The Garden Guys are back with practical advice for Southwest Colorado gardeners. Tom Bartels and Darrin Parmenter break down planting timing, drought prep, compost versus fertilizer, and what to look for when buying transplants this spring.

By Sadie Smith

Watch this story at durangolocal.news.

This story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and the Payroll Department.

iAM Music celebrated its 11th annual Music Fest in downtown Durango from April 30th through May 3rd, bringing 25+ artists across eight stages throughout the city. Founded in 2015, every ticket sold supports iAM Music's mission of funding scholarships, performance opportunities, and music education for youth across the Four Corners region.

By Sadie Smith

Watch this story at durangolocal.news.

This story is sponsored by the FLC Center for Innovation and Durango Gelato, Coffee & Tea.

A new hospital is now open in Farmington, New Mexico — and the community response has been nothing short of remarkable. Exceptional Community Hospital celebrated its ribbon cutting after more than four years of planning and three years of construction, opening its doors Feb. 18 to the public.

Since that first day, the facility has been seeing 50 patients daily — a pace that hospital leadership says has never been matched across any of their nine operating locations nationwide. The hospital focuses on acute care, treating patients for conditions like chest pain, difficulty breathing, cuts, infections and more. They also have the capacity to admit patients for conditions such as pneumonia or minor abdominal infections, and will transfer more critical cases to higher-level facilities when needed.

Leadership describes their model as concierge-style medicine — getting patients into a room quickly and delivering warm, personalized care. And judging by the numbers, Farmington is all in.

By Tanner Waite

Watch this story at farmingtonlocal.news.

This story is sponsored by Graff Orthodontics and Arkins Juice Tavern.

It's a great week ahead in Durango with the 4th Annual Manna Plant Sale running Friday and Saturday, May 8th and 9th, the first Durango Farmers Market of the season on Saturday, May 9th, from 8 AM to noon, a community tennis fundraiser benefiting the Durango High School Boys Tennis Team also on Saturday May 9th from 10 AM to 1 PM, and a free Women's Mountain Bike Basics Clinic at Purgatory Sports on Monday May 11th.

By Sadie Smith

Watch this story at durangolocal.news.

This story is sponsored by Kroegers Ace Hardware and Serious Texas Bar-B-Q.

High on the slopes of Galena Mountain at 12,500 feet, the Old Hundred Mine's 1908 boarding house stood as a testament to the audacity of Colorado's early miners — until decades of heavy snow and neglect brought two-thirds of its roof caving in. In 1996, Beverly Rich and a consortium of partners launched what they called "extreme preservation," airlifting supplies by helicopter up a precarious mule trail to save the historic structure before it plummeted 3,000 feet into Cunningham Gulch below. Workers stayed a week or two at a time, rebuilding the roof and securing the building to the rock cliff with cable. A year later, the tram house was also restored. The effort was immortalized in a documentary, Castle in the Clouds: The Saving of the Old Hundred Boarding House — a tribute to the immigrants from around the world who left everything behind to chase the promise and adventure of America in one of its most remote corners.

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.

By Beverly Rich

This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater Hotel

Watch the full Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado series on our YouTube.

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.

By Beverly Rich

This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater Hotel

Watch the full Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado series on our YouTube.

It's a packed week ahead in Durango with the iAM Music Fest taking over downtown April 30th through May 3rd featuring 25 plus artists across eight venues. On May 1st, the La Plata County Humane Society teams up with Durango Motor Company for a special National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day adoption event from 12 to 2 PM. And also kicking off May 1st Love Locals Week runs through May 10th with deals and events at over 40 downtown businesses including a BOGO Heart of Durango Dollars gift card promotion.

By Sadie Smith

Watch this story at durangolocal.news

This story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino Resort and Serious Texas Bar-B-Q

On what would have been his 93rd birthday, friends, family and fellow leaders gathered in Ignacio on April 13th to honor the life and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Campbell. Those who knew him best reflect on a man who transformed Native American representation in American politics, championed tribal sovereignty, and proved that anybody can make a real difference.

By Sadie Smith.

Watch this story at durangolocal.news.