Action Line – The Durango Herald

Action Line’s e-bike trail primer

Dear Action Line: I am ecstatic to finally get an e-bike and continue to ride all the beautiful trails in Durango. But I was sadly disappointed that I cannot actually ride my pedal-assis...

DATE: Jul 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

The Big Canyon conundrum: To park or not to park?

Dear Action Line: On the northeast corner of Dominguez Drive next to Durango Motor Co. is a vacant lot owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation. Years ago, CDOT designated the ...

DATE: Jul 15, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Wannabe Denver TV viewers seem ‘Designated’ to suffer

Dear Action Line: Any news why we’ve lost Denver TV again? Both the Fox (KDVR 31) and ABC (KMGH 17) affiliates are gone from DirecTV offerings. So sad. It seems like so many people worke...

DATE: Jul 8, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Looking for relief – and a smiley face – at Santa Rita

Dear Action Line: This is a two-parter: 1. Why are there no public restrooms at Santa Rita Park? Am I missing something? Am I blind? For such a large and often-used community venue, you’...

DATE: Jul 1, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

In the mountain park: Access to aliens, and a long-ago fire

Dear Action Line: When I hike up into Overend Mountain Park, at the top of one of the many hills there is a slab of concrete, much like a house foundation, as well as a rusted-out metal ...

DATE: Jun 24, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Birds disappearing, or just looking for tastier meal?

Dear Action Line: Every spring we set out food for the local bird population. In past years, the redwings, doves, hummers, siskins, finches, magpies, et al. have mobbed the deck. The man...

DATE: Jun 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Above 160: Why does this fence need a gate?

Dear Action Line: I love the wildlife crossing on U.S. Highway 160 between Durango and Pagosa Springs. It would be so nice to have a few more of these to prevent roadkill and facilitate ...

DATE: Jun 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

For your health, better take this dining advice

Dear Action Line: It occurred to me, as I recently browsed another city’s paper, that The Durango Herald used to publish health department inspection grades for restaurants. Helpful stuf...

DATE: Jun 3, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Durango: Where every day is a holiday …?

Dear Action Line: At the corner of 14th Street and Main Avenue, the Crossroads Center’s sign lists the businesses in the plaza along with a friendly message saying, “Happy Holidays.” But...

DATE: May 27, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

This week’s question comes from the trenches

Dear Action Line: When are the city’s contractors going to fully repave the parts of the street where they cut into the concrete with that massive saw blade earlier this spring? As I car...

DATE: May 20, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

New Colorado plates causing a black-out condition

Dear Action Line: As one of our friendly Uber drivers, I see a lot of vehicles each day. An astute observer such as yourself must have noticed the new black license plates appearing rece...

DATE: May 13, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

To honor Larry Valdez, city found a Way

Dear Action Line: Can you tell me anything about the Larry Valdez for whom Larry Valdez Way is named? It’s that short road that goes from East Eighth Avenue to Camino del Rio. Just curio...

DATE: May 6, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

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

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

Photos: Boxing returns to DurangoAnimus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Animus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Photos and video: Going for the gold by devouring piesContestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Contestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Photo: Fireworks light the sky in DurangoDurango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Durango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Photos: Working with woodLocal craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

Local craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

2024 Fourth of July Parade draws crowd Thursday in downtown Durango

Photos: Downtown Durango hosts Fourth of July ParadeDowntown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Downtown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Durango Rotary Club, Parks and Recreation department host Independence Day events

Law enforcement conducts active threat training at Park Elementary SchoolResidents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday

Law enforcement agencies across Southwest Colorado sent officers to participate in active threat training this week at Park Elementary School in Durango. Those in the neighborhood can expect police vehicles parked on the premises, officers in tactical gear conducting exercises inside and outside the school, and signs advising that training is in progress. The sounds of shouting, airsoft weapons and the popping of a starter pistol will also be audible near the school, said Karla Sluis, spokeswoman for Durango School District 9-R.Sluis said that members of the school district’s safety department have gone door-to-door with flyers notifying residents around Park Elementary School about the training.

Hosted by the Durango Police Department and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, this week’s voluntary training invited officers from law enforcement agencies across a five-county region of Southwest Colorado encompassing La Plata, Archuleta, San Juan, Montezuma and Dolores counties.

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office deputy Mike Latham, lead instructor for this week's training, said Wednesday and the first half of Thursday were mostly preparatory, teaching officers the school’s layout and devising scenarios, whereas the latter half of Thursday and Friday residents should anticipate some noise as active threat scenarios play out.

Latham said active threat training teaches officers proper protocol during active threat scenarios, especially in densely populated areas where they have become increasingly common.Park Elementary School is not the only Durango School District facility law enforcement has conducted active threat training. Latham said schools lend themselves well to this sort of training because, “It gives us all kinds of doors to work on, different rooms, different scenarios we can run. We can pretend it’s a mall with nice big corridors, we can even pretend it’s an outdoor area in the gymnasium.”Latham has participated in active threat training multiple times in the past and described the drills as exhilarating and nerve-wracking. He said one of the training’s main goals is teaching officers how to manage stress and remain calm with lives on the line.

“I take a pulse oximeter in the morning and get a baseline on their heart rates,” Latham said. “And sometimes, just before they’re about to engage a threat, I say ‘Timeout.’ Put it (the oximeter) on there, and their heart rate’s skyrocketed to 140, 150, 160 just in training.”

Latham said throughout his career active threat training has evolved to become safer for officers and fall in line with increasingly professional police standards.“When I first started we were just running into halls and rooms hoping for the best,” Latham said. “Now the tactic is still to get there, still stop the taking of lives, but tactics are much better than they were 20 years ago.”

Residents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday

Photos: Flower powerDurango Botanic Gardens holds 11th annual ‘Gardens on Tour’ on Saturday

Durango Botanic Gardens holds 11th annual ‘Gardens on Tour’ on Saturday

Action Line’s e-bike trail primer

The Big Canyon conundrum: To park or not to park?

Wannabe Denver TV viewers seem ‘Designated’ to suffer

Looking for relief – and a smiley face – at Santa Rita

In the mountain park: Access to aliens, and a long-ago fire

Birds disappearing, or just looking for tastier meal?

Above 160: Why does this fence need a gate?

For your health, better take this dining advice

Durango: Where every day is a holiday …?

This week’s question comes from the trenches

New Colorado plates causing a black-out condition

To honor Larry Valdez, city found a Way

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