Re-1J Students Head Back to the Classroom
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Like us on Facebook! Visit us online at montrosemirror.com! Please Support our Advertisers! FreshLocal News news, freefor for Busy the people... People @The- MontroseWeekly Mirror, on weeklyMondays! on Mondays! © Issue No. 285 Aug. 13 2018 www.montrosecounty.net RE-1J STUDENTS HEAD BACK TO THE CLASSROOM By Caitlin Switzer www.voahealthservices.org MONTROSE-The long, hot days of summer are still here, but school days are just around the corner. Local parents with questions can find answers through the Parent Portal at the Montrose County School District RE-1J website, http:// www.mcsd.org/, where each school is listed individ- ually. www.tristategt.org “Please check the web site for your child’s school, because each school web site will have information on back to school nights and lists of school sup- plies,” RE-1J Data Technician Charlotte Blowers said. Those who have Kindergarten students can call the district office to schedule an appointment for an assessment, and should turn in paperwork as soon For RE-1J students, it’s back to the books—and in some as possible. cases the bus—this month. For info on school bus www.alpinebank.com Paperwork for students who are new to the dis- service call the school district office at 970-249-7726. trict or starting Kindergarten Mirror staff photo. Continued pg 9 $550K PARK RESTROOM ON FLOODPLAIN; CITY TO ELEVATE WITH FILL May extend City water system to Riverwood subdivision, residents would repay $600K www.smpa.com By Gail Marvel MONTROSE-City council work ses- sions are held in Council Cham- bers (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.) the day prior to the regular council www.scottsprinting.com meeting. Councilwoman Barbara Bynum did not attend the Aug. 6 work session and Councilman Doug Glaspell left mid-way through the meeting. Mayor Roy Anderson opened the meeting by addressing the larger than normal number of attendees. www.montrosehospital.com He said, “This is a time for us to discuss. We don’t take public The agenda item, “Potential Paths Forward to Address Water Quality Issues for the Riverwood Subdivision Located off of Marine Road in Montrose Coun- comment. Often you can talk to ty” drew a larger than normal crowd for the Aug. 6 city council work session. us one-on-one after the meeting. Photo by Gail Marvel. You are invited to call-to-the- public [regular city council meeting], that’s your opportunity to get our ear in a public meeting.” Discussion Items Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Applicant Interviews Continued pg 8 www.montrosedowntown.com in this Gail Marvel’s Art Goodtimes’ Reader Palisade Celebrates Letters to issue Answering the Call Series! Up Bear creek! Photo spotlight! 50th Peach Fest! The Editor! The Montrose Mirror | August 13, 2018 Page 2 ANSWERING THE CALL: MPD PATROL OFFICER CHRIS VELASQUEZ ties Velasquez said, work. It’s part of the job and you know “Right now I’m in a you have to document. Law enforcement more pro-active role is 24/7 and 365. Once you get used to it that focuses on vehi- it’s not stressful, but you miss out on fami- cle trespass, fugitive ly things like Thanksgiving dinners and apprehensions and Christmas Day.” Velasquez tries to balance warrant arrests.” his life in law enforcement with being a Explaining the rela- husband, a dad and attending family tionships that devel- events. op in the law enforce- Velasquez feels his calm and relaxed de- ment community meanor is one of his strengths, “It starts Velasquez said, “As a with communication. You treat people like crew we tend to take you want to be treated. It’s easy to make a the tough calls on all connection with them and then they want of our shoulders. If to open up and talk to you.” one person has a bad To date Velasquez has not successfully call we all step up and used CPR, “The victim was already gone, MPD Patrol Officer Chris Velasquez. Courtesy photo. share the burden. I or we were right behind EMS and they grew up playing took over. I did do first aid on a juvenile sports in high school who had been shot, but his injuries were By Gail Marvel where we had teamwork and comradery. not life threatening.” MONTROSE-Montrose Police Department Basically, it’s the same as in sports.” As for aspirations Velasquez said, “My (MPD) Patrol Officer Chris Velasquez grad- The team spirit is evident even during goal is to take in as much as I can. Eventu- uated from Delta High School in 2004 and unique calls, “We had a bear cub wander ally I’d like to climb up in rank and take attended Colorado Mesa University (CMU) onto the airport runway property. He was advantage of opportunities in investiga- in Grand Junction, where he earned a about 100 to 150 pounds…big enough that tions or school resource. I have only one bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Ve- I didn’t want to come in contact with him. career and I want to get experience and lasquez finished up finals the same week When it was all said and done there were training in as many areas as I can.” he started the Police Academy and up- three or more of us chasing him into the In his off-duty time Velasquez likes sports rooted his family to move to Montrose. city shop. We helped Parks and Wildlife (basketball and soft ball) and outside ac- He said, “The academy wasn’t hard, but capture and tranquilize him so he could be tivies,“ I’m an avid fly fisherman. I like my family went through a lot of changes.” relocated.” hunting, camping, hiking and mountain Velasquez, who is the first and only mem- For Velasquez the most enjoyable part of biking.” ber of his family with a career in law en- his job is the variety. He said, “It changes In a message to the community Ve- forcement, has been with MPD for eight every single day. Some days worse than lasquez said, “Don’t make yourself an easy years. others, but knowing that it’s not going to victim. Lock the doors to your house and His specialized training includes being a be mundane is enjoyable for me. It’s nice vehicles and be aware of your surround- member of the SWAT Team, a bike patrol when you are able to do something that ings. instructor, and an instructor in less-lethal makes a person’s life better. It’s a good “I want to thank the community for their munitions such as gas, flash-bang and OC feeling.” support. They definitely back us up and we (pepper spray). Describing his current du- The least enjoyable aspect, “The paper- appreciate that.” All original content material is protected by copyright. No reprints without permission.© Publisher: Caitlin Switzer, Weekly pre-share Circulation 10,800+ Note: Opinion/Editorial letters & Commentary do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Mirror owners or contributors. We do welcome all points of view and encourage contributions. 970-275-0646 www.montrosemirror.com [email protected] Webmaster PJ Fagen The Montrose Mirror | August 13, 2018 Page 3 DESPITE MAIN STREET BANNER, ENGLEWOOD WAS COLORADO’S 1ST STEM SCHOOL DISTRICT, NOT MONTROSE going to the first STEM -K 12 School District in Colorado this fall; that’s a big accom- plishment. STEM is for everybody— whether you are the smartest or the most challenged. “Have you seen our banner on Main Street?” Schiell’s boast cannot be substantiated, however. In fact, that recognition would appear to belong to a Front Range school district. The Denver Post reported in September of 2017 that, thanks to a $400K grant from the Gill Foundation, “The funding effec- tively made Englewood the first school district in Colorado to provide a complete, integrated STEM curriculum and STEM lab classrooms for all students from kinder- garten to grade 12.” The Englewood, Colorado School District Despite claims on a Main Street banner, Englewood Schools were widely credited with being states on its web site that it now offers the state’s 1st STEM school district in 2017, with STEM curriculum and STEM lab classrooms for “state of the art STEM labs for all grades.” all students from kindergarten to grade 12. Mirror staff photo. RE-1J Board of Education Chair Tom West Mirror staff report ror earlier this week, RE-1J Superinten- said he was not aware of Englewood’s MONTROSE-In an interview with the Mir- dent Stephen Schiell said, “Our kids will be STEM programs. The Montrose Mirror | August 13, 2018 Page 4 HELP NEEDED FOR M.A.P.A., SNIP & TIP CAT PROJECT working non-profits. Those non-profits Help from organizations such as MAPA, can use your help. Telluride Animal Foundation, and from the Montrose Animal Protection Agency Colorado Animal Rescue Express (MAPA), now in its 44th year, needs volun- (C.A.R.E.), which covers $8 for every sur- teers to engage in fundraising efforts. gery, are essential, but more donations MAPA traditionally provides vouchers to are definitely needed, Hewitt said. offset the cost of spaying and neutering “In the areas where we concentrate our pet cats for households earning less than efforts, we are seeing a big difference,” $40K per year. “We pay $25 for a male she said. “But we need help.” cat, and $55 for a female,” MAPA volun- Another local resource for spay/neuter teer Karen Arnold said. support is Olathe’s West Slope Animal A local cat. Photo by ElkMedia, LLC. “We can always use help from people Hospital, which is hosting a month-long, who can write grants and help with events low-cost spay neuter clinic, with support and fundraisers,” she said.