The Lost Creek Guide March 04, 2020

Volume 13 • Edition 05

March 4, 2020

Serving 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

Wiggins High School Agriculture Teacher Selected as One of Top Agricultural Educators in the Nation

Rockie Ernst receives national recognition from the NAAE for his outstanding teaching both in the classroom and outside of it.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Rockie Ernst, agricultural educator at Wiggins High School in Wiggins, Colorado, is one of only six individuals nationwide to receive the Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher Award, given at the National Association of Agricultural Educators annual convention in Anaheim, California, on December 3.

When Ernst began his position as an educator at Wiggins High School, he was the fifth teacher to rotate in within a seven-year span. Wiggins is a small rural community with a very strong agricultural industry.

Through his time there, Ernst has recognized the potential of the program and expanded it to be reflective of the community.

“I accepted the position and took on the challenge to turn the program around,” Ernst said. “I believe that over the years, I have had a part in transforming the Wiggins Ag Department into one of the most solid programs in our state.”

Ernst has a teaching philosophy to empower students to be lifelong learners, to think on their own, to be problem solvers and to develop employability skills. Ernst’s students are developing useful skills for life and are taught responsibility and accountability in his courses. He makes the experience relevant to students by showing how important the subject matter is and how it can be applied in their life. This allows students to become actively engaged in their own learning. By expecting his students to keep financial records for Supervised Agricultural Experiences and fundraisers, he is developing essential financial skills to make a living. He also teaches that everyone benefits through serving others. It is evident he goes much deeper than only providing classroom instruction.

Ernst is a big advocate for experiential learning. His classroom instruction includes many Foundational SAE’s, but he encourages his students to develop and maintain Immersion SAE’s in order to get the real and complete experience.

“I believe that the SAE area is the basis for students to really get hooked on the ag program and individualize their overall experience,” Ernst said. “I have developed a brochure for SAE’s that is shared with parents. I work with my Advisory Committee and local community to get placement opportunities for students. For the students that live in town and may not have the opportunities to raise livestock or plants we developed a chapter swine feeding operation and constructed a chapter greenhouse.

Both of these provided opportunities for members to get hired on as workers in a School Based Enterprise.”

One of the largest dairies in Colorado is owned and managed by one of Ernst’s former students. This began as the students SAE when Ernst first began teaching at Wiggins. The former student’s son is now a senior in the program and plans to attend college to further his education in agribusiness so that he may come back and help run the family dairy. This is one of many successful examples of Ernst’s experiential learning emphasis.

Ernst has many strong community partners that assist in coaching teams for contests and chaperone events and conferences. He has done an excellent job building a successful program and training lifelong leaders and learners, as well as engaging the community into the classroom.

The National Association of Agricultural Educators was founded as the National Vocational Agricultural Teachers’ Association in 1948. Today, the NAAE has grown to become a federation of state agricultural educator associations, providing service to more than 8,000 members nationwide in advocacy for agricultural education as well as professional development for and recruitment and retention of agricultural educators. Our mission, “Professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy and service.” is echoed through the various programs and trainings offered to our members. For more information on the NAAE and agricultural education visit us at www.naae.org or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/naaeagedu

Hoyt Community Center Hosts its AnnualChili and Chicken Noodle Soup Supper

by Pam Bland The annual Hoyt Community Center Chili and Chicken Noodle Soup Supper was held February 23, 2020 from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. This supper is a community tradition dating back to approximately 1960. It is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy delicious homemade chili, chicken noodle soup and a variety of pies while visiting with neighbors just down the road and old friends who have traveled long distances for this event. The annual chili supper began in approximately 1960 and has been enjoyed by generations of Morgan County families, as well as those from surrounding counties. This year 206 guests and volunteers attended the supper filling the building throughout the span of the event with lots of conversation and laughter. Many wonderful door prizes were handed out delighting the winners. The door prizes were donated by local businesses and individuals as far away as Denver. Throughout the supper the Hoyt Home Circle sold baked goods, bazaar items, cookbooks and tickets for the quilt drawing which was held at the end of the evening.

The winners of the quilts were: lap robe Kim Werner, double-sized Elsie Naill and queen-sized Paula Keefe.

The proceeds received from the meal tickets goes to the upkeep and improvement of the Hoyt Community Center building and grounds. The building began as a school in about 1914 and became the community center in 1946. Maintenance and renovation have been a continuous process over the years. The proceeds from the quilt tickets, baked goods, bazaar items and cookbooks goes towards the many civic projects the Hoyt Home Circle is committed to including a scholarship for a graduating senior from Wiggins High School, the food bank at the Wiggins Community Church, Preston Ranch, school supply donations to Wiggins Elementary School, the Fort Morgan Humane Society and local families in need.

The Hoyt Home Circle is very grateful to everyone who supported us with our quilt ticket sales, bazaar items, baked goods and cookbook sales. The Hoyt Community Center is very thankful for our generous sponsors, door prize donations and volunteers without whom we could not have held this beloved tradition.

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE:

Page 2: Way of the World

Page 3: Wiggins Stakeholders Rebrand, Rename Page 4-5: Local Candidate Information Page 8-9: Weld Central Sports Recap Page 10: Ross Sworn in as Weld County’s Commissioners Page 11: Importance of Census to Older Americans Page 12-13: Grumpy Old Men II Page 16: Sons of American Legion Corn Hole Tourney

Page 2

– Way of the World –

Lost Creek Guide

by Bob Grand Well Super Tuesday is coming. Maybe that will bring closure among the Democrats.

I hope so but you never know. The Democrats are still running around, and aside from bashing the President, have not focused on a single candidate. I have a concern that no matter what happens there will be a split in the Democrat party. Now some Republicans will say that is good. As an independent, I do not believe so. Our country needs a viable two-party system. We are supposed to have checks and balances. Now the absolute hatred of the President by a core group of people, which by no means represent the majority of the American voters , has virtually stopped the legislative process on many key issues at the federal level which we need to resolve. They all require robust and rigorous debate, immigration reform, federal indebtedness, tort reform, health care cost control, pension reform, to name a few. New York and California do not represent mainstream America, but you would never know it listening to the Democratic controlled House. The same can be said at the state level. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out our roads need a lot of work. The RTD issue in Colorado is just insane. Because it was politically correct to support mass transit and because there was federal money available to support it.

Many people supported it as the answer to end all answers. Well guess what, Coloradans love their cars, so now they get to drive them on terrible roads, which means they break quicker. And because not all new folks can afford to live where the trains and buses go, ridership is down. I still go back to asking someone putting a pencil to what it would cost to provide everybody with on demand free Uber or Lyft rides and compare it to what RTD will ultimately cost. Will anybody fess up? I doubt it.

In any case, the concept of who elected officials work for seems to have been lost. All our elected officials be they at the federal, state , county or at the local level all should understand that they work for the people. The people are the ones that elected them. Unfortunately, that requires transparency and accountability, a novel thought. Many officials themselves, either by accident or by design, structure the process so that they deal with the public as little as possible. After all, what do the people know anyway, they are only voters.

Today, because of the toxicity of the environment, people do not like to talk politics. So, it simmers. I believe that there are many voters out there of both parties and the unaffiliated are just sick and tired of what is going on.

The County Council has picked Kevin Ross for the open County Commissioner slot caused by Sean Conway’s resignation. Ross is a bright man, and, of the candidates, was probably a reasonable choice. I just do not think a person running for the office should have been allowed to be considered. The last At Large Candidate had over 75,000 votes in the election. This process was settled by 5 Weld County Council votes.

The coronavirus continues in the headlines. It reminds us how frail we really are as a species. Some politicians are running around criticizing what has or has not been done.

Do you really think you can control this with a 100% surety? Get real. Life is full of risks, whether you like it or not. There will be major economic impact just because people are nervous and that means uncertainty and that breeds fear of the unknown.

As we get closer to elections, I ask each of you to vote. Many say it is not worth it. I just remind you that it is a major part of why America is so great. Do not take it for granted. A smarter guy than me says we are maybe only one generation from losing our freedom if we do not protect it. Please make the effort. 1.4 million American heroes have given their lives to protect your right to do that. Do not ignore their sacrifice protecting your rights.

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

March 4, 2020

Wiggins Recall Comment #2

Submitted by: Anna M Brooks This is the second in a series of articles about the Recall of Jeffrey Palmer as a Wiggins Trustee. This is meant to be a reminder to those who bravely signed the petition, a clarification for those who wanted to sign but did not and, expanded upon for those registered voters who never read the petition.

The Statement of Grounds include: 1.

Misrepresentation of the facts during board meetings to the public.

2.

Breach of Ethics against the citizens, staff and other Trustees.

Covered in Section 2: 3.

Has not done research on the 2015 Water AND Sewer Design and Plan.

4.

Unwillingness to put aside his personal agenda for the betterment of our Town 5.

Agreed but did not participate in additional meetings, trainings. i.e. Colorado Municipal League (CML), Morgan County Economic Development (MCEDC), Morgan County Commissioner meetings, Colorado Agritourism, Morgan Strong and has not, to date, taken the tour of the 2015 Water And Sewer Design Plan or met with the Town Administrator to do so.

Statement of Grounds #3: Trustee Palmer has never taken a tour of the 2015 Water and Sewer Design Plan area or reviewed the plan developed since 2015 by professional water engineers and attorneys, current and past Town board members. He has not sat down with any of our Town Staff or Trustees to learn the full scope of the plan.

Trustee Palmer currently states that it’s a “$30 million sewer project”: The design plan is for BOTH the water and sewer project totaling $28 million. When speaking in town meetings about the town project he fails to mention that the 2015 Design Plan qualifies the Town of Wiggins to receive $10 million in grant funds, reducing the total cost of both projects to $18 million. In addition, he fails to mention the revenue generation that includes housing and business growth, sale of water rights, augmentation water leases, or water and sewer leases from contractors and landowners.

Statement of Grounds #4: Trustee Palmer openly stated during a Town Meeting, “I hate you Paul Larino, Town Administrator). Why don’t you just go away?” Trustee Palmer refused all opportunities and efforts made to work with, listen to or give credence to the Town Administrator because he just didn’t “like him”. Personal agenda vs town improvement.

Statement of Grounds #5: The Board of Trustees Ethics manual states that Trustees continue their education about Township, leadership skills, tools and methods to properly lead our community and understand the intricacies of working within city, state and federal laws and regulations.

It only makes us stronger when coordinating planning with experienced officials and organizations.

Trustee Palmer has a zero record for attending trainings, conferences or planning sessions including MORGAN STRONG, which he personally committed to attending.

This is why the Petition to Recall Jeffrey Palmer was initiated.

VOTE: April 7, 2020 at Town Hall or get your mail in ballots out well before election day.

The Lost Creek Guide, Llc Bob Grand - Publisher 303-732-4080 publisher@lostcreekguide.com

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March 4, 2020

Response to Feb. 5 Letter to Editor

This letter is regarding the Letter to the Editor written by Anna Brooks in the Lost Creek Guide dated February 5th, 2020 titled Wiggins Council Approves Sewer PlanAvoids Daily Fines. Ms. Brooks stated that the Town of Wiggins dodged a big bullet at a Special Board Meeting by set forward to the CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment). This plan that has been supposedly put together in the last 3 years was initiated by the previous Board.

It is true that the new state rules and regulations set forth by the CDPHE created hardships, not only for the Town of Wiggins, but for ALL municipalities within the state. The Board approved higher rates to the sewer bill because they have not been increased for several years to cover the additional annual increases in operating costs, and not because of the compliance issue. Ms. Brooks stated that the Town of Burlington was facing fines of $6,000 per day for not meeting compliance requirements.

If this happens to the Town of Wiggins, it would cost $10,000 per day, 365 days per year, at a total cost of $3,650,000, and this would break the town. She also states that if the Town of Wiggins passes these costs to the consumers, it would cost each consumer $354/month for sewer alone. We agree with this statement Ms. Brooks, however, this statement pertains to the “submitted plans sent to the CDPHE” for a total of $12,000,000 for a new wastewater treatment facility. Ms. Brooks fails to tell ALL the facts.

We have a young engineer living in the Town of Wiggins, who is employed by the City of Fort Lupton. The City of Fort Lupton had to address the same compliance issues with the CDPHE on their wastewater treatment facility. His option would have fixed the compliance issue and would cost only $2,500,000, and his supervisor at the City of Fort Lupton agreed to come out and explain how we could accomplish this fix on our existing wastewater treatment facility. When he tried to approach the Town of Wiggins with what the City of Fort Lupton used, and he was rudely ignored. By doing this option, it would mean a decrease in debt from $30M vs. $2.5M, which would be a (92%) decrease in cost. The THREE Trustees have requested that this individual be put on the agenda for a presentation and we were placed on the backburner. As a matter of fact, we were denied THREE times to get this to happen.

Surrounding landowners that would be affected by this new wastewater treatment facility have been ignored, mocked, and told they had no choice, as Wiggins would do what they wanted to do. Wiggins eventually will have to expand their wastewater treatment facility, however, it will be done responsibly and placed closer to Town, so it is not located 8 miles out of town. The increased cost alone is based on the amount of pipeline, easement purchases, and pumps.

Our previous town auditor stated that the Town of Wiggins cannot afford to take on such a high cost project because the Town does not have the necessary components to pay for a $30M debt. When he presented the 2017 audit, he stated to the Board and the Town Administrator, that the Town did not have the excess funds due to the increase in spending that has been done over the last 3 years.

Ms. Brooks stated that there are 860 payors, but factually there are only ~550 sewer taps.

Ms. Brooks stated that there is a total of 6 phases, when there are only 3 phases to the $30,000,000 project: Wiggins Phase 1: Potable water project at a cost of $8,189,000 Project Financing Applicant: $159,000 Grant: $1,900,000 Loan: $6,030,000 Monthly payment by the tap owners: $22,070 ($38.80 addition to the monthly water bill) Wiggins Phase 2: Wastewater Augmentation for $10,811,000 Project Financing Applicant: $53,000 Grant: $4,360,000 DOLA grant: $800,000 Loan: $5,568,000 Monthly payment by the tap owners: $17,261 ($30.00 addition to the monthly water bill) Wiggins Phase 3: Wastewater Treatment for $12,00,000 To date, the Project Financing has not been provided to the Board.

Estimated Financing without grants Loan: $12,000,000 Monthly payment by the tap owners: $25,813 ($47.00 addition to the monthly water bill) Therefore, the total base cost for water and sewer would be $216/month and that does not include the amount of water usage. With this project and its high cost, that could possibly bankrupt the Town. The costs represented here do not include everyday maintenance and upkeep of the new facilities.

In closing, the Town of Wiggins needs to focus on bringing in more business. We cannot afford such costs with housing alone. The $30M project does not provide us with a sustainable future. These costs are an estimate and will vary (most likely higher) as the project unfolds. Therefore, the THREE Trustees Ms. Anna Brooks speaks about are looking for alternative options that would give us the same results at a much lesser cost to the present and future Citizens of Wiggins. YOUR VOTE will depend on whether you will have an affordable future, or one that you may have to look at other areas with cheaper costs to live. The THREE Town Trustees care deeply about the generations both now and in the future. If anyone has any questions that need further explanations, we are available to answer them truthfully.

Very Respectfully, Jeff Palmer, Town of Wiggins Trustee Pat Musgrave, Town of Wiggins Trustee Paid for by Patricia Musgrave

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Lost Creek Guide

Wiggins Stakeholders Rebrand, Rename to Wiggins Business Alliance

Wiggins Stakeholders Rebrands, Renames to Wiggins Business Alliance The Wiggins business community is increasing in vitality and numbers. As a result, the Wiggins Stakeholders’ group is changing its name, scope and mission. We are pleased to announce the group is changing their name to the Wiggins Business Alliance. The group has also clarified their mission statement to read: To identify, develop and implement programs and projects geared toward the overall vitality of the Wiggins business area in order to expand economic improvement. WBA President Mandy Dreier said she believes the changes are a great start to incorporating all businesses within Wiggins and the surrounding area to band together to help make the Wiggins area a great place to live, work and do business. The Wiggins Stakeholders Facebook page will be “LEAP-ing into the Future” on February 29, 2020 (Leap Year Day) and change its name to Wiggins Business Alliance. Watch for a new website in development. The Wiggins Business Alliance invites business representatives and the community to attend and participate in their regular meetings held the second Tuesday of each month at the Colorado Land Company offices, 227 Main St., Wiggins, CO. We will also be reaching out to local businesses, either personally and/or via email.

Mandy Dreier, President Cell 970 441-1126 - Office 970 370-2660 ext 3003.

Geoff Baumgartner, Vice President; Patricia Lentell, Secretary ; Anna Brooks, Social Media

Keene Craft Mercantile Home Made In America Treasures 65 Main Street, Keenesburg, Colorado

March 7th Open House 10 am to 5pm Light Snacks, Music and lots of new items Stop by and visit. You will like it!

JOIN US AS WE LOOK TO

THE FUTURE WITH OUR...

VISION ANNUAL MEETING FOR MEMBERS AT COUNTRY STEAK-OUT, MARCH 14 th, 2020 Registration begins 11:30 a.m.

Followed by lunch at 12:00 p.m.

Business Meeting will begin after lunch

Many awesome prizes to be given out including $1300 CASH prize, 55" TV, awesome door prizes, a member gift and much more!

414 Main St - Wiggins, CO | 970.483.7343 | GetBlueLightning.com

Page 4

Mark Strickland, Candidate for Town of WIggins Trustee

Lost Creek Guide

My name is Mark Strickland and my family and I moved to Wiggins Colorado in May 2017. Prior to moving here I did research on the town and noted the prior water quality issues. I knew this information before I bought my house in town. What I didn’t know was the extent of issues that seem to keep the town from growing properly. One being the potable water system quality and it’s back-up power system age. Second issue being the old water and sewer lines in town, along with a sewer line under the railroad track that needs replacement. This leads to the last issue with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) creating new regulations for Colorado waste water treatment plants (WWTP). As of January 31st, 2020 Wiggins, CO no longer met the state requirements for discharge from the sewer treatment plant.

Our town was granted an extension to 2026 as long as our town continues with a plan to build a new WWTP. In order for our town to get to the point of sidewalks and pavement for all streets, we need to focus on our infrastructure and town employee retention.

My goal as Trustee is to continue working to find long term solutions for water and sewer. Once we get up to compliance with CDPHE, then we can start working on the towns aged water and sewer lines. This takes priority over all other capital projects due to its impact on life and property. Next I would like to work with the town to move forward with a new potable water system to include a new water tower for extra storage and even pressure, RO system in town, and upgraded back-up power system for firefighting protections. I am also looking forward to the board approving a new sidewalk on Main Street from 3rd Ave to 5th Ave along with updated street lights for increased safety on Main Street. I enjoy working with the Board of Trustees solving small issues like approving a new snowplow or work utility vehicle as well as working together to find ways to make our town more attractive to businesses. I know some are concerned about the cost of large capital projects due to having a fixed income and any possible water fee increases. I live in the same town you live in and pay the same taxes and fees. I fully understand the fear a lack of knowledge or misunderstanding of these projects can have when the rumor mill is in operation. Please get your information from a Town Hall Member instead of your local rumor mill. As kids we played telephone and the messages were never the same at the end, would you agree? My wife and two amazing kids fully support me running for Trustee again. Would you like to vote for me to support our town in making this the best little town Wiggins can be?

Respectfully, Mark Strickland Strickland@wigginsco.com 970-301-2248

Candidate Forums United Power will host the following Meet the Candidate Forums where members can learn more about each of our director candidates.

Thursday, March 19 | 6:30 p.m.

Carbon Valley Service Center Friday, March 20 | 7:30 a.m.

Coal Creek Community Center Monday, March 23 | 6:30 p.m.

Riverdale Regional Park Rendezvous Room, Waymire Tuesday, March 24 | 7:30 a.m.

Fort Lupton Recreation Center Multi-Purpose Room 3

Visit www.unitedpower.com for more information.

Dates and locations may be subject to change.

March 4, 2020

Anna Brooks, Candidate for Town of Wiggins Trustee

Candidate for Trustee position on the Town of Wiggins Board of Trustees. I have worked with Mayor Mac Leon and his previous board on the water-sewer project, development, purchase and implementation of additional water resources, grant writing and approvals, town residential development and strengthening of the business environment.

We need to get back to work.

The current board reduced the number of Board Meetings to just one per month, this means our citizens have HALF the opportunities to address the board and HALF the opportunities for the board to move projects, resolutions and ordinances forward than they have had in the past. This board has moved ONE revenue generating project forward in the last 21 months (which delayed its’ revenue producing potential by 24 months). The number one issue is generating enough water and income to support our community. If we do not grow, we cannot support ourselves.

Additional industrial and commercial business are holding off until we repair/upgrade our water and sewer infrastructure to be able to accommodate their needs. We are in the 5th year of the Six Step Plan and have been stalled by the current board.

Remember that alternative water/sewer project suggestions put forward include communities TEN times our size, in urban areas and placed right on a water source whereas, Wiggins is small, rural, underfunded and land bound (8 miles from the river).

Brush and Keenesburg have directly benefitted from our failure to move forward.

Colorado Native, Widowed, Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma Background: Corporate America: Small Business Ownership: Small Business Volunteer Advocate, Trustee for the Town of Wiggins, CO, Certified Facilitator for Annie’s Project Associations: NAWBO, NFIB, Metro North Chamber, Carbon Valley Chamber/Ambassador, IEC, CALA, ASAC, SBA, SCORE, Toastmasters, Leading Ladies and Ladies of Justice Awards: SBA District 8 Women in Business Advocate: Metro North Chamber Leadership Award: NFIB Colorado Advocate: IEC Legislative Milestones: Success In Real Estate Award: GoSmallBiz Leadership Award: Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist, founder of Leading Ladies Coffee Break & multi award winner with Ladies of Justice by LegalShield.

Thank you to those folks that have taken their time to speak with me personally on these and other topics. Feel free to pm me at Anna Brooks on fb or send your contact information by email to seekwisecounselco@gmail.com and let’s schedule a time.

Rio Blanco Stockgrowers’ Dance Without Wolves an Overwhelming Success!

Rio Blanco county ag groups raised $34,000 to help oppose the statewide ballot initiative to introduce wolves on the Western Slope of Colorado. The Rio Blanco Stockgrowers Association, in partnership with the Rio Blanco Farm Bureau and Rio Blanco Woolgrowers, hosted “Dance Without Wolves,” a fundraiser dinner, dance and auction to raise money to oppose the proposal.

More than 300 people gathered at the Fairfield Center in Meeker for the sold-out event. Rio Blanco Stockgrowers President, Brian Collins, noted, “This sends a strong message statewide that citizens on the Western Slope are very concerned about introducing wolves in their backyard and the subsequent negative impact to their families, businesses, wildlife, and economic health of the northwest counties.”

Over 70 live and silent auction items were donated, numerous sponsorships provided, and many businesses and individuals provided services free of charge. Contributions came from surrounding communities and all areas within the county. All three organizations worked together closely to ensure success.

Rio Blanco County Farm Bureau President, Janice Weinholdt, said, “The outpouring of donations and support from our community was overwhelming and underlines the deep concern in our county and the surrounding communities. We thank all who made this event possible!”

A listing of helpers and donations, etc. will be compiled for next week’s paper.

The proceeds from the event are dedicated to Coloradans Protecting Wildlife, the issue committee running the campaign against the initiative. Coloradans Protecting Wildlife is run by the Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Woolgrowers Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Safari Club International. People are encouraged to donate to the campaign at www.rethinkwolves.com.

Feral Swine Eliminated from Colorado

All known feral swine have been eliminated from Colorado thanks to a near 15-year state and federal partnership comprised of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services (WS), the USDA Forest Service (FS), Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA).

The partnership formed in the early 2000s as a task force to manage invasive feral swine, which root up crops and pastures causing billions in damage nationwide each year. Feral swine also spread disease to livestock, wildlife and humans.

Ground-nesting birds and other wildlife are easy prey for feral swine. And the swine put native wildlife at risk by competing for resources and destroying habitats and ecosystems.

Feral swine are incredibly hardy animals and can survive, even thrive, in almost any habitat. That combined with high reproductive rates makes their ability to establish new populations extremely effective.

“The eradication of feral swine will help protect and benefit Colorado’s agricultural crops and livestock as well as wildlife, wildlife habitat and private and public lands,” said Travis Black, Deputy Regional Manager of CPW’s Southeast Region.

“This achievement points to the value of collaborative efforts in staffing, funding and resources to accomplish a common goal,” said Wayne East, CDA Agriculture Wildlife Liaison.

“Partnerships are important to completing complex tasks and we have done something great for agriculture and the wildlife of Colorado by eradicating feral swine,” said Martin Lowney, USDA APHIS WS, State Director.

The Colorado feral swine task force will continue to monitor to ensure the state remains free of this invasive species and the damage they can inflict.

You can help keep Colorado free of feral swine.

• Spread the word that in Colorado it’s illegal to possess, transport or release feral swine, wild swine species or hybrids.

• Report sightings of feral swine or transportation activities to USDA Wildlife Services at 1-866-4-USDA-WS (1866-487-3297) or Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 303-297-1192.

For more information about the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program, visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/operational-activities/feral-swine

March 4, 2020

Bob Zebroski, Candidate for Town of Keenesburg Trustee

Page 5

Lost Creek Guide

To the Citizens of the Town of Keenesburg: I am a candidate for the Board of Trustees seeking a four year term having just completed a two year term. I have enjoyed being a part of the leadership team providing guidance to the Town in service to the existing residents and at the same time excited about the future of Keenesburg. I and my wife, Betha, have been residents of Keenesburg for about 4 1/2 years.

During the past two years, I have served on the 100th Year Celebration Committee and served as Chairman on the Town Citizen Survey Committee focused on Water Quality/Quantity, Public Safety and the Appearance of the Town. Two accomplishments of this last Committee have been the construction of the flower boxes on Main Street with additional boxes planned for 2020 and a water filter cost share program offered to the residents to address water quality concerns. I am also a member of the newly formed Tree City USA Committee. My experience also includes serving as a Trustee for the Town of Buena Vista.

After working about forty years with the federal and state governments addressing the natural resources, I have a thorough understanding of the need for cooperation when seeking partnerships to accomplish goals. With the many projects on the drawing board for the Town, I believe my experience will be an asset to provide guidance for sound land use decisions for the future. The Town of Keenesburg is fortunate to have a well-qualified staff, and I will strive to work closely with them for the benefit of all the residents of the Town.

I certainly would appreciate your vote for me as one of the Trustees for the Town of Keenesburg in the upcoming election on April 7, 2020.

Bob Zebroski, Trustee

Ken Gfellar, Candidate for Town of Keenesburg Mayor

I welcome your vote.

As Mayor for the Town of Keenesburg I have worked to ensure that our town government has followed the standard that our forefathers set for us. Preserving a deep sense of History, while continuing to enrich the area with new growth that compliments our history and town.

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” …

I have lived in Keenesburg for the past 24 years and have established my place of business here. I have been honored to dedicate my time and talents to our community by serving as the current Mayor, four years as a town trustee and countless hours/years serving as President of the Keenesburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Vice President of the Southeast Weld County Chamber of Commerce.

I believe in our Republic and have a deep respect for our democracy and will continue to do all I can to make certain those principles are still upheld. Growth is inevitable and it has now come to the Town of Keenesburg and our surrounding area.

We cannot stop development, but as your Mayor I can insure it meets the highest standard for our community. On a regular basis I am working with local groups, committees and other local towns to actively provide a voice for Keenesburg. I have a love for our town and the people of Keenesburg and enjoy working within the governmental system to help safeguard that all voices are heard.

I assure you that I will continue with all due care to help establish policies, procedures, and standards to help our community grow and prosper.

Come Visit Me Any TIME A Step Back in Time 30 S. Main St. POB 107 Keenesburg, CO 80643 Ken Gfeller Your Candidate for Mayor

BINGO Third Saturday of the Month 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm There is also “pickle/pull tabs” available everyday!

Please come join us for some fun and socializing!

Bob Grand, Candidate for Town of Keenesburg Mayor

My name is Bob Grand and I am running for Mayor of Keenesburg. I have lived in Keenesburg for over 20 years. When I came to town I got involved, as I think that is important. Over the years I was a Town Trustee, member of the SE Weld Fair & Jr, Rodeo Association, a member of the RE3J School Board, Chair of the Committee to get the Mill Levy approved for the new High School, President of the Keenesburg Chamber of Commerce for a couple of years, and a longtime member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 180. Being a member of the community it is important to participate. Over the last several years I have focused on participating at the County level. I have, over 18 years, served on several County boards.

I was on the Weld County Planning Commission for 6 years the last two year as Vice Chair, The Weld Count Extension Advisory Board for almost 7 years, the last two as Chair, the Work Force Development Board for 2 and a ½ years and served on The High Plains Library District Board as Secretary Treasurer and At Large Member for 2 and a ½ years. This experience as well as broadening the newspaper base has given me the unique opportunity to meet and work with people from all over the county at many levels in both the private and government sectors. As we grow our horizons we will be growing beyond the Town boundaries. I think I bring a level of experience that will prove beneficial to helping the citizens of the Town achieve their goals and objectives. Of course, you have to listen to the citizens to understand what they want to have happen. I am committed to improving that process.

I really believe that our Town government can do a better job of communication with our citizens and I believe our citizens can do a better job in participating in government.

The issue is by no means unique to Keeenesburg. I believe we all have to do a better job on focusing on the needs of our citizerns, especially our young people as well as our seniors, which grudgingly I have to admit I am one of. By working together I believe we can make our community a better place to live. This is important as we grow, as our new citizens must integrate into the town in a way that encourages them to contribute to the improvements we must all work for. It is our town, not yours or mine or theirs. I ask for your vote for Mayor in the upcoming election as I believe I can help contribute to making that happen. Your vote is important, make sure you exercise your right to vote.

Juanda Hesse, Candidate for Town of Keenesburg Trustee

Hello Citizens of Keenesburg, I’d like to introduce myself to those of you who don’t know me and ask all of you for your vote. I am Juanda Hesse and I am re-running for the Town of Keenesburg Trustee position. I originally became a town Trustee as an appointment to fill a vacancy on October 26, 2017 and have faithfully and competently served in this capacity since that time.

Since becoming a Keenesburg resident in 2012, I have enjoyed every moment of becoming an active and engaged member of this community.

I officially retired from my full-time, professional position as Operations Manager for Transportation and Safety at Boise Cascade, a major lumber distribution company in Denver, in 2016. However, I am not one to sit idle and I utilized my extra time to become more integrated with my neighbors and the activities of the community. Through those connections, I was encouraged to run for the Trustee position and was elected again in April 2018 for an additional two-year term.

For the past 2 ½ years, I have used the business management and leadership skills obtained in my professional position to carry out my role and duties on your behalf, providing thoughtful input and representative oversight for the administrative and infrastructure operations of Keenesburg.

In my entire time of service, I have only had to miss one meeting. I am reliable, prepared and informed for meetings and remain engaged throughout in order to represent each of you to the best of my ability. I have been actively involved in these additional functions and committees: Parks; Bike the Plains; 100th Anniversary Celebration; Annual Easter Egg Hunt; Concert Stage, Concerts and Trees in Schey Park; Finance; and the Tree City USA committee.

One of the most critical committees I actively serve on is the Highway 52 Coalition. We are working on improving safety via better signage such as flashing signs, much needed road repairs including widened shoulders, and ultimately, we will succeed in having a stop light at CR 59 and Hwy 52 to keep our young drivers going to school and all our residents safe at an intersection that is currently very dangerous. We will not stop until we have the full support of the State of Colorado and Weld County in making this happen.

Keenesburg is my home now and I cherish the community that has been built over the years. As many of you can see, we are growing and will continue to grow as a result of the population boom in Colorado. I want to serve to be sure that we have responsible growth; growth that benefits our community through wise planning and management so that we can support thriving businesses and property values, but also controlled so that we don’t lose our small-town charm that is what ultimately brought so many of us here.

Please allow me to serve you again for another term. It would be my honor and privilege!

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Lost Creek Guide

Hoyt Community Center Annual Chili and Chicken Noodle Soup Supper

March 4, 2020

Hoyt Home Circle Meets

The Hoyt Home Circle met at 1:00 p.m. on February 12, 2020 at the Hoyt Community Center. President Marilyn Musgrave opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and thanking Robin Sorenson for hosting the meeting. Marilyn led the “Pledge of Allegiance” and Stacey Allen led the club creed. Robin read “Beauty”, “Have a Friend” and “Food for Thought” from the Happiness magazine.

The roll call of a valentine gift exchange and a silver offering was answered by 15 members and honorary member Norma Lingo.

Several members met at the community center this morning to work on the Hoyt community road signs and this project will be continued at 9:00 a.m. on February 26th.

The Chili/Soup Supper was again discussed. Members will provide one or two pies for the dinner and two baked items and/or two bazaar items for the bake sale and bazaar tables at the annual Hoyt Community Center Chili and Soup Supper scheduled for Sunday, February 23, 2020 (inclement weather date Sunday, March 1st) from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. All food items should be brought in disposable pans or containers. The tickets for the annual Hoyt Community Center Chili Supper are $6.00 for ages 13 years and older, $3.00 for ages 6 to 12 and free for children under 6 years of age. These tickets can be purchased from any community center member or at the door. Names and phone numbers need to be written on the on the back of the meal tickets to be entered to win any of the numerous wonderful door prizes donated by local business and individuals. Tickets will be drawn throughout the supper, but you will not need to be present to win. If you win but have already left the supper you will be contacted and arrangements made for you to get your prize. If you have purchased a meal ticket but unfortunately cannot attend (hope that doesn’t happen!!) just make sure you get the ticket to any Hoyt Community Center or Hoyt Home Circle member so it can be entered in the door prize drawings. This dinner, a community tradition, is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy delicious homemade chili and chicken noodle soup and a variety of pies while visiting with friends and family who may live just down the road and those who travel great distances each year for this fun event. Continuing a many year tradition, two beautiful handmade quilts plus a machinemade lap robe, all made by Hoyt Home Circle members, will be given away in a drawing at the end of the Chili Supper. The chances for the quilts and lap robe are $1.00 each or six chances for $5.00 and can be purchased from any Hoyt Home Circle member and/or during the Chili Supper. Each ticket will be eligible for any of the quilts or lap robe. Name and phone number needs to be written on each ticket and you do not need to be present to win. Along with the quilt drawing there will be the numerous baked goods, cookbooks, and bazaar items provided by the Hoyt Home Circle members available for sale throughout the evening.

Cookbooks are still for sale and can be purchased from any Home Circle member and will also be available at the Hoyt Chili Supper. The cookbooks are $10.00 each. These cookbooks contain 500 recipes submitted by people we all know and make wonderful gifts for birthdays, bridal showers, Christmas and just “thinking of you”.

Community Center members will meet on Wednesday, February 19th or Saturday, February 22nd at 9:00 a.m. to clean the hall and setup tables, etc. in preparation for the Chili/Soup Supper. Hoyt Home Circle members are also encouraged to participate in the cleanup and preparation.

A garage sale which will be held at Pam Bland’s house sometime in the spring will be discussed at a future meeting.

Rosie Hirchert will continue working on entertainment for the anniversary tea scheduled for the fall of 2020.

The 50/50 drawing was won by Ginger Lingo and the hostess gift was won by Mamie Romero. The next meeting will be held on February 26, 2020 following the family potluck luncheon scheduled for noon and will be hosted by all members. Members should arrive by 11:30 a.m. for luncheon setup. This potluck will be “your choice” (hopefully we won’t end up with 20 bags of potato chips).

Public Comment Requested on Voter Service and Polling Centers

In accordance with C.R.S. 1-5-102.9 (1)(H)(II) the Weld County Clerk and Recorder’s office seeks public comments regarding the location of Voter Service and Polling Centers for the 2020 General Election. Voter Service and Polling Centers are places that a voter can vote in person, drop off a mail ballot, request a replacement ballot, register to vote or update their voter registration.

At a minimum, Weld County must have fourteen (14) Voter Service and Polling Centers open for the 2020 General Election.

Below are the basic requirements for a Voter Service and Polling Center.

1. A public location that has the ability to serve a significant amount of people with adequate parking.

2. Compliant with the federal “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990”, 42 U.S.C. sec.

12101 et seq., as amended. (2004 ADAAG standards) 3. A secure room with 900 square feet of minimum space. Must have additional space directly outside the secure room.

4. Climate controlled.

5. Sufficient electrical power for voting machines and laptop computers.

The Clerk and Recorder’s Office will be receiving public comments for suggested Voter Service and Polling Center locations until April 27, 2020. You may email your comments to elections@weldgov.com or mail/hand-deliver written comments to the Weld County Elections office at 1400 N 17th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631. Current locations being considered: Trinity Lutheran – Greeley UNC – Greeley Aims Community College – Greeley Weld County Training Center – Greeley Weld County Del Camino Building – Longmont Windsor Community Center - Windsor Fort Lupton Recreation Center – Fort Lupton Erie Recreation Center – Erie Nunn Town Hall – Nunn Platteville Town Hall – Platteville Johnstown Senior Center – Johnstown Evangelical Church – Eaton Carbon Valley Recreation Center – Frederick Keenesburg/Hudson area

March 4, 2020

By GLAD Club

Weldon Valley News

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Lost Creek Guide

Promise Today amidst the melting snow And winter’s dwindling wrath, I saw a purple violet Along my garden path.

What makes the fragile flower grow, New life upon a stem?

More precious than an amethyst, It’s nature’s special gem!

As I gently brush the snow away, I hear my own heart sing, For here on a fading winter day Is born the promise of spring!

Diane Griffith The last snow is fading away, but there is still snow in the forecast. Although the wind has not been joining us, but they say March brings the wind. We do have sunshine almost every day.

Smile a little: Education-“Adult education is what goes on in a household containing teenage children!”

Community news: It was and exciting day for Margaret Schmidt when she traveled to Colorado Springs and attended the rally for President Trump. The event well all those present cheered for the President.

Gertie Chapin had a pleasant surprise on Saturday, when Rosemary Gronsten Jarger of Mountain View, Wyoming and Oleta Gronsten of Greeley stopped for a visit. Rosemary was treating Oleta on the occasion of her 90th birthday with a visit in the Valley.

The State of Colorado is a caucus state. Saturday, March 7 is the caucus held in each county of the state. Plan to join your caucus.

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. Pastor Denise Shannon is serving the congregation as the new pastor.

A special Ash Wednesday service will be held on Wednesday, February from 4p.m. -7p.m. Stop by any for music, reflection, prayer, interactive stations and imposition of ashes. You can spend as much or as little time as you would like.

Food items are being collected the food bank at Rising Up and also providing a meal for the Warming Months.

Contact information for Pastor Shannon is 720-271-6733 or pastordeniseshannon@ gmail.com.

School Scoop: It’s time for the Kids Heart Challenge during the month of February.

All student K through 12 can join the fun competitions. Prizes will be earned for various levels of funds collected. Support the student efforts to aid the American Heart Association.

Several students 6th grade -12th have science projects at the Bi-County Science Fair in the Brush High School Auxiliary Gymnasium. The project can be view on February 25th.

4-H News: The Weldon Valley 4-h club began 2020 with their first meeting of the year. Taylor Johnston led the pledge of allegiance and Kenndra Filter led the 4-H pledge.

Members answered roll call with the question “Did you go anywhere or do anything fun over Christmas break?”

The club approved the meeting minutes of both the November and December meetings.

The treasurer’s report was also approved.

I was excited to read the news during our meeting about some of our 4-H members. We congratulated Americo Lorenzini for getting 3rd place at the national Western Stock Show catch-a-Calf program over all, out of 40 participants. He also took Champion in Showmanship, 2nd in his weight class, 1st in sponsor relations and 7thin progress forms. Americo also was awarded a heifer from the Cattlemen’s Association and was recognized at the banquet. I was announced that the WV High School Knowledge Bowl team was going to the regional competition and the Weldon Valley Science Fair would be on February 10th.

Leader Kathy Wood presented the highlight of the Morgan County 4-H newsletter.

She announce that the after school 4-H program that was held had eleven participants and the all made gingerbread house.

The next meeting will march1, 5:30 p.m. at the school.

Submitted by Tenliegh Lorenzini, secretary.

What’s Cookin’:HoneyBells-A cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit, this extraordinary citrus is bright, snappy, and incredibly juicy with a citrus tang and honeysweet flavor. Available for only a short time during the winter harvest. HoneyBells have the distinction of being the world’s only Limited Edition Fruit.

First facts: 1935-Humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post were killed when their airplane crashed near Point Barrow in the Alaska Territory.

Weldon Valley History: 1921 Pocket Directory of Weldona, Colorado –“A Progressive Town”. The advertisement list many thriving business including: Warren Lumber Company, The Brown Merchandise Company, S.E. Donaldson-General Blacksmith and A. Markley-Groceries and Meats. It slow listed the Union Pacific Railroad time schedule.

Calendar of Events: Wednesday, February 26, Ash Wednesday. Thursday, February 27, benefit for St. Jude at the Art Spot. Friday, February 28, Teacher In-Service day. Tuesday, March 3, Presidential Primary election, return you ballot by 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, 1:30 p.m. GLAD Club.

Thought for the Day: “Don’t be surprised if you find your destiny on the road you took to avoid it.”

LGI has Pulled 25 Building Permits for the Evans Place Project Keenesburg

Article to follow in next issue

Keene Craft Mercantile Home Made In America Treasures

65 Main Street, Keenesburg, Colorado Open 10 to 5 Tuesday through Saturday

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Lost Creek Guide

Aims to Offer Campus Tours and Info Sessions Around Region for Prospective Students

GREELEY, CO – February 28, 2020 – Prospective students, parents, and others interested in learning more about Aims Community College are invited to attend a Tuesday Tour in Greeley or Windsor, online group Get-Started Session, or a College 101 session in Fort Lupton or Estes Park.

Take a Tuesday Tour Tours of the Greeley and Windsor campuses are available on select Tuesdays from 4:30-6 p.m.

RSVP here for a tour.

Greeley Tours Start in the lobby of the College Center building on the Greeley Campus, 5401 W. 20th St., Greeley, CO. Park in lot J. Para nuestros paseos por el campus de Greeley, reúnase con nosotros en el edificio del College Center en el primer piso 5401 West 20th Street Greeley, CO. Puede estacionarse en el lote J. March 10, 2020 / 10 de marzo, 2020 March 24, 2020 / 24 de marzo, 2020 Windsor Tours Start in the first-floor lobby of the Automotive and Technology Center Building, 1120 Southgate Drive, Windsor, CO. March 31, 2020 (English only) Unable to join us on campus? View the Aims virtual tour: www.aims.edu/ student/#virtualtour.

Join an online Get-Started Session Learn about Aims’ 200+ degree and certificate options; Aims locations in Greeley, Windsor, Fort Lupton, Loveland and online; tuition costs, scholarships and financial aid; student demographics; and how easy it is to get started at Aims. Admissions counselors will be able to answer questions and help prospective students understand how to become an enrolled Aims student.

Register for the online session of your choice: https://www.aims.edu/prospective/ campus-tour.php March 25, 2020, 12 p.m. (MST) March 25, 2020, 5:30 p.m. (MST) Join us at a College 101 Presentation Hear about Aims Community College’s degree and certificate programs.

Join us at one of the following sessions from 5:30-7 p.m.: March 5, 2020 at the Estes Valley Library – 335 E Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park , CO 80517 March 17, 2020 at the Fort Lupton Public and School Library – 425 S Denver Ave, Fort Lupton, CO 80621 To RSVP for any of the above events, please visit www.aims.edu/prospective/campustour or call (970) 330-8008 and press zero to RSVP. 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

Weld Central High School Varsity Wrestling

by Elliot Copeland Saturday, February 15,2020 Weld Central High School Boy Wrestling finishes 3rd Place with 163 Points at Regional at Holy Name High School The Boys Varsity Wrestling team traveled to Holy Family this past weekend for the 3A Region 3b Tournament. This Tournament determined which wrestlers get to represent their high schools at the Pepsi Center next wee4kend for the annual Colorado State Championships. To qualify for state, wrestlers had to finish in the top 4 of their respected weight class. The Rebels were fortunate enough to push 7 wrestlers through to the state tournament, including 2 regional champs. Sophomore Roberto Estrada and Junior Tanner Baumgartner both produced a 1st place finish at the regional tournament.

Four other Rebels, Sophomore Kane Forbare, Senior Matthew Villareal, and Junior Braden Baumgartner, graced the finals at regionals but fell short in their final matches finishing 2nd.

Senior Kolton Robertson was the lone Rebel to battle on the backside for a true 4th place finish. The state tournament begins this Thursday, February 20th and runs through February 22nd. Individual results from the regional tournament areas follows: 106 Roberto Estrada 3-0 Regional Champ 126 Matthew Villareal 2-1 2nd Place 132 Cassidy Park 1-2 DNP 138 Mikey Roskop 2-3 5th Place 152 Colton Robertson 3-2 4th Place 160 Tanner Baumgartner 3-0 Regional Champ 182 Braden Baumgartner 2-1 2nd Place 195 Zayne Stam 2-1 2nd Place 285 Kane Fobare 2-1 2nd Place Saturday, February 22, 2020 Weld Central High School Boys Varsity Wrestling finishes in 7th place, with 72.5 points at State Tournament at the Pepsi Center The Rebel wrestling team finished their season in 7th place at the state tournament this past weekend. The Rebels crowned their 8th individual state champion in Sophomore Roberto Estrada. Estrada finished off with a perfect season, finishing the year 48-0, with 35 pins, breaking both the individual season wins and individual pins record at Weld Central. It was a truly historic season for the sophomore.

After winning the state title Roberto held up a framed picture of his teammate and friend, Levi Gerkin, who passed away three weeks ago in a car accident.

Levy was an unbelievable talented wrestler and the team deeply missed him at the Pepsi Center. Also gracing the finals was Junior Tanner Baumgartner who lost via a decision in his final match of the season, finishing in 2nd place. Junior Braden Baumgartner battled back for 4th place after losing in the quarter finals. Senior Matthew Villareal finished his season with a sixth place finish. Senior Colton Robertson picked up his 100th career win at the Pepsi Center and both Sophomore Kane Fobare and Sophomore Zayne Stame will be back next year for the Rebels. All 7 wrestlers who qualified, won at least one match at the tournament contributing to the team effort. The Rebels represented their school with class and pride this year despite unbelievable adversity and the Weld Community is both humbled and extremely proud of their performance.

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

$15.00

$1.39 per gallon will call or route

$3,535.00 $2,183.00

March 4, 2020

March 4, 2020

Lost Creek Guide

Weld Central High School Boys Varsity Basketball

by Chris Piper Tuesday, February 18, 2020 Weld Central High School Boys Varsity Basketball beats Skyview High School 46-40 Rebels win the first game of the district tourney last night at Skyview. Rebels won in a close battle and move on to the semifinals.

Kevin Shaffer – 12 points Bryce Andrews – 11points Wayde Thyfault – 6 points Dominic Jones, Noah Sena – 5 Points Wednesday, February 19, 2020 Weld Central High School Boys Varsity Basketball falls to Fort Lupton High School 76 – 74 Rebels had two last second buzzer go in against them to lose in overtime. Rebels played their hearts out last night against Fort Lupton and things didn’t go their way. The boys fought super hard last night but fell a little short.

Noah Sena – 28 points Vince LaConte – 18 points Kevin Shaffer - 14 points Bryce Andrews – 9 points Daniel Begler – 5 points Rebels play Friday at Conifer against Englewood at 5:30 pm Friday, February 21, 2020 Weld Central High School Boys Varsity Basketball falls to Englewood High School 64 – 61 Rebels fought their tails off once again at the district tournament in Conifer Friday evening but fell short on a second half court shot.

Noah Sena – 22 points Bryce Andrews – 20 points Kevin Shaffer -6 points Layton Utech – 5 points Wayde Thyfault – 5 points Rebels will have a state game next Wednesday (time and place TBD on Sunday when the bracket comes out.

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Weld Central High School Boys Varsity Basketball beat Rifle High School 53-25 Rebels played really well in the first round game against Rifle and got out to a 15-6 lead in the first quarter. They didn’t let up in the 2nd quarter and go into the lead 34-10. The Rebels finished strong with great defense all game long to move on to the second round.

The boys will be going to Greenwood Springs for the second round and will play on Saturday. Noah Sena reached 1000 points for his career. We are proud of you Noah.

Noah Sena – 17 points Kevin Shaffer – 15 points Bryce Andrews – 15 points

Re-Elect Dave Rose, United Power Board of Directors

Dear United Power Members, United Power has had much success in the past few years and it has been a privilege to serve you as your United Power Director during these successful years. There are still many challenges facing United Power in our efforts to reduce rates and provide clean, reliable power to your homes, farms and businesses and I would like to continue to represent you. Based on my director certifications I have earned in the past few years I continue to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to make valuable decisions for all members. I am Dave Rose asking for your vote and support to re-elect me so I can continue to work for you.

I have been active in community events, meetings, and new developments that UP has initiated to better serve all the members in the UP territories. During this time UP has welcomed 2400 new members in Frederick, opened the Carbon Valley Service Center, implemented the Fire Mitigation Policy, exceeded $500 million in assets for the first time and reached 843 consecutive days without loss of time injuries. Also, during this time frame UP built the largest storage battery system in the state and quickly restored power outages during the bomb cyclone winter storm.

These are just a few of the major accomplishments and I know the importance of providing, affordable, reliable, safe, environmentally friendly electrical service to all the residential, agricultural and business members. I will continue to work hard for you as we negotiate with Tri-State to reduce energy rates and provide more flexibility in member choice. In my continued efforts to serve you I look forward visiting all the communities in the UP territories to meet and listen to UP members’ energy needs.

Experiences and Qualifications United Power Board of Directors 2014 – current Almost Home Board of Directors

2012 – current Colorado Air and Space Port Advisory Board 2013 -2020 Brighton Urban Renewal Authority 2002 – 2019 Former Brighton Mayor and City Councilman (6 years) Former RTD Board of Directors (8 years) Registered Psychotherapist (part-time) 2015 – 2020 Former Brighton Elementary School Principal 32 years (National Distinguished Principal) B.S and M.S. degrees (Northeast Missouri State College) and Ed.S. degree Universtiy of Iowa Family Man: Wife, Wilma, Son Ryan Daughter-in-Law, Connie, Grandson Hayden and Cooper, Daughters, Samantha, Megan and Son-in-Law Andrew Garnett and Granddaughter Blair.

Thank you for your support in the past and I would appreciate your vote when you receive your ballots in March so I can continue to represent you and your energy needs.

Dave Rose, United Power Board of Directors drosehd56@gmail.com

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Lost Creek Guide

March 4, 2020

Wiggins Annual FFA Hired Hand and Alumni Steak Sandwich Supper

Kevin Ross Sworn in as Weld County’s Newest Commissioner

Morgan County Republican Upcoming Events

on continuing to ensure Weld County remains the thriving community we all love.”

Ross is a 35+ year resident of Weld County who spent summers helping his grandparents operate and manage their family’s dry land wheat farm while growing up. He received a finance degree from the University of Wyoming and has successfully operated an insurance agency for the past sixteen years. No stranger to public service, Ross began serving on the Eaton Town Board in 2012 before being elected Mayor in 2016. He has also served on multiple boards including the Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Highway 85 Coalition and the I-25 Mayors Bullseye Coalition.

“Kevin is ready to hit the ground running,” said Commissioner Chair Mike Freeman. “We’re excited to be back to a full board and continuing to work together for the residents of the county.”

Following the ceremony, the board unanimously agreed to have Ross shadow each of the commissioners during their weekly coordinator briefings so he can begin to learn the intricacies of each county department.

“Traditionally when commissioners are elected to their position in November, they attend orientation programs in December to begin the process of learning the roles and responsibilities of their new job,” said Commissioner Pro-Tem Steve Moreno.

“Because Kevin is starting now, he’s missed that opportunity. So, we will work together to make sure his on-boarding process is as complete as possible by having him join each of us in our commissioner coordinator briefings.”

“I’m excited to be part of this board and to start learning about each department more in depth,” Ross said. Following a few months of attending coordinator briefings, the board will name Ross to a department coordinator role.

Ross replaces Sean Conway, who resigned his position last month, and will serve the remaining 10 months of Conway’s term in office. As Conway was term limited in 2020, Ross had already begun campaigning for the seat prior Conway’s resignation and will continue to pursue the At-Large position in the upcoming election Ross will transition out of his position as Mayor (his term is up in April). He will continue to own and oversee the operation of his insurance agency.

WELD COUNTY, CO — Following appointment by the Weld County Council on The Wiggins FFA and Wiggins FFA Alumni and Supporters invite you to attend their February 17, Kevin Ross was officially sworn in this morning as Weld County’s newest FFA Hired Hand Auction and Alumni Steak Sandwich Supper Scholarship Fundraiser.

This event will take place on Monday, March 9th, 2020, in the Wiggins High School commissioner. Chief Judge for the 19th Judicial District, James Hartmann, presided Cafeteria and Auditorium. The supper begins at 6:00 P.M., followed by the Hired Hand over the swearing-in ceremony in which Ross’ family, fellow county commissioners.

Auction at 7:00 P.M. The supper is sponsored by the Wiggins FFA Alumni and Supportand county staff attended. ers. Steak sandwich meal tickets are $10.00 a piece and a hotdog meal is $3.00. Proceeds “I’m honored to have from the meal will supplement the FFA Alumni and Supporters Scholarship Fund. Prebeen selected by the purchase tickets from any Wiggins FFA Alumni and Supporters member, Wiggins FFA county council to serve member, or by calling the Wiggins Agricultural Education Department at 483-7762, ext. the residents as a com4213. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. There are 31 FFA members, along with missioner,” said Ross. their advisor, Rockie Ernst, that will be auctioned off for an 8 hour work day. These indi“Serving the county viduals have a wide variety of work experiences and backgrounds that could prove valuable through this position is to their “buyers”. The profits from the hired hand auction goes towards covering costs for important to me, and I attending state and national FFA leadership workshops and conventions, state career delook forward to not only velopment events, and various local activities. Individuals are encouraged to attend both participating in the local the supper and the auction. It’s great food and great entertainment, plus you can hire an government process but FFA member to help you with your work!! Auctioneer services are donated by Auctioneers also bringing my skills to Miller and Associates. the table as we all work The Morgan County Republican Central Committee will meet on Monday, February 24 at 7 pm at the Morgan County Administration Building for caucus training. We will be handing out the caucus pockets and get the precinct chairman together for directions on how to run a caucus along with the regular central committee meeting. Everyone interested in attending the caucus are invited to attend to learn more about the caucus.

Caucus will be held on Saturday March 7 at 10 am. Precinct 1 and 18, will meet at the Wiggins School District Board room, Precinct 2 at the Weldon Valley School Community Room, Precincts 3-11 at the Fort Morgan Middle School and Precincts 12-17 Thomson Primary in Brush. You will need to attend the caucus to be at delegate or alternate to the county assembly or an election judge. The caucus is also where you sign up to go on to the higher assemblies, 65th, 4th congressional, 13th judicial and state assembly. Please plan to attend!

The Morgan County Republican Assembly will be on Saturday, March 21 at 9:30 at the Fort Morgan Middle School. Become a delegate or alternate to the county assembly. We have a race for District 3 commissioner and the assembly might be where you elect your next commissioner!

The 65th District, 4th Congressional and 13th Judicial Assemblies are on April 17 at the Marriott Westminster and the State Assembly is on April 18 at the 1st Bank in Broomfield.

We need everyone to get involved to help get Republicans Elected!!

For more information contact any member of the Morgan County Central Committee, Chairman, Vivianne Lorenzini, 970-645-2485, Vice-chairman, Candie Loomis, 970-7685070, Secretary, Jamie Hochanadel, 970-380-7060, or Treasurer, Dan Marler, 970-3809621.

Newly appointed commissioner Kevin Ross was joined by his daughters, Taylor (12), Ainslie (15), and his wife of 19 years, Amy, for the swearing-in ceremony presided over by Chief Judge James Hartmann.

United Power Announces Robbins as Acting CEO; CEO John Parker Retiring

BRIGHTON – United Power Board Chair, James Vigesaa, announced at an all-employee meeting yesterday, that CEO John Parker is on a medical leave transitioning into retirement. Chief Operating Officer, Bryant Robbins, has been named as Acting CEO, effective immediately. Robbins joined United Power in January 2003 as the Mountain District Manager, before his promotion in January 2017 to Chief Operating Officer.

“With Bryant, we are confident that we have selected a leader who can continue to meet the many challenges of our fast-growing cooperative,” stated Vigesaa. “Not only does Bryant have many years of experience at United Power, a record of success in building teams and leading successful change initiatives, he also served United Power as Acting CEO in 2019 during a previous medical leave.”

Parker joined United Power in 2006 as the CFO and was promoted to CEO in June of 2017.

“As CEO, John successfully led the cooperative on several key initiatives these past two and a half years, and has positioned United Power well to move on to future,” stated Vigesaa. “On behalf of the entire United Power Board, we wish John enjoyment in his retirement and thank him for his contributions.”

About United Power United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to more than 92,000 meters at homes, businesses and farms in Colorado’s north-central front range.

For more information about the cooperative, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop.

March 4, 2020

— Obituaries —

Lost Creek Guide

MARILYN PALKO Marilyn Palko, 55, passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, CO. She was born February 2, 1965, in New Brunswick, NJ to Barry & Margaret MacCloud.

Marilyn has lived in the Wiggins / Fort Morgan communities for 20 years. She worked in the dietary department of Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center for several years before going to work in the receiving department at the Morgan County Landfill.

Marilyn’s enjoyed fishing, camping, sitting around bonfires, and doing crafts. Her favorite time was spent with her family, especially her grandsons.

Survivors include her 2 children, Josh Palko and Katrina (Cory) Stacy all of Wiggins; her Father, Barry MacCloud of Firestone, CO; 2 brothers, Randy (Carolyn) MacCloud and Scott (Melissa) MacCloud; and her 2 grandsons Russell and Coleden Stacy.

A memorial service will be held Friday, February 21, 2020, at the Heer Mortuary Chapel in Fort Morgan at 1:00 PM. The service will conclude at the Mortuary.

The Importance of the Census to Older Americans

It is mandated in our Constitution that everyone be counted every 10 years. Our population, based on the census, determines how much funding we receive for things like school lunches and child abuse prevention; transportation, construction and highway maintenance; support for firefighters; housing for older adults; and how many House of Representatives we can have, to name a few. Therefore, getting a complete and accurate census count is critically important.

Participating in the 2020 census also helps determine how much funding states and local governments receive to offer services. By taking part in the 2020 census, your age group is not left out of this process. Programs important to older adults, such as transportation, nutrition and housing, depend on population-based funds to provide their services to you and your community.

The 2020 census will work differently this year from previous years. From March 12th-20th, every household will receive a postcard with information about how to respond online. It is important to remember that you do not have to file online. After the postcards are sent out, a paper census will be mailed to households that did not complete the census online. If a household still has not completed the census, either online or by paper, a census taker will come to your house and complete the census with you.

Among the different age groups, older Americans are the most likely to return their census forms. Let’s keep up that reputation, funding for services and representation!

Mark your calendar!

• March 12, 2020: Mailers will be sent out; online portal opens https://www.census. gov/ • April 1, 2020: Official Census Day! (This can be your day to remind yourself to complete your census, if you haven’t already submitted it) • April-July 2020: Census takers will go door-to-door and visit homes that have not submitted their census response Fun facts: • Available in 13 languages online and over the phone.

• Available in English and Spanish by mail.

• The census form goes to every household.

• The American Community Survey (ACS) goes out to 1 in 38 households and is longer than the census.

• If a household gets the ACS, they will ALSO need to fill out the 2020 census.

• You can look up census workers going house-to-house in the Census Bureau staff directory or you can call the Denver Regional Office at 1-800-852-6159.

Great resources: • https://www.togetherwecount.org/ • https://www.census.gov/ • https://censuscounts.org/ If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact our Information and Assistance line at (970) 400-6952.

USDA Radio Frequency Ear Tags

Broomfield, Colo. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin offering the option of no-cost Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ear tags to veterinarians and producers for use in young beef, dairy or bison breeding replacements.

The Animal Health Division of the Colorado Department of Agriculture will be responsible for distributing the no-cost RFID tags in Colorado and is finalizing a process to respond to RFID tag orders from cattle or bison producers and veterinarians. The no-cost RFID tags are expected to be available for distribution in late March or April of 2020.

The free RFID tags will be offered as an alternative to the silver metal Brite tags and orange metal Official Calfhood Vaccination (OCV) tags. Orange metal or orange RFID OCV tags may only be used by accredited veterinarians for Brucellosis vaccination. The white RFID tags that USDA provides are targeted for use in young replacement breeding cattle that are not brucellosis vaccinates.

The metal clip tags have served a valuable purpose in disease control and eradication programs, and electronic tag technology will further enhance disease control by providing state animal health officials with real-time data in disease response on a daily basis.

“We don’t keep paper documents like Certificates of Veterinary Inspection or laboratory test results anymore,” said Colorado State Veterinarian Keith Roehr. “All of our livestock health data is kept electronically in the USAHERDS database where it can be quickly searched during disease events.”

The electronic databases are used on a daily basis and are safe, protected from open records requests, and used exclusively for animal health and disease control purposes. Disease events that took days or weeks to search through paper information can be queried in a variety of ways in minutes.

Veterinarians and producers are encouraged to employ the new electronic means of managing individual beef, dairy, and bison identifications in their herd health systems. For more information, please contact Dr. Joe Menicucci, Colorado Department of Agriculture Traceability Veterinarian, at joseph.menicucci@state.co.us or 303-869-9130.

Page 11

United Way of Weld County 2-1-1 Colorado Continues to be a Valuable Service for the Community

United Way of Weld County (UWWC) 2-1-1 Colorado is such a valuable service to people within our community who need to be connected with available resources. 2-1-1 creates the central place to be able to get people connected to those resources they need most.

UWWC received nearly 8,000 requests for resources through 2-1-1 Colorado in 2019.

Here is a recent example of the effectiveness of UWWC 2-1-1 Colorado to the community: Mary, a single mother who also cares for her grandfather, called 2-1-1 looking for motel payment assistance in Weld County. She had an apartment set up to move into, but needed less than $100 for a night of lodging before moving into the apartment. The 2-1-1 resource navigator requested a special type of assistance for Mary and that request was successful. Mary and her family would have been forced to sleep out in sub-zero weather conditions, and 2-1-1 quite possibly saved their lives and health.

Mary and her family were helped at the most opportune time. There are so many other stories like Mary’s, with the end result being that 2-1-1 was there to help. UWWC 2-1-1 Colorado provides full-service referral help through texting, live chat, web search and live resource navigators. There is a significant cost savings through better resource coordination, avoiding service duplication, and by dedicating staff to comprehensive call center and database operations.

UWWC oversees 2-1-1 in Region 1, which includes Weld County, Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties.

The future is bright when it comes to UWWC 2-1-1 Colorado, with a new, user-friendly website that gives people the ability to find more resources.

The top three needs from the 7,995 requests in Weld County in 2019 were utility assistance, clothing/personal/household needs and rent payment assistance. UWWC 2-1-1 Colorado provides personal referrals for such needs as: food, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits enrollment by phone, children with special health care needs, child care options, older adult needs, medical and dental care, immigration, prescriptions, mental health, home repairs, clothing, housing, rent/utility aid, emergency shelter, volunteer/donation opportunities and more.

In the 2019 fourth quarter alone, 86 percent of the 2,192 callers would recommend 2-1-1 to family and friends, and 67 percent of them followed up on referrals. During that time, 38 percent of the callers were in the age range of 25 to 54, and 63 percent of the total callers were female.

2-1-1 is nationwide, and every Feb. 11 2-1-1 is recognized as National 2-1-1 Day. If you’re looking for assistance for a family member, you can look up that resource on a website outside of their region, but certainly locally you can call 2-1-1.

2-1-1 is also accessible through our United Way of Weld County website (www.unitedway-weld.org). Consider donating to 2-1-1 through the UWWC website and receive an Enterprise Zone tax credit of 25 percent.

UWWC partners with the Monfort Family Foundation and Weld County government to help make 2-1-1 possible. For those needing assistance, dial 2-1-1 or (800) 559-5590 toll free, text your zip code to 898-211 and search our database or live chat at www.unitedway-weld.org/211.

If you know of a resource that should be in the 2-1-1 database, contact me at (970) 3046192 or email me at margie@unitedway-weld.org.

It could save a life.

Margie Martinez is the United Way of Weld County 2-1-1 regional outreach coordinator.

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Lost Creek Guide

March 4, 2020

Krieger: Grumpy Old Men II — Fear and Loathing in Colorado’s Presidential Primary

by Dave Krieger@DaveKrieger, Special to The Colorado Sun We watched the season of televised debates with hope, my son and I. At least, in the beginning.

Adding Colorado to the list of Super Tuesday states offered us a chance to cast votes that might matter, albeit in a Rube Goldberg-inspired candidate selection process that seems more outdated with each passing election cycle. Still, we wanted to do the necessary scouting.

As the Democrats’ chorus line was winnowed, inexplicably, to a belated sequel for “Grumpy Old Men,” (Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, 1993) hope turned to fear and then to despair, if not loathing, not so much for the surviving candidates as the fatuous television news personalities determined to turn each episode into a food fight.

The candidates mostly obliged, so yeah, it’s on them, too. Politics 101: You don’t have to answer the question if it’s insipid.

We lived for the rare immortal moments, like Joe Biden’s plaintive wail from South Carolina, halting in mid-argument and shouting, apparently to the heavens, “Why am I stopping?”

Without his television makeup, the former vice president, at 77, sometimes resembles a White Walker from Game of Thrones. Remarkably, at the debate in Nevada, with four men on stage, he was able to claim, truthfully, that he and Pete Buttigieg were the two youngest of that group (Mike Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders are 78).

The relative success of Buttigieg is the best measure of the weakness of the field. He ran for state treasurer of Indiana and lost by 25 points. He ran for Democratic National Committee chair and dropped out to avoid finishing third in a field of three.

In what world is the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., population 102,000, or roughly the size of Boulder, a serious presidential candidate? In what world is he qualified for the job?

Ours, apparently. The Democratic field looks like a baseball team that failed to invest in its farm system. Grizzled old veterans, well past their prime, still hold down starting jobs.

Green draft picks just out of high school are prematurely pushed onto the field.

The players in the prime of their careers? A wasteland.

Colorado’s Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper exemplified the inability of candidates in the blandest generation to gain any traction at all. While they were among the most hapless, they were hardly alone. From Kamala Harris to Beto O’Rourke, Cory Booker to Jay Inslee, Julián Castro to Steve Bullock, candidates that looked good on paper couldn’t perform on the field.

If you thought the motley crew left a wide-open lane for the largest field of female presidential candidates in history, you were not alone.

Harris resembled an initial public offering in the stock market, soaring and crashing before anybody got a chance to vote. Tulsi Gabbard trashed her own candidacy with a bizarre Cruella de Vil impression. Marianne Williamson made Buttigieg look qualified.

Of the charisma-free players in the prime of their careers, Amy Klobuchar did the best.

Still, if you asked me after all these debates what Amy for America stands for, other than, you know, Amy, and America, I could not tell you.

At the risk of torturing the metaphor, if this were baseball, Elizabeth Warren would be the best player on the field by all the advanced metrics.

At 70, she is relatively old for a presidential nominee, but grading on a curve, she has the most youthful energy on stage, not counting the Boy Scout. She’s also younger than the incumbent, which is more than the Grumpy Old Men can say.

Warren’s political skill set — intelligence, empathy, eloquence, personal energy — is major-league. Her knowledge and experience make her a plausible president, although the incumbent may have taken plausibility off the menu. Her town halls are as close as we come to Oprah running, a reform narrative interlaced with a series of personal connections. She was so effective in the debates at taking down the cowardice of caution that she may have done Sanders more good than she did herself. My son called her Bernie’s heat shield.

She has a coherent narrative — that our economic system has been corrupted for the benefit of corporations and the wealthy, to the detriment of racial and social justice. She believes in markets regulated by government, which is the way it’s supposed to work.

There are no markets without rules. When greed gets the upper hand, as it does periodically, humans being humans, the people must produce leaders to take on the oligarchs.

During the first Gilded Age, along came Theodore Roosevelt.

Will we choose someone who can rise to the occasion this time? Her record suggests Warren is up to the task: She was right and Obama was wrong about the perils of letting Wall Street off the hook for the financial crisis. She is already detailing how a coronavirus health crisis could metastasize into a global economic crisis. She is by far the most capable of the candidates to understand that nexus.

Unfortunately, there are no advanced metrics in politics, no real analytics, just interminable subjective burbling from the same set of overpaid talking heads.

They posed dozens of questions about Medicare-for-all to get the candidates squabbling and turn soporific policy talk into good TV. The candidates were stunningly susceptible to this cable news trick and set upon each other like White House aides competing for the Dear Leader’s attention.

Climate change? Barely came up. No obvious differences for the moderators to exploit.

You understand.

To her credit, Klobuchar mentioned several times, out loud, that there was no chance — none — of Medicare-for-all becoming law during the next presidential term if Congress has anything to say about it, which it does. Even if they control both chambers, Democrats would be lucky to pass a public option, something they failed to do a decade ago, if the names Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson and Joe Manchin ring a bell. But the debate moderators wanted fireworks and the candidates had talking points, so Klobuchar’s reality check made no difference at all.

Warren got trapped in this pointless debate, first advocating the thing that won’t happen, then kinda, sorta walking it back. If she fails to relaunch on Super Tuesday and her campaign crashes, cable news, which insisted on the delusional debate, will probably blame it for taking her down.

Luckily, Sanders, who just had a heart attack and won’t release his medical records, is eligible for Medicare already. His relentless if humorless advocacy of a 1960s-style political revolution that would get no support from many congressional Democrats has made him the darling of the woke and, going into Super Tuesday, the front-runner for the nomination.

This is causing great concern in the Clinton and Obama orbits, which, sadly, have become the same thing. From James Carville to David Axelrod, old white guys are all over the airwaves warning us this is the wrong old white guy.

Sanders’ early wins in New Hampshire and Nevada also trouble disaffected Republicans, who want to vote against the incumbent but would lose their places in the Federalist Society if they voted for an avowed democratic socialist. Having stood by as their party morphed from pro-plutocracy to pro-oligarchy, they now seek to bring their magic formula to the other party as well.

This is where Bloomberg comes in. A Republican plutocrat who changed registration once to curry favor with New Yorkers and then again to see if he could buy the presidency, he wants Democrats to support a candidate who helped fund Lindsey Graham, Donald Trump’s most sycophantic enabler in the Senate.

For a little while, it looked as if carpet bombing the Super Tuesday states with hundreds of millions of ad dollars would do the trick. Alas, when all that spending finally got him on the debate stage, Warren eviscerated him with rhetorical swordplay they’ll be showing in debate prep for years. Since then, if the polls are to be believed, the odds of two Republican plutocrats facing off in November have grown longer.

Perhaps most important, Sanders is of deep concern to the mainstream news media, which react indignantly whenever he calls them the corporate media, which is often. The cable news talking heads cringe every time he mentions the 1 percent, many of them being members.

Cont. on Page 13, See Grumpy Old Men II

March 4, 2020

Lost Creek Guide

Krieger: Grumpy Old Men II — Fear and Loathing in Colorado’s Presidential Primary Cont. from Page 12 Speaking of past their prime, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, 74, was so troubled by the prospect of a Sanders nomination that he compared his victory in Nevada to the Nazis’ defeat of France in World War II. Reminded that Sanders is Jewish, and that members of his father’s family were killed in the Holocaust, Matthews gurgled it back a few days later.

Here’s the extent of political analytics available on cable news: CNN’s Van Jones, who was 4 at the time, argues that the election of 1972, in which Richard Nixon crushed George McGovern, is a cautionary tale for Democrats this time around. Go too far left, Jones and many other talking heads warn, Democrats will lose suburban white women and Trump will breeze to re-election, just as Nixon did.

To contest this analysis is not necessarily to advocate Democrats nominate a 78-yearold who makes Larry David look cheerful. It is possible to find the Jones analysis superficial and also think mentioning Fidel Castro’s good points on 60 Minutes is not something a smart politician would do.

Consider the analytic quality of this analogy: A single data point, from 48 years ago, in a country that was 88% white, in the midst of the Vietnam War and a generational culture clash, is all you need to know about the election of 2020.

As long as we’re in the Wayback Machine, let me offer an alternative data point. Would this be too incendiary for today’s talking heads?

“These economic royalists complain that we seek to overthrow the institutions of America. What they really complain of is that we seek to take away their power.”

How about this: “We know now that government by organized money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob. Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me — and I welcome their hatred.”

Three days after speaking these words, Franklin Roosevelt won re-election by the biggest landslide in presidential history. They came from a speech in which he proposed a Second New Deal that promised universal rights to education, employment, fair pay, decent working conditions, collective bargaining, and protections for the old and disabled.

This data point is no more precise an analogue than 1972. It was the eighth year of the Great Depression and FDR was one of the most talented politicians in American history, as publicly cheerful as Sanders is angry. On the other hand, Sanders is a far more compelling candidate on the stump than McGovern was. It’s worth remembering that McGovern entered national politics as a stand-in for Bobby Kennedy and won the nomination only after Edmund Muskie’s campaign imploded. He was nobody’s definition of charismatic.

Flip the mainstream analysis on its head. Consider all the moderate, next-in-line Democrats, the Bidens of their day, who have lost since McGovern: Mondale, Gore, Kerry, Hillary.

The future is unknowable. Cable news pundits are paid to pretend they know. They don’t. The most we can say is the available data points are mixed. They suggest the quality of the candidate, the mood of the country, the state of the economy, may all be more important than ideology.

I’ll vote for whomever the Democrats nominate, but I think three Grumpy Old Men at the head of the line is a problem. Having been unemployed in my 60s, I’m acutely aware that age discrimination is real, but it strikes me that choosing a leader of the free world who is bumping up against the actuarial life expectancy of his species is a valid concern.

Mercifully, the time has finally come to make a choice, at least on the first pass. My son and I agree on one thing: We’re not voting on the basis of “electability” because nobody knows. The idea in an early primary is to pick the person you think would make the best president among the available alternatives. For better or worse, these are the choices we’ve got.

My son and his girlfriend dropped off their ballots marked for Sanders a couple days after receiving them in the mail. If the latest poll got it right, Bernie will win Colorado going away.

My son tells me that his grandmother on his mother’s side told him she’s voting for “the one with all the money.” His mom, he says, was on Biden early but as he shed his front-runner status she began considering Buttigieg.

I was with Warren early, looked around as she slipped in polls and early balloting, then resubscribed following her inspired debate performance in Nevada. I dropped off my Warren ballot last week.

There’s an old saying in politics: Vote with your heart in the primary and your head in the general. Eight months out, you’re still allowed to dream.

Dave Krieger has been a Colorado journalist since 1981. @davekrieger

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Lost Creek Guide

March 4, 2020

How Connecting Children To Nature Is Good For Both

Plenty of older Americans hold fond childhood memories of climbing trees, catching frogs, and engaging in endless hours of tag or hide-and-seek with friends.

Most children today, though, spend much less time outdoors, with their recreational hours instead devoted to TV, video games and computers, a trend that has nature advocates concerned.

“If they don’t feel a connection to nature, they aren’t going to feel it’s important,” says Clyde Butcher (www.clydebutcher.com), a nature photographer who since the 1980s has helped bring national awareness to the Everglades through stunning black-and-white photographs that have been compared to the works of Ansel Adams.

“The question is, how do we get them to make that connection. The answer is that the responsibility lies with you and me. I think it’s important to educate both kids and grownups about the world’s environmental wonders.”

Advocacy groups are trying to do just that.

The National Wildlife Federation, for example, has a Green Hour program designed to encourage parents, grandparents, schools, and others to adopt a goal of an hour per day for children to play and learn outdoors in nature.

Butcher says that he tries to bring nature to people through his photography in the hopes they will be inspired to experience it for themselves.

“My goal is for them to say, ‘Wow, I want to go there. I want to see the real thing,’ ” he says.

Introducing children to the great outdoors is about more than just building extraordinary memories. Butcher and other nature proponents say benefits include:

Time outdoors can equal happiness. “Nature is one of those things that can really bring your spirits up,” Butcher says. Indeed, studies show that spending time outdoors is good for your mental health, and those who manage to do so are generally happier than those who stay cooped up inside. Butcher does his part to try to put people in touch with nature. Just recently, his gallery in the Big Cypress Swamp in south Florida sponsored a fall festival that included guided swamp-walk tours for children and adults alike. Those swamp walks provide what Butcher thinks of as education by immersion.

Time outdoors makes children healthier. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to children being overweight, which in turn increases their risk for a number of diseases, such as asthma and diabetes. When children spend time outdoors, they are almost certain to get more exercise, reducing those risks. Health professionals also say that, while over exposure to the sun can be harmful, some time absorbing the sun’s rays is helpful in such ways as boosting your body’s vitamin D. Time outdoors makes children better stewards of the earth. It’s important to protect the environment, and to preserve natural wonders for future generations, but it’s difficult to truly appreciate nature without venturing out into it, Butcher says. Children who take the time to explore what nature has to offer, he says, are more likely to become advocates for protecting it.

“Sometimes, in the abstract, it’s difficult to understand why nature is so important,” Butcher says. “But when children step into it, and see it firsthand, they can fall in love with it. Then they begin to understand.”

About Clyde Butcher Clyde Butcher (www.clydebutcher.com) is an acclaimed nature photographer who is best known for his striking black-and-white images of the Everglades in Florida. But he has photographed the beauty of nature in other locations as well. For more than 50 years, he has been preserving on film the untouched areas of the landscape. Butcher has been honored by the state of Florida with the Artist Hall of Fame Award. Other major awards and honors include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Nature Photography Association; Humanitarian of the Year for 2005 from the International University; the 2011 Distinguished Artist Award from the Florida House in Washington, D.C.; and the Ansel Adams Conservation Award from the Sierra Club.

Please feel free to use the above article as is. For an interview or comments from Butcher on this and related topics please reach out and I will be happy to coordinate.

Have a great day!

March 4, 2020

Page 15

Lost Creek Guide

SERVICE DIRECTORY Computer Support Repair, Service & Sales Reliable, Local, Professional

Roggen Telephone Company

303-849-5260

Open Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5pm Family Medical Care for All Ages

Keene Clinic

190 So. Main St., Keenesburg

303-732-4268

Loya’s Cleaning Maria Loya

English: Butch 970-590-8063 Spanish: Maria 303-350-6365 butcherger@hotmail.com

Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry Assistance for Roggen, Keenesburg, Prospect Valley, & Hudson Call to Request Assistance

303-732-4319

DOHERTY’S PLUMBING AND DRAIN Plumbing, Drain Cleaning, Water Heater Replacement Video sewer inspection Sewer & drain locating

Self Storage

1401 County Road 153 Strasburg, CO 80136

Phone: (303) 622-4142

COMPLETE HVAC SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE

Managers: Garold & Geraldine Middlemist

303-859-9126

HELP WANTED

First Baptist Church, Keenesburg, Food Pantry

Open every third Saturday 9 am to 12 pm 100 North Market Street, Keenesburg For emergency needs, please contact 720-480-6428 or email us at: http:// www.fbca.church

Donations are welcome to help us defeat hunger in our community

FOR LEASE Henry Lin Water Ditch Shares for lease. If Interested, please call 620-343-2362

WE'LL HELP YOU Cool It Ride It Wash It

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CLASSIFIEDS DO THE JOB 303-732-4080

Call or Text: 970-467-1512 Email: carissa@arrowheadtrash.com Or visit our website at www.arrowheadtrash.com

Thomas J Croghan DDS Family Dental Practice

Appointments: 303-377-8662 Appointments Available in Keenesburg and Denver

New Patients Welcome

SERVICES McCarthy Trucking Recycled asphalt, concrete Great for driveways & parking areas. Also sand & gravel.

Reasonable Prices Call Kevin for free quote 303-901-5034 Dave Haney Painting & Dry Wall Interior - Exterior Cabinets, Fence Staining Located in Platteville 720-217-2089

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Lost Creek Guide

March 4, 2020

Sons of the American Legion Hold 7th Annual Corn Hole Tournament The Sons of the American Legion held their 7th Annual Corn Hole Tournament on Saturday, February 29th.

It was a great success with lots of folks enjoying themselves and having a great time!

Paid for by Bob Grand