NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
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WATER WOES
Hotchkiss chamber recognizes community contributors, B1
POSTSEASON HONORS
Orchard City considers projects to address aging infrastructure, C8
DELTA COUNTY
Cedaredge, Delta volleyball players earn All-Conference recognition, B8 NOVEMBER 21, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 47
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Delta plans ‘Kickoff to Christmas’ Nov. 24 BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Delta’s second annual “Kickoff to Christmas” takes place Saturday, Nov. 24. This event is sponsored by the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce and First Colorado National Bank. During the day, community members are encouraged to shop local for Small Business Saturday. “If we want to keep our wonderful small businesses open, and in Delta, we need to support them!” said Paul Stockwell, the chamber’s executive director. While you’re visiting the businesses on Main Street, bring the kids by the chamber office at 3rd and Main to visit with Santa. This event runs from 3 to 5:30 p.m., courtesy of First Colorado National Bank. The bank is also sponsoring a scavenger hunt through Dec. 7. Entry forms can be picked
band and show choir from Delta High School. The Parade of Lights begins at 6 p.m. All parade entries are free thanks to the sponsorship of Volunteers of America.
up at participating businesses: TADA, First Colorado National Bank, SpotLight the Salon, Chile Pepper Pottery, 4th and Main Exchange, McKnight’s Jewelry, Sisson Feed and Seed, Doghouse Espresso, Heirlooms for Hospice, Lily and Rose, Delta Music and the chamber. Completed entry forms must be returned by Dec. 7 to qualify for a random drawing for $100 cash. At 3:30 p.m., Main Street will be closed while food vendors and musicians set up in the Wells Fargo parking lot. A tree decorated with ornaments made by local elementary school students will be placed in the parking lot, and a tree lighting ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. Music is expected to include the Sweet Adelines, Black Canyon Barbershop Chorus, local school kids and the jazz
Don’t have time to create a float? Decorate your bike and join the Delta Food Pantry featuring the Cat in the Hat, Grinch and Max the Dog. Community members are invited to bring food and toy
Quinn Archibeque appointed undersheriff BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
On Monday, Delta County Sheriff-elect Mark Taylor announced the appointment of Quinn Archibeque as the next undersheriff. “Quinn has demonstrated his ability to lead and be flexible during difficult times and I believe he will be a great asset to this administrative team as we move toward 2019,” Taylor said. Taylor, who served as undersheriff himself for 16 years, said the right choice is critical for the position. The undersheriff must be able to work closely with the sheriff, and in the absence of the sheriff, make the same type of decisions. Prior to making his decision, Taylor said he outlined his goals, values and visions with Archibeque, a discussion he plans to carry out one-on-one with every member of his staff. After hearing Taylor’s vision, Archibeque said accepting the position was an easy decision. Throughout his 21year career in law enforce-
ment, he said he has looked up to and respected Taylor. “And of course we’re surrounded by top-notch staff.” Archibeque grew up in the Olathe area and attended the Colorado Institute for Law Enforcement Training in Grand Junction. After receiving POST certification, he joined the Cedaredge Police Department in March 1998. He held the position of patrol sergeant when he left Cedaredge to join the Delta Police Department in 2002. In 2005, he decided to take a couple of years off but maintained his ties to law enforcement as an instructor and reserve officer for the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office. He joined the sheriff ’s office fulltime in December 2012. Taylor said, “He quickly demonstrated his commitment and his resiliency in a very competitive environment and was promoted from patrol to investigations in 2014. He was again promoted to detective sergeant in 2017.” Archibeque’s appointment will take effect Jan. 8.
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Delta County Sheriff-elect Mark Taylor has named Quinn Archibeque undersheriff.
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ......................A11 Back Page ................... D6 Bruin Tracks ............. C3-6 Business .......................A12 Church ........................... D4 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Health & Fitness .......B9-10 Legals ............................ D3 North Fork Times ........B1-6 Obituaries ..................... A8 School Zone ............ A5, A9 Sports .............................B8 Surface Creek News ...C1-8 TV Listings ..................B4-5
donations to the Parade of Lights and put them in the carts Delta High School Student Council members will be pulling behind their “Santa’s Sleigh” float. CHRISTMAS KICKOFF TO A3
Photo by Pat Sunderland
All through the town
A crew from Western Gravel Constructors has been working its way through Delta, beginning in North Delta and going south, to make ADA ramp improvements on Highway 50. Work consists of removal, forming and pouring concrete for the ADA ramps. Intermittent right lane closures are slowing traffic through the area. According to a traffic update from the Colorado Department of Transportation, crews will knock off at noon Wednesday and resume Monday, Nov. 26. For more information or to be added to the project update list, call 970-456-1482 or email adarampproject@gmail.com.
Delta places 3-month moratorium on medical marijuana establishments BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
During a special meeting on Nov. 13, Delta City Council unanimously approved an emergency ordinance placing a three-month moratorium on the acceptance and processing of applications for medical marijuana center licenses and for building permits related to those establishments. Medical marijuana centers were approved by city voters during the Nov. 6 election. The three-month moratorium is intended to give the city time to develop and enact licensing and zoning provisions. The timeframe is tight — the process requires the first and second reading of an ordinance, a public hearing and a 30-day waiting period after council approval. “You can see how fast that will eat up 90 days,” said city manager David Torgler. The emergency ordinance allows council to extend the moratorium an additional 90 days, if desired. The moratorium can be lifted by resolution at a public meeting at any time. A couple of council members said it would be simpler to just start out with a longer timeframe, such as four or five months. Others argued for expediency. The voters have spoken, a previous council did some preliminary work
Motorcyclist dies Fred Johnson, 78 of Cedaredge, died in a motorcycle accident that occurred Nov. 14 at about 2:15 p.m. The Colorado State Patrol responded to the crash involving a 2008 Honda motorcycle at mile marker 54 on Highway 50. Johnson was declared dead on scene. No other vehicles or parties were involved. According to the initial Colorado State Patrol report, the motorcycle was eastbound on Highway 50 in the left lane, went off the north edge of the roadway into the median, lost control, and rolled. Johnson was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No drugs/alcohol or speed are being considered as factors.
on regulations, and the city has already received seven or eight inquiries about the licensing process. Council member Christopher Ryan pointed out that the state and numerous municipalities have gone down this road, so it shouldn’t be that difficult to get the city up to speed. “Our intent should be sooner rather than later for the simple reason people are ready to give us sales tax revenue,” said councilmember Nathan Clay. Kevin Carlson recalled a campaign pledge to make the city more business friendly. “Regardless of the type of business, we want to make it easier to do business in Delta,” he said. During public comments, Hartland Clubb Jr. urged the city to be very, very careful. “If you need more time, I will be here asking you to take it.” An emergency ordinance requires unanimous approval from all five councilmembers, and that’s just what transpired. Although Gerald Roberts said he would have preferred a longer moratorium, he expressed a desire to get the process started. Also during the special meeting, Betsy Suerth, public works/utilities director, reviewed two bids for sidewalk replacements. The
cost of some sections will be shared by property owners, she said. She provided details in a memo: Locations have been marked in the field and include 32 sidewalk sections on Hastings between 5th and 7th streets, on 3rd Street at Dodge, on Dodge between 2nd and 3rd and 6th and 8th streets, on Howard between 4th and 5th and 13th and 14th streets, on Meeker between 6th and 8th streets, on Leon at 4th Street, on 4th Street between Meeker and the alley, on 8th Street between Grand and Howard, and two ADA ramps at Dodge and 7th streets. At her recommendation, council awarded the bid to Western Gravel Constructors, which is already in Delta working on the ADA ramps through a contract with the Colorado Department of Transportation. In some locations, the sidewalks have been damaged by tree roots. In response to concerns expressed by council, Suerth said parks supervisor Tony Bohling has agreed to provide his expertise on how to minimize damage to the tree if a portion of the root system must be removed. “We will do our best,” said Wilma Erven, director of parks, recreation and golf, “but we may have a casualty.”
Macias-Moreno to enter plea Dec. 31 Edgar Macias-Moreno, charged with the murder of Madelaine Loh in June, appeared in Delta County Court on Monday, Nov. 19. Accompanied by the public defender and an interpeter, he waived arraignment. The district attorney’s office has made an offer, the details of which were not revealed. Entry of plea was set for 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. Macias-Moreno has been held in Delta County Jail since he turned himself in to authorities on June 27, a week after he allegedly strangled Loh
to death. He put her body in her car and drove west. As daylight approached, he pulled off Interstate 15 and left Loh’s body behind some large tree stumps. He continued on to Las Vegas, using Loh’s debit and credit cards to purchase food, gas and gamble. Macias-Moreno faces a lengthy list of charges including first degree murder, second degree kidnapping, aggravated motor vehicle theft, unauthorized use of a financial transaction device, identity theft, domestic violence and abuse of a corpse.