NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
TOP SCHOOL
Paonia High School named to Newsweek’s Top 500, B1
SPORTS
MARCHING ON
SETTING THE STAGE
Cedaredge, Delta bands qualify for state field competition, C8
DELTA COUNTY
Cross-country runners pick up the pace at state-qualifying meet, B6-8 OCTOBER 26, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 43
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INDEPENDENT
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Blake Field is a community asset BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
Last August, when a newborn baby needed life-saving treatment available only at a Front Range hospital, an air ambulance took off headed for Delta’s Blake Field. The baby was transported and, according to reports from airport managers Mark and Cheryl Husmann, a little life was saved by the mission. Critical care air ambulance flights that transfer patients from Delta’s Blake Field to medical care available only at Front Range hospitals are not an infrequent occurrence, the Husmanns explain. The lighted canopy at Blake’s aviation fuel island provides late night illumination that medical crews say they appreciate, and that they don’t find at other general aviation airports. The life-saving air ambulance activities, which take place almost weekly, are among the services and facilities that have been enhanced at Blake’s Field since the Husmanns became airport managers here in 2005. “There are people in Delta County who say they didn’t
even know there was an airport in Delta,” remarks Cheryl. “But we would like the public to know about the kinds of services that are available here.” The Husmanns are proud that improvements they have added to Blake Field are making an economic contribution to the community. For example, the Beechcraft King Air twin turboprop that landed in August on the life-saving flight could have, if needed, tanked up with a load of jet-A fuel for the return trip. A newly installed jet-A fueling facility will allow the airport to increase services and operations to a class of aircraft that have been rare visitors to Delta in the past, said Mark. When most people think of an airport they probably have an image of a commercial facility with scheduled passenger flights in and out. Blake Field is a general aviation airport. It is fully certified and approved in all facilities and operational aspects by the Federal Aviation Administration, but Blake doesn’t have scheduled commercial passenger service. The Delta airport is used by the public and by
companies to house, maintain and fly their privately owned aircraft. The North Fork airport at Stewart Mesa is the other general aviation airport facility in Delta County. The ability to serve air-
craft that fight wildfires is an important responsibility in the aviation business here. Blake’s brand new jet-A fueling depot will provide that service to various types of jetpowered aircraft used in fight-
ing wildfires. In addition, a new, two-inch-diameter, high pressure, high-volume water hydrant will provide water tank refilling in a fraction of the time needed before. BLAKE FIELD TO A3
Photo submitted
This photo from August shows a newborn baby in Delta being placed on a flight from Blake Field to the Front Range for specialized hospital treatment. Such medical transports occur often, Blake Field managers say.
Public preschool expands to Cedaredge BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
An early childhood program that began with the popular Backpack Program has grown into preschool programs that prepare 3- and 4-year-olds for a lifetime of learning. The Backpack Early Learning Academy (BELA) was first established at Garnet Mesa Elementary School in about 2003 and a couple of years later expanded to Lincoln Elementary School. BELA branched out from there, serving preschoolers in Hotchkiss, Crawford and Paonia. Next fall, BELA will expand on an existing partnership with Little Sprouts Preschool and open a program at Cedaredge Elementary School.
It is not the school district’s intention to take over the community’s Little Sprouts Preschool, Angela Fedler explained, but to ensure every 3- and 4-year-old has an opportunity to attend preschool. Fedler is the director of early childhood programs for Delta County Joint School District #50. Little Sprouts currently has a waiting list, and due to staffing/facility limitations can not serve all the youngsters in Cedaredge. Based on the size of this year’s kindergarten class, there’s the potential to serve 30 additional preschool-age students, Fedler said. Currently, the school district provides Colorado Pre-
school Program (CPP) scholarships for qualifying students at Little Sprouts Preschool. Fedler said she expects that partnership to continue. Simultaneously, the school district will utilize a room at Cedaredge Elementary School that was designed with preschoolers in mind when the new addition was built. A lead teacher and a co-teacher will be hired for the morning and afternoon sessions of preschool. Lora Ely, director of Little Sprouts Preschool, said the private, nonprofit preschool will definitely be around next fall and “hopefully for many years to come.” BELA will definitely have an effect, she said, and the
DURA takes formal action; trail grant denied BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
The five members of Delta City Council met as the Delta Urban Renewal Authority Oct. 18. Five resolutions were adopted as part of an effort to revitalize the entity that was formed in 1986. DURA was established to oversee downtown improvements in the late ‘80s, but has largely been inactive since. With major economic development projects on the horizon, DURA is being revitalized. The first of five resolutions designated staff and legal
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Back Page ................... D6 Business .......................A10 Church ............................C7 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ................... A2, A5 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-5 Obituaries ..................... A8 School Zone .................. A6 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ..........................B7-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-3 TV Listings ..................C4-5
counsel. The second resolution updated DURA’s bylaws. The mayor of the city will serve as DURA chairperson. The mayor pro-tem is the vice chairman and the city manager is the executive director. The city’s director of community development will serve as deputy director. The city’s finance director is the treasurer, and the city clerk is the secretary. The five DURA commissioners will be the elected members of the city council; terms shall coincide with the council’s terms of office.
Meetings will be held as necessary and will be posted 24 hours in advance as required by Colorado Open Records. The third resolution formalized an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Delta, and was also approved by the Delta City Council later Tuesday night. The intergovernmental agreement allows DURA, as necessary, to employ city staff and city funds to conduct activities associated with DURA activities. The city may DURA TO A3
board is currently weighing how best to serve the community with quality programming. Ely said Little Sprouts has
an outstanding staff that’s always striving to meet the needs of the children and their families. For a small additional PRESCHOOL TO A3
Saldivar sentenced to six years in prison BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
A stabbing in June 2015 has led to a six-year prison sentence for Pablo Saldivar Jr. of Delta. Saldivar, 21, pleaded guilty to that incident, as well as an altercation with a fellow inmate last spring while he was being held in the Delta County Jail. Both cases were resolved during a sentencing hearing in Delta District Court Monday, Oct. 24. At around 1:30 a.m. May 26, 2015, Delta Police officers were dispatched to the convenience store at 101 Main Street where they found an employee applying pressure to a wound to Tallon Schaublin’s neck. Schaublin told the officers an unknown male party had attacked him from the side by immediately stabbing him with a knife, then taking his wallet, cigarettes and cell phone. He provided officers with a description of his assailant. Schaublin was transported to Delta County Memorial Hospital and later airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital. DPD followed up on several anonymous tips before arresting Pablo Saldivar on May 29.
Saldivar has been in custody since that time and during sentencing was given credit for 374 days of pre-sentence confinement. Because of the circumstances surrounding the incident, the stabbing is designated a crime of violence and an extreme risk crime. Judge Steven Schultz also noted the severity of the victim’s injury, but defense attorney Daniel Shaffer said Saldivar does not have a history of “real violence.” The judge responded that a second act of violence, the assault in the jail, raises a “red flag.” He sentenced Saldivar to six years in prison for the stabbing and 18 months in county jail for the assault, to be served concurrently with the DOC sentence. In addressing the court, Saldivar described his actions as “selfish” because they affected not only him, but his family as well. He expressed his desire to become a better father, a better husband, a better son and a better citizen. Judge Schultz noted that several family members had submitted “eloquent pleas” on his behalf. The victim was not in court.
Ballots look different
Halloween
Vote for Food for Thought
Voters may notice their ballots look a little different this year — a light green removable stub has been added. Stubs are used mainly to ensure that voters receive the correct ballot, and do not need to be returned. Removing the stub also aids in protecting your secrecy. “Do not worry however if you didn’t remove the stub,” said Rene Loy, county elections supervisor. “We will do everything we can to protect your secrecy just like we always have in the past.” Voters with questions or concerns can call the clerk’s office at 874-2150.
On Monday, Oct. 31, kids are invited to trick-or-treat downtown Delta from 3 to 5 p.m. Delta First Assembly of God, 762 Dodge Street, is hosting a Harvest Festival from 5 to 7:30 p.m. for ages 0-12 with parental supervision. Admission is free. Due to a staff in-service day, students will not be in school Monday, Oct. 31. The Cedaredge and Delta bands will be in Grand Junction for state competition.
Hunger is a big issue in Delta County, and for the next 10 days, everyone in the community can help solve this problem without spending a dime. The Food For Thought program has been named one of 200 finalists in a nationwide competition sponsored by State Farm Insurance. The State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant will award $25,000 to 40 causes which receive the most online votes between Oct. 26 - Nov. 4. If Food for Thought is successful in earning this grant, 100 percent of the money will be spent on food for kids. Anyone with a valid email address can vote 10 times per day by visiting www. neighborhoodassist.com and searching for Food For Thought.