The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 400
words. Letters exceeding that length may be edited or returned for
revisions. Include your name and
residence (for publication) and a
contact email and phone number. Submit letters via email to
letters@soprissun.com or via snail mail to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO
81623.
To Ron’s other family
Dear Editor:
Editor’s note: This letter was addressed to, “The wonderful people of Carbondale.”
We
the family and West Coast friends of Ron Robertson want to thank you
for your many years of friendship and support for Ron and for the
awesome memorial last Saturday. He was blessed to have so many people
who knew and cared about him. The warm community and beauty of the
Roaring Fork Valley enriched his life and brought out the best in him.
He truly found a home. We have always felt a special connection to
Carbondale and the Rocky Mountains through Ron. We are so fortunate
that he shared Carbondale with us. (We will try to keep it a secret
here in California.) We love it there and hope to continue to come
visit to renew our bond to this amazing place and to Ron's spirit.
Thank you again.
Wendy Robertson
Castro Valley, Calif.
Speaking of Sutey
Dear Editor:
Thanks
for the article about wildlife on Red Hill and the Sutey Ranch.
Although you did a good job of shedding light on important issues,
which I hope will help us reach a solution that works for deer, elk and
people, I fear you also spread misconceptions about the proposed Sutey
land swap.
The headline says the Sutey “plan” puts wildlife at risk,
when actually what the DOW said is that any future plan for the area
should give priority to wildlife. Your headline implies that the land
swap itself would be bad for wildlife, when actually it is the land
swap which is the last best chance for deer and elk to survive there.
If we let Pitkin County sabotage the land swap, as many as 200 homes
will be built on the Sutey Ranch, and the wildlife will be doomed.
Optimists may hope that the GarCo Commissioners would heed the DOW and
tightly limit development on this beautiful old ranch, but recent
history suggests that deer and elk shouldn't count on our commissioners
for protection.
You say that Pitkin County's proposal would
“preserve” public access to federal lands. Actually, it would create
new access to land that currently provides great wildlife habitat
because it is almost completely inaccessible to humans. Also, when you
describe this area as being “at the base of Mt. Sopris,” you give the
false impression that this is land we currently cross to hike in the
area. A more helpful description would be “the gnarly cliffs behind the
BRB.”
Terray, your statement on KDNK that “it doesn't look like this
land swap will be approved” buys into the misconception that Pitkin
County is pushing: that this is their land and their decision to make.
Actually, it is as much your land and my land as it is Pitkin County’s.
It is up to Congress, and mainly our representative, John Salazar, to
approve the land swap. So if any of your readers would like to see the
Sutey Ranch preserved, they should tell Rich Baca, in the congressman's
Grand Junction office, (970) 245-7107.
Thanks for all you do to keep us informed, and thanks for letting me help.
Nancy Smith
Satank
Support more tennis courts
Dear Editor:
Attention
all tennis players! On Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. there will be a
public hearing discussing new tennis courts in Carbondale. It is
presently a sad situation that a town of 6,000 citizens has only two
playable tennis courts. Even the high school teams must also share
these courts. We have an unusual situation of cooperation between Re-1
with Bill Lamont, and the town of Carbondale with Recreation Director
Jeff Jackel, supporting construction. Get all your tennis-playing
buddies to show up and support this program.
Bob Lucas
Carbondale
