When I was in elementary school I contracted a case of “tick fever.” I was puny enough that the doctor was called, which didn’t happen often. The offending critter was found under my hair at the nape of my neck and urged to relocate with a hot match and a[Read More…]
Latest News
Loose Ends: Language lessons on repeat
“All het up”is a phrase one doesn’t hear too often these days. You might hear your friends and family have occasional exchanges, where old-fashioned expressions get tossed into the mix and teasing ensues. Casual conversations often come to a halt because young and old alike have stopped further conversation after[Read More…]
Letter to the Editor: Solar project debate: aesthetics versus the gestalt global climate change impacts
Dear Editor, Clearly, a solar power generation project of this scope [referring to the one proposed in Josephine Basin] is a valuable and forward-thinking concept that fits in well as a part of the pre-eminent carbon-neutral global initiative essential to drastically reduce the production of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. [Read More…]
Guest Column: Camp Good Grief: Healing for all
Grief is a very complex thing, especially for a child. In my own childhood, I experienced several losses and struggled immensely with processing them. This is not a unique experience – children lose loved ones every day. However, it is very difficult for a child to process such a devastating[Read More…]
Guest Column: The Grand Army of the Republic: Honoring the Civil War veterans
Before our V.F.W. (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and V.A. (Veterans Administration) and American Legion, there was an organization called G.A.R. which stands for Grand Army of the Republic. It was a fraternal organization made up of American Union soldiers and sailors who served in our Civil War. There had been[Read More…]
Museum Musings: Letters from History, No. 7
The White River Museum has a collection of letters that Meeker founding father Thomas Baker kept for many years. There are letters from Nathan Meeker and prominent figures like Chief Ouray, ex-Indian Agents, and the violently anti-Indian Colorado Governor Pitkin, as well as various Army officers from 1874-1879. The letters[Read More…]
Guest Column: Speak now, and impact 2024 legislation
When I was teaching at Steamboat Springs High School, one of the things that we covered in my social studies classes was the concept of a representative democracy. My students and I would discuss the importance of leaders reflecting the wants and needs of their constituents. A truly representative democracy[Read More…]
Guest Column: The problem that just won’t go away
When I read the Salt Lake Tribune editorial on July 2, my heart sank. A Utah man with severe mental illness had died in a poorly regulated care home, with a mere $8,000 fine levied against the managers. The editorial was fierce: “It doesn’t seem to matter how horrible the[Read More…]
Obituary: Ronald L. Mortenson
Ronald L. Mortenson Mar. 22, 1936 ~ July 22, 2023 Ronald Lee Mortenson, 87, of Meeker, Colorado, passed away on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at Grand River Health Care Center in Rifle, Colorado. Ronald Lee Mortenson was born May 22, 1936, in Wausau, Wisconsin, the son of Louis and Ruth[Read More…]
Obituary: “Jim” James Robert Keenan
“Jim” James Robert Keenan Sept. 2, 1973—July 6, 2023 Jim Keenan, 49, of Meeker, Colorado, passed away on July 6, 2023. Jim was born in Valentine, Nebraska. He went to Rifle High School and on to Lamar Community College. At the time of his death he was a licensed journeyman[Read More…]
Local youth competes at Texas Tech meat judging
MEEKER | Blake Smith, 9, a junior 4-H’r, represented Rio Blanco County in Texas on June 20, 2023, and was one of the top five competitors at Texas Tech University’s Junior Meats Judging Mock Contest. The contest was for 4-H youth judgers (third-sixth grade) and participants came from throughout the[Read More…]
Trick rider coming to rodeo Aug. 10 + July 27 results
Photos by Kim Ekstrom MEEKER | #12 Team Roping – Troy Allen/Levi Allen #8 Team Roping – Joe Wood/Levi Allen Dally Ribbon Roping – Leah Wood/Levi Allen Open Breakaway – No Winner Ladies Breakaway – Paula Cooper Jr. Breakaway – No Winner Open Barrels – Avrial Hankins Jr. Barrels –[Read More…]
