportunities for people to get up close with the animals that call the sanctuary home - ranging from full wolves and coyotes to animals that had to be surrendered due to inhumane conditions. One such educational event takes place annually at Purgatory Mountain Resort. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Happy Pappy’s Pizza and Wings
April is National Pickleball Month. Inexpensive, easy to play, and incredibly addictive, it’s the fastest growing sport in Farmington--with plenty of outside and inside courts available. Pickleball is sure-fire local fun for everyone—no matter age or gender. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Pop’s Truck & RV Center and Distil Beer Wine Spirits
An employee thank-you turned event, the second annual Pagosa Triathlon organized by Pagosa Adventure advertised hot-air balloon rides, spring skiing competitions, and a rafting event. And then Mother Nature arrived, and the weekend event became a case study in changing plans. Although snowy fields and windy weather thwarted a few of the events, the triathlon teams still managed to find some fun, sun, and clear blue skies. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Serious Texas BBQ
Staffers at the Durango-based Adaptive Sports Association are reflecting on a memorable winter as the organization readies for its summer season. The association, which provides outdoor experiences for people with disabilities, hosted about 600 lessons this winter, as it trends back to pre-pandemic demand. Upcoming summer programming includes river trips, cycling tours, camping trips and more. The Adaptive Sports Association also offers programming that caters to disabled military veterans such as Team River Runner. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings and Kroegers Ace Hardware
Author Mark Stevens makes his first foray into the world of baseball with his latest release: The Fireballer. The Fireballer is a novel about Frank Ryder, a tortured hero who grapples with talent, change and loneliness. Ultimately Ryder must come to terms with his circumstances to find peace off the diamond. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by the Lor Foundation and Big O Tires
Leadership San Juan has opened applications for this year’s class. The City of Farmington is asking for community input for the Animas District and Healthcare Hub, asking residents to fill out a short survey to assess priorities for development. And just this month, San Juan County has launched a new program called Septic Safe San Juan County to better educate the county about the dangers of unsecured septic tank lids. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and SunRay Park and Casino
A Farmington musical theatre director has been asked to submit his Celebrate Sondheim Revue for a chance at touring nationally. Randy West, director of Four Corners Musical Theatre Company, produced a two-hour Sondheim extravaganza, with eight professional singers and a nine-piece orchestra. Presented as a workshop at the Farmington Civic Center, the final production will be recorded in the next few weeks and submitted to a Florida-based agency that books national tours. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewery and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College
Gardening in Southwest Colorado takes more patience and preparation than in many other warmer and wetter states. The area is susceptible to unpredictable frosts, drought, smoke, and a shorter growing window, yet it is still possible to have a highly productive garden. Mountain Roots Food Project has a spring gardening guide to help better understand the challenges and planning needed to succeed in our gardens this summer. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Serious Texas BBQ
During inclement weather, Strike Zone in Farmington is a godsend for baseball and softball players looking for a practice and training facility. It houses seven roomy batting cages and a large turf area for pitching practice. Helmets, balls, bats, and one-hour lessons are offered six days a week to perfect that home run swing. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and Pop’s Truck & RV Center
A draft plan for the disbursement of funds from the Gold King Mine settlement is expected to be released March 31st. San Juan Regional Medical Center announced the acquisition of a new piece of technology to assist in the operating room, and 100% San Juan County invites you to attend the upcoming summit event. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Boon’s Family Thai BBQ and Distill Beer, Wine, Spirits
The 2021 infrastructure bill earmarked more money for broadband internet access than ever before. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is one beneficiary, getting nearly $44 million to connect nearly 1,800 Native American households to high speed internet. Funds will be deployed locally to help close the digital divide faced by Tribal communities. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Southwest Health System and Big O Tires
Prepare for the summer farmers market season with a vendors training hosted by the Northwest New Mexico Growers Market. The city of Aztec received a $39,999 grant to develop a plan for public space and trails in and around the city, and Lake Nighthorse will open for the summer season on March 31st. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewery and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College
The International Fly Fishing Film Festival will visit Durango for the first time Saturday, April 1. Two screenings will be hosted by the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton at 5 pm and 8 pm. Tickets are available online through Five Rivers Trout Unlimited or in-person at Duranglers for $20. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Pops Truck & RV Center and The Payroll Department
When Robert Holmes noticed a need for sober housing in La Plata County, Colorado, and San Juan County, New Mexico, he decided to do something about it, founding a nonprofit organization called Pura Vida for Good. Holmes, who is the owner of the river resort Tico Time on the Colorado/New Mexico border, plans to turn the resort festivals into benefits to fund the construction of and upkeep of sober housing and recovery homes in the two counties. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College
Volunteers from Turquoise Paw Rescue in Shiprock travel the expanse of the Navajo Nation to trap loose dogs and shelter them until they’re released to shelters across the country. Volunteers for Turquoise Paw Rescue normally travel hundreds of miles with traps, blankets, and “smelly foods,” to save mostly female “rez dogs” and their plentiful offspring. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Distill Beer Wine Spirits and Northern Edge Casino
The annual spring hazardous waste collection event for San Juan County is scheduled for March 25th. San Juan College has been selected as one of ten community colleges across the nation to be a part of a cohort designed to reduce barriers to higher education for minority and low-income college students and come find a job at San Juan Regional Medical Center’s regional career fair. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by SunRay Park and Casino and Ace Hardware of Farmington
The Lor Foundation is awarding rural farmers and ranchers in Colorado and New Mexico grants to implement innovative water solutions. LOR believes those closest to a problem—Western farmers and ranchers in this case—have the best solutions. Through the Field Work initiative, farmers and ranchers in rural parts of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming are eligible for up to $10,000 to implement innovative water projects. The goal is to find the best solutions for using water to grow food in the West. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Southwest Health System and TruWest Auto
Ballantine Events is hosting the annual Farmington Regional Career Fair, bring your resume and business dress to impress. Aztec Museum announced special spring break hours from March 14-25, and the February storms have helped push Farmington and San Juan County out of severe drought designations according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Boon's Family Thai BBQ and Pop's Truck & RV Center
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
