Thanks for the peaceful dissent

Dear Editors,

I want to thank the people who showed up for the “Three Years of War” march on Sun., March 19. The weather was very cold and windy, we’re all burned out by the insanity, both in Iraq and in America, and still folks walked in peaceful dissent from Rotary Park to the train station and back.

Thanks to Jim for putting together the fliers and Kevin for putting them out. Anita, Greg and Jim made the great banners happen. Brandi’s 32 hand-painted peace signs were so popular, only a handful of them were left. Hopefully, we’ll spot them in windows and at vigils. The supplies for the mock casket honoring all the dead in these three years was appreciated as were the pall bearers who stepped up to lug the thing through town! Good to see the tables for voter registration and the NOW folks.

And to the people who dissent from the dissenters, I respectfully suggest that you’ve been deceived. Please get more information. It would be nice if there were no need for another march next year.

– Peace out dawg, Mary Dumetria,

Southwest Colorado Peace and Justice Coalition

Get ready for May 2

To the editors,

What started as the vision of a group formed by many concerned citizens in 2001 as a result of the La Plata County Community Summit is now before us in the form of a ballot question that you, the voters, will decide on May 2. At a tax levy of 1.7 mills, this is an affordable answer to address our local health-care shortfalls without waiting for Washington to take action. With these funds directed by our locally elected board, we can help sustain a local, in-patient mental health clinic, and we can support and expand immunization

services and prenatal care. We can focus on preventive care and health education where a few dollars will make a huge impact. We can help our seniors in La Plata County stay in their own homes longer and possi

bly avoid nursing home care all together by increasing home health-care staff. The addition of a 24-hour “call a nurse” hotline will provide a safety net for all or us, and just knowing there is someone you can turn to4 

with your urgent medical questions at any time should make every resident of the county sleep easier. Please make sure you register by April 3 so you can vote yes on this issue and help make La Plata County, our home, a better place to live.

– Uta A. E. Carleno,

Durango

Mail-in election Day is May 2

To the editors:

Election Day for the La Plata County Health Service District is Tues., May 2. However, because this election is a mail ballot only, no polling stations will be open that day. To vote, you must be registered and your address current by April 3. Because mailed ballots cannot be forwarded, it is critically important that your address is correct.

Voters will vote on two questions relating to the formation of the district, including the tax rate and two sets of candidates for the Board of Directors, the set running for two seats in their county commissioner district and the set running for one at-large seat.

Register or update your address at the County Clerk’s office, 1060 E. Second Ave., Room 134, in the County Courthouse; at the Drivers License office in Centennial Center, 305 S. Camino del Rio, Durango; or at the Motor Vehicle office at 455 S. Colorado, Suite A, Bayfield. Remember to take identification with you; most government-issued picture ids will work. Registration forms, also for use in updating your address, can be obtained online at co.laplata.co.us and mailed in.

Ballots will be mailed to all active voters (those who voted in the last general election) and new registrants between April 7 and 17. If you do not receive a ballot by April 20, go to the County Clerk’s office (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) and request a ballot.

Absentee ballots are available to those who will be at a different location for the entire election period and who can accept mail at that location. Request an absentee ballot by filling out a request form available online at co.laplata.co.us or at the Clerk’s office.

All ballots must be returned to the Clerk’s office by 7 p.m. on Tues., May 2.

Your vote is very important. Check out the League of Women Voters website (www.lwvlaplata.org) for the dates/times of the forums for the candidates running for the Health Service District Board of Directors and links to other election information.

– Marilyn T. Brown, president,

La Plata County League of Women Voters