Marty Durlin

iSeeChange: A Better Year for Birds

Marty Durlin — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:29:00 +0000

May 11 was Colorado’s Migratory Bird Day, celebrating the nearly 500 species that live in the state or pass through it. Local naturalist, birder and author Evelyn Horn has spent the past twenty years or so focused on birds. In 1989 she and her husband Al moved from Las Vegas to Eckert and settled near Hart’s Basin, or Fruitgrowers Reservoir, which is controlled by the Orchard City Irrigation District (OCID). People had just been banned from the reservoir because of e-coli, and the absence of human activity made it more attractive to birds.

DMEA Candidates Discuss Future of Electricity in the Area

Marty Durlin — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:59:02 +0000

An attentive audience at the DMEA building in Montrose Wednesday night got a glimpse into the inner workings of the 75-year-old co-op as six candidates squared off for three seats on the governing board. The Delta Montrose Electrical Association has about 33,000 customers in Delta and Montrose Counties who elect the nine paid board members who serve three-year terms.

Fly-over Stresses Importance of Alternative Oil & Gas Plan

Marty Durlin — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:14:13 +0000

The fight to keep negative impacts of gas drilling out of the North Fork Valley got a boost as community members got a glimpse of the area from a higher plane. On Monday The Western Slope Conservation Center and Eco-Flight offered two tours of the North Fork Valley to graphically show the importance of the North Fork Valley Alternative Plan – a proposal created to provide a rallying point for residents concerned about oil and gas extraction on public lands. The Conservation Center’s director Sarah Sauter explains the purpose of the flights.

Twin Brothers' History Tells of Local Farming from 1930-1950

Marty Durlin — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:48:39 +0000

A few weeks ago on the iseechange report, we covered the story of orchardist Will Beezley’s journals from the 1930s, 40s and 50s that are being transcribed on thealmanac.org by local farmer Amber Kleinman. Through reading the journals, Kleinman not only learned about historical farming and weather in the North Fork, but also caught a glimpse of Will Beezley’s life. Now that life has been further illuminated by Beezley’s grand-nephew, Larry Beezley.

Event Honors 97 year old Nellie Clark & Sister

Marty Durlin — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:38:47 +0000

On Saturday the Delta Historical Museum hosted a tribute to two sisters for their many contributions to the community.

Nellie Clark and Sula Mathews have lived in Delta since 1932 where they have spent a lifetime of community service -- at the library, the schools, the church, and a variety of other worthy causes. This week Nellie turns 97 -- her younger sister is only 89.

Western Slope Skies 5/10/2013

Marty Durlin — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:23:20 +0000

“Hey, can you see the flag in that thing?!” It’s a question that makes us wince when observing the moon at astronomy outreaches.

Fire at Stahl Orchards in Paonia Took 5 Hours to Extinguish

Marty Durlin — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:43:12 +0000

Local Farmer Jere Lowe on How Marijuana Should be Regulated

Marty Durlin — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:49:57 +0000

Local farmer Jere Lowe thinks he has a better framework for regulating recreational marijuana than anything the Colorado Legislature has come up with. In fact, he wrote his own alternative plan, and emailed it to state legislators and the governor last week.

Beezley Journal Offers Glimpse of the Past

Marty Durlin — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:30:02 +0000

Will Beezley was an orchardist and farmer who lived up Steven’s Gulch just outside of Paonia. In the 1930s, 40s and 50s, he kept a daily log of his tasks, along with the weather and conditions. The brief entries offer a glimpse of his work on the land and his chase with water. The journals are now in the hands of Paonia resident Amber Kleinman, who has been selecting and posting entries for ISeeChange at thealmanac.org. She was interviewed by KVNF’s Marty Durlin, who asked her first about the process of transcribing the journals.

Rockslide Closes McClure Pass Early this Week

Marty Durlin — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:19:28 +0000

Update: Pass is officially "open".