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Darrin Parmenter
Position: Staff reporter

How to prevent the stomach flu: A recipe for success

The emergence of flip-flops, wind and milk chocolate-colored rivers are sure signs of spring in Southwest Colorado. With Memorial Day weekend on the horizon, we’ll soon break fre...

How to select a tree for your landscape

Last spring, I wrote about wanting to wait to see how my property fared after four distinct seasons. Now, I feel like I have a better understanding of how water (or snow) moves (...

CODY Project promotes youth mental health at second annual event

The Community Overcoming Depressed Youth (CODY) Project will host its second Mental Health Mardi Gras on May 4. This pro-social, free community event will take place from 6 to 9 p...

La Plata County’s best kept secret

If you’re reading this column, you’re either familiar with La Plata County Extension Office or the headline was just too catchy to skip. For regulars, what may not be familiar is...

How to prune your fruit trees so they will thrive

People get scared when it comes to pruning, and I’m not sure why. I’ve done some pruning one-on-one with homeowners. I tell them to take about 30 percent of the live wood out of ...

As spring arrives, La Plata County 4-H is bursting with activities

Winter weather has us optimistic for greener pastures this year. The month of March brings great excitement for many local 4-H members. Youths have and will participate in a vari...

How to assess tree damage after our heavy snow

February was a bit snowy. My Facebook page is inundated with photos of “Snowpocalypse” and “Snowmageddon” – kids jumping off roofs, walls of the white stuff bracketing the driveway, dogs get...

My three favorite tools for the garden

We all have our favorites – favorite pet, favorite car, and heck, even favorite child (don’t worry kids, I love all of you. Most of the time …). In the kitchen, I would be hard-p...

Through dialogue, we can understand one another

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because th...

Our recent snow is ideal for plants, soil

The snow finally fell. My shoulders are sore from shoveling, the downstairs mudroom smells like wet coats and hats and boots, and my gloves have the odor of gasoline from refilli...

I’m preparing to begin a new chapter in my life: Retirement

Along with many others, I too have chosen retirement this year. Feb. 2 will be my last day employed by Colorado State University as family and consumer science extension agent in...

Work of 4-H Ambassadors team builds crucial life skills

The 2018-19 La Plata County 4-H Council Ambassadors team is excited for the year ahead. This team will represent our 4-H program at local, regional and national events. The team consists of ...