Elbert County News February 8, 2024 by Colorado Community Media

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 8, 2024

VOLUME 128 | ISSUE 50

Open house focuses on groundwater

$2 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Elbert County is moving toward master plan for crucial resource BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Elbert County and environmental consultant Forsgren Associates recently held their first open house as they move toward creating the Elbert County Water Master Plan. About 100 people attended, and 620 people answered an online community questionnaire that was sent out before the open house. Elbert County Director of Community & Economic Development Marc Dettenreider, Planning Administrator Wendy Doyle and Economic Development Consultant Eric Larson were present for the Jan. 24 gathering at the Elbert County Fairgrounds in Kiowa. Larson said one of the purposes of the master plan is to help inform the county planning commission and county commissioners as they create guidelines for developers. Elbert County might adjust water rules where water is depleting or change guidelines for developing certain areas. Whether or not there is enough water to support existing residents as well as new developments has SEE WATER, P8

SCHOOL THREATS CASE DRAWS SIX-YEAR TERM

ELBERT COUNTY MARKS 150 YEARS P5

The project overview poster from Forsgren Associates employee Will Koger’s station at a Jan. PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY 24 gathering on water issues at the Elbert County Fairgrounds.

VOICES: 12 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17

PARKER LACROSSE PLAYER FIGHTS FOR PROGRAM P20

ELBERTCOUNTYNEWS.NET • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

EMPOWERMENT IN INK Tattoo shops bringing art to life P14

February 8, 2024Fe

Experts speak about managing stress, mental health BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Call it the winter blues, exhaustion from the holiday season, anxiety about tax season or just too much work to do, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety tend to creep up around this time of year and may stem from stress. Whatever the cause, stress involves nearly every system in the body, impacting both mental and physical health. The American Psychological Association defines stress as “a normal reaction to everyday pressures

but can become unhealthy when it upsets your day-to-day functioning.” The body often lets us know when we are thirsty, hungry or tired, said Licensed Professional Counselor Alyssa Henry with UCHealth Family Medicine. However, when the body is overwhelmed, overworked or overstressed, the cues tend to be less obvious. Gina Hochhalter, a licensed clinical social worker with UCHealth Family Medicine, added that the nervous system can be activated under severe stress and when people are in a constant fight-or-flight

state, that makes it more difficult to tolerate regular stressors. So, the management of stress is important to overall health, the experts say. Henry and Hochhalter said managing stress helps people maintain overall well-being and can reduce the likelihood of experiencing greater mental health concerns. “Depending on how we act and react to stressors we experience in our lives, it can be perpetuated simply by our sense of being overwhelmed,” said Henry. “Or we can intervene and roll it back and reserve it.” Benefits of nutrition

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Managing stress is an intentional process, said Henry and there are several strategies to reduce stress and promote a sense of calmness. “The way we take care of our body impacts the way that we respond to stress,” said Hochhalter. “What we put in our body impacts those things.” Certain nutrients are precursors to neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, also known as the “feel good chemicals,” said Hochhalter. They can play a key role in mood regulation. Diets that are high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains have been associated with lower cortisol levels - which are increased when a person is stressed. Balanced nutrition can help people regulate cortisol production. Balanced meals that include whole grains, beans and oats, protein and healthy fats help regulate blood sugar. “Stable blood sugar levels contribute to consistent energy levels and mood stability,” said Hochhalter. A balanced diet can also impact the gut-brain connection, said Hochhalter, which is the dynamic between the brain and the enteric nervous system. Nutrients that support a healthy gut microbiome may positively influence mood and stress responses. Also, as chronic inflammation is associated with stress-related disorders, certain nutrients have antiinflammatory properties such as omega-3s, vitamin C and fiber-rich foods.

Physical activity and mindfulness

Chronic stress can also lead to cognitive changes, which include difficulty concentrating, memory issues, decision making and racing thoughts. A result of this could mean a decreased performance at work or academically. The Journal of Neurobiology of Learning and Memory found that regular physical activity has improved memory and cognitive function in older adults as physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins and can contribute to a positive or relaxed mood. “Physical activity causes almost an immediate release of ‘feel good’ chemicals,” said Henry. “This actually creates a positive feedback loop.” Activities such as yoga and Tai Chi are mind-body activities that can foster a sense of relaxation, said Henry. “Things that require real focus and attention on not just your physical coordination and ability, but also presence of mind and what you’re doing,” said Henry. “We know that can contribute to a mindful state.” A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that mindfulness-based stress reduction programs reduce anxiety and stress levels. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and mindfulness have shown to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress-related disorders. Henry said that the word “meditation” is used underneath the umbrella of “mindfulness” because mindfulness is a practice or a thing that people have with them whereas meditation is an activity. It’s also important to stay socially active, but remember to set boundaries. Establishing boundaries empowers individuals to assert their needs and desires, said Hochhalter, and that sense of autonomy can lead to increased feelings of control and reduced stress. But, with unexpected circumstances and events, It’s nearly impossible to avoid stress. “One way to mitigate that anxiety or to not get stressed out in the first place is to recognize and accept some of the limitations of our control over the things that happen in the world,” said Henry.

February 8, 2024 ADVERTISEMENT

‘Empty Nest’ Baby Boomers Own Twice as Many Big Homes as Millennials With Kids A recent study by Redfin found that 28% of “empty nester” baby boomers owned homes with three or more bedrooms, while only 14% of millennials with children had homes with 3+ bedrooms. The study was based on 2022 census data, the most recent available. Looked at another way, 45.5% of empty nester boomers own big homes. Only 27% of millennials with kids own a big home, and only 3% of Gen Z families with children own a big home. Those are national numbers. Here are the numbers for Denver and three other cities: Denver Los Angeles San Francisco New York City

Boomers Millennials 25.0% 15.1% 23.7% 9.4% 26.1% 10.9% 23.9% 11.8%

Gen Z parents with children are even worse off. The report states that almost none of them (0.3%) own homes with 3+ bedrooms. Remember, the key word here is “own.” Gen Z and many millennial families are more likely to be renters than homeowners. (Adult Gen Zers are 19 to 25 years old, millennials are 26 to 41, Gen Xers are 42 to 57, and baby boomers are 58 to 76.) Rita and I, as baby boomers, are part of a trend I expect to grow — selling our big home and becoming renters. As our fellow boomers get older, they are already wanting to downsize, not only because of the empty bedrooms in their oversized home. They want freedom from home maintenance, lawn care, and other household responsibilities. Buying a condo or renting an apartment (as we did) has the additional advantage of creating a “lock and leave” situation, allowing seniors to go on vacation — to see their grandchildren or take a cruise. What surprised me was that ten years earlier, the numbers were almost equal for those two groups, according to Redfin; “In 2012, empty nesters of the silent generation (who were 67 to 84 at the

time) took up 16% of homes with 3+ bedrooms. That’s a smaller share than Gen Xers (who were 32 to 47 at the time) with kids, who took up 19% of those large homes.” I can think of several possible explanations for the most recent statistics. For starters, change is hard. It’s uncomfortable, especially if you are elderly. For the 54% of boomers who own their home free and clear, the cost of staying put is low, and the cost of moving is high. For boomers who have a mortgage, it is at a very low rate if, like the rest of us, they refinanced into loans around 3% or even lower. They can’t take that mortgage with them to a replacement home, and current rates (6 to 7 percent) seem really high given what they’re paying now. The failure of boomers to put their large homes on the market has reduced the supply of bigger homes for millennials to purchase. Additionally, millennials who don’t currently own a home wouldn’t have any equity to help them with a down payment on a new home. Affordability remains a big obstacle for millennials, and Redfin estimates that 19% of them don’t even want to purchase a new home. Also, many like to live “where the action is” in center cities, where big homes are scarce. Whether or not they are waiting for the opportunity to buy a large home, millennials with kids already make up the largest age group that is renting homes with three or more bedrooms — 24.8%. Millennials without kids are the next biggest age group renting homes with 3+ bedrooms — 11.6%. The third largest age group renting such homes is us empty-nest baby boomers — 11.4%. Rita and I are renting a 3-bedroom apartment because I need an office and we wanted to have a room for guests. I am on a world cruise until May 6 (see

http://WhereAreJimandRita.substack.com),

but it’s a “working vacation.” I answer my cell phone and return emails, so feel free to reach out to me with your real estate needs and questions!

No Real Estate Brokerage Exposes Your Home to As Many Buyers As Golden Real Estate Does

If you choose one of our broker associates or me to list your home, it will be featured in this weekly ad. But did you know how many newspapers publish this column? It appears every Thursday in all editions of the Denver Post’s YourHub section, plus the following weekly newspapers: Arvada Press, Brighton Standard Blade, Canyon Courier, Castle Pines News-Press, Castle Rock News-Press, Centennial Citizen, Clear Creek Courant, Commerce City Sentinel Express, Denver Herald-Dispatch, Douglas County News Press, Elbert County News, Englewood Herald, Fort Lupton Press, Golden Transcript, Highlands Ranch Herald, Hustler 285, Jeffco Transcript, Littleton Independent, Lone Tree Voice, MetroWest Advertiser, Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel, Parker Chronicle, South Platte Independent & Westminster Window. The total circulation is over 300,000!

Older baby boomers might want to make the same calculation Rita and I made when we sold our big home. We realized that, because of the increase in market value of our home, we could net a substantial amount of cash by selling our home, even after paying capital gains above the $500,000 marital exclusion. Our home’s equity was not paying us any dividends sitting in our house, and it wouldn’t pay us dividends if we sequestered it in, say, a patio home. Thanks to Medicare, we realized that by investing the net proceeds from the sale of our house we would generate a monthly income greater than the rent we would be paying, and that’s without dipping into the Social Security income that we were already earning. The big increase we were seeing in our property tax added to that calculation, as did my hunch that the surge in home values may have peaked and could decline in future years. It was a good time to sell. If you’re a senior citizen sitting on substantial equity, you might reach the same conclusion we did — that selling and renting is, surprisingly, the smart

thing to do. (I never thought, especially as a Realtor, that renting would make more sense, but, at our age, it actually does.) And consider this: If you sell your home and don’t buy another one, the “lock-in effect” of your current low-rate mortgage no longer applies.

Beware of Cloned Realtor Voices

I Recommend Subscribing to Big Pivots

This & That: Smaller Topics Not Worth Full Articles The Colorado Association of Realtors recently warned that a new use of artificial intelligence involves cloning the voices of trusted real estate professionals to scam them and their clients. One CAR member had this done. CAR made these suggestions for staying safe: Intercept Suspicious Calls: Be cautious of robocalls that pressure you to act immediately, particularly from unknown numbers. Confirm Identities: If you receive a robocall or suspicious call claiming to be someone you know, hang up. Contact that person directly using a number you trust to verify the call. Limit Public Information: Consider the personal information you share online. Scammers can use this to tailor attacks like robocalls. Report and Block: If you receive a robocall that seems like a scam, report it to the authorities. You can also block the number to prevent future calls.

Big Pivots® is a Colorado-based nonprofit. It aims to document, understand, and educate about the changes made necessary by climate change. Those changes include the energy, water, and other areas of urgent attention in the 21st century and beyond. Subscribe free at www.BigPivots.com. The latest bi-monthly issue (#81) included a dozen topics on 23 printable letter-size pages. Editor Allen Best does an incredible job providing statewide information that matters.

EVs Could Drive Down Electric Costs

On my posting of this article online at RealEstateToday.substack.com, there is a link to a report about several studies which conclude that EVs will actually contribute to more efficient utilization of the electric grid and thereby drive down electric costs for all consumers. One reason is that most EV charging is done overnight, creating a revenue stream for utilities during hours of low electric demand.

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401 Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727 CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855 DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835 GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922 AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071 KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428

“Concentrate on giving and the getting will take care of itself.” —Anonymous

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Teen gets six years for school threats

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William ‘Lily’ Whitworth must spend three years on parole after release BY STAFF REPORT

William “Lily” Whitworth, 19, was sentenced on Jan. 30 to six years in the Colorado Department of Corrections in connection with threats to shoot up schools and churches in Colorado Springs. The rural Elbert County teen had faced a maximum possible sentence of 16 years. Whitworth was mostly referred to with feminine pronouns and the name “Lily” in the sentencing hearing, which began on Jan. 19 and was continued to Jan. 30. Whitworth was arrested on March 31, 2023 at home a few miles south of Kiowa after a sibling called police and said Whitworth had made threats to shoot up a school. In November, Whitworth pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, and two charges of attempt to commit first-degree murder were dropped. Elbert County District Court Judge Theresa Slade gave Whitworth credit for 306 days spent in jail awaiting sentencing, and imposed a manda-

William “Lily” Whitworth received a six-year prison sentence. on Jan. 30. PHOTO PROVIDED BY 18TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

tory three-year term of probation after Whitworth’s release from prison. Whitworth’s defense requested a sentence that would allow a move to Texas without jail time, while the prosecution requested a long prison term. An arrest affidavit describes a drunken Whitworth last March telling Elbert County sheriff ’s personnel of plans to carry out a shooting, with Timberview Middle School described as a main target. Whitworth allegedly showed sheriff ’s personnel a manifesto and a list of people to be killed.

Forest Service seeking comments on old-growth logging restrictions BY ERIC GALATAS PUBLIC NEWS SERVIC

The timber industry is pushing back against the Biden administration’s proposal to limit commercial logging in the nation’s last oldgrowth forests. The move announced last month would put restrictions on harvesting within a small fraction of lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Josh Hicks, conservation director for The Wilderness Society, sees the proposal as an important step to conserve the remaining 8% of oldgrowth forests so they can do what they do best: store carbon and stabilize ecosystems. “After centuries of logging, and now more recently climate-driven impacts from severe wildfire and

drought, there’s not a lot of old growth left in the country or in Colorado,” Hicks pointed out. “It’s just a fraction of what it used to be.” Forests absorb carbon pollution directly from the air, and are seen as an important tool for mitigating climate change. But industry groups worry the proposal will prompt lawsuits aiming to block logging projects, including those seen as necessary to reduce the scale of wildfires. Some environmental groups say protections should be extended to mature forests currently managed for timber production. Hicks acknowledged the new proposal, which is open to public comment through Feb. 2, will need industry to help clear out heavy SEE LOGGING, P7

February 8, 2024

Holiday office closure Douglas County offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. Many services are available at DoItOnlineDouglas.com

Need help with home heating costs?

This photo shows Elizabeth in the mid-20th century.

Eligible low-income households in Douglas County may apply for energy assistance through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). For more information, to apply online or to find answers to your questions, please visit douglas.co.us and search LEAP.

Snow removal is a shared responsibility! Learn more at douglas.co.us/snow

The Russell Gates Mercantile Co. building in Elizabeth is shown around 1894. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ELBERT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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Events to mark Elbert County’s 150th

on en ng ps wjss.BY NICKY QUINBY aySPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA to ed It’s no wonder settlers moved to the land that became Elbert Counwty. Sometimes a place full of conictradictions, Elbert County has its edown unique beauty and ruggedvyness. Prickly pear and barrel cactus thrive next to pine trees and wild-

Do you have one hour to spare each week? Consider giving that time to change the life of an older adult by volunteering with Aging Resources. You can help with transportation, go grocery shopping or provide company for older adults. For more information, visit agingresourcesdougco.org

owers. The people are fiercely inFirst is Feb. 13 with more fldependent but also try to look out for their neighbors. Elbert County coming through September is known for farming, ranching and

rural traditions, but is also just a short drive away from Denver and Colorado Springs. Elbert County was established on Feb. 13, 1874, the last year of its namesake Samuel Elbert’s governorship. This year marks Elbert County’s 150th anniversary, or sesquicentennial. A 150th Anniversary SEE HISTORY, P6

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HISTORY

Elbert County has to offer. People will be able to pick up their “train” ticket and a tote bag at the open house. The ticket can be used for free admission to all fairs, festivals, museums and libraries listed on the ticket itself. At county events such as Elizabash, Elbert Days and Simla Days, community members can get the tickets stamped. After getting at least seven stamps, tickets can be brought to the free 150th Anniversary Old West Celebration on Sept. 21 at the Elbert County Fairgrounds in Kiowa. Those tickets will be entered into a drawing for a night for two at a bed and breakfast, dinner for two at a restaurant, or other prizes (B&B and restaurant yet to be announced). Two other main events are planned for later this year. On July 27 there will be a Centennial

FROM PAGE 5

Committee, including the Elbert County Historical Society & Museum, was formed to plan celebratory events throughout the year. Elbert County Finance Manager Tiffany Hermes said “the commissioners will be going to the state Capitol to attend a Joint Resolution” the morning of Feb. 13. Later that same day, the county host a 150th Anniversary Open House and a historic presentation at the Elbert County Administration Building at 215 Comanche St. in Kiowa. Feb. 13 is also the kickoff day for the “Anniversary Ticket” experience, a nod to the county’s rich railroad history. The 150th Anniversary Ticket program encourages residents to explore all that

This photo shows Elizabeth in the late 1800s.

COURTESY OF THE ELBERT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

SEE HISTORY, P7

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HISTORY FROM PAGE 6

Farms & Ranches Banquet at the Elbert County Fairgrounds, which is a ticketed event. On Sept. 21 will be the free 150th Anniversary Old West Celebration at the fairgrounds. The Elbert County Historical Society was formed in the summer of 1956. In the early 1990s, the group acquired the original

LOGGING FROM PAGE 4

fuel loads which can lead to bigger and more powerful wildfires. But he noted economics will no longer be the driving factor in some forest management decisions. Managers

Kiowa High School building and opened in 1993. Elbert County Historical Society & Museum’s goals are to expand, maintain the museum and exhibits, increase marketing, and develop educational opportunities. Their website is elbertcountymuseum.org. For more information about 150th Anniversary festivities, visit elbertcounty-co.gov and click on the 150th Anniversary icon, which as of press time only noted that information would be coming soon. would prioritize ecological concerns involving old growth conservation. “The younger trees that come out of the forest to reduce the fuel loads, the companies that pick up these contracts can still find economic value for this,” Hicks contended. “This is not to remove industry, and in fact I feel like industry is part of the solution here.”

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This 1885 photo of Elizabeth was taken five years before the town’s incorporation. COURTESY OF THE ELBERT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Old-growth forests are home to an abundance of diverse plant and animal species, and Hicks argued keeping the ecosystems intact can help preserve biodiversity as the fallout from climate change takes hold. He added the new policy would not only conserve the last stands of old growth, it will also foster the creation of more old-growth forests for future

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generations. “We are facing an extinction crisis,” Hicks stressed. “Given that these old-growth forests are more resilient to these climate stressors, they will become increasingly important for the survival of many species. “ This story comes via The Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member.

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WATER A publication of

750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: ElbertCountyNews.net To subscribe call 303-566-4100

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

SCOTT GILBERT Editor sgilbert@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Elbert County News. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone. Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com Deadline Tues. for the following week’s paper.

ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100) A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Elbert County News, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

Ways to extend aquifer life

FROM PAGE 1

been a huge concern for residents. One Elbert County resident, CJ Patton, said she came because she has “concern of all the developments coming in and them not reusing the water.” The open house began with a presentation. Forsgren Associates Vice President and Division Manager Will Koger started off the open house by discussing the geology of the Denver Basin Aquifer. Elbert County’s 2018 Strategic Plan stipulates that all future development in the county must be based on access to water from the Denver Basin Aquifer system. Koger said people often talk about the Denver Basin as a huge lake but this is not accurate. The Denver Basin is full of sand and gravel that has to be sifted out. It’s also made up of four different aquifer systems (more, if you count the upper and lower portions of the Arapahoe and Dawson aquifers separately) that do not connect. Colorado Division of Water Resources further explains that between each aquifer “there is a confining layer that isolates the individual aquifers from each other. Because of the nature of the confining layers and because of the limited connection between these aquifers and surface water, the groundwater in the aquifers is not renewable.” Koger acknowledged that there’s “some” recharge that occurs from surface water. Consultant answers questions

Bill Fronczak, the vice president of risk management and commercial water practice lead at LRE Water, answered a few questions that came up in the community survey. LRE Water is one of the consultants collaborating with Forsgren Associates to put together the Water Master Plan. Fronczak said Colorado groundwater is allocated and managed by the state of Colorado. Entities such as the Colorado Groundwater Commission, Colorado Water Court and the Colorado Division of Water Resources all work to create rules governing water usage. Colorado tried to make things simple by instituting restrictions like the 100year rule. The state defines the minimum useful life of an aquifer as 100 years and, to achieve that life, restricts annual withdrawals. This is determined by multiplying the land area by the estimated water volume in each aquifer and its ability to release water (specific yield). The Department of Water Resources (DWR) allocates the withdrawal over 100 years. In other words, 1%

Will Koger from Forsgren Associates speaks to a group at one of the information stations at a Jan. 24 gathering on water issues at the PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY Elbert County Fairgrounds.

of the volume can be withdrawn each year. Elbert County has adopted a more stringent 300-year rule to reduce the risk that the groundwater will be insufficient for development. The County reduces the rate of withdrawal to onethird the amount typically authorized by DWR. Fronczak also explained how neighboring wells affect one another. Property owners with individual wells wonder if new developments will affect their wells. There are more than 10,000 wells in Elbert County and about 8,000 of those are private. The impact to private wells varies depending on the aquifer. Fronczak said if wells are separated by 600 feet or more, there’s a presumption of non-interference or non-injury, or no well-to-well interference. “You have to put on top of that, that there are thousands of people on the Denver Basin, from Greeley to Colorado Springs to Limon to the Front Range, that are pumping water and that’s all reducing … the piezometric head. That’s not touching the groundwater itself in the actual aquifer, it is touching the piezometric head, the pressure,” he explained. Community members also expressed fear of existing wells running dry. Fronczak said he has never seen a Denver Basin well run dry but there can be other issues. For example, the well bore can be too high or the hydrostatic pressure starts to go down. These are examples of the pump going dry, rather than the well itself. In these situations, solutions could include dropping the pump lower or drilling the well deeper. Fronczak said this might be because many old drillers stopped drilling as soon as they saw water and completed the well, rather than going any deeper.

Pierce Powers, from Forsgren Associates, spoke about options to extend the life of the Denver Basin, improve water efficiency and promote reuse. Powers started off by saying that in the last 25 years on the Front Range, we’ve seen a 25% reduction of water usage. This has been achieved through public awareness, charging high water users more, implementing leak detection programs, increasing xeriscaping and encouraging people to update to newer and more efficient plumbing fixtures. Another option Powers discussed was aquifer storage and recovery. Available water (from flooding, for example) is treated to drinking water standards and then pumped back into the ground and stored to use in case of a drought. To do this, property is needed from the Department of Water Resources and water rights are required. Since surface water in Elbert water is allocated, the only time water could be collected is during “free river” conditions. Free river conditions occur when there is “more water than all perfected water rights on a river system, enabling any water user, with or without water rights, to use water from that waterway.” After the presentation from the consultants involved in the project, attendees were invited to visit stations to learn more about specific aspects of the study. One of the stations displayed a map of U.S. Geological Survey well-monitors in Elbert County. Forsgren Associates used USGS well-monitoring reports to estimate the amount of Denver Basin groundwater in storage for the 2018 Elbert County Rural Water Study. They will use USGS data collected since 2018 to determine how changes in water levels affect the overall estimate of Denver Basin groundwater in storage. They added that this data “will also be used to assess areas of the county where significant declines are noted, what options may be available to individual land owners, and what the county may consider in evaluating water supply for new development in such areas.” Koger said the team will be working on what supplies and demands are through 2050 as well as looking at water efficiencies and policy recommendations. As they finalize the report, hopefully by this summer, Forsgren asked that people stay engaged. “We’ll keep you informed, let you know about public meetings that are coming about to adopt the Water Master Plan when the time comes,” Koger said. For a copy of the presentation, email CDS@elbertcounty-co.gov.

Parker Chronicle 9

February 8, 2024

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Mailer credits commissioners for cut in property tax rate BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It’s that time of year. Property tax bills will arrive in the mail in early February. But Douglas County homeowners might find something extra in their mailboxes. The county is sending out postcards calling attention to the county commissioners’ move to cut the property tax rate for this year. The three elected leaders “will be returning a historic $37.8 million in tax relief to all Douglas County property owners without a reduction in County

services,” the postcard claims. It also seeks to convey a not-so-obvious truth about paying property taxes: Even though the county sends the bill, not all the money goes to county government. Officials wanted homeowners to know where else their money goes — including to the school district, firefighting districts and other types of local government agencies that may have the option to adjust their own tax rates. The effort comes amid a steep spike in property taxes and contains a more overt political message.

A screenshot of the postcard Douglas County is sending property owners, expected SCREENSHOT OF PDF FROM DOUGLAS COUNTY to arrive in early February.

“Property tax relief and reform is needed in Colorado. Join us. Stay involved. The fight is not over,” the postcard reads. The county’s three elected commissioners — Republicans Abe Laydon, George Teal and Lora Thomas — signed it. It also has a photo of the group. The postcard costs the county about $65,000 to print and mail to homeowners. It comes in a political climate where in recent years Gov. Jared Polis and former President Donald Trump received criticism for placing their names alongside checks the government sent to residents — though unlike in those situations, the commissioners were directly responsible for approving the relief. The tax cut the Douglas County postcard refers to will arrive as a refund check in coming months. And Teal, chairman of the commissioners, is one of the officials whose name will be on the checks. Teal and Thomas are running in elections this year. Teal is campaigning to keep his seat as commissioner and Thomas wants to represent Highlands Ranch in the state Capitol. The move to make the tax relief deci-

sion more visible strikes state Rep. Bob Marshall, a Democrat and Thomas’ opponent, as running counter to a conservative reputation. He criticized the expense of the mailers. “Using $65,000 of taxpayer money for the sole purpose to call attention to yourself in an election year is certainly not a wise use of public funds,” Marshall said. “And it is diametrically opposed to any claim to good governance or fiscal conservatism.” Teal maintains the move wasn’t political. “I was just focused on doing all we could to (provide) the most effective tax relief,” Teal said. ‘It’s not ours’

A county spokesperson contends the mailer is merely an extension of a monthslong effort — in town hall meetings, videos and public statements — to educate people about the property tax process and finding relief. It’s also an attempt to put things into perspective for upset residents who see taxes as too high, according to Wendy Holmes, county spokesperson. “The calls come in to the commisSEE MAILER, P19

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February 8, 2024F

The joy of serving others

he business trip was already long and then further elongated and somewhat chaotic because of the weather that had descended upon the country. Paul was left stranded in the city he was visiting for business as all the flights had been canceled and the best they could do was get him out four days later. The drive from where he was to where he lived was 20 hours, and although it would be cold and a little snowy as most of the storm had already moved eastward, he decided to keep his rental car and make the drive home. Because of the weather and road conditions, the drive took longer than he had thought, forcing him to stay overnight in a hotel. As he resumed the drive, it was not getting much better. After 28 hours he finally arrived at the airport where he had left his car. He dropped off the rental car and took the shuttle back to the terminal parking where he could pick up his own car and get on the final leg of the journey toward home. Worn out, he began the 35-minute drive home.

About halfway home Paul passed an older woman on the side of the road with a flat tire. He drove by, but within 10 seconds he felt the urge to turn around and help. He pulled up behind her car and she greeted him with a warm hello. Turns Michael Norton out she didn’t have a cell phone and no one else had stopped by yet. It was freezing, he was still in his business attire, and he asked her if she had a spare tire. She opened the trunk and indeed there was a spare. He located the jack, crawled under the car, setting the jack in place, and within 10 minutes he had successfully changed her tire. She offered him a few dollars, but he wouldn’t accept it, he wished her well and got back on his way. Turns out that it was also Paul’s birthday and his family had been waiting to celebrate it with him. He was more than a day late, he was ex-

WINNING WORDS

hausted, a little wet and dirty from changing that tire in the slushy snow, and he came to tears at the sight of his family around the kitchen table with gifts, a cold beer, and big smiles and hugs waiting for him. When they looked at him and noticed his condition they asked what had happened to him and his clothes. When he finished telling his family the story, he shared with me that he felt like the greatest birthday gift he had been given was that God had placed him exactly where he was supposed to be on that road, at that time, to help that woman. He also shared that he had never experienced such joy as being given the opportunity to serve another human being that way. He had volunteered often, helped out friends and family, but the experience and feeling of helping a total stranger in a time of need created a sense of joy that he will never forget. How many times have we driven by someone stuck on the side of the road? Even if we didn’t feel like we had the skills or tools to help, did we pull over and call to let the police

know there was someone stuck on the highway? In the current state of the world that we live in, it is so easy for us to only think about others serving us, how can they take care of us better, how can they give us white-glove service. And if we do not receive it, we can even become indignant. When Paul shared his story with me, I could hear it in his words, it was true joy found in serving others. There is that saying that it is better to give than to receive, have you considered what it might feel like to serve others, especially a complete and total stranger? If you have, did the feeling of joy enter your mind? I would love to hear your story or other stories like this one at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can find the joy in serving others, it really will be a better than good life. Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

A new look at a new year

hat a difference a year makes! While 2022 was horrible for many investors, 2023 showed a considerable rebound for equity asset classes. Investors who stayed focused on their goals and strategy should have been rewarded. Those who sold out and did not buy back in before the recovery will be hard pressed to find a reasonable return. The adage “It’s about time in the market, not timing the market” certainly held true this past year. Last year was all about the Federal Reserve, and there will be a lot to learn from the Fed in 2024 as well, but rapidly rising interest rates along with the threat of recession created a choppy but positive market in 2023. Now for 2024, there are several potential outcomes in the tea

leaves but more good news than bad, according to Jeff Krumpelman, CFA.1 He recommends looking at the facts, not the headlines. The key metrics of inflation trends, revenues, earnings, and interest rates support Patricia Kummer positive returns and are trending in the right direction. However, it is important to avoid whiplash when there is shortterm volatility. Economic growth is expected to slow as inflation comes down. If the Fed hits its target, then watch for it to pivot from tightening to easing. The consumer continues to spend and will likely increase purchases

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

as inflation comes down a bit.2 There are always potential risks, such as this being an election year. There is still a shadow of a possibility of a recession, but that will likely trigger the Fed to cut rates sooner if it does materialize. Lower interest rates should help bond prices recover and equities are expected to be favorable. Especially for those stocks that remain undervalued. I suspect that this will be a pivotable year for inflation to calm, interest rates to reverse, and recession worries to abate. Therefore, the investor can expect continued volatility but could be rewarded for creating and sticking to a strategy that matches the time frame of your goals. Designing custom portfolios this year will be crucial for investors, especially if you were able to tax-loss

harvest last year. You have a clean slate to begin a new strategy in the new year that fits with your financial plan. Don’t wait to get in front of your advisor. Plan well while the year is young. Fourth-quarter earnings season is here, and many yearend numbers and current-year forecasts will hit the charts. It is best to be prepared when this information becomes available and provides potential opportunities. 1 Jeff Krumpelman is chief investment strategist and head of equities at Mariner Wealth Advisors 2 JP Morgan 2024 Outlook Patricia Kummer has been a Certified Financial Planner professional and a fiduciary for over 37 years and is managing director for Mariner Wealth Advisors, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser.

February 8, 2024

OBITUARIES

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Check out Castle Rock Band

Thank you for Tayler Shaw’s article about metro-area community orchestras in your Jan. 25 edition. It’s good to be reminded of the wonderful cultural resources that bring our communities together, and the enthusiastic volunteers who keep local arts organizations thriving. As the article indicates, there are few experiences more rewarding than being part of a musical ensemble. Opportunities for amateur musicians to participate are plentiful in the metro area. Brass, woodwind, and percussion players who are hesitant to audition may be interested to know that the Castle Rock Band welcomes all players — no auditions required. 2024 rehearsals begin in March. Learn more at castlerockband.org or facebook.com/CastleRockTownBand. Erica Stull, Parker More Teal divisiveness

A smidgen of misdirection with DougCo Commissioner George Teal’s use of the BoCC pulpit to pull religion into his campaign for the November 2024 election. After all, Teal’s political ploy to plaque “In God We Trust” really says, “Look at me! Another opportunity to drive divisiveness! Maybe I’ll get a few libs along the way! Maybe a few more will vote for me.” Yes, in keeping with his longstanding political style, Teal manages to change the context, coating his religion with attention-grabbing divisiveness. But Teal’s real politics can’t fit on a wall plaque, and that’s too bad for George and the BoCC. You see, they don’t want us to be sidetracked by the realization Douglas County’s budget is increasing by 11.3% ($27.1m) this year. They don’t want us to recall the tens-of-thousands they have spent on their internal jousting. They don’t want us to pay attention to the fact that most county citizen committees are packed with white men over the age of 50, with longstanding Republican Party patronage. Just take a peek at the new Water Commission. Back to the plaque. When Teal states, “I think the people of Douglas County do believe,” he’s probably alluding to people like those on county committees. Lloyd Guthrie, Roxborough Park

Make the choice for good

We are part of something larger than ourselves. Each of our individual actions affect those around us and, ultimately, ripple out to all the people. We have a responsibility to pave a good path for future generations, to honor our ancestors, to practice reciprocity, and to understand the ripple effect our behavior has on the world. Can collective well-being be our intention? Health of the self contributes to the health of the whole. It would shift our communities if we could embrace the desire to nurture our collective healing and growth through gracefilled, non-judgmental noticing and self-love. It’s a practice and it can be hard and it’s not usually our default. Your wellness supports my wellness because we are connected. Everyone has a story and everyone we meet has something to teach us if we are open to learning. What if we centered the greatest good, doing no harm, shifting our responsibility to being well not just for ourselves but for our community? This requires patience and repetition. I like the idea of celebrating healing and growth and celebrating each other’s gifts with the collective greatest good in mind. If we are willing to have a growth mindset, willing to heal, willing to be uncomfortable, then the next generations will benefit from the work we do for the collective good. Your healing and my healing create ripples. Our wellness affects the health of the world. Becca Jay, Roxborough Wall collapse shows town problems

It was extremely difficult to see the wall on Scileppi’s, at the Old Stone Church, ruined by excavating next to old footings. Where were the building inspectors? Why wasn’t it shored? The constant building in downtown shows a lack of respect for the quality of life that many residents moved here for. I left an email earlier questioning why the Castle Rock Town Council will build on every square inch of Castle Rock, while not protecting old treasures such as the Old Stone Church, which was built 136 years ago. SEE LETTERS, P18

BURNHAM

Vickie (Knobbe) Burnham

November 28, 1951 - January 25, 2024

Vickie Burnham, age 72, of Parker, CO, passed away on Thursday, January 25, 2024. She was born on November 28, 1951 in Auburn, Iowa, the daughter of Dorothy (Blum) and Robert Knobbe. She is survived by her husband, Jeff Burnham, of Parker, CO; son, Eric (Cara) Burnham and grandson, Jack Burnham of Seguin, TX; daughter, Rachel Burnham of Greenwood Village, CO; brother, Bill (Lori) Knobbe of Carroll, IA; sister, Jolene (Tom) Stark of Carroll, IA; brother, Kenny (Janice) Knobbe of Auburn, IA; sister, Karen (Gary) Heisterkamp of Arlington, TX. Vickie attended and graduated from St. Bernard High School in Breda, IA. She attended Iowa State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Vickie met her future husband at Iowa State University and they married in 1976. The couple moved to Des Moines, IA where both children, Eric and Rachel, were

born. In 1987 the family moved to Parker, CO where Vickie developed the Marketing plan for her husband’s then newly formed Architectural Practice. Vickie loved the Catholic Church, cooking, bird watching, plants and flowers, Sudoku and other games, and the color blue. Vickie was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Dorothy Knobbe. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 am, Friday, February 9, 2024 at Ave Maria Catholic Church, 9056 E Parker Rd, Parker, CO 80138. Rosary will be held thirty minutes prior, from 11:00-11:30 am at the church. Visitation will be held from 2:00-4:00 pm, Thursday, February 8, 2024 at Ponderosa Valley Funeral Services, 10470 S Progress Way, Parker, CO, with prayer services starting at 3:00 pm. Inurnment will follow in Olinger Chapel Hill Cemetery, 6601 S Colorado Blvd, Centennial, CO 80121.

In Loving Memory Place an Obituary for Your Loved One.

303-566-4100 obituaries@coloradocommunitymedia.com Self placement available online at coloradocommunitymedia.com/parker-chronicle coloradocommunitymedia.com/elbert-county-news

February 8, 2024F

Ryane Rose, an experienced artist and owner of the Wolf Den Custom Tattoo Shop, laughs with a client in their PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY shop located at 6640 E. Colfax Ave.

How local shops are shifting the culture in the Denver-area tattoo scene BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

rmed with steady hands and lamps strapped to their craniums, many female, non-binary and queer tattoo artists utilize their passion, personalities and perseverance to bring art to life, all the while shifting the culture of the Denver-area tattoo scene. ‘If you build it, they will come’

Owner of the Wolf Den Custom Tattoo Studio Ryane Rose said they built their shop, located at 6640 E Colfax Ave. in Denver, about seven years ago. “It kind of came about by working at shop after shop that just kind of created an environment that didn’t feel as welcoming by default,” Rose said. Rose said the culture was “masculine-driven” which isn’t a bad thing, but can leave “little room for other people to be expressive or exist.”

“So I think that’s where the toxic part of the culture came in. It was more suffocating than inviting,” Rose said. They said they kept trying to find a studio that would support a welcoming and accepting mentality but couldn’t. Thus the Wolf Den was born. The 37-year-old thought it would be difficult to find a complete staff of queer, non-binary or female tattoo artists. However, “if you build it they will come right,” Rose said. “This entire seven years my inbox has been flooded with women and non-binary humans that have constantly reached out to work here with the same exact story,” Rose said. The wolf pack

One woman was artist Meghan Donohue, who works with Rose as their apprentice. Originally from Massachusetts, Donohue moved to Denver about a year and a half ago to

become a tattoo artist. She said she found the Wolf Den online. Donohue’s favorite aspect of the Den is the experience it provides both artists and clients. “It’s a place where we all really can emphasize our own strengths,” Donohue said. “The artists that work here all share a common strength of people skills which is something a lot of tattoo artists lack in the industry.” The 25-year-old said she is still determining her style as a tattoo artist but she is versatile in that she does illustrative, realistic and fine line pieces. Rose describes their style as a wide range because they love creating watercolor, fine line, geometric and abstract pieces. They also love the one-to-one connection with their clients. “You get to take this concept that represents something that they value and then you get to give it a heartbeat collectively,” Rose said. SEE SHIFTING CULTURE, P15

February 8, 2024

SHIFTING CULTURE FROM PAGE 14

For Rose, the best aspect of the Wolf Den is the energy they’ve curated with their staff. “We all genuinely care about each other and that’s a hard one in shops too because the culture really does drive in ‘You need to care for yourself,”’ Rose said. “If another artist takes art from you they’re taking food from you essentially.” The name for their tattoo shop was inspired by an animal where females are the alphas and the group acts as a family. “I wanted a wolf pack,” Rose said. “I wanted people who took care of each other. We’re all stronger together and we can all eat together.” Macy Zerbe, 26, became a member of the pack in June 2023 and they said they love the “chill vibe” at the Den. “I feel everybody is pretty about community and making a welcoming space that tattoo shops don’t always have,” Zerbe said. Rose runs their business with their wife Jess Rose, who handles the day-to-day operation of the shop and elevates the business. “When you’re in love and that person is your partner and your soul mate they’re going to enrich your life in every single aspect,” Rose said. “So the Den is no exception. She brings a perspective from a stylistic point of view.” Jess is a leather artist and along with her own business, she said her role in the pack is the “lady behind the scenes making things happen.” “When I met Ryane, I saw their vision and I knew where they wanted to take it,” Jess said. “I definitely feel like I am always here to see those visions through.” Jess said there are various ways the Wolf Den is shifting the industry from its representation to its atmosphere and products. “Already (Ryane was) changing the industry by creating a space where there was an owner that was far different than a heterosexual white male owning a shop,” Jess said. Mele Lucero is another member and tattoo artist in the pack and she said she loves making “weird trippy” pieces. Lucero said the Den is unique in that she is supported as a female tattoo artist by her peers and mentors. “They just want you to grow,” Lucero said. “I felt like with my old (shop) it was like a debt to be owed to them and then coming to the Wolf Den they just continue to push me and grow my style and (to) just be me.” Jess said the Den provides eco-friendly products which isn’t common in other shops. Ryane said the shop is 90% plastic-free, but there’s a goal to up that another 5%. Going forward, Rose said they hope to both maintain the stability of the Den and continue to grow its presence.

Meghan Donohue, a 25-year-old apprentice at the Wolf Den Custom Tattoo Shop, works on her latest creation.

Bird’s Nest

Striving to also provide a different atmosphere for their clients and fellow creators is tattoo artist Lora Bird. Bird created the Nest Art Collective, located at 7460 W 38th Ave. in Wheat Ridge, which is a space for queer, femme, nonbinary or neurodivergent artists and clients alike. “I would describe it as a haven for people who need a little bit more accommodation during their appointment,” Bird said. “We do our best to make sure everybody has the right lighting, the right sound level, the right privacy to feel as comfortable as possible during a pretty uncomfortable procedure.” SEE SHIFTING CULTURE, P16

Mele Lucero sits at her station in the Wolf Den Custom Tattoo Shop where she creates “weird PHOTOS BY ELISABETH SLAY trippy tattoos” for clients.

February 8, 2024Fe

SHIFTING CULTURE FROM PAGE 15

Bird was searching for a space that would support them as an artist and accommodate their needs as a neurodivergent person. “The shop that I learned in was a very open space, which there is nothing wrong with that and some people thrive in that environment, but with me having ADHD and newly diagnosed autism, it ended up being a little bit harder for me to focus on the art and my client,” Bird said. The tattoo artist of six years said the chaos of the shop was overwhelming. “I wanted to work in a space where I was able to control the environment a little more and after searching around through some studios and keeping my eyes peeled for someplace I wanted to work I realized that doesn’t really exist,” Bird said. Therefore, Bird built the Nest from the ground up. Bird was inspired to model their shop after a “salon suite” which they worked in for about a year. Bird explained a salon suite is a rented amount of space with pods of individual businesses such as a hair salon, a nail salon and makeup artist. The Nest opened its doors in 2021 and Bird said at the moment, the shop is full of artists who all have their own space. Additionally, Bird said while artists technically work for them, the artists are in charge of their own booking, scheduling, pricing and setting up their rooms. “They are all individual business owners and they really do find and work with people that want to work with them which is just such a wonderful thing in tattooing,” Bird said. “They curate the space to be comfortable for them and by proxy it’s comfortable for their clients.” Izzy Bump, creator of large colorful botanical tat-

Meghan Donohue works on a flower back tattoo for one of her clients. The 25-year-old is completing an apprenticeship at the Wolf Den Custom Tattoo Shop. PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY

toos, said she enjoys being in control of her own business and ethical choices. The artist said the best aspect of the Nest is that it’s a supportive space where the artists care about their work, each other and clients. “We all have more than enough clients to go around and because we’re not competing with each other and because we all do care about each other and our community there’s a lot of helping each other and lifting each other up,” Bump said. Bird describes their art style as illustrative woodcut which is similar to “old medieval etchings.” Bird said they feel like they’re flipping the “traditional idea of tattooing” with the Nest and shifting the industry from sole artist control to clientfriendly. Tattoo artist and 29-year-old Mikayla Riley said there are so many aspects that she loves about the

Nest, the biggest being the sense of community. “I think it’s very unique in that tattooing, like so many industries, is traditionally so male-dominated and lots of people have not been welcomed in this industry in the past, and here we’re so far in the opposite direction,” Riley said. “Anyone is welcome here to get a tattoo.” Bird said all 13 people in the Nest “gel well” together regardless of their different personalities and styles. “The overarching take here is in my mind this newer generation of tattoo artists is just more kind,” Bird said. Going forward, Bird hopes to “ride out this thing” they built and just see what happens next. “It really is currently my life’s work and I would rather just maybe not push for more and just enjoy what I have,” Bird said.

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LETTERS FROM PAGE 13

Massive apartments are being built on existing streets such as Wilcox and Jerry, with very little upgrades in infrastructure. Water is such a concern that council will approve new developments with extreme restrictions for watering, yet every new development is approved. Even by the administration’s own admission there is already almost a billion dollars worth of bonds due for different developments with this town. Parking is a major concern, and is projected to only get worse. Finally, the once beautiful town was highly rated by many publications, such as US News, Forbes, and Money magazine. Currently only livability.com rates it at #94. Is it correct that the Design Review Board approves downtown projects, while three of the seven members don’t actually reside in Castle Rock? The Castle Rock Council, the Plan-

February 8, 2024Fe ning Commission, and the Design Review Board, and the administration need to be much more responsive to citizens’ concerns. Dave Martin, Castle Rock Do your part for art

I greatly enjoyed “Bringing New Life To Music” published on January 25, 2024 that highlighted orchestras in Jefferson County, Littleton and Lone Tree. These communities and others in metro Denver are truly blessed with numerous opportunities to participate in and attend performing arts groups. I have sung with the Cherry Creek Chorale for over 40 years for the same reasons that were named by instrumentalists in the Jan. 25th article. The tag line for this volunteer choir is “Creating Community, Artistry and Excellence.” Communities thrive when arts are available. I encourage all residents to attend and support the arts groups in and around their areas. Also, let’s continue to support the arts in our schools so that they flour-

ish far into the future. Leslie Stevenson, Highlands Ranch Support Marissa Harmon

Marissa Harmon is the positive choice for mayor of Lone Tree. Your vote by May 7, 2024, is crucial for Lone Tree’s future. A vote for Marissa guarantees a leader who will continue to make the community proud, foster authentic relationships, and effectively represent Lone Tree. Safety is a top priority, evident in her collaboration with the Lone Tree Police Department and participation in the Lone Tree Citizens Police Academy and Citizens Police Advisory Committee. Marissa’s self-motivation and ability to exceed expectations shine through various roles, such as being a mom, a successful Lone Tree small business owner, and a current Lone Tree City Council member. She has the experience necessary to lead Lone Tree into the future. She excels in active listening, public speaking, and effective leadership. Whether involved in her children’s

school, community outreach, or her past chair role on the Lone Tree Planning Commission, Marissa consistently displays the right energy for the job. Your vote for Marissa for mayor ensures someone with un-sio wavering dedication to the city ofco Lone Tree will be in this role at theyo right time. Marissa is a confidentou leader who tackles challenges head-re on and is consistently solutions-ori-m ot ented. Marissa was vital in passing the short term rentals ordinance andsit successfully co-chaired the 2E bal-offi lot measure, showcasing her orga-th nizational skills and commitment tose community outreach. She is dedicat-ag ed to revitalizing the Entertainment District and ensuring Lone Tree re-th tains its status as the most business-m friendly city for all businesses and restaurants, demonstrating a strong commitment to economic growth and success. Vote Marissa for mayor, the positive choice for Lone Tree. Charlie Johnson, Lone Tree

BEAT THE RUSH! Place Your Classified Ad Early!

February 8, 2024

MAILER FROM PAGE 10

sioners: ‘How can you do this? How could you do this to us? Why would you need this much money?’ It’s not ours. We don’t keep it,” Holmes said, referring to the process of distributing much of the property tax revenue to other agencies. The mailer directs people to the website for the county’s property valuation office — douglas.co.us/assessor — so they can learn which local agencies serve their homes and what percentage of their taxes the county keeps. Asked about the cost, Holmes said the $64,700 paid for about 120,000 mailers, working out to pennies apiece. “Do we think it’s worth 54 cents a

household to help people understand where their money goes and how the county is trying to help them mitigate the impact of the (tax increase)?” Holmes said. “Yes, we do.” ‘It’s their money’

Another wrinkle in the tax relief process in Douglas County is the commissioners’ decision to collect the full tax owed and then issue a refund check in the coming months rather than reducing the tax bills up front. Though it wasn’t his call, Toby Damisch, who heads the county’s property valuation office, supported the refund check approach. “With the credit (approach), very few people knew about it and even fewer understood it. And that had been done by this board for years,” said Damisch, the county assessor, referring to prior

Douglas tax relief. “With the rebate (check), everyone knows exactly what was done, how much and when.” Teal, the commissioner, said given the size of the property tax increase this year, it’s important to “put the taxpayer in charge of the tax relief with a tax refund.” “That way they could decide for themselves how to apply it,” Teal said. “People like me will pay down their escrow. Others may do something else. That’s their choice. It was important to me to give them that choice. It’s their money.” County officials worried that the public would be less aware of the tax relief if it was applied to tax bills as a credit. Asked whose name will be on the refund checks, county officials said in a statement: “Per statute 30-25-110, the

Board Chair (George Teal) and County Clerk and Recorder (Sheri Davis) sign checks issued by the County.” Douglas County’s refund will send residential property owners $190 back on average. Thomas objected to the idea that the postcard is politically motivated. “Not everyone reads (the) paper, engages in our town halls or listens to the radio or watches TV, but everyone gets mail in their mailbox,” Thomas said. “This is the last-ditch effort by our commissioners … to reach our taxpayers about what’s being done on this issue.” For a look at how the 2023 property values and state and local tax relief affected this year’s tax bills compared to last year’s, see Colorado Community Media’s previous coverage at tinyurl. com/DouglasPropertyTaxExplain.

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SPORTS

Parker native leads effort to save lacrosse program Ponderosa alum, 63,000 signatures fight for team’s legitimacy, conference standing BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Although Caleb Buddington didn’t play lacrosse until he was a sophomore at Ponderosa High School, the Parker native quickly showed a strong talent for the sport. He even leveraged his skills into a Division II future at Colorado State UniversityPueblo. But on Jan. 19, he got bad news. Buddington and his team were told 2024 would be the team’s last season in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. And worse, men’s lacrosse would no longer be a varsity sport for CSU-Pueblo — it would be a club sport going forward. “It was a Friday morning, we got out of practice and had a meeting with the athletic department,” Buddington said. “Nobody knew what it was. We got out of practice and went to this meeting. They basically told us that they were cutting our program. They gave us a bunch of different reasons, but none of them necessarily seemed to add up based on all the research we’ve done over the

past week and a half.” Buddington said he and some teammates looked into it, and the decision was made much earlier than the department let on. “This decision was signed off on in June of 2023,” Buddington alleged. “But we were told that the decision was made final a week before they told us, and that proved to be untrue. It felt like a stab in the back, especially with the timing of it all. It was a week before our first scrimmage, 11 days before our first game. I mean, they signed off on this and then allowed us to recruit a whole freshman class plus a transfer from New York and a transfer from New Zealand.” Colorado Community Media reached out to CSU-Pueblo athletics and they were not immediately prepared to comment on the timing of the decision. Buddington didn’t wait to take action. Two days later he and his teammates launched a petition to save the team on Change.org. So far, it has garnered more than 63,000 signatures and is currently the fourth-largest petition on the website in 2024, according to Christina Martin, senior communications specialist for the site. “We thought it would be a good idea to get the word out and get support from other people,” Buddington said. “A lot of people donated money to that petition to promote it. The money is used to promote the peti-

Caleb Buddington, a player on CSU-Pueblo’s men’s lacrosse team, is from Parker and COURTESY PHOTO went to Ponderosa High School.

tion and get views on it. I think those promotions started to kick in and that’s why there are so many signatures on it, which is awesome.” But it’s bigger than just CSU-Pueblo lacrosse; the ThunderWolves’ departure will affect the entire Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

This season, the RMAC welcomed Concordia University Irvine from California into the conference, and next season will add the Dominican University of California. Starting in 2025, the conference SEE LACROSSE, P22

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February 8, 2024Fe

LACROSSE FROM PAGE 20

would have had six teams, enough for the conference winner to earn a bid in the NCAA tourney automatically. “Now with the cutting of our program, the RMAC isn’t eligible for that anymore,” Buddington said. “So, I think a big reason for that petition as well was to get the word out to the RMAC and other teams in the RMAC like, ‘Hey, this doesn’t only affect us, but now all of us aren’t eligible for the NCAA tournament.’” The petition aims to gather pushback and community support, he said, but he knows that won’t be enough to change the department’s mind. Buddington and his teammates met with the Pueblo City Council on Jan. 23 and there are plans to try and get the state on board with the players’ case.

As the program hangs in the balance, Buddington and his teammates still have a season to play. He said it’s been difficult to focus on just lacrosse at this point, but the team will compete as always and make the most of 2024. “When it happened, you had kids hop in the transfer portal right away,” Buddington said. “Especially sophomores and freshmen who still have two or three years of eligibility left. So it’s definitely hard to try and put our heads back down and focus when we know all these kids who are our teammates are trying to be recruited to play somewhere else. But there’s also a silver lining to it. We have nothing to lose and everything to prove. Let’s go out and show them they made a mistake.” The team became home for Buddington after high school. “CSU-Pueblo offered me a PWO (preferred walk-on) my senior year, which basically means you’re guaranteed a roster spot,” Buddington

said. “So that was awesome, especially with how late I started playing. Just to have a spot on a college team was pretty cool.” According to CSU-Pueblo athletics, the decision does not affect the women’s lacrosse program or any other varsity sport. Additionally, the site states that all scholarship-eligible student athletes affected by the decision will have their financial aid honored until they depart or graduate from CSUPueblo. If a student athlete chooses to transfer after the season, NCAA rules will permit them to play immediately without penalty. “After an extensive review and careful analysis of our strategic initiatives within the landscape of college athletics, we have made the difficult decision to transition men’s lacrosse to club status following the 2024 season,” CSU-Pueblo Vice President for Athletics and Strategic Partnerships Paul Plinske said in a statement. “We want all student ath-

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letes to have the most competitive experience possible and feel that men’s lacrosse at the club level is the best place for us.” Plinske continued: “We are fully committed to putting our student athletes and their needs first. In this case, CSU Pueblo will continue to provide support to every men’s lacrosse player during this transition period. Student athletes were notified before the start of the season to ensure they have the time to consider all options while having our resources available to support them ... Once the season is complete, equipment and gear that the student athletes were provided at the varsity level will be retained for their future use.” To support CSU-Pueblo men’s lacrosse, consider signing and donating to the team’s petition change. org. This story will be updated if and when Colorado Community Media receives a comment from CSU-Pueblo athletics.

February 8, 2024

Vote for

B E 20 24

Grandview’s Sienna Betts (51) looks to pass in the Wolves’ game against Cherry Creek on Jan. 31 inside Creek’s gymnasium. Creek won the 6A Centennial League PHOTO BY ALEX K.W. SCHULTZ game 36-30.

Cherry Creek beats Grandview, avenges last year’s Final Four loss Bruins’ swarming defense holds Wolves star Sienna Betts to 11 points BY ALEX K.W. SCHULTZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

The No. 3 player in America was in the house. She’s one of only 23 five-star recruits in the country. She’s verbally committed to play for UCLA. She entered the game averaging nearly 25 points per game. So, what was Cherry Creek girls basketball coach Jorsua Chambers’

grand plan for stopping — er, slowing down — 6-foot-4 Sienna Betts and her back-to-back state champion Grandview Wolves on Jan. 31? “Don’t change a thing.” Indeed, why tinker with the plan when it already works? In a Colorado top-10 showdown, the host Bruins used a suffocating defense and a big fourth quarter to eke out a 36-30 win over Grandview, avenging their three-point loss to the Wolves in the Final Four of last year’s Class 6A state tournament. “I always tell my girls, ‘We’re going to play our defense. I’m not goSEE BASKETBALL, P31

S T Colorado Community Media

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February 8, 2024Fe

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February 8, 2024

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

Hauling Service

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h / Debris Trash / Rubbish / Debris and Junk Removal emoval

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nd Reliable ServiceRubin (720)434-8042 | Kerwin (720) 519-5559 34-8042 519-5559

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Lawn/Garden Services

Colorado Lawn Care Fall & Winter: Landscaping, Fall Aeration, Overseed, Fertilizer, Gutter Cleaning, Lawn/Leaf Cleanup, Fence & Deck Install/Repair, Tree & Shrub Trimming/ Removal, Snow Removal, Residential/Commercial

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SERVICE DIRECTORY Tile

Roofing/Gutters

HARDWOOD Have a Hail Damaged Roof?

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February 8, 2024

BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 23

ing to change anything,’” Chambers said when asked what his plan was for Betts, ranked by ESPN as the nation’s third-best player in the Class of 2025. The one who drew the unenviable task of guarding the long and strong Betts was Braelynn Barnett, who performed masterfully. The 6-foot-1 Barnett, shrinkwrapped to Betts all night, played a huge role in holding the generational talent to 11 points — well below her season average. “I wanted to give the challenge (of guarding Betts) to Braelynn. She did excellent,” Chambers said. “The plan was to have Braelynn play one-onone and make [Betts] go right. But if

it was block to block, we would consider using the double team.” Added Barnett, who was named Creek’s player of the game for her performance: “It was awesome. It was great to have the opportunity to play against the No. 3 girl in the nation. It really boosted my confidence.” For all of Barnett and her team’s great play, the Bruins (15-2, 6-0 in 6A Centennial League) still found themselves trailing 24-21 entering the fourth quarter, in large part because of a big third period by Betts. A’neya Chambers’ long two-point shot from the wing gave Creek, ranked No. 3 in Colorado, a 27-26 lead — a lead the Bruins ended up never relinquishing. Betts’ two free throws sliced Creek’s lead to 33-30 with 1:12 remaining, but the Bruins played keepaway as the clock ticked down and did just enough from the charity stripe to

hang on. The Bruins shot 50% (4-for-8) from the field in the fourth quarter while holding Grandview to 22% (2-for-9) shooting, and Creek’s defense prevented the Wolves (9-9, 2-3 in 6A Centennial League) from getting many clean looks. “We don’t give up, even if we’re down,” Barnett said. “No matter what, we’re going to keep going and going until we finish. We will never, ever step down to our opponent. We make them play at our pace, make them play how we want to play and show them what it’s like to be a Bruin.” Creek’s defense set the tone early, holding the Wolves, the state’s eighth-ranked team, to just seven field-goal attempts in the first half and forcing 11 turnovers. Meanwhile, the Bruins took 18 shots over the first two quarters.

Lexi Yi’s free throw spotted Creek its first lead of the game at the 5:55 mark in the third quarter. The two teams traded the lead half a dozen times from there. “(Late in the third quarter) I told them, ‘There’s still one more quarter after this. Be patient, move the ball, and we need to come out and play our game in the fourth quarter,’” Jorsua Chambers said. “That’s what we did. They ended up executing in the fourth quarter.” For Creek, Tianna Chambers scored a game-high 17 points while Molly Dorighi and Mireya Johnson each had six, Addy Beck scored five, and Barnett and A’neya Chambers chipped in a point apiece. The Wolves’ Maya Smith scored six points, Yi added five, Deija Roberson contributed four, and Leiava Holliman and Amya Narducci each scored a pair.

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals

violations of the terms thereof.

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

Dated: 11/28/2023 DAVID GILL DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee

Public Trustees

The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust.

The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

PUBLIC NOTICE

Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 8, BLOCK 3, STROH RANCH FILING NO. 9C, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 12649 Buckhorn Creek St, Parker, CO 80134

RYAN BOURGEOIS Colorado Registration #: 51088 1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 700 , DENVER, COLORADO 80204 Phone #: (303) 350-3711 Fax #: Attorney File #: 00000009905324

Parker NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2023-0200 To Whom It May Concern: On 11/28/2023 9:28:00 AM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: KENNETH NEAL PAULICK AND CONNIE J PAINE Original Beneficiary: MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. ACTING SOLELY AS NOMINEE FOR UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 6/25/2019 Recording Date of DOT: 7/2/2019 Reception No. of DOT: 2019039010 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $418,599.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $390,763.48 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust and other

NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at the Public Trustee’s office, Philip S Miller Building Hearing Room, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended. First Publication: 1/25/2024 Last Publication: 2/22/2024 Publisher: Douglas County News Press

*YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: https:// www.douglas.co.us/public-trustee/ Legal Notice No. 2023-0200 First Publication: 1/25/2024 Last Publication: 2/22/2024 Publisher: Douglas County News Press PUBLIC NOTICE Parker NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2023-0201 To Whom It May Concern: On 12/7/2023 8:17:00 AM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: CHRIS JON HAMMERBERG Original Beneficiary: MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. AS NOMINEE FOR FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS Current Holder of Evidence of Debt:

COLORADO HOUSING AND FINANCE AUTHORITY Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 6/1/2018 Recording Date of DOT: 6/5/2018 Reception No. of DOT: 2018033623 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $314,204.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $291,384.25 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Borrower's failure to make timely payments as required under the Evidence of Debt and Deed of Trust. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust. Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 100, COTTONWOOD SUBDIVISION FILING NO. 1, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 17605 Ponderosa Ave, Parker, CO 80134 NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at the Public Trustee’s office, Philip S Miller Building Hearing Room, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction

to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended. First Publication: 2/8/2024 Last Publication: 3/7/2024 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Dated: 12/7/2023 DAVID GILL DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: DAVID R DOUGHTY Colorado Registration #: 40042 9540 MAROON CIRCLE SUITE 320, ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO 80112 Phone #: (303) 706-9990 Fax #: (303) 706-9994 Attorney File #: 20-024128 *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: https:// www.douglas.co.us/public-trustee/ Legal Notice No. 2023-0201 First Publication: 2/8/2024 Last Publication: 3/7/2024 Publisher: Douglas County News Press

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Parker | Elbert Legals February 8, 2024 * 1

February 8, 2024Fe

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This year, even more than ever before, the news is in crisis. More than 17,000 news media jobs were cut just by June, at national and local outlets including at some of the biggest names like NPR, The Texas Tribune and Gannett. In fact, newsroom layoffs are up 20% from last year. Some of these outlets laid off more than 10% of their staff in the last few months — even as we head into a critical election year. These are devastating numbers. But all is not lost. Many local and independent newsrooms continue to launch across the country. With your contributions and subscriber memberships, small newsrooms like ours continue to grow, adding new journalists and expanding reporting and investigations. We’re committed to bringing the news to Coloradans. That’s because you deserve access to local, independent journalism that keeps you connected and informed — especially during challenging times. This is #newsCOneeds.

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