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TUESDAY AUGUST 6, 2013
99 MERCHANDISE ADS IN TODAY’S TRIBUNE
Serving Greeley and Weld County greeleytribune.com
GREELEY, COLORADO ONE DOLLAR VOL. 142 NO. 266
FARMERS ‘DISCOURAGED’
AFTER HAIL STORM « WELD PRODUCE GROWERS estimate damage in the hundreds of thousands of dollars
Dan
ENGLAND The Tribune
Greeley youth proud to portray Mexican Young Chautauquan to perform controversial role as La Malinche
I
lse Montes-Bustillos chose the complicated role of La Malinche to educate people about one of Mexico’s most controversial and revered figures in its history. But the first person she had to convince was her mother. Carmen Bustillos was supportive of the idea of her daughter, who will be a freshman at Greeley West this year, playing a Latino
«
CONTINUED A7: La Malinche
JIM RYDBOM/jrydbom@greeleytribune.com
ONIONS AT THE PETROCCO Farms near the town of LaSalle show the destructive damage last weekends hail storm did
to the crops. Dave Petrocco said the hail destroyed 80 percent of crops at his four farms near the Greeley area.
BY ERIC BROWN EBROWN@GREELEYTRIBUNE.COM
M
any farmers are playing the wait-and-see game to better understand how this weekend’s hail storm impacted their still-growing corn, sugar beets, onions and dry beans. But Weld County’s produce growers already know that a lot of damage was done. Mike Hungenberg, with Hungenberg Produce north of Greeley, said one of his cabbage fields that was about ready for harvest was “mowed to the ground” by Saturday’s hail, and estimates the damage to that field alone was about a » More $450,000-$500,000 loss. Corn, sugar beets, onions and beans won’t be harvested photos until closer to fall and are still in growth stages that could See more allow them time to recover from this weekend’s barrage of photos with hail, local farmers said Monday morning. That’s not the case for some of the area’s produce, much this story at www.greeley of which is farther along in its maturity. Dave Petrocco, who operates Petrocco Farms out of tribune.com. Brighton, said the hail destroyed 80 percent of the crops at his four farms in the Greeley area — about 650 acres total. Like Hungenberg, Petrocco estimates the damage done to his crops — squash, green beans, peppers, lettuce and others — will add up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Adding to their frustration is that insurance isn’t available for many of those crops, or is too expensive in some cases. When a hail storm rolls though and destroys fields of produce, it often results in a total loss. No insurance check will be coming in the mail to help those farmers recoup some of their thousands of dollars in input costs. “It’s certainly discouraging,” Petrocco said of the hail damage he recently suffered. Hungenberg, whose business is widely known for its carrot production, said some of his carrot fields were also hit by the hail but that crop can recover. “Harvest of those carrots just might be set back about six weeks,” he noted. Similarly, Weld County’s many growers of corn, sugar beets, onions and dry beans say the maturity of those crops was impacted, and yields might be diminished some in the long run. If those fields can bounce back, farmers say the anticipated delay in crop maturity means they’ll need a long, dry fall to make sure they have enough time to harvest everything before frosts come along.
« WHAT’S COMING
Windsor schools get worst of storm damage By T.M. Fasano tfasano@mywindsornow.com
Schools in Windsor got the brunt of the heavy rains and hail storm late Saturday afternoon with about $50,000 in damages. It looks as though the Windsor area was hit the hardest as far as flooding, broken windows and roof « FOR MORE damage. The storm caused minimal damage to GO TO PAGE schools in Greeley-Evans School District 6, A6: Greeley and said spokeswoman Theresa Myers. She said police the BBB warn there was a slight leak in the roof at Dos Rios homeowners Elementary School in Evans, and Northridge about storm scammers. High School had a broken window. Damage was much worse in Windsor, though, as Windsor Middle School’s ceilings collapsed from the water. Tozer Primary sustained water damage to six or seven classrooms, including the principal’s office. Mountain View Elementary had some water damage, and the district office also had water in the basement and in the elevator shaft. Re-4 Superintendent Karen Trusler said Windsor Middle School was hit the hardest, and issues are still being assessed regarding computers and projectors. “A few rooms had books water-soaked. We’re drying those out and seeing if they can be salvaged,” Trusler said. Trusler added that the schools will be ready to go by the time the teachers start next week and the students begin Aug. 19. As of Sunday, State Farm Insurance spokeswoman Angela Thorpe said 550 homeowners’ claims were filed, and a little more than 400 claims were filed on automobile damages. “I’m being kind of vague on that number only because
« WHAT’S NEWS « WEATHER
SAFETY DAY Weld law enforcement and public
health agencies work together for day of education, interaction. Wednesday.
Isolated thunderstorms High 93 Low 60
High 93 Low 60 WEATHER, XX
B10: Weather
» Schedule TONIGHT
• Ilse will be a part of the Young Chautauquan cameos, which will also feature young performers as Clara Barton and J.R.R. Tolkien. • Bill Barker as Thomas Jefferson WEDNESDAY
• Amelia Wagner as Margaret Mead • Hank Fincken as Francisco Pizarro • The Dance Factory performs, and the Texas Roadhouse will serve food.
«
A6: Storm
TODAY Isolated thunderstorms
Malinche as a Young Chautauquan for tonight’s kick-off night performance to the High Plains Chautauqua.
CONTINUED A7: Schedule
« CONTINUED
WEATHER
DAN ENGLAND/dengland@greeleytribune.com
ILSE MONTES-BUSTILLOS, 13, PORTRAYS La
A3: B4-B9: B8: B7: A2: B10:
Business Classifieds Comics Games Lottery Movie listings
A9: A8: B1-B2: B6:
Obituaries Opinion Sports TV grid
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