Veterans memorial donation…

Rio Blanco County veterans service officer Hoot Gibson accepts a $3,000 check from Western Rio Blanco Metropolitan and Recreation and Park District (WRBM) executive director Tim Webber last Friday. The money is revenue from Septemberfest’s luncheon in the park and will help fund the Rio Blanco County Veterans Memorial statues, which coordinators hope will be installed this Memorial Day. Gibson said that currently, funding for the county-wide project is approximately 75 percent complete. Considering that the estimated project cost is $85,000 and that fundraising began just a year ago, “We’re kind of amazed that we’ve been able to do what we’ve done in such a small time in such a small county,” Gibson said. He also expressed appreciation on behalf of local veterans for this latest donation. WRBM is also raffling a whole processed beef donated by Wayne Allred. Funds raised will go toward the memorial. Donations of any amount are still being accepted for the project and can be sent to VFW POST 5843, Rio Blanco County Memorial Fund, Mountain Valley Bank, 400 Main St., Meeker, Colo., 81641.