text:
Providing a voice for community-based organizations and individuals that enrich the life of the Grand Valley FREE
Volume #2 Number 5
Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
A multi-faceted man Grand Valley podiatrist, musician, ski patrolman, tree farmer – Gerhard Rill wears many hats By Sue McEvoy, Echo staff writer
Gerhard Rill – a Munich-born resident of the Grand Valley area – is certainly a jack of many trades. He works as a podiatrist, ski patrols at Powderhorn, is a member of a German oompah band and has a tree farm. Gerhard Rill and his wife Deb live on a seven-acre tree farm just east of Parachute and Battlement Mesa. They operate Foot Support Group from an office in Grand Junction and travel to medical facilities around the Western Slope and in Boulder to provide podiatric services to patients, ranging from infants to elderly, from invalids to athletes. U.S. – Germany – U.S. – Parachute Gerhard spent a dozen years of his childhood in the U.S. while his parents – Balthasar and Nina Rill, now of Battlement Mesa – worked in the shoe industry. The Rill family returned to Germany in the early 1970s where they opened an orthopedic comfort and custom shoe shop. Although his first choice as a youth was to become a pilot, Gerhard worked in the family shop to earn money. He earned his orthopedic degree and went into practice in Nuremburg in 1983, but changes were on the way. Following the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, Gerhard watched Germany's socialized medicine system begin to falter due to political reasons. In 1991, after selling his practice, he relocated to the U.S. While driving from California to Denver, he made it as far as Parachute before he had to stop for the night. He woke in the morning and saw mountains everywhere he looked. That's when he found and bought the parcel he still calls home.
Our Schools pages 22-25
Grand Valley's Gerhard Rill can play a mean accordian and he can help with your foot problems, too. Photo by Ed Kosmicki
Symphony Swing page 15
Oil & Gas update page 7
Burkie Wynkoop page 3
continued on page 21
Battlement Mesa Sea Turtles page 9
A holistic approach Today, Foot Support Group serves people with a variety of injuries, alignment issues, lower back problems, plantar fasciitis (which causes intense heel pain) and knee problems. "We see everything from patients who are barely able to walk and are happy to get to the mailbox, to people who compete in the Leadville 100 and run marathons," says Gerhard. While much of the work involves making an orthotic or a lift for a person's shoes, Gerhard relies on a more holistic approach with his care. "We'll follow [an injury] with physical therapy, sometimes acupuncture, or manual medicine," he explains. "This could be osteopathic, chiropractic, soft-tissue massage along with orthotic therapy, so we kind of tie that together many times for patients." Gerhard says that many problems he sees are interrelated to other parts of the body. "You don't walk down the hallway on a knee by itself," Gerhard continues. "There's something going on with the foot or the hip. We see many patients who show up not with a foot problem but because they have back pain." Gerhard says that one of his clients has worn his orthotics to the summit of Denali eight times. Another is a doctor from Buena Vista who runs marathons on a prosthesis. In addition, Gerhard lectures, coordinates and teaches about foot-related health issues. He spearheads a variety of research and development projects that have included the Chaco sandal, bracing, and circulatory devices.
Page 2, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
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MISSION STATEMENT To provide a voice for local schools, nonprofit groups and civic organizations; to bring attention to the individuals and local businesses that are the fabric of the Grand Valley region; to contribute to the vitality of our small town life. The Grand Valley Echo is published monthly, and is distributed throughout Battlement Mesa and Parachute. Subscriptions are available for a $25 annual fee.
285-7634 DISTRIBUTION/CIRCULATION STEVE PAVLIN Dawn Distribution • 963-0874
274 REDSTONE BLVD., REDSTONE, COLORADO 81623 970-963-2373 • email@example.com
Sue McEvoy, Ed Kosmicki, Steve Hall, Dr. BJ Lindauer, M.E. Denomy, Ron Bailey, Kim Schriver, Mary Anderson, Laurel Koning, Don Chance, Battlement Mesa Activity Center, Battlement Mesa Sea Turtles, Anne Huber, Sarah Tahvonen, Bill Cornelius, Tom Hall, Sandy Barger Borman, Joline B. Gnatek, Colorado Mountain College, Ross Kribbs, Heather McGregor, Garfield County Library District Barbara Barker, Betsy Leonard, Scott Pankow, Bea Underwood Elementary School, St John Elementary School, Ken Haptonstall, Tiffany Tittes, Alisha Sisemore, Liz Favier, Tiffany Waugh, Shannon Schubert, Karmen Steimel, Chelsae White, Faith Baptist Church, Charlie Hornick
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 3
Burkie Wynkoop recognized by Colorado Football Officials Association Hall of Fame By Steve Hall, Colorado Football Officials Association
Burkie Wynkoop, former Craig, Colo. resident now residing in Battlement Mesa, was recently inducted into the Colorado Football Officials Association Hall of Fame, class of 2009, at an honorary luncheon held at the Marriott Tech Center in Denver. Recipients of this honor are nominated and approved by the Colorado Football Officials Board of Directors recognizing the honorees' outstanding contributions, commitment and service to student athletes of high school football. Burk worked out of Craig during his 21 years of officiating, and also coached Craig Middle School football for 20-some years before retiring from, Moffat County School District in 2003. His resume also includes eight years officiating in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, working college football games. One of Burk's fondest memories was working the 1985 state championship game between Roaring Fork and Battle Mountain with the final score being 21-20 with Roaring Fork winning. What a great game and memory! Other fond memories included state play-off games played at Cherry Creek, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Montrose and all of the home games in northwestern Colorado. In 1994 in a playoff game at Granby, Burk incurred an injury on the field resulting in major knee surgery, which left him unable to run. After 21 years of officiating, he had to "hang up his cleats". He attempted one more game in 1995 and realized the doctor was right: his running days were over. Burk acknowledges this special recognition with honor.
Graphic courtesy of Katherine Wynkoop
Carl L. Bernklau Trust provides funds for Garfield District No. 16 students and programs By Dr. BJ Lindauer, Grand Valley Educational Foundation board member The Grand Valley Educational Foundation recently received a major donation from the Carl H. Bernklau Trust. It is an ongoing gift with monies being distributed over several years. Mr. Bernklau's grandchildren, Diana and Travis Casey, made the announcement. They shared information on Mr. Bernklau's life, which established the rationale for the generous gift to the students of Garfield School District No. 16. Carl Bernklau spent most of his life on his family farm in the Cache Creek area. He recently passed away, but his impact on the community will continue for many years. Carl served as president of the West
Divide Water Conservancy District for 25 years of the 29 years he spent on the board. For 27 years, he served as a member and past president of the Bookcliff Soil Conservation District and as a director of the Colorado Association of Soil Conservation Districts with his special interest in Colorado water preservation. He also served as a member of the Grand View School District, the former name of the district near Rifle. Throughout these years, he continued his education by taking classes at Colorado State University and through his extensive reading. He had been a leader and a supporter of education, including 4-H and FFA for many years. The funds received from the trust in 2010 will be used for scholarships for graduating seniors, the After School Program, and the Summer School Program.
The president of the foundation, Cheri Witt–Brown, stated that the grant could not have been made at a better time, as funding from the state has been cut as a result of more than 100 students moving out of the district. Other board members expressed their appreciation to the Caseys for their generosity and their continued involvement and dedication to Garfield School District No. 16. It is a wonderful legacy that will continue to benefit the students in the Grand Valley schools for many years to come. Carl H. Bernklau gave so very much to the community when he was alive and now his giving will continue into the future. His was a life well lived and will not to be forgotten.
Page 4, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
Send us a letter. Got something on your mind? We're expanding our word-count limit to 500 words or less for Letters to the Echo to give you plenty of space to express yourselves. The Echo welcomes your input, opinions, thanks and whatever else you'd like to share with our readers, provided it's written in a respectful, civil way. (Please, no unsubstantiated attacks, etc.) The Echo reserves the right to edit and proofread letters. Send your words to The Grand Valley Echo, firstname.lastname@example.com, or 274 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, CO 81623. Please be sure to include your name, title if necessary, and where you live.Thanks. Oil and gas rules can benefit all Editor's note: This letter was originally addressed to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Dear Echo: Contrary to what might be perceived, the new Colorado Oil and Gas Rules and Regulations have not cut down on the number of well permits this past year. As reported in the Grand Junction Sentinel on Jan. 12, 2010, Colorado leads in the number of permits issued. The economy is the cause of a decrease in oil and gas production: less demand, therefore excess supply. Even the energy companies agree to that reasoning. So this would be a good time for the energy industry to really look at the benefits of even better regulations, and sit down to add on stricter rules. "This will prevent drilling and a loss of jobs," some will say. Let's look at it another way.
Strict rules on the books, that are enforced, prevent fly-by-night companies or subcontractors from coming in, drilling poorly, and raking in the profits, leaving behind possible ground, air or water contamination; disruptions in communities and wildlife; and many angry residents. Communities would welcome energy companies and respect them, rather than mistrust them and worry about the impacts they now create. All the thousands of dollars spent by the oil and gas industry in electing "friendly" state officials could be funneled toward upholding higher standards, such as putting state-of-the-art air filters on every well drilled; staying at least 1,000 feet from a residence; drilling outside PUDs, etc. Money spent fighting the new rules and regulations could be spent on constructive projects in the area instead. There then should be fewer lawsuits due to spills or water, air or soil contamination with these stricter
rules. Companies would spend their money on hiring the most reputable subcontractors, instead. Workers would be safer, too. An open dialogue would be far more beneficial than overthrowing the new rules and regulations. Try them and report back. Be proactive rather than reactive, thus making our communities and our environment a healthier and safer place to live now – and in the future. In Garfield County, the Community Counts program is a step in the right direction, pulling various companies together to discuss problems and solutions. Stricter regulations would make their job more meaningful because there would be less "gray" areas. We need good rules and regulations – so please do not overthrow the years of negotiations. Don't let dollar signs of profit guide you in the final analysis. Sandy Getter Battlement Mesa
G R A N D VA L L E Y G R AT I T U D E Are you thankful – and you want everybody to know about it? Please try to keep your gratefulness under 500 words and send to Grand Valley Gratitude, 274 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, CO 81623, or email firstname.lastname@example.com. 'Six women - 25,000 books' Dear Echo: Editor's note: This letter is in regards to the temporary move Parachute Library's staff recently made from the library's original building to the corner of Fisher and Hill in Parachute. The original library building is now undergoing an expansion and remodeling project.
Read any good books lately? I have and I bet you have too, thanks to the ingenuity and dedication of Parachute Library's staff of six. Here's a brief review of the mammoth job of the relocation of 25,000books in just nine days. Step one involved deciding where to place the different sections, like children's, fiction, etc. in the library's new quarters and then color-coding the new empty areas. Step two saw the arrival of four men from United Van Lines Mesa System who built the required number of shelves. Then the 25,000 books were loaded on gondolas after careful wrapping for transport to the new building. On the fifth day the gondolas were rolled into the new quarters. One of the staff described the arrival as a sea of gondolas rolling to the new building. Each cart was moved to its color-coded location. The shelving began! Remember, six women 25,000 books! Amazing as it may seem, the staff accomplished the entire relocation of thousands of books in just five days. The staff members who accomplished this feat are Karol Sacca – Branch Manager, Beret Brenckman – Assistant Branch Manager, Michelle Duran – Youth Services Librarian, Kim Benson, Megan Hagenson and Jennie Campbell. Catherine Evans Parachute
letters for 2009, so I also want to extend my deepest appreciation to the entire community for your tremendous support last year. With the instability of the economy, it was a year of unusually high demand for LIFT-UP's services. Requests for assistance were about triple what they were the previous year, with some of our food pantries serving five to 10 times more people than usual in certain months. We tried to keep the public informed, and thankfully, our community came through and helped us meet the dramatically increased needs of our struggling neighbors. A huge amount of food was donated, and financial support remained strong despite the weak economy. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who participated in food drives and gave financial support, and to all the businesses that did special promotions to benefit LIFT-UP. Our volunteers, staff and board of directors also went the extra mile to meet the needs. There are far too many people to name here, but it's safe to say that thousands of people participated in making sure everyone in our region had food to eat last year. LIFT-UP is effective because our caring community makes it possible for us to be effective. We are simply a channel for your generosity and kindness. I know the economy impacted every household in our region, so I am extremely grateful for the extraordinary support that LIFT-UP received. Our six area food pantries and The Extended Table Soup Kitchen continue to be much busier than before the economic downturn, and we don't know when conditions will improve. But I do know that as long as there are people in need, and a community that cares, LIFT-UP will be here to help. It's great to live in a community that cares so much about one another.
Generosity in challenging times Dear Echo: LIFT-UP recently wrapped up its year-end accounting and sent out receipts and thank-you
Sincerely, Michael L. Powell LIFT-UP executive director, Garfield County
Fees to fit your budget! Thomas L. Hall, CPA
Phone 285-9554
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 5
Your calendar for goings on in and around Parachute and Battlement Mesa Help our calendar grow; let us know. Send event items to email@example.com. Be sure to include the five Ws (who, what, when, why and where), contact info, cost and anything else you think we need to pass on to readers. • Feb. 18: 12 p.m. Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce board meeting at Alpine Bank. Call Bill at 987-3093. • Feb. 23: 1 p.m. Village Artists host oil painter Robert Hooper, who will give a demonstration at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. Call Elaine Warehime at 285-7197.
• Feb. 26: 1:30 p.m. Battlement Concerned Citizens meet at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. 285-7791.
• Feb. 26: 5 p.m. Deadline for candidates to file completed self-nomination forms or letters for their names to appear on the ballot for the May 4 Battlement Mesa Metro District regular election. 285-9050. • Feb. 26: 7:30 p.m. Symphony Swing is Symphony in the Valley's tribute to the Big Band era, at Grand Valley High School in Parachute. Light refreshments, bistro-style table seating and dancing. $20/per person. Go to sitv.org to order tickets and for more info. • Feb, 26: Nomination petitions now available for election to the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District board. Petitions available at the district office, 101 Cardinal Way, #4, Parachute. 285-0388 • Feb. 28-29: Horse skijoring fundraiser at the Grand Valley Park Association arena. Proceeds benefit Terry Robinson, who's fighting cancer. For more information, call Rose at 653-4015 or Bonnie at 858-7392. • March 1: 5 p.m. Deadline for candidates to file completed self-nomination forms or letters (names will not appear on the ballot) for the May 4 Battlement Mesa Metro District regular election. 285-9050. • March 9: 6 p.m. Grand Valley Citizens Alliance meets at Mesa Vista Assisted Living. • March 9: 7 p.m. Neighborhood Watch meets in Parachute. Call 285-7630. • March 11: 12 p.m. Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce membership meeting with speaker Steve Rippy of the Battlement Mesa Metro District at the Battlement Mesa Historical Society Schoolhouse. Call Bill at 9873093. • March 11: 6:30 p.m. Parachute Town Council meeting at Parachute Town Hall. 285-7630, parachutecolorado.com. • March 13: 7-10 a.m. Battlement Mesa Health Fair at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. Blood tests, screenings, more. 625-6439.
ONGOING • The Battlement Mesa Activity Center has lots of classes and activities: swimming, dancing, personal training, water aerobics, yoga, kung fu, basketball, and more. Call 285-9480. • Free tax preparation through the Volunteer Tax Assistance Program at Wells Fargo in Battlement is offered now, and runs on Fridays and Saturdays through April 10. Appointments necessary. Call 285-7848. • New year, new dog licenses. Remember to renew your Parachute dog license: $2 for spayed and neutered pets and $5 for those not. Pick up new tags at Parachute Town Hall. • Remember that the Parachute Library has temporarily moved to the corner of Fisher and Hill next to the Grand Valley Center for Family Learning in downtown Parachute. The original library is being renovated. Call 285-9870 with questions or if you need directions. • The Sunlight ski bus runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the ski season. Season bus pass is $15. All riders must reserve a spot; call 625-2151. • Every Monday from 12-1 p.m. the Grand Valley United Methodist Church serves a free soup lunch at the church at 132 Parachute Ave. • Every Monday from 12:45-4 p.m., Party Bridge is held at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. All levels welcome. • The first Tuesday of every month, at 7 p.m. the West Garfield Democrats meet at Mesa Vista Assisted Living, 285-7206. • Every Tuesday at 7 a.m., the Kiwanis Club of Grand Valley/Parachute meets at its new location, the Parachute Senior Center, 540 N. Parachute, in Parachute. Coffee is at 7 a.m., program begins at 7:30 a.m. • The second Tuesday of every month, Neighborhood Watch meetings are held at Parachute Town Hall. 285-7630. • The second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m., the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance meets at the Mesa Vista Assisted Living Center. Call Paul, 285-7791. • The fourth Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. the Village Artists meet at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. Contact Elaine Warehime, Village Artists president, at 285-7197. • The second Tuesday of every month, at 6:30 p.m. HEARTBEAT meets in Glenwood, which offers support for survivors after suicide at the First United Methodist Church, 824 Cooper St.; use the Bethel Chapel entrance. Call Pam at 945-1398, firstname.lastname@example.com.
• Every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., the Valley Senior Center hosts a luncheon prepared by the Rifle Senior Center. $2.50 for those over 60. Reservations taken Mondays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; call 285-7216.
• The first and third Wednesday of every month at 3 p.m., the Battlement Mesa Architectural Committee meets at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. Open to the public. 285-9432.
• The second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m., the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District Board of Directors meets at the recreation district office, 101 Cardinal Way, #4, Parachute, 285-0388, pbmparkandrec.org.
• Every Wednesday at 6 p.m., "Through the Bible in One Year" Bible Study is at the Grand Valley Christian Church, 116 W. Second. Contact Pastor Lois Smith, 285-7957.
• Every Friday from 9-9:30 a.m. "Community Connections" interviews with community members on KSUN 103.9 FM.
• Every Friday at 10:30 a.m. Story Time is at the Parachute Library. 285-9870.
• Every Friday at 7 p.m. Al-Anon meets for those troubled by another's drinking at Grand Valley Christian Church, 116 W. Second, main building. Strictly confidential. Contact Doris, 285-9836 or Bonnie, 984-2286.
• Every Saturday BINGO! Is held at the Valley Senor Center. Coffee, soft drinks, popcorn, snacks.
• Every Saturday, Mountain Family Health Center in Glenwood is now open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on a walk-in basis, providing a low-cost alternative to the ER for non-emergency care. No appointment necessary. 1905 Blake Ave. 945-2840.
• March 18: 12 p.m. Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce board meeting at Alpine Bank. Call Bill at 987-3093.
• March 20: 5 p.m. Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce Awards Auction and Banquet at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. Call Mary at 285-0388.
• March 27: 8:30 p.m. Earth Hour 2010. It's lights out for one hour as part of a global event to bring awareness to climate change issues. For more info, go to earthhour.org.
• March 30: Battlement Mesa Women's Golf League welcome meeting. Call Sandy Constine at 285-6982 for info. • May 4: Election day in Battlement Mesa.
Page 6, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
GRAND VALLEY ENERGY A monthly column by M.E. Denomy, CPA
Give me space, lots of space Getting ready to drill a well requires that a company look at how the minerals travel underground. The geologists or seismologists study the underground structure of the minerals to determine how many acres the minerals travel through. The company then presents scientific data to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) that describes how many acres must share in the minerals produced from a well. The COGCC then sets the pooled acres that must share all of the income from the well in what is called a Spacing Unit. For example, this unit could be 40 acres, 160 acres, 320 acres or 640 acres. Within this unit a number of wells can be allowed by the COGCC to bedrilled to drain as much of the minerals that is possible. It is very common here in our area to allow one well per 10 acres, with owners within 320 acres sharing in every well. An "owner" includes the people who own the minerals, the company that leases the minerals from the mineral owners and many various other folks who may be investors or have an "override" in each well. This means that for every dollar that is made from each of the 32 wells in a 320-acre Spacing Unit that may be producing, all of the "owners" make a share of it. This could mean that one company may have leased 160 acres, another company may have leased 40 acres and several other companies may have leased smaller acres to constitute the rest of the 120 acres. In reality, this means that all of the companies, the mineral owners and other overriding interest owners all have a share of every well, whether or not it is directly on their lands, minerals or leases. It can be a very complicated process to determine all the folks who have a right to some of the income or must share in some of the expense of the well. The drilling company will spend a large sum of money to get a title opinion to try to make sure that everyone is accounted for when a well is drilled. So, because of spacing units, for every rig that goes up, many companies, mineral owners and other interested parties benefit from the production, even if it is not located directly on their "back 40." Mary Ellen Denomy, CPA, is a Battlement Mesa resident and an Accredited Petroleum Accountant She has been nationally recognized as an expert in oil and gas issues. Mary Ellen is the immediate past president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Association of Royalty Owners. If you have questions, contact her at the naro-us.org website or through The Grand Valley Echo.
BATTLEMENT MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT MAY 4, 2010 REGULAR ELECTION INFORMATION On May 4, 2010, the electors of the Battlement Mesa Metropolitan District will vote for three (3) directors to serve 4-year terms on the Board of Directors of the district QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify as a director of the district, a person must be registered to vote in the state of Colorado and be either: 1. a resident of the district for not less than 30 days, or 2. the owner (or spouse of the owner) of taxable real or personal property located within the district, or 3. a person obligated to pay taxes under a contract to purchase taxable property within the district A partial schedule for the upcoming election is as follows: February 26, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline date for candidates to file completed self-nomination forms or letters (name will appear on the ballot) with the designated election official. Forms may be obtained on or after February 1, from the district offices or from Susan Schledorn, the designated election official (telephone number 303-839-3912). Please note that you must be a resident or property owner within the district and you must also be registered to vote in Colorado when you complete your self-nomination form. March 1, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline date for candidates to file completed affidavits of intent to be a write-in candidate (name will not appear on the ballot) with the designated election official. Please note that you must be a resident or property owner within the district and registered to vote in Colorado when you complete your affidavit to be a write-in candidate. May 4, 2010 is Election Day.
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GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 7
Gas industry ebbs and flows The local economy holds out for more activity while concerned citizens organize for reform By Carrie Click, Echo editor Three main issues continue to be at the forefront of the energy industry in the Grand Valley area: lowered overall natural gas production, the potential of natural gas activity occurring too close to home, and the health and environmental impacts of gas activity. Locally, not many could have imagined natural gas industry activity slowing as much as it has. Many workers have pulled up and moved on, rental units sit empty, businesses of many kinds have been affected – and everyone is questioning what's next. And not many had any idea that Antero Resources could drill within Battlement Mesa's planned unit development (PUD) – causing concern among a number of citizens about their health and safety and their property values, too. Welcome to 2010 in the Grand Valley. So, what's happening with gas industry activity and local concerns about its impacts?
Gas production: According to Judy Jordon, the oil and gas liaison for Garfield County, 76 rigs were operating in the county in 2008. Today, she estimates there's around a dozen. However, according to Community Counts, a gas industry coalition, although activity has decreased, some gas companies are produrcing or plan to in the near future. Among them: • Antero Resources – Starting in March, Antero plans to drill and complete five wells from one existing pad south of Battlement's PUD. • EnCana – Currently, EnCana has five rigs drilling in the area: one east of Battlement, one on Grass Mesa near Rifle, and four in north Parachute. • Laramie Energy – Although Laramie recently laid down the only rig the company had operating in the area because of market conditions, there are hopes it can begin drilling this spring.
development (PUD) and Public Health is had plans to drill up to 200 working on conwells within in. The BCC ducting a health held a public kick-off event impact assess• Battlement Concerned Citizens meet at on Jan. 21, and holds regument, to deter1:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the Battlement Mesa lar meetings, besides mine the effects of Activity Center. Attend the meeting or call attending Garfield County gas activity on 285-7791. commissioners and energy people living near advisory board meetings, production. Jim and Grand Valley Citizen's Rada, the county's • Community Counts is an energy-industry Alliance events. environmental group available online at communitycounts• At a Feb. 12 BCC health director, is colorado.com, or by calling 866-442-9034. meeting at press time, the applying for grants group discussed, among from the Pew other issues, Charitable Trust and the Robert Wood Johnson - the potential of swapping minerals in Foundation to fund the study. Battlement's PUD with others located at safer dis• A well pad fire on an Antero site around New tances from residences, businesses, schools, etc. Year's caused concern among Battlement residents, - a follow up on fining Williams Production for prompting the BCC to ask Garfield County officials to drilling without proper permits within the Battlement follow up on the cause of fire and ask what the counPUD. ty is planning to do to make sure that Battlement residents remain safe. Gas activity impacts: • Assessor John Gorman is being asked to do an • Although the initial impetus for starting the BCC analysis of what is happening or what might happen was as a result of the Antero-PUD drilling news last to property values in Battlement Mesa when drilling year, the organization has expanded to cover a large begins. array of concerns about oil and gas issues. The group • The University of Colorado at Denver has a new was presented, at its Feb. 12 meeting, reports its risk School of Public Health. A staff member there has assessment teams on fire and pipeline safety, and air, asked the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance to compile a water and ground/soil quality. list of health concerns regarding gas activity in the • At the request of the BCC, Garfield County Parachute/Battlement Mesa area.
Want to know more?
Gas production in Battlement's planned unit development: • Battlement Concerned Citizens (BCC) is a group that formed last spring after the Battlement Mesa Company revealed that Antero Resources had leased the mineral rights under Workers move piping into place on an EncCana rig near Parachute. Battlement's planned unit
Photo by Ron Bailey
Page 8, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
4-H offers a range of youth programs By Kim Schriver, CSU Extension 4-H Youth Development
Are you between the ages of 5 and 18? Do you like to make new friends, go to neat places and learn cool new things? If so, 4-H is where the fun starts for you. In 4-H, you can build rockets, become a babysitter, and bake healthy snacks. You can grow vegetables or flowers. You can learn to take photographs, ride horses, or build an engine. You can make woodworking projects, redecorate your room, or raise a cat, dog, lamb or rabbit. You can collect insects or rocks, build an electrical device, make crafts and help clean up our environment. More than 200 learn-by-doing projects that are practical and fun, but challenging ways to learn, are available through 4-H. Members enjoy trips, games and parties. You can tour local businesses, see the sights of Garfield County, attend 4-H Camp, explore the NASA Space Center or learn about government and politics in Washington, D.C. You can even travel to other countries in the 4-H International Exchange program. In 4-H, the best way to learn about the world is to do things. That's why we offer lots of opportunities for young people to learn new skills while having fun with their friends. There's a proud history of excellence in 4-H for more than 100 years, and 4-H can open doors to state and national opportunities for all Colorado children and their families. Call Garfield County Extension Office at 625-3969 to learn more. Or check out the 4-H website at colorado4h.org Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District - "Where The Fun Begins"
Three park and rec board seats up for election By Mary Anderson, Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District executive director
The Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District's board members currently are Jason Fletcher, Denise Gallegos, Adam Lambrecht, Ron Palmer and Willie Williams. Three board positions are up for election on May 4. Nomination petitions are available on Feb. 26 at the park and recreation district office. Each person elected to a board position serves a four-year term. Board meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month at the park and rec office. The park and recreation office is moving into the Wasson/McKay House, at 259 Cardinal Way, Parachute, in late February or early March, about a half a block west of the current office location. The house is located right under the overpass. The district's phone and fax numbers remain the same – 285-0388 and fax, 285-1110. A new John Deere Gator is on site and ready for the spring. The district received a discount of more than $3,000 on the purchase of the Gator from the John Deere Company, The new ball field drag that was purchased with Mt. Callahan Community Foundation funds is on the premises and waiting for spring to drag the ball fields.
Park and rec program news • Adult Coed Volleyball: Seven teams are participating. Games are held on Tuesdays at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center, • Youth Basketball: Twenty boys are signed up, broken into two teams. A team from DeBeque is participating as well. Coaches are Jerry Mohrlang, who is being assisted by Teresa Snyder, and Joe Schubert, who is being assisted by Dustin Kramer. There are nine teams in the league, which includes New Castle and Silt. Practices are ongoing at the St John Elementary School gymnasium. A league game is scheduled in Parachute on Feb. 20. A final game on Feb. 27 wraps up the schedule. A tournament will be held March 1-6. • Spring Soccer: Sign up was completed on Jan. 29. • Youth Wrestling: Wrestling practice begins at the Grand Valley High School auxiliary gym in late February or early March and continues into May. A tournament is scheduled for April 24 in Parachute. Fliers have been sent to the schools and information is on the park and rec website. Tony Serna is again serving as head coach. The fee is $100 per participant, which includes all tournament fees.
Remember • Ski Bus to Sunlight: The ski bus to Sunlight is traveling on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Please call 625-2151 the day prior to make a bus reservation. • Battlement Mesa Health Fair: Park and rec is partnering with several regional organizations, including the Grand River Hospital District, to offer this year's health fair on March 13, from 7-10 a.m. at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. See page 10 for full information. The fair is a great, cost-effective way to assess your health. Parachute/Battlement Mesa Parks and Recreation is at 101 Cardinal Way, #4, Parachute, 2850388, parachutebattlementparkandrec.org Check out the website; it's updated frequently.
Sports Briefs Horse skijoring fundraiser comes to Parachute Feb. 28-29 A horse skijoring fundraiser is being held at the Grand Valley Park Association arena on Feb. 28-29, which should prove to be exciting, with participants com Laurel KoningpetiLaurel Koningng from several states. Proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit Terry Robinson, who is suffering with cancer. Skijoring – Norwegian for 'ski driving' with horses, reindeer and dogs – originated in Scandinavia. In Parachute, a horseback rider will pull a skier down a snowpacked run, with jumps and other obstacles in a timed event. Besides the skijoring, the event includes a bake sale, chili cook-off, and a silent auction. For more information, call Rose at 653-4015 or Bonnie at 858-7392. – Mary Anderson, Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District
Battlement Mesa Women's Golf League ready to tee off The Battlement Mesa Women's Golf League held an informal meeting on Feb. 6 to introduce its board's plans for the upcoming 2010 season. The board, with members Sandy Constine, Margaret Cooke, Nancy Swenson, Lois Jewell and Laurel Koning, are inviting all women golfers to consider joining our league. We will kick off the season with a league welcome meeting on March 30. The league's play dates are scheduled for Tuesday mornings beginning April 6. Play continues throughout the summer and fall with an awards luncheon in late September. The league offers opportunities for golfers who choose to play either nine or 18 holes each week. Various types of both team and individual play will offer equal chances to win from week to week. This year's play dates will also offer several "lunch and learn" gatherings after regular play. If you are interested in joining the Battlement Mesa Women's Golf League, please contact Sandy Constine at 285-6982 for more details. – Laurel Koning, Battlement Mesa Women's Golf League
Kiwanians' golf tournament scheduled for May 15 The Kiwanis Club of Grand Valley/Parachute's 17th annual Colorado River Scramble golf tournament and luncheon, is scheduled for May 15 at Battlement Mesa Golf Club. The planning committee is now seeking both corporate and individual sponsors to participate in the tournament. Contact Roy Brubacher, committee chairman, at 285-9678; or Bill Coelho, Club, president, at 2850178, and see page 19 for more information. – Don Chance, Kiwanis Club of Grand Valley/Parachute
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 9
Introducing Alexandria Loter: 'Danse De La Foi Studios' ballet, tap and jazz dance instructor
Alexandria "Alex" Loter began performing and dancing 10 years ago in Las Vegas, Nev. After her family moved to Colorado, she studied a variety of dance forms, including ballet, jazz and tap. At age 14 she began student teaching and currently teaches at the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts. She has experience teaching students from ages 3-17. Alex has studied under noted instructors Sheryl Gordon (The Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company) and Maurine Taufer (artistic advisor to Aspen Dance Connection). She has performed with the Center for the Arts Senior Dance Company and is currently a principal dancer in Artillum: A Dance Company. She has choreographed numerous pieces that have been performed by her students. "Seeing the arts become a vital part of the
community is something we should all aim for," says Alex. The staff at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center agrees and is pleased to announce the following schedule of classes: Pre-Ballet (ages 3-5) Friday 10-10:45 a.m. Tap and Jazz combo (ages 3-5) Friday 1111:45 a.m. Ballet I (ages 6-8) Tuesday 4:15-5 p.m. Tap & Jazz I (ages 6-8) Tuesday 5-5:45 p.m. Ballet II (ages 9 and up) Tuesday 6-6:45 p.m. Tap and Jazz II (ages 9 and up) Tuesday 6:457:30 p.m. Adult Ballet and Stretching Friday 12:30-1:30 p.m. For questions, call Alex Loter at 379-0396 or e-mail email@example.com. – Battlement Mesa Activity Center
Dance instructor, Alexandria Lote, is offering classes at BMAC.
Sea Turtles, from left: Erin Schuckers, Kaci Bowman, Cameron Bowman, Sam Whelan, Jenny Downing, Johnny Downing, Katelin Lang, Litah Campbell, Kyle Lang, Damon Downing, and Joey Downing Photo courtesy of Susan Lang
Battlement Mesa Sea Turtles Swim Team news
The Sea Turtle Swim Team has a silver state swimmer. At a recent United States Swimming meet held at Mesa State College, swimmer Jennifer Downing received a silver state time of 1:31.20 in the 100-yard backstroke. "She is the Sea Turtles' first silver state swimmer, but will surely not be our last," said Susan Lang, team coach. All the swimmers recently attended the 2010 Snowflake Open held at Mesa State College on Jan. 23-24. "All the swimmers did a great job," said Susan. "We now have now have five swimmers who are two to three seconds off their silver state cut and one swimmer who has achieved that mark. I am very proud of all them!" The Battlement Mesa Sea Turtles Swin Team is a member of United States Swimming. They practice Monday through Friday at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center from 4:30-6 p.m. Contact Susan Lang at 285-9846 if you're interested in joining this new and exciting team. – Battlement Mesa Sea Turtles
The Battlement Mesa Cast A Ways, a fly fishing club that is no longer active in the community, recently made a donation to the Battlement Mesa Activity Center in the amount of $218.64. The club met at the activity center when it was active. Dave Devanney presented the check to Anne Huber. Photo courtesy of BMAC.
Page 10, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
Grand River to hold two spring health fairs in Battlement Mesa and Rifle By Sarah Tahvonen, Grand River Hospital District
Aquatic therapy provides great benefits
If you recently have had an illness, injury or surgery, you may have been told you need physical therapy to help with rehabilitation. This could leave you a little wary, picturing rooms of weights and machines and painful tasks. But physical therapy shouldn't scare you. In fact, it can lead to increased independence, strength and improved self-esteem. Physical therapy can also help you reduce or eliminate your painful symptoms. There are many advancements and services in physical therapy and a very beneficial one is the emerging prevalence of aquatic therapy. Individuals with a variety of disabilities and orthopedic conditions can participate in aquatic therapy. If you have back problems, knee injuries, ankle injuries, strokes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, have had orthopedic surgeries, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis, muscular dystrophy, or are pregnant, you could benefit from aquatic therapy. And besides these, there are many more. Benefits from aquatic therapy are substantial. In addition to added independence, strength and self-esteem, by taking part in a regular regimen, you can see improved muscle tone, endurance, increased cardiovascular function, increased circulation, endurance, flexibility, range of motion, balance and coordination. What makes aquatic therapy different? Specifically-designed pools are designed for comfort. The depth and size makes it easy to get around and there are tools, such as bars and noodles, to help you stay afloat. The water is also kept warm to ensure your comfort.Things you may not be able to do on land, you can learn to do in water. The natural buoyancy acts as support for weakened extremities and will give you a comfort you do not get on land by putting less stress on joints. The viscosity of the water provides a great source of resistance that allows for muscle strengthening without weights. The hydrostatic pressure of the water can significantly reduce painful swelling. Also, the warmth of the water assists in relaxation and increases blood flow to injured areas. Nearby, Grand River Hospital and Medical Center in Rifle opened an expansion in June of 2009, and within its Physical Therapy Center is a beautiful aquatic therapy pool. The center has trained therapists to work with patients in and out of the water. If you are interested in aquatic therapy and think it may be a benefit to you, talk to your provider, who can further discuss your options. Sarah Tahvonen writes about health issues for the Echo from Rifle. If you have any comments or suggestions for a health-related topic you'd like to see covered, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
Full Throttle Tire & Auto We do brakes, exhaust, struts, shocks, front end & rear end work. Custom exhaust up to 3" with flowmaster muffler & tire sale. – Owners, Bonnie & Bobby Hancock Hours: Mon. – Fri., 8 am to 6 pm Sat. 8 am to noon
"We will treat your vehicle like it's our own – with your safety in mind."
250 West 1st St. • Parachute • Across from Ferrellgas
Grand River Hospital District is holding two spring health fairs – one in Battlement Mesa and one in Rifle. The Battlement Mesa Health Fair is on March 13 from 7-10 a.m. at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. This health fair provides low cost blood tests, blood pressure screenings, and much more. Grand River partners with the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Parks and Recreation Department, Battlement Mesa Activity Center, and the Grand Valley Ambulance Service to offer this health fair. The Rifle 9Health Fair will be held on April 17, from 7:30-11 a.m. at Grand River Hospital and Medical Center in Rifle. The fair offers low cost blood tests and free screenings, including prostate, skin, lung function, a limited number of pap smears, and more. Grand River partners with 9Health Fair, a statewide organization, to offer this health fair to the community. Participants are reminded to fast for 12 hours
Come to Battlement's Health Fair Saturday, March 13 7-10 a.m. Battlement Mesa Activity Center Call 625-6439
before getting blood tests to ensure the most accurate results. Community health fairs such as Battlement Mesa Health Fair and 9Health Fair are affordable ways to get blood work and other important screenings done. Regular screenings, blood work, and check ups are essential to good health and can flag potential medical issues.For more information about the Battlement Mesa Health Fair or the 9Health Fair, call 625-6439. For more information about Grand River Hospital District's facilities, services, and staff please visit grhd.org. For more information about the 9Health Fair organization and a more detailed list of blood tests, please visit 9healthfair.org or call 800-332-3078.
Do you have a public event you'd like to let people know about? Send your calendar listing to: email@example.com
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 11
Health Briefs Grand River Hospital District donates hundreds of medical items to Haiti RIFLE – On Jan. 21, Grand River Hospital District compiled new and used medical equipment and supplies to be sent to the small nation of Haiti, following a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the island of two million inhabitants on Jan. 12. "Grand River employees are very responsive to any need, whether it's for a fellow employee, our communities, national, or international," said Mary DesOrmeau, chief nursing officer and director of patient care services for Grand River. Along with Grand River, this project was made possible by the efforts of Barbara Bush of Glenwood Springs, Pat Marier (Guenther), PPR Healthcare, and Nurses with a Purpose. Grand River Hospital District is a community healthcare system that includes Grand River Hospital and Medical Center, Battlement Mesa Medical Clinic, Grand River Health and Safety Center, and E. Dene Moore Care Center. For more information about Grand River Hospital District, please call 625-1510 or visit – Sarah Tahvonen their website, grhd.org. Grand River Hospital District
Free cancer screenings for women who qualify As of Feb 1, Grand River is partnering with Women's Wellness Connection to offer free cervical and breast exams to women who qualify. The service provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to women who live in Colorado, are legal U.S. resident, are 40-64 years old, do not have health insurance or a deductible significant enough to delay or prevent screenings, meet low-income guidelines, have not had a Pap test and/or mammogram in the last 12 months or women who have lost insurance, had an abnormal result, and need follow up. Breast and cervical cancer screenings can greatly increase their chance of surviving cancer. Annual mammography combined with clinical breast exams and appropriate and timely follow-up treatment for women age 50 and older can reduce breast cancer mortality by about one-third. When breast cancer is found early, there is a 98 percent survival rate, and when cervical cancer is found early, there is a 92 percent survival rate. Call 625-6205 for more information. – Sarah Tahvonen Grand River Hospital District
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Available at the following Phillips 66 Stations
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PARACHUTE GRUB N SCRUB 28 Cardinal Way • Parachute
Car Wash / Dominos / Shommy's Restaurant Shommy's Restaurant Now Open – Asian/American Cuisine
RED RIVER QUICK MART 1-70 at South Rifle • 702 Taghenbaugh Blvd.
Dominos Pizza - 625-0505
THE CORNER STORE & LASER CAR WASH 9th & Railroad • Rifle
Touch Free Carwash / Convenience Store
BOOKCLIFF CAR WASH 1st & West Ave • Rifle
Touch Free Carwash / Convenience Store
Rifle - 970-625-1467 • Eagle - 970-328-7788
The Flower Shop
Spring is just around the corner . . . Come in & see our Spring Bulbs & Blooming Plants
73 Sipperelle Drive In the Battlement Market Plaza
Page 12, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
Speaker talks taxes, chamber banquet coming up in March
Parachute/Battlement Mesa Area Chamber of Commerce Businesses of the Month
By Bill Cornelius, Parachute/Battlement Area Chamber of Commerce
By Bill Cornelius, Parachute/Battlement Area Chamber of Commerce
How would like to get an $8,000 tax credit? Sound interesting? This was just one of the many items discussed at the Parachute/Battlement Area Chamber of Commerce meeting held Jan. 14 at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center. John Shepherd of H & R Block in Rifle was the guest speaker. John also brought along Brad Pollard and Carol Proud from his office, and John gave an informative talk pertaining to the many tax laws that have changed, from new tax exemption amounts to tax credits available to first-time homebuyers of up to $8,000. John was very helpful in answering a variety of tax-related questions asked of him from chamber members in attendance. H & R Block in Rifle is available if you have any questions or if you would like them to prepare your 2009 taxes. In other chamber business, we discussed upcoming chamber events. The Cabin Volunteer Breakfast is scheduled for March 11 at the Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse beginning at 8:30 a.m. This is a breakfast given to thank the volunteers who man the Rest Stop Cabin in Parachute from April 1 through Oct. 31. If you would like to help out thanking the volunteers, contact either Nancy Jay at Wells Fargo Bank at 285-7848 or Bill Cornelius with Shepherd of the Mesa Lutheran Church at 987-3093. And of course, the big event coming up is the annual chamber Awards Banquet and Auction. This popular event is slated for March 20 starting at 5 p.m. The banquet will be held at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center and the theme will be Mardi Gras Madness. If you would like to contribute an auction item, contact Mary Anderson at 285-0388. This is the big fundraising event for the chamber to help support the many projects we are involved in from community events to scholarships for kids in the community. So come on out. Have some fun. Meet your friends and associates. And support our community. The next regular chamber meeting is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Feb. 18 at Alpine Bank. A membership meeting is at 12 p.m. on March 11 with speaker Steve Rippy of the Battlement Mesa Metro District at the Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse.
The Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce's Businesses of the Month for February are Grand River Hospital and Medical Center in Rifle and H & R Block in Rifle. Representing this month's businesses are Paul Schultz, director of rehabilitation at the hospital and medical center; and John Shepherd, senior tax advisor with H & R Block. These businesses are selected by a random drawing. One business is drawn from the members attending the regular general membership meeting and one from all current members. Grand River Hospital and Medical Center offer services needed to keep healthy. Whether you are looking for an after-hours clinic, a 24/7 emergency room, or a great family health provider, Grand River is here to offer you exceptional healthcare, locally. The Grand River Health & Safety Center in Parachute is here to offer all aspects of occupational health, from drug testing to injury treatment. Grand River values its workforce and knows the importance of a healthy employee. Paul Schultz, the director if rehabilitation, wants everyone to know about the new 6,500-square-foot rehabilitation department, including a therapeutic pool at the hospital and medical center. For questions about the rehabilitation services at the hospital and medical center, give Paul a call at 625-6451 John Shepherd, senior tax advisor with H & R Block in Rifle says he and H & R's staff really believe that they are a financial supporter for our clients. Not many businesses have access to people's concerns as H & R Block does. Consequently, John and the staff are committed to assist clients in meeting their legal obligations while helping them to avoid tax pitfalls. In the event of having difficulties with the IRS or state tax authorities, H & R Block will help to resolve the issue to the best legal resolution. Also, all H & R Block's work is guaranteed and if they make any errors, penalty and interest assessed as a result are their obligation. John says there have been many new tax law changes and there are many questions. (See story, left.) Any tax questions will be answered without any charge. Call John for additional information at 625-1626.
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 13
Business Brief
Colorado Heritage merges with Keller Williams Realty
Free tax service at Wells Fargo this year Wells Fargo Bank in Battlement Mesa is continuing to host a free tax preparation site for the upcoming tax season. This will be the fifth year that the site has operated in Battlement Mesa and Parachute. The site is affiliated with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), a free federal and state income tax preparation program that began in 1969 Two Battlement Mesa residents are volunteering their time at the site: Tom Hall, CPA, and Jean Proud. Both are experienced income tax preparers. Free tax preparation is provided to elderly, middleincome and low-income taxpayers qualified to file Federal Tax Form 1040. VITA handles most of basic tax issues. Those with complex or unusual tax situations will be referred to paid preparers. A sign will be posted at the site entrance describing unusual tax situations. Wells Fargo is located at 71 Sipprelle Dr. in Battlement Mesa. Call 2857848 to schedule an appointment. Please leave a message if no one is available to take your call. – Tom Hall
Keller Williams Grand Junction Realty has merged with Colorado Heritage Real Estate Company in Battlement Mesa, according to Sandy Barger Borman, CEO of the Grand Junctionbased organization. Keller Williams Realty is the third largest real estate franchise in North America.Currently, the Grand Junction office has 71 agents with the seven agents added with this merger. Barger Borman says she is excited to begin growth up the I-70 corridor. "The experience level of the agents coming to Keller Williams from Colorado Heritage will provide wonderful expansion opportunities for our office," she says. Jack Pretti, former owner and managing broker of Colorado Heritage, is the current chairman of the Glenwood Springs Association of Realtors and has a long, successful track record in real estate. Colorado Heritage has boasted a majority market share in the area. The agents who have joined Keller, in addition to Pretti, are Karen Jones, Pete Rock, Jim Warren, Cookie Schaller, Paula Dueitt, and Mary Lee Mohrlang. The Battlement Mesa number to call is 285-9700, or stop by the real estate office's new location at 73 Sipprelle Dr., Suite J-1. For information about career opportunities with Keller Williams, contact Sandy Barger Borman at 979-244-9202. – Keller Williams Realty
Have a story idea? Contact the Echo email@example.com 1.866.442.9034
• The Community Counts Hotline
www.communitycountscolorado.com HERE ARE UPDATES FROM SOME OF OUR OPERATORS IN THE AREA… Antero Resources will be drilling and completing 5 wells from 1 existing pad south of the Battlement Mesa PUD starting in March 2010. Antero anticipates the drilling and completion activity to be finished sometime in May. Contact: Jon Black, 625.9922 EnCana has 1 rig drilling east of Battlement Mesa, 1 rig drilling in the Mamm Creek field south of Rifle on Grass Mesa, and 4 rigs drilling on our North Parachute Ranch north of Parachute. Contact: Sher Long, 618.8443 Laramie Energy II has laid down its one and only rig due to market conditions and certain winter restrictions. We hope to begin drilling again around May depending, of course, on market conditions. Laramie kept one rig active during 2009 but did not complete any wells. Contact: Ken Leis, 985.5383 OXY currently has one drilling rig in Cascade Creek north of Debeque on Oxy property, and one completion rig in the Collbran area. Contact: Daniel Padilla, 263.3637 Williams recently presented Mesa State College $150,000 to be used over a five year period for scholarships for the Landman/Energy Management program. Having well-educated graduates in career areas Williams and other operators need to further develop clean burning natural gas is a plus. Four scholarships will be awarded this spring. Contact: Susan Alvillar, 285.9377 Williams is also pleased that the renovations on the Thomas Glover Cabin, recently moved from Parachute Creek to property containing the Battlement Mesa School House, are complete. Stop by and visit this historic cabin at its new home.
Page 14, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
SALES REPORT Battlement Mesa, Parachute and Outlying Areas SALES – Battlement Mesa Area SALES – Parachute & Outlying Areas Total Sales in 2009
2009 Battlement Creek Village 98 Roan Creek Drive $365,000 44 Roan Creek Drive $380,000 $405,000 182 Boulder Ridge Drive Canyon View 13 Limberpine $199,000 Eagle's Point The Fairways Mesa Ridge Townhomes 166 South Ridge Court $212,500 121 South Ridge Court $205,000 0036 North Ridge Court $197,500 $214,000 166 South Ridge Court Monument Creek Village 68 Hawthorne Way $288,000 108 Hawthorne Way $325,000 41 Holly Way $212,000 49 Juniper Lane $279,000 12 Rosewood $178,000 0050 Pinyon Place $240,000 70 Bristlecone Court $226,000 110 Ponderosa Circle $215,000 12 Lupine Lane $255,000 64 Dogwood Lane $203,000 57 Dogwood Lane $264,000 The Reserve Stoneridge Village 17 Locust Way $410,000 109 Lodgepole Circle $292,000 Tamarisk Meadows 263 Mineral Springs Circle $193,000 $180,000 47 Black Sulphur Place 83 Mineral Springs Circle $192,000 349 Mineral Springs Circle $188,500 Tamarisk Village (Saddleback) 47 East Tamarack Circle $140,000 151 East Tamarack Circle $152,000 $174,900 90 Cedar Circle 108 East Tamarack Circle $164,000 83 East Tamarack Circle $160,000 $145,000 102 Queen City Circle 174 West Tamarack Circle $160,500 Valley View Village 111 Angelica Circle $170,000 11 Jessica Lane $167,000 0160 Cliff View Circle $232,000 Willow Creek Village 38 Willow Creek Court $279,900 15 Ridgeview Place $250,000 0163 Willow Creek $300,000 Parachute & Outlying Areas $215,000 3 Aspen Court 260 Yampa Avenue $149,000 100 Harris Lane $269,900 4679 County Road 301 $270,000 $140,000 120 Yampa Drive Cardinal Way (land) $1,300,000 165 S. 2nd Court $275,000 340 Railroad $145,900 $215,000 5490 CR 301 22 St. John Circle $100,000 101 Monument Ridge Road (land) $135,000 Green Avenue (land-commercial) $706,064
Call Del at 970-250-8400
38 12 50
Multi-Year Comparison 06/29/09 07/24/09 07/31/09 11/18/09
01/23/09 07/01/09 09/11/09 10/28/09 01/15/09 05/06/09 05/22/09 05/28/09 06/12/09 07/15/09 07/28/09 08/13/09 08/17/09 08/27/09 09/25/09
04/24/09 07/01/09 05/13/09 07/10/09 08/14/09 08/28/09 04/09/09 05/15/09 05/22/09 07/17/09 08/27/09 11/04/09 11/18/09 06/03/09 07/17/09 09/24/09 06/26/09 08/31/09 09/25/09 04/21/09 05/01/09 05/22/09 07/23/09 07/29/09 07/31/09 08/31/09 08/31/09 10/09/09 10/16/09 11/24/09 12/04/09
Battlement Creek Village 1 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 The Reserve @ Battlement Creek 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Canyon View 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 The Fairways 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Monument Creek Village 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Mesa Ridge
Lot Sales 2 4 0 3 9 3 4 0 Lot Sales 1 2 2 1 12 15 1 0 Lot Sales 0 2 1(5) 0 0 Lot Sales 0 1 0 0 0 Lot Sales 13 21 4 4 1 2 2 0 Lot Sales
Home Sales 4 0 5 5 9 8 3 3 Home Sales 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 Home Sales 2 6 5 11 7 13 2 1 Home Sales 3 0 1 3 0 3 0 0 Home Sales 29 32 47 25 40 24 13 11 Home Sales
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
11 5 8 10 10 7 4 4
Eagles Point 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Lot Sales 7 18 11 1 0
Home Sales 0 1 5 9 0
Stone Ridge Village 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Tamarisk Meadows 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Tamarisk Village 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Willow Creek Village 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Valley View Village 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Lot Sales 4 7 6 8 6 2 0 0 Lot Sales Lot Sales Lot Sales 3 5 2 3 2 0 0 0 Lot Sales 1 -
Home Sales 2 1 2 6 7 8 1 2 Home Sales 9 13 13 12 13 15 13 4 Home Sales 8 17 13 19 19 23 22 7 Home Sales 3 9 9 13 7 8 5 3 Home Sales 6 14 18 42 14 3
Parachute & Outlying Areas 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Lot Sales
Home Sales
30 28 11 14 17 15 7 3
18 24 30 40 76 43 23 9
Total All Sales 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
142 174 166 199 276 248 125 50
Prepared by Del Dawson, RE/MAX Country "Your Neighborhood Professional"
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 15
Symphony Swing comes to town
Art Brief Village Artists plan events The local art group, Village Artists, met recently and planned some upcoming workshops and demonstrations. All artists and people interested in any type of art are invited. Paintings, sketches and photos, which are displayed for two months at a time, on the wall opposite the pool at the activity center come from the group. On Feb. 23, Robert Hooper, a talented oil painter, presents a demonstration for the group. The group meets at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center every fourth Tuesday at 1 p.m. Contact Elaine Warehime, Village Artists president, at 285-7197 if you have questions are would like to purchase a work from the activity center.
Tickets are on sale for Symphony Swing, the Symphony in the Valley's gala to benefit the community orchestra. The gala events feature the full orchestra and the Symphony in the Valley Jazz Orchestra playing the top tunes from the Big Band era, with a variety of guest vocalists, including Jeannie Walla, Lorraine Curry, Krista Espelien, Kelly Thompson and the ensembles Mixed Emotions and The Sirens. Symphony Swing will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26, at Grand Valley High School in Parachute. The show features light refreshments, bistrostyle table seating, and dancing. Tickets are available in advance or at the door. To reserve tickets in advance, go to symphonyinthevalley.org. – Heather McGregor
– Joline B. Gnatek, Village Artists
The Colorado Mountain College Gallery on Grand Avenue in Glenwood Springs is currently featuring the work of local painter Dean Bowlby, which includes plein-air paintings from a recent trip to Paris. Dean teaches art at CMC. The show remains up through March 26. Contact Alice Beauchamp at 9478367 for more information. Photo courtesy of Colorado Mountain College
Conductors John Bokram, Carlos Elias and Kelly Thompson will lead the Symphony in the Valley Jazz Orchestra playing favorites from the Big Band era for Symphony Swing. The Photo by Ross Kribbs benefit dance concert is being held Feb. 26 in Parachute.
Page 16, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
Library Briefs
Renowned artist visits Grand Valley High School
New books available at the library Here are some of the hot new titles for February available at the Parachute Branch Library at its current, temporary location at Fisher and Hill in Parachute: "Secret Whispers" by V. C. Andrews "Aunt Dimity Down Under" by Nancy Atherton "Able One by" Ben Bova "The Spies of Sobeck" by P. C. Doherty "Shadow Tag" by Louise Erdrich "The Wild Zone" by Joy Fielding "Coming of the Storm: Book One" by Kathleen O Neal Gear "Worst Case" by James Patterson "Her Mother's Hope" by Francine Rivers
DVD: "Riddick Trilogy" "500 Days of Summer" "Scrat Pack" "First 100 Episodes – Spongebob Squarepants"
Easy Readers: "Rise of Iron Man: Invincible Iron Man" "Friends of Enemies: Invincible Iron Man" "Strike 3 Marley"
Nonfiction: "Audacity to Win" by David Plouffe "It's Your Time" by Joel Osteen "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Roer "Tyranny of E-mail" by John Freeman "Read My Pins" Madeleine Albright "Notes from the Cracked Ceiling" Ann Kornblut "Top Chef Quick Fire Cookbook" Many more new books are available. Check our website at garfieldlibraries.org and feel free to use our Internet page to put any of the above titles on hold with your library card or come to the library and we will put your name on the books for you.Call the Parachute Branch Library 285-9870. The library will call or e-mail you when your items are ready for pick up. Enjoy. – Beret Brenckman, Parachute Branch Library
Food for Fines at your library During the month of February, if you bring in non-perishable food items to any of the six Garfield County libraries you will receive credit on your library card account. For every item you donate, you will receive a $1 credit applied toward overdue fines (not lost materials or fees). All the items donated will be given to the local LIFTUP.Last February Garfield County's libraries collected more than 2,300 food items. So, look in your pantry or head to the grocery store and take full advantage of this year's Food for Fines program.If you have questions please call 625-4270 or stop by your local branch library. – Garfield County Library District
Firehouse Story Time Ever wonder what a firefighter does all day? Wonder where the firefighter lives? Want to try on a fireman's hat? The Parachute Branch Library is hosting a special edition of story time at the new firehouse on Stone Quarry Road on Feb. 26 at 10:30 a.m. to answer just these questions. The story time will feature the reading of Fireman Small by Wong Herbert Yee. Local firefighters will join us for this fun event, so don't be late! For more information, call 285-9870. – Garfield County Library District
ilton Tim Ham As part of February's Big Read program, which is featuring Ray Bradbury's book, "Fahrenheit 451," artist Tim Hamilton recently visited Grand Valley High School. Hamilton talked with students at the school in early February. Hamilton is the artist of the new and only authorized adaptation of "Fahrenheit 451," His book is an illustrated version of Bradbury's original work. Hamilton's book has been described as ""a graphic novel that even those who don't read graphic novels will love," according to Barbara Hoffert of "Library Journal." "This visualization of Bradbury's classic looks bold, bright, and almost too hot to handle." Hamilton lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. and has produced art for "The New York Times Book Review," Dark Horse Comics, "Mad" magazine, DC Comics, and "Nickelodeon" magazine. – Garfield County Library District
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 17
A bear on all twos Parachute photographer Ron Bailey came across this curious bear at EnCana's North Parachute Ranch when he was shooting photos for an EnCana project.
* A goofy help wanted ad You may have noticed a goofy little "help wanted" ad on page 30 in our classifieds section this month. We want to explain. We received it from a Grand Valley parent trying to instill in his 9-year-old son the importance of helping around the house. Dad tells us that when asked to do his share, his son responded with "If I only had a servant, then I wouldn't have to do the work." So Dad offered to place an ad for a servant for his son. Pay: None. Benefits: None. Lesson: Maybe worth a classified ad. We're all for helping parents teach their kids about how the world works, so that's why the ad is there…in case you're wondering. – Carrie Click, Grand Valley Echo editor
Page 18, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
Nature at Home and Afield
Take a Hint Household How-to Hints
Mice don't like peppermint By Barbara Barker • Now is a good time to remove wasp nests. • A dash of salt makes egg whites whip more rapidly; also add a dash of salt to cream before whipping. • One part lemon juice and two parts vegetable oil makes a good furniture polish. • Cover rhubarb plants now with a half-barrel or a wooden box to hasten their eligibility for pie. • Spider mites thrive in warm dry houses. Frequent misting under the leaves will discourage them. • A piece of chalk in the jewelry box will prevent tarnishing. • Lemons are great for cleaning piano keys, china, glass, baby bottles, porcelain, marble and copper. • Use dental floss to sew on buttons that will get a lot of hard wear. • Lemons make great stain remover for lipstick, mildew, or rust spots on fabric. • Mice dislike the smell of peppermint; spread it liberally where you suspect the critters. • If your car is going to be outside all night in frigid weather, pull up the windshield wipers and coat the windshield and cut an onion in half and rub the glass with the onion's cut surface. The coating will prevent the formation of ice on the windshield. Don't forget to 'onion-up' the side view mirrors. • Covering the windshield with paper or plastic bags will also help prevent ice on the windshield. Use small bags for the side view mirrors. • A plastic dustpan makes a good ice scraper without scratching the windshield. • Spray WD-40 into car door locks and trunk locks before it gets cold. This will prevent the locks from freezing up. You can also spray the locks after they are frozen to defrost them. Barbara Barker of Battlement Mesa has lots more of these hints, which she'll reveal in future issues of the Echo.
by Betsy Leonard
Trees, Trees, Trees
Have you ever climbed a tree? Lain under a tree on a lazy summer day? Marveled at the golden color change of an aspen in autumn? Whether you choose to cultivate trees or not, trees are important because they do things to keep an ecosystem functioning properly. For instance, they: 1) provide oxygen 2) clean the air by absorbing odors and pollution 3) prevent water runoff and soil erosion by breaking rainfall and holding soil 4) provide canopy and habitat for wildlife 5) provide visual barriers and fire and wind breaks 6) provide protection against the increase in cancer-causing ultraviolet rays due to the depletion of the ozone layer 7) reduce water consumption and increase atmosphere moisture – and this is just part of what trees can do for us. All trees have common elements in their structure. Leaves are the food factories of a tree. Using energy from the sun, leaves convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and sugar (food). This process is called photosynthesis. The trunk provides support for branches, which support the leaves. It is in the trunk and branches that the tree transports water and nutrients to the leaves, and sugar from the leaves to the rest of the tree. From the inside of the trunk to the outside, the layers are as follows: a) Heartwood forms the central core, is made up of dense dead wood, and provides strength for the tree b) Xylem, also called sapwood, brings water and nutrients up from the roots to the leaves; older xylem becomes part of the heartwood c) Cambium is a very thin layer of growing tissue and it makes cells that become new xylem, phloem, or cambium d) Phloem, also called the inner bark, carries sap (sugar and nutrients dissolved in water) from the leaves to the rest of the tree e) Bark protects the tree from injury caused by insects and other animals, by other plants, by disease, and by fire. Bark characteristics vary from tree species to species. f) Roots help to anchor the tree in the ground. They absorb water and nutrients from the soil. The deliberate removal of forest is one of the most longstanding and significant ways in which humans have modified the environment, whether achieved by fire or cutting. Sometimes, forests are cleared to allow agriculture; at other times, to provide fuel for domestic purposes, or provide charcoal or wood for construction; sometimes to fuel locomotives, or to smoke fish; and sometimes to smelt metals. The equatorial tropics are being assaulted and cleared at an alarming rate. This rapid loss of rainforest is critically serious because these forests are a source for foods, drinks, medicines, contraceptives, gums, resins, scents, specific pesticides, and so on. In other parts of the world, particularly in arid regions, the vegetation is removed for cultivation, by the cutting and uprooting of woody species for fuel, by over-grazing and by the burning of vegetation for pasture and charcoal. This can fuel the process of slow desert advance, sometimes known as desertification. Lastly, our Western forests are much more susceptible to large-scale tree mortality caused by drought and bark beetles than they used to be. The forests of today are much more uniform and dense. High levels of tree mortality result in loss of old growth, degraded watershed conditions, changes in species diversity and productivity, and loss in fish and wildlife habitat. Dead trees also add significant fuel loading to the forest. Extreme fuel loads pose a significant threat to property and life. There are things we can do to curb all of these trends, but the issues are complex. We can start by honoring the trees in our neighborhoods. Trees provide memories of summer days, of swings and tree houses, of your child's first encounter with a squirrel, of the big old tree that grew nearby, or the leaves you collected for that school project. In short, trees are priceless – to us, to the Earth, and to our future. Betsy Leonard is an environmental education specialist who lives in Parachute.
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 19
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After a hectic holiday season, the Kiwanis Club of Grand Valley/Parachute is continuing service to the children of our community by taking all fourth grade students to Powderhorn for the annual Winter Ecology Snowshoe Event. Volunteers help put on snowshoes and teach survival in the snow. It takes four days to get all the fourth graders up to the Grand Mesa. Due to a change in hours of operation at the Battlement Mesa Activity Center, we have changed our meeting place. We now meet at the Parachute Senior Center, 540 N. Parachute, in Parachute at 7 a.m. for coffee with the program beginning at 7:30 a.m. Please come join us some Tuesday morning.
– BJ Barker, Kiwanis
Battlement Mesa Kiwanians planning annual golf tournament
The Parachute/Battlement Mesa Kiwanis Club has started planning their 17th annual Colorado River Scramble golf tournament and luncheon, to be held May 15 at Battlement Mesa Golf Club. This tournament is the main fundraising activity of the Kiwanis Club and helps support more than 15 major projects benefiting children in the area, ranging from college scholarships for high school seniors to winter ecology snowshoe trips to the Grand Mesa for fourth graders. During the year, these projects impact more than 3,000 community members. The volunteer hours expended by club members implementing these projects have an estimated value to the community of more than $100,000. The planning committee is actively seeking both corporate and individual sponsors to participate in this worthwhile activity. Any individual or company that is interested in becoming a sponsor should contact Roy Brubacher, committee chairman, at 285-9678; or Bill Coelho, Club, president, at 285-0178.
– Don Chance, Kiwanis
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Page 20, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
The Colorado Mountain College study abroad program this summer includes a four-week course in Dublin, Ireland, above, where students will study literature as well as international business and management. Below, students will visit the National Gallery of Dublin. Photos courtesy of CMC
See the globe through Colorado Mountain College Deadline approaching for study abroad in Ireland, Spain By Debbie Crawford, Colorado Mountain College
Opportunities abound this summer for academic and personal growth for anyone enrolling in travel abroad courses through Colorado Mountain College (CMC). Note that the registration deadline for travel abroad courses in Ireland and Spain is March 5. CMC welcomes adult learners of all ages, as well as high school seniors. There are still spaces available for students who want to make this the summer of a lifetime. Contact Mary Ebuna at 719-486-4224 or learn more at coloradomtn.edu/international_programs. Study literature, business in Dublin, Ireland CMC is offering an all-new adventure abroad for summer 2010. With Dublin as their home base for four weeks, students will have opportunities to visit the many faces and regions of Ireland by way of its modern rail system.
Echo Briefs Parachute environmental educator asking locals to participate in Earth Hour 2010 Betsy Leonard, a local environmental educator who writes the column "Nature at Home and Afield" for The Grand Valley Echo, wants to have as many people as possible participate in Earth Hour 2010, a mass global event to bring awareness to climate change. "I participated in Earth Hour last year, but felt if my neighbors were also participating, so much more the impact," she says. Earth Hour 2010 takes place March 27 at 8:30 p.m. Grand Valley time. National monuments including Mount Rushmore, the Empire State Building, the Las Vegas Strip, and the Golden Gate Bridge have already pledged to participate. Keya Chatterjee, director of international climate policy at World Wildlife Fund, says that nearly one billion people made last year's Earth Hour the single largest mass action in human history. Organizers are again asking millions of people around the world in turning off their lights for Earth Hour for one hour to raise awareness and demand action to fight climate change. More information can be found at earthhour.org. – Earth Hour 2010
Regional activities planned for World Friendship Month GRAND JUNCTION – Friendship Force International's Western Colorado Chapter is inviting the public to join with them and the other 374 chapters worldwide in celebration of World Friendship Month on March 20 from 3-5 p.m. at the Lakeside Club House, 3150 Lakeside Dr. in Grand Junction. Information of 10 countries from the group's most recent cultural exchange trips as well as wines and snacks from those regions will be displayed. Authors' Guild members who've authored travel books will also be available to conduct book sales and signings. Friendship Force International (FFI) is a 34-year-old nonprofit international travel and cultural exchange program headquartered in Atlanta. The FFI pledge, recited at all chapter monthly gatherings, is to be a positive example to the people of all nations in order to further the cause of friendship and world peace. For more information, contact email@example.com. – Friendship Force International
Improve your Spanish, absorb culture of Salamanca, Spain This summer there is a four or eight week Spanish immersion program that begins immediately after the Ireland program in the beautiful university city of Salamanca, Spain. Students stay with Spanish families and study in the heart of this warm and exciting city of academia. Depending on length of stay, students can earn three to 10 credits in Spanish and culture.
Recycling update for Battlement Mesa and Parachute
Dates, costs The four-week Dublin program goes from May 21-June 19, and the cost is $4,500. The Salamanca, Spain program begins June 19, and runs for either four or eight weeks. The price for four weeks is $2,500, and increases for the longer session.
Commingled recyclables
Recycling bins are located at the Clark's Market parking lot in Battlement Mesa.
aluminum cans glass: bottles, jars (green, brown and clear) metal cans plastic containers – code No. 1 and 2 (ex. plastic soda bottles, water bottles, milk, jugs and detergent bottles) Please, no plastic bags. Empty your bag into the bin and reuse your plastic bag.
Newspapers According to Waste Management, Battlement can now recycle: • magazines • office paper along with newspapers in the bin. Please, no cardboard boxes or cardboard of any kind and no plastic or paper bags. Empty your bags into the bin, and take your bags with you. Thank you for recycling correctly and responsibly. For the second half of February, bins are being replaced on Feb. 18. Bins are replaced every other Thursday. – Bonnie Smeltzer
Gerhard Rill
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 21
continued from page 1
And you should see him play the alp horn Not only does being a foot specialist run in the family, but Gerhard also inherited some traditional musical talent. While only 7-years-old, he learned how to play his father's accordion so that he could play a tune when Balthasar returned home from a stay in the hospital. "It was full-size, I was pint-size," he says of the memory. Gerhard's extensive music history now spans about 45 years. It includes a stint in a guitar and accordion duo, where he and his partner were not old enough to drive, and took the train to play at gigs. Later, he learned the more contemporary music of the 1970s. Now, he plays in his present band, Alpine Echo. Playing traditional German music, Alpine Echo can be heard at Oktoberfests and other cultural celebrations from Aspen to Grand Junction and Vail to Denver. While the accordion and button box are his favorite instruments, he also enjoys playing the alp horn, trumpet, guitar, piano, upright bass, a couple of flutes and harmonica. There's a history to his skiing background, too. Gerhard started ski patrolling in the 1980s on a glacier outside of Garmisch that was frequented by U.S. servicemen. With his bilingual ability, he patrolled for both the German and American ski patrols on the mountain, and of course, made extra money playing music. He still patrols at Powderhorn Ski Area one to three days a week depending on schedules
Back at the farm Gerhard and his wife Deb have four children between them, three dogs, and "Oh yeah, the tree farm." On their seven-acre parcel of land is the log home he built. Baby Blues is the name of their blue spruce tree farm, that has anywhere from 700 to 800 trees, which the Rills sell to landscapers. Like many of his patients, one of Gerhard's favorite activities is running long distances. He is fully aware of the toll it can take on the body. "Just like you would tune up your skis, your bike, your ATV, you need to do a little preventative maintenance on your body so it can do the things you ask it to do," he says. He stresses cross-training to athletes, stretching, knowing your own metabolism and hydrating properly. Gerhard's wife Deb sums up her multi-dimensional husband. "We all have ideas," Deb says. "Gerhard brings his to life. In short, he skis, he helps people, he plays music, and he ponders a lot. He's one of kind, that's for sure." Gerhard shows a youngster the fine art of alp-horn playing at a recent Photo by Alyssa Ohnmacht event.
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Page 22, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
Grand Valley Educational Foundation now online
Grand Valley Middle School A Message from the Principal By Scott C. Pankow
By Dr. BJ Lindauer, Grand Valley Educational Foundation board member The Grand Valley Educational Foundation in Parachute now has a new first-ever website. The site has been developed by Robert Martin, Grand Valley High School technology teacher, and his technology class for use by the community, school district personnel, students, and foundation members. The site was developed with help from foundation members Susan Hoover, E. J. Rivet, Roy Brubacher and Cheri Witt- Brown. The foundation provided a mini-grant to Mr. Martin and his students who have, in turn, arduously labored to produce a valuable communication tool. This tool is designed to better inform the community of the purpose and scope of the work of the foundation. It also will provide information to potential donors in the community who may wish to contribute to scholarships and/or Garfield School District No. 16 programs. This effort has provided Mr. Martin's class an opportunity to apply classroom learning to "real world" business application and environments. Students involved in this project include: Tiffany Tittes, production manager; Juan Ramirez, logo designer; Brady Nay, content; Oscar Diaz, content and setting up colors; Anthony Bohler, content; and Brandon Cannon, graphics. The foundation owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. Martin and his class for providing a valuable joint endeavor for the working relationships among teachers, students, parents, community members and the foundation. The website can also be used as a launching point for DVDs. Others outside of the district can view what the students have created. The website can be accessed at gvef.garcoschools.org/page id=14.
Recently, I sent out a message to Grand Valley Middle School parents, who have now had time to have discussions with their youngsters about peer pressure and making good life choices. In short, it cannot be stressed enough that prescription medication needs to be stored in a safe secure location and we all should take time to inventory any such supplies. February is a busy month. We started with our Science Fair on Feb. 4, which was an all-day event. We had an awards presentation for the first, second and third place winners at each grade level. Those students who won are going to the regional competition at Mesa State College on Feb. 19. Parent teacher conferences were this month on Feb. 10-11. This is a good time to do a mid-checkpoint with your child's teachers to see how they are doing and what supports are needed. Parents have been asking about strategies to help their youngsters through middle school. We have purchased "Middle Years," a monthly resource with helpful tips that range from homework-help strategies to preparing your child for standardized testing. This monthly addition to the school newsletter we send out is a continual resource for parents, to walk with your adolescents through their middle school experience. We are hosting the Sixth Grade Honor Choir on Feb. 23. Schools from Aspen, New Castle and Rifle will be joining our sixth grade students. A performance for all families is being held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the cafetorium. Finally, don't forget to mark your calendars for Feb. 26 for our first-ever middle school musical. The drama club is presenting an original play (written by our very own Mr. James) titled "The Pre-School Musical." This will be a dinner theatre production with a silent auction. All proceeds will go to the drama club and for the Washington, D.C. trip students.
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GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 23
District 16 Corner Submitted by Ken Haptonstall, Superintendent of Schools Garfield School District 16
District is facing significant challenges
The district is facing some very large financial hurdles for the upcoming school years. During the course of the past few months, we have been working to assess our own fiscal situation, and that of the state's, and how those two mesh. As we are now past the halfway point in our school year, we are beginning to iron out some of the challenges we face. We are starting putting many budget-saving ideas together to enable the district to weather the upcoming storm. This year, with a drop in student enrollment of 184 students through October, and an additional 30 students since, the district's revenues were greatly impacted. We did not reduce staffing during the year, for the sake of our students' learning and the benefit of our staff. I do not regret that decision and still feel that it was absolutely the right thing to do. What it will mean is that we must make some major changes in our staffing practices this spring, so we can utilize the budget we have remaining to operate our schools in a fiscally responsible manner and toward the best possible education we can provide for our children. Along with the staffing cuts, we have worked with the board of education to determine other areas that, while only saving relatively small amounts of revenue, will add up to help us meet these challenging times. We have developed three different scenarios that are dependent on the level of cuts that the state gives us in the late spring as well as any other loss of students that occurs during the next few months. With the help of staff input and a close look at all potential cost-saving measures, we have decided that the following will be in the first scenario for cutbacks in Garfield 16: · Modifying or eliminating certain staff benefits, including early retirement, modification of healthcare benefits and daycare benefits. · Eliminating district contribution to summer school and extended year/extended day programs. Grant funding will be sought to replace these dollars. · Reducing staffing by 27 people across the district. Teacherto-student ratios will be maintained at a 20:1 ratio. · Closing Career Center and relocating alternative high school program. These reductions will save the district approximately $1.23 million. Depending on state reductions, these reductions could potentially leave the district with a shortfall of more than $430,000, which will be significantly higher if the state moves beyond the 7.75 percent reduction in funding for K-12 education. Most of the discussion at the state level is that this reduction could be in the 8-10 percent range. The district is also facing other factors that may cause us to dig deeper into our budget needs because we are waiting to hear determinations of cost on health insurance premiums, utility rates, PERA increases, unemployment insurance costs, liability costs, and other unknowns. The factors vary from year to year and are not easily determined until late in the spring or throughout the actual budget year. We are continuing to try to find other areas to make cuts to curb the shortfall and will start assessing the viability of the other two scenarios that we have put together to address that level of funding. We will continue to focus on what we must do in the short term to meet the needs of the kids and the employees of the district as best we can. I believe that by keeping our community informed, you will understand the impact of the economy on our school system, as well as how the state economy compounds the difficult financial position that we find our district facing. We have no plans, in the short term, to ask voters to pass any type of mill levy override, but that option might need to be looked at more closely if the state moves beyond the 10 percent budget reduction range for the 2010-11 or 2011-12 school years.
Terrific Kids Terrific Kids for Jauary 2010 The Parachute/Battlement Mesa Kiwanis Club sponsors Terrific Kids for Parachute and Battlement's two elementary schools. The program promotes character development and selfesteem. "TERRIFIC" is an acronym meaning Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Inclusive, Friendly, Inquisitive and Capable.
St John Elementary School January's Terrific Kids from St John are, from left, first row, Jorda Murphy, Ashleigh Orosz, Alyssa Grajalez and Opal Morgenthaler (Kiwanis representative); second row, Hailey Rivera, Ismael Cruz, Keyah Hurley, Jayden Wood and Jory Sorensen (principal).
Bea Underwood Elementary School
January's Terrific Kids from Bea Underwood are, from left, first row, Bill Coelho (Kiwanis representative), Emerald Place, Dom Harrison, Isaiah Tiger, Leslie Solis, Anahi Ruiz Gonzalez and Mr. Piquette (Bea Underwood counselor); second row, Alfredo Borja, Brooke Shope, Faith Humphrey, Aleah Dupras, Tessa Clucas and Caitlin Brewer; third row, Shaya Chenoweth, Gage Dooley, Cissy Garcia, Charles Spell and Ramon Ruiz.
Congratulations to all of January's Terrific Kids!
Page 24, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
Grand Valley High School News Photos courtesy of Grand Valley High School
Math Extravaganza turns into a February tradition By Tiffany Tittes, Grand Valley High School
GVHS Juniors Liz Favier, Kendra Hill, and foreign exchange student Philipp Brodbeck have a little fun while raising money for the Junior class.
Junior class concessions
Mr. Porter standing next to some really hard math equations. Such problems were at the Math Extravaganza on Feb. 9.
With a new year comes a bright and new opportunity for Grand Valley High School (GVHS) math experts. On Feb. 9, the Math Extravaganza included topography, origami, dance, and string art. Participants were rewarded with a free T-shirt, free food, a special speaker, and even an extra chance to win a surprise.It all started last year when GVHS teacher Mr. Porter started this new tradition. Mr. Porter, who came to Grand Valley last year from Rangely, brought with him this new event. Every year, Mesa State College in Grand Junction holds a Math Extravaganza. In past years, Mesa State has held activities such as Let's Make a Deal, Traveling Salesman, Fish and Sea Algorithms, a speaker from N.A.S.A., a speaker on cryptology, and many more neat events. "This year [was] different than last year," said Mr. Porter. "This year there were more stations and more fun. It was awesome because I was there." In doing these sorts of activities, Mr. Porter is hoping to expand the math club, which in turn will lead to more learning and more competing.
The end of Dominos Pizza?
By Alisha Sisemore, Grand Valley High School Everyone seems to know the famous Dominos Pizza. They make tasty pizza, delicious cheesy bread, and best of all, they deliver. There is one thing you may not know about Dominos though and that is that about five of the shops are closing, if they haven't closed yet, including the one in Parachute. A few students who attend Grand Valley High School have either worked there in the past, worked there until the shops closed, or were planning on working there. Some students who worked there until they closed the shops were Seniors Chelsie Jones and Alisha Sisemore. One student who was planning on working there was Ryan Parmenter. There is a chance of Dominos re-opening though. Other people are looking into purchasing the shops and giving all the employees their jobs back. For now the shops remain closed, but there is hope they will open again sometime soon.
By Liz Favier, Grand Valley High School Every year at sports events at Grand Valley High School (GVHS), the Juniors have been selling hotdogs, treats, and the regular drinks to all of their fans. This year, the Junior class put a little edge on the concessions. They are still sold the regular treats, but at night events, they sold full dinners. The Juniors have always been in charge of putting on the major dance that everyone knows, Prom. This year, the Juniors really want it to be a grand night. The whole Junior class came up with this idea, but two of their own Grand Valley students were in charge with getting everything together, Amber Greeson and Elizabeth Favier, with the help of other Junior parents. They planned the dates and the gathering of the food, which was all donated and made by the help of many Juniors. At the last home game on Feb. 12 , there was pulled pork sandwiches with a side of beans, salad, and a cookie. Also, they served spaghetti with salad and a cookie. So as you can see, the Juniors have been working really hard to make the Junior-Senior Prom great this year. Go Cardinals!
Children Of Peace International By Tiffany Waugh, Grand Valley High School For the week of Feb.1-5 the Grand Valley High School's Kiwanis Key Club put on a number of fundraising activities for a group called Children of Peace International (COPI). COPI was founded in 1996 by Binh Rybacki. In 2002, Kiwanis' Rocky Mountain District adopted it as the district project. The first project was to raise money to build a new school in Doan Hung, Vietnam. District wide, $25,000 was raised, and the school was completed in 2005. In 2007, the second story of the school was built and the district raised $18,000. The current project is to raise money for Sapa, Vietnam. To help raise money for Sapa, the Key Club held penny wars all week between the classes. Pennies counted as positive points and silver coins counted as negative. This was a huge hit with the classes and sparked a lot of school spirit. Monday was Hat Day. Students were allowed to wear a hat all day long if they paid one dollar to do so. Wednesday the Key Club put on a wonderful talent show and on Friday they held a chili cook-off. The goal for this year is to raise $31,000. One thing is for sure: the festivities for the week helped COPI become one step closer to their goal.
GARFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 16 www.garcoschools.org
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 25
Boys basketball update By Karmen Steimel, Grand Valley High School
The varsity boys basketball team takes some time together to get their heads in the game.
They're back... with more desire than ever. The Grand Valley High School (GVHS) boys basketball team played a great game against Aspen on Jan. 23, flying around the court on defense and playing smart on the offensive end. The Cardinals were up at the end of the first, and both teams were working hard. Eventually, the Skiers used their size as an advantage, and they took the lead at the end of the last three quarters. Aspen won 57 to 37. The next week, the boys made the long trip to Gunnison for a contest with the Cowboys. After having a long and very physical first half, the Cowboys were up. They went on to win with a final score of 53-47. After having a rough patch in their winning streak, the boys had a nonleague game with the visiting Rangely Panthers. Figuring they had nothing to lose, they just had fun. Running their plays through and waiting for the right pass to steal, the Cardinals played together. After averaging around 43 points a game as a team, they brought the ball to the hoop to pull out a muchearned win of 65-32. Senior guard Tyler Radel led the team with 16, Senior Jeremy Lawrence added 10, and Bubby Beecraft chipped in with nine.
Safe ways to donate to Haiti Erin Vanderpool looks to feed as Tiffany Tittes seals out Aspen Skiers' post.
Girl's Basketball By Shannon Schubert, Grand Valley High School The season is off to a great start as the Lady Cardinals are currently placed second in the league. When asked what was his biggest goal for this season, Head Coach Mike Johnson replied, "Making it to the final eight in the state tournament." This goal is not far from reach for the Lady Cardinals with an astounding record of 11-2 overall and 8-2 in the 3A Western Slope league. They are looking sharper than ever as they continue their winning streak of five games. Erin Vanderpool is leading the team in points, averaging 16 points per game. The title for the leading rebounder is a battle between Tiffanys with Tiffany Waugh and Tiffany Tittes both averaging eight rebounds per game. The player with the most assists is Shawnee Young with six per game. The Cardinals' season is quickly coming to an end. Support your Grand Valley Cardinals!
By Chelsae White, Grand Valley High School You've seen the news reports about the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on Jan. 12 and left thousands of Haitians injured and even more without a home. You've also probably seen the numerous organizations urging Americans to donate money to help the Haitians. With so many programs out there, how do you choose? I've researched the many different options and narrowed it down to the top five to help make donating to the cause less stressful. 1. The American Red Cross is one of the most widely known disaster relief organizations in the world. They accept both online donations at americanredcross.org and $10 text message donations that will be charged to your cell phone bill. Text your donations to HAITI at 90999. Donations to the American Red Cross can also be made through iTunes accounts. 2. UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) was created in 1946 to provide food and healthcare to children who had been devastated in WWII. Today, they still provide superb care to children who have been in a disaster. Donations can be made online at unicef.org or by calling 800-367-5437. 3. Doctors Without Borders was founded in 1971 by a group of French doctors who believed that all people have the right to medical care regardless of race, religion, creed, or political affiliation. Donations can be made at doctorswithoutborders.org and will go directly to their Emergency Relief Fund. 4. The Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund was created specifically to help Haiti rebuild following the earthquake. Ten dollar donations can be made by texting QUAKE to 20222. Larger donations can be made online at clintonbushhaitifund.org 5. Partners In Health is a nonprofit organization that has been working in Haiti for more than 20 years. Their current focus is to provide medical help to the recent earthquake victims. Donate online at standwithhaiti.org/Haiti. Besides the five listed above, there are many other legitimate organizations whose main purpose is to help the people of Haiti. Always remember before making a donation to research the organization and not to give out more personal information than necessary. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are great ways to spread awareness, but be wary of scams and fraudulent groups. Now that you're in the know get out those cell phones and laptops and help Haiti!
GARFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 16 www.garcoschools.org
Page 26, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 27
• The Echo Worship Directory •
To be listed in The Echo Worship Directory, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com to set up an account. There is a small monthly fee of $10 to help offset the cost of producing this page.
All Saints' Episcopal Church 150 Sipprelle Dr. Battlement Mesa 285-7908 Pastor's mobile: 985-5797 The Reverend Edmond-Joseph Rivet, Priest-in-charge Website: allsaintsepiscopal.info Church e-mail: email@example.com Pastor e-mail: email@example.com Sunday Sunday Eucharist: 10:30 a.m. Choir: 9:30 a.m. Children's Godly Play: 10 a.m.
Grace Bible Church
Shepherd of the Mesa
755 Spencer Parkway, P.O. Box 6248 Battlement Mesa 285-9862 Charlie Hornick, Pastor Lance Easterling, Youth Pastor
Lutheran Church (WELS) Worship Location: Historical Society Schoolhouse on County Road 300 Battlement Mesa Pastor, Bill Cornelius: 987-3093
Sunday Blessing Up for Church Broadcast 103.9 FM Sunday School: 9:30-10:15am Morning Worship: 10:30am Evening Service: 5:30pm Youth / Children's Activities Grace Bible Church Child Care: Mon – Fri. Awana: Tues. 7:00pm (Sept. – April) High School Youth: Sun. 5:00-7:00pm Middle School Youth: Thurs 5:00-7:00pm
Staff Minister of Youth, Outreach and Worship Adam Lambrecht: 987-1992 Worship Coordinator Sarah Lambrecht: 285-7255
101 W. Battlement Parkway Parachute, CO 81635 970-285-7946 crownpeakbaptist.com
24-Hour Prayer Line: 384-7999
Worship Time: Sunday morning 10 a.m. Family Bible Classes: Call for locations Monday: 3:30 p.m. (west side of town) Tuesday: 6 p.m. (Glenwood Springs) Wednesday: 7 p.m. (east side of town) Thursday: 7:30 p.m. Starting Soon! Call for location
Grand Valley Christian Church
Confirmation/Catechism (Kids in sixth grade-high school): Wednesday 7 p.m.
Rick Van Vleet, Senior Pastor Dan LaRue, Associate Pastor Matt Loftin, Youth Pastor Brian Jarrett, Minister of Music
2nd Street & Parachute Avenue Parachute, CO 81635
WOW: Worship On Wednesday Contemplative Eucharist: 6 p.m. Soup Social: 6:30 p.m. Episcopal Theology: 7 p.m.
Crown Peak Baptist Church
Sunday Morning Worship – 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday Morning Bible Study for all ages – 9:45 a.m. (Children's Church offered during 11 a.m. service) Wed. Night Dinner 5:30 p.m. Wed. Night Programs 6:30 p.m. (Adult, Children & Youth Groups) Small groups meet throughout the week ... Visit our website for more information. Come -- Experience God's Power for life & living Know -- Christ through a loving family for fellowship Grow -- In Christ through a foundation of discipleship Go -- With Christ in a ministry of service with a focus for evangelism
Faith Baptist Church 235 N. Railroad Ave. Parachute John Yadloski, Pastor 285-7424 Sunday Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship: 11 a.m. Children's Church: 11:15 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study: 7 p.m.
*Bible Studies, Special Activities (Call for times and places)
Lois Smith, Pastor 285-9223 e-mail: email@example.com Church Office 285-7597
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Sunday worship 10:00 am
Wellspring of Life Church Daily Prayer Tuesday thru Friday 9:30 a.m.
at Grand Valley High School Cafeteria 800 Cardinal Way Parachute, CO. 81635
Grand Valley United Methodist Church 132 N. Parachute Ave., P.O. Box 125, Parachute 285-9892, 285-6582 E-mail: email@example.com David Amrie, Pastor
Pastor David Bartlett Sunday Service Time: 10:00 am Youth and Childrens Sunday School (970) 210-5795 (970) 210-5849
Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Faith Journey Sunday School same as Worship Service hour Seekers Sunday School 10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Contact church for more info: 285-9892
GRAND VALLEY SPELLBINDERS is looking for volunteers. Call 285-7175 for more information.
Faith Baptist Church holds dedication service for new auditorium The Faith Baptist Church recently completed the addition of a new auditorium, and a dedication service is being held to commemorate the occasion. The service is being held at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, at 235 Railroad Ave., in Parachute. Special music is being provided by the Mid Valley Quartet, and refreshments will follow the service. – Faith Baptist Church
Page 28, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
As I See It Time to pick each other up
Grand Valley Echo Phone Directory Animal Control
Battlement Mesa Activity Center
Battlement Mesa Company (Property Management)
By Pastor Charlie Hornick, Grace Bible Church I learned the importance of picking others up from a humorous children's song called "Stop and Pick Them Up" when I was only 6 years old. My family and I attended a little church in West Virginia, and our children's choir would sing that song. It had a lot of meaning for us, since getting picked up by somebody else to get anywhere was a necessity, as many families didn't have cars. I don't remember all the words to the song, though I remember the chorus was, "If my brother's in the way, we will stop and pick him up." We sang the song with emotion, using arm and hand motions. The chorus was repeated three times before we went onto, "If our sister's in the way, we will stop and pick her up." Before the song was over, we had picked up the preacher, the deacon, the song leader, the Sunday school teacher, the mayor and everybody else in the church and the community. Being a rambunctious little fellow, I especially liked the last stanza of this almost endless song, which we sang with a rolling gesture. "If the devil's in the way, we will run right over him." That song has been a constant reminder that we need each other and at times, we all need to be picked up. Regretfully, I learned all too well a little later in life that many, even who claim to be Christians, would be prone to picking up the devil instead and runningover their brothers and sisters. If there ever was a time we need to pick each other up, it is now. With our present economic situation in the valley and across the country and the world, and with many going through hard times, we need each other. We need a reminder that the church was born as a community of believers, comparable to a body, in which we belong to each other, need each other, and affect each other. Saint Paul made it clear that if one member suffers, we all suffer; if one is honored, we all are honored. We must also reach out to those in the broader community. I remember the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his "Letter from Birmingham City Jail," which was written to his fellow ministers in that area. He reminded them, "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." People are hurting right now all around us for various reasons. It is imperative that we stand with each other, stand up for each other, and stand by each other. We are not alone. Even in our praying the Lord's Prayer we need to be reminded. We cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and use the pronoun "I." We cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and even once say "my," for when we approach the Father, we use the pronoun "our" and pray to Him in heaven, who is full of grace and power. We bow our wills before Him, "Hallowed be Thy name." And when we pray in earnest, we'll never be the same. When we ask Him correctly, we pray, "Thy kingdom come" and our hearts reach out to Him, and plead, "Thy will be done." We also pray for others, "Give us our daily bread," for our sisters and brothers, so all of us are fed. We ask Him for forgiveness, and removing of our debt. As we forgive our brother, we pray his needs are met. In the phrase –"Lead us not into temptation" – note the pronoun "us." We all need help from stumbling to keep us from our lusts. "Deliver us from evil," must be our constant prayer, as we pray for each other, because we really care. When we ask for the kingdom, we use the pronoun, "thine," To keep us from selfishness, for "me," and "my," and "mine." We pray "Thine is the kingdom, the glory, the power." Finally, we say, "Forever and forever," each day and every hour. We cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and even once say "my." We cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and use the pronoun "I."
If you have something to contribute to The Grand Valley Echo, let us know email@example.com
285-9740 Battlement Mesa Maintenance
Battlement Mesa Medical Center
Battlement Mesa Service Association (Government) 285-9432 Consolidated Metro District (Battlement Mesa water/sewer)
Emergencies (Fire, Law Enforcement, Medical)
Fire Department (Grand Valley Fire Protection District) 285-9119 Garfield County Commissioners
Garfield County Courthouse
Garfield County Sheriff (Non-emergency)
Garfield County Sheriff Auxiliary
Golf Club (Battlement Mesa)
Grand River Medical Center
Grand Valley Echo
Holy Cross Electric
KSUN Radio Station
Mesa Vista Assisted Living Center
Parachute Branch Library
Parachute Town Hall
Park and Recreation Department
Police Department (Parachute)
Post Office (Parachute)
Road Conditions
Schools Bea Underwood Elementary
District 16
Grand Valley Center for Family Learning 285-5702 Grand Valley High School
Grand Valley Middle School
St John Elementary School
Senior Center (Parachute)
Carrie Click Writer + Proofer + Editor Help for any writing project 970-963-1009 firstname.lastname@example.com
GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 29
Where's Redstone?
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Where's Redstone – and why should you care? The Grand Valley Echo's sixyear old sister, The Crystal Valley Echo, is based in Redstone and is the monthly newspaper for the Crystal Valley. Besides, Redstone is a perfect, quick getaway for Grand Valleyites. Get to know your sister: Come visit.
By Sue McEvoy, Crystal Valley Echo staff writer With the bitter cold days of January behind us, the time to get out and enjoy some of winter's activities is here in the Crystal River Valley. Everything from snowshoeing, to cross country skiing, to ice climbing are moments away from Redstone. Check out lodging specials being offered by the Redstone Cliffs Lodge, Avalanche Ranch and the Redstone Inn during this month and all that Redstone has to offer will be right outside your door. The history of Redstone is shared by docents on tours of the Redstone Castle. Randy the driver of the sleigh for Avalanche Outfitters can let you in on some Redstone secrets, and just about any other local you happen to meet in town knows an interesting tidbit or two. Most of the shops and restaurants remain open with winter hours. Redstone is located on Highway 133, just 18 miles south of Carbondale. Take I-70 to Glenwood Springs and Highway 82 to the junction of Highway 133 at Carbondale. Hope to see you in Redstone! redstonecolorado.com Echo file photos
The Redstone General Store WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! Open Daily
963-3126 292 Redstone Blvd. Redstone Across from the park
Avalanche Ranch Cabins & Antiques 12863 Hwy 133 • Redstone, CO 81623 email@example.com www.avalancheranch.com 1-877-963-9339
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970-963-1769 225 Redstone Blvd. • Redstone
REDSTONE CASTLE TOURS SATURDAY & SUNDAY 1:30 P.M. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 seniors, children 5-18 Children under 5: FREE (FOR GROUP TOURS CALL 970-963-9656) TICKETS AVAILABLE AT Tiffany of Redstone and The Redstone General Store. CASH OR CHECK ONLY.
Page 30, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010
THE GRAND VALLEY ECHO CLASSIFIED ADS FOR RENT BATTLEMENT MESA: 3 bedroom (1 large master bedroom and bath with large walk-in closet), 2 bath condo. Separate laundry room with washer and dryer, AC, 1 car garage with large storage room. The Rec Center is within walking distance and dues are included. $1,100 mo. plus security deposit. Beautiful views of the Roan Peaks - NS, pets considered. 704-0373 (H), 404-2346 (cell). BATTLEMENT MESA – New and late model manufactured homes for rent, both Singlewides and Doublewides. They range in size from 1,065 to 2,400 sq. ft. 3 Bedrooms and 2 baths, the largest one is 4 BR/3 BA. Furnished and unfurnished. All are immaculately clean, freshly painted and excellently maintained. They all have air conditioning or swamp coolers, washer and dryer, sheds and most have decks. Rents range from $1,100 to $1,675 and include Activity center membership, lot rent and trash pick-up. One year lease. 1st; last and security. Call for availability. 948-5883. pd4/10
HORSE RANCH FOR SALE or RENT RIFLE – Seven acre horse facility and/or investment property. On Highway 13 just north of town, two houses, barn/shop, 4-stall barn, hay shed, paddocks, outdoor arena, fruit trees, Government Creek, water rights, mineral rights, two ponds, hundreds of trees. $500,000 or rent for $1,950/mo.Contact Carrie at 963-1009. cc TRUCK FOR SALE 2002 Dodge Ram 2500, Tow and camper package, New transmission, Extra set of Rims, Studded Snows, Shell, Pipe-Rack, Roll-Out Extend-a-Bed. 150,000 miles. Must sell - $5,000. 963-9027 tfn FOR SALE PERFECT WATER: A system to turn dead water into LIVING, VIBRANT, VORTEXED STRUCTURED PERFECT WATER for pennies per gallon. Call Patrick 970-285-7059. bl
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HELP WANTED: Servant for cooking, cleaning, dishes, chores, playtime, computer passwords, or anything desired by me. Wii experience preferred. Must be available 24/7 and provide own housing and transportation. No pay. No benefits except the privilege of knowing me. Call Spencer 970-285-1988.* Marketing rep wanted for fast growing health & wellness co. Commissions + bonuses + profit sharing. Full or part time. Contact Barbara 309-1354 or 285-7634. SERVICES LawnLovers Property Services including detail housecleaning, garage clean-up/dump runs, moon-phase-based lawn and garden care with organic deer repellent packages available. Get a jump on your Spring Clean-up and Summer Garden! Call Chris 970-214-7753. pd 2x CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY PETITION PREPARATION $450.00. Stop harassing phone calls, judgments, garnishments. Confidential. 25 years exp. Call Barbara at 285-2201. bl
The Echo Classified Ads - an inexpensive way to advertise... Do you have something for sale, a home for rent or services you offer... let your neighbors know with a classified ad in the Echo. Only $10 for up to 40 words - a bargain that can't be beat!
Do you have a great story idea? If you have something to contribute to
• • • • • •
Tow and camper package New transmission Extra set of Rims Studded Snows Shell • Pipe-Rack Roll-Out Extend-a-Bed
963-2373 • gve@crys-
150,000 miles. MUST SELL - $5,000 ALL REASONABLE OFFERS CONSIDERED.
Call Michael
The Grand Valley Echo, let us know
*See page 17
THE GRAND VALLEY ECHO IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE PICK UP AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS RACKS OUTSIDE: Outlaw Ribbs • Wendy's • Clark's Market • Southgate Plaza/Grand Valley Pub INSIDE AT: Kum & Go Stations • The Battlement Mesa Activity Center and at MANY local businesses!
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GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010, Page 31
SERVICE DIRECTORY LET YOUR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS KNOW YOU ARE HERE… Place an ad in the Grand Valley Echo Service Directory. Contact Alyssa for more information or to reserve your Service Directory Space!
Writer + Proofer + Editor
Help for any writing project
Carrie Click
970-963-1009 email@example.com
email@example.com 963-2373
Travel Trailers, RV's, Boats, Trucks, etc. CALL JOHN - 970-986-1820 OR SHERRY - 970-640-3115
NOW SERVICING PARACHUTE AND BATTLEMENT MESA • Commercial dumpsters, full time service • Commercial roll-offs 10, 20, 30, & 40 cubic yards available
• Electronic locate • Rooter work • Unclog lines and drains • RootX Treatments • Hydro-jet of lines/grease traps • Septic tank inspections • Camera/Video inspection of lines 2" to 36"
CALL RICK or SCOTT
so I've lowered my price to help YOU!
I know these are tough times...
Pleae support the advertisers that support The Grand Valley Echo!
Complete bankruptcy petition preparation
$500.00 $450.00 Call Barbara Arrowood and find out more information.
CALL ARROWOOD AND ASSOCIATES U.S. Bankruptcy Petition Preparer • Basic and Full Service Oil Changes • Automatic Transmission Flushes • Tire Sales • ASE Certified Mechanic on duty full-time
Call for free consultation and information.
120 S. Columbine Ct. • Parachute
970-285-2201 Local business with 25 years experience
Canyon Cleaners Kyle Stewart Astrological Consultant
For all your laundry & dry cleaning needs. • Open 9-5 – Mon - Fri •
In the Battlement Mesa Plaza
down the hall from Farmer's Insurance.
285-9947 • 876-5020office TO RUN YOUR AD IN THE GRAND VALLEY ECHO SERVICE DIRECTORY CALL 963-2373 TODAY!
Page 32, GRAND VALLEY ECHO • Mid-February / Mid-March 2010