Volume 14 • Edition 12
June 16, 2021
Delivering to over 14,300 homes & businesses in 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
Joe Manchin: Why I’m Voting Against the For the People Act
Editorial by United States Senator from West Virginia, Joe Manchin published June 6th, 2021 in the Charleston Gazette -Mail The right to vote is fundamental to our American democracy and protecting that right should not be about party or politics. Least of all, protecting this right, which is a value I share, should never be done in a partisan manner. During my time as West Virginia’s secretary of state, I was determined to protect this right and ensure our elections are fair, accessible and secure. Not to benefit my party but all the people of West Virginia. For example, as secretary of state I took specific actions to establish early voting for the first time in West Virginia in order to provide expanded options for those whose work or family schedule made it difficult for them to vote on Election Day. Throughout my tenure in politics, I have been guided by this simple philosophy — our party labels can’t prevent us from doing what is right. Unfortunately, we now are witnessing that the fundamental right to vote has itself become overtly politicized. Today’s debate about how to best protect our right to vote and to hold elections, however, is not about finding common ground, but seeking partisan advantage. Whether it is state laws that seek to needlessly restrict voting or politicians who ignore the need to secure our elections, partisan policymaking won’t instill confidence in our democracy — it will destroy it. As such, congressional action on federal voting rights legislation must be the result of both Democrats and Republicans coming together to find a pathway forward or we risk further dividing and destroying the republic we swore to protect and defend as elected officials. Democrats in Congress have proposed a sweeping election reform bill called the For the People Act. This more than 800-page bill has garnered zero Republican support. Why? Are the very Republican senators who voted to impeach Trump because of actions that led to an attack on our democracy unwilling to support actions to strengthen our democracy? Are these same senators, whom many in my party applauded for their courage, now threats to the very democracy we seek to protect? The truth, I would argue, is that voting and election reform that is done in a partisan manner will all but ensure partisan divisions continue to deepen. With that in mind, some Democrats have again proposed eliminating the Senate filibuster rule in order to pass the For the People Act with only Democratic support. They’ve attempted to demonize the filibuster and conveniently ignore how it has been critical to protecting the rights of Democrats in the past. As a reminder, just four short years ago, in 2017 when Republicans held control of the White House and Congress, President Donald Trump was publicly urging Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster. Then, it was Senate Democrats who were proudly defending the filibuster. Thirty-three Senate Democrats penned a letter to Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., warning of the perils of eliminating the filibuster. It has been said by much wiser people than me that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Well, what I’ve seen during my time in Washington is that every party in power will always want to exercise absolute power, absolutely. Our founders were wise to see the temptation of absolute power and built in specific checks and balances to force compromise that serves to preserve our fragile democracy. The Senate, its processes and rules, have evolved over time to make absolute power difficult while still delivering solutions to the issues facing our country and I believe that’s the Senate’s best quality. Yes, this process can be frustrating and slow. It will force compromises that are not always ideal. But consider the alternative. Do we really want to live in an America where one party can dictate and demand everything and anything it wants, whenever it wants? I have always said, “If I can’t go home and explain it, I can’t vote for it.” And I cannot explain strictly partisan election reform or blowing up the Senate rules to expedite one party’s agenda. The truth is there is a better way – if we seek to find it together. The Voting Rights Act, for example, was monumental in the fight to guarantee freer and fairer elections in the United States. Since its original passage, it has been reauthorized with overwhelming bipartisan votes five separate times. In addition, there is bipartisan support to pass the latest iteration of this legislation, the rightfully named John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would update the formula states and localities must use to ensure proposed voting laws do not restrict the rights of any particular group or population. My Republican colleague, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, has joined me in urging Senate leadership to update and pass this bill through regular order. I continue to engage with my Republican and Democratic colleagues about the value of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and I am encouraged by the desire from both sides to transcend
partisan politics and strengthen our democracy by protecting voting rights. Of course, some in my party have argued that now is the time to discard such bipartisan voting reforms and embrace election reforms and policies solely supported by one party. Respectfully, I do not agree. I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening binds of our democracy, and for that reason, I will vote against the For the People Act. Furthermore, I will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster. For as long as I have the privilege of being your U.S. senator, I will fight to represent the people of West Virginia, to seek bipartisan compromise no matter how difficult and to develop the political bonds that end divisions and help unite the country we love. American democracy is something special, it is bigger than one party, or the tweet-filled partisan attack politics of the moment. It is my sincere hope that all of us, especially those who are privileged to serve, remember our responsibility to do more to unite this country before it is too late.
Colorado’s Economy Ranked Among the Top in the Country
By Brianna Kraemer | The Center Square contributor (The Center Square) — Colorado has the sixth best economy in the nation, according to a new study by the personal finance website WalletHub. Even with a year of economic struggles and lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic, the state ranked well for its economic activity (No. 7.), economic health (No. 18) and potential innovation (No. 9). Although Colorado lagged behind slightly in economic health, the state’s economic activity and innovation potential boosted its overall ranking. The state ranked within the top five states with the most start-up activity and the highest change in gross domestic product (GDP). “Colorado has a number of things going for it in attracting talent and new firms into the state -- this includes a healthy and highly educated workforce, a culture that encourages work-life balance, and plentiful outdoor recreational opportunities,” Kate Watkins, chief economist for the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff, told The Center Square. She also attributed the state’s successful economy to diverse and growing industries such as IT, biotech and other innovative careers, which she said remained “resilient” through the pandemic. Colorado’s unemployment rate has stayed relatively flat at 6.4% as of April, but many businesses nationwide are running into problems with a shortage of staffing as the country emerges from the year-long crisis. Of the 50 states and D.C. included in the study, Utah, Washington, California, Massachusetts, and Idaho topped the list with the best economies. On the other hand, the states with the worst economies were Hawaii, West Virginia and Louisiana. “U.S. economic growth depends heavily on the performance of individual states. But some contribute more than others,” the study said, explaining the 29 key indicators of economic performance and strength used to determine each state’s ranking.
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE:
Page 2: Way of the World
Page 2: A Case for God & Country Page 4: Get Ready for Plastic & Paper Bag Fees Page 5: Colorado Congressional, Legisature Redistricting Ramps Up Page 7-11: Ft. Morgan High School Graduating Class of 2021 Page 12: What Grassroots Can do for Our Community Page 13: Ag Workers Set to Gain New Rights Page 16: Colo. Senate Passes Property Tax Reduction Bill
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– Way of the World –
by Bob Grand Our front-page article has a reprint of West Virginia United States Senator Joe Manchin June 6th editorial in the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Entitled Why I’m Voting Against the For the People Act” to the people of West Virginia. Senator Manchin is taking a rare position in Washington these days. He is not supporting his party leadership by opposing this bill which is supposed to solve our voting issues. To quote the Senator:” I have always said “If I cannot go home and explain it, I can’t vote for it” And I cannot explain strictly partisan election reform or blowing up the Senate rules to expedite one party’s agenda . The truth is there is a better way, - if we seek to find it together...American democracy is something special, it is bigger than one party, or the tweet-filled partisan attacks politics of the moment, It is my sincere hope that all of us, especially those who are privileged to serve, remember our responsibility to do more to unite this country before it is too late.” I applaud Senator Manchin for having the courage of his convictions. Our United State Senators in Colorado might do well to learn from him, and not be solely driven by the directions of the Democratic Majority Leader, the Senior Democratic Senator from New York, Chuck Schumer. The date that Senator Manchin’s editorial was published was June 6th, the 77th anniversary of “ D Day”. That remarkable day of great sacrifice marked the invasion to free Europe from Nazi tyranny. Strange that such an important day received little notice from our President. The cost of liberty is not free. It is continually paid by the lives of men and women, people who would sacrifice all to preserve it. We should not forget, even with the current effort to rewrite our history. I recently picked up a copy of Billy Bunny’s Fortune, originally published in 1919, This book had a personal note to Jimmie from Mom and Dad for Christmas, dated 1936. I reflected that it shows that the people we connect with reflect a really narrow time frame, maybe 70 to 80 years. In the bigger scheme of things that is really a small window of time. Make the most of it. The world continues to be a dangerous place. The Iranian ship the Makran, Iran’s largest military vessel with an escort, sailing to what is believed to be Venezuela with a cargo believed to be of weapons. What will be our government response? There is an oil tanker that holds about a million barrels of oil that has been sitting off the Yemeni coast since 2015. It is controlled by the Houthis rebels. The ship has not been maintained and concerns are rising that there is a potential ecological disaster that is just waiting to happen. What will we do about it? There are several investigations on 2020 election results on going. There are some questions. One would think that with the Democratic party denial of President Trump’s claims of election fraud that the winning party would push to have a complete and thorough audit to prove all was well. The fact that has not occurred makes one wonder. Were their fraudulent ballots? The answer is probably yes, but the question to be answered is where they of such a magnitude that it actually effected the election results? That we do not know. The Colorado redistricting effort is moving forward. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled the Redistricting Commission could move forward even though it may not have the formal census numbers yet available from the federal government. Lots of discussion about having communities of like interest combined. What does that mean? Maybe if we had communities of different interests mixed, they would have to learn to talk with each other. What a novel thought. The Democrats continue to have growing disharmony among the base. The extreme progressives, with very vocal positions may do well for that extreme portion of the base but more and more we are seeing extremely negative reactions to this woke culture, defunding the police, and anti-Americanism to touch just a few. More citizens are going to school board meetings asking what is going on in the school systems? Being politically correct is not what parents want to see. They want to see their children educated. Unless there is a change of direction, which is probably highly unlikely, the Democratic Party may be staring at a very unpleasant picture in 2022. A recent mayoral election in McAllen, Texas, a city that is 80% Hispanic, was won by the Republican candidate. Oil hit $70 a barrel. Most of the oil companies are vigorously supporting the green effort yet the reality is the demand for oil is not going away tomorrow but what is going away is the investment in drilling. The oil industry requires continually drilling to balance out the reduction in crude production as oil wells age. There is a life cycle production history for a well. By not replacing the lost production capacity on a regular basis you will eventually have a reduction in production. The Russians and the Saudis are warning that the current under investment in in oil development is laying the groundwork for causing a break in the long-term stability of oil supplies. Guess what that means for where oil pricing is going. Been to the grocery store or bought gas lately? Ronald Reagan said” Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We did not pass it to our children in the blood stream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our
The Lost Creek Guide, Llc Bob Grand - Publisher 303-732-4080 publisher@lostcreekguide.com Our deadline is 7 working days before publication
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June 16, 2021
children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” We are now fighting an insidious attack from within our borders that threatens our future. Please participate in government, make your thoughts known. We need to take back our country from professional politicians, nonsensical academics, lobbyists, bureaucrats, and big business interests that have no real interest in the welfare of the American people or the system that made that all work. All they are interested in is how they can benefit from working and controlling the system. Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated: publisher@lostcreekguide.com
A Case for God in Our Country
Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. America is a great nation. Regardless of how the liberal media and socialists portray our country, America still has greatness inside of her. However, we are seeing the decay and weakening of our land. One of the main reasons is we have forgotten from where the blessings come! America is a country like none other. We have a constitution that stands above the rest. The foundation upon which this republic stands is faith in our Creator God and a desire for freedom of religion in our worship of Him. It was never the intention of our founding fathers to exclude God out of our politics, schools, universities, court rooms and any public venue. On the contrary! They wanted to include God and they desired His blessing to be upon us all. The Declaration of Independence begins with… “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This is why America has been great! The Bible clearly states that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” We need to remember this! We need to get back to this position as a country! The longer we turn from God and do not seek His favor, the worse society will become. It is no wonder there is so much hatred, violence, division, destruction, disregard for the sanctity of life, abuse of power, overreach by the government, disdain for law officers, lies in the media, corruption at every level of government, special interests groups controlling the majority, canceling of our history, offense to common sense and decency, and more in our country. The madness needs to end! America, we need to get back to God! Without Him, we will never be blessed. Without Him, we will never be truly good. Without Him, we will fall. Corey Seulean Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church Longmont, CO hbclongmont.com
June 16, 2021
Red Tailed Hawk
Bruce Sparrow, Keenesburg
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Get Ready for Plastic and Paper Bag Fees in Colorado — and Say Goodbye to Styrofoam
Plastic bags would only be available in limited situations under House Bill 1162, a measure from Colorado Democrats aiming to drive down waste
by Jesse Paul, Colorado Sun Colorado lawmakers on Tuesday sent Gov. Jared Polis House Bill 1162, which would establish a fee for singleuse products, like plastic and paper grocery bags, and let retailers keep some of the proceeds. The bill would also ban the use of styrofoam by restaurants starting in 2024. The measure has long been a priority of Democrats, but it has taken years to get the policy to the point where it had enough votes to clear the legislature, despite ongoing business opposition. Here’s what the bill would do: Plastic bags would be banned in Colorado starting in 2024, with some exceptions The measure would ban all single-use plastic bags in Colorado starting in 2024. But there are asterisks. Restaurants that prepare or serve food in individual portions for immediate on- or off-premises consumption would be exempt, as would stores that operate solely in Colorado and have three or fewer locations. Businesses that are still allowed to offer plastic bags must collect a fee of at least 10 cents on each bag. The fee may be higher if a city or county enacts a higher charge. (More on that later.) “We’re hoping that they also make the culture-change decision,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Denver Democrat and prime sponsor of the bill. Businesses that are prohibited from offering plastic bags may distribute them, with fees, between January and July 2024 if they were in their inventory before the start of that year. Plastic and paper fees begin in 2023 Starting on Jan. 1, 2023, all businesses would be required to impose at least a 10 cent fee on plastic and paper bags. The fee may be higher if a city or county enacts a higher charge. People who are in federal or state food assistance programs wouldn’t have to pay the fees as long as they can prove that they are enrolled in one of those initiatives. Where does all of the fee money go? Businesses would be required to send 60% of the bag-fee revenue they collect to the municipality they operate in. If the business is within an unincorporated part of a county, the money would be sent to the county. Local governments would be required to spend the money on the following initiatives: Bag-fee enforcement costs Waste-diversion programs, such as outreach and education The remaining 40% of the bag-fee revenue would be kept by businesses but not subject to sales taxes. Stores that collect less than $20 in bag-fees in a given quarter don’t have to remit the revenue to their municipality or county and can keep the money. How will consumers know? Under the bill, businesses would be forced to “conspicuously display” a sign inside or outside of their stores alerting customers to the bag fee. The charge would also be listed on patrons’ receipts. The fee cannot be refunded. Say goodbye to styrofoam It’s not just plastic bags that lawmakers are aiming to do away with. The bill would also ban polystyrene products — also known as styrofoam — across the state starting on Jan. 1, 2024. The only exception is that restaurants would be able to continue using styrofoam products for takeout after that date until their inventory is gone. What if stores don’t comply? Municipalities and cities would be able to sue businesses that don’t comply with the new bag-fee and styrofoam rules. They also may assess the following fines: $500 for a second violation $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation The fines would be assessed per violation during a retail sale. In other words, if a business illegally handed out 10 plastic bags during one transaction, they would only be considered to have violated the law once. The measure also repeals a restriction on local governments barring them from introducing restrictions on plastic materials that are more stringent than the state’s.
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Colorado’s Congressional, Legislative Redistricting Ramps up this Summer. Here’s What You Need to Know to get Involved. Preliminary maps will be completed this month, followed by a statewide listening tour to gather input about the proposals and the process
by Sandra Fish, Colorado Sun Colorado is about to experience a hot redistricting summer as two appointed commissions prepare to draw new congressional and legislative maps and then hit the road to seek public input on them. The maps will include a new, eighth congressional district and redraw Colorado’s seven other U.S. House seats to account for the state’s 14.5% population growth from 2010 to 2020. The legislative commission, meanwhile, will redraw the state’s 65 House and 35 Senate seats based on that population change. Want exclusive political news and insights first? Subscribe to The Unaffiliated, the political newsletter from The Colorado Sun. That’s where this story first appeared. Preliminary maps will be completed this month, but already the commissions have received more than 400 comments from people and organizations. “We really are hoping and encouraging community members to participate in the public comment and the public hearings,” said Carly Hare, an unaffiliated voter who lives in Frederick and chairs the 12-member commission redrawing congressional disThe Colorado Capitol is seen on Monday, June 7, 2021, during tricts. the final days of the 2021 legislative session. (Olivia Sun, The Carlos Perez, an unaffiliated voter from Colorado Sun) Colorado Springs who chairs the 12-member commission redrawing legislative districts, agreed. “We want to hear from the public,” he said. “We want to hear what you believe we should be doing and identifying communities of interest.” Committees and subcommittees for the two committees have spent more than 200 hours in meetings since early April, with nearly two thirds of that time taken up by the Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission. And lobbyists are registering to influence the congressional commission and the Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission, which were created by voter approval of constitutional Amendments Y and Z in 2018 to take the politics out of redrawing congressional and legislative districts. Park Hill Dental 100 S. Main Keenesburg First maps will arrive by June 23 www.ParkHillDental.com A delay in the release of 2020 Census data means nonpartisan staff are using other data, including 2019 population estimates, to draw the preliminary maps. Those who want to offer input before preliminary maps are drawn by nonpartisan staff have until June 13 to comment on the new congressional districts and June 18 to comment on the new state House and Senate districts. The preliminary congressional district maps will be revealed June 23, while the preliminary legislative maps will be presented on June 28. Three public hearings on those plans will be held in each congressional district between July 7 and Aug. 30. Input from those hearings will inform map drafts using final census data. For Your Tooth and Gum Health. How the commissions are prioritizing transparency Transparency and public input is a major feature of the new redistricting commissions. Here are some key elements aimed at helping people get involved: Dr. Thomas Croghan has been serving Southeast Weld county with Notice of the (many) commission meetings is posted in advance with links to listen or pride since 2005. We are a full-service general dental office where watch online your dental needs are addressed in a welcoming, professional setting. Audio of those 200 hours of past meetings are available for the congressional and legislative commission Meeting materials, including agendas, presentations and reports, are available for We look forward to meeting you and caring for your oral health! the congressional and legislative commission Information about the 12 congressional commission members and 12 legislative commission members, as well as the selection process are online. How the public can get involved There are several ways to offer ideas and input on how congressional and legislative lines should be redrawn. Again, those who want to comment before preliminary maps are drawn must submit to the congressional commission by June 13 and to the legislative commission by June 18, though comments will be accepted throughout the process. Here are the ways people can offer their opinions to the commissions: Both commissions are allowing public comments. The legislative commission takes comments at its weekly Friday meetings, which begin at 1 p.m. The congressional commission allows comments on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, with meetings beginning at 2 p.m. Those who want to address the full commission must apply online to speak. People may also submit comments online by filling out a form. That form accepts file uploads. Email submissions are also accepted. People are asked to include their names and zip codes. All the public comments and submitted attachments are made public, with online comments displayed on the website and emailed comments and attachments available to view and download. Amendments Y and Z require the commissions to hold three public hearings in each of the state’s seven congressional districts. Those July and August hearings likely will be held jointly, and commission staff on Friday announced 32 potential locations for the hearings. Input from those hearings and information submitted electronically will be used when final census data is available in August and September for commission staff to draw final maps. Another seven public hearings, one in each congressional district, will be held after final map proposals are drafted to get input before final maps are submitted to the Colorado Supreme Court for approval. Who is on the commissions Each commission includes four Democrats, four Republicans and four unaffiliated voters., They were selected by a panel of judges with input in some instances from top Democrats and Republicans in the legislature. Cont. on Page 14, See Colorado Redistricting
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- Obituary -
June 16, 2021
JOHN (JAY) JOSEPH HICKERT
Auto, Home, Farm & Commercial
Agents Mark Kinnear Devon Kitchell 303-732-9700 20 S. Main Keenesburg, CO
John (Jay) Joseph Hickert passed away June 8, 2021 in Akron, CO. Jay was born December 3, 1926 on the family farm in New Almelo, KS. He was the second of eleven children by John W. and Mary L. Hickert. He was baptized at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Almelo where he attended grade school. He attended high school at St. John’s Military Academy in Hays, KS and Norton High School. Jay was born just prior to the Great Depression and as one of the oldest in the family started farming at a young age. In 1948, Jay married the love of his life, Leota Youngs, and in 1950 they moved to Anton, CO to farm dry land wheat for an aunt and uncle. From 1949 to 1979, Jay and Leota raised two sons and four daughters. During this time, he was one of the pioneers in the cattle feeding industry in Colorado and an early adopter of center pivot irrigation and chemical fallow. Jay grew their farming and cattle feeding operation through the 70’s and 80’s. When he was not busy working outdoors, he was usually at his desk studying the commodities market, crunching numbers, reading history, current events, or the latest in farming and ranching. His cattle feeding business eventually provided him opportunities in the commercial feed yard and banking industries and he obtained his private pilot’s license. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends boating, fishing, hunting, and trap shooting. He enjoyed music, including family sing-a-longs with siblings as his mother played the piano in his younger years and listening to the choir at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Goodyear, AZ when he was in his 80’s. Jay was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the Anton Coop, M&M Coop, Akron Elks, Sterling Production Credit Association, Colorado Livestock Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Flying Farmers, the CSU Advisory Council for the Animal Science Department and he was a founding member of Colorado Wheat Growers Association. He served terms on the Arickaree School Board, the 9th Farm Credit District Bank in Wichita, KS, and as chairman of Washington County Democrats. He sat on the board of Dinklage Feedyards and Western Bank. Jay was awarded the CSU Livestock Leader Award in 1998 and was inducted into the Colorado Ag Hall of Fame in 2018. Over the years, Jay and Leota traveled during the winter months and enjoyed spending time during summers at their house on Lake McConaughy. In later years, Jay and Leota spent the winters at their second home in Goodyear, AZ. Jay and Leota celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in January 2021. Jay was a devout Catholic, a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Jay is survived by his wife, Leota; his children Patricia and husband Larry James of Adamstown, MD, Roger and wife Diane of Anton, CO, John Jr. and wife Wendy of Sterling, CO, Rose and husband Dr. Charles Giebel of Highlands Ranch, CO, Mary Brady of Centennial, CO, and Michelle Hickert of Akron, CO; sisters Regina Wasinger and Roberta Lees and brother Urban Hickert; 14 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John W. and Mary L. Hickert; infant son John Michael Hickert; grandson Alex Halpin; sisters Rita Law, Ruth Browne, Rachael Mindrup, and Rosemary Lewis; and brothers Bernard, Louis, and Paul. Rosary and funeral services will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Akron, CO. Monday, June 14th 6:00pm Rosary at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Akron, CO 6:30pm Eulogy at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Akron, CO 7:30pm Procession to St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery on the east outskirts of Akron 8:00pm Burial at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery WAKE To be held at Akron Elks Club following burial. Tuesday, June 15th 9:00am Memorial Mass for Jay Hickert at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Akron, CO 10:00am Brunch in church hall Memorial donations may be made in Jay’s name to the Colorado FFA Foundation and Washington County Nursing Home.
Congratulations to all the
2021 Graduates
June 16, 2021
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Fort Morgan High School Graduating Class of 2021
ABDI ABDI
KATE ACEVEDO LANDEROS
HAWA ADAM
FAYSAL ADEN
ALONDRA AGUIRRE
MERYLE AKELE
ALIEA ALMEREZ
ALICIA ALTON
NANCY AMEZQUITA
LUIS AMPARAN RODRIGUEZ
ANAHI ANDRES
DAMARIS ARREOLA-ORTEGA
SALVADOR BAQUERA
LINO BARRIOS
SANTANNA BARRIOS
TIMOTHY BELLENDIR
JONATHAN BELTRAN
NICHOLAS BELTRAN
ELLENNY BLUEMEL
AMANDA BRENNAN
DAVID BRENNAN
GISEL BRETADO
MATTHEW BULLARD
MARIA CALDERON
CINDY CAMPOS ALEJO
STACEY CAMPOS VILLARREAL
JULIE CASTANEDA
ELLA CHRISTENSEN
RYAN CLARK
PAOLA COSIO COSIO
VANESA DE LEON MOLINA
KYNDALL DEAL
EDDIE DEPRIEST
ANDREA DIAZ
JUDAH DOUGHTY
BENNIE EDWARDS
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June 16, 2021
Fort Morgan High School Graduating Class of 2021
JOHNATHAN EGGLESTON
ISAAC ESCALARA
JACQUELINE ESCALERA
MIGUEL ESTRADA DIAZ
JUAN ESTRADA
MELVIN FIGUEROA
NICHOLE FISHER
DIONICO FLORES CAMACHO
MIGUEL FLORES
ADRIAN FRANCISCO
TESSA FRASCO
ANOTHONY FRIAS
IVAN GARCIA GARCIA
LIBBY GARCIA GARCIA
MADELYN GARCIA
IVAN GARCIA
JESUS GARCIA
VICTORIA MARIA DE JESUS GARCIA
SELAM GEBREMESKEL
GRACE GERGIOU
CODY GERKEN
ERICK GONZALEZ RODRIGEZ
JAYLEEN GONZALEZ
JOSE GONZALEZ
DAVID GRAHAM
JASMINE GRANILLO
IAN GREENWOOD
AARON GUZMAN IBARRA
MARIA GUZMAN VELEZ
JOE HA
BRODY HAMER
LONDON HANDSHAW-PAINTER
JOSE HERNANDEZ RANGEL
CESAR HERNANDEZ
JOANA HERNANDEZ
JEREMY HERRERA MARTINEZ
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Fort Morgan High School Graduating Class of 2021
KAMRYN HERRERA
ALICIA HILZER
DIVINE IRANKUNDA
ABIGAYLE JAMES
CODY JONHSON
WILLIAM JUAN DIEGO
GABRIEL KAGE
RICHARD KANE
SHELBEE KLIESEN
CAEL LANGFORD
JACKSON LANGFORD
LEVI LAWS
SAMANTHA LAWS
MARIA LEANOS
EIMY LOARCA VELASQUEZ
JAVIER LOMELI LOERA
GABRIELA LOPEZ CIPRANO
MARIA LOPEZ MARTINEZ
SAULO LOPEZ
AARON LOPEZ-BEATRIZ
JAYCE LORENZINI
DIANA MANDUJANO
ROSEMARY MANUEL
CAMERON MANZANO
EVELIN MARQUEZ
MIGUEL MARQUEZ
ALEJANDRA MARTA RUIZ
HERIBERTO MARTINEZ
JAVIER MARTIR
JONATHAN MATUL DIAZ
CHASITY MCCOY
ERIC MENDEZ
GLORIA MEZA RODRIGUEZ
AUBREY MILLER
IVE MILLER
LOGAN MILLER
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Fort Morgan High School Graduating Class of 2021
LUIS MOLINA DE LEON
SANDRA MONTEZ
EMMA MONTEZ
YASIR MUSSE
BRIANNA OJEDA
ANA ORELLANA
ALEXIS ORTEGA ACOSTA
MEZMARAE ORTIZ
DAMIAN PALACIOUS-PEREZ
LUPITA PEDRO GARCIA
JANNET PENUELAS
GUILLERMO PINA HERNANDEZ
WALTER PORTILLO
LIZBETH RAMIREZ CAMPOS
SIRILA RAMIREZ
BRENDA RAMOS VASQUEZ
BRIANA RANGEL ROMERO
BRENNA REAGAN
DANEYRA RETANA
ANGEL REYES
MASON RHOADES
ALEXIS RICALDAY
DANIELA RIOS QUINTANILLA
KENYA RODRIGUEZ
LIZBETH AMERICA RODRIGUEZ
VICTORIA ROMERO
REGAN ROTH
IRVING RUBIO MORALES
MATEO SALCIDO
ERNIE SANDOVAL
ROMARIO SARAVIA DELEON
AKACIA SHAUERMANN
GABRIEL SCHLUETER
JOHN SCHWENKE
KAELEIGH SHEARER
KRISTEN SMITH
June 16, 2021
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Lost Creek Guide
Fort Morgan High School Graduating Class of 2021
YISEL SOTELO
JEIDY SOTO RETANA
FABIAN SUAREZ
LEONA TEMPLETON
FERNANDA TOLEDO-TORRESDAY
KENDRA TOLER
ISABELLA TRONDSON
MARISA URIAS
NSENGIYUMVA USAMAHORO
DIVINE UWASE
JORGE VALDEZ
KATERIN VELASQUZ CAMPOS
GABRIEL VICKERS
NATAYA VIGIL
JUSTIN WAGNER
JOSEPH WARD
EMILEE WELLS
ELIZABETH WELP
JOSEPHINE WHEATLEY
JESSICA WHITE
MADELYN WIEDRICH
DRAVID WOOD
MALACHI YANEZ
MARIO YANEZ
MICO YANEZ
TAYLER YOUNG
DYLAN YOUNGS
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June 16, 2021
What Grassroots Can Do for Our Community
Look back 85 years to 1936. The world was changing. Innovations were being made that would reshape our way of life forever. Electricity was brought to large cities, and modern-day conveniences like lights, washing machines and electric stoves, which we sometimes take for granted today, were just being introduced. Electricity in homes and businesses increased convenience, quality of life, and prosperity for all those who had access. But rural areas, which were not seen as profitable for companies investing in new electric technologies, were often left out. People living in rural communities were missing the opportunity to benefit from the new, modern conveniences access to electricity provided. Rural leaders took the novel approach of stepping away from a for-profit model into one where members and communities are put first. Support and passage of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 provided federal loans to pave the way for electric distribution systems to be built to serve rural areas in the U.S. Morgan County REA’s founding members started a grassroots program to push for rural electrification, personally invested in, incorporated, and undertook line construction in 1937 to begin Morgan County Rural Electric Association. This grassroots effort was the first step that led us to where we are today; a place where a non-profit Electric Association, owned by our consumer-members, serves power to our rural community. This boots on the ground approach made electricity available to rural families for the first time. It increased quality of life, in addition to promoting growth in our region and supporting and expanding our agricultural economy. It is what modernized rural America. Today, we now have access to safe, reliable energy. But that doesn’t mean our work is done. Often, our values and local economic impacts aren’t fully considered when new legislation is proposed and passed. As community members, we all have a voice which can support our local values and way of life. This is the same voice that shouted to be heard when our area was being overlooked during electrification efforts across the country 85 years ago. Morgan County REA is asking if you will join our Grassroots effort now and use your voice to support our community, economy, and way of life. Joining doesn’t lead to any commitments; it allows us to reach out to you by email or text and ask you to return prefilled letters and emails to elected officials and commission officers in support of affordable energy, our community, and the local economy. It’s that easy to educate those responsible for legislation so that our community’s best interests are considered. Your voice and support will continue the strong tradition of grassroots advocacy and keep MCREA and the community we serve strong as we look to the future. You have a voice, the voice of rural America. Join us in our grassroots effort at mcrea. org/grassroots and make that voice heard. Rob Baranowski, Manager of Member Service Morgan County Rural Electric Association
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YourSource_LostCreek_4.625x6.875.indd 1
1/8/2019 9:34:18 AM
June 16, 2021
After Months Of Debate, Agriculture Workers Are Set To Gain New Rights In Colorado
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By Andrew Kenney, CPR News Farm workers are set to gain new labor rights under a bill that has nearly passed the state legislature. If approved by Gov. Jared Polis, the change would eliminate some of the special exemptions that the industry has long been granted from labor laws. The bill ran into intense criticism from some farm and ranch owners, and also from some Democrats representing rural areas. In response, the sponsors made several compromises. They kept the core ideas intact, but agreed that some details of implementation would be settled later — such as the length and timing of required breaks, and the details of overtime pay. Those questions would be handled in a rulemaking process. Among its biggest changes, the bill would: Require farms to pay workers the state minimum wage of $12.32 an hour, and not just the federal wage of $7.25 Allow agriculture employees to join unions Require overtime pay for agriculture workers Require meal breaks and rest periods Limit the use of short-handled tools, except for organic operations and in some other specific cases The bill was set to pass its third vote in the House today, after which it will return to the Senate for final approval. David Harold, a farmer in Olathe, said the recent amendments eased some of his objections. But he said that bill proponents didn’t seem to distinguish between businesses that treat their employees well and those that don’t when they wrote their policy. “The bill got to a much better place in the end and there was compromise, and we made progress,” he said. But the process left a “sour taste” in his mouth, and has him questioning his longtime support for Democrats. Harold hoped that the rulemaking process could work out one of his biggest concerns: overtime pay. Having to pay extra for long days at critical times could force him to reduce hours for his workers, many of whom are in the U.S. on H2A visas. He saw that as a detriment for men who had come to the country to earn relatively higher wages and work as much as possible. “I really think any employee who wants to work at the (regular) rate ought to be able to,” he said. Workers on H2A visas earn about $15 an hour or more under federal regulations in Colorado. Proponents of the bill said that it would protect workers from exploitation in grueling conditions. “No workers are any more or less unique, no less human, no less deserving of these basic rights,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, a Democratic sponsor who chairs the House Agriculture Committee. Other sponsors included Rep. Yadira Caraveo and Sens. Dominick Moreno and Jessie Danielson. Advocates described workers enduring long shifts without water or restrooms and suffering lasting injuries from the use of short-handled tools — all made worse because workers are afraid to speak up. “Farmworkers were intentionally excluded from the laws that provide basic worker protections in order to preserve a system built on the racially motivated exploitation of farmworkers and domestic servants for their cheap labor,” said Jennifer Rodriguez of Colorado Legal Services, at an earlier committee hearing. Marilyn Bay Drake, executive director of the Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, expected the details of many of the new requirements to emerge late this year, posing significant questions for growers as they plan their next season. “It’s going to dramatically change agriculture, especially produce growers’ income, the way they do things, their relationships with their employees,” she said. “However it is certainly better than it was when it was first introduced in the Senate.”
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June 16, 2021
Colorado’s Congressional, Legislative Redistricting Ramps up this Summer. Here’s What You Need to Know to get Involved.
Cont. from Page 5 To give staff directions on map drawing, at least eight commissioners, including at least, one unaffiliated member, must agree on the recommendations. While some of the commissioners have past political experience, none have held elected office. And others, like Hare, a nonprofit administrator, don’t have political experience. “This is a way for me to support democracy and contribute service,” said Hare, who doesn’t have any political background. “Because I will never run for elected office myself.” What to know about the process Congressional and legislative districts (and sometimes county commission or city council districts) are redrawn every 10 years based on new U.S. Census data. Criteria for the new legislative and congressional maps includes: Equal population. The eight congressional districts would include 721,714 people, the 35 state Senate districts 164,963 and the 65 state House seats 88,826. Guaranteeing voting rights for all, including people of color. Preservation of communities of interests as well as geographic divisions such as counties, cities and towns, while also making districts compact. Creating competitive districts whenever possible. A prohibition on political gerrymandering or drawing districts to benefit a political party, incumbent or candidate. This news first appeared in The Unaffiliated. Subscribe here to get the twice-weekly political newsletter from The Colorado Sun. Although several groups and people are making specific requests to the commissions on where the lines are drawn, nonpartisan staff must follow the guidelines set out in the constitution as well as priorities designated by commission members. Because of delays caused by coronavirus as well as the Trump administration’s failed effort to include a citizenship question, the Census Bureau didn’t deliver detailed data needed to draw new districts in late March as expected. Instead the data will be delivered by the end of September. What questions do you have about congressional and/or legislative redistricting in Colorado? Ask here and we’ll answer them.
June 16, 2021
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Lost Creek Guide
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June 17 Mechanical Bull 6PM July 22 Main Street Market 5-7PM July 15 Chalk Artist 4PM
June 17 Chicano Heat 7PM June 24 Lauren Frihauf 7PM
June 16, 2021
Easy Ways to Improve Your Diet (Part 2)
June 17 Art Walk 4-7PM
July 1 Narrow Gauge Country 7PM
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Laura M. Ferguson, SCL HEalth Heart & Vascular Institute - Brighton In last month’s edition of The Lost Creek Guide I gave you a few manageable ways to make improvements in your diet. Small changes add up over time and really do make a huge difference to your health. Here are a few more small changes you can make to your diet- pick one to try today! When at a restaurant, split an entrée with a family member or friend. You probably already know that restaurants serve meals that are much larger and higher in calories and salt than the foods we typically make at home. The easiest way to watch your portions at a restaurant is to split an entrée. If you’re worried that won’t be enough food, split one main dish and one salad. You will feel satisfied and full without over-eating. And, the cost of going out to eat will be less! Write down everything you eat for 24 hours. EVERYTHING you eat. Don’t do this every day, but try it one day this week. We often mindlessly snack throughout the day, grabbing a bag of chips here or a piece of candy there. A quick cookie in the break room or an extra beer after dinner. We do this almost without realizing it. By tracking every single thing you eat and drink for 24 hours, you realize how many times per day you’re getting extra calories outside of actual meals! Writing it down and putting it on paper is a good exercise to self-reflect and get a better understanding of our diet habits and nutrition pitfalls. Reframe your thinking about “good” and “bad” foods. Instead, think about which foods should be eaten in moderation or occasionally and which you can eat whenever you want. Our brains what it MORE if we label it has “bad,” “against the rules,” or “off limits!” An example: donuts (my weakness!) are my favorite occasional treat but not an everyday food. By allowing myself to enjoy a donut once a week I am taking away the power that it would hold over me if I labeled it a “never” food. Grocery shop in the morning. I learned this trick recently and I love it. Studies show that when you grocery shop in the morning you make better decisions about what you buy. Our brains get “decision fatigue” by the end of the day, and by 6:00pm we are exhausted of making wise choices and are more likely to end up with a shopping cart of snacks and ice cream. Try shopping early in the day and see if you notice yourself choosing healthier options. You don’t need to be a nutrition expert to start making small, simple, steady changes to your diet. Gradual changes are the key to success when working towards a healthy lifestyle. I hope you find something here to try out. I hope to see you in clinic and hear your success stories!
Colorado Senate Passes Property Tax Reduction Bill
By Robert Davis | The Center Square contributor (The Center Square) — Colorado’s Senate passed legislation on Monday that would reduce residential and commercial property taxes. Senate Bill 21-293, which was introduced just last week, would lower property taxes for single-family and multifamily housing units, renewable energy properties, and agricultural land over the next two years. If passed, the bill would drop assessment rates for single-family and multifamily homes to 6.95% from 7.15%. Commercial properties would be taxed at a 26.4% rate rather than a 29% rate as well. It would also expand the state’s property tax deferment system. This provision would allow property owners to defer up to $10,000 of property taxes incurred within the next two tax years until they sell their home. The bill’s sponsors say that the legislation will help hardworking families who may be surprised by huge property tax bills because of Colorado’s rapidly increasing home values. “Property values are rising across Colorado, and it’s imperative that we act this session to mitigate the impact for hardworking families,” Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, said in a statement. “This bill will reduce certain property tax rates over the next two years, allowing us to address the rapidly changing property market in our state and provide substantial relief to the people who need it most.” Colorado voters made the legislation possible when they overturned the Gallagher Amendment in November 2020. The amendment regulated how the state collects its property taxes. Under the law, Colorado collected 55% of its property taxes from commercial property and 45% from residential. Since the beginning of the pandemic, home values in Colorado have shot up over 34%, according to figures from the Colorado Association of Realtors. The average home price now stands at $660,000 statewide, with the average sale price at nearly $100,000 more. The bill will be heard next by the House of Representatives this week as lawmakers hope to adjourn sine die by Friday.