RBC | Rangely residents participated in the annual Light Up Rangely contest as part of Christmasfest, brightening up the chilly winter streets. Categories were Griswold, Classical and Blow Up Extreme. Winners will receive Rangely Chamber Bucks from the HT ($100 total will be distributed at the discretion of the Rangely[Read More…]
Features
Speaking about depression
DENVER | Some words fail us, and for Robert Werthwein, “depression” is one of them. The 41-year-old director of Colorado’s Behavioral Health Office prefers to say “everything turned to complete s—” when his identical twin, Ryan, died of a brain tumor a week before their 15th birthdays, and that his[Read More…]
Letters to Santa..
Merry Christmas, Rio Blanco County!Please enjoy these letters to Santa from RBC elementary school students, brimming with the magic of the season. Dear Santa,I am thankful for all you do to make children happy. For christmas I wanta nerf gun.Your friend,Tyrel Dear Santa,I am thankful for all you do to[Read More…]
Oil and gas wastewater spills in the Piceance Basin topped 700K gallons last year
RBC | About twice a week, oil and gas operators in Colorado’s Piceance Basin file “Form 19” also called a Spill/Release Report with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC). Nine times out of 10, the spilled substance is a form of hazardous waste byproduct called produced water. For[Read More…]
For one family, mental health difficulties aren’t just about 2020
LAKEWOOD | They love each other. That should go without saying. They have, in fact, gone through hell and back for one another — and that was before 2020 rolled out its string of gut-twisting, sleep-depriving upheavals. Still, Janay Barfoot will be the first to say that hers is a[Read More…]
‘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…]
Colorado’s shadow epidemic: heightened anxiety, depression are testing families, communities and Colorado’s already-frayed mental health safety nets
RBC | On Denver’s west side, an elderly man had been managing his solitude just fine until the pandemic hit, taking with it what social life he had and leaving in its place a loneliness he had not felt for years. Not far from his house, a young woman fights[Read More…]
SANTA’S SOUPED-UP SLEIGH …
Santa’s ride was extra souped-up this year thanks to efforts by ERBM Recreation and Park District, Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s office, Meeker Police Department and Rio Blanco Fire Protection District. A Santa parade, complete with a siren-sounding entourage, made its way around Meeker Saturday morning. It was a social distancing-friendly[Read More…]
2nd COVID-related death in RBC
RBC | In a press release issued late Friday, the county announced a second death of a Rio Blanco County resident due to COVID-19 complications. No additional details will be released at this time.
State report lists COVID outbreaks in RBC
RBC | A data set released by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment last Wednesday listed a total of four outbreaks in Rio Blanco County, three of which were considered “active” at the time. There have also been voluntary quarantines by businesses and organizations due to positive cases[Read More…]
New owners bring fresh energy to MGM
MEEKER | With 2020 being, well, 2020, it is an especially daunting time to be a small business owner. Despite this year’s run of collective global bad luck, there are still many happy opportunities to be found. Jason and Brenda Purkey found just such an opportunity and signed the papers[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…]
