Dear Editor,
Recently, my husband and I came to Meeker to hunt elk and mule deer. In between exhaustive scalings up and down the mountains, we decided it was time to find some soap, hot water and food. We ventured into town and stumbled across the Meeker Museum. The nicest woman greeted us. Her name was Sandy Shimko. What a gem! Not only was she friendly, cordial and welcoming, she was very educated regarding Meeker, its history and the Utes.
She baffled our minds with her abundant knowledge.
What a blessing she was. What a blessing she must be to Meeker.
I just thought someone should know what kind of an impact she made on us. She ignited a passion in us for Meeker history and history, in general. Wonderful!
We hope to see Sandy again soon. Genuine, passionate, non-bias, good people, like Sandy are hard to find in this world. I sure hope someone in Meeker tells her how much they appreciate her.
She is one of the reasons we will return.
Thank you, Sandy, for treating us like we mattered and you cared. You are a gift!
Longhorn and Angel Eyes
Michigan
To the Voters of Meeker
RE-1 School District,
Our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who helped pass our ballot questions. You’ve provided security for our annual budgets by passing 3A and facilitated a safer, healthy and positive learning environment for all our kids by passing 3B. Your strong support for these ballot questions is extraordinary in these uncertain times and will reap huge dividends for Meeker students.
None of this would have happened without the daunting work of the Citizens for Meeker Schools campaign committee — a group so ably co-chaired by Margie Joy and Iris Franklin. The group included many loyal and hard working volunteers from our school staffs and the community at large. They are too many to name, but, if you know any, personally, please do thank them. We sincerely thank the elementary school staff who had 100 percent participation walking the town with information about the ballot issues in October; and finally, we extend our appreciation to our superintendent and building principals who have gone beyond the call of duty on behalf of the ballot issues.
We’ll keep you posted on the project’s progress and look forward to a completion date of summer 2010. Once again, our gratitude for your support and belief in our needs. We pledge our best effort to bring you a functional and excellent product for your investment; and we welcome your inquiries as we go down this exciting road. Thank you, again.
Meeker School Board
Dear Editor,
Thank you for giving our community a large amount of support. I will look forward to seeing our new Meeker Elementary School. The school we are in now is pretty much of a train wreck. The new school will be a giant hit. It will also help our community a bunch.
Thanks again for helping our community. I think the new school will be a success. Thank you for helping and being a great citizen.
Amanda Scherbarth
Meeker fourth-grade student
Dear Editor,
We are so saddened by the news of the death of the legend Gene Scritchfield. My husband has been traveling from Iowa to Marvine Camp since 1993 to bow hunt and has told me so many times what wonderful people that Gene and Ann Marie, Mike Young and his bud, Mason, were. They are the most caring people and Gene will be missed so much. We are so saddened. My husband Tom, an Iowa hunter, will never forget Gene.
Patty & Tom Niedermyer
Iowa
Dear Editor,
In the light of a very long election season coming to a close, and a new beginning on the rise of today’s sun. I would like to offer a thought or two.
I look back at my yesterdays, and see a black and white TV that sat in our living room at 1270 Main St. If it was stormy, there was little to no reception. On Sundays when the Broncos game would be interrupted by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. My dad would foam at the mouth, and say very ungodly things at the TV. All of our TV for many years came from Utah, the Broncos were not the focus of Utah’s programing.
Within that box were images of our world. My dad worked hard on both campaigns of JFK and Robert Kennedy. We watched the words of great men speak. The Kennedys, Martin Luther King and the youth of the country stated that we needed change, we needed hope, we needed a new beginning. I can remember even as a small child listening to the words and the overwhelming feeling of things being anew.
I saw through that black box, a funeral of that amazing young president, and watched his son salute his coffin as it went by. We watched the deaths of these inspired men. Along with that every night at dinner time we watched the Vietnam War … live in our living rooms. Black-and-white images of black and white men facing hardship, and death.
When we got a color TV, Nixon was in power, and he was painting a pretty picture! He proved to me on a personal level that I had little to no faith in the so-called government. Watergate sealed my belief in lies and manipulation of the people of this great nation.
I know that being a Democrat in this part of the world is a very unpopular thing. But, I want to share a thought. We have all witnessed such a major change in my 50 years. From black and white images and separation of many in this nation, we now have a man as president who is black and white, who has attempted to unite a nation. I don’t think any one can say that he has not inspired many of us, as well as the young to take pride and join back in. Yes, there will always be the disagreement of policy, and none of us will be totally happy. But, just stop and look at what a grand step this county has made, and the statement that it has sent the rest of the world.
I just ask all who choose to read this, to look at the grand change on this basic issue. Look at what this tells our children, “You all, regardless of who you are, you can be anything you set your mind to.” Hate, fear, and judgment of the heritage of your ancestors, and your parents have no room. Only the content of who you are is what we choose to embrace. Democrat or Republican. This is something for all to have a moment of pride as Americans.
To the gentlemen who writes on a weekly basis of how if you don’t want God, in schools, or in the wording of government, I would like to remind you of something. Religion is private and personal. It is personal choice to teach to your children or not. It is personal responsibility to be nonjudgmental and tolerate of all of God’s people. There is a little thing called “separation of church and state” for a reason. Whom I choose to believe in, how I choose to pray, or not belongs to me. Not you, not an agenda of fear, hate and discontent. You teach your children, and I will teach mine. Personal responsibility. Personal choice, and rights of all people, sir. Not just the self indulged and self righteous.
Here is another little tidbit. The quote of “One nation under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance by Dwight Eisenhower. It was not written that way, and was not learned that way for many generations. It was concluded that the statement of “under God” would cover who ever you believe in. You may be a Buddhist, Muslim or believe in no God at all. It is a personal choice. I personally am sick to death of the religious radicals from all sides pushing their agenda on my personal space. You believe in God, and are Christian, go to church, teach in your home. If you are Muslim, you too have a place to go and worship. Please stop, and remember “look not for the sliver in your brother’s eye,” need I say more?
I hope for our country, for my community and my own self that we have strength to ride out the hard times yet to come. I hold faith in the basic fact that all people are good in nature, there is always a new day, and a new beginning. I hope we all take a positive new step towards being grand.
Michelle E. Hale
Meeker
Dear Editor:
The family of Cleo Jordan would like to thank everyone who expressed sympathies and offered condolences for the loss of our beloved mother and grandmother. Thank you all for the donations, cards and flowers. Thanks to all the wonderful CNAs and nursing staff for taking such good care of Cleo. She loved each and everyone of you. Finally, thanks go to Pastor Johnny Arrington and Ran Cochran for making this difficult time as painless as possible.
Bill and Debbie
and Denise and Kevin
Meeker
Dear Editor,
Many have heard through the grapevine that I am moving, but I thought that I would put it in writing so that it could be confirmed. I have enjoyed working for the agricultural producers of Rio Blanco County for the past five years. I have learned much about ranching and thank the people that have taught me along the way. I hope that I have put at least a little truth to the old saying “I am from the government and I’m here to help.” Unfortunately the things that I enjoy about my job are being replaced with red tape and paperwork and I feel that I have hit a dead end in my career as an employee of the federal government. I will be pursuing a teaching degree while working as a ranch hand in Missouri. I have found Meeker to be a great place and have made many lifetime friends. I thank you all for the welcome that you have shown me. I will miss working with the youth of Rio Blanco County, especially the 4-H shooting sports program. On the positive side the county that I am moving to is in need of a shooting sports leader, and I am looking forward to helping them get a program started. The Rio Blanco County 4-H Shooting Sports has some great leaders but they are going to need someone to fill my place. I encourage anyone with a passion for the shooting sports to become involved, it is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. Nick Smith made a great clown partner at the Little Buckaroo Rodeo last year, I am sure that he would appreciate someone else to help him keep the little buckaroos safe from the foul rough stock. Leaving all this behind has been the toughest part of my decision, rest assured that it is my career and not the people that is making me want to move on. Though I am leaving Meeker I will never forget the people and the place that have treated me so well. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
Fred Cummings
Meeker
Dear Editor,
To all the people who would like to donate to the Meeker Cat Coalition, please contact the Vet Clinic at (970) 878-5647 or stop by the clinic and leave your donation. We also could use bags of cat food. We would be grateful for anything you can do to stop the overpopulation of stray cats. If you would like to help you can also call Irene at 878-3560 or 878-4429. All donations will be accepted by the Vet Clinic.
Meeker Cat Coalition
Dear Editor,
We would like to express a heartfelt thank you to the community that supported our resent book fair. It was a great success. The profits will be used to purchase teacher’s materials, books for the library and the literacy library. We live in a very supportive community that knows the value of children and future generations.
Kay Bivens
Meeker Elementary
School librarian
Dear Editor,
The Meeker High School FCCLA Chapter would like to extend a “thank you” to the community for its generous donations to the local food bank. On Thursday, Oct. 30, our chapter dressed up in their Halloween costumes for our annual “Trick-or-treat for Canned Goods” event. The participating members split into groups and each group went door to door to ask for a donation of non-perishable food items. Thanks to the generosity of the town, we were able to raise 370 cans to deposit into the local food bank.
Meeker FCCLA
