WRBM ramps up Fourth of July events

RANGELY I The Western Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District (WRBM) ramped up its Fourth of July offerings for the second year running, coming away with definite winners and plans to change timing details in the future.
Thursday night’s fireworks display at Kenney Reservoir, put on by WRBM and Rangely Rural Fire Protection District (RRFPD) firefighters, is becoming a Rangely institution, as comments across Facebook showed.
Others new to the event got an added thrill seeing the display for the first time.
“This was a first for us to watch and hear,” Colleen and Wes Norris posted on the Rangely Rec Center page. “We will remember this and talk about it [for] our life time. We had a campsite at the lake and the show was great, but the sound blew me away. The sound rolling through the canyon was something you have to experience to appreciate. Thanks again.”
The fireworks, which cost approximately $15,000 and were funded by WRBM, the Town of Rangely, the county commissioners, RRFPD, and the Water Conservancy District, used mortars ranging from one to 10 inches wide. Boaters and hundreds of viewers parked along Highway 64 weren’t sprinkled with rain until the show’s end.
Friday evening’s night golf event boasted 10 teams with Jason Kurrasch’s team taking top honors.
Saturday’s Color Run through town and inflatables at Elks Park drew a good crowd, WRBM aquatics and recreation supervisor Camilla Kennedy said. The Color Run, hosted by WRBM and New Eden Pregnancy Care Services, featured a family-friendly 5K, during which participants were doused with multi-colored powders. Approximately 73 people attended the event, raising $700 for the pregnancy center.
The Surf and Turf event Saturday evening saw much higher numbers this year, with 108 tickets sold, compared to just around 25 last year. Diners enjoyed shrimp, steak, and fixings catered by Park Street Grill.
“The food was amazing,” Kennedy said. “We’ll have them cater it next year, too.”
Sunday’s schedule was less well attended than the other days, with games in the park and the country/Western band The Roundabouts only netting a few dozen people. Six participants joined the rib cook-off, with Crandal Mergelman taking first-place honors ($300), Brad Casto second place ($200) and Bob Bell third ($100).
Kennedy said the WRBM will probably move the majority of Fourth of July events to Saturday next year to improve attendance.
“I think it went good this year,” Kennedy said. “But I also think we learned some things to make it better next year.”