Opinion

Town unites to fight a floodplain development

Moab, Utah, is a growing town of 5,300 that up to 5 million people visit each year to hike nearby Arches and Canyonlands national parks, ride mountain bikes and all-terrain vehicles, or raft the …

Your gift is not for you

On the evening of March 28, 1990, the Chicago Bulls played the Cleveland Cavaliers. Michael Jordan led his team to victory, 117-113. His scoring brought him to a career high of 69 points, giving him …

Energy guru says energy gap can be bridged

The experts tell us an energy gap looms. Fossil fuels are phasing out, and solar and wind power can’t produce enough electricity to meet the demand in coming decades. But that’s not …

When God won’t turn loose

When God won’t turn loose of us it’s a good thing. He wants something more from us. He becomes redundant, like a gnawing, a constant reminder in our hearts until we say, “OK.” …

Should I stop breathing for them?

When I didn’t think life could get any more ridiculous, people have surprised me. Oh me, the foolishness of this age.   Recently, we heard in the news that those who deem themselves …

A terrible dilemma faces the Great Basin

The long drive between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Reno, Nev., on Interstate 80 feels endless, the landscape timeless. But these basins and ranges of the Great Basin Desert are changing dramatically. …

They struggle to come to America: one woman’s story

Exactly what causes people to leave their homeland and make a difficult trek of 3,000 miles?   A young woman I’ll call Jhovid, who came here from Venezuela, has asked me to listen to …

The reality of war

The first major battle of the American Civil War, on July 21, 1861, earned the nickname “picnic battle” because spectators showed up with sandwiches and opera glasses.   These …

Ski bum culture hits reality

Nearly two decades ago, I moved to the mountains to be a ski bum, chasing snow. I was a stereotype — an East Coast kid pulled west by the promise of bigger adventures and higher mountain …

Will they cry for me after I’m gone?

We begin a new year and leave behind an old one. We lost friends in 2023. The thought makes me ponder as to what we’re doing these last years of our lives. Are we leaving behind anything of …

The rustling of wings

Are those wings I hear? Yes, they are. I’m taking wings and flying toward a new horizon. I’m trusting others are also moving toward new possibilities in this new year. We need to …

Learning to rejoice always

I listened for the soft pitter-patter of feet on our dark, laminate wood floor, but it didn’t come. It wouldn’t come. But how I missed the sound. For 17 years we had established a routine …

What did Westerners care about in 2023?

This past year, Writers on the Range, an independent opinion service based in Western Colorado, sent out 52 weekly opinion columns. They were provided free of charge to more than 200 subscribing …

A warning from the snowbirds

No, this isn’t about those folks who spend their winters in Arizona or Florida. The snowbird behind this warning is an actual bird, the dark-eyed junco, a small creature you probably know if …

A new Christmas perspective

My early-age perspective of Christmas was skewed as much as most every child’s is today. The premise that Christmas is nothing more than getting goodies and gifts overshadowed the story of the …

The flame of good news

During the Christmas season, we pull out our Christmas tree lights. We light candles and place them in the window. We participate in family traditions and bring the good news into our homes. For …

Emergency alerts and turning off the motor

Readers ask me, “How’s Whiskey, Sweet Al’s hunting dog? Is she still alive?” And I say, “Only by my good graces.” One morning recently I walked around …

No quit in the game

In a recent interview, Deion Sanders said, “The boys are getting better. There is no quit in the game.” This was before the Washington State game, when the sportscaster talked about …

Pulling thistles, sowing hope

For the past few years I’ve participated in “Thistle Thursdays,” targeting a popular trail near Jackson, Wyo. The weekly weed party was organized in 2019 by Morgan Graham, wildlife …

The season of good tidings and cheer is officially upon us. But what if you are not feeling particularly cheerful? What if you are still struggling through the aftermath of trauma? This happy time of …

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