NATIONAL FFA WEEK
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
90 YEARS OF TRADITION
FFA members have a passion for agriculture, community service, B4-5
SPORTS
COMMUNITY LEADER
3 WRESTLERS TITLE
Brinck named sole finalist for Cedaredge town administrator, C1
DELTA COUNTY
Cedaredge ends 35-year slump; Church remains undefeated, B7-10 FEBRUARY 21, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 8
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INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
School district addresses student/staff safety concerns BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Safety has been a top priority of Delta County Joint School District #50, even before the recent school shooting in Florida and the report of a student with a gun at Grand Mesa Choice Academy. The school district is working on a plan to implement increased security entrances by eventually adding security systems, locked doors and potentially school resource officers. School administrators have also worked with local law enforcement on a safety plan that is unique to each individual school. Late last week, superintendent Caryn Gibson penned a letter to the community. She wrote, “This is a time of intense sorrow and anxiety for all school communities, and we feel it is important to share with you that Delta County Schools do have safety procedures and protocols in place. Please know that our top priority in Delta County School District is student and staff safety. We also have trained staff to care for our children in coping with the grief and shock that come with learning about tragic events like the shootings in Florida.
“As a school district, we have worked closely with local law enforcement to implement safety and security measures to ensure that schools provide a safe learning environment for all children. Our staffs are trained on safety policies and procedures. We are spending time working to ensure all schools are adhering to established safety protocols, enforcing that safety procedures are being followed. “As the situation in Florida continues to unfold, please know that Delta County School District is ready to support students with concerns or fears while they are at school. If your students are having issues dealing with the Florida situation, please have him/her visit with their school administrator. School administrators have access to trained mental health professionals and resources that can support students through this emotional event.” Gibson followed up with tips for parents to use when discussing the Florida tragedy. The day after the Florida tragedy, law enforcement responded to the campus of the Technical College of the Rockies after a 15-year-old
student was seen with a gun. The 15-year-old male attends Grand Mesa Choice Academy, which is on the TCR campus south of Delta. Law enforcement from the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office, Delta Police Department and Colorado State Patrol responded to the 911 call at about 9 a.m. As law enforcement entered the school the 15-year-old male subject was taken into custody for questioning without incident. No shots were fired and no students or faculty were injured. School resumed shortly after the incident. After further investigation into the incident, sheriff ’s investigators learned the following information: A student attending the Grand Mesa Choice Academy overheard another student state he had a gun. That student did the appropriate thing and notified school administration staff. The school administrator then contacted the sheriff ’s office to report a student possibly had a gun on campus. “The Delta County Sheriff ’s Office and Delta Police Department responded to the campus in the appropriate SCHOOL SAFETY TO A3
Photo by Tamie Meck
Undefeated state titlist
Delta’s Logan Church capped his senior year with a perfect 35-0 record and the Class 3A heavyweight title at the state wrestling tournament last weekend. Cedaredge wrestlers Trey Geyer and Sean Dale won titles at 120 and 126 pounds, respectively. See complete coverage of all Delta County wrestlers in the sports section, pages B7-10.
Sold-out crowd demonstrates support for DHS BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
An event planned months before two student deaths at Delta High School became a rallying point for the community last week. A sold-out crowd of 600-plus filled the school gymnasium to watch the Harlem Wizards take on the Panther Pack — a team comprised of teachers, school administrators and law enforcement. Delta High School and its
student council split the cost of bringing the high-energy Wizards to town, with the primary goal being community unity. Student council advisor and school counselor Shawna Magtutu put hours and hours into ensuring the success of the event. She said, “The whole evening just made my heart grow with hope, strength and joy for this special community, and the amazing Harlem Wizards organiza-
tion that made the night so magical and healing for our community, on so many levels. This event also seemed to be the first time in Delta history that we completely maxed out the capacity of our gym (don’t tell the fire marshals!). The outpouring of love, support and courage displayed by this community leaves me speechless. I am beyond grateful to everyone involved — including the beloved families of Ben and Jon. We laughed,
danced, cried, and united as one community in our connection and commitment to break the stigma of silence, and continue to spread light and hope.”
Yager’s retrial begins Tuesday BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Panther Pack coach Renee Cronenberg offers words of encouragement to Pablo Payan, a fellow DHS teacher. Also pictured are team members Blake Carlquist, a teacher at Hotchkiss High School, and James Hughes, a teacher at Delta Middle School.
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ......................A11 Back Page ................... D6 Business .......................A12 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 FFA Week ................. B4-5 Health & Fitness ...... A7-9 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-3 Obituaries ....................A10 School Zone ................. A-7 Sports ........................B7-10 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4
The Panther Pack lost the game, which wasn’t surprising — the Harlem Wizards haven’t been defeated in 40-plus years. They treated WIZARDS TO A3
It’s now been seven years since the brutal slaying of Melinda Tackett Yager in Paonia, and while her estranged husband has been jailed since her death, his conviction is still up in the air. Yager was convicted of second degree murder following a jury trial in November 2012, but won an appeal when his attorney successfuly argued that the trial court erroneously refused to instruct the jury on the defense of insanity. The conviction was overturned and Yager is to be retried next week. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. In preparation for the trial, Judge Steven Schultz heard pretrial motions in January from public defender Kori Zapletal, district attorney Dan Hotsenpiller and Janet Drake from the state attorney general’s office. There’s little dispute about Yager’s role in the death of his wife; what’s in question is his
state of mind at the time of her death. Several incidents between the time the Yagers separated in July 2010 and Melinda’s death six months later illustrate that Yager acted knowingly and that he was sane at the time of Melinda’s murder, Hotsenpiller argued. He outlined several incidents which he says establish knowledge and intent, and counter the claim of insanity being forwarded by Yager’s defense. Zaplatel argued that several of those incidents are unduly prejudicial to her client. His world was coming apart, she told the judge, and he became so stressed out he went into a disassociative state. She has lined up experts to testify that Yager was not sane when he slashed Melinda’s throat. The trial is set to begin Tuesday, Feb. 27. The district attorney’s office anticipates jury selection will take the first three to four days. A total of three weeks have been aside for the trial.
Libraries forgive fines
Meet candidates
Suicide conversation
Wednesday, Feb. 28, is the final day of Library Lovers Month and it is fine forgiveness day. If you have not shown your library love yet in February, then this is the day. Find and return your lost library items, in good condition, during the month of February, and have your overdue fines cleared during this onetime, countywide, fine forgiveness day. Items must be returned by Feb. 28. Fees will not be cleared for items that are not returned. Fines begin accruing per Delta County Libraries’ borrowing policies on March 1.
The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce is providing an opportunity for Delta voters to get acquainted with city council candidates Nathan Clay, Kevin Carlson and Jay Stooksberry. A candidate forum is scheduled Thursday, March 1, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Delta Performing Arts Center. Audience members will have an opportunity to submit written questions to the event moderator, and each candidate will have an opportunity to respond.
Join fellow community members at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Bill Heddles Recreation Center for a forum entitled “Community Conversations on Suicide.” This community meeting is hosted by the Safety, Education & Wellness (SEW) Coalition, which consists of partnerships between the Delta County School District, the Center for Mental Health, Delta Police Department, Delta County Sheriff’s Office, A Kidz Clinic, Delta County Memorial Hospital, Delta County Health & Human Services, and numerous faithbased organizations. Be the connection to spread HOPE, HELP, and STRENGTH in all corners of our community.