Letters to the Editor

‘Property taxes absurdly low. Come on!’

Colorado’s property taxes are absurdly low. How can it be said lower taxes are needed? Colorado does not fund education, which includes low teacher pay. In many states, it is the property ta...

DATE: Nov 26, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

No ‘peace until hostages released’

It is disheartening to see people who support Hamas. Hamas uses human shields, human atrocities and human hostages as a tool for destroying Jews. Hamas must be destroyed or will build bigger...

DATE: Nov 26, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Ballot in one hand, AR-15 in other’

OK, now I get it. I don’t feel the love for Donald Trump and admittedly, never have. I’m amazed he’s not in a prison cell with the maggots who did his dirty work on Jan. 6. Trump is a liar a...

DATE: Nov 26, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘A smear ad campaign against Boebert’

Progressive dark money PAC is at it again. Rocky Mountain Values is running a smear ad campaign against Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. The ad accuses the congresswoman of voting against lower...

DATE: Nov 26, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Ballot in one hand, AR-15 in other’

OK, now I get it. I don’t feel the love for Donald Trump and admittedly, never have. I’m amazed he’s not in a prison cell with the maggots who did his dirty work on Jan. 6. Trump is a liar a...

DATE: Nov 26, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Entered point of no return’

Dark and ominous days ahead. We have now entered the point of no return. Our politicians, on both sides, have agreed to continue with more than $2 trillion dollars per year of deficit spendi...

DATE: Nov 22, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Putting fox in charge of chicken coop’

Doesn’t it seem incredible that the more the breadth and depth of the former president’s mischief is exposed in the courts, the more wildly popular he gets in the polls? Not only that, but h...

DATE: Nov 22, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Asking for little help never granted’

Unfortunate end results for missing Rich Moore of Pagosa Springs, but glad his body and his dog have finally been found and, amazingly, the dog is still alive. I was in Pagosa right after th...

DATE: Nov 22, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Call out Boebert on genocide’

So far, there are few who have been willing to show up and support a movement united against racism, islamophobia, anti-semitism, transphobia, and above all, state-sanctioned violence and ge...

DATE: Nov 12, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Some Americans have dysfunctional brains’

My friend George was murdered in 1973 running along the beach in San Francisco. I was running with him earlier or would not be alive to write this letter. Today we are all victims of gun vio...

DATE: Nov 12, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Vicious cycle brought Netanyahu, Hamas’

Patriarchal dominance cements its control beginning with humiliation, proceeding to intimidation and threats, then moving into violence. This vicious cycle has brought us Benjamin Netanyahu ...

DATE: Nov 12, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Boebert using grandchild as a prop’

When Rep. Lauren Boebert isn’t using a pistol side arm as a prop, she uses her 6-month-old grandchild, Josiah, as a prop. The family values representative is nothing short of being morally ...

DATE: Nov 5, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Photos: Fireworks show lights up Cortez sky on Fourth of JulyTopping off the Independence Day celebration Friday in Cortez, the fireworks show was grand as ever.Just west of Parque de Vida was a car show, put on by BumzArodn. Crowds leisurely strolled by looking at the cars while more canopies of families and friends stationed themselves on the grass.The pyrotechnics began blasting into the sky just after 9 p.m., as Parque de Vida had filled with an evening crowd of ready onlookers. Cascades and bursts, sparkles and twists, even the periodic fireball – the fireworks worked their magic as the crowd roared with excitement and watched in awe, with the evening show ending around 9:30 p.m.

Topping off the Independence Day celebration Friday in Cortez, the fireworks show was grand as ever...

Photos: Durango gets ‘Wet and Wild’

Coal Bank Pass rockfall, wall work planned through NovemberDrivers going between Durango and Silverton for fireworks should expect delays

Colorado Department of Transportation crews are racing to complete rockfall mitigation and replace a retaining wall on U.S. Highway 550 at Coal Bank Pass before snow arrives this fall.Crews are working on slopes between 45 and 90 degrees with boulders perched on a ledge at mile marker 59.3, near Deer Creek. CDOT Project Manager Jeff Reichle said the plan is to excavate from the top down, reducing slopes to about 35 degrees so rocks slide to a stop rather than rolling downhill.

After heavy excavation, CDOT will bring in rope crews to perform lighter excavation, he said. A rockfall catchment wall will be built that will gradually fill with rocks and sediment, eventually becoming a retaining wall.At mile marker 56.9, crews will replace a failing timber crib wall with a mechanically stabilized earth retaining wall on the northbound downslope. Reichle said drivers will see centerline barriers, with lanes narrowed to about 10 feet, as crews dig into the road and install wires and cribbing.“We’re going to cut the road in half, basically right at center line, and dig a hole in the road,” he said. “That’s really the only way to do the work because of the steepness.”

The rockfall work will remove about 12,000 to 14,000 cubic yards of rock and dirt, which will be stockpiled at Andrews Lake for future use in road shouldering and other projects, he said. That’s enough to fill 1,300 dump trucks or nearly four Olympic-sized pools. The work will require patience from motorists, with the rockfall mitigation and wall replacement scheduled to be completed by Oct. 1.The projects have been on CDOT’s list for about 10 years, Reichle said.

The retaining wall at mile marker 56.9 is in poor condition. If it fails or a major rockfall hits, CDOT could face an emergency project and extended full closures.Falling rocks near Deer Creek dwarf the current Jersey barriers, Reichle said. Some boulders are as large as 10 cubic yards – comparable in size to a small dump truck.What to expect over Fourth of July weekendRockfall and wall work on Highway 550 between the summits of Coal Bank and Molas passes will pause through Sunday for the holiday weekend.However, drivers should still expect delays at two traffic signals at mile markers 56.9 and 59.3, according to CDOT.

Reichle said wait times will be about two minutes, but could be longer depending on traffic volumes and the automated signals.“Peak periods before and after the Silverton fireworks show will have longer waits,” he said.

Where did the boulders come from?Reichle, a geologist, said he often wonders how these slopes formed.The first and foremost answer is the road itself cuts across the slope, he said. If a road had never been built, there wouldn’t be a falling rock hazard. But it’s also possible a landslide occurred thousands of years ago, or that it and boulders are remnants of glaciers that moved through the canyons thousands of years ago.“It could have been a lateral moraine or a terminal moraine, or something like that, that deposited the large stones as it traveled through this area,” he said.cburney@durangoherald.com

Drivers going between Durango and Silverton for fireworks should expect delays

Photos: Cortez BMX hosts state qualifying racesOver 100 riders from youth striders to adults competed Saturday at the Baxter Family BMX track in Cortez

Over 100 riders from youth striders to adults competed Saturday at the Baxter Family BMX track in Cortez

Photos: Hundreds gather to honor fallen Bloomfield Police officer Timothy OntiverosA solemn procession stretched for blocks Monday morning along West Apache Street in Farmington – a display of unity, grief and honor for Bloomfield Police Officer Timothy Ontiveros, 32.About 7 a.m., a large contingent of law enforcement, motorcyclists, friends and grieving family prepared to embark on the motorcade to the 9 a.m. service at the Bloomfield High School football stadium to celebrate the life of the officer.

A solemn procession stretched for blocks Monday morning along West Apache Street in Farmington – a d...

Families and friends packed the Dolores High School gymnasium to celebrate 26 graduates walking acro...

Photos: Hundreds send off the Montezuma-Cortez Class of 2025Friends, family fill Panther StadiumHundreds of family and friends piled into the bleachers at Panther Stadium to watch the graduating seniors receive their diplomas.M-CHS Principal Jennifer Boniface served as emcee, and told the gathered crowd that this ceremony was a testament to 12 years of hard work by this class. “Your journey has not always been easy, but you have persevered and achieved this significant milestone,” she said.The warm evening event opened with music by the Red Sky Drummers, a “Pomp and Circumstance” processional performed by the M-CHS Symphonic Winds, a presentation of colors by the VFW Post 5231 Color Guard, the national anthem sung by the M-CHS Choir, and a blessing given by Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Councilwoman Tawnie Knight.

Friends, family fill Panther Stadium

Durango police nab pet kangaroo for second time in less than a yearIrwin hopped around a downtown neighborhood before being captured

For the second time in less than a year, the Durango Police Department captured a pet kangaroo that escaped its confines and went for an early-morning hop through a downtown neighborhood.Irwin, the red kangaroo, was reported on the lam shortly before 6:30 a.m. Monday near East Second Avenue and College Drive – “about where it was the last time we dealt with it,” said Cmdr. Nick Stasi, with the police department.“Somebody driving by saw the kangaroo near the street, and they were concerned for its safety, so they gave us a call,” Stasi said.

Officers last dealt with Irwin in September, when he led police on a pursuit through the same neighborhood. While officers may have doubted the reporting party’s veracity eight months ago, this time they had no reason to second-guess the eyewitness’ account.“Our officers, kind of knowing a little bit of the backstory and just the uniqueness of the kangaroo, were very excited to go find this thing again and rescue it one more time,” Stasi said. “It’s not something our police officers do very often, and the chance to snuggle a kangaroo is pretty interesting for us, considering all the other things that are part of our normal duties.”Officers’ biggest concern was keeping Irwin safe, especially making sure he didn’t get hit by a car.“There was really no concern that it was going to attack anybody,” Stasi said. “It was actually very calm.”

It is legal to own red kangaroos, but with pet ownership comes certain responsibilities, he said. “We are hopeful that the owners of this animal, and any animal, understand that it is the owner’s responsibility to have care over their animal to make sure that it is not getting into dangerous situations,” he said.It was not immediately known how Irwin got loose. It is believed he escaped through an open or unlocked door. No citations were issued.The roo was eventually cornered. Officer Shane Garrison, who grew up on a farm, gave Irwin a little pet, then grabbed it and picked it up like a goat or a calf and carried it to a waiting police vehicle.

Irwin, named after Steve Irwin – aka ‘the Crocodile Hunter’ – was taken to the La Plata County Humane Society. He was picked up later that day by his owners. No officers were scratched or injured.“Apparently, it is very soft, and it was very docile,” Stasi said.Police fielded several media calls Tuesday about the escaped kangaroo, including news outlets from Denver, Albuquerque and The Associated Press.“It’s entertaining,” Stasi said. “I don’t know of any other police agencies in the country who have captured a kangaroo – let alone twice.”shane@durangoherald.com

Irwin hopped around a downtown neighborhood before being captured

Photo gallery: Mancos High School graduationHigh school graduation might mark the end of an era, but it’s just one step in a years-long journey for the 28 students in the Mancos High School Class of 2025. This was the message of Mancos staff and student speakers at the Sunday ceremony in the campus’ Performing Arts Center.

High school graduation might mark the end of an era, but it’s just one step in a years-long journey ...

Photo gallery: Montezuma-Cortez rallies past Elizabeth to win regional Stoked by a lineup full of upperclassmen – many who had played prominent roles during the last Montezuma-Cortez foray to the state tournament – the No. 7 Panthers turned a 5-1 deficit into an 11-6 victory over No. 10 Elizabeth at McAndrew Field in Cortez on Saturday, sparking scenes of jubilation for the hundreds of fans lining the backstop in support of their home team.In action earlier in the day, M-CHS downed No. 26 Jefferson Academy (6-18) by a 9-3 final.

Stoked by a lineup full of upperclassmen – many who had played prominent roles during the last Monte...

‘Property taxes absurdly low. Come on!’

No ‘peace until hostages released’

‘Ballot in one hand, AR-15 in other’

‘A smear ad campaign against Boebert’

‘Ballot in one hand, AR-15 in other’

‘Entered point of no return’

‘Putting fox in charge of chicken coop’

‘Asking for little help never granted’

‘Call out Boebert on genocide’

‘Some Americans have dysfunctional brains’

‘Vicious cycle brought Netanyahu, Hamas’

‘Boebert using grandchild as a prop’

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