Opinion & Letters to the Editor
Setting it Straight
••• The Herald strives for accuracy. If a factual error or misleading information appears in our news stories or opinion page contact, we will correct it as soon as possible.…
FLC President: Come meet the candidates, campus and community participation is encouraged
Starting tomorrow through April 5, students, faculty, staff and the community will have several opportunities to meet each of the three finalists, on- and off-campus. Selected from a field of…
Editorial cartoon
Lachelt missed Oxford meeting and more
On Jan. 8, Chairperson Lachelt was at a hearing in Denver using her personal time to represent two landowners who, coincidentally, also support her work as Western Leaders Network director.…
Leaders who care about our health, safety
Last summer, they approved an enormous, dangerously-placed tower at Trimble Lane that will hover over Dalton Ranch and is way too close to Animas Elementary School. It was passed in…
Have you had enough yet, Republicans?
This is your president of the United States, the man occupying the most important office in the world, at his most presidential. Republicans, aren’t you tired of this constant empty…
Editorial cartoon
Brock: What is your politician doing to reduce gun violence?
I am heartened that the media has finally, in some small way, begun to pay attention to the people of the United States who live their daily lives, work hard…
Editorial cartoon
Love the Herald, not the driveway ads
I am asking you to please stop throwing your advertising paper, which I didn’t ask for, onto my property. By imposing this on our residents, you are creating a non-recyclable…
Public process: New engagement efforts designed for better decisions, responsive government
Last week, the county terminated its contract with Kendig Keast Collaborative, the firm hired to update the county land-use codes. Because their work will be used, it’s not a total…
Wake up, America, you are being played!
Wake up, America! The puppet master is still playing his game. Javier Nachos Durango
Ehlers: Protect property rights, retain Lachelt
In this capacity, I have protected and enhanced the private property rights of property owners. My experiences with La Plata County have included appearing before and observing the performance of…
Averting a health care crisis with facts
One solution is to develop a state plan that negotiates drug prices, lowers costs and covers everyone, giving us all needed relief from overpriced health insurance and exorbitant drug prices.…
Still time to remove name from petition
Contact the La Plata County Clerk’s office directly at 259-5413 and they will let you know how to do so before March 30. Likewise, if you fear – as many…
Are transit head salaries being cut, too?
I question the severity of these reductions of service. When transit department service is being reduced so drastically, have the salaries of the director and superintendent of this department also…
LPEA should buck the energy status-quo
I previously worked for a rock mining company that owned a facility that ran 24/7. Energy to run the facility was a huge cost to the company – that is…
Let’s make school a safe place again
My elementary school was four miles away from Columbine High School and on April 20, 1999, I experienced my first school shooting. Now, 19 years later, I sit in my…
Mitchell: Putting it all on the table for public and school safety
The task force would be mandated to identify specific actions that would promote public and school safety, based on established facts instead of politics. And, everything should be on the…
Taking an active role in school safety
Right now, there is an effort led by parents to find workable, reliable solutions to the threat of school violence. Currently, in Durango, there are schools that do not have…
We all must work to meet student needs
What came through loud and clear is that the best way to avoid a tragedy is to prevent individual despair. Our children attend Animas, where the small class sizes and…
March for our lives: Students are right, it’s time to end the national paralysis around gun violence
du1-i-syn The Constitution, in the First Amendment, the framers thought necessary to add, protects free speech, peaceable assemblies and the right to petition the government. That’s what’s happening: From our…
Let’s work to keep our county united
Or, “I don’t really feel good about being a pawn in the Koch Brothers-funded Americans For Prosperity manipulation of our county’s political process,” or, “Both the democratic and republican county…
Thank you for all the help and memories
As I retire from coaching, I walk away with many wonderful memories and experiences. I want to thank the many quality individuals who assisted and supported me in the worthy…
Lachelt not representing all interests
Although she has not successfully voted against oil and gas, we can clearly remember two occasions where Commissioner Lachelt voted in a manner that would have negatively impacted the county’s…
BOCC: Say “no” to the Lachelt recall; Westendorff comments not helpful
Recall petition signatures have to be submitted by the end of next week. The Herald’s editorial board says that recall, which includes multiple administrative steps over a couple of months…
We can do better than Rep. Scott Tipton
I believe climate change, and the continued degradation of our planet, is the most significant threat facing us: melting permafrost in the northern Arctic unleashing more carbon, methane, mercury and…