Weld County Commissioners seek to crack cage-free egg law
BY BELEN WARD
Weld County Commissioners are throwing their weight behind e orts to repeal Colorado’s cage-free chicken rules for egg producers in an e ort to help lower the cost of eggs.
“We support our ag community,” said Commissioner Chair Perry Buck. “ e constraints of the bill approved in 2020 have not only had a negative impact on producers but also Colorado families. It’s something that we as a state can x and should x.”
Weld County Commissioner Scott James said he plans to testify in the state legislature to re-
peal the 2020 law that requires egg producers to use cage-free systems. Weld County Commissioner are unanimously supporting House Bill 25-1074, which also be reviewed by the Agriculture, Water, and Natural Resources Committee.
House Bill 25-1074 reads, “Colorado’s cage-free egg law is driving up prices at a time when families can least a ord it; with in ation pushing grocery bills to record high amounts, forcing producers to shift to expensive cage-free systems only adds to the nancial strain on consumers.”
According to the Department of Agriculture, Weld County is
the largest producer of poultry and eggs in the state. It is home to 43 egg-poultry facilities, three of which are extensive commercial facilities that provide eggs across the country.
e Colorado Egg Producers Association estimates that the cost of producing cage-free eggs is roughly 16%-18% higher than the cost of producing eggs in a caged environment due in part to the labor involved, the cost of reconstructing hen houses, and the potential spread of illnesses in a larger environment.
Cage free or bird flu?
e Bureau of Labor Statistics shows egg prices increased
39.6% between September 2023 and 2024, which was the largest increase of any food tracked. Since January 2022, the average national cost of a dozen eggs rose 75% from $1.92 to $3.37 in October 2024, peaking at $4.82 in January 2023. As of December 2024, a dozen large white eggs at a grocery store cost $5.49.
Olga Robak, director of communications for the Colorado Department of Agriculture said Colorado’s cage free law was not the most signi cant factor, saying the H5N1 Avian u was a bigger factor.
WESTMINSTER WINDOW
Highlighting progress and inequities in local schools
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Colorado has long been a pioneer in school choice, offering families various educational options, including public, charter, private and magnet schools, as well as open enrollment across district boundaries since 1994.
According to the Reason Foundation, data from the Colorado Department of Education showed that more than 199,000 students, 28% of those enrolled in traditional public schools statewide, used open enrollment during the 202324 school year.
While National School Choice Week, which was celebrated this year from Jan. 26 – Feb. 1, showcased these opportunities, it also raised questions among some policy advocates about the equity of access to these options.
Director of the National Education Policy Center Kevin Welner, explained that while school choice was initially designed to decouple educational opportunities from residential zip codes, meaning that where you lived no longer had to de ne the quality of your education, that doesn’t always play out in practice.
“Unconstrained school choice programs… often add a layer of strati cation on top of the existing residential stratication,” Welner said. “Parents with more social capital or
Weld County Commissioners are backing the repeal of a Colorado law that requires egg producers to use cage-free systems.
BELEN WARD
Drug raids target cartels in Fort Lupton, Brighton
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Armed with a warrant, o cials with the Drug Enforcement Agency searched a business in the 800 block of 12th Street in Fort Lupton on Jan. 29. Another criminal investigation brought o cials to the East Village Mobile Home Park, 3060 E. Bridge St., Brighton, on the same day, according to a news release.
“ ese operations focus on the Mexico Sinaloa cartel and the threat they pose to public safety via violent crime and drug tra cking,” said David Olesky, DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “ is was drug-focused. We want to assure the community that actions like today are helping to make Colorado a safer place. ere are no
active safety concerns for residents in the areas. e DEA is leading the investigation and will provide any further details. As always, we remain committed to prioritizing public safety.”
e DEA requested assistance from the Brighton and Commerce City police department tactical teams with the criminal investigation at Eastgate Village mobile home park. In Brighton, Bridge Street was shut down from Firehouse Road to Telluride Street due to a signi cant police presence.
Fort Lupton police and other law enforcement staged operations at the police department building.
“We’re grateful for the support from the Fort Lupton Police Department and Brighton Police Department as part of this long-term DEA and HIDTA Front Range Task Force investigation,” Olesky said.
Olesky said, “ e DEA is leading the investigation and will provide any further details.”
According to the Fort Lupton police, there was no threat to the community, but there were rumors about police activity at the schools. e activity was at the Fort Lupton Police Department, near the middle school, where law enforcement gathered before and after the raid.
“ e presence of federal agents near the middle school caused some to believe that these federal agents were going to engage with our schools,” Weld Re-8’s o ce of the superintendent posted on the district’s website. “ at was not the case and at no time were our schools involved in their activity. As a reminder, all schools operate on a secure status with controlled entry as normal practice.”
Weld Re-8 opts to protect students from ICE raids
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Fort Lupton schools will not cooperate with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents seeking students or information about their students and their families, a district spokesman said.
“Our protocol right now is that we will not allow our ICE personnel to have access to the buildings or the district administrator, which is me, and I will interact with the agents, and if they don’t have a warrant signed by a judge and veri ed by our legal counsel, then we will not allow them access to the building at all,” said Johan Van Nieuwenhuizen, Weld Re-8 assistant superintendent.
Van Nieuwenhuizen said that according to district’s policies, school visitors are not allowed access the school sta or to students, unless the parents have given speci c permission. e WeldRe-8 Board of Education will make a reasonable e ort to accommodate a request to visit the district schools but will also recognize concerns for the welfare of students, he said.
“ e district limits the visitors to parents and guardians of current students and other family members of current students. ey must be approved by students’ parents, guardians, board members, and other persons invited by
New United Power solar farm planned for Byers
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
United Power partners on its fth energy project since 2014 with Silicon Ranch Byers Solar Farm Expansion, according to o cials, Jan. 22. “As United Power continues to add to its diverse power portfolio, the Byers Solar Farm illustrates the best-case scenario for local production,” said Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power. “Our partnership with Silicon Ranch allows us to build this project with the latest technology and development techniques to optimize the use of the site. Also, strong nancial and environmental incentives exist for generating and delivering clean, renewable electricity locally.”
According to o cials, United Power agreed to purchase 150-megawatt (MW) generated from Byers Solar Farm 10 miles northeast of Byers in Adams County. With the United Power partnership, Silicon Ranch will develop a new solar installation as one of the nation’s largest independent power producers with a communityfocused renewable energy company.
Silicon Ranch would construct and operate the solar farm and maintain it with United Power’s purchasing power, which the solar farm produces.
According to o cials, Silicon Ranch plans to manage the land and plant short grass prairie pre-seeding as a long-term owner of the property and facility before construction.
Also, Silicon Ranch is looking into starting sheep grazing on its site through Regenerative Energy®. is program regenerates nationwide land sites, including Mavericks Solar Farm, which United Power serves.
the district, “ said Van Nieuwenhuizen.
Van Nieuwenhuizen said the district does not share requests to speak to students or release any student or sta records. ey are not allowed to do that in general terms, and they will enforce the same policy in case of a request from .
“ e School Resource O cers will cooperate with ICE and check their warrants to ensure they have the right to be at the school. We will call our legal counsel to verify if the warrants are legit, and the appropriate o ce will sign them. But we will not allow them to speak to students, nor we will not release any student records,” Van Nieuwenhuizen said.
Van Nieuwenhuizen said the goal is to protect district sta and students. It’s not a signi cant change in policy regarding keeping the kids safe, he said.
“But this policy is putting more stress on school districts, and we hope it will not disrupt the learning environment a lot, and not allow them access to our students without permission from parents and guardians, and we will not share any information with them,” Van Nieuwenhuizen said.
Letter to parents
e district outlined the policy in a letter to parents.
According to the letter, the district is “... are committed to our mission, which is to provide engaging opportunities and
pathways in preparation for every student’s successful future in a welcome, safe, and secure environment and we will continue to protect the rights of every student and family, regardless of their immigration status, national origin, or background.”
e letter acknowledges the district’s diversity and promises to provide a safe learning environment for student of all backgrounds. According to the district’s demographics, Weld RE-8’s student population is almost 70% hispanic and 26% white.
“Weld Re-8 School District is very fortunate to have a diverse community of students, families, and sta ,” the letter reads. “We will continue to work to provide a safe and secure learning environment in our buildings, which includes supporting families impacted by shifting immigration policies when they are in our schools.”
e letter also encourages parents to update their student’s contact information to ensure the school has an updated list with at least two emergency contacts and urges them to attend community sessions to learn about the legal rights of immigrant families.
e district o ers community resources to support and create a family safety plan at https://www.ilrc.org/ resources/step-step-family-preparedness-plan.
“Silicon Ranch is honored by the trust and con dence that United Power and its members continue to place in our company to deliver value on their behalf, and we are grateful for the opportunity to expand our relationship and the positive impact we can have together,” said Regan Farr, Silicon Ranch Co-Founder, and CEO. Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power, and Regan Farr, Silicon Ranch CoFounder and CEO.
“As we enter our second decade of partnership with United Power, Silicon Ranch looks forward to continuing our meaningful work together by collaborating to help make communities stronger, healthier, and more resilient here in northern Colorado.”
According to o cials, since 2014, United Power has partnered with Silicon Ranch on four other energy infrastructure projects: Fort Lupton Solar (13 MW), Mavericks Solar (6.5 MW), Platteville Solar (16 MW), and Rattlesnake Solar (6 MW).
All ve installations are developed within the United Power cooperative service territory. ey work with local governments, neighboring communities, and landowners to guarantee that the projects meet the needs of each community and United Power, according to ocials.
“Byers Solar Farm continues United Power’s march toward energy independence,” said Gabriel. “Since leaving our wholesale power contract on May 1, 2024, United Power has worked to build a power portfolio that both reduces our carbon emissions and stabilizes our costs. Our vision to diversify and hyper-localize power production will pay dividends to cooperative members in an increasingly volatile energy market.”
Learn more about United Power and its ongoing energy transition plans at www.unitedpower.com/roadmap.
Brighton police raid for Mexico Sinaloa cartel.
COURTESY BRIGHON POLICE
Real Estate Commission Says Clients,
The Colorado Real Estate Commission (CREC), whose mandate is to protect consumers, has made it clear in Position Statement #18 that we brokers should not dictate the settlement service providers utilized by buyers and sellers. Instead, the client should make that decision, influenced perhaps but not dictated by their real estate broker. Here’s the verbiage from that position statement: “When assisting a Consumer in finding a settlement service provider, a Broker must ensure the Consumer plays an active role in the process and is ultimately responsible for making the selection.”
Not Their Br okers, Should Choose Settlement Service Providers
There is a website to which we refer clients who want to do their own comparison shopping for title companies. I’ve promoted it in the past: www.CompareTitleCompanies.com
ethical question of whether we are, as required by law and by the Realtor Code of Ethics always to put the client’s interests ahead of our own.
A “settlement service provider” is defined as any provider of a service required in the execution of a real estate transaction: lenders, title companies, inspectors, surveyors, appraisers, home warranty providers, and lawyers. Another position statement (#3) echoes a federal law that prohibits us and any of those other service providers from receiving a kickback or “something of value” (such as dinners or even charitable gifts) in return for referring our client to them.
common practice for the buyer to assign that responsibility to the seller and to specify the title company named in the MLS listing — and for the buyer to use the same title company to purchase the “piggyback” title policy for the buyer’s lender. To choose another title company for the lender’s policy would always be more expensive and serve no purpose. Based on the CREC’s position statement, it would seem that we should tell each buyer that they may choose to hire a different title company for the lender’s policy than the one being used by the seller, but doing so would add hundreds of dollars to the cost of closing.
The exception to that is when the buyer is planning to flip the property (with or without making improvements) to another buyer and has an agreement with their preferred title company to “hold open” the policy for the resale, thereby saving the cost of a new title search and title policy.
There’s another aspect of this matter which I have written about before which deserves repeating, and that’s the topic of “affiliated business arrangements” (ABAs). A service provider is considered an ABA when the brokerage has an ownership or profit-sharing interest in the provider. Virtually all the big brokerages and some smaller ones have their own mortgage companies, title companies and other service providers which bring additional revenue to the brokerage. Their ABAs must be disclosed to their clients, so they are aware that the use of one of the services (which the broker will invariably recommend) benefits the brokerage financially.
Golden Real Estate does not have any affiliated business arrangements, because I feel that having such relationships introduces an
This ethical issue is amplified when the managing broker takes note (as he surely does) of which agents are “playing the company” game by “capturing” clients for their mortgage company and their title company.
Before I launched Golden Real Estate in July 2007, I was with two large brokerages which had those captive service providers, and it was clear to me that the managing broker was favoring associates with high “capture rates” for their affiliated businesses.
That is not only unethical, it constitutes “something of value” given to the associate in return for a service provider referral.
BTW, you’ll notice that we list Wendy Renee below as our “in-house loan officer.” She rents desk space in our storefront, but we earn nothing from the business she does.
In Memoriam: Our Free Moving Truck Has Bit the Dust
That law is the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (RESPA). It was written to penalize persons or entities that are paid a fee (i.e., a kickback) for referring a client to a settlement service provider when the transaction includes a federally backed loan. As a practical matter, it has been assumed to apply to all real estate transactions.
RESPA’s primary focus is on lenders, to prohibit them from paying an “unearned” fee to a real estate broker, for example, in return for referring buyers to them. An “unearned” fee is one paid for doing nothing more than making the referral. If the person performs actual work, such as an attorney assisting on the transaction, that’s not a kickback, because it was earned
In this week’s column, I want to focus on the selection of title companies, since they, unlike those other service providers, are involved in virtually every real estate transaction.
Although the contract to buy and sell real estate allows the buyer to specify whether the seller or the buyer is to select the title company and pay for the owner’s title policy, it is a
I was reminded of this requirement that the seller actively participate in the selection of the title company when I was brought to task for my January 16th column in which I referred to First Integrity Title as our “preferred title company” because of a new service that they offer regarding HOA documents. Indeed, a complaint was filed against me by another service provider for violating the rule that the client, not the broker, must select the title company.
That complaint was dismissed by the Real Estate Commission’s investigator, but it inspired me to remind our readers — which includes real estate brokers and other service providers as well as prospective buyers and sellers — that this rule exists and that we should be diligent about obeying it. It’s not that hard to comply.
Henceforth, we will make it a practice to provide each client with a handout which, in addition to listing two or more lenders, inspectors, title companies and other settlement service providers, states in bold type (as suggested in Position Statement #18), that “the decision to hire a specific settlement service provider is completely at the Consumer’s discretion, and Consumers are not limited to service providers listed by the Broker.”
Back in 2004, I took delivery of our first box truck. After putting 150,000 miles on it, we bought a second truck and put another 100,000 miles on it. For a while, we actually had two trucks, and they got a lot of use, mostly by non-profits like BGoldN, the International Rescue Committee, Golden Chamber of Commerce, and Family Promise of Greater Denver. At right and below are pictures of volunteers from the Golden Relief Group who used the truck to transport donated furniture and furnishings for resettled refugees from Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere.
At right is our final truck, a 2012 Ford E350, which we purchased after it had logged 120,000 miles for Penske. The engine needs to be replaced at a cost of over $10,000, and it also needs a brake job.
We really enjoyed having a free moving truck to offer buyers and sellers, but you will notice in the box at left that now we only
provide free moving boxes and packing materials — still a nice benefit. We have decided not to replace the truck but to rent U-Haul trucks when the need arises.
We are sorry that so many worthy nonprofits are losing access to a free box truck, but I’m hopeful they’ll find another company which can lend them one. Many self-storage companies have free box trucks for clients to use. Maybe one of them will do what we did.
Just Listed: 5-Bedroom Brick Ranch in SE Denver
$665,000
Don't miss out on this well maintained brick ranch with finished basement at 2677 S. Newport Street in southeast Denver, with easy access to I-25 and the Denver Tech Center. The 66-acre Bible Park, with its biking and walking trails, including the Highline Canal trail, is a half block away, along with numerous ballfields, tennis courts, exercise stations and a new playground. Inside on the main level there are hardwood floors throughout and a living room with brick fireplace, 3 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms. A sliding patio door takes you outside to the covered patio and a large, dog friendly backyard with artificial turf area. The basement is finished and features 2 more bedrooms, a nicely updated 3/4 bathroom and a recreation room with a second wood-burning brick fireplace. The front yard and backyard are both professionally xeriscaped. The home has an updated kitchen, double-pane windows, a newer roof, and a high efficiency furnace. More information including photos and a narrated video tour are on the MLS and at www.GRElistings.com. Listing agent Chuck Brown will be holding it open this Saturday, Feb. 8th, from 11 am to 1 pm. Or call him at 303-885-7855
Anythink ventures into the virtual
New Metaverse branch o ers access and areas to explore
BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Anythink Libraries operates seven different branches across Adams County, but its newest branch isn’t anywhere on Earth.
Instead, it’s a virtual branch located in the metaverse.
“During the pandemic, we all switched our lives to be a bit more online, with Zoom calls and Google Meets and all that,” said Robbie Wroblewski, communications manager for Anythink Libraries. “So Anythink decided that there was a lot of opportunity there. We needed to create for people a place to observe and learn and interact with the community, but in an online area.”
Anythink o cially launched Anythink World, the library’s virtual branch, Jan. 23. It’s available free of charge to all Anythink library cardholders.
Cardholders and the curious can access the new branch from the library district’s website, anythinklibraries.org. e new online o ering is designed to change how libraries engage with their customers and the communities they serve. ere are two online areas. First is e Island, a wide open explorable area with meeting pods to talk with friends and interact with surroundings. It includes online versions of the Anythink in Motion mobile library as well as a digital version of artist Jayson Fann’s interactive sculpture Spirit Nest, which is located
outside at the Anythink Wright Farms location.
“I had to log in there yesterday morning because I needed to look at something, and there were four kids there and they were running around and playing hideand-seek,” Wroblewski said. “We don’t even have formal games set up there, and they were playing, so I think there is something bound to be born out of that.”
e Island will o er di erent adventures, scavenger hunts and gaming activities for users to explore.
e second area is the Campus, meant to be more of a traditional library. Anythink plans to host book clubs and other virtual meetings there. Anythink is hosting a virtual tour at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7 accessible via the library’s website.
“What we are trying to do is o er some of the Anythink experience people have in person. We’re trying to bring that to the virtual realm,” Wroblewski said. “ is is about access as much as it is about innovation. We have a population in Adams County that cannot make it to their local library for all of these programs. It might have to do with disability or neurodivergence that keeps them from being a part of these things. So this space gives a new opportunity for people to access the services the library o ers.”
Visitors can’t read books on the virtual site but can access links that load on their computer’s browser, including the Anythink book catalog, job listings and events.
“When people think of libraries, they think of books, right?” he said. “Unfortunately, right now we just dont’ have the server space for us to be able to do that, along with all the licensing that we’d have
to do to get E-books in there. But they do have links in both the Campus and the Island that to out to our catalogs. So if you see something that inspires you to read a book, you can click right through and go nd it.”
Everything is built using the Unreal Engine, behind video games like Fortnight, Skyrim and Elder Scrolls. e Island streams its signal via the Eagle 3b streaming service, while e Campus relies on Framer. Regular users can customize the
look of their on-screen avatars, choosing their gender, body shape and adding customizations and embellishments like hats, costumes and what not.
Like other metaverses, Anythink World is accessible on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
“We want people to get into this space, we want them to explore it and see who they can utilize it in their everyday lives,” Wroblewski said.
LEAP proporciona asistencia de energía para bajar los gastos de calefacción.
H- PRIL 23, communit kings of the fice. gation ement y EDNESD S ( ND O S URD S) FRO RCH 5 FRO 6-8:30 P. . series of classes designed to giv members a peek into the inner or dams Count Sheriff’s Of r Sce In esti n Tac ics i ea m ul t r I & af c nforc omm n Policing ing f i e Emergenc ndered what of the Sheriff’s our chance! re. more info and ave you ever wo t’s like to be part Office? Here’s y nd uch, uch o S a the R Code for apply. i c to
LEAP helps eligible Coloradans pay a portion of their winter home heating costs.
LEAP ayuda a los residentes elegibles de Colorado a pagar una parte de sus gastos de calefacción de invierno.
cdhs.colorado.gov/LEAP
A glance inside Anythink World’s Island, where users can adapt their avatar, explore the area and play games with other users. COURTESY
RTD adds detective bureau to enhance safety
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Regional Transportation District will now investigate all crime that happens on the agency’s property, through a newly created and fully functioning detective bureau.
e in-house detective bureau will enable RTD to directly perform investigations on thefts and any other criminal activity that may occur on its property – “anything that a ects the ability of our customers to ride the system safely,” said Brian Cousineau, the agency’s RTD-PD Commander, who will lead the detective bureau. “We want people to utilize our services and feel safe doing so.”
Cousineau said in a news release that the new bureau will help RTD pursue prosecuting personal crimes, involving any threat or use of force, and includes felony-level narcotics violations across
the agency’s system or property.
As the bureau works out protocols for working with the eight counties in the agency’s district, the department will be able to le its own cases and carry out investigations on related cases that occur in di erent municipalities. As an example, Cousineau pointed to last year’s copper wire thefts from RTD tracks.
“If a copper wire theft happens in Aurora on our property and the wire was valued at $900, that’s a misdemeanor crime; we would hand it over to the Aurora Police Department,” Cousineau said. “Let’s say the same $900 copper wire theft happened a week later in ornton, and then a week later at Lakewood. e bene t of having our own detective bureau is that we can assign our detectives to all those cases. is changes the crime from being a misdemeanor to a felony-level crime.”
A year of regaining footing for RTD
Expanded security, new police chief top CEO’s agenda for 2025
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Regional Transportation District CEO Debra Johson sees 2025 as a year when the agency stabilizes itself, regains some commuter routes and expands security for passengers who rely on trains and buses to get them to their home or jobs.
As far back as 2021, RTD began looking at expanding the number of the agency’s police o cers who could patrol bus and train stops, she said.
“It was a time of civil unrest…and there was some angst on how RTD t into that safety question,” Johnson said last week. “It really was an issue on how we can make our passengers lives better.”
Beginning May 5, RTD’s Transit Police Department will be sta ng bus and train stops 24/7 to enhance the safety of RTD’s frontline employees and customers. Last year, RTD launched a Transit Police – or RTD-PD – cadet program for full-time college students in the Denver metro area pursuing a criminal justice or related degree to boost the ranks of transit o cers. is e ort was enhanced by the addition of K-9 units across the agency’s 2,342-square-mile district, including transportation hubs such as Denver Union Station, the A Line to the airport and other commuter and rail lines and buses, the agency said.
Passengers can also access a transit watch app on their telephones that can
alert o cers to problems on board a bus or train, Johnson said. “ ese are some of the elements can reap bene ts for passengers and employees,” Johnson said.
RTD is also working to select a new police chief to oversee security efforts, Johnson said. e agency has hired a national search rm to get a new chief soon, she said.
RTD’s previous police chief, Joel Fitzgerald, was let go even though the transit agency has refused to tell the public why, according to media reports. Colorado’s Peace O cer Standards and Training Database, a function of the Colorado Attorney General’s O ce, says Fitzgerald was “terminated for cause,” according to Channel 9 news.
Fitzgerald had been on leave since early July, but RTD has refused to answer questions about Fitzgerald’s departure and declined to say if he quit or was red, Channel 9 states.
Laser focused
At least a dozen top o cials have left RTD since 2021, according to Colorado Public Radio. Gov. Jared Polis has alluded to the agency’s management woes, calling for more budget transparency, accountability and better governance from RTD, according to Denver’s CBS News.
Johnson said the agency is “laser focused” on attracting good employees and retaining others. She said the agency is hiring more operators for its buses and
commuter trains, adding recruiting fairs held last year has added reliable employees to RTD’s ranks.
RTD management is also at the bargaining table negotiating with the rank-andle for good competitive wages, she said.
“At RTD we value our employees, and we want us to be market competitive. We weren’t market competitive before and now we want to keep making that competitiveness the case,” Johnson said.
RTD is also returning its services to preCOVID levels, adding more frequency to 15 bus routes across its service area. e agency also reinstated the 82-bus route to Denver and DIA and added a new connector route to Denver’s Art District, John-
son said.
However, there are no plans yet to complete RTD’s North Line, Johnson said. e rst 13 miles of the proposed 18.5mile line provides service from Union Station through Denver, Commerce City, Northglenn, ornton, and eventually North Adams County. e remaining 5.5 miles will provide service to SH 7/162nd Avenue Station.
“We don’t have a funding source (to complete the North Line) at this current time,” Johnson said. She added RTD cannot fund, on its own, a passenger rail system for the Front Range. “We will likely have to partner with others…to provide Front Range passenger rail,” she said.
RTD expanding its police force to include detectives that will investigate crime across the systems’ routes and stations. COURTESY RTD
SEE SAFETY, P7
Should state plan for Colorado River cutbacks?
Snow in southwestern Colorado has been scarce this winter. Archuleta County recently had a grass re. A store manager at Terry’s Ace Hardware in Pagosa Springs tells me half as many snowblowers have been sold this winter despite new state rebates knocking 30% o the price of electric models.
Near Durango, snowplows normally used at a subdivision located at 8,000 feet remain unused. At Chapman Hill, the intown ski area, all snow remains arti cial, and it’s not enough to cover all the slopes. A little natural snow would help, but none is in the forecast.
Snow may yet arrive. Examining data collected on Wolf Creek Pass since 1936, the Pagosa Sun’s Josh Kurz found several winters that procrastinated until February. Even when snow arrived, though, the winter-end totals were far below average.
All this suggests another subpar runo in the San Juan and Animas rivers. ey contribute to Lake Powell, one of two big water bank accounts on the Colorado River. When I visited the reservoir in May 2022, water levels were dropping rapidly. e manager of Glen Canyon Dam pointed to a ledge below us that had been underwater since the mid-1960s. It had emerged only a few weeks before my visit. at ledge at Powell was covered again after an above-average runo in 2023. e reservoir has recovered to 35% of capacity.
Will reservoir levels stay that high? Probably not, and that is a signi cant problem. Delegates who wrangled the Colorado River Compact in a lodge near Santa Fe in 1922 understood drought, at least somewhat. ey did not contemplate the global warming now underway.
In apportioning the river ows, they also assumed an average 17.5 million acre-feet at Lee Ferry, the dividing line between
BIG PIVOTS
Procrastination is the silent thief of accomplishment. It’s that gentle nudge in our minds whispering, “You can do it tomorrow.” Before we know it, tomorrow becomes next week, next month, or even never. But here’s the hard truth: Tomorrow always begins today. e choices we make today, what we prioritize, what we push through, and what we avoid, lay the foundation for the outcomes we experience tomorrow.
It’s not just about being productive; it’s about embracing a proactive life over a reactive one. Proactivity means taking control of the present and responding swiftly and e ectively to opportunities and challenges. On the other hand, a reactive mindset often leaves us scrambling, either overreacting to situations or, worse, underreacting and achieving nothing of signi cance.
So, why do we procrastinate? Why do we knowingly defer tasks, especially the ones we know are important?
e roots of procrastination. One reason is a lack of con dence. Sometimes, a task feels daunting or overwhelming. Maybe we don’t know where to start, or we fear failure. We worry about disappointing others or ourselves. is men-
the upper and lower basins. It’s a few miles downstream from Glen Canyon Dam and upstream from the Grand Canyon. Even during the 20th century the river was rarely that generous. is century it has become stingy, with average annual ows of 12.5 million acre-feet. Some worry that continued warming during coming decades may further cause declines to 9.5 million acre-feet.
Colorado State University’s Brad Udall and other scientists contend half of declining ows should be understood as resulting from warming temperatures. A 2024 study predicts droughts with the severity that formerly occurred once in 1,000 years will by mid-century become 1-in-60 year events.
How will the seven basin states share this diminished river? Viewpoints di er so dramatically that delegates from the upper- and lower-basin states loathed sharing space during an annual meeting in Las Vegas as had been their custom. Legal saber-rattling abounds. A critical issue is an ambiguous clause in the compact about releases of water downstream to Arizona and hence Nevada and California. Might Colorado need to curtail its diversions from the Colorado River? at would be painful. Roughly half the water for cities along the Front Range, where 88% of Coloradans live, comes from the Colorado River and its tributaries. Transmountain diversions augment agriculture water in the South Platte and Arkansas River valleys. e vast majority of those water rights were adjudicated after the compact of 1922 and hence would be
vulnerable to curtailment. Many water districts on the Western Slope also have water rights junior to the compact.
In Grand Junction last September, Andy Mueller, the general manager of the Colorado River Water Conservation District, the primary water policy agency for 15 of Western Slope counties, made the case that Colorado should plan for compact curtailments — just in case. e district had earlier sent a letter to Jason Ullmann, the state water engineer, asking him to please get moving with compact curtailment rules.
Eric Kuhn, Mueller’s predecessor at the district, who is now semi-retired, made the case for compact curtailment planning in the Spring 2024 issue of Colorado Environmental Law Review. Kuhn’s piece runs 15,000 words, all of them necessary to sort through the tangled complexities. Central is the compact clause that species the upper basin states must not cause the ow at Lee Ferry, just below today’s Glen Canyon Dam, to be depleted below an aggregate of 75 million acre-feet on a rolling 10-years basis. at threshold has not yet been met — yet. Kuhn describes a “recipe for disaster” if it is. He foresees those with agriculture rights on the Western Slope being called upon to surrender rights. He and Mueller argue for precautionary planning. at planning “could be contentious,” Kuhn concedes, but the “advantages of being prepared for the consequences of a compact curtailment outweigh the concern.”
Last October, after Mueller’s remarks in Grand Junction, I solicited statements from Colorado state government. e Polis administration said it would be premature to plan compact curtailment. e two largest single transmountain diverters of Colorado River Water, Denver Water and Northern Water, concurred.
Tomorrow starts today
tal chatter, often called “head trash,” convinces us that avoiding the task is easier than confronting it. But here’s the irony: avoidance only magni es the challenge. e longer we wait, the bigger and scarier the task seems.
Another reason is fear of confrontation or discomfort. Often, procrastination involves situations that require us to face di cult truths or deliver uncomfortable messages. Whether o ering a harsh critique or delivering bad news, it feels easier to delay than confront. But avoidance doesn’t solve the issue; it simply prolongs the discomfort.
Finally, we procrastinate because we’re human. We’re wired to seek comfort and avoid pain. Tackling a challenging or unpleasant task doesn’t align with our natural instincts, so we nd excuses to delay. e cost of delay. Procrastination is an accomplishment killer. It creates a snowball e ect where undone tasks pile up, adding stress and reducing our ability to focus on what matters most. Over time, it erodes our con dence, making even
Recently, I talked with Jim Lochhead. For 25 years he represented Colorado and its water users in interstate Colorado River matters. He ran the state’s Department of Natural Resources for four years in the 1990s and, ending in 2023, wrapped up 13 years as chief executive of Denver Water. Lochhead, who stressed that he spoke only for himself, similarly sees compact curtailment planning as premature.
“It just doesn’t make sense to go through that political brain damage until we really have to,” he said. “Hopefully we won’t have to, because (the upper and lower basins) will come up with a solution.”
Lochhead does believe that a negotiated solution remains possible, despite the surly words of recent years.
“We need to gure out ways to negotiate an essentially shared sacri ce for how we’re going to manage the system, so it can be sustainable into the future,” he said. is, he says, will take cooperation that so far has been absent, at least in public, and it will also take money.
Of course, with God on his side, maybe President Donald Trump will issue yet another executive order, this one ordering deep, deep snows – and cooler temperatures — in the Colorado River Basin for the duration of his term. I wouldn’t count on it, though. ree of the seven basin states — California, Colorado, and New Mexico – voted against him.
Instead, we’ll have to slog along. e runo in the Colorado River currently is predicted to be 81% of average. It ts with a theme. Unlike the children of Lake Wobegone, most runo s in the 21st century have been below average.
Allen Best publishes Big Pivots, a journal chronicling Colorado’s energy and water transitions. ose stories can be found at BigPivots.com
small tasks feel insurmountable.
e truth is procrastination doesn’t just rob us of productivity; it robs us of peace. at nagging feeling in the back of your mind, the one reminding you of what you still haven’t done, drains energy and focus.
e Solution: Start Today. One of the greatest life lessons I’ve learned is this: tackle the hardest task rst. If there’s a frog you have to kiss, kiss it quickly. e longer you wait, the bigger and uglier that frog becomes. By addressing the most di cult item on your to-do list rst, you free yourself from its weight. Your mind becomes clearer, and the sense of accomplishment fuels momentum for the rest of the day.
Here’s the reality: the hardest tasks are rarely as bad as we imagine. e fear of starting is often worse than the task itself. When we choose to face challenges head-on, we discover that we’re more capable than we thought.
Living Proactively. Living a proactive life means making deliberate choices to act rather than delay. It means embracing the discomfort of today to build the success of tomorrow.
Imagine how di erent your life could be if you adopted this mindset consis-
tently. What if every time you faced a difcult decision, you acted immediately? What if you tackled tasks today instead of pushing tasks to the future? You’d experience less stress, more con dence, and greater control over your life.
Tomorrow starts today. Always remember that. e path to accomplishment isn’t paved with intentions or plans for the future; it’s built with actions taken in the present.
Whatever is on your list, whether it’s a task you’ve been avoiding, a decision you’ve delayed, or a conversation you’ve dreaded, take the rst step now. Don’t let procrastination rob you of the success and peace you deserve.
As you look at your to-do list today, remember: the frog isn’t going to get any prettier. I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when we live life with the philosophy that tomorrow begins with today, it really will be a better-than-good life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.
Allen Best
El Paso county tops list for the speeding citations
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Colorado State Patrol has, once again, pinpointed the state’s ve counties that attracted the most speeding citations in 2024 and two are right here in the Denver-metro area.
Troopers say drivers in El Paso County
SAFETY
e RTD-PD had aimed to establish a fully functioning detective bureau to le criminal cases in jurisdictions throughout its service area prior to the copper wire thefts in 2024. e thefts “were de nitely a catalyst for us to get the bureau established more quickly,” Cousineau said. Cousineau anticipates the RTD-PD detective bureau will be fully operational by the end of the second quarter in 2025, according to the news release.
“One of the biggest lifts that we have is to get with all eight counties to le cases to each of their expectations. is will also include establishing secure systems for eling and setting up protocols for writing probable cause a davits.”
On Jan. 6, the RTD-PD internally pro-
SHAHAN
got the most speeding tickers last year with 2,161. Douglas and Je erson counties are ranked number two and three respectively, with Douglas collecting 862 citations followed by Je erson with 831. Rounding out the top ve is Fremont County with 727 and Mesa County with 684, according to a CSP news release.
El Paso, Douglas and Je erson counties have remained the top ve counties for speeding citations for the past four years, the CSP states. is is the third consecutive time in four years that Fre-
moted Transit Police o cers Fabian Rodriguez to detective lieutenant and Brian Beary to detective on its force, according to the news release.
Rodriguez has served as an o cer for 27 years, with most of his career at the Adams County Sherri ’s O ce where he supervised general investigations and the North Metro Drug Task Force. Rodriguez’s career includes working with federal organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Agency. Beary has served in law enforcement for 18 years. Prior to joining RTD-PD, he was a criminal investigator for the Colorado Department of Revenue for six years, the news release states.
A third detective, Craig Tangeman, joined the force on Jan. 21. Tangeman has worked in law enforcement for over 26 years, with 19 years dedicated to investi-
Norma Jean (Dinges) Shahan
March 9, 1938 - January 16, 2025
On January 16, 2025, Norma Jean Shahan, a loving wife and mother of four children, passed away at the age of eighty-six. Norma was born on March 9, 1938, in Hays, Kansas. On September 12, 1953, she married Marvin Allen Shahan in Brighton, CO. ey raised three sons, Michael, Dennis, and Roger, and one daughter, Kelly Westerkamp. Norma loved her family as they were everything to her.
siblings, Alois Dinges, Shirley Windholz, and Robert Dinges, survived by her two children, Michael Shahan and Kelly Westerkamp; in-laws, Christine Shahan and Darrell Westerkamp; as well as several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, greatgreat-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews and a mention to Kitty, the stray cat that came into her life and turned her into a cat lover.
Douglas, Je erson among the top counties for speeders
mont County has entered the top ve and this is the rst time in four years for Mesa County. e top ve roadways in 2024 for speeding charges by highest speeding intervals issued by the CSP were:
I-70, I-25 followed by state highways 50, 24 and 285. e top four roadways have held their respective top positions for six consecutive years, the CSP states. Highway 285 broke into the top ve in 2022 and has held that spot for the last two years.
Col. Matthew Packard, chief of the
gative operations for Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce. He has conducted federal and state investigations and managed over 200 police o cers, federal agents, and volunteers as part of proactive in vestigative operations, the news release states. Tangeman is experienced in con ducting major case investigations having been assigned to the Metro Gang Task Force, the Safe Streets Fugitive Unit, and the Child Exploitation and Human Traf cking Task Force.
CSP, said drivers in 2025 need to lighten up on the accelerator and be more aware of their speeding habits in the new year. “ e temptation to speed may be all around you, but you won’t get out of a ticket if you violate the law and get pulled over, “ Packard said in a press re lease. “Our goal isn’t to go out and ticket everyone; we want drivers to do the right thing and drive like a trooper is a passen ger in their vehicle. Citations are meant to correct poor driving choices, and you are literally in the driver’s seat to determine the likelihood of a tra c stop.”
Cousineau who has worked for RTD-PD for almost two years, according to RTD. In Cousineau’s 28 years working in law enforcement, 14 have been dedicated to supervisory and investigative functions, including working on narcotics task forc es, supervising detectives, and oversee ing investigations ranging from high-level misdemeanors to homicide crimes and internal a airs.
detectives to the department later in 2025, RTD says. e RTD-PD is also in the process of developing an evidence room to follow the proper chain of custody to hold evidence needed to prosecute cases. Once established, this will mitigate reliance on other police agencies to retain evidence needed to prosecute criminal activity that occurred on RTD property. e agency states in the news release that RTD-PD have taken deliberate strides to grow the force to better support community and employee safety as part of the agency’s “Welcoming Transit Environment” strategic initiative.
e agency is budgeted to add two more
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; sons, Dennis and Roger; her father, Alois Dinges; her mother, Lorretta Dinges; and her
She is in heaven, resting with the angels and
e RTD-PD force stands at approxi mately 90 o cers today and began the year with recruits in the police academy. e agency is budgeted for 150 sworn of cers in 2025 – a signi cant growth from when the department had 19 o cers on the force in August 2019, the news release states.
PRESERVING THE MAGIC
BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Over 50 years since Pong burst onto the gaming scene and 30 years since the Sony PlayStation changed the trajectory of the eld, small independent arcades featuring scores of vintage games continue to thrive throughout the Denver metro area.
In many cases, unassuming exteriors give way to dimly lit interiors with memorabilia-adorned walls, locally sourced libations, and, of course, the ashing lights, exclamative sound e ects and controller clatter of the arcade’s reserve of classic games. ere’s something, perhaps, a bit more impersonal when the venue gets scaled up in a corporate chain setting.
To its credit, many Denver-area locales have managed to preserve the magic of these establishments.
Jason Ungate, owner of e Tabletop Tap in Englewood, credits the
thriving local arcade scene with the renaissance of interest in classic games.
“ e Denver-metro area has a handful of very unique arcades which all o er something a little bit di erent,” Ungate said. “( e) 1Up (Arcade Bar) has a thorough lineup of arcade games that invoke the feeling of the ‘80s via their classic game lineup. Akihabara (Arcade and Bar) gives locals the chance to experience a Japanese-themed spot with candy cabs and other games you’d never see in an American arcade.
“We at Tabletop Tap marry board games with video games and console games, a mishmash of multiple nerdy elements,” Ungate continued. “ ese places and more o er unique experiences, both for the generations that may have grown up with them, and the younger generations who are just encountering them for the rst time.”
While Akihabara and 1Up both keep Westminster’s gaming community satiated, the metro area abounds
with unique shops in other locales as well. Up in the foothills, Wild Game Entertainment Experience in Evergreen has everything from bowling to arcade games, while Blizzard Mountain Pinball specializes in the kind of wizardry e Who immortalized in 1969.
Over in Arvada, dueling Olde Town arcade establishments Secret Level and Super Zoom Bang Bang cater to di erent demographics; the former includes a bar and is generally open a couple of hours later than its counterpart, which primarily caters to younger kids and doubles as a toy story.
Holly Nikolich owns the Colorado Pinball Pub in Littleton (with another location in Monument) and opened the shop with her husband as an outgrowth of sorts of their annual pinball festival, the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown and Gameroom Expo, which is entering its 21st year this year.
The Tabletop Tap’s decor features nods to the past, like this classic Pizza Hut light fixture. COURTESY OF THE TABLETOP TAP
rado Pinball Pub as a year-long home for the folks who enjoy our annual pinball festival.
“ e once-a-year festival brings together the pinball and gaming community from across Colorado, neighboring states, and beyond,” Nikolich continued.
A longtime love of games seems to be a common thread with shopkeepers.
Ungate said he and his wife, Kristin, had been collecting classic games like Joust, Battlezone and Frogger, and eventually set out to combine their love of classic games with their love of board games in what would become Tabletop Tap.
ARCADES
“We’re long-timers in the pinball and gaming world and are proud to bring the arcade and whiskey community together with the Colorado Pinball Pubs,” Nikolich said. “My husband and I opened Colo-
“We wanted to create a place that was clean and welcoming, but also full of nostalgia for the ‘80s and the ‘90s,” Ungate said. “We o er over 250 board games, a small but rotating collection of arcade games.”
Ungate also said that he, like many other arcade owners, seeks to foster community at the arcade, even going so far as to host community nights such as a monthly Mario Kart tournament, a “nerdy book club,” and a video game book club.
he says caters to both gaming veterans and young people looking for community.
Velasquez also said that the advent of arcade chains — such as Round One in Littleton, Immersive Gamebox in Den-
ver and Main Event in Highlands Ranch, ornton, Colorado Springs and Windsor — has allowed corporations to gain a foothold in the industry, though he posits that these establishments are more focused on alternative revenue streams
“(Arcade) chains are more focused on making money in other ways, like through drinks and food sales,” Velasquez said. “I think local shops put more of an emphasis on the games and keeping up the games over time.”
Nevertheless, the independent arcade scene in Denver seems to be thriving, and hopefully won’t be ceding way to its corporate competition anytime soon.
Channel 3 Retro Gaming Center in Lakewood o ers classic arcade fun for all ages. COURTESY OF CHANNEL
Tetris is just one of the many arcade games o ered at The Tabletop Tap. COURTESY OF THE TABLETOP TAP
COURTESY OF THE TABLETOP TAP
The 1985 arcade classic Gauntlet at The Tabletop Tap. COURTESY OF CHANNEL 3 RETRO GAMING CENTER
EGG LAWS
“We know that the Highly Pathogenic Avian In uenza outbreak has impacted egg pricing and availability since it rst began in 2022,” Robak wrote in an email. “Prices hit an all time high between November 2022 and February 2023, in January 2023, a dozen eggs cost $4.83. In November 2024, the average price was $3.65. Additionally, other states that have cage-free laws, notably California, were hit with a wave of HPAI detections in the past two weeks.”
According to United States Department of Agriculture data, Weld has been especially hard-hit by the bird u outbreak. e USDA began tracking bird u outbreaks among poultry operations in Jan. 2022, showing 145 million birds infected with the disease nationally across 1,464 outbreaks since 2022.
Colorado had 42 H5N1 bird u outbreaks reported between April 2022 and Dec. 2024 a ecting 9.7 million birds across 17 counties: Arapahoe, Bent, Boulder, Delta, Je erson, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Mo at, Montrose, Morgan, Pitkin, Prowers, Pueblo, Routt, Weld and Yuma.
Weld County accounted for a third of all H5N1 bird u outbreaks in Colorado,
with 14 of the state’s 42 reported outbreaks. Weld County also accounted for 98.5% of all Colorado infected birds reported in that time period, 9.6 million. Most of were reported in commercial egg facilities.
Larimer and La Plata counties each reported four outbreaks, infecting 102 birds in Larimer County and 120 in La Plata. Delta County had a single outbreak with 66,500 infected birds.
Among Metro Denver Counties, Arapahoe County reported two outbreaks affecting 30 birds, Boulder County reported one outbreak a ecting 600 birds and Je erson County reported two outbreaks a ecting 60 birds.
By comparison, Minnesota had the greatest number of outbreaks during that time period, with 184 instances of the virus a ecting 9 million birds. Iowa had the greatest number of birds that tested positive, with 29.9 million birds infected across 63 outbreaks.
Minnesota requires cage-free eggs. Iowa does not.
West Virginia, Rhode Island, Louisiana and Hawaii all had the least number of outbreaks, two. e number of infected birds from those states totaled 508, all of them from non-egg producing broods. Puerto Rico reported a single outbreak during that same time, infecting 380 non-egg producing birds.
On Jan. 1, Colorado saw the full rollout of its cage-free law. However, the change is not to blame for rising costs and supply issues.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUMMIT DAILY
1. TELEVISION: What is the name of the spaceship on the TV drama “Fire y”?
2. GEOGRAPHY: What is the only tropical rainforest in the United States?
3. LITERATURE: What is the title of author Oscar Wilde’s only complete novel?
4. MOVIES: What is the name of the killer in the movie “Silence of the Lambs”?
5. SCIENCE: What are the three branches of science?
6. AD SLOGANS: Which fast-food chain’s slogan is, “What you crave”?
7. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many NFL teams are named after animals (including birds)?
8. U.S. STATES: In which state is the U.S. Naval Academy located?
9. ASTRONOMY: How many constellations are visible from Earth?
10. ART: What is the Japanese art of arranging owers called?
TrIVIa
Answers
1. Serenity.
2. El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico.
3. “ e Picture of Dorian Gray.”
4. Bu alo Bill.
5. Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Formal Sciences.
6. White Castle.
7. 14 (Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks).
8. Maryland.
9. 88.
10. Ikebana.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
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BRIEFS
Saturday pancakes
e Fort Lupton Public Library hosts a simple pancake breakfast on the last Saturday of each month in the library’s community rooms. is month’s pancake breakfast runs from 9:30-10:30 a.m. February 22. e library is located at 370 S. Rollie Ave. e event is combined with the library’s weekly reading program, so families can ll up with a good meal while listening to popular cult classic children’s stories that never get old. Breakfast starts at 9:30 and read-aloud starts at 10 a.m. Every last Saturday of the month.
All ages are welcome.
Weld announces the Annual Youth Advancement Scholarship
e Weld County Sheri ’s Ofce will award its annual scholarship to one deserving Weld County student who intends on pursuing a degree in higher education. e scholarship will be a one-time $500.00 award.
To be eligible, the applicants must be a high school graduation senior or current college / university student, a citizen of Weld County and have been accepted at an accredited university or college.
quire replacement to ensure accurate measurement and efciency of water use. e majority of the meters in the City are reaching their useful life prompting this program. e replacement of the meters is entirely free of charge to residents.
According to the city, the current meters continue to work properly, however, some meters do not transmit the data from the meter to the system. e meter must then be read manually.
Accounts with meters that can’t be manually read, will be estimated. If the actual amount consumed is lower than the estimated amount previously billed, then the bill will be adjusted to re ect the higher usage. When the new meter is connected, it will re ect the correct usage moving forward.
e applicant must submit a completed application form via U.S. Mail by April 11.
Mail the form to the Weld County Sheri ’s O ce – Scholarship Committee, Attn: Rosy Soto, 1950 “O” Street, Greeley, CO 80631
e scholarship application must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation by a teacher or counselor from the applicant’s school and an o cial certi ed scholastic transcript. All applicants must also submit a 500-word essay on the following question:“What do you see as the future for law enforcement in our nation?”
Contractors will notify residents when they will replace meters in their vicinity. For houses with meters that are outside and accessible, the contractors will let residents know when they plan to replace the meter. For houses that have inaccessible meters that are inside, in a basement or a crawl space, residents should contact Public Works to schedule an appointment.
More information can be found here- https://www.fortluptonco. gov/1240/Water-Meter-Replacement-Program.
e competitive selection process is based GPA, student’s need, and community involvement. Finalists will be selected by the Weld County Sheri ’s Ofce scholarship committee and will be informed by April 28, 2025.
Fort Lupton Chamber luncheon
e Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce will host its February luncheon from 11:30 a.m. tol 1 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.
Tickets are $20 for members who register early. Register online at https://business.fortluptonchamber.org/events/ Details/fort-lupton-chamberof-commerce-february-luncheon-1270058.
the community. Visit the e ort’s website at https://actsofconnectionweld. org/ for more information.
Blessings in a Bag
Fort Lupton’s Backpack Program helps schoolchildren in need with a backpack of healthy food. It’s an all-volunteer program and needs volunteers. If interested in volunteering or donating, call 303-718-4440.
City committees need members
Fort Lupton is looking for several community-minded individuals to ll openings on several boards that advise the City Council and help run city programs.
e Cemetery Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee, Golf Committee, the Library Board, Public Safety Committee and the Senior Advisory Committee have openings. e openings consist of a two-year term running through the end of 2024. If you or anyone you know is interested in serving on a committee, please complete a committee application at https://www. fortluptonco.gov/966/I-WantTo-Apply-for-a-Committee on the city’s website.
Help for vets
Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 400-2226 or visit: www.weldgov.com/go/radon.
Silver Sneakers
Silver Sneaker Yoga is available three times per week, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.
Free short-term radon test kits
Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last). Test kits can be requested online at www.drhomeair.com/ weld, according to a statement. Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 400-2226 or visit: www.weldgov.com/go/radon.
Volunteers needed
Co ee with a cop Fort Lupton Police set aside one morning each month to share a few cups of co ee with residents.
Co ee with a Cop is a chance for police to meet with community members and discuss many topics including parking regulations on the 1st Wednesday of each month at Hard Bean Co ee 107 Dales Place. e next scheduled event runs from 8-9:30 a.m. March 5 at Dales Co ee.
Co ee with a Cop is an easy way to get to know the men and women who serve our community and let them know about the issues that matter most to you. Remember that you can always reach our police department through our non-emergency number 720-652-4222.
Tickets for non-members and for walk-in guests are $25. is month’s lunch is being presented by North Range Behavioural Health.
Fort Lupton replacing water meters
e City of Fort Lupton has hired Northern Colorado Contractors to replace the water meters in town.
Quali ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has several power chairs, scooters, and electric wheelchairs available.
e VA o ers urgent care services to eligible veterans at VA medical facilities or several in-network urgent care clinics that are closer to home.
To nd the closest facility to you, visit www.va.gov/ nd-locations or call 720-600-0860.
Quali ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, provide handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become quali ed listeners.
Visit quali edlisteners.org/ volunteerapp and ll out the form or call 720-600-0860.
Water aerobics
e city’s water aerobics class meets from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and ursdays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Call 303-857-4200.
Community Reach Center launches “warm line”
Quali ed Listeners also needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries, and veterans to be trained to become quali ed listeners.
Donation time
Acts of Connection seeks to lessen loneliness
Weld County and North Range Behavioral Health are working to target social isolation and build personal connections throughout the county with the Acts of Connection Initiative.
According to the group, four of ve adults younger than 24 and seniors older than 66 all reported feeling lonely at some point.
e campaign encourages everyone to nd ways to connect with others, build relationships, and promote a stronger sense of well-being and a culture of connection for all.
e Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank is asking for donations of canned fruits and nuts, varieties of dry pasta and pasta dinners, peanut butter and canned meat such as tuna (including the pouches).
Other potential donations could include chicken, Vienna sausages, spam and salmon. e bank also needs personal items, such as toiletries and baby needs.
Drop o donations at the food and clothing bank’s back door, 421 Denver Ave., on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-857-1096.
Community Reach Center is o ering a warm line (303-2806602) for those who want to talk to mental-health professionals about anxiety, lack of sleep and strained relationships, among other topics. e professionals can facilitate referrals to other programs for assistance. e line is not for crisis intervention. ose feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services (1-844-493-8255) or text 38255 or visit the Behavioral Urgent Care Center, 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster. Brighton’s community intake location is at 1850 E. Egbert St., on the second oor. It’s open from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.
Water aerobics
e city’s water aerobics class meets from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and ursdays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Call 303-857-4200.
Over time, meters age and re-
e group has sponsored a website at https://actsofconnectionweld.org/ to survey members of each group, o er some tips to help and take pledges to connect to the community and connect with other members of
Free short-term radon test kits
Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last). Test kits can be requested online at www.drhomeair.com/ weld, according to a statement.
Alcoholics Anonymous
e Brighton chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 147 S. Second Place, especially for Brighton and Fort Lupton. Meeting times are 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, noon and 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 6 p.m. ursdays and 9 p.m. Fridays.
SCHOOL CHOICE
exible resources are better positioned to research options, meet application deadlines and provide transportation, giving their children a signi cant advantage.” is concept, which Welner called “parental e cacy,” can lead to a system in which the “rich get richer” and the “poor get poorer.”
“In a fair system, we wouldn’t want to allocate educational opportunities to kids based on parents’ education, wealth or ability to work the system,” he said.
School choice racial diversity across Denverarea districts
Student enrollment in Denver Public Schools and Adams 12 Five Star Schools re ects their communities’ racial and cultural diversity. DPS reports that 74% of its students are from communities of color, and Adams 12 shows a similar trend, with more than 70% identifying as Hispanic, Black, Asian or multiracial. In contrast, Je erson and Douglas County public schools are far less diverse. In Je erson County, students of color make up just 40% of the population, while in Douglas County, the gure drops to 25%. ese disparities grow even larger in private schools, where white students account for more than 75% of enrollment in both districts, leaving Hispanic, Black and Asian students signi cantly underrepresented.
Charter schools, intended to be a more accessible alternative to private schools, show mixed results. In Je erson County, some charter schools re ect the diversity of public schools, but in Douglas County, many charter schools have predominantly white student populations, resembling private schools more than the communities they serve.
Yet, Dan Schaller, president of the Colorado League of Charter Schools, said that it’s important to “zoom out” and look at the aggregate picture when analyzing the demographics of charter schools rather than just focusing on individual situations.
According to statewide data, charter schools serve a higher percentage of students of color and English language learners than traditional public schools, Schaller said.
He also referred to a new report from the Keystone Policy Center that highlights the strong academic performance of Colorado charter schools, particularly their ability to support students and recover from pandemic-related challenges.
Barriers to access
Even charter schools, which are publicly funded, sometimes create hurdles for families. Welner points to practices such as narrow enrollment windows, inperson registration requirements or the need for extensive application materials, all of which disproportionately disadvantage lower-income families.
“Sometimes it’s sneaky; sometimes it’s just careless,” he says of these barriers. “But it does play out in ways that disadvantage some students and advantage others in a way that’s entirely predictable in terms of who’s advantaged and who’s not.
“For students with disabilities, there are a whole host of additional issues about nding a school that has the resources that the child needs and that is willing to accept the child,” he continued. “If you’re talking about voucher systems, private schools have enormous discretion on which students to accept, and we see that with other school choice systems as well. Some schools will provide the resources that a child needs to address the child’s disabilities, and some schools will either deliberately or carelessly, simply not have those resources available.”
Transportation is another critical factor. Private and charter schools rarely provide busing, limiting access for families without exible schedules or reliable vehicles.
Schaller acknowledged but challenged the perception that charter schools lack diversity or focus only on select populations.
“Charter schools are, generally speaking, re ective of the communities in which they are founded,” he said, adding that they often intentionally serve underserved populations.
Seeking solutions
Welner suggests that addressing inequities in school choice requires thoughtful system design with equity at its core.
Federal magnet school programs, he says, are a successful example, promoting socioeconomic and racial diversity through transportation assistance and weighted lotteries.
Charter networks like DSST Public Schools (formerly known as Denver Schools of Science and Technology) are often highlighted for their success in improving academic performance and graduation rates.
According to DSST’s website, its eight campuses, which serve middle and high school students, are committed to “ensuring that the outcomes of DSST students are high-achieving and do not correlate with any predictable social or cultural factors.”
BEST OF THE BEST VOTING STARTS
Colorado families have benefited from a diversity of school choice options for more than 30 years.
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Adams County Treasurer
$0.00($4,069,211.51)$12,617,856.62$0.00
$0.00($8,029,817.52)$4,727,097.29$0.00
$3.92($981,089.91) $329.73$0.00
$0.00($14,919,908.93)$21,626,769.37$0.00
$3.26($1,738,405.34)$2,004,899.59$0.00
$0.00($165,362.33)$3,650,008.29$0.00
$0.00($8,234,455.51)$650,737.05$0.00
$0.00($7,156,177.98)$114,435,336.60$0.00
$0.00$413,584.34$0.00
$0.00($1,101,805.75)$760,127.63$0.00
$0.00($295,919.48)($86,203.41)$0.00
$0.00($1,896,429.95)($7,706.52)$0.00
$0.00($2,879,481.68)($1,258,867.54)$0.00
Adams County Treasurer
Semi Annual Report For Six Months
Adams County Treasurer
Adams County Treasurer Semi Annual Report For Six Months
Adams
County Treasurer Semi Annual Report For Six Months
City of Thornton-Water Resources
The City of Thornton, Colorado, requests separate bids for the leasing of certain shares in the following ditch companies for the 2025 Irrigation Season: Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company (FRICO Barr Division) and Burlington Ditch and Reservoir Company (Burlington Barr Division). Bids will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on March 11, 2025, in the
the Bromley Park Metropolitan District No. 2 of Adams and Weld Counties, Colorado.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 1-13.5-501, C.R.S., that an election will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time two (2) Directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms to May 8, 2029.
Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms are available and can be obtained from Lisa Jacoby, the Designated Election Official for the Bromley Park Metropolitan District No. 2, c/o McGeady Becher Cortese Williams P.C., 450 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80203, Phone: 303-592-4380, email: ljacoby@specialdistrictlaw.com and on the District’s website at https://bromleyparkmd2.com/.
The Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form or letter is to be submitted to the Designated Election Official no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m. MST) on February 28, 2025, sixty-seven (67) days prior to the regular election. Affidavits of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate must be submitted to the Designated Election Official by the close of business (5:00 p.m. MST) on March 3, 2025, sixty-four (64) days prior to the regular election.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, pursuant to Section 1-13.5-1002, C.R.S., that applications for and return of absentee voters’ ballots may be obtained from / filed with Lisa Jacoby, the Designated Election Official of the District (at the address/phone/email address noted above), between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. until the close of business on the
Tuesday immediately preceding the election (Tuesday, April 29, 2025).
BROMLEY PARK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2
By: /s/ Lisa Jacoby Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3624
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 6, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
CONVOCATORIA PARA NOMINACIONES §§ 1-13.5-501; 1-13.5-303, C.R.S.
A QUIEN CORRESPONDA y, en particular, a los electores elegibles del Distrito de Greatrock North Water and Sanitation, condado de Adams, Colorado (el “Distrito”).
POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que habrá una elección el 6 de mayo de 2025, entre las 7:00 a. m. y las 7:00 p. m. Se elegirán tres (3) directores para prestar servicio hasta mayo de 2029. Los electores elegibles de los Distritos interesados en formar parte de la junta directiva pueden obtener un formulario de candidatura propia y aceptación del Representante electoral designado (“DEO”) en 2154 E. Commons Ave., Suite 2000, Centennial, CO 80122 o por teléfono, llamando al 303-858-1800 de lunes a viernes, de 8:00 a. m. a 5:00 p. m. Los formularios de candidatura propia y aceptación también están disponibles en línea en https://whitebearankele.com/.
La fecha límite para presentar un formulario de candidatura propia y de aceptación es al final de la jornada laboral (5:00 p. m.) del viernes 28 de febrero de 2025. Si el DEO
determina que un formulario de candidatura propia y aceptación no es suficiente, el formulario puede modificarse antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 28 de febrero de 2025. Se recomienda
presentarlo antes, ya que después de la fecha límite no se podrá corregir ningún formulario incompleto. Se debe presentar una declaración jurada de intención por escrito para ser un candidato no registrado en la oficina del DEO hasta el final de la jornada laboral (5:00 p. m.) el lunes 3 de marzo de 2025.
ADEMÁS, SE AVISA que se puede pedir información al DEO de cómo obtener una boleta de voto en ausencia y se deben presentar al DEO las solicitudes para una boleta de voto en ausencia a más tardar al final de la jornada laboral (5:00 p. m.) el 29 de abril de 2025.
DISTRITO GREATROCK NORTH WATER AND SANITATION
Por: Representante electoral designado Legal Notice No. BSB3616
First Publication: February 6, 2025 Last Publication: February 6, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TODD CREEK VILLAGE PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly, to the eligible electors of Todd Creek Village Park and Recreation District (“District”) of Adams County, Colorado.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the District will conduct a regular election on the 6th day of May, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, (3) three directors will be elected for a 4-year term and (1) one director will be elected for a 2-year term.
In order to be a candidate for one of the director positions, a qualified individual must submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form. Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the Board of Directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the District’s Designated Election Official (DEO): Courtney Linney, DEO clinney@spencerfane.com
Spencer Fane LLP 1700 Lincoln Street, Ste. 2000 Denver, CO 80203 Phone: 303-839-3778
The Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form must be returned to the Designated Election Official by close of business (5:00 p.m. MST) on Friday, February 28, 2025. The form should be emailed to clinney@spencerfane. com. If the designated election official determines that a self-nomination and acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form at any time prior to the close of business on the day of the deadline.
Affidavit of Intent To Be A Write-In-Candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the Designated Election Official by the close of business on Monday, March 3, 2025.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an application for an absentee ballot may be filed with the Designated Election Official, at the contact information referenced above, no later than the close of business on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
TODD CREEK VILLAGE PARK
AND RECREATION DISTRICT Courtney Linney, Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3620
First Publication: February 6, 2025 Last Publication: February 6, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
§§ 1-13.5-501; 1-13.5-303, C.R.S.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the eligible electors of the Case Farms Metropolitan District, City of Brighton, Adams County, Colorado (the “District”).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, two (2) directors will be elected to serve until May 2027 and three (3) directors will be elected to serve until May 2029. Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the board of directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form from the Designated Election Official (“DEO”) at 2154 E. Commons Ave., Suite 2000, Centennial, CO 80122 or via telephone at 303-858-1800, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms are also available online at https://whitebearankele.com/.
The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form is the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Friday, February 28, 2025. If the DEO determines a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form is not sufficient, the form may be amended prior to 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2025. Earlier submittal is encouraged as the deadline will not permit curing of an insufficient form after this date and time. An Affidavit of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate must be submitted to the office of the DEO by the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Monday, March 3, 2025.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that information on obtaining an absentee ballot may be obtained from the DEO, and applications for an absentee ballot must be filed with the DEO no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on April 29, 2025.
CASE FARMS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By: Designated Election Official
CONVOCATORIA PARA NOMINACIONES
ARTÍCULOS 1-13.5-501; 1-13.5-303, C.R.S.
A QUIEN CORRESPONDA y, particularmente, a los electores elegibles del Distrito Metropolitano de Case Farms, ciudad de Brighton, condado de Adams, Colorado (el “Distrito”).
POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO que se hará una elección el 6 de mayo de 2025 entre las 7:00 a. m. y las 7:00 p. m. En ese momento, se elegirán dos (2) directores que prestarán servicio hasta mayo de 2027 y se elegirán tres (3) directores que prestarán servicio hasta mayo de 2029. Los votantes elegibles del Distrito que estén interesados en formar parte de la junta directiva pueden obtener un Formulario de candidatura propia y de aceptación del representante electoral designado (“DEO”) en 2154 E. Commons Ave., Suite 2000, Centennial, CO 80122 o
por teléfono, llamando al 303-858-1800 lunes a viernes de 8:00 a. m. a 5:00 p. m. Los formularios de candidatura propia y aceptación también están disponibles en línea en https:// whitebearankele.com/.
La fecha límite para presentar un formulario de candidatura propia y de aceptación es al final de la jornada laboral (5:00 p. m.) del viernes, 28 de febrero de 2025. Si el DEO determina que un formulario de candidatura propia y aceptación no es suficiente, el formulario puede modificarse antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 28 de febrero de 2025. Se recomienda presentarlo antes, ya que después de la fecha límite no se podrá corregir ningún formulario incompleto. Se debe presentar una declaración jurada de intención por escrito para ser un candidato no registrado en la oficina del DEO hasta el final de la jornada laboral (5:00 p. m.) el lunes 3 de marzo de 2025.
ADEMÁS, SE AVISA que se puede pedir información al DEO de cómo obtener una boleta de voto en ausencia y se deben presentar al DEO las solicitudes para una boleta de voto en ausencia a más tardar al final de la jornada laboral (5:00 p. m.) el 29 de abril de 2025. DISTRITO METROPOLITANO DE CASE FARMS
Por: Representante
February 6, 2025 2025
PUBLIC NOTICES
pueden obtenerse a partir/ presentarse ante Lisa Jacoby, el Funcionario Electoral Designado del Distrito (en la dirección/ teléfono/ correo electrónico señalados más arriba), en el horario entre las 8:00 a.m. y 5:00 p.m.
hasta el horario de cierre del martes inmediatamente anterior a la elección (martes 29 de abril de 2025).
BROMLEY PARK DISTRITO METROPOLITANO NO. 2
Por____ /s/ Lisa Jacoby Funcionario Electoral Designado
Legal Notice No. BSB3625
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 6, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR GREATER BRIGHTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of the Greater Brighton Fire Protection District of Adams and Weld Counties, Colorado.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a regular election will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, two (2) eligible directors will be elected to serve a four-year term.
Self-Nomination and Acceptance forms are available from LaRae Szafraniec, the Designated Election Official for the District, at 500 S. 4th Avenue, Brighton, Colorado, or email: lszafraniec@brightonfire.org.
Self-Nomination and Acceptance forms must be filed with the Designated Election Official for the District at the above email address not less than 67 days prior to the election (Friday, February 28, 2025, at 4:00 p.m).
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots may be filed with the Designated Election Official of the District at the above address during normal business hours (8 a.m. and 4 p.m.), until the close of business on the Tuesday immediately preceding the election (Tuesday, April 29, 2025). All absentee ballots must be returned to the Designated Election Official by 7:00 p.m. on election day.
GREATER BRIGHTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
By: /s/ Jeff Jacobucci,
President, Board of Directors
CONVOCATORIA DE CANDIDATURAS PARA GREATER BRIGHTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
A QUIEN PUEDA INTERESAR y particularmente a los electores de Greater Brighton Fire Protection District del condado de Adams y Weld, Colorado.
POR LA PRESENTE SE INFORMA de que se hará una elección regular el martes 6 de mayo de 2025, entre las 7:00 a. m. y las 7:00 p. m.
En ese momento, se elegirán dos (2) directores para servir un término de cuatro años. Los formularios de autocandidatura y aceptación están disponibles en LaRae Szafraniec, el funcionario electoral designado para el distrito, en 500 S. 4th Avenue, Brighton, Colorado, o por correo electrónico: lszafraniec@ brightonfire.org . Los formularios de autocandidatura y aceptación deben presentarse ante el Funcionario electoral designado para el Distrito en la dirección de correo electrónico mencionada arriba no menos de 67 días antes de la elección (viernes 28 de febrero de 2025 a las 4 p. m.).
SE INFORMA ADEMÁS de que las solicitudes de votos ausentes pueden presentarse ante el Funcionario electoral designado del Distrito en la dirección indicada arriba durante el horario de atención habitual (8 a.m. y 4 p. m.), hasta el cierre de la jornada laboral del martes inmediatamente anterior a la elección (martes, 29 de abril de 2025). Todos los votos ausentes deben devolverse al Funcionario electoral designado antes de las 7:00 p. m. del día de la elección.
GREATER BRIGHTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
Por: /s/ Jeff Jacobucci, presidente del consejo de administracion
Legal Notice No. BSB3618
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 6, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
§§ 1-13.5-501; 1-13.5-303, C.R.S.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the eligible electors of the Greatrock North Water and Sanitation District, Adams County, Colorado (the “District”).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, three (3) directors will be elected to serve until May 2029. Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the board of directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form from the Designated Election Official (“DEO”) at
of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate must be submitted to the office of the DEO by the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Monday, March 3, 2025.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that information on obtaining an absentee ballot may be obtained from the DEO, and applications for an absentee ballot must be filed with the DEO no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on April 29, 2025.
GREATROCK NORTH WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT
By: Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3615
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 6, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of the Platte River Ranch South Metropolitan District of Adams County, Colorado (the District).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 32-1-804.1
C.R.S., that an election will be held on the 6th day of May 2025, between the hours of 7:00am and 7:00pm. At that time, three directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms and one director will be elected to serve a 2-year term.
Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms can be downloaded from the District’s website at www.prrsmd.org or can be obtained from Charles Wolfersberger, the District Manager and Designated Election Official for the District, 8354 Northfield Blvd, Building G Suite 3700 Denver, CO 80238 (720) 541-7725.
The Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form or letter is to be submitted to the Designated Election Official or his agent not later than 5:00pm on Friday February 28, 2025. A Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form that is not sufficient may be amended once at any time prior to 3:00pm on Friday February 28, 2025. Affidavits of Intent to be a Write-in Candidate must be submitted to the Designated Election Official or his agent by the close of business on Monday March 03, 2025.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN pursuant to Section 1-8-104 C.R.S. that applications for mail-in ballots may be filed with the Designated Election Official of the District, 8354 Northfield Blvd, Building G Suite 3700 Denver, CO 80238, between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm until the close of business on the Friday immediately preceding the regular election (Friday, May 02, 2025), except that if the applicant wishes to receive the mail-in ballot by mail, the application shall be filed no later than the close of business on the 7th day before the election (Tuesday, April 29, 2025).
PLATTE RIVER RANCH SOUTH METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
By: /s/ Charles Wolfersberger Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3607
First Publication: February 6, 2025 Last Publication: February 6, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Summons and Sheriff Sale
Public Notice DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, 80601
Plaintiff: STAR POINT CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC., a Colorado non-profit corporation.
Defendants: AVERY J. COX; PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES LLC; ADAMS COUNTY TREASURER; UNKNOWN TENANT(S) IN POSSESSION.
Case Number: 2024CV31160
Attorneys for Plaintiff: THE DUPONT LAW FIRM, LLC
Stephane R. Dupont, #39425 Address: PO Box 1073, Castle Rock, CO 80104 Phone Number: (720) 644-6115
Email: sdupont@dupontlawco.com
SHERIFF’S COMBINED NOTICE OF SALE AND RIGHT TO CURE AND REDEEM
Under a November 20, 2024, Order on Amended Motion for Default Judgment of Foreclosure and Order and Decree of Foreclosure in the above- captioned action, I am ordered to sell certain real property as follows:
Lienee(s)
J. Cox
of Lien being foreclosed
of
Amount of Foreclosure Judgment entered November 21, 2024 $11,086.12
Description of property to be foreclosed: Condominium Unit 106 in Condominium Building 6, Star Point Condominiums, according to the Condominium Map thereof recorded May 24, 1984, at Reception No. 505896 and as defined and described in the Condominium Declaration for Star Point Condominiums recorded August 29, 1983, in Book 2784 at Page 174, County of Adams, State of Colorado.
Also known as: 8701 Huron Street, Apt. 6-106, Thornton, CO 80260
THE PROPERTY TO BE FORECLOSED AND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN.
THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
The covenants of Plaintiff have been violated as follows: failure to make payments on said indebtedness when the same were due and owing.
NOTICE OF SALE
THEREFORE, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that I will, at 9:00 o’clock A.M., on March 20, 2025, at the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601 sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property described above, and all interest of said Grantor and the heirs and assigns of said Grantor, for the purpose of paying the judgment amount entered herein, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.
First Publication: January 23, 2025
Last Publication: February 20, 2025
Name of Publication: Brighton Standard Blade
NOTICE OF RIGHTS
YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY BEING FORECLOSED, OR HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS OR SUFFER CERTAIN LIABILITIES PURSUANT TO COLORADO LAW AS A RESULT OF SAID FORECLOSURE. YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REDEEM SAID REAL PROPERTY OR YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CURE A DEFAULT UNDER THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED. A COPY OF THE STATUTES WHICH MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS ARE ATTACHED HERETO.
A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE PURSUANT TO §38-38-104, C.R.S., SHALL BE FILED WITH THE OFFICER AT LEAST FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRST SCHEDULED SALE DATE OR ANY DATE TO WHICH THE SALE IS CONTINUED.
A NOTICE OF INTENT TO REDEEM FILED
PURSUANT TO §38-38-302, C.R.S., SHALL BE FILED WITH THE OFFICER NO LATER THAN EIGHT (8) BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE SALE.
The name, address and telephone number of each of the attorneys representing the holder of the evidence of the debt is as follows:
Stephane R. Dupont
The Dupont Law Firm, LLC PO Box 1073
Castle Rock, CO 80104
Phone: 720-644-6115
E-mail: sdupont@dupontlawco.com
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Date: December 19, 2024
By: Gene R. Claps
Adams County Sheriff Adams County, Colorado
Statutes attached: §§38-37-108, 38-38-103, 38-38-104, 38-38-301, 38-38-304, 38-38-305, and 38-38-306, C.R.S., as amended.
Legal Notice No. BSB3572
First Publication: January 23, 2025
Last Publication: February 20, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Misc. Private Legals
Public Notice OTICE OF FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE GRANTING A GAS FRANCHISE TO PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO
NOTICE is hereby given that at the regular meeting of the Town Board of Trustees of the Tov\111 of Lochbuie, State of Colorado, to be held on Febmary 18, 2025, at the hour of 6:30 P.M. at 703 Weld County Road 37, Lochbuie, Colorado 80603, Public Service Company will request the Town Board of Trustees adopt a measure to approve an ordinance granting a gas to Public Service Company of Colorado, entitled:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOCHBUIE GRANTING A GAS FRANCHISE TO PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO, ITS AFFILIATES, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, THE RIGHT TO USE THE STREETS WITHIN THE TOWN TO FURNISH, SELL, TRANSPORT, TRANSMIT AND DISTRIBUTE GAS TO THE TOWN AND TO ALL RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN, GRANTING THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE, CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, LOCATE, MAINTAIN, OPERATE AND EXTEND INTO, WITHIN AND THROUGH THE TOWN ALL FACILITIES REASONABLY NECESSARY TO FURNISH, SELL, TRANSMIT AND DISTRIBUTE GAS WITHIN AND THROUGH
THE TOWN AND FIXING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEREOF.
The franchise to be applied for will be for a term of twenty (20) years. Public Service Company of Colorado shall collect a fee from a surcharge upon Town residents who are customers of the Company.
The Town of Lochbuie Board of Trustees will conduct a public hearing at its regular meeting on February 18, 2025 for further consideration as to its adoption and passage, as provide by law; said Ordinance was introduced and read for the first time at a regular meeting of said Board of Trustees held on February 4, 2025.
The meeting will be held at Lochbuie Town Hall, located at 703 Weld County Road 37, Lochbuie Colorado 80603, will be open to the public and may be attended in person or with a remote attendance option at the above date and time. Information to attend the meeting via remote teleconferencing technology platform will be posted on the Town web site at www.lochbuie.org at least 24 hours before the start of the meeting. Interested persons may contact Town Clerk, Heather Bowen, for further information.
Dated at Greeley, Colorado, this 19th day of December, 2024.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO
BY /s/HansRodvik
Hans Rodvik Area Manager
Legal Notice No. BSB3555
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 13, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address:
1100 JUDICIAL CENTER DRIVE, BRIGHTON, CO, 80601
Plaintiff(s) GEORGE KLINE
v. Defendant(s) ANTHONY JOSEPH KLINE
Case Number: 2023CV31238
Division: W
AMENDED MOTION FOR PUBLICATION FOR SERVICE
Plaintiff moves the Court for an Order of Service of the Alleged or Presumed Defendant Anthony Joseph Kline by Publication, and states:
1. This is a Complaint Under Rule 105.
2. Plaintiff is the holder and in possession of real property situated in Adams County Colorado. with a legal description of : Lot 346, Montecillo Subdivision, County of Adams, State of Colorado, commonly known as: 9012 Rampart St. 346 Federal Heights, CO. 80260, and personal property, to wit a mobile home situated on the real property to wit: Mobile Home, Title No:12M339410
Serial No:K12260CDT80637 YEAR: 1968
3. The Attorney for the Plaintiff has diligently tried numerous ways to contact, locate, and serve the party, but they have failed.
4. Multiple diligent attempts by RAMOS PROCESS SERVICE have been attempted even to find Anthony Joseph Kline’s last known address is located.
5. Ms. Ramos has also attempted to do a “Skip Trace” to locate Mr. Anthony Kline and the attempt has led to no other serviceable information.
6. The Plaintiff requests that an Amended Motion for Publication be allowed in order to “serve” the Defendant, Anthony Joseph Kline and continue this matter so not to hold up the process of this case, and that the summons shall include the Legal Description of the property.
7. The Court has previously granted a Motion to Publish but upon the request to enter a Judgment, the Court has requested that the published summons contain the Legal Description of all Property, including this a publication pursuant to Rule 105 of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
8. Diligent efforts to locate the Defendant, Anthony Joseph Kline, for personal service has not been completed, per attached Affidavit of Diligent Efforts for Service.
Wherefore, for the above reasons the Plaintiff moves for this Motion for Publication be granted.
Respectfully submitted this 21st day of January 2025.
*/s/Kent L. Freudenberg
Kent L. Freudenberg, #22246
Attorney for Plaintiff
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby state that on this 21st day of January 2025, a true and correct copy of the foregoing was served via e-file through ICCES, or submitted via U.S. Postal System, prepaid, to the following:
Via USPS:
Anthony Joseph Kline 9012 Rampart St. 346 Federal Heights, CO. 80260
*/s/rrf
Rachell Ruiz Freudenberg, Paralegal/LLP
*In accordance with C.R.C.P. 121 § 1-26, a printed copy of this document with original signature(s) is maintained at The Law Office of Kent L. Freudenberg, Attorney at Law.
Legal Notice No. BSB3619
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 6, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Notice to Creditors
Public Notice
Adams County Court 1100 Judicial Center Dr. Brighton, CO 80601
In the Matter of the Determination of Heirs or Devisees or Both and of Interests in Property of:
Daniel Schuler, deceased, Jaime Ruth Schuler, deceased
Case Number: 2025PR30041
Lucas Buckley, Atty. Reg. # 38651
Jeremiah James, Atty. Reg. # 53087
Hathaway & Kunz, LLP Cheyenne, WY 82003
Phone Number: 307-634-7723
E-mail: lbuckley@hkwyolaw.com
jjames@hkwyolaw.com FAX Number: 307-634-0985
NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION TO INTERESTED PERSONS AND OWNERS BY DESCENT OR SUCCESSION PURSUANT TO § 15-12-1303, C.R.S.
To all interested persons and owners by descent or succession (List all names of interested persons and owners by descent or succession): James Glen Schuler II, Laura Jean Madruga and Michael J. Schuler
Property 1
Description of Property One-half (1/2) interest
Location of Property Township 3 South, Range 66 West, 6th P.M.
Section 12: NW¼, Less and Except a 10.15 acre tract of land, being more particularly described in that certain Rule, Order, Judgment and Decree (Civil Action No. 84-CV-0479), dated the 2nd day of January, 1985, and recorded the 21st day of January, 1985 in Book 2959 at Page 356 in the office of the County Clerk and Ex-Officio Register of Deed for the County of Adams, State of Colorado and Less and Except a 10.35 acre tract of land, being more particularly described in that certain Rule, Order, Judgment and Decree (Civil Action No. 90CV1892, Division C) dated the 27th day of August, 1991, and recorded the 13th day of September, 1991 in Book 3816 at Page 220 in the office of the County Clerk and Ex-Officio Register of Deed for the County of Adams, State of Colorado.
Containing 139.50 acres, more or less
(Hereinafter “Mineral Estate”)
The hearing on the petition will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be continued:
Date: April 7, 2025
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Courtroom or Division: 1 Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, Colorado 80601
Note:
• You must answer the petition on or before the hearing date and time specified above.
• Within the time required for answering the petition, all objections to the petition must be in writing, filed with the court and served on the petitioner and any required filing fee must be paid.
• The hearing shall be limited to the petition, the objections timely filed and the parties answering the petition in a timely manner. If the petition is not answered and no objections are filed, the court may enter a decree without a hearing.
Legal Notice No. BSB3626
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 20, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of ELDON E. LORSHBOUGH; A/K/A ELDON EUGENE LORSHBOUGH, Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 30819
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before June 6, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
DIANE LINVILLE
Personal Representative
c/o Gitkind Law Firm. 801 Main St. -suite 230 Louisville. CO 80027
Legal Notice No. BSB3609
PUBLIC NOTICES
the Court has jurisdiction.
Notice: Colorado Revised Statutes §14-10123, provides that upon the filing of a Petition for Allocation of Parental Responsibilities by the Petitioner and Co-Petitioner, or upon personal service of the Petition and Summons on the Respondent, or upon waiver and acceptance of service by the Respondent, an automatic temporary injunction shall be in effect against both parties until the Final Order is entered, or the Petition is dismissed, or until further Order of the Court. Either party may apply to the Court for further temporary orders, an expanded automatic temporary injunction, or modification or revocation under §14-10-125, C.R.S.
A request for genetic tests shall not prejudice the requesting party in matters concerning allocation of parental responsibilities pursuant to §14-10-124(1.5), C.R.S. If genetic tests are not obtained prior to a legal establishment of paternity and submitted into evidence prior to the entry of the final order, the genetic tests may not be allowed into evidence at a later date.
Automatic Temporary Injunction – By Order of Colorado law, you and the other parties:
1. Are enjoined from molesting or disturbing the peace of the other party; and
2. Are restrained from removing the minor child(ren) from the state without the consent of all parties or an Order of the Court modifying the injunction; and
3. Are restrained, without at least 14 days advance notification and the written consent of all other parties or an Order of the Court, from cancelling, modifying, terminating, or allowing to lapse for nonpayment of premiums, any policy of health insurance or life insurance that provides coverage to the minor child(ren) as a beneficiary of a policy.
If you fail to file a Response in this case, any or all of the matters above, or any related matters which come before this Court, may be decided without further notice to you.
Respectfully submitted September 17, 2024.
/s/Alan Davis
Alan Davis, Esq., 49870
The Law Office of Emily A. Jones
Attorney for Petitioner
Legal Notice No. BSB3564
First Publication; January 9, 2025
Last Publication: February 6, 2025
Publisher: Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel
Public Notice
DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601
Child: Dawn Sky Tatman
Respondents: Amanda Neill, David Tatman
Special Respondents: Patrice Neill, Jason Neill
Case Number: 23JV30168 Div: S
ORDER OF ADVISEMENT
NOTICE TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENTS,: Amanda Neill and David Tatman
YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED that the Petitioner, has filed a Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship which now exists between you and the above-named child(ren);
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that the Motion has been set for hearing in Division S of the District Court in and for the County of Adams, Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, Colorado, on the 3rd day of March, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at which time the Petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that: 1) That the child(ren) was adjudicated dependent or neglected; 2) That an appropriate treatment plan has not reasonably been complied with by the parent or has not been successful; 3) That the parents are unfit; 4) That the conduct or condition of the parent or parents is unlikely to change within a reasonable time; no less drastic alternative to termination exists, and 6) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
the right to have legal counsel represent you in all matters connected with the Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship.
If you cannot afford to pay the fees of legal counsel, you are advised that the Court will appoint legal counsel to represent you at no cost to you upon your request and upon your showing of an inability to pay.
If you have any questions concerning the foregoing advisement, you should immediately contact either your legal counsel or the Court.
Done and signed on: January 28, 2025
BY THE COURT:
District Court Judge/Magistrate
Legal Notice No. BSB3622
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 6, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO
Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601
Child: Fiona Locke
Respondents: Nichelle Rose Locke, Justin Maler
Case Number: 24JV30071
Div: D
ORDER OF ADVISEMENT
NOTICE TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENTS,: Nichelle Rose Locke, Justin Maler
YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED that the Petitioner, has filed a Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship which now exists between you and the above-named child(ren);
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that the Motion has been set for hearing in Division D of the District Court in and for the County of Adams, Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, Colorado, on the 21st day of March, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., at which time the Petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that: 1) That the child(ren) was adjudicated dependent or neglected; 2) That an appropriate treatment plan has not reasonably been complied with by the parent or has not been successful; 3) That the parents are unfit; 4) That the conduct or condition of the parent or parents is unlikely to change within a reasonable time; no less drastic alternative to termination exists, and 6) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the parent or parents have surrendered physical custody for a period of six months and during this period have not manifested to the child(ren), the court or to the person having physical custody a firm intention to assume or obtain physical custody or to make permanent legal arrangements for the care of the child(ren); and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the identity of the parent of the child is unknown and has been unknown for three months or more and that reasonable efforts to identify and locate the parent in accordance with section 19-3-603 have failed; and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
If a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister of the child is requesting guardianship or legal custody of the child such request must be filed within twenty days of the filing of this motion.
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that you have the right to have legal counsel represent you in all matters connected with the Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship.
If you cannot afford to pay the fees of legal counsel, you are advised that the Court will appoint legal counsel to represent you at no cost to you upon your request and upon your showing of an inability to pay.
If you have any questions concerning the foregoing advisement, you should immediately contact either your legal counsel or the Court.
Done and signed on: January 28, 2025
named above, GREETINGS: Bobbiejo Fabrizio (AKA Bobbie Fabrizio)
You are hereby notified that a verified petition
has been filed in the above named Court in which it is represented to the Court that said child are alleged to be dependent and neglected; for the reasons set forth more fully in said petition, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for greater certainty.
You are further notified that the parent-child legal relationship may be terminated by this action, if prayed for in the petition.
You are further notified that the Court has set said petition for hearing on the 14th day of February, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. You are hereby notified to be and appear, at said time, before this Court located at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601.
Witness my hand and seal of said Court this 24th day of January, 2025.
Alana Percy Clerk of the District Court
Legal Notice No. BSB3608 First Publication: February 6, 2025
Fort Lupton Press
(2) directors will be elected to serve until May 2029. Eligible electors of the Districts interested in serving on the boards of directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form from the Designated Election Official (“DEO”) at 2154 E. Commons Ave., Suite 2000, Centennial, CO 80122 or via telephone at 303-858-1800, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms are also available online at https://whitebearankele.com/.
The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form is the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Friday, February 28, 2025. If the DEO determines a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form is not sufficient, the form may be amended prior to 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2025. Earlier submittal is encouraged as the deadline will not permit curing of an insufficient form after this date and time. An Affidavit of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate must be submitted to the office of the DEO by the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Monday, March 3, 2025.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that information on obtaining an absentee ballot may be obtained from the DEO, and applications for an absentee ballot must be filed with the DEO no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on April 29, 2025.
WYNDHAM HILL METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 1 & 3
By: Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. FLP 6311
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 6, 2025
Publisher: Fort Lupton Press
Public Notice
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of the Bromley Park Metropolitan District No. 2 of Adams and Weld Counties, Colorado.
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-1183
INTRODUCED BY: CHRIS CERETTO
A ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF FORT LUPTON ACCEPTING THE DEDICATION OF A 42.5-FOOT WIDE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY PARALLEL WITH THE SECTION LINE OF COUNTY ROAD 25 AND 55 FEET NORTH OF THE SOUTH SECTION LINE OF COUNTY RD 18 , CONTAINING 5.24 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, COUNTY OF WELD, STATE OF COLORADO.ALONG THE FRONTAGE OF THE CITY OF THORNTON PROPERTY, LUPTON MEADOWS LAND CO DIV NO 3 CASE NO. RES22-0005 THE EAST ½ OF SECTION 24, TOWNSHIP 2 NORTH, RANGE 67W OF THE SIXTH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO.
WHEREAS, City of Fort Lupton, Colorado (the “City”) and the City of Thornton (“Thornton”), have this day filed with the City of Fort Lupton, Colorado (the “City”), its dedication of certain real estate, which Dedication is hereinabove set forth:
WHEREAS, the City finds that said Dedication is desirable and necessary; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that city council hereby accepts said dedication, and orders that the instrument of dedication be recorded in the recorder’s office of the county of weld, state of Colorado, and said described real estate is hereby declared open and dedicated pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-68-101, et seq.
THIS RIGHT OF WAY IS CREATED AND GRANTED THIS 21ST DAY OF JANUARY 2025.
INTRODUCED, READ, AND PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND ORDERED PUBLISHED this 21st day of January 2025.
PUBLISHED in the Fort Lupton Press the 6th day of February 2025.
FINALLY READ BY TITLE ONLY, PASSED AND ORDERED PUBLISHED BY TITLE ONLY this __ day of _ 2025.
PUBLISHED BY TITLE ONLY the _ day of __ 2025.
EFFECTIVE (after publication) the ____ day of __ 2025.
CITY OF FORT LUPTON, COLORADO
Zo Hubbard, Mayor
with the clerk of this Court within 21 days after this Summons is served on you to participate in this action.
If you were served outside of the State of Colorado or you were served by publication, you must file your Response with the clerk of this Court within 35 days after this Summons is served on you to participate in this action.
You may be required to pay a filing fee with your Response. A response form, as well as other forms that may be required in this matter may be found at: www.courts.state.co.us by clicking on the “Self Help/Forms”
The
OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the parent or parents have surrendered physical custody for a period of six months and during this period have not manifested to the child(ren), the court or to the person having physical custody a firm intention to assume or obtain physical custody or to make permanent legal arrangements for the care of the child(ren); and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the identity of the parent of the child is unknown and has been unknown for three months or more and that reasonable efforts to identify and locate the parent in accordance with section 19-3-603 have failed; and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
If a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister of the child is requesting guardianship or legal custody of the child such request must be filed within twenty days of the filing of this motion.
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that you have
BY THE COURT: District Court Judge/Magistrate
Legal Notice No. BSB3623
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 6, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
STATE OF COLORADO IN THE DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ADAMS Division D No. 24JV30259
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO IN THE INTEREST OF:
Girl Fabrizio A Child(ren), and Concerning
Bobbiejo Fabrizio (AKA Bobbie Fabrizio), Michael Zamora Respondents:
S U M M O N S
To the parents, guardian, or other respondents
ATTEST: Maricela Peña, City Clerk
Approved as to form: Andy Ausmus, City Attorney
Legal Notice No. FLP1198
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 6, 2025
Publisher: Fort Lupton Press
Metropolitan Districts
Public Notice
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
§§ 1-13.5-501; 1-13.5-303, C.R.S.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the eligible electors of the Wyndham Hill Metropolitan District Nos. 1 and 3, Town of Frederick, Weld County, Colorado (each a “District” and collectively, the “Districts”).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, and for each District, three (3) directors will be elected to serve until May 2027 and two
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 1-13.5-501, C.R.S., that an election will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time two (2) Directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms to May 8, 2029.
Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms are available and can be obtained from Lisa Jacoby, the Designated Election Official for the Bromley Park Metropolitan District No. 2, c/o McGeady Becher Cortese Williams P.C., 450 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80203, Phone: 303-592-4380, email: ljacoby@specialdistrictlaw.com and on the District’s website at https://bromleyparkmd2.com/.
The Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form or letter is to be submitted to the Designated Election Official no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m. MST) on February 28, 2025, sixty-seven (67) days prior to the regular election. Affidavits of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate must be submitted to the Designated Election Official by the close of business (5:00 p.m. MST) on March 3, 2025, sixty-four (64) days prior to the regular election.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, pursuant to Section 1-13.5-1002, C.R.S., that applications for and return of absentee voters’ ballots may be obtained from / filed with Lisa Jacoby, the Designated Election Official of the District (at the address/phone/email address noted above), between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. until the close of business on the Tuesday immediately preceding the election (Tuesday, April 29, 2025).
BROMLEY PARK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2
By: /s/ Lisa Jacoby Designated Election Official Legal Notice No. FLP1200 First Publication: February 6, 2025 Last Publication: February 6, 2025 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press Public Notice
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
§§ 1-13.5-501; 1-13.5-303, C.R.S.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the eligible electors of the Sweetgrass Metropolitan District No. 3, City of Dacano, Weld County, Colorado (the “District”).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, three (3) directors will be elected to serve until May 2027 and two (2) directors will be elected to serve until May 2029. Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the board of directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form from the Designated Election Official (“DEO”) at 2154 E. Commons Ave., Suite 2000, Centennial, CO 80122 or via telephone at 303-858-1800, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms are also available online at https://whitebearankele.com/.
The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form is the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Friday, February 28, 2025. If the DEO determines a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form is not sufficient, the form may be amended prior to 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2025. Earlier submittal is encouraged as the deadline will not permit curing of an insufficient form after this date and time. An Affidavit of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate must be submitted to the office of the DEO by the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Monday, March 3, 2025. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that information on obtaining an absentee ballot may be
Students pitch in to help Ukraine
Local youths assemble solar panels for schools, hospitals in war zone
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
As a rst-generation American, Broom eld resident Andy Lenec was steeped in the language and culture of Ukraine. His parents were political refugees who relocated to the United States after World War II to escape Russian occupation.
Once he retired as an engineer, Lenec joined the Peace Corps and lived in Ukraine from 2017 to 2018, where he made numerous connections.
Shortly after Lenec returned to the U.S., he began doing weekly Zoom calls with his friends in Ukraine.
“When the war started, I was still running these weekly calls,” said Lenec. “I was just devastated. I was gobsmacked.”
Ukraine’s energy infrastructure targeted
For months, Russia grew its military presence along Ukraine’s border and on Feb. 24, 2022, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion on Ukraine in what he called a “special military operation.”
Nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s territory was seized within the rst few weeks. However, Ukraine met Russian troops with resistance.
“I just kind of had a feeling — a gut feeling — that energy was going to become an issue,” said Lenec. “And it did.”
at fall, Russia launched a new strategy to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Ukraine’s energy infrastructure
a.m. y las 7:00 p.m. En ese momento dos (2) el Directores será elegido para cumplir con su mandato por el término de 4 años hasta el 8 de mayo de 2029.
Los formularios para la Auto Candidatura y Aceptación están disponibles y pueden obtenerse a partir de Lisa Jacoby, el Funcionario Electoral Designado para el Distrito Metropolitano de Bromley Park No. 2 c/o McGeady Becher Cortese Williams P.C., 450 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80203, Teléfono: 303-592-4380, Correo electrónico: ljacoby@specialdistrictlaw.com y en el sitio web del distrito https://bromleyparkmd2.com/.
El Formulario de Auto Candidatura y Aceptación o la carta debe presentarse ante el Funcionario Electoral Designado antes del horario de cierre (5:00 p.m. MST) el 28 de febrero de 2025, sesenta y siete (67) días antes de la elección regular. Las Declaraciones Juradas de Intención para ser un Candidato de Nominación Directa deben presentarse ante el Funcionario Electoral Designado antes del horario de cierre (5:00 p.m. MST) el 3 de marzo de 2025, sesenta y cuatro (64) días antes de la elección regular.
POR LA PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA, de acuerdo con el Artículo 1-13.5-1002, C.R.S., que las solicitudes para la devolución de las votaciones de los votantes ausentes pueden obtenerse a partir/ presentarse ante Lisa Jacoby, el Funcionario Electoral Designado del Distrito (en la dirección/ teléfono/ correo electrónico señalados más arriba), en el horario entre las 8:00 a.m. y 5:00 p.m. hasta el horario de cierre del martes inmediatamente anterior a la elección (martes 29 de abril de 2025).
BROMLEY PARK DISTRITO METROPOLITANO NO. 2
Por____ /s/ Lisa Jacoby
is reliant on nuclear power, according to the International Energy Agency. Nearly half of the county’s electricity is generated o nuclear power, followed by coal and gas- red plants, all of which were damaged or occupied by Russian attacks.
Experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported that in less than a month after the invasion, about 10.7% of Ukraine’s total energy production was eliminated as Russia captured one of the largest nuclear facilities in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant which is located in southeastern Ukraine.
In late August 2024, about 200 Russian missiles and drones caused millions of households to lose power. e Associated Press reported it was the 11th massive combined attack by Russia on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. e loss of power has made it di cult for many to communicate with loved ones, for hospital workers to communicate with rst responders and treat patients in hospitals, and for educators and students to continue schooling.
When the war started, Lenec’s
PUBLIC NOTICES
Funcionario Electoral Designado Legal
best friend in Ukraine told him:
,” which is Cryillic for: “Don’t let the world forget about Ukraine.”
“ at’s been sort of my motto,” said Lenec. “It’s been tattooed onto my soul.”
The Solar Charger Project
Within the rst couple of months of the war — while volunteering with a group called Ukrainians in Colorado — Lenec was contacted by Rich Stromberg, a professor at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, who is an expert in solar energy. Stromberg’s class took used solar panels, put a piece of equipment on them and converted them to four-port USB chargers. e panels were decorated with supportive messages, photos and artwork, and brought to Lenec.
Using the organization “Meest” — which is Ukrainian for “bridge” — Lenec sent the rst several panels that summer to one of the largest Rotary clubs in western Ukraine.
“ ey were an immediate hit,” said Lenec. “A short video clip that I have actually shows the
The public hearing will be held at the Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District Community Center located at 151 Grant Avenue, Firestone, CO, 80520, February 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM. Questions prior to the public meeting should be directed to Bryan Hostetler, Deputy Director, (303) 833-3660 Ext. 104. All interested persons, municipalities or counties that may be able to provide service to the real property, shall appear at the public hearing and show cause, in writing, why the Board of Directors of the Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District should/should not adopt a final resolution and order approving the inclusion of the above-identified real property. The Board of Directors may continue the public hearing to a subsequent meeting. The failure of any person within the Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District to file a written objection shall be taken as an assent on his or her part to the inclusion of the property.
Dean Rummel, Executive Director Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District For more information or to view Petitions for Inclusion, please contact Bryan Hostetler at bhostetler@cvprd.com.
Legal Notice No. FLP1203
First Publication: February 6, 2025
Last Publication: February 6, 2025
Publisher: Fort Lupton Press
Public Notice
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PROPOSED COYOTE CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the eligible electors of the proposed Coyote Creek Metropolitan District of Fort Lupton, Colorado (the “District”).
Rotarians going out — there’s a light mist, it’s not full sun (and) this guy plugs in his phone and shows that it’s charging.”
Terre Cone and Zig Berzins, cochairs of the Highlands Ranch Rotary Club, were overcome with emotion as they watched Lenec’s presentations regarding the situation in Ukraine at a Rotary conference in September 2024.
“Literally in tears watching children run to bomb shelters in the middle of class,” said Cone. “Zig and I said we need to do something about this.”
ey met with Lenec and shortly after, a grant from one of the Rotary members was made to fund solar panel projects. e club decided to order panels, which are two by two and half feet, and wanted to get the community involved.
With a robust Interact program, which is a Rotary program for middle and high school students, the Rotary club held a multi-generational event at Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch to put together panels for use as mobile device chargers.
About 50 students split into groups and worked with Rotarians to assemble more than 20 panels.
Speaking to the students about the importance of the panels, Lenec told them that they were all peace builders.
“ ese messages of support are priceless,” Lenec said.
As students stripped wires, connected USB devices and decorated the panels, they heard about the impact directly from Ukraine as Lenec held a Zoom call with Ukrainian Rotarians.
Including the packaging and shipping, the total cost is around $125 per panel.
e Rotary club hopes to hold
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that it is anticipated that an organizational election for the creation of the proposed District will occur on May 6, 2025. Any eligible elector of the proposed District interested in serving on the board of directors should file a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form with the Designated
Election Official of the proposed District no later than the close of business on February 28, 2025, at the address below.
Self-Nomination and Acceptance forms are available and can be obtained from Alexandria “Zander” Myers, c/o McGeady Becher Cortese Williams P.C., 450 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80203, (303) 592-4380.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN pursuant to Section 1-13.5-1002, C.R.S., that applications for and return of absentee voters’ ballots may be filed with Alexandria “Zander” Myers, the Designated Election Official of the proposed District, c/o McGeady Becher Cortese Williams P.C., 450 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80203, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., until the close of business on the Tuesday immediately preceding the election (Tuesday, April 29, 2025).
PROPOSED COYOTE CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
By: /s/
what Lenec calls a “low cost, high impact” project about four times a year.
“ e war is still going on,” said Berzins. “Even if it ends tomorrow, they still won’t have power and we’ve got to recognize that. Getting the infrastructure back into Ukraine is going to take some time.”
Seeing the impact
For a while, Lenec said he was a one-man show sending solar panels to Ukraine — until he partnered with Sun ower Seeds Ukraine, a Boulder-based nonpro t dedicated to assisting civilians and defenders in Ukraine.
Since the start of the project, about 600 panels have been shipped to Ukraine. e president of the Rotary club in Lutz, Ukraine, told Lenec that the panels not only helped charge phones and tablets, but also lanterns.
Panels have been distributed to defenders in Ukraine. Lenec said he understands why some people wouldn’t want to supply soldiers, but he felt the need to support as many Ukrainians as he can.
“What the people in Ukraine will tell you is our military is made up of your uncle, your father, the baker, your neighbor,” said Lenec. “ is is not a professional army and so I don’t really put a restriction on it.”
Most recently, panels have been sent to universities in Ukraine where “Invincibility Centers” were set up so students and sta could have the opportunity to charge their phones. It’s been almost three years since the war in Ukraine began. rough it all, Lenec has held onto the words spoken by his best friend in Ukraine.
“Don’t let the world forget about Ukraine.”
Interact Club students from Mountain Vista High School and Mountain Ridge Middle School work with the Highlands Ranch Rotary Club to assemble solar panels with USB chargers that will be shipped to Ukraine. PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
