Elbert County News March 21, 2024

Former Elizabeth police chief left amid allegations

BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

When Elizabeth Police Chief Melvin Berghahn abruptly resigned from his job on Dec. 1, 2022, it was after Town Administrator Patrick Davidson placed him on paid leave and set out to terminate his employment over allegations of unseemly “roughhousing,” an “irretrievably broken” relationship with the Elbert County sheri , morale issues and the presentation of a previous chief’s badge in a “shadow box” to celebrate his separation from town employment, documents released by the town on March 13 show.

In a “Notice of Intent to Terminate your Employment and Seek Non-Reappointment by the Board of Trustees” addressed to Berghahn and dated Dec. 1, 2022, Elizabeth Town Administrator Patrick Davidson gave speci c reasons for his decision to begin the process to terminate Berghahn’s employment. Berghahn resigned and was not red.

Davidson wrote that as a result of the abrupt and unexpected resignation of Sgt. Kurt Hulce, he conducted an exit interview in which Hulce was reluctant to speak frankly. By that time, Hulce was a 21-year veteran of the department.

Hulce’s exit interview brought up a number of concerns for Davidson.

“While I have not conducted any formal investigation following Sgt.

Hulce’s exit interview, I have taken steps to con rm much of what I learned in the exit interview, including from sources both inside and outside of the department,” Davidson wrote.

“In sum, I have learned that morale in the Elizabeth Police Department is, and has been, deteriorating quickly. e deterioration is caused by the rigid command structure that you have instilled within the department, knowing that younger o cers and employees are not responsive to fear and intimidation in the work environment. In my capacity as the

town administrator, I am unwilling to recommend to the Board of Trustees that the town take the risk of keeping you as chief of police when considering the morale of the department, and the other issues described below,” he continued.

According to the four-page notice, the other issues include “roughhousing that involved on more than one occasion hitting Sgt. Hulce with objects in the groin area,” an “irretrievably broken” relationship with the county sheri , and a “Shadow

Former Elizabeth Police Chief Melvin Berghahn resigned on Dec. 1, 2022 after being placed on paid leave.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TOWN OF ELIZABETH

SEE BERGHAHN, P8

Douglas County district poised to buy school in Parker for special education students

million to build a building that’s half the size.”

Money for the purchase will come from the sale of a surplus school site in January that netted the district $4.9 million. If the deal is approved, the district plans to have the site operational for next school year.

“We’re not sitting on some kind of magic pot of money,” Kane said. “It won’t take operational resources away because of we just closed in January on a surplus school site. I also want to say that our surplus school sites should not be expected to raise $4.9 million each.”

e school site includes a cafeteria, kitchen, science labs, a basketball court, room for bus circulation and a much larger parking lot than the current site for Parker’s Bridge Program.  Director of Special Education Liza Meier said the school would provide a huge improvement for the Bridge

and Child Find programs.

“We’ll have opportunities and space to enhance our special ed programs,” Meier said, adding that the space could also help expand programs in the future.

Kane said sta have been doing their best in conditions she nds unacceptable and believes this could provide relief.

“I really want to do a tremendous shout out to our sta at the Bridge Program and the Child Find Program because they are the ones who have absolutely been making lemonade out of lemons,”

Once the Bride Program in Parker is relocated to the new school, the district is planning to sell the old site. School board members expressed a lot of support for the plan. Board president Christy WIlliams said she plans to schedule a special meeting on March 26 to vote on the purchase.

Douglas County School District is considering purchasing the former Colorado Early Colleges school building in Parker for $4.3 million. It would house some of the district’s special education programs.

COURTESY DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

What’s Behind the Buzz About ‘Indoor Air Quality’ & ‘Sick Building Syndrome’?

I remember decades ago, back in New York City, first hearing the term “sick building syndrome.” It had something to do with the chemicals from materials such as new carpet outgassing negatively affecting the health of office workers and home occupants.

More recently, we began hearing about “indoor air quality,” an issue that was addressed by HVAC and other vendors.

Next we started hearing about “volatile organic compounds” which was the name given to those chemicals that were out-gassing not just from carpeting but even from the paint applied to your walls. Merchants started advertising “low-VOC” products, not just paint and carpeting, that had less or none of the chemicals which could be harmful to human health.

In recent years, Americans and others became aware that plastic is not being recycled nearly enough, and in the past year we discovered that microplastics are even in bottled water. Fish in the ocean, it appears, have now consumed so much plastic that micro plastic is even in our sushi. Add that to reports of mercury contamination.

ever a gas burner is on, not just when your food is smoking. And let’s not forget the ever-present risk of home explosion in a home plumbed with natural gas. Now, that would be unhealthy!

But I digress. This is a real estate column, not a political column, and not a nutrition column, so let’s talk about the “healthy home movement” and how it’s expressed by different home builders and renovators.

That’s quite a list of health-impacting hazards added to the out-gassing from carpeting and wall paints of volatile organic compounds.

Since some of these hazards, unlike lead pipes and lead-based paint, are still legal, there’s a space in the housing market for builders who go to great lengths to reduce any and every possible hazard that could contribute to an unhealthy home. I’ll mention a couple below.

home cleaner.”

ERVs and HRVs are easy to install in new construction, but difficult to install as a retrofit, because they require the installation of extensive new ductwork of their own. Indeed, introducing such an appliance might be impossible in many homes. In such cases, an air scrubber would be an ideal solution, because it is simply installed within existing ductwork.

It has all culminated in what we know as the “healthy home movement.” Some home builders now promote the homes they build as healthy, not just efficient.

I appreciate this focus on making our homes healthier, especially for those with compromised immune systems.

Flint Michigan’s 2014 crisis involving lead in the water drawn from the Flint River and leaching from that city’s lead pipe service lines brought that issue to our consciousness and saw cities all around the country, including Denver, invest in replacing lead service lines in their older housing stock. Nothing epitomizes an unhealthy home quite as much as when the water from its faucets poisons those who live there, especially the children.

It was back in 1935 — before even my oldest sibling’s time — that DuPont introduced the advertising slogan “Better Living Through Chemistry,” and we all remember that one-word advice to Benjamin Braddock in the 1967 movie, “The Graduate” — “Plastics.”

Founded in 1992, the National Center for Lead-Safe Housing reflected the awareness of more wide-ranging in-home hazards when it changed its name to the National Center for Healthy Housing in 2001. (Its website is www.nchh.org )

One very serious home health hazard that was not recognized until 1986 was toxic black mold. Its scientific name is stachybotrys chartarum. Mold spores are all around us, including in our homes, but black mold can kill. The public became more aware of it following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As the waters receded from homes, black mold soon covered the walls that had been underwater or experienced water intrusion.

In the real estate business, we are used to inspecting for lead and mold, but also for radon gas (which can cause lung cancer) and asbestos, which can be in drywall from China and in popcorn ceilings. It’s even in some of the glues that have been used to lay vinyl flooring.

Just within the last year, there has been new attention to the hazard of methane and carbon monoxide emissions from gas cooking ranges. You are advised to always run the exhaust fan (assuming it’s ducted to the outdoors, not just recirculating through a filter) when-

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Increasingly, home builders in America (and elsewhere) are taking to heart the need to look more deeply at the components and materials they put into the homes they are selling.

In the profiles of homes featured in the Metro Denver Green Homes Tour last October, there was frequent mention of Heat (or Energy) Recovery Ventilators (HRV or ERV). The best of these devices not only condition fresh air for temperature as it is brought into the home to replace air being exhausted, they also test for high levels of carbon dioxide (which is considered a pollutant at high levels), and also for VOCs in the home’s air.

From studying high performance homes including those in the green homes tours (both Denver and Boulder), I personally view an HRV, ERV or even a CERV (which contains a heat pump), an essential appliance in any modern home intended to be both energy efficient and healthy.

A fellow cruiser just told me about the air scrubber which he installed in his house. He reported that he and his wife felt the difference in just one day. I googled the phrase “air scrubber” since I hadn’t heard of this appliance, and they do exist as either an inline unit for your forced air ductwork or free-standing if you don’t have ductwork (such as in a home with hot water heat).

I have not seen a lot of progress among Denver area home builders when it comes to sustainability, so I’m not real hopeful for progress in addressing indoor air quality. When I represented a buyer in Jefferson County last year, I attended the meeting at which upgrades were discussed. All the homes were being outfitted with high-efficiency gas furnaces and A/C units. An upgrade to a heat pump system was simply not available.

Builders are also fighting laws which would require all-electric homes — that is, no natural gas lines serving new subdivisions. Such laws are being passed in other states or cities.

The US EPA has a program called “Indoor airPLUS” which sets a standard for achieving a healthy home by addressing all the contaminants mentioned above. Colorado-based Thrive Home Builders builds only Indoor airPluscertified homes and has won the EPA’s Leader Award eight years in a row. They are currently building homes starting at $449,900 in Broomfield, Lone Tree and Denver’s Loretto Heights. Call me or one of my broker associates below if you’d like us to show you those homes and represent you in a purchase.

Meritage is another Colorado builder of Indoor airPLUS-certified homes, but I was unable to get more information.

This week’s topic was inspired by an article I read on Probuilder.com titled “Breathe Easier — Healthy Homes Go Mainstream.” You’ll find a link to it at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com.

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To quote RhoadsEnergy.com’s blog post on air scrubbers, “It removes air pollution, VOCs, surface contaminants, pet dander, odors and dust. It provides a cleaner, healthier and more efficient home. This low maintenance device uses proprietary light waves along with a specialized catalytic process to keep your

Archive of Past Columns Is Online

Over the past two decades this column has appear in the Denver Post, and during that time I’ve written about every conceivable topic related to real estate, You can search that archive, listed by headline, and downloadable with a single click at www.JimSmithColumns.com

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851

Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com

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Colorado Community Media owner buys press

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Colorado Community Media’s two dozen newspapers will get a muchneeded lifeline in the form of a printing press, allowing it to bring printing needs in-house while reducing costs and providing a longer-term solution for other publishers along the Front Range.

e National Trust for Local News, which owns Colorado Community Media, purchased the press after raising $900,000 in grant funding toward the project. e donations came through the Colorado Media Project and its coalition of funders: the Bohemian Foundation, Gates Family Foundation and the Colorado Trust.

Amalie Nash, head of transforma-

tion for NTLN, said the hope is to start printing CCM’s newspapers on the press, located in northeast Denver, by the end of May. By summer, the Trust plans to o er printing services to other newspapers seeking a more a ordable solution.

e e ort to buy the press began after Gannett Publishing Co. announced it was closing its plant in Pueblo last August. With few places left to turn, more than 80 Colorado publications that relied on the Pueblo press, including those at CCM, scrambled to nd alternative solutions.

“We were faced with a decision point and had to gure out where to print instead,” Nash said. “So we started seeking bids and trying to gure out how we were going to continue to provide print products that people want.”

CCM wasn’t alone. e Colorado Media Project, a nonpartisan philanthropic initiative dedicated to supporting and sustaining local news, surveyed publishers impacted by the Gannett press closure and found that one publication was forced to close. Several others were wrestling with whether to go digital-only, and at least three publishers of multiple papers opted to consolidate titles.

Nash said CCM chose to contract with e Denver Post for printing, but not as a long-term solution.

“Since the National Trust for Local News purchased Colorado Community Media in 2021, our printing costs have gone up 60%, which was obviously very signi cant for an operation of this size,” said Nash, adding that “we started having discussions around these larger com-

mercial printers closing and the fact that there aren’t very many options in the Front Range. So, we asked: what if we came up with an option. What would that look like?”

NTLN began researching, talking to funding partners, and putting together a plan to buy a press.

“It’s heartening to think that we have an opportunity that helps us regulate our press costs better and that we have a real opportunity to help the media ecosystem in that way,” CCM Publisher Linda Shapley said.

While the print newspaper and magazine market has steadily declined since the mid-2000s, it’s still projected to earn $123.5 billion in the U.S. this year. Many communities still lack reliable internet access, and some people continue to prefer printed news, according to Nash.

COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA STAFF

In another step that cements her move away from representing Colorado’s Western Slope, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert has o cially quali ed to appear on the Republican 4th Congressional District’s primary ballot. But as soon as that news came, outgoing U.S. Rep. Ken Buck did something surprising – he announced he would retire early this month, sparking frustration, anger, and confusion among his fellow Republicans.

Buck’s move forces Colorado to hold a special election to replace him on June 24, the same day as the GOP

Buck upends CD4 calculations

primary. So, as Republicans candidates step up to ll the remainder of Buck’s term, possibly gaining an advantage in what could be a confusing ballot, Boebert will not be in the mix as a special candidate. She said she would not step down from the 3rd Congressional District seat she currently holds. To do so could possibly hurt Republicans in Washington, whose slim majority in the House got smaller with Buck’s early departure.

e Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce veri ed that Boebert collected 2,594 signatures to petition onto the ballot, well in excess of the 1,500 valid signatures needed.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert looks at a map while on a tour in the 3rd Congressional District.

PHOTO FROM REP. LAUREN BOEBERT’S WEBSITE

Deputies seek pickup driver after report of sexual assault

Crime occurred in the Pinery neighborhood

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Douglas County Sheri ’s Ofce has released images of a pickup truck whose driver it believes may have information about a recent sexual assault on a woman in a south Parker area neighborhood.

e images are blurry and appear to depict a neighborhood setting. Detectives said the images may show a dark-colored, “newer model” Ford F-150 truck.

“While we understand that the pictures are not of great quality, detectives believe that the driver may

be involved with or may have been a witness to a violent sexual assault that occurred in the Pinery subdivision,” the sheri ’s o ce said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

A woman was “severely attacked” in the subdivision in February, the sheri ’s o ce said, leading deputies to step up patrols in the area.

It appears the truck may be “lifted,” meaning its suspension has been modi ed to be higher o the ground than a typical vehicle, according to Deputy Cocha Heyden, a sheri ’s ofce spokesperson.

e sheri ’s o ce also called attention to fog lamps that sit below the truck’s headlights.

e woman alleged that she was attacked around 9 p.m. on Feb. 13 near a home in her neighborhood in the Pinery area. While walking home,

she was sexually assaulted by a male she did not know, she told deputies.

More than one suspect could have been involved in the incident, Heyden said.

As of March 11, the sheri ’s o ce had not released to the public a description of a suspect.

A couple days after the incident, Heyden urged people to report anything that appears suspicious and advised those who go out to “stay together.”

“We’re just encouraging people to use common sense if they’re out and about,” Heyden said at the time.

She added: “It’s very unusual to have this happen, so we just want to

e sheri ’s o ce had asked people in the area with outdoor security cameras — such as doorbell cameras — to check them to see if they recorded the incident. ey also asked anyone who believes they saw someone or something suspicious to contact Detective Adam Cummings at 303-814-7631 or acummings@dcsheri .net.

People could also call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP and remain anonymous, the sheri ’s o ce had said.

“Call us, reach out,” Heyden said at the time. “Even if they think it’s nothing, it certainly could be something.”

A surveillance camera image of the truck that may be connected to a Pinery sexual assault.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110

Phone: 303-566-4100

Web: ElbertCountyNews.net

A publication of Box” for former Police Chief Stephen Hasler’s badge provided to Town Trustee Ron Weaver as a trophy to celebrate Hasler’s separation from town employment.

To subscribe call 303-566-4100

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.

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change to: Elbert County News, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

In regards to “roughhousing”, Davidson said “the nature and extent” was a problem, “particularly when it appears that much of your “roughhousing” is directed to Sgt. Hulce” and included witnesses. Davidson continued that he found “this to be a demeaning way of supervising your employees, and such action from the chief of police is unacceptable.”

Davidson said that the Board of Trustees desired to build a strong relationship with Elbert County including the Elbert County Sheri ’s O ce. Davidson wrote that Berghahn’s most “recent comments on the matter indicate that you are unwilling to work with the sheri ’s department in any manner, and that the Town of Elizabeth should be prepared to ‘go it alone’. is impacts the quality of law enforcement for the residents and citizens of the town of Elizabeth and could call into question the safety for o cers in both departments.”

Davidson immediately placed Berghahn on administrative leave with

pay until a nal decision regarding Berghahn’s employment was made. Berghahn had the right to respond to the notice of intent in writing by Dec. 9, 2022.

Berghahn said publicly at the time of his resignation that he was leaving to pursue other opportunities, get married, and focus his attention on his family.

e town released a statement at the time of Berghahn’s resignation, saying: “ e mayor and Board of Trustees for the town of Elizabeth want to announce the resignation of Melvin Berghahn as the chief of police. Melvin began his service with the town of Elizabeth in 2015, and has held the positions of sergeant, commander, and chief. In these roles, he was instrumental in the creation and development of the Student Police Academy, bike patrols, and the growth and development of the department. His willingness to help the youth and elderly in the community, both inside and outside of his o cial duties, was remarkable. e mayor and the Board of Trustees wish to thank him for his years of service, his dedication to the community, and wish him the best in the future.”

Berghahn was sworn in as chief of police on January 15, 2021 and had worked previously as an Elizabeth Police Department sergeant since 2015 before being promoted to commander in 2018.

Elbert County News previously reported on Feb. 5 that his abrupt resignation led to a court ght between the Town of Elizabeth and a 9News investigative producer.

at article reads, in part, “Eight months after Berghahn resigned, 9News producer Aaron Adelson led an open-records request asking Elizabeth Town Clerk Michelle Oeser to provide Berghahn’s job application, any disciplinary history and associated documents, and his termination/resignation letter.

“Oeser provided a redacted copy of the job application, but withheld the other requested documents on the grounds that they were part of Berghahn’s personnel le and that disclosing them would violate his privacy under court interpretations of state law.”

After some legal back and forth to determine if the requested documents could be released in good faith, a judge’s order prompted the release of the remaining documents on March 13.

e Elbert County News had requested the same documents as 9News.

Berghahn’s resignation was the subject of an agreement with the town in which neither party admitted to “any impropriety, wrongdoing, or liability of any kind whatsoever.”

Attempts to contact Davidson and Hulce for comment were not immediately successful, and no contact information could be found for Berghahn.

Elbert Republicans see many first-timers

Elbert Democrats encouraged by turnout

e Elbert County Republicans (ECR) held Precinct Caucus 2024 in 18 “neighborhood” type meetings all around the county, with 235 county Republicans pre-registering and just over 200 attending. Meetings were held in Simla, Elbert, Kiowa (3), Legacy Academy in Elizabeth (6), Singing Hills Elementary School (6), and Sun Country Fire Station.

Fifteen positions were lled by new committee members, many of them attending their rst caucus. We estimated that approximately 30% of all attendees were rst-timers.”

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One of the primary goals of the meetings was to elect precinct committee persons (PCPs). ECR Vice Chairman Dan Guthrie added: “We had two committee positions to ll per precinct and we lled all 36.

e Elbert County Republican Assembly is planned for Saturday, March 30. e assembly will elect Republican candidates to the primary ballot in June. ere will be 185 Republican delegates from all over the county participating in this event. We expect candidates for Congressional District 4 and Judicial District 23 to attend and participate in the event.

For the full GOP press release, go to tinyurl.com/elbgopcaucus.

e Elbert County Democrats held their 2024 Caucus and Assembly on March 9, 2024 at the Elbert County Fairgrounds Exhibit Building.

e event was attended by representatives from the 18 Elbert County precincts. e participants were enthusiastic and generous with their contributions and their time. A signi cant number of new volunteers were enlisted as election judges, poll watchers, precinct captains and volunteers for future events.

At various times during the afternoon, candidates for Congress from CD4 made an appearance. Ike Mc-

Corkle spoke to the participants, as did supporters for John Padora and Karen Breslin. Campaign literature was available for review.

Kathleen Conway, Elbert County Democratic chairperson, as well as other board members were encouraged to see many old faces and new in attendance.

ey expressed the hope that those unable to attend will come to future activities.

Future events will be communicated through social media, via email and on the Elbert County Democratic website, elbertcodems.net. All Democratic and una liated voters are welcome at future events.

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ELBERT COUNTY REPUBLICANS PRESS RELEASE

ELBERT COUNTY DEMOCRATS PRESS RELEASE

Douglas County leaders look to target ‘sanctuary’ policies

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As buses of migrant people continue to arrive in Denver, Douglas County’s leaders are poised to implement a measure to limit the unloading of bus passengers south of the capital city, which is struggling to contend with the surge.

Even though o cials are not aware of any migrants being dropped o in Douglas County, the county’s elected leaders are mulling an ordinance to prevent drivers from unloading passengers in “unplanned locations.”

e proposal comes as immigration takes a national spotlight as a top issue in a presidential election year.

Douglas County o cials framed the proposed policy as safeguarding

the “community’s overall wellbeing.”

e text of the proposed ordinance states that any “unplanned” unboarding of passengers in the county, which includes Highlands Ranch, south of Denver, “creates a danger situation for the unloaded commercial passengers, and is detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the community.”

e proposal follows a move months ago by the Douglas County Board of Health, which adopted an order with requirements for any entity that might send migrants to the county for shelter. County o cials called the health order regarding migrants “preemptive.”

A county spokesperson was not aware of any violations of the public health order as of March 13.

In addition to the proposed policy, the county commissioners also vot-

ed on March 12 to take legal action so that local law-enforcement ocers can “fully cooperate with federal immigration o cials,” according to a news release.

“ ere is an immigration crisis in America,” county Commissioner George Teal said in a prepared statement. “While we empathize with the people who want to migrate here and enjoy the freedoms we are so grateful for, our rst responsibility is to our citizens who are already here legally.”

e county move comes as the number of migrant people who have come to or through Denver approaches 40,000, though Denver says it hasn’t sent any migrants to be sheltered in the county.

What new law would do Douglas County’s new proposed

law would prohibit commercial passenger vehicles from stopping in unincorporated parts of the county to unload passengers other than at a “planned and scheduled documented destination.”

“Unincorporated” parts of Douglas County — like Highlands Ranch and several other areas — are outside of cities and towns.

e new law would apply to any vehicle where payment is involved for transportation, including buses, vans and trucks.

It would not include vehicles rented or leased by the driver, vehicles operated by the Regional Transportation District, or RTD, or any government body of the State of Colorado, ride-sharing services, or taxi cabs.

SEE CRISIS, P12

Douglas o cials have no record of any migrants being dropped o anywhere across the county since December 2022, county sta said.

e county’s three commissioners, all Republicans, unanimously voted in favor of the new proposed law on a preliminary vote, or rst reading.

e measure is set for a second, and nal, vote on March 26 and, if passed, will take e ect immediately, according to the county.

“From a commonsense standpoint, it would be impossible for 40,000 people to come to … Denver and not anticipate that there (would) be some bleed into neighboring counties,” Commissioner Abe Laydon said in late February. But he acknowledged he did not know for sure whether any organization or local government has brought migrants into Douglas County.

Asked whether the City of Denver sent any of the roughly 39,000 migrants to be sheltered in Douglas County since December 2022 — when the city’smigrant data tracker timeline starts — Jon Ewing, a city spokesperson, said no.

Asked whether any organization that the city works with sent any migrants to be sheltered in Douglas County, Ewing said: “Not to my knowledge, but I don’t speak for nonpro ts.”

Yet, the county says a small number of migrants have sought county ser-

vices.

Fewer than 20 migrants sought services — primarily shelter — during the weeks of Feb. 26 and March 4, according to county sta .

A county spokesperson said some of the people told the county they were from Venezuela, but others came from other countries.

No dedicated shelters for the unhoused exist in Douglas County, aside from shelter space for domestic-violence survivors, a county spokesperson said.

But the county works to provide shelter through partnerships with churches and municipalities — including Aurora and Colorado Springs — and by providing motel or hotel vouchers, the spokesperson said.

Taking aim at ‘sanctuary’ policies

During the meeting, the Douglas County commissioners also voted unanimously to take legal action regarding how local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration o cials.

Laydon has criticized so-called “sanctuary” actions, an uno cial term for policies seen as pro-immigrant, particularly in limiting cooperation with federal law enforcement.

He, Teal and Commissioner Lora omas voted to approve a resolution to direct the county attorney to challenge state laws that limit the county’s ability to cooperate with federal law enforcement.

e text of the resolution cites that in 2019, the state legislature enacted

House Bill 19-1124, prohibiting local governments from cooperating with the federal government in immigration enforcement and prohibiting state judicial o cials from sharing information with the federal government.

In 2023, the state legislature enacted House Bill 23-1100, e ective Jan. 1, 2024, generally prohibiting local government involvement in immigration detention, according to the county’s resolution.

Asked when since December 2022 Douglas County o cials have needed to cooperate with the federal government in immigration enforcement, share judicial information with federal o cials, or be involved in immigration detention but were blocked from doing so by the 2019 and 2023 laws, the county did not address the question.

O cials air crime concerns

Douglas County o cials have referenced the 2023 kidnapping of a 25-year-old man in Highlands Ranch and the arrests of two individuals who were previously known to the victim, according to the sheri ’s o ce. Ofcials have said Venezuelan migrants were involved.

e incident, which allegedly occurred at an RTD Park-N-Ride, ended when the victim was able to escape, according to the sheri ’s o ce. Detectives believed the incident stemmed from a debt the victim owed to the suspects.

Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly recently suggested that mi-

grants moving south from Denver into the county are to blame for increased crime, though his remarks appear unsupported by evidence, Colorado Newslinereported.

Asked to con rm whether the suspects were migrants from Venezuela, the sheri ’s o ce did not directly address the question but said: “ ey are non-citizens.”

Weekly has said his patrol personnel are encountering “undocumented migrants” on tra c-related contacts.

Asked whether patrol personnel have been seeing undocumented people during tra c-related contacts more since December 2022 compared to before then — and whether the sheri ’s o ce can provide data to show that — a sheri ’s spokesperson said: “We will have to get back to you on this one.”

Asked about the claim that migrants who came to Denver are coming to Douglas County “more and more,” as Weekly has said, the sheri ’s o ce did not provide evidence.

Influx of migrant people slowed e rate of migrants newly arriving in the City and County of Denver each day has decreased in the past two months, said Ewing, the Denver spokesperson.

“Up until mid-January we were seeing on average 200 people a day. Today that number is between 20 or 30,” Ewing wrote in a March 12 email. “Arrivals have picked up slightly, though. In February we received 7 buses total and in March we’ve already received 8. Still, there’s no comparison to December, when we received 144.”

The vital role of ER teamwork

Ski resort hospital emergency rooms stand at the intersection of adventure and safety, catering to the needs of winter sports enthusiasts who seek thrills on the slopes.

ese unique medical facilities face a distinct set of challenges, from treating skiing and snowboarding injuries to managing cold-related conditions. In such an environment, teamwork emerges as a cornerstone of effective care delivery, ensuring that patients receive prompt and comprehensive treatment to enjoy the snowy playground safely.

In the midst of snow-capped peaks and bustling ski resorts, hospital emergency rooms serve as vital hubs of medical care. Skiers and snowboarders ock to these facilities for treatment of injuries ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures and head traumas. In this fast-paced and dynamic setting, teamwork is not just a luxury but a necessity. Healthcare professionals from various disciplines collaborate closely to address the unique medical needs of winter sports enthusiasts.

One of the primary bene ts of teamwork in ski resort hospital emergency rooms is the ability to respond swiftly and decisively to skiing and snowboarding accidents. Winter sports injuries can occur suddenly and unpredictably, requiring immediate attention and intervention. rough e ective teamwork, emergency room sta can triage patients e ciently, prioritize treatments based on the severity of injuries, and mobilize resources to provide timely care. is coordinated approach is essential for minimizing delays and optimizing patient outcomes in critical situations.

Moreover, teamwork fosters a culture of communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals in ski resort emergency rooms. Clear and open communication is crucial for ensuring that everyone is aligned on treatment plans, sharing pertinent information about patient injuries, and coordinating care seamlessly.

Whether it’s consulting with orthopedic surgeons about complex fractures or collaborating with radiologists to interpret imaging studies, effective communication enables the entire team to work together cohesively, enhancing patient safety and satisfaction.

In addition to communication, teamwork promotes mutual support and shared accountability among emergency room sta . Ski resort hospital emergency rooms often operate under chal-

lenging conditions, including extreme weather, high patient volumes, and limited resources. In these demanding environments, team members rally around each other, o ering assistance, encouragement, and empathy. Whether it’s assisting with patient transfers, helping colleagues navigate complex cases, or simply providing emotional support during stressful situations, the camaraderie among emergency room sta strengthens their resilience and ability to deliver exceptional care under pressure.

Beyond its immediate impact on patient care, teamwork in ski resort hospital emergency rooms also fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement. rough regular training sessions, simulation exercises, and debrie ngs, emergency room sta have the opportunity to enhance their skills, re ne their protocols, and stay abreast of the latest developments in winter sports medicine. By sharing experiences, analyzing case studies, and identifying areas for enhancement, the emergency room team can continuously elevate the quality and e ciency of care delivery, ultimately improving outcomes for patients on the slopes.

Teamwork is the linchpin of ski resort hospital emergency rooms, enabling healthcare professionals to provide prompt, comprehensive, and compassionate care to winter sports enthusiasts. From triaging patients and coordinating treatments to communicating e ectively and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, teamwork is essential for navigating the unique challenges

of winter sports medicine. By working together seamlessly, emergency room sta can ensure that skiers and snowboarders receive the care they need to enjoy the thrill of the mountains safely and responsibly. In ski resort emergency rooms, teamwork isn’t just important—it’s indispensable.

I wrote this column because recently I was a patient at the Vail Valley Hospital. And this past week, I actually had to go twice in three days. I watched in amazement as the team in the ER handled all types of serious injuries with professionalism, compassion, speed, and accuracy. e teams that cared for me, Kacy, Laura, Mary, Ashley, Brandon, Megan, Emily, Chris, Jason, Becca, and Drs. Stone and Zeller were beacons of all took amazing interest in my care and getting me released. A huge shout out to you all, I appreciate you so much.

Sometimes when we are the patient, we lose our patience, and I would just ask you to try and understand the bigger picture. I would love to hear your story of hospital ER appreciation at gotonorton@gmail.com and when we can understand the levels of stress these terms work under to deliver exemplary care, 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.

Just when you thought trust in government couldn’t

Irony is the juxtaposition of one conceptual proposition with a directly contrary reality, like a “vegetarian butcher” or something that’s “seriously funny.” Or the swift enactment — during Sunshine Week — of a new state law that lets members of the Colorado General Assembly discuss and formulate public policy outside of public view.

You heard that right. Legislators and Gov. Jared Polis chose the very week in which journalists and transparency advocates annually celebrate federal and state opengovernment laws to essentially exempt the state legislature from much of the Colorado Open Meetings Law, rst initiated by the voters in 1972.

e open meetings law declares it is “the policy of this state that the formation of public policy is public business and may not be conducted in secret.”

Our state’s appellate court judges have recognized the underlying intent of the statute is to ensure that the public is not “deprived of the discussions, the motivations, the policy arguments and other considerations which led to the discretion exercised by [a public body].” e law is meant to provide “the public access to a broad range of meetings at which public business is considered ; to give citizens an expanded opportunity to become fully in-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Veto HB-1048

I believe that every pet, regardless of life circumstances, deserves veterinary care. It was disappointing to see that HB-1048 passed both houses of the General Assembly. is bill, if signed, will greatly limit the ability of individuals in rural areas and those with physical or transportation challenges from accessing veterinary care for their pets.

We have one last stop on the pathway to this bad bill becoming law: Governor Jared Polis. I am urging Governor Polis to do the right thing for all of Colorado’s pets: Veto HB-1048.

get any lower GUEST COLUMN

HUMES

OBITUARIES

Ashlie Donette Humes

March 24, 1986 - February 28, 2024

Steve Zansberg and Je Roberts

formed on issues of public importance, and to allow citizens to participate in the legislative decision-making process that a ects their personal interests.”

We acknowledge that some provisions in the 52-year-old law required updates as they pertained to the business of the state legislature. It’s not easy to comply with a mandate that meetings concerning public business between two members of a legislative chamber must be open to the public, with minutes “taken and promptly recorded.” But Senate Bill 24-157 was rushed, and some organizations including the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition were excluded from the sponsors’ stakeholder process. Our suggested amendments after the bill’s introduction were ignored.

e bill, signed into law by the governor just a day after nal passage, goes too far and will undermine public con dence in the legislature’s actions.

e new law encourages and legalizes legislators engaging in an endless series of sub-quorum discussions of pending bills and amendments, via emails, text messages, phone calls or in-person meetings, without providing notice

I hope my neighbors in Parker, and all over Colorado, will urge the

Ashlie Donette Humes, 37, passed away on February 28, 2024, in Elizabeth, Colorado. She was born on March 24, 1986. Ashlie is survived by her family.

Death Notice

CARNAHAN Dewey Lawrence “Larry” Carnahan

August 10, 1939 - March 8, 2024

Dewey “Larry” Carnahan, 84, of Castle Rock, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2024.

Larry was born in Colorado Springs, to Bertha and Dewey Carnahan on August 10, 1939. Larry graduated from Kiowa High School in 1957 and went on

JACK

to graduate from CSU in 1963. Larry married Carol McClure in 1963 and they had three children, Joy, Jacki and Dan.

Larry’s full obituary can be found at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/ obituaries/11702028.

Daniel J. Jack Sr.

November 5, 1939 - March 12, 2024

Daniel Joseph Jack Sr, 84, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. He was born November 5, 1939, in Neenah, Wisconsin, son of Neal and Lauretta Jack.

Dan attended Neenah High School before graduating from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in 1963 (after a gap year traveling with Tom Zeuthen) with a bachelor’s degree. He met Kathryn (Kate) Rand in January of 1961, and they were married on June 15, 1963, in La Crosse, WI.

Dan enjoyed visiting with his grandchildren, watching their sporting and dancing events. He cherished spending time with his family.

loving sister Nancy (Tom) Zeuthen; multiple brothers and sisters in law, and his committed companion Carol Reinhardt. Dan was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Terry and Marcia, and his wife Kathryn Jack.

Mass of Christian burial for Jack will be Tuesday March 19, 2024, at 10:30 AM, at ST. MARGARET MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 620 Division St; Neenah. Visitation will be held at the church Tuesday morning beginning at 9:00 AM until the 10:30 AM Mass. In lieu of owers, donations can be made to the Neenah Animal Shelter in Dan’s honor. Neenahanimalshelter.org

governor to veto this bill.

Janet Elezian Parker

Good job, high schoolers

Recent letters to editor by some local high school students should be commended for their efforts in providing their point of view on various issues. It was rewarding to read their take and potential impact they expressed. These students should encourage other youth to provide insight on topics that may impact them now or the future and continue their quest to inform and be informed. Good job!

Dave Usechek Parker

Dan is survived by his 3 sons: Terry (Ellen) Jack, Christopher (Kristy) Jack, and Daniel (Brian) Jack Jr.; 5 grandchildren: Nathan (Mackenzie), Gri n (Maddie), Peyton (Grace), Christian (Sydney) and Hannah Jack; 1 great-grandchild Joseph (Joey) Jack;

Westgor Funeral Home 205 W Doty Ave, Neenah, Wi

(920) 722-715

Condolences: www.westgorfuneralhomes. com

Unique desserts hidden across the metro area

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

ere’s something nostalgic about going to the local ice cream shop or bakery when in the mood for a sweet treat. Let’s face it, everyone has their go-to dessert shops and local businesses they like to support.

But sometimes, it’s fun to explore. And there are places across the Denver metro area that serve up delicious desserts for anyone’s preference.  With unique desserts being discovered all over the area, it would be nearly impossible to list every dessert shop. Here are a few that have made their way into people’s hearts and stomachs over the years.

Bahama Buck’s

8204 S University Blvd., Centennial, CO 80122 3003 W 104th Ave., Suite 500, Westminster, CO 80031

ere are not many dessert spots in the metro area that specialize in shaved ice, making Bahama Buck’s unique, especially with the original avor pairings the business plays with.

It’s more than a place to get a brightly-colored sweet treat. It’s a place for people to leave their troubles at the door, enjoy themselves in a lowpressure atmosphere and hang out with friends, said Adam Cotton, owner of the Centennial location.

“It’s kind of a mini vacation for all our guests,” Cotton said.

Bahama Buck’s encourages people to get creative by choosing from over 100 original gourmet avors and toppings. e company’s avor team has even worked with di erent companies to incorporate Oreo’s and candies such as Nerds with their desserts.

Staying true to the island vibe, common avors include mango, peach and blue coconut. One of the signature “snos” is the Shark Attack Sno, which is a berry colada avor with Sour Patch Sauce in the middle.

Just as guests can get creative and build their own by choosing what avors and toppings they want, the Centennial employees have the authority to play around and come up with di er-

ent concoctions, which often become avors of the week.

Bahama Buck’s can’t share its secrets to its perfectly smooth shaved ice, other than the fact that the ice is made on site and there was a lot of time put into the shaving process, Cotton said.

Bahama Buck’s encourages friendly gatherings by o ering card and board games to play. e

business also has island smoothies in which guests can choose from a variety of cream blends, or if they want a healthier substitution, fresh fruit blends.

Other menu items include Acai Bowls, Red Bull Infusions and Bahama Sodas.

Yonutz! is a dessert shop that smashes ice cream and donuts together. It opened its Greenwood Village location March 15.

PHOTO FROM YONUTZ INSTAGRAM

SWEET TREATS

For Cotton, what makes Bahama Buck’s successful are the people who help make the island experience come alive.

“What makes our product excellent and what makes our place excellent are the people we have working for us,” Cotton said.

Heaven Creamery

6955 S York St. #420, Centennial, CO 80122

7181 W. Alaska Drive, Lakewood, CO 80226

Heaven Creamery rst opened its doors in 2020 on the Streets at SouthGlenn in Centennial and has gained millennial and Gen Z attention. Since then, the store has expanded to include locations at Cherry Creek North, Five Points, Lakewood, Avon, Boulder and coming soon to Arvada.

With over 500 avors in constant rotation for customers to try, Heaven Creamery aims to educate and introduce people to healthier frozen desserts, according to its website. Heaven Creamery doesn’t use processed sugar or arti cial colors, avors, additives or ice cream llers, according to its website.

Instead, stevia, monk sugar, agave, cane sugar and/or honey are used as sweeteners for the ice cream, gelato, fruit pops, vegan gelato and sorbet.

“Our gelato, ice cream and sorbet is made with 70% less sugar than traditional ice cream,” the website states.

Each Heaven Creamery location has unique specialty desserts, including ice cream served with crepes, in a pineapple or coconut and more.

Mochinut

7530 S. University Blvd., Centennial, CO 80122

2222 S. Havana St., Unit A2, Aurora, CO 80014

At Mochinut, it’s about bringing diversity to American desserts.

e Mochinut franchise originated in Los Angeles and is popular for its Korean hotdogs and bubble tea, but it is also known for its mochi donuts. e franchise came to Aurora nearly three years ago and recently opened a second location in Centennial.

“I think that they’re a little bit more special than other donuts because they’re made with rice our,” said Erin Chung, manager of the Aurora location. “If you taste it, it’s very chewy like mochi, but then you can also feel the donut as well.”

A mochi donut is a fusion of the Japanese rice cake, also known as mochi, and American-style donuts.

Constructed with eight small, round dough balls in the shape of a circle, the mochi donut has a crisp exterior, but a soft and chewy inside due to the main ingredient: sticky sweet rice our.  ey are then coated and glazed with rotating avors and toppings such as cookies and fruits.  One of the most popular avors is Ube, which is a sweet potato base, topped with fruity pebbles. Other popular avors are the caramel churro, chocolate churro and the strawberry funnel.

are so many to choose from.

“A lot of people like to try di erent avors every week,” Chung said.

Customers can get a single mochi donut or a box of three, six or a dozen. Additionally, the Aurora location serves mochinut balls as well as soft serve in a cone or bowl.

Mango Mango Desserts

1133 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80246

From a classic tiramisu to wa es to hot desserts, Mango Mango Desserts’ mission is “to make edible incredible.” Mango Mango Desserts in Denver is a franchise from New York’s Chinatown.

While dining in an elegant store, guests can partake in sophisticated desserts utilizing the mango. Some of the most popular dishes include Mango Mochi, Durian Dessert Bowl, Green Tea Mille Crepe and the Coconut Mango Infused Smoothie.

In addition to uniquely layered crepe cakes, Mango Mango Desserts have traditional avors mixed with modern desserts.

Mango ice cream can be paired with snow white mango juice sago and pomelo or strawberry mango juice sago and lychee jelly. Other dishes include a rice or watermelon ball, herbal jelly, mustang king durian, black rice and more.

Yonutz!

7939 E Arapahoe Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80112

Having to choose between ice cream or donuts won’t have to be an option thanks to Yonutz!, a colorful dessert shop that smashes the two desserts together. Yonutz opened its Greenwood Village location March 15.

e now-viral sensation, Yonutz SMASHED Donut, was created in 2018 in South Florida when

someone asked Tony Bahu how he was going to

“We ended up creating the smashed donut,” said Bahum Founder and CEO of Yonutz. “We’ve done donuts and ice cream before, but we never did it like this. It’s so decadent and fun and grand.”  It’s simple. You slice it, ll it, smash it, top it and eat it.

e donuts are made fresh in the store and then sliced in half. Guests can choose which avor of ice cream they want inside the donut before it’s smashed in a hot press and topped with any toppings such as chocolate sauce or candy.

“We know that people are looking for an experience, looking for something di erent, something fun, and so it just kind of all came together,” said Bahu.

After winning multiple Dessert Wars – even winning the national championships – and being featured on CNN’s Great Big Story, Bahu said the store was on people’s bucket lists, inspiring them to continue to expand their brand.

Some of the most popular avors are the Nutella Crunch, which was the creation that helped them win Dessert Wars, as well as Strawberry Shortcake and Bisco Cookie Butter.

Bahu wanted to come up with something more simple and recently came up with the Simple Smashed Donut. It is a smashed donut with any avor of ice cream inside, but instead of cutting it in half and decorating it with toppings, the donut is rolled in cinnamon sugar.

Although the ice cream is not homemade, Bahu said Yonutz! typically nds something that’s local or regional and works with that brand. e menu also includes Yonutz SMASHED Shakes and mini donuts.

“We’re really excited to be able to expand in Colorado,” Bahu said. “ ere’s so much liveliness and action going on there.”

Bahama Buck’s is a tropical hang-out that serves up airy shaved ice in over 100 flavors with a variety of toppings, island smoothies, Bahama Sodas and more. Guests can choose from crafted menu items or get creative and mix their own flavors.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Elbert County Senior Luncheons nourish in many ways

Conversation, food, games bring residents together

BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

On a recent Friday, card players lled up the Elizabeth American Legion Hall well before the Senior Luncheon was supposed to start. By the time battered cod and rice arrived, a few games had already been played. Every Wednesday and Friday, senior citizens gather in Elizabeth, Kiowa, and Elbert to break bread at the biweekly luncheons. ey enjoy good conversation, food and sometimes a game together.

Maxine Barbian, an Elizabeth resident, cooks the meals each Wednesday and Friday morning at

the Russell Gates Mercantile Building in Elbert. She tries to make hearty and nutritious meals from ingredients bought fresh the same day. Volunteers distribute the meals from Elbert to Elizabeth and Kiowa.

Barbian said many seniors come to the luncheon because cooking for one or two people seems silly. For some, Barbian said, their “only good nutrition is when they come to the hall.” ( e hall is otherwise known as the Russell Gates Mercantile Building.)

Once a month, volunteers from the United Methodist Church in Elizabeth come and organize a game of bingo, which has proven to be very popular. Susan Passmore, from Ramah, is one such volunteer. She remarked she’d “sure like more seniors to come.” Passmore added people come to joke around and

have a good time.

e luncheons in Elizabeth, Kiowa, and Elbert usually serve anywhere between 60 to 70 people in total and cost a suggested $3 donation for seniors age 60 and older. Meals can be packaged to-go for those who can’t attend in person. Meals can also be made to accommodate some allergy restrictions. For example, one senior attendee lives with celiac disease, so Barbian replaces noodles with zucchini spirals in things like strogano .

e East Central Council of Local Governments’ (ECCOG) Area Agency on Aging (AAA) funds and organizes the program, o cially called “Project SMILE.” Including Elbert there are six total kitchens that serve meals to ve other remote sites across Eastern Colorado.

ere are 11 locations in four counties that serve meals for older adults throughout the week.

e ECCOG website explains that “SMILE stands for Shared Moments

In Living and Eating and this project hopes to do just that, bring seniors together to share moments in their daily lives with others and get a hot, great-tasting, nutritious home-cooked meal to boot!”

e senior luncheon program was brought to Elizabeth in 2022 but Project SMILE has existed across a four-county region (Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson and Cheyenne) since 1973 when ECCOG and AAA services were initially established. Vanous proudly shared that the program has been around for over 50 years. ere are even photos of the inception of the meal program at the Gates Mercantile Building of Elbert in 1973.

ere are only a few dates the luncheon doesn’t take place; these include holidays and just before the annual Elbert Woman’s Club Holiday Bazaar. Barbian said a good rule of thumb is that when the Elbert School closes for weather or snow, then the luncheon will be closed too.

RSVPs to the senior luncheons are required but can be made as late as the day before. RSVPs can be made to Bill Mock, 303-378-8543, or Maxine Barbian, 720-320-4540.

Reservations are also required at the other locations across eastern Colorado, but seniors are welcome to participate in any location. For a full list of locations call ECCOG at 719-348-5562.

Sean Vanous, ECCOG senior and transit services director, said that the “... meal program is bene cial to older adults (60+) in the community because it provides a nutritious meal multiple times a week. For those who dine-in or congregate together, they get a fantastic opportunity to socialize that many older adults miss out on when they are at home. e socialization is very bene cial for their own mental health and well-being, the meal is an added bonus to that.”

More information about Project Smile can be found at townofelizabeth.org/townclerk/page/seniorcitizens-meals-project-smile.

AAA serves older adults through various programs and services funded by the state and federal governments. AAA provides various services, including meals, transportation and material assistance. For information on other senior services provided by ECCOG and AAA, visit eccog.com/project/ecaaa-services.

Thu 3/21

Neil Z at Earl's in Park Meadows @ 5pm

Earls Kitchen + Bar, 8335 Park Meadows Center Dr, Lone Tree

Fri 3/22

René Moffatt Music: Opening For Emily Barnes @ Swallow Hill @ 6pm

Swallow Hill Music, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Emily Barnes

@ 7pm

Swallow Hill, 71 E Yale Ave, Den‐ver

Sat 3/23

Wild Faith @ 6pm

Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Englewood

Erik Stucky @ 7pm

Sam Divine @ 8pm

The Church Denver, 1720 S Alcott St, Denver

PIXEL GRIP

@ 7pm

Swallow Hill Music Association, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Sun 3/24

C U R S E @ 6pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Moab Photography Trip (Teacher Approval Required)

@ 11pm / Free

Mar 24th - Mar 28th

Valor Christian High School - Academic Building, 3775 Grace Blvd., Highlands Ranch. 303-471-3000

Mon 3/25

AP US History Review @ 8am / Free

Mar 25th - Mar 27th

Valor Christian High School - Academic Building, 3775 Grace Blvd., Highlands Ranch. 303-471-3000

Health

@ 7pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 South Broadway, Englewood

Teague Starbuck

@ 5pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Tue 3/26

Pickleball @ 8am / $25

Mar 26th - Mar 28th

Valor Athletic Building, 3775 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch. 303-471-3000

AP Literature and Composition Review

@ 8am / Free

Mar 26th - Mar 28th

Valor Christian High School - Academic Building, 3775 Grace Blvd., Highlands Ranch. 303-471-3000

Disc Golf

@ 8:30am / $10

Mar 26th - Mar 28th

Valor Athletic Building, 3775 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch. 303-471-3000

Wed 3/27

Geology at Red Rock Canyon

@ 7am / $10

Mar 27th - Mar 28th

Valor Christian High School, 3775 Grace Blvd., Highlands Ranch. 303-471-3000

ARTS: Pottery @ Platt Park @ 3pm

Mar 27th - May 22nd

Platt Park Recreation Center, 1500 S. Grant St., Denver. 720-913-0654

The Pint Room, 2620 W Belleview Ave, Littleton

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo Wednesdays - 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 7pm

Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

Thu 3/28

ARTS: Mini Picasso @ Harvard Gulch @ 3pm

Mar 28th - Apr 25th

Harvard Gulch Recreation Center, 550 E. Iliff Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

Teague Starbuck

@ 5pm

Brewability Lab, 3445 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

ARTS: Pop Art Trends @ College View

@ 9:30pm

Mar 28th - May 23rd

Denver Parks and Recreation (CGV), 2525 S. Decatur St., Denver. 720-913-0654

Acting Shakespeare: Shakespeare's Forests (10-14yrs) @ 11pm

Mar 28th - May 2nd

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

Calendar information is provided by event organiz‐ers. All events are subject to change or cancella‐tion. This publication is not responsible for the ac‐curacy of the information contained in this calendar.

Chaparral’s Rob Johnson named 5A Athletic Director of the Year

Colorado Athletic Directors Association to honor Johnson at April 29 banquet

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In the often thankless, yearround slog that is an athletic director’s routine, there’s a perk – some recognition for all the hard work. But just one gets the honor of being named Athletic Director of the Year.

In the 5A category, Chaparral High School’s Rob Johnson will be honored at the Colorado Athletic Directors Association’s 51st annual awards banquet in Breckinridge on April 29. Johnson has been the

athletic director for Chap for nine years but began as a boys basketball coach and math teacher in 2000.

“It was humbling (to win) because there are so many good ADs (in the area),” Johnson said. “You feel like anybody could have gotten that award. But I was de nitely humbled and excited and surprised. It was great.”

Chaparral, in Parker, was only two years old when Johnson arrived, and he said he could tell immediately this was a place where the culture was being built the right way.

From the community to the teachers being hired, this was a place he could see himself for a long time. Now 24 years in, that’s truer than ever, he said.

“I came here as soon as I could,” he said. “It was just a great t, a great community. You can’t get any better than this area and this place.

Chap was de nitely a place where I knew my career would be lasting and hopefully, I’ll retire from here.”

Johnson admits he misses coaching and teaching, and the connections that come with being involved in both.

“I still have connections with kids, but not like I used to. So, I miss that part,” he said. “But having an opportunity to work with all the programs and especially the coaches, it’s very rewarding. It’s great. ere are obviously moments where it’s heavy … it’s tough to manage some of that, but overall it’s a great experience working with all the programs.”

An average day for an athletic director is tough. With constant moving parts from scheduling to logistics to sports seasons eclipsing one another, Johnson said it’s di cult to ever feel caught up.

But that also brings constant rewards in seeing teams succeed and players develop.

“It took me a long time to gure that out and get used to it because I was so used to teaching and coaching,” Johnson said. “You’re always on.”

A big factor at Chaparral is an emphasis on family, he said. Despite being a school of over 2,000 students, there’s a focus on togetherness and staying as familiar as possible.

“All my teachers and fellow administrators are close friends,” Johnson said. “We’ve all been here quite a while and worked well together. Our kids started going to school together. I’m from a very small school called Soroco High School (South Routt County, in Oak Creek near Steamboat Springs), like, 100 students total.”

But despite being a huge 5A school, the students and sta are all close.

“I’ve always wanted Chaparral to kind of have that sense of family,” he continued. “You can’t recognize every face here with over 2,000 kids here, but it almost feels like people try. Relationships is a huge, huge cornerstone for this school. It’s probably the number one thing that attracted me: help the kids grow up, being a part of their lives and doing it together as a sta . It really is a big family, and the community feels that way, too.”

Spring fun coming to Elbert County

Events on tap for all ages

BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Spring is here and the days are getting longer in Elbert County. ough there may be a snowstorm or two to come, sunnier, warmer days are on the horizon. Events celebrating spring and Easter are popping up across the county.

What: Spring Customer Appreciation Day

When: March 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: e Nest at the 1897 House, 286 Main St. in Elizabeth

How much: Free to attend e Nest will have sales and local artisan pop-up shops including lotions, art, pottery, jams and baked goods. e Big Country Eats food truck will also be there. e Nest is o ering free Easter baskets while supplies last. Contact e Nest at 720-643-5124 or thenest1897@yahoo.com for more information.

What: Elizabeth Park & Recreation 6th Annual Easter Eggstravaganza

When: March 30, 2-3 p.m. at Evans Park

Where: 34201 County Road 17 in Elizabeth

How much: Free

Elizabeth will have di erent egg hunt events (the Easter Egg Hill Roll, Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Egg Scramble) for kids ages 1 through 12. e Easter bunny will be on site for pictures and hugs. Contact 303646-3599 for more information.

What: Kiowa Easter Egg Hunt

When: March 30, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Fawn Valley Park, 515 Da-

kota St. in Kiowa

How much: Free Attendees can take a picture with the Easter bunny and hunt for golden eggs. Free lunch will be provided by Bino’s Pizza. All donations made this year will go to the Kiowa School Basketball program. Other sponsors include ECCO, Lifetime Properties, 40 Mile Feed and Farmers State Bank.

What: Kiowa Easter Coloring Contest

When: Now through March 30

Where: Farmers State Bank, 480 Comanche St.

How much: Free Coloring pages can be picked up at the Kiowa branch of Farmers State Bank or printed online at tinyurl.com/auwv5975. Clearly write your name and contact information on the coloring page and return it to the Kiowa bank branch or bring it

to the Easter Egg Hunt in Fawn Valley Park, which starts at 11 a.m. on March 30, to be entered for a chance to win cash prizes.

What: 12th Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Simla

When: March 30, 11 a.m.

Where: Simla Downtown Park

How much: Free

e Easter Egg Hunt is for ages 2 through 10 and is hosted by the Simla Community Action Committee doing business as the Simla Family rift Store. Prizes will be o ered to all children and hot dogs, chips, and drinks will be served. Contact dlglidden65@gmail.com for more information.

What: Elbert Fire Crafts & Easter Egg Hunt

When: March 31, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: 24310 Main St.

How much: Free is Easter Sunday event will start

out with crafts at Station 231, followed by the Easter Egg Hunt across the street at the Elbert Ball Fields. Due to the limited parking, attendees are asked to park at the ball elds. e Easter Egg Hunt will start no later than 12:15 p.m. and may start earlier if a large enough group forms earlier. Contact kobrien@elbert re.org for any more information or with any questions.

What: Spring Strolling Tea

When: April 13, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Carriage Shoppes at 392 Main St. in Elizabeth

How much: Free

One free teacup with saucer per family to ll with tea (also free). Stroll through the Carriage Shoppes enjoying free scones, cookies, and tea sandwiches. ere will also be free carriage rides 12-2. Contact 720-737-4335 or janet@thecarriageshoppes.com for more information.

Easter eggs have also been hidden all over Elizabeth by Elbert County Fair Royalty and the Renee Burton Agency of American Family Insurance. Burton said the goal of the citywide Easter egg hunt is to encourage people to shop local. Look for small and large eggs.

Local businesses involved include: KW Home Accents, Roses Creamery, Isabel’s Co ee, Sizzor Magic, Cowgirlz Co ee, Burro Base Camp, Small Town Mini Donuts, Dairy Queen, Love Wellness LTD, Jill’s Feed and Country Store, Stitches and reads, 40 Mile Feed, Elizabeth Technology Center, Elizabeth Post O ce, Sammie D’s Restaurant and Beauty Barn.

Renee Burton and Elbert County Royalty pose before hiding eggs all over Elizabeth.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RENEE BURTON

to the public or the keeping of any minutes of such policy-making conversations. In other words, the public will be left in the dark about “the motivations, policy arguments and other considerations” around legislation that a ects them directly.

Don’t worry, elected o cials tell us, because the emails, text messages, etc. exchanged between lawmakers are accessible, after the

fact, “pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act.” at’s what the newly passed law says. But here’s the catch: CORA declares that all communications by, or “assembled for” any state legislator that “relates to” the drafting of bills or amendments are not public records at all. So, there’s no need for legislators to hold onto, much less to make public, those electronic written communications, because they are not public records.

It is safe to assume that more than 90% of all future discussions of potential bills, amendments, appointments, resolutions, rules, etc.

in both chambers of our state legislature will occur outside of public view. Not only will such policies be far more likely to be the product of backroom wheeling and dealing, but even ordinary non-tainted policies will rightfully be subject to suspicion and skepticism by the general public.

Forty-one years ago, Colorado’s Supreme Court held that legislative caucus meetings must abide by the open meetings law, stating that the act was “designed precisely to prevent the abuse of secret or star chamber sessions of public bodies.” By exempting the General As-

sembly from a transparency law applicable to every other public body in the state, legislators have greatly reduced the level of public trust in that institution and cast a veil of secrecy over whatever legislation is  produced.

Ironic for sure that this happened during Sunshine Week. And a sad day, of any week, for the people of this state.

Steve Zansberg is president of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. Je Roberts is executive director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition.

Help Wanted

Mimic Technologies, Inc. seeks Product and Application Specialist for position in Littleton, Colorado. Develop/ implement product training programs; Travel: 75%

Misc. Notices

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Home for Sale

We have a rare fully remolded property with rare fully permitted Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) near the west highlights. The property is 95% completed to allow for customization. The property has an amazing open space kitchen with a large master bed room, large walk in closet and wow en-suite bathroom.

The property is superb for entertaining with a large deck and breakfast nook. The larger master bedroom has skylights so you can see the stars at night. The kitchen is a must see with the best thing about the property being the open space kitchen and amazing floor plan.

The property is 1,560 square feet with a completely separate 560 sq. foot ADU with 2 car garage and space for RV parking--the unit has solar.

The property is an outstanding family home, all on one level, if financing is required the payment can be offset by renting out the Main Unit or ADU -and live in the other -- to offset the monthly payment. The short term rental (STR) market is always thriving in the central Colorado area with so many individuals and families that want to come to Colorado for an adventure and see the myriad of attractions Red Rocks Parks, Garden of the Gods, Buffalo overlook, The Air Force Academy, Estes Park or of course to check out our great skiing, food and and beer. If you decide to take advantage of the STR market we will list the property on Air BNB and or VRBO for no charge and run the rental for 90 days at no charge and hand over to you turnkey.

We offer partial owner financing with a 720 FICO score, or higher, and at least $25K in savings IE Retirement Plan. The home has solar so there will limited power bills and for the young buyer we are offering a 2-1 buydown.

Any buyer who does not take the 2-1 buydown and does give a full price offer, can instead get a custom package for $20,000.00. The upgrades could include and of these: Private garden, class 4 roof, custom front porch, hottub, man cave in the garage or custom tile and paint throughout the home, RV parking or off street parking for the ADU.

Come check out our open houses which are 1) Happy Hour Open Houses Fridays 4-6PM and every Sat and Sunday in March from 10AM to 2PM. 4360 Marshall St, Wheat Ridge CO 80033. alandavis@levelengineering.com

Legals

Summons and Sheriff Sale Public Notice

PROBATE CITATION SUPPLEMENTAL

CITATION File #2021-722/A

SURROGATE'S COURTSARATOGA COUNTY, THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,

By the Grace of God Free and Independent

TO: Christopher Shambo, Esq., and to Jason Breeden and Joseph Breeden, grandchildren, (who are the issue of Jeffrey Breeden, predeceased son) of the decedent, Beverly J. Hagadorn, who died on October 8, 2021 a resident of the town of Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York, the residences and/or post office addresses of said Jason Breeden and Joseph Breeden are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained; and if any of the said above be dead, then to all of the distributees, heirs-at-law and next-of-kin of such deceased distributees; A petition having been duly filed by Lorrie Hagadorn, who is domiciled at 106 Brickhouse Road, Stillwater, NY 12170;

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE

before the Surrogate's Court, Saratoga County, 30 McMaster Street, Building 3, Ballston Spa, NY, on April 10, 2024, at 10:00 o'clock in the forenoon of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of Beverly J. Hagadorn, lately domiciled at 115 Brickhouse Road, Stillwater, NY 12170, admitting to probate a Will dated April 27, 2016, a copy of which is attached, as the Will of Beverly J. Hagadorn, deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that Letters Testamentary issue to: Lorrie Hagadorn. Attested and Sealed, Hon. Jonathan G. Schopf Surrogate

Dated, February 15, 2024

/s/ Lisa M. Hastings, Chief Clerk. Attorney for Petition: Margaret E. Gilmartin T

Telephone #: 518-888-6750

Address of Attorney: 29 Spa Drive, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866. This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear.

If you fail to appear it will be assumed you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you.

Legal Notice No. 205114

First Publication: March 7, 2024

Last Publication: March 28, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

Water Court

Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, WATER DIVISION 1, COLORADO FEBRUARY 2024

WATER RESUME PUBLICATION

TO: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

IN WATER APPLICATIONS IN WATER DIV. 1

Pursuant to C.R.S. 37-92-302, you are notified

that the following is a resume of all water right applications, and certain amendments filed in the Office of the Water Clerk during the month of FEBRUARY 2024 for each County affected. (This publication can be viewed in its entirety on the state court website at: www.courts.state. co.us)

2024CW3025 SARKAR VENTURES LLC, 14740 Oslo Ave, Parker, CO 80134. James J. Petrock, David S. Hayes, Hayes Poznanovic Korver LLC, 700 17th Street, Suite 1800, Denver, CO 80202. APPLICATION FOR UNDERGROUND WATER RIGHTS AND PLAN FOR AUGMENTATION FROM NONTRIBUTARY AND NOT-NONTRIBUTARY SOURCES IN THE NONTRIBUTARY LOWER DAWSON, DENVER, ARAPAHOE, AND LARAMIE-FOX HILLS AQUIFERS AND THE NOT-NONTRIBUTARY UPPER DAWSON AQUIFER IN ELBERT COUNTY. Subject Property: A parcel totaling approximately 10 acres generally located in the NE1/4 of the NE1/4 of Section 12, Township 7 South, Range 65 West of the 6th P.M., also known as 2890 County Road 166, Elizabeth, Elbert County, State of Colorado, as shown on Exhibit A (“Subject Property”). Lien Holder Certification: Applicant certifies that it has given notice to all mortgage or lien holders as required under C.R.S. § 37-92-302(2)(b). Well Permits: There is one existing Upper Dawson Aquifer domestic use well on the Subject Property under Well Permit Number 48339, which will be re-permitted under the augmentation plan applied for in this Application. Additional well permits will be applied for prior to construction of additional wells. Source of Water Rights: The Upper Dawson Aquifer is not-nontributary (“NNT”) as defined in C.R.S. § 37-90-103(10.7), and the Lower Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe, and Laramie-Fox Hills aquifers are nontributary (“NT”) as defined in C.R.S. § 37-90-103(10.5). Estimated Amounts: Applicant desires to leave no groundwater unadjudicated. Applicant estimates the following amounts may be available for withdrawal:

for Augmentation: Return flows from the use of not-nontributary and nontributary groundwater and direct discharge of nontributary groundwater.

Statement of Plan for Augmentation: The notnontributary Upper Dawson Aquifer groundwater will be used in one, or more, wells to provide in-house use in two (2) single-family dwellings or their equivalent (0.6 acre-feet per year), commercial sanitary use (1 acre-foot per year), irrigation of up to 20,000 square-feet of grass, trees, and gardens (1 acre-feet per year), watering of 8 large domestic animals (0.1 acre-feet per year), fire protection, and storage anywhere on the Subject Property. Applicant reserves the right to amend the amount and uses without amending the application or republishing the same. Sewage treatment for in-house use will be provided by non-evaporative septic systems. Return flow from in-house use will be approximately 90% of that use and return flow from irrigation use will be approximately 15% of that use. During pumping Applicant will replace actual depletions pursuant to C.R.S. § 37-90-137(9)(c.5). Depletions occur to the South Platte River stream system and return flows accrue to that stream system and are sufficient to replace actual depletions while the subject groundwater is being pumped. Applicant will reserve an equal amount of nontributary groundwater underlying the Subject Property to meet post-pumping augmentation requirements.

Applicant requests the Court approve the above underground water rights and augmentation plan, find that Applicant has complied with C.R.S. § 37-90-137(4) and water is legally available for withdrawal, find there will be no material injury to the owners of or persons entitled to use water under any vested water right or decreed conditional water right, and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate. 4 pages.

THE WATER RIGHTS CLAIMED BY THESE APPLICATIONS MAY AFFECT IN PRIORITY

ANY WATER RIGHTS CLAIMED OR HERETOFORE ADJUDICATED WITHIN THIS DIVISION AND OWNERS OF AFFECTED RIGHTS MUST APPEAR TO OBJECT WITHIN THE TIME

PROVIDED BY STATUTE OR BE FOREVER BARRED.

of Elbert County, Colorado on or before July 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Tracy L. Weidmann, Personal Representative

c/o Gubbels Law Office, P.C. 103 4th Street, Suite 120 Castle Rock, CO 80104

Legal Notice No. 205118

First Publication: March 14, 2024

Last Publication: March 28, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on February 26, 2024 that a Petition for a Change of Name of a minor child has been filed with the Elbert County Court.

The Petition requests that the name of Jarrett Dirscherl Kirgan be changed to Jarrett Dylan Kirgan

Case No.: 2024C14

Palmer L. Boyette

By: County Court Judge

Legal Notice No. 205116

First Publication: March 14, 2024

Last Publication: March 28, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Leslie Sylverne Stratton, aka Leslie S. Stratton, aka Leslie Stratton, aka L. S. Stratton, Deceased Case Number 2024PR30009

Proposed Uses: Groundwater withdrawn from the not-nontributary and nontributary aquifers underlying the Subject Property will be used, reused, and successively used to extinction for all allowable beneficial uses, including, but not limited to, domestic, including in-house use, commercial, irrigation, stock watering, fire protection, recreational, fish and wildlife, and augmentation purposes, including storage. The water may be immediately used or stored for subsequent use, used for exchange purposes, for direct replacement of depletions, and for other augmentation purposes, including taking credit for all return flows resulting from the use of such water for augmentation of, or as an offset against, any outof-priority depletions. The water may be leased, sold, or otherwise disposed of for all the above uses both on and off the Subject Property. Jurisdiction: The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this application pursuant to C.R.S. §§ 37-90-137(6), 37-92-203(1), 37-92-302(2).

Summary of Plan for Augmentation: Groundwater to be Augmented: Up to 2.70 acre-feet per year for 100 years of not-nontributary Upper Dawson Aquifer groundwater. Water Rights to be Used

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that any party who wishes to oppose an application, or an amended application, may file with the Water Clerk, P. O. Box 2038, Greeley, CO 80632, a verified Statement of Opposition, setting forth facts as to why the application should not be granted, or why it should be granted only in part or on certain conditions. Such Statement of Opposition must be filed by the last day of APRIL 2024 (forms available on www.courts.state.co.us or in the Clerk’s office), and must be filed as an Original and include $192.00 filing fee. A copy of each Statement of Opposition must also be served upon the Applicant or Applicant’s Attorney and an affidavit or certificate of such service of mailing shall be filed with the Water Clerk.

Legal Notice No. 205120

First Publication: March 21, 2024

Last Publication: March 21, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before Monday, July 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

John F. Cook, LLC

Attorney to the Personal Representative, 12101 East Second Avenue Suite, 102 Aurora, Colorado 80010;

Phone Number: 303-363-6200

Email: cookjohnf1@qwestoffice.net

Selina M. Kliest, Personal Representative 2607 Bundy Williams Rd Marshville, NC 28103

Legal Notice No. 205117

First Publication: March 14, 2024

Last Publication: March 28, 2024

Publisher: Elbert County News

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Rosemary A. Rodgers, Deceased Case Number 2024 PR 030012

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before August 9, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

James T.

A LETTER TO OUR READERS AND ADVERTISERS

To our loyal supporters,

We’re excited to tell you about a major expansion of our Colorado operation. We are launching a printing press to serve our publications, along with many other newspapers across the Front Range.

is unique project is a crucial step toward stabilizing our costs and ensuring you can continue to receive our news in all the ways that you want.

When the nonpro t National Trust for Local News purchased our 23 news brands in metro Denver in 2021, no one imagined we’d establish a new printing press. Our focus was squarely on digital transformation e orts that have included relaunching our websites and adding a series of new news products in the communities we serve.

However, rapidly rising costs associated with printing and distribution le us and many other publishers across the Front Range in a perilous position. While we know digital is our future, we also know many of our subscribers and advertisers still greatly value the printed newspaper, especially in areas where digital access may be limited.

Funds from the Colorado Media Project, Gates Family Foundation, Colorado Trust, and Bohemian Foundation enabled us to purchase a community printing press and secure a facility in Denver to begin operating it. We’re excited to kick o soon, with our newspapers set to be printed starting in May. We’ll bring on other publishers by the summer.

e new press should allow us to lower manufacturing costs – for ourselves and for other small local publishers – that will stabilize the bottom line and ultimately lead to reinvestments in our reporting resources and digital expansion. We’re strengthening our own business while supporting our fellow publishers.

We believe every community deserves a strong local news source. Your continued support fuels our passion and drive to innovate, adapt, and thrive in an ever-evolving media landscape. Together, we are shaping the future of local journalism in Colorado and beyond.

ank you for being part of this exciting milestone with us.

Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro CEO National Trust for Local News

Linda Shapley Publisher Colorado Community Media