NORTH FORK TIMES
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BOUNTIFUL HARVEST Mountain Harvest Festival celebrates all things local, B4-7
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A VENUE FOR THE ARTS Creative forces come together for Cedaredge arts center, C1
DELTA COUNTY
IN MEMORIUM
Paonia Eagles dedicate football game to former quarterback, B9 SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 38
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Fort designated OST interpretive site BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Fort Uncompahgre was a lively site Saturday. Visitors in period costume sampled traditional Mexican fare while browsing the open air market. Vaqueros traversed the courtyard on horseback, while kids gathered under a large cano-
py for games organized by the Girl Scouts. The Mexican flag flew over the fort, reminscent of the days when western Colorado was part of the Mexican territory. A variety of events honored the Mexican trappers and laborers who once worked the fort. Colorado Old Spanish Trail
Days is expected to become an annual event, and one of many seasonal activities that have been held at the fort since the Interpretive Association of Western Colorado (IAWC) took over operation of the city-owned asset three years ago. Antoine Robidoux estab-
lished Fort Uncompahgre at the junction of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre rivers in 1828. The trading post served as a hub on the North Branch of the Old Spanish Trail, a historic trade route that connected the Spanish settlements of Santa Fe and Taos with the California missions of Los Angeles. Now, Fort Uncompahgre is once again at the crossroads of history. In conjunction with Colorado Old Spanish Trail Days, a dedication ceremony was held, acknowledging the fort as the first interpretive center on the Northern Branch of the Old Spanish Trail. Chris Miller, IAWC executive director, read a letter from the Bureau of Land Management, stating that official designation will result in a “substantial” amount of funding to support the interpretive center and educational pull-
outs along Highway 50. The Northern Branch of the Old Spanish Trail traversed over 1,200 miles of mountains, deserts, rivers and canyons. Later, fur trappers followed the same route and in the 1850s guided military expeditions of John Gunnison and William Loring. For the most part, Miller read, present-day Highway 50 parallels the route between Delta and Grand Junction. A substantial portion is found on public lands administered by the BLM. Some of the physical vestiges of the original trail and the military wagon roads of the 1800s can still be seen across the DominguezEscalante National Conservation Area. While BLM is contributing funding, the National Park Service will oversee interpretive efforts. The Old Spanish Trail Association is also actively FORT UNCOMPAHGRE TO A3
Photo by Pat Martin
On Sept. 9, Fort Uncompahgre presented the “Crossing of the Gunnison,” celebrating the historic crossing point of the Gunnison River in the Robidoux Bottoms west of Delta. William Bailey and friends retraced the section of the trail on mules and pack animals outfitted in authentic 1830s gear. Robidoux Bottoms and much of the nearby historic trail crosses BLM and Colorado Parks and Wildlife public lands.
DCED director tapped for new state position BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
This week, Delta County Economic Development (DCED) announced “with great regret” the resignation of Trish Thibodo as executive director. “DCED appreciates the leadership Trish has brought to Delta County and the many projects DCED has been involved with,” John Gavan, DCED president, said in a press release. “Trish has accepted a newly created position with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) as the Rural Response, Recovery and Resiliency (4R) manager. This new position creates a coordinated response of state, federal and other resources for Colorado rural communities to help them recover from industry or significant job loss and create more resilient economies.” Caryn Gibson, superintendent of schools for Delta County Joint School District #50, noted the role Thibodo has played to get Delta County moving forward again. “Her positive energy and understanding of economic development has helped lead our school district in the ENGAGE project,” Gib-
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son said. “The school district would like to thank Trish for her dedication and support of the many projects in the Delta County School District.” Thibodo has also worked closely with the City of Delta on several projects related to economic development. “It has been a pleasure working with Trish,” said city manager David Torgler. “Her enthusiasm and her active participation, her desire to bring people together and to work on economic development activities that benefit Delta County, has been a wonderful experience. In her new role, Trish will continue to be of great value to this community and I look forward to working with her.” Thibodo starts with DOLA the week of Oct. 9. “I’ve been honored to serve as DCED executive director and will greatly miss working closely with the DCED board and community partners, although I know in this new position I can continue to support the growth of Delta County. DCED is a leading change in Delta County,” she said. DCED is in the process of hiring a new executive direc-
tor to take DCED and Delta County to the next level. Visit www.deltacountyed.org for more information.
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Delta City Council member Gerald Roberts (left) and Jonathan Carr, president of the North Branch - Old Spanish Trail Association, unveil the signs that designated Fort Uncompahgre as an official interpretive site for the Old Spanish National Historic Trail.
Oil/gas designee retires BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
Delta County’s local government designee (LGD) for oil and gas regulation issues, Bruce Bertram, has retired from the post. At the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting on Monday he received compliments and thanks for his years of service to the county. Commissioner Doug Atchley said, “You have served the county so well, I just want to say thank you for all of your time and energy and expertise. I can’t say in words how much the county appreciates you.” Commissioner Mark Roeber said, “We sincerely appreciate Bruce’s service to the county. He leaves some big shoes to fill. He has represented Delta County extremely well and his views are respected [around the state].”
Commissioner Don Suppes said, “I second Commissioner Roeber’s appreciation for Bruce’s service. Since Delta County started [dealing with oil and gas issues] 20 years he has led us to the forefront in the state with local regulations. He has been a pioneer in the process and he will be missed greatly.” Suppes, speaking to Bertram, added, “You are held in high regard by both sides. I applaud you on an incredible tough task to accomplish.” Former county administrator Susan Hansen recalled years of working with Bertram through some changing times when he served as the landfill manager. “We went from having a county dump to a having [a state regulated] landfill,” a big change that was of interest to many county residents. Hansen noted that Bertram’s professionalism as oil and gas
Tragedy strikes twice in two days
Two fatal accidents occurred in Delta County within a two-day span last week. Casey Gillenwater, 25, of Delta was killed the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 13, in a single-vehicle rollover on Highway 133 outside of Hotchkiss. Gillenwater was southbound in a 1996 Ford dump truck when he swerved to avoid rear-ending a vehicle that had slowed to pull into a driveway. The dump truck left the roadway and rolled, partially ejecting the driver. Gillenwater died at the scene. Drugs/alcohol/speed are not factors in the accident. The second crash took place Sept. 14 at approximately 3:39 p.m. at Highway 92 and 2200 Road. The Colorado State Patrol reports that Robert Perkins, 59, of Delta was northbound on 2200 Road, stopped at the intersection of Highway 92. He failed to yield to an eastbound vehicle driven by Bryan Klaseen, 50, of Hotchkiss. Klaseen’s Dodge Ram pickup struck Perkins’s Jeep Grand Cherokee on the front driver side and continued onto the top of the vehicle. Both vehicles remained in contact as they traveled off the northeast corner of the intersection. The Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled one time while remaining under the pickup. Perkins was transported to Delta County Memorial Hospital, where he died of his injuries. Klaseen received minor injuries and was not transported to the hospital.
LGD “and his interface with the citizens was wonderful.” The Conservation Center’s director Alex Johnson said, “Thanks for helping people understand [complex issues], and a thank you for all your service.” Bertram submitted a letter stating his appreciation for people he has worked with over the years. In retirement, he plans to do some traveling with his wife, Myrna. The commissioners on Monday also appointed Bertram’s replacement. He is Tony Vervloet, a 30-year veteran of the oil and gas industry who served as temporary county LGD during a summer when Bertram was on a leave of absence. Commissioner Mark Roeber recused himself from the vote on Vervloet because of a family relationship; they are brothers-in-law.
Election savings Delta County Joint School District #50 will save an estimated $14,000 by cancelling the school board election scheduled for November. Three school board seats were to be filled, but just three candidates filed petitions for those seats. At its monthly meeting, Sept. 19, the school board was expected to adopt a resolution cancelling the election and declaring the positions filled by Ron Germann, Jan Tuin and Richard Hypio. All three will be sworn into office at the November school board meeting.