Meeker

Don and Rosemary Hilkey chosen as 2014 parade grand marshals

2014 Range Call parade grand marshals Don and Rosemary Hilkey.
2014 Range Call parade grand marshals Don and Rosemary Hilkey.
MEEKER I From the snow on the mountaintops to the dirt in the arena, Don and Rosemary Hilkey help make events special in Meeker. This year, the ever-active couple will be celebrated as the grand marshals for the 2014 Range Call Parade, which will be held on Friday in downtown Meeker.

Don was born and raised in Meeker and learned and has done ranch work all his life. He has been on the LaGrange Ranch for almost 40 years and, with that schedule, he, along with his brother, Don, and now-son Troy have kept the White River Snowmobile Club trails groomed and marked from the beginning.
Don was involved with the original marketing of the Meeker Massacre re-enactment in the past. His kind mannerisms are evident in his children. Snowmobiling has been a family activity for the Hilkeys as their grandkids now enjoy the excitement of the sport.
Rosemary moved to Meeker her junior year of high school, graduating in 1958. She and Don were married in 1959. She was a beauty operator for a few years before going to work for social services where she worked for 27 years before retiring in 1996.
She has been very involved in the Range Call Association and got the idea to start the drill team after the 4-H club had one. She watched films on technical routines for the team and they began in 1987.
She has seldom missed an event with the drill team since then, performing in rodeos and parades all over the state.
The horse she used from the beginning is retired now at the age of 33. Rosh provided a consistent gentleness that enabled Rosemary to carry the flag through crowds in parades and the pageant. She has presented the flag for many occasions and plans to do the same again on her new horse of only six months.
When she is not practicing for the drill team, Rosemary has taken up barrel racing competitively for the past five years, competing in area NBRA events around. She has overcome injuries and helped the drill team persevere through times of difficulty with involvement, but she remains a steady figure in the Range Call Celebration.
The Range Call Celebration has become the oldest continuous celebration in Colorado. It began as just a rodeo, and added the parade, then the re-enactment of the Meeker Massacre, and now all the events that make the 4th of July in Meeker the place to be in northwest Colorado.
Rosemary said about the celebration, “I like it all; all the people in town enjoying the events.”
She added, “I have always liked rodeos.”
Rosemary hopes the involvement and participation in the Range Call gets back to where it once was, and she praised the people working hard on the committee to make that happen.
“They are good people to work with,” she said.
When asked about the drill team specifically, she said “We have fun together. It’s what it’s all about.” Rosemary also takes tickets and works the events at the celebration and is an example of one of the many volunteers it takes to pull the fun-filled week of activities together.
Don and Rosemary have two children, Troy (Rhonda) Hilkey and Melanie (Lyle) McKee, all of Meeker. They have four grandchildren: Jessica (Brett) Berthelson, Nicole Hilkey, Donny and Tia McKee; and two great grandchildren, McKenna and Brady Berthelson.
Whether in the middle of winter taking a club ride through fresh snow or in the heat of summer celebrating Independence Day, there is seldom one of these occasions when a member of the Hilkey family is not helping with.
There is nothing more patriotic then a beautiful horse carrying a proud rider presenting our American flag.
Don and Rosemary have helped keep two very special traditional activities alive in our small town. Their commitments set an example, and, hopefully, it invokes increased involvement going forward. Follow their lead this year, and come out to enjoy and support all this Range Call Celebration has to offer.

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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.
  • 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.
  • Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor 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.
  • 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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4 days ago
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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View on Instagram |
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