Family man, loyal friend, and active community member are only a few of the words describing our community’s most recent loss of a good man. Mike Cook has always been a man behind the scenes in the community, offering his help to family, friends, and many strangers in his longtime[Read More…]
Tag: Opinion
Christmas movies
As you have gathered from some of my other stories, much of my life has been influenced by movies. Seen on either TV repeats, VHS tapes, or now the almost extinct DVD. Tracy and I have most of the Star Wars character lines memorized. An off-hand comment often triggers a[Read More…]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Thanks from Michigan hunter
Dear Editor: On Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, I strayed northeast of my intended elk hunt drive instead of northwest as discussed in camp. My estimated time of arrival with my other hunters should have been 11:30 a.m. Instead, I continued to walk and hunt into the middle of the afternoon.[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: Zoom, Zoom
Traveling to see family during the holidays continues to be a number one priority for so many folks. This results in quite a few unexpected glitches — before, after, and in between travel of any sort. The gradual reopening of popular public destinations for both tourists and locals alike made[Read More…]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Dec 1, 2022
Conservancy District’s lack of transparency troubling Dear Editor: The issues of water security for our community are too important to be decided behind closed doors. As a fiscally conservative citizen and owner of a local business and of water rights, I wonder what other Rio Blanco county citizens think about[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: Comfortable history
History never repeats itself, but the Kaleidoscopic combinations of the pictured present often seem to be constructed out of the broken fragments of antique legends. ~ from the novel “The Gilded Age: A Tale of To-Day” by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner, 1874 There’s something comforting about history, despite[Read More…]
My ancestor invented the Christmas card in England!
OK, I am stretching the truth a bit. Joseph Cundall was my first cousin five times removed and he didn’t design the first card. But he did print the first commercial Christmas postcard for Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843. So, I am almost famous! Old Joe recognized the[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: Where have all the spoons gone?
… When I became the sole resident of my household for the first time in 30 years one of the tasks I tackled was a stringent decluttering of my kitchen, including the silverware drawer. No need to keep multiple mismatched sets of forks, knives, and spoons lying around for one[Read More…]
Guest Column: Thanksgiving
As children, we were treated to special fun in November and December. I don’t know what Freud would say about Sugar Plums dancing in my head, but I remember the build up of excitement starting at Thanksgiving. Family traditions and the anticipation of Christmas foods, decorations and toys are a[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: Remembering Joe
It isn’t that there are “no words” when it comes to first trying to process someone’s sudden death. It is impossible to summon the right words when someone you have known for 40 years passes away suddenly. Joe Fennessy died a little more than a week ago ending his eight[Read More…]
Letter: PMC commended for care
Dear Editor: I have the honor and privilege of serving as our PMC Hospital Board President and well as the Board President of Elk Creek Ranch. About 10 days ago, Liz Sellers, PMC CEO, and I received a note from Melissa Williams about how her father, who was at the[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: #6
… Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. ~ Helen Keller It’s a weird question. All the obvious answers pop up first, tinged with sarcasm: water, food, air, breathing, the electrical stimulus that keeps[Read More…]


