Special to the HT MEEKER | The Meeker High School Class of 2025 has selected longtime educator Iris Franklin as the recipient of the 2025 Cowboy Up Award, an honor recognizing individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to or support of Meeker High School. The Cowboy Up Award was established[Read More…]
Latest News
Property taxes higher than expected? Here’s why…
RBC | Property tax notices for 2025 taxes, payable in 2026, were mailed last week, and many property owners are seeing higher bills. The increase is tied to two main changes: the end of a temporary tax break and new rules for how school funding is collected. In 2022, lawmakers[Read More…]
The end of a chapter for beloved storyteller
Special to the HT RANGELY | Rangely Regional Library bid farewell to longtime volunteer and storyteller Rita Reich at the end of 2025, marking the close of a 22-year chapter of service to the library and the community. Reich began volunteering at the library in 2004, referring to her role[Read More…]
Town board tables code updates, approves donations, discusses water rights and land-use changes
MEEKER | The Meeker Town Board of Trustees approved one ordinance, tabled another for transparency concerns, and considered a wide range of policy and operational issues during its regular meeting. Board members approved zoning and subdivision regulation updates but voted to table final approval of broader municipal code updates. The[Read More…]
Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District update
Special to the HT RANGELY | The Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District held its first meeting of the year Jan. 28 with all board members present. The board elected officers, voting to keep all positions unchanged. Committee assignments also remained the same as in 2025. Meeting notices are posted at[Read More…]
Sewer rate reduction program for seniors
Special to the HT MEEKER | If you live in a household with one family member who is 65 years or older, as shown by a birth certificate, school records, and military discharge documents or other supporting documentation acceptable to the Meeker Sanitation District, you may qualify for a reduced[Read More…]
RIO HAPPENINGS: FEB 1-7, 2026
ARRESTS 2/6/2026-Rangely PD arrested a 25 year-old female for Driving Under Revocation. She was transported to jail and released on bond. 2/9/2026-Meeker PD arrested a female for 4 warrants. She was transported to jail where she remains in custody. CALL SUMMARIES 2/4/2026 @ 9:42 am. Approximately 20 goats got out[Read More…]
COMMUNITY CALENDAR – February 12th, 2026
RBC Stockgrowers’ meeting Feb. 13 MEEKER | The Rio Blanco Stockgrowers’ Association’s business meeting is scheduled for noon Friday, Feb. 13, at the Rio Blanco County Commissioners’ hearing room (3rd floor Rio Blanco County Courthouse) in Meeker. To renew your membership ($50 per ranch), you can pay at the meeting[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Pinocchio Syndrome
“Prove yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish, and someday you will be a real boy.” ~ The Blue Fairy I’ve been thinking about Pinocchio a lot lately. Not just the lie detecting growing nose part of the story, although I can’t help thinking how handy it would be if the deceitful[Read More…]
HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Stagecoach picture
Special to the HT MEEKER | The mystery photo shows metal stagecoach cutouts mounted on three parking lot light poles at Smoking River Brewery. Despite years of exposure, the cutouts remain intact — notably without bullet holes. A closer look reveals a marking, “S/S,” etched into the metal. The slash[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: Valentine’s Day and feeling at home
The geographical location of childhood makes up an important part of all the memories one attributes to the place originally called home. Long after, the sensory memories linger. It doesn’t matter if an individual feels more at home living far away from of a family’s place of origin, over the[Read More…]
Second life for Meeker Christmas trees through White River Alliance program
Special to the HT MEEKER | How does a Christmas tree keep on giving? When Meeker households donate them to the White River Alliance for restoring our watershed. Last weekend, volunteers from the White River Alliance picked up and placed the roughly 40 trees this year (a big jump from[Read More…]



