Columns

Posts From The Road: Bonners Ferry, Idaho

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Bonners Ferry: Visiting downtown Bonners Ferry, Id. was an enjoyable and relaxing way to spend the day on July 4th. While several businesses were closed for the holiday most restaurants and some shops were open for the day. Bonners Ferry sits about 25 miles from the Canadian border in the panhandle of Idaho. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Kootenai River: The Kootenai River runs through Bonners Ferry dividing the town into two halves with one half on each side of the river. Shown are boaters on the river on July 4th, a beautiful day in Northern Idaho for the holiday. Seen on the hillside are Read More

Fr. Glenn: Reversing Course

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By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Sigh.

All around it seems we increasingly see division in our own society, and in societies all around the world. What is that old saying? Divide and conquer? But who is this modern “conquistador”? Another old saying: “We have met the enemy, and it is us.”

But … in some sense this has always been. Since the first proto-human picked up a stick to bonk the other guy on the head, there has been division. In that way we hardly rise above the animals which also fight—often even killing—those of their own kind for territory, resources, rights to procreate, etc.

Yet … we have the ability of Read More

Home Country: How To Handle Washboard Road … Gun It!

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Home Country
By Slim Randles

Life is kinda like a corrugated, washboard ranch road, I believe. You give anything enough time and experience and you’ll find that warts and scars and grooves will get worn in it. The down times and the up times can lead to a corrugation in our dirt roads and our lives.

Any good cowboy knows how to handle a washboard road, though. Taken slowly, a pickup truck hits each little dip and rattles its carburetor until it puts a kink in the distributor clamp. It takes forever to get someplace, of course, but it does give a guy time to compose a symphony or a letter to Congress.

There Read More

Op-Ed: Homage To Educators

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By MARVIN BLAIR
Los Alamos

As we approach the first week of school, we must pause and recognize the educators, assistants, custodians, and administrators who wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to caring for our children. While we go about our daily routines—it is work, errands, rest, or family responsibilities—they tirelessly nurture young minds. Teaching children gratitude and appreciation is a precious gift that transcends ethnicity, values, gender, and socioeconomic status. Although we often hear about combating racism, promoting justice, and ensuring equity, we sometimes Read More

Tales Of Our Times: The Fare In Hallways Beats A Diet Of ‘Breaking News’

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Tales Of Our Times
By JOHN BARTLIT
New Mexico Citizens for Clean Air & Water

Across decades, I have worked a fair amount on environmental issues in various venues. These venues have ranged from legislative hearings to the media’s routines to hallways.

Every venue gathers players who try to improve decision-making. The best tips from participants are eye-openers. Yet, at any time, other players work to foil good decisions. Today these thoughts are timely, though they are hardly new. In times long gone, our nation’s founders had similar ideas.

The U.S. Constitutional Convention began May Read More

All Shall Be Well: ‘God Is Faithful, All The Time’

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Clergy from left, Pastor Deb Church, Deacon Amy Schmuck, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Associate Priest Lynn Finnegan, Deacon  Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired and Pastor Nicolé Ferry. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

By Rev. Deborah Beloved Church
White Rock Presbyterian Church

I recently shared with the WRPC congregation that I have discerned a call to a new thing, and that after five-plus years with them and twenty-five-plus years in the Los Alamos and White Rock communities, I will soon be stepping out of both my role as their pastor and my place in this community, to begin a new chapter in my life. Read More

Hampton: Electrification Or The Caja?

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By DAVID HAMPTON
Los Alamos

At last Monday evening’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) public meeting at Buffalo Thunder, hundreds attended, mostly anti-nuke advocates. Most who spoke wound up speaking against the third power line, the Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade (EPCU) project, which is planned to go into the Caja del Rio. No one spoke in favor.

NNSA acknowledged that they have received 23,000 public comments on the EPCU. I would imagine most if not all are against it. The third power line is necessary to support expanded LANL operations.

On Tuesday evening, we learned Read More

Reconductoring Is Solution To Los Alamos Energy Needs

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By JOHN BUCHSER
Chair
Northern Group of Sierra Club
Rio Grande Chapter

Over the last 10 years, new designs of wire for high voltage power lines have resulted in an over 85% capacity increase as compared to older wire design. This wire can be used to replace older wire at a cost 50% less than building new power lines.

If both power lines feeding LANL that cross the Rio Grande are reconductored, the total power capacity available to LANL will nearly double, without the disruption of a new power line that adds to the visual clutter across the canyon and traverses across a presently undisturbed section Read More

McQuiston: Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Fallen Trees?

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By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1963

Homeowner’s insurance covers the cost of any damage caused by a tree falling onto your home, whereas auto insurance will cover the cost of damage from a falling tree onto a personal vehicle, if you have physical damage coverage (also known as comprehensive coverage).

Who Is Liable for a Neighbor’s Tree Falling on Your Property?

If a tree on your neighbor’s property falls and damages your fence, garage, or other property, your insurance is responsible for covering the loss. Even though it’s not your tree, it fell due to an “Act Read More

Dr. Celeste Raffin: The Facts About Naloxone

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Los Alamos Health Council News:

Dr. Celeste Raffin is a board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician who practiced for 30 years in Emergency Departments in California and Utah. She recently joined the Los Alamos County Health Council in order to help advocate and advise on health-related matters in the community.

Dr. Raffin comes to the council with extensive experience in the treatment of opioid and other drug overdoses and the lifesaving properties of naloxone.

The following is her perspective on Naloxone:

Opioid overdoses have become a public health catastrophe in New Mexico affecting Read More