Thank you
Dear Editor:
The Hodges and Dyer families are sending out a big thank you to the Rangely community. Whether you are friends, neighbors or just caring citizens who heard our story and decided to help, we greatly appreciate it. Without the help of everyone who gave donations, set up fundraisers, and kept us in their prayers we wouldn’t have been able to make it through the six weeks we spent at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado. We are so blessed to live in a community that prides itself on doing right by one another. Thank you again to everyone who donated their time, funds and prayers.
Lisa Hodges
Rangely
Norm Hall Sr., turns 80
Dear Editor:
An open house was held for him Saturday, April 28, at the Living Water Assembly of God Church. The fun included a bit of storytelling along with the breaking of a really tough piñata. Everyone had a crack at it. Trays of hors d’oeuvres were served along with a cake decorated like an American flag. All decorations were in the patriotic theme. We all had a great time. Big thank yous to Roger Reed, Norma Hood and Linda Berry.
The family of Norm Hall Sr.
Rangely Outdoor Museum opening
Dear Editor:
Tomorrow, May 4, is opening day here at the Rangely Outdoor Museum. Come and check out three buildings full of displays besides our outdoor displays, and the new merchandise in the gift shop. If you’ve never visited us, you will be amazed at what our small town museum has to offer.
You may have heard about our new dinosaur bone exhibit; an Apatosaurus femur bone, donated by Glen and Francis Sutton of Skull Creek, Colo. You can also become a member of the Museum Society and receive our newsletter of stories from our past.
Our days and hours for the 2012 season are: May, September and October, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. June, July and August, Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
The board and staff of the Rangely Museum include Tom Collins, president; Cheryl Robertson, vice president; Vickie Claybaugh, treasurer; Loyann Hayes, secretary; Brenda Hopson, director; members Dorothy Collins, Gordon Byers, Dan Fiscus, Jean Hejl, Bud Striegel, Susan Dempsey and Diane Sizemore.
Rangely Museum
Rangely
Please vote
Dear Editor:
As a longstanding member of this community, I have decided to put my name up for consideration as a member of the board of ERBM Rec. Center. As this is a position voted on by the residents of Meeker, I humbly ask for the people’s vote. The ERBM Rec. Center has been a very needed and greatly appreciated addition to our town and I can say I truly believe I would be an asset to its board of directors. I’m excited by the plans for the new parks and trails and I think my ideas and input would be helpful to the board. I would welcome any and all ideas, comments and information from the community members and visitors to Meeker if I’m elected. The election will be held Tuesday, May 8 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Fairfield Center. I encourage all Meeker residents to please come out on that day and vote.
Travis Mobley
Meeker
You are a pioneer
Dear Editor:
For the past 100 years, Rio Blanco county pioneers, families and friends have annually commemorated their special cultural heritage and notable history at the “Oldtimers’ Reunion.” This year’s event will celebrate the Centennial anniversary occasion.
However, over the years, attendance has gradually been lessening, and members of younger generations have not been actively participating even though they are welcomed and encouraged to do so. We need your help and your ideas to change this trend and encourage greater participation by those who could enjoy the special camaraderie and friendships afforded by this opportunity to share stories, to document your family stories and history, to make or renew friendships and connections in the common heritage that we all share.
A number of Rio Blanco County residents and those who may have at one time lived in the county, attended school, or otherwise had some connection with the White River Valley have expressed a concern about not feeling welcome to participate in the Rio Blanco County Pioneers Association annual reunion. Still others have said they had the impression that the event was “just for the seniors” and did not hold appeal for potential younger participants.
The association leadership wishes to ask your help in changing that perception by participating in this great event, and by encouraging your family, friends and others who could and should attend and enjoy this wonderful occasion. A series of new program opportunities has been added to further encourage participation and serve to attract participants to preserve the history and cultural heritage of families and friends.
The Rio Blanco County Pioneers Association has joined with the Rio Blanco County Historical Society and the Meeker Arts and Cultural Council in the “Capturing our Culture” oral history project to interview family and friends of Rio Blanco County residents. This project seeks to interview families and friends about their family history, remembrances and special events of their lives that have been a part of the colorful history of the White River Valley. Perhaps the most effective way to capture and preserve this priceless information is through videotaped oral history interviews with families and groups where the spontaneous group discussions trigger many memories and anecdotes (through a group synergy) about special occasions and events in that long progression of notable events. These valuable remembrances may otherwise be forever lost as folks move on and eventually pass away. Before modern technology such as photography, video taping, printing, computers, etc., ancient civilizations recorded their history through storytelling, and each succeeding generation was carefully taught those pivotal stories to commit to memory and then pass on to their children in succeeding generations. In later times, some of the information was transcribed in writing on papyrus scroll documents, engravings and images on cave walls, clay tablets and many other means of preservation and archiving that today serves as the keys to unlock priceless clues to the ancient history of civilizations. Nearly everything that we, as individuals do each day of our lives, somehow writes a new page of what becomes history, no matter how seemingly insignificant. Someday, succeeding generations will want to know how their ancestors (those of us who live in present times) lived, who they were and what they did, just as we seek to know about the many generations of our own ancestors who preceded us in this succession and family lineage of long history.
We invite you and your family and friends as a group to attend the centennial celebration of the Oldtimers’ Reunion, and share your stories and your family history with many others whom you may know, and with those whom you may not, but would very much enjoy meeting and visiting! For example, a group from Piceance Creek and another group from the Buford School area would join many individuals together to provide a great conversation circle of friends. Making friends and sharing stories is one of the most meaningful experiences of life, which is not to be missed. The Oldtimers’ Centennial Reunion is the perfect venue for that opportunity. Call or e-mail us with your ideas and thoughts! We ask you to indicate your willingness to help as described below by voting for this resolution on the highlighted box at the bottom of your registration form, either on the printed mail-in form or on the electronic on-line registration form.
Connie Theos and
Mary Ann Wilber
RBC Oldtimer’s Association
Co-Presidents
Rio Blanco County
