In 2023, crickets invaded nine different Western states, including northwest Colorado. Anabrus simplex, or Mormon crickets, don’t bite or sting, but they do cause crop damage as they eat their way across the landscape in droves. They’ve also been blamed for traffic accidents when they migrate across county roads and[Read More…]
Author: Niki Turner
BOCC makes board appointments; interim administrator starts in Nov.
RBC | Rio Blanco County Commissioners met Tuesday, Oct. 24 in Rangely for work sessions and a regular meeting. The board conducted interviews with Steven Ray Rust and Rebecca Elder for the Fair Board, Michael Selle for the Historic Preservation Board, Ginny Love and Kay Bivens for the Meeker Colorado[Read More…]
Editor’s Column – October 25th, 2023
The misery quotient I don’t like being miserable, but I know some people who seem to revel in it, and that always makes me wonder why. I think we all have a “misery quotient” – the amount of distress or discomfort one is able to endure before taking the necessary[Read More…]
Superintendent shares statement on unloaded firearm at high school
A letter sent to Meeker High School parents Monday notified them that a Meeker High School student brought an unloaded firearm to school. According to the letter, the firearm was in the student’s backpack. Other students shared this information with school staff. Upon receiving this information, the backpack was in[Read More…]
County public health may lose state grant funding
The Rio Blanco County Board of Health — the three commissioners, the public health director and the public health nurse — convened Tuesday in Rangely. Public Health Director Makayla Sheridan said the department is ready to submit its Community Health Assessment and Public Health Improvement Plan to the state. The[Read More…]
Community raises $20,000 in four days to help save the Herald
Last week, after the Oct. 12 edition had come out, the Herald was thrown into crisis-mode. Balancing the checkbook led to a discovery of an acute shortfall in cash flows and receivables. We had enough funds to publish two more issues, and that was it. Advertising sales, which generate 80-85%[Read More…]
Meeker opposes Prop HH, discusses parking, lighting
MEEKER | Meeker’s Board of Trustees approved a resolution opposing Proposition HH on Tuesday. The resolution states, in part, “…the Town of Meeker relies on property tax revenue to provide street maintenance, snow plowing, infrastructure improvements, police protection, and code enforcement. Fire, ambulance, health, and other critical services in Meeker[Read More…]
Editor’s Column – October 19th, 2023
“If a town loses its paper, it’s less of a town.” ~ Al Cross, Director emeritus of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky Thanks to the generosity and love and support of our local Meeker community, that quote is not going to be[Read More…]
MHS Give Back Day a success
Meeker | On Friday, Oct. 13 Meeker High School put on their second annual Give Back Day. More than 80 students showed up to aid elderly and disabled members of the community. Student Council organized the event. Volunteers arrived at Meeker High School at 8:30 a.m. to receive their team[Read More…]
Voters to decide on two propositions in ’23
RBC | Ballots are expected to be mailed to Colorado residents next week. The 2023 ballot asks voters to decide on two Propositions — HH and II. PROPOSITION HH Proposition HH is complicated. Backed by Democratic lawmakers at the State Capitol, the bill survived a challenge from Republicans at the[Read More…]
Jury convicts Meeker man on felony sexual assault charges
MEEKER | Meeker resident Joey Dean Muir, 35, was convicted by a 12-person jury in Rio Blanco County District Court on Oct. 5, 2023. Muir had pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of sexual assault, including assault with no consent and assault with a 10-year age difference. Muir was[Read More…]
County Beat: Oct. 11th, 2023
RBC | The board of county commissioners met Tuesday, Oct. 10 to discuss the following public business. FAIR BOARD With five of nine seats open on the county Fair Board, Rio Blanco County Commissioners conducted interviews with Nate Smith, James [Jak] Kilduff, Jason Spieth, Justin Carroll and Twila Morris on[Read More…]
