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Frightened dog, missing for two weeks, captured near SilvertonKonni, who fled during Fourth of July fireworks, will be reunited with her Phoenix family on Saturday

After two weeks of close encounters and dedicated work by some Southwest Colorado locals, a dog from Phoenix who fled during Silverton’s Fourth of July fireworks display, is heading home. Over the last two weeks, a crew of Durango and Silverton residents have tracked Konni, the 1-year-old Belgian Malinois who belongs to Dana Hite, her husband James Lowery and their son Jaxon.Tips poured in over the last few weeks – Hite would get as many as four messages reporting sightings each day – and the puppy was finally captured by a Silverton resident Friday morning. “Here in Phoenix, that would never happen,” Hite said, overflowing with gratitude. She and her family were up in Silverton for a week in early July. They took with them Konni, the 50-pound black and tan puppy who joined their family last October. The trip started with a warm welcome: an officer with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office helped the family find a camping spot around midnight along the Animas River south of town. Silverton’s famous fireworks show started earlier than the family expected on July 4, and they didn’t have time to put Konni in the camper. The spooked dog fled before anyone could grab her. The camping party immediately began looking for her, but to no avail. The next morning, they posted in various community Facebook groups. “This is not going to work,” Hite thought to herself.

A group of people, including Silverton resident Jimmy Keene II, began looking on Friday, July 5.By Sunday night, Keene had seen no signs of Konni and thought maybe she had been swept away by the river.“I didn’t think there was much hope,” he said. But then on Monday, someone saw Konni on Molas Pass. Hite and her family had to leave the following day and return to work in Phoenix, but not before they plastered the area with signs asking for help locating the lost pup. Hite cried that night, missing her dog. But driving away from Silverton the next day, that changed. “I felt OK leaving her,” Hite said. “I just knew that she was going to be OK and be with us again.”The sighting triggered Keene and a core group of about four other people, mostly from Durango, to spring into action. “We set up a bunch of trail cams, and we started being able to track where she was moving during the day, during the night, (and figure out) what were her patterns,” Keene said. By tracking Konni’s movements on the trail cameras, the group figured out the areas she mostly spent time in. They fed her, enough to keep her tempted but not full, from one location and started luring her closer and closer to a live trap set south of Molas Pass.Wednesday night, Konni entered the trap three times. But, wanting to ensure that she would fully enter it before triggering the closure mechanism, Keene hadn’t set the trap to spring. Thursday night, Keene set the trap to spring and was convinced he would capture Konni. But for some reason, she didn’t go near it. “When her schedule gets changed or when she's not eating, we automatically get worried because she's been seen running in the road,” Keene said.He and another searcher spent an hour driving U.S. Highway 550 in search of Konni. The pair was checking ditches for a carcass when they got a call that someone at a campground on Molas Pass was feeding Konni hot dogs. Keene had a blanket with the family’s scent on it and when he got to the campground, he laid it out and started feeding Konni bits of kibble off it. “It was probably the 15 or 20 minutes of me laying there and coaxing her in, and (eventually), you know, she was licking it off my fingers,” he said. “But I only had one shot. If I lunged, and I didn't get her, she would have been scared, and she wouldn't have trusted people again.”When Konni was in the right spot, Keene grabbed her collar.

“Once I got her in my car and shut the door, I smiled ear to ear,” Keene said. The crescendo was a team effort, he emphasized. Another searcher who happened to be a veterinarian checked the dog and determined that other than some lost weight and cut up paws, Konni is in good shape. “I kept telling Jimmy, 'I’m so, so thankful for all of you guys,” Hite said.

The family, who had planned to return to Silverton anyway to help in the search, will arrive in town early Saturday morning to retrieve Konni.Keene, a veteran who says he is driven by a desire to give back, is quick to disperse credit among the five or so searchers who dedicated time over the last two weeks. “I think its important as people that we contribute back to society in some way, shape or form,” he said. rschafir@durangoherald.com

Frightened dog, missing for two weeks, captured near Silverton

Konni, who fled during Fourth of July fireworks, will be reunited with her Phoenix family on Saturday

Photos: ‘Mini Takes the States’ tour stops in DurangoHundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Photos: ‘Mini Takes the States’ tour stops in Durango

Hundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Man captures video of mountain lion strolling neighborhood in north DurangoColorado Parks and Wildlife reminds residents how to respond to cougar encounters

Anyone living in northern Durango may want to keep their eyes peeled while going for walks after dark. That is because a mountain lion was spotted prowling around near 31st Street and East Fourth Avenue.Charlie Dillman, a recent graduate of Durango High School, shot a video of the mountain lion stalking through an intersection near his north Durango home around 11 p.m. Monday, July 8.“It just moves so effortlessly and gets out of your sight so fast, it’s crazy,” Dillman said.Despite filming from the safety of his vehicle, Dillman said he still felt intimidated enough to roll up the windows, out of fear the animal might lunge at him. “I was going to park in the alley behind my house, but I decided to drive around to the front because it freaked me out,” he said. “I had my phone light out and was looking around scared.”

Dillman, who was driving back from planning a backpacking trip, said it was his first mountain lion sighting. It struck him “how powerful these animals are, and that they’re really out there.” In the aftermath of the sighting, John Livingston, spokesman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, discussed why mountain lion sightings are common in Durango, and precautions to take around the animals.What it comes down to, Livingston said, is that “mountain lions will be where deer are.” Because Durango has an abundant deer population in and around the city, mountain lions will sometimes follow their prey into residential areas, mostly during their most active hunting hours around dawn and dusk.“We need people to stop feeding the deer,” Livingston said. “Not only is it illegal but it comes with unintended consequences like luring predators into residential neighborhoods.”Regardless of that, he said other ways to stay safe from mountain lions in residential neighborhoods is to never walk around after dark without a flashlight, and make consistent noise while outside so cougars don’t get surprised by someone’s presence. Motion-sensing lights around the house are useful as well, because no one knows what might be lurking in the backyard when the dog gets let out late at night.Should someone encounter a mountain lion, Livingston said it is best to stand their ground because running could trigger its chasing instincts. Try looking as big as possible by flaring a jacket or holding up a child on your shoulders, and be sure to leave the animal an escape route while facing it and trying to back away.Livingston advised against playing dead or attempting to run away; the animal will catch up. Instead, make loud noises, throw rocks and sticks, and continue to intimidate the animal. If it lunges, fight. The vast majority of people survive mountain lion attacks, and after enough of a struggle, the animal will probably give up.As scary as that possibility may sound, try not to be afraid. Livingston pointed out that while mountain lion attacks are rare, mountain lion sightings are quite common, and becoming all the more so because of innovations such as apps like Nextdoor and home security technology like Ring doorbells.“Many critters that have always been around us are just much more visible now,” he said.A previous version of the article incorrectly stated the way a child should be held when someone encounters a mountain lion.nmetcalf@durangoherald.com

Man captures video of mountain lion strolling neighborhood in north Durango

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds residents how to respond to cougar encounters

Photos: Independence Day in Cortez

Independence Day celebrations brought bustling activity to Cortez with entertainment for people of a...

AJ Ott holds on to win 60th San Juan OpenColorado native wins third pro event; Farmington’s Yost wins amateur title

FARMINGTON – Colorado native AJ Ott withstood a late rally on the back nine before coming out on top at the 60th San Juan Open, winning the title Sunday by four shots over runner-up Jared Sawada.The San Juan Open title was Ott’s third career professional championship.The 26-year golf phenom from Colorado State University shot a four-under 67, including a birdie on the final hole to secure his pro tournament title.Ott entered the final round with a five-shot advantage and was six shots clear of Sawada heading into the final nine holes on Sunday at the San Juan Country Club.After a double-bogey on the par-3 13th hole, Ott’s lead diminished after Sawada capitalized with a birdie to trim Ott’s advantage to just three shots. Sawada birdied each of the next four holes to keep the pressure on Ott down the stretch.

Ott responded, collecting birdies on the 14th, 15th and 16th holes before settling for a par on the penultimate 17th hole and clinging to a two-shot advantage as the final flight reached the 18th tee.Ott’s shot off the tee at the par-3 18th hole ended up landing just 5 feet from the cup. He quickly birdied the hole to seal the victory. Sawada’s shot off the tee was short, leaving him with a tough birdie try which hung left of the hole. Sawada wound up scoring a bogey on the final hole, leaving him with a 5-under-par round of 66 and a runner-up spot on the leaderboard.“This tournament is really special to me and it brings out the best in a lot of us out there,” Ott said after the win. “It’s difficult to win in this sport and I’m humbled that I’m able to go out here and compete.”

Ott, who also owns professional victories in Nebraska and California, collected $15,000 for his victory at the San Juan Open. He will not have a lot of time to rest on his laurels, as he plans to be back on the course next week for a mini-tour event in Illinois.“The people here are really very special and the work the staff and the volunteers do to maintain the course is really amazing,” Ott said. Defending champion Josh Thompson settled for 10-under-par in the tournament, tied for fifth place overall with Jesse Mueller, who won the San Juan Open in 2021.The weather was a factor for many during the course of the four-day tournament. Gusty winds on Thursday, combined with steady rains on Friday, wreaked havoc for some of the event’s top players.Play was halted midway through Friday’s second round after severe weather hit the course, causing damage with severed tree limbs scattered throughout the front nine holes.

“After we stopped play Friday night, some of the members volunteered to help clean up the course and have it ready for Saturday,” said San Juan Country Club general manager David Crafton. “At about 5 a.m. the next day, about two dozen of them showed up with the maintenance crew and helped them clear the course. Without their help, we never would have been able to get both the second and third rounds completed on Saturday.”Playing in Colorado much of his career, Ott was comfortable with the varying conditions on the course, as well as dealing with frequently changing weather patterns.“We get our share of wind in Colorado, so I kind of felt like I was at home a little bit during the weekend,” Ott said. “I wasn’t really expecting it for this time of the year, but you always have to be prepared.”Quinn Yost, currently attending the University of Nebraska after graduating from Piedra Vista High in 2022, was the leading amateur golfer during the tournament, ending the week in the top 10 overall at 7-under par.Yost, who has two career top-10 finishes as a sophomore on the Cornhuskers men’s golf team, was a 2021 Junior Golf National Champion. He was also the top-ranked junior golfer in New Mexico and Class 5A state champion in 2021.“It’s a good feeling for sure to be on the leaderboard and to be in contention,” Yost said. “It was good to get the nerves flowing a little bit and to be in that position going into those final two rounds.”Yost sees the comparison between himself and Ott, who earned his degree from Colorado State University in 2022 and is quickly establishing himself as a professional golfer.“(AJ) is such a good golfer and I learn so much from him and his experiences,” Yost said. “He’s a really good player and he’s been a big help to me in my career.”For a look at the complete leaderboard, visit sanjuanopen.org.

AJ Ott holds on to win 60th San Juan Open

Colorado native wins third pro event; Farmington’s Yost wins amateur title

Democrat Adam Frisch is running TV ads in 3rd Congressional District GOP primaryStrategy an apparent attempt to shape race and give himself a better chance to win in November

Democrat Adam Frisch is spending at least $100,000 to air a TV ad in the Republican primary in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District in an apparent attempt to shape the race and give himself a better chance to win in November.The ad attacks Grand Junction attorney Jeff Hurd for “ducking Republican debates” and for refusing to say who he voted for in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, as well as for being the beneficiary of corporate super PAC money.It’s a clear call to GOP primary voters in the Republican-leaning 3rd District to back a different candidate in the six-way race – someone Frisch believes will be easier to beat in November. Someone like former state Rep. Ron Hanks, an election denier who attended Donald Trump’s rally on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., that preceded the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol.

“As far as I’m concerned, the general election has started,” Adam Frisch’s campaign manager Camilo Vilaseca said in a written statement to The Colorado Sun on Tuesday that highlighted how Hanks has been endorsed by the Colorado GOP and reiterated the attacks on Hurd that are in the TV ad.The strategy is risky.The 3rd District is so favorable to Republicans that it could backfire for Democrats and result in Hanks being elected to Congress as he is seen as Hurd’s top opponent.Frisch lost to Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert by 546 votes in the 3rd District in 2022. But without Boebert in the race this time around – she moved to the 4th Congressional District based on the other side of the state to improve her reelection chances – it’s not clear the former Aspen city councilman can win.Voters in the 3rd District haven’t sent a Democrat to Congress since 2008, and the district’s boundaries have been redrawn twice since then to make it more favorable to Republicans.But Frisch has a major war chest – $3.8 million as of June 5, money he raised from across the country by appealing to Democratic hatred of Boebert – and it may be a better investment to shape the Republican primary now than to have to battle a formidable candidate like Hurd in November. The Frisch ads run through primary Election Day on June 25.The Hurd campaign blasted Frisch’s tactics Tuesday in a written statement.“A shock to no one, Adam and the Democrats are attacking Jeff because they know he is the only Republican who can beat Frisch and keep the seat red,” the Hurd campaign statement said. “Voters in western and southern Colorado won’t be duped.”The Frisch ad also comes as the Democratic super PAC Rocky Mountain Values has already spent about $400,000 on TV and radio spots, as well as mailers and newspaper ads, elevating Hank’s profile in the district and attacking Hurd. The Rocky Mountain Values PAC ads, which were first reported by The Sun, have been on the air since the beginning of the month.

Republicans are clearly worried that the Democratic strategy to help Hanks may work.The Congressional Leadership Fund, a group tied to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, is starting to air TV and radio ads in the 3rd District attacking Hanks for benefiting from the Rocky Mountain Values PAC spending and labeling him as a “liberal” who isn’t loyal enough to Trump. Hanks was one of the most conservative members of the Legislature when he was a state representative and he’s promising to be a top Trump ally in Congress should he win in the 3rd District.The CLF has spent about $325,000 to air its ads, according to the media tracking company AdImpact.

“Why are Democrat mega donors spending so much to prop up Ron Hanks’ campaign? Republicans, beware,” said Courtney Parella, communications director for the CLF.The National Republican Congressional Committee, the U.S. House Republican campaign arm, meanwhile, attacked Frisch for his TV ad campaign.“Adam Frisch’s gutter-politics play reveals one thing: He can’t win unless he plays dirty,” said Delanie Bomar, a regional spokeswoman for the group. “Republicans must stand united to denounce Democrats’ pathetic primary meddling – because Republicans should pick our party’s nominee, not Democrats.” Hurd has been endorsed by a list of big-name Colorado Republicans and has the financial backing of a major national conservative group, Americans For Prosperity Action. He is seen as a leading contender in the crowded primary.Carbondale investor Russ Andrews, another Republican primary candidate in the 3rd District, is also airing a TV ad attacking Hurd, calling him an “Ivy League lawyer” who’s disloyal to Trump. Andrews has spent at least $70,000 to air the ads.Colorado Sun staff writer Sandra Fish contributed to this report.The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported, nonpartisan news organization dedicated to covering Colorado issues. To learn more, go to coloradosun.com.

Democrat Adam Frisch is running TV ads in 3rd Congressional District GOP primary

Strategy an apparent attempt to shape race and give himself a better chance to win in November

Photos: 2024 Burro Fest puts local arts, music and food on displayOn Saturday, more than 1,000 people head to Mancos for burrosFor the town of Mancos and its businesses, it’s the biggest day of the year, said Stephanie Hallum, event coordinator for Mancos Creative District, in an interview with The Journal.This year’s Burro Fest featured 10 animal artists, a Makers Market with 20 additional local artists and makers, live bands, a kids area, a silent auction and food trucks.Photo gallery by Ilana Newman, for The Journal

Photos: 2024 Burro Fest puts local arts, music and food on display

On Saturday, more than 1,000 people head to Mancos for burros

An exciting end to the Ute Mountain RoundupOver half of Ute Mountain Roundup’s first-place performances came on night threeSaturday was a barnburner for the Ute Mountain Roundup.The last night of Cortez’s annual PRCA rodeo sold out every seat, and fans were not disappointed.The third night was the charm for the bull riders, who finally posted qualifying rides.Scotty Knapp took home the big check after an 83.5-point ride.However, Josh Frost, the four time Linderman Award winner and three time Reserve World Champion bull rider, walked away with the audience’s support, who loudly booed the judge’s 78.5 score for his ride on Powder River Rodeo’s “Rez Dawg.” Frost’s brother, Jate Frost, took second with an 80.5-point ride.

Keenan Hayes, who stunned the rodeo world last season by becoming the first-ever person to win Rookie of the Year and the World Championship in the same year, visited the UMR just long enough to win the bareback competition. Hayes tied the arena record with his 85-point ride.The ladies of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association tallied first-place performances in barrel racing and breakaway roping posted on night three. Maddy Deerman of Hope, New Mexico, won the breakaway roping title with a time of just 2.4 seconds, and Doskie Edwards swept to the top of the barrel racing event in 17.35 seconds.

Jake Hannum won the tie-down roping event with a time of 8.7 seconds. In a total of five out of eight events, the first-place performance happened on Saturday night, marking an exciting end to the three-day UMR.In all the excitement, the crowd also saw a few warmhearted moments.The UMR celebrated Military Appreciation night by recognizing HD Randolph, Jerry Huskey and Gerald Goodall for their service. The crowd also welcomed 82nd Airborne veteran and skydiver Mike Semanoff, who made his third and final descent into the arena carrying the American flag.Rodeo clown Matt Merritt was tasked with choosing a “fan of the night” for each night of the UMR.On Night 1, he chose a couple who had been married for 62 years. On Night 2, it was a Vietnam veteran in the front row. On Night 3, it was a pair of 91-year-old twins who had attended every UMR Rodeo since 1953.Merritt had the audience believe that the award and accompanying gift card is given to the loudest, rowdiest person in the arena. However, being unable to give the award to himself, Merritt seemingly chose the winner based on merit.