Thank you from Giant Step Preschool & Child Care
Dear Editor:
On behalf of Giant Step Preschool & Child Care, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated to our Walking Taco Bar and Soda Fundraiser. Your generosity helped make our event a wonderful success.
Because of the support from our families, friends, and community members, we were able to raise important funds that will benefit the students and programs at Giant Step. It’s inspiring to see how much can be accomplished when a community comes together.
Thank you to the following donors: Rangely Maverick, Jimmy Dillon & Family, Melissa Norman & Family, Bill & Michelle Smith, Andy Schaffer & Family, Tim Webber & Family, Dorthy McCarty & Family, Town of Rangely, John & Sandy Payne, Brian Wolgamott & Family, Jessica Palmer & Family, Teresa Novakovich, Big Ds, and Diane Sizemore.
We look forward to our next event. Thank you again for your kindness and continued support!
Sincerely,
Kirstie Kilduff
Director
Giant Step Preschool & Child Care
Please Vote
Dear Editor:
Thank you for publishing the informative “Q&A for hospital board candidates in last week’s edition of the Rio Blanco Herald Times. We will have an election May 6, with six qualified candidates and one, Kim Tedford, who was term-limited in 2022, yet feels entitled to run again, openly violating her Oath of Office and the Colorado Constitution, Art. XVIII, Sec.11, which reads in part; “terms are considered consecutive unless there are at least four years apart, making 2026 the earliest Tedford could legally run for reelection.
In a recent Letter to the Editor, Tedford announced her illegitimate candidacy, writing; “our attorney verified my eligibility.”
In last week’s Pioneer Medical Center’s (PMC) monthly meeting, during public comment, this writer asked PMC attorney Micheal Santos, who he “verified” her eligibility with and no answer was given. When asked when an answer would be given, board president Mark Schryver replied, “not today.”
Question number three of the Q&A read; “Do you have any potential conflicts of interest that may arise as a board member and how would you handle that situation?”
Tedford replied: “I work for a bank, (Yampa Valley Bank in Craig) which I’ve consistently disclosed as a potential conflict. To maintain integrity and transparency, I do not directly manage any accounts connected to entities I serve. I take this responsibility seriously and always prioritize the trust placed in me a board member.”
Tedford and Schryver are the current board members on the PMC financial committee and their meetings are not open to the public.
Yet, according to PMC board minutes of Sept. 27, 2022, published on the PMC website; www.pioneershopital.org under “Approval of Bank Proposal” it reads; “Kimberly Brown, Yampa Valley Bank, proposed moving funds into different accounts in order to increase interest income,” and a motion was made to categorize funds as proposed by Kimberly Brown (Tedford).
Also published in last week’s edition of the Herald Times, a guest column; “An update from PMC,” states; “the facility maintains a strong cash position with $25.939 million on hand.”
This writer also asked in last week’s PMC public meeting; How much money does PMC have deposited in Yampa Valley Bank?
Again, no answer was given, so much for integrity and transparency, Tedford wrote about in her Q&A. In fact no answers have been given for the questions submitted in writing during the Feb. 25, 2025, meeting either, maybe we will find out after the election.
We encourage everyone to vote May 6, 2025, at the Fairfield Center, for one of the six legitimate and qualified candidates, please vote for transparency, honesty and the pursuit of local control of our community hospital.
Thank you for reading,
Bobby Gutierrez
Meeker
Dear Editor,
I would like to encourage everyone to take the time to vote at the Special Districts Election on May 6, 2025 held at the Fairfield Center from 7am to 7pm.
Three of the Special Districts will be holding elections this year: The Rec District, the Hospital District and the Fire District.
A great deal of our tax dollars go to these Special Districts, and as voters, we each bear the responsibility of choosing the best people possible to represent the tax payers in each of these Districts.
I am running for a seat on the Hospital District Board of Directors and I would appreciate your support at this upcoming election.
My primary reason for running is that I want to see Pioneers Medical Center continue to excel in the services they provide. With my years of experience in the medical field as well as having served on the Fire Protection District Board for two terms, I believe I have more than a basic understanding of how the Board of Directors should function.
I strongly believe that Special District Rules should be followed and transparency is a responsibility not a choice.
The Herald Times has published a Q & A for each candidate running in each of the Special Districts. I would encourage you to read each candidates response prior to voting.
If anyone has any questions regarding my response to any of the questions or other areas of concern, please feel free to contact me directly.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sherri Halandras
Meeker
Thank you from the family of Vicki Watson
Dear Editor:
We would like to offer our deepest thanks to the incredible staff at Eagle Crest Assisted Living and Rangely District Hospital for the loving care they gave our beloved mother, Vicki Watson.
Vicki made her home at Eagle Crest for over 15 years, and in that time, the companions and staff became so much more than caregivers — they became family. Their daily kindness, friendship, and devotion brought her joy, comfort, and a true sense of belonging. In her final days, the nurses and team at Rangely District Hospital treated her with the same love and dignity, surrounding her with compassion and care that lifted all of us.
Words cannot fully express our gratitude to everyone who walked alongside Vicki throughout her journey. Your compassion lightened our burden and filled her life with warmth and peace. Thank you for being part of her story and ours.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Jimmie, Billie, Brett & Erin
RBC