Elbert County News 0108

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January 8, 2015 VOLU M E 1 1 9 | I S S UE 49 | 7 5 ¢

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County officials at odds Commissioners, planning agency differ over approval of bylaws

By Rick Gustafson

Special to Colorado Community Media

A hitch of draft horses circles the arena during a recent year’s National Western Stock Show event. This year’s Stock Show is Jan. 10-25. Photos courtesy National Western Stock Show

Stock show ready to ride again Thousands of visitors and exhibitors come to the National Western

By Tom Munds

tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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Denver officially becomes a “cow town” when the National Western Stock Show comes to town.

Longhorns were driven along the streets of downtown Denver during the Jan. 8 parade, and National Western activities shift into high gear Jan. 10-25 at the Denver Coliseum, Stock Show Arena and Equestrian Center.

The National Western is called the “super bowl” of livestock shows and sales for a good reason. There are judging competitions for horses, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, llamas, bison, yaks, poultry and rabbits. Since space is fairly limited, animals are constantly moving in and out of the complex so that more than 15,000 head of livestock can take part in the judging competitions and sales Stock show continues on Page 9

A cowboy battles to stay on the back of the animal during the bull-riding competition at last year’s National Western Stock Show Rodeo.

An ongoing disagreement between the Elbert County Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners continues as the two bodies wrangle over bylaws.

The primary area of contention between the BOCC and the planning commission centers on language written into the original draft by County Attorney Wade Gateley, which gives the BOCC final approval of the planning commission’s bylaws and any amendments to them.

The planning commission removed the language from its latest draft but, at a meeting held on Dec. 16, delayed a vote for a second time in the month. It plans to review and vote on its version of the bylaws at its meeting on Jan. 20.

In a Dec. 17 letter signed by the three county commissioners, the BOCC reminded the planning commission members that they are an appointed body that functions in an advisory capacity to the BOCC, and that any recommendations made are nonbinding unless approved by a majority vote from the legislative body (the BOCC). The letter goes on to support the BOCC’s position by citing case law from 1982 and 1996.

Though the letter presents the BOCC’s position, establishing its legislative authority, it offers no specific course of action to the planning commission other than to have “any proposed recommendations” regarding the bylaws submitted to the BOCC no later than Jan. 22, 2015.

In a letter of reply to the BOCC, Richard Brown, speaking on his own behalf as a member of the Planning Commission, not only challenged the legitimacy of the BOCC’s Dec. 17 letter but also contended that though the planning commission’s advisory role applies to master plans, it does not extend to the planning commission’s rule-making authority.

Brown first contends that the letter signed by the commissioners on Dec. 17 constituted Planning continues on Page 9

Dore opens door to new position Commissioner-elect has counseling background

By Rick Gustafson

Special to Colorado Community Media During her campaign for Elbert County commissioner, Kelly Dore espoused her vision of limited local government providing efficient services, and promoted five points that she believes “intrinsically connect,” including fiscal discipline, smart economic growth, water, energy cooperation, and a diverse economic strategy.

On Jan. 13, Dore will have her opportunity to apply these beliefs when she is sworn in as Elbert County commissioner for District 2, taking over the seat being vacated by Kurt Schlegel, who chose not to stand for re-election at the end of his first four-year term.

Nominated along with Mike Hettinga at the Elbert County Republican Assembly in late March, Dore was set for a primary battle when Hettinga suddenly pulled out of the race, citing an out-of-

state move. With the nomination in hand, Dore went on to win the general election in November by gaining nearly two-thirds of the vote over Independent candidate John Dorman.

Since her victory in November, Dore has been working with the three current commissioners on the transition as well as attending training seminars, participating in group sessions with other commissioners, and getting better acquainted with county department heads and employees.

Dore “At times it can be like drinking from a fire hose,” Dore said. “I am thankful to have a strong support system and thankful for the hard-working people behind the scenes who make the county run day to day.”

At home, Dore is thankful for the two people she refers to as her “constant rocks,” her husband Tim and her mother.

“My husband has taught me what it is to be a statesman, not a politician, and how to be genuine in all you do.”

It should not be a surprise if the name Tim Dore sounds familiar. Tim serves as the state House representative for District 64 and will be returning to Denver for a second term in January. He sits on the appropriations, local government, and veterans and military affairs committees.

Kelly and Tim are the parents of four children, Andrew, 14, who attends Elizabeth Middle School, and Alyssa, 11, Aiden, 9, and Jack, 6, who attend Legacy Academy.

In addition to the reinforcement she gets from her husband, Dore says that she gains her strength from her mother who serves as her sounding board and gives her balance. Her mother once told her, “You have not lived until you can do something for someone who can never repay you.”

“She and I have had a long road with many obstacles to overcome in this life, but my mom has always emerged stronger and more graceful in all she has been through,” Dore says. “I am proud to be her daughter. I hope that I can be half the mother to my children that she has been to me.”

Dore continues on Page 9

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2 Elbert County News

January 8, 2015

Home distilling illegal, but gaining popularity Few monetary benefits for those with unlawful hobby

By Trenton Sperry Greeley Tribune

GREELEY (AP) — Homebrew clubs and people who grow their own pot make no secret of their efforts — and almost always share it with others — but the possibility of being found out has kept home distillers alone in the basement.

Distilling liquor for personal consumption is still illegal in Colorado and the other 49 states, even though it’s only considered a petty offense.

“Most people who distill at home don’t even tell their friends,’’ said Mike Lurbe, a member of Treehouse Brewing Club, a homebrewing club in Greeley.

Heather Bean, who owns Syntax Spirits, even has a hard time finding employees.

“With distilling, you can virtually find nobody,’’ she said. “Honestly, most of the people that kind of do the clandestine home distilling, they’re like retired engineers.

They’re not going to be the young person who comes on and is going to do the heavy lifting and do distilling. And that’s because of the laws.’’

However, home distilling is growing in popularity. It’s almost as popular as homebrewed beer, Bean said, and she knows this because of the number of people who strike up a conversation with her at Syntax.

“It’s actually incredibly popular,’’ Bean said, “and lots of people come in here and start talking about their home rigs.’’

Bean said there’s also a reason the rise in the popularity of home distilling has paralleled the growth in homebrewing.

“People frequently actually make beer and then distill it,’’ she said. “Some people decide they should distill because they had a bad batch of beer. Other people get more pointed about it and just make things specifically for distilling.’’

Making spirits for personal consumption has few monetary benefits if any, Bean said, because it takes a large amount of initial ingredients just to get a small amount of liquor.

“The people who tend to be into it are people who have been into homebrewing and into home vinification, and

they’re just kind of interested in fermenting things and want to round out their profile,’’ she said. “Most of the people are just sort of the more professional who is kind of into this as a hobby, and they think, `Seriously, how big of a deal could it be? Who is going to show up in my basement on Friday night?’ Well, probably nobody, unless you actually tell them that you want to sell a bunch of booze.’’

It’s hard to understate just how the state of Colorado treats distilling in relation to other crimes. In the past three years, the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Liquor Enforcement Division has had only one home distilling case, in which the department confiscated about 10 bottles and three keg stills, said Daria Serna, the department’s communications director. The three stills enabled the distiller, who lived in southern Colorado, to make about three quarts of liquor at a time, or a little less than three liters. Serna said the person was attempting to sell the distilled liquor.

“I’ve never known anybody who has been caught for home distilling,’’ Bean said. “The only people I’ve heard of just through word-of-mouth type stuff are people who then try to sell their wares, which is just a dumb idea.’’

With the advent of legal recreational marijuana in Colorado and the ability to grow plants for personal use at home, Bean said it seems almost silly to keep home distilling laws on the books. The reason they remain, she guessed, has to do almost entirely with tax revenue.

“As far as I can tell, the real reason behind home distillation being illegal is it’s very lucrative,’’ Bean said. “Even in the excise tax rates, we pay roughly 10 times more tax than beer and wine on each amount of spirit. So you can also imagine why no one wants to sort of let that slide.’’

Bean said those taxes and the cost of distilling licenses can put a damper on businesses like hers, in more ways than one.

“I built our whole production line having absolutely no idea if it would actually work,’’ she said. “I’m a chemical engineer, and I fervently hoped that it would work. And it does work, it did work. But believe me, that was a lot of high blood pressure and heartburn before the first turn-on.’’

Nevertheless, Bean said the law is the law, and she doesn’t condone anyone distilling anything other than water, vinegar or essential oils without a license. Bean pays more than $1,000 a year for her distilling license.

“This is why distillers have gotten that bad reputation, because we’re kind of thumbing our nose at the law more than we should be,’’ she said. “It is the responsibility of the distiller to abide by all applicable laws or accept the consequences.’’

Staff members from the Southlands Emergency Room in southeast Aurora pose outside the freestanding building that opened last month. Photo by Ellen Jaskol

ER, health center opens in southeast Aurora Staff report Residents in a fast-growing area of Aurora and those living on the border of Douglas and Elbert counties now have better access to medical care.

Located near E-470 and Smoky Hill Road within Southlands Mall, the emergency room is next door to the Southlands Neighborhood Health Center, which opened in September. Both will serve residents of Aurora, as well as those living in rural areas of eastern Douglas and western Elbert counties.

Built and run by Centura Health, the faith-based health system that operates Parker Adventist Hospital, the $20.5 million expansion was developed and designed to meet community needs and provide solutions where gaps in health care services and resources exist.

The Southlands Neighborhood Health Center provides family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and women’s health. In addition, families have access to ancillary services like physical therapy, outpatient lab and mammography.

Pre-Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Are You at Risk?

Our experts will guide you through everything you ever wanted to know about diabetes... from symptoms, to diagnosis, to a look at risk factors.

Tuesday, January 27 6:00 – 7:30 pm Lone Tree Health Center 9548 Park Meadows Drive Lone Tree, Colorado 80124 www.lonetreehealth.org

Cost: Free To RSVP: LoneTreeDiabetes.eventbrite.com or (720) 848-7104

Presenters: James Falko, MD Clinical Professor of Medicine Endocrinology/Lipid Clinic

Shannon Christen, RD, CDE Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator

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Elbert County News 3

January 8, 2015

Marijuana conference set for Lone Tree Policy-makers, law officers expected from around U.S.

By Jane Reuter

jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com About 400 law enforcement officers and policy-makers from across the country will meet at the Lone Tree Arts Center for a midJanuary conference on the public health impacts of marijuana.

The Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police is presenting the three-day event, “Marijuana Impact on Public Health and Safety in Colorado,” set for Jan. 14-16. Registered participants include a large contingent from Alaska — where voters late in 2014 approved the legalization of marijuana.

Conference workshops will focus on home grow operations, concentrates and edibles, driving stoned, data collection, economic

impacts and state and federal regulations, among other issues.

Conference promoters and lobbying company Jensen Public Affairs said they marketed the event to city council members, county commissioners and legislators as well as law officers. The vast majority of attendees work in law enforcement, said Jensen Public Affairs CEO Annmarie Jensen.

“The question is not whether marijuana should be legal; the question is how does it impact public safety and how can we best be reacting to it,” she said. “It’s meant to help others learn from Colorado’s marijuana experience about what is working well, what is not working, how we’re regulating it, and where the holes are in our laws, rule or Constitution that may be keeping it from being integrated as well as it might.”

Invited speakers include Gov. John Hickenlooper, U.S. Attorney John Walsh and vice director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Karin McGowan.

Lone Tree Mayor Jim Gunning will kick off the event with welcoming comments.

CACP president John Jackson, who is chief of police in Greenwood Village, characterized the event as a discussion among professionals about a rapidly changing aspect of law.

Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. That includes four states that legalized recreational marijuana. Colorado was the first to sell legal recreational marijuana, beginning in January 2014. That makes it a logical choice for the conference.

“We’ve been the epicenter for this,” Jackson said. “We’re trying to create a really dynamic and proactive discussion on the topic, and to teach people what we here in Colorado have gone through and are continuing to learn.”

The police chiefs organization intends to be on the forefront, Jackson said.

“We need to have a leadership role in public safety issues,” he said. “Somebody has to coordinate this nationwide. “

Given the results of recent elections, Jackson believes the need for resources and information tied to marijuana legalization will only grow.

“From Washington, D.C., to Alaska is a pretty broad swath of land,” he said. “It certainly wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that it would be legalized in other states.”

Jensen estimates half the conference-goers are from Colorado.

Lone Tree Police Chief Jeff Streeter plans to attend the event, though legalization has had a relatively minor impact on his department.

“Lone Tree was ahead of the game, in that ordinances were passed not to have cultivation and distribution locations,” he said. “For us, it’s been a little different than maybe others that have those retail locations.”

Lone Tree has seen an increase in suspected incidents of driving under the influence of drugs, Streeter said.

The conference is closed to the public.

Police gun deaths up, but still below average Traffic fatalities added to law enforcement toll

By Amanda Lee Myers Associated Press

The number of law enforcement officers killed by firearms jumped by 56 percent in 2014 and included 15 ambush deaths. But gun-related police deaths still remain far below historic highs and lower than the average annual figures in the past decade, according to a report released Dec. 30.

The annual report by the nonprofit National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund found that 50 officers were killed by guns in 2014. That’s higher than the 32 such deaths in 2013 but the same as 2012 figures.

In 2011, 73 officers were killed in gunfire,

the most in any year in the past decade. The average since 2004 is 55 police deaths annually.

In all, the report found that 126 federal, local, tribal and territorial officers were killed in the line of duty in 2014. That’s a 24 percent jump from 102 on-duty deaths in 2013, though below the average annual figures since 2004 and the all-time high of 156 in 1973, said Steve Groeninger, a spokesman for the memorial fund.

Of the 126 officer deaths this year, shootings were the leading cause, followed by traffic-related fatalities, at 49.

The increase in gun-related deaths among officers in 2014 followed a dramatic dip in 2013, when the figure fell to levels not seen since the 19th century.

The 2014 uptick came amid increased tension between police and the public following the high-profile deaths of unarmed black

men by white police officers, including those of Eric Garner in New York and Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

The states that saw the most officer deaths were California, at 14; Texas, at 11; and New York, at nine. Florida followed with six deaths, and Georgia had five, according to the report.

The 15 ambush assaults on police officers in 2014 compared to just five in 2013, but matched 2012 for the highest total since 1995, the report said.

“We’ve been talking about this well before the Michael Brown and Eric Garner incidents, and the protests over those particular cases — that there has been a very prevalent anti-government sentiment in this country for some time now, and I do believe that anti-government sentiment can influence weak-minded individuals to commit violent acts against law-enforcement officers,’’ said Craig Floyd, chairman and CEO of the memorial fund.

“That’s at least part of the reason we’re seeing this increase in ambush-style attacks, officers being targeted simply because they’re cops in uniform,’’ Floyd said.

Among the ambush assaults were the fatal attacks on two police officers in New York City on Dec. 20. Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were gunned down in their patrol car

by Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who then ran into a subway station and killed himself. Brinsley had made threatening posts online and references to the Garner and Brown cases.

Floyd also pointed to the fatal shooting of two Las Vegas police officers ambushed in June as they were eating lunch in a pizza shop, and a Pennsylvania state trooper killed in an ambush in September by a survivalist who then led police on a 48-day manhunt.

To read the report, go to www.LawMemorial.org/FatalitiesReport.

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4 Elbert County News

January 8, 2015

Colorado minimum wage rises in new year Pay rate is adjusted to $8.23 an hour, up 23 cents from 2014 Associated Press

Taylor Graham, left, and Isabelle Carroll dressed up as Anna and Elsa from the movie “Frozen” and collected food for the Douglas/Elbert Task Force Dec.18 at 4214 Kestrel Place in Castle Rock. The pair collected 145 pounds of food. Courtesy photo

Girls’ food drive boosts task force ‘Frozen’ theme is used to help local charity Staff report Two Castle Rock girls turned their love of the Disney movie “Frozen” into a food drive that brought in 145 pounds of food for the Douglas/Elbert Task Force.

Taylor Graham, a 15-year old student at Valor Christian High School, and Isabelle Carroll, a 16-year old student who is home-schooled in a program called Christian Cottage, dressed up like Anna and Elsa — the main

characters from the movie — and posed for pictures with anyone who dropped off food at 4214 Kestrel Place in Castle Rock on Dec.18.

“We didn’t want to just have fun for ourselves. We wanted to help others, so we decided why not ask for donations,” Graham said.

The event was promoted solely on Facebook and the pair was shocked by the number of people who turned up to donate.

“The next day we had about 100 people at our house.

They showed up before we were even home. It was amazing,” Carroll said.

Minimum wage workers in Colorado are getting a small raise in 2015 because of annual adjustments required by state law.

As of Jan. 1, Colorado’s minimum wage is $8.23 an hour, up 23 cents from last year. Restaurant servers and other tipped workers must be paid a minimum of $5.21 an hour in the new year.

Colorado is one of more than a dozen states increasing their minimum wages. The hike comes as Boulder explores raising its minimum wage above the state’s and as fast-food workers campaign nationally to gain $15 an hour pay.

The minimum wage here is now over $3 more than it was in 2006, when Colorado voters backed raising it and tying future increases to inflation. According to some estimates, about 80,000 Coloradans earn minimum wage.

The Colorado Constitution requires the state’s minimum wage to be adjusted annually for inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index used by the state.

The federal minimum wage has remained unchanged at $7.25 since 2009. Under Colorado law, employers will have to pay employees covered by federal law the higher Colorado minimum wage.

If an employee’s tips combined with the employer’s cash wage of at least $5.21 per hour do not equal the minimum hourly wage, employers are required to make up the difference.

Another new law allows the Colorado Department of Labor to pursue employers accused of wage theft.

State Rep. Jonathan Singer, a co-sponsor of the Wage Protection Act, said complaints can be filed with the department.

“Now (the department will) be able to mediate situations that are just misunderstandings, investigate when there’s actual wrongdoing and bring justice,” Singer said.

The new law requires employers to keep records of their employee payrolls for three years. If a business fails to keep those records, it could be subject to a $250 fine per employee, up to a maximum of $7,500.

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Elbert County News 5

January 8, 2015

Gasoline drops to lowest cost in years Average price per gallon in Denver is $2.10 for regular

By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com

tting ents Gasoline prices have fallen to their lowest point in years, bringing relief to 3 anconsumers at the pump. rvers According to the AAA Fuel Gauge Remumport, which tracks and compares prices nationally, fuel prices in the Denver s in-metro area have fallen more than a dollar es assince the same time last year. bove “I think it has been a big relief for a tion-lot of people, especially considering how high the prices were a few years ago,” thansaid Ryan Strange, a Denver resident who isingstopped to fill up at the Conoco station ng toat 9010 Park Meadows Drive in Lone Tree. mini- The average price per gallon in Denver is $2.10 for regular gas, down from $3.15 ate’sat the same time in 2014. ation Nationally, the average price for a gald bylon of regular gasoline is $2.23, down from $3.32 a year ago. un- “Lower gas prices are a huge benefit law,for consumers in Douglas County and fed-around Colorado this winter, especially for commuters and those travelling over ploy-the holidays,” said Amy Sherman, presiqualdent of the Northwest Douglas County ed toEconomic Development Organization and chairwoman of the Douglas County mentEnergy Coalition. heft. the filed

Gas prices dipped below $2 a gallon Jan.2 at the Shell station on 9275 W Highlands Ranch Parkway. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando A number of factors have contributed to the drop in prices at the pump, including the drop in the cost of crude oil.

According to a recent report by The Economist, the price of oil has dropped 40 percent since June, when it was $115 a

barrel. It is now below $70.

A number of factors have contributed to the decline in oil prices, including low demand caused by weak economic activity globally; the fact that turmoil in the Middle East, especially Libya and Iraq, has not caused a slowdown in oil production as many forecasters expected; the rise of America as an energy producer, which has weakened demand for fuel from overseas; and the influx of other energy sources such as natural gas and green energies like solar and wind.

While lower gasoline prices have been a welcome sight to consumers, there is some long-term concern about the drop in prices among oil-producing states like Texas, Oklahoma and North Dakota, where oil jobs make up a large sector of the state economy. If prices continue to drop or stay low, it could mean a loss of jobs.

However, there is still optimism in Colorado, where fossil fuel extraction from shale and natural gas are leading the way.

“Fortunately, Coloradans benefit in a variety of ways because Colorado is an energy-producing state,” Sherman said.

“A recent study by the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business confirms the numerous economic benefits of the oil and natural gas industry in Colorado: high-paying jobs, increased tax revenue, funds for classrooms, energy savings, and resources for public safety. These numerous benefits remain, even as complex gas prices fluctuate.”

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Keep talent in U.S., fix immigration system

By Norman Stucker

After an almost never-ending election season, most Coloradans are tired of political talking points. It seemed every politician had the best ideas for boosting the economy, a foolproof plan for fostering job growth, and the cleverest tactics for keeping us competitive in the global economy. The good news is that the posturing has ended, leaving a real way that our representatives in Congress can keep their promises — by enacting permanent, comprehensive immigration reform.

Regardless of your political persuasion, the president’s recent announcement is a temporary, targeted fix. The executive action on immigration exercised under his limited authority puts a Band-Aid on a broken system that is harming multiple facets of our society - and particularly our economy.

As you read this, hundreds of Colorado’s high-tech companies are losing the world’s best and brightest engineers, researchers, scientists, and programmers as they return to their native countries after being educated in our schools. That’s because under our dated and defunct immigration system there aren’t enough H-1B visas — visas for highly skilled foreign workers — for the number of workers growing companies need. The number of visas has been capped at 85,000 since 2004, impairing burgeoning tech companies from hiring the highly skilled labor they need.

These workers attend our schools, colleges, and universities and then we send them back home to compete with us, severely dulling our competitive edge and preventing companies from keeping talent here in the United States.

President Obama’s announcement does prioritize some reforms that will be helpful for business, including new regulations easing restrictions on foreign managers and executives to work in the U.S., allowing the spouses of H-1B visa holders to work, and expanding the Optical Practical Training Program, a program that allows foreign students to work in the country. It will also allow workers waiting for H-1B petitions from their employers, but for whom a visa is unavailable, to apply for an adjustment of status. Finally, it will help entrepreneurs who are starting businesses and creating jobs to stay in the country

and continue fostering growth.

While these provisions provide some temporary benefits for high-tech companies, we need Congress to enact sweeping reform that will bring our immigration system in line with a 21st century economy. In 2013 the Senate passed a bipartisan bill, crafted in part by Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, which would have addressed many of the problems hurting the high-tech industry. The bill would have increased the number of H-1B visas available, and was supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that enacting immigration reform would reduce the deficit by $197 billion in the first ten years, by $700 billion over 20 years, and would increase the GDP by 3.3 percent in 2023, and by 5.1 to 5.7 percent in 2033. That bill has never even been brought up for a vote in the House of Representatives.

Our current immigration system is stifling growth and keeping us at a disadvantage.

While a step in the right direction, the president’s announcement has not fixed it. After a heated and tumultuous election season,

Congress has a genuine opportunity to follow through on their campaign promises and enact legislative reform that will grow our economy and give American companies a needed competitive edge.

Norman Stucker is general manager of PADT-Colorado and chair of the Economic Development Group at the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce.

This article was originally posted on 12/16/2014 by The Denver Post Continue the discussion on this important and controversial topic featuring Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

Event held in conjunction with Denver South EDP and Colorado Business Roundtable.

Monday, January, 26 South Metro Denver Chamber Offices & Conference Center 2154 E. Commons Ave., Suite 342, Centennial, CO 10:00 – 11:30 am www.meetup.com/business-leaders-forresponsible-government/events/219503302/

Calendar of Events

For a complete calendar of South Metro Denver Chamber events and for more information, visit our web site at www.bestchamber.com or call 303-795-0142.

Thursday, January 8 Ribbon Cutting – Eighteen Eight 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon 4:00 – 6:00 pm – Eighteen Eight 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon 6879 S. Vine St., Suite 709, Centennial, CO Thursday, January 8 New Member Orientation 4:00 – 5:00 pm – South Metro Denver Chamber WhippleWood CPAs Conference Center 2154 E. Commons Ave., Suite 342, Centennial, CO Thursday, January 8 Movie Screening – Glen Campbell…”I’ll Be Me” 5:30 – 7:30 pm – University of Colorado Hospital 12605 East 16th Ave., Aurora, CO Cost: $10 ticket

Member Spotlight – Jim N’ Nicks Bar-B-Q Join Jim N’ Nicks Bar-B-Q and South Metro Denver Chamber for a BOURBAN & BAR-B-Q Dinner Share some good times, great food and world-class bourbon.

Thursday, January 29th from 4:00 – 6:00 pm $25 Ticket Include 5 courses of scratch-made southern deliciousness paired with Kentucky’s finest bourbons. (additional adult beverages can be purchased separately) Come hungry and expect to taste the best the South has to offer!

Space is limited! Reserve and Purchase your ticket by contacting Brian Bartony bbartony@bestchamber.com 720-982-9119

Friday, January 9 Women in Business Speaker Series: Karen Gerwitz-Pres., World Trade Center Denver 7:30 – 9:00 am – South Metro Denver Chamber WhippleWood CPAs Conference Center 2154 E. Commons Ave., Centennial, CO Tuesday, January 13 Business After Hours – DS’ Tavern 5:00 – 7:00 pm – DS’s Tavern 819 W. Littleton Blvd., Littleton, CO

6-Opinion

6 Elbert County News

Y O U R S

OPINION

January 8, 2015

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O U R S

A publication of

9137 Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 Phone: 303-566-4100 Fax: 303-566-4098 On the Web: ElbertCountyNews.net Get Social with us

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Judge not, and then nothing gets written Editor’s note: Author and curmudgeon Craig Marshall Smith is scheduled to talk about his new book, “This is not a dachshund III,” as well as his first two books, at the Highlands Ranch Tattered Cover, at 7 p.m. Jan. 16.

I may have finally figured it out. If I write about someone who is getting attention for all of the wrong reasons, I am just adding to the attention they are getting.

Not only that, “the wrong reasons” are my reasons. Who put me in charge?

If you really care about a couple that thinks that extruding a child a year for 19 years is acceptable and entertaining, go ahead. I think it’s unconscionable.

Some personalities are almost unavoidable. You would need blinders. I try my best.

There are entire television programs devoted to the whereabouts of some celebrities.

Half of the celebrities have nothing to celebrate, really, no meaningful accomplishments, no contributions, just more noxious gases.

One particularly offensive family had its own show. White trash was the theme.

Another particularly offensive family is still going strong, and I don’t know why. I can probably guess: hot, sleazy women We obsess about what other people do.

No, not your neighbors. We don’t obsess about them.

Or do we?

Judging others and living vicariously is what we do.

There is a daily columnist in town who decides when a coach or a player has to be fired, traded or retired.

I think it’s in his contract.

How would you like that to be in your contract? I would not.

Peyton Manning had an off day one Sunday and you-know-whom announced the next day that Manning was in his final glide pattern.

I told Jennifer, “I would have bet the house that K will write an obit for Manning.”

The writer has never written a column approximating one of Manning’s off days.

I said something to him once about this once, and he said, “You need help.”

I have help. I have someone sitting on my shoulder, and it’s not him. It’s Mark Twain.

I was at this grocery store this morning, and saw a magazine headline that said, “Taylor Swift is secretly dating.”

I looked down at my frozen potatoes and shook my head. And then I shook my head because I was shaking my head.

She makes more money in a year than every schoolteacher in America makes combined.

I looked it up.

Just don’t ask me for my disapproval list. I

Decide how to answer “Should I” questions Here’s the first scenario … one of our New Year’s resolutions was to get in better shape, lose weight, improve muscle tone, and increase our cardiovascular endurance.

We are one week into our commitment, eating right and living at the gym when some well-intentioned associate decides to bring bagels and doughnuts into the office or store. And that is when the question pops into our head, “Should I or shouldn’t I?” And now the second scenario … we are out celebrating with friends. Maybe it’s a birthday, anniversary, or just watching our favorite teams in the local sports bar. The night is going incredibly well and everyone is having a ton of fun. As a matter of fact it is one of the best nights we have had in a long time as we share a great time with our closest friends and family. Before we know it, it’s decision time about driving home.

The drive could be two blocks, two miles, or two hours and we have a decision to make about getting behind the wheel, and so here comes that question again, “Should I or shouldn’t I?” Now trust me, I am not trying to steal anyone’s fun or assume the role of the post-Christmas Scrooge or Grinch. Stay Norton continues on Page 7

disapprove of it myself.

I am quite certain that opinion writers look down on things to elevate ourselves.

It’s easy for me to look down on a copy of People magazine and to be nauseous to the point of throwing up.

And I get it in my head that I am above it.

I am too intelligent to care about a vacuous celebrity.

So you see? An opinion column is also an opinion column about the writer.

Another year has ended and I am not getting any younger.

And the calendar on the wall. Well, you know. It’s ticking off your days too.

My distal quiet is knowing that I gave it a good try. I know that I am a drone of judgment and that bothers me a little, but if I weren’t, and directed you to the whereabouts of someone or other in my column, I’d be miserable.

I have yet to get through the society page.

I would prefer to be a claims adjuster than to inform others about who showed up where.

I guess it has it be done. Those people have money and contribute some of it to worthy causes.

My thinking — and it’s just mine out here in the wigwam — is that you don’t have a photo shoot right after you donate.

A fine-looking, Giacometti-thin dog walked past my house today, unattended.

That made a bigger impression on me than who is secretly dating whom.

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Column shows human side of immigration

I read Ann Healey’s column about the undocumented woman, Rocio Mendez. I enjoyed reading it and can’t help but wonder how many millions of untold stories like hers there must be. Stories of true perseverance and courage, struggle and sacrifice; that we in our soft, comfortable, suburban lives would probably never have done so well to improve our lot in life, or even survived.

Now we have all these children appearing at our borders, fleeing unthinkable violence in their home countries.

What amazing stories they could probably share despite the very few years they have lived on this earth. And yet our nation has plenty of cold heartless souls standing at the border to taunt and insult them, hoping to scare and degrade them enough that they will go back home.

Anyway, I am glad you shared Rocio’s story. If more writers would share such stories, perhaps people would realize Letter continues on Page 7

SHARI MARTINEZ Circulation Manager

We welcome event listings and other submissions.

News and Business Press Releases Please visit ElbertCountyNews.net, click on the Submit Your News tab and choose a category from the drop down menu.

Calendar calendar@coloradocommunitymedia.com Military Notes militarynotes@coloradocommunitymedia.com School Accomplishments schoolnotes@coloradocommunitymedia.com Sports sports@coloradocommunitymedia.com Obituaries obituaries@coloradocommunitymedia.com To Subscribe call 303-566-4100

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

Want your own chance to bring an issue to our readers’ attention, to highlight something great in our community, or just to make people laugh?

Why not write a letter of 300 words or fewer.

Include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER Our team of professional reporters, photographers and editors are out in the community to bring you the news each week, but we can’t do it alone.

Send your news tips, your own photographs, event information, letters, commentaries...

If it happens, it’s news to us.

Please share by contacting us at news@coloradocommunitymedia.com, and we will take it from there.

After all, the News is your paper.

7

Elbert County News 7

January 8, 2015

New Congress is chance for change Washington is traditionally mired in gridlock and political games. And it’s no secret that despite some victories for Colorado, the last Congress was the least productive in modern history. Now, as the new year ushers in a new Congress, there is renewed potential for compromise and collaboration. If Washington can move past the partisanship, there is plenty we can accomplish.

Our office is working with Republicans and Democrats on a host of issues important to Coloradans that will make government more efficient, effective and accountable.

With tightening budgets and unreliable federal support, local governments across the state are looking for innovative ways to finance infrastructure projects. These projects are critical to our local communities and our economy. The American Society of Civil Engineers scored Colorado’s infrastructure at a C-plus and rated the nation a D-plus.

We’ve teamed up with Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri, to help. Our bill, the Partnership to Build America Act, without spending federal dollars, would create an infrastructure bank to help communities maintain or build new roads, highways, bridges, schools, water

Ongoing

conduits, tunnels and other projects. It’d be funded through bonds U.S. companies would purchase in exchange for allowing them to exclude a certain portion of their overseas earnings from taxation. This bill could help put people back to work on projects important to Coloradans like the expansion of public transit in the Denver metro area or building the Arkansas Valley Conduit.

We are working with Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander on a bill to simplify the process for applying for college financial aid. Countless college students and their families have suffered through the 10-page, 108-question FAFSA form. We’re proposing a plan to reduce the current form to two questions. This dramatically streamlined form would encourage more students to apply for aid and allow more students to access higher

education.

We’ve met with and heard from students, parents, high school and college administrators and financial-aid advisers across the state to discuss the challenges of the current form. From Pueblo Community College to Front Range Community College to Metropolitan State University, there is a resounding and overwhelming desire for a more efficient process. At a time when other countries are making it easier to attend college, our priority should be ensuring that higher education is as accessible as possible to as many students as possible. This bill will save families across the nation millions of hours so they can focus on preparing their kids for success in higher education.

We also wrote a bill with Orrin Hatch, a Republican senator from Utah, to make government programs more accountable and effective through social-impact bonds and pay-for-success contracts. The PayFor-Performance Act will help states and communities achieve better results with less cost to taxpayers.

Under the model we’ve proposed, a local government enters into a contract with a provider that commits to delivering a set of services that are more effective and cost less than the results the govern-

ment is currently receiving. An investor funds the project and is reimbursed with interest when the project meets its goals.

If the providers don’t deliver the results they promised, the taxpayers are off the hook and the investors are not reimbursed.

Social-impact bonds encourage innovation and more effective programs and services while keeping the risk away from taxpayers.

In the coming year we will continue to work on these bills as well as many others to cut government bureaucracy and red tape so it works better for the people it serves. We’ll also keep up our fight on a number of ongoing issues important to Coloradans, including an extension to the Wind Energy Production Tax Credit, long-term funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program, fixing our broken immigration system, completing the VA hospital in Aurora, and making reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure our veterans are receiving the services they have earned.

If we can work together and embrace the opportunity for progress in this new Congress we can enact meaningful change for Coloradans.

Democrat Michael Bennet has represented Colorado in the U.S. Senate since 2009.

CLUBS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

DOUGLAS-ELBERT COUNTY Music Teach-

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

THE ELBERT County Sheriff ’s Posse is a nonprofit volunteer organization that is part of the Elbert County Sheriff ’s Office. As volunteers we support the Elbert County Sheriff ’s Office, all law enforcement in our county, and the community at large. For more information or a membership application, go to http://www.elbertcountysheriff.com/posse. html, or contact Dave Peontek at 303-646-5456.

THE ELIZABETH Food Bank, 381 S. Banner in Elizabeth (next door to Elizabeth Presbyterian Church) needs to let the public know that we are available to help anyone who needs food. The hours are Friday 12:30-3 p.m. and Saturdays

Norton Continued from Page 6

with me on this one for just a little bit longer, OK? Let’s try the third scenario … we are in a rush, running late for a very important meeting, maybe even a final job interview or other equally significant event. As we scramble to gather ourselves together, bolt into the parking lot or garage for our car, we witness an elderly couple who has just dropped their groceries all over the parking garage. There are milk and eggs running everywhere and cans rolling underneath the surrounding parked cars. We are already running late, our future could be on the line and yet there is that question again, “Should I or shouldn’t I?” Should I eat that doughnut or bagel?

Should I get behind the wheel? Should I stop and help these folks who obviously need help? Each scenario is vastly different from the other. And that’s the point right? I mean we are faced with “Should I or shouldn’t I” situations all the time.

The answer or response is going to be different for everyone based on our individual belief systems and level of integrity and commitment to our integrity. One definition of integrity is this, “Doing the right thing even when no one else is looking.”

So with integrity defined in that way, the “Should I or shouldn’t I” question that pops into our heads in any situation could really be a non-question or issue as we already know what our answer or response will be, don’t we?

from 9-11:30 a.m. Other times by appointment.

elbertcountylibrary.org.

LAWYERS AT the Library, a free legal clinic for parties who have no attorney, will be offered from 6-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the Elizabeth Library, 651 W. Beverly St. Volunteer attorneys will answer questions, help fill out forms and explain the process and procedure for the areas of family law, civil litigation, criminal defense, property law, probate law, collections, appeals, landlord-tenant law and civil protection orders. Walk-ins are welcome. Everyone will be helped on a first-come, first-served basis.

THE OUTBACK Express is a public transit service provided through the East Central Council of Local Governments is open and available to all residents of Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties and provides an economical and efficient means of travel for the four-county region. Call Kay Campbell, Kiowa, at 719- 541-4275. You may also call the ECCOG office at 1-800-825-0208 to make reservations for any of the trips. You may also visit http://outbackexpress.tripod.com. To ensure that a seat is available, 24-hour advance reservations are appreciated.

MYSTERY BOOK Club meets at 9:30 a.m. the first Saturday of each month at the Simla Public Library. The group enjoys talking about a variety of mystery authors and titles. We also periodically host a Colorado author during our meetings.

Everyone may join us, and registration is not required. Visit the Simla Branch of the Elbert County Library District at 504 Washington Avenue, call 719-541-2573, or email farabe@

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS meets from 10-11 a.m. and from 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays in the Sedalia Room at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 2100 Meadows Parkway, Castle Rock.

Doing the right thing and making the right choices in life always sounds easy, but in reality it is something that many people struggle with each and every day. This especially impacts our youth who are surrounded by peer pressure in unprecedented ways.

“Should I go along to get along?” “Should I do the same things others are doing just to be accepted?” Tough stuff for sure, but better managed with a stronger belief system.

And it’s not just our children or the youth, we as adults are faced with “Should I or shouldn’t I” questions every day too. And we know the difference between wrong and right, don’t we? I mean it’s just that darn temptation thing that keeps popping up, isn’t it?

Here’s a tip that has helped me and it just might help you too. Commitment to our belief system, commitment to our goals, commitment to integrity places us in a position to respond favorably long before the decision point of “Should I or shouldn’t I.” As we start 2015, it has the potential to be the year where accomplishment trumps defeat, where commitment outruns temptation, and where retreat gives way to persistence and perseverance. How about you, are you already solid in knowing how you will respond in any “Should I or shouldn’t I” scenarios? I would love to hear all about it at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we are grounded in how we will respond, it really will be a better than good week.

Michael Norton is a resident of Castle Rock, the former president of the Zig Ziglar Corporation, a strategic consultant and a business and personal coach.

SENIORS MEET in Elizabeth every Monday at 11 a.m. for food, fun and fellowship at Elizabeth Senior Center, 823 S. Banner St. Bring a dish for potluck on the first Monday of each month. Other Mondays, bring a sack lunch. Bingo, games and

Letter Continued from Page 6

that such important issues as immigration are not about American jobs and resources, arbitrary political borders, or

MOUNTAIN PINE Woman’s Club of Parker meets at 10 a.m. the first Thursday September to May at the Club at Pradera, 5225 Raintree Drive, Parker, for a program and lunch.

New members welcome. We give college scholarships, Parker recreation scholarships, pay for GED tests and donate to charities.

We have sections such as crafts, card making, international, books, and bridge. Call 303-607-5701 or email mpwcparker@ gmail.com A NOVEL Approach” Book Club. This group enjoys great novels and spirited discussions. New members can join at any time. The “A Novel Approach” Book Club usually meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in Parker’s Douglas County Library. For details or for directions to our special December meeting site, e-mail Renee Albersheim at realbers@ earthlink.net, and put “Book Club” in the subject.

OBITUARIES Fisher

Michael Fisher

Sept. 13, 1960 – Dec. 4, 2014

Michael Fisher, 54, passed away at his home in rural Kiowa.

He is survived by his loving wife, Margarete; daughter Anna; mother, Patricia Fisher of Denver; and two brothers Mark & Dave.

Services for Mike were held at Elbert Christian Church.

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We now publish: Arvada Press, Brighton Banner, Castle Rock News Press, Centennial Citizen, Douglas County News Press, Elbert

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protecting the dominance of one domestic ethnicity over another. No, they are about human lives, and selfless good people pushed to such horrible extremes that they would do anything to make a better life for themselves and their families.

David Anderson Arvada

socializing. New leadership. Call Agnes at 303-883-7881 or Carol at 303-646-3425 for information.

Independent, Teller County Extra, Tribune Extra, Tri-Lakes Tribune, Westminster Window, and Wheat Ridge Transcript.

Funeral Homes Visit: www.memoriams.com

8

8 Elbert County News

January 8, 2015

Legal marijuana brings modest tax boost Questions remain on just how much revenue it will bring in for Colorado

By Kristen Wyatt Associated Press

To see the tax implications of legalizing marijuana in Colorado, there’s no better place to start than an empty plot of land on a busy thoroughfare near downtown Denver.

It is the future home of a 60,000-squarefoot public recreational center that’s been in the works for years.

Construction costs started going up, leaving city officials wondering whether they’d have to scale back the project. Instead, they hit on a solution — tap $3.2 million from pot taxes to keep the pool at 10 lanes, big enough to host swim meets.

The Denver rec center underscores how marijuana taxation has played throughout Colorado and Washington.

The drug is bringing in tax money, but in the mix of multibillion budgets, it is a small boost, not a tsunami of cash.

Much of pot’s tax production has been used to pay for all the new regulation the drug requires — from a new state agency in Colorado to oversee the industry, to additional fire and building inspectors for local governments to make sure the new pot-growing facilities don’t pose a safety risk.

And estimates for pot’s tax potential varied widely.

Some government economists predicted a huge boost to public coffers.

Others predicted a volatile revenue stream that could spike wildly based on how consumers and the black market would respond.

Some even guessed that legal weed would cost more than it produced in taxes, through higher public safety costs and possible expensive lawsuits because the drug remains illegal under federal law.

In Colorado, where retail recreational sales began Jan. 1, 2014, the drug has a total effective tax rate of about 30 percent, depending on local add-on taxes.

Through October, the most recent figures available, Colorado collected about $45.4 million from sales and excise taxes

on recreational pot sales.

That puts the state on pace to bring in less than the $70 million a year Colorado voters approved when the agreed to a statewide 10 percent sales tax and 15 percent excise tax on recreational pot.

Voters set aside the first $40 million in excise taxes for school construction; so far that fund has produced about $10 million.

But adding fees and licenses and the taxes from medical marijuana sales, Colorado had collected more than $60 million through October. Local governments can add additional taxes, too.

That’s what led to additional revenue streams like Denver’s $3.2 million for a bigger pool at its rec center.

In Washington, where recreational pot sales began in July, recreational weed is taxed on a three-tier system as the plant moves from growers to processors to retailers. The total effective tax rate is about 44 percent.

State tax officials are just getting a look at the first few months of pot taxes, and the money is coming in slowly because there aren’t many stores there yet. State economists have predicted pot sales will bring in $25 million by next July.

The state anticipates a $200 million increase by mid-2017, and about $636 million to state coffers through the middle of 2019.

There remain more questions than answers about pot’s tax potential.

A new president in 2017 could sue legal weed states to shut down sales completely.

And no one knows how the opening of new recreational markets will drain sales from Colorado and Washington. Oregon voters have approved retail pot sales beginning in 2016; Alaska has approved sales but it’s not clear when they’ll begin.

And the biggest market in the West — California — is expected to consider recreational pot legalization in 2016.

In other words, budgeters curious about marijuana’s tax potential will have to wait.

“If they’re looking at pot as something that might swoop in and save them, they need to keep looking,’’ said Joseph Henchman, an analyst who has studied marijuana tax collections for the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax think tank.

Twenty-two trees were cut down at Cottonwood Park, 17571 Snowberry Way, in Parker. Courtesy photo

Trees vandalized over holiday Parker police list damage at $22,000

By Mike DiFerdinando

mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com Residents in the Cottonwood subdivision were shocked to find 22 trees cut down on Christmas morning.

According to the Parker police, the damage was first reported on Christmas Day between the hours of 9:30 to 10:40 a.m., though police said they believe the crime may have been committed on Christmas Eve. Investigators are still trying to narrow down an exact timeframe.

Three cut-up tree trunks and branches were found stuffed in a portable toilet at Cottonwood Park, 17571 Snowberry Way. The estimated damage is $22,000, which

is costly enough to constitute a felony vandalism charge.

“They cut them down and just left them there,” Cottonwood resident Don Parrot said. “We don’t understand why someone would do something like this. Most of those trees were just planted this fall.”

According to Cottonwood Metropolitan District President Rick Nielsen, the community plans to replace the trees as soon as possible, though it will have to wait until after winter.

The metropolitan district also plans to file an insurance claim for the damaged trees and is hopeful that it will cover the cost of replacing them.

Police are investigating the incident and “working some possible leads,” said Andy Coleman, public information officer for the Parker Police Department.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Parker police at 303841-9800.

9

Elbert County News 9

January 8, 2015

Planning Continued from Page 1

public business and that any public business that took place at the study session following the special BOCC meeting was invalid, because the proceedings violated Colorado’s Open Meetings Law (OML), specifically the provision for “full and timely notice to the public.”

Notice of the 30-minute special BOCC meeting was posted on Elbert County’s website calendar page, but the agenda did not include the bylaw issue and a notice for the

Dore Continued from Page 1

Following the vein of her mother’s wisdom has served as a lesson in faith, guided her moral foundation, and led to her greatest reward, her passion for helping people succeed and build the life they were meant to live.

Stock show Continued from Page 1

In addition to the livestock judging competitions, there also are numerous livestock sales where millions of dollars change hands as thousands of animals are sold to new owners.

While livestock activities go on almost constantly, the National Western Stock Show’s daily schedule also may include rodeos, displays and entertainment. The fact that there is something for almost everyone attracts hundreds of thousands of men, women and children through the turnstiles. For example, last year’s attendance was more the 628,000.

The multitude of livestock judging and sales plus more than 50 special events are held at a variety of locations. While the rodeo performances are held in the Denver Coliseum, the majority of livestock show and sale activities plus some special events like livestock judging are centered at the National Western Stock Show Arena and the pens in the nearby stockyards, and horse activities are held in the Events Center and Paddock located at the north end of the National Western complex.

study session did not appear on the calendar.

“The apparent lack of such notice constitutes a violation of the OML and renders any action taken invalid,” wrote Brown.

In addition, while Brown acknowledges the planning commission’s advisory role to the BOCC, he insists that the commission is well within its authority to establish its own bylaws without BOCC approval, citing wording in the statue stating, “The Planning Commission shall adopt such rules and regulations governing its proceeding as it may consider necessary and advisable.”

Brown wrote, “In the narrow area of planning commission rules and regulations there has been no delegation of legislative author-

ity to the BOCC, and an effort by the Board to exercise such powers would violate C.R.S. sec. 30-28-104(1), the statute giving planning commissions rule-making authority.”

In response to Brown’s concerns, District 3 County Commissioner Larry Ross said, “I’m going to recommend that we revisit the issues in question in a properly posted public meeting.”

The creation of bylaws in multiple departments within county government was directed by the BOCC. The move comes in response to recommendations made during the 2013 financial audit, urging the county to continue to formalize its business practices to support the ongoing improvements to its finances.

District 2 County Commissioner Kurt Schlegel had not seen Brown’s letter, but confirmed in a voicemail to Elbert County News the BOCC’s position regarding final approval of the bylaws. Schlegel also expanded his comments to include the BOCC’s longer-term goals regarding the planning commission.

“They are an appointed body, and we are looking to streamline the process because it is very cumbersome at this point. We are trying to streamline the zoning regs to make it easier to for people to develop residential and commercial properties in the county, while still maintaining the high quality of life and the country-style living that all of our residents enjoy.”

“We choose who we want to be and what we stand for; our actions speak louder than any words,” Dore said. “I’ve found that nothing matters unless we have a mutual respect for life in general. This includes all of God’s creation and knowing that we are stewards of each other.”

Some people refer to a particular strength or ability they possess as a superpower and when asked what her superpower might be, her sons Andrew and Aiden insisted that she answer either with flying or X-ray vision.

Though not quite X-ray vision, Dore says that she has uncanny intuition and empathy.

Before deciding to run for public office, Dore ran a counseling practice and a foundation that helped open two schools (the latest scheduled for early 2015), a hospital, and two homes for orphaned children. She believes in empowering people through hope and education as well as access to health care and enough food to eat.

“This does not mean giving handouts to people,” she said. “It means giving them a

hand up and a sense of appreciation for their own lives.”

As a commissioner, she plans to use her business sense and foundation experience to help the county structure successful business practices, encourage citizens to help each other, and foster a sense of community.

“I have a basic commonsense approach and am a calm person in general, so I think this will help me to be effective in dealing with citizens and my fellow commissioners,” she said.

The 16-day run of the National Western Stock Show is Colorado’s largest trade show with more than 350 vendors scheduled to be on the grounds this year. Many of the vendors will be located in the three-level Hall of Education near 46th Avenue.

The good news is parking is free, but a general admission ticket is required to get into the National Western Stock Show. The general admission ticket entitles the holder to visit the trade show, displays, stock shows and auctions. Ticket prices vary from $10 to $19 for everyone 12 and older, with higher-priced tickets required on the weekend. Tickets for children under 3 to 11 are $2 to $3, depending on the day. Children under 2 get in free.

The general admission ticket also is good for visits to the Children’s Ranchland and petting farm, open daily on the third floor of the Expo Hall.

In addition to the petting farm, a variety of activities for children are scheduled in the Ames Activity Pavilion. Events on the schedule include stick horse rodeos, pedal-tractor pulls, horseshoe pitching and dummy roping contests. The pavilion is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the daily activity lists are posted on the National Western website.

There about 50 special events that require admission tickets ranging in price from $8 to

$100 each. Each ticket includes a National Western general admission ticket. Among the events on the entertainment schedule are two Mexican Rodeo Extravaganzas, three Professional Bull Riders events, two Wild West shows, the Grand Prix horse jumping show, draft horse shows and the Martin Luther King Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo.

There are also 19 rodeo performances during the first stop of the year for members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Each rodeo performance will include a full schedule of traditional rodeo competitions, plus there will be specialty acts booked to perform during breaks between rodeo events.

At the other end of the National Western complex, the Events Center will be equally busy as the site of equestrian events that include a daily schedule of riding and performance competitions. The Events Center is also the site of the Wild West Show, an event fashioned after the turn-of-the-century performances produced by Buffalo Bill Cody and

other specialty events.

Historically, livestock shows have been held in the Denver area since 1899 but none were regularly scheduled events. That changed in 1906 when the National Western Stock Show was held for the first time. The initial run was six days and an estimated 15,000 people attended.

The event became an annual event. The only year it wasn’t held was 1915, when it was canceled because ranchers and farmers were battling a nationwide epidemic of hoof and mouth disease.

Today’s National Western draws attendance from around the United States as well as Canada and a number of other countries.

Locally, the event becomes a field trip each year for about 20,000 schoolchildren.

For information on the full schedule of events, ticket prices and directions to the facilities, visit the web site at www.nationalwestern.com.

MILESTONES Education

Dillon Coyle, of Elizabeth, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, from the University of Northern Colorado.

Naomi Tubbs, of Elizabeth, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in environmental and sustainability studies from the University of Northern Colorado.

Ashley Baker, of Kiowa, was named to the fall 2014 dean’s honor roll at Kansas Wesleyan University.

Lindsey Cira, of Parker, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English, secondary teaching, from the University of Northern Colorado.

Kevin Dawson, of Parker, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisci-

plinary studies, liberal arts, from the University of Northern Colorado.

Yessenia De La Torre, of Parker, graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in special education, K-12 teaching, from the University of Northern Colorado.

Sara J. Escandon, of Parker, was named to the fall 2014 dean’s honor roll at Washburn University.

Rachel Fink, of Parker, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, liberal arts, from the University of Northern Colorado.

Dylan Gehlbach, of Parker, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas.

ElizabEth

FunEral homE & CrEmatory 243 Spruce Ct., Elizabeth, Colorado

The only funeral home and crematory in Elbert County Serving the special needs of Elbert County Branch of Parker Funeral Home & Crematory

Conecting South Denver to a pathway in ENTREPRENEURSHIP The Launchpad: Starting January 2015 Forbes lists Denver as the #2 City for entrepreneurship and innovation. Be a part of this trend. Starting January 2015, the Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship is offering a new certificate in entrepreneurship. This certificate is designed for students or business professionals who want to get academic and experiential knowledge in innovation. Registration is available for both degree and non-degree options.

Learn more. Register for an information session.

Tuesday, January 6, CU South Denver, 5:00 – 6:30 pm or Wednesday, January 14, Arapahoe Community College, 5:00–6:30 pm RSVP for one of these sessions: jakejabs.center@ucdenver.edu • Affordable and flexible • No college or GPA requirements

• Scholarships available now • High school diploma required

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10-Life

10 Elbert County News

S O U T H

LIFE

January 8, 2015

M E T R O

The Orchid Showcase, in the Orangery at Denver Botanic Gardens, as well as Marnie’s Pavilion next door, both a short walk west from the main entrance, hold a display of common and exotic species of orchids from the BBG’s collection of about 3,000 plants. The display runs through Feb. 23. Courtesy photos ​

Orchid Showcase in Botanic Gardens offers respite from cold days

By Sonya Ellingboe

sellingboe @coloradocommunitymedia.com For a temporary escape from winter, enter the gates at Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street and walk straight ahead to the Orangery and the next-door Marnie’s Pavilion, where you will find hundreds of orchids in bloom starting Jan. 9.

This is the fourth year for the featured Orchid Showcase, according to botanist Nick Snackenberg, who displays a variety of common and exotic species through Feb. 23. They come from the Gardens’ orchid collection of some 3,000 plants, supplemented by some purchased just for this show in order to have enough blooming plants on hand.

“The Orangery is a most lovely place to sit,” he recommends. One will be surrounded by fragrant citrus plants and blooming orchids of all sorts.

The next-door Marnie’s Pavilion carries a rotating exhibit of orchids and bromiliads through the year, based on what’s blooming at a given time.

Snackenberg said he grew up on a Midwestern farm and attended Iowa State University to study horticulture. He has been at

if you go Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver, is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily in winter. And, one might enjoy adding a stroll through the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory by the entrance while on the grounds. 720865-3500, BotanicGardens.org.

Denver Botanic Gardens for 21 years and “fell into tropicals … It’s lots of work — they don’t stop growing and we have space limitations.” Palm trees, for example, can’t be pruned to keep them small, so eventually they must be replaced. “We call it the circle of life,” he said.

Orchids come to the collection from many sources. Some are traded with other botanic gardens and others are purchased from local suppliers or growers in Florida.

Nurseries deal with the regulations on importing plants from out of the country.

There are restrictions on trade in endangered species.

Snackenberg visits local collections whenever he attends a conference or national meeting. “It’s a good chance to look at the host and network — to see who’s got what.” Personal vacations will also often lead him to other gardens “to chat with the people in charge. My wish list never seems

to end.”

For those who think they might like to grow orchids at home, he will be offering a class at the end of February. Details were not firm when we spoke by telephone, but it should be listed on the website soon.

Also, there is an active Denver Orchid Society which meets monthly and holds two shows a year, where it awards prizes to growers and has plants, supplies and advice available. New members are welcome.

The American Orchid Society has a great deal of material online as well, from basics to more complex topics. And there are numerous other resources on how and what to buy and how to cultivate.

All warn that overwatering is the quickest way to kill a plant.

Whether one is simply in need of a flower fix or is searching for a new hobby, a visit to the Orchid Showcase, Jan. 9 to Feb. 23, is in order.

Parker goes all out for arts, information Lectures, music, dance, cooking among topics

By Sonya Ellingboe sellingboe @coloradocommunitymedia.com Lectures, dance, piano, painting …? It’s the perfect time to try something new, and Parker’s programs are open to residents and non-residents. Visit the parkerarts.org website for elaboration on the sampler of opportunities we have noted. (Programs

are at the PACE Center, although you will be directed to register through the town’s recreation department.) Call 303-805-6800.

• The Parker Cultural and Scientific Committee sponsors a lecture series, which begins on Jan. 14 (6:30 to 7:30 p.m.) with a talk by Dr. Guiseppi De Sole on “Epidemic in Africa,” a topic that has been a constant in the news for months. (Free, but please register.)

• On Feb. 10, Rod Read, district manager of Parker Water and Sanitation, will talk about the Rueter-Hess Reservoir and its current status — water is an ongoing topic of interest for all metro residents. (Free, but

register.)

• Pat Craig, founder and executive director of the Colorado Wild Animal Sanctuary, will speak about this remarkable spot and some of its inhabitants at 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on March 10. (Free, but register.)

• On April 4, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., learn about Douglas County’s varied open space and nature resources, where families can hike, birdwatch, look for wildlife and plants and just be outside. (Please register.)

A visit to the PACE website at parkerarts.org will locate dance classes: ballroom; dance sampler; line dancing: novice to advanced; adult tap and belly dancing.

Recreational piano for seniors could lead to a new pursuit.

Visual arts classes include “Palette Up!” color and beginning, intermediate and advanced painting classes with master teacher Tadeshi Hayakawa (a Parker resident).

In culinary arts, we find cake decorating and in another direction, one can develop and understanding of that new — or not so new, but still mysterious — digital camera.

There are travel programs and science and nature programs.

And then there are even more opportunities for kids to expand their horizons. The PACE Center awaits in the new year.

11

`Miss Saigon’ is sad tale based on Puccini Tragic story comes to stage in Aurora

By Sonya Ellingboe

sellingboe @coloradocommunitymedia.com The set for “Miss Saigon” at Vintage Theatre is simple and severe, yet it works for what director Rebecca Joseph calls “a pareddown `Miss Saigon,’” taking on life with lights, music and a large cast in motion.

It’s the end of the disastrous Vietnam War, and spirits are low among both the GIs who want to get out and the Vietnamese, who will be left behind to an uncertain future.

This 20th-century version of Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” was written first in French by lyricist Alain Boubil, with additions to the English version by Richard Maltby Jr. Music is by Claude-Michel Schonberg.

It is an opera, with all communication sung, although the voices, while strong, are not in general operatically trained, leading to an edgy quality throughout.

Lights go up on a club where young prostitutes dance and gyrate to lure tired American soldiers into their arms. There is a mood of desperation and defeat hanging in the air, despite loud music and sexy, brightly costumed girls. Choreography is by Stephanie Lynn Prugh.

The girls are controlled by a pimp called “The Engineer,” played here by experienced actress Arlene Rampal. Her major objective is to earn enough money and influence to get to America, where she is certain she can succeed. (Her rendition of “American Dream” later in the show is a standout.)

Among the girls is young Kim (Regina Fernandez Steffen), new to the scene and uncertain how to behave, as the Engineer urges her to get with it and start earning money.

Soldiers interact with the girls, drinking heavily — except for a depressed Chris (Rob Riney), who represents the soldiers disillusioned about the war. He and Kim meet, are attracted to each other and, in a brief time together, conceive a child.

Vintage, in limited space, manages to stage the famous scene where the helicop-

Rob Riney and Regina Fernandez Steffen are unfortunate lovers in Vintage Theatre’s production of “Miss Saigon.” Photo by Denver Mind Media ​ ter rescues soldiers a Saigon rooftop, leaving Vietnamese supporters and friends behind, clinging to a fence, as the communist troops approach the city. (They had to cut a hole in the ceiling, according to a note from management.)

Among the Viet Cong is Thuy (Chachi Martin), an officer to whom Kim had once been promised. He still wants to marry her and a parallel story runs through the script, including an appearance by his ghost. The actor’s bio says that his parents met as a result of the war in Vietnam and the story resonates.

The authors were first inspired by a pho-

`Rosie’ author coming to Highlands Ranch Sequel brings readers another round of funny characters

By Sonya Ellingboe

sellingboe @coloradocommunitymedia.com

Don Tillman and Rosie Jarman are back — married and living in New York. Readers may have met them via Graeme Simsion’s top-selling “The Rosie Project” a year ago.

The Australian writer’s very funny novel was translated into 40 languages and charmed readers across the world. Movie rights have been sold to Sony and one has fun speculating on casting.

Simsion is scheduled to appear at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Highlands Ranch Library to introduce his even more hilarious sequel: “The Rosie Effect.”

Don Tillman, a high-functioning Asperger’s individual with a Ph.D. in genetics, a university teaching position and a unique approach to his world, decides to find a wife in the first book — through a set of complex, scientific, but unrealistic standards.

Red-haired, unpredictable Rosie, also a brainy scientist, doesn’t fit his specs at all — but they fall in love.

Simsion, a former IT specialist, who also writes and produces films in his second career, has created a love story that engages one ould and offers insights into a remarkable mind/ Up!” pair of minds.

Its sequel, “The Rosie Effect,” was just pubd adlished in the U.S. and is already on best-seller eachlists in Australia. t).

As the couple settles into academic life ating velop at Columbia University and into a New York ot so apartment, Rosie announces that she is pregera. nant, stunning her husband.

Don’s distinctive research style kicks in, ence getting him into trouble with the law, as he ortu- tries to follow a friend’s advice to “observe . The children” — and further tries to supervise Rosie’s diet and lifestyle and research preg-

n

Elbert County News 11

January 8, 2015

if you go Graeme Simsion will appear at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at the James H. LaRue Highlands Ranch Library, 9292 Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Call 303791-7323. Copies of the book will be for sale at the event.

Just published, “The Rosie Effect” by Graeme Simsion is a sequel to his very popular “Rosie Project.

Courtesy photo ​

nancy generally.

Meanwhile, he helps his friend Dave save his business and attempts to get friend Gene to reconcile with his children. And then, there’s the famous drummer who lives upstairs … and Lydia, the social worker assigned to supervise Don. Simsion rounds out each character enough so the reader can hear and visualize the scenarios he creates. Did Don really say that??? No wonder the movie rights sold quickly on the first book.

Probably, many of us are acquainted with a similar very bright, quirky character — in fact, the publisher forwarded an enthusiastic statement from Bill Gates, who stayed up until 3 a.m. to finish reading. (He said his wife Melinda thought he might enjoy the parts about optimizing one’s schedule and she was right.)

tograph of a Vietnamese mother giving up a half-American child at an airport departure gate, sending the child to an ex-GI father who would give it a better chance at a future — “The Ultimate Sacrifice” in Schonberg’s eyes.

When Chris returns to Vietnam three years later with his wife, Ellen (Abby McInerny), former officer John (Keegan Flaugh) and others to try to responsibly help children fathered by GIs who were scorned by the Vietnamese, he finds Kim, by now a Bangkok bar girl with little Tam in tow …

This tragic story brings thoughts to the surface that have been dimmed by the pas-

if you go “Miss Saigon” plays through Feb. 1 at Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sundays and Saturdays Jan. 11 and 31. Tickets: $31/$26 in advance. 303-856-7830, vintagetheatre.com.

sage of time. It is a strong production, with a fine score, although it certainly doesn’t send the audience out into the night humming happily, as they might from “Guys and Dolls.”

12

12 Elbert County News

January 8, 2015

Texas painter gets Coors show honors Teresa Elliott, of Alpine, Texas, is the 2015 featured artist for the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale at the National Western Stock Show, with her oil painting “High Noon” chosen as the year’s poster. (The original painting of a Texas longhorn will be added to the permanent collection.) The exhibit will run through stock show dates, Jan. 10-25, and is free with stock show admission. Elliott has been a “People’s Choice” winner in five of the past seven years, according to the show’s website at coorswesternart.com — which also lists all the artists accepted to this prestigious show.

Genealogy meetings set Columbine Genealogical and Historical Society meets twice in January: Jan. 12, 1 p.m., will feature “Show and Tech” with librarians and technology specialists from the Arapahoe Library District teaching about new resources available. Jan. 20, 1 p.m., will feature “Beyond the Census: the Non-Population Schedules,” a presentation by Deena Coutant, professional genealogist. Learn to go beyond the population schedules during 1850 to 1885. The group meets at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, south wing entrance, 6400 S. University Blvd., Centennial.

Free, visitors welcome. Columbinegenealogy. com.

The refuge is at 6550 Gateway Road, Commerce City, and the visitor center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays.

(Families can also snowshoe and take a selfguided wildlife drive.) Go to www.fws.gov/ refuge/rocky_mountain_arsenal for more information.

Bach is back Author to speak

Nature writer Mary Taylor Young of Castle Rock will speak at Littleton’s Bemis Library on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. about her book: “Rocky Mountain National Park: The First 100 Years.”

The park was formally dedicated on Sept. 3, 1915, and celebrations will be held throughout 2015. The book, with 250 illustrations, begins with the park’s geologic story and continues to issues it faces today and tomorrow. (Is it being loved to death?) Copies will be available for sale. Free. The library is at 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton, 303-795-3961.

“High Noon” by Teresa Elliott is the painting chosen for the 2015 Commemorative National Western Stock Show Poster, which is available for purchase. The Longhorn steer is like those that will lead the annual stock show parade in downtown Denver to celebrate the opening. Courtesy photo ​

‘Swing Sets’ slated

Wildlife viewing

Well-known vocalist Lannie Garrett will introduce a new show, “Swing Sets,” featuring the Highlands Ranch-based After Midnight band playing Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington and more.

Opens on Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. and continues on Saturdays at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret,

American pianist Simone Dinnerstein will debut with the Colorado Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 and 17 in Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex downtown. She will perform “Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5.” Mark Wigglesworth will conduct and Yumi Hwang-Williams, violin, and Brook Ferguson, flute, will be featured. Tickets: $22-$84, 303-623-7876, coloradosymphony.org.

Theater classes offered 16th Street Mall at Arapahoe Street, Denver.

Tickets: $35, Lannies.com, 303-293-0075.

The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge offers wildlife viewing tours from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Jan. 10, 11 and 31.

Join a naturalist on the tour bus for a twohour guided tour to see bald eagles, coyotes, bison, deer, winter raptors and more. Free, but reservations are required: 303-289-0930.

Spring classes begin Jan. 24 for kids who want to learn theater skills, as Front Range Theatre starts its 2015 season. Highlands Ranch Library is the site for classes on Jan. 24 and 31 and Feb. 7 and 14, and registration is open for the Triple Threat Summer Camps I and II (“Legally Blonde Jr.” and “101 Dalmatians”). Classes are: Introduction to Improv, Advance Improv, Intro to Acting and Advance Acting. Go to frontrangetheatre.org to register.

Review: ‘The Hobbit’ wraps with a Middle-earth melee

By Jake Coyle

MPAA definition of PG-13:

Associated Press With a sum total of 1,032 minutes, Peter Jackson’s six J.R.R. Tolkien films have earned more than $5 billion worldwide.

They have made New Zealand synonymous with Middle-earth. And they have slaughtered enough orcs to constitute genocide.

The sheer size of Jackson’s accomplishment — a majestic, fully realized fantasy world, from its lush landscapes down to its hairy feet — is enough to make Cecil B. DeMille blush. Across craggy mountaintops and through enchanted forests, he has set

Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

his hobbits, elves and wizards scampering to and fro, always under the threat of greed, ego and selfishness. More than anything, he has taken the stuff of fantasy seriously and rendered Tolkien’s splendid creation with love.

Sadly, all of that was true after Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings’’ trilogy. The subsequent

“Hobbit’’ trio, which is now finally sputtering to an end with “The Battle of the Five Armies,’’ will inevitably go down as an unneeded, unloved gratuity, a trilogy, like the second “Star Wars’’ run, to write off as overkill.

The magic, fleeting to start with, is mostly gone. “The Hobbit’’ might have been a nice little prequel add-on to “The Lord of the Rings,’’ but by dividing it into three movies, Jackson and company have drained the book’s dramatic momentum.

The first, “An Unexpected Journey,’’ remains in one’s memory only for its clowncar introduction of the 13 dwarfs in an in-

crossword • sudoku

GALLERY OF GAMES & weekly horoscope

terminable dinner scene I fear is just now approaching dessert. “The Desolation of Smaug,’’ for me the most successfully rollicking of these three, brought in (finally) another woman (Evangeline Lilly’s elf Tauriel) and Benedict Cumberbatch’s glorious dragon.

What most distinguishes “The Battle of the Five Armies’’ is its relative torpor. After five films of relentless forward motion, its characters always in perpetual flight, Jackson’s “Hobbit’’ has, as if out of gas, plopped down at the Lonely Mountain. Picking up Hobbit continues on Page 15

SALOME’S STARS FOR THE WEEK OF jan. 5, 2015

ARIES (Mar 21 to apr 19) Events could inspire adventurous Lambs looking to make a major career or personal move. But as always, get all the facts before rushing into any sort of deal or commitment.

TAURUS (apr 20 to May 20) What seems to be a great opportunity could cause even usually practical Taureans to ignore their inner caution cues. Best to move carefully to avoid falling into unseen traps.

GEMINI (May 21 to jun 20) need a holiday now that the seasonal festivities are behind you? Good idea. Plan to go someplace wonderful. You’ll return refreshed and more than ready for a new challenge.

crossword • sudoku & weekly horoscope

GALLERY OF GAMES

CANCER (jun 21 to jul 22) Progress continues to be made on that pesky workplace problem. Meanwhile, don’t assume a personal situation will work itself out. Best to get more involved earlier than later.

LEO (jul 23 to aug 22) Catnaps are definitely recommended for Leos and Leonas who had been going at a hectic pace over the holidays. adding relaxation time to your schedule helps restore your overdrawn energy reserves.

VIRGO (aug 23 to Sept 22) Sure, some of the new friends you made over the holidays might move out of your life at some point. But at least one might show significant “staying power” with some encouragement.

LIBRA (Sept 23 to Oct 22) Encourage family members to join you in supporting a relative who could be facing a difficult emotional challenge in the new Year.

Showing your love and concern helps keep his or her hopes up.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 to nov 21) While a long-deferred decision suddenly might take on some urgency after news on a related matter, you still need to weigh all factors carefully before deciding one way or the other.

SAGITTARIUS (nov 22 to Dec 21) This is a good time to reassess the earlier plan you made for the new Year. Some elements you felt you could depend on to make it work might no longer carry that assurance.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 to jan 19) Forming a renewed connection with a former associate is only the first step toward working out your new plans. Be prepared for problems, and deal with them as soon as they arise.

AQUARIUS (jan 20 to Feb 18) a romantic situation that was going smoothly not too long ago might take a new turn. Be honest about your feelings before you decide whether to follow it or take another path.

PISCES (Feb 19 to Mar 20) The wise Pisces (that’s you, of course) will make sure everyone knows you plan to keep your options open and listen to all sides of the situation before making any decisions.

BORN THIS WEEK: Your honest approach to life and living is always an inspiration for others fortunate enough to know you. © 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

13

Elbert County News 13

January 8, 2015

‘The Interview’ dives into geopolitics Film that sparked uproar isn’t all that scandalous

Rating and ranking

By Jake Coyle Associated Press “The Interview’’ will go down as the satire that provoked an authoritarian dictatorship, roiled Sony Pictures in a massive hacking attack and prompted new questions of cyber warfare, corporate self-censorship and comedic audacity.

The movie is already assured of cinematic infamy, regardless of its merits. But is it any good?

Though “The Interview,’’ directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, never quite manages the duo’s calibrated blend of sincerity and over-the-top crudeness, it nevertheless usually pulses with an unpredictable absurdity and can-you-believe-we’re-doing-this glee. Its greatest charm is that it so happily brings the silliest, most ludicrous of knives (a preening James Franco, lots of butt jokes) to North Korea’s militarized gunfight.

Rogen plays Aaron Rapoport, a journalism-school grad who has found himself, ignobly, producing an “Extra!’’-like entertainment news show, “Skylark Tonight,’’ hosted by his friend Dave Skylark (Franco). The show traffics in the fluff of celebrity with occasional scoops. (Eminem makes a funny cameo as himself with the out-of-the-blue confession that he’s gay.)

When it’s learned that North Korea leader Kim Jong Un is a fan of the show, they maneuver to land an interview for a kind of modern “Frost/Nixon’’ televised tete-a-tete, albeit one with the same penchant for ascots. (Franco’s Skylark is an extreme dandy who speaks

e

now n of y rolnally) Taurious

le of After n, its Jackpped g up

“The Interview,’’ a Sony Pictures release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for “pervasive language, crude and sexual humor, nudity, some drug use and bloody violence.’’ Running time: 112 minutes. Three stars out of four.

largely in overused slang and has a strange obsession with “Lord of the Rings.’’)

Before their trip to Pyongyang, a CIA agent (Lizzy Caplan) recruits the pair with the mission to turn their big interview into an assassination. “Take him out,’’ she instructs before putting them through training.

Like another comedy about the wrong Americans sent overseas, Bill Murray’s “Stripes,’’ “The Interview’’ is better on American soil and on less sure footing once it lands in North Korea. This is partly logistical. Though “The Interview’’ obviously couldn’t have shot on location and had limited images to draw on for its sets, the movie fails to create even a half-plausible North Korean atmosphere and is left claustrophobically meandering almost entirely in palace interiors.

Their first meeting with Kim (Randall Park) isn’t a regal pageant; he just knocks softly on Skylark’s door and eagerly introduces himself as a “huge fan.’’ Park is exceptional: His Kim is more complex than the broad caricature you’d expect. He’s a jovial young leader haunted by daddy issues, having been called soft by his father for adoring American pop culture. He’s a surprisingly agile basketball player and a lover of Katy Perry

Curtain Time Play in Littleton “The Clean House,” an award-winning comedy by Sarah Ruhl, plays Jan. 9 to Feb. 1 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St. in downtown Littleton. Robert Wells is director. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m.

Sundays and Jan. 17; 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25; and 12:30 p.m. Feb. 1.

Tickets: $23-$42, 303-794-2787, ext. 5 (Mondays to Fridays); townhallartscenter.org.

Curious production “Charles Ives, Take Me Home” by Jessica Dickey plays Jan. 8-Feb. 14 at Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma St., Denver’s Golden Triangle. Directed by Christy Montour-Larson.

Performances: 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m.

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

Comedy at Avenue “5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche” by Even Linder and Andrew Hobgood plays Jan. 23 to Feb. 14 at Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave., Denver. Directed by Edith Weiss. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays. Tickets: $26.50/$23.50. 303-321-5925, avenuetheater.com.

Classic at Arvada “Harvey,” written by Denver journalist Mary Chase,

songs.

Even in North Korea, Rogen and company are more at home in American pop: Western civilization is more the target of “The Interview’’ than the DPRK. As Skylark’s interview nears, their assassination attempts fail and ethical quandaries mount. Skylark and Kim (“a cool guy,’’ pleads Skylark) become fast friends, palling around together and shooting off tanks: The bromance has gone nuclear. If anything, the film, written by Dan Sterling from the story by Goldberg and Rogen (their second time directing after the better “This Is the End’’), verges on making Kim too likable.

And while the movie leads to a fiery end and a slow reveal of the famine Kim inflicts on his people, most who see “The Interview’’ will say to themselves: THIS is what prompted an international incident? There’s nothing scandalous about “The Interview,’’ unless you happen to believe Kim is a god who rides around on unicorns.

Despite the large presence of Park’s dictator, this is really Franco’s movie. Seemingly energized by his more outlandish performances (like his Alien in “Spring Breakers’’), he’s here in full, grinning Jerry Lewis-mode, a rubber-faced infotainment parody. His chemistry with Rogen is predictably solid.

Charlie Chaplin, Ernst Lubitsch and the “South Park’’ guys have all tried before to find comedy in the shadow of evil and thereby do a little to disarm it.

“The Interview’’ struggles to really illuminate anything about the stranger-than-fiction Orwellian nightmare that is North Korea, but its attempt is admirable.

And, yes, having your film almost taken down by a totalitarian regime wins you an extra star.

9 January 10 January 11 January

plays Jan. 27 to Feb. 22 in Arvada Center’s Black Box Theater, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada, directed by Gavin Mayer.

Performances: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; 1 p.m.

Wednesdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets: arvadacenter.org/on-stage/harvey-2015, 720-898-7200. The Arvada Center will offer a four-week Harvey Theater Salon Series, facilitated by Sasha Fisher on Wednesday evenings, Feb. 4-25.

Included: exploration of the script, scene study, character development, overall themes and objectives, a visit from directing staff and/or actors and attendance at the evening performance on Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Tuition is $60 plus a ticket, $26. 720-898-7200.

Denver Mart 451 East 58th Ave www.flyfishingshow.com Free Parking

Off to see the wizard “The Wizard of Oz” will be presented Jan. 23 to Feb. 8 at PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays; 10 a.m. Jan. 30 for school groups. Tickets: $25/$20, with discounts for families of four, children under 12, members.

303-805-6800, pacecenteronline.ticketforce.com. Members may enjoy “Breakfast in Oz” from 9-11 a.m. Jan. 24. Kids who come dressed as a favorite Oz character can enter a contest.

Breakfast and crafts included. Shoot photos with characters from the cast. Tickets: $37 for one child and one adult, 303805-6800.

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14-Sports

14 Elbert County News

SPORTS

January 8, 2015

Bobby Burnett’s office is full of football memorabilia from his days as a college and pro player. Photos by Jim Benton

Football in his blood

Former college star, pro player turned his competitiveness into successful real estate career

By Jim Benton

jbenton @coloradocommunitymedia.com Bobby Burnett is the owner of Keller Williams Realty DTC, but it’s hard to tell that walking into his office.

Football memorabilia is all over the walls and shelves.

He was wearing a Keller Williams shirt and his assistant donned a Denver Broncos jersey on a recent visit to his office.

Burnett, who lives in Castle Rock, was a running back at Arkansas and scored the winning touchdown in the 1965 Cotton Bowl win over Nebraska which earned the Razorbacks the Football Writers Association of America and Helms Athletic Foundation national championship.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former college and NFL coach Jimmie Johnson were also on that Arkansas team.

Burnett was the 1966 American Football League Rookie of the Year with the Buffalo Bills, but a knee injury hampered the remainder of his pro football career. He played three games for the Denver Broncos before retiring in 1969.

“Real estate seemed like a natural thing to do when I stopped playing,” said Burnett. “I was keeping my options open before I went into the real estate business. I wanted to see if I could really do this, make any money. I was thinking about going into coaching.

“The whole idea of real estate is the people who are the most successful are the most consistent. That’s the same thing as with a football team. The more consistent you are the more success you will have. It’s the same thing in real estate. The consistent agents that can keep their business consistent are going to do a lot better.”

He had offers to continuing his pro football career but declined.

“Back then in the offseason most of the

A former professional and college football player, Bobby Burnett now runs a real estate company. guys had to work,” he explained. “I was working for six months and made more money in those six months than I had the previous three or four years playing ball. I said, `Hum, this is working pretty good so I think I’ll do this.’

“I had the Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and several teams that I was talking with. I just said, `No, I’m just going to retire.’ ” Burnett, 71, had two grandsons play at Castle View, and he was a volunteer coach at Columbine and Arapahoe for a few years. He also coached his sons and grandsons in youth football.

Colorado high school football doesn’t match up with southern prep football, Burnett said.

“I love high school football,” said Bur-

nett, who played high school football in Smackover, Ark. “I love going to watch it. It’s (Colorado prep football) progressed but not appreciably. I don’t know how to describe it.

Growing up in Arkansas, high school football down there is a religion almost. All the kids play it.

“There are a lot of good football players here in the state. I don’t understand why more of them don’t go to Colorado or Colorado State. If some of our high school teams would go down and play in Texas and places like that, they would get killed. There are a lot of good football players in Colorado, but just not as many.”

Burnett remembers the popularity of high school football in Arkansas.

“When I played there was only a population sign when you came into town,” he said.

“There was this little sign that said population 1,340 people. They sold 2,000 season tickets.

They came from these little towns all around there.”

Burnett recently went to a recruiting night at Valor Christian with his grandson, Mason Alldredge, who was a linebacker at Castle View last season.

It was nothing like when he was pondering college offers.

“My dad (Clell) was a coach,” he said. “He was personal friends with Alabama’s Bear Bryant, Charlie McClendon at LSU and Darrell Royal at Texas. I was recruited by those schools. Growing up in Arkansas, I wanted to be a Razorback. The Razorbacks came in on me really late. As soon as they offered me a scholarship, I took it.”

As a former running back, Burnett offered encouragement to the Broncos’ effort to balance their offensive attack.

“They needed more running,” said Burnett. “Honestly over the last few years their running back corps hasn’t been very good.

It was still questionable this year. They have some kids right now that can flat run. That’s what they have needed. They need kids that can turn nothing into four yard gains. Before maybe nothing was nothing or a one-yard gain.”

Bronco backs C.J. Anderson, Juwan Thompson and Jeremy Stewart have impressed Burnett.

“Now these kids make four or five yards a whack no matter what, and they know how to run,” he said. “They are instinctive runners.

This young corps of running backs they have now is the best corps they have had in a long time.

“You are not going to win the Super Bowl

by Peyton Manning throwing 50 or 60 times.

You might look good getting there, but you’re not going to win. What they are doing is on purpose to build and they have been able to win anyway. They have forced the issue.

They have moved the lineman all over. The last three or four weeks have almost been like training camp. But they have been winning anyway. If they hadn’t been winning, they would have changed everything else. Plus it is going to save Manning.”

15

January 8, 2015

Elbert County News 15

Hobbit

Holiday season comes to end

Continued from Page 12

with Smaug’s fiery escape, “Five Armies’’ caps “The Hobbit’’ with a Middle-earth melee as all forces gather around Erebor.

COMBINED NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE 2013CV30 The riches inside the mountain draw dwarfs CRS §38-38-103 (led by Richard Armitage’s king Thorin), elves (ruled FORECLOSURE SALE NO.14-0100 :

by Lee Pace’s wonderfully snobbish Thran-duil), a Original Grantor(s): RCI Development Partners, Inc., a Colorado Corporation smattering of humans (most notably Luke Evans’s Original Beneficiary(ies): New Frontier Bank Bard) and, of course, huge armies of hulking orcs.

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: All the commotion doesn’t leave much room for 2010-1 RADC/CADC Venture, LLC, a Delaware limited liability Martin Freeman’s Bilbo Baggins. The funny, natural company Date of Deed of Trust: 3/18/2009 Freeman is one of the best things to hit Jackson’s County of Recording: Elbert overly earnest epic (it’s an hour into “Five Armies’’ Recording Date of Deed of Trust: 4/23/2009 before the first chuckle), but he has often been Recording Information (Reception Number and/or Book/Page Number): crowded out by the avalanche of characters and 501363 CGI effects. Perhaps — and I know this could strike Book: 710 Page: 813 Original Principal Amount: $12,643,868.55 Jackson as incredulous — a battle scene need not Outstanding Principal Balance: PUBLIC NOTICE $12,643,868.55 be an hour long?

NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(1), you REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN too, comes in Jackson’s preferred The action, are hereby notified that the covenants of SALE AND OF APPLICATION 48 OF frames-per-second (theater options will vary; the deed of trust have been violated as FOR ISSUANCE TREASURER’S follows: failure to pay principal and inDEED and TSC# the 2001-00026 film is also in 3-D), which, in the mission terest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of To Every Person Actual Possession ofingreater clarity,or yields a heightened artificialdebt secured by the deed of trust and othOccupancy of the hereinafter Described ity. Some this high-frame-rate is the future er violations thereof.

Land, Lot or Premises, and tobelieve the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or (James is a fan), but for now, it’s the greatSpecially Assessed, andCameron to all Persons THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE having an Interest Title of Record or A FIRST LIEN. estorevidence thatin some 15 years down a Hobbit hole to the said Premises and To Whom It may See attached Exhibit A. — both pleasingly and frustratingly far from reality Concern, and more especially to: Also known by street and number as: Elbert County Vacant Land.

Public Notice — have marred Jackson’s vision. Effects-only shots Jackie Scheidler You and each of you THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN are hereby notified that on the 18thlive-action day of IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURNOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL look fine, but appears like a soap opera.

November A.D. 2002 the then County RENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF THE DEED OF TRUST. Treasurer of the County of Elbert, it’s in the OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF But maybe time to admire Jackson for his obState of Colorado, sold at public tax lien TREASURER’S DEED He hasdespent a very long time in MiddleNOTICE OF SALE sale to Elbert sessions.

County the following scribed real estate situate in the County of TSC# 2011-01453 earth and his affection for it hasn’t, for even 1/48th Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit: auction, at 10:00am, on February 13, To Every Person in Actual Possession or of a moment, ever been in doubt. It is his precious.

2015, at 751 Ute Avenue, P.O. Box 486, SEVERED MINERALS Occupancy of the hereinafter Described “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,’’ a Kiowa, Colorado 80117, phone number: AKA 0 Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person 303 805-6125, sell to the highest and best in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or SW4; S2SE4: Warner 27 8 62 1/54 INT OF 30 Bros. release, is rated PG-13 by the Mobidder for cash, the said real property and Specially Assessed, MRA all interest of the said Grantor(s), and to all Persons having an Interest or SE4; W2W2: 28 8 62 1/54 INT OF 40 tion Picture Association of America for “extended Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for Title of Record in or to the said Premises MRA sequences of OF intense fantasy action violence and the purpose of paying the indebtedness and To Whom It may Concern, and more E2NE4; SE4: 29 8 62 1/54 INT 30 in said se- Tree recycling is Public Brian Neal unloads a Christmas tree provided at Salisbury ParkEvidence in ParkeroflastDebt week. open toNotice Parker residents fromespecially the hoursto:of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. through MRA frightening images.’’

Running time: 144 minutes. cured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' E2: 32 8 62 1/54 INT OF 40 MRA PURCHASE OF REAL PhotoHaynes the tree expenses of sale andornaments, other items lights,NOTICE Family Limited Partnership W2: SE4: 33 8 62 1/54 INT OF 60 of MRA Jan. 25. The town asks that all plasticfees, tarps, stands, nails, garlandOFand tinsel be removed.

by Rick Gustafson Two stars out four.

ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND PUBLIC NOTICE

allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication: December 18, 2014 Last Publication: January 15, 2015 Name of Publication: Elbert County News

OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED

Public Notices NOTICE OF RIGHTS

Misc. Private Legals PUBLIC NOTICE COMBINED NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE 2013CV30 CRS §38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO.14-0100 : Original Grantor(s): RCI Development Partners, Inc., a Colorado Corporation Original Beneficiary(ies): New Frontier Bank Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: 2010-1 RADC/CADC Venture, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company Date of Deed of Trust: 3/18/2009 County of Recording: Elbert Recording Date of Deed of Trust : 4/23/2009 Recording Information (Reception Number and/or Book/Page Number): 501363 Book: 710 Page: 813 Original Principal Amount: $12,643,868.55 Outstanding Principal Balance: $12,643,868.55 Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(1), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. See attached Exhibit A. Also known by street and number as: Elbert County Vacant Land.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST. NOTICE OF SALE Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00am, on February 13, 2015, at 751 Ute Avenue, P.O. Box 486, Kiowa, Colorado 80117, phone number: 303 805-6125, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication: December 18, 2014 Last Publication: January 15, 2015 Name of Publication: Elbert County News 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 STATUTES 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 DEED OF TRUST BEING FORECLOSED. A COPY OF SAID STATUTES, AS SUCH STATUTES ARE PRESENTLY CONSTITUTED, WHICH MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS SHALL BE SENT WITH ALL MAILED COPIES OF THIS NOTICE. HOWEVER, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE DETERMINED BY PREVIOUS STATUTES. DATE: November 14, 2014 The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Cristel D. Shepherd #39351 Polsinelli PC 1515 Wynkoop, Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202 (303) 572-9300 Attorney File # 064612-434906 The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

SHAYNE HEAP SHERIFF, ELBERT COUNTY STATE OF COLORADO EXHIBIT A ALL SECTION 25, TOWNSHIP 6 SOUTH, RANGE 65 WEST OF THE 6TH P.M., COUNTY OF ELBERT, STATE OF COLORADO TOGETHER WITH ALL RIGHTS, EASE-

YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY BEING FORECLOSED, OR HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS OR SUFFER CERTAIN LIABILITIES PURSUANT TO COLORADO STATUTES 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 DEED OF TRUST BEING FORECLOSED. A COPY OF SAID STATUTES, AS SUCH STATUTES ARE PRESENTLY CONSTITUTED, WHICH MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS SHALL BE SENT WITH ALL MAILED COPIES OF THIS NOTICE. HOWEVER, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE DETERMINED BY PREVIOUS STATUTES. DATE: November 14, 2014

Misc. Private Legals

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Cristel D. Shepherd #39351 Polsinelli PC 1515 Wynkoop, Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202 (303) 572-9300 Attorney File # 064612-434906 The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

SHAYNE HEAP SHERIFF, ELBERT COUNTY STATE OF COLORADO EXHIBIT A ALL SECTION 25, TOWNSHIP 6 SOUTH, RANGE 65 WEST OF THE 6TH P.M., COUNTY OF ELBERT, STATE OF COLORADO TOGETHER WITH ALL RIGHTS, EASEMENTS, APPURTENANCES, ROYALTIES, MINERAL RIGHTS, OIL AND GAS RIGHTS, CROPS, TIMBER, ALL DIVERSION PAYMENTS OR THIRD PARTY PAYMENTS MADE TO CROP PRODUCERS, ALL WATER AND RIPARIAN RIGHTS, WELLS, DITCHES, RESERVOIRS AND WATER STOCK AND ALL EXISTING AND FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS, STRUCTURES, FIXTURES, AND REPLACEMENTS THAT MAY NOW, OR AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE, BE PART OF THE REAL ESTATE DESCRIBED (ALL REFERRED TO AS PROPERTY).

Legal Notice No.: 231105 First Publication: December 18, 2014 Last Publication: January 15, 2015 Publisher: The Elbert County News

Government Legals Public Notice NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED TSC# 2011-01452 To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It may Concern, and more especially to: Haynes Family Limited Partnership You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 8th day of November A.D.2011 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to Uemco Real Estate Fund LLC the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit: Section: 33 Township: 6 Range: 64 PAR IN E2Subdivision: RURALA Tract: X

TSC# 2011-01452

To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It may Concern, and more especially to:

Haynes Family Limited Partnership You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 8th day of November A.D.2011 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to Uemco Real Estate Fund LLC the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit:

Government Legals

Section: 33 Township: 6 Range: 64 PAR IN E2Subdivision: RURALA Tract: X and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to Haynes Family Limited Partnership. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2010; That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Haynes Family Limited Partnership for said year 2010.

That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said Uemco Real Estate Fund LLC at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 9th day of April, A.D.2015, unless the same has been redeemed.

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 11th day of December, 2014 A. D..

Richard Pettitt County Treasurer of Elbert County Legal Notice No.: 231109 First Publication: December 25, 2014 Last Publication: January 1, 2015 Publisher: The Elbert County News Public Notice NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED TSC# 2011-01453 To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It may Concern, and more especially to: Haynes Family Limited Partnership You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 8th day of November A.D.2011 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to Uemco Real Estate Fund the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit: Section: 33 Township: 6 Range: 64 PAR Y (20.749 ACRES) Subdivision: RURALA Tract: Y and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to Haynes Family Limited Partnership. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2010; That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Haynes Family Limited Partnership for said year 2010.

That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said Uemco Real Estate Fund LLC at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 9th day of April, A.D.2015, unless the same has been redeemed.

Notices

You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 8th day of November A.D.2011 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to Uemco Real Estate Fund the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit: Section: 33 Township: 6 Range: 64 PAR Y (20.749 ACRES) Subdivision: RURALA Tract: Y

and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to Haynes Family Limited Partnership. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2010;

Government Legals

That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Haynes Family Limited Partnership for said year 2010.

That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said Uemco Real Estate Fund LLC at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 9th day of April, A.D.2015, unless the same has been redeemed.

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 11th day of December, 2014 A. D..

Richard Pettitt County Treasurer of Elbert County Legal Notice No.: 231110 First Publication: December 25, 2014 Last Publication: January 1, 2015 Publisher: The Elbert County News PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED TSC# 2001-00026 To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It may Concern, and more especially to: Jackie Scheidler You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 18th day of November A.D. 2002 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to Elbert County the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit:

MINERAL RIGHT ACRES 3.70

and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to Elbert County. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2001;

That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Jackie Scheidler for said year 2001.

That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for Totoadvertise your public notices call 303-566-4100 said real estate the said Elbert County at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 9th day of April, A.D.2015, unless the same has been redeemed.

Government Legals

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 15th day of December, 2014 A. D..

Richard Pettitt County Treasurer of Elbert County Legal Notice No.: 23111 First Publication: December 25, 2014 Last Publication: January 8, 2015 Publisher: The Elbert County News

Public Notice NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED TSC# 2001-00025 To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It may Concern, and more especially to: Vaughn B Nowlin You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 18th day of November A.D. 2002 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to Elbert County the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit: SEVERED MINERALS AKA 0 SW4; S2SE4: 27 8 62 30 MRA 1/18 INT 1.67 MRA SE4; W2W2: 28 8 62 40 MRA 1/18 INT 2.22 MRA E2NE4; SE4: 29 8 62 30 MRA 1/18 INT 1.67 MRA E2: 32 8 62 40 MRA 1/18 INT 2.22 MRA W2: SE4: 33 8 62 60 MRA 1/18 INT 3.33 MRA MINERAL RIGHT ACRES 11.11

Government Legals PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED TSC# 2011-01458

To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It may Concern, and more especially to: Farmer Brothers Development LLC You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 8th day of November A.D.2011 the then County Treasurer of the County of Elbert, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to Uemco Real Estate Fund LLC the following described real estate situate in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado, to wit: Section: 18 Township: 8 Range: 64Subdivision: ELIZABETH KLOUSER ANNEXATION N 456 FT BY 100 FT OF OLD RAILROAD and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to Uemco Real Estate Fund LLC. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2010; That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Farmer Brother Development LLC for said year 2010.

That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said Uemco Real Estate Fund LLC at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 16th day of April, A.D.2015, unless the same has been redeemed.

SEVERED MINERALS AKA 0 SW4; S2SE4: 27 8 62 1/54 INT OF 30 MRA SE4; W2W2: 28 8 62 1/54 INT OF 40 MRA E2NE4; SE4: 29 8 62 1/54 INT OF 30 MRA E2: 32 8 62 1/54 INT OF 40 MRA W2: SE4: 33 8 62 1/54 INT OF 60 MRA MINERAL RIGHT ACRES 3.70

and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to Elbert County. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2001;

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 22th day of December, 2014 A. D..

That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Vaughn B Nowlin for said year 2001.

Richard Pettitt County Treasurer of Elbert County

and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to Elbert County. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2001;

That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said Elbert County at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 9th day of April, A.D.2015, unless the same has been redeemed.

That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Jackie Scheidler for said year 2001.

That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said Elbert County at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 9th day of April, A.D.2015, unless the same has been redeemed.

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 15th day of December, 2014 A. D..

Legal Notice No.: 23114 First Publication: January 1, 2015 Last Publication: January 15, 2015 Publisher: The Elbert County News Public Notice

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 15th day of December, 2014 A. D..

Scott.....

I have your 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee VIN #1J4GZ78Y2TC355207. I will proceed to apply for a title unless you contact immediately.

Richard Pettitt County Treasurer of Elbert County

Larry Armour * 303-646-3530 skylandakitas@gmail

Legal Notice No.: 23112 First Publication: December 25, 2014 Last Publication: January 8, 2015 Publisher: The Elbert County News

Legal Notice No.: 23116 First Publication: January 8, 2015 Last Publication: January 8, 2015 Publisher: The Elbert County News

Richard Pettitt County Treasurer of Elbert County Legal Notice No.: 23111 First Publication: December 25, 2014 Last Publication: January 8, 2015 Publisher: The Elbert County News

Without public notices, the government wouldn’t have to say anything else.

and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to Haynes Family Limited Partnership. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2010;

That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Haynes Family Limited Partnership for said year 2010.

That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said Uemco Real Estate Fund LLC at 3:00 o’clock P.M., on the 9th day of April, A.D.2015, unless the same has been redeemed.

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 11th day of December, 2014 A. D..

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 11th day of December, 2014 A. D..

Public notices are a community’s window into the government. From zoning regulations to local budgets, governments have used local newspapers to inform citizens of its actions as an essential part of your right Richard Pettitt toTreasurer know.ofYou County Elbertknow County where to look, when to look and what to look for to be involved as a citizen. Local Legalnewspapers Notice No.: 231110provide you with the information you need to get involved.

First Publication: December 25, 2014 Last Publication: January 1, 2015 Publisher: The Elbert County News

Notices are meant to be noticed. Read your public notices and get involved!

16

16 Elbert County News

January 8, 2015

Cold-weather flights not uncommon Expert, longtime pilot gives overview of issues

By Christy Steadman

csteadman @coloradocommunitymedia.com It is not uncommon for flights to take off in extremely cold weather, as it happens all over the world, said Jeffrey Forrest, a pilot for more than 40 years and chair and professor for the aviation and aerospace science department at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

“There are not regulations that specifically define exact meteorological conditions as related to cold flight operations and/or restrictions,” he said. “It would be very problematic for the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), or any other national or international air agency, to specify temperature and other related weather restrictions that would informally apply to all aircraft, all the time and under all flight conditions.”

Forrest shared his views following the Dec. 30 fatal crash involving a plane that had taken off from Centennial Airport in cold weather. When operating an aircraft, he said, weather conditions generally relate to visibility and height of cloud bases.

“It is not the temperature or weather conditions, per se, that cause restrictions,” Forrest said, “but rather what those weather conditions may do to visibility, cloud type and height, and if the weather conditions exceed the ability of the aircraft to operate.”

Generally, it is the pilot-in-command’s responsibility to deem whether the weather is suitable for flying, Forrest said. What is regulatory, he said, is for the pilot-in-command to operate the aircraft within its specific limitations, which are defined by the manufacturer. The limitations are developed by the manufacturer, in coordination with, and with final approval by, the FAA. For example, if an aircraft is not approved for flight into known icing conditions, then by regulation, the aircraft may not be operated in those conditions.

But, “known icing conditions are very different from stating that it must be cold,

A commercial aircraft crashed in a Centennial neighborhood near East Arapahoe and South Jordan roads Dec. 30, narrowly missing a home. Photo by Christy Steadman therefore there must be ice,” Forrest said. “A pilot is trained to read weather report services and identify areas of known icing, and where icing may form.”

The FAA does issue advisory operating policies that pilots are responsible for reviewing and considering when operating an aircraft, Forrest said. Also, airport authorities may add operational requirements unique to their airport environment, and issue a “notice to airmen” via the FAA, but, he added, it is the pilot’s responsibility to be aware of these notices.

Interestingly enough, Forrest said, the insurance company that provides coverage for the specific aircraft often will have caveats stricter than other regulatory or advisory requirements.

Then there are issues such as possible negligence, Forrest said.

“Say, for example, a maintenance problem has been warranted to the pilot as fixed, and it really was not,” Forrest said. “All the pilot can do is go on good faith that ev-

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eryone else in the system is doing their job as specified by regulations.”

Forrest is qualified to fly single- and multi-engine aircraft, two jets, seaplanes and gliders. Cold weather is part of the “human factors” that pilots must consider when operating an aircraft, he said.

“Are we warm enough to fly, what if the heater fails in-flight, is the aircraft airworthy for extreme cold-weather flight operations, has the FAA or National Weather Service issued any temporary flight restrictions that we should be aware of?” Forrest said.

Forrest has flown in temperatures that were at least as cold as it was on Dec. 30, he said, when a twin-engine Cessna 404 took off from Centennial Airport and crashed a few minutes later in a neighborhood northwest of Arapahoe and Jordan roads in Centennial, killing the pilot.

Forrest did some general aviation flying in Alaska in the 1980s, he said, and remembered one winter when the temperature was about minus 42 Fahrenheit in the An-

chorage area.

In addition, he has experienced the loss of an on-board heater, icing and frozen fuel lines, which, he added, was fortunately detected on the ground.

“From my experience, it is important not to rush your pilot duties when very cold,” Forrest said. “When you start shivering, your mental capacity can slow down, (affecting) cognitive reasoning. It is also highly recommended to have the aircraft pre-heated before engine start. All controls must be very carefully checked to make sure icing or cold-welding of aircraft parts — steel against steel — is not affecting your aircraft’s function.”

He is unable to say whether icing or extreme cold weather were contributing factors in the Dec. 30 crash, Forrest said.

“Until the National Transportation Safety Board has concluded its investigation,” Forrest said, “there could be a plethora of one or more factors causing this accident and tragic loss of life.”

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