The 9Health Fair was and always has been a major success in Meeker as roughly 500 people took part in the various blood tests and screenings followed by a hearty breakfast provided by the Meeker Lions Club.
Channel 9 News in Denver, Pioneers Medical Center and the Meeker Fire and Rescue co-sponsored the events, and whenever an event draws 500 people in a town of roughly 2,500 people, it is a raging success.
It might be added here that the event could not have been held without the gang of volunteers on hand to help out.
I ran into a doctor from Craig, a nurse from Rifle, a dental hygienist from Rangely who was pulling blood and lots of volunteers from Meeker and around the rest of the county. I would estimate at least 100 volunteers helping at all levels, and that all made it a major event that was a major success.
Thanks to all who attended, all of the organizers and all of the volunteers. You made the 9Health Fair a sweeping success once again.
Also a sweeping success was the CNCC Foundation Dinner on Saturday evening, complete with an open auction, a silent auction, musical entertainment and a dinner buffet that included carved roast beef, stuffed pork roast or chicken, which were apparently major successes as all but the pork roast was gone before the end of the buffet line.
The purpose of the dinner was a great cause—to raise funds for scholarships for CNCC students. That is a useful cause at any school and a particularly welcome cause in Rangely.
I haven’t heard how much total was raised, but I can tell you the top two donations given at the dinner were a $20,000 check from Chevron and a $2,000 check given by Deserado Mine.
In addition to the thousands of dollars raised for the scholarships, the evening also turned into an emotional-at-times salute to Russell George, who will be retiring this year after five years as president of the institution of higher learning.
Mr. George turns 70 this year and has given more than 30 years of his life to serving the state at many different levels after lawyering in Rifle for many years before that.
There is no question Russell George has left his mark on CNCC and, it seems, all in a positive way.
Big dollars were raised for scholarships at CNCC after concerns that the dinner might not draw a lot of people; and many of the folks attending had had a good time sending Russell George on his way with a fondness in their—and his—heart.
It is always good to see the After Birth Ball approach on the calendar, and this year is no exception.
The ball, which will be held this Saturday in Meeker, is a sign of the quickly approaching sunshine, warming temperatures and a celebration of the calving and lambing seasons.
Calving has been taking place in Rio Blanco County for nearly a month now, but I saw my first lamb of the year Sunday on a ranch west of Meeker.
Anyone would be crazy to say that we have seen the end of winter and its snows, but the worst of it does seem to be behind us. (Famous last words with snow forecast within the next week).
But the After Birth Ball is cause enough to celebrate the change of seasons, and, as usual, it sounds like a lot of fun and good food to be on hand.
Here is just a quick reminder of the MHS Drama Club presentation of “The Wizard of Oz” Friday night and Saturday afternoon at Meeker High School. All things considered, it looks and sounds like it will be a great presentation.
