NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
WATER DEEMED SAFE
Restaurants re-open as boil order is lifted in Paonia, B1
SPORTS
BACK IN THE SWING
HOOPS TEAMS PLAY ON
Golf course plans restoration, prepares for promising season, C1
Geyer, Van der Linde bring home the gold for Cedaredge, C3
DELTA COUNTY
FEBRUARY 27, 2019 VOL. 136, NO. 9
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Tourism tax sees 21 percent increase BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer
Meeting with Delta County Commissioners during their Feb. 19 meeting, Kelli Hepler, coordinator for Delta County Tourism Cabinet, shared highlights of the cabinet’s activities in 2018 and its plans for 2019. “In 2018 we responded to a growing interest for outdoor recreation,” Hepler said. “After launching a number of social media apps and campaigns to showcase the recreational assets that dot the landscape of Delta County, there was an almost immediate increase in the data on our social media channels. “Partnerships with local chambers, BLM, the Colorado Tourism Office, arts groups and entrepreneurs have improved and the benefits from these relationships have been reflected in the increase of lodging tax. We realized a 21 percent increase in the tax collections and, for the first time since the tax was approved in 1988, the cabinet saw the collections go over $100,000 to $104,887,” Hepler said. In addition to the increase in lodging tax, Hepler cited
other accomplishments for Delta County: two new wineries and a brewery were opened in the county; a CRAFT grant was received for the Grand Mesa National Scenic and Historic Byway; the City of Delta received a CRAFT 201 grant, including a mentor, for marketing and promotion; an agritourism group was started in Cedaredge; the cabinet supported the Colorado Creative Corridor; and a star gazing picnic program was launched in Crawford. Hepler said the cabinet will capitalize on the momentum from 2018 in 2019 by increasing and improving its branding voice through video, social media, media familiarization trips, and training of front line staff. They will aim their messages to a younger audience and be more mindful of photographers in their tourism mix. Plans are underway to apply for specialized training in 2020 from the Colorado Tourism Office to enable Delta County communities to be on the cutting edge for future tourism efforts and branding the county in a manner consistent with its local character, Hepler said.
Jones’ defense keys in on collection of evidence BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Heather Jones, accused of second degree murder in the death of Paonia resident Ryan Redifer, is expected to stand trial in early April. In advance of her trial, a hearing on a defense motion to dismiss based on improper police procedures was held in Delta District Court on Feb. 26. Defense attorney Brandon Luna contends Paonia police officers and sheriff ’s deputies failed to preserve exulpatory evidence — evidence that could convince a jury that Jones is not guilty. The court heard from law enforcement witnesses about how they collected evidence from the scene of the shooting in January 2018. Jones allegedly shot Redifer as he was entering his home, then called 911. Body camera video, still photos and documents were admitted as exhibits during the hearing. The focus of the hearing, however, was an 18page report formulated by an expert in the field of crime scene reconstruction and death investigations. Jonathan Priest was questioned via telephone, first by defense attorney Brandon Luna and then by district attorney Dan Hotsenpiller. Luna focused on four pieces of evidence he contends were not properly handled by investigators. Of specific note were a backpack and a Bible that Priest said could be examined to help determine
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Back Page ................... D6 Business .......................A10 Church ........................... D4 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D2-3 North Fork Times ........B1-3 Obituaries ......................B8 School Zone .................. A6 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ..........................C3-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-2 TV Listings ..................B4-5
trajectory of the two bullets that were allegedly fired by Heather Jones. A T-shirt reportedly worn by Redifer was also brought up. Although Priest had not an opportunity to examine the T-shirt in person, he said “bullet swipe” from holes in the T-shirt could be used to determine directionality of the rounds. Luna also questioned Priest about a window into the home, following up on a defense theory that because Redifer entered his own home through a window, Jones could easily have assumed he was an intruder. Hotsenpiller quickly seized on that statement, demanding to know where it was ever reported Redifer came in through a window. Early in the hearing, a sheriff ’s deputy said he understood Redifer and Jones had said the shooting was accidental. When he arrived on the scene, Chief Neil Ferguson said he was focused on delivering medical aid to Redifer, who he testifed was yelling and screaming in pain. “She shot me,” Ferguson reported Redifer as saying. After considering the four key points of evidence in question, Judge Stephen Schultz agreed with the DA’s office that dismissal was a “drastic remedy.” Mere failure to investigate does not consistute suppression of evidence, he said.
Gunnison River Basin Time Series Snowpack Summary Pct of Normal: 122% Pct of Avg: 113% Pct of Last Year: 189% Pct of Peak: 92% Normal Peak Date: Apr 06
Graphics courtesy the Natural Resource Conservation Service
Optimistic water outlook
With about a month left to accumulate snowpack, the outlook for this year’s water supply is looking good. As of Feb. 25, the SNOTEL monitoring system operated by the National Resource Conservation Service was showing snowpack, and the water equivalent, at above-average levels across the state. In the Gunnison River Basin, it is 122 percent of normal and about 189 percent of last year. Interestingly, the system shows that 2016 was basically a normal year, 2017 was an exceptionally heavy snow year, 2018 was an exceptionally low snow year and 2019 is above normal. The above graph compares the accumulation of snow over a season for last year, this year and the median. By early April the snowpack begins to drop, marking the beginning of spring runoff.
City, police department turn attention to animal control BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Animal control, the animal shelter and feral cats dominated the conversation during a Delta City Council work session on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Delta Police Chief Luke Fedler introduced Mark Bowen, the new code enforcement/animal control officer who’s been on the job for about six weeks. In that short amount of time, the full-time position has been moved from community development back into the police department. Bowen is now wearing a full uniform, carries a badge and proper identification, and is equipped with self-defense tools and a handheld radio so he can be contacted by dispatch. Animal licensing is also being handled at the police department. “We are being much more attentive to animal control issues,” the chief noted. The blotter issued weekly by the police department reinforces that statement. But the city is faced with complex issues that are going to take more than six weeks to solve, the chief continued. He said the city-owned animal shelter, which is operated by TAILS, does not meet state standards — even if TAILS is doing everything right. After meeting with an inspector from PACFA (Pet Animal Care Facilities Act), which licenses shelter, Fedler came up with a lengthy list of needed improvements: an isolation room for sick animals with its own sink and air flow system, additional kennels
and fencing. Plus, the boiler is on the verge of failing and must be replaced. On Feb. 7, Fedler said he and Bowen met with TAILS to discuss the current state of the shelter, proposals for expansion and new programs proposed by TAILS. Fedler brought up issues he identified during surprise visits to the facility, and TAILS is responding by modifying fencing and cleaning up the exterior. Fedler and Bowen also addressed PACFA violations reported in 2018. In one instance, PACFA inspectors determined kittens had died from disease and malnutrition. Fedler plans to follow up with more site visits. Among the new programs proposed by TAILS is a trap/ neuter/release, or TNR, procedure for feral cats. “We have a serious feral cat issue in Delta,” Fedler said. From that point on, feral cats dominated the conversation, just as it has on social media the last few weeks. A number of years ago, the city adopted regulations concerning the management of feral cat colonies. With a change in personnel at city hall, those policies have largely been abandoned. Dr. Gretta Carmichael, a local veterinarian who was present at the meetings when those regulations were discussed and adopted, said the problem has only gotten worse. “There’s no good answers,” she said. While a TNR program may reduce the cat population over
time, Dr. Carmichael said the bigger question is how much it will cost and how successful it will be in a community where many residents don’t spay or neuter their pets, much less vaccinate. As a result, upper respiratory issues and feline leukemia “run rampant” in the city. “The only way to tackle the issue is to look at the big picture and come up with a program, whether it’s TNR or euthanasia. Do your research, find out what will be best for the city, but if you do a little bit here and a little bit there, it won’t fly.” And be prepared for resistance, especially from the “crazy cat ladies” most identified with the city’s feral cat colonies. Fedler and Bowen said they’re ready and willing to address the issue, based on direction from city council. “This can has been kicked down the road for 20-plus years,” noted Mayor Ron Austin. “We need to address it as a council, as a city.” He asked code enforcement to come up with a recommendation and bring it back to council for review. Bringing the conversation back to TAILS, Delta resident Jay Stooksberry suggested city representation on the TAILS board. He and Dr. Carmichael also expressed concern about dogs and cats that are being brought to the facility from out of the area, even out of state. Both agreed it’s refreshing to have a police department and city council willing to tackle these issues.
Coffee with the Chief
School board appointee
Voters to be polled
Chief Luke Fedler and the Delta Police Department invite the community to “Coffee with the Chief” Thursday, Feb. 28, from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the Bill Heddles Recreation Center conference room. All are welcome. Chief Fedler intends to utilize this time to build open communication between the department and the community. He will be sharing the state of the department and presenting the new ALICE (active shooter) program. Coffee and pastries will be provided by the Delta Police Department.
After interviewing two candidates to fill a vacancy on the Delta County Board of Education, school board members voted to appoint Hotchkiss area resident Dan Burke to the seat. He will fill the vacancy until the November election, at which time he can elect to run for a four-year term if he chooses. Burke and his wife Bev have lived on Rogers Mesa for 36 years. He retired from the school district after 28 years as a teacher, coach, counselor, assistant principal, principal and director of testing and assessment. Before moving to Delta County he taught in Kansas for seven years.
In early March, Delta County Libraries will be conducting a public opinion poll of registered voters. The purpose of the poll is to learn voter opinions of library services, operations and facilities. The poll will also educate voters regarding the library’s budget and gauge voter support for possible mill levy increase on the November 2019 ballot. The poll will be conducted via telephone. It is expected to begin March 4 and will continue until a target number of responses are completed.