Opinion Columns – The Durango Herald

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When loved one becomes ‘someone I never knew’

Kim Martin and Chuck Carson described their experiences as caregiver and patient living with Alzheimer’s or related dementias on Aug. 13 in The Durango Herald. Every one of the 6 million Ame...

DATE: Aug 20, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Oppenheimer’ and an eel man with an emu

J. Robert Oppenheimer’s creation led to the Duck and Cover era. We who grew up during the Cuban missile crisis and the Cold War had our own childhood worries. Thank goodness, we didn’t have ...

DATE: Aug 11, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Protect entire Dolores River Canyon Country as national monument’

As our rivers begin to recede, it is time to look back on the incredible spring runoff season. An above-average snowpack ushered in high flows with ample opportunities for river recreation a...

DATE: Aug 4, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Call on Boebert: ‘Do better for seniors, protect Medicare’

Signed into law 58 years ago, Medicare revolutionized health care for America’s seniors. It cut the number of uninsured older Americans to near zero. It lowered costs, improved the quality o...

DATE: Jul 30, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Celebrating Colorado Day

On Aug. 1, 1876, Colorado became a state. As a territory, we had tried to get Congress to agree before, but President Andrew Johnson vetoed the legislation. A hard man to get along with, Joh...

DATE: Jul 30, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Good beer comes from good water

SCOTUS just jeopardized this, weakening Clean Water Act

DATE: Jul 23, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Wild Bighorns in peril in Colorado, Rocky Mountain West

I’ve been afforded the rare opportunity and honor to kneel beside Colorado’s state animal and its most iconic: the Rocky Mountain Bighorn. When I worked for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, I at...

DATE: Jul 16, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Have we lost our sense of humor?

Numerous comedians have stopped performing at college campuses because they have found the students to be overly politically correct and overly sensitive to their jokes. Jerry Seinfeld, Chri...

DATE: Jul 14, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Durango needs ‘forward-looking’ housing plan for wildfires

Placing high-density housing in the Wildland-Urban Interface does not make sense economically or socially. Rapidly escalating wildfire insurance rates will reduce affordability in WUI areas....

DATE: Jul 9, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

If you care about public education, go to the polls

The news media and political pundits are heavily focused on the next “big” election – November 2024, when we will decide who occupies the Oval Office for the next four-year term. Will it be ...

DATE: Jul 9, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

It’s not about the checkbook

Before I start this guest column, I feel compelled to explain the one I wrote in June. I’ve had more compliments on it than usual. I’m happy to know so many readers took joy and inspiration ...

DATE: Jul 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Our democracy, for the most part, in good hands’

Over several decades, Americans have witnessed a growth in political extremism and naked partisanship. Those are often accompanied by assertions to the effect that all government is inept an...

DATE: Jun 30, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

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

Photos: Durango High School football faces Mead in 3A state playoffsThe Demons won Saturday’s playoff game, 31-27

The Demons won Saturday’s playoff game, 31-27

Photos: Veterans Day Parade

Honoring Veterans on Veterans Day

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When loved one becomes ‘someone I never knew’

‘Oppenheimer’ and an eel man with an emu

‘Protect entire Dolores River Canyon Country as national monument’

Call on Boebert: ‘Do better for seniors, protect Medicare’

Celebrating Colorado Day

Good beer comes from good water

Wild Bighorns in peril in Colorado, Rocky Mountain West

Have we lost our sense of humor?

Durango needs ‘forward-looking’ housing plan for wildfires

If you care about public education, go to the polls

It’s not about the checkbook

‘Our democracy, for the most part, in good hands’

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