NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
SURVIVING WNV
FAIR WEEK
North Fork resident shares his story, A8
TIme to ‘stirrup some fun’ in Delta County, B4-B8
DELTA COUNTY
SPORTS CHATTING WITH CJ Cedaredge Bruins have new activities director, C6
JULY 31, 2019 VOL. 136, NO. 31
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INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Storm wallops Delta, floods drainage BY TAMIE MECK Managing Editor
A series of brief but heavy cloud bursts last Friday dropped enough rain over the Delta and Surface Creek areas to wash rocks and debris across area roads and highways, inundate Delta’s drainage system and delay the start of the Deltarado Days Round Up Rodeo. “A good looking storm,” said meteorologist Megan Stackhouse with the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Grand Junction. Stackhouse said the Delta area citizen weather observer recorded 1.25 inches of precipitation beginning at about 6:30 p.m. “Those precipitation levels are not very common,” she said. While rains continued into the night, most of the
precipitation fell within the span of less than an hour. The Cedaredge area also saw heavy rainfall during the same time period, measuring between about one-quarter to four-tenths of an inch, said Stackhouse. The Delta Police Department received no reports of injuries or property damage, said commander Jesse Cox. “Basically we directed traffic,” said Cox. “It wasn’t a huge impact on the department.” Bill Chick with the City of Delta Public Works Department said the rain created “one hell of a mess” in downtown Delta. “There was just so much water that the 30-inch storm drains couldn’t handle it.” The drains didn’t clog with debris, he said. “They just couldn’t handle it, and they’re big drains.”
Surface drainage also caused ground-level and basement flooding, said Chick. Delta County Emergency Management shared National Weather Service flood advisories and other information on social media throughout the evening and individuals posted photos of the storms and flooding. County emergency coordinator Kris Stewart said no injuries or property damage were reported as a result of the storms. In his 44 years with the department, Chick said he has never seen anything quite like it, although he recalled one storm sometime in the late 1990s that came close. “Not that quick. Not that fast,” he said. “It’s something that doesn’t happen very often and I hope it doesn’t happen again.”
Photos courtesy Michelle Trujillo
Downtown Delta’s Main Street experienced flooding Friday night after a cloudburst dumped 1.25 inches of precipitation over the area during the 84th annual Deltarado Days celebration. The deluge overwhelmed the city’s drainage system and delayed the start of the Deltarado Days Round Up Rodeo.
Paonia administrator threatens lawsuit BY TAMIE MECK Managing Editor
The Paonia board trustees held a special meeting July 30 to discuss the recent harassment complaint filed against town administrator Ken Knight, and public comments made by Knight and others at the July 23 board meeting. The meeting agenda lists two executive session items: the first to receive legal advice specific to a possible investigation of the town administrator and on his employment contract, and the second to discuss a
Kenneth Knight personnel matter involving the citizen complaint lodged against him. Executive sessions are not open to the public. Under state open meetings law, also known as “Colorado Sunshine Law,” local public bodies can receive legal advice on specific legal questions and discuss personnel matters of town employees in executive session. As reported on July 24 by the DCI, on the evening of July 19, Knight confronted Christina Patterson on Clock Road just west of Paonia over a letter she and 15 other neighbors presented to Delta County Commissioner Mark Roeber at a July 2 commissioners meeting.
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Back Page ................... D8 Business ........................ A8 Church ........................... D6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Delta County Fair ........B4-8 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D2-3 North Fork Times ........B1-3 Obituaries ..................... A6 Service Directory .......... D7 Sports ..........................C6-7 Surface Creek News ...C1-3 TV Listings ................. D4-5
The signers expressed opposition to efforts by the town to annex Price and Clock roads where they live and concern that Knight, who led discussions on the annexation, did not disclose that he owns a home at the intersection of Price and Clock roads “until prompted by a citizen.” “We are concerned about Mr. Knight’s working relationship with the developer of the [proposed] Riverbank Subdivision, which would use Price Road as its main access road. We feel that in both of these cases, he has a conflict of interest that should be investigated.” In a prepared statement, Patterson told the board on July 23 that she encountered Knight outside her home. “I said hello, and he immediately began addressing me in a loud, angry, aggressive and menacing manner,” said Patterson. A rare encounter, Patterson said she “was taken aback by this response, to put it mildly. “As the minutes passed his voice transformed from yelling into screaming,” she said. “He screamed that I had ruined his reputation, that I was a liar, and that I do not understand how city government works. This went on for a few good minutes. All the while he was aggressively pointing his finger at me and entering very close into my personal space.” Patterson said she was alone, and husband Barry Smith was out of town. “I was hoping someone would be outside in their door to hear his screaming, and that if I had to scream for assistance I would be heard,” she said. Patterson said she “felt extremely uncomfortable and threatened.” She said she told him, “Good night, Ken,” turned and walked toward
her truck when Knight “screamed at me, ‘I hope you get in an accident and f---ing die.” After reporting the incident Patterson said she stayed with neighbors because she “felt unsafe.” She called Knight’s conduct “utterly unacceptable,” and a “liability to both the trustees and the town of Paonia.” Smith said the Clock Road incident “was not a neighborhood squabble over barking dogs or bright lights or partying. This was specifically in retribution for our partici-
pation in local government.” He reminded the board of “the words he screamed at my wife as she was trying to remove herself from the situation... I can’t imagine any situation or encounter where this is an appropriate thing for our town administrator, or anyone, to scream at anybody, let alone my five-footfour wife, who was standing in the street alone in front of her own property.” Smith said he and Patterson have attended numerous meetings in recent months to gain a better understanding
of what was happening in and around their neighborhood. One concern, he said, is the proposed Riverbank Subdivision,” which could include close to 60 homes. It was at a meeting, he said, that the neighborhood learned their roads were slated for annexation. Smith said that in “thinlyveiled” comments, Knight has suggested they are liars and are libelous “while standing at this podium. In both cases, all we did was ask questions about development. Isn’t
ADMINISTRATOR TO A3
VSV case confirmed in Delta County; Fair animals will be inspected STAFF REPORT
Delta County is among the 11 Colorado counties that have confirmed cases of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA). As a result, throughout the Delta County Fair, which runs through Saturday, Aug. 10, a veterinarian will be on site to inspect all livestock animals prior to unloading, said Delta County Fair Board president Ryan. An outbreak of VSV in Colorado last occurred in 2004, according to the CDA. A single case of the virus had been confirmed in Delta County as of July 29, but the fair board is taking all precautions to prevent its spread, said Bates. “We’re keeping the animals’ welfare in mind.” “We understand that the VSV outbreak and quarantines are impacting the ability for people to bring their horses and livestock to fairs and shows,” said Dr. Keith
Roehr, Colorado State Veterinarian. “The quarantines and hold orders must be followed, however, for the health and protection of all equine and livestock in Colorado.” The Colorado Department of Agriculture has confirmed at least 171 VSV cases Colorado since July 3, including in Adams, Archuleta, Boulder, Broomfield, Delta, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Montezuma, Morgan and Weld counties. All confirmed cases have been in horses, with the exception of one bovine case in Boulder County. There are no USDA approved vaccines for VSV. Vesicular stomatitis is a viral disease which primarily affects horses and cattle, and occasionally swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and alpacas. The transmission process of VSV is not completely understood, but includes insect vectors such as black flies, sand flies, and biting midges. The incubation period ranges
from 2-8 days. In affected livestock, VSV causes blister-like lesions to form in the mouth and on the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, hooves, and teats. These blisters swell and break, leaving raw tissue that is so painful that infected animals generally refuse to eat and drink and show signs of lameness. Severe weight loss usually follows, and in dairy cows a severe drop in milk production commonly occurs. Affected dairy cattle can appear to be normal and will continue to eat about half of their feed intake. Clinical signs include vesicles, erosions, and sloughing of the skin on the muzzle, tongue, ears, teats, and coronary bands. Often excessive salivation is the first sign of disease, along with a reluctance to eat or drink. Lameness and weight loss may follow. Humans may become CASE CONFIRMED TO A3
Traffic alert
Fatal crash
Swim beach remains closed
On Tuesday, Aug. 6, the City of Delta public works department will begin prep work for resurfacing along the entire stretch of Stafford Road between Highway 92 and East 3rd Street. While the street won’t be closed, travelers can expect lane closures, possible brief delays, and detours. The project is expected to take two weeks.
On the evening of July 25, a 57year-old Montrose male, Charles Burnen Cantrell, died in a motorcycle accident. The incident occurred on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management north of Montrose on Elephant Skin Trail. The case is under investigation by the Montrose County Coroner’s Office of Medical Investigation and the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the extent of injuries and the manner of death is accidental.
The swim beach at Sweitzer Lake State Park remains closed due to unsafe evels of E. coli bacteria. The beach was closed July 18 and park staff is testing the water daily. The beach will open when the bacteria drops to a safe level. The level will drop naturally; there is nothing that can be done to influence a decline. The lake remains open to other water activities such as boating, water skiing, paddleboarding and fishing. Only the area at the swim beach is closed. Located just south of Delta, Sweitzer is filled with agricultural irrigation run-off water. An increase in E. coli levels can result from urban and agricultural run-off, and from concentrations of wildlife – primarily waterfowl.