NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
EMBODYING RHYTHM Debut CD takes listeners on a musical tour of the world, B1
SPORTS
TRACK TO BE NAMED
120 WRESTLERS WEIGH IN
Recognition urged for longtime CHS teacher, coach, C1
DELTA COUNTY
Cedaredge Bruins win 30th annual Panther Invitational, B6-8
DECEMBER 12, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 50
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Website tracks progress at DMS BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Kissner GC, the general contractor for the addition to Delta Middle School, has begun posting project updates to the school district website, www.deltaschools.com. The updates allow parents and students to track what’s going on, noted John McHugh, facilities supervisor for Delta County Joint School District #50. During a school board meeting on Dec. 4, superintendent Caryn Gibson said a lot of people are wondering why the building isn’t going up faster. The answer: the work to date has all been underground — foundation, slabs, plumbing and electrical systems. Soon, Kissner GC will begin building walls using insulated concrete forms, or ICF. The forms snap together somewhat like Legos. Once
the forms are in place, concrete will be poured to create a solid concrete core. These new walls will be strong and energy efficient. “Watch over the next few weeks as these walls go tumbling ... up,” the website explains. At the school board meeting, McHugh demonstrated how progress can also be tracked via a 360° view from a camera that’s been placed in the middle of the future cafeteria. “You’ll be able to see how the building goes up around it,” he said. The addition includes classrooms, music and choir rooms, and a new cafeteria — all to be connected to the existing 2004 building to enhance student safety. Other safety upgrades include replacement of the fire alarms, an intercom system throughout the main building and the gym, security doors and door
locks. On the school grounds, the bus loading zone has been extended and a new parent drop-off is being created. An ADA ramp will improve handicap access to the gym. A BEST (Building Excellent Schools Today) grant of $10 million will largely offset total construction cost of
about $14.5 million. The addition was designed by Reilly Johnson Architects; Austin Civil Group is providing civil engineering for the project So far, the project is on track for completion next summer. In the meantime, sixth grade classes are being
held on the second floor of the old middle/high school. Throughout the design and construction process, there have been opportunities for student involvement, from designing exterior features to calculating the square footage of the new parking area and parent drop-off lanes.
DMEA begins exit from Tri-State G&T Tri-State rate increases deemed ‘unsustainable’ PRESS RELEASE
On Dec. 6, Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) strongly reaffirmed its intent to exit membership in Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association (Tri-State), and has asked the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to exercise its statutory authority over Tri-State as a public utility and adjudicate a just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory exit charge. “DMEA and our board of directors have a fiduciary responsibility to serve the best interests of our members to remain a competitive, reliable and cost-effective co-op,” said DMEA chief executive officer Jasen Bronec. “DMEA’s wholesale power costs from Tri-State have been escalating at an unsustainable rate. Tri-State’s annual reports show that average member rates have increased 56 percent since 2005, which is more than double the increase in the Consumer Price Index over the same time period. This stands in stark contrast to the overall energy market in which prices have decreased significantly over the same period.” The Dec. 6 announcement culminates over a decade of negotiations between DMEA and Tri-State to stabilize rates and lift restrictions on DMEA’s pursuit of more local renewable energy generation. Tri-State restricts rural cooperatives to a 5 percent limit for the amount of energy that they can produce on their
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Agriculture ................... C8 Back Page ................... D6 Bruin Tracks ............. C3-6 Business .......................A10 Church ..................... A8, D4 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ............................ D3 North Fork Times ........B1-3 Obituaries .................. A6-7 School Zone .................. A5 Sports ..........................B6-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-7 TV Listings ..................B4-5
own, which DMEA met two years ago. Since then, DMEA has been limited in its ability to capitalize on its energy-rich territory, despite the low cost and numerous benefits to the community. In recent years, DMEA has tried to exercise its right to exit Tri-State consistent with Tri-State’s “core principle” of voluntary and open membership. Despite DMEA’s efforts, Tri-State has refused to provide a just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory exit charge. Under Colorado public utilities law, the PUC has legal responsibility to ensure that public utility rates and charges are just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory. “While the decision to separate from Tri-State allows for significant economic benefit for our members — including stabilized rates, development of diverse and low-cost local energy, and the creation of new local jobs — we are seeking fair exit terms that will protect both Tri-State’s remaining members and the interests of DMEA’s members,” said Bronec. “Our filing asks the PUC to ensure that we pay our fair share, but only our fair share, in exiting Tri-State.” Following Kit Carson Electric Cooperative’s securing a buyout from Tri-State for $37 million in 2016, DMEA has validated options that could provide wholesale rate relief if the PUC sets a just and reasonable exit charge for DMEA that would allow DMEA to withdraw from Tri-State on reasonable economic terms. Like Kit Carson, DMEA will partner with Guzman Energy, a Colorado wholesale power provider, upon withdrawing from Tri-State.
Photo by Kissner GC
This drone footage shows the grade beams being placed on the campus of Delta Middle School. Progress should become much more visible over the coming weeks, as Kissner GC begins building walls using insulated concrete forms.
McKee looks back on law enforcement career BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
After capping a 40-year career in law enforcement with four terms as sheriff of Delta County, Fred McKee is retiring. He declined to seek a fifth term in office, saying 16 years is enough. Mark Taylor, who was unopposed in the November election, will serve as the next sheriff of Delta County. McKee said he didn’t set out to become a peace officer, although he did a stint in the military, which often serves as a jumping off point for law enforcement. Instead, he painted horse trailers, trained as a locksmith and joined a brother-inlaw in the hog business in the San Luis Valley. The hog business was tough going at times, and not looking to improve any time soon, so when the thensheriff of Rio Grande County said he needed a graveyard dispatcher, McKee decided to give it a shot. He then applied for a job as a deputy sheriff, and when he was hired, the office put him through law enforcement training. After about four years on the job, he was promoted to senior deputy/investigator, then named undersheriff. When Kamerzell was defeated in his bid for re-
HopeWest hosts holiday event HopeWest invites friends, family and neighbors to its annual Lights of Life event to celebrate the spirit of community this holiday season. This evening allows you to gather in recognition of the meaning of the season while reflecting on the cherished memories of loved ones held close to our hearts. The event will feature a holiday greeting, candlelighting ceremony and beautiful lights with music and singing. It will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory, 682 1725 Road, Delta. This event, in cooperation with Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory, is free and open to the public. For more information, call 970-874-6823 or visit HopeWestCo.org.
election, the new sheriff kept McKee on as undersheriff. Although they were pretty good friends, McKee decided to resign and run for sheriff of Rio Grande County. He was beat by 40 votes and found himself out of work. Kamerzell had since been named director of the County Sheriffs of Colorado association and was aware that Bill Blair, the newly appointed sheriff of Delta County, was looking for an undersheriff.
McKee applied for the job, and the rest, as they say, is history. He’s now been with the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office for 27 years. He was elected sheriff in 2003, when term limits forced Blair into retirement. McKee faced opposition in the first election, but has run unopposed the last three. “The fact that Mark [Taylor] had an opportunity to run unopposed for a vacancy says McKEE TO A3
Photo submitted
Fred McKee was one of three retiring sheriffs recognized at a meeting of the Montrose County Republican Women. U.S. Representative Scott Tipton (right) read a tribute commending McKee for his commitment to justice and service in Colorado. His remarks were entered into the Congressional Record.
Carbon monoxide blamed for two deaths
An initial autopsy report indicates that an elderly Cedaredge couple died of carbon monoxide poisoning. The Delta County Sheriff’s Office reports that John Thompson, 88, and Joan Thompson, 81, were found by a neighbor the morning of Dec. 5. In a separate incident, a group of friends was affected by carbon monoxide while playing pool at the home of Jenna Bemis on Dec. 6. Bemis reports that she’d recently had a new heating stove installed in the pool room, and it was appar-
ently emitting carbon monoxide. Bemis believes she was the first to feel dizzy and she passed out. The others thought she had had a heart attack and called 911. Everyone wound up going to the hospital to be checked out, including two of the men who had gone home. Bemis says police officers went to the men’s respective homes and made sure they went to be checked out at the hospital also. In light of her experience, Bemis urges everyone to install a carbon monoxide alarm in their houses.