County, Milestones

Bettis family announces change of Herald Times ownership

RBC I The oldest, continuously operated business in Rio Blanco County has new owners.
Niki and Pat Turner have purchased the Herald Times newspaper from Mitch and Meg Bettis.
The Turners begin their ownership today.

“I take seriously the role this newspaper plays in our community,” Niki said. “Taking on the responsibility of a 132-year-old newspaper—one of only a few independently owned and operated newspapers in Colorado—is a weighty thing. The paper has had a great, long history, and we look forward to to being a part of its future.”
With the change, Niki will assume the role as editor, replacing Sean McMahon, editor for the past three and a half years.
The Bettis family has owned the paper for 15 years, having purchased the newspaper in March 2001 from Kerry and Joy Murdock.
“The community has been very kind to us,” Mitch said. “We consider it a great honor to have been part of the Herald Times’ history. I consider the paper a community treasure, and I have always thought we were to be stewards of the work the Lyttles, Cooks and Yeagers did before us.”
Bettis noted that Niki was on staff before he and Meg purchased the newspaper 15 years ago.
“Niki has a long history with the Herald Times and has done most every job the newspaper has to offer during her tenure,” Mitch said. “She even grew up in the publishing business with her parents’ distribution company. Her daughter, Caitlin, has worked at the Herald Times since she was a teen. The family has a commitment to the newspaper and a commitment to the community, and I think the community is served best when the owners are local.”
The Herald Times was founded Aug. 15, 1885, and it has had only a handful owners in its history. The Herald Times remains one of the oldest, continuously published newspapers in Colorado (see related sidebar on page 7).
The newspapers around Rio Blanco County are owned by out-of-state companies. Newspapers in Craig, Steamboat Springs, Rifle, Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs and several others in the region are owned by Swift Newspapers of Reno, Nev. The newspaper in Vernal, Utah, is owned by a company based on San Diego, Calif.
“There aren’t many locally owned community newspapers in Colorado or around the country,” Bettis said.
“To be able to leave the newspaper in the hands of people who love it and the community is a great thing. No newspaper makes everyone in the community happy all the time, but the key to being able to keep the ownership local is that the community must continue to be supportive. The newspaper readership of the Herald Times remains very high compared to other newspapers around the country, so the paper has been blessed with community support.”

One Comment

  1. Awesome people taking over! The Paper will thrive under their supervision!

Come say hi!

@ht.1885
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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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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.
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.
1 day ago
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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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4 days ago
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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.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
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