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Show They were invited to apply for the positions of publisher and editor when they became available. When offered the jobs, they accepted, and in the latter part of 1983 HCN moved--lock, stock and barrel-to Paonia in the back of a pick up truck. The Marstons proceeded to merge High Country News and Western Colorado Report. “Neither membership was entirely pleased,” Ed says. “We lost 1,000 members from the Coffee Cowl combined circulation of 4,300. Some HCN subscribers left because they didn't want the paper to move from Lander. Some WCR subscribers left because they wanted a return to a more hometown paper.” in Telluride The network of contributing Western journalists ceased Stiles put them on another page... submitting articles as they waited to see if the “new” HCN would fold. Accordingly, for awhile Ed wrote most of them himself, which drew its own criticism. Over a period of time, Who am | going to pick on? What am | GONNA DO??? when it became clear that the paper was not going under, journalists began writing and circulation began to increase once more. The Marstons came to HCN sixteen years ago, first environmentalists. In fact, Betsy says they don't think of environmentalists, but as caring about a place because they are lived there and put down roots. Their intent at the paper was West as a whole without political boundaries, and to retain its newspaper about the West. They have certainly achieved that. as journalists, second as themselves so much as grounded in it by having to continue to look at the status as a well-respected Hodges experiences The change is that the paper focuses on environmental issues in less of a vacuum these days. The Marstons are integrating the social and cultural dimensions of the West into the environmental conflict--in much the same way that many communities are, in order to try a new tactic for solving problems. This shift from a “pure environmental rag”, is the focus of some controversy amongst the environmental community. According to Ed, severe case of "Salt Lake Roasting Ed and Betsy are clearly people who have always given a damn. They complement each other well in appearance and manner; _-yet they seem easily individual after long years of marriage. Withdrawals." environmental issues do not exist in isolation. As an example he claims that disenfranchising ranchers, who are the leadership class in many Western communities, is potentially very hazardous. “They are important politically and culturally. They are critical to the social structure of the West. If they're gone, who replaces them as community leaders? We need to think about that carefully,” he says. He recalls that Doc and Connie Hatfield were some of the first ranchers he recognized as people, and not as mere symbols YOU CAN'T MISS US... of the destruction of the West. “We've written a zillion stories about the damage evil cows had done, because the damage was documented,” Betsy remarks, “but how long can you * On Colorado Ave. in Telluride go on blaming without trying to find a workable solution?” This view has earned the Marstons no little amount of grief, and Ed the scathing classification of a “wannabe rancher’. Despite this, he has not, in all his years here, succumbed to the purchase of cowboy boots. (I've seen many folks of the “new West” buy a right fancy pair before they even write the check ranchette, but that's beside the point.) for the down payment on their Betsy and Ed are remarkably thick-skinned, VALLEY BOOWS ¢ corer. however, and don't seem to take any hostility of this nature personally. Beyond that, the Marstons seem pleased with the growth of High Country News, a fact that speaks as well I think, to their own growth and understanding of this place. They aspire to preach to more than just the choir. To this end, they continually try to increase the number of subscribers to the paper. Their op. ed. syndicate, “Writers on the Range” is taking off and Betsy has recently inaugurated Radio High Country News. This half-hour a 328 East Main St. Montrose, CO 81401, 970.249.1841 program, broadcast in western Colorado, is comprised of regional news, edited interviews with influential westerners, and tidbits from the paper's “Heard Around the West” column. Betsy and Ed may not be from this place, but they are grounded in it and they are here for good. They may have come across their environmentalism by chance, but they are as 106 degrees in Moab? You poor slobs... It's only 101 in Montrose? committed in their way as any other "tree hugger" I’ve met. Paonia is their milieu and, as far as I could tell when we walked down Grand Avenue to lunch, they didn't seem any different from anybody else. (It is worth noting that Paonia sports a health food store and an espresso bar these days, so merely walking down the street may not be an accurate indicator.) “It's exciting to live here,” they say and you can see they really think that. They are good journalists. They are good environmentalists. They do give a damn. The West could, and does, have worse advocates. |. Cool your heels and read a book. In my opinion, there are few better. Anne Wilson is a regular contributor to the Zephyr. tdwutery Ae An papas of a lifetime WESTERN SKY PLANETARIUM om. with a lifetime of experience. A Portable Traveling Planetarium Experience the excitement of a professional planetarium program that comes directly to your school. The intimate atmosphere of the Western Sky Planetarium has a magical effect on students of all ages. 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