From our Congressman – The Durango Herald

Brooks: How to engage a fanatic

I’ve had a series of experiences recently that leave the impression that everybody on earth is having the same conversation: How do you engage with fanatics? First, I was at a Was...

DATE: Nov 11, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Barkey: Colorado’s Public Employees Retirement Association is going broke

Colorado’s Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) system is going broke. Colorado’s teachers, firefighters, and state troopers are among PERA’s 560,000 members who are e...

DATE: Nov 11, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Hawk: Caring for our children - community responds to child care, workforce challenges

We need to care for those who care for our children. This was a common theme heard at the Thrive! Living Wage Coalition’s community education event on Oct. 6. Forty-nine individua...

DATE: Nov 11, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Parker: One year ago

WASHINGTON – ‘Tis the season of looking back, which brings us inevitably to Election Day 2016. Donald Trump’s victory places last year as one of the most significant in modern Ame...

DATE: Nov 10, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Leonhardt: A conspiracy of inaction on sexual abuse

I caught the journalism bug in high school. I was fortunate to be a scholarship student at a rigorous New York private school with a weekly newspaper, and some of the older students I admire...

DATE: Nov 10, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Milbank: Welcome to the new gilded age

WASHINGTON – Corporations are people, my friend. And this is where they feed. Room 1100 of the Longworth Building, with its ionic columns, gilt-fringed curtains and eagle-topped f...

DATE: Nov 9, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Woolston: America’s security and economy depend on ANWR

The U.S., the world’s largest consumer of oil, will use more than 7 billion barrels of oil this year – right around 20 million barrels a day. Since we produce less than 15 millio...

DATE: Nov 8, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Collins: Rick Perry’s strange sex story

Oh, that Rick Perry. Our secretary of energy was in South Africa recently, for Africa Oil Week. Whenever the word “oil” is mentioned, Perry responds like a dog on the scent of a h...

DATE: Nov 7, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Gerson: A year after Trump’s election, both parties are morally and intellectually exhausted

WASHINGTON – Political commentators are supposed to be somewhat objective and analytical when it comes to tracking trends. In that spirit, I find the polling snapshot of President Trump at o...

DATE: Nov 7, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

McKay: Budget must reflect EPA superfund commitments

For many years now, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has had a presence in San Juan County. Since the 2015 Gold King Mine spill, and the superfund designation of the Bonit...

DATE: Nov 4, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Egan: National parks for the 1 percent or all Americans?

America’s Best Idea is now just another commodity. A president who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing, as Oscar Wilde had it, wants to make it prohibitively expensive for...

DATE: Nov 4, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Demientieff: Sen. Gardner, please ask yourself: “What legacy do we want to leave?”

As a Native Alaskan and member of the Gwich’in Nation, my people have depended on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for centuries. The oil industry has unsuccessfully attempted...

DATE: Nov 4, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Multiple golfers started Saturday within several strokes of defending tournament champ Wil Collins, who pulled ahead by day’s end

An exciting end to the Ute Mountain RoundupOver half of Ute Mountain Roundup’s first-place performances came on night threeSaturday was a barnburner for the Ute Mountain Roundup.The last night of Cortez’s annual PRCA rodeo sold out every seat, and fans were not disappointed.The third night was the charm for the bull riders, who finally posted qualifying rides.Scotty Knapp took home the big check after an 83.5-point ride.However, Josh Frost, the four time Linderman Award winner and three time Reserve World Champion bull rider, walked away with the audience’s support, who loudly booed the judge’s 78.5 score for his ride on Powder River Rodeo’s “Rez Dawg.” Frost’s brother, Jate Frost, took second with an 80.5-point ride.

Keenan Hayes, who stunned the rodeo world last season by becoming the first-ever person to win Rookie of the Year and the World Championship in the same year, visited the UMR just long enough to win the bareback competition. Hayes tied the arena record with his 85-point ride.The ladies of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association tallied first-place performances in barrel racing and breakaway roping posted on night three. Maddy Deerman of Hope, New Mexico, won the breakaway roping title with a time of just 2.4 seconds, and Doskie Edwards swept to the top of the barrel racing event in 17.35 seconds.

Jake Hannum won the tie-down roping event with a time of 8.7 seconds. In a total of five out of eight events, the first-place performance happened on Saturday night, marking an exciting end to the three-day UMR.In all the excitement, the crowd also saw a few warmhearted moments.The UMR celebrated Military Appreciation night by recognizing HD Randolph, Jerry Huskey and Gerald Goodall for their service. The crowd also welcomed 82nd Airborne veteran and skydiver Mike Semanoff, who made his third and final descent into the arena carrying the American flag.Rodeo clown Matt Merritt was tasked with choosing a “fan of the night” for each night of the UMR.On Night 1, he chose a couple who had been married for 62 years. On Night 2, it was a Vietnam veteran in the front row. On Night 3, it was a pair of 91-year-old twins who had attended every UMR Rodeo since 1953.Merritt had the audience believe that the award and accompanying gift card is given to the loudest, rowdiest person in the arena. However, being unable to give the award to himself, Merritt seemingly chose the winner based on merit.

Over half of Ute Mountain Roundup’s first-place performances came on night three

Photos: It’s rodeo timeUte Mountain Roundup Rodeo electrifies the crowd on Saturday

Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo electrifies the crowd on Saturday

Moore, a Lewis, Colorado native and 2015 champion, took center stage in the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo's barrel racing event on Friday

Riders hail from Northwest New Mexico, Northeast Arizona and Southwest Colorado

Photos: A day for boatersAnimas River Days boaters compete on Saturday at Durango Whitewater Park

Animas River Days boaters compete on Saturday at Durango Whitewater Park

Artists reveal ‘Droplets’ mural at Animas River DaysProject involving nine artists was a ‘massive undertaking’ to portray collective vision

The city of Durango and nine artists unveiled the “Droplets” mural on Saturday during Animas River Days at the Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility.The reclamation center and Santa Rita Park were bustling with residents and visitors who showed up for a day of water sports in 82-degree weather.The mural features a series of water droplets containing depictions of wildlife along the Animas River, and the personalities or styles of each artist who worked on them.

Silas Armstrong, an artist who worked on the piece, said the project was a massive undertaking for a group of artists who would presumably find trouble fitting all of their unique ideas into one piece.But they pulled it off.“They initially thought there’s gonna be way too many cooks in the kitchen, but we managed to make it work,” he said.The nine artists are: Armstrong, Cindy Atchison, Chelsie Begoody, Laurie Cullum, Mariah Kaminsky, Parker Ledford, Jordanne Pelkey, Maddie Sanders and Hannah Wilson.“Droplets” uses a color spectrum representing the seasons. The largest droplets break up the major scenes of the Animas River depicted in winter through autumn.“I chose to depict mine in yellow because it just happened to fall in the summer location, but also to represent the 2015 (Gold King Mine waste water spill) disaster that tainted the river and turned it yellow,” he said.

He said a shining sun portrayed over the entire scene is a symbol of hope. The mural also includes depictions of how ecological damage effects the community and the ecosystem downriver from Durango.Armstrong said locals might recognize his art behind Jean Pierre Bakery, Cafe and Wine Bar, a mural of Bart Simpson from “The Simpsons.”He also had a mural at The Hive, a youth community hub, before it announced the closure of its 1150 Main Ave. location.“It’s been one of the best experiences of my life,” he said of the project. “Super-talented artists. Really just honored and flattered enough to work with some of the great artists that are here.”“Droplets” came together through a partnership between the artists, the city of Durango and The Walls Project, a nonprofit that uses art and creativity to drive positive change in communities.The art project came together right on schedule. Tom Donley, The Walls Project’s chief financial officer, said in March the public unveiling of the mural was slated to happen during Animas River Days.Tommy Crosby, economic opportunity manager for the city, said in March the mural was made possible because a separate landscaping project at the reclamation center was completed under budget by about $100,000. The mural’s price tag was about $45,000.Two art installations, a sculpture by Alex Bond called “Whispers in Water” and a kinetic piece depicting a kayaker riding waves by Jeff Wise, were also included in the mural project.cburney@durangoherald.com

Project involving nine artists was a ‘massive undertaking’ to portray collective vision

Photos: Riders compete in the IHBC mountain bike pro races

Photos: Riders battle it out in IHBC men’s professional road raceAnother successful Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race held on Saturday

Another successful Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race held on Saturday

Photos: Iron Horse Bicycle Classic women’s professional road raceSaturday’s women’s race for first place was a thriller, with Durango’s Lauren Aggeler earning a come-from-behind victory

Saturday’s women’s race for first place was a thriller, with Durango’s Lauren Aggeler earning a come-from-behind victory

Brooks: How to engage a fanatic

Barkey: Colorado’s Public Employees Retirement Association is going broke

Hawk: Caring for our children - community responds to child care, workforce challenges

Parker: One year ago

Leonhardt: A conspiracy of inaction on sexual abuse

Milbank: Welcome to the new gilded age

Woolston: America’s security and economy depend on ANWR

Collins: Rick Perry’s strange sex story

Gerson: A year after Trump’s election, both parties are morally and intellectually exhausted

McKay: Budget must reflect EPA superfund commitments

Egan: National parks for the 1 percent or all Americans?

Demientieff: Sen. Gardner, please ask yourself: “What legacy do we want to leave?”

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