The Lost Creek Guide February 03, 2021

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Volume 14 • Edition 03

February 3, 2021

Delivering 5,800 copies to rural Adams, Morgan, and Weld Counties

“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light” George Washington “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed” Thomas Jefferson

South East Weld Chamber of Commerce Meets at Ben’s Pizzeria for Lunch President Perry Bell callled the meeting to order after everyone had ordered their food.

He reminded everyone that at the December meeting which was a zoom meeting, that the Chamber presented Daily Meyers with a plaque recognizing his retirement honoring his long time service to the Chamber and the community.

Perry also announced the three new board members for the chamber: Krista Gibson, High Plains Bank Maggie Munoz, Platte Valley Medical Center Bob Grand, The Lost Creek Guide & Our Town Colorado Guest speaker for the meeting was Eric Gardner, of B&G Financial, a CPS firm and a board member as well. Eric spoke to the potential tax implications both from a business and a personal one that might be expected from the new administration. The short of it was taxes will be going up, the question will be how much and how fast. Eric took questions from the group. It was a very informative session.

Mayor Greg Mills of Brighton announced that Brighton will host the Wall That Heals in September of 2021.

The Wall That Heals will be coming to Brighton September 2ns – 5th, 2021. The Wall will be located at Carmichael Park, just behind City Hall (500 S. 4th Avenue) and will be open 24 hours a day and free to the public.

The Wall That Heals Perry Bell Chamber President; Perry Buck Weld County Comhonors more than missioner at Large; Eric Gardner, B&G Financial & Chamber three million AmeriTreasurer & Board Member. cans who served in the armed forces in the Vietnam War and bears the names of the 58,279 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

Life Stories announced their Stuffed with Love stuffed animal drive. Please contact sharon@lifestoriesweld.org or 970-353-5970 for more information.

Newly seated Weld County Commissioner at Large, Perry Buck, was there and reiterated her campaign promise to be in contact with all of Weld County residents. President Perry Bell thanked the Commissioner for attending and her offer of outreach. He also thanked Ben’s Pizza for providing a meeting place and as usual, the food was excellent.

Next meeting will be February 24th, 2021 at 11:30 am at Ben’s Pizza and will be available on Zoom as well at.

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE:

Page 2: Way of the World Page 3: Aims Community College Beam Signing Event Page 5: Vietnam Veterans to be Honored at Wall That Heals Page 6: Natural Right to Self Defense Page 7: Raise the Speed Limit?

Page 8: 2020 Warmest, Driest Year in Colorado Page 11: USDA Suspends Debt Collection Page 12: Parents Need More School Options Page 14: Local Leaders Celebrate with Aims Page 16: Heart Disease: Know the Facts

Page 2

– Way of the World –

Lost Creek Guide

by Bob Grand Joe Biden is our President. He has a tough road ahead. He has spoken of unity and working to bring the country together after a devise election process. Unfortunately, his raft of executive orders did much to support his left-wing base, but not very much to foster unity in the country. The country is divided in what looks like an us and them as opposed to we. The election was close. There was a winner but that does not mean that the half of America’s voters who did not vote for Joe Biden should be ignored. In today’s world of us and them, much like the Denver statehouse, the winners think they can do anything they want without repercussions or a call for an accounting. Nancy Pelosi has the slimmest of margins in the United States House of Representatives where the Republicans lost no incumbent positions, yet the Democrats lost 13. 2012 elections are not far off.

The assessment of Donald Trump’s presidency is something that history will judge. Not to be decided in the heat of today’s vitriol world. What we all need to be concerned about is what is happening to the fabric of our country. We used to hold our government institutions as sacred. We are now seeing the impeachment process used as an effort to punish Donald Trump so as to eliminate him from being able to run for office again. Where is our sense of justice? There should be equal justice for all, not just for those who the social media giants decide should have it. The extremes of both parties should be taken to task and held accountable when they break the law. Be it in Washington D.C., Seattle, Portland , Minneapolis or wherever.

COVID-19 is still here. Do not expect it to go away, soon. I have registered to get my vaccine shot and am waiting to hear where and when. I wait patiently. Ever so slowly, the school opening issue is moving forward. Many parents have been forced to spend more time with their children and that has raised some questions about how we should educate our children, I suspect, for many, there will be a serious question about considering home schooling as an option, where possible. For school districts the question is what the most effective model for is educating our children. The same can be said about the college models. A group of Columbia University students in New York are suing the institution for refunds on their annual $60,000 tuition bills as they are claiming they have not gotten what they contracted for, in person learning.

It raises a question about what organization are supposed to be doing. Are they there to support their infrastructure or are they there to best serve their constituents? That question can and should be asked, at all levels.

A recent article talked about Weld County should consider becoming part of Wyoming as opposed to have to deal with Governor Polis and the statehouse in Denver. Now Wyoming has a population of about 525,000, Weld County has a population of about 325,000, controlled by an exceedingly small group of Greeley centric establishment Republicans.

Now for those of us who have had dealings with Wyoming folks, they are pretty independent. Did any of the folks suggesting Weld County should join Wyoming ever ask the citizens of Wyoming if they were interested. I suspect the answer would be a resounding NO! Like it or not Weld County Republicans have to figure out how to work with Denver/Boulder political structure, it is not going away, and unless the Colorado Republican Party develops a real appeal to the unaffiliated voters the picture will not change.

In today’s world we are all busy, there never seems to be enough time for anything, so we all struggle and try to do the best we can. There is an increasing danger out there in terms of organizations trying to restrict our freedom of speech, our access to objective information and ultimately our liberty. What makes America so great is that you have a right to an opinion, and you have a right to express that, without being hauled off to jail.

The domination of the social media market by a small group, in effect an oligopoly, on our news feed and the reduction of truly substantiative content is a threat all of us need to be considering. It seems that there is a group who honestly believe that they are the anointed, and they have the answers to solve all our issues. Many have advanced degrees from prestigious universities, and many are entrenched in the bureaucracy of government. My question is who they are serving, as mentioned earlier, self-serving is not what America, theoretically, was built on. Now have we been perfect? The answer is no, but that does not mean we should allow a relatively small group take control and manipulate the rest of us. I have a growing concern that many politicians, in both parties, do not have the best interests of America and its citizens as their goal. Is it unreasonable to expect the application of common sense to be a guiding force in how we govern?

As always, your thoughts and comments are appreciated: pulisher@lostcreekguide. com

The Lost Creek Guide, Llc Bob Grand - Publisher 303-732-4080 publisher@lostcreekguide.com Our deadline is 7 working days before publication

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Letters to the Editor are encouraged. Letters may be edited for length, libelous, or inappropriate content. All letter submissions should include name, address, & phone number for verification purposes. Letters are published at the editor or publisher’s discretion. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Lost Creek Guide or staff.

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February 3, 2021

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

What Has Happened?

We gave our country away. This hasn’t happened over night but we finalized it with this last election.

People came to this land to escape dictatorship and kings so that they could exercise freedom of religion, speech, ownership of property, etc.... This what our country started out as.

The politicians (not statesmen’s) that are in office have sold our country and the people for favors, money, power and social status.

They purchased us by giving us social programs that lock us into a system that is not designed to help us up and out, but enslave us. This is because we will continue to vote these politicians back into office for these same programs. This to me is Slavery. They have proven with this election that they no longer need our votes.

Are we as a people so willing to sell ourselves and children’s future for a few pretty beads?

This is not about Republican or Democrat.

It is a fight for our freedoms of which the people seem to be all too eager to give away for a false sense of security. Wait until the dust settles and see what happens over the next four years.

These politicians have too big of egos. For the reason they hated Trump so much on the false claims they concocted, they need to examine themselves because what you accuse someone of is what you are hiding. Especially if the facts are not there!

I feel our government needs to be overhauled and majorly downsized!

Remember people these politicians are not better than you or I. They only think they are and we have been feeding this.

Look at our country’s debt and tell me how this will be paid! Massive taxes - maybe one of the elites will step and donate to pay our country’s debt? If so one must ask then what will they want in exchange?

How much is your freedom with- what little of it is left?

We have just sacrificed ourselves and one of the greatest countries in the world.

Maybe the end result we never deserved it as we were unable to keep it.

Welcome slavery!

My heart is breaking.

February 3, 2021

Lost Creek Guide

Aims Community College Beam Signing Event for the new Aims Welcome Center

Stop the Covid-19 Food Fight

Page 3

Dave Kisker, President, People United for Responsible Government Gaslighting: a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or a group covertly On Thursday, January 21st, 2021. Aims Community College held a Beam Signing event sows seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or group, making them question their own … for the new Welcome Center. A brisk day, where the hot chocolate was a big hit. The beam judgment. Using denial, misdirection, contradiction, and misinformation, gaslighting inwas signed by VIP’s, staff, students and faculty. The beam will ultimately be placed near the volves attempts to … delegitimize the victim’s beliefs. top of the three-story Welcome Center.

Over the last year, in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been assaulted with numerous assertions that “it’s just the flu”, “masks don’t work” and even that it’s all a “left wing” conspiracy to emasculate the population by destroying the economy making us all dependent on Big Brother.

Here in Weld County, led by the elected officials, these claims have found fertile ground as the various executive orders that have been issued by Governor Polis have been rejected, with officials instead claiming to protect individual responsibility.

Essentially, the Weld County Commissioners have initiated a COVID-19 “food fight” against the State of Colorado without actually offering any solutions to residents. In fact, Commissioner Scott James explicitly advocated (with his “attack the dial” campaign) that people should attempt to undermine the State’s COVID metrics by having non-infected persons be tested to artificially reduce the infection positivity rate without actually reducing the pandemic risks. https://tinyurl.com/yyfkxjtg So, how has Weld County actually been doing in addressing COVID-19 infections and deaths? Has their approach actually been protecting residents as effectively as other Front Range counties? Or, is the BOCC merely “gaslighting” in which they try to make us “think” their actions are effective, while actually sacrificing our vulnerable populations?

The following analysis is taken directly from the CDPHE data portal.

Aims Community College File Photo

Dr. Leah L. Bornstein, Aims Community College PresidentLyle Achziger, Aims Community College Chair of Board of Trustees Dianne Holmberg, Aims Community College, Foundation Board President

Arty, Aims Mascot

Look first at one of the CDPHE metrics that is used to evaluate the status of the pandemic, the “positivity rate”, the fraction of COVID-19 tests that are positive. Despite James’ attempt to falsify the positivity data, the evidence is that Weld County’s COVID management approach falls short, compared to other Front Range counties. The most recent results show that Weld County has the WORST positivity rate in the Front Range, with only Adams County being somewhat similar, while nearby Larimer and Boulder Counties are far better.

Note that one of the frequently offered excuses for the poor Weld County results, that the population is older, is not supported by the information from the Colorado State Demography Office, which shows that Weld’s over 65 population is similar to or smaller than all other Front Range Counties except Adams, with both Larimer and Boulder having a larger over-65 population.

Another metric of interest is the 14 day Cumulative Incidence Rate. Because persons infected with COVID-19 remain contagious for 10-14 days, this rate, normalized for population, is a direct indicator of prevalence--how many contagious persons are in the population. Knowing the prevalence allows a person to choose where to spend their time because they are able to better judge their risk of coming in contact with infected persons.

Aims Community College Communications & Public Information Staff

Again, Weld County has the worse performance in the Front Range, with a Cumulative Incidence of 499 cases per 100,000 people. This means that about 1% of Weld County residents are likely to be contagious, while in Larimer and Larimer Counties, the prevalence is about 25 and 35% lower, respectively. In day-to-day terms, if you are out and about in Weld County, and have significant contact with 10 people each day, you will have approximately a 10% chance that one of them will be positive each day, or about 50% chance in a week. Depending on your particular situation, the reduction in risk by spending time in Larimer and Boulder counties could be significant.

In summary, the existing data on COVID-19 cases demonstrates that despite what the Weld County elected officials would have you believe, their approach is inferior to other counties in the Front Range.

It’s time to end the Weld County gaslighting.

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Lost Creek Guide

February 3, 2021

The Origin of Valentine’s Day Might Surprise You—Here’s What to Know There’s no lovey-dovey backstory here.

BY TAYSHA MURTAUGH AND REBEKAH LOWIN by Good Housekeeping US While it may be tempting to think of Valentine’s Day as a modern holiday meant just for indulging our shopping and sugary impulses, this day of heart-shaped festivity actually has an ancient—and fascinating—origin story...or rather, mystery. While we celebrate Valentine’s Day today with DIY Valentine’s Day cards, gifts of jewelry or flowers, and romantic Valentine’s Day dinners, the history of the holiday is actually quite surprising (get ready to queue up those Valentine’s Day Instagram captions with some shocking trivia!).

So how did February 14 first come to be considered the day of love? And what›s the origin of Valentine›s Day—and why have its romantic themes persisted to this day? Oh, and while we›re at it, where does the word «Valentine» come from?

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As it turns out, nobody really knows the true history behind this storied holiday, nor do any of the theories completely check out. Even historians find themselves arguing over the exact traditions from which the present-day holiday takes inspiration.

But we›re sharing as much as we know about the topic, including the murky origin of Valentine›s Day and its interesting history. Its backstory—though not confirmed—is actually quite dark and even a bit bloody. Strange traditions, pagan rituals, and grisly executions abound. If A Valentine’s Day postcard from 1910. you›re not faint of heart, though, you›ll UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP / GETTY IMAGES enjoy learning about everything we›ve

compiled here. Who knows? It might even inform your Valentine’s Day wishes!

WHERE DOES THE WORD VALENTINE COME FROM? The day is named, of course, for St. Valentine—we all know that by now. But why?

Who is this mysterious Valentine?

According to The New York Times, it’s possible that the love-filled holiday is based on a combination of two men. There were, after all, two Valentines executed on February 14 (albeit in different years) by Emperor Claudius II, reports NPR. It’s believed that the Catholic Church may have established St. Valentine’s Day in order to honor these men, who they believed to be martyrs. What’s more, it’s possible that one of these men, Saint Valentine of Terni, had been secretly officiating weddings for Roman soldiers against the emperor’s wishes, making him, in some eyes, a proponent of love.

Another story involves the practice of writing love letters to your Valentine. It’s said that St. Valentine wrote the first “valentine” greeting to a young girl he tutored and fell in love with while he was imprisoned for the crimes outlined above.

According to The History Channel, before his death, he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” which remains a commonly used phrase to this day.

Others believe that St. Valentine›s Day was actually St. Valentine’s Day circa 1800. designated by Pope Gelasius I UNIVERSAL HISTORY ARCHIVE/UIG in order to replace the ancient VIA GETTY IMAGES Roman festival Lupercalia, a celebration of fertility dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunas, and Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

The feast of debauchery fell around the same time and involved a ritual where an order of Roman priests ran naked through the streets, “gently slapping” women with the bloodsoaked hides of sacrificed animals (yes, really), which they believed promoted fertility. Following this flagellation was a tradition in which men selected women’s names at random from a jar to decide who would remain together for the next year, or, if they fell in love, they’d marry.

However, a University of Kansas English professor, the late Jack B. Oruch, had a different theory, notes the Times: Through research, he determined that the poet Geoffrey Chaucer linked love with St. Valentine for the first time in his 14th-century works “The Parlement of Foules” and “The Complaint of Mars.” Therefore, Oruch claimed that Chaucer invented Valentine’s Day as we know it today. (At the time of Chaucer’s writing, February 14 also happened to be considered the first day of spring in Britain, because it was the beginning of birds’ mating season—perfectly appropriate for a celebration of affection.)

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE VALENTINES DAY? Whether or not Chaucer can be fully credited, it is true that he and fellow writer Shakespeare popularized the amorous associations surrounding the day. Soon, people began penning and exchanging love letters to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and by the early 1910s, an American company that would one day become Hallmark began distributing its more official “Valentine’s Day cards.” Flowers, candy, jewelry, and more followed, and the rest, of course, is history.

WHAT PART DOES CUPID PLAY ON VALENTINE’S DAY? It’s not all about St. Valentine! Cupid—that winged baby boy often seen on Valentine’s Day cards and paraphernalia—is another symbol of this love-filled holiday, and it’s easy to understand why. In Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus, goddess of love and beauty. He was known for shooting arrows at both gods and humans, causing them to fall instantly in love with one another. While it’s unclear exactly when Cupid was brought into the Valentine’s Day story, it’s certainly clear why.

TAYSHA MURTAUGH Lifestyle EditorTaysha Murtaugh was the Lifestyle Editor at CountryLiving.com.

REBEKAH LOWIN Lifestyle EditorRebekah Lowin is the Lifestyle Editor for The Pioneer Woman, covering food, entertaining, home decor, crafting, gardening, and holiday.

February 3, 2021

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Lost Creek Guide

Vietnam Veterans Who Died After Returning Home Consumer advisory: Winter Heating Safety Tips Eligible to be Honored at The Wall That Heals from the Office of Consumer Counsel

Gearing up for The Wall That Heals, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica Wall, to make its stop in Brighton Sept.

2 - 5, community members across the state are encouraged to submit names and photos of veterans who have passed away since their return home for the “In Memory Honor Roll” display. Since the Vietnam War ended, thousands of Vietnam Veterans have died each year due to Agent Orange exposure, PTSD and suicide, cancer and other causes related to their service. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s (VVMF) program seeks to honor those veterans through a digital “In Memory” display when The Wall That Heals is in Brighton.

VVMF is accepting applications through March 5 for the 2021 In Memory program. All veterans from Colorado honored through In Memory will have their photos and names on display as part of the mobile Education Center exhibit when The Wall That Heals is in Brighton.

“We want to honor as many Vietnam veterans from Colorado as possible. If your loved one served in Vietnam, returned home and later died –we want to be able to proudly display their name and photo in our community,” said Council Member Tim Watts, who has been involved in the effort to bring The Wall That Heals to Brighton. “I encourage members of the community to submit the names of Vietnam Veterans who have passed so that we can honor that sacrifice and help keep their memory alive.”

There is no cost to have a veteran honored and the application process is simple. To honor a loved one, you only need to complete a short application and submit the veteran’s DD214 showing their proof of service in Vietnam, a copy of their death certificate and two photographs. The application deadline to be included in the 2021 program is March 5, 2021. Additional information on the In Memory program and the application form can be found here: www.vvmf.org/inmemory.

As part of the In Memory program, an online remembrance page is created for each honoree with their photo and biography. Family members can share the page and leave remembrances about their loved one. Additionally, there will be an invitation to In Memory weekend in Washington D.C. (a touching ceremony on-site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial where each honoree’s name is read aloud) - each applicant also receives a printed personal tribute certificate with their veteran’s photo(s).

“The impact of the Vietnam War stretches far beyond the 58,279 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. More than three million Americans served in Vietnam and an untold number of those who served have suffered from service-connected illnesses. No one knew that when the war ended, Vietnam veterans and their families would still be feeling the effects of their service more than 50 years later. In Memory is our way to honor these Vietnam veterans for the sacrifices they made,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF, the nonprofit organization that founded the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 1982 and manages The Wall That Heals and In Memory programs.

About The Wall That Heals: Spreading the healing legacy and the impact of the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica Wall, The Wall That Heals, and Mobile Education Center will be making stops in cities across the U.S., including Brighton in September.

The three-quarter scale Wall replica will be located at Carmichael Park, just behind City Hall (500 S. 4th Avenue), and will be open 24 hours a day and free to the public.

The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces in the Vietnam War and bears the names of the 58,279 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

For more information about the In Memory display and/or The Wall That Heals, visit www.vvmf.org/inmemory and/or www.thewallthatheals.org.

DENVER - In winter, people use various ways to keep their homes warm. According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), heating equipment is the leading cause of fires in U.S. homes and nearly half of all home heating fires occur in December, January, and February. The Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) is offering Coloradans these safety tips when using furnaces, space heaters, and fireplaces, to heat their homes.

Furnace Safety and Maintenance When outdoor temperatures plummet, many of us depend on a gas furnace to provide our home with warmth and comfort. However there are risks to consider such as a fire and/or carbon monoxide exposure. If you have a gas furnace, you must: • Have your furnace professionally cleaned and inspected before each heating season.

• Keep the area around your furnace clean of debris, lint, and dust. Do not store any items such as papers, clothes, paint, rags, etc. near the furnace.

• Do not store anything flammable or combustible nearby.

• Clean or replace your furnace filters every 1 to 3 months during the winter to reduce energy costs and improve the air quality in your home.

Electric Space Heater Safety Safety must be your top priority when using electric space heaters. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space heaters, resulting in more than 300 deaths. In addition, an estimated 6,000 people receive hospital emergency room care for burn injuries associated with contacting the hot surfaces of space heaters, mostly in non-fire situations.

When buying and operating a space heater, follow these guidelines: • Purchase only newer model electric space heaters that have all the current safety features such as a tip over safety switch, overheat protection, and an adjustable thermostat to help save energy.

• Always place the heater on a level surface away from foot traffic.

• Be especially careful to keep children and pets away from the heater. Keep at a minimum a three-foot “kid-free zone” around all heaters.

• Do not use an extension cord or power strip. Plug the heater into a wall outlet only.

• Never leave space heaters unattended while operating and always turn the heater off or unplug it when exiting the room.

• Never leave the space heater on overnight.

Fireplace Safety and Maintenance While a wood-burning fireplace adds warmth and comfort to a home during the colder months, safety must be top of mind. Here are some tips on how to operate and maintain a fireplace.

• The National Fire Protection Association recommends chimneys be swept at least once a year, at the beginning of winter, to remove soot and debris by a chimney specialist.

• Be sure the flue is open before lighting your fire to help ensure the fireplace will vent properly. Do not close your damper until you are sure the fire is out.

• When starting a fire, only use a match or gas lighter.

• Never use flammable liquids to start a fire. They can produce toxic chemicals that can enter your living space.

• Metal mesh screens should remain closed whenever your fireplace is in use to help keep embers in the fireplace.

• Only use dry wood in your fireplace. Wet wood can increase creosote buildup, which can lead to chimney fires.

• Never leave a fire in a fireplace unattended. Before leaving the house or going to bed, you should make certain to fully extinguish the fire.

• Allow ashes to cool completely before disposing of them — ashes can take several days to cool completely. Never empty ashes directly into a trash can. Instead, place ashes in a covered metal container located at least 10 feet away from your home and any other building.

$3,535.00 $2,183.00

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

$15.50

$1.60 per gallon will call or route

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Lost Creek Guide

Natural Right to Self-Defense

Mountain States Legal FundArticle Case Summary Americans have always valued ingenuity and self-sufficiency over the culture of control. That is never more apparent than with our natural right to self-defense—a right we enjoy separate and apart from any government or governmental entity. Americans also have the right to self-manufacture those arms that they deem necessary to defend themselves, their loved ones, and their property. But a handful of progressive cities and gun control activists want to end that practice.

Join the Fight Since 1977, MSLF has fought to protect private property rights, individual liberties, and economic freedom. MSLF is a nonprofit public interest legal foundation. We represent clients pro bono and receive no government funding. Make your 100% tax deductible contribution today and join the fight.

Case History In August 2020, Syracuse, NY; San Jose, CA; Chicago, IL; and Columbia, SC; as well as two of Everytown’s legal funds (Petitioners), sued the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), claiming the ATF has violated the Administrative Procedure Act by employing an objective test based on the actual manufacturing process involved to determine if an item is considered a “firearm” under the Gun Control Act of 1968. In reality, these cities and gun control groups want to substitute their own definition for that of the ATF, by using inflammatory terms and demonizing the individual manufacture of personal-use firearms.

People have been crafting and customizing personal firearms since before the Revolutionary Era—long before protection of the right to keep and bear those arms was written into the U.S. Constitution under the Second Amendment. The mass production of arms that came later, like the mass production of nearly everything else, meant that fewer Americans needed to build their own arms—but technological developments don’t change the rights of all Americans.

What gun owners view as a virtue, gun-control advocates have come to see as a vice, arguing that the non-regulation of self-made and hand-crafted weapons hampers the apprehension of criminals and opens a “loophole” that gangs will exploit to flood the black market.

The objects at issue in this case are often colloquially referred to as “receiver blanks,” “frame blanks,” “partially-manufactured frames,” “partially-manufactured receivers,” “80% frames,” “80% receivers,” “unfinished frames,” or “unfinished receivers.” While these objects vary widely, what they all have in common is that they are not “firearms” as defined by the Gun Control Act, nor can they be readily converted into firearms. Instead, just like a raw block of aluminum in the hands of a machinist, individuals can fully manufacture firearms from these non-firearm objects using their own experience, knowhow, and machining equipment. Because they are not firearms, the ATF and the federal government lack any authority to regulate them as such.

But gun-control activists want to substitute their own interpretation for that of the ATF’s. Because these objects are not firearms, they lack the serial numbers that are affixed to an actual, mass-produced firearm’s frame or receiver, and can be sent directly to purchasers. Critics deceitfully and derogatorily dub them “ghost guns” in an attempt to sway public passions and pressure the federal government into a regulatory overreaction.

Petitioners in this case are attempting to stop Americans from building and customizing certain types of legal of firearms as they see fit, for personal use, free from government intrusion into that process. They want to force the ATF to regulate raw materials of all kinds—materials that may possibly be used to manufacture a firearm in the future—simply because individuals, through their own knowledge, skill, and ingenuity, can manufacture them into firearms for personal use. This would allow a handful of progressive cities to impose a national definition of what constitutes a “firearm” on

kinnearinsurance@outlook.com

February 3, 2021

every city and state in the U.S. “Since our nation’s founding, Americans have self-manufactured their own firearms at home,” said MSLF client Zachary Fort. “The ability to exercise one’s rights privately, without government intrusion, is a cornerstone of a free society. To arbitrarily change the definition of a firearm, to include non-firearm objects, would be a gross overreach of government and could expose Americans to criminal liability.”

Mountain States Legal Foundation is intervening in the case on behalf of its clients, Zachary Fort, Frederick Barton, 80% Arms, and Firearms Policy Coalition, in an effort to preserve the natural right and traditional freedom of self-sufficient Americans to legally build firearms for personal use free from undue (and unconstitutional) government interference, surveillance, and regulatory control.

“For decades, the ATF has enforced a bright-line delineation as to when an object becomes a ‘firearm’ under the Gun Control Act,” said attorney Adam Kraut, Firearms Policy Coalition’s Director of Legal Strategy.

Forcing a change to ATF’s definition of what constitutes a firearm would undoubtedly chill Americans’ exercise of their natural, unalienable, fundamental right to keep and bear arms, including individual manufacture of arms for personal use.

Deadline Extended - Weld County Service Industry Relief Fund

The Weld County Service Industry Relief Fund has administered just over half of it’s allocated funds, providing $1.2 million in assistance to eligible public-facing businesses located in Weld County that have been categorized as “high-risk” and mandated to close or substantially reduce services in response to guidelines issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment effective 11/20/20. The grant application program has extended the deadline to apply through February 28, 2021 to allow additional businesses to take advantage of the funds which can help cover lost revenue and expenses.

Grant administration will give priority to service based businesses deemed “high-risk” including: • Restaurants, bars and other food and beverage service providers • Gyms and fitness centers • Live event venues and movie theaters • Entertainment including bowling centers, arcades, and recreation facilities • Other public facing business under special circumstances The Service Industry Fund grant initiative is intended to distribute approximately $2 million to eligible businesses in Weld County. Financial assistance will be provided on a need-based priority basis for all qualified applicants. Depending on the businesses financial need, assistance is available up to a maximum $10,000 for public transactional businesses with a defined closure or limitations due to capacity restrictions.

• Business must have 3+ employees • Show loss of revenue and/or COVID related expenses in the time period of 11/01/2020 -01/31/2021 • Have a physical location in Weld County “The immediate assistance Weld County put out has allowed many local businesses to recoup lost revenues from closures and allowed them to pay monthly expenses. We understand the critical challenge to get business through the next few months and hope we can reach additional businesses in need throughout the County who have not yet taken advantage of this program in the coming month with this extension.”

Contact Upstate Colorado with any questions regarding the program by calling 970352-2436 or emailing recovery@upstatecolorado.org.

Roundabout Driving Tips

When entering the roundabout, yield to traffic already navigating it.

When a safe gap is available, merge into roundabout traffic.

As you travel the roundabout, pay attention to signage and merging vehicles.

In the roundabout, you are allowed the right-of-way, but pay attention to inexperienced roundabout travelers.

When you reach your desired exit point, signal to alert fellow motorists that you are exiting the roundabout and safely move out of it.

Reminders Exits should always be smooth; if you’re making a sharp turn (greater than 90 degrees) when exiting, check your traffic directions!

Pay attention to pedestrians navigating the roundabout, and make note of painted crosswalks and signage.

Please be patient and respectful of other drivers. While roundabouts are designed to improve traffic and pedestrian safety, many motorists are unfamiliar with their unique requirements.

February 3, 2021

Study: Colo. Pedestrian Deaths Up 89%

Lost Creek Guide

Fatalities increase for the first time in three decades.

DENVER (Jan. 12, 2021) - The number of pedestrians killed annually on Colorado’s roadways has nearly doubled since 2008, per new analysis from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and AAA Colorado. That surpasses a 55 percent nationwide increase in pedestrian deaths over the same period. All told, across the country, more pedestrians lost their lives in 2018 than in any year since 1990.

“We’re lucky to live in Colorado, where we cherish our active lifestyles – and where there are so many good reasons to leave the car at home and run, walk or bike. That pedestrian deaths here outpace the national average should ring alarm bells,” said Skyler McKinley, director of public affairs for AAA Colorado. “As we continue to grow, drivers, pedestrians and, most importantly, governments need to do more to protect our most vulnerable.”

The report’s key findings include: • In Colorado and across the country, the startling jump in deaths occurred almost entirely in urban areas, much of it at mid-block locations along arterials (major roads designed to move large volumes of traffic). Urban crashes account for 93 percent of the total national increase in pedestrian fatalities.

• Non-white populations are over-represented among pedestrian fatalities. Deaths of Black and Hispanic pedestrians increased by a larger amount than white pedestrians on a percentage basis.

• Nationwide, pedestrians killed at non-intersection locations without crosswalks rose 70 percent from 2009-2018.

• Three of every four pedestrians killed on U.S. roads in 2018 were struck in darkness. Fatalities in darkness also account for the vast majority of the overall increase in pedestrian fatalities since 2009. The number of pedestrians killed in darkness in 2018 was larger than the total number of pedestrians killed in any and all lighting conditions in 2009, 2010 or 2011.

• 84 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in 2018, and 84 percent of the overall increase in pedestrian fatalities over the study period, occurred on roads with speed limits of 30 mph or higher. Past AAA Foundation research has shown that when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, their chances of survival drops precipitously with each additional mile per hour increase in speed at speeds above roughly 25 mph.

• Alcohol remains a problem among pedestrian fatalities, as 32 percent of all pedestrians who died had a blood alcohol concentration equal to or greater than the legal limit for driving. Still, sober pedestrians’ fatalities increased by a larger amount over the study period, both in raw numbers and on a percentage basis. The number of sober pedestrians killed in 2018 was nearly as large as the total number of pedestrians killed in 2009.

“As we work to eliminate preventable tragedies on our roadways, it’s imperative we avoid a blame game between pedestrians and motorists,” McKinley said. “The bottom line is that everybody has the same right to use our transportation infrastructure without fearing for their life. The data suggest that pedestrians should take care to cross at crosswalks, when possible. Drivers, in turn, need to be more vigilant – especially in urban areas, and especially at night. Finally, governments must seriously evaluate lowering speed limits and changing roadway design in pedestrian-heavy corridors. We can reverse this trend, but it’s going to take working together.”

Safety Tips for Drivers • Look out for pedestrians at all times. When you are operating a vehicle, you have accepted a heightened responsibility for other people on the road. Safety is a two-way street. Often, pedestrians— especially younger ones— are not where you would expect them to be. Remain vigilant.

• Follow posted speed limits, especially in areas of heavy pedestrian traffic. This is even more important in areas that have lower speed limits, such as school zones and neighborhood streets where pedestrians may appear suddenly.

• Overall visibility is limited in bad weather conditions and poorly lit areas. Not only is it more difficult for drivers to see oncoming pedestrians, it also is harder for pedestrians to see you. Make sure your lights are on and you use your signals properly. Use extra caution in these circumstances.

• Put down your phone. Smartphones and handheld electronic devices take your eyes off of the road and distract your attention.

• Always yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. When approaching a crosswalk, reduce your speed and be prepared to stop. When you are stopped at a crosswalk, allow enough room between your vehicle and the crosswalk so other drivers can see the pedestrians you have stopped for. Do not pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk: They have stopped to allow pedestrians to pass or make sure the way is clear.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians • Never assume a driver will give you the right of way. Make every effort to make eye contact with the driver of a stopped or approaching vehicle before entering the roadway.

• Use crosswalks when crossing the street. If a crosswalk is unavailable, be sure to find the most well-lit spot on the road to cross and wait for a long enough gap in traffic to make it safely across the street.

• Stay on sidewalks whenever possible. If a sidewalk is not available, be sure to walk on the far side of the road facing traffic. This will help increase your visibility to drivers.

• Know and follow all traffic rules, signs and signals. You need to be aware of the rules vehicles around you must follow to properly anticipate what drivers will do.

Page 7

Study: Raise the Speed Limit? Not So Fast.

New AAA crash tests: Modest speed increases can be deadly.

DENVER (Jan. 28, 2021) - Cutting down on congestion and improving traffic flow is as easy as raising the speed limit, right? Dead wrong: New crash tests by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Humanetics have found that cars just can’t protect drivers well enough to justify higher speeds. Colorado’s own AAA-The Auto Club Group provided funding for the crash test research.

As it turns out, even small speed increases can have huge effects in crash outcomes. Together, the safety organizations conducted crashes at three different impact speeds: 40, 50, and 56 miles per hour. Slightly higher speeds were all it took to increase the driver’s risk of severe injury or death.

Key Findings

Three 2010 Honda CR-V EX crossovers were used in testing because they represented the average age (11.8 years) of a typical vehicle on U.S. roadways – and they earned the top rating in the IIHS moderate overlap front test.

At the 40 mph impact speed, there was minimal intrusion into the driver’s space. But at the 50 mph impact speed, there was noticeable deformation of the driver side door opening, dashboard and foot area. At 56 mph, the vehicle interior was significantly compromised, with the dummy’s sensors registering severe neck injuries and a likelihood of fractures to the long bones in the lower leg.

What’s worse, at both 50 and 56 mph, the steering wheel’s upward movement caused the dummy’s head to go through the deployed airbag. This caused the face to smash into the steering wheel. Measurements taken from the dummy showed a high risk of facial fractures and severe brain injury.

“It’s true that cars are getting safer, to a point. But higher speed limits effectively cancel out the benefits of vehicle safety improvements, such as airbags and improved structural designs,” said Skyler McKinley, director of public affairs for AAA Colorado. “The faster a driver is going before a crash, the less likely it is that they’ll be able to get down to a survivable speed even if they have a chance to brake before impact.”

The Impact

Drivers often travel faster than posted speed limits, and so policymakers are tempted to raise limits to match travel speeds. Even then, unfortunately, people still go faster. Today, 41 states allow 70 mph or higher speeds on some roadways - including Colorado.

It’s more than just a number. In Colorado, in 2018, 33 percent of all fatalities and 33 percent of all crashes had a speed-related component. All told, across the country, a 2019 IIHS study found that rising speed limits have cost nearly 37,000 lives over 25 years.

Drivers tend to overestimate the time saved by speeding, as do policymakers when it comes to raising speed limits. A motorist would have to travel 100 miles to save roughly 5 minutes, moving at 80 mph instead of 75 mph. Speed kills and isn’t worth the cost.

And, because higher speeds tend to increase the severity of and emergency resources necessary to attend to crashes, they tend to slow down traffic by creating more congestion.

The Solution

When correctly set and enforced, speed limits improve traffic flow and maximize all public road users’ safety. They should never be raised - or lowered - only to manipulate traffic volume on a particular roadway. The end goal shouldn’t be expecting drivers to obey the speed limit; they won’t. Rather, policymakers and engineers should consider infrastructure changes based on road type to calm traffic flow such that speed limits are followed.

In a pinch, they should also consider proven countermeasures: high-visibility enforceent and carefully implemented speed-camera programs that consistently and equitably enforce speed limits 24/7.

“Cars are safer than they’ve ever been, but nobody’s figured out how to make them defy the laws of physics,” McKinley said. “This research underscores just how dangerous high speeds often are, and why there are speed limits in the first place. A speeding driver may arrive at their destination a few minutes faster, but is worth the tradeoff of losing your life in a crash?”

About the research testing: The research tests were conducted following the same protocol that is used for the IIHS moderate overlap evaluation; only the speed was varied. With a test dummy representing an average-sized male in the driver’s seat, the cars were crashed with 40 percent of the vehicle’s front on the driver side overlapping the barrier.

IIHS has been conducting this type of test, which simulates a head-on, partial-overlap impact between two vehicles of the same weight and size traveling at the same speed, since 1995. Since 2013, 100 percent of new vehicles have earned a good rating when tested at the 40 mph impact speed.

Page 8

Typical Valentine’s Day Greetings

Lost Creek Guide

In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia. In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century.

By the middle of the 18th, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes, and by 1900 printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine’s Day greetings.

Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America.

Howland, known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as “scrap.” Today, according to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year (more cards are sent at Christmas).

February 3, 2021

In 2020, Colorado Saw One Of Its Driest And Warmest Years Ever Recorded

By Miguel Otárola, CPR News High temperatures and little rainfall meant 2020 was Colorado’s second-driest and seventh-warmest year ever recorded, according to new national data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The conditions kickstarted a drought that reached every corner of the state and is likely to last through spring.

Rising temperatures over the last decade also set the stage for dramatic and destructive events, including some of the largest wildfires the state had ever seen.

The year was also marked by North of Estes Park, smoke and ash from the nearby East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fire cover the trees, the mountains and the grass. bizarre weather Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite events, including the state’s first modern derecho in June and a swing from 100-plus degree weather to snowfall in September that tied national records. That temperature swing could be attributed to climate change, as hot conditions extended further than ever for the state.

“This year took things to a new level,” said state climatologist Russ Schumacher. “When a dry year happens, when it›s also hot, it just really puts a lot more stress on everything.”

It didn’t look as though Colorado was headed in that direction at the beginning of the year. Snowfall had accumulated close to average levels throughout the winter.

In Boulder, snow levels surpassed the average seasonal amount by more than 60 A wildfire danger sign on Highway 14 between Fort Collins and Walden inches, according in the Poudre Canyon on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020.

Hart Van Denburg/CPR News to assistant state climatologist Becky Bolinger.

That run ended in April 2020 and was replaced by dry and warm weather that only worsened throughout the year. There were barely any monsoon rains in the Western Slope through the summer, Schumacher said. August was the hottest on record in the state, according to NOAA data.

A couple of strong storms rolled through Colorado during the summer, including a thunderstorm in the Eastern Plains that pushed gusts of up to 112 miles per hour, which led to widespread damage, Schumacher said.

Those storms were largely outlier events, and did little to increase Colorado’s overall precipitation levels, said Greg Hanson, the warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Boulder.

“The climate overall for the last year was warm and dry,” said Hanson. “And yet we still had these notable storm events ... with high winds and heavy rainfall. But they›re very isolated, short-lived.”

About 12.2 inches of precipitation was recorded across Colorado in 2020, almost six inches below the average, Schumacher said. It was one of the driest years for several cities, including Denver, which received only 8.74 inches of precipitation, making it the ninthdriest year for the capital on record.

The driest year recorded for Colorado was 2002, when a scant 11.9 inches of precipitation fell across the state.

“It was more extreme on the western slope,” Schumacher said. Western Colorado also had its second-driest year on record.

The extended drought conditions exacerbated the growth of the most intense fires in the state, including the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires, which raged outside of the usual wildfire season.

It wasn’t just the dry and warm climate that helped spread those wildfires, but it was a major factor. Though snowpack has been lackluster so far this year, there is still plenty of winter left — along with hotter summers to come.

“It’s pretty likely that the drought is going to persist at least into the spring,” he said. “If we continue to see dry conditions, and especially if we don’t get a wet spring, then things are going to be in pretty bad shape as we get to next summer.”

February 3, 2021

Lost Creek Guide

Page 9

Foresters Want More Prescribed Burns To Avoid Future Wildfire Disasters In Colorado.

But The State Forest Service Isn’t Allowed To Conduct Them

By Michael Elizabeth Sakas/CPR News At the end of a snowy logging trail on Gould Mountain west of Rocky Mountain National Park, a clawed machine piles up hundreds of dead lodgepole pines. The trees, killed by the notorious mountain pine beetle, will be cut down and turned into two-by-fours to reduce wildfire fuel.

The Gould Crest project will remove dead trees from 328 acres of land. John Twitchell, a supervisor forester with the Colorado State Forest Service, pointed to clearings in the landscape where loggers have harvested trees.

“They blend right in with the meadows, you can’t tell what’s a meadow and what isn’t,” Twitchell said. “If a fire comes ripping up this valley, it’s going to have to stop for A harvester operator piles dead lodgepole pine on Gould Mountain that’s been cut down to reduce wildfire fuel. This those openings.” project is a partnership between a private logger and the Logging is one way to reColorado State Forest Service. Dec. 30, 2020. move excess fuel since these forests don’t burn like they used to. In the 1900s, local and national land managers started to suppress fire in areas that evolved with flames.

“Lodgepole, ecologically is developed to burn,” Twitchell said. “When we live here, you know, hundred-thousand-acre fires are no longer acceptable.”

The other way to remove fuel is to bring that fire back.

Prescribed burns require permits and specific weather conditions to be done safely.

The National Park Service considers it one of the most important tools for forest health and for preventing wildfire destruction.

That means burning piles of debris, and also setting fire to aces of land — a procedure known as broadcast burning.

“The Colorado state forest service does not do that anymore,” Twitchell said.

Burning authority In March of 2012, the Colorado State Forest Service was managing a prescribed fire southeast of Conifer. The winds picked up on a hot and dry day, which started the John Twitchell, a supervisory forester with the Colorado Lower North Fork Fire. It State Forest Service, stands on Gould Mountain next to what’s left of a tree that likely burned many years ago. He killed three people, and destroyed nearly two dozen points to it as an example of how fire helps forests regenhomes. erate. Michael Elizabeth Sakas/CPR News Colorado State Forester Mike Lester said the event was traumatic for many — agency staffers included.

“A lot of really good people really felt like their life’s work was tarnished in some way,” Lester said. “And it was unfair because they applied the techniques at that point in time we thought were the right ways to do it.”

The Future Of Wildfires In Colorado When The Wilderness Meets The Urban, Homeowners And Neighbors Are On Their Own Against Wildfires Stronger Building Codes And Other Rules Can Save Homes From Wildfires. So Why Doesn’t Colorado Have A Statewide Law Mandating Them?

Colorado’s East Troublesome Wildfire May Signal A New Era Of Big Fire Blow-ups An independent review of the fire found no individual at fault. But victims criticized the review and wanted change. A bill was passed, which ended the state forest service’s authority to do prescribed burning. The agency’s fire unit employees were moved to the Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

Lester doesn’t think that the Colorado State Forest Service needs that authority reinstated.

“We would be happy to assist, but as far as taking the lead role again, there’s no point in that because [the Division of Fire Prevention and Control] does prescribed fire.”

Courtesy of Incident Information SystemA stand of burned trees and charred ground is seen in Larimer County after the Cameron Peak fire ripped through the landscape. As of Sept. 27, 2020, the fire is the third largest in the state’s recorded history.

But the division is burning a lot less. Permit data from the state shows that Fire Prevention and Control burns about an eighth of the acreage each year that the Colorado State Forest Service once did.

Mike Morgan, the division director, said drier conditions fueled by climate change, including Colorado’s persistent drought, makes burning challenging.

“And the more homes we get in the areas where we would typically consider using fire as a tool, the more risk or hazard there is associated with using fire as a tool to do that,” Morgan said.

But federal agencies, like the U.S. Forest Service, are still conducting prescribed burns.

Morgan said since the land they manage is further away from homes, it makes it easier for the federal agency to use fire as a tool. And that’s why the state has turned to more manual

thinning, like the logging project on Gould Mountain.

‘You’ve taken an important tool out of the toolbox’ But former deputy state forester Joseph Duda doesn’t think that’s enough. Duda, who retired last year, wants to see the Colorado State Forest Service’s authority to burn reinstated.

“You’ve taken an important tool out of the toolbox,” Duda said. “When the tool is necessary, you’ve basically tied a hand behind their back.”

While Mike Morgan with fire prevention and control cites climate change and a growing number of people and developments crowding into wildland areas as reasons to do less burning, Duda sees those as the reasons to do more.

“How are we better off if CJ Pennington, a third-generation logger, stands in front of a feller buncher blade at a Colorado State Forest Service we’re doing less manageforest thinning operation on Gould Mountain on Dec. 30, ment?” Duda said. “Clearly 2020. Michael Elizabeth Sakas/CPR News we’ve had warmer and drier, more drastic conditions. The time now isn’t to do less forestry, it’s to do more forestry.”

Duda said Colorado’s forest service is one of the only state forest services that can’t conduct prescribed burns. That also means the agency is not allowed to burn piles of thinned trees and brush for wildfire mitigation on private land.

“The state forest service is the forestry agency for private landowners, that’s a significant ownership. There’s six and a half million acres or so of private forest lands in Colorado,” Duda said.

While the State Forest Service is blocked from conducting prescribed fires, they haven’t stopped showing their support for its use. The agency’s latest Forest Action Plan calls for more of it in Colorado, which at this point is all the agency can do.

What’s Around the Bend

By Master Trooper Gary Cutler I hope everyone has been enjoying the holidays this year. It’s been a hard and difficult year for a lot of people. With that being said, people don’t need anything else sad happening to them. The last thing I want for anyone is to get that knock on the door and being told a loved one has been killed in a crash.

So, this time we are going to talk about safety when it comes to curves. We have a lot of them throughout the state so I know everyone has experienced them, but a lot of us are not doing it properly.

When approaching a curve, road signs usually suggest we slow our speed. The suggested speed you should slow down to usually depends on how sharp the curve is. But don’t just rely on signage to determine your speed. There are other factors you need to look at. You should ask yourself how familiar are you with the area, how comfortable or skilled you are at driving, and what are the road conditions like.

Something I see a lot is when someone navigates a curve and they wait until they are in the curve before they apply the brakes. This is not a safe way to negotiate curves. If you need to slow, do it prior to entering the curve and release them before the curve starts.

When you apply brakes in the curve you may cause the vehicle to skid.

This is particularly important during winter months. Whether you are going too fast or you brake during the curve, the area may have snow, ice, or dirt on the surface causing the car to lose traction and slide when hitting it. This can be magnified when braking around the curve.

Look at how wide the lanes are, is there a shoulder, what kind of traffic volume is on the road, is your field of view restricted. Also, don’t hug the center line. Give yourself room in case you or on-coming traffic crosses it.

Another reason for going slower around curves is the unknown. Is there an animal, cyclist, or debris on the roadway just out of sight? There could be a car going slower than you or broken down ahead of you.

There may be times when you have to use your brakes in a curve. If you do, try to gently use the brakes and try to avoid hard braking. Remember though, it’s better to have finished the braking prior to entering the curve.

As always, safe travels!

Page 10

Where to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine

Lost Creek Guide

COVID-19 vaccination locations in Weld County include but may not be limited to: Banner Health Take the survey on the Banner Health website to determine if you are eligible to receive the vaccine. Schedule your appointment online as the Banner Health System is receiving a high number of requests for appointments.

Kaiser Permanente For Kaiser Permanente members 70+ (and others in eligible 1A and 1B categories), visit Kaiser Permanente’s vaccine webpage to complete the “COVID-19 Vaccine Sign Up.” Upon providing your information to them, you will be placed on a first-come, first-served wait list for the vaccine based on your eligibility.

Salud Salud is only offering COVID-19 vaccine to anyone who is 70 years of age or older and health care workers in the 1B category. You do not need to be a Salud patient. In order to register, you must meet this criteria. Register online and Salud will contact you to schedule an appointment. You must have a scheduled appointment; walk-ups are not available.

At the time of your appointment, Salud will request verification of age or occupation.

SCL Health SCL Health is currently contacting patients age 70 and older who are currently receiving care at an SCL Health facility. Information is being emailed to these patients guiding them to use the MyChart online patient portal to make a vaccination appointment.

These invitations are being sent in a phased fashion based on the state tiering system.

An appointment is required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at an SCL Health facility.

Walk-up vaccinations are not available. If you are 70 and older and would like more information about registering for COVID-19 vaccination at a SCL Health facility, log on to SCL Health’s website or call (303) 812-2051 for details.

Sunrise Community Health Sunrise is offering vaccines to patients age 70 and up via vaccine clinics. For more information about dates and locations, go to the Sunrise website. Appointments are required. To make an appointment at an upcoming clinic, call (970) 346-2587 (for English or other languages) or (970) 346-2589 (for Spanish).

UCHealth UCHealth is using My Health Connection, their online patient portal, to communicate with patients age 70 and up. If you have a My Health Connection account, you are added to the vaccine list and will automatically receive updates (via email and in the app) regarding the vaccine. If you do not have a My Health Connection account or are new to UCHealth, create a My Health Connection account to be placed on the list to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available for your phase, according to the state’s plan. An appointment is required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment Weld County Health is currently contacting eligible individuals in some of the 1B category to obtain a vaccination. As of January 8, the Health Department is not able to provide vaccines to county residents who are 70 or older.

Keene Craft Mercantile

A Special Place Where Talented People Bring Their Home-made Crafts to Sell We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm

February 3, 2021

By GLAD Club

Weldon Valley News Wild Geese Over the Desert From sunset, slowly fading To misted beryl and blue Streaked with the melted topaz, The goose-wedge comes in view The boughs of twisted cedars On the ledges darkly sway, Making a futile gesture To rise and fly away.

Nothing will have beginning And nothing end in me, Fort watching the geese fly over, That anyone may see.

Only my heart makes gesture Of lifting wings to go, Like boughs of the twisted cedars Dark on fading glow.

Glenn Ward Dresbach

Here we are in the second week of the New Year. Hope everyone has plans for great new beginnings. Peace and Blessing to all.

Smile a little: Metal age-We live in the Metal age: Silver in the hair.

Gold in the teeth. Lead in the pants. Iron in the veins.

The New Year came in calm for all reports. We have new beginning and adventures to look forward too.

It was an fun week at the home of Gertie Chapin with a visit by Carlee Bolthouse, Kane, Palmer and Kensington and Leianne Stinton from Sherwood Oregon. They enjoyed visiting with family and friends in the Valley. They also visit Brush with Marilyn Stinton.

Church Chat: The St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church will celebrate Mass on Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. Pastor Reverend Erik Vigil Reyes and Parochial Vicar Reverend Francis Saleth, HGN will share the services. Confession will be celebrated before mass.

Weldon Valley Presbyterian Church in Goodrich has Christian education and worship at 10 a.m. each Sunday.

Contact information for Pastor Denise Shannon is 720-271-6733 or pastordeniseshannon@gmail.com. The Presbyterian Women are furnishing a meal for Rising Up on the first Thursday of the month through March.

The Presbyterian Women will meet on Thursday, for Bible Study.

School Scoop: The first week back in the week year went well for all.

4-H News: 4-H members preparing for a new year.

What’s cookin’: Hamburger-Vegetable Soup: 1 pound ground beef, 1 cup diced onion, 1 cup sliced carrots, 1 cup cut in pieced celery, 4 cups cooked tomatoes, ( canned from store good), ½ cup rice, 3 cups water, ¼ teaspoons basil, 1/4 tablespoon thyme, 1 bay leaf, salt as needed.

Brown the ground beef and onion. When browned drain off excess fat. Combining with remaining ingredients in a large kettle. Simmer for at least one hour. Ready to serve. This is an easy recipe. Freezes well. The rice will make the soup thick, may want to reduce or add more water of tomato juice. Enjoy, this is soup season!

First facts: 1542-Portuguese navigator Juan Rodirguez Cabrillo arrived at present day San Diego.

Weldon Valley History: 2002 All-School Reunion- Over 200 Alumni and guests gathered for an all-school. This was the fourth reunion in the past 20 years sponsored by the Weldon Valley alumni Association. The event began in the after- noon with a social reception at the school. Yearbooks were on display. The Alumni took the building as many changes had been. The evening activities took place in Fort Morgan at the County Steak Out Restaurant. Alumni were present from years: 1938-1958,1962-1963,19651985,1988-1990,1992-1994,1996-2001. The class of 2002 broke the record of the Class of 1940 which had 21 members present; 2002 class had 23 graduates in attendance. It was a great evening for all.

Calendar of Event: Thursday, January 14, 1:30 p.m., Presbyterian Women Bible Study in Goodrich at the church.

Thought for the day: I know of no pursuit in which more real and important services can be rendered to any country that by improving its agriculture, its breed of useful animals, and other branches of husbandman’s care.”

George Washington,

65 Main Street, Keenesburg, Colorado 303-910-0640

“Reagan was optimistic about America amid the cynicism and general retreat of the post-Vietnam era because he believed unfashionably that America was both great and good -- and had been needlessly diminished by restrictive economic policies and timid foreign policies. Change the policies and America would be restored, both at home and abroad. He was right.” – Charles Krauthammer (1950-2018) writing in the Washington Post on June 11, 2004.

February 3, 2021

Lost Creek Guide

USDA Temporarily Suspends Debt Collections, Foreclosures and Other Activities on Farm Loans for Several Thousand Distressed Borrowers Due to Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2021 — Due to the national public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). USDA will temporarily suspend non-judicial foreclosures, debt offsets or wage garnishments, and referring foreclosures to the Department of Justice; and USDA will work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to stop judicial foreclosures and evictions on accounts that were previously referred to the Department of Justice. Additionally, USDA has extended deadlines for producers to respond to loan servicing actions, including loan deferral consideration for financially distressed and delinquent borrowers. In addition, for the Guaranteed Loan program, flexibilities have been made available to lenders to assist in servicing their customers.

Today’s announcement by USDA expands previous actions undertaken by the Department to lessen financial hardship. According to USDA data, more than 12,000 borrowers—approximately 10% of all borrowers—are eligible for the relief announced today.

Overall, FSA lends to more than 129,000 farmers, ranchers and producers.

“USDA and the Biden Administration are committed to bringing relief and support to farmers, ranchers and producers of all backgrounds and financial status, including by ensuring producers have access to temporary debt relief,” said Robert Bonnie, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary. “Not only is USDA suspending the pipeline of adverse actions that can lead to foreclosure and debt collection, we are also working with the Departments of Justice and Treasury to suspend any actions already referred to the applicable Agency. Additionally, we are evaluating ways to improve and address farm related debt with the intent to keep farmers on their farms earning living expenses, providing for emergency needs, and maintaining cash flow.”

The temporary suspension is in place until further notice and is expected to continue while the national COVID-19 disaster declaration is in place.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency provides several different loans for producers, which fall under two main categories: Guaranteed loans are made and serviced by commercial lenders, such as banks, the Farm Credit System, credit unions and other non-traditional lenders. FSA guarantees the lender’s loan against loss, up to 95 percent.

Direct loans are made and serviced by FSA using funds from the federal government.

The most common loan types are Farm Ownership, Farm Operating, and Farm Storage Facility Loans, with Microloans for each: Farm Ownership: Helps producers purchase or enlarge a farm or ranch, construct a new or improve an existing farm or ranch building, pay closing costs, and pay for soil and water conservation and protection.

Farm Operating: Helps producers purchase livestock and equipment and pay for minor real estate repairs and annual operating expenses.

Farm Storage Facility Loans are made directly to producers for the construction of cold or dry storage and includes handling equipment and mobile storage such as refrigerated trucks.

Microloans: Direct Farm Ownership, Operating Loans, and Farm Storage Facility Loans have a shortened application process and reduced paperwork designed to meet the needs of smaller, non-traditional, and niche-type operations.

Contact FSA FSA encourages producers to contact their county office to discuss these programs and temporary changes to farm loan deadlines and the loan servicing options available. For Service Center contact information, visit farmers.gov/coronavirus. For servicing information, access farmers.gov.

A Rather Blustery Drive

By Master Trooper Gary Cutler As Winnie the Pooh stated. “It undoubtably looks like a rather blustery day.” As that silly old bear stated so many years ago, it still rings true. We have seen a lot of blustery days this year with some gusts reaching as high as 116 MPH. Wind can affect your travels in many ways. The one that comes to most people’s minds is how it can and often does topple big rigs pulling trailers. Even though you may not be driving a semi, you do need to be aware of them in a wind storm.

If you are feeling wind gusts while driving, it could mean that a particularly strong one can hit the semi and tip it over. You need to be careful with them while following or passing them. Watch to see if you see the semi having trouble maintaining its lane.

It could mean something more dangerous is in the near future. Spend as little time around them as possible in case a gust hits it while you are near.

This goes the same if you are pulling a trailer. Lighter trailers, especially empty ones are more prone to dragging the tow vehicle off the road with it when hit by a gust of wind.

Also, make sure your load is secure especially in wind storms. Items that you normally wouldn’t think will blow off your trailer may indeed fly off and possible hit a vehicle or go into the roadway and cause another vehicle to crash.

Those of you who don’t pull trailers or drive semis are not off the hook. Particularly strong winds can move your car into the oncoming lane of travel. I’m sure you’ve felt your vehicle moving around and sometimes finding it hard to maintain your lane. Again, be cautious of wind storms and especially ones with strong wind gusts. If there is a report of possible strong winds, try to adjust your travel plans. Get where you’re going safely.

“Oh, Pooh, there’s more to life than just balloons and honey.”

As always, safe travels!

Page 11

Selection of First Colorado Independent Redistricting Commissioners

Colorado Independent Redistricting Commissions Staff The first six commissioners on the Colorado Independent Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Commissions will be selected in February.

Congressional commissioners will be selected Monday, February 1, 2021, at 2:00 PM. The panel of retired judges – Hon. Daniel Taubman, Hon. Robert Hawthorne, and Hon. Alan Loeb – will meet remotely to announce their selections of 50 Democratic, 50 Republican, and 50 unaffiliated applicants. They will then randomly select two applicants from each pool to serve on the commission. The meeting will be available to watch or listen to online. Public viewing will also be available in the Old State Library (room 271) at the Colorado State Capitol Building.

Legislative commissioners will be selected Friday, February 12, 2021, at 2:00 PM. The panel of retired judges – Hon. Karen Ashby, Hon. Dennis Graham, and Hon. Gale Miller – will meet remotely to announce their selections of 50 Democratic, 50 Republican, and 50 unaffiliated applicants. They will then randomly select two applicants from each pool to serve on the commission. The meeting will be available to watch or listen to online.

Public viewing will also be available in the Old State Library (room 271) at the Colorado State Capitol Building.

Both panels have approved the following procedures for their random drawings: At their meeting, the judges on the panel will identify the names of 50 Democrats, 50 Republicans, and 50 unaffiliated applicants from which the first six commissioners will be chosen by lot. Once directed to do so by the panel, redistricting staff will place a link on the redistricting website to the lists of names. The names will also be displayed on the screen for those attending the meeting virtually or in person. The names on the list will be numbered 1-50 (unaffiliated), 51-100 (Democrats), and 101-150 (Republicans). Bingo balls with corresponding numbers will be placed in three revolving Bingo drums.

Each selection panel will choose commissioners by lot from the pools (unaffiliated, Democratic, and Republican) in the same order the pools are listed in the state constitution. At the direction of the panel, staff will proceed as follows: 1.

Draw one ball from the unaffiliated drum—that will be the number of the first commissioner.

2.

Draw one ball from the Democratic drum—if that number is not from the same Congressional district as the previously chosen individual, it will be the number of the second commissioner. If the drawn number represents the same Congressional district as the previously chosen commissioner, it will be set aside and balls will continue to be drawn until a candidate who represents a new Congressional district is chosen.

3.

Draw one ball from the Republican drum—follow the procedure listed above until a Republican commissioner is chosen who represents an unchosen Congressional district.

4.

Continue to follow the same process, starting again with the unaffiliated drum, until six commissioners are selected who represent six different Congressional districts.

The two judicial panels will also select the final six commissioners for each commission,

by March 1, 2021, for the congressional commission, and by March 16, 2021, for the legislative commission. For each commission, two lists of ten Democrats will be submitted by the Majority Leaders of the State Senate and State House of Representatives. Two lists of ten Republicans will be submitted by the Minority Leaders of the State Senate and State House of Representatives. From each of these lists, the judges will select one commissioner. The judges for each commission will also select two unaffiliated commissioners from the original pool of applicants.

Each commission must include at least one member residing in each current congressional district and at least one member from the Western Slope and must, to the extent possible, reflect Colorado’s racial, ethnic, gender, and geographic diversity.

Page 12

Lost Creek Guide

February 3, 2021

The Sunday Read: Public Schools’ Response to Pandemic is Proof Parents Need More Options

By Chris Krug | The Center Square Responses to COVID-19 across the country have exposed weaknesses in all aspects of society.

Crises do that. Crises expose weaknesses. Crises show how the systems we trust and rely upon are so close to fraying.

But arguably the greatest frailty of them all could be seen in the way that our public schools unraveled over the past year. Our kids are suffering in so many unfathomable ways.

As School Choice Week comes to a close, let’s pause for a moment and consider how simply awful the current situation is for parents who have opted to maximize the value of the school taxes they pay and utilize the public service.

Ohio was the first to mandate school closures on March 12 and, within one day, 15 other states mandated school closures. Teachers School choice advocates rally at the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort, unions, whose apKy., on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020. They are supporting legislation that proach to maintainwould give tax credits to people who donate to scholarship funds ing strength of memfor special-needs children or those in low-income homes to attend bership and loyalty private schools. long has valued serBruce Schreiner / AP file photo vice time over talent and student performance, leaned into the fear-stoking mainstream media and pushed state government for closures well ahead of any available science and data.

In Illinois, where my children attend public school, students in most local districts have been outside of the classroom since mid-March 2020.

Friday was the first day my youngest was allowed to return to class. It was the third time since the school shutdown in March that she’s been present in class. She’s 8.

She’s spent the better part of 10 months trying to learn via Zoom. It’s been miserable for her and for everyone around her. She tells me that she feels like a failure because she can’t stay engaged. She’s been corrected in front of her peers by teachers who are expecting engagement commensurate with in-person learning. She’s embarrassed. Turned off. Says

that she doesn’t like school. Again, she’s 8.

She’s been clinically diagnosed as having special needs. Spending hours in front of a computer screen is the worst possible scenario for her and kids like her. But it is the only available option.

The private schools in our area are full. They have been operating on a 5-day in-school schedule since mid-August without incident.

Homeschooling is not a viable option for working parents. So we’re stuck, and our little girl is stuck in the middle of an archaic system that wasn’t great in its original form that is now repackaged into virtual delivery and operated by people who have zero experience teaching via distance learning.

Forget about what the American Academy of Pediatrics had recommended for kids and screen time before the pandemic: “Correlational studies have shown that 8- to 11-yearolds who exceed screen time recommendations scored lower on cognitive assessments, with compliance with recommendations explaining about a fifth of the overall variance in cognitive scores (The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, Vol. 2, No. 11, 2018). A combination of screen time and too little sleep has also been associated with heightened impulsivity in the same age group (Pediatrics, Vol. 144, No. 3, 2019).”

Meanwhile, private schools have operated normally or with only slight modification and in accordance with local departments of health guidelines – across the country – without incident.

You’re not reading stories about massive outbreaks at private schools because they are not occurring. Teachers and students in these schools are not dying. It’s a fact that has gone largely unreported because it doesn’t fit the message of the fear-stoking organized labor unions that rule the public education machine.

Americans deserve better, and choices for how we educate our kids with the tax dollars that we push forward to public education are vital. Not all kids are alike. My kids are no more important than yours. But our kids are all different and need customized solutions.

The American public education system has been outdated, operates on an agrarian calendar and contributes significantly to our kids falling behind the world.

No offense, but our ability to educate and our kids’ ability to learn shouldn’t have been ranked behind Poland in science, Lithuania in math, or Portugal in reading before the pandemic. You can only imagine where we will rank next year.

We need more charter schools that actually have to account for outcomes to continue to operate. We need magnet schools that would allow for specialized curriculums. We need more control of how tax dollars are allocated to education for the specific purpose of allowing the free market to improve the educational system, rather than to protect and maintain the draconian approach to educating children via the lone public options we’ve funded for generations.

If this moment isn’t the precise time to consider how we make education better, there won’t be another.

Much of the nation celebrated National School Choice Week last week, as more and more parents frustrated with remote-only learning, unhappy with public school outcomes and simply looking for alternatives are embracing school choice options.

In Arizona, a national leader in school choice options, private and charter schools saw enrollment increase significantly over the past year. In Michigan, roughly 10 percent of the state’s student population attend charter schools. In Ohio, more than 300,000 students take advantage of some type of school choice option in the state, and that number could grow thanks to legislation signed into law near the end of 2020. In North Carolina, a new poll shows a majority of residents now support school choice options. And in Kentucky, new legislation was filed that would create Education Opportunity Accounts that could be used in public or private schools across the state.

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1/8/2019 9:34:18 AM

February 3, 2021

Lost Creek Guide

Page 13

U.S. Census Delays are Threatening to Upend Colorado’s New Redistricting Process

Legislative and congressional districts in the state are supposed to be redrawn this year by new, independent commissions approved by voters in 2018. But Census Bureau problems mean the panels are unlikely to meet their constitutionally mandated deadlines.

by Jesse Paul, Colorado Sun Delays by the U.S. Census Bureau in sharing detailed population data are threatening to upend Colorado’s new redistricting process ahead of the 2022 election, injecting uncertainty into a politically fraught undertaking that will affect the state’s political landscape for the next decade.

Because of slowdowns related to COVID-19, the Trump administration’s failed efforts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, and data anomalies, the Census Bureau isn’t expected to provide the population information to Colorado until sometime this summer. The data was supposed to be in by March 31 — at the latest.

The delay means it’s unlikely that two new, independent commissions will have enough time to redraw Colorado’s legislative and congressional maps in time to meet September deadlines set in the state constitution when voters passed Amendments Y and Z in 2018. The Voters cast their ballots in downtown Denver on Tuesday, June 30, amendments were 2020. (Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun) sent to voters by the legislature and completely overhauled the way districts are drawn in Colorado.

If the deadlines aren’t met, nonpartisan legislative staff will draw the new maps instead, putting a big damper on the intent of Amendments Y and Z and the bipartisan, muchheralded agreement that led to their passage. The amendments are aimed at removing political maneuvering around the once-in-a-decade redistricting and giving the public more say in the task.

“There was not just bipartisan support, but unanimous support among the 100 legislators (for the new process). And both Y and Z passed by wide margins,” said Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert, a Parker Republican. “It’s a shame that we are in this situation.”

Top lawmakers in the Colorado General Assembly are now scrambling to respond and salvage the new redistricting process. The stakes are high, with Colorado expected to add an eighth congressional seat in 2022 due to population growth and partisan power at the statehouse potentially hanging in the balance.

The new problems with the redistricting process come after state officials initially struggled to get enough appliColorado’s congressional districts. (Handout) cants to be on the legislative and congressional map-drawing committees. There were also concerns that not enough applicants from underrepresented groups sought to serve on the panels, whose members are being selected by judges in the coming weeks.

Colorado isn’t the only state where redistricting plans are in trouble because of Census Bureau delays. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that New Jersey and Virginia were planning to redraw their legislative districts ahead of elections this year.

Meanwhile, California, Missouri, Maine, Ohio, South Dakota and Washington all have constitutional redistricting deadlines in the coming months ahead of the 2022 election, similar to Colorado’s.

Texas’ legislature may have to be called into a special session because of the Census Bureau’s slowdown.

Colorado’s nonpartisan redistricting commission staff informed top legislative leaders Monday about why the delays are so problematic.

“We knew for a little while now that the timeline was going to be called into question because of the census,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat.

“It’s become much more clear now the impact.”

The detailed population numbers were expected to arrive by March 31, officials said, but the data now may not arrive until July 31 — if not later.

“The Census Bureau has more or less acknowledged that they won’t be able to meet that deadline,” Jerry Barry, a nonpartisan staffer with the Office of Legislative Legal Services, told top lawmakers on Monday. “We have heard that it will be sometime this fall.”

Barry recommended that leading Democrats and Republicans quickly draft a bill to push back the map-drawing deadlines — now set at Sept. 1 for congressional districts and Sept. 15 for legislative ones — and then ask the Colorado Supreme Court to weigh in about whether state lawmakers can legally pass a measure altering the constitutional deadlines.

The legislature does not inherently have the power to alter the state constitution by passing a bill. That’s why lawmakers will have to ask the state Supreme Court if, given the extenuating circumstances, the alterations are OK. “The only avenue the legislature has, because we don’t have the authority to amend the constitution and there isn’t time to refer a question to the voters, (is to seek) an opinion,” Holbert said.

Because of the pandemic, Colorado Supreme Court allowed the legislature last year to sidestep its constitutional requirement to meet for 120 consecutive days. The legislature’s lawyers see the request to alter the redistricting deadlines as being similar.

(The Colorado Supreme Court is required to review the final maps and approve or reject them by the end of 2021 and pass them along to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.)

Holbert said lawmakers might have anticipated delays in census data being reported when drafting Amendments Y and Z and provided some flexibility around the deadlines.

But at this point the only thing to do is find a way to respond. And his Democratic colleagues agree.

“We are just where we are,” said House Speaker Alec Garnett, a Denver Democrat. “So, let’s figure out a way to move forward.”

It’s unclear how long the legislature would seek to push back the map-drawing deadlines.

Fenberg said if it’s a month or two, there really wouldn’t be that much of a difference.

Such an extension, however, would give candidates less time to decide which races to run in and likely create an even more frantic election cycle. A number of top politicians are watching closely to see where Colorado’s eighth congressional district is drawn. The new map is likely to have major ripple effects across the political landscape.

Fenberg is trying to find the silver lining. “I don’t think it’s the end of the world,” he said of a possible delay. “It might be, frankly, a positive thing.”

Fenberg points out that the pandemic will make it difficult for the independent redistricting commissions to meet and get statewide input since in-person gatherings are still frowned upon.

“There’s all kinds of reasons why right now is not a great period to be kicking off the redistricting process,” Fenberg said.

The upshot for proponents of the redistricting changes are that even with the delays, the process will not be in the hands of the legislature as was the case before Amendments Y and Z. Even if the independent panels can’t draw the maps, nonpartisan legislative staff will take the reins, meaning the influence of party politics will still be minimized.

The downside is it will be difficult to solicit and consider public input in the way Amendments Y and Z envisioned.

“It might not look exactly like the way we planned it when we wrote Y and Z,” Fenberg said, “but there’s still going to be some big changes.”

Page 14

Lost Creek Guide

Weld County Health Department Seeks Community Vaccine Provider Support

Weld County, CO – The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment is currently recruiting COVID-19 vaccine providers to assist us with upcoming community vaccination efforts.

Per State Executive Order D 2021 008, the following professions are now approved to administer the COVID-19 vaccine: Chiropractic, Dental, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Physical Therapy, Podiatry, Respiratory Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Surgical Assistants/Surgical Technologists, and Veterinary Services.

To become a community vaccine provider, you must meet the following criteria: • Must be credentialed/licensed in Colorado to possess or administer vaccines or provide vaccination services. • Sign and agree to the conditions in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Agreement. • Fully complete the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Profile form for each location where COVID-19 vaccine will be administered, even if owned under a larger corporate or parent organization.

Please email VxProvider@weldgov.com to discuss your participation in the upcoming community vaccine efforts. Please note this is only for providing vaccine to the community. If you are interested in having your staff vaccinated please fill out the following survey: https://form.jotform.com/203514288992060

Coming in the Next Issue of the Lost Creek Guide “Colorado Gardening”

The next issue of the Lost Creek Guide will see the beginning of a regular gardening column. This feature will be open to contributions from readers, academic sources, industry contributions, producers and in general, anybody that wants to contribute and share their experiences or thoughts. The intent is to share gardening experiences with others. Please send contributions or questions to editor@lostcreekguide.com We look forward to this new feature as there have been many requests about this subject.

February 3, 2021

Local Leaders Celebrate with Aims on Progress for New Welcome Center

GREELEY, CO – January 22, 2021 – With steel beams, escalators and concrete curing, the Welcome Center at Aims Community College is on track for its December opening.

Community leaders joined college personnel Thursday in a socially-distanced celebration of the progress made so far on the 106,000-square-foot structure.

Members of the college’s board of trustees, Greeley Mayor John Gates, Greeley City Manager Roy Otto, Greeley Chamber of Commerce President Jaime Henning and others used Sharpie markers to sign a steel beam that now sits atop the three-story structure. When construction is complete, that particular beam will be visible from inside the building.

The Welcome Center at Aims will house student services, academic advising, financial aid and include space for studying, gaming and collaboration for students. Students will begin and end their Aims Community College journey at the Welcome Center, where commencement will be hosted in the 1,700-seat auditorium. A third-floor banquet hall will accommodate 800 seated people and be in close proximity to a 3,000-square-foot commercial kitchen.

From the third-floor banquet hall, visitors will take in the sweeping view of the Rocky Mountains to the West.

Elevators and escalators will be used to move people safely and efficiently between levels.

A dedicated freight elevator is also incorporated into the design.

Outside, an underground snowmelt system will keep concrete free of ice and snow, making the north side safer for pedestrians. Plans also include 500 additional parking spaces, increasing Aims’ capacity to 2,500 parking spaces.

Student surveys and feedback inform the design, and Aims staff hosted community panels to solicit feedback on how this space can meet Weld County’s future needs throughout the project’s planning and design period.

Funding for construction comes from college reserve and operating budgets and requires no additional financial support from taxpayers.

About 250 students, staff, faculty and community leaders signed the steel support beam with black and red Sharpie markers at the socially distanced event, which included staggered attendance, hand sanitizer and masks.

About Aims Community College Aims Community College is one of the most progressive two-year colleges in Colorado.

Founded more than 50 years ago in Greeley, Aims has since established locations in Fort Lupton, Loveland and Windsor. Curriculum now includes 4,000 day, evening, weekend and online courses annually in more than 200 degree and certificate programs. Aims Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Aims Community College is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution. www.aims.edu

February 3, 2021

Page 15

Lost Creek Guide

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Page 16

Lost Creek Guide

Heart Disease: Know the Facts

OVERVIEW

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. It’s estimated that every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack.

A heart attack occurs when there is a sudden interruption of blood flow within a diseased artery, typically due to a blood clot that forms when the plaque ruptures. Time is muscle. The early recognition of symptoms is vital to limit the damage done to the heart muscle. The less amount of injury the heart sustains, the better the outcome and prognosis.

HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS

The “typical” symptoms of a heart attack include: Chest pain that can be described as discomfort, heaviness, tightness, burning, squeezing.

Pain that radiates across the chest or upper abdomen, up the neck, jaw and shoulders and down the arm.

Other associated symptoms may include: Breathlessness Nausea, vomiting or belching (indigestion) Sweating Palpitations (skipped heart beats) Dizziness, lightheadedness Fainting Feeling tired Donald A. Rabor, MD Women, the elderly and diaLead Physician, SCL Health Heart and Vascular betics may also experience Institute - Brighton the above symptoms, however they’re more likely to have “atypical” symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, back pain, abdominal pain, jaw pain and shortness of breath without feeling chest pain.

Do not ignore any of these symptoms, especially if they intensify and last longer than five minutes, immediate medical treatment is necessary.

WHO IS AT RISK FOR HEART DISEASE?

The risk factors for developing heart disease include: High blood pressure High blood cholesterol Tobacco use (smoking and chewing) Diabetes

February 3, 2021

Aging Family history of premature heart disease Sedentary lifestyle Obesity or overweight Emotional stress / poor stress management Unhealthy eating habits Excessive alcohol consumption History of high blood pressure, preeclampsia or diabetes during pregnancy COVID-19 infection

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT HEART ATTACKS AND HEART DISEASE?

Promoting good heart health starts by: Knowing and recognizing the early signs and symptoms of a heart attack, both “typical” and “atypical.” Time is muscle.

Identifying and understanding the risk factors for heart disease.

Seeking medical attention if you develop symptoms suggestive of heart disease or possess significant risk factors.

Implementing lifestyle modifications focused on appropriate diet and nutrition, regular activity, weight management, smoking cessation, reduced alcohol intake and stress management.

Initiating medical therapy as guided by your care provider.

Embracing a positive and joyful attitude.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP!

The SCL Health Heart & Vascular Institute combines the strength of leading cardiovascular specialists with some of the area’s best heart hospitals, including Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton, as well as regional centers of excellence such as Saint Joseph Hospital and National Jewish Health in Denver. Our team of experienced and highly-qualified cardiologists and vascular specialists provides you with the highest level of care, from heart attack prevention and surgical care, to specialized rehabilitation, all to keep your heart healthy and strong.

For more information visit SCLhealth.org/heart or call 303-659-7000 to make an appointment with a cardiologist.