County

County jobless rate up slightly

RBC I For the second month in a row, the unemployment rate in Rio Blanco County has gone up, and the increase from 4.5 percent of the available workforce to 4.9 percent of that workforce is the largest increase in the county’s jobless rate in two years.

The county’s jobless rate of 4.9 percent for November is up from 4.5 percent in October, according to the non-seasonally adjusted labor force figures from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The 4.9 percent figure is the highest the Rio Blanco County unemployment figures have gone since November of 2014, when the figure was also 4.9 percent.
According to the statistics, October 2015 saw 2,845 in the available Rio Blanco County workforce, there were 2,717 of those who were employed, and there were 128 persons unemployed, for a 4.5 percent jobless rate.
In November this year, there were 2,811 in the county’s available workforce, 2,673 who were working and 138 who were jobless for the 4.9 percent.
A year ago in November, there were 2,847 in the available workforce, 2,707 were employed and 140 were jobless for an unemployment rate of 4.9 percent.
The state unemployment rate, which had seen a sharp decline over the past two years, also rose in November, from its low of 3.3 percent in October 2015, to 3.5 in November.
Colorado’s multi-year low, which was 3.3 percent in October, featured an entire available state workforce of 2,813,930 people with 2,720,998 working and 92,932 on the jobless list.
In November 2015, there were 2,804,595 in the available work force, there were 2,707,786 working and 96,809 who were jobless for a rate of 3.5 percent, an increase of .2 percent over October.
In November 2014, there were 2,821,599 in the available workforce, there were 2,704,738 folks who were working and 116,861 unemployed, for a rate of 4.1 percent.
Of Colorado’s 64 counties, 43 saw increases in their jobless rates, 11 were unchanged and 10 saw decreases in their rates.
The largest rate increase was in San Miguel County (Telluride), from 3.0 in October to 6.3 percent in November, with the jobless numbering 140 in October and rising to 293 in November. The San Juan County (Silverton) jobless rate rose from 2.8 percent in October, when there were only 14 who were unemployed, to 5.3 percent in November, with 21 on the jobless rolls.
There were 15 counties with unemployment rates higher than Rio Blanco County, three others the same as Rio Blanco with 4.9 percent and 46 counties with lower jobless rates.
The counties with the lowest jobless rates (and the county seat) were: Baca (Springfield) with 1.8 percent; Kiowa (Eads) with 1.9 percent; Hinsdale (Lake City) with 2.0 percent; and Phillips County (Holyoke)with 2.1 percent.
The counties with the highest jobless rates (county seat) were: Huerfano (Walsenburg) with 7.1 percent; San Miguel (Telluride) with 6.5 percent; Pitkin (Aspen) with 5.6 percent; and two counties tied with 5.5 percent—Costilla (San Luis) and Fremont (Canon City).

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  • The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
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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! 
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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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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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The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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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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2 days ago
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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
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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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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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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