RBC | Rio Blanco County residents received a detailed update on the state of the local economy earlier this month via Zoom presentation by Nathan Perry, PhD, associate professor of Economics at Colorado Mesa University. He detailed historic, current and projected trends for the region in areas like employment and[Read More…]
Tag: County
Letter to the Editor: Commissioner behavior shocking
Dear Editor: As a concerned citizen, I recently observed an executive session of the Rio Blanco County Commissioners that was made public by request. The session was with the director of the Public Health Department Alice Harvey and two of her direct reports. I found this meeting and the behavior[Read More…]
Letter to the Editor: Details from Dave Morlan
Dear Editor:I’m honored to have served the people of Rio Blanco County for 35 years, with the last 17 as your Road & Bridge and Landfill Director. I really enjoyed leading my great team and am proud of our accomplishments. I’ve always tried to go above and beyond to make[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Those Sunshine Laws again
My kitchen is always open to friends. ~ Dr. Hannibal Lecter If you missed it, which many likely did, there was a “special meeting” of the Board of Commissioners Tuesday. It was an executive session of the board called for the purpose of conferencing “with the Rio Blanco County Attorney,[Read More…]
County Beat: Board Addresses “Friction”
RBC | Rio Blanco County commissioners started work sessions early Tuesday to accommodate a busy schedule. ERBM Maintenance Manager Rodney Gerloff requested assistance inventorying trees in Meeker’s parks. Gerloff said ERBM could benefit from County Planner Leif Joy’s GIS and drone expertise to map trees in an effective way. With[Read More…]
Yampa Valley Community Foundation launches scholarship season
RBC | It’s scholarship season for students in the region and the Yampa Valley Community Foundation (YVCF) is pleased to offer two scholarships for Meeker High School (MHS) students. The Everett & Benita Bristol Memorial International Scholarship is awarded to students planning to or currently attending CMC’s Steamboat campus full-time[Read More…]
URSA pays $718K in back taxes
RBC | The County Treasurer’s office received a $718,363 check from natural gas operator URSA Resources for 2019 back taxes plus interest owed through Sept. 2, 2020, when the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. URSA reported $303,205,987 in total debt in its bankruptcy filings. The funds received from[Read More…]
Shed antler collecting is prohibited through Apr. 30
RBC | To protect wintering big-game animals and sage grouse species, collection of shed antlers on all public lands west of I-25 is prohibited from Jan. 1 through April 30. “The purpose of the closures is to reduce disturbance of wintering wildlife during the time of year they are most[Read More…]
Community spread boosts case counts
RBC | With new case counts remaining high, Rio Blanco County recorded its 401st positive COVID-19 case on Monday, Jan. 25, with some of the highest active case counts since the spike in November. As of Monday, there were 42 active cases in Meeker and 34 in Rangely. Six residents[Read More…]
Commissioners End Morlan’s 17-year Term as County Road and Bridge Director in Unanimous Vote
“All I can say right now is I’m going to do my best to make things right. Our county is too special a place to be ruined by bad decisions,” said Dave Morlan during the Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners regular meeting Tuesday. In his public statement, Morlan responded[Read More…]
CPW Commission approves three-year wolf introduction plan
Conservation Corner: Last week’s Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) virtual meeting included six hours of presentation, discussion, and comments on the process of wolf introduction. Many eyes and ears were fully focused on them. The voters of Colorado have spoken and forced introduction of wolves will occur in Colorado.[Read More…]
Buffalo Horn decision issued
RBC | It’s been a lengthy process, but the Bureau of Land Management, White River Field Office, has issued a decision to approve a land exchange with Buffalo Horn Properties, LLC. The parcels are in the Strawberry Creek and Smith Gulch areas in Rio Blanco and Moffat counties. In 2011,[Read More…]



