Episode 9 ~ June 18, 2020

Here’s your weekly update from the Rio Blanco Herald Times for the week of June 18, 2020. Rio Blanco County has a second confirmed case of COVID-19. The first confirmed case was reported April 2, and that person has fully recovered. Public Health cannot confirm whether the positive is in Meeker or Rangely, but Director Alice Harvey stated the person has been on both ends of the county. If you are identified by contact tracing, you will be notified and can get tested. A different kind of bug is also making its way around. Rio Blanco County has an outbreak of Mormon crickets. The 2 to 3 inch insects have infested properties along Strawberry Creek Road and have also been spotted on China Wall. Mormon crickets are actually a species of shield-backed katydid, but they take their name from Mormon history. In 1848, a swarm of the insects were eating all the crops of starving Mormon pioneers near Salt Lake, Utah. The pioneers prayed for deliverance, and according to the tale, a huge flock of California gulls swooped in and gobbled up the insects over a two week period, saving the crops and the lives of the pioneers in the process. Mormon crickets, like many insects, are edible and nutritious for humans, too … if you can get over the ick factor. About 2100 years ago, the Ute and Paiute indian tribes would harvest the insects, dry them, ground them into flour, and bake them into bread. Rumor has it they taste quite sweet. Find that story on Page 1A. Approximately 20 Rangely residents held an event Tuesday in remembrance of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. The peaceful vigil, organized by Peter Forbes and Julie Noyes of Rangely, included readings, videos and 8 minutes and 46 seconds of candlelit silence. It tturned into quite the spectacle, however after a resident posted rumors on a Facebook page that the group Black Lives Matter would be bussing in “lots of out of town people.” The post cautioned residents to be “ready for protection.” The swirling rumors drew more than 200 spectators, who surrou