st 131 annual RANGE CALL Celebration JULY 1-4, 2016 www.meekerrangecall.com Meeker, Colorado HERALD TIMES STAFF The annual Fourth of July parade down Main Street in Meeker draws a big crowd of all ages to celebrate. This year’s theme is “Cowboy Pride.” The parade will begin Monday, July 4 at 10 a.m. KIM EKSTROM PHOTO Rodeo is the heart of Range Call, with the longest continuously-running annual rodeo in Colorado. The CPRA rodeos are on Saturday and Sunday, and the Ranch Rodeo and Calcutta are on Monday. RIO BLANCO HERALD TIMES 2B G RANGE CALL 2016 Thursday, June 30, 2016 2016 Parade Grand Marshals are examples of ‘Cowboy Pride’ Dramatic pageant tells the By HALLIE BLUNT ranch rodeos and volunteered endless story of the Meeker Massacre Special to the Herald Times time making everything run smoothly. the climax of the pageant produc - The theme this year is “Cowboy tion, it is a fairly small part of the MEEKER I Range Call is proud to Pride,” and this family certainly repre - whole drama. announce Jim and Bev Brennan as the sents that so well. The pageant tells the story of the 2016 Parade Grand Marshals. Jim said he is proud that his family Ute people in northwestern Jim and Bev have been instrumental established their ranch in the early Colorado and all the outside influ - in making Range Call what it is today. 1900s and that they are still operating ences—the Spaniards, the Powell Jim and Bev were married Aug. 13, the centennial ranch after more than party and the mountain men—who 1977, and are the fourth generation of 100 years. came in and ultimately ended up in pioneer families in the area; Now, the sixth generation is living the Utes being sent to reservations. Both inherited a sense of pride and on the ranch. It’s not a historical re-enactment a strong work ethic as well as the need Jim and Bev’s son, Neil, and his like those done at the sites of for community service in the area. wife, Kari, and two children, Hattie and Revolutionary or Civil War battles, Jim was the Range Call president Milo, live on the Piceance Creek but it does tell the story of the region from approximately 1979 to 2002. He Ranch. Their son, Matt, lives in in entertaining detail and fashion. along with his wife, their son, Neil, Carlsbad, N.M. The event was first sponsored by board members Bill Jordan and Richard The family has been a model of the local ladies’ auxiliary—a Jennings are the reasons Range Call has endurance and dependability and their women’s social club. With the flourished. contributions to Range Call have been exception of a year or two during the In 1980, they began having a con - substantial. Second World War, residents of cert as part of the celebration, and, in Thank you for your service, for car - HERALD TIMES ARCHIVE Meeker have presented the pageant 1989, they debuted the Ranch Rodeo. rying on the tradition of pioneering With an all-volunteer cast, the during Range Call every year. Jim and Neil have been pick-up men families, and for being a very real part Meeker Massacre Pageant tells Some of those residents are the COURTESY PHOTO in the regular rodeos, and they have of Range Call’s history and this week’s the history of this part of direct descendants of the first pag - 2016 Range Call Parade Grand Marshals supplied stock and organization for the grand marshals. Colorado and Meeker in particu - eant performers. Jim and Bev Brennan lar. The pageant is held outside After a few years, and with the in the fairgrounds arena Friday, July 1, beginning at dusk. additional help of the sheriff’s posse and other community social groups, scripts were written. By NIKI TURNER In the 1950s and ’60s, John Wix Historical Society events during Range Call [email protected] wrote a script which he narrated for Special to the Herald Times escort to Milk Creek Battle Site many years. (about 17 miles from Meeker) and a MEEKER I For more than 70 When he stopped narrating, he MEEKER I The White River guided tour. Wear comfortable years, the Meeker community has took his script with him, and Museum at 565 Park St. is open clothing and shoes, hats, sunscreen come together during the annual Margaret King wrote a new one every day. It is Colorado’s only and sunglasses; bring water, snacks Range Call Celebration to create a titled “The Twilight of the Ute curio museum. See fascinating and cameras. Tour lasts at least two dramatic re-enactment of the Empire.” That script is still in use exhibits such as Teddy Roosevelt’s hours. Meeker Massacre. today. chair, Native American exhibits, The Rio Blanco County The Meeker Massacre Pageant is The pageant reached a peak in pioneer art and artifacts and much Historical Society will be selling a symphonic drama, a blend of participation and spectators in the more. their famous root beer floats from 10 music, dance, pantomine and dia - 1950s. Elliot Roosevelt, a relative of Join us for the Milk Creek Battle a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 4, on the logue that depicts a series of histori - United States presidents Theodore Site Tour on Sunday, July 3 begin - courthouse lawn downtown. Funds cal events. and Franklin Roosevelt and a home - ning at 1 p.m. Meet at the White support the White River Museum Pageantry became popular in the owner upriver, narrated the pageant River Museum, 565 Park St., for programs and projects. United States in the late 1800s and for almost 5,000 spectators one year. early 1900s. One of the most famous Adjustments to the script have pageants is “The Lost Colony,” been made over the years by a vari - Steve Wix which began in 1937 in North ety of authors and directors as new Broker, Owner & Meeker Native Carolina. Residents of Roanoke information about the events leading Andrea Thiessen ~ Independent Broker Island wanted to share the story of up to and following the Meeker Rachel Gates ~ Associate Broker the Lost Colony with the world Massacre comes to light. 1130 MARKET STREET IN MEEKER, COLORADO … before it was forgotten forever. This year’s pageant begins at For all of your real estate needs in Meeker and beautiful White River Valley. The Meeker Massacre Pageant dusk Friday, July 1, at the fair - N Ranches N Residential N Commercial & Investment N Hunting and Recreational Properties began in 1938, inspired by LaRoy grounds. See descriptions and pictures of all our listed properties on our web site at Purdy. www.backcountryrealty.com Although the “massacre” of P.O. Box 2107 • 1130 Market St. • Meeker, Colo. 81641 • 970-878-4715 • Fax 878-4780 • E-mail: [email protected] Nathan Meeker and 11 other white COURTESY PHOTO men by members of the Ute tribe is No One Knows This White River Country Like We Do! Steve Cox rides a float in the 2015 Fourth of July Parade. Happy13Years,RangeCall! Welcome to Range Call! Congratulations! Wishingeveryoneasafeandfun RangeCallCelebration. RECYCLE 664 Main St. Meeker (970) 878-3677 THIS PAPER Meeker Laurie J. Brooks BROOKS REALTY Owner/Broker 889 Main St., Meeker, Colorado Rangely Charlie Novak (970) 878-5858 • (970) 675-2525 Broker Associate WWW.BROOKSREALTYMEEKER.COM $208,000 $350,000 and the White River Valley! The Care You Count On Emergency Care • Family & Pediatric Care Diagnostic Service • General Surgery Program 815 Sulphur Creek Meeker, Colorado 1886 County Rd. 8 Great opportunity to own this impeccably kept home, Meeker, Colorado super clean and ready to move into. Recently remodeled New windows throughout, 3 BD, 2-1/2 BA home, 6.8 master bath with high-end finishes and many other acres with 2000 SF White River frontage, large deck upgrades throughout, large dining area. 3 BD, 2 BA and spectacular views. One of a kind property! home located in the center of everything., walking dis- tance to town, schools and Rec Center. Beautiful yard and fun deck—come take a look! $155,000 $158,000 Pioneers100 Pioneers Medical Medical Center |970.878.5047Center Dr. Meeker(2 Family miles northeast Health of Meeker Center on Hwy.|970.878.4014 13) 970 9th St. Pioneers345 ClevelandMedical Street Center| Meeker, | 970.878.5047 Colorado 824 2nd St. Meeker, Colorado Meeker, Colorado Meeker Family Health Center | 970.878.4014 Quiet neighborhood with huge 18,750 SF lot. 4 BD, 3 15,000 SF lot, 3 BD, 1-3/4 bath home with large deck & BA home, with all kinds of potential to make it exact- www.pioneershospital.org great views, also has walk-out basement to the back ly like you want! Fireplaces in living room and master www.pioneershospital.org yard, fully fenced yard. bedroom. Metal roof. RIO BLANCO HERALD TIMES Thursday, June 30, 2016 RANGE CALL 2016 G 3B Holiday Weeekend ERRBM Recreation & Park Distrrict DŽĚŝĮĞĚ,ŽƵƌƐ :ƵůLJϮ͗ ĞŶƚĞƌŽƉĞŶ ϴ͗ϬϬĂŵͲϭ͗ϬϬƉŵ WŽŽůůŽƐĞĚ tthh :ƵůLJϯ͗ KƉĞŶϭϭ͗ϬϬĂŵͲϲ͗ϬϬƉŵ WŽŽůĐůŽƐĞƐ Ăƚ ϱ͗ϬϬƉŵ :ƵůLJϰ͗ f DZΘ WŽŽů ůŽƐĞĚ o CCelebrationellebratition AActivitictitiviitiitiieses :ŽŝŶƵƐ ŽǁŶƚŽǁŶ͊ RUN FFOR YOOUR LIFFE 5K When July 4 | Monday | Run Race bbegins at 7:30am | Waalk Race begins at 8:00am0am Age Divvisions for both Male & Female Who 6 & Underr,, 7-12, 13-18, 19-29,9, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59,50-599, 60-69, 70-79, 80+ Where Downtown Plaza Lawn (formmerly the Courthouse LLawn) Cost Early Bird $15 | Full Cost $200 Early Bird Deaddline: July 3 ;ZĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĂƚDZ Žƌ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ZD ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ƚĞŶƚ ŽŶ DĂŝŶ ^ƚƌĞĞƚ :ƵůLJ Ϯ Θ ϯͿ &ƵůůŽƐƚ ǁŝůů ĂƉƉůLJ ŽŶ :ƵůLJ ϰ͘ ĂLJͲŽĨ ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ ZƵŶ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂŶƚƐ ŵĂLJ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ZD ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ƚĞŶƚ ĨƌŽŵ ϲ͗ϬϬĂŵͲϳ͗ϬϬĂŵ tĂůŬ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂŶƚƐ ŵĂLJ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ZD ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ƚĞŶƚ ĨƌŽŵ ϲ͗ϬϬĂŵͲϳ͗ϯϬĂŵ ŚŽŽƐĞƚŽƌƵŶ Žƌ ǁĂůŬ Ă ϱ<͘ ZĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ Ă dͲƐŚŝƌƚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƚĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƟŵĞ ŽĨ ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ Ă ϭ͘ϱ ŚŽƵƌ ƟŵĞ ůŝŵŝƚ ĨŽƌ