Weld County Sheriff’s Office Warning About Catalytic Converter Thefts

Auto, Home, Farm & Commercial

Agents Mark Kinnear Devon Kitchell 303-732-9700

20 S. Main Keenesburg, CO

Weld County Sheriff’s Office warning about catalytic converter thefts

The Weld County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about several recent reports of catalytic converter theft.

Since Jan. 1, deputies have responded to three reports of catalytic converter theft at various locations throughout the county. A total of 15 catalytic converters were stolen from vehicles in those three incidents. Deputies also are investigating an attempted catalytic converter theft case. Thefts of catalytic converters have been on the rise nationwide for about the last year due to the high amount of precious metals contained in the devices, which are trading at record prices, according to a March 16 news release issued by the Catalytic Converter Theft Committee of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators in cooperation with the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. Many lower emission and hybrid vehicles feature catalytic converters, which is an Environmental Protection Agency exhaust emission control device.

Most catalytic converters don’t have serial numbers, making it difficult to prove one has been stolen. To deter this specific type of theft, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents to uniquely identify their catalytic converters as recommended by the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.

One option is to engrave a unique number, such as your vehicle’s VIN number, partial VIN or license plate, directly into the catalytic converter. Engravers can be purchased at most local hardware stores for about $20. Caution must be used to not damage the catalytic converter while etching.

The International Association of Auto Theft Investigators and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries also recommend residents purchase a brightly-colored, high-temperature automotive exhaust spray paint – rated between 1,300 and 2,000 degrees – and apply a generous amount to - MORE -

Email: Public_information@co.weld.co.us Phone: 970-400-2802 your catalytic converter to make it stand out and deter thieves. The paint will also signal to law enforcement and metal recyclers that the catalytic converter in someone’s possession is likely stolen.

Additional ways to protect yourself from catalytic converter theft include: • Parking in a garage or secured parking area. • Installing a bright motion sensor light to discourage potential thieves. • Installing an anti-theft device. • Always locking vehicle and setting the alarm. • Fleet vehicles and minimally used vehicles should be parked in a secured, alarmed and well-lit yard.

Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime is asked to call the Weld County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 356-4015 or Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimeshurt.com. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect(s) may be eligible for a cash reward.

EMS Week 2021

Emergency Medical Services, or EMS, is the general term for ambulance response. However, EMS is really a complicated system and so much more than a simple ambulance operation. At Mountain View Fire we operate a system known as Fire-Based EMS, which means that EMS is provided by the fire department. We have our own ambulances, EMTs, and paramedics and EMS is part of our larger concept of operations known as all-hazards response. Really all this means is that we respond to every kind of emergency you can imagine, and the EMS component is integral to the service we provide. In fact, EMS accounts for the largest majority of the calls for service we run; somewhere between 65%- 70% of our calls are for emergency medical situations.

Every Firefighter is medically trained to the EMT- Basic level and can work on the ambulance. Additionally, every ambulance and many fire engines are staffed with paramedics. Paramedics are the highest level of EMS practitioners in our system. Paramedics are highly trained and skilled healthcare providers. Paramedics do many of the same skills that a doctor will do in the emergency department, but our job is to perform those skills in the field, often in austere conditions. The job of EMS is to be the first touchpoint in the healthcare continuum and set the rest of the patient care, and hospital, up for success in treating the patient.

A brief example would be a person having a heart attack. Our paramedics can identify and diagnose a heart attack and pinpoint the location in the patient’s heart where the heart attack is occurring. The paramedics begin treatment to support the vitals, manage the chest pain, administer medications that will help perfuse the coronary arteries, and declare a cardiac alert to the hospital. Based on the information the paramedics provide, the hospital will clear out an operating room called a ‘cath lab’ and prepare their team for our arrival. When EMS arrives with the patient, having completed as much prep work as possible such as starting IVs, giving medications, trending the heart rhythms with consecutive 12 lead EKGs etc., the emergency room doctor will briefly confirm our findings and the patient will be taken to the ‘cath lab’ where the cardiologist will catheterize the patient and open the blocked vessel, restoring normal heart function. The entire goal of this process is to reduce the ‘D2B’ or Door-ToBalloon time, which is how we describe making sure the patient gets catheterized as quickly as possible. A reduced ‘D2B’ time is directly correlated to better heart function and better outcomes. EMS exists as one very essential component in the overall care of patients.

Our EMS response covers every type of emergency you can imagine, firefighters and paramedics arrive at work never knowing what they might be called to. They can find themselves helping a patient trapped in a car after a car accident, fighting a structure fire, and helping a person having a heart attack all in the same day. It takes incredible diligence and education to operate at this level. Training and continuing education are a very important and ceaseless component of our daily lives. We strive for excellence to deliver the best possible service and patient care. EMS is a very challenging vocation, but that’s part of the reason we love what we do. There is nothing better than knowing you helped somebody during their time of need. Thank you for letting us serve you and happy EMS week!

Aims Community College to Offer Free Summer Tuition for In-district Residents

GREELEY, CO – May 5, 2021 – Aims Community College will offer free tuition opportunities this summer semester for residents who live within the Aims tax district. The College is offering free tuition to help the community recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The past year has been tough financially for many people, and our hope is to relieve some of the financial burden for current and new students as they work toward their educational goals,” said Aims CEO/President Dr. Leah L. Bornstein.

Since COVID-19 hit, hundreds of thousands of students around the country have “stopped out” (i.e. taken a pause in enrollment) for various reasons, including loss of income, lack of childcare, and other financial challenges. Community colleges, which serve a proportionally larger population of low-income students, have seen some of the sharpest enrollment declines.

Aims is using available institutional funds to cover the tuition costs. “It’s the right thing to do for our students and the community,” Bornstein said. “It’s so important for people to get back to pursuing an education and achieving the outcomes associated with it, including better employment opportunities and higher earning potential. This is an opportunity to help individuals build their own success stories, to help our local economy by building a robust and talented workforce, and to help our community become stronger as a whole.”

To learn more about free summer tuition opportunities, visit the Aims Community College website.

About Aims Community College

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

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Laura M. Ferguson, PA | SCL Health Heart & Vascular Institute – Brighton

Being mindful about what you eat is not just about losing weight. Nourishing our bodies with healthy and nutritious foods can improve blood sugar, lower blood pressure, help digestion, give us energy to get through our day, improve sleep, and enhance mood and emotional well-being. When we are thoughtful about what types of foods we eat, many other aspects of our health will benefit. However, making big, drastic changes to our diets is overwhelming, and often unsustainable. Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution to “eat healthy” and by January 5th you’re completely discouraged and unmotivated? Think of the story of the tortoise and the hare: slow and steady work is more productive than sprinting and getting burned out. When making lifestyle changes, studies show that attempting small, manageable, incremental improvements in our diets is the best way to achieve long-lasting successes. Here are a few straightforward ways to make positive adjustments to your diet. Make a goal to drink 60 ounces of water every day. Measure out 60oz in the morning, and make sure you’ve finished it by bedtime. By consciously increasing your water intake you will almost automatically decrease your consumption of sugary and alcoholic drinks.

Hide the salt shaker. While it’s challenging to eliminate ALL salt from your diet it’s very easy to take the salt shaker off the dinner table. This is an easy way to decrease salt consumption without having to read nutrition labels or calculate sodium content. At first the food might taste bland but our tongues and brains will adjust to the lower amounts of salt in 6-8 weeks.

Add fruit to breakfast. This is one of my favorite nutrition “rules” because it is so uncomplicated. Adding one serving of fruit to your breakfast is simple and easy. Add a handful of berries to your cereal, a piece of melon with your toast, or even an apple in the car on the way to work. It doesn’t have to be complicated but adding those vitamins and nutrients to your diet right off the bat is a great jumpstart to your day. Soon it will become habit and in one step you’ve made a difference in the nutrition you’re giving yourself first thing in the morning.

Add a vegetable to lunch. Again- so easy to remember! One serving of a vegetable at lunch is a quick way to ensure you are getting nutritious foods throughout the day. Try it for a few weeks and before long it will become a habit.

Pick one tip to focus on for a few weeks and it will become habit- then move on to the next one. By the end of the year you will have made incredible progress! If you slip up, don’t get discouraged. Try again the next day. Look for Part 2 of this series in the next edition of the Lost Creek Guide.

Congratulations 2021 Graduates

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Your Trusted Heart Care Experts in Brighton

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

We accept most major insurance plans, and offer online scheduling for your convenience. HEART & VASCULAR CONDITIONS WE TREAT:

• Arrhythmia and heart rhythm disorders • Atrial fibrillation (Afib) • Heart attack and coronary artery disease • Heart failure • Congenital heart defects • Heart valve disease • Vascular and arterial disease

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

Pictured Left to Right: Mark Chou, DO, Christopher Cannon, MD, Laura Mason Ferguson, PA-C, Kirstin Hesterberg, DO, Donald Rabor, MD, Mitchell Jamison, PA-C