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DELTA COUNTY
Celebrate Cedaredge, Party in the Park, Serenity Run are on tap, C1 AUGUST 1, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 31
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INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Police K9 to join Delta Police Dept. BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
In late September, a new team member will be joining the Delta Police Department. A K9 by the name of Racio (Ra-ko) will be paired with Officer Will Hammon. Hammon joined the Delta Police Department about three years ago. While he’s a young officer, he’s an experienced dog handler, having received extensive training through the U.S. Army. He and his K9 partner were deployed to Afghanistan, where they specialized in the detection of explosives. Hammons’ 360 hours of training also included a homemade explosives K9 imprint trainBLM - Southwest Colorado Fire and Aviation Management Unit photo ing session offered by the Crew members are focusing on fortifying control lines to contain the Buttermilk Fire, which is Department of Justice at the burning in a remote area of the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness. National Canine Training and Operations Center in Yuma, Ariz. When Luke Fedler was named chief of the police department about a year and a half ago, he asked all his staff members what they could bring to the DPD, to improve the department and to make feature along a road to the the community safer. Hamvegetation. STAFF REPORT According to the BLM south of the fire. At this time, mon suggested a K9 program. Two wildfires burning in the region, as well as smoke Montrose Fire Unit, 61 crew no structures are immediately Fedler was not enthused about from additional fires in the members are fortifying con- threatened and no evacua- the idea, but Hammon persewestern United States, are to trol lines with ground and air tions are in place. vered, so Fedler tasked him The C77 Road remains with putting together a problame for hazy conditions in support. Crews made significant closed for public and firefight- gram outline. After reviewing much of Delta County. Lightning sparked a fire progress building control fea- er safety so crews can stage Hammon’s proposal, and witthat’s burning in a remote tures in Red Canyon Sun- resources. nessing the passion he had for Smoke from that blaze is the program, Fedler embraced area of the Gunnison Gorge day. Most of the fire growth Wilderness. The Buttermilk stemmed from a back burn visible from various locations the idea as a tremendous Fire is confined to BLM- firefighters initiated in the in Delta County. Smoke can opportunity for the DPD. also be seen on Uncompahgre administered lands primarily evening. “His training is phenomA Type 1 helicopter is Plateau, where the lightning- enal,” Fedler said of Hammon. in Montrose County; no structures are threatened and no focusing on suppressing fire caused Bull Draw Fire has “We have a huge asset in Delta activity in a small portion of burned about 300 acres 12 that we haven’t used.” evacuations are in place. The fire was initially detect- sagebrush on the north side of miles northwest of Nucla. Training for both dog and Updates can be found on handler, special equipment ed July 23 about 15 miles the fire. Firefighters will comnortheast of Montrose. As of plete control features in the the BLM Montrose Fire Unit’s and ongoing care for the dog July 30, the fire had burned Red Canyon area. Crews will Facebook page. can be expensive. Hammon 692 acres of pinyon/juniper evaluate building a control
Smoke from multiple fires impacts air quality
was able to obtain a grant from K9 Working Dogs International, which provides police service dogs and hands-on training to law enforcement agencies across the country. An additional grant from POST (Police Officer Standards and Training) will cover the cost of Hammon’s training, which entails 160 hours of working with Raico at the K9 Working Dogs International site in Kansas. Additional donations from Walmart, Sisson Feed & Seed and community members will help offset the cost. Details of the K9 program were revealed at a recent work session of the Delta City Council, where Hammon, Fedler, supervisor Ryan Artaz and Commander Jesse Cox outlined the advantages ranging from officer safety, to drug detection, to tracking fugitives or missing persons. The mere presence of a K9 team can deter crime and reduce the likelihood of officers having to use force, Hammon explained. Recently, the DPD requested the assistance of the Cedaredge K9 team during the execution of a search warrant for drugs in a home in Delta. Fedler said the suspects vigorously protested the search — until the K9 officer walked around the corner and sat the dog down. “The suspects were cooperative after that,” he said. Through a series of preliminary interviews, Hammon was paired with a Belgian Malinois, a medium- to largesized shepherd with the coloring of a German shepherd. The breed is widely used by the military and law enforcement as a working dog. K9 OFFICER TO A3
Move completed for school district office BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
There are still some finishing touches to be done at the new district office at 145 W. 4th Street in Delta, but staff members have settled into their new offices and begun in earnest to prepare for the 2018-19 school year. The building was purchased from the Bank of Colorado and renovated to turn the teller line into office space. The drive-through on the north side of the building was removed, and vaults were turned into handicap accessible restrooms. While the renovation was not extensive, it did entail the removal of some asbestos. Ridgway Valley Enterprises handled the project. It’s not clear how long the old school building in Read served as district headquarters; it may date back to 1950, when consolidation of several rural districts created Delta
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Back Page ................... D6 Business .......................A10 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Delta County Fair .... B5-10 Deltarado Days .......... B12 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-3 Obituaries ..................... A8 Sports ...........................B11 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4
County Joint School District #50 (the 50 deriving from the year of consolidation). Regardless, the move was historic, and one school board members and administrators have been looking forward to. “We are very proud of the new district office as it offers upgraded professional working conditions for staff, it is more convenient for our many vendors, and it has a large board/meeting room and conference area,” said school superintendent Caryn Gibson. “Most importantly, it is very accessible for our students, staff and the public. On behalf of the Delta County Board of Education, superintendent and the district leadership, we look forward to continued success for students, staff, and the communities of Delta County.” An open house is planned Thursday, Aug. 9, from 3 to 5 p.m. The Delta Area Chamber SCHOOL DISTRICT TO A3
On the move
Photo by Randy Sunderland
Cowboys move a small herd of cattle across Grand Mesa near the Bonham Reservoir. Logging and livestock co-exist with recreational pursuits on forest lands, illustrating the multiple-use concept outlined by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976. According to the Public Lands Council, “This means that every American has a place on public lands — whether a hiker, camper, cattle rancher or energy producer. Our nation’s wide open spaces are available to be used in numerous ways.”
County maintains fire restrictions
Driver dies after short pursuit
The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests lifted fire restrictions on Friday, July 28, but Stage 1 restrictions remain in effect in unincorporated areas of Delta County. Although GMUG fire managers noted a significant decrease in wildfire risk, the Delta County Commissioners were urged by several fire districts to leave restrictions in place locally. The Uncompahgre Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management also lifted fire restrictions on BLM land within Delta County. Users of the public lands are encouraged to continue to be attentive of their actions and surroundings especially in areas with dry vegetation or dead trees by practicing smart wildfire prevention behavior. Never leave a campfire unattended, use established campfire rings, pick safe and proper campfire sites and ensure fires are completely out and cool to the touch by using the drown, stir and feel methods.
At about 9:45 p.m. the night of July 27, a Colorado State Patrol trooper attempted to stop a 2007 Toyota Camry near Delta. The vehicle took off and crashed within one minute at 2000 Road and G Road. The sole occupant and driver, Devin Jaimez, 26, of Helper, Utah, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash. The Colorado State Patrol’s initial investigation indicates that the vehicle, going a high rate of speed, went into a skid and off the left side of the roadway, rolling and ejecting Jaimez. Driving under the influence is also considered a possible contributing factor. No other parties were injured. It was later determined the Toyota Camry had been reported stolen out of Spanish Fork, Utah.