Craig Daily Press / Mari Katherine Raftopoulos

Mari Katherine Raftopoulos was born and raised in Craig Colorado. She attends the University of San Diego in San Diego, Calif. During the summer of 2007, she interned with the Craig Daily Press. She currently writes a column for the Daily Press which publishes on Tuesdays.

Recent stories

Mari Katherine Raftopoulos: Besos de Lluvia en Madrid: By Mari Katherine Raftopoulos; September 24, 2008; Today we had our first rain of the fall season. The fall of the rain against my cheeks was much like that of happy tears.
Mari Katherine Raftopoulos: A different course, a different lesson: By Mari Katherine Raftopoulos; August 20, 2008; When I think of a family dinner, I think of friends and family circled around the counter listening to the stories of when our parents were our age. In turn, us kids imitated the most entertaining of the relatives, in their presence or in their absence.
Mari Katherine Raftopoulos: This is your life, so love it: By Mari Katherine Raftopoulos; August 12, 2008; Although summer hasn’t come to an end, it is the days that dwindle down right before your eyes that make you miss the season, because looking forward to the days of summer is much better than remembering them.
Mari Katherine Raftopoulos: Promising what you have: By Mari Katherine Raftopoulos; July 29, 2008; “Act normal; don’t tell mom,” she says to her sister, wiping the makeup from her brow as they scurry down from her mother’s closet.
Mari Katherine Raftopoulos: Trying on a different hat: By Mari Katherine Raftopoulos; July 23, 2008; When I think of a horse, I think of my first horse, Pinky, a horse that took care of me, never leading me off the beaten path.
Mari Katherine Raftopoulos: Family by blood, friends through adventure: By Mari Katherine Raftopoulos; July 15, 2008; Remember high school dances. There was prom, homecoming and the sweetheart dance, just to name a few. And with these dances came traditions.
Mari Katherine Raftopoulos: The sweetest addiction: By Mari Katherine Raftopoulos; July 1, 2008; I was five years old in an oversized yellow crew neck T-shirt with the number three printed on the back in a font that was as tall as I was.
Mari Katherine Raftopoulos: Still learning: By Mari Katherine Raftopoulos; June 24, 2008; When you least expect it, there it is. When that is the last thing you need, there it is. When you don’t want it, there it is. When you expect the least and receive the most, there it is.
Mari Katherine Raftopoulos: Your natural instinct: By Mari Katherine Raftopoulos; June 17, 2008; He looks up from page one of his Wall Street Journal, takes a small sip of his house blend coffee and peers over the brim of the mug.
Mari Katherine Raftopoulos: No fear: By Mari Katherine Raftopoulos; June 10, 2008; I’m not sure if it is the warm ocean breeze in the night that makes me this way, the deep smell off the bonfires lining the coast of the ocean or the laughter that echoes throughout the valley on a Wednesday night that makes me this way.

Full story list

Recent photos

Angie Charchalis, a senior-to-be at Moffat County High School, recently was named to the Miss Basketball All American Team for her play on a summer all-star team.

Levi Weber, left, and Andrew Maneotis, both 18, relax as they float the Yampa River on Thursday with a group of their friends. Floating the river is one of their favorite summertime activities. Photo by Mari Katherine Raftopoulos.

Austin Corson, 17, Jamie Dimick, 16, Autumn Taylor, 16, and Kelsie Demick, 14, float down the rapids of the Yampa River on Thursday. The group sometimes floats the river six times a week.