Ear to the ground

“Wait a minute. What movie are we watching?”

-A stumped Durango woman as the closing credits for “Blood Diamond” started to roll

Pieces of eight

With A Jolly Roger Snowdown just a week away, local treasure hunters now know where to find the loot. Actual “pieces of eight” and historic maps are going on display and will be auctioned off at the Bank of the San Juans next week. Proceeds will benefit an orphanage in Mexico.

The treasure will be unveiled at the bank’s Snowdown Pre-Parade Party on Fri., Feb. 2, from 4:30-6 p.m. The auction items include rare, museum-quality coins from the Atocha shipwreck and original North American Animal Maps. Other event attractions include a replica of the cannons used on ships like the Atocha to stave off pirate attacks, a special appearance of the Snowdown Follies pirate belly dancers, and food and refreshments.

One of the maps and three coins recovered from the sunken Spanish Galleon were generously donated by an anonymous local collector, and the proceeds of the sale will go directly to the Santa Maria del Mexicana Orphanages in Colon, Mexico. The donor has chosen the orphanage as the beneficiary because the coins were mined and minted by Mexican slaves in the early 1600s and he considers it “blood money.”

The map is an original 1633 North American Animal Map made by Hondius, a Dutch Cartographer.  Minimum bids have been placed on the coins and map.

The auction will be held throughout the month of February at the Bank of the San Juans. Contact 247-1818 for more information.

‘Cops: Durango’

Still struggling with that late-night citizen’s arrest? The Durango Police Department is here to help. The local office is currently accepting applications for the Citizens’ Police Academy, which begins with an orientation on March 14.  

The Academy is designed to provide residents of La Plata County with first-hand information about how the Durango Police Department works. Participants meet each Thursday evening for 10 weeks through May 17.

Participants will have the opportunity to ride with an on-duty officer and may elect to shoot several different types of weapons used by the Department and receive some unarmed self-defense training.

The Academy is limited to 25 participants. Call 375-4701 or stop by the Durango Police Department to sign up.