Niki Turner | The Herald Times

No deal on bridge use for pond project

MEEKER | Diana Jones and Janelle Urista, representing Skijor, came to Meeker’s town board of trustees Tuesday to express gratitude for the “seed money” the town gave to the first skijor event. “We haven’t had the opportunity to come in and give our appreciation for your support,” Jones said. The[Read More…]

August 6, 2020 by Niki Turner Comments are Disabled

Back to school, with precautions

RBC | The goal is to get kids back in the classroom for in-person learning and to take all necessary precautions to keep them there, according to superintendents for both Rio Blanco County school districts. The official first day of school for the 2020-2021 school year is set for Aug.[Read More…]

August 6, 2020 by Niki Turner Comments are Disabled

COVID-19 case count rises to 20; 14 active

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated from the Aug. 6 print and online edition to reflect 8 new cases added after press time. Of the 20, 15 are laboratory-confirmed positive, five are probable (symptomatic with known exposure); 14 are active, and six are recovered. RBC | The county’s Board[Read More…]

August 6, 2020 by Niki Turner Comments are Disabled

Letters to the Editor: July 28, 2020

Don’t let RBC become a statistic Dear Editor: So the county commissioners and a few of their citizen cohorts decided for the whole county that we will ignore (and “opt-out” of) the governor’s mandatory mask order. The governor of this state has made sensible, wise choices in combating the spread[Read More…]

July 31, 2020 by Niki Turner Comments are Disabled

Editor’s Column: July 28, 2020

I don’t know that I’ve ever been so grateful for teachers. I’m friends with a number of my high school teachers on Facebook and we interact fairly often. I respect what they have to say. They’re still teaching me. I think, if you’re a teacher, you can’t help it. You[Read More…]

July 31, 2020 by Niki Turner Comments are Disabled

County

County Beat: July 30, 2020

RBC | County finance director Janae Stanworth delivered some gloomy news to department heads Tuesday about the 2021 budget. Preliminary numbers indicate an 11.5% decrease in revenue due to reduced assessed valuations, primarily tied to oil and gas. “That’s a little more than $900,000 we’re pretty sure we’re not going[Read More…]

July 30, 2020 by Niki Turner 1 comment

Strange seeds appearing in shipped packages

UPDATED AUG. 4: According to a press release from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection are working together to in the investigation of the mailed packets of Chinese seeds and are now asking residents[Read More…]

July 30, 2020 by Niki Turner Comments are Disabled

Editor’s Column: Policy

The HT has had a social media presence for more than a decade. We were “early adopters” in the social media realm, and I’m mostly to blame. But in all the years we’ve been posting local news to social media, we’ve never deleted a post. Until now. When the governor[Read More…]

July 24, 2020 by Niki Turner Comments are Disabled

Meeker

Meeker sales tax up

MEEKER | It’s hard to find a bright spot in a pandemic, but one positive might be increased sales tax revenue for local entities. Meeker Town Manager Lisa Cook told the board of trustees they’ve seen a boost in sales tax revenue. With people avoiding out of county shopping trips[Read More…]

July 24, 2020 by Niki Turner Comments are Disabled

Fish early at high elevations

RBC | Colorado Parks and Wildlife is encouraging trout anglers statewide to consider fishing early in the day and in higher altitude lakes and streams as hot, dry conditions and reduced water levels may increase stress to trout populations. Heat, drought, and low water levels are contributing to elevated water[Read More…]

July 24, 2020 by Niki Turner Comments are Disabled

County

County commissioners buck mask mandate

RBC | In a packed room in Rangely, the Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners heard opinions from county residents and some local and county officials on the statewide face mask mandate issued last week by Governor Polis. All residents in attendance — who were reportedly invited to attend by[Read More…]

July 24, 2020 by Niki Turner 2 comments

Meeker

ERBM may tap reserves for anticipated budget shortfall

At the regular board meeting for the Eastern Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District Tuesday, the board of directors approved a $1,500 donation to the Meeker Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department for next year’s Fourth of July fireworks display. Meeker’s fireworks display is widely praised as one of the[Read More…]

July 20, 2020 by Niki Turner Comments are Disabled