Tag: 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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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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The amazingly stunning world of democracy defenders | Guest column
Reportedly 15-17,000 demonstrators at the last “No Kings” protest in Colorado Springs on March 28 with not one act of violence. Reportedly 15-17 million demonstrators at 3300 sights across the US on that same day, and no violence by protestors. Wow, the ethical and moral values of the people of the USA are obviously so…
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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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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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A little more joy in the mountains | Guest column
High above the noise of bigger cities, tucked into the trees and fresh mountain air, something special happens each year in Woodland Park: Pride Above the Clouds. If you’ve never been, it might surprise you. It’s not what people sometimes expect—it’s not loud or overwhelming. It’s friendly. It’s relaxed. It’s kids with painted faces, dogs…
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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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Real progress has been made | Mayor’s farewell
As I approach convening my final council meeting as Woodland Park’s Mayor, I want to reflect briefly on why I first chose to run and what we set out to accomplish together. When I entered office as a member of the Woodland Park City Council in 2018, my overarching goal was simple but important: to…
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A Letter to our community from WPSD | Guest column
The first few months of 2026 have been incredibly active for the Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board of Education, and we want our community to know what we’ve been doing on your behalf. Since January, we’ve held three regular board meetings, nine special meetings, three work sessions, and visited schools as part of a…