County, Opinion

From My Window… Septemberfest a great showcase for Rangely; Sheep Up!

Sean McMahon, Editor
Sean McMahon, Editor
Rangely residents were out in droves this past weekend as Septemberfest brought residents and visitors to a wide variety of locations for an even wider variety of events to celebrate Labor Day.
Activities began Friday night with a magician performing at the Rangely Junior/Senior High School, then opened up early on Saturday with the Uintah Railroad Tour as well as the Fast, Flat and Free 5-kilometer race, setting off at 8 a.m.
The day continued with the Bulls ‘n’ Bogeys golf event with members of the Colorado Northwest Community College rodeo team, a bike rally (sponsored by the Rangely Police Department), A Day in the Park featuring vendors, all kinds of games, a Bench Press Contest for males and females, a Chili Cook-off, and the fourth annual Rock’N’Bull’N’Barrels in which not one of the bull riders was able to stay on board their bulls for the full eight seconds.
Saturday’s events took visitors from Elks Park to the fairgrounds to the Rangely Golf Course and I got a lesson on a few of the “off the road” locations around Rangely.
On Sunday, the fun and food began at the annual Rangely Museum Ice Cream Social where about a dozen flavors of homemade ice cream were served to several hundred attendees and a new sign was unveiled by the museum. The sign was painted freehand by local artist Tabitha Hejl.
The Cardboard Boat Race was a bit of a disappointment as action scheduled for 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. was over by the time I arrived at 3:05 p.m. The race involved two boats, each making an not-very-triumphant and short trip across part of one pond as a rain shower seemed to take all the wind out of the boaters’ sails.
The Muddy Dip’N Dash Obstacle Course and the Mud Tug O’War were both a lot of fun to take in.
The Meeker Fire Department and the Rangely Recreation Center crews did a lot of work — flooding the competition area on the old Parkview school site and setting up the course. The fire department set down a lot of water, which seemed to soak in as fast as they could put it down — but the wet, muddy course was finally complete, offering a tough, muddy, messy course that hundreds of spectators/participants thoroughly enjoyed.
I was also able to sneak away from the mainstream of activities and run up the hill to the Elks Shooting Range and take in some skeet shooting competition.
The evening concluded with the New Creation Church offering a free pig roast and music in Elks Park, providing a welcome opportunity to take a break and relax. Both the pig and the entertainment by Fiscus and Gravy, who also played at the museum’s ice cream social, were welcome ways to spend the busy day that had taken me to the Rangely Museum, the Camper Park Ponds, the old Park View Site and back to Elks Park.
Sunday’s excitement began early with the short but entertaining Star-Spangled Parade down nearly the full length of Highway 64 following the Rangely Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast, which began at the fire hall at 6:30 a.m.
Next came the Craft Fair in the Park and the Car Show in the Park, and both were highly impressive, showing off a wide variety high number of arts and crafts booths as well as other activities, and the cars were impressive to say the least.
My favorites – and there were many really neat cars – were Bud and June Striegel’s 1930 Cord, Mayor Frank Huitt’s 2006 Viper and a purple 1992 Dodge Dakota owned by Rich Jones of Grand Junction.
I was able to watch the three gents who took part in the team cribbage tournament and to take part in the barbecue in the park as well as the Win It in a Minute Challenges.
The weekend of fun was wrapped up by the Duck Race at the Green River Bridge, making for a truly enjoyable weekend for a first-time attendant.
Other than Saturday’s events, which were perhaps spaced a little too far apart for a person who didn’t have a home or cool shade to escape to between events, the entire event flowed very well, was well attended and truly offered a lot of fun.
It was great to watch the obviously large contingent of mostly Rangley residents greet their friends and neighbors from across Elks Park during events there, from across the crowd gathered at the old Park View site for the obstacle course and mud tug o’war and across Highway 64 during the Star-Spangled Parade.
Well done Rangely; I look forward to next year, which promises to be bigger and better.

After a welcome weekend for Rangely to be in the Rio Blanco County spotlight, the last major event of the summer returns to Meeker this weekend, having started Wednesday, with the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trials. One hundred and twenty-five teams of handler and dog from all parts of the globe are expected to gather for five days of fan and family fun, lots of hard work for the sheep, the dogs and their handlers, good food and sheep education.
According to a study done a few years back, the Meeker Classic brings in roughly $1 million to Meeker’s economy, and that, folks, is nothing to sneeze at.
I have watched this type of event on TV many times, most usually from Scotland, and it is impressive to watch the dogs and handlers work together. However, many of those sheep seem to know what is expected of them and just seem to routinely move toward the pens.
Here, however, the sheep don’t seem to know what they are supposed to do, and that is what makes the Meeker Classic one of if not the No. 1 trial in the business.
I have family and friends coming into town this week to take in the events, and they, coming from Boulder, Colo., and Ten Sleep, Wyo., (sheep country), are both pretty excited to see the event in person for the first time.
If you haven’t been there before, I can guarantee you owe it to yourself to take in the action.
If you have seen this type of action in person, be assured that each individual handler’s experience with their dogs and the wild sheep make for entertaining, unique encounters.
And congratulations and thanks to all who brought this event to Meeker and to those who continue each year around to keep improving on the event and bringing more money into the local economy.

My question of the week comes about after repeated trips back and forth between Rangely and Meeker this past weekend.
I would love to know why the price of gasoline at each of Rangely’s gasoline outlets (except one) was $3.79 per gallon while that other one in Rangely and every station in and close to Meeker is $3.89 for regular.
To add insult to injury, Channel 4 TV in Denver announced Tuesday that the average price per gallon in the metropolitan Denver area ranges from $3.38 per gallon to about $3.41 per gallon.
It kind of makes one wonder…

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@ht.1885
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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
  • 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.
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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.
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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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1/9
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 |
2/9
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.
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.
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 |
8/9
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 |
9/9

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