Author: Guest column
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Leave childhood wild | Guest column
By Hannah Nicholson Recently, outdoor childhood programs across Colorado have found themselves under increasing scrutiny. Programs where children spend their days hiking trails, learning the phases of the moon, identifying plants and animals, building resilience in changing weather, and developing a relationship with the natural world are being treated as though they represent a threat.…
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We cannot keep waiting to reduce wildfire risk | Guest column
Teller County is a beautiful place to live, but it is also a fire-prone place to live. Those of us who choose to live among trees, grasses, brush, wind, and steep terrain must be honest about that reality. Wildfire is not a distant possibility. It is part of our landscape. For years, we have attended…
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Independence, connection and quality of life | Golden Bridge Network
By Tracie Ashley As Teller County’s older adult population continues to grow, the Teller Senior Coalition plays a critical role in helping seniors maintain independence, connection and quality of life. Through a wide range of programs and services, the coalition is working to meet the evolving needs of older adults in the community. Located in…
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WPSD’s misplaced obsession with “controlling” Merit Academy | Guest column
By Roger Holmes As the WPSD board navigates what may be the most dire financial crisis in its history, one would expect laser focus on fixing its own house. Instead, the board’s energy remains fixated on “controlling” its only charter school, Merit Academy. The latest example is WPSD Board President Keegan Barkley’s use of the…
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Our wildfire threat | Guest column
By Dennis Luttrell Today, the number one issue facing our county is wildfire. The recent local publications have been raising awareness regarding our regional threat. Teller County in the top one percent of our country facing this ever-growing threat. The entire state is in a drought despite the recent moisture. This was the same condition…
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Don’t let the voters’ voices fade after election day | Guest Column
By Michael Perini In every election, we ask voters to step forward, pay attention, and make their voices heard. In Woodland Park, they did exactly that on April 7. Ballots were cast, decisions made, and a direction—at least for now—was chosen. But elections don’t just produce winners. They produce insight. With Councilmember George Jones moving…
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Citizens Academy is strongly recommended | Guest Column
By Pat Miller I moved to Woodland Park from a large city in 2024 for the milder weather, cleaner air, sunny skies, sweeping views, and welcoming small-town atmosphere. I needn’t remind anyone who lives here what a gem this lovely town is. What many of us may not notice—because we’re busy shoveling sidewalks, putting food…
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Can Woodland Park do better? I can hope … | Guest column
By Mark Weaver It’s not often that I write something for all to read—it’s not because I don’t have something to say, rather I tend to be more of a one-on-one communicator. I value direct conversation, where I can focus on the person in front of me. Still, as a citizen of Woodland Park for…
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The impact of a library card: Changing lives | Library Limelight
By Amy Gillentine “I had to retire from work due to a disability and fill my time with the full scope of the library. What an amazing discovery! The library has classes of all types, book clubs, zoom lectures, author talks, computer availability, online databases, and of course, books in all formats. I thought retirement…
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What happened to common decency? | Guest column
By Tricia Tennesen Leo Tolstoy wrote, “If you feel pain, you are alive. If you feel other people’s pain, you are a human being.” I am a human being. One who loves to read, which places me deeply into others’ minds, often empathizing with their struggles and fears. During the COVID-19 masking, the Mr. and…