A positive bridge to the future
To the Editor:
Recently the Durango Telegraph published a letter from Antonia Clark regarding the proposed U.S. 160-550 connection near Farmington Hill. Antonia made a number of allegations against the interchange and has been consistently opposed to this project. While she erred in a couple of spots (the interchange and widening, for example, cost $47 million, not $76 million), she was dead on in one respect. The completion of this proposed project will change this community forever.

However, I believe it will be in a positive manner.

There have been other major projects that were orchestrated by CDOT that have also changed this community forever. A couple that came to mind was one that occurred in 1990 when the department widened U.S. 550 from north of Hermosa to (then) Purgatory. Any of us who drove that highway in the 1980s noticed our drive was dramatically enhanced by that project. In the process, some local landowners ended up selling portions of their property for right of way. Those properties are still desirable places even though they have changed. The Hotter place under Castle Rock just south of Silverpick was a notable example.

Another is the dramatic development that allowed our small hospital to progress to a state-of-the-art medical center that makes it a truly regional hospital. The cooperation between the Mercy governing board, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the City of Durango, as well as CDOT has made that entire project another positive game changer for this community.
When (I hope) the U.S. 160-550 connection is approved, it will make the connection between La Plata County and San Juan County, N.M., much safer as well as dependable. Many of you may not be aware that all of our blood supply comes from New Mexico, and that U.S. 550 is the supply corridor for Wal-Mart and many other products that we all consume every day.

This county is much better off today than when I moved here 32-plus years ago. An interchange connection for our two major U.S. highways here will continue to improve our community.

– Cordially, Stephens Parker, Colorado Transportation Commissioner Southwest Colorado

Local yokel lays down the rules
Dear Telegraph,
First-time writer, longtime reader. In reading many of the independent papers our area provides, I can’t help but notice all the newcomers asking exactly what it takes to be a local. Not all Colorado natives will agree with this, but they didn’t write it. \

Soo, naaaah!

First rule of localdom: You must be a full-time resident for a bit longer then the average dog lives here.
Rule 2: Once you do move here, do not instantly try to turn the area into the suburb you moved from. If that cesspool was so nice, why did you move here?

Rule 3: All people who move here from St. Louis or Atlanta are forgiven. All people from Texas or California must live here a minimum of five years before they are allowed to speak.

Rule 4: Who ever thought it was a good idea to make Fort Lewis campus buildings with a flat roof must be beaten. In all the state none of the buildings over 30 years old have a flat roof. It’s called snow, people! Also note the old roads placed on hillsides back when Durango used to flood yearly.

Rule 5: Don’t even look at Montezuma County! If I wake up one day to learn I now live in Durango very West, in the shadow of Durango Verde, I am not going to be happy. However, the bigotry toward Montezuma is acceptable. I got a good plea deal when I said I would take my DUI to trial. The DA and my public defender both lived in Durango. They agreed I could get away with it in Cortez. La Plata County was much like Montezuma not long ago, where do you think all the locals moved to?
Also, to the “Twin Buttes” residents we always called those “Molly’s Nipples.” So enjoy your mountains, and I hope I may have helped.

– Colin Kinkade, Mancos

A tale of two realities
To the editor,
Did anyone else notice the dualing ironies (“Romney & pals barnstorm Colorado” and “Summer economy roars in Colorado”) in the Mountain Exchange in the Aug. 9 edition of the Telegraph?

So, let me get this straight, a career politician (part-time millionaire businessman) says: “Get out of our way, government, we know what’s best!” That’s like a millionaire saying, “Get out of our way, Wall Street, we know what’s best!”

And then, an amazing coincidence in Aspen, home of the middle class, when they end up having an increase in revenues over the same month last year! Hello, the wealthy are still wealthy, and it doesn’t really slow them down when the economy tanks. They’re probably a bit depressed by the revenue drop in capital gains and need a vacation to cheer them up!
Same with Vail, another enclave of the working class. What’s next? Climate change naysayers wanting to know why July was the warmest one on record ever in the U.S.?

– Tim Thomas, Durango

Cutting the Pro Challenge cheese

To the editor,

Did anyone else not notice that bike race that cost us in excess of half a million dollars and attracted at least 30 people who weren’t related to the fans, working for one of the corporate sponsors or driving/wearing something with one of their logos on it, but blocked traffic a bit and made the lines at City Market about 30 seconds longer than usual?

Best of all – even if you rode some of the training routes, bought some of the overpriced schwag, and tried to get excited – the only video of the whole thing available on the internetz (for those of us who don’t watch much TV, like, say, people who exercise occasionally) was from 2011. It was like a political convention with no press coverage, intelligent commentary, press feeds or smiling. Unlike, say, college or Colorado before branding. Or a John Denver video.

The “race,” (I’m told they raced against other riders as well as for their brands) evoked all the thrills of a political convention if the corporate sponsors were in front of the cameras instead of being paid huge sums of money to say things like “smile now” and “emote.” The press conference from 2011 (from the 2011 Pro Cycling Challenge Radio Shack [TM, copyright] all rights reserved, not for resale page) is notable for its insular “you had to be there” descriptions of things like the downhill section into Aspen in 2011(?) where one of the riders described it as “nippy,” and the riders around him tittered. That is some gripping description, if you’re a tire.

Otherwise, it’s like eating a Durango-brand cheeseburger while riding a bike with a Durango-brand cheeseburger on it, without the bike riding. Or the cheeseburger. Or anyone watching.

– Christian Hatfield, DNF Pro Challenge Winner

Great Old Broads a class act
To the editor,
Durango has a gem in its midst. As a newcomer five years ago, I saw mention of Great Old Broads for Wilderness in the papers and thought their name a bit quirky. At my son’s nudging, I was intrigued to find out greatoldbroads.org  was a national organization based in Durango with front line involvement protecting wild lands. Their newsletters showed dedication and humor, so it was not long before I launched on one of their fund-raising river trips. A noted regional author (with environmental passion) was along to read, discuss and hang out; impressive.   

The history? Twenty-three years ago, five women (of a certain age) found themselves incensed by a headline attributed to Utah’s Sen. Orrin Hatch saying that wilderness areas were not a good idea because they were inaccessible to old people. Having just hiked days in Utah’s Escalante region, this band of friends decided to show that elders could make a difference for wilderness – even if or when “old people” were unable to get to these critical and amazing places. Wild lands have their own value – think watersheds, wildlife, tourism, outdoor ed, renewal, beauty, etc.

“Broadwalks,” with an emphasis on work projects, learning and hiking, are held several times each year. I have been to three regional ones in three years, all staged at locations with pending wilderness legislation or conservation issues. At each event, we heard talks and conversation from government agency personnel, other professionals, involved citizens, and sometimes local activist groups. Politicians are invited, but one party seems more inclined to show up or support GOB goals.
I write and say more to politicians now because of GOB and do so with more background. Guys and younger women (Great Old Bros and Broads-in-Training) are plentiful among the tribe and are very welcome.

The two leaders at the helm of Great Old Broads, Veronica Egan and Rose Chilcoat, are gems, too. But you would have to see them in action to have full appreciation. This region’s love and respect for nature and healthy lands is like none I have seen in my 40 years in Colorado. So many deserve rave reviews.
– Kristine E. Johnson, Durango

Vote for Mitt – or else ...
To the editor,
I cynically believe that electing Mitt Romney may be our only real option for getting this country back on track. And there’s really only one reason for this. Extortion. I’ll get to that later.

The problem with Obama getting elected in 2008 is simple. There’s still too much hate and ignorance in our political system and community to tolerate a black man as president of the U.S.A. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s, R-Ky., statement after Obama was sworn in tells the whole story in one sentence: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” Not “fix the economy” not “create millions of jobs” not anything beneficial to the struggling American people. Just pure politics and regaining power and control. Also, look at the coincidental and simultaneous rise of the Tea Party. Their stranglehold on the House of Representatives clearly caused the credit rating of the U.S. to take a hit after the last debt ceiling debate. Even $10 of spending cuts for every $1 of tax increases was too much of a compromise for the anti-tax idealogues.

Does that sound like a political party who wants to improve our economy and create jobs or one that will obstruct, impede, block and delay any and all programs that will move us forward? Consider the record number of filibusters that were used to prevent passage of meaningful and helpful legislation. On the other hand, conservatives have passed plenty of bills to restrict voter turnout and attack women’s health care.

Mitt Romney is our best chance. He’s done a 180 on every possible policy position that’s relevant. He’s weak, pliable and a windsock. Who knows what he really believes in? Will he flip flop again, this time on the side of common sense and wisdom? This may actually work in the country’s favor.

Our only hope is that if Mitt gets elected and Republicans take control of congress, THEN they’ll actually pass some sensible legislation to get us back on track again. Their view being, if it’s our guy in charge we can then take credit for fixing the problems (that our policies have caused) and maintain political power and control. But, if you elect those guys, we will just ram a stick in the spokes of ANY progress whatsoever. Screw the economy. Screw all the job seekers. Screw all the problems facing this country. It’s our way or NO WAY.

That sounds like extortion. Or even kidnapping. “Vote for Mitt or the kid gets it!” They’ve done it before and there’s no reason to believe they won’t do it again.

– Thanks, Bill Vana
p.s. This was satire and not an actual endorsement for Mitt Romney