Climate reflections Dear Editor: Please permit an old guy some reflections. The valley is filled with wildfire smoke. Again. It’s another of those days when you have to decide whether it’s safe to breathe. I elected to stay indoors and complain. It’s been forty-five years since James Hansen and his[Read More…]
Tag: Opinion
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Contradictions
“Life zips by and next thing you know, you’re laying in a hospital bed.” ~ Grandpa Sam I spent the last few days in St. Mary’s Hospital with my grandfather. In trying to maintain my sanity, I wrote quite a bit. I’m sharing some of those reflections here this week.[Read More…]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR – July 30th, 2026
Appreciation for firefighters Dear Editor: We want to offer our sincere appreciation for the rapid response to a lightning-initiated fire at the Villa Ranch on Saturday, July 25th. The quick actions of our neighbor Pat Mares, Meeker Fire and Rescue, US Wildland Fire Service South Zone (formerly BLM) and the[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – First rodeos
“Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway.” ~ John Wayne Hoo boy, y’all. I keep saying I knew what I was getting myself into, and I thought, truly, that I did. I’ve been in and out of the newspaper office since I was 12 years old! Apparently,[Read More…]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – July 23rd, 2026
Griffin announces assessor candidacy Dear Editor: I am excited to announce my candidacy for Rio Blanco County Assessor. Having recently moved back to Rio Blanco County earlier this year, I am grateful to once again call this wonderful community home. As a former resident, returning home has reminded me just[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN(S) – Change is inevitable. Resistance makes it harder.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 I’ve kept a lot of plates spinning for a long time, through good times and bad, through sorrow and joy, through praise and criticism (sometimes all at once). Over the last 10 years[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN(S) – An Unexpected Quest
“Go back? No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible. Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” ~ The Hobbit When all this kicked off a few weeks back, I dreamed of composing an award-winning column that yanked heartstrings for my first official week as editor of the HT.[Read More…]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR – July 9th, 2026
Thanks from the Wagon Wheel OHV Club Dear Editor: To our community, the Wagon Wheel OHV Club extends its sincere appreciation to our community, local businesses, Bud Ridings with Search and Rescue, the team at the National Forest’s Blanco Ranger District, and Rio Blanco Emergency Manager Rich Garner for their[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – What holds us together?
“A republic, if you can keep it.” ~ Benjamin Franklin Birthdays are a good time for reflection. That’s why this week we’ve dedicated the front page of the Herald Times to reprinting the Declaration of Independence again. Why? Because I suspect that, much like many Christians have never read the[Read More…]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR – July 2nd, 2026
Hometown hero Dear Editor: Meeker and Rangely are special places, some might say the portrait of the best part of our past. But these towns are only special because of the individual people that still live here, still living the values of caring and neighborliness. As our cities and suburbs[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: ‘You’re really getting up there.’
Special to the HT MEEKER | “You’re really getting up there” is one comment often said at birthday parties for close friends and family after they pass the age of 21. It does not matter whether they were teased in person, or on the phone or computer, it turns into[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – If you could do anything, what would you do?
“The great thing about life — the most magnificent thing about being these sentient human beings — is that we have been given the power of choice.” ~ Bryant McGill One of the few benefits of being shoved up against the reality of mortality — our own or someone close to[Read More…]
