Thanks for listening to another edition of Rio Blanco County news. Here’s our community newscast for the week of December 10

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Santa's ride was extra souped-up this year thanks to efforts by ERBM Recreation and Park District, Rio Blanco County Sheriff's office, Meeker Police Department and Rio Blanco Fire Protection District. A Santa parade, complete with a siren-sounding entourage, made its way around Meeker Saturday morning. You can find a video on our youtube channel or facebook page.

The Upstairs Gallery in the Hugus Building is closed, but you can still shop a wide variety of locally crafted gifts by window shopping. Keep an eye on our facebook page, for a video showing off many of the cool items available. You can help raise funds for the Pioneers Health Foundation and Meals on Wheels Program by purchasing a Jingle Mingle box. More about that, upstairs gallery window shopping, and all of the COVID-19 testing information is in the news briefs on page 3A.

Rookie cowboys Colten Fritzlan of Rifle and Ty Wallace, originally from Collbran, Colorado, and now Oklahoma, have been cleaning house and moving up in the standings at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in the bull riding competition. As of press time, Wallace is sitting as the World Bull Riding Leader, followed by Ky Hamilton, and in the third spot, rookie Colten Fritzlan. More is in the sports section on page 1B.

There you can also read about season B sports, which have been delayed as statewide COVID cases rise. The news follows communication between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado High School Activities Association late Sunday night.

On the front page, you’ll find the first in a series of stories on mental health: Colorado’s shadow epidemic: heightened anxiety, depression are testing families, communities and colorado's already frayed social safety net. If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, counselors and professionally trained peer specialists are here to help. Call Colorado’s Crisis Service hotline at 1 844 493 TALK, that’s 1 844 493 8255

This week’s opinion and editorial section includes the weekly editor’s column, a message from local healthcare providers, a first hand account of what it’s like to have COVID-19, the power of adversity, and the importance of getting help for your mental health. All that stuff starts on page 4A

Page 8A has answers from Doctor Albert Kreuger regarding uncertainty about COVID-19 vaccine side effects. And check there for the county beat, with updates on the county commissioners work sessions and regular meeting.

Ever wondered about the origins of christmas lights? Well now you can learn ALLL about it on page 3B, AND find pictures of christmas lights around meeker at HT1885 dot com

Page 3B also has information about the Colorado Secretary of State certifying the 2020 election results, and, new quarantine guidelines from the CDC.

That’s all for this week’s highlights, there is a LOT more in the print edition and online at HT1885 dot com

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