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“Covering all the angles in the Garden Spot ... where good things grow” www.berthoudsurveyor.com Thursday, August 30, 2012 © Berthoud, Colorado Surveyor Survey Go to www.berthoudsurveyor.com and give us your opinion.

Should Todd Akin have dropped out of the Senate race in Missouri after his “legitimate rape” comment? Yes No

Town of Berthoud offices and Larimer County offices will be closed for the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept. 3.

Last week’s survey How do you feel about V P Joe Biden’s comment, “They’re (Romney/Ryan) going to put y’all back in chains.” Agree 96.6% Disagree 2.6%

Volume 9, Number 35

Look inside for the Surveyor’s 1st issue of Wheels featuring classic cars sent in by Berthoud readers. On page 6 is Berthoud Tails, our periodic pet page. We welcome your photos of cars and pets, please send them to editor@berthoudsurveyor.com for our next editions.

Politics as usual .09%

Trees in burn area at high risk for mountain pine beetles By Kathleen Donnelly The Surveyor Forests already stressed by the infestation of the mountain pine beetle (MPB), could now be at a higher risk after the Colorado wildfires. While many property owners treat the trees for MPB, there has been no research done on how those treatments will withstand the damage from fires. “We are not aware of any studies that have looked at the impacts of heat, smoke or fire on chemical preventative products for mountain pine beetles,” said Sky Stephens, forest entomologist for the Colorado State Forest Service. “But most chemicals degrade faster when exposed to heat. We are recommending that people treat their trees again, especially if the trees are scorched, because we don’t know how the products used for treatment will hold up after the fire. There are a number of studies being launched by researchers to look at questions such as these in the High Park burn area. It’s a unique environment to be able to study, especially with looking at the pine beetle and fire.” There are two main types of products that property owners can use on their trees — chemical sprays and pheromones. These products are the two most commonly used throughout Western North America. While both have proven effective, there are no products that can help save trees already infested with the MPB. “The chemical sprays are contact sprays that are applied to trees with a high pressure sprayer,” said Stephens. “The pheromones are packets that hang off the tree and emit a signal to the beetles that the tree is full and there is not enough food. It basically mimics a no vacancy signal to the

beetles.” Stephens stressed the importance of applying these products to healthy trees, but even more so, to trees scorched in the fire. “We’ll probably see spikes in pine beetle activity on the perimeter of the fire, and the beetles will find those chunks of forest that weren’t burned within the burn area,” said Stephens. “Trees that were scorched on one side of the trunk and have mild to moderate stress because of this could see a higher infestation of beetles. It’s similar to why students on campus all come down with colds after exams — they’ve had no sleep and are stressed. The trees are stressed and therefore are more susceptible.” The best treatment option for noninfested singed trees is the pheromone packets attached to the trees. This is because the spray may not properly adhere to charred bark. “The window of opportunity to apply or reapply preventative products this summer is rapidly closing,” said Stephens. According to Stephens the cost of the products varies by location. For this reason she recommends contacting the Colorado State Forest Service for more information. “We are part of the College of Natural Resources and are here to support private land owners,” said Stephens. “We have 17 offices across the state so it’s best to talk to your local office because, for example, the needs of a landowner in Durango are very different from a landowner in the High Park area.” For further information on the MPB or the Colorado State Forest Service, visit: http://csfs.colostate.edu. or call 970-491-6303.

Photo by Eric Weedin

President Barack Obama visited the Colorado State University campus on Tuesday afternoon and according to CSU officials it was the first time a sitting U.S. president has visited the campus. The president told the students that they have a bigger stake than anybody in this year’s presidential election — and the power to help determine its outcome. The president will be back in Colorado this weekend, when he is scheduled to speak Sunday in Boulder.

Andrew McNulty receives sheriff’s commendation Special to the Surveyor Berthoud resident Andrew McNulty has been awarded a Larimer County Sheriff’s office commendation by Sheriff Justin Smith for his actions in assisting a lost resident. On June 1, 2012, the Larimer County Sheriff’s office was notified by McNulty, who was hiking on Storm Mountain, that he heard a woman screaming for help. The woman, a lost resident, had originally been able to contact Loveland Police but shortly

Wastewater fix By Rudy Hemmann The Surveyor

The Berthoud Board of Trustees held a regular business meeting Tuesday evening. The trustees heard an emergency request for funds to replace a centrifuge that had failed at the wastewater treatment plant. The request was made by Engineer Stephanie Brothers and Town Administrator Mike Hart. Hart pointed out that through a recent bond refinance the town netted $2 million slated for much needed capital improvements at the wastewater treatment plant. An information sheet furnished by town staff states “With the refinancing complete and the funding available, our plan was to begin the engineering this fall

thereafter lost cell reception. Mr. McNulty remained on scene providing directions for search and rescue personnel for over two and a half hours and communicating with the lost woman and convincing her to remain where she was as help was on the way. Subsequently the woman was found and returned home. Sheriff Justin Smith said, “Mr. McNulty is to be commended for his selflessness in willing to spend so much time in assisting a total stranger.”

and budget for the improvements in the 2013 adopted budget. The failure of the centrifuge forced the town to begin hauling “raw product” from the facility by the truckload so that it did not end up in the Little Thompson River. Following consultations with town staff, wastewater facility personnel and the town’s consultants, JVA Consultants, Hart moved the timeline for replacement of the centrifuge forward several months. Brothers stated she hoped to have a new centrifuge in place and the plant back to full operation in four to eight weeks. In the meantime the town will be paying to have two to three truckloads per week of product removed from the treatment facility. A $10,000 budget line item will be used to cover costs associated with the hauling. Hart estimated this budget item

Courtesy photo

Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith congratulates Andrew for receiving the award.

would be approximately $200 short of covering the full cost. Following board discussion a motion to approve a resolution for a supplemental budget resolution and authorizing the mayor to enter into an operating agreement with JVA Consultants was made, seconded and unanimously approved. The trustees heard a positive report from the town’s business development manager, Ron Schneider, regarding efforts by Berthoud Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) board members to hire a new executive director. Schneider briefly described the process used to winnow 40 candidates down to the final selection. Hart suggested the board approve a scenario under which “The town will contract with the individual TOWN cont. on page 2

New county manager visits Berthoud Photo by Kathleen Donnelly

A stand of trees in Rocky Mountain National Park with typical pine beetle infestation.

Look who’s in the news! Sammie Villarreal Zoey Prefontaine

Navajo Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer Socks

Community Calendar.................. 9 Classified.................................... 9 Crossword/Sudoku...................... 7 Legal notices............................... 9 Opinion....................................... 4 Then & Now................................ 5 Weather...................................... 2

By Rudy Hemmann The Surveyor On Wednesday, Aug. 22, Larimer County Commissioner Tom Donnelly held his regular monthly citizen information meeting in Berthoud. Donnelly introduced recently appointed County Manager, Linda Hoffmann, to those in attendance. Hoffmann briefly related her background as having been employed in the private sector with a civil engineering firm before coming to the county four years ago as director of planning. She stated she would not recommend taking on a position as important as county manager 10 days prior to a major wildland fire breaking out. Hoffmann was referring to the High Park Fire which raged northwest of Fort Collins through much of June and July, burning nearly 87,000 acres and causing one death. She said the county has good systems and intergovernmental agreements in place to deal with

responses to disasters such as the High Park fire. “The state and feds (federal government) show up with buckets of money” to help defray the expense of fighting the fire. She went on to state, “Because we don’t have the order of magnitude of damage ... we don’t have those same types of systems in place to deal with recovery efforts.” According to Hoffmann the federal government has decided the fire disaster near Fort Collins, even when coupled with the Waldo Canyon Fire in the Colorado Springs area, is not big enough to offer any type of assistance to individuals who were affected. She also stated the federal government is still deciding whether they will offer any public assistance grants. She pointed out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines do not work well for the types of emergencies which occurred in Colorado. “They are accustomed to it being a hurricane, flood or a tornado where

things are swept of the face of the earth; they can take a picture of the foundation that remains to document the damage. Our damage isn’t like that. Our damage is, the forest is gone. The watershed is very damaged, and there will be massive run-off from even minor rain storms that occur,” said Hoffmann. She noted much of the road and highway infrastructure, such as culverts and drainage ditches, will be inadequate to deal with the increased run-off, and roads and highways may be flooded as a result. Her estimate of the cost to accomplish emergency watershed protection ranged from $10 million to $20 million. She stated the county will be dealing with watershed issues for the next several years. Hoffmann had praise for the outpouring of support from the community and from the non-profits in the community. She stated much of the assis-

DONNELLY cont. on page 2

Page A2 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor August 30, 2012

DONNELLY

cont. from pg. 1

tance to individuals will be handled in that way, with the county acting as a facilitator to the efforts to help affected citizens. She also spoke of the county budget and projections which forecast the county’s general fund revenue to decrease by 10 per cent over the next three years. “To the extent we can, we will do that in a way which will have the least impact on services, but with those kinds of cuts, by 2015 there will be some things (the county) does not do any more, or things are not done in as timely a fashion,” said Hoffmann.

TOWN

cont. from pg. 1

from mid-September until the end of 2013. The individual will be put at the disposal of BACC and will answer to the chamber board. “The town will contract with the individual directly; pay the individual, and the chamber will come up with an incentive plan to get their membership roles back to where they used to be,” said Hart. An information sheet regarding the issue notes town managers have been working with the chamber to find a full-time director and stresses the importance of having, “A healthy chamber of commerce in Berthoud that can work hand-in-hand with the town’s staff to maintain and build our business community.” Hart made the following points in explaining the reasons town staff came to the decision to fund the contract for the new director: The chamber’s financial position should be healthy enough by the end of 2013 to allow the organization to take over paying the director itself. The yearly amount for the contract will be $40,000, with the remainder of 2012, from mid-September through the end of December, being prorated. There was confusion regarding the

POLICEFILES Tuesday, Aug. 21 A rock was thrown through a window of a home in the 100 block of Victoria Avenue. Harassment in the form of cyber bullying was reported at Berthoud High School. (BHS) A barking dog was reported in the 100 block of E. Iowa Avenue. Wednesday, Aug. 22 A caller reported an injured squirrel in the 500 block of Redwood Circle. Apparently the squirrel ran up a tree and then fell out of the tree. The squirrel was turned over to Wild Kind. Thursday, Aug. 23 An investigation into an abandoned vehicle led to the issuance of a summons to a 19-year-old Berthoud resident charging him with display of fictitious number plates, drove vehicle while under Financial Responsibility Act (FRA) suspension and operated an uninsured vehicle. A traffic stop due to a vehicle weaving into oncoming traffic resulted in the

FIREFILES Monday, Aug. 20 BFPD assisted TVEMS with a patient transfer to the hospital from Berthoud Living Center. BFPD responded to a reported fire alarm at a business on Second Street. Upon arrival there were no signs of smoke or fire. This was determined to be a faulty fire alarm. BFPD responded to a reported hazardous material leaking from a truck on Interstate 25 at mile marker 252. Approximately 150 gallons of contents from a porta-potty spilled onto the roadway after the involved vehicle blew a tire. The fire crew controlled traffic and helped with mitigation of the clean-up. BFPD responded to a medical call on N. Second Street. The patient was transported. Thursday, Aug. 23

Words of Wisdom If you want a Big Brother, you will get all that comes with it. Eric Fromm (1900—1980)

WEATHER Thursday 90/58 Mostly sunny Friday 88/58 Mostly sunny Saturday 90/62 Partly cloudy Sunday 88/58 Partly cloudy Monday 87/58 Partly cloudy Source: WeatherBug

Donnelly responded to a question regarding the jail sales tax question and whether the tax would reappear on the ballot in a coming election, by stating there had been no discussion by the commissioners to bring the issue back. He also said there were many costs associated with the jail over which the county has no control, such as cost of healthcare for inmates, cost of fuel, and cost of employee benefits. “The good news is the jail sales tax would generate $6.5 million to $6.7 million this year. Last year county departments under spent their budgets by nearly $8 million. So they actually returned more money to the general fund than the (jail sales) tax generated,” stated Donnelly.

He related there has been a “culture change” in the county offices which he has noted since he became a commissioner over three years ago. He also noted that Hoffmann reorganized the planning department, which brought about an increase in the level of service, while at the same time reducing the budget of the department after she took over the planning director position. Donnelly stated great strides had been made in uncovering cost savings in county departments and that it is an ongoing process, while at the same time admitting the savings and process improvements get harder to find. “The way county government is set up, with all of the elected officials that

salary of a part-time town employee that led the chamber to pay the full salary of the employee rather than splitting the cost with the town. The contract with the individual will be an “arms length” agreement to assure the individual answers to the chamber board and not the town. A motion approving the contract agreement was made, seconded and passed unanimously. At the insistence of Larimer County Elections the trustees retooled the wording of the ballot initiative regarding the medical marijuana question by removing all references to Larimer and Weld Counties. A motion stipulating the revised language was made, seconded and unanimously passed. The trustees were unable to agree on the appointment of a citizen representative to the Licensing Authority. To begin with, Michele Ballinger requested one of the applicants, Deborah Shephard, be removed from consideration. Ballinger cited “conflict of interest” mainly due to Shephard’s familial relationship to the author of the citizen initiative seeking to ban marijuana businesses in Berthoud. Trustee Bauer further confused the issue by announcing he wished

to “throw his hat in the ring” as a candidate for citizen representative. The board discussed its options before settling in for a vote on the two viable candidates which remained as well as Bauer’s proposal. Will Alexander was nominated and seconded for the seat, but the board vote split evenly 3-3 (Trustee Alaback being absent). The bid favoring Alexander failed as a result. William Wegener was nominated but fell short due to the lack of a second. Bauer’s proposal suffered a similar fate. The board decided to have the town clerk continue advertising for the position of citizen representative. The board did vote to approve seating the town clerk on the Licensing Authority. At the request of town staff the trustees voted to approve continuing a public hearing concerning a proposed ordinance establishing bulk water rates to a date uncertain and held the first reading of a proposed ordinance establishing a policy to regulate oil and gas development within the town limits. The board voted to set final consideration of the ordinance for Sept. 11, 2012. There was not a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 4 at press time on Wednesday morning.

arrest of a 40-year-old man who was charged with DUI and failure to drive in a single lane. A caller reported receiving a call from the “The U.S. Investigation Department” and was asked for personal information and was told that there was a warrant against her. This is reportedly an ongoing telephone scam. Loud music was reported near BHS. A Berthoud resident in the 900 block of Third Street reported digging up bones near a foundation and was concerned that they might be human.

Juveniles trespassing were reported at the BMX track. A white Grand Am driving around BHS blasting music was reported. A caller reported loud noise at Seventh Street and Bruce Drive.

Friday, Aug. 24 A loose chihuahua was reported in the 100 block of Bunyan Avenue. A report of fraud in the 600 block of Bristlecone Court was received by the Berthoud police. Apparently someone had used an authorized check out of state. A barking dog was reported in the 100 block of E. Iowa Avenue. A caller reported a suspicious person near his mailbox and cutting flowers at a neighbor’s house in the 300 block of Welch Avenue. Saturday, Aug. 25 BFPD was requested by Loveland Fire to cover Loveland Fire Station 3 due to a structure fire on W. Ninth Street in Loveland. Friday, Aug. 24 BFPD assisted with a medical call on N. 83rd Street. The fire crew assisted with loading the patient to be transported. BFPD assisted Loveland Fire by covering their Station 3 while they were on a structure fire. Saturday, Aug. 25 BFPD responded to a reported motor vehicle accident on Highway 56. The crew was unable to find an accident in the area. BFPD responded to Keep Circle for a person who had fallen and sustained a

Sunday, Aug. 26 A caller in the 700 block of Welch Avenue reported a neighbor taking things from his yard. Issues between two men over money was reported in the 1200 block of Aspen Drive. A neighbor problem was reported in the 700 block of Welch Avenue. Monday, Aug. 27 A cow on the road was reported out twice at S. County Road 17 and Spartan Avenue. An aggressive dog was reported in the 500 block of S. Ninth Street. A caller reported a female screaming at Seventh Street and Capitol Avenue. Berthoud police received a report of a small pickup doing donuts in a field in the 1300 block of Fourth Street. Vandalism was reported in the 500 block of Second Street. laceration to the head. The crew assisted TVEMS with transporting the patient. BFPD responded to a reported outdoor odor investigation on Foothills Drive. The smell was determined to be from a skunk which had sprayed the responsible parties’ dog. Sunday, Aug. 26 BFPD responded to a motor vehicle accident on County Road 15. This was a single-vehicle accident and the driver was injured and transported. BFPD responded to a motor-vehicle accident on Interstate 25 at mile marker 249 involving two vehicles that sustained moderate front-end damage. There were no injuries reported. The crew controlled hazards and cleared debris from the roadway.

run different departments,” said Donnelly, “That’s a great thing, because ultimately they answer to you, they don’t answer to me, they aren’t bureaucrats ... The commissioners control the purse strings and allocate the budget dollars to the different departments. Then the elected officials have to figure out how to run their departments on that money. I think our elected officials do a great job ... At the same time we (the commissioners) do not have the ability to force them to do something we wanted to have done. It is a juggling act, a balancing act, and that is why we need a good (county) manager.” Donnelly turned attention to the quality of the water in the Poudre River drainage, due to not just the silt

Family fun run By George Duncan The Surveyor The fourth annual anything carries with it a rather positive implication. If a town or club is having a fourth annual event, then the first three must have been successful. If no one came to the first three annual events, chances are the fourth was cancelled. The Fourth Annual Berthoud Fall Family Fun Run/Walk is not about to be cancelled. “We are very pleased with the community response to the first three events. They have been very successful,” said Cecilia Jamieson, president of the Berthoud Run/Walk Club, which sponsors the event. The Berthoud Run/Walk Club is a notfor-profit organization, with board members and participants from the Berthoud area. The goal of the club is to promote fitness in families and community. Although the run/walk event is only four years old, supporters say it is becoming a Berthoud tradition. And unlike many traditions which involve too much food, this tradition is healthy for all participants. Sponsors say the purpose of the annual run/walk is to engage the community in an event that is physiTwo people were arrested on four outstanding warrants in the 200 block of Second Street. Child abuse was reported at First Street and E. County Road 8. The case is under investigation. The following persons received citations: Jeffrey J. Muniz, speeding; Zachery Meintzer, speeding; Anthony Youso, speeding; Nicholas Vanderlinden, failed to stop at stop sign; Kathleen Murphy, speeding; Andres Cuvarrubias, speeding; Nathan Kline, speeding; Richard M. Cutler, speeding; Angela Richman, speeding; Robert Vandenber-

from the burn area, but also the heavy metals and other pollutants from burned residences and vehicles. He noted many private land owners had already begun the process of trying to mitigate the amount of run-off from their property. Hoffmann addressed the issue of private roads and where the funding to maintain those roads in the wake of the fire would come from. Commissioner Donnelly hosts citizen information meetings in Berthoud the fourth Wednesday morning of each month. The meetings begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Lighthouse Cafe conference room.

cally active. The proceeds go directly to Berthoud elementary schools to further promote health and wellness at an early age. Saturday, Sept. 8, is the date of the event. The free 1K run will start at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K race will begin at 9 a.m. at the town park. The fun-filled walks have attracted not just the town, but residents from all over northern Colorado have signed up. The event is a part of the Healthy Kids Club Run Series through Poudre Valley Health System. There will be fruit, water, bounce houses, awards and prizes for participants and their families. And although most people will be running or walking during the event, the sponsors have no problem with people dancing. The Berthoud High School Dance team, High Voltage, will be providing entertainment. To register, you may fill out forms located at various businesses in the town of Berthoud or go to www. berthoudrunwalk.org or register on Active.com. “We would encourage everyone to come out, participate and have a good time while keeping fit,” said Jamieson. “Turn off the television, flick off the computer for a while and get out in the fresh air.” If anyone would like more information, are interested in joining the committee, or would like to volunteer to help with the Berthoud Fall Family Fun Run/Walk, they can contact organizers at www.berthoudrunwalk.org. ghe, speeding; Ana Blair, failed to drive in single lane; Laird McNeil, speeding; Colleen Michelle Colles, speeding; Robert Anthony Britt, speeding; Austin Adam Langley, speeding; Rachel C. Mueller, speeding; Richard E. Eykholt, speeding; Joshua Lara, speeding; David A. Eggerling, speeding; Taylor A. Embury, speeding; Jo Casias, Jr., speeding; Brian J. Pitts, speeding; Kermit Bohrer, speeding; Adriana Valencia, speeding; Rachel A. Flesher, speeding; David Bridge, speeding. Ten traffic warnings and four code violations were issued.

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor August 30, 2012 Page A3 By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer The Surveyor Coloradans love adventure, so it’s not surprising that zip lines are become popular across our state.

Photo by Ryan Schalefer

Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer ziplining at Copper Mountain last weekend.

BHS SOFTBALL DOMINATES

From small-scale zip lines at ski resorts, to large scale zip-line tours, they seem to be cropping up everywhere. A zip line is a pulley system that has been around for years as a mode of transportation in many parts of the world. Today the zip line is more associated with adventure travel in places like Costa Rica where zip lines launch riders out across rainforest canopies. There are no motors on a zip line; the activity depends entirely on gravity. The rider is strapped into a harness that is attached to a removable trolley. The rider then “flies” down a steel cable that has been strung between point A and point B. Zip line courses come in many different types of rides; really high, very fast or very slow, long and short. You can find all styles right here in Colorado. Copper Mountain I rode my first zip line this past weekend at Copper Mountain. This short zip line crosses Copper’s West Lake. This is a gentle zip line, not exceeding 30 mph, and children 45

pounds or more can ride. When I first saw Copper’s zip line in person I thought it looked easy, but once I was strapped in and standing on the launch deck I started to get second thoughts. I have a fear of heights that strikes on ski lifts, while traversing steep hikes, and while riding in hot air balloons. Apparently it also strikes while waiting to launch down a zip line. All fear, howev-

er, evaporated as soon as I was zipping towards the second deck. Copper’s zip line allows two individuals to go at the same time, so my husband was zipping along beside me. I’d inadvertently chosen the zip line on the right that took me through the lake’s water feature, so I got a little wet, but that was okay. When I went back for a second ride, I purposely chose the zip line on the right. Zip-lining is exhilarating. It’s as close to flying as someone like me will ever get, because you’ll never find me hang-gliding or jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. Copper Mountain’s zip line was originally built as a summer-only activity, but it will remain open this winter during ski season. It’s well-suited for children or those who want to try a simple A to B zip line that’s affordable.

Two zip-line rides are just $15. Learn more at www.CopperColorado.com. Soaring Tree Top Adventures Colorado is home to the longest zip line course in the world, and it’s located in Durango. Soaring Tree Top Adventures recently opened its longest zip line spanning 1400 feet. It’s the fastest ride on this zip-line tour that is an all-day event. Riders fly by mountains, over aspen forests and across the Animas River a total of nine times. Soaring Tree Top Adventures closes for the season on Oct. 21, so if you want to “fly” this summer visit www.SoaringColorado.com to book your zip

line experience. Royal Gorge Zip Line Tours Another Colorado zip line getting rave reviews from thrill seekers is The Royal Gorge Zip Line Tours outside of Colorado Springs. This is a brand new course and has nine zip lines spanning over a mile. There is a classic course and an extreme course and, unlike many other Colorado zip lines, it is open year round. Children must weigh 70 pounds or more to experience this zip line tour. For more information, visit www. RoyalGorgeZiplineTours.com.

A glimpse at the complexity of Colorado water By Kathleen Donnelly The Surveyor

Photo by Jan Dowker

BHS junior Kenzie Villarreal (#1) rounds third base and heads toward home plate where her teammates and head coach Teresa Alba congratulate her on the home run that helped secure another victory for the Berthoud varsity softball team, beating the Roosevelt Roughriders on Aug. 28. The Lady Spartans have started out the season very strong, earning victories against Skyline HS (17-1), Windsor HS (11-3) and Roosevelt HS (9-1). Their next game is at home on Friday, Aug. 31 against Thompson Valley HS, with the opening pitch at 7 p.m.

Photo by Kathleen Donnelly

The outlet at Carter Lake Reservoir.

Water rights, reservoirs, canals, outlets and hydropower. All of these water terms and items are a piece of living in Colorado — an arid state. Understanding each component and how it factors in to water in Colorado is complicated and something that can take years to learn. However the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Northern Water) has offered day-long free tours to help residents understand water conservation and the system behind storing and providing water to the Front

Range. I was able to participate in the East Slope Tour and learned how fascinating and complex the system is that provides ample water to both municipalities and agriculture. The tour began at the Northern Water Headquarters in Berthoud. General Manager Eric Wilkinson discussed and answered questions about Colorado water and some of the history behind the Colorado Big Thompson (CB-T) Project. According to Wilkinson, 80 percent of Colorado’s water resources are west of the Continental Divide, while 83 percent of the farming and residents are east of the divide. Wilkinson further explained that growth is not slowing down in Colorado, meaning that water storage and understanding conservation will only become more vital in the future. Drought years, such as the one Colorado is currently experiencing, are not unusual and Wilkinson said that water in Colorado is actually plentiful. The real question is what do you want to use the water for — agriculture or municipalities? This means that in order to sustain future growth and continue providing food resources, future water storage needs to be considered. After Wilkinson answered questions, the group split up. Half of the group toured the Conservation Gardens where important research is done regarding xeriscaping and irrigation. Mark Crookston and Mary Hattendorf, part of the irrigation management team at Northern Water, led the tour. Crookston explained the importance of smart controllers and how anyone can use a smart controller watering their lawn. The controllers are found at any home improvement store or irrigation supply store. Hattendorf gave a great explanation of her research regarding different types of grasses and how much water each grass may need. She explained the research areas and how to determine which grass might be best for a home lawn. After the garden tour, Northern Water public information officer Brian Werner gave a presentation about 2012 being declared the Year of Water and a look at the history behind Northern Water. Then all participants were bussed to Carter Lake where we were treated to an up-close look of the new outlet and hydropower facility. The outlet has gates that can pull water from the top, middle or bottom of the reservoir. Where the water is pulled from is determined by the reservoir level and other factors, such as how much algae is in the top layer of water. Large compressors are stored in the outlet to help prevent damage from ice. The compressors create bubbles that break up the ice. Currently water is being pulled from the bottom of the reservoir and being pumped to Horsetooth Reservoir. The hydropower plant was finished in May and is an excellent renewable energy source. The plant provides enough power to power the town of Berthoud. The Poudre Valley REA signed an agreement with Northern Water to use the energy created by the hydropower plant. The plant is literally an international affair, considering many parts are made overseas. Various parts of the plant came from Canada, France, Spain and Great Britain. Currently parts for plants such as these are not being manufactured in the U.S. The next stops included the future sites of the Chimney Hollow Reservoir and the Glade Reservoir. Between Chimney Hollow and Glade the tour went along the Hansen Feeder Canal that connects water between Flatiron, Carter and Horsetooth Reservoirs. Not only was this piece of the tour informative, but scenic as well. The proposed reservoir sites are two different pieces to a puzzle as to how best prepare for growth in Colorado. While both sites are still in the lengthy review process that incorporates many different government agencies, the water district team made it clear that something needed to be done to provide future water storage. While there are pros and cons to each reservoir site, the overwhelming feeling was that both projects needed to move forward as a solution to the growth Colorado will experience. The day-long tour was informative and provided the ability to ask questions of those who specialize in Colorado water. I look forward to going on the West Slope Tour next year. For more information about the tours or Northern Water visit www. northernwater.org.

Page A4 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor August 30, 2012

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AND COMMENTARY

To the editor: The High Park and Woodland Heights Fires were unprecedented natural disasters in the history of Larimer County. In this “recovery” phase the concerns of fire survivors are broad. In response: the commissioners relaxed provisions of our land-use code; our land fill secured special authorization to accept and dispose of fire debris; we approved changes for building permits; we’re holding citizen meetings and communicating with survivors; we’re working with partners on flooding and land restoration issues; we addressed sandbag needs; we’re assessing our road and culvert needs in fire areas; we’re meeting with residents on private road issues; we set up and staffed a three-week disaster recovery center; we provide human service, public and environmental health assistance; our GIS and IT departments continue to update special Web pages; we’re partnering to get dumpsters to residents for continued clean-up; we have a seat at the table on the community long-term recovery committee assessing unmet needs; we have a long-term recovery director, Gary Darling; we’re reviewing our budget for opportunities to assist; and we’ll continue to provide services as needs arise. An example of the meetings we’re holding is one on insurance. Over 100 fire survivors met Aug. 2 with Larimer County to talk about insurance. Survivors are now navigating the maze of insurance coverage and choosing whether to rebuild or not. We hired United Policyholders, a national non-profit consumer organization assisting disaster survivors, to conduct the “Insurance: Roadmap to Recovery Process”

workshop and they were back on Monday, Aug. 27 to again meet with citizens and present new topics in this arena. Long-term recovery will take several years, so we’re hiring an even longerterm manager to take over past the next few months. Larimer County is and will be here for the citizens. We realize the grieving and recovery process can be frustrating. We ask that you be our partners, stay in touch, give us feedback, let us know what’s working, what’s not, and what the needs are. We’ll continue to provide the best services we can while remaining good stewards of public resources for all of Larimer County. For more information visit http:// larimer.org/highparkfire for specific fire recovery information.

To the editor: I’m a Democrat because … I’m a Democrat because when I was an independent, our crazy political system partially disenfranchised me: I couldn’t vote in primaries. I rectified this by joining the lesser of two evils. I’ve grown to appreciate this imperfect attempt by fallible humans to guide our country in the right direction. Nineteen years of Christian education (church-run primary through graduate schools) soaked my conscience in the basic message of the Gospels: “Whatever you did to the least of My brothers and sisters, you did to Me.” The picture Jesus draws of the criteria for getting to heaven, namely; feeding the poor, giving drink to the thirsty, caring for the sick, helping those in prison, and clothing the naked describes the Democratic

Party. Social Security, civil rights, Medicare, Medicaid, universal health insurance, minimum wage, The War on Poverty and unemployment benefits are programs pushed through by the Democratic Party against strong resistance from the other. I fume when my party leaders

seem to be in big business’ pockets, don’t stand up to the falsehoods of the opposition, and don’t keep promises. Then I think of the alternative and what Jesus said.

This convention matters

the old days, very few actually featured any suspense about the eventual nominee). And yes, like so much else in American life, they have become shows. But at least they are shows about public policy and about democracy — each party getting an extended opportunity to make its best case. Political conventions are one of the only shows Americans watch collectively that are about important matters, like the direction of the country rather than about Snooki or "Monday Night Football." (Not that there's anything wrong with football...) The Republican convention is particularly important this year, because if the polls are to be trusted (an open question), the voters are quite dissatisfied with the leadership of Barack Obama yet unconvinced that Romney is an acceptable alternative. As Jack Kemp was fond of saying, people want to know that you care before they care what you know. Voters are uncertain about Romney because they don't yet perceive him to care about their problems. Funny how that can happen when your opponent spends hundreds of millions of dollars presenting you as a villain — a corporate raider, felon, tax cheat and murderer. But there's another reason as well. Romney himself — unlike the sort of candidates we've seen in the past several cycles, particularly Bill Clinton and Barack Obama — has a kind of old-fashioned reticence. He doesn't have a story about paternal abandonment as Obama

(quite the opposite) or posthumous birth as Clinton. He comes from the kind of loving and supportive family that he now heads with Ann Romney. But even if he did have a hard luck story, one senses that he wouldn't be comfortable retailing it. Yes, he can tout his accomplishments as a businessman or governor or savior of the Olympics, but he cannot tell stories about his personal kindness and decency — about how often he has dropped everything to help others. There is no shortage of such accounts — and the convention is the place (the only place) where they can be told to a large audience. Romney surrogates can highlight the striking number of instances of kindness and generosity in Romney's life. The Daily offered these examples: "One cold December day in the early 1980s, Mitt Romney loaded up his Gran Torino with firewood and brought it to the home of a single mother whose heat had been shut off just days before Christmas. Years after a business partner died unexpectedly, Romney helped the man's surviving daughter go to medical school with loans for tuition — loans he forgave when she graduated. And in 1997, when a fellow church member's teenage son fell seriously ill, Romney sprinted to the hospital in the dead of night, where he kept vigil with his terrified parents. Stories like these — tales of long

hours spent with grieving families, financial assistance to those in need and timely help given to strangers whether asked for or not — abound in the adult life of the Republican presidential candidate." As a skeptical Andy Ferguson wrote in The Weekly Standard, his coolness toward the candidate evaporated after reading "The Real Romney" by two Boston Globe reporters. "My slowly softening opinion," Ferguson wrote, "went instantly to goo when 'The Real Romney' unfolded an account of his endless kindnesses — unbidden, unsung, and utterly gratuitous." A campaign is more than a personality contest of course. Romney's acceptance speech will be an important moment to present a roadmap for the nation's recovery. But that much could also be done through advertising and in the debates. The introduction of Romney the man, on the other hand — lifting the curtain on the truth about his character and virtues — can only be done by others and thus, requires the backdrop of the convention — silly hats, programmed applause, staged tableaux and all. To find out more about Mona Charen and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.Copyright 2012 Creators.com

e've all heard the objection that political conventions have become empty kabuki theater. The high drama of multiple ballots is dead and gone. Uncertainty about the outcome is no more. "Today," laments political guru Mike Murphy, "delegates are bound through Guest the application of TV ad ratColumnist ings points, not machine deals. They sit in the convention hall like the background actors in a TV show, milling about to the director's orders, wearing costumes and denied a single Mona line. It seems a Charon shabby ending to a great tradition. It's time for a mercy killing." Mike Murphy is an astute observer of all things political, but I think he's wrong about this. Sure, conventions have lost their drama (though, even in

Ode to Summer M

y dear summer, where have you gone? I awoke recently to find you missing and in your place found the crisp hint of cooler temperatures in the air. That afternoon you returned, but this reminded me of what is to come. It was a tease that you will leave me once again. To this thought, my heart ached. As I peruse the isles of stores I find small shelves with items of Halloween

Amelia’s last flight (75th anniversary) By Virginia J. Huppe The Surveyor “Yes ... no ... Fred I can’t see” ... “The gas tank is low” “We are in the line of position 157-133 running North and South.” “Do you hear me.?” “We are upon you but can’t see you.” “Itasca where are you?” ... She knew she could. Brave ... trusted the Lockheed Electra. Confident ... had flown alone across the Atlantic. “Please know I am quite aware of the hazards,” she said.

Board of Larimer County Commissioners

paraphernalia. What longer, your departure is mockery is this? inevitable. Surveyor Oh summer, are you How long shall we be not still here? You aren’t apart? Where will you Columnist officially gone and yet go? Your trip abroad to humanity and retail blatantly other lands will serve you disrespects you, chasing you well. See the sites, visit away. the world, give them your I miss you, yet you’re not warmth and fun. even gone. But don’t be long. I need The shorts, the flip flops, you again. the swimming, the foods, the Your sister will be here vacations, the fireworks, the soon. Although not bad, camping, the smells, the long she’s not you. Autumn days, and all the presents you is nice, but. She is fun, bring (but you can keep the but. There’s the change Eli heat). and falling of leaves, the Summer, my summer, this Hopkins romance, the school, the must be good bye. You’re football, the approaching packing your bags. Although holidays, the skiing, the you will be with me just a few days cool air and the dreary Saturday’s

Determined ... flew 14,000 ft. 1922. Experienced ... world altitude record for female pilots The crash? ... The disappearance of two. What happened? ... Oh — the remote island of Gardner, perhaps? Did the “silver bullet” land off the Reef of Nikumaroro in the Republic Kiribati? Perhaps they were “castaways” catching rainwater ... eating fish, clams, seabirds, turtles or coconuts? The island may carry the secret! A womans shoe found, Dr. Berrys Freckle ointment, a cognac bottle, remnants of a small campfire, a sextant a bone-handled knife. A rich family was not her accord. and a passive bystander, she was not. Strong was she ... Strength and resilience lifted by her own accomplishments.

“Amelia, you were a heroine.” “You gave us good shoes to fill.” (Tighar Exhibition — USS Colorado departure from Hawaii July 3, 2012 on the 75th anniversary of the disappearance of Amelia Earhart is taking place

LETTERSPOLICY The Berthoud Weekly Surveyor welcomes contributions to the editorial page in the form of letters to the editor and the BS Line. Diverse and varied opinions are welcome. Letters to the editor: Due to space constraints, we may at times withhold letters of excessive length. Writers are asked not to submit a letter more than once every four weeks. We will try to print as many letters as possible and letters from the residents of Berthoud will have first priority. However, the editor reserves the right to edit or reject any letter. Reasons a letter might be rejected include confusing or unclear points, crude language or inflammatory remarks.

Allen Peacock Berthoud

spent cuddled up watching back-to-back movies. Yet, she’s a bit gloomy and her days are too short. Although you didn’t give us much rain this year, I still love you. You make me feel better and at times even make my skin glow. Next year, I’m sure you’ll bring tears of joy when we reunite that will wet the dry ground, something badly needed. Please tell your brother winter to be nice. We need snow, but not cold. He can be mean at times and is often a party pooper. I enjoy a few elements of his character but generally I’m not a fan. When he’s here, I’ll grin and bear it. As you prepare to depart, I will be strong, put away my apparel for hot days until your warmth returns. Dearest summer, good bye.

now and is a hi-tech deep water search with the idea of finding more clues, artifacts to solve the disappearance of Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Nooman, on her final flight.) All letters to the editor must be signed and include the writer’s hometown and daytime phone number. Letters may be mailed to the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor, Attn: Letters to the E ditor, 440 Mountain Ave., Berthoud, CO 80513. Letters also may be e-mailed to editor@berthoudsurveyor.com, faxed to 970-532-5424 or dropped by the office, located at 440 Mountain Ave., between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. BS Line: Anonymous comments are limited to 50 words or less. Comments that contain crude language, inflammatory remarks or personal attacks will not be included. See the phone number and extension in the top left corner of this page. The deadline for letters is 5 p.m, Monday for that Thursday’s edition.

BSLINE I’d like to voice my concern regarding the cartoon on your opinion page in the Aug. 23 edition. You say in your publishing notes that you take no responsibility or feel no obligation regarding subject matter and copy, but I think this is divisive and it makes me very uncomfortable. The cartoon is of Joe Biden, but it doesn’t even look like him. It looks more like Barack Obama who is the president of our country. I’m tired of the conservative rhetoric, articles, notes, columns, etc. I think it is very one-sided.

BERTHOUD WEEKLY SURVEYOR Volume 9, Number 35 ISSN #1556-1585 USPS 023-132 Periodical postage paid at Berthoud, Colo., post office “Covering all the angles in the Garden Spot” 440 Mountain Avenue Berthoud, Colorado 80513 970-532-2252 970-532-5424 fax www.berthoudsurveyor.com Publisher/Managing Editor Becky Justice-Hemmann Project Manager Rudy Hemmann Account Manager Eli Hopkins Dave Swinehart Graphic Designer/ Assistant Editor Susan Richards Sports Editors John Hall Jan Dowker Office Manager Jo Buckridge Contributing Writers & Photographers Caroline Creager Kathleen Donnelly Debbie Draper George Duncan Sandy Ellis Mark French Rudy Hemmann Mike Hotka Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer Dr. Bill Kleber Kristi Leonard Anastasia Marchese Bob McDonnell Stefani Messick Susan Richards James Skeen Igor Zelinski Published weekly in Berthoud, Colorado, by the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor. The publishers reserve the right to edit, classify or reject any advertising or news copy. Liability for any newspaper error in an advertisement shall not exceed the cost of space occupied by error. The publishers assume no liability for any advertising which is not published for any cause. The publishers assume absolutely no obligation or responsibility for subject matter in copy placed by its advertisers or their agents. It is also understood that the advertiser and the agency placing such advertising jointly and severally agree to indemnify Berthoud Weekly Surveyor, LLC against all expense, loss or damage sustained by reason of printing such copy. Subscription rates are $32 per year to residents of 80513 and $40 per year to zip codes other than 80513. Postmaster: Please send address changes (Form 3579) to the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor, 440 Mountain Ave., Berthoud, CO 80513.

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor August 30, 2012 Page A5 The historical society and Mark French are interested in obtaining and copying old photos from Berthoud’s past. Please contact Mark at 532-2147 if you have any photos you would like to share.

THEN & NOW

Berthoud will celebrate its 125th birthday in 2013 T he Berthoud Historical Society is busy constructing a 2013 calendar filled with historical photographs to kick off its celebration of town’s 125th Surveyor anniversary. Columnist While Berthoud was moved from its original site on the Little Thompson river bottom in the winter of 188384, it was not until the fall of 1888 that a Mark group of town French residents that included Frank Davis, John Munson, Bub Rowen, Peter Turner, Len Kelly, Frank Crane and Andy Fairbairn were elected to serve on the first town board. Since the town was officially incorporated in 1888 a celebration was held in Berthoud a century later in 1988 to commemorate its centennial.

The coming year — 2013 — will mark the town’s quasquicentennial or 125th anniversary and give the community another opportunity to celebrate its heritage. In the fall of 1888 when Berthoud formed its first town government the tiny burg of perhaps 200 residents was only five years removed from its original site on the Little Thompson river bottom. At its new location where water could be obtained from the Handy Ditch system that diverted water from the Big Thompson River, Berthoud began to grow and attract would-be entrepreneurs, nearly all of whom had failed to make fortunes in the mining camps of the Pikes Region region. One of those men was Frank Davis who came to Berthoud to open a general store after he found some success prospecting near the Sunshine mining camp above Boulder. When his store near the train depot burned to the ground in the fall of 1887, Davis became one of the leading figures in the movement to form a town government so there could be municipal services such as fire protection.

Historical Society scheduled events Enjoy the bounty of Berthoud’s local harvest on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. when the Jennie McCarty Heirloom Garden Group of the Berthoud Historical Society hosts its third annual Heirloom Harvest Fair. The event is free of charge and will be held on the grounds and front porch of the McCarty-Fickel Home house museum at 645 Seventh St. in Berthoud. A series of garden-oriented demonstrations will take place throughout the day. A tomato tasting that will feature old-fashioned varieties of locally grown tomatoes promises to be a highlight of the event. Anyone who has grown heirloom tomatoes this season is invited to share the bounty of their garden at this year’s tasting. There will also be heirloom seeds, bedding plants, cut ﬂowers, garden produce and homemade canned and baked goods on sale to beneﬁt the restoration of the home’s grounds to its original 1916 landscape plan. The museum’s well-stocked gift shop will also be open. Don’t miss this unique event that pays tribute to Berthoud’s rich gardening heritage and helps a worthy cause. Call 970-532-1916 for more

information. Lunch from Fannie Palmer’s Pantry will be served on Friday, Sept. 7, at the McCarty-Fickel Home at 645 Seventh St. in Berthoud from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fannie Palmer was the McCarty family’s domestic helper in the early 1900s and prepared the family’s meals for many years. The lunch is offered a cost of $10 per person and provides a unique opportunity to step back to a less-harried era when the noonday meal was a relaxing interlude in the middle of the day. Seating is limited. It is necessary to make reservations no later than Tuesday, Sept. 4. Call 970-344-5160 to RSVP or for more information. The Bunyan Observatory located at the Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum at 228 Mountain Ave., Berthoud, is open for stargazing through banker John Bunyan’s original 1930s Brashear telescope beginning at dusk on the ﬁrst Friday of every month. The September viewing will be on the evening of Friday, Sept 7. Free admission. Open to the public. Call 970-5322147 or visit www.berthoudhistoricalsociety.org/ for more information.

There is no record of Berthoud’s ﬁrst election but on Sept. 15, 1888, minutes from the town board meeting indicated that F.I. Davis, John Munson, M.A. Rowen, Peter Turner, L.H. Kelly, F.A. Crane and Andy Fairbairn had been selected to serve as trustees. A committee was also organized at that time to “ascertain a true valuation of the taxable property in the town for the purpose of making a loan for the town.” In the weeks following the establishment of Berthoud’s town government the trustees got down to business. At a meeting held on Sept. 20, 1888, the town board instructed the recorder to obtain a set of books. A week later at the Board’s third meeting a committee that had been formed to explore a “water plant” and the purchase of a hose cart reported their ﬁndings. A special meeting followed on Oct. 1, 1888 to authorize the purchase of a hose cart for the use of a volunteer Photo courtesy of the Berthoud Historical Society hose company that had been formed a year earlier after the general store In the late 1880s when Berthoud organized its town government the tiny burg was inhabited by a few hundred residents who hoped to capitalize on the opporoperated by F.I. Davis had burned tunities that abounded in the new town. The year 2013 marks the town’s 125th down. year in existence.

twilight begins. Venus rises about three and one half hours before the Sun all month and shines brilliantly at a magnitude of -4.2. This makes Venus the brightest object in this part of the sky except for the Moon, which will be just above and to the right of Venus on the morning of Sept. 12. Early evening planet eptember early Surveyor watchers are still treated morning planet with two planets. For the Columnist watchers are in for ﬁrst half of the month a treat. Saturn will shine very low Jupiter rises a little above the west-southwestbefore midnight in the ern horizon. By the third eastern sky as September week of September Saturn begins, and about 10 p.m. will be lost in the glare of by the end of the month. evening twilight. This planet brightens from A bit higher above the a bright magnitude of -2.3 evening horizon in the to -2.5 by the end of the west-southwestern sky month. Find Jupiter high in is the planet Mars. Mars the southern sky as mornMike sets about two hours after ing twilight begins. The Hotka the Sun all month. On the Moon will be just below evening of Sept. 19, a thin Jupiter on the morning of crescent Moon will be to Sept. 8. the left of Mars. Venus is brilliant all month, high On Friday Sept. 7, on the CU in the southeastern sky as morning Boulder campus, the Fiske Plan-

Eye on the Sky S

PLEASE RECYCLE

etarium is having a program called “City of Stars.” On Friday Sept. 14, a live talk by the CU faculty is called “Odometers of Time — 2012 is NOT the End.” On Friday Sept. 21 and the 28, the show has not been published yet. Call the planetarium for show details. Each show starts at 7:30 p.m. and is followed by telescope viewing at the Sommers-Bausch Observatory, weather permitting. For more information, visit the website http://lyra.colorado.edu/sbo/ public/openhouse.html or call 303492-5002. The Little Thompson Observatory, in Berthoud, Colo., is having their monthly open house event on Sept. 21. At 7 p.m. amateur astronomers Steve and Irene Little will give a talk on the Mayan calendar and the superstition related to the end of the world. Telescope observing follows the talk, weather permitting. The observatory is at the northeast edge of Berthoud High School. More information can be found at www.starkids.org or by calling 970613-7793.

Praise and Worship

Follow the Surveyor on Twitter @BerthoudSurvey and like us on Facebook for breaking news. Check out our website www.berthoudsurveyor.com

Page A6 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor August 30, 2012

Zoey Sam Kleber

Izzi Kate Swim and Dan Candee

Navajo John and Susan Krueger

Prefontaine Sue and Dana Brungardt

More anthrax and rabies cases this year By Kathleen Donnelly The Surveyor For ranchers, anthrax is nothing new, and a recent outbreak in Logan County is a reminder that the bacteria is in the soil. Likewise, rabies is also not a new virus, but this year an increase of rabies in Larimer County serves as a reminder to keep domestic animals vaccinated. Anthrax was introduced to the soil in Colorado and surrounding states during a cattle drive around 1860. Two of the more well-known trails include the Goodnight Loving Trail that came over Raton Pass and followed the I-25 corridor, and the Chism Trail. During the cattle drive infected animals would become sick and die. Not knowing what caused the animals’ deaths,

the carcasses were left and not properly disposed of. This meant that the bacteria became part of the soil and formed spores. These spores can cause outbreaks in cattle herds, affecting humans and other livestock such as sheep and horses. “Many states in the west have anthrax cases primarily in the summer,” said Hana Van Campen, a researcher and faculty member of Colorado State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. “It’s hard to say why it flares up, but it could be that drought forced the animals to graze in another portion of the pasture, prairie dogs dug new holes and brought it to the surface, or even bulls that paw can inhale the spores from the dust they create. It’s been a dry summer, so the cattle could have kicked up more dust.” According to Van Campen the natural form of the bacteria is susceptible to antibiotics, making anthrax easy to treat if diagnosed in time. There are also vaccines available and currently in use for surrounding cattle herds in the Logan County area where the outbreak occurred. The key to treatment is a quick diagnosis of the disease. “Most animals, such as cattle that die, wouldn’t be necropsied, but these cattle were because of the number found dead. Most of the time the

Lilies: lovely but deadly By Dr. Cecily Lyon Emergency veterinarian If you love flowers and have cats at home, please read this article before purchasing your next bouquet. Although flowers can be a beautiful addition to your home, many bouquets include lilies, which can cause kidney failure and death in cats. Members of the lily family include day lilies, Easter lilies, tiger lilies, Japanese showy lilies, and basically any other lily variety with similar appearance to these. Lilies can

Rooster For adoption at the Larimer County Humane society

be found in most mixed-flower bouquets at grocery stores and florists. Rapid kidney failure can occur even if a small amount is chewed or eaten. The leaves and stem are the most toxic and are, unfortunately, the parts that cats usually like to chew. The toxic mechanisms of the lily are unknown, but have been shown to damage the part of the kidney that makes urine. When this area is damaged, kidneys are unable to produce adequate amounts of urine and may stop producing urine altogether. Toxins build up in the blood and can be fatal if untreated. It is important to bring your cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible if you witness him chewing on lilies, even if he is showing no signs of illness. Unfortunately, the window for early intervention is often missed. Cats will often vomit for several hours after exposure and can then show virtually no signs of disease until severe kidney failure is present. Signs of acute kidney failure

suspect is some sort of toxin like a poisonous plant or lead poisoning from a battery. Once we knew that it was anthrax, rapid tests were ordered,” said Van Campen. Besides anthrax, Northern Colorado has had a record number of positive rabies cases this year, especially in the Larimer County area. Drought could also be a factor in this, although there is no concrete proof. “Every year we have bat rabies, but the difference this year is the skunk rabies. The skunks are carrying a strain of rabies found in Kansas skunks. I would guess that the skunks are following the drier river beds and coming in via the Platte, Arkansas and Republican Rivers,” said Van Campen. Rabies is a viral disease transmitted by an infected animal biting another animal or human. The virus incubates for a couple weeks and eventually effects the brain which causes aggressive or unusual behavior. “The animal will become aggressive and exhibit strange behaviors. I heard of a skunk attacking a laundry basket once, another spraying cars passing by the side of the road and, of course, attacking domestic animals such as dogs. Skunks are nocturnal animals, so if you see one during the day, that is abnormal behavior,” said Van Campen.

Cases of rabies in skunks and raccoons have been confirmed in Fort Collins, Wellington, Ault and Foothills Campus. A bison at the university was confirmed to have rabies. Bats are a continued risk to carry rabies, and bites can be very small and hard to detect. Van Campen recommended seeking medical attention for any human that has come into contact with a bat. “Unvaccinated animals are susceptible, so I make the plea to animal owners to get their animals vaccinated. The vaccines cover all strains found in North American and is an easy way to prevent this virus,” said Van Campen. For more information regarding rabies and anthrax visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website at: www.cdphe. state.co.us. Animal owners can find out more information at the Colorado State Veterinarian website at: http://www. colorado.gov/ag.

can take one to four days to develop and include vomiting, lethargy, inappetence, low urine production, inability to urinate and death. The earlier your veterinarian is able to intervene, the better chance your cat has of recovering. If treatment is started within 18 hours of ingestion, chances of survival are much better. If treatment is delayed beyond 18 hours after ingestion, chances of recovery are poor and death can occur within three to six days. There are no toxic screening tests available to diagnose lily toxicosis. Diagnosis is usually made based on history of lily exposure, physical exam, and confirmation of kidney failure on blood work. If lilies were recently ingested, your veterinarian may attempt to induce vomiting and administer activated charcoal to bind excess toxin and prevent further absorption. If your cat is showing signs of disease, he will likely need hospitalization for aggressive intravenous fluid administration, blood work monitoring, gastrointestinal protective therapy and other medications. In severe cases, dialysis or kidney transplant are sometimes

performed, but can be extremely costly. Although damaged kidneys have the potential for recovery, severe kidney failure often results in death/euthanasia, even with aggressive treatment in place. To help prevent exposure, avoid bringing this plant into your house, yard, or anywhere else your cat likes to roam. Checking with a florist before purchasing flowers, ridding your yard of lilies, and educating friends and family about this potential risk are all great preventative measures. The next time you’re at the florist, grocery store, or out in the garden, please think twice before bringing these lovely but deadly flowers into your home. AMVS is a 24-hour veterinary facility providing specialty internal medicine, surgery, emergency and critical care, physical rehabilitation, pain management, and blood bank services for pets. They are

Dub Chelsey and Macy

To advertise on our next pet page contact the Surveyor at 970.532.2252

Socks Chris Dostal

Lego For adoption at the Larimer County Humane Society

Conner For adoption at the Larimer County Humane society

located in Longmont at 104 S. Main St. For more information, go to www. AspenMeadowVet.com.

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor August 30, 2012 Page A7

& MAKE IT A GREAT DAY

“Shadow of Night” casts an entertaining spell By Kathleen Donnelly The Surveyor What happens when a vampire and witch fall in love, get married and cast a spell to time walk back to 1590? New York Times bestselling author and historian Deborah Harkness in a followup to her first book, “A Discovery of Witches,” answers this question in “Shadow of Night,” the second book in her All Souls Trilogy. Harkness, a history professor at University of Southern California, continues the story of her characters Mathew Roydon and Diana Bishop. Roydon is a geneticist who happens to be a vampire, and Bishop is an Oxford scholar in denial about the fact she is a witch. Bishop has never honed her skills — she can’t even light a candle properly — but the two fall in love despite the fact a relationship between a vampire and witch is unheard of and forbidden. The dynamic couple first met because of a book called “Ashmole 782.” The book found Bishop and forced her to find her magical powers. The bewitched book also brings unwanted creatures in Bishop’s life — creatures she has been in denial about — including other witches, vampires and daemons. There are three missing pages in “Ashmole 782” that may answer many questions for Bishop and Roydon, but many others would like to keep those pages secret, even if it means killing Bishop and Roydon. To save themselves, find the

missing pages, and find someone to teach Bishop the finer points of being a witch, the couple go back in time to 1590. Bishop has figured out enough magic to time walk and take Roydon with her. Roydon, of course, is quite at home in 1590, being a centuries old vampire. Bishop manages to land them in Roydon’s 1590s home where historical figures such as Sir Walter Raleigh, Henry Percy, Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Harriot and even Queen Elizabeth I became part of the story. Harkness does a masterful job of taking these historical figures and making them an entertaining piece of the tale. Thinking they are safe in 1590, Bishop and Roydon begin the search for someone who can help Bishop hone her skills, but they didn’t think about the fact that witch trials were already beginning throughout Europe. Many witches shy away from helping, and Bishop finds herself having to be careful that she does not end up a victim of the witch hunt. Bishop and Roydon quickly find themselves in several predicaments but none as intimidating as meeting Roydon’s father, Philippe de Clermont. De Clermont, a powerful vampire, at first does not approve of the relationship, but after some convincing and the help of Bishop’s charm, he relinquishes his position. De Clermont’s only stipulation is that Bishop and Roydon have a proper wedding, which brings

Sudoku is a number placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.

the next hurdle in the relationship — can a vampire and witch produce a child? Bishop and Roydon discover that she is no ordinary witch, meaning that she can have a child with a vampire. She also discovers that her powers are rare and formidable. Will she be able to use her powers to ﬁnd “Ashmole 782?” Will she and Roydon be able to time walk back to modern day? Will they change the course of history in the process? Harkness weaves a great story in “Shadow of Night” along with tying in great descriptions of the 16th Century. Her ability to bring characters to life and teach history while providing an entertaining story makes for a fun read. As with “A Discovery of Witches,” Harkness leaves the reader hanging and looking forward to the ﬁnal book in the trilogy.

Christmas in Berthoud artist competition Special to the Surveyor This year Christmas in Berthoud (CIB) is excited to offer an artistic competition to ﬁnd the most interesting rendition of a Christmas scene in Berthoud. Create your masterpiece using a modern, historical or nostalgic theme. We require your work to be crafted in color and no larger than 11” X 17” in size. No photographs. Christmas in Berthoud will have the right to use and reproduce all artistic entries. Your artwork will be used for marketing purposes and to sell products in various formats to help fund CIB which, by the way, is in the application process to receive non-proﬁt status. Although we will not have a cash prize, each time we use your masterpiece we will proudly display your signature, making your name well known! Visit the Christmas in Berthoud booth during Oktoberfest Oct. 6, when we will reveal the winner and display all entries. Entries must be submitted by Oct. 4 to the Berthoud Surveyor, 440 Mountain Ave. during normal working hours. Fill out your entry form at The Surveyor when you drop off your artwork.

beatcalendar Boulder Dinner Theatre Avenue Q Sept. 7 through Nov. 3 303-449-6000 5501 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

SUDOKU SOLUTION

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse Fiddler on the Roof Through Oct. 28 970-744-3747 4747 Marketplace Dr., Johnstown Jesters Dinner Theatre My Fair Lady Through Sept. 30 303-682-9980 224 Main St., Longmont Rialto Theater Hazel Miller Band Sept. 7, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. $15 adult, $13 senior 228 E. Fourth St., Loveland Union Colony Dinner Theatre Once Upon A Mattress Aug. 31 through Nov. 4 970-352-2900 802 Ninth St., Suite 200, Greeley

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COMMUNITYCALENDAR

Send your calendar items regarding non-profit organizations only to editor@berthoudsurveyor.com by Monday at 9 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 1 11th Annual Bums of Berthoud Benefit for Steve Butcher will be held on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 2 p.m. in Fickel Park. Live music, silent auction, raffle, good food. Questions, call 970-685-0190. Cash donations accepted at Guaranty Bank. The wolves of WolfWood Refuge from southwest Colorado will be at Hermit Park Open Space over Labor Day weekend, Saturday, Sept. 1, and Sunday, Sept. 2. There will be educational programs at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., both days, at the Hermit Park Open Space Pavilion. The wolves will also be available to visit between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. when educational programs are not taking place. For more info: www.wolfwoodrefuge. org — for directions: http://www.larimer. org/naturalresources/driving_hermitpark. htm. Questions? Contact Heather Young at: hyoung@larimer.org or 970-6794489. Saturday, Sept. 8 Annual Wildfire Street Dance on Sept. 8, 5 to 10 p.m. Live music by Bonnie and the Clydes; silent and live art

The Berthoud Library will host “Savvy Social Security Planning: What Baby Boomers Need to Know to Maximize Retirement Income,” presented by Nancy Hazelrigg on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m in the library meeting room. Nancy Hazelrigg helps provide answers to these Social Security questions: • Will Social Security be there for me? • How much can I expect to receive? • When should I apply for Social Security? • How can I maximize my benefits? • Will Social Security be enough to live on in retirement? The Berthoud Community Library District (BCLD) is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Board of Trustees. The seven-member Board governs the library district, oversees the finances and establishes policies. Applicants must reside within the library district. The term for this position is four years, January 2013 — December 2016. Applications for the board and a description of the position are available at the Berthoud Community Library and online at www.berthoudpubliclibrary.org. Applications should be returned to Berthoud Community Library District, 236 Welch Ave., Berthoud, CO 80513, Attn: Sara Wright. Please see the application for more information. The due date for applications is Sept. 20 or until filled.

auctions to benefit Wildfire, local craft beers and food, dance demos by the Wildfire tappers, Essence Dance, facepainting, presentation to the town of this summer’s public art gift. For more information on the public art project contact Anita Yeh at 720-841-2770. Loveland Elks Lodge — Remembering 911 Community Blood Drive, Saturday, Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., located at 103 E. Fourth St., Loveland. For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Bonfils Appointment Center at 800-365-0006 ext. 2 or visit www.bonfils.org. Sixth Annual Peace in the Park Festival features scavenger hunt for cash prizes.Foote Lagoon/Civic Center, 300 N. Adams Ave., Loveland, Saturday Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aglow International of Fort Collins will meet on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Family Worship Center, 3901 S. Mason, Fort Collins. There will be a potluck brunch followed by the meeting. For more information, call Carol at 970-532-3117. Sunday, Sept. 9 A community meeting will be held on Sunday Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. at the Berthoud Area Community Center to discuss medical marijuana. Industry professionals and patients will be on hand to answer questions. Tuesday, Sept. 11 Parents and community members are invited to Thompson 101 to learn more about what the district has to offer on Sept. 11 beginning at 6 p.m. at Centennial Elementary School, 1555 W. 37th St. The event, sponsored by the Thompson School District Board of Education, includes information tables, breakout sessions and a board Listening Tour. Information tables about various programs, options and initiatives will be manned by district staff from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Topics include district educational options, transportation, nutrition services, credit recovery, volunteer online registration, English language acquisition, athletics and activities, the parent portal and more. Two series of breakout sessions on different topics are offered at 6:15 and 6:45 p.m. Topics include the superintendent search, educator effectiveness, school finance, literacy, school readiness, concurrent enrollment, and the discipline matrix. At 7:15 p.m., board members will meet in small groups to address questions and issues. Child care will be provided. Thursday, Sept. 13 3rd Annual Berthoud Chamber golf tournament at Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor. For more information go to www.berthoudcolorado. com and click on the event tab. The third annual Patriot Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Spring Canyon Park, in Ft. Collins (2626 W. Horsetooth Rd.). his event is being organized and presented by the Larimer County Veteran Advisory Group, which is made up of representatives from various veteran

service organizations in Northern Colorado. There will be free food (hamburgers and hot dogs) and information tables to inform veterans of the many benefits and services that are available to them though numerous organizations that are here to support and help veterans. Tour the new Veterans Plaza and meet some fellow veterans. For more information and directions to Spring Canyon Park, go to: http://www.larimer. org/veterans, or call 970-222-3858 (especially if you need a ride). Larimer County Natural Resources invites you to attend a presentation and special field trip to Eagle’s Nest Open Space with Stephen Schell, retired Poudre High School and Regis University teacher, and author of the book “Following John C. Frémont’s Trail Through Northern Colorado 1843.” Schell was able to locate all of the campsites Fremont used on his journey, including one along the North Fork of the Poudre in what is now Eagle’s Nest Open Space. Follow in Fremont’s footsteps in this two-part program that includes a short classroom session and a field trip. Thursday, Sept. 20, Larimer County Courthouse Carter Lake Room 150, 200 W. Oak St., Fort Collins, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, Eagle’s Nest Open Space, Livermore, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The field trip will include a moderate hike of about three miles. This special opportunity is free, but space is limited. Be sure to not miss this unique opportunity to experience history and a Larimer County Open Space first-hand. Register for both sessions at www.larimer.org/ naturalresources/registration. Participants must register for both sessions separately. For any questions, please contact Heather Young at 970-6794489, hyoung@larimer.org. Announcements Volunteers needed for 2nd Annual Berthoud Oktoberfest, help with information booth, food/beverage ticket sales and more. Be a part of this authentic German festival that includes: food, Grimm Brothers Beer, City Star Brewing, music, dancing, children’s activities, arts and crafts, Scarecrow Parade & Contest. Go to www.berthoudoktoberfest.com to register as a volunteer. Volunteers are needed at Berthoud High School to collect money at gates during events. Every gate needs two adults and they have to be there 30 minutes before event is scheduled to start. Please contact Jennifer K. Carter at southerngreen@frostyoak.com or 970-567-3422. Visit the McCarty-Fickel Home historic house museum at 645 Seventh St. in Berthoud. Tours begin on the half hour. Admission charged. Open year-round Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. Operated by the Berthoud Historical Society. For more information call 970532-1916. Scheduled Meetings AARP meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Lions Depot on Third Steet at 5 p.m. for a covered-dish supper. Please bring something to share with everyone. For more information, please contact Curtis Wilson at 5322638. Alcoholics Anonymous meets at the Berthoud Lions Club every Monday and Friday nights from 8 to 9 p.m. Anyone desiring to quit drinking is welcome. There are no dues or fees. For more information, please call 532-4653. A Balance and Fall Prevention Class is being held weekly. It’s free. Drop-ins are welcome to attend. Classes are held at the Berthoud Area Community Center every Tuesday from 9 -9:45 a.m. Please call 970-532-2730 for more information. Berthoud Area Transportation Service (BATS) is available for Berthoud residents on a demand-response basis, which means that BATS will pick you up at your home and take you to your destination in Berthoud, Loveland or Longmont. Call 532-3049 to make a reservation or for more information. Service is available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.

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to 5 p.m. Berthoud Fire Protection District board meets on the third Tuesday of every month at the Berthoud Area Community Center, 248 Welch Ave. Agendas are available two days prior to the meetings by calling 532-2264. All meetings are open to the public. Berthoud High School parents and student volunteers. Please come to the monthly School Accountability meeting held the second Wednesday of every month at 3 p.m. in the school library. Call 970-613-7701 for more information. Berthoud Library board meets on the first Thursday of every month in the library community room at 7 p.m. Berthoud Lions Club meets on the first and third Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. They meet at the Lions Depot at Third and Massachusetts. For more information, call Bob Talley at 532-2228. The Lions are available to loan out supplies for handicapped or disabled people. Contact Curtis Wilson at 532-2638. Berthoud TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Lions Club depot. Call Joan for information at 667-4206. The Berthoud Transportation Advisory Committee meets quarterly at 8 a.m. at town hall. For information contact Eric Boyd at 532-3049. Celebrate Recovery — 12-step program for anyone with hurts, habits or hang-ups. Wednesdays 6-9 p.m. at 250 Mountain Ave., Berthoud. Call 532-9886 during office hours. Call for more information 532-9886. First Presbyterian Church adult bible study, every Sunday at 8:45 a.m. Facilitated by Rev. Jerry Groves. Eighth Steet and Massachusetts Avenue. Everyone welcome. Friends of the Library board meets in the library community room at 3 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. Historic Preservation Advisory Committee meets monthly on the fourth Monday at 7 p.m. in the Town of Berthoud offices board room. For information call 970-581-4603. Job’s Daughters Bethel #37 meets on the first and third Friday of each month at 7:15 p.m. at the Longmont Masonic Building, 312 Main St. The organization is open to girls between the ages of 10 and 20 who are interested in self-improvement and service to community. For details contact Megan Fritts 970-213-9050. All girls are welcome. Justin Bauer Memorial Post #67 of the American Legion meets on the second Thursday of each month at the Berthoud Area Community Center, 7 p.m. Contact Paul Talafuse for more information, 532-4498. Larimer County Commissioner Tom Donnelly is in Berthoud the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Lighthouse Cafe at 8:30 a.m. Larimer County Open Lands — All meetings will be held on the fourth Thursday of each month with the exception of November and December at 500 E. Third St. in Loveland. Meeting time is from 5 – 8 p.m. Please call 679-4534 if you need more information. Little Thompson Water District Board of Directors meeting dates and agendas are posted on their website at www.ltwd.org, The district office is at 835 E. Highway 56, Berthoud. Longs Peak Networking meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. with the goal of assisting with your job search or overall career development. lpnet.org. Life Bridge Church, west on Highway 66 from the intersection of Highway 287 (Main St.), Longmont. Main entrance on west side. Moms in Touch is currently meeting to pray for our school-aged students, teachers, staff and schools each Wednesday from 9-10 a.m. We would love to have you join us at Grace Place (upstairs). Any questions, contact Kim Land at 532-9886. MOPS group is meeting at Berthoud Family Church located at 39820 Nations Way, just west of town on 56 to the curve, then it is to the east of the Carter Lake turn-off on County Road 23. The group meets the first and third Friday of

each month at 9:30 a.m. Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee regular meetings every fourth Wednesday at town hall - 6:30 p.m. Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 7 p.m. at town hall. Reminisce meets on the first and third Mondays of each month at 11 a.m. in the Berthoud Area Community Center. Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) meets the third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Berthoud Area Community Center. Tree Advisory Committee meets on the third Monday of each month at town hall at 5:30 p.m. Utility Advisory Committee meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at town hall.

Berthoud Community Library September events Sept. 8 — at 3 p.m Bright Writer’s Gathering. All ages welcome. Sept. 10 — Movie Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the library meeting room. Call the library at 970-532-2757 for movie title. Sept. 11 — Busy B’s Story Time, 10:30 a.m. This lap-sit storytime is designed for caregivers to interact with babies and toddlers; with songs, finger plays, stories and bounces we will open the gateway to reading. Sept. 12 - Sweet P’s Story Time, 10:30 a.m. Sweet P’s story time is designed for preschool children. Come interact with songs, finger plays, stories and activities we will build pre-reading skills and have fun doing it. Sept. 14 – at 10:30 a.m. Family Story Time, 10:30 a.m., library. We will interact with fun books, songs, and fingerplays. Sept. 17 — Movie Monday. Call the library at 970-532-2757 for movie title. (Hint: the movie was based on a book). Sept. 18 — Busy B’s Story Time, 10:30 a.m. This lap-sit storytime is designed for caregivers to interact with babies and toddlers; with songs, finger plays, stories and bounces we will open the gateway to reading. Sept. 19 - Sweet P’s Story Time, 10:30 a.m. Sweet P’s story time is designed for preschool children. Come interact with songs, finger plays, stories and activities we will build pre-reading skills and have fun doing it. Sept. 21 – at 10:30 a.m. Family Story Time, 10:30 a.m., library. We will interact with fun books, songs, and fingerplays. Sept. 22 – Lego club 11 a.m. in the children’s area. Sept. 22 — at 3 p.m Bright Writer’s Gathering. All ages welcome. Sept. 24 — Paws to Read, 6:30 p.m., library. Please sign up to read to a therapy dog. 970-532-2757. Sept. 25 — Busy B’s Story Time, 10:30 a.m. This lap-sit storytime is designed for caregivers to interact with babies and toddlers; with songs, finger plays, stories and bounces we will open the gateway to reading. Sept. 25 – Book club Cutting For Stone at 1:30 and 5:30 in the library meeting room. Sept. 26 - Sweet P’s Story Time, 10:30 a.m. Sweet P’s story time is designed for preschool children. Come interact with songs, finger plays, stories and activities we will build pre-reading skills and have fun doing it. Sept. 28 – at 10:30 a.m. Family Story Time, 10:30 a.m., library. We will interact with fun books, songs, and fingerplays. CLASSIFIEDS $3 per line - per week Custom + $2 LEGAL NOTICES $8 per column inch 1st week $7.50 per column inch for each additional week Deadline to place a classified ad or legal notice is Monday at 3 p.m.for each Thursday edition. Send to editor@berthoudsurveyor.com or call 970.532.2252. FOR SALE

Red Haworth farm for sale by owner. 35-75 acres. 970-532-2379 SERVICES

Key Drums is accepting Beg. Piano, Guitar & Hand Drum Students. Tues., Weds., & Thurs., 3:30- 6:30 p.m. 1/2 hr. lessons for $15 or package of 4 lessons for $50. 970-646-5427 or Keydrums@gmail.com. PT custodial work wanted. 12 yrs exp. at elem school. 412-0642 or 214-4316 Exp. piano teacher, have openings for students. 214-4316 Snapitz.com notifies you via text/ e-mail when someone posts what you want on Craigslist. It’s free ... Merry’s Home Child care has openings for all ages. 970-409-8807. WANTED

Piano/keyboard player for Loveland volunteer Heartbeat Kitchen Band. Thursday afternoons, call Wayne, 667-4018 or Carolyn 532-5001.

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Cross country opens season on Friday By Kristi Leonard The Surveyor The Berthoud High School (BHS) cross country team will open the season at the Cheyenne Mountain Pre-State meet in Colorado Springs on Friday, Aug. 31. The race will give the team a preview of the CHSSA state cross country course and size up the competition, as most schools in the state are taking part in the meet. Four seniors lead the team on their quest to qualify for the state meet. Stefani Messick, who has competed at the state meet the past two years, has plenty of experience to share with the girls team. Both Erik Maas and Quinton Urchek have had varsity experience in their prior three years of high school. Andrew Pyles has had a strong summer of training and will be fighting for a varsity spot this season. Sophomore Kiah Leonard, who earned all-state awards in 3A competition last year as a freshman, looks strong. Early season times point to the potential to repeat that at the 4A level as BHS has moved up to the new division this year. Juniors Emma Degnan and Ally Klaes each have the experience and talent to make a difference for the Spartans, and freshmen Annika Jessen and Josie Spitz,

Photo by Lisa Spitz

The BHS cross country team trained in Estes Park to prepare for the 2012 season. Front row: Carlie Novell, Amber Torres, Joanna Pyles, Courtney DeMoudt, Olivia Eppler, Stefani Messick, Ken Kubik, Heath Pirkey. Middle Row: Erik Maas, Quinton Urchek, Annika Jessen, Josie Spitz, Ally Klaes, Kiah Leonard, Emma Degnan, Luke Spitz, Coach Craig Greenslit. Top row: Coach Kristi Leonard, Andrew Pyles, Jason VanHare, Gabe Conde, Kyle Cavey, John Koclanes, Aiden Colton, Daniel Raak, Jake Leppiniemi. as well as sophomore Joanna Pyles, will be in the varsity race on Friday. Two sophomores, Aiden Colton and Luke Spitz, have been the top male runners throughout the summer. Juniors

Daniel Raak, Gabe Conde and Ben Sevy all return from last year’s team, a team which missed qualifying to the state meet by one place.

Dietz will be joined in the backfield with junior Nate Ryken and sophomore Michael Woodiel. Senior Alex Kingsley will be one of the few returning players with varsity playing experience as a wide receiver and cornerback, joined by junior Ryan Vasquez opposite Kingsley. Juniors Tyler Parker, Kagen Hennig and Jonny Ehnert will be tasked to help anchor the line of scrimmage. If the young men across the line have a good mix of fundamentals and rugged play they can bring some success and a little nasty to the heart and soul of any team ... the linemen. “If we can stay on the field, move the chains and do what we do in practice, we’ll do fine on Friday nights,” said Dan McGinn Berthoud High School’s head football coach. Berthoud opens on the road tomorrow night against Fort Morgan and is playing this season in the Tri-Valley League, joined by Mead High School, Silver Creek High School, Skyline High School, Roosevelt High School and Northridge High School. Their schedule is rounded out by playing opponents Erie, Frederick, Holy Family and Denver North in

the Northern League. “Heading back into the Tri-Valley League will match us up against some tough teams that are well coached,” said McGinn. “As always, we’ll have to stay focused during the week and obviously at game time.” There are some big question marks this season with so many inexperienced players on the team. However, this young squad has an opportunity to define themselves both individually and collectively as a team in the coming season. President Harry S. Truman once said, “Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” Some leadership was shown as more kids were participating in the off-season lifting and conditioning program than in recent memory. Every time they run on to the field, they can take that same dedication and hard work from those summer months and turn that into an opportunity to help define their path this fall.

Youth over experience for BHS football By John Hall The Surveyor

Every year there is a transition when graduating football players pass the mantel of responsibility to uphold the tradition of their respective program to the underclassmen. The number of returning players with varsity experience can range up and down each year, but generally is a consistent number. This year’s Spartans have an unusually low number of returning experienced seniors and upperclassmen heading into the 2012 season. While the number of players with vast varsity experience is low, the number of participants this summer during the offseason lifting and conditioning program was one of the best in recent memory. Junior quarterback Nick Dietz will lead this year’s maroon and black offense. Dietz, who follows in the shoes of three-year starter and Berthoud Weekly Surveyor Athlete of the Year Zach Ruebesam, saw limited action last year at the varsity level. Dietz is a good athlete and has been showing solid leadership with this year’s young squad.

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Reader Rides Owners: Kathy and Jack Shuler “This is our 1940 Buick Special. My father Harry Clark restored the car in the 80’s. It was found in a farmers ﬁeld outside of Boulder. It runs great and we take it out for Sunday drives.”

Owner: Eric Balzer “This is a 59 Triumph TR-3 that we bought about eight years ago. It has been completely restored. It is exactly like the ﬁrst car I ever had!”

Owner: Don Webb “1946 Chevy Fleetline Aerosedan; this car was stored in a friend’s warehouse for 18 years. The owner was intending to restore it, but couldn’t ﬁnd the time so decided to sell it.”

Owner: Chris Dostal “1968 Chevy Chevelle — bought in Texas in 1992. I did frame-off restoration in 1994.”

Owner: Don Webb “1973 Ford LTD. This car belonged to an elderly lady and when she had to quit driving her daughter put it up for sale. It’s in original condition. I just purchased it a few days ago after seeing the ad in the paper.”

Owners: Curtis and Joyce Wilson “1965 Chrysler New Yorker. We have owned this car for over 25 years and it has less than 70,000 miles on the odometer.”

Owner: JoAnn Jones “1967 Cadillac Deville, picked up at the factory by my dad, Philip Schlagel, in 1967.”

Owner: Denny Dostal “1966 light blue Chevy truck bought in 2007 and the same truck in 2 years!!! A 1966 dark blue Chevy truck — what it looks like now!”

Owners: Ken and Mary Mesikapp “1971 Olds Cutlass Supreme SX convertible. In 1971 357 convertibles were made. It was purchased new at Reed Motor Co. in Osceola, Iowa in May 1971 for $4,407.37. We are the third owners and have owned it since 2006.”

What is an automotive consultant? By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer The Surveyor While some professions are misunderstood, others are a complete mystery, and that is often the case when it comes to automotive consultants. Sometimes referred to as auto brokers or leasing agents, neither tells the entire story, and that’s why Steve Smith prefers automotive consultant. Smith has been in the car industry since 1994 and joined Centennial Sales & Leasing in Fort Collins as an independent contractor in 1999. Centennial Sales & Leasing, also located in Denver, has had an ofﬁce in Fort Collins since 1993. Smith explains his profession as a “one-man dealership.” Through Centennial’s resources he can do everything a dealership can do, and the customer never needs to step foot on to a car lot. Through relationships automotive consultants developed throughout the car industry, they are a one-stop shop for those looking to buy or lease a new or used vehicle. One myth about automotive con-

sultants is that they only deal in car leases, but that isn’t the case. “We do traditional sales as well. In fact, a majority of our transactions are sales, as opposed to leases,” explained Smith. An automotive consultant can work with any customer, from someone who wants to trade in their current car to someone looking for a speciﬁc make and model of a used car. An automotive consultant has access to any make or model of new or used vehicle, and they assist the client through the entire process, including ﬁnancing. When working with an automotive consultant it’s important to develop a relationship of trust. There’s also a certain degree of patience necessary — using an automotive consultant isn’t for those individuals who enjoy bartering at a dealership, or impulse buyers. There are a lot of perks that come with using an automotive consultant when purchasing a car, especially for busy people who don’t have time

to browse car lots. When it’s time to test-drive a vehicle, Smith will bring the car to his client’s home or place of business. “One thing that people seem to like the best is that we get their license plates for them. They love that service,” said Smith. “The key to this business is to be service oriented and to make this process as unobtrusive in people’s lives as it can be.” Once an individual has experienced this level of customer service, most will continue to use an automotive consultant when purchasing vehicles. Smith has clients who have been coming to him since he started his business. Many people think working with an automotive consultant will be too expensive, however this is another myth that Smith would like to dispel. Dealerships often build in proﬁt at every level of a sale, such as adding a pinstripe to the body of the car. When buying through an automo-

tive consultant, this type of work is typically done at cost. Automotive consultants also aren’t subject to compulsory fees found at a dealership, such as the dealer handling fee. This means that Smith often beats a car dealership when it comes to price of a vehicle, so he can build in his proﬁt and still keep the price to his client lower than what they would have paid at a dealership. At the end of the day, Smith believes his profession is ﬁrst and foremost about relationships and customer service. “There’s a great deal of trust that needs to be developed between myself and my client,” said Smith. “I almost entirely depend on repeat and referral customers.” Centennial Sales & Leasing is located at 4730 S. College Ave. in Fort Collins and serves the entire Northern Colorado region and Cheyenne, Wyo. Steve Smith can be reached by e-mail at ssmith@centleasing.com or by phone at 970-225-2205 ext. 14.

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High-tech cars are in your future I

n any number of science fiction novels, future cars can drive themselves while talking to the owner. The driving skills of auto-computers are such that there are few accidents on those future roads. Surveyor It may Columnist surprise many readers to know the technology for self-driving cars is currently being tested, according to John Dellenbach of Dellenbach Motors in Fort George Collins. HowDuncan ever, human acceptance of driving without worrying about a steering wheel may be lacking. “The technology is basically here for a self-driving vehicle. The acceptance of that technology by the general public, I think, may be slow. Also, the ability to produce that technology and

have it be affordable on a large scale detects that and slows you down. It is problematic right now,” he said. can react quicker than the driver can,” However, if the technology is availhe said. able it may only be a matter of time “Along those lines, some cars have until cars can drive themselves which, sensors on the front and rear of the among other benefits, vehicle. They sense would eliminate any when you are about driving distractions. to hit something and It would also apply the brakes for allow riders to text you,” he added. and phone while in a Other software car without worrying in the car will warn about steering. a driver if the car The self-driving fuswerves into another ture vehicles are just lane. Drivers can also an improvement to be warned about cars the high-technology in their “blind spot.” already in vehicles. “There is a little With the software in yellow symbol that place, today’s cars will tell the driver can already make when there is a car in some decisions witha blind spot. It lights out assistance from up on your rearview Yes, but when do we get flying cars? the human driver. mirror. Overall, Delllenbach notes the adaptive adaptive cruise control can minimize cruise control is one of the most imthe small mistakes that a driver can pressive features of current models. make,” Dellenbach said. “If you are driving, say, at 75 milesSuch high-tech improvements per-hour on an Interstate and a car should make driving safer while pulls in front of you, the cruise control reducing casualties and injuries on

Wheels 2012 © is a new automobile guide published by the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor. Editorial content is provided by Surveyor staff writers. For more information about advertising with the Surveyor or submitting your own favorite ride, call 970-532-2252 or email editor@berthoudsurveyor.com.

970-532-2252 440 Mountain Ave., Berthoud, CO 80513 www.BerthoudSurveyor.com

the road. “Overall, those high tech improvements are very safety conscious,” he said. Such systems can also swivel the lights on a car when a driver heads around a curve. “The car can read your speed and driving angle and can swivel the lights, turning left or right, when you drive around a curve as opposed to having stationary straight ahead light beams,” he said. OnStar auto systems can also unlock your car door if you lock your keys in the car and can also let the owner know when the car needs maintenance. And if you don’t have regular phone service, since the system is connected to satellites the driver can make calls from the car. “The phone is connected with the GPS so you just hit a button and talk into a speaker and you have a high quality microphone in the car and you can make calls,” he said. Overall, the auto industry has come a long way since the days of the Model-T.

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August 30, 2012 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

“Top Gear” is tops with me I

’ve never been much of a car person. A vehicle was something to get me from point A to point B. Several years ago something changed. It was a combination of obsessively watching “Top Gear,” attendSurveyor ing several Columnist car shows and buying a car with a V6. These three things occurred almost simultaneously and suddenly I really liked cars; old ones, new ones, fast ones Heidi and faster Kerr-Schlaefer ones. A large amount of the credit goes to “Top Gear.” This is a show on BBC America featuring three English blokes talking about cars, driving cars, and interviewing celebrities about cars. That may sound quite boring to you, but it’s anything but dull. “Top Gear” is a British television show that went on the air in 1977, just a year after I was born. It was originally an ordinary show about the automotive industry, but, in 2001 threats of cancellations led to a total re-format of the show with a different ambiance and style. My favorite episodes are the

ones that have some sort of race involved. For instance, in one episode the hosts race old motorcycles across Vietnam. In another, two of the hosts must take public transport across Britain, while the third host drives a fancy sports car, and the contest is to see which way is faster. They have many of these “contests” on “Top Gear,” and although they are staged, it’s still very funny. It is the combination of the hosts’ three personalities that makes this show so good. Interestingly, in November 2010 an American version of “Top Gear” launched and it isn’t nearly as enjoyable as the original. I’m fairly confident it’s because the British hosts are much more entertaining. Jeremy Clarkson has been with “Top Gear” since the mid-1980s. He stayed with the show after it was revamped and is the quintessential dry-witted Brit. Clarkson is the team leader on the show and has a bit of a superiority complex that comes across as amusing rather than arrogant. Richard Hammond is the baby of the group and is often treated this way by his two co-hosts. He is always given the worst cars to drive and takes it all in stride. He always reminds me of a hobbit because of his small size and cautious attitude. James May is probably my favorite host, mostly because he recently did another show called “Oz and

James’s Big Wine Adventure,” where he won me overly entirely. Self-effacing and seriously funny, May joined the show during season two of the newly formatted “Top Gear.” No discussion of “Top Gear” would be complete without mentioning The Stig and the celebrities. First, The Stig is the show’s faceless and nameless test driver. After a quick Google search I discovered there are possibly three individuals who appear on the show as The Stig. They are experts who test drive various cars on the “Top Gear” track. The show’s track has been driven by every major celebrity in Great Britain and beyond. Celebs who are

also car enthusiasts clamor to be on the show. Each celebrity who appears is interviewed, but must also drive the track, and their times are compared against the other super stars who have come on the show. The fastest celebrity lap was driven by Matt LaBlanc of “Friends” fame in February 2012. His one minute 42.1 second lap knocked Rowin Atkinson off the leaderboard. It appears Mr. Bean is quite the driver, but not as good as Joey. “Top Gear” is on BBC America and reruns air throughout the week. The new season starts in 2013. For more information visit the show online at www.TopGear.com/UK.

A license to donate E

ach state in the U.S. used to have only one type of license plate for passenger cars. This is not the case in Colorado now, as there are a myriad of plates available to motorists. Here are some that Surveyor you can slap on Columnist your car if you donate to certain causes. (Note: In most cases, there is a $50 fee over your regular registration costs, in addition to the donation. There may also be a renewal fee later) Bob Here are McDonnell some groups and causes you can support and let everyone know by displaying the plates on your car. Adopt a Shelter Pet: Requires a one-time fee of $80. This money is split between three funds; $25 to the Highway Users Tax Fund, $25 to the Licensing Services Cash Fund and $30 to the Pet Overpopulation Fund. Alive at 25: For this plate a person needs to donate $30 to the Colorado State Patrol Family Foundation for each authorizing certificate. Contact the Colorado State Patrol Family Foundation at www.aliveat25.us. American Indian Scholars: Donate $25 to the Rocky Mountain Indian

Taxes per mile By George Duncan The Surveyor In the 1980s television show “Knight Rider,” the car KITT had artificial intelligence and could do almost everything, from talking with driver Michael Knight to making a medical diagnosis and — thanks to the scriptwriters — making witty comments that help drive the plot as Knight drove the car. The witty and high IQ KITT is not all that far from what new software programs in cars can do, but there may be a dark side to such technology. Such a high-tech auto can report how many miles are driven to state and federal governments for reasons of, of course, taxation. For state and government officials there is one problem with all the high-

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

Chamber of Commerce for each authorizing certificate. Breast cancer: A one-time fee of $75 is required. This is divided among three funds; $25 to the Highway Users Tax Fund, $25 to the Licensing Services Cash Fund and $25 to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund. Bronco Charities: One set of license plates is authorized for every $30 donated to the Denver Broncos Charities organization. Contact Denver Broncos Charities at 720-258-3366. Carbon Fund: To qualify, a person must contribute a minimum of $25 or offset 50 percent of their vehicle’s annual emissions. Donations go to the Colorado Carbon Fund via The Climate Trust. Donations will be transferred into the Colorado Carbon Fund. For more information contact The Climate Trust at www.coloradocarbonfund.org/license plates or call 720-545-4446. Colorado Avalanche or Denver Nuggets: To get this sports-related plate, a person must donate $45 to Kroenke Sports Charities. Contact Kroenke Sports Charities at www.pepsicenter.com/AvsLicensePlate or www. pepsicenter.com/NuggetsLicensePlate. Craig Hospital: A donation of $20 to Craig Hospital earns a certificate for this plate. Contact the Craig Hospital at www.craighospital.org. Kids First: To qualify for this, a person must donate $30 to the Rocky Mountain Research and Prevention Institute. Contact the Rocky Mountain Research and Prevention Institute organization at

303-330-5099. Raptor (Respect Wildlife): Qualify by paying membership dues as required by the Raptor Education Foundation. Contact the Raptor Education Foundation at 303-680-8500 or at www. usaref.org. Share the Road: A $25 donation to Bicycle Colorado is required. Contact Bicycle Colorado at 303-417-1544. State Parks: A donation of $44 to The Foundation for Colorado State Parks is needed for this plate. Contact The Foundation for Colorado State Parks at www.thefcsp. org.web. Support Education: This license plate supports the Colorado School Foundation. Donate $20 to Impact on Education to get this tag. Support the Horse: Donation of $30 to the Colorado Horse Development Authority is needed. Contact the Colorado Horse Development Authority at 303-292-4981. Support the Troops: Go to www. amf100.org and donate $25 to American Military Family. For more information contact the American Military Family at 303-746-8195. Colorado residents can show their support for other groups without spending any money other than what their regular plates require. This list includes Air Force Commemorative, Boy Scouts

mileage, high-tech, low-pollution cars — their owners don’t pay enough in gasoline taxes. Drivers with such cars pull up to the pump less frequently than when they drove low-mileage, high-pollution cars, thus gasoline taxes are reduced. Earlier this year, after a request from Congress, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) studied the possibility of charging drivers per mile driven, rather than (or in addition to) taxing gas. The need is there; the government supplemented the Highway Trust Fund to the tune of $30 billion from 2008 to 2010. And, as taxes go, the Vehicle Mileage Tax (VMT) has received support from across the political spectrum. Recently, Fox News reporter and well-known Libertarian John Stossel endorsed the tax, noting that it is an example of the basic rule of taxation — fairness. A VMT would be studiously fair because those drivers who use the roads most would pay the most taxes. How would it work? There are a

couple of implementation possibilities. The government could mandate that new cars be fit with some sort of tracking and reporting devices. This means it would take 15-20 years before all vehicles are outfitted. Or it could require all drivers to have their current car retrofitted with such a device, which would be a large one-time expense. These devices could serve multiple purposes, though; they could also be used to buy insurance by the mile too. A VMT could replace the current federal tax on gasoline, which is $.18 a gallon. That assumes the government would actually replace the current gasoline tax system with a new one and not simply add more taxes. However, adding GPS technology to cars enables a whole other level of pricing. Motorists could be charged different rates for travel on different roads during different times of the day. This is a form of congestion pricing, a concept that’s generally seen as an effective tool in reducing traffic jams. However, installing GPS devices in cars and giving the data to the govern-

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and Girl Scouts, Columbine, Donate Life, Firefighter, Greyhound Lovers, Italian American Heritage, Juvenile Diabetes, Pioneer and Ski Country. There is also a host of license plates (with varying costs) for the military and ex-military. This includes ones that honor Purple Heart recipients, Bronze Star winners, veterans of numerous wars, former prisoners of war, and all service in branches of the armed forces. In case you are wondering, the Colorado metal tags are produced by prison inmates. State law has specifically assigned license plates to the correctional system since 1926. ment raises a whole series of privacy concerns. One objection to the VMT is, like the gas tax, a mileage tax would also tend to have a higher impact on people in rural areas, which includes much of the state of Colorado. Rural residents tend to drive larger cars and have longer commutes. Those concerns have led to staunch opposition to the driving tax from some representatives of rural states. A few years ago, the state of Oregon conducted a pilot program to evaluate the VMT idea. The Oregon commission came out in favor of the VMT noting, “It is clear, however, VMT is being considered seriously as the revenue mechanism of the future at the federal level, and a large number of states are interested in getting in on the action as well. Three nonpartisan commissions, including two created by Congress, have all weighed-in in favor of VMT over the last two years.” So there is a good chance that a VMT is in the future for cars and drivers.

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August 30, 2012 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor