Voices of the Past: Remembering the Sheepherders of the San Juans (Part 2)

Voices of the Past: Remembering the Sheepherders of the San Juans (Part 2)

Author: The Local NEWS Network May 22, 2026 Duration: 2:57
Long before the roads came to Southwest Colorado's high country, the San Juan Mountains were shaped by the labor and lives of Hispano and Basque sheepherders who drove their flocks through these rugged passes each season. In this video, Peggy Montaño reflects on that deep legacy through her own written words — one that runs through her own family across multiple generations. Drawing on oral history, on-the-ground exploration of ancestral sites, and collaboration with Forest Service researcher...

There's always more to the story than what fits in a bulletin or a column inch. Beyond the Headlines, from The Local NEWS Network, is a podcast that explores the human creativity and cultural texture behind the events shaping our area. We move past the initial facts to examine how local arts and community expression are intertwined with the news of the day. Each episode is a conversation that connects the dots between a city council decision and a mural project, or between a development plan and the fate of a historic theater. You'll hear from the artists, organizers, and everyday residents whose lives and work are directly impacted, providing context that transforms a simple headline into a richer narrative. This isn't just about what happened; it's about why it matters on a personal and cultural level, and what it reveals about the character of our community. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded look at the forces and the faces that define where we live, finding the unexpected connections and artistic spirit that often go unreported in the daily rush.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 46

Beyond the Headlines
Podcast Episodes
Voices of the Past: Lessons from the Rails (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:23
Durango exists because of a railroad that almost went somewhere else. In this documentary, Jeff Johnson traces the arrival of the Denver and Rio Grande in Southwest Colorado — from General William Jackson Palmer's origin…
Voices of the Past: Lessons from the Rails (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:24
Jeff Johnson's connection to Durango began with a single train ride in 1973, when a family vacation turned into a lifelong calling. That trip aboard the narrow gauge to Silverton set him on a path of decades-long devotio…
Voices of the Past: Lessons from the Land (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:24
Scott Perez grew up in farm country and spent nearly 50 years as a working cowboy. But it was his passion for oral history that led him to dig deeper into the agricultural past of Southwest Colorado — poring over old jou…
Voices of the Past: Saving a Castle in the Clouds (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:28
High on the slopes of Galena Mountain at 12,500 feet, the Old Hundred Mine's 1908 boarding house stood as a testament to the audacity of Colorado's early miners — until decades of heavy snow and neglect brought two-third…
Voices of the Past: Saving a Castle in the Clouds (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53
Beverly Rich was born in Silverton in 1950 and has been involved with the local Historical Society since she was 14 — making her one of the most dedicated keepers of San Juan County's storied past. In her article, Rescui…
Voices of the Past: A Different Perspective (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:55
Native historian Johnny Valdez sheds light on a largely untold chapter of Colorado's history — the Brunot Agreement of 1873 and the treaties that transferred Ute ancestral lands to the United States government. Writing f…