Opinion

Editor’s Column: Undercurrents

Our dog-walking journeys often take us to Town Park along the river. Having grown up within 15 yards of the Roaring Fork, I’m well aware that the river changes daily. This year that may be even more true than in “normal” years.

Watching the river, with its highs and lows, is a reminder that things are not always what they seem. Even when everything appears peaceful on the surface, dangerous undercurrents can be swirling below, ready to take down the unsuspecting river traveler.

Those undercurrents are always present, I think, in our day-to-day lives. There are the secrets we keep from one another, the “fronts” we put on, there are the deceptions we practice to further our goals, and the vengeance we seek in quiet—and sometimes not so quiet—ways.

Every now and then something crosses my desk and reminds me those undercurrents are in play, even when I don’t see them. Nine times out of 10 they make me sigh and say, “Can’t we just do things the right way?”

***

Congratulations and get-well-soon wishes to our Rangely reporter, Roxie Fromang, following the birth of her second child last week. Welcome, little Jaxson! And Roxie, you’re in our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery and return to “normal,” whatever that means!

***

I had a classic northwest Colorado experience on my way to Denver for a Colorado Press Association board meeting. I decided to take the extreme northern route in order to avoid I-70. About 10 miles outside of Walden I ran into road construction and got stopped.

The flagger ambled over and I rolled down my window. I was the first car in line, and I thought I might need to settle in for a long chat. My flagger turned out to be a former Jackson County sheriff who knows several folks from Meeker as well as most of my in-laws. Cue “It’s a small world…”

***

There’s nothing like sports for triggering tiger parents. Via Facebook last week we were asked (in a way) why we haven’t covered youth baseball this summer. Contrary to popular belief, we’re not omniscient or omnipresent, and thankfully we’re not omnipotent. We (in the collective “we” of the newspaper) have no favorite sports. My personal favorite sport is horse racing, so unless that starts showing up on our pages, we’re not playing favorites.

Our challenge lies in getting information about sports activities outside of high school varsity sports. With sports, as with events and news, we’re dependent on shared information. Community journalism requires—surprise!—community involvement!

***

The county fair is getting underway. Good luck to all the participants. In case you lost your Fair Book, we’re running the fair schedule this week as a courtesy. We’re looking forward to publishing fair results and photos in our Aug. 8 edition as a special section, as long as we get the results in time. If you’d like to be a sponsor for that section, please let us know ASAP by calling 970-878-4017 or emailing [email protected]

By Niki Turner | [email protected]

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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.
9 hours ago
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1/9
10 hours ago
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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!
13 hours 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.
1 day 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.
1 day 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.
2 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.
2 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.
3 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.
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

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