Dec 10 Newscast ~ Rio Blanco County News #33

Thanks for listening to another edition of Rio Blanco County news. Here’s our community newscast for the week of December 10 ______________________________________________________________ Santa's ride was extra souped-up this year thanks to efforts by ERBM Recreation and Park District, Rio Blanco County Sheriff's office, Meeker Police Department and Rio Blanco Fire Protection District. A Santa parade, complete with a siren-sounding entourage, made its way around Meeker Saturday morning. You can find a video on our youtube channel or facebook page. The Upstairs Gallery in the Hugus Building is closed, but you can still shop a wide variety of locally crafted gifts by window shopping. Keep an eye on our facebook page, for a video showing off many of the cool items available. You can help raise funds for the Pioneers Health Foundation and Meals on Wheels Program by purchasing a Jingle Mingle box. More about that, upstairs gallery window shopping, and all of the COVID-19 testing information is in the news briefs on page 3A. Rookie cowboys Colten Fritzlan of Rifle and Ty Wallace, originally from Collbran, Colorado, and now Oklahoma, have been cleaning house and moving up in the standings at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in the bull riding competition. As of press time, Wallace is sitting as the World Bull Riding Leader, followed by Ky Hamilton, and in the third spot, rookie Colten Fritzlan. More is in the sports section on page 1B. There you can also read about season B sports, which have been delayed as statewide COVID cases rise. The news follows communication between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado High School Activities Association late Sunday night. On the front page, you’ll find the first in a series of stories on mental health: Colorado’s shadow epidemic: heightened anxiety, depression are testing families, communities and colorado's already frayed social safety net. If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, counselors and professional