The Meeker Herald
— 100 years ago
– As per announcement, the annual winter reunion of the White River Pioneers’ society was held at Rooney’s hall. The president, pioneer L.S. Bloomfield, was in the chair, and matters in hand were soon disposed of. F.N. JoHantgen was elected president, Otto Metzger vice president, and L.B. Walbridge secretary-treasurer for the ensuing year. F.E. Sheridan and H.A. Wildhack were appointed a committee to collect the outstanding dues.
– Next Friday night, dance and supper, Coal Creek school house. Come.
– When Mark Twain was editor of a weekly newspaper one of his subscribers wrote him that he had found a spider in his paper when it reached him and inquired whether it was a sign of good luck. The noted humorist replied that the spider was simply looking over the paper to see which merchants were not advertising so he could visit them, spin a web across their door and live contented ever afterward.
– J.W. Rector came in from Grand Junction Wednesday, and, after attending to business matters here, proceeded on to Rangely to look after his stock interests there. Mr. Rector had the experience lately of having his fine Studebaker auto stolen from the garage at the Junction. The thief was caught a few days after near the Utah line and is now awaiting trial. The car wasn’t damaged any, as the thief was an experienced auto hand.
– James and Mrs. Kilduff were in Tuesday, shopping.
– Genius is an idea inspired by energy and nursed by a persistent effort into accomplishment.
The Meeker Herald — 50 years ago
– The Meeker High School band and choir, under the direction of Dale Jens, will present a concert on Thursday in the Meeker High School auditorium. The performance is being dedicated to the march king, John Philip Sousa, in an effort to help raise the needed money by the Sousa Foundation for the construction of the John Phillip Sousa statue in the new Kennedy Center in New York City.
– Sheriff Russell Harp was notified Monday morning of a break-in at the Sleepy Cat Resort, 22 miles east of Meeker. Clark Wix, owner, reported the break-in, which was believed to have taken place Friday night. Reported stolen were seven quarts of whiskey, cigarettes and four cases of beer.
– Dan Handy, CPA of Rifle, after examination of the Town of Meeker records, listed several recommendations for the Town Board’s consideration. In going over the records he also noted that Meeker Improvement District No. 1 will be approximately $9,700 short of paying off the outstanding indebtedness, due in 1975.
– Dear Santa: Please bring me a red Easy Bake oven. From Gayla Carstens.
– Dear Santa: Please bring me a Mystery Date game and some Barbie clothes. From Mary Nieslanik.
– Dear Santa: Please bring me a Johnny Eagle gun and a balloon busting game. Thank you, Sam Coulter.
The Meeker Herald
— 25 years ago
– Stacked and ready to be loaded up and shipped overseas, Purkey’s Packing Plant parking lot was covered with piles of deer and elk hides this past week. Bryce Purkey estimates he sold just under 1,500 hides to Axis Steel of Craig which will ship them on to tanners in Korea or Vietnam. Unfortunately, like the hide business in general, prices are down this year.
– Employees of the Valley Grocery store gathered to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the store which recently recorded its 360,000th customer.
– Trina Stout, along with 41 other entries representing the entire state of Colorado, recently competed in the Colorado Make It Yourself With Wool contest in Burlington, Colo. Trina placed fourth in the junior division and received three yards of Pendleton wool. Trina is the daughter of Diana and Darryl Stout of Meeker.
Rangely Times
— 50 years ago
– Moon Lake, Mountain States Telephone and city crews cooperate to get Rangely’s street decorations up this week. They set up a second giant Christmas tree at the east end of town to go along with the one erected each year in west Rangely. Three cross-street lighting strings have been placed, with others to follow as soon as transformers arrive.
– Local residents used shovels and snow plows Wednesday to dig out of the first big snowfall of the winter. The white stuff began to fall Monday and continued through Wednesday morning, leaving several inches on the ground.
– Most of Rangely was without electricity for several hours Monday night because vandals had shot insulators off electric power lines in the area south of town. Moon Lake officials report that the practice has cost hundreds of dollars this fall in the Douglas Pass area as well as around town.
– Saturday night three boys, all under 18, were responsible for some damage to the airport building. They were identified by a driver’s license and other papers inadvertently left in the building and paid for a broken light fixture and soap dispenser. No charges were filed.
– “Your Christmas giving this year will be wisely appropriate if you ‘gift’ electrically. A housewife will remember your thoughtfulness every time she uses her gift blender, can opener or coffee percolator. A husband will appreciate your gift for years to come when you give a work-saving saw, sander, or drill. For the right gift for everyone, ‘gift’ electrically.” ~Moon Lake Electric Association
Rangely Times
— 25 years ago
– The news broke just two days ago that Rangely Police Chief Barbara Watry had been jailed in Florida recently concerning charges that she was guilty of two counts of forgery and two counts of misconduct while on the Police Department of Coral Springs, Fla. The Rangely Town Board of Trustees made the decision to indefinitely suspend Chief Watry with pay.
– Some said it couldn’t happen. Some said, when there were difficulties along the way, that it wouldn’t happen. But, because of the persistence of the Rangely Arts Council, it is happening. The Colorado Ballet production of “The Nutcracker” is coming to Rangely!
– It was Christmas Eve in Denver, 1914, and young David Johnathan Sturgeon lay suffering from a fatal illness. The boy was too sick to be carried to the family Christmas tree, but from his bed he could see some beautiful pine trees outside in the yard. To make the night a little brighter for his dying grandson, pioneer electrician D.D. Sturgeon dipped some ordinary light bulbs in red and green paint, strung them on electric lines, and draped them over one of the outside trees. The effect pleased not only the boy, but the entire city, and hundreds of visitors came by carriage from miles away just to see the brilliant, glowing Christmas tree. Several years later, the Denver Post began an outdoor lighting display contest, and from there the tradition began to spread around the world.
