RBC | The first issue of the paper was set to appear on Aug. 8 and would have been the earliest paper to be published in northwestern Colorado, but just before “going to press”
a high wind came up and blew the dirt from the roof all over the type and the first issue was delayed a week, making it the second oldest newspaper in northwest Colorado and the longest continuously operated business in Rio Blanco County.
Happy birthday to all the previous publishers who kept the paper alive and covered local news for all these years: the Lyttles, the Cooks, Sureva Towler, the Troesters, the Murdocks and the Bettises. Thank you!
The Herald will not be run in the interest of the “rascals” out or the “rascals” in. We will confine ourselves to the local interests of Meeker and the White River Valley, and we will at all times, to the best of our ability, promote and protect the same.
~ The Meeker Herald, Vol. 1, No. 1, Aug. 15, 1885
~ From Vol. 1, No. 1 of The Meeker Herald, Aug. 8, 1968.
“The following was published in the Eaton Herald and we pass it along for your consideration…
Periodically we receive writings asking about ranchers, farmers, businessmen, etc. We decided we should write one about the newspaper man.
Usually he is bald headed having all his hair pulled out by the DemWocrats for unfavorable publicity.
He has store boughten teeth having the originals kicked out by the Republicans because he didn’t endorse their candidate.
He is flat footed from chasing the beat for advertising to pay for printing the paper, and maybe a few cents to eat on.
And most always you will find him wearing glasses being classed as nearsighted by the liberals and farsighted by the conservatives.
They have broad shoulders to allow townspeople to cry on. This includes the preacher that didn’t have a good crowd in church last Sunday and the businessman that failed to sell his goods, or the farmer that was hailed or frozen out this past spring. He also hears the sob story of the bride that didn’t have a groom show up or the mother who’s little dear just doesn’t get into trouble.
He must hear the story of the high and mighty catch the low and uncouth in between.
He must know what hour the social is and why the Monkey loves its mother. He must be a walking encyclopedia, and know the answers to all. But really he only knows what his friends tell him and what he reads in the newspaper.
He is a despiser of pomp and circumstance and the protector of his country’s rights. And he hates stupid rules.
But where is that newspaper man? He isn’t here taking down notes to give us the free publicity?
He is a heathen because he is not at his own church on Sunday—not considering the fact that he may be at another church taking pictures.
He should be at the golf course catching papa swinging the five iron or catching mama throwing a bowling ball down the lane. He must be at a wreck, storm area, swimming pool, ball game or the dance all at one time.
But a newspaper man is only human. He can only be at one place at a time, and can be present only if he is informed.
Today the newspaper man must be a photographer, a Linotype operator, an engraver, an artist, a salesman, a writer, a retailer, wholesaler, a crook, a thief and a bandit all rolled into one. He must be a lawyer, judge and policeman.
He is always optimistic trying to induce better business, promoting better crops and better livestock prices. He is always willing to pat the good fellow on the back, and decry violence and the bad.
He is generous, big-hearted, friendly, dependable, wise and honest—and always ready to swap a big story.
He trusts his fellow man to the limit.
No one is ever cursed, kicked, run over, stepped on, shot at, spat upon, cut up, bruised, slandered, beat up, taxed up, held up, and knocked down as much as he is. He is always told how to run a newspaper.
Yet, this man who is only human is the rock upon which this nation was built. The rock that protects your and my freedom—the right to know. And the newspaper man knows that he must survive without a government handout or joining the Poverty Roll. If he doesn’t then he shall perish and along with him will die freedom of Democracy.”
