RBC | There’s a “changing of the guard” underway at the Herald Times.
In 1995 or ‘96, Bobby Gutierrez started writing wrestling stories for the Meeker Herald when it was owned by Glenn and Donna Troester. Since then he has fulfilled multiple roles, including photographer, ad sales rep, preprint inserter, distributor and two stints as editor-in-chief of the Herald Times. His award-winning photography skills have captured some of the most dramatic moments in local sports and events, as well as hundreds of candid shots.
He started taking pictures using an old 35mm camera. Glenn taught him to develop film in the darkroom. He learned to do “paste up” for the paper before Troester drove it to Steamboat to print. It’s now printed in Gypsum.
“Times have changed (with digital). I used to take about 36 photos per event, now I take about 360.”
During his tenure with the paper, he married Wendy Gutierrez, and the two combined her retail shop, Wendll’s Wondrous Things, with Cuppa Joe, a specialty coffee shop. In the last few years the coffee shop has grown, as has their family.
“We’re reorganizing our business—our eight grandchildren are growing up and we would like to spend more time with them,” he said. “I am thankful for all of the opportunities the Herald Times has presented for me to see and do while working for Rio Blanco County’s oldest business. I’m blessed by all the friendships I have gained and the opportunity to watch our kids grow up and compete, has been the most fun for me. Thank you to everyone.”
With next week’s issue, Gutierrez will pass the ball for the Meeker sports beat to a new reporter, Tiffany Jehorek, and will hand off his ad sales role to Priscilla Sheridan. Gutierrez said he will still be out and about taking pictures.
Sheridan is a Meeker native who grew up in Tucson, Ariz.
“I made my way back to Meeker in 2014 with my two children Maddie 18, and Phil, 15. I have an extensive background in marketing and public relations and I look forward to working at the Herald Times assisting small business with their marketing efforts,” Sheridan said.
Sheridan will also replace Solas Publications co-owner Pat Turner in sales, as Turner shifts his focus to his woodworking, construction, merchandise, distribution and maintenance business, Sons-Inc.
She worked in the Herald Times front office previously and we are pleased to bring her back onto the team.
Tiffany Jehorek was born and raised in Brule, Neb., a small town of 400 people.
“The beauty of growing up in a small town is the ability to participate in just about everything the school has to offer,” Jehorek said. She played volleyball, basketball, track, cheerleading and softball. Her love of sports developed at a very young age watching the Nebraska Cornhuskers play football against the Oklahoma Sooners. After high school Jehorek attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology and Climatology. During college she played intramural volleyball, basketball and her favorite, softball. After graduation from Nebraska Tiffany went on to Colorado State University where she earned a Masters of Science degree in Rangeland Ecology. This opened the door to her 17-year career with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Tiffany has two boys in Meeker schools: Reese Harvey will be a junior next year and Judd Harvey will be in seventh grade.
The Herald Times would like to thank Gutierrez for his many years of service to the cause of local journalism and wish him all the best in his upcoming endeavors.
