Too bad it didn’t work out that way, but it was still a great day for a drive from Meeker to Rangely to take in my first ever political party assembly.
It was my first time to take in either a political caucus or assembly, and despite the fact it was in the basement of the Weiss Activities Center on the Colorado Northwestern Community College campus in Rangely, where you couldn’t see if it was shining or snowing outside, it was an interesting event to take in.
There is so much interest in the Rio Blanco County commissioners’ race this year, I felt compelled to go and see the process first hand.
There had been some rumors that since the delegates had been chosen earlier and that there is such strong opposition aimed at incumbents Jeff Eskelson and Jon Hill that their opponents, Si Woodruff and Jeff Rector, respectively, would try to lock Eskelson and Hill off the ballot.
Fortunately, that didn’t happen. So, the Republicans, without any Democratic opponents, can choose which commissioners will be seated instead of just a field of 55 delegates.
Sorry, here folks, but I don’t like Colorado’s caucus/assembly ways of determining candidates.
When there is a way to lock out any candidate, not to mention an incumbent, from seeking election or re-election at the county assembly level, the process is long outdated and time is right for change.
It isn’t tough to understand the process as it was 100 years ago, when a 58-mile trip between Meeker and Rangely was tough by horse and wagon and communications weren’t instant—taking days, sometimes, to travel across the state.
Thankfully, most states are getting rid of the process and have gone to where if you get enough signatures to get on the ballot, you are on the ballot at least through the primary, which weeds out other contenders from the frontrunner.
The freezing out of a candidate didn’t occur in Rio Blanco County, but there was talk of it happening, two candidates were worried that it would happen and the sad thing is that it could have happened.
As it was, it was an orderly, highly polite event that went without a hitch, and that is due to Republicans themselves as well as to Logan Hill, who ran the well-organized gathering.
All nomination speeches and acceptance speeches were short, to the point and polite. It would be nice actually, if those Republicans (and Democrats) running for the White House would learn from the Rio Blanco County experience.
Good jobs folks. It was a most pleasant experience for my first time and it was a good time to see some friends from both sides of the county.
I was looking out my window and everything I looked at appeared scrambled. Then I looked again and realized that the window I looked at was filthy from the wind and long winter that took their toll on the windows on my house and car.
Then, while going through my computer looking for something relevant, I came across something interesting, which I occasionally do, that just plain sounds interesting. It isn’t going to change anyone’s life; it doesn’t have a single thing to do with Rangely, Meeker or Rio Blanco County, but is just interesting enough that I think you readers will find it informational.
It came from the Colorado Egg Producers Association and lets us all in on a bit of information not many of us know about. The informational tidbit talks about the many benefits of eggs but has nothing to do with eating them.
Thanks to the egg producers for their fun and informative suggestions.
Eggs are undoubtedly nutritious and an option for any of our meals. With so many different ways to cook them, eggs are one of the most versatile, high-quality and useful ingredients to be found in any kitchen.
But many folks don’t know how useful eggs can be outside the kitchen, and it is these unique ideas that the egg producers are trying to tell us about. There are many non-food ways in which the high-quality protein, amino acids and nutrients are extremely useful around the house
The consistency of eggs, and the fact they contain Vitamin A, calcium and sulfur, make them an ideal solution for many household needs and chores. Below are some great ways to use eggs around your household:
Hair treatments: The proteins and nutrients found in eggs are great for revitalizing your hair. To add some strength and shine to your hair, beat an egg with a little bit of olive oil and apply it to your hair from roots to ends. Leave the mixture in for about 20 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.
Facial masks: Eggs contain many anti-aging and moisturizing properties that can make your skin glow and feel fresh. For an anti-aging, smoothing treatment that reduces pores and puffiness, whisk egg whites with a little bit of water and apply the mixture to your face. Rinse off after a few minutes.
For a moisturizing treatment, follow the same steps using egg yolks.
Glue replacement: Because of their composition, egg whites become sticky as they dry. Egg whites are a great substitution for glue when used on paper or light cardboard. Egg whites can also be used for papier-mâché projects, when mixed with flour, water, sugar and alum.
Gardening: There are several ways eggs can help your plants grow healthy and strong. Eggshells are great sources of calcium, a crucial nutrient for plants. Give your plants a calcium boost by watering them with the cooled water leftover from cooking your hard-boiled egg.
You can also give your plants calcium by composting your eggshells in the soil.
Cleaning leather: Egg whites are an easy, low-cost option to clean your favorite leather products. Just gently scrub the egg whites into the leather and wipe it off with a damp cloth to remove dirt and make the leather shine.
Heal bruises: Eggs contain a number of healing properties, even in the shell. To help break up a bruise, hard boil an egg and peel it while it is still warm. Rub the eggshell on your bruise to help dissipate the blood cells collecting underneath the skin.
So, eat it, rub it, scramble or make it foam. Most importantly, the egg producers say, “Enjoy it.”
It was also a good weekend to take in the Meeker Volunteer Fire and Rescue’s 83rd annual Banquet on Saturday night at the Freeman E. Fairfield Center in Meeker.
It is heartwarming to watch our guardian angels, be they firemen, police officers, search and rescue teams members or emergency medical technicians get the recognition they so richly deserve.
We don’t often think about these folks except when we need their services, which is when they become the most important people in the universe.
These men and women go out into the day and night at all hours and do their thing in temperatures that can range from exceptionally hot and humid to frigid and snowy, leaving work or their sleep or their dinner in a flash to perform such a public service as volunteers that they could never be thanked enough for all they do.
Thanks also go out to the employers of many of these men and women who allow their employees to leave at the drop of a hat and who often themselves abandon their businesses to go out and do what needs to be done, from work a vehicle accident, to put out a fire, to attend to someone who has been lost in the vast wilderness of Rio Blanco County.
It was nice Saturday night to see each and every member called up and recognized to receive a year pin, for an agency such as this in the Meeker area is made a success by the many individuals who take part.
It seems as though politics is making its way into the fire district’s board of directors election as well this year, and the decision is going to need to be made whether to stay the course and re-elect the board as it is and has been, which is apparently not sure whether or not it wants a well-trained professional chief who runs things the way he was educated, which seems to be the case, or to elect a new board and have them bring in another professional, well-educated chief who is going to bring modern methods and ideas with them to work for a board that lets the chief run the show.
That’s as it should be instead of choosing a local good ole boy and micromanaging that person into doing things “the way they have always been done.” Micromanaging is not in the board’s job description, by the way.
When Marshall Cook leaves, Meeker will have lost a true professional. He will be missed by many of those who worked for him at Meeker Fire & Rescue, and Marshall and Carrie will be missed by many of those in Meeker who had the opportunity to meet them.
Thank you, men and women of Meeker Volunteer Fire and Rescue.
And thank you and good luck to Marshall and Carrie.
