As I write this on Wednesday, just before deadline, I’m planning to head to the high school this afternoon to hand out Fairfield Scholarship certificates from the Freeman E. Fairfield Meeker Charitable Trust to graduating seniors. It’s not a common thing for a town of this size to have a[Read More…]
Columns
Loose Ends: Hospitality
MEEKER | Ever find yourself stranded on the highway late at night and more than one person stops to lend a hand? Stuck without a ride to go to an appointment in the neighboring community? Suddenly someone remembers that they just happened to be going your way. These are what[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Bridging the divide
There’s a lot of discussion underway about the rural/urban divide. It’s a real problem — politically, socially, economically, and culturally — but rare are the discussions about possible solutions. Here are a few ideas: 1) One of the best ways to understand a different culture or lifestyle is through immersion.[Read More…]
Loose Ends: Civility
MEEKER | Unfortunately, it appears that we are long past the age of civility. Public and private discourse alike show numerous signs foretelling the extinction of manners. Using some restraint after a heated argument, as well as resisting the urge toward slinging sarcasm are not communication skills we see very[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Progress, not perfection
Anyone else fall into some pandemic-inspired bad habits you’re now trying to change? Whether it’s snacking all day while working from home or skipping exercise because you can’t get to the gym or digging yourself into debt with online shopping or spending entirely too many hours scrolling social media, you[Read More…]
Loose Ends: Water Rights
MEEKER | “You don’t understand. My grandfather lost his life over who owns the water from the river.” Listening to a friend’s story about her grandfather’s struggles to get enough water to his crops and cattle to survive struck a chord with me. While we no longer hear of someone[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Inspiration
Inspiration comes in many different forms. It’s inspiring to see people conquer obstacles, rise above adversity, and find success. Expressions of justice, honesty, courage, humility, generosity, integrity, and faith can, and should, inspire us to take the necessary steps for positive change. Most of us hate change so much we[Read More…]
Loose Ends: Happy Spring
MEEKER | Listening to a recent weather report that said that we have reached ninety percent of our needed snowpack, I realized how much we all take our piles and piles of snow for granted. There is no need to tell any of us that early spring brings our heaviest[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: April Fools
A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool. ~ William Shakespeare We’ve been awaiting the opportunity to publish a satire edition on April Fool’s Day for quite some time, and had all sorts of ideas rolling around. As with most fun[Read More…]
Loose Ends: Safety and security
MEEKER | While living in Meeker away from the crowds appeals to most long- term residents for a wide variety of reasons, one of the most frequently cited is safety. The events of this past year have threatened that sense of security. While on the surface, the rancorous disagreements between[Read More…]
Loose Ends: Safety and security
MEEKER | While living in Meeker away from the crowds appeals to most long- term residents for a wide variety of reasons, one of the most frequently cited is safety. The events of this past year have threatened that sense of security. While on the surface, the rancorous disagreements between[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: Three Branches
Our founding fathers established three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. In a simplistic explanation, the legislative branch — the representatives elected by the people — determine laws that need to be made for the best and highest good of their constituents. The executive branch then has the power[Read More…]


