Opinion Columns – The Durango Herald

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‘Cheap, easy’ to fix Malfunction Junction

There is an old adage that says for every problem, there is a solution that is simple, easy – and wrong. And there is a lot of truth to that. It does not follow, however, that all valid solu...

DATE: Oct 20, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Where wild-horse herd management goes right

The sun is low on the horizon, casting soft light on the crimson boulders and cliffs of Spring Creek Basin. Bands of colorful wild horses dot the folded landscape as it gently dips toward th...

DATE: Oct 15, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

2 full-time jobs a remote-work myth

A boogeyman is lurking behind corporate America’s push to bring workers back to the office: the remote employee who is secretly working a second full-time job, not by working 80-hour weeks, ...

DATE: Oct 11, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

History in clearer view for sharper focus on future

This fall, Fort Lewis College opened our campus to 3,425 students, more than 39% of whom are members of federally recognized Tribal Nations. During first-year orientation for students and fa...

DATE: Oct 1, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Hard to imagine trial of greater public importance’ than Trump’s

Yale law professor, legal scholar, and novelist, Stephen L. Carter (“Televising Trump’s Trials Is a Mistake,) argues in Bloomberg and The Washington Post that the criminal trial of former pr...

DATE: Oct 1, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Indian names, caps, symbols and how media should portray them’

Ah yes, Major League Baseball’s post-season. “October Ball” is about to begin, and once again the low-budget baseball team from Cleveland will be absent. In fact, despite an exceedingly smal...

DATE: Oct 1, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Prioritize ‘human life’ on Animas View Drive

Two weeks ago, a young woman full of potential was killed on Animas View Drive while walking her dog. It was 7:45 pm, dark and a sudden rainstorm had popped up. She was walking with the traf...

DATE: Sep 29, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Cost creep’ in Colorado’s outdoors

When was the last time you got outside and how much did you spend to do it? I can’t help but wonder: Is it just me, or do rising costs for outdoor recreation seem to be everywhere you look t...

DATE: Sep 24, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Antisemitism on rise’ – Boebert is no help

We are currently in the midst of the period between the Jewish New Year – Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur. It is a solemn period of gratitude, apologies and the resolutio...

DATE: Sep 20, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

1984 case ‘profound’ precedent to save Carpenter, neighborhood from ILC

The details of a 1984 lawsuit to stop industrial activities next to the Montview neighborhood in northwest Cortez have recently come to light. The significance of this 1984 court case on the...

DATE: Sep 20, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Carpenter ‘critical’ to rights of sound-dependent birds

The rezoning of 1050 Lebanon Road in Cortez from commercial to industrial is incompatible with its proximity to Carpenter Natural Area (City Code Criteria D violation). This change would inc...

DATE: Sep 20, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Time to start taking choice of president seriously’

In politics, the coming year will be what we make of it. We can go on with what amounts to mud wrestling or we can have an honest debate about the future and direction of our country. It rea...

DATE: Sep 18, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Photos: Funeral procession for Cortez Police Sgt. Michael MoranHundreds of law enforcement vehicles escort the body of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran

Hundreds of law enforcement vehicles escort the body of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran

PHOTOS: Fort Lewis basketball teams entertain Adams StateFLC men win 100-80 on Tuesday, women lose 76-56

FLC men win 100-80 on Tuesday, women lose 76-56

Hundreds attend Candlelight vigil for Cortez police Sgt. Michael Moran

Skyhawks score 41 points off turnovers Monday at Whalen Gymnasium

Snowstorm moves through the areaThe season’s first big snowstorm causes problems for drivers and makes for a winter wonderland

The season’s first big snowstorm causes problems for drivers and makes for a winter wonderland

Photos: Singing with SantaSanta Claus makes his first appearance in Durango

Santa Claus makes his first appearance in Durango

Snow descends on DurangoForecasters say storm could dump 6 inches in Durango area

A fall storm that moved into Southwest Colorado Friday morning was expected to dump 6 inches of snow in the Durango area – more than weather forecasters had initially predicted.Snow started falling about 9:15 a.m. Friday and intensified shortly before 11:30 a.m., blanketing parks, vehicles and the hilltops overlooking the city. Roads became slick about 2:30 p.m. As of 4 p.m., the Durango Police Department had responded to six crashes, in addition to a few stranded motorists.U.S. Highway 160 at County Road 44 near Mancos Hill was closed from around 4 p.m. to just after 6 p.m. because a vehicle carrying an “oversized load” had spun out and blocked both the eastbound and westbound lanes, according to Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Lisa Schwantes.“Right now our officers are able to keep up with the crashes that are coming in,” said Cmdr. Nick Stasi, with the Durango Police Department. “As always with winter weather, we remind drivers to slow down and give extra space for the cars in front.”Snow started accumulating very fast as the day went on, making it “challenging for plow operators to keep up,” according to CDOT.

Southwest Colorado’s five major mountain passes were icy and snowpacked Friday afternoon. But all five remained open as of 4:15 p.m.The Pacific storm favored the southern and central Colorado mountains, said Dave Byers, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.“Durango looks like a 70% chance of getting 6 inches or more of snow by the end of tonight (Friday),” Byers said.He expected a half inch to three-quarters of an inch of moisture from the storm, which is up from the one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch that was predicted earlier this week. Meanwhile, the mountains could receive 1 to 2 feet of snow from the storm, he said.“In the last few days, it has really picked up,” Byers said. “The southern mountains are catching the brunt of it.”The snowy weather didn’t stop Liz Ferrill and her family from stopping by Cream Bean Berry for a Unicorn Sundae. “We thought it might be a festive way to celebrate,” said Ferrill, who was visiting from Snowmass, where the first snow occurred in September.For others, the snow provided the impetus they needed to swap out tires or purchase new snow tires. Andre Payne, a sales person at J/P Tire in Durango, said the phone began ringing shortly after 9 a.m. with people wanting to switch to snow tires.“We’ve been pretty busy,” he said.

It is not unusual for drivers to wait until they see the first snow and then want to swap out tires. The tire shop began advising customers to switch to snow tires about three weeks ago. Some people take the advice, other choose to wait.“We can always tell people what to do, but if you're not ready for it then you have to suffer the consequences of waiting two hours or maybe getting in an accident,” Payne said.Byers said Friday’s storm was the result of a southwest flow pulling moisture from Southern California, Arizona and the Gulf of California.As the moisture-laden atmosphere hits the San Juan Mountains, it wrings out the moisture, he said.Temperatures are expected to cool off as the storm makes its way out of the region this weekend. The highs this weekend will be in the upper 30s, and the lows could dip into the single digits, he said.“There’s still a northerly flow that is pulling cold air down out of Canada,” he said.Byers characterized Friday’s storm as a “shoulder storm” between summer and winter, but he said it is a sure sign that a regular track is settling in for Southwest Colorado.“We’re expecting regular storms … from now on, more into that winter pattern,” Byers said.Residents can expect mostly clear conditions through Wednesday, with clouds moving in the following day ahead of another storm that looks “very similar” to Friday’s storm, Byers said.shane@durangoherald.com; mhollinshead@durangoherald.com

Forecasters say storm could dump 6 inches in Durango area

PHOTOS: Turkey Trot returns to DurangoNearly 600 competitors ran before they gobbled down their Thanksgiving feasts on Thursday

Nearly 600 competitors ran before they gobbled down their Thanksgiving feasts on Thursday

PHOTOS: Durango faces Lutheran in 3A state football quarterfinalsDemons fall to Lions, 39-30, on Saturday

Demons fall to Lions, 39-30, on Saturday

PHOTOS: Fort Lewis basketball teams host doubleheaderThe men’s team beat Western New Mexico 87-68, while the women’s team fell in the final minutes to Northern New Mexico, 67-62

The men’s team beat Western New Mexico 87-68, while the women’s team fell in the final minutes to Northern New Mexico, 67-62

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‘Cheap, easy’ to fix Malfunction Junction

Where wild-horse herd management goes right

2 full-time jobs a remote-work myth

History in clearer view for sharper focus on future

‘Hard to imagine trial of greater public importance’ than Trump’s

‘Indian names, caps, symbols and how media should portray them’

Prioritize ‘human life’ on Animas View Drive

‘Cost creep’ in Colorado’s outdoors

‘Antisemitism on rise’ – Boebert is no help

1984 case ‘profound’ precedent to save Carpenter, neighborhood from ILC

Carpenter ‘critical’ to rights of sound-dependent birds

‘Time to start taking choice of president seriously’

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