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After scaling back production at the Bowie #2 Mine near Paonia in September, Bowie Resource Partners last week announced the mine will be idled "as a result of continued market deterioration."

According to a Feb. 26 press release, the mine will remain idle while the market for Bowie #2 coal is evaluated.

Volunteers from all areas of the county who put their names in for unpaid service on the various boards and commissions of county government were officially appointed to their desired posts by the commissioners on Feb. 16.

A contractor for the county will be conducting an aerial photographic survey here before trees begin leafing out.

The Board of County Commissioners has approved a proposal to conduct the aerial survey, called an oblique/orthogonal aerial imaging.

Feb. 23:

Theresa M. Zaabadick, 32, of Gunnison was issued a ticket for alleged shoplifting.

DMEA, one of the two major players on the broadband field, provided an update to the Board of County Commissioners on Monday.

DMEA SmartGrid coordinator Mark Kurtz and chief operations manager Steve Metheney reported on DMEA's progress building its own consumer broadband Internet service provider (ISP) network and business plan.

DMEA has initiated a campaign, asking its members to join the opposition to a proposal by Tri-State Generation and Transmission.

But those who want to help DMEA must do so soon: the deadline is March 11.

The Delta County Libraries Board of Trustees entered into a lengthy state-mandated hiring process in December to select a new district director for the library district. After a series of steps which included receiving numerous applications from around the country, the board finally reached a decision on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Region 10's Small Business Development Center hit the ground running in 2016. With a robust schedule of business classes already scheduled for the new year, SBDC is striving to provide valuable content that small business owners and entrepreneurs are demanding.

Each year, three of DMEA's nine board positions are put to voters. DMEA board positions in Districts 3 and 4, and in the south region are up for election this year.

District #3 is comprised of the North Fork Valley and a Highway 92 corridor extending south into Montrose County.

The Give 'Em Shelter building campaign for the Surface Creek shelter received a huge boost with the success of the Crockpots for Critters on Feb. 13. The event raised almost $8,000 and was so much fun! Volunteers who staff the Shelter Shoppe Boutique Thrift Store which supports the shelter hosted the event.

This letter was sent to Senator Michael Bennet Feb. 29.

Senator Bennet: Well, the current administration along with the help of the U.S. Senate has managed to almost completely kill what little economy remains here in the (Gunnison River) North Fork Valley of Delta County.

Leonardo DiCaprio flying around in a private jet to talk about climate change is like our local outspoken climate change advocates writing letters to the editor promoting Bernie Sanders, while living in a home/business supplied with electricity and driving around with internal combustion engines.

Earlier this year we put a political sign up in front of our house in Crawford, voicing our concerns re: Donald Trump and his attacks on the First Amendment. This obviously didn't sit well with some of his supporters in this area.

For those of you who don't know us -- there is another side of the story. However, our attorney does not want the case tried in the media.

Coach Kevin Dunbar's Bruins began their journey through the 2016 2A District 5 tournament with a 61-37 win over West Grand on Feb. 23 in Cedaredge. The win moved the Bruins into Saturday's semifinal round against Vail Christian in De Beque, where they scored a 36-29 victory.

A full week of basketball kept Cedaredge High School's girls' team busy preparing for last week's 2A District 5 tournament. The week began with quarterfinal action in Cedaredge on Tuesday.

For Paonia High School, the second season for girls' basketball is underway with some positive results so far.

The Eagles, ranked second by MaxPreps, won last weekend's 2A District 5 tournament hosted in De Beque.

Hotchkiss High School's boys are still alive and fighting for a berth in the 2016 2A State Basketball Championships in Pueblo.

The Bulldogs won their quarterfinal game against Soroco, 67-46, on Feb. 23.

Paonia High School's run to the title game in last weekend's 2A District 5 tournament began at home with a matchup against 13-8 Meeker. The Eagles were less than hospitable, on the court, as they soared to an 83-49 victory.

Route 66 will provide music for the community evening dance Saturday, March 19, at Bill Heddles Recreation Center. This dance will help kick off the new year and will run from 7 to 10 p.m.

Join the Montrose Community Band on Sunday, March 20, at 3 p.m. in the Montrose Pavilion auditorium for a free concert.

The drama "Rabbit Hole" at Magic Circle Theatre presents a broken-hearted family trying to learn to live beyond a life-shattering automobile accident that took the life of an only child.

Directed by Dave Olson and assistant director Stasia Allyn, the actors use bitingly humorous dialogue (including adult contemporary language) as they portray a New York family trying desperately to restore the shreds of their once-happy life.

One day, three chapters, cash prizes! First ever, mixed age (6-96) Bible Quiz competition for the Western Slope will be held April 30 in Delta. The focus is Matthew 5-7 (ESV).

Love was in the air on Feb. 12, as the Delta Senior Center honored Dennis and Alietta Valdovinos as valentine sweethearts during the midday meal gathering.

The Valdovinoses have been married for 50 years and have lived in Delta for 37 years.

Rev. Mark and Ruth Thompson of Delta announce the engagement of their son, Ben Thompson of Denver, to Krystle Sonmore, daughter of Tim and Jennie Sonmore of Erie.

The Pinnacol Foundation is accepting applications for the 2016-2017 school year. The foundation provides scholarships to children whose parents have been injured or killed in work-related accidents, regardless of insurance carrier.

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

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

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

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

Dear Mother,

You left us on Feb. 26, 2016.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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