Letters to the Editor – The Durango Herald

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‘Doubt majority negatively affected’ by train whistle

Re letter on Wednesday about the train whistle. First of all, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is the historic cornerstone of Durango. Durango businesses, such as stores and r...

DATE: Jul 30, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Biden ‘horrible for retirement funds’

The Thrift Savings Plan demonstrates the destruction of our economy. This quarter, all funds, except the G Fund, are losing by an average of -16.37%. Horrible for retirement funds. To apprec...

DATE: Jul 30, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Language police,’ homeless and unhoused

Since the Language Police have made it illegal to use the word “homeless” and replaced it with “unhoused,” why do you use the term “homelessness?” You repeatedly use the term “homelessness” ...

DATE: Jul 30, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

No charge in ‘terminate presidency’ tweet?

Why hasn’t Boebert been charged for tweeting, ”We need to terminate this presidency.” Isn’t she asking someone to shoot President Biden? John Hopkins Durango ...

DATE: Jul 29, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Main Avenue survey ‘manipulation’

Do you remember when your grade-school teachers wanted you to feel like you were part of a decision? They came up with a few things they wanted you to do and let you vote, but they wouldn’t ...

DATE: Jul 29, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Lay off’ the train whistle

I noted that the county turned off the clock chimes downtown this summer (boo!) in response to a few complaints. It is too bad nothing is being done to address the most intrusive and disrup...

DATE: Jul 29, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Leave it alone’ a design choice

Not that many years ago, the city had plans to repair downtown sidewalks. Somebody in city management decided that before the sidewalk repair work was to begin, the city needed to hire a Mid...

DATE: Jul 29, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

How did fires start around Durango?

Durango Fire Protection District, Durango City Council, La Plata County, Bureau of Land Management, San Juan National Forest officials: Please, you are obligated to let the residents of Dura...

DATE: Jul 29, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Pay (accordingly) for international educators’

RE: The editorial on Wednesday, “International teachers good hires.” Both my wife and I are retired international educators. We earned our degrees, a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree, i...

DATE: Jul 29, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Spend lodgers tax on parking garage

I actually live outside of Durango city limits. My wife and I buy “stuff” in Durango and frequent the restaurants in town. Why not spend the extra funds from the lodgers tax on a parking gar...

DATE: Jul 23, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Patriots’ sold out country cheaply

I have strived to understand the continued attachment of many conservatives to the gifted demagogue former President Donald Trump and his election lie by talking to Trump supporters. The sec...

DATE: Jul 23, 2022 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Take on Democratic Party logic, agenda

My take on Democratic Party logic. Shut down the timber industry in the Northwest to protect the nesting spotted owl. Stop pipeline construction in the Midwest to protect the nesting greater...

DATE: Jul 23, 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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