Craig Daily Press / Columns

Senior Spotlight for Feb. 6, 2012

Reruns seem to be what I end up watching on TV. “Golden Girls” has been my pick lately. I’ve listened more than watched. The storyline was about having someone when you need support emotionally, about having a condition or a mind-boggling problem that makes you wonder about how you’re going to live through a certain thing. My thoughts went way back — how many times did I have a situation that I considered so bad? Too many that I don’t want to think about.

Patrick Germond: Law contrary to Christian doctrine

An upsetting and disconcerting situation has arisen in our country. Many people, including myself, believe our government has adopted a number of anti-Christian policies that purposely undermine religious liberties and freedom. The latest example is the federal government, through ObamaCare, forcing Christian entities to provide insurance coverage for contraception and chemical abortion (plan B) for employees.

Editorial: Refine rather than rebuild

It can hardly be argued The Memorial Hospital in Craig has vastly improved as a health care provider since it moved to a new facility west of town two-and-a-half years ago. Hospital officials deserve credit for this, but plenty of kudos should also go to the public for funding $42.6 million for the new hospital. One trip to TMH is all it takes to understand just how far the hospital has come from the old days of the Russell Street location. However, as improved as TMH has become, the editorial board believes the hospital should show more consideration to private practice health care providers. The hospital, which receives public money, has advantages other local providers don’t when it comes to the bottom line.

Baxter Black: Feedlot consultants — A tribute

When I started practicing feedlot medicine in the late 1960s, it was a fairly new specialty. Feedlots, as we picture them now in the Midwest and southwest, were not as common. But by this time I hired on with the Diamond A out of Roswell, N.M., and 20,000 head yards were spreading across the country. They prospered in the more arid southwest because mud is the biggest enemy of feedlot grain. The Imperial Valley of California, the desert country of Arizona and the Texas panhandle became popular places to feed cattle.

Janet Sheridan: Cutting A Rug

I first wondered if my family had a dancing disability when I watched my oldest brother, Lawrence, dance at his wedding with an agonized expression and mincing, straight-ahead steps, like a reluctant dog tugged by a leash. Then Bob bounced by, looking like he was jumping hurdles. But, what the heck, I’d never be a Ginger Rogers if I didn’t give it a try, so I signed up for a parks and recreation summer session: Introduction to Dance. I remember peering at my stubborn feet during ballet class, trying to force them into first position with the backs of my heels touching and my sizeable feet turned out, forming a straight line.

‘Contraband’ snatches story from others of its kind

You can find a lot of things in cargo containers that probably weren’t supposed to leave their country of origin. Speaking of which, if you open those big metal doors, the light of day might reveal the pilfered plotlines of the crime drama “Contraband.” In a previous life, Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg) was the best smuggler in the business, able to find a way to bring anything and everything into the port of New Orleans. Those days are behind him now, as he tries to go down the straight and narrow path, providing for his family, lest he end up like his incarcerated father (William Lucking). When his wife’s (Kate Beckinsale) younger brother (Caleb Landry Jones) is brutalized following a failed attempt to bring cocaine into the country, Chris isn’t too happy about having to clean up his mess. That means getting back in touch with scumbags he never wanted to see again — in this case, bottom-dweller Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi), who demands thousands of dollars as repayment for the botched drug deal.

Livin' It Up: Big-ticket weekend

With Super Bowl Sunday looming, fans of Eli Manning and Tom Brady alike are waiting for the biggest game of the year. With the eyes of the nation on the action happening in Indianapolis more than 1,200 miles away, it’s easy to forget the assortment of things happening on the home front the next several days.

Editorial: Bang for the buck?

There were some surprising figures released in Monday’s Craig Daily Press story outlining last year’s activity by the All Crimes Enforcement Team, a task force that operates in Moffat and Routt counties. According to the report, the task force conducted 29 investigations last year, resulting in four convictions and the seizure of drugs with an estimated total street value of $42,807.68. The breakdown on seizures: 372.12 grams of cocaine, 2.8 grams of methamphetamine, and 3 grams of marijuana. Perhaps there are aspects of the task force’s activity that aren’t as tangible as the conviction and seizure numbers, and if that’s the case, forgive the editorial board’s opinion today.

At the movies: ‘Joyful Noise’ volume doesn’t undo uplifting theme

If life’s got you down and you don’t know where else to turn, there are always groups of people who can sympathize. And, if you want to don a purple robe, maybe you can help them make some “Joyful Noise.” When Bernard Sparrow (Kris Kristofferson), the director of his church choir, passes away unexpectedly, the town of Pacashau, Ga., doesn’t know how to handle it. Beyond grieving, the small town populace is up in arms about who will lead them to glory as the musical ensemble competes in the annual gospel competition, in which they have always come up short.

Business Beat: Area auto dealer joins manufacturer sales effort

The icy months of January and February may give some vehicle owners cause to consider purchasing a new car better suited to winter conditions. The problem is that it may not be the best time financially for some people. But, kicking the tires in certain car lots may result in better savings than you’d think. Cook Chevrolet and Subaru is participating in the Factory Challenge, a sales drive designed to increase numbers in dealerships at the beginning of the year, running throughout February. Owner Scott Cook said the quota for the challenge is 150 units between the dealerships he owns in Craig and Steamboat Springs, which applies to both new and used vehicles.

Patrick Germond: If tomorrow doesn’t come

A growing population of Americans believes our country may succumb to any number of possible disasters, either man-made or natural. This sense of impending doom has created a new cultural phenomenon of people called “preppers.” I’d like to give some attention to some aspects of preparation that are often overlooked. Preppers store food, fuel, clothing, medicine and whatever else they may need in life in case the modern-day grid was to disappear.

Over A Cup: A hearty meal for the cold winter months

Recently, over a morning cup of coffee, I checked out my files and cookbooks, searching for main meal recipes to cook for supper. It seems like I always have a struggle deciding what to cook after having all of the luscious food during the holidays. So, I found a recipe for “Whole Meal Ground Beef Casserole” that I’ve made one time before. I cut the recipe from some newspaper a bunch of years ago. The recipe gets its name because the casserole dish has meat, a green vegetable, and potatoes, everything to make a whole meal. It’s a variation on other potato puff casseroles.

Al Cashion: Environmental euphoria

“Seventy-five and sunny,” the Accuweather app on my Android reported one day last June. A quick check through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration verified the report. The gorgeous meteorologist on TV said the same the night before. But, I don’t believe weather girls actually have to have degrees to talk about degrees; the gorgeous part is usually enough for ratings.

Janet Sheridan: About writing

When readers talk to me about my columns, they don’t question my balance of accuracy and exaggeration or take issue with my overabundance of colons and dashes. Instead, they ask about my writing process. Recently, a friend wanted to know where I get ideas for 52 columns a year. I could have answered him, admitted that ideas swarm into my mind like mosquitoes and persistently pierce my thoughts until I notice them. But I didn’t.

Singing, dancing, games abound this weekend

After a slow entry into 2012, things are starting to heat up around here, with a busy few days for the people who want to do it all. Just be sure to take some time to breathe, folks. ■ If you’re a child enrolled in preschool through fifth-grade or the parent of someone this age, you can’t miss the literacy carnival running from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Sunset Elementary School, 800 W. Seventh St. Be sure to bookmark it in your day planner.