Providing a voice for community-based organizations and individuals that enrich the life of the Grand Valley FREE
Volume #2 Number 8
INSIDE
Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
B U Y I N G
L O C A L
Parachute gets its own homegrown big box Welcome to 4,000 feet of remodeling supplies
Award winning teachers page 11
Bike trail brush-off page 12
Sign painters page 16
Grapplers page 17
Kiwanis clean-up page 19
By Heidi Rice Special to the Echo Move over big box stores – Parachute now has its own version of a Lowe's Home Improvement store or a Home Depot right in downtown Parachute. The store, a combination of several building tradesmen, including Arrowood Plumbing, Inc. and Western Slope Oil Tools, Inc., along with several other contractors, opened this spring and features everything a do-ityourselfer would need to do a home project.
Builders’ co-op right at home Whether you choose to remodel and build it yourself or From left, Jarod Arrowood and Carl Risk in their new showroom in downtown Parachute. Arrowood Plumbing and hire a professional to do it for Western Slope Oil Tools have partnered up with other vendors to offer Grand Valleyites a full array of remodeling and you, this builders’ co-op made building supplies. Photo by Heidi Rice up of several different building tradesmen, can offer you a package that includes everything from plumbing, showers, sinks, faucets just be cheaper than you would find at a big box store. "We pretty much have everything somebody would need for a and floors to cabinets, man-made and granite countertops, tubs, toiremodel," Jarod said. "We carry every supply you need to do it lets and more. The back part of the shop even offers equipment for yourself." oil and gas operations. The two say the store is the Both Arrowood Plumbing only one of its kind between and Western Slope Oil Tools Glenwood Springs and Grand operate out of a 4,000-squareJunction and offers competitive foot building in downtown Parachute. prices, many of which are lower than its larger competitors. Jarod Arrowood went into According to Arrowood, business for himself seven years ago. the store carries most every"I rode the construction train thing you could find in Lowe's until the market fell out," he or Home Depot in Grand said. "There's not a lot of conJunction, but at a significant struction going on right now, savings. but people are doing remodels like crazy." "We definitely have most of the stuff and beat the prices of Carl Risk is a 10-year resident of Rifle and worked in the oil and Lowe's and Home Depot," Jarod said. "We have suppliers that are gas industry before losing his job in the recession. working with us that beat most anything. And if we don't have it, He now owns and operates Western Slope Oil Tools and sells we can order it. We can get anything." equipment to the same industry he used to work for. The Parachute showroom includes unique fixtures, such as cop"Instead of going to work for someone else, I decided to work per and oil-rubbed bronzed faucets, a variety of countertops, vessel for myself," Risk said. sinks, tile samples and more. The two businesses – Arrowood Plumbing and Western Slope supply you need’ – at significant savings Oil Tools – are located at 243 E. First St. in Parachute. Store hours ‘Every as they may be out on calls, but for more information or to along with some other vendors, and vary together, The two paired are now offering full services and selling products for those who make an appointment, call Arrowood Plumbing at 270-8869 or want to make improvements to their homes for a price that may Western Slope Oil Tools at 618-9804.
"I rode the construction train until the market fell out. There's not a lot of construction going on right now, but people are doing remodels like crazy.” - Jarod Arrowood
Page 2, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
FROM THE EDITOR
Have a story idea? Contact the Echo gve@crystalvalleyecho.com
Here’s to the class of 2010 I’m impressed. Reading through the “Senior Spotlight” submitted by Grand Valley High School students Chelsae White, Tiffany Waugh and Kelcey Satterfield in this month’s Echo (see page 21) is inspiring. Here are the dreams, plans and aspirations of the senior class of 2010. Many are going on to college. Others want to but haven’t quite figured out what they want to major in. And some are going straight to work. Some are heading to four-year universities. Others are going to CMC, then transferring. Many are staying in Colorado. A few are launching out completely solo to other states. One is going abroad. Two are heading for the Marines, one to the National Guard, one to the Navy, and one to the Air Force Academy. I’m not only impressed with these seniors, but I’m impressed with their parents, who have helped guide them, and with their teachers, who have instilled in them certain life lessons. It makes a difference, and it shows. Think back to when you were 18, and imagine what these young adults are facing today. Depending how old you are, the world has changed, as it always does, from when we were that young. From studying pre-med to opening a mechanic shop, these guys will run their world someday. I like reading about their goals and where they’re heading. It makes me feel like we’re in good hands. Here are all of our best wishes to the Grand Valley High School class of 2010. Go get ‘em. – Carrie Click
DaveMunk4HolyCross@rof.net • DaveMunkForHolyCross.org
Thank you to this month’s contributors: All copy submitted to The Grand Valley Echo will be edited and reviewed by our staff for style, grammar and content. The Grand Valley Echo reserves the right to refuse publication of any submitted material that does not meet the publisher’s standard for a positive, informative, educational community newspaper.
MISSION STATEMENT To provide a voice for local schools, nonprofit groups and civic organizations; to bring attention to the individuals and local businesses that are the fabric of the Grand Valley region; to contribute to the vitality of our small town life. The Grand Valley Echo is published monthly, and is distributed throughout Battlement Mesa and Parachute. Subscriptions are available for a $25 annual fee.
PUBLISHER/ DESIGNER ALYSSA OHNMACHT EDITOR CARRIE CLICK COPY EDITOR DANA CAYTON ADVERTISING SALES BARBARA PAVLIN
285-7634 DISTRIBUTION/CIRCULATION STEVE PAVLIN Dawn Distribution • 963-0874
274 REDSTONE BLVD., REDSTONE, COLORADO 81623 970-963-2373 • gve@crystalvalleyecho.com
Heidi Rice, Artha Hornbostel, Ed Kosmicki, Bud and Anne Madeen, M.E. Denomy, Sarah Tahvonen, BJ Lindaur, Dave and LindaDevanney, Robert Knight, Anne Huber, Joline Gnatek, Bill Cornelius, Beret Brenckman, Emily Hisel, Mary Anderson, Gene Pickett, Barbara Barker, Jim Rada, Linda Smith, Doug Straw, Debbie Crawford, Betsy Leonard, Heather McGregor, Chelsae White, Tiffany Waugh, Kelcey Satterfield, Tiffany Tittes, Shannon Schubert, Liz Favier, Brian Berg, St John Elementary Fourth Grade Team, Veronica Duran, Jeanne Miles, Kade Hurst, Ms. Newlin, Katie Lang, Ms. Johnson, Laurel Koning
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 3
G R A N D
VA L L E Y
Parachute Visitors Center Cabin turns 25 Celebration at rest stop scheduled for June 19 By Artha Hornbostel, Echo contributor
Better known locally simply as "The Cabin,” the little log house in the park on the north side of the I-70 Parachute/Battlement Mesa Exit 75 reopened this past April for its 25th year of service to the traveling public. The Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce owns the cabin, though it sits on land owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation. The Town of Parachute maintains the park and rest facility. Talk about a total community effort! About 25 volunteers serve as hosts in four-hour morning and afternoon duty times between April 1 and Oct. 31 each year. In the early days, the volunteers learned that tourist cars with skis on them don't stop
once they cross the Colorado border until they reach their ski-slope destinations, so the cabin remains closed in the winter. During its months of operation, however, the visitor roster reflects names from all 50 states and, in many years, from more than 50 countries around the world. In the June 22, 1997 edition of the Rocky Mountain News, Parachute’s cabin was named the best privately-owned rest stop in the state. This is something to celebrate! And that is what we intend to do on June 19, from 2-5 p.m. at Parachute’s rest stop. There will be a barbecue, music, tents, flags and storytellers, and a festive celebration. If you want to participate in planning for this celebration, call Mary Andersen at the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District office at 285-0388. If you have a good story of past experiences at the cabin, give Artha a call at 285-7175. She'll “The Cabin” at the Parachute rest stop. get it into the history records.
Three new directors elected to the Battlement Mesa Metro District (BMMD) By Carrie Click, Echo editor
Battlement Mesa Metropolitan District election results
Three new directors are joinVotes ing the Battlement Mesa Michelle Foster 265 Metropolitan District’s board, as Dr. Bruce Richards 224 a result of a special district elecSara McCurdy 214 tion held May 4. Bob Arrington 150 The BMMD monitors Keith Lammey 148 Battlement’s water and sewer Bill Nelson 120 services, and manages the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. Michelle Foster, Sara McCurdy and Dr. Bruce Richards were elected to join existing board members Lynn Shore and Fred Inman. Former board member Frank Lancaster had been term limited so was ineligible to run for another term, and Ray Barber chose not to run again. Bill Nelson, who was currently serving as president of the BMMD at the time of the election, did not receive enough votes to retain his position. New board member Michelle Foster moved to Battlement Mesa in 1982, and recently retired as an EMT and firefighter after serving for 35 years – 17 of which were at the Grand Valley Fire Protection District (GVFPD). She retired in 2008 from the Battlement Mesa Company. She is the current president of the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce, and is term limited as of May as president of the GVFPD. She’s served on the planning and zoning commission, and is involved with Friends of the Parachute Library, and the Grand Valley Historical Society, among other community organizations. Sara McCurdy was also just elected to the BMMD board. She currently serves as the vice president of the Battlement Mesa Service Association (BMSA). She serves on the BMSA Architectural Review Committee, and is the Mt. Callahan Community Fund’s co-chair. Sara is concerned about “cuts at the local level…including reduced services at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center,” which prompted her to run for the BMMD board. Sara received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University, and retired with her husband Robert “Mac” McCurdy to Battlement in 2005. Newly elected board member Dr. Bruce Richards says that the 12 years he has spent regularly visiting the Battlement Mesa Activity Center has “brought him excellent awareness of the activity center’s strengths and weaknesses.” Bruce practices gynecologic surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, and has served on numerous medical boards in Colorado, including the Grand River Hospital District. He is a member of the Ethics Committee at St. Mary’s.
Eric Schmela.
Photo by Ed Kosmicki
Echo file photo
BMC’S second Community Speaks meeting to feature Samson, Green and Vallario
By Carrie Click, Echo editor
As part of an ongoing effort to increase communication between Battlement Mesa residents and the Battlement Mesa Company, CEO Eric Schmela is hosting the second Community Speaks. Community Speaks is a series of public meetings to discuss current events that affect the Battlement Mesa community. The next Community Speaks is at the old firehouse at 6:30 p.m. on June 8. At the meeting, Eric will unveil the plans for the new Garfield County Road and Bridge/Sheriff’s Office facility. Joining Eric will be Garfield County Commissioner Mike Samson, Garfield County Manager Ed Green and Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario to answer questions regarding the county’s plans. “The addition of a county road and bridge maintenance facility in Battlement Mesa means faster, more timely service from the county,” says Eric. “Same for the sheriff’s office – having a Garfield County Sheriff’s Office on site will be a welcomed community asset further enhancing the safety protection measures within our community.” Eric adds that, at the meetings, residents can ask questions on any topic of concern related to living at Battlement Mesa. “I want to continue to hear from [community members] and allow for continued dialogue among residents and businesses alike,” he says. Eric hosted the first Community Speaks meeting in April, at the Battlement Mesa Golf Course. “Thank you to those who attended the first meeting last month,” he says. “It was a great opportunity for all to exchange thoughts and comments regarding our community.” Eric says he plans more public meetings in the future. “I look forward to seeing you and to another opportunity to listen to the ‘Community Speak,’” he says. “The next meeting time and location will be announced in next month’s Echo. See you there!” At the meeting, BMC is providing beverages and appetizers. The old firehouse is located at 1777 S. Battlement Mesa Parkway in Battlement.
Page 4, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
L E T T E R S
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Send us a letter. Got something on your mind? We’re expanding our word-count limit to 500 words or less for Letters to the Echo to give you plenty of space to express yourselves. The Echo welcomes your input, opinions, thanks and whatever else you’d like to share with our readers, provided it’s written in a respectful, civil way. (Please, no unsubstantiated attacks, etc.) The Echo reserves the right to edit and proofread letters. Send your words to The Grand Valley Echo, gve@crystalvalleyecho.com, or 274 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, CO 81623. Please be sure to include your name, title if necessary, and where you live. Thanks.
Thanks to The Flower Shop and Clark’s Market
Zachariases are true humanitarians
Dear Echo: I work with the Severe Needs Program at Grand Valley Middle School and Grand Valley High School. My students benefit most from taking skills they learn in school and applying them in real-world settings. The best way to assess whether a student has learned and can apply information is to place the student in a real-life setting and look for the skill that has been taught. My need to place kids in realistic settings was generously met by two of our local businesses, and I want to take this opportunity to show my appreciation and to give notice to all the businesses in our area that the Severe Needs Program would love to utilize your business settings too! My first kudos goes out to Rhonda Dillon, owner of The Flower Shop. She graciously allows one of my students to regularly come to her shop and learn a variety of skills. Rhonda patiently explains her expectations, and has taught this student valuable skills that will make him marketable after he graduates. She also allowed each of my students to order flowers for Valentine’s Day, gave me a great discount, and turned each of the gifts into special surprises. She has gone out of her way on multiple occasions to reach out to my students and make them feel useful and respected. Thank you, Mrs. Dillon, for loving and teaching my students! My second recognition goes to Clark’s Market. I’d single out people, but every person there has been exceedingly gracious and has gone out of their way to help my students. Each week, I take all the high school, middle school, and St John’s Severe Needs students to Clark’s to shop for groceries for a meal they have planned. The associates are always very kind and patient and answer the students’ questions. They have learned the kids’ names, and treat each with respect. Recently, the manager, Pat Penman, enabled one of my students to begin a supervised job study. This student wears a Clark’s shirt, has a nametag, clocks in and out, and gets a paycheck. The way my student reached out to shake Mr. Penman’s hand on his first day at work made me so proud, and the look that spread across his face when Mr. Penman gave him his first paycheck was priceless. Thank you, Clark’s Market, for welcoming and respecting our group every week, and for giving my student a place where he can contribute. We are going to need more businesses next year, and I look forward to working with all of the businesses in my new hometown. I’ll be calling you soon! Thanks again, Flower Shop and Clark’s Market, I am grateful to you both. Edie Jansen Director, Severe Needs Program Grand Valley High School/Grand Valley Middle School Battlement Mesa/Parachute
Dear Echo: The Humanitarian Awards Committee of the Garfield County Human Services Commission wishes to express our deep apologies to June and John Zacharias. A mistake was made on this year's awards banquet programs, which did not reflect the correct winners of the 2008 Humanitarian Volunteer Couple, the Zachariases. We sincerely regret this mistake, and wish to let everyone know we really do truly appreciate all the passionate volunteer work June and John do for their cause, the Grand Valley United Methodist Church and its projects. The 2010 Humanitarian Awards Banquet program, which will be created in early 2011, will list June and John as the correct 2008 Volunteer Couple. Again, we are sorry for this mistake, and hope the Zachariases will accept our sincere apology. Respectfully, Kay Vasilakis Chair Humanitarian Awards Committee Garfield County
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Free Community Cookout a wonderful community event Dear Echo: On Sunday, April 25, the Grand Valley Historical Society and Shepherd of the Mesa Lutheran Church sponsored a Free Community Cookout. It was a great day, and over 250 people enjoyed the free food, wonderful music, and great conversation. This event could not have happened without the dedicated and willing help of many people and organizations. A special thanks goes out to the Grand Valley Historical Society for offering their unique buildings as a setting for this special event. The historic Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse and the Glover Cabin are extremely well cared for, and they inspired more than a few flattering comments. We’d also like to thank Stephen Cyphers for handling all the grillin’ and cookin’ for this cookout. He did a terrific job, and he had our taste buds salivating all afternoon. Thanks also to all the members of Shepherd of the Mesa Lutheran Church who gave their time and talents to help the event run smoothly. Also, thanks to Hot Strings for providing such wonderful music. Finally, we’d like to thank all the members of our community who stopped in to eat, to tour the cabin, to listen to the music, or simply to talk. As we all enjoyed each other’s company, we were reminded of what a wonderful community we have. We are truly blessed! continued on page 6
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GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 5
GO GRAND VALLEY
Your calendar for goings on in and around Parachute and Battlement Mesa Help our calendar grow; let us know. Send public event items to gve@crystalvalleyecho.com. Be sure to include the five Ws (who, what, when, why and where), contact info, cost and anything else readers need to know. • May 15: Parachute/Battlement Mesa Kiwanis Club’s 17th annual Colorado River Scramble golf tournament at the Battlement Mesa Golf Club. Individuals and companies interested in sponsoring this activity, which benefits area student programs, can call Roy Brubacher at 285-9678, or Bill Coelho at 285-0178. • May 18: 2-3:30 p.m. Open House for Garfield County Community Action for Responsible Environmental Solutions (CARES), at Battlement Mesa Activity Center, 398 Arroyo Dr. Comment on the county’s environmental health issues, evaluate priorities and share insights. Jim Rada, Garfield County Environmental Health Department manager, 625-5200, ext. 8113. • May 18: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Open House for Garfield County Community Action for Responsible Environmental Solutions (CARES), at Parachute Town Hall, 222 Grand Valley Way, in the town council room. (See listing, above.) Jim Rada, -5200, ext. 8113. • May 20: 12 p.m. Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce board meeting is at Alpine Bank. 285-0388. • May 20: 2:30-7 p.m. Free health screening from Mountain Family Health Centers is at Rifle Branch Library (temporary location), 139 W. Third St., Rifle. Sharla, 618-3159. • May 22: Neighborhood Watch Barbecue at South Second Court Park. Contact Parachute Town Hall, 285-7630 for more information. • May 23: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Free health screening from Mountain Family Health Centers is at Rifle City Market, 1320 Railroad, Rifle. Sharla, 618-3159.
• May 25: 1 p.m. Village Artists meet at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. Frank Gnatek will discuss sketching, watercolors and dry point etchings. Elaine, 285-7197.
• June 8: 6:30 p.m. Community Speaks, a public meeting with the Battlement Mesa Company, features Mike Samson, Lou Vallario and Ed Green, hosted by Eric Schmela at the old firehouse, 1777 S. Battlement Parkway. 285-9740. • June 10: Ice Cream Kick-off at Parachute Library for summer reading program. Call 285-9870. • June 10: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Parachute/Battlement Chamber of Commerce After Hours Social at the Parachute/Battlement Park and Recreation office, 259 Cardinal Way, Parachute. 285-0388. • June 12: 1:30-4:30 p.m. Whisky Jack Boys play Cottonwood Park. Classic and popular country music; bring lawn chairs, non-alcoholic beverages and your dancing shoes.
ONGOING • The Battlement Mesa Activity Center has lots of classes and activities: swimming, dancing, personal training, water aerobics, yoga, kung fu, basketball, and more. Call 285-9480. • Remember that the Parachute Library has temporarily moved to the corner of Fisher and Hill next to the Grand Valley Center for Family Learning in downtown Parachute. The original library is being renovated. Call 285-9870 with questions or if you need directions. • Parachute/Battlement Park and Rec has summer programs starting in May and June. Check out new offerings on page 16. • Every Monday from 12-1 p.m. the Grand Valley United Methodist Church serves a free soup lunch at the church at 132 Parachute Ave. • Every Monday from 12:45-4 p.m., Party Bridge is held at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. All levels welcome.
• May 26: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free health screening from Mountain Family Health Centers is at Rifle Public Health Department, 195 W. 14th St. Sharla, 618-3159.
• The first Tuesday of every month, at 7 p.m. the West Garfield Democrats meet at Mesa Vista Assisted Living, 285-7206.
May 26: Kindergarten graduation at Grand Valley Center for Family Learning.
• Every Tuesday at 7 a.m., the Kiwanis Club of Grand Valley/Parachute meets at its new location, the Parachute Senior Center, 540 N. Parachute, in Parachute. Coffee is at 7 a.m., program begins at 7:30 a.m.
• May 27: Last day of school. • May 27: 6 p.m. Grand Valley Middle School Continuation Celebration. • May 29: 10 a.m. Grand Valley High School graduation. • May 31: Memorial Day. • June 5: 8:30 a.m. 5K Walk/Run for Their Lives, a benefit for the Pauline S. Schneegas Wildlife Foundation’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Silt. Race starts and finishes at Stoney Ridge Ball Field. $20/entry fee per person. Sandy, 987-3593.
• June 7: Garfield Libraries Summer Reading Program runs today through July 31. Contact Parachute Branch Library (temporary location at Fisher and Hill), 285-9870, to get involved.
• The second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m., the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance meets at the Mesa Vista Assisted Living. Call Paul, 285-7791. • Neighborhood Watch meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Parachute Town Hall, 222 Grand Valley Way, Parachute. 285-7630. • HEARTBEAT, for those who have lost a friend or loved one through suicide, meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Glenwood Springs. Therapists do not conduct this group; it is a safe place where others who share this unique pain can provide and obtain mutual support. Use the Bethel Chapel entrance of the church located at 824 Cooper Street.
• The fourth Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. the Village Artists meet at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. Contact Elaine Warehime, Village Artists president, at 285-7197.
• Every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., the Valley Senior Center hosts a luncheon prepared by the Rifle Senior Center. $2.50 for those over 60. Reservations taken Mondays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; call 285-7216.
• The first and third Wednesday of every month at 3 p.m., the Battlement Mesa Architectural Committee meets at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. Open to the public. 285-9432. • The second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m., the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District Board of Directors meets at the recreation district office, which moves this month to the Wasson/McKay House under the I-70 overpass, Parachute, 285-0388, pbmparkandrec.org.
• Every Wednesday at 6 p.m., "Through the Bible in One Year" Bible Study is at the Grand Valley Christian Church, 116 W. Second. Contact Pastor Lois Smith, 285-7957.
• Every Friday from 9-9:30 a.m. “Community Connections” interviews with community members on KSUN 103.9 FM.
• Every Friday at 10:30 a.m. Story Time is at the Parachute Library. 285-9870.
• Every Friday at 7 p.m. Al-Anon meets for those troubled by another’s drinking at Grand Valley Christian Church, 116 W. Second, main building. Strictly confidential. Contact Doris, 285-9836 or Bonnie, 984-2286.
• Every Saturday BINGO! Is held at the Valley Senor Center. Coffee, soft drinks, popcorn, snacks.
• Every Saturday, Mountain Family Health Center in Glenwood is now open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on a walk-in basis, providing a low-cost alternative to the ER for non-emergency care. No appointment necessary. 1905 Blake Ave. 945-2840.
• Interested in playing pinochle? Call Anne Huber at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center, 2859480.
UPCOMING:
• June 19: 2-5 p.m. Visitors Cabin 25th anniversary celebration at the Parachute rest stop, courtesy of the Town of Parachute and the Parachute/Battlement Chamber of Commerce. Free barbecue by Stallion Oil Field Services and live music with Alpine Echo, and more. 285-0388.
• June 26: Neighborhood Watch Barbecue at Beasley Park. Contact Parachute Town Hall, 2857630 for more information. • July 30-31: Grand Valley Park Association Rodeo and Parade; a full weekend of events and family fun.
Page 6, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
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continued from page 4 Here’s hoping that we can have this cookout each and every year! Adam Lambrecht Staff Minister of Youth, Music, and Outreach Shepherd of the Mesa Lutheran Church Battlement Mesa
Parachute Grapplers Tournament a big success
Dear Echo: We want to thank the many people who helped make the Parachute Grapplers Tournament on April 24 a success. Approximately 220 wrestlers participated, coming from Meeker, Rifle, New Castle, Hayden, Craig, Rangely, Steamboat Springs, Palisade, Fruita, Utah and of course, Parachute. Thank you to all of the Parachute parents for all the help to put on this tournament. The parents worked at the scoring tables, worked the concession stand, cleaned the restrooms and the gymnasium following the tournament, set up and took down, etc. Thank you to Metcalf Construction for providing the truck, trailer and labor to haul the wrestling mats to and from the gym. This was a big feat. Jacque Gardner, Amie Martin, Angelina Serna, Heather Reza and crew did an outstanding job with the concession stand. Rick Gallegos and his refereeing crew were awesome. Thank you for taking your time and spending a whole
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Saturday refereeing. Denise Gallegos, Jeannie Miles and Manilla Weiss took care of the championship bracketing. Thank you, ladies! Amie Martin scheduled the workers at the scorekeepers’ tables and that went ever so smoothly. Thank you to Glenwood Springs City Market and the manager, Kim, who contributed a $25 gift card and 10 percent off the concession stand items that were purchased from the store. Parachute coaches Tony Serna and Tom Rugaard did all the bracketing on Friday evening and handled the coaches’ meeting plus much more. Thank you, coaches! The tournament was the only league tournament this year that started on time and everything went great! Park and Recreation District employee Marge Mackey helped us and was involved in different aspects of the tournament as well. Due to the gym floor refurbishing in Parachute, the tournament was held at the high school gymnasium in DeBeque. We thank DeBeque's school district for allowing us to move in lock, stock and barrel on April 23 and be there all day, April 24. It was good that they could accommodate us for this tournament. Thank you to Williams Production for their generous contribution of $1,000 towards the uniforms and equipment for the U12 Girls Soccer Team. Your contribution is very much appreciated. We look forward to next year's tournament! Mary Anderson and Shawnn Wilkins Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District Parachute
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GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 7
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Grand Valleyite tells the story of “Southwestern Outlaw Baseball” Chuck Pederson traces sports and history in his factual account By Carrie Click, Echo editor When you think of baseball, you don’t often conjure up images of outlaws. But a new book by Grand Valleyite Chuck Pederson will set you straight. Chuck’s passions for sports and history have combined in “Southwestern Outlaw Baseball,” or “SOB” for short, which was released this past April. The book, which traces what happened to players who, for various reasons, were banned from baseball back east. Many of them headed out west to form and play in bandit leagues.
History and sports One of the places where some of these athletes landed was Bisbee, Ariz., Chuck’s birthplace. “Bisbee was once the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco,” Chuck says. Chuck has a family history in Bisbee and the surrounding Cochise County that goes back to his great, great grandfather, who was a justice of the peace during the time of the Shootout at the OK Corral. Besides history, Chuck is widely respected as an autograph collector. And he's always been interested in sports. He played basketball and football, first in Arizona and then Wyoming. He and his family moved to Parachute his senior year of high school. But while in college, Chuck got sidelined by injuries. “A washed-up athlete has a couple of choices,” Chuck says, “either self-pity, or coaching. I chose the latter.”
Coaching and writing Chuck coached at Lowell, Ariz. and Bisbee High School in the early 1990s in cross-country, track and basketball, and later in Battlement Mesa, where he moved back in 1994. Eventually, he was propelled into telling an historical account of southwestern baseball. “Given the history of Bisbee in general, later in life, I realized I wanted to write about the area,” Chuck says, “Having been a successful athlete in Wyoming and Colorado, I melded the two passions into this book.” Chuck says he’s not stopping at “SOB,” which he self-published through Xlibris. “I have three other books currently in the works,” he says. “The next to be released is “Bloodletting at Brunckow's” which is also a Cochise County, Ariz. historical account of the bloodiest cabin in the history of Arizona. The site has been referred to as ‘pure evil’ and is scarcely written about.”
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Chuck will have his first book signing during the Fourth of July weekend in Bisbee. The book is available on xlibris.com, amazon.com and through Barnes and Noble. Find out more about Chuck and his book by going to chuckpederson.com.
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Summer vacation is here. Watch for kids on foot or bikes!
Page 8, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
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GRAND VALLEY ENERGY A monthly column by M.E. Denomy, CPA
Rikki, don’t lose that number Our lives are filled with all kinds of signs and advertising. Sometimes we do not realize that some of the info that we have passed everyday on a sign might be something that we really need in a pinch. The fire and oil spill in the Gulf has brought this to our attention even more. There are times that we really need to be prepared for the unthinkable. Fortunately, for us here, the Battlement Mesa Oil and Gas Committee and local government officials have encouraged the Garfield and Mesa County Sheriff’s departments and many oil and gas operators to implement a program that will allow everyone access to a quick response for potential problems that we may encounter concerning oil and gas development in our area. This program is called Community Counts. You may have noticed in your travels the green and white signs and bumper stickers with these words on them. Attached to these signs and stickers is a telephone number that you need to put into your cell phone speed dial or address book. The number is 1-866-442-9034. Once you dial the number, you are directed to dial into a specific party by dialing 1 through 9 or the star or pound sign, depending on the company or party that you believe is responsible for your predicament. The No. 1 is for the Garfield County Sheriff’s dispatch, so if you are unsure about the company that you need to contact, it is a safe bet to press one and dispatch will notify the proper party. The Community Counts program is available for items other than immediate emergencies, such as traffic, dust, noise, speeding, trash and odors. So, if you should encounter any of these items or even if you just have questions for a particular company, please feel free to contact them this way. The companies that are participating in our area are EnCana, Williams, Antero, Laramie II, Noble, Chevron and Oxy. So, as the song says, Rikki, don’t lose that number: 1-866-442-9034. Mary Ellen Denomy, CPA, is a Battlement Mesa resident and an Accredited Petroleum Accountant She has been nationally recognized as an expert in oil and gas issues. Mary Ellen is the immediate past president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Association of Royalty Owners. If you have questions, contact her at the naro-us.org website or through The Grand Valley Echo.
Oil and Gas Update Battlement Concerned Citizens At a meeting on April 28, Battlement Concerned Citizens discussed that several residents in the Willow Creek Village have received notices requesting 10-acre downhole spacing for a proposed well pad in Parachute near the library. At the meeting, it was discussed that Antero’s revised drilling plan reduces the pipeline safety risk to Stone Ridge Village, but still poses significant risks to several other villages. Also discussed were fire concerns involving the gas industry in Garfield County (fires, explosions, hazardous materials incidents, vehicle accidents, etc.). It was suggested the concerns be presented to the Battlement Mesa Service Association and its oil and gas committee. A screening of the documentary, “Gasland” is being proposed for May 30 at CMC in Rifle but wasn’t confirmed.
Illegally-dumped compounds in Silt could have come from drilling operations Sludge that was illegally dumped into Silt’s sewer system in April was not normal septic waste, but was a combination of compounds often found in drilling operations. The Post Independent reported on April 16 that Andrew Owens of Rifle from Owens Septic was arrested for dumping the material into Silt’s town sewer system. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado attorney general’s office is doing further tests on the sludge.
Drilling water spills into Cottonwood Gulch About 10 gallons of treated water from a drill pad spilled into Cottonwood Gulch, upstream from Parachute and Battlement Mesa on April 13. The water eventually entered the Colorado River about four miles upstream from Parachute. The Grand Junction Sentinel reported that Susan Avillar of Williams Production said that the water contained “a minute, and I underline minute amount of additives used in the [hydraulic fracturing] process.” Parachute Town Administrator Bob Knight told the Sentinel that domestic water in Parachute was unaffected because the town relies on spring water for most of the year, and only takes water from the Colorado during summer months.
John Martin approves of underground disposal of pit liners Garfield County Commissioner John Martin said he doesn’t object to disposing of pit liners on private property in the high country, according to the Post Independent. At a county commissioner meeting April 19, Garfield County Commissioner Mike Samson, however, said the matter should be discussed further. Garfield County has banned disposal of pit liners, which hold fluids in pits near drilling rigs, since it was determined they’re difficult to work with and too bulky to be easily buried at landfill sites.
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 9
N E W
B O O K
‘Elephant herds and great white birds’ Eric Madeen’s first novel makes local mom proud By Carrie Click, Echo editor
It’s easy to remember that May is the month of Mother’s Day when you listen to Anne Madeen talk about her son, Eric Madeen. Anne just brims with motherly pride about Eric’s first novel, which he self-published in 2009. Eric’s parents, Bud and Anne Madeen, live in the Grand Valley area during winters. The book, “Tanga, A Novel of Forbidden Love in an African Village,” is fiction. Even still, much of the book’s story comes from the two years Eric, now 52, spent during the early ‘80s volunteering with the Peace Corps in Gabon, a small country in west Africa. At the time, Eric, then in his early 20s, had just completed a degree form the University of Arizona. After graduation, he left the U.S. to build a school in the rural village of Djidjidi, Gabon. Fast forward a couple decades. Several years ago, with his Peace Corps years far behind him, Eric was working on his master’s in fine arts from San Diego State University when his novel began to form in his mind. He began writing “Tanga,” which he says comes from his actual experiences – and his imagination. “Tanga” tells the story of a
Peace Corps volunteer named David Fields who falls in love with an African woman. It also provides a wealth of information about African life.
A book club selection Eric’s novel was recently selected for a Parachute/Battlement Mesa book club. The book club spun off of a local tennis club, of which Anne belongs. Each month, the book club chooses a book to read and to discuss together. April’s selection was “Tanga.” “[I] enjoyed the descriptions of the culture and the land,” wrote Parachute Mayor Judy Beasley, a member of the club, after reading “Tanga,” “and the colorful, interesting characters.” “I have more respect for the Peace Corps,” wrote book club member, Beanie Bransman. “I never realized what they went through.” The effects of colonialism in Africa struck Peggy Rawlins, also a book club member. “The curse of European colonialism on Africa’s people is woven all through [the] book,” wrote Peggy.
An author and a professor Anne is an unabashed champion of her son’s work. “[Reading this book] has brought back incredible memories of when we visited Eric,” Anne says. Bud and Anne traveled to Gabon while Eric was in the Peace Corps. She recognizes many of the customs, wildlife and people she saw while in Africa when she read her son’s book. “[I love] the descriptions of the beautiful hotel built by the French, the countryside, the elephant herd, and the great white birds with giant flapping wings,” Anne says. “I remember wondering what it would be like to fly, similar to the sensations created by the birds here in Parachute.” Anne has kept yellowed and worn newspaper clippings from 1983 from Elgin, Ill., the Madeens’ original hometown, featuring Eric when he first returned from his African Peace Corps stint. Those clips are mingled with 2009 articles about the publication of “Tanga,” printed in the same Elgin paper last year. Now living in Japan with his wife Julie and their two young children, Hunter and Addisyn. Eric is an associate professor of English at Tokyo City University. “Tanga” is available at the Parachute Library. The book is also available on amazon.com.
Top, from left, Eric Madeen in a recent photo with his parents, Bud and Anne Madeen. Lower right, the cover of “Tanga”. Lower left, a collection of photos from Bud and Anne’s trip to visit Eric in the early ‘80’s.
Photos courtesy of Bud and Anne Madeen.
Page 10, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
H E A LT H
The sun has started to come out, grills are being fired up for barbecues, and everyone seems to be ready to get out there in the sun. We’ve all heard of the dangers of the sun, from dehydration to sun damage and worse yet, skin cancer. For many, sunburn is synonymous with summer. We know should avoid it but inevitably, it will happen to many of us. So what do you do when your skin turns a suspicious shade of red? First, it’s important to understand what sunburn is and to know it’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Sunburn is skin damage from the sun’s UV rays. Most cause mild pain and redness, and can be treated at home Some sunburns, however, can be classified as second-degree burns. They tend to swell up and blister and are usually more painful and take longer to heal. Other problems that can go hand in hand with sunburn can include heatstroke and allergic reactions. Your skin type can play a role in how easily you get sunburned. Those with fair or freckled skin, blonde or red hair, and blue eyes usually sunburn most easily. Also, the skin of children under 6 years and adults older than 60 is more sensitive to sunlight. You should always, all year long, take protective measures when going out in the sun. Wear sunscreen on every exposed area of your body, wear sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats, stay in the shade if you get too hot, and don’t stay in the sun too long. Should you, however, get sunburned, there are things you can do to help you feel better. Some home treatments include using cool cloths on red skin, taking frequent cool showers and baths, and applying soothing lotions that contain aloe vera. Make sure to drink plenty of water as you may be dehydrated. If your sunburn is very severe, or if you experience heavy blistering, severe inflammation or pain, fainting, nausea or vomiting, you should see a doctor immediately. Sarah Tahvonen writes about health issues for the Echo from Rifle. If you have any comments or suggestions for a health-related topic you’d like to see covered, e-mail toyourhealth35@yahoo.com.
Do you have a public event you’d like to let people know about? Send your calendar listing to: gve@crystalvalleyeho.com
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 11
E D U C AT I O N
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CUSTOM ACCENTS THROUGHOUT! Front courtyard, expansive steel fenced yard, backs to open space, beautiful flooring, expansive master closet. Battlement Mesa - $349,900 RETRACTABLE AWNING… shades the wonderful deck. Vinyl exterior, fenced yard, garden area, shed, split floor plan, extra kitchen cabinets/counters complete this great package. Battlement Mesa - $169,900 START HOME OWNERSHIP HERE! New carpet and laminate flooring, property adjacent to open space, fenced yard, tri-level and off street parking. Rifle - $189,900 SELLER WANTS an OFFER! Beautiful, peaceful, view-filled windows, upper deck and lower covered patio, care-free living, upgrades throughout! Battlement Mesa - $279,900 YOU WILL LOVE THIS HOME! Large master bath with corner shower, walk-in closets in all bedrooms, fenced yard, sprinkler system, stamped concrete. Battlement Mesa - $169,900 SO MANY NEW AMENITIES! New paint, new lights, new hot water heater, new flooring, new evaporative cooler. Great MF home can be yours! Battlement Mesa - $139,900 ONE TERRIFIC HOME! Entry courtyard, stucco exterior, 3-car garage, golf course village, every bedroom has a private bath, hardwood flooring. Battlement Mesa - $ 459,900 BEAUTIFUL and UPDATED! Townhome – ranch plus walk-out level, carefree living – pristine condition, Pergo and tile flooring – like new condition. Battlement Mesa - $230,000 THE PERFECT FIT! Stucco ranch-style home, energy efficient, vinyl fenced yard, tile flooring, gas fireplace, professional landscape. Battlement Mesa - $329,000 TOWNHOME – WALKOUT RANCH! Cul-de-sac location, guest parking, large laundry/cabinets and counters, cathedral ceilings – fine finishes. Battlement Mesa - $299,900 VACANT LOTS STARTING AT $69,000
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From left, Amber Scott, Patti Pitts, Beau Williams and Dora King are Teachers of the Year.
Photo courtesy of BJ Lindaur
Four Teacher of the Year awards presented at April 9 event By BJ Lindaur, Echo contributor
Four teachers received a golden apple, an engraved plaque, a check for $1,000 – and the title Teacher of the Year, at Grand Valley School District No. 16’s special awards ceremony for its teachers on April 9. An additional $6,000 was distributed to all the schools to be allocated by administrators and the recipients of the awards. Three teachers from each of the Grand Valley School District No. 16 four age levels were identified as candidates for the Teacher of the Year awards. The primary level included both Bea Underwood Elementary School and the Grand Valley Center for Family Learning. The finalists in this category were Robin McMillan, Patti Pitts and Jennifer Hanners, with Patti Pitts being chosen as the winner. The intermediate level finalists from St John Elementary were Amber Scott, Elaine Callister, and Mindy Campbell, with Amber Scott being chosen as the winner. The Grand Valley Middle School finalists were Alissa Branson, Dan Glover, and Beau Williams, with Beau Williams being chosen as the winner. The Grand Valley High School finalists were Dora King, Travis Porter, and Allison Teter, with Dora King being chosen as the winner. Roy Brubacher, who initiated the program several years ago, acted as master of ceremonies at the awards. The Grand Valley Educational Foundation organized and sponsored the evening, while the Aspen Community Foundation provided funds for the awards. During the event, Grand Valley school students provided music, including a variety of choirs and musical groups from the elementary, middle, and high schools, and student actors presented a short segment of “Pajama Game” that played at the high school in mid-April. Cheri Witt-Brown, president of the Grand Valley Educational Foundation, gave a short summary of the efforts and contributions of the foundation during the past year and gave a special thank you to Linda Levine, who contributed to the organization of the evening’s events. Cheri also shared the mission of the Grand Valley Educational Foundation, which is “to improve the quality of education by enhancing the learning opportunities for students and teachers within Garfield County School District No. 16 through increased community awareness and support.” On hand were education board members Rev. E.J. Rivet, vice president; Linda Levine, secretary; Jason Fletcher, treasurer; Susan Hoover; Dr. BJ Lindaur, and Dr. Ken Haptonstall, ex officio, superintendent of District No. 16 schools. The school principals in attendance were Ryan Frink, Jory Sorensen, Brian Berg, and Scott Pankow. Also present was president of the school board, Sarah Orona, and school board members. Creekbend Bistro of Rifle catered the evening, and B and V Construction of Rifle and Alpine Bank hosted the event. Rhonda Dillon from The Flower Shop provided flower arrangements.
Page 12, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
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Cleaning off the trail A small group of energetic volunteers tackled the job of cleaning the winter accumulation of dirt and gravel from the paved pedestrian trail at the Colorado River bridge in Parachute on May 1. This has become an annual event for members of the Battlement Mesa Bicycle Group and the Battlement Mesa Service Association Trails Committee. This pedestrian trail is part of the planned Library Trail, which, when completed, will provide a safe, off-road link between Battlement Mesa and the Town of Parachute. Future plans include ultimately connecting with the Lower Valley Trail System when it reaches the Parachute area. The development of the remainder of the trail is currently being managed by the Garfield County Engineering Department. The final design phase has been completed and funds have been budgeted to begin the project this year. – Dave Devanney Volunteers and supporters include, from left, Judi Hayward, Dave Devanney, Paul Bussone, Paul (Goofy) Heiman, Dick Getter, Sandy Getter and Gary Leonard. Not pictured: Garland White. Photo courtesy of Linda Devanney
For information about the Battlement Mesa Bicycle Club, Call Dave at 285-2263.
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 13
C H A M B E R
Echo Briefs Whisky Jack Boys play Cottonwood Park on June 12 The Whisky Jack Boys are providing live music in Cottonwood Park in Parachute from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on June 12. Grand Valleyites are invited to listen to the country sounds and soul of the boys as they play classic and popular country songs. Bring lawn chairs, non-alcoholic beverages and your dancing shoes, and enjoy an afternoon at the park.
N E W S
Upcoming events include meetings and music By Bill Cornelius, Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce The chamber is busy getting ready for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Visitors Cabin at the Parachute rest stop on June 19, with a free barbecue by Stallion Oil Field Services and live music by Alpine Echo. Also, you are invited to come join the Town of Parachute for the third annual concert in the park at Cottonwood Park on the June 12 with the Whisky Jack Boys. See more information at left for these upcoming events.
– Robert Knight, Town of Parachute
Visitors Cabin turns 25 Join the Town of Parachute and the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Visitors Cabin from 2-5 p.m. on June 19. There’ll be live music and free barbecue to pay tribute to all the visitors and volunteers who have made this information center such a success. The Visitors Cabin is located at the Parachute rest stop. – Robert Knight, Town of Parachute
Upcoming Events May 20 - Chamber Board Meeting, Alpine Bank, 12 p.m. June 10 - Chamber After Hours Social, Park and Recreation Office, 5:30-6:30 p.m. It is down the road a while, but please mark your calendars for Oktoberfest in Cottonwood Park. This family fun annual event is scheduled for Oct. 2 from 5-10 p.m. And the fireworks have already been ordered!
Businesses of the Month
Bottle Cap Liquors, 201 Columbine Court, Parachute, 285-6388. Bottle Cap’s been in business in the Grand Valley for 13 years. Out of appreciation for being selected one of the businesses of the month by the chamber, Bottle Cap is offering 10 percent off selected wines for anyone who mentions this at the time of purchase. Thanks folks!
Williams Production - Williams Production has been a member of the Parachute and Battlement Mesa community since 2000. According to Williams’ Susan Alvillar, the company is currently the largest producer of natural gas in the region. Williams is committed to remaining a vital part of our Western Slope economy.
Pinochle anyone? The Battlement Mesa Activity Center (BMAC) is forming a group to play pinochle. Are you interested in playing single deck pinochle? The time of play will be determined by group members. If you’re interested, call Anne Huber at the BMAC, 2859480. –- Anne Huber, BMAC
Frank Gnatek to speak at next Village Artists meeting The next meeting for the Village Artists is on May 25 at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. Frank Gnatek, a long-time member of the group, will speak about his lengthy sketching background, and how he came to eventually use watercolors in spite of being color blind. Frank also does dry point etchings. Born in Hadley, Mass., Frank studied at the Maryland Institute. His art work is included in many private collections in the United States and abroad. In addition to Village Artists, Frank is a member of the Glenwood Springs Art Guild. During the last Village Artists meeting, Jane Seglem demonstrated using YUPO, a type of synthetic plastic paper. We were all entranced with this type of paper and the ability to use watercolor paint and remove it if and when desired. Some of the group enjoyed trying their hand at YUPO and found it interesting and fun. Our summer schedule will involve casual getting together in plein air (practicing art in the open air). For more information, call Elaine Warehime at 285-7197. – Joline Gnatek, Village Artists
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors: Michelle Foster – President Mary Anderson – Vice President Mary Lee Mohrlang – Secretary Nancy Jay – Treasurer Rose Cose – Director Cyndie Penland – Director Paul Schultz – Director Bill Cornelius – Director Jason Fletcher – Past President Bob Knight – Town of Parachute Representative
As always, we are looking for businesses that would like to support our communities by becoming a member of the Parachute/Battlement Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact one of the board of directors or call 285-0388.
Page 14, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
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Free Community BBQ a good time Fun was had by all. That seems to be the consensus of everyone who attended the Free Community BBQ on April 25 at the Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse grounds in Battlement Mesa. Everyone enjoyed the tasty barbecue prepared by Stephen Cyphers of Stallion Oil Field Services and the hot music provided by Mary Ellen Denomy and her band Hot Strings. Those in attendance were able to tour the historical Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse and the Glover Cabin. More than 250 folks of all ages were able to get together and enjoy the afternoon as a community. The Grand Valley Historical Society and Shepherd of the Mesa Lutheran Church hosted the event. – Bill Cornelius, Shepherd of the Mesa Lutheran Church
1.866.442.9034
• The Community Counts Hotline
www.communitycountscolorado.com NEWS FROM COMMUNITY COUNTS’ INDUSTRY MEMBERS… Williams recently hosted a barbecue and open house at its Bernklau Ranch on Spruce Creek for the residents of the area. We were really pleased with the turnout and questions that the residents had about our operations. Williams appreciates the patience and understanding the residents have shown while we increase our activities between Rulison and Taughebaugh Mesa. We also continue to do outreach for our drilling location within the Parachute town limits which we will visit summer/fall of 2011 (schedule at this time). For questions, please call Susan Alvillar at 970.216.3878. Antero Resources is currently drilling wells south of the Battlement Mesa PUD on their Watson Ranch pad and they expect the drilling operations on this location to be completed sometime in the latter half of May. Completion operations on the new wells will most likely begin sometime in the first half of June and are expected to be finished in the first half of July. After a lengthy public meeting series, conducted over the course of 11 months, Antero Resources representatives worked with the surface owner and members of the Battlement Mesa Services Association and their Oil and Gas Committee to alter the natural gas development plan. The changes to the plan are the result of Antero Resources listening to the concerns of the citizens and local officials and culminated in the creation of a modified plan that not only eliminates the most contentious pad and pipeline section, but also helped make possible the construction of Battlement Mesa’s first community park. Notable alterations include replacing the “C” pad with the “Parks and Rec. Pad”, moving the “D” pad equidistant between the Stone Ridge Village homes and the Willow Creek Apartments, and eliminating roughly ? mile of pipeline from within the PUD that was planned to be constructed behind the Mesa Ridge Townhomes. The portion of pipeline that was planned to run underneath the electric transmission lines through Stone Ridge Village has been removed from the plan as well. These positive changes to the development plan would not have been possible without the cooperation of Battlement Mesa Companies and the local Parks and Recreation Department. In addition, Antero Resources representatives met with Colorado School of Public Health and Garfield County Public Health officials on April 22 to describe the Battlement Mesa natural gas development plan and assist the early efforts of the Garfield County sponsored “Health Impact Assessment”, or HIA. The HIA study will be conducted over the course of the 2010 summer and is planned to be completed by late summer/early fall 2010. The findings of the Garfield County HIA study along with the health impacts work being conducted by Antero Resources with be used to inform the county during its review of the company’s MLUIR (Major Land Use Impact Review) permit submittal.
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 15
L I B R A RY
N E W S
Summer reading program starts June 7 Sign up begins in May By Beret C Brenckman, assistant branch manager, Parachute Branch Library
June 7-July 31: Garfield Libraries’ Summer Reading Program June 10: Ice Cream Social Kick-Off at Parachute Library (temporary location at Fisher and Hill) Call 285-9870, check garflieldlibraries.org or stop by the temporary library at Fisher and Hill for more info.
Summer is almost here, and along with it, Garfield Libraries’ Summer Reading Program. Kids from birth to fourth grade will “Make a Splash” with their summer reading, while those entering fifth grade and up are encouraged to “Make Waves.” Either way, there’s lots of fun in store for all! Parachute Library has some fun performers scheduled, to help encourage everyone to keep reading all summer and avoid the summer ‘brain drain.’ Kicking everything off will be an ice cream social on June 10. The following week, we will host presenters from the Denver Zoo, again sponsored by EnCana. That is the one event that will be held on a Friday, and is also limited to schoolage children. (The program is a little grown up for preschoolers.) All other fun activities and performances will take place on Thursdays, at the Center for Family Learning, right next to the library’s temporary location, at the corner of Fisher and Hill. Other performers will be the magician and sleight-of-hand artist Cody Landstrom, bilingual weaver of tales of the Southwest, Angel Vigil, and the musical hip-hop group, Littleague. To get more detail on dates and other events, be sure to register for the summer reading program starting in May, either in the library or on online at garfieldlibraries.org. The eight weeks of reading begin June 7 and conclude July 31. For children, there will be prize tokens or books given away each time a week of reading is completed, consisting of either five days, five books or five hours. Summer Reading 2.0, for tweens and teens, will have lots of fun opportunities for prizes and participation. By completing all levels, participants will be entered in a drawing for two $250 scholarships from the CollegeInvest program (two scholarships available at each branch). There will also be weekly drawings for two $10 gift cards. For even more fun, join in our Scavenger Hunt for readers, with weekly clues and points to earn toward a final prize at the end of the program. Get your team of two to four players/readers together, come up with a literary name, and get registered to start the hunt.
Library Brief Go green and save green with the library Garfield County libraries, including the Parachute Branch Library, now have Kill-A-Watt electricity usage monitors. With these monitors you can cut down on costs by finding out what appliances are actually worth keeping plugged in. Using the monitor, you can connect your appliances to the Kill-A-Watt, and it will assess how efficient they really are. The large LCD display counts consumption by the kilowatt hour, the same as your local utility. You can calculate your electrical expenses by the day, week, month, even an entire year. Now you will know if it is time for a new refrigerator or if that old air conditioner is still saving you money. Kill-A-Watt monitors are available at all six Garfield County libraries, including Parachute’s temporary library location at Fisher and Hill while the library is being remodeled. Patrons can check out a monitor for one week with a library card. For more information visit garfieldlibraries.org. – Emily Hisel, Garfield County Library District
Page 16, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
S P O R T S
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Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District - “Where The Fun Begins” Please note the park and rec office has moved to the stone house located at 259 Cardinal Way in Parachute, adjacent to the I-70 pedestrian overpass.
Summer baseball, softball, golf coming up By Mary Anderson, Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District executive director
Spring Soccer: The four teams in the spring soccer program will continue to play until the end of May. T-Ball: During the month of May, for 5-7-year-olds, T-ball is on Monday and Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. at the ball fields in Parachute. There are two teams of 5-6-year-olds (hitting off a tee) and two teams of 7-year-olds (coach pitch). Thank you to the volunteer coaches. Youth Baseball/Softball: For boys and girls ages 8-15. Games are held in and out of town from the end of May until the end of July. $55/fee plus $35/refundable uniform fee. Sign up today and/or call for team availability. Practices begin in mid-May. Youth Golf: For ages 8-17. Held at the Battlement Mesa Golf Club. Lessons begin June 7. Please sign up at the Battlement Mesa Golf Club. 285-7274. $85/session; two different sessions offered this year. Each participant receives lessons, $1.50 range tokens and a golf pass good for 10, 18-hole greens fees. Adult Coed Softball: Game times will be at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. on Thursdays, and will begin in mid-June. Teams must be signed up by May 28 with a $250 deposit. The team fee is $500. Craft Fair: The 2010 Craft Fair is on Nov. 20 at Grand Valley High School. Registration forms are being mailed out in June so if you want to be on the mailing list, call and leave your complete mailing address. 103.9 KSUN FM Radio Update: Listen at 7 a.m. for current updates pertaining to Park and Recreation District activities.
Parachute/Battlement Mesa Parks and Recreation is at 259 Cardinal Way, Parachute, 285-0388, pbmparkandrec.org. Stop by the office or send forms to P.O. Box 299, Parachute, CO 81635. Office hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Check out the website; it’s updated frequently.
FUEL Up Your FLEET! AUTOMATED PROPRIETARY CHARGE CARD SYSTEM Available 24 hours daily Car Wash Fleet Card Program Available at the following Phillips 66 Stations
PARACHUTE GRUB N SCRUB 28 Cardinal Way • Parachute
Car Wash / Dominos / Shommy’s Restaurant Shommy’s Restaurant Now Open – Asian/American Cuisine
RED RIVER QUICK MART 1-70 at South Rifle • 702 Taghenbaugh Blvd.
Dominos Pizza - 625-0505
THE CORNER STORE & LASER CAR WASH 9th & Railroad • Rifle
Touch Free Carwash / Convenience Store
BOOKCLIFF CAR WASH 1st & West Ave • Rifle
Touch Free Carwash / Convenience Store
SWALLOW OIL COMPANY • 945-8823 WHOLESALE GAS & OIL
Rifle - 970-625-1467 • Eagle - 970-328-7788
The Cornelius family recently spruced up the notice board at the Callahan Ball Field Complex in Parachute. Dad Bill Cornelius welded a new frame for the sign, and installed a solar light on it. Then the Cornelius kids – Kaite (in blue), Hanna (in red) and Matthew (in his Mountain Dew cap) painted the sign. The project was a gift from the Corneliuses to the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District. And the sign materials were paid for by Shepherd of the Mesa Lutheran Church in Battlement, where Bill is the pastor. "The old sign was in disrepair and we wanted to let the community know that we are thankful to be here," says Bill. "Plus the folks at the Park and Rec District do so much for everyone, it was a small way to let them know their work does not go unnoticed." Photos courtesy of Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 17
S P O R T S
&
R E C R E AT I O N
Running for wildlife Annual 5K walk and run set for June 5
Run right over
By Carrie Click, Echo editor
Run for Their Lives is on June 5. Echo file photo
The third annual 5K Run/Walk for Their Lives is being held June 5 to benefit the Pauline S. Schneegas Wildlife Foundation’s wildlife rehabilitation center in Silt. Nanci Limbach runs the wildlife center, which is named after Nanci’s grandmother. The center takes in a variety of animals, including bears, mountain lions and birds of prey that have been injured, abandoned or displaced. The animals are rehabilitated and released to the wild when possible. Gene Pickett of Battlement Mesa serves on the wildlife foundation’s board. He says the walk/run is the major fundraiser of the year. “[The center] gets no monies from the state or any other government entity and yet is
Pauline S. Schneegas Wildlife Foundation 5K Walk/Run for Their Lives $20/entry fee to register 8:30 a.m., Saturday, June 5 in Silt Stoney Ridge Ball Field (on Seventh Street north of Main Street) Call Sandy at 987-3593 to register.
expected to take care of wildlife in Colorado and perform within the regulations of the Colorado DOW and the USDA,” says Gene. The entry fee for the race is $20 per person, and starts and finishes at the Stoney Ridge Ball Field in Silt. At the I-70 Silt exit, take the roundabout to Main Street heading west. Turn right on Seventh Street. Go four blocks; the ball field is on the right. Go to schneegaswildlifefoundation for more information about the wildlife center, or call Sandy at 987-3593 about the race.
The Parachute Grapplers Tournament was held on April 24 Top left, Amie Martin was in charge of the scoring tables at the Parachute Grappler Tournament; top right, Travis Backes of Parachute won his bracket at the Parachute Grapplers Tournament; lower right, Torrey Metcalf, 7, won the 8-and-under sportsmanship trophy at the Parachute Grapplers Tournament. Photos courtesy of Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District
Page 18, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
L I V I N G
Take a Hint Household How-to Hints
Clean two birds with one mop By Barbara Barker • Dogs hate lemon-fresh odors. Try crumbling a cake of toilet freshener where the dog digs. • Fold matching sheets together and stuff them inside their matching pillowcase, fold the end of the pillowcase and stack in the closet. When you need to change your bed linens, just grab and go. • Recycle the old dish drainer to the kids room. The plate separators will hold coloring books upright. And the silverware holder can store pens, pencils, magic markers, paint brushes, whatever. • When removing a button from an article of clothing, to make sure you won’t cut the fabric, slip the teeth of a pocket comb between the button and the garment. Then place the sharp edge of a razor blade between the button and the comb, and slice the thread. • Wearing your pearls is good for them. The oils from your body keep them lustrous. But keep perfume away from pearls as the alcohol in perfume can damage them. Also keep hair spray far away as well. • An old expired credit card makes a good scraper to remove baked on food on a cookie sheet or baking pan. It is tough enough to scrape off stuck particles without scratching the surface of the bake ware. • If out of silver polish, a good substitute is in the pot you cooked potatoes. Soak the silver in the starchy water for an hour, and watch tarnish disappear. Then wash the silver in warm, sudsy water, rinse and dry. • Next time you mop the kitchen floor, use the trash can as your scrub bucket, cleaning two birds with one mop. And here I’ve been using old paint buckets. What a waste. Oh well. • Mix equal amounts of ketchup and water, and rub it onto the copper pot with a soft cloth. Wipe it off and smile at your reflection. • If you get a shock getting out of the car, it could be due to the fabric seats. Just spray them liberally with aerosol fabric softener or a static-reduction spray found at electronics stores. • A dash of salt makes egg whites whip more rapidly and also add a dash of salt to cream before whipping. • If you have a hairline crack in a favorite vase, take a clove of garlic and rub it along the inside, let it dry. The crack should be sealed. • A clove of garlic in the dirt beside your houseplant will deter many common pests. • One part lemon juice and two parts vegetable oil makes a good furniture polish. • Spider mites thrive in warm dry houses. Frequent misting under the leaves of house plants will discourage them. • A piece of chalk in the jewelry box will prevent tarnishing. • Liven up the soil in your potted perennials by adding one shot of bourbon, Scotch, vodka, or gin and 1 tbsp. of dishwashing liquid per one gallon of water. Medical science says aspirin can’t cure the common cold. Neither can medical science.
Echo Briefs Meetings set to discuss environmental health On May 18 the staff of the Garfield County Environmental Health Department will be in Parachute and Battlement for two open house public meetings. The open house for Garfield County Community Action for Responsible Environmental Solutions (CARES), is scheduled at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center, 398 Arroyo Dr., from 2-3:30. A second open house is being held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. the same day at Parachute Town Hall, 222 Grand Valley Way, in the town council room. The public is invited to comment on the county’s environmental health issues, evaluate priorities and share insights based on surveys completed by citizens outlining county health concerns. These issues include food safety, gas drilling operations emissions, clean drinking water, air quality, soil and water contamination from hydraulic fracturing, and cell phone use while driving. For more information, contact Jim Rada, Garfield County environmental health manager, 625-5200, ext. 8113. – Garfield County Environmental Health Department
Friendship Force welcomes Australians Western Colorado’s Friendship Force International (FFI) is excited to host nine FFI members from Brisbane, Australia from May 10-17. FFI is entertaining our Aussie friends with several day trips to showcase our beautiful area and parties to show our western-style hospitality. FFI is an international network of clubs and individuals, founded in 1977, promoting global understanding. For information on Friendship Force International go to friendshipforce.org or call 241-9122. – Linda Smith
LIFT-UP continues to need help Despite signs of improvement in the national economy, local needs continue to rise, as evidenced by higher numbers of people turning to LIFT-UP’s six area food pantries. Through the first quarter of 2010, LIFT-UP served more than 7,700 clients, and gave out more than 9,500 bags of food, 33 percent more than last year at this time. According to Mike Powell, executive director of LIFT-UP, non-perishable food items are always helpful, but actual dollars stretch further. “We can buy food at Food Bank of the Rockies in Grand Junction for much less than folks would spend at the grocery stores,” said Mike, “so their money goes a little further that way.” Donations may be made online at liftup.org or mailed to P.O. Box 1213, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602, and food may be dropped off at any LIFT-UP office. The Parachute office is at 201 E. First, 285-7903. – Doug Straw, LIFT-UP
Summer class registration underway at Colorado Mountain College (CMC) in Rifle Registration for CMC’s summer semester is underway. Many classes at the Rifle campus and via distance learning start the week of May 17, and additional classes start throughout the semester. Each household should receive a course schedule in the mail. In addition, more information and registration is available at coloradomtn.edu/register or by visiting the college’s West Garfield Campus in Rifle, 3695 Airport Rd., 1.5 miles east of Walmart. Students new to the college and those who have not taken classes within the past 10 months need to register in person. Students who have taken classes within the past 10 months can also sign up by mail, phone, fax, or online. For more information, call 625-1871 or 800-621-8559. – Debbie Crawford, CMC
Barbara Barker of Battlement Mesa has lots more of these hints, which she’ll reveal in future issues of the Echo.
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 19
KIWANIS KORNER
Bring-a-Book program adds to local schools’ libraries Kiwanians have great Earth Day with middle schoolers By Barbara Barker, Kiwanis Club of Grand Valley/Parachute
Bring-A-Book is an ongoing project spearheaded by Kiwanian Bruce Knuth. After watching the closing of a garage sale and the discarding of unsold used books, Bruce was inspired to create this program for the local Kiwanis Club. In the spring of 2007, Bruce, who’s a retired educator, noticed this obvious waste and thought these resources could be channeled to the students of local schools. Knuth recalled the expense required to stock library shelves and classrooms with books when he was teaching and decided to begin collecting unwanted books at weekly Kiwanis Club meetings. From this seed of an idea, the Bring-A-Book program for the Kiwanis Club began. Donations of books were collected throughout the summer of 2007 at the Kiwanis’ weekly meetings, and a few donations from the community rounded out the first collection effort. In September, Bruce and media specialists from Garfield County School District No. 16, met, prompting the concept of Bring-A-Book to the schools, and solicited their feedback regarding the club’s efforts. The schools were invited to catalog the books into their libraries, provide them to classrooms, or distribute them to individual students. With enthusiastic support from the schools, the first delivery of books was made to Grand Valley High School, St John Middle School, Bea Underwood Elementary, and the Early Childhood Learning Center. Bruce continues as chairman of the Bring-A-Book program. He reports that in the first year of collections, approximately 1,800 books were received, sorted and distributed to all grade levels of the district. Collections for the year just completed lagged slightly behind in the number of donations. With spring-cleaning season upon us, it is hoped that Kiwanians and their neighbors will discover new or gently used books that can have a second life as reference material for our local schoolchildren. Anyone with books they wish to contribute may contact any member of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Valley/Parachute, or call Bring-A-Book chairman, Bruce Knuth, at 285-9541. In other news, on April 22, Grand Valley Middle School celebrated Earth Day by planting two maple trees and picking up trash throughout Cottonwood Park and the rodeo grounds. Approximately 230 students, teachers, and volunteers enjoyed lunch supplied by the Town of Parachute. The Kiwanis Club of Grand Valley/Parachute meets every Tuesday morning at the Parachute Senior Center, 540 N. Parachute, at 7 a.m. for coffee, with the program beginning at 7:30 a.m. Please come join us any Tuesday morning.
From the top:
Parachute Mayor Judy Beasley joined with Kiwanians and Grand Valley Middle School students and staff on Earth Day, April 22, to plant trees and clean up at Cottonwood Park.
Grand Valley Middle School students worked hard on Earth Day at Cottonwood Park.
Kiwanian Bruce Knuth spearheads the Bring-aBook program, where Kiwanis and community members donate books to local schools.
Participants planted trees and cleaned up at the Cottonwood Park Cleanup Day, and were treated to lunch, courtesy of the Town of Parachute.
Photos courtesy of Barbara Barker
Page 20, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
Nature at Home and Afield by Betsy Leonard
Weathering and erosion help form the landscape around us We know that mountains, yes, even the Rocky Mountains, are slowly wearing away by erosion. In fact, the Rockies used to be twice as tall as they are now. Geologists learned this long ago by observing rivers carrying sandy and muddy sediments from the mountain tops to the plains below. Both the lowering of mountains and the creation of sediments can be explained in terms of weathering. These two forces operate together and reinforce the other. Weathering does not occur at the same rate in all climates. Chemical reactions increase as temperature rises. And plants and bacteria grow and multiply much faster in warmer climates. Water is another factor that has a strong influence. Water is needed for the weathering reaction, and vegetation grows more lushly in humid climates. So it is not surprising that weathering is more intense in tropical climates, which are both wet and warm. One of the most effective physical mechanisms is the freezing and thawing of ice. Water expands as it freezes, and this force is great enough to crack rocks. Heating in the hot sun along with freezing temperatures at night can lead to the fragmenting process. Because fragmentation is caused by a number of different processes, it can produce an array of sizes and shapes of fragments. These fragments are an excellent clue to the intensity of mechanical erosion. As a general rule, fragments are larger when the topography is higher or steeper. The evolution of landscape is a balance between uplift and erosion over the course of time. Plate tectonics (movement of large geologic plates of the earth) create mountains and topography that strongly affect erosion, primarily by water and ice. Debris moves downhill because of gravity, but why it moves fast on some slopes and slow on others and why some slopes are stable and others move if disturbed depends on several factors. First is the over-steepening of slopes by natural erosion or by construction. This can be best understood by watching the loose sand in a sandbox. If some sand is carefully scraped from the base of a pile, the angle of the slope of sand will steepen a little and hold. But, if someone jumps on the ground nearby, the slope will slide down settling at the original angle. This angle varies with the size and shape of the particles; larger, flatter, and more angular pieces of loose material remain stable on steeper slopes. Landforms, such as hills, plateaus, and valleys, are controlled by the erosional process acting over geologic times on a variety or resistant and nonresistant rock types arranged in different structural patterns. The agents of erosion – water, ice, wind, and vegetation – are constantly working in opposition to the tectonic forces that elevate the landscape. As an example, the Colorado River is a powerful erosive agent. Its water is turbid with suspended fine clay. Even when filtered, it is not tasty water. The Colorado contains over seven times the amount of dissolved salts, an indication of chemical weathering’s contribution to erosion. A tremendous volume of sand, silt, and clay is being transported all the time. Engineers charged with purifying the river water for drinking are challenged in every state through which the river passes. Erosion is constantly taking place. Ancient sedimentary rocks made up of mineral fragments and coarse, unstable rocks are evidence of the mountains of the past. The forms of land around us can tell us even more about how landscape is shaped and why it is different in one place than in another. Betsy Leonard is an environmental education specialist who lives in Parachute.
Echo Brief Garfield County included in energy efficiency grant The White House announced on April 21 that a crossstate partnership of Denver, Boulder County, Garfield County, the Governor’s Energy Office, and Xcel Energy will together receive $25 million in federal stimulus grants through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Retrofit RampUp Initiative. “This is great news. We are excited to join with Denver, Boulder and Xcel in this statewide effort, so we can scale up energy efficiency retrofits for homes and businesses in Garfield County,” said Shelley Kaup, chair of the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative Advisory Board. The goals of the program are to stimulate economic growth for the building trades in Garfield County and the Denver-Boulder area, and to increase energy savings for existing homes and buildings through energy efficiency retrofits. “We worked hard for Garfield County to be included in this exciting collaborative grant, in order to give the building trades and communities in our area a muchneeded economic boost,” said Alice Laird, director of Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER), the nonprofit that manages the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative. For more information on CLEER and the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative, go to cleanenergyeconomy.net. – Heather McGregor, CLEER
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Grand Valley High School
SEN10R SPOTLIGHT By Chelsae White, Tiffany Waugh and Kelcey Satterfield, Grand Valley High School
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.” – Dr. Seuss Another great year has come and gone at Grand Valley High School and the seniors are well on their way to achieving their goals. The invitations have been sealed and sent and spring fever has begun. The seniors who plan on staying close to home and attending Mesa State College 45 minutes away in Grand Junction are: Alisha Sisemore – Education Dylan Lindauer – Criminal Justice Cole Ullom – One year mechanical engineering then transferring
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 21
O U R Jeremy Lawrence – One year mechanical engineering then transferring Alissa Germiller – Music Kami Keeling – Music Education and Literacy Karmen Steimel – Undecided Eric Glaze – Culinary school Cody Parmenter – Explorer program and Criminal Justice Chris Cook – Undecided There are also many seniors who are taking advantage of Colorado Mountain College to get their prerequisite classes and then transferring to a larger university/college. Spring Valley Campus Brenda Solis – Undecided Fiama Barrientos – Undecided Cody Hill – Photography Mirna Vargas – Undecided Melly Lanza – Business or Marketing Veronica Espino – Undecided Conce Ruiz – Undecided Rifle Campus Chelsie Jones – Undecided Joey Warn – Undecided Dillon Aaron – Undecided Steamboat Springs Heather Moore – Undecided Some seniors are going over the hill to the lovely state capitol, Denver, about three and half hours east from home.
S C H O O L S
University of Denver Armando Duran – International Studies
Tech School Brady Nay
Colorado Christian University Jacquelyn Janicek – Math Education
Washington Whitworth University Tiffany Waugh – Undecided
Metro State Laurie Devere – Undecided Heritage College Caitlin Brady – X-ray Tech, MA Aims Community College Alissa Cose – Criminal Justice Lincoln Technical University Ryan Parmenter – Diesel Technician Some seniors who wanted to travel a little farther away from home decided to attend the following colleges/universities: Colorado State University in Fort Collins Sami Jo Krieg – Interior Design Colorado Springs Community College Ryan Gallegos – Undecided University of Northern Colorado in Greeley Shannon Schubert – Physical Therapy Kaity Brown – Education Northeastern Junior College in Sterling Tyler Miles – Engineering University of Colorado at Boulder Kortney Korber – PreMed Fort Lewis College Phillip Hanakeawe – Graphic Design Taylor Dillon – Theater Kelcey Satterfield – Undecided Sydney Wardlaw – Undecided For those who wish to experience life outside of Colorado and expand their horizons, the following students have decided to attend these fine schools: Nebraska University of Nebraska Katie Cornelius – Education Hastings College Erin Vanderpool – Math, minor in Culinary Arts Wyoming University of Wyoming Abby Axelson – Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Arizona Northern Arizona University Tiffany Tittes – Biomedical Sciences Texas Texas A&M Samantha Orite – Science Paris, France The American University of Paris Chelsae White – International Affairs A number of students have chosen a different path than college. Work Force Hugo Ruiz Juan Ramirez Columbine Ford Tyler Radel Hopes to become a pro skater Ryan Salazar Wants to break into the modeling business Shaun Jackson Plans on working at Williams to save money and opening his own mechanic shop Will Bryan Attending college at a later date Jonathon Ladd Brandon Cannon Military Josh Gouker – Marine Corp Fidel Jimenez – Marine Corp Ian Holloway – National Guard Ben Williams – Navy (attending the Art Institute of Colorado after Jared Tonder – The U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs Mission Trip Trevor Stubbs Undecided Jared Harris – Wants to go to college Krystal Williams – Wants to go to college Kyndal Fowkes – Cosmetology Antonio Baltazar – Wants to go to college The seniors of the class of 2010 will be remembered and missed greatly. The marks that they left will be forever engraved in the memories of those who walked the halls with them. From theater and art to academics and sports, this particular class was unique in so many ways. The laughter that they spread and the excellence they showed leave no doubt in the minds of those who’ve known them that they will become nothing short of a success.
Page 22, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
O U R
S C H O O L S
Grand Valley High School
Rig tour allows students to learn about energy industry By Tiffany Tittes, Grand Valley High School
Key Club Community Carnival held on May 7 By Shannon Schubert, Grand Valley High School
The annual Key Club Carnival was held May 7. This carnival is a huge hit every year. There were events such as the dunk tank, face painting, bump and jump, and the silent auction. Mrs. Baker, a substitute teacher at Grand Valley High School (GVHS), was in charge of putting the baskets together for the silent GVHS Key Club’s Community Carnival helped raise funds for auction. Thanks to her many of the local service initiatives the club is involved with. and all the donations, there were a wide variety of baskets this year, for children and adults. The Wish Princess was also on hand again this year, for girls ages kindergarten through fifth grade. The Wish Princess is when the children draw a picture that relates to community. The candidates are voted on and the winner is crowned. What if you got hungry? No worries, food was served such as barbecue pork and hot dog plates. There were great prizes, delicious food, and tons of fun! This event was great for families and kids of all ages. All benefits went to Key Club and helps send members to district convention, International convention, and Key Leader as well as various service projects for students and community members in Parachute and Battlement Mesa.
For many years Grand Valley High School (GVHS) has had the opportunity to take a field trip to a Williams Production gas well site. This year was unlike any other. The itinerary involved the following. First, the group went to a rig that is in the drilling process in Rulison. This year was the first time that a group from GVHS got to wear flame retardant clothing (FRC), body protection such as safety helmets, safety glasses, toe caps (made of steel) and the chance to be on top of the rig or derrick. This was in thanks to the behavior of students in previous years that earned the trust of the workers and kept a good reputation. Second, the group made a trip to a finished well where the workers were in the procedure of capping the well. The group finished the tour at the production center, or control center in Parachute where the gases are separated and stored. The group was greeted with a DVD presentation about the entire development and methods used. Usually on a trip, the group will average about 60 students. Almost all these students are enrolled in integrated physics and chemistry or are a part of the freshmen class. This is the seventh year for the school, which Scott Sandblom started, but who is now a teacher at Rifle Middle School. A little fun fact that many may not know is that Williams, EnCana and Chevron set up a program in which they could reach out to students and inform them about the gas production industry. This program is called Energy Professionals In Classrooms, or the EPIC project. This allows students to learn about energy-related activities from professionals employed by Chevron, EnCana and Williams. This project By Liz Favier, Grand Valley High School has been in effect for four years and each company has made a conEvery year, the Key Club at Grand Valley High School tribution of $10,000 toward it. (GVHS) does something having to do with March of Dimes. When asked what the most Tiffany Waugh, Melly Lanza and Karmen Steimel help with the March of This event has been going on for several years and every year important thing she learned, Dimes by giving out refreshing Coca-Colas. it is the same major event, but this year there will be other Angela Brady, a teacher at GVHS small events going on too. and one of the advisors of the trip If you do not know anything about March of Dimes, its mission is to improve said, "The reclamation process is a very important component to ensure environbirth defects, premature birth, and infant morthe health of babies by preventing mental stability." community service and other activities to save babies’ They do research, tality. Reclamation is a process that takes place after the rigs are finished drilling and lives. All of the March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, outreach workers and the land used re-established and reseeded for wildlife for food. Now, most rigs will advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against premature even cement the wells so any leakage is confined and cannot endanger the wildlife defects, and low birth weight. birth birth, or drinking water. GVHS Key Club has been volunteering for several years. The students work many Mrs. Brady said, "The one thing about this trip that I want the students to booths and activities for kids and adults at the event. Some members of Key Club remember is the amount of education it takes to work on these drilling rigs. The helped with lunch for the participants of the march and helped set up for the event. company managers are very school oriented and would encourage students to get "I always look forward to the March of Dimes," said Key Club member, their high school diplomas and even higher education before applying to work at Chelsae White. " I love the feeling that I am helping some little babies.” a rig.” Some of the members of Key Club who attended the walk were Tiffany Waugh, This is an imperative message for high school students everywhere and is Karmen Steimel, Shannon Schuburt, Melly Lanza, Jessica Bell, and Sami Jo Krieg. somewhat of a principle for even community members to know. Thank you to all of Dimes walk was held on April 24 in Grand Junction. This year's March who helped these students to find the capability of going on this trip. You are always welcome! Donations are appreciated.
March of Dimes another project of GVHS’s Key Club
THIS PAGE SPONSORED BY:
GARFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 16 www.garcoschools.org
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 23
O U R Bea Underwood Elementary By Bea Underwood Elementary School Principal Brian Berg
Summer vacation is almost here! This phrase can strike fear in the minds of parents because you ask, “How do I keep them busy all summer?” One answer is sending your child to summer school. A letter went out in early May explaining how to sign up for summer school. First, we will be offering summer school to students who scored Unsatisfactory on their spring reading assessments. Secondly, if space is available for Partially Proficient, Proficient or Advance students, there will be a nominal fee for summer school. With all the budget difficulties this last year, summer school will be partially funded by the Grand Valley Educational Foundation. We thank them for their dedication and generosity. Unfortunately, we applied for a state grant to help with summer school and the state couldn’t afford to award the grant. I encourage all parents to keep their children reading and learning this summer. If you are interested in the computer program, Study Island, to keep the learning going, please contact Crissi Welch our computer teacher for more information. Don’t forget to check into the Garfield Library District’s Summer Reading Program as well.
S C H O O L S
Terrific Kids Terrific Kids for April/May 2010 The Parachute/Battlement Mesa Kiwanis Club sponsors Bea Underwood and St John elementary schools’ Terrific Kids. The program promotes character development and self-esteem. “TERRIFIC” is an acronym meaning Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Inclusive, Friendly, Inquisitive and Capable.
St John Elementary: Examples of our students’ work
Dog musher visits St John Elementary By the Fourth Grade Team, St John Elementary St John Elementary had a special guest speaker visit the school and bring the sport of dog mushing to the school on April 27. The special guest was Butch Austin from Fruita. Butch is retired from the U.S. Postal Service and has been a dog musher since 2006. Butch ran the Iditarod in 2006 and 2007 and says he has always been interested in dog mushing and almost moved to Alaska in 1973 to be closer to the home of the Iditarod. The Iditarod is the annual dog sled race across Alaska that starts in Anchorage, Alaska and ends in Nome, Alaska. The race is 1,160 miles long across frozen tundra. It is a long and grueling race, which can take from nine to 15 days to complete, depending where the musher and his team place. The race honors the 1925 diphtheria serum run to Nome. Butch told of temperatures being 50 to 80 degrees below zero with 50 mile an hour winds. When Butch was running the Iditarod in 2007, the temperatures, with wind chill factor, got down to 120 degrees below zero! Butch brought his sled, supplies and sled dogs to share with the students. The sled dogs were a main attraction for the students and staff! When asked how much he would charge our school Butch said, “It just wouldn’t be right to charge the kids. I didn’t get to see presentations growing up much when I was in school and I think it is important to bring this kind of thing to the kids in schools today!” At the end of the presentation, Butch gave the students a chance to answer some questions. Butch asked, “Why would you bring an ax with you while racing on a frozen creek?” Jamie Godwin answered, “To cut ice to get water!” Butch also held up different items and asked if anyone knew what it might be or what it might be used for. Alex Schuckers identified extra runners used for the sled. There were many other questions and answers and the students who answered them correctly received a poster signed by Butch! Butch’s presentation was informative and engaging, as well as fun. St John Elementary would love to have Butch come back every year.
Bea Underwood Elementary School April/May’s Terrific Kids from Bea Underwood are, from left, first row, Bill Coelho (Kiwanis representative), Janae Valle Campos, Jace Bowen, Aunna Hergemueller, Derrick Medina, Abigail Inskeep, Opal Morganthaler (Kiwanis representative); second row, Joshua Thorpe, Aubrey Eisley, Luke Smith, Seth Velasquez, Gwendolyn Scalise, Morgan Hock; third row, Madison Walck, Haley Huffman, Karely Comacho, Kellen Bowen, Chloe Preble; fourth row, Josue Reyes Cruz, Ryley Sackett, John Chapman, Baylee Perkins; fifth row, Alfonso Calderon, Gage Price, Payton Hagerty, Lisbeth Vicencio, Kylie Miller; sixth row, Riley Buffington, Emma Andersen, Makayla Compton Rivera.
St John Elementary School
April/May’s Terrific Kids from St John are, from left, first row: Bill Coelho (Kiwanis representative), Elizabeth Pena, Alexis Seal, Kendra Ree, Jory Sorensen (principal); second row, Cristian Reyes, Rylie Arrowood, Rachael Thoe; third row, Austin Fox, Evan Wilkins, Kyle Miller. Congratulations to all of April/May’s Terrific Kids!
THIS PAGE SPONSORED BY:
GARFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 16 www.garcoschools.org
Page 24, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
O U R
S C H O O L S
St John Elementary: Examples of our students’ work
Typical Day at St John Elementary
By Kade Hurst, Ms. Newlin’s class, St John Elementary This is what a typical fourth grade day is like at St John Elementary in Ms. Newlin’s classroom. We break our day into four parts: morning, lunch, afternoon, and end of school. This is what a typical fourth grade morning. In the morning we do three things. We do Mountain Language, which is a bunch of different problems about language and arts. We also do Mountain Math, which is a bunch of math concepts. The last thing we do is the Daily 5, where we do reading. Then lunch comes around. We go to lunch at 11:40. Then we eat lunch in the cafeteria, which is on the bottom floor of our school. We get dismissed at 11:55 to go to recess. After recess, we go back to class and do math. This is what we do after lunch. The afternoon is a fun time. We get to do social studies or science. Then we go out to recess. Then we come back in from recess and go to Intervention. Intervention is where we go to a different classroom and do different school concepts. Then the end of school comes. The end of school is my favorite part of the day. We fill out our planners. Then we go to our lockers. Then we clean our classroom. This is what a typical fourth grade day is like at St John Elementary in Ms. Newlin’s classroom. From Ms. Newlin: Kade Hurst is an awesome student who works hard in all subject areas. We have really been working on writing this year in our classroom. We learned about writing five paragraph essays recently, and to see that Kade took this prompt and put it in this format was amazing! He strives to excel in all subject areas. I look forward to seeing how much Kade will grow in writing in the following years in school. Nice job Kade! Keep up the GREAT work!
Kade Hurst
A Typical Day By Katie Lang, Ms. Johnson’s class, St John Elementary
We have many typical days in fourth grade. To begin with, lots of kids work very hard each day. We do several different things on most days in fourth grade. We do reading, writing, math, and more. So come join us for a typical day in fourth grade. We work very hard on writing. To begin with, we’re making paper aliens. We have to write about three places we would take them and why we would take them there. The three places I took my alien are Banana’s fun park, Six Flags, and a made-up island called Mysterious Island. Next, we always like to write to a prompt! We get a prompt like, what is your favorite part about school? Then we have to put the prompt into five-paragraph essay. We also do lots in centers. To begin with, we do vocabulary. Vocabulary is when you have to show you understand the word by using pictures, words and summaries. Next, we do brain teasers. Brain teasers are when you have to solve two very tricky problems based on the on short paragraphs and clues. Fourth grade math is the best! To start out, we do multiplication. So far, we have learned to do lattice and standard method. Next, we do division. So far, we have also learned short and long division. We also sometimes make math posters to hang up in our classroom that help to explain how to do things that we have learned. At the end of the day we have intervention. To start out, I’m in Mr. Sorensen’s intervention. In Mr. Sorensen’s intervention we got to plan the talent show. All together we had 22 acts! Next, we are going to be on KSUN radio. We’re going to talk about how great our school and teachers are! Clearly, it’s just another typical day in fourth grade. We do a lot of things that keep us busy and help us learn.
From Ms. Johnson: Katie Lang’s written piece exceeds what is expected from a fourth grade student according to the Colorado Content Standards. She uses many different techniques to improve her writing and make it engaging for readers. She has been able to
Katie Lang
stretch her writing from a single paragraph into a multi-paragraph essay that is both interesting and informative. In writing in fourth grade, many students have difficulty in being able to add details to their writing in order to explain and give examples of what they are describing in their work. Katie demonstrates these skills and is able to produce a well-developed essay that often is above what is expected at this level. Katie also has the ability to be able to use many different sentence types and word choice to enhance her writing. At the fourth grade level, we often spend a lot of our writing time trying to get students to add more dimensions to their writing by encouraging them to use more complex and interesting words and sentences. Katie’s writing has really come alive as she improves on this skill! Great job Katie, you are showing all the signs of a budding author.
SPONSORED BY:
Bob Schwartz Enterprises
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 25
FA I T H
Rev. David Amrie and family moving to Colorado Springs By Laurel Koning, Echo contributor
Carbondale
Grand Valley United Methodist Church will soon be saying goodbye to their current minister, Rev. David Amrie, as he has accepted a new appointment in Colorado Springs. David will conclude his service to the Parachute church on June 13. The congregation is hosting two celebrations of his service before leaving. On June 11, a “roast” in his honor will be held allowing all in attendance to revisit great past memories, and on June 13, after the church service, the congregation will host a reception for David for final goodbyes. David accepted his appointment at Grand Valley United Methodist Church in July of 2000. With David at the helm, the church began addressing continuing changes within both the church and the community. He is very proud to have assisted in drawing many parishioners that had become disillusioned back to the church. He notes that the strength and generosity of the members, along with the ability to pull together as a team in times of crisis are the church’s greatest assets. His hope is that the church will continue to work on the unique ministries that might be offered to the community. David, his wife, Denise, and their two children, Elliott, 13, and Spencer, 9, are excited about the many educational, social and cultural opportunities that a larger community will bring. David’s new church, Calvary United Methodist Church of Colorado Springs, will receive him on July 1. The new congregation has a membership of 500 with around 250 in attendance each week. While here in Parachute, David’s talents were not limited to just the pulpit. He has always joined the choir as a very strong voice from the second row, along with sharing his guitar skills often during worship. David wants everyone to know that he can’t leave somewhere where he’s served for 10 years without having permanent places in his heart for those here in Parachute. David’s first item on the “What will you miss?” list is the people. The membership of Grand Valley United Methodist wishes him great success on his new appointment. And remember, David, you’re always welcome to come back and visit!
Page 26, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
• The Echo Worship Directory • To be listed in The Echo Worship Directory, please contact gve@crystalvalleyecho.com to set up an account. There is a small monthly fee of $10 to help offset the cost of producing this page.
All Saints' Episcopal Church 150 Sipprelle Dr. Battlement Mesa 285-7908 Pastor's mobile: 985-5797 The Reverend Edmond-Joseph Rivet, Priest-in-charge Website: allsaintsepiscopal.info Church e-mail: office@allsaintsepiscopal.info Pastor e-mail: frej@allsaintsepiscopal.info Sunday Sunday Eucharist: 10:30 a.m. Choir: 9:30 a.m. Children's Godly Play: 10 a.m. WOW: Worship On Wednesday Contemplative Eucharist: 6 p.m. Soup Social: 6:30 p.m. Episcopal Theology: 7 p.m.
Grace Bible Church
Shepherd of the Mesa
755 Spencer Parkway, P.O. Box 6248 Battlement Mesa 285-9862 Charlie Hornick, Pastor Lance Easterling, Youth Pastor
Lutheran Church (WELS) Worship Location: Historical Society Schoolhouse on County Road 300 Battlement Mesa
Sunday Blessing Up for Church Broadcast 103.9 FM Sunday School: 9:30-10:15am Morning Worship: 10:30am Evening Service: 5:30pm
Pastor, Bill Cornelius: 987-3093 Staff Minister of Youth, Outreach and Worship Adam Lambrecht: 987-1992 Worship Coordinator Sarah Lambrecht: 285-7255
Youth / Children’s Activities Grace Bible Church Child Care: Mon – Fri. Awana: Tues. 7:00pm (Sept. – April) High School Youth: Sun. 5:00-7:00pm Middle School Youth: Thurs 5:00-7:00pm *Bible Studies, Special Activities (Call for times and places)
Crown Peak Baptist Church 101 W. Battlement Parkway Parachute, CO 81635 970-285-7946 crownpeakbaptist.com
24-Hour Prayer Line: 384-7999
Rick Van Vleet, Senior Pastor Dan LaRue, Associate Pastor Matt Loftin, Youth Pastor Brian Jarrett, Minister of Music
2nd Street & Parachute Avenue Parachute, CO 81635
Sunday Morning Worship – 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday Morning Bible Study for all ages – 9:45 a.m. (Children's Church offered during 11 a.m. service) Wed. Night Dinner 5:30 p.m. Wed. Night Programs 6:30 p.m. (Adult, Children & Youth Groups) Small groups meet throughout the week ... Visit our website for more information. Come -- Experience God's Power for life & living Know -- Christ through a loving family for fellowship Grow -- In Christ through a foundation of discipleship Go -- With Christ in a ministry of service with a focus for evangelism
Faith Baptist Church 235 N. Railroad Ave. Parachute John Yadloski, Pastor 285-7424 Sunday Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship: 11 a.m. Children’s Church: 11:15 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study: 7 p.m.
Grand Valley Christian Church
Richard Counts, Pastor 285-9223 e-mail: keeperoffaith@aol.com Church Office 285-7597
Worship Time: Sunday morning 10 a.m. Family Bible Classes: Call for locations Monday: 3:30 p.m. (west side of town) Tuesday: 6 p.m. (Glenwood Springs) Wednesday: 7 p.m. (east side of town) Thursday: 7:30 p.m. Starting Soon! Call for location Confirmation/Catechism (Kids in sixth grade-high school): Wednesday 7 p.m. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Sunday worship 10:00 am
Wellspring of Life Church Daily Prayer Tuesday thru Friday 9:30 a.m.
Grand Valley United Methodist Church 132 N. Parachute Ave., P.O. Box 125, Parachute 285-9892, 285-6582 E-mail: grndvalumc@sopris.net David Amrie, Pastor Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Faith Journey Sunday School same as Worship Service hour Seekers Sunday School 10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Contact church for more info: 285-9892
at Grand Valley High School Cafeteria 800 Cardinal Way Parachute, CO 81635 Pastor David Bartlett Sunday Service Time: 10 a.m. Youth and Children’s Sunday School 970-210-5795 970-210-5849
GRAND VALLEY SPELLBINDERS is looking for volunteers. Call 285-7175 for more information.
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 27
Page 28, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
Get those U.S. Census forms in – or expect a friendly visit Workers from the 2010 U.S. Census have been scouring Garfield County this year, and starting May 1, they’re double-checking that everyone has received a form and that all forms have been sent back for the massive nationwide count. Parachute and Battlement Mesa residents who have not yet received a census survey at their homes can contact the census with address information, and all residents who have not returned their forms should expect a visit from a census worker. Chances are you’ll get a knock at your door during this phase. “We urge all Garfield County residents to welcome these workers when they come to your household,” said Deborah Cameron, of the Denver Regional Census Center. “Your cooperation helps ensure that money for roads, schools, bridges and other services comes to your community.” Make sure that you are opening your door for a census taker. All census workers must present an ID badge that contains a Department of Commerce watermark and expiration date. The census taker may also be carrying a black canvass bag with a Census Bureau logo. If asked, he or she will provide supervisor contact information and/or the local census office phone number for verification. Your participation in the census is vital and required by law. By responding, you help the Grand Valley get its share of more than $400 billion per year in federal funds to help increase job training, improve schools and more. All census information is strictly confidential. Census enumerators have taken an oath to protect confidentiality under punishment by law. If you have further questions, the census’ Grand Junctionbased phone number is 970-361-3690.
Grand Valley Echo Phone Directory Animal Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-8095 Battlement Mesa Activity Center (BMAC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-9480 Battlement Mesa Company (Property management) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-9740 Battlement Mesa Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-9174 Battlement Mesa Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-7046 Battlement Mesa Metro District (Water/sewer, BMAC) . . .285-9050 Battlement Mesa Service Association (Government) . . . . .285-9432 Dispatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-8095 Emergencies (Fire, law enforcement, medical) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .911 Fire Department (Grand Valley Fire Protection District) . .285-9119 Garfield County Commissioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .945-5004 Garfield County Courthouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .945-0453 Garfield County Sheriff (Non-emergency) . . . . . . . . . . . . .945-0453 Garfield County Sheriff Auxiliary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-9261 Golf Club (Battlement Mesa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-7274 Grand River Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625-1510 Grand Valley Echo
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 963-2373
Holy Cross Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .945-5491 KSUN Radio Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-2246 Mesa Vista Assisted Living Residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-1844 Parachute Branch Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-9870 Parachute Town Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-7630 Park and Recreation Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-0388 Police Department (Parachute) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-7630 Post Office (Parachute) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285-7677 Road Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877-315-7623
103.9 FM
Schools Bea Underwood Elementary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-5703
TUNE IN!
District 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-5700
BROADCASTING 24/7!
Grand Valley Center for Family Learning . . . . . . . . . . . .285-5702
Syndicated Radio Programs • Local Programming
YOUR SOURCE FOR EMERGENCY WEATHER AND AMBER ALERTS KSUN Radio - The Voice of the Grand Valley High School Cardinals, Broadcasting Games LIVE! Accepting public service announcements for local organizations
Grand Valley High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-5705 Grand Valley Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-5707 St John Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-5704 Senior Center (Parachute) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-7216 Visitor Center (Parachute) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285-7934
Live Programming each weekday morning 7-8 a.m. with weather, announcements, music and more.
JOIN US! We are a member supported non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible. KSUN COMMUNITY RADIO 398 Arroyo Drive, Battlement Mesa • 285-2246
www.ksunradio.org
If you have something to contribute to The Grand Valley Echo, let us know gve@crystalvalleyecho.com
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 29
THE GRAND VALLEY ECHO CLASSIFIED ADS FOR RENT BATTLEMENT MESA: 3 bedroom (1 large master bedroom and bath with large walk-in closet), 2 bath condo. Separate laundry room with washer and dryer, AC, 1 car garage with large storage room. The Rec Center is within walking distance and dues are included. $1,100 mo. plus security deposit. Beautiful views of the Roan Peaks - NS, pets considered. 704-0373 (H), 404-2346 (cell). BATTLEMENT MESA – New and late model manufactured homes for rent, both Singlewides and Doublewides. They range in size from 1,065 to 2,400 sq. ft. 3 Bedrooms and 2 baths, the largest one is 4 BR/3 BA. Furnished and unfurnished. All are immaculately clean, freshly painted and excellently maintained. They all have air conditioning or swamp coolers, washer and dryer, sheds and most have decks. Rents range from $1,100 to $1,675 and include Activity center membership, lot rent and trash pick-up. One year lease. 1st; last and security. Call for availability. 948-5883. pd4/10
FOR RENT ONE OF THE BEST RENTAL HOMES IN DEBEQUE! 3BD/2BA, all appliances included. W/D and Fireplace. N/S, Pet Gas Negotiable. Lots of Parking and Large Covered Deck. Asking $1,000/mo. 1st + SD. Call CHRIS – 970-285-9700 or 319-7754, Keller Williams Realty, Colorado Heritage Group RENT REDUCED – TRI-LEVEL HOME IN RIFLE! 1,300 SF, 3BD/2BA. All appliances included. N/S, Pet considered. Wood Stove to add ambiance. $1,000/mo. 1st + SD. Call CHRIS 970-285-9700 or 970-319-7754 Keller Williams Realty Colorado Heritage Group MAINTENANCE-FREE LIVING IN BATTLEMENT MESA! 2BD/2BA Patio Home; all appliances included. 2-car garage. N/S and N/P. $1,100/mo. 1st + SD. Activity Center included. Call CHRIS 970285-9700 or 970-319-7754 Keller Williams Realty Colorado Heritage Group
FOR RENT FOR RENT: Battlement Mesa 3BD/2BA/2-car garage. W/D included. Living room and family room, two fireplaces. Spacious backyard w/privacy fence, shed and mature trees. Activity center included. Available June 1. N/S, Pets OK. $1500/mo. Mike 970270-6899. HELP WANTED: Marketing rep wanted for fast growing health & wellness co. Commissions + bonuses + profit sharing. Full or part time. Contact Barbara 309-1354 or 285-7634. WANTED WANTED: Looking for a math tutor to work with my son during the summer in the Parachute area. 970-987-9898 WANTED: In Parachute/ Battlement Mesa area, to lease a couple of acres for horse pasture. Long term. Please call 720-4273678, leave message.
SERVICES SERVICES: Itzy Bitzy Daycare. I am a licensed childcare provider. I am here to give your child the opportunity to interact with other children and to participate in a number of activities that will help them grow and learn. I have training in medication administration and universal precautions and I am certified in CPR and First Aid. Crystal Ivie 970-285-7484. The Echo Classified Ads - an inexpensive way to advertise... Do you have something for sale, a home for rent or services you offer... let your neighbors know with a classified ad in the Echo. Only $10 for up to 40 words - a bargain that can’t be beat!
THE GRAND VALLEY ECHO IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE PICK UP AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS RACKS OUTSIDE: Outlaw Ribbs • Wendy’s • Clark’s Market • Southgate Plaza/Grand Valley Pub INSIDE AT: Kum & Go Stations • The Battlement Mesa Activity Center and at MANY local businesses!
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FOR SALE BY OWNER $279,000 188 Cliff View Circle Battlement Mesa, CO
3 bedroom, 2 bath home built in 2005. Has central air, stanless steel appliances, 2 RV parkings, 2 car garage, timed sprinklers, fenced back yard, mt views, and much more. Motivated sellers! All offers are considered. Please call 970-985-1380
Do you have a great story idea? If you have something to contribute to The Grand Valley Echo, let us know 963-2373 • gve@crystalvalleyecho.com
THE GRAND VALLEY ECHO CLASSIFIED ADS PHOTO CLASSIFIED AD–Run an photo and 25 words for $15/month* LISTING CLASSIFIED AD–Run up to 40 words for $10/month* *25¢ per word extra. These ads must be prepaid.
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The Echo is available at many valley locations for free pick up (see box above)… AND WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE HOMES IN THE BATTLEMENT MESA AND PARACHUTE AREA FREE OF CHARGE You can help support the paper by becoming a paid subscriber. Mailed subscriptions are available for readers outside our area.
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THE GRAND VALLEY ECHO 274 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, CO 81623 We appreciate your support!
The Grand Valley Echo 274 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, CO 81623 IF YOU ARE RUNNING A PHOTO CLASSIFIED, SEND PHOTO TO gve@crystalvalleyecho.com
Page 30, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010
Where’s Redstone?
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Where’s Redstone – and why should you care? The Grand Valley Echo’s sixyear old sister, The Crystal Valley Echo, is based in Redstone and is the monthly newspaper for the Crystal Valley. Besides, Redstone is a perfect, quick getaway for Grand Valleyites. Get to know your sister: Come visit.
Go back “inn” time By Carrie Click, Echo editor
The Redstone Inn
Want to travel back in time? A trip to the Redstone Inn can send you to a long-ago era. And the history that awaits you is less than an hour and a half away from Parachute and Battlement Mesa. The Redstone Inn is set in the midst of the Crystal River Valley. Built at the turn of the 20th century, it was part of a social/industrial experiment devised by coal baron John Cleveland Osgood. Instead of housing his coal miners in ramshackle shacks, he put up his bachelor workers in this Tudor-style lodge. The inn was considered posh for the time, with indoor plumbing and electricity. Today, visitors can stay in the charming old building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Don’t expect Holiday Inn-style sleekness, but do expect a thoroughly antiquated journey in time, complete with ornate woodworking, beveled windows, and yes, a little creakiness in the floorboards. The inn’s owners, Greg and Jacqueline Gilmore, are renovating the place with new mattresses, fresh bedding, and updated televisions, among other improvements. And while in Redstone, continue your history lesson by touring the Redstone Castle, Osgood’s personal estate, right down the road. Redstone is located on Highway 133, 18 miles south of Carbondale. Take I-70 to Glenwood Springs and Highway 82 to the junction of Highway 133 at Carbondale. For more information on the Redstone Inn, contact 963-2526, redstoneinn.com. For information on the Redstone Castle tours, contact 963-9656, redstonecastle.us. Hope to see you in Redstone!
The Redstone General Store WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! Open Daily
963-3126 292 Redstone Blvd. Redstone Across from the park
Avalanche Ranch Cabins & Antiques • 12863 Hwy 133 • Redstone, CO 81623 info@avalancheranch.com • www.avalancheranch.com • 1-877-963-9339
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THE HEART OF REDSTONE WITH A UNIQUE SELECTION OF CENTERPIECES FOR YOUR HOME! REDSTONE CASTLE TOURS
REDSTONE CASTLE TOUR TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE! OPEN YEAR ROUND • OPEN DAILY
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 1:30 P.M. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 seniors, children 5-18 Children under 5: FREE (FOR GROUP TOURS CALL 970-963-9656)
970-963-1769
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT Tiffany of Redstone and The Redstone General Store.
225 Redstone Blvd. • Redstone
redstonecolorado.com
CASH OR CHECK ONLY.
www.redstonecastle.us SUMMER MUSIC ON THE PATIO EVERY SUNDAY 3-5PM STARTING IN JUNE
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010, Page 31
SERVICE DIRECTORY THE ELEMENTAL TOUCH Complete Tree Care & Landclearing Service Trimming • Removals Ornamental Pruning Tree Installation-Cabling Fruit Trees - Consulting Stump Grinding - Chipping 970-285-2364 Parachute 970-984-2475 New Castle Mornings & Evenings
WHIZKID COMPUTER SERVICES No job too small, no question too dumb! • • • • •
Hardware/software problems diagnosed and treated. Can work on both Mac and PC Available anytime for in-home services. Reasonable Rates Colorado School of Mines student, Parachute family Help me finance my higher education!
Charlie Sudick ITA MEMBER
Geno Duran 970-285-9822/ Cell: 303-981-0445
OUTSI DE STOR AGE NEW TO THE PARACHUTE / BATTLEMENT MESA AREA LOCATED IN PARACHUTE
Travel Trailers, RV's, Boats, Trucks, etc. CALL JOHN - 970-986-1820 OR SHERRY - 970-640-3115
NOW SERVICING PARACHUTE AND BATTLEMENT MESA • Commercial dumpsters, full time service • Commercial roll-offs 10, 20, 30, & 40 cubic yards available
#1 IN A #2 BUSINESS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN DISPOSAL
24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE! DEBEQUE TO ASPEN
947-0990
RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • MUNICIPAL • Electronic locate • Rooter work • Unclog lines and drains • RootX Treatments • Hydro-jet of lines/grease traps • Septic tank inspections • Camera/Video inspection of lines 2” to 36” CALL RICK or SCOTT
Canyon Cleaners • Basic and Full Service Oil Changes • Automatic Transmission Flushes • Tire Sales • ASE Certified Mechanic on duty full-time
For all your laundry & dry cleaning needs. • Open 9-5 – Mon - Fri •
In the Battlement Mesa Plaza
970-930-0124
285-9217
down the hall from Farmer’s Insurance.
P.O. BOX 1349 • RIFLE, CO 81650
120 S. Columbine Ct. • Parachute
285-9947 • 876-5020office
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Page 32, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-May / Mid-June 2010