News in Moffat, CO

Craig Daily Press · Moffat, CO

‘Who I served for’: Local veteran and VFW commander Tara Garber reflects on meaning of service, even after the uniform comes off

For Tara Garber, Veterans Day is about more than hearing the familiar words, “Thank you for your service.” The Craig Veterans of Foreign Wars commander appreciates the gratitude. But after nearly 15 years in the Army National Guard, including a deployment to Iraq, she hopes those words lead to a deeper understanding of what service makes possible and what veterans may need when they return home. “Don’t just thank me,” Garber said. “Be worth me thanking. Be worth me serving.” It is a perspective shaped by generations of military service, her own experiences during her service and the work she continues to do for veterans across Moffat County. Garber grew up in Ohio, the daughter of a Vietnam veteran who served two tours. Both grandfathers served during World War II. Inspired by their example, she enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard in 1999 at age 26. Already a licensed nurse, she chose a different specialty: diesel mechanic. She later trained to recover disabled military vehicles.

Craig Daily Press · Moffat, CO

‘The main work is educating kids’: Following bond defeat, Moffat County School District looks to community engagement and continued progress

The Moffat County School District is looking toward continued community engagement and maintaining its aging facilities after voters rejected a $37 million bond measure during Tuesday’s election. Although the outcome represents a setback for the district’s efforts to address substantial infrastructure needs, officials say the election also provides an opportunity to better understand community priorities while continuing improvements in education and district operations. Ballot Issue 4A would have extended an existing property tax rate to finance repairs and improvements across the district without increasing the current tax rate. Voters rejected the proposal by a substantial margin, leaving district leaders to consider how to address projects that remain necessary. Director of Communications Cuyler Meade acknowledged that winning support for the measure was always expected to be difficult. “We knew it was going to be an uphill battle from the beginning,” Meade said.