Columnists - The Journal

Scorpius' stars put sting in summer sky

Greetings, stargazers. The late afternoon monsoon clouds finally parted and made for a few good observing evenings recently. Unfortunately for me, a couple of those nights were ...

DATE: Aug 18, 2015 | CATEGORY: Others Say

It's 'our' river too that was desecrated

We're all downstream or downwind from something. That became all too visible last week as what's now listed as 3 million gallons of orange toxic waste from a long-abandoned gold m...

DATE: Aug 13, 2015 | CATEGORY: View from the Boondocks

To quit those cigarettes, use more than one tool

Twenty million Americans have died from smoking-related disease in the past 50 years. Among people younger than 18, the U.S. Public Health Service predicts another 5.4 million sm...

DATE: Jul 23, 2015 | CATEGORY: Heard Around the West

Publicly confessed racism can move souls to peace

Recently I ran across a quote I’d once copied and saved. The quote says that “fear and loss brought to speech lead to energy.” It gives a corollary that “fear and loss not brought...

DATE: Jul 16, 2015 | CATEGORY: Thoughts Along The Way

New Horizons will give best view of Pluto

Greetings, stargazers. I hope you enjoyed the recent planetary conjunction in the western sky. From our perspective, Venus and Jupiter are now slowly separating from each other ...

DATE: Jul 9, 2015 | CATEGORY: Others Say

A century old, Dinosaur National Monument deserves additional protections

River, canyon country deserves additional protections

DATE: Jul 9, 2015 | CATEGORY: Gulliford's travels

High and fast water makes for creative fishing

I’m not real religious when it comes to prayer. In fact my prayers are usually for good cigars, better whiskey, and fish in love with dry flies. I’m a man of simple needs. Howeve...

DATE: Jul 6, 2015 | CATEGORY: Writers on the Range

United Way here to help when a disaster strikes

Lady Luck has been shining on Southwest Colorado recently as it relates to natural disasters. The fire threats that we have had in these past several years have been quickly addr...

DATE: Jul 2, 2015 | CATEGORY: County Administrator

Stewards of the Land Do spring rains mean no wildfires? Think again.

The recent spring rains may lull you into thinking there won’t be much of a fire season. And there may not be – this summer. But fast forward to next June and think about how much more fuel ...

DATE: Jun 29, 2015 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Choose pollinator plants, and they will help you

Editor’s note: Get Growing, written by the La Plata County Extension Office’s Master Gardener Program, appears during the growing season. It features timely tips and suggestions for your gar...

DATE: Jun 25, 2015 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Center provides readjustment counseling services

The Vet Center Program was established by Congress in 1979 out of recognition that a significant number of Vietnam-era veterans were experiencing readjustment problems after returning to civ...

DATE: Jun 25, 2015 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Where pioneers are buried: La Plata County’s historic cemeteries

She was dying as she took her place on the wooden wagon. Wrapped in quilts and an oil cloth against the cold pelting rain, her relatives spoke urgently, encouraging the team of horses. But i...

DATE: Jun 22, 2015 | CATEGORY: Gulliford's travels