If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs help dealing with one, call the Colorado Crisis Services toll-free number 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 for free, confidential, 24/7 counseling support. RBC | Rio Blanco County dispatch received a 911 call midday Friday, June 25 from[Read More…]
Author: Niki Turner
County to address Mormon cricket problem
RBC | ERBM Rec District summer camp students visited the Rio Blanco County Courthouse Tuesday during the commissioners’ work sessions and meeting and had pictures taken with the commissioners. During work sessions, Weed and Pest Control Director Jane Turnburke told the commissioners this year’s outbreak of Mormon crickets is well[Read More…]
RBC second highest COVID infection rate behind Moffat
RBC | Rio Blanco County now has the second highest rate of COVID cases per population in the state of Colorado, just behind Moffat County. Eighteen new cases were reported between June 14-20, with three new hospitalizations during that time. Currently, 20% of all reported cases are requiring hospitalization. As[Read More…]
Court strikes down P.A.U.S.E. Act 7-0
RBC | In a 7-0 unanimous vote, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled against Initiative 16 on the basis that it did not meet the single subject requirements for a citizen ballot initiative. The PAUSE initiative, (Protect Animals from Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation) was widely opposed by the agriculture industry and[Read More…]
Stadium restroom upgrades
MEEKER | The Meeker Board of Education approved a plan Monday to dip into the district’s reserves to pay for upgrades at Starbuck Stadium. The project, which includes expanding the restrooms and making improvements to the concessions area, is expected to cost about $500,000. Initially, the district expected to use[Read More…]
County Beat: June 17, 2021
RBC | On Tuesday, Rio Blanco County Commissioners discussed using emergency funds to help control this year’s outbreak of Mormon crickets. The insects have made an appearance again this year in the county. Wade Cox, with the Lower White River Pest Control District, reached out to the board last week[Read More…]
Water use climbs in Meeker
MEEKER | Meeker’s board of trustees heard a request from the Fair Board for a $1,000 donation to help fund prize money for a new event this year: a barbecue competition in conjunction with the Kansas City Barbecue Society’s “Backyard Cookoff” contest series. Fair Board president Quentin Smith said the[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Speak up–someone may listen
In 1970, after a forced retirement at the age of 65, Maggie Kuhn embarked on a new adventure — advocating for the rights of the elderly as the founder of the Gray Panthers. By the time of her death at 89, the organization had been instrumental in implementing nursing home[Read More…]
County Beat: June 10, 2021
RBC I Rio Blanco County commissioners met June 8 to discuss the following public business. DHS UPDATE With caseloads for DHS staff at around 400 cases each, the RBC Department of Human Services requested permission to use American Rescue Plan funds to hire a full-time eligibility technician. All caseloads —[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Collective energy
Imagine a house on fire. Now imagine the residents of the house standing in the living room, surrounded by flames, having a heated argument about whose fault it is that the house is burning. Seems strange, right? And yet we do it every day. We spend an inordinate amount of[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Uncommon courtesy
Having grown up in the days when telephones were attached to the wall and there was only one per household, I remember my parents objecting when I tried to call friends during the “dinner hour” or anytime after 9 p.m. Business calls were limited to regular business hours. Folks removed[Read More…]
Etheridge hired as town administrator
MEEKER | During public participation at the Meeker Board of Trustees meeting June 1, Meeker Skijor board members Alex Plumb and Sabine Murray thanked the Town for its support of the event. The Town of Meeker contributed financially toward the event as well as assisting with event preparation. “Our event[Read More…]