Columnists - The Durango Herald

Navigating grief through the holidays

The holidays are a time of celebration, of tradition, excitement and connection. It is the time of year when people come together to celebrate as families and loved ones. Unfortunately, this...

DATE: Nov 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Libraries are welcoming, safe places

Happy holidays! As festive music begins to filter into the background of our lives, the catchy and comforting strains remind me of the peace, joy and fun this season promises. As I’m sure yo...

DATE: Nov 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Shelf Life

Visit comes with irritating catch

DEAR ABBY: I was recently invited for a long weekend at my friend’s new home in South Carolina. She has wanted me to come there to visit ever since she purchased it. I offered to come down, ...

DATE: Nov 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Democracies are weakened, face failure when citizens do not participate in them

In 1920, a man named David C. Stephenson came up from Texas to Indiana and resurrected the old dogma that sprouted from the outcome of the Civil War. He blasted out the rhetoric of “America ...

DATE: Nov 27, 2024 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Armchair Boogie brings a little Wisconsin newgrass

Hang around Durango long enough and you’ll likely meet someone who has moved here from Wisconsin. People move to Durango from all over the country for the obvious reasons – which is anything...

DATE: Nov 27, 2024 | CATEGORY: Downtown Lowdown

Aunt’s addiction puts relationship at risk

DEAR ABBY: How do I handle an elderly aunt who has a gambling problem? I live in a town with casinos. She lives in another state four hours away. She calls me often to ask to stay with me, a...

DATE: Nov 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Man wants to bury ‘treasures’

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I are in our 80s, married for 61 years. We are financially well-off and have few medical issues. As we approach our departure from this Earth, we’ve created the necess...

DATE: Nov 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Let’s scrap the stigma of mental illness

Even though one in five Americans is estimated to suffer from mental health illness, talk about mental health in the rural West remains muted. I’d like to talk about it this Thanksgiving bec...

DATE: Nov 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Spelling out the ‘Durango’ letters mystery

Dear Action Line: So, those silly colored letters up the road on U.S. Highway 550 that spell, of all things, Durango? Duh, like we don’t know where we live? They are quite tacky to say t...

DATE: Nov 25, 2024 | CATEGORY: Action Line

‘Dear Durango, I’ve been meaning to write to you …’

Yes, Durango, ever since moving here last year, I’ve been meaning to write to you, tell you how it’s going. Having spent 84 years in Ohio, you’d think, Durango, it would have been a tough mo...

DATE: Nov 23, 2024 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Jared Polis wants to win back the hippies

It’s such a bother when politicians have to go and complicate your clean narrative about why they’re succeeding. Last week, I spoke to Jared Polis, the Democratic governor of Colorado. Polis...

DATE: Nov 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Mom unsure how to handle accident aftermath

DEAR ABBY: A month ago, my 7-year-old son was struck by a vehicle while riding his bike in a crosswalk. He’s fine now. His injuries were minor, although it was frightening. Police and parame...

DATE: Nov 21, 2024 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby