Montezuma County has a packed month ahead with the Ute Mountain Roundup PRCA Rodeo, Monster Truck Militia at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, and the Cortez Celtic Fair at Parque de Vida.

By Sadie Smith

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This story is sponsored by Big O Tires and Blondie's Trophy Room.

Durango's event calendar this week includes the Women's Resource Center's Inaugural Golf Open, KSUT's 50th Anniversary Party at Ska Brewing, and Manna's Beyond the Plate fundraising evening at Destination Ranch.

By Sadie Smith

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This story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino Resort and Kroegers Ace Hardware.

Madison Smith moved back to San Juan County after nine years and found a community short on resources for young families. She opened Piper's Play Cafe in Aztec, a sensory-inclusive indoor toddler play space offering free-range exploration for kids and a rare moment of rest for parents. The cafe includes a slide structure, dramatic play areas, a pretend kitchen and market, free snacks, free drinks and coffee, a free little library and an outdoor clothing donation bin. Smith built it for the parents as much as the kids, particularly those without a support network nearby.

By Tanner Waite

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This story is sponsored by Sunray Park & Casino and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College.

Durango has a packed weekend ahead with the Mesa Verde Foundation's 120th Anniversary Celebration of Mesa Verde National Park at the EsoTerra Arboretum on Friday, June 5, the 4-Corners Rough Stock Challenge at the La Plata County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 6, and the Durango Cowboy Gathering's 12th Annual Barn Dance, Picnic, and Silent Auction at River Bend Ranch on Sunday, June 7.

By Sadie Smith

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This story is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts and RMW Tafoya Barrett & Associates

A San Juan County program called UmattR is putting high school seniors in front of younger kids, not with lectures, but with their own stories. The program gives $1,000 scholarships to selected seniors who then spend the year visiting elementary and middle schools across the county. This cycle drew more than 300 applicants; 24 made the cut. Together they log about 650 service hours. The younger kids do not forget them. At community events around the county, elementary students bring trading cards featuring the seniors and stop them with questions about hard situations they are facing. The program accepts donations and sponsorships at umattr.com.

By Tanner Waite

Watch this story at LNN.news.

This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware in Farmington and Boon’s Family Thai BBQ.

One of the earliest San Juan River peaks on record has whitewater guides and river engineers watching closely. Here is what it means for rafting and recreation this summer in Pagosa Springs.

By Christi Bode

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This story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings.

There are several events happening in Durango this week including the Durango Bluegrass Train, the 43rd Annual Animas River Days at Santa Rita Park, and the Durango Barbershoppers annual show at the Durango High School Auditorium.

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This story is sponsored by the Payroll Department and the FLC Center for Innovation.

Long before the roads came to Southwest Colorado's high country, the San Juan Mountains were shaped by the labor and lives of Hispano and Basque sheepherders who drove their flocks through these rugged passes each season. In this video, Peggy Montaño reflects on that deep legacy through her own written words — one that runs through her own family across multiple generations. Drawing on oral history, on-the-ground exploration of ancestral sites, and collaboration with Forest Service researchers, the film traces the parallel journeys of two immigrant communities who found common ground in these mountains. It is a portrait of sacrifice, resilience, and the enduring bonds between people and place — and a reminder that the landscapes we treasure have always been shaped by those who came before us.

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 Peggy Montaño

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

Watch the full series, Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado.