FLC named one of the ‘Best in West’

Fort Lewis College has again received national recognition as one of the top colleges west of the Mississippi. For the third time in as many years, the prestigious Princeton Review has ranked the local college as one of the best 122 colleges and universities in the West.

“It is a great honor to be included in the list,” said Fort Lewis College President Brad Bartel. “As one of only 21 public, liberal arts colleges in the United States, we are driven to provide the finest quality education to our undergraduate students.”

Fort Lewis College was recognized with only seven other Colorado colleges and universities including, Colorado College, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, United States Air Force Academy, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Colorado-Denver and the University of Denver.

“We are in very good company,” said Director of Admission Gretchen Foster.

This year, the Princeton Review examined student opinion data from 646 schools. The review provides prospective students with school profiles and rates academics and quality of life.

“The Princeton Review is one of the most reputable guides for potential students and parents looking for guidance about selection of quality institutions,” Bartel said. “Fort Lewis College is proud of the designation as one of the ‘Best in the West.’”

The consistent ranking should also pay off for Fort Lewis from an admissions standpoint, said Robert Franek, publisher and editorial director of the Princeton Review’s regional college guides.

“The annual update of our Best Western College distinction generates a surge of attention, awareness and discussion of colleges features’ as the best in the nation, both from the news media and the highly coveted audience of parents and students,” he said.

Nearly 4,200 students are currently enrolled in 26 baccalaureate degree programs at Fort Lewis College.

Habitat for Humanity taps director

Habitat for Humanity has new leadership in La Plata County. The nonprofit’s Board of Directors has selected Connie Matthews Imig as its new executive director. Imig recently moved to Durango from Tucson, Ariz., but has owned property in town for six years.  

Imig has served as executive director for two separate chambers of commerce. She was also active in the capital campaigns of several Tucson nonprofits, including Habitat Tucson.

For the past several years, Imig and her husband have remodeled homes in Durango and Tucson, doing much of the work themselves. With this in mind, she knows how difficult it can be to build affordable housing in La Plata County.

“There is a real challenge for Habitat in La Plata County with the continually rising price of land,” Imig said.

Regardless, the future looks promising for the local nonprofit. “We are fortunate to have two projects for future builds totaling up to 15 units, dedicated volunteers and a hard working board and staff,” she said. “I’m very excited and honored to be a part of Habitat.”

Local reservations take giant leap

Expectations and predictions are coming to pass. Early numbers for summer tourism in Durango are in, and a record year is taking shape.

Gateway Reservations, the central reservations provider for Durango and Silverton, clocked more than 7,000 calls during the months of June and July. That number surpasses the 2004 June/July call volume by 39 percent. August continues to be strong, and the reservations provider is already receiving calls for winter reservations and packages. In addition to calls, online reservation requests since June have increased by 6 percent this summer, and online requests for winter vacations are also on the rise.

“Despite the rising gas prices, reservation requests do not seem to be slowing at this time. Several lodging properties in the Durango Mountain Resort area report they are nearly booked for the week following Christmas,” said Bruce Moss, Gateway Reservations President.

Six vie for three school board seats

A change of the guard is coming to the Durango School District 9-R Board of Education. A total of six candidates have declared candidacy for three open seats. Only one of the candidates is an incumbent.

Three seats are up for election on the school board, and six candidates, including one incumbent, filed petitions by the election deadline of Aug. 26. As of Friday, Aug. 26, candidates included: Melissa Youssef, running unopposed in District C; Mike Matheson and Joe “Fly” Goulet, challenging incumbent Chris Paulson in District E; and Jeff Schell and Irene Barry, squaring off for the seat in District F.

Incumbent Steve Short, appointed to the board in 2004, has decided to step down once his term ends. Like Short, incumbent Roy Horvath, elected to the board in 2001, also has declined to run for re-election.

Although candidates must live in the districts they represent, all district residents vote for all candidates. Election Day is Nov. 1, and successful candidates will be sworn into office at the Nov. 15 board meeting.

Telephone scam rolls into the area

A telephone scam has preyed upon several local residents, according to the Durango Police Department. Luckily, it is pretty easy to spot.  

A man, who identifies himself as Robert Carter, is calling residents of Durango and telling them that they have won the Canadian Lottery. Carter informs the person that they have won a very large sum of money, and in order to receive the money they have to send him some money at a Quebec address.

The Durango Police Department asks residents to resist the urge and not send Carter any money. Instead contact the police department or appropriate law enforcement agency.

– compiled by Will Sands