My first introduction to rural western life included life experiences offered by local sheep and cattle ranchers. Today with the number of pioneer ranches decreasing, they continue to carry on seasonal traditions and often include newcomers to participate in the yearly rituals. Whether it be branding calves, shearing sheep, or extending an invitations to the association’s dinner or dance, they truly do extend a warm western welcome.
In addition, my own memories from covering events for the newspaper gave me a deeper perspective. My first assignments were not usually as a reporter, rather as a feature writer. I was a part-time employee who tried to do exactly what the job entailed.
I learned quickly how it worked in a rural area such as Meeker. Sometimes, I was assigned as a reporter to go out and to cover county commissioners, city council, as well as school board meetings. Part of the ethics and codes of writing for newspapers required following that much quoted phrase, “stick to the facts Ma’am.” Misquotes were not acceptable.
I got more than my fair share of irate phone calls, as did my editors.
My main job was going out and finding my own subjects for writing human-interest features. I loved my job, as I considered it such a bonus. I tried my best to provide accurate factual information, even if I was so excited by getting to know so many of the residents.
Sometimes my love of language or lack of reportorial or photography skills got the best of me. I started out with a few features covering residents all over the county on their ranches. I soon found the stories of the old timers so captivating that the material filled the page. The energy boom brought in enough advertising allow the editors to give me enough space.
If they needed me to go out and report on the latest happenings in town, I ended up being assigned a county board meeting at the last minute. My bosses had no time to explain to the various boards that they had to rely on a rookie reporter. I am sure they felt my last-minute presence as a kind of insult and it didn’t help that I was new to the community. Unfortunately, I was unskilled in shorthand, so missed many salient details not said aloud at the meeting. It was no help to move up to the front row. Once or twice one of the commissioners would ask me to give me my name or what part of agenda I was waiting to be addressed.
Later that afternoon when I would head back to the office, the editor would notice some important details were missing. Apparently I did not get the skinny on some of the most important issues. There were no open meetings requirement yet. These informal discussions weren’t held as official meetings, just casual conversations held anywhere and everywhere.
They didn’t vote but they often mulled over the important decisions to be solidified later. Even if I sat up in front in a board meeting room, I missed the most cogent part of the discussion. Later on that day, my editors would tell me that I missed the most important business of the day. Mulling over information that was gathered informally in public places throughout both towns and county, I was beaten to the punch by the community grapevine. The deeper issues were often discussed informally “off the record” at various locations, such as the fairgrounds, restaurants, or school functions. When they took the final vote decision-making details. This happened all over Colorado, so to make sure the public had access to all this information, Colorado’s Sunshine Laws were instituted that make sure the public could obtain all the factual information they needed to understand the final decisions. So much for casual conversation.
By DOLLY VISCARDI – Special to the Herald Times
