Click the link below to read the latest newsletter from the Rio Blanco County Historical Society, and don’t forget to mark your calendar for the annual meeting on Jan. 18, 2026, at 1 p.m. Local author Ron Hilkey will be available to talk about his book, “Two Gone Guys,” and[Read More…]
Author: Niki Turner
EDITOR’S COLUMN – The gift of crisis
“You have been offered ‘the gift of crisis’. As Kathleen Norris reminds us, the Greek root of the word crisis is ‘to sift’, as in, to shake out the excesses and leave only what’s important. That’s what crises do. They shake things up until we are forced to hold on[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Finding what’s real in a world of performance
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” ~ William Shakespeare I had a minor epiphany a few weeks ago. A friend invited me to a “solstice sound bath” at the pool, so I dug out what I hoped passed for appropriate attire and went[Read More…]
Obituary: Afton Lenae Robertson
March 16, 2007 ~ Dec. 20, 2025 Afton Lenae Robertson, 18, of Rangely, Colorado, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 20, 2025, in North Platte, Nebraska, as the result of a tragic truck accident. Afton was born on March 16, 2007, and from the very beginning carried a spirit that was[Read More…]
‘Disappointed’: Officials respond to denial of FEMA fire recovery funding
This landscape should be covered with snow in December, but that’s not blowing snow, it’s dry ash from the Lee Fire burn scar southwest of Meeker. When the ash settles, it drifts like sand, further complicating recovery efforts and warning of additional flooding and debris flows in the future. KATHLEEN KELLEY[Read More…]
RBC Commissioners appoint Rose Pugliese as new county attorney
RBC | Rio Blanco County Commissioners agreed to appoint Rose Pugliese as county attorney, replacing Don Steerman, who opted not to renew his bid for the position. Pugliese is a former Mesa County Commissioner (2013-2021) and most recently served as the Colorado House Minority Leader from House District 14. She[Read More…]
Editor’s Column – What are you leaving behind in 2025?
“May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.” ~ Irish Blessing By the time you’re reading this we’ll be in that weird liminal space between Christmas and New Year’s where you can’t remember what day it is or the last[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – We could all do with a visit from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future
“‘There are some upon this earth of yours,’ returned the Spirit, ‘who claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us, and all our kith and kin, as if they had[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – How’s your news diet?
“In fact, now I come to think of it, do we decide questions, at all? We decide answers, no doubt: but surely the questions decide us? It is the dog, you know, that wags the tail—not the tail that wags the dog.” ~ Lewis Carroll A few weeks back I[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Politics and religion are a toxic combination
“I truly believe that dragging Jesus Christ into partisan politics is a grave mistake. It will do Jesus no good at all to be seen in the company of politicians — apt to ruin his reputation, if you ask me.” ~ Molly Ivins, Columnist It’s concerning that there’s a movement afoot[Read More…]
Town prepares to take over parks maintenance after lease negotiations fail
MEEKER | Lease negotiations between the Town of Meeker and the Eastern Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District (ERBM) regarding parks maintenance have ended with ERBM’s board voting to terminate the lease agreement, returning responsibility for maintenance of the Town’s multiple park properties to Town staff. ERBM has managed[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – ‘Tis the season… of obligations, expectations and resentments
“Trade your expectations for appreciation and the world changes for you.” – Tony Robbins By the time you’re reading this, you’ll either be prepping for Thanksgiving or cleaning up and noshing on leftovers. Hopefully either way, you’ll be filled with joy and peace and have a wonderful holiday. But some[Read More…]
