Jim Sojourner

Recent articles

Sojourner: He who fights with bin Ladens

Monday may have been a day for celebration; today must be one for reflection. It will be for me. I’ve been recovering far too slowly from an infected wisdom teeth extraction surgery last week, but despite sitting in an opiate haze Sunday night, I wouldn’t have missed coming into the Collegian’s newsroom once word of Osama bin Laden’s death broke for anything. Breaking news is the reason I love journalism. May 3, 2011 | 11:40 pm

Sojourner: Lamenting college days gone by

The end, for me, is nigh. Graduation looms. It’s pretty standard for columnists approaching the entropic singularity that is the conclusion of all things college to write some kind of wordy, memoirish drivel in their column space mourning the
passing of their college days. I’ve always thought these columns represent a strange, sad attempt to forever memorialize a defining experience that the writer suddenly realized shot by in the blink of an eye. Apr 27, 2011 | 12:53 am

Felony charges for fire starter

The man whose burning debris ignited the Crystal Fire blaze that torched 13 homes and almost 3,000 acres in the foothills west of Fort Collins will face felony arson charges. Thomas Howie, 36, of Fort Collins, will be charged with 4th degree arson, a class-four felony, for allegedly starting the fire by burning a pile of slash on his parents’ property. Apr 19, 2011 | 11:58 pm

Sojourner: All of the reasons why I hate the highs

I’ll admit it; I hate the highs. Some friends keep telling me that if I just get to know one or two –– if I start to understand what being high means –– I’ll learn to accept them, even like them. Apr 19, 2011 | 11:57 pm

BREAKING NEWS: Crystal Fire started by man burning slash

Investigators say the Crystal Fire blaze that torched 13 homes and almost 3,000 acres in the foothills west of Fort Collins was caused by the son of a property owner burning slash. Thomas Howie, 36 of Fort Collins, will be charged with 4th degree arson, which is a class four felony. Apr 20, 2011 | 12:00 am

Crystal Fire 100 percent contained

The Crystal Fire that burned 2,940 acres in the foothills west of Fort Collins is 100 percent contained with full suppression and perimeter control.
According to a press release, crews today will continue mop up efforts, reinforcing fire lines and working on suppression repair. Apr 13, 2011 | 12:26 am

Sojourner: Higher ed funding crisis isn't a crisis

Tuition rates are skyrocketing, student fees are marching upward, higher education is in crisis, the sky is falling and I can’t think of anything better that could happen to Colorado’s university system. This time last year, I was righteously angry at the lack of support Colorado’s taxpayers now provide the state’s higher education system; I was fearful of the impact falling state support would have on the quality of education provided by its schools. I’ve changed my mind. Much like budget crises worldwide are forcing whole societies to reexamine the role, size and priorities of their governments, Colorado’s higher education budget crisis needs to force Coloradans to examine the role, size and priorities of their universities. It’s not that education isn’t critical to societal success –– as a purely practical measure, research shows that education is a direct indicator of personal income –– but America’s university system has become a bloated, unwieldy beast, wandering lost in dark caverns and blindly defending its beleaguered existence. Where teaching should be king, administrative bureaucracy, research and entertainment rule the roost. Apr 13, 2011 | 12:26 am

Crystal Fire 95 percent stopped

After a successful 10-acre burnout operation Saturday to secure the northwest fireline, firefighters now have the Crystal Fire burning in the foothills west of Fort Collins 95 percent contained. “The Crystal Fire has been an excellent example of interagency cooperation,” Incident Commander Paul Summerfelt said in a press release. Apr 12, 2011 | 12:12 am

Crystal Fire 90 percent contained after burnout operation

After a successful burnout operation, firefighters now have the Crystal Fire burning in the foothills west of Fort Collins 90 percent contained. Better mapping data shows that the fire, which is burning about 10 miles northwest of Masonville on private land and in Roosevelt National Forest, has burned about 2,900 acres, down from earlier estimates of 3,200 acres. Apr 10, 2011 | 11:39 pm

UPDATE: Crystal fire 75 percent contained with burnout operation underway

Firefighters have the Crystal Fire burning in the foothillls west of Fort Collins 75 percent contained and hope today’s burnout operation on teh northwest fire perimeter will force the fire further against the ropes by depriving it of fuel. “Unburned fuels among burned fuels raises the possibility of a fresh start for a fire that is quickly growing cold,” said Incident Commander Paul Summerfelt of the Rock Mountain Incident Management Team 1 in a press release. Apr 9, 2011 | 7:35 pm

Burnout planned for Crystal Fire today

In an attempt to further contain the 3,200-acre Crystal Fire, firefighters are planning a burnout for Saturday morning. Apr 9, 2011 | 11:59 am

Crystal Fire on the ropes

The Larimer County commissioners approved Thursday a Declaration of Emergency for the unincorporated part of the county affected by the 3,200-acre Crystal Fire burning 10 miles northwest of Masonville. Apr 8, 2011 | 3:52 pm

UPDATE: Crystal Fire roadblocks to be lifted at noon

Roadblocks near the 3,200-acre Crystal Fire will be lifted at noon today. According to a press release, the Sheriff requests that individuals limit unnecessary traffic in the area because roads are slippery and heavy emergency equipment will still be active on the roads. Apr 8, 2011 | 12:41 am

Weather slowing Crystal Fire

Officials hope to have the 3,200-acre Crystal Fire fully contained by Friday after cool, wet weather allowed firefighting crews to make significant progress Wednesday. Apr 7, 2011 | 10:17 am

Crystal Fire could be fully contained by Friday, 60 percent contained tonight

Due to cool wet weather today, fire crews were able to get ahead of the Crystal Fire and hope to have it 60 percent contained by tonight. High winds that forced new evacuations near the 3,200 acre blaze Tuesday evening calmed later that night, and residents were allowed to return to their homes after 10 p.m. Apr 7, 2011 | 1:13 am

Fire forces new evacs

Although winds calmed Tuesday night, new evacuations were ordered for the Crystal Fire after high winds fanned its flames and pushed fire outside of the containment perimeter. As of 6:30 p.m. Apr 6, 2011 | 6:22 pm

BREAKING NEWS: New evacuations ordered in Crystal Fire

New evacuations have been ordered after high winds and warm weather increased activity for the Crystal Fire. As of 6:30 p.m., residents of Moondance Way, Stringtown Gulch, Redtail Way, Ohana Way, Lightning Ridge Way, Deer Path Way and lower Windsong Roads have been encouraged to evacuate. The evacuations are precautionary, according to a press release issued by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department. The fire encompasses about 3,200 acres and is 15 percent contained in the foothill grasses and thick pine stands 10 miles northwest of Masonville, according to an incident website administered by the U.S. Apr 6, 2011 | 1:04 am

Winds could stoke fire

A federal firefighting team planned to take over efforts against the Crystal Fire Monday night in a race to stamp out the blaze, which claimed at least 15 homes and forced hundreds of people to flee Sunday before warm weather and high winds return today. . Apr 5, 2011 | 8:38 pm

Sojourner: Debate shows Ritter isnt CSUs man

You shouldn’t bring a knife to a gunfight, and you shouldn’t bring Bill Ritter to an Oxford-style debate. Apr 6, 2011 | 1:04 am

Weather helping, hindering Crystal Fire efforts

While a cold-weather storm system is assisting firefighters against the 2,000-acre Crystal Fire burning in the mountains west of Fort Collins, conditions are also grounding three air water-drop vehicles and high winds are slowing efforts to evacuate animals abandoned by fleeing residents. The system began dropping heavy snow in the area this morning, and shifting winds began to push the fire back on itself, aiding firefighting efforts. Apr 4, 2011 | 12:46 am