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New Directive: Wear Masks in Public

04/04/2020

Health officials now want you to wear masks in public to protect yourself from contracting the coronavirus and from spreading it, in case you’ve been infected but don’t have symptoms.

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PEOPLE INFECTED WITH COVID-19 EXHIBIT MILD OR NO SYMPTOMS, AND SO AREN'T AWARE THAT THEY'RE SPREADING THE VIRUS. THE VIRUS IS SPREAD PRIMARILY THROUGH DROPLETS, AND NOW, HEALTH OFFICIALS ADVISE RESIDENTS TO COVER THEIR NOSES AND MOUTHS WHEN THEY GO OUT. THANKS FOR WATCHING THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK, BROUGHT TO YOU BY KEESEE MOTORS. I’M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE. SAN JUAN BASIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL RECOMMEND WEARING A MASK WHEN YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, DOCTOR, OR PHARMACY, OR FOR ANY OTHER ESSENTIAL TRAVEL. ANY BANDANA OR HOMEMADE COTTON MASK WILL DO. STEER AWAY FROM HOSPITAL GRADE MASKS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND SICK PATIENTS. FACE COVERINGS WILL HELP HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS STAY HEALTHY AND WILL PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS FROM THOSE WHO MAY NOT REALIZE THEY’RE SICK.  WEARING A FACE COVERING ALSO WILL REMIND YOU TO STOP TOUCHING YOUR FACE, AND IT SERVES AS A SIGN TO OTHERS TO HEED HEALTH-CARE ORDERS DURING THIS SERIOUS PANDEMIC. REMOVING THE MASK IS AS IMPORTANT AS WEARING THE MASK.  FIRST, WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS. GRAB THE AREA THAT GOES OVER YOUR EARS TO TAKE THE COVERING OFF, KEEPING THE OUTSIDE OF IT AWAY FROM YOUR FACE, AND PLACE IT DIRECTLY INTO THE WASHING AREA WHERE YOU WILL SANITIZE IT. FINALLY, WASH YOUR HANDS AGAIN. SO, REMEMBER, WEAR YOUR MASKS OUTSIDE, WASH YOUR HANDS AND SURFACES FREQUENTLY, STAY HOME WHEN YOU'RE NOT OUT PERFORMING ESSENTIAL TASKS, AND STAY AT LEAST 6 FEET AWAY FROM OTHERS WHEN YOU ARE OUT. LET'S ALL DO OUR PARTS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.  FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION, VISIT SAN JUAN BASIN PUBLIC HEALTH’S WEBSITE AT S J B PUBLICHEALTH DOT ORG OR MONTEZUMA COUNTY DOT ORG. THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS EDITION OF THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK. STAY IN TOUCH WITH US ON FACEBOOK OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR BREAKING NEWS, UPDATED DAILY. WHILE YOU’RE THERE, CLICK “GET THE NEWS” TO HAVE OUR NEWSLETTER DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX — OR, CLICK “CONTRIBUTE NEWS” TO SUBMIT YOUR 15-30 SECOND VIDEO MESSAGE OF HOPE AND THANKS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC. WE'LL SHARE THEM ON THE AIR, ON OUR WEB SITE AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. I'M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE FOR THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK.

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April 29, 2026

Voices of the Past: Saving a Castle in the Clouds (Part 1)

Beverly Rich was born in Silverton in 1950 and has been involved with the local Historical Society since she was 14 — making her one of the most dedicated keepers of San Juan County's storied past. In her article, Rescuing Relics: Extreme Preservation and the Old Hundred Boarding House, she reflects on what made Silverton remarkable from the very beginning. Few people realize that Silverton is nearly ten years older than Durango, and that without Silverton, Durango wouldn't exist. In its heyday, this remote mountain town was the Silicon Valley of its era — a hub of technological innovation, incredible wealth, and relentless ambition. But like all mining towns, Silverton rode a cycle of boom and bust, its fortunes tied closely to World Wars and commodity prices. The hardest blow came in 1991 when the Sunny Side Mine shut down, taking half the town's population with it. What followed was a period of honest reckoning — and visioning. Silverton leaned into its two greatest assets: spectacular scenery and fascinating history. Today, for the first time ever, Silverton is no longer primarily a mining town. It has become a thriving high-mountain destination, with a booming recreation industry, rising property values, and a new generation discovering what Beverly Rich has known her whole life — this place is something special. The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage. This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater Hotel
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