Opinion

‘Yer aff yer heid’

You will hear many strange words across Scotland today. You will find English and Gaelic on many signs. What most Scots speak every day is Scottish English. Its many dialects can be very poetic and humorous in describing life, people and insults. I will try to give you a taste[Read More…]

Range Call reflections

The physical work it takes to clean-up after Meeker’s annual Range Call never changes. The preparations for next year’s Fourth of July festivities begin soon after our Fourth of July extravaganza. Judging from the large number of people in attendance, as well as the positive comments from them as well,[Read More…]

History may not repeat itself. But it rhymes.

Attributed to Mark Twain Friends dropped off a 1971 edition of LIFE magazine last week. Perusing its pages has been alternately comforting and distressing. Most of the headlines and articles could have been reprinted today: “The Four-Day Work Week” and “Our Public Lands Up for Grabs,” for example. And then[Read More…]

Guest Column: Wheels

Americans have an infatuation with WHEELS, even beyond pulling out the TV tray and watching Vanna White and Wheel of Fortune. Motorized, rubber, wood, gears, water, rocket propelled, side by side, even lawn mowers, anything with wheels. We have it in our DNA, the need to make wheels turn ever[Read More…]

Editor’s Column: The ditch

Once upon a time, many moons ago, I was at one of those social activities in the woods with a bonfire and a keg or three. On this particular occasion, the party was attended by a visitor from Oklahoma in one of those late 1970s early 1980s American-made cars big[Read More…]

We need every tool to fight fires

We know now that the largest recorded fire in New Mexico history was started by an escaped “prescribed burn,” or rather by two. The Hermit’s Peak fire bolted away on April 6 when unexpectedly gusty winds blew sparks beyond control lines. Then the Calf Canyon fire raced off on April[Read More…]

Loose Ends: Keeping Traditions

Rio Blanco Range Call Days are fast approaching. It is a tradition for most everyone in our community to get involved in some way. It doesn’t matter if you are a long-term resident or recently moved here, everyone’s help is needed. Year after year, an amazing volunteer workforce turns out[Read More…]

Guest Column: Bluestocking

THIS IS THE TIME EACH YEAR TO HAND OUT GRADUATION CARDS AND SAGE ADVICE THAT WILL IGNORED IN GENERAL. I have wondered occasionally what my life would have been like if I had been born earlier. What would have my job been? In my high school, seniors were required to[Read More…]