RBC | Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold today certified the 2020 General Election, thereby making the results of the election official and final. The certification was conducted after each county’s bipartisan canvass boards submitted their official abstract of votes to the Secretary of State’s Office, as well as the[Read More…]
Author: Niki Turner
‘Vaccine is best hope’
RBC I Before any vaccines for COVID-19 have been distributed, local residents asked questions about possible negative side effects and safety of the new vaccine during the quarterly Board of Health meeting Tuesday. Dr. Albert Krueger, Medical Director for Rio Blanco County Board of Health, responded to the questions. “There[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Stigma, snowflakes, and sensationalizing
Last week when I wrote about finding gratitude, I wasn’t expecting to be quite so tested by that notion. I’ll begin with this: I am profoundly grateful for and proud of our local law enforcement and EMS crew and dispatch. We had an upsetting Thanksgiving eve that ended with my[Read More…]
Rangely School District transitions to remote learning effective Dec. 9
Rangely School District Superintendent Matt Scoggins announced early Tuesday the entire district would be transitioning to remote learning until January. “Unfortunately, and with a sense of sadness, the school district will be transitioning to a distance learning platform effective tomorrow, Dec. 9, 2020. As many of you are aware, there has[Read More…]
‘She was custom made for us’
Rangely family reflects on the hope and heartbreak of raising a child with a rare genetic disorder RANGELY | “I have great kids. I couldn’t ask for better,” said Rangely’s Elizabeth Hagin by phone. As little ones squealed in the background and Hagin reminded one of them not to feed[Read More…]
Editors Column: Minor and major keys
I’ve never been very good at completing those “30 days of gratitude” lists people do in November, but if there’s ever been a year when we need to purposefully find the good around us and be grateful for it, this is the time. Many of the things we look forward[Read More…]
State moves RBC to Yellow instead of Red
RBC | As of press time Tuesday (early deadline), all indications were that the Colorado Department of Public Health would be moving to Level Red: Severe Risk, according to communications between RBC Public Health and the state last Friday. Late Tuesday RBC Public Health received word from CDPHE: “CDPHE is[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Leaders
Between the pandemic and politics, I’ve thought more about leadership — what it is, what it looks like, what it means — than possibly ever before. The stressors presented to us this year have revealed strength and creativity in some who have found themselves thrust into unexpected leadership roles, and[Read More…]
Confirming elections in Colorado begins with the roll of a dice
RBC | On Monday morning, employees of the Secretary of State’s Office convened to roll a 10-sided dice 20 times, creating a sequence of numbers, or a “seed,” to determine which ballots the counties must check to confirm the accuracy of the 2020 election. It’s the first step in what’s[Read More…]
First COVID-19 death in RBC
RBC | The first death due to “complications from COVID-19” has been reported in Rio Blanco County, according to a press release issued Friday, Nov. 20. Due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) laws, no other details will be made public at this time. The county asks that[Read More…]
Town discusses reserves, speed limits
MEEKER | The 2021 Town of Meeker budget will dip into reserves to balance the budget if approved in December. Town staff presented the budget to the board of trustees Tuesday, Nov. 17. Changes can still be made between now and Dec. 14. “The focus will be on maintenance more[Read More…]
From an ER physician: COVID is no hoax and no joke; an experience to be missed
RBC | Former Pioneers Medical Center emergency room physician Kurt Papenfus, MD, was recently released to his home in Cheyenne Wells to continue recuperating after a week’s stay in a Denver hospital while battling COVID-19. He was interviewed by friend and part-time Meeker resident James Magid by telephone last week,[Read More…]