NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
SUPPORTING STARTUPS Innovative business ideas surface at the ‘Trout Tank’, B1
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
SEASON OF CHANGE
�� �������
Cedaredge will be hiring town administrator, golf director, C1
����������
��������������
�������������
DELTA COUNTY
�������������
������������
���������
��������
���������
�
DECK THE HALLS
Recipes, holiday tips fill 2017 Christmas Gift Guide, Inside
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 47
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Neighbors locate missing Cedaredge woman BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Neighbors who joined the search for a missing 78-yearold woman say it’s “truly a miracle” she was found in an extremely wooded area nearly a mile from her house. Carol Gamble was reported overdue from a walk at about 2 p.m. last Saturday. Nearly 24 hours later, dispatch received a call from Susie Hirsch, who lives in the area, stating she and her kids had located Gamble on a hill behind their house. Gamble was tired and cold, and had suffered some minor injuries. She was transported to Delta County Memorial Hospital. According to the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office, Gamble is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s. She had left home in a light jacket accompanied by her black toy poodle. When she had not returned home two hours later, her husband Curtis called dispatch. Delta County Search and Rescue was notified to respond to the area. An incident command center was established and search teams covered a wide area attempting to locate Gamble. Temperatures were in the low teens that night with a strong breeze. The search continued until 2 a.m., then resumed at 6 a.m. on Nov. 19. Deputies, Delta County Search and Rescue members, San Miguel County Undersheriff Eric Berg (who donated an aircraft and air time), Cedaredge Fire Department, and several neighbors and friends assisted in the search. A “Code Red” alert was
sent out to the area requesting everyone in that area to be on the lookout for Gamble. At approximately 6:30 a.m., a neighbor notified dispatch that Gamble’s dog Suzee had arrived at their residence. Searchers responded to that area attempting to locate the missing woman. Then at 2 p.m., dispatch got a call from Hirsch. Hirsch said she hadn’t heard about the missing woman until a friend, one of the pilots aiding the search from the air, called. He advised the Hirsch family to check the sheds on their property. “The kids and I decided to look around, so we put on our hiking boots and headed up the hill.” They picked their way through cactus and around rocks as they moved up through the dense foliage. As Hirsch walked north toward one of her daughters, she spotted Gamble lying on the ground. “God was definitely watching out for her,” said Hirsch. “There’s no way we would have found her otherwise.” Gamble was one of a handful of residents who participate in Life Trak, a radio transmission system designed to assist local law enforcement and agencies in locating lost or missing persons. Unfortunately, the system does not work well over long distances, or where there are obstructions, as was the case with the wooded area in which Gamble was found. Delta County Sheriff, Fred McKee and Undersheriff Mark Taylor issued a press
release on Monday thanking everyone involved in this search for their dedication and persistence while working in rough terrain and cold conditions. “We are pleased that this search resulted in a successful conclusion,” they said.
“We would also like to thank all the friends and family members who live in the area and assisted in the search. There were people who brought hot coffee and hot food to the searches all night long. “We are lucky to be living
Community asset
in a community like Delta County. The community support is outstanding when an unfortunate event like this occurs.” Hirsch is a veterinarian at Surface Creek Veterinary Center; Suzee and the Gambles are among her clients.
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Blaine Brewer (with Jake), John Basham and Mark Varshock (with Cody) walk the red rock trails at Confluence Park nearly every day. Trails are among the most utilized recreational assets in the city, and are a high priority for additional investment, according to the most recent draft of the city’s Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Master Plan. Citizens had a final opportunity to provide input last week. Now the consultant is putting the finishing touches on the final plan, which sets forth recommendations to improve existing parks and recreation while also identifying opportunities to improve recreational opportunities. The Delta City Council is expected to put its stamp of approval on the final document in December. Wilma Erven, director of parks, recreation and golf for the City of Delta, said by and large, citizens have been very excited about the planning process. They actually applauded at the conclusion of the presentation by Logan Simpson, project consultants. A draft of the final plan can be found on the city website, www.cityofdelta.net.
Paonia Holdings decision expected Dec. 4 BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer
At their meeting Nov. 20, Delta County Commissioners Doug Atchley, Mark Roeber and Don Suppes heard three hours of presentation and citizen response regarding a land use change application requested by Paonia Holdings, LLC. Paonia Holdings, LLC submitted the request under the Delta County Specific Development Regulations. The property is owned by Bowie Resources, LLC, and was formerly used as a coal load-out site. The physical address of the property is 41322 Highway 133, with an adjacent residence at 41402 Highway 133 and an ancillary property at 16180 Steven’s Gulch Road, all north of Paonia. Applicant Mark Levin, Paonia Holdings, Inc., requests a change to commercial, light industrial and agricultural uses for the property. The applicant identifies several land uses planned for the property: heavy equipment storage; repair and sales of mining, excavation, agricultural and other equipment; fabrication and machining services, welding
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Back Page ................... D6 Business .......................A10 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-5 Obituaries ..................... A8 School Zone ............... A5-6 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports .............................B8 Surface Creek News ......C6 TV Listings ..................C3-4
services; engineering and construction consultant services; sales, repair, manufacturing of firearms and ammunition; limited agricultural production from the orchard on site; facilities supporting electrical transmission and distribution, communication lines and water conveyance. Future uses may include residential development; larger shop and warehouse; office and administrative buildings; upgrade of roads and fences. The applicant has made presentations in several meetings which have been widely attended. (See articles by Tamie Meck in the Nov. 1 and Nov. 15 issues of the DCI.) Attorney Aaron Clay, representing the applicant, stated that Paonia Holdings, LLC meets the eight criteria set forth in the county’s Specific Development Regulations. All the proposed uses are compatible with the requested change to commercial, light industrial and agricultural use. He said these uses are compatible with agriculture and tourism and other adjacent uses. They will exist harmoniously with these adjacent uses and be less intrusive than the former Bowie uses. Applicant Mark Levin nar-
rated a Power Point presentation for the commissioners and attendees, who filled the seating capacity of the hearing room, with several people standing. John Justice, legal counsel for Bowie Resources, stated that Bowie supports the application of Paonia Holdings, LLC. “The use of the past 40 years was industrial in
nature and the proposed use is not specifically different. The same use will continue,” Justice said. Commissioner Atchley called for comments from those who wanted to speak. They were asked to limit their comments to three minutes, and were timed. Three people spoke in favor of the application; 27 urged
denial of the application. Those in favor spoke of connections to mining and positive attitudes about the future of the Paonia area. Those opposed are concerned that the land use will damage the image and uniqueness of Paonia, and discourage new agriculture/ tourism industries from PAONIA HOLDINGS TO A3
Delta kicks off Christmas with parade, Small Business Saturday BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Delta’s second annual “Kickoff to Christmas” takes place Saturday, Nov. 25. This event is sponsored by the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce and First Colorado National Bank. During the day, community members are encouraged to shop local for Small Business Saturday. “Let’s show our support for our local businesses,” said Darnell Place-Wise, executive director of the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce. “If we want to keep our wonderful small businesses open, and in Delta, we need to support them!”
Planning appointment Tate Locke was appointed to the Delta County Planning Commission Nov. 14, representing the Surface Creek area. Locke is a Colorado native and moved to the Western Slope in 2003. He has owned and operated the Cristee-Meade Building Company in Cedaredge for the past 14 years. “We strive for excellence in building and work hard to create lasting relationships with our clients, the majority of which are new to the area,” Locke said. “I have an inherent interest in the economic, industrial and recreational sustainability of Delta County.” Locke fills the vacancy on the Planning Commission formerly occupied by Dick Disner.
From 1 to 4 p.m., Habitat for Humanity of Delta County invites families to gather for a friendly afternoon of building gingerbread houses. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at Cedaredge Land Company and at the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce office. Each family will be given one gingerbread house, icing and decorations. Cocoa and cookies will be served, and a silent auction is planned. This event will take place in the cafeteria at Delta Middle School Saturday afternoon. The third annual Mac and Cheese Cookoff to benefit the Abraham Connection home-
less shelter will be held at the Delta branch of Bank of Colorado, 1443 Mesa Drive, from 2 to 4 p.m. The fee to enter the cookoff is just $20, and the fee to taste test is $5. You can register in advance by calling Kayla Brown at 970712-8969. At 3:30 p.m., Main Street will be closed while food vendors and musicians set up in the Wells Fargo parking lot. From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will be riding a horsedrawn carriage up and down Main with Y-Bar Hitch. Families are invited to climb aboard. DELTA CHRISTMAS TO A3
Tourism awarded $25,000
The Delta County Tourism Cabinet has been awarded $25,000 through the Colorado Tourism Office’s marketing matching grant program. Twenty-eight Colorado not-for-profit associations and governmental organizations from across the state were awarded grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 for the purpose of enhancing marketing efforts to attract visitors. “We made it a top priority to maintain funding to support local and regional marketing initiatives,” said CTO Director Cathy Ritter. “This is one of the most significant and direct ways that our state supports tourism groups and destinations in attracting travelers.” The annual competitive grant program received over 50 applications for a total of over $1.1 million in requests. Nearly 35 Colorado counties will share in the tourism grants. The Delta County Tourism Cabinet intends to create an integrated social media plan which focuses on content creation, user generated photography and sharing the Delta County brand across a variety of digital platforms.