Opinion Columns – The Durango Herald

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Why a managed camp for the unhoused might be right for Durango

While homelessness is a controversial topic, few would argue that addressing it is not a straightforward matter. Rather, it is a complex and multifaceted issue that demands a spectrum of sol...

DATE: Nov 19, 2021 | CATEGORY: Opinion

No time to waste addressing the climate crisis – pass the Build Back Better Act

From the quiet of the backcountry, we have seen and experienced the climate changing. Larger wildfires, unpredictable flash floods, hotter heat waves, bigger storms and longer droughts have...

DATE: Nov 17, 2021 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Mercy Hospital provider statement – our commitment to caring for our community

It was disheartening to read the letter titled, “Context for petition to improve health care” submitted by business leaders and “17 concerned physicians.” However, we thank the community me...

DATE: Nov 15, 2021 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Americans will always revere mustangs

For a professor of history, Andrew Gulliford sure seems to have forgotten plenty of it. Or perhaps he only remembers the history that fits the narrative of his curiously callous anti-mustang...

DATE: Nov 4, 2021 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Access to higher education is the gateway, degree completion is the goal. Doubling the Pell Grant will help

Since 1972, the federal Pell Grant Program has expanded access to education for millions more Americans than otherwise would have earned a college degree. The grant has made college afforda...

DATE: Nov 4, 2021 | CATEGORY: Op-Ed

The Chief belongs in a museum

The oversized, cartoon sign of an American Indian pointing to a place of business has outlived its moment. The Chief belongs in a museum not on a downtown street. He belongs with his histori...

DATE: Nov 3, 2021 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Chastise Texas about its abortion law

There is no such thing as banning abortion, there is only banning safe abortion. Texas has just passed the country’s most draconian and restrictive law on abortion, which the Supreme Court i...

DATE: Nov 1, 2021 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Proposition 119 will close the ‘opportunity gap’ for our kids

When it comes to providing school-aged kids with the opportunities they need to succeed; the pandemic opened our eyes to problems that have existed for more than a generation. In Colorado, a...

DATE: Oct 31, 2021 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Context for petition to improve health care at Mercy

By Concerned, Retired Mercy Physicians History and stated mission In 1882, the Sisters of Mercy came to Durango to serve the health care needs of the people of the Four Corners. For 140 year...

DATE: Oct 25, 2021 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Gen. Colin Powell deserving of honor bestowed on him by president

On Oct. 18, President Joe Biden ordered all flags at the White House, public buildings and grounds, military posts, naval stations, overseas embassies and consular offices to be flown at hal...

DATE: Oct 23, 2021 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Vote ‘no’ on Prop. 119; it’s not in the best interest of Colorado kids or taxpayers

Supporters of Proposition 119 are misleading voters. This misguided proposal would cut millions of dollars that support classroom supplies, educational programming and teacher salaries from ...

DATE: Oct 20, 2021 | CATEGORY: Op-Ed

Earth’s warming temperature would seem to be a front-page story

If newspaper editors really wanted to bring proper attention to climate change, they would immediately dedicate a portion of their front page – say, lower left corner – to an “Earth Watch” b...

DATE: Oct 8, 2021 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

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