Snowdown’s Still Conjuring 2022 Celebration

The magical mystical Snowdown, will be putting it spell on you in 2022, but some events have already been canceled with the latest Omicron driven surge in COVID cases. You’re watching the Local News Round Up brought to you by the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan, and Foley and Service Master Restore. I’m Hannah Robertson. Although San Juan Basin Public Health reported on January 11th, that positive COVID cases in La Plata county are at their highest level ever, during the two year pandemic. The Snowdown board of directors has decided to move forward with Snowdown 2022, with some caveats. In a news release issued this week, the Snowdown board strongly urged all event producers to require proof of full vaccination or a negative test result. They did no more than five days before the event for all participants. However individual event producers have the option to decide how to operate with several event producers already opting to cancel this year. Events canceled thus far include Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, The La Plata Open Space Conservancy’s Annual Snowdown Cocktail Party. The Balloon Rally, Human Foosball and La Plata’s Search and Rescues pancake breakfast. The Snowdown follies will continue as planned, but ticket holders will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test. To assist with vaccination verification, Snowdown will open an office in downtown Durango, where event attendees can show proof of vaccination status or negative test results, and Snowdown will provide attendees with a wristband. Snowdown is an umbrella organization that provides scheduling and publicity for the five-day winter celebration. But events are created and produced independently by individuals and organizations. The 43rd Annual Winter Celebration, A Magical Mystery Snow Down, “We Put a Spell You,” will run from January 26th through the 31st. To learn more about cancellations and other Snowdown updates visit snowtown.org A significant Chacoan archeological site in Montezuma county has been placed in a conservation easement under the La Plata Open Space Conservancy. Owned by the archeological Conservancy, The Haynie Site is a Chacoan outlier that archeologists believe was occupied as early as 580 A.D. through 1,282 A.D. Two Chacoan great houses are part of the site, which is part of the larger lakeview community. A 250 acre area that has the densest concentration of great houses found north of the San Juan river. Great houses are associated with the Chacoan culture headquartered in Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. It flourished from 840 to 1140 A.D. and its people migrated throughout the four corners. The Haynie Site is the northernmost occupation of the Chacoan society. A conservation easement with the La Plata Open Space Conservancy will protect the site from development, while allowing research and education projects to continue. To learn more visit lposc.org. Table to Farm Compost is the first recipient of a Class Three Compost Facility certification in La Plata county. And only the 16th composting facility in the state of Colorado to receive the designation. The Class Three facility is on a four acre site north of Elmore’s Corner. Table to Farm Compost diverts food waste from the landfill by composting it with pretreated wood waste from the Durango Wood Company and Timber Aged Systems. Once fully composted, it’s mixed with other materials to make enriched garden soil that the company sells locally and online. Food that winds up in the landfill typically rots and produce methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas. Table to Farm offers curbside collection of residential and commercial food waste, as well as glass recycling. To sign up for service visit tabletofarmcompost.com. Thanks for watching this edition of the Local News Round Up. Brought to you by the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan and Foley. And Service Master Restore. I’m Hannah Robertson.

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