Hello to my faithful readers!
We observed the changing of the guard last Thursday, the 22nd, the last day of summer for 2011. The next day, autumn took summers place. Before I prepared this weeks Rico Report, my advice to friends interested in taking a drive to view the colors changing up in the high country was that probably the weekend of the 8th of October, we should see the colors peak. After driving down valley on the 27th, we decided that the colors are changing so fast that the weekend of the 1st of October might very well be close to peaking and if a stiff breeze would come up next week, the leaves would be falling too soon. So, only Mother Nature really knows and we must just take our chances! It has been very pleasant these past few days, but one might want to bring along a sweater (and the picnic basket). The colors are especially bright, with more orange and red this year.
The final Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. to honor our World War II veterans, at least on the Western Slope, left Grand Junction on the 21st of September with 93 veterans and 93 guardians. Whether this is the final flight for this program that has been going on for some time throughout our country, I do not know. Anyway, those veterans from this area that were on this flight were Floyd Norris, J.D. Rose and Ken Hazen. The events that unfolded on this trip were a most profound, dignified and heart-warming experience, and something that these veterans will never forget.
Shannon Livick, editor of our Dolores Star, plans to do a story including photos this coming month. Therefore, I shall not complete this beautiful story in this Report. What I would like to add, though, is that I was told by a reliable source that our own Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Dolores did donate money toward this project!
Time is running out for our friends who are able to spend their summers in cool Colorado. The temperatures are falling (slowly) back home, but they are going to stay here as long as possible, which could mean that a snowstorm might just follow them out of Rico!
Last weekend was like another Fourth of July weekend! The elementary school enjoyed a successful Fun Run that morning to raise funds for their ski program with Noah Hagan, age 13, winning the event. That was quite a feat, I would say! The next event, also at the town park, was the Rico Womens Chili Cook-off, which turned out to be, truly, a heated contest, to say the least! It turned out to be a tough decision for the community of tasters and the final decision was made by all, and Jimmer Moore, who lives down-valley, won the trophy for best green chili, and Ricos Mike Shorey won for best red chili. A couple of the candidates especially the green chili was a little too hot for my fancy! It was a great party, and we look forward to next years cook-off.
Last, but not least, the Rico Alpine Society this organization is very active, doing trails in the summer, hosting the clean-up day for the town, maintaining the cross-country trails for the public in the winter and the list goes on. The society hosted a volleyball tournament that same afternoon, and it was something else. If you have ever watched these young people in our community play this game, you know what I mean. Talk about rough and tough! They love it. I still do not know which team won. Afterward, they enjoyed a huge barbecue, with food for all.
The next day, Sunday, the Rico Historical Society held its annual meeting at the museum, with a fine turnout of members and visitors. President Mike Curran conducted the meeting, and the progress and accomplishments completed this year were covered. The society thanked the Rico Center Foundation for their monetary assistance. This came in the form of grants that Mike has written over the years for needs in completing the work necessary on the old converted fire house built before the turn of the century that is now our Rico Museum. When we first moved here twenty-some years ago, I remember that our fire department was still meeting in that same fire house. The building housed two vehicles, the ambulance and a fire truck and the members sat on the bumpers near the pot-bellied stove and Chief Todd Jones conducted the meetings. I am getting totally off of the subject! Back to the Rico Society meeting. The guest speaker was Marsha Bankston yes, the same Bankston family who have been commissioners for Dolores County throughout the generations, who hail from the Disappointment Valley area due north of Dove Creek. Marsha is a storyteller extraordinary, and she put on her little bonnet and shawl, sat on a rocking chair and read to us the story of Lizzy Knight, the first registered woman to live in Rico in the early days. She was hardly 5 feet tall and was a blacksmith, having traveled to America from England. We were delighted!
Businesswise, votes were taken and Mike Curran and myself were re-elected to the Rico Society Board and Susan Robertson was voted to the board to fill a vacant seat. The society is looking for more new members. You know the old saying, Many hands make for easier work.
We have a real possible catastrophe facing the town of Rico. The U.S. Postal Service is considering the closure of our post office. Yes, we may be forced to drive to Dolores, 38 miles down the mountain, to do our mail business. We appreciate Dolores and their facility, but how can a 95-year-old great-grandmother manage to use this plan? Ridiculous.
Marlene Hazen has lived in Rico for two decades. An active member of the community, she participates in organizations such as the Rico Womens Club and Rico Historical Society.