MEEKER | Meeker’s board of trustees heard a request from the Fair Board for a $1,000 donation to help fund prize money for a new event this year: a barbecue competition in conjunction with the Kansas City Barbecue Society’s “Backyard Cookoff” contest series. Fair Board president Quentin Smith said the[Read More…]
Author: Niki Turner
Editor’s Column: Speak up–someone may listen
In 1970, after a forced retirement at the age of 65, Maggie Kuhn embarked on a new adventure — advocating for the rights of the elderly as the founder of the Gray Panthers. By the time of her death at 89, the organization had been instrumental in implementing nursing home[Read More…]
County Beat: June 10, 2021
RBC I Rio Blanco County commissioners met June 8 to discuss the following public business. DHS UPDATE With caseloads for DHS staff at around 400 cases each, the RBC Department of Human Services requested permission to use American Rescue Plan funds to hire a full-time eligibility technician. All caseloads —[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Collective energy
Imagine a house on fire. Now imagine the residents of the house standing in the living room, surrounded by flames, having a heated argument about whose fault it is that the house is burning. Seems strange, right? And yet we do it every day. We spend an inordinate amount of[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Uncommon courtesy
Having grown up in the days when telephones were attached to the wall and there was only one per household, I remember my parents objecting when I tried to call friends during the “dinner hour” or anytime after 9 p.m. Business calls were limited to regular business hours. Folks removed[Read More…]
Etheridge hired as town administrator
MEEKER | During public participation at the Meeker Board of Trustees meeting June 1, Meeker Skijor board members Alex Plumb and Sabine Murray thanked the Town for its support of the event. The Town of Meeker contributed financially toward the event as well as assisting with event preparation. “Our event[Read More…]
PMC hospital board votes to go from 7 to 5 members
MEEKER | Pioneers Medical Center’s Board of Directors approved a new self-pay policy Tuesday during the regular board meeting. The policy provides a “prompt pay discount” of 20% for self-pay or uninsured patients who pay at the time of service or within 30 days. Board President Kim Brown asked about[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: You’re entitled to your opinion; we’re not obliged to publish it
The opinion section, particularly letters to the editor, presents a bit of a conundrum. I frequently receive emails from folks who have an inordinate amount of time on their hands to write letters to newspaper editors and blast them nationwide. These range from religious calls for national repentance to promoting[Read More…]
Dino municipal judge one of youngest in U.S.
DINOSAUR | Matthew Bradley is either one of the youngest — or the youngest — judge to be appointed to the bench in the United States. Just a few days prior to his 25th birthday, Bradley was sworn in as the new municipal judge for the Town of Dinosaur. Hailing[Read More…]
COUNTY BEAT: May 18, 2021
RBC | During a work session with the Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, the Town of Rangely requested a waiver of landfill dump fees for its annual clean-up event this weekend. Western Slope Oil and Gas Association is doing a community-based cleanup day on Friday, as well. “Most[Read More…]
Summer events on tap in Meeker
MEEKER | Gearing up for summer events, the Town of Meeker’s Board of Trustees approved special event liquor permits for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet (June 12) and four Meekerpalooza events (June 11 and 25, July 9 and 23). The board also approved a fermented malt beverage license for[Read More…]
BACKCOUNTRY OUTPOST …
Joshua Harrison, owner of Backcountry Outpost in Meeker (formerly Wyatt’s Sporting Goods) is happy to build on the solid business foundation established 27 years ago by Stan Wyatt. Harrison, originally from Texas but relocating from Arvada with his wife and daughter, bought the business in April 2021. Suggestions are welcome.[Read More…]


