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Bill Heddles Recreation Center is celebrating 25 years in the Delta community. The facility opened at 531 N. Palmer Street on March 27, 1993.

This year Delta County Memorial Hospital's nominee to the Nightingale Event was medical/surgical nurse Melissa Bland. She was nominated for the category of advocacy.

Marijuana has been a hot topic in Delta's municipal election, but during individual interviews, candidates have expressed their views on several other topics.

The City of Delta recently completed a parks, trails and open space master plan.

Mobility is often taken for granted. But being mobile allows a person to learn, interact with others, acquire medical care and participate in the community.

Often, mobility solutions that worked as a child do not work for adults.

During their March 19 meeting, county commissioners Doug Atchley, Mark Roeber and Don Suppes signed several documents related to their participation in regional and local projects.

ENGAGE. Commissioners signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the county's responsibilities with the four other members of the ENGAGE initiative (entrepreneurship, growth, agriculture and energy) to fulfill the commitments under the EDA grant.

Brice W. Collins, 30, of Austin was arrested and jailed on charges of driving under the influence, driving under the influence per se, failed to display lamps when required.

Officers provided transport of a combative female from Stafford and East 3rd Street to jail for the Delta County Sheriff's Office.

The sweeping scope of the ENGAGE initiative -- a combination of programming intended to promote energy, agriculture and entrepreneurship, along with a physical presence in Delta, is proving to be a lot to bite off.

Technical College of the Rockies is spearheading this initiative with support from the school district, Delta County Economic Development, the City of Delta, Delta County and Region 10.

At their March 5 meeting Commissioners Doug Atchley, Mark Roeber and Don Suppes made two appointments to the county planning commission. Steve Shea was reappointed for a three-year term.

Did you know that Delta County Libraries offers a seed library countywide? Beginning in March, patrons can start checking out seeds to grow their gardens!

In a matter of six days Delta County Sheriff's Office investigators were able to solve two burglaries and one attempted burglary in Delta County.

On March 7, deputies responded to a burglary of a residence on 1800 Road in the Delta area where multiple items including guns, food and jewelry were stolen during daylight hours, while the homeowner was at work.

After a lunch break on Tuesday, jurors began deliberations in the case of Nathan Yager, the Paonia man charged with second degree murder in brutal slaying of his wife Melinda in January 2011. Yager has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, which means prosecutors must not only prove he's guilty of the crime, but also that he was sane at the time.

Here is my account of events preceding the Paonia Town Council's threat to discipline me. Mayor Stewart, Mr. Bradford and another trustee decided to abandon the road looping Creek Vista and Pan American Avenues, leaving both streets dead ends without a turnaround.

I remember one of my favorite teachers in high school talking to a small group of students one day about politics. I remember saying, with all the wisdom and authority of an 18-year-old, "I'm voting for such-and-such -- he's a great politician."

The North Fork Valley is in the midst of local elections. The results of what might not seem like such a "big deal" can determine whether our towns will continue operating with forward progress or be trapped again trying to operate with council opponents throwing roadblocks on every issue at every meeting.

Scott Schaible wrote an alarming amount of conjecture and misinformation about me in his most recent letter to the editor. In fact, there are so many fallacious, misinformed, and disrespectful claims that I am not entirely certain that I can respond to each of them -- but I will certainly do my best.

Although I believe that the renovation of the miner's memorial corner of the Paonia Park is long overdue, I do have three major concerns regarding the committee's ambitious plans.

First, I feel that the town council set a bad precedent by waiving the "request for bid" requirement for the metal arch.

In these days of negative news, it is encouraging to experience a truly positive event in our area.This was the case at the complimentary lunch served last Saturday by the new owners of the Hart's Basin Ranch.

Jay Stooksberry's service to this community shows his commitment and dedication to the success of Delta. Jay tirelessly worked with Region 10 to help gain grant funding and other funding used for broadband development and small business support.

When I was elected to the Paonia Town Board in 2014, it was the first board that did not include any trustees present during the Chesnik debacle. The only board member left from the Chesnik era was former mayor, Neal Schwieterman.

The Cedaredge Bruins are 2-2 to start the 2018 baseball campaign. An opening season game in Gypsum was a 10-0 win over 4A Eagle Valley.

The Hotchkiss Bulldogs struck out 11 and allowed five hits in last Wednesday's non-conference, 7-1 win against the visiting Rifle Bears.

Eli Kirk allowed one hit and one run, walked four and struck out six in the first three innings of the game.

Delta senior Jaspar Carmichael is heading to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., to study engineering, physics and math. Carmichael will also play some baseball for the Blue Jays while working toward his degree.

For Delta senior Logan Church the third time might be the charm. Church attended the national high school championships in the past and was runner-up last year.

This year's venue is Virginia Beach with planned activities scheduled for March 22-25.

The defending Class 2A state champion Paonia Eagles opened the season Thursday with a 7-1 home win over Delta. Senior Kaden Seriani, one of four returning all-state players for the Eagles, allowed four hits in five innings and struck out 10.

The Paonia boys track team finished in the top three in two events and scored 29 points at Saturday's Delta Panther Invitational.

In the 400-meter dash, junior Harley Ewart took second with a time of 55.09 seconds.

Lamar Community College will be Dylan Hollenbeck's next residence when a new school year begins. Hollenbeck signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Lamar and has chosen to pursue a career in biology and chemistry to keep him occupied when not playing baseball for the Lopes.

The Hotchkiss girls opened the track season with 48 points and a tie for fourth place with Telluride Saturday at the annual Delta Panther track and field invitational.

Junior Kaiya Firor won the 400-meter dash in 59.8 seconds.

In their first meet of the season, the Paonia girls scored 41 points to place sixth Saturday at the Delta Panther Invitational.

Among the top Paonia placers, senior Mckenna Palmer won the triple jump with a wind-assisted (3.4 meters per hour) distance of 32 feet, 4 inches.

Delta High School's baseball team played through a typical spring in Colorado recently with games in blustery winter-like temperatures to more soothing and warmer games over the weekend in Erie and Niwot.

Following the previous week's contest against Roaring Fork where game-time temperatures were in the high 50's and lower 60's, Delta's game in Paonia was played in windy and much cooler temperatures with the Eagles claiming a 7-1 victory (see related story by Tamie Meck).

The annual preseason April Fool's softball tournament will take place April 7-8 at Mountain View Park. Here's a chance to test your team and have a great time before summer softball starts.

Delta County Young Life and the Delta Lions Club have partnered up to present the third annual Taste of Spring event, April 21, 5-8 p.m., at Bill Heddles Recreation Center. Vendor registration forms are now being accepted for Delta County restaurants, cottage foods producers, wineries, breweries and other producers who will showcase their signature menu item, food creation or beverage during the event.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is looking for young hunters from western Colorado's North Fork area to participate in a special spring turkey hunting event April 13-15. Youngsters from Cedaredge, Hotchkiss, Crawford and Paonia are encouraged to apply.

Sara and Coley Wondra of Hotchkiss are the parents of a daughter, Maxine Ann Wondra, born March 14, 2018, at Delta County Memorial Hospital.

Sure and begorrah, a little bit of Ireland came to Delta, as 103 seniors enjoyed a free St. Patrick's holiday meal on Thursday, March 15, at the Delta Senior Center (DSC). The meal was the first this year sponsored by the Delta Elks Lodge #1235, through a grant from the Grand Lodge, part of the Elks National Foundation.

A major construction project at Delta Middle School is providing learning opportunities for the school's sixth, seventh and eighth grade students.

Delta County Joint School District #50 obtained a BEST grant for the project, which will include replacement of the cafeteria and the sixth grade wing on the south edge of the campus.

Technical College of the Rockies hosts a scholarship luncheon for its practical nursing students annually. The local community has been extremely generous and supportive of the Technical College and the nursing program.

Longtime Paonia resident Clayton Sorensen died March 13, 2018, in Cedaredge. He was 54.

Donn Vornholt died March 15, 2018, at Colorow Care Center in Olathe. He was 95.

Delta resident Dorothy Bates died March 14, 2018. She was 72.

Col. Duane F. Newton USMC (Ret.) died Feb. 10, 2018. He was 86.

Montrose resident James J. Veitch died March 12, 2018, at his home. He was 71.

Cedaredge resident Linda F. Richards, died March 15, 2018, at her daughter's home in Cedaredge. She was 65.

Mary Ann (Myers) Kastning passed away on March 19, 2018. She was preceded in death in 2013 by her beloved husband of 67 years, William R. Kastning.

Paonia resident Michael L. Furcolow Jr. died March 14, 2018, at HopeWest Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 72.

Delta resident Peggy L. Mattler-Shadowalker died March 15, 2018, at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. She was 62.

Phil Espinoza of La Sal, Utah, formerly of El Llano, Utah, died March 3, 2018, in Grand Junction. He was 73.

Robert Willis Church Sr. died Feb. 26, 2018. He was 69.

Robert E. Rathburn of Eckert died March 14, 2018, at his home. He was 98.

Sharon Kay Prosser died March 13, 2018, at Delta County Memorial Hospital. She was 73.

Ed Horton passed away peacefully March 10, 2018, at Willow Tree Care Center in Delta, with a good friend at his bedside and music playing. He was 75.

Crawford voters will decide if retail marijuana sales will be taxed, even though such activity is not currently allowed in town. The question was placed on the ballot by the town council.

Thanks to a generous grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, kids will be playing at a new youth baseball and softball complex in the North Fork.

The North Fork Pool, Parks & Recreation District was notified by GOCO last week that it will receive a $350,000 Local Park and Outdoor Recreation (LPOR) grant to build ballfields and amenities at Crossroads Park on Bulldog Street in Hotchkiss.

For four years, the Town of Hotchkiss has awarded $500 scholarships to one male and one female graduating from Hotchkiss High School. The award recognizes students who demonstrate community spirit and volunteerism within the community.

The Black Mesa CattleWomen and the Hotchkiss FFA Chapter celebrated National Ag Day on Tuesday, March 20, at the Delta County Fairgrounds with the North Fork Ag Day program for elementary students. They provided 11 different presentations for approximately 550 students.

A Paonia High School graduate and U.S. Military veteran who chose a career in law enforcement is now serving as undersheriff for the Mesa County Sheriff's Office.

Todd Rowell was sworn in as undersheriff at a March 5 ceremony, according to a news release by the sheriff's office.

This April, Paonia voters will decide on the fate of a ballot measure to increase the local sales taxes.

Referred Measure 2G calls for increasing town taxes from the current two percent to three percent, which would bring in "up to $150,000 annually" in the first fiscal year.

A solar array project started by Paonia High School students in 2016 was recently installed on school grounds. Eight high school students enrolled in the Solar Energy International PV101 course worked with Empowered Energy Systems to install the 40-panel, 10.4-kW ground mount system and Schlettler rack.

Friday the pre-kindergarten students of the Backpack Early Learning Academy at Hotchkiss K8 School had some very special visitors. At the invitation of their teacher, Lynette Clock, representatives from West Elk Mountain Rescue, Delta County Sheriff's Office, North Fork Ambulance, Colorado State Patrol and Paonia Volunteer Fire Department brought their vehicles and equipment to the school and gave a presentation on what they do for the community.

It's always such fun! I look forward all year long for the cranes to return. I know that they will, but my, the days without cranes seem so long!

The Cedaredge trustees held a regular meeting last week during which they approved resolutions designating five downtown buildings as historic structures. The town's historic preservation board recommended the buildings and provided research into each structure's background.

The business community and the public -- anyone interested in learning how we collectively can create a more economically robust Surface Creek Valley -- is invited to a community meeting on Tuesday, March 27, at 6 p.m. at the Civic Center in Cedaredge.

The Friends and Flowers Garden Club was founded in 1964. It meets monthly on the third Friday, at 1:30 p.m. at various member's homes or carpools for special outings.

Jeremiah and Chandra Proffitt are back at 21474 Austin Road with an expanded building and the same commitment to service that earned them a national and international reputation for quality vehicle restoration and modification. The Proffitt name has been associated with custom-built vehicles since 1995 and, after experimenting with various business models, the company has returned to its roots under the banner of "Resurrection Land Cruisers."

The March meeting of the Orchard City Board of Trustees was held on March 14. All board members were present with approximately 25 constituents attending.

During constituent time, Tim Hintz thanked the board for its work in the last year, stating that it was an interesting year.

Bird enthusiasts gathered last weekend to celebrate the seventh annual Eckert Crane Days. Although the sandhill cranes proved somewhat elusive, the human attendance was comparable to past years.