Ear to the ground

“I got the upper hand when the dude tripped over our baby’s exer-saucer after he came through the front door.”

- A Durango man after throwing a drunk college kid out of his house at 3:30 a.m. on Monday morning.

Mrs. Durango

Fire up your bouquets and tiaras, ladies. The search is officially on for the “new” Mrs. Durango.

The top local contestant will not only have the honor of wearing the local sash, she advances to the regional Mrs. Colorado competition. From there, Durango’s top married woman could go on to national fame, fortune and Better Housekeeping exposure at the Mrs. America Pageant.

In its 33rd year, the Mrs. America Pageant is the only nationally televised pageant dedicated to “the one person who contributes so much to modern family life ... America’s married woman!” Beauty is a key element in the competition, but Mrs. Colorado contestants are also urged to voice their opinions on marriage and important issues of the day, according to event organizers.

Interested applicants must live or work in the Durango area, be married “during the time of competition,” and be at least 18 years old. Would-be contestants can also leave the tap shoes and microphones at home. No performing talent is necessary.

More info is available at www.mrscolorado.com or by calling (303) 593-1199.

Snowdown in September

Snowdown festivities are getting started a little early this year. The winter celebration’s annual kick-off party is set for 5:30 p.m. Tues., Sept. 23, at the Palace Restaurant.

The party marks the official start of the “Snowdown season,” when volunteers begin planning for the 2009 winter event scheduled for Jan. 28-Feb. 1. This year’s theme is “Snowdown in Da Nile,” a spoof on Ancient Egypt, mummies, archaeologists, grave-diggers, and Egyptian gods and goddesses.

Snowdown especially encourages anyone interested in volunteering or coordinating an event to attend the party. The grassroots celebration is looking for help with just about everything. The deadline to submit an event for the Snowdown schedule is 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31.

For more info on this year’s Snowdown or the kick-off party, call 382-0518 or e-mail coco2@snowdown.org.

Missy Votel

Missy VotelÌ0

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