As I was standing in the White River Museum, someone uttered the word “Gilsonite.” I thought about saying “Gesundheit!” This was the first time in my life I had ever heard the word Gilsonite. They patiently explained it was something mined in the Western part of Rio Blanco. I nodded[Read More…]
Tag: Guest Column
Guest Column: Standing up for rural communities
Rural communities like our own are truly special. I grew up in our rural communities and with my grandpa as a rancher, I have a keen appreciation of our Western values. As a proud Western Slope citizen and member of the Agriculture, Natural Resources & Water Committee, I am committed[Read More…]
Guest Column: The benefit of public-private partnership
Our mountain and rural communities thrive when we work together. Lacking the resources of the big city, we must all collaborate to solve our most pressing challenges. We’ve been doing this for a long time, and I am confident that this type of problem solving can help us address one[Read More…]
The mystery photo is a _______
And the answer to the mystery photo is a saddle iron (AKA running iron). No, you don’t use it instead of a clothes iron to iron saddle leather. It is used to brand cattle and portable enough to be carried in a saddle bag. This one is owned by Mike[Read More…]
Guest Column: The importance of news literacy
News literacy is the ability to recognize the standards of fact-based news in order to trust, share, and act on accurate information. In a Digital Age where information spreads like wildfire, it is becoming more challenging than ever to separate fact from fiction. Anyone has the ability to create and[Read More…]
The Western slope way
Being your state representative is truly the honor of a lifetime. The first few days at the State Capitol were filled with excitement and hope. On Jan. 9, all newly-elected legislators were sworn in, and we now have a majority women state legislature for the first time in Colorado history.[Read More…]
Back to work at the Capitol
The start of the legislative year provides a spirit of optimism, as we seek to bring solutions and ideas for the challenges and opportunities that our communities face. After speaking directly with many voters on the campaign trail and community leaders in recent weeks, I feel energized and hopeful about[Read More…]
Real men eat haggis
I used to have a bumper sticker that read “REAL MEN EAT HAGGIS.” It exemplified Scottish nationalism, swagger, and sarcastic humor. Scots have a unique celebration that features haggis and their national bard, Robert Burns, known affectionately as “Robbie.” Robbie Burns is accepted as their greatest poet and hero of[Read More…]
Guest Column: A deep consideration on self-care
Self-care is a term we hear around every corner these days, and have for years now. “Self-care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker,” as defined by[Read More…]
Who is Buford named after?
Well, I gave you four choices last week: John Buford, Napoleon Bonaparte Buford, Abraham Buford II, and Buford T. Justice. If you are a Smokey and the Bandit movie fan, you quickly eliminated Sheriff Buford T. Justice played by Jackie Gleason. The other three names were all Civil War generals.[Read More…]
The ‘energy gap’ nobody wants to tussle with
Many Western states have declared they will achieve all-renewable electrical goals in just two decades. Call me naïve, but haven’t energy experts predicted that wind, sun and other alternative energy sources aren’t up to the job? Alice Jackson, former CEO of Xcel energy’s Colorado operation, was blunt at a renewable[Read More…]
Celebrating a new year
The Swedish Christmas is a long celebration. It starts Dec. 1 and ends on Jan. 13. I personally think it is a distraction to take their minds off their long winter. They are so far north; they get about four hours of sunlight in December. When it gets dark, I[Read More…]
