RBC | Term limits are back on the agenda this year, with commissioners receiving public comment over several recent meetings. It will be up to the board to determine whether the topic goes to the November ballot again in 2026. In 1994 a statewide vote that limited state officials to[Read More…]
Author: Niki Turner
BOCC approves fairgrounds facility improvement assessment funding, airport transfer
RBC | In addition to hearing public comment on term limits, the Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners approved contracts and funding transfers tied to infrastructure and long-range planning during the meeting last week in Rangely. Commissioners unanimously approved awarding a contract to Civic Forum Associates, Inc, for a fairgrounds[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Do we really know anyone? Even ourselves?
The last two weeks I’ve spent more time talking to my parents, aunt, uncle, and long-time family friends than I have in years. All the predictable excuses for that — and a few unusual ones — are to blame. I’ve heard stories about my dad’s Army service at Fort Carson[Read More…]
Unofficial election results for Eastern Rio Blanco County Health Service District
MEEKER | Voters narrowly selected Danette Coulter and decisively chose Dr. Albert Krueger in Tuesday’s special mail ballot election for the Eastern Rio Blanco County Health Service District board, according to unofficial results released late Tuesday after the Herald Times had gone to press. The election restores the district to[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – April 30th, 2026
Opportunity or community. What’s the difference? By definition, these concepts are fundamentally different, yet they often intermingle. Opportunity asks, What can I gain? What can I achieve? Community asks, Who am I with? Who do I belong to? One is inherently self-focused; the other is inherently other-focused. Nearly every decision[Read More…]
Lunch with Land and Carbon, May 1 in Meeker
MEEKER | Landowners are invited to a free lunch and presentation on restoring degraded and fire-impacted land, hosted by Land and Carbon on Friday, May 1, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Mountain Valley Bank meeting room (side entrance). Bob Lawrence, COO, and Jim Spaanstra, chief strategy and revenue[Read More…]
Back-to-back meetings highlight worsening drought in White River Basin
RBC | Two meetings last week — one hosted by the White River Alliance on Wednesday at the Meeker Public Library and another by the Colorado River District on Thursday — delivered a consistent message: drought conditions in the White River Basin are worsening, and water supplies are likely to[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – April 23rd, 2026
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count; it’s the life in your years.”~ Unknown (often incorrectly attributed to Abraham Lincoln) Sometimes being an only child is great. This is not one of those times. I’m writing this from my mom’s hospital room in Rifle.[Read More…]
Fire risks, student voices and local growth lead board agenda
Student forum, emergency fuels reduction plan and local business report among key discussions MEEKER | A student-led discussion on wildfire policy and an update on a nearby underground coal mine fire drew attention during the Meeker Board of Trustees’ latest meeting, where officials also approved steps toward wildfire mitigation near[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – April 16th, 2026
“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you insane your whole life.” ~ Anne Lamott I’ve long told myself that the week we have a “perfect” paper will be the week I quit, and just about every week I think I’ve nailed[Read More…]
Letter to the Editor: Attention all voters!
Editor’s Note: This letter didn’t make it into this week’s edition. Because it references next Tuesday’s April 14 commissioners’ meeting, we’re posting it online now. Dear Editor: The sky is falling! The sky is falling! OK, it’s not falling. But if the right hallucinogenic drug is taken, you might believe[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – April 9th, 2026
“It takes a village to convince one person to prepare their property for fire season — and sometimes that one person is all it takes to put the whole village at risk.” ~ The Hotshot Wake Up Back when the evening news was the news, I remember watching stories about[Read More…]
