Stephen Ray Puckett

Speaking of Summer, now would be the time that I would be thinking of the beach.

Genie Hackenjos (Kistler)

Stephen,

Thanks for the great pictures of Galveston.  Great photos = great memories!

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

Many thanks to Suzie for the medical report on Linda.  I know that we all pray for her speedy recovery and I send her my love.

Joanna

Pat Wilcox (Prewit)

Prayers are needed for LINDA WEBSTER.  Linda is having major surgery this morning at 10:00 AM to have cancerous tumor removed from her colon. Please remember her in your thoughts and prayers.

Pat Wilcox (Prewit)

Update on Linda Webster Jennings

I received a message from Ted and Fran Jordan who have been at the hospital all day. Ted said that her surgeon had another emergency surgery and pushed her surgery back. She went into surgery around 2:15 today. Ted said that they hope to know something between 5:30 and 6:00. As soon he lets me know I will send another update.

Pat Wilcox (Prewit)

Update on Linda Webster Jennings #2

Linda is out of surgery. The surgeon told Ted and Fran that the tumor was small and no other ones were found. He said that Linda did well. She is in recovery now but they will see her when she is back in her room. Linda will be out of it tonight and medicated until tomorrow afternoon. 

Please continue to pray for Linda during her recovery.

Pat

Kirkley Lee Thompson

Pat,

Thanks for the info...prayers from Iowa for Linda, too.

klt

Jerry Russell

Linda & I are praying for the next few weeks of recovery to go well, for comfort, and for healing.

Dorothy Fowler (Montgomery)

Thanks for the update on Linda. Prayers for her quick healing.

Steven Jay Stoneburner

Our Prayers are out for her, keep us posted, please!

Jackie Crowe '64 (Finch)

Many prayers for our Linda; may she get stronger every day through God's healing.  God Bless & hugs

Thomas William Wade

Has anyone heard from Sweetie since that fire broke out around Durango?

Susan (Suzi) Smith (McMillian)

She is on FaceBook most every day with updates and promo info about Durango.  She is Mayor again, and a fabulous advocate for her town! 

Thomas William Wade

Thanks Suzi. The last Facebook post I'd seen from her was 6/4/18. I believe that was before evacuations were started in Durango proper. Are you aware of anything over the last 7 days. I'm sure her position is keeping her hopping under the current conditions. My hope is she is safe but, just too busy to update.

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

Fox News, this morning, has a big article about the wild fires and the "4 corners".  At the end of the article is a report from Sweetie.  Thought everyone might want to read it as it seems as if they are still doing okay in Durango. 

Susan (Suzi) Smith (McMillian)

Durango is considering the closure of some public spaces. The city of Durango last week approved restrictions that include no smoking in any city park or open space, as well as prohibiting the use of charcoal grills.

Any closure of city open space would have to receive approval from Durango City Council.

Mayor Sweetie Marbury said Monday the closure is a necessary one.

“It’s proactive and it’s prudent to make decisions like this,” Marbury said. “It’s temporary, and so you take temporary measures to ensure a long-term successful strategy.”

Marbury said there are plenty of options for activities around Durango, including Mesa Verde National Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument, as well as rafting and fishing opportunities.

“My daddy told me you have to be tough to live in the West in 1974, and that hasn’t changed,” Marbury said. “Durango is resilient.”

Anita Marbury (Marbury)

Hello from Durango ! I have been working for the City of Durango going to fire meetings, city council meetings, answering emails, phone calls,  and very little time for myself. I'm sorry I have not responded sooner. There are over 1000 fire fighters here. 27,000 acres on fire with 15% containment. The fire moves north and south. I'm afraid tonight may be another worry for me. Winds, extreme drought, and low moisture made for the Perfect Storm.

2,000 homes have been evacuated. I have been on  NPR radio and Denver and Albuquerque TV telling everyone Durango is Open for business. Today I took my grandson to the river to play. Rafting companies are very busy. The train is not running but all the National parks and monuments are open. Great fly fishing in the Animas River.

Smoke yes,  especially in the morning. By 10:30 a.m.  it is not so bad. After lunch blue skies are back. The fire is expected to continue for 4 more weeks. Fatigue is setting in on the evacuated folks and the city and county staff. . The city has closed all open space that surrounds Durango. The National  forests are closed. The county lands are closed. This is a Type 1 fire. That means the federal government is in charge.Great teams here.

Some good news. Rain is coming I hope.. Let's all pray for rain. With rain comes flooding. The city is preparing for floods. As the Mayor during a disaster I am busy. The Governor comes to town on Friday. He is a great guy and loves Durango.  Don't worry. I am safe. My kids are safe. We have a place to go if it comes to that. I thought today was better than yesterday. The fire is moving  rapidly.  There are fires in many states happening at the same time. Each day I get local  updates  as the Mayor. I am very grateful to my Waltrip friends. I am on Facbook and I post only upbeat photos. I do not post smoke and fire because that is bad PR for my town.  I write a Mayors column for the Durango Herald  and Suzie May is my editor.  I write a Mayor's Brief for a local magazine. Mrs. Early thank you ... Bless the fire fighters and all the support teams here. I have no complaints. I'm lucky to live in Durango and serve my town. Thanks Waltrip friends !!

Kay Watters (Greene)

First, thanking God for Linda's strong struggles and recovery of her last hospitalization.  

Next "oh my gosh...Anita and Suzy...I live in a protected world, did not realize this crisis.  I will hope for the best, and feel all will be better.  

Dorothy Fowler (Montgomery)

Thank God Linda came through her surgery and is on the mend. She is a very strong individual.

Sweetie, I’m so glad they are getting the fires under control and anti Pate having them out in a month. I’m sure you have worked tirelessly for the City of Durango. You make all of us want to visit or live there.

Carolyn Johnson (Blake)

Sweetie, I have been following what is happening in Durango, from here in Aurora. So far we have no smoke in the air! Despite the blessing of a little more rain than usual, we are still so dry, parched, and flammable. I am praying for rain for the whole state...it's a tinderbox.

Carolyn

Dorothy Fowler (Montgomery)

Carolyn, I didn’t realize you lived in Aurora. I don’t know if you knew Barbara Brault but she lives in Aurora’s. Her last name is now Johnson.

Stephen Ray Puckett

Also in that area is Vickie McSwain (Aurora) and Orville Neeley (Englewood).  Orville and his wife Leslie moved there from the Spring area a year or so ago.

Linda Webster

I want to Thank all of my friends and former classmates for their prayers and positive thoughts through my latest health issues.It is just wonderful to have so many people rooting for you when you find out there is more surgery in your future. This was just one more tumor which I am prone to having that  had to be removed. This one involved a resection of part of my colon.

Today is the first day that I feel like I’m not always going to be split down the middle. I do feel like the healing has begun. I’m on my way now which wouldn’t be possible without your prayers. Thanking you is just not enough. I am forever in your debt.

Heres to the first day of my total recovery.

Thanks, Thanks, Thanks

Linda Webster

Jennie Anderson (Dylan)

Still praying for your recovery . You are one tough lady Linda!!!

Anita Marbury (Marbury)

Durango Updates !

The sky is blue, the cool mountain air is refreshing and Durango is OPEN for Business.

Please share with me the good news. Governor Hickenloopper, has been outstanding in spreading the word about Durango. The City of Durango is reopening Lake Nighthorse this Friday and the Dog Park. BLM land will reopen as well.

The firefighters are amazing! Yes, the fire is still buring in the deep forest but all people have returned to their homes. The efforts of the boots on the ground have made a difference for all of us. Computer models work. The gentle rain really helped. No flooding happened.

Mesa Verde National Park, Vallecito Lake, Animas Trails, Bar D Wranglers and more all make for a summer season in the mountains.

The Mayor of Durango goes to many meetings.

Thank you for your support. Let's go fishing.

Sweetie