Cases coming out of the cold, thanks to DNA
prove it. is one could be an abduction, or maybe she ran away, and then something happened.
One case that is always at the top of the mind for Weld County cold case Detective Byron Kastilahn is that of Nicole Silvers, a Longmont teen who disappeared 11 years ago in April.
Silvers’ sister had dropped her o at her Longmont home at 3 a.m. on April 9, 2014, and that’s the last time she was seen.
A roommate checked on her two days later and found all of her belongings gone. A missing juvenile report was made three days after that and local police, including Weld County, talked to her friends and family.
Nothing suspicious has ever turned up, and Kastilahn said that bothers him.
“ is case doesn’t make any sense,” said Kastilahn. “Like most cases, it could be drug-related, or a spouse did it. I can’t
“It’s a strange one. In this case, I’d like to nd out what happened,” he said.
Kastilahn, who joined Weld County’s cold case unit in 2020, has many cases just like Silvers. But this year, he has had some remarkable successes using DNA testing to solve four long-standing, complex cases – one dating back to 1973.
In June 2024, Weld County announced they had identi ed a man found in a eld in Greeley on Valentine’s Day 2000. An autopsy of the human remains found no evidence of foul play, according to ofcials. Deputies labeled the man John Doe 2000, and the case went cold until 2023. at’s when DNA tests came back and were later con rmed to identify him as Christopher Scott Case, who had been missing since 1998.
In November, they used DNA to unravel what had happened to Kay Day. She had been murdered in 1979, found strangled in the back of her Datsun hatchback with the belt from her own coat. Investigators focused on her husband Chuck Day but could never settle the case.
What happened to Kay Day – and to Chuck, as it turned out – would remain a mystery until 2021.
A DNA test from the autopsy’s sexual assault kit turned up a match on the national DNA database belonging to James Herman Dye in Wichita, Kans. Dye had a history of sexual assaults and was a student at Aims Community College in 1979 who had attended classes in the building where Kay Day worked.
When confronted by Kastilahn and the FBI, Dye confessed.
Get set for these Colorado laws to take e ect in 2025
BY LONDON LYLE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
It’s a new year, new you, and there’s a litany of new laws to get used to stat, lest you su er the consequences at the hands of the state.
OK, that sounds dramatic, but seriously, there are a handful of new laws going into e ect on Jan. 1, and unknowingly breaking them can make a dent in your wallet.
But fear not; we have you covered. We’ve compiled a list of Colorado’s new laws that go into e ect on Jan. 1 so you can focus on ringing in the new year right.
Hands-Free Driving Law: Out of all the laws on this list, the hands-free driving law has probably received the most media coverage, thanks to the Colorado Department of Transportation’s awareness campaign on distracted driving crashes. All drivers must refrain from holding or touching their cell phones until parked. Violating this law results in a $75 ne and two license suspension points for a rst o ense. A hands-free accessory for your phone is a must, especially if you depend on Google Maps for your life. (Pro tip: Target sells some cheap ones.)
Cage-free egg law: e government is “cracking” down on habitat standards for hens. Commercial farms with over 3,000 egg-laying hens must have one square foot of usable oor space per hen. As with any law, there are exceptions: the new regulations won’t apply to hens that are to be slaughtered or are being used for medical research purposes.
Child seatbelt laws: Strap in, because this one gets a bit technical. Children must use car seats up until age nine, an increase from age eight. Babies must stay in a rear-facing car seat that is secured in the back seat of the vehicle until age two, an increase from the current age of one, or older if they are under 40 pounds.
e law also says everyone in a vehicle has to wear a seatbelt until the age of 18, an increase from the age of 16. In other words, everyone under 18 must wear a seatbelt in the vehicle regardless of
LAWS, P5
Detective Byron Kastilahn with the Weld County Sheri ’s O ce cold case unit. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD
BRIEFS
Snow Trooper helps get you through the storm
When the akes start falling, Commerce City Public Works hits the road to plow nearly 300 lane miles of streets in the city.
To help you prepare for a safe commute, the city’s online Snow Trooper map shows which roads have been plowed and how recently. Visit snowtrooper.c3gov.com to see the treatment map and priority level of streets along your route.
As a reminder, the city does not plow state roads, such as Highway 85, Interstates 270 and 76, and Brighton Boulevard. Learn more about the city’s snow response plan at c3gov.com/Snow.
Corridor study to help determine safety
Commerce City is conducting a comprehensive corridor study of E. 64th Avenue from Highway 2 to Quebec Parkway, spanning approximately 1.5 miles.
e corridor study aims to advance the complete streets vision for E. 64th Avenue by increasing safety and enhancing transportation infrastructure to accommodate various modes of transportation, including walking, biking, and transit.
For more information and to provide your input by Jan. 11, visit c3gov. com/64th.
Legal self-help clinic
e Access to Justice Committee hosts a free, legal self-help clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the rst Tuesday of every month.
discuss family law, civil litigation, property, and probate law. Call 303-405-3298 and ask for the Legal Self-Help Clinic at least 24 hours before.
Nominations needed for 2025 Adams County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards
Adams County commissioners and the mayors of municipalities in the county are asking for nominations for the 2025 Adams County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards. is award focuses on youth who have triumphed over great odds and serve as inspiration and role models for their peers. is program recognizes young people in grades 6-12 (up to 20 years old) who have overcome personal adversity to create a positive change in their own lives or for those around them. If you know of an individual who has had this impact on others but is not in a school setting, those nominations will also be accepted.
e program is for those without legal representation and needing help navigating through legal issues. Volunteer attorneys are available to
If you’d like to nominate a student for the ACMCYA, please complete the online nomination form. e deadline to submit nominations is Jan. 31, 2025, but please nominate as soon as possible.
If you have questions, please contact Abby Martinez at the City of Brighton O ce of Youth Services, at 303-6552186 or agmartinez@brightonco.gov.
Alliance Business Assistance Center grants available
e Alliance Business Assistance Center is excited to announce that 2024 business grants are now available to support your business endeavors.
Sta at the center can assist residents by helping to identify grants that align with their business goals and industry,
providing guidance through the application process, ensuring that they have the best chance of success and providing other valuable resources for local business.
To get started, visit our website at https://businessinthornton.com/localbusiness/small-business-support-programs/business- nancial-assistance.
CCPD o ers online crime reporting form
e Commerce City Police Department has a new online reporting tool allowing the public to report some nonemergency crimes and receive a police report immediately without speaking to a police o cer.
Community members can now conveniently report incidents that do not require immediate o cer intervention, such as fraud, identity theft, lost property, theft/shoplifting (less than $2,000), and vandalism.
e new form is online now in English and Spanish at c3gov.com/ReportACrime. Residents should always call 911 for emergencies.
‘Taking No Chances’
e 17th Judicial District Attorney’s O ce and e Link, a community resource and assessment center in ornton, o er free, 10-week programs to families of Adams County teenagers to help develop personal and interpersonal drug-resistance skills. Sessions are from 5:30 to 6;30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 720-292-2811.
Boards/commissions’ openings Commerce City has openings for several boards and commissions, including the city’s cultural council, the housing authority, and the Derby Review Board.
Visit https://www.c3gov.com/Home/ Components/Form/Form/70316b0542 2c448492c51da0f0e0fd86/ to sign up.
Help for vets
Quali ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has many power chairs, scooters, and electric wheelchairs available.
To nd the closest facility to you, visit www.va.gov/ nd-locations.
Quali ed Listeners also need volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, provide handyperson services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries, and veterans to be trained to become quali ed listeners. Call 720-600-0860.
Mental health
Community Reach Center o ers inperson intake assessments from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays at the Brighton Learning and Resource Campus, 1850 E. Egbert St. in Brighton. Call the Community Reach Center at 303-853-3500. For walk-in intake, bring an ID and insurance information. For those who would prefer to complete the intake forms and schedule an appointment, the intake forms are available online at www.communityreachcenter.org. ere will be a short screening for u-like symptoms before entering the center to ensure safety and wellness for everyone.
Anyone feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255, text 38255, or visit the Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) Center at 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.
NAR’s 2024 Survey of Buyers and Sellers Provides Some Interesting Insights on the Market
Every year the National Association of Realtors (NAR) publishes a “Profile of Buyers and Sellers” which contains some useful data and insights on the real estate market.
The 2024 survey was just released and contains some interesting trends which I’ll summarize here.
The image at right is an example. In the posting of this week’s ad at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com you’ll find the full highlights of the report on the following topics:
Characteristics of home buyers
Breakdown of homes purchased
Use of real estate professionals
The home search process
How homes are being financed
The experience of home sellers
Use of listing agents by sellers
For Sale by Owner statistics and trends
Here’s just one of those highlight pages, to give you an idea the detail provided. This is the one about FSBOs (for sale by owner):
Here are some of the key take-aways from the other chapters;
Characteristics of Home Buyers: The median age of home buyers surged in 2024 over the prior year — 56 vs. 49. The median age for first-time buyers jumped from 35 to 38, and for repeat buyers jumped from 58 to 61. 73% of buyers had no children under 18 in the home, and 17% bought a multi-generational home. First-time home buyers constituted 24% of home sales, down from 32% in 2023. This was the lowest percentage since NAR started doing these surveys in 1981.
Characteristics of Homes Purchased: 15% of buyers purchased new homes from a builder. Among those who purchased existing
homes, the typical home was built in 1994, compared to homes built in the 1980s in two prior surveys. The typical home was 1,900 square feet, with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The median distance of the new home from the previous home was 20 miles, compared to 50 miles in 2022. (That was the height of Covid, spurred by remote work.) PreCovid, the median distance was typically 15 miles. 16% of 2024 buyers purchased in an urban area or central city, the highest such percentage since 2014, spurred perhaps by the end of some work-at-home arrangements. Proximity to the home buyer’s job was important to 34% of buyers, down from 52% in 2014. The top consideration this year was the quality of the neighborhood (59%), followed by proximity to friends and family (45%).
Home Buyers & Real Estate Professionals:
88% of home buyers used the services of a real estate agent. Looking at buyers of existing homes, that percentage rose to 92%. Only 63% of new home buyers were represented by an agent. 80% of first-time buyers said that their agent’s assistance in understanding the home buying process was “invaluable.”
40% of all buyers and 51% of first-time buyers found their agent through a referral from their friends, family or personal network. Most buyers only interviewed one agent — it was 71% for repeat buyers.
Although 88% of buyers said they would use their agent again or recommend him/her to others, only 21% of buyers actually used the same agent they had used before. Of those who purchased in 2024, 61% have already recommended their agent to others.
The Home Search Process: 43% of buyers said they started the process by looking at homes on the internet, with 21% first contacting an agent. 69% of buyers searched for homes on their mobile or tablet devices.
Open houses were deemed “very useful” by 23% of buyers. About 40% said they valued photos and detailed listing information, while 31% appreciated floor plans. The typical buyer spent 10 weeks house hunting and saw a median of 7 homes, 2 of them online only. 51% found the home they bought through their own online searching. 55% said that finding the right home was the most difficult part of the process.
59% of buyers said they were “very satisfied” with their home buying experience, and another 33% were “somewhat satisfied.”
Financing the Home Purchase: 91% of first-time buyers and 69% of repeat buyers financed their home purchase with a loan. These percentages were down from 92% and 81% respectively from last year. The overall percentage was 74%, meaning that 26% of all home buyers paid cash — an all-time high.
The median down payment was 9% for first-time buyers and 23% for repeat buyers, That’s the highest down payment percentage for first-time buyers since 1997 and the highest for repeat buyers since 2003. 25% of the first-time buyers used a gift or loan from a
relative to finance their down payment, but savings was the biggest source at 69%.
In 2009, 55% of first-time buyers used an FHA loan, but that has dropped to 29% now that there are many conventional loan offerings requiring minimal down payments and no mortgage insurance premium. In 2024, 52% of first-time buyers took out a conventional loan.
Home Sellers and Their Selling Experience:
The median age of home sellers in 2024 was 63 — the highest ever recorded. 69% of the sellers were married couples, the first increase in this statistic in four years. Of all the homes sold in 2024, 77% did not have any children
under 18 living in the house -- empty nesters! 66% moved within the same state, 16% within the same region. (Note: These are national statistics.) Roughly one-third bought a bigger house, one-third bought the same size house and one-third bought a smaller house. 52% bought a newer home, with the rest split equally between the same age or older home.
The single most common reason for moving (23%) was to be closer to friends and family. The median number of years that a seller owned their home was 10 years, a big drop from 6 years in 2000 to 2008.
Median time on market in 2024 was three weeks, up from two weeks in 2023.
68% of sellers were “very satisfied” with the selling process. 22% were “somewhat satisfied.”
Home Selling & Real Estate Professionals: 90% of sellers hired a listing agent, up from 89% in 2023. Only 6% were FSBO (for sale by owner), a record low percentage. Of those sellers who did not know the buyer, 95% used a real estate agent. Two-thirds of sellers used an agent who was referred to them or that they had used before. 81% interviewed only the one agent they hired. 71% of sellers who bought within 10 miles of their home used the same agent for both transactions. The most important criteria in selecting the listing agent were the agent’s reputation (35%) and the agent’s honesty (21%). 58% of sellers offered open houses.
Again, the full reports of each of the above sections can be found on our blog, http:// RealEstateToday.substack.com
Is a Reverse Mortgage the Best Option for You?
If the idea of not paying principal and interest for the rest of your life and possibly drawing a lump sum from your home’s equity to help you with taxes and insurance, sounds like something you’d like to explore, let me tell you about “reverse mortgages.” They are officially known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM). They can be used to purchase a home or to refinance your current home.
Many seniors are in a situation where they have substantial equity in their home but don’t have quite the amount of income they need to live on day-to-day or month-tomonth. If you are still paying on your mortgage, a HECM allows you to reduce that monthly expense by the amount of your principal and interest payment. That alone may be enough to improve your monthly cash flow, but you can also draw on your surplus equity to have additional money for living expenses or discretionary expenditures such as travel.
If downsizing is in your plans, the HECM can also be used to purchase a home that better fits your senior lifestyle.
Here’s the nitty gritty. You have to be 62 or older to qualify for a HECM. The amount of down payment or equity you need to have is based on your age and life expectancy, because the lender wants to know that you’ll outlive the equity which is going to be used up by not paying principal and interest until you die.
That down payment requirement (or equity requirement if you are refinancing into a HECM) ranges from 45% to 70%. A HECM
loan is FHA insured, which covers the possibility that you live longer than expected and drain all your equity by not paying those monthly principal and interest payments. When you die or move out, the home can be sold, and the FHA insurance means that the proceeds of the sale don’t need to cover the mortgage payoff.
If you’re married, only one of you needs to be over 62, and if the qualifying senior dies, the surviving spouse can remain in the house until he or she dies, even if that means the equity is exhausted.
You retain title to the house, just like with a conventional mortgage. You can sell at any time and pay off the loan balance with your proceeds at closing.
Because it’s an FHA loan, the closing costs of the HECM loan are greater than for a conventional loan, but, depending on your cash flow situation, it may be worth it.
Eligible property types include 1-4 unit properties, so long as you live in one of the units. It can include FHA-approved condos and townhomes, and properties that are titled in a living trust.
If you’re purchasing a home with a HECM, the seller can provide a concession for up to 6% of the purchase price to cover those higher closing costs.
If you’re not a senior but have parents who own their own home but are struggling with monthly expenses, you might want to explore with them the benefits of a reverse mortgage.
Our in-house lender, Wendy Renee, is an expert on this product. Give her a call at 303868-1903 to get your questions answered.
Influencer connects and amplifies voices in Commerce City and beyond
BY ROSSANA LONGO BETTER ROSSANA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
rough her Instagram platform, Lissa Leticia de Gonzalez has managed to inform, connect and give voice to issues that matter to her audience, from the daily lives of Latinos in Colorado to the challenges of combating misinformation on social media.
Her in uence isn’t limited to social media. With her show, Gonzalez continues to create spaces for dialogue and re ection, amplifying stories often overlooked by traditional media outlets. Her work highlights the importance of building bridges between people and cultures, demonstrating that an authentic and committed voice can create meaningful change.
Gonzalez shares with Colorado Community Media real-time snippets of our conversation on her social media, instantly connecting with her followers and generating engagement. At the same time, she showcased how her digital presence and radio platform complement each other to broaden her community impact.
is interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Colorado Community Media: In uencers play an increasingly visible role in how the Latino community consumes information and engages with critical issues. How did your journey as an in uencer begin?
Lissa Leticia de Gonzalez: I’m incredibly happy and proud of what I’ve achieved as an in uencer here in Colorado, where so many doors have opened for me — in television, radio, as a community leader, and even in beauty pageants. I’ve been able to help so many young women with free community scholarships for their education.
I also have a professional career as a makeup artist. Beyond being an in uencer, model and a community leader, I’m someone who always thinks of others, and I believe that’s why I’ve received so much support. Opportunities have opened up for me not only here in Colorado but also in Las Vegas, Kansas and Los Angeles. I’ve been blessed to meet people who truly value my work and e ort. at’s what keeps me going — it’s what makes me push forward. As we say in Mexico, “No me rajo” (I don’t back down). I always try to give my best, stay focused on my goals, and keep my purpose clear: to help others. I feel like I’m living beyond the American dream because, as a Latina in this country, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. I know the people who love me are proud too, seeing how this Mexican woman, in a country that isn’t her own, has been able to help so many people in her community. It’s all thanks to the people who con-
tinue to support me and believe in this loudmouth in uencer.
CCM: Social media has created a space where anyone with an authentic voice and a clear message can connect directly with an audience—something that often seems harder to achieve in traditional media like television, radio or print. From your perspective, do you feel this freedom on social media has been key to your success as a communicator?
Gonzalez: Absolutely. Social media has opened doors for so many dreamers like me, especially when breaking into television or radio can be so di cult. ese platforms give us the space to express ourselves and help others through our videos.
I started my journey when I rst had the chance to work as a makeup artist at Estrella TV, Channel 53 here in Denver. My boss back then saw my enthusiasm — how I would jump into anything, without hesitation.
One day, she told me she needed someone to produce a video for a commercial, and she gave me two days to train for it. I remember thinking, “I’m already here; I’d love to be in front of the camera.” Mainly, I thought about my parents. I wanted them to see me accomplishing something di erent.
It wasn’t just nancial assistance peo-
ple were asking for; they were reaching out for support from other countries, not just here. at’s how an in uencer grows — by giving your best and connecting with people through your platforms.
CCM: How many followers do you have on these social platforms?
Gonzalez: I wouldn’t say I have a huge following, but on TikTok, I have over 13,000 followers. On Facebook, I have nearly 10,000 followers and 5,000 friends. But what truly matters to me is the impact I’ve had on my community. I always tell people, “ ese platforms belong to you. You’ve built Lissa through every stage of my life.” Because I’m not just a makeup artist — I’m also a community leader and part of the Héroes Sin Capa movement, which started from the community itself, built by people with big hearts who came together to create this small nonpro t initiative.
CCM: Tell us more about Héroes Sin Capa. I believe there’s a very personal story behind it.
Gonzalez: Absolutely. Before the pandemic, we used to organize events with other businesses and supporters to help children during Christmas and New Year. But when the pandemic hit, Héroes Sin Capa was born.
It was not just me. Yes, I was the one who organized everything, the one who
made the calls to bring together so many beautiful people who could say, I have businesses a ected because they were closed; restaurants (and) salons were closed; I mean, you know, we lived in a very ugly time with the pandemic. I never got COVID. So I was able to walk with people,and take the boxes to my colleagues and people in the community. We came together — those of us who had a little more at the time — and … help those who were truly in need, especially low-income Latino families in our state.
We did it thanks to God and the incredible people who joined us. Even when people said, “ is isn’t a real nonpro t yet,” I knew that if my community recognized our e orts, we existed.
And that’s how I see it: as long as my community keeps supporting me, I’ll keep showing up — whether as an inuencer, a community leader or a radio host.
CCM: How would you describe the role of in uencers in the lives of Latinos in Colorado? Beyond notable initiatives like Héroes Sin Capa, could you share some concrete examples of how your work has impacted the community in the state?
Lissa Leticia de Gonzalez, from a makeup artist to an influencer and community leader, uses her platform to inform, empower and connect with the Latino community.
Commerce City
INFLUENCER
Gonzalez: I’ve helped desperate mothers whose daughters have run away from home and who have asked the police for help. But as you know, they have to wait 72 hours before they can issue an o cial search order. So these mothers have turned to us, using our platforms to get the word out and ensure more people see what’s happening. And that’s the beautiful thing about social media — you can reach so many people. When something like this happens, the community comes together.
at happened once with a girl who had run away from home. Her mother reached out to us, and we made a video. It spread throughout Colorado and beyond. Believe it or not, because of that video we shared, someone recognized the girl at a McDonald’s. She was being held in a car and was drugged.
To this day, the mother is grateful because if it hadn’t been for that interview we did that morning that went viral, they might not have been able to locate her daughter and bring her home safely.
at’s the kind of impact in uencers can have through our platforms. Of course, there are many in uencers, and everyone uses their platform di erently. But in our case, our platforms are here for this — to help and to reach people wherever they are, so if a similar case arises, we can step in and support them.
CCM: How would you describe the di erence between your work as an in uencer and the approach taken by traditional media, such as television or commercial radio? Considering they often have more resources and a formal structure.
Gonzalez: What sets us apart is that we are our own bosses. We can help whoever we want, whenever we want, and we can be the voice that is often silenced or blocked from reaching more people. Right now, social media is having a huge impact.
I’d say we’re the voice that has no paycheck, no price tag and no schedule. You know, in television, there are standards, and sometimes even if they want to share certain information, they’re not allowed to. at’s where we come in. If they can’t share it, we will.
CCM: What’s your opinion on technology and social media use among Latino youth? Considering that many parents in our community don’t strictly monitor their children’s access to these platforms, do you think there’s increased vulnerability to risks like abduction or contact with dangerous individuals online?
Gonzalez: It’s due to a lack of information. And obviously, we need to be more careful be-
LAWS
where in the vehicle they are sitting. Past the age of 18, you legally only must wear a seatbelt if sitting in the driver’s seat or in the passenger’s seat, but please, wear one in the back seat too, because no one wants to see you get hurt. Minimum wages: e state’s minimum wage is increasing from $14.42 an hour to $14.81 per hour; the tipped wage is rising from $11.40 to $11.79 per hour. In Colorado, the minimum wage can vary (and change on its own timeline) depending on the city or county. Denver’s minimum wage, for example, is increasing to $18.81 per hour beginning on Jan. 1. Minimum wage increases are due to in ation. Gun storage: For gun owners, if you carry a handgun in your vehicle, beginning on Jan. 1, when leaving your vehicle unattended, you must keep it in a locked, hard-sided container kept out of view (under a seat, hidden under a blanket in the trunk), according to House Bill 24-1348. e vehicle must also be locked. You
cause, honestly, a cell phone can be a deadly weapon.
Phones in the hands of children, especially at certain ages, can be extremely dangerous if parents aren’t paying close attention.
We need to be more informed and more vigilant about what our kids are consuming online.
It’s a deep and important issue because, honestly, what parent doesn’t want the best for their children? Personally, I used to be one of those parents who never restricted my kids’ phone access. But now I realize it’s something we have to do because times are getting harder and will only become more challenging.
CCM: What was the key moment in your life that made you say, “ is is what I want to do”?
At what point did this passion for communicating and connecting with the community become a personal mission for you, both in traditional media and on digital platforms?
Gonzalez: It’s just part of me now. If I don’t do it, I feel empty.
I feel like I need to stay informed and share that information with others.
When I’m not creating content or helping someone by sharing valuable information, I feel like I’m wasting my time.
CCM: Why do you think video content resonates so well with the Latino community compared to other media, like print, written content, or even podcasts?
Gonzalez: Mainly because it’s right at our ngertips—we have it on our phones.
Right now, video is the only platform where I can say, “ ere’s my voice, and this is what I want to share with my people.”
But now, with my new stage as a radio host, I feel even more empowered. I feel like I’m on a throne because my voice will be heard more broadly.
As you said, not just through a video but also if you’re at home, in your car, or anywhere else. We’ll be there, delivering information.
CCM: How long have you been working on your new radio show, and what is it called so our listeners can follow you?
Gonzalez: I started with my videos on my platform. I thought, “I’m not sure where else to communicate, so I’ll start here.” My show is now called Gente de Montañas.
I created it with my Latino community in mind. e show is about 2½ months old now, and we also have a call-in number for people to reach us.
is new stage excites me because it allows me to help even more people. ey can come to the studio, share their voices, and let my audience get to know them.
People can listen and nd us on my platforms under Lissa Leticia de Gonzalez or on Giro Music Radio, where my show airs every Monday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
CCM: Have you covered topics related to the
do not have to have a concealed carry permit to conceal your handgun in your vehicle. is type of lockbox can be purchased on Amazon, or found at most hardware stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot; just make sure it is a hard-sided lockable container big enough to store your rearm.
Workers’ Compensation/ Disability Benets Protections: Beginning Jan. 1, this law will add losing an ear to the list of major body parts whose loss warrants special compensation when it is a work-related injury. Additionally, the law increases the maximum compensation allowed for injuries with an impairment rating of 19% or less (meaning “less impairing” ratings), from $75,000 to $300,000. Workers can also request their compensation be deposited directly into their bank accounts rather than received via check.
Health care workers in assisted living: law will require tuberculosis testing and t testing for respiratory masks for health care workers providing direct care to patients within an assisted living facility beginning Jan. 1. It also requires operators of assisted living residences to oversee this process.
presidential elections and their impact on the Latino community in your content?
Gonzalez: I went to record when Trump came to our state. But honestly, I decided not to get too involved because those are very heavy topics. I feel like I need to be better informed to properly share that information with my audience.
But yes, there is fear in our community. People ask me if the raids are going to start again, or if deportations will begin immediately on January 20 with the new president.
It’s a sensitive topic, but I have Lucy Molina on my show. She’s from the Adams 14 (School District) and helps me a lot because she’s much more involved in politics.
CCM: Tell us how you met Lucy Molina and how she has in uenced your life as an in uencer.
Gonzalez: Lucy has in uenced me deeply with her determination and refusal to give up. Although she is a citizen, born here, she ghts for us. I met Lucy 15 years ago. I was one of the rst publicists she hired for her music school.
She ghts for our community fearlessly. Seeing her dedication and courage inspires me every day.
Lucy has become not just a friend but part of my family.
She’s an extraordinary woman, and her contribution to our community is enormous.
CCM: In your experience as a communicator, how do you see the future of Spanish-language media in Colorado to ensure fair, culturally appropriate, and linguistically just communication?
Gonzalez: We need more broadcasters and interviewers in Spanish.
People don’t realize the sacri ces we in uencers make, especially when we’re married or have children. Sometimes, our families don’t understand why we spend weekends working on a story, attending an event, or helping someone.
But we do it because it’s our calling.
My advice to those starting out is: Don’t give up. Give it your all, stay honest, and always be yourself.
Because when you’re sincere, people know it. And when your voice and your talent can help others, you must use them.
As we say in Mexico: “No te rajes” (Don’t back down).
CCM: How do you think traditional media could better connect with young Latino audiences?
Gonzalez: First, they need to drop their ego.
When you work in media, the most important thing is sincerity. People know when you’re being honest, and they know when you’re not.
Being yourself and speaking from the heart is what truly connects with people.
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Health care spending rose 139% between 2013-2022
Coloradans paying more out of pocket, higher premiums
BY ERIC GALATAS PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE
Between 2013 and 2022, health care spending in Colorado surged by 139% to nearly $30 billion, according to a new analysis by the Center for Improving Value in Health Care.
Cari Frank, vice president of communications at the center, said in addition to rising private health insurance premiums paid by Coloradans and their employers, people are also paying more out-of-pocket.
“Out-of-pocket costs for the most recent year of data, in 2022, was roughly a little
bit over $1000 out of pocket per person, per year, for people with commercial insurance,” Frank reported. “ at has risen over 45% since 2012.”
Between 2013 and 2022, the amount of medicine prescribed to patients increased by 10% and drug costs rose by 151%. e number of outpatient visits ticked up by 25% and the cost of those visits rose by 51%.
Higher costs do not necessarily a ect insurance company bottom lines. e
Denver Post reported Cigna Healthcare’s 2022 pro ts at $6.7 billion.
Frank noted out-of-pocket costs increased by 80% for older Coloradans with Medicare Advantage, plans claiming claim to limit health costs for people living on xed incomes.
“Which is roughly $1,700 per person, per year,” Frank pointed out. “Again, huge
for a senior population who may not have any income coming in the door besides Social Security.”
e analysis of data from the Colorado All Payer Claims Database found the number of inpatient hospitalizations dropped by 19% since 2013 and costs only dropped by 11%.
Frank believes access to transparent, reliable data is essential for policymakers to improve the state’s health care system.
“ is data is helping people understand where can we implement policy changes that can bring down those prices,” Frank emphasized. “ en this data can help track the progress that we’re making when those legislative initiatives go into e ect.”
Reprinted with permission from Public News Service, an independent, membersupported news organization providing news in the public interest.
State tax panel suggests renter relief for 2025
Previous policy changes have benefited homeowners
BY SARA WILSON COLORADO NEWSLINE
A Colorado commission on property tax policy wants lawmakers to consider tax relief to low-income renters next session, following years of policy changes aimed at helping homeowners. e bipartisan commission, created
during a 2023 special session on property taxes and made up of four lawmakers and local government o cials, approved three recommendations recently for the Legislature to consider next year. e recommendations, unlike interim bills considered by committees between sessions, are not binding or attached to any lawmaker. e commission wants the Legislature to provide tax relief to low-income renters, though it did not de ne “low-income,” as it could vary based on city, and it suggested two methods of relief: an income tax credit for quali ed renters and
a modi cation of the state’s Property Tax, Rent, Heat (PTC) Rebate program.
e PTC rebate is currently available to older or disabled Coloradans who pay property tax, rent or heating bills and make less than a certain income. In 2023, that threshold was about $18,000. e rebate amount can be up to $1,112 per year. e commission’s recommendation is to modify the income eligibility requirements and amount of the bene t.
ere were a record number of evictions in Denver this year, and Colorado renters increasingly spend more than one-third of their income on rent.
e commission voted against a recommendation to give landlords a tax credit if they have a ordable units, with the idea that landlords would then pass savings to their renters.
“I don’t necessarily believe that adequate relief will then be passed down to renters in the way that we expect it to. If we’re looking at how to speci cally support our renters, then we should focus and target the relief directly to the renters and not to the landlords,” Democratic Rep. Lorena Garcia, an Adams County Democrat, said.
e commission also voted to recommend to lawmakers to make permanent the portability of valuation adjustments for senior homeowners. Certain senior homeowners can now chop o part of the value of their home used to calculate property taxes if they have lived there for 10 years. A two-year pilot program lets the homeowner bring the adjustment with them if they move. Permanent portability has support among legislative leaders, but a tight budget year could make it di cult to pass.
“Even though it is not a huge bene t to seniors, it is one of the largest — that I have encountered —- stopping points from people downsizing into a smaller
home, because they feel that they’re losing out on this bene t,” real estate agent and commission member Sean Dougherty said.
Republican Rep. Lisa Frizell said that even though the budget could make such a policy challenging to pass, it is important for the commission to be on record that portability is a priority.
Finally, the commission recommended that the Legislature increase awareness of existing exemptions and a property tax deferral program, though it was not speci c about how to do so.
Members voted down a recommendation to allow counties to o er quarterly property tax payments.
e Colorado Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 8. e property tax commission will meet through June. is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.
Colorado lawmakers are being asked to consider tax relief for low-income renters during the upcoming session of the General Assembly.
SHUTTERSTOCK
“I was glad to see the DNA evidence identi ed the real suspect and cleared Chuck Day’s name,” said Kastilahn at the time. “It gives me hope that our other cold cases may receive similar breakthroughs needed to deliver the answers and the justice the victim’s families so rightfully deserve.”
en in December, the department announced a break in one of their coldest cases, a young girl who had been found along the St. Vrain River west of Platteville in 1973. DNA results identify those remains as belonging to Roxanne Leadbeater, a 15-year-old girl who had disappeared in 1972 from Los Angeles.
Kastilahn said the department is still investigating the circumstances of her death.
“It makes me feel great when I do solve these cases,” Kastilahn said.
A third route
Kastilahn was born in Pueblo, raised in Southeastern Kansas, and returned to Colorado when he was 19. After high school, he became interested in joining the FBI.
“To be an FBI agent, you need a degree in either law or accounting, and neither interested me,” Kastilahn said.
“But there’s a third route you can go, where you can go to college and get any degree and then become a police o cer or some law enforcement career. If I did that for a few years, and then with the degree and the experience in police work, you can become an FBI agent,” Kastilahn said. “So that was my plan.”
Kastilahn attended Colorado State University and earned a degree in social sciences with a criminal justice interdisciplin-
ary degree, then started a job as a student o cer at Colorado State University.
“My rst job in the 1990s was with the Brighton police department. As a police o cer, I like this quite a bit. I enjoyed working in patrol much more than I thought I would, but I thought it was just a means to an end,” he said.
But Kastilahn learned that the work he was doing as a police o cer was much the same as what FBI agents do, just closer to where he wanted to be.
“It’s more local,” he said, “I’d be sent to Washington, D.C., and Quantico and then get assigned to Vermont or somewhere. I liked living in Colorado, so it made sense to stay in law enforcement here. I’ve always been in Northern Colorado.”
Kastilahn said he had admired the Weld County Sheri ’s O ce.
“I’d interacted with several deputies and detectives on cases, and I found the Weld County Sheri ’s O ce very professional and well-organized. ey do excellent work. So I wanted to be part of that,” Kastilahn said.
Into the cold
also investigated crimes with people from child sex assault to homicide, but a cold case was something I never even had an opportunity to look at.”
Matching DNA
Kastilahn’s success has depended upon DNA testing. Samples from crime scenes are submitted to the national combined DNA information system, or CODIS.
“If you have DNA from a scene, you can send it to a lab, and they’ll see if it matches somebody with a felony record. With CODIS, if you were convicted of a felony, they would have to provide DNA swabs and have your DNA in the system that is nationwide,” Kastilahn said.
According to o cials, by the 1990s, the genetic ngerprinting of molecular structures of victims and suspects was used in criminal investigations worldwide. Today, RFLP-based DNA analysis is being replaced with newer genetic identi cation techniques.
Kastilahn said he’s been working for the Weld County Sheri ’s O ce since 2019. He became a regular detective in 2020 for about two months and then became the cold case detective in March 2020.
“ e sheri wanted to have a cold case detective at the o ce, which they didn’t have, and he wanted to do it for a long time,” Kastilahn said. “When the position came up, I said I’d like to try that.”
What interested Kastilahn about the cold cases was that each was something di erent. “I had specialized in computer crime for a while. I have done a lot of property crimes, such as fraud, thefts, signi cant thefts, and other cases,” Kastilahn said. “I
Kastilahn said that law enforcement has solved more cases with DNA, but there are still plenty to sort through. Since Kastilahn started in 2020, they have had a backlog of 40 cases in Weld County alone.
Keeping cases open
Some cases need ongoing investigation, Kastilahn said. Some of those are homicides. e instances that lack information are kept active just in case further information or evidence is found.
For example, Kastilahn said he’s looked more deeply into some tra c accidents. Although there may be other suspicious facts surrounding the accident, all the evidence demonstrates that’s all it was.
In one case, a woman su ering from a terminal disease fell down a set of stairs in 1986. She was injured and died from the
Weld County Sheri ’s o ce Cold Case detectives have identified a set of remains found along the St. Vrain River in 1973 as those of Roxanne Leadbeater, a Los Angeles teen who disappeared in 1972. FILE PHOTO
fall, but the case remained under investigation.
“ at case stayed open because there was a history of domestic violence,” Kastilahn said. “You know, the husband says he was out shing, but let’s keep it open just in case. He had an alibi. He had a friend with them.” at said, Kastilahn is a fan of keeping tabs on it.
“I think it’s a good idea to keep the case open until you can guarantee it should be closed because it’s unfounded.”
Visit the cold cases that are open and being investigated at https://www.weldsheri .com/Community/Cold-Case-Files. If you have any information regarding these cold cases, don’t hesitate to contact Detective Kastilahn at (970) 400-2827 or email him at bkastilahn@weld.gov.
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Legals City and County
Notice is hereby given that the following subdivision(s) will be considered for approval by the City of Commerce City Community Development Director on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
S-847-24: FT-Hwy 2 & Quebec, LLC on behalf of Galloway & Company, Inc., is requesting approval of the Quiktrip #4201 final plat to create a lot from approximately 2.39 acres. The property is generally located at the north east corner of Rosemary Street and Highway 2 (8050 Rosemary Street), currently zoned I-1 (Light-Intensity Industrial District).
S24-0005: Kimley Horn on behalf of PT Aberdeen LLC, is requesting approval of the Aberdeen Subdivision Filing No. 2, a two-lot subdivision to vacate easements throughout the property and adjust the lot line between the two lots. No additional lots will be created by this subdivision. The site is approximately 20.69 acres in size and is generally located at 10796 Paris St, fronting on the corner of Peoria St and Peoria Pkwy, currently zoned Aberdeen PUD (Planned Unit Development).
The case file(s) and a copy of the Land Development Code of the City together with the subdivision plat are on file for review by emailing the Community Development Department at cdplanner@ c3gov.com. Any owner of property located within 300 feet of the subject property may invoke the public hearing process by submitting said objections in writing to the Director of Community Development in accordance with Sec. 21-3241 by no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025.
Director of Community Development
Para más información, contacta 303-227-8818
Legal Notice No. CCX1518
First Publication: January 2, 2025
Last Publication: January 2, 2025
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express Bids and Settlements
Connector Roads #2 – SWMP
Sealed Bids will be received by Windler Public Improvement Authority, hereinafter referred to as OWNER, at the office of the Authority Engineer, Merrick & Company, 5970 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, until 10:00 AM local time on January 17, 2025 for:
Connector Roads #2 – SWMP
This Contract provides for the construction of the following: Approximately 15 acres of stormwater management as well as grading for about 2 miles of roadway. The project location is north of E. 48th Avenue and south of E. 56th Avenue between E-470 and Harvest Road.
Copies of the Bidding Documents may be requested from the Windler Public Improvement Authority, at the email of the Authority Engineer, barney.fix@merrick.com, beginning December 19, 2024. NO PAYMENT REQUIRED.
Bidders must be licensed Contractors in the State of Colorado.
Bids will be received providing unit price for items; however, the price given will be on a maximum not-to-exceed amount, as described in the Bidding Documents.
The Work is expected to be commenced within sixty (60) days after the Date of Contract.
Bid Security in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total Bid Price must accompany each Bid in the form specified in the Instructions to Bidders.
The Successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond guaranteeing faithful performance and warranty bond for two-years after Substantial Completion, and the payment of all bills and obligations arising from the performance of the Contract.
The OWNER reserves the right to award the contract by sections, to reject any or all Bids, and to waive any informalities and irregularities therein.
For further information, please contact Barney Fix at Merrick & Company at 303-751-0741.
Legal Notice No. CCX1517
First Publication: December 19, 2024
Last Publication: January 2, 2025
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express Non-Consecutive Publications
Summons and Sheriff Sale
Public Notice
DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO 100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601 Court Phone: 303-659-1161
PLAINTIFF: RIVER RUN FILING NO. 4 HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. v.
DEFENDANTS: TAYLOR JAMES CUMMINGS; PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC; MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT, INC.; and ADAMS COUNTY PUBLIC TRUSTEE
Case No.: 2024CV031055 Div. A
Attorney: Kate M. Leason, Reg No. 41025
Jeffrey B. Smith, Reg No. 40490
Firm: Altitude Community Law P.C. Address: 555 Zang Street, Suite 100 Lakewood, Colorado 80228-1011 Phone Number: 303.432.9999 E-mails: kleason@altitude.law jsmith@altitude.law
Our File No.: 9644.0313
SUMMONS
TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to file with the Clerk of this Court an answer or other response to the attached Complaint. If service of the Summons and Complaint was made upon you within the State of Colorado, you are required to file your Answer or other response within twenty-one (21) days after service upon you. If service of the Summons and Complaint was made upon you, outside of the State of Colorado, you are required to file your Answer or other response within thirty-five (35) days after service upon you or if served by publication pursuant to C.R.C.P. 4(g). If served by publication, service shall be complete on the day of the last publication. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2410(b), the time for filing an Answer or other response is extended to sixty (60) days for the United States. Your answer or counterclaim must be accompanied with the applicable filing fee. A copy of the Complaint may be obtained from the Clerk of the Court.
If you fail to file your Answer or other response to the Complaint in writing within the applicable time period, the Court may enter judgment by default against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint without further notice.
This is an action affecting the real property described in the Complaint and is a proceeding in rem as well as a proceeding
in personam.
Dated: July 8, 2024
Respectfully submitted, ALTITUDE COMMUNITY LAW P.C.
Original signature of Kate M. Leason is on file with the law offices of Altitude Community Law P.C. pursuant to C.R.C.P. 121, §1-26(7).
S/ Kate M. Leason
Kate M. Leason, #41025
Jeffrey B. Smith, #40490 555 Zang Street, Suite 100 Lakewood, Colorado 80228-1011
303.432.9999
ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF
River Run Filing No. 4
Homeowners Association
Address of Plaintiff: River Run Filing No. 4
Homeowners Association, Inc. c/o PMP Management 390 Interlocken Crescent, Suite 350 Broomfield, CO 80021
Legal Notice No. CCX 4508
First Publication: January 2, 2025
Last Publication: January 30, 2025
Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express ###
PUBLIC NOTICES
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