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Who’s that lady?

Dear Editor,

In a batch of tintypes relating to Billy the Kid and his biographer recently found in Asheville, N.C., we discovered one that we believe to be Mrs. Adrian (Florence E.D.) Muzzy of Bristol, Conn., whose two sisters lived in Durango at the turn of the 20th Century and were also presidents of the Durango Reading Club. These were Mrs. T.F. Barbour, who was president from 1897-98, and Mrs. Reese McCloskey, who was president 1910-11, both members of prominent families in Durango. We have done research on the picture here but are not sure whether it is Mrs. Muzzy, from Connecticut, or one of her sisters living in Durango. She also had another sister we are trying to trace. Mrs. Muzzy was the niece of Ash Upson, the first biographer of Billy the Kid, and made trips to Durango to visit her relatives. There is much correspondence between Mrs. Muzzy and Upson, given by her to Western newspapers. 

We are hoping that someone in Durango or nearby who is a descendant or knows of a descendant will help us find some family photos from long ago that will help us identify this lady.

– Sincerely, Michael E. Abrams, professor of journalism, Florida A&M University

 

 

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Don’t dump forest facilities

To the Editor,

The San Juan National Forest has asked for public comments on a draft plan called Recreation Site Analysis. It calls for the removal or degradation of recreation facilities across the forest as a way to cut costs. The list of 129 sites includes many that are not actually operated by the forest because they have been leased to a concessionaire for private for-profit operation. Several other sites are not even on Forest Service land but rather on private property or state land. And some so-called developed sites consist of nothing more than a roadside sign or a spot to park while hiking on a trail. Once you strip out sites like that, what you are left with is a plan for removing toilets.

At least 13 toilets are being considered for removal, including at such popular sites as the Junction Creek, West Fork and Upper Hermosa trailheads, the summit of Coal Bank Pass, and Little Molas Lake dispersed camping area. Others, like the ones at Bear Creek trailhead and Andrews Lake, are proposed for less frequent cleaning. Nearly all of the toilets that are slated to be retained would only be kept if volunteers or other partners can be recruited to take care of them. This reflects a national policy known internally as “No partner, no potty,” which the San Juan seems to be embracing wholeheartedly.

Fewer toilets, cleaned less often, dependent on volunteer citizens for their continued existence, to serve the same or a growing number of visitors. What could go wrong?

The Forest Service’s motto is “Caring for the land and serving people.” I can’t think of a single type of developed facility that better accomplishes both goals than the provision of a well-maintained sanitary facility in a location that sees heavy visitation. Protecting our public land from the resource damage that happens when such facilities are not available is the bare minimum we should be able to expect, and should receive priority when difficult funding decisions are being made.

The Recreation Site Analysis is available at the SJNF website. The comment period is open until March 21.

– Kitty Benzar, Durango

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Champagne for district attorney

To the editor,

It is my pleasure to write a letter in support for Christian Champagne for district attorney.

I have observed him as a community member and prosecutor and appreciate his knowledge and expertise in the criminal justice system. He understands the impact crime has on families and communities and has invested his energy in helping to create sound alternatives to incarceration and punishment.

He believes that the criminal justice system needs a “more nuanced approach” to criminal sentencing that focuses on solutions that are “effective, efficient and economical.”     

He specifically references sentencing alternatives like drug courts and restorative justice programs as examples of such solutions that make sense to me given the failure of our prison system to successfully rehabilitate offenders.

In conclusion, I fully support Christian as our future district attorney and encourage you to support him as well.

– Emily Jones, Pagosa Springs

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Hug an AmeriCorps volunteer

To the editor,

I am writing to share my passion, enthusiasm and support for AmeriCorps. Each day this week we recognize the invaluable service that AmeriCorps members provide daily in local communities nationwide. AmeriCorps is a way for people to engage in serving their communities, more than 75,000 men and women in intensive service each year at more than 15,000 locations including nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country.

AmeriCorps members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. AmeriCorps members gain valuable professional, educational and life benefits, and the experience has a lasting impact on the members and the communities they serve. There is tremendous and broad support nationwide for AmeriCorps programming, something that seems increasingly rare. This broad support occurs because it is an extremely effective way to make positive changes in places desperately looking for change. 

If you see someone proudly wearing the AmeriCorps logo in your community, please take a second to stop and thank that person for the services they are providing and let them know how much they are appreciated.

– Kevin Heiner, regional director, Southwest Conservation Corps

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J. Paul Brown: The bigger picture

To the editor,

Rep. J. Paul Brown, R-Ignacio, occasionally writes a letter to the Telegraph letting voters know what he’s proposing or doing in the states capital.  So I thought I’d look at some of what he’s already done in terms of voting on house and senate bills;  as co-sponsor of HB1003; changes to voter ID requirements (get rid of a certified birth certificate and documents of naturalization, but accept an FAA pilots license); HB1205, authorizing concealed carry without a permit – yeah; co-sponsor HB1319 congressional redistricting; co-sponsor HB1048, which repeals state background checks for firearm purchases; and a few more on guns including use of deadly force and no restrictions on gun toting during emergencies.  He’s pro-agriculture and business interests and generally anti-environmental protection (including rainwater collection), anti-choice, and anti-Affordable Care Act.

Check out more on Votesmart.org to see what your state reps are up to.

– Tim Thomas, Durango

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Bayfield vet memorial needs you

To the editor,

Bayfield American Legion Post 143 recently joined in agreement with the Pine River Cemetery District to build a Veterans Memorial at the Pine River Cemetery, located on C.R. 501 just north of the Hwy 160 intersection.

We are Bayfield’s only military service organization. We are small, we are few, but we are proud of  all  Pine River Valleys veterans and their service to our great nation. We believe this project is the best way to honor all veterans past, present and future.

We are just getting started with this project and since this will be a community project, we are asking for any ideas or concepts the Pine River Valley community would like to offer.

We hold our monthly meetings the second Tuesday of each month at the Bayfield Lions hall, starting 6 p.m. Anyone interested in helping out with our new project, or just needing a little more information about this project is welcome to attend our meets.

We will also be conducting fund-raising operations in this regard. We are still in the design phase of this project and estimate this new veterans memorial will cost around $25,000 to $30,000 based on research into other organizations that have constructed veterans memorials at their local cemeteries. Any assistance you or your organization may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated.

All veterans in the Pine River Valley communities, Bayfield and Ignacio are encouraged to stop by one of our meetings and check out our organization.

– Richard Schleeter, La Plata County Veterans Services