SERVING RIO BLANCO COUNTY, COLORADO SINCE 1885 PPrroomm ddaattee cchhaannggeedd ...... The date for the 2014 Meeker High School prom was reset RR II OO BB LL AA NN CC OO Monday from April 19 to April 12, causing a stir among students and parents, but meetings were set for Wednesday afternoon by students and parents who want to keep the April 19 date and Thursday evening by MHS Principal Kim Ibach to discuss with school officials, parents and students what everyone feels would be the best date. Several students and parents at the Meeker School Board meeting Tuesday night either stated or said others who did speak spoke on their behalf in favor of a return to April 19 for the prom. Conflicts with other dates prevented moving the prom into May, Ibach said, adding that the move was spurred by “10 to 12” complaints from “a priest, a Hera ld Tim es pastor and parents” because prom on the 19th would be a problem with the clergy because Easter is April 20 and because the parents said they had plans already for the weekend involving family. Volume 129, Number 34 I April 3, 2014 I theheraldtimes.com CodeRED to warn of local air, smoke and ozone problems By JEREMY SIMMONS quality events are a problem for people with ditions, the worse the effects. event is determined to be an emergency, a noti - alerts please go to the Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Environmental Health Officer respiratory issues. However, what many peo - This means that healthy adults and chil - fication will be sent to everyone registered for website and click on CodeRed. Once you’re RBC Public Health and Environment ple may not realize is that these issues can be dren can cause real damage to their lungs if CodeRED. If you are already registered for registered you will receive alerts for emergen - Special to the Herald Times just as bad, if not worse, for people with heart they exercise, work or play hard in bad air. CodeRED, you don’t need to do anything else cies only. Emergency calls will always show conditions. This is because when very fine par - When these conditions are bad enough, out - to receive emergency alerts. “CodeRed” as the caller on your caller ID. RBC I Rio Blanco County usually has ticulates in dust and smoke are inhaled they door exertion should be limited, even by the Hopefully, the air quality in Rio Blanco To sign up for text alerts for non-emer - good air quality. Air monitors installed in 2011 can enter the blood stream and wreak havoc on healthy. While dusty and smoky conditions are County never reaches emergency levels. gency air quality issues please contact the near Meeker and Rangely have confirmed this. the heart and circulatory system from within. fairly obvious, unfortunately high ozone levels However, because even moderately bad condi - Public Health Department at 970-878-9526 or However, long-time residents can tell you that Perhaps even more surprising is that complete - are not noticeable to most people. tions can be harmful, we are building a non- via email (at [email protected]). there historically have been long periods when ly healthy people can cause themselves serious To help Rio Blanco’s citizens protect emergency level into CodeRed. Through this We will need your name, address, phone num - wildfire smoke fills the air and an almost year - and permanent harm, including lung infection themselves, the County Public Health program we will send alerts only to those who ber and the name of your (cell phone) service ly dust storm season. and lung tissue scarring, if they exert them - Department is teaming up with the Rio Blanco want them when air quality conditions are bad, provider. If you use a TracPhone, we will need This is a part of the West. It will likely selves in these conditions. County Sheriff’s Office to begin using the but not bad enough to be considered an emer - a bit more, please contact us. These non-emer - always be so. In the last few years, we have Thankfully, the pollutants in the air during CodeRED emergency alert system to send out gency. This free service is separate from the gency alerts will show “ECN Network” as the also become aware of short periods of high these events are usually not a long-term issue notifications when poor air quality conditions emergency alert system and must be signed up caller on your caller ID. ozone on the western side of the county, near when the exposure is short and under moderate are known or predicted in the area. for separately. Rangely. conditions. However, the worse the conditions There are two tiers to this program: emer - If you have not registered your phone (cell We might all suspect that these poor air and the harder we breathe while in these con - gency and non-emergency. If an air quality phone) number with CodeRED for emergency See AIR , Page 3A Rangely voters Kevin Orlowitz back in set town board; parks to WRBM Meeker as postmaster By HEATHER ZADRA By SEAN M cMAHON commuting daily, and it really isn’t [email protected] too bad. That still allows me to play Special to the Herald Times hockey on the weekends.” MEEKER I RANGELY I Tuesday’s munici - After several Why the U.S. Postal Service? pal election in Rangely selected the months with a temporary postmaster, “It is a good job and I spent a lot mayor and two town board members Meeker now has a new full-time of time trying to get in,” Orlowitz and decided whether or not to convey postmaster, although he is no said. “The good thing about working several town parks and properties to stranger to the post office in town. in small towns is you get to know the control of the Western Rio Blanco Kevin Orlowitz began work as everyone, as I have in Craig. Metropolitan Recreation and Park Meeker’s new postmaster on Feb. “There are still a lot of people I District (WRBM). 28, but he was a postal clerk in know and recognize from when I Voters determined that incumbent Meeker for 18 months beginning in was in Meeker before, and that town board member Lisa Hatch will November 2008. His first job with makes it easier and more enjoyable,” return to the Rangely Town Board for the U.S. Postal Service was in he said. “It will just be a matter of a second four-year term with candi - Meeker. time until I get to know everyone dates Andy Shaffer and Ann Brady fill - Orlowitz returns to Meeker via here.” ing seats soon to be vacated by termed- SEAN MCMAHON Craig, where he has served as a As for the negatives of his job, out trustees Clayton Gohr and Elaine (Above) Cary Baird, left, the community engagement specialist for Chevron, presents a check for supervisor and a clerk. Orlowitz said, “I really don’t see any Urie. $25,000 to Peggy Rector, president of the Colorado Northwestern Community College Foundation, “I grew up in Bailey and have real problems here other than the Of the 277 regular and absentee center, and CNCC President Russell George, right, during the 10th Annual CNCC Foundation hunted in this area since I was 12,” lack of social interaction. And that is ballots cast, Shaffer was the top vote Dinner on Saturday night at CNCC. The check, dinner tickets and prolific bidders in the silent and he said. “Before settling in Bailey, particularly true of someone who spoken auctions raised $55,000 prior to expenses. (Below) CNCC Foundation President Peggy where I graduated from high school, isn’t living here full time.” getter with 213 votes. Hatch received Rector and CNCC President Russell George, presented Fred Slagle, center, the CNCC Supporter of 201 and Brady garnered 153 while I was all over the place as an Army Orlowitz said he isn’t sure when the Year Award. “Fred is the Encana front man around here, and they help the college a lot,” brat.” or if a full-time move will take place. candidate Dave Way, who lost by two George said. “But more than that, he and his family — wife Carla and daughter Tessa — are votes in 2012, received 143 votes to always there when anything needs to be done. Fred and his family were so honored because they His parents and three siblings “I really like the Meeker people come up 10 votes short this time. are all involved, and we are most grateful for all the help they offer.” live in Cañon City. and the surrounding area,” he said. Two hundred and thirty residents Orlowitz said he loves the hunt - “But I also play quite a bit of hockey voted to retain Rangely Mayor Frank ing and fishing in the area and in his in Craig, so I’m really not sure when Huitt, who ran unchallenged, for a sec - spare time he either heads outdoors that move will come, but I really ond two-year term. or plays hockey or video games. don’t mind the daily commute. A ballot question asked if residents “I have a lot of friends in Craig “Meeker has some really great wanted the Town of Rangely to convey who play hockey, and it could be and friendly people,” he said. “So I its interest in several town parks and really tough to leave them behind in am going to have to do a little bit of properties — among them the Rangely Craig,” he said.