Delta County Independent, Nov. 4, 2015

Page 1

NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

REC DISTRICT UPGRADES

SPORTS

SELF-TAUGHT MUSICIAN

Swimming pool, tennis courts will be ready for spring 2016, B4

Harmonica player lifts the spirits of nursing home residents, C1

DELTA COUNTY

ON THE ATTACK

Three county teams are in the volleyball playoffs this weekend, C6 NOVEMBER 4, 2015 VOL. 132, NO. 44

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INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Fruit loss produces disaster declaration BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Fruit growers in Delta County lost an estimated 70 percent of their apples, peaches, pears, apricots and sweet cherries when temperatures dropped below freezing repeatedly last spring. As a result of the frigid temperatures between April 2 and 19, Governor John Hickenlooper has approved a primary county disaster designation for Delta County. Gunnison, Montrose and Mesa counties were declared contiguous disaster counties. By his “conservative estimate,” Alan Bull, the county executive director for the Farm Service Agency, says losses totaled $9 to $10 million in Delta County. The governor’s declaration opens up an emergency loan program. The designation covers any crop affected by the freezing weather and frost damage during that time period. “The most notable impact

obtain credit elsewhere. Loans are based on physical and production losses caused by the disaster. Producers must file an application for an emergency

was to fruit crops, but the weather may have also affected early vegetables/berries and possibly stunted hay growth, which later recovered,” Bull said. The disaster declaration was deferred until after harvest, “because we didn’t want it to hurt the market for producers who did have fruit,” Bull added. Disaster areas are declared in accordance with the Colorado state executive director of the Farm Service Agency with the USDA. “USDA reviewed the loss assessment report and determined that there were sufficient production losses to warrant a secretarial natural disaster designation,” USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack said in a letter to Gov. Hickenlooper. Relief is available through low interest emergency loans. The loans are available to operators of family-size farms/ ranches that are unable to

Pastor sentenced for child abuse BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Although he pleaded guilty to felony child abuse with an underlying sexual basis, Jeremias Quintero maintained his innocence throughout a sentencing hearing in Delta District Court last week. Ironically, his continuous denial played a factor in the fouryear prison sentence handed down by Judge Stephen Schultz. Taking responsibility for one’s actions is one of the most important elements in sex offender treatment, deputy district attorney Seth Ryan argued. Because of that refusal, Quintero was denied placement in a community corrections facility. The judge also dismissed two other options — probation and a jail sentence. Defense attorney Vincent

Felletter pointed out Quintero entered an “Alford” plea, meaning he did not admit his guilt but recognized there was a good chance he could be convicted by a jury. The district attorney’s office accepted that plea, Felletter said, then turned around and argued he won’t accept responsibility. “Under an Alford plea he does not have to admit he committed the crime,” Felletter argued. In fact, Felletter said, Quintero was adamant about going to trial until the district attorney made the offer of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury. Defense attorney Vincent Felletter accused the prosecutor of being “zealous” and said the criminal investigation was so badly flawed, the detective should have lost his job. PASTOR TO A3

Landfill fees are going up in 2016 BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer

Fees charged at the county landfill will be going up on the first business day of 2016. County administrator Robbie LeValley said the current per-ton charge of $25 for commercial and general waste disposal at the landfill is not covering actual costs, which are pegged at $31 per ton. As a result, the commissioners approved a new fee schedule on Monday that will double the current minimum fee from $5 to $10. Other changes taking effect Jan. 4 include:

INDEX

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Back Page ................... D8 Business .........................B8 Church ........................... D4 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ............................ D3 North Fork Times ........B1-6 Obituaries ......................B7 School Zone ............... A5-6 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports ..........................C5-7 Surface Creek News ...C1-4 TV Listings ................. D5-6

• General waste: includes household brush and yard clean-up, and also most construction roofing, demolition and debris including concrete and soil, $28 per ton (currently $25 per ton). • Special waste: 10 tires or fewer without rims, $3 each; 11 or more tires in a load will be charged a bulk rate of $210 per ton. Individual tires with rims, $28 per ton. Only tires from Delta County will be accepted. • Trailer houses (with prior approval and arrangements), $28 per ton plus $50 per trailer.

loan through the Farm Service Agency by June 26. Each application will be considered on its own merit, taking into account the extent of losses, security available, repayment

ability and other eligibility requirements. For more information about emergency loans contact Laurie Neilson, farm loan manager, at 242-9133, ext. 2.

Photo by Pat Sunderland

Going to the polls

Although the majority of voters in Delta County opted to return their mail-in ballots, Rosie Dowell took advantage of the voting machine in the county clerk’s office to vote Nov. 3. At about 10 a.m. Tuesday, elections supervisor Renee Loy Maas said about 37 percent of the county’s voters had turned in their ballots. Results are available on the Delta County Independent and county websites.

Region 10 receives additional $1.2 million for broadband PRESS RELEASE

Those who have been working to develop and expand broadband in western Colorado received good news this month. The Partnerships for Opportunity, Workforce, and Economic Revitalization (POWER) program awarded Region 10 — the six-county council of governments representing Delta, Montrose, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Ouray and San Miguel counties — a $1.2 million grant to go toward its continued efforts in increasing access to affordable and abundant high speed Internet services. The grant was leveraged by an existing $5.2 million agreement between the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and several Region 10 communities involved in the early phases of the creation of a regional broadband network. “When everything comes together like this, it gets very exciting,” states Michelle Haynes, executive director of Region 10. The first phase of the regional network will focus on construction of the necessary infrastructure in all Delta County communities and extend into the City of

Montrose. The POWER funds will also be utilized for future phases extending into neighboring counties. Region 10 was uniquely qualified for this funding for several reasons. First, the funding specifically targeted communities which demonstrated a reliance upon coal mining as a primary employer. Approximately $15 million was set aside nationwide for communities which met this requirement. Though the funding cannot replace the estimated $42 million impact of the recently lost coal mining jobs, the grant will serve to broaden and diversify the economic development strategies of the region. Broadband was identified as a primary economic barrier to all of the communities served by Region 10. Region 10 also qualified because the funding was designed specifically for implementation, not planning. “There weren’t many communities who were ready for the implementation phase,” Haynes continues. “Since we had already started the planning a year ago, we were well positioned for the funding proposal.” Communities are currently mapping out the anchor

institutions (e.g., government buildings, fire departments, hospitals, etc.) so they can place carrier-neutral locations (CNL) that can optimally serve all of the necessary community institutions. Once in place, the CNLs will serve as hubs for Internet service providers to provide the “last mile” service, potentially bringing fiber to the residential households and commercial buildings. Additional redundancy measures will be built to minimize significant losses in Internet connectivity. Delta County stands out in the region based on its commitment to supporting its communities. County leadership has agreed to ensure that each of its communities will have at least one CNL. “No other county is doing that in our region,” Haynes comments. “It’s very commendable.” “Delta County believes that increasing the broadband capacity and redundancy in each part of the county will not only help the community, but will provide the infrastructure for private enterprise to deliver service direct to the business and private sectors,” states Robbie LeValley, Delta BROADBAND TO A3

Veterans Day closures

A Colorado Christmas

Slash burns planned

The Delta County Independent will go to press as usual late Tuesday, Nov. 10, but will not be delivered to postal customers until Thursday, Nov. 12, due to the Veterans Day holiday. Federal institutions, including the U.S. Post Office, will be closed along with banks, the county courthouse and many municipal offices. City of Delta government offices will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, but Bill Heddles Recreation Center and Devil’s Thumb Golf Club will be open regular hours. Wednesday’s trash will be picked up that day.

Show your Colorado pride in style by lighting up an entry for the Delta Parade of Lights. This year’s theme is “A Colorado Christmas.” Applications are available from the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce at 301 Main Street, Delta, or on the chamber’s website. There is no entry fee for participants, thanks to the sponsorship of Senior CommUnity Care. The parade will be held on Delta’s Main Street Friday, Dec. 4, starting at 6 p.m. Contact the chamber at 874-8616 for additional information.

The Grand Valley Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests plans to burn piles within the Porter Mountain and Eggleston Lake areas of the Grand Mesa, possibly beginning as soon as Nov. 4, and continuing for several weeks until the project is complete. The piles consist of slash (branches and trees) generated from past timber sales in both areas. Fire personnel will be on hand to monitor the burning as conditions warrant, but advise smoke may be seen from the valley.


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Delta County Independent, Nov. 4, 2015 by Delta County Independent - Issuu