Opinion

From My Window: Chance for major world powers to unite?; ‘Mermaid’ a success

Sean McMahon, Editor
Sean McMahon, Editor
Turning on the television on Saturday night had me seeing red from my window as the TV screen reflected the photos and news shots transmitted from Paris, France.

Certainly it was a tragedy with roughly 129 murdered and roughly 320 injured. It wasn’t on the scale of the World Trade Center in New York City, where thousands were killed and thousands more injured, but it was offensive and diabolical enough.
And Saturday’s night’s attack comes on the heels of the Russian airliner explosion that killed more than 100 people, mostly Russians.
Now, it appears that the Islamic extremist group ISIS is “taking credit” for both events. The members are taking “credit,” they say; not the blame, as it should be.
No, no one should say they are happy this terrorism occurred. But it is a bit “ballsy” for ISIS to now have messed with the Americans, the French and the Russians. These aren’t usually a trio of nations to offend if you value life or freedom or a bright future.
But the die has been cast, and, for once, perhaps, France and Russia, often extremists across the table from the U.S., are smart enough to recognize that we all—and the rest of the world—have the same enemy, and that it is time to deal with ISIS in a permanent manner.
Certainly between the U.S., France and Russia, there is enough intelligence and firepower to wipe ISIS off the map.
ISIS is a group of Muslim extremists. But it doesn’t matter who they are. If they were Irish or Swedish, Catholic or Jewish, Aussies or Turks, Canadians or Italians, they have no right to carry on with mass murder anywhere on this globe.
Wouldn’t it be nice if these three superpowers could use their strength and their allies to rid this world of the cancer known as ISIS?
This may be the one time in my lifetime to watch these three superpowers pull together to make this a better planet on which to live, thrive and be free. What a joy that would be to watch.
Maybe these nations as well as our own Democrats and Republicans can work together toward a better end.
Let’s all hope, pray and wish!
Then let’s get on with it!!!

“The Little Mermaid Jr.” as put on in Meeker last week by the Meeker Arts and Cultural Council (MACC), the Center Stage Youth Theatrical Group (CSYTG) in cooperation with the Eastern Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District was tremendous.
I know of one couple who went to the Thursday and Friday night performances because they enjoyed it so much. I went to the Saturday matinee at Meeker High School and thoroughly enjoyed the performance, which was presented before a full house.
As is the usual case in a small town when attempting a play/musical of this sort with such a large cast, there are stronger performances by some actors/singers than others, but the few low points in this play were few enough not to detract from the overall performance, which was magical when you see how many performers it took to complete the staged musical.
The staging was superior, including having set up a seafront, a place to allow for the necessary ocean swimming, a sea-faring ship that brought its captain, Eric, to the island and the underground witches’ lair.
The costuming and makeup were nearly flawless.
And while there were no noticeably “off” performances, there certainly were many “on” theatrics with King Triton (played by Zagar Brown), Prince Eric (Cooper Main), Grimsby (Porter Hossack), Ariel (Annelise Amack), Chef Louis, Aquata and Princess (all played by Kolbi Franklin), Sebastian (Ruby Holliday), Ursula (Mason Holliday), Flounder (Gage Richardson) and so many others.
The casting was outstanding, but there just isn’t room enough here to name all 53 roles and all 30 members of the production staff.
The musical was not disappointing in any way.
I was also fortunate enough to have seen “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.,” last year and I, as a local theater neophyte, now have to declare the performing arts are well and thriving in the professional and more-than-capable hands of Laurie Zellers, the capable assistance of Shana Holliday, producer Gary Zellers, technical director Bob Amick and, again, countless others, many who worked in production and in the production.
Meeker should stand tall and proud following the production of “The Little Mermaid” and look forward to the next production put on by the groups.

Whew! The Broncos stunk on Sunday at home against Kansas City.
Manning stunk! The defense stunk! The running game stunk! The receiving game stunk! The special teams only smelled bad.
It was so bad that it was Manning’s worst overall game as a pro—and it ironically came in the game in which Manning passed Brett Favre for the most total years passing in National Football League history.
Now comes word that Manning had three injuries and that coach Gary Kubiak is taking all the blame because he went ahead and started Manning instead of Osweiler.
I’ll let Kubiak take that blame—at least for not making the change earlier. Clearly, five minutes into the third quarter, Manning wasn’t going to save the day.
Osweiler did a pretty decent job. He at least prevented the Broncos from going scoreless and ending the longest-running game-scoring streak, which, gratefully, is still owned by Denver.
We may be seeing the end of the short Manning era and the beginning of the Osweiler leadership. Or we may be seeing just a short lapse on the way to Denver still winning AFC West (they have a three-game lead as of this week), and not knowing how far they can go.
Let’s all hope for things to turn around for the Broncos and see if we can march on to the end of the season, winning it all.

Thanks again to owner Mitch Bettis and computer phenom Niki Turner, who filled in for me last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, while I was in Grand Junction for some procedure called an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. I was back at work on Friday morning and keep getting to where I feel better each day.
Maturity isn’t everything it is cracked up to be in all ways, and one doesn’t always bounce back as quickly as suspected.
Go Broncos!!!

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@ht.1885
  • 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
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  • 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.
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  • The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
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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.
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.
2 days ago
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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
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
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
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3 days ago
View on Instagram |
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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.
3 days ago
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Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
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.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
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.
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.
5 days ago
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The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
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