Delta County Independent, March 21, 2018 by Delta County Independent

NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

A HOME RUN

BACK TO ITS ROOTS

GOCO grant makes dream of Hotchkiss fields a reality, B1

SPORTS HOSTS FINISH THIRD

Resurrection Land Cruisers is back in business in Austin, C1

Delta Invitational draws 14 track and field teams, C6-8

DELTA COUNTY

MARCH 21, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 12

75¢

INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

ENGAGE pursues ag partnerships BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

The sweeping scope of the ENGAGE initative — a combination of programming intended to promote energy, agriculture and entrepreneurship, along with a physical presence in Delta, is proving to be a lot to bite off. Technical College of the Rockies is spearheading this initiative with support from the school district, Delta County Economic Development, the City of Delta, Delta County and Region 10. The ENGAGE initiative was the result of an extensive study conducted by Better City that examined how to capitalize on Delta County’s assets to spur economic growth. As part of the focus on agriculture — production, manufacturing and export — and under the umbrella of the Technical College of the Rockies, the study proposed a culinary arts program. To make that program a reality, a commercial kitchen was to be included in the renovation of the former City Market

store at 6th and Main. But as Michael Klouser, TCR director, and Shawn Gardner, ENGAGE Center director, discussed the realities of the building renovation with school district administrators, they realized any new offering at the technical college would require in-depth study prior to implementation. While the commercial kitchen, culinary arts program and a retail and food distribution center were projected as the biggest revenue producers in the Better City study, they also carry the biggest risks. So to fully utilize the 26,000square-foot vacant building, TCR is proposing to move health sciences classes downtown, along with the business classes and auto CAD courses originally envisioned to give the technical college a downtown presence. The building will also eventually house tech support for the entire school district, office space and business incubation services from ENGAGE staff, Delta County Economic ENGAGE TO A3

Photo by Pat Sunderland

Friendly competition

The annual matchup between the Delta Globe Trotters, the local Special Olympics Team, and first responders is a much anticipated event every spring. After they’d worked up an appetite on the basketball court, participants were served dinner. Pictured with the Special Olympians are firefighters Fred Kraai and Daniel Cano.

DMS students weigh in on construction BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

A major construction project at Delta Middle School is providing learning opportunities for the school’s sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. Delta County Joint School District #50 obtained a BEST grant for the project, which will include replacement of the cafeteria and the sixth grade wing on the south edge of the campus. A new structure to be attached to the main building will include classrooms, a band/choir room and cafeteria. The first phase of the

project will involve demolition of the sixth grade wing and remodel of the second floor of the old middle/high school to temporarily house sixth grade students for the 201819 school year. In conjunction with the project, the school district is reconfiguring the campus layout to maximize student safety. A single, secure entrance, new bus loop, parent dropoff/ pickup area and parking area are in the works. With relocation of the bus loop and parking lot, the area between the gym and main DMS building will be left open for a court-

yard. The school’s eighth grade students were tasked with creating scenarios for an outdoor learning center that would ideally incorporate some type of renewable energy. They also came up with suggestions for landscaping. A total of 55 Algebra I students from James McHugh’s class worked on the assignment, and in teams presented their ideas to school administrators and a representative from Kissner G.C., which was awarded the bid for construction. A handful of students

were also invited to present their ideas at the March 15 school board meeting. With models in hand, they pointed out the features they came up with — an amphiteater, pond, river, greenhouse, grow boxes, bike pumps, digital weather station, solar panels and wind turbines. As the students outlined design features, infrastructure requirements and costs, it was evident they’d put a great deal of thought into their proposals. Several incorporated recycled bricks from the sixth grade wing into their designs.

A volunteer group of students known as Gang Green would be tasked with maintenance — watering the flowers in the flower boxes, feeding the fish in the pond, keeping trash picked up and protecting against vandalism. “I am honored for you guys to let us have a say in this, and not just doing it yourselves,” said Aiden Hutto. The eighth grader worked with his dad, a contractor, to scale his model with AutoCAD. “It’s cool how we got to use our creative side to put CONSTRUCTION TO A3

Paonia contingent demands reinstatement of Sanborn BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer

Photo by Pat Sunderland

Sydney Gerle, Aiden Hutto, Luke Hutto, Oaklee Hughes, Melania McCormick, Kurtis Nethington, Emma Wise and Mia Yost represented the Delta Middle School Algebra I students who came up with proposals for an outdoor learning center. With a major construction project on the horizon at DMS, students were given an opportunity for real-world problem solving. Above, they outline their ideas for an outdoor amphitheater.

INDEX

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Back Page ................... D8 Business .......................A10 Church ........................... D4 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D2-3 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ...................B4-5 School Zone .................. A5 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ..........................C6-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-3 TV Listings ..................C4-5

At their March 5 meeting Commissioners Doug Atchley, Mark Roeber and Don Suppes made two appointments to the county planning commission. Steve Shea was reappointed for a three-year term. Jen Sanborn’s three-year term had expired and Lucinda Stanley was appointed to that vacant seat. Sanborn lives in Midway; Stanley lives in Cedaredge. When the county planning commission met on March 7 a group of North Fork residents attended the meeting claiming the North Fork had lost its representation on the planning commission and demanded that Sanborn be reinstated, at least for the

10 months remaining in the Master Plan update. Planning commission chairman Bob Stechert devoted the first 30 minutes of the meeting to addressing the North Fork residents’ questions. Stechert explained that the appointments to the planning commission are the responsibility of the Board of County Commissioners. A year ago, the county commissioners, in order to balance representation on the planning commission across the county, decided there would be equal representation from each of the three commissioner districts. They determined that, as terms expired, they would fill some of those empty seats with new members from areas not then represented.

The North Fork residents resisted that explanation. Stechert told them the planning commission did not make the appointments; the county commissioners made the appointments. They would need to take their complaints to the commissioners. At the March 19 meeting of the county commissioners, the North Fork residents arrived in force. Five of them spoke to the commissioners during constituent time. There was applause after their comments and some residents called out comments while North Fork residents and commissioners were speaking. Jen Sanborn, the first to speak, said she felt disrespected. She had participated SANBORN TO A3

Seed ready to plant

BHRC turns 25

Yager case goes to jury

Did you know that Delta County Libraries offers a seed library countywide? Beginning in March, patrons can start checking out seeds to grow their gardens! The seed library, which originated as a pilot program out of the Hotchkiss Library in 2013, has been steadily growing to reach patrons countywide. Seeds donated by local patrons are sorted and packaged and ready for spring. Contact or visit any of the five libraries in Delta County to learn more.

Bill Heddles Recreation Center is celebrating 25 years in the Delta community. The facility opened at 531 N. Palmer Street on March 27, 1993. On the anniversary of that date, which falls on a Tuesday, admission will be free during the recreation center’s regular hours, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. You’re invited to celebrate with the staff. Snacks and door prizes will be offered throughout the day. The celebration will continue throughout the year. Watch the DCI for details about upcoming events.

After a lunch break on Tuesday, jurors began deliberations in the case of Nathan Yager, the Paonia man charged with second degree murder in brutal slaying of his wife Melinda in January 2011. Yager has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, which means prosecutors must not only prove he’s guilty of the crime, but also that he was sane at the time. The jury was also provided with a third option — that the act was provoked and sudden, conducted in the heat of passion. The Yagers were in the midst of divorce proceedings when Nathan brutally slashed Melinda’s neck, a fact that’s never been disputed. Updates will be posted to the DCI Facebook page.

A2 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

OPINION

LETTERS Let’s end the debate and put marijuana to a vote Dear Editor: Scott Schaible wrote an alarming amount of conjecture and misinformation about me in his most recent letter to the editor. In fact, there are so many fallacious, misinformed, and disrespectful claims that I am not entirely certain that I can respond to each of them — but I will certainly do my best. First and foremost, Scott Schaible does not speak for “the entire community” as he claims to. I think that it is more than apparent that there are some major disagreements within our community on the issue of marijuana sales, cultivation and production in City of Delta. And I have one simple solution to solve this silly debate (which, of course, he ignored in his letter): put it to a vote. The City of Delta’s current ordinance ban on marijuana was codified without a vote of the people. Let’s end this ridiculous back-and-forth by putting the issue on the ballot. Only then will we know what city residents truly believe. Next, the claim that I think “money is more important than our children” offends me deeply — both as a citizen and as a parent. Does youth drug use worry me? Certainly. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t

have dedicated so much of my time and energy contributing to Boys & Girls Clubs as a donor, an employee, and a volunteer. As a youth development professional with over a decade of relevant experience and a proud, doting father, I care deeply about young people. To claim otherwise is putting words in my mouth and borderline libelous. All I did during the candidate forum was cite a Colorado Public Health and Environment report that stated that drug use amongst young people has remained “relatively unchanged” since Colorado legalized marijuana. (The report is available here: https://www.colo rado.gov/pacific/sites/ default/files/PF_Youth_ HKCS-Exec-Summary2015.pdf) I also cited other peerreviewed research, which is the exact opposite of “stats to reflect their opinion” as characterized by Mr. Schaible. It’s not my fault that I came prepared to the event with evidence and facts, and his candidate of choice didn’t. Next, Schaible attempts to smear me as being unconcerned about the negative impacts of marijuana, because I did not attend his forum on Feb. 26. If that were true, then it would seem that I

am not alone in this characterization; according to the Delta County Independent, his event “drew a sparse crowd.” Either many City of Delta residents also don’t care about the negative impacts of marijuana (which would be an unfair generalization) or perhaps the event was poorly advertised. (I would argue the latter.) I learned about the event with very short notice and I already had a conflict in my schedule. To borrow Mr. Schaible’s flawed logic, I have never seen him attend any Chamber of Commerce events (like Business After Hours), so is it safe to assume that he doesn’t care about small businesses in Delta? No, that would be a ridiculous assumption on my part. Unlike Mr. Schaible, I understand that we cannot be everywhere all the time. I would encourage Mr. Schaible to stick to the facts, keep his gloves up, and stop pretending that he knows what’s best for the public — many of whom don’t share his narrow-minded opinions. More importantly, I would encourage all voters to get out and cast their vote in this election. Jay Stooksberry City Council Candidate, At-Large Delta

Jay Stooksberry will get the job done for Delta Dear Editor: I remember one of my favorite teachers in high school talking to a small group of students one day about politics. I remember saying, with all the wisdom and authority of an 18-yearold, “I’m voting for suchand-such — he’s a great politician.” And Mrs. Lillard replied, “Well, if you want a good politician, then by all means vote for him. But if you want a good person, someone who will actually solve problems, don’t ever vote for a good politician. Vote for the guy who is not a good politician.” Jay Stooksberry is not a politician. A politician tells you what you want to hear and then tells the next guy what he wants to hear, too, even if those two things are polar opposites. Jay will not tell you what you want to hear, and that’s a good thing. With him, you know exactly where he stands. If elected to the Delta City Council, you can be sure that Jay will not tell you one thing on the street or in the coffee shop, and then change his tune during a council meeting when the reporters are in attendance. I trust him to tell me the truth, even when I disagree with him. He takes the time to thoroughly and conscientiously research and dig up information about issues he is pursuing. I don’t get a lot of hot air and rhetoric with Jay, and that is refreshing in this day and age. Delta needs to hear the voice of its citizens, all of its citizens. And while no one candidate can reasonably proclaim to be the voice of all of its citizens — that’s a politician and we don’t want a politician after all — I do believe Jay has a handle on a clear picture of who our community is. And what he doesn’t know or understand, I trust him to learn about, instead of assuming the majority of us share his opinions or values. I trust him to work with the community, instead of telling the community what he thinks is best. I have worked with him in a variety of roles for the past several years. He has poured me a beer at CB’s Tavern, and he

knows what it takes to support a family in this town. When my board of directors and I were building the new facility of the Abraham Connection Homeless Shelter and we came across some stumbling blocks, Jay was someone that I turned to for guidance and assistance. He came through, no questions asked, expecting nothing in return — he simply offered his help. We’ve volunteered together for different organizations, and in each project I’ve found Jay to be dedicated to the task at hand — he is not the person who shows up because it looks good for his resume to be involved. He shows up to work, to help, to give back, to put his money where his mouth is, because in a small community, it does take all hands on deck to make a difference, and he gets that. I’ve also worked with him many times in a professional setting, and I’ve found him to be competent, capable, willing to listen and most importantly, willing to sit down, get to work, and get the job done.

I believe change starts right here at home, at the grassroots level. There is little I can do about what is happening in my country and in this world, but what I can do is vote for someone for my local city council who I believe will be fair, honest, dedicated, and willing to work, who will put the time in and who will make the smart, informed decisions that need to be made. I believe he has the intelligence and drive to do this job. He’s not a paper pusher — he is going to challenge things that don’t make sense and he’s going to question the status quo. Instead of sitting back on his heels and waiting for someone to bring information and ideas to him, Jay is the kind of person who will go out and find solutions. Residents of Delta, you have a choice to make. I do not know Jay’s opponent, but I do know that Jay is the kind of guy I want as a voice for Delta. He is someone I believe can effect positive change for Delta. I hope you agree, and will cast your vote for Jay Stooksberry. Kami Collins Delta

Stooksberry cares about Delta Dear Editor: Jay Stooksberry’s service to this community shows his commitment and dedication to the success of Delta. Jay tirelessly worked with Region 10 to help gain grant funding and other funding used for broadband development and small business support. He has worked with the Black Canyon Boys and Girls Club in Montrose. Jay is an active donor of money and time to several local charities, including the Black Canyon Animal Sanctuary. Jay was also actively involved with the Business Improvement District. Currently Jay is the vice chair of the City of Delta Planning Commission. Jay is an intelligent man of strong character and if he believes in something, he is not afraid to present a concept which some people may disagree with. A good example of this is retail cannabis. Jay feels this would

be a good financial boost for the city, and is asking the citizens and city council to consider this as an option. I don’t see this as a personal agenda, I see it as a subject he is asking the public and city council to research and consider all the options. After consideration, if the answer is “no,” at least it is an informed response. I work closely with Jay as a director with the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce and am very impressed with his clear thinking and his concise decision-making process. Jay always keeps the “good of the whole” in the forefront. I have never seen Jay place his personal agenda on the table. To me, this is one of the most important traits of a true leader. Jay Stooksberry has shown that he deeply cares about Delta. Your vote for Jay Stooksberry is a vote for Delta. Nancy Wood Hotchkiss

Delta County Independent

Miner’s statue renovation poorly planned Dear Editor: Although I believe that the renovation of the miner’s memorial corner of the Paonia Park is long overdue, I do have three major concerns regarding the committee’s ambitious plans. First, I feel that the town council set a bad precedent by waiving the “request for bid” requirement for the metal arch. This opens the door for blatant cronyism where any trustee can favor their “friend” regardless of cost. The town manager assured me that the proposed cost ($5,000) for the arch was very low. However, I think the town should have requested

bids from other artists. Maybe other artists could have come up with a lower bid with an arch plan that would better complement the memorial statue. Second, I strongly feel that the committee should have hired a landscape architect to form a cohesive plan for the miner’s corner. With the help of a volunteer landscape architect, Poulos Park on Grand Avenue went from an ugly patchy lawn to one with tables, trees and a path. The committee does not have an overall cohesive plan and their seat-ofthe-pants plan changes with every committee meeting. There is going

to be a lot of concrete poured for that memorial corner. Part of that is for a 40-inch-tall wall that is deliberately designed so that people cannot sit on it and enjoy view of the park and the statue. Why not have a lower, less obstructive wall so money is not wasted on more benches? Third, instead of fixing the granite Melvina Hall Clark Memorial Fountain (1926) so that it works, the committee wants to shove it to one side. Why bother? The location of the planned arch would nicely frame the fountain from both sides. Karen Fogg Paonia

Vote yes on Paonia sales tax increase Dear Editor: When I was elected to the Paonia Town Board in 2014, it was the first board that did not include any trustees present during the Chesnik debacle. The only board member left from the Chesnik era was former mayor, Neal Schwieterman. It was also the first board to hire a town administrator in eight years. During 2014 and 2015, there were substantial changes made to how the town operated. The town stopped paying overtime to exempt, salaried employees. The former chief of police was no longer allowed to live rent free in town owned property. One of two pensions for police officers was eliminated. Overpaid staff were either removed or left. The number of town employees was reduced from 19 to 15. Controls were put in place where every town transaction is reviewed by the finance officer, the town administrator, the finance committee and the town board. Most importantly, economic discipline was imposed on the town. The town has had two boards that have cut costs wherever reasonably possible. In 2012, the town received $102,384.68 in severance taxes and mineral leasing revenue. Since 2012, two of three local mines have closed. In 2017, the town received just $16,920.30 in severance taxes and mineral leasing revenue, a reduction of $85,464.38. Sever-

ance taxes and mineral leasing revenue help fund the town’s general fund. The general fund pays for police, streets, parks, and general administration. Because of the discipline of the town’s administrator, finance officer, treasurer, and department heads, the town’s general fund spending for 2017 was within $3,500 of what was budgeted. The general fund budget for 2018 is $581,149. It is the first time since I have been on the board that the general fund budget is less than $600,000. To provide basic services, the town needs to pay its bills. The revenue the town once received from severance taxes and mineral leasing must be replaced. As costs con-

tinue to rise, a sales tax increase from 2 to 3 percent is necessary. A sales tax of 3 percent is not high. Delta has a sales tax of 3 percent. Montrose has a sale tax of 3.0 percent. Erie has a sales tax of 3.5 percent. Fort Morgan and Rocky Ford have a sales tax of 4 percent. I am not a fan of tax increases and I believe that they should be requested only when expenses have been reduced as much as possible. Over the last four years, the town board has done just that. Good government must be properly funded. Vote yes on Town of Paonia Referred Measure 2G. Charles Stewart Mayor Town of Paonia

Learn about your candidates Dear Editor: The North Fork Valley is in the midst of local elections. The results of what might not seem like such a “big deal” can determine whether our towns will continue operating with forward progress or be trapped again trying to operate with council opponents throwing roadblocks on every issue at every meeting. Paonia has 10 candidates for four positions. After reading the interviews published in last week’s DCI (still available online at deltacounty independent.com), I am

both amazed and somewhat disappointed. Among the candidates, we have hardworking and proven public servants, some single issue “arts and grants” folks, a candidate who quit mid-term rather than face censure and two men who haven’t been bothered to even attend town meetings. I would encourage ALL Paonia voters to read about the candidates and then I further encourage choosing candidates with a proven record of service to the town. Jakki Taylor Paonia

Brunner responds to mayor’s complaints Dear Editor: Here is my account of events preceding the Paonia Town Council’s threat to discipline me. Mayor Stewart, Mr. Bradford and another trustee

New ranch owners are open and welcoming Dear Editor: In these days of negative news, it is encouraging to experience a truly positive event in our area. This was the case at the complimentary lunch served last Saturday by the new owners of the Hart’s Basin Ranch. We were very impressed by the welcome, organization, service and food quality and quantity that Mike Higuera and his fellow owners provided for all those that showed up at the ranch. They provided scores of people from Telluride to Grand Junction with a memorable lunch catered by Zach’s Barbecue. The new owners were readily available and more than willing to answer your questions. It was a very positive event and we should all be thankful to the new Hart Ranch owners who promise they will keep this beautiful area like it is for future generations to enjoy as we have. Thanks to Mike and all the folks at Hart Ranch for making our day. Dave Pipkin Orchard City

decided to abandon the road looping Creek Vista and Pan American Avenues, leaving both streets dead ends without a turnaround. This was never discussed in public and is very poor civic planning. Their deal with Hawk’s Haven was not presented to the rest of the board until just before a legal deadline where the town lost all leverage. Not voting for this “deal” risked losing everything, including access through the Green Gate to Mt. Jumbo. Later I confronted these gentlemen over their use of email that violated the open meetings law to communicate about those negotiations. The discussion included Mr. Bradford lunging across the room and leaning over a table to bellow threats and insults into the face of a woman barely half his size. This was in executive session, an hour after passing a code of conduct. Executive session is reserved for six narrowly defined areas of town business. Bullying and violations of the open meetings law are not included. Mr. Stewart’s board was retaliating against me for publicly objecting to secret emails and overt bullying. I believe town manager Jane Berry made “unorthodox” changes to Paonia’s books with the consent of Misters Bradford, Stewart and King. I asked the auditor to address recent changes I believe were at least partially intended to “undo” some of Ms. Berry’s changes. I am disappointed they were not squarely addressed. These gentlemen have again hired the

same overpriced auditor without a competitive bid. One could almost wonder if they are reluctant to let an independent auditor see the town’s books. Misters King and Stewart want to sell the North Fork Airport. The mayor attempted to brand me with a conflict of interest to prevent me from speaking in favor of keeping it. He falsely accused me of owning a hangar and keeping an airplane there. I do have an aircraft, a lowly glider. It has never been based at the airport. I have never had an interest in any hangar. The glider is kept in a trailer on private property. I do not understand their obsession with selling the airport. It costs the town nothing, is managed by the county and is largely funded by the state. It brings in people who contribute to the local economy and is useful in emergencies. The airport is simply not a burden on the Town of Paonia. Enough. It’s time to vote. For a more full rebuttal of Mr. Stewart’s complaints, I’m in the phone book. Bill Brunner Paonia DELTA COUNTY

INDEPENDENT DELTA COUNTY INDEPENDENT (UPS 152-700) is published weekly on Wednesdays at 401 Meeker St., Delta, CO 81416. Second class postage paid at DELTA, CO. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: DELTA COUNTY INDEPENDENT, PO BOX 809, DELTA, CO 81416 401 Meeker St. Delta, CO 81416 (970) 874-4421

LOCAL NEWS

Delta County Independent

Sanborn FROM PAGE A1 diligently in the Master Plan update and was committed to the ongoing work. She said she had received no mention of the action taken by the commissioners on March 5. Had there been some discussion in advance, steps could have been taken to avoid the response from the North Fork. Mary Jursinovic said she was disturbed that the commissioners did not reappoint Jen Sanborn to serve through to completion of the update. She urged the commissioners to reinstate Sanborn. JoAnn Kalenak said making appointments to the planning commission is a public process and the commissioners did not explain their decision regarding the two recent appointments in an open process. Natasha Leger went over planning area maps with the commissioners. She said representation on the planning commission should be from each of the five planning areas. She said the seat held by Steve Shea, representing the Delta area, should be eliminated, Sanborn reappointed, and the appointment of Stanley rescinded. Andrew Forkes-Gudmunson said the Upper North Fork seat is warranted because the major-

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ity of oil and gas activity is in that area; the Master Plan is a guiding document and eliminating the North Fork representative eliminates the voice of the North Fork. He agreed with Leger to eliminate the seat from Delta. Commissioner chairman Doug Atchley thanked the North Fork residents for coming to share their thoughts and concerns with the commissioners. “I also want to make it clear that we deeply appreciate the time that Jen Sanborn committed to the planning commission and to the Master Plan update. Jen is a tremendous asset to the county and her contribution to the Master Plan process is appreciated by everyone,” Atchley said. “I don’t think we can adequately show our gratitude to Jen or the other planning commission members. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty to develop what we hope is our soonto-be-adopted Master Plan.” Atchley emphasized, “We want to make it very clear to each of you that the decision to shift the planning commission seat from the Paonia area was not to silence Paonia. “Frankly, assumptions are being made about what our intentions are, and I want you to know I appreciate that you came here today so we can talk about it and you can hear for yourselves what we hope to accomplish, instead of relying on misinformation being presented to you. “You are being told that we have made these changes in violation of the planning commission bylaws,” Atchley continued. “This is incorrect information. The county commissioners created those bylaws to provide guidance to the planning commission as to how we would like them to operate. “The bylaws bind the planning commission members, not the commissioners. Instead, the commissioners are bound by Colorado State Statutes, which allow us to determine the make-up of the planning commission and to appoint members to the planning commission. State statutes also state that planning commissioners will be appointed to a term of three years.” Atchley explained that a year ago there were seven members on the planning commission. Four of those members were from the greater North Fork area, two

Construction ��

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FROM PAGE A1 our vision together,” said Emma Wise. The seventh graders are working on cost estimates for classroom furnishings, and sixth grade math students are doing calculations for the parking area. “This has been a great opportunity for our students to use realworld math,” said Sheryl Yeager, DMS principal. “Although you’re moving on to high school next year, you’ll always know you had a part in building this addition,” superintendent Caryn Gibson told the students. “We’ll surely take your ideas under advisement,” said school board president Pete Blair. “Maybe some of them will happen, maybe not, but you’ve had input.”

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from the Delta area and one from the Cedaredge/ Orchard City area. The county commissioners (BOCC) considered that an unfair balance to residents of the county living outside the North Fork. The BOCC adopted a plan to balance the representation on the planning commission, with equal representation from each of the three BOCC districts. The commissioners increased the size of the planning commission by two, for a total of nine representatives. They added a new member from Delta and one from Cedaredge. The North Fork area still had four representatives. Planning commission members became concerned that the BOCC might remove one of them to strike the balance. The planning commission proposed that the balance be achieved through expiring terms and attrition. Sanborn’s term was the next to expire. Atchley emphasized to the North Fork residents, “We are at the end of the Master Plan update process and about to begin land use regulations update. This group of commissioners believes it is critically important that we reach a countywide balance on the planning commission before we begin land use discussions, and this is our opportunity to achieve that balance because of how state statutes work. “There are three planning commissioners from the greater North Fork area. They are charged with representing not only your voice moving forward but also to think about what is best for the entire county. “I assure you that the concerns you share are well represented on the planning commission by Tony Prendergast, Bob Stechert and Kim Shay. “If you don’t know these three individuals, get to know them. “And to that end, get to know us. Come to our meetings. Read our minutes so you benefit from the entire conversation, and not just the selective pieces that are shared with you through social media,” Atchley concluded.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Sheriff’s office recovers stolen items, makes arrests

In a matter of six days Delta County Sheriff ’s Office investigators were able to solve two burglaries and one attempted burglary in Delta County. On March 7, deputies responded to a burglary of a residence on 1800 Road in the Delta area where multiple items including guns, food and jewelry were stolen during daylight hours, while the homeowner was at work. That same evening deputies took a report from a homeowner in Peach Valley stating she had video of suspects attempting to break into her home. The homeowner was out of town at the time, but had a security system with audio and video that proved to be very helpful in the investigation.

Investigators were quickly able to obtain leads and generate suspects. They obtained a search warrant for a residence located at 748 Grand Avenue in Delta. Investigators located several items that were reported stolen from the home on 1800 Road. Two suspects, Daniel Duran, 34, and Kristi Duran, 32, were arrested for burglary, a class 4 felony, and theft, a class 6 felony. On March 10, both suspects were released on $1,500 bonds. On March 13, deputies responded to a burglary at a residence on 25 Mesa Road west of Delta. Suspects broke into the home during daylight hours and stole several guns, food, jewelry and other mis-

cellaneous items. Delta County investigators once again responded to 748 Grand Avenue and were able to recover several items stolen from the 25 Mesa home. Investigators also located other items they believe were stolen from prior burglaries in Delta County. Charges are pending at this time. In a press release issued this week, Undersheriff Mark Taylor said, “The sheriff ’s office takes every crime seriously and does everything possible to solve these cases. However when guns are involved it brings an extra element of seriousness to the investigation. Keeping guns out of the criminal element and providing public safety is our number one concern.”

innovators and industry leaders will be invited to an exchange of ideas with local innovators. “There are a lot of ideas at play,” Gardner said. “We’re trying to figure out who’s doing what and what we can legitimately help make happen.” To put some focus on what TCR can accomplish, RPI Consulting has been engaged to help the technical college identify programs with “clear, deliverable results.” The design of the City Market building, and

how programs will fit into that space, continue to be a topic of discussion. Grants are funding a portion of the schematic design, but additional funds will have to be secured for the next phase of construction documents, and eventually for construction itself. It will be a number of years before TCR begins offering classes downtown, but the core mission of ENGAGE continues to be the development of an “entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

ENGAGE FROM PAGE A1 Development and the Small Business Development Center. Agriculture remains a major focus of the ENGAGE initiative, but is being approached a bit differently, with the use of commercial kitchens already up and running throughout the county. Barry Pennell has been hired as ag coordinator to facilitate this process. Gardner said Pennell and his wife moved to Paonia specifically because of the food scene, and themselves have ventured into value-added food manufacturing — a primary focus of ENGAGE. Pennell is also a former partner in Edesia, a commercial kitchen in Paonia that has entered into partnership with TCR. Pennell’s role is threefold, Gardner said. He will nurture kitchen incubators where food entrepreneurs can establish their own businesses. He’s also tasked with the creation, development and expansion of a food distribution channel, an effort that he will coordinate with regional efforts underway with IQF Research, Farm Runners and the Grand Junction Incubator. Third, Pennell, Gardner and Delta County Economic Development are organizing an ag conference, where outside

A4 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

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ACCENT

BIRTH

Elks serve meal to 103 seniors

Sara and Coley Wondra of Hotchkiss are the parents of a daughter, Maxine Ann Wondra, born March 14, 2018, at Delta County Memorial Hospital. She weighed 6 pounds, 14.9 ounces and was 19.25 inches in length.

Sure and begorrah, a little bit of Ireland came to Delta, as 103 seniors enjoyed a free St. Patrick’s holiday meal on Thursday, March 15, at the Delta Senior Center (DSC). The meal was the first this year sponsored by the Delta Elks Lodge #1235, through a grant from the Grand Lodge, part of the Elks National Foundation. The menu featured corned beef and cabbage, cheese mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, homemade roll, and a brownie, with a drink. The meals were delivered to tables by volunteering Elks members Doug Eades, Bruce and Joan Schmoldt, and Judy Conklin. An old Irish phrase says, May your home always be too small to hold all your friends. That almost came true as the senior center dining room was full to the brim with those who wanted to enjoy the traditional meal a couple days ahead of the actual holiday. “We appreciated the large crowd, and it looked like everyone enjoyed it,” Doug Eades, an Elks volunteer, said. “We enjoyed being there. We at the Elks are always looking

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Delta County Independent

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for opportunities to give back to the community. Our motto is ‘Elks Care, Elks Share.’ ” Although the food was sponsored by the Elks, it was cooked and prepared by the Delta Senior Center cooks, who volunteer to prepare meals on Tuesdays and Thurs-

days. They were Thom Wheeler, JoAnn Hatch and Arlette Black, plus the DSC volunteers who assisted the cooks with plating the Elks meal. The board of directors of Delta Senior Citizens, Inc., and the patrons of the Delta Senior Center wish to thank the Delta

Elks for their support of local seniors in this special event, which brought the luck of the Irish to Delta. The Elks also plan to sponsor a free meal for seniors age 60+, in May, for the Memorial Day holiday, with the exact date to be announced later.

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Corned beef and cabbage meal tray is presented to one of the 103 diners by Elks member Joan Schmoldt at the March 15 luncheon at the Delta Senior Center.

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Photo by Pat Sunderland

Ofﬁcers installed

PEO Chapter GT/Delta ofﬁcers for 2018-2019 were installed Thursday, March 1, at the Delta United Methodist Church. Pictured are (left to right): Pauline Carr, president; Bonnie Miller, treasurer; Claudia King, vice president; Nelda Barnes, recording secretary; Chris Vance, corresponding secretary, Diane Thaemert, chaplain; and Martha Shuss, guard. PEO is a Philanthropic Educational Organization giving scholarships to women.

Collaboration improves mobility for 22-year-old Delta resident Mobility is often taken for granted. But being mobile allows a person to learn, interact with others, acquire medical care and participate in the community. Often, mobility solutions that worked as a child do not work for adults. This is the case for Elier Quintero, a 22year-old Delta resident and Delta High School graduate. His family’s van was not only unreliable, it could no longer accommodate his growth and provide the access needed to position him safely in the vehicle. With a concerted effort of multiple agencies, funding was acquired to

convert a Dodge Caravan for Elier and his family. The new van gives Elier access for church, leisure and medical activities. Elier and his family wish to thank the following agencies that made the van conversion possible: A.V. Hunter Trust, Inc., is a private foundation dedicated to helping those less fortunate, providing donations to Colorado nonprofit organizations and individuals in need. In 1924, the philanthropist A.V. Hunter established this endowment upon his death. His mission was “... to give aid, comfort, support or assistance to children, or aged people or indigent adults ...” Friends of Man,

whose mission is to provide help to those in need who have exhausted other resources and who meet the requirements for support on a case-by-case basis. Friends of Man is a charitable organization run by volunteers and relies on the donations of others to serve people of all ages, primarily in Colorado. Community Options, Inc., provides comprehensive services to individuals and their families who have developmental disabilities. This organization is committed to helpng individuals lead a full and integrated life in their community. It assisted Elier in acquiring the Medicaid HCBS - Supported Living Services Waiver, which was

able to contribute some funding for the van conversion. Mobility Driven, a Grand Junction firm that specializes in adaptive driving equipment. The firm incorporated a wide, motorized ramp that extends from the rear door of the van. Elier’s mother, Irene Caraveo, can push Elier’s wheelchair up the ramp and into position between two rear seats. Elier faces forward with his wheelchair locked firmly in place. There’s plenty of room for his 8-year-old sister Evelyn and a couple of friends. “We are very excited to have a vehicle to transport Elier in,” his mother said. “The community’s help is so appreciated!”

Dinner supports mission trip Seventeen people from Delta United Methodist Church are preparing to travel to Baton Rouge May 6-12 to help people restore their homes after Hurricane Harvey. They look forward to being the hands and feet of Christ. To raise funds for their trip, they are planning a gumbo dinner, made with chicken and sausage, as a fundraiser. The dinner will be held Saturday, March 24, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Delta United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 5th and Meeker. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for chilPhoto by Pat Sunderland dren under 12. Elier Quintero is pictured with the van conversion that makes it possible for Come early to view him to access church, leisure and medical activities. Also pictured are his and bid on items in the mother, Irene Caraveo, and Randi Latham (left), a case manager with Comsilent auction. munity Options.

SCHOOL

Delta County Independent

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

DMS provides drone footage for road crews he reached out to Delta County Emergency Management for assistance with recording changes on a hillside above the Gunnison River. To accomplish this task, Record and emergency manager Jeff Wright realized they would either need a drone

or to go out on a boat to view the hillside from the river. Delta County District 1 “In planning for the Road and Bridge foreman next large disaster or Larry Record has kept a incident, emergency manclose eye on a section of agement builds relationDominguez Canyon Road ships and cultivates spethat’s susceptible to erocialists in different fields sion. who we can call on during About a month ago, an incident,” Wright said. “One of these is the Delta County School District.” He was aware Delta Middle School had a drone capable of recording and taking pictures, so he called science teacher Evan Cummings. Cummings lined up three eighth graders, Edgar Olivas, Jose Renteria and Tyler Deuschle, self-taught drone pilots. While they have experimented with drones, the field trip to the Dominguez Canyon was their first “official mission.” Keeping the drone stable during flight is the biggest challenge because it requires a lot of focus, the students said. The Photo submitted drone they used to take The Delta Middle School students monitor the photos of the hillside ﬂight of their drone. featured a GoPro camera with a remote feed, so they could view their footage and reposition the drone as needed. Record said the video will prove very useful. Wright added his appreciation to Cummings and the DMS students. He said technology like the drone can help the county in many ways, both during large disasters and to solve everyday problems within different departments. “The whole mission was a success,” said Cummings. “We appreciate the opportunity to take these

BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Photo submitted

Tyler Dueschle, Jose Renteria and Edgar Olivas, with their science teacher, prepare to send a drone into the sky to help the county track changes on a steep hillside in Dominguez Canyon.

Photo submitted

HOSA competitors

Delta High School’s HOSA, a club for future health professionals, competed at the State Leadership Conference Feb. 22-24. The team of Claire Corbasson, Caleb Frazier, Sameh Haque, John Holgate and Mimi Lousignont placed second in parliamentary procedure and the team of Oceana Bergholtz, Taylor Bess, Peyton Schuster and Samantha Wollert placed second in creative problem solving. They qualiﬁed for national competition in Dallas, Texas, this June. The team of KC Carlson, Allison Davis and Lily Tindall placed fourth in creative problem solving.

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boys out and put their skills to use in a real-life situation.” Olivas, Renteria and Deuschle say they taught themselves to fly drones during “Genius Hour,” a class for bright kids with a desire to learn new things. Many of the students in this class are from the gifted and talented program, and are allowed to choose a topic

of interest for in-depth study. During a recent class, topics included anatomy, the Civil War from the south’s perspective, the Manhattan Project, the band 21 Pilots, forensic science and computer-generated imagery. The class concludes with a half-hour presentation from each student. “I think that the more we can build partnerships

Students of the Month

where students get to see the real world application of what they are learning in school, the better,” Cummings said. “I’m all about connecting kids with positive role models in the community and giving them those experiences that will help them to find out their unique talents and passions, and finally to realize their personal mission in life.”

Photos submitted

Delta Middle School students recently recognized Students of the Month for February. Pictured above (left to right) are sixth graders Caleb Weams, David Lucero, Vandi Horn, Anna Weaver, Zoey Shean, Hania Garcia, Andrew Priestly and Kenneth Gleason. Below are seventh/eighth graders (front row, left to right) Caitlyn Merriman, Jaylena Gibson, Chelsea Cross, Garrett Cannon, Jacob Hancock, Bernardo Mejia, Emiliano Blanco and Alberto Lujano; (back row) Nathan Scharnhorst, Brandon Hendricks, Alexandra Gaona, Jillian Carlson, Zorida Cotten, Alondra Gallegos and Otto Fender.

A6 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

LOCAL NEWS

Delta County Independent

County partners in local projects BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer

During their March 19 meeting, county commissioners Doug Atchley, Mark Roeber and Don Suppes signed sev-

eral documents related to their participation in regional and local projects. ENGAGE. Commissioners signed a memorandum of understand-

MARCH 29TH SMALL ACREAGE PASTURE PASTUREGRASSES GRASSES

Speaker, John Rizza, CSU Extension Small Acreage Specialist�. It has become increasingly apparent that there is a significant need for educational and hands-on demonstrations related to irrigated and dryland (drought resistant) pasture establishment, renovation, and management for small acreage landowners. Encouraged by the increasing demand and need for quality pasture and hay, small acreage landowners are interested in learning more about specific seed mixes that will grow adequately, increase water conservation practices, and are suitable for marketable grass-hay production. Workshop will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at the Maloney House at the

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ing (MOU) regarding the county’s responsibilities with the four other members of the ENGAGE initiative (entrepreneurship, growth, agriculture and energy) to fulfill the commitments under the EDA grant. The other members of ENGAGE are Technical College of the Rockies, Region 10 Small Business Resource Center, Delta County Economic Development, and Delta County School District. Delta County will develop classes, outreach and educational materials, such as classes for new and expanding businesses on how to obtain all necessary local and state permits. Elyse Casselberry, the county’s community and economic development director, will participate on the steering committee. U.S. Forest Service Plan Revision. The county received a grant award from Colorado Department of Local Affairs in the amount of $58,334 to assist Mesa, Montrose and Delta counties in securing specific economic information for the Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison U.S. Forest Service Plan Revision.

Learn to hunt turkeys If you want to learn how to hunt turkeys or improve how you hunt these wily birds, plan to attend a “Turkey Hunting 101” class in Montrose on March 28. The class will be held at the Delta-Montrose Electric Association 11925 6300 Road, 6-8 p.m., March 28. Seating is limited and attendees must sign up in advance. The best way to sign up is through the CPW website at https://www. register-ed.com/events/ view/119907. You can also call 970-252-6000.

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Adult diversion funding committee. A grant award in the amount of $25,544 was received from the Colorado Adult Diversion Funding Committee for an adult diversion program in Delta County. North Fork Valley Creative Coalition. Commissioners committed $2,500 in county funds to assist the Creative Coalition in reaching $10,000 in matching funds to enable the Coalition to have access to a $10,000 matching grant from Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The $20,000 will be used to create signage for the Creative District along Highway 133 and in the Town of Paonia, encouraging visitors to visit the Creative District and draw them into downtown Paonia. Blake Field Hangar Leases. Commissioners approved and signed two new leases for hangar spaces at Blake Field presented by county attorney John Baier. Arlin Geigley and Rick Good of Montrose are leasing hangar space 310 and will build a hangar measuring 50’ x 200’, with a five-foot wide easement on all sides. Gary Schaublin and Chyrel Wilson assigned their lease for Space 101 to Kenton and Diane Clampitt.

Derby racers

Photos submitted

The First Baptist Church held its annual AWANA Derby Race on March 7. Awards were given for speed and for design. Winning for speed were (above, left to right) Tobias Vigil, third; Sharon Vigil, second; and Ella Black, ﬁrst. Awards for design went to (below, left to right) Tobias Vigil, third; Ella Black, ﬁrst; and Lyla Lujan, second. About 30 youngsters participated in the event.

DPD presents Life Saving Awards, service certificates The Delta Police Department recently held its annual awards banquet. Josh Applegate and the staff of Farmers Insurance provided the meal, which was hosted by the Delta Elks Lodge. Safeway donated dessert trays, and photos were taken by Kim Shea and MJ Thomas. Chief Lucas Fedler and Commander Jesse Cox presented the Life Saving Award to Sergeant Ryan Artaz, Officer Andy Braslin and Officer Kent Eddy. The recognition of Officer Kent Eddy was long overdue, the chief noted. He was conducting routine patrol at about midnight on Feb. 27, 2013, when he contacted a vehicle in the Walmart parking lot. The two occupants appeared to be in distress. He removed both parties from the vehicle and requested immediate medical assistance. It was determined if not for the actions of Officer Eddy, both occupants would have succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Sergeant Artaz and Officer Braslin were recognized for saving the life of a man who was unconscious and not breathing. “Due to the quick and deliberate actions taken by Officer Artaz and Officer Braslin, the male survived the ordeal and is on the road to recovery,” the chief said. Without the officers’ quick think-

ing and calmness under pressure, that would not be the case. Officers and support staff were presented certificates for years of service. Recipients, with years of service, were: Chief Lucas Fedler, 17; Commander Jesse Cox, 21; Detective Sgt. Jeremy Gay, 8; Sergeant Steve Furstenfeld, 8; Sergeant Rdean Young, 22; Sergeant Ryan Artaz, 8; Detective JR Reece, 14; officers Kent Eddy, 7; Cody Hammon, 4; Clint Swope, 4; Andy Braslin,

16; William Hammon, 2; Jake Poole, 4; Nick Buffington, 2; John Laiminger, 1; Kevan Arreola, 3; Kenneth Taylor, 1 month. Support staff included records administrator Sindy Bruton, 12 years; victim advocate Becki Havens, 10 years; evidence tech Jamie Reed, 18 years; and administrative assistant Carrie Reed, 3 years. “We are honored to present these certificates to the officers and staff of the Delta Police Department,” said Chief Fedler.

Photo submitted

Chief Lucas Fedler and Commander Jesse Cox present a Life Saving Award to Sergeant Ryan Artaz (center).

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Chief Lucas Fedler and Commander Jesse Cox present a Life Saving Award to Ofﬁcer Andy Braslin (center).

Photo submitted

Chief Lucas Fedler and Commander Jesse Cox present a Life Saving Award to Ofﬁcer Kent Eddy (center).

Delta County Independent

ACTIVITIES

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

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It’s time for another evening of old-time, bluegrass and cowboy music at the Pea Green Saturday Night concert series. The March 24 event will take place at the Pea Green Community Center from 7-9 p.m. This month will feature The Inertia String Band and Quicksand Soup, both for only $10 at the door. The hall is located at the intersection of Hwy. 348 and Banner Road southwest of Delta. Lots of people bring a snack to share, and you can do likewise if you want to. So swing by if you can and pay a listen to some of the best of our local musical talent and associate with some of the most appreciative and well-behaved folk in our three-county area. The doors open at 6 p.m. and seating is limited. For more information call Len Willey at 874-8879.

Quicksand Soup

Synthesis jazzes things up Synthesis continues to dazzle audiences around the globe, leaving its mark on the world of jazz music. The award-winning instrumental jazz

Sign up for April Fool’s softball tournament The annual preseason April Fool’s softball tournament will take place April 7-8 at Mountain View Park. Here’s a chance to test your team and have a great time before summer softball starts. Divisions for coed, women’s and men’s teams will be offered. The final deadline to register your team is March 31. Register your team by March 25 for a $50 discount. The team fee is only $225 before and on March 25; after March 25 the fee is $275. There’s a three-game guarantee for the weekend. Men’s and women’s teams will play on Saturday with coed playing on

Sunday. For more information or to register, call Whitnee Lear at 874-0923 or email whitnee@cityofdelta.net. You can also sign up for the summer softball league. The city recreation department is offering six choices: Monday Recreational Coed Silver League, Tuesday Recreational Coed Gold, Thursday Men’s Competitive Slow Pitch, Thursday Women’s Slow Pitch and Wednesday Men’s Fast Pitch. The team fee of $275 is due April 22. Player fees are $20 each and are due the first night of each league.

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jazz legends like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and Louis Armstrong as well as modern numbers from current legends like Gordon Goodwin, Alan Baylock, and Mike Tomaro. Tickets are available at tix.byu.edu (scroll down to Synthesis). Cost is $10/ person plus a one-time service charge.

Easter Eggstravaganza returns to Bill Heddles To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Bill Heddles Recreation Center, the City of Delta is bringing back the Easter Eggstravaganza Saturday, March 24, 10 a.m. to noon. The celebration will include indoor activities — egg decorating, games, crafts and the Easter Bunny. Remember to bring your camera for photos with the Easter

Bunny. At about 11:45 a.m., the kids will hop outside for an Easter egg hunt on Confluence Fields. Included with your admission to this event is an option to enjoy the pool until 2 p.m. for no additional fee. Advance registration is $3 per child ($5 the day of the event). To register, stop by Bill Heddles Recreation Center.

Revisit the ‘60s and ‘70s with Learn the Valley Symphony Chorus complex musical cata- Robinson, Stevie Wonder, to play Concertgoers log was a challenge, yet Earth, Wind and Fire, one Connally, in her first and more. pickleball encouraged year with the VSA ChoThe music of this periLearn to play pickleball Wednesday, March 21, at 6 p.m. at Bill Heddles Recreation Center tennis courts. All levels are welcome. Instructors will be available for beginners. There is no charge; equipment and balls will be available.

Fly tyers gather monthly Thirsty Thursday Tyers Table (4T) is, once again, seating tyers and spectators the fourth Thursday of the month, March 22, 6 p.m. at 2 Rascals Brewing, 147 N 1st Street, Montrose. Come on out, grab a bite to eat, whet your whistle, twist some thread or just hang out. There will be a random drawing from attendees (tyers and nontying spectators) for a gift certificate and tyers can add to the charity fly box the group is filling (minimum of two flies of a pattern and size). The loose theme for this round is stonefly patterns.

to dress the part

The Valley Symphony Association (VSA) Chorus will “go retro” at the Sunday, March 25, 3 p.m. concert at the Montrose Pavilion. Under the direction of Allyson Connally, the chorus will perform “Sounds of the ’60s and ’70s” featuring music that includes selections from a host of popular artists of these artistically fruitful decades. VSA board member and chorus alto Priscilla Fry encourages people to attend and make an event of it. “People can get creative with this concert because the music and the era we’re focusing on is so recognizable and entertaining,” she said. “We’re hoping people will come dressed up in their bellbottoms and tie-dye and use it as a fun way to come together, be it a group of friends, a couple out for a date night, or a way multiple generations of a family can connect.” The ‘60s and ‘70s are considered one of the most diverse and prolific musical eras of all time. Narrowing down concert selections of such a large,

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ensemble from Brigham Young University will perform at the Montrose Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 30. The group’s repertoire consists of a variety of jazz styles including swing, jazz, blues, rock, fusion, gospel and Latin styles. Synthesis takes you on a journey through the timeless numbers from

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rus, was happy to tackle. “There are exciting, cool harmonies, and we’ll have a rock band to back us for this concert, which makes sharing an afternoon with us such a pleasure.” “People know and love this music,” Connally said. “There’s something for everyone — folk, revolutionary, pop, funk, Motown — so much of it is fun and relatable across generations.” The chorus will perform from a diverse list that includes Bob Dylan, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, The Eagles, Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Smokey

Allyson Connally

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od is rich with meaning, and not just for people who grew up with it. “The music of this diverse and tumultuous era reflects how people responded to their world,” she said. Connally explained that music universally fosters empathy and a connection between humans, and experiencing it together brings people closer by providing a setting for shared experiences and fostering a sense of community. “Just as it reflects the social and political conflict that was happening then, we can similarly relate ourselves, given the times we’re experiencing now.” Connally’s vision for the VSA Chorus is to grow concert attendance through presenting relatable and enjoyable concerts like this one. “There is so much music we can progress toward that will strongly attract people in our community to attend and enjoy what we have to offer,” she said. For information, upcoming concerts, the audition process and tickets, visit ValleySymphony. net and on Facebook.

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A8 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

LOCAL NEWS

Delta County Independent

City council candidates: Beyond marijuana BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Marijuana has been a hot topic in Delta’s municipal election, but during individual interviews, candidates have expressed their views on several other topics. The City of Delta recently completed a parks, trails and open space master plan. When asked about prioritizing

Easter egg hunt turns 50 The Delta Lions will be sponsoring the 50th annual Easter egg hunt on March 31. This event begins promptly at 9 a.m. at Cleland Park. Don’t be late! Kids from toddler to fourth grade are invited.

projects identified by citizens, Kevin Carlson said, “You’ve got to dream big. People could not believe the citizens could support a recreation center, that it wouldn’t be financially viable, and look at what the city has done with that.” He believes the riverfront is “wide open” for development. The city needs to partner with other entities to get the word out about all Delta has to offer. Within a 30minute drive, you can play golf or be in the mountains. His opponent, Jay Stooksberry, said the master plan is necessary for approaching grant opportunities, “but then again we butt up against the reality of our financial situation. Unless we’re willing to address what we already have, I don’t know how pragmatic it

S pring Expo

Call for Vendors Presented By DACC

Friday, April 6 & Saturday, April 7 at Bill Heddles Rec Center in Delta

Bill Heddles Recreation Center - Delta Friday, March 31 9:00a – 5:00p Saturday, April 1 9:00a – 3:00p ��

�� Fun for the whole family including a

60+ Vendors, inside and out – FREE Admission!

Kid’s Bounce House

�� Food will be available as fundraisers for the VFW, the Chamber Ambassadors, and the Delta �� Barracuda Swim Team

Jesus Is Alive! ��

Join us as we celebrate ��

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is to jump ahead into a future we can’t accommodate ... how can we justify adding to the existing burden of maintenance? We shouldn’t stray away from conversations about opportunities, but we have to walk cautiously.” Nathan Clay, the unopposed District C candidate, focused on river activation, which he says fits into his vision of marketing the natural resources of Delta County. The discussion about river activation segues into Delta Urban Renewal Authority’s efforts to secure a hotel developer for riverfront development. Clay believes the project will be good for Delta, but has concerns about “strong arming” entities such as the mosquito and fire districts to participate in tax incentive financing. Stooksberry agreed, saying he respects the DURA’s board decision to step away from mediation with those two tax-

ing entities. He would like to see a more level paying field for all hotels, and says there has to be a “bigger plan.” “We can’t just create a hotel,” he said. “It has to play into a strategy of how we market our community.” He said that will require a regional strategy, since a centrally located hotel will provide access to Grand Mesa, the North Fork and surrounding areas. One of the amenities that should be marketed more vigorously is Devil’s Thumb Golf Club, Stooksberry said. “The golf course ... that’s what really got me started down this rabbit hole. I will be perfectly frank — my conversations with city council gave me a whole new perspective on this. I do think it is a financial problem, but it’s also an asset. Friends who visit from the Front Range have said this place is a hidden gem. It

needs to stop being a hidden gem.” Stooksberry said he’s also come to realize how the city’s water rights are tied to the golf course. On the other hand, the city has transferred over $12 million to the golf course from various enterprise funds. “It’s very easy to make the argument we subsidize the golf course through our utility bills,” he said. “Like it or not, it’s ours,” Carlson said of the golf course. “We need to find a better way to market Devil’s Thumb and draw more play from out of Delta. We’ve got a great pro who’s trying different ideas, not just his own.” With a son on the high school golf team, Carlson said he’s recognized the revenue the state golf tournament could bring to Delta. Youth programs in general bring in not only young people, but their parents as well. Concerning DURA, Carlson said he’s new to

the process so he’s still learning. Carlson said he has no agenda, but simply wants what’s best for the majority of the residents of Delta. “It’s about time I stepped up.” He said he came to that conclusion after reading about the council getting involved in personnel issues. “We need to let the workers work, and if there’s a problem, council has to figure out a way without getting involved in personnel.” Clay said firing anyone should be the last possible choice. “We need to work harder with all city employees. They have to know they’re cared about. Company culture is everything ... I hear it over and over again.” Stooksberry said running for office is part of his “put up or shut up” philosophy. “It’s easy to be opinionated, but unless you’re doing something about it you’re not solving anything.”

Delta Police, sheriff’s blotter From the Delta Police Department: March 11: Brice W. Collins, 30, of Austin was arrested and jailed on charges of driving under the influence, driving under the influence per se, failed to display lamps when required. Officers provided transport of a combative female from Stafford and East 3rd Street to jail for the Delta County Sheriff’s Office. Officers responded to an address on Bluff Street for a report of an abandoned dog. Officers responded to H25 Road for a call of a suspicious person. March 12: Travis O. Williams, 26, of Crawford was arrested and jailed on a Utah warrant with a no bond. Officers responded to an address on Crawford Avenue in reference to a possible burglary. Officers responded to the lobby for an informational report. Officers responded to Bill Heddles Recreation Center for a hit and run traffic accident. Officers responded to Columbine Court for a report of an animal problem. A juvenile female was issued a summons for dog at large. Cameron L. Sanders, 26, of Delta was issued a summons for shoplifting at Safeway. Officers responded to 791 1550 Road for a report of suspicious activities. March 13: Officers responded to Summers Motors located at 2195 Southgate Lane for a report of theft. Officers responded to the 300 block of Main Street for a report of a hit and run accident. Officers responded to Confluence Drive and Hwy. 50 for the report of a traffic accident. Officers responded to Summers Motors located for a report of a suspicious vehicle. Kathryn A. Rohner, 61 of Delta was issued a summons for shoplifting at Walmart. March 14: Officers placed a red tag on a vehicle blocking the alley between Hastings Street and

A Street where an emergency vehicle would not be able to get by. Sarah J. Hansell, 34 of Moab, Utah, was issued a summons for shoplifting. Officers responded to Four Seasons, 676 Hwy. 50 for the report of trespass. Officers issued a proof of service as notice to a driver during a traffic stop in the 500 block of Main Street. March 15: Officers responded to Western Convenience at 1502 Howard Street for a report of a traffic accident involving a deer. Officers responded to the 900 block of Crawford Avenue for a report of a vehicle being broken into. Officers responded to the lobby for a report of a suspicious note being left on a vehicle windshield. Officers responded to the 900 block of Palmer Street in reference to a theft from an auto. Officers responded to the 1900 block of Sapphire Way for a report of an attempted burglary. March 16: Raeona E. Peraza, 34, of Delta was issued a summons for theft and tampering with a utility meter. A juvenile female was issued a summons for disorderly conduct. Officers responded to the 600 block of Carpenter Street for an informational report. March 17: Officers responded to the 1400 block of Maple Way for a report of a vehicle trespass. Officers responded to the 1000 block of Howard Street for a report of mail theft. Ronald H. Fitzgerrel, 27, of Delta was arrested and jailed on warrants with a bond of $1,500. Citations: Three tickets were issued this week for various traffic violations. Please remember: All criminal charges are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty.

peared. The tools might have been taken by a family member in a dispute over ownership. A Paonia resident reported items were stolen from his vehicle while it was parked in an impound lot. A Cedaredge area resident reported that an abandoned trailer on neighboring property had been the target of criminal mischief. Firefighters were dispatched to a fire at 21372 F Road, Delta, at about 4 p.m. When deputies arrived on the scene, several structures were involved and firefighters were protecting an occupied residence. Investigators determined Robert Rogers, 48, was buning a ditch at 21372 F Road when the wind came up and the fire spread to the neighboring property. Damage has been estimated in excess of $15,000. Fourth degree arson charges may be filed against Rogers. At about 8:30 p.m., an accident was reported at Highway 92 and Main Street, Austin. A white Toyota SUV landed on its top in a field north of the highway. The driver, Jeremiah May, 30, of Montrose, had a cut on his face but refused medical transport. He was taken into custody by the Colorado State Patrol on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. March 14: A Delta area resident called to speak with a deputy about cyberbullying. He said someone was trying to extort him via the internet. A Paonia resident said she believes someone is camping out in her vehicles at night. She cleaned up the mess they left behind and made sure the vehicles were locked. March 16: Deputies were dispatched to H75 Road, Delta, where the property owner was complaining of a leg injury. He said he had injured the leg three days earlier when he was trying to lift a heavy piece of equipment. He refused to call the ambulance because of the cost. After several neighFrom the Delta County bors said they were unable to provide transport, the Sheriff’s Office (partial list): property owner agreed to call the ambulance. His leg was March 12: Deputies responded to a reportedly severely swollen. Adam McGaha, 34, of Delta Paonia residence where some tools had reportedly disap- was issued a written warn-

ing for burning household trash by a deputy who was on patrol in his Peach Valley neighborhood. McGaha said he was not aware it was illegal to burn household trash in Delta County. At about 11:30 p.m., a deputy patrolling Highway 348 near the 25 Mesa intersection observed a pickup traveling above the 35 mph speed limit. He pulled over Scott Calhoun, 34, of Delta and after observing open alcohol containers and signs of intoxication, asked Calhoun to perform roadside maneuvers. When he failed to successfully complete those maneuvers, he was taken into custody and charged with speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol. March 17: Deputies were dispatched to the ‘dobies north of Delta where a 13-year-old boy suffered a possible broken ankle while jumping from one side of a washout to another. Delta County Ambulance District personnel helped him hike out to the waiting ambulance. The teen was transported to DCMH. At about 3 p.m., deputies and Cedaredge firefighters were dispatched to a large grass fire in a field on Trap Club Road. The fire was contained to property owned by the Kirkhams, who said they had been burning a different field earlier in the day. They believed the fire was completely out, but it was reignited by afternoon winds. Deputies were called to assist the Cedaredge Police Department with a domestic disturbance on NW Elm Avenue. March 18: A single vehicle rollover was reported on Highway 92 near the town of Hotchkiss at about 5:40 p.m. The Colorado State Patrol handled the investigation. A Cedaredge man reported he was “viciously” chased by a dog while riding his bike. He attempted to talk to the dog’s owner, but found the owner to be very rude. A Delta area woman reported her boyfriend had just shot himself. Upon investigation, deputies learned the man does not own any firearms, but had lit some fireworks.

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Crawford voters asked to tax retail marijuana BY RANDY SUNDERLAND General Manager

Crawford voters will decide if retail marijuana sales will be taxed, even though such activity is not currently allowed in town. The question was placed on the ballot by the town council. When the town board approved the ballot question in January, Mayor Wanda Gofforth said it was a matter of getting ahead of the curve, if and when marijuana sales might be approved in Crawford. The council was clear that the question should not be considered a referendum for opening Crawford to retail marijuana stores. The ballot question asked the voters for authorization of a five percent special sales tax on the retail sale of marijua-

na and marijuana products. It also authorizes the town council to change the rate not to exceed 10 percent without another vote of the citizens. The question also authorizes the town to collect a five percent excise tax on unprocessed retail marijuana when transferred or sold from a cultivation facility to a retail store. If approved, the measure would also not be subject to TABOR restrictions. A citizen asked the town council at its March 7 meeting for clarificaton of the $50,000 noted in the ballot question. The amount of the tax is an estimate of potential revenue from the new tax, required by law for taxing questions. Since Crawford does not allow retail marijuana stores, the estimate is only a guess.

Springtime in the Rockies

Photo by Tamie Meck

A nursing calf keeps a wary eye on the photographer during a recent snowfall on Stucker Mesa near Paonia.

GOCO grant makes dream of fields a reality BY TAMIE MECK Staff Writer

Thanks to a generous grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, kids will be playing at a new youth baseball and softball complex in the North Fork. The North Fork Pool, Parks & Recreation District was notified by GOCO last week that it will receive a $350,000 Local Park and Outdoor Recreation (LPOR) grant to build ballfields and amenities at Crossroads Park on Bulldog Street in Hotchkiss. The grant, along with matching in-kind and cash donations, will go toward construction of four ballfields. Included in the funding are dugouts, scoreboards, batting cages, bleachers, signage, and a drinking water fountain. NFPPR partnered with the nonprofit Hotchkiss Home Plate youth baseball and softball organization on the grant. For more than a decade, Home Plate has provided baseball and softball opportunities to area youth. Home Plate currently uses the ballfields located at the Delta County Fairgrounds and at Hotchkiss K8 School. With the Delta County Master Plan calling for elimination of the fairground fields, the Home Plate board began researching its options. Two years ago, the board approached the NFPPR board to suggest a partnership. The two organizations have worked together ever since on planning and grant writing. “It

Photo by Tamie Meck

Construction of the Crossroads Park Ballﬁeld Complex on Bulldog Street will begin this spring, thanks to a $350,000 Great Outdoors Colorado Local Park and Outdoor Recreation grant awarded to the North Fork Pool, Parks & Recreation District in partnership with Hotchkiss Home Plate. was a huge team effort,” said NFPPR district administrator Lenore Cambria. “The two organizations work together well.” The plan is to complete the project by this November. Once the fields are ready, they can host multi-day tournaments and start bringing people to town, said Cambria. “Everyone is so excited,” said Home Plate board secretary Michelle Pagone. She and husband Terry have served

on the nine-member board of directors for almost a decade. “Everyone knows how hard we fought for it.” Not only will the centrally located facility be more convenient, it also increases safety by eliminating the need for parents and players to cross the highway between the two in-town ball parks. In addition, parents with two or more children registered in the program have said that they are happy that they will no longer

have to choose between the two locations, said Pagone. The shovel-ready project will be built adjacent to Crossroads Park, which includes the North Fork Pool, soccer fields, a bicycle pump track, trails, and picnic pavilions. Requests for bids are expected to go out this spring. Of the 59 grant applicants GOCO received from across the state, NFPPR was one of 14 to receive LPOR funding of up to $350,000.

Young students learn about law enforcement, fire, search and rescue BY TAMIE MECK Staff Writer

Friday the pre-kindergarten students of the Backpack Early Learning Academy at Hotchkiss K8 School had some very special visitors. At the invitation of their teacher, Lynette Clock, representatives from West Elk Mountain Rescue, Delta County Sheriff ’s Office, North Fork Ambulance, Colorado State Patrol and Paonia Volunteer Fire Department brought their vehicles and equipment to the school and gave a presentation on what they do for the community. A highlight of the visit was Jay Rigdon and his dog, Sprite, a search and rescue team with West Elk Mountain Rescue. Rigdon has had Sprite, a 5-year-old lab/border collie cross, since 2012. There are two types of search dogs, explained Rigdon: trailing or tracking dogs, and air scent dogs. Sprite is a certified “Airscent” dog. To demonstrate Sprite’s skills, Rigdon took an item of clothing from a volunteer student and asked the student to hide somewhere on school property. Rigdon then let Sprite smell the article of clothing and told him to search. In less than five minutes, Sprite found the student hud-

dled in the corner of the baseball dugout. Students also were given demonstrations of the tools used in firefighting and learned about the personal protective equipment they wear. They also got to sit in a

State Patrol car and see how the dash cam works, talk with a deputy sheriff, and check out the inside of an ambulance. Susanne McCallister with Bella said she and Mrs. Clock appreciate the visit and the effort the organizations put

into coming to their classroom. Students will benefit from the experience, she said, because “hands-on learning embeds lessons into the memories of these students. Experiential learning, at this age, is irreplaceable.”

Photo by Tamie Meck

Search and rescue dog Sprite and owner Jay Rigdon with West Elk Mountain Rescue have an audience during a visit last Friday to Hotchkiss K8 School. They were among several law enforcement and search and rescue organizations that came to the school to talk about safety and what they do while on the job.

Total funding requests more than tripled available funding, according to a press release from GOCO. Grants will fund 37 projects in 25 counties, serve 32 underserved or rural communities, and is expected to impact more than 4,000 youth. “It’s impressive to see how funding reaches across the entire state,” said NFPPR board member Kathryn Oxford. Other Western Slope grants include $170,073 for town park expansion and improvements for the Town of Norwood and $350,000 for an improvement project for the Town of Nucla. The Town of New Castle, Gunnison County and the Town of Naturita will receive GOCO planning grants, and the City of Montrose partnered with Columbine Middle School on a $110,000 GOCO School Yard Initiatives grant. To date, GOCO has invested $9.4 million in Delta County projects. The Nature Connection, a coalition of partners created to increase outdoor opportunities for students in Delta County and Olathe, is headquartered on Bulldog Street. TNC was recently was awarded a $1.72 million GOCO Inspire grant. A portion of those funds will go toward a bicycle pump track and low ropes challenge course, a walking path, climbing boulders and shade structures. That the NFPPR facility is growing is very exciting, said Cambria. The new complex will allow the 25-year-old district to better meet its mission of providing a variety of activities and programs, promoting healthy lifestyles, building strong families, and providing a sense of community pride. The grant would not be possible without the support of the community, said Cambria. Matching funds came largely from preliminary design, bid specs and engineering donated by Randy Fender of Mesa Engineering & Survey, along with sprinkler system plans from Grand Junction Pipe & Supply. Community support through cash and in-kind donations of materials, volunteer labor and equipment is still needed, said Oxford. “The more in-kind support we can get, the farther we can stretch that $350,000.” The GOCO grant is also the first step in applying for grants from other sources, including the Department of Local Affairs, Gates Family Foundation, Daniels Fund and El Pomar, said Cambria. Home Plate’s two-year fundraising efforts will continue, said Pagone. The organization will host a 5Kfundraiser on May 12, and will continue to set up its dunk tank at local events. The dunk tank is also available for rent. Home Plate spring registration is underway and continues from 3:30-5 p.m. March 21 at the Hotchkiss K8 office and March 23 at the Maloney House at the Delta County Fairgrounds. Visit the Hotchkiss Home Plate Facebook page for more information.

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Delta County Independent

HHS scholarships recognize community spirit, volunteerism BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

For four years, the Town of Hotchkiss has awarded $500 scholarships to one male and one female graduating from Hotchkiss High School. The award recognizes students who demon-

strate community spirit and volunteerism within the community. This year’s recipients were Morgan Miller and Sam Rodriguez. The scholarships were presented during the March 8 town council meeting, which was held at

Photo by Pat Sunderland

Hotchkiss Mayor Wendell Koontz and Hotchkiss High School principal Paul Rodriguez are pictured with scholarship recipients Morgan Miller and Sam Rodriguez.

Hotchkiss High School. Morgan Miller, the daughter of Chuck and Amy Miller, plans to attend Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, to major in agricultural communications and prelaw. Sam Rodriguez, the son of Paul and Anna Rodriguez, plans to major in economics or premed at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Both have volunteered extensively in the school and community. They expressed appreciation for the town of Hotchkiss, the school, their neighbors and friends, for giving them values they’ll take with them throughout life. “The Town of Hotchkiss is proud of all Hotchkiss High School students,” said Mayor Wendell Koontz. “It was an extra hard choice between all applicants this year!”

Documentary explores history of solar energy Renewable energy advocates and solar training professionals will have the chance to see the story of the start of the modern solar photovoltaic (PV) industry through the eyes of its pioneers. On March 26, Solar Energy International (SEI) and the Paradise Theatre in Paonia, present “Solar Roots – The Pioneers of PV”

as part of the SEI’s 11th annual instructor training, which brings together over 70 PV instructors and staff for three days of learning, camaraderie, and industry best practices. Due to the limited seating, viewing is by invitation only. If you are interested in receiving an invitation or learning more, contact SEI’s executive

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director, Kathy Swartz, at kswartz@solarenergy. org. Find out more about the film at www.solar-roots.com. Though the film is free, all donations to support SEI’s charitable outreach programs will be greatly appreciated. Executive producer and SEI alum Jeff Spies explains, “Solar Roots” is the true story of how a small group of backwoods engineers and business hippies brought PV technology down from space to deliver ‘solar power to the people.’ Starting in 2015, Spies and director Jason Vetterli embarked upon a two-year journey, interviewing more than 50 pioneers of the PV industry. “Solar Roots” features Colorado’s own solar pioneers Johnny Weiss, who co-founded the nonprofit training organization SEI in Carbondale in 1991, and Ed Eaton, who has taught solar to thousands of people from around the world. Today Weiss lives in Paonia Eaton lives offgrid in Paonia. Weiss, Eaton and Spies will participate in a Q&A session immediately following the March 26 film screening.

Photo submitted

The Hotchkiss High School Drama Club will present three comedies in one March 22 and 23, at Hotchkiss High School. Show time is 7 p.m. nightly.

HHS Drama Club offers up a trio of comedies SPECIAL TO THE DCI

The Hotchkiss High School Drama Club will present three comedies in one March 22 and 23. “Two of the comedies are by one of our favorite playwrights, Don Zolidis,” said director Lenore Cambria. “He wins us over with clever dialogue and situations every time.” “Squad Goals” delivers crackpot coaches of a ragtag basketball team looking for one more inspirational (not necessarily talented) player, but with the attributes of many fictional sports movie heroes. “Feed the Whales: The Saga of The Boy Band Oreo,” also by Zolidis, is about a conniving tour promoter trying to create a new boy band to star in the annual Feed the Whales Festival. Unfortunately for him, there is a shortage of boys in town and he has to fill in with questionable characters, including one who may or may not have escaped from a mental hospital. E.M. Bell’s “10 Reasons You Should Have Stayed Home Sick Today”

outlines 10 good reasons to miss some everyday high school situations that make one cringe and wish they would have stayed home sick. This year’s outstanding cast includes Nolan Egging, Morgan Miller, Jordan Denison, Josie Hiatt, Shelby Hiatt, Ruby Shiflet, Alyssa Palecki, Katie Powers, Lexi Wrich, JD Miller, Aubree Harward, Kade Harward, Evan Mattison, Tessa Griffith, Ava Taylor, Isabella Spano, Sydnie West, and Saul Cortez. Assistant directors are Susan Hamrick

and Brandi Goddard. “Many of the actors have been cast in multiple roles, which makes it fun to see how they can be different characters within each show,” says Cambria. “They’ve really brought these shows to life. Many of these actors are veterans to this stage and they’ve all brought a lot of spark and joy to the community through their performances over the years.” Show time is at 7 p.m. nightly, and tickets, available at the door, are $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and students.

PHS dessert show is this weekend The Paonia High School music department will present its 28th annual dessert show at 7 p.m. nightly this Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24. This year’s theme is “A Night on Broadway,” and features hit songs from more than a dozen Broad-

way musicals, performed by the PHS concert band, mixed choir, and awardwinning swing choir. Tickets are available at the high school office, and at Brown Paper Tickets (brownpapertickets. com). This event sells out every year, so get your tickets early.

Paonia native promoted to Mesa County undersheriff BY TAMIE MECK Staff Writer

A Paonia High School graduate and U.S. Military veteran who chose a career in law enforcement is now serving as undersheriff for the Mesa County Sheriff ’s Office. Todd Rowell was sworn in as undersheriff at a

Photo courtesy Mesa County Sheriff’s Ofﬁce

Paonia native Todd Rowell, right, is joined by Mesa County Sheriff’s Ofﬁce Sheriff Matt Lewis at Rowell’s March 5 swearing in ceremony as Mesa County Undersheriff. Rowell is a graduate of Paonia High School and the Delta-Montrose Technical College corrections and police academies. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. March 5 ceremony, according to a news release by the sheriff ’s office. Rowell is the son of Ron and Debbie Rowell of Paonia and a native of Paonia. After graduating from Paonia High School, Rowell joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he earned numerous awards. He later attended both the Corrections Academy and Police Academy at Delta-Montrose Technical College (now Technical College of the Rockies), graduating at the top of his class in 2000. Later

that year he was hired by the Mesa County Sheriff ’s Office. Rowell has served in various leadership positions and received several awards in his 17 years with the MCSO and served six years as president of the Mesa County Deputy Sheriff ’s Association. Rowell was promoted to undersheriff following the retirement of Rusty Callow, who formerly retired recently following a 37-year career in law enforcement.

Pickin’ N Paradise features Eilen Jewell American musician Eilen Jewell will headline the final concert of the Pickin’ N Paradise series this Friday night. Known for what all music.com describes as a “country-flavored and blues-infused version of contemporary folk,” Jewell’s discography includes several albums of original material and one of Loretta Lynn covers. Jewell has also recorded two albums with her eight-piece gospel-group side project, the Sacred

Shakers. Her latest effort, “Down Hearted Blues,” in collaboration with engineering by pianist/banjo player Steve Fulton and Pat Storey, is her first collection of blues, despite the fact that she credits the genre for igniting her musical curiosity in the first place. Tickets to Friday night’s show are $17 in advance, $20 at the door. Visit paradiseofpaonia. com for tickets and more information.

NORTH FORK TIMES

Delta County Independent

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Paonia voters to decide on 1 percent sales tax BY TAMIE MECK Staff Writer

This April, Paonia voters will decide on the fate of a ballot measure to increase the local sales taxes. Referred Measure 2G calls for increasing town taxes from the current two percent to three percent, which would bring in “up to $150,000 annually” in the first fiscal year. The town estimates the increase will raise an additional $130,000 in its first year. The in-town rate on taxable goods is 6.9 percent, which includes a twopercent town tax, two-percent Delta County tax, and a 2.9-percent state sales tax. The proposal was first

suggested as a way to fund street repairs. Since the cost of paving streets would far exceed any revenues raised by a tax increase, trustees voted to seek grants and other funding for street repairs and direct the additional revenue, should the measure pass, to the general fund, allowing for future boards to determine where funds are most needed. That revenue can still benefit the streets, said trustee David Bradford, who argued for allocating increased revenues to streets. “Getting the sales tax increase will allow, if we have the discipline and fortitude, to make sure some of that goes to street repair and we can start

Photo by Tamie Meck

Saying farewell

Paonia Library manager Jane Kelso was honored Saturday at the annual Friends of Paonia Library meeting and potluck. Kelso is leaving the library after 14 years of service. More than 40 attended the meeting, marking the largest attendance numbers for a FPL meeting in recent years. A story on Kelso’s service to the library by Tracy Ihnot can be found in the March 14 issue of the DCI.

moving ahead.” Mayor Charles Stewart said the additional revenue is needed after declines in coal mining activities resulted in losses in recent years in mineral leasing and severance tax revenues. In 2011, combined general fund mineral leasing and severance tax revenues totaled $90,974; in 2017, they totaled $16,920. To make up for those losses, the board has considered other funding mechanism, including increasing the property tax mill levy, which currently generates about $103,000 annually. Additional revenue, noted Stewart, would not be realized for at least a year and would put an unfair burden on property owners. The current board believes the sales tax “is the fairest way to deal with the issue,” said Stewart. In looking at cost-cutting measures, “The town has done about all it can to reduce costs,” said Stewart. “The last two boards have been fiscally conservative and eliminated all unnecessary spending before seeking a tax increase.” Since 2014, general fund expenditures have steadily declined through the elimination of excessive staffing and salaries, double pensions, and overtime benefits for exempt employees. In 2014 the town had 20 employees — 16 full-time and four part-time; in 2018 the town budgeted for 15 employees — 11 full-time and four part-time. Staff, said Stewart, “is at a barebones level.”

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Young hunters needed for spring turkey hunting event Colorado Parks and Wildlife is looking for young hunters from western Colorado’s North Fork area to participate in a special spring turkey hunting event April 13-15. Youngsters from Cedaredge, Hotchkiss, Crawford and Paonia are encouraged to apply. CPW has teamed up with local landowners to have access to prime turkey hunting areas on private property in the North Fork area. The number of hunting slots is limited, so youngsters should apply soon. To participate, prospective hunters must submit a one-page essay that describes why wildlife is important to them. Applicants can describe experiences with wildlife, wildlife they’ve seen, hunting knowledge, how wildlife is a part of their lives, why they want to learn more about wildlife etc. Participants will be chosen based on their essays and hunting experience. The hunters selected must have earned their hunter safety cards.

The event will start with a turkey hunting seminar. On the afternoon of April 13, CPW wildlife officers will explain turkey biology, rules and regulations, equipment needed, how to call turkeys, how to find turkeys in the wild, and more. Participants will also have time to shoot at a shotgun range. Participants will then be guided to hunting areas during the next two days. Participants should have cold-weather gear, camouflage outerwear if possible, sturdy boots, a backpack and water bottle. Shotguns and ammunition will be provided to those who need them. Hunters selected must be able to walk two miles while carrying gear and be comfortable in cold weather. Those who wish to apply should send a letter with their name, date of birth, address, phone number, e-mail and the wildlife essay to: Stuart Sinclair, PO Box 987, Hotchkiss, CO 81419. The deadline to apply is April

Get help with big game licenses in Hotchkiss March 29 Anyone in the North Fork Area who needs help applying for a big-game hunting license can get help from 3-6 p.m., March 29, at the Hotchkiss Public Library. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has a new online purchasing system and the agency wants to make sure people are familiar with it before the April 3 limitedlicense application deadline. Paper applications for hunting licenses have been discontinued. Stuart Sinclair, district wildlife manager in the Hotchkiss area, will be at the library to answer questions. Those attending should bring a credit card, have their email address available, and have their CPW Customer Identification Number – CID – which

can be found on last year’s hunting license. Hunters should also bring their hunter education card and proof of residency. The new integrated purchasing system is a one-stop shop for all items that can be purchased from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This includes all hunting and fishing licenses and required stamps, annual parks passes, camping reservations and merchandise. Hunters can change their applications themselves up until the draw deadline, ensuring that the application goes through the draw exactly as they intend. Those who cannot attend can go to the CPW website where the application system is explained: http://cpw. state.co.us.

6. Those selected will be notified by April 8. For more information, call Sinclair at 970-8724302.

The Delta County Independent publishes engagements, anniversaries and wedding stories free of charge.

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PHS solar project installed; DMEA to fund other schools BY TAMIE MECK Staff Writer

A solar array project started by Paonia High School students in 2016 was recently installed on school grounds. Eight high school students enrolled in the Solar Energy International PV101 course worked with Empowered Energy Systems to install the 40-panel, 10.4-kW ground mount system and Schlettler rack. Once it passes final inspection by the State Electric Board it will go live. Through its “Solar for Schools” program, the Paonia based Solar Energy International partnered with the Delta County School District in 2016 to offer PV101 to area high school students. The entry-level solar energy course is designed to give students a fundamental understanding of the core concepts necessary to work with all photovoltaic systems. The system will provide power to an irrigation pump located on school grounds. The array will save the school an estimated $1,000 annually in electric costs. “It’ not a lot of offset,” said Beata Ramza, an Americorp VISTA worker who for the past year has focused on education and outreach for the Solarize program. But it has educational value and “can be used as a tool for energy independence education.” The array will also allow students to trouble shoot the system in the event of failure, and to monitor data and learn about how solar energy is produced.

About 70 students have participated in the Solar for Schools program since the partnership between SEI and the Delta County School District began in 2016, said Ramza. In 2017, Delta-Montrose Electric Association committed $150,000 from the energy co-op’s Unclaimed Capital Credit fund to install 10kilowat solar systems at Delta, Cedaredge, Olathe, Montrose and Hotchkiss high schools. SEI will provide technical assistance, and requests for proposals have been issued, said Ramza. Based on input and comments made at meetings, “Everyone is pretty excited about getting all of these systems,” said Ramza.

Photo by Tamie Meck

JJ Riggs, an installer with Empowered Energy Systems, works with a Paonia High School PV101 solar energy student to install a 10.4-kW system on school grounds.

National Ag Day is celebrated in Hotchkiss The Black Mesa CattleWomen and the Hotchkiss FFA Chapter celebrated National Ag Day on Tuesday, March 20, at the Delta County Fairgrounds with the North Fork Ag Day program for elementary students. They provided 11 different presentations for approximately 550 students. The program is sponsored by the Black Mesa CattleWomen and Delta County Livestock Association, with other contributions made from Homestead Meats and Sullivan Land & Cattle. Take a minute and thank the folks in agricul-

ture that are responsible for providing the necessities of life ... food, fiber, clothing and shelter! Agriculture is a huge part of Delta County with 1,294 farms and 43,581 acres of harvested crops. The market value of products being sold is $61,164,200. Crop sales amount to $25,179,500 and livestock sales $35,966,700 with an estimated total economic impact of $139,234,830. Agriculture does make a difference. National Agriculture Week is March 18-24 so this is a great time to recognize the role of

agriculture — and celebrating it. National Ag Day, hosted by the Agriculture Council of America on March 20, is now in its fourth year. The theme for celebrations in communities and across the country this year is “Agriculture: Food for Life.” Ag Day is a good time to reflect — and be grateful for — American agriculture! There are over 220 careers in agriculture and many of them are not just about raising crops and livestock. Check it out sometime. Explore careers in agriculture and you will be amazed.

OBITUARIES Michael Furcolow

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Paonia resident Michael L. Furcolow Jr. died March 14, 2018, at HopeWest Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 72. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Michael Leo Furcolow Jr. was born on Feb. 21, 1946, to Michael and Margaret (Row) Furcolow Sr. in Kansas City, Mo. He spent his childhood in the suburbs of Kansas City and graduated from Rockhurst High School. He then attended Michigan State University where he received his doctorate of veterinary medicine. Mr. Furcolow was a partner in Arapahoe Animal Hospital in Boulder. While there, he met his wife Terri Daniel and they moved to Paonia 12 years ago after he sold his share of the practice. Mr. Furcolow was a member of the Ute Trails

Car Club and the United States Border Collies Handlers Association. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed outfitting and guiding horseback in Canada. He also enjoyed his airplane, flying float planes in the Northern Yukon Territories and Alaska, radiocontrolled sail planes,

horseback riding and packing, dirt bikes, fourwheeling, camping, fishing and hunting. He holds a record book whitetail deer he got in Fort Morgan. He was also passionate about his bird dogs, which received several championship trophies, his stock dogs, falconry and classic muscle cars.

Mary Ann Kastning April 8, 1921 ~ March 19, 2018 Mary Ann (Myers) Kastning passed away on March 19, 2018. She was preceded in death in 2013 by her beloved husband of 67 years, William R. Kastning. She was born on a farm in Delta County on April 8, 1921. After attending elementary school on Ash Mesa, she moved with her father and mother, William and Edna Myers to Durango, Colo., where she graduated from high school. Mary Ann was the only child of her family of six to receive a college degree in education from Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado). She then embarked on a short career as a teacher in a one room schoolhouse in the Florida River Valley east of Durango and, as was the custom of that era, lived with a nearby ranching family. Each morning she rode a horse to school and began her schoolday by starting a fire in the woodstove. When her fiance Bill came home from WWII they married at the Delta First Baptist Church on March 11, 1946. She left her teaching career behind, firm in her resolve that being a minister’s wife and motherhood should come first. From 1953 to 1985 Mary Ann and Bill served churches in Flagler, Austin, Trinidad and Center, Colo., Plains, Kan., and Glenrock, Wyo. From 1967 to 1978 they were given the role of administer-

ing and directing year round camping and retreat programs for the American Baptist Convention at Black Forest Baptist Assembly north of Colorado Springs. Outdoor spiritual education in both an assembly and primitive camping setting was their first love. During this period Mary Ann and Bill made their greatest impact on the lives of many young people and adults as well. They acquired a new name: “Mom and Dad K” and their influence in the lives of so many young adolescents aged 10 through college cannot be underestimated. In retirement they returned to their childhood home of Delta County volunteering in many roles to the Delta and Austin First Baptist Churches. Mary Ann is survived by her two daughters, Nancy Kastning of Gardner, N.M., Judith Niehues of Flagstaff, Ariz., and son Bill Kastning of Crested Butte, Colo., as well as eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She had a special gift of making each of her grandchildren think that they were her favorite. Not only her grandchildren but also the many other young people she came in contact with will remember her as an extraordinary loving, kind and empathetic person and that will be her legacy here on earth. Paid obituary

He is survived by his wife, Terri Daniels of Paonia; brother, John (Melissa) Furcolow of Paintsville, Ky.; sisters, Carol Furcolow of Fort Collins and Connie Furcolow of Glendale, Calif.; and extended family. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Hotchkiss Sheep Camp Dog Trials, c/o Gordon Hebenstreit, 16640 Rimrock Road, Cedaredge, CO 81413. Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory is handling the arrangements. Visit the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at www. taylorfuneralservice.com.

Dorothy Bates

Delta resident Dorothy Bates died March 14, 2018. She was 72. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at Mesa View Cemetery in Delta. Dorothy J. Gill was born July 7, 1945, to Ed and Lucille Gill in Texas. She spent her childhood and attended school in California. She married James Bates in California, and they moved to Delta in 1972. Mrs. Bates enjoyed playing computer games, fishing and road trips. She is survived by her sons, James “Jay”, Jack “Rocky” and Jason Bates; and three grandchildren, Christina, Carlena and Skyler Bates. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Bates; a sister; and a brother, Jack. Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory is handling the arrangements. Visit the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at www. taylorfuneralservice.com.

Barry Smyth of Eckert, Colo., passed away March 1, 2018. If you are legal next of kin, or know such a person, please contact Delta County Coroner’s Office, 970-874-5918.

OBITUARIES

Delta County Independent

Robert Church

Robert Willis Church Sr. died Feb. 26, 2018. He was 69. He was born on Oct. 12, 1948, to Russell and Larue Dea (Jones) Church. He served in Vietnam from 1968-1970 in the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division as a heavy airframe specialist; he returned home as a decorated disabled veteran. In 1996, he retired from the Union Sheet Metal Local #9 after working for 25 years in Colorado Springs. He moved back to the Western Slope and was involved in the Overland Ditch Company and the farming community. Mr. Church was a father and grandfather; he enjoyed hunting, being outdoors, sports, coaching soccer, driving out to watch the sunset and being a good samaritan. He is survived by his wife, Mary Church of Hotchkiss; children, Robert Willis Church Jr. of Hotchkiss and Brenda Gibson of Warner Robins, Ga.; siblings, Larue King, Dave Andreasen and Russell Church; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Robert Rathburn

Robert E. Rathburn of Eckert died March 14, 2018, at his home. He was 98. At his request, no services will be held. Robert Elmer Rathburn was born March 11, 1920, to Burt and Alice Rathburn in Cañon City. He spent his childhood and attended schools in Cañon City and in New Mexico. Once he turned 18, he served in the U.S. Navy. On Dec. 2, 1940, he married Florence Baker in Las Vegas, N.M. They were married 77 years before she preceded him in death in January. He enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling, polka dancing and spending time with family. He is survived by his sons, Bob and Tom Rathburn; daughters, Sue Moss and Darla Kettle; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory is handling the arrangements. Visit the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at www. taylorfuneralservice.com.

Donn Vornholt

Donn Vornholt died March 15, 2018, at Colorow Care Center in Olathe. He was 95. He was born Aug. 29, 1922, in Wausau, Wis., to Walter and Lydia (Sommerfeldt) Vornholt. He attended high school in Peshtige, Wis. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942. He participated in the V-12 program and was discharged in 1945. He graduated from Colorado College with a bachelor’s degree in 1947. In 1947, he married Beverly Davis in Greeley. They had two children; they later divorced. On May 22, 1960, he married Roberta Balch of Greeley in Las Vegas, Nev. Mr. Vornholt was a longtime employee of the Davis Agency working in property management. He retired in 1984. He is survived by a son, Mark Vornholt of Delta; two grandsons; three granddaughters; and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta; and a daughter, Gail. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory is handling the arrangements. Visit the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at www. taylorfuneralservice.com.

James Veitch

Montrose resident James J. Veitch died March 12, 2018, at his home. He was 71. A celebration of life was held at The Turn of the Century Saloon in Montrose on March 15. James Joseph Veitch was born Feb. 20, 1947, to James and Lillie (Russell) Veitch in Los Angeles, Calif. He spent his childhood and attended school in Redondo Beach,

Calif. He moved to Lake Isabella, Calif., where he graduated from Kern Valley High School in 1964. On Nov. 13, 1963, he married Goldie Deal in Lake Isabella, Calif. They had three children, moved to Colorado in 1990 and later divorced in 1999. On Feb. 9, 2002, he married Eva Hicks in Delta. Mr. Veitch enjoyed being outdoors, whether it was fishing, hunting, or prospecting. He also enjoyed western history, woodworking, writing, poetry, antler crafts and spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Eva Veitch; son, Jeffry (Leta) Veitch; daughters, Sandra Veitch and Brandy (Matt) Giao; grandsons, Dakota and Justin Giao; and ex-wife/friend, Goldie Menesini. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorial contributions may be sent to Montrose Suicide Prevention Coalition, PO Box 1208, Montrose, CO 81402. Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory is handling the arrangements. Visit the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at www. taylorfuneralservice.com.

Duane Newton

Col. Duane F. Newton USMC (Ret.) died Feb. 10, 2018. He was 86. Mr. Newton was born in Delta on May 29, 1931, to John and Katie (Linkletter) Newton. He attended school in Delta, graduating in 1949. He attended Mesa Junior College on a basketball scholarship, and in 2000, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the college’s alumni association. After graduating, Mr. Newton went to flight school in Florida and Texas and joined the Marine Corps as a 2nd Lt. pilot. While he was stationed at El Toro, Calif., he married Joanne Morrison. He had seven tours of duty while stationed in El Toro. He served in Japan, Hawaii, England, Texas, South Carolina, California, Washington, D.C., and Rhode Island. He was the commissioned officer of the Black Sheep Squadron 214 from 1972-1973 and received many medals, including a Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam. Col. Newton finished his college education in the military, earning his bachelor’s in psychology from UC Fullerton and master’s in counseling from Vanderbilt College. After retiring from the Marine Corps, he served as the director of the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society in El Toro and Tustin, Calif., and

William Edward “Ed” Horton Aug. 13, 1942 ~ March 10, 2018 Ed Horton passed away peacefully March 10, 2018, at Willow Tree Care Center in Delta, with a good friend at his bedside and music playing. He was 75. There will be no memorial service. Born in Oceanside, Calif., to a musical family, he excelled as a track and field athlete, French horn player, singer and student, attending, competing and performing for Denver University, Citrus College and UC Santa Barbara. As a professional musician he was a member of the Santa Barbara and North Carolina symphony orchestras, and was a paid soloist with church choirs and vocal ensembles in the Los Angeles area, as well as making studio recordings for commercials and pop songs in Hollywood. He was a hanggliding enthusiast, and a deeply spiritual man. A resident of Delta

since the 1970s, Ed performed with brass and wind ensembles in Gunnison, Silverton and Delta, was for many years a member of the Grand Junction Symphony, and was a prominent member and supporter of the Valley Symphony. In recent years he sang with Dolce Voce, an a cappella singing group. Ed was also passionately interested in Native American archaeology and rock art of the area and was active in the Chipeta

Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society and the Utah Rock Art Research Association for many years. As a dear friend of Ed’s recently wrote: “It is hard to explain what exactly it was about him that people did respond to so much. In the last couple of years it was the innate dignity with which he faced his infirmities from Parkinson’s; people were impressed with his courage and restraint. While he was reserved and hardly ever spoke in groups, everywhere people who met him were attracted to his energy, his sense of humor, and especially his compassion...” He is survived by his brother James (Veronica) of Gunnison, his companion Leigh Ann Hunt, and three nieces and nephews. Paid obituary

Yuma, Ariz., for 11 years. The Newtons lived in Arizona for 24 years, enjoyed traveling in their RV and spent time at their mountain home in Payson, Ariz. Mr. Newton served as president of the Military Officers Association of America in Payson for seven years. He is survived by his daughter Noralyn; her children, Scott and Max Hirshik and Mia Whisenand; the children’s fathers, David Hirshik and James Whisenand; and extended family. Col. Newton will be interred at the Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego with full military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society or the charity of one’s choice.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

enjoyed cooking, baking, fishing, reading books and watching her husband draw. She is survived by her husband, Falcon of Delta; son, Ira Mattler; adopted son, Max Valdez; two adopted daughters, Kenna Gram and Trisa Heck; brother, Bill Mattler; sister, Lynn Shrader; six grandchildren; and extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, brother-in-law and sister. Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory is handling the arrangements. Visit the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at www. taylorfuneralservice.com.

A memorial service will be held April 14 at 10 a.m. at Thunder Mountain Church of Christ, 601 Palmer, Delta, with graveside services to be held at the Gunnison Cemetery at 3 p.m. the same day. Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory is handling the arrangements. Visit the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at www. taylorfuneralservice.com.

Linda Richards

Cedaredge resident Linda F. Richards, died March 15, 2018, at her daughter’s home in Cedaredge. She was 65. At her request, there will be no services. Linda F. Killmer was born June 28, 1952, to Larry Killmer in Japan. She spent her childhood in San Diego, Calif., and after high school, joined the U.S. Army. On June 22, 1997, she married Donald Richards in Gunnison County. She belonged to the Elks Lodge in Glenwood Springs and enjoyed art, drawing, painting, horses and making Indian jewelry. She is survived by her daughters, Cheri Woods and Michelle Warren; sister, Bonnie; five grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren. Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory is handling the arrangements. Visit the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at www. taylorfuneralservice.com.

Phil Espinoza

Phil Espinoza of La Sal, Utah, formerly of El Llano, Utah, died March 3, 2018, in Grand Junction. He was 73. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family. Mr. Espinoza is survived by sons, Marty and Dale; ex-wife, Lucy of La Sal, Utah; sisters, Belen Maestas and Elizaida Quintana, both of Espanola, and Melinda Rubalealba of Delta; brothers, Carlos Gonzales of El Rito, Clyde, Lawrence, Ricky, Louie and Danny Huff of Delta; and uncles, Jose Espinoza and Horacio Manzanares. Cremation has taken place.

Peggy MattlerShadowalker

Sharon Prosser

Sharon Kay Prosser died March 13, 2018, at Delta County Memorial Hospital. She was 73. She was born March 20, 1944, to Walter and Velma Rhoades in Burlington. They lived on a farm in Burlington until 1947 when they moved to Doyleville. On Sept. 1, 1962, she married David Prosser in Salida. They lived in Parlin until 1977, when they settled in Olathe. They sold the farm in Olathe after Mr. Prosser’s retirement and moved to Delta. Mrs. Prosser worked at Colorow Care Center for 28 years. When she was young, she enjoyed riding horses, 4-H and showing steers. She was on the livestock judging team, square dance team and demonstration team. She competed at the National Western Stock Show and was a 4-H exchange student. She enjoyed sports of all kinds, especially the Denver Broncos, picnics and spending time with family. Mrs. Prosser is survived by her husband, David Prosser; three sons, Dwayne (Janice) Prosser of Cedaredge, Tommy Prosser of Olathe and Randy Prosser of Thornton; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; siblings, Betty Prosser of Delta, Wayne (Leota) Rhoades of Crawford and Norman (Suzie) Rhoades of Paonia; and sister-inlaw, Phyllis Rhoades of Eckert. She was preceded in death by her brother, Gene Rhoades; and brother-in-law, William Prosser.

Clayton Sorensen

Delta resident Peggy L. Mattler-Shadowalker died March 15, 2018, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. She was 62. A celebration of life will be held at the family home on Aug. 27. She was born Aug. 27, 1955, in Las Vegas, Nev., to Art and Jacqueline Seilder. She spent her childhood in Fayetteville, Ark., and graduated from Fayetteville High School. On Aug. 27, 2005, she married Falcon Shadowalker in Delta. She

Longtime Paonia resident Clayton Sorensen died March 13, 2018, in Cedaredge. He was 54. Clayton Duane Sorensen was born Feb. 17, 1964, to Russell and Willa Sorensen in Gunnison. He moved to Paonia in 1967 and graduated from Paonia High School in 1982. He earned a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University in 1990. He was a mechanical engineer who owned and operated Enasco Systems, Inc. He was currently employed at Overholt Truss Co., designing trusses. In 1988, he married Cindie Hertel. They had three children and divorced in 2015. He is survived by his children, Eliya and Ariana Quinn of Gunnison, and Kai Morgan of Cedaredge; mother, Willa Sorensen (Bud VanDenBerg); brother, James Sorensen; best friends, Brian Owens and Jeff Carpenter; fiancee, Theresa Pekron of Arvada; and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, Russell Sorensen. A celebration of life will be held in the Paonia Town Park Sunday, May 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory is handling the arrangements.

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B6 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Delta County Independent

Baby & Me Tobacco Free program available to pregnant women Delta County Health Department offers the Baby & Me Tobacco Free Program™ to pregnant women in our community. The free evidenced-based, prenatal/postpartum program: • Assists pregnant smokers/tobacco users in quitting and staying quit. • Is available to any pregnant tobacco user or any pregnant woman who has smoked in the past 90 days. • Provides four prenatal cessation counseling sessions. If tobacco free at prenatal visits three

and four, women receive a $25 diaper voucher at each visit. • Provides 12 brief postpartum counseling visits, one per month for up to 12 months. If tobacco free, women receive a $25 diaper voucher at each visit. • Allows a support partner who uses tobacco and lives with the pregnant woman to enroll into the program, if applicable. This provides women with double the diaper vouchers, if the support partner also quits tobacco use.

Betsy Koos has been a Psychotherapist for over 40 years, specializing in a Solution-focused Approach to facilitate change.

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Koko Evans is a licensed acupuncturist committed to providing high quality care through acupuncture, �� herbal medicine, supplements, essential �� oils and nutrition.

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Research has proven that smoking remains the most common preventable cause of pregnancy complications and death among infants. Babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to be premature and underweight. Women enrolled in the Baby & Me Tobacco Free Program receive proven tools to assist them in successfully quitting smoking and staying quit following delivery and beyond. Program data/ outcomes that have been published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal have indicated decreased smoking rates among women, as well as improved birth outcomes and higher birth weights among babies born to mothers enrolled in the program. Delta County Health Department enrolled 19 women and three partners/family members in 2017. Four graduated the two-year program last year. The program is here to help protect your baby’s and your family’s health. The Baby & Me Tobacco Free Program can be a resource for pregnant smokers, to work together to reduce the burden of tobacco on our most precious population — unborn babies. Please contact Delta County Health Department at 970-874-2165 to make your first appointment.

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Photos by Pat Sunderland

A healthy outlook

Judy Wycoff, hospital volunteer (foreground) and Judy Chapman spin and pack blood work from the health fair participants in Delta. On the right, Dr. Jack Bradley of Good News Chiropractic was among the vendors providing free information and services at Bill Heddles Recreation Center. This year, a total of 1,930 residents took advantage of the health screenings available through DCMH health fairs in Paonia, Cedaredge and Delta, as well as the early blood draws in February.

Protecting our digital kids BY JULES ROSEN, MD Chief Medical Officer Mind Springs Health and West Springs Hospital

Around 2010, therapists and counselors in high schools and college campuses around the country started to see upward trends in depression and anxiety in our youth. Teen suicide rates have also increased. These disturbing trends seemingly coincide with the availability and usage of online platforms and media. So, might the trends in increased mental health problems and use of social media be merely coincidental, or are they related? A recent study of approximately 500,000 U.S. high school and college students alerted our communities that adolescents who spend more time on smart phones and other screens may be at higher risk for depression and suicidal thoughts. While conducted with students in eighth grade and higher, it’s believed the findings can be applied for younger children too. Information regarding each teen’s digital, social media and television usage, plus homework, sports/exercise, religious activities and face-to-face socialization hours per week was gathered. The analysis shows a clear association between time spent on social media with depression and suicidal-related behavior for both girls and boys, with

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girls being at higher risk, meaning they were most likely to increase their odds of depression the more time they were online. What is currently not clear is if the actual minutes or hours on social media is detrimental in and of itself, or is it the exposure to specific content like bullying or rejection that is associated with depression and suicide? With smartphones, tablets and laptops a basic part of everyday life, what should parents do? Putting restrictions on daily screen time (more on that later) may reduce risk for some teens, but for some others, social media may be a safe way to connect to other teens with similar interests that are not readily available close by. Although excessive screen time does appear to be a risk factor, this is only half of the story. The study also found that activities that do not involve social media or television were associated with a decreased risk of depressive symptoms. In professional parlance, these are called “protective factors.” Protective factors include face-to-face interaction and activities (team sports, clubs, hanging out with friends), religious beliefs, exercise and (sorry, kids) hours spent doing homework. The importance of constructive family engagement as a protective factor cannot be understated including meaningful time together, consistent discipline and managing marital and other discord in the home. Regular family dinners and engaging in conversation (without cell phone interruption) is a

powerful start. Spending time with your children to better understand the content of their screen time and setting rules for social media and television time (and sticking to those rules consistently) could protect them from some negative effects. A helpful guide to develop and track your family media plan is available at healthychildren.org in both English and Spanish. Looking more closely at our children’s social media use we must keep in mind that we, as the parents, are our offspring’s primary role models. Are we preoccupied with our smartphones? Do we turn them off during dinner or family time? Do we allow online media to interfere with family interaction? It is not an overstatement to say that understanding and working toward achieving protective factors in family life can literally make a lifeor-death difference. Consistently modeling digital behavior, monitoring the media content your children access, balancing on-line and off-line activities and positive family engagement can reduce the risks of depression and suicidal thoughts. It’s not easy but it’s a small price to pay for our kids’ lives in the world we live in today. Jules Rosen M.D. is chief medical officer of Mind Springs Health and West Springs Hospital, and clinical professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Rosen is available to meet with communities to further discuss important topics and can be reached at JRosen@MindSprings Health.org.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Delta County Independent

Bland nominated for Nightingale Award This year Delta County her for her excellence in Memorial Hospital’s nom- nursing care. She is an inee to the Nightingale advocate for her patients, Event was medical/surgical nurse Melissa Bland. She was nominated for the category of advocacy. Melissa looks at all aspects of the patient’s care, which includes bedside products that can provide additional comfort while the patient is in the hospital. She believes it is important to spend “real” time with the patient and allow them to voice their concerns, fears and expectations. For Melissa, “This is what it is all about.” “I would like to congratulate Melissa on her Melissa Bland nomination and thank

anticipating needs, and going above and beyond the required expectations. Melissa is just one example of the many nurses that go above and beyond everyday for the people that come to DCMH for care,” commented Jody Roeber, RN, MSN, the hospital’s chief clinical officer. On March 10, the annual Western Colorado Nightingale Awards banquet was held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Grand Junction. This event honors nurses who best exemplify the nursing values of Florence Nightingale, a 19th century nursing pioneer. Nurses across the state from all areas

Learn about integrative cancer care from DCMH providers

DCMH Grand Mesa Oncology Center presents an “Introduction to Integrative Cancer Care” featuring Helen Goldberg, M.D. and Abigail Seaver, R.N.D. (registered naturopathic doctor) on Saturday, March 31, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Grand Mesa Oncology building located just north of Delta County Memorial Hospital. Coffee and baked goods will be provided by Doghouse Espresso and the class is free to attend. Doctors Goldberg and Seaver are partnering to inform the public about the benefits of integrative cancer care. The term integrative medicine is used frequently, often with little explanation of what a patient should expect, especially, in regards to cancer care. In this seminar, they will highlight and explain some modalities that can help you heal and improve your overall health. The

speakers have extensive experience in integrative medicine. Before joining Grand Mesa Oncology in 2016, Dr. Goldberg practiced 20 years in San Antonio, Texas, two years in Boulder, and six years as a registered oncology nurse. She graduated magna cum laude from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and completed her residency in internal medicine and medical oncology fellowship at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Goldberg is certified through the American Board of Medical Oncology and completed a fellowship at Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. She is an active member of the Association of Naturopathic Oncology, the American Society of Integrative Oncology and the American Herbal Council. Abigail Seaver is a

naturopathic doctor who has been practicing family medicine in Ridgway for the past 12 years. She recently joined DCMH Family Medicine in Delta one day a month. She received her bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College in New York and her doctor of naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, Wash. She uses a holistic approach to prevent and treat disease and promote wellness in her patients including therapies such as clinical nutrition, botanical medicine and homeopathy. The workshop is open to all community members. For more information, contact Kaitlyn Jones, DCMH marketing specialist, at 399-2615, kejones@deltahospital. org; or Patti Kalahar, education/marketing manager, 874-2291 or pkalahar@deltahospital. org.

of nursing are nominated and recognized by their peers, managers, family or patients for their dedication to the nursing profession. The state Nightingale committee recognizes the clinical “bedside nurse” and nursing leaders for the categories of advocacy, leadership and innovation. This year there were 29 nominees from the Western Slope. Six winners (Luminaries) will go on to the state Nightingale event in Denver in May. “Delta County Memorial Hospital is very proud of their nominee and is blessed to have such a dedicated nursing staff that goes above and beyond for their patients and their community,” added Ramona Frazier RN, employee health/core measure coordinator at DCMH.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

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For a quote on all your printing needs call Randy Crespin at 874-4421.

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Hilltop’s Kaye Hotsenpiller recognized for leadership Colorado Nonprofit Association honored Kaye Hotsenpiller with the William Funk Award for Building Stronger Communities Friday, March 16, at the Colorado Nonprofit Week awards luncheon. The William Funk Award was established in 1991 to honor leaders and volunteers who unify people and organizations around a cause. Winners of the award are exceptional leaders capable of bringing together communities to define and solve problems. They listen carefully, are eager to do what is needed, and understand and respect the many diverse communities of Colorado. Hotsenpiller will be honored for her exceptional leadership and community work as the senior director of regional services at Hilltop Community Resources, which offers wide-ranging

human services programs that provide real world solutions designed to give people of all ages a chance at long-lasting success. “Kaye’s dedication is to the people we serve in our community,” said Jeremy Carroll of River Valley Family Health Center, who nominated Hotsenpiller for the award. “She advocates for our community members who don’t always have a voice. She leads our board with professionalism, integrity, honesty and by example.” Her dedication to western Colorado extends to her work with the Montrose Community Foundation. While serving as the president of the board of directors her efforts have nearly doubled the grants received. Over the course of the last year, Hotsenpiller has also volunteered over 125 hours through the Rural Philanthropy Days

program serving the San Juan region of Colorado. “William Funk always made the nonprofit community and its supporters his highest priority,” said Renny Fagan, president and CEO of the Colorado Nonprofit Association. “His vision of corporate giving in the context of building community changed charitable giving in Colorado, and his gifts of time and wise counsel strengthened many community-based nonprofits throughout the state.” Colorado Nonprofit Association will honor Hotsenpiller alongside Laurie Harvey, CEO of the Center for Work and Employment (CWEE), the other William Funk Award recipient for 2018. Six additional awards were presented to outstanding leaders on March 16 in conjunction with the association’s annual Colorado Nonprofit Week.

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B8 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Delta County Independent

Nursing scholarships awarded The Ideal You

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Want to advertise in the DCI? Contact one of our ad reps at 874-4421.

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Technical College of the Rockies hosts a scholarship luncheon for its practical nursing students annually. The local community has been extremely generous and supportive of the Technical College and the nursing program. This year, through community sponsored organizations, 25 scholarships were awarded to TCR practical nursing students, for a total of $15,200. • Delta Rotary was represented by John Triebwasser, Nancy Wood, and Rob Turner. They awarded two scholarships of $1,500 each to Stephanie Doyal and Sierra Shaw. • Barclay/Davis Nursing Excellence Award was presented by Shari Barclay and Judy Davis. This scholarship went to Vickie Hagan in the amount of $500, and Jessica Williams in the amount of $250. This scholarship is awarded to a student with high academic standing in the program. Donations may be made to this scholarship through TCR at any time. • Horizons Care Center, represented by Leah Davis RN, presented nine scholarships. Vickie Hagan received a scholarship for $150. Amanda Evans, Morgan Fields, Ruth Hernandez, Laura Kruthaupt, Sonia Lopez and Jessica Williams each received a $250 scholarship. Shelby Christianson and Stephanie Doyal were awarded $1,000 each.

• Beta Sigma Phi of Montrose was represented by Joan Pride and Ruth Heath. They honored Amanda Evans and Kyla Kille with a $500 scholarship each. These scholarships come from their annual pecan sales. • North Fork Valley Rotary Club was represented by Felix Belmont who honored Gail Pagone and Tarra Daniels with a $1,000 scholarship each. Both students are from the North Fork area. • Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge 1235 was represented by Clarence Mansker who awarded Amanda Evans a scholarship for $500. • Bank of Colorado was represented by Rob Turner, president of the bank. Turner awarded Kyla Kille a scholarship for $500. • Preceptor Gamma Alpha Chapter of Beta

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floor at VA Hospital. • The Katie Jo Park Memorial Nursing Scholarship was presented by Jessica and Derek Carlson and Donna Park. Their first year scholarship was awarded to Gail Pagone in the amount of $1,000. Park was a graduate of the practical nursing program in 1999. She went on to get her RN and worked in the renal unit of Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs for the past 15 years. • The Kelly Williams Memorial Scholarship. Jeanne Nortrup was present to present the scholarship on behalf of herself and Sherrey Williams of Northern California. Vickie Hagan and Ruth Hernandez were honored with $500 each. The nursing staff and students at TCR would like to thank the community for its generosity and support.

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Pictured are the Horizons Care Center scholarship presenter and recipients: (left to right) Shelby Christianson, Amanda Evans, Stephanie Doyal, Leah Davis, RN of Horizons, Ruth Hernandez, Morgan Fields, Laura Kruthaupt and Sonia Lopez.

Behavioral health available to all The Delta County health care system has been transforming over the last three years. Access to behavioral health care for all residents has dramatically increased. In part, this is due to the efforts of four agencies that received a federal grant in May 2015, the Rural Health Services Outreach Grant, from the federal office of Rural Health Care Policy under HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration). This federal grant allowed Families Plus, Delta County Memorial Hospital, Stoney Mesa Family Practice and Delta Health and Wellness Center to pilot expanded access to behavioral health professionals. Half of their efforts concentrated on bringing licensed therapists into medical clinics, while the other half focused on further expanding access to Families Plus mental health/mentoring services for children who have barriers to full health care.

Agencies worked together to implement the grant and through steady efforts accomplished all of the objectives of this federal grant program and more. In May 2015 Delta residents could find a behavioral health professional integrated in only two medical clinics. By the conclusion of the grant, grant agencies offered a behavioral professional to patients in seven clinics. In addition, five other clinics now offer behavioral health professionals. Most Delta County residents can meet with a therapist for behavioral health care right in their own doctor’s office. Last year, 2,724 individuals were screened to have depres-

sion and offered followup care in medical clinics associated with the Rural Outreach grant. During the last year through the efforts of Delta County Memorial Hospital and the three clinics participating in the grant, a behavioral health summit was organized. Through a strategic decision making process lead by Dr. John VanDenBerg, nine local agencies came together with a plan to further increase access to behavioral health care services throughout Delta County. A funding application has been submitted that would allow agencies in Delta County to further current efforts to bring access to therapists and create programs

restart. However, it is also the designated seaSpringtime naturally son for Daylight Saving represents a time for time — beginning on the renewal, refresh, and second Sunday in March and running until the last Sunday in October. While spring may feel exciting, and the perfect boost to jump out of our winter slump as our clocks “spring forward,” we also lose an extra hour of sleep each night. Shorter sleeps are associated with a higher risk of heart attacks and injuries. A 2016 study found that the overall rate for stroke was 8 percent higher in the two days after daylight saving time. Additional studies also link decreased sleep with negative effects on cognitive ability, physical and mental health, and even relationships in the workplace. We have all heard the saying that knowledge is power, so how can we use this knowledge to benefit our health? The answer is practicing healthy sleep hygiene habits! Sleep hygiene refers to a variety of different practices and habits that are necessary to have quality nighttime sleep and maximum daytime alertness. Most adults need �� seven to nine hours of sleep to function prop�� erly. However, each person has his own specific �� needs for daily function-

BY MADDIE WHITE, MSW A Kidz Clinic

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to assist frequent users of crisis services, and to assist youth who have involvement in illegal use of substances. Agencies ready to invest in these new health care access efforts are Families Plus, Delta County Memorial Hospital, Delta School District 50J, Center for Mental Health, Delta Sheriff ’s Office, Delta Police Department, Delta County Health Department, Stoney Mesa Family Practice, and Delta Health and Wellness Center. For more information about these ongoing efforts please contact any of these agencies or the Families Plus office at 874-0464 or familiesplus colorado@gmail.com.

How to stay grounded while springing forward

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Sigma Phi was represented by Christi Schmidt and Ruth Ward. Together they awarded Tarra Daniels a scholarship for $300. Four memorial scholarships were also awarded to nursing students at Technical College of the Rockies. • The Alice Penick Memorial Nursing Scholarship presented by the Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO) BK Chapter of Delta, represented by Barb Sanford, Starla Bacon and Susan Triebwasser, honored Laura Kruthaupt with $500. • The Cory Brown Memorial Scholarship was presented by Sylvia Trujillo to Fawnalea Hall in the amount of $1,000. Trujillo graduated from the nursing program and knows the financial struggles of students going through the program. She works on the med surg

ing and this may vary according to individual contexts. Regardless, there are a number of ways to improve sleep hygiene. A few tips are as follows: • Leave a couple of hours between eating and going to bed. Our metabolic processes jumpstart our bodily systems and can keep us awake. • Turn off electronics before heading to bed. The lights our devices emit promote natural wakefulness. • Make your bedroom all about sleep. • Practice deep breathing or stretches before going to sleep to help promote relaxation. • Keep a piece of paper next to your bed to write down all of your thoughts before going to sleep. This habit helps manage your worries so you can set them aside for the next day. These few simple changes can make the difference between a good night’s sleep and a night spent tossing and turning. Sleep provides the foundation for all of our daily habits and decision. The abrupt transition into Daylight Saving Time may not be our choice, but we have the power to make decisions about the quality of our sleep.

SURFACE CREEK March 21, 2018

NEWS

Section

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Community invited to conversation about economy The business community and the public — anyone interested in learning how we collectively can create a more economically robust Surface Creek Valley — is invited to a community meeting on Tuesday, March 27, at 6 p.m. at the Civic Center in Cedaredge. At that meeting, the results of the recent Surface Creek consumer and business survey will be presented by Greg Brinck, administrator for the Town of Cedaredge, and Kami Collins, executive director of the Cedaredge Area Chamber of Commerce. The two entities have teamed up to facilitate a conversation about how they, the business community, and consumers within the Surface Creek can more effectively work together to enhance and support the local economy.

After survey results are presented, the community is invited to engage in an honest and open dialog about what’s working well within the Surface Creek and what areas we can improve upon. From this discussion, the group will identify their top priorities and then develop communitydriven action steps to begin addressing those needs. “The survey has now closed, so the best way to have a voice in how the community moves forward is to attend this meeting and get involved,” Collins said. However, if you cannot attend the March 27 meeting but are interested in helping and/or submitting feedback, please email Brinck at manager@townofcedaredge. com or Collins at cedaredge areachamber@gmail.com.

Photo by Don Benjamin

Work zone

Work is progressing on the beautification project at the intersection of Highway 65 and West Main Street in downtown Cedaredge. This elevated view looking south along Highway 65 shows the pedestrian and vehicle merge lane improvements being excavated on the right. Westbound traffic continues to flow through the intersection but the eastbound portion of the intersection is closed while northbound and southbound traffic is periodically diverted along town surface streets. Town officials remind drivers and pedestrians to be cautious and alert near the work site. And the Cedaredge Area Chamber of Commerce encourages residents to continue to support the half-dozen local businesses that are temporarily impacted by the construction. The project remains on schedule for completion in mid-May.

Sandhill cranes in the spotlight BY DON BENJAMIN Staff Writer

Bird enthusiasts gathered last weekend to celebrate the seventh annual Eckert Crane Days. Although the sandhill cranes proved somewhat elusive, the human attendance was comparable to past years. Crowds surrounding Fruitgrowers Reservoir east of Eckert were estimated at 50 souls on Friday; 200 on Saturday; and another 40 on a stormy Sunday. Using telescopes and binoculars, people of all ages (and a wide assortment of dogs) assembled in viewing areas and gazed into the distance as cranes landed, fed, and took off again on their journey north. Considering that as many as 1,000 cranes were counted on March 11

and again on March 12, the numbers sighted during the March 16-18 weekend were not particularly spectacular. During Crane Days the largest daily count, which occurred on Saturday night and Sunday morning, was around 300. But — regardless of the number sighted — people who flocked to the area to observe the handsome birds seemed content to enjoy the comradeship of like-minded crane lovers. Although the official Crane Days celebration has ended for this year, the birds can still be observed at Fruitgrower’s Reservoir and adjacent fields for the remainder of March. And, based on previous years’ sightings, their overnight visits may continue until the closing days of April. The birds

Photo by Don Benjamin

This family of bird watchers kept a close eye on sandhill cranes ﬂocking east of Eckert. From left to right are Anja (age 7), Craig, Whittier (age 4), and Shannon Ullmann of Hotchkiss. generally arrive each day in the late afternoon between 3

Land Cruiser builders are back in business BY DON BENJAMIN Staff Writer

Jeremiah and Chandra Proffitt are back at 21474 Austin Road with an expanded building and the same commitment to service that earned them a national and international reputation for quality vehicle restoration and modification. The Proffitt name has been associated with custom-built vehicles since 1995 and, after experimenting with various business models, the company has returned to its roots under the banner of “Resurrection Land Cruisers.” Jeremiah explains that the term “resurrection” has two meanings. “It stands for the reestablishment of our business and it summarizes our mission of restoring and enhancing Toyota Land Cruisers.” Land Cruiser owners are a special breed of enthusiasts who treasure their vehicles whether these are vintage models that rolled off Japanese assembly lines from 1958 to 1983 or newer versions built from 1984 to the present day. Owners contact Resurrection to enter into custom contracts to transform their Land Cruisers from ordinary to astonishing. Resurrection’s team of skilled mechanics and specialized workers perform auto body work, upgrade mechanics, and add custom paint and fabrication. “We have a reputation for building the best Land Cruisers in the world,” said Jeremiah and to prove it he offered a tour of the company’s enlarged Austin facility. The original building has been expanded to add offices, a showroom, and a paint shop and every corner of the spacious facility features a work in progress. Next to each vehicle is a set of shelves and bins holding parts for a custom build: everything from fenders to roll-bars to the smallest bolt.

Photo by Don Benjamin

The team of Chandra and Jeremiah Profﬁtt have joined with other crew members to expand their Resurrection Land Cruisers business in Austin. The company does custom work restoring and modifying Toyota Land Cruisers. Each project takes about six months to complete. Old, damaged or rusted parts are stripped off and new parts mounted, bolted, and welded in their place. Much of the original vehicle is retained so that each Land Cruiser, whether vintage or modern, maintains its unique look. But braking systems, transmissions, drive trains, mufflers, power steering, dashboards, and a multitude of other upgrades are added to make each vehicle more functional and safer. If the customer desires, old motors are removed and new more powerful and efficient engines are added. The result is a combination of restoration and modification. “We take a vehicle someone loves and make it safer, more practical, more fun to drive, more quiet to operate, and tighter,” Jeremiah said, “Our crew is passionately involved with every vehicle.” Although one of Resurrec-

tion’s passionate employees commutes from Salt Lake City, the rest are local residents from Delta, Olathe and Montrose. Jeremiah and Chandra live in Powderhorn (the town near Lake City, not the ski area) with their children Lili and Paden. Resurrection started with six employees, now they’re up to 11 with plans to add others to their growing team. Before starting his business, Jeremiah taught school in Delta and Cedaredge. He got interested in restoration and custom building when he began working on his own vintage Land Cruiser. He is a self-taught mechanic who loved his high school auto shop classes. The company has a website: www.resurrectionland cruisers.com. For more information call 970-596-7363 or email jeremiah@reurrection landcruisers.com.

p.m. and dusk. They spend the night and take off around 11 a.m. when upper air currents are ideal to aid them in their journey over Grand Mesa. The Audubon Society estimates that as many as 20,000 cranes — in groups large and small — will pass through Delta County this spring on their way to breeding grounds further north. The Crane Days event was a local and regional community effort. The Montrose-based Black Canyon Chapter of the Audubon Society provided spotting scopes, interpretive experts, and crane literature throughout the weekend. The Graystone of Eckert hosted a winemaker’s reception on Friday featuring Bret Neal

of Cedaredge’s Stoney Mesa Winery. Stacy’s on Main from Cedaredge sold coffee and treats at the viewing site. And the Cedaredge ‘Craniacs’ were on hand to sell origami fashioned paper cranes as a fundraiser for the new Grand Mesa Arts and Events Center. A highlight of Saturday, March 17, was a free barbeque lunch hosted by Conscience Bay Company, the new owners of Hart’s Mountain Ranch. A combination of crane watchers and other local residents attended the luncheon. David Price, owner of Zack’s Texas Style Barbeque of Hotchkiss, catered the event and he estimated the number served at 211 diners.

Photo by Don Benjamin

A crowd of crane watchers lined a hilltop near Fruitgrower’s Reservoir last Saturday to observe a distant ﬂock of sandhill cranes during Eckert Crane Days.

Photo by Don Benjamin

A combination of crane watchers and local residents enjoyed a free barbeque luncheon hosted last Saturday by Conscience Bay Company (the new owners of Hart’s Basin Ranch) and catered by Zack’s of Hotchkiss.

C2 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

Delta County Independent

Friends and Flowers Garden Club report The Friends and Flowers Garden Club was founded in 1964. It meets monthly on the third Friday, at 1:30 p.m. at various member’s homes or carpools for special outings. These outings have included going to Grand Mesa to see the wild flowers or touring local wineries. There are a variety of program at the meetings. The members enjoyed a special

program by Chris Van Verth at the last meeting. She gave a program on antique marbles, several of which were more than 100 years old. Club members also enjoy an annual picnic during the summer, a harvest dinner in November and a Christmas luncheon in December. Members always enjoy sharing thoughts and ideas regarding flowers, trees and shrubs and

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how to care for them. The club is now in the process of sponsoring one of its members to become a Master Gardener. The club also has members who volunteer with a small garden at Horizons Care Center in Eckert during the summer months. “Please come and visit with us at one of our meetings,” said Marsha Thomas. “We have a good time and are also a huge support group for each other.” For information contact co-presidents Sandy Thrasher at 970-2163800 or Chris Van Verth at 970-901-9592.

Photo submitted

Rotary Student of the Month

Ricardo Lopez Jr., of Cedaredge High School, received the Cedaredge Rotary Club Student of the Month award for February. The award is given to recognize students for their academic achievement, community involvement and leadership ability. Pictured from the left are Amanda Cerise, counselor at Cedaredge High School; Paul Lyons, past president, Cedaredge Rotary; Ricardo Lopez Jr.; Laura Lopez (Ricardo’s mom); and Letty Sperry (Ricardo’s aunt).

Cedaredge designates five downtown buildings as historic BY DON BENJAMIN Staff Writer

The Cedaredge trustees held a regular meeting last week during which they approved resolutions designating five downtown buildings as historic structures. The town’s historic preservation board recommended the buildings and provided research into each structure’s background. Full copies of the research — including historic photographs — are available for viewing at town hall and will eventually be posted on the town website. The buildings are: • Cedaredge First National Bank (1912) at 110 West Main Street; • Blanchard & Stockham Building (1906) at 205 West Main Street; • John Davis Pharmacy (1910) at 215 West Main Street; • James Theater (1910) at 225 West Main Street; and • U.S. Post Office (1913) at 120 West Main Street. In other action, the trustees approved resolutions defining employee golf benefits and revising the town’s facility rental procedures. Under an approved resolution, the

minimum work requirement to receive employee golf benefits was increased and language was added to stress that benefits are limited to greens fees only. The benefit is extended to qualified employees as an incentive to attract and retain employees. A resolution revised the town’s facilities rental process to make it more manageable for staff and the public. Efforts were also made to make town facility rental rates comparable to rates charged by local private entities. Facilities which are available for an hourly and daily rental fee include: • Cedaredge Centennial Room; • Surface Creek Room; • Dining hall (with or without kitchen use or with kitchen use only); • Band stand; and • Lions’ Pavilion The trustees also approved an emergency ordinance authorizing the town to enter into a loan agreement with the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority to finance the Highway 65 waterline replacement project. Town administrator Greg Brinck explained that the aggregate princi-

pal amount of the loan will not exceed $879,368. However, the agreement also stipulates that the development authority will forgive the principal amount of $370,578.84 thereby substantially reducing the town’s loan obligation. Moreover, the town has received an additional grant of just over $300,000 to help fund this project. As a result of loan forgiveness and the grant, the actual cost to the town will be around $150,000. Trustee and treasurer Patti Michael reported that town revenue collections, budgeted expenditures, and monetary accounts are in order. She noted that sales tax for February was down by 3.51 percent which is lower than previous yearto-date collections. The reason is slow automobile sales. Phyllis Hoffman, representing the Cedaredge Area Chamber of Commerce, reported that the chamber is drafting a strategic plan. AppleFest vendor applications are already being sought for the October event. The chamber is seeking greater representation in regional business activities and the chamber has partnered with the Town of Cedaredge to conduct a Surface Creek consumer and business survey. The survey is now closed and the results will be presented and discussed at a public community meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 27 at the Cedaredge Civic Center. The trustees received written reports on the golf course and in-person reports from other town department heads. Public works co-director Scott Lock reported that all lab equipment for the wastewater treatment facility has been installed and, after a period of processing lab results both locally and in Grand Junction to double-check results, the

town is now able to process water samples without reliance on outside labs. A March 2 water leak caused by an excavation which relied on an inaccurate map of water lines was quickly repaired. Chief of police Dan Sanders reported that some traffic re-routing issues have arisen due to construction at the intersection of Highway 65 and Main Street and traffic patterns will continue to vary as construction proceeds. The good news that the project is on schedule for completion which means traffic will hopefully return to normal in midMay. The police department is in the process of hiring a new administrative assistant and training for the new K-9 dog and officer is going well. The fire department was recently placed on standby twice due to incidents in Delta and locally firefighters have dealt with a few controlled agricultural burns that flared up after not being properly extinguished. Town administrator Greg Brinck reported that the town’s website redesign will launch in September and that the town clerk/economic development coordinator will soon be hired. Brinck noted that in addition to town construction projects which are underway and on schedule, Cedaredge is experiencing a modest increase in residential starts. Constituent Larry Claxton, representing the Cedaredge Community Garden, report that the garden is entering its 10th year of operation. He asked if consideration could be given to the garden’s water needs in terms of hooking up a new water line and possibly discussing the cost of water. Mayor Gene Welch stated that these concerns would be discussed at the April trustees’ work session.

Photo by Don Benjamin

Wearin’ of the green

For 46 years the wearing of the green has been a tradition in downtown Cedaredge and last week was no exception. On March 16, the Zeta Omicron chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha — a philanthropic sorority — invited residents to attend its Irish stew fundraiser. The sign outside Masonic Hall said ‘Irish blessings on all who enter’ and Mary Callahan (left) and Barb Cairns welcomed diners with shamrocks and smiles. In addition to the annual Saint Patrick’s Day luncheon, the sorority also sponsors the Edge of Cedars art show. The proceeds of their endeavors fund vocational scholarships for local students and beneﬁt other local nonproﬁt organizations.

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

Delta County Independent

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Birds of the Western Slope A look at local birds with Evelyn Horn First Big Flock It’s always such fun! I look forward all year long for the cranes to return. I know that they will, but my, the days without cranes seem so long! And so I try to go wherever they are: Monte Vista and the Bosque del Apache, Steamboat Springs and places farther from home. I guess I’m never satisfied! But “our” cranes are here now, The Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes numbering around 20,000. Usually we get 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 of the flock, so we can figure 10,000 to 13,000. (Not to be confused with the Lesser Sandhill Cranes of Platte River fame which number around 500,000). And our first big flock is at Hart’s Basin (Fruitgrowers Reservoir) right now. And I’m

awake — unusual for me, the sleepy head! I find some warm clothes and slip out the back door. My husband, Allen, said, “It’s early.” I reply, “I’m a crane-iac! Bye.” Last night the count was 1,000 birds and so I’m anxious to get to the reservoir. And nobody’s home! Mallard drakes, Canada geese, common merganser, red-winged blackbirds but not a single crane. Maybe they were spooked, but that’s really not likely. I’ve watched them enough that I can see them even when they aren’t here. I close my eyes and in my mind’s eye I can see gray humps in the cool gray of predawn. One head comes up and the bird looks around. Head back under wing. A crane must rest when a crane can rest.

The birds are probably foraging in Vela’s corn field that I can see from Crane Point. And here they are! The field is thick with them! How beautiful they are! I put up the spotting scope. But all of the heads are down as they forage. Their backs look level to the ground, their long necks stretched out to forage and their heads are barely visible. All of the cranes are foraging. A crane must eat when a crane can eat. I go on home and lie down to rest. Allen calls from the dining room, Cranes! I hurry out and one group is nearly over the mesa. They form a “V” and now they vanish into the gray storm clouds. A crane must fly. 1,000 birds Monday. 1,100 Tuesday. Hope for Cranes Days!

Photo by Sandy Wilt

Majestic sight

Cedaredge photographer Sandy Wilt captured a ﬂight of sandhill cranes as they came in to spend the night at Fruitgrowers Reservoir in Hart’s Basin last week. As many as 13,000 cranes will pass through in March on their way north after wintering in New Mexico.

Orchard City trustees urge citizens to vote BY RICK SMITH Contributing Writer

The March meeting of the Orchard City Board of Trustees was held on March 14. All board members were present with approximately 25 constituents attending. During constituent time, Tim Hintz thanked the board for its work in the last year, stating that it was an interesting year. He also agreed that he was “pro and con” on the current ballot issues, eliciting chuckles from those attending. Resolutions 2018-03, Purchasing Policy and 2018-04, Credit Card Policy, were both approved. Trustee Bob Eckels summarized the earlier water committee meeting information. Water commissioner James Holiman reported to the committee that reservoirs were at 30 percent of normal, with Park Reservoir at 9.1 inches. There is also a potential conflict over the piping of the Lake Fork Pipeline ditch. It is recommended the board take a neutral position on the issue. Trustee Gary Tollefson stated that rails on several bridges in the town need to be updated by 2021. There was a discussion on adding two more bridges that were not on the inventory. Tr u s t e e To m

Bid now on art center online auction The Grand Mesa Arts and Events Center Online Auction is underway and bidding is open until March 31. Items include a hot air balloon ride, a fly fishing trip on the Gunnison with Black Canyon Anglers, karate lessons, a family portrait package by Reve, personal training and pilates classes by Gena Rose, a guided tour of the Indian writings of the Shavano Valley, a Ross fly fishing reel, a car care package, and more! For information or to bid on items go to www. charityauction.bid/grand mesaartscenter.

Saddle club annual meeting The Surface Creek Saddle Club will have its annual meeting at the Bank of Colorado in Cedaredge on Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m. The agenda includes the election of the 2018 board of directors. All members are encouraged to attend.

Huerkamp spoke on the DCED meeting and that a new assistant director has been hired. Town administrator Melissa Oelke reported that the HAZMAT obligation has been met. Mayor Ken Volgamore wanted to recognize the Hungry Lion for its donation of historical pictures currently on display at the town hall. Under trustee comments, trustees Huerkamp, Thomassen, and Fuller all encouraged the citizens of Orchard City to vote. Trustee Full-

er also mentioned that the soccer program has started. He appreciates the efforts of the Town Park for working with the soccer program. Trustee Dick Kirkpatrick responded to a letter to the editor published in the Delta County Independent, explaining the fiduciary responsibilities of the board and the decisions behind the water rate changes. The rates remain the second lowest in the county, and the rate for those using 0 to 60K gallons were actually reduced.

Pastor and wife honored

Photo by Don Benjamin

Pastor Dik Abbott and his wife Christy were honored by their family and members of Cedaredge First Baptist Church at an afternoon reception in the church’s Wick Hall on Sunday, March 18. Pastor Abbott (fourth from the right in the back row) and his wife beside him in the center of the back row were celebrating 20 years in ministry in Cedaredge and nearly 35 total years of ministry. Joining in the joyous event were their son Aaron, wife Hayley, and three children from Enid, Okla.; daughter Rebecca and husband Brian, and three children from Grand Junction; daughter Jordan Lyn of Cedaredge; and Christy’s sister Connie and her husband Steve Casey of Glenwood Springs.

DELTA COUNTY ��

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Wednesday, March 21, 2018

C6 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

SPORTS

SPORTS March 21, 2018

Delta County Independent

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Eagles open with 7-1 win over Delta nine ther Josh Reeder. In the bottom of the fourth, Miller hit a two-run double, and Schopp drove Miller home on a one-run single to give Paonia a 6-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Grey Neal singled to score Derek Holt from third, giving the Eagles a 7-0 lead. After his home run, the Panthers walked Seriani in the third and fourth innings. In the bottom of the fifth, with two outs, bases loaded, and the potential winning runners on base, Seriani (who was allowed to bat) sent an outside pitch out to center field. Centerfielder Dylan Hollenbeck made a running catch just inside the fence to send the game into the sixth inning. The Panther’s one run came in the top of the seventh, with Hollenbeck

hitting a line drive triple with one out, then scoring on a single by Matt The defending Class Easter. 2A state champion Paonia Senior Jaspar CarEagles opened the seamichael opened on the son Thursday with a 7mound for Delta with 1 home win over Delta. three walks, five strikeSenior Kaden Seriani, outs, and five hits in one of four returning three innings. Andrew all-state players for the Bair closed with four Ks, Eagles, allowed four hits three walks and four hits. in five innings and struck On offense, Kolby Keller out 10. was 2 for 3 with one douIn the bottom of the ble, and Hollenbeck was first inning, senior Slater 2 for 3 with one run and Podgorny opened with a one triple. single, then stole second Schopp pitched the Photo by Tamie Meck base. With one out, Jaden final two innings for the Hotchkiss freshman Yahir Chavez scores a second-inning run in the Bulldogs’ Miller doubled, and in his Eagles, allowing two hits 7-1 home opener over Rifle. The Bulldogs host Dayspring Christian Academy first at bat for the season, and one earned run and a 4 p.m. Friday, and host Coal Ridge on March 27. Seriani hit a three-run striking out three. homer over center field. Miller was 3 for 4 with In the third inning the two doubles, two RBIs, Eagles took a 4-0 lead on and three runs; Seriani an RBI double off the bat was 2 for 2 with two RBIs of Anders Schopp. and two runs; and PodIn the fourth inning, gorny was 2 for 3 with Seriani struck out three of two runs and two stolen four batters and allowed bases. one hit, a single by Panon one-run double. Josh Roaring Fork on March BY TAMIE MECK Pachl hit a single, and 14, the Bulldogs had 13 DCI Sports Writer The Hotchkiss Bull- Pene scored Chavez on a hits and three errors. dogs struck out 11 and double. Pachl scored on Presley Pene allowed four allowed five hits in last an error, and Kirk drove hits, four earned runs and Wednesday’s non-confer- in Pene on a one-run sin- three walks and struck ence, 7-1 win against the gle to give Hotchkiss a out five in 3.1 innings; 5-1 lead. Jesus Macias struck out visiting Rifle Bears. In the third inning five and allowed one hit Eli Kirk allowed one hit and one run, walked Rifle left a runner on and one run. Jamison allowed one four and struck out six third base. Guereque Yanish in the first three innings opened the bottom of the earned run and walked of the game. Luke Ellis third on a double, then three. To begin the game, scored Rifle’s only run took advantage of Bears in the first inning on an errors to score, giving the the Bulldogs scored two runs in the first inning, error at third base after Bulldogs a 6-1 lead. Gonzalez took the and added five runs in tagging second on a flymound in the top of the the third. The Rams out by Derek Wagler. Hotchkiss tied the fourth, allowing no hits answered with two runs game in the bottom of the and striking out two in the third and four runs in the fourth to trail, 8-7. first, with Presley Pene Bears. With one out in the Hotchkiss scored its final opening with a standing double, then scoring from bottom of the fourth, Kirk two runs in the sixth third on a sacrifice fly to singled, stole second, and inning. The defense held center field by Jonathan took advantage of errors the Rams scoreless in the to score. The Bears ended last two innings for the Photo by Tamie Meck Gonzalez. In the second inning, the inning on a 6-4-3 dou- win. Senior Slater Podgorny slides under the glove of Panthers’ shortstop Skyler Gonzalez was 3 for 3 Eli Kirk struck out three ble play. Kraai in Paonia’s 7-1 win last Thursday against Delta. Gonzalez allowed including a double, one batters, leaving two Rifle two hits in the final two run and four RBIs for the players stranded. Bulldogs junior Mar- innings and ended the game. Kirk scored three vin Guereque opened game with five Ks and no runs and hit a double, a triple and had one RBI. the second with a walk, walks. Hotchkiss is 2-0 head- Pene was 3 for 4 with three freshman Yahir Chavez singled, and Brian Gon- ing into this week’s play. runs and Guereque was 3 In their 10-7 win at for 4 and scored one run. zalez scored Guereque Holly Jenkins was A fourth place finBY WAYNE CRICK fourth in discus with a ish went to the BruDCI Sports Editor ins 4x100m relay team Last Saturday’s track throw of 101-05. and Jordan Finishing fifth in run- (46.78) meet in Delta featured 14 teams. Montrose High ning events were Kylin McMillan was fifth in the School won both the girls Mitchell (1600m), Han- 400m competition in a and boys divisions with nah Hatheway (3200m), time of 55.95. Sixth-place finishes 176 and 116.5 points, Aspen Furubotten (100m respectively. All the other hurdles) and the 4x100 went to Wyatt Camp in participating teams were and 4x200m relay teams. the 100m and Josh Deal Placing fifth in field and Josh Jenkins were more than 15 points off the leaders with Cedar- events were Darrian Bul- sixth in high jump and edge’s 107 points a long bulian (long jump) and long jump competitions, ways off the Indians Grace Andrews (discus). respectively, on SaturSixth place finishes in day. score in the girls race and Earning seventh place the boys’ 116.5 points 15 running events went to points better than sec- Taelor Mills and Baylee finishes were Drew Marond-place Cedaredge’s Harris who tied (split kley (200m) and Blake sixth and seventh place Gash (300m hurdles). 101.5. The Bruins earned Host Delta High points) in the 100m hureighth-place points in School finished third in dles. Andrews was a sixth three events; 800m both divisions with the Photo by Wayne Crick girls recording 104 points place finisher in shot (Tevin Keller), 110m high hurdles (Gash) and triple Cedaredge’s Danny Mendoza (left) skims the hurdle ahead of Hotchkiss’ Jace and the boys collecting 73 put. Peebles and Delta’s Jesse Phillips in the 110m high hurdles on Saturday in Dalia Alejandre was jump (Ryan Imhoff). points. Cedaredge’s next Delta. Mendoza finished first (17.18) with Peebles second (17.68) and Phillips Hotchkiss and Tellu- seventh in shot put. Eighth place finishes appearance on an oval third (19.76). Mendoza was a double-winner for the Bruins with a first-place ride tied for fourth with 48 points in the girls went to Kylee Hanson in is this Saturday, March finish in the 300m hurdles (43.52). chase and Hotchkiss was the 800m run and Han- 24, when all four Delta fourth with 66 points in nah Gardner in shot put. County schools converge Senior Danny Men- on Hotchkiss High School the boys division. Paonia’s girls were doza posted the Bruins’ for the Bulldog Invitasixth in that division lone double-win day with tional beginning at 9 with 41 points and the victories in the 110 high a.m. Eagles boys had 29 points hurdles and the 300m to place ninth in the boys hurdles. Mendoza’s winning times were 17.18 division. Cedaredge’s girls and 43.52, respectively. Other first place finhad 16 top five placers in Saturday’s meet with ishes went to Ty Grant Katie Hyke’s first-place (100m, 11.47) and the finish in shot put leading Bruins 4x200m relay the way. Hyke tossed the team and its winning shot 36-08.5 to win the time of 1:35.05. There were three secevent and placed second in discus with a throw of ond-place finishes for Cedaredge, including 112-05. Other second place fin- Grant’s runner-up finishes for the Bruins in ish in the 200m (22.93), running events included the 4x800m relay team Camie Baldozier (800m, (9:09.68) and Josh Jen2:42.10), the 4x400 relay kins throw of 39-4.5 in (4:37.54) and the 4x800 shot put competition. Photo by Wayne Crick Freshman Alex Barron relay (10:57.34). Third place finishes jumped 5-10 in high jump Cedaredge’s Darrian BulPhoto by Wayne Crick went to Kimmy Milhol- competition to finish third bulian sails through the land in the 100m dash and Cedaredge’s 4x400m air on her way to a fifth Cedaredge senior Hannah Hatheway receives the baton from junior Courtney (14.34) and Shannon Goff relay team was third in a place finish (14-4.25) in Freeman during last Saturday’s 4x400m relay at the Delta Invitational track long jump in Delta. meet. The Bruins finished second (10:57.34) to Gunnison in the race. time of 3:58.60. in triple jump (29-9).

BY TAMIE MECK

DCI Sports Writer

Cedaredge thinclads 2nd at Delta meet

Bulldogs win a pair in hardball play last week

SPORTS

Delta County Independent

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Delta track teams 3rd at home BY WAYNE CRICK DCI Sports Editor

Delta High School’s girls track team scored the bulk of its 104 points with wins coming in first through third place finishes (72 points). Delta’s boys scored 56 of their 73 points with first and second place finishes on Saturday. Kaley St. Peter earned

Delta’s only first place finish for the girls in long jump with a leap of 16-3. Remi Baldwin earned individual second-place finishes in the 100m hurdles (17.88) and the 300m hurdles (50.83). Two second place finishes came in relay races 4x200 (1:52.12) and 800m sprint medley (1:59.59). St. Peter added to her

team totals with third place finishes in the 100m hurdles (17.90) and 300m hurdles (51.67 and Taylor Huntley finished third in the 400m dash (1:05.61). Delta’s 400m relay team (55.34) and the 3200m relay team (11:28.48) also placed third in Saturday’s meet. There were two fifthplace finishes for Delta.

Reagan Clay was fifth in discus and the Panthers 1600m relay team had a fifth-place finish as well. Sixth-place finishes went to Madison Gieck (long jump), Clay (discus), Kat Rodriguez (400m), Beki Atchley (800m) and Jessica Dexter (1600m). Dexter (400m), Grace Hall (3200m), Hannah Sterns (high jump) and Rodriguez (high jump) all finished seventh on Saturday.

Delta’s boys had two first-place winners including John Ames in the 3200m run (10:44.36) and Cameron Schaal’s winning shot put throw of 39-6.5. Delta had a pair of winners in relay races including the 1600m relay team (3:44.49) and the 3200m relay team (8:53.36). Schaal had Delta’s lone third place points with his throw of 132-9 in discus competition.

Shad Lewis was fourth in the 3200m run with fifth-place points going to Trevor Whiteside (110m high hurdles) and Hezekiah Huff (100m dash). Earning sixth-place points were Kyly Schotten (shot put) and Mason Hollowwa (110 high hurdles). Delta’s track teams, along with the rest of the Delta County track teams, are at Hotchkiss this weekend.

Hotchkiss track teams fourth at Delta Invite BY TAMIE MECK DCI Sports Writer

Photo by Wayne Crick

Delta’s John Ames prepares to hand the baton to Delta’s 3200m relay anchor runner Jacob Wear.

Photo by Wayne Crick

Cameron Schaal of Delta tossed the discus 132 feet and 9 inches to come in third at the Delta Invitational.

Photo by Wayne Crick

Delta’s Kaley St. Peter leaps to a ﬁrst-place ﬁnish in the long jump with a jump of 16 feet and 3 inches.

Ewart, Malek-Madani in top 3 at Delta meet BY TAMIE MECK DCI Sports Writer

The Paonia boys track team finished in the top three in two events and scored 29 points at Saturday’s Delta Panther Invitational. In the 400-meter dash, junior Harley Ewart took second with a time of 55.09 seconds. In discus, senior Cyrus Malek-Madani placed third with a throw of 123 feet, 8 inches. Dominic Felice cleared 5 feet, 2 inches to place eighth in the high jump, Marco Carrillo placed seventh in shot put with a throw of 36’-09.5”, Logan Green finished ninth in the 400 (58.23), and Caden Meilner finished ninth in the 1600m run with a time of 5:03.36. Paonia also placed fourth in the 4x400m relay.

Photo by Wayne Crick

Paonia senior Cyrus Malek-Madani spins during a throw attempt last Saturday in the annual Delta Invitational Track Meet. Malek-Madani placed third in the event with his throw of 123-08.

Palmer, Leighton lead Eagle girls at Delta BY TAMIE MECK DCI Sports Writer

In their first meet of the season, the Paonia girls scored 41 points to place sixth Saturday at the Delta Panther Invitational. Among the top Paonia placers, senior Mckenna Palmer won the triple jump with a windassisted (3.4 meters per hour) distance of 32 feet, 4 inches. Junior Sabrina

Leighton won silver in the shot put, opening the season with a personalbest throw of 33 feet, 10.5 inches. In individual track events, Brooke Hillman finished eighth in the 200m dash with a time of 29.92 seconds. and Kassidy Rapke cleared 14 feet, 1 inch to place seventh in the long jump. In high jump, Sadie Miller cleared 4-6 to place

fifth and Natalie ReichRogers finished sixth with a jump of 4-6. Freshman Sadie Lee cleared 4 feet, 4 inches to finish ninth. In discus, Lauren Kiefer placed ninth with a throw of 88’ 4”. The girls relay teams placed fourth in the 4x100m relay (55.70) and sixth in the 4x200 relay (2:10.54).

The Hotchkiss girls opened the track season with 48 points and a tie for fourth place with Telluride Saturday at the annual Delta Panther track and field invitational. Junior Kaiya Firor won the 400-meter dash in 59.8 seconds. The defending Class 2A state champion in the 400 reset the meet record of 1:00.84 set in 2009 by Alicia Gieck of Delta. Firor also cleared 5 feet to place second in the high jump. Firor and teammates Adair Ela, Yasmine Gaub and Elsie Vasquez, won the 4x400m relay in 4:30.07 and the 4x100m relay in 54.04. The 4x200 team of Gaub, Electra Lovato, Ela and Vasquez placed fifth in the medley relay with a time of 2:05.59; and Morgan Miller, Jordan Tamayo, Gaub and Mariah Griffith placed fifth in the 4x800 relay with a time of 12:03.34. Ela also cleared 27 feet, one half inch to place eighth in the triple jump. The Hotchkiss boys are also off to a good start to the season, scoring 66 points to tie for fourth place with Grand Junction Central at the 14-team Panther Invitational. Junior Eli Patrick scored the only gold medal of the day for the Bulldogs after clearing 6 feet, 3 inches to win the high jump. A 2016 state qualifier in high jump, Patrick improved on his prior best mark by five inches. Patrick also took sixth in the triple jump with a mark of 38’-1”. Hotchkiss placed in all four relays. In the 4x400, Jace Peebles, Robert Cochran, Jesus Macias and Sam Rodriguez took second with a time of 3:45.23. The 4x100 team of George Arroyo, Cesar Camacho, Jace Peebles and Colton Peebles placed fifth (46.96); the 4x200 team of Colton Peebles, Robert Cochran, Malykai Klaseen and Rodriguez placed fifth (1:37.78); and

Bruins baseball team wins one BY WAYNE CRICK DCI Sports Editor

Photo by Wayne Crick

Paonia’s Kassidy Rapke tries to get as much height to get the most distance out of her long jump attempt last Saturday at the Delta Invitational. Rapke’s best jump of the day was 14-1 enabling her to place seventh in the event.

The Cedaredge Bruins are 2-2 to start the 2018 baseball campaign. An opening season game in Gypsum was a 10-0 win over 4A Eagle Valley. Last weekend the Bruins were in Cortez for a three-game series in tournament play. Game one was against host Cortez with Cedaredge scoring a 15-7 win on Friday. Saturday’s schedule had the Bruins facing 5A Montrose. The Indians were too much for Cedaredge and a 17-5 loss was the result. A Saturday afternoon contest against 4A Glenwood Springs was another onesided loss with the 4A Demons posting a 19-9 decision to leave the Bruins with a 2-2 record. Game stats for the Cortez game were not available and line scores for the Montrose and Glenwood Springs games

were all that were available. Against Montrose, the Bruins held a brief 10 lead until the second inning when the Indians put up eight runs to take an 8-1 lead. With five more runs in the third frame and another four in the fourth, Montrose surged to a 175 win after a four-run inning for the Bruins. Montrose’s Tristan Church was 3-4 with a double and Jared Miller hit a home run to highlight the Indian’s day. Jayden Lopez was the winning pitcher. Cedaredge’s final game of tournament play against Glenwood Springs was tied at 2-2 going to the second inning. The Demons scored six runs to take an 8-3 lead then outscored Cedaredge 7-4 in the third inning for a commanding 15-7 lead heading to the fourth. BRUINS TO C8

the 4x800 team of Myles Zoutte, Kenny Drbohlav, Cochran and Rodriguez also took fifth (9:20.28). In hurdles, Jace Peebles took silver in the 110m hurdles with a time of 17.68 seconds, and Colton Peebles took silver in the 300m hurdles with a time of 44.28. In his first high jump competition, Jacob Stuck-

er cleared 5’-8” to place fourth. Kevin Chavez placed fourth in shot put with a mark of 37 feet, 9.5 inches, and Stucker placed ninth in shot put. Nolan Egging placed fifth in discus with a throw of 119 feet, 11 inches. Freshman Saul Cortez finished eighth in the 400m dash with a time of 58.15 seconds.

Photo by Wayne Crick

Hotchkiss junior Eli Patrick clears the bar easily in this photo. Patrick went on to win Saturday’s high jump competition at the Delta Invitational Track Meet with a jump of 6-3. Fourteen teams competed in the meet.

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C8 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

SPORTS

Delta County Independent

Carmichael to study at Johns Hopkins BY WAYNE CRICK DCI Sports Editor

Delta senior Jaspar Carmichael is heading to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., to study engineering, physics and math. Carmichael will also play some baseball for the Blue Jays while working toward his degree. Carmichael has been a member of the varsity baseball team at Delta High School since his sophomore year. He plays shortstop when Photo by Wayne Crick he’s not on the mound Delta senior Dylan Hollenbeck, second from right, poses with his mother for the Panthers. Nichole, varsity baseball coach Steve Reiher and his father Todd following the signing of his letter of intent to play baseball, and study biology and chemistry at Lamar Community College.

To date, Carmichael has an .475 batting average (varsity career, all games), .580 on base percentage, 19 hits, nine RBIs and has scored 27 runs for the Panthers. So far this season Carmichael is batting .538 (7 for 13) with four RBIs. He is 0-1 as a pitcher with five innings of work allowing six hits, four runs and struck out 11 batters. Carmichael’s reasons for choosing to attend Johns Hopkins were simple. “It is a phenomenal academic school

in which I feel that I can thrive ... and they have a great baseball program as well. I have always loved the East Coast.” The influencing drive for Carmichael to choose Johns Hopkins was largely parental. “My parents urged me to pursue schools that I felt that I really wanted to attend and after visiting and meeting some of the people at Hopkins, it felt like the perfect fit.” Carmichael is the son of Alan and Gretta Carmichael of Delta.

Hollenbeck chooses LCC for play and study BY WAYNE CRICK DCI Sports Editor

Lamar Community College will be Dylan Hollenbeck’s next residence when a new school year begins. Hollenbeck signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Lamar and has chosen to pursue a career in biology and chemistry to keep

him occupied when not playing baseball for the Lopes. Hollenbeck’s choice of Lamar was an easy selection. “I visited the school and thought it was a good school. All the coaches had the right intentions.” So far this season, in four games, Hollenbeck’s

batting average is .500 (8 for 16). He’s scored three runs and batted in four runs with two triples to his credit. He is 1-0 on the mound with 6.1 innings of work, allowed six hits, five runs and struck out five batters. Todd and Nichole Hollenbeck are Dylan’s parents.

Church to wrestle in Nationals in Virginia For Delta senior Logan Church the third time might be the charm. Church attended the national high school championships in the past and was runner-up last year. This year’s venue is Virginia Beach with planned activities scheduled for March 22-25. Registration and weigh-ins will be conducted March 22 with a mandatory coaches meeting set for 8 p.m. Wrestling begins on March 23 in four divisions; freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. Wrestling clinics are available on March 23 and 24 with quarterfinals and semifinals for all high school divisions set for 12 noon and 4:30 p.m. on March 24. Medal matches for

third, fifth and seventh places begin 8 a.m. March 25 with finals beginning at 11 a.m. A special round has been added this year noted Delta High School coach Clayton Curtis. The winner of each division may challenge the next higher division’s champion for bragging rights of lower grade classifications while junior and senior classification winners have the same opportunities. Those matches are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Curtis noted there may be as many 60-80 mats available for the national competition with as many as 140 competitors in a division (less in heavyweight, around 70). Curtis, and assistant Luis Meza, will accompany Church and plans

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& ACCOUNTING SERVICE ��

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Photo by Wayne Crick

are to leave on Thursday Jaspar Carmichael, second from left, signed a letter of intent to attend Johns morning for the journey Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., to pursue a degree in engineering/physto Virginia Beach. ics/math and play baseball for the Blue Jays.

Panthers win one of three and warmer games over the weekend in Erie and Delta High School’s Niwot. Following the previous baseball team played through a typical spring week’s contest against in Colorado recently Roaring Fork where with games in blustery game-time temperatures winter-like tempera- were in the high 50’s and tures to more soothing lower 60’s, Delta’s game in Paonia was played in windy and much cooler temperatures with the Eagles claiming a 7-1 victory (see related story by Tamie Meck). Later in the week, the Panthers traveled to Erie to face the 4A Tigers where they fell 7-3. The following day, Saturday, Delta played the Cougars of Niwot and evened its early season record at 2-2 with a 17-5 win. The Panthers are currently shown atop the 3A WSL with their 1-0 league mark and 2-2 overall. Aspen is second (1-0, 2-1), Gunnison is third (10, 2-1), Basalt fourth (0-1 and 0-1), RoarPhoto by Wayne Crick ing Fork fifth (0-1, Delta’s Jaspar Carmichael 2-2), Olathe sixth watches the Roaring Fork (0-1, 0-4), Cedaredge pitcher intently as he takes seventh (0-0, 2-2), a lead from ﬁrst base in a and followed by Coal Ridge (0-0, 0-0), game played last week.

BY WAYNE CRICK DCI Sports Editor

Grand Valley (0-0, 0-2) and Moffat County (0-0, 1-0). In Erie, Delta took an early 1-0 lead after one inning and built a 3-0 lead with the Tigers coming to bat in the bottom of the inning. Erie scored two runs in its half of the inning and added two more runs for a 4-3 lead after three innings of play. Neither team scored in the fourth or fifth frames with Erie finishing with three runs in the bottom of the sixth for a four-run win (7-3). Delta had nine hits in the game with Dylan Hollenbeck’s 3-4 day leading the way on offense. Jaspar Carmichael banged out two hits with two RBIs. KC Carlson was 1-2, Matt Easter was 1-3 with Josh Reeder going 1-4 and Eli Farmer finishing 1-1 to account for Delta’s nine hits. Erie also finished with nine hits, led by Gavin Mendoza’s 3-4 day and two RBIs. Daniel Rogers had two hits and two RBIs. Erie’s John Thoren was the winning pitcher with Drake Horn taking the loss for Delta. Horn

(1-1) went five innings, gave up five hits, allowed four runs and struck out five batters. Saturday’s game against Niwot was more successful with Delta starting off with a threerun first inning and holding a 4-3 lead after two innings. The Panthers plated four runs in the top of the fourth and added another nine counters in the sixth to fend off the 4A Cougars 17-5. Hollenbeck (1-1) was the winning pitcher for Delta with 5.1 innings of work resulting in six hits and five runs. He was also key offensively with two hits in five at bats with a double and two RBIs to his credit. Freshman Nolan Bynum had a big day for the Panthers with three hits and three RBIs. Jaspar Carmichael also had three hits and an RBI followed by two hits from Reeder and Rowyn Carmichael (and an RBI). Carlson, Kolby Keller and Andrew Baier picked up two RBIs each and all had doubles for the Panthers. Felipe Castro had three hits for the Cougars with Colton Goldfarb and Cam Hassert (two RBIs) hitting doubles. Delta will play five games from March 20-28, beginning with its March 21 game at home against Grand Junction. The Panthers take on Montrose on Saturday, March 24, at 10 a.m. then finish the five-game run on Wednesday, March 28, with a twin-bill against Roosevelt High School beginning at 1 p.m.

Bruins All-state game bound

Photo submitted

Hotchkiss seniors Nolan Egging, left, and Devin Curtis have been selected to participate in the Colorado High School Coaches Association All-State games on June 8 at Adams State University in Alamosa. Egging, an allstate guard and defensive tackle for the Bulldogs, was selected to play in the CHSCA football game. Curtis, an all-state wrestler and state runner-up at 195 pounds will compete in the CHSCA wrestling dual.

CONTINUED FROM C7 The Demons outscored Cedaredge 4-2 over the next two innings to end the game by 10-run rule, 19-9. Glenwood Springs ended the game with 19 runs on 12 hits and committed just one error. Tyler Boyd was 3-4, scored three times and knocked in two runs for the Demons.

Classifieds

March 21, 2018

Real Estate

D SECTION

BUY • SELL • TRADE

Real Estate

Delta County Independent

Real Estate

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DCI DEADLINES Space Reservation for ALL Display Advertising Fridays (5 p.m.) Copy for Display Advertising Mondays (noon) Legal Notices Mondays (10 a.m.) Classified Ads Mondays (10 a.m.) Too Late To Classify Mondays (noon) Calendar Of Events Items Tuesdays (10 a.m.)

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Help Wanted

THE TOWN OF CEDARedge is accepting applications for a golf course mechanic with experience in small tractor and turf care equipment. This is an on call seasonal position. Hourly wage is $15-$20 depending on experience for an estimated 750-950 hours during the 2018 golf season. Job descriptions and applications will be available at the Cedaredge Golf Club as For Sale well as the Cedaredge Town Hall or at www.cedaredge colorado.com. Interested persons may submit a LARGE GREENHOUSES, completed application great prices. Made in on or before noon March Colorado, for Colorado. 30, 2018 to Cedaredge 970-726-9555, altitude- Town Hall, 235 W. Main, greenhouses.com. (4x9) (P.O. Box 398 for mailing) Cedaredge, CO 81413. The Town of Cedaredge is an Equal Opportunity Employer. (2x12) CREEKSIDE 3 BEDROOM 2 bath in Cedaredge, totally remodeled, 2 decks, laundry hookups, double garage, non-smokers only, $1,120/ mo + utilities, First and last month plus $1,200 deposit, 1-Year lease (360) 929-5155. (1x12)

Yard Sales

ESTATE SALE 950 E 7TH St. Delta. March 22-24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (1x12)

Help Wanted HIGH COUNTRY NEWS, based in downtown Paonia, seeks a talented and motivated individual to provide help desk support and assist with larger IT projects. Ideal candidates will have prior support experience, are eager to continue hands-on learning with technology, and are willing to take on larger and more complex projects as they learn about the needs of the organization. Part-time position: $15.50-$18.25 per hour DOE; requires occasional on-call availability. To apply, email letter of interest and resume to jobs@hcn.org for more information visit hcn.org/ helpdesk. (2x12)

THE TOWN OF CEDARedge is accepting applications for golf course maintenance mowing/labor positions. All positions are seasonal. There are both parttime seasonal and full-time seasonal positions available. New employees start at $10.20/hr and returning employees or those with previous golf course experience start at $10.70/hr. Job descriptions and applications will be available at the Cedaredge Golf Club as well as the Cedaredge Town Hall or at www.cedaredge colorado.com. Interested persons may submit a completed application on or before noon March 30, 2018 to Cedaredge Town Hall, 235 W. Main, (P.O. Box 398 for mailing) Cedaredge, CO 81413. The Town of Cedaredge is an Equal Opportunity Employer. (2x12)

SALES PERSON WANTed! Computer experience, great customer service, and knowledge of trailers and farm equipment is a must. Pay is dependent upon skill level. If interested please apply in person at Varner YOUR LISTING HERE! Equipment, 1375 Highway 50, Delta, CO 81416. (3x12) call now... 874-4421

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SHORT BRANCH LIQUOR Public in Cedaredge is looking for Service part time help. 15 hours per week with some fill in hours. Please come to the store for an application. HOW DO I SELL MY 130 N. Grand Mesa Dr., Cottage Food products? You may sell your products Cedaredge. (1x12) directly to the consumer NEW ADDRESS? PLEASE from your residence, roadnotify the Delta County side stand, Farmers’ marIndependent 10 days prior ket, community supported to moving. PO Box 809, agricultural organizations, Delta, CO 81416 or 970-874- or other similar venue. If 4421. you have any questions, SELLING YOUR HOUSE? please call: 874-2165. Delta Advertise it in the DCI Clas- PEOPLE LOOK FOR JOBS County Health Department. in the classifieds. 874-4421 sifieds. 874-4421. (4X11) SEEKING PART TIME, energetic, caring, experienced dental hygienist to join our general practice in Paonia area. We are looking for someone who values quality patient care, is a strong communicator, team player, understands dental needs, and believes in periodontal. Call 970-527-4853 or email PAONIADENTAL@gmail. com. (4x12)

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Delta County Independent

Public Service

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Support Group for Adults and Children: Every Wednesday in Delta from 5-7 p.m. there will be a free support group for adults whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence and a separate group for children at the same time. Please call 970-8744941 to sign up.

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS Wanted! Delta County Memorial Hospital needs hospital volunteers. Days and hours are flexible. There are currently openings in the ER, Oncology, Gift Shop and some additional areas. If you are interested, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Barbara Hall at 250-2105 for an application.

WANNA PLAY A ROUND? Golf with a fun group of ladies. Two membership options available. Sign up at www.cedaredgeladies golf.com. Get to know us on Facebook at “cedar edgeladiesgolfclub”

WOMEN ONLY AA MEETings, Delta, Saturdays, 11:00 a.m., at St. Luke's Episcopal YOU CAN QUIT. WE CAN Church, 5th & Palmer (back help. Colorado Tobacco door). Quitline offers free, confiFREE DIAPERS FOR UP dential assistance. Call 1to one year! Pregnant 800-QUIT-NOW. women in Delta County can HELP!!! KEEP THE now get help to quit smok- animal population under ing and get something they control, and SAVE an anican really use after their mal's life. Adopt your new baby arrives — free diapers. cat or dog from the Delta Healthy moms have healthy County Humane Society. babies. Enroll in the Baby & Adoption fee is minimal. Me Tobacco Free program Call 874-2149. today. Contact the Delta County Health Department THERE IS A VFW MEETING at 874-2165 or your local on the first Monday of each physician. month. At 6 p.m. there is a potluck and the meeting is WELCOME RETURNING at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Veterans, Post 9221 VFW Church, 1250 Pioneer Rd., meets at 5:00 p.m. on the Delta. For further infor4th Thursday of each month mation, call 874-8172 Jim in Cedaredge. To find out Baker, Quartermaster. how to participate in promoting patriotism and HILLTOP COMMUNITY assisting veterans, contact Resources offers free serWayne Hamrick, (970) 250- vices and support to vic1180. tims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. There AARP DRIVER SAFETY are also ongoing support Course. Save on insurance, groups. Please call our keep up on newer traffic office at 970-773-2251 for laws, learn defensive driv- more information or if you ing techniques. For details are in crisis please call our and schedule contact John 24 hour crisis line at 1-844Loring (970) 856-6924 or 990-5500. (970) 424-1778. AL-ANON: HOPE AND AL-ANON: HOPE AND help for families and help for families and friends of alcoholics meets friends of alcoholics meets in Hotchkiss: Al-Anon, in Cedaredge: Al-Anon, Mondays at 6:30 pm, Thursdays, 8 pm, Wick Hall Methodist Church 285 N. behind First Baptist Church, 2nd, contact Elsie 970-210370 W. Main St., contact 8090 or Marjorie 970-433Mary M. 970-856-6123 or 1856. Jim 970-874-7855. CHAPTER, UNITS OF DAV HOTCHKISS-CRAWFORD regular meetings on the Historical Museum. Winter second Monday of each hours, Saturdays 1-4 p.m. month at 7 p.m. at the $3 admission or free to Veterans Building, 15th & members. Come see our Howard, Delta. For further museum at 2nd & Hotchkiss information, call Paul Carter Streets in Hotchkiss. 872- 874-5150. 3780.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYmous meets Thursdays at 7 p.m. Friends of Bill W. Club. 897 Palmer Street, Delta. CO FATHER’S NETWORKdedicated to providing community and education to fathers of special needs kids. Meets twice monthly on the 1st Saturday at 11 a.m. and the 3rd Monday at 6:30 p.m. - 511 E. 10th St, Delta. See our website for more details: www.codads. org AL-ANON AND ALATEEN: Hope and help for families and friends of alcoholics meets in Delta: Al-Anon and Alateen, Tuesdays at 7:30 pm, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 145 W. 5th St., contact Elizabeth 970-874-9832 or Shirley 970-323-5067. CARING FOR CAREgivers, C4C - supporting hearts that care. Open to ANY caregiver. Meets monthly in Delta, 2nd Tuesday at 11 a.m. - 511 E. 10th St, Delta. THE ABRAHAM CONNECtion homeless shelter, located at 480 Silver St., Delta, offers emergency overnight shelter and food to men, women and families in the Delta area midOctober- April. Call us at 970-773-8290 to make a referral, or for information on how to volunteer or donate. www.Delta AbrahamConnection. org.

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CHECK OUT THE BOOK store at the Delta Library. You'll find a great selection of paperbacks at reasonable prices. IF YOU LOVE BOOKS, you will love the Downstairs Bookstore in the basement of the Delta Library. NARCOTICS ANONYmous meets at 9th and Palmer, Delta, Mondays and Fridays at 8 p.m.

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PUBLIC NOTICES ��

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Delta County Independent

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Wednesday, March 21, 2018

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D4 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

CHURCH

Voices of the world join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir In commemoration of the Easter season, you’re invited to join voices with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra on Temple Square. This is a momentous gathering of all faiths in a celebration of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This event will be broadcast from the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, March 23, at 7 p.m. MDT. The concert and sing-along will be approximately two and one-half hours in length with a brief intermission. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

Saints invites all participants to view and sing in the broadcast event at the church’s meetinghouse located at 1521 Hillcrest Drive in Montrose. The choir and congregations together will sing Handel’s Messiah, a world-renowned oratorio composed by George Frideric Handel and first performed in 1742. The Montrose meetinghouse will seat over a thousand, and booklets with lyrics to Handel’s Messiah will be available. The choir and orchestra will be conducted by Mack Wilberg. Distinguished soloists for the evening include Amanda Woodbury, sopra-

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no; Tamara Mumford, mezzo-soprano; Tyler Nelson, tenor; and Tyler Simpson, bass-baritone.

Good Friday worship scheduled A community Good Friday worship service is scheduled at the Delta Performing Arts Center on Friday, March 30, at 6 p.m. Also, the Walk of the Cross through Delta will start at 5:15 p.m. from the Delta City Market parking lot on the same day and pass through the Good Friday service.

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Taste of Spring welcomes Delta County restaurants, food, spirits Delta County Young Life and the Delta Lions Club have partnered up to present the third annual Taste of Spring event, April 21, 5-8 p.m., at Bill Heddles Recreation Center. Vendor registration forms are now being accepted for Delta County restaurants, cottage foods producers, wineries, breweries and other producers who will showcase their signature menu item, food creation or beverage during the event. There is no cost to have a booth at the event, which can be used as a marketing opportunity to showcase a new menu item, catering possibili-

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ties, wine clubs or other means to promote your business or cottage foods products. Last year, the event drew over 100 attendees, and this year is expected to be larger, said Ty Gallenbeck, the area director of Delta County Young Life. More information is available by calling Ty at 970-216-5680, or by finding the event on Facebook at Taste of Spring Delta 2018. Ticket holders are treated to samplings of some of Delta County’s best foods and beverages. In addition, David Starr will provide live music, and there will be a live and silent auc-

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tion. Tickets are $25 in advance and can be purchased through the Facebook event. Are you a business or individual who can’t attend but who wants to support youth in Delta County? Sponsoring the event, donating to Delta County Young Life, or purchasing tickets for friends and family is a great way to help support the ministry of Young Life and the many community projects supported by the Delta Lions Club. Call Ty to learn how you can give financially, or if you can donate items for the live or silent auctions during Taste of Spring.

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Delta County Independent

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

Delta County Independent

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

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LICENSED • INSURED ALEX MEHDER HOTCHKISS, CO

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D6 Wednesday, March 21, 2018

B A C K P A G E

Delta County Independent

Eagle Rock: A working archaeological site

The Eagle Rock Shelter site is fenced off with a recently-added raised platform for viewing the excavated habitation area. The natural rock overhang has provided shelter over thousands of years for prehistoric human inhabitants.

BY DON BENJAMIN Staff Writer

BACK PAGE

ack in September 2016, DCI staff writer Tamie Meck reported on a significant archeological site that was being excavated in cliffs above the north shore of the Gunnison River. (See Sept. 6, 2016, issue of the DCI.) The site, known as Eagle Rock Shelter, had been known to scientists for years but it wasn’t explored in detail because it was considered heavily vandalized. Then Glade Hadden, a Bureau of Land Management archeologist with the Uncompahgre Field Office in Montrose, decided to take a closer look. And the site — once thought thoroughly looted — began to yield evidence of earlier and earlier human habitation. Eventually lower strata were dated back 12,960 years making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited

sites in Colorado. Evidence emerged to confirm that humans inhabited the site for thousands of years, presumably taking advantage of a natural overhang that provided shelter from rain and snow and wind as well as cool shade in summer. The site, about the size of a small house, also offered occupants access to nearby food sources including plants, fish, and small game. Since renewed excavation began in 2007, groups of archeology students and other volunteers have continued to discover evidence of habitation including rock art and fire hearths — in particular the profoundly ancient hearth that turned out to be nearly 13,000 years old. The site is still being worked but to accommodate visitors, improvements have been made to highway signage and to an improved automobile

road that leads to a trailhead parking area. The trail itself is short but steep toward the bottom. At the site, adjacent to the overhang, a modern deck has been constructed to allow visitors to look down into the site without disturbing it. A wooden fence protects vital areas and marks a boundary beyond which visitors must remain. Interpretive signs have been erected describing aspects of the site. String grids are visible designating excavation areas and buckets and swinging screens for sorting debris are onsite. In short, Eagle Rock Shelter remains a work in progress and visitors are afforded a unique glimpse into a working archeological site. Periodic tours are offered by BLM and state and regional archeology groups and these are advertised in local media. The Colorado Canyons Association sponsored hikes and lectures last year. In the meantime, visitors should follow the guidelines of “visit with respect.” A video that reminds visitors about historical site etiquette, and which is especially suitable for preparing children for an historical hike, can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/159289894, To reach Shelter Rock, motorists can drive along Hwy. 92 between Delta and Hotchkiss and look for mile marker 13. The entrance is signed on the south side of the highway. The improved dirt road leading to the trailhead winds for 3.7 miles through

dry hilly country offering spectacular views of Lamborn Mountain and the West Elk Mountain Range as well as the Gunnison River. The road to the trailhead splits occasionally and drivers should take all the right-hand forks. The walk from the trailhead is not quite a mile and the trail also splits now and then but taking the righthand forks will lead directly to the Eagle Rock Shelter site. Take plenty of water and be advised that the last third of the trail is extremely steep. If visitors go early enough in the day they can follow rustic stairs to the south of Eagle Rock Shelter and cross a bridge to take a side hike to the river below.

Photo by Don Benjamin

One of the lower strata ﬁre hearths found at the Eagle Rock site has been dated to a time nearly 13,000 years ago. The string marks an excavation boundary.

Photo by Don Benjamin

A swinging screen for sifting debris is one of the tools at the Eagle Rock site which is still an active archaeological dig.

Photo by Don Benjamin

A rough stairway leads from the Eagle Rock Shelter down toward the Gunnison River. The stairway is a modern addition to the ancient site.

Photo by Don Benjamin

Matt and Rebecca Drbohlav of Hotchkiss pause halfway up the Eagle Rock Shelter trail. The Gunnison River ﬂows in the background and the archeological shelter site is further down just over Rebecca’s left shoulder.

Photo by Don Benjamin

Courtney Rodwell of Crawford and Charlie the three-legged dog strike a pose on the Eagle Rock Shelter trail. The energetic pair hiked from Hwy 92, down to the shelter, and then on down to the Gunnison River (where Charlie, a girl, swam). Then they hiked back to the shelter, up the trail, and along the car road all the way to the highway again — a round trip of 12 miles.

Photo by Don Benjamin

Rock art adorns several surfaces of the Eagle Rock Shelter. The pictures have yet to be dated.