Why flyfishing?

“The charm of fishing is that it's the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.” – John Buchan

The power of community collaboration

As we prepare for Southwest Colorado Rocks on Feb. 19, we celebrate far more than individual achievements. This night honors the spirit of partnership that powers La Plata County, from Duran...

Spouse of serial cheater ready to even score

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I are approaching our 40th anniversary. Friends and family have already begun to mention the upcoming milestone. While I politely acknowledge the event, I hide my indi...

Snowdown is over, now what?

Snowdown is now complete, so what’s next? I personally loved Snowdown this year! I scored Follies and Fashion Do’s and Don’ts tickets. I watched the Light Parade and produced the livestream ...

A busy month: Public education bills and hard conversations about health care and immigration

It’s been a very busy start to the legislative session, and I look forward to spending an extra day with my family next weekend for Presidents Day. We’ve had a ton of constituents visit the ...

Balancing public safety and individual privacy: A delicate trade-off

During my first year as a city councilor, I’ve come to realize that many decisions we make involve complex trade-offs, particularly concerning taxpayer dollars and the benefits delivered to ...

Seven states, zero solutions: Leadership failure on the Colorado River

As a Coloradan and water engineer with 48 years on the front lines, I am outraged – not merely disappointed – that the seven states renegotiating reservoir operations, shortage criteria and ...

Stories on Stone: Historic Petroglyphs along the San Juan River

Along the San Juan River and across the Four Corners, thousands of prehistoric petroglyphs from ancient Native cultures are written in stone. What is less common are historic glyphs, but in ...

How solar storms light up the sky

Greetings stargazers. The current sunspot cycle maximum continues to amaze. Several times during the past year, the Aurora Borealis has been visible in the Durango sky. It was here again a c...

Treatment of elderly mother raises hackles

DEAR ABBY: I have been happily married for 30 years. Unfortunately, my wife’s family (two older sisters and her mother, who is 97) have rejected not only me, but now my wife. While our relat...

Serving rural Southwest Colorado’s unique transportation needs on the CDOT commission

This past July, I was sworn in as the District 8 Transportation commissioner, serving and advocating for transportation needs in Southwest Colorado and the San Luis Valley. The state’s trans...

How do I talk to my neighbor about their glaring lights?

Welcome to Dear Rachel, a new column in which I answer your questions about relationships, communication and how to navigate the messy beauty of being human (sorry, no advice on car troubles...