Columnists - The Journal

We may pay dearly for the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Recently, the Montezuma County Republications hosted a presentation by the Colorado Health Institute. The CHC is a Denver-based nonpartisan nonprofit that uses evidence-based data and provid...

DATE: Feb 27, 2026 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Open lanes

DIAG 1 The Netherlands’ Jan Timman was one of the world’s top players from the 1970s to the early 2000s and at one time the second highest rated player in the world. He was also a belov...

DATE: Feb 26, 2026 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Poison in the well

How gossip, rumor, and innuendo quietly damage relationships

DATE: Feb 24, 2026 | CATEGORY: Lessons from the Sandbox

The Trojan pawn

Magnus Carlsen won his 21st World Championship title this month, winning the International Chess Federation’s first official Freestyle Chess Championship. In freestyle chess, the starting po...

DATE: Feb 23, 2026 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Montezuma County landfill: Self-funded through user fees, not taxes

The Montezuma County Landfill operates under a financial structure known as an “enterprise” operation, a model designed to ensure the facility pays for itself rather than relying on general ...

DATE: Feb 20, 2026 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

The Swiss cheese defense

In 1792, King Louis XVI’s 900 Swiss guards tried to protect the king against a mob of more than 20,000 revolutionaries at the Tuileries Palace. Despite a valiant effort, the Swiss guards wer...

DATE: Feb 15, 2026 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

A look back at the week Feb. 16-22

The following is a recap of local events for this time period throughout history. 25 years ago (2001) Tibbetts Middle School Duck Stamp competition drawings are on display through March 1 at...

DATE: Feb 13, 2026 | CATEGORY: This Week In Local History

A busy month: Public education bills and hard conversations about health care and immigration

It’s been a very busy start to the legislative session, and I look forward to spending an extra day with my family next weekend for Presidents Day. We’ve had a ton of constituents visit the ...

DATE: Feb 13, 2026 | CATEGORY: Opinion

To err is human

The prestigious Tata Steel Chess tournament in the Netherlands is a multiweek event that concluded on Feb. 1. Nordirbek Abdusattorov won the event, and fellow Uzbek Javokhir Sindarov placed ...

DATE: Feb 9, 2026 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Colorado’s roadless areas are worth more than minerals and timber

Last fall was my nineteenth season of public lands elk hunting in southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. During eight days I hunted for a total of 63.5 hours (or 7.93 hours a day on averag...

DATE: Feb 8, 2026 | CATEGORY: Opinion

How solar storms light up the sky

Greetings stargazers. The current sunspot cycle maximum continues to amaze. Several times during the past year, the Aurora Borealis has been visible in the Durango sky. It was here again a c...

DATE: Feb 6, 2026 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

The Rail World of northwestern New Mexico

Dear Mr. Know-It-All: I’ve been hearing people talk about a railroad in San Juan County for as long as I can remember. What’s the status on the latest railroad project? Signed, Trainspo...

DATE: Feb 6, 2026 | CATEGORY: Mr. Know It All