Since 1976, YouthZone has been a cornerstone of support for youth and families in Colorado’s 9th Judicial District. We’re proud of the reputation we’ve built in the last 50 years: meeting young people where they are and walking alongside them through life’s challenges. Today, one of the most pressing issues[Read More…]
Columns
LOOSE ENDS: The last laugh
Most of us are used to thinking of the above phrase in a negative way in a personal situation, as in “at least I got the last laugh.” Even now with such a thin line drawn between insult and compliment, such an old-time phrase can be the perfect way to[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: What we should have learned from the Greatest Generation
The polarization across the country continues, especially as it relates to important issues that will affect the future health of children all over America. Blame it on the pandemic or blame it on the political climate that has prompted the newest increase of people who have turned a public health[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: The color green
“Green, Green, they say, on the far side of the hill” is a repetitive verse in one beloved old folk song. It wouldn’t be surprising to hear it now, during the long recovery period predicted for the land traumatized from the Lee and Elk fires. The sight of the newest[Read More…]
YOUTHZONE — GUEST COLUMN
Special to the HT MEEKER | Back-to-school season is an interesting time in our communities. Transitioning between the long, empty days of summer and the shorter days of fall – which are packed with sports, extracurriculars, and academic obligations – can be positive for some and challenging for others. [Read More…]
GUEST COLUMN: New water study adds further worries for water managers
A new study (Klavans, 2025) by climate researchers at University of Colorado Boulder adds further worries for water managers. The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), which drives the delivery of moisture to the American Southwest, is locked in its “negative” phase. Those conditions result in persistent drought. The PDO is similar[Read More…]
GUEST COLUMN: Standing Strong for Colorado: Results from the Special Session
By Rep. Megan Lukens When Congressional Republicans passed a budget last month that handed out massive tax cutsto corporations, it created a billion-dollar hole in Colorado’s state budget. H.R. 1 threatensMedicaid services, cuts SNAP food assistance for hundreds of thousands of Coloradans, andcauses health insurance premiums to spike by nearly[Read More…]
GUEST COLUMN: CNCC September update
RANGELY | CNCC Fall classes are in full swing, and students welcome and success activities areunderway. Our fall enrollment is up compared to this time last year, and our incoming students are excited to begin both their academic journey and out-of-class experiences.The first home soccer game took place on Aug.[Read More…]
GUEST COLUMN: Colorado special session recap
By Sen. Dylan Roberts Normally, late August is a time for enjoying the last weeks of summer and getting the kids backto school. However, for the second year in a row, the Colorado legislature found itself spendinglate August inside the Capitol in Denver.Last year it was to lower property tax[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: Non-random acts of kindness
One dark night when we were all in bed, Old Lady lit the lantern in the shed, and when the cow kicked it over she blinked her eyes and said, “It’s gonna be a hot time in the old town tonight.” A hot time would certainly be an understatement about[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: Meeker Strong
Thank you, firefighters, firefighting support staff, as well as all the Meeker families and friends who are continuing to make sure Meeker, as well as the surrounding countryside, is on its way to recovery. The MEEKER STRONG support system remains. It is so great to see those caring acts of[Read More…]
GUEST COLUMN: HOPEWEST – Meeting you exactly where you are
At HopeWest, our work isn’t just about care — it’s about presence. That simple idea has shaped how we walk beside people through aging, illness, and grief for more than thirty years. When you or someone you love needs support, we take the time to understand what matters most to[Read More…]