Opinion & Letters to the Editor

Need parking. ‘Forget Next Step’

No one, local or nonlocal, wants to walk four to six or more blocks to work, shop, dine, stroll the river or much else, when they are above 6,500 fee…

‘Legal abuse used for destruction of Trump’

The Durango Herald’s opinion piece relating to Donald Trump’s latest show trial by Democrats is probably wasted. Now you’ll have to pen another editorial after the appeals explaining why you…

‘Convicted felon cannot enlist in U.S. military

To veterans and their families, who have loved ones in the military and all citizens. If Donald Trump wins the presidency, he is a convicted felon 34 times. He would…

Hurd ‘focused more on doing something’

With the primary ballots mailed this week, I would like to ask the voting public to consider Jeff Hurd for the 3rd Congressional District seat. He’s a native of Grand…

‘Nothing that is unmitigated fire threat’

My wife and I just received a notice that our property insurance is increasing by 32%. Staggered by the increase, I spoke with our insurance agent, who explained that the…

‘Consider voting for Bill Mollenkopf’

Empire Electric Association members should consider voting for Bill Mollenkopf, representing District 4, at the June 20, annual meeting. It was my privilege to work with Bill for 20 of…

‘We must stand as a community’

I’m calling out the board of directors for 4-Corners Alliance for Diversity. This is a fantastic group that has a strong history of supporting and serving the LGBT+ community here…

‘Karma is headed their way’

I pity the fool whose life is so small that he or she got pleasure from putting tacks in the path of the Iron Horse riders. I’m sure karma is…

‘Ban hunting, trapping of mountain lions, bobcats’

As a professional biologist with more than 14 years of experience studying wildlife, I strongly support the ballot initiative to ban hunting and trapping of mountain lions and bobcats in…

‘Ballot box only route to wolf reintroduction’

In a recent news story in The Durango Herald, Sen. Dylan Roberts, co-sponsor of wolverine reintroduction Senate Bill 171, said the bill “is completely opposite from the wolf reintroduction process,”…

‘Why not spend money on creating parking?’

I have lived in the county, and worked and shopped in Durango for 26 years. The town has talked about the parking problem that entire time. Yet, nothing has been…

Congrats to ‘seniors, parents, 9-R’

Thank you to The Durango Herald for the overview of Durango High School’s graduation ceremony, which was truly an impressive and progressive expression of our community. We are lucky to…

Edit toon 052924

Our view: Legislative wrap-up

Lawmakers take action on cellphone use, education funding and Indian boarding schools

‘Somebody needs to stop this seizure’

The Uravan Belt within the Dolores Corridor is home to as much as 21% of America’s uranium deposits along with as much as 80% of our vanadium production. America is…

Give us more ‘Mortie the cat’ cartoons

In a time when most of us have instant access to digital news, it’s easy to keep up to date on national and international events, including some trenchant political cartoons.…

‘Next Step’ would take away more downtown parking

Durango is one of the few small towns in Western America that still has a functioning, vital Main (street) Avenue. The addition of trees and new light posts enhanced it…

‘What has happened to dental services’

What has happened with our dental services here? It seems that they have gone from a five-day, 40-hour workweek to a four-day, 32-hour workweek. Do they think we only have dental…

Soldiers

Stones among the Pines reflected in the Light. Stones of young Souls together in the night. Partners sharing Death their names on stones so white. I pray the gift you…

Mercy lab’s ‘issues’ tied to staffing, not training

In support of my profession, I feel compelled to respond to Lenny Papineau’s letter to The Herald dated Wednesday, May 15. He suggested the decline in quality of healthcare services…

We won’t forget what happened 101 years ago

Shaun Ketchum Jr. One hundred and one years ago, my Ute ancestors were forced to live within a barbed-wire camp in Blanding, a small town in southeast Utah. For six…

‘Fixing’ Hesperus Ski Area not among Mountain Capital Partners’ priorities

Like many who cherish our “local gem” – Hesperus Ski Area – I’m left with more questions than answers about the decision to forego fixing its lift and exclude it…

A return to the fireworks that are loved

Kudos to Durango’s city leadership for listening to the many Durangoans who soon after last year’s 4th of July evening show that used drones said, no more, please. For two…

Wildlife quid-pro-quo: ‘Something to still think about’

cca The wildlife quid-pro-quo. It was a proposition advocated more than a half century ago by Willard D. Klimstra, then director of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Cooperative Wildlife Initiative. Essentially,…

Polis has kind words, but is that enough for Tri-State?

Allen Bestdu1-i-syn Colorado Gov. Jared Polis gets summoned almost daily to deliver remarks. On a recent Friday, for example, he wore an orange jersey to honor former Bronco Randy Gradishar…

Property taxes

Expect debate about merits, demerits of Senate Bill 233

Hunting is a valuable tool in managing lions

Andrew Carpenter (Courtesy of Writers on the Range) Asking the public to decide if it’s a good idea to ban hunting mountain lions and bobcats is no way for a…

Kudos to M-CHS Choir

Kudos to the Montezuma-Cortez High School Choir. My family and I were fortunate enough to be in the auditorium for their performance of the “Star-Spangled Banner” on May 11 during…

Mercy Hospital reduced to ‘corporate medicine’

The letter put forth by Catherine Winchester concerning the general influence of Centura Health-CommonSpirit was interesting. The evidence is now clear that what was once a robust “Regional Medical Center”…

Bodo Industrial Park helped grow city, county

Foundation responsible for development has come to an end