Up and Down El Rio Blanco: Working together

“The key,” she said, “was getting people to work together,” she being Peggy Rector, a woman known for her great ability to use that key, as evidenced by the many things she has been an integral part of.
It is amazing what can be accomplished when people work together and it is an exciting and exhilarating feeling to be a part of something bigger than oneself.
I’ve been watching several teams play lately, not only on the courts and wrestling mats but in meeting rooms and although we don’t always win, to me it’s still fun trying and being a part of the team, in one way or another.
Our high school basketball seasons came to an end last week but it was nice to see more than 50 kids in Meeker’s gym, smiling, laughing and stretching for either track or baseball practice Monday last, I’m sure the same was true in Rangely.
I enjoyed sitting (not completely true) in a meeting with our county commissioners and several energy operators in the county in a circle talking about creating partnerships and building relationships to accomplish common goals, which I hope include embracing the multi-use concept and developing our resources, while protecting our county’s namesake.
Election years excite me. It’s time to pick some of our team leaders and not only will we be electing someone to our country’s highest office, we will also be choosing many state and local people to our boards, including a mayor for Rangely and two county commissioner seats. I thank and admire those who step up and run for office.
Everyone is invited to meet the two mayoral and seven candidates for three council seats at a forum next Wednesday in Rangely. Candidates will answer scripted questions as well as some from the audience. The forum starts at 6:30 p.m. at Rangely Town Hall.
The team I’m really, really excited about right now is the University of Wyoming’s wrestling team and its number one star, Joe LeBlanc. Joe, a graduate of Meeker High School and senior wrestling for the Wyoming Cowboys, won his third regional tournament last Sunday, qualifying him for the NCAA Division I national tournament for a fourth time.
Joe has not yet won a national title but he keeps trying and I know the three-time All-American, currently the nation’s No. 1 ranked 184-pounder will put on a great show in his final attempt to become a national champion.
I’m thankful my NCAA press credentials were approved and God willing, I’ll be on the floor of the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., next week playing the part of photographer and watching the show.