Delta County Independent, Dec. 2, 2015

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NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

A LABOR OF LOVE

SPORTS

COMMUNITY BLESSING

Feeding the community is an honor for Larry Jakubiak, B1

Volunteers help Creekside Café serve free Thanksgiving dinner, C1

DELTA COUNTY

THE FIGHT IS OVER Delta, Paonia come up short in football playoffs, C7

DECEMBER 2, 2015 VOL. 132, NO. 48

75¢

INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Hwy. 92 overpass nears completion BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

A major road construction project on Highway 133 between Delta and Hotchkiss is nearing completion. The $13.1 million railroad overpass at Stengel’s Hill was funded from a variety of sources — $3.6 million in FASTER safety funds, $4.1 million in railroad crossing funds, $4.3 million in Regional Priority Project (RPP) funds and $1.1 million in surface treatment funds. The project was determined a priority due to the at-grade railroad crossing and sight distances for private driveways and the road to the Gunnison River Pleasure Park. While mine slowdowns in the North Fork have reduced concerns about the at-grade railroad crossing, Tracy Trulove, communications manager for Region 3, Colorado Department of Transportation, said the project still addresses safety concerns. “This project got a lot of attention because it went to advertisement and then the mine closed,” Trulove said. But a traffic safety assessment conducted from 2007 to

and super-elevation alignment being in conflict with the highway curve and super-elevation alignment,” she explained. “Those two alignment differences caused the highway traffic to ‘twist’ as a vehicle crossed the railroad tracks. At slow speeds, this could be described as alarming, however at higher speeds, it could cause loss of control.”

2011 shows 99 accidents were reported in that narrow stretch of highway. Trulove provided a breakdown of accidents that includes 88 involving property damage (to the driver’s vehicle or someone’s fence, for instance), 10 injury accidents and one fatality during the five-year period. “One of the best benefits of the project from a safety aspect is for the property on the south side of the highway at the top of Stengel’s Hill. The realignment has greatly improved the sight distance of this access of two homes that was almost blind with traffic flowing at 55-60 mph,” Trulove said. In addition to improving sight distance, the project provides shoulders, turn lanes to the Gunnison River Pleasure Park, and an eastbound climbing lane which will hopefully reduce high speed passing on Rogers Mesa. Trulove said CDOT looked at many alternatives, including maintaining the existing at-grade railroad intersection. “A major challenge of maintaining the Stengel’s at-grade railroad crossing was a combination of the railroad curve

Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee said the road project will allow quicker response during emergencies. “That’s one less railroad crossing to worry about being on the wrong side of,” he said. “Anything that gets done to Highway 92 is an improvement in my mind,” said county commissioner Mark Roeber. “I can’t wait for the next phase,

which is Rogers Mesa. CDOT is still talking plans, but at the least hopefully they’ll extend the shoulders so people have more room to get off the road to make turns. “I know there have been a lot of complaints about all the money spent on that overpass,” Roeber continued, “but we think there’s still going to be trains.”

Photo by Pat Sunderland

Construction crews work on the overpass at Stengel’s Hill. During a recent report to the Delta County commissioners, Colorado Department of Transportation officials said the final mat of asphalt will not be laid down until 2016.

Abraham Connection hosts open house BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Abraham Connection is just a few days, and a few dollars, short of completing the new permanent homeless shelter at 480 Silver Street in Delta. A community open house is planned this Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m., with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. Volunteers were putting finishing touches on the building early this week, painting the trim on the doors to the office and conference rooms, wiping down the counters

hin the spacious kitchen and arranging furniture in the common area. There are three spacious sleeping areas — the largest for men, a medium-sized room for women and the third for families with children. The men’s and women’s dorms are essentially large spaces where mattresses can be laid down, piled up and arranged however guests desire. Space is a bit more defined in the family room, where shelves contain books and toys for the little ones. Bryce Simler, a homeschooled student from

Chamber has new exec. director, board president BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Holly Piatek has been named the executive director of the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce. She replaces outgoing director Leslie Workman, who accepted a new job at Delta County Memorial Hospital. Piatek is described as a real “go-getter” by Heather Redden, the new chamber board president. Elections were held at the same meeting where three new directors were seated — Chris Cox from Bank of Colorado, Jessica Carlson from DeltaMontrose Technical College and Angel Blanco from Taylor Funeral Service & Crematory. Kylynn Wilson of Crossroads Assisted Living and Dave Beneteau of Plati-

INDEX

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Agriculture .....................C4 Back Page ................... D8 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................C5 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-5 Obituaries ......................B8 School Zone ...................B7 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports ..........................C7-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-3 TV Listings ................. D5-6

num Relations agreed to additional three-year terms on the board. Wilson is board vice president and Beneteau is financial officer. Piatek, a personal banker at Wells Fargo in Delta, has familiarized herself with chamber activities as a chamber board member. She will be resigning that position to become a full-time employee. “She will bring a lot of enthusiasm to the job,” Redden said. She said Piatek’s strengths lie in sales and personal relationships. Redden said five candidates — all local residents — were interviewed for the position. Piatek’s first day on the job is Dec. 9.

Cedaredge, made collecting books and toys an Eagle project — just one of many examples of how the community has supported the Abraham Connection since the decision was made to proceed with construction. In all three rooms, freshlylaundered blankets, pillows, sheets and towels are neatly stored on shelves. The men’s and women’s bathrooms are each handicap accessible and have two

showers, another convenience for guests who were previously provided with passes to shower at the recreation center. The bathrooms also contain coin-operated washers and dryers; currently all the towels and bed linens are laundered offsite by volunteers. The common area includes couches and chairs for sitting, reading or watching movies, and also serves as the dining room with tables and chairs.

Cheryl Oeltjenbruns, Abraham Connection board president, said delivery of a large stove was expected Tuesday, to complete the commercial kitchen. Final inspection and a certificate of occupancy will hopefully fall into place just in time for moving day on Saturday. At that time, the pots, pans, utensils and dinnerware will be moved from the basement of the Delta United Methodist HOMELESS SHELTER TO A3

Suppes runs for District 2 county commissioner seat BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer

Orchard City’s two-term mayor, Don Suppes, has announced as a candidate for District 2 county commissioner. Suppes served as an Orchard City town trustee two and a half years before winning election as the town’s mayor in 2008. His current term as mayor will end in April next year. The upcoming election for commissioner will be held Nov. 1, 2016. Suppes hosted a reception for a dozen friends and supporters to make his official announcement. In a short address during the event held at Daveto’s, Suppes, referring to his run for state office in 2014, said that he promised his family he would go one year without campaigning again. “I got to

a year and 10 days,” he said as his wife, Beth, added, “I’ll take it!” Suppes won over 72 percent of the county’s vote in his bid for the state Senate in 2014. However, strong Democratic turnout in the resort counties that are part of Colorado’s big Senate District 6 carried that election for his opponent from Vail. “I won’t need to win any ski town votes this time,” Suppes said. Suppes is running for the District 2 commissioner spot that is being vacated by the term-limited Bruce Hovde of Cedaredge. No other candidates had filed required paperwork with the Colorado secretary of state’s office as of the time of Suppes’ announcement. Still, Suppes said, “I’m sure there will be somebody else” to enter the race.

A Colorado Christmas

Housing sales jump

Celebrate “A Colorado Christmas” at the Parade of Lights organized annually by the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce. This year’s event is sponsored by Volunteers of America and begins at 6 p.m. The parade route is from 9th to 2nd streets on Delta’s Main Street. After the parade, Santa Claus will be at Wells Fargo Bank. At 4th and Meeker, the Presbyterian Church will host a dessert potluck. Hot chocolate and hot apple cider will be served, as goodie bags for the Delta prison ministry are decorated and filled.

According to a report compiled by Heritage Title Company, real estate transactions jumped 40 percent in the third quarter of 2015 in Delta County. There were 262 sales compared to 187 for the same period of 2014. Year to date, 682 sales have been recorded in 2015, compared to 525 in 2014, a 30 percent increase. In dollar volume, the third quarter reported $48 million in real estate sales, compared to $39 million in 2014. The resale of foreclosed property accounts for 8 percent of all sales year to date, a significant decrease over 2014.

Economic issues are a key focus of the campaign. “Delta County is facing a tough and uncertain future,” he said. “Our current commissioners have done a great job with the county finances. Things are going to get tough, and I will do my best to fight that fight.” He pointed to the county having to begin picking up a big cost for expanded Medicaid beginning in 2017. Suppes notes, “Unfunded mandates and overreach from the state and federal agencies are crippling our way of life.” Those mandates cause concern on the local level where ag producers are worried about water and the future of their industry; businesses have rising employment costs and regulatory burdens; and parents have new concerns SUPPES TO A3

Seat belt use lags

A new study on seat belt usage conducted for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reveals that 85.2 percent of the state’s roadway users are buckling up. But a team of trained observers estimated the usage rate in Delta County at just 70.8 percent. Baca, a rural county in the eastern plains, had the lowest usage rate of 67.1 percent. According to CDOT, rural counties on the Western Slope and eastern plains generally have lower usage rates. These rural counties also have a higher proportion of pickup trucks, which tend to have lower seat belt use rates.


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Delta County Independent, Dec. 2, 2015 by Delta County Independent - Issuu