NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
HUMBLING EXPERIENCE
SPORTS
HOLIDAY WARMTH
Bell ringing provides opportunity for empathy, gratitude, B1
Christmas feast brings community members together, C1
DELTA COUNTY
PLAY RESUMES JAN. 8-9 Cedaredge, Paonia set the pace for local basketball teams, B6
DECEMBER 30, 2015 VOL. 132, NO. 52
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Delta Family Center supports parents BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Classroom doors are closed and the hallways are silent when concertgoers pass through the doors of the Delta Performing Arts Center for an evening concert. There’s a totally different vibe during the day, as Delta Family Center serves as the hub for over 11 onsite community education programs. The historic building at 822 Grand Avenue was built to house high school students, and later was home to Delta Middle School. The construction of a new middle school
lies in Delta County. Fedler is an employee of Delta County Joint School District #50, which facilitates the BELA preschool at the Delta Family Center, as well as the preschools in the elementary schools in Paonia and Hotchkiss. In collabora-
directly to the south threw open the door for exciting new opportunities to serve the educational needs of children and adults. Angela Fedler, director of the Delta Family Center, explains the center’s 11 programs are all dedicated to supporting families. Some of the programs are offered through Delta County Joint School District #50; others are the result of “some really amazing partnerships,” Fedler said. Delta Family Center is the recipient of nine grants that finance all the work done in support of fami-
tion with the Colorado Preschool Program, the school district also funds some paid tuition slots in Crawford and Cedaredge. The school district is also responsible for the Backpack program, headquartered at 822 Grand, which supports
parents in their role as their child’s first and most important teacher by providing tubbies filled with educational games, books and activities. The Family Resource Center is the umbrella for a variety of programs that support and FAMILY CENTER TO A3
Fort partnership deemed a success the cabins clean and to keep track of the furnishings and Between the removal of the inventory. School tours are offered in invasive tamarisk and Russian olive trees, and the cre- the spring and the fall. In 2015, ation of a tepee village, Fort 1,850 fourth graders from Uncompahgre looks much dif- 70 area schools and over 400 ferent than it did a year ago Delta County Backpack kids when the Interpretive Asso- spent a day at the fort. Miller Photo by Pat Sunderland ciation of Western Colorado said she wants to expand the (IAWC) took over operation of education footprint of the fort, English language learners Paw Eh, Paw Khu, Lae Sari, Ku Ku, Lah Ku Paw and Ban Paw Too perhaps by utilizing tepees sing a Karen carol at a Christmas celebration that featured a potluck of ethnic dishes. In conthe city-owned attraction. The coming year will bring as outdoor classrooms, offer- junction with Delta County Libraries, the Delta Family Center offers three levels of English additional changes, IAWC ing day camps, or scheduling as a Second Language classes — beginning, intermediate and advanced. “Some students director Chris Miller and some overnight camp experi- have attended for a number of years,” said ESL teacher Danielle Carré, “working on fluency IAWC board president Jody ences. A GOCO grant will be and their reading and writing skills.” Students represent a variety of countries, from Iran to Kliska explained during an used to explore the feasibil- Madagascar, and speak a variety of languages, from Spanish to Chinese. ity of establishing an outdoor update to Delta City Council. The fort season will be learning lab known as the expanded to include the Two Rivers Discovery Center. Two additional grants month of October, and instead of being open seven days a were received, including a week, the fort will be closed Colorado Water Conservation Sundays and Mondays. Tour Board grant that funded the guides will be used for school tamarisk removal. The other events; volunteers will be is pending with the National trained to provide public Park Service Grant Foundaproject as presented last week posal is called “The Gateway BY HANK LOHMEYER tours. One of the volunteers tion, and would be used for new would encompass an overall Project.” This third arm is Staff Writer has already been hired as a directional and interpretive A proposal for boosting plan to create economic diver- envisaged as promoting and PARTNERSHIP TO A3 the local economy with a $49 sity in the wake of lost coal developing a mix of lifestyle part-time fort curator to keep amenities tied to the local million program supporting mining jobs. Ultimately, the proposal outdoor environment. They organic food production, building tourist amenities, and cre- will require acceptance and would include enhancements ating lifestyle enhancements support by the governor’s such as water recreations to attract young entrepre- office, attendees were told. The near downtown for paddle neurs from other places has presentation made last week boarding and other popular at Delta City Hall involves water sport activities, a new been finalized. hotel and conference center, If accepted by the state, the three main components. • The first would be to commercial developments plan aims to bring $1.4 million per year into the county develop an “organic center of and housing. As explained, from state government. That excellence.” The Better City the mix of lifestyle attracmoney would then free up presentation envisages here tions and business enterprise other funding to pay for a five- a “Silicon Valley of Organics.” infrastructure would attract a to 10-year program of county The presentation noted that young working demographic economy-boosting projects. the organic food industry does called “the creative class.” Members of the creative They would focus on organ- not currently have a leading ic food production, market- production area; Delta Coun- class, with their technology ing and processing; tourism ty’s organic enterprises could and networking skills, would produce a critical mass of and recreation; and develop- fill that role nationally. • A second component of entrepreneurship and create ing and marketing lifestyle amenities to attract a young the plan would involve the new business enterprises in former CSU Rogers Mesa the area. They would come to demographic. The proposal, developed research station. It would low-cost Delta County from by consultant Better City of become the location of “world- places like Boulder where, Ogden, Utah, was presented class facilities” developed at it was noted, costs of starton Dec. 22 to a group of com- the site for food processing and ing businesses have become munity leaders representing manufacturing. The facilities extremely high. At last week’s presentation, the City of Delta, Delta Coun- would allow entrepreneurs to ty, Delta County Economic develop processes and tech- there was an hour-long review Development, Region 10, and nologies tied directly to the of the Better City proposal the Colorado Department of county’s organic food produc- for local officials. That was tion enterprises. Businesses followed by a second showing Local Affairs. The Better City economic to participate in the venture with State Rep. Yeulin Willett in attendance and with State study and proposal have been would be heavily recruited. Sen. Kerry Donovan listening • A third component of the funded by a federal grant. The Photo submitted ECONOMIC PLAN TO A3 estimated $49 million Phase I economic diversification proA re-enactor mixed up hot cocoa for Christmas at the Fort.
BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
$49M plan to boost local economy readied
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Agriculture .....................C6 Back Page ................... D6 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................B4 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ......................B5 School Zone .................. A6 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports .............................B6 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C4-5
Chimney fire reported
Holiday closures
Free legal services
On Tuesday morning, the American Red Cross responded to a single-family house fire on Hillcrest Drive in Delta that displaced one adult. According to Jamie Head, Delta Police Department, the blaze was confined to the chimney. The homeowner had extinguished the fire by the time police and firefighters arrived on the scene. The Red Cross has launched a multiyear campaign that seeks to reduce home fire deaths and injuries by providing free smoke alarm installation. Visit www. ColoradoRedCross/firesafety for details.
City of Delta offices will be closed New Year’s Day. Devil’s Thumb Golf Club will also be closed Jan. 1. Bill Heddles Recreation Center will be open 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve and noon to 5 p.m. New Year’s Day. Trash pickup that normally takes place on Friday will be delayed until Saturday. The Delta County Courthouse and North Fork Annex will be closed New Year’s Day. Early deadlines will be in effect at the DCI — ad space must be reserved by 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31.
The Delta County Bar Association conducts pro bono (free) clinics for low income individuals who wish to discuss legal issues (other than criminal). The clinics are held in Delta every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 118 of the Delta County Courthouse (in the basement). In Hotchkiss, free legal services are available the first Wednesday of each month in the North Fork Annex, 196 W. Hotchkiss Avenue. An attorney will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. No appointments are required; clients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.