Laws governing public meetings, public records and open government emerged in the 1970s after the exposure of vast amounts of concealed government information and corruption — think Watergate and the Pentagon Papers. The idea was simple: government works better when the public can see how decisions are made. You would[Read More…]
Tag: Columns
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…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Take care of yourselves and each other
“When you face a crisis, you know who your true friends are.” ~ Magic Johnson As I write this on Wednesday morning, many of our friends and neighbors have either been evacuated due to the fires or are waiting to be told to evacuate. The skies are a little more[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – On anxiety
“No amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that is going to happen.” ~Alan Watts I have a love-hate relationship with this quote. As a lifelong worrywart, I resent being made aware of the utter uselessness of thousands of hours spent fretting and worrying. As someone who would like to[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – The arena or the peanut gallery — we get to choose
As we smooth open the shiny pages of 2025 calendars with a blend of hopeful inspiration and fretful trepidation, let’s pause for a moment and consider our position. What transpires in the days ahead will be a heady blend of things that are subject to our control through free will[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – The ugly trait we may share with the Grinch and Mr. Scrooge: Contempt
The Christmas season wouldn’t be complete without Ebenezer Scrooge and the Grinch. What do these two notorious characters from Christmas fiction have in common that we might all need to check for in ourselves? Is it greed, or stinginess, or selfishness, or meanness? I think we can sum up the[Read More…]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR – December 5th, 2024
A call for change in Rio Blanco County’s 4-H program Dear Editor, Our Rio Blanco County 4-H program has experienced a shift in atmosphere, and it is becoming increasingly clear that many of our youth feel discouraged and unsupported. Seasoned 4-H participants are expressing frustration, with one saying, “It’s not fun[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Write your own holiday script, you’ve already got all the plot points
“She was new in town and didn’t have any friends, until she decided to trust a handsome stranger —Hallmark movies and true crime podcasts.” ~ Jennifer McAuliffe By the time you’re reading this week’s column you’ll probably be wearing your stretchy pants and contemplating another round of leftovers. Congratulations! You[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Prognosticators
“I try not to get involved in the business of prediction. It’s a quick way to look like an idiot.” ~Warren Ellis, British author When did mainstream mass media stop reporting what actually happened (news) and start spending all their time predicting what might happen? Prior to the election I[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Sportsmanship should apply to more than sports
“When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less.” ~ Paul Brown Crossing my fingers and hoping by this time next week the crackling election tension in the air will have dissipated like an air mattress with a slow leak, leaving us grounded and steady — literally. It’s wishful[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – October 10th, 2024
“It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.” ―Arthur Conan Doyle I used to think presenting factual information was the way people changed their minds. Now we have all the information we could[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – October 3rd, 2024
“Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?” ―Terry Pratchett Wednesday, Oct. 2 marked six years since the coroner came to my office to notify me that my oldest son was dead. For those who don’t know or remember, Ethan was 26,[Read More…]
