NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
FABULOUS FOURTH
Paonia celebrates “70 Cherry Years” this weekend, B1-7
SPORTS
NIGHT ON THE TOWN Families in period dress add authenticity to Pioneer Town, C1
DELTA COUNTY
ON THE LINKS
Delta, Cedaredge golf courses host tournament play, B8 JUNE 29, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 26
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Coal debate heats up at hearing BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
A major battle in the war on coal was fought at Grand Junction on June 23 as proponents of the industry went head-to-head with its opponents in hearings hosted by the U.S. Department of Interior and BLM. Nationally, BLM is evaluating whether to raise the current 12.5 percent federal royalty rate on coal mined by above-ground producers, and 8 percent royalty on underground producers using public lands. The coal industry sees the move as part of a federal initiative to cripple and ultimately disable the industry in favor of renewable energy development. Others, led principally by various environmental groups and coalitions, accuse the coal industry of creating global warming and causing environmental catastrophe; they want the industry penalized financially and ultimately shut down. The BLM session in Grand Junction last week was the fifth of six being held around the country to get input for a final decision on royalty rates, a decision at least three years away. In the meantime, the Obama administration has placed a three-year moratorium on new coal lease sales and on the issuance of new coal mining leases on public lands, a move industry representatives said is unnecessary. There were 160 speaker requests for three-minute time slots during the Grand Junction meeting. At three minutes each, it was enough for a full eight-hour-long day; the comments went almost
continuously from 10:30 a.m. to almost 5 p.m., and only two-thirds of the speakers had time to be heard. BLM will take written comments at least until July 28. The comments never got seriously into the actual issue of raising the federal royalty rate. Speakers quickly took up sides on the issue of the coal industry versus its environmental opponents. The session was civil, but the gloves came off early. Opponents, including major environmental groups, went on the attack while the coal industry, including local miners and elected officials, defended coal mining. Supporting the industry were coal miners themselves who turned out in big numbers for the session; also coal company management, mining related businesses, coal mining industry groups, and local government officials. They spoke up for their jobs, their families, their communities, and for their industry addressing a panel that included the current BLM state director and two high level BLM bureaucrats from Washington, D.C. Among speakers supporting the industry throughout the day were Delta County Commissioner Mark Roeber and County Administrator Robbie LeValley. Also defending the industry were commissioners from Montrose, Mesa, Moffat and Routt counties. Representative Scott Tipton sent supporting comments. State Rep. Yeulin Willett also spoke up for the importance of the coal industry locally. Representatives from other groups including Friends of Coal,
Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado and West Elk Mine explained the importance of the industry locally and nationally. Directors of the Colorado Mining Associ-
STAFF REPORT
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Agriculture .....................B7 Back Page ................... D8 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-6 Obituaries ..................... A6 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports .............................B8 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4
complaints, they met with other investigators throughout the region to share information. The Cedaredge Police Department was able to obtain a computer and computer-related equipment that led to a list of close to 500 names with credit card information. In June investigators contacted every bank in Delta County with that information, requesting they notify their customers of the potential misuse of their credit card information. Cardholders were advised to keep an eye on their statements and report any fraudulent purchases. Also in June, sheriff ’s investigators located a “skimmer” in a gas pump in the Delta area. The “skimmer” is a homemade device utilized to capture credit card information as you pay for fuel with a credit card. Suspect information was also obtained and was utilized in the search warrants for these residences. One individual was arrest-
Alley paving delayed The City of Delta would like to update local businesses about the paving delay on the Main Street alley pavement project. The pavement crew was originally scheduled to complete paving operations in the alley from 5th to 2nd between Main and Meeker on June 24. Due to a scheduling conflict, the project has been rescheduled for July 11 before Deltarado Days. The city apologizes for any inconveniences caused by the reschedule. The alleys have been opened for through traffic and deliveries.
and current leasing moratorium identified themselves with well-known environmental groups. They included national anti-coal organizations BLM HEARING TO A3
Photo by Hank Lohmeyer
Coal miners, many from Delta County, made their presence and their thoughts known both outside and inside Grand Junction’s Avalon Theater where the BLM held hearings last week to gather testimony on possible changes to its federal coal leasing program.
July 2 celebration marks 25th anniversary of Confluence Park BY BUFFY ZENTMEYER Special to the DCI
July 4, 2016, marks the 25th anniversary of the grand opening of Confluence Park. Since that time, a great deal has changed. In early 1990, there wasn’t much more on Gunnison River Drive than a Gibson’s store and the Horse Country arena
Law enforcement shuts down credit card operation On Thursday, June 23, the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office with the assistance of the Delta Police Department, Cedaredge Police and multiple federal agencies, executed five search warrants in Delta and Mesa counties, four of which were executed in the Delta, Eckert and Cedaredge areas. The search warrants were a culmination of a cooperative investigation between local agencies and DEA into a group of Cuban nationals that were involved in credit card fraud and cultivation of illegal marijuana in both counties. In March and April, the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office began receiving multiple complaints concerning credit card fraud. Citizens reported that someone had accessed their credit card information to make purchases as far as Florida. Delta County Sheriff ’s Office investigators began compiling all the information. Due to the sheer volume of
ation and the Utah Mining Association also addressed the session. Many of their opponents, speaking in favor of the BLM’s three-year royalty rate study
ed. Joaquin Enriqu Cancio Morales, 39, is being held on a $5,000 cash only bond. He is charged with unauthorized use of a financial transaction device, a misdemeanor, and felony charges of identity theft and criminal possession of a transaction device. DEA seized all marijuana and marijuana-related equipment located during the searches. Further arrests are pending as the investigation continues. The sheriff ’s office asks that everyone keep a close eye on their credit card statements and report any questionable purchases to their credit card company, bank and local law enforcement. When marijuana was legalized in Colorado, Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee said law enforcement officials statewide were concerned the “criminal element” would be drawn to Colorado. In this case, he said, the criminal element approaches the level of organized crime.
next to it. No Bill Heddles Recreation Center, no Fort Uncompahgre, and certainly no Confluence Park. In fact, if one bothered to drive to the end of the road, all they would see was the city’s old sewer lagoon and Holly Sugar’s industrial waste pits, full of debris and overgrowth. But plans to reclaim the wasteland had begun five years earlier, when city manager Steve Schrock took Rich Englehart, director of Delta Parks and Recreation, on a tour of the city’s parks. Their last stop was the sewer lagoons. Schrock said, “Use your imagination and see if you can envision a recreational site running from the indus-
trial building site to the edge of Gibson’s property to the confluence of the Uncompahgre and Gunnison rivers.” That comment started a five-year planning process involving city council, city staff, community organizations and many volunteers. The vision was to create a 265-acre recreation “mecca” that included an amphitheater to house the Thunder Mountain Lives Tonight! pageant, the Fort Uncompahgre Living History Museum, a 70acre trout late, boat ramps, a 30-acre wildfowl site, picnic areas and a horse facility. Plans also included concessions for mountain bike CONFLUENCE PARK TO A7
Photo by Pat Sunderland
The newly-constructed dock at Confluence Park is an inviting place to relax and watch the waterfowl on the lake.
Fourth of July fireworks display planned
The Delta Volunteer Fire Department will present its annual 4th of July fireworks display Monday at Confluence Lake. The show — the only public fireworks display in Delta County — begins as soon as the sky is dark. The fireworks show is funded entirely by donations, so please be generous to the firefighters passing the boot the night of the show. Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee reminds everyone that fireworks are prohibited on public lands. They are allowed this year on private property in the unincorporated portions of Delta County. If you are intending to use fireworks in a municipality, check
with the local police department concerning Triple click and type. authorization.
“Please be extremely cautious, as hot dry weather is expected and you may be held responsible for any fires started by negligent use of fireworks,” McKee cautioned. Legal fireworks include sparklers, smoke, wheels and spinners, fountains, crackle and strobe and other novelties. These fireworks have very limited burn space and should be used only in areas where no other combustible material is present. Bottle rockets, firecrackers, roman candles, missiles, parachutes, or any other aerial fireworks are prohibited.