Boebert’s legislation speaks for itself

At the end of a summer filled with wildfires, smoke, flash flooding through scars from burns, mudslides, road problems and drought, there is hope for those of us on the western slope. We have elected a representative who sees these problems with precision and who defends us. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is enduring because her heart is with the West Side. To see this passion for his constituents, look no further than his legislation.

Take, for example, his forest management bill. Many years ago, when we had little scientific knowledge about forest management, the Forest Service made fire suppression its ultimate goal. Back in the day, forest fires were a natural phenomenon that stayed low to the ground, at low temperatures, and cleaned the forest floor.

Government intervention, always well-intentioned, halted this normal process. Not allowing any burning has increased the fuel load in our forests, so logging has become critical. But then the government stepped in again and made logging on federal lands difficult.

Dead brush began to harbor insects and disease, and our forests became weak and more susceptible to natural attack. Now in many parts of Colorado we have forests that are more dead than alive, with beetle death being their most notable feature. Instead of regenerative, low-temperature forest fires, our fires rage indiscreetly, destroying everything in their path. As a result, at best, Coloradans experience poor air quality in the summer. Worse yet, some are losing their homes, while firefighters are even putting themselves in danger to help with the blaze.

MP Boebert regularly visits our district and studies all of this. Because it focuses on local issues, it introduced comprehensive legislation to once again allow scientific management in our federal forests at no cost to taxpayers. Who else in Congress understands or fights for this? Even in our own state, politicians often fail to understand the complexity of this issue and give quick and partisan answers. They tell you to take “climate action” to fix forest fires. Many politicians claim to care about the environment while ignoring the needs of our dying trees. No matter what your beliefs about climate change, buying an electric vehicle will not solve the problem of fuel overload in our Colorado forests. This requires specific intervention and management now, as Boebert’s bill points out.

I could list several issues like this one where Boebert gave voters like me a voice. And I must list them, because it is difficult to find reports on his specific achievements in policy and legislation. I appreciate that American journalists exist, in theory, to control our politicians, but I wonder if they believe in keeping us informed impartially. Bias goes unnoticed when it comes to underestimating the good things a politician does. CD3 voters must now take an active role in research, instead of going to local newspapers to hear about Boebert’s work.

Now is the time for us to educate ourselves. If you want an unfiltered overview of what Boebert has done for you, you can directly consult its legislation. Read the Western Water Security Act or the Secure the Southern Border Act. Dig and find out things like his opposition to the tree prickers at the head of the BLM, or watch his impassioned speeches for his district upstairs from the house. In doing so, you will get a more complete picture, not only of the woman we sent to Congress, but also of the issues in your local community.

– Savvy Wolfson, Oak Creek

Thank you for supporting the Rubber Ducky Race for Hospice

We would like to express our gratitude to the many people and businesses who made our seventh annual Craig Rubber Ducky Race on August 7th a huge success. Special thanks to the Moffat County Hot Air Balloon Committee for allowing us to join in the fun and host our Rubber Duck Race among all other wonderful family events. It was great to have spectators in the race again, and we really enjoyed the delighted faces of the many children who came to watch and cheer on the ducks as they made their way to the finish line.

The support from the community was immense and we are grateful to everyone who purchased tickets, sponsored the race, and donated their time and talents. We feel honored to have the support of Moffat County and the privilege of providing care to all who need it. Thanks to the many people who have contributed to the Rubber Ducky Race, we are able to provide the staff and resources necessary to ensure that the Palliative Care Program can continue to provide compassionate end-of-life care and ensure that people terminally ill community can die with dignity. Thank you to the residents of Moffat County for being our partner in creating a healthy community.

Stephanie Einfeld, CEO, Northwest Colorado Health