SERVING RIO BLANCO COUNTY, COLORADO SINCE 1885 FFaatthheerr’’ss DDaayy ...... On Sunday, we salute RR II OO BB LL AA NN CC OO all the fathers in Rio Blanco County who live up to their love, their duties and their responsibilities of taking care of, sup - porting and nurturing the children they helped bring into this world. Fatherhood Hera ld Tim es means more than just making a woman pregnant; it is a life - time of responsibility. Volume 130, Number 45 I June 18, 2015 I theheraldtimes.com Meeker’s Market Street work nears completion in spite of rain delays By SEAN M cMAHON tion date back to possibly the first the sidewalks and curbs from Fourth [email protected] week of July. Most of the work is now Street west to 11th Street. complete between Fourth Street and Meszatos said Phase I, which is MEEKER I The work is pro - the Fairfield parking lot at Second the phase being worked on now, was gressing in satisfactory form to install Street. He said there is also a delay for budgeted originally for $700,000 with sidewalks and curbs on the north side pipe work at First Street, but that the 80 percent funded by the federal gov - of east Market Street in Meeker entire project, when complete, should ernment. although repeated rains have caused run all the way to Watt’s Ranch Phase II, which also has $700,000 the entire project to be delayed a cou - Market. budgeted to complete the curbs and ple of weeks, Meeker Town “There is still a lot of little work to sidewalks on the north side of Market Administrator Scott Meszaros said be done, but I think it should be done Street to 11th Street, will likely be Friday. by early July,” Meszaros said. done completely through city funding. “We are really close to finishing He added that the city recently “We have put in a grant applica - the sidewalks, roughly only one block submitted paperwork for the right of tion with the feds to help with Phase left,” he said. “But there is still a lot to way permits needed to get going on II,” Meszaros said. “But with such be done after the walk is complete.” Phase II of the project, which will be major projects in Glenwood Springs Meszaros said Duckels done without grants from the state or SEAN MCMAHON Construction has moved the comple - federal governments. It would extend See MARKET , Page 3A Meeker Mason Chuck Mills laid the cornerstone right outside the front door of Pioneers Medical Center on Saturday afternoon. Before he sealed the stone, a time capsule containing contempo - rary and a few past keepsakes were placed behind the stone. Many of those present said it was the first time in their lives they had seen a cornerstone laid. Meeker dedicates new hospital; PMC will open fully on Friday Special to the Herald Times Masonic Lodge No. 80. A seven- of 2015 PMC employees rounded member brass band greeted the out the contents of the capsule. MEEKER I The face of med - audience with the “Star Spangled The time capsule was placed ical care in Rio Blanco County has Banner.” During the ceremony the and the cornerstone set. Mason taken on a new look as approxi - cornerstone was blessed and com - Charles J. Mills, 32nd degree mately 500 people attended the munity members were invited to Mason with Lodge No. 80, and a grand opening celebration of the mud the stone and help prepare it member of the Haselden construc - new Pioneers Medical Center for the setting. tion team, dedicated the cornerstone (PMC) on Saturday. Next, Twyla Jensen, the human and set it in place. SEAN MCMAHON The facility is located off resources director for PMC, shared “With this facility, PMC opens Work is mostly done on the sidewalks from Fourth Street in Meeker to Watt’s Ranch Market, but there Highway 13, just northeast of a list of contents included in the a new chapter in Meeker’s health - are plenty of details to be completed after the sidewalks and curbs are in place. Heavy rains have time capsule to be placed behind the care history, which was launched delayed progress, but the entire project may be completed by mid-July, when Phase II from Fourth Street Meeker, at 100 Pioneers Medical to 11th Street may begin, with hopes of completion by September or October, before it gets too cold. Center Drive. official cornerstone. The contents with a vision and collaborative “We are excited to showcase include a list of the contents of the efforts of a group of progressive our new healthcare building,” says original time capsule set in 1949 at individuals,” Meeker Mayor Regas Ken Harman, PMC Chief the 345 Cleveland location, and his - Halandras said. Executive Officer. “In addition to torical pictures to commemorate the “Today we are excited to dedi - Rangely District Hospital looks to the local townspeople, guests from history of 65 years of healthcare in cate this beautiful healthcare facili - The Memorial Hospital in Craig, Meeker. ty, but it is a tool; the talented staff and Valley View Hospital attended, In addition, a photo booklet that and the access to a variety of local make $1 million in budget cuts as well as State Sen. Randy documents the construction healthcare services is the greatest Baumgardner.” progress was included. Several let - thing we celebrate today,” said By JENNIFER HILL Goshe said, “We are belt tighten - Another factor Goshe sites as The ceremonies began at 3 p.m. ters from PMC board members, Mike Hoke, chairman of the board Special to the Herald Times ing, just like everyone else in town.” damaging the hospital’s bottom line is with the ceremonial cornerstone staff and community members were The difficult financial situation the decline in people seeking health setting conducted by the Rio Blanco received for the timeline, and a list See HOSPITAL , Page 11A RANGELY I Rangely District facing the hospital is caused by a care services, which, he said, is a Hospital is planning a public meeting combination of things. The hospital is nationwide trend. for the third week of March to discuss currently facing unprecedented man - The hospital management team, budget cuts and the possible impact of dates from the federal government which includes department heads, those cuts on the community. that “hurt small hospitals. Goshe said. will begin meeting soon and eventual - Hospital board chairman Steve The Affordable Health Care Act, ly make recommendations to the Plein Air Art, part of Range Call, Petersburg said that hospital is look - commonly known as Obamacare, board regarding where the cuts should ing to eliminate approximately $1 requires hospitals to use electronic be made. million from the budget. However, medical record programs. This Petersburg said he expects the Petersburg and hospital CEO Nick change will cost the hospital an addi - entire process to be finished by July 1. begins today, outdoors in county Goshe want the public to know that tional $1 million per year and has cost Once the board has set a date for By SEAN M cMAHON and the best of show art will win N.M., California and a few other despite the cuts the hospital is not at least three times more than the the public meeting, notice will be [email protected] $1,000. locations. closing. anticipated dollar amount to establish. given to the public. “Plein air art began in the late “This is a really good way to MEEKER I Artists taking part 1800s in Europe and quickly moved bring people into Rio Blanco County in Plein Air Meeker 2015 will be vis - back to America,” said Pat and a great way to advertise ible along Rio Blanco County roads Sheeran/Daggett, the owner of and Meeker,” Sheeran/Daggett said. “We History Colorado taking grant applications and in out-of-the way forests and artist at The Upstairs Gallery in have exceptional scenery, which Special to the Herald Times ties in all 64 Colorado counties, total - State Historical Fund grant recip - campgrounds within 50 miles of Meeker. Sheeran/Daggett helped includes high country and low coun - ing a more than $263 million invest - ients receive not only financial sup - Meeker as of today as the painters start the local competition in 2012 in try, which is unlike many other loca - RBC I History Colorado is ment in historic preservation in port, but the expertise of History have focused on outdoor art avail - conjunction with the Meeker tions.” announcing the second grant applica - Colorado. In 2014 alone, the State Colorado’s preservation specialists, able thanks to Mother Nature. Chamber of Commerce and Range The paintings must have been tion deadline of 2015 for its national - Historical Fund awarded $8,444,303 contracts and financial specialists, “En plein air” is French for “in Call. turned in by 5 p.m. on Thursday July ly recognized historic preservation in preservation grants. and marketing and communications the open air,” and the artists who “Plein air art painting also played 2. Most will be painted in water col - grants program, the State Historical State Historical Fund grants are specialists to ensure their project start the two-week painting competi - a major role in helping define ors, oils, acrylics or pastels, but any Fund. awarded for education, survey and upholds strong preservation stan - tion today or in the next few days American art late in the 1800s in that medium may be used. Grant applications must be post - planning, and acquisition and devel - dards and is publicized online and in will paint through July 2 in the natu - it is responsible for many of the large On Friday, July 3, from noon to 2 marked Oct.