County

Rio Blanco County Days Gone By

The Meeker Herald — 125 years ago
• An accident happened on the Burlington railroad near Hartwell, Neb. George Prilchard of Denver and Robert Bean, of the Bar-circle outfit on Yellow Creek, were instantly killed. The men were in the caboose of their train when a following freight train ran into them. The two trains were completely wrecked and the occupants of the caboose were naturally in a dangerous place.
• C. M. White, brother of County Superintendent White, opened the Coal Creek school last week. Mr. White is giving satisfaction and, as he likes the country, will send for his family and remain in the valley.
• Joe Woodward, our popular boot and shoemaker, has moved into temporary quarters on South Sixth Street. Mr. Woodward is a complete master of his craft and has turned out some very satisfactory work since he located here.
• Samuel Martin returned a few days ago from his visit to Boulder. Sam reports that now-a-days one doesn’t have to travel a day and a half to find habitation, as was the case a few years ago, but the settlers are locating in every conceivable nook throughout Northwestern Colorado.

The Meeker Herald — 75 years ago
• The Colorado State Highway Department several months ago made application for a PWA grant from the government to match state funds on five additional highway projects in Colorado. One of these projects was on the Meeker-to-Rifle road, from the top of the divide towards Meeker. This week, the Highway Department received notice that these projects had been approved and the department immediately accepted them.
• A freight train on the Moffat railroad last week ran into a band of sheep on the right-of-way near the Cary ranch. The engine killed 313 sheep and 110 others were injured. The band of sheep belonged to R.H. Pitchforth. The train had rounded a curve only a short distance from where the accident occurred, and the engineer was unable to stop when he saw the sheep on the right-of-way.

The Meeker Herald — 25 years ago
• Gymnasts Carla Seely and Pegge Halandras scored personal bests and handed Buena Vista and Summit a one-two punch last Saturday to take top all-around honors and sweep first and second places in the beam, floor exercise and vault events.
• By virtue of last weekend’s wins over Aspen and Glenwood Springs, the Meeker Cowgirls volleyball team accomplished what no other NWL team has ever done before – finish the entire league season with no losses.
• The Rio Blanco County Assessor’s Office was recently picked by the County Employees Association for their “Office Recognition Award.” The members of the office are Sylvia Marsh, Elieen Lyle, Kelly Cockerill, Jody Turk and Renae Neilson.
• One of the most recent professional additions to Pioneers Hospital medical staff is David R. James, M.D. Dr. James is a board certified general surgeon and a fellow in the American College of Surgeons. He attended the University of Nebraska to obtain his medical degree and five years of surgical residency.

Rangely Times — 50 years ago
• The Peacock Well Service of Rangely has been appointed a Weldealer by The Lincoln Electric Co. of Cleveland, Ohio. Lincoln Electric is the world’s largest manufacturer of arc welding equipment. The firm will distribute Lincoln arc welders, welding electrodes and accessories in Rangely and surrounding area.
• Recently, McCoy Chevrolet Co. of Rangely took over dealership for GMC trucks and coaches. According to owner Joe McCoy, McCoy Chevrolet Co. is equipped to handle any GMC truck or coach transaction with attractive terms.
• Miss Pauline Kucera, the daughter of Paul Spencer of Manderson, Wyo., and Norman Smith, son of Mrs. Frank Mead of Rangely, were married Sept. 21 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Denver.

Rangely Times — 40 years ago
• The Rangely Garden Club installed new officers. Mrs. Robert Sisson, president; Mrs. Richard Bock, vice president; Mrs. Trenton Day, secretary; Mrs. H.O. West, treasurer; Mrs. Jack Herman, historian; and Mrs. Bob Bautts,
publicity.
• First 1973 hunting fatality: Jerry Lee Sanders, 33, of Lamar died Oct. 16 of an apparent accidental self-inflicted gun shot in the head. He was hunting with his father and brother about six miles up East Miller Creek in Rio Blanco County.
• Former Rangely Hospital administrator Irvin Dean Anderson was sentenced Oct. 15 in District Court in Meeker to a 60-day jail sentence and placed on probation for the next five years. He must also make restitution of $4,200 to the Rangely
Hospital.
• Some strange happenings Sunday, a few miles northwest of Rangely in the vicinity of the Blue Mountain cutoff and two drilling rigs in that area have caused speculation in the community that an earthquake had occurred.

Rangely Times — 30 years ago
• Navy Lt. L. Humer and Lt. Cmdr. Paul B. Wade were united in marriage Sept. 24, 2983, in Fort Myer Post Chapel, Fort Myer, Va. The bride, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James R. Humer, Carlisle, Penn., is a graduate of Carlisle High School, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and Naval Officer Candidate School. Her husband, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Wade of Rangely is a graduate of Rangley High School and the University of Colorado.
• The Republican County Commissioner Vacancy Committee, consisting of W. Grant Peel, Don L. Davis and Frank G. Cooley met late Tuesday afternoon and appointed W. Grant Peel to fill the vacancy created by the recent resignation of Tim Schultz as county commissioner.
• Don Manning, the business instructor at CNCC, has been accepted in the doctoral program in Community College Administration administered by the Department of Vocational Education at Colorado State University. This program is new at CSU this year, and Manning is the first person from the Western Slope to complete the application process and be granted admission.

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  • The Barone Middle School track team competed and placed well in the meet in West Grand last weekend. The eighth grade boys won the overall meet. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
  • The Meeker Preschool Roundup will be held this Friday, April 26th from 8am to 4pm!
  • Gear up for an unforgettable adventure with the 2024 Ride The Rockies Route, set to unfold from June 9th to 15th! Read all about this new and exciting adventure visiting Meeker this year in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Rangely Panther Kobey Chism (#22) has been selected to play in the 2024 8-man football all-state game. He’s sponsored by the Bleed Green Lancaster #17 Foundation. Story at ht1885.com.
  • The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Rio Blanco Fire Protection District (RBFPD) will begin work on a firebreak northwest of the Town of Meeker this month. Read about it online at ht1885.com.
  • You can always find a reason to laugh... start with yourself. Hear from our Editor in her column this week online at ht1885.com.
  • The amount of money reported lost to fraud and scams in the United States nearly tripled from $3.5 billion in 2020 to $10 billion in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Learn the tricks to help protect yourself and your family in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • About 80 Meeker Elementary Students participated in the reading competition. Prizes were distributed according to the most minutes read by each student.  Story at ht1885.com.
The Barone Middle School track team competed and placed well in the meet in West Grand last weekend. The eighth grade boys won the overall meet. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
The Barone Middle School track team competed and placed well in the meet in West Grand last weekend. The eighth grade boys won the overall meet. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
18 hours ago
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1/9
19 hours ago
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2/9
The Meeker Preschool Roundup will be held this Friday, April 26th from 8am to 4pm!
The Meeker Preschool Roundup will be held this Friday, April 26th from 8am to 4pm!
22 hours ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Gear up for an unforgettable adventure with the 2024 Ride The Rockies Route, set to unfold from June 9th to 15th! Read all about this new and exciting adventure visiting Meeker this year in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
Gear up for an unforgettable adventure with the 2024 Ride The Rockies Route, set to unfold from June 9th to 15th! Read all about this new and exciting adventure visiting Meeker this year in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
Rangely Panther Kobey Chism (#22) has been selected to play in the 2024 8-man football all-state game. He’s sponsored by the Bleed Green Lancaster #17 Foundation. Story at ht1885.com.
Rangely Panther Kobey Chism (#22) has been selected to play in the 2024 8-man football all-state game. He’s sponsored by the Bleed Green Lancaster #17 Foundation. Story at ht1885.com.
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Rio Blanco Fire Protection District (RBFPD) will begin work on a firebreak northwest of the Town of Meeker this month. Read about it online at ht1885.com.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Rio Blanco Fire Protection District (RBFPD) will begin work on a firebreak northwest of the Town of Meeker this month. Read about it online at ht1885.com.
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
You can always find a reason to laugh... start with yourself. Hear from our Editor in her column this week online at ht1885.com.
You can always find a reason to laugh... start with yourself. Hear from our Editor in her column this week online at ht1885.com.
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
The amount of money reported lost to fraud and scams in the United States nearly tripled from $3.5 billion in 2020 to $10 billion in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Learn the tricks to help protect yourself and your family in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
The amount of money reported lost to fraud and scams in the United States nearly tripled from $3.5 billion in 2020 to $10 billion in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Learn the tricks to help protect yourself and your family in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
About 80 Meeker Elementary Students participated in the reading competition. Prizes were distributed according to the most minutes read by each student.  Story at ht1885.com.
About 80 Meeker Elementary Students participated in the reading competition. Prizes were distributed according to the most minutes read by each student. Story at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

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