NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
FAMILY FUN IN STORE
Crawford Pioneer Days celebrates “Heritage, Family & Friends,” B1
SPORTS
SHOW OPENS JUNE 8
NATIONAL CHAMPS
Edge of the Cedars art show marks its 45th year, C1
Delta team brings home tumbling, cheer awards from Las Vegas, B8
DELTA COUNTY
JUNE 7, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 23
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Libraries scramble to fund literacy programs BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
A grant that has provided funding for literacy programs in Delta County for nearly 20 years has dried up. The lack of funding has Delta County Libraries scrambling for ways to compensate the eight qualified individuals who teach English language acquisition and high school equivalency classes in Delta and Hotchkiss. “This is a serious blow to us and Delta County as it will certainly harshly limit the services we can offer through our adult literacy program,” said Tracy Ihnot, communications and outreach administrator for Delta County Libraries. Both programs are offered free of charge, with opera-
tional costs covered nearly 100 percent by the federallyfunded grant administered by the Colorado Department of Education. This year’s grant totaled $167,442; an application for fiscal year 2017-18 requested $150,000. Gail Srebnik, Delta County Libraries literacy administrator, said the library district’s application scored high enough to be funded, yet it wasn’t. That’s got her, and other rural library districts, questioning the funding process. “If we scored high enough to be funded, why aren’t we being funded?” “Since rural counties have not recovered from the recent economic downturn as well as urban counties, it is hard to understand the change
in priorities after almost 20 years,” said district director Lea Hart. The library district quickly filed an appeal, citing program requirements that
the Colorado Department of Education consider “regional needs ... serving individuals in the community who were ... in most need of adult education of literacy activities”
when awarding grants. According to CDE’s adult education department, “The overall priority of the adult education and literacy grant LITERACY TO A2
Delta man drowns in Escalante potholes BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Bryan Reim, 35, of Delta drowned while swimming in the potholes on Escalante Creek, the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office reports. Reim was enjoying the area with family and friends Saturday, June 3, when he jumped into a pool and failed to surface. Dispatch was notified of a possible drowning at 5:30 p.m. Sheriff ’s deputies, fire department personnel and Delta County Search and Rescue responded and began to search the area. Assistance was requested from a rope/ swift water team with Mesa County Search and Rescue. A commercial diving operation from Grand Junction was also brought in, but they could
not locate Reim. Shortly after dark, the search was suspended for the day. Rescue teams were back on site at 5:30 the following morning. The search continued until about 2 p.m., when it was determined Reim could not be retrieved from the deep pool. The search has been suspended until conditions are more favorable. Meanwhile, sheriff ’s deputies and BLM rangers will continue to closely watch the area. The sheriff ’s office reminds everyone to be aware of the dangerous conditions and to pay attention to the warning signs in the area. The powerful current in the potholes has claimed several lives over the years, the most recent being a teenager from Montrose in June 2014.
Delta County Sheriff’s Office photo
Rescuers employ ropes to drop into the churning water of Escalante Creek in an attempt to locate Bryan Reim. Reim failed to surface after jumping into one of the “potholes.”
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Agriculture ................... B6 Back Page ................... D6 Business ........................ A5 Church ............................B7 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D2-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries .................. A7-8 School Zone .................. A6 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports .............................B8 Surface Creek News ...C1-6 TV Listings ..................C3-4
Main Street mayhem
Photo by Pat Sunderland
A young spectator covers his ears protectively as motorcycles roar through an obstacle course set up on Delta’s Main Street June 1. Moto mayhem is a popular event with spectators of all ages, and just one of the many activities taking place during Downtown DeltaFest, sponsored by the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce. The next Downtown DeltaFest will take place July 6.
Jury declines to award damages to chicken farm neighbor BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Olen Lund, president of the Delta County Farm Bureau, said last week a district court jury affirmed what he’s known all along — Edwin Hostetler’s egg-laying facility on Powell Mesa is a good, well-run operation. Neighbor Susan Raymond disagreed and took Hostetler to court over alleged “trespass” of dust, feathers, flies, mold, toxins and other biological material. She said the chicken facility adversely impacted her own operation — raising hay, breeding horses and her veterinary practice — and her ability to enjoy her home and acreage. She cited fatigue and breathing problems as evidence of the negative effect of emissions from the facility. The trial took nearly three weeks and included testimony from both Hostetler and Raymond, their neighbors, employees and expert witnesses. Raymond’s attorney, Kevin Hannon, also submitted 722 videos of the egg-laying facility filmed on 144 different days. The videos were intended to show how emissions from the facility were carried up the draw to Raymond’s property by prevailing winds. Hostetler’s attorney, Brandon
Jensen, pointed out that the videos were always shot with the setting sun in the background, to highlight the emissions. Furthermore, he said those emissions dispersed as they moved along the egg-laying facility and were virtually invisible by the time they reached the end of the barn. That does not change the fact that smaller particles reached Raymond’s property, Hannon asserted. “Trespass is undisputed,” he said. The jury disagreed, however, and after deliberating for about an hour declined to award damages to Raymond. Her attorney had requested $365,000, the value of Raymond’s home and outbuildings, because she could no longer enjoy her property; about $3,000 for medical expenses; and $200,000 for non-economic damages — “annoyance, discomfort and the loss of her heritage, her home, her way of life.” Hannon said financial damages would stand as “testament to landowner rights in Delta County.” The Delta County Farm Bureau said the case represents the bigger right-tofarm issue that extends beyond Delta County. “Obviously we’re relieved with the victory for agriculture in
Delta County,” Lund said, “but we’re very concerned that a neighbor can shut down a well-run, well-managed agricultural operation and basically tie them in a knot. “The right to farm is supported by county and state statutes, but anybody can sue for anything. This verdict shows that right can’t be circumvented so easily. “Our job is far from over,” Lund added. Hostetler’s outstanding legal fees stand at half a million dollars, even though they’ve been paid down quite a bit. Because of the precedent this case sets for agriculture nationwide, Lund said the Delta County Farm Bureau is reaching out to the American Farm Bureau, Protect the Harvest and the National Association of Egg Farmers for help. “We’ve done a couple of fundraisers in Delta County, but this is beyond us,” Lund said. Hostetler has had to defend himself more than once against Raymond’s claims. According to Lund, the legal battle began on July 20, 2012, when the Delta County Commissioners approved a land use change application for an organic, free range, chicken laying facility to be located just north of Hotchkiss. A CHICKEN FARM TO A3
Jake Tuttle charged in burglaries
Judge finalists selected
The Delta Police Department has arrested a man they believe responsible for several burglaries and criminal mischief at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jake R. Tuttle, 36, Delta, is being charged with burglary, criminal mischief and theft. He is being held at the Delta County Jail on a $5,000 bond. Tuttle is suspected in the May 2 burglary at Rick’s Speed Shop, 323 W. 5th Street. Loss and damages are in excess of $4,000, which includes forced entry and theft of multiple specialty tools. On May 7, a break-in was reported at the LDS Church on Pioneer Road. The building was forcefully entered and significant damage was done to the interior, in excess of $10,300 in value. On May 16, officers responded to 620 Columbia Street on a report of suspicious activity. The ensuing investigation resulted in the recovery of stolen property, confiscation of a small amount of suspected methamphetanine, and Tuttle’s arrest.
The Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a Delta County court judgeship created by the resignation of the Hon. Sandra Miller, effective Aug. 4. Nominees John Baier of Cedaredge, Jin Ho Pack of Grand Junction and Bo Zeerip of Grand Junction were selected in a June 5 meeting at the Delta County Courthouse. Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from June 6 within which to appoint one of the nominees as county court judge for Delta County. Comments regarding any of the nominees may be sent via email to the governor at gov_judicial appointments@state.co.us.