Mancos Artist Finds Beauty in Knotty Trees

A film festival for female empowerment and proceeds benefit Renew. Get prepared to head into the wilderness this summer with a class at the Dolores Public Library. Learn to prune your plants at a spring workshop with the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by TruWest Auto and Southwest Health System

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

The Southwest Colorado Equitable Land Project is hosting five public listening sessions on finding solutions to land access barriers. Dolores has released its 2023 events calendar. A day to support caregivers is scheduled at Hospice of Montezuma. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Choice Building Supply Ace Hardware and FASTSIGNS

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

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

Cortez Cultural Center is calling all artists to submit bird-themed art for the annual birding festival. The Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles has announced the winners of the Historic Colorado Plate Design contest, and Zu Gallery is offering speed dating - with a twist. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Southwest Health System and TruWest Auto

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

The 2023 Mancos Melt features a Las Vegas theme. A low-cost, mobile animal service clinic is coming to Cortez. WildEdge Brewing Collective is hosting an upcoming rare-beer tasting. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Keesee Motors and Blondie’s Trophy Room

A group of Dolores and Montezuma County residents is rallying local support for a new bike pump track and skate park in Dolores. The Dolores Bike and Skate Park Committee has started a GoFundMe campaign and attained 501c3 status, allowing donations to be tax deductible. Organizers hope to fill a needed gap in safe outdoor spaces for kids. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Big O Tires and FASTSIGNS

Hunters hoping to get a big game license this season are being encouraged to apply early. The owner of the Mancos Opera House will be the guest speaker at an upcoming Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast. A group of residents is raising money for a new bike and skate park in Dolores. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by The Lor Foundation and Choice Building Supply Ace Hardware