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Dear Mother,

You left us on Feb. 26, 2016.

Known as "Dot," you were born January 10th, 1918, in Palmerton, Pa.

Brian T. Smith of Montrose died Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, at Montrose Memorial Hospital. He was 42.

Longtime Crawford resident Robert Pobirk died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, at his home. He was 77.

Wilma Jane Wills died at her home in Hotchkiss after a long illness on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. She was 74.

Delta resident Doreen Lloyd died Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, at Horizons Care Center in Eckert. She was 89.

Lauren Mann died on Jan. 24, 2016, in Vienna, Austria, where she was living her dream studying and sharing her loves of music, the arts, culture, philosophy, literature, languages and writing.

Her parents, Bill Mann of Paonia and Shelley Hyde, sister and brother-in-law, Ashleigh and Devin Doutis, and nephew Nick, of Grand Junction, are deeply saddened by her tragic death.

Former Cedaredge resident Mary Kehmeier died Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at Colorow Care Center in Olathe. She was 93.

Uleta Fisk Hopkins, formerly of Delta, died Feb. 22, 2016, at Colorow Care Center in Olathe. She was 79.

Hotchkiss resident Frances Varner died Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at Willow Tree Care Center in Delta. She was 82.

William T. "Bill" Rule died unexpectedly Feb. 26, 2016, of natural causes at his home in Paonia. He was 75.

Longtime Paonia resident Lotis Smith died at her home Monday, Feb. 22, 2016. She was 91.

Melville "Calvin" Kelly died Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at San Juan Living Center in Montrose. He was 91.

Two new board members were elected and 12 volunteers were recognized for their years of service at the annual board meeting of the North Fork Ambulance, held Feb. 20 at Hotchkiss Memorial Hall.

North Fork Ambulance is heading into its 47th year of service.

Three Democratic leaders held a meet and greet Saturday to hear what's on the minds of their Delta County constituents.

House Democratic Majority Leader Crisanta Duran, District 61 Rep. Millie Hamner and District 5 Sen. Kerry Donovan arrived in Paonia to the news that the Bowie Mine #2 will cut an estimated 68 full-time positions and one contractor.

Six Hotchkiss residents, including two incumbents, are vying for four seats, three for four-year terms and a fourth for a two-year term, on Hotchkiss Town Council. In the order they will appear on the ballot, candidates are Ralph Sandmann II, Mary Hockenbery, Patrick Webb, Larry Jakubiak, John Marta and James Roberts.

The Crawford Town Council is considering how best to honor a longtime employee after a local couple sought support for a memorial bench.

Hotchkiss residents Gary and Elaine Violett asked the town for support for a memorial bench as a way to honor Dale "Gabby" George, the former longtime public works director who passed away last month.

Delta-Montrose Electric Association invites members to The Morning Buzz, an outreach program that allows members to ask questions and offer suggestions.

"Cooperatives, like DMEA, are established to serve their members, and it's important to listen to those members," said DMEA CEO Jasen Bronec, who, along with other co-op representatives will be on hand to answer questions and listen to suggestions.

At the Feb. 23 board meeting, Paonia trustees voted 4-1 to approve the special review application and site plan for the Circle Development Corporation's Silver Leaf Senior Cohousing Project. Trustee Eric Goold was absent, and Suzanne Watson cast the dissenting vote.

Members of the local Zeta Omicron Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) Sorority will be hosting their annual St. Patrick's Day Irish Stew Luncheon on Friday, March 11. It will be held at the Cedaredge Masonic Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Cedaredge Middle School gifted and talented program fundraised, publicized, and finally constructed a climbing wall in the gymnasium. The school opened this wall to the entire community and created a climbing club for anyone who wishes to take advantage of the athletic and academic benefits.

The AppleShed and 2nd Edition consignment shop of Delta are teaming up on a special promotion to benefit local people.

The "Every Girl Deserves a Beautiful Gown" fundraiser will be making a large selection of prom-quality formal wear available to high school girls just as thoughts of the big springtime night out begin turning toward fashion.

Earlier this month representatives of the Cedaredge Chamber of Commerce gathered for a ribbon cutting to welcome its newest member, Rudy's Pizzeria.

Rudy Lang and Jane Vandervelde have worked for nearly three years to create great a pizzerian and solid business in Cedaredge.

Every March brings the distinctive sound of the sandhill cranes calling in their big flocks circling high above the Surface Creek Valley.

The annual Eckert Crane Days, an event that observes and participates in the seasonal migration of the cranes, has been scheduled for March 18-20 this year.

The Pioneer Town soup supper fundraiser is coming to the Stolte Shed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 13, an annual event that boosts the local community in many ways.

This is one of the important fundraisers during the year that helps support Pioneer Town -- a grass roots enterprise that makes its way by the dedication of a local volunteer corps; by programs and services it offers the community; and especially by the support from its community friends without whom Pioneer Town would not exist, because it does not rely on government support.

Plans and arrangements for their big trip to Washington, D.C., are being finalized as members of the Cedaredge High School marching band and choir look forward to their by-invitation performance at the nation's Memorial Day celebration this year.

The community and the band members themselves have been working to raise necessary support for the $63,000 educational adventure that will include 41 members of the band and choir.