Delta County Independent, Jan. 13, 2016

Page 1

NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

GETTING CREATIVE

Creamery reorganizes under new board; classes continue, B1

SPORTS

NEW DATES

PICKING UP THE PACE

CHS graduation, Little Britches Rodeo arrive early this year, C1

New year energizes high school wrestling, basketball teams, B6

DELTA COUNTY

JANUARY 13, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 2

75¢

INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Mining continues in wake of bankruptcy filing BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

“Arch is open for business, and our mining operations will continue without interruption.” After voluntarily filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, Arch Coal, the owner of the local West Elk Mine, assured employees mine operations nationwide will continue “today and tomorrow as we did yesterday — safely, responsibly and efficiently.” A letter addressed to employees stated, “Although industrywide challenges persist, we are confident coal will play a critical role in supplying the world with energy and steel for decades to come. The industry is undergoing great change, but our strong operations, exceptional workforce, and agreement with our lenders will further equip Arch to navigate through current challenges. We are confident in Arch’s future outlook, and believe that we are uniquely positioned to emerge a stronger and more competitive company.” The action taken by Arch Coal on Jan. 11 is expected to eliminate more than $4.5 billion in debt from Arch’s balance sheet and position the company for long-term financial success. To facilitate this financial restructuring, Arch elected to file for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. “We are confident that this court-supervised process is the best way to solidify Arch’s

financial position,” employees were told in a letter posted on the corporation website. Arch Coal is the second largest coal producer in the United States, contributing 16 percent of the nation’s annual coal supply through its network of mines. County commissioner Bruce Hovde said the county has been assured by a West Elk representative that the mine’s labor force of 325 to 350 remains intact. “It appears as though things are stable for now,” he said. Roadless Rule Exception Deadline Kathy Welt, a West Elk employee, declined to comment on bankruptcy proceedings, but did refer to the Colorado Roadless Rule exception with which she’s been heavily involved. The comment period for proposed reinstatement of the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception was extended to Jan. 15. The Colorado Roadless Rule is a state-specific rule that provides direction for conserving and managing approximately 4.2 million acres of Colorado Roadless Areas on national forest system lands within the state of Colorado. The North Fork Coal Mining Area exception allowed for temporary road construction for coal exploration and/or coal-related surface activities in an area defined as the North Fork Coal Mining Area. “We believe there are coal resources out there, but we

haven’t been able to explore,” Welt said. “The exception assures we would have the opportunity to apply for leases, to apply for permits.” Although the 19,700-acre exception is adjacent to two existing mines, West Elk and Oxbow, exploration would be opened to any operator, pending extensive environmental analysis. Welt said the exception was the result of six years of extensive negotiations. It ultimately had the approval of Governors Ritter, Owens and Hickenlooper, and was signed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. It was set aside after the District Court of Colorado identified purported environmental deficiencies pointed out by WildEarth Guardians. The Forest Service, on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, has prepared a supplemental draft environmental impact statement (SDEIS) addressing those deficiencies and correcting the boundaries associated with the North Fork Coal Mining Area based on updated information. The SDEIS is available for review and comment online at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ coroadlessrule. Comments may be mailed to 740 Simms, Golden, CO 80401, or faxed to 303-275-5134. An electronic comment form is available at go.usa.gov/3JQwJ. Welt says anyone impacted by the coal industry — which is just about everybody in Delta County — is encouraged to comment.

Nancy Hovde announces commissioner candidacy BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

At the monthly meeting of the Republican Central Committee, Nancy Hovde announced she is a candidate for Delta County Commissioner in District 2. The seat is currently held by her husband Bruce, who is term-limited. She stated, “I have the time, energy and experience to represent Delta County as a commissioner. My experience stems from being involved in the community for over 30 years, starting with the Cedaredge Area Chamber of Commerce. When Cedaredge was in danger of losing our last doctor, with four friends, we started Surface Creek Medical Clinic, now Surface Creek Family Practice. Then I served as the first president of Delta County Ambulance District and spent 14 years on the DMEA board of directors, serving on the Tri-State board and serving the last two years as president before being term-limited out. I am a past president of Altrusa, am currently the treasurer of the

INDEX

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Agriculture .....................C6 Back Page ................... D6 Church ............................B5 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A6 School Zone .................. A5 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ..........................B6-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4

Cedaredge Library Foundation along with vice president of the Delta County Library District among my various other volunteer activities.” Hovde said her emphasis is on the future of Delta County, not the past. “With the loss of over 600 well-paying coal mining jobs, we are in a slow recovery. There are several studies being done by both Region 10 and DCED to explore future ways to encourage job development,” she noted. Her

Nancy Hovde

Library search begins The Delta County Library District Board of Trustees has begun a search for a district library director. The position has been published on various sites and is available on the Delta County Libraries website. The application deadline is Feb. 1. The board of trustees hopes to have a list of four candidates by Feb. 10, and to conduct interviews Feb. 11-16. A list of final candidates would be published by Feb. 24 and final in person interviews conducted Feb. 25-26. Target date for selection of the new district director is March 3.

emphasis will be on broadband, tourism, agriculture and coal. “Coal is the backbone of electricity in the United States. Even with the war on coal, electric generation still depends on coal for close to 40 percent of our power. And our local coal is high btu as well as extremely low sulfur, in other words, some of the cleanest coal in the nation.” While serving on DMEA, Hovde said she helped move broadband forward with the first major steps being taken while she was president. “I’m the perfect fit to represent Delta County now that DMEA has committed to serve all of Delta County with high speed Internet,” she said. As for tourism, Hovde pointed out Delta County offers some of the best outdoor activities in the nation. “With the addition of affordable high speed Internet, these wonderful outside assets will help us attract new business and retain what is currently Delta County’s best NANCY HOVDE TO A3

Winter sentinel

Photo by Pat Sunderland

A majestic bald eagle maintains a commanding perch in a cottonwood tree on the edge of the Horse Country Arena, just south of Confluence Park. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, adult bald eagles have a wingspan of 6 to 8 feet and are one of the largest birds in the United States.

Witnesses to hit-and-run sought BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Two pedestrians were struck crossing E. 4th Street Saturday night, and now the Delta Police Department is looking for information on the driver who left the scene. The pedestrians, a 35-yearold female from Paonia and a 50-year-old male from Delta, were in the crosswalk with the walk signal when they were hit by a white or silver colored car. They were headed south on Main Street, and believe the vehicle was also southbound because they never saw it coming. They were threequarters of the way across the

street when they were hit. Both individuals suffered serious, but non life-threatening injuries and were transported to Delta County Memorial Hospital. The Delta Police Department declined to name the individuals, citing department policy concerning victims of a crime. Investigating officers are interested in hearing from anyone who witnessed the accident, which occurred at 6:24 p.m. Jan. 9. Please call the Delta Police Department at 874-7676 or Crimestoppers at 874-8810 with information that could help identify the driver.

Open house to be held at Rogers Mesa ag site A coalition of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, the Valley Food Partnership, and Delta County Economic Development is developing a proposal for new activities at the Rogers Mesa agricultural research site. The site was closed by Colorado State University in 2011, and this coalition of Delta County organizations wants to use the site to support local agriculture through new demonstration, education, marketing, and production activities. The coalition invites those interested in potential new uses of the Rogers Mesa agricultural research site to an open house Sunday, Jan. 17, from noon to 2 p.m. A variety of activities can

be accommodated at the site and new partners in proposal development are welcome. The open house will be held at the Rogers Mesa research site, which is three miles west of Hotchkiss on the south side of Hwy. 92. Interested groups or individuals who would like to explore the site’s potential for new uses are invited to tour the site’s facilities and land. Those who would like to be part of the coalition’s proposal can participate in further planning later this month (Sunday, Jan. 31). Greg Litus, CSU’s Western Colorado Research Center manager, will be on hand to answer questions about the site’s past uses and current potential.

Paonia man killed in two-vehicle accident A two-vehicle accident Jan. 10 claimed the life of Christopher Gilroy, a 43-year-old man from Paonia. It was the first fatal traffic accident in Delta County since July 2014. Gilroy was eastbound on Highway 92 east of Austin at about 5 p.m. when his 2006 Toyota Highlander reportedly crossed over a double yellow line and into the westbound lane, where is struck the side of a Chevrolet pickup driven by Michael Keenan, 63, of Montrose. Keenan was pulling a stock trailer containing three horses; one of the horses was killed when the trailer disconnected and rolled onto its side.

Among the emergency personnel responding to the scene was a veterinarian called to assess the condition of the horses. According to the Colorado State Patrol, a 45-year-old female passenger in the Highlander, also of Paonia, was transported to Delta County Memorial Hospital. Keenan was not injured. Drugs, alcohol and speed are not considered factors in the accident. Last fall, the Colorado State Patrol sent a letter congratulating Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee and his deputies for accomplishing a full year without any fatalities.


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Delta County Independent, Jan. 13, 2016 by Delta County Independent - Issuu