MEEKER | The real story of Thanksgiving is rooted in family. No matter what actually transpired between the Native American and the Europeans, who arrived on the shores of this New World, recognition of the importance of family and friends traditionally gathering is clear. No matter one’s material wealth, getting[Read More…]
Opinion
Editor’s Column: Leaders
Between the pandemic and politics, I’ve thought more about leadership — what it is, what it looks like, what it means — than possibly ever before. The stressors presented to us this year have revealed strength and creativity in some who have found themselves thrust into unexpected leadership roles, and[Read More…]
Letters to the Editor: Nov. 17 2020
Is this the season to love your neighbor as yourself? Do you remember sneezing and coughing as a child? Your grandmother and mother asked you to cover your mouth so you would not pass on the bugs to somebody else. Your grandmother knew something. Pay attention now.China is forcing their[Read More…]
From an ER physician: COVID is no hoax and no joke; an experience to be missed
RBC | Former Pioneers Medical Center emergency room physician Kurt Papenfus, MD, was recently released to his home in Cheyenne Wells to continue recuperating after a week’s stay in a Denver hospital while battling COVID-19. He was interviewed by friend and part-time Meeker resident James Magid by telephone last week,[Read More…]
I STILL get to … (fill in the blank)
MEEKER | Ever since a hometown boy posted a photo of both covers of my picture books on his Facebook page with the words “Look what I get to read tonight,” for his toddler son’s nightly read aloud bedtime story, I think of all things I get to do. I[Read More…]
Letter to the Editor: November 12, 2020
Thanks for supporting Haunted House fundraiser Dear Editor: Meeker’s VFW Auxiliary would like to thank everyone who came and supported the Haunted House fundraiser! The money raised will go towards our two high school senior scholarships that we award yearly. A big thanks to everyone that helped make the house[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Denial has an ugly side
Denial isn’t a river in Egypt. (The Nile is a river in Egypt for those of you, like me, who don’t like puns.) I have no idea what living conditions are currently like in Egypt along the Nile, but I do know what living in denial is like. At first,[Read More…]
CNCC Corner: Thankfulness
It is hard to believe that we are so close to the holiday season. Over the last few days, I have been thinking about all the things that have happened during the last seven to eight months, and how lucky we all are to live where we do. We have[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: The election that made everyone unhappy
Regardless of how you filled out your ballot this year, there’s likely to be some election outcome that makes you unhappy, whether it’s who gets to go to (or stay in) D.C. or Denver, or one of the umpteen ballot measures. While Rio Blanco County voted as expected on most[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Hooray for public participation
We, like many of you, have spent multiple hours over the last few weeks listening to the county’s budget work sessions for each department. We’ve reported on some of those department work sessions already and are following up on others with additional background information. Some of that reporting has encouraged[Read More…]
Guest Column: Lean on Me
The song “Lean on Me” composed by Bill Withers in 1972 still resonates with me. The words say, “You can call on me and I will be there” and similar comforting offers of support, friendship, and acceptance. Today, with Covid continuing, economic distress, lack of in person connections, cancellation of[Read More…]
Loose Ends: Oct. 22, 2020
Noise MEEKER | Business as usual is a phrase that comes to mind when talking about the health of the local economy. I was surprised when Mesa County’s executive director Robin Brown was quoted in an article in mid-September in the Grand Junction Sentinel saying that “We are so used[Read More…]

