The Lost Creek Guide May 06, 2020

Volume 13 • Edition 09

May 6, 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

Weld Commissioners Pull Out of C-PACE Program Citing Risk of Default; Some Claim Political Payback

By Sherrie Peif, Complete Colorado GREELEY — The pullout from a private/public financing option by the Weld County Board of Commissioners has some crying foul, claiming political payback, and others saying the program is just too big a risk to taxpayers.

C-PACE, which stands for Colorado Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program, is part of the Colorado New Energy Improvement District (NEID), which was put into state statute by lawmakers to give taxpayer-guaranteed financing to projects utilizing clean energy, up to 100 percent of the cost, for commercial and industrial property owners.

NEID covers only the counties in the state that pass resolutions to be included. Thirty of Colorado’s 64 counties currently participate, two counties — Weld and Mesa — have opted out.

However, in 2017, Weld initially voted to opt into the program, against the recommendation of both its finance director and its county treasurer. It wasn’t until recently that the commissioners changed their minds and pulled out.

Three commissioners, Chairman Mike Freeman, Barbara Kirkmeyer and Steve Moreno initially voted yes. Two commissioners — Scott James and Kevin Ross — were not on the board in 2017 when the original decision was made.

Mike Freeman All voted to pull out. James said he voted against it because it’s bad policy and leaves the county vulnerable if the projects don’t succeed.

Moreno said he wasn’t sold on the plan in 2017, but this time he acted on his reservations.

“There was strong recommendation not to enter into this in 2017 because of concerns our treasurer and finance director already had with the program,” Moreno said. “But we as a board got a lot of push about what could come if we did this. This is supposed to be a program to encourage renewable energy, not start a development with it.”

The decision, however, has some calling foul, including Windsor Mayor Kristie Melendez, who asserts the decision may have cost Windsor a $160 million sports complex, a development that has been on the books — but failed to come to fruition — for more than a decade. Out of state developers were hoping to borrow $20 million through the program to jumpstart the development planned for the east side of town.

“The lack of Weld commissioners’ support of the CPACE program puts this project at risk of terminating and becoming a dead dream,” Melendez says in a news release on Windsor’s Website. “It’s a job killer and an economy crusher that once gone, we will never get back nor is there anything of its kind to replace it with.”

Kristie Melendez According to Melendez, a 118-acre sports tourism park planned for an area of Windsor currently known as Diamond Valley would have been an economic boom for all of Northern Colorado in a time when people are worried about the economic implications from government shutdowns in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

“The jobs, the economics, the financial implications of this project are crucial and substantial and would greatly aid in our regional financial recovery,” Melendez said in the release. “It’s not what this project brings to Windsor, but what it brings to the entire Northern Colorado Region, specifically to Weld County and to our state.”

Estimations at full build out claim the park would attract hotels, restaurants and other support industries totaling 1,500 jobs, $50 million a year in revenues and more than onehalf million visitors a year to the area.

It is unclear how long that growth would have taken with the economic fallout of coronavirus, as some say it could be years before people have enough disposable income to support a project as large as the one hoped for in Windsor.

Melendez’s supporters say it’s political payback for her decision to challenge Freeman for his seat on the board. Melendez is term limited from her seat in Windsor. Melendez advanced to the Republican primary in June for County Commissioner District 1 as the only candidate at the Republican County Assembly. Freeman skipped the assembly and successfully petitioned on the ballot.

“The de-authorization comes at a time when two Republican women are challenging two incumbent men for their seats on the BOCC, and both live in the town of Windsor where the project is located,” an editorial in NoCo Today reads in part. “… In Weld County, it is a spoken rule that you do not challenge an incumbent from your own party.”

The second woman referenced in the editorial is current House District 49 Rep. Perry Buck. Buck is challenging Kevin Ross for the At-Large seat. Ross was recently appointed to that seat to fulfill the term of Sean Conway, who stepped down in January.

Freeman said that is absolutely not true, and his decision has absolutely nothing to do with not supporting the facility or with politics.

“It puts the treasurer in a position not to collect taxes but debt on private loans,” Freeman said, referring to how the program works. “I have always made my decisions based on what I believe is best for the county. Not everyone always agrees with them, but they have never been political.”

Freeman said C-PACE simply does not put Weld County in a good place if something goes wrong.

Under normal circumstances, when someone defaults on their property taxes, their home or business goes up for lien sale, where bidders can buy the lien from the county. After a set of circumstances, if the property owner doesn’t redeem the loan, the buyer of the lien can request the deed to the property and become the new owner. The purchase of the lien is usually the amount of the back taxes, penalties, interest, etc., which makes the Scott James county and taxing districts (schools, colleges, fire, etc.) whole.

However, under the C-PACE program, a private company borrows money from a private lender, which is guaranteed under state statute. In order for lender to get that “guaranteed” payback, the property is given a special taxing status and the county treasurer collects both the usual property taxes accessed plus the additional special taxes over a specified time period. That extra “special tax” money is what the treasurer uses to pay back the loan on behalf of the borrower.

However, if the property owner defaults on the property taxes and the county treasurer puts the property up for lien sale, the lien can only be successfully sold if the bidder pays both the back taxes and the outstanding portion of the C-PACE loan. In the case of the Windsor deal, that would be $20 million, or whatever was left owed at the time of default.

Commissioner James said he doesn’t understand why anyone would support a program that turns the county into a collection agency.

“If a private lender wants to loan a developer money on a project, that’s fine,” James said.

“That’s the free market. Government shouldn’t be involved in a personal transaction. You don’t need the government to do your collections.”

James said what bothers him most is if it is Steve Moreno defaulted, and the treasurer is not able to sell it, the revenue goes uncollected and the special taxing districts it was supposed to support are left without, and the county is left with an unusable piece of property or building, along with possibly years of uncollectible property taxes.

Freeman said he supports the project and is willing to find other ways to help the developer, but he cannot support this program. The commissioners sent a letter to both Windsor and the developer explaining their reasonings.

“Weld County prides itself on our conservative financial management, as evidenced by no debt, no sales tax, fully funded retirement plan, and one of the lowest property mill levies in the state,” the letter reads in part. “There are times our decisions have not been politically popular, but in the end, Weld County’s decisions have proven to be the right ones. We are confident in the case of the C-PACE program this will be another decision looked back upon as the right decision.”

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE:

Page 2: Way of the World Page 3: Gardner: Colo’s Post Covid Path to Prosperity Page 4: Safer at Work Best Practices Page 6: Gov. Polis Talks Tough on Weld County Page 7: How to Get Your PPP Loan Forgiven Page 9: Observing Asthma Awareness Month Page 10: Mother’s Day 2020 Page 11: Colorado Gardening 101 Page 14: Wiggins School Staff Holds Parade

Page 2

– Way of the World –

Lost Creek Guide

by Bob Grand It looks like we are beginning the beginning of the opening process. A good many people are saying it is too soon. Maybe they are the people who have been getting full paychecks for staying at home or basically having a paid vacation. I am not talking about the health care workers or the emergency responders. They are doing a great job and probably are not getting paid enough. I am talking about the many people who are receiving full paychecks for businesses or services that are actually closed, like many of our government services.

You wonder we people get upset?

Our President and, even our Governor, are doing a pretty decent job in a very tough environment. The fact is you cannot keep the economy closed forever. There are very real implications. The effort to fund people, and hence the economy, is praiseworthy but what are the long-term effects of adding two to three trillion dollars to the national debt? Our Governor is beginning to realize that at the state level. This past Friday he announced a couple of hundred million dollars in immediate budget reductions, this fiscal year. That is the tip of the iceberg, as I am sure our state Treasurer is advising him of what more needs to be done. The tough part will be staff reductions. Everybody likes to add people to accomplish the things they would like to have, but with the general tax revenue having dried up and with the significant reduction in oil revenue coming, coupled with the very real reduction in oil industry jobs, our Governor is staring at a not very pleasant picture. Being Governor may no longer be a fun job in Colorado.

Now opening up our business will expose people to additional Covid 19 exposure. That is true. What people need to focus on that the extreme protection methods were designed to flatten the curve on cases so that our health system would not be overwhelmed. It did that. What it could not do was eliminate the Covid 19 virus. It is up to us, individually to continue follow the individual guidelines to protect ourselves, families, friends and business associates. What it says is use common sense in what you do.

One of the positive things about Covid 19 is that a lot of the political bickering fell to the wayside. I do not believe that will continue. It is an election year. Where are the #me too people regarding Tara Reade and her claims about Joe Biden? As the father of three young women I believe that we have allowed a culture that says it is ok for boys to be boys. Well I believe that no, means no, no matter who you are. I also believe that we should all be concerned, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, when government employees abuse the power of the government for personal agendas, no matter how righteous they believe it is, there should be consequences where applicable, both criminal and civil. You do not have the right to violate your oath of office to defend the constitution. The constitution is for all citizens not just a select few. That is why Lady Justice is supposed to be blindfolded, with no thumbs on the scales of justice.

On a local level, the shape of Weld County Republican politics is dismal. Worse if you live south of US 34. We are supposed to have two at large members on the Board of Weld County Commissioners. When is the last time you heard from an at large commissioner about south county issues? You need to be informed and vote. Send a message you really believe in the concept of representation, not domination by self-serving politicians.

Mother’s Day and Memorial Day are coming up in May. Try to remember them all. As they get older, it means a lot to them to be recognized and thanked for their sacrifices for you.

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

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

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May 6, 2020

The Beginning of the Beginning

by Bob Grand We are all so thankful to all our health care providers and emergency personnel who have served so valiantly during this whole process. A big thanks from all of us.

In Keenesburg a sign of the beginning of the beginning. The Main Street Café and Dar’s Deno’s are now open for takeout, fully compliant with the COVID 19 guidelines. Everyone was excited about getting back to business. New hours and signage. Support your local businesses.

A few yards have been spruced up. Some residents have been using their time to help their yards get ready for summer. Kim Thomsen at the corner of Main Street and Woodward Aavenue has given her front yard a major upgrader. Being an artist, she has her new screen door up for all to see and her hand painted rocks garden as well. Her and her pooch, Punk have certainly brightened Keenesburg up. If you have a picture of your property you would like to share, please send it to: edito@lostcreekguide.com for consideration.

Welcoming the beginning of the beginning.

May 6, 2020

Lost Creek Guide

Gardner: Colorado’s Post-COVID Path Back to Prosperity

By Senator Cory Gardner When we have a tornado warning on the Eastern Plains, wailing sirens inform my neighbors and I when we need to take cover and when it is safe for us to emerge from shelter.

Millions of Americans are now sheltering at home because they heard the dire warnings from our state and national leaders about COVID-19 and the dangers we saw in Washington, California, New York, and Italy.

Part of the anxiety caused by this pandemic comes from the absence of an “all clear” siren telling us it is safe to go back into our communities. I hear it in the voices of Coloradans on the telephone town halls I’ve held in every county: “When will this end?” “How long must we keep our businesses closed?” “How long can we go on like this?”

There’s no easy answer, and certainly not a one-size-fits-all answer from Washington. That’s why I’m working with Governor Polis to support a phase-in approach that’s right for Colorado. Communities all over the country will look ahead to the end of this hibernation from their own unique vantage point, with their own unique circumstances.

But there are steps that Congress must take to mitigate the harm as much as possible and help the American people and the American economy prepare to bounce back. Congress can help pave the path back to prosperity that our local communities can take – when it is safe.

For instance, rapid, widespread testing for COVID-19 will be key to re-opening the areas that have demonstrated they have the virus under control. Congress must do what it can to make that testing as available as possible. I believe the nation needs to get to a point where coronavirus tests are widely available – even at the nearest gas station for purchase.

Congress must also make sure the Paycheck Protection Program, one of the most crucial elements of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, is fully funded and improved where needed to better support America’s small businesses. The Paycheck Protection Program was created in order to keep employees on payroll and bills paid, so workers can keep their jobs, salaries, and benefits, and small businesses can hit the ground running when they’re able to resume operations.

It costs valuable time and resources to lay off workers and later rehire and onboard employees. Some businesses may not survive the interim time period of uncertainty and lack of income, which is why the Paycheck Protection Program is vital to hold together the backbone of our economy. In the program’s first two weeks, Colorado small businesses received 41,635 loans totaling more than $7.3 billion to keep workers on payroll and businesses open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We should do everything we can to make the Paycheck Protection Program and the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program a success – I’ll continue to work with Governor Polis and the Administration to push for better services and support for Coloradans during these challenging times. Anyone interested in finding more information about available resources and financing for businesses to keep the lights on and workers paid can visit my website at Gardner.Senate.Gov/COVID-19.

With the foundation secure, we should then explore the immediate, shovel-ready opportunities for economic activity and employment – the opportunities that will benefit every American and create the conditions for a quicker recovery.

One way we can pave the path back to prosperity is by literally repaving. Our national infrastructure needed repairs long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Our roads need repaving, our airports need refurbishing, our rural communities need access to reliable broadband, and our power grids need security updates. There’s currently an approximately $20 billion backlog of maintenance projects on the public lands we own that are managed by the National Park Service and other land management agencies. I’ve already secured support from the President and a majority of the Senate on my bill to address this backlog, making it a ripe opportunity for bipartisan action.

Has there ever been a better time to gainfully employ Americans and make these improvements to the property we all own than when the economy has been disrupted and Americans are looking for work?

Nearly 280,000 workers in Colorado filed for unemployment in four weeks. In one week, more Coloradans filed unemployment claims than in all of 2019. COVID-19 caused more than 26 million Americans of every walk of life to file for unemployment in the worst stretch of American job losses on record. This isn’t a problem for only the left or the right wings of our politics – it’s an unprecedented American challenge that requires bipartisanship and bold ideas. But big national challenges often bring out the best in Americans.

It’s understandable why Coloradans are eager to get back out there and enjoy our great state, and how mentally and emotionally draining it is to be isolated from the people, places, and activities we love. But if we take these steps now to prime our economy for reignition, we can shorten the amount of time it will take to for our beloved state and our Colorado way of life to recover from COVID-19.

Cory Gardner represents Colorado in the U.S. Senate.

Colorado High School and Junior High School Rodeos

By Madison Richmann Colorado Highschool and Junior Highschool rodeos were supposed to start up the spring season at the beginning of April. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, three of the five rodeos have already been cancelled. The Colorado State rodeo board has a meeting coming up where they will discuss the Greeley, Colorado rodeo, scheduled for May 9th and 10th and the State Finals in Craig, Colorado scheduled for the week of May 21st through the 25th. As of right now these rodeos are still planned, but order from the Colorado governor and from the state board may change this. Athletes and students from around the state who had planned on rodeoing are thankful for their time in the practice pen, and for their health and safety. The Colorado State Highschool Rodeo board will choose to continue with the rodeos only if it is safe for the kids and families who will be traveling to Greeley and Craig from around the state.

Spring Rodeo Schedule:

Golden- April 11-12 CANCELLED

Lamar- April 25-26 CANCELLED

Rifle- May 1-3 CANCELLED

Greeley- May 8-10 BEING DISCUSSED

State Finals, Craig- May 21-25 BEING DISCUSSED

Page 3

Weld County 4-H Families Making Masks

By Madison Richmann

Even though all of the 4-h meetings and gatherings are cancelled, you can still work with your 4-h group to help out in your community. Magic Spurs 4-h co-leader Sam Dudley, Magic Spur member, Madison Richmann, and Wagoneer 4-h club family, Dora Garcia came together to make masks for anybody in the community who needed them, as well as some nurses in the area who will be receiving masks. The masks were a simple way of helping out, and gave everyone something to work on while at home. Although we can not see each other and can not do our normal gatherings, there is still a way to work together and to help out.

Madison Richmann at work.

Navy Leaders Recommend Reinstating the Roosevelt Captain Fired Over a Virus Warning

Capt. Brett E. Crozier should be restored to command of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, the Navy’s top officials recommended on Friday.

But Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper, who was briefed on the recommendations, has asked for more time to consider whether he will sign off on the reinstatement of the captain of the nuclear-powered carrier.

Mr. Esper received the recommendation that Captain Crozier be reinstated from the chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael M. Gilday, and the acting Navy Secretary, James McPherson, on Friday. Defense Department officials said earlier that they expected to announce the results of the Navy’s investigation into the matter on Friday afternoon.

Mr. Esper’s decision to hold up the investigation has surCapt. Brett E. Crozier sent a letter pleading for help prised Navy officials, who beafter a coronavirus outbreak on the carrier Theodore lieved that the defense secretary Roosevelt.Credit...Sean Lynch/U.S. Navy would leave the process in the hands of the military chain of command.

A reinstatement of Captain Crozier would be a stunning turnaround in a story that has seized the attention of the Navy, the overall military and even a nation grappling with the coronavirus. From the moment that his letter pleading for help from Navy officials first became public, Captain Crozier has taken on the role of an unlikely hero, willing to risk his career for the sake of his sailors.

Capt. Brett E. Crozier, who was removed from command after pleading for help to fight the coronavirus, was largely cleared after a Navy review.

Meet the 4-H Member- Rylan Richmann

By Madison Richmann “4-H has taught me money managing skills and leadership,” says Rylan Richmann of Keenesburg, Colorado. The 4th grade student at Cardinal Community Academy shows market lambs every year at the Southeast Weld County Fair. This year will be Rylan’s 3rd year showing lambs in 4-H. Rylan is part of the magic spurs 4-H club. He has made the livestock sale every year at the Southeast Weld County fair with his lambs, and he hopes to continue with this. He says that his favorite part of his daily routine with his lambs is running them up and down the return alley to his rodeo practice arena. Rylan also enjoys rodeoing, fishing, and playing with his dogs in his free time. He competes at the fair rodeo every year in Keenesburg, in the hope to take home some prizes and money to add to his collection. Between the Margarita flavored snow cones, the fair rodeo, spending time with family, and showing with his Meet the member friends, the Southeast Weld County Fair is a highRylan Richmann. light of Rylan Richmann’s summer.

Page 4

SAFER AT WORK

Lost Creek Guide

COVID-19: Best Practices for Reopening Businesses

Our goal is to support you in safely reopening businesses as we enter this first phase of relaxing restrictions. Your customers and staff will have confidence they are safe when they see your business following best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Try to limit group gathering sizes indoors to 10 or less even when ensuring social distancing. Remember seniors and those with compromised immune systems or chronic health conditions are at greater risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Consider posting warning signs or adapting your operations for these folks, especially if your business focuses on young families with children. The more you combine best practices, the safer your staff and customers will feel. Let’s continue to control the spread of COVID-19 together.

ENSURE SOCIAL DISTANCING PRACTICES AT ALL TIMES. All customers and staff should maintain six feet of separation at all times. COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact.

• Social distancing tips include: o Limit the number of customers in your business at one time o Encourage customers to call ahead and make an appointment o Keep your door locked and have customers call when they arrive o Use floor markings to indicate where customers should stand to maintain six feet of separation. Post social distancing reminders throughout your facility o Install plexiglass barriers at cash registers o Consider physical barriers where appropriate and creating a one-way flow through the facility to ensure spacing. o Consider adjusting operating hours and creating a designated shopping time for highrisk customers MAINTAINING CLEAN AND DISINFECTED SURFACES. • Routinely clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces of your facility including doorknobs, credit card machines, counters, handrails, etc. via a predetermined cleaning plan provided to all employees • Wash your hands or apply hand sanitizer after handling case (it’s been touched by a lot of people). Consider wearing gloves but apply sanitizer after handling cash.

• Use an EPA registered disinfectant and ensure proper contact times keeping the surface wet for a duration that ensures viral destruction • Remove unnecessary items that may become contaminated and discourage customers from touching anything besides what is required ENCOURAGING PERSONAL HYGIENE • Provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol • Place hand sanitizer strategically at the entrance of the facility and in multiple locations throughout to encourage frequent use • Provide tissues and no-touch waste receptacles for customers • Encourage mask usage that covers both the mouth and nose • Provide posters both outside and inside facility encouraging hand hygiene and appropriate mask use • Recommend creating a personal hygiene plan based on your operation Additional Resources/References: 1. CDC guidance, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/

Keene Craft Mercantile Home Made In America Treasures

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

kinnearinsurance@outlook.com

May 6, 2020

SAFER AT WORK COVID-19: BEST PRACTICES GUIDELINES CHECKLIST

Business Name:___________________________________________ Facility Address: ___________________________________________ Approx. gross square footage of space open to the public: _______________ Businesses should implement all applicable measures listed below.

SIGNAGE Signs have been placed at each public entrance of the facility or work site to inform all employees and customers that they should: o Avoid entering the facility or location if they have a cough or fever o Maintain a minimum six-foot distance from one another o Sneeze and cough into a cloth or tissue, or, if not available, into one’s elbow o Don’t shake hands or engage in any unnecessary physical contact o Consider placing a copy of social distancing protocol at each public entrance to the work site MEASURES TO PROTECT EMPLOYEE HEALTH (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY TO THE FACILITY OR WORK SITE) o Consider allowing those who can work from home to do so o Individual discussions have taken place with employees about the fact that older adults and those with chronic medical conditions may be at higher risk for serious illness. o Options have been explained to high-risk employees, including ways to minimize face-to-face interactions, maintaining six feet of distance from other people, remote work if possible, and leave policies for employees who choose not to come to work o All employees have been told not to come to work if sick (including any of the following: headache, sore throat, fever, dry cough, recent inability to taste and smell, shortness of breath, earaches, body aches, diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting and abdominal pain) o Symptom checks are being conducted before employees may enter the work site o Copies of these guidelines have been distributed to all employees MEASURES TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY CONTACT (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY TO THE FACILITY OR WORK SITE) o Contactless payment systems have been provided or, if not feasible, payment systems are sanitized regularly o Curb-side drop-off/pick-up of products is available o People are prevented from self-serving any items that are food-related (including bulk food, plates, cups, lids, etc.) o Consider other measures, such as providing senior-only hours MEASURES TO REDUCE EXPOSURES IN EMPLOYEE TRANSPORTATION (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY TO THE FACILITY OR WORK SITE) o Hand sanitizer is used by each passenger after entering the vehicle o The number of passengers has been reduced by 50% of the vehicle’s occupancy, and passengers sit in locations to maximize the distance between one another o Passengers will wear non-medical, cloth face-covering when in a vehicle containing more than one person o Window should remain open and ventilation is increased o All high-contact surfaces of the vehicle are disinfected at the end of each day

Colorado Holstein Association Youth Scholarship

The Colorado Holstein Association had been aiding youth with fund to aid in their higher education since 1979. It was at the National Holstein Convention held in Denver when a needlepoint of a Holstein cow made by Bill Lepo, a Holstein classifier, was auctioned at the Convention Sale receiving a value of $3,500.00.

The Executive Committee of the National Convention then donated $11,500.00 to bring the amount to $15,000.00 to established the Colorado Holstein Youth Scholarship fund. Over the years 50 youth have been awarded scholarships.

The Scholarship fund has been supported with investments and donations from Colorado Holstein members. In 1991 The Colorado Dairywomen became a partner in the Scholarship Funds with donations and support.

This year Awna Hirsch of Eaton, Colorado received the award. Awna is the daughter of Rebecca and Jake Hirsch. Awna is a graduate of Winsdor High School. She has plans to attend the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with study concentration in Animal Science. The scholarship award is for four years of study. Other youth currently receiving scholarship funds are: Rachel Schneider, Brianna McBride and Brandon Kerbs.

Colorado Holstein Association members serving on the scholarship committee are: Gertie Chapin-Weldona, George Maxey- Kersey; Alvie Rothe,-Greeley, Sandy KeeganLittleton and Hilary Marrs- Ault.

The scholarship is awarded each March. To be eligible a youth must be a youth member of the association.

May 6, 2020

Lost Creek Guide

Caregiver Stories: “There Will Be Guilt”

Denise Bandel knew there’d be tough days ahead, but she didn’t anticipate shouting “I love you” greetings through a patio door…or the extra trips to Walmart for underwear.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease is never easy. But layer on a coronavirus pandemic and quarantine, and the job just got infinitely more challenging.

Love her the best I can About five years ago, Denise first observed the signs of cognitive change in her mother, Martha Witt.

“Driving became an issue,” she said.

“Mom got locked out of her house a few times last summer.

And the neighbors found her wandering in the neighborhood a few times. Then, one day this winter, I found her crying in her car in the garage, cold, covered in towels. It became clear we needed to do something.”

The frequency of the challenges that Martha was experiencing made Denise realize she would need to make a choice: either quit her job (nearly 20 years as a teacher and substitute coordinator at Crown Pointe Academy in Westminster) to become a full-time caregiver, or move her mom into a care facility.

Denise decided to follow the advice of her mom’s geriatrician and, in January of this year, moved 87-year-old Martha from her home of 35 years in Golden into an assisted living facility in Broomfield.

“There will be guilt,” the geriatrician told her, but Denise and her husband, Jerry, knew it would ensure safer, more consistent care for Martha.

“Mom’s been fighting this move for years,” Denise said. “She’s been on her own for 25 years since my dad passed away, and she’s become very independent.”

But, as the most hands-on of Martha’s three children, Denise knew that change was necessary.

“I try to think ‘if it was me, what would I want?’” she said. “It’s scary and very lonely for that population – seniors with Alzheimer’s. I just have to love her the best I can with the time I have left. Take it day by day and be the best daughter I can.”

The move Any family caregiver who’s moved a reluctant loved one from their home into assisted living can appreciate the reaction Denise received from Martha.

“Mom would not speak to me for a week,” Denise said. “She was so angry. She was picking up random things and throwing them into trash bags. She’d just say ‘whatever, Denise.’ That was a hard day. I came home and called the (Alzheimer’s Association) Helpline, and they were great.”

Leading up to the move, and many times since then, Denise has called the Alzheimer’s Association’s free Helpline (800-272-3900), where trained professionals are available around the clock, seven days a week to listen to callers, answer questions about the disease or behaviors, and help individuals cope with the challenges it creates.

“I almost feel like I’m calling the Helpline too much,” Denise said. “They tell me what to say and I take notes. I try to make sure I keep my patience. I need to remember this (Alzheimer’s) is a disease.”

After the January move, it seemed that Martha was beginning to get accustomed to the routine…the activities…the daily calls and frequent visits from Denise. Unfortunately, experts believe it can take four to six months for “stubborn” cases to get acclimated, and within two months, the coronavirus pandemic changed everything.

Quarantine & Alzheimer’s If there’s anything positive that Denise Bandel has to say about the current coronavirus situation and its impact on their family, it’s the good fortune they had when they secured a ground-floor apartment for Martha before the quarantine stopped family access. There, at least, Denise can stand outside her mother’s patio door and shout daily “I love you” greetings and have a semblance of a conversation with her mom.

“Mom has a beautiful view of the mountains to the west,” said Denise. “We yell at each other – lovingly – through the window. It would be heartbreaking if we couldn’t even do that.”

Like all residents of the facility, Martha is outfitted with a call button to use to reach staff of the facility. Ideally, she’d use it to ask staff questions and help resolve day-to-day issues. Instead, Martha calls Denise, typically three to four times daily, when she can’t get the television to work, when she runs out of underwear…

“It’s very difficult for me to not walk into her apartment and see what’s missing or what’s wrong,” said Denise. “I drop sweets and supplies, like coloring books, off at the front desk, but sometimes she can’t communicate what’s wrong and I can see her sobbing through the window. We’re continuing to learn so much about Alzheimer’s and the way it works.”

That includes the regular need to replenish the underwear supply.

“Is she cleaning…throwing it out?” Denise wondered. “To my mom, that may be very normal.”

What’s next?

As long as the coronavirus pandemic lasts, Denise hopes to be able to continue her daily patio visits to her mom. She participates in Alzheimer’s Association support groups, takes classes, and keeps the Association’s Helpline on speed dial.

“They’ve really helped me a lot,” Denise says of the Helpline staff. “They call me back and check on me and offer advice…try this, try that.”

And she has a family team of supporters as well: husband Jerry has put countless hours into managing Martha’s finances and insurance; son Jared has made regular visits and calls and assisted in Martha’s move; and sister-in-law Tammie has been a regular visitor and supporter.

And then there’s daughter, Alyssa (Woo).

“Woo has a great knack for handling grandma,” Denise said. “I wish she was here, but she has her hands full in her dream job,” program manager for the Alzheimer’s Association chapter serving Minnesota and North Dakota.

Page 5

To Almost 4 Million Women Living with Alzheimer’s: Happy Mother’s Day

When we gather – whether in-person or virtually – on May 10 to celebrate Mother’s Day, give a special prayer for the nearly 4 million women across the United States living with a unique challenge: Alzheimer’s disease.

Roughly two-thirds of the nearly six million people in the U.S. living with Alzheimer’s are women. Supporting and caring for them are more than 16 million unpaid caregivers – family and friends – who volunteer their time and energy. Perhaps it comes as no surprise that nearly two-thirds of those caregivers are…you guessed it…women – sisters, daughters and, often, mothers themselves.

In Colorado alone, 76,000 people – about 50,000 of them women – are living with Alzheimer’s, the last major disease without a prevention, treatment or cure.

The Alzheimer’s Association has a number of tips that will help families celebrate Mother’s Day with their loved one, whether they are living with family or under quarantine in an assisted living facility: Take a person-centered approach. Focus on what is enjoyable for the person with Alzheimer’s, such as looking at family pictures or enjoying the person’s favorite food. If they get overwhelmed in large groups, a small, quiet gathering may be preferable.

Keep it simple. If you are caring for mom at home, consider a celebration over lunch or brunch. Perhaps have food delivered by a local restaurant.

Join in. If the person with Alzheimer’s lives in a care facility and quarantine guidelines are in place, you can still connect using Skype, FaceTime or a telephone. If you can see her through the window, pay a visit and bring flowers.

Don’t overdue it. Sticking to the person’s normal routine will help keep the day from becoming disruptive or confusing. Depending on the person’s stamina, plan time for breaks so the person can rest in a quiet area.

Adapt gift giving. Encourage safe and useful gifts for the person with Alzheimer’s. If someone asks for gift ideas, suggest items the person with dementia needs or can easily enjoy. Ideas include: an identification bracelet, CDs of favorite music, comfortable clothing, favorite foods and photo albums of family and friends.

Find support. Learn more about Alzheimer’s in the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center at www.alz.org/care. There you can also find more tips on supporting a family member with Alzheimer’s, join the ALZConnected online community, and find more information about the programs and services offered through the Alzheimer’s Association – all at no charge – including the free 24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900.

Women and Alzheimer’s disease Women are at the epicenter of the Alzheimer’s crisis. About 13 million women in the U.S. are either living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone who has it.

Women in their 60s are more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s over the course of their lifetime as they are to develop breast cancer.

The risk for women developing Alzheimer’s is 1 in 5, versus 1 in 11 for breast cancer.

Because of caregiving duties, women are likely to experience adverse consequences in the workplace.

Nearly 19 percent of women Alzheimer’s caregivers had to quit work either to become a caregiver or because their caregiving duties became too burdensome. # # # Alzheimer’s Association The Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado is the premier source of information and support for the more than 76,000 Coloradans with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association offers education, counseling, support groups and a 24-hour Helpline at no charge to families. In addition, contributions help fund advancements in research to prevent, treat and eventually conquer this disease. The Alzheimer’s Association advocates for those living with Alzheimer’s and their families on related legislative issues, and with health and long-term care providers. For information call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 bilingual Helpline at 800-272-3900 or visit www.alz.org.

There is also “pickle/pull tabs” available everyday!

Please come join us for some fun and socializing!

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Lost Creek Guide

Gov. Jared Polis Talks Tough on Weld County Defiance and Talks Testing in Senior Facilities

by Marianne Goodland, Colorado Politics Gov. Jared Polis, echoing public health experts who believe COVID-19 will last a while, said on Friday that he expects the virus to continue through the summer and into the fall.

He also struck back at actions taken by Weld County commissioners, who announced Thursday they would reopen all businesses on April 27, ignoring some of the guidelines, known as “Safer at Home,” Polis announced a week ago.

Weld County’s version, Safer at Work, is intended for businesses and employers, according to an April 23 news release.

The county’s guidelines include maintaining social distancing, including the use of masks, routine cleaning and disinfecting and personal hygiene. However, in contrast to the Polis administration guidelines, Weld County does not require businesses to employ a week of curbside delivery, and the guidance places no restrictions on reopening all businesses, including restaurants, bars and gyms.

Weld County Commissioner Mike Freeman told 1310-KFKA that “this will be for businesses, in general, to open across the board. I think the governor’s been pretty clear all along that his orders are unenforceable.”

Polis’ guidance has not yet set a date for the reopening of dine-in restaurants and bars, and gyms are limited to one-on-one personal training sessions only.

In a Friday news conference, Polis warned that Weld County could lose emergency funds. Buy-in on “Safer at Home” by local jurisdictions is important, he said.

Local county health departments have the ability to close businesses that violate health orders, he said.

He pointed out that both Eagle and Mesa counties have applied for permission to reopen; Eagle County has already done so and Mesa County should be granted that authority either Friday or Saturday.

“We’ve received no request” for reopening from Weld County, Polis said. “They do not have unilateral ability to jeopardize the health” of Weld County residents, one of the state’s hotspots for COVID-19 cases.

According to April 22 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 11 facilities and businesses in Weld County have outbreaks. That includes two jails, a dairy, the JBS meat packing plant in Greeley; the Mountain States Rosen plant in Greeley, which processes lamb; and five non-hospital health care facilities.

JBS has the largest outbreak, with 102 workers testing positive. The plant reopened on Friday but without testing all of its employees, as had been agreed to on April 10 with the Weld County public health department.

Residents at the nursing homes and jail inmates account for an additional 126 positive cases and 28 deaths, including 17 at the Centennial Healthcare Center, which has the second-highest death rate among those facilities in the state.

Polis said he will take whatever steps necessary to protect the health of Weld County residents. He said their guidance was “fine but not as thorough” as the state’s. If they’re planning a free-for-all, planning to allow restaurants and clubs to open, or businesses don’t have to employ social distancing, that would be “a great danger.”

Polis responded to a question from Colorado Politics about testing at those nonhospital health care facilities. The state, using the National Guard, has tested all residents and staff at three of the largest nursing homes in Colorado. Polis said that testing revealed 20 positive cases among the staff out of 900 tests. They will continue to do more testing with those facilities, he said.

This is a priority use of testing, to test asymptomatic workers at these non-hospital facilities throughout May. They intend to expand that testing across the state, Polis said. That also means doing more than one round of tests. “Once is not enough, we have to rotate back and do another round a week later,” he said.

Polis said Friday he signed an executive order creating a board that will advise him and CDPHE on policies on social distancing throughout the Safer at Home phase and on enforcement.

On Monday, the governor said he intends to announce more guidelines on Safer at Home for the general public and for businesses.

May 6, 2020

4-H Meat Quality Assurance Moved to Online

By Madison Richmann Every year a group of kids either new to 4h or moving up to the senior division must complete Meat Quality Assurance, a short class on taking care of an animal and responsibility. This year’s class looks different due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The class will be online this year, with a short quiz at the end. In order to see if you or your child is on the list for having to take the class go to weld4h.org. You will also find the link to the class on weld4h.org. All online MQA classes must be completed by June 1, 2020, no exceptions.

The Surprising Winners And Losers Of The Global Oil Glut

By Tsvetana Paraskova - oilprice.comJoin Our Community Despite the historic OPEC+ production cut deal, available oil storage capacity around the world is running thin as global oil demand continues to crumble amid lockdowns and travel restrictions in many countries.

OPEC and its Russia-led allies promised to remove 9.7 million bpd from the market starting in May. But oil storage capacity may be full as early as in the middle of May, according to many analysts.

In this unprecedented global oil glut, some sectors of the oil industry and some oilproducing countries and their national oil companies (NOCs) are set to fare better than others, petroleum economics and energy policy expert Michael Lynch writes in an article in Forbes.

Like in every extreme market situation, there will be big winners and big losers while the oil industry is scrambling to stash crude oil and refinery products that no one really needs right now.

Losers The OPEC producers who don’t have adequate refining capacity at home and don’t have solid long-term oil supply contracts with oil-importing nations are set to lose the most.

These are Angola, Nigeria, and Iraq, according to Lynch.

OPEC’s second-largest oil producer Iraq sells most of the crude it produces. To be sure, Saudi Arabia also does that. However, in recent years OPEC’s top producer and the world’s largest oil exporter has struck some major downstream deals in the world’s top oil importer, China, ensuring long-term demand for its crude in the market.

According to Lynch’s estimates of OPEC’s refinery capacity per member and their target production for May and June, OPEC’s combined domestic refining capacity is half what its members would produce if they all stick to their quotas. Considering that 100-percent compliance in every country has never been achieved in such deals, OPEC members would be likely producing more than two times their combined refinery capacity.

The countries that have long-term oil supply contracts with importers will be better off than those who rely more on spot crude sales. Data about the global spot crude market is incomplete, at best, Lynch says.

But oil-producing nations with higher shares of spot sales would likely feel the pinch from the storage capacity crunch much harder than others because amid the huge oversupply refiners are even trying to get out of some clauses in long-term contracts, let alone snap up spot cargoes.

Among companies, those integrated firms who have downstream capacity at least would have refineries to send their crude to. However, the downstream economics are terrible right now, because the demand for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel is plummeting everywhere in the world.

Refined product distributors will lose the most—people are not driving and are under lockdown in many countries in the world, including in India and the largest oil consumer, the United States.

Winners The biggest winners in the current market situation are the owners of storage capacity— onshore and offshore. Storage has been the most sought-after ‘commodity’ in the energy market in the past month as demand was crashing, and supply was rising.

Offshore, traders are scrambling to book floating storage, and charter rates for supertankers are skyrocketing. Storage costs are surging, and so are costs for chartering tankers to store oil at sea for future sales when traders expect demand to recover from the pandemic-hit plunge.

Despite the actions of OPEC+ and G20 to ease the glut, the oil industry may test the limits of its storage capacity in the coming weeks, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said this week.

“Never before has the oil industry come this close to testing its logistics capacity to the limit,” the agency said in its closely-watched Oil Market Report for April.

In the United States, storage will likely fill up by the middle of May. At oil prices so low, forced cuts are coming across the U.S. shale patch, OPEC++ deals or not. ConocoPhillips said this week it would be voluntarily curtailing 200,000 bpd production in Canada and the U.S. until market conditions improve, and others are likely to follow soon.

Amid the glut which OPEC+ cuts will not be able to stave off next month, owners of storage capacity will be the biggest winners in these most unusual times for the oil industry.

May 6, 2020

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Lost Creek Guide

How to Get Your Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiven

Written by: Elise Moores, Managing Editor at Fast Capital 360 So you’ve been approved for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, or you plan to apply for one.

You may be wondering how to get the loan forgiven?

To qualify for complete or partial PPP loan forgiveness, you need to prove that you spent loan proceeds on the right things.

Here’s what you need to know.

What Is the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)?

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides 8 weeks of cash-flow assistance to qualifying small businesses.

The loan amount is based on your average monthly payroll cost for 2019.

You can receive 2.5 times that amount, up to $10 million.

What Can PPP Loan Proceeds Be Used For? According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, funds from the PPP can be used for: • Payroll costs, including benefits • Interest on mortgage obligations, incurred before February 15, 2020 • Rent, under lease agreement before February 15, 2020 • Utilities, for which service began before February 15, 2020 Payroll costs include: • Salary, wages, commissions or tips (capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis per employee) • Employee benefits including costs for vacation, parental, family, medical or sick leave; allowances for separation or dismissal; payments required for the provision of group health care benefits including insurance premiums; and payment of any retirement benefit • State and local taxes assessed on compensation • For a sole proprietor or independent contractor: wages, commissions, income or net earnings from self-employment, capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee.

What Expenses Are Eligible for PPP Loan Forgiveness?

All business owners who use PPP loan proceeds to pay for qualifying expenses are eligible for loan forgiveness.

To qualify: • Funds must be spent within 8 weeks of loan disbursement. Only qualifying expenses incurred and paid for within this 8-week window are eligible for loan forgiveness.

• Employee and compensation levels must be maintained. Reductions in either category may impact forgivable loan allowances.

• No more than 25% of your loan is used to cover non-payroll expenses, including mortgage interest, rent or utility costs.

To Qualify for Loan Forgiveness, How Many Employees Must You Maintain on Your Payroll?

The amount of loan forgiveness is lowered if you reduce the number of full-time equivalent employees on your payroll within the 8 weeks following loan disbursement.

To determine if you’ve met this condition, tally the number of full-time equivalent employees on your payroll 8 weeks after loan disbursement. Then, compare it to the number of employees you had through February 15, 2019 to June 30, 2019 OR January 1, 2020 to February 29, 2020.

If the number of employees is equal to or greater than your pre-PPP full-time equivalent staff level, you’re in the clear. If it’s fallen, your forgivable loan amount would be reduced proportionately.

You will not be penalized for any reduction in the number of full-time equivalent employees as long as you eliminate the reductions by June 30, 2020.

Will Reductions in Employee Compensation Impact Loan Forgiveness?

It can. If you reduce total employee salary or wages by more than 25% during the 8 weeks following the PPP loan disbursement, your loan forgiveness amount will be reduced by the difference in pay.

As with staffing levels, you will not be penalized for any reduction in salary or wages as long as you reinstate reduced compensation levels before June 30, 2020.

What Other Factors Can Reduce Loan Forgiveness Amounts?

If you received an advance through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, this amount will be deducted from your forgivable allowance.

How Do You Request PPP Loan Forgiveness?

Loan forgiveness does not happen automatically. You will need to submit a request to your PPP loan provider.

Be sure you’re clear as to where, when and how to apply for loan forgiveness as each lender has their requirements.

What Documentation Is Required to Apply for Loan Forgiveness?

There is no standardized PPP loan forgiveness process. As such, lenders may have unique requirements.

At a minimum, prepare documentation of: • Staffing levels and pay rates for the periods before and after PPP loan disbursement. Your lender may request to see: • IRS Form 940, 941 or 944 payroll tax reports • Payroll reports from your payroll provider • Income, payroll, unemployment insurance filings from your state • Retirement and health insurance contributions • Mortgage interest, rent or lease and utility payments in the 8 weeks following disbursement of the loan • Any advance received under the CARES Act Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Grant program Excellent recordkeeping is essential to qualifying for PPP loan forgiveness. Be sure to track and categorize every expense.

What Happens If You’re Not Approved for Forgiveness?

If you do not meet the conditions of PPP loan forgiveness, your balance will accrue interest at a fixed rate of 1%.

The repayment term for PPP loans is 2 years, though you have the option to pay off your balance early with no prepayment penalty.

All loan payments are deferred for 6 months, though interest will accrue over this period.

Disclaimer: The information presented above is a general guide. Defer to the lender servicing your loan for PPP loan forgiveness specifics.

Elise Moores is the Managing Editor at Fast Capital 360, reporting on all things small business. She distills complex topics into consumable bites so you, the business owner, can make better decisions.

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

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Lost Creek Guide

New Data Reinforces Importance of City Efforts

The new COVID-19 location data released by the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment gives the community an important, if daunting, look at the severity of the public health crisis in Greeley.

This increased transparency shows the vast majority of COVID-19 cases reside in Greeley, along with its neighboring cities. This new look at the public health of the county reinforces the importance of the city’s efforts to protect the community.

These numbers show the widespread impact on our community and demonstrates the importance of recovery efforts, including the city’s partnership with the Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce to establish a Business Recovery Fund.

“The City of Greeley will continue working diligently with the county health department to help in their efforts to protect and support this community in its time of need,” said Greeley City Manager Roy Otto. “These new numbers at first feel shocking, but they give us better information and help us make more informed decisions.”

“This new information only strengthens our resolve and confirms the need for our work on the personal isolation facility,” said Mayor John Gates. “I know closing city facilities, parks, and events makes life more difficult, but this data shows the importance of continued strong and decisive action to protect our community.”

City officials continue work to open and operate a Personal Isolation Facility – in partnership with Weld County – helping reduce demand for beds in local hospitals by offering a safe place for patients, with no other option, to recover.

All non-emergency City of Greeley facilities remain closed to the public through April 30 – as do all playgrounds, skateparks, restrooms, and drinking fountains.

City officials and staff will continue educating and informing the public in an effort to give them the tools to protect themselves and the community. Greeley’s emergency management teams will not stop working to support the numerous functions and elements that keep Greeley safe and operational.

As the county seat, Greeley houses a significant portion of Weld County’s population, and many Weld County jobs operate in Greeley, bringing even more people into the city for essential trips and tasks. As an urban area, it’s understandable that the statistics for Greeley and its neighboring cities are higher than other smaller, and more rural, towns throughout Weld County.

Greeley includes seven long-term care facilities and two major hospitals, creating unique challenges in our community’s fight against COVID-19. The city’s emergency operations team works daily with those facilities to help ensure they have the necessary personal protective equipment and resources to contain the virus and protect their residents.

Another Local 7 Member Dies Today as JBS Threatens Legal Action Against Union for Ensuring Safety of it’s Workers at Greeley Plant

Despite Threats, Colorado’s Largest Private Sector Union Will Continue to Work with JBS & Government Health Authorities to Ensure a Safe Work Environment for its 3,000 Members at the Greeley Plant

DENVER – On April 24th, Kim Cordova, President of UFCW Local 7, which represents 3,000 workers at the JBS meat processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, received a Cease and Desist letter from JBS for the union’s efforts in ensuring workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of April 10th, five JBS employees have died from COVID-19, including four UFCW Local 7 members, Way Ler, who passed away today, and Saul Longoria Sanchez, Eduardo Conchas de la Cruz, and Tibursio Rivera López, who were not provided masks or safety guidelines such as social distancing. According to Weld County, over 120 JBS employees been confirmed COVID-19 positive, 74 of whom are UFCW Local 7 members.

In response to the Cease and Desist letter – threatening to stifle the Union’s voice, and those of its members, as well as pursuing claims for unfounded, speculative, and unrecoverable damages – UFCW Local 7 has responded with a letter to JBS on April 25th, rebutting false arguments and misstatements.

Kim Cordova, President of UFCW Local 7, issued the following statement on the JBS Cease and Desist letter to UFCW Local 7: “UFCW Local 7, our members, JBS and federal, state and local government have one common goal: to ensure that the JBS plant in Greeley is a safe place to work so it can resume business. However, UFCW Local 7 does not agree that the plant is safe at this time because all workers have not been tested for COVID-19, despite promises from Vice President Mike Pence stating he would ensure tests flow to the plant, as well as from Governor Jared Polis and JBS. By reneging on this promise and opening the JBS plant up last week despite not testing every worker, Weld County will continue to be a COVID-19 hot spot in Colorado since many workers could be presently infected and asymptomatic, spreading coronavirus in the plant and the community.

UFCW Local 7 recognizes that the JBS plant is an important employer in the Greeley community and many of our families depend on the company’s success, but we will not stop advocating for the health, safety and wellbeing of our members. We owe it to the memory of our fallen members – Way Ler, who passed away today, and Saul Longoria Sanchez, Eduardo Conchas de la Cruz, and Tibursio Rivera López– to continue to seek additional safety measures at the JBS plant so no other family has to go through what these families are enduring.

The law is clear: the Union’s activities around safety, health and wellbeing of our members during an unprecedented global pandemic is part of our job and our Constitution, and any litigation seeking to silence the Union from its lawful and Constitutional efforts does not have legal standing.”

Local 7, the largest Union in Colorado is affiliated with United Food and Commercial Workers International Union which represents over 1.3 million workers in the United States and Canada, and is one of the largest private sector Unions in North America.

UFCW members work in a wide range of industries, including retail food, food processing, agriculture, retail sales, and health care. Facebook: UFCWLocal7R | Twitter: @ UFCW_7 | Instagram: UFCW_LOCAL_7

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

$15.00

$1.25 per gallon will call or route

$3,535.00 $2,183.00

May 6, 2020

May 6, 2020

Lost Creek Guide

Observing Asthma Awareness Month, EPA Honors Leading Community Asthma Care Programs in Colorado and Texas

DENVER (April 30, 2020) — Tomorrow, in celebration of Asthma Awareness Month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will honor two outstanding asthma care programs, the Children’s Hospital Colorado Breathing Institute in Aurora, Colorado and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Texas, with the National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management. Among the nation’s highest honors for programs helping families bring asthma under control, this award recognizes health programs for excellent environmental asthma management.

“Asthma is a public health, economic, and environmental issue that can deeply impact families and touches entire communities,” said EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation Anne Idsal. “More than ever we cherish the opportunity to thank medical professionals, and we congratulate these innovative programs for supporting their communities, especially during this difficult time.”

“Children’s Hospital Colorado continues to find ways to improve the lives of children and families in communities across the state,” said EPA Regional Administrator Gregory Sopkin. “We are proud to recognize the Breathing Institute as a national example for others seeking to develop programs that connect healthier homes and indoor environments with positive asthma outcomes.”

EPA is committed to reducing the national burden of asthma by implementing a multi-faceted program comprised of research, regulatory measures and non-regulatory community-based technical assistance, outreach, and education campaigns. As technical experts on buildings and public health, EPA is uniquely positioned to create connections across the health, housing, and environmental sectors to address environmental asthma triggers and manage asthma. EPA facilitates a network of more than 1,000 communitybased programs to find local solutions for delivering and sustaining comprehensive asthma care by offering technical assistance and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. As a result, more and more programs are deploying innovative approaches and best practices to successfully improve the lives of people with asthma in their communities.

Asthma, a serious respiratory disease, affects the quality of life of over 23 million Americans and their families. Extensive evidence suggests that reducing indoor exposure to irritants such as secondhand smoke, as well as allergens from house dust mites, pests, mold and animals, can prevent asthma attacks or lessen their severity.

2020 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management Winners: Children’s Hospital Colorado Breathing Institute (Aurora, CO): Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO) is a private, not-for-profit pediatric healthcare network dedicated 100 percent to caring for kids. CHCO’s Pulmonary Department, known as The Breathing Institute, is nationally recognized for their work with patients who have asthma and other complex respiratory and related illnesses. The Asthma Program, started in 2006, has expanded and supports comprehensive community asthma care through several initiatives. Their team focuses on a four-county area home to approximately 525,000 children.

These counties are all diverse, with minority populations ranging from 20 percent to 70 percent and up to 25 percent of children living in poverty. Environmental remediation is accomplished through a thorough home assessment, planned with the family and implemented by community health workers with nurse support to assess asthma control.

Because children typically spend a third of their day at school potentially exposed to multiple asthma triggers, CHCO incorporates EPA’s Tools for Schools Indoor Air Quality Framework into their comprehensive school program. The environmental components of CHCO’s asthma program are funded through two mechanisms: a grant using state tobacco tax revenue and an innovative funding stream from Colorado Medicaid, which is focused on improving care and outcomes for Medicaid patients across Colorado. CHCO has seen impressive results with a 24 percent decrease in school absenteeism, significant improvements in asthma control, and decreased emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (Tyler, TX): Approximately 9percent of children in Texas have asthma, while rates in Northeast Texas are disproportionately higher at 14 percent. The region consists of mostly rural communities with a few small metropolitan areas. Environmental triggers such as higher than average smoking rates, pollution and air impacts from high pollen, and mold exposures both outdoors and indoors, as well as substandard housing in Northeast Texas, contribute to these high rates. Access to primary or specialty care is limited due to a lack of providers, which leads to increases in emergency department visits and subsequently missed school days due to asthma-related symptoms.

In response to this health care challenge, in 2008 the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler initiated a mobile asthma program coined “The Breath of Life Mobile Pediatric Asthma Clinic” (BOLMPAC). The mobile asthma program travels not only to schools, but to other locations such as apartment complexes, churches and community health centers, serving 2,500 unique patients a year. Comprehensive asthma care is provided, and because asthma and environmental triggers go hand in hand, all patients receive allergy testing and treatment, if indicated. Patients that have severe or uncontrolled asthma receive a home assessment provided by a BOLMPAC community health worker.

This successful program has seen a significant decrease in missed school days and a 50 percent decrease in emergency department visits.

To showcase and spread best asthma care practices from these award-winning programs, EPA will host a webinar on May 28, 2020 , as part of Asthma Awareness Month.

Registration for this webinar will be announced shortly on our website at: https://www. epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq Learn more about the National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management and the 2020 winners: https://www.epa.gov/asthma

-Obituaries-

Page 9

FRANCIS KEITH MEAGHER October 18, 1940 ~ April 18, 2020 Keith died on Saturday, April 18, 2020 of prostate cancer. Keith Meagher was born in rural Adams County Colorado on October 18, 1940 to Walter F. and Lucille B. Meagher.

His birth was registered on a U.S. Department of Agriculture ‘Registration of Life Birth’.

Keith grew up with his sister, Donna H. Meagher Vandenbos, in Keenesburg, CO. He graduated from Keenesburg High School and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in History at Colorado State College of Education and a Master’s Degree in European History at University of Denver.

Keith was drafted into the Army in 1966 and served in Vietnam in the infantry and then as a civilian affairs technician until December 1967. When he returned from the service, Keith worked for Farmers Insurance Group as a Personal Injury Adjuster; He also worked for Sterns Rodger as a Technical Writer and then worked for the State of Colorado as a Joint Budget Committee Analyst, a Performance Auditor and the Chief of Staff for the Division of Motor Vehicles. Keith retired in March 1999. During retirement he facilitated classes at Viva (Olli), The Academy of Life Long Learning and at Covenant Living.

Keith met and married Margaret Ann Kessenich Menke, “Peg of his Heart”, in 1969.

They have one son, Kevin Kessenich Meagher, daughter-in-law, Ute and three grandchildren.

No Services at this time. Keith will be placed in the Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church Columbarium in Denver, Colorado. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Benevolent Fund at Covenant Living, 9153 Yarrow St., Westminster, CO 80021.

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Lost Creek Guide

Former CDC Chief Tom Frieden’s 4-step Plan to ‘Get the Country Up and Running as Soon and Safely as Possible’

By Talia Kaplan | Fox News Former CDC Chief Tom Frieden’s four-step plan ‘get the country up and running as soon and safely as possible’ Dr. Thomas Frieden on ‘Box in COVID’ and the need for a massive federal response.

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.

Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), explained on Saturday his four-step plan to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and reopen the economy.

Speaking on “America’s News HQ Weekend” on Saturday, Frieden, who is also the former commissioner of the New York City Health Department, emphasized that the sooner people follow the four steps, the sooner and more safely Americans can start working again.

There are 4 things we MUST do to #StopCovid19. The sooner we do these things, the sooner and more safely we can come out. #BoxItIn #BoxInCovid to get us all working again.

“Box it in. That’s the basic concept here. Box in COVID,” Frieden said on Saturday.

He then outlined the four corners of the box that he said will keep the new coronavirus “at bay.”

He said the four corners of the box include testing widely, isolating safely, contact tracing completely and quarantining comfortably.

“If we can do those four things we’ll be able to come out much sooner and much more safely, but we have to do them very well or we’re stuck either staying home longer or coming out, it explodes again and we have to come back in again.”

“People have understood flattening the curve. We’re staying at home so that the health care system is not so terribly overwhelmed, as is happening now in New York City and elsewhere,” he explained, adding that people are also staying in “so we can strengthen our systems so that when we come out again it doesn’t explode again.”

He said, “That’s the key.”

When asked how long he thinks it will take to “box it in” Frieden said, “This is exactly what we have to focus on.”

“It’s not a question of the date, it’s a question of the data,” he explained. “How hard we work now, how fast we work now, that will determine how soon and safely we open.”

Frieden acknowledged that the United States has “made some progress with testing,” but added that “we have much further to go.”

He pointed out that New York City, which has emerged as the epicenter of the outbreak, is “nowhere near the kind of access of tests that is needed.”

In fact, on Saturday New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, “We need to do more testing and more advanced testing and we have to do it faster, that’s both diagnostic testing, that’s the antibody testing, but we have to get better at both and we have to be able to create a higher volume faster.”

“We have to be more prepared. We should never go through what we went through,” he continued.

May 6, 2020

Mother’s Day 2020

from History.com Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed in different forms throughout the world. In the United States, Mother’s Day 2020 occurs on Sunday, May 10. The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. Jarvis would later denounce the holiday’s commercialization and spent the latter part of her life trying to remove it from the calendar.

While dates and celebrations vary, Mother’s Day traditionally involves presenting moms with flowers, cards and other gifts.

History of Mother’s Day Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.”

Once a major tradition in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, this celebration fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent and was originally seen as a time when the faithful would return to their “mother church”—the main church in the vicinity of their home—for a special service.

Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition shifted into a more secular holiday, and children would present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation. This custom eventually faded in popularity before merging with the American Mother’s Day in the 1930s and 1940s.

Did you know? More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year. These holiday chats with Mom often cause phone traffic to spike by as much as 37 percent.

Ann Reeves Jarvis and Julia Ward Howe The origins of Mother’s Day as celebrated in the United States date back to the 19th century. In the years before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children.

These clubs later became a unifying force in a region of the country still divided over the Civil War. In 1868 Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” at which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation.

Another precursor to Mother’s Day came from the abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” a call to action that asked mothers to unite in promoting world peace. In 1873 Howe campaigned for a “Mother’s Peace Day” to be celebrated every June 2.

Other early Mother’s Day pioneers include Juliet Calhoun Blakely, a temperance activist who inspired a local Mother’s Day in Albion, Michigan, in the 1870s. The duo of Mary Towles Sasseen and Frank Hering, meanwhile, both worked to organize a Mothers’ Day in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some have even called Hering “the father of Mothers’ Day.” Anna Jarvis The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children.

After gaining financial backing from a Philadelphia department store owner named John Wanamaker, in May 1908 she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. That same day also saw thousands of people attend a Mother’s Day event at one of Wanamaker’s retail stores in Philadelphia.

Following the success of her first Mother’s Day, Jarvis—who remained unmarried and childless her whole life—resolved to see her holiday added to the national calendar. Arguing that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, she started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood.

By 1912 many states, towns and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual holiday, and Jarvis had established the Mother’s Day International Association to help promote her cause. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Jarvis Decries Commercialized Mother’s Day Anna Jarvis had originally conceived of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families. Her version of the day involved wearing a white carnation as a badge and visiting one’s mother or attending church services. But once Mother’s Day became a national holiday, it was not long before florists, card companies and other merchants capitalized on its popularity.

While Jarvis had initially worked with the floral industry to help raise Mother’s Day’s profile, by 1920 she had become disgusted with how the holiday had been commercialized. She outwardly denounced the transformation and urged people to stop buying Mother’s Day flowers, cards and candies.

Jarvis eventually resorted to an open campaign against Mother’s Day profiteers, speaking out against confectioners, florists and even charities. She also launched countless lawsuits against groups that had used the name “Mother’s Day,” eventually spending most of her personal wealth in legal fees. By the time of her death in 1948 Jarvis had disowned the holiday altogether, and even actively lobbied the government to see it removed from the American calendar.

Mother’s Day Around the World While versions of Mother’s Day are celebrated worldwide, traditions vary depending on the country. In Thailand, for example, Mother’s Day is always celebrated in August on the birthday of the current queen, Sirikit.

Another alternate observance of Mother’s Day can be found in Ethiopia, where families gather each fall to sing songs and eat a large feast as part of Antrosht, a multi-day celebration honoring motherhood.

In the United States, Mother’s Day continues to be celebrated by presenting mothers and other women with gifts and flowers, and it has become one of the biggest holidays for consumer spending. Families also celebrate by giving mothers a day off from activities like cooking or other household chores.

At times, Mother’s Day has also been a date for launching political or feminist causes.

In 1968 Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King Jr., used Mother’s Day to host a march in support of underprivileged women and children. In the 1970s women’s groups also used the holiday as a time to highlight the need for equal rights and access to childcare.

May 6, 2020

Lost Creek Guide

Colorado Gardening 101

Written by Emily Krempholtz Haven’t you heard? Gardening is officially cool. Maybe it’s because grocery shopping is a hassle, and people are craving fresh produce, or because we’re all stuck at home, but more people than ever are starting backyard vegetable gardens, pulling out collections of colorful containers for urban balcony flower gardens, and otherwise enhancing their personal green spaces. Whether you’re an old pro or a complete newbie when it comes to growing your own garden, here are some tips to help you and your green thumb this summer in Colorado.

Where to Plant When deciding where to create your garden, take a few factors into account. Perhaps most important is how much sun your space gets. When you have a plot in mind, keep an eye on it for a day or two. Go outside every few hours and note how long the area is in direct sunlight, indirect sunlight, and full shade throughout the day. This will tell you what types of plants will grow best there. Forget-me-nots, hydrangeas, cilantro, spinach, and Swiss chard are some popular plants that love shade, while marigolds, zinnias, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes need as many hours of sunshine as possible.

If you live in a place that’s exceptionally windy, you’ll want to make sure your garden has some protection from the strong gusts, especially if you plan on growing tall plants that are at risk of breaking in the wind.

You’ll also want to keep an eye on the soil when it comes to figuring out where to plant.

Make sure your bed is free from big rocks, and in a place where it’s not going to flood if there’s a lot of rain. Soil type, whether you’ve got a fine sandy soil or a thick clay, can easily be remedied with the help of some fresh compost or gardening soil, which you can turn and mix into the dirt to create a nice, nutrient-rich bed.

When to Plant From the Front Range to Summit County, the weather in Colorado can vary drastically, and it’s important to know the final frost date or growing zone for where you live. Some cold-hardy plants, like pansies, sweet peas, or radishes, can handle a bit of light frost, and it’s okay to start planting these even if there’s a chance the weather will drop in the near future. Other plants, such as sunflowers, tomatoes, and squash will die if they get too cold. In most of the lower elevation regions of Colorado, including the Front Range, the Eastern Plains, and the Western Slope, the rule of thumb generally states that you shouldn’t plant warmweather crops until after Mother’s Day, but even this isn’t foolproof. (In 2019, the Front Range was getting snowstorms until June!)

Up in higher elevations like Summit County, for example, temperatures are apt to get below freezing at any point in the year, even in the height of summer, and optimal growing seasons can be as short as just a few weeks. In places like these, it might be best to stick to colder weather veggies, but if you’re really craving a fresh tomato in the high country, you’ve still got options. Start your seeds indoors, in a sunny window, weeks before they go into the ground to give them the head start they’re going to need (St. Patrick’s Day is a good time to start your indoor seedlings, but if you didn’t get to it this year, there are countless nurseries and greenhouses that sell starter plants for you). When it is time to plant them outside, build or buy raised beds and a cold frame to help trap as much heat in there as you can when the temperature drops. Make sure to keep an eye on the weather so you know when it’s going to get cold. With a little creative planning, you can grow a beautiful—and delicious—garden wherever you are. Most folks who live in higher elevation areas typically plant outdoors on or after Memorial Day! What to Plant Now, this is the fun part. When you’re deciding what you want to plant, whether it’s flowers, herbs, or vegetables, there are a few things to consider. First, how much maintenance do you want your garden to be? If you’re looking for something pretty but that requires little to no work, try some native plants, like wildflowers (pollinator-friendly wildflower mixes are easy to find and require very little work!), low-growing cover plants, or perennial flowers like blanketflower, bee-balm, black-eyed susan, or scarlet globemallow, all of which require very little water and will come back year after year in the right conditions. Herb gardens are another great option for a low-maintenance or beginner gardener. Basil, sage, chamomile, oregano, rosemary, lavender… your options are nearly endless, and not only do these plants look beautiful in your garden, they’ll taste fantastic when you use them in your cooking all summer long!

If you’re looking for something that requires a little more care, step up to vegetables.

Try your hand at growing tomatoes, squash, and peppers, all of which grow especially well in Colorado’s lower elevations, or rhubarb, which thrives in much of the state, including higher elevations. As far as ornamental flowers go, a mix of hardy perennials like vibrant dianthus, Rocky Mountain penstemon, and Rocky Mountain Columbine (our state flower), along with a healthy selection of beautiful annuals such as zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, and more will leave you with flower beds that are colorful, gorgeous, and friendly to local pol-

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linators like bees and butterflies.

Gardening with Limited Space Not everyone has a backyard, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on gardening.

If you have a balcony, you can plant some beautiful flowers, or even vegetables like lettuce or tomatoes in containers. If you find a nice wide planter, you can build your own herb garden with a selection of culinary herbs to keep you going in the kitchen all summer (and if you don’t have access to a nursery or greenhouse, you can usually buy live herbs from your local grocery store!). Other options for urban gardening include community gardens, though usually, space fills up fast, or even indoor plants. If you have a bright, sunny window (south-facing is usually best), you can grow herbs or put together a window box full of pansies, alyssum, and other beautiful flowers, or hang mason jars with potted herbs in a window in your kitchen. And if your window light isn’t the best, you can always place your plants under a UV grow-lamp anywhere in your home.

Gardening as a Gateway to Nature It’s hard being stuck at home right now, especially if you’re an outdoorsy type of person who is itching to get out there in nature. But gardening can be a lovely alternative to help you get your fix until the trails are open to the public again.

Working in the dirt can be incredibly relaxing, and watching your hard work grow—and in some cases, literally eating the fruits of your labor—is unbelievably rewarding. In the meantime, go for a walk around your neighborhood and keep an eye out for your neighbors’ gardens. What are they growing? What would you like to grow in your own garden?

Skunk Tussles with Dogs; Tests Positive for Rabies near LaSalle

Weld County, Colorado – The first laboratory diagnosed case of rabies in Weld County, for 2020, was confirmed in a skunk found southeast of LaSalle. The skunk was picked up on April 26, and laboratory testing conducted on April 28 confirmed the skunk was positive for rabies. The skunk did have an altercation with two dogs; and the dogs are receiving treatment to prevent rabies. There were no known human interactions with the skunk. “It’s that time of the year when the Health Department is warning people to not touch or go near wild animals,” said Mark E. Wallace, MD, MPH, Executive Director of the Weld County Health Department. “It’s also vital to vaccinate all domestic animals such as livestock and horses, and of course pets such as dogs and cats, by a licensed veterinarian.”

Any mammal, including humans, is at risk for contracting rabies. Rabies can infect any wild animal, including foxes, raccoons, coyotes, and bats. Unvaccinated horses and bison have contracted rabies in Northern Colorado. Over the past several years, a variety of animal to human contacts has resulted in several dozen Weld County residents requiring the expensive rabies immune globulin for post-exposure treatment. There have been no human deaths related to rabies exposure in Weld County.

Signs of rabies include increases in saliva and drooling, nocturnal animals seen out during the daytime, and slow or difficult movement. Other signs may be aggressive behavior, such as a skunk attacking a dog. Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that affects the nervous system. Rabies causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and is nearly always fatal. It is transmitted in saliva through the bite of an infected animal. The virus can also be transmitted in saliva to an open cut, scratch or wound. If a person suspects they have been exposed to rabies, they should contact their medical provider immediately. Effective treatment is available to prevent rabies; however, it must be started before symptoms appear.

To prevent exposure to rabies: • Do not feed, touch or handle wild animals and be cautious of stray dogs and cats • Have dogs, cats, horses, and livestock vaccinated regularly by a licensed veterinarian • Spay or neuter pets to reduce the number of unwanted or stray animals in the neighborhood • Do not feed wild animals or keep pet food outside, which may attract wild animals For more about rabies, visit the Weld County Health Department website at: https://www.weldgov.com/departments/health_and_environment/environmental_health/animal_related_diseases

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Lost Creek Guide

Oil Giant Shutters North Dakota Crude Production

By Irina Slav - oilprice.com Continental Resources has stopped drilling operations and shut in most of its wells in North Dakota, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the situation, who also added that the company had notified some of its clients that it would suspend deliveries.

Earlier this month, official data from North Dakota showed that oil producers had idled as much as 25 percent of wells in the state, cutting production by 260,000 bpd. This is a large portion of the state’s total oil output, which averaged some 1.45 million bpd in February, according to data from the state’s Department of Mineral Resources. Since then, North Dakota has shed as much as 40 percent of drilling rigs.

In mid-April, State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms said that some oil producers were considering building storage facilities near the wells to stock up on the crude they have already pumped to sell it later when prices improve.

Continental, according to Reuters, had cut its production by close to a third even before oil prices swung below zero on Monday. It also suspended dividend payments. The company’s chief executive, Harold Hamm, is a proponent of heavy government intervention in the industry to control production, including asking Texas regulators to institute a 25-percent mandatory production cut.

The Texas Railroad Commission has been discussing mandatory cuts, but in the latest update, reported by the Houston Chronicle, the three commissioners delayed their vote on the topic until next month.

Continental has found itself in a more vulnerable position than fellow shale producers who hedged their 2020 production at prices now much higher than the current level of U.S. benchmarks. Unlike them, Continental bet on continued price improvement and did not hedge. Instead, Bakken crude traded at about $3 per barrel this week--much lower than even battered WTI, which recovered some of its massive losses to trade at $16-17 a barrel since the Monday crash.

By GLAD Club

May 6, 2020

Weldon Valley News

Dream, Dream, Dream Dream, dream, dream Of meadow, wood, and stream; Of bird and bee, Of flower and tree, All under the noon day gleam; Of the song and play Of mirthful day— Dream, dream, dream!

Dream, dream, dream Of glamor, glint, and gleam; Of the hushaby things The night wind sings To the moon and stars abeam; Of whimsical sights In the land o’ sprites Dream, dream, dream!

Eugene Field It was another week of springtime. There were some showers that were welcome. Many were enjoying the outdoors in their yards and taking walks.

Springtime in Colorado!

Smile a little: Forgetful-At a commuter train station a policeman noticed a woman driver bowed over the steering wheel of her car. “Is there anything wrong?” said the policeman. Half crying and half laughing the woman responded, “For ten years I have driven my husband to the station to catch his train. This morning I forgot him!”

Community news: As this “stand at home” directive continue most are still following the message. Many are wishing they could visit their friends and do some real shopping. This next week some of the directive may be lifted and some of the business may do limited service. We need to be safe, take care, wear your mask!

Have you returned your 2020 Census? This count of the population comes around every ten year. If you did not complete your information on your computer you should receive a form in the mail. Complete your form listing all who living in your home. This is an important count for all programs.

We need to thanks those who must go out to do the work to keep us safe and get food to the markets. Be safe and respect your neighbors.

Are you wearing mask when you must be out? Be safe!

Mask continue to be made my many in the Valley and around the county. Do you have a mask?

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.

There will no Mass at the church until further notice.

Weldon Valley Presbyterian Church in Goodrich has Christian education and worship at 10 a.m. NO service until further notice. Pastor Denise has Sunday service from the church on face book each Sunday and a meditation on Thursday.

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

School Scoop: Students are keeping up with their classes on their computers, a new experience. They are missing their contact with their class mates.

4-H News: Members are starting their projects for this 4-H year. Best wishes to all.

What’s Cookin’ Peanut butter Milk Shake-1 pint soft vanilla ice cream ½ cup creamy peanut butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 cups milk. Blend ice cream, peanut butter and vanilla in a blender or electric mixer; gradually milk. Serve pronto! A fun treat!

First facts: 1934- It was on April 19 when Shirley Temple appeared in her first movie, “Stand up and Cheer.”

Weldon Valley History: “Billy Bowles”-He was da character, a very lovable character! He always wore blue jeans and long-sleeved shirt, boots, a tie and a straw or felt hat.

He carried a toothpick and bus ticket in the band of his hat. He always rode a horse or drove a black 1930 Model a car. His name was William, but the people around Orchard knew him better as Billy. He was born in Lockwood, Missouri, on April 1, 1882. He lived in the Orchard area. He farmed and traded horses. There are many tales of his business of buying and selling horses with resident in the Valley. Billy liked to give a nickname to everyone he knew. Billy passed in March of 1969 and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, half mile west of Hudson.

Calendar of Events: Weldon Valley school on line. No public activities scheduled.

Be safe, wear mask, stay home except to necessary events.

Thought for the Day: “Thanks, Lord, for not allowing me to become who I would have been if it had been left completely up to me.” Milo Yield

U.S. Oil Companies Begin Sending Crude To Strategic Petroleum Reserve

By Irina Slav - oilprice.com U.S. oil companies have started sending oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Bloomberg reports, citing a Department of Energy official.

According to the official, since the start of April, some 1.1 million barrels of crude have been sent into the SPR after the federal government finalized negotiations with nine companies for leasing SPR space for them to store their crude in.

The talks for the lease of 23 million barrels worth of space began earlier this month, amid fast-falling prices that tanked deep below zero on April 20. Since then, West Texas Intermediate has recovered above zero but has been unable to sustain a level of above $20 a barrel. After yesterday the United States Oil Fund said it would sell all its WTI futures contracts for June delivery within four days, WTI again slid lower, trading at $11.11 a barrel at the time of writing. Brent traded at $19.20 a barrel, down by close to 4 percent while WTI was down by almost 13 percent.

It was a massive selloff to avoid physical delivery that brought about negative WTI prices this month. The selloff could repeat as storage space runs out, both onshore and offshore. Vessel demand data from Signal Group shows a marked increase in demand for Very Large Crude Carriers—the ones that can hold up to 2 million barrels of crude.

But space is running out both in terms of tankers and in terms of tanks onshore. Besides, SPR, the central storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, is reportedly soon to reach its limit, according to a Reuters report. The report cited traders as saying despite official data putting the Cushing occupancy rate at 70 percent, the rest has already been booked by oil companies looking for storage space. The hub has a capacity for 76 million barrels. As of April 17, it held 53 million barrels.

May 6, 2020

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Lost Creek Guide

Colorado’s Already Low Childhood Immunization Rates Plummet as Parents Put Off Doctor Visits Colorado families are avoiding vaccination appointments for fear of exposure to the coronavirus and doctors worry risk of a different disease outbreak is rising.

by Michael Booth, Special to The Colorado Sun This Newsmaker has been deemed by this Newsroom as having a specialized knowledge of the subject covered in this article.

Families avoiding immunization appointments for fear of COVID-19 contagion are further undercutting Colorado’s abysmal childhood vaccination rates, state health leaders say, raising the possibility of new outbreaks of previously vanquished illnesses such as measles or diphtheria.

Childhood immunizations in the first two months of the outbreak have dropped nearly 20% from a year ago at Pediatrics West, a large primary care practice with two metro area locations, said Dr. Shen Nagel, a pediatrician and president of the practice.

Parents are staying away even though the 12,500-patient practice designated one of its offices for wellness and vaccines and the other for seeing sick patients.

But parents have said they worry about the providers shuttling between the two offices, as well as going out in general, Nagel said. He believes their 80% success rate recently is likely better than many practices that can’t separate patients or take other measures. For perspective, researchers say about 95% of children need to be vaccinated against measles in order for the whole population to be protected from the disease.

States reporting figures from a federal program for uninsured children show drops of up to 70% from pre-COVID-19 periods.

“We give vaccines because they’re extremely important for both their own children’s health and the health and safety of the pediatric and adult population in general,” said Nagel, whose practice normally spends more than $100,000 a month buying vaccines.

“The worst-case scenario in this would be dealing with this crisis and also a measles outbreak or an increase in whooping cough.”

Primary care practices are likely “the safest places to be” State health officials and pediatrics leaders, who keep a registry of immunizations as well as handle orders for vaccine materials through a federal program, are concerned enough about the drop in rates that they are forming a new task force to promote solutions.

“It is an impending crisis,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, an associate professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children’s Hospital Colorado, as well as a vaccination expert on the national board of the American Academy of Pediatrics. O’Leary in his various roles speaks with most practices around the state, and does not like what he hears.

“If we have a large enough group not vaccinated, we will start to see outbreaks,” he said. “Just to give you an idea with measles as an example: At one year of age if a child is not vaccinated they essentially have zero protection against measles because the protection they got from the placenta has worn off. So if they are exposed they will likely get it.” An outbreak concentrated in New York state last year spiked U.S. measles cases past 1,000, at least in part because of low vaccination rates in local religious communities.

Primary care practices that are taking virus-prevention measures are “probably the safest places to be right now,” O’Leary said, with providers wearing protective gear and wiping down surfaces frequently in addition to separation protocols.

It’s exactly the groups that are being told to stay home right now — infants, young children and older Coloradans — who most need the protection of vaccination, noted Stephanie Wasserman, executive director of Immunize Colorado (until this year known as the Colorado Immunization). The longer coronavirus concerns linger, the likelier the vaccine gap will grow in more mundane diseases like seasonal flu, she said.

A secondary outbreak of flu, measles or any other manageable disease on top of ongoing coronavirus infections “would be a body blow to our health care system and an economy that’s already on life support right now,” Wasserman said.

Wasserman noted that Colorado was “dead last” nationally in measles vaccination rates in the most recent measurements, and that it’s “horrifying to think about what’s going on with our measles coverage rates when we were already so far behind the eight ball before COVID.” MORE: To boost low measles vaccination rates, public health agencies are targeting Colorado’s biggest counties Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine rates — the shot O’Leary said should be at about 95% for true herd immunity — dropped to 87.4% in the 2018-19 school year, the state health department reported last June.

As with many health issues, the current plunge in vaccination rates has both causes and implications related to racial and socio-economic inequities, state health leaders said. (Health department statistics show positive tests for COVID-19 are higher in Latinx residents than their proportion of the population, and death rates among African Americans are similarly out of proportion.)

“We know from data we have those same issues for immunization,” Wasserman said. “We know children on Medicaid are immunized at a lower rate than children with private health insurance; we know children of color generally have lower immunization rates than white children. So it’s layering more concerning issues on top of this base of health equity issues.”

Experts worry Colorado is open for diseases unseen in decades, like diphtheria A relatively high rate of families skipping or postponing vaccination weakens Colorado’s defenses against future threats, O’Leary said. Some nations overseas center their immunization culture on national vaccination days with massive mobilization efforts. Those are being canceled to avoid COVID-19 spread.

“So there’s a big concern we’ll see outbreaks of diphtheria in the rest of the world, and we haven’t really had that here in decades,” O’Leary said. “There are various risks depending on what you’re talking about, but every one of those diseases is life threatening.”

Read more health stories from The Colorado Sun Seniors are also staying away from important shots, officials said, including flu vaccines, shingles, Streptococcus pneumonia, or boosting previous immunizations such as tetanus.

O’Leary said the task force currently forming will try to communicate a needed sense of urgency to parents and other caregivers. The expert-devised vaccination schedules cluster shots in two age groups, one from infancy to age 2, and the other around kindergarten. A delay of a month or two for kindergartners is acceptable if families catch up later, O’Leary said — but for infants, those first scheduled immunity shots are crucial.

Practices from large to small are doing their best to accommodate fears of coronavirus contamination, whether splitting the functions of offices like Pediatrics West, or scheduling “well” visits in the mornings and “sick” visits in the afternoons or by telehealth, O’Leary said. Parents need to make the same effort.

“Please, please, please, keep your appointments,” O’Leary said.

Stabilizing Steps Secure Beef Supply

April 29, 2020 - Like others, beef producers are learning to make adjustments in our everyday activities. Yesterday’s executive order from the Trump Administration invoking the Defense Production Act will deliver additional needed personal protection equipment and screening supplies to further ensure worker safety in meat-processing plants. Concurrently, meat-processing plants will remain open as critical infrastructure while the nation confronts growing food supply disruptions from COVID-19.

Colorado’s beef community, led by the Colorado Beef Council, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and Colorado Livestock Association, is committed to doing our part to provide the public with safe and wholesome products. “The beef industry is doing everything possible to meet consumer demand, but the primary concern is ensuring the health and safety of those who produce, process, inspect and deliver beef,” stated Dwain Weinrich, Colorado Livestock Association President.

As a growing number of processing plants across the country started experiencing slow-downs and temporary closures, processing capacity was 14-16 percent lower than the same time a year ago - jeopardizing the ability to meet consumer needs during the pandemic. “Being able to keep plants open and get those that were closed back open, will help keep the supply chain intact and ensure that beef will remain available to consumers,” commented CBC Chair, Sallie Miller of Briggsdale, CO. “Feeding families has always been our top priority,” she added.

Consumers should continue to be confident that adequate supplies of beef are available in their grocery store of choice. The disruptions to the food supply system have not caused lasting food shortages and impacts felt by consumers are not permanent.

Meat is available in cold storage for distribution and the supply chain is catching up to consumer demand.

“These stabilizing measures will ensure beef supply, worker safety advancements and a structured return to normal operations in Colorado’s beef sector”, said Steve Wooten, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association President. Wooten went on to say, “While continued vigilance is prudent, our producers are doing their part to advance Colorado’s economy toward recovery and a vibrant future.”

iof o r . o)

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Lost Creek Guide

Cool It Fix It

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The Wiggins School Ditrict staff paraded around the town of Wiggins and Kiowa Park on Wednesday, April 29th to say hello to area students! The parade wound around each of the streets in Wiggins and Kiowa Park and took about an hour and half to perform! “What an amazing day the Wiggins Staff had seeing all your faces! The support we saw from our community today warmed our hearts and reminded us of why we do what we do and why we do it HERE in #TIGERNATION” said a Facebook post!

Matt M., Journeyman Lineman

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YourSource_LostCreek_4.625x6.875.indd 1

May 6, 2020

Wiggins School District Staff Holds Parade in Honor of Students

1/8/2019 9:34:18 AM

May 6, 2020

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Lost Creek Guide

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Keene Clinic

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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

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

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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

HELP WANTED Help Wanted Concrete Foreman & Finishers 5 Years experience required 720-580-2130

NOTICES NOTICE

The Keenesburg Housing Authority is looking for two Keenesburg residents to volunteer to sit on the Board of Commissioners starting May 2020. The volunteer position only requires approximately an hour a month for meetings. For further information on the position please stop by the office located at 250 E. Woodward Ave., Keenesburg or call 303-732-4221 during business hours,, Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

SENIOR HOUSING H.U.D. Apartments Prairie View Apartments 1151 Main Street Hudson, CO 80642 SENIOR/DISABLED (Age 62 or older/Age 18 or older) Subsidized H.U.D. Apartments Equal Housing Opportunity - Section 8 Please call us for an application.

303-536-4501

FOR SALE Hay for Sale as is 3x4x7 Grass 3x3x7 Alfalfa 970-483-6347

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 Longarm Quilter Edge to Edge Computer Automated Quilting Online Store aquiltersfriend.com Cheri Dobratz 303-532-9035

Offering custom wheat harvesting services. We have over 50 years experience farming and harvesting. Four machines are available. We do excellent work.

Contact Craig at 970-467-1284

WE'LL HELP YOU

Cool It Ride It Dry It Sail It Wash It Pull It Can It Fix It Drive It Warm It Fly It Cook It Find It Grow It

CLASSIFIEDS DO THE JOB 303-732-4080

Page 16

Lost Creek Guide

Western Slope Peach Crop Hit By Devastating Freeze That Has State Seeking Federal Disaster Aid

By Nancy Lofholm Hart Van Denburg/CPR News The Book Cliffs rise behind orchards in Palisade. The area is an important region for growing peaches and other produce, but a hard freeze on April 14 has put those crops in peril.

When North Fork fruit grower Harrison Topp drove his pickup home on the morning of April 14 after spending the entire previous night in frantic attempts to keep his peaches alive, he knew he had likely failed. He and his partners had kept 150 barrels burning with fruit tree cuttings and ran two wind machines in his 40 acres of trees throughout the night’s deep freeze. But it was just too cold to bring the temperatures up, even with the fire and wind that sometimes works to keep cold from settling around the trees.

Topp’s thermometer showed 17 degrees F at dawn.

Topp saw the smoke still rising from burn barrels spread throughout the orchards in his valley and knew that many had experienced the same failure. What had been envisioned as another bumper peach crop – and a bright spot in a pandemic year – was suddenly another disaster.

An estimated half of the valley’s peach crop had frozen as it was just beginning to show its pink promise in trees laden with blossoms. It could have been worse. In the state’s other prime fruit-growing region, the Grand Valley around Palisade, the buds were further along and suffered even worse damage. Many growers there lost the majority of their peach crop.

Less than two weeks after that terrible night, Topp and other Western Slope growers could look forward to some potential monetary help when Gov. Jared Polis requested federal disaster aid for the region’s orchards. U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner and Michael Bennet and U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton jumped on board and asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to quickly approve that request, noting that “during an already disruptive time in our economy, additional stresses and disruptions in the food supply cannot be taken lightly.”

“We ask for your support of Colorado farmers as they work through the fallout of this weather event, and respectfully urge you to grant the request of Governor Polis to issue a Secretarial Disaster Declaration,” stated their letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

Before that disaster relief request was submitted, Topp spoke to Ryan Warner on Colorado Matters about what such a crop loss means in a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown everything to do with tending, picking and marketing a fruit crop into a tailspin. He detailed his concerns.

Will there be enough migrant workers available to pick and pack fruit? Will farmers’ markets be lucrative in a time of social distancing? What kind of market will there be for commercial and restaurant customers?

In spite of all those unknowns in what would be a challenging year simply in terms of crop loss, Topp said he would not trade the fraught life of an orchard owner, and he doubts that many of his fellow orchardists would either. He joked that he got into fruit farming – after earning degrees in film and television production and anthropology from New York University – through “a combination of poor decisions and hard luck.”

“But I love to farm. I love to grow produce,” Topp said. “And when things go right it’s a dream come true.”

May 6, 2020

Weld Clerk Koppes Announces Step by Step Plan for Reopening Office on Monday, May 4

Weld County Clerk and Recorder Carly Koppes has announced her plan for the gradual reopening of the Clerk and Recorders offices beginning Monday, May 4th.

“The Weld Clerk and Recorder’s office is pleased to announce the ‘step by step plan’ centered around safety and customer service beginning Monday, May 4th,” said Clerk and Recorder Carly Koppes. “Over the last month, I have worked closely with the Weld County Department of Health, the Weld County Continuance of Government (COG) Team, Human Resources (HR) office, Colorado Department of Revenue, and my staff in the development of this reopening plan.”

The plan will include the three divisions in the Clerk’s office: Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV), Recording and Elections. “Special consideration has been given to citizens needs to complete transactions and the ability to conduct the necessary business safely and efficiently with available staff. Transition to full services will be made as conditions improve,” added Clerk Koppes.“ The first phase of the plan includes: Motor Vehicles The lobby will be open only for those person’s with appointments made by calling or email.

Hours of operation: 8 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 5 pm for phone and email responses.

Online services continue to be available 24/7.

High risk and First Responders and healthcare workers will be provided special appointment hours between 8 am and 10 am.

10 am-3 pm for in-person for appointment-only services.

Online services continue to be available 24/7. We ask that as much as possible transactions be completed by phone, email, or online. Initially, in-person transactions will be limited to those persons who cannot complete their motor vehicle paperwork through our ongoing email, phone, and online services which have continued during our closing. We ask that customers call or email our offices in order to determine what is necessary to be done if transactions cannot be Recording Appointments are necessary for Marriage Licenses and Recording of documents.

Hours of operation 8 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 5 pm for phone and email. Appointments as scheduled.

Contact 970.304.6530 or www.weldgov.com Online services continue to be available 24/7. We ask that as much as possible transactions be completed by phone, email, or online.

Elections Open Monday through Friday 8 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 5 pm Online services continue to be available 24/7. We ask that as much as possible transactions be completed by phone, email, or online.

Citizens may register to vote online at www.govotecolorado.gov. Please consider this as a first option if you need to register to vote or change an address.

The lobby is open to the public. Please observe social distancing and wear masks, if possible.

Contact information- 970.304.6525 or www.weldvotes.com

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*Colorado Dual membership data per CMS as of 10/1/2019 Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a contract with the State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.

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