From May 14, 1971

Meeker A Dead End?
Are things as bad as they seem? Is Meeker, Colorado really Dead Endsville, U.S.A? Are we really surrounded by gossipy closed minded people, as many people seem to believe exist in small towns?
In order to find this out I decided the best method would be comparison. So I interviewed students who had moved here just recently.

Make your own conclusions.

Dennis Piper-Hawaii

“The kids are better here, a little conceited. There was more to do there but here it’s more fun. In Hawaii you can’t get drunk until you’re 21, or they will put you in jail for a whole year. The parents here are a lot more open minded than in Hawaii. I like school better here, less people and better looking ones. In Hawaii the principals didn’t swat you, here they do plus expelling you.”

Dannette Devereaux-Green River, Utah

“The people in Utah are more open minded. The kids aren’t any wilder. This isn’t a very interesting place, so I can’t say anything interesting about it.”

Carla Overton-Denver

“This town is boring. The people are friendly when you first get here, but then they get back in their groups and act snobbish.”

Mike Gregory-Dallas, Texas

“Meeker’s smaller and friendlier. I like this school better, each day is different.”

-Roberta Nieslanik

Editor’s Note: Here is another archived article from the Cowboy Roundup Issue #20 published on March 6, 1970. It is titled “Student Council”.

The Student Council met Tuesday in Room 111. The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

The G.A.A. [Girl's Athletic Association] sponsored a dance on February 21. The price voted on by the Student Council was $1.00 stag and $1.25 a couple. This was to be the set price to be charged, however, only [$0.75] and $1.00 was charged. The Student Council voted that the members of the G.A.A. are to apologize to the students for this mistake.

Last week several of the Student Council members attended a League Student Council Meeting in Craig. At this meeting it was voted that each school in our league have a Clean-In Day. A $100.00 prize will be given to the mining school and a $50.00 prize for second place. It will be judged by the area to be cleaned, the improvements made, and by the number of students taking part. The date for this Clean-In has not yet been set.

Also the subject of sportsmanship pendants was voted on. Glenwood Springs is to receive both our football and wrestling pendants, Craig our basketball pendant, and Steamboat Springs our miscellaneous pendant. The school receiving the most pendants will be awarded the sportsmanship trophy for this year.

Editor’s Note: Every week or so, we are going to publish an article from the library’s old Cowboy Roundup archive. This particular article is from “Issue No. 1″ published on September 12, 1969, and was written by Debbie Jackson. It is titled “Beware, Freshmen”.

Note: WE NO LONGER HAVE “STOOGE DAYS” AT MEEKER HIGH SCHOOL.

On September 3, as you walked down the hall, an excruciatingly strong smell of garlic hit you full in the face. You turned the corner and there, in a small and obscure crevice, you found a poor freshman, bearing his burden alone. His (or her!) stooge master was in class and he (or she) had a couple of peaceful moments to himself. His special description was “stooge”. Thursday and Friday, September 4th and 5th were his special days.

“Stooge Days” is an old tradition at Meeker High, started between fifteen and twenty-five years ago. The plan of the tradition is simply “get the freshmen.” Each senior has his own stooge (a senior boy usually ends of with a girl stooge and a senior girl gets a boy stooge.) A module is designated for freshman [sic] and senior classes to meet and freshman [sic] names are pulled out of a hat by the seniors. From that moment on, until the appointed end of Stooge Days, the freshmen aren’t safe anywhere.

This is, of course, all in fun and even while the freshmen were in their anguish, they smiled sweetly and put forth a brave front. Cheerup, pals! It’s Over!

-Debbie Jackson