Ear to the ground:

“I am on a see-weed diet.”
– Local connoisseur remarking on a the dazzling array of edibles now available for consumption.
 

As the Telegraph turns

It’s been a busy week at Telegraph land for those who may be wondering why the paper’s late or where their favorite dog columnist’s been hiding.

For starters, the Telegraph’s third hand, Tracy Chamberlin, and her husband Scott Wachob, welcomed a new baby on Thurs., Feb. 6.

Kate Josephine Wachob came into the world a few weeks earlier than planned, but at a bouncing 6 pounds, 14 ounces. First-time mom Tracy endured a harrowing 20-hour labor, but now mom, dad, baby and even the family cat are said to be getting along famously.

Chamberlin, who Telegraph readers may know as the friendly voice at our classifieds, calendar and news desk, plans to return to work Feb. 24.

In the meantime, the multi-talented pinch-hitter Page Buono will be filling in.

In other news, Telegraph freelancer par excellence Jen Reeder is still basking in the glow of winning the prestigious Maxwell Award from The Dog Writers Association of America on Sun., Feb. 9, in New York City.

The article that won her the accolades was none other than her June 24, 2013, Telegraph article on Mercy Medical Center’s therapy dog program, “Calling all Super Dogs.”  (Go to www.durangotelegraph .com and search under the archives tab for June 24, 2013.)

“It was a very fun night that included some champagne, not gonna lie!” posted Reeder on her Facebook page Monday morning.

Reeder said writing the story so inspired her that she trained her own dog, a yellow lab named Rio, to be a therapy dog as well.

Although she has not checked into Telegraph HQ since the big victory, we are hoping Jen doesn’t forget to mention the little guys when she accepts her Pulitzer.

And rounding out the emotional roller coaster trifecta this week is our longtime photog Steve Eginoire, who was one of the skiers caught in Monday’s slide near Ophir Pass Road.

While we think Steve would have been better off working that day than skiing, we are glad to hear he is alive. And even though his camera with some sweet photos was lost, his shutter finger was unharmed. He is currently nursing his wounds – a split lip, black eye, battered leg and other assorted carnage – at home with the help of his trusty dog Phil and girlfriend Page Buono. (For a full recount of Steve’s slide for life, turn to p. 8)

Get well soon, Steve. We can only get by on iPhone photos for so long.