Challenges to rural healthcare Dear Editor: A person’s ZIP code should not dictate their life expectancy or the quality of healthcare they can receive. Like many people, I chose to live and raise my children in rural Western Colorado because of the quality of life it could provide, free from big[Read More…]
Opinion
Death Notice – J.C. ‘Sonny’ Eatherton
July 6, 2024 J.C. “Sonny” Eatherton, 81, passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital on July 6, 2024. Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting Mr. Eatherton’s family.
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Be like Gordon
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” ― Mark Twain As a child one of my favorite books was called “Gordon the Goat,” by Munro Leaf. The story of Gordon, a Texas goat who follows the lead goat because that’s[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: Take a hike!
“Take a hike!” The generic green sign near one of my favorite walking paths exclaimed. It stuck in my mind all day. I kept noticing the amount of garbage which multiplied each time I visited. Hardly anyone was abiding by the very first rule of going out into nature: Bring[Read More…]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – July 11th, 2024
Thanks to helpers, staff andvolunteers of the Rio Blanco County Historical Society Dear Editor: The Rio Blanco County Historical Society would like to send out a huge thank you to all of the folks who showed up, participated, and/or volunteered to help with the many events the society was involved[Read More…]
GUEST COLUMN: Meeker School District needs bus drivers
As shared with our community in mid-May, the Meeker School District is facing a critical shortage of bus drivers. This shortage is most significant with our route drivers. In the past five years we have reduced routes from six to four and absorbed the two eliminated routes with the[Read More…]
GUEST COLUMN: Rep. Lukens update
As we celebrate America’s birthday, I am so grateful that our founders leaned on one another, trusted their fellow neighbors, and took a risk to create this great nation where we live today. As we remember their first step toward independence, I am humbled to have the opportunity to continue[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Division begins — and ends — with all of us
“A republic, if you can keep it.” ― 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin’s response to the question: “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 Even before the live viewing of Grumpy Old Men Pt. 2 — oh, sorry, the debate — and[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: Smoking Waters
The White River Valley is a true place name that fits the description. Describing the natural water source which tumbles down from the snow melt high in the Flat Tops the White River passes through town. The original inhabitants of this valley, the Utes, named this river after its appearance[Read More…]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – July 4th, 2024
Thanks to Westlands from MHS Dear Editor: Meeker High School Athletics would like to thank Patrick Krause and Westlands for donating $12,000 to our athletic programs. All extracurricular programs are increasingly expensive to fund. Yet, we believe that these programs offer students opportunities to learn and grow outside of the classroom. [Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – I know you are, but what am I?
“When you’re surrounded by people who share the same set of assumptions as you, you start to think that’s reality.” ― Emily Levine, American philosopher & humorist You’ve surely heard the old saying about what happens when we make assumptions, yet we do it all the time. We assume because[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: The Western Welcome
There was a time when being considered an old-timer was a sign of respect. The traditional call and response on the post office step mornings might lead to a joking, “Well, you don’t see my name on the door, do ya?” All one had to do for name verification was[Read More…]
