Letters to the Editor - The Durango Herald

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Vote for a shared positive future

Rational, well intended men and women can differ in views and policies for the greater good. Thus the political process. But this is not what we face in this election. The Republican Party h...

DATE: Oct 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Paul Black will get the job done

It is difficult for me to pick someone to endorse when I know both well. Matt Salka married into a very good family in La Plata County. He was mayor of Bayfield. A little over a year ago, at...

DATE: Oct 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

We need an objective press

Oct. 20’s editorial screed against Trump, declaring how he would ruin the United States, is not a surprise for most people living in the Durango area. The Herald takes the time to do what th...

DATE: Oct 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Robert Logan for CU regent

Robert Logan is a man of character and commitment, with a life dedicated to service. His four years in the U.S. Air Force and eight years as a minister in Durango have shaped his strong lead...

DATE: Oct 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Stand up, Republicans, don’t stand by

Donald Trump is bonkers. Republicans, this is not the time to write in George Washington or your dog’s name on the ballot, nor to skip voting entirely. It’s certainly not the time to vote fo...

DATE: Oct 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Climate change and voting

I was born at 305 ppm. At that time, the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere was not that far above the preindustrial level of 280 parts per million (ppm). I was married at 338 ppm. My fi...

DATE: Oct 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Matt Salka deserves your vote

The two candidates running for La Plata County commissioner present starkly different backgrounds and visions. Incumbent Matt Salka brings extensive experience as an IT professional and form...

DATE: Oct 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Know the who and the what

I am a longtime, independent voter, and I try to be knowledgeable and informed with my vote. That said, I admit to frequently skipping over numerous contested offices and positions on the ba...

DATE: Oct 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Clark, Simpson addressing real issues

Responding to recent letter attacking candidates Clark Craig (HD59) and Cleave Simpson (SD6) for supporting the Dobbs supreme court decision. This decision returns the issue to the states wh...

DATE: Oct 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Vote ‘yes’ on Proposition 131

I had the honor of representing Durango and surrounding areas for over a decade in the state Legislature, and the accomplishments I’m most proud of are those that required legislators from a...

DATE: Oct 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Vote for Adam Frisch

I know both Congressional District 3 candidates Jeff Hurd and Adam Frisch. Both are capable men. Frisch, I met when he stood in a hot crowded room and talked about being a gun owner, defende...

DATE: Oct 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Trump an ‘imperfect’ vessel

The Herald’s editorial endorsing Kamala Harris for president was a treasure. Giving a factual context about Trump’s record is exactly why local news by local people is necessary for a fu...

DATE: Oct 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Final phases of project underway at Camino del Rio and Main Avenue

Photos: Marching for women’s rightsDurango Women’s March on Saturday starts at Buckley Park, continues down Main Avenue

Durango Women’s March on Saturday starts at Buckley Park, continues down Main Avenue

Photos: Durango High School football DHS beat Vista Ridge 20-14 at home Friday night

DHS beat Vista Ridge 20-14 at home Friday night

Gallery: Animals, super heroes and other creatures take over Main Avenue

Photos: A fun and spooky day at school

Haunted house northeast of Durango gets bigger every yearCody Petersen’s Halloween hobby is his escape from the daily grind

Durango resident Cody Petersen said when he moved into his home at 15 Edgemont Way several years ago, his house on the corner looked lonely and spooky.Today, it’s a madhouse. Halloween decorations are splayed practically on every inch of his lawn, in the trees and up and down his home.

A group of school-aged kids stop in front of his house every day to pose with a little gothic doll in the lawn, he said. It’s the favorite attraction amongst hundreds of decorations Petersen bought locally and online as early as July in preparation for Oct. 31, Halloween.He said he doesn’t want to think about how much money he’s spent on fog machines, animatronics and Christmas lights, but the bill easily totals several thousands of dollars.

For trick-or-treaters on Halloween, whom he encourages to visit, jumpscares abound at Petersen’s home, featuring animatronic spiders, growling wolves and other monsters, he said.He’s working on his own animatronic coffin, which shakes and rattles, and a pulley system that will push and pull a ghost up and down the yard, but neither will be ready for this year’s Halloween.He said he has fond memories of his parents decorating for the holidays during his upbringing and he’s a huge horror genre fan. So he enjoys going all out on decorations for the spooky season. He justifies his hobby with the logic his kids will only be in high school a few more years, and it isn’t as cool to decorate the lawn for Halloween when one doesn’t have children living at home.But the neighbors enjoy his haunts as much as the rest of the community. He said his Halloween scene has gradually grown larger every year; at least 50 trick-or-treaters turned up at his home last year.“I'm a home inspector, so I do have a lot of tools and no fear of trying things out,” he said.

He said typical Halloween animatronics cost $400 a piece, but they only last one year or so without breaking. That’s frustrating, he said, and he believes he can do better by building his own.He said this year’s display and experience is more organic than past years thanks to his handiwork. Among his myriad decorations, trick-or-treaters can spot easter eggs referencing “Beetlejuice,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Pet Sematary.”Among the horror props are real animal bones Petersen said he’s found on hikes across the countryside.“I've got ghosts and spiders and witches and that kind of thing,” he said. “Here in Edgemont, we have giant spiders for real. ... We get these huge wolf spiders that are bigger than my hand. I mean, huge, bigger than tarantulas.”

Petersen said he was motivated to make his first decorations within the first month he and his wife moved into the home on the corner at 15 Edgemont Way.A lone pine tree, a typical Christmas tree that would be strung up with lights and ornaments in December, stood out to Petersen in the yard, he said. He just felt compelled to decorate it and light it up.He said he thoroughly decorated the tree and left it lit year-round. Within a month of moving into the house, his neighbor died. The man was old and suffering from Alzheimer's.

Months later, the man’s wife approached Petersen and told him she and her husband’s last salient moments together were spent looking out at Petersen’s lighted Christmas tree, pretending it was Christmas. In the following hours, the man succumbed to delirium. He died several days later.“I don't know why I had that tree, why I lit it, but that's why that tree, even when Halloween is over, all year round, that Christmas tree always stays lit now,” he said.Petersen is a horror movie fan, and in particular he’s always enjoyed the sinister character Michael Myers of the “Halloween” franchise.

He said every year, after thrilling trick-or-treaters at his home, he takes to downtown and East Third Avenue in his Michael Myers costume, bearing a giant bowl of candy, to continue the fun.The highlight of his yard, the creepy doll neighborhood kids like to pose and take pictures with, is Petersen’s “elf on the shelf,” he said. He likes to move the doll around the house, sometimes propping her up to hold animal bones.“I have a real busy and pretty stressful job,” he said. “I just love the fall so much. And to come home, it's just a good way to wind down and, you know, de-stress, just go out and work in the yard.”cburney@durangoherald.com

Cody Petersen’s Halloween hobby is his escape from the daily grind

Reader-submitted photos of Halloween decorationsLast week, we asked readers to submit photos of their Halloween decorations or a neighbor’s decorations. We received dozens of photo submissions. We have selected some of the most spooky, elaborate and fun photos to share in this gallery. Enjoy!

Photos: FLC volleyball returns homeFort Lewis College volleyball took on Adams State University on Tuesday

Fort Lewis College volleyball took on Adams State University on Tuesday

Photos: Expert leathercrafter and collector estate sale near IgnacioItems belonging to the late Alex Pappas were auctioned for sale on Saturday

Items belonging to the late Alex Pappas were auctioned for sale on Saturday

Photos: Pro boxing in DurangoLegends on the Animas boxing showdown took place on Saturday

Legends on the Animas boxing showdown took place on Saturday

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Vote for a shared positive future

Paul Black will get the job done

We need an objective press

Robert Logan for CU regent

Stand up, Republicans, don’t stand by

Climate change and voting

Matt Salka deserves your vote

Know the who and the what

Clark, Simpson addressing real issues

Vote ‘yes’ on Proposition 131

Vote for Adam Frisch

Trump an ‘imperfect’ vessel

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