Dear Editor: I have made several calls to my state representative, Meghan Lukens (HD26), since January 12, 2023. I am always courteous, leave my name, number, and the city and county in which I reside. I have called over twelve times, and she has never reached out to me as[Read More…]
Tag: Opinion
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: March 9, 2023
Library board bylaws mix-up Dear Editor: As a past library board member, I notice that the commissioners have appointed a town resident to fill the county (out of town) seat on the library board. The structure and intent of appointing two county board members, two town board members and one[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: Taxes
“The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax.” ~ Albert Einstein That little snippet from an actual genius made me feel better about my efforts to fill out my tax forms this year. I gave up halfway through and handed the task over to Caitlin. It may[Read More…]
Guest Column: Wild camels
The Meeker Herald Feb. 18, 1899, edition reported: “The last wild camel in the United States died the other day. While full particulars of the event are not at hand, it is probable death was caused by the last straw breaking his back.” I am not quite sure how much[Read More…]
LOOSE ENDS: Public participation encouraging
A recent rise in more people running for special district elections and local board appointments shows a renewed willingness to participate more fully in community life. All of the various board appointments and elections are usually well advertised. Active community members, who may no longer serve because of term limits[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: Cabin fever strikes again
Based solely on the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition, it feels like a fair share of us have a bad case of cabin fever: “Extreme irritability and restlessness from living in isolation or a confined indoor area for a prolonged time.” Sound familiar? Bickering and squabbling, aggravation and frustration, a sudden urge[Read More…]
Gilsonite
As I was standing in the White River Museum, someone uttered the word “Gilsonite.” I thought about saying “Gesundheit!” This was the first time in my life I had ever heard the word Gilsonite. They patiently explained it was something mined in the Western part of Rio Blanco. I nodded[Read More…]
Guest Column: Standing up for rural communities
Rural communities like our own are truly special. I grew up in our rural communities and with my grandpa as a rancher, I have a keen appreciation of our Western values. As a proud Western Slope citizen and member of the Agriculture, Natural Resources & Water Committee, I am committed[Read More…]
Guest Column: The benefit of public-private partnership
Our mountain and rural communities thrive when we work together. Lacking the resources of the big city, we must all collaborate to solve our most pressing challenges. We’ve been doing this for a long time, and I am confident that this type of problem solving can help us address one[Read More…]
LETTER: The introduction of wolves in Colorado: “Taxation Without Representation”
Dear Editor: In the 1700s the British Parliament tried taxing the Colonies, and the Stamp Act of 1775 was particularly despised: historians tell us that is one of the causes of the Revolution. We all learned this in school. A look at the vote in Colorado to introduce wolves should[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: Knowledge gaps
In attempting to gain context for the ongoing changes and discussion surrounding the Fairfield apartments I found myself in a kind of vacuum. I knew what I’d heard said in meetings, but that information lacked context. How exactly did the Fairfield apartments come under county ownership? How was the Meeker[Read More…]
The mystery photo is a _______
And the answer to the mystery photo is a saddle iron (AKA running iron). No, you don’t use it instead of a clothes iron to iron saddle leather. It is used to brand cattle and portable enough to be carried in a saddle bag. This one is owned by Mike[Read More…]
