Meeker, Stories

Alahna expected to be home from Denver hospital

A girl puts money in a donation jar at Meeker Cafe during a benefit dinner Feb. 2 for the Martin family. The event was a sellout. Additional photos on Page 9A.
A girl puts money in a donation jar at Meeker Cafe during a benefit dinner Feb. 2 for the Martin family. The event was a sellout. Additional photos on Page 9A.
MEEKER I Alahna Martin has always been an overachiever, her father said.
And, once again, she’s surpassed expectations.
“She’s exceeded all of their goals, so they’re going to release her early,” Paul Martin said of his daughter’s progress in recovering from injuries she sustained in a two-vehicle accident Jan. 19.
Alahna Martin was expected to be released Wednesday from Children’s Hospital in Denver and return home to Meeker.
“She’s doing great,” Paul Martin said of Alahna. “Things have been improving so fast. Some things we thought might be issues, she’s worked through. She still has some short-term memory difficulty, but she’s getting better every day. That’s very promising.”
Alahna Martin suffered multiple injuries in the accident, including a broken sternum, collapsed lung, broken femur and bleeding on the brain.
“Just her cognition skills have improved exponentially,” Paul Martin said. “She has been responding to the different therapies.”
Alahna Martin was moved out of intensive care at Children’s Hospital in Denver — where she was airlifted after the accident — and moved into rehabilitation about two weeks ago.
In a message posted on a Web site for the Martin family, Denise Martin, Alahna’s grandmother, wrote, “We give thanks to a gracious and compassionate God every day! He has been so kind to bless us with Alahna’s continued improvement. … Her long-term memory has been great all along, and her short-term memory has improved dramatically in the past couple of days. I read to her yesterday and she was able to recall the facts today. This is the first time she has been able to retain facts from one day to the next. She still has some swallowing issues but is getting a few bites of some soft solids, like pancakes, mac and cheese, and even some cheese pizza yesterday. The rehab doctor said three more weeks in the hospital but she doesn’t know our Alahna! Please continue to keep her in your prayers, but also, remember to thank God for her recovery thus far!”
Alahna, while progressing faster than doctors expected, was becoming more like her old self all the time, her father said.
“Her personality is shining through. Her emotions are becoming expressive,” Paul Martin said. “She’s my little overachiever.”
Alahna Martin is a sixth-grader at Barone Middle School in Meeker.
“She may attend some school. But our concern is not to get her right back into the (class) schedule … grades are not a concern for us right now,” Paul Martin said of his daughter, adding she was a straight-A student. “She could probably skip the rest of this year and I’m thinking not be that far behind.”
Paul and Vanessa Martin met with doctors Feb. 4 to review Alahna’s progress.
“Right now, we’re very optimistic,” Paul Martin said. “She’ll continue with some therapy … and she won’t be able to enter school full time for a while. They suggested for the next four our five months not to try to teach her anything new, but just review things she already knows. They say that helps the brain repair itself.”
When it comes to severe brain trauma, like Alahna Martin suffered, Paul Martin said it is difficult for doctors to predict how a patient will respond.
“They are quite vague, because the brain is so complex and the type of injury she sustained … it’s more of a watch and wait. You let the processes take place,” Paul Martin said. “We’ll have to wait and see how her brain responds. But it seems her little spirit is intact, and we’re excited about that. We’ve got our daughter back. How could we not be thrilled about that?”
Paul Martin said the intense therapy sessions at the hospital had kept Alahna “so busy there wasn’t enough time to think about her brother.”
Nine-year-old Stone Martin died the day after the accident from injuries he sustained. He never regained consciousness.
“The more she remembers him, the more his memory is alive (to Alahna),” Paul Martin said. “I asked her if it made her sad (to think about her brother). She said she was sad, she was grieving, but she said if he was here he would want her to smile. He was always trying to make everybody smile and laugh.”
Paul Martin said grieving will be a process for the whole family.
“That’s a very individual thing. Vanessa and I are grieving differently. When I seem to have a bad moment, Vanessa is there for me, and vice versa,” Paul Martin said. “We’ve had people approach us and say a similar thing happened to them (the loss of a child) and it never goes away. But anytime I say I’m going to miss him (Stone) so bad, my dad would say he’s going to remember him so good.”
Paul and Vanessa Martin returned to Meeker on Saturday and made arrangements to take a look at the family’s Dodge Caravan — the vehicle Vanessa was driving at the time of the accident.
“That will be somewhat difficult … to see the carnage,” Paul Martin said. “But (Vanessa) is a strong woman. She’s ready to go to the next stage of healing.”
Paul, who works at White River Electric Association, and Vanessa returned to Denver and will bring Alahna back to Meeker after she is released from the hospital.
Paul Martin said his daughter was excited to come home.
“She can’t wait,” he said.

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  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
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  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
  • Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
  • The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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View on Instagram |
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Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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