Weed Killahs

We’re the Weed Killahs and we mean business. We seek evil deeds and weeds, drag 'em up by the roots and look for more. On June 3rd we’ll be scaling Mount Lamborn, High Country News’ hometown mountain, in a fundraising climb along with other teams of former High Country News interns. We -- a weed's worst enemy -- are aiming to beat the “Tenacious Invasives,” one of our fellow teams.

We HCN interns are a special breed: trained to spot and grab the thorniest, prickliest issues that sprout in the West. Many of us keep reporting and writing for our whole lives, putting our rigorous training to use at newspapers, magazines, radio stations, universities, non-profits, businesses and agencies. Help us keep the tradition alive by supporting the HCN internship program fundraiser.

A generous former intern has offered to donate $10,000, if we can match it. We’d like to raise $2,000 toward that goal, so we’re asking for your help! Sponsor us on our fundraising hike up Lamborn. There are prizes for the teams that raise the most (gear! rafting trips!) and chances to win (gift cards!) for donors. Find the donation button or call 800-905-1155, and help us in our weed-fighting journo-quest.

Donate now!

Marian Lyman

Marian came to HCN's intern program in July 2011 via Boston and China--though she is originally from Billings, Montana--and is currently HCN's editorial fellow. She loathes invasives and has one thing to say... "I kill weeds, guaranteed."

Danielle Venton

Danielle is a new recruit to the former HCN intern club. Arriving in Paonia by way of WIRED in San Francisco in January 2012, she now produces audio stories for KRCB 91-FM and freelances for High Country News. She’s got quite a grip.

Nathan Rice

Nathan is a former HCN intern and recent editorial fellow who now freelances for various publication on natural resource issues.  In previous lives, he slayed invasive weeds along Northwest salmon streams, and holds a particular disdain for Japanese knotweed, which is now taking over his rented backyard in Paonia, Colo. But not for long.

Sierra Crane Murdoch

HCN never quite got rid of Sierra. Since her internship in 2011, she has called Paonia home between reporting stints in New Mexico, Tunisia, and the Fargo Town Park. She freelances in print, radio, and photography, and recently published her first cover story with HCN, "The Other Bakken Boom." Nevertheless, she is an Easterner at heart, and holds a certain compassion for those escaped from their native ecosystems. Thus, she treats invasives as she does her writing -- hard-nosed, heart-felt. She has an unfortunate penchant for lush green things.

Terray Sylvester

Terray Sylvester is a former HCN intern who took a liking to the nonprofit model. After departing Paonia he signed on as editor of The Sopris Sun newspaper, a community-supported startup in Carbondale, Colo. Now he freelances on the Western Slope. Terray recently suffered slight scratches in a grove of invasive tamarisk during a hike in the Utah desert. Later, he stepped barefoot on a Russian thistle. He vows revenge.

Kale Casey

We imagine that our rival team, the "Vexatious", I mean, "Tenacious" Invasives, is shaking in its stalks now that Kale "Mr. Paonia" has joined the "Weed Killers" team. Kale is a longtime HCN reader and supporter, and something of a local legend around these parts. When he is not fighting fires, Kale dominates the Colorado skijoring circuit with his dog Quinn, throws mean dance parties, and oversees the biggest costume box this side of Denver. Oh, and did I mention that he's the fastest weed puller in the West.
Look out Invasives, we're coming for you.