Opinion Columns - The Journal

Free land ‘came at great cost to Lakota’

There’s a place in South Dakota, about 25 miles north of Wall Drug, that some locals still call “Jew Flats.” More than 100 years ago, the U.S. gave my great-great grandparents and their chil...

DATE: Mar 20, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Same forces’ at papers, family ski areas

Another part of what made Southwest Colorado special, affordable skiing in our backyard, will soon be no more. Hesperus Ski Area will remain closed through the 2024 to 2025 season. Our paper...

DATE: Mar 20, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Our View: Disinformation dogs Dolores River monument proposal

Grievance politics tend to attract people who feel left out. By Tuesday afternoon, that could be more than 5,000 people, most likely in Mesa and Montrose counties. They signed an online peti...

DATE: Mar 20, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Hunters, anglers lost a strong advocate’

As a lifelong hunter and angler, and a wildlife biologist who worked for 23 years for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, I was honored to be appointed to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Comm...

DATE: Mar 20, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘National monument would not take lands away’

The news story on March 4 regarding the proposed national monument for the Dolores motivated me to share my thoughts on this important issue. Our shared public lands are a great asset to our...

DATE: Mar 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Nobody in charge’ at Durango Post Office

I’ve recently found that the U.S. Postal Service takes no responsibility for any of its actions. My package disappeared prior to being delivered to my mailbox and the powers that run the Dur...

DATE: Mar 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Former Party of Personal Responsibility has fallen’

One recent letter writer carries on the great GOP tradition of – ahem – “misspeaking” when defending his Mango Messiah from the natural consequences of his actions. He blames Democrats for “...

DATE: Mar 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Editorial cartoon

DATE: Mar 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Editorial cartoon

DATE: Mar 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Bhagavad Gita’ promotes a caste society

I am a little puzzled why The Durango Herald printed the article about the “Bhagavad Gita” recently with headline “What the ‘Bhagavad Gita’ can teach about work.” The "Gita“ promotes the ide...

DATE: Mar 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

'People are good, democracy can work’

Thanks to Colorado’s congressional delegation for voting to pass HR 6544, the Atomic Energy Advancement Act. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Denver) co-led the bill with Rep. Jeff Duncan (R- S.C.). It...

DATE: Mar 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Wolves ‘drugged, blindfolded, collared, moved to remote land’

What was it like for 10 captured Oregon wolves when Colorado Parks and Wildlife opened their crates on a December day last year? The wolves had been chased by helicopter, drugged, blindfolde...

DATE: Mar 15, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Photos: Four Corners Motorcycle RallyLots of motorcycles and tattoos were on display on Saturday

Lots of motorcycles and tattoos were on display on Saturday

Crews reinforce lines as hot, dry weather threatens to feed Stoner Mesa Fire‘Rolling debris may cause uphill runs, torching, and spotting’Firefighters battling the Stoner Mesa Fire northeast of Dolores on Sunday reported steady progress on building containment lines, even as hot, dry weather promises to drive fire activity this week.The lightning-caused wildfire, which ignited July 28, has burned 8,369 acres and remains 0% contained as of Sunday morning, according to Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1.The change in weather, following a cooldown with rain Friday and Saturday, is expected to intensify fire behavior, as grass and brush becomes increasingly flammable and likely to spread in the rough and sometimes steep terrain between Stoner and Taylor mesas.Structure protection teams continued to assess homes and energy infrastructure along the Colorado Highway 145 corridor, the team update said. More than 570 personnel have been assigned to the fire, and officials said efforts are focused on securing the perimeter and preventing the fire from advancing into inaccessible areas.In his morning briefing, Operations Section Chief Matt Weakland again asked drivers in the Colorado Highway 145 and Road 38 corridor to be cautious.“We have a lot of work going on in the Highway 145 and the County Road 38 areas. ... Please slow down and take some extra precaution just because we do have so many folks out in those areas working to prep and catalog all of those structures that we have out along those roads.”

Crews extend fire linesIn Division A, on the northwestern side of the fire, crews have established fire lines from the edge of Division X to West Twin Springs Trail, with only a small segment of indirect line remaining, the news release said.Firefighters are mopping up burned areas, strengthening fire lines and, where conditions allow, conducting small burns to reduce unburned fuels near the fire’s perimeter. Other crews were trying to contain two spot fires east of West Twin Springs Trail.Elsewhere, southern containment lines are largely complete in Division T, and crews were reopening historic roads to access and mop up hot spots near the canyon rim. In Division X, dozer lines and trail improvements are being extended toward Aspen Reservoir. Additional resources were reportedly on the way.Heavy equipment was also active in Division W, where mechanized tree fellers and masticators were clearing and shredding timber and vegetation to improve fire lines along the Road 201.In the far northeast corner, crews continue to scout the remote Division E for a plan of attack“We'll be gathering some more information to put together a good solid plan for Division Echo,” Weakland said. “One thing to note,” he said, “at the the far (eastern) end of the fire, we were able to get some additional old roadways opened up with a dozer so that we can put engines and crews out on this end of the fire to try to hold that right where it is on from any southward movement.”

‘Rolling debris may cause uphill runs, torching, and spotting’

Crews battle to contain Stoner Mesa Fire, work to protect high value areas‘Fully staffed division’ puts in fire line along mesa to protect County Road 38Firefighters are pushing to build containment lines in the Stoner Mesa Fire northeast of Dolores, taking advantage of a cool night with rainfall to improve fire lines and further implement the containment strategy.The fire, which has scorched more than 7,390 acres since it was ignited July 28, remained 0% contained Saturday morning, according to a news release from the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1. The team noted that because of poor flight conditions, no new infrared data was available to update the fire’s size. More than 530 personnel are working the fire, which is burning in rugged terrain and threatening homes, grazing lands, timber sales and key transportation routes including Colorado Highway 145 and County Road 38.“Firefighters continue to work toward full suppression of the fire, keeping firefighter safety and the public’s safety as a top priority,” the incident team said Saturday in a news release.According to operations section chief Matt Weakland, however, said in his morning update that the rainfall has brought new challenges for crews.

“Last night we received some moisture on the fire and more rain is expected today,” he said. “While that is a really good for moderating fire behavior, it does present some unique challenges to firefighters out on the ground. It can cause roads and dozer lines that we've been driving to become slick and impassible and it also can cause problems for firefighters … in those steep areas – makes it inaccessible due to slick conditions.”Infrared flights used to map the fire’s perimeter were grounded for two nights because of poor weather. Officials plan to use unmanned aerial systems and state Mission Aircraft to gather data this weekend.Impact on local communitiesResidents along Highway 145 and County Road 38 are being urged to drive cautiously due to heavy fire traffic. The fire team, led by Cmdr. Justin Conrad, has reported several close calls with drivers passing on double yellow lines and exceeding speed limits, the news release said.Officials also reminded the public that wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. “If you fly, we can’t,” the team warned. Flight crews were airborne Saturday morning. Structure protection teams are assessing homes and preparing for a possible defense. Structure Group 145 is identifying water tender fill sites and evaluating equipment needs. Structure Group 38 has completed assessments on the fire side of the footprint from Dunton to Colorado 145 and is working north to assess properties on the opposite side.The San Juan National Forest has announced emergency closures in areas affected by the fire. Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in place across the region.

Bayless returned to the mound in the top of the fifth inning and surrendered only one hit. The Piedra Vista High product has been one of the most efficient pitchers in the tournament, with a three-inning shutout performance out of the bullpen earlier this week in a Renegades win over the Midland Redskins.The Dodgers broke the game open in the top of the sixth, scoring three times. Clark and Ashten Ballew both scored, followed by Austen Allen. Those three runs gave the Dodgers a commanding 4-0 edge.The Renegades closed the gap in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ben Finnegan led off the frame getting hit by a pitch, then scored on a double down the right field line by Curry. Green then doubled in Curry to cut the Dodgers lead in half, but then proceeded to leave a runner on base to end the threat.The Dodgers added a run in the top of the seventh when Baker led off the frame with a single and later scored from second on a base hit from Clark to add some leverage for Collins, who shut the Renegades down with a flawless final inning to complete the win.“Everything was working for me tonight, I got myself into a lot of 2-strike counts and had myself in the drivers seat,” Collins said. “I had a lot of faith in my defense and they executed so well in getting us out of jams.”

The Dodgers made their CMWS debut in 2022 and have been a return visitor each of the last three years. In 2022 and 2023, they earned automatic bids to the tournament having won the Don Mattingly World Series the prior year. This year, the Dodgers won the Ozarks qualifying tournament in Joplin, Missouri to earn their spot in the event. The Dodgers finish the CMWS with a record of 4 wins and one loss, dropping their only game in bracket competition to the Midland Southwest Bulls.The Renegades, who were hoping to become back-to-back CMWS champions, never appeared to overcome Collins’ performance on the mound.“The kid threw strikes and we just couldn’t capitalize on them at all,” said Renegades head coach Si Pettrow. “Even when we made that run in the fourth, we still couldn’t keep that momentum going.”This was the second meeting between these two teams during the Connie Mack World Series. On Thursday, the Dodgers outscored the Renegades by a score of 9-6. “The more you see a team, the more you get to scout their tendencies and so we focused on that a little bit coming into this game tonight. The Renegades finish the tournament with a record of 4-2, with both of their losses coming at the hands of the newly crowned champions.

Landon Collins hurls complete game and picks up tournament MVP award

A sampling of images from the Montezuma County Fair

Vermette wins Red Bull Hardline WalesDurango downhill mountain bike star made history becoming youngest winner

Asa Vermette didn’t think it was enough. The 18-year-old downhill mountain bike sensation was the final rider to hit the Red Bull Hardline course in Dyfi, Wales, on Sunday. He knew England’s Charlie Hatton had put down a great run before him.He knew the top of his run wasn’t the fastest and he made a small mistake. That mistake didn’t matter. As soon as Vermette crossed the finish line, the timing screen turned green and he became the youngest Red Bull Hardline winner in the event’s history, beating Hatton’s run by 1.681 seconds. It was a bounce back effort for Vermette after he finished second at Red Bull Hardline Tasmania in February. “I felt really good after Tasmania; I just wanted to get the win, pretty bad, for sure,” Vermette said. “So to do it there was insane. Also, I wasn't really even thinking about being the youngest person until it happened. So, I'm stoked on that; it’s cool.”The Durangoan completed his final run in two minutes and 24.477 seconds; Vermette’s final run was over four seconds faster than his qualifying run. Hatton finished in second in 2:26.158 and Ronan Dinne was third in 2:29.396. Like in many of his World Cup runs, Vermette built up his run by starting slower in the first split and then built his speed and a gap to his competitors. He was fourth after the first split and then had the fastest splits in Split 2, 3 and 4.

Rain was in the air in Dyfi the night before the qualifying and race day. Vermette didn’t grow up racing in the rain and mud in Durango but he’s gotten used to it doing the World Cups.“My riding style for all the technical rock gardens was actually pretty good because at Purgatory we’ve got a bunch of those; it's just doesn't usually rain,” Vermette said. “So the track was something I was pretty familiar with the steep chutes, corners and big jumps … having a slippery top section was something … to adjust to was some slippery rocks. But other than that, the track was pretty suited to me.”A big difference between World Cup tracks and Red Bull Hardline are the jumps. The jumps at Hardline, with drops up to 90 feet, according to Vermette, are a lot bigger than anything he’d see at a World Cup. The difference suits Vermette as he enjoys hitting jumps.Vermette had one final jump to nail before crossing the finish line at the bottom. He felt like his run wasn’t enough because of a couple mistakes. Reflecting on the moment, Vermette realizes that on the bike, every mistake feels like it’s bigger than it is.After hitting the final jump, crossing the finish line and realizing he won, Vermette was mobbed by camera people and his competitors congratulating him in front of a huge crowd.

It was an insane feeling for Vermette, one he struggled to put into words as all the fans were stoked to watch a run on such an entertaining track. The 2025 World Cup season has been tough for Vermette so far. He crashed in the first two rounds, is without a win and is fourth in the men’s junior downhill World Cup standings. His Red Bull Hardline win could turn the tide on his year. “It'll help for sure, just for the confidence,” Vermette said. “It's a totally different field and different track, but just the confidence of knowing you did it the weekend before or whatever will be nice to have. Hopefully we can just keep building and going on for me.”

Vermette has a quick turnaround to defend his men’s elite downhill USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championship in Big Bear Lake, California, from Thursday-Sunday. bkelly@durangoherald.com

Durango downhill mountain bike star made history becoming youngest winner

Report IDs marshals involved in Farmington shootingMarshals claim suspect was armed with AK-47, but police can’t confirm it

The Tri-City Record has obtained an unredacted copy of the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office incident report detailing the May 7 shooting of two people by the U.S. Marshals Service in Farmington.The report identified the marshals involved in the shooting as Jared Santesson, Navid Babadi and Mike Coconis. It is believed their gunfire killed Breanna Wilkerson, 25, of Farmington, her puppy and Brandon Roe, 37, of Farmington.The marshals’ names had been redacted from all other documents received from the Sheriff’s Office including three written statements the Tri-City Record obtained through a July 10 Inspection of Public Records Acts Request.The statements detail the events leading up to the shooting deaths, which happened about 6:30 p.m. in the 4000 block of Copper Avenue, when Wilkerson reportedly was trying to leave the area with Roe in the vehicle.The statements showed that the marshals began surveillance on Roe on May 1, 2025, in response to three warrants issued on Feb. 20, 2025, for his arrest.

All three U.S. deputy marshals stated in the documents that they believed Roe to be armed and possibly in possession of an AK-47.“This belief stemmed from his history, from when the Farmington Officer recently observed an AK style firearm in his vehicle’s front seat,” one of the marshals stated.San Juan County Sheriff’s Lt. Gilbert stated in the shooting narrative that “Roe had fled from FPD a week or so before, and an AK-47 was found in the vehicle.”An email detailing the statement was sent on July 24 to Farmington Police spokeswoman Shanice Gonzales, who originally said she could not confirm this.“We looked into it, and we can’t confirm that. We also reviewed other cases involving Roe and found no cases of an AK being observed by FPD,” Gonzales said shortly before 11 a.m. July 29.Then at 3:37 p.m. July 29 Gonzales sent a revised statement in an email, saying there was an incident at 1:46 a.m. April 16, 2025, in the 400 block of Copper Street.Officers were conducting “proactive patrols,” in the area, “when a male subject fled from a yard where he appeared to be working on a vehicle,” Gonzales wrote.The officers spoke to Wilkerson as well as other “individuals at the property to identify the fleeing subject but were unable to confirm his identity. Conflicting information was provided by individuals on scene,” Gonzales wrote.“While investigating, officers observed what appeared to be an M4-style firearm inside a vehicle located on the private property,” Gonzales said. “As there was no legal basis to seize the firearm at that time, it remained in place.”There also were reports of an empty holster being observed in Roe’s vehicle earlier in the day. However, none of the statements or the narrative mention an actual firearm being found at the scene.

The marshals also report that they believed “Roe to be the sole occupant” of Wilkerson’s Gold Chevrolet Blazer when they opened fire.However, they knew the Blazer was registered in Wilkerson’s name and said that they saw her leave the home in the 4000 block of Copper Avenue shortly before the shooting. “I observed Roe in the driver’s seat of the Gold Chevrolet Blazer with both hands on the left side of the steering wheel,” one marshal wrote.Another marshal wrote that he “only saw one individual in the vehicle,” and the person “looked like Roe and fit the description of clothing (that I could see) he was wearing prior to the approach to the residence.” He added that he saw a dog at a window in the backseat.

None of the marshals admitted to seeing Wilkerson, because she was “seated under Roe in the driver’s seat.”One of the marshals wrote “I never saw or knew anyone else was in the vehicle,” until after the shooting, when “I was very surprised and concerned to see someone under Roe.”However, in the incident report, Gilbert states, “I could see the occupants of the vehicle hunched over as the vehicle rolled forward.”Gilbert also states, “The male was awkwardly positioned in the vehicle.”Gilbert also stated that when law enforcement checked on Roe and Wilkerson after the shooting, Roe had a “faint pulse,” and Wilkerson was “clearly deceased.”One of the marshals stated that he “did not feel a pulse” on either Roe or Wilkerson, yet he “immediately requested medical personnel to be summoned for medical aid.”

The marshal, believed to be Babadi from the video and the redacted statement, claimed that before the shooting, Roe was “revving” the engine and “the vehicle continued to accelerate rapidly toward me.”In the video, the marshal believed to be Babadi could be seen jumping from his vehicle and running toward the front of the Blazer, while yelling, “Show me your f----ing hands.”However, in his statement to investigators, he said he was “unable to move out of the way in time,” and “I believed I was about to run over and fearing for my life, I fired my weapon multiple times through the front windshield to stop the deadly threat.”This marshal stated that he could “not estimate the speed of the vehicle.”Another marshal stated, “the vehicle was moving fast enough by my perception to kill or seriously injure,” other law enforcement officers, and he knew this because of his “personal experience of being run over by a fleeing fugitive in a vehicle in the past.”However, Lt. Gilbert wrote in the incident narrative that the “vehicle was moving somewhat slowly and erratically towards them.”This incident was not the first time Babadi stood in front of vehicle and fired into the windshield. He was involved in a multi-agency police-involved shooting on Dec. 14, 2020, which resulted in the death of William Hernandez, 46, of Kirtland.According to the news release dated Jan. 21, 2021, from the New Mexico State Police, Hernandez barricaded himself inside a Ford Expedition outside the Life Care Center in Farmington.The report stated that Babadi “positions himself facing the front of the Expedition.”Hernandez was armed with a knife and a handgun, which he pointed at the head of a passenger. He lowered the gun and then, raised it “a second time towards” the passenger’s head, the news release stated.Babadi, four San Juan County Sheriff’s deputies and a New Mexico State Police Officer fired into the vehicle, killing Hernandez, the news release stated.Babadi also was named in at least two lawsuits claiming illegal search and seizure of vehicles, and in the 2019 case, U.S. Magistrate Laura Fashing entered a ruling to suppress all evidence from the search and seizure as it was not done legally.A determination has not been made in the shooting deaths of Roe and Wilkerson. San Juan County District Attorney Jack Fortner said his office is reviewing the information and should make a decision this week.This article was updated July 29 to include new comment from Farmington Police spokeswoman Shanice Gonzales about the investigation of Brandon Roe.

Marshals claim suspect was armed with AK-47, but police can’t confirm it