The Editorial Board's argument is quite possibly the dumbest I have yet to hear them make in all the years I have read them. Basically what they are saying is that nothing changes. Where was the editorial board when the The Memorial Hospital asked for money from the voters after they promissed they wouldn't ask for a tax levy if the people of Moffat County raised a million dollars in donations? Guess what? Things change! The million dollars raised wasn't quite enough so they went after more money. Things change and just because a condition held true ten years ago doesn't mean that it will in the future. Again, get over it!
The money the fire district has in reserves is up to the District Board and the other officials in the fire district to do with as best they see fit. Not the CDP Editorial Board. This is how Special Districts work all over the state of colorado. If you start giving the average shmuck say in how a district is ran from day to day you are going to have problems coming out of your ears.
The editorial board has to respect the public wishes? Really Editorial Board? And what are the “publics” wishes? Just because they voted down a mill levy a decade ago for a tower doesn't mean anything. Currently we don't have a mill levy for a training tower, so I guess they did respect the wishes and didn't raise new taxes for a tower specifically but they did get voter approval, this voter's approval to raise a mill levy for operations and other puposes. Fortunate for them they don't need you permission to run their fire district. If our fire department produced as poor a quality product as the Daily Press we would be in big trouble. Fortunately for us we have some great people running this program that know a thing or two about running a fire district. You would do well in investing a little more time in learning to not report fluff stories and human interest garbage and actually report the news.
FACT: Moffaty County does not do a very good job investing in its infrastructure. FACT: Our voters are so concerned with not adding an extra $10 a year to their taxes that we have some of the worst county and municipal buildings in the state. FACT: With the exception of the recent school, hospital, and fire monies raised we have done nothing to better our community outside of a few more acres of grass in our parks department. FACT: The Daily Mess gets most of their facts wrong. FACT: this is money that the Fire District has in their accounts and isn't going to set you or anyone else back a single dime in the future.
I think anyone investing in this community needs to be applauded and anyone who doesn't want to invest in this community needs to be run out of town. Its time to stop doing the bare minimum!!!
That clinic was overseen for years by Dr. Thomas Told, who did so at cost to him of both his time and money. When Dr. Told was planning on leaving the area it was to continue being overseen by The Craig Clinic, which was to be purchased by the hospital. Unfortunately for all involved, hospital administration failed to follow through with their commitment to Dr. Told or the residents of Craig and Baggs, and opted to break their contract with Dr. Told at the last minute. The hospital opted instead to creat their own clinic at the old TMH facility and the clinic in Baggs started to be over seen by TMH's new doctor, Andy Hughes along with a mid-level provider. Sadly, I can only assume that the hospital did not see the value in continuing to send a physician up there and obsorb some of the cost of making sure that clinic stayed open.
There are about 700+ peopel living in the greater Baggs area who now have to travel to either Criag or Rawlins. I guess that hospital administration figures that since Craig is closer that they will keep the majority of the patients without having to assume any of the cost of seeing these patients, which is in direct contrast to what YVMC does, who sends physicians the 45 miles from Steamboat to Craig, because they see the value of this population on their entire business.
The article in the paper encourages people of Baggs to contact Andy Hughes (a TMH Doctor) if they need an appointment, but I would encourage them to send a message to the Memorial Hospital Board and chose other options, including the Northwest Colorado Community Health Center (VNA) or The Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.
I would also encourage the Daily Press to actually do some investigative reporting from time to time. Their are big issues facing the people of our region and printing nice articles and not digging deeper just so you can protect your advertising revenue is no way to run a paper.
You are so blinded by party politics you really come off looking quite stupid. The simple fact of the matter is that healthcare costs and the average person's ability to pay for those services is reaching a critical mass. Your lame coment about freedom of religion and healthcare boarders insults all of our intelligence (sounds like you copied and pasted this from Fox News). I looked back in the Archives for a letter from you when George W Bush was lying to the American people and plundering our reserves, spending wildlyand violating our constitutional rights but I can't seem to locate any. This tells me that 1) you are an idiot 2) you don't know what you are talking about and 3) that you wouldn't say $h@t if you had a mouth full as long as the person who put it in your mouth had the letter GOP by their name.
The only advertisement that would be any good is a simple billboard at the intersection of highway 40 and Routt Rd. 51 leading to the airport that has an arrow on it pointing west and a picture of Benjamin Frankling that says:
“Craig….Drive 18 miles and save a founding father (Avg. Craig hotel = $85 - Avg. Steamboat hotel = $185)”
Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.
The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri . His wife had inherited the house from her mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.
When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.
After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service following them.
When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, “You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale.”
Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, “I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.”
As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.
Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale. (sic. Illinois )
Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, “My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!
With all due respect editorial board, advertising at the airport and expecting a return on your investment is about as useless as advertising in the news paper. People flying into YVRA just drog a cool G on the plane ticket and are going to be spending another 200 a night for a hotel in stemaboat. Not many are going to say “ya know, I hear their is this really cool town that is 45 miles aways from steamboat, lets blow off a day of skiing and our $150 dollar lift tickets and walk around Craig.” Spending money advertising at YVRA is a bad idea on many levels.
Urban Sprawl - Little towns as well as large cities suffer from it. Traffic (consumer not automobile) has moved west of town. Wal-mart, City Market, Walgrens, fast food, hospital, etc. is on the west-central and west end of town, while shops, buildings and store fronts on the east side sit empty. Planning and zoning can help, as well as better promotion, but this is a problemn that should have been addressed years when it started happening and not now. Art walks are great, but they don't solve the problem of spawl. Yes they get foot traffic down town, but don't really create profits for the business in that area as they have very small margins and the increased cost of such events wipe out any profit they may get. A few buildings in the downtown area need to be raised and new ones constructed that will bring in new businesses to the downtown area. The current configuration is not good for new business models. Poor parking and their ability to put up signs is one major factor, the others include space, complimentary services, and visibility. And the only way to get around these issues in downtown areas is to have investors put cash in that area of town……..and I don't see that happening any time soon. If MJK and the movie theatre move West…..there won't be much draw to the downtown area except the court house…..
While at first glance the editorial board does make a good point, but upon further review however I find myself having to somewhat disagree with their argument.
Their position that city council members or county officials gathered in one place constitute a public quorum and a public meeting insults all of our intelligence. Does this mean IF the “official” number to constitute a quorum is at a basketball game then the school has to let people in for free out of the auspicious chance that they may talk city business? Or if fiver our more attend Diamonds and Spurs that the rotarycClub has to let people come and be wall flowers for free if they don't eat the dinner or dance? Or if two County Commissioners are at the Kiwanis play then they have to be let in for free?
This is a CCC event that costs them money to host at the Holiday Inn or any other venue they would choose to host it at. It takes time, money, and effort for them to plan. If they open it up to anyone without a cover charge then eventually no one will pay and then who will cover the cost? The Craig Daily Press? I put it to the Press to host their own State of the County and State of the City event and not charge for it. Let the Press put in the time and effort at their own expense. Lastly, everyone in the county and city has equal access to their elected officials. They can go to the city council meeting or the county commissioners meeting each week at no cost. They can hear their elected officials speak and get their concerns addressed in those public venues. I think if they want to attend the CCC sponsored event they should have to pay for it. Or, they can go get a free Craig Daily Press paper after the event and read what was said.
Dave - Its not illegal. Regs have always said that a patient is to be taken to the most appropriate level of care. EMS can by-pass any ER they want in favor of another based on perceived need. Also I would encourage you to read the board minutes from this period where it was discussed at length the fact that EMS chose to by-pass TMH and taking them over would help stop that.
Also, George Rohrich fired Tom Soos from the EMS Manager position. Why does he have so much confidence in him now? The assessment won't change the fact that the EMS service should stay with TMH and Tom and Tom feel that is where it should stay and no assessment will convince them that the County or the FD should take it over. And since the County owns the hospital why would they take over EMS to keep the hospital from losing a $100,000 just so the County can lose twice that much?
14 April 2012
at 4:47 p.m.
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highway1340 (Anonymous) says…
The Editorial Board's argument is quite possibly the dumbest I have yet to hear them make in all the years I have read them. Basically what they are saying is that nothing changes. Where was the editorial board when the The Memorial Hospital asked for money from the voters after they promissed they wouldn't ask for a tax levy if the people of Moffat County raised a million dollars in donations? Guess what? Things change! The million dollars raised wasn't quite enough so they went after more money. Things change and just because a condition held true ten years ago doesn't mean that it will in the future. Again, get over it!
The money the fire district has in reserves is up to the District Board and the other officials in the fire district to do with as best they see fit. Not the CDP Editorial Board. This is how Special Districts work all over the state of colorado. If you start giving the average shmuck say in how a district is ran from day to day you are going to have problems coming out of your ears.
The editorial board has to respect the public wishes? Really Editorial Board? And what are the “publics” wishes? Just because they voted down a mill levy a decade ago for a tower doesn't mean anything. Currently we don't have a mill levy for a training tower, so I guess they did respect the wishes and didn't raise new taxes for a tower specifically but they did get voter approval, this voter's approval to raise a mill levy for operations and other puposes. Fortunate for them they don't need you permission to run their fire district. If our fire department produced as poor a quality product as the Daily Press we would be in big trouble. Fortunately for us we have some great people running this program that know a thing or two about running a fire district. You would do well in investing a little more time in learning to not report fluff stories and human interest garbage and actually report the news.
FACT: Moffaty County does not do a very good job investing in its infrastructure. FACT: Our voters are so concerned with not adding an extra $10 a year to their taxes that we have some of the worst county and municipal buildings in the state. FACT: With the exception of the recent school, hospital, and fire monies raised we have done nothing to better our community outside of a few more acres of grass in our parks department. FACT: The Daily Mess gets most of their facts wrong. FACT: this is money that the Fire District has in their accounts and isn't going to set you or anyone else back a single dime in the future.
I think anyone investing in this community needs to be applauded and anyone who doesn't want to invest in this community needs to be run out of town. Its time to stop doing the bare minimum!!!
7 April 2012
at 11:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
highway1340 (Anonymous) says…
That clinic was overseen for years by Dr. Thomas Told, who did so at cost to him of both his time and money. When Dr. Told was planning on leaving the area it was to continue being overseen by The Craig Clinic, which was to be purchased by the hospital. Unfortunately for all involved, hospital administration failed to follow through with their commitment to Dr. Told or the residents of Craig and Baggs, and opted to break their contract with Dr. Told at the last minute. The hospital opted instead to creat their own clinic at the old TMH facility and the clinic in Baggs started to be over seen by TMH's new doctor, Andy Hughes along with a mid-level provider. Sadly, I can only assume that the hospital did not see the value in continuing to send a physician up there and obsorb some of the cost of making sure that clinic stayed open.
There are about 700+ peopel living in the greater Baggs area who now have to travel to either Criag or Rawlins. I guess that hospital administration figures that since Craig is closer that they will keep the majority of the patients without having to assume any of the cost of seeing these patients, which is in direct contrast to what YVMC does, who sends physicians the 45 miles from Steamboat to Craig, because they see the value of this population on their entire business.
The article in the paper encourages people of Baggs to contact Andy Hughes (a TMH Doctor) if they need an appointment, but I would encourage them to send a message to the Memorial Hospital Board and chose other options, including the Northwest Colorado Community Health Center (VNA) or The Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.
I would also encourage the Daily Press to actually do some investigative reporting from time to time. Their are big issues facing the people of our region and printing nice articles and not digging deeper just so you can protect your advertising revenue is no way to run a paper.
23 March 2012
at 8:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
highway1340 (Anonymous) says…
Rosemary,
You are so blinded by party politics you really come off looking quite stupid. The simple fact of the matter is that healthcare costs and the average person's ability to pay for those services is reaching a critical mass. Your lame coment about freedom of religion and healthcare boarders insults all of our intelligence (sounds like you copied and pasted this from Fox News). I looked back in the Archives for a letter from you when George W Bush was lying to the American people and plundering our reserves, spending wildlyand violating our constitutional rights but I can't seem to locate any. This tells me that 1) you are an idiot 2) you don't know what you are talking about and 3) that you wouldn't say $h@t if you had a mouth full as long as the person who put it in your mouth had the letter GOP by their name.
14 March 2012
at 11:30 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
highway1340 (Anonymous) says…
I seriously did not know Napoleon Dynomite was a drug dealer…….
1 March 2012
at 4:18 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
highway1340 (Anonymous) says…
The only advertisement that would be any good is a simple billboard at the intersection of highway 40 and Routt Rd. 51 leading to the airport that has an arrow on it pointing west and a picture of Benjamin Frankling that says:
“Craig….Drive 18 miles and save a founding father (Avg. Craig hotel = $85 - Avg. Steamboat hotel = $185)”
26 February 2012
at 9:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
highway1340 (Anonymous) says…
Harry Truman
was a different kind of President. He
probably made as many, or more important
decisions regarding our nation's history as
any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him.
However, a measure of his greatness may rest on
what he did after he left the White House.
The only asset he had when he died
was the house he lived in, which was
in Independence Missouri .
His wife had inherited the house from her
mother and father and other than their
years in the White House, they lived their
entire lives there.
When he retired
from office in 1952, his income was
a U.S. Army pension reported to have
been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting
that he was paying for his stamps and personally
licking them, granted him an 'allowance'
and, later, a retroactive pension of
$25,000 per year.
After President Eisenhower
was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home
to Missouri by themselves. There
was no Secret Service following them.
When offered corporate
positions at large salaries, he declined,
stating, “You don't want me. You want the
office of the President, and that doesn't
belong to me. It belongs to the American
people and it's not for sale.”
Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was
preparing to award him the Medal of Honor
on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept
it, writing, “I don't consider that I have
done anything which should be the reason
for any award, Congressional or otherwise.”
As president he paid for all of his own
travel expenses and food.
Modern politicians have found a new
level of success in cashing in on the
Presidency, resulting in untold wealth.
Today, many in Congress also have found a way
to become quite wealthy while enjoying the
fruits of their offices. Political offices
are now for sale. (sic. Illinois )
Good old Harry Truman was correct
when he observed, “My choices in life were
either to be a piano player in a whore house
or a politician. And to tell the truth,
there's hardly any difference!
I say dig him up and clone him!!
25 February 2012
at 2:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
highway1340 (Anonymous) says…
With all due respect editorial board, advertising at the airport and expecting a return on your investment is about as useless as advertising in the news paper. People flying into YVRA just drog a cool G on the plane ticket and are going to be spending another 200 a night for a hotel in stemaboat. Not many are going to say “ya know, I hear their is this really cool town that is 45 miles aways from steamboat, lets blow off a day of skiing and our $150 dollar lift tickets and walk around Craig.” Spending money advertising at YVRA is a bad idea on many levels.
18 February 2012
at 7:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
highway1340 (Anonymous) says…
Urban Sprawl - Little towns as well as large cities suffer from it. Traffic (consumer not automobile) has moved west of town. Wal-mart, City Market, Walgrens, fast food, hospital, etc. is on the west-central and west end of town, while shops, buildings and store fronts on the east side sit empty. Planning and zoning can help, as well as better promotion, but this is a problemn that should have been addressed years when it started happening and not now. Art walks are great, but they don't solve the problem of spawl. Yes they get foot traffic down town, but don't really create profits for the business in that area as they have very small margins and the increased cost of such events wipe out any profit they may get. A few buildings in the downtown area need to be raised and new ones constructed that will bring in new businesses to the downtown area. The current configuration is not good for new business models. Poor parking and their ability to put up signs is one major factor, the others include space, complimentary services, and visibility. And the only way to get around these issues in downtown areas is to have investors put cash in that area of town……..and I don't see that happening any time soon. If MJK and the movie theatre move West…..there won't be much draw to the downtown area except the court house…..
12 February 2012
at 8:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
highway1340 (Anonymous) says…
While at first glance the editorial board does make a good point, but upon further review however I find myself having to somewhat disagree with their argument.
Their position that city council members or county officials gathered in one place constitute a public quorum and a public meeting insults all of our intelligence. Does this mean IF the “official” number to constitute a quorum is at a basketball game then the school has to let people in for free out of the auspicious chance that they may talk city business? Or if fiver our more attend Diamonds and Spurs that the rotarycClub has to let people come and be wall flowers for free if they don't eat the dinner or dance? Or if two County Commissioners are at the Kiwanis play then they have to be let in for free?
This is a CCC event that costs them money to host at the Holiday Inn or any other venue they would choose to host it at. It takes time, money, and effort for them to plan. If they open it up to anyone without a cover charge then eventually no one will pay and then who will cover the cost? The Craig Daily Press? I put it to the Press to host their own State of the County and State of the City event and not charge for it. Let the Press put in the time and effort at their own expense.
Lastly, everyone in the county and city has equal access to their elected officials. They can go to the city council meeting or the county commissioners meeting each week at no cost. They can hear their elected officials speak and get their concerns addressed in those public venues. I think if they want to attend the CCC sponsored event they should have to pay for it. Or, they can go get a free Craig Daily Press paper after the event and read what was said.
6 February 2012
at 1:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
highway1340 (Anonymous) says…
Dave - Its not illegal. Regs have always said that a patient is to be taken to the most appropriate level of care. EMS can by-pass any ER they want in favor of another based on perceived need. Also I would encourage you to read the board minutes from this period where it was discussed at length the fact that EMS chose to by-pass TMH and taking them over would help stop that.
Also, George Rohrich fired Tom Soos from the EMS Manager position. Why does he have so much confidence in him now? The assessment won't change the fact that the EMS service should stay with TMH and Tom and Tom feel that is where it should stay and no assessment will convince them that the County or the FD should take it over. And since the County owns the hospital why would they take over EMS to keep the hospital from losing a $100,000 just so the County can lose twice that much?