Elbert county news 1114

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Elbert Co 11-14-2-13

Elbert County

November 14, 2013

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A Colorado Community Media Publication

ourelbertcountynews.com

Elbert County, Colorado • Volume 118, Issue 42

51st state initiative rejected by voters Funding measures for Elizabeth schools, county all go nowhere

By George Lurie

glurie@ourcoloradonews.com

Lunch is prepared Nov. 7 in the kitchen of the Elbert County jail. Photos by George Lurie

Feeding prisoners for $4.50 a day Sheriff ’s staff cuts costs at no-frills county jail

By George Lurie

glurie@ourcoloradonews.com Elbert County Sheriff Shayne Heap is garnering praise for the way his department has managed to cut meal costs at the county jail.

“We’ve got it down to about $1.50 a meal,” said Sheriff Heap, whose staff served about 50,000 meals in 2012.

“The hard thing about meals is you can’t cut it to just bread and water,” said the sheriff. “There are rules.”

The jail has the capacity to hold about 45 inmates — “55 if we pull out some cots,” said Heap.

The department’s deputies are on track to make 16,000 service calls this year, Heap said, adding that 60 percent of arrests made are of people who do not live in Elbert County.

In 2013, the jail’s daily inmate population is averaging between 35 and 37 prisoners. And like all department heads around the cash-strapped county, Heap said he is constantly being asked to cut expenses.

But the sheriff’s kitchen staff “has to meet certain nutritional and caloric standards” while serving three meals a day, he said.

“One lawsuit claiming we’re not feeding these folks appropriately would be a big problem for a county in our financial situation,” Heap added.

So while jail food meets certain basic minimum standards, the sheriff and his staff have become very creative with the facility’s food budget — and menu.

Frozen hamburger patties are purchased by the dozens of cartons — and at a deep POSTAL ADDRESS

Elbert County Sheriff Shayne Heap shows off a section of the jail’s garden, which is cultivated using free inmate labor. discount. “Last summer we had a lot of zucchini so we made a lot of zucchini bread,” said Heap. “The inmates liked that.”

The jail’s kitchen is equipped with government-surplus refrigerators and freezers, acquired at little or no cost to the county, and Heap’s staff makes good use of “dayold” bread donated to the jail on a regular basis by Safeway.

The kitchen is partially staffed by prisoners, and inmates grow their own vegetables in a garden behind the jail.

“Getting assigned to the garden is a perk,” said Sheriff Heap. “We don’t pay them a nickel.”

In fact, the sheriff said that sometime later this year, he plans to go before a judge and argue that inmates at the Elbert County jail should “pay for their cost of care.”

“Places like Summit County and Garfield County already charge inmates,” he said. “I think we should be able to do it here too.”

According to the sheriff, the average total cost of housing an inmate is $79 a day.

“For those who can afford it, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to charge them at least $25 or $30 a day while they’re staying with us,” he said.

Board of County Commissioners Chairman Robert Rowland is a big fan of the sheriff and praised Heap and his staff for their resourcefulness.

“I think the sheriff and his department do a magnificent job with the resources they’ve got to work with,” said Rowland, who called Heap “one of the superstars of Elbert County.”

“Shayne’s very smart and has a great business mind,” Rowland said. “And he is thoroughly dedicated to this county.”

Heap, 42, was hired by the Elbert CounPrinted on recycled ty Sheriff’s Office as a deputy in 2002. He newsprint. Please rose quickly through the ranks and was recycle this copy. appointed undersheriff in 2007 and then elected sheriff in November 2010.

His annual salary is $66,600.

Wearing a buzz cut, combat boots and Jail continues on Page 7

By a surprisingly wide margin, Elbert County voters gave the thumbs-down to Ballot Question 1A, the so-called 51st state initiative.

The ballot question’s defeat was a clear signal from voters to county commissioners to end the secession discussion.

In five of the 11 counties where the secession question appeared on the ballot, the measure passed. But Elbert County voters weren’t so keen on exiting Colorado. Only 42 percent — or 3,810 voters — voted yes, while 57 percent — 5,137 voters — rejected the idea of trying to form a 51st state.

Before election results were announced, Board of County Commissioners Chairman Robert Rowland said he had received more e-mails and calls on the 51st state proposal than any other issue since taking office.

But going forward, Rowland said that he and the other two commissioners won’t spend any more of the county’s time — or money — pursuing the idea.

Voters this year were clearly in a penny-pinching mood, rejecting a handful of measures that would have boosted funding to both county government and local schools.

Two ballot issues — a proposed mill levy increase to help shore up the county’s finances and a repeal of the tool tax exemption — also were defeated by large margins.

Ballot Issue 1B — repeal of the tool tax exemption — failed by a nearly 3-1 ratio, with 73 percent of voters voting no.

Ballot Issue 1C — a plan to increase the mill levy on property taxes — also failed by a wide margin, with nearly 85 percent of county voters voting no.

The rejection of the proposed tax increase puts even more pressure on the county to fund ongoing operations and repair or replace outdated and decaying equipment and infrastructure.

“The bottom line is that it will push us to be as efficient as we possibly can be,” Rowland said about the election result. “We are going to turn over every rock we can to find places to save money and get creative with finding efficiencies.”

Countywide, voter turnout in the vote-by-mail election eclipsed 50 percent, “which is even higher than we were expecting,” said county elections manager Sherry McNeil.

“All in all, I’d say this year’s election went pretty smoothly,” added McNeil, who was hired by the county just three months before this year’s election.

Interviewed in his office two days after Election Day, Rowland was going through the county’s budget, line by line, looking for ways to cuts expenses and increase revenues.

The commissioner was critical of Vote continues on Page 7

2-Color

2 Elbert County News

November 14, 2013

Survey shows disparities in medical care by race Black Coloradans report more health difficulties

By Kristin Jones

I-News at Rocky Mountain PBS

SUPPORT

Black Coloradans see the doctor less frequently, get less preventive care and report being in worse health than other residents of the state, according to a recent health survey.

The biennial Colorado Health Access Survey, which polled 10,224 households between April 15 and July 27, provides one of the most comprehensive snapshots of how Colorado residents experience the health-care system.

The latest survey, released Nov. 5, gives an important look at the current status of health care in the state ahead of a broad set of changes promised by the Affordable Care Act and the expansion of Medicaid.

Around 14 percent of the Coloradans surveyed said they were uninsured, down from around 16 percent in 2011.

But these numbers — and nearly all the information collected in the phone survey — varied widely across regions, income levels, age groups and ethnic groups, highlighting disparities in the way Coloradans receive medical care.

Only 5.3 percent of the people living in Douglas County didn’t have any insurance, for example, while in northwest Colorado, a region that includes Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Jackson counties, around 25 percent were uninsured.

Hispanics were the most likely to be uninsured. Around 22 percent of Latinos polled in the latest survey said they didn’t have any insurance. Still, more Hispanics had insurance than just two years ago, when 26 percent said they were uninsured.

Roughly 12 percent of nonHispanic whites were uninsured, down from 13 percent in 2011.

By contrast, a growing number of African-Americans reported being uninsured than in the past.

Roughly 20 percent of those surveyed said they were uninsured, up sharply from 14 percent in 2011. The trend marked continued erosion in the ranks of the insured in Colorado’s small AfricanAmerican community. In 2009, only 12 percent of African-Americans surveyed said they didn’t have insurance.

At the same time, black Coloradans were increasingly less likely to report having seen a general doctor in the previous year or to have received preventive care.

And around 19 percent of AfricanAmericans in the state said they used the emergency room as their primary source of care, compared with 5.7 percent of the population as a whole.

Grant Jones, executive director of the Denver-based Center for African American Health, said the information was surprising.

“At a time when we’re moving toward greater access and coverage and quality of care,” Jones said, “it’s alarming to see fewer people accessing care and seeing a doctor on a regular basis in the African-American community.”

But African-Americans weren’t

skipping the doctor because they were healthier, the findings suggests. Instead, fewer black people in Colorado reported being in excellent health than other communities, while more reported being in poor health.

Black Coloradans were more likely than others to cite cost as a barrier to care, or to say they didn’t seek an appointment because they were uninsured, according to the Colorado Health Institute’s analysis of the survey.

They were also more likely to say that they couldn’t get a doctor’s appointment in time, had trouble getting transportation or couldn’t get time off work.

“There’s lots of good research that points to the benefits of having primary and preventive care,” said Jeff Bontrager, director of research on coverage and access for Colorado Health Institute.

More doctor visits means more immunization for kids, early screening for cancer, mammograms and the chance to develop a relationship with a doctor, Bontrager notes. That’s the kind of health care that not only treats illness but stops it from developing in the first place.

The wide health discrepancies across the state provide an invitation to dig deeper into the causes and consequences, says Gretchen Hammer, executive director of the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved.

“I don’t think this gives us the answer of why,” says Hammer. “It directs us to engage in these communities and see what they’re experiencing.”

Jones believes that the Afford-

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able Care Act should help improve access to care among African-Americans. But he says more should be done to focus on the communities that aren’t receiving adequate care.

“If we could make a dent in improving outcomes for AfricanAmericans and Latinos,” said

Jones, “it would lift the status of our state in a dramatic way.”

I-News is the public service journalism arm of Rocky Mountain PBS and works collaboratively with news media across Colorado. To read more go to inewsnetwork.org. Contact Kristin Jones at kjones@rmpbs.org.

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xcelenergy.com/SaversSwitch © 2013 Xcel Energy Inc. Xcel Energy will donate to the American Red Cross $25 per Colorado customer, up to $100,000, signing up for Saver’s Switch between the dates of October 15, 2013, and December 31, 2013. This donation is not tax deductible. The American Red Cross name and emblem are used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion or political position. The American Red Cross logo is a registered trademark owned by the American Red Cross. For more information about the American Red Cross, please visit www.redcross.org.

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Saver’s Switch is a free program that helps manage short-term electricity demands on extremely hot days. We install a small box next to your central air conditioner and give you $40 off your October energy bill for signing up. It’s just that simple. Sign up by December 31, 2013, and we’ll donate $25 to the American Red Cross.

Good for your community. Good for you. Good for us all. So, why wait?

To find out more or sign up, visit xcelenergy.com/SaversSwitch.

10/29/13 1:37 PM

3

Voters reward pragmatic, limited government Coloradans among those seeking middle ground Associated Press From the libertarian West to the conservative South to the liberal Northeast, Americans struck a moderate chord in a smattering of elections last week by signaling a willingness to accept government playing a role in their lives, provided it’s not too dominant.

While there were too few races to suggest a national trend, the results do indicate that at least pockets of voters are seeking middle ground and rejecting two extremes: conservatives’ staunch anti-government pitch and liberals’ view that government is the best problem-solver.

That could be instructive for lawmakers as a dysfunctional and divided Washington wrestles with philosophical questions about the federal budget and President Barack Obama’s health care law heading into the 2014 midterm election year.

In New Jersey, Republican Gov. Chris Christie won as a Republican in a strong Democratic state by pitching himself as a practical conservative. He used his — and the federal government’s — response to Hurricane Sandy to his benefit.

Christie called his re-election a boon for voters “who didn’t believe that government could work for them anymore.”

His easy victory came just weeks after New Jersey voters elected Democrat Cory Booker, the New-

Castle Rock

ark mayor who pitched himself as a non-ideological problem-solver, to the U.S. Senate.

Virginians awarded their governor’s job to Democrat Terry McAuliffe over Republican Ken Cuccinelli, a tea party favorite. McAuliffe is a longtime partisan power broker, but he emphasized government’s role in helping create jobs to boost the economy, while hammering Cuccinelli’s hardline conservatism on abortion, same-sex marriage and the recent government shutdown driven partly by GOP opposition to the health care overhaul.

In a south Alabama congressional district, Republicans voting in a special primary runoff rejected Dean Young, a combative tea party conservative, in favor of Bradley Byrne, a buttoned-down, longtime politician endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and many local civic leaders. Almost defensively, Byrne called himself a “true conservative,” but he talked about the need for a congressman to make government work and help with the district’s economic development.

Colorado is example

The middling trend carried over to ballot initiatives.

By a 2-to-1 ratio, Colorado voters rejected a billion-dollar-a-year income tax hike in exchange for dramatic education changes that had U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan calling the state a national role model. But by the same ratio, Colorado approved a 25 percent tax as part of regulating newly legal

Highlands Ranch

marijuana sales. And several local tax measures passed, with the notable exception of a proposed levy on sugary drinks.

Meanwhile, several Colorado counties rejected a referendum on seceding from the state because of dissatisfaction with policies from its more liberal, urban power centers.

Colorado political analysts said voters showed they share a national preference for pragmatic government action but are hesitant about the biggest, ideologically driven ideas with uncertain consequences.

Elsewhere, voters in Portland, Maine, and three Michigan cities adopted new legal protections for recreational amounts of marijuana.

One of the last dry cities in Mormon-dominated Utah opted to allow beer sales, though they capped the alcohol content at 3.2 percent.

Again, the results were moderation: Voters want freedom, but still give room for some regulation.

And several communities in Ohio and Colorado voted to suspend fracking, a burgeoning oil production technique, in their towns until lingering safety questions are answered, bucking arguments for free enterprise and development in an expensive ad campaign from the oil and gas industry. They essentially endorsed government being a check on the private sector.

Texas voters, meanwhile, voted to put a check on government by letting the private sector advance convention business in Houston and rejecting a bond sale that would have refurbished the Houston As-

Highlands Ranch

1200 South Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 303.688.3047 www.fumccr.org

Services:

Saturday 5:30pm Sunday 8am, 9:30am, 11am Sunday School 9:15am Little Blessings Day Care www.littleblessingspdo.com

 Sunday Worship 10:30 North Crowfoot Valley Rd. 4825 Castle Rock • canyonscc.org



303-663-5751

 “Loving God - Making A Difference”

A place for you

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  

Franktown

Trinity Lutheran Church & School

Sunday Worship 8:00 & 10:45 a.m.

Trinity Lutheran School & ELC (Ages 3-5, Grades K-8)

 303-841-4660 www.tlcas.org  

 

Balance is valued

On the philosophical question of whether the government is doing too much or taking about the right amount of action to solve problems, a slim majority of voters in Virginia and New Jersey exit polls said “too much,” as they opted for candidates who tried to convince voters they are striking the right balance.

Those results mirror the 2012 presidential exit polls, when “too much” was the winner, even as Obama, the namesake of the sweeping health care law, won a second term.

The question is just what politicians do for voters with those seemingly contradictory preferences.

Purely for electoral purposes, Christie and McAuliffe clearly navigated the landscape, so well in Christie’s case that some Republicans, like Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, praised him as a 2016 White House contender who can overcome the GOP’s struggles with women and non-white voters.

And many Democrats running in Republican-leaning states next year — Georgia governor candidate Jason Carter, Jimmy Carter’s grandson; Kentucky Senate candidate Alison Lundergran Grimes; South Carolina governor candidate Vincent Sheheen — have embraced the “problem-solver” label, saying that, of course, government plays a strong role in American life and the economy, particularly through schools and infrastructure.

Littleton

Parker

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(USPS 171-100) Office: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PhOne: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday

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Parker

Joy LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

Open and Welcoming

Sunday Worship

GRACE PRESBYTERIAN Alongside One Another On Life’s Journey

You are invited to worship with us:

8:00 am Chapel Service 9:00 & 10:30 am

www.st-andrew-umc.com

Grace is on the NE Corner of Santa Fe Dr. & Highlands Ranch Pkwy.

(Across from Murdochs)

Sunday School 9:00 & 10:30 am

303-798-8485

9203 S. University Blvd.

Highlands Ranch, 80126

Littleton

8391 S. Burnley Ct., Highlands Ranch

Worship Services Sundays at 9:00am

303-791-3315

pastor@awlc.org www.awlc.org

Sunday

8:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

1609 W. Littleton Blvd.

(303) 798-1389 • www.fpcl.org

Saturday 5:30pm

Sunday 8:00 & 10:30am

Education Hour: Sunday 9:15am Joyful Mission Preschool 303-841-3770 7051 East Parker Hills Ct. • Parker, CO 303-841-3739 www.joylutheran-parker.org

Lone Tree

Lone Tree

Church of Christ

Welcome Home!

Weaving Truth and Relevance into Relationships and Life

worship Time 10:30AM sundays 9:00am Spiritual Formation Classes for all Ages 90 east orchard road littleton, co

303 798 6387 www.gracepointcc.us

Currently meeting at: 9220 Kimmer Drive, Suite 200 Lone Tree 80124 303-688-9506 www.LoneTreeCoC.com

Parker

Community Church of Religious Science at the Parker Mainstreet Center

Hilltop United Church Of Christ 10926 E. Democrat Rd. Parker, CO 10am Worship Service www.hilltopucc.org 303-841-2808

Connect – Grow – Serve

Sunday Worship

8:45 am & 10:30 am

Pastor David Fisher

Sunday services held in the historic Ruth Memorial Chapel

Parker

Parker evangelical Presbyterian church

9030 Miller road Parker, Co 80138 303-841-2125 www.pepc.org

Sunday Worship - 10:00am Bible Study immediately following Wednesday Bible Study - 7:30pm

Abiding Word Lutheran Church (Next to RTD lot @470 & University)

SErviCES:

www.gracecolorado.com

Sundays at 10:00 am

303-794-2683 Preschool: 303-794-0510

An Evangelical Presbyterian Church

trodome into exhibition space.

First Presbyterian Church of Littleton

First United Methodist Church

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

Elbert County News 3

November 14, 2013

...19650 E. Mainstreet, Parker 80138

Fellowship & Worship: 9:00 am Sunday School: 10:45 am 5755 Valley Hi Drive Parker, CO 303-941-0668

www.SpiritofHopeLCMC.org

New Thought...Ancient Wisdom Sunday Service

& Children’s Church 10:00 a.m.

Visit our website for details of classes & upcoming events.

303.805.9890

www.P a r k er C C R S.org P.O. Box 2945—Parker CO 80134-2945

To advertise your place of worship in this section, call 303-566-4091 or email kearhart@ourcoloradonews.com.

Where people are excited about God’s Word.

Sunday Worship: 10:45AM & 6PM Bible Study: 9:30AM Children, Young People & Adults 4391 E Mainstreet, Parker, Colorado 80134 Church Office – (303) 841-3836

www.parkerbiblechurch.org

4-Opinion

4 Elbert County News

November 14, 2013

opinions / yours and ours

Take precautions this holiday season The holiday season is a beautiful time of year that can bring people together. But it can also be a time fraught with hazards.

That’s something that can easily be overlooked amid the shopping, cooking, partying and keeping warm by the fire. But we encourage you to consider some of the following tips to make the closing weeks of 2013 memorable for the right reasons.

Snuff out fire danger

Winter residential fires — which peak in December and January — result in 945 deaths and cause nearly $2 billion in property damage nationally in a typical year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It’s not quite winter yet, but recent cold snaps remind us that it’s on the way.

The administration has some advice to keep fire threats at bay, which we share below. A more detailed list of things you can do can be found at www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/holiday-seasonal/

our view winter.shtm • Cooking is the leading cause of these types of fires. Unattended cooking is the No. 1 culprit, so stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling. Wear short, close-fitting clothing, for obvious reasons. Maybe most important, stay alert at all times.

• Heating sources — including furnaces, fireplaces and space heaters — are another major cause of fires in the home. It is important to keep flammable materials at a safe distance, generally considered to be 3 feet or more, from a heating source. If you’re using a space heater, it is highly recommended that you plug it directly into the outlet and not use an extension cord. Also, make sure your home has a working smoke alarm and that you have an escape plan for your-

question of the week

Are you a Miley fan?

With the announcement that Miley Cyrus will make a stop at Denver’s Pepsi Center on March 4 during her upcoming tour, Colorado Community Media went to the Streets at SouthGlenn to ask: Are you a fan of the entertainer famous for Hannah Montana and, more recently, twerking?

“It’s not my type of music.

Really, I’d rather she didn’t come to Denver.”

— Mike Hecker, Centennial

“My kids like her songs but I’m not a fan. I guess I just don’t get her.”

— Jose Pinedo, Littleton

“Miley Cyrus is OK but I wouldn’t pay to see her.

She’s a little too over the top for me.”

— Kate Graham, Englewood

“She’s become very trashy.

My daughter used to watch Hannah Montana.

But since she left Disney, she’s gone downhill fast.”

— Suzanne Kisner, Centennial

Actually, it’s not time for a change Apparently we were supposed to change our clocks sometime in November. Is that correct?

Well, I haven’t changed any of mine, and I don’t plan to. Five of them changed all by themselves: the one on my television, the one on my computer, the ones on both telephones, and the one on the thermostat. That’s enough for me.

It’s a pain in the neck, and everything in the house came with a clock. Think about it: the coffeemaker, oven, microwave, two clock radios, two wall clocks, the stereo, the DVD player, and Smitty’s dog dish. The car has one too.

I have turned off some of them so I don’t have to see my life passing away on every appliance I own.

I think Fall Back and Spring Forward is a dumb concept that has no real benefit.

Try to guess who and why daylight-saving time was first proposed. Here’s a multiple-choice quiz. Take your time: 1. It was first proposed by a group of Missouri farmers, who wanted an extra hour of daylight to manage their crops.

2. It was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin, who also proposed the United States adopt the turkey as the national bird.

3. It was first proposed by a New Zealand entomologist whose shift-work job gave him after-hours time to collect insects in daylight.

4. It was first proposed by former Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson, because he despised day-night doubleheaders.

You can give the credit or the blame to George Vernon Hudson. He wanted to have an extra hour of daylight to collect insects. I have often wondered why he

didn’t just leave things alone, and collect fireflies after work.

At some point — in the third grade? — I think we all realize that a day isn’t perfectly symmetrical all year long. There’s more daylight in the summer than there is in the winter. Sooner or later we hear about something called a leap year (or a bissextile year) when an extra day is added to February.

I have a friend who was born on a Feb. 29, and when she turned 64, she claimed she was only 16, because she had only had four true birthdays.

It’s fine with me if February gets an extra day every fourth year, but I am good with not being expected to squirrel around with clocks otherwise. The good thing is that it’s not criminal if you don’t.

On Sunday, March 9, 2014, all of the clocks in my house will agree. That’s when the rest of you will have to change your clocks all over again. Up on stools and ladders. Or maybe you have high-tech clocks that will change automatically. But if that malodorous bug-eater had just kept quiet we all could have saved a lot of time.

Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@ comcast.net

self and your family, should a fire occur.

• An estimated 240 house fires involving Christmas trees and another 150 involving holiday lights and other decorations occur in a typical year in the United States. So, among other things, keep your tree watered and do not overload electrical outlets with lights.

stolen.

• The online realm has its own set of dangers. Be very cautious of whom you give your personal information. Getting a new computer or phone? Wipe out all of your private information before discarding the old one. And, of course, keep your passwords private.

Protect your identity

Drinking? Don’t drive

For many, shopping is a holiday hobby, one that carries a risk of identity theft, whether online or at the mall.

The Federal Trade Commission has some advice to help keep important, private information secure. More information can be found at www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft • Travel light. Do not carry around more credit, debit or identification cards than you really need.

• Shred receipts once you no longer need them. When at the store or mall, you might want to keep those receipts in your pocket instead of in the bag, which can be lost or

Holiday parties often involve alcohol.

Some people drink too much, then decide to drive, and the results can be horrific. In fact, Mothers Against Drunk Driving reports that 43 percent of driving fatalities on Christmas Day are alcohol-related.

DUI enforcement generally goes up this time of year as well, so there’s an increased risk to drunken drivers’ wallets, as a conviction can be costly, both in court fees and higher insurance costs.

If you’re going to drink, taking a cab or using a sober designated driver are common-sense solutions to avoid hurting yourself and others.

Finding balance in social media So I had an interesting experience this past week regarding the use my Facebook account, or maybe I should say misuse of my account.

What I had done was accept friend requests or connect with people that I work with on a professional level. I had connected with all of my family members, friends, co-workers, business associates, and customers and really thought it was a great way to stay in touch, keep up with their activities and interests and allow them to keep up with what I was doing.

The problem was that I had some new things happening in my life, good and exciting things I was sharing via Facebook. As much as I was excited about the cool things going on, apparently there were one or two co-workers who I was connected with on Facebook who felt compelled to stalk my activities and adventures as I posted them on Facebook and further decided to share them with others in the company.

Now there was nothing weird or unnatural about my Facebook posts, these folks just thought that they should share my life’s journey with everyone else at the office. This actually caused a little drama and unfortunately resulted in the need for me to “unfriend” all of the people I work with. And at first I was a little disappointed, hurt, and angry. But then as I thought more about it, perhaps Facebook is a much better application to be used with family and friends and connect or interact with my business associates and co-workers in a different way. I already do that via LinkedIn, and since I only use LinkedIn for business reasons, it made so much more sense.

Elbert County News 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

gerarD healey President and Publisher ChriS rotar Editor SCott gilBert Assistant Editor erin aDDenBrooke Advertising Director auDrey BrookS Business Manager SCott anDrewS Creative Services Manager SanDra arellano Circulation Director ron ‘MitCh’ MitChell Sales Executive

The past week has been a test for me, I do miss keeping up with some of my coworkers through Facebook, but I think my anger, hurt, and disappointment have been replaced by a true sense of balance. Facebook for friends and family members and LinkedIn for co-workers and business associates. So far it is working beautifully.

Now I understand that many people use Facebook to connect with everyone in one location and they never have issues like I experienced. And I know many people that network and get referrals through Facebook and use it as a professional selling or marketing tool. And for those of you who have found success in using Facebook for business or professional reasons and have not had to deal with drama, I applaud you.

I would love to hear all about your experiences using Facebook or LinkedIn at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when we find the right balance in all areas of life, including social media, it really will be a better than good week.

Michael Norton, a resident of Highlands Ranch, is the former president of the Zig Ziglar organization and CEO and founder of www.candogo.com

Colorado Community Media Phone 303-566-4100 • Fax 303-566-4098

Columnists and guest commentaries The Elbert County News features a limited number of regular columnists, found on these pages and elsewhere in the paper, depending on the typical subject the columnist covers. Their opinions are not necessarily those of the Elbert County News.

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5

Elbert County News 5

November 14, 2013

State votes down Amendment 66

By Vic Vela

vvela@ourcoloradonews.com A ballot measure that sought to overhaul the way Colorado schools are funded suffered a sound defeat on Nov. 5.

Voters by a resounding margin rejected Amendment 66, a measure that would have created at least $950 million in new taxes annually to fund major school reforms across the state.

It was never close. After early returns showed the measure to be doomed, the only matters in question were how wide of a margin the ballot measure would fail by, and at what time would supporters publicly admit defeat — which occurred about an hour after 7 p.m. poll closings.

As of the early morning of Nov. 6, Amendment 66 had been rejected by about 66 percent of voters, with 91 percent of precincts reporting.

“Perhaps this wasn’t the right transaction,” Gov. John Hickenlooper acknowledged to a room of muted and disappointed supporters from inside downtown Denver’s Marriot Denver City Center.

Trying to remain positive, the governor also said that “no one fought against” the measure’s vision of making funding for Colorado schools a model for the rest of the nation.

Hickenlooper said he will continue to strive toward achieving that goal.

“Every great social victory in the history of this country was based on a number of failures,” Hickenlooper said.

Meanwhile, Amendment 66

opponents crowed.

“Colorado families spoke loud and clear,” said Kelly Maher, executive director of Compass Colorado, a group that worked to oppose Amendment 66. “We need substantive outcome-driven reforms to the educational system before we ask families and small businesses to foot a major tax bill.”

The measure sought to fund full-day kindergarten, preschool for at-risk youth, and would have provided more resources for English language learners, special education students and children who are in gifted and talented programs.

Also, the measure aimed to reduce class sizes and would have reformed per-pupil funding statewide in a more equitable fashion, proponents argued.

While the reforms may have sounded good to many people, even the governor acknowledged that the hefty price tag associated with overhauling the new funding system was responsible for turning off many voters.

The measure would have raised taxes on all Colorado taxpayers. The two-tiered proposal would have raised income taxes to 5 percent on everyone earning $75,000 or less. Those who earn over that amount would have paid 5 percent on the first $75,000 in taxable income and 5.9 percent on taxable income above $75,000.

Colorado’s current income tax rate is a flat 4.63 percent. , regardless of income level.

The measure sought to put in place legislation that was enacted through Senate Bill 213.

The Democrat-sponsored bill — which was signed by Hicken-

Gov. John Hicklenlooper addresses Amendment 66 supporters in Denver on Nov. 5. The measure, which would have created at least $950 million in new taxes annually to fund an overhaul of Colorado schools, was flatly rejected by voters that evening. Photo by Vic Vela looper in June — did not receive a single vote from Republican lawmakers.

Republicans and other critics blasted the school funding overhaul as a “billion-dollar tax hike” that comes at a time when Coloradans are barely coming out of a recession.

They also argued that Senate Bill 213 did not put in place the kind of reforms to warrant that kind of a tax increase.

Opponents also argued that much of the revenue that would

Pot tax sails through statewide Overwhelming support goes to Prop AA

By Vic Vela

vvela@ourcoloradonews.com A year after Colorado voters made retail marijuana sales legal, voters on Nov. 5 cleared the way for pot smokers to fund the regulations that will be tied to the newly created industry.

Voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition AA, a measure that will slap a 25 percent tax on retail pot sales that were made legal across the state as a result of last year’s passage of Amendment 64.

The measure was receiving about 65 percent support, with 91 percent of precincts reporting by the early morning of Nov. 6.

Most of the money that will be collected through marijuana sales taxes will go toward regulating pot shops that will operate across the state, beginning on Jan. 1.

“This was about fulfilling the promise of Amendment 64, saying that we’re going to regulate this industry, but we’re also going to tax in a way that lets marijuana pay its own way,” said Rep. Jonathan Singer, DLongmont, a sponsor of House Bill 1318, which put in place the marijuana tax system.

Singer’s bill, which was signed into law

by Gov. John Hickenlooper earlier this year, creates a tax structure that will impose a 15 percent excise tax and an initial 10 percent retail tax on each marijuana sales transaction.

The first $40 million collected through the Proposition AA excise tax each year will go toward public school construction, with the rest being used to fund marijuana regulation.

Marijuana businesses must abide by strict rules when selling the drug, such as making sure that buyers are at least 21 years of age and limiting the amount that

can purchased in a single transaction. The regulations are also aimed at preventing minors from having access to pot.

The Legislature also put in place a driving-stoned standard, which is aimed at curtailing efforts by motorists to get behind the wheel after smoking pot.

“We wanted to make sure that we had the right resources to make sure that kids don’t get access to pot and that people aren’t driving high,” Hickenlooper said after the measure passed. “And that’s what this initiative did. (It creates) a regulatory environment and an enforcement system that holds people accountable.”

Opponents of Proposition AA argued that the taxes would be too high and that they would only encourage people to buy the drug through the black market.

But voters across the state didn’t buy the argument, and their support crossed typical partisan voting lines. Preliminary returns showed that Democratic counties like Denver and Boulder were seeing similar margins in support of Proposition AA as were seen in conservative strongholds, such as El Paso and Douglas counties.

Individual counties and municipalities can determine whether they will allow pot stores to operate in their jurisdictions.

So far, cities such as Denver, Boulder and Wheat Ridge have given the green light to allow those businesses to operate. However, other cities, such as Colorado Springs, Thornton and Westminster have banned pot shops.

Fifteen percent of the retail pot taxes that are collected by the state will be funneled to local governments where pot sales are allowed. The revenue will be based on each city’s percentage of pot sales.

“I think that once other communities see that the communities that allow this in their borders are raising revenues to help with their city coffers, I think that you’ll see other cities come on board and say, `We want to be responsible with this and make sure that it stays out of the black market,’” Singer said.

have been raised through Amendment 66 would have ended up going to school districts other than the ones where taxpayers’ children attend.

The measure was rejected in just about every area of the state.

For example, late returns showed the measure was failing badly in Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, El Paso and Jefferson counties. The only large counties that could end up seeing majority support when the votes are officially tallied are Denver and Boulder.

The campaign that drove Amendment 66, Colorado Commits to Kids, had a huge fundraising advantage over its opposition, having collected more than $9 million for the measure’s messaging efforts.

“Honestly, you could have had the best messaging in the world, I just think that people felt it was too expensive,” Hickenlooper told reporters after his remarks.

Maher said afterward, “Never has so much been spent by so few to accomplish so little.”

OBITUARIES

Private Party Contact: Viola Ortega 303-566-4089 obituaries@ourcoloradonews.com

Funeral Homes Visit: www.memoriams.com

6

6 Elbert County News

November 14, 2013

Parker man carries Olympic torch Visa employee wins company lottery

By Chris Michlewicz

cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com Few people get the chance to participate in an enduring custom that symbolizes the cooperative international spirit of the Olympic Games.

Parker resident Mark Hall considers himself incredibly lucky to be randomly selected to take part in the Olympic torch relay. Hall and his wife, Denise, traveled to Russia last month as the flame made its way through western portions of the country. For a few fleeting moments, he was the center of attention, jogging along a historic street in St. Petersburg with flashbulbs erupting, people cheering and escorts alternately shouting instructions to either slow down or speed up.

Despite running for only 200 yards, Hall said he was able to take it in and remember every step.

“When I got to the middle of the road with (runner No.) 142 approaching, I knew that in a few seconds, I would be the only person on the face of the Earth holding the Olympic flame that was lit,” he said. “To me, that was an awesome moment.”

Every photo of Hall running shows him grinning from ear to ear. The locals in St. Petersburg clamored to get a photo with him, and the 50-year-old says he felt like a celebrity. He described the entire, allexpenses-paid trip as the “experience of a lifetime.”

Hall works for Visa, a major sponsor of the Olympics, and put his name into a company lottery. Each Olympic Games, three employees are randomly picked to join the torch relay. Hall, who grew up in the Littleton area and moved to Parker in 1996, was the only American in the bunch.

There is more to being a torchbearer than might appear to the eye. Every runner must attend an orientation that addresses the proper ways to receive, handle and pass

Parker resident Mark Hall waves to spectators before running in the Olympic torch relay in St. Petersburg, Russia, last month. Photo courtesy of Denise Hall off the torch. With the help of hired interpreters, organizers also “tell you how to stand, how to look — there’s a lot of logistics,” he said.

Hall remembers clearly the first Olympic

Games to which he devoted his attention. It was 1976 and he was 13 years old. Hall was spending the summer at his grandparents’ house in New Mexico and they watched every night of the Olympics, starting with the

relay.

“I remember them running into the stadium with it, and I thought, `Boy, that would be fun to do,’ but I never really thought I would have the chance,” he said.

Reaching

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“I chose UCCS for the combination of academics and student life. The Engineering program is one the best in the country and you can’t beat the location with views of Pikes Peak from every building. The University reaches out to every student by holding fun events for all different interests, so it’s easy to make friends. As soon as I stepped onto campus I was completely immersed in the community and felt right at home.”

— Kaleen, Junior, Electrical Engineering

To Reach higher: www.uccs.edu | 800-990-UCCS (8227)

7-Color

Elbert County News 7

November 14, 2013

Plea reached in baby’s death Elbert County man facing 10 to 32 years in prison

By George Lurie

glurie@ourcoloradonews.com An Elbert County man reached a plea agreement on Nov. 6 with the district attorney’s office in a case involving the death of his 4-monthold daughter, who died from traumatic brain injuries while in his care.

According to Lisa Pinto, spokesperson for District Attorney George Brauchler, Richard “Ricky” Dolin, 27, pleaded guilty to felony charges of “knowing or reckless child abuse

resulting in death.”

Dolin is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 14 in Kiowa.

He faces a term of between 10 and 32 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Dolin had been taking care of the baby and his 3-year-old son while his wife Jaime went to college one night a week.

On March 14, 2012, Elbert County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call for medical help involving an infant having seizures.

The baby, Marlayna Reise Dolin, was transported to Children’s Hospital in Parker and subsequently placed in a medically induced coma while being treated for cranial

bleeding and broken ribs.

She died from her injuries on April 1, 2012.

Richard Dolin was arrested on March 16, 2012, and has been held in the Elbert County jail on $100,000 bond.

In a heavily redacted, partial affidavit released by the district attorney’s office after the plea deal was reached, an investigator reported Dolin initially claimed the child had been hit in the face with a Spiderman toy, but later said the baby might have fallen off a couch onto a cement floor while he was out of the room folding laundry.

Dolin remains in the Elbert County jail awaiting sentencing.

Vote Continued from Page 1

what he called “unfunded state mandates,” which he said continue to rise and will add hundreds of thousands of dollars to county expenditures in 2014 while the county’s anticipated revenues next year are expected to remain steady at approximately $7.5 million.

“Just mailing out ballots to every registered voter in the county — dead or alive — costs us $97,000 each election,” Rowland said.

Elizabeth voters also failed to pass Ballot Issue 3B, a proposed $3.8 million bond that would have allowed the school district to acquire needed equipment and repair school facilities.

More than 60 percent voted no on that initiative.

And in a hotly contested Elizabeth School Board race, members Carol Hinds and Deb Spenceley were reelected while Christopher Richardson gained a seat on the five-member board.

According to the unofficial results, Spenceley edged out fourth-place finisher Amilda Heckman by just 15 votes.

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UNSPOKEN UNSPOKEN

Jail Continued from Page 1

a big gun on his hip with a silver star on the grip, Heap clearly relishes his role as the county’s top lawman.

And he says he has no problem running a no-frills jail.

To prove his point, after being elected, the sheriff removed weightlifting equipment that had been used by inmates at the facility.

“It’s not my job to give them a place to lift weights,” he said. “My deputies don’t have weights here to work out with, so why should the

prisoners?”

The jail does have a bare-bones exercise room and inmates are allowed to watch television and buy candy bars and other snacks from the jail commissary, the proceeds from which the sheriff uses to pay for the toiletries and other basics inmates are issued when they arrive at the jail.

Maximum-security inmates get their meals through a slot in their cell door. The jail’s other prisoners eat communally.

Heap said he models the jail’s weekly menu on a similar one used by the Colorado Department of Corrections.

“This is a county jail, the first stop

on the way to prison for some,” said Heap.

“Inmates who qualify for worker status are required to perform manual labor,” Heap said, jobs that include picking up trash on county roads and landscaping and snow removal at the justice facility.

“Cost for care and labor requirements are a necessity,” the sheriff added. “No free room and board here.”

And as far as future menu offerings at Elbert County’s jail, the sheriff vows to continue to find ways to “do more with less. We get a few complaints about the food,” he admits.

“But some of these guys will complain about anything.”

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AMERICAN GREETINGS is looking for Retail Greeting Card Merchandisers in Elizabeth, CO. As a member of our team, you will ensure the greeting card department is merchandised and maintained to provide customers the best selection of cards and product to celebrate life’s events. Join the American Greetings family today by applying online at: WorkatAG.com or call 1.888.323.4192.

Garage Sale MOVING SALE: ONE DAY ONLY, Saturday, 11/16, 9am-

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8-Color

8 Elbert County News

November 14, 2013

THINGS TO DO

TOY BOX ANY LEGO SET ONLY $5.00

Nov 1st - Dec 1st. Bring coupon with you and inquire at store for details.

14455 W 64th Ave Unit M - Arvada 720.974.3222 www.jakestoyboxonline.com DONATE your gently used furniture to support our ministry.

FURNITURE THRIFT STORE

We offer FREE pick-up!

We are a single mom ministry. Our program goal is to educate, empower individuals so they can become employable and attain self-sufficiency.

720-524-3891

BUSINESS NETWORKING. The Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce presents business after hours from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 14 at Through Your Eyes Photography, 276 E. Kiowa Ave. in Elizabeth. Meet Kimberly and see what wonderful memories she can create for you. Also hosted by 2 Chics and a Kitchen. Other hosts include Donya Lewis of Mary Kay Cosmetics and Peggy Roos of Geiger Inc. Refreshments will be served. Network with other local business people. Everyone is welcome. Call the Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce at 303-646-4287 or director@elizabethchamber.org.

NOV. 15 COMMUNITY NIGHT. The Elizabeth Education Foundation presents its first community night at tdhe Denver Nuggets versus Minnesota Timberwolves game at 6 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Pepsi Center. Tickets are $21, with no extra service fees.

Order tickets by Nov. 6 at http://www.ksegroups.com/landing. aspx?lpid=QTp1UN%20Ytlk=&lpo. A portion of every ticket purchased will benefit the Elizabeth Education Foundation and Elizabeth Schools.

”Reasonable Prices”

Second Chances Furniture Thrift Store 209 W. Littleton Blvd., #A Littleton, CO 80120

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www.secondchancesdenver.org

NOV. 20 BLOOD DRIVE. Walmart community blood drive is from 2-6

p.m. Nov. 20 inside Bonfils’ mobile bus at 2100 Legacy Circle, Elizabeth. For information or to schedule an appointment, contact the Bonfils’ Appointment Center at 303-363-2300 or visit www.bonfils.org.

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2013 Mile High

November 22–24, 2013 NEW LOCATION! Denver Marriott Tech Center 4900 S. Syracuse Street

Presented by the Junior League of Denver Enjoy a unique and exclusive shopping experience while giving back to the Denver metro community.

Present ad to receive $2 off General Admission ticket (limit one).

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WOMEN’S BREAKFAST. The Elbert Woman’s Club will have its monthly breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, and Sunday, Nov. 24, at the Russell Gates Mercantile Community Hall. Biscuits, gravy, sausage, ham, scrambled eggs, coffee/ tea and juice are served for $6/adults and $3/children under 12.

The hall is located in Elbert on Elbert Road between Highways 86 and 24, 11 miles south of Kiowa. Proceeds support the maintenance and renovation of the hall, built in 1906.

DEC. 6 SILENT AUCTION The Kiowa Friends of the Library plans its silent auction. Bidding opens Nov. 15 and continues through 2 p.m. Dec. 6. Stop by the library to bid; library hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m.

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• Psychology (N,S) • Human Services (S) • Sociology (N,S) • Women’s Studies (S) • Education (N,S) • Criminal Justice (N,S) • Anthropology (N,S) • Finance (N,S) • Accounting (S) • Business Management (S) • Hospitality (S) • Political Science (N,S) • Marketing (S) • Communications (N,S) • Computer Information Systems (N,S)

For a printed class schedule, call 303-721-1313 eXt. 99 or visit www.msudenver.edu/optionsnow

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Little red-haired girl is back

“Annie,” with book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charmin will play Nov. 15 to Dec. 29 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main Street in downtown Littleton. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m.

Sundays and some Saturdays in December; 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. Tickets: $25-$39, 303-794-2787, ext 5; townhallartscenter.com. Reservations are recommended — some performances are filling fast.

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Campus Box 6 P.O.Box 173362 Denver, CO 80217-3362

MSu Denver’s extended Campus locations make taking college classes more convenient than ever! n Take college classes close to home or work n Evening classes n Eight-week accelerated Saturday classes n General Studies classes Metro North: Northglenn (N) Metro South: Denver tech Center (S) n Computer labs available complete your Generalto Studies courses (n,S) n Enjoy FREE parking and easy access

VOLUNTEER ROUND-UP. The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo needs 150-200 volunteers in guest relations, children’s programs, horse and livestock shows, and the trade show. The 108th stock show is Jan. 11-26. To learn more about the volunteer opportunities and to set up an interview for a volunteer spot, attend the National Western volunteer roundup from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at the National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver. For information and to fill out a volunteer application, go to http://www.nationalwestern.com/volunteer/ or contact Kellie at 303-299-5562.

THE OUTBACK Express is a public transit service provided through the East Central Council of Local Governments is open and available to all residents of Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties and provides an economical and efficient means of travel for the four-county region. Call Kay Campbell, Kiowa, at 719- 541-4275. You may also call the ECCOG office at 1-800-825-0208 to make reservations for any of the trips. You may also visit http://outbackexpress.tripod.com.

DIVORCE AND Post-Decree Clinic. Elbert and Lincoln County Pro Se Divorce Clinic is offered from 9 a.m. to noon the third Friday of each month at the Elbert County Justice Center, 751 Ute St., in Kiowa. For information, call 303-520-6088 or email morgan@hayday.org. The clinic is free for parties who have no attorney and who are going through dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or post-decree cases. All walk-ins are welcome, and will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis.

DOUGLAS-ELBERT COUNTY Music Teachers’ Association meets at 9 a.m. every first Thursday at Parker Bible Church, between Jordan and Chambers on Main Street. All area music teachers are welcome. Call Lucie Washburn, 303-814-3479.

THE ELBERT County Sheriffs Posse is a nonprofit volunteer organization that is part of the Elbert County Sheriffs Office.

As volunteers we support the Elbert County Sheriffs Office, all law enforcement in our county, and the community at large.

Membership is open to anyone without a criminal record.

It meets the last Monday of the month at the Elbert County Sheriffs Office at 7 p.m. For more information or a membership application, go to http://www.elbertcountysheriff.com/posse. html, or contact Dave Peontek at 303-646-5456.

Acoma St., Denver. Christopher Leo is director of this tale about six friends at a final dinner party. Performances: 8 p.m.

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m.

Sundays. Tickets: $18-$44, 303-623-0524, curioustheatre.org.

Sophocles a la Buntport

“Electra Onion Eater” is a 21st-century adaptation of Sophocles’ classic Greek tragedy, as seen through the lens of the inventive Buntport Theater Company. It plays at 717 Lipan St., Denver, through Nov. 23. Performances: 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: stuff@buntport.com.

Holy Grail sought

Monty Python’s “Spamalot” finds its way onto the Boulder’s Dinner Theatre stage Nov. 16 as King Arthur and his somewhat inept knights search for the Holy Grail. Performances: Wednesdays through Sundays at 5501 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder.

303-449-6000.

Holiday favorite

“It’s a Wonderful Life! The Radio Play”

by Joe Landry plays through Dec. 22 at Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington, Golden. Performances: 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Thursdays in December; 2 p.m. Sundays (note change here). Tickets: $12 to $23, 303-935-3044, minersalley@gmail.com

Spring 2014 NoW!

additional core course offerings in: • History (N,S) • Human Services (S) • Sociology (N,S) • Education (N,S) MSu Denver extended Campus Locations • Women’s Studies (S) • Criminal Justice (N,S) • Anthropology (N,S) • Finance (N,S) • Accounting (S) n Metro North — 11990 Grant St., • Business Management (S) • Hospitality (S) Suite 102 (I-25 and 120th) • Political Science (N,S) • Marketing (S) n Metro South — 5660 Greenwood • Communications (N,S) • Computer Information Systems (N,S) Plaza Blvd. , Suite 100

M S U

Kevin McKeon’s adaptation of the award-winning novel “Snow Falling on Cedars” by David Guterson will be produced at Vintage Theatre Nov. 22 through Dec. 15 at 1468 Dayton St., Aurora. Sam Wood is director.

Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets cost $25/$20 advance, vintagetheatre.com; 303856-7830.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PaiD “Rancho Mirage”

by Steven Dietz plays Permit #555 CO through Dec. 7Denver, at Curious Theatre, 1080

Metro South

DEC. 12

CURTAIN TIME ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’

register for MSu Denver extended Campus

to 5 p.m. Friday. Contact the Kiowa Library for information, 303-621-2111.

• Psychology (N,S) light rail at our Metro South location

I-25 and Orchard Rd, at the Orchard Road Light Rail Station For a printed class schedule, call 303-721-1313 eXt. 99 or visit www.msudenver.edu/optionsnow

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9-Color

Elbert County News 9

November 14, 2013

Do you need help selecting a 2014 Medicare plan?

Don’t delay.

The end of Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is fast approaching.

Now is the time to select your Medicare plan for 2014.

DON’T DELAY. You have until December 7, so ask your questions today.

Humana can help explain the difference between plans and help you explore your options.

We offer a variety of Medicare Advantage health plans and prescription drug plans, and we can provide the guidance to help you find the Humana plan that’s right for you.

Learn more at a Medicare meeting in your neighborhood.

CALL NOW. 1-855-795-9497 TTY: 711

8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week

ELBERT Elbert Public Library 651 Beverly Street November 18 10:00 AM

Keep in mind,

that Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment ends Saturday, December 7th.

Humana is a Medicare Advantage organization and a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in a Humana plan depends on contract renewal. A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-855-795-9497 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Y0040_GHHHQQGENS Accepted

CO 11/13

10-Color

10 Elbert County News

November 14, 2013

The bald and the beautiful Rocky Vista shows support for student battling cancer

By Chris Michlewicz

cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com There were so many bald heads under Rocky Vista University’s roof, one could have easily mistaken it as a convention for the follically challenged.

Instead, it was a head-shaving event in support of Michelle Valentine, a student at the college of osteopathic medicine on Chambers Road north of E-470. Thousands of dollars were raised for the Susan G. Komen foundation, and the camaraderie among the students was further solidified Nov. 1.

Valentine, 37, was diagnosed with breast cancer in June. Her chemotherapy treatments have left her completely bald, but she rocks the look with confidence. When the school wanted to organize a fundraising event, the head-shaving event was a natural choice. Valentine elected to have the money go specifically toward research aimed at helping breast cancer patients under 40, a population she says is underrepresented.

The second floor of the university, packed with supporters, buzzed with excitement, nervousness and the sound of

clippers run by a handful of stylists from Floyd’s 99 Barbershop. Women lined up to get thin pink extensions in their hair and dozens of men waited to their locks chopped. Some know Valentine, and some don’t.

Christopher Gilsdorf, a second-year Rocky Vista student from Fort Collins, had his hair cut by Nester Bustos, a Floyd’s 99 stylist who participates in at least one community charity event per year. Gilsdorf, who says he knows Valentine “a little,” raised $50 for the cause.

Aside from Valentine, the star of the head-shaving event was Dr. Rebecca Bowden, a Rocky Vista professor who raised more than $7,500 and faced the clippers. It was her first time going bald and she admitted to the crowd on hand that it “felt good.”

Bowden, who has had Valentine in some of her classes, succinctly summed up her line of thinking about donating time, money and hair on behalf of Valentine.

“We’re family,” Bowden said of the small, tight-knit school that opened in 2008.

Valentine must undergo radiation treatment and surgery, but her spirits are bright.

She was uplifted by the number of people who got involved in the head-shaving event and described it as “one of the coolest things of my life.” She said it speaks to the character of medical students and their willingness to step up for others in need.

Rocky Vista University professor Rebecca Bowden gets her head shaved by Barb Dooley, a stage-4 cancer survivor and stylist for Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, during a fundraising event for breast cancer research Nov. 1. Photo by Chris Michlewicz

Parker Chamber names new president Official has led similar group in Norfolk, Neb.

By Chris Michlewicz

cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com After a three-month search, the Parker Chamber of Commerce has named its new president.

The 742-member organization announced the hiring of Dennis Houston, who will leave his position as president of the Norfolk (Neb.) Area Chamber of Commerce at the end of the month. He will take over as the Parker chamber president and chief executive officer Dec. 1.

Houston (pronounced How-ston) was among 48 applicants for the position, which was vacated at the end of July when

Dan Rodriguez submitted a letter of resignation.

Interim president Jo Ann Frost, who will resume her duties as the chairwoman of the chamber board of directors, said the organization is looking forward to refocusing on programming and membership growth and retention with a new leader in place.

“It’s been challenging with the transition and putting things on hold until we got someone in place,” she said. “Our priority has been getting a president/CEO. It’s nice to be in this position now instead of feeling like we’re catching up all the time.”

The top selection from a narroweddown field of three candidates, Houston demonstrated the experience, dynamic personality and professionalism the chamber was seeking, Frost said. The board has a list of goals and will get Houston’s feedback

and input once he is settled.

“We’re anxious to see where he can take our chamber, as going into 2014 we have lots of exciting things going on,” she said.

“We want to expand on programs that are just now taking shape.”

On a professional level, Houston says he is looking forward to learning about the challenges and opportunities in the business community. He is also eager to engage in strategic planning with Town of Parker officials, the school district and Douglas County.

“I’m looking forward to that collaboration so we can all make sure Parker grows in a positive way that we’re all proud of,” Houston said.

The Norfolk, Neb., area shares similarities with Parker because it’s a growing community in a semi-rural area. The

Calm After the Storm

town of Norfolk has a population of about 25,000, but the service area contains about 125,000 people, Houston said. His experience in working with different sectors — from home-based businesses to small retail shops to industrial companies —was a quality the search committee took notice of, Frost said.

After a weeks-long “listening tour” to learn the lay of the land, Houston wants to discuss with the board the chamber’s role in helping Parker achieve its goals.

On a personal level, the move to Colorado has been a long time coming. Houston visits Colorado about twice annually with his wife and two boys, and a permanent move has been one of the family’s objectives.

“The lifestyle is a big part of it for us,” Houston said.

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Elbert County News 11 November 14, 2013

Comic goes solo in Su Teatro play San Antonio comedian Ruby Nelda Perez brings her one-woman play, “Dona Rosita’s Jalapeno Kitchen,” to Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, Nov. 14-17. Written by Rodrigo Duarte Clark of El Teatro de Esperanza (the second oldest Chicano theater in the country), it combines funny lines with a story about development threatening the barrio where Dona Rosita’s restaurant is located. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14, 15, 16; 2 p.m. Nov. 17. Tickets: $20/$17, suteatro.org, 303-296-0219.

Own an Original

Littleton’s annual “Own an Original” exhibit opens Nov. 22, presented by the Littleton Fine Arts Board at the Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. Two and three dimensional art will be included and for sale. Admission is free. Museum hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. 303-795-3950.

Arts in Lone Tree

“The Conversation,” mixed media by Valli Thayer McDougal, is in the exhibit, “I Think I’m Going to Like it Here” in the Stanton Gallery at Town Hall Arts Center through Jan. 8.

Courtesy photo

Four artists show work Exhibit title borrows from stage musical ‘Annie’

By Sonya Ellingboe

sellingboe@ourcoloradonews.com Four experienced artists who have exhibited together, with larger groups, will show their paintings at Town Hall Arts Center’s Stanton Gallery through Jan. 8.

They are Valli Thayer McDougal, Pat Mudge, Janice Hanson and Jan Archuleta.

Their choice of which works to exhibit is influenced to an extent by what’s playing at Town Hall: the musical “Annie,” about the spunky little red-haired girl who graced the comics for many years. Their show title is also a song in the show: “I Think I’m Going to Like it Here.”

Two of them: Valli Thayer McDougal and Pat Mudge actually met in a watercolor class in La Jolla, Calif., in 2000 and have remained friends and painting companions since they both moved to Denver in 2007 and 2008.

They soon formed a critique group with Susan Schmitt, meeting monthly.

Jan Archuleta and Janice Hanson became their friends via membership in the Colorado Watercolor Society and joined the critique group. “We have become very good friends and colleagues, supporting each other in our artistic journeys,” McDougal wrote.

She said she “discovered a passion for painting rather late in life, however `younger than Grandma Moses.’” Her contemporary acrylic painting series: “Windows on the World,” focuses on large shapes, warm colors and sometimes, “Pastiche,” small layered collages and “Opus,” watercolor and mixed media. She is an

The annual Lone Tree Art Exhibition and Sale opens with a reception and announcement of awards from 3 to 5 p.m.

Nov. 16 at the Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree. Katherine Smith Warren was juror for the exhibit and selected 100 pieces by 68 artists. Gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and before performances, through Jan. 5.

720-509-1077.

On huffing and puffing …

The Littleton Symphony will present a free children’s concert, “The Three Little Pigs,” at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at Littleton United Methodist Church, 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton. Two interpretations of the story are promised, including a more sympathetic look at the Big Bad Wolf. A few lucky kids may get to help Maestro Jurgen de Lemos conduct the orchestra. Littletonsymphony. org, 303-933-6824.

Ivy Street Ensemble

Englewood Arts is hosting the Ivy Street Ensemble: Colorado Symphony musicians Cathy Peterson (flute), Erik Peterson (violin) and Philip Stevens (viola) in a program of chamber music spanning from the Baroque Era to the 21st century. They regularly perform for children in the metro area. The program will include works by Beethoven, Bach, Mozart and Bunch. Tickets: $15/$12/free under 18. englewoodarts. org or at the door, one half hour before the concert.

Pottery sale “Three Little Girls,” watercolor by Jan Archuleta, is in the exhibit “I Think I’m Going to Like it Here” in Stanton Gallery at Town Hall Arts Center until Jan. 8. Courtesy photo award-winning painter who belongs to the National Watercolor Society, Colorado Watercolor Society and International Society of Acrylic Painters.

Patricia Mudge worked in water media for many years, but has switched to oil paints. She has studied at the University of San Diego, San Diego Watercolor Society, La Jolla Institute of Art and Art Students League of Denver. She lived in Great Britain and has traveled widely for 40 years, learning from fine artists as she traveled.

Janice Hanson is a former photographer, who turned to watercolor “to enhance the images she saw by emphasiz-

ing shapes and patterns. She uses paint to stain these shapes with color.” She is a Signature member of the National Watercolor Society and the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Society.

Watercolorist Jan Archuleta, a Colorado native, paints from photos taken in Colorado, New Mexico and other travel locations, including Spain, Italy and China.

She is a past president of the Arvada Fine Arts Guild, a Colorado Watercolor Society member, as well as Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, Foothills Art Center, National Watercolor Society and North Metro Arts Alliance.

Members of South Suburban’s Pottery Guild will host their annual sale from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 18-20 at Goodson Recreation Center, 6315 S. University Blvd., Centennial.

Writers’ conference

“Write Around the Rock,” the annual Castle Rock Writers Conference, opens Nov. 22 at the Philip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock, with a talk by New York agent Katherine Sands, followed by events from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds Events Center.

Workshops, agent and publisher pitches, continental breakfast, lunch, conference bookstore. Reservations $75 until Nov. 15, $40 military, $30 students. castlerockwriters.com, 303-521-8615.

12

12 Elbert County News

November 14, 2013

Fire program includes those with special needs Program could include paid positions in the future

By Chris Michlewicz

cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com Sometimes all it takes is giving a person the chance to prove what they can do.

At least, that’s what Doug Bloomquist figures. As operations executive officer for the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority, Bloomquist makes sure the workforce is functioning efficiently and effectively. He also has the opportunity to introduce new programs that not only help the fire service, but incorporate the community.

Enter Marty Williams, a 20-year-old developmentally disabled man from Parker who got in trouble for pulling a fire alarm at his apartment complex last year. Williams learned a lesson from the firefighters at South Metro’s station 41, near Mainstreet and Pine Drive, who took him under their wing. Bloomquist took notice when he started seeing Williams hanging out at the station and helping with the cleaning duties.

The department’s fleet manager suggested finding Williams a role in the supply warehouse, and Bloomquist got a positive reaction from quartermaster Matt Whipple, who is in charge of filling supply orders for all of the firehouses.

Williams has since become fully involved as a weekly volunteer, gathering necessities like coffee, cleaning supplies, batteries and window washer fluid for the fire trucks to send to the appropriate station. He also helps fill orders and deliver uniforms and gear.

“The nice thing about doing this for Marty is that he gets to see what else is out there,” Whipple says. “Instead of just South

Marty Williams, 20, left, goes over the needs list with South Metro Fire Rescue Authority supply manager Matt Whipple Nov. 1. Photo by Chris Michlewicz Metro Fire being station 41, he gets to see what goes into it from this side or over at the admin building.”

Williams is in the Bridge Program, a transition program that enables developmentally disabled adults to gain job skills they can use in the workforce. Now Bloomquist, as part of a research project for senior fire officials, is developing a pilot program, of which Williams is the first participant. The research will determine whether developmentally disabled adults should become employed at South Metro and what roles they might fill.

“It’s a group that’s really kind of discriminated against and there are a lot of possibilities out there for them,” Bloomquist said. “I think that’s part of our community responsibility to look at those.”

Bloomquist recently finished a needs analysis by sending out a questionnaire to every staffer in the department to “give me an idea of where we could possibly carve out jobs,” including administrative positions.

Whipple has adapted the job to help Williams perform better. As of one month ago, the supply orders come with pictures

of the requested items.

“It helps him identify how to fill the order. It didn’t take a whole lot, it was inexpensive, and it makes a world of difference,” Bloomquist said.

Little notes like that will likely be included in a presentation he makes to the South Metro Fire Rescue board of directors, the body that makes decisions on budget allocations for new positions.

The pilot program has given Williams the job skills and confidence that will come in handy in a permanent role at the fire department or in another professional setting.

He also works at Dollar Tree in Parker, and when he’s not volunteering, working or attending school, Williams is in a predictable place.

“Hang out with (Station) 41,” he said.

“Stay out of trouble.”

Chris Fairbanks, his aunt and guardian, says the crews serve as mentors and make Williams do his homework. He comes along on some emergency calls, helps the firefighters clean the firehouse and works out with them. He is made to feel like one of the guys, and Williams shows his gratitude with his work ethic.

“He tries to help anybody that needs help,” Fairbanks said.

Since the program is in its infancy, applications for new volunteers are not being accepted. Easter Seals and Goodwill will analyze the results of Bloomquist’s program and help define the positions, and the fire district will work with the Bridge Program and Developmental Pathways to bring in new recruits. No other department has created such a program, Bloomquist said, and if funding is approved, his plan is to roll it out next year. The pilot program could become a model for other departments.

SALOME’S STARS FOR THE WEEK OF NOV 11, 2013

crossword • sudoku

GALLERY OF GAMES & weekly horoscope

crossword • sudoku & weekly horoscope

GALLERY OF GAMES

ARIES (Mar 21 to Apr 19) Keep your feelings to yourself as you work through an awkward circumstance. Complaining is useless, and also unwise since your words could come back to haunt you.

TAURUS (Apr 20 to May 20) A sudden flash of Bovine practicality shows you how you might be able to turn your artistic pursuits into a profitable venture. A spouse or partner offers some sage advice.

GEMINI (May 21 to Jun 20) Be prepared with several “Plan Bs” that you might have to use as backups just in case you encounter some troublesome complications with your carefully constructed schedule.

CANCER (Jun 21 to Jul 22) You might think you’ll never have a free moment again with the demands of the workplace piling on. Cheer up. The pressure eases as holiday time nears. An old friend brings good news.

LEO (Jul 23 to Aug 22) Your Leonine pride might make it difficult to offer an apology to a co-worker you unintentionally offended. But a quick and sincere “I’m sorry” could prevent problems down the line.

VIRGO (Aug 23 to Sept 22) This is a good time to tackle those backed-up chores that have kept you from moving into other and potentially more worthwhile projects. A personal matter needs your attention.

LIBRA (Sept 23 to Oct 22) You usually have no problem rushing to the defense of someone you perceive as being treated unjustly. But perceptions could be deceiving this week. Check the facts before you act.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 to Nov 21) Before you point fingers at who might be to blame for the unexpected change in your plans, take a few moments to reflect on how this turn of events might be a blessing in disguise.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 to Dec 21) You seek out advice in the first part of the week. But be careful not to let counsel from others overshadow your own sense of perception. Things become clearer by the week’s end.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 to Jan 19) The trusted colleagues you relied on earlier continue to offer support with your project. But you take more control, and by the week’s end, you should be in full command.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 to Feb 18) Rely on your practical side while exploring investment possibilities.

Caution is still your watchword in these matters. Your social life takes a gratifying turn by the week’s end.

PISCES (Feb 19 to Mar 20) An already confusing situation appears to grow murkier during the first part of the week. But it all starts to clear by the week’s end.

Plan to spend the weekend with someone special.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a passion for life that inspires others to follow your example. You could be a motivational speaker. © 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

13

Elbert County News 13

November 14, 2013

‘Cross Currents’ comes to Denver art gallery Show of native work gets underway Nov. 22

By Sonya Ellingboe

sellingboe@ourcoloradonews.com

At A Little Something in Denver, refugee women make jewelry, learning new skills and earning “a little something.”

Their work will be for sale at the World Gift Markets. Courtesy photo

Alternative gift market spreads cheer globally ing by supporting artisans in developing countries through Fair Trade businesses such as Silks of Laos, Team Africa and Fair Trade Republica, which bring traditional crafts to the markets.

By Sonya Ellingboe Working with indigenous craftspeople in sellingboe@ourcoloradonews.com areas of extreme poverty, they help preserve traditions and provide World Gift Markets fair wages and a healthy if you go have grown, according to workplace. All products committee member Shelly are made by individual World Gift Markets will be held DeChantal, a metro-area artisans working in small Nov. 22, 23 and 24 at First Univerfiber artist who has regroups or cooperatives. salist Church, northeast corner of cently moved to Littleton.

Shoppers can find East Hampden Avenue and South Fair Trade, handmade gifts hand-woven silk scarves Colorado Boulevard, and First from artisans living around from Laos, recycled Sari Plymouth Congregational Church, the world — in Laos, Africa, table runners and pillows, southwest corner. Hours: 5 to 8 p.m.

Bolivia and more will be handmade paper journals Nov. 22, First Universalist only; 9 available, as well as items from India, hand-knitted a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23 (both) and 9 crafted at local nonprofit alpaca hats and gloves a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 24 (both). Adworkshops, such as A Little from Bolivia, Ugandan mission is free. firstuniversalist.org, Something, the Gathering coffee and local honey firstplymouthchurch.org.

Place and Earthlinks. More from Earthlinks’ Peace than 40 nonprofit and Fair Garden, for example.

Trade groups will particiEarthlinks, a Denver pate. nonprofit started 16 years First Universalist Church (northeast ago, has grown from a day shelter to a fullcorner) and First Plymouth Congregational fledged craft enterprise that offers producChurch (southwest corner), both at the in- tive work to homeless people. It teaches tersection of East Hampden Avenue and job skills and garden work, which allows South Colorado Boulevard, have joined for connection with the earth, DeChantogether this year to host the World Gift tal writes. In addition to honey, the Peace Markets on Nov. 23 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Garden’s bees produce beeswax for Natural Nov. 24 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.), with an opening Spa products. And bees pollinate flowers, reception at First Universalist only from 5 gourds and herbs, which result in greeting to 8 p.m. Nov. 22. cards, vases, candles, birdhouses, jewelry, The market encourages purposeful giv- lotions and catnip toys for Fluffy.

Event at churches helps artisans around world

“The wide range of expression and media found in the exhibition demonstrates the futility of attempting to confine artists of native descent to one category,” said Cecily Cullen, creative director for the Center for Visual Art. “The artists of `Cross Currents’ represent the spirit of innovation by blending elements found in traditional Native American art with meaning and strategies born of 21stcentury art making, adding unique if you go voices to the visual language of today.”

CVA, Metro“Cross Currents: politan State UniNative American versity’s very inForces in Contemteresting, easily porary Art” will be accessed gallery at exhibited Nov. 22 to 965 Santa Fe Drive Feb. 8 at the Center in Denver’s Arts for Visual Art, 965 District, offers free Santa Fe Drive, in admission and a Denver’s Santa Fe series of engaging Arts District. Hours: exhibits. noon to 5 p.m. Tues“Cross Curdays through Saturrents: Native days. Admission is American Forces free. For information in Contemporary on related programs, Art” runs Nov. 22 see MetroStateCVA. through Feb. 8, org, 303-294-5207. featuring art by Cannupahanska, Nicholas Galanin, Frank Buffalo Hyde, Merritt Johnson, Sarah Ortegon, Wendy Red Star, Sarah Sense, Marie Watt and Will Wilson.

Some of the artists will be present for an opening reception and artist’s panel on Nov. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m.

These artists from across the nation have different indigenous backgrounds and do not adhere to traditional stereotypes. What they do have in common is an exploration of identity as they move between worlds, rejecting mass media’s appropriation of traditional symbols.

Our illustration, “Emergency Mantle for Diplomatic Security,” is a mixed media work by Merritt Johnson, who is based in East Harlem, NY. She is “of mixed Mo-

“Emergency Mantle for Diplomatic Security,” mixed media by Merritt Johnson, 2013, is included in the “Cross Currents” exhibit at Metropolitan State University’s Center for Visual Art. The show addresses complexities of cultural identity. Courtesy photo hawk, Blackfoot and non-indigenous descent, with a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and an MFA from Massachusetts College of Art.” A multidisciplinary artist working in painting, sculpture and performance, she said “through my work, I explore the connections and oppositions between (and within) bodies and place.

“My work with figures treats opulent interiors and identifiable patterns, as the material for camouflaging bodies; pointing to protection, aggression and the difficulty of cross cultural disguise ….”

She will be at the CVA on Nov. 22 for the opening reception and artists’ panel, as will Cannupahanska, Buffalo Hyde, Galanin and Sense.

What's happening near you?

Public Notice NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED TSC# 2010-01168 To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It may Concern, and more especially to:

Name Changes

Name Changes

Notice To Creditors

Government Legals

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on October 8, 2013 that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Elbert County Court.

Public notice is given on October 11, 2013 that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Elbert County Court.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Warren Arthur Bostrom, Deceased Case Number: 2013 PR 30018

NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED TSC# 2010-01168

The Petition requests that the name of Christopher Joseph Trimmer be changed to Christopher Joseph Trimmer Sawyer.

Case No.: 2013 C 0043

The Petition requests that the name of Amy Louise Minarik be changed to Amy Louise Fox. Case No.: 2013 C 44

Cheryl A. Layne Clerk of Court By: Jafeen Jenkins, Deputy Clerk

Cheryl A. Layne Clerk of Court By: Jafeen Jenkins Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No: 927804 First Publication: October 31, 2013 Last Publication: November 14, 2013 Publisher: Elbert County News

Legal Notice No: 927818 First Publication: October 31, 2013 Last Publication: November 14, 2013 Publisher: Elbert County News

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before March 14, 2014 or the claims may be forever barred.

Lynn M. Vanatta-Perry Attorney at Law 315 East San Miguel Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903 Legal Notice No: 927829 First Publication: November 14, 2013 Last Publication: November 28, 2013 Publisher: Elbert County News

You and each of you are

that you? on theVisit 9th day of Want to know what news is happening in your area and thehereby areasnotified around November A.D.2010 the then County Treasurer of the County our website at www.ourcoloradonews.com. of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at

To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It may Concern, and more especially to: Dean M West: You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 9th day of November A.D.2010 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to James Work the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit:

Dean M West: You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 9th day of November A.D.2010 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to James Work the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit:

Government Legals

Section: 2 Township: 7 Range: 62Subdivision: CHAPARRAL VALLEY UNIT 2 Lot: 0069 42156 WAY OF GENTLENESS and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to James Work. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2009;

public tax lien sale to James Work the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit: Section: 2 Township: 7 Range: 62Subdivision: CHAPARRAL VALLEY UNIT 2 Lot: 0069 42156 WAY OF GENTLENESS and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to James Work. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2009; That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Dean M West for said year 2009.

That a treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said James Work at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 11th day of February, A.D.2014, unless the same has been redeemed.

Government Legals

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 21th day of October, 2013 A. D..

Richard Pettitt County Treasurer of Elbert County Legal Notice No.: 927817 First publication: October 31, 2013 Last publication: November 14, 2013 Publisher: The Elbert County News

That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Dean M West for said year 2009.

That a treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said James Work at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 11th day of February, A.D.2014, unless the same has been redeemed.

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 21th day of October, 2013 A. D..

When government takes action, it uses local newspapers to notify you. Reading your public notices is the best way to find out what is happening in your community and how it affects you. If you don’t read public notices, you never know what you might miss.

Section: 2 Township: 7 Range: 62Subdivision: CHAPARRAL VALLEY UNIT 2 Lot: 0069 42156 WAY OF GENTLENESS

and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to James Work. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2009; That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Dean M West for said year 2009.

That a treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said James Work at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 11th day of February, A.D.2014, unless the same has been redeemed.

Said property may be redeemed from said

Richard Pettitt County Treasurer of Elbert County

Legal Notice No.: 927817 First publication: October 31, 2013 Last publication: November 14, 2013 Publisher: The Elbert County News

14-Sports

14 Elbert County News November 14, 2013

ElbertSportS

Elizabeth comes close in volleyball Cardinals reach semis, fall to Lewis-Palmer

tournament results class 4a Nov. 8 — Roosevelt def. Coronado, 3-0; Elizabeth def.

Montrose 3-1; Lewis-Palmer def. Coronado, 3-1; Elizabeth def. Thomas Jefferson, 3-1; Longmont def. Pueblo West, 3-0; Cheyenne Mountain def. Valor Christian, 3-1; Ponderosa def. Pueblo West, 3-0; Air Academy vs. Valor Christian, 3-0; Ponderosa def. Longmont, 3-1.

Nov. 9 — Thomas Jefferson def. Montrose, 3-1; LewisPalmer def. Roosevelt, 3-0; Air Academy def. Pondersoa, 3-0.

By Scott Stocker

Special to Colorado Community Media It was a finish to the 2013 volleyball season that the Elizabeth players and their coach had envisioned from the beginning.

They just wish it could have been just a bit better.

Elizabeth, coached by Russ Haman, surprised the Class 4A field by reaching the state semifinals held Nov. 8 at the Denver Coliseum. But the Cardinals were unable to surprise number one ranked Lewis-Palmer as they lost to the Rangers, 3-0 (25-14, 25-9, 25-16) to bring their season to an end.

It was also a tough ending for Ponderosa, competing in the same class. The Mustangs also were beaten in the semifinals by Air Academy, 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 2515). Lewis-Palmer went on to win the title defeating their Colorado Springs crosstown rival, Air Academy, 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-10).

It didn’t take Lewis-Palmer long to put the matches in perspective as the Rangers jumped out to a 10-2 lead with junior Alexa Smith causing all sorts of trouble.

And it didn’t take long for the Rangers to establish themselves in the second game as they went out to a 19-5 lead. The Cardinals played much better in the third game, but they still could not overcome the onslaught.

Yet, despite the struggles in the semifinals, a position which few expected them to attain in the first place, there are certainly no hard feelings about their competition.

“Yes, we lost,” said senior Sabra Ross.

“But I’m really proud of the way we played this weekend. It’s been a very good and enjoyable season with all the girls and our coaches. We came a lot further than many had thought.”

And, it was an outcome over the season that will go into the Elizabeth history books. It was the first time that the Cardinals had reached the state tournament in volleyball.

“I’m very pleased with the outcome and the girls in this historical moment for our school,” Haman said. “I’m proud of the way we played, despite the loss today, and so are they.”

SEMIFINALS — Lewis-Palmer def. Elizabeth, 3-0; Air Academy def. Ponderosa, 3-0.

CHAMPIONSHIP — Lewis-Palmer def. Air Academy, 3-0.

Elizabeth’s Chloe Peterson (1) sets the ball for Sabra Ross (11) in the Cardinals’ match against Montrose at the Nov. 8 Class 4A state volleyball tournament. The spike scored a point for Elizabeth as they won the match and continued tournament play. Photo by Tom Munds Only three seniors, Ross, Emily McChesney and Shawnee Montoya, will depart from the Elizabeth roster for next season.

It’s never a good thing to underestimate any team when it comes to any tournament playoffs. But that certainly could have been the case for Elizabeth foes Montrose and Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson came in as the No. 4 seed in the tourney, Montrose No. 5. Elizabeth was seeded ninth.

Elizabeth opened up its portion of the tournament coming through with a 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25-10) victory over Montrose. The Cardinals followed a couple of hours later with their win over Thomas Jefferson. In this case, they defeated the Spartans 3-1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 25-21).

“It’s just amazing,” said Montoya after the win over TJ. “We’ve worked hard as a team and we didn’t quit. We just gave it our all and we learned from it. The key was has just been our teamwork and growing as a family. They were good, especially their No. 11 (Celeste James). The win was a great opportunity to move on.”

Ross was confident Elizabeth could come through with the solid effort in the early going.

“I think we just gave everything and left it out on the court,” Ross said. “We just did what we needed to do, just stay focused and not worry about making many errors.

Our advantage was being close. We came in the lower seed with nothing to lose. We just gave it our all.”

Haman couldn’t have been more

pleased with the early outcome for his Cardinals.

“It’s been a great year and we’ve been focused,” Haman said. “But it’s been that way all year. We had some tough opponents, such as Cherry Creek. It’s been a learning year and to play that caliber of competition has just helped us do better.

The girls learned to play with pressure and not let themselves down.

“It was just fine defense and teamwork and we had a good attack,” Haman said.

“It’s been a great year and we’ve been very focused, but it been that way all year.”

Lewis-Palmer had earned its way into the semfinals with a pair of victories over crosstown rival, Coronado, 3-0 (25-8, 2523, 25-19) and Roosevelt, 3-0 (25-8, 25-23, 25-19). Through it all, Smith was super hard to stop.

“We worked so hard this was actually a drain emotionally,” said Smith, who has had a wealth of competition on the US Junior team. “I love playing with these girls and they are all like family. This was such a good win since we had lost in the championship last season.”

Lewis-Palmer coach Susan Odenbaugh was also more than pleased with the outcome.

“The girls just played so well,” Odenbaugh said. “I think we only had two hitting errors in the championship tonight.

We’ve played Air Academy four times and they play the best defense against us. I’m so proud after what happened last year.

This is just a great group of kids. But, also, let it be known that the overall competition here at state was just great.”

Glenwood upsets Cardinals in football playoffs Elizabeth season ends with 8-3 record

By Scott Stocker

Special to Colorado Community Media It was a short visit to the Class 3A state football playoffs for Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, coached by Chris Cline, took the number five seed into the competition.

However, the home standing Cardinals were upset by visiting Glenwood Springs, 14-13, on Nov. 9. As a result, they finished the season with an 8-3 record while Glenwood, seeded number 12, advanced with an 8-3 record.

Glenwood Springs will now play Delta in a Western Slope encounter in this week’s quarterfinals. Delta advanced by stunning fourth-seeded Holy Family in a super close game, 42-41.

The game was tied, 7-7 at the half and Elizabeth was able to up the count to 13-7 in the third quarter. However, the missed extra point proved to be the eventual downfall.

Glenwood Springs would score with 2:20 remaining in the game then hold off the Cardinals down the stretch.

“Their defense was good and we just had too many mistakes to overcome,” Cline said.

“Penalties certainly hurt us. But give Glenwood credit. It was a hard-fought game. We had a couple of opportunities that we just couldn’t take advantage of.

“It was a good year overall,” Cline said.

“It was just a tough ending for the boys and, as the saying goes, it was just one of those games. Chase Nicholas caught a 65-yard pass from Brody Oliver for our first touchdown in the first quarter and Jordan Bucknam scored on a 1-yard run for the second touchdown in the third. Missing the extra point proved to be the downfall. Overall, their pass rush also hurt us.”

It also was not the best of weekends for the classification’s top seed, Discovery Canyon, either. The Thunder was ousted by 16th seeded Pueblo East, 47-13. Pueblo East moves on the play ninth-seeded and defending state champion Silver Creek, a 47-14 victor over Evergreen.

Sophomore quarterback Danny Martin was a standout for Pueblo East, which improved to 7-4 with the victory while Discovery Canyon ended the year 9-2. He ran for 151 yards and scored three touchdowns in a win inspired by the Eagles loss, 49-28, to the Thunder in the second game of the season.

Simla

Simla, coached by Shane Zimmerman, saw its season come to an unhappy ending as well, as the Cubs were beaten by Caliche, 46-28. With the loss, the Cubs finished the year with a 9-1 record.

“This game was certainly a lot closer than the score would indicate,” Zimmerman said. “You like to win, but that’s not how it worked out this week. Caliche is a fine football team and we certainly didn’t underestimate them at all. We also had to deal with injuries and in situations like state, that’s certainly a drawback.”

Quarterback Cody Norris was on target with his passing game. He completed 15of-25 passes for 193 yards and four touchdowns.

He also rushed for142 yards on 23 carries and came through with 11 tackles on defense. Overall, he helped the Cubs account for 467 yards total offense.

“They were just better than we were in the end,” Zimmerman said. “We wish we could have gone further, but, unfortunately for us, that’s the way it goes. It was a fine season and I thank the kids for all the fine efforts that they put out.”

Damian Bell added to the rushing count with 95 yards. Kyler Hammacher caught six

passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

Jason George and Aaron Thieman caught the other two touchdown throws from Bell.

Kiowa

Norwood pulled off a 12-6 victory over Kiowa in last Saturday’s 8-Man quarterfinal action. It was not entirely unexpected as the Mavericks improved to 10-1 while Kiowa fell to 8-3. The Mavericks will play Caliche, 10-1, in this week’s semifinal action.

It was a tough outing for Kiowa, under coach Mark Clemmons. And, it certainly was a game that was in reach at the end.

With 1:20 left in the game, the Indians had driven to the Norwood 1-yard line. However, the couldn’t convert.

“Norwood was a very physical team and bigger than us,” Clemmons said. “Jack Thomas scored our touchdown in the first quarter, and we certainly came close at the end. It just didn’t turn out in our favor.”

Thomas rushed for 150 yards in the game and Lonny Trehal added 130 more on the ground.

“We had over 320 yards on the ground,” Clemmons said. “We could move the ball, but had trouble converting in situations when we needed to. We had the speed, they had the size and that, too, was a difference.”

15-Color

Elbert County News 15

November 14, 2013

Awareness key to concussion prevention Steps taken to reduce risk to high school athletes

By Nick Puckett

npuckett@ourcolorado news.com Throughout the past decade, “concussion” has become an increasingly dreaded word in the world of sports. With the growing awareness of the consequences of untreated concussions, being diagnosed with one or more can cause a week on the sidelines, the end of a season or, in some cases, a career.

A concussion — which the University of Rochester Medical Center describes as “a trauma-induced alteration in mental status” — is caused by forceful impact to the brain, such as a blow to the head or any other injury that shakes the brain inside the skull.

According to mayoclinic. com, suffering multiple concussions or a very serious concussion can result in long-term problems with speaking, motor skills or learning.

In high school sports, concussions are most commonly diagnosed among football players, with that sport being responsible for 53.1 percent of the concussions recorded in a report by the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Boys lacrosse and girls soccer follow, taking blame for 9.2 percent and 7.4 percent of concussions, respectively.

The same study also found a 15.5 percent increase in concussions reported among student-athletes every year during the time span, 1997-2008. The study looked at more than 10 million athletes.

In all, experts agree that the best way to quickly diagnose and catch concussions is “being aware,” according to Valor Christian High School athletic trainer Allen Schroeder.

Valor Christian’s football team, which is seeking its fifth straight state championship, is among the dozens of squads in Colorado that will take the field this week in the postseason with the threat of concussion ever present.

In recent years, steps have been taken to stem the threat.

In March 2011, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law an act commonly referred to as the Jake Snakenberg Youth Concussion Act. The law is named after Jake Snakenberg, a freshman football player at Aurora’s Grandview High School who died in 2004 after suffering an apparent concussion and then continuing to play football the following week.

The guidelines include the requirement to complete an annual concussion recognition education course; the removal of an athlete suspected of a concussion from a game, competition or practice; and medical clearance from a health-care professional prior to returning to play in a game, competition or practice.

But is a law enough?

What about the equipment?

Putting a cap on it

At least one piece of football equipment that some believe shows promise in concussion prevention has been outlawed by the Colorado High School Activities Association. The Guardian Cap, a stretchable, soft-shell helmet cover that fits over the helmet, can prevent “the sub-concussive hits,” or “long-term, small increment injuries,” according to Justin Greeley, instrumentation engineer for the Oregon Ballistics Laboratories in Salem, Ore. Greeley spearheaded the experiment to test the change in amount of impact of a helmet-to-helmet collision with and without the Guardian Cap. “We’re not here to determine if (the Guardian Caps) are safe or not,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Harry Waterman, “We rely on the bodies that do the research.”

CHSAA adopts rules on equipment standards based on research from the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment in Overland Park, Kan. Athletic equipment must pass a standard test known as the NOCSAE standard in order to be legalized for game play. The Guardian Cap failed to pass the NOCSAE Standard for Add-On Helmet Products certification Columbine High School once used Guardian Caps for practice exclusively, but stopped using them due to “liability issues through our district,” said Columbine football coach Andrew Lowry.

“I sure wish we could (use them) because I truly believe in them,” he said.

The NOCSAE Standard for Add-On Helmet Products states that no addon helmet products are permitted for game use without clearance for every single helmet make, model and size. According to the standard, “it is the maker of the product that declares that the product when modified by anyone be declared no longer certified,” said NOCSAE Technical Director David Halstead. “The reason is, it suddenly becomes unclear if the product, as modified, works as intended. It is unclear who stands behind it, both for product warranty, and in the event of injury litigation.”

Within the report by the Oregon Ballistics Laboratories and another report on a similar experiment by Wayne State University in Detroit, it was concluded, in all, that the Guardian Cap reduces the amount of impact from a head-on collision with a regular helmet without any accessories by 33 percent.

However, the NOCSAE standard still does not clear the Guardian Cap. “They can’t test (the Guardian Cap) with every helmet without certain financial issues,” said Greeley. “None of the (helmet companies) want to take on

the liability.”

Other similar accessories throughout different sports, however, are allowed and used in games.

Headguards have been introduced to soccer recently because of the rising number of concussions in the sport, especially from girls soccer.

The Full90 Premier protective headgear is one headguard used throughout both boys and girls soccer, but predominantly in the girls sport. The headgear is a padded piece of equipment that covers the forehead and temple areas of the head, locations responsible for the most concussions in soccer.

Headguards have similar problems with the Guardian Cap. There may never be any hard evidence that these padded headbands will prevent concussions.

The big difference is that soccer headguards are approved for game use by the NOCSAE standard and by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The main reason for the headguards’ clearance is that there is no article of equipment that is being tampered with or added to.

The common theme throughout both of these pieces of equipment, though, is that there is no guarantee of preventing a concussion. Precautionary measures must still be taken to detect and diagnose concussions.

“Most concussion prevention comes in the form of rule changes within each sport,” said Bre Perdue, head athletic trainer for the boys division for Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora. “For instance, in football there is now a penalty for helmet-to-helmet hits.

Players are also required to come out of the game for a down if their helmet comes off, and in lacrosse, the penalty was doubled for a check to the head.”

Preventing a second one

Perhaps the most daunting part of a concussion is the possibility of second impact syndrome, which is believed to be behind Snakenberg’s death. Second impact syndrome, or SIS, occurs when a person with a concussion is forcefully struck on the head, causing severe swelling in the brain that can result in paralysis or even death.

The recent laws put into place mainly aid in the prevention of SIS. To help diagnose concussions to prevent SIS, various forms of technology are being introduced to athletes on and off the field.

Different forms of technology are being used for athletes in high school sports. Before every season, some schools require each athlete in each sport to take something called an impact test, a test that records a baseline of an athlete’s brain’s performance. If suspected of a concussion, the athlete retakes the same test to compare to their baseline. A certain score would translate to evidence of the brain not working properly, possibly due to a concussion. Nearly every school in Colorado uses this procedure, or a test similar to it, because of the concussion education laws.

Immediate tests such as the Stat-2 test, a series of questions testing the short-term memory of the patient, are used on-site at the competition or practice to quickly see if a player has a concussion. Medical clearance is required for an athlete to return to action.

Athletes diagnosed with a concussion are recommended to complete a “graduated return to play,” according to Perdue.

“Most graduated return to plays follow the Zurich Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport,” said Perdue.

The Zurich Consensus

Statement on Concussion in Sport is an annual statement on certain medical issues from Zurich, Switzerland. The specified statement recommends the athlete to be symptom-free before returning and then going through a series of steps upon return.

As Valor Christian’s Schroeder said, awareness is crucial.

Diagnosing concussions, he said, is about “just making sure the coach or the parent has the training to (know when) to remove an athlete … it comes down to recognition.”

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16-Color

16 Elbert County News

November 14, 2013

KNOWLEDGE IS THE ULTIMATE

PREVENTATIVE

MEDICINE. University of Colorado Hospital is excited to bring you a helpful and informative seminar series at the Lone Tree Health Center. Get your questions answered and learn more about your health from the University of Colorado School of Medicine physicians, right here in your neighborhood.

UPCOMING SEMINARS INCLUDE: ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: Sometimes chemistry isn’t enough!

Presented by: Al Barqawi, MD Associate Professor, Urology/Urodynamics Director of Research Wednesday, November 13, 2013 6:00 – 7:00pm The truth is that medications to treat this condition don’t work well for all men. Join us for a discussion about treatment and other options.

Cost: Free

CLASSES OFFERED AT: LONE TREE HEALTH CENTER 9548 PARK MEADOWS DRIVE LONE TREE, CO 80124 TO REGISTER GO TO: WWW.UCH.EDU/LONETREE OR CALL AMY HURLEY AT 720-553-1127 OR 720-848-2200

CHRONIC SINUSITIS: Breathe a little easier.

Presented by: Cristina Cabrera–Muffly, MD Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology Wednesday, November 20, 2013 6:00 – 7:00pm Is it a cold or chronic sinusitis? Join us for a discussion on the symptoms and treatments.

Cost: Free