Opinion

Editor’s Column: Those Pesky Legal Notices

Some papers call them public notices. We call them legal notices. They’re in the classifieds section, before the stuff like what’s for rent and who’s

Niki Turner
having a yard sale this weekend. Most of us ignore the legal notices, because they tend to be written in legalese. (I’m dating myself here, but “mumbo-jumbo, mumbo-jumbo” comes to mind.)
Municipalities and special districts are tasked with publishing their agendas and their notices to bid and various other things in local county newspapers for the sake of reaching the broadest audience possible. Here at the Herald Times, as a courtesy to our readers and to those governmental entities, we publish regular board agendas free of charge. Why would we do that instead of charging for those column inches? Because it’s the responsibility of the free press to keep the public aware of what their elected and appointed officials are up to every week.
In several states, every few years (this year it’s North Carolina), some not-so-bright bulb of a politician decides it would be a good idea to erase that requirement and save those taxing districts a few (literally) dollars here and there, insisting that it’s just as effective to put those public notices on county and town websites instead. Because folks will gravitate there to check out what their local government is doing, right? Who are they kidding? Most people don’t even bother to vote.
Here’s the thing… once something is in print, it’s done, it’s settled, it’s horribly, irreversibly permanent. It’s on the record forever and ever. If such-and-so entity is doing something questionable or controversial, publishing that public notice serves as an alert to the citizenry that they might ought to pay closer attention to what’s going on.
Some newspapers have turned their public notices into fancy advertisements with artwork and color and interesting fonts in an attempt to garner more attention and interest. Part of me likes that idea. Part of me says I should expect better from our readership.
Either way, I encourage you to skim through those dull legal notices… you never know what interesting information you might uncover. And should it ever come to a vote here in Colorado, I hope the readers of the Herald Times will be well-informed enough to call their local and state reps and tell them to continue to make public notices available to their constituents via their local newspapers.
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One of the things I appreciate the most about this job is the opportunity to talk to people from all different backgrounds, generations and ideologies. A few times a month my office is graced by one or more of our local military veterans sharing a VFW news brief or a story or, as happened this week, bringing me a treasure trove of old Meeker Heralds to review.
Every time one of these gentlemen stop by I am awed by the humility and gentle spirit they share. I don’t know if that’s a result of the trauma of war or if that’s the underlying characteristic of those who sign up to serve and protect our nation. Whatever it is, they are worthy of our respect, honor and support.
We’re publishing a list of our elected representatives this week on Page 5A. I encourage you call or email our state and national officials, right up to the president, and tell them to vote for legislation that benefits our veterans. It’s a sad truth that the billions of dollars earmarked for “defense” spending don’t trickle down very well to our soldiers, past or present. As taxpayers, we need to raise our voices and tell our lawmakers where we want those dollars to go.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • 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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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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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.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.
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🐰 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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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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