On Aug. 22 we welcomed new and returning students to the 2022-23 academic year. However, preparation for the new semester started well before that the start of classes. During the week prior, the college held its annual convocation where we kick off the year, unveil new strategic priorities, and welcome[Read More…]
Columns
Can we live with electric mountain bikes on trails?
The first time I saw an electric bike — better known as an ebike — I was struggling up a hill. Suddenly, a silver-haired man came whizzing by in regular city clothes. I felt a wave of envy as he left me in the dust. That was probably five years[Read More…]
Loose Ends: Sliced bread
Nothing better than sliced bread is an old-fashioned phrase that isn’t heard often these days in casual conversation. This phrase is usually used by people of a certain age, whose family members may have said it regularly to express their satisfaction or to offer a compliment to the baker. Now[Read More…]
Old-fashioned communication technology
In the movie “Independence Day” the disorganized pilots across the world were reduced to communicating with help of amateur radio operators using Morse Code. These “HAM” radio guys helped Bill Pullman, as president, with a counter attack that saved the human race from extinction. OK, that was a strange use[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Volunteer power
Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. ~ Desmond Tutu When people move into town one of the things we encourage them to do is to “get involved” in the community, often by volunteering with one[Read More…]
When opinions and information collide
I got an email last week from a gentleman in Oregon lambasting our recent reporting on the Piceance/East Douglas Herd Management Area. Interestingly, the only negative feedback we’ve received is from people who don’t actually live here, but who still have a lot of feelings and opinions about the situation[Read More…]
What to do when the water keeps dwindling?
It seemed inevitable that the dwindling Colorado River would be divvied up by the federal Bureau of Reclamation. On June 14, BuRec gave the seven states in the Colorado River compact just 60 days to find a way to cut their total water usage by up to 4 million acre-feet.[Read More…]
Back to the moon
Childhood heroes are getting scarce. Well, at least outside YOUTube and video games. Kids need heroes to grow. My heroes were my Dad, cowboys in white hats like Roy Rogers, knights in armor, and astronauts. The space race to the moon began with the Russians launching a satellite named Sputnik.[Read More…]
Loose Ends: Rural transportation
Offering transportation options for those residents who suddenly find themselves without a vehicle for a multitude of reasons continues to be one of the most important concerns in Colorado rural communities. This issue seems come up as more and more residents find they need help getting to out-of-town appointments. Local[Read More…]
Knowing ‘why’ empowers change for good
Begin to ask yourself, with lots of curiosity and little judgment, ‘why am I doing this?’ So much learning in that one practice. ~ Maurice Moe Mitchell There’s a lot to unpack in that little quote. Much of what we do on a daily basis is mechanical or habitual, whether[Read More…]
Newcomers at Old Timers
Tracy and I were invited to the Pioneers Dinner and Dance. Since we are newcomers to Meeker, we didn’t really feel qualified to attend. Thanks, Johnnie, we really enjoyed ourselves. Thanks to the officers, helpers and Jan, it was well attended. The food was great and servers always ready to[Read More…]
Stuff, stuff and more stuff
“We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities.” ~ Oscar Wilde The train that carries passengers into Denver from the west travels through the backyards of several suburban neighborhoods, both high- and low-end, and provides a glimpse into aspects of American life that are usually tucked[Read More…]