NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
PLANNING AHEAD Growth is knocking at the door in Paonia, B1
SPORTS
SELL-OUT
Music lovers fill Grand Mesa Arts Center for John Oates concert, B7
DELTA COUNTY
COURTSIDE
Delta boys, girls win First Colorado National Bank titles, B3 JANUARY 2, 2019 VOL. 136, NO. 1
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INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Fee changes affect walk-ins at state parks BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
As of Jan. 1, individuals walking into Crawford or Sweitzer Lake state parks will be subject to a fee of $4 for a daily pass. The fee will not apply to those entering the park in a motor vehicle with a valid daily pass, annual parks pass or the new hang tag that’s being issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife in 2019. The revised fee structure will see the cost of a daily vehicle pass increase from $7 to $8. Annual passes are $80 or $120. The new fees are the result of Senate Bill 18-143, passed by the Colorado General Assembly in May. This is the first increase to park entry fees since 2010. According to a press release issued by CPW, the revised fee
structure allows the agency to address increased operating costs, provide adequate staffing, and fulfill property maintenance needs to continue providing quality programs and services while managing an increasing number of park users. A complete fee schedule can be found at cpw.state. co.us. Ed Keleher, manager of the Crawford and Sweitzer Lake state parks, said the individual pass will affect Sweitzer more than Crawford. Users have become accustomed to using a pullout on E Road, then walking a short distance, to avoid entrance fees at Sweitzer Lake. He anticipates signage alerting users to the new fees to be in place by spring, when visitation picks up. Photo by Pat Sunderland Keleher said the fee increase With the implementation of an individual daily pass, priced at $4, individuals will no longer is needed to fund capital be able to walk in to Sweitzer Lake (pictured) or Crawford state parks. Colorado Parks and FEE CHANGES TO A3 Wildlife has adopted a revised fee structure to cover increasing costs.
High school students find their voices BY NATHAN CLAY Contributing Writer
A change is occurring around us. A world influencer is growing right under our noses. There are forces at work we can not yet fully comprehend. A trend that flies in the face of conventional wisdom is burgeoning before our eyes. This movement may alarm some, it may downright frighten others, and may be very hard for many to believe to be true. This looming change is simple to put into words, but difficult to capture in nature. The idea behind it is really quite simple. As simple as this: the young folks
do care. That’s right — young men and women all around us care about society. Even the millenials. Students around our country are becoming more engaged with their communities. Involvement and activism among young people are the highest they’ve been in a very long time. Delta County students are also making their voices heard. Among the many efforts that have recently been undertaken by the youth in our community are two of special note — the Delta County Student Advisory Committee and the Delta Youth Council.
The Student Advisory Committee is made up of high school students from across Delta County. It is tasked with being a visible part of, and having a voice in, Delta County School District 50J. To be involved with the committee, students must apply to the district office and be accepted. There are a handful of students from each of the four traditional high schools and the Vision Charter Academy. Each school group is active on its own campus, as well as in the greater district. The
Staff Writer
Photo by Pat Sunderland
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Back Page .................... C6 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................C4 Classifieds ...................C1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals .............................C3 North Fork Times ........B1-2 Obituaries ......................B6 School Zone ............... A5-6 Service Directory ......... C5 Sports .............................B3 Surface Creek News ...B7-8 TV Listings ..................B4-5
ing and is far more nuanced and complex than they had perhaps perceived. Over time, this conversation will grow and become more layered and meaningful. The hope from both sides is certainly that the Student Advisory Committee will become an integral voice within the district and create a long lasting and mutually beneficial relationship. Delta’s Youth Council is much the same kind of endeavor. A group of about a dozen young adults from DHS YOUTH COUNCILS TO A3
Doug Atchley wraps up two terms as county commissioner BY ANNETTE BRAND
To relieve the anxiety of finals, the Delta Youth Council set up stations where students could make stress balls using a balloon and some flour. “People were playing with them, laughing and releasing the endorphins you need when you’re stressed,” said Claire Corbasson, mayor of the Delta Youth Council. She is also involved in Student Council. “Our biggest goal is to improve the experience of the student body at DHS,” she said.
individual school groups may have goals that vary slightly from one another, but their overarching goal is to create a robust dialogue within the student body. Then, to form that peer dialogue into a monthly presentation to 50J’s school board and staff. The school board will be given an “inside eye,” with a frank and honest look into the lives and minds of their students, produced by the students themselves. The youngsters, in turn, may learn that life at the district office can be very challeng-
“It’s been enjoyable and very challenging, a good way to serve the people of the county,” Doug Atchley said as his two terms as Delta County commissioner draw to an end. “Eight years went by very quickly. “Delta County has a lot of great people and it’s more enjoyable when you are working with the very, very competent people that work for the county. “We’ve had differences, but working with outstanding people makes the commissioners’ jobs easier,”Atchley said. After spending 40 years in banking and business, Atchley retired in 2007. He spent three years being retired then sought a way to serve the people of Delta County. “Everyone ought to do it at least once in their life,” Atchley said. “My personal philosophy is that we have no assurance of a tomorrow, so we should do the best we possibly can, in the circum-
Alcohol server training offered
Certified officers from the State of Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division are offering free alcohol server responsibility training at Bill Heddles Recreation Center in Delta Thursday, Jan. 10. The city is hosting this training session from 10 a.m. to noon. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact the city clerk at 874-7566 for details and a registration form. The registration deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 8. This training will cover server responsibility, ID checking and enforcement, recognizing signs of intoxication, and guarding against over-service. This will be a great opportunity to refresh yourselves, your staffs or your volunteers on their responsibilities while serving or selling alcohol to the public. Also at this class, officers from the state Liquor Enforcement Division will explain the new laws that go into effect Jan. 1 and how those laws affect the different types of license holders.
stances we are in, to enhance the quality of life in Delta County. “Commissioner is really a serving job.” When he became commissioner, the county and the country were still in the throes of the recession of 2008. “And the recession continued for eight years,” Atchley said. “Two coal mines closed. There was reformation in the retail world, people were purchasing less, and that affects local business and commerce. “The county was managed very thoughtfully and fiscally conservative during that time. “Delta County has for years avoided leveraged debt, has for years budgeted for reserve funds, and, though challenging during these years, Delta County remained debt free.” Asked whether Commissioners Mark Roeber, Don Suppes, and incoming Mike Lane will still be working on matters the current commissioners have dealt with, Atchley said, “Government takes longer. Many previous com-
missioners have worked on solutions we use today. “Our current commissioners approved the update of the Master Plan this year. The previous master plan had been passed in 1996. The guidance in the 2018 Master Plan is the gateway to what Delta County will look like in the future. “We are moving forward to address challenges for which the nation, western Colorado and the world will be seeking solutions. We will be studying food and how it relates to American agriculture, acknowledging that now we are blessed with an abundant food supply. “We will be seeking innovations regarding energy — the United States uses a lot of energy. There is a growing population worldwide and we will need all possible sources of energy because of that growth, including hydro.” Atchley continued, “And water, in western Colorado and Delta County we will have to be aware of the availATCHLEY TO A3
CDOT update
Charges amended
Work will resume on Jan. 2 for the ADA ramp improvements on Highway 348. Motorists can expect east and westbound single lane closures with possible traffic stops and minimal delays. Work this week will consist of removal, forming and pouring for the ADA ramps.
On Dec. 18, 7th Judicial District Attorney Dan Hotsenpiller filed an amended complaint against Heather Jones to include a fourth count of murder in the second degree. Jones was previously charged with first degree assault, second degree assault and violation of a protection order in connection with a shooting incident in Paonia on Jan. 12, 2018. The victim, Ryan Redifer, 54, subsequently died as a result of his injuries. A pretrial conference has been set for March 4.