Lonnie Smith of Idaho said he spent hundreds of dollars more that he thought he'd have to pay for hotel rooms during the National High School Finals Rodeo held in Farmington July 20-26, the Farmington Daily Times reported.

Smith was among the estimated 10,000 people who came to San Juan County for the prestigious event that drew some 1,500 competitors and their families, and was one of a few who complained of increased hotel prices, the Daily Times said.

He said he reserved three rooms in January at Farmington's Days Inn for his nephew and other rodeo contestants for what he thought would be $60 a night, but by the time he got there the price had gone up to $93 a night, the paper reported.

"That's not right," said Smith, who ended up paying $651 for what he thought would be $420 for his stay, the Daily Times said.

But hotel managers told the paper that prices were increased because of soaring demand.

"If you don't like the price, you shouldn't stay at my hotel, right?" said Days Inn manager Amish Patel, who joined other hotel managers in saying price increases are typical during special events when demand rises, the paper reported.

Patel also told the Daily Times that motel employees called as much as two months ahead of time to let guests know they would be charged more.

"Why didn't they complain in the first place?" Patel asked.

But Smith said when he learned he'd have to pay $93 a night, there was no place else to go, the Daily Times said.

"Every room in town was booked," Smith told the paper.

Joyce Donald, president of the Better Business Bureau of the Southwest, said the bureau received just two complaints about motels charging more than their original quotes, adding that raising prices during special events is "the norm" in the hotel business.

The Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau did not receive any complaints, its director Debbie Dusenbery told the Daily Times.

Meanwhile, injured bull rider Corbin Carpenter, 17, remained in serious condition Monday at San Juan Regional Medical Center, according to another story in the Daily Times.

Carpenter was injured on Friday at the National High School Finals Rodeo, and within a day, rodeo participants and attendees had donated about $12,000 to help defray his medical expenses, the Daily Times said.

Carpenter suffered a spinal cord injury when a bull threw him off, then trampled and kicked him, and within hours of the injury, Dr. Chris Miller of the Kansas Orthopaedic Center had performed emergency back surgery.

Carpenter's family is staying in the Farmington area until the Louisiana youth can be moved to another facility, the paper reported.

His condition was upgraded from critical to serious over the weekend, according to the Daily Times. 

An account has been set up to help Carpenter and his family, and donations may be made at any Citizens Bank branch to the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association Donation Account in the name of Corbin Carpenter, the Daily Times said.