Dec 24 Newscast ~ Rio Blanco County News #35

Warmest holiday wishes to you and yours from the Herald Times. This week’s front page features letters to Santa from RBC elementary students, brimming with the magic of the season. On page 5B you can color your own Christmas village, check page 3A for a photo of a couple kiddos seeing Santa Claus in real life, and finally look on pages 6A and 7A for the 2020 Shop at Home for Holidays featured business, and winners of the week 4 drawing, the Christmas Cheer Contest, and the Light Up Rangely contest. The CoLab On Edge mental health series continues this week on page 2A, with the story of Robert Werthwein who suffered from severe depression for more than a decade, following the death of his identical twin brother, just a week before their shared 15th birthdays. Watch for more coverage, and features from Rio Blanco County residents, in the coming weeks. Whatever you’re going through, crisis counselors and professionally trained peer specialists are always available to help. Call the Colorado Crisis Services hotline at 1-844-493-TALK (8255). There is no wrong reason to reach out. Following Governor Jared Polis initiation of the state’s drought response and mitigation plan, the HT interviewed Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District Manager Alden Vanden Brink about the lack of storage in the White River basin, and an upcoming lawsuit in state water court where Rio Blanco hopes to secure a water right for the proposed Wolf Creek Reservoir. Here’s a clip from that interview. CLIP More with Alden Van Brink is on page 2A This week’s editor’s column dives into subjects like representatives who will do anything to cement their power, regardless of the cost and light at the end of the 2020 tunnel. Other pieces in the opinion section starting on page 4A are Kay Sulllivan’s guest column, thanking the HT and detailing some of the challenges of running a newspaper, and doing journalism in general. Also, look out for Rangely resident Wendi GIllard’s letter, sharing her experience with the COVID-19 virus. In county news, 200