NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
BUILDING A BOND
Local rancher hosts training sessions for upcoming stock dog trials, B1
SPORTS
PAUSING TO LOOK BACK Businesses, volunteers recognized at chamber’s annual banquet, C1
DELTA COUNTY
COACH, PLAYERS FETED Eagles celebrate undefeated season, state championship, B5
APRIL 5, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 14
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INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
New name, new director in the works for technical college BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Rep. Millie Hamner, Rep. Yeulin Willett, Sen. Kerry Donovan and Sen. Don Coram are sponsoring legislation that would change the name of Delta-Montrose Technical College to the Technical College of the Rockies. Delta-Montrose Technical College is owned by Delta County Joint School District #50, but the name of the college, and the two other area
technical colleges are specified in state statutes. Superintendent Caryn Gibson explains this bill will modify that statute. The proposed name takes the place of an earlier suggestion, Rocky Mountain Technical College. The use of the word “mountain” drew objections from a community college. suggestions are Both intended to reflect the larger geographical boundaries of
Sheriff affirms ICE cooperation BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
The Denver Post reports that the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office has been deemed “uncooperative” by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. The article was posted to the daily’s website on March 31. While ICE may consider his department uncooperative, Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee says Delta County, and most other sheriff ’s offices in the state, are complying with a federal magistrate’s ruling that ICE detainers are not a lawful warrant to hold an individual in county jails. “So as with the vast majority, if not all county sheriffs, we have written a policy stating we will not hold people on a detainer but will require ICE to get an arrest warrant, like any other law enforcement agency. A detainer is a form signed by the ICE officer and not by a magistrate or a judge, and that’s why the federal courts have ruled them unlawful,” McKee explained. He provided a position statement issued by the County Sheriffs of Colorado, which disputes the allegation that Colorado sheriffs are offering sanctuary to illegal immigrants in their custody. “Outside of legally recognized exigent circumstances, we cannot hold persons in jail
at the request of a local police officer or a federal agent,” the document explains. “To do so would violate the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.” The document continues, “Sheriffs have informed ICE that in order to comply with the Fourth Amendment, we must get judicially approved holds or warrants. However, at this time, ICE chooses not to do this.” McKee said his agency does work cooperatively with ICE and a variety of other state and federal law enforcement agencies. If the subject of ICE interest is in custody, the sheriff ’s office will notify ICE when that individual might be released, so if ICE wants to pick them up, they can. “Our cooperation with ICE is the same as with any other law enforcement agency in the nation,” McKee said. “If they have an interest in somebody, then we’ll definitely let them know when they’d be available for them to pick up and transport.” McKee said he believes the current administration will restore funding to Secure Communities, a program that automatically alerts ICE when an individual of interest is fingerprinted by an arresting agency. McKee said that program was very beneficial to law enforcement agencies.
OHVs allowed on county roads BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
The Board of County Commissioners on Monday adopted an ordinance that permits and regulates the use of offhighway vehicles (OHV) on county roads in the unincorporated areas of the county. The new county ordinance does not apply to other local jurisdictions including state or federal agencies or municipal streets. However, some of the county’s municipalities are considering the move to allow OHV use on
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Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Agriculture .....................C6 Back Page ................... D8 Business ........................ A6 Church ..................A7-8, D6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-5 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A8 School Zone .................A10 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports ..........................B5-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4
their streets also. OHVs are already permitted on City of Delta streets. The ordinance will take effect on April 17. Copies of the eight-page ordinance are available at the courthouse and it has been posted on the county website as well. Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee noted the maximum allowed speed for an OHV is 35 mph which applies on county roads with no posted speed limit as well as roads with a higher posted speed limit.
the technical college, which originally provided career and technical education primarily to secondary and adult students in Delta and Montrose counties. Changing the name will enhance the geographic and reputational distinctiveness of the college, House Bill 171258 asserts. DMTC offers postsecondary certificates in practical nursing, emergency medical services, law enforcement, computer-aided design, early childhood, automotive, cosmetology, barbering, massage therapy and business. In addition to the main campus south of Delta, DMTC offers courses in Montrose, Gunnison and the West End of Montrose County. It’s also anticipated some classes will be moved into the old City Market building in downtown Delta once the building has been renovated. DMTC is one of three area technical colleges in the state. The other two are on the Front Range — Emily Griffith TECHNICAL COLLEGE TO A3
April showers
Photo by Randy Sunderland
Rain droplets collected on a bright yellow daffodil as a storm front moved through Delta County earlier this week. The storm brought thunder, lightning and hail to some areas, but quickly gave way to blue skies and warming temperatures.
City, county find common ground at joint meeting BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
As the regional broadband project nears completion in the City of Delta, the city is updating power pole attachment agreements in anticipation of requests for infrastructure from internet service providers. FCC regulations require all users be treated the same, including new end-mile service providers who have expressed interest in serving Delta once the regional broadband project has been
completed. In addition to the city, the power poles are currently used by CenturyLink, Spectrum, Delta County, Delta County Joint School District #50 and a couple of other entities. During a joint meeting of city and county officials last week, Glen Black, City of Delta community development director, said broadband buildout is about 95 percent complete in the city. The remaining 5 percent involves equipment that will be owned and operated by Region 10.
“We could potentially light up the network by the end of April,” he explained. While only anchor institutions will initially benefit from high speed broadband, internet service providers would have an opportunity to carry the service from a carrier neutral location to homes and businesses in the city. The city is also finalizing fiber optic exchange agreements with DMEA and TriState Generation & Transmission, another step critical COMMON GROUND TO A3
County backs program to get kids out of doors BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
The Delta County Commissioners agreed on Monday to write a letter of support and/ or adopt a resolution in support of a grant request by The Nature Connection. Three board members of The Nature Connection — Steve Rist, Anita Evans and Anne Janik — explained to the BoCC that even with this county’s extensive public lands resources, the area’s youth are not experiencing the outdoors nor developing the skills needed to become successful in outdoor activities. That is due in large measure of the expense, they said. The county commissioners donated $5,000 to The Nature
Connection in 2015 for a planning grant. The group used the grant to develop a comprehensive plan for facilities, programs and equipment acquisition that will be used to help get youth and their families involved in outdoor activities. The Nature Connection is now looking toward a $1.5 million to $2.2 million grant application to the GOCO Inspire program for money to put its ambitious plans into action. They have enlisted community support from local governments in Delta County and Olathe. Evans said, “There is so much need. Kids around here are very deprived in recreation and outdoors opportunities and skills. We want to fill
the gap.” Janik told the BoCC their group “wants to engage youth on public lands” with experiences that could lead eventually to jobs with public lands agencies. Among projects the group explained to the BoCC was completion of a long-planned watercraft put-in at the Hotchkiss fairgrounds. The Nature Connection board members were accompanied in their presentation by two confident and well-spoken young men — Ethan Bates, an eighth grader and project coordinator, and Dakota Waybill, president of Youth Outdoor Network — who also helped explain the program’s vision and goals.
Rascon charged
Fine Free Week
50J staff changes
The driver who plowed into the rear end of a school bus stopped in North Delta last week has been charged. According to the Delta Police Department, Samuel R. Rascon, 48, of Hobbs, N.M., was issued a ticket for the alleged violations of: drove motor vehicle while license revoked, failure to yield to school bus with lights activated and careless driving. Rascon is scheduled to make his first court appearance at 9 a.m. May 17 in Delta County Court. Fifteen Delta students were seen by medical staff at Delta County Memorial Hospital following the accident the morning of March 27. All were treated for various minor injuries and released.
In celebration of National Library Week, Delta County Libraries will be offering fine-free check-in for all items returned in good condition the week of April 10-15. Overdue items or items assumed lost can be returned to any of the five libraries without fines being charged. For more information, contact your local library or visit www. deltalibraries.org.
Todd Markley, human resources director for Delta County Joint School District #50, is retiring at the end of the school year. Jim Farmer, longtime principal at Garnet Mesa Elementary School, will take his place, with additional duties in middle/high school curriculum and new teacher training. On Monday, the school district named Joe Mock as Farmer’s replacement. Mock will make the move from Lincoln Elementary School, where he has been assistant principal. The school district is also looking for a new principal at Delta Middle School.