Meeker

Nine MHS students back from Belize

The group of nine Meeker High School students and their sponsor, Dr. Bob Dorsett, are seen at the Xunantunich ruins in Belize. In the back row, from left to right, are: instructor Corey Constantino, Noah Overton, Aly Ridings, Reagan Pearce, Dannon Bolton, Taylor Morris and guide Eric. In the front row, from left to right, are sponsor Dr. Bob Dorsett, Piper Haney, McKenna Kummer, Sydney Hughes and Brittany Smith.
The group of nine Meeker High School students and their sponsor, Dr. Bob Dorsett, are seen at the Xunantunich ruins in Belize. In the back row, from left to right, are: instructor Corey Constantino, Noah Overton, Aly Ridings, Reagan Pearce, Dannon Bolton, Taylor Morris and guide Eric. In the front row, from left to right, are sponsor Dr. Bob Dorsett, Piper Haney, McKenna Kummer, Sydney Hughes and Brittany Smith.
MEEKER I Nine students from Meeker High School recently completed a research and conservation expedition to Belize under the auspices of Ecology Project International. While in Belize, the group participated in a wide variety of educational and cultural projects.

During the first four days of the trip, the students assisted an international team of researchers at Turneffe Atoll, helping collect data on the behavior of an indigenous population of bottle-nose dolphins.
The group helped locate groups of dolphins, identify individuals in the groups, monitor their behavior and collect acoustic data correlating the dolphins’ vocalizations to their behavior.
The group also assisted in locating and capturing lion fish, which are recent invaders on the coral reefs in Belize and are damaging other native fish populations on the reefs. The students also helped dissect the stomach contents of captured lion fish to determine their prey.
While at the research station, the group also participated in a service project removing trash from a nesting beach used by loggerhead and hawksbill sea turtles. As a final project, the students completed original research projects and presented them to the instructors and to the team of research assistants.
One research team correlated sea grass density to boat traffic near two piers at the research station, and the other team studied the correlation between water depth and dolphin sightings on the reef.
Returning to the mainland and traveling west across the country, the MHS group encountered the diverse ecosystems of Belize, from the mangrove and marsh lowlands through savannah to the highland rainforest
From the base at a rainforest lodge, the enormous diversity of plants, insects, birds and other animals was studied. On the second day in the rainforest, the group visited the Mayan ruin of Xunantunich and learned some of the essentials of Mayan architecture, culture, cosmology and mathematics. The next day, the students toured the Mayan underworld at Che Chem Wa cave, loaded with ceremonial artifacts, pottery, and intriguing rock sculpture.
The final day in Belize brought a visit to a local high school in the town of San Ignacio, where the MHS students swapped stories with the Belizean students who had also participated in the EPI program. Each group of students presented activities demonstrating aspects of their particular culture, and we held a spirited game of volleyball.
We are grateful for the instructors in Belize, Jaen and Corey, who provided their time and care and expertise.
Also, many new friends were made along the way, especially with the tour guides, research staff, facilities staff and the students at Saint Ignacius school.
Many people and organizations are to thank, Meeker expedition leader Dr. Bob Dorsett said.
“Special thanks to the Freeman E. Fairfield Trust, Meeker Lions Club, the Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners and the Meeker Regional Library District,” Dorsett said. “Our group is planning a program later in the summer, to be announced, to show pictures and tell more stories about the trip.”

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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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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
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Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
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