Delta County Independent, Feb. 7, 2018

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NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

NEW MEETS OLD

Crawford residents find common ground at community potluck, B1

SPORTS

A GIRL WITH A DREAM

STATE HOPEFULS

CHS senior relishes her role as school mascot, C1

DELTA COUNTY

14 wrestling teams to compete in regional tournament at DHS, B5 FEBRUARY 7, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 6

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INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

50J ramps up suicide prevention efforts BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Delta High School has been rocked by two student deaths in three weeks. The most recent, the result of suicide, prompted school administrators to reach out to law enforcement and to the Center for Mental Health early Sunday. The goal was to discuss how to respectfully address immediate concerns from students, staff and families, and also to heighten awareness of suicide prevention efforts. “We must unite as one community to take care of one another — to help break the silence when someone is struggling, and be the connection to spread hope, help, and strength in all corners of our school and community,” school superintendent Caryn Gibson said following the crisis team meeting Sunday morning. At that meeting, DHS principal Derek Carlson called for a sensitive, yet strongly directed response that addresses the issue of suicide and grief head-on. With the death of the first DHS junior, the school emailed a letter to parents, read a statement to all students during their first-hour classes, and made school counselors, youth pastors and mental health professionals available throughout the week. Students filled a locker with handwritten notes for

the student’s family. That process took a lot out of counselors and teachers who have close relationships with their students. On Sunday, they shared concerns about their own abilities to deal with the most recent death. The DHS junior was described as a student leader who excelled in chemistry and engineering, and who had built strong relationships with peers, counselors and teachers who maintained a watchful eye. Bullying was not an issue; on the contrary, counselors said the student was surrounded by love and acceptance. Earlier in the day he had been in an AP study session, then at the home of a staff member. “You guys did everything right, but sometimes even in the face of doing everything right, this still happens,” said Shelly Spalding, chief executive officer of the Center for Mental Health. “You can’t stop somebody from taking their life if that’s their goal. That’s a really hard reality to live with.” “Death by suicide is difficult to understand, especially because it is sudden and it will never make sense,” said Gibson. “Delta High School and multiple agencies will work diligently to provide numerous interventions and supports to all students and families.” “I think all the kids are

asking themselves the same questions as the adults,” said Willyn Webb, a therapist who serves as director of Vision Charter Academy. “What could I have done? How could I not have seen it?”

A statement was developed to start the conversation in first-hour classes Monday morning, with the understanding both teachers and students would need time to grieve and to process their

Blanket of snow

feelings. “When we hurt, we grieve, and it’s important for kids to see that,” said Ed Hagins, chief operations officer of the Center for Mental Health. Center for Mental Health SUICIDE PREVENTION TO A3

Photo by Pat Sunderland

A brief storm bringing much-needed moisture swept through Delta County overnight Monday. While snow blanketed Grand Mesa and the mountains of the North Fork Valley, the lower valleys were blessed with a gentle rain.

County, watchdog haggle over transparency BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

On Jan. 31, Delta County Citizen Report (DCCR), an apolitical, nonprofit media organization reporting on Delta County government activities, moved to vacate a temporary protection order hearing in its lawsuit against Delta County Commissioners. In a press release issued last week, DCCR president Jo Ann Kalenak said she believes this action will provide the time for direct negotiations with the commissioners before a permanent protection order hearing date April 6 in Mesa County Court. While the county insists it is not in violation of any state statutes, as alleged in the lawsuit, it has agreed “to sit down to educate Delta County Citizen Report on our policies, procedures and state statutes.” In a press release issued Monday, county attorney John Baier said, “We believe there is value in better documenting our policies and procedures, and working with any interested citizen or citizen group in improving access to public information.” Delta County Citizen Report states the goal of the lawsuit is to “improve government transparency and open meeting practices.” Among the changes DCCR

INDEX

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Back Page ................... D6 Business .......................A10 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries .................. A7-8 School Zone .................. A6 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ..........................B5-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4

would like to see: • The county website included as an official posting site, not just “a courtesy when time and technology allows,” as stated by county administrator Robbie LeValley. • Additional agenda public posting locations including the North Fork Annex and local public libraries. • Public documents intended to be entered into the record at public meetings be available online at least 24 hours prior to each meeting. • All commissioner agenda action items and business will be represented by topic and placed under a specific, scheduled time. • No changes and/or additions made to an agenda within the 24-hour notice period will be allowed. Baier said the county’s current processes and procedures comply with state statutes. “The county is not allowed to designate the website as the official posting location,” he explained in the press release. “There have been numerous efforts in recent years to amend state statutes to allow counties to designate their websites as an official posting location, however this legislation has failed each time it has been brought forward to the state Legislature. Though the county cannot designate the website as an “official posting

location,” we use the website as much as possible to share information about numerous county activities, meetings, and other relevant information.” In addition, anyone interested in specific issues or topics can sign up for email notifi-

cations on the county’s website at www.deltacounty.com, or visit the county’s official designated posting location, now located in the window at the front door of the courthouse. Meetings of the county commissioners are open to the public. Questions, com-

ments and concerns can also be emailed to the county commissioners (email addresses are on the website) or be voiced by phone at 874-2100. For more information on the Delta County Citizen Report, visit www.citizen report.info.

Ordinance limiting marijuana plants takes effect Feb. 10 BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer

A county ordinance limiting marijuana plants to 12 on residential property will take effect on Feb. 10. To provide clarification concerning the number of marijuana plants a grower is authorized to cultivate, grow or produce, the Colorado General Assembly enacted HB 171220, which took effect Jan. 1. By adopting Ordinance 2018-01, the commissioners implement Colorado HB 171220 limitations of 12 marijuana plants that can be cultivated, grown or produced on or in a residential property, regardless of whether the plants are for medical or recreational use. The county ordinance expressly forbids and prohibits cultivation,

growth or production of any marijuana plants on or in all property other than residential property. The ordinance declares it unlawful for a patient, or primary caregiver, to possess or cultivate on a residential property more than 12 marijuana plants, regardless of the number of persons residing — either temporarily or permanently — at the property. The first reading of the ordinance occurred on Jan. 2, and the ordinance was published in full in the Delta County Independent on Jan. 10. The ordinance applies throughout the unincorporated area of Delta County. Any officer of the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office is authorized to enforce the provisions of the ordinance. Sheriff Fred McKee said,

Drought forces Powderhorn to reduce hours

With snowpack far below average at Powderhorn Mountain Resort, the continued drought has forced the return to a reduced Thursday through Sunday operating schedule to preserve current snowpack higher on the mountain. The season-to-date running snowfall total at Powderhorn is 45 inches which is almost nine feet behind the 2016-17 season snowfall pace and nearly 15 feet below this point in the 2015-16 season. The resort’s base depth is minimal as well. Powderhorn’s current base depth is 16” which is approximately 25 percent of the resort’s average base depth this time of year. “Reducing our operating schedule has been an incredibly difficult decision but based on the minimal amount of natural snowfall this season, it has become necessary to preserve the current snowpack for higher traffic days of the week,” said Sam Williams, general manager at Powderhorn. “We are striving to provide the best possible on-hill experience for our guests considering the current weather pattern we’re experiencing.” For season pass holders who may not have visited the mountain as much as usual this season, Powderhorn is offering a bonus to those with current winter 2017-2018 passes in the form of a complimentary summer 2018 season pass.

“If compliance becomes an issue, a deputy will be sent to that address, who will talk to the growers and make them aware of the statutes. The deputy will issue a warning. “After the warning, a deputy will go back in 10 days to see if the property is in compliance. If it is not in compliance, we will start a criminal investigation, which could lead to the matter going to the district attorney. “If a significant number of plants are being cultivated, the deputy may issue a summons, make an arrest or get a warrant for an arrest.” Sheriff McKee reminds growers that the 12 marijuana plants must be enclosed in a permanent or semi-permanent area, covered on all sides, with the ability to lock all entry ways.

Shots fired At about 1:09 a.m. on Feb. 2, Delta Police Department officers were dispatched to 1144 Bluff Street for a report of shots fired. Witnesses reported hearing five shots and seeing a vehicle leaving the area. No injuries were reported. Officers are following up on leads and this continues to be an active investigation.


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