It’s not always easy living in the rural West, with customs so entrenched that everybody takes them for granted. What makes it hard for the newest newcomers is that they’re caught up in a mysterious culture. Learning the Old West code was easy decades ago. Novelist Zane Gray’s “Code of[Read More…]
Tag: Opinion
Don’t call me unaffiliated
I don’t want to be called unaffiliated. That’s what Colorado’s Secretary of State calls me. Merriam-Webster says it means I am “not associated with another.” It is not true. I am an independent. And as of July 1, 2022, I am associated with 1,715,211 other independent voters in Colorado. We[Read More…]
Loose Ends: A closer look
Babies and puppies are a number one draw at any parade. Our community’s Fourth of July celebration offered so many examples once again, as a huge crowd of visitors and residents alike took advantage of the great weather. Most of them staked a claim to the few shady spots by[Read More…]
Labor-saving devices of yore
The White River Museum is a wonderful way to spend an hour or two. Teresia, Kevyn, staff and the Historical Society have organized it into a place full of ooohs and ahhhhs. I highly recommend a visit if you haven’t been in for a while to see new things and[Read More…]
‘Yer aff yer heid’
You will hear many strange words across Scotland today. You will find English and Gaelic on many signs. What most Scots speak every day is Scottish English. Its many dialects can be very poetic and humorous in describing life, people and insults. I will try to give you a taste[Read More…]
Range Call reflections
The physical work it takes to clean-up after Meeker’s annual Range Call never changes. The preparations for next year’s Fourth of July festivities begin soon after our Fourth of July extravaganza. Judging from the large number of people in attendance, as well as the positive comments from them as well,[Read More…]
History may not repeat itself. But it rhymes.
Attributed to Mark Twain Friends dropped off a 1971 edition of LIFE magazine last week. Perusing its pages has been alternately comforting and distressing. Most of the headlines and articles could have been reprinted today: “The Four-Day Work Week” and “Our Public Lands Up for Grabs,” for example. And then[Read More…]
Guest Column: Wheels
Americans have an infatuation with WHEELS, even beyond pulling out the TV tray and watching Vanna White and Wheel of Fortune. Motorized, rubber, wood, gears, water, rocket propelled, side by side, even lawn mowers, anything with wheels. We have it in our DNA, the need to make wheels turn ever[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: The ditch
Once upon a time, many moons ago, I was at one of those social activities in the woods with a bonfire and a keg or three. On this particular occasion, the party was attended by a visitor from Oklahoma in one of those late 1970s early 1980s American-made cars big[Read More…]
Loose Ends: Keeping Traditions
Rio Blanco Range Call Days are fast approaching. It is a tradition for most everyone in our community to get involved in some way. It doesn’t matter if you are a long-term resident or recently moved here, everyone’s help is needed. Year after year, an amazing volunteer workforce turns out[Read More…]
Guest Column: Bluestocking
THIS IS THE TIME EACH YEAR TO HAND OUT GRADUATION CARDS AND SAGE ADVICE THAT WILL IGNORED IN GENERAL. I have wondered occasionally what my life would have been like if I had been born earlier. What would have my job been? In my high school, seniors were required to[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: VOTE!
We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate. ~UNKNOWN Registered voters should have their mail-in primary ballots in hand now, or be ready to go vote in person on or before Tuesday, June 28. For the last few years (or decades) voting[Read More…]
