NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
SPORTS
SHARING THE SPIRIT
FALL FUN
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
Students create ornaments for Capitol Christmas Tree Project, B3
Cedaredge hosts 35th annual AppleFest this weekend, C4-8
Cedaredge, Hotchkiss will be smallest schools in tennis tourney, B10
DELTA COUNTY
OCTOBER 3, 2012 VOL. 129, NO. 40
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Death of Delta man labeled ‘suspicious’ Family identifies deceased as Chad Koch, 27 BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
The death of a 27-yearold Delta man Monday evening is being described as “suspicious” by the Delta Police Department, but family members are more forthcoming. They say Chad Koch was run down by an individual or individuals driving a black Suburban, then beat to death. Skylar Ransier is Chad’s cousin. She said she received a call from her uncle, saying something “bad” had happened to Chad. She immediately turned on the police scanner app on her smart phone. Between monitoring police activity and talking with family members, she believes she’s pieced together most of the story. Chad, she says, called the police for help Monday evening, saying someone was after him and intended to kill him. He was on his bike
riding toward the safety of a relative’s house when he was struck down near the stoplight at H-38 Road and Highway 50. At the scene Tuesday morning, she pointed out tire marks on the concrete which she believes identify the point of impact. After being hit by the Suburban, she says, Koch apparently dragged himself through the dirt in an unsuccessful attempt to escape his attacker. “You can see the marks on the ground,” she said. She was told the black Suburban was found abandoned five miles north of Delta, she added. DPD Chief Robert Thomas discounted that story, as well as rumors that shots were fired. He said an autopsy was being conducted Tuesday afternoon which would provide some answers. Investigators are still gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, he added. According to the initial press release from the Delta Police Department, officers were called to the scene at 8:12 p.m. Monday.
Upon arrival officers found an adult male laying on the ground on private property. The adult male was deceased; the cause of death is unknown at this time. They declined to name the decedent pending notification of family. There is no risk to the community, the press release emphasized. Multiple agencies assisted in the initial investigation at the scene including the Delta County Ambulance District, Delta Fire Department, Delta County Coroner’s Office, Delta County Sheriff ’s Office, and the Colorado Department of Transportation. “We just want justice for Chad and for the children he left behind,” said Rhonda Stevens, another cousin of Chad’s. When asked about rumors that drugs were involved in the incident, Stevens asked, “If it was drug related, why would he call the cops for help?” Anyone with information concerning this incident is encouraged to contact the Delta Police Department at 874-7676.
Photo by Randy Sunderland
Passing of seasons The glorious colors of fall are quickly passing in the high country, although the remants of the golds, reds and oranges can still be enjoyed. Fortunately, the color season continues at lower elevations, with the cottonwoods along streams and the Gunnison River beginning to display their golden fall cloak.
Family is determined to fight OSHA BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
The Esplins of Delta have put almost 40 years into running and building a family business at Delta Elevator. Now, an unannounced visit from a federal inspector has resulted in thousands of dollars in expense, fines and threatened fines for a long-
time Delta business. Delta Elevator has been in operation since the 1920s, explained Bob Esplin who owns the business with his son, Bobby. But the future of the enterprise could be in doubt now. That is because the Esplins are refusing to knuckle under to what they see as unfair, unreasonable
and intimidating tactics being used against them by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). When the OSHA inspector arrived unannounced at Delta Elevator in June, Bob Esplin at first objected. The business is run by the two owners and one hired hand.
DCMH recognized for ‘model’ trauma program BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Delta County Memorial Hospital’s trauma program received high marks during a recent review by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. Margaret Mohan RN, one of the reviewers with the Colorado State Trauma Program, said at the trauma designation review committee in Denver, “Delta County Memorial Hospital is the model Level IV Trauma program in the State of Colorado and other Level IV hospitals should look to Delta as an example.” The hospital’s trauma program centers around the emer-
INDEX Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 AppleFest ................. C4-8 Back Page ................. D12 Business .........................B6 Church ........................... D8 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-7 North Fork Times ........B1-5 Obituaries ......................C3 School Zone ............... A6-8 Service Directory ...... D11 Sports ........................B7-10 Surface Creek News ...C1-2 TV Listings ............... D9-10
gency room, but also involves surgery, med-surg, physical therapy, the ICU, radiology and labs. “It’s really a team effort,” said acting hospital administrator Jason Cleckler. CDPHE uses ratings from I-IV to designate trauma facilities across the state, Level I being the highest. The state has three “do-it-all” facilities, all located in the Denver metro area. Level V is suitable for a rural clinic that sees urgent care, but typically doesn’t have an inpatient setting. Delta County Memorial Hospital is a Level IV facility, a designation that was renewed for the next three
years. “The review that took place at the end of August was an intensive look at the entire system, to make sure our quality of care and procedures are up to date,” Cleckler explained. The review team commended the hospital for its dedication to the program, the quality of the medical equipment at the facility and the strong support from the hospital board of directors and administrative team. Cleckler said Misty Sakala, trauma coordinator, deserves the credit for taking the program to the next level, and TRAUMA PROGRAM TO A3
It doesn’t have the three employees required for OSHA oversight. “He said the rules have been changed,” Esplin said. Bobby adds, “We asked to see the new rules and they have never shown us a copy.” It was then, Esplin explained to the DCI, the inspector threatened that if he was barred from entry that day he would return with a search warrant and other OSHA inspectors for a tour of the elevator “that will be much harder on you.” Esplin has since had second thoughts about his decision to let the inspector tour the elevator with a video camera in hand that day. “He said they were going to inspect every feed mill in Colorado,” Esplin said. The father and son didn’t hear anything more for about a month until one day the inspector arrived with a book of notes on his tour. Bobby did a walk-though with the inspector who pointed out where corrective action to improve safety could be taken. Bob states that the elevator hasn’t had more than a scraped knuckle injury in 25 years. During a tour of the elevator with the DCI, Esplin pointed out numerous places where safety fea-
Ballot initiative pamphlets available There are three ballot initiatives on the November 2012 ballot. Educational pamphlets are provided by The League of Women Voters at no cost. Ballot issues are explained and the pros and cons, as provided by the organizations supporting or opposing the initiatives, are included for each ballot issue. In addition, there is information on Colorado voting requirements, the election calendar, and much more. The ballot issues are also available in audio format at www.lwvco.org.
Pamphlets are available at the Delta County Clerk’s office, the Delta County Annex in Hotchkiss, all Delta County libraries, all town offices, Delta County Memorial Hospital, and Republican and Democratic headquarters. Please call Peggy Baxter at 856-6225 if you would like to make some copies available at your place of business. Be sure to pick up your copy of the ballot issues you will be voting on in November.
tures have been in place for many years before the OSHA inspection. Esplin also admits that some of the OSHA suggestions were useful. He adds that the inspector’s suggestions were all that were necessary for the business to comply with recommendations. In fact, after the inspector’s second visit, Bobby went right to work on the recommendations, even though the Esplins thought some were unnecessary. They spent about $5,000 on the corrective measures, they said. That’s not all. Bob and Bobby and their wives toiled for hours completing paperwork and creating documentation on company safety procedures for their one employee. It was only then that OSHA let the big hammer fall on Delta Elevator. In late August Delta Elevator received an “informal settlement agreement” from the Denver OSHA office. The agreement proposed the Esplins pay an additional $7,000 in penalties for the safety improvements they had already made. The amount of the penalties could be doubled. DELTA ELEVATOR TO A3
Fall cleanup Fall cleanup is just around the corner for City of Delta residents. This year’s cleanup will start Oct. 22. Please have items ready by 7 a.m. Monday. Bag leaves, separate metal into its own pile, and cut down branches larger than 4 inches in diameter or longer than 10 feet in length. Place your items next to where you normally place your trash receptacle; avoid blocking alleys and streets. Please, no batteries, refrigerators, freezers or stumps. Remember — to avoid being missed, have all items out by 7 a.m. Oct. 22.