A fourth laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 has been announced in Rio Blanco County. According to Public Health, the individual has been appropriately isolated and instructed on COVID-19 self-care home recovery procedures. Contact tracing is underway to notify close contacts of the case that they need to quarantine and monitor[Read More…]
County
Children, veterans and family pets can suffer because of fireworks
Everyone loves fireworks. In theory that’s probably true, but in reality, fireworks are troublesome for many of our friends and neighbors. Jess Bayles’ 7-year-old son is one of several young children in Meeker with noise-sensitivity related to autism. “If we know they’re coming, we can warn him, someone can hold[Read More…]
Learn how state, fed water policy impacts Western Slope water use
Join the Colorado River District for a lunch hour Zoom webinar discussing Western water policy and its impacts on residents of Western Colorado. Experts will present the latest developments in water policy at both the state and federal level. Tune in to the webinar from noon to 1:15 p.m. Tuesday,[Read More…]
Multiple fires reported west of Meeker
Fire crews are responding to multiple reports of fires west of Meeker to the north near the landfill and to the south in the Piceance Basin. High winds with gusts of up to 50mph are expected throughout the afternoon and evening hours. We will update as additional information becomes available.
RBC Department of Human Services prepares for official shift to Differential Response practice
An unfortunate side effect of living on Earth: things happen that you cannot control, and life circumstances, sooner or later, will leave you in a situation you never thought you’d face. If not addressed, the problems caused disproportionately hurt the most vulnerable – children. In most cases, kids can’t ask[Read More…]
Fairfield basement flooded; proper handling of asbestos; and a public health update
A water line break at the Fairfield Center in Meeker flooded the basement with about 6 feet — more than 400,000 gallons — of water last Tuesday. The community center houses the county’s public health and human services departments and Chuckwagon, the senior meal service. The basement, which is not[Read More…]
Contact tracing and you
Last week’s announcement of the second laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 in Rio Blanco County sparked some questions for residents. Public Health Director Alice Harvey answered those questions by phone on Monday. Other counties give a lot more details when they have a positive case, why don’t we? “The state leaves[Read More…]
News Briefs: June 25, 2020
Enter the July 4th Parade! MEEKER | The theme of the 2020 parade is “FREEDOM”. The annual parade is hosted by the Meeker Chamber of Commerce and is held downtown Meeker on Main Street starting at 10 a.m. Anyone can enter the parade — whether you are an individual, an[Read More…]
Potential wolf sightings increase
With warmer weather and decreasing restrictions, more people are recreating in the outdoors, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeing an increase in the number of sightings of potential wolves in the state. “Public reporting vastly increases our ability to know what’s happening across the state,” says Dan Prenzlow, Director[Read More…]
3rd positive COVID-19 case in RBC
Rio Blanco County Public Health announced a third positive COVID-19 case in the county Thursday. Director Alice Harvey said this case is not related to last week’s positive case and is under investigation. “Rio Blanco County reports our third laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19. We affirm the individual has been[Read More…]
Conservation Corner
As we end our trilogy on the who’s, why’s, and how’s of the “Land and Natural Resources Plan and Policy” (Plan) here in the Conservation Corner, you may be wondering, how is it used? Since the Plan’s inception in 2016, it has been referenced numerous times on issues addressing “wild”[Read More…]
County Beat: June 16, 2020
How to divvy up funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) between the county and both towns was the topic of a commissioners’ work session Tuesday as the three entities reviewed an intergovernmental agreement. The funding is designated for expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic. Meeker[Read More…]




