Why more tra c signals are in the works for Parker
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With so many road construction projects across Parker, drivers might not want to hear that more are on the way. e town, which says construction is necessary to improve safety, is moving forward with two new tra c signals.
e tra c signals at the intersection of Dransfeldt Road and Parkglenn Way and at Hess Road and Tammy Way are estimated to cost almost $1 million. While that seems like a big price tag for two intersections, town Councilmember Brandi Wilks said it is a matter of looking at the costs of accidents over time versus the signals.
“It’s a question of which one’s going to save us more in the long run,” said Wilks. “I think the tra c signals de nitely save us in the long run.”
Both intersections are high tra c areas. e Parker Police Department is located near the Dransfeldt Road intersection and Hess Road and Tammy Way intersection sees heavy truck tra c, with public works and a Douglas County operations center nearby.
Although the intersections have been on the town’s radar for years, Chris Hudson, deputy director of engineering, recently told the town
council that the two intersections nally meet the minimum federal requirements for a tra c signal to be installed.
Tra c engineers in the town follow the Manual on Uniform Trafc Control Devices to meet certain warrants for the appropriate use of tra c signals. It’s required by state law to compare each situation with national standards through tra c studies.
Several factors go into a study, said Andy Anderson, communications director. Factors include vehicle, pe-
destrian volumes, accident history or safe gaps in tra c. Meeting one warrant from the manual does not obligate the town to install a tra c signal.
“We’ve had kind of a rash of accidents at the intersection of Parkglenn and Dransfeldt over the past three to four years,” said Tom Williams, director of engineering and public works.
He added that drivers tend to become impatient at the intersection,
Academic recovery across school districts is mixed, with persistent achievement gaps
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e latest release of standardized test score results provide a glimpse into how well students across the metro area are doing. e data shows they’re still rebounding from the effects of the pandemic, and many students are struggling with the basics, including reading and math.
For instance, the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, or CMAS, results show only a third of students at Adams Five Star Schools meet grade-level standards in math. And, a little more than half of third through eighth-graders in Je erson County Schools achieved grade level or above in reading scores.
In both examples, the scores are a little higher than the year before, a common trend in the tests, which measure pro ciency in districts across Colorado.
Growth scores are calculated on a 100-point scale based on their grade level. Numbers greater than 50 indicate that struggling students below
The Town of Parker will move forward with the construction of two tra c lights at two intersections: one at Dransfeldt Road and Parkglenn Way and another at Hess Road and Tammy Lane.
PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
SEE SIGNALS, P8
Red Rocks’ 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb draws estimated 2,500 attendees
Participants honor firefighters and other Sept. 11 victims with nine laps around amphitheatre
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
An estimated 2,500 people — many reghters in full gear, some seniors climbing slowly but steadily, a few babes in arms and a handful of teens vaulting easily up the stone steps — paid tribute on Sept. 11 by participating in the Colorado 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Red Rocks.
e event honors the 343 re ghters and nearly 3,000 people who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, which included two planes crashing into the World Trade Center towers. It also honors the 362 re ghters who’ve died since from illnesses related to the terrorist attacks.
Participants did nine laps up and down the Red Rock Amphitheatre stairs, the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.
e event began with the replaying of a 9/11 New York City radio broadcast, during which callers witnessing planes hitting the towers called in to share their observations and express horri ed disbelief.
Event coordinator Shawn Duncan, noting the divisiveness that accompanies national elections, urged participants to remember that day and the days that followed.
“ ink about how united our country was,” he said. “All we cared about was being there for one another. As we climb these stairs today, remember that feeling. Carry it with you. Let’s get back to caring for one another and let’s be united again.”
A veteran rang the Honor Bell, the Colorado Emerald Society bagpipe band played “Amazing Grace,” and a singer sang the national anthem — all under a massive American ag hung between two re trucks.
ousands of people then walked up the south ramp to the amphitheatre and began making their laps.
In its 15th year, the Red Rocks event drew participants from 24 states, the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom.
Last year’s event raised $116,000 through donations.
e Red Rocks climb is one of 50 9/11 memorial stair climbs, including the original event which began in Denver in 2005. e Morrison event is the largest and most wellattended in the country, according to the event’s website.
e climbs bene t the FDNY Counseling Services Unit and the programs provided by the
National Fallen Fire ghters Foundation.
An American flag strung between two fire trucks flies over the crowd at the start of Red Rocks’ 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. PHOTOS BY JANE REUTER
A woman carries a baby on her back as she climbs the stairs at Red Rocks.
Conifer’s Inter-Canyon firefighters start up the south ramp at Red Rocks to begin the nine-lap memorial stair climb.
Inspecting and Dealing With Inspection Issues Is Crucial to the Buying Process
Sellers and their listing brokers are required by law to disclose all known defects to prospective buyers, and buyers should get and study the Seller’s Property Disclosure and share it with their inspector prior to conducting a professional inspection of the home they are buying. This form is to be completed “to the seller’s current actual knowledge,” but shouldn’t be counted on.
contract, so my buyer can see whether it’s worth the expense of a professional measurement, which can cost several hundred dollars. (I also place this device in the basements of homes I list, to give the seller a heads-up on whether to expect radon mitigation as an inspection demand.)
As a buyer, you absolutely must hire a professional inspector who will perform an overall inspection of every system and appliance within the house. Your inspector will ask if you want to do a radon test or a sewer scope, both of which cost extra. Say “yes” to both those services.
Sewer scopes only cost $100200 and are money well spent, because if they reveal a problem requiring excavation, that could cost thousands of dollars.
Schedule the inspection early, because your inspector may recommend additional inspections by an electrician, a plumber, a structural engineer, a roofer or other specialist based on what he saw.
pre-listing inspection of your home, but I don’t recommend that. You need to disclose all defects you know about, and any listing agent worth his salt (and his license to practice real estate) won’t work with you if you aren’t completely honest and forthcoming about every known defect in your home. Don’t hire an inspector to do the job of a buyer’s inspector. Let your buyer alert you to defects you aren’t yet aware of.
(Note: If your buyer terminates after sending you their inspection report, you now know about those additional defects, and you’ll have to revise your seller’s property disclosure accordingly.)
contract. For example, your furnace may be at the end of its expected lifespan, but don’t replace it. Disclose its age in the SPD, of course, and expect that the buyer will ask for it to be replaced, but keep that as a bargaining chip if the buyer submits a long list of inspection demands. Then agree to replace it, and, because it’s a big ticket item, you may be able to deny any number of lesser fixes demanded by your buyer.
I’m Now Publishing on Substack
Radon is a naturally occurring gas produced from the decay of uranium, and has been reported to cause more lung cancers than cigarette smoking. If the testing shows a level above the EPA’s action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter of air, you will want to include mitigation of radon among your inspection demands.
At Golden Real Estate, we purchased a $199 handheld device, available at Ace Hardware, which quickly provides an approximation of the level of radon gas but should not be confused with a professional measurement done by your inspector. However, I like to put it in the home’s basement right after going under
Keep in mind that money spent on all such inspections is money well spent, because you can reasonably demand that the seller fix serious issues that your inspectors uncover.
Your broker should be able to recommend an inspector that he or she trusts. Even if your broker is new and hasn’t had significant experience with inspectors for other buyers, his or her managing broker will be able to make a good recommendation. With over two decades of representing buyers under my belt, you can be sure that I have sound, professional inspectors to recommend, and so do my broker associates.
If you’re a seller, you’ve probably heard recommendations that you do a
Lastly, keep in mind that you don’t want to fix known defects that won’t keep a buyer from wanting to submit a
Everything you read in this ad each week — and more — is published at http://RealEstateToday.Substack.com and comes to you automatically each Wednesday. I also write a political column you might like. You can find it at http://TalkingTurkey.Substack.com
Past Clients Have Left Positive Reviews of Our Agents & Me
Chuck Brown is a superb Realtor. He is very knowledgeable regarding the market, very proactive and highly professional. Chuck was great at identifying potential properties that met our criteria, he moved very quickly to show us potential properties and his analysis of property values was on point and very thorough. Chuck was extremely proactive and responsive in his communications with us. Chuck went above and beyond our expectations. My wife and I have done six real estate transactions and we think Chuck is the best Realtor ever. We would highly recommend Chuck to other home buyers. — S. Diamond
Dave Dlugasch did a phenomenal job working with us! We were not easy buyers because of an extensive “wish list” and he did his homework on each property we looked at until we found the right one. He gave us great advice and was very supportive of all our questions throughout the entire process. — M. Madigan
Based on Jim Smith's knowledge, experience, and expertise in the real estate arena, we decided to work with him when it came time to downsize. We used Jim and his real estate firm to both purchase the new home and then sell our existing property. All communication with Jim has been top notch. In addition, he provided all packing materials along with free use of the company's moving truck and labor to make our move. It was a great experience from start to finish! — R. Trujillo
Greg Kraft was knowledgeable and professional. He was very easy to work with and was super proactive in searching the listings. That was a key in managing to buy the townhome in a very competitive market. He was also very responsive and communicated really well with us and the listing agents. We would recommend him without reservation. — J. Knight
Jim Swanson was kind and patient while listening to my questions. He helped me to translate the real estate language and manage the sale process. He connected the dots, allowing me to make good decisions, maintain my personal integrity and profit from the sale when a great offer came to the forefront. Jim, thank you for putting communication and community first. — N. W.
Kathleen Jonke is a knowledgeable, efficient and hard working broker. Her availability and response time were exceptional. — K. Wiig
Smith Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401
Broker Associates:
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CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855
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In-house Lender: WENDY RENEE, 303-868-1903
Weather, fire, lawsuits blamed for costly home insurance
BY TAMARA CHUANG
THE COLORADO SUN
is may come as no surprise to homeowners, but the cost of Colorado’s homeowners insurance is the eighth highest in the nation, according to Bankrate, a nancial services company that tracks all sorts of monthly bills.
At an average of $266 per month or nearly $3,200 a year, premiums are higher here than in states such as California ($121) and New York (144), as well as neighbors Arizona ($172), Utah ($104), New Mexico ($169) and Wyoming ($131).
Blame extreme weather, hail damage and wild res for our lofty rank, said Shannon Martin, Bankrate’s insurance analyst and a licensed insurance agent. But diving a little deeper, Martin also cited how policies are structured by states, the rising cost of homes, and something called “social in ation,” a term used by the insurance industry to describe the impact beyond regular economic in ation. “ at’s the increase in lawsuits and the amount of payouts from the law-
suits,” Martin said. “Public opinion has changed on who’s really liable for these actions and how much money you should get in a lawsuit. … It’s impacting how policies are rated and how much they cost.”
A 2023 analysis by the Colorado Division of Insurance found payouts have increased in recent years causing insurers in Colorado to lose money on the premiums collected. And premiums for the average homeowner increased 51.7% between January 2019 and October 2022. e report also touched on wild re risks near densely populated areas of Fort Collins, Denver and Colorado Springs where “insurance carriers would be reassessing their appetite for wild re risk (and) could have an impact on a material group of Colorado homeowners.”
Colorado is ranked second in the nation for hail-damage claims and has a “highly litigious climate,” said Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Association, a trade group that represents insurers. And nearly half of the state’s population lives in wildland-
urban areas that include another one million people living in areas with “moderate to very high risk of wild re,” according to the Colorado State Forest Service. Combined with a growing population and pricier homes that cost more to rebuild, there are a number of reasons for higher prices.
“We truly are at a tipping point in Colorado,” Walker said. “(Colorado) ranks second after California for risk of wild re. … I think fears of what we’ve seen happen in California in recent years of an exodus of insurers, a lot of the reasons that insurers were reducing the number or policies or leaving California was because of man-made catastrophes.”
According to the state’s insurance division, the agency has asked homeowners and insurers about renewals and nonrenewals. e results are expected next year, a spokesperson said.
Walker, who sits on many local government boards, doesn’t recall any insurers exiting Colorado yet but are reducing the number of policies on risky properties they no longer can a ord to cover. She’s trying to make sure government restrictions and outdated regulations better balance insurer risk with availability of insurance for all Colorado households.
“If we stabilize the market, that’s what we’ve all been working toward,” she said. “Put in more hail-resistant roofs. If we scale up our mitigation for wild re and make it measurable, those are all things we can do to reduce the risk of hail and wild re. at’s going to have a long-term impact on keeping insurers here (and) keeping those homes insurable.”
According to RMIA, the average increase in homeowners’ premiums in Colorado grew 57.9% from 2018 to 2023.
Lawmakers passed legislation last
year after there were concerns about households losing their insurance due to cancellations and nonrenewals. e Fair Access to Insurance Requirements, or FAIR plan, is an “insurer of last resort” and designed to provide property coverage to homeowners and businesses in the highest-risk areas who are unable to get coverage.
FAIR coverage is funded by insurance assessments based on an insurer’s market share. e policies should be available to homeowners and businesses in early 2025. But it’s just one “tool in the toolbox,” said Walker, who is on the state’s FAIR board.
“At the same time, I do think that people have to understand that insurance has been underpriced for homeowners when people haven’t had to use it,” she said. “Now that we’re using insurance more, it’s got to be balanced with what it costs to pay out claims.”
As for the cost by state, Bankrate’s Martin pointed out that states like Florida, ranked second-most expensive, must include wind coverage from storm damage while nearby states like Louisiana, also hurricane prone, do not. In California, ranked in the bottom half of insurance costs, re coverage is excluded so buyers must pay extra for it.
“In Colorado, re is still included, which is actually a really good thing because the cost of having two policies is just so much more than having everything packaged in one policy,” Martin said. “People in California now need home, re, ood and earthquake insurance policies. It’s very expensive.”
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.
A view of homes in Highlands Ranch.
PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
Pick up after your pet
Pet waste is not a fertilizer and doesn’t readily decompose. It contains bacteria which is easily picked up by shoes and paws and is harmful to people and our environment.
•
Sewage issues temporarily close Parker middle school
BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A recent sewer issue at Sierra Middle School in Parker closed the building and canceled classes, making toilets, sinks and water fountains unusable.
Amid their response to the incident, several district officials said the situation is indicative of why they are asking voters to give the green light to a $490 million bond in November.
Problems at the school began on the evening of Sept. 9. Toilets across the building could not be flushed and bathrooms, sinks and water fountains were not functioning.
The district’s maintenance department was able to fix the issue and students were able to return Sept. 11. The issue is part of a pattern of sewage issues recently.
According to an email sent to families, the temporary closure was the fifth time this year that the building faced some kind of sewage issue.
Sierra Middle School is over 40 years old, one of the oldest schools in the district. The building uses well water and is not connected to Parker’s water system.
“Well water, especially for a large facility like this, is incredibly unreliable and often backs up,” Superintendent Erin Kane said at an August board meeting.
The incident comes at a time when the district is asking voters for a $490 million bond to address a backlog of maintenance issues at schools, as well as to build new ones. If voters pass the bond in November, it would dedicate $30 million to renovate and expand Sierra Middle School.
School board President Christy Williams said the bond funding would address the sewage issues the school is experiencing.
“Having kids out of school because our buildings are old is detrimental to their education,” Williams said. “The bond would help Sierra Middle School get off well water so we could have our school full of students.”
Sewage issues closed Sierra Middle School temporarily on Sept. 10. Though the district was able to fix the problem, district o cials say the situation highlights why they are asking voters for a $490 million bond.
School board member Brad Geiger said the conditions at Sierra Middle School are a perfect example of why the bond needs to pass.
“This closure demonstrates that Douglas County school buildings need to be upgraded on a regular basis just like all public infrastructure,” Geiger said.
The bond would not increase property taxes, but if it is not passed, property taxes would decline. The district estimates a decrease of around $73 for the average $780,000 home in Douglas County if the bond fails.
Without a bond, Kane said the district will not be able to address significant maintenance issues, meaning building closures would be more likely.
“If (the bond) doesn’t pass, we will have to continue to set aside one-time reserves for those absolute emergency situations until our reserves are depleted,” she said.
Kane added that costs for maintenance and emergency repairs only increase if they are delayed.
PHOTO COURTESY BRAD GEIGER
grade level are gaining ground and catching up with their peers.
e district results across metroarea counties, including Adams 12, Cherry Creek, Douglas County, Elizabeth and Je erson County, are mixed. Some saw steady growth from last year and others, decline.
All but Adams 12 Five Star Schools surpassed the state’s average prociency rates in the test’s English Language Arts (ELA) and math portions. To date, Douglas County remains the only metro-area district to have surpassed reading and math levels seen before the pandemic.
Douglas County saw the highest average growth in reading and math with scores of 55 and 53. Jefferson County and Cherry Creek also achieved reading and math growth scores between 50 and 52.
Signi cant achievement gaps remain among racial and ethnic groups, as well as in disability, family income, and the ability to speak English in each metro-area district.
Among the districts detailed here, on average, white students outperformed Black students in reading by 29 percentage points and Hispanic students by 27, a persistent gap raising concerns about ensuring that all students receive the support they need to succeed.
Students with a speci c learning disability like dyslexia, speech and language delays, autism and other developmental disorders scored 40 or more percentage points lower than their peers, and those living in poverty or learning English are more than 30 points below other students. Here is a summary of results from nearby districts in the south metro area.
Cherry Creek Schools
CMAS results in Cherry Creek were
more mixed than in other districts. Reading pro ciency dropped almost 1.5% from 2023, while math scores improved about 1%. While higher than state averages, scores in both areas lag behind where they were in 2019.
“Cherry Creek Schools continued outperforming statewide averages on state assessments in 2023-24, with English Language Arts and Math scores remaining mostly steady overall,” said Lauren Snell, district public information o cer.
“Our focus remains on delivering strong classroom instruction and supporting student wellness as part of a comprehensive approach to education beyond test scores.”
Snell pointed to strategies the district has employed for improvement.
“Schools have been working to complete Uni ed Improvement
Plans that are grounded in data and outline speci c strategies that align with core values and aim to increase student achievement. ese living
REVERSE MORTGAGES
documents will serve as a roadmap to guide the work of schools,” she said.
Snell also pointed to professional learning communities where educators collaborate to use data and shared expertise to improve teaching practice and deliver personalized instruction that meets individual student needs.
e district is rolling out a comprehensive literacy program, which includes investing in evidence-based core reading instruction and implementing a framework for monitoring progress on learning goals to guide instruction and ensure students get the support they need.
Achievement gaps among stateidenti ed subgroups range from 45 percentage points lower for multilingual learners vs. pro cient English speakers to between 26 and 29 percentage points lower for Black and Hispanic students vs. white students.
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February snowstorms, like this one during this year’s Goldens in Golden event, are no surprise to Coloradans. September snowstorms are a di erent story, but they have happened in the recent past.
Snowstorms in September are rare in the Denver area
But it has happened
BY JUSTIN GEORGE THE COLORADO SUN
As recently as Sept. 8, 2020, it snowed 1 inch in Denver, the second-earliest snowfall in the city’s recorded history. September snowstorms are relatively rare in the Mile High City.
Since 1882, Denver has received
SIGNALS
resulting in accidents, and having a signal there will help prevent the amount of accidents from occurring.
“It’s unfortunate that accidents had to be the triggering effect,” said Mayor Pro Tem John Diak.
While the Dransfeldt Road at Lincoln Meadows Parkway and Parkglenn Way location saw 11 ac-
a monthly snow total of at least 0.1 inch in September at least 29 times, with the earliest snowfall coming Sept. 3, 1961, when Denver was pounded with 4.2 inches of snow. Most years, snow doesn’t show up in the city until November or December. In 2023, snow’s rst arrival in Denver came Oct. 28. In 2022, snow fell Nov. 4.
And in 2021, the rst snow was recorded Dec. 10. at was also the
cidents in 2022, the are accidents may be preventable by a traffic signal. The intersection met warrants based on both vehicle volumes and accident history, said Anderson.
Looking at the Hess Road and Tammy Lane intersection, Williams said Tammy Lane is going to be extended to the south as part of the Tanterra housing development, which will bring more traffic.
The intersection already met warrants based on the volume of vehicles and a lack of gaps in the traffic stream on Hess Road.
latest a rst snow had ever fallen in Denver.
Before that, the latest recorded rst snowfall occurred Nov. 21, 1934. 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. e Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-size fact-checks of trending claims.
While Douglas County is funding $200,000 of the signal construction, the town is purchasing and furnishing the signal poles for the project at about $167,704 to help compress the construction schedule. Nathan Klass, engineering and public works said that amount is not included in the contract amount.
The traffic signals are anticipated to be complete by 2025.
“I appreciate the safety aspects of this as our town continues to grow in population at a steady rate,” said Councilmember Laura Hefta.
FROM PAGE 1
FILE PHOTO BY SARA HERTWIG
3 tips for paying o student loans
BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO
Almost 796,000 Colorado borrowers hold more than $29 billion in federal student loan debt, contributing to the nation’s $1.6 trillion student debt load.
To help borrowers understand how to manage their debt, Young Invincibles and other Colorado advocates and government o cials recently held a series of clinics. ese services are especially important now that payments have restarted after a pandemic pause and new college graduates are beginning to repay their loans.
Cameron DeTello, Young Invincibles’ Rocky Mountain engagement manager, said the goal of the clinics is to ease the burden on borrowers, for example by showing them how to make payments more manageable. Young Invincibles is a national nonpro t that advocates on issues a ecting young adults, and also helps educate them on issues such as economic mobility and nancial choices.
DeTello said many young adults hold o on buying homes or having kids because of student debt.
“We’re hoping that by giving them more information, some of them might be eligible for forgiveness, or they’ll be able to save on some income-driven options, or maybe they’ll just feel better about their situation,” she said.
On average, Colorado student loan borrowers owe about $37,000 each — or roughly the average cost of a midsize SUV. It’s a daunting amount for adults who are also managing other costs, but experts say there are ways to make repayment easier.
“While it’s hard, we need to remain informed borrowers,” said Kelsey Lesco, Colorado student loan ombudsman, and one of the clinic’s panelists.
Here are three tips Young Invincibles shared for managing student loan debt:
Learn how to navigate the Federal Student Aid website
Getting familiar with the Federal Student Aid O ce student loan website is a great starting point. e
student aid website holds a wealth of information about public student loans, DeTello said.
Federal student loan borrowers can create a login on the student aid website. ere they can view their loans and nd repayment options, DeTello said.
Know the makeup of your student loans
How much is your student loan interest rate and how much of your repayment goes to that interest? What type of loans do you have? Are they all federal loans, or do you have separate private loans?
ese questions can be answered easily, but borrowers sometimes don’t know the answers, Lesco said. It’s hard to gure out how to manage loans unless you know their makeup, she said.
“It seems basic, but you just really need to know what’s coming,” Lesco said.
Apply
for
student loan repayment programs
ere are seven types of student
loan repayment programs, according to Lesco.
Lesco and DeTello said borrowers should familiarize themselves with the di erent options. Some might cut down monthly payments or the number of payments borrowers must make.
For instance, income-driven repayment programs — where payments are limited to a percentage of a borrower’s income — are popular options that can make the monthly bill more manageable. Some borrowers are eligible for a public-service loan forgiveness program if they work for a qualifying employer, such as a government entity or nonpro t organization. e program forgives the balance after 120 payments.
Learn what di erent repayment programs can do for you by visiting the student aid o ce’s loan simulator.
is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.
Royalty chosen for 2025 Elizabeth Stampede
Kallie Russell will serve as queen, Georgia Swanson will be attendant for rodeo
BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
e Elizabeth Stampede chose its 2025 queen and attendant during the recent Royalty Competition at Casey Jones Park.
By the end of the day on Sept. 7, Elizabeth native Kallie Russell was named as the 2025 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo queen and Georgia Swanson as the attendant. e 2024 queen and attendant, Emma Considine and Madison Montoya, were on hand to encourage and guide their successors.
“With our program, when the titles are awarded, they receive a Lady In Waiting sash. ey are ofcially Ladies in Waiting until Jan. 1. Emma and Madison will retain the title and the crown until Jan. 1,” said Dianna Hiatt, Elizabeth Stam-
pede Royalty Committee chair.
Stampede royalty are held to high standards. ey represent and promote the Elizabeth Stampede at parades, other rodeos, community events and more. Each year, the Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo Foundation awards a $1,000 scholarship to the queen and a $500 scholarship to the attendant. Serving as Elizabeth Stampede royalty also provides valuable experience for young women to go on to compete for other royalty programs, such as Miss Rodeo Colorado.
Hiatt said there are usually four to six contestants but this year only one contestant competed for each role. Nonetheless, each contestant was subject to a comprehensive competition process and still needed a certain number of points to win.
e day began with a horsemanship competition and moved on to personal interviews, a written test, impromptu questions and modeling. Horsemanship includes copying a set pattern, dismounting to answer interview questions from
the judges and a mock grand entry.
Elizabeth Stampede Board Vice President Lea Anne Russell says the royalty program upholds impressive and strict standards for royalty ambassadors. ere are age requirements, a contract, and time commitments for the roles. Stampede royalty should be “strong leaders, amazing horsemen, and strong speakers,” Russell said.
Kent L. Sturman, director of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy, served as one of the judges. “You’re spokespeople, you’re PR people,” he said while addressing the young women after the competition.
“You’re the rst contact that a lot of
fans and sponsors and others have to our industry, you all do a great job in showcasing who and what we are. So thank you for that. at’s invaluable to us.”
e value of representing the rodeo goes beyond the years actually served. Cassidy Esposito, 2018 Elizabeth Stampede queen and 2017 attendant, grew up in Parker and started rodeo queening at 15 with the Douglas County Fair. Esposito is currently the Elizabeth Stampede Production Committee lead.
“ e value of the rodeo queen program wasn’t solely in the experiences it provided, which are
At the end of the mock grand entry, a part of the horsemanship competition, Georgia Swanson lines up in the center of the arena with the existing rodeo royalty.
PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY
SEE STAMPEDE, P11
STAMPEDE
incredible, but also in the skills I gained and the people I met,” she shared.
“I would make the argument that the true value of the rodeo queen is the way these programs are growing the youth of our community into the future leaders of our world, which is invaluable and goes far beyond the crown. I often like to think of rodeo queening as a pathway to much grander pursuits. Being a queen teaches you the basics of public speaking, leadership, and hard work, but it’s what comes next and how you decide to use those skills that denes your legacy as a queen.”
Next year’s Queen Kallie Russell, currently a junior at CSU, has volunteered with the Stampede for years with her mother, the previously mentioned Lea Anne Russell. Lea Anne was also serving as the royalty liaison but recused herself from that role to ensure the integrity of the program. “Our royalty coordinators are amazing
at guiding the young women in the program. As a parent, my job is in support, purely in the background,” she said.
As part of her application essay, Kallie wrote: “I would appreciate the chance to serve as an ambassador for this event, helping educate others about its signi cance and its role in our community … I am passionate about our rodeo’s values — courage, perseverance, and respect for animals and the land … I want to give back to the community that has shaped me …”
Considine, the outgoing 2024 queen, says the Elizabeth community has been amazing. She described Elizabeth as an “awesome community” where everyone’s always willing to drop everything to help. Considine will be moving on to serving as the 2025 Girl of the West for the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo.
e rst annual Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo was held in 1966. To read more about Stampede history, visit elizabethstampede.com/ history.
For more information about Elizabeth Stampede royalty, visit elizabethstampede.com/royalty.
Sky Ridge Medical
Current Elizabeth Stampede Queen Emma Considine and current Attendant Madison Montoya wait to enter the rodeo arena to begin the Elizabeth Stampede Competition for 2025 queen and attendant.
PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY
CULTIVATING
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Letting patience prevail in an impatient world VOICES
It’s no secret that we live in an age of instant grati cation. Over the past few years, impatience has taken the number one spot on the bad human behavior chart. As a society, our expectations for immediate results have overshadowed our ability to live with reason and perspec-
Let’s consider some everyday examples. e Keurig isn’t brewing co ee fast enough. e person driving in front of us won’t pull out into tra c as quickly as we would. A scheduled threeand-a-half-hour ight feels like it’s taking too long, and we wonder why they can’t just y faster. We forget how long it used to take to brew a pot of co ee and how the aroma would ll the house, making every second of waiting worthwhile. We forget the care we took when teaching our children to drive, encouraging them to prioritize safety over speed, urging them to disregard the rude, impatient driver behind them.
Our children won’t fall asleep fast enough, so we feed them melatonin gummies, not for their bene t, but because we’ve run out of patience for the night. What did previous generations do without melatonin? Maybe they read one or two more books, let their children cuddle a bit longer, or simply allowed them to cry themselves to sleep.
Have our memories faded so
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Vote in honor of women’s progress
quickly? Once upon a time, a road trip from Denver to the East Coast could take 30 hours of driving. Now, we complain about a three-and-ahalf-hour ight, forgetting the luxury of air travel and the gift of time saved. In moments like these, I’m reminded of the wisdom in the old Chinese proverb: “Patience attracts happiness; it brings near that which is far.” Would we allow ourselves an extra 20 minutes in the morning to ll our homes with the warm, comforting scent of freshly brewed co ee? If we knew the hesitant driver in front of us was our neighbor’s teenage child, would we o er them an extra 15 seconds to ensure their comfort and safety? And when it comes to air travel, take it from someone who’s logged over two million miles in the air: patience often seems like a tall order, especially in the face of delays
and disruptions. Perhaps we can nd it within ourselves to exercise patience and grace.
ere’s a profound truth in the saying, “One moment of patience may ward o great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life.” Impatience often leads to frustration, frustration leads to anger, and anger rarely results in anything positive. It clouds our judgment, stresses our bodies, and strains our relationships. Patience, on the other hand, opens the door to understanding. Understanding brings calm, and calmness allows us to respond thoughtfully to life’s challenges.
We live in a world that constantly pushes us to move faster, do more, and achieve instant results. But perhaps true wisdom lies in slowing down, savoring the moment, and nding contentment in the jour-
After watching the Harris/Trump debate on Sept. 10, “I ain’t going to vote for no half black, half Asian woman for president of the United States. I just ain’t gonna do it.” at is MAGA lingo. What I am personally going to do is vote for a young woman who represents the progress
made by the last seven female generations of my family, from my greatgrandmother, Matilda, born in 1841 to my own great-granddaughter, Amaya, born in 2024. My maternal grandmother, born in 1873, could not have voted until 1920. She died in 1917 without ever being allowed to vote.
What I saw Sept. 10 was a sick old man with a twisted mind who wants to take women’s rights back to the 1900s. Sadly, half of the most livable county in Colorado, Douglas, will most likely vote for Donald J. Trump. We are better than that. Roy Legg, Highlands Ranch
ney rather than just the destination. Practicing patience opens us up to happiness, understanding, and a more meaningful, ful lling life. So, the next time you feel impatience bubbling up, whether waiting in line, sitting in tra c, or dealing with a delayed ight, take a deep breath. Remember that patience attracts happiness. Give yourself and those around you the gift of time and understanding. I would love to hear how your future self might thank you for this at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when patience prevails, 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.
Keep Marshall on the job
E ective and responsive state government is essential for providing public services and for preserving democracy and freedom. Our state representative in House District 43, Bob Marshall, is a thoughtful, hon-
LETTERS
est leader who works tirelessly to address the needs of his constituents. He is an attorney and a former Marine who values good governance, transparency, and the rule of law. It’s unusual to have a state representative who is so accessible. Rep. Marshall holds frequent town hall meetings to update citizens on legislative a airs and hear their concerns, and he publishes a regular newsletter. He also attends many local events, such as the Highlands Ranch Fourth of July parade, Juneteenth celebrations, Pridefest, and Veterans of Foreign Wars ceremonies.
In the legislature, Rep. Marshall works across the aisle to nd common ground with legislators from both parties and craft solutions to problems in our state. He was a prime sponsor of the Senior Housing Income Tax Credit bill recently signed by Gov. Polis, which will extend the senior tax relief to those who do not own their own homes, and he sponsored an equity theft bill to protect homeowners from losing their equity during foreclosure.
In addition, Rep. Marshall co-sponsored a bill to establish a Purple Star School Program to help kids in military families who move frequently to adjust to new schools. e bill was signed in May of this year.
Rep. Marshall is also not afraid to disagree with his own party leaders when necessary. He fought to ensure the legislature abides by Colorado’s open meetings law, even ling a lawsuit along with a colleague to ensure meetings are open to the public.
We are lucky to have a leader like Rep. Marshall representing Highlands Ranch. Let’s reelect Rep. Marshall this November to keep him working for us in the Colorado House of Representatives.
Debbie Miller Highlands Ranch
Media misleads on U.S. jobs data
Each month the Bureau of Labor Statistics announces the previous month’s jobs report data. e White House and the media state the numbers are doing really well. en 2-3 months later, the BLS revises the jobs gures downward. e latest downward correction was 818,000 jobs. Job revisions are likely caused by these four factors:
1. Flaws in data collection/analysis
methods; 2. Potential political pressure to in ate initial gures; 3. Structural changes in the labor market not captured by current metrics; 4. Leading indicator of economic slowdown.
Here are some BLS facts:
1. Full-time jobs are DOWN 1.6 million over the last year and parttime jobs are up 1.8 million — the economy is hemorrhaging full-time employment, and all the net job growth is gig work.
2. Native (U.S. born) vs. foreign hires: Native is down, foreign hires are up. is includes a near-record 3-month plunge starting in 2024.
Why have all new jobs since 2018 gone to foreign-born workers (i.e., immigrants)? Because you can be an illegal immigrant in deportation proceedings (not to mention anyone seeking asylum) and get authorization to work in the U.S. for up to 5 years, no questions asked.
3. Two-thirds of new reported jobs are now government and social welfare created positions. In other words, Washington is buying the jobs — the economy isn’t creating them.
4. Last May, 414,000 immigrants (legal and illegal) gained a job. Meanwhile, 663,000 native-born Americans LOST their job. Since pre-Covid, native born workers have actually LOST ~2 million jobs. All of the net job gains are immigrants.
5. Last July, there were zero manufacturing jobs added. Barely any major industry jobs added at all. ere were a number of part time jobs created and 100,000 new government and “social assistance” jobs.
6. ere have only been 6 upward jobs revisions since January 2023. Meanwhile, there have been 13 downward revisions with many of these reports being revised down TWICE.
7. Lastly, once you factor in the millions of people missing from the labor market, estimated to be over 5 million, (don’t have jobs but are excluded from o cial unemployment calculation), the unemployment rate jumps from 4.2% to somewhere between 7.0% and 8.5%, depending on methodology.
Market con dence in labor market data is deteriorating.
Something is wrong.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics and Federal Reserve Economic Data Supporting charts can be found with this letter online at tinyurl.com/ employletter.
Steve Taraborelli Highlands Ranch
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A welding fabricator by trade, Joe Cole only dabbled in steel and bronze sculpting as a pastime and then eventually gave it up in 1993. But 30 years later, after he made an urn for his departed family dog, Cole caught the passion for creating again. At the same time, the Northglenn resident couldn’t shake a persistent echo in his head of an owl calling out, “HOO.” He decided then he needed to mold something that paid homage to an owl building a life in a tree in the forest.
“ e conclusion was made, and I spent an estimated 40 hours sculpting the bird and a limb to hold,” Cole said. He spent another 30 hours adding three more owlets and a tree trunk. Later he added moss to represent growth, a snail for patience, a stump for reaching out and a mouse for courage. e result is a steel statue called “Hoo What Where and When” by Cole, and the sculpture is being displayed this year at Northglenn’s EB Rains Jr. Memorial Park. His work is also featured in Castle Rock and Alamosa. But the one in Northglenn holds special meaning for the 60-year-old since it was his rst attempt to have his work displayed for the public.
He entered three of his sculptures into four cities in Colorado to exhibit. ree accepted his work.
“I wanted to share with the public…and Northglenn is my only home, and I wanted to share a piece of me,” Cole said via email. “ ree out of four ain’t bad.”
Other sculpture programs that dot the Front Range host Colorado artists from varying backgrounds who have molded bronze and steel frames that lure the eyes with humor and mysticism. From novice to well-established, artists say metro cities have o ered nurturing environments for their projects.
Charlotte Zink – whose home studio is in Berthoud – produced “Eternal Echoes” for the Northglenn exhibit. But her handiwork has been shown, some permanent, at several locations surrounding Denver.
ey include Westminster’s Sculpture on Loan, Lafayette’s Art on the Street, Art in Public Places in Longmont, heArt of Lyons, Hudson Gardens in Littleton, Douglas County Art Encounters, Sculpture Evergreen and Art 2C on Havana in Aurora, Zink said.
“It’s wonderful to see the arts supported in these communities,” Zink said via email.
Hoo What Where and When displayed at E.B Rains Jr. Memorial Park in Northglenn.
PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY
SCULPTING SOLIDARITY
Bill Bunting’s “With Wings Like Eagles” is also featured in Northglenn. He said the same sculpture is part of a year-long project with the Douglas County Art Encounters program at Sterling Ranch in Littleton.
He has other sculptures at Brighton, Monument and Alamosa that will be shown through this year, he said.
e works of Cole, Zink and Bunting are part of an annual e ort in Northglenn to get more people acquainted with the unique nature of outdoor sculptures, say city o cials.
Sponsored by the Northglenn Arts & Humanities Foundation, the exhibit at EB Rains Jr. Memorial Park features six new sculptures as part of the city’s 2024-25 Art on Parade program. Ocials say the sculptures, including those of Cole, Zink and Bunting, were chosen by a diverse volunteer committee in February and will be onsite at the park for one year.
e other works and artists chosen for the 2024-25 season include: “Spiral Vortex” by Diego Harris, “Sun Lion” by D’Jean Jawrunner and “Magnify” Kirk Seese. Photos of the works are available on Northglenn’s website.
e annual Art on Parade program is an onloan outdoor sculpture exhibit funded by NAHF and the Adams County Scienti c and Cultural Facilities District. Artists loan their pieces to the program for one year, and park patrons are asked to vote for their favorite by paper ballots available at the Northglenn Recreation Center and online at https://northglennarts.org/public-art/ art-on-parade-ballot/. e deadline to vote for this year’s sculptures is Nov. 1, 2024.
e sculpture with the most votes is dubbed “ e People’s Choice” and will be purchased by NAHF and gifted to the City of Northglenn for permanent placement in the city. e sculptures are also available for sale to the public.
e new sculptures will remain at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park through May of 2025. e park is located at 11701 Community Center Drive, half a mile south of 120th Avenue and Grant Street in Northglenn just south of the new Webster Lake Promenade.
e NAHF is a non-pro t group that provides funding for “dynamic theatre, public art, and other cultural endeavors in the city. e NAHF was founded in 1990, according to the NAHF website.
Zink, native of New Orleans, came to Colorado and received a Bachelor of Studio Arts and Art Education for CU-Boulder. After working with many mediums, the past 25 years Zink has collaborated with her partner Ben to create Zink Metal Art, Zink said.
e steel “Eternal Echoes” was created in 2022 after Zink lost someone very special her, she said. e sculpture symbolizes the beauty of a vast universe, Zink said.
“We are all just specs of stardust making our way on this earth, hoping to explore and share life together, this incredible gift of life we’ve all been granted,” Zink said. “Let’s make the most of our amazing gifts while we’re all here together. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, contemplating and celebrating our miraculous journey in and being a part of this beautiful universe.”
Bill Bunting said his iron “With Wings Like Eagles” has been an inspiration to those who view it. e piece is also one of his favorites, he said via email.
“I chose the piece to display at Northglenn because I have always had a strong interest in the Native American culture and the history of the West and love sharing that with others through my art,” Bunting said.
e inspiration for the sculpture “With Wings
Like Eagles”, Bunting said, comes from the belief of most Native American Tribes that the Eagle and Eagle Feathers are sacred, carrying their prayers to e Creator, combined with a passage from the ancient text of Isiah which states, “ ose who wait upon e Creator shall mount up With Wings Like Eagles.” Bunting pointed out that the following original poem is mounted at the base of the sculpture.
With Wings Like Eagles
With patience he has learned to wait
For the strength the Spirit brings
Now he rides high upon the winds
As if on eagles’ wings
Now he walks and is not weary
Now he runs and will not fall
His strength is over owing
As he heeds the Spirits call
Eagle sculpture at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park in Northglenn.
PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY
Wings Over the Rockies celebrates 30 years
Museums are more than places to simply explore the past. At their best, they also inspire guests to look forward and to use their imaginations to wonder what the future could be.
As John Barry, president and CEO of Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum puts it, that’s providing a look at “the art of the possible.” Something the museum has been doing for 30 years.
“It’s been a long haul over the last 30 years, but 2023 was our best year ever in every category and 2024 looks to beat it,” Barry said. “We’ve gotten to the point where we’re recognized as one of the top 10 Best Aviation Museums by USA Today and named in the ‘20 Best Aviation Museums Around the World’ by CNN Travel.”
To celebrate three decades in existence, Wings Over the Rockies is throwing a celebration and bene t at its Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd. Denver, from 5:45 to 9:30 p.m. on ursday, Sept. 26. All proceeds will support Wings’ mission to “educate, inspire and excite the next generation of aerospace
enthusiasts.”
COMING ATTRACTIONS
e evening will feature champagne and whiskey bars, a seated dinner, live entertainment and a live auction.
ere will be a yby and the museum will honor many of the supporters who have kept it thriving over the last 30 years.
Wings Over the Rockies opened in 1994, following the transfer of two hangars of the former Lowry Air Force Base from the United States Air Force to a group of volunteers. In the ensuing decades, the museum has grown in ways that no one could have predicted, and now features more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space dedicated to displaying iconic aircraft, space vehicles, artifacts, military uniforms and much more, according to provided information. ey even opened a second location, the Exploration of Flight in Centennial, to attain even loftier aims.
Wings’ recent goals include getting the next generations interested and ready for careers in the aviation and aerospace worlds. To that end, it launched the Colorado SKIES Academy in 2019 in Centennial, which provides several career-focused pathways, including piloting and drone piloting.
“We are providing complete pathways for our students, not just one-o events,” Barry said. “We’re using the past to build a future for young people.”
With eyes rmly set on the horizon, Barry said Wings Over the Rockies is looking to continue to develop its status as a world-class museum and a place where young people come for inspiration and a future.
“We have all the excitement of aviation and space and an opportunity to give back,” he said. “When people see what the art of the possible is, it opens up a whole new world.”
For information and tickets, visit https://wingsmuseum.org/events/ celebration/.
Head to Larkspur for autumnal shopping
Larkspur is o ering a beautiful outdoor shopping opportunity at its 12th annual Autumn Arts & Crafts Fest. e event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22 at Larkspur Community Park, 8820 Spruce Mountain Road.
is year it includes local artists and artisans selling their work, face painting for children, a dog adoption station, visits from a re truck and medical helicopter, and a farmers market area. Add in beer and wine, food trucks and live music, and what more could a shopper want?
More details are available at https:// larkspurchamberofcommerce.com/ annual-events/autumn-fest/.
Doors Open Denver takes a historic and futuristic look at the Mile High City e Denver Architecture Foundation’s Doors Open Denver, the annual celebration of the metro area’s built environment, is back from ursday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, the 29th. e theme this year is “Denver rough Time,” and it highlights both historic and future-forward projects with walking tours, open sites and events.
Some of the most exciting features of the 2024 event are insider tours of buildings like the Mayan eater and the Sudler, open houses at 15 Denver architecture rms and historically important buildings, and parties where attendees can mingle with other architecture and design fans and celebrate the best of both in Denver.
For a full schedule of events and more information, visit https://denverarchitecture.org/events-programs/ doorsopendenver/.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Beabadoobee at Fillmore Auditorium
For my money, London’s Beabadoobee is one of the most exciting indie rock voices to come out in the last few years. She’s been releasing music since 2018, and with each album or EP she levels up a bit more. Just a month ago she released her third fulllength album, “ is Is How Tomorrow Moves,” and it is her strongest record yet, showcasing fantastic lyrical and musical gifts that are still getting better.
In support of the album, Beabadoobee is coming to the Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St. in Denver, at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20. She’ll be joined by another great indie rock duo, Hovvdy, who have also released one of the year’s best albums.
Get tickets at www.livenation.com.
Clarke Reader is an arts and culture columnist. He can be reached at Clarke. Reader@hotmail.com.
Clarke Reader
Thu 9/19
Let Freedom Swing
@ 7:05am 1414 Castle Pines Pkwy, Castle Pines
Rolling Hills Fun Run
@ 7:35am / Free-Free 5756 S Biscay St, Aurora
Face Vocal Band: Tunes for Trails @ 5:30pm
Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater, 210 E Wolfensberger Rd, Castle Rock
Jazmin Bean
@ 6pm
Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood
Fri 9/20
La Santa Cecilia @ 6pm
Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W Florida Ave, Denver
Jeff Allen: "Are We There Yet" Tour
@ 6:30pm
Pace Center, Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker Joywave @ 7pm
Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood
Hunny @ 7pm
Dylan Marlowe @ 6pm
Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Vil‐lage
Sun 9/22
Andy Chrisman @ 7am
Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch
AIDA CUEVAS EN CONCIERTO @ 5pm / $55 Stampede, Aurora
Modern Swing Mondays 2024 @ 6pm / $10
Stampede, Aurora
Wed 9/25
Ladies Night @ 5pm / $10
Stampede, Aurora
DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo Wednesdays - 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 7pm
Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan
Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood
Sat 9/21
Electric Whiskey Experiment: Live at Max Taps Highland Ranch! @ 5pm
Max Taps Co., 2680 E County Line Rd A, Highlands Ranch
Vamonos Pest/Mobro: Va‐monos Pest plays Brewability @ 6pm
Brewability Lab, 3445 S Broad‐way, Englewood
Nina Storey @ 6pm
Swallow Hill Music Association, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver
Wild Goose Saloon, 11160 S. Pikes Peak Drive, Parker
Bison Bone @ 7pm
Swallow Hill Music, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver
Esseks @ 8pm
The Church Denver, 1720 S Alcott St, Denver
Calendar information is provided by event organiz‐ers. All events are subject to change or cancella‐tion. This publication is not responsible for the ac‐curacy of the information contained in this calendar.
BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN
e Environmental Protection Agency is letting Colorado air pollution o cials o the hook for making records available to members of the public who might want to help police corporate rule breaking, two state environmental groups say. e federal agency had previously held up approval of a key “state implementation plan” detailing how Colorado will stop northern Front Range violations of EPA ozone caps. e EPA in delaying approval had agreed with environmental groups that Colorado should more frequently demand records from polluters and make them easily accessible.
But Colorado pushed back hard, arguing that its proposed system provided “e ective and reasonable” access to anyone who wanted it, and that the EPA’s initial demands went above and beyond what the agency was requiring of other states. Attorney General Phil Weiser’s o ce sued the EPA in the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, as required by the Clean Air Act, to stop the demands for expanded open records.
Now it’s likely the environmental groups will have to le their own lawsuit with the 10th Circuit, demanding the EPA’s tougher openaccess rule be put back in place.
Coloradans wanting to check up on actual air pollution emissions from oil and gas or other sites will be “getting just the tip of the iceberg,” said Ryan Maher of the Center for Biological Diversity, which along with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility has been challenging Colorado’s open records rules. “And the EPA and Colorado are saying, well, that’s all the public needs.”
e gap of information available to the public comes frequently in aring operations at oil and gas production sites, with rules requiring that the producer have burning devices that remove 95% of methane and volatile organic compound emissions created as an extraction byproduct, Maher said.
e oil and gas company may only need to report once a year that it has the minimum required equipment in place, Maher said. But those reports don’t say how often the aring equipment is o ine due to malfunction or maintenance, or whether it’s truly burning up 95% of pollution. Unless state inspectors demand those records and put it online in a way the public can access, enforcement lags, Maher said.
“ ere’s 14,000 permitted entities out there, and the state is not requesting records on a regular basis,” Maher said.
“We know that we’re not going to get access to a lot of this unless it’s
required by the EPA,” he said. “ at’s why this situation is especially disheartening, where the EPA initially came out with such strong language in favor of public enforcement, and then just kind of accepted what I view as pretense … super cial explanations.”
e Denver regional o ce of the EPA said it was still evaluating comments on its proposal to accept new State Implementation Plan details from Colorado, and would respond to groups like Center for Biological Diversity before taking nal action.
e EPA said that after it had initially rejected parts of Colorado’s state
implementation plan for lack of records access, the state “submitted a letter committing to undertake additional steps to improve public access to regulatory compliance information and clarify existing SIP reporting requirements.”
Colorado air pollution control ofcials said they would not have any comment about the open records dispute.
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.
Get all the ‘fall feels’ at annual Parker Fall Fest
Community-wide
fun slated for Sept. 21-28
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Leaves changing colors, the crisp autumn breeze, pumpkin spice lattes and the uno cial o cial start to “spooky season.”
All that, and more, will be celebrated at the annual Parker Fall Fest. e town-wide kick-o to autumn starts at noon on Sept. 21 at O’Brien Park and wraps up in the evening of Sept. 28 with a bright drone show.
Presented by Audi Parker, this year’s promoters are announcing plans for a bigger and better celebration, as they welcome folks of all ages to enjoy the music, games and activities.
From noon to 4 p.m., giant table and lawn games will be available throughout the week in O’Brien Park — as well as activities with Sam the Scarecrow, who will make a return appearance this year.
“Nothing beats helping my Parker neighbors celebrate the start of the autumn season with some fun outdoor activities in the park,” said Sam the Scarecrow.
In addition to such characters, Parker Mayor Je Torborg and town council members will be attending the event.
Earlier this year, the Parker Chronicle shared that the town was holding its rst Name A Snowplow contest. e winners of the contest will be announced on Sept. 21 along with a snowplow touch-a-truck contest.
In addition to the hay bale maze and other games, people can participate in a “Prowl for the Pumpkins” contest.
Sam the Scarecrow will hide 15 orange pumpkin signs throughout the town, including trails, parks, the downtown area and town facilities for residents to discover. ose who nd a hidden pumpkin can enter to win prizes. All they have to do is take a sel e with the pumpkin and share it on the Town of Parker Facebook page. End the weeklong celebration with
Parker Fall Fest returns to downtown Parker, starting at noon on Sept. 21 and runs through the evening of Sept. 28. The celebration will end with a drone show above O’Brien Park.
site.
Kids will have the chance to participate in the Colorado’s Avalanche’s “Game On” street hockey program, lawn games, rock climbing and carnival games with prizes.
Jill Callan, owner of the children’s store Petit Parker, looks forward to the fall festival because she loves to see the community come together to celebrate the changing season, she said.
“As a children’s store, it warms my heart to see all the little ones having a great time,” said Callan. ere will also be adult-friendly attractions such as an ax-throwing booth for those 18 and older, as well as a beer garden hosted by the Downtown Business Alliance. Tickets for the garden are available onsite.
With the help of Douglas County, family and friends can get warm and cozy as they watch the sky light up above O’Brien Park with a drone show beginning around 7:15 p.m.
COURTESY
No Hate Tour returns to Colorado high schools
BMX riders shred to combat bullying, promote mental health
BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Students of ornton High School were treated to likely the most extreme assembly they’ll see this year on Sept. 10.
For the second straight year, X Games athletes brought the No Hate Tour back to Colorado, stopping at four high schools last week in a campaign to end bullying and promote mental health awareness. e tour, now entering its 25th year, is run by ASA Entertainment, a leading producer of action sports events in the U.S.
Some of the world’s top BMX riders back ipped, 360-ed and tricked their way through ornton, Northridge, Mountain View and Prairie View High Schools with a positive message, thrilling students and educators alike.
“ ey do (get red up for this event),” said Jeremiah Johnson, the athletic and activities director at ornton. “It’s cool to have these community events where we get everybody in the school together. It brings some community and camaraderie and gets everybody focused
on one thing for a while.”
September has been the National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month since 2008, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
With mental health emerging as a hot topic in athletics in recent years, combining action sports with a positive message is truly valuable, Johnson said.
“All of our coaches are trained in
mental health and suicide prevention,” Johnson said. “It’s a huge part of our life right now and it’s important. e more people know about it, the more we can a ect it.” e event featured renowned BMX riders Oscar Marquez, Trey Herrera, Matt Mecher and Dane Beardsley. It was also emceed by Zack “Cat sh” Yankush, a pioneer BMX announcer and popular voice of the sport at major competitions,
such as the X Games.
Yankush said he’s always been hyper-passionate about BMX, but for more than 15 years has been channeling that passion into the No Hate Tour.
Of all the national stops the tour makes, he loves coming to Colorado, he said. He’s even moving to Denver soon.
Pro BMX rider Oscar Marquez bravely backflips over a Marine and Thornton High School teachers John Tinsman (left) and Andrew Kuklinski (far right).
PHOTO BY JOHN RENFROW
NO HATE
“Colorado is awesome for a couple of reasons,” Yankush said. “I think the students here are more accustomed to seeing action sports because you guys have skate parks everywhere. A big shout-out to the municipalities here in Colorado. Action sports provides an anchor for us to kind of get their attention, and then we talk about our message.”
at message starts with curbing bullying, whether that’s physical, verbal, relational or cyberbullying. It involves testimonials from the riders and Yankush in cases where they were bullied in their youth.
Using BMX as a channel for spreading a positive message is a dream come true for Yankush, who has been all over the country and the world over through the sport. It’s not just about ghting bullying and promot-
ing positive mental wellness; it’s about encouraging students to follow their dreams.
“For me, it’s brought me so much joy in life,” Yankush said. “And I’m from nowhere in Ohio. e fact that I’ve been able to make it this far — and looking back on it sure there was hard work put into it — but I’m a rm believer that everybody has something that they’re passionate about. I think society and the media think living your dream — they attribute it to luck. If you’re doing something you love, money doesn’t matter. I’d do this for free.”
He said the impact has been huge. People approach him years later and say the tour was the reason they got into BMX or got through a di cult time.
“I’ve had students come up to me and tell me I’ve saved their life,” Yankush said. “It’s super rewarding and super awesome, and to do it through BMX is a lifelong dream.”
To learn more about the No Hate Tour, visit www.nohatetour.com and on social media.
Pro BMX rider Dane Beardsley wows the crowd with some flat-ground tricks during the No Hate Tour’s event at Thornton High School on Sept. 10.
PHOTO BY JOHN RENFROW
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Douglas County School District
Students in the Douglas County School District showed the highest levels of reading and math pro ciency and growth in the Denver metro area.
More than 62% of students are procient in reading and 52% in math, well above the state average and higher than in 2019. Average growth rates also exceeded the 50th percentile for both areas of focus.
“We have amazing students, sta members and families,” said Paula Hans, district public information ofcer. “ ese results are a testament to the hard work of our students and sta and would also not be possible without the continued support of our families.”
Hans said the district is proud of the continued growth among racial and ethnic groups, disability, family income levels, and English-speaking ability.
All groups improved by two to three percentage points from 2023, except those living in poverty, which grew by 7%. Still, Black and Hispanic students are 19-22 percentage points below White students.
e gap between low-income students, those with a disability and
multilingual learners is 40 points or greater.
Hans said the district has identi ed written expression as an area of improvement.
“We continue to lean on our core programs to provide best rst instruction and interventions for students needing additional instruction and support.”
While elementary and middle school students in the Elizabeth School District scored above the state average for reading and math, they dropped in pro ciency levels from 2023. In ELA, 45% of students met or exceeded reading expectations, while 35% achieved similar pro ciency in math.
Reading pro ciency rates for thirdgraders dropped below 30%. is grade is the rst time students take CMAS and is a critical marker for how well they will do in future grades where reading becomes more challenging.
Students also failed to show growth above the 50th percentile, meaning that compared to classmates across the state, they aren’t keeping up with improvement from the prior year.
e district saw a 9% overall drop in participation rates, from almost 91% in 2023 to 82% this year. In a small district like Elizabeth, which counts 2,600 students from pre-K to 12, a large number of students choosing to opt out can result in greater swings from year to year.
Students with a disability rated 13% pro cient in reading and 8% in math, a gap of 32 points in reading and 27 points in math to those without a disability.
A 13-point achievement gap separated families living in poverty from those who weren’t. Not enough minority or English language learners took CMAS for their scores to be reported.
Colorado Community Media contacted the Elizabeth School District for comment on the district’s CMAS results but did not hear back in time to be included in this article.
