Meeker

Community notified of SVP

MEEKER I Law enforcement officials held a community notification meeting Sept. 26, to inform the public of a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) living in Meeker.
Members of the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Department, the Meeker Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office, the Rio Blanco County Probation office and the Department of Corrections were at the RBC Fairgrounds to discuss the fact that Jefferey Allen Pedigo, 48, is currently living at 975 Cleveland Street in Meeker.
According to a Sexually Violent Predator Community Notification Bulletin, which was distributed to the more than 100 people in attendance, Pedigo was convicted on two counts of child molestation in 1997 in Indiana and has been identified as a sexually violent predator in Indiana.
State statutes require local law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offender’s release when the offender has been determined to be a sexually violent predator.
Rio Blanco County Sheriff Si Woodruff, undersheriff Mike Joos, Meeker Chief of Police Bob Hervey, Lieutenant Phil Stubblefield, probation officer Mindy Burke and assistant district attorney Ian Fowler addresssed the release of a sexually violent predator into the community and provided educational information regarding sexual offenses before answering written questions submitted by those attending.
It was said Colorado has some of the strictest registration laws for sexual offenders in the state and there have always been sexual offenders living in our communities. SVPs are required to register with law enforcement quarterly for the duration of their lifetimes and their residences must be verified quarterly by law enforcement.
The RBC Sheriff’s Department has no legal authority to direct where a sex offender lives without court restrictions in place.
As of Sept. 17, 2012, there are more than 15,000 registered sex offenders in Colorado and approximately 192 are registered as sexually violent predators. As of Sept. 9, 2012, there are six registered sex offenders living within Meeker town limits, three living or working in unincorporated Rio Blanco County and eight registered as living within the Rangely town limits.
The bulletin lists Pedigo, 49, as 5-foot, 9-inches tall and 282 pounds, with gray/black hair and blue eyes. Pedigo drives a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee, black in color.
Pedigo is currently serving two years of probation for failure to register as a sex offender. Burke is Pedigo’s probation officer. Pedigo shall not go to or loiter near schoolyards, parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, arcades or other places primarily used by children. He shall not access, possess, utilize or subscribe to any sexually-oriented material, purchase, possess or consume alcohol or mind-altering drugs and he cannot use or possess distance vision enhancing or tunnel focusing devices, cameras or video equipment.
The “Containment Approach” is being used, which was described as criminal justice supervision, sex offense specific treatment (which Pedigo has completed in Indiana), a polygraph examiner and community members.
It was said that the community has a “vested interest in helping offenders be successfully managed in the community,” and research shows vigilantism, harassment, threats or intimidation of the offender is counter-productive to the goals of community management and “may cause offenders to go underground.”
Sheriff Woodruff said vigilantism or use of any of the information provided at the notification to harass, threaten or intimidate the offender is criminal behavior and will not be tolerated.
It was suggested that parents avoid scary details when talking with their kids, to use language that is honest and age-appropriate and to teach children not to visit the offender’s home or yard but not to harass him.
The “Stranger Danger” program was mentioned and available but it was also noted that the majority of sexual offenses are committed by someone the victim knows and the majority of sex offenders are not caught or detected, which makes it important to teach children to tell a safe adult if anyone acts inappropriately towards them or if they feel threatened. Role play was also suggested, avoid high risk situations, to be observant of one’s surroundings, teach children adults are not always right and to teach the importance of honesty and the danger of keeping secrets.
People can call the RBC Sheriff’s Office at 878-9620 or Burke at 878-0263 for more information.

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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.
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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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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
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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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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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