NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
PHS celebration marks the launch of Solarize Delta County, B2
SPORTS
SENIORS HONORED
LEAGUE LEADERS
Surface Creek luncheon guests represent 1,590 years of living, C2
Delta Panthers take control of 4A WSL baseball, B7
DELTA COUNTY
APRIL 20, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 16
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
DCAD faces a shortage of leadership, funding Black, who was appointed to the DCAD board last fall. Because he was so new to the board, Black said he simply missed the deadline to file a petition for the May election. Term limits prevent board president Kathie Lester from seeking re-election. She, too, has been trying to recruit board members. She’s found many residents of the district are hesitant to get involved, due to the financial uncertainties surrounding the Affordable Care Act. “Medicare and Medicaid just don’t pay enough, and our mill levy won’t carry the whole load,” Lester said. “We’re operating on a very small mill levy and it’s done well for many years, but it’s getting pretty tough.” Because Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are so low, DCAD has had to dip into its reserves, Huerkamp said. “We’ve reduced some costs pretty dramatically,” he said, “but by 2018, we could be in real trouble, to the point of not being able to man the stations 24/7.” For that reason, the board has decided to ask the district’s voters to approve a mill
BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
The call for nominations went out, but no one responded. Now the Delta County Ambulance District (DCAD) is in need of an emergency infusion. Election Day for special districts like DCAD is May 4. But in Delta County, only the hospital board generated enough interested candidates to generate the ballots that went out in the mail this week. “On May 5, I’m going to be the only Indian standing,” said Tom Huerkamp, one of five members of DCAD’s board of directors. The other four seats will be vacant, either because of term limits or lack of desire to run for re-election. “We have a legal opinion from the special district’s attorney that I should be able to appoint people,” Huerkamp said. “We’re waiting to make sure that clears the secretary of state’s office. As I read it, the provision says I can appoint people and if I don’t within 60 days, the county commissioners will do it.” Huerkamp says he has lined up three people willing to step up, including Glen
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Cash grab
At the Spring Expo, Mason Berry and his sister, Addalee, took turns grabbing dollar bills whirling inside the cash cube sponsored by First Colorado National Bank. Mason was excited to walk away with seven dollar bills — a pretty good return for a few minutes of effort. The two-day Spring Expo was held at Bill Heddles Recreation Center last week. The event is sponsored annually by the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce.
Commissioners eye economic indicators BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
On Monday, the Delta County Commissioners reviewed staff reports that prompted a discussion of statistical indicators for the local economy. They dug into numbers being generated by the health and human services department including the relentless increase in the number of Medicaid-eligible cases here. Medicaid enrollments began increasing sharply as the result of the Affordable Care Act. Since October 2013, the county’s caseload has steadily climbed from 2,632 to 5,331 in March. That 49 percent increase in two and a half years shows no sign of abating. The Medicare program is funded 100 percent by the federal government, but the program is administered locally by staff on the county payroll who approve payments according to federal guidelines. Pay-
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Agriculture .....................C8 Bruin Tracks ................C3-6 Business ........................ A8 Church ........................... D6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Health & Fitness .......B9-10 Legals ......................... D3-5 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A6 School Zone .................. A5 Sports ..........................B7-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-7 TV Listings ..................B5-6
ments to medical providers have been running at about $2.2 million per month. The county commissioners are interested in Medicaid caseloads because qualification is based on income at or near poverty levels. While Obamacare mandates are pushing some people into the program, the growing number of cases in Delta could indicate an increasing level of poverty here, and if so that would be a concern for policy makers. From May-August 2015, there was a four-month-long decline in the number of Medicaid cases. Health department staff suggests that could have been due to people leaving the area to look for work after school ended. The number of cases began rising again last September when school started and has continued its rise. A big jump in payouts under another federal program ECON. INDICATORS TO A3
levy increase, even though Huerkamp understands that may seem “suicidal.” “We’re getting together a group of supporters, understanding that this first stab, if we go on the November ballot, may fail, but we’ve got to start telling the story. “We’ve got an excellent ambulance service in this district, with great crews, but we’re getting killed with this Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, just like everybody else. We’ve got to start getting people to understand that.” In the meantime, DCAD welcomes inquiries from residents interested in serving on the board. Lester said, “Having four new members could be a positive thing. They may see something the rest of us may have missed.” Residents of the Cedaredge - Orchard City - Delta area committed to maintaining 24-hour emergency response are encouraged to contact the ambulance district office for more information. Kimberly Cormier, designated election official, can be reached at 8747001.
Delta Middle School puts out a helping hand BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Using about nine bucks worth of materials, technology students at Delta Middle School tapped into the potential of 3D printing to produce a prosthetic hand for a fellow classmate. “We’ve only had this 3D printer for about a month, but the kids are already doing amazing things with it,” said their teacher, James Hughes. Hughes taught on a remote Alaska island before joining the DMS staff last fall. A friend in Utah introduced him to the world of 3D printing. The friend was helping his son with an Eagle Scout project that involved the building of prosthetics through a global network called “Enabling the Future.” According to its website, Enabling the Future is a volunteer network of digital humanitarians who are using
their 3D printers, design skills and personal time to create free 3D printed prosthetic hands for those in need, with the goal of providing them to underserved populations around the world. When Hughes learned DMS had an opportunity to get a 3D printer, he contacted
Enabling the Future for more information. “I was particularly interested, because we had a student with a need and I thought it would be awesome to help him out.” The student, seventh grader Fernando Santillan, was born without a thumb or fingers on HELPING HAND TO A3
Eckhart enters race in Dist. 2 BY HANK LOHMEYER
our differences,” he said. “We need to utilize our assets to Delta County business- fix the local economy.” man Mark Eckhart last week He believes he can bring officially announced his run new ideas to the county as an unaffiliated candidate board, by bringing together for Delta County Commis- common interests to revitalsioner, District 2. ize the economy. Eckhart was elected to “I am running for county the DMEA board of direc- commissioner because, like tors in 2014, after a previ- many of you, we have investous stint on the board. He ed in our homes, businesses, is the owner of Long Haul careers and community. We Folding Kayaks located on have poured our energy into Ward Creek Road west of improving our lives here in Cedaredge. Delta County.” In a written To have his name statement, Eckhart appear on the genfocused on leadereral election ballot, ship and economic he will need to subissues as key to his mit petitions with campaign. 238 valid signa“We need to work tures, according to together as a comthe county elections munity and overcome department. Eckhart Staff Writer
Recycle your e-waste Saturday
Information sought on runaway
Delta Rotarians and Altrusans are teaming up to offer an e-waste recycling day Saturday, April 23, in Delta. This is your chance to offload those obsolete laptops and cell phones, televisions and small appliances — pretty much anything that takes a battery or has a cord. And thanks to Alpine Bank for underwriting the event, the cost to recycle your obsolete electronics is only 35 cents per pound. The event is also sponsored by Double J Disposal. The recycling event will take place in the Safeway parking lot behind Alpine Bank in Delta from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Freezers and refrigerators will not be accepted during the event, but can be taken directly to Double J’s recycling center in Austin. In addition to off-loading your e-waste, the two service clubs will accept donations of non-perishable food items or gently used children’s books for local outreach projects.
The Delta Police Department is seeking information on the whereabouts of a 13-yearold runaway. On April 18, Braden Garrett Lee of Eckert was dropped off at Delta Middle School around 8 in the morning. He did not attend any classes. Braden is about 5’2” tall and weighs about 95 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing grey sweat pants, a grey Delta Panthers T-shirt, black shoes and a black hooded sweatshirt. On April 19, the police department received information Braden may be in the Clifton or Grand Junction area. It is believed he may be en route to Moab, Utah. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Delta Dispatch at 874-2015.