Lady golfers grateful for support and donations to tournament
Dear Editor:
The Meeker Ladies Golf Club and the Meeker Girls Golf Team would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for their incredible support and donations made this year to the Deer-Fly Ladies Golf Tournament that was such a huge success:
Raymond James, River Camp RV Park, Bay Equity, Hugus Building, Mary Jessup, Rifle Creek Golf Course, Sandy Henderson, Watts Ranch Market, The Redstone Inn, Prescriptions Salon and Spa, Lakota Links Golf Course, Greg Ackerman, White River Electric, Bookcliff Country Club, Shelton Welding, Mtn. View Tree Farm, Nate Walsh, Moab Golf Course, Dave and Jan Henderson, Jerry Moritz, Jimmy and Debbie Cook, Peach’s Auto Spa and Mark Litzelman.
Thank you all,
Meeker Ladies Golf Club, Meeker Girls Golf Team
Support for Scritchfield from Meeker resident
Dear Editor:
I have been a director of the White River Conservation District for the past 30 years. I was elected by the White, Yampa and North Platte Watershed Association to represent the five conservation districts in Northwest Colorado at the State in 2002. Callie (Hendrickson) Scritchfield had been recently hired as the Executive Director. I worked with her in that capacity as she turned the association into a highly respected organization. I continued to work with her when she moved to the Colorado Department of Agriculture for the Western Slope.
In 2010 I was part of the group that encouraged her to accept the Executive Director job for the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts. Callie’s ability to work with landowners, state and federal land manager, and county government has benefited Rio Blanco County in many ways. Her work has supported the agriculture, recreation, and energy industries.
Through Callie’s leadership, the Districts have leveraged the local taxpayer dollars many times for the benefit of the Rio Blanco County citizens. She has helped the Districts serve the landowners and become two of the leading districts within Colorado.
I encourage everyone to get out and vote for Callie Scritchfield.
Bill Lake
Meeker
Support for Halandras from Meeker resident
Dear Editor:
Dear Rio Blanco County residents, I am writing to show my support for Regas Halandras for County Commissioner.
I have known Regas his entire life, from a young boy full of energy and watched him grow into an inquisitive young man who loved to learn and be a helpful citizen. As an adult, Regas shows the same energy to get things started and completed. His ability to listen and learn new things is refreshing.
Regas is not afraid of hard work, getting in and getting his hands dirty and being a part of a team. Regas has an inner drive to do the research on matters to be assured he understands all angles. He has shown great leadership on the many boards he has participated in, and was a solid Mayor for Meeker.
There are few individuals who are truly community-minded, but Regas goes above and beyond to provide a sense of pride in all he does. He left Meeker as a young man, only to return as he realized this county and its people are a part of him, and his roots run deep. This is home and he is proud to be a part of our amazing county.
As a Commissioner I feel Regas is well suited to lead our county in the days and years to come to assure the constituents that his personal energy will be well served to provide Rio Blanco County the knowledge and open-mindedness we need to stay at the forefront of protecting our energy, natural resources and maintaining our county’s uniqueness and heritage. A vote for Regas is a smart move for each citizen in our county.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Ginny Love, past RBC Commissioner and proud County resident
Scritchfield on reservoir projects
Dear Editor:
While I don’t consider myself an expert on all water issues, I have been engaged in many water issues within Rio Blanco County (RBC) and across the State over the past 13 years. Water is like other natural resource issues; it is complicated and easily misunderstood. When trying to understand large water projects and the timelines involved, it is important to go to the source of the project to get accurate information. I have worked with and talked with both the Yellow Jacket Water Conservancy District (YJWCD) and Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District (RBWCD) boards to ensure the information I share is as accurate as possible.
Based on my experience with water and with federal agencies’ planning processes, I understand there is A LOT involved with the planning and development of any reservoir because of all the various agencies and hurdles that must be jumped. It is typically expected to take 20-plus years and millions of dollars to plan and build a reservoir of any significant size. It is also typical to face strong opposition on any reservoir that creates even more hurdles extending the timelines and project costs.
I keep hearing about CPW’s repair work on Lake Avery being an opportunity to expand the size of the reservoir to include the 10,000 acre feet of YJWCD water rights. My communications with the YJWCD Board members and their attorney provide great insight into the timeline for the Lake Avery Expansion project. CPW and YJWCD board have made it clear, the 2024-25 CPW dam repair will not include an expansion option. This is because even a dam expansion takes many studies, engineering, millions of dollars, and many permits. The YJWCD board members estimate it will take another 7–20 years before the Lake Avery Expansion project would be complete, if it is feasible.
Currently, the YJWCD Board has successfully moved the 10,000 acre feet Sawmill Mountain Reservoir conditional water rights to the Lake Avery location for multiple uses within and below Lake Avery. Earlier this year, they finalized the Dam Breach and Flood Hydrology Analysis. The analysis indicates the dam would likely receive an Extreme Hydrologic Hazard designation from the Colorado Dam Safety Branch.
YJWCD has two critical tasks in the next few years: 1) funding and completing a feasibility study, and 2) identifying a group or entity that will take on the liability of a high hazard dam (the expected classification of an enlarged Lake Avery Dam). Without these completed tasks, the YJWCD board is unsure if the project is even feasible.
Once the liability question is answered and YJWCD decides to proceed, there are numerous permitting and reporting requirements that take years and potentially millions of dollars before construction can begin.
Unfortunately, neither the Lake Avery expansion nor the Wolf Creek Reservoir (WCR) projects will begin within the next couple of years. The WCR project has been in development since 2013 and has many of the required studies completed. Following the “Sackett vs EPA” US Supreme Court case, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) is now involved and are in the process of developing their own version of the “purpose and need.” This is not unusual when another federal agency gets involved. Once that is finalized, the WCR project will move into the NEPA process which is required to be completed within two years. This should move the project close to construction phase.
As your next county commissioner, I will support the possible Lake Avery Expansion, the proposed Wolf Creek Reservoir, and any other potential water storage project in RBC. There are a lot of details to be worked out on both reservoir projects before either become reality. I am committed to seeking factual information and conveying it to all citizens on all projects. I encourage anyone interested to reach out to the respective water conservancy district to learn the facts. I will work with the RBC citizens to change the conversations from “either/or” of these projects to a dialogue that will focus on “and/both” as we move forward in developing critical water storage for the County.
Callie Scritchfield
RBC Commissioner Candidate
Support for Scritchfield from Meeker resident
Dear Editor:
I would like to express my support for Callie Scritchfield for our next Rio Blanco County Commissioner. I have worked with Callie on the RBC Farm Bureau Board and know what a passion she has for the rural way of life and all that she wants to do to protect it. She will fight for land owners’ rights and stand up against government overreach. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in land management, water issues, farm and ranch issues, etc., which will serve her well in fulfilling this role in our community. She has worked at the Capitol and knows what it takes to bring concerns and issues before the legislators. If you have heard her speak you know she has a plan and vision for our county which aligns with what I feel our county needs over the coming years. If you have questions or concerns reach out and let her address those questions or concerns (Callie4RBC.com or [email protected]). She is always willing to listen and answer questions which is another great attribute of being a commissioner.
I’ll be supporting her for commissioner and ask that you consider doing the same.
Janice Weinholdt
Meeker
Missed opportunity to honor D-Day’s 80th anniversary
Dear Editor:
I was not sure about writing to you and I also wondered if it would matter. But have decided to write anyway. Last Thursday was June 6, also known as D-Day. This marked the 80th anniversary of the Allied forces landing on the beaches of Normandy. This was the beginning of the end of World War II. Thousands of young American soldiers died on that day fighting for the ideals of democracy and freedom. But in the town of Meeker I did not see one single flag flying at half mast in honor of those who lost their lives that day. And there was not even a mention in the paper, a missed opportunity for an editorial. Don’t those young men deserve to be honored?
Sincerely,
Jan Zuber
Meeker