75 years ago: “The second session of the pre-Fiesta Kangaroo Court will be held at the north side of the Gordon’s Store. Brand new ‘defendants’ will be brought before the court, and whatever fines they pay will be used to purchase Fiesta tickets for the underprivileged children of Durango.”

50 years ago: “A field of 210 contestants for three days of rodeo and assurance of the biggest parades ever to be held in Durango point toward a smash-up weekend in Durango as the 27th annual Spanish Trails Fiesta officially opened today.”

25 years ago: “A half-dozen Florida Mesa farmers could fall victim to progress if the La Plata County commissioners route a proposed electricity transmission line across their property. The 115 kilovolt line would service an Amoco Production Co. gas treatment plant. … Florida Mesa farmers suggest a route further east in the uninhabited Mesa Mountains.”

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