SERVING RIO BLANCO COUNTY, COLORADO SINCE 1885 IInn rreevviieeww ...... A number of newsworthy RR II OO BB LL AA NN CC OO events took place in Rio Blanco County during 2014, including the dem - olition of the old Meeker Elementary School, which will be repurposed as the new county jus - tice center. For other June-December happen - ings in 2014, see the Hera ld Tim es Year in Review, which begins Page 1A and con - tinues on pages 3A, 6A and 8A in today’s edition. Volume 130, Number 22 I January 8, 2015 I theheraldtimes.com County officials to be sworn in to office Tuesday morning By SEAN M cMAHON ment officer and 38 years as a law term in office as county commission - Amick said she will complete her am forever indebted to them,” she remain in office for the past 12 years [email protected] enforcement officer in the county, er; Renae Nielson, who is entering duties by swearing in new Clerk and said. “I will certainly miss the daily and to the voters who had confidence starting when he was a police officer her sixth term in office as county; Recorder Campbell, then Campbell interaction with the people of Rio in me. I must say I enjoyed it. I RBC I A new slate of elected with Meeker Police Department. Jonathan “Leif” Joy as county sur - will issue the oaths of office to the Blanco County and the kindness believe I can see a lot of good in peo - Rio Blanco County officials will be Replacing Amick will be Boots veyor; and Albert Krueger as county other county officials. you’ve extended to me over the ple, and that has helped me out. sworn into office Tuesday, marking Campbell, who has been an assistant coroner. “I want to thank the public for years. It has been an honor and privi - “I have also worked with some the end of county service by two in the clerk’s office since 2007, and The swearing-in ceremony will allowing me to be your county lege to serve you.” great people, and without good long-standing officials who both replacing Woodruff will be Anthony be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday in the clerk,” Amick said. “The various Amick also pointed out that her deputies and good staff in the office, stepped down at the end of their cur - Mazzola, who has served as chief second-floor lobby in the Rio Blanco responsibilities of the office have chief deputy, Jackie Brennan, has no job is easy,” he said. “My staff has rent terms. investigator for the 9th Judicial County Courthouse. The public is often been very challenging, but I’ve served with her since April 1991, and been invaluable and I couldn’t have Rio Blanco County Clerk and District Attorney’s Office. welcome to attend. been fortunate to share in those chal - is retiring on Jan. 16. done it all without people like Recorder Nancy Amick decided to The county officials to be sworn In addition to those who will be lenges with some wonderful peo - “Together, we’ve been in the Undersheriff Mike Joos, just to name not seek re-election after 24 years in into office on Tuesday include: Boots sworn in Tuesday, County Treasurer ple—my incredible staff and a roster election ‘trenches’ through 40 elec - one of many who were highly valu - office and more than 30 years in the Campbell, who will replace Amick Karen Arnold and her deputy, of amazing election judges. tions,” Amick said. “It’s been quite able to me and to Rio Blanco County. clerk and recorder’s office. Sheriff Si after eight years in the county clerk Rhonna Waldref, were, by state “Our successful elections over the battle at times.” “I am very proud of the officers Woodruff is stepping down after 12 and recorder’s office, Shawn Bolton, statute, sworn into office on Dec. 31, the past 24 years can be attributed to Woodruff said, “I really feel in the sheriff’s office,” he said. “And years as the county’s top law enforce - who will be beginning his second prior to the start of the new year. their dedication to the process, and I indebted to those who helped me I wish them well.” Meeker woman wins White River Museum offers something for competition, awards everyone; exhibits show life in early days for her dancing at sea By SARAH WALTON By SEAN M cMAHON received a perfect 30 for our waltz, Special to the Herald Times [email protected] and we won the cruise championship over four other couples,” she said. “I RBC I Visitors to Meeker’s White River Museum seem MEEKER I Elaine Jordan received a lovely gold star paper - to find a favorite piece or area that takes them back to a dif - enjoys her dancing, and she is good weight and a photograph of the entire ferent time and place, when and where they are filled with enough at it that she won a cruise line cast. the wonder of what life was like for the area’s pioneers. competition tied to Dancing with the “Imagine my surprise in October, The museum offers something of interest to everyone, Stars, including making it to the when I received an email inviting me including children and adults. Its focus is on local history of finals for the competition. to participate in the Champions’ the White River region and it offers a collection of all things Jordan said Holland America Cruise from Dec. 6 to 13,” she said. relating to the pioneers of the White River Valley. The muse - Line’s partnership with “Dancing “I received a free seven-day cruise to um has thousands of artifacts and collectibles on display. with the Stars” television series fea - the Caribbean aboard the ms The museum is open seven days a week. Although tures the competition during their Westerdam. Holland America had admission to the museum is free, donations are accepted and sailing season, when guests dance chosen 15 dancers from the 500 encouraged. with shipboard professionals and cruise champions to be the finalists One can also support the museum by joining the Rio compete in the main show lounge for on the Champions Cruise. Each per - Blanco County Historical Society, and the RBCHS’s annual other cruise guests. son represented one of the 15 membership drive is going on at this time. Jordan took a cruise in September Holland America ships in the fleet. The museum opened the doors at its current location at from Boston to Montreal, Que., “I represented the ms Maasdam 565 Park St. in 1957. The two log buildings that house the Canada, aboard Holland America’s and received a T-shirt with ‘ms museum date back to 1880. ms Westerdam. Couples were inter - Maasdam’ on the front and ‘Dancing The museum counts more than 3,000 guests annually. viewed and judged by a panel of With the Stars at Sea’ on the back.” Last summer, the museum hosted folks from 45 states and judges as they do on the television The 15 guests and their profes - 13 countries. In 2013, the museum hosted 3,145 visitors, show, Jordan said. The audience vote sional shipboard dance partners per - Pictured here are is counted by a decibel meter for their there were 3,318 guests in 2012, and there were 3,607 visi - two of the favorite tors in 2011 applause. exhibits at the White See DANCING , Page 3A “We have visitors from all over the world; they seem to River Museum in “My partner, Christian, and I come from everywhere,” curator Ardith Douglas said. Meeker. Above is an Douglas moved to Meeker in 1970 with her husband and 1887 high chair that two daughters, and she has been at the museum for the last was made into a 25 years. stroller. At left is a One of Douglas’ favorite exhibits is the 1887 high two-headed calf born chair/stroller. in 1934 with a rare In addition to the many static displays, the White River birth defect. It lived for six hours. These Museum hosts numerous field trips each year. In 2014, are just a couple of school buses came from as far away as Yampa. the several hundreds A favorite exhibit among the kids visiting the museum is of items on display the child-sized barber chair circa 1918-1920. Hop’s Barber seven days a week Shop was the original home of the chair. at the museum, Also displayed is a collection of antique toys that which is currently includes fire trucks and dolls. holding a member - ship drive. SARAH WALTON See MUSEUM , Page 9A Year in Review: Looking back at end of 2014 Special to the Herald Times uncontested candidates. achievement on April 22, 2014. itoring equipment is currently not I Almost a year into his role as I The Rio Blanco County Cup is working and therefore fluoride cannot RBC I This week we will look at Rangely School District superintend - displayed in front of the score sheets, be added to the water system. news and events that took place ent, Matt Scoggins says with certainty which document the closest contest in I Chris Cagle brought folks to between June and December 2014. that he loves his job and feels some eight years of play between golfers their feet several times during his elements have improved under his from Meeker and Cedar Ridges Golf headlining performance at the Range I Tuesday’s election day leadership. Without hesitation he adds Course in Rangely.