This is the 17th day of April; we just mailed our dues to the Internal Revenue Service and now, feeling relieved that all is well, I shall do the next favorite fun thing to do the Rico Report. We love our country and feel obligated to do whatever is necessary to continue our fine life in the finest country in the world. We can see with our own eyes what life is like in other parts of the world no thanks.
Last week I mentioned that the new spring flowers peeking their heads out of the soil are enjoying the warm sunshine. Well! Last Thursday the snow arrived very gently and continued over the weekend. Talk about feeling sorry for those precious little plants, they doggedly stuck it out and even as cold as it was, they did not perish! We received light snows practically all day and night through Sunday. No huge amounts, just light flakes that stuck on the lawns, but not the streets. Just good old moisture maybe a half inch!
Driving home from Cortez last Monday, we were in for a pleasant surprise. As we approached Truelsens pastures just past the gravel pit, we looked ahead in the distance and saw what looked like horses grazing. Odd looking horses, to be sure! There were at least 25 head of elk grazing contentedly not far from the highway. One might expect to see some signs of migration up the canyon at this time of the year, and so we were not totally surprised. As we approached mile marker 42, seven miles south of Rico, we were almost startled to see another herd of 20 or so trying to graze what little grass existed. The grass was wonderfully green on Redburns Ranch down below. Fair warning to our travelers. The deer will soon be appearing also.
The Rico Historical Society is excited to learn that their application grant asking for monetary assistance to mount the Rio Grande Southern water spout to the water tank was accepted by our Rico Center Foundation. The spout was kept safely down in Dolores at their museum for several years and, finally, with assistance, were able to haul it home last summer. It is several feet long, cast iron and heavy! It will take a little engineering to figure out a plan on how to place it back on the huge water tank down below depot hill. This grant will give us the means. That will be quite a feat, and historically a great step in the Historical Society plans to preserve our past accomplishments as a mining and railroad Town.
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.