NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
ON TO PHASE II
SCHOOL’S IN SESSION
PET CARE GUIDE
Exterior renovation is nearly done at Crawford Town Hall, B3
Cedaredge Elementary combines the best of the old and the new, C1
Give your animals the care and compassion they deserve, Inside
DELTA COUNTY
AUGUST 22, 2012 VOL. 129, NO. 34
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
TCAP scores exceed state averages BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Gone are the CSAPs. As the state transitions to “common core” assessments, students will be taking TCAPs, short for the 2012 Transitional Colorado Assessment Program. The goal is the same — to measure student mastery of reading, writing, math and science. When the new assessments are rolled out in a couple of years, social studies will also be tested and more grade levels will be required to participate. TCAP results were released earlier this month. Across the state, student achievement held steady. In Delta County, district test scores exceeded the state averages in all but four areas.
Kurt Clay, school district spokesman, said fourth grade scores were down across the state, and in Delta County they dropped as well, particularly in reading. “Student growth wasn’t quite where we wanted it to be,” he said. The district continues its focus on high school math, where test scores are improving but drop dramatically as students move into high school. A shift in curriculum at the middle and high school levels will hopefully address this problem, Clay said. Rather than just knowing the algorithm, or procedure for solving a mathematical problem, students need to better understand what the question is asking and how to approach the solution.
But, the school district is reluctant to make too many changes in the math curriulum because there is still discussion at the national level
about how geometry, algebra and other math subjects will be tested in the future. In science, district scores exceed state averages in the
fifth drop 10th It
and eighth grades, but below the state in the grade. will take some time to TCAPs TO A6
Commissioners set hearing on hen house The Delta County Board of County Commissioners has announced that it will be reopening the specific development applications of Western Slope Layers and Rocky Mountain Layers to take additional evidence on the record. The commissioners will hold a public hearing on the matter on Sept. 4 at 2 p.m. in Room 234 of the Delta County Courthouse building. On July 5, the district court issued a ruling finding four specific areas where the court stated evidence was lacking in the record for the commissioners’ conditional approval of the two poultry operations. The court remanded the applications back to the commissioners to make additional findings on the four specific areas and issue a new decision. These four areas are: 1)
whether the operations were compatible with the neighborhood; 2) whether the operations would have a negative impact on neighboring property values; 3) whether the conditions imposed were sufficient to mitigate environmental concerns; and 4) whether the county staff was able to monitor and enforce the conditions of approval. The purpose of the public hearing is to take additional evidence to address these concerns. Written comments may be submitted to the Delta County Commissioners at 501 Palmer St., Suite 227, Delta, CO 81416, or by e-mail to commissioners@deltacounty. com, but should be limited to addressing the four areas of concern in the court’s ruling. Comments received after the close of the public hearing will not be considered.
Mike Mason enters county race as write-in BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
Mike Mason has entered the District #3 county commissioner race as a write-in candidate. “I registered as a candidate for county commissioner prior to the July deadline. I am the only valid write-in candidate for commissioner,” Mason said in an e-mail to the DCI. Mason, a Republican, ran for District #2 commissioner in 2008 after successfully petitioning onto the ballot. The realignment of commissioner districts following the 2010 census placed the Masons’ Cedar Mesa farm in District #3. Mason is a conservative and a strong advocate for Mike private property
rights. His political platform includes small government, opposition to Agenda 21, and the right to farm. A statement on his website says, “Jobs are not created by government but can and have been killed by Delta County resulting in hundreds of lost jobs. Jobs are created by people, farmers, ranchers, private businesses. Mike will remove as many obstacles (regulations) as possible so that entrepreneurs are free to create jobs.” Mason has lived near Cedaredge since 1977 where he and his wife, Judy, have their farm. He has a degree in engineering physics from the University of Illinois and previously worked in the aerospace Mason industry.
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Youthful enthusiasm Students rush onto the new playground at Cedaredge Elementary School during an open house celebrating the dedication of the school last week. Hopefully they’ll maintain their enthusiasm throughout the 2012-13 school year, which began on Monday. For complete coverage of the open house at CES, turn to pages C1-5.
Delta County logs fourth case of West Nile Virus The Delta County Department of Health and Human Services announces that the third and fourth human cases of West Nile virus have been confirmed in Delta County residents. The third case was confirmed on Aug. 10 in a 40- to 49-year-old female from the North Fork area. She is recovering from a case of uncomplicated fever. She first experienced symptoms July 23. The fourth case was confirmed on Aug. 13 in a 30to 39-year-old female from the Delta area and she is
also recovering from a case of uncomplicated fever. She experienced the onset of symptoms Aug. 5. “West Nile virus is a serious illness, and we want to ensure citizens understand the potential risk associated with WNV infection,” said Delta County public health director Bonnie Koehler. “Late July through early September are when most human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Colorado.” Health officials say most people bitten by a WNVinfected mosquito show no
Term limit question to appear on ballot BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
The Board of County Commissioners has certified the language for two questions on the Nov. 6 ballot. If adopted, the measures would remove term limits from the offices of county sheriff and coroner. The questions will appear separately on the ballot. The sheriff question reads: “Shall the Delta County sher-
iff be allowed to serve in the capacity of sheriff as long as the Delta County voters choose to re-elect him?” The coroner is similarly worded: “Shall the Delta County coroner be allowed to serve in the capacity of coroner as long as the Delta County voters choose to reelect him?” Currently, both offices are limited to three 4-year terms, a total of 12 years.
symptoms of illness. However, some become sick three to 15 days after exposure. About one in five infected persons will have mild illness with fever, and about one in 150 infected people will become severely ill. Physicians are urged to test patients for the virus if they show signs of fever, meningitis or encephalitis, or sudden painless paralysis in the absence of stroke that occurs during these summer months. The health department is continuing to do surveillance on cases involving humans and horses, and collecting mosquito samples to determine the prevalence of the virus within the county. The public is encouraged to take preventative measures. The following prevention tips are encouraged: • Drain standing water on property. • Dusk and dawn: avoid being outdoors at this time when mosquito activity is high. • DEET is an effective ingredient to look for in bug repellent. • Dress in long sleeves and pants during dusk and dawn and in areas where mosquitoes are active.
INDEX
Child safety
Closed to boating
Driver killed by train
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Agriculture .................... A7 Back Page ................... D8 Business .........................B8 Church ........................... D6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D2-5 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A8 School Zone .................. A6 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports .............................C6 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4
The Delta Police Department will host a “child safety” community meeting Monday, Aug. 27, at Bill Heddles Recreation Center. The meeting runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will include discussion on: • Mandatory child abuse report requirements • Missing and exploited children • Amber Alert criteria • Sex offender and school bus stops • School crime in the City of Delta A panel of experts will provide information to help the community keep our kids safe.
Because of extremely low water levels, Crawford State Park is closing the low water boat ramp and swim beach. The lake will remain open to handlaunched vessels such as canoes and kayaks. The park, located two miles south of Crawford, is operated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, an agency created by the merger of Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife. To learn more about Colorado’s state parks, visit http://parks.state.co.us.
An elderly driver lost her life Friday, Aug. 17, after failing to yield to an oncoming train passing through Paonia. Carol Basford, 87, of Paonia was traveling south in the 300 block of Delta Avenue at about 1:45 p.m. Her 2001 Ford Minivan was hit by an empty Union Pacific coal train headed toward Somerset. Assisting at the scene were the Paonia Police Department, Paonia Fire Department, Union Pacific Railroad, Delta County Sheriff’s Office and North Fork Ambulance. The railroad crossing at Delta Avenue does not have crossing arms or lights.