Letters To The Editor, Meeker, Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Value of Meeker Elementary School

Dear Editor:
The story is told of a collector of antique rifles who liked to haggle for the best price when purchasing such treasures. On one occasion he located a rare Sharps rifle and haggled for more than an hour to get the owner to lower his price. The owner steadfastly refused. Finally the collector gave up and paid the price.
The owner remarked “It is clear that you understand price, but you have no concept of value.” So too is the case of the old Meeker elementary school and those who have control of its value to the community, its legacy to the history of the community, and thus, the future or the lack thereof.
It has been suggested by various individuals that demolishing the old elementary school and building a jail would “give the downtown area a new look and help the local economy.” Sadly, nothing could be more inaccurate or misleading.
There is absolutely no evidence or precedent in other communities that support this statement.
The current jail brings nothing to improve the local economy. Why would demolishing the historic elementary school and building a jail 300 yards to the east change anything? Demolishing the building would require up to $2 million in asbestos abatement costs before it could even be torn down. Is that a wise use of your tax dollars?
Most communities that build new jails move them to the outskirts of the town or even several miles away (e.g., Craig, Steamboat, Boulder, et al). Most of all, they never demolish historic and culturally significant buildings for such a purpose.
Historic preservationists from History Colorado have already offered to assist in grant funding opportunities for repurposing the old school and restoring it for use as a community center that could be of benefit to youth and adults of Meeker, and stimulate economic growth as well.
Face it! Meeker is in deep trouble economically! Continuing on the same path will only worsen the dilemma. New thinking and new ideas are urgently needed.
Carbondale’s Third Street Center took a 52-year-old high school and, with grants and donations, repurposed the building into a financially successful arts and cultural center that brings big name bands and entertainment to Carbondale on a weekly basis. (www.thirdstreetcenter.net/)
Salida received designation as a Creative District from Colorado Creative Industries and was featured in the Denver Post for the dramatic improvement in their local economy by bringing in arts and cultural entrepreneurs and performing arts entertainment. (m.denverpost.com/denverpost/db_307608/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=mCwIN18z)
Many other small rural communities throughout Colorado have implemented similar venues to greatly enrich their economies through heritage tourism. Tourism and especially Heritage Tourism is the leading economic engine of Colorado, bringing in 28 million visitors each year who spend an average of $380 per person in pursuit of heritage tourism each year.
Paris, France, boasts the largest influx of heritage tourists in the world enriching their economy by billions of dollars.
Breckenridge is designated as a “National Historic District” and boasts a thriving economy. Conversely, Meeker which has an unprecedented historic legacy and buildings dating back to the start of the town in 1885 that are of great interest to tourists is probably the best kept secret in Northwest Colorado.
That needs to change, and promotion of Meeker as a renowned center for heritage tourism needs to be a top priority. The attractions are already here, they just need to be advertised, promoted and made known to those who will enjoy seeing them and returning in the future.
If you allow the Meeker Town Board of Trustees and the Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners to demolish your historic school for their own purposes and build a jail, you permit them to forever change the historic legacy and look of this community for narrow-minded, poorly conceived purposes that cannot be justified under any circumstances.
There are many better alternatives for a jail at reasonable costs. Value is far more important than price!
This is the time for action. Tell the town and the commissioners that demolishing the historic building and building a jail is not what you want done with your school. But don’t wait.
Take action now before it is too late. Call, write, email, go to the board meetings and state your position. What you do now impacts the entire community in many ways and for many decades into the future.
Mary Ann Wilber,
Chair
Meeker Community
Center Task Force
Meeker

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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.
  • 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.
  • 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 getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.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
  • 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.
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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.
5 hours ago
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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.
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.
6 hours ago
View on Instagram |
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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!
12 hours ago
View on Instagram |
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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.
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2 days ago
View on Instagram |
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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
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
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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.
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4 days ago
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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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