The Hotchkiss/Crawford Historical Society will host its annual meeting on Feb. 23 at Crawford Town Hall from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s guest speaker is author Jim Wetzel, who will present information about the bank robbery that took place in Delta in 1893 — the subject matter of his book,…

On Sunday, Feb. 23, The Learning Council and Valley Organic Growers Association will host a panel discussion on growing regenerative hemp. The discussion will take place 5:30 p.m. at the Edesia Kitchen at 395 Clark Ave. in Paonia.

The Learning Council and North Fork School of Integrated Studies will host two more Thursday lunches this month, taking place on Feb. 20 and 27. February’s previous lunches were on Feb. 6 and 13.

Crawford residents, volunteers and business owners gathered Feb. 8 at the Crawford Town Hall for the annual Old Timers/Newcomers potluck sponsored by the Crawford Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia will present a Valentine’s Day vocal recital entitled “Evolutions of Love” on Feb. 15, featuring Stefanie and Graham Anduri: a husband and wife team and professors of vocal studies at Colorado Mesa University. The couple will be accompanied by Susa…

After being closed since 2015, the French Country Inn in Crawford reopened its doors Feb. 1.

The Hotchkiss High School Alumni Fund group rewards a Classified Staff Member at Hotchkiss K-8 and Hotchkiss High School $100 every December. This year the award was given Dec. 20, 2019.

Delta students are enjoying their new digs at Delta Middle School.

The Ariat World Series of Team Roping took place in Las Vegas from Dec. 5 to Dec. 17 last year. Among the nearly 500 teams was local team roping pair James Zeldenthuis, of Crawford, and Berdell Greenhalgh, of Delta.

On Jan. 25, the frozen lake at Crawford State Park was dotted with ice fishing stations, complete with lawn chairs, tents and equipment for both solo and group fishing. The snow-covered shore had lines of cars parked along the sides of the road, waiting for occupants to return with their catch.

Concerned citizens in the North Fork area voiced their concerns over the county’s proposed changes at the North Fork Transfer Station at a meeting held by the Western Slope Conservation Center in Paonia on Jan.21.

On Jan. 25, Crawford State Park will offer a number of winter activities, including an ice fishing clinic, ice skating, sledding and cross-country skiing. This will be the fourth year of the annual event.

In an attempt to get caught up with all the news in Hotchkiss, the Delta County Independent reached out to Mayor Larry Wilkening recently to discuss the December town council meeting.

After five years and untold hours of community discussion Paonia Town Trustees found common ground on the town’s lighting issues and unanimously voted to replace nearly 100 lights with dark sky friendly 2,700 Kelvin LED lights and shields.

The Crawford Area Chamber of Commerce opened the new year with its annual membership drive and reminder that its monthly meetings take place the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the town council room at city hall. Chamber meetings are open to the public.

Hotchkiss business owner, rancher and County Planning Commission member Kim Shay has announced her intent to run for the District 3 County Commission seat, facing Wendell Koontz for the position.

“Texas troubadour” Dallas Burrow will open for country crooner Charley Crockett at Paonia’s Paradise Theatre on Jan. 10. The event begins at 7:30 p.m., and the pair will continue their tour the following day in Fort Collins.

Think about the bombast of the Big Top and then visualize the Las Vegas extravaganza of Cirque du Soleil. Now think of something in between and add an educational component and you have an idea of what Homestead Circus Productions is shooting for.

A number of Paonia citizens gathered recently to talk about why they chose to stand-up to their town council and petition it to place a water moratorium on the sale of domestic water taps.

In Paonia, a certain downtown cat shelter aims to fight the overpopulation of cats by spaying, neutering and adopting out.

Results from Paonia’s first Master Plan Community Survey highlights concerns over housing options and utilities. The second survey, online now, covers economic development, transportation and community sustainability is available until Jan. 6, 2020.

“Let’s Talk, Paonia!” workshops hosted by the North Fork Valley Creative Coalition and the Paonia Creative District will be held Jan. 8 to 11. The workshops led by a CU Boulder theatre and dance group will facilitate conversations related to recent economic and social changes in the community.

Darlene Sprague, RN, has successfully completed a training course in restorative nursing. A long-time employee of Volunteers of America health services, Sprague is now certified as a restorative nurse which allows her to help long-term-care residents maintain or improve their abilities relat…

After serving as Hotchkiss trustee and two terms as Hotchkiss mayor, Wendell Koontz recently announced his intent to run for the District 3 County Commission seat.

Approximately 1,000 Paonia voters within the city limits will have the final say on a citizen proposed water moratorium in a special election on Jan. 7. Last October, Paonia’s trustees decided to put the matter in the hands of citizens rather than adopt a moratorium by ordinance via petition…

Paonia’s town board made progress during the Nov. 26 regular meeting despite tumbling headlong into a lengthy discussion over potential pot sales within city limits.

Nestled in the rolling hills between Hotchkiss and Paonia, the hemp operation known as Zenzen Organics is a unique blend of old-fashioned values and new ideas. To help with weeding, owner Cindie Sorensen acquired a pair of vintage McCormick Farmall Cub tractors which were manufactured in 194…

The 27th Paonia Holiday Craft Fair hosted by the North Fork Valley Creative Coalition and the Blue Sage Center for the Arts delighted holiday shoppers on a mild-fall afternoon. Gift hunters filled the arts hall on Grand Avenue for the two-day event which featured dozens of vendors with uniqu…

Here’s a sure-fire recipe to ensure that hundreds of holiday gifts are successfully prepared for this coming weekend’s North Fork Children’s Christmas Party:

Organizers of the 28th annual North Fork Children’s Christmas Party are expecting a record crowd of children and families this year. The annual holiday event distributes gifts to needy children. Each year the party committee sends out applications to local schools to identify children. Now t…

Second Story Studios in Paonia is taking North Fork Valley high altitude art to the next level. Visitors to the atelier on Grand Avenue must traverse century-old stairs to reach the roost above the iconic Blue Sage Hall that occupies the original owners’ residence of the town’s hardware store.

Paonia’s town board made progress during the Nov. 26 regular meeting despite tumbling headlong into a lengthy discussion over potential pot sales within city limits.

One local World War II veteran can rest a bit easier at night thanks to a new bed provided by the Hotchkiss Elks and the Colorado Association of Elks.

The December StoryWalk book on the trail at Crawford State Park is ‘The Mitten’ by Jan Brett. When Nicki drops his white mitten in the snow, he goes on without realizing that it is missing. One by one, woodland animals find it and crawl in. First, a curious mole, then a rabbit, a badger and …

The Friends of Paonia Library will hold its annual holiday book sale 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Paonia Library community room. A special holiday table will have great buys on higher value gently-used books, which make wonderful gifts.

Paonia residents will have to wait a bit to find out which lights the town will choose to install after a delay by DMEA.

The two panels that broke during engraving of the Miners Plaza memorial wall at Paonia Town Park were installed Oct. 31 by Morris Monument, bringing the number of panels up to 125. Project organizer Dave Bradford states that of the panels, 12 are historical entries and 113 have names of thos…

The Hotchkiss Community Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting Nov. 12 and took time to honor local achievers. Sue Whittlesby was named Citizen of the Year. Western Slope SUP received Business of the Year honors and the Rogers Mesa Modern Woman’s Club was recognized as Non-Profit of the Year.

Edgar Macias-Moreno is to serve 40 years in prison for the 2018 strangulation murder of Madelaine Loh.

The air was filled with anticipation the night of Nov. 15 at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia as 10 local non-profit representatives shared their organization’s vision and goals prior to receiving a portion of the $34,375 grant money from the West Elk Community Fund (WECF).

Editor’s note: This is Part II of a two-part series on how the Delta County School District was among the first in the nation to provide technology-based instruction. Part I, “Retired PHS teacher recalls taking the lead in technology-based learning,” ran in the Nov. 13 DCI, and is available …

Colorado can be proud of Bailey Miller.

Paonia Players