Dear Editor,
Thank you to the Rio Blanco Abstract Company for helping us get started and to everyone else who has donated money so far. Also, please send your box tops to school, Campbell’s Soup labels and sign up for your Target red card and go online to register your school to receive money. Thanks so much.
Alicia Watt
President, Meeker
Elementary School PTO
Dear Editor,
We would like to take a moment to thank everyone for their prayers, support and well wishes regarding John Mac. All things considered, he is doing amazingly well! We are grateful, mindful and immensely humbled that he is still with us. Thanks again, Meeker — this is a great community!
The Sheridans
Meeker
Dear Editor,
The Rangely Human Resource Council wants to thank the community for their incredible response to the Angel Tree program this year. So many people and businesses were overwhelmingly generous and helped to provide a Merry Christmas to the children of our community.
There are just so many that participated I would hate to leave anyone out, but you know who you are and we know how much fun you had! There are three people that really deserve a special mention. That is Anne Urie, Jane Miller and Angie Miller. Wow, what organizational abilities you all have. You just made this program run like clockwork.
So, until Nov. 1 when we start all over again, thank you!
Tami Dorris
Paula Davis
Sandy McKelvey
Rangely Human Resource Council Officers
Dear Editor,
Everyone that receives a utility bill from the Town of Rangely had a letter enclosed with last month’s billing. Among other things it said we weren’t to shovel snow from our property into the street. So, why does it make it OK for their plows to push the snow from the street onto our sidewalks and block the ends of our driveways?
I have heard some discussion that the council is reworking our municipal ordinances. And, while I acknowledge the need for public safety and order, I question the need for us to be so over regulated. It seems the town makes more and more demands of its citizens while telling us we should have less and less expectations of service from our tax dollars.
It is fine to want to be good financial stewards of the public money. But when the streets are dirty and full of potholes, the buildings are in deplorable condition and you have no expectation of police response when you call, whether for animal calls or suspicious incidents, what good does a lot of money in the bank do?
I was watching the inaugural events last week and the inaugurations of many of our presidents were compared. Also, many of the great speeches and orations over the years were presented. I think the one that got me thinking about all this is Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The part that says “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Government at any level does not exist for itself; it is “for the people.”
Paula Davis
Rangely
Dear Editor,
I moved back to Rangely 15 years ago. I applied at both the Rangely and Meeker hospitals. Meeker at the time was going through a transitional phase. When I was hired, there was just a physician and me. Since then, there has been continual and steady progress in which the hospital has gained the community’s trust and confidence. On the other hand, I have observed Rangely and it appears to be still in the state Meeker was in 15 years ago.
I would like to compare Rangely District Hospital to a roller coaster ride. There have been a lot of ups and downs with doctors, administrators, physical therapists, nursing staff, radiologist and other personnel coming and going. Just like a roller-coaster ride there are climaxes, then there are the plummets.
I feel a sharp descent coming up. I hear rumbling that the physical therapists may be leaving related to pay cuts. It is going to be a huge plunge if it happens. Oh, no! My stomach is dropping! Physical therapists have increased revenue and patient encounters by three-fold, physical therapists that have outcomes over 95 percent and have referrals from other healthcare providers, physical therapists who love Rangely and are involved in the community, physical therapists who provide care with a superb patient satisfaction rate may be leaving. Not only can’t my stomach handle this queasy feeling, but my head is spinning and is feeling dizzy. To decrease their pay or eliminate them at what cost? — short-term dollars versus long-term dollars. Their services are wonderful and are worth it. It doesn’t make sense to drive off people that want to live and work here when it is so difficult to get them and good services here. In addition, I understand Nick Goeshe also loves Rangely. I imagine he is concerned about his roller coaster ride.
Oh well, as the roller-coaster rides go rapidly downward, they ascend slowly, clickity-clack. It takes a long time, recruitment money, expensive traveling physical therapists and lost business/revenue. But eventually the roller-coaster ride comes up, clickity-clack.
Rangely residents have pretty tough stomachs to handle this long, tortuous roller coaster ride. Ask them about Rangely District Hospital and they shrug their shoulders. “We’ll see what happens. It has happened before” or “I go elsewhere for healthcare.” I find this to be unfortunate. Rangely shouldn’t be complacent. I agree, it is hard to understand the facts. However, some things just don’t make sense. Also ask hospital employees. They know what is right and good. This roller-coaster ride should end before it is derailed. However, Rangely has to stand up and be heard and not be pacified with gentle statements. I would like to see long range goals being made and met. I would like to see open minds to new ideas and using systems other communities are use that are successful.
One day I would like to compare Rangely District Hospital to a freight train, making sure, steady progress, in which the majority of the community uses it services and feel blessed to have it.
Sincerely,
Rosaly Coombs
Family nurse practitioner
Rangely
Dear Editor,
Business people who own or lease equipment, furniture, machinery or other taxable personal property with a total actual value greater than $4,000 per owner, per county, must file a Personal Property Declaration Schedule with the county assessor by April 15, 2009, Colorado law (C.R.S. 39-5-108).
All business personal property is taxable unless specifically exempted by law. Taxable personal property includes:
All household furnishings used for business purposes to produce an income.
Equipment, furniture and machinery used by commercial, industrial and natural resource operations.
Property used in an agribusiness that does not qualify as agricultural pursuant to C.R.S. 39-1-102(1.6)(a).
Expensed assets.
Fully depreciated assets.
Personal property in storage that is subject to IRS depreciation.
Leasehold improvements.
If you own or lease such business personal property in Rio Blanco County and did not receive a declaration schedule, you may request a declaration schedule by calling the Rio Blanco County Assessor’s office at 878-9410. Failure to receive a declaration schedules does not exempt you from reporting.
Renae T. Neilson
Rio Blanco County assessor
Dear PMC Patients and Community:
We are writing this letter for two reasons. First, we recognize you as valued customers and appreciate your business. Secondly, we extend our apologies to you for the recent problems that you may have experienced with billing services.
We want you to be aware of the steps we are taking to correct these problems.
What has happened with billing? There are two major issues right now, and perhaps others. First, we have been catching up on patient billing that was delayed due to computer system change here at PMC. Secondly, last week First Party Receivables in Greeley sent out “duplicate” billing statements to approximately 700 patients.
What is being done to address these problems?
(1) We are working to make sure that all billing delayed by the computer conversion is caught up, and that future billing will occur in a timely manner.
(2) We are working closely with First Party Receivables, an extension of our business office, to resolve questions and concerns related to the “duplicate billing” that occurred about 7-10 days ago. The following actions are being taken:
n Beginning last Thursday, First Party Receivables began calling each customer that may have received duplicate statements.
n Our PMC Business Office is available to assist customers with questions, complaints, and payments.
If you have questions about any of your individual bills, please call Danette Coulter, patient financial services manager at Pioneers Medical Center at 878-9273 or the PMC main number 878-5047. We will assist as needed to help resolve questions or concerns.
We value each of our patients, and appreciate that you have chosen Pioneers Medical Center for your healthcare needs.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Robert Omer,
Chief Executive Officer
David Usher,
Chief Financial Officer
