Happy National Newspaper Week!

You know, there are probably much easier ways to celebrate National Newspaper Week than deciding to become printers overnight, but here we are.

As I write this, our trusty-but-pokey Xerox is working on copy 200-and-something of this week’s Herald.

Why?

Welp, we were notified at 7:30 p.m. last night that the Montrose printing press had suffered flooding and damage and would not be able to print our papers. We have no idea when it will be back up and running again.

I suppose we could have just waited around and twiddled our thumbs, but this community has had a newspaper every week since 1885. I am NOT about to be the one who breaks that streak.

So, we’re doing our own stunts. Surprise!

Like in a scared way surprised, not a here’s a free cupcake surprised.

Practically speaking, this means a few things:

Your newspaper is gonna look different, like a mini-paper. I personally think it’s adorable and also very Mary Poppins ✨magical✨bag-like how everything fit.
Delivery is going to be late. The regular e-edition is up and available for readers. If you want to peep the new print look, though, you’ll just have to be patient. (I can be easily bribed with coffee and chocolate, FYI.😭☕)

The weirdest part of this whole thing is that we’ve actually been talking about how to bring the Herald home for a few weeks now. It wasn’t supposed to be like this, and it wasn’t supposed to be an all-night gig, but hey, maybe the universe knew something we didn’t.

Anyhow, here’s ~~Wonderwall~~ more details (I wrote this at 12:30 a.m. so … yeah). I’m not sure what we’ll do next week, but we’ll keep you posted!

If you have any questions, feel free to respond to this email, but also know that I’m functioning on precious little sleep, so if you don’t have something nice to say, listen to your momma and don’t say anything.

OK? Okay. Onward!

This is what the paper was gonna look like this week, before I had to build it all over again. Watch your mailboxes for the mini-version!

(You need a subscription to access the online edition.)

In this week’s edition

I interviewed Really Inspiring Person (and also just all-around super nice dude) Tyrel Stout about completing the Leadville 100 ultra-marathon … with a broken femur.

And here I am complaining about printers. Heh.

Fight to the Finish

Former Meeker wrestling champion Tyrel Stout completes Leadville 100 despite broken

femur.

Next up, election season is officially upon us. Ballots will be mailed in RBC tomorrow. Our coverage begins with Q&As for assessor and treasurer candidates.

Candidate Q&As

Editor’s Note: Based on the number of unsolicited political text messages residents have received in the past week, election season is in full swing. This year’s ballot is massive, and…

We also interviewed new Rangely Superintendent Audra Lane.

Get to know Audra Lane, RSD’s new superintendent

Audra Lane, Rangely School District’s new superintendent, shared her background, what drew her to the community and how she hopes to connect with families for the Herald this week. Tell…

📅Check out upcoming events in the Community Calendar this week.
🐾CPW has suspended its chronic depredation directive. CPW Commissioner Peter Maguire will hold informal public office hours tomorrow, Oct. 9, at the Meeker Fire Station (240 7th Street) from 4 to 6 p.m.
📞Here’s Ed’s second History Lesson about telephone lines.
🐰Hayden Garcia represented Meeker well at the AK-SAR-BEN Livestock Show in Nebraska.

From the Blotter …

9/27/2026 @ 10:31 am. A mischievous neighbor dog decided to make itself at home and let itself into the caller’s house, where it proceeded to empty out all the dog treats. Meeker PD responded and passed the information along to the Code Enforcement Officer for further investigation. No treats were recovered.

Read more Rio Happenings here.

As usual, there’s a LOT more in the paper proper, so check it out when you can.

Also I realized I forgot a secret last week, although I suppose my long-winded backstory about the bear in my driveway works … or if I had, you know, dignity or something, admitting to having anxiety about everything and being bad in emergencies would probably qualify. But those are just facts.🤷‍♀️

This week’s secret is also not really a secret, but more of a realization. Once you’re over the age of 30, falling asleep on the floor for any length of time makes it feel like your bones are put together all wrong. ☠️👵

Ask me how I know this.

Falling asleep on the floor babysitting this guy is how. Forgive the 3 a.m. crazy eyes.

I’m not sure what will happen next week, but you’d better believe there will be a fresh paper, come hell, high water, or angry old lady joints.

Long live the Herald. See ya next week!

Our mailing address is: Rio Blanco Herald Times, PO Box 720, Meeker, CO 81641

and that’s how I fell asleep on the floor ~ Oct. 8

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