Lake Nighthorse meeting June 18

Dear Editor,
Reclamation would like to provide an update to the community regarding recreation at Lake Nighthorse, as part of the Animas-La Plata Project.

Currently, we are working with all Animas-La Plata Project partners and stakeholders to reach consensus regarding development and management of recreation at Lake Nighthorse. We believe we are nearing an agreement to integrate recreation into the project, while ensuring compatibility with the primary purposes of the project for municipal and industrial water supply.

We are conducting regular meetings with partners and stakeholders to discuss and resolve a broad range of issues concerning water quality, environmental protection, and tribal trust responsibilities of the United States government. Many issues have been resolved, and Reclamation continues to work on remaining issues, including working closely with Association members to ensure protection of cultural resources and annexation of project lands by the city of Durango for administration of recreation and law enforcement purposes.

Reclamation and the project partners and stakeholders invite the public to attend an informational meeting on Wed., June 18, from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Durango Community Recreation Center, Eolus and Sunlight Meeting Rooms. Reclamation will provide a brief presentation, and the public will be able to ask questions and look at maps and plans about recreation at Lake Nighthorse.

For more information, please visit our website at www.usbr.gov/uc/progact/animas/index.html; call 970-385-6500; or email wcaoinfo@usbr.gov.

We believe that recreation will become a reality at Lake Nighthorse, and we are committed to continuing to work with all stakeholders to achieve results that are responsive to stakeholder concerns and public needs. Our goal is to achieve this kind of consensus as early as 2015.
– Sincerely, Ed Warner, Western Colorado area manager, Bureau of Reclamation

Right to guns vs. right to live

Dear Editor:
Elliot Rodger, 22, killed six university students and wounded seven others last Friday night, May 23, in Santa Barbara, Calif.

As reported in the New York Times, the grief-stricken father of Christopher Martinez, one of the students killed in the shootings, denounced gun advocates and policies that lead to the death of his child. He stated: “Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA. They talk about gun rights. What about Chris’ right to live. When will this insanity stop?”

Evidence indicates the mass murder was premeditated.

“It’s obviously the work of a madman,” said Sheriff Brown of the Santa Barbara police. A madman who previously posted a video on YouTube and wrote a lengthy manifesto describing his plans for retribution.

Broadcasting his desperation. Leaving clues for others to find.

This young madman, who was described by family friends as emotionally disturbed from a young age, was receiving ongoing psychiatric care but nevertheless was able to legally purchase a semi-automatic pistol and 400 rounds of ammunition.

No American civilian has the “right” to purchase 400 rounds of ammunition. This belief is a symptom of ignorance, arrogance and insanity itself.

The NRA, the politicians it buys, gun manufacturers and other “gun advocates” who demand this “right” must be accountable. Now.

Please write your congressional representatives and demand strict, rational gun control legislation.

Mr. Martinez deserves an answer. And our support.

– Sincerely, Mary Benson, Durango

Help end slave trafficking

Dear Editor,
There are many problems in the world today:  poverty, hunger and thirst are just a few. But what about the less known issues? What about the people who are not in control of themselves? What about the people who are forced into something that we thought had been abolished 149 years ago?

There are 27 million slaves in the world today, and their only hope is a few organizations that are scattered across the globe. They are trying as hard as they can but are not having much effect on the third-largest trafficking trade in the world, which is only surpassed by drug trafficking and arms trafficking. The only thing that can stop the booming slave trade is many people taking part in stopping it. For every person that is willing to help stop the modern slave trade, one more piece settles into place in the puzzle of re-abolishing slavery.

Trading people like tools to keep in a shed is not right. People are not goods to be traded, sold and bought against their own will. The slaves need help, and not enough people are willing to give it.
– Denzel Farmer, Mylie Lanier and Solomon Gabel, fifth-graders at Needham Elementary School

Escaping the vortex of gloom

Dear Editor:
A miraculous thing happened today. Today my outward smile moved from my heart and into my eyes as I smiled at strangers, clerks in the store, blossoming flowers and budding leaves on the trees. I was smiling all day at everyone, everything, everywhere.

After five and a half years of grieving the loss of my beloved husband of 37 years and an accident that left me unable to walk for the most part of five years and near financial ruin because of being ripped off by so many people after my husband passed, today I TRULY smiled and it spilled out from my heart into my eyes and into the world. And most miraculous of all is that I didn’t feel guilty to feel so wonderful and so much gratitude. I actually felt that it was OK to be the self I was before falling into the vortex of  devastating loss and hopelessness, cursing the sun for having the audacity to raise its sunny face to mock me again for still being alive.

Today I wasn’t depressed about my wrinkles or my bank account.

Today I rejoiced that the sun filled me with its beauty and warmth, seducing the flowers into bloom and the calves and foals and lambs from their mothers’ bellies. Today I remembered how very much I love this life and it’s infinite beauty and mystery and possibility. Today I remembered what a gift it is to live in Durango and get to share this stage with all of you!

I believe that I have finally remembered the recipe for happiness that I had thought I lost forever when my husband died in 2008. It is true that happiness is an “inside job.” Ronnie, I know you are smiling with me now, and somehow I trust that tomorrow’s going to be even more miraculous and you’ll be there with me savoring every moment!
– With joy and deepest gratitude, Susan Urban

P.S.: Feel free to call me for the more detailed recipe if you’re in the vortex of doom and gloom – there IS a way out, and it comes from within.

Iron Horse haiku lament

Storm cloud predictions
Stallions and mares await
Quarter Horse for all

– Theresa Anderson, Durango