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DELTA COUNTY
JULY 19, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 29
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
CSU to reopen Rogers Mesa site BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Thanks to the efforts of state Rep. Millie Hamner, House District 61, Colorado State University plans to reopen the Rogers Mesa research site. The facility was taken out of operation in 2011, due to budget cuts throughout the CSU system. CSU plans to reinvigorate the operation in Delta County, as well as its other ag research facilities on the Western Slope. Michael Schweigert, director of government affairs for CSU, said it’s CSU’s intent to re-open the Rogers Mesa facility in the next three to six months, while looking for industry and community partners. “Engagement and extension activities will be the primary emphasis of the reopened site,” he said. “This is exciting news as we go forward with our whole ENGAGE initiative around energy, agriculture and innovation,” said Trish Thibodo, executive director of Delta County Economic Development. “Knowing CSU is putting resources into reinvigorating the Rogers Mesa site opens up new doors. It’s a great way to continue to support ag in our area.” DCED is excited about potential partnerships with CSU, and CSU president Tony Frank is equally committed to
building community relationships, according to Schweigert. “Rich is a liaison for CSU and attends meetings of the Joint Budget Committee, always advocating for funding for CSU,” said Rep. Millie Hamner, “so I reached out to him, wondering why he had never asked for any resources for the Hotchkiss facility.” She is one of three Democrats serving on the Joint Budget Commission, which develops budget recommendations for the General Assembly. Established in 1961, the CSU Rogers Mesa station engaged in research in tree crops, grapes, vegetables and alternative crops. When it was closed in June 2011, the property was put on the market. CSU was dissuaded from selling the site by stakeholders who asked for time to study alternative uses of the property that could promote local economic development. A feasibility study was funded by Delta County, Region 10 and the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station. While ideas were plentiful, no plans came to fruition. During her visits to Delta County, Rep. Hamner said constituents often commented on the buildings and acreage just off Highway 92. Some were concerned about the facility just sitting there empty; others had interest in repurposing the property. “It had been on my mind,
Mountain Coal seeks support for exploration BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
Representatives of Mountain Coal Company on Monday asked the Board of County Commissioners for words of support as the North Fork mine begins once again the process of applying for a federal lease modification to explore for, and hopefully one day mine, new coal resources. The company’s plans for expansion were halted abruptly five years ago on the day before construction was to begin. A Denver judge had nullified Mountain Coal’s federal agency approvals to explore coal reserves adjacent to its West Elk mining operation. Subsequently, it has taken all that time since the judge’s ruling for the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and Mountain Coal Company to resolve issues raised by the judge and work their way back to square one on the lease modification application process. Kathy Welt, environmental compliance officer with Mountain Coal, explained that the coal is located under the Sunset Trail Roadless Area, but it is also part of the North Fork Coal Mining Exception to the Colorado Roadless Rule. The exception allows temporary
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Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Agriculture ................... C6 Back Page ................... D8 Business ........................ A8 Church ........................... D6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-5 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries .................. A6-7 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports .............................B8 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4
roads to be used for exploration in the area. The North Fork Coal Mining Exception was finally reinstated fully on April 18, Welt said. The Delta County Commissioners have a history of strong support for the area’s coal industry. Commissioner Doug Atchley said no decision could be made at Monday’s meeting, but he added the board would take the request under advisement and make a decision on a statement of support at a later date. Also at Monday’s session, Weston Norris of Mountain Coal asked for the commissioners support on another issue: a 3 percent royalty rate reduction request to the federal government. He explained that the coal seams the company will be surveying, and possibly one day mining, are known to be interlaced with rock deposits that will increase costs of development. Therefore, a reduction in the royalty payments on the coal mined there is needed to make it a profitable project for the company. Norris said Mountain Coal will sell 4.5 million tons of coal this year, but that buyers have not yet signed contracts for future coal deliveries and “there is no committed market” yet beyond that point.
so I reached out to Rich,” said Rep. Hamner. “He took the idea back to the CSU president, Tony Frank, and they realized with a relatively small investment, they could leverage additional funds to improve agricultural operations in all of CSU’s Western Slope sites.” Realizing there was interest from CSU, Rep. Hamner worked with committee members to allocate about $875,000 through the budget process. Rep. Hamner said CSU plans to issue bonds to maximize funding and support growers and orchardists across the Western Slope.
Helping farmers large and small produce better, faster and more efficiently is at the heart of CSU’s mission, Schweigert said. “I think we have a lot of very good starting points,” he added. “Fruit production, organic farming, grapes, apple cider are all huge pieces, so we have a lot of material to start with.” While the facility is being spruced up, Schweigert said CSU will be reaching out to hear about the educational needs of the community. “We know we’re going to replant an orchard, because it’s such
Classics on display
a vital part of the area, and it can help demonstrate different types of growing systems that could be used.” In addition to building partnerships in the community, CSU will be working to develop closer collaborations between campus-based faculty and agricultural experiment stations in Fruita, on Orchard Mesa and on Rogers Mesa. “We’re really excited about the possibilities,” Schweigert said. “We’re very appreciative to Rep. Hamner and the General Assembly for providing the funding to reopen.”
Photo by Kaylee Dunham
Every Friday at about 5:30 you can go to Sonic in Delta and find members of local car clubs such as Delta Street Rodders, Black Canyon Motors of Montrose and Ute Trails of Paonia along with individuals who are not affiliated with any club. This tradition started three years ago when Jim Nichols put an announcement in the paper inviting members of the community to bring their classic cars to Sonic for a social get-together. Delta Street Rodders’ next event is the 14th annual car show at Confluence Park Saturday, July 29. Many of the cars that congregate at Sonic will be at the show along with many others. Registration runs from 7 to 10 a.m. and costs $20. Come early for a 7 a.m. pancake breakfast. Show hours are 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Pre-registration takes place at Butch’s Cafe Friday, July 28, at 5:30 p.m.
Confluence Drive/5th is Delta’s most dangerous intersection BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
As traffic increases on Confluence Drive in Delta, so does the number of accidents taking place at intersections. The intersection of 5th and Confluence is the most dangerous in Delta, according to accident statistics compiled by the Delta Police Department. Since Jan. 1, 2016, eight accidents have been reported at that intersection. Fortunately, none have been serious. Pete Tarr was heading into town, driving east on 5th Street from his home on California Mesa, when he pulled out from the stop sign and collided with a car he never saw coming. He’s given that accident a lot of thought. “I think a lot of accidents are occurring around 5:30, 6 p.m., as the sun goes down and traffic increases,” he said. “There’s a big shade tree there, and
if you’re looking up you don’t see anyone coming because the car is in the shade. “I looked to the left and didn’t see anyone coming, but I should have checked a second or third time,” said Tarr, who believes the red car simply blended into the shaded portion of the roadway. “Of course, cars are coming pretty fast on that stretch of road — 45 to 55 mph an hour.” Tarr was cited for failure to yield right-of-way, and since he was at fault, his insurance company had to pay for the damage. “I had the insurance to do that and it didn’t have to come out of my pocket,” quipped Tarr, a longtime insurance agent. Delta Police Chief Luke Fedler agreed the alternate truck route is seeing a lot more use, and as drivers are becoming more familiar with
the route, they’re increasing their speed. “Drivers are a little more complacent,” he observed. “Speed is certainly an issue, so we’ve been doing more traffic enforcement in that area.” Intersections with multiple collisions since Jan. 1, 2016, include: 5th/Confluence Dr . . . . . 8 Hwy 50/92 . . . . . . . . . . 5 Hwy 50/1600 Road . . . . . 4 Hwy 50/Confluence Dr . . . 4 Hwy 50/H38 Rd . . . . . . . 4 Hwy 92/Stafford Ln . . . . 4 Hwy 50/Pioneer Rd . . . . . 3 Hwy 348/Confluence Dr . . 3 1st/Palmer . . . . . . . . . 2 Hwy 50/Gunnison River Dr 2 Until traffic conditions warrant a stoplight at that intersection, drivers might consider Tarr’s suggestion to look once, then look again, before crossing the busy roadway.
Fire ban lifted
GMUG revision begins with open houses
Effective immediately, fire restrictions in the unincorporated portions of Delta County have been lifted. The Delta County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to use caution when burning and to call the Delta County burn line, 970-399-2955, before any agricultural burn. The burning of household trash and other dense smoke-producing materials is prohibited in Delta County. On Friday, July 16, the Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office lifted the Stage 1 fire restrictions on BLM-administered public lands in Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Delta and Gunnison counties.
The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest will begin a series of public open houses in Delta on the Forest Plan revision. At the open houses, the GMUG planning team will share initial assessment work and early ideas about needs for change in the Forest Plan, while inviting the public to contribute its ideas. The Delta session will take place on Tuesday, July 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School Other open house events scheduled are the following: Gunnison — Thursday, July 27, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Field Western Heritage Center; Ridgway — Tuesday, Aug. 1, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 4-H Center; Grand Junction —Thursday, Aug. 3, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Lincoln Park Barn; Telluride — Thursday, Aug. 10, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wilkinson Library; Montrose — Monday, Aug. 14, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Montrose High School; Lake City — Tuesday, Aug. 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Lake City Community School.