Letters To The Editor

Letter: First responders are exceptional

Dear Editor:
We want to give a big thank you to all the volunteer EMS personnel serving eastern Rio Blanco County, Pioneers Hospital medical staff and the St. Mary’s CareFlight team for the exceptional jobs they do.
We know firsthand, because on Jan. 31 one of our own, Darrell Kendall, had a critical medical emergency while working in the rural Piceance Creek area. His co-workers—Bernie Roybal, Steve Brickey and Dan Francis—recognized the severity of his condition right away. They were 37 miles from the nearest hospital. Bernie called our office staff immediately and rushed Darrell toward town. The ambulance was dispatched quickly and the two vehicles were able to meet along State Highway 64 in a matter of minutes where Darrell was transferred. The EMTs—Patti Merriam, Terry Skidmore and Wade Bradfield—were swift and skilled in giving life-saving measures. At one point, the ambulance was stopped and Bernie became the ambulance driver because all the EMTs were needed to care for Darrell on the trip to Pioneers Hospital in Meeker. There again, we witnessed the doctors, nurses and the rest of the staff in the emergency room work like a well-oiled machine to prepare Darrell for the helicopter transport to St. Mary’s in Grand Junction. The situation was still absolutely dire and it’s unbelievable that Darrell is still here, except for the phenomenal speed, skill and determination of the EMS personnel to save this life.
It’s so comforting to know that, even though we live in a small town, we have such an excellent emergency medical system. Ambulance EMTs aren’t even paid and sacrifice their time and sometimes risk injury responding to emergencies. We take our hats off to you.
Thankfully, Darrell is going to be just fine and we’ll be able to see his pretty face at work again in a few weeks. He also sends his gratitude to everyone involved.
Good job, gang!
Rio Blanco County
Road & Bridge Crew

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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.
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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!
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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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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!
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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