75 years ago: “The city’s street maintenance crew has been busy this week grading the streets and avenues in east Durango. After watching the work, one is mystified to account for the accumulation of rocks and dirt that has to be hauled away.”

50 years ago: “As of Friday there had been 19,575 visitors to Mesa Verde National Park during the week, nearly 2,500 more than the 17,091 of the comparable week last year.”

25 years ago: “The San Juan Basin Health Department is investigating a possible outbreak of shigella, which includes symptoms of diarrhea, high fever, nausea and vomiting, at a day-care center in Bayfield and is alerting residents to practice good hygiene to prevent it from spreading.”

Most items in this column are taken from Herald archives, Center of Southwest Studies and Animas Museum. Their accuracy may not be verified.