Delta County Independent, June 13, 2018 by Delta County Independent

NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

EVERY DROP COUNTS Municipalities consider water conservation measures, B1

SPORTS

NEW ERA DAWNS

CHSAA AWARDS

Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center opens this weekend, C1

Local students honored for academic, athletic excellence, B5-6

DELTA COUNTY

JUNE 13, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 24

75¢

INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Fireworks display, sales will be allowed in Delta BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer

Delta Volunteer Fire Department (DVFD) will be holding its annual fireworks show at Confluence Park on Wednesday, July 4, having received approval from Delta City Council at the council’s June 5 meeting. The DVFD has 28 volunteers and expects to have eight to 10 firefighters from Cedaredge join them this year. They have contingency plans to pull firefighters from the fireworks display to respond to emergencies in the city should such occur. Delta Police Chief Luke Fedler said there were two or three fires in the city on July 4, 2017. The police department will have extra people on duty

July 4 to respond to emergencies and do damage control. Fedler added his department has huge concerns about fireworks this year because it is an especially dry year. The council considered a notification from the Delta Volunteer Fire Department regarding Stage 1 fire restrictions in and around Delta County. Stage l fire restrictions have been adopted by Delta County, Montrose County, Mesa County, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. The Stage 1 fire restrictions were adopted due to extreme fire conditions resulting from extended hot, dry and windy weather in the area. The DVFD recommended

that Delta prohibit the sale of fireworks since fireworks are not allowed during Stage 1 fire restrictions. Council considered a resolution imposing a ban on the sale, exchange, barter or trade of fireworks and issuance of temporary permits in the City of Delta. Councilmember Christopher Ryan moved the council not approve the resolution, but look at a way to provide safety education. Councilmember Kevin Carlson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Ryan noted the inconsistency in approving the fire department’s permit for the annual fireworks show, then banning fireworks stand permits.

Medical students from CU, CSU get a taste of rural life BY KAYLEE DUNHAM Contributing Writer

During the week of June 4-8, 17 students from the University of Colorado and Colorado State University toured Delta County as part of the University of Colorado’s Interdisciplinary Rural Immersion Program. Since 2005 the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, in conjunction with the Rural Track program and Colorado Area Health Education Center, has been providing this experience to students who are interested in becoming medical professionals in rural areas. The program allows students the opportunity to learn about and investigate all aspects of small town personal, professional and community life. On Monday, June 4, students met at the Delta County Memorial Hospital to attend

an orientation and meet a few of the leaders in the community. Stacey Voigt, executive director of Delta County Economic Development, introduced community leaders to explain how Delta County is unique. Tom Huerkamp explained how governmental bodies in Delta County and other related entities work collaboratively. Larry Traubel shared with the students the area’s rich agricultural history and the produce that is famous and unique to our area including Olathe Sweet® Sweet Corn and Palisade peaches. Caryn Gibson and Kurt Clay spoke about the public education in the area and how many of the high school students are excelling in Advanced Placement classes and college courses.

Photo by Kaylee Dunham

Lorre Cutts and Ryan Grube explain the difficulties they face when working while in flight. To avoid the pilot’s night vision, nurses have to use green lights after dark. This can make it difficult for them to tell if the patient is green because they are still sick or if the light is making their skin look green. Cutts said that being a flight nurse means that they must learn how to improvise, adapt, and overcome.

INDEX

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Agriculture ................... C6 Back Page ................... D6 Business .......................A10 Church ........................... D4 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ............................ D3 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A8 School Zone ............... A6-7 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ..........................B5-6 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4

After the speakers, students had a 25-minute break to talk with the community leaders, relax or get to know fellow students. Health care professionals, including hospital CEO Jason Cleckler, described the different components of health care in Delta County and how they work together. Undersheriff Mark Taylor explained how law enforcement is organized in the RURAL LIFE TO A3

Photo by Randy Sunderland

Hanging out in Conﬂuence

The hanging bridge over the Uncompahgre River is a great destination for those walking or biking the red rock trails in Conﬂuence Park. What’s on the other side of the bridge? You’ll have to discover that on your own adventure.

City salaries adjusted to competitive market rate BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer

The Delta City Council periodically reviews compensation and benefits paid to city appointed officers and employees of the city to determine appropriate compensation for those positions. At the June 5 council meeting city manager David Torgler and the council discussed the results of a comprehensive survey of comparable positions in the competitive job market, conducted to determine if pay ranges of city employees are competitive. The survey determined that six positions, out of the city’s 67 position classifications, were below the competitive job market range. No pay ranges exceeded the competitive job market pay range. The six individual positions below competitive job market pay range are: city clerk, city engineer/project manager, maintenance mechanic, and three positions in the police department — police officer, police records/office clerk assistant and police sergeant. The council had discussed

the survey results at prior work sessions. Torgler recommended the wage adjustment for these positions be effective April 1, 2018. The cost of the wage adjustment for these positions would total $68,723. The funds would be provided from the following funds: General Fund, $59,949; Water Fund, $323; Sewer Fund, $342; Parks & Rec Fund, $2,100; Internal Service Fund, $6,001. Councilmember Kevin Carlson recommended the wage adjustment be effective Jan. 1, 2018. He said, “Our employees will know that they are valued here. We have had to recruit twice for new employees.” Councilmember Christopher Ryan seconded the motion. Torgler was asked if any of these employees are now in the new-employee probation period. Torgler said there is not a probation period for Delta city employees; all are at-will employees. There are no individual raises; any raise happens when the city council passes a resolution to that

Temporary closures for Crag Crest The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests’ Grand Valley Ranger District has issued a temporary closure for the entire Lower Crag Crest Trail (#711.1A) and the eastern portion of the Crag Crest National Scenic Trail (#711). The closure will remain in place through the end of 2018. The trails will be closed to address public safety concerns while timber is being harvested adjacent to the trail corridor. Dead and dying trees from the ongoing spruce beetle outbreak on the Grand Mesa National Forest are being harvested to salvage the still usable timber, reducing the likelihood of spruce beetles spreading to new areas and to reduce the

wildfire risk to neighboring private lands including the Grand Mesa Resort Company, which has numerous privately owned cabins adjacent to the harvest area. The majority of the Crag Crest National Scenic Trail (#711) and the Crag Crest Trailhead on Highway 65 will remain open for public use throughout the timber salvage operations. Due to several active timber sales on the Grand Mesa National Forest, large numbers of timber trucks can be expected on the south end of Highway 65, Trickel Park Road (NFSR 121), Hay Park Road (NFSR 129) and the Old Grand Mesa Road (NFSR 123) throughout the summer and fall.

effect. A cost of living raise was granted by council last year. Finance director Tod DeZeeuw said adjusting the salaries effective Jan. 1, 2018, could cost the city $91,631. A motion to approve the adjustments to wages was made. Councilmembers Carlson, Ryan and Gerald Roberts voted for the motion. Mayor Ron Austin voted “nay.” The motion passed. Mayor Austin said he doesn’t discount the value of any employee, but disagreed with giving the same percentage across the board. He said he thought the council should have a serious discussion about the police department issue. He said employees in the police department have very different duties compared to the person planting flowers. Austin said, “The police department should be separated and get compensated on the type of work they do. I don’t believe lumping police officers in with other employees will increase our ability to recruit police officers.”

Wellness pool to re-open After an extensive closure for repairs, the wellness pool at Bill Heddles Recreation Center is expected to re-open later this week. According to a Facebook post, the leaks have been located and repaired, and the staff is now in the process of balancing and heating the pool. Call 874-0923 for updates.

A2 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

OPINION

LETTERS County fails in basic services Dear Editor: What would you do if you woke up one day to find your address had changed suddenly and without prior notice? I’ll take a guess and assume you’d be pretty upset. I know I would be. This is just what happened to several residents living on Last Chance Road in Delta. The story has more twists than a Nancy Drew mystery, but suffice it to say, the county screwed up big time. Rick Nelson, owner/ operator of Black Canyon Wing and Clay, a private, upland game hunting preserve, approached the county in 2016 to request a road name change. His son was dying of brain cancer and living on Last Chance Road felt dooming. Nelson suggested Pheasant Rich Road (no connection to his shooting club business, I’m sure) and county admin-

istrator Robbie LeValley told staff and commissioners that Mr. Nelson had approached all of his neighbors and gained their approval — a statement Nelson now denies ever having said. Bottom line, commissioners granted the name change by resolution but no one passed the information on to appropriate county staff for follow through (probably because administrator LeValley had gutted the planning and GIS departments months prior to the resolution). Almost 18 months later, problems bubble to the surface when residents wake up to new road signs and want to know what the heck happened since the county GIS department still has their address listed as Last Chance Road and they were never notified of the change by the planning department.

Farewell to former patients Dear Editor: To my former Delta County patients, I would like to extend an enormous thank you for entrusting your medical care to me over the past three and a half years. It brought me great joy to work in your community! It is with much sadness that I left the county and the state and I wish the best to anyone that I ever cared for while living in the Western Slope. I lament that I will not be able to raise my family in your beautiful community. However, it also

In other words, Pheasant Rich Road doesn’t really exist, at least, not according to Google Maps or any other GIS locater so, anyone from UPS to Delta County Ambulance can’t find the address no matter how hard they try. Circling back to the original resolution, several residents believe it should never have happened, while others just want to be “on the map” again. During discussion by commissioners at last Monday’s public meeting rehashing the name change, Commissioner Suppes pinned the original resolution on “people who are no longer here” and Commissioner Roeber simply apologized for not noticing residents of the name change. Folks, road naming is a basic county function under the planning department and this one is an embarrassment. At the time of the request, Delta County’s planning department was under the direction of administrator LeValley with the help of a high-paid planning contractor, both of whom are still working with the county. Delta County, please, get your act together or step aside so that others can provide the service our residents deserve. JoAnn Kalenak Hotchkiss

County accused of reneging on contract Dear Editor: Trust is a funny thing. It can take years to build it, but only seconds for it to disappear. Many years ago, the county entered into an agreement with local gravel pits that established limitations to its services. One of the agreed upon limitations clearly states that the county could only donate up to $3,000 worth of materials to any projects taking place within the county. This stipulation was designed to promote free enterprise and protect taxpayers. Unfortunately, Delta County is not living up to its end of the agreement. A road project is currently underway near Cedaredge High School and Delta County is

Connecting kids with the outdoors Dear Editor: The Nature Connection would like to thank Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), our many partners, and innumerable volunteers for helping the outdoors come alive for our young people, often for the first time. So many of us have chosen to live here in western Colorado because of the beauty, the lifestyle, and the community bonds that rural Colorado have to offer. But for many who live here, the cost of outdoor gear and transportation to nature spaces are overwhelming obstacles. Over the last three years, hundreds of people have committed thousands of hours helping to create plans to install mountain bike trails, climbing boulders, and playground equipment; create and implement outdoor programming accessible to all youth; and offer outdoor gear for these youth programs at a minimal cost. These plans are now coming to fruition with K-12 school and summer programming for Delta County and Olathe. All this has helped our youth to make positive connections with nature while learning invaluable outdoor skills and create a healthier lifestyle with less time spent on screens. These future stewards of our public lands will ensure that this land that we love will be here to enjoy for many years to come. Sharing a day on cross-country skis on the Grand Mesa with kids, learning archery or paddleboarding at one of our state parks, hiking in the mountains or canyons are eye-opening and heartwarming experiences for our kids. And for every day in the field at least two days are spent planning, organizing, arranging travel logistics, creating online registration forms, paying the bills, invoicing for materials, organizing gear, and more. Not many people understand the true network of support that makes these experiences happen. Thanks again to everyone out there in Nature Connection country that have helped us connect our kids to #thebestbackyardintheworld. You can find out more about The Nature Connection programming and thenatureconnection.net. Here is a partial list of those who have made this service possible for our kids: The many Nature Connection volunteers, Great Outdoors Colorado, Delta County, Delta County School District 50J, Mesa County, Mesa County School District, Western Colorado Community Foundation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Grand Mesa Uncompahgre National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, Delta County Library District, Bacon Family Foundation, Towns of Crawford, Hotchkiss, Paonia, Cedaredge, Olathe and City of Delta, North Fork Recreation District, Colorado Canyons Association, Interpretive Association of Western Colorado, Western Slope Conservation Center, Grand Mesa Nordic Council, Cabela’s, Alpine Bank, Walmart, Thistle Whistle Farm, Timber to Table, Colorado Plateau and Mountain Bike Association, Delta County Search and Rescue, Western Slope SUP, Shiska Bikes, Hotchkiss Automotive, S & B Quilters, Peace Circle, Hotchkiss Lions Club, Beta Sigma Pi, Red Feather Archery, Make Olathe Better, Valley Food Partnership, Ace Gambles of Hotchkiss, All Points Transit, Durango Cyclery, Cedaredge Rotary, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Solar Energy International, Kampe Foundation, Conscience Bay Company and our many TNC member supporters. Thank you. Anita Evans, The Nature Connection

donating the materials to make it happen. The county has already provided over 200 truckloads of material for this road project. Based on fair market value estimates, it is safe to say that Delta County has donated over $45,000-$47,000 of materials and trucking to this project — far exceeding its contractual limitation of $3,000. When confronted with this violation of our contract, the county commissioners in Delta simply shrug their shoulders. They don’t seem interested in honoring the deal. This was a contract negotiated before their time, they argue, so the current board doesn’t feel as obligated to honor this agreement. But such logic doesn’t pass muster.

The Constitution was ratified before the BOCC’s time as well, so does that nullify the document? Hardly! All contracts must be honored regardless of their convenience. If not, then a process of renegotiation must take place. Our county government is engaging in a classic case of “Do as I say, not as I do.” I encourage all of those who believe that the county must honor its agreements to contact their representatives right now. In the meantime, if you’re interested in reading the contract, I’d be happy to share it. In fact, I may have to share it with a lawyer. Hans Benson Benson Brothers Truck & Equipment

Traffic laws apply to bicyclists, as well Dear Editor: Knowledge of traffic law is almost non-existent in Paonia. And the worst example I have seen just recently was a bicyclist riding against traffic forcing vehicles over into the opposite lane of traffic followed by running the stop sign with absolutely no regard for the law. I then called that person out and asked them if they had ever read the traffic codes concerning bicycles and he looks at me and says, “Why would I do that?” My response was because you are disrespecting every person in this town who does follow the laws. His attitude was I will do whatever I want and everyone else

brings me great joy to inform you of my new position. I have started a full-time teaching job with Samaritan Health Services in Lebanon, Ore., where I am excited to be training the future doctors of America. If you see us when we return for a visit to Colorado please stop and say hello! You are all missed and I wish I had been given the opportunity to personally say goodbye and inform you of my departure. Take care and From the Delta Police June 7: Department: Officers responded to the warm regards, 700 block of Highway 50 for a Dr. Gina Martin 3: two-vehicle accident. Sweet Home, Ore. June Officers responded to HooOfficers responded to

KUDOS

Delta County Independent

can just be happy with it. This attitude is prevalent amongst the bicyclists in Delta County. For those who have never read the state laws concerning bicycles, as a cyclist you are required to follow all of the traffic laws vehicles are required to follow plus some additional laws that are directed at bicyclists in particular like not riding abreast and holding up traffic behind you. It is not hard really! Stop at stop signs behind the stop bar and crosswalk (this applies to all vehicles and the rolling stop is illegal which 90 percent of the drivers in the valley seem to ignore). Use your turn signals and stay in the proper

lane of traffic. Time for the bicyclists to share the cost and they all should be licensed after the age of 16 and everyone should have to display their license number in such a manner that it can be photographed and submitted to the local law enforcement or the state patrol. This is an unfair situation and could be leveled and made equal by having the bicyclist wear a vest with license plate sized numbers that are the same size as a license plate allowing them to be photographed when they break the law like they are allowed to do when a motorist gets too close to them. Jeffrey Hatton Paonia

Law enforcement blotter

lies for a possible harassment. Officers responded to Willow Tree for a report of a protection order violation. Tyler White-Oneal, 23, of Cedaredge was arrested and jailed on charges of protection order violation and violation of bail bond conditions. Officers assisted with a mental health escort to the hospital. Officers responded to the 200 block of Cedar Street for a report of fraud and Identity theft. Officers responded to the 600 block of Columbia Street, for a theft from an auto. Kimberlee Neuenschwander, 41, of Paonia was arrested and jailed on a Mesa County warrant with a bond of $5,000. June 4: Officers responded to the 1000 block of Meeker Street for a possible suicide attempt. Officers responded to Big O Tires for a civil matter. Officers responded to Morris Monument for a private property accident. Officers responded to the 1700 block of South Apple Drive in reference to a parking problem. Officers responded to Wide Acres for a report of theft. June 5: Officers responded to the 100 block of Palmer Street for a mental health transport to the hospital. Officers responded to the 1500 block of Guston Street for a report of criminal mischief. Officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of West 2nd Street and Main Street. David B. Ross, 50, of Rockwall, Texas, was arrested and jailed on a Montrose County warrant with a bond of $1,000. Officers responded to the 1300 block of Highway 50 for a traffic accident. Jevne M. Schwartz, 43, of Minneapolis. Minn., was issued a summons for careless driving. Officers responded to Walmart for a possible theft. Officers responded to Wide Acres for a report of theft. Officers responded to Walmart for a report of theft. Jennifer M. Borders, 31, of Delta was issued a summons for charges of theft and drove while license suspended. June 6: Officers responded to 989 Highway 50 for a disturbance. Adam A. Kasamis, 29, of Delta was arrested and jailed on charges of third degree assault, violation of a protection order and violation of bail bond conditions as an act of domestic violence. Officers responded to Tractor Supply for a report of shoplifting. John E. Souders, 37, of Delta was arrested and jailed on charges of second degree burglary in the 300 block of Main Street. Maxwell Vigil, 28, of Delta was arrested and jailed on charges of second degree burglary in the 300 block of Main Street.

Walmart for a report of a traffic accident. June 8: Officers responded to the 400 block of Main Street for a traffic accident. Officers responded to the Delta-Montrose county line for the transfer of Joshua D. Horvath, 27, of Montrose on a Delta County municipal warrant with a bond of $1,000. Officers provided extra patrol at Cleland Park. As a result, two persons were asked to leave the park. June 9: Officers responded to the 500 block of East 10th Street for a welfare check. Ryan A. Jacobs, 35, of Eckert was issued a summons for shoplifting at Walmart. Gerald J.B. Kline, 21, of Delta was arrested and jailed on a warrant with a bond of $1,500. Anna M. Archuleta, 51, of Delta was arrested and jailed on charges of drove under the influence of alcohol or drugs and careless driving. Citations: Eleven 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. From the Delta County Sheriff’s Office (partial list): June 4: A Delta area woman reported that a neighbor on 25 Mesa Road was burning trash in two barrels. Burning of household trash is prohibited at all times of the year; at this time, a burn ban is also in effect for open and agricultural burns. A couple living on Myers Road, Eckert, reported a theft in progress at about 10 p.m. They spotted someone with a flashlight moving around in their yard. After deputies arrived on scene, they discovered two DeWalt drills missing. Deputies were unable to locate any suspects on the property. June 5: The theft of flowers was reported from flower pots outside Crawford Town Hall. A surveillance camera caught video evidence of the woman taking the flowers. June 6: A patrol car driven by Deputy Taylor Blanscet was

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

involved in a collision with a deer on Highway 65 near Jay Avenue at about 3 a.m. The deer hit the passenger side door, causing a small dent. The deputy was unable to locate the deer after the accident. Paonia firefighters extinguished a fire in tall, dry grass near a barn on Bowie Road outside of Paonia. No structures were damaged. The cause of the fire has not been determined. June 7: Deputies provided traffic control for a two-vehicle accident involving a semi truck and SUV in the 700 block of Highway 50. The Delta Police Department conducted the accident investigation. Shortly after 11 a.m., a fire was reported in the patio area on the east side of the restaurant at Aspen Trails, 19991 Highway 65, Cedaredge. Cedaredge firefighters extinguished the blaze, which caused an estimated $15,000 in damages. It’s not clear what caused the fire, although it’s speculated a patron smoking on the patio may have dropped a cigarette over the edge. A Cedaredge area resident turned over drug paraphernalia he discovered in his home. June 8: A fire was reported on Cedar Mesa near the intersection of 2600 Road and Cedar Mesa Road. Deputies contacted a man living on Stardust Lane who was burning wood

in a fire pit. He was advised of the county’s fire restrictions. A Delta area man reported a herd of 25-30 horses that appeared to have no hay, no shade and just one water trough. Deputies assisted the Cedaredge Police Department with a traffic stop near the rodeo grounds east of Cedaredge. The occupants of the vehicle were suspected of an attempted burglary. Deputies were asked to conduct a welfare check on an 18-year-old male who was not answering his phone, texts or emails. June 10: A Hotchkiss area resident reported an ongoing dispute with a neighbor over control of irrigation headgates. A Cedaredge area woman reported the loss of a Ruger revolver between her home and a location on Grand Mesa. Smoke and flames were spotted on a field near some structures on Rimrock Road, Cedaredge. Cedaredge firefighters quickly contained the blaze before any property was damaged. The cause of the fire has not been determined. Deputies were dispatched to Delta County Memorial Hospital where they met with Luke McGaha, 34, who had been involved in a motorcycle accident on Grand Mesa. He told deputies his motorcycle overturned when he hit a rut in the trail. He was able to get back on his motorcycle and get himself to the hospital.

KUDOS Exploring the great outdoors Dear Editor: A huge thank you to all who made Outdoor Heritage Day, held June 2 in Confluence Park, a success: Sponsors — City of Delta Recreation Department, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Elks Lodge #1235, Alpine Bank, Gordon Composites, City Market, Delta Ace Hardware, Delta County Memorial Hospital, Cabela’s, Gunnison River Expeditions, Homestead Meats, Callaway Packing, Swire Coca-Cola, Western Colorado Gold Prospectors, Montrose Kayak & Surf, Area Best Pawn & Gun, Arby’s, Walmart, Fort Uncompaghre, Rocky Mountain Sunscreen, Carlton’s Calls, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Frito Lay, Gunnison Gorge Anglers, Great Outdoors Colorado, Delta County Independent, McDonald’s, Sherwin Williams, Delta Family Fun Park and Delta Area Chamber of Commerce. Exhibitors — City of Delta Recreation Department, JROTC, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Mule Deer, Gunnison Gorge Anglers, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Black Canyon Camera Club, Colorado Canyons Association, Hidden Springs Ranch, Elks Lodge BPOE #1235, DAMB (Delta Area Mountain Bikers), Western Colorado Gold Prospectors, Delta County Search & Rescue, Boy Scout Troop #485, Delta County Disc Golf Revolution, Cabela’s, NASA Outreach, Army National Guard, Colorado State Patrol, Delta Fire Department, Delta County Sheriff ’s Office, Delta County Ambulance District, DMEA, Mesa Rentals, Delta County Young Life, Montrose Kayak & Surf, Delta County Library District, Quintana Construction, Go Poze and Grace Community Church.

LOCAL NEWS

Delta County Independent

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Rural life ��

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area, including how law enforcement interacts with health care. And finally, Kelly Hepler, Delta County Tourism, and Tom Huerkamp described the people and culture of Delta County. Following the introduction, students split into four groups to plan community interviews and then had a scavenger hunt that led them to different businesses and eventually ended in Cedaredge at the Staywise Inn. They finished their evening with dinner at Creekside Cafe in Cedaredge. On Tuesday, they toured Ela Farm in Hotchkiss, then the fish hatchery or Solar International in Paonia. After lunch at Big B’s, they spent the rest of the day exploring the community until meeting back in Delta to have dinner at Daveto’s. On Wednesday, they toured Delta County Memorial Hospital. The focus was on family practice care in a rural community, ER, Urgent Care and trauma programs, ambulance services, behavioral health and clinics. Gwen Conrad, medical staff coordinator, told students that in a rural area there is more opportunity to grow. Conrad said, “We all move around and over time, eventually you move up.” While this is a positive, Gwen continued by saying, “The challenge is that when med students graduate they have looming debt and they don’t want to move to a rural area because the pay isn’t as high as a larger area.” Walking from one ward in the hospital to another the group learned that Delta County Memorial Hospital delivers roughly 200 babies a year, that Delta has very high-end

Vendors, volunteers wanted for Deltarado Days Calling all vendors for DeltaFest (June 28 and Aug. 30) and Deltarado Days (July 28). Applications can be picked up at the chamber, or can be requested by calling 874-8616. Volunteers are also needed and, unless a sponsor can be located, there is a high probability there will not be a Deltarado Days horseshoe tournament. If you’re interested in running this tournament, call the chamber at 874-8616.

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Photo by Kaylee Dunham

Students on the Rural Track Program at University of Colorado and students from Colorado State University visited Delta for a week. Dr. Mark Deutchman, director of the CU Rural Track Program, and Melanie Deherrera, Rural Track project manager, put the event together so students could see ﬁrsthand the beneﬁts and struggles with being a medical professional in rural Colorado. At orientation on Monday, June 4, the students were welcomed by community leaders. equipment for a rural area, and that being part of a medical staff in a rural area means that they have need of a wide area of knowledge because they will not specialize in one area. Students were told that doctors who practice in rural areas gain more experience in more fields and tend to be better doctors because of all of the practice they have. Delta County Memorial Hospital has two pharmacies that are licensed separately because they are in two different buildings. Phil Neary and Cari Dillon, both clinical pharmacists, estimate that there are 2,000 different kinds of medications used annually throughout the hospital. In response to the opioid crisis, Neary said Delta County Memorial Hospital has created an opioid task force committee and that alternatives to opioids are being tried. As impressive as this is for a rural hospital there are some issues associated with being in the pharmacy field in rural areas. “Puerto Rico’s natural disasters, and other areas that make medications and have suffered natural disasters, cause shortages. Rural areas see the effects of this first,” Neary said. Before they left, Dillon encouraged the students by saying, “If you want to create and change things, you can in a rural area. You have a bigger role in a small area. You know the people you work with so you can make a change. Everybody knows everybody, so you have a say in

things and you have an influence.” Walking outside, the students were taken to the ambulances and air transport. Loree Cutts, flight nurse for St. Mary’s Medical Center, Grand Junction, said, “We are the answers to Murphy’s Law.” They are able to reach people who need help and have the training to aid them while in the air. They can carry two patients and have a nurse on board. Cutts urged the students to sit in the helicopter to get a feel of what it would be like to take care of a patient in such tight quarters. The students from CU and CSU asked some more questions then found their way inside to grab lunch to take with them as they continued to a community exploration. Then, as the day came to a close, they gathered for a community barbecue at Orchard City Town Park. Thursday, the group was left to explore and learn as much as they wanted to throughout the community. The final day, Friday, students gave a presentation on what they learned and what impacted them during their trip. Christine Krentz, an incoming medical student, Hailee Griffin, second year pharmacy student, Lindsey Foster, a second year physician assistant student, Sean Wickers, a second year medical student, Elle Holbrook, and a third year veterinary student, were all part of a group that presented on environment, agri-

culture, wildlife, natural resources and tourism in Delta County. Lindsey said that something she and her group found interesting was that the temperature

varies throughout Delta County, due to elevation changes. Sean Wickers talked about the water in Delta. “Water is a hot topic because Delta County has no aquifer, it’s all surface water. Much of that water comes from snowpack which can be variable season to season. For example, this is a drought season right now.” Talking about wildlife and tourism Elle said, “One thing we thought was really cool was when we went to go visit the Black Canyon National Park. They actually have a flower that is unique and endemic to that canyon, called the Black Canyon Gilia. I hadn’t heard of having an endemic flower before, so I thought that was pretty cool.” Community leaders were present and were allowed time to give closing remarks.

Father’s Day Weekend Specials at Cedaredge Creekside Cafe Friday �� Saturday � Sunday

��DAD’S BREAKFAST SPECIAL ��DINNER SPECIALS �� 365 N. Grand Mesa Dr. Cedaredge • 856.3366

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A4 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

ACCENT

Delta County Independent

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Ofﬁcers installed

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

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JUNE 18-22 - 9 A.M.-NOON

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

Altrusa International of Delta, Inc., installed its 2018-19 officers last week. The slate of officers and chairs includes (from left) membership chair Nancy Stevens, service chair Thelma Starner, secretary Crystal Hanson, second vice president Barb Wolfe, finance chair Cindy Hanson, president Daphne Harding, treasurer Karen Basher, communication chair Jo Rosenquist, first vice president Kami Collins, foundation chair Vicki Ripp and immediate past president Ute Jantz. Nancy Stevens also recognized long-standing members Jackie Schoonover and Rene’e Eaton, who both have been members for 30 years. Membership in Altrusa is now open to anyone in Delta County who would like to give back to the community through the variety of service projects Altrusans organize and participate in. Find information on joining online at www.AltrusaInternationalOf Delta.com.

Delta Fine Arts hosts annual show Delta Fine Arts Guild presents its 2018 annual art show, Thursday, June 21, through Saturday, June 24, at Bill Heddles Recreation Center, 531 N Palmer Street, Delta. Art of various media, created by the area’s finest artists, professional and student, will be exhibited. The 2018 show judge is Arleta Pech of Austin, who relocated from Arvada last year. Pech is acclaimed for her still life paintings and her work is known for its realism and luminosity. She is listed in Who’s Who in American Art and is the author of “Radiant Oils” and “Painting Fresh Florals in Watercolor.” The DFA Art Show is open to the public, at no charge, on Thursday,

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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, in partnership with the Black Canyon Astronomical Society and Crawford State Park, will be celebrating the starlit skies of Western Colorado with their ninth annual Astronomy Festival June 13-16. Black Canyon was designated as an International Dark Sky Park in 2015, one of a growing number of National Park Service sites that are recognized for exceptional dark skies. There will be daytime as well as evening programs, with solar and night sky viewing. New this year is solar viewing at the Creamery Arts Center in Hotchkiss at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 16, followed that evening with night sky viewing at Crawford State Park at 7:30 p.m. The state park is waiving fees for the evening. For a full schedule, see Black Canyon’s website at http://www.nps.gov/ blca/planyourvisit/calen dar.htm. All programs are free. The park entrance fee, good for seven days, is $20. Parking is available at the South Rim Visitor Center for day programs and the South Rim Campground for evening programs and night sky viewing. Parking is limited — please carpool.

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Astronomy Festival scheduled

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June 21, and Friday, June 22 , 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an artists’ reception from 2 to 4 p.m. A live art demonstration by Pech is scheduled Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m. and show awards will be presented from 3 to 4 p.m.

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“Day at the Beach” by Sheryl Williams

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Fishing derby winners Trent Hannafious, president Gunnison Gorge Anglers, is pictured with the winners of the youth fishing derby held in conjunction with Outdoor Heritage Day June 2. Pictured are (back, left to right) Jordan Reed and Hannafious; (front) Masun Souder and Aspen Lloyd.

BIRTHS Alm and Tyson Schneller of Paonia are the parents of a daughter, Ida Josephine Schneller, born June 6, �� 2018, at Delta County �� Memorial Hospital. She �� weighed 6 pounds, 4.2 �� ounces and was 19.75 �� inches in length. ��

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Check out free state parks passes Did you know that you can check out a state parks backpack with a free day use pass from your local library? Explore the three state parks in Delta County or any one of the many Colorado state parks by using your library card to check out a backpack. Backpacks check out for one week on a first come, first served basis. Contact your local library for more information.

LOCAL NEWS

Delta County Independent

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Council reviews mutually beneficial agreements BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer

A ringing success

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First flight horseshoe pitchers get the instructions and rules from the officials at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3571 and its Auxiliary at the first annual horseshoe and cornhole tournament and barbecue at Cleland Park in Delta Saturday, June 9. Attendees enjoyed beautiful weather, some challenging games, cash prizes and a great meal prepared by the local VFW and Auxiliary members. Post and auxiliary members thank all of the tournament sponsors, participants and donors who contributed to make the day such a great success.

City council appoints six to youth council, donates to swim team BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer

Delta City Council considered requests from two youth groups at its June 5 meeting. Elyse Casselberry, Delta County community and economic development director, requested the appointment of six Delta High School students to the youth council for the upcoming school year. She said the goal is to hit the ground running when school begins in August. Appointed were senior Reagan Clay, four juniors, Trevor Whiteside, Caleb Frazier, Claire Corbasson and Lauren Davey, and sophomore Noeli Castro. In the coming year, youth council members plan to work to balance representation on the council through participation from students in each grade; develop a program around suicide

prevention; learn about county/municipal government and community engagement; and developing a countywide “Youth Master Plan” in partnership with other high schools. At the council’s request, Darnell PlaceWise of the Delta Barracudas Swim Team Board, updated the council on funding for the purchase of a timing system, which would qualify Delta to host the state summer swim meet in 2019. She was accompanied by several members of the Barracudas. The goal is to have the timing system in place by July 17, the last chance swim meet, which typically is attended by individuals from all over western Colorado who still need to qualify for the state meet. The total cost of the timing system is $10,000.

Traffic tip By Trooper Evan Hilling A slow driver is a safe driver right? Not always. While driving at slower speeds can often be safer as it shortens stopping distance and allows for an increased reaction time, it doesn’t always guarantee a safer roadway. Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-1103(1) states: “No person shall drive a motor vehicle on any highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable forward movement of traffic...” This traffic violation is commonly referred to as impeding. We routinely receive complaints from frustrated motorists on many

of our two-lane highways referencing very slow drivers causing traffic to back up behind them. This can create dangerous situations i.e. bad passes, road rage incidents, following too closely, etc. There is nothing wrong with driving under the posted limit, but please be mindful of traffic and pull over to allow those behind you to proceed. CSP is constantly on the lookout for dangerous driving behaviors, and impeding can quickly escalate “safe driving” into dangerous driving. The Colorado State Patrol thanks you for driving safe this summer!

Sponsorships to date include McCracken Family, $500; Jolley Smiles, $1,000; Barracudas fundraisers and sponsorships. $1,600; Delta County School District, $2,500; and First Colorado National Bank, $3,000. Place-Wise said, “Our original ask from the City of Delta was $5,000, and we are now requesting $2,000.” The council voted unanimously to contribute the requested $2,000.

Delta City Council approved several mutually beneficial agreements with residents and/or organizations at its June 5 meeting. Most of the agreements were presented to council by public works and utilities director Betsy Suerth. Sewer Improvement Fee Waiver. The property at 851 Vine Street has been owned by the Chairez family for many years. Carolyn and Tom Chairez want to place a home on the property and are working with the city to construct appropriate utilities. The existing sewer collection pipeline was built substandard with a 4” line and has been problematic to adjacent property owners. The Chairez family proposes to extend the sewer main on Vine Street to their new home. The project will upgrade the system to city standards, which will be beneficial to all the property owners associated with this sewer line as well as the city. The city and the Chairez family will share the cost of the public infrastructure. The city will supply some materials and labor. The cost to the Chairez family is expected to be approximately $16,000, including some costs associated with the private sewer tap. The city will contribute approximately $2,500 to supply some of the project materials, along with

some cost associated with inspection and assuring the existing services are reconnected to the new line. Suerth recommended the council waive the sewer improvement fee of $5,450 for 851 Vine Street. The council unanimously approved the waiver. Councilmember Christopher Ryan noted that this was a great partnership. Weed Control. The council awarded a bid for 2018 weed control to Fedler Spraying LLC for $23,400, with a contingency amount of $3,100, for a total not-to-exceed $26,500. The contract provides an option for staff to extend the contract for the same pricing and limits for 2019. Project 7 Water Authority. Project 7 Water Authority was established in 1977 by four contracting and voting members, City of Delta, City of Montrose, Tri-County Water Conservancy District and Town of Olathe. Its function is to purchase and treat raw water and to deliver such water to it contracting parties, plus two associate members, Menoken Water Company and Chipeta Water Company. Menoken became a water district, and was approved as a contracting and voting member of Project 7 in 1998. Chipeta has become a water district and seeks approval to be accepted by itself as a contracting and voting member. Montrose

signed the amendment to provide Chipeta full membership May 10. Delta City Council signed the amendment June 5. Colorado Department of Transportation. The council approved a letter of consent to CDOT for temporary use and occupancy of City of Delta rights-ofway during CDOT’s US 50 North Delta Phase 1 ADA ramps. Locations affected will be US 50 and 1550 Road, US 50 and 1565 Road (N)/H38 Road, US 50 and H25 Road, US 50 and 1565 Road (S), and Hwy. 92 and Crawford Avenue. Eliminate a Trail in the City of Delta Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Plan. Following adoption of Delta’s Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Master Plan, shareholders of the North Delta Irrigation Company adopted a resolution opposing the trail along the North Delta Canal that is included in the plan. At its June 5 meeting, council passed Resolution No. 4, 2018, eliminating the trail along the North Delta canal that is part of the Master Plan. Temporary Closure of Public Right-of-Way for Downtown DeltaFest. At the request of Delta Area Chamber of Commerce, city council approved temporary closure of Main Street between 3rd Street and 6th Street on June 28 and Aug. 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. for Downtown DeltaFest.

A6 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

SCHOOL

Delta County Independent

Delta Middle honor roll The following students were named to honor roll at Delta Middle School for the second semester of the 2017-18 school year:

Grants aid future educators

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Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma is proud to announce the 2018 grantin-aid recipients, Riley Nicolaus and Taylor Bess. Riley graduated from Montrose High School and plans to attend Colorado Mesa University this fall majoring in special education. Taylor, a Delta High School graduate, will pursue a degree in elementary education at Western State College in Gunnison. She has her eye on teaching fourth graders. Riley and Taylor are pictured above with Penny Siettman, Taylor’s mother, Colton Jenson, a Nicolaus family friend, and Riley’s parents, Cristen and Phil Nicolaus. Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma includes women educators from Delta and Montrose counties. Annual grants are awarded to qualifying senior girls who plan to enter the ﬁeld of education.

Sixth Grade Straight As Randee Ahlberg Lauren Angelo Ana Asavei Aylin Bayles Derek Boyd Taneal Braslin Rylan Bynum Russell Cannon Landan Clay Shayla Curtis John Dexter Katelyn Edwards Xander Graff Katerina Hanning Cheyenne Hatter Pete Herren Kylie Huff Anabelle Kraai Stormie Kuster Ripp Lockhart John Martinez Xavier Martinez Tatem Miller Dominic Montgomery Camilo Munoz Mialisoa Randria Brett Sanchez Nicholas Serve Zoey Shean Lakayla Sheets Kiersten Taylor Anna Weaver Baylee Wilson Kaya Wright 3.33 or Higher Uriel Aguilera Brayden Ahlberg Regann Alsdorf Emily Anderson

Breighelle Atchley Isabella Beilfuss Saw Blessing Nathan Brewer Skyler Brown Logan Clay Trinity Cross Clayton Cryer Wyatt Dickerson Lily Doyle Madysen Ferrell Eban Ficklin Hania Garcia Madalyn Haskins Karlie Holbrook Vandi Horn Roxsy Huerta Jae Huff James Hufman Dakota Jessee Tucker Johnson Rylee Kelleher Tyler King Weston Kunz Eh Law Kyaw Brett Lahoe Javier Ledesma Nicole Madsen Abraham Martinez Lesly Martinez Oscar Martinez Libni Mendoza Leon Judah Neely Parker Neil Benjamin Nortnik William Parker Kimberly Ponce Lance Porder Andrew Priestley Araceli Ramirez Caleb Richman

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Kerstin Farmer Jaylena Gibson Evelyn Gutierrez Brianna Hall Jacob Hancock Madyson Hannegrefs Kailie Hofschulte Abigail Huff Areiel Jaques Kyle Kincaide Hayley Lancaster Hazel Lancaster Everlea Lewis Bernardo Mejia Juan Pablo Ortiz Jeramiah Porter Job Rosales Aneida Sanchez Clay Sandridge Joseph Santonastaso Antonia Sheets Jenna Springer-Reece Luke Stagner Lily Thomson Sunshine Wills Eighth Grade Straight A’s Laisha Aleman Isabelle Burruss Jillian Carlson Sydney Gerle Kara Herren Anysia Hovel Baili Hulet Luke Hutto Melana McCormick Raelee McCurdy Kayla Miller Kurtis Nethington Emma Wise Mia Yost

3.33 or Higher Ariana Avilez Hayley Burwell Emilie Cardenas Austin Chamblin Vianney Corral Kiauna DeLeon Jacob Edwards Alondra Gallegos Alexandra Gaona Janine Garcia Megan Gastineau Iabella Gillespie Elena Hancock Landon Henson Oaklee Hughes Spencer Hughes Aiden Hutto Indaka Jaques Nichole Koch Erika Kuta Maria Lamas Ethan Magner Benjamin McCash Perla Mejia Devan Neil Lah Ku Paw Kaelynn Porter Jose Renteria Andrea Salgado Andrew Santonastaso Nathan Scharnhorst Makenzie Sharpe Teja Smith Joshua Stagner Mercedes Taylor Kryslyn Terrell Heli Tolka Daniel Weaver

Vision Charter Academy presents Vanguard Awards Vision Charter Academy announces the recipients of Vanguard Awards for 2017-2018: Aaliyah Huberd, Addyson Roeling , Anden Wynne, Aubree Lindsay, Autumn Cordell, Ava Cordell, Avery Brown, Caleb Gregg, Cassidy Bellew, Chase Semones, Dakota Harding, Daniel Angotti, David Ware, Dawson Foreman, Dom

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Jovanny Romero Hailey Rule Ava Shaball Rodney Sharpe Johnathon Shull Cameron Teal Domonique Verdeja Paw Wah Caleb Weams Kassidy Wear Seventh Grade Straight A’s Charly Abbott Ellie Ames Emiliano Blanco Alison Burke Kalliope Carmichael Aubrey Fraser Nylene Gutierrez Jordan Johnson Caitlyn Merriman Brooklynn Mininger Clark Connie Mock Alexis Rundle Braeden Sprout Sarah Teel Jesus Trevino Alex Ward Stratman Konner Workman 3.33 or Higher Ezria Abeyta Alexi Armendariz Ada Bermudez Morgan Branham Garrett Cannon Morgan Cano Chelsea Cross Ryetta Davis Pway Doh Samuel Falck

Cordell, Eden Clearwater, Ethan Hartman, Gaige Bucher, Gideon Collier, Hannah Weider, Jamie Bellew, Jazemine Raley, Jesse Ware Jr., Jessica Bowler, John Gowen, Johnathan Serio, Jordan Ryan, Jorryn Liberato-Hall, Katelynn Hart, Kolston Wynne, Lella Young, Lennon Albert, Lilly McCurdy, Logan Semones, Maddie Lindsey, Madi Bates, Makenzie Hill, Marcus Lindsay, Marcus Vandenhoek, Mary Esquibel, Miliani Sepulveda, Nevaeh Angotti, Olivia Lindsay, Sadie Wynne,

Sarah Wells, Steffen Brodie, Talina Sepulveda, Tatdyn Dillon, Zola Cordell, Delaney Signs, Oliver Mullen, Aidan Garcia, Harlee Signs, Evie Sherman, Drake Hanson, Cody Mills, Dustin Charles Moore, Brandon McCracken, Doryus Nickolaus, Dawson Foreman, Aaliyah Huberd, Petralina Albert, Emmalynn Prosser, Nevaeh Erickson, Aniya Evans, Aysia Evans, Grace Jensen, Rikku Lage, Amara Fancher, Eliana Fancher, Abigail Durfee, Doryus Nickolaus and Cotton Cadwel.

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Vanguard Award recipients

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Vanguard Award recipients

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Check out the DCI Print Shop for all your printing needs. Call Randy Crespin at 874-4421.

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SCHOOL

Delta County Independent

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Garnet Mesa honor roll

The following students were named to the honor roll at Garnet Mesa Elementary School for the fourth quarter of the 2017-18 school year:

Photo submitted

Lincoln’s Terriﬁc Kids

The Delta Kiwanis presented Lincoln Elementary students with Terriﬁc Kids awards on May 15 and 16. The students are recognized by teachers for outstanding characteristics, achievement, and effort. The recipients (and their reason for recognition) for this week are (top row, left to right) Alma Flores (kindness), Elizabeth Marquez (compassion), Jacob Leib (character), Nay Kue Soe (diligence); (middle row) Kyler Kendall, Hayden Hamm (kindness), Jaida Ware, Christine Htoo (fairness), Aspen Lloyd (kindness), Angel Ramirez (kindness), Tristen Delhagen, Isaac Mendiola (caring), Kenleigh Keller, Alexis Kirkman (compassion), Quentin Wyatt (service); (bottom row) Andreas Herrera (citizenship), Alora Cannon (character), Braxton Gurule (diligence), Olivia Long (respect), Jonathan Maestas, Sage Woods (diligence), Meghan Laurent and Harley McCourt.

Third Grade Straight A’s Brooke Armendariz Haylei Bayless Lilyanna Borgerding Joaquin Chavira TaNea Cook Keagan Crespin Derick Curtis Drew Davis Josie Farmer Joshua Hatton Lily Higgs Sarah King Zane Knight William Lawrence John Merritt Jessica Montoya Odyssey Perez Saw Peter Danika Queen Jordan Reed Isabelle Ripper Dakota Rounds Pacey Smith Paola Solis-Martinez Trenten Summers Parker Tatum Dominik Teal Karleigh West Brilyn Wilson A/B Honor Roll William Adams II Kyler Anderson Karena Barajas Corbin Cooper Kayden Corral Rios

Hailey Dearing Joshua Dicamillo Aleeya Giron Kenny Gonzalez Cruz Vivian GonzalezFranco Kynan Griffith Isabelle Hall Paiyten Henderson Peyton Huntley Tyler Hurd Alejandro Martinez Josiah Padilla Brody Short Daniel Silva Peyton Stults Trenton Sukle Alauna Torres Addison Weaver Fourth Grade Straight A’s Judah Adams Jaden Angelo Francisco Bermudez William Burruss Christian Escarcega Juan Gallegos Jr. Julian Gallegos Osvaldo Gonzalez Cruz Gwyneth Hasto Olivia Hines Emmalee Johnson Victoria Medina Luna Ainhoa Ochoa Chloe Sharpe Deacon Shean

Troy Siennicki Hunter Simineo Eric Uribe Uriel Vicencio Madeline Zmiewsky A/B Honor Roll Andres Acosta Breckin Atchley Andrew Bascue Abigail Bloom Abigail Campas Tucker Carson Paige Clennin Alexis Dawson Alyssa Garrett Luis Huerta Barajas Alson Huerta Naveah Huff Berrelleza Juan Lamas Vazquez Correy Law Brailey Lawrence Nevaeh Lujan Giovanni Madrid Bergen McCormick Jyssidia Moralez Delilah Munoz Mckenzie Murray Ivan Nava Marin Lillian Nelson Jose Ortiz Shelby Pride Nevaeh Roberts Paola Rodriguez Medina Leilani Rundle Trey Taylor

Danica Thornton Makayla Wear Stefan Williams Danika Windemaker Fifth Grade Straight A’s Sydnie Atchley Velma Bailey Satoshi Bautista Janeth Corral Kaidence Foote Carolyn Garigliano Ashley Hernandez Anika Hovel Brianna Huff Jordyn Huff Tyson Hughes Brekin Hutto Ethan Mack Aniston McFarland Jaw Moo Ty Reed Willon Rice Kali Ripper Daniel Romer Alexia Sanchez Jonathan Santonastaso Joseph Siennicki Juliana Stagner Brysin Woodson Jolyn Worley Tyler Yost Rachel Young A/B Honor Roll Mark Allaire Andreas Alvarez Yuraly Arias

Rain Bales Mya Barrientos Joseph Black Alexcia Bloom Tami Byler Kyndahl Duran Joshua Eriksen Lillian Eskam Dylan Fry Aydan Gillespie Amancia Gonzalez Cruz Xavier Gonzalez Helen GonzalezFranco Lazalea Harris Cody Hawks Ryan Hendricks Joseph Kurtz Yasmine Lopez Jose Madrid Ellie Magner Trinity McCurdy Izabella McLendon Haley McMillan Anthony Meyer Lily Perez Brooke Pietak Heidi Ponce Ashton Robinson Alyssa Rule D’Angelo Saenz Landon Spaedt Asa St. Peter Diego Vicencio Tucker Whitby Abigail Zmiewsky

Delta County Livestock Association awards $11,000 to graduating seniors Delta County Livestock Association would like to congratulate all graduating seniors and wish them well in their future endeavors. DCLA would especially like to commend our seven 2018 scholarship recipients who are all very deserving and driven students with exciting futures ahead. Clayton Campbell, son of Calvin and Tracy Campbell, will receive the George Volk Memorial Scholarship for $2,000. Clay, a Paonia High School graduate, will be attending West Texas A&M to major in animal science/agricultural science and possibly minor in agricultural business. His long-term goal is to come back and help his father operate their family cattle ranch, which has been in their family for over 100 years. Jessica Craig, daughter of Douglas and Jennifer Craig, is the 2018 recipient of the Denise Kossler Memorial Scholarship. A Cedaredge High School graduate, Jessica is planning to begin a neurobiology major at Colorado State University. She hopes to pursue a medical degree and become a surgeon in rural Colorado. The final five recipients will be awarded Delta County Livestock Association Opportunity Grants in the amount of $1,400 each. Sarah Parker is the daughter of Bruce and Dawn Parker. She is a Delta High School graduate who plans to major in health and exercise science at Colorado State University. She would ultimately like to become a dermatologist to help her community. Graduating from Cedaredge High School, Brooke Klaseen is the daughter of Bryan and Pam Klaseen. Brooke plans to pursue a degree in elementary education from Western State Colorado University. Jaden Miller, son of Nate Miller and John Paul and Christa Coats, is a Paonia High School graduate with plans to study either gunsmithing at Trinidad State University or kinesiology and education at Colorado Mesa University. Tessa Gore hopes to achieve a radiology or nursing degree from Laramie County Community College and use her degree to give back to the community that has given her so much. Daughter of Yancy and Mary Gore, Tess is a Paonia High School graduate. Morgan Miller, of Hotchkiss High School, is planning to attend Texas Tech University and major in agricultural communication. She has already been accepted into the pre-law track. The daughter of Chuck and Amy Miller, she is planning to make a career as a family lawyer. Each year the Delta County Livestock Association recognizes indi-

viduals who are coming from an agricultural background or are planning to go into an agricultural field of study. These scholarships are funded by donations as well as the proceeds from the Delta County Livestock Association barbecue at the Delta County Fair. Additionally, DCLA holds silent and live auctions at its annual banquet and proceeds ben-

efit the scholarship fund. The Delta County Livestock Association board would also like to thank all of our great members and sponsors for helping build our scholarship fund and making it possible to help these students find success in their future. It is through your kind generosity that this association can give back to our community in so many ways.

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AR winners

Garnet Mesa Elementary School recognizes the Accelerated Reader winners for the fourth quarter: Gabby Gallenbeck, Juliana Stagner, Saw Solomon Peter, Alex Burruss and Dylan Fry.

NEW PART-TIME OFFERINGS AT TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE ROCKIES

Students can take classes part-time from 7:30-10:30 a.m. or 12:30-3:30 p.m. This is a great option for those who have to work while going to school or high school students who would like to take our programs while still in school (concurrent offerings) Morning Offerings Only: BARBERING HAIRSTYLING

Afternoon Offerings Only: NAIL TECHNICIAN

Morning & Afternoon Options: AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICAL DRAFTING

Other Offerings: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION is offered online and in-seat part-time. EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN offered in the evenings and every other Saturday.

MASSAGE THERAPY has a part-time option. NURSING AIDE (CNA) can be taken in-class or with an online/hybrid option.

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Courses offered at The PIC Place Classroom in Montrose in the evenings and some Saturdays (when applicable):

CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTING PROGRAM DENTAL ASSISTING We still have our same great programs offered full-time in Cosmetology • Barbering • Esthetician • Massage Therapy Practical Nursing • Law Enforcement Academy • Technical Drafting ALL of our programs will have an Industry Based Certiﬁcation that can be attained upon completion of program.

1765 US Hwy. 50 • Delta • 874-7671 • tcr.edu

A8 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

OBITUARIES

Delta County Independent

Because she was unable HopeWest, 3090 B North Visit the internet obituary and sign the online ness school. uary and sign the online guest registry at www. On March 21, 1952, she to achieve that goal, she Street, Grand Junction, guest registry at www. taylorfuneralservice.com. married Graydon Glid- encouraged her chil- CO 81506. taylorfuneralservice.com. Callahan Edfast den in Portland, Ore. The dren and grandchildren family moved to Delta in to continue education Mortuary handled the 1980. beyond high school. arrangements. Mrs. Glidden was a After a short period of member of Silver Stitch- time living in Salt Lake Honey Lee ers, who knit and cro- City, Utah, with her sisHoney Shane Lee died cheted for hospitals ter Betty, Mrs. Bruce and people in need. She returned to Paonia. She April 25, 2018. A celebration of life enjoyed reading and doing married Morris Bruce in crossword puzzles. 1954. They lived most of will be held Saturday, June 16 from 2 to 6 p.m. She is survived by her their lives in Paonia. six children, Guy, Gail, After the death of at the American Legion Clara, Anne, Alex and her husband in 1997, Hall in Paonia, 40772 John Spinelli Kara; one brother, Clar- Mrs. Bruce moved to Lamborn Mesa Road. The family will provide John Spinelli died ence; 16 grandchildren; Montrose. June 1, 2018. He was 54. She enjoyed sewing, a barbecue meal, soft and three great-grandRudyard Loose John Thomas Spinelli quilting, gardening and drinks and water. Please Rudyard Kerwood children. was born in California on hosting family celebra- bring a dish to share if She was preceded in “Bud” Loose died at his you wish. BYOB. Nov. 26, 1963. He moved tions. daughter’s home in Lit- death by her husband. to Cedaredge in 1979, She Taylor Funeral Service is survived by Evelyn Grant tleton on April 6, 2018. then returned to CaliforArdith “Evelyn” Grant He was born Sept. 1, and Crematory is han- three of her four chilnia several times before of Hotchkiss died Wednesdren, Criselle Tuckel of 1926, in Humboldt, Kan., dling the arrangements. settling in Delta in 1988. day, June 6, 2018, at Visit the internet obit- Sedalia, Morris Clayton to Dr. Frank and Dorthea He is survived by his HopeWest Hospice Care Loose. He grew up in sev- uary and sign the online Bruce of Montrose and daughter, Tammy Michael Center in Grand Junceral small Kansas towns guest registry at www. Sandra Scott of Dubai; of Eckert; son, Pierce Spi- tion. She was 87. and graduated from New- taylorfuneralservice.com. eight grandchildren; and nelli of Cedaredge; sister, five great-grandchildren. Funeral services were ton High School in 1944. Linda Wilcox of Delta; Graveside services Immediately following held June 11 at the Taybrother, Richard Spinelli will be held at 10 a.m. lor Funeral Service Cha- graduation, he enlisted of Long Beach, Calif.; Wednesday, June 20, at pel in Delta with Pastor in the U.S. Navy Seabees ex-wife, Christy Spinelli Cedar Hill Cemetery. James Conley officiating. (naval construction force) Colorado Parks and of Cedaredge; and three A picnic will follow at Wildlife has awarded Interment followed in the and was deployed to the grandchildren. Paonia Town Park. Mesa View Cemetery in western Pacific. He was $370,800 to 10 shootHe was preceded in Crippin Funeral Home ing and archery ranges part of the island-hopDelta. death by his parents, is handling the arrange- across Colorado through Ardith Evelyn Bough- ping campaign to defeat Thomas and Minnie Spiments. Japan and he participatman was born Aug. 8, the agency’s Shooting nelli; sisters, Shirley Spied in the invasion of Oki1930, to Claude and Eva Range Development nelli and Nancy Clairday; nawa. After the war, he Grant Program (SRDG). brothers, Leslie Stanbery Boughman. The first 11 Leona Mitchell The funds will go toward returned home to Newand Nathan Stanbery; years of her life were Grand Junction resi- developing new shooting ton, Kan., but he missed spent in Snyder, then and a nephew, Cpl. Jason dent Leona Ann Mitch- ranges and to upgrade the Navy. He re-enlisted Clairday, a U.S. Marine her family moved to ell died June 6, 2018, existing ranges. as an electronics techniWilda Bruce Minturn. who died in combat. Wilda Aline Bruce at HopeWest Hospice in On Aug. 31, 1947, she cian and was assigned to A $6,500 grant awardTaylor Funeral Service several ships and some died June 8, 2018, at Grand Junction. She was ed to the Delta Trap Club married Merlin “Leon” and Crematory is hanremote locations. Montrose Memorial Hos- 76. will cover the cost of a dling the arrangements. Grant in Eagle. A private burial took new PA system and sigOn June 25, 1951, he pital, due to complicaMrs. Grant was office Visit the internet obitmarried Loretta Russell. tions from a damaged place on June 12. nage. uary and sign the online manager for a medical Mrs. Mitchell was a They moved to assign- heart following surgery. The program’s funds guest registry at www. office. She moved from secretary. ments in Albuquerque, She was 84. come from federal excise Fruita to Hotchkiss in taylorfuneralservice.com. She is survived by her taxes generated by the She was born July 18, 1983. She was a life mem- N.M., Fort Campbell, Ky., ber of Black Canyon VFW Yorktown, Va., Washing- 1933, to Walter and Ger- children, Todd Mitchell sale of hunting and Sharon Paul Post #9333 and served as ton, D.C., Naval Station trude Harding in Bowie. of North Ridge, Calif., shooting equipment, in Sharon Lorraine Paul an officer and district offi- San Miguel and Trans- When she was an infant, Misty Mitchell of Delta addition to funds generdied June 4, 2018, at her cer. She belonged to the mitter/Receiver Site Tar- the family moved from and Stephanie “Dede” ated by license fees. Local home in Crawford. She Dairyman’s and Ostomy lac in the Philippines, Bowie to Fort Lupton Blake of Grand Junction; partners in the projects was 73. Associations. She enjoyed San Diego, Calif., and to farm. After years of siblings, Kenneth Seals also commit at least 25 She was born Sept. 2, reading, hummingbirds, Argentia, Newfoundland. losing crops to frequent of Colorado Springs percent in matching 1944, in Pennsylvania to her flowers, playing com- He did two deployments hail stroms, the family and Dorothy Hutchison funds for the work. Carey and Mary (Fenicle) puter and board games, on the aircraft carrier returned to the Western of Grand Junction; six Since 2012, SRDG has Robinson. She spent her and spending time with USS Oriskany during the Slope. Mrs. Bruce fin- grandchildren; and four awarded more than $3.3 childhood and attended her family. She was a Vietnam war. ished high school in great-grandchildren. million in funding to 70 school in Pennsylvania, member of the Baptist Memorial contribu- shooting and archery He retired from the Paonia in 1951 and purgraduating from high church. Navy in August 1969 and sued a career in nursing. tions may be made to ranges across Colorado. school in 1960. She is survived by the family moved to NewOn May 16, 1960, she three daughters, Regina ton, Kan. After two years married Robert Paul Jr. (Floyd) Bufkin of Sun in Newton they moved to They moved from Penn- City, Ariz., Patricia Grant Cory so he could be near sylvania to Crawford in of Hotchkiss and Pame- the Grand Mesa. 2000. After retirement he la (Larry) Snodgrass of Oct. 25, 1952 ~ June 6, 2018 Mrs. Paul was a Clifton; a brother, Claud worked for the Delta member of the Method- (Lavern) Williams of County government and Delta resident Rich- Poulos in Paonia. This Gallenbeck. ist church. She enjoyed Greeley; 17 grandchil- he and his wife ran an ard Ivan “Rick” Smith union was blessed with He was preceded in cooking, baking, collec- dren; 22 great-grandchil- H&R Block office. passed away Wednes- two children, Christo- death by his parents tin Indian artifacts and dren; and eight greatIn August 2008, he day, June 6, 2018, at pher and Meghan. Ivan and Charlene. spending time with her great-grandchildren. moved to Littleton to live There will be a gathhis residence. He was Rick was a craftsfamily. 65 years of age. man and an artist. In ering at the house after She was preceded in with his daughter. She is survived by death by her husband He is survived by his A graveside service his free time he enjoyed the service. one son, Robert Paul III Merlin “Leon” on Feb. sons, Mike (Carol) and will be held 11 a.m. Fri- spending time with his Family requests of Crawford; one broth- 19, 2017; two sons, Terry Mark (Nancy); daughday, June 15, 2018, at grandchildren, as well memorial contributions er; seven sisters; and Grant, an infant child, ter, Sheila (Harley); five Bethlehem Cemetery in as reading, and he had be made in Rick’s name one grandson, Robert and Jerry Grant; and one grandchildren; and three Paonia with Ty Gallen- a lifelong love of many to Delta County Library C. (Samantha) Paul of daughter, Barbara Rags- great-grandchildren. pets. 611 W. 6th Street Delta, beck officiating. Crawford. A graveside service Mr. Smith is survived CO 81416 or Delta Rick was born on Oct. dale. She was preceded in 25, 1952, in Delta, to by his loving spouse of County Humane Society Taylor Funeral Service with full military honors death by her husband. Ivan Aust and Charlene 43 years Susan Smith of PO Box 1111, Delta, CO and Crematory is han- will be held Thursday, Taylor Funeral Service dling the arrangements. June 28, at 11 a.m. at (Swisher) Smith. He Delta; son Christopher 81416. and Crematory is hanArrangements are spent his childhood in Smith of Delta; daughVisit the internet obit- Cory Cemetery. dling the arrangements. Delta where he attend- ter Meghan Gallenbeck under the care and direced school and graduated (Tyson) of Delta; two tion of Taylor Funeral Dorothy Glidden from Delta High School brothers Jim Smith Service and Crematory. Longtime Delta resiwith the class of 1971. of Delta and Norman View the internet dent Dorothy A. Glidden �� After high school he Smith of Montrose; and obituary and sign the died June 5, 2018, at Wil�� attended Adams State. three grandchildren, online guest registry at low Tree Care Center in �� On April 19, 1975, Trevor Smith, Gabriella www.taylorfuneralser Delta. She was 86. Rick married Susan J. Gallenbeck and Jessie vice.com. A graveside memorial service will be held at 2 �� p.m. Wednesday, June 13, at Mesa View Cemetery in �� Delta, with Pastor Veron�� ica Smith officiating. �� Mrs. Glidden was born �� Dec. 10, 1931, in Grand �� March 17, 1969 ~ May 23, 2018 Forks, N.D., to Arthur and �� Clara (Beaton) Peterson. Jerri Sue Murchison, not be resisted. She was �� She spent her childhood beloved daughter of the flame that drew us �� in North Dakota, where Gordon and Gay Murall to her love. �� she attended school. She �� chison, and the most Those who knew �� graduated from Grand Jerri Sue knew her to special baby sister of �� Forks High School in be a person of great love Rhonda, Rick, Becky, �� 1949, then attended busiand affection. Jerri Sue Robin, and Deana, left would also be described this life on Wednesday, as a person who danced May 23, 2018. She was to the sound of her own residing in Georgetown, drum. She always had Colo. a smile and a quick wit, Jerri Sue was born and the sound of her on March 17, 1969, in laughter is still heard in Burnet, Texas. She was our hearts today. raised in the Llano, She is survived by Kingsland, Texas area. her children, Travis Jerri Sue attended Llano Michael, Jerrod and High School where she was a cheerleader and children and grand- Makenna Cozby; grandwas very active in 4- children as well as her children, Kinsley and H showing steers. She parents and siblings. Jaycee; parents, GorThis enormous fam- don and Gay Murchigraduated in 1987. Jerri Sue loved ani- ily has many wonderful son; her brother, Rick mals. As a small child, memories of a woman Murchison; her sisters, she would spend hours full of spirit who would Rhonda Clifton, Robin walking around and spend hours working on Petrich, Becky Leisten under the steers with no crafts, which she gave and Deana Pipher; and fear, as her brothers and freely to her family and many nieces, nephsisters were working. friends. All who knew ews and special family She also had a passion her loved her, and were friends. for dogs. She loved all drawn to her through We would like to ask dogs big and small and her love and thought- in lieu of flowers that was rarely seen without fulness. Jerri Sue was donations be sent to Hill always there for those Country Humane Soci�� one by her side. �� The most important who needed her. She ety at www.hillcountry �� things in her life were is remembered by her humanesociety.org. �� family, especially her family as one who could Paid obituary

CPW grant funds Delta Trap Club upgrades

Richard Ivan “Rick” Smith

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Jerri Sue Murchison

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Delta County Independent

ACTIVITIES

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

�� Toastmasters host open house ��

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Black Canyon Voices Toastmasters invites the public to its open house to meet members and watch special guest speaker, Doug Speedie, MD, medical director at PACE, Volunteers of America talk about the importance of communication skills for today’s professional. “Black Canyon Voices Toastmasters provides a supportive and positive environment where members have the opportunity to develop their communication and leadership skills,” says Edith Johnston, club vice president of public relations. Members and guests

will enjoy a regular Toastmasters meeting that will include Speedie’s speech, Table Topics™ (impromptu speeches) and evaluations. Corey Rupp will serve as toastmaster for the meeting. Peter Sullivan, who has served in various club positions, will be the Table Topics master. “Table Topics are one of my favorite parts of the meeting,” says Sullivan.

“This is where guests and members are randomly selected to speak for one to two minutes. It helps you think and speak clearly on your feet.” The open house will take place Thursday, June 21, at First Colorado National Bank, 150 Gunnison River Drive, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. For more information, email Edith Johnston at blackcanyonvoicestm@

Make-a-will seminar scheduled June 19

Delta County attorneys present a free make-a-will seminar Tuesday, June 19, at 6 p.m. at Westminster Hall, 135 E. 4th Street, Delta (adjacent to the Presbyterian Church). A short discussion on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and living wills David and Tamara will be presented by local Hauze will be featured in attorneys. There will be a concert Thursday, June time for discussion. 14, to benefit Delta County Search and Rescue. The concert will be held in the Cedaredge Town Park at 7 p.m. Bring your own chairs; refreshments Coloratura soprano will be furnished. Carissa Scroggins will perform at the Chapel of the Cross in Cedaredge on Sunday, June 17, at 4 p.m. Admission is by donation. Scroggins will perform a selection of classical recital repertoire, with pieces by Purcell, Grieg, Bernstein and others. The majority of the pieces will be art songs, with one aria from Bizet’s Carmen. Scroggins is entering Paul Chamberlain her second year in the University of Northern Colorado’s graduate program in voice. Her secondary area is musicology, with an emphasis on baroque and classical opera. She is currently Paul Chamberlain will performing “Josephine” perform at the Chapel of from Gilbert and Sullithe Cross in Cedaredge van’s HMS Pinafore with on Thursday, June 14 at 7 Denver’s Empire Lyric p.m. Chamberlain, whose Players. Past perforheritage is Cherokee, mances with UNC have Choctaw and Chicasaw included “Water” from Indian, is also known as Rachel Portman’s The Three Bears, and has been a part of the American music scene for over 40 years. He warmed up concerts for several recording artists in the 1970s and performed at Caesar’s Palace and the Sahara in Lake Tahoe in the 1980s.

Rock the Park to benefit DCSAR

For $15 per document, participants will be able to make their own will, power of attorney, or living will. Forms will be provided. Proof of identity (driver’s license, etc.) will be required, as all documents will require notarization. Registration is suggested but not required by calling Leah Lewis at 250-7568.

gmail.com. Toastmasters Black Canyon Voices meets first and third Thursday of the month at 12:15 p.m. at the First Colorado National Bank next to City Market in Delta. For more information about the club, visit https://blackcanyon voices.toastmastersclubs. org/ Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.

Climb to new heights

Bill Heddles Recreation Center is hosting open climbs every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. During the month of June, the climbing wall will open Mondays and Thursdays, 5 to 8 p.m., at Confluence Fields. The recreation center will also offer a four-week session of climbing lessons, July 11 to Aug. 1, from 9 to 11 a.m. Sign up at the front desk or call Little Prince and cover- 874-0923. ing “Ännchen” in Der Freischütz. In addition to those roles, Scroggins had her opera director debut this spring with UNC’s opera scenes program. She also was the assistant director for UNC’s Der Freischütz. The Delta HubwheelLast winter Scroggins ers Square Dance Club was featured with Love- will host a Father’s Day land Opera Theatre at dance on Saturday, June its Holiday Soiree. She is 16, from 7-9 p.m., at the also a member of Opera Bill Heddles Recreation On Tap out of Denver. Center, 531 N. Palmer Street, Delta. Mark your calendars for the regular dances July 7 and July 21. A potluck precedes the July 21 dance at 6 p.m. Delta Hub Wheelers dance on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Dances are Mainstream with Plus tips from 7 to 9 p.m. Club caller is Naaman Moorehouse of Grand Junction. For more information, call 835-3771 or 835Carissa Scroggins 8666.

Soprano to perform at Chapel of the Cross

Chamberlain to perform at chapel

Hubwheelers celebrate Father’s Day

Patriotic concert planned The patriotic community choir announces concerts June 28 at the Hotchkiss United Methodist Church and June 29 at the Cedaredge Community United Methodist Church. Both performances begin at 7 p.m. and will feature a variety of stirring patriotic music. Dress rehearsal will be at the Surface Creek Community Church Monday, June 25, also at 7 p.m. The public is invited.

Local favorites

Photo by Sandy Wilt

The Solar Brothers (aka local favorites Paul Frazier and Roy Martin) will perform at The Chapel of the Cross in Cedaredge on Thursday, June 21, at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation. Their repertoire spans decades of Americana, classic pop, blues and folk genres of music. Their diverse set lists often include songs by Lyle Lovett, Poco, Dylan, CSN, John Prine and Monty Python. Complementing original songs, Paul and Roy blend tight vocal harmonies with ﬁnger-style and red-hot picking acoustic guitars and mandolin. Roy and Paul have been performing together in Colorado since 2013, releasing an original CD in mid 2015. Paul teaches music classes at the North Fork Montessori school in Crawford and Roy works for the U.S. Forest Service.

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A10 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

BUSINESS

Delta County Independent

Longterm contract for Delta’s electric power approved Future of power plant considered

BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer

Photo submitted

Main Street addition

Delta Area Chamber of Commerce recently recognized a new member with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in May. The event was held in conjunction with the grand opening celebration of Blue Easel Boutique Gallery, located at the corner of 2nd and Main in Delta. Bonnie Mitchell and Shelley Slavens came together to create the gallery, which features art, including their own, plus classes and workshops.

Family fun, entertainment on tap for DMEA’s annual meeting Delta-Montrose Electric Association’s (DMEA) annual meeting of members will be held Thursday, June 14, at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive. The fun kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with bucket truck rides, an electric car show, kids’ games, educational booths, live music by David Starr, and Elevate Fiber demonstrations. Elevate employees will provide information about home WiFi technology, streaming options, and the benefits of fiber. Plus, attendees can check in on the progress of their community zone goals. DMEA and Elevate employees will also serve up a free dinner from Jimmer’s BBQ from 4:30 to 6 p.m., as well as provide information on how to save energy, electricity safety, and high-speed internet. The event is free to attend and the public is welcome. The event will also mark the election of three

candidates. Two candidates are running unopposed for DMEA’s board of directors. Kyle Martinez, District 2, and Chris Hauck, District 5, will be declared elected at the meeting. One board seat is contested. The results of the District 1 race between Bill Patterson and Ed Ulibarri will be tabulated and declared at the meeting. The business meeting portion of the event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with reports from co-op CEO Jasen Bronec, and board president Bill Patterson. It will also include a special appearance by keynote speaker, Phil Rutkowski. Rutkowski is a business development manager for Wärtsilä North America, Inc., a global leader in smart technology and sustainable innovation in the energy market. He will speak about the changing nature of the energy

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industry and current trends and what they mean for co-op’s like DMEA. DMEA members in attendance will receive a free tin camping mug, while supplies last, and have the opportunity to win a variety of door prizes including an air tour for two from Rocky Mountain Air Tours and local gift certificates. More information about DMEA’s annual election can be found online at www.dmea.com or by emailing public. relations@dmea.com. DMEA was originally founded in 1938, as Delta-Montrose Rural Power Lines Association. A board of directors from nine districts covering three counties governs the cooperative. DMEA serves approximately 32,000 residential, commercial and industrial meters, on over 3,000 miles of cooperative owned distribution line.

Delta City Council approved a contract with Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) for reliable, firm electric service from hydroelectric power at its June 5 meeting. The term of the contract is from Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2057. Delta has purchased reliable, firm electric service from WAPA since 1968. Delta’s allocation today is through the existing contract with WAPA, executed in 1987 with an expiration date of Sept. 30, 2024. WAPA requested the contract renewal be executed in advance of the existing contract expiration to facilitate WAPA’s long term load resource planning. Electric superintendent Adam Suppes told the council WAPA allocation rates have remained stable and affordable throughout the city’s 50year relationship with WAPA. The WAPA rates are 70 percent lower than the city’s lowest cost resource. The city has realized additional savings from the purchase of available hydropower in years of excessive run off. In the past 12-month period, Suppes estimates a cost avoidance of $236,500 through the purchase of power from WAPA. The WAPA allocation is a 100 percent renewable resource and accounts for 9.8 percent of the city’s existing load. Considering WAPA’s renewable resource, and adding the city’s wind contract and major power supplier MEAN’s portfolio,

the sum of renewable resources in the city’s electric service is 24.4 percent. The city no longer generates power at the ML&P plant on Main Street. In 2010 the Environmental Protection Agency adopted new rules regarding Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE).The regulations required any non-emergency combustion ignition engine over 500 HP to have its CO emissions reduced by 90 percent, and required more stringent maintenance and record keeping. This affected the city’s four largest engines, which would have had to be retrofitted by May 2013, or put into emergency status. The cost to refit the engines would have been equivalent to or greater than the cost of the equipment due to the design and age of the engines. In 2012 the city contracted with MEAN for the city’s long term total power requirement. In

2013 the power plant was placed into emergency status due to the EPA RICE rule. In 2014 the power plant was permanently retired in an official ceremony. The Delta City Council held a work session June 7 at the ML&P building, with Adam Suppes providing a tour of the building and its majestic engines that provided Delta’s electric power for decades. The councilmembers discussed possibilities of how this building, its retired outbuildings and its campus might be repurposed. Finding answers to that question will begin with a committee of two — Mayor Ron Austin and Councilmember Nathan Clay — and with occasional assistance from councilmember Christopher Ryan. They will research ideas in how the building and campus can be used for other purposes and they will talk with people who have interests and ideas about other uses.

Students invited to job fair in Montrose On Thursday, June 14, the Western Workforce Center in Montrose will hold a summer job fair at the Montrose Community Recreation Center, 16350 Woodgate Road in Montrose from 2 to 4 p.m. The event is anticipated to draw hundreds of young adults between the ages of 16-24 to meet with representatives from a variety of local businesses with full-time and part-time positions to be filled. In fact, many students could land a summer job right on the spot! Staff from the Work-

force Center will be on hand to answer questions and address specific topics that will help young people get ahead such as how to do a successful job interview, money management, apprenticeships and more. People interested in attending the youth summer job fair can learn more by visiting the Montrose Workforce Center at 504 N. 1st Street. If you have questions or if you are an employer who wishes to participate in the event, call Tony Morales or Mary Eaton with the Workforce Center at 970-249-7783.

Know Your Neighbor

Laughing Goat farmer’s market features baked goods, fresh produce and ‘just in case’ supplies

Laughing Goat Farmer’s Market recently opened at 31183 Highway 92 on Rogers Mesa. There you will ﬁnd all baked goods, coffee, smoothies and other products from local artisans and farmers. Fruit and vegetables will be available in the store, as well as local crops when they’re ready for harvest. Store hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday. Owners Joe and Pam Davis are committed to helping build a sustainable community where farmers thrive by sourcing animal feed components from local growers and encouraging members to appreciate where their food is coming from, in turn strengthening the local economy. Joe and Pam came to the Western Slope area in August 2011, led here to build infrastructure for a food company to support a refugee population they felt would be coming here at some time in the future. Both medically trained, they were “new” to agriculture and have been experimenting since 2007 with various facts of ag including cow/ calf operations, meat goat production, egg laying, hatchery, drip irrigation systems, gardens, etc. In their medical practice, they observed a number of medical problems they now believe are directly related to the genetic modiﬁcation of some of our most basic food inputs (particularly corn and soybeans). Not only is your

health affected by what you eat but also (especially in your children) what your animals are fed. This is most important in egg and dairy production. This led the Davises to build an exclusively non-GMO animal feed mill at Pea Green. They recently received Eurofin Labs certification. They also believe that agriculture and the U.S. dependence on technology and large scale efficiency has exposed the citizenry of the United States to the grave danger of any sudden disruption of our food supply. They believe that it is prudent to have a few months of basic food supplies set aside in case of any

catastrophic emergency. The Laughing Goat has the background and supplies to help you in your “just in case” emergency preparation. Wood is a relatively inexpensive way of heating and if necessary cooking, thus ﬁrewood and woodstove production is part of the Pea Green facility. The bakery was started for making bread, basic and life sustaining, and has grown to include mufﬁns, biscotti, cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, scones and more. Stop by 31183 Highway 92 for a look around and check out the daily updates on Facebook.

Laughing Goat farmer’s market is located at 31183 Highway 92 and is open six days a week.

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NEVER A COVER

HAPPY HOUR – Mon.-Sat. 2 p.m.-6p.m. • Drink Specials

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! • 10 a.m.-2 a.m.

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NORTH FORK June 13, 2018

TIMES

Section

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Town of Paonia, Brunner headed to court this week BY TAMIE MECK Staff Writer

At the May 22 board meeting, former Paonia town trustee Bill Brunner took exception to the way the executive session was worded on the agenda. The item called for a conference with the town attorney to receive legal advice “specific to Mr. Brunner court case.” Brunner was elected to the board in 2016 and resigned last June while facing sanctions related to his release to the media of a series of emails. In contesting the agenda item, Brunner said the wording gives the impression that he is suing the town. “The agenda is insufficient under the law to permit you to go into executive session as planned and misleads the public as to the true nature of your business,” since there is no “Mr. Brunner court case,” said Brunner. “I believe this is a reference to ‘custodian of records in her official capacity for the town of Paonia, plaintiff, versus Bill Brunner, defendant.” To call it anything else, “hides from the public the fact that it is the town who is responsible for these proceedings.” The suit, he said, was filed “in bad faith,” and is an attempt to hide the town’s attempts to withhold public records as defined by the Colorado Open Records Act. Colorado Open Meeting Law permits “a very narrow and specific range of topics and requires that notice be given that is as complete as possible without harming the town’s position,” said Brunner. “To refer to this serious matter in any way other than by its proper title” is a breech of that law. Brunner also contested part 2 of the agenda item, “Permission to waive, as necessary, attorney client communication regarding Mr. Brunner court case,” stating that it also fails to satisfy the open meetings law.

Brunner said the documents related to the case were handed over to former town Public Works Department employee Eric Pace by order of Delta County Judge Jin Ho Pack during a Nov. 21 hearing (see “Judge rules that Paonia was right and wrong on records request” in the Dec. 20 DCI). Pace, said Brunner, handed those records over to him. “That he has forwarded these to me is beyond your concern and control,” said Brunner. “The documents were made public to Mr. Pace, and that is where your concern lies.” Saying he finds it “somewhat humorous” for the board to declare a waiver of attorney-client privilege, “The bell has been rung and you cannot un-ring it,” said Brunner. Mayor Charles Stewart did not respond to Brunner’s HEADED TO COURT TO B2

Photo by Tamie Meck

Maher Schoolhouse is a landmark

From left, former Maher School students Charles Stoner, Orval Cotten, Pat (Porter) Polson (holding plaque), Marilyn (Meek) Wood and Pat Childress attend the Maher-Onion Valley Community Club Ice Cream Social held Sunday, June 10, at the school. The community club was presented a plaque, held by Polson, designating the school as a Montrose County Historic Landmark. Polson and Cotten attended the same ﬁrst grade class at Maher. Cotton said he remembers playing baseball at the school. Home plate was right outside the front door and the big kids would hit the ball all the way out to the highway, which at the time was a gravel road.

North Fork towns consider water conservation measures BY TAMIE MECK Staff Writer

In May, the US Department of Agriculture designated Delta and Montrose counties as primary disaster areas due to recent losses and damage caused by the ongoing drought. In light of the ongoing dry conditions and the end of spring runoff, North Fork area municipalities are considering how best to address possible shortages. But it isn’t this low water year that concerns them most. For now, according to public works directors in all three communities, the situation hasn’t reached a critical point. While this year is a concern, it’s next year that concerns them the most. Before summer is over, however, municipalities could

take measures to conserve what little water they may have available. Paonia Town Administrator Ken Knight said the upper Lamborn Mesa Water Plant continues to spill surplus water into Minnesota Creek. As long as that continues, “The town can’t reasonably declare a drought.” Paonia has yet to adopt a drought plan. While the town considers its options, the Public Works Committee is studying drought plans from surrounding towns. “The question is, at what point does the town declare an emergency?” asked Knight. Should an emergency be declared, communities, in general, have three options, said Knight. The first is to request users to take voluntary conservation measures

and cut back on use. If that fails, the second step is for the town to demand conservation measures by the public. Paonia provides treated water to town residents and to users on Lamborn Mesa, Minnesota Creek and the Mathews Lane area. Since many of the town water users get their water from different sources including wells and springs, the issue becomes one of enforcement, since it’s difficult to know where the water is coming from, said Knight. The third step is to coerce water users into cutting back through increasing rates. For example, said Knight, the town could pass a resolution charging double for usage a set number of gallons per billing cycle. With this, said Knight, comes the question of whether to exempt certain

businesses, such as nursing homes and laundromats. The town has also prioritized the need to replace the liner in the one million gallon Clock water storage tank on lower Lamborn Mesa, which is currently out of service. The floor was heavily damaged in 2015 and repairs were completed in 2016. A fall, 2017, survey by the Colorado Department of Health revealed that the lining failed, putting the tank at risk for contamination. The health department ordered the tank shut down until the lining is repaired. If repairs go as planned, the tank should be back in operation by mid-July, said Knight. Crawford has had a drought plan in place since WATER WORRIES TO B2

Creamery hosts annual photo show and sale The Black Canyon Camera Club is hosting its fourth annual photography show and sale at the Creamery Arts Center, 165 W. Bridge Street, through June 30. This year’s show, “A Photographic Journey,” celebrates the creative vision of all photographers. All experience levels are represented, from youth through professionals. Many of the pieces are available for purchase. The show was judged by Jon Blake of Westminster, who specializes in landscape photography. He provided comments during an awards ceremony Friday, June 8. Best of Show went to Sandy Williamson for “Sunset Cliffs of Zion.” Other placings included: Nature — Ann Schwietert, first; Ryan McGehee, second; James Summerville, third.

Landscape — Nolan Thornberry, first; Jacquita Watters, second; Nolan Thornberry, third. People — Kaylee Dunham, first; Jim Schwietert, second; Diane St. Peter, third. Manmade — Joe Rosenbaum, first; James Summerville, second; Joe Rosenbaum, third. Monochromatic — Ryan McGehee, first; Denise Bush, second; Tincy Von Atzingen, third. Creative — Susan Humphey, first; Sandy Williamson, second; Michael Steffen, third. 18 and under — Tara Duncan, first; Emilie Cardenas, second and third. Both are Delta Middle School students. Honorable mention — Nolan Thornberry, Jim Schwietert, James SummerPhoto by Kaylee Dunham

Members and friends of the Black Canyon Camera Club enjoyed music and light refreshments during a judge’s reception at the Creamery Arts Center June 8. ville, Susan Humphrey, Ryan McGehee, Joe Rosenbaum, Bob Stovern, Ann Schwietert, Dee Fisher, Rick Jones and Andrei Gailord. Delta

Middle School students Kiera Fresquez, Kayla Miller, Raelyn Porter, Lizzie Cooper and Oakley Hughes, and their art teacher, Annalee Couch,

received special recognition. The show continues through June 30, with wine, cheese and chocolate to be served June 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. There is no charge to view the exhibit.

Photo by Kaylee Dunham

Jon Blake of Westminster was the judge for the Black Canyon Camera Club competition. Blake’s western US landscapes can be viewed at the Grace Gallery on Santa Fe Drive and 9th Avenue in Denver. He states on his website, “Every photo I share with you has a story of its origin. Although you weren’t there with me for the journey, my hope is that you’ll feel transported back to the moment when it was captured.”

“Light Painted Sunﬂowers” was judged in the monochromatic division of the open Ann Schwietert titled this photo “Brown Eyes.” category. Ryan McGehee is the photogra- It placed ﬁrst in the people division of the open category. pher.

B2 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

NORTH FORK TIMES

Delta County Independent

Pre-register for these Cherry Days events With the 72nd annual Cherry Days celebration fast approaching, be sure to plan ahead, as some of the more popular activities require registration. This year’s Cherry Days Parade categories include: children (17 and under), groups, antique/ classic cars, antique tractors, animal, political, business, and other individual. Registration fee is between $5-$50, depending on the category, with a higher entry

fee for parade-day registration. If mailing your form, please send to the address on the form no later than June 30 to ensure timely arrival. By popular demand, the Cherry Days Coal Shoveling contest returns to Paonia Town Park on July 4. Entry is $50 per team. Registration will also be accepted at 12:30 p.m. the day of the event. The contest pays homage to the coal-mining heritage of Paonia and the North

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Fork Valley. Teams of two will shovel one ton of coal into a hopper, with the team completing the task in the fastest time winning the grand prize. Participants must be 18 or older and sign a waiver. Because teams will be drawn in random order, it is requested that everyone arrive in front of the Town Park football field in time for the 1 p.m. start. The second Cherry Days softball tournament will take place June 30-July 1 at Volunteer Park in Paonia. A men’s wood bat tournament will be held June 30, and a co-ed tournament (with men using wood bat only) will be held July 1. Games start at 8 a.m. and are time limited to one hour. Each team is guaranteed three games. First-round losses will determine gold and silver bracket teams. Cost is $250 per team, with a gold bracket payout of $500. While teams wait for their games, they can compete in a time-killing corn hole tournament. Proceeds benefit the Paonia High School wrestling program. For additional details contact Nate at wsc149@q.com or Eric at eneal@lightworksfiber. com. The annual Cherry Days 5k run/walk happens Saturday, June 30. The course begins and ends at Apple Valley Park and is stroller friendly. Registration is $35 for adults, $10 for ages 17 and under, with proceeds benefiting the Paonia High School cross country program. Register in advance at paoniacherrydays.com under the “Activities” tab, or at 6:30 a.m. on race day. Awards will be presented in eight categories and all participants receive a pair of PHS cross country running socks commemorating the race. For more information call Brandy at 250-9793 or email brandysparks85@ yahoo.com. Registration forms for all of the events are available at www.pao niacherrydays under the “Activities” tab.

Summer reading kickoff

Photo submitted

The week of June 4, all ﬁve libraries in Delta County hosted ice cream socials with a musical twist to support the 2018 summer reading program theme, “Libraries Rock!” Hundreds of children, and their families, registered for the summer program, enjoyed ice cream and participated in musical-themed activities. The eight-week program offers opportunities for children, teens and adults to engage in their communities, interact with peers, learn, play and most importantly, read over the summer. Every kid who completes the reading portion of the program will earn a “Libraries Rock!” T-shirt. Other reading incentives include gift certiﬁcates for local businesses, books, and small prizes. At the Hotchkiss Library (above), kids ran a relay race with small musical instruments and tried their skills at the limbo.

Paonia trustees approve comments to BLM BY TAMIE MECK Staff Writer

The Paonia Board of Trustees has submitted comments to the Bureau of Land Management regarding the North Fork Mancos Master Development Plan. The letter recommends that the BLM reject its preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing the proposal’s impacts and conduct the more in-depth Environmental Impact Study. The project would encompass 34,906 acres of public and private lands located north and west of Paonia and would be accessed by Highway 133. The project is expected to produce up to 700 billion cubic feet of natural gas over its estimated 30-year life. The letter cites concerns over potential impacts identified in the EA, including surface water impacts and sediment; air quality; impacts on wildlife, farmlands and traffic; groundwater and drinking water sources within the watershed; impacts on

the town’s economy; concerns over possible costs to emergency management services; and possible health impacts due to the development’s proximity to town. Language was approved at a June 6 special meeting, the second such meeting called in as many weeks. Town administrator Ken Knight drafted the letter based on comments received at the first meeting on May 30, and on information submitted by the Paonia-based Western Slope Conservation Center and Citizens for a Healthy Community. Trustees voted, 4-1, to approve the letter with minor changes and to direct Knight to submit the letter to the BLM prior to the June 9 deadline. Trustee Bill Bear cast the no votes. “I know there’s a lot of angst about the oil and gas industry, and

that if the town wanted to support it, the best action would have been to stay silent,” said Bear after the meeting. “But now the town has chosen to, how do I say it kindly? To basically be a mouthpiece for the environmental organizations. I think that we’ve abdicated our responsibilities as a town.”

Hotchkiss church welcomes vocalists A group of vocalists from The Crown College, located in East Tennessee, will share the gospel through music at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, at Mountain View Bible Church, 8733 3100 Road, Hotchkiss.

Water worries FROM PAGE B1 2012, said public works director Bruce Bair. If initiated, the first step is a combination of voluntary reduction in use and a cost increase. Data on the town’s source, a single spring, “is that it takes more than one bad year to impact the springs to where it really hurts,” said Bair. In addition, because the aquifer that feeds the spring moves slowly, peak flows occur in fall and winter. Hotchkiss is already drawing its potable water from storage. “This is earlier than I ever remember” relying solely on stored water, said town pub-

lic works director Mike Owens, who’s been with the town more than two decades. “The runoff is gone.” Hotchkiss owns water shares from Leroux Creek and other sources, which is treated at the Horse Park Water Treatment Plant. Based on their rights and number of shares, the Leroux Creek Water Users Association has assured the town it will receive its water, said Owens. Owens plans to ask town council to approve water restrictions, with enforcement measures to be taken only if necessary. “Right now, it’s about education,” said Owens.

Photo by Tamie Meck

Historic designation

From left, Montrose County Commissioners Glen Davis and Keith Caddy join ZellaMay Brown with the Montrose County Historical Landmark Advisory Board in presenting a plaque to Barbara Wolf and Jane Hart with the Maher-Onion Valley Community Club. The plaque was presented Sunday during the club’s ice cream social and in recognition of the Maher School House as a historical landmark. Located on Highway 92 south of Crawford, the 101-year-old Maher School House is the fourth building in Montrose County to receive ofﬁcial historical designation by the Montrose BoCC.

Headed to court Celebrate summer solstice with

FROM PAGE B1 comments and the board unanimously approved the agenda. Following the executive session, trustees voted unanimously to authorize Stewart to “waive attorney-client privilege for a letter from then town attorney David Marek to Bill Brunner, dated July 20, 2016.” Stewart clarified the motion, made by trustee Chelsea Bookout and seconded by Karen Budinger. Stewart asked if the intent was to authorize him to waive privilege “if in fact it is necessary or helpful in our case,” but only if it is beneficial to the town. The board voted without discussion. A hearing is scheduled in Delta County Court for 8 a.m. Friday, June 15.

the 101st Army Dixieland Band

One of five 101st Army Band ensembles based at Buckley Air National Guard Base in Colorado, the band honors the nation through “the most original American art form — jazz.” The seven musicians perform on trumpet, trombone, tuba, clarinet, banjo, drums and piano —instruments synonymous for over a century with the traditional Dixieland band. The band travels with its own instruments, right down to the piano. The band’s repertoire introduces hits by Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Jelly Roll Morton and others to a new generation of traditional jazz enthusiasts. Dixie-

Photo submitted

The 101st Army Dixieland Band will be the featured act at the June 21 Music in the Amphitheater program at the Paonia Library. land music developed in the first quarter of the 20th century and was influenced by ragtime, military brass bands, the blues and gospel, according to Jazz in America.

Wear your dancing shoes. Music begins at 6:30 p.m. Food and drink are available for purchase. In the event of rain, the celebration will continue indoors.

NORTH FORK TIMES

Delta County Independent

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Paonia signage master planning underway BY TAMIE MECK Staff Writer

As Paonia garners more attention and more visitors, it’s becoming very apparent that the town lacks signage. Signs, said Kristin Cypher, a planner and owner of Hendersonbased C+B Design, are more than just directional in nature. They should induce civic pride, reflect a community’s image, invite people in, and help generate revenue. Cypher has two decades in urban design and planning experience and has facilitated signage master plans in several cities and towns and for major trail systems across the state and beyond. “I want signs to invite people to town in a way that honors the community’s character,” she said. “Signs are the front door to that character.” Paonia’s signage, she said, “doesn’t provide a

Photo by Tamie Meck

A truck and travel trailer head north past the entrance to Paonia. The North Fork Valley Creative Coalition is in the early phases of creating a signage master plan to pull people off of the highway and into town. Once in town, signs would provide direction to amenities and local points of interest. great deal of clarity.” Cypher recently facilitated a week-long series of meetings hosted by the North Fork Valley Creative Coalition. Information gathered will be used in the coalition’s “Way-

finding and Signage Master Plan.” Funding for phase one of the threephase project came from a $10,000 Project and Technical Assistance Grant from Colorado Creative Industries through the

Crawford discusses mill levy, water/sewer increase BY EMY LYNN ROQUE CISNEROS ing water by $.50 and changes to the delinquenContributing Writer

At the Crawford Town Council meeting June 6, the first agenda item addressed building a 60foot pole near the water tower for TDS. Area manager Bill Long asked for approval to start construction. He emphasized they picked the location to not cause obstacles for the town. “We’re just trying reach our surrounding neighbors with broadband,” he said. The council approved the pole with the understanding that TDS would put the tower where a road could still be built through the area if desired. This pole will be built within the next few months. Long said he will work with public works director Bruce Bair on the project to ensure the best outcome. The fund balance reserve policy was reviewed next. The policy outlines the parameters to stay within for future budgeting use. Reserves are used for emergencies and repairs. For example, the lagoon needs several emergency repairs and this will take a large chunk of this year’s reserves. In the past, the goal of putting 10 to 20 percent of annual expenses into the reserves has not been met. Mayor Wanda Gofforth noted that when the council gets to the budget process they need to revise it to meet at least 10 percent. Council discussed rais-

sewer by $1.50 to meet the reserve requirement minimum. “If we increase that just a little bit each year, it’s better than doing a big leap all at once,” said Gofforth. “To keep things working we need to plan ahead.” They did not come to a decision at this meeting but plan to put together more information to discuss in the future. Council also approved resubmitting the mill levy question on the upcoming ballot. Details will be addressed at the work session on June 20. “A mill levy increase will not pay the trustees and the mayor but will go toward services to benefit the people and town,” said town clerk Cally Gallegos. Council plans to work on ways to help educate the public on the ways a mill levy is used and how it can be beneficial. Under old business, council agreed to read the nuisance ordinance at the work session meeting. Changes to the personnel policy were approved. Five new hires for public works assistant were announced. These assistants will not be used all at once but will be placed into a pool to draw from when assistance is needed, said Bair. Several non-agenda items were discussed, the main one being that the council is working overall to update old policies, such as the franchise agreement. Gallegos brought up

cy notice for the water bill. The changes will make the bill due by the 20th of each month. If not paid, it will become delinquent and water may be shut off 10 days after written notice. Bair reported the water quality report is now available on the town website. This can be found by going to www.colorado.gov/ crawford and searching “Water Quality Report.” An upcoming water inspection is scheduled for June 20. Additionally, the water level is starting to go down as typical during summer but Crawford still has sufficient supply. Council discussed how if the water does decrease too much, water will be shut off to the water dispenser station. As a reminder, this dispenser is only for domestic use. Gallegos announced the town website has been updated and should be easier to access and use. PERA is auditing Crawford for the years 2013 onward. As the meeting came to a close, a town member pointed out Gallegos’ diligent work. “I think Cally should get a raise,” he said. The suggestion was made to give a raise to both Gallegos and Bair for their hard work. This possibility will be discussed in depth at the next meeting. The next work session is scheduled for June 20. The agenda includes items such as the nuisance ordinance, mill levy, and water/sewer rate increases.

‘Recipe to Revenues’ workshop June 21-22

Photo submitted

Music at the library

Beth Quist is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and composer who began playing piano at age 2. She was lead soprano and instrumentalist for the creation band in Cirque du Soleil’s “KA.” She has sung and toured with Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra since 1997. Quist has composed over 50 scores for dance, theater, television and ﬁlm, including musical contributions to the Emmy-nominated documentary “The Two Escobars.” Quist is performing at Paonia Library on Tuesday, June 19, at 6:30 p.m. Picnic and takeout dinners are welcome.

ENGAGE Delta, Naturally Boulder and Startup Colorado will bring some of the state’s foremost names in the food industry to Hotchkiss for a two-day workshop on growing a value-added food business. “From Recipe to Revenues: A Workshop for Colorado Food Entrepreneurs” happens Thursday and Friday, June 21-22, at Hotchkiss Memorial Hall, 171 First Street. Designed specifically for food or food-related entrepreneurs, the workshop will address numerous topics including food formulation; working with brokers, distributors and retailers; how to create a brand; online sales, and funding and financing options. Register before June 19 at www.eventbrite.com/e/ from-recipe-to-revenuesa-workshop-for-colora do-food-entrepreneurstickets-45331672252, or on Facebook at www. facebook.com/events/ 736036533453775/

Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Delta County commissioners kicked in an additional $2,500 in matching economic development funds. “This week is pretty intense,” said Cypher, who spent the week meeting with the public, manning a booth at the annual Paonia River Fest. The week ended with an open house presentation of draft design palates, and was attended by more than 35 individuals. NFVCC board president Susie Kaldis complimented Cypher for her work. “She really made everyone in the community feel like they had a voice in this project, which is exactly what we wanted.” With signs, said Cypher, there’s more to consider than providing direction. Before visiting Paonia, Cypher said she heard on the Front Range about how special Paonia is. “How do we manifest that into signage?” Because of those and other considerations, a lot goes into creating a signage master plan. “There are a lot of mechanics to consider.” For example, signs placed within the Highway 133 right of

Planning for future health care decisions It is not easy to think about the end of life. It is even harder to talk about it. But it is one of the most important conversations you can have with your loved ones. A 60-minute session will involve meeting with a group of individuals from your community and health care experts from CU. As a participant, you will be able to learn, ask questions, and share your experiences. You will also have the chance to fill out a health care directive. The discussion, sponsored by A Little Help’s Tough Talk Series, will take place at 2 p.m. June 15 at the Paonia Library, 80 Samuel Wade Road, Paonia. Preregistration is optional; call 970-4345474 ext 4.

way must meet Colorado Department of Transportation guidelines. Town trustees will also have the final say in approving design and placement of signs. Once approved, the NFVCC can obtain cost estimate bids and apply for funding, said Cypher. Draft designs will be presented to the Delta County BoCC at the June 25 meeting, and to Paonia trustees on June 26. Kaldis said that getting approval for the plan could take up to four months. She sees the project being completed by late 2019. Of the communities she’s worked with, said Cypher, Paonia is unique in that the local talent exists to make the signs.

From a fabrication standpoint, for communities that lack the capacity to build their own signs it’s a very prescriptive process that takes about two years to complete. For Paonia, how long it will take depends largely on funding and the capacity for artists to obtain materials and labor and find the time to make the signs. Because they can be made locally, some of the smaller signs could be made and in place as early as this summer. “I’ve never worked in a community where I know that the people who lived there can build it,” said Cypher. “We haven’t had the conversation with all those makers ... and that’s one of the next steps.”

B4 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

PIONEER DAYS

40th Annual

Delta County Independent

Celebrate 2018 Our RUBY Year! “There’s No Place Like Home”

40 years of celebrating home! Thursday, June 7 7PM

Old Fashioned Dessert Melodrama Theater Doors Open @ 6:30pm “The Disappearance of Felicity Fretwell or...Whatever Shall Happen to the Children?” Refreshments will be served

Friday, June 8

9AM-2:30PM Baking Contest - Entries at Crawford Town Hall 3PM-5PM Judging 11:30AM-1PM Crawford-First State Bank Appreciation BBQ �� Fireworks 4:30PM-6PM Silent Auction 6PM Presentation of 2018 Dignitaries 6PM-8PM Annual Live Auction

Saturday, June 9 ALL DAY

Photo by Randy Sunderland

A ﬁtting end to Crawford Pioneer Days, ﬁreworks over Crawford State Park brought out plenty of “ohhhs” and “ahhs” with each boom!

Photos by Jaquita Watters

Art, Crafts and Food Booths

With kids of all ages laughing pulling hard, the big tug-of-war ended in a draw. 6AM Fireand Dept. Pancake Breakfast

10AM Parade: “There’s No Place Like Home” AFTER PARADE Out House Races 11:30AM & 1:30PM Old Fashion Melodrama 11AM-4PM Live Musical Entertainment in the Park HIGH NOON Hay Bale Races 1PM-4PM FREE Games in the Park - Kids Hay Bale Races, Relay Race, Kids Train Rides,Watermelon Eating Contest,Tug of War & more. DUSK Fireworks Extravaganza (Crawford State Park)

Sunday, June 10 10AM

2PM-4PM

Round-up Sunday: Non-denominational Service Followed by a FREE Lunch in the Park “Historic Site” presentation at Maher-Onion Valley School & Ice cream social It is amazing what fun kids can have with balls, frisbees, and hula hoops.

All Events at Crawford Town Hall and Town Park unless noted

SPONSORED BY... Magic/The Vault Radio, AXA Advisers, Crawford Pioneer Days, Inc.,

Sharon’s Kids successfully defended their title in the outhouse races for the �� sixth straight year, at the same time picking up the Crowd Favorite award. �� Second place went to Dapper Crapper and the Cheer Leaders were third. The �� Delta County Republicans also participated but failed to �place.

�� , Crawford Storage, Delta County Credit Union, Double J Disposal, Greg & Judy Tabuteau, JC Propane, John Cunningham, Pack Shack, Reed Hay, Roberts Enterprises

��

Grill master Ed Bliss.

Much to the delight of the kids, the North Fork Ambulance train ride, driven by Don Getty, was back this year.

There was plenty of music in the park, including Jeneve Rose Mitchell (top), Young at Heart, Ananda Trio, Beth Williams, Davis and Tamara Hauze and Tim Veazey (below).

The horse-drawn wagon from JC Propane won the Best of Theme award in a parade which featured more than 60 entries. The Heid Family’s tribute to Bob Heid was the Grand Champion entry.

Photo by Tamie Meck

This year’s Pioneer Days Queen Pat Childress was this year’s Grand and King, Patsy and Ed BenMarshall. nett.

Cally Gallegos won top honors in the baking contest with her mock lemon meringue cake.

Parade Awards JC Propane - Best of Theme Heid Family - Grand Champion Youth Division Jayce, 1st Delta County Royalty, 2nd Kate & Laura Punkoney, 3rd Adult Division Guns & Garters, 1st Shriners, 2nd Groups Crawford Indivisible, 1st Sharon’s Kids, 2nd Grand Mesa Harness Club, 3rd Floats Saddle Mountain, 1st Fruitland Mesa, 2nd Crawford Class of 1953, 3rd Equine Marla, 1st Kathy Svenson, 2nd Woman’s Surface Creek Trail Riding Club, 3rd Motorized Barbara Ahlquist, 1st Crawford State Park, 2nd John Cunningham, 3rd (tied) Bonnie Brown, 3rd (tied) Hay Bale Races Steve Peterson, 1st Tyler Brown, 2nd Chris Fletchers, 3rd Gary Frey, 4th Levi Shepard, 5th

A long-standing tradition, the melodrama was a big hit. This year’s production, titled “The Disappearance of Felicity Fretwell, or Whatever Shall Happen to the Children?”was presented three times during Pioneer Days with proceeds beneﬁtting the North Fork Montessori at Crawford.

SPORTS

Delta County Independent

SPORTS June 13, 2018

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Hotchkiss’ Firor 2A co-Athlete of Year Hotchkiss junior Kaiya Firor was named Class 2A co-Athlete of the Year by the CHSAA. Firor repeated her 2017 performance, winning the 400-meter dash and 300m hurdles. Firor also anchored the 800m medley relay team to a second-place finish. Highland sophomore

Remington Ross, who won the 100m and 200m, was also named co-Athlete of the Year. Five Paonia girls earned all-state first team honors. Senior McKenna Palmer was named to the Class 2A All-State First Team in track after winning the triple jump.

Seniors Brooke Hillman and Randi Rapke, junior Poppy Lightfoot and freshman Tawny Roberts earned firstteam honors for winning the 4x800 relay. Athletes who place first at the state track meet automatically receive allstate honors from CHSAA.

Photo by Tamie Meck

Paonia senior Mckenna Palmer lands a triple jump at the state track meet. Palmer was one of ﬁve Paonia girls named to the Class 2A All-State First Team in track.

Photo by Tamie Meck

Kaiya Firor was named Class 2A co-Athlete of the Year in 2018 after repeating her wins in the 300m hurdles and 400m dash at this year’s state track meet in Lakewood.

Eight Cedaredge athletes earn all-state track honors in 2018 Working toward 2019; local wrestlers grasp opportunities to excel

Photo by Tamie Meck

Clockwise from lower left, the Paonia 4x800 relay team of Brooke Hillman, Poppy Lightfoot, Tawny Roberts and Randi Rapke were named to the CHSAA All-State First Team.

The following eight members of the 2018 Cedaredge boys track and field team were honored by being named to this year’s Class 2A All-State First Team in track and field by the Colorado High School

Activities Association: freshman Alex Barron (4x200 relay), junior Wyatt Camp (4x100 and 4x200 relays), senior Ty Grant (200meter dash, 4x200 and 4x400 relays), sophomore Joshua Jen-

kins (4x100 relay), senior Drew Markley (4x200 and 4x400 relays), senior Jordan McMillan (4x400 relay), sophomore Zack McMillan (4x100 relay) and senior Danny Mendoza (4x100 and 4x400 relays).

BY TAMIE MECK

DCI Sports Writer

An estimated 250 wrestlers from three states took the opportunity last weekend to wrestle at the Paonia Summer Duals. While the number was down, those who showed up are likely to see their efforts rewarded this winter when the 82nd annual Colorado High School wrestling season opens. The summer duals are among several opportunities local wrestlers have to hone their skills, see wrestlers and wrestling techniques and styles they might not otherwise see, and to gain valuable experience. Delta head coach Clayton Curtis said the ones

who don’t take the opportunity to wrestle during the summer are generally less likely to win during the winter wrestling season. “It’s missed opportunities,” said Curtis, a three-time state champion from Alamosa. “The kids that do well are the ones who took the opportunity this summer.” Most of next year’s wrestlers from Delta were coming off of a football camp and are heading to the Adams State technique camp later this month, said Curtis. But he came to the duals to coach junior Colby Wilson, who spent the weekend wrestling for Paonia. Sophomore Tracer Hall represented Hotchkiss at

this year’s duals. As a freshman he placed fifth at state. “It’s a good experience for kids who want to improve,” said Curtis. Last summer, Logan Church wrestled every chance he could and went undefeated last year to win the Class 3A heavyweight title. Church signed to wrestle for Western State in Gunnison. Curtis recalled a wrestler who was 0-35 his freshman year. That summer took every opportunity to wrestle, and while he didn’t win a single match, the next season won 20 matches. “You get your losing done during the summer,” said Curtis.

Photo by Tamie Meck

Clockwise, from lower left, Ty Grant, Alex Barron, Drew Markley and Wyatt Camp made the CHSAA All-State First Team for their state championship in the 4x200 relay. The Bruins 4x100 team also earned all-state ﬁrst team honors.

Register for Cherry Days softball play Registration is being taken for the 2018 Cherry Days softball tournament scheduled for June 30July 1 at Volunteer Park in Paonia. A men’s wood bat tournament will be held June 30, and a coed tournament (with men using wood bat only) will be held July 1. Games

start at 8 a.m. and are limited to one hour. Each team is guaranteed three games. First-round losses will determine gold and silver bracket teams. Cost is $250 per team, with a gold bracket payout of $500. While teams wait for their games, they can compete in a time-killing

corn hole tournament. Proceeds benefit the Paonia High School wrestling program. Registration forms are available at www.paoniacherrydays (look under “Activities”). For details contact Nate Photo by Tamie Meck at wsc149@q.com or Eric at eneal@lightworksfiber. Sackett Chesnik goes for the cradle Saturday at the Paonia Summer Duals. Chesnik will be a strong contender for a state title next winter. com.

B6 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

SPORTS

Delta County Independent

Summer-ball season rolling BY WAYNE CRICK DCI Sports Editor

Cedaredge and Delta 18U baseball teams competed in a weekend tournament to provide playing-time experience for returning athletes from both schools. According to Delta High School base-

ball coach Steve Reiher the summer season generates a compliment of full-season games for the Panthers and Bruins. High temperatures and sunny skies were the norm for play on baseball fields at Delta Middle School and Delta High

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School. Joining Delta for tournament play were Cedaredge, Olathe, Hotchkiss and Buena Vista. Delta finished the weekend tournament with a 4-1 record after suffering its only loss to Buena Vista, 8-5, on Saturday. The Panthers defeated Olathe 19-1 on Thursday followed by a 14-3 decision over Cedaredge on Friday with a forfeit over Hotchkiss due to a lack of pitchers for the Bulldogs. Reiher reflected a sense of disappointment with the loss to Buena Vista on Saturday with his team’s letdown for a couple of innings. “Yeah, we kind of quit competing a couple of innings in the loss.” Continuing on, Reiher noted, “I thought Row (Rowyn Carmichael) pitched really well. We could’ve stayed with him but he was at 80 pitches and hasn’t thrown that many in probably over a year. Plus, I wanted to get (Eli) Farmer and (Sky) Kraai some work.” In Delta’s Thursday contest against Olathe, the Panthers scored five times in the first inning with the help of back-toback triples from Colby Wilson and Nolan Bynum and a double by Carmichael and a single from Andrew Baier. Another six runs in the second inning were aided by another four-hit attack from the Panthers. Bynum, with three strike outs in the first two innings, held the Pirates in check after an opening inning score, and Delta rolled into the third inning with a commanding 10-0 lead before finishing with the 19-1 victory in five innings. In a Thursday afternoon battle against Cedaredge, Ryan Cooper started on the mound

for Delta and went three innings giving up just two runs on five hits (with three back-to-back singles in the first inning without a run). The Panthers scored three times in the first inning and jumped to a 6-0 lead in the second on a three-run bomb from Carmichael. Delta added four more runs and a 10-0 lead heading to the third frame. An Isaac Blair double in the third inning scored two Bruin runs before Cooper recorded his seventh strike out of the game to retire the side. Kraai replaced Cooper on the mound in the fourth inning and finished the game. Dusty Emig had the start for Cedaredge and was replaced by Simon Varela in the second inning. The importance of summer ball is paramount for both the Panthers and Bruins. “Summer ball is huge for us,” commented Reiher. “This is where we develop our pitching and hitting. We see a lot of good arms throughout the summer. We play a full high school season-plus in the month of June. It is a grind but you have to be able to focus during a six or seven-game stretch during the high school season and I feel that prepares us. Also, playing Montrose, Fruita and Central, as well as some of our league opponents, is a good healthy balance.” For the Bruins, in addition to the game against Delta, Cedaredge defeated Olathe (19-11) and swamped Buena Vista 14-2. Against Olathe, acting Bruins’ coach Randy

Brown highlighted the play of Jared Reynolds who pitched four and twothirds innings and gave up four hits and three earned runs. Conner Brooks was solid at the plate with a three-for-four day, including a double and a threerun home run. Emig also had three hits for the Bruins (two doubles and a triple) and Jacob Brown was perfect at the plate with four hits, including two doubles, and four RBIs. Leading the charge against Buena Vista were Trey Geyer with six innings of work on the mound, two earned runs and eight strike outs; Brooks with three hits in four-at-bats with two doubles and four RBIs and Emig with three hits,

including a double and a triple. Coach Brown also offered his take on the weekend tournament. “It was a good weekend for the Bruins (who was filling in for head coach Terry Montoya). Playing games in the summer is a must. Coach Montoya has done a great job of scheduling this summer and if we keep getting better we could make noise next spring. We have about 25 games scheduled. The Delta tournament was great. Good competition that is close to home is always nice. It was two great facilities with great coaches who care about kids. Thanks to Steve Reiher, Dan Cholas and Marty Rover for the chance to play so close to home.”

Photo by Tamie Meck

Delta catcher Nolan Bynum shades his eyes as he tracks a high foul ball against Cedaredge last week. Cedaredge’s Jacob Brown (20) is seen in the background heading to ﬁrst base in case the ball was dropped in fair territory. Delta won 14-3.

Photo by Wayne Crick

Delta ﬁrst baseman Rowyn Carmichael’s tag on the shoulder of this Olathe player was too late to record an out. The Panthers went on to score a 19-1 victory in last week’s 18U tournament hosted in Delta. Delta ﬁnished the tournament with a 4-1 record.

DHS athletes recognized for academic accomplishments Delta High School juniors and seniors who participated in a CHSAA activity/sport and maintained a GPA of 3.6 or higher have been named CHSAA Academic AllState. This year’s recipients for DHS included: Kaley St. Peter, Sami Lane, Andrew Baier, Lauren Davey, Sameha Haque, Emily Johnson, Missa Webb, Jenna Sutliff, Beki Atchley, Shoshana Vigil, Joe Bules, Eli Farmer, Lynette Arias, Abbi Carlson, Shanaia Ballard, Ashley Lahoe, Cassidy Zieman, Trevor Whiteside, Caleb Miramontes, Trevor Myers, Shianne Valedez, John Ames, Katelyn Lancaste, Makayla Kortz, Mimi Lousignont, Alyssa Trujillo, Taylor Lawyer, Jaspar Carmichael, Aubrey Jones, Alexia Quinn, Shyanne Steele, Kaleigh Nethington, Lucy Streich, Alli Atchley, Brandon Harper, Drake Horn, Sarah Parker, Peyton Schuster, Thomas Neil, Harlee Roberts, Clayton Cotton, KC Carlson, Makyla Miramontes, Sami Wollert, Matt Easter, Kendra Hillman, Taylor Bess, Dylan Hollenbeck, Breanna Sprout, Brendon Starr, Ayden Tucker, Logan Freed, Lauryn Metcalf, Paige Murray, Jacob Wear, Kestra Arrington and Katalina Rodriguez. Students with GPAs

of 3.3 to 3.59 receiving CHSAA Academic Honorable Mention were: Shanaya Dischle, Pascalina Earley, Blake Naranjo, John Holgate, Rowyn Carmichael, Haylee Curry, Dah Wah, Eloise Norfleet, Elisa Hammett, Stephanie Berrelleza, Colton Galvin, Stephen Butler, Melanie Osteen and Josh Reeder. Four teams at Delta High School, each with a team average of at least 3.5, were named CHSAA Team Academic All State. Volleyball, 3.61 GPA — Alysaa Bayless, Abbi Carlson, Allison Davis, Lauren Davey, Autumn Eddy, Sara Geddes, Maddison Gieck, Jodi Hollgate, Taylor Huntley, Mimi Lousignont, Haylin McCulloch, Julia Mewhinney, Darcy Parker, Carissa Rhines, Melissa Rubio, Olivia Santonastaso, Kendall Siettmann, Hannah Sterns, Lillian Tindall, Alli Atchley, Elena Gilliam, Alexa Quinn, Katalina Rodriguez and Harlee Roberts. Girls’ basketball, 3.64 GPA — Aubree Andre, Remi Baldwin, Kaitlyn Branson, Sarah Bules, Caitlyn Carlquist, Abbi Carlson, Darlene Carrasco, Jessica Dexter, Sara Geddes, Maddison Gieck, Ylissa Gilliam, Alexa Huff, Taylor Huntley, Jada Lannon, Haylin McCulloch, Emily McCracken, Julia

Mewhinney, Arianna Nelson, Keely Porter, Marcy Schaal and Aubrey Jones. Tennis, 3.58 GPA — Lynette Arias, Shania Ballard, Stephanie Berrelleza, Haylee Curry, Pascalina Earley, Amanda Fuller, Anna Maria Gilliam, Elena Gilliam, Elisa Hammett, Maia Harris, Emily Johnson, Elena Melgoza, Makyla Miramontes, Kaleigh Nethington, Morgan Reddon, Bernice Rascon, Olivia Santonastaso, Peyton Schuster, Kendall Siettman, Kaitlyn Snow, Shoshana Vigil, Peyton Schuster and Lucy Streich. Boys’ golf, 3.57 GPA — Joe Bules, Rowyn Carmichael, Ben Cooper, Ryan Cooper, Keagan Moralez, Grant Freed, Zach Kuta, Cameron Lopez, Jack Loveland, Noah Nortnik, Jaren Reece, Logan Schuster and KC Carlson. Girls’ soccer, 3.51 GPA — Elsie Vasquez, Joslyn Carpenter, Aubree Andre, Mairany Jaraucaro, Marian Blanks, Jade Gummo, Zoe Williams, Tawny Roberts, Sophia McCracken, Abby Williams, Winnie Hirsch, Abby Reedy, Kaiya Firor, Missa Webb, Allison Godwin, Gianna Jensen, Morgan Hamm, Karen Martinez, Jessica Craig, Addie Schwartz, Haylin McCulloch, Arianna Nelson, Cassandra Saenz and Ty Diehl.

SURFACE CREEK June 13, 2018

NEWS

Section

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Arts Center grand opening this Friday BY DON BENJAMIN Staff Writer

A new era in Cedaredge will dawn when the Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center (GMAEC) officially opens its doors on Friday, June 15. The new center has been a community effort with many individuals working hard to renovate the GMAEC building at the intersection of SW 2nd and West Main streets in downtown Cedaredge. Friday’s events begin at 5 p.m. with the rolling out of a red carpet and ribbon cutting. State Representative Millie Hamner will be among those on hand to celebrate this momentous occasion. Tours of the building, cash bar and mingling with all who made the center a reality will be the background for ‘Art on the Edge’, a silent auction of original 5x7 paintings by students, amateur and professional artists. Enjoy appetizers and light food offerings from local restaurants including J&S Bakeria; 4B’s; Creekside Cafe; Hong Palace; Connie’s Restaurant; Cedaredge Golf Course; Celebrations; Lost Mesa Grill; Iguana’s; RJ’s Steakhouse; Johannes’ Chocolates; Aspen Trails; and Fresh Baked by Granma Cheryl. Festivities continue all day Saturday with children’s activities, a panel discussion on the history of the building and a meet-the-artists event for Barb Torke and Daphna Russell. They are the featured artists for the gallery’s first installation, “Living the Life.” The 4,000 square foot historic building was built in 1906. Over the years it has housed a number of community enterprises including a bank, a movie theatre, an auto repair garage, Manna Health Foods and a Day Spa. On Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17, David Starr and fellow musicians will take the performance stage for two concerts. The Saturday show is already sold out but tickets are available for the 7 p.m. Sunday concert. Tickets are $20 and that price includes a copy of Starr’s newest CD: ‘South and West.’ Tickets can be purchased at info@starrsguitars. com or at Starr’s Guitars, 250 West Main Street in downtown Cedaredge. David Starr, who serves as

vice president of the GMAEC board of director, said “So many artists and talented craftsmen and women have stepped up to make this facility a reality. Please join us on our opening weekend to see all the great contributions!” A wide variety of workers and artists have contributed to making the center a reality. Mark Fairchild served as the project’s builder. Lynn Grotrian and Dan Skelton painted the entire building interior. Diana (Dee) Brown of Delta and Cedaredge residents Teressa Carlton, Marc Hunsaker, Peggy Papon, and Cindy Starr teamed up to create the center’s stained glass window; and Cedaredge residents Barbara and Jim Allen donated glass and the use of tools. Nancy Hovde also contributed glass. A multitude of community organizations and individuals provided financial contributions and in-kind services and materials. These will be acknowledged and celebrated by signage in the building, on a Founders Tree and in the program. John Story of WaterJets West donated the center’s unique exterior signs. Scott Sullivan donated his efforts to adorn several interior doors with his wood burning skills. Local glass artist Lark Abel donated a beautiful etched glass piece and Mark Fairchild re-imagined it for a great lighted installation in the foyer area. Sandy Wilt and Dea Jacobson took photographs and wrote press releases. And executive director Deborah Shaffer worked tirelessly to promote the center along with the center’s board of directors and advisory council. In addition to Shaffer and David Starr, the other members of the board are: Cindy Starr, president; Trey Gronenthal, secretary; Jude Conn, treasurer; Perry Hotz, Dea Jacobson, Judy Fairchild, Linda Lichtendahl and Kacy Stillings. Advisory council members include: Joe Agne, Mitchell Gronenthal, Terry Hotz, Tonie Miller, Tracy Munson, Felicia Sabartinelli, Nancy Snowdon, Teresa Carlton, Dale Russell Smith and Dottie Whitlock. Jane Dupree and Mara Erwin were original board members and continue their support.

Photo by Sandy Wilt

The Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center ofﬁcially opens for tours and art exhibits on Friday, June 15, and for musical concerts on the evenings of Saturday, June 16, and Sunday, June 17.

Service Saturday for Surface Creek seniors is June 16 BY DON BENJAMIN Staff Writer

A Little Help of Delta County is sponsoring a ‘Service Saturday’ event on June 16 to connect seniors in need of help with local volunteers. A half dozen area seniors have indicated a need for assistance so far with various home maintenance jobs. Services include inspecting handrails, cleaning cupboards and refrigerators, de-cluttering closets, weeding, washing windows, eliminating cobwebs, touching up paint, polishing furniture and floors, vacuuming rugs, dusting, scrubbing grout, organizing paperwork, helping with technology, washing cars, and sprucing up the yard. A Little Help began in the North Fork Valley and is in the

process of expanding into the rest of Delta County. Guide star.org which rates non-profit organizations has given its ‘gold seal’ to A Little Help for its “demonstrated commitment to transparency.” To learn more, visit the organization’s website: alittlehelp. org. Volunteer teams deploy to seniors’ homes every spring and fall to help with yard and home chores while getting to know their elder neighbors. The goal is to provide community support to allow seniors to become engaged with their neighbors and remain in their homes. Kathy Edwards, Delta County coordinator for A Little Help, is still seeking seniors in need of assistance as well as volunteers to take part in

Saturday’s event. “We welcome families, groups, youth, and individuals to volunteer for this tangible, meaningful opportunity,” she said. Anyone interested in volunteering or any senior in need of assistance is urged to contact Kathy at 970-527-3482 or 970-527-4454 or by email at kathy@alittlehelp.org. Saturday’s volunteers are asked to meet at 8:30 a.m. on June 16, at the PACE/Volunteers of America (VOA) facility at 11411 Highway 65 in Eckert and then disperse to provide services to seniors from 9 a.m. to noon that morning. Several PACE (Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly) employees will be included among the volunteers who work with seniors that day.

Wind machine is latest Pioneer Town feature BY DON BENJAMIN Staff Writer

How many people does it take to erect a wind machine at Cedaredge’s premier historic village? It’s not a trick question. It takes about a dozen plus a board of directors. Last month Les Mergelman, past president of the Surface Creek Historical Society, and a crew of dedicated workers spent six hours raising a 1960’s fruit orchard wind machine at the highly visible junction of Highway 65 and Pioneer Town’s east-facing parking lot. “We’ve been trying to come up with something to catch people’s eye as they pass along the highway,” said Mergelman. “Since Pioneer Town sets back from the road, people tend to drive by without noticing it.” Now visitors are unlikely

to miss the 35-foot shiny silver shaft with a cowling the size of a small appliance and a 19-foot propeller on top. Half a century ago, the Pioneer Town wind machine and thousands like it churned high above Western Slope orchards striving to keep springtime frosts at bay. From March to May the action of whirling blades which mix warm air with cold can be the difference between a bountiful orchard harvest and a freezing disaster. Over the years the older ‘motor-up’ machines with engines on top were retired and replaced with newer models. It seems appropriate that Pioneer Town’s newly installed wind machine has found its final resting place a stone’s throw from the historic Stolte apple shed — a sprawling building that once

Photo by Les Mergelman

A vintage 1960’s wind machine was erected last month next to the Highway 65 entrance to Cedaredge’s iconic Pioneer Town. A dozen volunteers labored to complete the task.

processed the bounty of Surface Creek’s fruit orchards and now serves as a community gathering place. And the wind machine is in good company. It joins two dozen other historic structures on Pioneer Town’s five-acre lot including the apple-sorting shed, a vintage train depot, a blacksmith shop, a vintage main street, three museums, and a trio of unique wooden silos. Like most of what goes on in Delta County, the project of acquiring and erecting the wind machine was a joint effort of individuals and businesses. The machine itself was donated by Richard Kinser, manager of Rogers Mesa Fruit Company in Hotchkiss. Benson Brothers, Inc. of Austin hauled it from Rogers Mesa to the Pioneer Town blacksmith shop where Big John’s Hardware of Cedaredge provided a forklift to offload the large structure. Then resident blacksmith Paul Michaels set to work cleaning up the machine and removing the lengthy ladder once used to maintain the gasoline engine on top. “The ladder had to go. Just too tempting for adventurous kids to climb,” explained Mergelman. The heavy gas engine was also removed though the empty cowling remains in place. And the pivoting propeller housing and the whirling propeller were disabled as Al Stohler welded the cowling and prop shaft in place. It might have been ideal to have the propeller operational and spinning but fickle Colorado winds which sometimes produce damaging micro-bursts were a factor in deciding to

Photo by Les Mergelman

Zed Perry of Rogers Mesa Fruit Company in Hotchkiss balanced on top of the 35-foot vintage wind machine installed last month at Cedaredge’s Pioneer Town. Rogers Mesa donated the tower to the historic village. make the display a static one. After the Town of Cedaredge issued a building permit, Arlo Hansen of Cedaredge used his backhoe to dig a foundation hole for the concrete base. United Companies provided 8 1⁄2 yards of concrete at a discount and the Rogers Mesa crew was on hand to assist in pouring the slab. Pioneer Town paid $75 apiece for six huge bolts to secure the wind

machine base to its concrete home. Once the foundation was in place, it was necessary to move the unwieldy machine two blocks from the blacksmith shop to the concrete slab. Bill Vezzoso of Aspen Trails RV Campground near Cedaredge solved that problem with his tractor. Jim Hardin did the final welding of WIND MACHINE TO C2

C2 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

Delta County Independent

Wind machine FROM PAGE C1 the prop to shaft and also welded stops to prevent the turret from rotating and then he jumped in to operate the crane provided by Hardin’s Welding and Crane of Hotchkiss. It was touch-and-go as

Hardin lifted the towering shaft and deftly steered it into position. Finally the six base bolts were tightened with a sturdy wrench (then doubly tightened by applying firm blows from a 12-pound sledgehammer) and it was time for

Block Party at Cedaredge Town Park

FRIDAY, JUNE 15 * 6-8 P.M. Information, fun, and register for:

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL June 25-29 - 9 a.m.- noon K through 8th Grade

GRAND MESA SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH

Hwy. 65 and SE Jay Ave., Cedaredge www.grandmesasbc.org

someone to ascend in a cherry-picker to secure the housing and propeller. Rogers Mesa employee Zed Perry was up to the task and he balanced on top of the wind machine for forty-five minutes working in the sunshine until the upper components were hauled up and secured in place with the final four bolts of the day. “We started about 9 in the morning and broke for lunch after 2 p.m.,” recalled Mergelman. He paused then to study his lengthy list of helpers to make certain he didn’t leave anyone out. After double-checking the work-

men, he acknowledged the essential support and assistance of the Pioneer Town board of directors, especially past president, Richard Udd and current president, Greg Hart. So with the work of many volunteers the Pioneer Town wind machine has been installed. It’s one of two such mechanisms enshrined along Highway 65, the other being the double-bladed machine at the Fritchman Orchards roadside stand in Eckert. Both are towering reminders to residents and tourists alike of the historic legacy and present value of the area’s importance as a fruit growing region.

Cubs reunion planned A reunion of the Cedaredge High School Cubs is planned Aug. 10 and 11. Classmates will gather at The Pondy on Main Street in Cedaredge Friday, Aug. 10, beginning at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Aug. 11, a gathering is planned at the pavilion in Cedaredge Town Park

Grand Mesa Southern Baptist hosts VBS Grand Mesa Southern Baptist Church announces its 2018 VBS to be held June 25-29, 9 a.m. to noon. Vacation Bible school is for kindergarten through eighth grade, and will be held at Jay Avenue and Highway 65 in Cedaredge. This is the VBS that has the train and the zip line, as well as music, activities, Bible study, snacks and more, with a theme of “Game On.” Pre-register online at GrandMesaSBC.com or by calling Richard Weldon at 640-6520.

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beginning at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will commence at 12:30 p.m. and is being prepared by members of VFW Post #9221. For more information, call Steven Briscoe at 874-3869.

Photo by Gary Tollefson

Honoring veterans

Members of Grand Mesa VFW Post 9221 and the Post’s Auxiliary placed flags on veterans’ graves at the Cedaredge Cemetery over Memorial Day weekend. The flags were donated by Ace Hardware which donated one million flags to VFW Posts around the country for Memorial Day 2018. Left to right are Rose Craig, Connie Tollefson, David Craig and Arnold Hood.

Plant & Dig Garden Club learn composting BY JOAN CHAMBERS Plant & Dig Garden Club

The May meeting of the Plant & Dig Garden Club was held at the home of this writer. So for this segment only I will be writing in first-person. I had the privilege of presenting a program entitled, “Composting and Plant Propagation.” As every gardener knows, a good garden starts with good soil. I took samples from my three compost piles to show the members how nature decomposes the materials over time, making compost out of leaves (brown), grass clippings and home waste materials such as potato peels, coffee grounds, tea bags and lettuce leaves, etc. (green), water and air. Not being content with just seeing the small samples, the members wanted to trek down to the lower part of the garden and see the three areas “in person.” So through the pulled-out grass and weeds cluttering the walkways, and careful not to trip over the hoses, we took a little “field trip.” It is actually pretty amazing to see what happens to all these individual materials over a period of about 18 months. One cannot only see, but can smell and feel the differences, marveling at the rich compost that appears at the end of the process which then can be added to top soil along with perlite, to create a wonderfully rich planting soil. There is a fourth hole in the ground in this area where I mix these ingredients to create my own planting soil. Now satisfied, our members and I meandered back up through the garden levels to the house to peek at the seedlings under the grow light (started midApril), the plantings that were put out in mid-February on the north side of the house in plastic Styrofoam containers with holes punched in the top and bottom, and filled with potting soil. These were mainly perennials such as rudbeckia, gaillar-

dia, cone flowers, daisies and monarda. I had also started larkspur in this manner. I learned this propagation method from master gardener Karen Schuler many years ago. This was a new technique to some members of our club who plan to try it next winter, and a great way to start seeds that should be cold-stratified. I have to report a failure, as well. For the first time in my life, I tried to start roses from cuttings. I researched online about how to go about something my mother had done in her garden many years ago. I took my cuttings, soaked them in root stimulant as directed, planted them in a long planter with good soil, and covered each cutting with a wide-mouthed pint jar and placed the container in a north window of the garage. Four weeks later, all looked green and healthy. Then two days before my presentation I found that all but a couple of the cuttings were covered in mildew. I shared this experience with my fellow gardeners, stating that I would do more research, do some things differently, and try again. Next time I will use quart jars instead of pints, will start the cuttings outside when the weather is right, in a semi-shaded spot in the garden, and hope for a better outcome. As always, we learn more from our failures than we do from our successes. I have definitely learned from mine. Club members were busy during May with chores at Pioneer Town and Horizons Care Center. Two separate work sessions were needed to ready the flower bed at Pioneer Town for the upcoming summer and for planting seeds. The two beds (the new xeric area is looking lovely this spring, as well), will greet guests again this year as they start their journey through this facility. And again this year our club has planted four of the large pots in the courtyard at Horizons for the enjoyment of residents,

staff and visitors. This is a lovely, restful area for all who wish to take advantage of it. We are happy that we, along with the members of the three other garden clubs, can provide this setting for all who visit it. Our thanks once again to Mile High Greenhouse and to Phillip Espinoza, the owner, for the generous discounts given to us to help make our Horizons project a success. The Trail Walk Project that our club has committed to doing for the month of either August or September, is nearing fruition. Club member (and secretary) Lisa Joss has taken our ideas, edited and refined them, and has come up with great story panels for our project which is entitled “Tracking Treasures of the Trail.” It encourages youngsters and oldsters alike to: Look up; Look Down; Look Around; Listen; Touch; and discover all of the wonders of this beautiful trail along Surface Creek. The Trail W walk Project is sponsored by the Cedaredge Library and we are honored to be a part of it. Our upcoming June meeting is, “All About Herbs.” Club members will discuss how we use, grow and enjoy herbs in our gardens and everyday lives. We are hoping that Judy MacKendrick will be joining us, sharing her knowledge of this subject. Our garden club is thriving. Members, new and old alike, share combined knowledge to the benefit of everyone. And it is amazing to realize the amount of knowledge our members have gained through years of the gardening experience that we represent. We enjoy sharing that knowledge with each other, enjoy the friendship that is an integral part of our gardening experience. We invite you to join us. Our meetings are held the third Friday of each month. If you would like more information, please call 856-7077 or 856 3897.

Free community concert The 101st Army Rock Band and the 101st Army Winds Band will be featured in a free community concert Thursday, June 21, 6 p.m., in the Cedaredge Town Park. Bring your blankets or chairs and enjoy this great music performed in a family-friendly environment. Feel free to bring a picnic dinner, or enjoy take out from one of the many delicious restaurants in Cedaredge. VFW Post #9221 will post the colors just before the performance

and Cedaredge Library will offer popsicles from 5 to 6 p.m. as part of the summer reading program.

During intermission, purchase pie and root beer floats from the Cedaredge Area Chamber of Commerce.

101st Army Rock Band

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SURFACE CREEK NEWS

Delta County Independent

What’s bugging you? Local gardening questions and answers BY JIM LESER Cedaredge Tree Board

Plant Health Care (PHC) is a more preventative, holistic, and intelligent approach to managing our landscapes and garden plants. I covered the basics of PHC in my last column and continue this discussion today. Before we even plant our gardens we should think about sun and winter exposure, type of plants we want and potential problems that might be associated with our plant choices. I live in deer country so I either choose plants they don’t like, tolerate their feeding damage or cage my vulnerable plants. Before I planted my gardens I tested for salt levels to avoid problems down the road. I also incorporated an organic soil amendment to increase pore space so that my plant’s roots would not suffocate every time I watered. You can use a spading fork or rent a rototiller depending upon the size of the job. I used both. I tried to plant early blooming plants away from a southern exposure near my house so that they

(commonly bulbs) would not emerge too early and be susceptible to a late freeze. My yard has lots of xeric perennials and shrubs. This sure beats “xeriscaping,” where instead of plants, gravel alone is used as a landscape element. Ugh! Many of my plants get watered at a frequency of every 45 to 90 days. About half of my plants need water every three to four weeks. My buffalo grass? How about watering every 30-45 days and mowing three times a year. Sure beats watering 2-3 times a week and mowing every 5-7 days that blue grass requires. I do give up early spring greening up and a lawn that starts going dormant in September but I’ll trade that for free time to focus on other more pleasant gardening things. I mulch all my plantings either with an organic mulch such as shredded cedar or with a trail mix gravel, depending upon whether a particular plant likes persistent moist conditions (aspens, Potentilla, or Caryopteris) or drier conditions (Agastache). Mulching allows for an extended watering schedule.

In selecting plants, choose those that are well adapted to our area’s conditions. There is no sense starting off on the wrong foot. Some maple trees do well in our alkaline soils, many do not. Iron chlorosis and subsequent yellow leaves is the most immediate result. Plant a diverse collection of plants. A monoculture of a very few plants sets you up for a fall when a disease or other adverse environmental condition specific to those plant species wipes you out. Not all plants are susceptible to the same disease or insect pest. Lastly, never let your plants become stressed. This sets them up to fail. Stressed trees attract borers that will finish off your trees. But don’t blame

these borers for the cause of your tree’s decline, they are attracted to stressed trees. Often stress does not manifest itself right away. A good case in point is the winter kill we are experiencing this year because of the lack of winter water due to the nearly absent snow. Those trees that died already were stressed and you didn’t even know it. Next time I’ll discuss PHC solutions for common problems and delve deeper into the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Jim Leser retired to Cedaredge in 2007 after a career with Texas A&M University Extension in entomology. He is a member of the Cedaredge Tree Board and a Colorado Master Gardener.

This chlorotic Autumn Blaze maple tree is unsuitable to our area.

Staff Writer

Photo by Reve Portraits

The coat of many colors that Cedaredge designer Mitchell Gronenthal created. He modernized the vintage coat and added a vibrant lining to reﬂect the personality of its owner. closet for more than five decades. Every once in a while, Carol Ann would look at it longingly but, realizing that it was out of style, she left it hanging in the closet, until the family moved to Cedaredge and Carol Ann met Mitchell Gronenthal. The two first met at a mixer for the new Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center. It was a natural place to meet. Carol Ann is an artist specializing in the use of alcohol ink and Mitchell is a photographer and dress designer. Carol Ann recalls asking Mitchell if he could remodel a coat. He recalls that he was reluctant to take on the project. His specialty is dresses. He’d only done one coat and that was a man’s jacket. So the two let the subject drop until they reconnected again when Carol Ann needed a professional head shot. She’d been invited to give a TED talk at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. The

VBS will transform kids into super sleuths This summer children will be seen moving in and out of the nooks and crannies of Main Street, Cedaredge. Why? They are “Children: God’s Secret Agents,” from the vacation Bible school of Cedaredge United Methodist Church. Join these magnifyingglass-carrying sleuths from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, June 18

to 22. All children entering kindergarten through fifth grade are welcome. Register at the Methodist Thrift Shop, 205 W. Main Street, or Cedaredge United Methodist Church, 210 NW 3rd Street, Cedaredge. You may also contact Pamela Gubkin at the church, pgubkin@ cedaredgecumc.com or 970-856-3696.

Rotary golf tourney tees off this Saturday BY DON BENJAMIN Staff Writer

The annual summer scramble golf tournament tees off this coming Saturday with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Participating businesses that have not already done so are reminded to forward their sponsorship contributions (including monetary or donated items or services) to the Cedaredge Rotary Club as soon as possible. Checks can be mailed to Cedaredge Rotary Club, P.O. Box 750, Cedaredge, CO 81413. Players who still wish to register a four-person team have until 7:30 a.m. on the morning of June 16 to sign-up. Play will be held at the Cedaredge Golf Club, 500 SE Jay Avenue. The tournament is a major fundraiser for

the club with proceeds going to support scholarships for Cedaredge High School graduating seniors. Players will compete for a rich assortment of prizes including veterinarian services, rounds of golf at the Cedaredge club as well as neighboring courses in Delta and Rifle, overnight stays at regional resorts, oil changes, and Colorado Rockies’ tickets. And a hole-in-one will earn the player a car donated by Hellman Motor Company of Delta. A drawing will also be held at 2:30 p.m. for cash prizes to be awarded to those who purchased Cedaredge Rotary Club raffle tickets. First, second, and third raffle prizes are $300, $200, and $100, respectively. Tickets are still available.

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BY DON BENJAMIN

moved there for his work as a mining engineer. Which is when the trouble began. She had no access to dry cleaning so she washed the coat and put it in the dryer and it shrank. So she hung it in the closet until they were ready to return to the States when she stuffed the coat into a trunk along with the family’s set of encyclopedias. The coat and the rest of the family’s belongings were traveling by boat — until the trunk fell into the ocean. When she unpacked the coat, the bottom hem of the pure white garment was dyed blue from moisture that seeped into the trunk’s blue lining. So the shrunken and stained coat went back into the closet. Although the family moved 20 times in 40 years and there were plenty of opportunities to sell it at a yard sale, Carol Ann couldn’t bear to part with the coat. She calculates that she wore the coat for 10 years but kept it in the

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The coat of many colors People start working early in Montana and they know the value of money. Ask Carol Ann Rasmussen who began working when she was ten years old. As a girl she lugged Spudnut donuts around her Missoula neighborhood, knocking on doors, smiling and selling. “I used to ask the people, should I come back?” she laughs, “I didn’t want to waste my time going back where I wasn’t wanted.” By 14 she was still working, this time as an usher at a local movie theater. “It was either stay home and help with the housework — which I hated to do — or go to work,” she recalls. So she worked. Then one day she was walking by the Montgomery Ward Store in downtown Missoula when she looked in the display window and saw the coat. It was white and sleek with a fancy hood. “It was classy,” she recalls, but also expensive, just the thing to catch her eye as a high school freshman. For about a second, she considered mentioning the idea of buying the coat to her frugal father, but she decided that he wouldn’t approve of such an extravagance. So she turned to a more sympathetic listener — her sister — and her sister’s advice? Put it on layaway. The year was 1955 and Carol Ann was working weekends and earning 40 cents an hour and it took her four months, but she got the coat. “How I loved that coat. I always felt special wearing it!” She kept the coat and treasured it over the years. She wore it on her honeymoon. She even took it to South America in 1965 when she and her husband Dave and their children

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

The curriculum was written by Dana Jones, a member of the congregation. The children will have daily hands-on activities. The children will learn how they can make a difference in their neighbors’ lives. Outdoor fun will include games, some with water play and there will be snacks.

15-minute presentation — inspired by the Technology Education and Design (TED) conference — will eventually become a You Tube video. Her topic was “So you think you can’t paint?” While she was posing for her photographic portrait, the subject of the coat came up again and Mitchell committed to the project. “It was a challenge,” he admits. He wanted to modernize and stylize the coat into a more contemporary wrap. He decided to go with a sleeveless look and the hood gave way to a collar and the heavy coat became a less bulky garment. He shortened the coat to eliminate the blue stain. Then, to make it a true coat of many colors which reflected the vibrancy of the wearer, he decided to sew in an innovative lining. It was all new for him and a steep learning curve. “An hour before she was due to pick it up,” he recalls, “My nerves were shot. Will she love it? What if she hates it?” Carol Ann was amazed at the transformation. It was like having the joy of her old coat back again along with the thrill of an entirely new look.

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C6 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

AGRICULTURE

Delta County Independent

Edge of Cedars Art Show winners listed A successful 46th annual Edge of the Cedars Art Show sponsored by Zeta Omicron Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority has been completed. Seventy artists exhibited a total of 202 entries which included paintings, photography, sculpture, pottery, stained glass and an open category. Attesting to the quality of work exhibited, 67 different entries received votes for the People’s Choice Award. In addition to ribbons, a total of 21 monetary awards ranging from $25 to $200 were given. The total amount of cash and gift certificates awarded was $1,275. This was made possible by generous donations from sponsors. Zeta Omicron presented $750 scholarships to Hannah Hatheway and Elizabeth Wood, both 2018 Cedaredge High School graduates. Hatheway will attend Colorado State University in Fort Collins to further her education. Wood is headed to Western Colorado Community College to study culinary arts. Judge for this year’s

show was Eric Elliott, assistant professor of painting at Colorado Mesa University. Elliott grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, received his master of fine arts in painting and drawing at the University of Washington in Seattle, and a bachelor of arts in arts practice at the University of California, Berkeley. He recently had a solo show at Omnia Contemporary gallery in Grand Junction. In 2014 he completed a year-long art residency at the Jerusalem Studio School in Israel. Judging Results People’s Choice — Marty Rathburn, Cedaredge, professional oil/acrylic titled “The Listener.” Cash award sponsored by Delta County Memorial Hospital and Taylor Funeral Service & Crematory/Chalmer and Marge Swain. Judge’s Best of Show — Marty Rathburn, Cedaredge, professional oil/acrylic titled “Lost in Thought.” Cash award sponsored by Western Rockies Appraisals/Diana Clayton and Double J Disposal/Joe and Judy Leon-

Photo by Don Benjamin

Marty Rathburn of Cedaredge received the 2018 People’s Choice award based on voting by patrons who visited the Edge of Cedars Art Festival held last week at Cedaredge Middle School. His winning entry, shown here, is entitled “The Listener.” Rathburn also received the Judge’s Best of Show ribbon for a second work entitled “Lost in Thought.”

ard. Best of Professional — Joe Milich, Cedaredge, oil/ acrylic titled “Fiery Sunset.” Cash award sponsored by Thelma Starner. Best of Advanced — Rich Sprankle, Montrose, pastel titled “The Arrogance of Green.” Cash award sponsored by ProSpace Interiors. Best of Amateur — Tammy Blanchette, Cedaredge, photograph titled “Curious Buck.” Cash award sponsored by Thelma Starner. Best of Student — Max Moore, Cedaredge, graphic titled “Hayware Hare.” Cash award sponsored by ProSpace Interiors. Special Awards Selected by Individual Sponsors Dr. Mary Kleinsorge, D.C. — Cash awards to Sheryl Williams, Delta, professional watercolor titled “Day at the Beach”; Mary Ann Johnson, Austin, amateur oil/acrylic titled “Danielle’s Place:”; and Adele Coppers, Clifton, amateur watercolor titled “Holiday Memories.” Thelma Starner — Cash award to BJ McKinney, Crawford, advanced watercolor titled “The Skeptic.” ProSpace Interiors — Cash awards to Wanda Brunemeier, Cory, professional watercolor titled “Anyone Home” and Susan Jochum, Cedaredge, professional oil/acrylic titled “Flowers of Winter.” Janice Jones, RE/MAX Mountain West — Cash award to Larry Dumler, Cedaredge, advanced oil/ acrylic titled “Gray Days - Gray Jays.” Benson Brothers — Cash award to J.C. Vela, Eckert, student photograph titled “The Monster.” Ribbons & Roses Antique Mall, Marcy Peterson — Cash award to Amarah Thompson, Grand Junction, student

sculpture titled “Two Face.” Prosser Family - Short Branch Liquor — Cash award to Mary Belleville, Cedaredge, advanced stained glass, standing glass lamp. High Country Shopper — Cash award to Dana Smith, Aurora, advanced photography titled “Unconditional Love.” Big John’s Lumber — Cash award to Debra Bradley, Eckert, professional sculpture titled “Life is Good.” Vela Ranches - Vela Family — Cash award to Allen Kettle, Grand Junction, advanced photography titled “Pioneer Fence.” Mattes and More — Gift certificate to Donna Feller, Grand Junction, advanced photography titled “Garfield Reflects.” Zeta Omicron Chapter ESA — Cash award to Arlene Law, Glenwood Springs, professional watercolor titled “Stage Stop in Glenwood.” Individual Placings Professional Oil/acrylic — Marty Rathburn, Cedaredge, first; Joe Milich, Cedaredge, second; Judy Mraz Campbell, Austin, third; honorable mentions - Arlene Law and Marty Rathburn. Watermedia — Roger Milway, Cedaredge, first; Roxanne Morris, Montrose, second; Sheryl Williams, Delta, third; honorable mentions Lynne Miller and Roger Milway. Graphics — Marty Rathburn, Cedaredge, first; Penny Pallister, Mesa, second and third.

Pastels — Cynthia Sampson, Nucla, first; Amy Daniels, Cedaredge, second; Lindy Palmer, Eckert, third. Mixed media — Karen Brueggemann, Cedaredge, first. Photography — Roxanne Morris, Montrose, first. Sculpture — Daphna Russell, Cedaredge, first and second; Susan Jochum, Cedaredge, third. Advanced Oil/acrylic — Larry Dumler, Cedaredge, first; Emilie Olbert, Grand Junction, second; Rich Sprankle, Montrose, third; honorable mentions - Terrie Watts and Larry Dumler. Watermedia — Barbara Pulin, Montrose, first; BJ McKinney, Crawford, second; Mary Bollig, Delta, third; honorable mentions - Barbara Poulin, Carol Vinz and Judy Chapman. Graphics — Jane Fox Armfield, Montrose. Pastels — Rich Sprankle, Montrose, first and second; Pamela Lynch, Montrose, third; honorable mention - Rich Sprankle. Mixed media — Jane Fox Armfield, Montrose. Photography — Dana Smith, Aurora, first and second; Jim Schwietert, Cedaredge, third; honorable mentions - D. Ann Schwietert, Jim Schwietert, Allen Kettle and Donna Faller. Sculpture — Charles Holder Jr., Eckert, first. Pottery — Debbie Fisher, Grand Junction, first and second. Stained glass — Mary Belleville, Cedaredge,

first.

Amateur Oil/acrylic — Lin Mussman, Montrose, first; Ellen Brown, Montrose, second; Mary Ann Johnson, Austin, third; honorable mentions - Ellen Brown and Jeannie Gumerson. Watermedia — Nancy Carlson, Eckert, first; Adele Coppers, Clifton, second; Marcia Melvin, Cedaredge, third; honorable mentions - Julie Chosvig and Adele Coppers. Photography — Tammy Blanchette, Cedaredge, first and third; Frank Muldowney, Eckert, second. Student Oil/acrylic — Kalinn “KK” Komives, Cedaredge, first; Bryanna Carlson, Eckert, second. Watercolor — Grace Hatheway, Cedaredge, first; Kalinn “KK” Komives, Cedaredge, second. Graphics — Max Moore, Cedaredge, first and second; Grace Hatheway, Cedaredge, third. Mixed media — Amber Swain, Delta, first, second and third. Photography — Andrei Gaylord, Brentwood, Tenn., first and second; Hannah Hatheway, Cedaredge, third; honorable mention - Andrei Gaylord. Digitally enhanced photography — Mckenzie Moore, Cedaredge, first. Sculpture — Amarah Thompson, Grand Junction, first. Pottery — Kalinn “KK” Komives, Cedaredge, first; Open category — Grace Hatheway, Cedaredge, first.

Photo by Don Benjamin

Over 200 creative works adorned the Edge of Cedars Art Festival at Cedaredge Middle School last week. Among the 2018 award winners honored with ribbons and prizes were (front row, left to right): Marty Rathburn (Cedaredge), Susan Jochum (Cedaredge), Donna Faller (Grand Junction), J.C. Vela (Eckert), and Sheryl Williams (Delta); (back row) Dana Smith (Aurora), Joe Milich (Cedaredge), Tammy Blanchette (Cedaredge), Eric Elliott (festival judge), and Larry Dumler (Cedaredge).

Classifieds

June 13, 2018

Real Estate

D SECTION

Delta County Independent

BUY • SELL • TRADE

Real Estate

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Notices

For Sale

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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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For Sale

LOOKING FOR ANYONE interested in learning or forming a Hula group. Ages from 16 up. Email me at jobee1940@hotmail. com. Let me know if you are a beginner or have some experience. (2x24)

HOLD THE

WORLD

in Your Hands Every time you read the newspaper, you open up a world of interesting and informative facts, figures and features.

Announcements THE NATURE CONnection (TNC) in Hotchkiss is offering summer programming for upcomming 3rd through 8th graders! Water Connections is June 18-21, and July 23-26; Camp Connections is June 25-28, and July 30 through August 2nd; Guided Backpacking for teens is July 9-16 in two sessions. We are also sponsoring programming at The Fort and at Cedaredge Library. Please check TNC website for details: thenature connection.net, or call 8725910. (2x23)

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�� 401 Meeker St. Delta • 874-4421

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Help Wanted

LOOKING FOR CARPOOL starting 7/9, M-F, Delta to GJ. LeaveDelta bet 6:45 - 7:30 (AM); leave GJ bet 4:15 and 5:30 (PM). Good references and dependable car. Looking to add 3 riders. Reply: rjdccamp@tds. net. (2x24)

Recreational Vehicles 2005 BORN FREE 26’ RSB motor home for sale by owner. Clean as a whistle, never smoked into/pets, was our baby! 970-9215480. (4x24) 874-4421

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ALL THE NEWS YOU CAN USE Government Opinions Sports Weddings Obituaries Upcoming Events

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BEAR RANCH LLC IS seeking applicants for two full time positions in General Maintenance and Ranch Laborer. Applicants must have experience in the position they are applying for. Please send resume to Bear Ranch LLC, 26767 County Road #12, Somerset, CO 81434. Phone inquiries; 970-929-5336. Bear Ranch LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. (4x22)

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 care. Call 970-527-4853 or email paoniadental@gmail.com. (4x24)

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D2 Wednesday, June 13, 2018 Help Wanted

CLASSIFIEDS

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Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous Colorado Statewide �� Network

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To place a 25-word COSCAN Network ad in 91 Colorado newspapers for only $300, contact your local newspaper or call Colorado Press Association Network at 303-571-5117. ��

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Delta County Independent

Public Service

HOW DO I SELL MY Cottage Food products? You may sell your products directly to the consumer from your residence, roadside stand, Farmers’ market, community supported agricultural organizations, or other similar venue. If you have any questions, please call: 874-2165. Delta County Health Department. (4X21) THE DELTA COUNTY Independent runs these items as a public service free of charge for non-profit organizations, if no fees are charged. However, each group is asked to please keep them current by calling 874-4421. THE KINGS TABLE SOUP Kitchen needs egg cartons. If you have any to give please call 250-6637 and we will pick up. 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. WOMEN ONLY AA MEETings, Delta, Saturdays, 11:00 a.m., at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 5th & Palmer (back door). FREE DIAPERS FOR UP to one year! Pregnant women in Delta County can now get help to quit smoking and get something they can really use after their baby arrives — free diapers. Healthy moms have healthy babies. Enroll in the Baby & Me Tobacco Free program today. Contact the Delta County Health Department at 874-2165 or your local physician. PARENTS FREE! INFORMation and referrals to licensed child care providers, call Bright Futures Child Care Resource and Referral, 1-877-728-5613.

Public Service THERE IS A VFW MEETING on the first Monday of each month. At 6 p.m. there is a potluck and the meeting is at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1250 Pioneer Rd., Delta. For further information, call 874-8172 Jim Baker, Quartermaster. HILLTOP COMMUNITY Resources offers free services and support to victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. There are also ongoing support groups. Please call our office at 970-773-2251 for more information or if you are in crisis please call our 24 hour crisis line at 1-844-990-5500. AL-ANON: HOPE AND help for families and friends of alcoholics meets in Hotchkiss: Al-Anon, Mondays at 6:30 pm, Methodist Church 285 N. 2nd, contact Elsie 970-2108090 or Marjorie 970-4331856. CHAPTER, UNITS OF DAV regular meetings on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Veterans Building, 15th & Howard, Delta. For further information, call Paul Carter 874-5150.

WELCOME RETURNING Veterans, Post 9221 VFW WANNA PLAY A ROUND? meets at 5:00 p.m. on the Golf with a fun group of 4th Thursday of each month ladies. Two membership in Cedaredge. To find out options available. Sign up how to participate in proat www.cedaredgeladies moting patriotism and golf.com. Get to know us assisting veterans, contact on Facebook at “cedar Wayne Hamrick, (970) 250edgeladiesgolfclub” 1180. 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. THINK YOU'RE PREGnant? Abused? Need help? The Pregnancy Resource Center in Delta offers free service, support and advice to all teenagers and women in crisis pregnancy situations. For Christian help, anytime, call 874-5733.

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YOU HAVE THE POWER TO change a child's life! Children are waiting for senior partners in Delta County right now! Can you spare 3 hours a week? We need your help! Call today for more information. Please volunteer to spend time with a child in our community. Partners of Delta, Montrose AARP DRIVER SAFETY and Ouray, 874-4661, www. Course. Save on insurance, partners-west.org. or www. keep up on newer traffic deltayouth@montrose.net. laws, learn defensive driving techniques. For details PAONIA AMERICAN and schedule contact John Legion runs a year round Loring (970) 856-6924 or non-perishable emergency (970) 424-1778. food pantry. This is for the North Fork area. For inforAL-ANON: HOPE AND mation, call 527-6252. help for families and friends of alcoholics meets SAVE EYEGLASSES, OLD in Cedaredge: Al-Anon, jewelry and silver or bits of Thursdays, 8 pm, Wick Hall gold and silver scraps. The behind First Baptist Church, Grand Odd Fellow Lodge is 370 W. Main St., contact sending them to: New Eyes Mary M. 970-856-6123 or for the Needy, 549 Millburn Jim 970-874-7855. Ave., Short Hills, NJ 07078 or send them to: Gale HOTCHKISS-CRAWFORD Conger, Secretary of IOOF Historical Museum. Winter Lodge #116, 5516 Hwy. 348, hours, Saturdays 1-4 p.m. Delta, CO 81416. $3 admission or free to members. Come see our AL-ANON: HOPE AND museum at 2nd & Hotchkiss help for families and Streets in Hotchkiss. 872- friends of alcoholics 3780. meets in Paonia: Al-Anon, Wednesdays at 7 pm, CHECK OUT THE BOOK United Methodist Church, store at the Delta Library. 3rd & Onarga, contact Lisa You'll find a great selection 970-395-3608, Chris 970of paperbacks at reasonable 527-3366 or Marjorie 970prices. 433-1856 IF YOU LOVE BOOKS, THE AMERICAN RED you will love the Downstairs Cross needs you. Become Bookstore in the basement one of the Red Cross volof the Delta Library. unteers who says, “We’ll Be NARCOTICS ANONY- There, Because Help Can’t mous meets at 9th and Wait!” Call your local Red Palmer, Delta, Mondays and Cross Chapter at 970-2424851 or 1-800-HELP NOW Fridays at 8 p.m. for information on the difDELTA FOOD PANTRY ference you can make in needs meals for Delta fami- someone’s life as a disaster lies who are temporarily volunteer. in need. Donations of nonperishable food may be DELTA HAS A BOOKstore in the basement of brought to 628 Meeker. the library featuring gently HELP!!! KEEP THE used books and magazines. animal population under Come check it out! control, and SAVE an ani— FREE mal's life. Adopt your new PARENTS cat or dog from the Delta information and referrals County Humane Society. for licensed child care proAdoption fee is minimal. viders. Call Bright Futures Child Care Resource & Call 874-2149. Referral at 877-728-5613.

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Delta County Independent

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Wednesday, June 13, 2018

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D4 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

CHURCH

Delta County Independent

Ridgway hosts Sunday in the Park Area residents and visitors are invited to celebrate the 31st annual “Sunday in the Park” at

Ridgway’s Hartwell Park on Sunday, July 1. Activities begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by our tradition-

Grief support group meets on Tuesdays Mending Hearts, a grief support group coordinated through HopeWest, will meet on Tuesdays through July 31 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at All Saints Lutheran Church, 20101 Deer Creek Road in Austin. Each support group begins with grief education and is followed by a small group discussion. Topics include understanding grief and loss; coping skills for grief;

dealing with emotions of grief; and adjusting to new roles. Mending Hearts is free of charge, and open to anyone coping with the death of a loved one. Pre-registration is suggested, but not required. Members may join at any time. Call 970-874-0628 or email adultsupport@ HopeWestCO.org for additional information.

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al outdoor western barbecue with all the trimmings, free to all who attend. Speaking on this year’s theme, “Freedom through Christ” will be Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos linebacker from 1974-83. Gradishar is a member of the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the Ohio State All-Century Team. Since retiring from football, he has worked in business, and been involved in numerous community activities, including visiting troops in the Middle East, working with Promise Keepers, and helping the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.

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Randy Gradishar

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love, grace and mercy through relationships. “Sunday in the Park” is an annual community event co-sponsored by Ridgway Community Church and Colona Community Church in an effort to rekindle small town values and community in celebration of our Christian heritage and the freedom and privileges we enjoy as Americans. Please, bring a lawn chair and join us as we enjoy an inspirational message and music followed by a barbecue picnic under 100-year-old cottonwoods following the program. Hartwell Park is located in the center of Ridgway on Highway 62. For more information, call 970-626-5692.

Cowboy at the Cross Church, on the Sundays during youth camps, will NOT meet at the Delta Sales Yard. Instead, services will be at the Kier Ranch on Tongue Creek, combined with camp performances. Those dates are June 24 (pony show at 10 a.m. followed by church), and July 15 (horse demo at 10 a.m. followed by potluck lunch and church). For further information, call 835-3897.

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In addition, special patriotic and inspiration music will be provided by JustOne Ministries from Durango. The JustOne worship team is dedicated to building unity among the body of Christ by showing others God’s

Cowboy church services to move

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

Delta County Independent

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

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D6 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

B A C K P A G E

BACK PAGE

Delta County Independent

A refuge for weary travelers

Photo submitted

Travelers can take a treat, enjoy a drink and even pick up a dog bone or two at the rest stop hosted by the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs on the Escalante turnoff off Highway 50.

BY EMY LYNN ROQUE CISNEROS Contributing Writer

ccording to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 16,600 drowsy-driving related crashes can occur every year, with 846 possibly resulting in death. For more than 50 years, the District 28 International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) and Rebekahs have been trying to combat this problem. Their solution? A rest stop during the major summer holidays: Memorial Day, Labor Day, and, when it falls near a weekend, the Fourth of July. Located along U.S. Highway 50 at the Escalante turnoff, the little green-striped trailer, American flag and brightly colored banner stand out among the desert landscape. Drivers see signs before the turnoff advising that they should “Stay Awake, Take a Break” with some free drinks and snacks ahead. “We want to encourage drivers and motorcyclists who will travel these long distances over a short weekend to stop, get a drink, get a snack, and stretch their legs,” shared Glen Conger, Odd Fellow and grand master for the state. “If one sleepy person avoids an accident because of our trailer then we’ve done our job.” Stopping Cars, Saving Lives Every year the group sees travelers from all over, including some visitors from Alaska and from other countries. “I really enjoy talking with people about where they’re from,” said Jennifer Avery, Palisade resident and Rebekah member. She grew up helping with rest stops in other parts of Colorado with her parents’ lodge. This is her fourth year volunteering for District 28. This district includes both Odd Fellow and Rebekah

lodges from the Western Slope communities of Olathe, Delta, Clifton/Palisade, Montrose and Ouray. A few local businesses donate snacks and items such as plastic cups. Other refreshments are provided by volunteers from these lodges who, instead of spending the holiday with their families, want to provide a refuge for weary travelers. Two to six volunteers work in shifts, covering 12 hours total for each lodge. Conger often works the night shifts by himself. A family travelling from Montrose to Rifle were happy to see the trailer in service over Memorial Day. The mom helped her children pick out cookies from the table while Avery handed the dad a coffee through the trailer window. Their stay took maybe five minutes, but it’s that small break the organizations are hoping makes a difference. Before departing, visitors are encouraged to sign the guest book. As many as 1,000 people visit the stop during a holiday weekend, shared Conger. “We even have locals who expect the trailer and will just come up to say ‘Hi’ and leave a donation,” said Marcie Simms, Palisade resident and Rebekah member. “Most people who stop will donate, though it’s not required.” Any proceeds go toward maintaining the rest stop tradition and other service projects within the district. Simms joined Rebekahs last winter because she wanted to do something service oriented. “I value how this organization takes care of its members and gives back to the community,” she said. What is Odd Fellowship? The Odd Fellowship is an international, non-denomina-

Photo by Emy Lynn Roque Cisneros

A family from Montrose peruses the cookies and brownies available for taking.

tional and family-oriented fraternal organization including Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, with both men and women able to join either. The organization has four main pillars of service, summarized Conger. They aim to visit the sick, provide relief for the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphaned/ youth. Delta’s local Odd Fellow Lodge #116 located on Colorado Highway 92, for example, gives out five $1,000 scholarships every year to graduating seniors within Delta County. This money comes from their open bingo night, a weekly occurrence every Saturday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The group also helps with other service projects such as giving financial assistance on one-time special occasions to struggling individuals. In addition, Odd Fellows have the honor of laying wreaths on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Early in May Conger travelled with his wife and another Rebekah member to Washington, D.C. to mark the 85th year of this tradition. While laying the wreath by the actual tomb is the duty of the worldwide sovereign grand master of Odd Fellows, Conger joined grand masters from 45 states and five U.S. territories in setting up their wreaths on the plaza below. Conger described the experience as “unforgettable and honorable.” To many Conger is best known as the barber behind the chair at Glen’s Barber Shop on Main Street. To others he’s known as a passionate multi-generational Odd Fellow. His dad was a member for 62 years and Conger carries on the heritage with this year being his 42nd. “I can remember going out to the rest stop when I was a kid,” he said. When he first went out with his dad the stop was just an Army surplus tent with lanterns. After several tents and a box, they’ve upgraded to a camping trailer. One time, Conger was volunteering at the trailer when a motorcyclist traveling from Durango to Salt Lake City stopped for some coffee and a cookie. “Thank goodness you’re here,” the man said upon arriving. “That sunset was glaring into my eyes and I couldn’t see well.” He went to sit down at the picnic table next to the trailer and fell asleep before taking one sip of joe. Conger let the man sleep, checking on him occasionally. He woke up an hour later. It’s these kinds of instances that reinforce why District 28 maintains the tradition when others have stopped. A Declining Tradition Conger noted that over 150 Odd Fellow lodges used to participate in hosting rest stops within Colorado alone. But with just 22 Colorado lodges left, only one other rest stop exists in Colorado, near the Kansas state line. Most Odd Fellows and Rebekahs are older and fear membership will continue to dwindle, putting the tradition at risk. “Many fraternal organizations are suffering today,” shared Conger. “People used to see the lodges as something

to do when they came into town. Now people think they don’t have time for it.” Conger, and other members, agree that the organization’s trend toward an older demographic makes it harder to recruit. Lodges often fail if they refuse to change and examine their traditions as younger members come in. Despite this challenge, District 28 hopes to see the trailer continue for another 50 years. Assistance from other service clubs or individuals may be the key to continuing, but the lodges also want to increase membership. If you’re curious to learn more about Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, Conger advises to “get to know one and talk with them.” Stopping by the rest stop is a good option to visit with the volunteers

wishing to make Highway 50 a safer place. And, they always have a pot of hot coffee. The next time the trailer will be out is Labor Day weekend. This year, the group won’t be hosting the stop for the Fourth of July. While they’ve set up for the holiday when it’s landed mid-week, they saw only a few people as compared to normal. Additionally, anyone is invited to participate in the weekly bingo, or attend the open meeting at 7 p.m. the last Thursday of the month for fun night. The group doesn’t hold meetings from July to September, due to summer, however. Those interested can also call 970-874-4588. “We’re always looking for good people,” said Conger.

Photo by Emy Lynn Roque Cisneros

At the Rebekah and Odd Fellow rest stop, every drink is served with a smile.

Photo submitted

Four generations of the Goodman family help set up and take down the rest stop trailer. Pictured are Alice Goodman, Michael Goodman, Jonathan Goodman, Zach and Kayleigh Goodman.

Photo submitted

Early in May, the Congers had the privilege of laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.