Climate reflections
Dear Editor:
Please permit an old guy some reflections. The valley is filled with wildfire smoke. Again. It’s another of those days when you have to decide whether it’s safe to breathe. I elected to stay indoors and complain.
It’s been forty-five years since James Hansen and his group at NASA’s Goddard Earth Observatory published the first climate models (Hansen, 1981). They forecast rising sea levels, melting ice-caps, life-threating heat and drought and catastrophic wildfires, the consequences of human-caused climate change.
Here we are. It might have been avoided had we heeded those warnings 45 years ago. In the interval, Big Oil deliberately obfuscated, denied, and confused the problem with propaganda designed to protect their enormous profits (Oreskes and Conway, 2010). They knew full well the climate consequences of burning 100 million barrels of oil every day.
Hansen’s models were crystal balls allowing them, back then, to peer into the future. That future is now. What do the much-improved crystal balls see in our future future?
Among many other warnings, atmospheric scientists at Colorado School of Mines just published a model projecting future snowpack (Marshall, 2026). You may remember last winter’s snowpack was dismal. Historically low, a water deficit that would have filled Lake Mead, the region’s largest reservoir. Our own White River is down to a trickle. The future? The CSM model projects that by late century, 2050’s and beyond, such low snowpacks will become more likely than not.
Then there are the tipping points. Past models anticipated collapse of the Greenland ice cap, collapse of the Antarctic ice sheet, collapse of the Atlantic meridional circulation and the Gulf Stream, catastrophic release of methane as the Arctic permafrost melts. Tipping points aside, the new models’ crystal ball says the worst cases may arrive sooner (Levermann, 2026). Wilder swings in weather will drive worsening destruction – bigger downpours and debris flows, monster hurricanes, longer and deeper droughts, massive wildfires, scorching temperatures and deadly heat.
But the power brokers continue to dismiss it all. Everything will work out, they tell us. We’ll just dismantle NASA Goddard’s Earth Observatory so we don’t have to worry about climate models. No data, no worries. Dismantle the great institutions and scientific collaborations where James Hansen and his colleagues built the early models and made the early climate forecasts and where sharper models and faster computers today warn us even more clearly what’s ahead.
In a couple years we’ll reach the fortieth anniversary of Hansen’s testimony to Congress warning of climate change and its consequences. He encouraged Congress to act. We are still waiting.
Sincerely,
Bob Dorsett, MD
Meeker
Literature cited:
Hansen, J.D. et al. 1981. Climate impact of increasing carbon dioxide. Science 213:957.
Levermann, Anders. 2026. ‘Climate free fal’: why the biggest risk to our economies is yet to be recognized. Nature 655:571.
Marshall, Adrienne M. et al. 2026. The 2026 western U.S. snow drought was about four times more likely due to climate change. PNAS 123:30.
Oreskes, Naomi, and Erik M. Conway. 2010. Merchants of doubt. Bloomsbury Press.
Golf tourney thanks
Dear Editor:
This letter is written to say THANK YOU to all of the golfers who played in the 2nd Annual Love of the Course golf tournament on July 25, 2026. Additionally, a special thank you to all the sponsors including Ben and Jamie Rogers, Streamline Realty, Kelly and Denise Sheridan, The Redstone Inn, River Valley Ranch – Steve and Jennifer VanDyke, Mary Stanaszek, Crystal River Preserve, Elk Creek Ranch, Meeker Fertilizer, Meeker Golf Course Board of Directors, Coca Cola, The Blue Spruce Inn, Bailey Waldref – Real Estate West, Devil’s Thumb Golf Course, Cedaredge Golf Course, Meeker Classic Sheepdog Committee, Bookcliff Country Club and Trappers Lake Lodge. Finally, a note of thanks to Jason and Amanda Back, Billy Stewart, Tim Nelson, Jimmy Lawson, Dave Henderson and Steve Gianinetti for their hard work at the golf course every day this season.
Sincerely,
The Love of the Course Committee
Sherry Rubin, Christy Atwood, Alicia Watt and Mindy Finley
Fair thanks
Dear Editor:
One of the best parts of the Rio Blanco County 4-H Fair is catching up with friends, neighbors, and meeting new faces. I truly enjoyed visiting with so many of you throughout the week. Thank you to everyone for the conversation and encouragement in my campaign. I would be honored if you write-in Stacey Gould for Rio Blanco County Assessor in the November General Election.
The true success of the Rio Blanco County 4-H Fair belongs to the network of people standing behind and alongside the kids. The dedicated 4-H leaders and fair board members, Rio Blanco County staff and fair volunteers, local businesses, and parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles/friends who are like family – thank you. Your dedication, generosity, time and financial contribution is shaping these young people to be the next generation of ag and community leaders. It was an honor to participate in and enjoy the county’s 4-H fair.
Respectfully,
Stacey Gould
Write-In Candidate for Rio Blanco County Assessor
Commissioners on public service
Dear Editor:
Public service often happens quietly.
While elected officials may receive the most attention, many of the decisions that shape our community are supported by citizens who volunteer their time to serve on boards, commissions, and committees. These individuals bring their experience, judgment, and dedication to helping make Rio Blanco County a better place to live.
Over the past several weeks, we have been reminded just how valuable that service is.
As wildfire conditions evolved this summer, there was a very real possibility that the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds could be needed to support emergency response operations. Although we all hoped the Fair would proceed as planned, responsible planning required preparing for every possibility. Throughout that uncertainty, the Fair Board demonstrated remarkable flexibility, professionalism, and commitment to our community. Members adapted quickly as conditions changed, worked closely with County staff and emergency responders, and remained focused on preserving one of Rio Blanco County’s most cherished traditions while keeping public safety the highest priority.
On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, we sincerely thank every member of the Fair Board, along with the many volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors, staff, and community members whose cooperation and patience made this year’s Fair possible.
Their example reminds us that strong communities depend on citizens who are willing to serve.
That service takes place throughout Rio Blanco County on local boards and commissions that help guide important public institutions, programs, and decisions. Serving in these roles requires time, preparation, thoughtful judgment, and a willingness to represent the interests of the broader community. Public service is both an honor and a responsibility.
Rio Blanco County is currently accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Meeker Library Board. If you have an interest in strengthening one of our community’s most valued public resources, we encourage you to apply. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, and interviews and appointment are anticipated on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
We are grateful to those who already serve and encourage anyone interested in helping shape Rio Blanco County’s future to consider applying for the Meeker Library Board or another volunteer board or commission. Strong communities are built by citizens who choose to serve.
With gratitude,
Rio Blanco County Board of County Commissioners
To submit a letter to the editor on a matter of local interest, email it to [email protected]. Opinions expressed on these pages are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald Times.