MEEKER I Graduation speakers from all walks of life usually touch on this theme and often contain some version of this sentence. Dr. Seuss’s beloved book, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” is one favorite gift book given to all ages of students for a matriculation ceremony. Some other gift books[Read More…]
Columns
Kaye’s Corner: On the road again
MEEKER I We are among the folks anxious to travel the highways and byways this summer. After over a year of being isolated, 2021 brings us new opportunities to get outdoors and appreciate new or old places. Thankfully, our little travel trailer keeps us warm and dry, saves money from[Read More…]
Loose Ends: ‘I love this place’
MEEKER | What is it about a location that makes one blurt out, “I love this place”? It pops up in conversation time and again, particularly if the individual saying it is revisiting an old favorite spot after a long absence. Holidays and three-day weekends lend themselves to traveling to[Read More…]
Loose Ends: Teacher appreciation
MEEKER | We are quickly approaching the end of another school year. Recently the celebration of teacher appreciation week took place in schools across the country. A national news story about one teacher in Texas reminded me of so many of my fellow teachers over the years. It featured a[Read More…]
Loose ends: A lot of our friends
RBC | Rio Blanco County’s aural gem, The Tank Center for the Sonic Arts, is once again open for the summer. It sat for many years unnoticed, except for local teenagers. It was their secret spot and really wasn’t a secret to local law enforcement and parents. The steel water[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: First Impressions
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. ~ Will Rogers Most of us remember hearing that quote or something similar from a parent or a teacher or a coach, usually when we were on the way to a date or a job interview. If you took[Read More…]
Loose Ends: The Great Divide
MEEKER I Recognizing and acknowledging “The Great Divide” between our Front Range and Western Slope residents is only the first step toward moving forward to opening our communities in the next few weeks. The social conventions that have continued to create obstacles between new and long term residents have been[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Freeman E. Fairfield
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…]
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…]