Tag: guest column
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The Apathetic American Church: Architects of Moral Decline | Guest Column
By Aaron Helstrom America’s foundational values — faith, family, freedom, and personal responsibility — are crumbling before our eyes. Who bears the blame? Look no further than the American Christian Church. Not the buildings, but the people — the body of believers called by Christ to be “salt and light” in the world (Matthew 5:13-16).…
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Teller County Commissioners vs. property rights | Guest column
The Founding Fathers were specific in their view of government’s proper role: protecting the individual rights of citizens. The Teller County Commissioners have departed from that principle despite campaigning and being elected as Republican conservatives. Their proposed Ordinance No. 23 regulating short-term rentals (STRs) infringes upon individual rights, specifically property rights, and harms the life,…
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With profound gratitude to those who protected Teller County | Guest Column
On the morning of Aug. 25, an ordinary day in Teller County changed in an instant. Two Colorado State Patrol troopers were shot while simply doing the work they had sworn to do, and in the hours that followed, our community watched with fear, prayed for good news and witnessed an extraordinary response from men…
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Unintended STR regulation consequences | Guest Column
An unintended consequence of the proposed STR regulations could drive owner-occupied rentals to become absentee-owned rentals. In my case, they could also cause Teller County to lose a local equine business and future mental-health counseling provider. I own and operate two local businesses: Mustang Wisdom, an equine-assisted coaching practice, and Starry Ridge, an owner-occupied one-bedroom…
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I miss the America I grew up in | Guest column
By Lylah Saunier Unbeknownst to many Americans, there have been forces at work in our country and our culture to destroy the values and traditions of America that many of us grew up enjoying. Abraham Lincoln warned us in 1838 that internal division was the only true threat to the nation: “At what point then…
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The messy, beautiful American tradition of disagreement | Guest column
By Melissa Clark We live in a community that deeply values patriotism. We love to see the flag waving outside homes and businesses, and we feel pride in the incredible sacrifices made by the brave men and women who built and defended this country. But as we look at our public conversation, it is worth…
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Restoring our moral foundation before its too late | Guest column
By Aaron Helstrom There has to be a basic moral standard that serves as the backbone of our laws — something everyone agrees to live by, no matter their religion or background. When we walk away from the principles this country was built upon, we risk watching it fall apart. As a retired master sergeant…
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Coming home | Guest column
By Lowe Billingsley There are moments in a career that feel less like a step forward and more like a return to something that helped shape you. For me, coming back to the Cripple Creek & Victor (CC&V) Gold Mine, where I started my career 37 years ago, is one of those moments. One of…
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WPSD quarterly update | Guest column
This quarter has been one of meaningful progress for Woodland Park School District. While challenges remain, the Board of Education is focused on strengthening our schools, supporting students and staff, responsibly stewarding taxpayer resources, and restoring confidence through transparency and thoughtful leadership. Our Strategic Plan continues to guide the Board’s work, keeping us focused on…
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Change is inevitable; hostility is optional | Guest column
By Alice Cook-Nelson My husband and I spent years saving to buy our dream property in the mountains of Teller County. When we finally purchased 40 acres, we thought we had found paradise. Three days later, reality set in. Our neighbors entered our property without permission while we were moving in and handed us a…