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Festival season kick-off, Tico Time and Afrobeat torchbearer by Stephen Sellers
STAR-STUDDED CAST: David Feela, Pepper Trail, Allen Best, Stephen Sellers, Jeffrey Mannix, Jesse Anderson, Lainie Maxson, Rob Brezsny & Clint Reid
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On the cover
Those lucky enough to be out and about at just the right moment Tuesday evening were treated to a blazing sunset over Perin’s Peak./ Photo by Missy Votel
Ear to the ground:
“My motto is ‘live, laugh, loathe.’” – Can we be friends?
Out there ...
This week, Jonathan Thompson brings us a story (p.8-9) about Ol’ Big Foot, the last known wolf to roam southeastern Utah in the 1910s. But Sarah Melotte, writing for the Daily Yonder, has a story on the Bigfoot, as in the hairy, mysterious, man-beast said to roam the wilderness and haunt our days and nights.
Over the last couple years, Melotte said she has been, “omnivorously consuming content” about encounters with strange creatures whose existence scientists can’t prove. Some of that content includes “The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on a North American Monster,” by avowed Bigfoot skeptic John O’Connor.
In the book, O’Connor cites data from the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (yes, there is such a thing), the only self-proclaimed scientific group researching Bigfoot. BFRO collects Bigfoot sightings in an online database that goes as far back as the 1980s.
Melotte gathered all of the data from January 2024 – April 2025, forming a map of sightings across the United States, with comments from individuals claiming to have had encounters. (For the record, she notes “Bigfoot” refers to a species of animal, not necessarily an individual monster. And that readers should take the data with a whopping grain of salt. Then again, Bigfoot and his cryptid counterparts are beyond the realm of scientific inquiry, so the map should be, too.)
From 2024-present, there were 37 reported Bigfoot sightings in the U.S., with about half occurring in metropolitan counties and the other half in rural counties.
“I went to check my cows Tuesday and … saw a track made by something heavy enough to leave a clear imprint,” wrote one Texas rancher on the BFRO database.
Near Newberry County, S.C., a hunter said he heard a Bigfoot vocalization, which sounded like a grunt. “Turned around … and seen a approx. 7 to 7.5 foot tall brown human like shape through all the brush,” the hunter wrote. “Had long brown hair, ape like face and long arms.”
Closer to home, Bigfoot (Bigfeet?) were sighted in Catron County, N.M., north of Silver City, in June 2024 and in Boulder in March 2025. “Looking out front door window at 10 p.m. on March 12, I see ape-like creature walking very briskly north on 49th St. in front of my property. It was very large, about 8 ft. tall, hunched forward,” reported the Boulder individual.
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Then again, maybe it was just a college student stumbling home from the bars?
To read the story and the map database in its entirety, go to www.dailyyonder.com.
LaVidaLocal
One more theory?
Einstein almost had it right. In the early 20th century, his theories on general and specific relativity transformed the fields of physics and astronomy. Since then, science has repeatedly verified his research. That’s the thing about theories: at first they are contested until supported by other reliable witnesses, thus untangling a string of facts, very similar to the January 6 committee’s findings, which I hope won’t take 20-30 years and another Einstein to be deemed credible.
I want to propose a new idea, even at the risk of readers turning the page, which is why I call it “a theory of irrelevanity” – the notion that we tend to dismiss whatever we consider irrelevant. Either it doesn’t affect us personally, or we are already committed to a different theory, like that the Earth might actually be flat.
I doubt Einstein would agree, but in my mind the presence of perceived irrelevance in this country is as undeniable as gravity, especially when it incorporates the potential to crush this country we call home.
Polls are treated as gospel, but only because they report a collection of opinions in the form of statistics. Polls are not facts. Even when the questions are designed well and presented without bias, they are still just a reply to a passing moment, too often mistaken for a collective truth.
It’s no wonder Democrat opinions reflect dissatisfaction with the politicians they elected. So far the party has been ineffectual in responding to the current president’s revenge tour. Confucius said, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” I would add that one of the two will have to be deep enough to bury both this country’s legislative and judiciary branches.
Bread and butter issues of survival in the world’s oldest living democracy have always been fluid but never irrelevant. Is the economy thriving? Ask a stock market investor, then ask a public school teacher. Do government workers earn their paychecks by doing absolutely nothing? Ask someone who doesn’t have a public service job, then ask someone who does. Do monthly Social Security checks matter to retired Americans?” Ask someone whose paycheck is subject to a withholding tax, then ask retirees who paid that tax all their working lives. Should patient/doctor decisions be controlled by both federal and state governments? Ask a man, then ask a woman. Answers will vary.
Take, for example, the AZCentral.com eNewspaper site offering March 2025 statistics. The current president has a favorability among Americans that stands surprisingly strong, at least according to these polls: NBC 47%; The Economist 46%; Fox News 49%; Civiqs 44%; and Reuters/Ipsos 44%.
Democrats rank their own party with remarkably low favorability. Only 29% approve of its performance. While these opinion ratings appear straightforward, Quorum reports, “some analysts believe they are not as useful as they once were due to extreme partisanship and the polarized political climate.”
Now, back to my new theory of irrelevanity.
Many promises were made during the 2024 campaign, on both sides of the aisle, but remember what Mae West said, “An ounce of performance is worth a pound of promises.” The gravity of what’s happening is just starting to be felt. If the current president’s pledge to take revenge against Democrats is what his supporters really voted for, then they are indulging on the entrails of democracy.
Avs Captain Gabe Landeskog is back in action after a three-year hiatus for a knee injury. Sure, the Avs season might all be over by tonight, but at least we can keep the dream alive one more day.
Durango Trails crews have been busy this spring buffing out the area’s more than 300 miles of singletrack for your riding and hiking pleasure. If you see them out there, give ’em a high five.
La Plata Electric Association secured a $2 million grant for a new battery storage project west of Durango, boosting energy reliability, supporting 2,800 homes and helping to pave the way for local energy independence.
Einstein once said, “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” The current president is no Einstein, but he has a flare for hitting the public with sucker punches. Is truth relevant? He thinks not. He feels no obligation to support the claims he makes. Many of his supporters are applauding. The more outrageously he behaves, the more support he garners.
The basic functions of mathematics are still tools of science, but the current president uses them in a bizarre way. Add voters by multiplying division. Subtract voters by adding obstacles to voter registration. This is no formula for a democracy. We need reliable witnesses to stand up and be counted, witnesses from the court of public opinion supporting the judicial courts when they rule against this administration’s blatant disregard of the Constitution. Lawless deportations, documentation or due process “overlooked” do not reflect our Constitution.
Remember this Memorial Day that we are experiencing a seismic shift away from what America’s founders fought and died for. Constitutional theory is a domain where law focuses on the underpinnings of this government, but the Constitution itself is not a theory. It exists, and the Oval Office cannot ignore it. How much longer can we ignore the irrelevant in the room?
– David Feela
So, Trump’s first 100 days in office have been a total sh*t show, which we think is putting it mildly – and we’ve got 1,460 days to go. But who’s counting? Someone pass the Xanax …
According to research, 600 million birds die every year during migration due to the disorienting effects of human light pollution. With the big spring migration taking place over the next few weeks, why not turn off a few lights and save a bird?
Forecasters increasingly anticipate that Trump’s tariffs could tip the economy into recession, as companies and consumers cut spending in the face of higher prices. (On the upside, economic downturns usually mean fewer carbon emissions, so we got that going for us.)
Everything’s Boober in Texas
Lamar County in Texas, which boasts a per capita population of sex offenders twice the national average, has banned the Virginia state flag from public education, because it depicts a single, bare breast. Virginia’s flag features the Roman goddess Virtus standing over a slain tyrant meant to represent King George III, and below it, “thus always to tyrants” is written in Latin. Nowadays, the far-right is obviously pro-tyrant, but still, they claim the flag was banned, because it violates the school board’s policy against “visual depictions or illustrations of frontal nudity.” And yes, only “frontal” nudity is banned, which is why they’re so good at looking like asses.
WritersontheRange
A fool’s errand
by Pepper Trail
To breathless media coverage, a company called Colossal Biosciences now claims to have produced three genetically engineered pups of the long-extinct dire wolf. Scientific criticism followed fast. The company’s press release claimed the pups to be “the world’s first de-extinct animals … brought back from extinction using genetic edits derived from a complete dire wolf genome, meticulously reconstructed by Colossal from ancient DNA.”
Experts in paleogenetics pointed out that only 14 genes, with 20 differences between living gray wolves and extinct dire wolves, were involved in the “edits.” Pontus Skoglund, head of the Ancient Genomics Laboratory at Britain’s Francis Crick Institute, posted on BlueSky: “Would a chimpanzee with 20 gene edits be human? … These individuals seem optimistically 1/100,000th dire wolf.”
Conservationists noted other concerns. What is the plan for dire wolves and other “de-extinct” species? Where is the habitat for an animal that was adapted for preying on now-extinct megafauna like ground sloths and giant bison? How might dire wolves and gray wolves co-exist, and could they hybridize?
And the real question: Wouldn’t Colossal’s enormous financial resources be better used to conserve existing species?
According to the Washington Post, the company has been valued at $10.2 billion and has raised $435 million in funding; billionaire and conservative mega-donor Peter Thiel is an investor.
Despite all this, there is one place where the scientifically dubious and ethically problematic goal of “de-extinction” has been embraced without
reservation: the Trump Administration.
In a post on X, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum claimed that most species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) have not recovered “because the status quo is focused on regulation more than innovation” and went on to hail Colossal’s announcement: “The revival of the dire wolf heralds the advent of a thrilling new era of scientific wonder, showcasing how the concept of de-extinction can serve as a bedrock for modern species conservation.”
Burgum’s endorsement of Colossal went even further during a meeting with Interior Department employees: “If we’re going to be in anguish about losing a species, now we have an opportunity to bring them back. Pick your favorite species and call Colossal.”
In fact, the Endangered Species Act has produced some spectacular recovery successes, including the bald eagle, peregrine falcon and American alligator. And the law has succeeded in preventing the extinction of over 99% of listed species.
Burgum is correct that most ESAlisted species have not recovered sufficiently to be “delisted,” or declared no longer at risk of extinction. But the reason is not excessive regulation.
A peer-reviewed analysis of species listed by the law from 1992-2020 concluded that the reasons for the low rate of delisting were “small population sizes at time of listing, coupled with delayed protection and insufficient funding.” To this can be added the fact that by the time many species are listed, their suitable habitat has dwindled too much to support robust recovered populations.
The “innovation” needed to protect America’s biodiversity is not the hightech resurrection of extinct species. It is simply to list declining species earlier, when their populations are still large
Colossal Biosciences claims to have produced three genetically engineered dire wolf pups. Experts point out that the animals are “optimistically 1/100,000th” dire wolf and closer to gray wolves (pictured) and that so-called “de-extinction” raises a host of scientific and ethical concerns./ Courtesy photo
enough to benefit from the protections that the law provides. And funding must be sufficient to support scientifically sound recovery plans. The paper cited above found that spending per listed species declined by nearly 50% from 1985-2020.
Burgum’s statements ignore the most basic goal of conservation. It is not to preserve individual animals, it is to help populations sustain themselves in their native habitats, fulfilling their ecological roles and exhibiting the full range of their natural behaviors.
The idea that species can be conserved by picking up the phone to “call Colossal” and order up a few genetically engineered survivors is a delusional and disingenuous fantasy.
Burgum has made clear that his management of the more than 500 million acres of public land under his authority will be all about energy extraction. On
his first day in office, he released six secretarial orders, all of which were focused on increasing fossil fuel production. None mentioned the words “wildlife” or “conservation,” much less endangered species.
Endangered species such as sage grouse, gray wolves and grizzly bears are inconvenient obstacles to “unleashing” fossil fuel extraction everywhere across the public lands of the West. We can expect many attacks on the Endangered Species Act from this administration. But none is more wrong-headed – or cynical – than using those cute genetically engineered “dire wolf” pups to distract from the urgent needs of actual endangered species.
Pepper Trail is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He is a conservation biologist and lives in Oregon. ■
SoapBox
LPEA moving forward
Roughly 25 years ago, I attended my first LPEA annual meeting, and the keynote speaker from Tri-State gave a talk titled, “The Myth of Renewable Energy.” He mainly spoke about how bad renewables are, how coal is the answer and that renewables are dead in the water.
Since then, myself and many others have worked hard to bring LPEA into the 21st century. Please don’t put us back another 25 years.
That’s why I strongly support the reelection of incumbents Holly Metzler (D1), Joe Lewandowski (D3) and John Witchel (D4). These board members have shown the experience, vision and transparency that this century demands.
– Michael Rendon, former LPEA board president, Durango
Books not bombs
I am a long-time library user in big cities and small towns. I’ve met all kinds of interesting people and developed long-time friendships with librarians. The help they provide in understanding the Constitution and the assistance they
give people who need housing and healthcare is fairly amazing. Today’s libraries are not disposable and provide critical resources for people Trump hates. It’s time to fully fund and support local libraries instead of the U.S. war machine.
– Christa Turnell, Durango
A Tri-State refresher
The upcoming election for the LPEA Board is an important chance to keep the community moving forward rather than going backward. A recent Durango Herald article outlined the LPEA Board candidates’ positions. The clearest difference between the candidates’ platforms is their position on last year’s cancellation of the contract between LPEA and Tri-State.
My understanding of the FACTS are:
1) The contract with Tri-State was canceled last year and the cancelation paperwork is signed and complete.
2) New energy contracts have been signed by both parties. Trying to go back would be chaos, counter-productive and expensive.
3) The Tri-State contract was extremely restrictive to LPEA and its members. They limited local production
of energy to 5%, hindering the installation/development of local projects. (Rooftop is “behind the meter” and thus not prohibited by the 5% cap;)
4) The minutes from recent Tri-State meetings suggest that Tri-State is counting on the contract termination payment from LPEA to stave off insolvency. Tri-
State needs that money to avoid insolvency and stay in business.
Tri-State is not the partner that we want to re-hitch our wagon to:
1) Tri-State is in a difficult financial position. They are $3.5B in debt because they reinvested in coal when they should have looked at more economical options.
2) Their bond rating has been downgraded twice;
3) They have lost 30% of their revenue due to member exits and have not adjusted their operations accordingly;
4) Tri-state is counting on a huge bailout from the federal government, but this will probably include more debt.
Moving forward on the current path is sensible and the right path for several reasons:
1) The vision of the LPEA Board is focused on local control and supports the local economy;
2) The region has 300+ days of sunshine and an estimated 1GW of geothermal energy potential;
3) Locally produced green energy will benefit the local economy instead of sending $70M a year out of our region;
4) The 7MW hydroelectric plant at Vallecito Dam is partially owned by Pine River Irrigation District, which will gain more income from selling directly to LPEA, while members get lower energy costs;
5) Joining the Southwest Power Pool opens a new energy market for these local producers. The region could become a net exporter of energy paying a dividend to member owners.
Overall, this focus on going back is a little like focusing on the rear-view mirror and thinking about where you have been rather than focusing on where you are going. I urge you to reelect John Witchel (District 4), Joe Lewandowski (District 3) and Holly Metzler (District 1) to the LPEA Board. Let’s keep moving forward – our future is bright. Let’s focus on where we are going and enjoy the ride.
– Stephen Crandall, Durango
LPEA freedom not what it seems
Mark Pearson paints a feel-good picture of LPEA’s future but glosses over the serious risks facing our cooperative.
Yes, LPEA is leaving Tri-State. But at what cost? Members are now on the hook for a $215 million exit payment – already executed, with no clear repayment plan and no vote from members. And despite claims of “local reinvestment,” LPEA has no shovel-ready generation projects to support this vision. Iron Horse Geothermal remains in early study phases. Sunnyside Solar covers barely 1% of meters. And Dolores Canyon Solar? That’s a Tri-State project, not LPEA’s.
LPEA’s much-touted “lower-cost” replacement power is a short-term deal with an unnamed provider –reportedly Mercuria, a Swiss-based commodities trader with no local generation and no long-term contract disclosed. Betting our future on market traders isn’t independence – it’s speculation.
Pearson also suggests Tri-State is forcing 40-year deals. False. Tri-State’s updated options allow more flexibility than ever – including 50% self-supply and shorter contract terms – all governed by a memberelected board.
Let’s be honest: most rural co-ops haven’t left TriState because they value cost stability, not volatile power markets. The “freedom” LPEA is selling is really just more risk, more debt and fewer answers.
LPEA sold FASTTRACK communications for millions but fails to disclose to its members/owners the sale price or plans for that money. Why would LPEA agree to or request a nondisclosure agreement and fail
to let the owners of the co-op know all the details? Rate increases and asset sales and vague explanations. We deserve real transparency, local control and reliable energy – not political spin and broken promises. Vote this May for leadership that will restore member trust and protect our cooperative future.
– Dale Ruggles, Bayfield
A transparency hypocrite
Lyle McKnight claims to be concerned with the “lack of transparency” from LPEA – it’s one of the main reasons he’s running for the board seat in District 4 as “The Voice of the Working Man.” However, McKnight is also a board member for Durango Fire Protection District, which was cited this year by a former fire captain for its lack of transparency regarding pay raises for staff (think, firefighters and front liners) vs. the well-paid DFPD Chief.
The former fire captain wrote on March 23, “during my time with the department, even the staff was largely in the dark … and the public is even less informed.” Conversely, the LPEA Board – including incumbents running again – relied heavily on staff’s recommendations on everything, including the monetary calculations behind leaving the current Tri-State contract. Big difference in accountability and transparency, don’t you think? Vote for the board member who is transparent, John Witchel.
Here’s the article referenced: www.durangoherald .com/articles/cloudy-skies-dfpd-could-do-better-attransparency/
– Barbara Day, Durango
Ol’ Big Foot
by Jonathan P. Thompson
During the 1910s, a large gray wolf – christened Ol’ Big Foot by his human admirers and adversaries – roamed from one end of what is now Bears Ears National Monument to the other, from the sinuous White Canyon to Clay Hills, from the ponderosa-studded glades of Elk Ridge to the gorge-etched Slickhorn Country.
Big Foot was one of the last vestige of a time when the landscape – and the people who lived on it – existed in a more harmonious and balanced way. I’ve been thinking a lot about this wolf, and its counterparts in the region prior to the species’ extirpation, amid news that Mexican gray wolves are making their way north from southern New Mexico and Arizona, and gray wolves reintroduced in northern Colorado are moving southward.
Though it ended tragically, Big Foot’s story gives me an inkling of hope during hopeless times.
By the time Big Foot had established dominion over a big chunk of southeastern Utah, the Hole-in-the-Rock settlers had been in the region for a few decades, hunting the deer, elk and bighorn sheep nearly to extinction. Meanwhile livestock operators such as J.A. Scorup, the “Mormon Cowboy,” were covering vast swaths of public domain with thousands of head of cattle and sheep. In other words, they were robbing the wild animals of their natural prey, replacing it with another fatter, slower food source, with a predictable outcome.
Ol’ Big Foot was rumored to be the most efficient livestock culler around and was constantly trailed by a pack of coyotes looking to scavenge his kills. The canine allegedly took down 150 calves in one fell swoop – although that figure is almost certainly exaggerated to provide further justification for slaughtering predators. Not that the invaders needed an excuse: Killing wildlife, especially charismatic megafauna, was part and parcel
of the white settler project, even in areas where livestock predation wasn’t an issue. The goal was not just to settle on the land, but to tame the land itself; to rob the wilderness of its wildness.
Ranchers were no match for the predators so, as is often the case, the fiercely independent Western individualists pleaded for government aid. Federal and county agencies paid cash for evidence of predator kills. La Plata County’s “scalp records” from the late 1800s record payouts for 300 hawk heads (at 25 cents apiece), 200 bear pelts, two dozen mountain lion hides and a handful of wolf skins. The mercenary killing spree took a heartrending toll, but it wasn’t enough for the ranchers. So in 1915, the federal government tasked the U.S. Biological Survey with the extermination of every predator in the West, by whatever means necessary. The resulting systematic slaughter was popularly dubbed “Uncle Sam’s War on Varmints.”
As twisted as it may be, the sentiment that killing wild predators was actually preserving wildlife and saving other animals from extinction was a commonly held belief. And this bizarre notion persists among many who oppose bringing the wolf back, saying they would com-
pete with human hunters for wild game.
The death toll from the “war” is stunning. In 1924, government hunters reported killing 2,000 animals in Colorado, including more than 1,700 coyotes, 153 bobcats, 50 lynx, eight wolves, six mountain lions, four bears and two wild dogs. In 1919 the Biological Survey predicted the West would be wolf-free within five years and estimated only 100 remained in Utah.
As wolf populations declined, hunters and newspapers started focusing on individual animals. The descriptions often read like those of human outlaws: a mix of fear, condemnation and veneration.
“Lobo, a great gray wolf who was the king of the pack at Currumpaw, a vast cattle range in New Mexico, was a thinker as well as a ruler,” Ernest Thompson Seton told a newspaper in 1905, after he had killed the wolf by using his dead mate as a decoy. Avintaquint, of the Vernal, Utah, area, was the “crafty leader of one of the wiliest brand of pillagers of the cattle range that ever roamed the West.” Big Lefty was known to be one of the largest and most cunning wolves in the Crested Butte area, even though he had lost a leg to a trap.
Old Three-Toes was known not just for preying on livestock, but also for seducing domesticated ranch dogs, which she was forced to settle for since most of the males of her species had been slaughtered. She lived in southern Pueblo County in Colorado and, according to news accounts, would sidle up to a ranch house in the dark, “making her coming known by a peculiar howl. And when she left, the family dog often went with her. Several ranch dogs have paid the death penalty to trapper or hunter when found fraternizing with this vicious destroyer of ranch property.”
In 1923, government hunters trapped some of Three Toes’ pups and lured the matriarch in for the kill. It was an especially deadly time for the other famous wolves, all of whom were captured and killed, to much fanfare, via cruel methods. Many were poisoned, one dragged a trap for miles before being shot, and at least one was captured alive and used as a decoy to lure others.
The Salt Lake Telegram ran a piece on Easyfoot, “the celebrated wolf of eastern Kane County,” noting that the huge animal “battled six dogs into submission on Oct. 6, 1928, and gave up the fight only when he had been drilled through and through by the high-powered rifles.” Easyfoot’s stuffed carcass was later installed
in the state capitol building.
A.K. Fisher, the Biological Survey’s Director, predicted in 1926 that “within a year Colorado would be a sportsman’s paradise because of the elimination of the wolf and the mountain lion.” He said only six wolves remained in the entire state.
Fisher was a bit premature in his forecast – Colorado’s last wolf was killed in 1940. Nor did he mention that as the predator-killing campaign garnered success, the agency found itself putting more and more resources into exterminating prairie dogs, rats, squirrels and rabbits. Go figure! But his assessment was correct: The wolf of the Western U.S. was doomed.
The war was not without its critics. In 1931, the American Society of Mammalogists called the biological survey “the most destructive organized agency which ever threatened the native fauna of the United States.” Not that it seemed to sway the agency from its mission, and by then, it was too late for the wolf, anyway.
In 1929, Arthur H. Carhart and Stanley P. Young wrote “Last Stand of the Pack,” a nonfiction account of the lives and deaths of the “last nine renegade wolves.” A passage from the Carhart’s introduction illustrates the contorted, conflicted, often bizarre attitudes towards
wolves: “Man has won. The wilderness killers have lost. They have written their own death warrants in killing, torture, blood lust almost fiendish cruelty. Civilization of the white man has almost covered the west. And with that nearly accomplished, there was no place left for the gray killers, the renegades of the range lands.
“They were great leaders, superb outlaws, these last nine renegades. They deserved and received the profound respect of those men who finally conquered them. Defiant, they were striking back at man, playing a grim losing game but never acknowledging defeat until fate had called the last play.”
Nearly a century after Canis lupus was extirpated from the Southwest, there is a spark of hope that the wolf will return to Bears Ears country. In March, a Mexican gray wolf named Ella by local school children, was spotted north of Interstate 40 near Mount Taylor. It was killed by stillundisclosed means, but it was an indication that the reintroduced wolf population in the southern part of the state is looking to broaden its horizons. And just last week, Colorado Parks & Wildlife published a map of where radiocollared gray wolves, reintroduced in the northern part of the state, had roamed. One traveled 1,200 miles, making it as far
south as the Uncompahgre River watershed.
Still, for every human that yearns for the wolf’s demise, there are 10 filled with awe and wonder for what the species, and its return, represents. As Ol’ Big Foot’s story illustrates, the wolf is resilient. In the spring of 1920, a trap set by bounty hunter Roy Musselman on Cedar Mesa finally ensnared 12-year-old, 8-foot-long Big Foot.
His country is one of the few places in the United States that hasn’t changed all that much in the last 100 years. Another Big Foot would find plenty of landscape for roaming and many a nook and cranny for hiding. And now there are more deer and elk to eat (along with some slow-moving elk, if you know what I mean).
I’ll leave you with an account by A.R. Lyman following Big Foot’s death in April 1920: “Old ‘Big-foot’ … has been perhaps the smoothest one of its kind ever known in San Juan County, and according to one trapper who spoke of him from personal acquaintance, ‘If his whole story were written, it would beat anything ever told.’”
The following was edited for length. To read it in its entirety, subscribe to The Land Desk, a newsletter from Jonathan P. Thompson, at www.landdesk.org. ■
iAM Fest, Seun Kuti, Tico Time and Montezuma Rising BetweentheBeats
Let the festivating begin
by Stephen Sellers
Greetings, dear readers! A happy May Day to you all. This month, we finally slide into our local, outdoor festival season with plenty of opportunities for you to catch world-class music – all from the comfort of your local lawn chair. Between iAM Music Festival, Tico Time Bluegrass and Montezuma Rising, this month is stacked with reasons to get outside, see old friends and hear something brand new. The best part? All of these festivals are more than reasonably priced, which means that if your calendar allows, you can –and absolutely should – go to each! Consider this your personal permission slip to lean into the season of sunshine, sound and small-town magic. As always, see you on the dance floor!
• iAM Music Fest, multiple venues in downtown Durango, Thurs.–Sun., May 1–4 – iAM Music Fest celebrates 10 years of independent music with four days of concerts, parties, workshops and collaborations. Featuring MarchFourth, Blessing Bled Chimanga, Elder Grown, Desiderata, Westfield, Dana Ariel, Eli Emmitt and many more, the lineup this year is bigger and more diverse than ever. There is perhaps no other nonprofit in town that has been so vital in keeping our music scene fresh, dynamic and accessible for curious folks who want to join the fun. From pop-up shows to downtown stage takeovers, iAM keeps it grassroots and community-centered. Big shoutout to the team at iAM for their vision, resilience and continued success 10 years running! Full schedule at iAMMusicFest.us.
• Annie Brooks, Jenn Rawling, Tashi T, Adam Millard and Erik Nordstrom, Studio &, Fri., May 9, 5 p.m. – In celebration of Studio &’s “Visions of Johanna” exhibit, five standout local musicians perform their own renditions of Bob Dylan’s classic tune along with original songs. Expect a night of heartfelt interpretations, creative arrangements and a fitting tribute to one of folk music’s greatest songwriters at Durango’s most beloved independent gallery.
• Noonz, Squoze, Teknique & Nuffsaid, and Red, Animas City Theatre, Sat., May 10, 7 p.m. – Local heavyhitters take over ACT for a Saturday night packed with hip-hop, house, bass and the infamous Hennessy Sound System on full deployment at the Animas City Theatre. Local legend DJ Noonz is at the helm of this party, and he’s made sure to pull out all of the stops with an incendiary support lineup. Don’t forget your earplugs, and get ready to have a few of your cells vibrated to the best sound system in all of the land.
• Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 w/ DJ Rasta Stevie, Animas City Theatre, Tues., May 13, 7 p.m. – Wait, WHAT?! The youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti leads Egypt 80 in a fiery, politically charged night of music and movement. Seun Kuti carries the torch of his father’s revolutionary spirit while infusing his own generation’s urgency into every note. Mad props to ACT promoter Eugene Salaz for snagging this incredible booking – it’s rare to see this level of musical royalty grace a stage our size. The one and only DJ Rasta Stevie warms up the stage with a roots reggae set to get the fire burning.
• Tico Time Bluegrass Festival, Tico Time Resort, Fri.–Sun., May 16–18 – Taking place along the Animas River at the beautiful Tico Time Resort just south of the state
Fresh off an appearance at Coachella, Afrobeat torchbearer Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 play the ACT on May 13./ Courtesy photo
line, this three-day fest features a brilliant lineup, outdoor adventures and plenty of sunshine, strings and spontaneous jams. This year’s headliners include Leftover Salmon, The Infamous Stringdusters, Railroad Earth and the best of the best from locals like the Alex Graff Duo, Robin Davis Duo, High Country Hustle and dozens more. Expect campfires, latenight picking circles, yoga sessions, riverside hangs and a family friendly vibe that feels like summer camp for grownups. Bring your tube, your dancing shoes and your best festivarian spirit.
• Tom Ward’s Downfall and Fractal String Band, Durango Contra Dance, Durango Senior Center, Sat., May 17, 7 p.m. – Durango loves a good contradance. Live old-time tunes will keep your feet moving all night at the monthly Contra Dance. Beginners are more than welcome –no partner needed and no fancy footwork required. If you’ve never tried contra before, this is the perfect chance to jump in and find out why it’s one of the most joyful, communitycentered ways to spend a Saturday night.
• Montezuma Rising Festival, Fenceline Cider, Mancos, Sat.-Sun., May 24-25, 4 p.m. – Celebrate spring and sound in Mancos with two evenings of music. Day one features Montezuma Rising, featuring Influsense, Yope, Little Brother and Mojo Birds. Good music, good cider and wideopen skies await you at this grassroots gathering. Fenceline’s riverside setting and small-town hospitality make it one of the best hidden gems for live music in the region.
The second day of Montezuma Rising brings Thylan, Hotel Draw, Lavalanche and Desert Child to Mancos. Expect another perfect late-afternoon of music, community and cider-fueled vibes, with incredible talent, golden-hour light and a backyard feel you won’t find anywhere else. ■
by Jeffrey Mannix
MDo the right thing
‘Hunkeler’s Secret’ a tale of searching for justice in a storied Swiss city
urder Ink was created some dozen years ago to suss out literary crime fiction, which were three words never linked together in the United States and never separated in Europe or the U.K. In France, crime fiction has been so expertly wrought since the early 20th Century that it falls under the rarefied category of belles-lettres (which translates to “beautiful writing” in French.)
Arthur Conan Doyle perhaps began the genre of crime fiction in 1887 in Scotland with “A Study in Scarlet,” followed by “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” in 1892 and “The Hounds of the Baskervilles” in 1902. Agatha Christie carried the pendant to a broader and gentler audience with 66 detective novels that ushered in a literary movement known as the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. Her contribution to crime fiction is more nuanced than just murder mysteries and set the standard as reflected in her worldwide sales of 300 million.
With Christie and Doyle as trendsetters, many European novelists struggling to write literature on the state of being and belonging or loving and longing. Instead, they saw the eager audience for mysteries and locked themselves in their garrets to write mysteries as literary art. And still today, the more erudite crime fiction comes from across the pond, including and worthy of mention of Africa and Japan.
This episode of “Murder Ink” features author Hansjörg Schneider of Basel, Switzerland, with a new novel dropping in bookstores April 29 entitled “Hunkeler’s Secret.” It is ably translated by Astrid Freuler and published by Bitter Lemon Press of London, a world-leading publisher of some of the finest literary crime fiction in Europe. Schneider is a typical Bitter Lemon front-list author. His first book, “The Basel Killings,” was published in Zurich in 2004 and trans-
lated into English in 2021. I featured it in the Telegraph a few days after its publication to the delight of at least the many I heard from.
“Hunkeler’s Secret” features retired police inspector Peter Hunkeler, of the Basel City Criminal Investigation Department. Considered to be the cultural capital of the tucked-away country, Basel is a picturesque city in northwestern Switzerland on the Rhine River – third in population behind Zurich and Geneva. Our protagonist, Peter Hunkeler, had been the nosy detective in the local cop shop for 30 years before his re cent retirement. He collects jazz records, knows his whiskies and fights windmills if they’re in a migration corridor.
The title of this Schneider book evokes curiosity, and the author is more than adept at teasing that along at an accelerated pace. The secret – Hunkeler’s secret – is revealed in the first scene of the book. That makes us all complicit in the peculiar circumstance of the death of old man Fankhauser in a hospital room shared with Hunkeler after minor surgery and the quiet overnight removal of the corpse.
While Hunkeler is sure he’s seen a crime, he knows that morphine sleep aids can easily dis figure rational minds or bend thoughts.
nutmeg, administer an injection to chattery Fankhauser five or 10 minutes before Hunkeler’s sleep potion took effect.
When Hunkeler awakes in the morning, Fankhauser is gone and his bed freshly made for the next patient. After Hunkeler unlooses his imprinted witness questioning, he is informed that Fankhauser died of a heart attack overnight and had already been cremated without an autopsy or investigation.
And so here is the secret … or here is the secret to the secret of Fankhauser’s death: Hunkeler, in his relaxed lucidity, thought he saw, or indeed did see, a nurse in a traditional blue headscarf and smelling of
The beauty of “Hunkeler’s Secret” is not so much the simplicity of Schneider’s lovely writing, or the thorough tour we get of Basel and the people who live in this storied Swiss city. It’s that we meet and get to tag along with a remarkable police detective and honest man. Peter Hunkeler seems to have been drawn in watercolor, and he’s a breath of fresh air to hang around for 190 pages.
Cutting perhaps too close to the bone, Hunkeler’s secret is a big one after he goes through the criminal investigation made clumsy without his badge. We experience through this admirable man that justice is another word for doing the right thing.
“Hunkeler’s Secret” is not a book that will keep you up reading past midnight; we’ve seen many and will see many more that you shouldn’t live without. But this book is a clever piece of work, and you cannot be disappointed by the imagination of this 90-year-old storyteller. Ask Maria’s Bookshop to order this $17 paperback and take advantage of Evan’s courtesy 15% discount to Murder Ink readers. ■
Thursday01
National Day of Action: May Day/Law Day, march to Rep. Jeff Hurd’s office and back, 12 noon, La Plata County Courthouse, 1060 E. 2nd Ave.
Ska-B-Q Kickoff with Afrobeatniks, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Weekly Dart Tournament, 5:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Spanish Conversation Hour, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
“Cabaret Puttin’ on the Ritz,” presented by Durango Choral Society, 5:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
“Jazz … You’re My Only Hope!” presented by the Civic Winds Jazz Orchestra, 7 p.m., Durango High School, 2390 Main Ave.
Monday05
Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Joel Racheff plays, 5:30-10:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Comedy Open Mic, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Tuesday06
“Hiking into Health” Missionary Ridge hike, 9 a.m.-12 noon, meet at Meadow Market, 688 Edgemont Rd.
Stories in the Park, 10-11 a.m., Santa Rita Park Picnic Shelter
One-stop graduation & Mother’s Day ay shopppping
Nice selection of gifts, jewelry, dresses, linen pants, tops, jewelry and accessories from Sundance, Johnny Was, Anthropologie and more
AskRachel Disappearing act, staying puft and going big
Interesting fact: The vulnerable part of disappearing message security is what’s referred to, apparently with a straight face, as an “analog hole.” (Meaning anything digital has to become visible or auditory for humans to perceive it.)
Dear Rachel,
I need a younger person’s advice. Some of these messaging apps have features for disappearing messages. Your conversation will disappear immediately, or in 24 hours or 7 days or whatever. I know this must be normal. But it feels rude when my friends turn it on. It feels like they don’t value our conversations. Is this the case, do you think?
– Into the Mist
Dear Foggy Past, Nah, don’t think so much into it. This is totally, absolutely, a phone storage issue. Disappearing old messages, especially photos and other junk, means you save a boatload of time down the line when you either have to spend hours deleting old stuff or just
forget it all and buy a new phone. It also covers your tracks for all your illicit affairs. Not saying that’s you! But it is a nice bonus feature.
– Ethereally, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
It’s time for my annual self-esteem freakout. All winter long, I hide my body issues under down jackets. Now, all my friends are basically Iron Horse-ready and have their river bods full steam ahead. Meanwhile, I have much more of a craft brew bod going. Yeah, I can make it to the top of a mountain, but I ain’t posting pictures. I’ve accepted that I’m never going to be in that kind of shape, so how can I embrace being the Stay-Puft member of my friend group?
– Marshmallow Man
Dear S’more Filling, I remember having my first physical freakout years ago. My coach told me that no one, no one at all, is paying as much attention to me as I am. I think she was trying to be helpful. Instead,
“American Foreign Policy at a Crossroads,” discussion with Great Decisions Durango, 11:45 a.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Cowboy Tuesdays, 12-3 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
La Plata Dems zoom lunch with LPEA CEO Chris Hansen, noon-1:30 p.m. Zoom link: laplatadems.org
Book Club “The River,” by Peter Heller, 6-7:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
La Plata County Search and Rescue President Ron Corkish presents to Rotary Club, 6-7 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.
Man 2 Man Prostate Cancer Support Group of Durango meeting, 7-8 p.m., via Zoom, contact prostategroupdro@gmail.com
Wednesday07
Wednesday Morning Bird Walks, 8-9:30 a.m., Botanic Gardens at Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
she confirmed all my worst fears about not mattering. But now I get to say the same thing to you! You care more about your physique than any of your compadres. If they are hanging out with you, as adults, they like you. Embrace that.
– Thanks, coach, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
The saying is “go big or go home.” Why not go big AND go home? Meaning: I’m about to do something really audacious in my career. The equivalent of writing the Denver Nuggets and asking them about joining their coaching staff. It’s almost certainly going to fail. I will have to return home with tail tucked in defeat. But at least I can still go home. Can you imagine failing so big that you CANNOT GO HOME?
– Notable Quotable
Dear Easily Repeatable, You might go home with your tail tucked, but you can still hold your head high. Because you tried. Most of us talk a big game and never do the
Open Mic with Leigh Mikell, 7 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
Ongoing
Ron Fundingsland “Mini Prints,” thru May, Studio &Recess Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
60-year celebration “A Legacy of Gifts,” thru Nov. 13, Center of Southwest Studies, FLC
“Guys and Dolls: A Musical Fable of Broadway,” presented by Merely Players, May 8-10, 7 p.m., Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr.
Art Fundraiser for Ray Martinez, Fri., May 9, 4-7 p.m., The ArtRoom Collective, Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave., ArtRoom #10
Durango Gallery Association Spring Gallery Walk, Fri., May 9, 4-7 p.m., various locations downtown
Tim Telep plays, Fri., May 9, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Barons
Email Rachel at telegraph@durango telegraph.com
thing. You’re doing the thing. Good on you! If I might make one small unsolicited suggestion? Go big after you set your messages to disappear. No sense in preserving the evidence of your inevitable failure.
– Realistically, Rachel
Creek Winery Tasting Room, 901 Main Ave.
“Working with Wool,” Sat., May 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Animas Valley Grange, 7271 CR 203
“We Are Water!” STEM Day Celebration, Sat., May 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino del Rio
Introduction to Addiction Recovery & Wellness, hosted by Community Compassion Outreach, Sat., May 10, 1-2:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Garden Party & Mother’s Day Gifts, Sat., May 10, 2-6 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F
“Shakespeare: Sing Me a Scene,” presented by San Juan Symphony Chamber Singers, Sat., May 10, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
“Guys and Dolls: A Musical Fable of Broadway,” presented by Merely Players, Sun., May 11, 2 p.m., Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr.
“Shakespeare: Sing Me a Scene” presented by San Juan Symphony Chamber Singers, Sun., May 11, 3 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Black Velvet plays, Tues., May 13, 5 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave. May 1, 2025 n 13
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): To create microgardens, you plant vegetables and herbs in small containers placed on your porch, balcony, window sills and kitchen counter. Lettuce, peas, spinach, and basil might be among your small bounties. I encourage you to use this practice as a main metaphor in coming weeks. Gravitate away from huge, expansive visions and instead work creatively within existing constraints. For now, at least, “less is more” should be your motto. Meditate on how apparent limitations might lead to innovations. Seek abundance in unlikely places.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus author Nellie Bly (1864–1922) was a daring trailblazer. It was almost impossible for a woman to be a journalist in the 19th century, but she did it. One of her sensational groundbreaking stories was an undercover assignment in New York’s Women’s Lunatic Asylum. Her reporting on the neglect and brutality there prompted major reforms. I nominate Bly as your role model. You are, I believe, poised for epic, even heroic adventures, in service to a greater good. (PS: Bly also made a solo trip around the world and wrote 15 books.)
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini painter Henri Rousseau (1844–1910) never saw a jungle in person. In fact, he never left his native country of France. But he painted some of modern art’s most vivid jungle scenes. How? Well, he visited zoos and botanical gardens, perused images of tropical forests in books and heard stories from soldiers who had visited jungles. But mostly, he had a flourishing imagination that he treated with reverent respect. I urge you to follow his lead. Through the joyful, extravagant power of your imagination, get the inspiration and education you need. The next three weeks will be prime time to do so.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): No, rubythroated hummingbirds don’t hitch rides on airplanes or the backs of geese. They make their epic migrations completely under their own power. To get to their wintering grounds, many fly alone from the southern United States to the Yucatan Peninsula, crossing the 500-mile expanse of the Gulf of Mexico in 20 hours. I don’t recommend you attempt heroic feats like theirs in the coming weeks. More than usual, you need and deserve to call on support and help. Don’t be shy about getting the exact boosts you require. It’s time to harvest the favors you are owed and be specific.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The golden pheasant is dazzling. Among the bright colors that appear in its plumage are gold, red, orange, yellow, blue, black, green, cinnamon and chestnut. I name this charismatic bird to be your inspiration for the coming weeks. Feel free to embrace your inner golden pheasant and express it wherever you go. This is a perfect time to boldly showcase your beauty and magnificence, even as you fully display your talents and assets. I brazenly predict your enthusiastic expression will be a good influence on almost everyone you encounter.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo poet and artist Dorothea Tanning (1910–2012) had a few mottoes that endlessly nurtured her abundant creative output. Here’s one: “Keep your eye on your inner world and keep away from ads, idiots and movie stars.” As excellent as that advice is, it’s a challenge to follow. If we want to function effectively, we can’t always be focused on our inner worlds. However, I do believe you are now in a phase when you’re wise to heed her counsel more than usual. Your soul’s depths have a lot to teach you. Your deep intuition is full of useful revelations. Don’t get distracted by listening too much to ads, idiots and celebrities.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is essential for the functioning of your body and every other animal’s. It carries instructions about how to build proteins, and your cells are full of it. We humans can’t edit this magic substance, but octopuses can. They do it on the fly, enabling them to adapt quickly to changing environmental conditions. Even though you Libras can’t match the octopuses’ amazing power, you do have a substantial capacity to rewrite plans and adjust your mindset. And this talent will be especially available to you in the coming weeks. Your flexibility and adaptability will not only help you navigate surprises but may open up exciting new opportunities.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Is there a sanctuary you can retreat to? A relaxing oasis where you can slip away from the world’s colorful madness? I would love for you to be bold enough to seek the precise healing you need. You have every right to escape the rotting status quo and hide from pressure, demands and expectations. Is there music that brings you consolation? Are there books and teachers that activate your soul wisdom? Keep that good stuff nearby. It’s time for focused relief and regeneration.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The chemical element known as arsenic is toxic for humans but has long been useful in small amounts. Ancient Chinese metallurgists discovered that blending it with copper and tin made the finest, strongest bronze. In modern times, arsenic fortifies the lead in car batteries. People in the 19th century sometimes ingested tiny doses as a stimulant. I invite you to transform potentially challenging elements in your life into sources of strength. Can you find ways to incorporate iffy factors instead of eliminating them? I assure you that you have the power to recognize value in things others may neglect or reject.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Renowned Capricorn author Henry Miller (1891–1980) had to wait far too long before getting readers in his home country, the United States. American censors regarded his texts as too racy and sexy. They forbade the publication of his books until he was 69 years old! His spirit was uncrushable, though. In accordance with astrological omens, I recommend you adopt his counsel on the subject of wonders and marvels. Miller wrote, “The miracle is that the honey is always there, right under your nose, only you were too busy searching elsewhere to realize it.” Here’s another gem from Miller: He advised us “to make the miracle more and more miraculous, to swear allegiance to nothing, but live only miraculously, think only miraculously, die miraculously.”
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): For now, everything depends on your foundation, roots and support system. If I were you, I would devote myself to nurturing them. Please note that you’re not in any jeopardy. I don’t foresee strains or tremors. But your graduation to your next set of interesting challenges will require you to be snugly stable, secure and steady. This is one time when being thoroughly ensconced in your comfort zone is a beautiful asset, not a detriment to be transcended.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The coming weeks are a favorable time for you to build symbolic bridges. I hope you will link resources that aren’t yet linked. I hope you will work to connect people whose merger would help you, and I hope you will begin planning to move from where you are now to the next chapter of your life. I advise you to not model your metaphorical bridges after modern steel suspension bridges, though. Instead, be inspired by the flexible, natural and intimate bridges made by the ancient Incas. Woven from ichu grass via community efforts, they were strong enough to span rivers and canyons in the Andes mountains.
classifieds
Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon
Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum.
Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check. (Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)
Ads can be submitted via: n durangotelegraph.com n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133
Lost/Found
My Cat Cid is Missing
Long hair, white with black spots, green eyes. Last seen near 18th St. and E. 2nd Ave., by St. Columba. Reward. Call 970-403-6192
Found Near Ismay Women’s Smartwool top. Call to ID 970-749-2130
Classes/Workshops
Meditative Plant and Nature
Immersions 4 seasonal retreats in Dolores, 2025: May 16-18; July 18-20; Sept. 19-21; Dec. 6. Build skills, deepen connection and support your healing journey through: medicine making, meditation, plant walks, nourishing meals, song and more. www.livinginto mindfulness.com/about-3
West Coast Swing
Ready to dance? Join our 3-week West Coast Swing Basics series for beginners! It’s fun, social, and easy to learn—no partner or experience needed. A new series starts every few weeks, so join us for the next one! We also offer a weekly social dance – a fun drop-in option or included with your series registration! Sign up at: www.westslopewesties.com
Are You Ready for Guitar Lessons in Durango? I teach all ages and experience levels. Please contact Seth at 602-908-4475
Weekly Fast, Fun 45-Minute Aikido
Don't like to fight but want to feel safe? Try Aikido, the blending, calming martial art. Mondays 5:30-6:15pm $8 for 18+. Must book online: durangoaikido.com
BodyWork
Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199
HelpWanted
Forest Scapes Tree Service
Is looking for part-time help. Duties include moving brush, hauling wood, and operating a wood chipper. Reliability is a must. Starting at $22/hour. Email aaron@forestscapesdurango.com .
Now Hiring Downtown Ambassadors
Do you love Durango? The Durango Business Improvement District is looking for friendly, outgoing, and knowledgeable people who love our community to be Downtown Ambassadors. We are looking for candidates who have great interpersonal skills, love talking to people and are familiar with our community. This is a seasonal, part-time position. Candidates should be able to fill 2-3 shifts a week. Shifts are 2 1/2 to 4 hours in length. This is a great job to supplement with other part-time employment. Teachers are encouraged to apply! $17 per hour. To apply visit: www.downtowndu rango.org/jobs
ForSale
Great Starter Raft Package
16’ self-bailing 2013 Aire Tributary. Solid shape with some cosmetic blems but no patches and good river juju. Brand new floor. 4-bay aluminum NRS frame w/seat and custom deckboards. 3 Sawyer
oars, 3 thwarts plus slightly rickety bimini. We’ll even throw in a free Igloo cooler, tall table and maybe a few random straps! $2800 OBO. Call or text: 970749-8271
Services
Boiler Service - Water Heater
Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
Chapman Electric Mike 970-403-6670
New construction, remodel, service upgrades, EV chargers, split systems and more. Colorado state licensed electrical contractor.
Residential Fabrication
Planter boxes, gates and fences and other outdoor property enhancements. North Shore Fab. 970 749 6140. Jon
‘The After’ Bad news: this is gut wrenching. Good news: it’s only 18 minutes long – Lainie Maxson
Lowest Prices on Storage!
Inside/outside storage near Durango and Bayfield. 10-x-20, $130. Outside spots: $65, with discounts available. RJ Mini Storage. 970-259-3494.
She Shed? He Shed? We All Shed!
Create your dream space with RockyMountainSheds.com. Playhouses, studios, and more await you! 29318 US 160 Durango | 970-335-8060
CommunityService
Dog Fosters Needed
Parker’s Animas Rescue urgently needs foster families to provide temporary homes for rescued dogs. We supply all necessary items and cover vet visits. Join our mission: parkersanimalrescue.com.
Community Compassion Outreach
at 21738 HWY 160 W is open Tues., Wed. and Fri. 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. for case management, client services, snacks, drinks and meals with support and services for those with substance-use disorders and co-occurring mental health issues. Saturdays Coffee & Conversations, 11 a.m.1:30 p.m. Thursdays Harm Reduction, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Engaging Volunteer Opportunity
Alternative Horizons needs volunteers to staff our hotline. Training provided. For info., visit alternativehorizons.org
The Maker Lab in Bodo Park
Collaborative workspace, tools, learning and equipment featuring metal and woodworking, laser cutting, 3D printing, electronics and sewing. Classes for all levels. www.themakerlab.org
