Columnists https://tcr.durangoherald.com/section/columnists/feed/ Latest local news from The Durango Herald. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 04:11:01 -0600 en-us 30 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/is-the-back-to-school-schedule-un-fair/ Craygen Lucero, senior at Bloomfield High School, brushes her steer, Jefferson, at the San Juan County Fair before the livestock show on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Alx Lee/Tri-City Record, File Dear Mr. Know-It-All: Why on earth does the San Juan County... Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:28:31 -0600 CDA7F81B-F882-4B6C-94E6-A9844FBD4AB7 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/a-look-back-at-the-week-aug-24-30/ The Cecil Dial House in Aztec, built in 1926, pictured in 1988. Aztec Museum Photo Archives The following is a recap of local events for this time period throughout history. 25 years ago (2001) “This looks like a winning ticket... Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:40:20 -0600 94C11466-A162-47EF-96EB-EF3735F7D7F1 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/national-photo-contest-celebrating-mixed-breed-dogs-now-open/ Graffiti is an 8-year-old gray tabby who is now eager to come out of her crate and make new friends. Courtesy The American Kennel Club, a not-for-profit organization and the world’s largest registry of purebred and mixed-breed dogs, is excited... Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:37:18 -0600 26129741-B046-4D4E-8E8A-1DB6814CDC25 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/why-did-the-rook-and-pawn-divorce/ White to move and draw Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:55:28 -0600 225AF5E1-EB80-4584-BCBE-3600BFC9D98B https://tcr.durangoherald.com/a-look-back-at-the-week-aug-17-23/ Aztec beekeepers Enrique and Amber DelVitto, 1989. Aztec Museum Daily Times Photo Archives The following is a recap of local events for this time period throughout history. 25 years ago (2001) With 17 months more to serve as the state... Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:27:40 -0600 3085A8AF-07D8-4F57-9739-BB76E3A2D9BE https://tcr.durangoherald.com/push-the-pause-button/ Choose your attitude before someone else chooses it for you. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:40:39 -0600 722A25A0-CA3A-44EA-9C8C-A43E8F990609 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/go-big-and-go-home-national-nonprofit-seeks-foster-homes-for-big-dogs/ Claudia is sweet little mama stray now at the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter. Courtesy Big dogs aren’t harder to love, but they are waiting longer to find it. New survey data from Best Friends Animal Society shows that large dogs (over... Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:27:59 -0600 79AC0C16-D3D3-434F-BE27-FE03B4771AB8 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/pigs-on-2nd-rank/ Black to move and win Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:21:09 -0600 579D0E5E-7012-4703-9205-594A42E890EB https://tcr.durangoherald.com/a-look-back-at-the-week-aug-10-16/ Brewer Dry Goods Store, Aztec, circa 1902. Aztec Museum Photo Archives The following is a recap of local events for this time period throughout history. 25 years ago (2001) She has been written up in New York’s Dance Magazine as... Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:28:03 -0600 76E4630D-85F9-4F12-AF18-307A1ECEDD73 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/pain-at-the-pump-part-2/ Gas prices on Aug. 6, 2026 in Farmington. Scott Michlin/For the Tri-City Record Dear Readers: Two weeks ago, your esteemed columnist began attempting to answer the age-old quandary of why prices for gasoline seem higher in San Juan County than... Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:34:21 -0600 D40C08CB-DF1C-42E5-AAB2-2930689B6385 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/get-to-know-snoopy-and-his-siblings/ Peanuts and Best Friends Animal Society join forces to help pets in shelters find loving homes Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:52:32 -0600 39910F93-2DBB-4C59-8178-A68A547B1BF4 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/thoughts-and-reactions-from-a-long-and-thrilling-week-at-the-connie-mack-world-series/ D-BAT baseball team celebrate thier Connie Mack World Series championship win after defeating Dulin's Dodgers National 8-2 on Friday, July 31, 2026, at Ricketts Park. (Curtis Ray Benally/Special to the Tri-City Record)Curtis Ray Benally FARMINGTON – From a pure talent... Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:30:00 -0600 A10263AB-5452-4A46-98CA-64E70B17DAC7 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/positional-intelligence/ What is white’s best move? Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:47:42 -0600 1813F274-C259-4E6C-9628-FCDE13E999B4 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/a-look-back-at-the-week-aug-3-9/ Mike McCown of Farmington at the New Mexico Stair Fair, 1974. Aztec Museum Photo Archives The following is a recap of local events for this time period throughout history. 25 years ago (2001) Nineteen-month-old Timothy Worden is one lucky little... Fri, 31 Jul 2026 10:15:07 -0600 E9A1C724-79F2-413A-BE0A-E1BAE6F8B6D8 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/four-corners-4x4-week-celebrates-farmingtons-off-road-community/ Four Corners 4×4 Week is coming up on Sept. 7, 2026. Courtesy Visit Farmington Each September, Farmington becomes a gathering place for off-road enthusiasts during Four Corners 4×4 Week. The annual event brings together trail riders, competitors, local businesses and... Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:06:41 -0600 1D3F65BE-C454-42ED-95CD-0424CD1B1984 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/dancing-through-disagreement/ A few simple steps toward a win-win solution. Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:47:32 -0600 EE31971A-55F1-4EAC-9F50-E4109C4CC975 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/amazons-ai-powered-tool-matches-dogs-and-cats-with-potential-adopters/ Gourd is a happy boy who is waiting at the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter for his forever home. Courtesy Amazon has launched its first-ever pet adoption experience, an AI-powered matching tool that helps people discover adoptable dogs and cats based... Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:34:06 -0600 30EA15A9-9F65-42BD-A862-26604BA419EA https://tcr.durangoherald.com/patience-is-a-virtue/ White to move and win Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:48:44 -0600 9AAB1D44-8D93-49C7-A098-A1925EC44F30 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/a-look-back-at-the-week-july-27-aug-2/ Wilfred Duncan, Shiprock melons, 1984. Aztec Museum Daily Times Photo Archives The following is a recap of local events for this time period throughout history. 25 years ago (2001) A group of local aviation enthusiasts is organizing an open house... Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:42:29 -0600 4B52AA0A-AD67-4A59-B454-50A836F3F3A4 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/pain-at-the-pump/ Gas prices are seen in Farmington on Thursday. Scott Michlin/For the Tri-City Record Dear Mr. Know-It-All: What’s up with these #@&! gas prices in San Juan County?! Signed, Penny Pincher Revvin’ Ralph Peter Passer Coastin’ Carl (Columnist’s note: A summary... Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:33:37 -0600 59EE28BD-1FFC-4474-BB1C-D96A37C52669 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/why-pets-are-surrendered/ Spoiler Alert, 80% have nothing to do with the pet Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:40:15 -0600 95C3FBD7-409F-4DF0-ACFE-4B66823C7CD1 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/bishops-are-like-dolphins/ White to move and win Bottlenose dolphins coordinate to use mudflats and beaches to trap their prey. In this week’s position white similarly traps black’s knight against the edge of the board to win. With this hint in mind please... Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:32:42 -0600 145CB53F-6CE6-4353-8BCF-1D58AC27B6F9 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/a-look-back-at-the-week-july-20-26/ Shiprock Vet Chris Brasmer, 1990. Aztec Museum Daily Times Photo Archives The following is a recap of local events for this time period throughout history. 25 years ago (2001) A very rare white gyr falcon is lost and its owner... Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:22:16 -0600 28FE9F76-F45E-4CC6-86E6-BB9E3C8C9B39 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/grab-your-thumb-before-you-lose-your-head/ Courtesy Ron Price Managing anger begins by understanding what lies beneath it I appreciate several features of the Tri-City Record. One is the Mr. Know-It-All column from my friend and colleague Scott Michlin. I must inform him someday, however, that... Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:47:47 -0600 DD76350E-34D8-4F0B-BB01-865F49E1C567 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/why-the-eight-week-mark-is-one-of-the-most-important-milestones-in-a-kittens-life/ This week’s featured pets are a couple of kittens, Carrot and Beetroot. Courtesy During kitten season, animal shelters across the country see an influx of kittens in need, many of them too young to be adopted. Best Friends Animal Society is calling on cat lovers across... Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:38:03 -0600 CF356F7B-01D9-4210-944D-C91FDABD79AA https://tcr.durangoherald.com/what-is-whites-best-move/ A fork says to a spoon, “Who was that ladle I saw you with last night?” Spoon replies, “That was no ladle, that was my knife.” In this week’s position, white eats a black piece with either a fork or... Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:59:26 -0600 B48137EE-1CC5-4E79-8025-C03775B674F6 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/a-look-back-at-the-week-july-13-19/ Norman Dufur unloads a rusting old-time washing machine, just oneitem from 100 tons of tin he collected this summer from the backroads of the county, 1991. Aztec Museum Daily Times Photo Archives The following is a recap of local events... Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:40:15 -0600 A24E287E-1A40-4021-B1DC-C766A1F4706F https://tcr.durangoherald.com/stay-in-your-lane/ Farmington’s two-lane Piñon Hills Boulevard, seen recently near 30th Street, will probably stay that way for years to come. Scott Michlin/Tri-City Record Dear Mr. Know-It-All: The recently completed Piñon Hills extension project by the City of Farmington is a nice,... Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:56:01 -0600 0353D478-B2FE-4904-BBA7-5D2DE4966FC0 https://tcr.durangoherald.com/find-a-stray-aztec-animal-shelter-has-some-suggestions/ This week’s featured pet is Purrito (like burrito with a 'p'), a good-natured, happy-go- lucky smaller mixed breed. Courtesy When it comes to stray animals, Aztec Animal Shelter asks you to help the shelter help these wanderers. A sign posted... Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:17:05 -0600 6C0FBDE6-FA02-444C-A8D6-DE0D38BD436B https://tcr.durangoherald.com/books-and-paris/ Black to move and draw Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:35:35 -0600 A75F3890-32BD-43FA-AAFC-C882A9D95421