Meeker Locals: February 28, 2008

MEEKER — The White River Museum has sold out of all its copies of “Ropin’ The Past,” a collection of stories written by former Meeker resident Rich Lyttle.
The book was published by the Herald Times and the museum in November 2007. Lyttle was actively involved in the museum prior to his death in October 2004.
The Herald Times printed Lyttle’s newspaper column about interesting elements of the community’s history. The newspaper compiled those columns in a book and the museum has been selling the publication as a fundraiser. Selling out in 3-1/2 months must put it atop the Meeker bestseller list!
The museum is in the process of getting the book reprinted.
Lyttle’s grandfather launched the county’s first newspaper, The Meeker Herald, in 1885. The publication merged its flag with the Rangely Times to make the Rio Blanco Herald Times in 2000, and the newspaper remains one of the oldest continuously operating weeklies in the state.
Kudos this week to the ERBM for hosting another successful “winter games.” This year we actually had real snow! And congratulations to the high school athletes who competed at the state wrestling tournament in Denver last weekend.
Happy birthday today, Feb. 28, to Sean Lafton, Matt Jensen, Melayni Wangnild, Denver Hayes and Hannah Borchard. Also celebrating this week are Martha Cole, March 1; Pat Love, Roberta Watt and Nori Pearce, March 2; Tia McKee, Missy Gilbert, Gary Merriam and Sam Nieslanik, March 3, Brady Nay, March 5.
Gus and Christine Halandras celebrate their wedding anniversary on Feb. 29. Happy anniversary to Dennis and Ruth Koenig, March 5.
Don’t forget to wish a special happy birthday to the following Leap Year babies. If you miss this one, you don’t get another chance for four more years! Born Feb. 29: Meg Bettis and Brenda Williams (Bettis turns 40 on Feb. 29, but since she is a Leap Year baby, she contends she is really 10 years old).
Are you or your family members missing from this list? Please send us your family’s special dates — anniversaries, birthdays, etc. — so we can celebrate with you! Send info to [email protected], or mail items to P.O. Box 720, Meeker, Colo., 81641.