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August 7, 2014 VOLU M E 1 1 9 | I S S UE 27
ElbertCountyNews.net E L B E R T C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
County to contract property appraisals Understaffing has hindered work of assessor’s office By Rick Gustafson
Special to Colorado Community Media
Boy Scout Chris Kelly, center, was joined by numerous public officials at an Aug. 2 ceremony in Kiowa. From left are Ed Ehmann (county manager), Kurt Schlegel (county commissioner, District 2), Robert Rowland (county commissioner, District 1) and Larry Ross (county commissioner, District 3). They are standing in front of a monument that recognizes the area’s history. Photos by Rick Gustafson
Monuments honor veterans, history Scout’s project leads to ceremony in Elbert County By Rick Gustafson
Special to Colorado Community Media
POSTAL ADDRESS
Scouts and dignitaries from across the state filled the Elbert County Courthouse lawn in Kiowa for the dedication of two historical monuments Aug. 2. The dedication ceremony was preceded by a parade of Boy Scouts caring flags from all 50 states and more than two dozen nations. Originating at Kiowa High School, the procession of more than 200 Scouts marched down Comanche Street to the courthouse. Christopher Kelly of Troop 148 in Aurora,
who is working toward his Eagle Scout badge, originally approached the Board of County Commissioners in February 2014, telling them that he proposed the project because he wanted to preserve Colorado history and learn about it himself. The first monument, a 7-foot high obelisk, honors veterans. The base of the structure is constructed from stones collected from historic forts from Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming supporting four panels honoring service men and women of the U.S. military. The obelisk’s first panel presents the Oath of Enlistment taken by all men and women entering military service. The second is dedicated to the men and Ceremony continues on Page 7
ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100)
OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100
The Elbert County commissioners have approved $360,000 in funding for the county assessor’s office to enter into a professional services agreement with Thimgan & Associates, an ad-valorem valuation-consulting firm located in La Junta. The four-year agreement, approved at a special meeting of the commissioners on July 30, enlists the firm to assist the assessor’s office with appraisals and inspections of nearly 10,000 of the approximately 16,000 properties registered in the county. “This is a huge asset for Elbert County,” Billie Mills, Elbert County assessor, wrote in a July 30 email. “The assessor’s office has been understaffed for several years and has only been able to do the new construction and the sales.” The goal of the agreement is to develop market models and to establish market values by reappraising land and improvements, including physical inspections of all improved properties registered in Elbert County. The agreement, set to begin on Aug. 15, folds in existing services already provided by Thimgan & Associates with assessments and market valuations. Mills is confident that the retirement of the county’s chief appraiser, who is leaving at the end of the year, will offset the majority of the cost for the four-year deal. Mills estimates that it would cost around $70,000 per year in salary and benefits to fill the vacated position with an employee holding a Certified General License, while the contract with Thimgan will amount to $78,000 over the $9,000 per year the county is already paying the firm and will offer a depth of services well beyond the capability of a single employee. In addition, both Mills and the Assessor continues on Page 7
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ELIZABETH, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legal: Thurs. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 10 a.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Elbert County Fair princess Tara Hiatt, left, and fair queen Kinsee Dodge flank the monument honoring veterans at the Aug. 2 ceremony in Kiowa.
Elbert County Assessor Billie Mills called a four-year deal with Thimgan & Associates “a huge asset for Elbert County.” Photo by Rick Gustafson
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2 Elbert County News
August 7, 2014
`Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can’ Stuff. Most of us have lots of it. Cristin Bleess and her husband, Adrian Horner, did. But by the time March 13 rolls around, the day they leave for Albania with the Peace Corps, their possessions will amount to this: • An antique pie cupboard refinished by Adrian’s mother and given to them as a wedding gift • A coffee table made from the window of Cristin’s grandparents’ Minnesota farmhouse • A cedar hope chest that belonged to Cristin’s aunt filled with items such as a childhood photo album and a few framed photographs • Two filing drawers of tax returns, Social Security information and other documents • Camping and backpacking gear • A couple of bicycles • Two suitcases each of clothing “It’s amazing how much stuff you have that really isn’t sentimental or even used or even appreciated,” Adrian said as he considered what they have let go. “The thrill of discovery is almost better than the thrill of having.” The journey to de-stuff began late last fall when Cristin, 41, a Spanish teacher, and Adrian, 38, a software tester, decided to change the course of their lives. “We just wanted a new adventure,” Cristin said. They contacted a Realtor with the intention of putting their three-bedroom home on the market in January, met with a financial adviser and, after exploring options, decided to apply to the Peace Corps, which requires a 27-month commitment. Meanwhile, they began deconstructing their belongings, much of it unique, original folk art collected from countries they’d visited in Latin America or antiques with personal connections or collections of one-time passions that reflected eras of their lives. “Our stuff wasn’t stuff you can buy at Pier 1 or Target,” Cristin said. “It’s stuff we had both collected through travels or through family or through interests. We thought about it a lot.” They checked into storage costs — $200
a month. Too expensive. They considered disposing of some, keeping some. But the storage cost issue remained, and family didn’t have enough space to offer. Then Cristin saw this Facebook post: “Collect memories, not things.” And that was it. She said to Adrian: “Let’s just get rid of it all.” They began in the basement, with holiday decorations and unopened boxes that had followed Adrian and Cristin from place to place. High school yearbooks. Adrian’s ACT scores. The 1,500 to 2,000 comic books of “Fantastic Four,” “Avengers,” “X-Men” and others that Adrian had collected in elementary and middle school. The military memorabilia collection that started with Adrian’s grandfather’s WWII medals and included a Civil War bayonet and a WWI helmet. Cristin’s beloved sticker collection, which she began in fifth grade and continued for several years, building it into what she called the best collection, even organized by categories such as teddy bears, unicorns and hearts. It all easily sold through postings on social media garage-sale sites or consignment to niche stores. “I took my grandfather’s insignia out and sold all of it,” Adrian, a college history major, said of the military collection. “It went from a big box to a couple of medals.” Cristin became Facebook friends with the woman who bought her sticker collection, one of the possessions to which she was most attached. “It’s probably the first thing I ever was passionate about and that I did on my
own,” she said. “I spent my own money on it and took care of it and was invested in it. Like I said, it was the best collection.” Next came the kitchen. Dishes. Pans. The box of cake-making utensils given to Cristin by her mom, a baker of wedding cakes. Books — avid readers, they donated boxes of books to the local library. Clothing. For staging purposes, closets should look empty to help sell the house, Adrian said. So “we got ruthless with our clothing.” “You have so many clothes you never wear,” Cristin added. “As a dual-income, no-kids couple, you just accumulate stuff and you don’t always think before you buy it…” They took three to four lawn-size trash bags of clothing to five different consignment stores from Castle Rock to Boulder, the rest to Goodwill. On Jan. 1, they listed their home and moved in with Adrian’s mother. They also moved some furniture to her basement and all the folk art. Adrian’s mother took the two-and-ahalf-foot tall, colorful, ceramic church, a thrill-of-discovery find by renowned Mexican potter Candelario Medrano chanced upon on the floor of a Santa Fe gallery, and a metal red heart that “spoke” to Cristin in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. Except for four other pieces, they delivered all to a consignment store near Tucson. The ones they held back include a smaller Medrano church, and a fruit bowl and clay figurines of a couple on a park bench made by the Mexican artist Josefina Aguilar, whom Cristin met on the same trip during which she met Adrian. “I wanted to take them with the other stuff to Arizona,” Cristin said, “but Adrian wanted to think about it more.” “I probably fought harder on keeping things in the folk art collection,” Adrian said. “I have a lot of fond memories of the things we’d done together, and the stuff in the house reminded me of that. I recognized the fact I couldn’t just go to Walmart and buy them again.” Travel has played a meaningful role in their lives and relationship. A high school trip to Mexico ignited
Cristin’s passion for Spanish, which became her career. An acclaimed teacher, she taught the language for 18 years until the school year ended in May. She was traveling throughout Mexico in July 2003 when she met Adrian at a hostel in Oaxaca. He was three months into an 18-month bike trip he started in California and ended in Argentina. Until his return to the Denver area, they communicated through emails. Then, they visited between Denver and Minneapolis, where Cristin was teaching at the time, until she moved here in 2005. They married two years later and have journeyed together through 13 states and four countries. The anticipation is building for Albania, which is unlike any place they’ve been. “It’s that thrill, the excitement,” Adrian said. “I think that’s why we both love to travel — we don’t know what we’re going to get.” When the house sold in March, they moved most of the furniture to the basement of Adrian’s mother’s home and put it on Craigslist. Eventually, it all went. The red couch with the two chairs, one green, one a patchwork of colors, and a geometric-design rug. The queen bed, full bed and twin bed. The dining room table and chairs. Bookshelves. The antique wardrobe and dresser. Lamps. Patio furniture. The antique washstand. Cristin delivered the dresser her uncle made in his high school shop class to her second cousin in Loveland. Adrian also sold the ‘93 black Geotracker he had started driving his junior year in high school. The final piece of furniture, a TV cabinet, sold three weeks ago. “I felt like a weight was being lifted every time something went out the door,” Cristin said. “I felt lighter. … It was not even about the money. We haven’t gotten rich — we’ve lost money. It just feels good — freeing.” Adrian agreed. “It feels like you have a lot of choices — you’re not weighted down by all the possessions.” They might have thought differently Healey continues on Page 7
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Elbert County News 3
August 7, 2014
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4 Elbert County News
August 7, 2014
Fracking politics hard to dissect Coloradans’ feelings about process are great unknown By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com Immediately after it became official last month that legislative efforts to deal with hydraulic fracturing had ended, pro-fracking Republicans in key statewide races ramped up pressure on their Democratic opponents on an issue where the GOP sees a political opening. Fracking is a complicated issue, but the politics of fracking are perhaps even more complicated. Just how much impact two near-certain fracking ballot initiatives will have — if any — on the re-election bids of Gov. John Hickenlooper and Sen. Mark Udall, both Democrats, is anyone’s guess at this point. “I’ve been asked that before and I just don’t know,” said John Straayer, a political science professor at Colorado State University. “I’m just puzzled by it, the whole fracking thing.” Straayer isn’t the only political expert
who admits to being baffled over the politics of the controversial drilling method, where water and chemicals are blasted deep into the ground to free trapped oil and gas. “I don’t find it is really easy to say who benefits from the fracking issue,” said Bob Loevy, a political science professor at Colorado College. When Hickenlooper ended speculation about the possibility of a special session to deal with fracking issues, the governor’s focus immediately turned toward fighting against two anti-fracking ballot initiatives that he and others believe will have negative economic impacts on the state. The oil and gas industry fears that one of the initiatives would essentially ban fracking in Colorado. That effort would require that all wells operate at least 2,000 feet from occupied structures. The other measure creates an “environmental bill of rights” that gives communities more control over drilling operations. Both Hickenlooper and Udall oppose the ballot measures, with the governor
telling reporters on July 18 that the ballot measures would hurt an industry that creates jobs and contributes billions of dollars to the state. But the politics of their opposition to the measures are complicated by the fact that the initiatives are being driven by U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, a Boulder Democrat who is beloved by environmentalists who have serious concerns over fracking’s potential impact on air and water quality and public health.
GOP sees opportunity
Republicans see an opportunity to divide Democrats on the fracking issue and to force the incumbents to talk about issues they may not necessarily want to
talk about. That’s especially been a key strategy of the campaign of Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, who is seeking to unseat Udall this fall. The Gardner campaign sent a press release on July 17 that blasted Udall for speaking out against the fracking ballot initiatives, a move they say was done out of political necessity rather than conviction. The Gardner campaign highlighted a Udall record that they say is “littered with anti-energy policies,” and one that has been too much to the liking of environmental groups over the years. Fracking continues on Page 7
‘It’d be nice to say, `There’s no problem with fracking,’ but I wouldn’t want to be a `no problem on fracking’ guy and, while in office, have a major problem with fracking.’ Norman Provizer, Metropolitan State University of Denver political science professor
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Elbert County News 5
August 7, 2014
Carbon-regulation debate hits Denver Opponents of proposed rules fear fiscal impact By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com A national debate over proposed new clean-air rules swept through Denver last week, resulting in a values clash of job security and environmental protection that attracted visitors from the around the country. Denver was one of four cities chosen by the Environmental Protection Agency to hold hearings on proposed power plant regulations that are aimed at combating global warming. The two-day hearings were held beginning July 29 inside the EPA’s Region 8 office in lower downtown Denver. Through implementation of the agency’s new plan, President Obama’s administration has stated it hopes to cut carbon-dioxide emissions by 30 percent over the next 16 years. Supporters of the proposed regulations view the rules as a necessary step toward addressing the impact of global warming. “This is the issue of our time,” said Chris Arend of Conservation Colorado. “If we don’t take action we’re going to see a much different Colorado in ways we don’t really know.” At the same time the conference was being held, several opponents of the proposed rules rallied in Denver’s Lincoln Park on July 29 to denounce the regulations. Many were coal advocates who said the EPA regulations would kill jobs and cause energy prices to skyrocket in an already heavily regulated industry. “This is the way I make my living,” said Bill Jones of Craig, a mechanic at a coal mine. “We have a hard enough time as a society with energy costs as it is anyway and I don’t want to see prices go up — and I’m trying to protect my job.” Coal-burning power plants like the three that operate in the Craig area would be impacted by the new regulations. Colorado is one of the top coal-producing states in the country. However, coal production has dropped
KNUS radio host Dan Caplis is joined by several children during a rally at Denver’s Lincoln Park on July 29. The rally served as a protest to new air-quality rules that are being proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Photo by Vic Vela over the years along with demand. Still, miners like John Simonet, also of Craig, say their communities depend on the industry and that increased regulations would only hurt them more. “If this goes through, unfortunately everyone will probably have to go elsewhere to find work and probably even, worst-case scenario, create another ghost town in our neck of the woods,” Simonet said. The EPA considers the greenhouse gas that emits from power plants to be the country’s largest source of carbon pollution. The organization says the pollution is a significant contributor to global warming and can have long-term impacts on the environment and public health, as supporters of the regulations tried to convey Carbon continues on Page 8
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6-Opinion
6 Elbert County News
Y O U R S
OPINION
August 7, 2014
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O U R S
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Life is a conveyor belt toward final checkout Pat Bowlen has Alzheimer’s. There is no known cure. It is very difficult to watch a life in descent. By now, most of us have probably been through it — or we are going through it right now. My dear friend Ruth, 96, thought we were married. My aunt thought I was my cousin Linn. I left Michigan on a Tuesday, I was in Highlands Ranch on Wednesday, and I was back in Michigan on Thursday. My mother didn’t know I had left, and I was staying with her. My father couldn’t eat, drink, walk or talk. It was nearly impossible for my sister and me to watch. He was in the hospital for the final eight months of his life. It was unfair. Our mother was in her kitchen one day, in a hospice the next, and gone a few days after that, but our father took his time. I guess it has been known for some time that Bowlen was experiencing short-term memory loss and other signs of Alzheimer’s, but most of us didn’t find out until July 23. The story dominated the Post, to the extent that there was no editorial page. Amy Van Dyken was told to say her good-byes. After her recent ATV accident in Show Low, Ariz., she was told to say good-bye to her husband. She said goodbye, but she wasn’t going anywhere. It is one of the best stories of 2014. There have been a lot of lousy stories this year, but when I get down on them, I
check in on Amy. She is going to compete in a 26.2-mile marathon in her purple wheelchair with her brother by her side. I am certain that Amy will be more active than I am, even though she is paralyzed from the waist down, and I am fully ambulatory. It’s likely that years of athletic discipline prevented the accident’s outcome from being worse than it was. Respecting life means something to me. And respecting death does too. They don’t seem to care in some parts of the world. In my least favorite part of the world, the Middle East, you get a number, not a name. It doesn’t seem to matter if you are a mother or a father or a child. It doesn’t seem to matter if you are praying at the time, reading a good book or learning how to play the violin. There will be a bomb. And the total that day will be on the news. The number of innocents who were killed. There are never any names. But here we name every single one.
Turn to teamwork for better outcome While I was facilitating a team meeting recently, the people in the room had an “aha” moment that will change the course and culture of the company and also accelerate their success. It wasn’t anything so profound, it was simply just a realization that they could accomplish more as a team than they ever could possibly do as individuals. Another one of those common-sense things that are not always common practice. This was a group of high-achieving and high-performing individuals. And since they were seen as the superstars of the company, they behaved in the same way. Egos were getting in the way of taking the team and the company to a higher level. I reminded them that even in the All Star games of professional sports, the players at the pinnacle of their game come together for one game and play for a common cause … a win. This is not an uncommon situation, and as a matter of fact, I find it to be true with small businesses and large companies alike. I see it in associations and organizations of all kinds. And I have witnessed it with families and in churches. You see, we can all benefit from finding the resources and people in our lives that can help us achieve success. Even the
I read the obituaries. I don’t know any of them, but I want to find out whatever I can. I wrote my father’s obituary, knowing that nobody knew him. I thought maybe there was someone like me who would read it with an oblique interest, and realize that he was a good man. I am 66 and some of my friends have died, and some of their mothers and fathers have died. That’s what happens when you get older. Death is no longer somewhere way out there. It’s in the next email. It’s in the next phone call. My mother and father died within three months of each other. There is an almost unexplainable emptiness that goes along with the deaths of both a mother and a father. Now what? My sister and I carry the family history. I carry most of it in my memory. I have a few photographs and a few videos, and that’s all. There is no presence. Death starts knocking when we are young. It may be a pet. I saw a dried-up lizard when I was 5 or 6, and didn’t understand what I was looking at. I do now. Leonardo da Vinci said, “While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die.” Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast. net.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR More than one `right’ answer
individual who struggles through difficult times or fights their way through incredible opportunities presented to them could benefit so much by leveraging the people in their lives that could absolutely lend a hand, give advice, or just listen to the ideas and goals. Here’s the thing, sometimes some of us worry so much about perception that we are afraid to engage others for the fear of feeling like we are not smart enough or strong enough to handle the situation or opportunity on our own. So in the face of feeling embarrassed, we go it alone. If we would only learn to lean on our families, friends, and/or other people we already know or could be introduced to, we can truly accelerate our successes in life. Take the time to think about an event Norton continues on Page 7
The slogan “red, right and blue” has everything to do with the reason our government can’t get anything done. The implication is that there is only one “right” answer, opinion or way to be. What happened to the diversity that founded this nation? What rights are being protected by the proponents of this position? They claim they stand behind the rights this country was founded on — the right to have our own opinions and to celebrate our differences — but those are the exact rights they seem to be trying to squelch. It is this expectation that there is only one “right” way that keeps our government from getting anything done. It cannot govern without the foundational skill of negotiation. It is, after all, intended (and invented) to be a government by the people for the people. We (the people) are not a homogenous, single-minded unit. We are, thankfully, diverse. Thus the need (and brilliance) of checks and balances built into our government process. If they think they can avoid negotiating, they are dreaming. And it’s a nightmare. Bev Johnson Castle Rock
AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager SCOTT ANDREWS Production Manager SHARI MARTINEZ Circulation Manager ERIN ADDENBROOKE Major Accounts and Classified 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
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Elbert County News 7
August 7, 2014
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women in Elbert County who served in the five branches of the United States Military. The third honors those wounded or killed in action, and the fourth panel affirms the freedoms of America for which veterans served. The second monument is a tribute to the history of Elbert County. Also comprising four panels, the marker relates the story of Elbert County from prehistoric times, recognizing the early settlers, Native Americans, and the
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commissioners anticipate increased revenues to the county over the long term as each taxpayer’s property values become “fair and equitable.”
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“If there’s any indication as to what Senator Udall really believes about energy policy, his record is probably a good place to start,” said Gardner spokesman Alex Siciliano. “Senator Udall’s newfound opposition to these ballot initiatives only raises more questions about his trustworthiness and extreme anti-energy agenda.” Udall said through a press statement that the ballot issues fail to “strike the right balance between protecting our clean air and water, the health of our communities, and safely developing our abundant energy resources.” “I believe that Colorado can and must do better, which is why I oppose these one-size-fits-all restrictions and will continue working with all parties — including property owners, energy producers and lawmakers — to find common
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about the downsizing if they had children. But their belongings, they say, don’t hold the same sentimental value to nieces and nephews. And being unencumbered by things, they say, gives them a freedom to pursue new passions wherever they take them. “Whatever,” Adrian said, “we want to do.” But nothing that requires having a lot of stuff. Cristin mentions an old radio ad that described the Mile High Flea Market as a
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or potential opportunity that has already taken place in your life where the outcome wasn’t exactly what you had hoped for. Now think about the people in your life that could have made a difference in that outcome. What if you had assembled a team or small group to help you, maybe even just one other individual that could have provided an assist, do you think that
Mormon Battalion who all traveled the Trappers’ Trail, also known as the Cherokee Trail. “Making monuments matters little if boys and girls don’t grow in character,” Kelly said during his speech in front of the courthouse. Kelly thanked all the people who helped him with the project, acknowledging the support from his church, fellow scouts, and his mentor, Eagle Scout project coach Lynn Southam who was the genesis of the idea and assisted Chris with the design and wording. Dignitaries in attendance at the dedication included Colorado state Rep. Timothy Dore, R-Elizabeth; Elbert County Commissioners Robert Rowland, Kurt
Schlegel and Larry Ross; and leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Also on hand were Scouts who recently participated in a re-enactment of an 1846 march by Mormon Battalion, also known as the Sick Detachment, during the war with Mexico (1846-47). The Scouts’ 15-mile commemoration of the 2,000-mile march was part of the 2014 LDS Scout Encampment of the Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts and is earned by progressing through six ranks, beginning with the rank of Tenderfoot, by earning at least 21 merit badges such as First Aid, Citizen-
ship in the Community, and Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving. In addition, each Scout must serve in a troop leadership position for six months; develop and lead a service project for a religious organization, school, or community; and take part in a Scoutmaster Conference. Once all these requirements are met, the Scout must successfully complete an Eagle Scout Board of Review. According to the Boy Scouts of America, 56,841 of its members earned the Eagle Scout rank in 2013. The final cost of the monuments came in at just under $4,000 and was paid for solely through private donations.
“Every property in Elbert County will be looked at. If anything has been missed over the years, it will be picked up. With this service, it should generate more revenue for the county and all the entities,” Mills wrote, referring to fire districts and other services provided in the county. Any increase in revenues would not be
immediate. Real properties in Elbert County are revalued in odd years, so any future revenues would be based on the timing of each valuation. No decision has been made yet as to where the inspections will begin. Kim Higgins, a partner with Eide Bailly CPA firm, praised the decision during
her presentation of the 2013 county audit to the commissioners on July 30 as a good step toward improving the county’s business practices and enhancing the availability of timely financial information. The motion passed with a unanimous vote and was enthusiastically supported by all three commissioners.
ground. That’s the Colorado way,” Udall said. Meanwhile, Republican former Congressman Bob Beauprez, who is running against Hickenlooper, pounced on the news that the governor’s effort at convening a fracking special session had ended. “All that Hickenlooper’s special session would have achieved, other than needlessly costing Colorado taxpayers thousands of dollars, would be to further bleed an industry that has done far more for Colorado’s economy and working families than anything John Hickenlooper has tried,” Beauprez said through a press statement. Hickenlooper — who is pro-fracking — had tried for several months to bring stakeholders together to seek a compromise on issues pertaining to local control over fracking operations, in order to avoid a costly fracking fight at the ballot box. While he is a backer of fracking, Hickenlooper, as a nod to environmentalists, has also made it a point in recent remarks
to highlight the state’s tough regulations on oil and gas operations.
and to environmental groups that seek significant limitations on drilling. But the issue cuts both ways, Loevy said. “The threat to Republicans might be a hidden vote of homeowners who might support Polis,” Loevy said. “If Jared Polis is able to scare a lot of homeowners on drilling and its impacts, that could hurt Republicans.” Straayer’s personal view of the issue could very well be how a lot of voters out there feel. “I drive up and down I-25 and I see all these wells and towers and (oil and gas industry) trucks that are having a clear impact on the roads — and I react negatively to that. I don’t like it,” Straayer said. “I think a lot of people, like Polis, wake up one morning and and say, `Where the hell did that thing come from?’” “On the other side of that, it creates jobs and creates energy for us. How do I wash out on that whole question? There’s a lot of conflicting perspectives in people’s heads and it’s hard to draw conclusions. I just don’t know.”
Murky issue
Political observers see challenges for all candidates on the fracking issue. Norman Provizer, a political science professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, thinks it is difficult to measure the politics of fracking, simply because there are issues within the issue itself. “In this environment, that is a message that has some power: You’re going to produce jobs and you’re opponent is going to reduce jobs,” Provizer said of how Republican candidates often talk about the fracking issue. “But you have people raising very significant questions about fracking,” added Provizer. “It’d be nice to say, `There’s no problem with fracking,’ but I wouldn’t want to be a `no problem on fracking’ guy and, while in office, have a major problem with fracking.” Loevy said Gardner could hurt Udall if he ties fracking regulations to job losses
place where the under-stuffed come to get stuff and the over-stuffed go to sell stuff. “I want to be the under-stuffed,” Cristin said. “I don’t ever want to be the overstuffed again.” A little place will be fine. Big enough to hold only basic necessities. But with unlimited room for all the memories. Ann Macari Healey’s column about people, places and issues of everyday life appears every other week. Her column earned first place in the 2013 Colorado Press Association Better Newspaper contest. She can be reached at ahealey@ coloradocommunitymedia.com or 303566-4110.
the outcome could have been improved? How about you? Do you like to go it alone or do you believe that teamwork could accelerate success? Either way I would love to hear all about it at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when we come together for the greater good or a common cause, it really will be a better than good week. Michael Norton is a resident of Highlands Ranch, the former president of the Zig Ziglar Corporation and the CEO/founder of www.candogo.com.
To place an Obituary for Your Loved One… Private 303-566-4100 Obituaries@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com
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8 Elbert County News
August 7, 2014
Horses saved by special needs group Cookies sold to raise money for horse auction By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz @coloradocommunitymedia.com There is nothing more pure in the world than the selfless act of saving a life. An idea for such noble work can come from anyone, and in one recent case, it was the brains behind “Drifter’s Hearts of Hope.” The group of special needs teens from Parker devised a plan to sell oatand-molasses cookies for horses at local businesses to benefit a rescue in Golden, and that soon morphed into a plan to personally become involved in rescuing equines. With help from Elbert County resident Jacqui Avis, the group raised $1,500 from cookie sales, private donations and a silent auction July 12. It was enough to save three horses from slaughter at an auction in Fort Collins. Bella Kirshner, a Parker teen with special needs, was the lone member of the group to attend the auction. While walking around the viewing pens, she and her mother, Jean, noticed an old mare being repeatedly kicked by a dominant male horse. They had the mare removed and decided that would be the first horse they would rescue. Drifter’s Hearts of Hope named the horse “Hope,” and it has since become a loving companion, laying its head on the shoulders of special needs children who pay a visit. “I think she knows she was rescued,” Jean Kirshner said. They also picked up a 5-year-old Appaloosa they named “Spirit,” and thanks
to a last-minute push by Avis, they wound up with a third horse they did not originally plan on taking home. That one, a paint horse, was later dubbed “Clarity,” and it has since drawn interest from people who want to adopt it. Through the organization’s Facebook page, they also found separate homes for a miniature horse, donkey and quarter horse, bringing their total rescue tally for the day to six animals. Before the auction, the group put out a plea on its Facebook page for a donation of land. Avis’s neighbor volunteered the land — “the one piece we didn’t have,” Kirshner said — and the special needs kids and their parents repaired fences and got the pasture ready for its grateful new occupants, Hope and Spirit. The group responsible for saving them got a chance to say hello July 24, and everything suddenly became real. “They were just overjoyed and surprised,” Kirshner said of the meeting. Drifter’s Hearts of Hope got its name and mission from a chance opportunity. Last year, a friend of a friend who rescued a horse suggested inviting Bella over for an impromptu session of hippotherapy, a practice that pairs horses with disadvantaged kids and adults to improve neurological function and form bonds. Bella groomed “Drifter” and went to a veterinary hospital to help apply bandages after the horse underwent surgery. Drifter’s owners immediately noticed a difference in his demeanor, and Bella’s mother said her 13-year-old daughter became more responsible and confident than ever. “People with special needs have people caring for them, but they don’t often have the opportunity to be responsible
From left, Patrick Zimmerman, Ian Malcolm, Bella Kirshner, volunteer Carlos Castro Robinson and Alison Halula hang out with one of the horses they saved from slaughter. Photo by Christine Robinson for somebody or something else,” said Kirshner, a first-grade teacher at Mammoth Heights Elementary School in Parker. Knowing that they tapped into something worth further exploration, Kirshner, Bella and Bella’s special needs friends made oat-and-molasses Christ-
What’s on the horizon. Lone Tree, Colorado
Put us on your summer calendar. The RidgeGate community is thriving this season, with many fun, free events that will inspire you and your family to reconnect with nature, move your body, and meet your neighbors. Plan now to join us. Friday, August 8, 4–5:30pm
necessary, and no registration is required! Classes take
RidgeGate Walk Concert: Chuck Pyle Duo
place on the last Tuesday of each month throughout the
Location: Prairie Sky Park (just west of the Rec Center)
summer, with a special Harvest Moon class from 7--8pm
Enjoy a concert out on the grass with free live music, food
on September 9. In case of rain or lightning, class will be
trucks and activities. This month, enjoy contemporary folk
held inside the Lone Tree Rec Center. Ages 8+.
musician Chuck Pyle and his band. Take a walk on the one-mile paved path around the park, grab something to
Saturday, August 30, 1–2:30pm
eat at a food truck and enjoy the summer sounds.
Guided Tour of Historic Schweiger Ranch
In case of rain, the concert will be held inside the
Learn about the history of this longtime working
Lone Tree Rec Center.
homestead, founded by the Austrian Schweiger brothers in 1874. Today, the Schweiger Ranch is protected as
Free Nature Hike: Where the Buffalo Roam Location: Register online to receive details
Our hike in RidgeGate’s buffalo country will lead us through a timeline of cultural connection to the bison.
an historic landmark by Douglas County. See ongoing restorations of the ranch’s buildings, and learn about its long history with Anne Walton, property caretaker. Register at ridgegate.com/events.
We’ll have touchable artifacts and great views of
Sunday, August 31, 3– 4:30pm
where the bison once dominated the landscape as far as
Free Hiking and Wildlife Safety Workshop
the eye could see. Bring along your friends and family to
Location: Lone Tree Recreation Center
this gentle 2-mile summer evening hike. Ages 5+.
Join the Lone Tree Police Department’s Animal Control
Register at ridgegate.com/events.
Tuesday, August 26, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Free Yoga in the Park Location: Belvedere Park (between RidgeGate Parkway and RidgeGate Circle on Belvedere Lane)
Show off your best tree pose at this free Yoga in the Park class in Belvedere Park. No yoga experience is
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Lone Tree, Colorado
Saturday, August 23, 6:30– 8pm
mas cookies last December, and that got the ball rolling on a cause that is certain to gather steam. The goal of Drifter’s Hearts of Hope is to find homes for Hope and Spirit to make room for more rescues. To get involved or donate, visit the group’s Facebook page.
Officer, Dennis Page, for a presentation about living safely and in harmony with the wildlife who also call our community home. How do you tell the difference between a harmless bull snake and a rattlesnake, and what should you do when you see a coyote? Volunteers from The Wildlife Experience will have hands-on materials to explore, too. Ages 8+. Register at ridgegate.com/events.
over two days of testimony here and in Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Washington. State Rep. Max Tyler, D-Lakewood, who is the chairman of the House Transportation and Energy Committee, testified on behalf of the regulations July 29. He said afterward that any industry job loss would pale in comparison to the economic impact that would continue to occur if climate change isn’t taken more seriously. “As we change the climate, there’s going to be millions of jobs that disappear,” said Tyler. “There’s no comparison at all between what’s going to happen in the next 30 years and the fact that the coal industry has to change.” Tyler and Arend said that Colorado has already taken the lead nationally in stemming carbon emissions. They point to recent legislation that has increased renewable energy mandates on utility companies and rural electric cooperatives, as well as other state regulations that promote natural gas and that have helped to clean up coal plants. States would have leeway in how they implement the administration’s rules. Because of that, Arend said he doesn’t see much of a job impact at coal plants because Colorado has already put in place strong regulations. “In Colorado, we’ve taken a lot of steps and we’re well on our way to meeting what the EPA is asking us to do,” he said. “If Colorado doesn’t have to do a whole lot more, I don’t see how that can impact those jobs.” But Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez doesn’t buy that argument. He said prior to speaking at the Lincoln Park rally that energy industry regulations are already having an adverse impact and that adding more rules is an “ill conceived” policy direction on the part of the Obama administration. “All of us want clean air and clean water,” Beauprez said. “The people that are closest to the industry ought to be concerned about negative impacts more than anybody, and they’re the ones here saying, `Let us keep our jobs.’ We have never done energy cleaner, safer, more efficient in the history of mankind. That’s something we ought to celebrate, not punish.” But supporters of the regulations say complacency is not an option. “I hate to say something extreme,” Tyler said. “But there is absolutely no doubt that humans are destroying the climate that allows us to have an economy at all. There is no doubt at all that humans are causing serious climate disruption. It’s as certain as gravity.”
HAVE A LEGISLATIVE QUESTION? Email Colorado Community Media Legislative Reporter Vic Vela at vvela@coloradocommunitymedia. com or call him at 303-566-4132.
9-Life
August 7, 2014
S O U T H
LIFE
Elbert County News 9
M E T R O
Local artists show Western works Gray, Phippen exhibit set for Town Hall gallery By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe@ coloradocommunitymedia.com Skilled paintings of cowboys, horses and the Western landscape will fill the Stanton Gallery at Littleton’s Town Hall Arts Center during the month of August, especially during Western Welcome Week, with the Western Heritage Art Show. The exhibit opens Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Robert Gray of Highlands Ranch and Sarah Phippen of Sedalia will exhibit images of horses, cowboys and Western landscapes. An artists’ reception is planned from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 14, and the exhibit ends Aug. 25. Robert Gray is a Colorado-born artist who paints in watercolor, oil and acrylics, showing lots of action, color and loose style. He will have 20 paintings in the Western Heritage exhibit and is excited about being in downtown Littleton, where he maintained a studio and taught for some years on West Alamo Avenue. He conducts workshops all over Colorado and paints almost every day in his home studio. “My house is just full of paintings,” he said with a laugh. “”I love to paint.” He works from photographs and memory and uses little plastic model horses. “Sometimes, I paint the horse, then just put the cowboy in the saddle,” he said. He doesn’t sketch in figures for oil or acrylic works, but may do a little pencil sketch of figure for his watercolors. A recent painting of a cowboy on a horse in the middle of a stream — fly fishing — is called “It Beats Chasin’ Cattle.” It reflects a new interest. His son got interested in fly fishing and they both signed up for a class in fly tying. Gray hasn’t caught many fish yet, but loves “the beauty of the location.” He said his brother was a better painter when they were young, but while Gray continued painting, his brother quit. “I picked up publications and art books, attended workshops all over the country,” he said. “What’s neat when I teach is that I learn from my students.” Whatever medium he’s using is his favorite on that day, he said. He’s figured out his own way to use acrylics and paints fast, whatever he’s using — even
“Cowboy Lore,” watercolor, is included in the Western Welcome Week Western Heritage exhibit at Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton. Courtesy photos
oils, where he might spend a few days. Watercolors can get overworked if the artist doesn’t stop in time. (No more than two hours.)
Phippen to show oils Phippen said all of her works in this show will be oil paintings, although she also sculpts in bronze. Her formal training began at age 14, according to her website, and she has since studied with Jim Norton, Daniel Sprick, Sandra Kaplan and Anthony J. Ryder. Her grandfather was sculptor, painter and founder of Cowboy Artists of America George Phippen, and she was recognized in 2013 by the Phippen Museum Western Art Show in Prescott, Ariz. “I grew up surrounded by livestock and wildlife,” Phippen writes. “Observing their personalities and expressions allowed me to experience their quiet moments or read trouble in their eyes. I see this heritage as part of our age-old relationship with animals; it is part of being human, a privilege that surrounds us every day.” As part of her training, Phippen worked as a wax chaser at the Joseph’s Art Works bronze foundry in Sheridan, operated by the late Bill Joseph’s son Patrick. She assisted with a 2004 retrospective for George Phippen, held at the Phippen Museum, and developed an art enrichment program for elementary students. A true Western artist, Phippen’s website reads, she belongs to the Art Students League of Denver and to the Colorado Farm Bureau. “Communicating emotions in a visual language, either in painting or sculpture, requires a fluency in light, color, form, as well as patient observations … Observe and observe again and look for the reasons behind expressions. How — and why — does a horse smile? That’s what I’m after.” She thinks she will have about eight paintings: two large horses, a 16-by-20 landscape and some smaller studies. New for her: two light figures on a dark background.
“Fly Fishing Cowboy” by Robert Gray, acrylic, is in the Western Welcome Week Western Heritage Arts Show at Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton.
IF YOU GO The Western Heritage Art Show will open Aug. 9 and run through Aug. 25 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main Street in downtown Littleton. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 9. Public reception is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 14. 303-794-2787, townhallartscenter.com.
“Answering the Call” oil on linen by Sarah Phippen of Sedalia is in the Western Heritage Exhibit at Town Hall’s Stanton Gallery during August.
“Scouting, oil by Robert Gray, is in the Western Heritage exhibit at Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton.
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10 Elbert County News
August 7, 2014
Author offers toddler tips in presentation
Dr. Tovah Klein, author of “How Toddlers Thrive,” adviser for “Sesame Street” and director of the Barnard Center for Toddler Development, will speak and answer questions from parents and caregivers at Smoky Hill Library, 5430 Biscay Circle, Centennial, on Aug. 14. From 5:30-6:30 p.m. there will be a free picnic and book purchases. Her presentation, book signing and a children’s program will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (A separate Klein children’s program, limited to the first 40 to register, will be available for children 3-10 during the presentation portion.) Registration for the picnic is also limited to the first 40 children. Free and open to the public, but registration is required: arapahoelibraries.org, 303-LIBRARY.
Summer jazz
“Jazz on the Green,” a free late-summer concert by Highlands Ranch Concert Band’s big-band group, Swing Shift, will be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at Civic Green Park, 9370 Ridgeline Blvd. in Highlands
Ranch. Bring a picnic and enjoy bigband arrangements and swing. Information about the concert or band membership: hrconcertband.org, Kelley Messall at 303-683-4102.
is Colorado” exhibit. It will be held Oct. 21-Nov. 14 at Arapahoe Community College’s Colorado Gallery of the Arts, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. Mary Allman Koernig is juror. Entry fee for three items: $15 ACC students; $30 HFAG members; $34 non-members. Deadline is Aug. 15. Contact Mary Kay Jacobus for entry form, 303-741-5875 or mkstudio@comcast.net. Mail form, check, CD with images, SASE to Mary Kay Jacobus, 6080 Jamaica Circle, Englewood, CO 80111-5749.
Letterpress lessons
“Anatomy of a Children’s Book — Cover to Cover” is Loretta Oakes’ topic when she speaks to the Parker Writers Group from 2-4 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Parker Library, 10851 Crossroads Drive, Parker. Oakes is an engineer turned mom, turned elementary teacher, who has published two board books. No registration needed.
Englewood Letterpress Depot will host a Traveling Workshop, for those who want to learn this skill, on the third Sunday of each month, August to November. They will build a portfolio of hand-printed posters. Aug. 17, David Ashley Studio; Sept. 21, Metro State University Letterpress Lab; Oct. 19, Inter-Ocean Curiosity Studio; Nov. 16, Englewood Depot if possible (renovation is underway). Fee: $200. Sign up by Aug. 17: englewooddepot@gmail.com.
Reminder to artists
Exhibits at MOA
Writing for kids
Heritage Fine Arts Guild has a statewide call for artists for its annual “This
Several open exhibits are being held at Museum Outdoor Arts, 1000 Engle-
wood Parkway in Englewood. Design and Build 2014: Elements and Isotopes; MOA Alumni Show: Maeve Eichelberger, Kai Mazurzcyk, Kelly M. Jones; “Short Circuit” by Michele Brower; “Jelly Mind Fields” by Lael Siler. 303-806-0444, moaonline.org.
Free day at Still Museum
Local museums that benefit from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District offer occasional free days for area citizens. The beautiful Clyfford Still Museum at 1250 Bannock St., Denver, which holds 95 percent of the artist’s work, will offer a free day to Douglas County residents on Aug. 13 and to Jefferson County residents on Aug. 27. Architects from across the country come to admire the structure as well as the art. Clyffordstillmuseum.org.
Basket Bazaar
Life Care Center of Littleton kicks off its annual Basket Bazaar fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Association research on Aug. 13 from 4-6 p.m., 1500 W. Mineral Ave, Littleton. Bid on the options, and winners will be notified Aug. 29. Guests at the kickoff will be entered to win an HP TouchSmart laptop. 303-795-7300.
‘On Golden Pond’ on stage at Barth Senior Housing Options has summer play program By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe @coloradocommunitymedia.com Ernest Thompson’s well-loved play, “On Golden Pond,” with its window on aging, is certainly an appropriate choice for an environmental production at Senior Housing Options’ historic Barth Hotel in downtown Denver, which serves about 62 assisted-living residents. The lobby becomes a stage for a few weeks each summer when a seasoned cast and crew produce a popular play, with proceeds benefitting SHO’s residents in 14 locations including Denver, Cortez, Granby, Kremmling, Longmont and Parachute. The loons are back on Golden Pond, a idyllic New England summer vacation spot, where retired professor Norman Thayer and his loving wife Ethel have visited for many years. It’s Norman’s 80th birthday and their middle-aged divorced daughter, Chelsea, whom they haven’t seen for a long time, appears with a new boyfriend and his teenage son. Chelsea asks them to care for Billy Ray Jr. while she and her boyfriend go to Europe, and Norman and Ethel find a grandson.
This is the seventh annual theater production at the Barth and is directed for a third year by Ashlee Temple. Veteran actors Larry Hecht and Billie McBride play the Thayers, with Tara Falk as Chelsea, Drew Horwitz as Billie Ray Sr., Shem Brown as Billie Ray Jr., and John Fortmiller as Charlie the mailman, who long ago had a crush on Chelsea. Old resentments are revisited and new relationships are formed as we spend a summer with the Thayer family.
IF YOU GO “On Golden Pond” is performed in the historic lobby of the Barth Hotel, 1514 17th St. in downtown Denver, built in 1882. It has original windows, pressed tin ceilings, oak mezzanine and steel columns. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 30 (no show Aug. 14). Tickets are $25 general admission and $35 for preferred seating: 303-595-4464, ext 10; seniorhousingoptions.org. These performances tend to sell out, so advance reservations are recommended.
Billie McBride and Larry Hecht as the Thayers in “On Golden Pond” at the Barth Hotel. Photo by Michael Ensminger
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Sept. 3 at 6:00 p.m. A gifted guitarist and vocalist whose musical influences include Southern Gospel and Johnny Cash.
COMEDY WORKS
PRESENTS STEVE “MUDFLAP” McGREW and CHRIS VOTH Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Colorado’s own comedic veterans have shared the stage with celebrated comics, from Craig Ferguson to Dave Chappelle.
DOKTOR KABOOM
LOOK OUT, SCIENCE IS COMING! Sept. 8 at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Learn about modern science in the laboratory of laughter.
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Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The iconic 80s band that brought you “Eye of the Tiger.”
BUY TICKETS AT www.ParkerArts.org OR CALL 303.805.6800
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11
Elbert County News 11
August 7, 2014
Student art shown at Castle Rock hospital ‘Beautiful space’ aims to boost healing By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe @coloradocommunitymedia.com Twenty-two pieces of artwork by Douglas County High School students “gave us a gift — a positive and beautiful space within the hospital,” said curator/artist Mary Williams of Castle Pines, speaking about an exhibit at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital. Williams places art in three area Adventist hospitals: Castle Rock, Parker and Littleton, for two-month periods. The theme of this show is “Nature and Healing.” “Research consistently demonstrates the proven healing and restorative benefits of integrating arts into hospital environment,” Williams wrote. “In particular, inspirational images of nature evoke a tranquil, thoughtful and peaceful experience for the viewer. These visual experiences of nature can help create a more positive perspective and mood, resulting in a greater sense of health and well-being.” The Healing Arts program, directed by Jude Keller, is sponsored by the hospital’s foundation and a gift from a Castle Rock donor, Aloha Trust, a family trust honoring H. Everist, the founding donor for
LEFT: “Multiple Image of Girl’s Face and Flowers” by Katie Kearl is in the Douglas County High School exhibit at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital. ABOVE: “Grandma’s Hands” by J.P. Beach is also exhibited in the DCHS art show at the hospital. Courtesy photos the Youth, Art and Wellness program at Castle Rock Adventist. Todd Folkenberg, hospital CEO, said, “We are always looking for creative ways to partner with our community on advancing wellness. Our partnership with Douglas County High School is a perfect
example. I look forward to seeing the creative interpretation through art of wellness and nature by students in our community.” Williams approached DCHS art teachers Cindy Ross and Brooke Speegle about an exhibit in the fall of 2013. “The students were tasked with creating visuals around themes such as: hope, peace, beauty and serenity and strength through nature and the human spirit,” Williams said. DCHS is one of only two schools in the Douglas County district that offers a comprehensive, high-level, multidisciplinary art program through AP courses and the IB diploma program, Williams added. The hospital’s foundation will offer People’s Choice and Critic’s Choice monetary awards. Judging will be based on overall creativity, originality and imagination. Readers are invited to visit and cast a vote on ballots available at the in-
formation desk in the lobby. An artists’ reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Aug. 19 — a good opportunity to view the art and cast a vote. “Nature is full of beauty in which many individuals can find serenity; it is also native to its surroundings. That is why I chose to combine a photo of a young girl and flowers to create this image. I wanted to portray how we perceive the innocence and peacefulness of nature individually in order to find tranquility in our own lives,” said young artist Katie Kearl about her “Multiple Image of Girl’s Face and Flowers.”
IF YOU GO Castle Rock Adventist Hospital is located at 2350 Meadows Blvd., Castle Rock. The artists’ reception is on Aug. 19, from 5-7 p.m.
“Make a Wish” by Morgan Bidwell is in the DCHS exhibit at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital.
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AUGUST 7 - 10, 2014 DOUGLASCOUNTYFAIRANDRODEO.COM
12 Elbert County News
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Name Changes PUBLIC NOTICE
Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name
Public notice is given on July 23, 2014 that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Elbert County Court. The Petition requests that the name of Mark Joseph Johnson be changed to Mia Jasmine Johnson. Case No.: 2014 C 121 Palmer L. Boyette County Court Judge
Legal Notice No: 23008 First Publication: August 7, 2014 Last Publication: August 21, 2014 Publisher: Elbert County News
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Richard Herrera, a South Metro Chamber member, poses with fellow Chamber attendees at the Adatto Launch Party
Adatto is custom menswear company that sells custom suits with a focus on reflecting each customer’s personal style. The company feels that “The right suit makes every man feel confident, attractive, and successful. And the right suit is a custom suit — tailored to fit and designed with the individual in mind.” Clients can choose the fit and fabric of each suit, blazer, pant or shirt, in order to reflect their personality.
Without public notices, the government wouldn’t have to say anything else.
Notices are meant to be noticed. Read your public notices and get involved!
Calendar of Events
ADATTO Custom Menswear Launch Party attendees provided by Modern Gladiator Magazine. Several drawings for customs shirts and suits were also held, and free fittings were available. Adatto employees modeled the company’s various custom menswear offerings.
“Trust Us!” 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 to know. You know where to look, when to look and what to look for to be involved as a citizen. Local newspapers provide you with the information you need to get involved.
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On Wednesday, July 23, Adatto Custom Menswear hosted a launch party with the South Metro Denver Chamber. Several hundred people attended the event. The company greeted attendees with small plates and specialty cocktails from the event’s host location Session Kitchen, and a specially constructed “Swag Bag” for all
August 7, 2014
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The five steps of Adatto style: Meet: Schedule an appointment with your Style Consultant. Measure: You choose the fit; we get what we need to make it happen. Personalize: Pick your fabric, accessories, and individual details. Construct: We handcraft and tailor your 100% custom piece. Deliver: In 4-6 weeks we deliver the goods, backed by our Perfect Fit Guarantee.
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For more information or to schedule your appointment visit http://adattocustom.com/. For more information regarding South Metro Denver Chamber events and membership opportunities please visit www. bestchamber.com or call 303-795-0142.
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Chamber events and for more information, visit our web site at www.bestchamber.com or call 303-795-0142.
Friday, August 1-Saturday, August 2 6:00 pm – 6:00 am, deKoevend Park, 6301 S University Blvd, Centennial, CO
Saturday, August 2 Join Goodwill Denver for the Grand Opening Celebration of the Home Store 8:30 am – 3:00 pm, Goodwill Home Store, 8260 S. Colorado Blvd. (at County Line Rd.), Centennial, CO
Tuesday, August 5 8:00 am - 9:00 am, Hamilton Middle School, 8600 E Dartmouth Ave, Denver, CO
Thursday, August 7 Douglas County’s 4TH Annual Chamber Night at the Fair 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Douglas County Fairgrounds Fairgrounds Indoor Arena, 500 Fairgrounds Drive, Castle Rock, Castle Rock, CO
Congressman Mike Coffman and Andrew Romanoff Debate Open to Public On Thursday, August 14, Congressman Mike Coffman and former Colorado Speaker of the House, Andrew Romanoff will take part in a congressional debate. The event is open to the public from 7:30 am to 9:00 am at the Hilton Garden InnHighlands Ranch. “As the host for this debate we want to ensure our community learns the candidates’ positions on issues that will affect businesses in Colorado,” said Robert Golden, president/CEO of the South Metro Denver Chamber. This race for CD6 is one of the top three Congressional races in the nation and will be closely contested. Topics to be debated include the Keystone XL Pipeline; immigration; national security; fix the debt; government’s role in business The moderator for the event will be Aaron Harber, host of “The Aaron Harber Show TM” and “The Aaron Harber Show: Colorado Now TM.” For more information or to RSVP please visit www.bestchamber.com or call 303-795-0142. Please arrive early to secure a seat. Event hosted by business leaders from the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce and the Denver South Economic Development Partnership.
Saturday, August 9 Englewood Funfest 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, Belleview Park, 5001 S. Inca Street, Littleton, CO
Thursday, August 14 ANB Bank is a bank like no other. As a $2 billion, independent, community-focused bank, they value customers as members of a banking family where the strength, talent, commitment and security fulfill the financial needs of the businesses and individuals. Whether the financial needs are for deposit services, business or personal loans, or investment management & trust services, ANB customers will experience: Creative and flexible solutions to satisfy their financial needs A bank that continues to be recognized for its financial strength and sound banking practices keeping customers’ deposits safe Lending limits large enough to support each customer’s growth A team of outstanding local bankers that know and care about customers’ business Customizable banking products and enhanced technology to make life easier The delivery of personalized, one-on-one, over-the-top service
Congressional Debate with Congressman Mike Coffman and Andrew Romanoff Open to Public 7:30 am – 9:00 am, Hilton Garden Inn-Highlands Ranch, 1050 Plaza Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO
And, every day, a commitment to invest in the Bank’s customers, its communities and its ANB Bank team! ANB currently has 33 banking centers located in Colorado, Wyoming and the Kansas City market. Its parent company is Sturm Financial Group, Inc. headquartered in Denver, Colorado and has financial strength embodied in over $2 billion in assets and ranks in the top 6% of banks nationwide by size. The bank is a true community bank serving customers with an unwavering commitment to excellence and to helping each of its communities prosper through investment, sponsorship, philanthropy, and employee volunteerism. It is a passion ANB has for banking that makes the difference. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. For more information visit www.ANBbank.com.
13-Calendar
Elbert County News 13
August 7, 2014
Parker Lutheran High School’s Jubilate Choir will perform at the 2015 Colorado Music Educators Conference at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Courtesy photo
Lutheran choir to sing in Springs Parker students going to state conference By Sonya Ellingboe sellingboe @coloradocommunitymedia.com “Lutherans have a wonderful tradition of singing and music throughout our history. It is a privilege to carry that on in our schools and churches today,” said Christopher Lo-
esel, choir director at Parker Lutheran High School. He is elated because he has learned that the 14 members of his select Jubilate Choir will sing for the Colorado Music Educators Association at the annual January state conference — an exciting opportunity for the students, and for him. It is scheduled Jan. 28-31 at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. “Choosing a program for a group of music educators is exciting, but also challenging,” he replied to our query. “As I’m planning the repertoire, one thing that I look at is including
a mix of timeless choral classics with some newer pieces. I think it is important to include some recently composed pieces to give the music educators some new ideas that they can consider for their choral programs. “It is my goal to select a program that represents who we are as a school, while also representing a wide variety of musical styles and periods … At this point, the program is still a work in progress. I know that there will be several languages throughout the concert, some pieces from the sacred repertoire, some pieces utilizing well-known poetry and prob-
ably a spiritual or two.” Loesel said the Jubilate Choir performs a diverse repertory in a variety of settings: at church services, schools, competitions, music showcases and tours in the spring. Members develop a family feeling among themselves as they create beautiful music together. “While we are extremely honored to be a part of the conference, we want to stay focused on the reason that we sing and that is to bring glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Loesel concluded.
THINGS TO DO EDITOR’S NOTE: Calendar submissions must be received by noon Wednesday for publication the following week. Send listings to calendar@coloradocommunitymedia.com. No attachments, please. Listings are free and run on a space-available basis. EARLY EASTERN Migration Program PARKER GENEALOGICAL Society welcomes Diane Barbour, PLCGS, president of the Broomfield Genealogical Society and vice president of the Boulder Genealogical Society. Program on “Early Eastern Migration: The Road to Expansion and First Roads East of the Appalation Mountains” is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Stroh Ranch Fire Station, 19310 Stroh Road. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.
OUTBACK EXPRESS August Schedule THE OUTBACK Express, a public transit service provided through the East Central Council of Local Governments, will take passengers from Simla and Matheson to Colorado Springs Aug. 18; from Simla and Matheson to Limon on Aug. 28; from Kiowa, Elizabeth and Elbert to Parker or Colorado Springs Aug. 19; and from Elizabeth to Colorado Springs or Parker on Aug. 12. Good Samaritan Nursing Home residents may ride on Aug. 14. Reservations are appreciated; call Kay Campbell, 719- 541-4275, or the ECCOG office, 800-825-0208. Visit http://outbackexpress.tripod.com. ELBERT DAY Festival THE ELBERT Day Festival, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat-
urday, Aug. 16, will feature a country breakfast, pancake race, art booths, craft/food vendors, live music by Barry Ward and Carlos Washington. A parade and old time games for all ages included. Antique cars, petting zoo, pony rides, roping, 5K race. Call 303-648-3611 or email elberttowncommittee@gmail.com.
TRIBUTE TO Vietnam Veterans A TRIBUTE to Vietnam Veterans will take place Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Elbert County Fairgrounds in Kiowa. Joseph DiLeonardo, a Vietnam veteran is the organizer, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10649 will act as co-host. Doors open at 11 a.m. and vets are encouraged to bring memorabilia that can be displayed on tables at the exhibit hall. The VFW will serve food by
crossword • sudoku
GALLERY OF GAMES & weekly horoscope
donation at 11:30 a.m., and the formal presentations commence at 1 p.m. DiLeonardo, author of “Vietnam War Defining Moment for America” will give a presentation, followed by other Vietnam veterans addressing the audience and sharing their experiences in the War and when they returned home. They will also share their observations and opinions about America forty years later. A petition to support Senate Bill 409 to make March 29 an annual day of remembrance for Vietnam Vets, will be circulated for signatures at this event. Any Vietnam veterans interested in speaking at this event should contact Joseph DiLeonardo at amlion68@hotmail.com. Any questions should also be directed to DiLeonardo at 303-646-3740 or amlion68@hotmail.com.
SALOME’S STARS FOR THE WEEK OF AUG 4, 2014
ARIES (Mar 21 to Apr 19) Technology snafus tax your patience. But before you throw that computer or oth er bulky hardware into the trash, take a deep breath and call someone knowledgeable for help. TAURUS (Apr 20 to May 20) Don’t be too upset if your generosity goes unappreciated. These things happen, and rather than brood over it, move on. A new friend could open up some exciting new possibilities. GEMINI (May 21 to Jun 20) A loved one helps you get through an especially difficult emotional situation. Spend the weekend immersed in the body and soul restorative powers of music and the other arts.
crossword • sudoku & weekly horoscope
GALLERY OF GAMES
CANCER (Jun 21 to Jul 22) You are pretty much in charge of what you want to do this week. However, it might be a good idea to keep an open mind regarding suggestions from people you know you can trust. LEO (Jul 23 to Aug 22) Another chance to shine (something always dear to the Lion’s heart) might be resented by others. But you earned it, so enjoy it. The weekend brings news about a family member. VIRGO (Aug 23 to Sept 22) A suggestion that never took off could become viable again. Dust it off, update it if necessary, and resubmit it. In your personal life, a new relationship takes an “interesting” turn. LIBRA (Sept 23 to Oct 22) Confronting a new challenge to your stated position could work to your advantage by settling all doubts once you’re able to present a solid defense backed up by equally solid facts. SCORPIO (Oct 23 to Nov 21) You enjoy doing nice things for others. But this is a good time to do something nice for yourself as well. You might want to start by planning a super-special getaway weekend. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 to Dec 21) Some changes you feel you need to make might be reasonable and appropriate. But others might lead to new problems. Think things through carefully before you act. CAPRICORN (Dec 22 to Jan 19) Good instincts usually keep the sure-footed Goat on the right path. So, what others might see as stubbornness on your part, in fact reflects your good sense of what is worth supporting. AQUARIUS (Jan 20 to Feb 18) A period of introspection could lead to some surprising conclusions -- and also equally surprising changes -- involving a number of your long-held positions on several issues. PISCES (Feb 19 to Mar 20) The financially practical Pisces might want to take a sensible approach to spending as well as investing. Being prudent now pays off later. A romantic situation moves into another phase. BORN THIS WEEK: Your sense of curiosity keeps you continually alert for what’s new about people, places and things. © 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
14-Sports
14 Elbert County News
SPORTS
August 7, 2014
Campers watch as Jim Faddis provides some instructions on how to properly hit iron shots during the Team Semper Fi golf camp at Inverness Golf club. Photos by Jim Benton
Wounded vets recover through sport Three-day golf camp boosts confidence, camaraderie By Jim Benton
jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia. com It appeared like a normal golf lesson with small groups of golfers hitting chip shots long, hooking a few shots off the practice tee and leaving putts short. However, there were also many good shots that brought high fives and huge smiles to the faces of these novice golfers. The golfers were Marines and other wounded Armed Forces veterans who were taking part in a three-day golf camp July 22-24 at Inverness Golf Club in unincorporated Arapahoe County. Team Semper Fi is the athletic program for Semper Fi Fund that invited the group of 22 veterans to help bolster their recoveries by teeing it up and having some fun. “Team Semper Fi’s motto is recovery through sport,” said Casey Fisher who is the program director for the athletic program. “What we strive to do at every event whether it is like this, a triathlon event, camp, or marathon is to provide an opportunity and a situation that is safe, comfortable and can aid in their recovery. “They not only learned something but something they can take with them and share with their other Marines that are injured and may not have been a part of this to help them in their recovery. Traumatic Brain Injury is a scary thing. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is also a very scary thing. These service members need to know that somebody cares about them after they’re out, whether it’s the VA or a group like ours, their family or whomever.” Chris Bowers was injured in 2007 during combat operations in Western Iraq and had his left leg amputated below the knee. Bowers has been playing golf competitively for three years but came to Arapahoe County from Virginia with hopes of introducing other injured servicemen to the game and boost their recoveries. “To see the change from not being able to hit a ball to hitting great shots was really neat to watch,” said Bowers. “At lot of these guys had never played a round of golf. To watch them get frustrated then hit a good shot and build confidence was neat. Having an outlet to go out and compete is really cool. “Golf was a good part of getting me out of the hospital and back outside. I learned
Chris Bowers practices his chip shots during the Team Semper Fi golf camp at Inverness Golf Club. to play golf after I lost my leg. It’s really been an outlet for me. I take it seriously and push myself to play well. In my group I had one guy out of three that had played 18 holes. We kept it upbeat and light and he said it was one of the best days he’s ever had after his injury.” Keith Jeter, who was deployed to Afghanistan, had only played golf once seven years ago prior to the three-day camp that concluded with an 18-hole round. “I learned a lot, like how to swing, how to stand and be calm,” he said. “I got mad a couple times and I could tell that I was doing bad. “This week has helped me a lot. I met a lot of cool guys, got numbers and contacts if I need anything. It was a good time to get away. We had fun all week.” Inverness assistant golf professional Jim Edfors headed the list of instructors. “It was presented to them as a game of a
lifetime and it is something they can carry with them into old age,” said Edfors. “They were all looking for something new having been injured in war and trying to rebuild their lives. “Golf is something that is accessible for them and they were excited about it. A lot of these guys are athletes, they are looking to do something athletic again. There wasn’t any quit in them.” Rick Ellefson, a Colorado PGA pro who helped tutor the golfers, was impressed. “They were really ecstatic about being here,” he said. “It was a good break from where they’ve been at and it helped the mind a little bit because a lot of them have been struggling with their injuries or their traumatic brain injury or PTSD. It was great medication for them. “I played with the group I worked with in a scramble using my ball as well but we didn’t use my ball every shot, not even
close. There were a lot of good shots out of those guys. They did really well.” Fisher claims he often receives good response from some veterans after the various athletic events offered. “We do these mini rodeos for 10 or 12 guys that come out,” related Fisher. “One of these guys was borderline suicidal. The only time he could function or get back into being a normal guy again was on a horse. I remember when I first met him, he was fighting all the time, just angry. He was angry at the world because he had been blown up and he has PTSD and his knees are bad and he used to be this unbelievable athlete. “But when he’s around a horse he’s the happiest guy you’ll ever meet. We actually donated a horse to him so he could ride whenever he wants. He’s said multiple times to me, `you’ve saved my life.’ I get chills talking about it.”
15
Elbert County News 15
August 7, 2014
Daily pro rodeo events set for fair Hall of Fame class slated to be inducted on Aug. 9
RODEO EVENT DICTIONARY
By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com The Douglas County Fair and Rodeo is bringing elite-level professional riding to Castle Rock. At the fair, which runs from Aug.7-10, there will be three Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events. Each day, spectators will be able to see bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, team roping and bull riding. “This is the highest level of professional rodeo. You’re going to get to see the best of the best,” said Gary Debus, chair of the marketing committee for the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo. The Patriot Rodeo will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 8. Veterans and military men and women will be honored at the event and spectators are encouraged to wear red. Anyone with a military ID, active or retired, will receive one free rodeo admission. At 7 p.m. Aug.9, the fair will be celebrating 35 years of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame by inducting the Class of 2014.
‘We’ve raised the bar on our bull-riding competition with the Xtreme Bulls.’ Gary Debus, Douglas County Fair and Rodeo Marketing Committee chair
Seth Coursen of Evansville, Wyo., holds on tight during his saddle bronc ride during last year’s Douglas County Fair and Rodeo. File photo Many of the inductees are expected to be in attendance. At 1 p.m. Aug. 10 will be the Tough Enough to Wear Pink Rodeo. Spectators are encouraged to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness. “While you can see all of the events each day, each rodeo will have a cause attached to it that the fair is supporting,”
Debus said. The rodeo events kick off at 7 p.m. Aug.7 with Xtreme Bulls. This is sometimes referred to as the most dangerous event in professional rodeo. “We’ve raised the bar on our bull-riding competition with the Xtreme Bulls,” Debus said. “It’s going to be a great setup, a really exciting event.”
Bareback riding: A single-handhold, eight-second ride which starts with the cowboy’s feet held in a position over the break of the horse’s shoulders until the horse’s front feet touch the ground on the first jump out of the chute. The rider earns points by maintaining upper body control while moving his feet in a toes-turned-out rhythmic motion in time with the horse’s bucking action. Steer wrestling: This event requires the cowboy to lean from the running horse onto the back of a 600-pound steer, catch it behind the horns, stop the steer’s forward momentum and wrestle it to the ground with all four of its legs and head pointing the same direction. Saddle bronc riding: Known as rodeo’s classic event, saddle bronc riding is judged similarly to bareback riding but there are additional possibilities to being disqualified; that is, losing a stirrup or dropping the thickly braided rein that is attached to the horse’s halter. Tie-down roping: Once the calf has been roped, the cowboy dismounts and runs down the length of the rope to the calf. When the calf is on the ground, the cowboy ties three legs together with a 6-foot pigging string. Cowgirls barrel racing: A horse race with turns. The cowgirl’s time begins as she rides her horse across the starting line in the arena. She makes a run around three upright barrels, which are in a cloverleaf pattern, and back to the starting line where the clock stops. Team roping: The team is made up of a header and a heeler. The header ropes the horns, then dallies or wraps his rope around his saddle horn and turns the steer to the left for the other cowboy who ropes the heels. The clock stops once both ropers have made a catch and brought the animals to a stop, facing each other. Bull riding: Bull riders place a flat braided rope around a bull that weighs almost 2,000 pounds. The rider relies on balance and leg strength to stay on the bull. Source: Douglas County Fair and Rodeo
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Associates degree or higher is preferred but not required Must have 2 years of Retail Experience Must be Self Motivated & Detail Oriented Good people skills Farm & Ranch or Ag Background Very Helpful Basic Computer Skills, Microsoft Word, Excel Merchandising, Salesmanship, & Leadership Skills a Must Must work well with Others & Public Good Driving Record Be able to type 20-30 WPM
from Colorado Wolf Adventures and Raptors from Nature’s Educator
If you are this person we offer:
Don’t miss out on the fun there’s so much to do and explore! 10035 Peoria Street, Parker, Colorado 80134
TheWildlifeExperience.org
720-488-3344
Above average wages • 401k/Employee Discounts Paid Vacation/Insurance Programs You may pick up an application at Big R Store of Monument 840 Spanish Bit Dr. Or online at bigronline.com Please return your Application to carloscontreras@mybigr.com Please reference the Conifer Big R or Mail to Big R Holdings Attn Carlos Contreras 350 Keeler Parkway Pueblo CO, 81001
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16 Elbert County News
August 7, 2014
WHAT THE HAIL!
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