07152015 lcg oil&gas for webt

Events to Attend: It’s Fair Season.

Attend Your Local Fair & Associated Events

Oil & Gas Issue

Volume 9 • Edition 32

July 15, 2015

Delivering over 21,000 papers to rural Adams, Morgan, and Weld Counties

Colorado Oil Production (bbls) YTD Through May 2nd 2015 Data from Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Thank you to the Citizens of Rural (Unincorporated) Weld County

Year to date through May 2nd of this year Weld County was responsible for 87.3% of the oil production in the state of Colorado. In 2014 rural (unincorporated) assessed value for oil and gas properties represented 93.6% of the entire Weld County oil & gas assessed valuation. That same rural (unincorporated) area represented 55.4% of the residential assessed valuation in Weld County. Said another way 44.6% of our developed areas received the tax benefits provided by the Weld County Commissioners to all county residents, which was funded by oil & gas taxes.

Looking at our neighboring counties mill levies in 2014: County Mill Levy Adams 26.815 Boulder 25.120 Larimer 22.520 Weld 16.804 (Note: in 2015 the Weld Mill levy will be 15.800)

Total Colorado Barrels: 34,190,560

Weld County Assessed Oil & Gas Values by Area 2014

Now when you get your tax bill it has all the mill levies associated with your property.

Weld County tax assessor explains why that looks complicated.

“Each tax area represents a unique combination of tax districts within Weld County. All real estate properties in one tax area are in the same overlapping tax district. While each tax district sets its own mill levy, the sum of the individual district levies within the tax district is used to calculate the property tax paid for property within the tax area. Each tax area consists of different combinations of tax districts. Therefore, the mill levies for most, if not all areas differ. There are 304 tax authorities in Weld County. These overlap in a way that creates over 3,070 tax areas.

The mill levy of each tax area represents the number of dollars of property taxes levied for each one thousand dollars of assessed value. For example a tax area with a mill levy of 75.554, a residential property owner pays approximately $75.55 for every $1000 in assessed value he/she has. The breakdown in each tax area shows the tax districts and the levies within the area. The total levy for the districts within an area equals the levy which is multiplied by assessed value to determine property taxes.”

Now having talked about the technical side, let us discuss the impact that the rural (unincorporated) areas have to deal with. Producing 93.6% of the oil in the state so far this year, we can estimate that they have 93% of the oil & gas traffic. Being a little less than 4,000 square miles Weld County has 700 miles of hard surface roads, 2,300 miles of gravel roads and over 500 bridges to maintain. Weld County has one of the largest County Public Works Department in the state with a very aggressive construction and maintenance effort. The CR 49 project is the largest currently active road project in the state

See page 3

What’s In This Issue: Total Weld County Oil & Gas: 6,132,506,540

Weld County Assessed Residential Values by Area 2014

Page 2: Jon Caldera letter to Editor Page 2: Tommy Holton Letter on Impact of Oil & Gas Page 3: Way of the World Page 11: Net Petroleum Exports Continue to Increase Page 12: Waiting For Chapter 10. What is the State Water Plan?

Page 14: Weld County Assessor Article Page 14: Weld County Treasurer Article Page 15: John Suthers Page 18: Weld County & Anadarko Bring Water to Watenburg

Total Weld County Residential: 2,080,955,480

Page 21: Bernie Sanders & Donald Trump

Page 2

A Bad Law Badly Written

Lost Creek Guide

Dear Friends: The Supreme Court may have given President Obama a break on the bad drafting of Obamacare, but that doesn’t change the fact that Obamacare is a disaster for Colorado families.

Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans have lost their health insurance plans and seen their deductibles and premiums skyrocket.

I voted against Obamacare in Congress and still think it is a poorly thought out policy and an even worse drafted law. Nonetheless, once it passed I felt obligated to live under the same health care system that Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama foisted on the American people, so I signed up for health insurance on the Colorado Obamacare exchange.

My co-pays went from $20 to $60, while my deductible went from $350 to $4500! From $4500 to $6250 I owed an additional 40%.

The President promised that Obamacare would save families $2500 a year, but instead it’s costing families more.

This is unaffordable and unsustainable for most Coloradans.

We must work towards repealing and replacing Obamacare with patient-centered reforms that lower cost and expand access.

Real reform in healthcare is possible. To get there we need to get rid of Obamacare and pass reforms that will actually bring down costs and expand access.

Sincerely, Mike Coffman, U.S. Representative

Letter To The Editor

It’s not easy taking on bullies, whether on the schoolyard or in the world of politics. Fortunately, we at the Independence Institute, the free market organization I run, take on political bullies. It’s what we do.

Bullies like to use the coercive power of government to take away individual choices.

Nothing exemplifies this more than the current effort by Dudley Brown of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, who is using his same tired intimidation and threats to squelch a growing movement to re-legalize 30-round magazines, winning back 99 percent of all the gun magazines we lost in the 2013 ban.

This guy, who claims to be a no-holds-barred pro-gun activist, is fighting, right along

July 15, 2015

with anti-gunners, to uphold Colorado’s new ban on any gun magazine that holds more than 15 rounds. Dudley Brown and anti-gun billionaire Michael Bloomberg are now on the same team! Denying a woman her choice of a 16-round gun for self-defense. Denying a man the choice to buy a standard 30-round mag for his AR-15.

Bullies like Michael Bloomberg surround themselves with bodyguards who can fire a hundred rounds in a few seconds. Hypocritically, Bloomberg won’t let a domestic violence victim buy a Glock or Springfield handgun with a standard 16- or 17-round magazine.

Bully Brown may already have stockpiled all the magazines he needs; he won’t let a domestic violence victim buy her first gun with a standard magazine until he can add another 100-rounder to his stockpile.

I deliberately use the term “bully” in regards to Brown. Not only do bullies tell other people how to live, bullies use intimidation and fear. Brown enjoys beating elected Republicans into compliance by threatening them with ugly primaries full of malicious lies, which admittedly is a specialty of his. Those of you in Northern Colorado may have had a taste of Dudley’s brand of personal attacks. It is understandable that good people running for office fear this bully and his tactics, and I hold no ill will toward those he intimidates.

Unlike with Brown’s organization, the magazine ban is not a profit center for the Independence Institute. We have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars — far more than we have raised — representing Colorado sheriffs in a federal lawsuit to overturn this unconstitutional ban.

Brown’s contribution to the fight to restore our gun rights is to literally tell law-abiding citizens to “shut your pie hole,” to buy magazines illegally, and to go after the real “antigunners.”

We’ll take one of Brown’s suggestions. We will go after the real “anti-gunners.” That’s why we are standing up to Brown.

In 19 years, Brown has raised millions of dollars from Colorado gun owners, and has NEVER passed a pro-gun bill in the state Legislature.

Brown vehemently opposed the bipartisan 2003 Concealed Carry Act. If Brown had prevailed, Colorado would still be one of the small number of backward states, like Massachusetts or New York, where citizens are denied the right to carry based on the city or county where they live.

If there’s a concealed weapon permit in you pocket today, know that Dudley worked against you having it.

Brown ignores the need of female victims of domestic abusers and stalkers who need their first gun immediately.

Bills to fully repeal the mag ban have twice failed this legislative session, but if the phony fundraiser Brown really supported gun owners, we could win back 99 percent of what we lost on our way to full repeal by re-legalizing 30-round mags.

Second Amendment rights aren’t abstract debating points. For people who must defend themselves, they are survival itself. Callously, Brown, like Bloomberg, puts himself ahead of the people who most desperately need the Second Amendment. Crime victims — especially women, the disabled, and others — need the tools to resist violent bullies right now, not in some far-off hypothetical day when Brown for the first time in his life passes a proSecond Amendment bill for this state.

We will have to wait until next year to get to a vote. As long as necessary, we will continue to fight to expand our gun rights, one round at a time if needed.

– Jon Caldara, President of the Independence Institute

Impacts of Oil and Gas Operations

The Lost Creek Guide, Llc

Bob Grand - Publisher 303-732-4080 publisher@lostcreekguide.com Darlene Ruyle - Editor editor@lostcreekguide.com

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

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By far the biggest impact that we have in Weld County and my City are the impacts to our roads. Although much of the impacts are in unincorporated Weld don’t forget about the municipalities are also greatly impacted and most municipalities don’t have the funding to keep up. We need help from every company that is running semi trucks even the ones that are not oil and gas related, but much of the traffic is oil and gas operations generated. This means water trucks, gravel trucks, oil trucks, and all of the related subs.

Operators have felt the sting of low oil prices, but the residents of Weld still feel the impacts from the operations to our road infrastructure. We need help to keep those systems in good shape for operators and the citizens. Unlike Boulder, the complaints that I field are about the road health. Citizens in Weld are by and large onboard with oil and gas development, but when folks get fed up with the conditions of our roads they will rebel against the industry for that reason alone. Now is not the time for industry to pull back with some help, but to forge ahead and get in front of this rising tide. Lets work together to help the communities and forge that bond. We are getting little help from the State in this regard.

With the way that the Severance Tax is divvied up in the state, the impacts that we feel in Weld are not being addressed out here in the oil patch. Weld County has the most active wells in the state and the equation for getting Energy Impact Grants should be based on the number of active wells that each county has. As of now the grants are made according to some complex math that was made up by politicians to divert monies to other including mountain towns that have zero impact from oil and gas operations. The only impact to the mountain towns is when an employee of Anadarko decides to take his family skiing, REALLY!!

Wait one more thing, calling all Operators!! Put some signage or logos on the side of your pickups. I’m tired of one more generic, non-descript white pickup pulling into one of the family farms and I have to drive out there to see who the hell it is!! I’m weary of that scenario and I know I will get less calls from my mother Big Red!! The other benefit to industry is that when that pickup goes home and is parked in the driveway, all the neighbors of that employee will know what supports that family. They will think about when they go to the voting both because they have intimate knowledge about that young family. As always thank a vet and vote!

– Tommy Holton, Mayor of Fort Lupton

July 15, 2015

By Bob Grand

Way of the World

Lost Creek Guide

What makes the United State great, besides its people, who I believe are exceptional, is that we are a nation of law. That is important because that should assure us all that we are to be treated equally, no matter where we are from or what nationality or race we are.

It was with sadness that I read about the shooting of Kathlyn Steinle, a young 32 year old, who was shot and killed in San Francisco while walking on a pier with her Dad. What a terrible event! More terrible by what the facts are telling us about the killer. A five time deported, 7 felony conviction person, who was released by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department because of the Amnesty City philosophy of San Francisco, a philosophy held by another 200 American cities.

Where was the outrage voiced by President Obama on the shooting of young African Americans that resulted in massive Federal attention. Is it because he supports the sanctuary concept? No one supports bad behavior by anyone, be they elected officials, appointees or law enforcement. Everyone should expect fair due process. Where was Kathlyn Steinle’s due process? Our President is the President of the United States, that means everyone, not just his base. We need leadership not a spin doctor.

When will both parties take some action to get our government back on track and respect the rule of law? It does not matter whether you are a Democrat or Republican because the pendulum swings. All the American people deserve better.

Correction to Prior Article on Hudson Fire District Mill Levy

In my last article from Hudson Fire Protection District, the calculations I provided on the tax impact of the proposed mill levy increase were incorrect. I appreciate Fire Chief Tom Beach bringing th emistake to my attention, and I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

In Colorado, property taxes are based on the ”assessed value” of a home, which is 7.96% of the home’s actual value-that is, property taxes are only paid on 7.96% of the actual value of the home. Multiplying the assessed value of a home by the proposed 3.464 mills of additional property tax will provide the increase in tax dollars.

Example # 1: For a home worth $100,000, the tax increase would be calculated asfollows:Assessed value = $7,960 ($100,000 multiplied by7.96%) Tax increase = $27.57 (assessed value ($7,960) multiplied by proposed 3.464 mills(.003464)) Example #2: For a home worth $250,000, the tax increase would be calculated asfollows: Assessed value = $19,990 ($250,000 multiplied by7.96%) Tax increase = $68. 93 (assessed value ($19,990) multiplied by proposed 3.464 mills (.003464)) If you have any questions or concerns regarding this very important issue, please do not hesitate to call me at (303)536-0161.

Thank you, KenGabrielson

Page 3

Federal Fracking Rule Stayed by Court

DENVER – U.S. District Court of Wyoming Judge Skavdahl today granted a stay of BLM’s HF rule. The state of Wyoming, North Dakota, Colorado, Utah and Independent Petroleum Association (IPAA) and Western Energy Alliance showed a credible threat of irreparable harm from the agency’s rule, but the judge did not fully rule on the preliminary injunction because the federal government had not yet submitted the full administrative record.

Compliance with the rule, which was originally intended to go into effect on June 24th, has been delayed until approximately early August. The government has until July 22nd to submit the administrative record, after which the judge will more fully rule. Judge Skavdahl agreed that the arguments of the states, IPAA and the Alliance have merit and that BLM should not implement the rule in a hurried manner when plaintiffs have a strong chance of prevailing.

“BLM was ill-prepared to implement an extremely complex rule in a short period of time,” said Kathleen Sgamma, vice president of government and public affairs. “We highlighted how the BLM Washington Office has not given sufficient guidance to the state and field offices that are implementing the rule, and as a result they were issuing confused instructions to companies on how to comply. The judge agreed that it makes no sense to implement an ill-conceived rule which could ultimately be overruled in court.”

Background: On March 20th, the Department of the Interior issued the final hydraulic fracturing rule for federal and tribal lands. Immediately following the announcement of the rule, the Alliance and IPAA filed a lawsuit to overturn the rule because it is redundant with existing state regulation and will further discourage responsible development on federal lands. The states of Wyoming, North Dakota, Colorado and Utah also filed suit in Wyoming federal district court. The Southern Ute Tribe filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Colorado last week.

States have been regulating hydraulic fracturing and wellbore integrity for many years and continue to strengthen regulations as activity increases and technology improves. In fact, 99.97% of the permits to drill approved last year by BLM were in states with recently updated fracking regulations, with just one well in a state currently updating its rules.

BLM cannot point to a single incident on public lands to justify the new rules. Even the Environmental Protection Agency agrees hydraulic fracturing does not pose significant risks to groundwater that aren’t already being managed by state, as it lays out in its recent report.

Thank you to the Citizens of Rural Weld County continued from page 1

that is funded by the County. Having said that, many of our rural areas still are behind the curve in improvements. CR 390 being a prime example in northeastern Colorado.

People throughout the state should thank rural (unincorporated) Weld County for contributing to the states revenue base. All citizens of Weld County should do the same.

This includes the citizens of our largest cities in northwestern Weld County, Windsor and Greeley. We should all have self esteem. That is important but that self esteem should be proportionate to reality. Understand what you do and do not do. Rural folks tend to do what they do and do not look for special recognition. That is the way they are. That does not make them less important citizens to our County and State.

Page 4

Lost Creek Guide

Morgan County Republican Central Committee

Vivianne Lorenzini-Chairman, Louise Pilcher-Vice Chairman, Nick Erker-Secretary, Micky Ashby-Treasurer The Morgan County Republican Central Committee met for their regular meeting making plans for many activities for the coming months.

Plans were made to sponsor a float in the Brush 4th of July parade. Elected officials will be taking part on the float. Any Republican wishing to participate by riding on the float or walking may join the activities at 9:30 a.m. at the Brush High School parking lot.

Representatives will be at the Morgan County Fair in August and the banner of the organization will be displayed.

The next MCRCC meeting will be on August 24. At this meeting plans will be made for the September 28th Prospective Candidate’s Night to be in the 4-H building at the Morgan County Fair Grounds. Individual who have announced or concerning seeking a local, district, state or federal office will be invited to attend. Also at this meeting plans will be made for the biennial fundraiser the GOP Gala. The funds raised are to support activities of the MCRCC and the election headquarters for the 2016 election.

During the meeting reports were received from Commissioner Jim Zwetzig, Treasurer Bob Sagel and Assessor Bob Woolridge.

Vice Chair Louise Pilcher led a program and discussion on the announced candidates for the 2016 Republican nomination for president.

Chair Vivianne Lorenzini conducted the meeting. Secretary Nick Erker presented the minutes and roll call. A treasurer’s report was presented by treasurer Micky Ashby.

A discussion on the method of electing delegates to the higher assemblies was held.

They will be elected at the 2016 precinct caucses.

The MCRCC is comprised of two committee members from each of the 17 precincts, the local elected Republicans and state elected Republicans residing in the county. The chair, vice chair and secretary served on the Colorado Republican Central Committee.

Gertie Chapin, 645-2316, Vivianne Lorenzini, 645-2485

July 15, 2015

4-H State Conference–Consumer Choices

Four 4-H members from Morgan County attended the Colorado State 4-H Conference- Consumer Choices competition held on the Colorado State University campus in Fort Collins from June 23rd to 25th. Consumer Choices involves the judging and reasons based upon scenarios and options of a multitude of different categories. The team consisted of Adrianna Miller, Burgandy Larrick, MaKenna Carlock, and Mikayla Zink; coached

by Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent, Jennifer Cooney. Consumer Choices is split into two different team competitions- Placing/Reasons and Group Process. The Morgan County team placed first in the Group Process competition and second Overall in Placing/Reasons trailing Pueblo County. Morgan County’s MaKenna Carlock placed 4th overall in Individual. Congratulations to the Morgan County Consumer Choices team for their participation and placings at the 2015 4-H State Conference.

100 S. Main, Keenesburg, CO 80643 730 E. Bridge St., Brighton 80601

120 ac

We’re available by appointment Monday-Saturday

2015 Morgan County Fair

July 31st – August 6th Schedule of Events Saturday, July 25 8:00 a.m.

Open Horse Show, Indoor Arena

Thursday, July 30 8:30 a.m.

Dog Obedience Show, Indoor Arena

Friday, July 31 8:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Poultry Judging, Multi-Purpose Building Rabbit Judging, Multi-Purpose Building Ranch Horse Event, Outdoor Arena Gymkhana, Outdoor Arena

Saturday, August 1 8:00 a.m.

Junior Rodeo Performance, Outdoor Arena 11:00 a.m.

Breeding Sheep Judging, Multi-Purpose Building 12:00 p.m.

Goat Showmanship Judging, Multi-Purpose Building 1:00 p.m.

Open Floriculture Judging, Mark Arndt Event Center Following Showmanship - Market Goat Judging, Multi-Purpose Building Following - Breeding Sheep Judging, Multi-Purpose Building 5:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. - Morgan County 4-H Foundation Dinner, Mark Arndt Event Center, Two serving times - 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Contact Foundation Board Members for tickets Sunday, August 2 8:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

4-H Junior Horse Show, Indoor Arena Judging of Junior and Open Field Crops, Mark Arndt Event Center Judging of Junior and Open Garden, Mark Arndt Event Center Market Sheep Showmanship followed by Show, Multi-Purpose Building Church Service, 4H Building

Monday, August 3 12:30 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Open Home Economics Judging begins*, Mark Arndt Event Center Farm Mechanics Judging, West of North Grandstands Market Swine Judging, Multi-Purpose Building Pork Burger Concession Open Open Class Home Economics Exhibits Open for Viewing

Tuesday, August 4 7:30 - 9:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

4:00 p.m.

5:00 pm

Free Breakfast, Sponsored by the Morgan County Farm Bureau Open Class Bottle Calf, Lamb, Kid Show, Indoor Arena Breeding and Market Beef Judging, Indoor Arena Beef Sandwich Concession open (Cattlemen’s)

Wednesday, August 5 8:00 a.m.

Dairy Cattle Judging, Indoor Arena 12:00 noon Catch-it-Dairy Heifer Sale, Indoor Arena 1:30 p.m.

Master Showmanship Contest, Indoor Arena 1:45 p.m.

Cricket Races, Multi-Purpose Building 3:00 p.m Pedal Tractor Pull Contest, Multi-Purpose Building 4:00 -7:00 p.m.

Ag Olympics Competition, Outdoor Arena 5:00 -7:00 p.m.

Steak Fry and Entertainment, Indoor Arena 7:00 p.m.

Catch-it-Contests, Outdoor Arena 8:00 p.m.

Wild West Carnival, 4-H Building Thursday, August 6 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Junior Livestock Sale Barbecue, Mark Arndt Event Center 5:30 p.m.

Junior Livestock Sale, Multi-Purpose Building

Office 303-732-1115

S

Liz Sauter 303-815-2731 Christine Curl 303-884-3466 Nila - Office Manager

Serving the I-76 & I-70 Corridors

Brighton, Hudson, Ft. Lupton, Keenesburg, Roggen, Wiggins, Bennett, Strasburg, Byers.

www.ColoradoTenderfoot.com HOMES WITH ACREAGE:

UNDER CONTRACT *2 ac, Pristine brick ranch on full finished bsmt, 50x40 Morton Shop, loafing shed w/tack room, fenced. CR 26 Brush $349.9K CONTRACT *4.8 ac, ImmaculateUNDER 4 bedroom w/2 fireplaces, 40x50 outbldg, mature trees, views, $345K 33518 CR 4 *4.9 ac. Horse ready! 4 bed, 3 ba. 2-car det grg, outbuildings, mature trees. 10 Cook Ct. Hudson $335K *5 acre Country Oasis full of trees, bushes,SOLD several corrals w/sheds, quonset w/concrete floor, attached 1-car gar. Just off Hwy. 34 on CR 4, Wiggins. $229.9K *7 fenced ac, 4 bed/2bath ranch, BIG Country Kitchen, all appliances, No HOA’s Paved Lanewood & Bromley. $300K *12.79 ac w/water. 4 bed, 3 ba ranch. New kitchen w/granite, maple, tile. 1200 sf outbldg, barn/lean-to. 5879 CR 61 $379.9K *15 ac, 4 bed, 3 ba. Huge kitchen, open flr plan. 36X72 outbldg w.shop, parking, stalls. Ready for animals. Sits 400’ from rd. 9405 CR 49 499K *29 ac, that can be split. 3 wells. Farmers water shares available for lease or purchase. 2 bed farm home. Outbldg. 20573 I-76 Frontage $425K *120 ac Executive Rustic Contemporary, spectacular mountain views, gourmet kitchen, 40x50 shop w/ concrete, land can be split. CR 30&47 $750K

SMALL TOWN LIVING:

*Duplex - 3 bed, 1.5 bath units with attached garage, backyard. 80/90 Nelson. $265K SOLD *Lovely 3 bed, 2 bath ranch. Full bsmt.

2 car grg, fenced lot, flowers, lawn, 325 Lambert Ct. 209.9K *4 bed/2 bath ranch home, hardwood floors, 11,250 sq. ft. lot to build gar/shop, near Schey Park. 335 S. Elm, Keene. $200K *Total Charmer 3 bed, 2 bath, office, rec room, detached grg. 190 N. Cedar, $179.9K *Great deal for the Investor or Handyman. 2 bed home on large lot. 270 Gandy $85K

LAND:

**(3) 1 ac. Jackson Lake lots. Fabulous views 2+ shared acres w/lake access to boat, swim, picnic, play! $49-65K SOLD *4 ac, views, paved, CR 59 N of Hwy 52 $59K *5 ac, near CR 63/8 $50K *5 ac, paved CR 65, south of Hwy. 52. $62.5K UNDER CONTRACT ** (1) 5 ac,views,power.CR 18/65. $55K ea *5 ac, fenced, views, CR75.5/18 $55K *7.77 ac, views. CR 18/61 $80K

*8 ac, views, paved rd, electric, Hwy 52/CR 91 $58K *8.5 ac, natural gas, views, no cov’s. Paved CR 59 $68K *10 ac,power. Paved R 77/Hwy.52.$79Kea. UNDER *10+ ac, lake-mtn views,CONTRACT Estates at Bromley $126K *10+ ac, CR 8/63 $75K UNDER *20 ac, secluded, CR 22CONTRACT off paved CR 59. $135K views, power.

Cavanaugh & 128th. $135K ***38 ac, mtn.UNDER CONTRACT *100 irrigated ac in alfalfa.CR20/53.$325K SOLD

** (bold) Owner Carry Financing

INVESTMENTS:

* 2 AC Highly Visible Commercial Ground. Next to Colo East Bank on Woodward, Keenesburg. $180K * 10 ac annexed into Keenesburg, Great residential PUD. I-76 & Pippin Lane. $350K * 6 ac, Approved for 6 lots with horses allowed.

Great Investment. Hwy. 52, Hudson, $159K * 7 commercial ac w/great I-76 visibility, Roggen $95K *9375 Sq. ft. vacant, treed lot zoned commercial highway and annexed in Town of Hudson, utilities nearby. Beech/Hwy 52. 69K

* 9 acres Northwest Corner of I-76 & Keenesburg Interchange. Annexed into Keenesburg. Zoned Commercial Highway. New Dollar Store just went in on Southeast corner.

Great buy at $549,000 *DUPLEX in Keenesburg, 3 bed, 1.5 bath units, attached 1-car garage, all appliances, 100% occupancy. 80/90 Nelson$265K *12,720 sq. ft. lot with building (not habitable), water tap & septic system in place. Market & Frontage Rd., Keenesburg. $89K

www.ColoradoTenderfoot.com

July 15, 2015

Lost Creek Guide

Keenesburg Water Sewer Rate Increase Notice

The Town of Keenesburg has completed a water and sewer rate study in order to identify needed improvements to the system and how to complete those upgrades. We have developed a 20 year capital improvement plan, and based upon this study have made the determination that our rate structure needs to be changed and that our rates need to increase. The sewer rates have always been a flat rate, this structure will be changing.

Effective October 1, 2015, we will look at everyone’s water use over the winter months of December, January, and February, calculate an average usage, and whatever that usage is that will be the billed usage for each resident through June of each year. The rate will include a base fee of $11.00, and a fee of $5.45 per 1000 gallons of usage. As an example if you average 6,000 gallons of water usage your bill would be $43.70 per month for sewer, and if you average 4,500 gallons of water usage your bill would be $35.52 per month.

This structure is used by many municipalities because it reflects a more equitable way to calculate the sewer fee in that each residence will be charged for their contribution to the wastewater treatment plant, and the reason that the winter months are used to calculate this fee is because during the summer months many residents water their lawns, and this is not water that is making its way back to the treatment facility.

The water rates will use the same usage structure that is currently in place, with each level increasing as follows: Current Rate Proposed increase Oct 1 0-6000 $27 $29.16 6001-10000 $2.25/1000 $2.43/1000 1001-20000 $3.25/1000 $3.51/1000 20001-40000 $4.00/1000 $4.32/1000 40001-60000 $5.00/1000 $5.40/1000 60001 up $6.00/1000 $6.48/1000 As an example if you used 15000 gallons of water the current rate would be $52.25, under the proposed rate increase your new bill would be $56.43.

From left: Commissioner Sean Conway, Commissioner Julie Cozad, Weld County Benefits Manager Jewel Vaughn, Weld County Director of Human Resources Patti Russell, Employee Health & Productivity Specialist Staci Datteri-Frey, Commissioner Mike Freeman, Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer and Commissioner Steve Moreno.

WELD COUNTY RECEIVES AWARD FROM CIGNA HEALTH INSURANCE

WELD COUNTY, CO – The Weld County Board of Commissioners is proud to announce that Weld County received the Cigna Health Insurance Well-Being Award. The county won this award for large-size employers who offer a wellness program to their employees or clients, and demonstrate an outstanding culture of well-being. The award was received on June 16, 2015, at the Annual Cigna Summit at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Denver.

To be nominated for the award, Weld County had to submit information about wellness programming including: policies that encourage physical activity, healthy eating, behavioral health, chronic disease management, and the results and program accomplishments of the Weld County Wellness Program.

“It is an honor for Weld County to be recognized by Cigna as an award recipient,” said Commissioner Chair Barbara Kirkmeyer. “The Wellness Program has evolved over the years as we strive to bring innovative and informative healthy-lifestyle activities, events, and opportunities to our employees.”

Weld County has had an employee Wellness Program for over 25 years. The focus of the program is to enhance and improve employee health, safety, and overall well-being. The County strives to include a diverse range of programming to meet the health needs and personal interests of employees and their families.

“A wellness program is important, because a healthy workforce is a productive workforce,” said Employee Health & Productivity Specialist Staci Datteri-Frey. “Providing education, health screenings, support and a workplace culture that encourages employee well-being helps individuals perform well and live a life they desire.”

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Page 6

— Obituaries —

Lost Creek Guide

Clair B. Orr

A much-loved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend, Clair B. Orr, 61, of Kersey, CO passed on to his eternal life with Christ on June 26, 2015 with his family at his side . He had bravely confronted and fought a rare signet ring cell cancer of the duodenum. He was born on August 12, 1953 in Kremmling, CO to Jack and Alta Orr. He graduated from Kremmling High School in 1971 and attended Colorado State University. He married Deborah Kautz of Crook in 1974.

Clair, a fourth generation rancher, raised and showed Purebred cattle and sold those genetics worldwide. He spent 35 years selling real estate for Orr Land Co. and Terra West Real Estate. Clair was also founder of AgTown Technologies.

He served eleven years on the Colorado Board of Education and was Chairman of the Board for two of those years. He was instrumental in the fight for keeping “In God We Trust” in schools, protecting our school trust lands and holding our schools accountable for the education of our children. He served on the Weld County Council and ran for several political offices. Clair loved politics and believed it was his God given duty to be involved. Clair established Cattlemen for Christ in 1985 and spent his life serving the Lord. He was involved in several other organizations including a member of the Colorado Livestock Association, Weld County Fair Board, Weld County Republicans, Platte Valley FFA Advisory Board, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Oil & Gas, amongst many more.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Deborah J. Kautz; daughters, Tonya (Kyle) Pérez of Nara Visa, NM; Kaycee (Jason) Hoffman of Thedford, NE; Katie (Coy) Egbert of Hudson, CO.; seven grandchildren including Peyton & Libby Pérez, Haxton, Kennedy, and Hayden Hoffman, Kingston & Crew Egbert; parents, Jack and Alta Orr of Granby; sister, Val Orr of Greeley; brothers, Ed Orr of Greeley and Fred Orr of Denver. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Ed & Susie Linke of Granby, CO and his paternal grandparents, Ted and Sara Orr of Kremmling, CO. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2015, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 7755 Greenstone Trail, Fort Collins, CO. Please join us for dessert and fellowship following the service. Memorials may be made to the Clair B. Orr Memorial, P.O. Box 654, Kersey, CO 80644.

Jack Lyman McDonald Jack Lyman McDonald, 80, of Lochbuie entered into rest on July 3, 2015 at his home, surrounded by loved ones. Jack was born on November 29, 1934 in Colorado Springs to Clarence and Edna McDonald. He married Biviana Laing on June 25, 2014 in Brighton.

Jack had a very distinguished career working for the Bureau of Reclamation, and as an independent mainframe computer programmer for Martin Marrieta, IBM, Ideal Concrete and Montgomery Ward.

Jack was an outdoorsman who loved horses and the mountains. He always said, “ I like old people, babies and animals”. His favorite quote, always with a smile on his face was, “ I am half honest”.

He is survived by his loving wife: Biviana McDonald, sons: Jeffery McDonald, John McDonald; daughter: Sue Emerson; grandchildren: Stephanie Emerson, Cody (Kay) Emerson, Elizabeth Ann (Sean) McCammond and Jennifer Marie McDonald; great-grandchildren: Taylor Grace McCammond, Alexis Joanie McCammond, Wyatt Andrew McCammond, and Hendrix Emerson; two brothers, David and Danny and one sister, Darlene.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother William; son, Michael McDonald and his first wife.

A Graveside service for Jack will be held on Friday, July 10, 2015 at 1:00 PM at Elmwood Cemetery in Brighton. Tabor-Rice Funeral Home is handling the arrangements

Bobbie Charles Gudka Bobbie Charles Gudka, 82, of Keenesburg, Colorado, died on July 11, 2015 in Ft. Morgan, Colorado. He was born on June 20, 1933 in Apache, Oklahoma to Dub and Arlys N. (Clayton) Gudka. He married his high school sweetheart, Grace Lindsey on June 27, 1952 in Cyril, OK. Bob started his teaching and coaching career in Sharon, OK in 1952. His career took him to Davenport, OK in 1954 where he was head football and basketball coach, elementary principal and teacher. In 1960 his career took him to Norwood, CO where he coached football, track and was elementary principal and teacher. In 1963 he took a teaching/ coaching principal job in Nucla, CO and in 1966 he moved with his family to Center, CO to be the superintendent of schools. In 1973, Bob was named superintendent of schools for RE3J in Keenesburg, CO where he remained until his retirement in 1992. Bob spent 40 years in education.

Bob loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, camping and sharing his time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He loved every sport and never missed an opportunity to watch or coach his students, children or grandkids. His booming voice was known by every student and parent whose lives he touched.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Grace; his children, Sharon (Steve) Benfort, Karen (Harlan) Else, Mike Gudka, Linda Gudka and Robert (Dawna) Gudka; grandchildren, Casey McPeek, Kevin McPeek, Stephen Gudka, Laura Strzelecki, Ben Copeland, Melyshea Gudka,

July 15, 2015

Erica Gudka, Alan Gudka, Charlie Gudka, Ryan Gudka, BJ Gudka, Chris Gudka and Blake Gudka; great-grandchildren, Gracie Gudka, Preslie and Ace Copeland and Adalynn Lueker.

Preceded in death by his parents Dub and Arlys and son C.W. Gudka.

A Visitation will be held Monday, July 13, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Tabor-Rice Funeral Home, Brighton. A Celebration of Life Service will be on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church, 195 S. Main Street, Keenesburg, CO. Interment will follow at the Sacred Heart of the Plains Cemetery, Roggen, CO. Please join the family to celebrate Bob’s life at the Community Methodist Church in Keenesburg following services. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Bob’s name to the Community United Methodist Church, 195 S. Main Street, Keenesburg, CO. Tabor-Rice Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Colorado Farm Bureau Thanks Atty. Gen. Coffman for Joining in WOTUS Lawsuit

Centennial, Colo. – June 29, 2015 – Colorado Farm Bureau would like to thank Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman and twelve other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency about the rule defining “Waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. “This rule fundamentally changes how EPA would regulate waters in United States.

Furthermore, it takes liberty with two Supreme Court rulings that clearly defined where EPA jurisdiction rests regarding WOTUS”, said Don Shawcroft, President of Colorado Farm Bureau, “the Supreme Court has said that there are limits to EPA’s authority under the Clean Water Act. Yet, the EPA’s jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act would expand immensely under its proposed WOTUS rule. Among the numerous questionable provisions, the rule would define “navigable waters” so as to regulate countless ephemeral drains, ditches and “wetlands” that only contain water when it rains.”

Having Attorney General Coffman recognize the negative impact of this WOTUS rule is a welcome sign for Colorado’s farmers and ranchers and Colorado Farm Bureau appreciates her support. Others filing are Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Drive Smart Weld County Awarded $15,000 Grant from State Farm®: “2015 Good Neighbor Citizenship Award”

Weld County, Colorado. Drive Smart Weld County announced today it has been awarded a grant from State Farm supporting their Teen Driving Program for Weld County high schools.

An overarching goal of Drive Smart is to reduce motor vehicle related injuries and deaths among teens ages 14-19 given the data that Weld County continues to rank highest of all counties in the State of Colorado in the category, “Drivers age 20 or younger involved in fatal crashes”, by the Colorado Department of Transportation. In pursuing this goal, short term outcomes are to increase levels of coordination among community partners; improving the understanding of the risk and protective factors associated with teen motor vehicle injuries and deaths; increasing knowledge, awareness and motivation to encourage teens to comply with the existing Graduated Drive law (GDL); and increasing local support for strengthening GDL. The long term outcomes are to decrease the teen motor vehicle crashes, decrease teen motor vehicle-related hospitalizations and to decrease teen motor vehicle death rates. “The goal is to empower students to make responsible choices, keeping them, their friends, and family safe when driving or riding in a motor vehicle,” explains, Lyn Tausan, DRIVE SMART Weld County Community Relations Specialist.

Additional funding from State Farm is key in the community efforts, allowing Drive Smart Weld County to further educate the youth and community on the need for safety behind the wheel and in the car. Funding from State Farm will allow continued focus on how teens and parents can work together to manage driving access, skills, and habits.

For the past several years, Drive Smart Weld County has received grants from State Farm Insurance for safe teen driving through the Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant.

For more information on Drive Smart Weld County visit www.drivesmartweldcounty.com.

July 15, 2015

Lost Creek Guide

Tri County “WALK to End Alzheimer’s” Serving Morgan, Washington, Yuma Counties September 12, 2015, Fort Morgan City Park

The 2015 “WALK to End Alzheimer’s” had great success at the kick-off event, the Round to Remember Golf Classic. Sherry Bristol announced that over $4000 was raised at the Quail Dunes Golf Course for the fight to end Alzheimer’s.

The 25th annual “WALK to End Alzheimer’s” will be held on September 12 at the Fort Morgan City Park. There are many ways to support the fundraising event. Sponsors may join the cause at various levels. Each level the sponsor will receives incentives of promotion including the company’s logo on the WALK t-shirt, recognition at the WALK, display of company banner at the WALK, custom designed plaque of recognition and t-shirts.

Those levels include: Platinum at $1000, Gold at $750, Silver at $500. The Bronze level of $250 will received recognition at the WALK and display of company banner and a tshirt.

WALKERS and teams may register on line at coloradoalzwalk.org or contact Margaret Chouinard at 970-260-0316 or any committee member for information. Registering for the WALK gets you to the starting line, fundraising get us closer to a cure. WALKERS raising $100 will receive a t-shirts. There is no fee for a team or individual to join the WALK. The WALK begins with breakfast and entertainment at 8 a.m. with the WALK leaving the park at 9 a.m. When all WALKERS return to the park there will be awards and recognition. The top three teams and individual raising the most funds will receive an award at the end of the WALK. All walkers participating will be eligible for other prizes.

Every 67 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the only cause of death among the top 10 in America that presently cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. The end of Alzheimer’s disease starts with your donation. Form your team today and join the “WALK to End Alzheimer’s” on Saturday, September 12.

The local core committee may be contacted for more information: Gertie, 970-6452316; Shelly,970-867-4482; Nancy, 970-867-0903; Shaire, 970-842-2861; Antonia, 970867-3383; Jennifer,970-867-7234. The 24-hour Helpline is 800-272-3900.

By Tina Booten

Russian Knapweed

Russian knapweed is an invader from southern Russia and Asia. It was introduced as a seed contaminate in alfalfa in 1898 as well as possible seed contaminate in sugar beets.

Russian knapweed infests approximately 1.5 million acres in 9 western states and 2 Canadian provinces. Some of the stands have been in existence for 75 years.

Russian knapweed is becoming a problem on winter wheat land. A density of 11 to 64 shoots/11 sq feet reduces wheat yields by 28 to 75% and corn yields by 19 to 88%.

Russian knapweed is allelopathic, which means it contains a toxic substance that inhibits the growth of competing plants.

Therefore it is important to break up the soil layer once the Russian knapweed has been treated before reseeding any type of native grasses.

This weed is also toxic to horses resulting in serious injury or possibly death of the animal.

Consumption of 59 – 71% of the horse’s body weight of fresh knapweed is fatal to horses, especially young ones. If the horse does not die, the symptoms are irreversible and euthanasia is the kindest option. Silage made of Russian knapweed is unpalatable.

Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens) is a non-native deep-rooted perennial that spreads by seeds and aggressive, creeping, horizontal roots (rhizomes). The roots are black with a scaly appearance. Russian knapweed can grow up to 3 feet in height. The stems and leaves are covered with short, stiff hairs. The flowers are urn-shaped, pink to purple in color, and are solitary at the tips of the upper branches. Russian knapweed can be distinguished from other knapweeds by the pointed papery tips of the bracts that surround the flowers.

Russian knapweed emerges from its root system in early spring after soil temperatures remain above freezing. It produces flowers from June to August and sets seed in later summer to early fall. The seeds are viable for two to three years. However, Russian knapweed reproduces primarily from its root system. The roots can grow to depths of 23 feet. Buds on the horizontal roots can form adventitious shoots that may grow to be independent plants.

Russian knapweed can be managed with herbicides, but long-term control must include planting competitive plant species to occupy bare ground once infested by the weed. The most effective method of control for Russian knapweed is to prevent its establishment through proper land management. Maintain healthy pastures and rangeland and continually monitor your property for new infestations.

For more information go to www.weldweeds.org or call 970-304-6496 ext. 3770.

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Lost Creek Guide

Weld County Sheriff’s Office Mobile App

Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams is pleased to announce the launch of our new mobile app for the Sheriff’s Office. The free MyPD application allows citizens to download an app for their iPhone or Android and easily connect with the Sheriff’s Office right from their device.

Due to current events in and around Weld County, citizens can send in tips about crimes or other quality of life issues; by attaching a picture to the tip anonymously or with their information.

“Members of the public can receive important updates from the Sheriff’s Office as push notifications” said Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams. We can send the notifications through twitter or our dashboard and the user doesn’t need an account or to worry about missing an important tweet or message. Sheriff Steve Reams encourage users to opt in to messages if they want to be informed quickly of the new updates or alerts.

Crime and safety issues are also important for citizens to know about. The app includes resources and links on a number of topics; such as, press releases, most wanted, missing children, and many more.

This app is free for residents, contains no advertising, and users do not need to share personal information or set up an account to use the app.

Citizens looking to connect with the Weld County Sheriff’s Office should search for “MyPD” in their app store. Once the app is downloaded and the agency chosen, it will always open to the Weld County Sheriff’s Office and its resources.

Weldon Valley News

July 15, 2015

There were storms this week but, we were missed. The hail in the Denver area would have been disastrous to growing crops. The hay has been harvested, the corn and sugar beets are looking good in the green fields. Let’s hope for good growing season for a bountiful harvest in the fall.

Need some summer fun? Many Weldon Valley youth are participating in the softball programs in Wiggins. Games are several night a week at the Wiggin ball park. Support the youth and have a fun time.

Pat Wickstrom and Sheri Kembel went to Lincoln, Nebraska to visit Pat’s aunt and cousins living in the area. Also visiting were two cousins from Texas.

Attending the wheat tour sponsored by the Colorado Wheat Organization were pat and Don Wickstrom and Cary Wickstrom and Sheryl Lavell. The tour began with breakfast in Fort Morgan at the Country Steak Out Restaurant. Both U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner were special guest. The tour continued to Akron, Yuma, Holyoke, Fleming and Haxtun communities.

Wickstrom and Kemble families enjoy a celebration for Father’s Day and June birthdays at the home of Sheri and Don Kembel.

Dawn and Link Hughes of California were visitors in the area. They spent time visiting with Cindy and Foy Chapin and family. The couple also visited with Tiffany Thompson at the Rocky Mountain Medical Center in Loveland.

Church chat: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Weldon has mass at 7:00 a.m. each Sunday with Father Frank Garcia.

The Weldon Valley Presbyterian in Goodrich has Christian education and worship at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday with Pastor Mark Kenning.

Vacation Bible School will be held on June 29-July 3. The location had been moved to the Weldon Valley School. The church basement continue to have seep water due the high water table. Registration forms are available at the church or call Joy at 970-6459857. Counsels from the Highlands Camp in Allenspark will be aiding with the weeklong sessions. On Friday of the VBS the student will travel to Highlands Camp in Allenspark to experience the camping.

All youth of the community are welcome and invited to join the week of activities.

School scoop: The Weldon Valley International Club had a good trip to Italy and Spain for a nine day adventure this June. The trip began in Rome then headed north to Assisi and Florence. They took a ferry from Florence to Barcelona, Spain where they spent the last two days before heading home. The students attending were: Britney Filter, Gabby Giuliano, Brooklyn Krehmeyer, Daniel Ostuni, Karissa Schulte, Kordell Tibbets, Tara Wickstrom and Connor Wood. Sponsor Meredith Chapin and several parent accompanied the students.

There will be two volleyball camps: July 6, 7 for girls in grades K through 2nd; July 8,9,10 for girls grades 6th through 8th.

Registration is by June 12thcall Coach Katie Lorenzini or the school, 645-2411 or 970396-5731.

4-H News: For information about the local 4-H Club, contact leader, Kathy Wood, 970-768-3661.

Girls Scouts: The troop meets each Monday.

Calendar of activities: Monday, June 29- Friday, June 3, 9 a.m. – 12 noon, Vacation Bible School at the Weldon Valley School. Saturday, July 4, Happy Birthday, U.S.A.!

July 6-10, volleyball camp.

Thought for the day: “The unity of government which constitutes you one people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence…” George Washington.

Don’t Move Firewood

All ash wood, logs, debris and firewood is under quarantine within Boulder County and the City of Erie. If a tree infested with a pest dies, the tree is cut down and the logs often become firewood. As firewood moves, so does the pest it contains. This is the single most common method of movement of invasive tree pests over long distances.

Ash nursery stock and firewood are not allowed to leave Boulder County and Erie (the quarantine area) unless under a special permit. Illegal movement of ash (live or dead) will result in penalties of up to $1000 per violation.

Together, we can slow the spread of EAB. For more information on EAB identification, reporting, management and planning visit www.eab.colorado.com or call 888248-5535.

Thank You From Bob L. Warner

Thanks for your many prayers, flowers, visits, phone calls and cards since my accident at the farm on May 24.

Special thanks to Betty and F.G. Ottesen and Patrick Hladky for their help with the daily activities of running the farm. Thanks also to Chuck Hughes and Mark Buckley, Thanks to the First Responders and the medical professionals at Denver Health, Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Hospital and presently at Life Care Center in Greeley – Bob L. Warner

Honor Our Veterans

July 15, 2015

Lost Creek Guide

EAB research projects in the works in Boulder

A number of research projects have been initiated to study emerald ash borer detection and management under high-elevation, semi-arid conditions that occur in Colorado. The Front Range of Colorado is one of the first areas in the U.S. to become infested with EAB that does not have a native ash forest. A brief description of ongoing projects is provided: • Colorado State University (CSU) is working with the City of Boulder and University of Colorado conducting treatment research in infested areas of the CU campus; several insecticides including, but not limited to, Tree-Age and Tree-Azin are being assessed.

• CSU has initiated studies to understand wounding and healing of trees undergoing injections with labeled EAB insecticide treatments.

• City of Boulder Forestry monitors and studies EAB adult emergence using cages containing infested branches.

• CSU and the City of Boulder are assessing pesticide residues in ash leaf litter.

• The Colorado State Forest Service and the U.S. Forest Service are conducting an EAB trap study by placing 110 traps of various designs around the City of Boulder along transportation corridors. A similar study was conducted by City of Boulder, USDA APHIS and the Canadian Forest Service in 2014. Results are pending from 2014 study.

• CSU is collaborating with local beekeepers to conduct a pollen utilization study to discern what trees are visited by bees, whether ash pollen is utilized and if insecticides used to treat EAB are an issue for honey bees.

• CSU and the CSFS are collaborating on a project to photo document symptomatic changes in ash trees infested with EAB every two to four weeks.

• Colorado Department of Agriculture, USDA APHIS, City of Boulder and University of Colorado are collaborating on the release of several EAB biological control agents on the CU Boulder campus.

Attention arborists, woodworkers and firewood dealers working in Boulder County!

Join the businesses with EAB compliance agreements and pledge to slow the spread of EAB by handling ash wood, hardwood firewood and related debris properly. Businesses with compliance agreements are listed on the EABcolorado.com website as a resource for property owners and managers looking to hire companies that will be responsible and knowledgeable regarding EAB. Contact CDA at 303-8699070 for more information.

“Still Alive at 55” Car Show in Fort Lupton at Purifoy’s Chevrolet

Hosted by Purifoy Chevrolet, with proceeds to benefit the Shriner’s Childrens Burn Center, the event filled all the Purifoy lots as well as 7 blocks of Denver Avenue with cars lined up on both sides of the street.

What a display! There were prizes and giveaways, trophies went to the Best of Show, top 20 with live music provided by the Delta Sonics. A great event in Fort Lupton with lots of folks attending.

A good example of how folks, of all backgrounds and ages can enjoy an event!

Classifieds Work Contact us at Editor@lostcreekguide.com

303-732-4080

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July 15, 2015

Meet Your 2015 Weld County Fair Royalty!

Nicolle Conner Weld County Fair Queen, A junior at Weld Central High School is the daughter of Mark and Sandi Conner of Keenesburg.

Amelia Hatch Princess is the daughter of Eli and Bri Hatch of Kersey.

Lauren Weabner Princess is the daughter of David and Natalie Weaber of Eaton.

The Royalty Girls have been making many public appearances including parades events and county activities. representing and promoting Weld County.

At this time they would like to thank all there generous sponsors of the Weld County Royalty program along with the Weld County Fair board for this wonderful opportunity.

Please join them at the 2015 Weld County Fair. www.weldcountyfair.com

July 15, 2015

Lost Creek Guide

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TeenAge Republicans of Weld County and Northern Colorado (TARs)

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly

Net Petroleum Product Exports Continue to Increase

Over the past decade, domestic refinery output of petroleum products has grown significantly while consumption has declined, resulting in a major increase in product exports. Petroleum product exports averaged 4.1 million barrels per day (b/d) in the first four months of the year, an increase of 0.5 million b/d over exports the same time last year. Product imports are also higher than last year, but to a lesser extent, leading to an increase in net petroleum product exports.

Import and export patterns vary by region, with most exports leaving from the Gulf Coast (Petroleum Administration for Defense District 3), and imports coming to the East Coast (PADD 1). Record-high refinery runs and increased global demand for petroleum products from the United States continue to push exports higher.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly Note: Totals may not add because of independent rounding.

More than half of the country’s refinery capacity is located in PADD 3, and roughly 75% of U.S. product exports are sent from that region. Through April, Gulf Coast petroleum product exports were up 444,000 b/d compared with the same time last year. Gasoline, distillate, and jet fuel exports combined accounted for 40% of the increase. Higher levels of gasoline and distillate exports were sent to countries in the Western Hemisphere, while gasoline exports to Africa decreased slightly. Jet fuel exports have primarily increased to Western Europe, Central America (plus Mexico), and South America, and to a lesser extent Africa. Propane and naphtha exports are each more than 150,000 b/d higher than last year, and are primarily sent to Asia.

Product imports remain an important source of supply on the East Coast, supplementing in-region refinery production and receipts from the Gulf Coast and, to a lesser extent, from the Midwest (PADD 2). U.S. motor gasoline product supplied has been 71,000 b/d higher so far in 2015 compared with last year, and imports of total motor gasoline (including both blending components and finished gasoline) have increased by 103,000 b/d.

Petroleum product markets on the West Coast are typically tightly balanced, with inregion refinery production nearly evenly matched with demand. The West Coast is largely isolated from the rest of the country’s petroleum markets because there are no pipelines that cross the Rocky Mountains. However, in recent years, the region’s supply of distillate fuel has exceeded demand and, as a result, exports have increased. West Coast distillate exports averaged 117,000 b/d so far this year, in line with the previous two years and 37,000 b/d higher than in 2012. During times of supply disruptions, imports to the West Coast often increase to replace lost supply from in-region refineries, as has been the case so far in 2015. Following an outage caused by an explosion and fire at ExxonMobil’s Torrance, California, refinery in mid-February, gasoline imports to the West Coast increased, and they have averaged 37,000 b/d so far this year, more than double compared with the same time last year.

The future of net exports will depend on underlying trends in both output and consumption of petroleum products. Future output will reflect both U.S. refinery runs and the production of hydrocarbon gas liquids outside of refineries. Future domestic consumption will reflect prices, economic activity, and policies such as fuel economy standards for both light- and heavy-duty vehicles. So long as domestic output of petroleum products grows faster than their consumption, net petroleum product exports will continue to rise.

From the Energy Information Agency, Principal contributor: Hannah Breul

As the summer heats up so to do the TeenAge Republican youth as they make plans to participate in Weld County activities. The Club has been asked by the Fort Lupton 4th of July Celebration Committee to distribute five hundred American flags throughout the event. At their booth they will distribute United States Constitution booklets, Flag Code leaflets, TARs flyers about the organization, and political information about local, state and national issues to encourage patriotism in local citizens.

Meetings have been planned throughout the Weld County area to encourage more like-minded youth to become members. On July 14th the club will meet at the Greeley GOP Headquarters at 2619 West 11th St. Road; and in August at Fort Lupton Columbine Court 200 Park Ave. They meet every second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m., and announce the meeting site on their facebook page.

Plans are underway to speak to the Weld County Commissioners to share information and ideas to encourage youth to become politically active; participate at the Southern Weld Breakfast held at the Fort Lupton Mulligan Joe’s Restaurant the Third Saturday of each month at 8:30 a.m.; and support a joint venture with President Pamela Russell of the Weld County GOP to get out party information and support political issues.

The TeenAge Republicans of Weld County invite all youth to come and visit their meetings as TARs continues to encourage patriotism and spread the importance of being politically active in a cherished Republic where all citizens can voice their ideas.

Please contact Cody LeBlanc TARS President and Founder at tarsofweld@gmail.com or call 303-720-2350. God Bless America and hope to see you all soon.

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Lost Creek Guide

Waiting for Chapter 10: What’s the plan in the state water plan?

By Susan Greene, Editor Colorado Independent

Water board vice chair: “I don’t feel the need for any of us to get hung up on the plan piece of this thing.”

It has taken 12 years, 344 pages and input from tens of thousands of people to put together what officials are touting as Colorado’s first statewide water plan.

Yet, as Gov. John Hickenlooper’s Natural Resources Department finishes its longawaited second draft in the coming week, both critics and supporters doubt it’ll put forth many durable solutions to Colorado’s snowballing water shortages.

The plan’s first draft has a gaping hole. The heart of it, Chapter 10 – entitled “Legislative Recommendations” – is where the proposed fixes are supposed to be. So far, it has been left blank.

The administration promises to write the second draft “as an action plan that will include legislative recommendations as well as a variety of administration actions” the agency can take on its own.

But “action” can be a subjective term.

The plan is expected to list conceptual goals rather than requirements. It’s likely, for example, to recommend cutting water usage by 400,000 acre-feet a year – roughly enough for about 800,000 families – through conservation. But there would be no teeth if, as

July 15, 2015

expected, it doesn’t specify how and among which water users such ambitious conservation would be gleaned John Stulp, the Governor’s water policy advisor, says the non-prescriptive approach is consistent with Hickenlooper’s style of governing.

“Colorado’s very big on local control. Mandates just don’t do very well in this state,” he said this week from his wheat field near Lamar. “The Governor isn’t going to say ‘Do this.

Do that.’ He likes to develop consensus about concepts amongst folks who haven’t gotten along so well in the past.”

In the meantime, several water experts say the plan is shaping up to be less of a plan than hoped.

Committing only to theoretical frameworks and so-called “no and low regret actions” in the short-term, some say, won’t solve shortages that will increase with long-term population growth and climate change. The state’s shortfall is expected to spike to 500,000 acrefeet – the amount of water it would take to supply more than 2 million people – by 2050. If there’s no pain now, some warn, there won’t be much gain moving forward, and Colorado runs the risk of a water crisis like California’s, or bigger.

“I’d say the word ‘plan‘ is misused here,” said Pat Mulroy, a Nevada-based water expert with the Brookings Institution, after reading the first draft.

“It’s a nice compendium of issues and subject matters of all things water in Colorado, but it’s not an action plan,” added Jim Lochhead, head of Denver Water, the big waterrights holder on the Front Range. “It doesn’t set an agenda for what Colorado needs to do in order to meet the challenges facing the state.”

Russ George, former speaker of Colorado’s House and Gov. Bill Owens’ natural resources chief, defends the grassroots statewide planning process he has helped lead for more than a decade. But, he says, if you’re looking for specifics on how to make up for water shortfalls, you won’t find them in the state water plan.

“Would we have liked all of this work and information to have produced really fantastic solutions? Yes. But nothing like that is going to occur,” he told The Independent..

“You’ve got to realize that sometimes the plan is the process. I don’t feel the need for any of us to get hung up on the plan piece of this thing.” * * * George, 69, grew up on his family’s farm near Rifle. A water lawyer by trade, he says he has been in the business since age 10 when his dad taught him how to irrigate their 160 acres of barley.

A longtime critic of the havoc Colorado’s “first-in-time, first-in-right” water laws can play on water policy, George has championed a collaborative approach that brings together senior and junior water-rights holders to discuss how to live within the state’s dwindling groundwater and river supplies.

After the drought of 2002 and 2003, he set up a series of roundtable discussions in each of Colorado’s nine river basins. The urgency water interests felt about those years’ dustbowl conditions convinced them to try a new form of conversation.

“There’s a recognition in the water community that when things are done in desperation you come up with very bad solutions that could be much worse than if you had planned to begin with,” said Denver water lawyer Alan Curtis. “You can’t kick the can down the road because suddenly there’s a wall waiting and they’re going to start taking water away from people who are going to sue.”

From the start of the roundtable talks, George asked all participants to come up with two lists: what they need, and what they’re willing to give up so somebody else can have what they need.

“We tried to move the decision-making away from the old places of ‘I have the money and the right and the power, so I can do what I want,’ to, ‘We all need to be at the table together’,” he said.

A decade and hundreds of roundtable meetings later, the approach has succeeded in garnering grassroots involvement in one of the state’s most pressing public policy issues.

It also has managed to bring together adversaries within river basins who used to communicate with each other only in water court.

In the Colorado River basin, for example, cattle people, irrigators, municipal planners, anglers and conservationists have for years now been meeting once a month on Mondays, mid-day, at the recreation center in Glenwood Springs. Players in the Yampa/White basin meet quarterly on Wednesdays in a community center in Craig.

It’s a measure of the roundtables’ success that, despite participants’ competing views on water use, they sometimes share donuts, coffee and pictures of their grandkids before or after meetings.

But the approach has a key flaw: Participants have been far more amenable to answering the first part of George’s question – what water they need – than the second part – what they’re willing to give up. It’s no surprise. Water wars and an ethos of “not one more drop” date back to before statehood when the “Colorado doctrine” of prior appropriation was set in the 1860s. The doctrine holds that the first person to use or divert water for a “beneficial” use gets first rights to it.

State planners are scrambling to pull together input from ten years of roundtable discussions, plus scores of emails and letters from the general public, before releasing the second draft of the water plan next week. It’s a lofty task, given that most input has been heavy on problems and light on solutions.

“So far, the plan is more of a description of what is rather than what will be,” said Colorado Water Congress chief Doug Kemper.

The issue of what Chapter 10 will and won’t include is a touchy one.

Kemper paused when asked if he expects it to list any meaty solutions.

“I don’t have an expectation about that. I just don’t have an expectation about that,” he said.

Later, he elaborated.

“Look, I don’t think it’s a realistic expectation to come up with a grandiose water plan that’s a blueprint that everybody’s going to follow,” he said. “As a member of the public, what I would want to know is that the document reflects public input and values, and that the state took that into account.”

Putting forth solutions amounts to political fire juggling in a state whose Western Slope has 70 percent of the surface water and 11 percent of the population, while the Front Range makes up 75 percent of the state’s economy. Colorado is split geographically, demographically and politically when it comes to water. Any way you cut it, a plan dictating major reforms is likely, in legal and political terms, to be a losing proposition.

“Which politician is going to feel like they have sufficient public cover to adopt it?”

July 15, 2015

Lost Creek Guide

Brookings’ Mulroy said. “Let’s face it. If there were a real plan, people would be loading their guns about now. This (plan) is probably as good as you’re going to get unless you’re in a crisis mode like California.” * * * Hickenlooper made a shrewd choice of who would lead the water planning process.

James Eklund had worked as one of his legal counsels and as a natural resources lawyer for the Attorney General’s office before the Governor picked him to direct the Colorado Water Conservation Board. It helps that Eklund is what Hickenlooper isn’t – a fifth generation Coloradan who grew up not only on the Western Slope, but also in a farming family.

It also helps that Eklund knows a bit about politics, having studied the subject at Stanford and later worked as a driver to Ken Salazar, the AG turned U.S. senator turned U.S. interior secretary. He shares with Salazar the unique ability to navigate as well on cattle ranches he does in the conference rooms of 17th Street white-shoe law firms.

As Eklund tells it, the water plan already is a huge accomplishment, at least from the perspective of how many people have become involved. Through May, it had generated more than 24,000 public comments touching on every aspect of water use in the state. His staff has responded to every one.

“The process is a success in itself,” Eklund says.

But how will the state measure the success of the content rather than just the process?

That’s a little tougher to define.

Eklund told The Independent last week that progress is being made on the more detailed elements of the plan, which will look at regional suggestions submitted by the basin roundtables and put forth reasonable outcomes – at least in concept. He says the plan and process need to be able to adapt and morph as circumstances such as growth, drought and climate change shape the future. There’s also a need for “agility” in state water law and federal regulatory processes in order for the plan to be successful, he added.

All in all, he downplays expectations for Chapter 10.

“No one solution is a silver bullet,” Eklund noted. “We have to have a package solution that includes storage and conservation. We can’t conserve our way out of this.”

The issue of water storage – dams, reservoirs and other systems linked with massive delivery systems known as “trans-mountain diversions” – is the third rail of Colorado water policy.

The Front Range wants more storage facilities, or at least the option to build them, so it can shore up supplies to keep up with population growth. The Western Slope agricultural community, intent on keeping its water west of the continental divide, says no way. Environmentalists and sports-folks want cities and farmers to conserve more to ensure enough river flow to protect outdoor recreation, plants and critters.

Two polls that came out last year showed 90 percent of Colorado voters want to keep our rivers healthy and flowing.

“We want this plan to include funding to protect rivers across the state. It should be a river plan, not just a water plan,” says Bart Miller, Western Resource Advocates’ water program director.

WRA and other environmental groups are pushing for aggressive urban conservation goals like ones passed in other states seeking to cut usage 20 percent over 20 years.

On the issues of conservation targets and more storage projects, water interests have dug in their feet.

George, who serves as vice chair of the Water Conservation Board, said he always expected by this point in the roundtable process to be able to answer the puzzle of how to ease the blow of projected shortfalls.

“That question just gets more intense the farther we move along. So the question here at the 11th hour is whether there’s water anywhere in Colorado that can be moved from where it is to greater use to more people, the Front Range,” he said. “Underlying all of this is great fear: Are we just going to take the water from agriculture to the cities for domestic use? Because that’s what happens if we do nothing.”

It’s in this context of political pressure and fear that Eklund and his staff have struggled to come up with actionable solutions. Scrambling to fill in the glaring blankness of the much-anticipated Chapter 10, they last week put before a state-formed water committee 160 questions about possible fixes.

Some sources say those talks fell apart because of a hesitancy to propose legislation, regulation or change.

As George tells it, the suggestions are “still lingering.”

“You have to understand that the staff doesn’t want to make policy decisions. Those are political judgment calls. So it’s hard slogging.” * * * Herein lies the downside of the grassroots approach.

Water users within each of the river basins have made progress discussing their regional needs. But now there’s distrust among the water basins – especially Western Slope versus Front Range – whose participants perceive the process has pitted their basins against others.

No matter how many basin roundtable meetings the state holds, no matter how many public comments it solicits, and no matter how many public-comment emails planners respond to, devising the fix-it part of the plan calls for exactly what the administration hoped to avoid. It requires top-down decisions that either manage to bring all the basins together or, more practically, show a willingness, if needed, to uphold certain political interests above others.

Factors such as cost come into play: Without help from the feds, like Colorado used to receive for new water projects, can the state afford such massive expenditures?

And there are economic repercussions to weigh: Will new businesses and families keep moving to Colorado if, like lately in drought-savaged California, the plan would require them to cut back on watering their lawns or filling their hot tubs?

And there are political calculations to make: Do lawmakers – already bitterly divided with a split legislature, tensions between urban and rural concerns, and pressures of an election year – have the fortitude to pass any meaningful water use bills? And what would Hickenlooper’s legacy be if, uncharacteristically, he tried to dictate aggressive water use reform?

“You have tens of thousands of comments here. Somebody needs to decide which input is valid or invalid. Someone needs to make sense out of the chaos. That’s a subjective process,” Mulroy said.

And it’s a process that by definition is far from grassroots. It takes expertise about the legal and political complexities of water policy.

Page 13

“You have people who aren’t in the water business who are expressing their views. Can tens of thousand of individual comments produce some vision?” said Denver Water’s Lochhead. “At the end of the day, there needs to be some leadership to produce action.

“Someone needs to step up and move forward.”

It’s not enough, Lochhead says, for the plan to assert broad value statements such as the needs to protect Colorado’s farms and ranches, preserve future options for undeveloped water and conserve. As he puts it, those are just platitudes.

Lochhead has lists of specific, measurable solutions that include enforcing conservation through the state’s permitting processes, offering incentives for more green architecture, allowing Coloradans to capture rainwater, encouraging use of more recycled or “gray water” and increasing efficiency in irrigation systems.

He also has asked the administration to set ground-rules for water negotiations, “defining what needs to be done and who are the parties that are going to get together by datecertain to develop a solution.”

In other words, he wants a Chapter 10 with details and deadlines, and a commitment to pushing all parties beyond their own interests. Even his water district’s own.

“There’s still a very real opportunity both in Chapter 10 and throughout the plan to articulate a path forward and a plan for meeting our needs, saving our rivers and setting goals that citizens around the state can rise up and achieve,” Miller said.

The administration had calculated that if Chapter 10 is too robust, Hickenlooper could face the stigma of messing with water users’ property rights á la California Gov. Jerry Brown. But if Chapter 10 turns out to be just conceptual, proposing no meaningful action items, Hickenlooper could face the perception of weakness and the dubious distinction of having championed a water plan without a plan.

For the water plan to succeed, it requires a delicate balance between political pragmatism and leadership. If it swings too far either way, it likely will be mothballed in some library’s Western history section, as was Colorado’s first statewide plan – from 1974.

“Yes, that’s right. It’ll come as news to a lot of people that this isn’t in fact our first state water plan,” Kemper said. “The reason nobody’s heard of the first plan is because it had no impact.” www.coloradoindependent.com

Weld County Council Meeting July 20, 2015

GREELEY, Colo. - The Weld County Council’s regular monthly meeting will be Monday, July 20, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Pierce Fire House, Pierce, CO. Weld County Director of Public Works, Jay McDonald, will be presenting to the Council.

Council members welcome public input at its July 20, 2015 meeting. Residents are also encouraged to contact Council members via email to countycouncil@co.weld.co.us or by calling (970) 356-4000 Ext. 4780.

Created by the Weld County Home Rule Charter in 1976, the County Council consists of five nonpartisan elected members, one representing each district and two at-large members. Weld County residents are welcome to attend Weld County Council meetings to discuss ideas or concerns regarding Weld County Government. For more information, contact the Council via email at countycouncil@co.weld.co.us or by phone at 970-336-7247.

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Lost Creek Guide

Property Assessments and Taxation in 2015: What Were They Thinking?

By: Christopher M. Woodruff, Weld County Assessor

Colorado’s property tax system was established in the State Constitution primarily as a way to fund local government services. The property tax is an ad valorem tax, which means of the value in Latin. The lien for the tax attaches to the property itself, not the owner of the property. Having the correct ownership is desirable but not required to the property tax system. Having the property uniquely and properly identified and listed is required.

The system is spread across several units of government, which provides checks and balances in the system. The Assessor discovers, lists, and values all property within the county boundaries. The mill levies or tax rates are determined and certified by the Boards of Directors or Trustees of each of the individual taxing authorities. These include schools, cities and towns, Weld County and all the various special districts. The Treasurer collects and distributes the tax dollars based on the Tax Roll delivered by the Assessor.

So how does the Assessor value all the property?

Weld County, along with the other 63 counties in the state, reappraised every property in 2015. This system of biennial appraisals for real estate started back in the 80’s as a way to improve the quality and fairness of assessments throughout the state. For us here in the Weld Assessor’s Office, it meant that we appraised and mailed notices for 124,000 parcels.

State law is very specific and detailed as to how we get the appraisals done. It specifies the information, the appraisal methods and the date of appraisal we can use. State law even sets up a system whereby an independent auditor, hired by the Legislature, pulls all of our appraisal records and checks to make sure that the values fall within the required standards. (By the way, our preliminary internal results show that our values matched the marketplace on June 30, 2014, the official date of appraisal).

Does that mean that our appraisals are always correct? No. That is why there is protest period in May. During this time, property owners can protest their valuation, either in person, by appointment, by mail, fax or e-mail. This year, 4,500 property owners did just that. That number of protests represents less than 5 percent of the total parcels in the county and was down from previous reappraisals. Each of those property owners who protested will receive a written Notice of Determination for their protest in late June.

So why do people protest? The simple answer is that they believe their values are too high, which results in too much tax. Overall, Weld County saw an increase of between 15 and 25 percent in market value for this reappraisal. That means that the 12,000 or so sales which occurred between the last appraisal date of June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2014 showed marked increases in property values.

Much of the increase came from the fact that the Great Recession and its impact on real estate values here is over. At the same time, the reduction in the number of foreclosure resales removed a significant drag on market value. Take that along with the economic boom brought on by oil and gas development and a shortage of housing supply and you have all the ingredients for increased property values.

Some properties increased more because of additions or improvements to the property.

Some increased more because we discovered something about the physical characteristics of the property that was not correct in our database, for example, a finished basement or correction in square footage. And some increased more because we did not have the correct information on the parcel, or we made an error in appraisal judgement. Protest allows us to go back a take another look, the goal of which is to get the value right.

We can’t talk about taxable values unless we talk about oil and gas production. Unlike other property, oil and gas is valued annually based on the net value of production in the previous year. This class of property is by far the largest segment of the property value in Weld County. We have added nearly $4 billion dollars of assessed value in oil and gas in the last 2 years. This is unprecedented growth. Oil and gas production has moved Weld County into the top tier of Colorado counties in terms of assessed valuation with a total taxable value right at $11 bilion.

So how is the value used to calculate taxes? Colorado is a fractional assessment state.

That means that only a portion of the actual value of the property is taxable. There are primarily three assessment rates used in Colorado: 7.96% for residential property, 87.5% for oil and gas production, and 29% for everything else. These rates are specified in the State Constitution and statutes. The difference in the assessment rates came about after the voters approved the Gallagher amendment in 1982, which provided for a set assessment rate for all property except residential. Residential assessment rates have dropped since 1982 from 21% to the 7.96% we use today.

The property taxes themselves are not calculated until the mill levies are set in December. Each district sets their own levies independently. The levies are multiplied by the assessed value of the property to get the taxes due.

Property taxes collected on Weld County property is used by Weld County taxing districts like the schools, county, and fire districts.

So where does that leave us for this reappraisal? We were very pleased with the results.

Our internal audit results showed that we valued properties very near the market. Our appraisal models took changes in the market into account, and we were able to get the majority of properties very near the market level of value. We were also able to add nearly 2000 new buildings to the tax base. Our database of property information continues to improve, which sets the stage for better values in the future.

The new market data that will be used in the 2017 reappraisal is occurring now. Changes in sales prices and value markers are already flowing into this office. We will collect, verify and analyze this information during the next two years, so we can do this all over again May 2017.

For additional information, please call Chris Woodruff at 353-3845 ext. 3697.

July 15, 2015

Weld County Treasurer’s Office

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.”

With both income tax and property tax deadlines in the rear-view mirror, you may be asking yourself, “Where does that money go, and who handles it?” Well, on the county-level, property tax revenue is handled by the county treasurer’s office on behalf of the county and the underlying special districts.

Under state statute, county treasurers act as collection agents for property taxes for all the taxing authorities within their county. This is no easy task. Weld County has close to 400 “underlying” authorities and approximately 4,000 unique tax code areas, which are used to ensure appropriate tax funds are distributed to the proper authorities. They also allow for a consolidated tax bill. Without the tax code areas, each taxpayer would be sent a separate property tax bill by each taxing entity: the county, the school district, the library, the fire district, the water and sanitation district, etc. In fact, the average property tax owner in Weld County would receive about seven separate tax bills if the treasurer wasn’t able to provide consolidated billing.

This year, the Weld County Treasurer mailed 184,000 tax bills for 2014 taxes totaling close to $583 million. These tax dollars are used to fund budgets for all of the taxing authorities in the county. School districts receive the largest portion of property tax dollars at nearly 37%, followed by the County at 25%, Special Districts at 14%, Aims Community College at 9% and all other taxing authorities sharing the remaining amount. Surprisingly, 95% of all tax dollars are collected by June 30 each year, and 90% of all property tax bills are paid. The remaining six months of the year are spent collecting the 5% of unpaid property tax dollars.

Property taxes are generally collected one year in arears, however, one industry does not follow this schedule and that is actually a benefit for Weld County. The oil and gas industry will make up approximately 64% of Weld County’s property tax income for 2015.

The recent reduction of oil and gas prices, however, has many residents wondering what the impact will be to the county and the underlying taxing authorities. While oil prices have dropped almost 50% since last year, the impact of that drop won’t be felt until 2017 as oil and gas property taxes are paid the second year after production. That means there is a two-year window for entities to prepare for financial impacts to their budgets and plan accordingly.

Weld County is financial stable because we pride ourselves in being good stewards of your tax dollars. Money has been wisely spent and wisely saved at the county government level. Not convinced? Take one more look at your property tax bill for last year. Notice the credit on your mill levy? For more than 20 years, Weld County has credited property tax money back to its residents to the tune of more than $278 million because of sound fiscal management of your tax dollars – the county isn’t going to collect what it doesn’t need.

We think Mr. Franklin would agree, while we can’t escape the certainty of taxes if you own property in Weld County you do, with certainty, pay less in taxes.

Treasurer’s Office

Update on What is Going on in Keenesburg

The Town of Keenesburg is busily working on plans for several projects that we plan to have completed by the end of this year. First, we applied for a grant through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and the town was awarded a grant in the amount of $195,839.00 to assist us in the installation of a new 250,000 gallon water storage tank just south of town located at the town’s blending facility. Once the grant contracts are signed we will be underway and issuing requests for bids for the installation of a glass lined tank. Next, we are looking at completing the waterline along CR 59 from Woodward to the town’s property just south of CR 14. This water line extension will give many residents along CR 59 the opportunity to purchase taps and have municipal water, this will also provide a more sustainable water source for the Weld Central Complex. And finally, we have been in the planning stages for a street project this year. We have evaluated all of the streets and formulated a plan to try to address the streets that need attention the most. We plan to use the street bond money in three different ways, some streets will be milled and overlaid, some will be chip sealed and a few will be total replacement. We had decided on a phased approach to get some of this work done this year, however when we recently sent out requests for bids, although it was sent to 12 different contractors we did not receive any response at the pre-bid meeting. We are currently looking at a purchasing website to get our request for bid out to as many contractors as possible. Due to the fact that no contractors responded to our initial request for bids we may end up delaying this project until next year and spending all of the bond money at once on one big project. We unfortunately will not be able to address all of the streets because we simply do not have enough money for a project of that size, but we will stretch the money that we have as far as we can. Please feel free to contact Town Hall with any questions.

July 15, 2015

Lost Creek Guide

John Suthers Says He’s Eyeing Potholes in the Springs, Not a 2016 Race for U.S. Senate

Page 15

By: Kyle Harris July 06, 2015 Colorado Independent

The political plans of former attorney general now Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers

John Suthers may never unleash the fever pitch of many successful conservative politicians, but in an era of by-any-meansnecessary Republican political cockfights, his lack of charisma is an obvious strength.

He’s dry. He’s logical. He’s frank. That’s his reputation.

Some in the Republican Party have floated his name as a possible pick to challenge Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in 2016.

Cynthia Coffman, the attorney general and once likely Senate candidate, is tangled in GOP scandal, leaving no clear viable Republican contender for the 2016 Senate race. Supporters of Suthers say the stoic former attorney general turned Colorado Springs mayor would bring much needed honor to his tarnished party.

But Suthers says being mayor of Colorado Springs is an endgame.

“No one who has any political sense to them thinks of this as a stepping stone,” he told The Colorado Independent.

Most of his career, Suthers’ conservative Republican politics have been dwarfed by his duty to the law as it is written. He gets branded with the word “honorable,” even by many of his opponents.

When he served as state Attorney General, conservative gun lovers and liberal marriage-equality champions alike scorned him for enforcing the laws of Colorado – the bans on high-capacity ammunition magazines and same-sex marriage.

Boxes of hate mail piled up in his office. Profane calls loaded his voicemail system.

Death threats forced him to call in law enforcement to protect him and his family at home.

But he stuck to his conviction that his duty was to the law – not to his pro-gun, proreligious-freedom, anti-same-sex-marriage politics. Whatever the law was, he says, his job was to enforce it, even when he disagreed.

As he likes to tell it, he was “marching to the dictates of the Constitution.”

The Constitution still matters to him now that he’s mayor of Colorado Springs, but he has to take stands on issues he cares about. His personal perspective matters – not just the written law.

Now, he has veto power. If the City Council passes a measure he doesn’t like, he can strike it down – unless council members vote down his veto.

He can’t use that power capriciously. His seat entails a constant wooing of City Council and Colorado Springs’ voters – retail politicking he doesn’t have much experience with.

The last mayor had a deep divide with the Council, and Suthers was elected, in part, on promises that he would stitch that gash.

In short, he can’t be a jerk.

But can he be himself? What does John Suthers believe and how will his convictions play out politically over the next four years?

Some Democrats fear Suthers is organizing alongside anti-gay, anti-trans evangelicals and working with them to make sure religious people have the right to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

He does believe that the recent Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage may compromise religious freedoms. But politically, at least in Colorado Springs, he says religious freedoms aren’t his priority right now.

Since taking office a month ago, he’s more interested in talking about infrastructure and economy than marriage equality and the concerns of evangelicals.

Colorado Springs has a reputation as more religious than other cities because it’s home to Focus on the Family. But that’s just not true, Suthers says, mentioning a study that shows his city’s residents are no more likely to attend church than people in any other part of the U.S. It’s a big city, he notes — the 41st largest in the country, with a population that trumps those of Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans and Oakland.

And Colorado Springs is culturally diverse, he adds. One benefit of diversity is the money it brings, which he embraces.

For example, he’s mostly sure he’ll issue a welcoming letter to the group organizing this weekend’s Pride parade. He has no plans to march in it and prefers to stay out of what he calls “controversial” issues. But he’s grateful for the money the LGBTQ community will bring to the city because of the event.

If events bring in money, he says he’ll welcome them — no matter which groups are organizing them.

Money is a big issue in the largely Republican city where many diehard conservatives loathe taxes. But Suthers’ people have polled Colorado Springs residents and found that they are sick of having pocked roads that puncture tires and put cars’ alignment out of whack.

People are willing to pay a little more for better roads – as long as it comes from sales tax and not property tax, Suthers says.

So, he’s sending his proposal to the voters in November, giving them a TABOR-style chance to decide whether decent roads are worth pennies on the dollar.

The Colorado Springs economy is still recovering from the recession, and people there need jobs.

He’s trying to lure California entrepreneurs shut out by the exorbitant cost of doing business in the Golden State – something Denver has done well particularly because of the booming recreational marijuana industry, which is banned in Colorado Springs and Suthers opposes.

Even without pot, he wants people to remember that the Springs is a modern place with street lights and green parks – not the shut down, dried up wasteland national media por-

trayed it as a few years back, when The New York Times said the city was in a “dark age” in 2010 after it quit watering the grass, shut off lights, auctioned off police helicopters and cut its police force.

The city came under deeper criticism when City Council refused federal money from the Local Jobs for America Act the same year.

Suthers says the water’s back on and so are the lights. Colorado Springs parks are world class, he says, but the city has still not recovered from the media hit to its dark-age reputation.

If Suthers’ plans work out, Colorado Springs will see a sports stadium, an Olympic museum and a new welcome center for the Air Force Academy closer to the interstate. The old train station would be converted into a high-tech business center. Industry would boom.

The work as mayor is harder for Suthers than any other job – including District Attorney of the Fourth Judicial District and Attorney General, he says. But he’s confident that he’s getting it done and done well.

As of now, Democrats’ fears that he’s fixing to use his post to attack equal rights of LGBTQ people seem unfounded. And he says the GOP has no chance of luring him away from his hometown for national politics — well, unless a president offered him a post as Attorney General of the United States.

Then, he says, he’d “quit in a heartbeat.” www.coloradoindependent.com

Support Our Troop s

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Lost Creek Guide

By Mike Coffman

July 15, 2015

Becoming Greece

Greece is failing. It is failing from decades of politicians overpromising, overspending, and from a government that has grown so large that it has become a crushing burden over what is left of the Greek economy.

This is a country that can no longer be sustained by the small relative size of its revenue-producing private economy and requires continued government borrowing and bailouts just to support the entrenched culture of the Greek welfare state.

Greece is now offering a plan. In exchange for another bailout by the European Union the plan will require Greece to submit to the austerity measures that were previously rejected in their most recent referendum.

Greece has long surpassed the time when their choices could have been much easier than they are now.

There are no good options left for Greece. They can either submit to the austerity demands of the E.U. and remain with the Euro or be forced to return to the Drachma and risk a total collapse of their economy.

Unfortunately, we already have examples emerging of disastrous Greece-like policies from cities like Detroit to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico and now, given the trajectory of debt from federal spending, the United States.

While Greece’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio stands at an unsustainable 177.1%, in the United States it is now at 101.53% and rising. Unfortunately, what is important to note about U.S. debt to GDP ratio is that it was only at 64.8% in 2008. With $18 trillion in debt we are on a fiscal path to eventually becoming Greece.

This is why I’m a strong supporter of a Constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget. The amendment would strip away the authority from Congress to continually spend money that we do not have, so that the United States is never again “becoming Greece.”

Sincerely, Mike Coffman, U.S. Representative

Aprylle Gilbert Stops in Keenesburg on Her 3,652 Mile Run on US Route 6

Aprylle began her run in San Jose to Long Beach, California. She took up the challenge to be the first person to run the entire 3,652 miles of historic Route 6. Gilbert’s run was conceived as a way to help Catholic Charities and Washington United Youth center in Santa Clara County raise money to improve after school programs for underserved young people. . Her escort, Jose, was a beneficiary of the work done by the youth center. The vision has evolved into a campaign to foster community activism across the nation by encouraging like minded athletes to raise money for their local charities by running with her part of the way.

Historic U.S. Route 6 runs from between the waterfront at Long Beach, California and Provincetown, Massachusetts which is located on the tip of Cape Cod. Route 6 is the longest highway ever established in the United Sates and even today remains the longest continuous highway in the nation.

Aprylle shared with us that the run through Nevada was difficult but nothing compared to the altitude in the Rockies, that took her by surprise and certainly tested her. We shared dinner at a local Keenesburg restaurant and both she and Jose shared their thoughts. It is some commitment! Check out her progress at https://m.facebook.com/pages/Aprylle or twitter at https//twitter.com/AprylleGilbert

Upcoming Events in the Lost Ceek Guide & Carbon Valley Independent Areas July 9-12: State 9 yr old Baseball Tournament (Brush) 10-11: BOB Stock Music Festival (Fort Morgan) 10-11: Missuola Children’s Theatre “The Wiz of the

West” (Longmont) 11: Sunrise Optimist 5k Color Run (Fort Morgan) 11: Carbon Valley Relay for Life (Firestone) 11: Relay for Life of Southern Weld County (Keenesburg) 15: Catfish Night (Longmont) 16: Drug investigation Demonstration (Longmont) 16: Deltarado Days Celebration (Orchard) 17: Spaghetti Dinner by Police Department (Fort Lupton) 17: Evans Golf Tournament (Evans) 17-19: Adult Softball Tournament (Brush) 17-19: Youth Fusion Retreat at the Community Church

(LaSalle) 17-19: LaSalle Day (LaSalle) 18: Town of Mead Doubles Grass Volleyball Tournament (Mead) 18: El Buen Pastor Assembly of God (Orchard) 21: Community Nights at SSR (Longmont) 23: Frederick Market- Christmas in July (Frederick) 23: Ventriloquist at the Hudson Public Library (Hudson) 23: Concert in the Park (Mead) 24: Movies in the Park (Gilcrest) 24-25: Leadership Retreat at the Community Church (LaSalle) 25: Basic Handgun Safety and Shooting Course (Longmont) 25: Mas Scramble 3v3 Outdoor Basketball Tournament (Mead) 30: Family Fun Rides beginning at Panther Park Ball Fields (Platteville) 31: Kersey Days @ Kohler Farms (Kersey) August 1: Carbon Valley Music and Spirits Festival (Dacono) 1: Kersey Days @ Centennial Park (Kersey) 1: Delta County Fair (Orchard) 4: National Night Out (Dacono) 4: National Night Out (Fort Lupton) 4: National Night Out (Longmont)

6: City BBQ (Brighton) 6: Family Movie Night at the Library (Firestone) 6: Frederick Market (Frederick) 8: Smokey Bear’s Birthday Celebration (Orchard) 13: Frederick Market (Frederick) 13- Family Fun Rides beginning at Panther Park Ball Fields (Platteville) 13-16: Southeast Weld County Fair and Rodeo (Keeneburg) 14-16: Harvest Daze Festival! (Platteville) 15: Southeast Weld County Fair and Rodeo Parade (Keenes burg) 15: Sunflower Nationals Car Show (Keenesburg) 15: Southeast Weld Days (Keenesburg) 15: Town of Orchard City: Town Picnic (Orchard) 20: Frederick Market (Frederick) 22: Market Day (Brighton) 27: Frederick Market (Frederick) 28: Movies in the Park (Gilcrest)

September 2: Chainsaws and Chuckwagons (Frederick) 3: Family Movie Night at the Library (Firestone) 10: Frederick Market (Frederick) 11-13: Trapper Days (Fort Lupton) 12: Eagle View Adult Center Car Show (Brighton) 12-13: Hot Air Balloon Festival- VFW and MemorialPark Areas (Brush) 16-18: Fall Harvest Car Show (Fort Morgan) -Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast at the Fall Harvest Car Show 17: Frederick Market (Frederick) 19: Chemical Round Up, EcoFair/ Good Clean Fun, Electric Recycling and Trash Bash (Brighton) 19: 13th Annual Miners Day Celebration (Frederick) 19: Harvest Day (Longmont) 24: Frederick Market (Frederick) 26-27: Oktoberfest/Car Show (Brush) 27: Color Sunday (Orchard)

Please go to the following websites for more information about the events listed above.

Brighton: http://www.brightonco.gov/131/Events Brush: http://www.brushcolo.com/Pages/aboutPages/calendar.html Dacono: http://www.ci.dacono.co.us/1012/Events Evans: http://www.evanscolorado.gov/recreation Firestone: http://www.ci.firestone.co.us/calendar.aspx Fort Lupton: http://www.fortlupton.org/332/Community-Events Fort Morgan: http://www.cityoffortmorgan.com/index.aspx?nid=69 Frederick: http://www.frederickco.gov/Calendar.aspx?NID=1&FID=243 Gilcrest: http://townofgilcrest.org/movies-in-the-park/ Grover: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grover-Colorado/224388364296373 Hudson: http://hudsoncolorado.org/ Keenesburg: http://www.townofkeenesburg.com/ Kersey:http://www.townofkersey.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={1A4DADB5-2B8E-4D1D-ABD6- 2647D8B596EC} LaSalle: http://lasallecommunitychurch.com/events-calendar/ Longmont: http://longmontcolorado.gov/online-services/calendar Mead: http://www.townofmead.org/calendar.aspx?CID=14,32, Nunn: http://www.nunncolorado.com/ Orchard: http://co-orchardcity.civicplus.com/calendar.aspx Platteville: http://www.plattevillegov.org/index.php/events-jobs/event

July 15, 2015

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Lost Creek Guide

Seven Morgan County Youth Attend State 4-H Conference

From left: Commissioner Sean Conway, Commissioner Julie Cozad, Director of Finance and Administration Don Warden, Controller Barb Connelly, Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer, Commissioner Mike Freeman and Commissioner Steve Moreno.

Makenna Carlock, Courtney Griffith, Wade Hofmeister, Jordan Kendrick, Burgandy Larrick, Adriana Miller, and Mikayla Zink attended Colorado State 4-H Conference held at Colorado State University in Fort Collins from June 23-26, 2015. Participants had the opportunity to hear speaker Aric Jackson give a motivational speech called “Don’t Be Scared” where he shared with youth about accepting themselves and not listening to the ‘haters’ who are going to show up. Youth also had the opportunity to hear from Joe Fingerhut about “Making the Impossible Possible.” At this workshop youth learned that leadership starts from within and the speaker encouraged youth to “listen to your heart.

No one else will.”

Carlock, Larrick, Miller, and Zink also participated in Consumer Choices contest, giving reasons for the way they rated different consumer products, as skill we use every day as adults. Griffith and Kendrick participated in the Livestock judging team along with a few youth from Washington County.

Youth also participated in a superhero themed dance, got to have Cold Stone Ice Cream for breakfast, and participated in a canned food drive to help the Food Bank of the Rockies. Elections of state 4-H officers were also held.

Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. If you have a disability for which you seek an accommodation, please notify Rich Guggenheim.

Weld County Director of Finance and Administration Receives 34th Consecutive Award for Distinguished Budget Presentation

WELD COUNTY, CO – The Weld County Board of Commissioners is honored to announce Don Warden, Director of Finance and Administration, received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the 34th consecutive year. Warden received this award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting, for the annual budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2015. Weld County is one of only three government entities in the United States to receive the award for 34 consecutive years.

“Managing the budget is a rigorous task, but Don does a remarkable job at keeping Weld County fiscally responsible to county taxpayers,” said Commissioner Chair Barbara Kirkmeyer. “Weld County’s financial success – we have no debt and no county sales tax – is due in large part to Don’s guidance and leadership.”

To receive this award, Weld County had to meet national guidelines that assess how well the budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device.

“Receiving this award 34 years in a row is an impressive accomplishment,” said Commissioner Pro-Tem Mike Freeman. “Weld County is fortunate to have Don overseeing the county’s budget.”

“This award is really a reflection of the great team we have at Weld County,” said Warden. “Every department is dedicated to being fiscally responsible and managing tax payer money wisely.”

The GFOA is a large professional association servicing the needs of more than 18,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government official and other finance practitioners.

For more information about Weld County’s budget visit the Accounting Department’s webpage atwww.weldgov.com.

Summer Road Trip Advice from the Mayor of Heidi Town

By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer — June 23, 2015 Back in January I wrote, “Winter road trip tips – Colorado,” so I thought that a summer oriented road trip post was appropriate.

I put thousands of HeidiTown miles on my car every year and we’ve learned a thing or two about Colorado travel via the open road.

Whether you’re planning an hour or seven hour drive, my hope is that these tips will help your next road trip across Colorado be fun and worry free.

1. Check in with your car. Before heading out across the hot asphalt this summer, make sure that your car is in good working order. If that check engine light has been on, you need to have that checked before you go. Also, make sure your tires have the right amount of air and that all your fluids are topped off. Nothing ruins a road trip like a breakdown – nothing!

2. Be prepared for Men at Work. Summer is festival season in Colorado and it’s also construction season, and you’ll find it all over the state, not just in cities. We’ve ran into major construction zones in the Middle-of-Nowhere, Colorado. It’s wise to be mentally prepared for these situations because there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it. I find that a good book on Audible makes construction wait times go by much more quickly.

3. Take the high road. If you are traveling in the mountains and have the option to take one of the state’s scenic byways to your destination, do it. Earlier this month, on our way to Snowmass, we took Independence Pass as an alternative route to I70. From Denver this only adds about 20 minutes of travel time to Snowmass and the views are more than worth it. For a list of all of Colorado’s most scenic routes, go to ColoradoScenicByways.com.

4. Stay hydrated. I also included this tip in my “Winter road trip tips.” Colorado summer get hot and sitting in an air conditioned vehicle is dehydrating. I already knew that thirst causes grumpiness, but I recently learned that your body can misinterpret thirst as hunger, so staying hydrated (with water!) is a very good idea all the time.

5. Take your time. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. There are so many photo opportunities around Colorado and you may find a small town or museum to stop and explore along the way. The art of the road trip is not to rush. People who take it easy have much more fun, and you’ll find it’s those people who have all the best road trip stories.

From Left to Right: Morgan County CSU Extension Horticulture and 4-H Agent Rich Guggenheim, with Courtney Griffith, (back) Jordan Kendrick, Burgandy Larrick, Makenna Carlock, Mikayla Zink (back) Adrianna Miller and Wade Hofmeister hold up awards won in the State Consumer Choices and Livestock Judging competitions held at the Colorado State 4-H Conference.

United Power Customers Your Cash Is Waiting!

By Christi Benavides More and more homeowners are switching over to solar power. Several experts have stated in the media that 2015 is the year to make the switch, and here’s why: Solar is not just good for the planet; it’s good for your bank account Switch over to solar, and you’ll save money in other ways too. Not only will you earn a sizable rebate check from your utility company, but you’ll also receive a 30% federal tax credit and enjoy predictable energy rates for years to come; increase your home’s property value and even help your home sell 3 times faster too. Simply put, solar is now the cheaper, cleaner, smarter way to power your home and put cash back in your pocket.

Don’t wait! Switch to solar now before your Rebate with United Power decrease further and the 30% federal tax credit lasts. The sooner you get onboard and switch, the more money you’ll save.

For more information on how you can make the switch to solar, contact your local SolarCity Field Energy Consultant, Eric Kleffner to schedule your free consultation. 720-2273748 ekleffner@solarcity.com

Contact: Eric Kleffner (720) 227-3748 ekleffner@solarcity.com

Page 18

Fitness and Health Tips

Lost Creek Guide

By CVPRD Fitness and Wellness Coordinator David Peters Low maintenance. Time/money efficient. Stress-free.

To some people the above mentioned words might be as familiar to them as a unicorn, but for the suave fitness enthusiast, or cooking connoisseur, these are all words they may use to describe cooking with a crock-pot.

Yes, a crock-pot. Like the one your grandma used the night before Thanksgiving to make your favorite mashed potatoes. Or the one your mother used to make her famous queso dip on Sundays before the Broncos took the field. Yes, that same crock-pot.

But how do I use one of these crock-pots? you may be asking. It’s super simple. Follow the steps below to complete a nutritious, filling, and easy meal(s)!

Step 1: Take any meat or veggies; chicken, pot roast, ribs, sweet potatoes, peppers, whatever your heart desires, and throw it into your crockpot. Just make sure it all fits!

Step 2: Add one to two cups of water, or if you are feeling extra audacious, use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock. For frozen meats and veggies, make sure to use less water or broth as your meat will undoubtedly unfreeze during the slow cooking process adding more water to the crock-pot.

Step 3: Add any seasoning you like! Curry, teriyaki, BBQ sauce, the possibilities are endless! My personal favorite is peach mango salsa/taco seasoning mix for a southwestern style shredded chicken.

Step 4: Turn it on and leave it. Yes leave it. Go run errands, fight crime, heck even go to sleep! Come back to it in 8-10 hours.

Step 5: Take your excellent smelling concoction out of the crock-pot, let it cool, throw it in a reusable container, and put it in the fridge. Voila! You’ve successfully made your food for the next few days!

Without a doubt, a crock-pot is a life saver; especially for those pressed for time, enjoy meal prepping, or who are looking to save a few extra bucks. Picking up one of these 30 dollar contraptions will give you more time, more money, and more freedom to do the things you love!

For more meal prepping advice, register for our free workshop presented by Dacono Neighborhood Health Center August 13th at myneighborhoodhealthcenter.org/dacono, or stop by and see me at the Carbon Valley Park and Recreation District.

David Peters is the Fitness and Wellness Coordinator at the Carbon Valley Park and Recreation District. David is a certified Fitness Instructor, loves the outdoors, and enjoys a healthy diet with some occasional ice cream. If you are interested in designing a personal plan that works best for you please contact me at 303-833-3660 ext. 107.

Colorado East Bank & Trust Sees

Terry Seelhoff Retiring in LaSalle

An open house and reception was hosted June 29th at the LaSalle Branch of Colorado East Bank and Trust commemorating the retirement of LaSalle Branch President and Regional Senior Vice-President Terry Seelhoff. Seelhoff had served in the positions for the past eight years. He will remain associated with Colorado East Bank & Trust headquartered in Lamar, Colorado as a member of the Board of Directors. Seelhoff prior to his career in commercial banking had served as General Manager of the Roggen Farmers Elevator Association. The day long open house also celebrated the appointment of veteran banker David Kelley as LaSalle Branch President. Kelley has been with Colorado East for the past three David Kelley and Terry Seelhoff and a-half years most recently serving as a Loan Officer at the Keenesburg branch. Kelley who is a native and current resident of the Longmont area has been in commercial banking for thirty six years. Colorado East Bank & Trust has seventeen branches in Colorado and two in Western Kansas. Northern Colorado locations in addition to LaSalle and Keenesburg are Dacono, Mead and Severance.

LaSalle office of Colorado East Bank & Trust Staff

July 15, 2015

Weld County Commissioners and Anardarko Petroleum Partner to Bring Clean Water to Wattenberg Residents

WELD COUNTY, CO – The residents of the unincorporated town of Wattenberg, located in south western Weld County, are once again in need of safe water for drinking, washing dishes, brushing teeth, food preparation and making ice. Water in this area has become unsafe due to elevated nitrate levels in their water system.

Nitrate in drinking water is a serious health concern, especially for infants less than six months old and the elderly.

Last year, elevated nitrate levels were a result of failed membranes in the water plant. There are about 12 membranes in the plant, which are responsible for filtering out nitrates and other materials in the water. Those were removed and sent to California for testing to discover why they were failing. In the meantime, new filters were purchased and installed, and now, the elevated nitrate levels are a result of the new filters not working properly. Wayne Ramey, Water Plant Operator for the Wattenberg Improvement Association, is currently working on the system to find a solution.

In 2014, Anadarko Petroleum stepped in as good neighbors and offered to cover the costs of bringing safe drinking water to this area.

Upon hearing about the issue this year, they generously offered to cover the costs of providing potable drinking water to the residents.

Replacement water will be obtained from McDonald Farms and brought to the Wattenberg area in a stainless steel truck, which is capable of holding 6,000 gallons of water.

“Unfortunately, the Wattenberg area is dealing with this issue again,” said Commissioner Chair Barbara Kirkmeyer. “We are assisting the community to get safe drinking water out to the residents, and we are pleased that Anadarko has offered to cover the costs.”

Weld County has co-applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $648,000 to provide a permanent solution for this problem.

It is estimated the Wattenberg water system could be down for six to eight weeks.

July 15, 2015

Lost Creek Guide

Summer first aid, CPR training at Northeastern Junior College Two upcoming dates available; sessions include use of AED units

If you are a teacher, coach, bus driver, foster parent, daycare worker or just someone who needs certification or recertification on your first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skill set, Northeastern Junior College is offering two upcoming dates to get this done. These are Red Cross sponsored classes. This is training that each and every one can benefit from whether you are on the giving or receiving end. Classes are open to everyone.

Community First Aid and CPR classes will be offered on two separate dates, Tuesday, July 14th and another on Saturday, July 25th. You need only attend one day. This is a community level course designed for individuals who are required to have this training for the work they do, volunteer areas they may serve in, or if they just have a desire to know how to help others when emergency situations arise. Instructor for the class will be Tracy Yahn, B.S., EMT-I, who is the Coordinator of Emergency Medical Services/Fire Training at Northeastern.

The course prepares participants to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in infants and children under the age of 12. Participants will also learn how to perform CPR and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults. You’ll receive instruction on how you determine if you need to call 911 and seek more advanced care for someone.

Recognizing and caring for injuries or sudden illnesses until advanced medical help can take over is covered in the class. First aid skills for treating a variety of injuries will be addressed. It is a very hands-on class.

This class will also cover the proper use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).

“We find now that AEDs are available in many public places—churches, ballgames, retail stores, and it is important for individuals to be trained about how to use them,” notes Yahn, “Northeastern actually has an AED Trainer now and we will have students in this class use it through hands-on training. You’ll pull it off the wall and know what you do with it. We call much of the training we do in this is class to be ‘muscle memory’ because we have the students physically do the exercises numerous times in the class so that they are able to really know how to do it in the field when they need to.” Yahn observes that many of the skills taught in CPR classes change significantly every five to seven years, typical of much of the medical industry as new and better ways of doing things are discovered. If someone hasn’t had a first aid or CPR class for a number of years, they may want to take one of these classes just to learn the updated ways of performing the various tasks in an emergency.

Class times on both dates will be 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in Knowles Hall on campus, room 319. This course can be offered for credit (HWE 103) and those who desire to take it in this format will earn one college credit. Cost of the training is $62.00 plus a $27 fee to receive your Red Cross Certification for a total of $89. The first aid certificate and the CPR certificate are valid for two years.

You must register ahead of time for these classes. Contact Yahn by calling 521-6708 or email tracy.yahn@njc.edu –she works a part-time schedule on campus during the summer, but is checking her messages frequently and will make certain you are signed up.

Please get signed up for either class by Wednesday, July 8th.

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BRUCE BARKER RETURNS AS WELD COUNTY ATTORNEY

Page 19

WELD COUNTY, CO – On Wednesday, July 1, the Board of Weld County Commissioners welcomed the return of Bruce Barker as the County Attorney. Barker, who retired last December after 31 years of service to the county as its attorney, accepted the Boards’ request to return following the resignation of Robert Frick on Monday, June 29.

In Frick’s resignation letter to the Board, he explained that when he accepted the position of County Attorney he fully intended to relocate his family to Weld County within six months. The county attorney position is the only county employee position required to be a county resident. In further discussions with his family, Frick decided that moving to Weld County at this stage of their lives would not be in their best interest.

“The Board accepts Mr. Frick’s decision and wishes him well in his future endeavors,” said Commissioner Chair Barbara Kirkmeyer.

Frick’s resignation was effective June 30.

“We are happy to have Bruce rejoin our team and look forward to his continued guidance and mentorship in our County Attorney’s Office,” said Commissioner Chair Pro-Tem Mike Freeman. Barker’s salary will be reinstated at the previous level he was earning of $179,471.

Page 20

Lost Creek Guide

VBS at Keenesburg Church of Christ

The theme for the very successful Vacation Bible School at the Keenesburg church of Christ held in June was “To the Edge – Encounter the God of the Universe”. An average of forty young boys and girls each day launched into various activities to learn more about God, His universe and His great love for each of the children.

Starting on Monday and ending on Friday, the students sang songs of praise to God, listened to stories about Jesus and watched amazing puppet shows to acquaint themselves with the Bible. There was a chosen Bible verse to be memorized each day and all the activities of the day assisted the children with this task. Crafts were completed which were related to the Bible story of the day. Outside games were used to encourage the children to express love and care for each other and reinforce the Biblical stories.

The classroom activities continued throughout the week and the Vacation Bible School ended with a special event on Friday evening. The children, their brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents were treated to a delicious hot dog meal and watermelon. A slide show featuring the kids’ activities during the week was shown to all those in attendance. The short time spent exploring the great God of this universe and His Word given to all of us will impact the lives of the children forever.

July 15, 2015

RE1 New Superintendent Don Rangle

I am very excited to serve as the new Superintendent of Weld County School District RE-1. Our district (as with all districts) has plenty of challenges and opportunities ahead.

I am convinced however that we are up to the task of meeting challenges and maximizing the opportunities that will come our way.

Part of the reason for this optimism is based on having a solid foundation to work from.

The credit for having this solid foundation that we can build on is due to the hard work of our licensed and classified staff (teachers, principals, counselors, health care providers, custodians, food service staff, maintenance staff, supervisors, bus drivers, secretaries, classroom assistants, coaches and club sponsors). In addition we are very fortunate to have a very dedicated Board of Education and District Leadership team. Finally the credit for having such a solid foundation is due to the leadership, hard work and heart of our retired superintendent Dr. Jo Barbie. Dr. Barbie worked tirelessly in our district over the past 18 years. The district work has been focused on the goal of providing an exemplary and safe education to all of our students. I am grateful for her leadership and guidance during my time in Weld RE-1.

Our amazing students are at the center of all that we do. Preparing all students for life after they graduate from our school district is our number one priority and we are committed to achieving that goal in partnership with our parents and communities.

The Weld RE-1 Board of Education has set the following district goals: • Improve community relations and communication.

• Develop a viable and guaranteed curriculum emphasizing thinking skills for all content areas.

• Promote Parental Involvement by engaging parents in the work of education to improve overall student success.

• Recruit and retain highly qualified staff.

•Improve facilities by identifying and funding capital projects.

I am confident that we will have an exciting and very positive school year. I look forward to getting out in our schools and into the three communities that make up our school district. It is my hope to build partnerships and to learn how I can best serve our families, staff, and communities.

Ultimately we are all Valley Vikings and I am fortunate to be part of this great school district.

Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer of Ft. Morgan to hold VBS, July 20-24

Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer is gearing up for their annual Vacation Bible School! This years VBS theme is “Weird Animals, Where Jesus’ Love Is One-of-a-Kind”. Take a walk on the wild side and make new friends, do amazing experiments, play untamed teamwork building games, eat lipsmacking snacks, experience surprising Bible adventures, and learn incredible, catchy songs!!

Vacation Bible School will run Monday-Friday, July 20-24th, from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Lunch will be included daily!! VBS is for ages 3 through kids just finishing 6th grade. VBS is FREE to all participants registered by Wednesday, July 3rd.

For more information or to register, contact the church office at 867-8432 or check out our website: lcorelca.org and click on the VBS tab.

The celebration performance for all the VBS participants will be held during Sunday worship, July 26th, at 9:00 A.M. Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer is located at 1100 W. Platte Avenue in Ft. Morgan.

Classifieds Work Contact us at

Editor@lostcreekguide.com

303-732-4080

July 15, 2015

Lost Creek Guide

Sanders and Trump: Blockbusters of The 2016 Presidential Race

By Mike Littwin - July 07, 2015

Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are the two biggest stories of the 2016 election, but for very different reasons.

The two biggest stories of the day in presidential politics are so obvious that I only wish I had bothered to predict them.

One, Bernie Sanders as Liberal Rock Star’s Midsummer Threat to Hillary Clinton’s Inevitability Campaign.

Two, Donald Trump as, well, Donald Trump.

The two stories are often told in the same (very long) breath because they seem to be about the same thing – two unlikely figures simultaneously, and unexpectedly, climbing in the polls before what will almost certainly be their inevitable crash.

But what really ties the two stories together is that these unlikely — and very unalike — figures are doing precisely what we should have seen coming.

Clinton needed a rival, Democratic crowds needed a true believer, and Bernie is the most benign of summer flings. He’s part Gene McCarthy, part Howard Dean, but mostly part Jefferson Smith (do the Google if you don’t get the reference). Of Bernie’s many parts, only Jefferson Smith wins in the end, and that was in a movie.

The truth of the enormous Republican field – some of them at least semi-legit – is that it’s difficult to get noticed except in gaffe mode.

The reason Sanders can draw, say, 7,500 people in Portland, Maine, is that supporting him is a freebie. He won’t hurt Clinton, who will win the nomination, and probably the presidency, because Republicans insist on demonizing her and Democrats will insist on defending her.

That’s an old story. Bernie, meanwhile, is an old codger. He is a self-described socialist, although not the kind who wants to own the steel companies, because why would anyone want to own a steel company these days. But he doesn’t like Wall Street and thinks big banks are a big problem and says, unlike the poll-driven Clinton, exactly what he thinks.

Sanders’ popularity is not a mystery. He’s, in effect, the Elizabeth Warren surrogate. He has forced Clinton to go populist, which is where she needed to go, and has so far allowed her to stay hawkish which is where she thinks she can win the election.

And in Sanders, millennials, meanwhile, get another chance at political romance.

Obama turned out to be a politician. Rand Paul turned out to be a Republican. Chris Christie is running on telling it like it is, but Sanders actually does. Clinton, meanwhile, is roping off the media at the same time she says she wants to finally connect with the people.

But here’s the funny part: Conservatives are now seen siding with the hated roped-off liberal media in what is yet another take on the old enemy-of-my-enemy principle. It’s the same principle, by the way, that will bring Democrats back to vote for Clinton in the end.

Which brings us to Part 2, The Donald, who (I’m reasonably sure) will never make it to the Iowa caucuses. Come on, this is the same irresistibly mockable Donald that the late, lamented Spy magazine famously called, on each reference, the short-fingered vulgarian.

That was in the ’80s. And today, all these years later? It’s the same Donald that George Will mockingly wonders how he would act any differently if he were, in fact, a Clinton mole.

Mocking Trump has long been a national pastime, but only because he insists we do it.

But now it’s serious, if you’re a Republican anyway. We’ve all known that Trump, as candidate, would soon do something so noxious that everyone – except Ted Cruz and the saddest 10 percent of the Republican Party – would have to reject. We weren’t sure it would happen this soon. But, soon enough, he was going full Tancredo, calling illegal immigrants coming from Mexico “rapists” who bring with them drugs and crime, although he did manage to say that some of them might be all right. It was so The Donald, which is why Will calls him a one-man Todd Akin Show, except with billions (maybe) of his own dollars, although a few dollars less now that the job creator is losing so many of his own.

For the immigrant bashing, Trump found himself being Bush-bashed and Rubio-bashed and Christie-bashed and even Romney-bashed, upon which time Trump, in retaliation, retweeted a Tweet (or someone did it for him) saying that Bush “has to like the Mexican illegals because of his wife.” Columba Bush was, of course, born in Mexico. You can see the problem.

The truth of the enormous Republican field – some of them at least semi-legit – is that it’s difficult to get noticed except in gaffe mode. Rick Perry makes a great speech on race, and, oops, it’s gone. Not so with Trump, who abhors any vacuum not named after him. It’s the perfect time for him to step in, or step in it, which is what he always does, grabbing the headlines as he trips. No one can match him.

Suddenly, the stories are all of Republicans in disarray. Even Republican-leaning columnists are asking whether the party will ever embrace the present century, the one in which gays can marry, health insurance for all seems a worthy project, and Confederate flags must come down.

And even the pope, apparently unfazed by the recent Supreme Court decisions, is out there pleading for the world to heed the science on climate change, meaning it looked like science and religion were in accord. Why not Republicans, too?

The answer is not simply Trump, of

Page 21

course. The problem runs much deeper, but Trump makes for a handy symbol in case you’re not up on, say, the latest Ben Carsonisms. Or the latest from Huckabee. These guys, writes Byron York, are now all in the top tier.

And just wait for the debates. Well, I can’t wait for them anyway. Here’s the early betting line: The Donald wins by simply showing up.

Of course, the only way he can win in the end is to drop out before a single vote is cast.

He can then claim victory by saying that his job was to focus the debate. What Republicans must fear is that, for once, Trump could actually be right. www.coloradoindependent.com

Don’t get Burned when Purchasing Firewood

BROOMFIELD, Colo. –As outdoor enthusiasts prepare for summer camping, the Colorado Department of Agriculture strongly recommends purchasing firewood from a reputable dealer.

“Bulk firewood sellers in Colorado are required to provide a receipt with their business name and address as well as the price, amount, and type of wood sold,” said Nick Brechun, CDA’s Measurement Standards Program Administrator.

CDA cautions consumers against the purchase of firewood advertised by the terms truckload, face cord, rick, fireplace cord or pile. These terms do not allow for the facilitation of a value comparison for the purchaser. For instance, the size of one truckload may be different than the size of the seller’s competitor. Thus the consumer would have no way of knowing which would be the better buy.

Bulk Firewood When firewood is purchased in bulk, the appropriate method of sale is by the cord or fractional cord. The amount of wood in a cord consists of a neatly stacked volume of wood that equals 128 cubic feet. For example, one cord equals a stack of wood that is 4 feet wide by 4 feet high by 8 feet long. Once a purchase is made, the buyer should stack their wood in the manner described above to get a good idea if they received the amount paid for.

Bundled Firewood Bundled firewood is commonly seen at grocery and convenience stores. The correct method of sale for bundles is the cubic foot. The actual amount of wood must meet the quantity declaration. Bundles must be properly labeled with net volume, wood type, and responsible party contact information. Department inspectors verify compliance at retail locations throughout Colorado.

CDA’s Inspection and Consumer Services Division has inspectors statewide who investigate complaints involving misrepresentation or mislabeling of firewood,” said Brechun.

“One way of helping to ensure the consumer receives what they pay for is for them to be knowledgeable about the product as well as the business they are buying from.”

Contact the Measurement Standards office at (303) 867-9232 with questions or for help in disputes regarding the sale of firewood.

CDA also warns that transporting firewood can spread insects and diseases that kill trees. CDA participates in the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program which involves the early detection of exotic pests that threaten Colorado’s agriculture and environment. These pests may be found on firewood. One easy tip to help protect Colorado’s forests is to Burn It Where You Buy It. Campers are urged to buy their firewood at their destination, thus preventing the spread of any insects or diseases that can be found in or on the wood.

Page 22

Lost Creek Guide

July 15, 2015

Keenesburg July 3rd Fireworks A Great Success

The Keenesburg 4th of July Firework show was, as usual, a great success. Sponsored by the Town of Keenesburg, the S.E. Weld Fire Protection District and Stonebraker Fireworks. It is tough to estimate how many folks attended, but it was a lot! Every spot was filled on the S.E. Weld Fair Ground, the Hoff Elementary Parking Lot, the Soccer Field, the Colorado East Bank & Trust lot, the American Legion lot, along all the roads and then some. Great job done by the S.E. Weld Fire Protection District.

Klingensmith Clan

July 15, 2015

Page 23

Lost Creek Guide

Service Directory Dependable Plumbing L.L.C. Your Satisfaction is Our Reputation 213 Dickson • Wiggins, CO 80654

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Connie Buckmaster, Stylist • 20 Years Experience

Flexible Hours • Walk-ins Welcome

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

Roggen Telephone Company

303-849-5260

Gamers Corner

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

30 S. Main St. Keenesburg Video Gaming Quartz Wrist watch repair Full service watch repair www.cyberscythegaming.com

190 So. Main St. Keenesburg

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303-732-4268 Stagecoach Meat Co., LLC

Over 30 Years Experience

Custom Meat Processing, Retail Smoked Meats, Steaks, Sausages, Jerky & Pies The VonLoh Family 600 W. 3rd Ave., Wiggins, CO 80654

Ridged Mechanical Inc. Plumbing & Heating

Licensed Master Plumber

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Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry Assistance for Roggen, Keenesburg, Prospect Valley, & Hudson Accepting donations of Food, Toiletries and Money

Call Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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Legal notice The Office of Exceptional Student Services for Weld County School District R3-3J will be destroying special education records of students who were born in 1989. If you are a past student or legal guardian of such, please contact the Office of Exceptional Student Services at 303-536-2000 before August 1, 2014, if you would like to obtain your records before they are destroyed.

For RENT House for Rent 3 BR/1 bath $850/mo + Utilities 303-732-4652 Cel: 303-909-9657 75 E Crawford Avenue, Keenesburg

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Support Your Local Small Businesses

Page 24

Lost Creek Guide

July 15, 2015

Fort Lupton 4th of July Free Breakfast at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center

Fort Lupton had a great 4th of July Celebration. Unfortunately is difficult to be in six places at once. We did make the breakfast and shared some of the pictures we took. Food and company were great as was the music.

Fort Lupton Area Pets To Breathe Easier

Fort Lupton, CO- (July 13, 2015) First Responders with Fort Lupton Fire Protection District are now some of the best-equipped in the nation to save a pet’s life. That’s because Invisible Fence of Colorado has donated four pet oxygen mask kits to the Fort Lupton Fire Protection District.

This donation is just a small part of Invisible Fence® Brand’s Project Breathe™ program, which was established with the goal of equipping every fire station in America and Canada with pet oxygen masks. These masks allow firefighters to give oxygen to pets who are suffering from smoke inhalation when they are rescued from fires and often save pets’ lives.

Invisible Fence® Brand has donated a total of more than 11,500 pet oxygen masks to fire stations all over the U.S. and Canada throughout the life of the program. A reported 120+ pets have been saved by the donated masks so far, including a dog saved on May 22nd in Traverse City, Michigan.

“When a family suffers the tragedy of a fire, lives are turned upside down,” said Ed Hoyt, Director of Invisible Fence® Brand. “Pets are valued family members, so we want families to know that their pet can be cared for if tragedy strikes.”

“We realize that humans are the first-priority, but in many cases, pets can be saved if firefighters have the right equipment,” said Hoyt. “Project Breathe™ program is simply a way of giving firefighters the tools necessary to save pets’ lives.”

Fort Lupton area is now joining the ranks of cities like Denver, Cleveland and Memphis, who have all received donated pet oxygen masks from Project Breathe™ program.

“Thank God they had the masks. They (the dogs) are just like family. I don’t know what I’d do without them. Things can be replaced. Lives can’t, whether they’re animals or people.” Said a pet owner whose dogs were recently rescued using donated masks.

Although the number of pets that die in fires is not an official statistic kept by the U.S. Fire Administration, industry web sites and sources have cited an estimated 40,000 to 150,000 pets die in fires each year, most succumbing to smoke inhalation. In most states, emergency responders are unequipped to deal with the crisis. The loss is terrible for the family, heart wrenching for firefighters.

The company has set up a website, www.invisiblefence.com/O2, where local fire personnel can make a request for their own departments.

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