Highlands Ranch Herald January 16, 2025

Victim’s mother looks forward after driver sentenced

Boy was killed in crash on Highlands Ranch Parkway

Outside of a courtroom in the Douglas County Courthouse on Jan. 7, the mother of the 13-year-old boy who was struck and killed on Highlands Ranch Parkway last March held onto her son’s baseball hat as she made comments following the sentencing of the man responsible for her son’s death.

“I can’t say I’m happy, but I am satised,” said Victoria Cegielski. “It’s just a start.”

Just before 7 a.m. on March 6, her son, Alexander “Alex” Mackiewicz, was riding

a Onewheel — which is an electric skateboard — on his way to school, excited for the rst day of baseball practice that awaited him later that day. Mackiewicz waited for the signal to cross Venneford Ranch. He had crossed six of the seven lanes before he was struck.

e driver, Ruben Morones, 53, was headed east on Highlands Ranch Parkway when he ran a red light and struck Mackiewicz with his vehicle, a Sherwin-Williams van. Mackiewicz was ejected from his Onewheel and landed against the curb and died.

Morones was charged with careless driving resulting in death. He pleaded guilty in late October.

On Jan. 7, County Court Judge Lawrence Bowling sentenced Morones to one year in jail with the possibility of a work release, and to pay a $1,000 ne.

John Carson takes vacant seat in state Senate

Kevin Van Winkle held post until becoming Douglas County commissioner

Douglas County Republican John Carson unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the board of county leaders in 2024, but he will now represent his area at the state Capitol after winning a seat left open by state Sen. Kevin Van Winkle.

“I wanted to reduce taxes and regulations,” Carson said on why he ran to ll the vacancy in state Senate District 30.

District 30 covers a large portion of northern Douglas County, including Highlands Ranch, Castle Pines, Lone Tree, Roxborough Park and nearby areas.

Carson emerges with a spot in public o ce after Van Winkle beat him in last year’s primary that decided which Republican would face a Democrat in the November election to replace Lora omas as a Douglas County commissioner. omas could not run for reelection because of term limits. At the time, Van Winkle served as the senator for District 30. Now, as Van Winkle adjusts into his o ce at the county level, Carson will seek to represent conservative values as the area’s new state senator.

A heart-wrenching crash

e courtroom over owed with family members, friends and law enforcement for Morones’ sentencing hearing. Many family and friends were wearing white tshirts with a picture of Mackiewicz on it, paired with the words “Justice for Alex.”

Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly was overcome with emotion as he recounted the gruesome aftermath in detail at the hearing.

“(It was) one of the most heart-wrenching crashes I’ve ever seen,” Weekly said, adding he has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years.

While Judge Bowling said he understood Morones had no intention of taking a life that day, the decision for the sentence he imposed was based on avoidability of the

e vacancy in District 30 arose amid Van Winkle’s move to the county commissioner role. Van Winkle, also a Republican, had won an election for District 30 in 2022 and had about two years left in his term when he moved to the county position. Carson is expected to serve for that remaining time.

A vacancy committee of local Republicans appointed Carson to the open spot on Jan. 4 in a meeting at the Southridge Recreation Center in Highlands Ranch, Carson said. at type of committee can consist of Republicans from neighborhoods in the state Senate district, along with locals who hold o ce in the Douglas County Republican Party and GOP politicians who hold public o ce, according to Carson.

Familiar faces competed at the

Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly watches as Victoria Cegielski speaks to the media about what kind of person her son was.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Scam phone callers use threats of arrest warrants

Sheri ’s o ces o er tips to identify scam calls that impersonate o cial agencies

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In November, Sandy Barber received a phone call from a number she didn’t recognize. When she picked up, a man on the line told her he was an o cer with the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce and that there was a warrant out for Barber’s arrest because she didn’t show up for a court hearing.

Barber, who had recently received news that a loved one had passed away, was already emotionally distraught and became confused about the caller’s claim. She said she hadn’t received any noti cation about a court hearing, but the man insisted that they had mailed a summons to her former address.

“I just kept saying, ‘I don’t understand,’” Barber said. “And he kept pushing me.” e man told Barber she had to go to the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce, and that she would be arrested once she arrived. He told her not to hang up the phone and not to tell anyone about the situation.

en, he told her she needed to bring $4,500 in cash and he asked her which bank she was going to withdraw the money from.

“Finally, I went, ‘I’m not talking to you anymore,’” Barber said. “I said, ‘I’m headed to the sheri ’s department and I will nd out what’s going on. I don’t believe you.’”

When the man swore at her after that, she said she knew she had made the right decision.

“At that point, I was absolutely convinced it was a scam,” she said.

Barber, who lives in Aurora, is one of many victims across the metro region who have been targeted by scammers that pretend to be members of law enforcement agencies and convince people they have a warrant out for their arrest. ese scammers will often say the victim missed jury duty or a court date. e scammers also tend to ask victims to pay “ nes” or “bonds” in the form of gift cards, prepaid cards or sometimes cash.

How to spot a scam

Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce Deputy Michael McKnight, who works in the community resource and crime prevention unit, said a caller asking for money on the phone is one way to notice that it’s likely a scam.

“The sheri ’s o ce does not take Visa check cards — we don’t take any form of gift cards, anything like that.”

Michael

McKnight,

Arapahoe County sheri ’s deputy

intentionally try to frighten victims so that they will not question what they are being told, McKnight said.

“ eir whole objective is to put fear into you, because once that fear kicks in, that’s when you start making irrational decisions,” he said. “ ey’re going to do something that immediately is going to frighten the person who doesn’t have the education and knowledge about what goes on and how these things work.”

“ e sheri ’s o ce does not take Visa check cards – we don’t take any form of gift cards, anything like that,” he said. e sheri ’s o ce also does not call people to tell them there is a warrant out for their arrest, he said.

Some scammers will ask victims to go to the sheri ’s o ce, which McKnight said is likely a tactic to get people to meet them in another place to deliver money.

Other scammers tell victims that o cials are going to arrest them at their home unless they pay the ne. is is a huge red ag that a call is a scam, McKnight said, because the sheri ’s o ce does not alert people before arresting them.

“We don’t call you to tell you, ‘Hey, we’re coming to pick you up for a war-

rant,’” McKnight said. “We like to be the object of surprise … We just come get you.”

Deputy Ryan Falkner with the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce said these types of scams are also common in Douglas County. He said the scammers often use real names of o cers or chiefs from the law enforcement agency, and victims should not trust this.

“Anyone can nd these names as our names are public records,” he said. “ is adds to the belief that it is real. e victims sometimes end the call with the scammer, (then) call (the sheri ’s o ce) asking if that person works here, and then call the scammer back, believing it is legit.”

Instead, he said, it is best to hang up and call the sheri ’s o ce directly. Scammers may try to convince victims

that they will be arrested if they hang up, but that is not true, Falkner said.

“It is OK to hang up; it is not a crime,” he said. “You can hang up for any reason under any circumstance.”

If the concern is not xed with a phone call to the sheri ’s o ce, Falkner said to physically go to the courthouse or sheri ’s o ce to inquire about the situation.

“I know that physically going to the courthouse (or) sheri ’s o ce is inconvenient, but it’s much better than losing money without verifying this concern,” he said.

Frightening victims into irrationality

For people who have had little to no experience with the criminal justice system or with law enforcement, scammers often play on this lack of knowledge to make victims believe it’s real. ey also

A Littleton resident named Peter, who asked Colorado Community Media not to publish his last name due to being someone who was targeted for a scam, experienced this when he interacted with a scam caller in August. A person left a message for him, and Peter returned the call and left a voicemail. When the number called back, they told Peter there was a warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear in court for jury duty.

“I have no idea how the system works,” e scammer told him he needed to pay a ne to do a handwriting analysis and to also send them a nancial statement. Peter had a feeling the call was a scam, so he hung up and called the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce, who con rmed it was a scam call.

“Anytime someone claims to be from one of these agencies, rather than call that number, the rst thing I should have done in retrospect was … call the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce,” Peter said.

If a person actually misses jury duty, McKnight said, the courts will communicate with that person by mail. e court will also give the person opportunities to make up their jury duty date before they attempt to arrest them.

If a person gives money to a scammer, McKnight said it is di cult to recover the funds.

“ ere’s not a lot of ways for us to really detect or see how any of those go, or where they go to, who they hand it o to,” he said. “Unfortunately, when it happens, there’s not a lot we can do.”

If a person does pay a scammer, McKnight said they should le a police report. But the best way to protect themselves is to be informed and aware about what scams look like, and always check with the real agency when in doubt.

“If they have any questions or something is concerning, they can contact us,” he said. “Even if (scammers are) going to keep doing it, at least we’re doing the prevention side and getting that education out where people can feel con dent in hanging up the phone and calling us and letting us know what’s going on.”

An Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce badge.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARAPAHOE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Scammers target potential victims by phone.

SHUTTERSTOCK

I’ll Say It Again: The Mill Levy Should Be a Required Field on MLS Listings

The dollar amount of property taxes has always been a data field on the MLS, because buyers need to know how much they should expect to pay if they purchase a listing. But that number does not provide context to the home buyer. In other words, how do the taxes for this home compare with the taxes for a home of the same value nearby, across town, or elsewhere in the metro area? The answer is in the mill levy.

A few years ago, REcolorado (the Denver MLS) and other MLSs added a “yes/no” field for metropolitan tax district, but how much does that tax district add to the property taxes for that listing? MLS listings don’t currently have a data field for mill levy.

some counties, including Denver, just give the total mill levy and don’t, as far as I could tell, indicate how much of that mill levy is from a metro tax district.

valuing the home. That cost is literally hidden from the buyer of a home in any metropolitan tax district.

signs to each parcel.

Some metro districts have a zero mill levy, but some metro tax districts have mill levies so high that they double the tax bill for a home compared to a comparable one nearby that is not in that tax district.

A good broker should let a buyer know the premium he or she is paying to buy a home in such a district, but that broker cannot currently get that information from the MLS listing. The broker would have to go to the assessor’s web page for that listing in the county where that home is located and look at the breakdown of mill levies for that house.

Jefferson County provides the breakdown of mill levies by each taxing jurisdiction, but

An example of how much taxes can vary can be found in two Jeffco homes that sold in the last few months. One house in the Mesa Meadows section of Golden which sold for $1,500,000 has a mill levy of 91, like all homes in the City of Golden, which has no metro tax districts. The tax bill for that home is $6,761. Meanwhile, a house three miles to the north in a metro tax district which sold for $972,500 has a mill levy of 165, resulting in a 2024 tax bill of $10,105, a $3,344 difference.

A metropolitan tax district is created to fund the infrastructure (roads, gutters, sewers, water lines, sidewalks, etc.) for a new subdivision. Instead of the developer paying those costs, a bond issue provides the funds for that purpose, and home buyers in that subdivision will be paying an extra mill levy for two or more decades to pay off those bonds.

In the above example, the metro tax district’s mill levy is 70 mills. The owner of that home will pay $100,000 or more over time for the infrastructure costs. In Golden, those costs were paid for by the developer or the city. Yet, an appraiser or real estate broker would not factor that long-term expense when

Does a Seller Say They Won’t Repair Anything?

Every buyer should hire a professional inspector, even if a home is sold “as-is.” That’s a bogus term intended to convey that the seller won’t correct any defects uncovered by the buyer’s inspector. I call it “bogus,” however, because the contract does or should contain an inspection termination deadline, and, even if it doesn’t, the buyer always retains the right to inspect the property.

If your inspector finds a serious issue, you can threaten to terminate because of it, and it’s likely the seller will agree to deal with it rather than lose the contract and start over, in which case he must disclose the newly found issue to the next buyer.

That being said, the seller could still call the buyer’s bluff, especially if the buyer’s agent has given the listing agent the impression that the buyer loves the house and would

not let a few thousand dollars in repairs stand in the way of getting a house they love.

That was the situation with a listing of mine. I had been told that the buyer lost out on a prior listing, and their offer had a clause saying they would beat any competing offer by $5,000. That won them the contract, but my seller (who met the buyers a couple times during showings and inspection) knew how much the buyer loved the property and wouldn’t want to lose it.

Therefore, when the inspection objection included a demand for a 5-figure concession to fix a major health and safety problem that any other seller would have agreed to fix, my seller refused, and the demand was withdrawn.

Remember: getting under contract is only the beginning; inspection is a negotiation, too.

When an appraiser or real estate broker values a home, they look at square footage, lot size, garage, bedrooms/bathrooms — in other words, everything but the tax rate (and the HOA dues) when doing an appraisal or comparative market analysis. Yet, the bottom line cost of owning homes in a metropolitan tax district can be dramatically higher.

That is why I have argued for over a decade that REcolorado should include the mill levy for each listing and not just the dollar amount of the property taxes.

Some counties make it easier than others to find the mill levy. In Jefferson County, the assessor’s website breaks down the mill levy from every taxing jurisdiction. A link provides the dollar subtotals and total.

You can, however, calculate the tax bill from the assessor’s website by multiplying the mill levy by the assessed valuation of the property. The assessed valuation for residential real estate statewide is currently 7.15% of the “full valuation” which the assessor as-

When you purchase a home that is within a homeowner’s association, state law requires that you receive a wide array of documents, financial and otherwise, about that association.

These include, for example, the covenants, the rules and regulations, financial statements, bylaws, budget, reserve study, the minutes of the last six months of board meetings, and the minutes of the most recent annual membership meeting.

The contract to buy and sell a home in Colorado provides deadlines for providing these association documents, objecting to them, and resolving any objections. A buyer can terminate a contract and get the earnest money deposit refunded if he or she is unhappy with what those documents reveal.

For example, the reserves of the association may be insufficient, suggesting that a special assessment is likely. The minutes might reveal issues which are upsetting to some members, or legal action which the association is undertaking, at some expense, to enforce its rules against one or more members. These and other reasons could exist that might cause the buyer to terminate the contract.

Very few listing brokers make those documents available to prospective buyers in ad-

Thus, if your home has a full valuation of $1,000,000, the assessed valuation would be $71,500. That’s the number against which the mill levy is calculated. A mill levy of 100 would compute to a property tax bill of $7,150. It’s called a “mill” levy (from the Latin word for thousand) because it is levied against each thousand dollars of value. Thus, 100 mills x 71.5 = $7,150.

The math becomes complicated when the state legislature says, as it did last year, that $55,000 should be subtracted from the full valuation before calculating the assessed valuation. How much did that reduce taxes? $55,000 of reduced full valuation is worth $3,932.50 in reduced assessed valuation. At 100 mills, that’s worth about $393.25 off the home’s tax bill.

Although giving the total mill levy for each MLS listing would be a great improvement, the best way to inform buyers of the effect of a metropolitan tax district would be to say that there is such a tax district, and to add a separate field to enter the number of mills for that tax district.

vance of going under contract, but why not?

Recently, at an open house, a visitor told our broker associate that in California the questions he was asking about the HOA (such as why the HOA dues are so high) would be readily ascertainable in advance rather than only after going under contract.

When we have been on the buyer side, we have rarely found that a listing agent already has the HOA documents — and answers to important HOA questions — to provide us.

That got us thinking, and the answer came last week when Pam Giarratano, our sales rep at First Integrity Title, brought to our office meeting Julietta Voronaov from Rexera. For a reasonable fee, Rexera provides all those required HOA documents prior to going on the MLS, so we can provide them to interested buyers and their agents.

Currently Rexera’s service is only available through our preferred title company, First Integrity Title. After Julietta’s presentation, our broker associates and I agreed that from now on, when we list a property that is located in an HOA, we will use First Integrity and order the pre-listing package from Rexera.

We look forward to providing complete HOA information in advance from now on for all our listings that are located in a homeowner’s association.

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meeting. For the committee’s votes, Carson said, he ran against Priscilla Rahn — former vice chair of the Colorado Republican Party, who also ran in last year’s county commissioner primary against Van Winkle and Carson — and Kim Ransom, a former member of the state House, representing part of Douglas County.

Carson garnered 71 votes to Ransom’s 48 and Rahn’s 17, Carson said.

Carson, a former Douglas County school board president who lives in the Highlands Ranch area, spoke with Colorado Community Media about his priorities for serving in the state legislature.

Talking ‘across-the-board cuts’ and immigration

Carson says he wants to create a statelevel “government e ciency commission” modeled after the group that may be created in the incoming Trump administration, an e ort to be headed by the wealthy Elon Musk and former Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy.

“Basically do the same thing — go through the state agencies” and “cut the redundancy, waste,” Carson said, adding that he envisions the state commission would be largely made up of Colorado business leaders.

Carson noted the need to cut the state budget “quite a bit” this year.

are going to be growing, that’s for sure.”

Aside from matters of funding, Carson also wants to require local governments to comply with federal immigration policy.

“I think it’s ridiculous that we’ve got particularly Denver” opposing possible federal immigration enforcement, Carson said. “ e border has not been secure,” Carson said, adding: “I’m in favor of legal immigration, and that’s the way it should happen, but illegal immigration” is “unacceptable to me.”

Message to the GOP

Carson also had a message to Republicans: e party “needs to get more united and stop the internal bickering that’s going on.”

e party should “communicate our message a lot better to all of the voters,” Carson said. “We’re spending so much time ghting within the party that we’re not getting that done.”

When asked whether he was referring to the state Republican Party, he said: “I wouldn’t put it in a particular category.” e “leadership of the party at all levels, we’re just spending too much time on internal party matters,” Carson said, adding: “We need to focus outward instead of inward.”

Carson previously served on the governing body of the University of Colorado. As a CU regent, he oversaw a $4 billion budget and four university campuses, he has said. He also touts delivering “conservative results” as president of the Douglas County school board, noting he helped end the contract with the county teachers union. He expected to be sworn in to the Senate seat Jan. 10. He said he intends to run for election in 2026 for a full four-year term.

About Colorado’s legislature is year’s legislative session, the fourmonth part of the year when state lawmakers typically pass bills, started Jan. 8. e state House is composed of 65 representatives. ose members are elected every two years and are limited to serving eight consecutive years. e state Senate is made up of 35 senators, who are elected to four-year terms. Each senator is limited to serving two consecutive terms.

For more information on the state legislature, its schedule and proposed bills, see its website at leg.colorado.gov. For maps of the state House and state Senate districts, see tinyurl.com/COstatedistrictmaps.

crash. He said the evidence showed that Morones did not meet his obligation to slow down when approaching a light, no matter if it was red or green.

Agreeing that it’s a tragic case, the defense claimed it was an accident. ey said drugs and alcohol were not involved, Morones wasn’t speeding, nor was he distracted — rather, it was a matter of unfortunate timing.  e defense added that at the moment of the incident, the sun was “just right” and Morones could not see that the light turned red.

But according to investigation ndings of the case, the tra c light was clearly visible — as proven through a photograph that an o cer took in the following days at the same time the incident occurred, in the same lane, approaching the same intersection.

‘I ask for forgiveness’

In front of the judge at the sentencing hearing, Morones’ brother-in-law described him as a hard worker who provides for his family. He added that Morones wishes he could take that day back and is traumatized by the incident.

With numerous family members sitting behind him in the courtroom, Morones apologized for what had happened.

“I take responsibility for this accident and I ask for forgiveness,” Morones said through a Spanish interpretor.

The defense asked for probation

A probation pre-sentence investigator report provides the judge with information to help determine an appropriate sentence. In this case, it was suggested that Morones receive supervised probation.

But learning Morones had another chance at probation, Mackiewicz’s mother disagreed.

“How many chances does he get,” Cegielski said in court. “Because my son didn’t get any chances.”

The work isn’t over e jail time and ne that Morones received are the maximum amount the judge was able to impose for the charge due to Colorado law, but many believe it’s not enough.

“I respect the rule of law,” Weekly told the judge. “You shouldn’t be able to kill someone in this state and throw a penalty on your credit card.”

He added that it is unacceptable to have a penalty that low for taking someone’s life, and that he aims to work with the state legislator to change the penalties — already having started conversations with a local senator.

“ e system is very broken when the most severe consequence for careless driving resulting in death is a $1,000 ne and a year in jail,” Weekly said.

George Brauchler, district attorney-elect for the 23rd Judicial District, agreed the punishment is too low and that there needs to be a law that provides a judge with a greater sanction.

e defense also cited a similar case that occurred in Arapahoe County, during which a 13-year-old boy was struck and killed by a vehicle on the way to school. In April of last year, the woman who pleaded guilty in this case was sentenced to two years of probation and to pay a $1,000 ne after also being found guilty of careless driving resulting in death.

As Morones was compliant with o cers at the scene and throughout the investigation, had a valid license at the time of the incident and accepted responsibility, the defense asked for a period of probation and

useful public service.

However, Morones’ previous tra c violations were also a point of contention.

In addition to a conviction of careless driving resulting in injury in 2006, Morones has also had two DUI convictions — in 2001 and 2010 — for which he received probation.

e defense claimed that these previous o enses do not re ect his driving abilities in recent years, as he has been a delivery driver for Sherwin-Williams for more than four years, spending hundreds of hours on the road.

“You can do eight million things in your life to protect yourself from crime, where you work, where you live, the time of day you go out and do things. One thing none of us can protect us from is what takes place on our roads,” Brauchler said.

While speaking to the media after the sentencing, Cegielski said she aims to work with others to make the charge of careless driving resulting in death a felony, as it will put full meaning to what is happening.

In addition to the criminal case, the Ce-

Victoria Cegielski, the mother of Alexander “Alex” Mackiewicz who was struck and killed by a vehicle in March, walks out of a courtroom at the Douglas County Courthouse in Castle Rock on Jan. 7 after the driver of the vehicle was sentenced to one year in jail. Behind her are Mackiewicz’s father, Robert Mackiewicz and father-in-law, Owen Cegielski, carrying a photo of Mackiewicz.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

another mother Cegielget rejudge to not the someon have life, legalready local most rein attorney-elect the needs a your where day none place the work careless will Ce-

gielski family civil attorney Phill Harding said there is also a civil aspect to this case. He said they are seeking a policy limit demand from the insurance company of the vehicle that Morones was driving, and if it’s not paid within 30 days, they will le a lawsuit.

“We are going after the entity that supplied this killing machine,” said Harding. “If you hire someone with a background like this, then you need to pay.”

‘Alex was my life’

As photos and videos of Mackiewicz were shared on the screens in the courtroom and those who knew him addressed the court, crying could be heard throughout the room.

For Helena Bernal, Mackiewicz’s older sister, March 6, 2024, was supposed to be a normal day. But instead, it’s a day lled with tragedy that broke a family apart, Bernal said.

“One boy died, but his death has killed a piece of all of us,” Bernal said.

Mackiewicz’s father told the judge that he is heartbroken that he will never get to see his son drive his rst car, and that driving a vehicle is a privilege.

“Alex was my life,” he said.

Mackiewicz’s mother recalled the moment she followed her son’s phone to the intersection of the incident, hoping it was all just a dream. She told the judge she is now only left with memories and feels as if she is in her own jail, con ned to a life in misery.

Among the eight individuals who shared their heartbreak over the loss of Mackiewicz, stories about his character were also shared. How he used to pay for other students’ lunches, how he wanted to become an engineer, how he could hit a baseball across the eld, how he befriended everyone.

“He would do anything and everything to make people smile,” said Cegielski. “Often he would take less so people could have more.”

Mackiewicz’s brother-in-law said he will

miss his best friend, the older brother who would stand up for him in di cult situations. His father-in-law spoke directly to his late son, thanking him for lling a hole in his heart.

Mackiewicz was also described as friendly and adventurous by his neighbor, and “a sweetheart and tough-cookie at the same time” by a schoolmate’s father. A box lled with letters from Mackiewicz’s class-

mates and other community members was brought to the judge.

Today, a tree near the site where Mackiewicz lost his life continues to be surrounded by owers. And standing a few feet in front of the tree is a blue memorial sign that urges drivers to slow down and to drive safely.

“Caring, caring, caring. at’s how everybody described Alex, it was just in his nature,” Cegielski said.

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Victoria Cegielski stands next to Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly and deputies following the sentencing hearing of the driver who hit and killed her son. PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA

George Brauchler, district attorney elect for the 23rd Judicial District, also spoke to the media about the case, adding his belief that one year in jail and a $1,000 fine is not a strict enough punishment for careless driving resulting in death.

Denver to Pueblo in 11 minutes through vacuum tubes?

Hyperloop

tests start soon

BY SUE MCMILLIN THE COLORADO SUN

Imagine slipping into a sleek capsule at a train-like station in Pueblo and arriving in Denver 11 minutes later. Regardless of the weather.

at’s the vision that drives Swisspod Technologies as it works to complete a one-mile, full-scale hyperloop test track on the grounds of the former Pueblo Army Depot in southeastern Colorado.

In November, Swisspod unveiled 25 steel tubes atop concrete pillars stretching across 218 yards of prairie. You could look through the tunnel-like structure from one end to another. Seemingly, pretty basic stu .

But they are the rst pieces of an elliptical test track for an intriguing, futuristic mode of high-speed transportation in which capsules carrying cargo or people would levitate through vacuum tubes.

“As fast as a plane and as convenient as a train,” Swisspod CEO Denis Tudor said as onlookers peered at or clambered into the empty tubes.

While enthusiasm for hyperloop technology fueled a decade ago by design competitions sponsored by Elon Musk and SpaceX has cooled signi cantly, Tudor and his company are unabashedly forging ahead. He expects to begin testing at the Pueblo track in late 2025.

e 43-acre hyperloop testing facility is part of another dream too: the conversion of the former Pueblo Depot into a sprawling complex of businesses and industry to provide jobs in Pueblo County.

“Swisspod’s hyperloop test track falls right into our research and development plans,” said Chris Bolt, vice president and chief operating o cer for PuebloPlex, the redevelopment authority for the former Army post.

Swisspod’s vision

Tudor was 25 years old when he began working on hyperloop technology in 2015. A student at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), he co-founded the rLoop and EPFLoop teams that competed in the Space X Hyperloop Pod competitions that ran from 2015 to 2019.

e teams won awards for best design (2016), best innovation (2017), best engineering (2018), and third place for speed (2018). e EPFLoop team also took third place overall in 2018 and 2019.

e competitions ended but in 2019 Tudor and fellow engineer Cyril Dénéré-

az incorporated Swisspod Technologies with the goal of making hyperloop transportation a reality.

Two years later they were building a one-quarter scale test loop in Lausanne in cooperation with EPFL and the School of Engineering and Management Vaud, a branch of the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland. at same year, Swisspod announced a partnership with Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (now MxV Rail) to build the full-scale test track at the PuebloPlex. e rst steel tubes were installed in October 2023.

Meanwhile, various tests began at the Lausanne track in 2022, and the capsule prototype was completed in 2023.

In June 2024, it completed the longestever hyperloop test trial, sending its autonomous capsule 11.8 kilometers (about 7 miles) along the test track in Lausanne. e capsule reached speeds of about 25 mph.

A key di erence between Swisspod’s e ort and other hyperloop developers is that the infrastructure is cheaper to build because nearly all of the electri cation and controls are in the pods rather than the track, Tudor explained at the Pueblo track unveiling.

He estimated that a fully electri ed rail system costs about $100 million per mile,

whereas the Swisspod concept would cost $12 million to $15 million per mile.

e rail itself would contain only vacuum pumps and some sensors; the rest of the controls will be on the pod, which can be manufactured as needed.

“We took the electri cation o the rail — which is where the cost of high-speed rail is — and put it on the pod,” said Sotiris Pagdadis, a Swisspod board member and director who spoke at the Pueblo event.

He and other investors and board members touted the moxie of the engineering team that is working to transform transportation.

“Four years ago a bunch of crazy scientists and engineers had the vision to set up two test sites,” Pagdadis said.

“ ey had the audacity to believe they could do something that hadn’t been done.”

Andy Jesik, head of infrastructure for the company at PuebloPlex, said nearly everything at the test track is built in Colorado. e large steel tubes are built in Denver by H&L Pipe and Steel, for example.

e test track is elevated atop concrete columns, but the track could also be underground, he said. Either way, the system is immune to weather conditions for operations.

While the land where the test track is

being constructed east of Pueblo is wide open and weather for construction is generally good, Jesik noted that building on a former Army facility came with some hazards.

“When we started soil testing we had to watch a video on unexploded ordnance,” he said with a chuckle. “ at’s when I knew this was going to be an interesting project.”

But so far one of the biggest challenges has been getting the rails into the tube and aligning them, he said.

When completed, the mile-long track will be the largest hyperloop test track in the world and the second-large vacuum chamber in the United States, Swisspod head of marketing Madalina Stoicescu said in an email.

Hyperloop activity wanes

Elsewhere, there is less enthusiasm for the so-called fth mode of transportation (after cars, trains, planes and boats), especially since the ballyhooed Hyperloop One shut down a year ago.

Started in 2013 as Hyperloop Technologies by Silicon Valley investor Shervin Pishevar, the company underwent numerous transformations and name changes as its engineers developed technology. It became Virgin Hyperloop after entering into a partnership with Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, then reverted back to Hyperloop One in 2022 after Branson pulled his company out of the endeavor, according to the BBC.

e company shifted its focus to cargo instead of people and investment dwindled. It also endured scandal, with directors accused of embezzlement and sexual misconduct, the BBC reported. It shut down completely in December 2023.

Other startups around the world continue to pursue the technology, and India and China are particularly interested. Swisspod has a memorandum of understanding to operate in India and to collaborate with TuTr Hyperloop at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Stoicescu said.

In September, Hardt Hyperloop announced that it has successfully tested a levitation vehicle at its European Hyperloop Center in the Netherlands, e Associated Press reported.

Tudor noted that the technologies being pursued could have multiple applications, including in space exploration and high-speed rail, and the concepts have been around for a long time.

Although there has been some govern-

A view of the interior of Swisspod’s hyperloop test track that’s under construction at the Pueblo Plex. When completed in 2025, the 1-mile, 43-acre test site will be the world’s largest hyperloop testing faciltiy.

PHOTO BY MIKE SWEENEY / SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN

SEE HYPERLOOP, P18

DOJ probes bias, harassment claims in Dougco schools

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Douglas County School District is under federal investigation for its response to discrimination, harassment and bullying against students based on race, national origin, religion or disability, as well as its use of seclusion and restraints for students with disabilities.

e Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the district, according to an email sent to families. Representatives from the division will be in Douglas County from Jan 13 to 15 to interview families for the investigation. It’s unclear exactly what led to the investigation or its scope.

District o cials have not responded to a

request for comment. O cials from the Civil Rights Division have not responded to a request for an interview.

e district is being sued by three families for its response to discrimination and bullying of Black and biracial students. e students were targeted in a group chat and called slurs and threatened with lynching.

e district also recently had to review its seclusion and restraint policies for students with disabilities after a complaint was led with the Colorado Department of Education in 2022.

O cials from the Civil Rights Division are hoping to interview parents and students, either in person or via phone or Zoom, about their experiences with discrimination, harassment and bullying in the district. To schedule an interview, contact investiga-

tors at community.dcsd@usdoj.gov or call (888) 394-6317.

“We understand that these are sensitive topics,” the email said. “Participation of minors is allowed with a signed parental consent form or the presence of a parent or guardian.”

After an investigation, the department can choose to do nothing, enter into a settlement agreement if violations are found, or it can sue a district.

A participant in a protest against discrimination and bullying sits on the lawn of the Douglas County School District administrative building in February 2024. The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the district’s handling of bullying, discrimination and harassment claims.

Max Brooks to stay on Castle Rock council while serving as legislator

Politician says he will aim to protect local control

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Colorado House Rep. Max Brooks announced he will stay on the Castle Rock Town Council for the remainder of his term, representing two elected positions.

Brooks, a Republican, was elected to represent Colorado’s House District 45 — which encompasses Castle Rock and

the Pinery area — in November. He has served on the town council since 2022 and his term ends in 2026.

Brooks told the Douglas County News-Press in an emailed statement that he chose to stay on town council to protect the town’s local control over government decisions.

“With recent legislative efforts to erode the ability of local governments in making their own decisions for their community, there is considerable benefit to Castle Rock residents by having their own elected voice within (the) legislature to defend against further intrusion into our town,” Brooks said. “I will

provide this seamless connection from Castle Rock neighborhoods to the Capitol.”

Nothing in Colorado law nor Castle Rock’s town charter prevents Brooks from holding both offices simultaneously, according to the Legislative Council Staff at the state Capitol and Castle Rock’s spokesperson Melissa Hoelting. Colorado law does prohibit someone from being a candidate for two elected seats at the same time.

Brooks said he will be attentive to both roles and believes constituents will benefit from a representative working at the state and local levels.

“I am honored to have been elected to the council position and have served Castle Rock residents dutifully and faithfully the last two years,” he said. “I will continue to do so and remain dedicated to my responsibility as a public servant as I expand my commitment to work on behalf of all families, taxpayers, homeowners and residents of Castle Rock from the state Capitol as a member of the 75th General Assembly.”

Brooks is not the first state representative to hold dual offices. A recent example is Rep. Junie Joseph, who served on Boulder City Council and in the Colorado House of Representatives in 2022.

PHOTO BY MCKENNA HARFORD

A year of reflection and renewal

As the calendar ips to a new year, it’s natural to pause and re ect on the one we’ve just completed. For some, it may have been a year of profound challenge, marked by the loss of a loved one, personal health battles or unforeseen traumas that reshaped the course of their lives. For these individuals, the arrival of a new year may feel like a much-needed turning of the page, an opportunity to leave pain behind and begin anew.

For others, the past year may have been lled with milestones and achievements, victories both personal and professional. It was a year of growth, learning and perhaps even celebration. As joyful as they may be, these moments often come hand in hand with failures and setbacks that taught invaluable lessons. Looking back, the make-up of highs and lows creates a narrative that fuels ambition for the year ahead.

WINNING holds sports,

hope, determination, or a bit of trepidation, one thing is certain: it is a year that holds potential for change, growth, and transformation. e phrase “you’re only as good as your last win” resonates in sports, sales and life. It reminds us that success, while worth celebrating, is eeting without consistent e ort. But it’s equally valid that failure doesn’t de ne us; it’s simply a step along the path to success.

relationships to how we de ne success. It’s an extraordinary opportunity but also demands adaptability and intentionality.

As these changes unfold, they invite us to re ect on our personal goals. What does transformation look like for you? Perhaps it’s focusing on physical health, prioritizing mental wellness, or strengthening your spiritual practice. Maybe it’s developing new skills to stay ahead in your career or embracing the technology that once seemed intimidating.

with loved ones and savoring moments of peace?

Whatever your vision, the blank canvas of the year ahead awaits your brushstrokes. It’s not about predicting what will happen; it’s about choosing how you will respond, grow and create meaning in the days and months to come.

No matter which side of this spectrum you nd yourself on or if your year included a mix of both, the beauty of this moment lies in its promise. We all have a blank canvas, a chance to envision what’s possible in the next 12 months. Whether we approach this year with

As we bid farewell to last year, take stock of what you achieved, what you learned and what you might have done di erently. Did you nd moments of courage? Did you navigate unexpected challenges with grace? Even in the most di cult of years, silver linings or small victories often pave the way for resilience. e year ahead promises not just change but transformation. Technology, particularly advancements in arti cial intelligence, is accelerating faster than we ever imagined. From how we work to connect, AI is reshaping industries and

New year, new strategies

Anew year, a clean slate. I always think of this as a great opportunity to take a new look at everything and make plans for the next 12 months. But then again, I am a planner. If you are not, then this may sound foreign to you, but it may still be worth your while to learn how to build the best strategy for 2025.

Readers have been inundated with news about what to expect under the new president. Investors have concerns about not enough domestic help and therefore rising prices. Business owners are wondering how tari s will a ect their imported supplies and their exports. Taxpayers are in ux about the tax law sunset slated for the end of this year and how to plan for 2026. It is di cult to plan when there are so many unknowns.

Luckily, Mariner’s chief economist, William Greiner, has kept a level head and is holding steady with his economic outlook. is is based on the business cycle and the natural progression expected from the Federal Reserve Board. It does no good to play guessing games about much else until more unfolds. Typical of many campaign promises, the chances of everything being implemented exactly as claimed are very small. We expect that economic growth will slow to 1.5% to 2% in 2025. is is down from the 2.5% to 3% we experienced in 2024, according to Greiner.¹ is view, along with in ation continuing to moderate, is similar to that of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

Powell’s testimony in late December included his forecast that unemployment is expected to go higher in 2025 to the 4.3 percent range. He stated that monetary policy will adjust as things progress. “If the labor market weakens or in ation falls, then we can decrease interest rates more aggressively,” he said.

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

I found it interesting that the last interest rate cut in mid-December triggered a stock market decline. Unfortunately, there was also no Santa Claus rally last year. is is when stocks do well in the last ve trading days of the year and into the rst two days of January. Instead, the markets ended on a sour note with ve consecutive days of decline from Dec. 26 through Jan. 2. However, it was a good year for the history books, with the S&P 500 rising more than 20% in 2024.²

Investors should consider planning for slower economic growth, slightly higher unemployment and potentially falling interest rates and moderating in ation. Develop a plan with your adviser to remain consistent with your investment strategy based on long-term growth potential and short-term interest rate declines. Bond investors should once again be rewarded with rising values as rates fall. Savers may not see their 4% and 5% yields on money markets or certi cates of deposit for a while. at renewal risk will be alive and well when new rates are posted at maturity. It may be time to look at a more productive strategy if this money is not your emergency reserves but keep in mind it is possible to lose money investing in securities.

1.William Greiner: ree Yards and a Cloud of Dust

2. JP Morgan: December FOMC

Patricia Kummer is managing director for Mariner, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser.

is could also be the year to deepen relationships with family, friends, colleagues or even yourself. Pursuing personal growth doesn’t need to be grandiose; often, the most transformational changes begin with small, consistent actions.

e start of a new year is a rare opportunity to rewrite the script. It’s an invitation to dream big and act boldly. But it’s also a reminder to pace ourselves, embrace progress over perfection and stay curious about the future.

Ask yourself: What do you want this year to mean? Is it the year you nally take that leap you’ve been hesitating over? Or is it the year you nd solace in the simple joys of life, treasuring time

As we close one chapter and open another, let’s celebrate the resilience that carried us through the last year and the hope that fuels the next. Whether this past year was one to cherish or endure, the road ahead holds promise.

May this be the year of transformation for technology, our communities, and ourselves. What will you make of it? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com. e answer lies in the choices you make starting now. Here’s to the year ahead, your year to re ect, grow, and thrive. And as you do, 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.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Mull values in school board race

Are you a family member or neighbor of a child or teen who has a disability? Perhaps they are humans of color? Do they enjoy dressing in articles of nongender-conforming clothing? Maybe the child is happy wearing all-black, yellow, or rainbow-colored out ts? Are we able to share our values in the best interests of children? Are kindness, tolerance, and service your values?

School board races are happening in Douglas County and other school districts this November. It’s time to examine your values as you examine upcoming candidates. I urge you to vote for board members who mirror your conscience. Seating an extreme majority board will harm children. e local groups Moms

for Liberty, CPAN and FAIR are funding and in uencing candidates. Let them show you who they are. A recent photo in Colorado Times Recorder shows Colorado GOP special-initiatives director and El Paso County Moms for Liberty founder Darcy Schoening standing with Colorado Log Cabin Republican and former Denver GOP chair Garrett Flicker as they smile in T-shirts proclaiming “Bring back bullying.” eir values quash kindness, inclusion and service, potentially harming our children. Don’t allow school boards to become bully pulpits.

Katie Barrett, Castle Rock

LETTERS

Truth about ‘book ban’ myth

Recent media coverage has painted a misleading picture of “book bans” in schools, particularly in the Elizabeth School District. However, the reality is far from the sensationalized narrative. e district’s policy isn’t about censorship but about empowering parents to make informed choices for their children’s education.

Parental Choice, not a Ban. e Elizabeth School District implemented an opt-in choice giving parents control over their child’s access to library materials that are considered sensitive. is o ers three clear options for parents: Full access: Allow children to check out any book; Permission-based access: Require permission for speci c books; or Denial of access: Restrict access to certain books entirely. is system is about providing choice, not banning books. Parents have the power to decide what’s appropriate for their children, while ensuring that all students have access to a wide range of materials.

Despite this choice-based option, two parents have led a lawsuit against the district, with support from groups like the ACLU. is raises an important question: Why sue over something parents already have control over? e choice is designed to give parents transparency and autonomy, yet these parents are challenging the very freedom they are granted. e policy allows them to decide what their children are exposed to, making the lawsuit seem unnecessary. If the policy is about empowering parents, why is there such strong opposition from some groups? e controversy may not be about protecting children, but about controlling educational content. When transparency and parental involvement are reduced, it becomes harder for families to make informed choices about their children’s education.

At its core, the Elizabeth School District is about giving parents control and choice, not restricting access to educational resources. By o ering clear options, the district ensures that families can make decisions that align with their values while still maintaining access to materials for all students.

e real issue here is parental choice. e district’s system isn’t a “book ban,” it’s a decision designed to empower parents to make informed choices about

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

their children’s education. Instead of focusing on misguided accusations of censorship, we should embrace this transparency and the choice it o ers families.

Crisy Howell, Elizabeth

I too am an American I want to thank Adoree Blair for your letter of Jan. 2, 2025. I too, am an American, born and raised in this great country that I deeply love. I have also represented the United States in international sports competition and worn my USA sweats with pride.

I remember a time when both Republicans and Democrats put the needs of our nation rst over political party doctrine. It was also a time when medical science eradicated the deathly scourge of polio and smallpox and saved millions of lives in the process. Yet our new president embraces a vaccine denier for secretary of health and human services.

It was a time when a great Republican president, Ronald Reagan, worked with Tip O’Neill to create legislation that was best for the entire nation. It was also a time when we valued education and science so that millions of engineers and scientists could put 12 of our fellow citizens on the surface of the moon. I long for those days.

I long for those days when our Constitution was treated as the sacred document it truly is and not treated as a local zoning ordinance that needs to be circumvented in order to develop a real estate deal.

Yes, Adoree, I too am a proud American and I thank you for your letter to the Highlands Ranch Herald.

Robert Clarke, Highlands Ranch

Politics both ways

It was interesting to see Elizabeth School District Superintendent Dan Snowberger state his disappointment that a lawsuit had to become a political attack. Didn’t the Elizabeth School Board and District rst start imposing their political views in removing books from the libraries? When will government end imposing their values on individuals? Isn’t it the responsibility of parents to monitor what children read and not biased political leaders? I do not support either side in this con ict but do support compromise. Is it wrong for both sides to sit down and discuss differences while arriving at a compromise rather than making lawyers richer? Isn’t that what we teach children in school to do in resolving their con icts with conict resolution?

Dave Usechek, Parker

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A publication of

Call first: 115 Wilcox St., Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104

Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110

What’s coming up in the Highlands Ranch Community Association

Residents will see an increase in assessment fees, board of director elections

Deadline Tues. for the following week’s paper.

Highlands Ranch Herald

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, the Herald is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 115 Wilcox St., Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104.

Send address change to: Highlands Ranch Herald, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

ensuring responsible nancial management,” Ruiz said.

She added that the community association’s board strives to fund its reserve funds through regular contributions throughout the year, in an attempt to avoid the need to charge homeowners for large special assessments.

e assessment rates are broken down into two functions: administrative and recreational.

e administrative function, which is $16 per quarter, is for architectural control and covenant enforcement, accounting andnance, billing and collection, and community events.

e recreational function is $155 per quarter for the year.

tures of the website will include a mobile-friendly design and convenient online tools to assist actions like signing up for tness classes or planning a pool party.

It will also have detailed information about the association’s four recreation centers and the Backcountry Wilderness Area, which has dozens of programs and camps for youth and teenagers throughout the year.

e deadline to submit candidate forms is Jan. 24. Voting opens on March 17, and will close a week later.

ere will also be an election for district delegates. e community is divided into 93 districts and the homeowners in the districts elect a delegate to represent their neighborhood in association matters.

Association’s election and voting process can be found at tinyurl. com/ydhkva3v.

Westridge Recreation renovations

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.

ese monies go towards operating and maintaining recreation facilities in the community association and the Backcountry Wilderness Area.

Fresh website look

With a goal to improve accessibility, convenience and community engagement, the Highlands Ranch Community Association is launching a redesign of its website in late January.

In addition to making paperless payments a little easier, key fea-

To nd out when the redesign of the website launches, sta encourages residents to follow the Highlands Ranch Community Association on Instagram @In eRanch or Facebook.

Elections in March

Election season isn’t over just yet.

e Highlands Ranch Community Association is governed by a ve-member volunteer board of directors, and in March, two seats will be up for grabs. is year, district delegates will ll the two positions, according to the association.

Elected delegates serve on the delegate committee and propose amendments to the association’s bylaws, and authorize and make recommendations to the board of directors on various community matters, such as nancial.

e deadline to submit candidate forms for the district delegate election is Feb. 24. Notices and ballots will be mailed to members in the district in which the elections are being held so not everyone in Highlands Ranch will receive a ballot. Voting opens on March 7 and closes on April 11.

More information about the Highlands Ranch Community

As the community association focuses on maintaining and updating its facilities — some of which are more than 20 years old — the association has budgeted to invest $10 million in reserve and capital expenditures in 2025, said Ruiz.

Within that budget, about $6.2 million is earmarked for the renovation of the Westridge Recreation Center. ese renovations will begin in May and will be completed in phases ranging from four to 18 weeks at a time.

Renovations include work to the locker rooms, the entrance and kiosks desk, lighting, roof and skylight, preschool ooring, turf in the gymnasium, among others.  “ ese updates are vital to sustaining the quality of life and amenities that make Highlands Ranch a vibrant and desirable community,” Ruiz said.

The new year will come with some changes in the Highlands Ranch Community Association, including an increase in assessment fees, renovations and board of director elections.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

BY ERIC HEINZ ERIC@COTLN.ORG

Another year of the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) is here and with it comes a variety of rodeos and entertainment.

Taking place through Jan. 26 at the traditional National Western Center, the events draw hundreds of thousands of people to the area.

Paul Andrews, the CEO of the National Western Stock Show, said this is a year of new beginnings.

“We’ve got about maybe a dozen, maybe a little more than that, new vendors in the trade show hall that have some really interesting products that people will enjoy,” Andrews said. “It’s kind of the year of the baby around here. We’ve got lots of baby animals that have been born, and in fact one is the baby Scottish Highland cows that will be here up in our expo hall, and they’re going to be available to take pictures with.”

Andrews said there is also a new baby Clydesdale horse that will be at the stock show. e Clydesdale horses are large creatures who pull the wagons during the rodeos. Andrews said there will be about 130 rodeos throughout the stock show.

So far, Andrews said the early indicators, including ticket sales, show there could be as many as 700,000 people who visit the Stock Show. In addition, there are participants from all 50 states and other countries who will participate in stock show events. is contributes to what the NWSS estimates is a $171-million economic impact in the Metro-Denver area during the 16-day event.

“ at’s only the second time in my tenure that I can say that, and I’ve been here for 15 years,” Andrews said. “Our ticket sales are signi cantly ahead of any other year on this same date. If Mother Nature holds up on the weather for us, and we don’t get some 20-inch snowstorm or something of that, yeah, that will impact ticket sales. We’re feeling very good about (ticket sales).”

CEO change coming Andrews has been a stalwart of the NWSS for decades. Having been its CEO for 15 years, he’s nally ready to pass the torch to another person.

A full schedule of events can be found at nationalwestern.com/schedule/.

The NWSS also redid its menu in the steakhouse this year, including the addition of a 48-hour braised short rib “that is as big as my arm,” Andrews said.

“Like always, there’s something new at the Stock Show. But there’s also the same great traditional things that people love,” he added.

About 600 temporary workers were hired this year to enhance the events. Many have been on site since December, and some will work into February.

However, the NWSS has not named a replacement at this time. e organization is going through a national search to nd someone who can ll Andrews’s boots. Andrews said he will stay on as the CEO until the NWSS can nd a replacement.

“I’ll be down here all the time at the next year’s show, and the show after that, and the show after that, God willing,” he said.

Andrews has sentimental value in the things he will miss most as CEO of the NWSS.

“Really, it’s been the smiles that I get to see every day in January,” Andrews said.

“I so look forward to watching all the families coming through the exhibits that we have here, seeing the animals in the petting farm where the kids are actually in

there with animals.

“I’ll also miss the sta ,” Andrews continued. “I’ve become very close to both our sta and our volunteers, and I can tell you that our sta and our volunteers and our committees and our board are some of the best people on planet Earth, and I will miss them.”

e good news, Andrews said, is that he lives in nearby Arvada, so popping over to the NWSS is just a short drive.

National Western Center upgrades

e National Western Center is in the midst of its largest overhaul since the Stock Show came to Denver in 1906. Although no new buildings are open for this year’s events, the Sue Anschutz Rogers Livestock Center will be open for the 2026 National Western Stock Show.

“We are currently working with the (National Western Center Authority board) and a development partner to build out

an equestrian center, hotel and parking garage,” said Marcy Loughran, the chief communications o cer for the Denver Mayor’s O ce on the National Western Center. “ e current timeline for that is anticipated for either Stock Show 2028 or 2029.”

ere’s also the land known as the “triangle,” an area that includes the Denver Coliseum and several other buildings. Discussions with local organizations that want to see the land repurposed for housing and other community uses are ongoing. e GES Coalition, a nonpro t that works with the Globeville, Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods, has been trying for years to make use of the land that would bene t the neighboring communities.

Loughran said the city is planning to meet with the coalition and community members in the near future to determine the best uses of the land.

A favorite at the National Western Stock Show is the stagecoach entrance. Pulled by six magnificent horses, this replica is a reminder of how people, mail and goods used to cross Colorado. FILE PHOTO

Icing on the skate

Local outdoor rinks’ unique features, settings o er something for everyone

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Winter sports reign supreme along the Front Range. While the mountains and foothills o er plenty of places to ski, snowboard, snowshoe and spike-hike, the Denver metro area has opportunities galore to ice-skate and play hockey.

During the winter holidays, several local cities like Denver and Arvada host outdoor skating rinks in shopping centers or town squares. Some are only open through local schools’ winter break, but others remain open through January or February, depending on conditions.

Hours and prices vary, but most rinks o er rental skates or people can bring their own for lower-priced admission.

Although there are plenty of indoor skating options, many skaters prefer outdoor rinks’ atmospheres and open-air conditions. ey enjoy soaking up the sunshine or embracing the cold, depending on the weather.

Lakewood’s Greg Daniels and his three teenage children said skating outdoors is “more fun, more festive.” Also, indoor rinks tend to host more intense skaters, while outdoor ones like e Rink at Belmar are more casual, they said.

Leesa Stone, a former Parker resident, felt likewise. She liked the atmosphere at Parker’s Ice Trail at Discovery Park, with its holiday lights around the perimeter and its open replaces for people to warm themselves.

Plus, at places like Evergreen Lake, people come just to enjoy the views and skate on a real lake.

“We love the beautiful surroundings, being nestled here in the mountains,” Commerce City’s Michael Scanlon said of Evergreen Lake. “It adds to the ambiance.”

Whether they were experts or new to the sport, the skaters said local rinks o er something for people of all ages and experience levels.

“Everyone should try it,” Denver’s Marie Duran said.

And, as her 7-year-old Charlotte added, even if people don’t like skating, most rinks are in locations where people can easily nd other activities, like walking, sledding or shopping.

The Rink at Belmar

e Durans rst visited e Rink at Belmar last year and had fun. So, when Charlotte started asking to go skating this winter, the family returned to Belmar Jan. 2.

e rink, which is presented by Quantum Fiber and made of real ice, is in the middle of Lakewood’s Belmar Shopping District.

sphere and holiday lights.

Maddi Harris and Kian Larson, students at Evergreen High School, were visiting Belmar for a date night and decided to rent skates before their movie. e two had also been skating at Evergreen Lake before. While it has its advantages, they liked Belmar’s festive atmosphere with all the holiday lights and the decorated evergreen tree near the rink.

“I prefer the holiday spirit here,” Larson said.

Evergreen Lake

Lara De Beer was visiting the area from Belgium, and for her last day in town, Evergreen’s Colin Saunder decided they should go skating at Evergreen Lake. De Beer had never skated on a lake before, and Saunder hadn’t been out on Evergreen’s in a while, so Jan. 2 seemed like the perfect time to try out the ice. While the lake is several acres in size, skating is only allowed on a portion of it. e maintained section near the Evergreen Lake House has a large perimeter that skaters can take laps around, as well as about a dozen small rinks people can use to play hockey, practice their skating technique and more.

People can buy tickets ahead of time or purchase walk-up tickets on a rstcome, rst-served basis. Private bookings and skating lessons can also be booked online.

Charlotte, who’s a big roller-skating fan, has enjoyed learning to ice skate. Her mom said the smaller rink is ideal for people like Charlotte who are learning to skate.

Duran also felt that e Rink at Belmar was reasonably priced, wellmaintained and “fun for all ages.”

Daniels estimated he and his family have been coming to the Belmar rink for about 10 years. ey tried to go skating before Christmas, but it was very busy. So, they opted to do their annual skating night Jan. 2 instead.

e family frequently shops at Belmar, and liked how close and convenient the rink was for them and other Lakewood residents.

e Daniels have been to other rinks in the area, like the one at Evergreen Lake, but the Belmar one’s atmo-

Because it is a lake, the dates and hours it’s open is weather-dependent. It was scheduled to be open through at least Jan. 25, when it would host the Pond Hockey Championships, but anyone wanting to visit should call the hotline at 720-8801391.

De Beer and Saunder both enjoyed the pleasant weather and mountain scenery from the lake, with Saunder describing how unique and special it is compared to other rinks around Denver.

“ ere’s no place like it,” he said.

Small outdoor rinks like the one in downtown Denver tend to be crowded, but Evergreen Lake has plenty of space for everyone, he added.

Michael Scanlon and his children, Alex and Isabel, felt likewise, describing how they’ve been visiting Evergreen Lake annually since the late ‘90s. Michael said they love the excitement and energy that seems to be inherent among outdoor skating rinks.

However, he added, he felt like the lake’s seasons were getting shorter as the lake doesn’t freeze over as early in the winter as it used to. It’s also grown so popular that parking can be di cult, he said.

People skate at Evergreen Lake Jan. 2., amid Je erson County’s scenic foothills. Several skaters said the scenery is one of the reasons they enjoy skating at Evergreen Lake. PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

ICE SKATING

He recommended that anyone wanting to visit Evergreen Lake “should get here right when it opens,” because it’s usually less crowded and the ice is in the best condition.

e Martinez family from Colorado Springs also went skating during a day trip to Evergreen.

Lauren Martinez said she appreciated how the rink had plenty of pushable skating aids for children. Her family also enjoyed the nearby sledding hill. Overall, she said, they would be open to visiting it again.

Parker Ice Trail at Discovery Park

Parker’s Josh Blaha and his family had planned to go skating in Denver during the evening Jan. 2. But that rink closed earlier in the evening, so they opted to visit the Parker Ice Trail at Discovery Park instead. It was right down the street and open later, he described.

“It’s nice to have something like this in our backyard,” he said of the ice trail.

Unlike a traditional rink, the Parker Ice Trail at Discovery Park is an ice-covered loop trail that’s about 450 feet around. It’s also not a perfect oval with some sharper corners to keep skaters on their toes.

In the summer, it’s a concrete walkway; but in the winter, sta members cover it with ice that they maintain with a Zamboni. It’s scheduled to be open for the season through Feb. 28.

While his family has been to other outdoor rinks, Blaha said they’re much farther away. Additionally, he thought the ice trail was a good size and didn’t feel too crowded.

Leesa Stone, who lived in Parker for more than 20 years before moving to Utah, was happy that Parker had an outdoor rink of its own.

She’s been skating before at e Pond Ice Rink at Southlands, saying that while she liked the lights at e Pond Ice Rink better, she overall liked the Parker Ice Trail more. She said it felt bigger and like that it was one-way only. Plus, the open replaces and overhead heater at the admissions booth are nice touches, she added.

Avery Jones and her family said the shape was also unique. ey thought it motivated some people to skate faster than they would at a regular rink, while others might go slower.

Like the Blaha family, Avery and Zach Jones said they appreciated having an outdoor skating feature so close to home. ey added that it was the perfect thing to do over the holidays, as it’s a very approachable activity for families.

So, whether it’s a family outing, date night, a casual jaunt to soak up the sun or a serious training session, skaters agree the Denver area is the place to be.

Denver’s Marie Duran, left, skates at The Rink at Belmar Jan. 2. Duran and her daughter wanted to come back after visiting the rink for the first time last year. PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

Lara De Beer, far left, and Evergreen’s Colin Saunder skate around Evergreen Lake Jan. 2. De Beer was visiting from Belgium, and Saunder thought skating at Evergreen Lake would be a fun activity for her last day visiting.

Parker’s Avery Jones helps her 5-year-old Rylee as she learns to skate Jan. 2 at the Parker Ice Trail at Discovery Park. The feature, which is a concrete walkway in the summer and is iced down in the winter, is scheduled to be open through Feb. 28.

An employee drives the Zamboni around The Rink at Belmar Jan. 2. The rink, which is scheduled to be open through Jan. 26, is in the middle of the Belmar Shopping District.

Help those in need at Parker blood drive

Give the gift of life by volunteering to make a blood donation during the Town of Parker’s next blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 30 at Parker’s Public Works Operations Center at 9045 Tammy Lane. That’s off Hess Road east of Jordan Road.

To set up an appointment time, contact Wendy Reedy at 303-805-3206 or wendyreedy@parkerco.gov.

Come to Malley Senior Prom in Englewood

If you enjoy music from a live DJ, dancing, refreshments and the company of friends, then come to the Malley Senior Recreation Center at 3380 S. Lincoln St. from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Jan. 31 and enjoy the festivities.

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

The recreation center serves people 55 and older. It sits near South Broadway and Girard Avenue.

The event is free, but registration is required. Visit tinyurl.com/MalleySeniorProm to register or contact Nancy Baum at nbaum@englewoodco.gov or 303-762-2662 for questions.

Apply to need-based scholarship program

The Call to Action Foundation announced the expansion of its scholarship program that will help serve students in additional states in 2025.

The scholarship offers need-based financial support covering the cost of attendance (up to $25,000 annually) for eligible students attending nonprofit, regionally accredited public universities and colleges.

With this year’s expansion, the schol-

arship program will now be available in six states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Nevada and Utah.

In addition to financial assistance, the scholarship recipients gain access to valuable resources such as mentorship, academic counseling, leadership development, and ongoing personal and professional support.

The Call to Action Foundation Scholarship Program officially launched on Jan. 1 with the application deadline of 5 p.m. Mountain Time on Feb. 1.

To learn more about this program and to apply, visit www.calltoactionfdn.org.

Irish pipe-and-drum band seeking new members

Ciorcal Cairdre Irish Pipes & Drums, an all-inclusive Irish pipe band based

in the Denver metro area, is actively recruiting new members to join its growing community.

The band, whose name means “Circle of Friends” in Gaelic, invites aspiring pipers and drummers to join with no prior experience needed. All ages 8 and up are welcome, and the band provides private lessons at reduced rates for those eager to get started.

With a focus on both music and education, Ciorcal Cairde shares Irish cultural traditions with audiences while welcoming members from all backgrounds. From private events to public celebrations, the band delivers lively, authentic performances that celebrate the spirit of Irish music.

Contact Ginger Lagemann at ginger. lagemann@gmail.com or call 813-3895079.

Three Colorado state parks increase entry fees

broader fund.

If you don’t have the Keep Colorado Wild pass in your car this year, you’ll be paying two bucks more a day at three state parks.

Chat eld, Golden Gate Canyon and State Forest state parks will be charging $2 more for daily passes in 2025, up from the usual $10 fee to enter all the other state parks. e extra charge is authorized in two pieces of legislation in recent years aimed at allowing parks and their surrounding communities to determine speci c needs and a higher fee whose proceeds could be kept local instead of disappearing into a

Chat eld’s extra $2 will go into projects run by the Chat eld Watershed Authority, which is the guardian of water quality, recreation resources and wildlife habitat in the areas upstream on the South Platte River from the big reservoir. e main goal for the $2 fund is to lessen the amount of phosphorus that arrives through runo and promotes algae blooms that harm aquatic life and interfere with recreation. Some of that new money will also go after excess chlorophyll in runo .

Golden Gate Canyon and State Forest will charge $12 under a di erent state bill that authorized them to raise the fee

to help improve local roads and access. e extra $2 will go to Gilpin and Jackson counties, respectively, for their road maintenance and improvement funds that address needs surrounding the parks. Frequent users of those three popular parks will likely see the Keep Colorado Wild pass as an even better deal now, since the $29 statewide access price isn’t changing. You can pay the annual pass fee next time your auto registration comes due, though you’ll have to purchase a pass for each car you plan to use — the pass is on your registration, so it’s not transferable from one vehicle to another. e cheap annual passes mean daily

pass collections at most state parks are heading steadily downward. Total daily pass purchases at Chat eld, just southwest of Denver, dropped by nearly 5,000 in 2023 from 2022.

Still, the daily pass is popular enough that the $2 fees will accumulate for some time. Just under 105,000 users bought daily passes at Chat eld in 2023. at was down from about 138,000 daily pass sales in 2020, northeast region state parks spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said. 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.

Thu 1/23

Emily Rizuto: Have My Heart Tour

@ 6:30pm Wild Goose Coffee, 6399 S Santa Fe Dr, Littleton

Tim Ostdiek: "Telling Stories" Songwriter Showcase @ 7pm Roxy on Broadway, 554 S Broadway, Denver

Danny Grooves

@ 9pm

The Black Box, 314 E 13th Ave, Denver

Fri 1/24

Ryan Hutchens at Culinary Dropout

@ 6pm Culinary Dropout, 4141 E 9th Ave, Denver

Soundularity: 360° Healing Music Journey @ 7pm

Archipelago Denver, 2345 7th St, Denver

Lost Frequencies

@ 9pm / $24.95-$34.95

The Church Nightclub, Denver

Sat 1/25

Caffeine and Chrome – Classic Cars and Coffee at Gateway Classic Cars of Denver @ 9am

Rafa Vidal: almost monday - the DIVE tour @ Meow Wolf Denver @ 8pm

Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Sta‐tion, 1338 1st St, Denver

Mile High Soul Club @ 9pm

Sun 1/26

Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 12pm Denver

Sy Smith @ 6:30pm

Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver

Wed 1/29

Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 4pm Denver

Adam Bodine @ 6:30pm Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver

Hannah Juanita @ 7:30pm

Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver

Back to the Future - The Musical @ 7:30pm

Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, 1400 Curtis Street, Denver

Back to the Future - The Musical @ 7:30pm

The Gold�nch, 1842 S Broadway �103, Denver

Canabliss @ 9pm ReelWorks Denver, 1399 35th St, Denver

Gateway Classic Cars of Denver, 14150 Grasslands Drive, Englewood. market ing@gatewayclassiccars.com, 618271-3000

Live Music at Western Sky Bar & Taproom @ 7pm

Jan 25th - Dec 12th

Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S BROAD‐WAY, Englewood. westernskybarco@gmail.com

Same Dude @ 8pm

Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Nothing But Nineties @ 9:30pm

BurnDown Denver, 476 S Broadway, Denver

Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, 1400 Cur‐tis Street, Denver

Mon 1/27

LO MOON @ 6pm

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

FullSail @ 7pm

Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver

Tue 1/28

Elektric Animals @ 7pm

Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver

Justin Timberlake @ 7pm

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Cir, Denver

Justin Timberlake @ 7:30pm

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Den‐

ver Nyquist @ 8pm

The Black Box, 314 E 13th Ave, Denver

Calm.: Extra Kool & Time Vinyl Release Party @ 8pm

The Crypt, 1618 E 17th Ave, Denver

DJ Rockstar Aaron @ 8pm Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

COMEDY & COCKTAILS PRESENTED BY ROTATING TAP COMEDY @ 8pm

Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, 200 S Kalamath St, Denver

Azuxena Live: Denver, CO @ 8pm

Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver

The Wild Feathers (21+ Event) @ 8pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer Street, Denver

Mike Sherm (16+ Event) @ 8pm

Cervantes’ Other Side, 2637 Welton Street, Denver

Thu 1/30

Eric Golden @ 7:30pm

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Back to the Future - The Musical @ 7:30pm Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, 1400 Curtis Street, Denver

HYPERLOOP

ment interest — and investment — many, including in Colorado, are waiting for hyperloop to further develop. Colorado Department of Transportation Director Shoshana Lew said at a 2019 conference that CDOT was focused on available technologies.

“We are excited to see any new technology being researched, but for our projects that are on the horizon for the near term, such as mountain rail from Denver to Craig, we are envisioning the use of available technologies,” CDOT spokesperson Tim Hoover said this month.

Southern Colorado connection

O cials in southern Colorado are a bit more excited about hyperloop and the test track under construction at PuebloPlex.

Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham attended the unveiling of the rst sections of the test track and said it will bring attention to the city and the developing PuebloPlex.

It’s exciting to see “the reuse of the chemical depot site in a new way,” she said.

Bolt, the COO of PuebloPlex, said it is great to have cutting-edge technology companies as a part of the complex.

e rst 5,000 acres of PuebloPlex was transferred in July from the Army to the redevelopment authority. Eventually, the full 23,000 acres of the depot, which in its history stored and maintained missiles and other ordnance, including 780,000 mustard agent- lled munitions, will be available for redevelopment.

PuebloPlex is working with the Army and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on the ongoing

cleanup of the grounds as it recruits businesses to locate there.

MxV rail moved its railroad research and development operations in 2022 from the federal Transportation Technology Center just north of PuebloPlex. MxV is a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads.

e company spent $60 million over three years to repurpose facilities and build test tracks at PuebloPlex, MvX CEO and President Kari Gonzales, a Pueblo native, said. e company has about 250 employees, mostly in southern Colorado.

Worrying about your uneven or cracked concrete can make owning a home very stressful. By investing in concrete repair, you can fix your driveway, walkways, patio, and more in one easy lift.

It is the anchor tenant at PuebloPlex and has classrooms and meeting space, along with a cafeteria. MxV o ers courses on such things as alternative fuels and for rst responders who might be called to a derailment or re.

PuebloPlex also is home to manufacturer Cooper and Turner, which makes anchor bolt assemblies for wind turbine foundations.

And all of the secure igloos that once housed chemical weapons are leased for storage of such valuables as classic cars and artwork, Bolt said.

He noted that PuebloPlex is “just getting started” and he’s excited to see what it will become.

“We evaluate each prospect as they contact us and do our due diligence,” he said. “We’re open to talk to any prospect and then determine if they’re a good t. ere’s a lot of opportunity out here so we want to make sure we see the big picture for years to come.”

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.

Denis Tudor, co-founder and CEO of Swisspod, at the site of his company’s hyperloop testing facility at PuebloPlex, the former Chemical Depot, east of Pueblo Nov. 20, 2024. Swisspod says when completed in 2025, its 1-mile, 43-acre facility will be the largest hyperloop test facility in the world.

PHOTO BY MIKE SWEENEY / SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN

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IT TAKES A VILLAGE

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