Stuff by Tom Mercer

• Locations: Columns, Opinion By Tom Mercer Published Feb. 15, 2023

  Book Review: Stories of the American West

  

  “Stories of the American West, Volume 1” by author Daniel Parliman provides the reader with a detailed description of commercial group trail rides and hunting expeditions on Colorado’s Western Slope over a period of many years. The detailed accounts of the group rides and hunting trips are rich with the… read more →

• Locations: News By Tom Mercer Published Nov. 2, 2022

  Surviving Hurricane Ian

  Kathleen Mrachek grieves the loss of her studio and art. Photo by Andy Goebel

  Growing up in Central Illinois, I witnessed first-hand the damage that tornadoes could do. They could carve a path of destruction through any terrain. There was a tornado warning siren on the water tower that stood just 300 feet from our brick home on Walnut Street, and it was not… read more →

• Locations: News By Tom Mercer Published Oct. 19, 2022

  KDNK’s Geekspeak turns 18

  Geekspeak’s current hosts, Louie Girardot and Matt McBrayer. Courtesy photo

  Reportedly, Mark Burrows put forth the idea of a KDNK radio program that would offer helpful advice to computer users in 2004.  Now, 18 years later, Geekspeak continues to solve problems, answer questions, and assist KDNK listeners who are challenged by modern computer technology or software. … read more →

• Locations: News By Tom Mercer Published Sep. 14, 2022

  Local musician delves into scifi with “Ed Pinley Paranormal Investigator”

  

  I have known Lester Rogers as a local Western Colorado musician for many years, but I was genuinely surprised to discover that he had recently authored a book. The title of the book is “Ed Pinley Paranormal Investigator”, and it takes the reader on a wild ride, featuring… read more →

• Locations: News By Tom Mercer Published Aug. 24, 2022

  TACAW to feature Songwriters’ Round

  Jackson Emmer, photo by Olive and West Photography

  The Roaring Fork Valley is rich with entertainment opportunities. The Valley supports a wealth of options in music, drama and the fine arts. One venue in particular has proven to be a dependable option for a varied selection of live entertainment: TACAW (The Arts Campus at Willits).

  On Sept. 1,… read more →

• Locations: Columns, Opinion By Tom Mercer Published Apr. 27, 2022

  Local author quenches SciFi thirst with “THING: First Contact”

  

  This reviewer has been an avid reader of science fiction novels ever since discovering them in a small-town library in Illinois. Those books were “a ticket out of town” and transported the reader to different worlds, thereby broadening imagination and creating a literary thirst for more of the… read more →

• Locations: Columns, Opinion By Tom Mercer Published Mar. 2, 2022

  A transplant’s tale from Florida-land

  Tom in Key West.

  Last autumn, my partner and I said goodbye to Carbondale. We packed our belongings into a rental trailer and began the long drive to Florida. 

  We left Carbondale at 3 a.m. Glenwood Canyon had just been cleared of fallen rock and the pavement was still… read more →

• Locations: News By Tom Mercer Published Jul. 21, 2021

  Tyler Stableford lends a helping hand

  Tyler Stableford gained international recognition for his sports writing and photography. Stableford is now applying his talents to offer life coaching and clinical mental health counseling. Courtesy photo.

  There is a small building near Sopris Park in Carbondale that is easily overlooked. It is unassuming, much like the award-winning photographer/director that conducts his successful business from that location. In fact, Tyler Stableford, the owner of Tyler Stableford Productions, is better known by his national clients (who… read more →

• Locations: News By Tom Mercer Published May. 12, 2021

  Bear-roping and jewels at Four Mile B&B

  Sharill and Jim Hawkins, owners of Four Mile Creek Bed & Breakfast. Photo by Tom Mercer.

  I am certain that I have driven past Four Mile Creek Bed & Breakfast more than 100 times, often at the maximum allowable speed limit. However, that changed recently when I stopped in to visit with owners Jim and Sharill Hawkins. My visit resulted in much more than… read more →

• Locations: News By Tom Mercer Published Feb. 10, 2021

  It all started with The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad

  Crystal River & San Juan's locomotive #1 departs from Carbondale Depot on Oct. 25, 1941. Photo courtesy of Morrison A. Smith, from the collection of John W. Maxwell.

  When this reporter first arrived in Carbondale, the trains transporting Mid-Continent coal were still active, and automobile drivers would often have to sit in their idling cars for several minutes, waiting for a train to clear the crossing. But that minor inconvenience was destined to disappear.
  The “last hurrah”… read more →