Clear Creek Courant September 5, 2024 by Colorado Community Media

Road to top of Mount Blue Sky closed until

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Friends of Idaho Springs resident Paul Peavey led a missing person report with the Clear Creek County Sheri ’s O ce Aug. 21 after they say he had been missing for days. By Aug. 24, the disappearance was considered a homicide after Peavey’s body was discovered as part of a “privately organized search,” according to CCSO.

More than a dozen locals and friends of Peavey organized and executed the search Aug. 24 after what Idaho Springs resident Gary Burke called “inaction” from the sheri ’s department.

“We found his (Peavey’s) body within the rst ve minutes of searching,” Burke said. He said the body was found

Mount Blue Sky summit on Aug. 23. PHOTO BY CHRIS KOEBERL

Road to top of Mount Blue Sky closed until 2026

The uppermost section of Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway shut down Sept. 3 and will reopen in 2026

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e highest paved road in North America, Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, closed Sept. 3 to all travel to the peak including motorized, biking and most hiking as road repairs continue until Memorial Day 2026, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

e byway, also known as CO Hwy 5, closed from the Forest Service gate near Highway 103 in Clear Creek County through the project area, above Summit Lake, USFS representatives said.

USFS plans to repair the damaged roadway from the Summit Lake overow parking lot to the rst switchback past Summit Lake.

Danille Perrone from Toronto, Canada stood at the peak of Mount Blue Sky with friends on Aug. 23 in 40-degree temperatures with a cold wind blowing strong across the peak as she gazed at the view from 14,264 feet with Summit Lake below.

“It’s raw and fresh, it’s God’s country,” Perrone said.

e USFS said its goal is to “improve public safety while reducing ongoing impacts to the fragile alpine ecosystem and restore the natural hydraulic processes through the area.”

Traveling the highway to the summit recently made apparent the need for repairs. Cars, SUVs and pickup trucks crawled up the last section of roadway between 10-15 miles an hour over and across large potholes.

Weather Observations for Georgetown, Colorado

e road itself, barely wide enough to accommodate two vehicles heading up or down, heaved with massive dips in the asphalt that required smaller vehicles to crawl up and down the buckled road at a snail’s pace.

nor John Evans.

According to historical references, Evans authorized what’s known as the Sand Creek Massacre.

Week of August 19, 2024

Each day at about 8 a.m. a local National Weather Service volunteer observer makes temperature and precipitation observations at the Georgetown Weather Station and wind observations at Georgetown Lake. “Max” and “Min” temperatures are from an NWS digital “Maximum/Minimum Temperature System.” “Mean daily” temperature is the calculated average of the max and min. “Total Precipitation” is inches of rainfall plus melted snow. “Snowfall” is inches of snow that accumulated. T = Trace of precipitation or snowfall. NR = Not Reported. “Peak wind gust at Georgetown Lake” is the velocity and the time of the maximum wind gust that occurred during the 24 hours preceding the observation time. Historic data are based on the period of record for which statistical data have been compiled (about 55 years within the period 1893-2023). Any weather records noted are based on a comparison of the observed value with the historical data set for that speci c date.

As you approach the summit you’re enveloped by the high clouds that appear like fog, until you break through and realize you’re above the wisping white and gray clouds.

Once you’ve arrived at the summit and exited the vehicle you’re in a completely di erent environment than you left at the start of the journey to the top of one of Colorado’s 14ers.

e outside temperature is below 40 degrees and strong blasts of cold winds whip across the summit and blast those who decide to complete the journey to the peak with a short hike to the top.

e rocky path to the top leads hikers through at least four switchbacks to the peak where a brass plate embedded in the rocks marks the summit and elevation; it was placed there in 1955.

Once on top, the view above the clouds goes for miles, notably with Pikes Peak to the south and Mount Bierstadt to the west.

As Perrone put it, “You’re on top of the world.”

Formerly known as Mount Evans, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names voted 15-1 on Sept. 15, 2023 in favor of the change to Mount Blue Sky.

e name change followed years of lobbying and petitions by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma to disassociate the mountain from its original namesake territorial gover-

On a November morning in 1864, U.S. Army Col. John Chivington and elements of the Colorado Infantry Regiment of Volunteers and Regiment of Colorado Cavalry Volunteers launched an attack on Arapaho and Cheyenne civilians where they camped about 180 miles southeast of Denver. Over the course of eight hours, the troops slaughtered some 230 people, many of them women, children and elderly, according to the National Park Service.

e new name for the mountain comes from the Blue Sky Ceremony, a ceremony for all living things, including “men, women, children, plants, earth, water, life,” Chester Whiteman of the Southern Cheyenne tribe said in 2023.

Nonetheless, the iconic Mount Blue Sky will return to nature, away from tourists and local tra c, for at least the next year and a half. A couple of mountain goats resting at the peak did not seem phased by the upcoming changes to their natural environment.

Tourists from across the country at the peak said they were disappointed with the closure, including one couple from Raytown, Missouri who said the trip to Mount Blue Sky is part of a yearly tradition to experience the top of a Colorado 14er and escape the humidity of Missouri.

However, the most common sentiment was, “If it’s to repair the road for safety, then that’s what it is, you have to keep it safe,” Perrone said.

A mountain goat at the peak of Mount Blue Sky.

PHOTO BY CHRIS KOEBERL

PEAVEY

about 75 yards from his camper/ home and about 25 yards down a hill. e body, Burke said, was partially covered by brush.

“Unfortunately, during our initial assessment upon the report of a missing person… our response failed to meet our professional standards. How we handled the initial call is not acceptable,” Sheri Matt Harris said in a statement.

Harris said the sheri ’s department failed to take several key steps following the missing person report.

“ ese steps include a more thorough search of Mr. Peavey’s property, sharing his information on our social media sites, and participating in the organized search for Mr. Peavey,” he said in the statement.

Peavey was well known for breeding Dobermans, according to locals who said he had a real passion for his puppies.

“ ose dogs were his life, I mean, his entire world revolved around those dogs of his and those puppies,” Burke said.

At least 10 missing Doberman puppies from Peavey’s property played a large role in the initial investigation.

Sheri Harris said the shortcom-

ings of the initial investigation and lack of action will be addressed.

“We will conduct an internal investigation to examine how and why we failed, and to help ensure our community receives the service it deserves from my o ce,” he said.

e sheri ’s department has requested the assistance of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the 5th Judicial District Attorney’s O ce, according to a statement.

Charlie’s Place o ers ﬁnancial assistance for spay/neuter procedures

Residents of Clear Creek and Gilpin counties can get a voucher to spay/neuter dogs and cats at area veterinarians

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Charlie’s Place animal shelter in Dumont o ers an a ordable option for dog and cat owners to get their pet spayed or neutered by o ering vouchers of either $100 toward the procedure or making it free altogether.

Income-qualifying residents of Clear Creek or Gilpin counties can receive a voucher from Charlie’s Place for a free spay or neuter for their pet at one of three local veterinary o ces.

ere are no income quali cations for a $100 voucher for a spay or neuter for dogs and cats, all local residents are eligible, according to shelter manager Sue LeBarron.

“( e spay or neuter procedure) can be quite expensive these days, all vet care is expensive, but spay/ neuters can be prohibitive so we don’t want anyone not to get it done for nancial reasons,” LeBarron said.

e biggest reason for the nancial aid program, LeBarron said, is the overwhelming overpopulation

of unwanted dogs and cats across the country and in neighboring counties.

Charlie’s Place is a no-kill shelter but it’s becoming di cult to keep it that way as more animals come in than the shelter has capacity for, according to LeBarron.

Boxer mix Little Jo is a current resident of the shelter who didn’t seem to mind the accommodations, especially the morning walk out back. Making and keeping room for the Little Jos in the area is the shelter’s goal.

Little Jo came to Charlie’s Place a couple of months ago when his owner encountered housing diculties, according to shelter workers who also say Little Jo loves attention and walks and is looking for a home with a relaxed atmosphere.

Funding for the program is possible through the nonpro t Friends of Charlie’s Place, donations and the annual Slacker Half Marathon from Loveland Ski Area to Georgetown.

Individual vouchers are available for each dog or cat if a family has more than one that needs to be spayed or neutered, according to LeBarron.

e individual owner will set the appointment with one of three participating local veterinarians. Same-day appointments are not available, LeBarron said.

LeBarron described the program as a great opportunity for pet owners that she sees as underutilized.

“ ere’s just far too many animals for families to take care of,” she said.

CURRENTS

We’d like to know about events or activities of interest to the community. Visit www.clearcreekcourant.com/calendar/ and post your event online for free. Email ckoeberl@coloradocommunitymedia.com to get items in the newspaper. Items will appear in

UPCOMING

Immersive Survival Camping: Sept. 6-8 at Tomahawk Ranch in Bailey. e trip includes information on shelter building, plant identi cation, re making and water gathering. Sign up at ticketsignup.io/immersivesurvivalcamping.com or with CCMRD by calling 303-567-4822.

Annual Floyd Hill Neighborhood Picnic: 12-3 p.m. Sept. 14 at Evergreen Park 333 Beaver Brook Canyon Road in Evergreen. Sandwiches, snacks and drinks provided by Neighbors of Floyd Hill.

Clear Creek County Commission: Regularly scheduled meeting of the county commission at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 17 at the County Building at 405 Argentine St. in Georgetown.

nity. e o ce can be reached at 970513-9390.

Test sirens scheduled: In an e ort to notify people in the town of Georgetown of potential ooding due to the unlikely event of a dam failure at Xcel Energy’s Cabin Creek or Georgetown hydroelectric plants, sirens will be tested the rst Wednesday of every month.

Clear Creek EMS/Evergreen Fire Rescue Launch Mugs for Rugs Campaign: Bring an old throw rug and you’ll leave with a bright green mug! You can bring them to Station 1A in Dumont, 3400 Stanley Road, or you can email captains@clearcreekems. com and CCEMS will come to you to make the trade. Clear Creek EMS also o ers fall-risk assessments by bringing someone from the re department to make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. To request a visit, ll out the form at clearcreekcounty.us/1388/CommunityOutreach.

Devils’ Gate History Club: “Georgetown’s John Tomay Memorial Library: 100 years,” presented by District Library Director Libby Caplan and Archives Research Librarian Sean Babbs. 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 20 Georgetown Community Center, 6th St. and Argentine. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Clear Creek Democrats:Democratic candidate night:6 p.m. Sept 25 at the Unity Center in Idaho Springs.

Georgetown BigHorn Sheep Festival: 10 a.m. Nov. 9. 600 6th St. in Georgetown. Gateway Visitor Center o ers trained volunteers with binoculars and spotting scopes to help viewers locate bighorn sheep and o er a brief lesson on the animals.

ONGOING

ty. ey also facilitate school and community groups to build life skills in wellness and resilience among youth. For more information or to schedule a counseling session, visit R1220.org, email Resilience1220@gmail.com or call 720-282-1164.

Dental clinics: Cleanings, X-rays, dentures, tooth extractions and more. Most insurances are accepted including Medicaid. Sliding scale/low-cost options are also available. No appointment necessary. is is a mobile dentist that comes once a month. Call program manager Lauralee at 720205-4449 for questions.

Clear Creek Rotary 2000 meetings: Clear Creek Rotary 2000 meets at 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Marion’s of the Rockies. 2805 Colorado Blvd., Idaho Springs. For more information, email loe er806@comcast.net.

a.m. ursdays at the John Tomay Memorial Library in Georgetown.

Sensitive collection: Resilience1220 strives to inform and support highly sensitive people to live healthy and empowered lives. It meets the third Wednesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. and is o ered via Zoom or in person at the Resilience1220 o ce. Register at resilience1220.org/groups.

Clear Creek Democrats: e Clear Creek Democrats meet from 5-7 p.m. the third ursday of the month at the Vintage Moose in Idaho Springs. Join them for conversation and social time.

Blue Spruce Habitat volunteers needed: Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers. A variety of opportunities and exible schedules are available on new construction sites as well as for exterior minor home repairs. No previous construction experience needed. Contact volunteer@bluesprucehabitat.org for information.

CASA of the Continental Divide seeks volunteers:CASACD promotes and protects the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in court proceedings through the advocacy e orts of trained CASA volunteers. Be the di erence and advocate for the youth in our commu-

Walk-in vaccine clinics: Walk-in vaccine clinics for adults and children needing u and other vaccines are available from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays at the Clear Creek Health and Wellness Center, 1969 Miner St., Idaho Springs. No appointments required for the vaccines, though you can pre-register by calling 303-670-7528.

Resilience1220 counseling: Young people 12 to 20 can get free counseling through an Evergreen-based organization called Resilience1220. Composed of licensed therapists, Resilience1220 serves individuals and groups in the foothills including Clear Creek Coun-

Support after suicide loss: A safe place to share and learn after losing a loved one to suicide. is group meets every fourth Wednesday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom or in person at the Resilience1220 o ce. For ages 14 and up. Suggested donation for this group is $15. Register at resilience1220.org/groups.

Storytime with Miss Honeybun: Storytime with Miss Honeybun is at 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays at the Idaho Springs Public Library and at 11:15

Public Health o ering sexual health and family planning: Clear Creek County Public Health is now o ering Sexual Health and Planning Services at the Health and Wellness Center in Idaho Springs. Public Health o ers counseling, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, STI and HIV screenings, basic infertility services and birth control options and referrals. ese services are con dential. Public Health can also now bill Medicaid and most private insurance. However, if you do not have insurance, fees are based on a sliding scale — and no one will be turned away if they are unable to pay.

Clear Creek County Lookout Alert: e CodeRED alerts have been replaced by the Lookout Alert. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts county-wide by signing up at www. lookoutalert.co. e new site replaces CodeRED following the switch to JeffCom911 for emergency dispatch earlier this year.

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Columnists & Guest Commentaries

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Clear Creek Courant (USPS 52610)

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Idaho Springs, Colorado, the Clear Creek Courant is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 1630 Miner St., Idaho Springs, CO 80452.

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A few members of Colorado Community Media’s newsroom at the Colorado Press Association awards in late August. The newsroom won 14 awards and Colorado Community Media Publisher Linda Shapley (center, in glasses) was named president of the press association. FILE PHOTO

Our newsroom wins 14 state press awards

COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA STAFF

Colorado Community Media’s “Long Way Home” series, a deep dive that unraveled the whys and hows of the escalating housing crisis across the Front Range, took home top honors during state press awards.

e 14-story, newsroom-wide e ort was named Best Public Service Project in Class 6 of the Colorado Press Association awards. Earlier this year, the series won rst place for General Reporting, Series or Package at the esteemed Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism, hosted by the Colorado chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

In all, the newsroom received 14 awards, eight of them for rst place, during the Colorado Press Association awards, a friendly competition held among newsrooms of all sizes from around the state.

e newsroom’s “Long Way Home” series interviewed ordinary Coloradans about how the rising costs of housing impacts their lives. e series identi ed barriers many younger residents and people of color face as they pursue homeownership and explored potential solutions. Every reporter in the newsroom contributed to the series by interviewing dozens of local residents, elected leaders and experts. It was led by Editor in Chief Michael de Yoanna with West Metro Editor Kristen Fiore, North Metro Editor Scott Taylor, former South Metro Editor elma Grimes and former Digital Editor Deborah Grigs-

tors Scott Gilbert and Christy Steadman as well as initial contributions from former chief editor Lisa Schlichtman.

Clear Creek Courant Reporter Chris Koeberl won rst place in the Best Series or Sustained Coverage category for his aggressive reporting on criminal justice proceedings for deputies charged in the death of Christian Glass.

Koeberl also took home rst place honors for his coverage of the renaming of the iconic Mount Evans to Mount Blue Sky.

Reporters Nina Joss and McKenna Harford won rst place in the Best Political Reporting category for “Shades of Red” in the Douglas County News-Press, looking at divergent views among south metro area Republicans regarding how to present a uni ed front to voters.

Senior Reporter Ellis Arnold joined with Harford and Joss for a rst place honor in Best Social Justice or Equity Reporting for their stories about Douglas County PrideFest in 2023, including protests and reactions surrounding it.

Highlands Ranch Herald Reporter Haley Lena won rst place for Best News Story for her reporting on a tra c death and a mother’s determination to honor her son.

Former Northglenn- ornton Sentinel Reporter Luke Zarzecki won rst place for Best Agricultural Story for his “Unfruitful” reporting, which examined how supermarket locations and transportations can contribute to neighborhood food deserts.

Page Designer Ben Wiebesiek received

a rst place Best Page Design award for “Max out your chill.”

North Metro Bureau Editor Scott Taylor and Zarzecki were honored with a second place in Best Politics Reporting for their coverage of political candidates who alleged they were the victims of a harassment campaign by a local resident.

Reporter Belen Ward won second place for Best Social Justice or Equity Reporting for her feature on a Brighton trucker offering sanctuary and hope to Indigenous women.

Golden Transcript Reporter Corinne Westeman also took home a secondplace award in the Sports or Sports Event category for “Role Players: Orediggers work behind the scenes to elevate football team’s performance.”

Lillian Fuglei, who has reported part time for the Arvada Press, won second place for Best News Story for reporting on the One Small Step program that is working to address homelessness.

Page Designer Leah Neu won second place for Best Cover Design for “Century of Sound” in the Washington Park Pro le. Former Je co Transcript Reporter Jo Davis won second place in the Crime and Public Safety Reporting category for her story about animal control o cers with the Je erson County Sheri ’s O ce aiding Hawaii after res.

In May, Colorado Community Media’s newsroom received 10 additional honors for its journalism at the regional Top of the Rockies contest.

CCM publisher to lead state press group

BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Colorado Community Media Publisher Linda Carpio Shapley was named the current president of the Colorado Press Association at the organization’s 2024 conference.

“It feels like such a tremendous honor,” Carpio Shapley said. “One of the things that they have listed in the convention manual is all of the presidents that have served and … I am so honored that I get an opportunity to be considered among them.”

Carpio Shapley feels “very proud” to be the next leader of the CPA and said she “feels history” around her which inspires her to “want to continue to do good things” for the organization and journalism.

Carpio Shapley began her tenure as publisher of Colorado Community Media in August 2021.

She has worked for a number of Colorado newspapers, including the Collegian at Colorado State University

Colorado

Community Media Publisher Linda Shapley has been named president of the Colorado Press Association. She is pictured with association CEO Tim Regan-Porter.

COURTESY BRITTANY WINKFIELD

and her hometown paper the Greeley Tri-

Carpio Shapley also worked at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Kansas City Star before heading to e Denver Post, where she went from copy editor and designer to managing editor in her 21-year tenure. She also led a political team at Colorado Politics prior to becoming the CCM publisher.

e Colorado Press Association serves the state’s news media outlets. Shapley was unanimously approved.

“Along with upholding the good

work of past presidents, in the everchanging media landscape, CPA evolves to champion media rights, press freedoms and professional development across the state,” the organization said.

Carpio Shapley said the CPA faces challenges similar to what the industry itself faces, including an outdated revenue model, “the good ght against misinformation” and the need for more journalists.

“Colorado Press Association is wanting to do what it can to be supportive in that way, but Colorado Press Association also has those same challenges of just trying to do it on a bigger scale,” she said.With around 160 newsrooms in the Colorado Press Association, Carpio Shapley said it can be di cult to serve everyone’s needs.

“ ey go from one-person newsrooms … to news organizations like e Denver Post,” she said. “So how do you serve them both when they have so many di erent issues?”

Carpio Shapley said while it’s chal-

Big Chili Cook-off

lenging to help with these issues, she and the CPA need to be aware of these problems and work together to support the Colorado journalism community.

“I’m lucky enough to have a board that is really supportive in trying to help me to do that work and I just want to keep moving forward,” she said. e CPA is actively trying to get public policy in the Colorado legislature to allow for more public support for informing communities.

“To me that’s one of the things that I want to continue to advocate for, and I want to make sure that everybody who is a member of CPA has an opportunity to reach out to me and learn about me and know that I am committed to this ght,” Carpio Shapley said.

Additionally, Carpio Shapley said she hopes to help the masses see the “public good” of journalism.

“We want to make sure that we’re doing good work and we need to make sure the public understands the great work that we’re doing,” she said.

From time to time, we’re shaken by the news that someone we personally knew or knew about took their own life. In moments like that, we’re often taken unawares, stunned and bewildered by the revelation. It makes us wonder, question why it happened and why we missed clues they were at extreme personal risk. at’s particularly true when the person who died by suicide is young or never exhibited suicidal tendencies.

A primary reason we’re blindsided is that the idea of suicide ranks near the bottom of our conversational topics. Suicide more than causes consternation; it invokes an intense mental, emotional and moral discomfort. at is, until it’s someone within our inner circle or community.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021 suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S., the second among individuals between 10-14 and 25-34, and the third among individuals between 15-24. It was striking to learn in 2023 there were nearly twice as many suicides (48,183) as there were homicides (26,031). But which makes the headlines and leads the nightly news?

It’s been four years since my friend ended his life. For months afterward, I felt completely distraught. My grief and anger were driving me into a depressive state. What had been theoretical about the stages of grief became reality. I con ded in very few as I worked to project a semblance of balance and not to wear my emotions on my sleeve, even with close friends.

In time, I was able to articulate in a more coherent way my overwhelming sadness and the anger I felt toward the forces and people that drove him down. Writing about it and sharing my thoughts in a public forum, however, presented a bigger challenge. I’m now able to and in so doing, I hope to do justice to my friend and to the broader topic.

VOICES

Suicide: A personal reﬂection

In “ e Myth of Sisyphus,” Albert Camus asserts suicide is the only serious philosophical problem. ose who commit suicide, he says, have concluded life is no longer worth living. at not only seems obvious, it begs the question of why certain people decide to throw away their most precious gift, one that we instinctively protect and defend. I surmise Camus doesn’t provide a substantive answer for a simple reason: ere’s no one answer. Broadly, the reasons range from shaming and social exclusion to mental illness and in amed anger. But speci cally, they equal the number who commit suicide. In the end, no suicide is inexplicable. ere’s a reason behind each. And a person who was loved and cherished.

Still, what Camus posits is worth consideration because it gets to the fundamental question about the meaning and purpose of life. He prompts the reader to consider why, if someone concludes their life no longer has meaning or purpose and/or is lled with irreconcilable pain, they should hang on to it. e answer lies, he suggests, not in the mind where we make rational choices but in the silence of the heart. I interpret that to mean that suicide, even though ultimately an act of will, is generally not borne out of reason but out of emotion. Readers of Edgar Allan Poe, Joseph Conrad and kindred authors who explored the depth of the human soul know that is something great writers have delved into over the ages.

When I got the news of my friend’s death, I was stunned and shaken, but I wasn’t surprised. Even during the time he was getting professional help and taking prescribed meds, I had “talked him o the ledge” several times. Dur-

ing one episode, I sat with him while he talked with a support person at a suicide crisis center. For a couple of days after, I stayed on suicide watch. He pulled through, like he had each of the preceding times, but it further enhanced my sense of foreboding that at some point he would end his life.

Despite the front my friend projected as a charming, social and intelligent man who had it together, I knew full well of his inner turmoil. He had shared with me heartbreaking stories, speaking plaintively about the calumny and shame rained down upon him because of his sexual orientation, something I identi ed with having experienced similar. e opprobrium exacerbated the sensitivity he felt because of other aspects of his nature, like his repressed artistic talent and his heightened sensitivity to light, color and sound that con icted with what had been drilled into him about masculinity.

Shaming is among the worst of human tortures. Ironically, those who should feel ashamed about their behavior often never feel it because they don’t give a rat’s behind about what others think of them. However, for those who internalize shaming and don’t have the inner strength to turn it back on those who maliciously dole it out, it can be lethal.

As noted earlier, having been shamed is not the only reason someone takes their life, but there is a thread running through every suicide: su ering. In Buddhist belief, su ering arises from desire and attachment. However, some desires and attachments are not only not injurious to a person, they are necessary for their sound physical, mental and emotional health. ey’re called people, and not just people broadly, but nonjudgmental people who are loving, supportive, inviting, embracing and accepting.

When one is rejected, marginalized, belittled, shamed or unaccepted, especially in their youth, they grow in-

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, thus a perfect time to increase your awareness of and get yourself more educated about the telltale signs of suicide. You can easily ﬁnd resources online, including the National Alliance on Mental Health — https://www.nami.org/ — and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/.

creasingly vulnerable and at risk. ey can become reclusive and embittered and disillusioned, and when that happens, their su ering metastasizes.

Even if they survive the treacherous mine elds they’re forced to negotiate and make it to adulthood, even to late adulthood like my friend, they still can conclude, as Camus states, life is not worth living. And much too often after they reach that conclusion and end their lives, the world wonders why before it quickly averts its gaze and moves on.

It’s been ten years since the great actor Robin Williams took his life. e news of it stunned the world. How could such a gifted actor and comedian get to that point? What drove him to it? I don’t know and won’t speculate, but I suspect that beneath that jokecracking facade lay a soul in anguish.

Robin donned many masks in the range of roles he played, but the cover for his inner pain was his most powerful performance. Like with my friend, it makes me wonder about how many others mask their true anguish behind a pleasant, have-it-all-together, even mirthful persona.

As one PSA reminds us, the more you know. It might help you intervene with someone you cherish before it’s too late.

Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.

JERRY FABYANIC

Columnist

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Colorado holds the most patents in its regional group

And the most by women inventors

BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN

By opening a regional o ce in Denver 10 years ago, the U.S. Patent and Trademark O ce is ful lling a mission to better reach inventors where they live.

e Rocky Mountain Regional Ofce in Denver, the second of ve to open outside of the Washington, D.C.area headquarters, has seen a steady growth of patents from residents within its nine-state jurisdiction. Colorado, the most populated of the nine, holds the most patents in the regional group, as well as the most by women inventors.

“ ere’s a hotbed here around Denver,” said Kathi Vidal, director of the whole patent o ce who was in town for the 10-year anniversary. “ e data shows that once you have women patentees, you tend to have more women patentees. But it’s also spreading out into other areas.”

In Colorado, 23% of 53,000 patent holders in the past 10 years were women, compared with 13% nationwide. Other states in the district may be smaller but also have higher rates, like North Dakota, which had 300 patents in the past decade and a 19% women’s participation rate.

ere’s still room for growth. And Molly Kocialski, director of the regional o ce for eight of the 10 years, said it’s more about showing up in communities not used to having a federal o cial visit — and listening. She said USPTO employees now number 400plus today in the region from 29 a decade ago. And she and her team spend a good chunk of their time traveling around Colorado and the other eight states. And when they reach out, they continue to build on that relationship.

“In the places where we have been able to have the conversation … we’ve seen amazing rewards,” Kocialski said. “Like in Montana. From the rst time I was there until now, we’ve seen a 5X

increase in the number of women patent inventors. (It’s) being very intentional about how we talk about who participates in the innovation economy, making sure that obstacles and barriers aren’t there.”

Vidal, a long-time intellectual patent attorney in Silicon Valley with a degree in electrical engineering, said that the agency had looked into the low rate of patents among women inventors. ey found that women were opting out of the process, be it from discouragement, the expense or other reasons.

“So even once we get women to the door to do all the great work, women opt out at a higher rate,” said Vidal, who joined the patent o ce in 2022. “We’ve been trying to identify those issues and then solve them.”

One x? Welcome letters. In the past, she said, “ ey’d get a ling receipt and the next thing they get is a rejection. And you can imagine, if that’s your welcome to the system, it’s not going to seem like something that’s warm and friendly and make you want to continue on.”

e welcome letter provides an introduction to the inventor ecosystem, resources and patent tracking. All lers get the welcome letter, not just women inventors.

“It congratulates her because she can use ‘patent pending’ already,” Vidal added. “And with the next communication, that’s often a rejection. But we put it into context that this is really an opportunity for us to engage and make sure we issue her a strong patent. We want to make sure we craft the patent and the claims in a way that she gets a strong right that she can use to attract funding, to build a business and defend her business.”

ey also started monthly “WE” seminars featuring women entrepreneurs who share their startup stories. e sessions are virtual but sometimes guests show up in person. e stories and tips shared would bene t all inventors.

Charlotte Young Bowens, an ultra marathoner and employee at Arizona State University, came up with the

BY ALEX K.W. SCHULTZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

They came, from near and far, to behold the spectacle.

Men and women, boys and girls, young and old — tens of thousands of them.

Buses shuttled them in and out of swanky Castle Pines Village, nonstop, for four days straight. Signs o local highways and roads warned of heavy tra c and delays. An economic impact of $30 million was expected for the area. A purse of $20 million was up for grabs for the ones swinging the clubs.

At long last, more than two years after PGA o cials said it was coming, it was here — the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock.

Some of the 150,000 spectators expected to show up over the four-day tournament from Aug. 22-25 were rabid golf fans. Others just wanted to be there, to see the Jack Nicklausdesigned course, to hear the “oohs” and “ahhs” of the crowd ripple through the Ponderosa

pines, to catch a glimpse of some of the game’s biggest stars — stars like Scottie Sche er, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Justin omas.

Attendees couldn’t be blamed for their excitement. After all, the last time the BMW was played in Colorado was a decade ago, when Billy Horschel hoisted the trophy at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village. e last time a professional golf tournament was played at Castle Pines? at was nearly two decades ago, in 2006 (Castle Pines hosted the now-defunct e International Tournament from 1986 to 2006).

So, yes, Coloradans were beyond thrilled to have professional golf back in their backyard once again.

“It’s pretty cool that they’re all here in Colorado,” 14-year-old Vivian Halaby, a Cherry Creek High School student, said of the 50 golfers vying for the $3.6 million rst-place prize. “It’s neat to see famous people come and go through here.”

PHOTO ON PAGE 13: Spectators cheer as Wyndham Clark, a 2012 Valor High School graduate, sinks a long birdie putt at the BMW Championship golf tournament on Aug. 25 at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock. Clark ﬁnished in a nine-way tie for 13th place.

Vivian’s brother, 12-year-old Tripp Halaby, was busy trying to get some of those famous people’s autographs. He’d already gotten McIlroy, Tony Finau and Ludvig Aberg, among several others, to pen his oversized golf ball, but the youngster didn’t plan to stop signature-hunting anytime soon.

“It’s life-changing,” Tripp, who attends West Middle School in Greenwood Village, said of his experience at the tournament.

Tripp called himself a “big Nick Dunlap fan” but said he couldn’t help but root for the local kid. at would be last year’s U.S. Open champion and 2012 Valor High School graduate Wyndham Clark, the 30-year-old making his Colorado homecoming.

Clark found himself in 22nd place after the rst day but made things interesting after shooting a 4-under and 3-under the next two days, putting him in a tie for fth entering the fourth and nal round.

e “Valor Grad Wins PGA Tournament in Return to Home State” headlines weren’t meant to be, however, as Clark carded a 2-over on the last day to nish in a nine-way tie for 13th place at 5-under overall. Clark still fetched a $344,111 payout for his e orts.

“It’s been amazing. Denver showed out great,” Clark said at the post-tournament press conference. “I had tons of support. It was all in all an amazing week with all the support and friends coming out and all the love I felt.”

One of the more exciting moments for Clark came on the last day on hole No. 10, where he boomed his drive, stuck his approach shot and rolled in a 24-footer for birdie, bringing the hundreds of fans surrounding the green to their feet.

Not far away from the green where Clark had just buried his birdie was Mignon Stetman, who lives right o the 10th fairway.

“We love it. We’ve had a blast,” Stetman said of watching all the people, including the golf pros, walk within a stone’s throw of her home every day.

“I think (the fans) are as much in awe as we are.”

e retired hotel sales director said she was pull-

ing for Horschel because he, like her, graduated from the University of Florida. Horschel nished in a tie for 22nd place.

Meanwhile, Stetman said her husband, Greg, was hoping either 44-year-old Adam Scott or Keegan Bradley would win.

Now a seven-time PGA Tour champion, Bradley did win in the end, fending o fellow American Sam Burns, the Swede Aberg and South Australia’s Scott, who all nished one shot behind the winner.

Up by the 18th green, as Bradley and Scott, partnered on the last day, made their way in from the fairway for their last putts, fans crammed in tight, craning their necks and holding up their phones, trying to savor the tournament’s final moments.

“It was incredible,” Parker resident Coleman Harris, who was sitting nearby, said of the day and the tournament. “I go to the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Arizona every year. is was just so much better. I loved it. It was awesome.”

Now, the collective hope is that it won’t be another 10 years before professional golf is back in Colorado.

PHOTO ON PAGE 12: Fans surround the 18th green at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 25 during the BMW Championship golf tournament. Roughly 150,000 spectators were expected to show up over the fourday tournament.

PHOTOS BY ALEX K.W. SCHULTZ

idea of the VestaPak, a hydration vest “for bigger bodies” to hold gear and keep her hydrated while training. It’s patent pending, but not without a lot of e ort as a novice inventor.

On Friday nights, she said she’d sip a glass of wine and sit on her couch to nd potential entrepreneurial programs and resources. At the university, she tapped into the law school and found law students who helped with her patent and trademarks at a reasonable cost. She linked up with REI’s Embark, which provides support to outdoor-gear startups, and Target, which helped her get her vests made.

“At that point in time, I had spent $10,000 on manufacturing (samples) but none of them could gure out how to make it,” Bowens shared. She needed something big to t her curvy body. But the results were often “a size 8,” which evoked laughter from the audience.

rush and time pressure,” Matthes said. “It’s really expensive and it’s hard for a mom-and-pop business to drop $15,000 to le patents.”

She added that the boom in female inventors not only has to do with additional support locally and nationwide, but for TV programs like “Shark Tank,” which Poplight was on in January.

“I think ‘Shark Tank’ has a really big e ect (because) if you see a problem and you can x something, I think women are really creative with problem-solving and xing things like that,” she said. “I’m in a world where I’m like, ‘God, my lightning sucks. How can I improve it?’ and then coming up with a physical product idea.”

Kocialski said she just wants to make sure her o ce is everywhere in Colorado where a person with an idea can learn that the local patent o ce provides pro bono support and resources.

“And so Target said, what do you want, tell us whatever it is,” she said. “And what Target did was reach out to their manufacturing partners and say, ‘Look we support DEI, do you support DEI? Would you be willing to work with a startup company and help them with their product?’”

Six manufacturers had sample products delivered to her front door within a week. “And I was like, that actually t,” she said.

Even if the day’s panelists didn’t start with the patent o ce, they’ve come to rely on it as a future resource. Rose Matthes, who cofound-

ed rechargeable wall light maker Poplight in Denver, hopes to get more assistance in ling future patents. Poplight’s rst patent was issued in July 2023, with the help of a patent attorney and at least $25,000. “I think there’s grants I could have searched for but we just felt a lot of

“If we keep more women in the innovation economy, we can keep everybody else,” she said. “We want every brain that can innovate to have the ability to innovate without obstacles and impediments.”

is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

Charlotte Young Bowens, founder of Conscious Gear and the VestaPak hydration vest.

PHOTO BY CHARLIE LEIGHT/CONSCIOUS GEAR

TRIVIA

1. GEOGRAPHY: How many lakes are in the Great Lakes Basin?

2. MOVIES: What is the little girl’s last name in the lm “Matilda”?

3. TELEVISION: What is the name of the teacher on the animated kids’ series “ e Magic School Bus”?

4. LITERATURE: In which historic period is Jack London’s novel “Call of the Wild” set?

5. U.S. CITIES: Which city’s nickname is “City by the Bay”?

6. ANATOMY: How much of the human body is made up of water?

7. SCIENCE: What is heliology?

8. HISTORY: Which world leader’s birth name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?

9. ASTRONOMY: In what year did a U.S. astronaut land on the moon?

10. ENTERTAINERS: Which famous actor who starred in “ e

Notebook” was once a member of “ e Mickey Mouse Club”?

Answers

1. Five.

2. Wormwood.

3. Ms. Frizzle.

4. 1890s Klondike Gold Rush.

5. San Francisco, California.

6. About 60%.

7. Scienti c study of the Sun.

8. Pope Francis.

9. 1969.

10. Ryan Gosling.

FLASHBACK

1. Who wrote and released “Turn the Page” in 1973.

2. Which artist released “Let’s Get It On”?

3. Who wrote and released “Summer in the City”?

4. Which artist wrote and released “When Doves Cry”?

5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “Please lock me away and don’t allow the day, Here inside where I hide with my loneliness.”

Answers

1. Bob Seger. It was released on the Silver Bullet Band’s “Back in ‘72” album but was never released as a single until 1976.

2. Singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye, in 1973. e song topped the Billboard Pop chart where it stayed for two weeks and the Soul chart where it stayed for eight weeks.

3. John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful in 1966. During recording, they brought in city sounds such as car horns and added them to the nal version. It nally made the list of the

500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2011.

4. Prince, in 1984. It was his rst No. 1 single.

5. “A World Without Love,” by Peter and Gordon, in 1964. It was written by Beatle Paul McCartney but released to Peter and Gordon because McCartney didn’t think it was appropriate for the Beatles.

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Following is a list of names, location and amount of PERSONAL PROPERTY assessed and unpaid, as evidenced by the current Tax Roll, including interest, penalties and advertising costs up to and including September 30, 2024. At any time after the First day of October, the Treasurer shall enforce collection of delinquent taxes on personal property by DISTRAINING, SEIZING and SELLING such property.

P160978 DJR COLORADO LLC

Legal Notice No. CCC946

First Publication: September 5, 2024

Last Publication: September 5, 2024

Publisher: Clear Creek Courant

Public Notice

CITY OF IDAHO SPRINGS Clear Creek County, Colorado

Ordinance No. 18, Series 2024

AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING EXTENDED STAY LODGING LICENSING AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AS A NEW SECTION 21-35 OF THE IDAHO SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE

WHEREAS, the City of Idaho Springs, Colorado (“City”) is a statutory city, duly organized and existing under the laws of the state of Colorado; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Article 23 of Title 31, C.R.S., the City possesses the authority to regulate the zoning and use of land within its jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to C.R.S. § 31-15-501, the City possesses the authority to regulate and license any commercial enterprise conducted within the City; and

WHEREAS, the City has recently experienced a proliferation of hotels and motels which provide lodging for guests outside of the traditional shortterm transient lodging experience; and

WHEREAS, as more citizens continue to occupy hotels and motels for long-term residential purposes, the City Council desires to ensure City motels and hotels are safe and suitable for extended stays; and

35715 US40 #D302

Total Due: $4,006.51

P161041 LUMINESCENCE LABS INC

Parcel: 1963

PERSONAL PROPERTY IN TAX AREA 080

Total Due: $1,420.21

Witness my hand this 28 day of August, A.D., 2024.

/s/ Carol Lee

Carol Lee, Treasurer Clear Creek County

Published in the Clear Creek Courant, September 05, 2024

L0905- PP DELQ

Legal Notice No. CCC947

First Publication: September 5, 2024

Last Publication: September 5, 2024 Publisher: Clear Creek Courant

Public Notice

CITY OF IDAHO SPRINGS, COLORADO NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held in accordance with the Idaho Springs Municipal Code commencing at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard on the 23rd of September 2024 before the City Council to consider an ordinance adopting extended stay lodging licensing and operational requirements as a new Section 21-35 of the Idaho Springs Municipal Code.

This hearing will be held at the Idaho Springs City Hall, located at 1711 Miner Street, Idaho Springs, Colorado 80452. A virtual option will be available.

Dated this 5th day of September 2024

Dylan Graves, Community Development Planner

WHEREAS, the Council desires to regulate those hotels and motels within the City that offer extended stay lodging in order to better ensure the welfare of people who reside in the same.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Idaho Springs, Colorado, as follows:

Section 1. Division I of Article III of Chapter 21 of the Idaho Springs Municipal Code is hereby amended by the addition of a new Section 21-35, to read in its entirety as follows:

Sec. 21-35. – Extended Stay Lodging

(A)Definitions.

(1) Extend Stay Lodging means the renting of a room, unit or other portion of a hotel or motel for a duration of stay greater than twenty-nine (29) consecutive days. The duration of stay shall be calculated based upon the number of nights of occupancy by a guest within the licensed premises as a whole rather than within one particular room, unit or defined area.

(2) License means an extended stay lodging license issued pursuant to this Section.

(B) Extended Stay Lodging License Required. It is unlawful for any person, either directly or indirectly, to conduct or provide extended stay lodging without first obtaining and maintaining a license.

(C)License application form; processing.

(1) License applicants shall file a completed application with the City Clerk’s office on a form provided by the City.

(2)A completed license application shall contain the following information:

(a) The business name and address of the applicant;

(b)A floor plan of the establishment illustrating the specific rooms, units or areas to be used for extended stay lodging;

(c)Individual floor plans for each proposed extended stay lodging room, unit or area, including square footage calculations; and

(d)A detailed floor plan illustrating all amenities and features required pursuant to subsection (D) below.

(D)Minimum Standards for Operation.

(1) Extended stay lodging areas shall be designated on a building floor plan and no other areas may be offered or used for such purpose.

(2) Every room licensed for extended stay lodging shall prominently display on the inside of the main entrance door of the room a statement that such room is licensed pursuant to this Section.

(3) Guest personal possessions may not be stored on exterior balconies, interior corridors, or in a manner that prohibits adequate movement and ingress/egress within a unit and/or licensed premise.

(4) The following amenities shall be available to all extended stay lodging guests:

(a)Twenty-four hour desk staffing;

(b) Universal wireless internet included within rental rate;

(5) Cooking facilities must be available on the premises, either in each individual room approved for extended stay lodging or in a shared, communal kitchen accessible at all times.

Kitchen facilities shall include, at minimum: (a)Fixed cooktop appliance; (b)Full-size refrigerator; (c)Full-size kitchen sink; and (d)Communal seating space.

(6) Each licensed premise shall otherwise remain compliant with all other requirements and standards of the City and of this Code.

(E) License Renewal and Inspection Requirements.

(1) The City shall perform an inspection of the proposed licensed premises prior to the issuance of an extended stay lodging license.

(2)Thereafter, the City shall perform annual compliance inspections of the licensed premises at time of license renewal.

(F) Implementation Schedule.

(1) It is the intention of the City that existing hotels and motels offering extended stay lodging be given sufficient time to make the operational and physical modifications and improvements necessary to satisfy the eligibility requirements of this section. Accordingly, the following implementation schedule for this section is adopted:

(a) Existing hotels offering extended stay lodging shall have until January 1, 2025, to file a license application and until March 1, 2025 to obtain a license.

(G)Suspension and revocation; appeal

(1) Each license is subject to suspension and revocation proceedings as follows:

(a) The City Administrator is authorized to suspend or revoke any license, upon at least seven (7) calendar days’ written notice via United States Postal Service first class mail to the licensee stating specific date of the hearing, the contemplated action and, in general, the grounds therefor, and after a reasonable opportunity for the licensee to be heard, upon a finding that:

1. The licensee has failed to pay the annual license fee or any other applicable tax;

2. The license application has been found to contain a falsehood or material misrepresentation or omission;

3. The licensed premises are found to have been constructed, altered or operated in a manner contrary to the application or in violation of any term or condition of the license or in violation of this Section or of this Code;

4.The licensee has failed to furnish any information that is required to be provided to the City under this Section or this Code; or

5. Any fact or condition exists which, if it had existed or had been known to exist at the time of the application for the license, would have warranted the refusal of the issuance of the license.

(b) The City Administrator shall issue a written decision within ten (10) days of the date upon which the licensee is provided the opportunity to be heard, and shall provide the same to the licensee to the mailing address indicated on the license application or such other address or by such other means (such as electronic mail) as requested by the licensee.

(c)A licensee may appeal a decision by the City Administrator to suspend or revoke his or her license by filing written notice of such appeal, including the specific reasons the Administrator’s decision is in error, with the City Clerk within ten (10) days of the date of the Administrator’s decision.

(d) Any appeal timely filed under subsection (G)(iii) above shall be heard and decided by the Planning Commission at their next regularly scheduled meeting, applying the same procedural and substantive guidelines as the City Administrator under subsections (b) and (c) hereof. The Planning Commission’s decision shall be the City’s final decision on the matter.

Section 2. Any and all Ordinances or parts thereof in conflict or inconsistent herewith are, to the extent of such conflict or inconsistency, hereby repealed; provided, however, that the repeal of any such Ordinance or part thereof shall not revive any other section or part of any Ordinance heretofore repealed or superseded.

Section 3. Should any one or more sections or provisions of this Ordinance be judicially determined invalid or unenforceable, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remaining provisions of this Ordinance, the intention being that the various provisions are severable.

INTRODUCED, READ AND ORDERED PUBLISHED, at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Idaho Springs, Colorado, held on the 26th day of August, 2024.

Chuck Harmon, Mayor

ATTESTED AND CERTIFIED: Diane Breece, City Clerk

PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED, after public hearing at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Idaho Springs, Colorado, held on the ___ day of _________, 2024.

Chuck Harmon, Mayor

ATTESTED AND CERTIFIED:

Diane Breece, City Clerk

Legal Notice No. CCC948

First Publication: September 5, 2024

Last Publication: September 5, 2024

CITY OF IDAHO SPRINGS Clear Creek County, Colorado

Ordinance No. 17, Series 2024

AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE TO PERMIT THE LOCATION OF A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION TRAILER, ASSOCIATED PARKING AND OUTDOOR STORAGE ON PROPERTY WEST OF THE SHELLY/QUINN BALL FIELDS PARK, ALSO KNOWN AS PART OF THE SILVER SPRUCE ANNEXATION, FOR THE DURATION OF THE CDOT FLOYD HILL PROJECT

Legal Notice No. CCC949

First Publication: September 5, 2024

Last Publication: September 5, 2024

Publisher: Clear Creek Courant

Bids and Settlements

PUBLIC NOTICE

REQUEST FOR BIDS CLEAR CREEK COUNTY CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, COLORADO

RC 24-03 STEEP SLOPE IMPROVEMENTS FOR FALL RIVER ROAD

General Notice

Publisher: Clear Creek Courant Public Notice

Clear Creek County (Owner) is requesting Bids for the construction of the following Project: Steep Slope Improvements for Fall River Road RC 24-03

All bids must be received as follows no later than Wednesday, September 19, 2024 at 3:00 PM local time:

•Register as a Prospective Bidder via: Email: sstreepey@clearcreekcounty.us, Subject line: RFB RC 24-03

•Upload an electronic copy to an online submittal folder assigned to each Prospective Bidder that registers with the County;

The Project includes the following Work:

Rockfall scaling of approximately 500 LF by 30-foot-high steep slope along the north side of Fall River Road between Rainbow Road and Cumberland Gulch Road.

Obtaining the Bidding Documents

Information and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found at the following designated website: https://www.clearcreekcounty.us/bids.aspx

The RFB may be downloaded from the designated website. The designated website will be updated periodically with addenda and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. Plans and specifications will be made available to Prospective Bidders who register as described above.

Instructions to Bidders.

For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.

This Advertisement is issued by: George Marlin, Chair Board of County Commissioners

Legal Notice No. CCC006

First Publication: August 29, 2024

Last Publication: September 12, 2024

Public Notices

Publisher: Clear Creek Courant

Public Notice

REQUEST FOR BIDS

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, COLORADO 2024 GUARDRAIL PROJECT

General Notice

Clear Creek County (Owner) is requesting Bids for the construction of the following Project:

Guardrail Project -- PW 24-05

All bids must be received in one of the following ways no later than Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 2:00 PM local time:

•Electronically, via email to pw@clearcreekcounty.us

• Courier service, delivered to the Clear Creek County Road & Bridge Department located at: 3549 Stanley Road (CR 312), Dumont, Colorado 80436

•U.S.P.S. at P.O. Box 362,

Dumont CO 80436

At that time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read.

The Project includes the following Work:

The 2024 Guardrail Project includes repair of existing, damaged guardrail sections on various roads throughout the county.

Bids are requested for the following Contract: PW 24-05 Contract for Construction of a Small Project

Obtaining the Bidding Documents Information and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found at the following designated website:

https://co-clearcreekcounty2.civicplus.com/Bids. aspx?CatID=17

Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the designated website. Prospective Bidders are urged to register with the designated website as a plan holder, even if Bidding Documents are obtained from a plan room or source other than the designated website in either electronic or paper

format. The designated website will be updated periodically with addenda, lists of registered plan holders, reports, and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. All official notifications, addenda, and other Bidding Documents will be offered only through the designated website. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for Bidding Documents, including addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the designated website.

Instructions to Bidders.

For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.

This Advertisement is issued by: George Marlin, Chair Board of County Commissioners

Legal Notice No. CCC005

First Publication: August 29, 2024

Last Publication: September 5, 2024

Publisher: Clear Creek Courant ###

What Knowledge and Skills Should You Expect Your Real Estate Agent to Have?

Some people would say that real estate agents are overpaid, but that varies greatly with the agent. If your agent doesn’t know what he’s doing, he could cost you money, and he should pay you!

It’s all about experience, commitment, fidelity to the client, and a multitude of trainings and skills.

Some skills are “hard” skills, such as how to set up searches on the MLS or write a contract, but even those hard-skill tasks typically require “soft skills” which can come from experience but just as importantly from an intention to be of service to client over self.

ence of Zillow, but we consult other software and nearby sales of comparable homes when doing our “Comparative Market Analysis.” Myself, I consult Realist (an MLS app), Realtor Property Resource (available only to Realtors), and ATTOM, a commercially available property valuation tool.

Knowing the value of a home is only the starting point. We need to assess the real estate market in that neighborhood, paying close attention to existing listings. It’s important that the pricing of other listings helps to sell your home, rather than the pricing of your home helps to sell theirs.

with matching search criteria. Not all listing agents know how to find and use that list of agents whose clients have received an alert about their listing.

(MLS alerts, by the way, are a big reason why no seller should consider trying to sell his or her home off-MLS.)

What agents need to know (and exploit) is that every time there’s a price reduction, it triggers a new alert with the tag “Price Reduced.” That’s a powerful marketing tool, another reason to lower the price quickly and regularly, reminding buyers that this home is still available and matches their search criteria.

have in real estate. Needless to say, they are not taught in real estate school or measured in the licensing exams!

When representing buyers, many of those same skills, practices and knowledge come into play for the good real estate agent. Once a buyer decides to make an offer on a listing, I use the same tools to determine its value and what my buyer should offer, paying attention to the sale of comparable homes.

Of course, representing sellers and representing buyers calls for different skills and knowledge, although there are some overlapping skills and knowledge.

When representing sellers, the most important skill is that of coming to agreement on the most effective listing price. To the seller, who has probably been watching neighborhood sales, there may be a price point which is appropriate based on relative condition and location, but it may not be the most effective price for going to market.

I’m not just talking about whether the market is rising or falling. And I’m not talking about what the home would appraise for. The most effective price is the one that will draw immediate interest from multiple buyers. Buyers invariably look at Zillow’s “Zestimate” and will decide whether your home is overpriced or underpriced based on what Zillow says — sad but true! Nevertheless, it’s important to know.

We professionals recognize the influ-

However, the market is unpredictable. If the seller and his or her agent agree on a price but the home attracts few or no showings and no offers within a week, then the market is telling you that it’s overpriced, assuming the home was put on the MLS and had other reasonable promotion, such as the kind we provide with this ad. The price should be reduced within a week or 10 days. Don’t wait until the listing gets “stale.”

Most agents and buyers are familiar with the concept of MLS alerts. A buyer’s search criteria are entered into the appropriate search fields on the MLS, and when a new listing matches that buyer’s search criteria, he or she receives a computer-generated email alert from the MLS about it.

For example, the listing below, which is deep in the mountains, 120 miles from Denver, had 97 buyers who received an email alert about it when it went on the MLS. Last week’s featured listing in Lone Tree triggered 230 alerts to buyers

Has Your Time Come to Enjoy Mountain Life?

This 3-bedroom, 2-bath home at 48 Lang Street is in Twin Lakes, halfway between Leadville and Buena Vista at the foot of Independence Pass. It could be your escape from the Front Range rat race! This is a year-round mountain home, solar-powered, with a hightech greenhouse with “earth battery” for near year-round veggies! Enjoy the quiet mountain life of Twin Lakes Village (population 23). In summer, enjoy the drive over Independence Pass to Aspen. In winter, drive over Fremont Pass to Copper Mountain. Escape those I-70 traffic jams, too! Closer to home, enjoy hiking the Colorado Trail, which passes through town. This home was built in 2000 with all the modern conveniences, yet you're in a historic and charming mountain town. Thanks to high-speed CenturyLink internet, some of the residents have city jobs but work from home. If you’ve been hankering for a slower lifestyle, this mountain home may be your escape. Visit this listing’s website at www.TwinLakesHome.info to take a narrated video walk through of this home and see lots of photos, then come see it on Saturday, September 7th, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. NOTE: Seller offers 2.8% commission to buyer’s broker.

Price Reduced to $712,000

Because it’s important for sellers and their listing agent to keep current on the MLS activity near their listing, I have made a practice of setting up an MLS alert around each of my listings and sending it to both my sellers and myself.

Now, look at the picture for the listing below. Before changing the price on the MLS, I changed the primary MLS picture to one that included the day and time of the open house so those buyers receiving the “price reduced” alert know about the open house, which is not mentioned in the alert itself. After the open house, I’ll remove the photo with that information. That’s an example of another skill (in this case, a practice) that a good agent might have.

Some sellers dismiss open houses as a tool for agents to generate leads, not sell that house, which is admittedly rare. It does happen, however. Indeed, all three of my most recent closed listings sold to buyers who came to the open house. Note: It’s important to enter open house dates and times on the MLS. They are populated to Zillow and hundreds of other websites, and doing so draws far more visitors nowadays than the “open house” signs we put in the ground.

According to Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies, “Soft skills are as almost as important as hard skills, In fact, they often define success more than expertise does.” Communication, active listening, social cues, negotiation, patience and tactfulness are cited as the most crucial soft skills to

I also look at the listing history of the property — days on market, price reductions, previous contracts that fell, and prior MLS listings by this or another agent. I have an app that can tell me about the seller, including what other homes they have purchased or sold. I can also evaluate the level of experience and therefore skill of the listing agent.

On ShowingTime, I can see whether there are other showings scheduled or whether the listing is sitting on the market. I also call the listing agent to see if they have other contracts expected or in hand. If a previous contract has fallen, I can ask the circumstances.

I ask whether the seller has a preferred closing date or other things that would make them happy. (Furniture to sell? Post-closing occupancy needed?)

I also ask where the seller is moving to. If they’re moving locally, I can mention that our moving truck is available free to them, along with free moving boxes and packing materials. If I learn that a bidding war is possible and they are moving locally, I might include free labor and gas along with the free truck in my buyer’s contract. I may also insert an escalation clause under additional provisions, indicating that the buyer will beat any competing offer.

Lastly, there’s a new question I need to ask: Is the seller willing to pay my commission? They probably are, and I need to enter that percentage in Sec. 29 of the contract and discuss with my client adjusting the commission in our own agreement to reduce or eliminate what that client pays out of pocket for my professional representation.

303-525-1851

80401

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Lender: WENDY RENEE, 303-868-1903