Delta County Independent, Oct. 31, 2012

Page 1

NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

SPORTS

COMMUNITY EFFORT

SMALL BUT MIGHTY

STATE CHAMPS

Hotchkiss ballfields get a facelift over fall break, B3

Cedaredge marching band captures second straight state title, C1

Five Hotchkiss girls finish in top 25 at state cross-country meet, B5

DELTA COUNTY

OCTOBER 31, 2012 VOL. 129, NO. 44

75¢

INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

New USFS office is a top priority will share access and, possibly in the future, some type Scott Armentrout, the of housing unit. Delta County, newly appointed supervisor the City of Delta, the Town for the Grand Mesa, Uncom- of Olathe and Uncompahgre pahgre and Gunnison nation- Development are also project al forests, is quickly bringing partners. “I’m excited about gethimself up to speed on the forests’ most pressing issues, ting the project underway,” but when it comes to the con- Armentrout said. “Ideally we struction of a new supervi- will build on that new piece of sor’s office he’s in the same land. If not, we’ll be going out boat as everyone else — wait for bid on a leased facility.” Either way, the new facility and see. A native of Iowa, Armen- must be LEED (Leadership trout has a B.S. in wildlife in Energy and Environmenscience from Oregon State tal Design) certified for green University. He has served in building design and energy various positions across the efficient operations. Delta has been home to a West, and worked in Washington, D.C., as assistant nation- USFS supervisor’s office since al wildlife program manager. 1906. The building at 2250 He and his wife Lisa have S. Highway 50, which has two children and are excited been occupied since 1982, no about being back in the Rocky longer meets GSA requirements, and extensive renovaMountains. The Forest Service is tion would be needed to bring viewed as an “economic driv- it up to LEED standards. By the end of the year, er” in the region so there is a lot of support to keep Delta foresters hope to move the $5 million local payroll the new building from a conin the immediate vicinity. In ceptual stage to final design. addition, the Forest Service That design can then be used injects over $2 million annu- for a government-owned facilally into the area through ity, if funding is approved by Congress, or by a private the purchase of local party which would goods and services. then lease the buildDelta County Ecoing to the Forest nomic Development Service. is moving forward to Armentrout said secure land for the a two-year fundnew office building ing cycle has been and equipment storproposed, with $4.7 age facility which million the first year will be built on a and $3.4 million the pie-shaped piece of second. Phase I will property just south be the office buildof Delta-Montrose ing and supportTechnical College. Armentrout ing infrastructure. The two facilities

Phase II will be a warehouse, storage yard and parking areas for equipment. The soonest the funding will come for the project is FY2014, said Tom Condos, a USFS employee who has

BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

been heavily involved in the project. Due to the history of appropriations bills passed by Congress it is more likely funds will be available for award April 2014. Proposed construction will begin after

contract advertisement in 2014. Funding is contingent upon the appropriations subcommittee and inclusion into the president’s budget for FY14, Condos added.

Photo by Randy Sunderland

Pickin’ pumpkins

Hundreds of jurors summoned for trial BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

If a jury can be seated, Nathan Yager, 39, will go on trial this week. Yager is accused of murdering his wife Melinda in January 2011, but has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The defense strategy, coupled with a long list of potential witnesses who could be known to the jury pool, resulted in 600 juror summons being sent out. Each summons was accompanied by a questionnaire which defense attorney Stephan Schweissing and district attorney Dan Hotsenpiller used to identify potential conflicts. On Friday, Oct. 26, nearly 200 prospective jurors showed up at the Delta Center for the Performing Arts. The school facility was used because there wasn’t sufficient space in the district courtroom for everyone. The process of voir dire, or jury questioning, was explained. That process continues this week with smaller

groups of potential jurors, whose names were drawn from voter records, driver’s license/state ID records and state income tax returns. It’s not known when a jury of 12 (plus alternates) might be seated — just in case, an additional panel summons of 200 has been issued for Nov. 1. While the average jury trial lasts one to three days, Judge Charles Greenacre has blocked off the court calendar through Nov. 21. The length of the trial is another factor in jury selection. The list of potential witnesses includes the three deputies who comprise the courthouse security detail, prompting Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee to come up with an alternative plan for providing security for the district courtroom. All the potential jurors have been advised not to conduct any research on the Internet, and to avoid discussing or reading about the case.

During a visit to the DeVries corn maze and pumpkin patch, Addison Collins and Ricky Davis found a great selection of pumpkins to choose from. Any one of them would make a great jack-o-lantern for Halloween.

DPD budget scrutinized during city work session BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

The Delta Police Department budget fell under close scrutiny during a recent work session with the Delta City Council. Councilmember Mary Cooper pointed out the estimated 2013 budget of $1,886,095 outpaces anticipated sales tax revenues of $1,552,370, and exceeds the Delta County sheriff ’s budget for 2013 by $136,000. The Delta Police Department is currently staffed with 18 officers. Five of those individuals have spent a “considerable amount of time” with the City of Delta with no step increases, so Chief Robert Thomas is asking for an increase in salary and benefits of $47,577 in 2013 to compensate those employees. In addition, he would like

to increase part-time hours to cover janitorial services. Overtime expenses are down and the line item for travel, education and training has been cut in half, from $20,000 to $10,000. The cost of equipping new officers is budgeted at $10,700, as turnover continues to plague the department. The county budgets just $3,500 for uniforms and protective equipment. Salaries, benefits and overtime for the Delta Police Department total $1,577,860. The sheriff ’s department personnel costs come in at $1,414,047. (Dispatch and the jail are budgeted separately.) City manager Justin Clifton said it’s difficult to compare the two departments without taking into account the number of officers, cover-

age areas, response times and other factors. All departments must be able to prove their value to the citizens of Delta, he added. “I expect our officers to have the skills, knowledge and abilities to provide the community competent police services,” Chief Thomas said. “And I expect our officers to put themselves in harm’s way if necessary, which can happen any day and at any time.” While Chief Thomas had the floor, Cooper and councilmember Robert Jurca each shared concerns they had with the police department. Chief Thomas said he would be willing to discuss those concerns with Clifton, his immediate supervisor, and the councilmembers. The work session was a CITY BUDGET TO A3

INDEX

Shelter opens Nov. 1

Election Day is Nov. 6

Bruins take first

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Back Page ................... D8 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-6 North Fork Times ........B5-8 Obituaries ..................... A6 School Zone .................. A5 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports ..........................B5-8 Surface Creek News .. D1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4

On Thursday, Nov. 1, the Abraham Connection/Delta County Homeless Shelter will open for service at the Delta United Methodist Church, 5th and Meeker. The shelter accepts families, women and men for overnight stays. It also welcomes dinner guests who have a place to stay but who are hungry. Both overnight and meal guests can come in between 6-7 p.m. After that the doors are locked. Guests who need service after that time can call the shelter phone at 773-8290. The shelter accepts people on a case-bycase basis after 7 p.m.

Election Day is fast approaching. Precinct polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6. Be sure to bring your ID with you. Mail-in ballots can be dropped off between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the North Fork Annex (196 W. Hotchkiss Avenue in Hotchkiss), at the Delta County Courthouse or at your polling place. County clerk Ann Eddins reminds Delta County residents that the clerk and recorder’s offices in Delta and Hotchkiss will be open Tuesday, Nov. 6, only for business related to the election.

Marching bands from Cedaredge and Delta traveled to Pueblo Monday for the state marching band championships hosted by the Colorado Bandmasters Association. Both bands advanced from the semifinals to the finals, where Cedaredge placed first in the Class 1A division for the second year in a row. Four schools competed in Class 1A, while Delta was one of 10 schools in the Class 2A division. Five of those schools advanced to the finals, where Delta placed fifth. D’Evelyn and Bayfield claimed the top two spots in Class 2A. See photos inside.


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