NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
TO START FEB. 1 Town of Paonia names new administrator, B1
SPORTS
DETOUR AHEAD
PEEWEE EXHIBITION
Bridge work to close Cedaredge road for up to four months, C1
Youth take to the mat during Delta-Palisade dual, B6
DELTA COUNTY
JANUARY 18, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 3
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
DHS wins state engineering challenge BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Delta High School has been named the Colorado state winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, a program that encourages teachers and students to solve real-world issues in their community
using classroom skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). “I’m really proud of all these guys,” said physics instructor Ben Magtutu. “This is excellent stuff.” Delta High School is among the nation’s 51 state winners
(representing all 50 states and Washington, D.C.) and will receive $25,000 in technology with a chance to become one
of the 10 national finalists. The DHS students gained nationwide attention for their proposal to use STEAM skills
to design soundproof walls to absorb excess noise in the cafeteria. SAMSUNG CHALLENGE TO A3
Stormy Griffith charged by feds BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
As a trial date for Stormy and Stacy Griffith approaches in Delta District Court, Stormy Griffith has been placed in federal custody for many of the same charges levied in Delta County. In Delta County, the Griffiths are charged with cultivation of marijuana (more than 30 plants); possession with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell or distribute marijuana or marijuana concentrate; processing or manufacturing marijuana and marijuana concentrate; possession of a Schedule I controlled substance; distribution of marijuana concentrate; money laundering; and two charges related to marijuana excise tax returns. The charges are the result of alleged extensive marijuana grow operations in the Cedaredge area. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency sought additional charges against Stormy, including conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance,
possession with intent to distribute and felon in possession of a firearm. Griffith is now in federal custody. In preparation for the District Court trial scheduled to begin March 31, Judge Steven Schultz conducted a motions hearing Tuesday morning. Stacy was present with her attorney, Brandon Luna, but Stormy was not. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service, although it’s unclear where. Because Stormy was unable to participate in the proceedings, both the judge and his attorney were reluctant to proceed. The hearing was reset for March 10 and the deputy district attorney was asked to ensure Stormy Griffith would be transported from wherever he is being held. Regardless of the additional charges against Stormy Griffith, and motions regarding his legal representation, the judge said he doesn’t want to affect Stacy’s rights to a fair hearing. A full day was set aside to hear a variety of pending motions, with or without Stormy’s participation.
Heirlooms is on the move
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Sandra Barie, a Heirlooms for Hospice volunteer, arranges a clothing display at Heirlooms’ new location at 532 Main Street. The commercial building was recently renovated by Pam and Shane Atchley; Heirlooms finished the interior with repurposed wood and crates. Store manager Amanda Twamley said the move resulted in an additional 1,000 square feet of very usable space, not only for merchandise but also for sorting and processing donations. There’s ample parking behind the store, which features gently used clothing, home décor, home furnishings, kitchen goods, jewelry and vintage items. “Everything we did before, only bigger and better,” said Wendy Hayduk, who works with the Heirlooms for Hospice stores in Delta, Montrose and Grand Junction to create attractive displays. Proceeds from all three stores support the mission of HopeWest, which provides support for those facing serious illness and grief in our communities. The stores are staffed primarily by volunteers. The Delta Heirlooms has just three paid employees, including Twamley and assistant manager Justin Medill.
County combats bias against grazing BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
Delta County Commissioners have released an official position on the BLM’s proposed management prescriptions for the Gunnison sage grouse (GSG). In general, the county’s comments, based on extensive citations from scientific literature, seek to expose and correct a bias against livestock grazing seen in the BLM proposals. The commissioners say that one of the proposed alternatives “presumes that grazing is inherently bad for the Gunnison sage grouse and fails to recognize that properly managed grazing is consistent with conservation of the species.” The county’s comments add, “To further clarify, it is scientifically accepted and recognized by (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) that livestock grazing is compatible and can even enhance sage grouse habitat.” In another passage the commissioners say “concerns exist in this document where
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Back Page ................... D8 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Health & Fitness .........C3-6 Legals ......................... D3-5 North Fork Times ........B1-3 Obituaries ..................... A6 School Zone .................. A5 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports ..........................B5-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-3 TV Listings ..................B4-5
BLM states that livestock grazing is a threat class on [BLM managed public] lands,” and then they go on to advise, “BLM needs to be cautious when including broad statements that are derogative towards grazing and assuming adverse impact from the continuation of [grazing] activity.” According to commissioners, the BLM document also uses ill-defined and unscientific terminology in “a veiled attempt to once again concentrate on a listing factor [i.e. grazing] that is not a major threat” to the Gunnison sage grouse. The county’s 20-page comment letter, signed by all three commissioners and dated Jan. 9, was written with major input from county administrator Robbie LeValley, a range management specialist. It is the county’s official statement on the BLM’s GSG draft management plan. In 2014 following a federal listing of GSG as a “threatened species,” the BLM undertook to develop management policies for the bird
across its entire public lands range including 10 Colorado counties and one Utah county. The result of the agency’s undertaking is the “Gunnison Sage Grouse Rangewide Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement” (RMP) that the commissioners issued their official comments on earlier this month. The BLM, quoting other sources, states that “the primary threat to, and principal cause of past decline of, the Gunnison sage grouse population [is] the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat.” But the Delta County position statement takes strong exception to inferences and statements that livestock grazing is the principle cause of GSG habitat loss. The commissioners’ letter states, “It is important to mention when there were significantly more grouse on the landscape, there were [also] substantially more livestock and for longer periods of time. In addition, where there is no livestock grazing permitted, there has been no increase in [GSG] population
levels.” The county’s comment letter also notes that a review of scientific literature “found no experimental research that demonstrates that grazing is responsible for reduction in sage grouse numbers.” A BLM idea for prohibiting all surface activity within four miles of a GSG nesting site “is in fact arbitrary with no consideration of geography or topography,” the county position states and adds, “Management and environmental conditions should be considered as opposed to relying on an assumption which is not scientifically supported.” One of the Delta County Commissioners’ foundational principles on public lands issues has long been the doctrine of multiple use. The county finds that the BLM’s management proposals for the bird fall short on that count by stating, “Establishing GSG habitat as the dominant or primary land use ... reduces BLM’s ability to address requirements for multiple use on these lands” The county’s other bedrock
principle on public lands policy is protection of private property rights. Almost all human activity including making fences, driving vehicles, finding and using energy, building houses and growing crops has been said to have some potential negative impacts on Gunnison sage grouse. BLM estimates of employment that would be lost by forced grazing reductions are too low because “sole- and owneroperators do not show up [in job statistics used] and they are the majority of permit holders and contributors to ag based counties.” The BLM economic models used are seen as outdated and not reflecting actual impacts to livestock business employment. Livestock is a major component of Delta County’s largest industry — agriculture. “Delta County continues to support full multipleuse opportunities balanced against the positive and negative impacts and the protection of private property rights within the GSG area,” state the commissioners. GRAZING TO A3
Chamber banquet planned
Posting site
Shakelee joins DSCO
The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual member banquet will be held Friday, Feb. 17, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Bill Heddles Recreation Center. Come learn a bit about the “Magic of the Chamber” and celebrate the Business of the Year, NonProfit of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year. Tickets are only $25 and includes a cocktail, a variety of mouthwatering hors d’oeuvres and dessert. The entertainment for the evening will be provided by Ty Gallenbeck. Please stop by the chamber to pick up a nomination form for Business of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year; all nominations are due back by Jan. 27. For more information call the chamber at 874-8616.
As required by law, a meeting posting site has been officially designated for the City of Delta. The bulletin board on the south window of Delta City Hall remains the primary posting site for official notices. Upcoming meetings are also listed on the city website, www. cityofdelta.net and at Bill Heddles Recreation Center.
Gates Shaklee, a former employee of the Hotchkiss Marshal’s Office, has joined the Delta County Sheriff’s Office. Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee said the department is going through some reorganization, due in part to the appointment of Luke Fedler as chief of police for the City of Delta. In addition, Sgt. Chad Beach and Kate LaPlante retired at the beginning of the year. LaPlante had worked in detentions for 25 years. To fill the position vacated by Chad Beach, Sheriff McKee said he is taking letters of interest from deputies. After that position is filled, he will address the investigator vacancy.