Opinion

Defensive? You might be part of the problem {Editor’s Column}

By Niki Turner
[email protected]
“ Be honest. Look for areas where you can admit error and

Niki Turner
say so. Apologize for your mistakes. It will help disarm your opponents and reduce defensiveness.” ~ Dale Carnegie
As soon as one party goes on the defensive, positive forward progress grinds to halt. Each side is forced to make concessions to come to an agreement and in the end no one is satisfied with the outcome.
Carnegie’s words are wise ones to abide by in any relationship, but perhaps especially in government. When government—local or national—gets gummed up with a bunch of egos on the defensive, we’ve got trouble, because those folks are no longer representing us, they’re looking to protect themselves.

Here’s a question to ponder: Isn’t somewhat sexist to only provide examples of proper dress code for the girls in a community?
Perhaps it’s because I raised more boys than girls, but I can think of myriad ways the male of the species can dress just as inappropriately as the females. Perhaps not in the same hyper-sexualized sense, but still inappropriate for the occasion.
What message are we sending to our daughters by making them out to be the only gender guilty of wearing subjectively inappropriate attire? Just a thought.

Rangely’s Tank got more national attention this week with an article in the L.A. Times. For many, the Tank phenomenon seems like a new thing, but it’s been in the works for decades. Kudos to those who have stuck it out and kept the faith.
The same goes to all the people who have supported the Meeker Classic all these years. The Classic was written up by both out-of-town judges for the Jammin’ Lamb culinary competition: Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer on her popular HeidiTown blog, and Aspen Times columnist Barbara Platts.
We’re always looking for the next big thing, but I think we need to remember today’s “big things” started small: over coffee with friends, or in an abandoned water tank small-town kids once used as a party destination.

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  • The Barone Middle School track team competed and placed well in the meet in West Grand last weekend. The eighth grade boys won the overall meet. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
  • The Meeker Preschool Roundup will be held this Friday, April 26th from 8am to 4pm!
  • Gear up for an unforgettable adventure with the 2024 Ride The Rockies Route, set to unfold from June 9th to 15th! Read all about this new and exciting adventure visiting Meeker this year in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Rangely Panther Kobey Chism (#22) has been selected to play in the 2024 8-man football all-state game. He’s sponsored by the Bleed Green Lancaster #17 Foundation. Story at ht1885.com.
  • The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Rio Blanco Fire Protection District (RBFPD) will begin work on a firebreak northwest of the Town of Meeker this month. Read about it online at ht1885.com.
  • You can always find a reason to laugh... start with yourself. Hear from our Editor in her column this week online at ht1885.com.
  • The amount of money reported lost to fraud and scams in the United States nearly tripled from $3.5 billion in 2020 to $10 billion in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Learn the tricks to help protect yourself and your family in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • About 80 Meeker Elementary Students participated in the reading competition. Prizes were distributed according to the most minutes read by each student.  Story at ht1885.com.
The Barone Middle School track team competed and placed well in the meet in West Grand last weekend. The eighth grade boys won the overall meet. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
The Barone Middle School track team competed and placed well in the meet in West Grand last weekend. The eighth grade boys won the overall meet. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
1 day ago
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1/9
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
The Meeker Preschool Roundup will be held this Friday, April 26th from 8am to 4pm!
The Meeker Preschool Roundup will be held this Friday, April 26th from 8am to 4pm!
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Gear up for an unforgettable adventure with the 2024 Ride The Rockies Route, set to unfold from June 9th to 15th! Read all about this new and exciting adventure visiting Meeker this year in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
Gear up for an unforgettable adventure with the 2024 Ride The Rockies Route, set to unfold from June 9th to 15th! Read all about this new and exciting adventure visiting Meeker this year in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
Rangely Panther Kobey Chism (#22) has been selected to play in the 2024 8-man football all-state game. He’s sponsored by the Bleed Green Lancaster #17 Foundation. Story at ht1885.com.
Rangely Panther Kobey Chism (#22) has been selected to play in the 2024 8-man football all-state game. He’s sponsored by the Bleed Green Lancaster #17 Foundation. Story at ht1885.com.
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Rio Blanco Fire Protection District (RBFPD) will begin work on a firebreak northwest of the Town of Meeker this month. Read about it online at ht1885.com.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Rio Blanco Fire Protection District (RBFPD) will begin work on a firebreak northwest of the Town of Meeker this month. Read about it online at ht1885.com.
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
You can always find a reason to laugh... start with yourself. Hear from our Editor in her column this week online at ht1885.com.
You can always find a reason to laugh... start with yourself. Hear from our Editor in her column this week online at ht1885.com.
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
The amount of money reported lost to fraud and scams in the United States nearly tripled from $3.5 billion in 2020 to $10 billion in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Learn the tricks to help protect yourself and your family in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
The amount of money reported lost to fraud and scams in the United States nearly tripled from $3.5 billion in 2020 to $10 billion in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Learn the tricks to help protect yourself and your family in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
About 80 Meeker Elementary Students participated in the reading competition. Prizes were distributed according to the most minutes read by each student.  Story at ht1885.com.
About 80 Meeker Elementary Students participated in the reading competition. Prizes were distributed according to the most minutes read by each student. Story at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

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