Protect canyon’s jaw-dropping beauty
The front page of Sunday’s Colorado Springs Gazette reported that the U.S. Army plans to fire test artillery shells during a month-long exercise beginning this weekend at the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site. According to the article, the Army acknowledges the testing will cause permanent damage to historic sites in Piñon Canyon, yet is proceeding anyway. This is an irresponsible travesty.
In October 2012, I earned my private pilot’s license. During cross-country training earlier in the year, my instructor routed us from La Junta to Trinidad, Colorado—a flight that took me over Piñon Canyon for the first time. From the air, it was breathtaking. Not long before, I had read Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey, and what I saw below looked exactly as he described: rugged box canyons and a vast, untamed Western landscape. It was some of the most stunning countryside I had ever seen.
When I got home, I told my wife about the surreal beauty just south of our Colorado Springs home. I remember saying that Colorado—or the federal government—should preserve Piñon Canyon as a monument for future generations. The first cross-country flight I later took her on after earning my pilot’s license was over Piñon Canyon, where she experienced its jaw-dropping beauty firsthand.
A few years later, despite fierce opposition from ranchers and others, our politicians allowed Piñon Canyon to be ceded to the U.S. Army for use as a maneuver area. I am strongly pro-military—but not at the expense of land that deserves preservation, especially when numerous other maneuver sites already exist across the western United States (Fort Irwin, CA; Yakima, WA; Fort Bliss, TX; and others). When our leaders yielded to the Army’s acquisition pressure—purportedly to keep Fort Carson in Colorado—a remarkable national treasure was lost, its natural beauty now permanently scarred. And with Sunday’s announcement, artillery impact craters will soon inflict further permanent damage.
Today, I can no longer fly over Piñon Canyon; it is designated as restricted airspace by the FAA. The photo shown above is one I took in 2021 while flying north, skirting the eastern edge of the Piñon Canyon restricted airspace, and looking west.
David Belote
Colorado Springs
Cleaning up the Springs
This past weekend I participated in the Great American Clean Up to help remove trash and debris from Douglas Creek which flows into Fountain Creek.
In just our small section we were able to remove 300+ lbs. of garbage. I would ask that people consider committing to cleaning up trash in their neighborhoods or local waterways, either informally or through a volunteer network. This could be as little as once a month for an hour, every effort makes a difference. I would also encourage businesses to do better at keeping the areas around their dumpsters from becoming major contributors to pollution. The majority of the trash we removed was adjacent to local businesses, fast food restaurants, and unsecured dumpsters.
Together, we can make Colorado and The Springs more beautiful.
Joseph McDonald
Colorado Springs
A voice for disabled Coloradans
My name is Kevan Worley. I was born blind, and I have dedicated my life to building opportunity through service. I serve as CEO of Worley Enterprises. I have served for many years as the executive director of Blind Merchants. I recently retired from service on the Colorado Center for the Blind board of directors. I continue to serve in a number of capacities at the local, state, and national levels on various boards and committees, advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. This makes the race for Colorado Secretary of State personal for me. If you aren’t paying attention yet, please start, because Coloradans with disabilities have a lot on the line in this race. You have a clear choice.
In the Democratic primary, Amanda Gonzalez opposed Ballot Access For Voters With Disabilities (SB21-188). This law required the Secretary of State to establish an electronic transmission system that would allow a voter with a disability to vote privately. Gonzalez opposed private voting for blind Coloradans like me.
That is why I am so grateful that Democratic State Sen. Jessie Danielson is also running for Colorado Secretary of State. Sen. Danielson was the legislator who sponsored the Ballot Access for Voters With Disabilities bill. She believes that no disability should prevent any Coloradan from exercising their right to vote.
Those values are why Sen. Danielson received the 2018 Distinguished Service Award from the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado.
Colorado is lucky to have in Sen. Danielson a champion for all voters. She spearheaded the 2013 election reforms that Coloradans are so proud of—including universal mail-in balloting. She also passed Automatic Voter Registration. That’s a proven leader, battle-tested and ready to defend Colorado against Donald Trump.
So to my fellow Democratic primary voters, there is a clear choice in our next Secretary of State. Please stand with disabled Coloradans everywhere and support Jessie Danielson.
Kevan Worley
Colorado Springs