Opinion & Letters to the Editor

Are transit head salaries being cut, too?
Letters to the Editor

Are transit head salaries being cut, too?

March 24, 2018

I question the severity of these reductions of service. When transit department service is being reduced so drastically, have the salaries of the director and superintendent of this department also…

LPEA should buck the energy status-quo
Letters to the Editor

LPEA should buck the energy status-quo

March 24, 2018

I previously worked for a rock mining company that owned a facility that ran 24/7. Energy to run the facility was a huge cost to the company – that is…

Let’s make school a safe place again
Letters to the Editor

Let’s make school a safe place again

March 24, 2018

My elementary school was four miles away from Columbine High School and on April 20, 1999, I experienced my first school shooting. Now, 19 years later, I sit in my…

Taking an active role in school safety
Letters to the Editor

Taking an active role in school safety

March 24, 2018

Right now, there is an effort led by parents to find workable, reliable solutions to the threat of school violence. Currently, in Durango, there are schools that do not have…

We all must work to meet student needs
Letters to the Editor

We all must work to meet student needs

March 24, 2018

What came through loud and clear is that the best way to avoid a tragedy is to prevent individual despair. Our children attend Animas, where the small class sizes and…

Let’s work to keep our county united
Letters to the Editor

Let’s work to keep our county united

March 23, 2018

Or, “I don’t really feel good about being a pawn in the Koch Brothers-funded Americans For Prosperity manipulation of our county’s political process,” or, “Both the democratic and republican county…

Thank you for all the help and memories
Letters to the Editor

Thank you for all the help and memories

March 23, 2018

As I retire from coaching, I walk away with many wonderful memories and experiences. I want to thank the many quality individuals who assisted and supported me in the worthy…

Lachelt not representing all interests
Letters to the Editor

Lachelt not representing all interests

March 23, 2018

Although she has not successfully voted against oil and gas, we can clearly remember two occasions where Commissioner Lachelt voted in a manner that would have negatively impacted the county’s…

We can do better than Rep. Scott Tipton
Letters to the Editor

We can do better than Rep. Scott Tipton

March 21, 2018

I believe climate change, and the continued degradation of our planet, is the most significant threat facing us: melting permafrost in the northern Arctic unleashing more carbon, methane, mercury and…

Calculating the real costs of gun violence
Letters to the Editor

Calculating the real costs of gun violence

March 21, 2018

The costs of our current situation are substantial. Actuaries can provide us with real numbers about the cost of deaths directly related to guns. They can further provide data about…

Schmeling: Pass SB18-097 concealed hand gun carry
Letters to the Editor

Schmeling: Pass SB18-097 concealed hand gun carry

March 20, 2018

SB18-097, sponsored by State Rep. Kevin Van Winkle (R-Highlands Ranch) and State Sen. Tim Neville (R-Littleton), would only apply to those who can legally own a handgun. It would give…

Storage bill leaves out rural Colorado
Letters to the Editor

Storage bill leaves out rural Colorado

March 19, 2018

The Legislature determined that “Colorado’s economy, as well as the health and safety of its residents, depends on a reliable and efficient supply of electricity.” It further found that because…

Facebook really is taking over reporting
Letters to the Editor

Facebook really is taking over reporting

March 19, 2018

You are a newspaper, is that right? You print news, right? The only printed information I’ve been able to find was on the Pagosa Springs Sun Facebook page. Facebook, for…

CCL pursuit of carbon fee and dividend
Letters to the Editor

CCL pursuit of carbon fee and dividend

March 19, 2018

Its primary purpose is commitment to building the political will for the climate solutions we all need. We focus on what we see as the single most impactful solution to…

New religious freedom laws limit freedom
Letters to the Editor

New religious freedom laws limit freedom

March 19, 2018

Currently, government respect for “free exercise thereof,” has been sacrificed to respecting only established patriarchal religion often in the form of corporate religion. Patriarchal religion claims divine right, authority and…

Rep. Tipton bill would scar forests, input
Letters to the Editor

Rep. Tipton bill would scar forests, input

March 19, 2018

Rep. Scott Tipton was a co-sponsor of the “Resilient National Forests Act,” which passed the House in November. Despite the title, this bill is not about forest health. It’s about…

LPEA needs a forward-thinking board
Letters to the Editor

LPEA needs a forward-thinking board

March 19, 2018

I was fortunate to have attended the latest Green Business Roundtable lunch to hear what Bryan Hamegan, President and CEO of Holy Cross Electric, also a member owned electricity co-op…

Collins walks talk on income inequality
Letters to the Editor

Collins walks talk on income inequality

March 19, 2018

La Plata County Thrive! Living Wage Coalition, in conjunction with Life Long Learning, will host Mr. Collins for two days of talks and meetings, October 4-6. Mr. Collins is an…

Irresponsible and misleading journalism
Letters to the Editor

Irresponsible and misleading journalism

March 19, 2018

The paper is quoted as saying the race was “dominated by Karl Hanlon.” However, the numbers reported don’t account for seven full precincts (the paper buried this note below) and…

Gwen Lachelt is not all that powerful
Letters to the Editor

Gwen Lachelt is not all that powerful

March 19, 2018

In a recent Letter to the Editor (Herald, March 2) it was asserted that, “Lachelt has crippled the Sheriff”s Office by putting them in Priuses.” The Sheriff, not the county…

Western Wire opinion supports recall
Letters to the Editor

Western Wire opinion supports recall

March 19, 2018

The article describes the efforts of California billionaire Tom Steyer who is providing funding sources to some Colorado politicians, including Ms. Lachelt. The report states an opinion about her motives…

Poison arrows flying into La Plata County
Letters to the Editor

Poison arrows flying into La Plata County

March 19, 2018

We read in the Herald such statements as approving of poison arrows been shot: “Gwen Lachelt is the ‘queen of outside, dark money,’ and the claim that a far away…

Mitsch Bush views precise, can beat Tipton
Letters to the Editor

Mitsch Bush views precise, can beat Tipton

March 19, 2018

My own view is that Diane Mitsch Bush would be the better representative for our district and would be more likely to defeat Scott Tipton. She has a deep understanding…

Silent walkout helped kids find their voice
Letters to the Editor

Silent walkout helped kids find their voice

March 17, 2018

Watching those young people emerge from their building at 10 a.m. in absolute silence and gather together in a rough circle for a long 17 minutes was much more moving…