Letters to the Editor – The Durango Herald

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Unhoused ‘inflated emergency’

Suddenly the Purple Cliffs population has plummeted from 500 (sheriff’s count) to 82 (Durango library count). The “unhoused emergency” seems to have moved on to greener pastures and they app...

DATE: Sep 10, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Tap brakes on rush to decarbonize’

I think we should tap the brakes on the headlong rush to decarbonize our lives. I recently read that there are over 6,000 items we use that are derived from oil and/or natural gas. In fact, ...

DATE: Sep 7, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

History offers lessons for voters

As Election Day approaches, we can see that Democratic and Republican parties, and their candidates, are flawed and imperfect. Nonetheless, recent events in American history offer lessons th...

DATE: Sep 7, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Grocers selling wine bad idea

The Durango Herald’s Sept. 2 piece, headlined “Booze on the Ballot” by Bill Roberts was spot on, especially concerning allowing grocery stores to sell wine. This proposal should be defea...

DATE: Sep 7, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

GOP ‘intent on destroying democracy’

I am registered as an unaffiliated voter. For most of my life, I have observed the tug of war between the two parties. Each side took a different approach, but the parties used to work toget...

DATE: Sep 7, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Noise from whistle amplified’

I noticed since you (barely) printed my letter about the loud train whistle, you continue to print pro-train and pro-train whistle letters like the one saying “only a handful of Durango resi...

DATE: Aug 31, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘No connection between ballot, name’

In the story in The Durango Herald on Saturday with the headline “Clerks see rise in records request,” the statement in paragraph four is incorrect. “Cast vote records are electronic records...

DATE: Aug 31, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Easier to go elsewhere with parking

So the city of Durango has once again decided there is no need for a large parking structure in our downtown. It is no wonder the merchants in town are complaining about their bottom line. I...

DATE: Aug 31, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Stop being part of problem’

I walked to take the garbage out to see a line of traffic that went from north Main Avenue all the way to the 700 block of 32nd Street. No deer, just a red light. Here’s a thought. The bus s...

DATE: Aug 31, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

3 approaches to community values

Three recent articles in The Journal shared three approaches to community issues. Pleasant View neighbors don't want to see solar panels on their neighbor's property because they'd rather se...

DATE: Aug 31, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Underwater basket-weaving didn't pay out’

If you’re wondering how President Joe Biden or whoever is running (ruining) our country, has not been run out of Washington with the long list of poor decisions, horrid policy and downright ...

DATE: Aug 31, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Warmth, love, joy leap off page’

If you've ever wondered why teachers and school administrators endure long hours, low salaries, masking and Zoom challenges, and the ire of unhappy parents, look no further than Jerry McBrid...

DATE: Aug 27, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Fort Lewis College football takes on Arizona ChristianFLC drops first game of 2022, 52-12

FLC drops first game of 2022, 52-12

Pride parade and festival

Photos: Family fun at the La Plata County Fair

La Plata County Fair is off and running

La Plata County Fair schedule of eventsThursday8:30 a.m.: Judging 4-H/FFA breeding swine, market swine. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.: Exhibits open to the public.9 a.m.: Judging open class home economics, horticulture, floriculture, creative arts.9 a.m.: Judging 4-H/FFA and open class fleeces.9 a.m.: 4-H poultry judging followed by open class.1 p.m.: Judging 4-H/FFA goat show, all classes followed by open class goat.5 p.m.: Fair Royalty speeches and modeling.7 p.m.: Talent contest, patio.7 p.m.: Livestock verification swine, poultry, goat, general project cards due.

Friday9 a.m.-8 p.m.: Exhibits open to the public.9 a.m.: Judging 4-H/FFA rabbits.10 a.m.: 4-H/FFA breeding beef, beef showmanship.1 p.m.: 4-H/FFA market beef, grand champion and reserve grand champion market beef, champion selection.2 p.m.: Dairy cattle, all classes.3:15 p.m.: Pee wee showmanship.4 p.m.: 4-H/FFA livestock round robin, all-around showmanship.7 p.m.: Asleep at the Wheel concert.7 p.m.: Livestock sale verification rabbit and beef cards due.

Saturday9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.: Exhibits open to the public. 9 a.m.: 4-H dog show.9 a.m.: Judging open class beef all classes.10 a.m.: Rooster crowing contest.10 a.m.: FFA showmanship.11 a.m.: Open class dairy cattle, all classes.12 p.m.: Demolition Derby.12-4 p.m.: Community 4-H barbecue cook off (senior center lawn).2 p.m.: Rabbit costume contest.2 p.m.: Poultry costume contest.5 p.m.: Silver steaks, silver loin and silver chop award presentation.5:45 p.m.: Fair Royalty crowning.6 p.m.: Junior livestock sale pavilion.9 p.m.-midnight: Fair family dance.

Sunday8 a.m.: Cowboy church. 8 a.m.: Carcass animals loaded.9 a.m.- 2 p.m.: Exhibits open to the public.1:30 p.m.: 4-H/FFA Catch-It contest.2-3 p.m.: Payment of premiums. 2-3 p.m.: Exhibits released in all departments. 2-5 p.m.: Booths taken down.2-5 p.m.: Poultry and rabbit exhibits released.2 p.m.: Animals released.Beer garden is open Thursday through Saturday.

La Plata County Fair schedule of events Thursday 8:30 a.m.: Judging 4-H/FFA breeding s...

Patriotic drone show unfolds above Durango’s night skyAbout 1,200 people watched production from city Transit Center

One hundred forty drones took to the skies above Greenmount Cemetery at 10 p.m. sharp Saturday in a glowing and patriotic spectacle featuring vibrant images colored red, white and blue against the black backdrop of night.About 1,200 people gathered Saturday at the Durango Transit Center to watch the city’s premiere drone show produced by Verge Aero after a street dance and band performance by McCurry Trio and Desert Child for Independence Day celebrations.Spectators were treated to drone depictions of the American flag, star patterns, a soaring bald eagle and a homage to the city with drones flying in formation to spell out “Durango” to close out the street dance that started at 6 p.m. Across the valley from Greenmount Cemetery, the headlights of cars shined from Rim Drive near Fort Lewis College where more spectators watched.

Ellen Babers, Durango community events administrator, said the show went well. She heard “Ooh’s” and “ah’s” from the crowd when the drones transitioned from one image to another.She said a segment that consisted of stars rotating at various intervals, shrinking into smaller stars before expanding into the shape of a larger star, appeared to be a crowd favorite.“People really liked the Durango part,” she said. “When it spelled out Durango, people seemed surprised. Like, ‘Oh, this isn’t just a generic show, this is about us.’”Other images included an outline of the continental United States, the letters “USA,” and a spinning globe shape that gave the drone show a 3D feel.

The drones were laid out earlier in the evening in a square grid, with each drone placed 4 feet apart. Peter Smiatek, pilot and designer of the drone show, worked with a crew of about six people, including volunteers. Saturday evening at Greenmount Cemetery where the drones launched and landed, Peter Smiatek, pilot and designer with Verge Aero, and his crew of about six people, including volunteers, had laid all the drones out on the grass in a square grid. Each drone was placed four feet apart. Smiatek synced the drones to a GPS and radio tower in preparation for the evening’s show. Six minutes before takeoff, a deer wandered straight past the drone grid, narrowly avoiding stepping on them.“That could have been a disaster,” Smiatek said as his crew scanned the nearby area with flashlights. No other deer were visible.Two minutes before takeoff, the crew’s portable generator shut off – out of gas.

“We have double secure power,” he said. “The generator fell off two minutes before the show started. It’s like Murphy’s law, anything that could happen will happen. So it’s best to be prepared.”During prep, the crew ran several tests with the drones. The drones shot up 3 to 4 meters, hovered for about one second and then dropped back to their designated grid space on the grass.

Smiatek worked from a makeshift command station where his laptop and transmission tower were perched.“The base station is the heart of the show,” he said. “It’s a computer and it’s a distribution system connected to radios and an antenna. And that’s it, basically. Very flexible and a good system.”Chris Lutts, vice president of sales at Verge Aero, said he thinks Durangoans enjoyed the performance. From Greenmount Cemetery, he could hear the cheers and whistles of the audience at the Durango Transit Center.“The people we’ve been working with have been great,” he said. “Clearly, the city enjoyed it, so that’s awesome. That’s why we do this. It’s no different than any other entertainment, man. You love that feedback. It’s validation that what you’re doing is something that people really like.”cburney@durangoherald.com

About 1,200 people watched production from city Transit Center

Photos: BurroFest in Mancos

Fun times at the Ute Mountain Roundup rodeo in Cortez

Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Hobby Horse Community Bike Ride

Photos: Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Sprite Kids Race

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