Edition 6
March 20, 2024
Delivering to over 17,500 homes & businesses including all of Morgan County.
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light” George Washington “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed” Thomas Jefferson
Lincoln, NE (March 11th, 2024)- Construction of ALLO’s 100% fiber-optic network in Brush has begun, with a groundbreaking ceremony with city officials on Friday, March 15th at 10:00 AM. The event will take place at Sands Theater.
Teams are constructing ALLO’s fiber infrastructure throughout Brush. Residents and businesses will receive advanced notice of necessary work in yards and easements through the mail. ALLO teams may also knock on doors to explain the process and answer any questions.
This fiber investment ensures Brush will have world-class service by providing businesses, residents, and governmental entities with exceptional internet, TV, and phone solutions over ALLO’s network.
Expected construction process:
Step 1: ALLO designs the fiber-optic route to provide service to businesses, homes, and governmental entities.
Step 2: ALLO partners with contractors to install underground ductwork in easements.
Step 3: ALLO accesses each splice vault and pedestal to splice the fiber that will connect to your business or home and then tests the connection to ensure fast, reliable, and symmetrical upload and download speeds.
Step 4: When you order internet, TV, and phone service, ALLO connects the fiber from the pedestal to your home or business before your service installation.
ALLO Regional General Manager of Colorado Bob Beiersdorf expressed, “We’re so pleased to have the opportunity to serve Brush. Fiber broadband infrastructure is a game-changer in every community, and now Brush will have world-class services that most major cities don’t have. ALLO will build the network quickly and do everything in its power to minimize disruption to the community.”
For more construction information, please visit AlloFiber.com/construction.
All the world’s stage…isn’t that how Shakespeare’s speech starts? And lately, at many local government meetings in Colorado, the actions being taken on the stage known as public comment are actually detracting from the business at hand of those local government agencies. Media story after media story relay examples of public comment asking for action far beyond the scope of authority of local government entities, including Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Durango and Fort Collins.
On March 7th, 2024, the Weld County Board of Commissioners decided to remove general public comment from their meeting agendas. The reason for this decision, made with consultation with the county attorney, was simple – to ensure public comment, which remains in place for county-related business items that are on the board agenda, focuses on the actionable business of the county and does not morph into a platform for individual political commentary and, at times, political campaigning, both of which have begun to overshadow the actual business of the commissioners’ board meetings.
This is not the first time Weld County government has attempted to bring some structure and order to the public comment portion of the agenda. When public comment on items ranging from municipal issues to general political rantings began to take more and more time during the board’s meetings last year, the board agreed to move the public comment from the beginning of the meeting to the end.
Despite that move, however, some individuals continued to bring their political agendas and commentaries to the meetings. They continued to take advantage of the county government stage to espouse their often times political views on non-county government related items such as illegal immigration (the county has no jurisdiction over this); abortion (the county has no jurisdiction over this); municipal issues (the county has no jurisdiction over these), and more.
The board understands people are passionate about a variety of issues, and they desire to express their frustration on those topics. The board also understands this is an election year, and many individuals desire to make political statements in support of politicians.
The board also understands some will call this decision a First-Amendment issue, but make no mistake - no one’s ability to voice their concerns, frustrations, grievances, support, etc., has been silenced. The Weld County Board of Commissioners has numerous ways for the public to engage with them including via phone, in-person meetings, email, etc. If residents want the board of commissioners to know how they feel about a topic or what they think about an issue, they can still get that information to the board through those avenues – First Amendment rights are still intact.
The stage of a local government entity’s public meetings is small; it is a place to present, discuss and vote on items that directly pertain to those issues that fall under the jurisdiction of that government entity. It is a stage the Weld County Board of Commissioners is determined to return civility, respect, and the focus of county business to for the benefit of all county residents.
Kevin Ross, Chair
On behalf of the Board of Weld County Commissioners, 970-400-4000, askthecommissioners@weld.gov
Page 2: Way of the World
Page 2: Jake Fogleman: Colorado Drilling Ban Carries Real World Consequences
Page 3: Candidate Letters
Page 4: Conservation Articles
Page 5: Wiggins School District 50J Newsletter
Page 8-9: Pictures from the 2024 Morgan Community College Foundation Soiree
Page 10: AYPA Solar Farm in Morgan County
Page 12: Science Fair at Cardinal Community Academy
Page 12: Weld Central FBLA & DECA Program Updates
Page 13: CPW Updates on Fishing Licenses & Boating Openings
Page 16: Peg Cage Letter to Dave Williams, Chair Colorado GOP
This past week saw a flurry of complaints about violating the first amendment rights of Weld County Citizens at Weld County Board of Commissioner meetings. This writer is a firm believer in the 1st Amendment. It is a basic right, and it is what our country is all about. The actions of the Weld County Board of Commissioners requires a deeper look. Chair of the Weld Board of Commissioners, Kevin Ross, has an op-ed piece on the front page of this issue of the Lost Creek Guide. Read it. The resolution on the question of whether Weld County should declare itself a non-sanctuary county generated a response. Weld County District 3 Commissioner Lori Saine, proposed a resolution that would formally state that Weld County was not a Sanctuary County. First time it failed due to a lack of a second. Subsequently, it was resubmitted, this time getting a second from Weld County Commissioner At Large Perry Buck, but again failed as it was three to two votes against. On Wednesday, March 7th, the Weld County Board of Commissioners voted to remove general public comment from their meeting agendas. At their March 13th BOCC Wednesday meeting there was a demonstration stating that the citizens’ first amendments rights were being violated. Kevin Ross, Chair of the Weld County Board of County Commissioners, noted that public comment should be for items that are pertinent to the specific agenda items that are on the agenda for that meeting. For good order and not to impede the business of the County, the Commissioners noted that public comment would be for items that were on the agenda.
A slippery slope potentially. This past week the Colorado House of Representatives passed SB 24-157, which Governor Polis quickly signed. It defines the type of behavior and communications that falls under the open meeting law, as well as what constitutes a public meeting. This raises the question of transparency and accountability. It is so much easier to govern without having to worry about public awareness.
On the surface, the Weld County Commissioners’ actions do not appear to restrict the public’s ability to interface directly with the Commissioners, as was demonstrated by the Commissioners participating at a Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday night March 13th that was attended by all five Commissioners and Sheriff Steve Reams. There were about seventy-five citizens in attendance, and all were given an opportunity to speak. Commissioner Kevin Ross, as Chair, was the prime responder and reiterated that the intent was to facilitate the processing of County business in an orderly fashion and went into detail of how federal and state funding sources can be potentially impacted by broad generalizations of declaring the County a non-sanctuary entity. Sheriff Reams noted the difficulties that the illegal aliens present to his department. Specifically, he discussed the impact of Colorado House Bill 19-1124 which, when passed and signed by Governor Polis, severely reduced the capability of state law enforcement officials to work with the federal immigration authorities on illegal alien issues.
This Town Hall was almost two and a half hours long. It is the second one I have attended in the last thirty days. The first was a situation involving a zoning issue affecting about 120 pieces of property in East Greeley. Frankly, both were good in terms of participation by both County officials and citizens. I must applaud Natalee Tennant, from Severance, who organized this latest Town Hall.
I have two concerns which only time will reflect on. I believe Town Halls like this are an effective means of getting citizen participation and provide real time discussion and interaction with the County Commissioners. I believe that these should be held monthly providing a regular venue for open dialogue for citizens to communicate with the County Commissioners. My concern is how long will the appetite for this type of meeting last with County Commissioners. As the government and its staff gets larger, the complexity of the overall process grows. We need to focus on simplifying the process and allocating less resources (better known as our tax dollars), to supporting the building of the evergrowing role of the bureaucracy at all levels of government.
My second concern is the obvious, hostility between Weld County District 3 Commissioner Lori Saine and the other four Weld County Commissioners. As a citizen of District 3 I am concerned that all of us that live in District 3 are paying a price for this situation which no one wants to talk about. The four commissioners voted to strip Commissioner Saine of her coordinating roles involving any Weld County Departments. Commissioner Lori Saine has stated that she will provide a letter to the editor at the Lost Creek Guide and Ourtowncolorado.com but as of yet nothing has been forthcoming. We have an upcoming primary followed by an election for the Weld County Commissioner District 3 seat. Lori Saine has filed to run as well as Adrienne Sandoval, the term limited ex-Mayor of Platteville. Weld County District 3 voters need to be made aware of what has gone on. Not knowing the facts is a disservice to the voters.
It is important to vote. The major political parties at all levels should have candidates that earn your vote not because they are either a Republican or Democrat, but because you believe they will best provide what you need for yourself, family, local, county, state, and federal government. Elected politicians are supposed to be servants of the people. Let us remind them by showing the majority of the voters, now labeled as unaffiliated, are not disinterested and if the candidate wants your vote, they have to earn it. Let us improve our voting participation record. It is your responsibility to vote.
As always, your thoughts and comments are appreciated: publisher@lostcreekguide. com
Upon signing legislation to usher in a new regulatory paradigm for the industry, Colorado Governor Jared Polis famously declared an end to the state’s oil and gas wars in 2019. The state’s saber-rattling legislature has other ideas in mind for 2024.
Emboldened by historic majorities in the legislature, Colorado Democrats have introduced Senate Bill 159, a measure to ban new oil and gas drilling in the state by 2030.
It would accomplish this goal by directing the state Energy and Carbon Management Commission, the recently rebranded agency tasked with overseeing oil and gas permitting, to begin phasing down approvals for new wells in 2028 and completely halt any new permit issuance on January 1, 2030. Furthermore, the proposed legislation would automatically terminate any permit issued before the cut-off date if operators don’t begin drilling by 2032.
The legislation represents the most blatant attack on domestic energy production in the state since lawmakers adopted the country’s strictest oil and gas regulations (against the will of Colorado voters) in 2019, prompting Polis to initially declare détente.
The bill’s recklessness betrays the seriousness with which it should be taken. It should not be laughed off as a protest bill filed by some fringe backbencher looking to earn plaudits from progressive special interests. The legislation has secured sponsorship from prominent lawmakers in both chambers of the state legislature, including Senator Kevin Priola, a Democrat who represents part of Colorado’s most productive oil and gas county.
Nor should it be confused with previous symbolic energy bans in states such as New York when it banned fracking in 2014. In Colorado, unlike the Empire State, oil and gas is a prolific industry, and the ban’s economic consequences would be severe.
A 2023 study prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) found that the oil and gas industry supports more than 300,000 jobs and generates more than $48 billion in Colorado annually—or 11.2% of the state’s total GDP. Colorado ranks as the fifth-largest crude oil-producing and the eighth-largest natural gas-producing state in the country, according to federal government data, with enough exploitable reserves of each to maintain its stature for the foreseeable future. That’s important because federal estimates project that U.S. oil and gas production will continue to grow through 2050, prompted by steady domestic consumption and rising global demand for American hydrocarbons.
Despite ongoing efforts from Colorado lawmakers and regulators to push residents into all-electric cars, internal combustion engines still power more than 98% of the light-duty vehicles on the state’s roads, making petroleum an essential commodity for its drivers.
Meanwhile, natural gas remains by far the most widely consumed energy source in the state each year, helping nearly 7 out of every 10 Colorado homes stay warm in the winter. It also generates more than a quarter of the state’s annual electricity, and Colorado’s major utilities are investing in even more natural gas capacity to replace closing coal plants and back up intermittent wind and solar power.
In other words, a ban on new oil and gas production in Colorado would do nothing to stem the overall production and consumption of fossil fuels in the medium term—the apparent goal of the climate-conscious lawmakers who introduced the measure. Instead, it would simply ensure that Colorado producers miss the boat as suppliers elsewhere reap the economic benefits of contributing to an energy-rich future. It’s a governmentimposed industry demise for little material gain.
Even more troubling is that the bill is not being proposed in a vacuum. A separate bill co-sponsored by Priola, Senate Bill 165, would have a much more immediate impact on energy producers and consumers alike. SB 165 would, among other things, ban oil and gas production in the state between the months of May and September and direct state transportation regulators to craft rules to reduce vehicle miles traveled for private citizens.
Taken together, the bills represent a concerted effort to gradually squeeze the life out of the state’s oil and gas industry by decimating its productive capacity, while artificially restricting the demand for its products by heavy-handed government fiat.
The state’s radical turn against its prolific industry is a cautionary tale for energy politics nationwide. While reducing harmful emissions where possible is indeed a worthwhile goal, a little perspective is needed.
Colorado, as a whole, contributes just 1.7% of the country’s annual carbon dioxide emissions. Its oil and gas and transportation sectors represent just a subset of that total. Policymakers will not solve a global problem like climate change by snuffing out the extractive industry of a single state.
That these bills are even under serious consideration demonstrates how climate myopia can lead even the most productive states to choose economic self-harm in the name of marginal environmental progress. Should their aims succeed, we’ll all be worse off for it.
Jake Fogleman is an energy policy analyst at the Independence Institute, a free market think tank in Denver.
Caption corrections from page 1 of the 3/6/2024 issue of the Lost Creek Guide pictures of winners of Citizen of the Year and Non Profit of the Year
In today’s media driven world, perception is everything. In fact, perception is often trusted more than the reality of things. That is why it is important to put those with the most education or experience in the position of providing the information. To us in the 63rd, this means that those in agricultural and rural communities need to lead the discussions and drive the narrative. We cannot afford to sit back and let those in the urban areas label what we do or take lead on the stories that are told about our way of life. People from the metropolitan areas who don’t understand our way of life are trying to tell our communities out here in rural Colorado what is sustainable. Big government is trying to pick winners and losers in the agricultural sector based on what they perceive is a “better” practice.
I cannot say what is or is not a sustainable agricultural practice. I have looked and have not yet been able to find a solid definition of sustainable farming and ranching practices that will work in all areas of our state. What may be a sustainable practice for us in Northeast Colorado may not be practical in Southwest Colorado, and vice versa. In short, the notion of sustainability just does not work in the way the media or masses are trying to sell it.
Farmers and ranchers are the best at what they do and are the best stewards of the land. You know this and I know this; however, most of the population does not. It is time we change the discussions to stewardship over sustainability. Stewardship is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Stewardship allows for self-accountability and the freedom to choose what is best for one’s own agricultural production and family business.
This mindset of stewardship over sustainability can also be applied outside of the agricultural sector. Stewardship applies to family and the way we live. It is how we choose to raise our children and what values we instill in them. It is how we choose to handle our own medical decisions and health. Stewardship over sustainability allows for people to oversee their own means of livelihood and ways of life instead of the government telling them what is allegedly sustainable. We need to take back the narrative, which I am up for.
I grew up in rural Pennsylvania, the grandson of a farmer, and the son of a nurse and a carpenter. The first 16 years of my life I spent on the farm with my grandfather. I still remember the early mornings at the local diners, coffee and toast with the neighboring farmers, where I learned first hand how difficult it has become to farm with rising supply costs, finding workers, and investing in and repairing equipment. The very people who feed our entire nation are struggling just to get by.
It’s not just our farmers. Our infrastructure is crumbling, our schools are severely underfunded, and wages have stagnated behind our soaring productivity for decades. Meanwhile, the people we’ve elected to protect these institutions are falling asleep at the wheel. Washington is broken. We all know it, politicians will even acknowledge it, and yet, nothing changes. That’s why I’m running for Congress. We need representatives who understand the problems facing working class Americans and will fight to protect their interests against the corporations that are bleeding us dry.
Today, more than 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck (CNBC), 99% of all homes in the entire country are unaffordable to the average income earner (CBS), and 735 billionaires possess more wealth than the entire bottom half of U.S. households (Snopes). As Congressman, I will fight for a billionaire income tax that would generate over $575 billion over 10 years to build back the middle class and return that hard-earned money back to the workers.
Every American deserves the chance to earn a living wage, and if wages rose alongside our increasing productivity, the federal minimum wage today would be $26. Instead, corporations find loopholes, they lay off their workers, and they pad the already overflowing pockets of their executives. I know what it’s like to have to count every penny to just barely get by for reasons that are entirely out of our control. A living wage, a decent education, and access to affordable healthcare should not be considered luxuries in the wealthiest nation on earth.
That’s why I’ve spent years advocating for second chance programs, opioid solutions, and climate change policies, because I know that, as a country, we’re at our best when we work together. As Congressman, I will fight to hold corporations accountable through a reformed and equitable tax code and robust regulations that will eliminate the loopholes they’ve abused while sponsoring bills that provide benefits for a more sustainable, longer tenured workforce because every hard working American deserves to live with dignity. And I won’t stop fighting for you until we achieve that!
I’m John Padora and together we can ReBuild our middle class, ReNew the American dream and ReEngage all who have been left behind.
When I announced my campaign for county commissioner, my full intention was to run as an unaffiliated candidate. Due to a technical error, that will not be possible and I am officially running as a Democrat. Before you stop reading right here, lets explore a couple things.
America has a two-party system, and right now those parties seem miles apart. However, the voters get to choose which side they want and lots of times, what they really want is the middle. When it comes to decisions affecting our county, party lines don’t matter. It’s about rolling up our sleeves and doing what’s right for Morgan County, plain and simple.
Since County Commissioner is a local race, there are no votes on party lines. Just like school board and special district elections, decisions are made by a small group of elected officials who represent a specific area, in this case Morgan County. I will still be me, regardless of party affiliation. Those of you who know me can vouch for this and those of you who don’t know me – please reach out! I would love to meet you and hear your thoughts.
I’m sure some of you are concerned about where I stand on a couple of hot button issues, but none of these things are decided at the local level. I am a firm believer in 2nd Amendment rights. Growing up I spent almost every weekend at Muir Springs with my family shooting clays. I have no intention of giving up my guns, nor do I expect anyone else to. I do expect people to be responsible with their weapons and appreciate that we have a number of excellent training classes locally. We are blessed to live in a county with a strong sheriff, who has made clear, several times, his stance.
I believe in small government and minimal government overreach. I don’t want anyone telling me what to do with my land and I don’t expect anyone else to be bullied either. Many farms in this area (including ours) have been handed down over generations and we understand the cold nights, long days and the dedication it takes to run a farm or ranch. I promise to fight for farmers and landowners. This is a farm first county and everyone should be made aware of that.
Finally, in this federal election year, please bear in mind that whoever you vote in as president will not have near the day-to-day real-life impact on yours and your family’s interests as the County Commissioners will. You have the power to vote in someone who cares passionately about Morgan County and who will fight for your interests. I may not match your party colors, but I am that person, and I am asking for your vote.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I want to hear your concerns and suggestions, and what you want for Morgan County. 970-743-0522 walker4morgan@gmail.com
Have you ever thought about improving your landscaping or land capability? Maybe you’re searching for ways to reduce harsh winds and soil erosion. If so, seedling trees might be the solution for you!
Every year, Morgan Conservation District participates in an annual conservation tree seedling sale to provide residents of the District with natural solutions for wind and snow management. Seedling trees
can also be used to create wildlife habitats, restore and repair eroded soils, and to improve land capability. They are also a wonderful addition to landscaping and can help to beautify existing homes and properties.
The District carries standard windbreak and snow fence species like Rocky Mountain Juniper and Eastern Red Cedar, both of which are very hearty trees that can withstand the harsh conditions of NE Colorado. They also carry other types of coniferous trees, as well as a variety of deciduous trees, shrubs, pollinators, and flowers.
Trees are offered in two sizes: Bareroot and Container. Bareroot trees are grown in soil and then packaged so that the root ball is exposed, thus the name bareroot. They are about 18 to 24 inches in height, including the root ball, and are available in bundles of 25 or as individual trees. Container trees are grown in plugs in soil, to protect the root ball. They are then taken out of the plugs, so that the nursery can reuse them for future trees, and wrapped tightly in plastic to protect the root ball. Container trees are about 18 inches in height, including the root ball, and are only available in bundles of 10. Each bundle size is $45 plus tax.
The trees that the District carries can be used for many purposes. The most popular use is by agricultural producers to provide protection from wind and snow, as well as to create and promote wildlife or pollinator habitat in the area. Trees can also be used for landscaping purposes, and for personal uses. In fact, many of the trees that the District carries have medicinal uses and can be consumed! For example, Elderberry is a common holistic herb that is used to boost one’s immune system, and syrups, jams, jellies, and gummies can be made out of the berries. Golden Currant, Chokecherry, Sandcherry, American Plum, Crabapple, Lilac, and Woods Rose can all be used in a jam or jelly too!
Tree orders are due by April 30th. Orders can be taken on the District’s website, via phone, or email. Trees will be delivered to their office in Fort Morgan in early May. The District also carries tree planting supplies, like weed barrier fabric, staples for the fabric, fertilizer, polymer for water retention, transplant dip, and a root dip to increase survival and growth rates.
If you need help deciding which trees to order, or coming up with a site plan, the District can also help with that!
Current Inventory: Bareroot:
Eastern Red Cedar, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Colorado Blue Spruce, Jack Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Scotch Pine, American Elm, Plains Cottonwood, Crabapple, Hackberry, Honey Locust, Bur Oak, Silver Maple, Chokecherry, Peking Cotoneaster, Golden Currant, Redosier Dogwood, Elderberry, False Indigo, Vilosa Lilac, Sand Cherry, Woods Rose, Common Milkweed.
Container: Eastern Red Cedar or Ponderosa Pine
To learn more about the Conservation District, please visit them at: https://www.morganconservationdistrict.com/ or contact them today at 970-4273358 or morganconservationdistrict@gmail.com You can also stop by their office at 200 West Railroad Avenue in Fort Morgan.
Join the Southeast Weld and West Adams Conservation District’s for their Annual Dinner Meeting on April 11th at the American Legion Post 180 in Keenesburg, CO. Local agricultural producers and stakeholders are encouraged to attend this meeting to listen to speakers from the Colorado State Conservation Board (CSCB), Colorado Association of Conservation Districts (CACD), and Colorado Open Lands. Furthermore, producers and stakeholders will be able to voice their natural resource and conservation concerns to both Districts during the meeting, as the District’s host their locally led workgroup meeting with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Conservation Districts were formed shortly after the “dirty thirties” wiped across the Nation, causing much distress and destruction for local farmers and ranchers. Districts work closely with NRCS to provide advocacy, support, and leadership of local natural resources. Furthermore, Districts assist with bridging the gap of technical, financial, and educational resources for landowners.
Southeast Weld Conservation District recently enrolled in the Colorado Soil Health Program and is excited to work with local producers enrolled in the program. They will be offering various workshops and outreach opportunities in the future for local producers. To learn more about the District, contact their District Manager Madeline Hagan at 970-427-3358 or sewcdco@gmail.com
West Adams Conservation District offers annual conservation tree seedling sales, as well as local outreach opportunities. To learn more about the District, contact their District Manager Lindsay Cushman at 720-609-0314 or lindsay.cushman77@gmail. com
This year’s Annual Dinner Meeting will be held on April 11th at the American Legion Post 180 at 595 Railroad Avenue in Keenesburg, CO. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. Enter to win door prizes before dinner! Keynote speakers include Cindy Lair from Colorado State Conservation Board, Brett Moore from Colorado Association of Conservation Districts, and Carmen Farmer from Colorado Open Lands. RSVP by April 4th to Southeast Weld Conservation District: 970-427-3358/sewcdco@gmail.com or West Adams Conservation District: 720-609-0314/Lindsay.cushman77@gmail.com This meeting is free and open to the public; agricultural producers and stakeholders are encouraged to attend to share their natural resource and conservation concerns.
[HUDSON, COLORADO, March 14, 2024] Spring is here, and with the warmer comes the Town of Hudson’s new season of events. With several new events in the lineup, we are CALLING ALL VENDORS, and inviting the community to join us at this year’s FunTastic events!
The first big shindig on the calendar this year is the Cedar Street Block Party & Market. Set for Saturday, May 25 at 1:00 PM, it is a party with vendors of all kinds, food and ice cream trucks, and three great bands, including the Colorado Music Hall of Famers, Chris Daniels & The Kings, with fellow Hall of Fame artist, Freddi Gowdy! With this being the first year of the Cedar Street Block Party & Market, we want to thank all of the great businesses on Cedar Street for allowing us to use the block for the day to bring a party to the community!
On Saturday, May 22, in Memorial Park, we have the first-ever Summer Music Mash! We’ll have bounce houses and lawn games, food, a beer garden, and four great bands, including The Atomic Drifters, David Michael Boyd & Blues Behind Bars Band, Greg Schochet & Little America, and the headliners, the amazing 8-member band Los Bohemios! All vendors are invited!
Next, bring the family to Memorial Park on Saturday, July 20, for Hudson Lunch and Lawn Games! It’ll be hot, but you can cool off in the dunk tank! Lunch and Lawn Games is just what it sounds like: food trucks and lots of fun stuff to do in the park!
The Harvest Festival is on Saturday, September 21st this year, from 2 PM to 8 PM. It will no doubt again be the biggest event of the year, featuring a car show, kid’s bounce houses, a kids maze, a kid’s train, a petting zoo, a beer garden, food and ice cream trucks, nearly 100 vendors! The phenomenal band Milestone and Mark Diamond will be back this year, and Chris Daniels & The Kings will be back with Freddi Gowdy! Finally, the event will close with another phenomenal fireworks show!
Of course, in October, we have Trunk or Treat, and after that, our Veterans’ Celebration and the Holiday Parade!
In closing, we need to thank our amazing sponsors! It is not an exaggeration to say that we could not bring you all these great events without them. It simply would not be possible. So, Thank You! to Motherload Co-Packing, TBK Bank, United Power, ALLO Fiber, the Hudson Public Library, Waste Management, Aims Community College, The Lost Creek Guide, Platte Valley Medical Center, and the Bank of Colorado.
We hope you will join us for our fantastic events this year! For more about our events, please check out the Town of Hudson Calendar page at www.hudsoncolorado. org/calendar.
Regards,
Stephen Snow Culture and Relations Manager Town of Hudson 720– 961-9020 ssnow@hudsoncolorado.org
29 MARCH 2024 2:00 pm 405 Barlow Rd., Fort Morgan, CO 80701
GOOD PEOPLE OF TIGER NATION: March 2024
Parent Teacher Conferences were held on March 5th and 6th. The secondary students participated in student led portfolios where the students presented projects from each class to their parents. Parents were able to ask questions, receiving feedback from one of their child’s teachers. The primary and elementary schools had over 96% of parents take part in conferences. Student academic scores on NWEA and DIBELS, along with progress monitoring and teacher observations were discussed. How the student is overall, such as socially, emotionally, and behaviorally was also discussed. Additionally, READ plans were revisited for students currently on one. Positive conversations were had and parents and teachers alike seemed to leave each evening with a sense of appreciation for the partnership for their child and the excitement to finish the year strong.
Over the past few months, Wiggins School Board and administration have been discussing the different options for the preschool, whether to continue with keeping it a public entity or privatizing it. Rosie Evans from Evans Early Childhood presented how her facility could partner with the district to offer infant and toddler care as well as preschool, after school care, and Monday care for infants to 12 years old. The board listened to public comment and discussed both options. The board was pleased to see community members attend the meeting to express their opinions on the preschool options. The board will make a final decision at the April meeting.
Congratulations:
Middle School girls basketball and Middle School boys wrestling LPAA Champions. State Wrestling placers, Michael Pacheco 5th place Jorge Mendez 4th place, and Americo Lorenzini is the 2A HeavyWeight Champion.
Once again our Middle School Science Fair participants did a wonderful job with 12 of the 18 junior division state qualifiers from Morgan County being from Wiggins.
The Colorado Labor Peace Act, premajorities, farm workers and more come into play when tracking union formation. Plus: Who else is unionizing in Colorado?
by Tamara Chuang and Parker Yamasaki, TheColorado Sun
It’s been a couple of frenetic years for workers whose casual conversations with colleagues turned into full-on union organization since early 2020. Some workers have been fired. Others abandoned the effort. A small minority have seen success. But for the most part, unions coexist with Colorado’s status as a right-to-work state.
As reported in a Colorado Sun story earlier this week, most of 143 Colorado petitions filed with the National Labor Relations Board since early 2020 didn’t make it past the first union-formation vote. An even smaller number failed to attempt a Colorado Labor Peace Act election, which is needed to bypass right-to-work employment policies. Only a small handful have a contract.
To unionize, though, workers don’t have to petition the federal agency. An employer can voluntarily recognize the staff as a bargaining unit, as was the case for artists at Meow Wolf Denver. Or workers can take the premajority route, which lacks collective bargaining rights, but still creates an infrastructure under which to organize. Agriculture workers aren’t allowed to unionize at the federal level, but a Colorado law granted farm workers and the cannabis agriculture workers the right in 2021.
What is a premajority union?
The concept of a premajority union dates to well before the 1930s, when the National Labor Relations Act solidified our current labor policies. Essentially, it’s a group of employees who act like a union but don’t have collective bargaining rights under federal or state law. They have also been called solidarity unions, noncontract unions and minority unions.
But the label, and the workplaces interested in it, has emerged recently alongside an uptick in union activity since the pandemic, said Ahmed White, a law professor at the University of Colorado.
“There’s a surge in positive views of unions, there’s a surge in interest among workers themselves, but this is happening in a context where there is not a lot of union representation,” White said. “The world is very different in that latter respect than it was in the 1970s. That leaves people interested in a union without much of a readymade structure. The path forward is not as clear as it would have been generations ago, even though the interest is high.”
That lack of clarity is reminiscent of the pre-1930s era, before the Labor Relations Act created strict criteria for unionizing, and gave employers more certainty about who they were dealing with. During that time, multiple unions — and even rivalry between unions — within one workplace wasn’t abnormal.
“That could definitely happen (again). No doubt about it,” White said. “It’s not clear that it would be a bad thing, though, that the workers have some choice about what kind of unionism they favor. That was the norm through the 1930s and in some ways into the 1940s and ’50s, and later became quite abnormal. It begs the question: Why is that uncertainty such a bad thing if it accompanies some real vibrancy of choice for workers?”
Getting past the Colorado Labor Peace Act
Another way around the NLRB vote is the Colorado Labor Peace Act. In the case of farm workers, who are allowed to unionize at the state level but not federal, union success stories show up in results of the state’s Labor Peace Act elections.
Grow workers with Green Dragon Cannabis Co. went this route in 2022 and negotiated their first employment contract in November.
But the Labor Peace Act is a law that unions find to be a challenge.
Enacted in 1943, the state law was seen as a compromise between unions and business owners. That’s why Colorado is considered a modified right-to-work state, which means that new hires don’t have to join a union if one exists, though they can if they want to. But if a union wins its Labor Peace Act election, then union membership is required.
The Peace Act rules require three-quarters of eligible workers to participate in a second vote, if they already successfully voted in an NLRB election. Without it, the union has less bite since it doesn’t represent all eligible workers and cannot collect dues from those who don’t join. The NLRB’s vote needs just a simple majority.
“This is where it gets kooky,” said Alejo R. González, political and community coordinator at Service Employees International Union Local 105 in Denver. “So you could literally win the vote 55 to zero and still lose because you didn’t get 75% of the people to vote. That 75% turnout is insane. It’s hard to get that many people to vote. … And a lot of companies won’t start bargaining until that happens.”
According to data from the state Department of Labor and Employment, 22 unions have held a Labor Peace Act election since early 2020. Of those, 13 won, including employees at Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey and Green Dragon Cannabis Co.
While the Labor Peace Act vote means a group of organized workers can bypass the NLRB petition process, it’s still a challenge to reach a first contract agreement, said Jim Hammons, organizing director for United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 7, which has worked with more than a dozen new union efforts in Colorado since 2020.
“Most of our (unions) haven’t gotten to the stage where we’re going to ask for the Colorado Peace Act,” he said. “But there was such overwhelming support at Stranahan’s that we conducted a Peace Act election with the state of Colorado. And it passed. Members wanted to be a union shop. We’ve been negotiating for 14 months.”
As The Colorado Sun reported, those barriers to unionization are harder for newly formed unions to overcome. Workplaces with a union precedent have had an easier time riding the wave of union support than those just trying to get started, and ultimately, completing negotiations on that first contract that nearly always includes a pay raise.
Why form a union if you can’t secure a contract?
Even without a collective bargaining agreement — a contract — premajority unions are a way for workers to band together in a semiformal manner, creating an infrastructure to make demands of their employer or work on political issues affecting their industry.
“I think when you are forced to work as an open union or premajority union, you
can’t rely on traditional contract negotiations,” said Kiyomi Bolick, CWA Local 7799 secretary and Defenders Union of Colorado member. “But you are still using the power of collective action because, you know, there is power in a group of people just getting together and deciding what to do. And one of the things that we’ve kind of come together on is, well, what if we just passed a bill?”
The Defenders Union of Colorado, made up of public defenders and support staff employed by the state, has been working on House Bill 1289, currently being considered by the state legislature, to create workload standards for public defenders.
The public defenders’ union, like more than 140 other unions, came together after the pandemic. In fact, Bolick attributes the union’s ability to organize to the pandemic, “not just because everyone was miserable during that time, but because we really learned how to rely on Zoom for communication,” she said. Prior to the pandemic, she’d talk to many of her far-flung coworkers once per year at their annual convention. When everyone got comfortable meeting digitally, public defenders in Denver could quickly and reliably trade notes with those in Grand Junction, and elsewhere.
“Sure, it would be really helpful if you fell under the (National Labor Relations Act) or, I don’t know, if you had like a path to forced recognition in Colorado,” Bolick said. “But you don’t need either of those to work with your coworkers to make change.”
Colorado’s latest union efforts
• Denver Art Museum Workers at the Denver Art Museum voted 120-59 in favor of forming a union on March 6 and 7. The workers originally stated their intent to unionize in mid-January.
Since the announcement, union organizers have filed an unfair labor practice case with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that their employer discharged or refused to hire employees, changed terms or conditions of employment, and issued coercive statements and rules to discourage union activity, among other things. DAM management stated that they are aware of the claim.
“We can assure you that the museum respects the legal right of employees to unionize and would not interfere with that right, or violate the law, in any way. The museum will respond to the filing and follow any required next steps with the NLRB,” they said in an emailed statement to The Colorado Sun.
• Jefferson County library workers unionize. More than 200 workers at Jefferson County’s 12 libraries voted in favor of unionizing with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 18, union officials said Thursday. The 213-62 vote makes the library workers among the first to unionize under Senate Bill 230, or the 2022 Collective Bargaining For Counties Act, which gives county workers the same rights as state employees to join a union and bargain on the terms of employment. “Workers have been contending with a number of issues, including low wages and workplace safety. Safety in particular is a concern, as libraries have become ground zero in culture wars and default social service agencies,” the union said in a news release. Now, it’s on to negotiating the contract, a union representative said.
• Denver sheriff deputies get new contract. Denver City Council approved an amended collective bargaining agreement with the Denver Sheriff Department and its union, the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 27. The contract includes a minimum overtime rate of 1.5-times regular pay, annual salary increases of 2% to 3% through 2025 and increasing the one-time weapons allowance from $650 to $1,000, according to the city. The department employs more than 1,100 uniformed and nonuniformed staff, according to the city.
• Keystone ski patrollers announce plans for union vote. The 93 ski patrollers at Vail Resorts-owned Keystone ski area could join unionized patrollers at 10 other Western ski areas, writes Sun reporter Jason Blevins.
Latest NLRB petitions to form a union:
• Silver Stem Fine Cannabis in Littleton seeks representation for 15 workers. Additional filing details were not available Friday.
• Jewish Community Center of Denver Early Learning School in Denver seeks representation for 42 teachers, support staff and specials staff.
• The Hertz Corp. car-rental workers at the Denver International Airport location seek representation for 58 customer care and other representatives.
The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization that covers Colorado people, places and issues. To sign up for free newsletters, subscribe or learn more, visit ColoradoSun.com
While her 5-year-old son attends kindergarten at west Denver’s Colfax Elementary School, Maelka attends class too. In a trailer near the playground, she and three other moms learn English.
On a recent Thursday, the group practiced letters and numbers by playing bingo.
“B eleven,” the teacher called out.
“Eleven! Eleven!” Maelka said. Then she translated the number into Spanish — “once,” pronounced on-say — for her classmates.
The trailer at Colfax Elementary is one of Denver Public Schools’ six “community hubs,” and the English language classes are among the most popular offerings. Launched in 2022 by Superintendent Alex Marrero, the community hubs were meant to take a two-generation approach to improving students’ lives by helping both children and parents with everything from food and clothing to financial counseling and mobile medical appointments.
Now, as more than 3,500 migrant students have enrolled in DPS since the beginning of the school year, the hubs are increasingly serving their families as they build new lives in Denver. The influx has stretched the hubs’ capacity, but district leaders said they remain committed to soliciting more donations and grant money to support the work.
“I need to learn English to understand, to work — and to learn, too,” Maelka said in Spanish. “It is important to know the language in the country where you are.”
Maelka and her family arrived in Denver from Venezuela in early December. After spending time in the city’s shelters, they found a house to rent near Colfax Elementary. Chalkbeat is withholding Maelka’s last name to protect her privacy.
The free classes do more than teach English, which offers the promise of higherpaying jobs. The hubs also foster a sense of community, said Manager Jackie Bell. On Maelka’s birthday, another mom baked her a cake and brought it to class.
The hubs are also a safety net. When one of the moms showed up to class in pain with a tooth infection, hub staff scrambled to connect her with a free dental clinic. When staff saw students were walking to school without warm jackets, the hub got a grant to buy brand new kid-sized puffy coats for students. When a grandmother who’s raising a grandson with autism told hub staff he would only eat one brand of rice, they were able to stock it in their mini market.
“That’s the message to our DPS parents that says, ‘We want you here,’” Bell said.
There’s ‘magic’ in the hubs’ differences
The community hubs are an expansion of a previous program called the Family and Community Engagement Centers, often shortened to FACE Centers. The hub at John H. Amesse Elementary in far northeast Denver was one of two original FACE Centers.
Marrero toured the center at John H. Amesse early in his superintendency. On her wall, Manager Carla Duarte has a framed map of the city on which Marrero scribbled his vision to have a similar center in every region of Denver. Now, two years later, the six hubs offer the same programming that the centers offered and more, depending in part on the hub’s space.
Two hubs have micro grocery stores with fresh produce and frozen meat, while others have food pantries stocked with dry and canned goods. All hubs distribute diapers, but some partner with a local nonprofit to give away car seats and strollers. At least one has a thrift store-sized used clothing boutique. Some are now partnering with Denver Health, which parks its mobile clinic on the curb and sees patients for half-hour appointments.
The hubs’ staffing differs, too. They all connect parents to programs that help pay their bills, but some have financial coaches and classes on household budgeting. Others help parents find jobs. The workforce development coordinator at the far northeast hub recently helped a migrant father who’d worked as a barber in Venezuela for 24 years get a job at a Denver barber shop.
When a hub doesn’t have a particular service, the staff refer families to one that does.
“That’s the magic of the community hubs,” Duarte said. “We’re all so different.”
The hub at John H. Amesse is among the biggest and busiest. Its spaces are sprinkled throughout the school in converted classrooms and once-empty offices.
On a recent Wednesday morning, adult Spanish-speaking students in a GED class were practicing math and celebrating with pink-frosted cupcakes a classmate who passed their tests.
In a small room off the library, two women rocked the babies of the GED students. One of the women, a refugee from Afghanistan with children in DPS, first came to the community hub seeking help paying her family’s rent. Through a translator who spoke Dari, the woman’s native language, Duarte said the woman asked an important question.
“She just looked at me and said, ‘Do you have any jobs for me?’” Duarte said.
Duarte was looking to fill a child care position, but she was unsure about the language barrier. Nearly all hub employees speak Spanish, but none spoke Dari. But DPS said yes, and the woman is now learning English through the hub’s classes — and picking up Spanish, too.
“She’s so amazing,” Duarte said. “It’s like the best thing we ever did.”
There’s a similar story across the hall, where a former participant leads a “play and learn” class for toddlers and their parents, who on this day were busy blowing soap bubbles with straws.
Many of the “play and learn” parents also attend GED or English classes at the hub. Ingrid Alemán had to stop because her 2-year-old son, Dylan, cried too much when he was separated from her in the child care room. But the mother and son still come to “play and learn.”
“He’s learning how to socialize with other kids,” Alemán said in Spanish. “And as a mom, it helps me to be with other moms who can give me advice. Because in the house —”
“You and the kids —” Duarte said.
“In the house, it’s crazy,” Alemán said, laughing.
Migrants are among the more than 4,000 families served The hubs cost approximately $737,000 each to run, for a total yearly cost of about
$4.4 million, according to Esmeralda De La Oliva, the district’s hubs director. When Marrero announced the initiative in 2022, he said the hubs would be partly funded with savings from cuts he made to the district’s central office as part of a reorganization.
In the past two years, the hubs have served more than 4,000 families, De La Oliva said. That includes more than 1,000 parents who are enrolled in adult education classes. In addition to GED and English language classes, some hubs offer classes to help parents pass citizenship tests and classes that teach Spanish to English-speaking parents.
About 350 newly arrived adults are enrolled in the classes and the hubs have served 600 migrant families this year, De La Oliva said. The GED classes are at capacity, and De La Oliva said she’s seeking more funding for the GED and English language classes, mini markets, and food pantries from private donors and nonprofit organizations including the Denver Public Schools Foundation’s newly launched New Arrivals, Students & Family Fund.
The work of serving migrant families, many of whom have harrowing stories, can weigh on the hearts and minds of hub staff, De La Oliva said, which is why the district plans to offer intensive self-care training for staff starting next month. But the work is making a difference.
De La Oliva recalled a family who came into a hub this school year looking for diapers three weeks after arriving from Colombia. Within a month, the mom was enrolled in GED and English language classes. Within two months, the dad was working for the DPS transportation department, which has been notoriously short-staffed.
The hub at Swansea Elementary in north Denver is a 15-minute walk from the Western Motor Inn, which has served as an unofficial shelter for hundreds of migrants. As of a month ago, Swansea had enrolled more than 50 migrant students — and the hub was serving their families and others who heard about it through word of mouth, Manager Sandra Carrillo said.
People would walk through the hub door, sometimes in groups of six or more family members, Carrillo said. “They were like, ‘We just arrived today.’” Hub staff jumped in, providing everything from socks and underwear to help enrolling families’ 4-yearolds in Colorado’s new free preschool program.
Among the new arrivals at the Swansea hub was a 27-year-old man who is blind, Carrillo said. He doesn’t have any documentation from Venezuela that he’s legally blind. That has led to roadblocks in getting services such as RTD’s Access-a-Ride, which provides transportation to riders with disabilities. But the hub is doing its best to clear those roadblocks for its own offerings.
The man’s goal is to eventually study economics and computer science at a university, Carrillo said. He enrolled in the hub’s English classes but all of the materials were on paper. Carrillo said the hubs’ higher-ups were quick to approve the hub working with a local nonprofit to get the man the software he needs to participate in the classes.
“When families let us know they’re going through something, it’s working with everyone in the community to see who has resources,” Carrillo said.
While the work can be complicated, the goal is not.
As Carrillo noted, “Happier families, happier students.”
Melanie Asmar is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Colorado. Contact Melanie at masmar@chalkbeat.org.
BROOMFIELD, Colo. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Produce Safety Rule ended harvest and post-harvest agricultural water enforcement discretion for both large and small farms who use water during or after produce harvest. The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) staff inspects farms to ensure compliance with subpart E of the Produce Safety Rule, which sets standards for how to test, treat, and monitor the water used during the harvest and post harvest activities, such as harvesting, packing, holding, and transporting of the produce.
FDA allowed enforcement discretion until January 26, 2023, when a phased-in approach to enforcement began. Starting in 2024, both large and small farms are required to comply with the ag water portion of the Produce Safety Rule. This means during the 2024 growing season, CDA inspectors will take an”educate while we regulate” approach.
Farm owners and operators of any size farms are invited to attend a Produce Safety Rule Agricultural Water Webinar on Wednesday, March 20 at 11:30 am. You can register for the webinar at ag.colorado.gov/psr.
Hear from program staff what an inspection would look like under the regulations and the Harvest and Post Harvest water requirements that they would need to be in compliance with.
All farms, even those under enforcement discretion, are welcome to join the webinar to get an idea of what it means to be compliant and what records an inspector would ask for.
WHAT: Produce Safety Rule: Agricultural Water Webinar
WHEN: Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm MDT
WHO: All farm owners and operators who want to learn about compliance with the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule
HOW: Register at ag.colorado.gov/ PSR.
podium on Thursday to talk about a package of bills aimed at expanding and improving workforce education. (Jason Gonzales / Chalkbeat)
Colorado lawmakers hope a package of bills this year will help connect more residents to training that helps them land in-demand jobs with good wages.
Lawmakers believe the nine bills, once they’re all filed, will improve the state’s disjointed workforce education system. They also hope the proposals will help get more residents job training at little to no cost.
The proposals include the continuation of a statewide workforce training grant program; a study to analyze how well the state’s various career programs serve students; an expansion of Colorado’s apprenticeship program; and funding for workforce grant programs, such as paying for businesses to start workforce training programs.
Gov. Jared Polis said during a news conference Thursday that the proposals address the state’s need for more skilled workers, and noted that there are nearly two job openings for every unemployed person.
“There’s often a mismatch between unemployed Coloradans and the jobs that are open today and pay well,” Polis said. “And that’s really what the strategic approach of bipartisan pieces of legislation will help close.”
To a certain extent, the bills follow the recommendations in a report released this year on improving workforce education in Colorado. One overarching theme of the report (which state lawmakers commissioned in 2023) is the importance of making the end of high school and the beginning of college seamless enough that students leave with skills relevant to careers. This concept is known as the “Big Blur.”
Polis wants Colorado to be a leader in offering students this type of education, especially since most Colorado jobs that offer high pay and salary growth require some sort of training beyond high school.
Polis said the bills will be funded through a combination of state and federal money.
In particular, a statewide analysis of workforce programs would be helpful to see where the gaps and opportunities are in the state, including ensuring students in rural and remote areas have the ability to take advantage of these programs, said House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat.
“We are laying the groundwork to set Colorado learners on a path to success by improving access to these programs,” she said.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers have already filed some of the bills, while they were expected to file others on Thursday. Here’s more on what the proposals would do:
• Lawmakers want to provide a final round of $3.8 million in funding for the Opportunity Now grant program that’s specifically focused on building and construction trades. Opportunity Now is an $85 million grant program funded by federal pandemic relief dollars. The goal has been to offer communities funding to come up with local solutions to get residents college education and workforce skills that translate to jobs. The bill also would create an annual $15 million tax credit to improve training.
• Through a new study, Colorado lawmakers plan to explore the effectiveness of the state’s workforce programs, such as high schools with a fifth-year option, technical programs, and early college.
• Lawmakers want to expand apprenticeship programs. The state would use $2 million to help businesses start or expand opportunities, $2 million for those who help support the administration of apprenticeship programs, and $30 million in annual, refundable tax credits to offset apprentices’ wages.
• Senate Bill 104 would align high school career education programs with what the state offers in apprenticeship programs.
• House Bill 1097 would make it easier for members of military families to get licensed in fields such as teaching or health care if they have credentials in another state.
• Senate Bill 50 would create a pilot program that helps pay for the creation of business and nonprofit workforce training programs.
• Senate Bill 143 would evaluate whether workforce programs, such as industry apprenticeships, meet an education
standard and require programs to have a standard.
• House Bill 1264 would create an online portal to assist K-12 teachers with career incentives, job postings, and applications. Lawmakers have filed similar legislation in recent years to help teachers, especially because of shortages statewide.
• House Bill 1231 would provide money for the construction of three new colleges focused on health and veterinary care. The state is facing worker shortages in those areas. The bill would also provide money to help renovations at Trinidad State College.
Jason Gonzales is a reporter covering higher education and the Colorado legislature.
Chalkbeat Colorado partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.
“Cardinal Community Academy has been fostering a love for science in their students since its beginning,” says Sarah Johnson, CCA’s phenomenal middle school science teacher. But the science seed is planted long before students enter 6th grade. STEM class is taught to all grades, starting in kindergarten. In 5th grade, students are introduced to the scientific method and conduct experiments as a class. By the time they enter middle school, they are ready to hit the ground running with Mrs. Johnson, who radiates passion for both science and her students. One 6th grader, who has always had a deep love for reading and writing, has changed her tune this year. Since having Mrs. Johnson’s tutelage, science is now her favorite subject.
CCA has held an annual science fair for its middle school students for nearly 20 years. The 6th graders compete in groups of three, 7th graders in pairs, and the 8th graders compete individually.
To CCA, the science fair means, “that we are committed to providing academic competitions to our students, to challenge them and grow their confidence in critical thinking and exploration skills. The fair demonstrates that we believe our students can carry out year-long projects from start to finish, and share with the community what they have discovered. The purpose behind the science fair projects is to give students the first-hand experience of following the steps of the scientific method from start to finish. The pride students are able to take in their projects is exciting to see!” says Mrs. Johnson.
The students with high enough scores at CCA’s local fair go on to compete at the Regional Fair held at UNC. In attendance this year were 19 CCA students, including two 3rd place projects (7th graders Reagan Sporney and Chelsey Young; 6th graders Mattie Baker, Tessa Dorenkamp and Isabel Dwyer) and two qualifiers for the state competition this spring.
I sat down to interview the state qualifiers, 8th graders Brooklynn Labonte and Marin Cantrell. The giggly pair cited the incredible instruction from Mrs. Johnson as the foundation for their successes, combined with some healthy competition with one another.
“Learn and follow other people’s mistakes and wins, to later branch off and find other and new opportunities,” says Brooklynn, who took 1st place in Plant Sciences, with her project on how long and hot different woods burn.
Marin noted that “Science can benefit our world in different ways.” She clearly understood this when researching her project on toilet paper solubility.
Mrs. Johnson says she is, “beyond proud of these two young women; their work ethic and drive are inspiring to the teachers and CCA community.”
As these students finish up their term at CCA with a showing at the state fair, they will surely be set up for success as they enter high school. Congratulations to all the winners! Best of luck to Brooklynn and Marin at state; go Cardinals!
Weld Central High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Distributive Education Clubs of America(DECA) programs have been active and have had some success in their competitions at the District and State levels.
For DECA, 3 students qualified to attend The State DECA Conference at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Tyler Navarro participated in the Community Awareness Project, Olga Montano participated in the Start Up Business event, and John Howard competed in the Future Marketing Educator event. John Howard got 2nd place in the Future Marketing Educator event and was awarded a nice trophy.
Last year, I was assigned to one of the nation’s busiest and most dangerous stretches of Interstate 70. I-70 meticulously winds through the Colorado Rockies as it traverses the nation. In many locations across the country, when trouble falls upon President Eisenhower’s Interstate system, the detour is a minor inconvenience at best. Back up a couple of miles, take an exit, find a surface street, and hop back on. No problem, right? Somebody in the car probably needed a potty break anyway. But when I-70 between Grand Junction and Denver goes down, you’re looking at massive delays, hours or even days long. Passenger cars might be able to sneak around on Highway 40 through northern Colorado, or if you’re aware of the closure soon enough maybe you can take Highway 50 to the south. Commercial vehicles often have to detour to Wyoming or New Mexico to continue their trips. When this happens, most of them park and wait out whatever the trouble may be. You can imagine the lost revenue to businesses nationwide when trucks are parked for days on end. That figure is in the millions within hours of the interstate closing. You can rest assured the troopers in this area understand the importance of having this American artery moving cars at the nation’s pulse, not just for the trucking industry but for all of you heading to grandparents’ birthday parties and cousins’ weddings that will never happen again.
Crashes close the mountain passes more than anything else. Proactive traffic enforcement and trooper visibility help keep those crashes down. When crashes occur, we utilize variable message boards, Facebook, X, Twitter, and the CDOT app to inform the public of the latest information. We work tirelessly to clear crashes from the road as fast as we can to get you moving again. Sometimes, we have trouble getting resources to the crash because of backed-up traffic. You may hear of a westbound crash and wonder why eastbound is closed. It’s likely because we must bring tow trucks to the scene using eastbound lanes and against traffic flow to clear the road as fast as possible. We are trained and seasoned professionals at removing crash scenes safely and quickly. I know sometimes from the driver’s seat of your family car with limited information, it may feel different, but I assure you we want the road open too.
Help us keep the road open in the first place, and help us if it closes. When you see us on the side of the road doing that pesky proactive traffic enforcement, please slow down and move over for us. If you have never stood on the shoulder of an interstate before, you have no idea how terrifying it can be. We place an enormous amount of trust in the motoring public every time we get out of the car, and nearly all of us can testify it is impossible to jump out of the way of a vehicle when it drifts onto the shoulder at interstate speeds. Every member of the state patrol knows of fallen comrades because drivers failed to slow down and move over. Should one of us or our patrol cars be struck, I assure you the road will be closed for an extended period. In addition, if we contact you for not moving over and slowing down, you will face a trooper explaining a $170 ticket and how it aligns with an agency-wide zero-tolerance policy.
If the road is closed and you’re stuck in line, check the CDOT app for updates and stay in your lane. When impatient motorists turn the right shoulder into a third lane, we can’t get resources to the crash, and now everyone waits even longer. Here’s a trooper tip you can live with: Watch your mirrors while you wait. When you see emergency services coming behind you, determine which way they want to go. In the mountains bridges can restrict the right shoulder; sometimes, the best thing for us to do is “part the seas.” You will see us straddling a center line and hoping drivers in both lanes move to their respective shoulders. This strategy can provide the widest gap for first responders and get everyone moving again. Finally, please don’t be that guy that jumps ahead after we part the seas. More emergency vehicles will likely be coming, and now you’re in the way, and everyone around you is in disbelief that this is your first time sitting in traffic behind a crash.
WELD COUNTY, CO — Effective March 1, 2024, the Weld County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is expanding. Coinciding with the expansion is a refreshed agency title meant to be more reflective of the diverse populations served. A rebranding campaign launched this month; the agency will now be recognized as the Home and Community Supports Division.
Weld County’s AAA is unique and has historically encompassed multiple programs creating a one-stop shop for ease and convenience of community members and partners alike. The expansion retains Older Americans Act
programs: Options for Long-Term Care (OLTC), Adult Protective Services (APS) and Long-Term Care Eligibility, with the addition of the Case Management Agency (CMA). The CMA will determine eligibility and provide case management across the spectrum of Long-Term Care programs for the aging population as well as youth and adults living with disabilities.
FBLA qualified 8 students to attend the FBLA State Leadership Conference and compete in their various events. Those students are: Miryam Mercado Chavez and Connor Rosling - Accounting I, Olga Montano - Job Interview, John Howard - Future Business Educator, Angel Damon - Introduction to Business Concepts, Shilo Blocker - Introduction to Financial Math, Maeve Macpherson - Business Calculations, and Tyler Navarro - Introduction to Business Procedures. Two other students will represent WCHS as voting delegates at the state conference. They are Alanna Martinez and Victoria Rendon.
“We’re excited to rebrand our division with a name that is more comprehensive and inclusive of the diverse population we serve,” said Jill Colavolpe, AAA Deputy Division Head. “We’ll be maintaining the AAA name and logo within the division, specifically for the Older Americans Act programs, but Home and Community Supports will now be designated to serve people of all ages and abilities.”
More information about Home and Community Supports can be found at www. weld.gov/Government/Departments/Human-Services/Home-and-CommunitySupports-Division. To contact the Weld County CMA, please call (970) 400-6950 or email at WeldCountyCMA@weld.gov. Additional information about Colorado’s Case Management redesign can also be found at hcpf.colorado.gov/case-managementredesign.
DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) reminds anglers the 2024-2025 fishing season is officially here.
The 2024-2025 fishing license is valid from March 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025. Regulations and pricing for annual, daily, and multi-day fishing licenses are in the 2024 Colorado Fishing Brochure (Pesca en Colorado (En Español). For individuals ages 18 through 64, an $11.50 Habitat Stamp is required with the first license purchase for the year. Youth under age 16 can fish with one rod for free, and CPW provides opportunities throughout the season to learn how to fish.
Coloradans and non-resident visitors can purchase fishing licenses online, by phone at 1-800-244-5613, at a local CPW office, or from authorized sales agents statewide. CPW does not receive general tax dollars, and fishing license sales support all statewide hatchery and fish-stocking operations.
CPW stocks 90 million fish annually into waters throughout Colorado to ensure quality angling opportunities. From warmer waters to mountain streams, Colorado angling opportunities are world-renowned. Funding from fishing license sales may allow for additional public access, community angling grants, and habitat improvement projects that support state birds, fish, and other small game.
“CPW biologists and volunteers will soon be spawning fish to replenish our walleye and saugeye fisheries,” said CPW Aquatic Section Manager Matt Nicholl. “Our hatcheries also stock front range waters with trout while water temperatures remain cool for added angling opportunities.”
Whether you enjoy lure fishing, ice fishing, or fly fishing, Colorado provides 27,000 miles of streams and more than 1,300 lakes and reservoirs. Fishing in Colorado provides the possibility of catching 35 species of warm-water and cold-water fish.
Fishing is a great activity to share with family and friends and the perfect chance to get outside and enjoy Colorado’s natural resources.
“Spring is around the corner, and so is the opportunity to get out and enjoy the active, outdoor Colorado lifestyle by going fishing,” said CPW Angler Education Coordinator Andre Egli. “If you are new to fishing there are many classes offered around the state. Classes are available for new anglers, families, or seasoned anglers that want to learn a new technique like fly fishing.”
CPW fishing classes, events, seminars, and tournaments are posted on the Fishing News and Events web page.
When planning your next fishing trip, download the My CPW app. My CPW is the official mobile app for CPW’s license and pass purchasing website CPWshop.com and includes access to a list of active products on your CPWShop.com account, CPWShop mobile purchases, links to fishing reports, PDFs of the most recent brochures, and more (available to residents and non-residents).
Resident anglers will purchase their fishing licenses the same way they always have and receive a printed physical license, but now they will also have the option to display it within the myColorado mobile app. Check out the myColorado FAQ document for more information about accessing your resident fishing license within the app Wallet.
For more information about fishing in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us.
DENVER, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife Northeast Region announces boating opening dates in seven state parks for the 2024 season. Before launching in Colorado waters, boaters will need to ensure their boat is registered, purchase an aquatic nuisance species (ANS) stamp and follow all ANS inspection requirements. Inspections can be done at a state park or CPW administrative offices during weekdays.
Opening dates:
• Barr Lake: Monday, April 1 at 8 a.m.
• Boyd Lake: Monday, March 11 at 8 a.m.
• Chatfield: Monday, March 11 at 6 a.m.
• Cherry Creek: Friday, March 1 at 8 a.m.
• Eleven Mile and Spinney: Opening date to be announced
• Jackson Lake: Saturday, March 2 at 8 a.m.
• North Sterling: Monday, March 11 at 8 a.m.
• St Vrain: Friday, March 1 at 8 a.m.
All boats are also required to have one Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. Life jackets can save lives when they fit properly and are worn when recreating on the water. Boaters are also encouraged to take a boating safety course with CPW to learn navigation safety and what to do in case of an accident.
Here’s to the last 85 years and the brilliant future we’ll create together. We’ve evolved, but our dedication to powering progress and making connections that contribute to a stronger tomorrow remains unwavering. We’re here for tomorrow - we’re here for good.
by Morgan County Rural Electric Association
Spring is undoubtedly a busy time of year, especially here in northeastern Colorado. As local farmers embark on another season, the longer, warmer days are ideal for getting equipment and fields prepped for what they hope to be a great year.
This includes making sure irrigation systems are ready to roll when the time comes. This might entail upgrading an irrigation pump motor or adding a variable speed drive (VSD). Fortunately, Morgan County REA offers substantial rebates for commercial and industrial motors and new or retrofitted VSDs.
MCREA’s irrigation motor rebate amount varies based on horsepower (10hp minimum), though used or rewound motors do not qualify. MCREA also has rebates available for new or retrofitted VSD installations ranging from $1,600 to $6,800, based on horsepower (25hp minimum).
VSDs can significantly improve the efficiency of an irrigation system, reducing energy use and putting less stress on the pump itself. These savings are an upside for any operation--and they don’t stop there.
MCREA offers many other kinds of rebates for its members. With spring here, you may be shopping for outdoor power equipment to take on another season of yard work. Don’t forget—MCREA offers rebates on battery or corded electric equipment including mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, power washers and chainsaws, just to name a few.
Rebates are also available for electric appliances including induction cooktops and Energy Star® certified electric clothes dryers. There are even incentives for recycling your old fridge or freezer. LED lighting and smart thermostats qualify as well, making them a smart choice for the efficiency of your home—and your wallet.
As the weather warms, you may be considering updating your air conditioning system, or maybe installing one for the first time. An air-source heat pump may be just what you’re looking for. With the technology to both cool your home in the summer, and warm it in the winter—heat pumps have proven to be an efficient, cost effective way to keep your home comfortable. The best part? MCREA offers a variety of rebates based on the size and type of system you install.
Ready to take advantage of MCREA’s rebate program? Visit mcrea.org/energyefficiency-rebates, where you’ll find the 2024 rebate guide that explains what qualifies for a rebate and how. After your purchase and installation, submit a rebate form with your receipt or invoice to MCREA within 90 days to receive a rebate.
As the seasons change, enjoy some springtime savings. If you have any questions about MCREA’s rebate program, feel free to visit our headquarters, give us a call at 970-867-5688, or email memberservices@mcrea.org.
As your source of power and information, MCREA is here to help.
Job Profile Summary: A licensed professional who designs and delivers learning experiences for students in a grade level and/or content area; organizes and facilitates the learning process utilizing a variety of evidence based instructional practices and applicable technology; participates in a community of learning to develop and refine knowledge and skills for the academic, civic, social and emotional success of students; consistently evaluates student progress, makes appropriate adjustments, communicates student progress; regularly collaborates, reflects, and grows to improve learning opportunities for students.
Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree; Meets subject, grade level, and/or content area qualifications consistent with Colorado Department of Education; and CCA requirements - CCA, Teacher License: Professional - Colorado Department of Education
Preferred Qualifications: Classroom Teaching Experience: 5+ years Visit ccaschool.net for the full job description and application.
March 11, 2024
Chairman Williams,
Pursuant to CRC Article 15, Section C, OTHER CONTROVERSIES, I am filing a formal complaint with you and the State Executive Committee and reserve the right to appeal to all superior governing bodies regarding the planned use of electronic machines in the elections at the April 6, 2024, Colorado GOP Convention.
My fidelity and adherence to our bylaws, SEC Policies and Procedures and RNC rules are at the crux of the controversy. Additionally, at the September 30, 2023, CRC meeting, the members voted to use “Paper Ballots” during the April 6th Assembly/ Convention.
The use of these machines would violate the Policies and Procedures of the CRC, CRC Bylaws, Art. XII, § C (4), Art. XIII, § A (1)(a), CRC Bylaws, Art. XIII, § A(5)(c) and violates the Chairmans fiduciary responsibility to comply and honor the 2022 State Assembly and RNC Resolutions concerning the use of hand counted paper ballots.
CRS 1-3-106. Control of party controversies, (2) From the time the state convention of the party convenes until the time of its final adjournment, the state convention has all the powers given by subsection (1) of this section to the state central committee, but not otherwise. The state convention of the party may also provide rules that shall govern the state central committee in the exercise of the powers conferred upon the committee in subsection (1) of this section.
This statute grants powers once every four years to the state convention; powers that are vested solely in the state central committee at any other time. By this act the state convention has powers in deciding controversies and making rules governing the state central committee, thus by de facto it falls under the policies and procedures set forth by the state executive committee.
1.) It has been confirmed via email with Scantron Corp. that none of their machines, including the “Scantron Score” machine, have open-source coding, therefore their use in CRC meetings is in violation of the 2023-2024 Colorado Republican Executive Committee Policies and Procedures for the Conduct of Elections at Meetings of the Colorado Republican Central Committee.
a. ARTICLE II, SECTION 2. ELECTRONIC VOTING EQUIPMENT
i. For the purpose of these Election Procedures, “Electronic Voting Equipment” and software must have open-source coding, be auditable and permit the members of the Colorado Republican Central Committee to cast a ballot in any manner other than by voice vote, standing/sitting vote, roll call vote, online meeting platform or paper ballot.
b. According to CRS 1-3-106. Control of party controversies, cited on page 2 of RULE NO. 16(f) FILING SUMMARY, this controversy applies also to the State Convention. (1) The state central committee of any political party in this state has full power to pass upon and determine all controversies concerning the regularity of the organization of that party within any congressional, judicial, senatorial, representative, or county commissioner district or within any county and also concerning the right to the use of the party name. The state central committee may make rules governing the method of passing upon and determining controversies as it deems best, unless the rules have been provided by the state convention of the party as provided in subsection (2) of this section. All determinations upon the part of the state central committee shall be final.
(2) From the time the state convention of the party convenes until the time of its final adjournment, the state convention has all the powers given by subsection (1) of this section to the state central committee, but not otherwise. The state convention of the party may also provide rules that shall govern the state central committee in the exercise of the powers conferred upon the committee in subsection (1) of this section.
c. There is no exception in the Bylaws for use of machines with closed-sourced coding for unofficial or official tallying of elections.
2.) Chairman Williams has dictated the use of Scantron machines and the use of Scantron ballots for the Convention in violation of the RNC RULE NO. 16(f)
FILING SUMMARY which was filed with the RNC and cites on page 16:
CRC Bylaws, Art. XII, § C(4) and Art. XIII, § A (1)(a). The participants at the state convention alone shall determine the selection of individual delegates or alternates to the national convention, and candidate for delegate or alternate for the national convention shall be compelled or required to identify the candidate he or she is pledged to support.
CRC Bylaws, Art. XIII, § A(5)(c). The ballot shall include the presidential candidate each candidate for national delegate is pledged to support.
It has been reported that the Scantron ballots cannot be printed on, therefore this is a violation of the above CRC Bylaws. Further, Republicans want hand-counted paper ballots.
a. Chairman Williams conducted a poll at the September 30, 2023, CRC meeting in which the members voted in favor of having “paper ballots” at the 2024 State Assembly/Convention. The implication was clearly “hand-counted
paper ballots.”
b. The 2022 CO GOP Assembly Delegates voted in favor of a Resolution for hand-counted paper ballots. The
CRC copy of Resolution #2, which was passed at the 2022 CO State Assembly, has been removed from cologop.org. A copy can be found at the following.
https://mycoloradogop.org/323-peg-cage-prep-notes-for-chuck-and-julie-showseptember-23-2022
Resolution #2: We Require Integrity in Elections. Whereas over the last 6 election cycles the people of Colorado, on both sides of the aisle, continue to mistrust the accuracy of election results and whereas elections exist to give these same people a republican government they choose through democratic means that can be held accountable at the ballot box, and whereas illegally cast votes directly cancel out legally cast votes, Be It Resolved that the Colorado Republican Party supports each eligible voter actively registering to vote, ending automatic voter registration, and insists on the cleaning of county voter rolls so that only qualified voters receive ballots who then are required to show state-issued ID when voting in person. The Colorado Republican Party also supports locally controlled elections following the rule of law with verifiable counts and processes; rejects Secretary of State administrative rules used inconsistently in opposition to state law and changed in the midst of an election; opposes the use of private funds to assist in the administration of elections; calls for the development of a plan to hold elections during emergencies; and requests forensic audits of election machines and the maintaining of backup images of each hard drive in the voting system on an external hard drive, kept safe for the statutory 25 months or until the completion of all audits. Voting shall be in person on Election Day at the precinct voting center, with voter ID. Mail in ballots shall be permitted only for active-duty military, and registered voters who request a mail in ballot because they are physically unable to vote in person. Ballots should be counted by hand by election judges in each precinct. https://www.cologop.org/wp-content/ uploads/2022/04/Approved_CRC_Resolutions_final-4-9-2022-1.pdf
c. RNC Resolution
In September 2023, the Republican National Committee voted unanimously on a resolution urging a “RETURN TO EXCELLENCE” IN AMERICAN VOTING AND ELECTIONS. (Posted at https://mycoloradogop.org/434-rnc-return-toexcellence-in-elections) Two of the points in the Resolution are pertinent here:
WHEREAS, The grassroots activists of the Republican Party have discovered and made it abundantly clear that there are recognized problems with electronic election procedures and intentional complications of instituted systems that complicate, belabor, and slow down our election processes;
RESOLVED, The Republican National Committee calls on state legislatures, county, and municipal governments to pass laws and municipal codes and rules that allow for full transparent hand-counting procedures that are planned, timely and fully observable by the public and the registered parties for geographically defined audits and recounts;
My Former Teller Committee Chairman’s report contains more details about this Controversy and is posted at https://mycoloradogop.org/453-former-cogop-tellercommittee-chairman-s-report, along with answers to frequently asked questions.
Respectfully Submitted by,
Peg Cage, SCC Bonus Member, Boulder County Peg@MyColoradoGOP.org
