MEEKER | The Meeker Mobile Pantry will be held on Friday, Aug. 22 at 10:30 a.m. at City Park. This is a date and location change due to the wildfires. La Despensa Móvil Meeker se realizará el viernes 22 de agosto a las 10:30 a. m. en el Parque de[Read More…]
Latest News
Crosho Fire not related to Elk, Lee fires
RBC | The Crosho Fire is burning on the east end of Rio Blanco County on the Routt National Forest. Routt County is managing evacuations. Please follow the links below for information on the Crosho Fire. The fire team managing the Elk and Lee fires is not managing the Crosho[Read More…]
Happy 140th birthday to the Herald!
HT STAFF MEEKER | With this issue of the HT we begin our 141st year of continuous community journalism as the second oldest newspaper in Northwest Colorado (the Steamboat Pilot beat us by two weeks because of travel troubles encountered getting the old printing press from Leadville to Meeker by[Read More…]
FORTITUDE UNDER FIRE – Elk and Lee fires consume 130,000 acres of Rio Blanco County; now 5th largest wildfire in Colorado history
MEEKER | The Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 hosted a media briefing and tour Tuesday to provide updates on the Elk and Lee fires. Tyler Nathe, operations section chief for the team, said the Elk Fire currently covers 14,549 acres with 30% containment (that number has since[Read More…]
RIO HAPPENINGS:AUG 3-9, 2025
ARRESTS 8/8/2025-Meeker PD arrested a male party for Possession of a Weapon While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or a Controlled Substance and Violation of a Protection Order. He was taken to jail and has since been released. CALL SUMMARIES Due to the Lee Fire and Elk Fire this[Read More…]
Fundraiser established for Bob Kydd, whose home was lost in the Elk Fire
HT Staff MEEKER | Reports of losses and damages from the Elk and Lee Fires are just beginning to come in as the focus starts to shift from the fire to its aftermath. You may not know Bob Kydd by name or face, but if you ever enjoyed the famous[Read More…]
Meeker trustees address community concerns, approve funding for local events
MEEKER | On Aug. 5, the Meeker Town Board held a regular meeting at Town Hall. Trustees Jessica Browning, Jeff Madison, Amanda Smith and Christopher Lockwood attended the meeting. Trustee Kathleen Sizemore was upriver and unable to attend due to the fire, while Trustee Charles Day was off fighting the[Read More…]
COMMUNITY CALENDAR – August 14th, 2025
CPW hosting shooting event in Rangely Aug. 16 RANGELY | Join Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the the Rangely Family Shoot on Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Rangely Elks Trap Range (1/2 mi. south of Rangely, east side of Dragon Trail) from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free for all[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Resetting our assumptive world
“Life is mostly froth and bubble;/ Two things stand like stone:/Kindness in another’s trouble,/ Courage in your own.” ~ Adam Lindsay Gordon Smoke from the Lee Fire rolled back into the valley on Tuesday, Aug. 12 after a day of relatively clear skies. The instant jolt of anxiety it triggered[Read More…]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR – August 14th, 2025
Letter to the citizens of Rio Blanco County from the Board of Rio Blanco County Commissioners Dear Editor: We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the firefighters, emergency responders, and citizens who have worked tirelessly to protect our community during the Elk and Lee Fires. We’d particularly like to[Read More…]
MUSEUM MUSINGS:Letters from history No. 94
Headquarters Military Division of the Missouri, Chicago, October 1, 1879 General A.H. TERRY, Saint Paul, Minn.: Major Thornburgh’s command, three companies of cavalry and one of infantry, were attacked near the White River Ute Agency, Colorado. Thornburgh and ten men were killed, and about twenty soldiers and teamsters were wounded. The[Read More…]
Update – FUNERAL NOTICE – James Lee Ruckman
Jan. 29, 1937 ~ Aug. 9, 2025 There will be a service for James Lee Ruckman on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. at Calahan-Ed-fast in Grand Junction (2515 Patterson Rd.) and a graveside service at Highland Cemetery in Meeker on Oct. 3, 2025, at 10 a.m.