Meeker, Rangely

Rankins hold town hall meetings

RANGELY I Colorado Republican House District 57 Representative Bob Rankin and his wife, Republican State Education Board Member Joyce Rankin, held a small town hall style meeting in Rangely Tuesday night. The informal and sparsely attended meeting covered a wide variety of topics including education, severance taxes, transportation funding and climate change.

Bob Rankin, who currently sits on the Joint Budget Committee and has been the area representative for almost six years, said he “might run again.” Rankin began his update by informing the audience that the state currently spends $29 billion per year, $12 billion of which comes from tax funding. Rankin said that outside the tax funding there is not much flexibility on spending.
Rankin lamented the limited severance tax funds that are returned to the area. He pointed out that northwest Colorado contributes the most money to the fund but doesn’t receive enough back. “We are getting ripped off,” he said. Currently severance taxes average $180 million per year. While some of those funds make it back to impacted communities the rest goes to the state general fund and Department of Local Affairs. Rankin described himself as the “lone voice” on the issue.
For the coming fiscal year Rankin said he sees more money going towards transportation and education. The state will be leasing buildings to help fund the transportation department, which he says needs an additional $1 billion annually to keep up with needed work. The education sector will also see more funding, as the coming year will be the first year marijuana sales tax funding reaches education coffers.
Rankin was asked about a recent executive order signed by Governor Hickenlooper which would limit green house gas emissions, but could have a big negative impact on energy-based communities. While Rankin said he had not yet read the order he was unsure that the Governor would have the legitimate power to write such an order. He added that if Jared Polis (a Democrat who has announced his bid for governor) is elected, “we’re toast.”
He was also asked about potentially privatizing or issuing a concession contract for state parks allowing a private company to manage them while the state would retain ownership. Rankin seemed interested in the possibility of such a plan which could provide funding relief to the parks which have faced numerous budget woes.
Joyce Rankin of the State Education Board also provided a short update as well. She reminded the audience that Colorado is a local control state and that education makes up the second largest expense in the state. According to the Colorado Department of Education the Rangely School District receives $10,800 per student annually, which is about average with national funding levels.
She stated that she is hopeful that Colorado will eventually pull out of Common Core. Colorado is one of only 11 states still participating in the federal program.
The Rankins will be in Meeker for a similar town hall meeting on Thursday.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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