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50¢ Twelfth Night bonfire lights the sky
Vol. 127, No. 2 — January 13, 2010
www.deltacountyindependent.com
See Surface Creek News on pages 1-2C.
Hotchkiss girl places sixth in National Junior Olympics See The North Fork Times on pages 1-3B.
DOLA reps tour truck route By Pat Sunderland Managing Editor
Two council seats to be filled in April 6 election At the municipal election scheduled for April 6, Delta voters will elect two council members, one from District C and a council member at-large. Kay Carlquist currently holds the District C seat; Bill Seuell is the at-large council member. Both have said they are undecided about seeking re-election. Persons wishing to run for these positions must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years of age on the date of election, and a registered elector. Candidates must have resided continuously in the City of Delta for at least 12 consecutive months prior to their election. District C candidates must reside within that district; at-large candidates may reside anywhere within the city. Nomination petitions will be available from the city clerk, 360 Main Street, beginning Jan. 26. Signed petitions must be returned to the clerk’s office by 5 p.m. Feb. 16. Anyone desiring to vote in the upcoming election who has not registered to vote must do so by Monday, March 8. Register at the office of the county clerk and recorder at the Delta County Courthouse. The April 6 election will be conducted by mail ballot. For more information, contact city clerk Jolene Nelson at 874-7914.
Vandals start fires in city restrooms The city restrooms near Fort Uncompahgre were reportedly damaged when the toilet paper dispensers in both the men’s and women’s rooms were set on fire, causing the dispensers to melt. Damages are estimated about $250. This incident was reported shortly before 2 p.m. on Jan. 9. If you have information about this crime, call Crime Stoppers at 874-8810 or Delta Police Department at 874-7676.
Council sifts through 50+ manager resumes The Delta City Council will meet in executive session Tuesday, Jan. 19, to review the applications for city manager received by the deadline of Dec. 30. Mayor Mary Cooper said council members planned to meet with Fred Rainguet, a professional employment recruiter employed by the city, and try to narrow the list to fewer than 10. “There are some incredibly qualified applicants,” Cooper noted.
Modular home suffers fire and smoke damage A modular home located at 16401 Bull Mesa Road near Cedaredge suffered extensive fire and smoke damage Jan. 5. The Delta County Sheriff’s Office reports the home is owned by Jenny and Jeremiah Brooks but had been unoccupied since November. The home was for sale and the owners had just accepted an offer. The sheriff’s office said the blaze does not appear to be suspicious.
Weekend Forecast
Mostly Sunny Delta Date ............. H
Cedaredge L P
Date ............. H
L P
Jan. 5 .......25 4 .00 Jan. 5 .......34 11 Jan. 6 .......26 10 .00 Jan. 6 .......35 22 Jan. 7 .......29 1 .00 Jan. 7 .......30 2 Jan. 8 .......25 -1 .00 Jan. 8 .......25 7 Jan. 9 .......29 -4 .00 Jan. 9 .......31 10 Jan. 10......24 5 .00 Jan. 10......33 17 Jan. 11 ......29 2 .00 Jan. 11 ......34 20 by CO AgMet Network
by John Cairns
Accent ................... 4A Activities ................ 5A Agriculture ............. 7A Church .................. 5D Classifieds .......... 1-2D Editorial ................. 2A Legals ................ 3-6C
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Paonia Date ............. H
L P
Jan. 5 .......33 13 .00 Jan. 6 .......34 16 .00 Jan. 7 .......30 9 .00 Jan. 8 .......31 6 .00 Jan. 9 .......32 4 .00 Jan. 10......35 8 .00 Jan. 11 ......41 10 .00 by Bob Lund
North Fork Times 1-3B Obituaries .............. 7C School Zone ......... 6A Sports ................ 4-6B Surface Creek .... 1-2C TV Listings ......... 3-4D
With millions of dollars on the line, the City of Delta strived to put its best foot forward Tuesday, Jan. 12, for a tour of the alternate truck route by five Department of Local Affairs staff members. “It’s our one chance to show this project off as a project that Delta is committed to and excited about doing,” assistant manager Steve Glammeyer said during a planning session with city council members last week. The city is one of seven communities in the running for energy and mineral impact funds to help fund the $26.8 million project. On Feb. 1, Glammeyer, several council members, assistant city manager Glen Black and citizen Gerald Roberts will travel to Denver for a formal presentation to the DOLA advisory board, which will then recommend how $17 million in grant funds should be allocated. “Feb. 1 is critical to our chance for funding, but this visit is just as critical,” Glammeyer said.
Pat Sunderland/DCI
Fiery sunset The setting sun created a dramatic backdrop to Confluence Lake last week. The sun drops behind Uncompahgre Plateau a minute or two later each day. Although the days are getting longer, winter is keeping a firm grasp on western Colorado with daytime temperatures rarely topping the freezing mark.
See Truck route, Page 3A
GOCO awards $200,000 fairground grant By Hank Lohmeyer Staff Writer
The county has received notice of an up to $200,000 grant award it may use for purchase of property to expand the county fairgrounds in Hotchkiss. “I am pleased to inform you that the (Great Outdoor Colorado board) awarded funding for your project at a grant amount of up to $200,000,” the county was informed in a letter from GOCO last month. The county is negotiating for the possible purchase of additional property which has become available bordering the fairgrounds and which could be used for future expansion for parking and other needs. “What exactly will be done with this property if it is acquired is pretty much a blank slate at this
time,” said Jeff Emmons, assistant county administrator. A steering committee which created the county’s fairgrounds master plan document would be reactivated to look at future use of any additional property that is acquired. Emmons explained that the county’s grant request was favored by GOCO because if some additional property can be bought it will enable the fairgrounds to be expanded and upgraded in several areas identified as priorities in the “Delta County Fairgrounds 10-Year Vision Plan.” In 2008, the County Fair Board and the Commissioners approved a ten-year “vision plan” to guide future expansion and development at the fairgrounds. That document lists the following priorities for the fairgrounds facility:
• Additional site access from the east along Highway 92 and preservation of the historic arch on the Bridge Street entrance; • Improvements to drainage and utility infrastructure; • Update the concessions stand at the ball fields, and add and update rest room facilities there to include showers; • Upgrades to the equestrian facilities including new horse stalls and pull-through trailer parking; • Improvements to existing parking and realignment of the internal roadways; • Improve camping facilities with general utility upgrades and try to acquire river frontage or river access; • Make improvements to Heritage Hall with the addition of stor-
age, and with kitchen or warm-up kitchen facilities; • Construct RV parking sites with hook-ups for electricity and water; • Build new playground and park facilities, possibly to include a picnic pavilion, and; • Upgrades to the ball fields. The county has other GOCO grant money and matching funds in hand now to build the restroom/ shower facilities at the ball fields. Emmons said that construction of those additions will probably await a review of the steering committee as it reevaluated the ten year Vision Plan. He added that he doesn’t think it likely that the restroom/shower facilities currently planned would be altered or moved from the current proposed location.
Graduation rates continue upward trend By Pat Sunderland Managing Editor
Graduation rates at Delta High School showed a dramatic improvement in 2008-09, topping 92 percent the first time in recent memory. The “completion” rate of 94.4 percent is even higher, and underscores a strong partnership with Delta Opportunity School, DHS principal Kurt Clay said. “Graduates” are those who receive an official diploma and graduate with their classmates. The completion rate incorporates those who earn GEDs, as well as students who have dropped out of school but re-enroll at Delta Opportunity School and earn a diploma. “We’re building a strong program, where kids who are at risk of not graduating can come,” said Delaine Hudson, principal of the Delta Opportunity School. Staff members work one-on-one with the students to develop a plan where they can successfully obtain a high school diploma. A handful of students are working on GEDs. That individualized attention is reflected on Delta High School’s completion rate. Instead of dropping out, the students can transfer to the Delta Opportunity School and continue their work in a non-traditional format which may dovetail better with work and family demands. “Our success goes hand in hand with Delta Opportunity School,” Clay said. “Delta High School is not the best place for every single student, so having the opportunity to ‘rescue’ some of those kids and teach them a little differently makes a huge differ-
ence.” Delta Opportunity School has a graduation rate of just 43 percent, but has seen that rate climb by double digits for the past four years. The school has also gone from serving 40 students to maxing out at 95. “We’re getting a lot of the kids we wouldn’t have gotten before,” Clay said. He also credits the high school counselors who meet with the seniors as many as five to seven times throughout the year to make sure they’re on track and getting the grades they need to graduate. In Delta County, Delta High School was one of seven schools with improved graduation rates. Two
schools, Hotchkiss High School and Paonia High School, declined but still
topped the district average of 86.2 percent.
GRADUATION RATES Cedaredge High School Delta High School Delta Opportunity School Hotchkiss High School Lamborn Vision School Paonia High School Delta Vision North Fork Vision Surface Creek Vision Vision Home & Community DISTRICT
04-05 91.9% 82.4% 11.1% 93.2% NA 100% NA NA NA 62.3% 83.1%
05-06 85.9% 77.6% 7.1% 92.9% NA 90.6% NA NA NA 72.7% 79.5%
06-07 07-08 08-09 91.2% 84.3% 94.9% 82.6% 87.4% 92.4% 20.0% 31.1% 43.1% 93.8% 97.1% 95.0% 100% 60% 100% 95.0% 95.6% 88.9% 88.6% 89.5% 93.8% 38.5% 55.6% 66.7% 84.6% 85.7% 85.7% Reported by school 81.9% 82.8% 86.2%
Kevin Lucy will run for coroner By Pat Sunderland Managing Editor
Kevin Lucy has announced his candidacy as Republican candidate for Delta County coroner. For the past eight years, Lucy has served as deputy coroner under Chalmer Swain. The last four years he was chief deputy coroner. Lucy was raised in Delta and has been involved in the funeral industry for 30 years. He began his career at Roberts Funeral Home in Delta when he was in high school. At that time, owner Wayne Roberts was the county coroner. After attending Adams State Col-
lege in Alamosa and Central Commu- Lucy said. “Experience in these situnity College in Hastings, Neb., Lucy ations is very much appreciated by was employed by Snyder Memorials family members who have lost a as a production manager. He also loved one.” worked in sales as a memorialist. He Lucy has also worked with law is currently a funeral director at Tay- enforcement agencies, ambulance lor Funeral Service. crews and volunteers with He has taken advanthe fire departments, all tage of continuing eduof whom form the “team” cation offered by the that is available to resiColorado Coroners dents and motorists when Association. a death occurs. “The years I have “I would be honored spent working with peoand proud to remain a part ple who have suffered of our local team and serve a loss have given me a as Delta County coroner,” great deal of experience,” Lucy said. Kevin Lucy