Wildcat Mining chimes in

Dear Editors,

In response to the recent article about the Idaho/May Day Mine, Wildcat Mining Corp. would like to offer comment that was not offered previously, as Adam Vega was on sick leave at the time of the request for comment by the Telegraph.

Wildcat Mining has been adamant about adhering to the codes and regulations of the La Plata County Planning District. We are a stand-up company, with a reputation for good business practices. Furthermore, we recently had a positive site visit with both John Whitney, La Plata County Building Inspector, and Jeremy Howard, the county planner, at which time the county was able to come to a better understanding of the future plans for the Idaho property. We would like to note that no violations or citations were issued by the county at this site visit, and Wildcat Mining is in compliance with La Plata County Regulations.

Wildcat Mining is excited for what this project will bring to Durango, creating at least six full-time positions and bringing an economic benefit to the local businesses, not only with spendable revenue but taxes paid that assist the community.

Finally, with regard to the neighbors’ concerns, the noise will be in compliance with all regulations and will be a non-issue. We are looking forward to a positive long-term relationship with our neighbors.

–Adam Vega

Vice President of Operations

Wildcat Mining Corp.

In praise of the mad ones

Editors,

A plea to those in the know. Please don’t let the El Rancho apartments go the way of the Rochester Hotel. All perfect and tourist-based, expensive and theme-oriented. It, too, used to be low-income housing.

The awful fire reminds me of the line “it’s worse than it appears.” The local landmark may be eventually saved, but even worse is that the local people losing homes are rudely displaced, and they’re the ones who make downtown Durango interesting.

Let’s keep all of the workers, vagabonds and Bukowski-types living at the El Rancho, otherwise it’s bound to get all shiny like the rest of Durango (See massive, modern offices, pastel apartment high-rises and trendy B&B’s taking over every other corner).

Characters of town like Little Beav, Johnny and4“that one guy” create a personality that makes small towns like Durango likable. I basically rate a town on who is in the bars after 10 p.m. ordering a fresh one, because they are the locals who don’t have to drive home. They can afford to live here.

To be true, a Colorado mountain town like Durango requires barflies, ski bums, students and regular Joes who can walk to the bars. And those people are not going to be able to afford half a million dollars (the average home price) for a crash pad.

I hear the El Rancho charged a very fair $325 a month for a room. I’d hoped to rent the top floor myself one day. Any bets (I’ll venture a whiskey or two) that it will be more than that after the remodel? Somehow, the same residents should be given the chance to return home and continue their interesting lives downtown. Little Beav and “that one guy” who famously climbed out onto the roof in acts of self-rescue, don’t deserve to live in the up-town strip away from the action.

After all, without the mad ones – mad to talk, mad to live, drink like mad, the ones who never yawn – a town is kinda boring.

– Jim Mimiaga,

Occasional Durango resident

Definitely not second best

Dear Telegraph,

First, let me congratulate Shan Wells on his selection into the “Best of Colorado” exhibition of artists recently installed at Denver International Airport (Aug. 10 Quick ‘n Dirty). Your readers should be aware that Mr. Wells isn’t the only local resident included in this show; I was also honored to be one of the 70 artists chosen to represent our state in a display that will run through January of 2007 in the Jeppesen Terminal and three main concourses at DIA. In looking over the list of participating artists, I noticed another local, Ron Fundingsland. There may be even more representatives from Southwest Colorado, but I didn’t recognize any other names.  

As Mr. Wells points out, it is encouraging that this event was organized in conjunction with the opening of the Denver Art Museum’s new Frederick C. Hamilton Building. This major addition to the DAM, with an innovative design by architect Daniel Libeskind, is scheduled to open its doors to the public on Oct. 7. This development, combined with the recent groundbreaking for a new building to house the Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver, does indeed signal an increased receptiveness towards contemporary art in our state.

I hope that your readers will take the time to view some of these happenings the next time they’re in the Denver area.

– Chad Colby

Assistant Professor of Art

Fort Lewis College

Primary concerns

Dear Editors,

I would like to know why Linda Daley’s office managed to print the “Democrat Party” on top of my primary ballot on Aug. 8. The “Democrat Party” does not exist, as Hendrick Hertzberg points out in this week’s New Yorker (Aug 7 and 14). In fact, it has its roots in, among other places, Joe McCarthy’s slandering of the party, and is “standard jargon on right-wing radio talk radio” (according to Hertzberg). No dictionary recognizes it, and given this, it seems to me that either we have functional illiterates in Daley’s office or (worse) someone fully aware of the derogatory nature of the term. I belong to the Democratic Party, not the Democrat Party, thank you. I would also appreciate it if, in the future, Daley’s office could see fit to provide me with a genuine voter card – something that also failed to appear though I am on the rolls and have voted in every election in La Plata County as long as I have lived here.

– Katharine Niles

The dark cloud of diesel

Dear Editors,

As the diesel truck pulled away from the stop sign next to our house, I wondered if its owner was aware that a dark cloud of pernicious particulates trails him wherever he might venture. An article in theScotsman Newspaper claims that diesel particulates, much like cigarette smoke, negatively affect the cardiovascular system when inhaled. Is this the legacy that our truck driving public wants to leave in its wake? 

It strikes me that as citizens of first world that truck could be viewed as a metaphor for our lives in terms of environmental impact, foreign policy, and even trade relations. In an age of increasing demand on finite resources, should we consider ways to leave behind a slightly less ominous trail as we continue on down the road?

– Mike Carey

When the dust settles

Dear Editors,

We will be subjected to about 10 more weeks of partisan wrangling before we voters have a chance to make our voice heard in November. When the dust has settled, the most important outcome will be whom we select to represent us in Denver, our capitol on the Front Range.

Ellen Roberts is an outstanding listener, absorbing the concerns presented to her. Thanks to her training as a lawyer, has a focused presentation manner, which will make her a fine communicator on behalf of all of us.  

Ellen Roberts already knows her way around the state legislature and was in Denver for the special session this summer. She will work calmly and collaboratively in the legislative process, tackling the issues vital to Southwest Colorado. In particular, Ellen is committed to issues of health care, education, transportation, and equity for those of us who live on the western slope.    

You owe it to yourself and your family to get acquainted with this energetic, capable individual. As our next State Legislator, Ellen can and will do the best job possible for all of us.

 – Ann Putnam