The Lost Creek Guide March 16, 2022

Our thoughts and prayers are with you both.

Volume 15 • Edition 6

March 16, 2022

Delivering over 17,000 papers to Adams, Morgan & Weld Counties including all of Brush, Fort Morgan, Hillrose, Orchard, Snyder, Weldona & Wiggins – all city & rural routes

“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

Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce Holds 103rd Annual Meeting

By The Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce The Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce held its 103rd annual meeting this Thursday, March 10th. Hosted by McDonald Automotive of Fort Morgan, the Happy Hour Annual Meeting welcomed business owners, operators, & employees from all industries in Fort Morgan. The happy hour format was planned with the busy professional in mind. Doors opened at 4 pm, where guests were greeted by gourmet appetizers and craft drinks provided by the new After Hours Cocktail Bar in Fort Morgan.

Chamber Executive Director Andrew Stieb kicked off the meeting by thanking his predecessor Sandy Schneider-Engle, current economic development specialist for the City of Fort Morgan, for the groundwork she made rebuilding community relationships and getting the chamber back on track.

After a few more opening remarks, Stieb gave a financial overview of 2021 operations. Compared to what Stieb called “rock bottom,” the chamber has seen a 65% increase in annual income since 2019. “This is the first time in several years we’ve been able to present accurate numbers,” Stieb. Stieb thanked board treasurer Donna Shaver for nearly two years of cleaning up the books and organizing almost a decade of chamber financial information. Chamber board president Deb Elrick said, “The chamber has finally found financial stability & sustainability.”

The Chamber’s membership has continued to climb 24% since 2021, with 82 current members. Much of the day-to-day operations in 2021 were focused on putting up-to-date systems in place that could benefit operations and the membership. With their new website in place and updated membership structure in the works, the Fort Morgan Chamber is ready to grow its membership not just by bringing in new members but by creating better relations with their existing members.

Stieb was excited to announce the revamp of the Chamber Ambassador program.

Initially started in the ’90s, the program was brought back in 2020 as a way for the board to reach out to businesses and connect with the community. This year the program is open for all members to participate. The chamber will split the ambassadors into three teams led by President Deb Elrick, Vice President Lindsey Bruntz, and Secretary Josh Gibbs. The teams will be ranked by a points system and compete to bring in new members, attend community & chamber events, and help build better relationships with the community on behalf of the chamber. “The Ambassadors Program is a great way to network your business and connect with your community,” Stieb said.

The presentation ended with the annual chamber awards. Celebrating their 76th year in business and being a cornerstone of Main Street, The Better Sleep Store of Fort Morgan was awarded Business of the Year. Jim & Deb Forstedt are third-generation owner-operators at 224 Main Street. Deb spoke on the struggles that all businesses faced over the pandemic. Dr. Alan Dahms was awarded the Citizen of the Year award.

Fort Morgan city manager Steve Glammeyer presented the award and spoke on the fantastic philanthropic changes Dr. Dahms and his wife have made in Fort Morgan.

An evening of networking and fun followed the presentation.

The Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce continues to be a catalyst in the business community and is now looking for ways to adapt and serve its members.

If you are interested in joining or learning more, contact Executive Director Andrew Stieb at (970) 867-6702 or info@fortmorganchamber.com

Wiggins FFA Hired Hand & Steak Supper

By Ashley Clement, Wiggins FFA Reporter The Wiggins FFA chapter held the annual Hired Hand Auction and Steak Supper on March 7th, 2022. We sold 42 members plus our advisor Rockie Ernst. The chapter also worked very hard to make and sell four adirondack chairs, and those proceeds will go towards a good agricultural cause that was affected by the Marshall Fire. Our members helped feed over 400 people in under an hour at our Steak Supper. This year our chapter had a great turnout with many supporters and helpers. We had great participation from our members helping out and doing as much as they can.

The Wiggins FFA thanks all of our Alumni, supporters, and members for helping to make this auction successful. We also would like to thank Chuck Miller for being our auctioneer and giving everyone a good laugh.

Page 2: Page 2: Page 3: Page 6: Page 7:

Andrew Steib, Executive Director of the Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce and Sandy Engle, Economic Development & Marketing, the City of Fort Morgan, presenting the Business of the Year Award to the Better Sleep Store with Deb Forstedt accepting.

Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce Holds 103rd Annual Meeting the rest of pictures continued on page 14...

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE

Way of the World Cindy Baumgartner’s Latest Comments Byron H. Pelton Candidate for Senate District 1 Wanted: Retired Teachers Sarah Gostenik Named Alzheimer’s Association Regional Director Page 9: Wiggins School District Newsletter & Calendar Page 11: State Wrestling Results Page 14: Coloradans will be Charged $29 State Park Fee Automatically Page 14: More Fort Morgan Chamber of Commerce 103rd Meeting Photos

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Lost Creek Guide

Way of the World

by Bob Grand, Lost Creek Guide I got up this morning, looked out the window, and saw no nuclear cloud. That was good. This Ukrainian thing is serious. Vladimir Putin has made several miscalculations.

The people of Ukrainian are not like the people in Russia who have never had a breath of freedom. They like it and are willing to fight for it. The strength and ability of the Russian army has not shown to be the ferocious bear that everyone believed it to be.

A large number of ill-trained conscripts, although there a lot of them, has not been able to overwhelm a committed Ukrainian resistance. The United States and EU’s vigorous sanction program has startled the Russians. A little geography. The capital of Ukraine, Kiev, covers three hundred and twenty-three square miles, which is bigger than all of New York City. Even if the Russians surround and capture the city, will the Russians be facing what they faced in Afghanistan a few years back but on steroids, as one commentator has said? Unsubstantiated claims are that Putin has asked China for more support, particularly in offsetting the sanction issues. The support, Putin expected from China has been tepid at best. So where does that leave us? An absolute dictator, Putin, who is finding himself in an awkward position on the world stage, looking foolish, inept, and criminal, not good for the world because what will, or can he do to save face?

Meanwhile have you been to the gas station lately? I find it hard to keep a straight face when Washington says we can blame the rise in gas prices on Putin. We have a party who supports greening of the country. I believe, over the long term, it is a promising idea. But you cannot do it overnight. It is a twenty-year or more process, sooner if we prioritize it. Most of the proponents of this greening are “do it now, no matter what the cost,” but these people do not really pay the cost. They have inherited money or well protected jobs and pensions, be they government bureaucrats or academics. Most Americans are facing some realty hard kitchen table issues as opposed to esoteric discussions. Our Vice President, Kamala Harris, said recently, “the American people got what you voted for.” She is right. People voted against Trump, not for his policies, but against his personality, especially suburban housewives. Do you think the wild spending that has flooded the country with money helps or hurts inflation? Let me tell you, for those who do not know, it does not help.

Not only do we face not so attractive economic times for the next couple of years we are also facing tough international times. We need good common sense, not theoretical bureaucratic and academia philosophy to be driving our actions. We have to overcome the centralization of power and control that both parties have allowed to grow unabated in Washington. We have also allowed this to occur at the state, county, and local levels as well. We, as citizens, need to let all our elected officials at all levels, know that we really expect them to respect our wishes and look after the interests of all the people.

The crime rates are exploding all over. We are a nation built on the fact that the law is important and should be equal for all. If we do not like a law, elect officials who will change it. Do not ignore it. What message do we send to people when we only enforce the laws we agree with? Jesse Smollett learned an unpleasant lesson. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months’ probation, a $25,000 fine and made to pay restitution to the Chicago police of over $100,000 for being convicted of staging his alleged attack. Maybe if more people experienced unpleasant experience, it would favorably impact our crime rates.

Many of our young people do not get good direction or guidance. This is not true of all, but there are too many examples that should make us think about it. Do we need a possible national service program that requires all young people to serve two years of national service after high school which can offer a variety of paths such as community service, military, conservation etc. What made America great was the work ethic and commitment to freedom that our ancestors had. We seem to have lost that in too many places.

The price for farm commodities has exploded. A bushel of wheat has reached all-time record high. Before you blame the farmers have you looked at the cost of fertilizer? It has gone up almost 300%. Our economics are being turned upside down.

Yes, you can sell your house for a lot of money but where do you go? We need solutions to the issues that we are facing not political rhetoric.

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

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

lcgnews.com Our deadline is 7 working days before publication

105 Woodward - PO Box 581 Keenesburg, CO 80643

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

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March 16, 2022

Letter to the Citizens of Keenesburg:

The town meeting held on February 28th, ended up giving me no added information.

And still a lot of unanswered questions. Even though I was asked if all my questions were answered, I just said yes at that point. Because it was obvious that no back up data was going to be presented. It was great to see all that attended, you could tell the staff did not except that number since they had not printed enough handouts. I hope all of you gained added information about what is going on with in the town. And for anyone that did not attend but would like the handout, please go to the town hall, and ask for one.

To start with, it is extremely easy to see the town staff does not think it is important to give consistent communication. And staff thinks less communication the better?

My example was the agenda posted for the meeting. Agenda read as 1) Demonstration of website. 2) Open discussion. If this was just a community gathering for information, then why not repeat what was put in the February Newsletter. “ An informal public meeting to review the budget and the associated funds, the purpose of those funds; planned improvements, the funding source of those improvements; answer question related to budget; staff compensation; water and sewer rate increases; as well as other questions.” And the PDF packet was empty, why did not staff have the handout attached and the current budget? They want citizens to send in questions ahead of meetings, but they did not give the citizens the change to get their question ready for the meeting by being able to see the information before. Again, limited information being shared, is this happening to the board? An organization can never give too much information as long as it consistent and accurate.

Then at the start of the meeting the staff brought up the BiO2 system for wastewater, a 4.2 MM project. Nowhere was this posted that this was going to the on the agenda for the meeting. But that was the first thing brought up. Was this an intentional distraction? It was presented by an engineer that the PW director is working with. But it felt like a sales pitch. And for the citizens that had not heard anything it was useful information, but when they asked question about the system the engineer and PW staff had no real answers. And for me after visiting with CDPHE engineer, went to the web site of the company for the system and talking to other towns that looked into the system. I could not find any written data to back up the process or the reliability of this kind of system. And at this meeting they presented none and said that this system has not been used in Colorado yet. So, they had no estimated operating cost and last no estimated disposal cost for waste. And my biggest worry was when I asked what the backup plan will be if this system ends up not working, there was no response. So where will that leave the town in staying compliant with the state of Colorado? Was that the same kind of presentation the board received? And my last question was doing we get any grants or any funding to help with the cost of the BI02 project. I was told that staff did not have time to apply for any. I’m sorry but the town manager has been with the town since. the early 2000’s and we have always known we would need to upgrade or add to the wastewater system to keep compliant with the state. And she missed the opportunity to apply for funds?

So now let us take a look at the presentation they handed out. Page, one showed where revenues come from, wish they had added dollars for 2021 or handed out the budget. The total proposed revenues for 2022 is $2,751,575. And the proposed expenditures for 2022 is $3,307,008. And if this had been presented at the meeting, I am sure someone would have asked what are you cutting in operating expenses to be able to balance the budget? The revenues came up short by $555,433.

Page two was revenue sources and some explanation on how the funds are used.

We started selling bulk water back around 2010 give or take a few years. And we know back then that money could be gone over night. So how was the town preparing for this loss of revenue? Nowhere in this presentation does it talk about our local mill levy collected. And our mill levy is twenty-two mills, and it was not explained how this taxpayer money is being used.

Page three revenue sources for all other funds. Valuable information if you have never work with the budget.

Page four, six and twelve, all have the information on wastewater expenses. But there was not explanation on what made up the increases. So, I ask why operational cost jumped $52,000 between 2017 and 2018. And then a decrease of $1,242 between 2018 and 2019? The chart shows a very minimal increase between 2019 and 2020.

Now between 2020 and 2021 the expenses increased $73,205 and again $62,431 for 2021 and projected 2022. The only explanation was the increase of leased equipment to keep maintenance and repair in house. And lift station maintenance. My question is what the leased equipment was and are we using it? And yes, we have added lift stations and what is the maintenance cost for them? Are these two expenses really the large amount of the increases? Now my last question on wastewater expenses is the amount of salary distribution for public works employees. Why are all seven employee’s salary split of 75% going to water and wastewater? Because that would mean that they spend 75% of their time each day on wastewater and water work or at least 39 weeks out of the year working with water issues. Is this possible? I know if funds are available this split works, but if you run short in funds, I would think you would look at all ways to make the salary allocation as accurate as possible.

Page seven water expenses are so inconsistent, between 2017 and 2018 decrease of -$11,026. Then 2018 and 2019 expenses increased $61,958, why? 2019 and 2020 it decreased by - $75,286. And then between 2020 and 2021 the expense increase by $289,961. Then 2021 and 2022 projected is an increase of $55,907. It would be interesting to know what caused this expense to very so much. We know the town went to a different water treatment system, but still? And the 75% salary distribution for PW employees effect this account also.

Now page eight, not much useful information other to show the $131,000 loss in bulk water sales.

Page nine another way of showing water fund expenses, no added information.

Page 10 is water and sewer rate increases. No increases in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Because the staff forgot and COVID. So, we did not use the study that was paid for showing what the yearly increases should have been. Why was 2021 not show on this chart? And the comparison of utility rates at four different towns using different gallons still shows the town of Keenesburg being the most expensive. We still have not been shown the data that was given to the board to support the 37.5 rate increase the town was given. If there were no additional information given, then the verbal requests Cindy Baumgartner’s Letter to the Citizens of Keenesburg continued on page 3...

March 16, 2022

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Lost Creek Guide

Cindy Baumgartner’s Letter to the Citizens of Keenesburg continued from page 2... the town manger presented that I listened to from the November 15th meeting. Makes me wonder how the board was comfortable with their decision. And no information was presented at the meeting showing that staff and board looked at expenses to see if they could find a way of reducing expenses, to help offset the increase.

Page eleven is showing employee pay rates for 2022. There is only one town that has less utility bills sent monthly then us and it is only by around one hundred less.

But our PW director and the town manager salaries are in the range of towns that have a thousand and more in utility billings. Does that make any of our citizens ask why? The rest of the employees’ salaries are in line from what I see. So why does the town board feel we need to pay such high salaries to our director and manger? When nothing in the presentation given to us on the 28th showed any savings to expenses to help with the rate increase or funds applied for to help with the cost of the BI02 system. Just my thought.

Page twelve is salary distributions which I already mentioned.

Page thirteen means nothing to me without additional information on each town.

Example is that Ft. Lupton has the least roof tops per employee but is that because they run a recreational center and a golf course, just saying. And the town of Keenesburg employees just run regular maintenance and repair with administrative duties just like all towns.

Now where is page fourteen? Why didn’t we see a presentation on bonuses given between 2017 and 2022 or at least the bonuses given in 2021 in the amount of $49,000 that was paid out? Anyone but me asking why? Towns were contacted and asked if they gave bonuses to their employees and the majority do not give bonuses. And the few that do, they range from $50 to $500. It is a shame that the $49,000 that was paid to employees was not used for town expenses for wastewater and water. Since the documentation I was given shows the bonus money had 66% of administration bonuses charged to water and wastewater expenses. And 75% of public works bonuses charged to water and wastewater expense. The town manager told us that the average increase for the utility billings were $35.00 a month. So, $35.00 x 850 utility bills are $29,750 so that $49,000 for 2021 and any other bonus money given in 2020 and earlier would have help the short fall in wastewater and water. Or am I the only one that thinks that?

So, citizens of Keenesburg stay involved, if you cannot get to the meetings then listen to them while you are at home. When you can skim through the agenda and if you see something that you question or are interested in then look at the PDF back up for all the agenda items. Then present your questions at the meeting or it could lead to you getting involved on a committee. This kind of involvement makes for a great town and a financial stable community...

Cindy Baumgartner

Val Loose running for Morgan County Clerk & Recorder

Val Loose has announced her candidacy for Morgan County Clerk and Recorder.

She has lived in Morgan County all of her life, first north of Fort Morgan and then moving to Wiggins when she married her husband, Dale Loose. Together they have two daughters and four grandchildren.

She is currently employed at Six Arrows Dairy in Wiggins as office manager and human resource director. She also works part-time for Wiggins Rural Fire Protection District and Hillrose Fire Protection District as secretary. Wiggins Rural Fire Protection District will have an election on May 3rd and Loose is the Designated Election Official working closely with the State of Colorado, the Division of Local Governments, the Special District Association and the Morgan County Clerk’s election personnel.

Loose currently serves on the Morgan County Fair Board and Sale Committee.

She is the leader of the Explorers 4-H Club and a member of the Wiggins Community Church. She has served on the Wiggins School District Board of Directors since December 2021 and before that she served on the school board for 17 years serving as board president and then secretary-treasurer. While she was on the school board, she also served on the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) as a board of director and also testified several times before the State School Board on various educational issues.

She previously worked for Fort Morgan School District as a bus driver and then as Transportation Director where she supervised a staff of 35 and was responsible for the safety of the 3500 students who rode those buses.

She was also the Morgan Conservation District Manager and worked with land owners in Morgan County. While district manager, she was voted in as State President of Conservation District Managers and served the state in that position for 4 years.

She also worked as Wiggins Town Clerk and conducted municipal elections.

Loose has talked with people around the county and has found out that numerous people are not registered to vote. She would like to have every eligible person registered to vote in the county and then vote. She would like to educate people on the election process; she would do this by going to club meetings, classrooms and church groups.

She will provide the leadership in the county clerk’s office and be available to answer questions and listen to each concern. She will be accountable to each resident in the county, and will conduct secure, precise elections.

Val has INTEGRITY and is TRUSTWROTHY, HONEST and ABLE. She can be contacted at 970.768.1044 or email her at loosefarms@wigginstel.com or her Facebook page when it is complete.

Byron H. Pelton, Candidate for Senate District 1

Byron Pelton is a candidate for Colorado Senate District 1.A Colorado native, born and raised in Agriculture; he is a Navy veteran and master electrician. Pelton was elected Logan County Commissioner for District 1 in 2016. He ran for re-election and began his second term in 2021. Pelton got into the Senate race for some key issues.

Lowering your taxes. Inflation is the highest it has been in 40 years. Every year Pelton has been in office, he voted to lower property taxes or propose a temporary tax credit. A temporary tax credit in 2021 gave back 1.5 million dollars to taxpayers.

Pelton says he will fight for taxpayers to keep as much money as possible in their own pockets.

Energy independence for Colorado. Pelton says we need to immediately repeal SB 19-181 and start drilling in Colorado to reduce dependence on Russian oil and gas. Under Trump, the US was a net exporter of crude oil and gas and we need to return to that status.

To support law enforcement. Pelton says he will fight any legislation that makes it harder for law enforcement to do their jobs. Crime is increasing everywhere in Colorado – Colorado is #1 in car thefts in the nation and #4 in recidivism rate. We HAVE to do better to make Colorado safer. In Logan County, Pelton has worked to retain Sheriff’s deputies by giving them raises and increasing their training budget.

Improving transparency and accountability in Behavioral Health. 1.5 billion dollars is currently spent in Behavioral Health, but it is not going to rural Colorado. In 2020, 8 teenagers died of suicide in northeast Colorado and some of those losses can be attributed to lack of services. Pelton’s work in Behavioral Health is bringing resources desperately needed to rural Colorado, including 2.1 million dollars that was awarded to several counties within Senate District 1. He has also worked for the last 16 months to negotiate the 400-million-dollar Federal Opioid Settlement money.

The primary reason Pelton got into the Senate Race is to be a fierce advocate for Agriculture! Under this administration, Agriculture is under attack.

Pelton grew up in Agriculture and lives it every day. He worked to unite Colorado counties in opposition of Initiative 16 up until the day it was thrown out by the Colorado Supreme Court. He also worked to unite counties to try and force the current administration to fire Ellen Kessler. Pelton says he has been working with industry experts and elected officials to fight for Agriculture in all seven counties in Senate District 1 long before he ever decided to run for office. Pelton says he will continue to fight for Agriculture every single day at the State Capitol.

A principled conservative, Pelton has been recognized by Colorado Counties Inc. multiple times, being awarded “Colorado Freshman Commissioner of the Year” and “Colorado Commissioner of the Year.” Pelton resides in Sterling with his wife Celeste. Together, they run a small cow calf operation and raise their two daughters, Mattea and Elliana. Visit www.ByronPelton.com for more information.

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE

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March 16, 2022

Ways to Save: Consider Going Electric

By Morgan County Rural Electric Association With the recent spike in gasoline, natural gas and propane prices, many of us facing increased expenses are looking for alternative ways to save some money. Unlike natural gas and propane prices that can fluctuate greatly, the cost of electricity from MCREA has remained relatively stable over the last 5 years.

While other energy costs have increased, Morgan County REA hasn’t had a rate increase since 2016 and actually went the other direction by implementing a 1.79% rate decrease at the beginning of this year. Thanks to our lowered rates and some new technologies, there are many ways that going electric can help you save money.

Installing an electric air source heat pump can be one solution to lowering your energy bill. Air source heat pumps are highly efficient, and a single system can both cool your home in the summer and heat it in the winter. Heat pumps transfer heat from the air outside to heat your home, rather than a combustible fuel source, and can function at temperatures into the negative teens. And, they are far more efficient now than they were just a few years ago.

Heating with an air source heat pump costs about half as much as a propane furnace and about a third as much as electric baseboard heat. The payback on the cost to switch from a propane furnace to an air source heat pump can be as little as two years.

After that, all the money you save is purely that – savings.

These systems can be installed in homes with existing ductwork, and ductless units are also available to retrofit homes with undersized or no ductwork present, so they can be an option for every home. They are even cheaper to run than natural gas furnaces at current prices, making an air source heat pump a viable option for almost anyone looking to cut down on home heating costs.

Choosing energy efficient home appliances can also reduce your monthly bill. And, MCREA offers rebates to members who purchase energy efficient appliances and fixtures for their homes to further increase savings.

For example, rebates are available on Energy Star-rated refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers and more. MCREA also offers rebates for electric outdoor power equipment including string trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, electric mowers and e-bikes. Using these items, rather than their gas-powered counterparts, can lower your cost at the fuel pump, and eliminate all those extra gas cans in your garage.

Morgan County REA is dedicated to serving our members, and that includes helping you find potential savings. MCREA’s member services department is available to answer any questions you may have regarding energy efficiency upgrades, rebates, and electricity usage. Simply give us a call at (970) 867-5688 or email us at memberservices@mcrea.org.

And if you haven’t registered yet, MCREA would also like to invite all members to attend Morgan County REA’s 85th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 22 at 6 p.m. This year’s annual meeting will be conducted by telephone. To register, click the banner at www.mcrea.org. Registering and attending this year’s annual meeting will enter you to win gift cards and cash prizes!

If you have any questions regarding this year’s annual meeting or need help with registration, please call the MCREA office.

Opinion: The COVID-Relief Act has Tangled Online Resellers in Ridiculous Tax Red Tape

A Special Place Where Talented People Bring Their Home-made Crafts to Sell We are open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 12 noon to 5 pm, and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm 65 Main Street, Keenesburg, Colorado 303-910-0640

What should be a side business now requires full-time work on IRS forms

by Dave and Laurie Bilyeu, The Colorado Sun As much as we hoped everything would be back to normal in 2022, the pandemic is still making life tough for many Coloradans. Personal savings that lasted through the past two years are dwindling, and certain government programs that helped with everyday expenses are set to expire.

Knowing the economic uncertainty that lies ahead, it’s extremely disappointing to see that the federal government is implementing a new tax law which unfairly targets casual sales of used and previously owned items on online marketplaces.

Back in March 2021, the president signed a COVID-19 relief bill called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This law provided financial help for millions of Americans who needed a boost as the pandemic raged throughout the country.

To help pay for that financial assistance, Congress included an often overlooked provision to significantly change the way the IRS treats online sales via third-party platforms such as eBay, Poshmark or Mercari. They decided to drop the threshold to require a tax form for online sales from $20,000 in a single year to only $600!

READ: Colorado Sun opinion columnists.

This means if someone sells a snowboard for $600 for which they originally paid $800, the IRS will require them to figure out a 1099-K form and prove they didn’t make any income from the sale. So selling only a few hundred dollars’ worth of previously owned goods on online marketplaces now results in scrutiny from the IRS and a much more complicated tax return.

Our family has been using eBay for our online reselling business for nearly 10 years. The platform has allowed us to create a thriving business and has also enabled us to mentor folks who are unfamiliar with the online “recommerce” market.

To equip them to use the platforms, we started a Denver Meet-Up group to help local resellers. Through that group, we’ve met scores of people who are benefiting from online sales, but who are not running a business.

The extra dollars made selling used or pre-owned items online is often the difference in making ends meet. Reselling became a lifeline for many people in Denver and throughout Colorado during the pandemic, and it’s those casual sellers who will be hurt most if Congress doesn’t address this tax change soon.

Even though this law will affect millions of Americans and thousands in Colorado, there is surprisingly little awareness or guidance about the change. Starting Jan. 1, online platforms are now required to track these low-dollar sales and eventually issue tax forms when the annual $600 limit is reached.

And while completing that tax form doesn’t necessarily mean sellers will end up owing more income taxes, few casual sellers keep the detailed records necessary to prove they originally paid more for an item than they eventually sold it for. Some sellers, fearing IRS scrutiny, will feel compelled to report the sale as taxable even if they sell at a loss. Or they’ll be forced to consult tax experts when they normally handle their own returns.

Opinion: The COVID-Relief Act has Tangled Online Resellers in Ridiculous Tax Red Tape continued on page 5...

March 16, 2022

To the Voters of Morgan County:

I’m from a small town in Eastern Colorado called Wray, I grew up in Wray an have loved serving my community. I’m currently living In Fort Morgan and have been here for nearly 2 years working at Heer Mortuary and the Morgan County Coroner’s office. My love and dedication for my current job as a current deputy coroner and funeral director is my reason for running for office. I strive to do the best for citizens of Morgan County every day. Going forward into the office of the county coroner, I know exactly what to expect, especially considering how much the coroner’s office has changed since the last

decade.

I have been serving as deputy coroner for over a year, serving under the current coroner Don Heer. I was brought into the coroner’s office when the call rate was very high and staff was low, I knew nothing but hard work, all day every day. It wasn’t easy but I had the best mentor, again, the current coroner Don Heer. Don taught me everything I know to this day and helped mold me into the deputy I am.

When Don asked me to run for office, I was blessed that someone that has done so much for this county for nearly 50 years, would ask me to take his place. My goal is to fill his shoes and implement the same policies he held such as keeping all the staff which are also my dear friends, and continue to use local mortuary facilities for the coroner’s office, as it has been for the last several decades before me.

Having great interagency cooperation is a must have for the coroner and there are currently established relationships with all surrounding law enforcement, fire department, EMS, Hospice, and long-term care facilities with myself and the rest of the deputies at the Morgan County Coroner’s Office. I worked side by side with Don Heer in multiple death investigations in Morgan County within the last year, including but not limited to natural, unattended death, homicide, suicides, motor vehicle accidents, infant deaths, and hospice related deaths. I have prepared case reports for pathologists and have attended numerous autopsies, and currently continuing my education with a death investigation course through the University of North Dakota, and will be a certified death investigator in the state of Colorado by the end of the year 2022.

What really drove me to pursue this avenue, as I began this career, I lost my own mother unexpectedly. I didn’t know if I wanted to pursue this path, I didn’t want to respond to the call of my own mother, but when she passed, I saw it as God’s calling for this position, I knew what it was like to be on the other side, to want and to need answers. This drives me to get answers for others and to guide them as they begin their journey of grief (the most difficult times in their lives).

You have trusted Don Heer for all these years to care for your loved ones and to seek for the truth in death investigation, now Don is trusting me to make this a lifelong career, just as he has done, no matter the outcome of this election, I will reside here in Morgan County and continue so serve the community in whatever way I can. I can be contacted at my

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Build new skills, work toward a degree or certificate, or take a class for fun.

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aims.edu GREEELEY FORT LUPTON LOVELAND WINDSOR ONLINE

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Lost Creek Guide

email chazzluciano11@gmail.com or my cell 970-370-4246 I also have a Facebook page called Chazz Luciano For Morgan County Coroner. Thank you for your support.

Chazz Luciano For Coroner

Endorsed by Don Heer, Morgan County Coroner I am pleased to endorse Chazz Luciano in his candidacy for Morgan County Coroner.

Chazz is the only candidate that is currently associated with any coroner office. He has been a deputy coroner for Morgan County for nearly 2 years and has first hand experience in the challenges that coroner offices are currently experiencing. This is a 7 day per week, 24 hours a day commitment to serve as the Morgan County Coroner.

Chazz is a life long resident of northeast Colorado. He has the desire, the compassion, and the professional ability to serve as the next coroner of Morgan County. He knows first hand the importance of maintaining good working relationships with all Morgan County Law Enforcement Agencies, EMS Responders, Fire Department Agencies, Health Care Providers, Physicians, and Forensic Pathologists, and the Morgan County Citizens and those outside Morgan County.

Your consideration and support of Chazz Luciano to be the next coroner of Morgan County will be sincerely appreciated.

– Don Heer’s endorsement

Opinion: The COVID-Relief Act has Tangled Online Resellers in Ridiculous Tax Red Tape continued from page 4...

Another relatively unknown aspect of the new law is that the online marketplace platforms will be required to collect full Social Security numbers when a seller hits that $600 threshold. Before this change, casual, non-business sellers only needed to provide the last four digits of their Social Security numbers. Casual sellers should not have to worry about disclosing additional personal information.

The good news is Congress still has time to address this part of the law before it negatively impacts millions of casual online sellers. Restoring the threshold of $20,000 per year for online sales of previously owned goods is a common-sense way to protect Americans from higher taxes, exposing personal information, and unnecessary administrative burdens.

This should be something both parties can agree on, and we urge our Colorado delegation to make changing the limit a priority in the new year.

The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization that covers Colorado people, places and issues. To sign up for free newsletters, subscribe or learn more, visit ColoradoSun.com

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March 16, 2022

Wanted: Retired Teachers to Return to Colorado Classrooms

REFERRAL REWARDS JUST GOT

By Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat

Celebrate your Blue Lightning experience with everyone!

Refer your family, neighbors, & friends, & you BOTH GET $75 IN REWARDS! Now through April 30, 2022, you can TRIPLE your rewards when you refer a new customer to Blue Lightning!

Grab your TRIPLE rewards, today!!

SCAN to learn more!

970-483-7343

HYBRID ANNUAL MEETING

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022 4:30 P.M. REGISTRATION | 6:30 P.M. MEETING BEGINS The 2022 Annual Meeting will be held as a hybrid event that members may attend either online or in person. All members are invited to attend and engage with cooperative leadership and connect with fellow members.

The in-person meeting will be held at the Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds on April 13 and livestreamed on United Power’s website. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. and the official business meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. The virtual stream will begin at the start of the business meeting at www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting.

VOTING YOUR BALLOT IN THE 2022 DIRECTOR ELECTION Three positions on United Power’s eleven-member board are up for election, one seat in the East, South and West Districts. This year, members may vote in the director election electronically through their online account or return it by mail. Voting online is a fast and secure way to submit your ballots and avoid delays in mail handling.

Ballots must arrive at the P.O. Box by noon on April 12, 2022.

United Power is monitoring COVID-19 restrictions. In the event conditions do not permit an in-person event, the virtual format will still be available. Visit www.unitedpower.com for updates and current health department requirements.

More retired school employees could go back to work without jeopardizing their pensions under two bills that passed the Colorado House this week. The bills are an effort to address widespread staffing shortages that are particularly acute in rural areas.

House Bill 1101 expands and makes permanent a program begun in 2017. It allows classroom teachers, aides, bus drivers, food service workers, and nurses to go back to work for up to six years while still receiving their full pension benefits.

The program had been set to expire next year. Rural school districts are eligible, and can use the program to fill positions they haven’t been able to fill through normal means.

Reece Blincoe, superintendent in the Dolores district in southwest Colorado, said his students wouldn’t have access to advanced science classes if it weren’t for “our most senior science teacher.”

“We would not have him if it were not for this program, and we need to keep him,” Blincoe said.

The art teacher is also a retiree. Meanwhile, Dolores has had an agricultural science teacher position and a bus driver position open for more than a year.

The teacher shortage predates the pandemic, but it used to be just a shortage of teachers in some parts of the state and in some subjects, such as math, science, and special education. Now the problem is more widespread.

“I would have never believed I would see a day when kindergarten teachers are so short the position would go unfilled,” said Bill Wilson, the superintendent and sometimes-substitute bus driver in Brush in northeast Colorado. “I’d hate to think where we’d be without the critical shortage legislation we have.”

Since 2017, 277 Colorado school retirees have returned to the classroom.

“The rural schools loved it because it gave an opportunity to bring in people who knew the community, knew the kids, knew where the bathrooms were, and didn’t need to find a place to live,” said state Rep. Barbara McLachlan, a Durango Democrat who sponsored both the 2017 legislation and the two new retiree bills this year.

The legislation passed the House with bipartisan support, though some Republicans objected to making the program permanent, and now goes to the Senate.

The Public Employee Retirement Association board raised concerns the bills might incentivize early retirement and the system would pay more benefits than it otherwise would have. However, both the school district and the employee resume paying into the system when a teacher goes back to work while not earning additional benefits.

Fiscal analyses of the two bills found they might increase the unfunded portion of the pension system, but the impact will depend on how many teachers opt for early retirement.

McLachlan said if anything, teachers getting a pension and a salary are only getting what they deserve.

“It’s probably what we should have been paying them anyway, so yes, it’s fair,” said McLachlan, a retired teacher.

Superintendents said they expect staffing shortages to continue as long as they can’t pay more competitive salaries. Wilson said fast food restaurants in his region pay more than he can offer bus drivers and cafeteria workers. Blincoe noted that New Mexico is set to raise average teacher salaries above $60,000 a year, while his district near the border can only pay $32,000 a year.

House Bill 1057 allows retired teachers to go back to work as substitute teachers, with no cap on how many days they can work. Current rules allow retired teachers to work up to 110 days a year before losing a portion of their pension. This program would be available to any school district, but would expire in 2025. The proposal had nearly unanimous support in the House.

School district representatives told lawmakers they often can’t fill a third to a half of substitute requests, even as leave requests have gone up. The situation is contributing to teacher burnout and means children aren’t getting the services they need.

“Each day, we pull Title I staff, special education paraprofessionals, general education paraprofessionals, secretaries, counselors, principals, and even districtlevel coordinators and administrators away from their regular work to cover classes,” said Robin Reeser, school board president in Cañon City. “We’re extremely concerned about how doing this is affecting our neediest students.”

Title I is a federal program that provides more money to schools for students living in poverty.

Bret Miles of the Colorado Association of School Executives said that other than more funding, these bills were the most helpful thing the legislature could do for schools.

“All of our school administrators were thinking this school year would be a lot more like 2018-19 than 2020-21. We were wrong,” he said. “Every administrator I talk to says this year is harder than last year, and it’s because of the shortages. I cannot overestimate the incredible impact the shortages have had.”

Bureau Chief Erica Meltzer covers education policy and politics and oversees Chalkbeat Colorado’s education coverage. Contact Erica at emeltzer@chalkbeat.org.

March 16, 2022

Lost Creek Guide

Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Board Accepting Applications Through April 8

DENVER - Beginning immediately, the Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Board is accepting applications through April 8 to fund programs that bring about transformative change throughout communities. These grants are designed to widen accessibility to the outdoors for Coloradans from underserved communities and provide environmental, experiential, outdoor, stewardship and conservation education for Colorado youth or families, and that address inequities Coloradans face in accessing the outdoors.

The board, created by the passage of House Bill 21-1318, is composed of members representing communities that have faced barriers to accessing Colorado’s outdoors.

“We are excited to break down barriers and help everyone in Colorado have the opportunity to enjoy our state’s amazing precious places and vast great outdoors,” said Governor Jared Polis. “These important grants will help a diverse generation of Coloradans build real and lasting connections to our beautiful state and I thank the bill sponsors for getting this law to my desk.”

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Leslie Herod of Denver, is excited to see the start of the grant process.

“I am thrilled to see the Outdoor Equity Board come to life,” Herod said. “The members of this board will build the Colorado of our future through strategic investments that improve the lives and wellbeing of youth and their families.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is committed to investing in and expanding access to the outdoors for all Coloradans. Every child should have the opportunity to experience the natural resources of our state. This board and grant program are an important step in the right direction, said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow.

“The Colorado Outdoor Equity Board wants to hear from the community about what their needs are,” Prenzlow said. “This first round of applications will inform the development of future grant processes and strategic investments in programs and projects that break down barriers and increase access to the outdoors.”

Programs or projects should strive to be culturally responsive and should raise awareness of and/or seek to address the root cause of the disparities Colorado youth experience while trying to access the outdoors, whether youth are from an urban or rural community.

CPW and the OEGB seek to increase access and opportunity for underserved youth and their families to experience Colorado’s open spaces, state parks, public lands and the many other outdoor areas for which the state is famous.

Grant application details: Eligible applicants: non-profit organizations, Tribes, schools, governments and for-profit businesses.

The following criteria will be used in the review of grant proposals: • Organizational commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in outdoor recreation, conservation and environmental education • Demonstrated need and commitment to diverse voices and perspectives Important Grant Information: Opens: March 7 Informational/Q&A Session: March 17 from 2 - 4 p.m.

Applicants notified of grant decision: May 1 Award/contract process begins: May 6 Grants awarded: May 31 Application deadline: April 8 at 5 p.m.

Award total: $550,000 for this grant cycle (maximum grant request: $250,000) Applicants can submit their Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Application online.

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Gostenik Named Alzheimer’s Association Regional Director Sarah Gostenik of Greeley has been named the Northeast Colorado regional director for the Alzheimer’s Association.

A native of Ault, Gostenik joins the Alzheimer’s Association from Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, where she served as program director for Refugee & Asylee Services in Northern Colorado.

Previously, she worked as volunteer coordinator for a northern Colorado hospice.

Gostenik will oversee Alzheimer’s Association programs and services in the northeastern portion of Colorado including Weld, Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington, Yuma, Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson and Cheyenne counties.

“I was drawn to working for the Association because I received amazing support and services for a family member who was showing signs of dementia,” said Gostenik.

Gostenik earned a master’s degree in education from Regis University and a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Colorado State University.

“Sarah is deeply committed to our cause and will be a tremendously kind, thoughtful and diligent touch point for families, volunteers and partners in the region,” said Kelly Osthoff, senior director of Programs for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. More than 6.2 million people in the U.S., including 76,000 Coloradans, are living with Alzheimer’s, which has no prevention or cure.

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March 16, 2022

Opinion: Republican Candidates are True Problem-Solvers

When we say we have a plan, we mean what we say

by Kristi Burton Brown, The Colorado Sun Last August, at a gas station, I stood with Republican and conservative leaders across the state as we announced our Commitment to Colorado. Democrats and some in the media thought it was a joke that we held the conference at a gas station, where prices had risen exponentially over the

course of one short year.

Now, with the 2022 Colorado legislative session fully underway, it seems the Democrats understand the assignment. Gov. Jared Polis is suddenly careening away from a policy he signed just last year: a gas tax on our families. He’s calling for its delay — until after the next election. Convenient.

The House and Senate Democrats have announced their plan is to save people money and to improve public safety. However, they should know better than to copy homework and pretend it’s their own.

The Republican Commitment to Colorado laid out our “Big Three” issues, alongside seven others. We promised to make Colorado affordable again; to prioritize (not just “improve”) public safety; and to expand educational choice for everyone. All parents and all students deserve better options so they can succeed as the unique individuals they are.

For a long time, Republicans have been known in Colorado as people who object, who complain, who tell you what’s wrong with the other guy. But with our Commitment to Colorado, it’s a new day and a new way. We’re offering real answers. Our candidates are true problem solvers.

We will not just tell you the Democrats are wrong. We’ll tell you they’re destroying Colorado with their pro-criminal, higher tax, anti-choice policies. That we are experiencing record inflation and a soaring 25-year high in violent crime. That over 60% of our 3rd-grade students aren’t reading at grade level and over 70% of 4th-, 6thand 8th-grade students aren’t doing math at grade level.

In 2022, Republicans are going beyond the rhetoric, beyond the words and the facts and the statistics. We’re going straight to the solutions. How can we create a safer Colorado for us all? How can we build a better future for our families?

Our elected officials in the House and Senate unveiled a 44-bill package on the first day of session. These bills lay out real solutions that Colorado families can expect from Republicans – solutions we could deliver if elected to a majority in 2022.

A few ideas found in these bills include: • Expand the sales-tax exemption for food so it’s more affordable for families to eat.

• Add an income-tax deduction for renters – especially low-income renters, and grant a deduction to property owners who were hurt during COVID. • Create a grant program for homeowners to make residential space available to renters to solve the housing shortage in Colorado.

• Expand senior and veteran property-tax exemptions.

• Eliminate fines for failing to register a vehicle during COVID when the DMV was slow or shut down.

• Increase medical transparency by allowing hospitals to disclose the “healthcare affordability and sustainability fee” they charge every patient on the receipt.

• Lower the state income tax rate.

• Create the Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program to provide $50 million to local law enforcement agencies for critical-incident training to their officers.

• Get dangerous criminals off the street by prohibiting courts from releasing a person accused of repeat or violent offenses on any unsecured personal recognizance bond.

• Fight rising student loan debt by allowing 529 accounts to be used to Stop by our Keenesburg branch at 165 North Market Street pay for student loans.

• Equalize charter funding with and find out how we make a DIFFERENCE in our COMMUNITY. other public school funding to ensure equitable funding for all students. The HERE when you need us bill is awaiting introduction.

• Talk to who you want. Our employees answer our phones.

• Pass a resolution that asserts a • Chat with an ACTUAL bank employee on our HPBGO app during business hours.

Parents’ Bill of Rights, valuing a parent’s • Visit our branches in person from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday. right to have a say in his or her child’s • ¡Se habla Español! future. It is awaiting introduction.

• Help teachers pay for school supplies FEE-FREE Checking accounts that they purchase with their own money • No monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements. by creating a state income-tax credit for • No overdraft fees for returned checks. those expenses.

• Interest-bearing checking accounts.

These real-life solutions (and 31 more) • Surcharge-free, national ATM network. can be found here. This year, when Colorado Republicans say we have a KEEP it Local plan to create a better future, we mean • Community-driven decisions support precisely what we say. local small businesses and nonprofits.

Kristi Burton Brown, of Arapahoe County, is chairwoman of the Colorado State Republican Party.

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The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization that covers Colorado people, places and issues. To sign up for free newsletters, subscribe or learn more, visit ColoradoSun.com

March 16, 2022

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Lost Creek Guide

GOOD PEOPLE OF TIGER NATION: State of the District!!

Thanks to all of you who contacted CDE, your BOE members and Wiggins administrators to share your concerns about possible changes to the state’s social studies curriculum. We have shared your and our thoughts about the standards and are working with educators across the state to challenge the new recommendations.

There are many rumors out there that the district receives funding designated for transportation. We do not receive any funding from CDE for transportation.

Designated transportation funding is taken from the general fund received from per pupil revenue. The money we saved on transportation last year went to a new STEAM lab in the elementary school and a new 14 passenger bus was purchased. All activity trips (field trips, athletics, choir/band, FFA, FBLA, LULAC, etc..) are paid for out of the district transportation budget, which again comes out of the general fund, not from CDE. With this said, our transportation woes continue. Currently the district has one fully certified route driver on staff meaning we are still six drivers short to meet our route needs. While we wait to field qualified drivers our fleet of buses are sitting in the weather deteriorating. The district is beginning to contemplate terminating route transportation entirely if drivers cannot be found. We will be hosting a community outreach meeting on Wednesday, March 30 at 6:00p.m. At this meeting we will further explain the situation we are in and we hope to recruit willing applicants to drive routes in the future.

Ms. Trautwein and her staff at the pre-school continue to keep the pre-school at the top of pre-schools across the state. The district takes great pride in our pre-school program and the effort the staff puts forth for the Wiggins community.

Mr. Corsentino has received his Erate funding and was able to purchase $48,000 worth of Chromebooks at no cost to the district. These Chromebooks will replace the older Chromebooks for 3rd-6th grade students. The district would like to thank Blue Lightning for their partnership and the high quality internet they provide to the district. Students are able to utilize both synchronous and asynchronous learning throughout the day without streaming issues.

Congratulations to Jorge Mendez for advancing to the state wrestling tournament, Pepper Rusher for placing 3rd at state and Laith Ibrahim, Wiggins 2x defending State Champion. Congratulations to the girls’ basketball team for placing 2nd at the district tournament. Congratulations to the FFA parliamentary team members for winning districts, Neela Thomas, Pepper Rusher, Mohamed Ibrahim, Allison Thomas, Taryn Yzaguirre, Kelli Lousberg, Trey Huwa, Kelsi Smits, Dani Moon, and Peyton Allart for placing first is their designated areas at district FBLA. #GoTigers Superintendent: Trent Kerr

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Lost Creek Guide

Make sure to come and check out great prizes!

March 16, 2022

Auto, Home, Farm & Commercial

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FINANCIAL FOCUS

Use Your Financial Strategy Like GPS When you’re driving these days, it’s pretty hard to get lost because your smartphone’s Global Positioning System (GPS) can get you just about anywhere. And as an investor, you can have a similar experience by employing another directional tool – a personalized financial strategy.

Let’s look at the parallels between your GPS and this type of strategy.

To begin with, your GPS pinpoints your exact location at the start of your trip – in other words, it tells you where you are. And when you create a financial strategy, your first step is to evaluate your current situation by answering these types of questions: What are your assets?

How much do you earn? How much do you owe? How much are you contributing to your IRA, 401(k) or other

Kyle S. Bernhardt

Financial Advisor 606 Grant St. Ft. Morgan, CO 80701 970-542-6401

retirement accounts? Once you’ve got a clear picture of your finances, you’ll be ready to begin your journey toward your long-term goals.

Once your GPS has identified your starting point, it will then show you where you want to go and the routes to help you get there. And it’s the same with your financial strategy – you want it to help lead you to a particular place in your life. In fact, a well-designed strategy can show you the steps you need to take to help reach more than one destination – to a place where you can send your children to college, a place where you can retire comfortably, a place where you can leave the type of legacy you want, and so on.

Here’s another element of your GPS that applies to your financial strategy – the warnings. You’re certainly familiar

Timothy R. Guggenmos Financial Advisor 228 Main St. Ft. Morgan, CO 80701 970-867-2441

Mark A. Hough

Financial Advisor 513 Main St. Ste A Fort Morgan, CO 80701 970-542-3048

with those thick red lines your GPS shows to indicate traffic slowdowns ahead. And while they’re annoying, they’re also useful in cautioning you that you may arrive at your destination later than you had originally planned.

Your financial strategy can also express “warnings” about events that could hinder you from reaching your goals.

These obstacles might include an illness or disability that could keep you out of work for a while, or the need for some type of long-term care, such as a nursing home stay or the services of a home health aide. Your financial strategy can not only identify these threats, but with the guidance of a financial professional, suggest potential solutions.

In addition to providing warnings about things such as heavy traffic and road construction, your GPS can change

Wes Cable

Financial Advisor 611 Edison St Brush, CO 80723 970-842-2252

your route if you miss a turn or if you decide, for whatever reason, to go a slightly different way. Your financial strategy can also show you alternatives, if it’s comprehensive and overseen by a financial professional, who, using specialized software, can create hypotheticals – illustrations that provide alternative outcomes for different steps, such as retiring at various ages, investing different amounts each year or earning different rates of return. These hypotheticals can be quite helpful to you as your chart your course toward your goals, especially if you need to change your plans along the way.

Your GPS and your financial strategy are two great tools for helping get you where you want to go.

Forrest Hough

– Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Financial Advisor 129 S. 4th Ave Brighton, CO 80601 303-659-2301

March 16, 2022

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Lost Creek Guide

CHASA 2022 State Wrestling Championships at the Ball Arena in Denver February 17 – 19th

by Paul Dineen CHSAA held its 2022 wrestling championships on February 17-19 at the Ball Arena in Denver. Except where noted, this report covers the teams from Brush, Fort Lupton, Fort Morgan, Weld Central and Wiggins. Wiggins is in class 2A for boys. The others are in 3A. A school class distinction is currently not made for the girls.

On the boys side, Fort Lupton had the most state tournament qualifiers with ten.

Following the Bluedevils were Brush with nine qualifiers, Fort Morgan with eight, Weld Central with five and Wiggins with three.

For the girls, Fort Lupton had five qualifiers and Brush had one.

Team Results Boys class 2A saw 45 teams compete, with Wray winning their fourth title in five years. Wiggins finished tied for tenth with Dolores Huerta. Wiggins had won the team title six times previously, most recently in 2002.

In boys class 3A, forty-eight teams competed. Eaton won this year after finishing second last year. Weld Central finished eighth, after a third place finish last year. The Rebels have won one team title, in 1991. Fort Lupton was fourteenth, after twentieth last year. The Bluedevils have three championships to their credit, most recently in 1987. Brush was eighteenth, up from 38th last year. The Beetdiggers were champions in 2007. Fort Morgan finished number 38, after being 24th last year. The Mustangs hold seven titles, with the last in 1981.

In the other classes, Pueblo East was number one of 49 teams in 4A. Their other championship was in 2019.

Pomona beat out 43 others in 5A for their fourth consecutive team championship, sixth in seven years and eleventh overall.

The girls competition, featuring fifty-one teams, was won by Chatfield.

Loveland finished second. Pomona, the boys 5A winner, placed third. Fort Lupton was eleventh. Brush finished tied for 47th with four other teams.

Wray leads all schools with fourteen team championships all-time. Fort Morgan has seven, Wiggins has six, Fort Lupton has three and Brush and Weld Central have one each.

Individual Results Fort Lupton and Weld Central each

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Laith Ibrahim of Wiggins was the 2A 285 pound champion with a 39-0 record. Here, he defeats Alcon Ortiz at the Morgan County Triangular on January 12, 2022. (Paul Dineen / OTSPORTSCHEK)

placed three wrestlers in the top six.

Brush and Wiggins each placed two.

Three wrestlers proved to be the state’s best. Junior Laith Ibrahim went undefeated (36-0) for Wiggins in the 285 weight class on the way to his second individual 2A crown.

Joining him atop the podium was Senior Roberto Estrada of Weld Central. He won 3A 120 pounds with a record of 47-1 for his third individual championship.

The third champion from local teams is Fort Lupton’s D`mitri Garza-Alarcon.

The sophomore posted a 44-3 record to take the 3A 138 pound weight class for his second championship. Garza-Alarcon’s CHASA 2022 State Wrestling Championships in Denver February 17– 19th continued on page 16...

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Lost Creek Guide

Colorado Republicans Hoping to Unseat Michael Bennet in 2022 are Relying on “Dumpster Fire” Ballot-Access Process

Six GOP candidates running for U.S. Senate are battling for the support of at least 30% of delegates at the Republican state assembly on April 9 to make the primary ballot.

by Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun

Candidates speak at a Republican U.S. Senate forum on Feb. 3, 2022, in Fort Lupton. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)

Colorado Republicans’ path to unseating Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet could hinge on a slate of six upstart GOP candidates whose decision to try to use the unpredictable caucus and assembly process to get on the ballot is heaping volatility onto a race with national consequences.

Because the candidates all lack name recognition, even within their own party, there is no clear frontrunner and it’s anyone’s guess who will prevail when Republicans gather on April 9 at the GOP state assembly to decide who should advance to the June 28 primary.

“It is more volatile and more open than we’ve seen in a long time,” Dick Wadhams, a former Colorado GOP chairman, said of this year’s caucus and assembly process.

Here’s how the caucus and assembly process works: Republican voters gather in small numbers at precinct caucuses to elect delegates, often based on which candidates they support. Those delegates then go on to represent their precincts — often a neighborhood — at state assembly.

Candidates running for U.S. Senate who are seeking a spot on the primary ballot through the caucus and assembly process need the support of 30% of the delegates at the state assembly to advance to the June primary.

That means a maximum of three, but more likely two and possibly only one, of the six GOP challengers going the caucus and assembly route will make the primary ballot on April 9.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet speaks to reporters in Clear Creek County on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. The Democrat is up for reelection in 2022. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Colorado Sun)

It’s the “dumpster fire of all electoral processes,” said Tyler Sandberg, a GOP political consultant.

March 16, 2022

“It is a just byzantine process that is impossible for anyone to understand, let alone the average voter,” he said. “It’s going to be a 10-car pileup at state assembly.”

Precinct caucuses, the first step in the process, were held last week at high schools across the state. And like high school, precinct caucuses are incredibly unwieldy.

Turnout can be low since caucuses force people to show up at a specific date and time, leaving some precincts with no delegates. Candidate name recognition can be little to none among caucusgoers. And delegates can always change their mind when it comes to who they support.

Add in a field of U.S. Senate candidates that GOP voters are still getting to know, and it’s essentially a free for all

Attendees listen as candidates speak at a Republican U.S. Senate forum on Feb. 3, 2022, in Fort Lupton. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)

Wadhams said he didn’t think the U.S. Senate GOP slate worked very hard to try to persuade supporters to become delegates, leaving the battle to make the primary ballot especially wide open.

“In the Senate (race), most of these people are really unknown,” he said. “They are people who haven’t had much visibility in the party before.”

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The power vacuum could be filled by a Senate candidate with the best name ID, such as state Rep. Ron Hanks, a Fremont County Republican who has embraced and spread unfounded conspiracies about fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Or it could be filled by a candidate who simply gives the best speech to delegates at the state assembly.

Hanks declined to discuss his caucus and assembly strategy, but he said he feels confident “where we’re at right now.”

“We’ve got a good plan in the works,” he said. “I really have no worries on this. I’m putting this on faith.”

Ron Hanks speaks at a Republican U.S. Senate candidate forum on Feb. 3, 2022, in Fort Lupton. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)

Only Denver businessman Joe O’Dea is trying to make the Republican U.S. Senate primary ballot through the much more predictable, though very expensive, signaturegathering process. He must turn in 1,500 signatures from GOP voters in each of Colorado’s eight congressional districts to secure his spot in the primary.

Going the signature-gathering route this year will probably cost anywhere from $200,000 to $500,000 for a statewide candidate, money that O’Dea, a multimillionaire, has. Hanks, by comparison, raised less than $20,000 in the last three months of last year.

The only other Republican Senate candidate with enough campaign cash or personal wealth to try to make the ballot by gathering signatures is Gino Campana, a former Fort Collins city councilman. But he opted for the caucus-assembly route instead, which at a recent candidate forum he called “the good, old-fashioned … process.”

The other three Republican U.S. Senate candidates seeking to make the primary ballot through the caucus and assembly process are former talk radio host Deborah Flora, Colorado Christian University Professor Gregory Moore and Peter Yu, who has worked in sales and marketing.

Candidates who decide to go the caucus and assembly route save money, but subject themselves to the whims of a relatively small group of fickle party insiders.

The volatility of the process was on full display in Colorado’s 2016 Republican U.S. Senate primary, when El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn shocked the Colorado political world after he secured so much support at the GOP state assembly Colorado Republicans Hoping to Unseat Michael Bennet in 2022 are Relying on “Dumpster Fire” Ballot-Access Process continued on page 13...

March 16, 2022

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Colorado Republicans Hoping to Unseat Michael Bennet in 2022 are Relying on “Dumpster Fire” Ballot-Access Process continued from page 12...

that year after delivering an inspiring speech that he kept several other candidates, including favorite Tim Neville, then a state senator, from the ballot.

Glenn went on to win the GOP primary, but lost to Bennet in the general election.

In 2018, seven GOP gubernatorial candidates in Colorado sought ballot access through the caucus and assembly process. Only two secured at least 30% of the delegate vote: then-Treasurer Walker Stapleton and former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez.

Lopez’s victory came as a shock and meant that then-Attorney General Cynthia Coffman was denied a spot on the primary ballot.

“I still have PTSD from that day,” said Roger Hudson, a Castle Pines city councilman who was Coffman’s campaign spokesman. “I wake up in cold sweats.”

Hudson also worked on Glenn’s 2016 Senate campaign, which he says was an example of how at the state assembly “anything can happen and often does.”

The unpredictability of the caucus and assembly route was on full display last week for three Colorado Sun reporters who visited precinct caucus locations in Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties.

should therefore turn out in force. Mention of Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ run for secretary of state generated nods of approval from the room.

“I think we all are,” another man responded.

Colorado Sun staff writers Thy Vo and Jennifer Brown contributed to this report.

The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization that covers Colorado people, places and issues. To sign up for free newsletters, subscribe or learn more, visit ColoradoSun.com

Construction Moving Along at High Plains Bank New Building in Wiggins Photo submitted by Allois Soucie

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Republican caucus goers gather at Cherry Creek High School in Arapahoe County on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun)

At Cherry Creek High School, where turnout was tepid, the first two caucusgoers a Sun reporter approached couldn’t name even one of the GOP’s U.S. Senate candidates.

The next five all said they support Flora, a Douglas County mother who has picked up a following because of her recent activism in local school issues. She has not held elected office before.

“Deborah Flora brought national attention to what was going on in schools in her comments during school board meetings,” said Jaclyn Lauer, a Republican voter from Centennial. “I was really intrigued by her tenacity and how well spoken she was.”

Renee Anderson, a precinct captain at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, said Flora is her pick in the Senate race too. She’s heard Flora speak at various Republican events and had the opportunity to talk to her about water issues.

“I think Deborah Flora is very smart,” Anderson said. “She has reached out to anybody who will listen. She hears what they have to say and incorporates it into how (she can) make that better at the federal level as a senator.”

Deborah Flora speaks at a Republican U.S. Senate candidate forum on Feb. 3, 2022, in Fort Lupton. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)

Wadhams said the Republican precinct caucus he attended in southern Jefferson County last week was sparsely attended, too, “which is a little surprising because there’s so much enthusiasm among Republicans about the possibilities in 2022 and the fact that we have very competitive primaries.”

Since precinct caucuses are where delegates to the county and state assemblies are chosen, low turnout means little competition to become a delegate.

Republicans at another precinct caucus at Arvada West High School were disappointed by the low turnout, and noted a lack of volunteers to head up precincts.

There wasn’t much talk about the Senate race. Conversation centered on baseless concerns about fraud caused by Dominion Voting Systems equipment, as well as a perceived need for a voter identification requirement.

“I’m still concerned about the (voting) machines,” said Marc Auville, a precinct chair from Arvada, claiming the machines would benefit Democrats, and Republicans

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Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce Holds 103rd Annual Meeting Pictures continued on page 1...

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March 16, 2022

Coloradans Will Now Automatically be Charged $29 for a State Parks Pass When They Register Their Cars

by Jason Blevins, The Colorado Sun By including the $29 Keep Colorado Wild parks pass with every vehicle registration, Colorado Parks and Wildlife could see additional revenue for search and rescue, avalanche education and more staff to help manage record traffic at 43 state parks

by Jason Blevins, The Colorado Sun Colorado’s Parks and Wildlife Commission on Wednesday approved a $29 price for the new Keep Colorado Wild Pass. The pass, which will be part of every vehicle registration in the state unless drivers choose to opt out, could generate more than $54 million a year for Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s 43 state parks.

“A historic day,” commission chairwoman Carrie Hauser said after the unanimous vote approving the $29 price tag.

This story first appeared in The Outsider, the premium outdoor newsletter by Jason Blevins. Become a Newsletters+ Member to get The Outsider at coloradosun.com/ join. (Current members, click here to learn how to upgrade) The Keep Colorado Wild Pass was created in 2021 with legislation intended to increase revenue for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Starting in 2023, license plate renewals will include an annual state parks pass, with an option to not pay the $29 fee if drivers choose. The agency, which does not use taxpayer dollars, says the extra revenue will help manage record visitation, which hit 17 million individual visits in 2020, up from 14.7 million in 2019 and 12.3 million in 2011.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission spent the last year debating and studying a price for the pass, with the legislation limiting the price to not more than half the fee of today’s $80 to $120 annual state parks vehicle pass.

By focusing on quantity — there were 6.5 million vehicles registered in Colorado in 2021 — the Colorado Wild Pass legislation is expected to generate more revenue each year than the $22.9 million that came from annual pass sales in 2020. When revenue hits $32.5 million, money will be directed to volunteer search and rescue organizations and backcountry avalanche safety programs. At $36 million, the tap switches to direct money to build new state parks, better manage recreation outside of state parks, support trails, wildlife and diversity work.

An online survey of 2,217 residents commissioned by CPW showed “high levels of interest” for the Wild Pass. The survey showed that annual revenue would grow with the pass priced between $14 and $29, but revenue would stagnate if priced between $29 and $32 and decrease if the pass cost more than $32.

The agency’s “conservative” estimated sales of the Wild Pass ranged from $15.7 million at $14, to $21.5 million with a pass priced between $29 and $32. The “optimistic” projection ranged from $32.5 million to $54 million.

The pricing survey included Montana’s 2003 $4 vehicle registration fee that replaced state park day use fees. That fee increased to $6 in 2010 and to $9 in 2019. In 2020, only 14% of Montana motorists opted out of the fee.

Michigan launched a $12 pass with vehicle registrations in 2010, but asked vehicle owners to opt in. Statewide participation started around 24% and grew to 33% in 2020.

Washington State’s $30 annual Discovery Pass launched in 2011 and about 37% of the state’s vehicle owners purchased that pass when registering vehicles in 2021.

Colorado Department of Natural Resources director Dan Gibbs said his goal was to make sure everyone in Colorado chose to pay the fee and not opt out of the program.

“This is Colorado. This is equity in the outdoors. This is our avalanche needs. This is our search and rescue needs. This is dealing with growth issues not just at our parks, but all of our lands,” said Gibbs before the commission’s vote. “We are seeing 70,000 people moving to our state a year. We are all in this together and I feel like the Keep Colorado Wild Pass … I think we are on the right track at $29.”

The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization that covers Colorado people, places and issues. To sign up for free newsletters, subscribe or learn more, visit ColoradoSun.com

March 16, 2022

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CHASA 2022 State Wrestling Championships at the Ball Arena in Denver February 17 – 19th continued from page 11... final match victory simultaneously ended the bid by Woodland Park’s Brady Hankin to become a four-time champion.

The local 2022 Colorado wrestling state finishers included (showing their school’s class, their weight class and their season record): 1st 3A 138 44-3 D`mitri GarzaAlarcon, Fort Lupton 1st 2A 285 36-0 Laith Ibrahim, Wiggins 1st 3A 120 47-1 Roberto Estrada, Weld Central 2nd 3A 285 34-8 Kane Fobare, Weld Central 2nd 3A 285 0-1 Lashya Tijerina, Fort Lupton 3rd 2A 182 33-6 Pepper Rusher, Wiggins Zane Stam (right) of Weld Central finished 4th 3A 113 42-7 Nick Dardanes, Brush 5th in the 195 pound class at state. Here, 5th 3A 220 38-4 Dominick Ontiveros, he defeats Adolfo Hernandez at Fort MorBrush gan on December 15, 2021. (Paul Dineen / 5th 3A 195 40-7 Zayne Stam, Weld OTSPORTCHEK) Central 6th 3A 152 33-12 William Alvarado, Fort Lupton Nick Dardanes was the lone, local freshman to place, claiming fourth in the 113 class, ending with a 42-7 record.

In addition to winning the 5A team title, Pomona also boasted a four-time individual champion. Daniel Cardenas, in the 152 pound class, became Pomona’s first fourtime champ and Colorado’s thirtieth . He finished 39-0 on season, giving him four individual titles to go with his four team titles.

Cardenas and Ibrahim were among the nine boys champions across all teams who were undefeated. They were (showing their school’s class, their weight class and their season record): 5A 152 39-0 Daniel Cardenas, Pomona 4A 113 50-0 Jackzen Rairdon, Thompson Valley 4A 285 27-0 Dmarian Lopez , Montrose 3A 106 44-0 Dale O`Blia, Mullen 3A 126 40-0 Royce Uhrig, Gunnison 3A 170 44-0 Ryan Dirksen, Eaton 2A 132 43-0 Brady Collins, Wray 2A 195 33-0 Remington Peterson, Rye 2A 285 36-0 Laith Ibrahim, Wiggins For the girls, there were five undefeated champions across all teams: 105 21-0 Morgan Johnson, Loveland 118 32-0 Persaeus Gomez, Pomona 136 41-0 Alina Antillon, Jefferson 147 33-0 Desza Munson, Pomona 185 32-0 Blythe Cayko, Eaglecrest The forty-one local wrestlers who qualified for state were (showing their school’s class [boys], their weight class and their season record): Boys: 3A 160 14-17 Austin Sisk-Metzger, Brush 3A 126 14-10 Axton Haswell, Brush 3A 220 38-4 Dominick Ontiveros, Brush 3A 132 24-15 Josue Mayorga, Brush 3A 113 42-7 Nick Dardanes, Brush 3A 138 12-13 Riley Tuck, Brush 3A 195 14-9 Sam Poss, Brush 3A 285 19-10 T.J. Rivera, Brush 3A 145 30-18 Tanner Ludgate, Brush 3A 182 24-16 Alex Mata, Fort Lupton 3A 170 23-14 Christopher Galicia, Fort Lupton 3A 138 44-3 D`mitri Garza-Alarcon, Fort Lupton 3A 145 34-15 Danny Rodriguez, Fort Lupton 3A 113 22-17 Donovan Birmingham, Fort Lupton 3A 285 7-6 Dylan Jaramillo, Fort Lupton 3A 160 20-10 Isaac Rodriguez, Fort Lupton 3A 220 26-18 Kayden Derbigny, Fort Lupton 3A 285 0-1 Lashya Tijerina, Fort Lupton 3A 152 33-12 William Alvarado, Fort Lupton 3A 220 16-17 Adolfo Hernandez, Fort Morgan 3A 285 11-15 Alcon Ortiz, Fort Morgan 3A 145 5-5 Emmanuel Garcia, Fort Morgan 3A 138 31-13 Ethan Schingle, Fort Morgan 3A 120 14-13 Miguel Lopez, Fort Morgan 3A 152 11-13 Noah Aquirre, Fort Morgan Girls: 147 17-16 Olivia Herrera, Brush 100 14-1 Rylee Balcazar, Ft Lupton 118 19-12 Genevieve Hunt, Ft Lupton 161 23-11 Anastyn Livesay, Ft Lupton 185 10-18 Gizell Adame, Ft Lupton 215 18-4 Angelrae Gasca, Ft Lupton Photography by Paul Dineen, Get The Picture Sports LLC sports photography.

March 16, 2022

Hudson, fiber is coming.