County, Meeker

Historical society has plans for summer filled with fun events

Reminiscent of the late 1800s, the Rio Blanco County Historical Society will celebrate Culture, Cowboys and Chuckwagon! from 5-7 p.m. on June 18. This celebration of our cowboy heritage will commence with history on Cattle Drive Days in Rio Blanco County combined with some toe-tapping cowboy music and a delicious chuckwagon dinner with Dutch oven desserts, all for $12 per person.
Reminiscent of the late 1800s, the Rio Blanco County Historical Society will celebrate Culture, Cowboys and Chuckwagon! from 5-7 p.m. on June 18. This celebration of our cowboy heritage will commence with history on Cattle Drive Days in Rio Blanco County combined with some toe-tapping cowboy music and a delicious chuckwagon dinner with Dutch oven desserts, all for $12 per person.

RBC I Validating their claim: “Rio Blanco County Historical Society’s Heritage Culture Center Committee is committed to providing opportunities to bring our citizens and visitors into celebration of our heritage roots,” the group has lined up dozens of cultural-heritage activities and events for the summer.

Saturday opens the summer fun with “Capturing Our Culture” at the Old Timer’s Reunion. Capturing group conversations on video around history and memories from days gone by, the RBCHS is dedicated to archiving this oral history for future posterity. Opportunities to participate begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Fairfield Community Center.
On Tuesday, a student from Colorado University who has been contracted with the University Technical Assistance program will reveal his design and plan for the Old West Heritage Culture Center’s renovation at the heritage center at 1 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend as we hear potential ideas on making the building fit in with the other 1880s structures in the museum complex and reach its full potential for all the activities planned in cultural heritage endeavors.
Coordinating with the Meeker Chamber of Commerce, the museum will be open until 6 p.m. each TGIF Friday with tours and specials on June 10, July 22, and Aug. 22. If it’s been a while since you browsed the pioneer and Ute collections, come by and take a peek.
First thing on Saturday morning June 11, from 8 a.m. to noon, the Heritage Culture Center Agritourism Committee is sponsoring the Meeker Farmer’s Market with at least a dozen vendors ready to sell fresh produce, meats, baked goods, gourmet treats, artisan products, fresh eggs, homegrown honey and more. Thereafter, the market will be available on July 23, Aug. 13 and Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. to noon in downtown Meeker between Fourth and Sixth streets along Main Street.
Also on June 11, join the Meeker Arts and Cultural Committee for the Annual Meekerpalooza at Ute Park along with the ERBM Recreation and District’s Metal Art Competition and their art and music festival which will again offer a Kids’ Art Zone from 1-4 p.m. The Heritage Center will provide historical characters from the past roaming the grounds introducing themselves and sharing their story.
Tuesdays June 14 and 28, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the heritage center, kids are invited to join the Kid’s Culture Club and be cool! This “culture” hour will include a character reading or telling a historical story from our own cultural heritage plus an art session taught by a budding artist in our community. This is appropriate for ages 4-12.
The Meeker Cattledog Trials provide the perfect venue for lots of history! There will be more historic characters at the historic chuck wagon. At this “culture” moment, one might get to meet the cowboy from Meeker who went to Hollywood—or perhaps Susan Wright, who came west from South Carolina by herself and started a hotel—or a mountain man who lived off the land and survived a cruel winter.
On June 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. will be Culture, Cowboys and Chuckwagon! This celebration of our cowboy heritage will commence with history on Cattle Drive Days in Rio Blanco County combined with some toe-tapping cowboy music and a delicious chuckwagon dinner with Dutch oven desserts, all for $12 per person.
For your entertainment, a spoof of TV reality show “Chopped” will take place with our own Chopped Cooking Competition—Cowboy style, involving three “chefs” facing a primitive open fire cooking challenge and three judges determining who gets chopped on each round. You won’t want to miss this cultural experience.
The proceeds from this event go toward the theater system for the Old West Heritage Culture Center, to further heritage education through history films and classic movies.
In conjunction with Range Call, there will be a tour to Milk Creek Battlefield Park at 1 p.m. on July 3, and the famous bank robbery re-enactment at 1 p.m. on the Fourth.
July also brings “History in Your Backyard,” a stimulating history camp for the entire family in partnership with the ERBM Recreation and Park District:
July 7: Home on the Range: Discover all it takes to run a ranch and feed the crew. We’ll be making biscuits right out of the flour sack! 
July 14: Archeology Day: Be an archaeologist for a day! An on-site archeology dig and related rock art activities to make the day memorable
July 21: Do-Si-Do; Swing Your Partner: Experience the joy and art of square dancing and hear stories from pioneers who knew it well.
July 28: Agriculture Day: Learn old-time farming and agriculture, including a trip to the Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center.
Sign up for one or all four days at the Recreation Center!
July 10 is RBCHS’ quarterly historic presentation, this one being “Celebrating Our Volunteer Fire Department Heritage” with a picnic potluck in the courtyard and presentation and stories in the heritage center.
On July 16, the Rural School Committee is hosting an Xtreme History Ride for the OHV participants who come to town, giving them a first-hand glimpse of some of our rural school history. At noon, the group will lunch at the historic Meeker Cafe and then we’ll provide a downtown walking tour for those interested.
July 23, in conjunction with Community Appreciation Day sponsored by ERBM Recreation District, the Heritage Culture Center will provide a living history demonstration.
Sept. 7-9 will wrap up the season with our Teddy Roosevelt historical character at the Meeker Classic to share his stories with the school children in the education tent.
At many of these activities, the RBCHS will be selling their delicious old fashioned root beer floats.

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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
1 day ago
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
2 days ago
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Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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2 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
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