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Mike Smedley
Position: Staff reporter

Podiums ‘teaming’ with winners who didn’t medal

When I was a high jumper in junior high, high school and college, the winners’ podium had a spot for first-, second- and third-place finishers. Now I read of athletes in several sports placi...

Action line takes hit for incorrect guidance right-hand turns

Talk about a bum steer. Several members of the motoring public admonished Action Line for providing incorrect guidance in last week’s column. Normally, Action Line admi...

Give cold shoulder to old notions of traffic rules

Good morning, Mr. Action Line. I feel compelled to give you my observations from my 87-year perspective regarding U.S. Highway 550 north from town to Hermosa. Recently, I was reprimanded by ...

Durango’s green energy numbers are not black and white

There’s a sign on the west side of U.S. Highway 550 at Animas View Drive that says we are a “Green Energy Community.” If we are, can you find out what percentage of the energy we consume is ...

Where did Tuba City get its name?

Traveling to Flagstaff across the northern Navajo Reservation, you go through Tuba City. Where did the name come from? Was John Phillips Sousa born in Tuba City? The Navajo people are except...

Something’s afoot with downtown pedestrians

The other day, I watched people crossing the streets downtown and a question arose. Pedestrians on the corners punch the silver crosswalk buttons not once but many times, often in rapid succ...

What a difference a day makes after decade of weather wondering

In The Durango Herald’s “WeatherWatch” section, there’s a shaded box that says, “Durango precipitation measures are recorded from 8 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the previous 48 hours.” So, being that i...

Cyclists bristle over CDOT’s road-sweeping schedule

The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic is five weeks away, and most aspiring participants need to spend lots of time training. In-town roads have been cleaned of winter debris, but highways are a di...

Action Line investigates urban deer population

Having moved into town from the county, I’ve been surprised at the deer-dodging I have to do every day on the roads. It seems that all the deer have likewise moved into town. Has anyone take...

Roads become more difficult to make driving easier

What the heck is up with the disappearing lane on U.S. Highway 550 just before the Iron Horse Inn? Did too many drivers end up in the pool at the RV park? I thought that the two lanes mergin...

Santa Rita Park playground goes from janky to swanky

When my family and I discovered that the Santa Rita Park playground was being dismantled in preparation for new equipment, we were excited and perplexed. The old Santa Rita playground was on...

Dialogue about one-lane road is a two-way street

Why does the city insist on having two lanes on the one-way portion of Main Avenue through Rio Grande Land and past the train station? The road paint has faded, and it’s scary this time of y...