After over a decade, hot air balloons returned to the Farmington skies for the first annual Four Corners Balloon Rally, September 23rd - 25th. 18 balloons representing the Four Corners states managed mud and wind to jump-start what looks to be a yearly festival in Farmington. From candlestick balloon glows to actual flights, concerts and chilly mornings, the rally was deemed a success by organizers and participants alike. This story is sponsored by Traegers Bar and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College

The Four Corners Professional Women’s Summit returns for its fourth year with a new theme: Reinventing Yourself. The Summit, a conference for and by women in the four corners region, is a unique opportunity for professional networking and relationship-building. The theme for this year is purposefully open - allowing every attendee to choose their own definition of what it means to reinvent themselves. This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware of Farmington and Boon's Family Thai Barbecue

The Cortez Historic Preservation Board wants old photos, stories about buildings as part of an historic preservation survey; clean-up week starts on Monday; and Purgatory Resort announces its opening day for the 2022-23 ski season. This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS and Big-O Tires

Fifteen lucky visitors recently toured what’s mostly unexcavated at Aztec Ruins National Monument. Aztec Ruins East normally is off limits because of its fragile archaeological resources. The great kiva is 16 feet high, and has nearly 300 rooms. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and Three Rivers Brewing

The Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado, along with municipal and county governments in the five-county area, hope to win an $87 million grant from the new federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act to build one of the largest regional fiber optics infrastructure projects in more than 20 years. This story is sponsored by TruWest Auto and the law firm of Downs McDonough Cowan and Foley

The Cortez Retail Enhancement Association wraps up the summer season with the last Third Thursday celebration featuring the Gasoline Lollipops. Guided tours will be offered this fall on several wilderness study areas in Southwest Colorado, and celebrate orchard country with the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project. This story is sponsored by Keesee Motors and the LOR Foundation

If it's fall, it's budgeting time in the City of Cortez, and the City Council wants to hear what you think the city's priorities should be. Perhaps you have an idea that could help shape policy – and future spending priorities. This story is sponsored by Choice Building Supply Ace Hardware and Ute Mountain Casino Hotel

Organic melons and green chili are just some of the many fresh products grown and sold by Navajo Agricultural Products Industry, better known as NAPI, located six miles south of Farmington on 100,000 irrigated acres. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by SunRay Park & Casino and the Big Idea Makerspace

The Rohwer Family was in the middle of planting season on their truck farm in Pleasantview when they were struck head-on in a tragic accident while on their way to their second week at the Durango Farmers Market. This year's crops could have died, but dozens of volunteers have rallied around the family to plant, harvest, and sell crops – and pull weeds, lots of weeds. This story is sponsored by Big-O Tires and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan and Foley

Last year's first-ever Four Corners Fall Fly-In at the Cortez Municipal Airport proved to be so popular that it returns for a second year. And learn about after-school programs for students. This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS and Choice Building Supply Ace Hardware