Thanks to emergency response heroes

DUST IN THE WIND

by Bill Boyle

More than a week has past since the deadly bus accident on Highway 163 north of Mexican Hat killed nine holiday travelers on their way home from a ski vacation. And yet the horror continues for many who were involved in the accident and the rescue effort.

The deadly accident was a worst-case scenario for local emergency response personnel. They faced an overwhelming accident scene with literally dozens of victims either dead or seriously injured. It was nearly an hour before an adequate number of trained help arrived to assist the unfortunate victims and it was nearly five hours before the last injured victim was transported from the scene. Then they had at least an 80 mile drive to the nearest hospital.

Despite the size and scale of the January 6 accident, which dwarfs even the most aggressive training scenario, the local response was remarkable. Law enforcement, emergency responders, dispatchers, the staff at San Juan Hospital and other health care facilities, and host of local residents simply dropped what they were doing and raced to provide assistance.

The response effort tested local emergency response personnel to the limit and their response was up to the task.

Thank you from all of us.

• • • • •

2007 was very busy for the San Juan Record. In addition to covering the remarkable range of events in San Juan County on an on-going basis, a number of important events happened at the newspaper.

San Juan County’s hometown newspaper for the past 92 years entered the digital world with the introduction of a website on July 1, 2007. Sjrnews.com offers a host of goods and service, bringing the advantages of the internet to readers in San Juan County and beyond.

The website boasts a number of features, including the front page news and other selected sections. In addition, we can cover the news in more depth than is possible in the print version, including sports and photography.

Internet traffic to the website continued to grow in 2007, beginning with the annual Pioneer Day celebration and culminating in December when photographs of two elk engaged in a battle to the death were published.

The website allows readers to place classified ads in the newspaper and on-line. Other powerful functions for local businesses will be introduced in the coming year.

The San Juan Record also began offering a full on-line version of the paper to paid subscribers. Out of area subscribers have been interested in receiving the on-line version each Wednesday morning, instead of waiting until the mail arrives. A significant postage rate increase in July is offset in part by the on-line version, which is available at the prior subscription price.

The San Juan Record sponsored the inaugural Newspapers Rock 10K race through beautiful Indian Creek Canyon in October. We hope the race grows in coming years.

In December, Scott Burton became our newest employee. He will serve as a resource to local businesses, offering a host of advertising, printing and marketing services.

We are excited about the future at the San Juan Record and appreciate your support.