NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
CONSERVATION DAYS
ON THE TRAIL
Fourth graders explore their outdoor environment, B1
SPORTS
Women’s Surface Creek Saddle Club brings home sweepstakes, C6
DELTA COUNTY
TRACK TEAMS EXCEL Cedaredge, Paonia outpace competition on the oval, B4
APRIL 27, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 17
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INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Economic vision raises optimism BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Members of the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce and Delta County Economic Development were heartened by a presentation made to both organizations last week. On April 19, Trish Thibido, DCED executive director, and Delta city manager David Torgler spoke at “Morning Buzz,” a chamber networking event. Thibido summarized the same presentation at DCED’s annual meeting later in the week. At the conclusion of each presentation, members of the audience expressed optimism about the county’s economic future. The presentations were a departure from the “doom and gloom” cast by the declining coal industry. Yes, residents of Delta County are older, poorer and less educated than other Coloradans. But Thibido and Torgler outlined steps that are being taken to turn the
economy around — steps that a year ago Thibido said were posited as “what ifs.” This year, thanks to an economic development adjustance assistance grant, those strategies are taking shape. “This is really an exciting place to be,” Thibido said at DCED’s annual meeting. The economic assistance grant was awarded to Region 10 in October 2014 and was targeted toward improving the economic resiliency and sustainability of Delta and Gunnison counties after the closure of the Oxbow mine. In Delta County, Region 10 partnered with Delta County Economic Development, the county, the City of Delta and other stakeholders to engage a consultant, Better City. In just 16 months, Thibido said, Better City has taken the project from economic assessment to market analysis to feasibility studies focusing on the top ideas for putting Delta
County on the path toward prosperity. Focusing on what Delta County does best, two projects were identified by stakeholders — a gateway project in the City of Delta and marketing, branding and strengthening the local ag industry. “Delta County has a rich and diverse ag sector,” Thibido said. “It’s a natural spot to start. “We also have the highest concentration of organic farms in the state. It’s one of our assets.” The first project DCED is working on is value-added food manufacturing that would feature an incubator/ accelerator where cottage food industries and small manufacturers could share space and support. A commercial kitchen would be available by the hour or the day for small batch manufacturing. The other focus, Thibido said, is the gateway project,
which would take advantage of the Gunnison River corridor to ignite our communities and spur future growth. A higher-end hotel/conference center is part of the vision. That hotel would be a “base camp” for sampling food and wine in the area, exploring
outdoor attractions, or walking downtown for lunch or dinner. On the river itself, there are possibilities for trails, boat access and “parks” designed for kayaks or paddleboards. These amenities would not VISION TO A5
River study seen as a step toward revitalizing the economy BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
The Gunnison River is viewed as a major asset in an economic recovery plan developed by Better City. The consultant has been working with the City of Delta, Region 10 and Delta County Economic Development to identify ways to enhance Delta County’s economic resiliency in the wake of coal mine layoffs. The effort also has the support of the Department of Local Affairs, which recently awarded a $100,000 grant to the city for a preliminary engineering study of a twomile stretch of the Gunnison River. At the April 19 meeting of the Delta City Council, a contract was awarded to RiverRestoration Inc. of Carbondale for that project. Community development director Glen Black said the
intent is to “help activate the river corridor as a recreational asset and attract private investment along the riverfront and adjacent acreage.” The study will focus on the stretch of river from Cottonwood, formerly home to the city’s nine-hole golf course, east to the confluence of the Gunnison and the Uncompahgre rivers. A letter of interest submitted by RiverRestoration says all projects are designed “from the river out.” Ecological, environmental and hydraulic concerns are balanced with the needs of the community to create a high functioning, sustainable project the city can be proud of. Early in the process, RiverRestoration will meet with city staff and stakeholders. As a conceptual design comes together, a public meeting will
be held to receive feedback and garner support. “The study won’t complete the process; we’re just laying the groundwork,” said city manager David Torgler. He clarified the contract is for 60 percent completion. While the city won’t have a final design in hand, it will have state and federal permit documentation, floodplain analysis and suggestions for revitalizing the river corridor. The DOLA grant must be spent by the end of June, so RiverRestoration will be dedicating eight full-time employees to the project to meet the June 27 grant deadline. Community development director Glen Black said the river corridor project is a piece of a much bigger vision known as the Delta gateway project, which could include a highend hotel and conference center.
Spring cleaning
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Jo Rosenquist calculates the weight of a computer monitor as fellow Altrusans and Rotarians load the recycled e-waste onto a trailer bound for the Double J recycling facility in Orchard City. A donation from Alpine Bank helped offset the cost of disposing of televisions, computers, printers, copiers and other electronics. Organizers report they collected 22,506 pounds of e-waste. For those who missed the April 23 event, Hotchkiss Chamber of Commerce is hosting an e-waste/paper shredding event at the Delta County Fairgrounds Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Illicit drugs, stolen guns found Inmates’ work valued at $1.09M during search of Delta home BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
The BoCC has recently gone on record strongly supporting the economic contributions made to the community by the Delta Correctional Center. In a letter to the area’s delegation to the General Assembly and to the executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections, the BoCC has endorsed continued funding of the DCC operations and programs and asserted once again the facility’s importance to the community. “[We} have been advised
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Back Page ................... D8 Business .......................A10 Church ........................... D6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-5 North Fork Times ........B1-3 Obituaries ..................... A8 Outdoors ...................... C6 School Zone .................. A6 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports ..........................B4-6 Surface Creek News ...C1-7 TV Listings ..................C3-4
that the value of the work performed in Delta County and surrounding communities in 2015 was [valued at] $1.09 million. This dollar amount represents 133,680 hours that the DCC crews were able to stretch county, municipal, and federal land management agency budgets and improve infrastructure for the public. “The board would urge [the Department of Corrections] to support continuation of the DCC work crews program at its current funding,” states the commissioners’ letter to Rick Raemisch, Colorado DOC director.
STAFF REPORT
On April 21, the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office executed a search warrant in relation to drug activity at a home located at 105 Dodge Street, Delta. Agencies assisting with the search warrant included the Montrose County Sheriff ’s Office K-9 unit, the Delta Police Department and the 7th Judicial Drug Task Force. Delta County investigators obtained information that Francisco Abeyta, 32, was distributing drugs from the 105 Dodge Street address. At approximately 11 a.m., the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office executed the warrant. Abeyta along with Angel Padilla, 26,
National Drug Take Back Event The Delta Police Department, the Delta County Sheriff’s Office, Hotchkiss Marshal’s Office and Paonia Police Department are participating in the DEA National Drug Take Back Event XI scheduled for April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dropoff locations include: • Delta Police Department, 215 W. 5th Street. • Hotchkiss Town Hall, 276 W. Main Street in Hotchkiss. • Paonia Police Department, 214 Grand Avenue.
The program is designed for anonymity; the DEA asks that all personal information be removed or no longer readable on all containers. There are specific items that cannot be accepted, such as needles and sharps, mercury (thermometers), oxygen containers, chemotherapy/radioactive substances, pressurized canisters, aerosols and illicit drugs. For further information or to locate other dropoff sites visit www. dea.gov.
and a small child approximately 3-4 years old were encountered in the home. During the search, investigators located and seized a large amount of suspected methamphetamine, cocaine, prescription pills (Oxycotin) and marijuana, along with several stolen guns and other stolen items. Christina Hernandez, 51, was located in a camp trailer on the property. Hernandez was wanted on a felony warrant for check fraud out of Montrose County. She was arrested and transported to the Delta County Jail. Francisco Abeyta and Angel Padilla were not arrested at the time of the warrant,
however charges will be filed against the two soon. “This was a good example of a collaborated effort between all agencies involved, not only removing dangerous drugs from our community but locating and returning several stolen items to their rightful owner,” said Delta County Undersheriff Mark Taylor. “Sheriff Fred McKee and I would also like to commend the Delta County investigators who obtained the information and made this case a priority in the fight against dangerous drugs in our community and the other crimes associated with those dangerous drugs.”
Academy Information Day Congressman Scott Tipton (CO-3) invites all Western Slope students to attend a United States Service Academy Information Day with representatives from his staff as well as from the offices of U.S. Senators Cory Gardner and Michael Bennet. The event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Colorado Mesa University’s Moss Performing Arts Center, 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction. Basic eligibility requirements and more information about each service academy can be found online at http://tipton.house.gov/serving-you/military-academynominations. For more information or to request a nomination packet for 2017, call Tipton’s office at 719542-1073.