Dear Editor:
This year’s Septemberfest was a huge success because of all the volunteer help and from many who put service before themselves!
Friday, Aug. 31, started off with a huge bang with the best fireworks show in the western half of this great nation we call America! A huge thank you to all who came out to see this show and a huge shout out to the Rangely Rural Fire Protection District; Western Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District (WRBM) and all of the law enforcement who helped with this second to none fireworks show! Also, a very special shout out and thank you to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff, Anthony Mazzola, who drove the county’s 1982 fire pumper truck from Meeker to Rangely to assist with the fireworks show (while still in fighting fire mode around the county) and then took a firefighter to the hospital from a small injury received after the fireworks show. Sheriff Mazzola then drove back to Meeker with the truck he brought over that same night! Thank you Sheriff Mazzola for your dedication to the whole county; it speaks volumes about your character!
Saturday started out with several people running in the annual Fast Flat and Free 5K run/walk hosted by the recreation and park district staff. Also, at the same time the annual Open BBQ Cook-Off was held. Next the Rangely Police Department hosted its annual Bike Rodeo in which the police department inspected bikes, led participants through an obstacle course and ended the event by giving away several new bikes with Sam Tolley outfitting each bike with a reflector light! While this was going on the recreation and park district staff along with the CNCC men’s baseball team was setting up the inflatables for all to enjoy. Also happening around the same time was Open Mic at the TANK. The annual bench press contest was held in Elks Park once again. Early that evening at Columbine Park was the ninth annual Rock ‘N’ Bulls Rodeo—great job CNCC—the stands and arena were packed!
Sunday was kicked off with the Ice Cream Social at the Rangely Museum and hosted by the museum board; they had live music and many enjoyed eating ice cream! The annual Chili Cook-Off had several contestants and spectators with all attending, several well-made entries. Sunday evening, several people enjoyed a free dinner and a movie sponsored by the New Creation Church and the Rangely Christian Church. While all of this was going on several members of this community along with their family and friends along with several recreation and park district employees were busy preparing the meat to be cooked in the new cooker the recreation and park district had acquired. Later that evening the beef (650-plus lbs. of beef) was then lowered into the cooker and smoked with hickory wood and charcoal until about 3 a.m.; the meat was then wrapped in aluminum foil and put back into the cooker to cook for several hours using propane and charcoal to finish cooking the meat for the Labor Day meal!
Labor Day Monday was kicked off by the annual Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Rangely Rural Fire Protection District and it had several people enjoy the delicious breakfast that the fireman prepared. Good job Rangely Rural Fire Protection District; your service to this community is very much appreciated! This was followed by the parade in which Mr. Sam Tolley was the grand marshal. The parade led everyone to Elks Park for a day of activities. There were fewer vendors for the arts and crafts show this year with several different items and displays of products for all to enjoy. The car show sponsored by NAPA-Rangely had fewer entries this year. The events were run by Kirstin Fielder, Bethany Green, Camilla Kennedy, Natalie Kurrasch, Lenora Smuts and Lavella Justus assisted Linda Gordon with getting folks though the food line. While all of this was going on the beef was being delivered to the park for the meal. Approximately 1,000 (plus or minus) were served a wonderful beef meal with all the fixings!
Please help us recognize and thank the following for all of their volunteerism and donations in making this year Septemberfest a huge success.
A special thank you goes to the following entities or businesses for their financial support towards Monday’s meal: WRBM Recreation and Park District board of directors and its employees, Bank of the San Juans, Moon Lake Electric Association, Town of Rangely and the Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners.
The following either donated time or services towards the meal or the weekend. A big thank you to all that have helped with this event! White River Market, Moon Lake Electric, NAPA, Nichols Store, Bill Hume, Giovanni’s, Professional Touch, CNCC men’s basketball team, CNCC men’s baseball team, Eddie Stewart, Annette Webber, Jennifer Noel, Jeff, Rebecca and Brian Rector, Rich Garner, Ryan Huitt, John Fisher, Kay Nickson, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Duco, Inc., Rangely True Value Hardware, Rangely District Hospital, Rangely Police Department, Town of Rangely, Rio Blanco County Board of County Commissioners, WRBM Recreation and Park District, Rangely Rural Fire Protection District, Rangely Elks Club.
If I have inadvertently forgotten somebody (please let me know) I do apologize and your assistance in making Septemberfest a success is truly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Timothy J. Webber
Executive Director
WRBM Recreation and Park District
Rangely
