Columnists - The Journal

Terrible dilemma faces the Great Basin

The long drive between Salt Lake City and Reno, Nevada, on Interstate 80 feels endless, the landscape timeless. But these basins and ranges of the Great Basin Desert are changing dramaticall...

DATE: Jan 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Talk about Biden’s age is code’

It was never my intention to become an expert on language and I make no claim to be one. But it is hard to spend a quarter of a century reading and editing written opinions without developin...

DATE: Jan 14, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Changes happened at pace matched by early settlement days’

C.S. Lewis – “Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when we look back everything is different.” The one constant in life is that things change. Times, technology, beliefs, peopl...

DATE: Jan 14, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

A look back at the week Jan. 15-21

The following is a recap of local events for this time period throughout history. 40 years ago (1984) Savino and Ellen Jaquez, Aztec, celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary Jan. 6 with sp...

DATE: Jan 11, 2024 | CATEGORY: Living

One migrant’s story: ‘Jobs scarce, gangs everywhere’

Exactly what causes people to leave their homeland and make a difficult trek of 3,000 miles? A young woman I’ll call Jhovid, who came here from Venezuela, has asked me to listen to her answe...

DATE: Jan 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Depression, anxiety with Alzheimer’s ‘is what it is’

You might be tired of reading about my fight with depression and anxiety. Honestly, I’m tired of writing about it, but it is what it is. I suppose some others who have mild cognitive impairm...

DATE: Jan 7, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Venezuelan migrants paralyzed by system restricting working'

President Joe Biden arrived in Denver in late November as part of his “Investing in America” tour and upon landing he was met by Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. The presiden...

DATE: Jan 7, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Conundrum’ of Kit Carson, peak named for him

My hike up Kit Carson Peak in June 2000 began with great ambition and ended with confusion. Confusion remains now, almost 24 years later, if in a different way. We’re not sure what to call t...

DATE: Jan 3, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Making resolutions centers on change. And change is rarely easy’

It’s that time of year. But is anyone making resolutions anymore? I am but only as a default. On Dec. 11, I said: “Resolved: I will get on my treadmill every morning after breakfast for 20 m...

DATE: Dec 31, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

A look back at the week Jan. 1-7

The following is a recap of local events for this time period throughout history. 41 years ago (1982) Municipal Judge Frederick A “Rick” Moeller is going to have more flexibility in dealing ...

DATE: Dec 29, 2023 | CATEGORY: Living

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would help state agencies

Fifty years ago today, President Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act and the wildly effective act is our nation’s top wildlife law. Ninety-nine percent of the threatened and enda...

DATE: Dec 29, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Southwest Colorado has a lot of good going on’

Every year is a mixed bag, and 2023 was no exception. On balance, though, life in Southwest Colorado has to be seen as pretty good. Moreover, there is reason to believe that will continue in...

DATE: Dec 27, 2023 | CATEGORY: Opinion