Dear Western Rio Blanco County Residents and Taxpayers,
I would like give you a brief update as to where we are at with the remodel of the recreation center. We are waiting on getting the estimates from the general contractor for the cost of remodel from their estimators. Since the beginning of this process the district has been aware that things have deteriorated with the pool to the point where it has now been determined that the pool will need to be replaced as well as the roof over the existing pool area. The architect, general contractor and all involved believe that we can still do the original scope of work and also keep it within the budgeted monies for the repairs.
Once we receive the estimates from the general contractor which should be at the end of March a contract can be signed with the contractor and work can begin. We are still looking at sometime in June as start of construction. I do want to put caution in the scheme of things because the pool continues to leak and we continue to repair it. The longer we wait the more the project costs go up.
We are also currently putting out to bid the playground equipment for Elks Park and the skate park. This process has been slowed due to all the snow we have received here!
Thank you for your support and please be patient with us through this process. It will definitely be worth the time and effort once completed.
Should you need to speak with me or have any concerns; call me at the recreation center (970) 675-8211.
Sincerely,
Timothy J. Webber
Executive Director
Western Rio Blanco Recreation and Park District
Rangely, Colo.
Dear Editor,
I would like to compliment Dolly Viscardi on her wonderful columns in the Herald Times. This last one really struck me as important to all of us. I, too, have had people describe trying to fit into the social structure in Meeker as difficult. As a person who sees new residents quite often at the museum I, too, always encourage them to involve themselves in the community.
I do think that we as a rural community have dropped some of the things that used to help newcomers establish themselves. We, like the rest of the country, have to work harder and longer for our income and usually it takes two incomes to make it here. As a result we have dropped many of the social activities our families used to have. There is a small note in the museum from a gentleman to my Aunt Lillie Purdy accepting the kind invitation for a small party at her home. Who now has the time to have a small party for friends or to introduce new neighbors in their home? Life demands so much more from us and raising children seems to take more time.
Another social activity many of us no longer have time for are the clubs our parents used to attend. Most of those organizations no longer exist. Those clubs introduced young people into the social areas of the community and some mentored the people who joined their organizations. It was a truly important part of social life in the community. It does make it difficult for the newer residents to make a place for themselves.
I do not know the answers to this problem but I really believe it never hurts anyone to be friendly to other people. Whether you are an employee in a business or person on the street, it would be nice if we welcomed new people and did not judge them for being “different.” It would also be nice if new residents did not judge anyone in a rural community until they get to know them (most especially about dress codes which, for a lot of people, are non-existent unless you are working with the public). It is understandable, having lived in a large city, that people there often have to make quick judgments about others. But, in a small town, you should probably not judge by the same criteria because if you do someone will be watching and will likely judge you for being too critical. That, as all small town people know, is really as much of an indictment toward you as toward the person you are judging. Having run a business myself in Meeker I think it is up to the owner of the business to make sure the employees are friendly and take the time to say, “hi, I will be with you in a minute” if they are with another customer or to greet the customer as if you truly want them to spend money in your business. Why should they come into your store if you are not friendly? That is something else we are losing and it is a sad thing to see go!
A note to the ladies of the community — the museum is actually having a soup and salad luncheon at Kilowatt Korner for women. The guest speaker will be talking of unique and antique items our grandmothers, great-grandmothers and great-great-grandmothers had in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The ad is in this paper and you are all invited!
Sandy Shimko
Meeker, Colo.
Dear Editor,
Each of us are letting God down
As we act like clowns
By letting our children run around
The churches here abound
Not very many young attend
For they like their lives not to bend
For God’s laws are strict
You have to admit
When this country was born
All were to attend as sworn
To be a family of good faith
To keep God in their grace
That is the way it had to be
For everyone to see
Only the sick could be absent
Or those with proven cause were repent
Now we are losing our God’s ways
Throughout our nasty by-ways
Leaving others to dictate what is best for us
By going the wrong way by bus
We have to stand our ground for God’s way
He is the only One to save our day
To keep us true to His laws
They do not have any flaws
Orval LaBorde
Meeker, Colo.
