Episode 27 ~ October 22, 2020

Here’s our community newscast for the week of October 22nd. Rio Blanco County Public Health Director Alice Harvey has been selected by the Meeker Chamber of Commerce as Meeker’s citizen of the year. The chamber presented Harvey with plaque recognizing leadership and commitment to the health of our community. Though we may be in the clear from blistering late summer heat, fire season is not over yet. Extreme drought and fire conditions continue to plague northwestern Colorado. RBC Sheriff Anthony Mozzolla says the fire protection district responded to five human started fires last week, four of which were started by hunters. Rio Blanco County is currently under stage 1 fire restrictions. More about conditions and specifics of stage 1 fire prohibitions and exemptions are listed on the front page. Two residents who tested positive for COVID-19 anonymously shared details with the HT about their experience with the virus. Both people reported continued effects even after being considered technically recovered from the virus, both saying they would get tired for no reason, even when they were able to get a good amount of sleep. That story also on this weeks front page. In Letters to the editor this week, two names you may recognize, Doctor Krueger speaks in defense of Dr. Anthony Fauci as the leading infectious disease expert in the country, and asks community members to be good neighbors and help slow the spread of coronavirus by wearing masks and avoiding gatherings until an approved vaccine is available to the general public. Those thoughts and more on pages 4A and 5A. Meeker’s board of trustees approved a building permit waiver for a new sleep lab at Pioneers Medical center and got an update from the Meeker Chamber of Commerce, which has 15 new members. Among other updates, Director Stephanie kobald told trustees that OHV Riding is now the number one inquiry at the visitor center. More details are on page 2A, and the chamber’s 2020 annual report is published on page 8A. County Commissioners heard from the d