November is underway and already a few delightful winter events and craft fairs have taken place. Elbert County was quick to kick-start the holiday season and get the community in the Christmas spirit. Luckily, there are yet more fun events to come. Here is a partial list of festive options for Elbert County residents.
When: Nov. 14, 2:30-4 p.m.
Where: Elizabeth Library, 651 Beverly St.
For more information: pplibraries. org/03c-adult-activities-resources
Join in a monthly thoughtful and constructive discussion about topics that impact our community.
KPTCC Kiowa Craft Fair & ECCO’s Christmas For Kids Kicko
When: Nov. 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Kiowa High School, 525 Comanche St.
For more information: townofkiowa. colorado.gov/craft-fair
Enjoy local shopping and pictures with Santa, as well as crafts, food, and bouncy houses.
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e rst-ever district attorney of Colorado’s rst new judicial district in decades will be George Brauchler, a Republican and former DA who wants to send a message to those who would commit crimes.
When: Nov. 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Elizabeth Middle School, 34427 County Road 13
For more information: Email emscraftfair@esdk12.org. Over 100 crafters to complete your holiday shopping list! Cookies by the pound will be available.
First Annual Veterans Day Appreciation Event
When: Nov. 16, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Casey Jones Pavilion, 4189 Highway 86 in Elizabeth
For more information: elizabethchamber.org/events
Come celebrate local veterans and
SEE EVENTS, P12
Brauchler is back in the DA business story.
“I want to tell folks, starting Jan. 1, if you come down here to victimize us, if you come down here to commit crimes against us, you should expect to be incarcerated,” Brauchler told Colorado Community Me-
e former 18th District DA won election by a large margin over Democrat Karen Breslin in the new 23rd District — roughly 23 percentage points as of the afternoon Nov. 7, the most recent update as of the print deadline for this story. e race encompassed a set of counties that made for a deep-red electorate.
Speaking to CCM, Breslin said she wasn’t able to run as active a campaign as she had hoped.
“I just congratulate Mr. Brauchler on his victory,”
Colorado’s court system is made up of 22 judicial districts, and a new district is on the way. Currently, the 18th Judicial District includes Douglas, Arapahoe,
But state lawmakers — noting population growth and a political split in the region — decided to break it up, moving Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties into
e 23rd Judicial District is set to launch in January 2025. e 18th Judicial District will then only include Arapahoe County. Residents of Arapahoe County voted in a separate race to select a new district attorney in the November election as well.
A district attorney serves as the head prosecutor for a region of Colorado’s courts, also leading the prosecutors who work in that DA’s o ce. e o ce is responsible for prosecuting crimes that allegedly occur in the area.
Brauchler, a longtime politician who has appeared on ballots in several elections, served eight years as DA for the 18th district, wrapping up his term in 2021. He lives in Douglas County.
Breslin, who lives in Elbert County, teaches political science at the University of Colorado Denver. She is a practicing attorney with a focus on land use and environmental law, she said.
Brauchler framed the election as about experience, saying Breslin has never been a prosecutor. If someone allegedly commits mass murder and the case goes to trial, “it won’t be my rst one,” Brauchler has said.
Brauchler’s time as DA for the 18th District was
Brauchler
TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Elbert County Fair Royalty bundled up for the cold at the 2023 Elbert County Coalition for Outreach Christmas for Kids Kicko and Town of Kiowa Annual Tree Lighting. From left are Ava Hagan, Tabitha Cabrera and Lauralai Brammer.
PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY
With wetter weather, Douglas County areas loosen fire bans
Wildfire risk has decreased, Castle Rock says, but o cials will continue to monitor conditions
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Recent and forecasted moisture and colder temperatures have reduced the risk of wild res, leading Castle Rock to lift re restrictions, the town announced in early November.
e Douglas County Sheri ’s Of-
ce also lifted re restrictions in early November for the county’s unincorporated areas — places outside of cities and towns.
“While we have seen an increase in moisture in the last few days, people are encouraged to be vigilant as the danger of re is always present,” the sheri ’s o ce said in a news release.
O cials will continue to monitor moisture levels and other conditions and may reinstate re restrictions if dry conditions return and re risk increases, Castle Rock said in a news release.
Fire restrictions typically ban things like open burning, as well as camp res at developed camp-
grounds or picnic areas.
When the Douglas sheri ’s o ce issues or rescinds re restrictions, that decision also applies to Larkspur and Castle Pines, according to Deborah Takahara, a spokesperson for the o ce. e sheri ’s ofce is the law enforcement agency for those municipalities.
For more information on re restrictions, see dcsheri .net/sheri s-o ce/divisions/emergencymanagement/ re-restrictions.
In Castle Rock, see crgov.com/ rebans for current information. Questions about the current status of re restrictions in town can be directed to the re chief’s o ce at 303-660-1066.
Polis o ers slimmer state budget for 2025-26
Governor’s proposed Colorado budget cuts personnel funding to prepare for tighter spending
BY LINDSEY TOOMER COLORADO NEWSLINE
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has released his 2025-2026 state budget proposal, which prepares for tighter spending given decreasing in ation this year. Colorado’s budget growth is tied to ination and population growth under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. While in ation peaked around 8% in 2022 and hit 5% last year, an in ation rate of 2.5% in 2024 means the state’s budget increase this year is smaller than in the last two years. “A lot of what we did this budget is we really tried to drive government efciency everywhere and anywhere we could nd it,” Polis said. “We challenged our agencies, we went out and we found things that we could cut to make government more e cient.” e budget proposal comes out to over
$46 billion with about $17.8 billion for the general fund. General fund dollars are slightly lower than in last year’s proposal. e proposal maintains a 15% general fund reserve.
Polis proposed a 1% cut for state personnel services across the board, though he would combine the two budget lines personnel funding comes from to give departments more exibility on where they will make those cuts. e proposal would also adjust various task forces and commissions whose work can be delegated elsewhere. Pinnacol Assurance, the state’s workers compensation insurer of last resort, would be privatized under Polis’ proposal.
For K-12 school funding, Polis proposed implementing 10% of the new school nance formula the Legislature adopted in the spring, extending the rollout of that program across seven years instead of six while still avoiding the budget stabilization factor — the amount of money the state owes schools based on a formula but chooses to spend on other priorities. e budget also calls for perpupil funding as opposed to the current system, which bases funding on average
enrollment over a few years. Polis called this “sensible, long overdue changes.”
“We’re not just interested in fully funding our schools one year, as an example,” Polis said. “We want to make sure we’re preparing the state budget for delivery on these promises over many years, including implementing the new school nance act to better fund students in need.”
State Minority Leader Rep. Rose Pugliese, a Colorado Springs Republican, criticized the slow rollout of the new school nance formula and said the budget doesn’t have enough funding dedicated to public safety.
“While I appreciate the Governor’s commitment to avoiding the budget stabilization factor, there is still much more work to be done to address Colorado’s education needs fully,” Pugliese said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the school nance reforms we have pushed for will not take e ect soon enough. Colorado families can’t wait seven years for an updated formula to roll out — our students deserve real support now.”
Colorado’s Medicaid caseload has been “higher than expected,” Polis said, with Medicaid costs accounting for 36% of the
On Dec. 14, 2021, the Chatridge 3 fire consumed 24 acres along Chatridge Court and U.S. Highway 85 in the Highlands Ranch area. The Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce recently lifted fire restrictions in early November but encouraged people “to be vigilant as the danger of fire is always present.”
state’s operating budget and 32% of general fund spending for the 2024-2025 scal year. With more increases expected, Polis proposes maintaining current Medicaid reimbursement rates.
“Over the last few years, we’ve worked hard to build a safe, a ordable, sustainable Colorado, and the focus of this budget is really maintaining the progress we’ve had and making sure that we can tighten our belts and deliver scal responsibility, more government e ciency and meet those commitments around continuing to fully fund our schools and investments in public safety,” Polis said. e governor can submit a supplemental budget amendment package on Jan. 2, which would include any changes that result from ballot measures voters may pass in the election this week.
State lawmakers are the ones who are ultimately responsible for writing and passing the state budget during next year’s session.
is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.
Cloned black-footed ferret gives birth for first time ever
Landmark in Colorado-based reintroduction e orts
BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN
A black-footed ferret cloned from DNA of a ferret that lived in the 1980s has birthed two healthy kits, the rst successful live births from a cloned endangered species and another win for a federal ferret recovery program based in northern Colorado.
Antonia, cloned fromfrozen material from long-dead Willa, is helping raise her now 3-month-old kits as part of an e ort to expand the gene pool of ferrets being reintroduced in Colorado and other states. While thousands of conventionally bred ferrets have been dropped into prairie dog colonies in Western states, they all descend from just seven of theanimals captured in Wyoming in the 1980s.
Antonia’s descendants have three times the genetic diversity of any other living ferrets derived from the original
seven parents. An expanded genetic stock could help the highly endangered species — researchers believe only a few hundred reintroduced ferrets survive in North America — speed up recovery from ongoing sylvatic plague and canine distemper.
Black-footed ferrets were also decimated by development and farming expansion wiping out prairie dogs, which make up 90% of a ferret’s diet.
Paul Marinari, senior curator at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia, said the births are a “major milestone” and will help endangered species partners “continue their innovative and inspirational e orts to save this species.”
e cloning program is overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Black-footed Ferret Recovery Program in Wellington. Two of the three ferrets cloned so far from Willa’s DNA live at the Colorado facility.
Antonia is at the Smithsonian facility in Front Royal, Virginia. She mated with a conventionally bred 3-year-old male ferret, Urchin. One of Antonia’s new kits died just after birth. e others, one male
and one female, are healthy and will stay with Antonia at the Virginia facility, with no plans for wild release.
Another cloned ferret, Noreen, is also a potential mom in the cloningbreeding program. e original cloned ferret,Elizabeth Ann, is in Colorado, but does not have healthyuterine hornsthat would allow for breeding. Elizabeth Ann is healthy, the wildlife service has said previously, and her condition did not appear to be attributed to the cloning process.
Black-footed ferrets were thought extinct for years before a dog dropped a recently-deceased ferret on a home doorstep in Wyoming in 1981. Scientists fanned out to nd the elusive remaining colony, and about 24 ferrets considered to be the last in the world. Eighteen of those survived to enter a captive reproduction program set up at the Wellington facility, which also has 40 acres of open space to “train” kits for the wild.
Of those 18, seven ferrets eventually reproduced in captivity. Willa died before producing, but was among those with DNA preserved at the San Diego Zoo; adding her genetic material back into the
ferret pool could signal great progress.
“So by doing this, we’ve actually added an eight founder,” said Tina Jackson, black-footed ferret recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in an April interview. “And in some ways that may not sound like a lot, but in this genetic world, that is huge.”
In September, Colorado wildlife ocials were enthusiastic about reportsof at least two healthy litters of wild-born black-footed ferrets at May Ranch in southeastern Colorado. More than 50 of the endangered ferrets bred in captivity in Wellington havebeen reintroduced at May Ranchnear Lamar in the past few years, but survival is tricky, and spotting the elusive nocturnal critters once released has been an extra challenge.
Systematic state surveys of ferret release sites including May Ranch, employing everything from night spotlights to pet-chip readers, have this year produced proof of surviving released ferrets and new o spring.
is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.
Reflections on Writing & Publishing My 1,000th ‘Real Estate Today’ Column
Because journalism was my first profession, writing a column about real estate seemed an obvious way to make myself known when I entered the real estate industry in 2003. The first column I published as a paid advertisement was on July 30, 2003, and I estimate that I have published at least 1,000 columns since then — 52 columns per year for most of the last 21 years. And every one was written by me, on a new topic each week.
have never written a column which embarrassed me due to something I wrote. (I still show each column to my wife, Rita, and to my broker associates before sending it for publication.)
From the beginning, I saw this column as “my own continuing education program,” because I had to study each topic before I could write knowledgeably about it. At first, that meant showing the first draft to my managing broker at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, to make sure I had my facts right. Even now, I will often send a first draft to another broker who has expertise I don’t in the topic I chose to write about that week.
You can see the topics of those columns going back to July 2003 at www.JimSmithColumns.com
The links on those original columns don’t all work, but you can at least see the headlines.
As a result, I can honestly say that I
I don’t know of any real estate agents anywhere in the country who have taken this approach to promoting themselves, but that may be due to the fact that the vast majority of people in any profession other than the writing professions have trouble expressing themselves in writing — and it’s a big commitment of time. If I weren’t writing this column, I’d probably have to spend hours every day or week prospecting — making cold calls or knocking on doors soliciting sellers and buyers. I might have been one of those agents who bombards you, the typi-
We Learned Firsthand About Vacant Land Scams
The Colorado Association of Realtors (CAR) issued a warning last month about scammers trying to sell vacant land that they don’t own in Douglas County, adding that it may be happening in other counties.
One of our broker associates found himself caught up in just such a scam even before that alert was issued. Here is how the scam unfolded and was discovered, so that the property owner and buyer were not victimized.
Via our website, we received an inquiry about listing a parcel of land in Coal Creek Canyon, so I referred the lead to a broker associate who lives nearby. He quickly got a signed listing for the property at $100,000, and I advertised the parcel in that week’s ad. He put a for-sale sign on the parcel and a neighbor quickly snapped it up, going under contract for it below full price.
The scammer said he was in a cancer isolation ward and didn’t have an ID with him. He needed to close quickly so he could pay his medical expenses.
The folks at First Integrity Title, which received the contract for processing, got suspicious because of no ID and sent a FedEx letter to the real owner of the property at his home in Maryland. The owner immediately called our broker associate, incensed that his property was being sold without his knowledge or involvement.
If the title company had not taken that action, it is possible that the transaction might have gone to closing based on forged IDs from the scammer, and the proceeds of the sale would have been wired according to the scammer’s directions.
The sale would ultimately have been voided, but the buyer would have lost his money. The seller would not have suffered loss.
In its October alert, CAR provided some guidance on how to recognize a vacant land scam in the making:
“In these cases, the scammer tries to list vacant land with no mortgage. He wants to sell it at below market prices for a quick sale. The scammer makes it clear there can be no in person communications, and that all communications are to be done by text or email. The scammer tells the real estate agent one of several stories about why he is out of town. He insists on a remote, no-contact closing, typically using a “local” notary of his choosing. He will not accept a local notary selected by the title company.
“The scammer has presented fraudulent driver’s licenses and fraudulent passports as identification. He uses spoofed phone numbers and untraceable email addresses.”
No such scam should be successful so long as the title company does what First Integrity Title did, which was to contact the registered owner of the land to verify the transaction.
In listing any property for sale, it’s a good practice for the listing agent to have the title company run an “ownership and encumbrance” report, which identifies the owner. Then, using an app called Forewarn, which is only available to licensed real estate agents, we can find the phone number(s) of the registered owner and call them to verify that they are indeed who is talking to us.
BTW, once the seller knew we were not scamming him and had foiled the scam attempt, he said he might list his land with us!
Golden Real Estate’s Broker Associates
cal homeowner, with letters and postcards saying, “I have a buyer for your home” — which may or may not be the truth. I much prefer to spend those hours being of service to the general public, studying every aspect of real estate that I can think of where I myself would like to know more, and then sharing it with you. When I ran for political office in 1981, I did exactly the same thing. Before announcing my candidacy I spent several months investigating every aspect of municipal government, speaking to civil servants in each agency and learning everything I could about policing, criminal justice and corrections as well as welfare, housing and economic development. When I announced my campaign, I released a 16-page tabloid spelling out my program for “saving” my city. I referred to it as “the power of the well-printed word.” It helped that I owned a typesetting business at the time, so I knew how to make what I printed look professional.
That effort wasn’t as successful, however, because I was running against seasoned politicians with political clubhouses behind them, not competing with fellow professionals, most of whom had a lot more experience than me but couldn’t demonstrate that experience or knowledge as well as a seasoned journalist like myself.
My training in journalism came from writing and editing my prep school and college newspapers but most especially from winning a summer internship in 1968 at The Washington Post I really love the practice of real estate and the reputation I have built with my readers. I love getting emails and phone calls asking my advice or reacting to something I have written. And when you call me about selling or buying a home, I love to know that the call was based on the trust and reputation I have built over two decades (or less) from my writings. Often, when I go on a listing appointment, I find that the seller has a folder containing clippings of my columns. I love to tell the story of one listing presen-
tation where the seller mentioned a particular issue of concern to them. “I wrote about that a few years ago,” I said, whereupon the seller opened a manila folder in which that old column was on the top of the pile.
My first year in this business, I attended a retreat hosted by one of the preeminent real estate coaches. Following that event, I hired that coach’s firm briefly, but the focus was on memorizing scripts and “time blocking” several hours per days for cold-calling. I couldn’t do it.
It just wasn’t my style. I have never memorized a script and never made a cold call — in fact, never prospected at all. This column is what made that approach possible. The hours I could spend prospecting are so much better spent writing and publishing this column.
At first I wrote monthly, then biweekly, and within a couple years I was able to write this column every week. At first I bought a page in a little Golden newspaper because I couldn’t afford the Golden Transcript. When the Denver Post introduced the regionalized “YourHub” section, I jumped on it, limited to the Jefferson County editions.
Then came the Golden Transcript and three other Jeffco papers. When over 20 metro area weeklies were combined under the non-profit ownership of Colorado Community Media, I expanded to include my ad in all of them. That was after I had already expanded to be in all the local editions of YourHub.
A couple months ago, I signed a contract with the Denver Gazette, a digitalonly newspaper with a large readership. And, of course, I am also online, with over 1,300 email subscribers to our blog at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com
For me as a journalist, there is no greater pleasure and satisfaction than what I get from having my writings broadcast so thoroughly around this metro area that I call home. Thank you for letting me take this week off from writing about another real estate topic to share my story with you.
be misled by our name. Our agents have listed homes throughout the Denver Metro area and helped clients buy homes and other real estate all over Colorado!
It’s not often that you can buy a duplex where one side is empty and the other side is rented and contributing $1,500 per month to your mortgage costs! That’s the situation with this well-built and well-maintained brick duplex at 12613 W. 8th Ave. in that quiet neighborhood next to Welchester Tree Grant Park called Foothills View Estate. The two sides of this duplex are mirror images of each other and identical in terms of updating, including newer bath fixtures, doublepane windows, and new garage doors. (The two 1-car garages are accessed from an alley.) The vacant half is the one with a 12’x30’ wood deck, from which you can see the foothills to the west. Welchester Tree Grant Park is just a block away, with nature trails, including to the adjoining Welchester Elementary School. A narrated video tour of both sides of this duplex can be viewed at www.GoldenDuplex.online, along with interior photos of the vacant unit. The rented unit is not available to see until you’re under contract, but it is identical in condition to the vacant unit, as you’ll see on the video tour. Open Saturday, Nov. 16th, 11am to 1pm
Buy a Duplex & Have Tenant Help With the Mortgage
Voters approve $490M bond for Douglas County schools
BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After two previous attempts to pass school funding in recent years, Douglas County voters seem likely to approve the school district’s $490 million bond proposal to build new schools and address maintenance issues.
Early results show 59% of voters are supporting the bond and 41% are against.
Superintendent Erin Kane told the Douglas County News-Press that she is incredibly grateful to voters and the campaign volunteers.
“I am so grateful for our entire community for shouting loud and clear that they support our schools, our kids, our teachers,” Kane said. “Now, it’s incum-
bent on us to make sure that we spend this money carefully, exactly as we said we would, transparently and with the oversight of a citizen’s committee.”
The bond plan covers the construction of elementary schools in Sterling Ranch and Ridgegate, the expansion of Sierra Middle School and a majority of maintenance projects across all Douglas County schools through 2026. It will also invest in building security improvements, transportation needs –like buses – and expanding career and technical education.
The district has a growing backlog of about $300 million in building maintenance and hasn’t built a new school since 2010.
Kane said the district will be able to get started on maintenance projects
right away and complete all of the projects laid out in the bond plan over four years. The two new schools should open in 2027, Kane added.
The district hired former Lone Tree mayor Jackie Millet as bond director to oversee the spending.
The passage of the bond will not increase taxes because previous debt is maturing and can be replaced with the new investments. This was the last year the district could ask for a bond without raising taxes.
The school district has approached voters with similar funding packages in the past two years and failed. The district hadn’t passed a bond since 2018 and the money from it has since been spent.
School board president Christy Wil-
liams echoed Kane’s thanks to voters.
“All students will benefit, and we will be able to provide two new schools in communities that are growing,” Williams said. “I am grateful the voters saw the value in this ballot measure. Third time’s the charm.”
School board member Brad Geiger said it’s thrilling to be able to invest in the schools.
“It’s not always big stuff, it’s new carpets and stages and seating, but it’s about making sure that every time a kid walks into school, they will know we care about the environment they are being educated in,” Geiger said.
A bond plan published by the district lays out how much funding will go to each school, including charters, and what upgrades are being prioritized.
Joshua Rivero likely to become Parker’s eighth mayor
BY HALEY LENA
After a tight race between Je Toborg and Joshua Rivero, uno cial results lean toward long-time councilmember Rivero becoming Parker’ eighth mayor.
“I think the citizens of Parker have spoken,” said Rivero. “ ey realize that at this level, it’s not about what other parties have to say, it’s about what is best for the community.”
Additionally, Parker Town Council incumbents Laura Hefta, Todd Hendreks and Mayor Pro Tem John Diak are likely to serve another term.
Of the 322,394 registered voters in
Douglas County, as of Nov. 6, about 296,350 were active, according to the Douglas County Elections O ce. While Parker, Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock accounted for a majority of active voters, Parker had the highest number of active voters.
Of those active voters, nearly half were registered as una liated, while about 32% were Republicans and about 17% were Democrats.
SEE YOURSELF ON STAGE
Hours before another round of election results came in on the evening of Nov. 6, Rivero took to Facebook to thank his supporters, stating “I am truly honored to be your next mayor,” and “I am ready for this journey and will be thorough in my duties.” Meanwhile, Toborg’s Facebook page has appreciation posts from constituents for his time as mayor.
However, Toborg told the Parker Chronicle that another round of results were coming in.
At 5:28 p.m. on Nov. 7, of the 31,133 votes cast, over 15,355 were for Toborg and over 15,778 for Rivero, according to the Secretary of State’s website.
e following day, acknowledging his last four years as mayor, Toborg put out a statement thanking his family, supporters and the Douglas County GOP along with various elected o cials.
“While the election didn’t go as we had hoped,” said Toborg. “I’m embracing the opportunity to return to private life with renewed enthusiasm. I look forward to contributing to our community in new ways that as an elected o cial were not as easy.”
e Parker Town Council is made up of six councilmembers, incumbents Hefta, Hendreks and Diak were up for reelection; and residents Mike Drennan, Tim Lynott, Brian Carruthers and Abdulla Zubair joined the race, some more active in campaigning than others.
Preliminary results showed Hefta and Hendreks had the most votes while Diak and Drennan ran a somewhat tight race to take the third seat.
“Clearly the election results for the other open positions and myself are proof that citizens trust us and want representatives that are Parker focused and foremost,” said Hendreks.
Based on the preliminary results, incumbents Hefta, Hendreks and Diak will likely remain in their seats next to fellow councilmembers Anne Barrington and Brandi Wilks, whose terms end in late 2026.
As Rivero is a current councilmember and is likely to become the town’s next
mayor, the remaining councilmembers will have to either call a special election or appoint an eligible person to ll his vacancy until the next regular municipal election, which is November 2026. e decision to appoint or call an election must be made by a two-thirds vote from the remaining councilmembers, said Andy Anderson, Parker’s communications manager.
If the council intends to appoint an individual but cannot appoint that individual within 30 days of the vacancy occurring, the council is required to order a special election. at special election must be held within 90 days of the vacancy. Results have not been made o cial, as the Douglas County elections o ce continued to update results by press time of the Nov. 14 papers. Visit coloradocommunitymedia.com/parker-chronicle/ for the latest results.
Long-time councilmember Joshua Rivero is likely to become the eighth mayor of Parker, according to uno cial results by the Secretary of State.
Parker Town Council incumbents Todd Hendreks, Laura Hefta and John Diak lean towards taking their seats back alongside Councilmembers Anne Barrington and Brandi Wilks.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Elbert County election roundup
SCOTT GILBERT
Elbert County voters weighed in on a range of political races and questions in the Nov. 5 election, including state, county, municipal and school district issues. In early returns, the following numbers were available at press time:
In Colorado House District 56, which includes all or parts of seven counties on Colorado’s Eastern Plains, Republican Elbert County Commissioner Chris Richardson was leading Democrat Alessandra Navetta 75% to 25% districtwide, and 75% to 25% in Elbert County as well. e district stretches into Adams, Arapahoe, Elbert, El Paso, Kit Carson, Cheyenne and Lincoln counties.
Elbert County Ballot Question 1A asked county residents to create a three-term limit for the assessor, clerk, surveyor and treasurer. Voters were approving the measure 73% to 27%.
In other countywide voting, two Republicans ran unopposed for Elbert County commissioner, Mike Buck in District 1 and Byron McDaniel in District 3. Voters residing in the Town of Elizabeth were approving a measure 51% to 49% that would let the town publish ordinanc-
BRAUCHLER
es by title only instead of in full, provided the full text is available elsewhere.
In Elizabeth, four candidates vied for two seats on the board of trustees from Ward 1, and three competed for two seats in Ward 3. In Ward 1, Michael Schroder got 32%, Tracy Hutchins got 30%, Barbara McGinn got 23% and Anthony Malacrida got 15%. In Ward 3, Dave Conley got 37%, Shannon Downs got 33% and Joe Belongia got 30%. No candidates led for Ward 2.
In Kiowa, Terry Howard ran unopposed for mayor, and no candidates led for the board of trustees.
Residents in the northwestern corner of Elbert County voted on Douglas County School District Ballot Issue 5A, a $490 million proposed bond with a repayment cost of up to $895 million. e bond was passing 59% to 41% districtwide, but Elbert County voters were rejecting it 56% to 44%.
In the Kiowa School District, voters were rejecting a $13.45 million proposed bond with a repayment cost of up to $25.1 million 52% to 48%. 2
In the Calhan School District, voters were rejecting the removal of board members’ term limits 74% to 26%, with voters in the Elbert County portion of the district
rejecting the measure 77% to 23%.
In the race for Colorado Board of Education member from the 4th Congressional District, Republican Kristi “KBB” Brown Burton was leading Democrat Krista Holtzmann 60% to 40% districtwide, and 76% to 24% among Elbert County voters.
Four candidates competed for the at-
large seat on the University of Colorado Board of Regents. Statewide, Democrat Elliott Hood was leading Republican Eric Rinard 51% to 47% with the rest of the vote going to Approval Voting candidate omas Reasoner and Unity candidate T.J. Cole, but in Elbert County, the Republican was leading the Democrat 77% to 21%.
essentially bookended by shootings that horrified the Denver suburbs: the 2012 Aurora theater shooting and the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting in 2019. Brauchler’s successor, John Kellner, asked him to stay on as special prosecutor for the STEM School shooting trial.
es that changes behavior, far more than the name and size of the charge.”
People on the political left would say it’s the certainty of being caught that deters crime, Brauchler said.
Speaking on deterring crime, Brauch ler said he’s convinced that it’s the “speed and certainty of consequenc-
“But that’s only half of it,” Brauchler said, arguing that it doesn’t help “if all you’re doing is being caught and (let go).” He said he’s not looking to “just fill up the jails and lock people up and throw away the key.”
But if a person steals, for example, “we’re going to lock you up,” Brauchler said. And “we’re going to try to give you the tools and the incentive when you get out to make better decisions.”
GOP wins state Legislature races in Douglas County, with one exception
BY HALEY LENA, MCKENNA HARFORD, ELLIS ARNOLD HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM, MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM, EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Following months of appearing in ads, speaking with residents and debating at forums, preliminary results show many of the state lawmakers from Douglas County will likely still be Republican, with one exception: Bob Marshall.
With several state House districts in Douglas County, each elected representative serves a two-year term, joining a total of 65 representatives at the Capitol. In the state Senate, members serve four-year terms in the 35-person chamber.
While the preliminary results indicate the makeup of the House will continue to have a Democrat majority, the Douglas County results lean more Republican, following historical trends.
It’s important to note that results have not been made o cial, as the Douglas County elections o ce continued to update results in the days following Nov. 5.
According to the Douglas County elections o ce, there were about 322,000 total registered voters this election season, with about 296,000 active. Of those active voters, nearly half were registered as una liated, while about 32% were Republicans and about 17% were Democrats.
e Parker, Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock areas accounted for the majority of active voters.
House District 39
In the race to decide who will represent the House district that covers most of the Douglas County map, Republican state Rep. Brandi Bradley, an incumbent, won
by a large margin over Democratic challenger Eric Brody. Brody issued a message conceding the race on Nov. 6. e contest was a rematch. Bradley was rst elected in 2022, beating Brody with 58% of the vote. is time, Bradley had garnered about 59% of the vote, according to results as of Nov. 6.
District 39 includes Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Larkspur, the Roxborough Park area and part of the south Highlands Ranch area. It also includes much of Douglas’ rural areas.
House District 43
Bob Marshall, the Democratic nominee for House District 43, claimed victory against his opponent Republican Matt Burcham on social media in the evening on Nov. 6 following another round of preliminary election results. roughout election night, Marshall, who became the Highlands Ranch district representative in 2022, held a slight lead over Burcham. Douglas County ballots continued to be counted the following day.
Another round of preliminary results posted to the Secretary of State’s website at 5:40 p.m. on Nov. 6 showed that of the 52,656 votes cast, more than 27,000 were for Marshall and more than 25,500 for Burcham.
About an hour after those results, Marshall shared on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter: “VICTORY!” He then followed by saying he is on the “Colorado GOP’s most wanted list” and is “Douglas County’s GOP’s number one priority.” Citing the numerous negative ads
against him this election season, Marshall quoted the Elton John song, “I’m Still Standing” song, with, “Well, look at me, I’m a-coming back again,” as well as providing a link to a video of the song.
Just before 1 p.m. on Nov. 7, the Associated Press declared Marshall won the race.
As of Nov. 7, Burcham has not released a statement on social media or to the Highlands Ranch Herald.
House District 44 e race for House District 44, which includes Parker and its surrounding communities, was one that included a rst time candidate and an incumbent.
Alyssa Nilemo, who had been a long time una liated voter, was the Democratic nominee against incumbent Republican Anthony Hartsook. Preliminary results show that Hartsook is likely to become the district’s representative for a second term as he led with a 16 percentage-point lead on election night.
“What we’re looking at, we’re looking at to bring balance to the government right now,” said Hartsook.
Hartsook was rst elected to the seat in 2022 and since then, has said he has fought for bipartisanship. He added that although the Democrats control a lot of levels of power, there are issues such as taxes that still needs to be addressed.
“Even if you’re a Democrat, I believe that people want the government working together,” said Hartsook. “It’s what everybody wants, whether Democrat or Republican. ey all want their kids to have a better future.”
Hartsook’s opponent, Nilemo, led her campaign with “people before politics” at the forefront. Although she trails behind in the results, she said she feels hopeful for the county with certain ballot measures that have been passed.
Nilemo said her disappointment was paired with some joy as she is proud to have been part of communities as well as bringing attention to issues she is passionate about and how she ran her campaign.
Looking forward, Nilemo encourages people to stay civically engaged.
“I hope folks will remain engaged, plugged in and optimistic about the future,” said Nilemo.
House District 45
Republican Max Brooks beat challenger Chad Cox, a Democrat, to represent House District 45, which covers Castle Rock and the South Pinery area.
Brooks, a current Castle Rock Town Council member, will be a rst time state legislator, who has said he will focus on improving public safety, lowering costs and protecting local control.
Brooks said in a statement that he is incredibly grateful for the voters, his campaign volunteers and the support of his family. He also thanked Cox for being a strong opponent and being dedicated to the community.
“I now welcome in ALL voters as we move forward, together, to bring meaningful solutions to the hardworking families and residents of Castle Rock, Pradera, South Pinery and Colorado,” Brooks said. “I will sincerely endeavor to be your voice and represent your concerns at the state capitol.”
Brooks has lived in Castle Rock since 2006 and has experience on multiple local boards, including the town council and Castle Rock Planning Commission. Brooks said he ran because he wants to provide a solutions-oriented and pragmatic representation for Castle Rock at the statehouse.
In his time on council, Brooks spearheaded an ongoing e ort to take legal action against Denver for its policies to assist migrants and supported the town’s e orts to secure the Lost Canyon Ranch open space.
Senate District
2
Colorado Rep. Lisa Frizell will move from serving in one chamber of the Legislature to the other with her win in the Senate District 2 election. Frizell, a Republican, is leading over two challengers — Democrat Jennifer Brady and Libertarian Caryn Ann Harlos. Frizell currently represents House District 45. “I’m elated to have one, especially by a fairly large margin,” Frizell told the NewsPress. “I’m just excited to get to work. I bring a lot of diverse experience to the role, having served on more committees than anybody else in the house last session.”
Senate District 2, which includes Parker and Castle Rock, is currently represented by Republican Sen. Jim Smallwood, who is term limited.
Frizell served in the Colorado House for one term and previously served as Douglas County’s assessor for eight years.
Frizell told the Douglas County NewsPress that she ran to carry forward the legacy Smallwood leaves behind and to continue her work on tax policy, such as providing property tax relief. During her time in the House, Frizell sat on numerous committees, worked to lower property taxes and supported more access to health care.
As a senator, Frizell said her top priorities will be tax relief, consumer protections and improving public safety.
At a recent town hall with U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, Frizell pledged to work with Boebert and Brooks to implement solutions for their constituents.
Boebert wins in race to represent 4th District
BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert has secured a third term in Congress, this time representing Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, beating out Democratic opponent Trisha Calvarese.
Boebert, who currently represents the 3rd Congressional District, switched districts at the beginning of the year after narrowly being reelected to her seat in 2022.
is year, Boebert’s race was not nearly as close, with 53.2% of voters in the 4th district electing her while 42.6% voted for Calvarese.
Boebert said in a statement following the Nov. 5 election that she is honored to serve and will work to uphold the Constitution and advocate for economic policies that bene t Coloradans.
“Let’s build bridges, promote unity, and show that we can work together for the common good of this district and our nation,” Boebert said.
Despite her win, Boebert’s results aren’t as strong as previous Republicans in the district, which is the most conservative congressional district in Colorado.
In Douglas County, Calvarese’s home county, she only trailed Boebert by 128 votes as of the evening of Nov. 6.
e Colorado Sun reported that Calvarese promised to continue to ght for Douglas County in her concession speech on election night. Despite the outcome of the race, Calvarese said, she is “committed to a Democratic future that belongs to all of us.”
“We were able to shave o 15 (percentage points) in a district where Ken Buck won by 24 (percentage points),” Calvarese said.
Boebert told the Sun that she doesn’t plan to change anything about her politics.
“I’m going to continue to be an effective legislator,” she said.
At a recent town hall in Castle Rock, Boebert pledged to work with local o cials to implement solutions for their constituents.
Federal judges clear Colorado 21-and-older gun law
BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN
A Colorado law passed last year requiring people to be at least 21 years old before they purchase a rearm — and prohibiting dealers from selling to anyone under 21 — can go into e ect, a panel of federal appellate judges has ruled.
e ruling from the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dissolves a temporary hold that a federal district court judge placed on the law in August 2023. But the ruling doesn’t end the legal challenge to the law. Instead, it sends the case back to the lower court for the much more detailed arguments that will ultimately decide whether the law can stand.
e law was challenged by Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, a gun-rights advocacy group, as well as two people who said the law blocked them from buying a rearm to protect themselves. One of those plainti s has since turned 21.
ey argued that the law violates their Second Amendment rights. But the appeals court panel concluded that argument isn’t clear-cut enough to be entitled to a temporary injunction against the law.
“ e best reading is that (the law) is presumptively lawful because the aged-based condition or quali cation on the conduct it proscribes falls outside the scope of the plain text of the Second Amendment,” the judges found in their opinion.
In another section, the judges added: “It seems evident that the necessity of some minimum age requirement is widely accepted — after all, no one is reasonably arguing that 8-year-olds should be allowed to purchase guns.”
e case involves a law passed in 2023,Senate Bill 169. e law changes the minimum age to purchase a rearm to 21 from 18 in Colorado. Supporters argue that the law is meant to reduce youth suicides, accidental shootings and gun violence.
Purchasers under the age of 21 as well as unlicensed rearm sellers could face a class-2 misdemeanor for violating the law. Licensed rearms dealers who break the law face a class 1 misdemeanor.
e law ultimately changes the status quo only when it comes to ri es and shotguns because federal law already bans the purchase of handguns by people under 21. e law does not ban the possession of guns by those under 21, nor does it prohibit people under 21 from acquiring rearms via gifts or inheritance. It also contains exemptions for military and law enforcement members.
Tuesday’s ruling marks a relatively minor procedural step in the long arc of the case. But it also showcases how compli-
cated and hotly contested federal rearm jurisprudence has become in the wake of Supreme Court decisions bolstering gun rights and requiring gun laws to be consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of rearms regulation.
In August 2023, when Chief U.S. District Judge Philip A. Brimmer temporarily blocked the law in a 44-page order, he concluded “the individual plainti s have shown a likelihood of success on the merits.” Finding such a likelihood is needed for a judge to issue an injunction.
In appealing that order, attorneys for the state led over 1,000 pages of briefs and appendices, including four expert a davits — three of them from historians and another from a neuroscientist. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia led friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the Colorado law, while eight other organizations led their own friend-of-the-court briefs arguing various positions.
e appeals court ruling, written by U.S. Circuit Judge Richard E.N. Federico, with the support of judges Carolyn Baldwin McHugh and Michael R. Murphy, stretches to 61 pages. A concurrence by McHugh — arguing that one particular issue should have been analyzed during the second step of a process laid out in a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision instead of during the rst step — is another 30 pages. An appendix laying out the history of various state gun laws tacks on another seven
All three judges on the 10th Circuit panel were appointed by Democratic presidents, while Brimmer was appointed by a Republican.
In the end, the appellate judges concluded that the legal issues in the case aren’t as clear as Brimmer saw them.
“Laws imposing conditions and qualications on the sale and purchase of arms do not implicate the plain text of the Second Amendment,” Federico wrote in the ruling.
In a post on X, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners said the 10th Circuit judges “recharacterized this law into a mere commercial regulation instead of a constitutional right infringement.”
“ is is a very temporary setback, and we look forward to ghting back against this outrageous ruling,” the organization wrote. “ is law very clearly violates both the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court’s precedents, and we look forward to ultimately striking it o the books.”
is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.
Demonstrating the use of a cable lock on a handgun.
COURTESY OF COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
Chronic absenteeism rates di er sharply across metro-area school districts
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Around 1 in 4 Colorado students miss critical time in the classroom, according to data from the Colorado Department of Education. Chronic absenteeism, dened as missing more than 10% of school days or around 18 days per year, puts students at greater risk for academic failure, poverty and dropping out of high school, according to Attendance Works, an organization working to reduce chronic absenteeism.
A newly-mandated reporting system required by a 2022 law reveals the issue isn’t just about the number of absences. Rather, it’s about who is missing: students from low-income families, students of color, multilingual learners and those with special needs are the most a ected, facing barriers that go beyond the classroom and into systemic issues like poverty, housing instability and lack of transportation.
At 27.7%, the statewide chronic absenteeism has been dropping since it peaked at 35.5% during the 2021-2022 school year. Yet, rates vary widely across districts and demographics show how some districts struggle with absences far more than others.
“In our statewide data, we see race and ethnicity gaps, but we also see gaps in multilingual learners, students with disabilities and homeless students who qualify for homeless services,” said Johann Liljengren, director of the dropout prevention and student re-engagement o ce in the Colorado Department of Education.
Acknowledging a dire need to address the issue, Colorado’s education leaders joined with 13 other states in a commitment to cut chronic absenteeism by 50% over ve years. Among metro-area districts, Denver, Douglas, Englewood and Je erson County have joined the state’s challenge.
Data reveals disparities across districts and demographics
While all groups of students experience some level of chronic absenteeism, those districts whose minority and low-income students make up a larger portion of the total population have rates far higher than the state average.
In Adams 14, where the absenteeism rate is close to 50%, nearly nine out of 10 students qualify for free or reduced lunch, meaning their family’s income falls below the federal poverty threshold.
Similar trends hold true for Adams 12 and Denver Public Schools, whose ab-
senteeism rates also far exceed the state average. In Adams 12, 47% of their students experience economic hardship. In Denver, it’s 65%.
At around 25%, Cherry Creek, Je co and Elizabeth school districts have lower absenteeism rates than the state average. ey also have fewer percentages of nonwhite and low-income students than the state as a whole.
Douglas County has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate, but the district also has the lowest percentage of minority and low-income students at 32% and 18%, respectively.
Understanding the causes e reasons behind chronic absenteeism are complex and often deeply rooted in students’ broader social and economic conditions. Carl Felton, a policy analyst with EdTrust, emphasized that poverty remains one of the strongest predictors of chronic absenteeism, with low-income students two to three times more likely to
miss school consistently.
“ ese are high-need populations,” Felton explained, adding that for many of these students, absenteeism re ects obstacles like unstable housing, limited access to transportation and lack of healthcare.
e COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges. For many students, school closures meant the loss of a stable environment, access to meals and vital social interaction. As schools reopened, disengagement became a barrier for students accustomed to an extended absence from formal learning.
Felton noted that this break in routine and support made it di cult for students to readjust to school life.
Liljengren agreed.
“For some students, school was a place where they felt supported and cared for. After a year or more away, they’ve struggled to return to that structure,” he said.
Finding solutions
When it comes to nding a solution, Liljengren and Felton agree that understanding the unique challenges and barriers these speci c student populations face is crucial to developing targeted strategies to improve attendance.
While there is no one-size- ts-all answer, Felton emphasized it’s crucial to start by engaging families.
“All these folks have di erent stories and varying needs, which is why we promote family engagement as one of the top priorities and strategies to address chronic absenteeism,” Felton said. “We can make a lot of assumptions and throw money at programs shown to be e ective through evidence-based data, but we may end up spending money on a program when what we really need is a school bus or to hire a person to conduct home visits.”
He also said that research has shown punitive measures, like truancy court or anything that puts more of a burden on families, break trust with school lead-
ers and make families and students less likely to engage and work on solving the problem.
By shifting away from punitive discipline measures and towards restorative approaches, Felton explained schools can build stronger relationships with students and families, address underlying issues and keep students engaged in the learning process.
Liljengren said the state is focused on providing resources to districts, families and community partners through its “Every School Day Matters” attendance campaign.
e goal is for schools and communities to work together in a holistic, familycentered way to address the complex, multifaceted factors contributing to chronic absenteeism, especially for the most vulnerable student populations.
District leaders also recognize their role in ensuring kids want to attend school.
“When kids are excited about what they’re learning, they go to school, so part of it is connecting and saying, ‘how do we make the educational experience really engaging, fun, exciting and relevant to them,’” said Kim LeBlanc-Esparza, deputy superintendent of Je co Public Schools.
She said it’s also about personalizing the school experience for each student.
“If kids know we miss them, they’re less likely to opt out. Building those personal relationships with kids and having adults who genuinely care about them makes a signi cant di erence,” LeBlanc-Esparza said.
e data shows Je co’s strategies are working. e district went from a chronic absenteeism rate of 37.8% in 2021-2022 to 25.3% in 2023-2024.
Felton acknowledged Colorado’s progress and noted that no amount of improvement is insigni cant.
“Even a 1% decrease or reduction in chronic absenteeism adds up to 100 or more students,” he said.
Colorado has committed to cutting chronic absenteeism by 50% over five years, leading district leaders to consider new ways to engage families in attendance.
Elizabeth School Board green-lights charter
Independence Classical Academy planned for neighborhood north of town
BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
e Elizabeth School Board voted 3-2 recently to pass a resolution supporting a new charter school, the Independence Classical Academy, slated to be built in the Independence neighborhood north of Elizabeth.
e vote occurred Oct. 28 at a special business meeting of the school board. Board President Rhonda Olsen along with Directors Heather Booth and Mary Powell voted to pass the resolution. Directors Mike Calahan and Jon Waller voted against.
e resolution was approved with certain conditions and subject to approval of the charter contract:
• Provide evidence of a suitable facility acquired via lease or purchase, including available square footage, estimated annual costs through the term of the agreement, and a detail of any escalating costs, no later than March 1, 2025
• Verify no later than April 30, 2025 that the school site meets all state statute requirements per C.R.S. 22-32-124
• Provide an acceptable timeline for receipt of all permits and approvals required by external entities
• Secure Colorado Charter School Program (CCSP) grant funds as indicated in the proposed budget or a suitable replacement to ensure nancial stability by April 30, 2025 or, in the absence of grant funds, provide updated budgets to the district for reconsideration
• Provide evidence of enrollment as needed for nancial viability by April 15, 2025.
Director Booth addressed social media concerns given, that ESD recently declared scal exigency. e district made budget cuts totaling over $500,000, due to unforeseen expenses and lower-thanexpected enrollment. Olsen said during an Oct. 23 meeting that the board legally cannot let low enrollment numbers be a factor when considering a charter school application.
“I’ve seen a lot of chatter on social media and I just wanted to address something,” Booth said. “I’ve seen a handful of people, the same people who tend to be on there with negative comments, saying that we shouldn’t allow any charter schools coming in because of our nancial position right now in the school district. And I disagree with that. e reason being, is we are beholden to our constituents and I, for one, am somebody who is for school choice.”
“Parents should be able to decide where
their students get an education,” she went on. “Public school is not for everybody, just like private religious school isn’t for everybody. Just like charter school isn’t for everybody. Just like homeschool isn’t for everybody. Everybody should have a choice … there’s been a lot of interest in this classical charter school. Especially in this community.”
Director Calahan, who has several children attending Elizabeth schools, responded to Booth’s comments. “I’d like to counter that … the presentation last week showed 147 … families of interest,” he said. “Of that 147, there was only 11 letters of recommendation, seven from within the community. I don’t see that there’s a lot of support when you can only get 11 letters of recommendation and only seven from within the community.”
President Olsen added to the discussion. “I believe I am making the choice expected of me by our parents and our constituents … I honestly don’t think that we are going to have this mass exodus of students that people think there will be with a charter school coming in.”
“We have a lot of interest from outside of our district,” she went on. “And we have a lot of kids going to homeschool. is is our opportunity to bring those kids back, to bring them back and get those enrollment numbers for our district up … when we have students who leave to homeschool, when we have students who leave to other districts, when we have students who go to competing charter schools outside of Elizabeth, we get nothing.”
Two entities filed applications
Two charter school applications were presented at a sparsely attended special school board meeting on Oct. 23 at Elizabeth Middle School. Both schools are modeled after the Liberty Common Schools in Fort Collins.
Independence Classical Academy presented rst and, of its ve board members, four are local. ICA’s board is composed of President Candy Hutch, Secretary Crisy Howell, Treasurer Ken Maddsen, Jonathan Berg and Shelly Manning.
ICA plans to partner with the educational service/management provider
Academica and its goal is to have 200 students their rst year open. Of the 147 families who expressed interest in learning more about ICA, 86 were from Elizabeth. In the absence of grant money, Academica will provide funding for construction and then lease the building to ICA.
At the Oct. 23 meeting, ICA indicated their preference is to utilize Frontier Center for its rst year until a school is constructed rather than share space at Singing Hills Elementary or use temporary structures. It is prepared to help refurbish Frontier and hope to have a permanent building by fall 2026.
Independence Classical Charter School also presented on Oct. 23. e ICCS
board includes President Lydia Todd and founding board members Tyler Younker and Denise Carrero. Todd was unable to attend in person but participated via Zoom.
At the meeting on Oct. 28, it was announced that ICCS requested the vote regarding their charter be tabled while they considered withdrawing their application.
“ICA and ICCS both brought forward similar proposals for the same model of school,” said ESD Superintendent Dan Snowberger. “One proposed a locally controlled board with great local control, while the other replicated a district structure where a board (similar to a school board) would set policy and expectations, and select a head of school, the corporate entity would ensure that the school operated professionally and met the expectations run by educational experts. e school board of Elizabeth heard loud and clear from our community that they preferred the rst model and therefore approved ICA last week.”
School choice in Colorado
School choice is a policy that allows students to use public funds to attend schools outside of their assigned neighborhood public school, including charter schools. Colorado families have had this option for decades. Advocates say the idea behind school choice is to give all parents the ability to choose whichever school or learning environment best meets their child’s needs.
Amendment 80, on the 2024 ballot, would have expanded the de nition of school choice to include private and homeschool options, which could have had broad implications for how public tax dollars are used. Election returns as of press time showed the measure losing with 48% of the vote, 7 percentage points short of what it would have required to take e ect.
“I am a strong proponent of choice in education,” said Snowberger. “I believe our schools in Elizabeth are great choices. at being said, we have a lot of chil-
dren in our community who have chosen not to attend our schools for one reason or another. We have a large homeschooling population, another great choice for families who have the time and resources. For some of these families, I do think that a classical school will be highly appealing to them.”
Critics of school choice argue public funds should be reserved for schools that serve and accommodate all students. ey believe charter schools siphon resources away from public schools and exacerbate existing inequalities by being more selective with the students they enroll. is can leave public schools to deal with the most disadvantaged students who require more resources and support.
Despite low enrollment presently, Snowberger said ESD is facing “major growth within our boundaries over the next 5-8 years with major new developments in the planning or pre-construction phase.” e district began the search for a charter school with the understanding that current schools don’t have capacity to absorb anticipated growth and the likelihood of increasing taxes to build a new school is unlikely.
e Miami-based Academica, the company ICA will be partnering with, was founded in 1999 and is the largest forpro t education management company in the country. For more information, visit academica.org.
e Independence Charter Academy school application is available at tinyurl. com/elizcharter. For more information visit independenceclassicalacademy. org.
For more information about the Liberty Common School, including its curriculum and Character Education, visit libertycommon.org.
e Oct. 23 meeting is available to watch on ESD’s YouTube Channel: youtube.com/watch?v=2xkc8CInxs4.
e Oct. 28 business meeting is available at youtube.com/live/twFgoQhUgfk while the meeting agenda is available at https://www.elizabethschooldistrict. org/domain/124.
Overcoming life’s obstacles and objections
Success often hinges on our ability to identify and overcome obstacles and objections in life and business. e line between the two can sometimes be blurred for many of us. However, understanding the di erence is essential to overcoming barriers in selling and achieving goals. When discussing objections, we’re usually focused on external resistance: reasons someone might say “no” to a product, service, or idea. Obstacles, on the other hand, are often deeper-rooted barriers that stand in the way of progress. ough they may appear di erently, addressing them usually demands similar skills, like empathy, creativity, and a relentless drive to nd solutions.
WINNING
Take sales, for example. Salespeople regularly encounter both objections and obstacles. An objection might sound like, “ e price is too high,” “We’re happy with our current vendor,” or “ e timing isn’t right.” ese are the immediate, surface-level reasons a prospect might hesitate. ey’re often rooted in issues like cost concerns, lack of perceived urgency, or trust de cits. Objections can feel like brick walls, but they tell a salesperson where to provide more value, build trust, or reframe the conversation.
Obstacles, in contrast, are often the unseen structural challenges that prevent a decision altogether. Budget limitations, a team’s inability to reach consensus, or organizational overload can all be obstacles. A buying committee that struggles to agree on pri-
Colorado is helping lead in the clean energy space, especially as the state ranks seventh nationally in the share of clean power percentages. It takes investment and community commitment, especially in our rural parts of Colorado, to help us reach our goals. As part of USDA Rural Development, we are deeply committed to supporting our rural partners and ensuring that communities across Colorado have access to the resources they need to thrive.
Five Colorado electrical cooperatives across the state plan to get there with the support of federal grants to make the transition to a clean energy economy with Tri-State’s $2.5 billion award recently announced on Oct. 25. e
ve statewide Colorado coops include CORE Electric Cooperative, Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, United Power and Yampa Valley Electric
orities, a customer overloaded with competing projects, or the realities of an uncertain economic climate are all obstacles that can stall or derail even the most compelling o er.
uncertain
At their core, objections and obstacles share common roots: no want, no time, no money, no need, and no trust. If prospects don’t honestly want the product or service, they’ll inevitably voice objections. If time or budget is scarce, the organization may not see a way to address the need. And overcoming objections becomes nearly impossible when trust is missing, whether in the product, the salesperson, or the company.
Consider a family discussion over a major decision, like where to go on vacation, buying a new car, or even contemplating a move. Just as in sales, these conversations often come back to the same core reasons for resistance: no want, no time, no budget, no need, and no trust. A lack of alignment or perceived need can create an obstacle, while objections around cost or timing can hold things up. It’s the same in our careers or personal lives. e obstacles we face can often be attributed to not truly wanting something enough, lacking resources, or feeling uncertain.
Association. ese historic investments in renewable energy are a testament to the commitment to our communities. By fostering clean energy solutions through the New ERA program, we are not only creating sustainable economic opportunities but also ensuring that our rural areas remain resilient and forward looking. Together with our local partners, we are building a stronger, greener future for generations to come.
Wind and solar providing over one-third of Colorado’s electricity is helping us make signi cant strides in the clean energy sector.
VOICES
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Why politics shifted right
Across the U.S., former Harris supporters are grappling with frustration and disbelief after the election. ey question why groups like Latinos, Gen Xers, and others backed Trump, feeling perplexed by the relief his victory brought. But the real question is whether they can’t understand — or are choosing not to.
Over the years, many Americans voiced concerns with progressive politics. ey disliked being labeled as bigots for opposing policies like defunding the police or open borders. Some were called hateful for questioning transgender medicine for children or labeled as conspiracy theorists for challenging COVID policies or social media censorship. ese issues weren’t the only reasons voters turned to Trump, but they were signi cant. Polls show concerns about the economy and immigration led the vote, but many were also alienated by the Democratic Party’s alignment with woke ideology. is election represents a major shift, countering the narrative that Trump’s coalition is rooted in white supremacy or fascism.
agreements. By 2020, terms like “fascist” were applied widely by mainstream voices.
From 2016 onward, “woke” ideology entrenched itself in key institutions where deviation could lead to social exile, sparking what some call the “Great Awokening.” ose who once championed tolerance became intolerant, quick to brand others as bigots. is movement wasn’t driven by compassion but by motives like self-righteousness, narcissism and, at times, cruelty.
Many factors fueled this shift, from the widening gap between elites and working people to social media’s divisive in uence and establishment backlash against populism worldwide.
Signs now suggest we may be past “peak woke.” is high point likely came in 2020 when public health experts endorsed certain gatherings (BLM protests) while condemning others (Trump rallies), or in 2022, when Barack Obama urged social media censorship. But the structures that allowed censorship and radical agendas remain and will take time to address.
For many, this shift feels like a breath of fresh air, a release from a culture that’s suppressed open discussion. Trump’s opponents have portrayed him as more than a Republican, seeing him as a stand against increasing authoritarianism. Progressive ideology, once mainstream, hardened, stigmatizing even minor dis-
e political landscape has changed. As people tire of ideological narratives, they’re turning back to grounded, common-sense values.
C.J. Garbo, Castle Rock
Headline was inappropriate
I was confused/amused/ curious about the headline on the front page of the Oct. 31, 2024 issue of Highland Ranch Herald.
It read: “How does Colorado keep noncitizens and dead people from voting?” My understanding is that a dead person is “dead” and is unable to do anything including vote. I think I understand the point of the article, however, the headline was not appropriate. anks for your consideration. My dead husband was dead, so unable to vote in this election nor any future election.
Marilyn Binkley, Highlands Ranch
Article omitted much
Regarding the article “How does Colorado keep noncitizens and dead people from voting?” (Colorado Public Radio article reprinted in Highlands Ranch Herald, week of Oct. 31, 2024), it omitted the sending of voter registration notices to 30,000 residents who are not citizens (see cpr. org/2022/10/07/colorado-voter-registration-notices-noncitizens accessed Nov. 1, 2024). Judicial Watch investigated the accuracy of Colorado’s voting rolls and ended up suing the state (October 2022). Colorado’s secretary of state agreed to settle out of court. One article stated, “Since Judicial Watch led its lawsuit, Colorado voter roll removals increased by 78%, from 172,379 to 306,303 per reporting period.” e article can be found at judicialwatch. org/colorado-to-settle-lawsuitover-ineligible-voters/ (accessed Nov. 1, 2024).
e article states “no widespread evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 election ...” How is “widespread” de ned? Does this mean only a few geographic regions experienced fraud? Or that there was fraud, but not enough to matter? And if it is the latter, does this mean fraud is OK if it doesn’t affect the election outcome? And does anyone know whether or how the outcome was a ected? We know of voting problems in Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. We also know that laws were broken regarding the election processes. Under the clarion call of protecting people from COVID, states allowed voting processes that completely went against their written laws. Now, speci c to illegal immigration, certainly you know of the state of Virginia’s desires to make sure only legally quali ed citizens can vote. But when Virginia tried to clean up their voting registration records, our Department of Justice sued Virginia! (see, for example, virginiamercury. com/2024/10/22/youngkin-blasts-dojlawsuit-that-trust-virginias-voter-roll-removals-into-national-spotlight accessed Nov. 1, 2024).
ere were too many irregularities and attempts to investigate were thwarted. And that’s why Americans are leery and untrusting.
Dr. Rick Jory, Highlands Ranch
An OMG moment
During the past 48 years a dozen or so “super kids” have lived on the two blocks where we bought our new Douglas County homes. From kindergartners to an all-star quarterback, and everything in between, these kids were top of the line. Some are even grandparents of their own today.
I didn’t know the politics of most of their respective parents, but our geographic location would shout Republican loud and clear. No biggie, their number one priority was family, country and political party, in that order. Just like me and my late wife. We t right in.
I have three great-granddaughters whose mom and dad live in Adams County. ey can look in the mirror and feel secure that they voted family rst in Tuesday’s election. Can the majority of parents in Douglas County not look in the mirror and say, OMG, what have we done?
Roy Legg, Highlands Ranch
Sign was slap in face
A political sign by four Republican candidates for Parker Town Council is a slap in face to Parker. Parker is a great place to live and o ers many things for the community
other than tra c which others also experience. To state Make Parker Great Again with a phrase from another Republican is telling us Parker isn’t a good place to live and these four can bring it back. Give me a break from the bashing.
Dave Usechek, Parker
Politics and Sheri Weekly
I’m a little dizzy after reading Sheri Weekly’s spin on speaking at a Trump rally.
e sheri stated that “we try to stay away from politics at the sheri ’s o ce” and “the sheri ’s o ce isn’t a political space.” Pretty sure when you stand there in full uniform and praise one candidate and deride the other, your o ce is in a political space.
e sheri states that “Trump will bring law and order back to America.” Really? Trump is a convicted felon awaiting trial on several more felonies. Is he truly the embodiment of law and order?
I served on the Denver Police Department for 33 years and it is beyond my comprehension how anyone wearing a badge can justify the endorsement of someone who sent a mob to attack fellow police ofcers who put their lives on the line for us. One hundred seventy-four of those o cers were injured and four committed suicide within seven months of the attack, while Weekly’s law and order guy sat watching on television doing nothing to help them. We have witnesses and lm, sheri . It’s called evidence and it was enough for a grand jury indictment.
e MAGA whine about immigration is now apparently the Weekly whine. Read the FBI stats, sheri . Crime rates involving immigrants are far lower than among U.S. citizens. Almost all drugs that enter the U.S. are brought in through points of entry by U.S. citizens. e greatest terrorist risk, according to FBI Director Christopher Wray, is from right-wing extremists, not immigrants.
Yes, the border is a human crisis, a crisis of sheer volume. And a bipartisan border bill was drawn up that would have greatly helped alleviate the crisis, but you didn’t mention that Trump had it killed because it would have hurt his chance of reelection. He is so concerned about us.
Sheri Weekly probably left a few things out of his speech. Probably didn’t mention the wall Trump was going to build and have Mexico pay for. Probably didn’t mention Trump giving Steve Bannon a pardon for embezzling millions from the wall fund.
e sheri probably didn’t condemn the lies Trump told about parts of Aurora being taken over by gangs.
Finally sheri , if Trump should o er you a job in his administration for throwing fuel on the ames of his misinformation and bigotry, please, please take it.
Don Zimmerman, Parker
e state’s clean energy capacity, currently at approximately 7,000 MW, is set to grow signi cantly by 2030. Current capacity is enough to power 2.5 million homes. Clean energy in Colorado has grown by way of nearly $14 billion of capital investment with utility-scale solar, storage and wind projects and a robust manufacturing sector. Colorado’s 12 operating clean energy manufacturing facilities have created jobs throughout the state, helping
increase the number of Coloradans working in the utility-scale sector to more than 15,750. ese utility-scale clean energy jobs span from development and operations to manufacturing and construction roles.
Let’s keep supporting this important work to build up local economies and strengthen our state as we create smart, sustainable cities. Investing in Colorado with these resources is a solid step forward as we keep leading the way. is guest column was written by Crestina M. Martinez, the Denver-based Colorado state director for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
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EVENTS
thank them for their service to our country. Enjoy stories, vendors and food. A portion of event proceeds will be donated to local veteran organizations.
Elizabeth High School Community Thanksgiving Dinner
When: Nov. 21, 5 p.m.
Where: Elizabeth High School, 34500 County Road 13
Santa Visit & Tree Lighting
When: Nov. 30, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Russell Gates Mercantile Building, 24223 Eccles St. in Elbert
For more information: 5280 re.com/event/ elbert-santa-visit-3.
Elbert Fire and the Elbert Town Committee present their annual Santa Visit & Tree Lighting. e evening begins with cookie and ornament decorating, hot cocoa and a visit with Santa. e tree lighting will take place across the street at the Elbert Ball elds at 8.
Kiowa Town Tree Lighting
When: Dec. 7, 6-8 p.m.
Where: 404 Highway 86/Comanche Street
ere will be live music, carriage rides, nonpro t tents, food trucks and more.
Christmas with the Sheri
When: Dec. 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Elbert County Fairgrounds
ere will be games, crafts, snacks, a bike rafe and of course, Santa. Reservations appreciated, call 602-740-8090.
Elizabeth Park & Recreation’s Elizabeth Christmas
When: Dec. 14, 1-3 p.m.
Where: Casey Jones Park, 4189 Highway 86 in Elizabeth
CORRECTIONS
Colorado Trust for Local News asks readers to make us aware of mistakes we may have made.
Email linda@cotln.org if you notice a possible error you would like us to take a look at.
Enjoy a turkey dinner prepared and served by students in the EHS Alternative Education Program. is year EHS is partnering with Smokey Trail BBQ.
Franktown Festival of Lights
When: Starting Nov. 28, 5-10 p.m.
Where: 575 N. Whitetail Drive, Franktown
For more information: christmasshowtimes.
com
An impressive free Christmas light show in nearby Franktown. Attendees are encouraged to bring items to the annual food drive, such as canned goods, non-perishable items, or hygiene-related products.
For more information: tinyurl.com/ kiowatree
Come take pictures with Santa and receive a special gift courtesy of ECCO. Enjoy a hot drink and cookies courtesy of Dancing Jaguar and Farmers State Bank. Watch the Lighted Car Parade, which ends at Town Hall, and the Annual Tree Lighting.
Town of Elizabeth Mayor’s Tree Lighting
When: Dec. 7, 3-6 p.m.
Where: Gesin’s Lot & Main Street in Elizabeth
For more information: tinyurl.com/eliztree Fun family activities and Santa visits along Main Street with the tree lighting at 5 p.m.
Come to Casey Jones Park for cookies, crafts, carriage rides and the opportunity to meet Santa.
Calhan Christmas Country Parade
When: Dec. 14, 5-7 PM
Where: See tinyurl.com/calhanparade for the parade route.
High Plains Singers Concert
When: Dec. 14, 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30. Where: Elizabeth Middle School, 34427 County Road 13.
Tickets are $12 each, with under 12 free. An art show featuring members of the Elbert County Artists Guild will be on display and sale before and after the concert.
Della-Rey McJunkins from Kiowa happily meets a pony named Tigger at the 2023 Elbert County Coalition for Outreach Christmas for Kids Kicko and Town of Kiowa Annual Tree Lighting. Santa visits and snacks were available outside of the Kiowa Town Hall.
PHOTOS BY NICKY QUINBY
Some of the dazzling lights at the 2023 Franktown Festival of Lights. This year the light show is open from Nov. 28 to Dec. 29, 5-10 p.m. Every night features a light show synchronized with music. Food donations are encouraged.
A lighted snowman figure waves at the 2023 Franktown Festival of Lights.
A group of friends attended the 2023 Elizabeth High School Thanksgiving Dinner together. From left are Jim McMullen, Agnes Adams, Dottie Lawrence and Ray Lawrence. Ray is a World War II veteran.
At the 2023 Elbert County Coalition for Outreach Christmas for Kids Kicko and Town of Kiowa Annual Tree Lighting, ECCO Director Erica Johnson peruses the Giving Tree at the Kiowa Town Hall.
Thu 11/21
Korey Foss: Rock Candy @ Q's @ 7pm
Q's Pub and Grill, 10133 W Chat�eld Ave, Littleton
CW & Twenty Hands High
@ 7:30pm
Las Migas, RUMBERAS USA TOUR @ 7:30pm
Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Com‐mons St, Lone Tree
Zenari LIVE @ Moe's Englewood! @ 9pm Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Engle‐wood
Scott Fowler Music: Scott Fowler @ 2 Penguins Tap & Grill
@ 6pm 2 Penguins Tap and Grill, 13065 E Briarwood Ave, Centennial
6 Million Dollar Band @ 7pm Pindustry, 7939 E Arapahoe Rd, Centennial
Don Jamieson @ 7pm
Taylor Shines - The Laser Spectacular, featuring Jexxa-live! @ 8pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, En‐glewood
Sat 11/23
The Stifftones at Blue Spruce Brewing in Centennial, CO
November 23 from 6-9 @ 6pm
Blue Spruce Brewing Company, 4151 E County Line Rd, Centennial
Kate Clover: JD McPherson - Nite Owls Tour 2024 @ 7pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood
Strange Americans Thanksgiving @ 8pm Swallow Hill Music, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver
Mat and Savanna Shaw: A Shaw
Family Christmas @ 6:30pm Pace Center, Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker
Wild Goose Saloon, 11160 S. Pikes Peak Drive, Parker
Mon 11/25
Thanksgiving Break Camp @ 7:30am / Free Nov 25th - Nov 27th
Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E Plaza Dr., Parker. 303-805-6315
Off Book: The Improvised Musical @ 8pm
Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, En‐glewood
Tue 11/26
Tony Medina Music: The Open Mic Hosted by Tony Medina @ 6:30pm The Alley, 2420 W Main St, Littleton
Wed 11/27
Eric Golden @ 7pm Toley’s on the Creek, 16728 E Smoky Hill Rd Suite 11C, Centennial
DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo Wednesdays - 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 8pm Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan
Ninety Percent 90s @ 8pm
Studio@Mainstreet, 19604 Mainstreet, Parker
Thu 11/28
Parker Parks and Recreation
Turkey Day 5K FUN Run/Walk @ 8am / $34 17301 E Lincoln Ave., Parker
National trend impacting area fire agencies, blood supply, food pantries, senior services
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When Evergreen Fire/Rescue welcomed its rst six paid re ghters last month, it was hailed as progress for the district’s residents, with the anticipation of faster response times from sta ed re stations. But it was also a sharp turn away from a long-standing tradition: e all-volunteer model it had used for 76 years.
While the area’s aging population, climate change and life in a place ranked in the top 10 nationally for catastrophic wild re were factors in the hiring decision, the decline in volunteerism also played into it.
It’s a trend impacting organizations of all kinds. Volunteering in the United States is at an all-time low, according to IVolunteer International, even as the need for most of the services such agencies supply is increasing. e fallout is far from minor, ranging from such potentially critical issues as delays in re agency response times to a shortage in the national blood supply.
On a societal level, experts say it may be a symptom of, or a factor in, increasing social isolation and political division.
“Volunteers meet critical community needs, and volunteering has the power to heal our societies by creating empathy and equity,” said Jennifer Siranelo, CEO of Points of Light, an international nonpro t dedicated to volunteerism. “It’s imperative that we work together to reverse the downward trend in volunteering.”
While the pandemic exacerbated the issue, it was not the cause. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the volunteer rate in the United States has been steadily declining for more than a decade.
Charitable giving is also down in the U.S., a fact attributed to economic uncertainty, stock market volatility and an increase in smaller and single-parent families.
Volunteering has historically been led by college graduates, married people and parents. But today’s younger generations are strained not just for time but money, and are more likely to not only work several jobs but share housing to make ends meet, according to the Center for the Study of the Individual and Society. at leaves them with little discretionary time.
e issue has hit the re service hard. e number of volunteer re ghters has declined for the last three decades, hitting a record low in 2020, according to the National Fire Protection Association. During that same time period, the U.S. population — and demands for emergency services —grew. Among smaller re districts, the average age of a volunteer re ghter is going up, with fewer younger people throwing their hats into the volunteer ring.
Not long ago, Evergreen Fire/Rescue Chief Mike Weege said EFR turned prospective volunteers away.
“We’d get roughly 30 applying and have (volunteer re ghter) academies of 25,” he said. “Eight to 10 years ago, we start-
Volunteers meet critical community needs, and volunteering has the power to heal our societies by creating empathy and equity.”
Jennifer Siranelo, CEO of Points of Light
ed getting far fewer people who could commit the time to do it. Our academies would only be six people, and we had to combine them with Genesee, Foothills and Indian Hills ( re districts).
“Today, both parents working is the norm, and people are working longer hours,” he continued. “I think people’s lives are far too busy for the amount of time and motivation it takes to volunteer for a dangerous activity.”
Nearby Elk Creek Fire is facing the same challenges, which Chief Jacob Ware attributes in part to the foothills’ shifting population.
“ e demographics have changed a lot here,” he said. “Historically, volunteer re departments were made up a lot of blue-collar, often self-employed people — people who had the ability to break away from their jobs in the middle of the day to answer a re call.”
With the escalating cost of housing in the mountains, fewer of those people can a ord to live in Conifer. And those that do are pressed for time.
“You have to hustle to live in the mountains,” Ware said. “Between work, family and everything else, the time you have to volunteer is dwindling.”
Vitalant, which has 10 Colorado blood donation centers and is the primary blood provider for over 95% of Colorado’s hospitals, is seeing far fewer donors than in the past. Vitalant declared an emergency blood shortage in 2024, and it’s not the rst time the nonpro t blood services provider has done so.
“Overall, the number of people donating with Vitalant has dropped about 20% since before the pandemic, while patients’ needs remain strong,” said Brooke Way, Vitalant’s communications manager. “If there’s a shortage and we don’t have the available blood, that’s when hospitals and doctors have to make those impossible choices of whether to postpone a surgery that’s been scheduled, so a trauma (victim) can get that unit. at’s what we try to avoid.”
It’s left local and national organizations scrambling for solutions, and pondering creative new ideas to revitalize volunteering.
“We’ve tried everything under the sun to recruit new volunteers; we just had another meeting about it,” said Kevin Andrezejewski, executive director of BGOLDN, which runs a food pantry and other community food programs. “ ere’s been a huge shift in the demographic here. e younger population doesn’t either have the time or interest in volunteering.”
OPPOSITE PAGE: Volunteer firefighters from Evergreen and Elk Creek fire departments climb onto the roof of a house on fire earlier this year.
COURTESY OF EVERGREEN FIRE/RESCUE
LEFT: Teri Crawford, visiting from Virginia, helps her daughter Kimberly Buxton of Golden while volunteering at the BGOLDN food pantry. PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
RIGHT: Centennial resident Joseph Lothringer recently donated his 70th gallon of blood at Vitalant’s Parker donation center. “It’s an act of gratitude,” he said. “Emotionally, it’s a very satisfying feeling.”
VOLUNTEERS
at’s particularly challenging because the need for BGOLDN’s programs is growing. Demand for its home delivery program, available to people who need supplies from the food pantry but don’t have transportation, has doubled in the last 18 months. But BGOLDN doesn’t have enough drivers to bring food to those homes or pick up food donations from area grocery stores.
“We have more volunteer shifts to ll,” Andrezejewski said. “We don’t want to decrease the number of families we support, and we could grow the program. But with the shortage of volunteers, we have to hold back on expanding it too much.”
A Little Help provides services to seniors throughout the metro area, northern Colorado and Grand Junction that can make the di erence between individuals moving to assisted living or staying in their homes. During the pandemic, the Denver-based nonpro t saw a surge in volunteers. But as life returned to normal, that help faded away.
“A lot of our open requests from seniors are going unful lled,” said Jake Dresden, A Little Help’s metro Denver director. “Rides to the doctor, the bank, the grocery store, tech support requests, companionship requests … we’re not at a healthy level of volunteers to meet those.
“We always feel the sweet spot for us is at least 2-to-1 volunteers to older adult members. And we are not at that number,” Dresden continued. “ e last six months, we’ve been running 2-to-1 members to volunteers. at’s not a recipe for success.”
Not only do seniors often physically need help with such chores and tasks, volunteer assistance can make a critical nancial di erence for them.
“ e big broad piece is helping them stay in their homes,” Dresden said. “A lot of our members are living on very xed incomes. e thought of paying a landscaping crew to rake leaves, or getting an Uber to go to the doctor, that’s money they don’t have budgeted.”
Because Colorado is a popular state for retirees, Dresden doesn’t see the demand for services easing.
A Little Help sends a weekly email to its volunteers and has made volunteering as exible as possible. Volunteers choose the task they want to do and when they’d like to do it. Still, the list of un lled requests hasn’t grown shorter.
“We’re trying all sorts of di erent methodologies to bring new volunteers on, but we’re having to start waiting lists for certain areas and services,” Dresden said.
Solutions
e problem is clear, but solutions are less so. Yet, people across the country are working to nd them, and with good reason.
Volunteering is good for us, on an individual and larger societal level. Research shows links between volunteering and improved physical health, cognitive function, elevated mood, increased social interactions, decreased loneliness and even increased mortality, according to the Stanford Center on Longevity. On a more global scale, volunteerism contributes to social cohesion, community well-being and the economy. e Generosity Commission, made up of experts across the philanthropic sec-
tor, is dedicated to increasing civic participation. It’s spent the last three years studying the country’s decline in charitable giving and volunteering and mapping a plan to reverse it.
ose include getting public gures to talk about how they bene t from giving and volunteering, reaching out to younger generations and reinforcing the role of businesses in encouraging employee giving. IVolunteer International suggests o ering virtual volunteering options like tutoring, nonpro t tech support or online advocacy as a way to match volunteering opportunities with the shift to remote work and lifestyles.
Evergreen Fire/Rescue is redesigning its volunteer program, using a system of points and small-dollar rewards that allows volunteers exibility in how and when they respond.
“We need to meet people where they are, to allow people to do what they can do versus forcing them to t into our box,” Weege said. “If you want to just do wildland ( res), if you want to just do EMS, there’s a place for you here. So you don’t have to do all the training. We’ve brought in quite a few people by doing that.”
Denver-based Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, which builds trails and improves habitat statewide, said it’s changed its o erings to try to meet its volunteers’ abilities.
“We’re getting more one-o (volunteer stints) than people who’ll come out multiple times a year now,” said VOC’s marketing manager Kim Gagnon. “So we’re trying to broaden the type of work we offer folks. Some people can volunteer on a fourteener with no problem. And some people feel that reward from a threehour harvest in a garden in downtown Denver. ese are interesting trends, and
we’re just trying to problem-solve as we go.”
Vitalant has o ered donor giveaways like the chance to win $5,000 prepaid gift cards, and more recently a $5,000 Halloween jackpot. As the shift to remote work has decreased donations from business blood drives, Vitalant’s now encouraging schools to host blood drives. ose who volunteer regularly see the bene ts clearly.
Conifer resident Peyton omas, who launched the nonpro t Speakers for Africa to help Ugandan schoolchildren, said the work not only broadens his perspective about other cultures, but gives him a fresh outlook on his own life.
“When I start complaining about Wi-Fi speed or my food taking too long to get to me, I think, ‘I need to go back to Uganda and regroup,’ because they know what is real,” he said. “Life is a help-others program. I’m convinced getting outside of ourselves sand helping others is what we’re supposed to do.”
Joseph Lothringer recently donated his 70th gallon of blood at Vitalant’s Parker donation center. He’s enjoyed a lifetime of good health and said donating is a way to share some of that with those who haven’t been as lucky.
“It’s an act of gratitude,” said the 68-year-old Centennial resident. “I won the physiological lottery. I think of people that are ghting for their lives against cancer. To give them a shot of platelets, to use my health to help people that didn’t win the lottery, that’s the least I can do. Emotionally, it’s a very satisfying feeling.” It took Lothringer 40 years of regular donations to reach 70 gallons, and he’s not done yet.
“Absolutely, I’m going to keep doing it,” he said. “My goal now is 100 gallons.”
COURTESY OF VITALANT
Movember mustaches bring awareness to men’s mental, physical health
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
It could be a normal mustache, a handlebar, pencil or horseshoe. Whatever the style, many men take part in growing a mustache for the month-long campaign, Movember, as a symbol representing the importance of men’s health and reducing the stigma of seeking help.
“In many ways, men represent an underserved minority in plain sight,” said Dr. Je Morrison, a physician at Highlands Ranch UCHealth Hospital. “ at’s why I’m so passionate about Movember and drawing awareness to men’s health.” Morrison is a men’s health specialist and urologist at UCHealth. For years, he has helped men become more comfortable with seeking medical help, and has been an advocate for Movember.
Two campaigns in November raise awareness for men’s health – No Shave November and Movember — but they are di erent. No Shave November encourages participants to raise money to be donated toward a charity of their choice. Movember is an organization that focuses on funding projects that are centered around men’s health and suicide prevention.
Men can often be reluctant to seek medical care, especially preventative care, said Morrison.
“I think we all know many men in our lives who just don’t go to the doctor,” he added.
Having been guilty of it himself at times, Morrison believes there are several reasons why a lot of men don’t go to the doctor. It might be because of their busy work and family schedules or simply procrastination, he said. But it might also be that they don’t know who to go to when a problem arises.
Morrision said he sees barriers for men to get into the healthcare system. However, it is crucial for men — especially those who are age 40 and up — to stay on top of their health by having routine wellness appointments and screenings, Morrison said.
“How can we work to kind of make it a little easier for these guys to get in, and be the catalysts that get these guys the help that they need,” said Morrison.
One way has been o ering telehealth visits. But Morrison also wants to continue to educate men about risk factors.
Knowing the risk factors
Research over the last couple of decades indicates that women live longer than men. More recently, research by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and UC San Francisco found that the di erence between how long men and women live increased in the U.S.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, depression, loneliness, a family crisis, substance misuse, and/or concerns for family or friends, you can call or text Colorado Crisis Services for help. Colorado Crisis Services provides free and confidential support from trained professionals, available 24/7/365. Call 844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255.
Movember focuses on the importance of getting screened for chronic conditions such as prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer.
“Chronic, serious health conditions — they’re very prevalent,” said Morrison.
According to the American Cancer Society, other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the U.S. While it generally grows slowly, about one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Additionally, it is more likely to develop in men at an average age of 67.
Another common cancer in men is
colorectal cancer. It is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in the U.S., and diagnosis rates have been increasing in those younger than 55.
While not as common as other cancers, testicular cancer a ects about one in every 250 males, developing in young and middle-aged men.
As a male fertility care and men’s sexual health physician, Morrison said some sexual dysfunction issues that some men experience could be big, independent factors for developing something more serious, like cardiovascular diseases.
For example, Morrision said if a man su ered from impotence, they have a 44% increased risk of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and about a 60% increased risk of having a heart attack.
Although common, Morrison added that men’s fertility and dysfunction issues can also have “devastating psychological rami cations for both the patient and their partner.”
“ ose are big motivators that bring men into the doctor,” said Morrison.
“ at gives me a chance to meet these guys, look at their needs that brought them in and try to usher them into the healthcare system and be stewards of their health.”
Movember also aims to spread awareness of how serious mental health issues are among men.
According to Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, which retrieves national statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S., and rates are about four times higher in men than women.
Whatever the issue may be, Morrison is passionate about opening up conversations about men’s health.
“When something unexpected happens, it’s all the more reason why it’s important to just try to make it more accessible and break down these barriers to help men get in to see a healthcare provider,” said Morrison. “And to reduce the stigma of mental health issues that so many su er from.”
UCHealth men’s health physician Dr. Je Morrison, who is passionate about opening up conversations about men’s health, said Movember is a great way to break the stigma of men seeking medical and mental health care.
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Scientists want your help to digitize historic data on bees
BY RACHEL COHEN MOUNTAIN WEST NEWS BUREAU
Within aisles of cabinets at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Museum of Natural History are rows upon rows of wooden display boxes with glass tops. Each box holds dozens to hundreds of bee specimens.
Leafcutter bees with blades on their teeth. Round-bodied Western bumblebees. Metallic green sweat bees. Details about each specimen, like the
NORTON
When we encounter obstacles in our lives, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, the same approach applies. We must ask ourselves: “What’s standing in my way?” And, more importantly, “Why am I allowing it to?” Overcoming these internal obstacles often requires the same determination that a salesperson uses to
species name, who found it, where and when, are pinned down under each bee.
Put together, it’s a treasure trove of data about the crucial pollinators. e problem is that it’s analog, on tiny slips of paper, sometimes handwritten in cursive.
Now, scientists are pushing to get that information out of the museum cabinets and onto computers. at’s because there’s currently a lack of information about populations of many bee species.
“If we get that data, and we can rebuild those distributions, we can look for how
address objections. It involves identifying the root of resistance, determining what help we need, and committing to tackle these roadblocks with discipline and purpose.
Sometimes, the obstacles we face are self-imposed, born from a fear of failure, or unwilling to let go of comfort. Other times, they’re rooted in external circumstances beyond our control. In either case, overcoming them requires a willingness to act and an openness to seeking help.
they’re changing over time which could inform something so basic as whether or not we should be concerned that they’re declining,” said Adrian Carper, an entomology curator at the museum.
To digitize their bee collections, researchers at 13 institutions, including CU Boulder, the University of Nevada, Reno, and Arizona State University, formed the “Big Bee Bonanza.”
Volunteer citizen scientists can visit an online platform calledNotes from Nature, which gives visitors specimens to tran-
Similarly, some obstacles may not be real limitations but a test of our commitment. Are we truly serious about our goals? Do we need to negotiate with ourselves to nd the discipline and courage to overcome what holds us back?
Whether overcoming objections or obstacles, the goal remains to remove what stands in the way of success, growth, and ful llment. By cultivating resilience, seeking support, and staying dedicated to our purpose, we clear the path toward becoming the best versions of ourselves.
scribe. In dropdown menus and text boxes, the platform asks you to write down the words on labels next to zoomed-in images of bees.
For example, the note by one mining bee says it was collected near Carbondale, Colo., in 1982.
e Mountain West News Bureau is a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, KUNC in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico.
What are the biggest obstacles holding you back? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can identify what they are and develop a solid plan to overcome them, 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.
conditions of the Deed of Trust in that Paragraph 9 (a) (i) has been violated; and
WHEREAS, the entire amount delinquent is $583,659.72 as of September 25, 2024; and WHEREAS, by the virtue of this default, the Secretary has declared the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by the Deed of Trust to be immediately due and payable; NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in my be the Single Family Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1994, 12 U.S.C. 3751 et seq., by 24 CFR part 27, subpart B, and by the Secretary's designation of me as Foreclosure Commission, recorded on August 27, 2024 at Reception No. 636983 in the Elbert County Clerk and Recorder's Office, notice is hereby given that on November 25, 2024 at 10:00 am local time, all real and personal property at or used in connection with the following described premises (“Property”) will be sold at the public auction to the highest bidder.
LOT 1A, CHISHOLM AMENDED, COUNTY OF ELBERT, STATE OF COLORADO Commonly known as 30093 Chisholm
Trail, Elizabeth, CO 80107.
The sale will be held in front of the Elbert County Combined Courts at 751 Ute Ave, Kiowa, CO 80117.
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will bid the lesser amount of the loan balance, or the appraised value obtained by the Secretary prior to sale.
There will be no proration of taxes, rents or other income or liabilities, except that the purchaser will pay, at or before closing, his prorated share of any real estate taxes that have been paid by the Secretary to the date of the foreclosure sale.
When making their bids, all bidders except the Secretary must submit a deposit totaling 10% of the Secretary's bid in the form of certified funds or a cashier's check made out to the Secretary of HUD. A deposit need not accompany each oral bid. If the successful bid is oral, a deposit of 10% of the Secretary's bid must be presented before the bidding has closed. The deposit is nonrefundable. The remainder of the purchase price must be delivered within 30 days of the sale or at such other time as the Secretary may determine for good cause shown, time being of the essence.
This amount, like the bid deposits, must be delivered in the form of certified funds or a cashier's check. If the Secretary is the highest bidder, he need not pay the bid amount in cash. The successful bidder will pay all conveying fees, all real estate and other taxes that are due on or after the delivery date of the remainder of the payment and all other costs associated with the transfer of title. At the conclusion of the sale, the deposits of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them.
The Secretary may grant an extension of time within which to deliver the remainder of the payment. All extensions will be for 15-day increments for a fee of $500.00, paid in advance. The extension fee shall be paid in the form of certified funds or a cashier's check made payable to the Secretary of HUD. If the higher bidder closes the sale prior to the expiration of any extension period, the unused portion of the extension fee shall be applied toward the amount due.
If the high bidder is unable to close the sale within the required period, or within any extensions of time granted by the Secretary, the high bidder may be required to forfeit the cash deposit, or at the election of the Foreclosure Commissioner after consultation with the HUD representative, will be liable to HUD for any costs incurred as a result of such failure.
The Commissioner may, at the direction of the HUD representative, offer the property to the second highest bidder for an amount equal to the highest price offered by that bidder.
There is no right of redemption, or right of
Elbert Legals
possession based upon a right of redemption, in the mortgagor or others subsequent to a foreclosure completed pursuant to the Act. Therefore, the Foreclosure Commissioner will issue a Deed to the purchaser(s) upon receipt of the entire purchase price in accordance with the terms of the sale as provided herein, HUD does not guarantee that the property will be vacant.
The scheduled foreclosure sale shall be cancelled or adjourned if it is established, by documented written application of the mortgagor to the Foreclosure Commissioner no less than three (3) days before the date of sale, or otherwise, that the default or defaults upon which the foreclosure is based did not exist a the time of service of this Notice of Default and Foreclosure Sale, or all amounts due under the mortgage agreement are tendered to the Foreclosure Commissioner, in the form of certified funds or a cashier's check payable to the Secretary of HUD, before the public auction of the property is completed.
The amount that must be paid if the mortgage is to be reinstated prior to the scheduled sale is $583,659.72 as of September 25, 2024; plus all other amounts that would be due under the mortgage agreement if payments under the deed of trust had not been accelerated, advertising costs and postage expenses incurred in giving notice, mileage by the most reasonable road distance for posing notices and for the Foreclosure Commissioner's attendance at the sale, reasonable and customary costs incurred for title and lien record searches, the necessary out of pocket costs incurred by the Foreclosure Commissioner, and all other costs incurred in connection with the foreclosure prior to reinstatement.
Tender of payment by certified funds or cashier's check or application for cancellation of the foreclosure sale shall be submitted to the address of the Foreclosure Commissioner provided below.
Dated: October 15, 2024
Foreclosure Commissioner Deanne R. Stodden 1550 Wewatta Street, Suite 710 Denver, CO 80202
Telephone: (303) 623-4806
Email: foreclosure@messner.com
Legal Notice No. ECN 1565
First Publication: October 24, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024
Publisher: Elbert County News Public Notice
District Court Elbert County, Colorado P.O. Box 232, 751 Ute Avenue Kiowa, Colorado 800117
In re the Marriage of:
Petitioner: Cale B. Pickrel, Pro Se and Respondent: Kendal L. Pickrel, Pro Se Party Without Attorney: Cale B. Pickrel P.O. Pox 801, Kiowa, Colorado 80117
Phone Number: 720-276-5202
Case Number: 24DR28
SUMMONS FOR: DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE
To the Respondent named above, this Summons serves as a notice to appear in this case.
If you were served in the State of Colorado, you must file your Response with the clerk of this Court within 21 days after this Summons is served on you to participate in this action.
If you were served outside of the State of Colorado or you were served by publication, you must file your Response with the clerk of this Court within 35 days after this Summons is served on you to participate in this action.
You may be required to pay a filing fee with your Response. The Response form (JDF 1103) can be found at www.courts.state.co.us by clicking on the “Self Help/Forms” tab.
After 91 days from the date of service or publication, the Court may enter a Decree affecting your marital status, distribution of property and debts, issues involving children such as child support, allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making and parenting time), maintenance (spousal support), attorney fees, and costs to the extent the Court has jurisdiction.
If you fail to file a Response in this case, any or all of the matters above, or any related matters which come before this Court, may be decided without further notice to you.
This is an action to obtain a Decree of: Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation as more fully described in the attached Petition, and if you have children, for orders regarding the children of the marriage.
Notice: §14-10-107, C.R.S. provides that upon the filing of a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation by the Petitioner and Co-Petitioner, or upon personal service of the Petition and Summons on the Respondent, or upon waiver and acceptance of service by the Respondent, an automatic temporary injunction shall be in effect against both parties until the Final Decree is entered, or the Petition is dismissed, or until further Order of the Court. Either party may apply to the Court for further temporary orders, an expanded temporary injunction, or modification or revocation under §14-10-108, C.R.S.
A request for genetic tests shall not prejudice the requesting party in matters concerning
allocation of parental responsibilities pursuant to §14-10-124(1.5), C.R.S. If genetic tests are not obtained prior to a legal establishment of paternity and submitted into evidence prior to the entry of the final decree of dissolution or legal separation, the genetic tests may not be allowed into evidence at a later date.
Automatic Temporary Injunction – By Order of Colorado Law, You and Your Spouse are:
1. Restrained from transferring, encumbering, concealing or in any way disposing of, without the consent of the other party or an Order of the Court, any marital property, except in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life. Each party is required to notify the other party of any proposed extraordinary expenditures and to account to the Court for all extraordinary expenditures made after the injunction is in effect;
2. Enjoined from molesting or disturbing the peace of the other party;
3. Restrained from removing the minor children of the parties, if any, from the State without the consent of the other party or an Order of the Court; and
4. Restrained without at least 14 days advance notification and the written consent of the other party or an Order of the Court, from canceling, modifying, terminating, or allowing to lapse for nonpayment of premiums, any policy of health insurance, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, or automobile insurance that provides coverage to either of the parties or the minor children or any policy of life insurance that names either of the parties or the minor children as a beneficiary.
