Connecting people, families and communities in the Johnstown-Milliken area
Milliken Animalgoing, Clinic growing strong after humble start in vet’s home
Johnstown Police Department looking to put presence on north side, at 2534 inside
Lawn Mower Racing p. 14
s epte mber 2016
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VOL 1
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Issue 2
2 I Highway 60 Connect I september 2016
A note from the managing editor
On THE COVER
COVER PHOTO BY JOSHUA POLSON
The school year is upon us, fall is just around the corner and I’m excited we’re continuing to tell great stories in Johnstown and Milliken. In this month’s issue of Highway 60 Connect, you’ll find a heartwarming story about local veterinarian Michealle Hobler and her Milliken Animal Clinic, which started during the Great Recession and has more than weathered that storm. Between that, lawnmower racing and personal columns from local leaders, I hope you’ll enjoy this edition of Highway 60 Connect. Thanks for reading! Tyler Silvy, Managing Editor
A dog rests his head as Veterinary Technician, Sabrina Trujillo prepares for a small procedure last month at the Milliken Animal Clinic, 1004 Broad St., in Milliken.
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september 2016 I Highway 60 Connect I 3
What’s Inside...
p. 4
p. 7
p. 13
Milliken’s youngest mayor embodies town’s ethos: Small town, hard work, family values
Judge tells county commissioners to clarify approval of asphalt plant near Johnstown
All we need is time, former Weld standouts athletes say
Blue Collar Beau
p. 6 Calendar of Events
publisher Bryce Jacobson Editor Randy Bangert creative manager Kyle Knoop business manager Doug Binder Managing editor Tyler Silvy Creative Services Supervisor Amy Mayer Sales manager Bruce Dennis
come again?
p. 8 Good to Know
contributing writers Linda Kane Tommy Simmons Bridgett Weaver Sharon Dunn Catherine Sweeney Bobby Fernandez Trevor Reid contributing photographers Joshua Polson Alyson McClaran sales STaff Sue Lapcewich Heather Marrow Steph Mighell
Olympic Dreams... in Weld County?
p. 18
highway 60 connect Brought to you by innovation, growth
p. 16 Your Schools
p. 17 Weld RE-5
501 8th Avenue P.O. Box 1690 Greeley, CO 80632 For all editorial, advertising subscription and circulation inquires, call (970) 352-0211 Send editorial-related comments and story ideas to: tsilvy@highway60connect.com For advertising inquiries, contact bdennis@highway60connect.com
Look for the next edition of Highway 60 Connect in October
4 I Highway 60 Connect I september 2016
Blue-collar Beau Milliken’s youngest mayor embodies town’s ethos: Small town, hard work, family values By Linda Kane // Photos by Joshua Polson For Highway 60 Connect
Milliken Mayor, Beau Woodcock, stands out by a field north of Milliken.
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ith barely 60 minutes to spare, the new mayor of Milliken got a call from his dad telling him it was time to “put his money where his
mouth was.” Beau Woodcock got that call just before 4 p.m. on the last day petitions for mayor could be submitted. After the call, Woodcock hustled to get the signatures necessary and submitted his run for mayor with few minutes to spare. Needless to say, Woodcock’s political career was sparked by his father, Timothy Woodcock. “Him and I used to talk a lot about politics and I used to complain like any normal citizen,” Beau Woodcock said. So his dad told him - albeit last minute - that he needed to give the office a try. Does he regret the hasty decision?
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“This is a small, blue-collar town where people understand what hard work is and understand the value of family.”
-Beau Woodcock, Milliken Mayor
september 2016 I Highway 60 Connect I 5
“Not at all,” Woodcock said. “I enjoy it a lot.” Woodcock describes Milliken, with a population of about 6,500, as a blue-collar community with a small-town appeal. Woodcock is employed as a mechanic at Colorado Heavy Equipment Services, where he’s used to getting his hands dirty working on dump trucks, loaders, excavators and large farm equipment. His role as mayor, which he’ll have for the next four years, is sort of incorporated into his daily routine. “I’m in town every day and I try to talk to everyone when I’m out,” Woodcock said. If he drives past a city maintenance worker, he’ll stop to see how their day is going, for instance. “I put a lot more time in than probably my wife appreciates,” he said light-heartedly. Woodcock and his wife, Amber, have a daughter and three sons between the ages of 2 and 6. Though he grew up in upstate New York, the small-town feel of Milliken has kept Woodcock in Colorado. “This is a small, blue-collar town where people understand what hard work is and understand the value of family,” he said. Woodcock ran against Ted Chaves, who was not an incumbent, in the April election. The job doesn’t pay much, roughly $400 a month, and Woodcock is expected to lead board meetings the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. As a Libertarian, Woodcock will strive to get the community more involved in the decision-making process. One of his initiatives is to convert Milliken to a Home Rule community. “It gives power back to the citizens,” Woodcock said. Under the Colorado Constitution, Home Rule gives municipalities the power to make legislation relevant to their communities. It minimizes state intervention in city affairs. Several open forums are planned for the community to discuss this idea and information will be distributed in water bills. “The board will be making the decision,” Woodcock said. “I can’t do anything by myself.” And that’s how he prefers it. He carries it over to city staff, as workers were recently rewarded with a paid trip to Elitch Gardens. Woodcock also hopes to instill some kind of reward system throughout the years he’s in office. As far as political discussions around the dinner table with his dad, those have come to a halt for the time being because Timothy is chairman of the Planning Commission. “So we stopped talking about politics,” Beau said.
»to-do list Milliken Mayor Beau Woodcock has another item on his to-do list: He’d like to squash the rivalry between Milliken and Johnstown. And he’s got company. Johnstown Mayor Scott James is on board. James was literally on board Aug. 13, riding in the annual Milliken Beef ‘N Bean Day parade along with Woodcock. “There’s this weird stigma of a rivalry between Johnstown and Milliken, and we’re working with the mayor and his board to try to get rid of that,” Woodcock said. ABOVE: Using the grinder to refine an edge Beau WoodCock steers clear of the sparks and metal as he continues work on a few repairs last month at a farm north of Milliken. LEFT: Beau Woodcock leans in to examine his cut as he works to repair a piece of equipment. Woodcock also runs his own business, Colorado Heavy Equipment Services, where he repairs a variety of equipment.
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6 I Highway 60 Connect I september 2016
september events 9
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Town Board Meeting 7 p.m. Meeting House 1101 Broad St., Milliken (970) 587-4331.
Town Board Meeting 7 p.m. Meeting House 1101 Broad St., Milliken (970) 587-4331.
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Town Festivals
Alzheimer’s Support Group 10:30 a.m. Johnstown Senior Center, 101 Charlotte St., Johnstown (970) 587-5251
Planning and Zoning Commission 7 p.m. Town Hall 450 Parish Ave., Johnstown www.townofjohnstown.com
Milliken Housing Authority 1:30 p.m. Meeting House 1101 Broad St., Milliken www.millikenco.gov
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Planning Commission 7 p.m. Meeting House 1101 Broad St., Milliken (970) 587-4331
Planning and Zoning Commission 7 p.m. Town Hall 450 Parish Ave., Johnstown www.townofjohnstown.com
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Fort Lupton, Trapper Days
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Frederick, Miners Day
Town Council Meeting 7 p.m. Town Hall 450 Parish Ave., Johnstown www.townofjohnstown.com Photos by Alyson McClaran
september 2016 I Highway 60 Connect I 7
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come again?
Judge tells county commissioners to clarify approval of asphalt plant near Johnstown By Catherine Sweeney // Photos by Joshua Polson For Highway 60 Connect
eld County officials on Aug. 22 nailed down how they will explain to a judge why they approved a controversial asphalt plant west of Greeley. Last summer, officials at Martin Marietta Materials went through the permitting process for a batch plant off Weld County Road 13 and U.S. 34, just outside of Johnstown. Hundreds of residents turned out to both the project’s hearings to fight against it. Even though planning staff and the planning commission recommended against the project, the Board of Weld County Commissioners gave it the OK. Nearby residents, especially those in the Indian Head Estates subdivision just west of the site, have been fighting that approval ever since. They sued the county. This month, Weld District Court Judge Todd Taylor ruled the commissioners didn’t explain their decision to approve the project well enough. He ordered them to try again. The board on Aug. 22 elected Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer to rewrite the resolution that approved the project. She was the chairwoman last year during the hearings. The position makes that commissioner the mouthpiece for the board. “Most of the comments at the end (of the hearing) were mine,” she said. “It makes sense.” She will go back through the hearings’ minutes, related documents and other testimony to write the resolution, County Attorney Bruce Barker said. After, she will present the document to the other commissioners during a meeting, they’ll make edits and vote to approve it. There won’t be any public input on the process. “The court is not allowing that,” Barker said. The board also scheduled the discussion and vote on the new resolution during the Monday meeting. Judge Taylor gave commissioners 63 days to put another resolution together. Once he reviews it, he can take a number of actions, which include accepting the explanation, asking for more information or overturning the approval. The board approved the Martin Marietta project last August. Opponents fought the project because its site sits just a few hundred feet from residents’ homes, raising health and safety concerns. Some government agencies argued the plant would be an eyesore at nearby town entrances. The project would take almost 100 acres of active farmland out of production. Residents said it also would increase traffic on U.S. 34. Proponents argued the project met all of the county code’s criteria. Company representatives pointed to the region’s growing need for asphalt and its shrinking ability to provide it.
»what’s next? The Board of Proposed Martin Weld County Marietta asphalt plant Commissioners will discuss the new 34 resolution outlining 17 25 members’ reasons for approving the 1 Martin Marietta project during a 50 Johnstown meeting at 9 a.m. 60 Oct. 3 in the county’s administration building, 1150 O St.
8 I Highway 60 Connect I september 2016
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Milliken Public Works 2951 Ash St., Milliken (970) 587-8723 Johnstown-Milliken Chamber of Commerce 1109 Broad St., Milliken (970) 587-0699 Milliken Police Department 1201 Broad St., Milliken (970) 587-2772
Johnstown Johnstown Town Hall 450 South Parish Ave., Johnstown (970) 587-4664 Johnstown Public Works 450 South Parish Ave., Johnstown (970) 587-9103 Johnstown Police Department 430 South Parish Ave., Johnstown (970) 587-5555 Johnstown Municipal Court 450 South Parish Ave., Johnstown (970) 587-4664 Johnstown Community Center 101 Charlotte St., Johnstown (970) 587-4664
MillikenAnimalClinic.com info@millikenanimalclinic.com 1004 Broad St. Milliken, CO 80543 For an appointment please call: 970-518-1252
Best of 2016
september 2016 I Highway 60 Connect I 9
Moving on up Johnstown Police Department looking to put presence on north side, at 2534 By Tommy Simmons // Photo by Alyson McClaran For Highway 60 Connect
» Johnstown police Johnstown’s current police station is located at 430 South Parish Ave. It can be reached for non-emergency calls at (970) 587-5555.
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nyone who dials 911 in Johnstown can expect to see a police car in fewer than four minutes on average — an enviable standard for most departments. But town growth is starting to affect that response time, and Johnstown Police Chief Brian Phillips has a found a way to bring it back down. He hopes to open a substation at Liberty Firearms Institute, on the north end of town at Interstate 25 and U.S. 34. The new business has space to spare, and officials there approached Johnstown, Phillips said. “A lot of our officers are down here (on the south side of town) because that’s where most of our calls are,” Phillips said. “But we timed it, and found if an officer is in emergency mode they can get up (to the 2534 area) in 12-15 minutes. That’s not acceptable by any means.” The new substation would serve the Johnstown Plaza area, but it would not be staffed 24 hours a day as a full station would. If the Johnstown Town Council signs off, it will operate Monday through Friday and be open during regular business hours. The Town Council listed the creation of the new substation as one of its goals for the year, due to the explosion of commercial and residential construction on Johnstown’s north side. The substation’s location is not final — the Johnstown Town Council was scheduled to discuss it Wednesday. If he gets his substation, Phillips will split coverage of Johnstown into two zones – a north zone and a south zone – with a supervisor sergeant in a “float car,” driving between the two. The north substation would include one detective and two community police officers, Phillips said. Phillips said he believes there is a true need for a substation. “I don’t think it’s fair for anybody to have to wait 12 minutes for a police response,” he said.
10 I Highway 60 Connect I september 2016
HOME ...it’s where
the heart is Milliken veterinarian’s business going, growing strong after humble start in vet’s home By Bridgett Weaver // Photos by Joshua Polson For Highway 60 Connect
Doctor Brandy McGreer, a veterinary doctor with Milliken Animal clinic, washes up before going to operate on a dog last month at the Milliken Animal Clinic, 1004 Broad St., in Milliken.
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ichealle Hobler said she can be found at any given party, in a corner hanging out with the house pets. Her husband, Reid, jokes that she’s a people person as long as she’s talking to people about animals. Luckily, as the senior veterinarian and owner at Milliken Animal Clinic, Michealle has that opportunity often. Michealle and Reid started the Milliken Animal Clinic, 1004 Broad St., Milliken, six years ago, armed with just Michealle’s veterinary license and an idea. Michealle was fresh out of Colorado State University’s veterinary program. “There wasn’t a vet clinic here in Milliken and we wanted to get an idea if the town would support it, so we actually started out of our house,” Reid explained. They used to make house calls and do general check ups. At that early point, anything else was out of the question because they didn’t have the equipment. Eventually the couple turned an extra bedroom in their Milliken home into a surgery suite for spay and neuter procedures. Back then it was just the two of them handling all aspects of the business —Michealle running the medical end and Reid running the business end. Now they have almost 20 employees, including support staff and all the equipment they need for the practice. Michealle said because of demand in the area they recently expanded from a twoveterinarian practice to a four-veterinarian practice. She said it’s important for her that they keep bringing in people who believe in their goal: to offer good but inexpensive care for the animals they see. “We wanted to provide affordable, quality veterinary care,” Michealle said. “So we don’t cut corners in what we do — we are just able to provide good care for less money.” She said a normal dental check up and cleaning for a dog costs as much as $400 to $600 at some clinics. At Milliken Animal Clinic, it’s $175. It’s a lot more affordable, she said, because they know how important it can be. Michealle said she encourages her clients to bring How to their pets in help annually for The nonprofit a check up and part of the Milliken blood work, because they can Animal Clinic collects money to help people catch a lot of possible issues who can’t afford animal with that exam. She also care. To donate, go to the stresses the importance clinic at 1004 Broad St., of taking care of their Milliken, or go online to teeth. A dog that has an www.vetcarefoundation.org. annual dental exam lives an average of three years longer than one that doesn’t, she said. Growing up, Michealle had family pets, but her parents couldn’t always afford the insane medical
september 2016 I Highway 60 Connect I 11
Reid Hobler works with one of the cats last month at the Milliken Animal Clinic, 1004 Broad St,. in Milliken.
bills that a trip to the veterinarian would certainly lead to, Reid said. The goal all along was to provide a good option for pet owners at a reasonable price, and while Milliken Animal Clinic is always affordable, they do still have to charge for their services. Reid said they recently joined the Veterinary Care Foundation, a nonprofit that helps people who can’t afford the bill for their pet visits. They hate to turn away anyone. They are able to charge less than average, though, because they built the clinic slowly and piece by piece, rather than taking out a huge loan to start. Reid still keeps a full-time job with Sprint, so that helped, too. For the first three years, Michealle didn’t bring home a paycheck. Instead she put her earnings back into the clinic. For the Hoblers, having a good staff is essential to their goals. “We don’t settle for just anybody working here,” Michealle said. “They have to have that drive and that passion.” That focus on both affordability and quality care is unique in a way, said Sherri Keohane, a veterinary technician at Milliken Animal Clinic. Keohane worked at another clinic that she said didn’t have the same goals. She’s been with Milliken Animal Clinic for three years, now. “You can just tell the owner is in it for the patient here,” she said. “When a dog leaves, you know you actually did something.” That’s important to Michealle — giving the animals the care they deserve. They are her patients, she said. And when the clients, or the pet owners are happy, that’s even better. Generally pet parents are happy as long as their animal is treated well and it doesn’t cost them and arm and a leg, she said. “People truly love their animals, but when it comes down to, ‘Do I get my dog neutered or guy groceries,’ people have to be practical,” she said. “People don’t have to do that as much here.” For Michealle the clinic is a dream come true. “I’ve always wanted to be a vet,” she said. “For me it’s not a job — it’s a calling. I’m driven by getting animals the care that they deserve.”
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Water quantity, quality at the forefront of Milliken administrators’ minds The old saying, “Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over,” still holds some truth today. As more people come to Colorado, and specifically to the northern Front Range, the search for water becomes ever more paramount. Whether finding a new source, treating water in a different manner to help the environment, or just conserving it when possible, water is critical to the future of every community, especially Milliken. Every day we assume water will reach our homes, businesses and schools in a quantity and quality that has no questions attached to it. Yet, to get enough water and to get enough quality water is becoming a bigger challenge each year for most communities. In Milliken, it has become even a bigger challenge over the past couple of years. Although the Town contracts to receive water from two sources — Central Weld and the City of Greeley — Milliken still has to do some work to get residents the water they need. The town built a reverse osmosis plant in 2001 to treat well water. Unfortunately, the Colorado Department of Public Health required the plant to close due to mineral levels of the water. The town will be able to use the plant again if improvements are made to reduce the levels. Currently, Stewart Environmental is running a pilot test with a highefficiency filtration process. If successful and the Town decides to go ahead with the project, the town will be able to use its water wells again and further improvements can be made to the plant. This project highlights the decisions that the mayor and Town Board of Trustees have to face in regards to our water supply. Over the past few years, they have approved several projects to meet this challenge. » A water commission was created and they drafted a water master plan that considered options and drew conclusions on raw water, water treatment, water distribution and other system facilities. » When the opportunity arose, a site was agreed upon and a storage tank was built near the Wildcat Mound on the south side of town. The tank will store extra water and prevent the town from paying
overage charges to the Central Weld County Water District during peak water demand times. » A construction project of a water main extension is underway to address water pressures and flows to fire hydrants to the east side of town. This will benefit areas including the Frontier Commercial Area, a new industrial park at Weld County Road 46 and Weld County Road 25, the Milliken Athletic Complex and new residential areas. » The town is in negotiations to extend contracts with our current water treatment providers. Until other options become a possibility, Milliken absolutely needs to keep receiving water treated from these two providers. Talks have already begun on extending agreements beyond 2019. In addition, Milliken has to look for collaborations with new partners. Meetings with neighboring communities about possible collaboration on water supply or water treatment projects has occurred and will continue to occur. » As much as possible, the town uses non potable water to irrigate parks and open space areas. Pumping groundwater by using wells or ditch water that is stored in various lakes is less expensive to irrigate. It is also better to use non-chlorinated water on the turfgrass and plants. Additional non-treated wells for parks on the west side of Milliken are in the works. The goal is to replace areas where treated water is currently being used with the non-treated water system. All these various issues on water have been a theme for previous town boards and the current town board. Mayor Beau Woodcock, and current trustees Elizabeth Austin, Katy Burack, LeRon Ehrlich, Nick Ehrlich, Ken Kidd and Mayor Pro Tem Linda Measner all have stated that water is the foundation and the future of the Milliken community. We need to look at every option to provide enough high-quality water that can be delivered at a reasonable price to the community. Kent Brown is the town administrator for Milliken.
This occasional feature will offer space to key stakeholders in the Johnstown-Milliken area so they can share important messages directly with their communities.
Parks & Rec Milliken
Photo by Alyson McClaran
Ada Park, located South of Broad Street (Highway 60) on Aragon Court Fireman’s Park, located on Broad Street (Highway 60) next Milliken’s Fire Department Milliken Fitness Park, located on Lilac Street and Rachel Court in the Frank Farms Subdivision Florence Park, located on Holly Street between Rachel Avenue and Tamara Avenue, in the middle of Frank Farms Subdivision Hillsboro Skate Park, located at Harriet Avenue and Elm Street Lola Park, located on Forest Street, between Irene and Josephine avenues Mountain View Park, located off of Juneberry and Olive streets in Milliken’s residential area Sappington Park, located off of Schoolhouse Drive on the west side of Knowledge Quest Academy
Johnstown Clearview Park, located in the Clearview Subdivision Eddie Aragon Park, located in the Johnstown Center Subdivision between South Parish Avenue and Castle Pines Avenue between the Post Office and Library Hays Park, located in the Country Acres Subdivision on Country Acres Drive and Harding Avenue Lake Park, take Highway 60 to High Plains Boulevard, turn right onto Rocksbury Lane Parish Park, located at Charlotte Street and Raymond Avenue Rolling Hills Ranch Park, located in Rolling Hills Ranch Subdivision on Rolling Hills Parkway Pioneer Ridge Park, located in the Stroh Farm Subdivision, west of Pioneer Ridge Elementary School, at the corner of Cinnamon Teal Avenue and Saxony Road Sunrise Park, located at the North end of Greeley Avenue and also accessed off North 6th Street near Jay Avenue
september 2016 I Highway 60 Connect I 13
Olympic Dreams... in Weld County? All we need is time, former Weld standouts say By Bobby Fernandez Photo Illustration by Joshua Polson For Highway 60 Connect
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or the thousands of athletes who have competed in the Summer Olympics the past couple weeks, the road to Rio was filled with just as many challenges as the Games themselves present. Beating out fellow countrymen in Olympic Trials, earning spots on national teams, gaining national exposure — the process of qualifying for the Olympics can be filled with more obstacles than a 400-meter hurdles race. It can require more balance than a gymnast gunning for an all-around title. Even someone as talented as Michael Phelps would have to spend year after year keeping his proverbial head above water just for a chance to hold his head high on a medal stand. Throughout the years, numerous athletes from Greeley and Weld County have found themselves on the cusp of competing in the Summer Olympics. However, even the most astute and well-connected of local athletic historians would have to go back nearly a century to find an athlete with local roots that actually made the trek to the Olympic Games. William Droegemueller, a 1928 silver medalist in men’s pole vault, was the one name yielded from
an inquiry to Greeley Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Director Kim Barbour and her husband, Tom, a former University of Northern Colorado Sports Information Director and walking encyclopedia of local athletics. Greeley-Evans Board of Education Director John W. Haefeli — born and raised within the local sports scene and a longtime contributor to it — recalled Linda Witt qualifying in women’s field hockey for the 1980 Olympics after her career in UNC. However, she ultimately didn’t compete. The U.S. boycotted those Olympics in Moscow. As Witt can attest to, competing in the Olympics would adequately qualify as a once-in-a-lifetime experience — only if that lifetime is full of tireless commitment, unwavering sacrifice, an elite amount of well-refined talent and a bit of good fortune along the way. Among the vast list of former Weld standouts who have had such brushes with Olympic prestige over the years: Witt, Konnie Jelden (Greeley Central, women’s track and field), Tony Mustari (Greeley Central/UNC, men’s wrestling), Kindra Carlson (Eaton, women’s volleyball) and Tyler Painter (Greeley West, men’s swimming).
Nearby communities have churned out Olympians in recent years. In fact, just this year alone, there are 20 Colorado athletes in the Olympics in Rio, including wellknown prep products like Missy Franklin (women’s swimming) and Mallory Pugh (women’s soccer). SO WHY NOT WELD COUNTY? Is it merely a matter of time before Weld County produces another Olympian? Or does it go deeper than that? Does Weld County need to create better environment — in mindset as well as potential training facilities — conducive to producing that next internationally recognized star? The system certainly isn’t broken, according to Jelden. In fact, she said all the elements are already in place in Weld County for this area to produce a longsought Olympian. In recent years, the area has seen the emergence of top-notch training facilities, including west Greeley’s Performance and Wellness Institute and the Sports Barn in Johnstown — both rapidly gaining traction — along with the growing presence of elite-level clubs for volleyball, soccer and other sports.
»Olympic Dreams continued on page 19
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14 I Highway 60 Connect I september 2016
‘COME TRY THIS’ George Brossman Sr. leans into a turn as he races in the mod class in August at the Burnout Grill.
Words to live by in the rockin’ world of lawn mower racing Story and Photos Trevor Reid For Highway 60 Connect
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t just 13 years old, Ariana Brossman might not seem like a racer, but she practices racing as much as she can. “I’ve prepared a lot. We have an empty field across the street, so I’ll practice there. I practice everywhere,” Ariana said with a proud smile. Ariana doesn’t race go-carts. She races lawn mowers. The first recorded lawn mower race was in 1963 by the Twelve Mile, Indiana Lions Club. Since then, the sport has waxed and waned throughout different parts of the world. In Northern Colorado, lawn mower racing’s popularity is gaining momentum. “On a good day, I’ll get anywhere from 20 to 30 racers,” said Dan Dill, 54, president of the Rocky Mountain Lawnmower Racing Association. “It’s gettin’ big. We’re running all classes.”
Dill discovered lawn mower racing about 13 years ago in Ault, when his cousin introduced him to the sport. “I got too old to rodeo, so I needed somethin’ to do,” Dill said. “He says, ‘Come try this,’ and put me on one of his mowers. I was hooked.” The second Sunday of every month, the Rocky Mountain Lawnmower Racing Association holds races at the Burnout Grill in Milliken. About 10 racers split up Aug. 14 into four classes. The sky was clear that day, but according to Dill, it wouldn’t have made a difference. “Even if it was rainin’, we’d still race,” he said. “Mud ain’t gonna slow us down. We enjoy it.” Classes are decided by different levels of modifications. Ariana races stock class, meaning the only modification allowed is the removal of the mowing deck. Her grandfather, 70-year-old George Sr., drives an
orange mower in the mod class. Here, the mowers can be modified to ride much faster. Before the race, George Sr. took his mower out for a couple of spins around the track. After pulling his mower back by his family’s truck, he began adjusting his tires. “The track’s really slick, so I was letting the air out to get more grip,” he explained. Behind the truck sat George Jr. and his wife Susan. “My father-in-law’s been racing since he was 17, some way or another, whether it was cars, motorcycles or whatever,” Susan said. “Hearing all the stories, it’s kind of fun now to be involved in part of the stories that go on.” The Brossmans were all wearing their Rocky Mountain Lawnmower Racing Association shirts. A pig
september 2016 I Highway 60 Connect I 15
head with wings emblazoned the left sleeves of the shirts, with the name Carol beneath the symbol. Carol was George Sr.’s wife, who passed away after a stroke. “Carol’s tractor was pink, and we had a pig’s head on it, so they called it The Pig,” George Sr. said. “When they had shirts made, they put the flying pig on there.” After Carol’s passing, Ariana took up the sport. “She wasn’t even a racer, but boy, she learned real quick,” George Sr. laughed. The races started at 2 p.m., beginning with the stock class. The stock class runs through only a part of the track because of the mowers’ slow speeds. To keep things interesting, the stock mowers must pass through a mud pit in the center of the track. Ariana quickly proved her place in the family legacy, finishing first in the first heat as her father waved the checkered flag. After the stock class, George Jr. waved the checkered flag when his father finished first in the mod class. In the FX class, where mowers can be modified in any way, Dill raced his mower fitted with a snowmobile 500 engine. In a larger track, he’s been clocked going 95 miles an hour. The mini class finished the first heat, as four racers representing Thunderspeed RPM Racing went head-to-head. Based out of
Lochbuie, Thunderspeed RPM Racing is a sanctioning body for mini motorsport racing. When Thunderspeed’s executive racing coordinator DJ Brakel wasn’t racing, he stood by the track to give medical attention whenever needed. In the third and final heat of the stock race, his medical training went to quick work after Ariana’s mower tipped over. “I was shaken up; I didn’t really know what happened,” she said after the race. “I was told I was coming around getting ready to go into the mud pit. Someone pushed someone else, he went into me, so I flipped off.” Brakel ran over to help Ariana catch her breath and ensure she wasn’t seriously injured. Other than a minor elbow injury, she came out unscathed and found her way back on her mower. When the race continued, she finished first, maintaining her undefeated title. As the sport gains popularity, some are just now discovering it. Erie resident Sarah Acker showed up for the live band the Atomic Drifters, who provided a 50s rockabilly soundtrack for the races. “It was very exciting to just happen upon this,” Acker said. “Everybody needs to be advertising it more. This place could just be rockin’ the world.”
Though the hood on Ariana Brossman’s mower wouldn’t stay on after the crash, she pulled around to finish first.
How to Watch the Races When: The second Sunday of every month rain or shine Time: 2 p.m. Where: Burnout Grill, 1760 Broad St., Milliken, CO
President of the Rocky Mountain Lawnmower Racing Association Dan Dill kicks up dust and lifts a wheel as his mower gains speed in the FX class.
Central Colorado Water Conservancy District CCWCD develops water storage supplies, change of use of senior water rights & groundwater recharge projects for direct irrigation use or as augmentation supplies for members. • Water quality testing •Education outreach programs • Actively involved with water legislative efforts to protect water
www.ccwcd.org
970-330-4540
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YOUR SCHOOLS
View for
Weld County RE-5J School District
Photo by Alyson McClaran
Administration Building 110 South Centennial Drive, Suite A, Milliken (970) 587-6050 • weldre5j.k12.co.us Letford Elementary School 2 Jay Ave., Johnstown (970) 587-6150 • letford.weldre5j.k12.co.us Pioneer Ridge Elementary School 2300 Cinnamon Teal Ave., Johnstown (970) 587-8100 • pioneerridge.weldre5j.k12.co.us Milliken Elementary School 100 Broad St., Milliken (970) 587-6200 • millikenes.weldre5j.k12.co.us Milliken Middle School 266 S. Irene Ave., Milliken (970) 587-6300 • millikenms.weldre5j.k12.co.us Roosevelt High School 616 N 2nd St., Johnstown (970) 587-6000 • roosevelt.weldre5j.k12.co.us Knowledge Quest Academy 705 School House Drive, Milliken (970) 587-5742 • kqatrailblazers.org
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16 I Highway 60 Connect I september 2016
you
Getting to know your schools with Superintendent Martin Foster
Welcome back to the Weld County Re-5J School District and the 2016-2017 school year. It is my pleasure to write this article for Highway 60 Connect to inform you of the many great things that are happening in our school district. Our school district is located in both Weld and Larimer Counties and includes the towns of Johnstown and Milliken. There are also small portions of the town of Berthoud and the city of Greeley within the boundaries of the school district. Over the past few years we have been one of the fastest growing school districts in the state of Colorado having more than doubled in size to nearly 3,400 students. The District provides many outstanding educational opportunities for students from preschool through the twelfth grade. All district schools meet Colorado State Accreditation standards. Preschool education is provided for qualified 3- and 4-year-olds through the Colorado Preschool Program and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Preschool programs are housed in the Early Childhood Center at Milliken Elementary School and at Letford Elementary School in Johnstown. The District has three elementary schools which follow a K-5 format. Letford Elementary, Milliken Elementary and Pioneer Ridge Elementary each utilize self-contained classrooms offering a well-balanced academic curriculum along with music, art, band and physical education. Milliken Middle School houses grades six through eight offering a wellbalanced academic curriculum and exploratory classes to assist students in selecting future courses of study. Milliken Middle School also offers choir, band and interscholastic competition in football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling and track. Knowledge Quest Academy charter school offers students in kindergarten through the eighth grade a wellbalanced academic curriculum along
with music, art and physical education Roosevelt High School offers a comprehensive secondary course of study that includes vocational programs and college preparatory studies. High school students may also enroll concurrently at Aims Community College for high school and college credit. Alternative educational opportunities for secondary students in the district are available through the Roosevelt Online four-year online program. Roosevelt High School also offers choir, band, and theater, and interscholastic competition in softball, football, volleyball, cross country, soccer, basketball, wrestling, swimming, baseball and track. Technology plays an integral role in the educational program for all school levels. Students have access to stateof-the-art technology labs at Roosevelt High School and Milliken Middle School. All students in grades four through 12 are issued an iPad to use at school and at home during the school year. Students in Kindergarten through third grade will also have access to iPads at each grade level for classroom use to enrich their instruction. Individual student needs are met in all schools through classroom adaptation and in special programs for limited English proficiency (ELL) students and students with a handicapping condition through Special Education. The District’s patrons are fortunate to have a dedicated and caring staff that provides aggressive instructional programs, cares for the facilities, prepares breakfasts and lunches, transports students to school and events, and administers the affairs of the schools. The Board of Education, teachers, administration and staff are all extremely thankful for the hundreds of friends of the Re-5J School District for their continued support in making the Weld Re-5J School District as successful as possible. Martin Foster is the Superintendent for Weld Re-5J School District.
This occasional feature will offer space to key stakeholders in the Johnstown-Milliken area so they can share important messages directly with their communities.
september 2016 I Highway 60 Connect I 17
6 schools
within the district, including three elementary schools, a K-8 charter school, a middle school and Roosevelt High School.
3,787 Students
from preschool through high school in the district last year, a 16 percent increase since 2007 and good for third-largest in Weld County behind 5,500-student Windsor Re-4 and 21,500-student Greeley-Evans School District 6.
29.2% of Weld Re-5J Students
who qualify for free- or reduced-price lunches, a standard barometer for poverty in education. It’s the third most affluent district in Weld County, behind Windsor Re-4 and New Raymer-based Prairie Re-11.
$50,605
Average salary for teachers in Weld Re-5J, the highest among 12 Weld County districts and 17th highest among 178 Colorado school districts.
6.84% Turnover
among teachers, one of the lowest turnover rates in Weld County and the state of Colorado.
1.3% of Students
dropout, one of the lower rates in Weld County.
$40 Million
The Weld Re-5J budget, which includes about $7,000 per student from the state of Colorado.
300 Employees
in Weld Re-5J, including 212 school staffers.
21 Meetings
21 — Weld Re-5J Board of Education meeting scheduled for the 2016-17 school year. They generally occur at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. - Weldre5j.k12.co.us; Colorado Department of Education
18 I Highway 60 Connect I september 2016
Highway 60 Connect: Brought to you by innovation, growth By Sharon Dunn // Photo by Alyson McClaran For Highway 60 Connect
A
s the news business changes, so does The Tribune. Like any business, a scattered audience begs the need to diversify, and in recent months, The Tribune has done just that. The Greeley Publishing Company has launched several new products to touch a variety of audiences — in geography, as well as specific topics — a move to support the company’s mission of connecting communities. It’s also a way to help advertisers reach specified audiences. And so, Business Connect, Highway 60 Connect, Windsor Premier and Explore Weld County were born: » Business Connect is a quarterly businessto-business publication serving the local business community. » Highway 60 Connect is a monthly magazine that will focus on features and information in Johnstown and Milliken. » Windsor Premier will focus on Windsor features and information in a monthly magazine format. » Explore Weld County is unique in that it is predicated on a previously undiscovered tourism industry that brings visitors here every year. The semi-annual publication provides visitors with comprehensive lists of where to go, and what to do throughout Weld’s 4,000 square miles. The products come behind the three-year-old Energy Pipeline magazine that focuses monthly on the oil and gas industry that is a pillar of Weld’s economy; and Prime, a bi-monthly magazine focusing on health issues; and the UNC Planner, which The Tribune produces with the University of Northern Colorado to get into the hands of students to help them schedule out their semesters. The multiple new products, along with the traditional Greeley Tribune print newspaper, as well as online and social media presences, have diversified the company more than ever. “More people are reading the content we create than ever before,” The Tribune publisher Bryce Jacobson said. “That will just continue to grow. We’ve got to remain relevant, and that will be our success.” Explore Weld County, Jacobson said, comes at the perfect time as Weld’s population has grown. “I think it just makes sense to create a tourism product now,” Jacobson said. “People have not thought of Weld as the destination tourist location, but with
agritourism, the train museum, the beautiful museums in all four corners of the county, you name it, this is a beautiful place to visit.” After one edition of Explore Weld County, Jacobson said people are starting to notice. “We’ve heard a ton of feedback from across the state, because it has statewide distribution,” Jacobson said. “From places like Durango, that say, ‘Wow, finally something for Greeley’… to readers who brought it into the train museum or hotels, asking, ‘How do you get to these (places)?’ That’s been really positive.” Highway 60 Connect will focus on the people, places and events that make Johnstown and Milliken unique. “Johnstown and Milliken are interesting,” Jacobson said. “Those folks commute four directions to northern
Adams County, Boulder, Larimer County and Greeley. The one common denominator for those people is schools ... If we could play a part in getting news and information about the community they live in, we can help that community grow and grow together.” The focus of Windsor Premier is similar to Highway 60 Connect, trying to help connect a town that has a high number of commuters but a strong loyalty to community. It will complement the already existing Windsor Now! weekly newspaper, which is also operated by the Greeley Publishing Company. The Tribune also has expanded the marketing side of the business by adding several Tribune sponsored events to the community. The Tribune now has 13 events, and come September, the company will sponsor a tractor pull in Greeley. Jacobson said, with all these irons in the fire, news agencies like The Tribune are thriving in their diversity. “Every social gathering I go to, people pat me on back as if it’s my father’s funeral. ‘Ah… newspapers are dying,’ ” Jacobson said. “We’re a good employer in town, we’re financially headed in the right direction, our staff is amazing.” But rest assured, he said, community news is not going the way of the dodo bird — it’s just evolving. And The Tribune’s staff is constantly working to stay relevant to an ever-growing population. “We have to know our consumers better to be successful today,” he said. “Papers that are trying to communicate and share and connect communities, this size, I think will be fine. I don’t know what the next thing is. But I do know that as we hide ourselves behind our devices, we still have to be able to communicate and interact with other humans. Whatever way we can do that, we will.”
want more? Find our products: (970) 352-0211 Advertise in our products: bdennis@highway60connect.com Got a story idea for this publication?: tsilvy@highway60connect.com
september 2016 I Highway 60 Connect I 19
»Olympic Dreams continued from page 13 At this point, Jelden said it’s merely a matter of that once-in-a-generation athlete coming along who couples raw talent and natural ability with the training time spent to become one of the country’s best athletes. “I really do not think that Greeley or Weld County needs to start thinking, ‘Oh, we’ve got to build for Olympic kids,’ because I really think it’s a once-in-alifetime thing,” Jelden said. “I don’t think it’s something in which Weld County needs to say, ‘We have got to build a facility that we’re going to gear directly towards Olympics.’ I think there are a lot of good things around. “... And it might happen someday. Look at Linda Witt.”
Konnie Jelden, 54 » Jelden (maiden name Mackey) is a 1980 graduate from Greeley Central High School who went on to have an All-American track and field career at Colorado State University. She spent her first year of college at Utah State. In her signature event, the women’s 400-meter hurdles, she was less than one-tenth of a second from qualifying for the ’84 Olympic Trials. She competed at CSU from ’81-’84. She went on to have a successful coaching career at the high school level, coaching Eaton with her husband Kevin from 20072014. She works as a Vet Tech at Chalk Bluffs Veterinary Services in Greeley.
Craft & Gift Show Best bets Though the last known Olympic qualifier from Greeley and Weld County dates backs to the 1920s, there have been numerous local athletes who have come close to realizing their Olympic dreams over the years. Here’s a look at five of them: Kindra Carlson, 28 » Carlson graduated from Eaton High School in 2006 before staring for the University of Washington from ’07-’10. She went on to play professionally overseas for four years. She had stints in Puerto Rico, France, Greece and Germany. In 2011 and 2013, she played on the U.S. Women’s National Training Team, hoping to make the national teams that would play in the Olympics. She was hired in June as an assistant coach for Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La.
Tony Mustari, 29 Mustari was one of the top high school wrestlers of all-time, winning three state titles and graduating from Greeley Central in 2005. He went on to be a three-time NCAA national qualifier in college at the University of Northern Colorado, graduating in 2010. He competed in the 2008 Olympic Trials but fell short of qualifying for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. He now is the Eaton High School head wrestling coach while also working for Pribble Lawn and Landscape.
Tyler Painter, 38 » Painter graduated from Greeley West High School in 1996. He continued to excel as a swimmer in college at the University of Kansas and the University of Arizona, graduating from the latter in 2002. He competed in the Olympic Trials in 1996 and 2000 and participated in the World Championships in 1999. In the Trials, he placed sixth (15:22.58) but for much of the race was within reach of a top 2 finish and an Olympic berth. He now lives in San Diego, Calif., and is an insurance investigator for Liberty Mutual. Linda Witt, 60 » Witt graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1978 after attending high school in Salida. After graduating, she earned a spot on the United State Olympic Development program for women’s field hockey. She would have competed in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow had the United States, and numerous other countries, not boycotted the Olympics in protest of the Soviet War in Afghanistan. For more than 30 years, Witt coached and taught around Weld County before retiring a couple years ago. She coached the UNC softball team for six seasons and the University High School gymnastics program for 20. She also was an assistant on the Eaton High School track and field team for seven years.
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