Letters to the Editor – The Durango Herald

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Spring

Cherry, peach, apple, pear, and plum, all blossoms do they come, only to snow upon the ground, falling without a sound. The beauty of spring comes on slow sometimes too quick to go. Blossom’...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Article serves as example of taking responsibility’

On April 14, a letter to the editor made a request that The Durango Herald Opinion editor “get out in the community and provide insight on local issues” instead of printing what appears to b...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Rapid Rabid

We are becoming a rabid world Rabid, raging, lunatic, politicians Rapid raging fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods Rabid riots and racism Rabid viruses Rabies affecting the ...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Saddened The Hive losing its lease’

I was deeply saddened to read The Durango Herald’s news story about The Hive losing its lease downtown. Upon searching the company listed as the owner of the building, two results came up: o...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Going To Surgery

They rolled the gurney down the hall each thinking their own thoughts, immersed in their private fictions. I lay quietly watching the florescent ceiling wheel above believing all the while t...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Dolores Monument not my community’s wishes’

The West End of Montrose County is at the epicenter of the proposed Dolores River National Monument through Montrose County. We are a Colorado Just Transition Tier One Coal affected communit...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘People are not the priority in Durango’

The decision by the seemingly non-local Main Avenue building owner the McLean Family LTD Partnership to leave The Hive without a space to operate shows – once again – that people are not the...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Tried to reach Boebert for ‘approximately a year’

I felt it my civic duty to share my experience with voters of Colorado’s 4th Congressional District regarding my dealings with Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. I am currently represented by Boe...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Rapid Rabid

We are becoming a rabid world Rabid, raging, lunatic, politicians Rapid raging fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods Rabid riots and racism Rabid viruses Rabies affecting the ...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Article serves as example of taking responsibility’

On April 14, a letter to the editor made a request that The Durango Herald Opinion editor “get out in the community and provide insight on local issues” instead of printing what appears to b...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Forgiven code for taxpayer funded’

President Biden proudly stated that he won’t be deterred by the Supreme Court as he seeks alternate means to write off an additional $85 billion in student loan debt. Two things come to mind...

DATE: Apr 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Either a caring community or not’

I am in complete agreement with a guest column on April 14, admonishing the city for not removing legal roadblocks, which hinder worthwhile and needed projects like converting the Adventure ...

DATE: Apr 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Photos: Parade launches 2024 Connie Mack World Series in FarmingtonFans line street as players march on Main Damp, overcast weather cooled off the crowd lining Main Street on Friday morning for the 2024 Connie Mack World Series Parade. The hourlong parade began shortly after 10 a.m. in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Fans line street as players march on Main

Photos: ‘Mini Takes the States’ tour stops in DurangoHundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Hundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Photos: Boxing returns to DurangoAnimus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Animus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Photos and video: Going for the gold by devouring piesContestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Contestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Photo: Fireworks light the sky in DurangoDurango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Durango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Photos: Working with woodLocal craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

Local craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

2024 Fourth of July Parade draws crowd Thursday in downtown Durango

Photos: Downtown Durango hosts Fourth of July ParadeDowntown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Downtown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Durango Rotary Club, Parks and Recreation department host Independence Day events

Law enforcement conducts active threat training at Park Elementary SchoolResidents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday

Law enforcement agencies across Southwest Colorado sent officers to participate in active threat training this week at Park Elementary School in Durango. Those in the neighborhood can expect police vehicles parked on the premises, officers in tactical gear conducting exercises inside and outside the school, and signs advising that training is in progress. The sounds of shouting, airsoft weapons and the popping of a starter pistol will also be audible near the school, said Karla Sluis, spokeswoman for Durango School District 9-R.Sluis said that members of the school district’s safety department have gone door-to-door with flyers notifying residents around Park Elementary School about the training.

Hosted by the Durango Police Department and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, this week’s voluntary training invited officers from law enforcement agencies across a five-county region of Southwest Colorado encompassing La Plata, Archuleta, San Juan, Montezuma and Dolores counties.

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office deputy Durango Police Department Deputy Mike Latham, lead instructor for this week's training, said Wednesday and the first half of Thursday were mostly preparatory, teaching officers the school’s layout and devising scenarios, whereas the latter half of Thursday and Friday residents should anticipate some noise as active threat scenarios play out.

Latham said active threat training teaches officers proper protocol during active threat scenarios, especially in densely populated areas where they have become increasingly common.Park Elementary School is not the only Durango School District facility law enforcement has conducted active threat training. Latham said schools lend themselves well to this sort of training because, “It gives us all kinds of doors to work on, different rooms, different scenarios we can run. We can pretend it’s a mall with nice big corridors, we can even pretend it’s an outdoor area in the gymnasium.”Latham has participated in active threat training multiple times in the past and described the drills as exhilarating and nerve-wracking. He said one of the training’s main goals is teaching officers how to manage stress and remain calm with lives on the line.

“I take a pulse oximeter in the morning and get a baseline on their heart rates,” Latham said. “And sometimes, just before they’re about to engage a threat, I say ‘Timeout.’ Put it (the oximeter) on there, and their heart rate’s skyrocketed to 140, 150, 160 just in training.”

Latham said throughout his career active threat training has evolved to become safer for officers and fall in line with increasingly professional police standards.“When I first started we were just running into halls and rooms hoping for the best,” Latham said. “Now the tactic is still to get there, still stop the taking of lives, but tactics are much better than they were 20 years ago.”

Residents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday

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Spring

‘Article serves as example of taking responsibility’

Rapid Rabid

‘Saddened The Hive losing its lease’

Going To Surgery

‘Dolores Monument not my community’s wishes’

‘People are not the priority in Durango’

Tried to reach Boebert for ‘approximately a year’

Rapid Rabid

‘Article serves as example of taking responsibility’

‘Forgiven code for taxpayer funded’

‘Either a caring community or not’

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