No, Rio Blanco Lake has not sprung a leak. Colorado Parks and Wildlife held a public meeting in October to explain plans to adjust the management of some fish species currently in the lake to balance sportfish management goals with native fish conservation efforts in the White River. They are[Read More…]
Author: Lucas Turner
Safety first for activities on ice
Now that winter has finally arrived in northwest Colorado, residents are participating in the usual cold-weather activities, including those that require ice. At the Circle Park Pond in Meeker, freezing temperatures mean new opportunities for ice skating, hockey and fishing. However, winter time pond usage also means increased concern over[Read More…]
COUNTY BEAT: Water, roads, meeting notices discussed
WATER “We’ve got demands that are unsustainable to the east of us on the Front Range; we’ve got demands that are unsustainable to the west of us,” said Zane Kessler, Director of Government Relations at the Colorado River District (CRD) to RBC Commissioners this week. Kessler attended a work session[Read More…]
Support law enforcement
Regardless of which war, or branch of service, all veterans learn early that their survival depends on their ability to ask three critical questions: No. 1) What could go wrong? No. 2) How bad could it get? No. 3) What are they going to do if it does happen? New[Read More…]
Commissioners Approve 2022 Budget
Rio Blanco County commissioners issued final approval for the 2022 budget Tuesday evening after months of deliberation, meetings with staff, community members and elected officials. The full budget as-approved in its entirety is available at https://www.rbc.us/160/Budget-Finance. Additional information on all local government budgets is detailed in previous reporting at https://www.theheraldtimes.com/?s=budget[Read More…]
CHRISTMAS MAGIC …
Rangely’s weekend of Christmasfest activities brimmed with delight for all ages. Some activities included visiting with Santa, Cookie decorating, a parade, and beautiful decorations on display at Ryan and Dana Huitt’s home during carriage rides sponsored by the Huitt Family, Wildlife Expressions Taxidermy and Western Rio Blanco Recreation and Park[Read More…]
Chevron sells Rangely oil field
The recent sale of oil and gas infrastructure in Rio Blanco County represents the end of an era for Chevron and the beginning of a new one for Texas-based Scout Energy Partners. Scout recently purchased the “Rangely Weber Sand Unit and associated facilities,” according to Mike Mercer, Scout’s VP of[Read More…]
COUNTY BEAT: Sheriff’s office works to dispel jail misinformation
COMMUNICATION ISSUES Elected officials, staff and law enforcement personnel from all three local government entities filled the county courthouse Monday to discuss the recent closure of the Justice Center/jail. RBC Sheriff Anthony Mazzolla announced the closure in September 2021 at the beginning of this year’s budget cycle. Since that time,[Read More…]
COUNTY BEAT: 2022 budget nearing final approval
Governmental budgets are really confusing to most people, including us. With many numbers based on estimates, and constantly shifting allocations from one fund to another, last minute cuts and additions, reallocations, etc., some numbers listed here may not be totally up to date, though they’re likely to all be pretty[Read More…]
Medical professionals talk COVID, testing and more
Skip ahead to 21:30 to watch the video above. With the return of cold weather, COVID cases are again climbing in Rio Blanco County and many areas of the state. Hospitalizations are also increasing, which is why 95% of the state’s ICU beds are full. “We’ve been having anywhere from[Read More…]
County Beat: Nov 16 meeting report
PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE Public Health staff workloads are “at the highest level we’ve seen” according to Director Alice Harvey, who updated the RBC Commissioners in Rangely this week. She said the department was spread thin between testing, vaccination clinics, answering phone calls, contact tracing and other pandemic-related work, in addition[Read More…]