Page 41 - Rayk Erku News Today

Ray K. Erku / Post Independent Just a few minutes away from punching their ticket to the next round of the 3A playoffs, Bears senior Bryce Rowley was anxiously lingering on the sidelines when one of his teammates asked how many quarterback sacks he had. “Three,” he responded confidently. “But I’m going for one more.” If it weren’t for the backfield ambushes by Rowley, perhaps the outcome of the Bears’ 28-20 win over The Academy on Saturday could’ve been different. The 140-pound ...

Are you getting or have you already received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine? Your insurance might be billed.

Ray K. Erku / Post Independent Downtown Rifle business owner Nick Beightel said business has decreased 75% since construction activity picked up in the area earlier this year. In fact, when asked if COVID-19 or construction has been more of a detriment to foot traffic, Beightel, who owns One Jewelers, said construction is worse “by far.” “The fact a lot of my customers are elderly people, they don’t want to walk a block or two to shop,” he said on Tuesday. “They want the convenience...

Ray K. Erku / Post Independent The excitement in Roaring Fork Transportation Authority bus driver Ronda McCarroll’s voice ricocheted off every nook and cranny of the make-shift waiting room. Garfield County Public Health hosted a free walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Rifle on Saturday, and McCarroll had just brought her 20-year-old son, Jeremiah McCarroll. He sat quietly beside his mother, looking at his smartphone, a ticket officially confirming he received his vaccination underneath. ...

Ray K. Erku / Post Independent Rifle’s traffic congestion woes are likely to continue as the city recently agreed to extend the closure of Hospital Hill Road into summer. During an April 21 board meeting, FCI Constructors Inc, hired by Grand River Health to construct the new Grand River Care Center, notified the city that construction won’t be finished until August. Hospital Hill Road, which extends from Ash Avenue to U.S. Highway 6 at the south of the facility, was closed to traffic in 201...

But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun out there right now. With seasonal closure lifted April 15 (riding is not allowed until June 1), outdoor adventurers can still park their vehicles at the newly developed drive-in parking lot and bike 6 miles of the first phase of what will be an 18-mile project. The Grand Hogback Trails at Rifle Arch are located 9 miles north of Rifle, on Colorado Highway 13. The parking lot is on the east side of the road. Work, however, is still underway. Avid moun...

Ray K. Erku / Post Independent Rifle sports icon Coach Gordon Cooper was treated to a pleasant surprise Saturday. Basking in some late-morning sun at the rotunda entrance of the Veterans Nursing Home, a hefty motor procession circled by to wish him happy birthday. The man who many simply refer to as “coach” just turned 91 on April 1. “You’re awesome!” former Rifle High School baseball player Brian Rust, a product of the Rifle’s 1985 state title, whooped to Cooper through a pick-up t...

Anyone driving along the Interstate 70 corridor should be prepared to suspend travel plans beginning Friday and lasting through the weekend.

Nick Beightel, owner of One Jewelers in Rifle, works on a necklace Saturday morning. Ray K. Erku / Post Independent Any business owners still struggling to make ends meet are being invited to take advantage of additional COVID-19 relief funds. Rifle City Council on Wednesday voted to make available an additional $41,000 in forgivable business grants. In addition to business relief, the unanimous approval will also allocate $12,000 to Reach Out Colorado and another $27,000 to finance remodeling ...

Seniors in Rifle High School drama aren’t squandering their final hurrah. Friday marked their first curtain call in nearly a year — they’re performing slapstick comedy “Noises Off” once more this weekend — the local thespians say they’re happy to be back not just for the benefit of themselves, but for future generations. “This is one of the big things that I look forward to — getting to work with a big group and putting on a show, to create something big out of something small...