The Lost Creek Guide April 3, 2024

“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains

“If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the

Is Weld County Commissioner for District 3, Lori Saine, a Political Opportunist?

by Bob Grand, Publisher

Weld County Commissioner for District 3 Lori Saine was unexpectedly nominated from the floor at the Weld Republican Caucus to run against Perry Buck, for Buck’s Weld County Commissioner At-Large seat, at the Republican Caucus last Saturday. Additionally, Lori Saine subsequently nominated Lynette Peppler (formerly Kilpatrick), to run for Saine’s District 3 Commissioner seat.

Lots of moving parts in this. First what is a political opportunist? Searching Google, the font of knowledge these days, it pops up with the Wikipedia definition: “Political opportunism refers to an attempt to maintain political support, or to increase political influence in a way that disregards relevant ethical or political principles.” Let us review the numbers at the Republican caucus. In Weld County there are approximately 345,000 people. The Weld Republican caucus had a possible five hundred attendees. There were 215. Do the math. A little more than one half of one percent of the total or put another way 99.94% of the people of Weld County were not present. Of that total Ms. Saine took 116 votes against Perry Buck’s 99 for the At-Large top position ballot placement, or 99.97 per cent of the people of Weld County did not vote for Lori Saine to run for the At-Large Weld Count Commissioner seat.

Dig a little deeper. The citizens of Weld County District 3 are in the second year of being represented by Commissioner, Lori Saine, who by a four to one vote of her fellow Commissioners, has been stripped of all her county department coordinating roles. No one has offered to explain what occurred, neither the four Commissioners who voted to strip her of her duties nor Ms. Saine. Although Ms. Saine has said to this writer at two County Council meetings and at two public town hall meetings that she will submit a fact-based letter to the Lost Creek Guide and ourtowncolorado.com explaining the situation. Nothing has been forthcoming. At the end of this article there is a copy of a formal letter from the Weld County Council answering my request to investigate this situation as the citizens of District three deserve to know what generated the action of the four commissioners. The response from the Weld County Council says the Council has no authority per the existing, revised, Weld County Chart to ask for an explanation. What that implies is that three County Commissioners can decide on actions with little if any accountability from anybody. This writer believes that is flawed and that the Commissioners should review the accountability process in other counties and make a recommendation for a Charter revision to be voted on by the people that provides for a fair mechanism to provide for accountability. If the Commissioners fail to pursue that maybe it is time for a citizen’s ballot initiative to put some accountability in place.

The recent Town Hall held by the County Commissioners regarding a discussion of the removal of the general public comment portion of the Commissioner’s meeting agenda was a noticeably clear demonstration of the toxic environment that exists between Ms. Saine and the other Commissioners. Fortunately, we have photographic documentation of what occurred at that meeting. The first picture is of Commissioners Freeman, Ross and James along with Sheriff Reams seated at the front of the meeting. Following is with Commissioner Buck joining at the far left of the table, with one empty chair to her right, audience left. Ms. Natalee Tennant then is then heard asking Ms. Saine to join the Commissioners from the rear of the meeting, where upon there were reports that Ms. Saine said she would not sit next to Perry Buck for fear of an altercation (three separate verbal confirmations of that). Ms. Natalee Tennant then reached out to Ms. Saine saying that we need to be adults. Sheriff Reams got up and took the seat next to Commissioner Buck which opened a seat for Ms. Saine next to Commissioner Scott James who it appeared was less of a threat to her. She finally took the seat. Ms. Saine has a habit of representing all the bills she has carried forth to support and protect the 1st Amendment, the 2nd Amendment, prolife and the Constitution in general. What is missing is how many of those bills actually passed. This writer supports all of those issues. It is America and we are all guaranteed the right to state our views but when you are an elected official your first job is do the job you are paid for, representing the interests of all the citizens that you represent to the best of your ability.

If you want to be a full-time advocate for other issues, take a job with an organization that is devoted to those issues. To reiterate as an elected official do the job you are paid to do. The citizens of Weld County District 3 have not had meaningful representation at the County Commissioner table. Where is our advocate? I find it hard to comprehend how running for the At-Large Commissioner position will do anything to improve Commissioner Saine’s ability to effectively influence her fellow Weld County Commissioners. We, as citizen’s, need to clearly demonstrate that the current situation is not acceptable. Get out and vote. Let us stop this irresponsible nonsense.

I strongly urge you read Mayor Adrienne Sandoval’s letter to the editor on page three of this issue of the Lost Creek Guide. It is a clear statement of what a good candidate should stand for. Mayor Sandoval is running for Weld County Commissioner representing District 3.

Letter from Weld County Council to Mr. Grand Re: Weld County Commissioner District 3

Lori Saine

Way of the World

by Bob Grand

Why does it seem so difficult to focus on talking about and supporting American values that have made our country what it is. A desirable place where people want to come to from all over the world to make a better life for themselves and their families. Too many seem to focus on repeatedly telling us how bad we really are and that we should atone for the sins of the past by providing windfall benefits to many who have no idea of what it takes to make a country and society worthy of being called successful. I am getting tired of hearing that. We are told that victimization is the general reason for many people’s inability to be successful. Never mind that hard work and determination might be a key piece to having a successful life. You should not be burdened by trying to be a better person, you cannot reach that as you have been victimized. A nation of victims is not destined to be successful.

I am the father of three girls who now are well into their own lives. I understand the need to ensure a fair playing field for everyone regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity. Yet when you read the business journals we seem to focus on women and that we must support them. I agree with the concept but what about our young men. I am concerned that we are treating and supporting a two-tiered playing field. The opposite of what I thought we were trying to correct. We should make all our young people the beneficiaries of the support they need to be successful.

I have to laugh, James Carvelle, the noted Democratic pundit, gave an interview where he claimed that “the messaging from the Democratic party was being dominated by preachy females. He noted that 48% of American voters are male. Where is our messaging to them?”

Lots of disconcerting talk from many Democrats about the third-party candidacy of Robert Kennedy Jr. He has now picked Nicole Shanahan, a wealthy San Francisco lawyer and tech entrepreneur who was married to Sergy Brin, a co-founder of Google, from whom she is now divorced. The reality is neither the Republican nor the Democratic party come to the table in 2024 with presidential candidates that are appealing to everyone. Unlike in Russia where serious political competition tends to mysteriously disappear or die, in America you have a right to run, if you can afford it.

As citizens we have allowed our politicians of both parties and the bureaucratic morass, they have permitted us to grow unbounded, try and manage our lives as they think we should be living. The seemingly never-ending generation of new regulations and controls on our lives that we laugh at coming out of Washington are in many areas coming out of state, county & local governments. If unabated this will lead us down the path of moral and economic decay. We must alter that course or our country, as we know and love, will be headed to a disastrous end.

You do not solve problems by kicking the proverbial can down the road. Good solutions are not always popular but ignoring them usually leads to greater unpleasantness in the longer term.

Uncontrolled illegal immigration, undeterred crime levels, ever-growing gang influence, and a legal system that seems not to be focusing on holding people accountable, but rather to incentivize repeat offenders as there is no accountability. Your actions should have consequences. If there are none, why you should change your behavior? This applies to criminals, ineffective politicians, and government officials who ignore their basic responsibilities under the law and to their ultimate employers, the citizens of the United States of America.

As Americans we have a history of being tough to motivate, but once motivated, we can become an unstoppable force. We are being backed into a corner where the American people are beginning to say enough is enough. Our course of action should be at the ballot box. Many Americans simply do not vote because they do not believe their vote means anything. Quite frankly both major parties have benefitted from this as it allows the “party mechanics” to control who runs for office. When was the last time you saw or heard a vigorous effort to get out the vote? Does that not tell you something?

Interesting to watch in Colorado as there is more discussion about growing a bigger passenger rail service along the front range. Now no one bothers to ask the actual cost of RTD on a per customer basis and whether it would be more cost effective to provide UBER type transportation service to users. You can ask the same question about the actual cost of homelessness or illegal immigration to the taxpayers in terms of direct out of pocket or the more subtle, yet with a bigger dollar and social impact, in the public education and hospital services areas. There was an observation made about Governor Polis and his desire to see rail service to and from Denver to Boulder. Might be worth assessing the impact of providing reduced or free transportation of the homeless to Boulder from Denver using light rail? Not really funny but don’t people ever consider the unintentional consequences of their actions?

The elections coming up are important. Please plan to vote. If you are not happy with what your politicians are doing, vote to change them. An improved voter turnout will certainly grab the attention of the career politicians and their minions. Force them to think about you and do what is best for you and your families, not the special interests, on both sides, which fund their machines.

As always, your thoughts and comments are always appreciated: publisher@ lostcreekguide.com

Bob

303-732-4080

Letter to the Editor: Shakespearian Twist at the Weld County Republican Assembly

by Gillian Smith

Weld County Republicans gathered early Saturday morning on March 23, 2024, for County Assembly at Northridge High School in Greeley. The air was brisk and energized as people credentialed in to ratify the election of Precinct Committee Persons (PCP’s) from earlier Caucus meetings. Other business included voting for who would be on the primary ballot for County Commissioner At-Large, as well as Districts One and Three. Ratification of delegates and alternates to State Assembly and voting on 15 resolutions was also conducted.

First, a brief overview of what the caucus and the assembly process is like since it is not taught in schools and not well known by the public. Caucus takes place every two years in March. The area precincts meet and elect their PCP’s, delegates, and alternates to their respective district assemblies. Attending the caucus is the only way to be considered as a delegate for other assemblies. Shortly after that, each district has their assembly, electing delegates and alternates for the various State and Federal Congressional assemblies and the State Assembly. You may be a delegate to multiple assemblies. Those district delegates then go to the County Assembly. They ratify the PCP’s, designate the candidates(s) for county offices, ratify the county delegates to the State Assembly that were elected at district assemblies and vote on resolutions submitted at the caucuses. To be placed on the ballot by assembly, a nominee must have a minimum of 30% of the vote. Some candidates chose to petition onto the ballot rather than go through the lengthy assembly process. Other candidates chose to do both, and they must attain 10% of the assembly vote to be deemed successful. This strategy can potentially eliminate people from appearing on the ballot if they only go through the assembly process. The process is similar for State Assembly.

Perry Buck is the incumbent At-Large County Commissioner. Many expected a nomination by acclamation, however District 3 Commissioner Lori Saine challenged her in a floor nomination hence abandoning her bid for reelection in District 3. Both made moving speeches as to why they were best for the job. Saine’s multiple claims of being the “only one” should be taken with a grain of salt. Voting records are a meaningful indicator of performance and Commissioner Saine has several abstentions on important matters such as the budget. Attendance counts at a job and from various sources, Commissioner Saine does not maintain the regular office hours as the other four Commissioners do. Though Saine ‘won’, we have seen in the past that does not always carry through into the primary election.

The District 1 Commissioner race was far tamer. Jaxon Maxey, the current director of the Weld Oil and Gas Energy department was nominated by acclamation. Jeff Reck chose to petition only and did not make the ballot.

Lynette Peppler was nominated from the floor by Commissioner Saine. Ms. Peppler, previously Kilpatrick, ran for Weld County Commissioner in 2016 and again in 2020 against Lori Saine and Tommy Holton. Commission Saine won the 2020 election by a slim 32 votes over Holton. Adrienne Sandoval, the current mayor of Platteville, opted for the petition only process and is verified to be on the June primary ballot.

County Assembly was adjourned to hold separate assemblies for House District 50 and Judicial District 19. Ryan Gonzales, who lost by a slim margin to his democrat opponent Mary Young in 2020, was nominated by acclamation. That seat can be flipped if Republican voters get out in force to cast their ballots for Gonzalez. Michael Rourke was appointed by then Governor Hickenlooper in 2015 as District Attorney. He was then elected in 2016, reelected in 2020, and was nominated by acclamation for 2024.

The caucus and assembly process requires massive amounts of time and dedication from both participants and candidates. The entire month of March is filled with caucuses and assemblies. Given the time commitment, many candidates prefer to petition on. This is a calculated risk. Those who advocate for the strict caucus and assembly path often criticize candidates who petition on. Caucus has many excellent qualities yet drawbacks as well. As with any group, a lack of new blood and the creation of factions hampers the overall effectiveness of the grassroots efforts. Promoting attendance at caucuses and assemblies by educating people on the benefits should be a primary goal if that system is to continue.

Weld County CattleWomen Scholarship

The Weld County CattleWomen are offering a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to a college junior, senior or a student studying for an advanced degree in the fall of 2024. The student needs to be a Weld County, Colorado resident, or have parents/ grandparents that are Weld County residents, and be attending college with a minimum GPA of 2.5. The student must be planning to attend a school full time for the 2024-2025 school year, in a bachelors or graduate level program.

To apply the applicant must submit:

1. Cover Sheet with name, address, and email. If address listed is not in Weld County describe how you qualify (parents address, etc)

2. A 1 page essay on “How I plan to positively influence the beef industry with my chosen major”.

3. Resume, not more than 1 page, including the following: work history, community involvement, college activities, & future goals.

4. Two letters of reference

5. Copy of college transcript.

Send completed application to Sallie Miller, 48335 CR 83, Briggsdale, CO 80611 or smiller@wigginstel.com.

Applications are due by May 1, 2024.

Letter to the People – Get Involved, Get

Informed, and Vote!

by Dusty Johnson, House District 63 Candidate April 2024

While it seems to be a repeated message every election year, 2024 is truly a crucial election cycle for Coloradans – especially along the Eastern Plains. We have contested primaries (4th Congressional District, House District 63, and some commissioner races) that are going to lead to some close general elections if we don’t pay attention and choose wisely. Yes, we are a strong red area out here in Northeast Colorado, and the Eastern Plains as a whole; however, we must not take that for granted. Times of chaos – like we are seeing now with a special election coming up in June – usually lead to unprecedented and unpredictable outcomes that will trickle down and affect other races.

Get involved. Thank you to everyone who showed up in March to be a part of grassroots politics by attending your local precinct caucuses and county assemblies. It was encouraging to see the strong voter engagement and turnout numbers across not only the Northeast region, but our state. We have seen a great momentum of energy, but the work is not over yet. Now it’s time to reach out to your friends, family, neighbors, candidates, and elected officials.

Get informed. It is the candidates and elected officials’ job to get out where the people are. It is the job of the people to do research on their candidates and ask them questions. Change starts by educating yourself about who all the candidates are so that way you can select (and potentially hire) the one you think will be best for the job. The job of representing the people.

Vote! Like the idea that if you are not at the table, you don’t get fed; if you don’t vote, you cannot complain. This may sound harsh, but it is true. Voting is a civic duty of every adult American, and by abstaining, you’re not actively contributing to change. While you may not always like the options within your party, the lack of a vote is a vote for the opposite party.

I have said it before and I will continue to say it: our government, at all levels, should be by and for the people. That starts with you. Who you choose to elect will be your voice.

2024 is the year to get involved (and stay active), get informed, and vote!

Letter to the Editor:

Dear Editor,

My name is Adrienne Sandoval, and I am running for Weld County Commissioner in our District 3. I have been the mayor of Platteville for the last 6 years and a trustee for four years before that. What I realized when I was representing the fine folks of Platteville as trustee, is that I really love serving the public. I don’t love getting yelled at when residents are mad but I do love listening to them and figuring out how we can work together to get their issue resolved. I do love finding a kink or hold-up in the system and getting it straightened out for the betterment of the residents.

For the last 10 years in my public service to Platteville, I have learned the ins and outs of a government budget, transportation, enterprise funds, and, I would argue the most important, how to work with my fellow board members. I have gone to meeting after meeting working with County Commissioners, CDOT management, state reps, and many more. I have made sure the people of Platteville were represented on every floor and room I could get into.

I also promised the residents of Platteville when I ran for mayor that I would start committees on important focus topics. With the help of my fellow trustees and staff, we formed and started five committees and they are Recreation, Public safety, Economic Development, Parks, Trails & Trees, and Finance. Residents have more of a voice in each of these topics by being involved in one or more of these committees.

I firmly believe in government transparency and the people having a strong voice and say in their governance. I have served Platteville by starting the committees, being present at as many events as I can, communicating with residents regularly, and listening to ensure the people are being served. I will absolutely bring that work ethic and attitude to the county commission. I will make sure the south county has a voice and is not lost in O street shenanigans.

I am prepared to hit the ground running from day one serving the Weld county residents because of all of this experience and the relationships I have been able to form over my last 10 years. Everyone who knows me, knows I will be kind, but I will not be a push over. I will make sure district 3 residents have a strong voice and their concerns are tended to. I am the best choice for Weld County Commissioner in district 3 because I am a proven fighter and strong advocate for the people.

Sincerely,

Adrienne Sandoval

Candidate for Weld County Commissioner District 3 www.SandovalForWeld.com 970.222.3238

Adrienne@SandovalForWeld.com

They all suck… Let’s fix it!

by Dave Kisker, President, People United for Responsible Government

“Both candidates are terrible. I support None of the Above”

“I don’t want to be a slave to a political party—I’m an independent.”

“My vote doesn’t matter.”

Like the majority of Americans, I’ve grown tired of party politics, gaslighting by our leaders and generally, the fact that our government at nearly all levels just doesn’t seem to work very well. Whether it’s the blatantly false claims of a “secure border” or a “stolen election” at the national level, the constant demands for more government involvement in our lives at the Colorado state level, or the recent attempts at tax increases and eliminating public comment by the Weld County Commissioners, the story is the same: our elected officials don’t seem to be representing their employers— “We the People”.

Yet for many, the situation is so frustrating that the only rational response seems to be to withdraw from the system: “They are all corrupt, but there’s nothing I do about it. A pox on all their houses.”

In recent weeks, as we have watched and voted in primary elections and perhaps participated in our party caucuses, I’ve been thinking about these issues. How have we become so polarized, with so little confidence and respect for many of our leaders and yet are choosing to flee the “system” instead of trying to fix it?

So, what could we do to fix it?

Although I can’t claim any particular expertise in electoral politics and I’m generally not a party activist, in the more than 50 years since my first Presidential vote (for George McGovern in 1972), I’ve watched this evolution and in the last couple of decades have participated in the local process though I’ve often been tempted to withdraw to Unaffiliated status like so many others have. (Talk about hopeless… think about what it was like to participate in the Republican caucus in Boulder County…)

But, I have realized that withdrawing to unaffiliated status is exactly the WRONG approach if we have any desire to fix the situation in which we find ourselves.

While it may be different in other states, here in Colorado, individuals have a say in who the candidates are at the party primary.

But, it starts with Party membership!

In order to participate in the caucus and the following assemblies for district, county and state, one must be a party member. Although we have open primaries, by that time, the processes are complete and the candidates are chosen.

So, join a party. Use your voice to influence the outcome. It doesn’t matter which one, but, if you want to have a say in who may become your next elected official, you need to be a member of a party. And, it’s not difficult to change if you decide that your interests are better served by a different party.

Once you join a party, a whole range of possibilities become available to you.

Of course, you can be the “boots on the ground” and solicit signatures for petitions or canvas to get out the vote or for the benefit of any cause or candidate. But, more importantly, you can participate in your party’s caucus which is typically where the process begins. At the caucus, ordinary citizens have the opportunity to become delegates to their party’s assemblies. Depending on the office, it may be a County assembly, a multi-county assembly or the State assembly.

It’s at those assemblies that the candidates who will appear on the primary ballot are chosen—by ordinary citizen delegates, just like you and me.

A perfect example of this process in action occurred yesterday at the Republican assembly for Weld County. Citizens were not satisfied with the sole candidate who was seeking re-election to the County Commissioner-at-large position, so there was a nomination from the floor for a second candidate. The newly nominated candidate received the majority of the votes with about a 60% to 40% margin!! So, now, in the June primary, voters will have a choice of 2 candidates instead of one, as a result of this grass roots process.

And, that’s how we are going to fix our government. Participate. Join a party. Be part of the discussion of who should represent you. Be an assembly delegate so that you get a direct vote on the choices. The responsibility is YOURS, not of some anonymous party official in a smoke-filled room.

Remember the words of Alexander Hamilton: “People get the government they deserve”.

We deserve better. Let’s make it happen!

Making Republicans Great Again

by Allen Thomas, originally published by The Kim Monson Show

We have a cavernous divide running directly through the middle of the Republican party: Donald Trump. Trump has always been a big personality and has made a lot of money on the ratings he brought in from being brash and divisive. He inspired the Republican party when he was willing (and often sought) confrontations with the media and called out their bias. So let us just call a spade a spade: Trump is a discordant leader even in the Republican party. He has had no trouble calling Republicans names, just as he does to his Democrat rivals. But this divisiveness has trickled down the party to the point that now county party leaders feel it necessary and desirous to create factions. Within the Republican party, it now seems that you can only fall into two camps: MAGA or RINO. There once was a saying that Republicanism was a big tent; one that welcomed the individualistic nature that so often comes with the principles of this founding and ideals of the party. Yet, today, we are creating a tent with a line drawn down the middle where we spend so much time mudslinging towards each other that we do not even make it out to defeat the party we solemnly swear against. What has happened to nuance? Can we oppose the heinous acts of the politicized government against Trump while at the same time supporting a different Republican primary candidate? Does opposing Biden mean that all Republicans must bend their knees and swear fealty to Trump and all his endorsed candidates? What advice should a Trump-led Republican party take from our founders?

Do we not benefit from having new Republican politicians step up and try to run for president? I see very little downside to the competition Trump went through to be nominated: we had new ideas (and old ones), we saw new names step up and, in the end, Trump had to earn the nomination. And he did. There is grave danger when your loyalty to the party is seen as loyalty towards a person and not to the constitution and the ideas it embodies. Loyalty to a person in name only sounds similar to the beat of a Democrat drum. An offshoot of the Trump disloyalty accusations was hearing the policies that the republican nominees had that differed from Trump’s and the false labeling of RINO thrown at candidates who dared to think differently. We sound hypocritical if we stand for the 1st Amendment yet try to shut down policy discussions within our party. Good policy results from a free market of ideas and those ideas being discussed and debated. Even in disagreement, we should be disregarding bad policy because it is a bad idea and not disparaging the person proposing it. When we attack people, we are succumbing to many logical fallacies, and it never truly defeats the idea itself.

So, are true conservatives only those who have supported Trump since 2015 and have never questioned him or his endorsed candidates? Instead of opposing Biden and the progressive wave, we are fighting over who has worn the red MAGA hat the longest and or who has opposed Trump the truest. We no longer have principled considerations about the Constitution but rather about personality. Instead of focusing on the chief resource that has made our party great, we have been distracted by personalities. It is the people that make the party great; Reagan and Lincoln came in and united and inspired but it was the culmination of the people that truly have defined the Republican party. It is the workers, the doers, the life creators, the pull themselves up by the bootstrap-ers that have kept Republicans at the helm of the American idea, not a celebrity. We have succumbed to adopting a progressive trope and wished upon ourselves a leader to guide us through the difficult times. We need to instead inspire the leader from the ground up to adopt the constitutional principles that have created the greatest amount of good a government has ever produced in recorded history.

Thus lies the issue and the divide and crossroads the Republican party is at: will we follow a leader or an idea? This country was founded on an idea and a vision. It is this bold idea that led to the greatest and most successful American politician to step away from politics at the height of his political influence. When Washington stepped away from the presidency, he set a precedent that he hoped all future generations would copy and that is a dedication to the country, the Constitution, and not to a person. Hamilton wrote about the dangers of following political leaders extensively because history is replete with examples of even good and well-intentioned leaders being either wrong or corrupted by their power. There should always be a healthy skepticism that is given towards any politician because of the power and legal use of force that they can control. Without the citizens providing the necessary check to the power of the politician, the incentives no longer favor Liberty and the Constitution. We live in a culture that is showing how this idea has already run out of control: most citizens generally trust that the government and the bureaucracies have the best intent for them. Meanwhile, the government has shown time and time again that it should not be trusted such as the IRS targeting political parties, parents being labeled domestic terrorists, or the perpetual unequal enactment of laws. We need to trust the fellow members of our political party more than the government; we need to trust our neighbors more than we ever trust our government. And most of us lock the door at night…

We often proclaim that the Republican party is the party of reason. While

many of our ideas certainly show that, we have very quickly fallen into a passionate infighting of feelings. To bring sanity back to our political discourse, we must commit to independent thought and not rely on political leaders to tell us their potentially selfserving political ideologies to follow. We need to bring back thoughtful, nuanced, and meaningful political discussions without resorting to meaningless, and often baseless, attacks against those who hold moderately different ideas. Every one of us is human and therefore is imperfect, including Donald Trump. Debating for the future of our country is not only necessary but our posterity depends on it; we must remember that blindly following even wise and thoughtful leaders can be a path to danger. Wise and thoughtful citizens can occasionally be blinded by their bias and can be on the wrong side of matters that are important to society just as they can also be on the right side. We must abandon blindly following Trump and his every thought but instead engage in meaningful dialogue. This will not only push Trump to be a better President but will also help sustain the Republican party for the decades to come. Republicans supporting Republicans is still a better way to give our country the greatest opportunity to stay on the founder’s path than Republicans supporting only those that support a single candidate.

Link to the article:

https://kimmonson.com/featured_articles/making-republicans-great-again/

Are You Coming? It Is Going to EPIC!

by Jackie Smith

If you love history or just looking for merriment, South Platte Valley Historical Society’s Heritage Fair is where you want to be. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 4, 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.

It is going to be an epic day of amusing historic entertainment!

Cost Is $5.00 in Cash at gate per person.

Children under twelve free. Members are free. Food and beverages will be sold on site.

New this year will be Author Randi Samuelson-Brown who authors historical western novels. Also, several Colorado museums displaying some of their artifacts. There will be music in the Fort courtyard and of course a few wonderful surprises.

Returning, but have not been seen in a while are the Maroon Bells Morris Dancers who portray ancient English folk dance, and the Native American dancers.

All your favorites will be there the extraordinary Buffalo Soldiers and their horses, the amazing Colorado Vintage Baseball Association, French Voyageur Camp, Revolutionary Re-enactors, Colorado Historical Military Group, 23 Regiment of British Foot Soldiers, Fjellborg Vikings, US Corps Topographical Engineers, American Civil War Re-enactors, Society for Creative Anachronisms. Re-enactors and activities will also be in the Historic Fort including blacksmithing and wood working; 1850’s Trapper Cabin, 1875 Independence School, the 1867 Donelson House, and the Post and Beam Barn.

Mid-May 20-26 is Mountain Man University and Lancaster Rendezvous. Hone up your skills in all things mountain man. Some small fees will be charged with some classes. Watch website for schedule and details.

For a schedule of the Heritage Fair events for the day or other events which are being added at all times; please visit our website www.spvhs.org for up-to-date information. Also follow us on Facebook, South Platte Valley Historical Park.

South Platte Valley Historical Park is Located at 2001 Historic Pkwy. Fort Lupton. On highway 85, the northside of Fort Lupton, turn West on 14-1/2. The park will be on your right.

See you all soon!

Saving the American Plains Indian Sign Language

by Jackie Smith

Known as Little Bear, Keith Appling is an active member in mountain man Colorado and Wyoming rendezvouses. He lives in Longmont and is also member of South Platte Valley Historical Society, Tallow River Trapper Living History Division. Keith gives educational presentations on Plains Indian Sign Language, a language that is almost extinct. He has been presenting his program for about 3 years to students of the Saint Vrain School district, Native American groups, Mountain men groups, and history enthusiasts. Just recently he spoke at the Saint Vrain and South Platte Valley Historical Societies.

The sign language also known as hand talk would have been used between tribes, mountain men, and explorers on the plains. If you interpret it sounds like broken English. In his presentations, he gives signs for simple items and all kinds of animals. He then puts sentences together. The crowds seem very interested and ask how you say snake, river, food, or I am hungry etc. My favorite sign language was that of a skunk; animal, tail up, smells bad. We sure enjoyed the presentation. Great job Keith! He recommends reading “Plains Indian Hand Talk” by Dennis Leonard, Gene Hickman, and Todd Glover. His goal is simple, to help keep the language alive for future generations.

Allo Fiber Grand Opening At New Offices In Brighton Colorado

by Bob Grand, Lost

Creek Guide

Located the old Brighton Blade facilities at 139 North Main Street in Brighton the Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce hosted the Allo Grand Opening. Natalie Cummings, the Executive Director of the Greater Brighton Chamber welcomed all. Brighton Mayor Greg Mills thanked Allo for coming to Brighton and expressed how everyone is looking forward to access to a state-of-the-art communications system.

Colorado General Manager for Allo Fiber, Bob Beirsdorf, shared how excited Allo was to be coming to Brighton and reinforced if anyone had any questions over the construction period over the next year, please feel free to contact any Allo employee. They are there to assist.

Platte Valley Hospital Update

At Platte Valley Hospital and Platte Valley Medical Group, our goal is to help you lead the healthiest life possible. This is a commitment we live by, especially in our mission to provide access to high-quality healthcare.

Our most recent Community Health Needs Assessment revealed significant barriers, such as cost, the ability to secure insurance coverage, and availability of services (particularly in rural areas like Adams and Weld counties). These challenges are not mere statistics for us - they are daily realities for many in our community. We understand that true access to healthcare isn’t just about the location; it’s also about the ability to afford services, to make an appointment when you need it, and to communicate about your care in a language you understand.

Platte Valley is hosting a public community health needs forum on Wednesday, April 17th from 1 – 3 p.m. The meeting will include opportunities to provide input on community needs, ask questions and provide feedback to hospital leaders. We would love to hear from you so we can continue to build a better and healthier future for our communities. Please visit https://connect.intermountainhealth.org/communityengagement to learn more and RSVP.

We also continue to expand geographical access in the communities we serve, adding new clinics and new healthcare professionals, which is especially important in rural areas. Our commitment to provide care where you live is important to us, too. We realize these healthcare services are lifelines to our community members.

We are proud of our progress, and we realize there is more to be done. As we look ahead, our focus remains on enhancing the well-being of every individual we serve. Your health is our priority, and we are honored to continue to serve you.

Jaime Campbell President, Platte Valley Hospital

Celebrating Livestock Production in Colorado: Meat In Day and National Ag Week

LAKEWOOD, Colo. - Farmers and ranchers receive deserving recognition each year during National Agriculture Week (March 17-23) for their contributions to feeding communities across the world. Producers, agricultural associations, businesses, and consumers across the country take the opportunity this week to join together to recognize the agricultural industry’s benefits to the world’s economy, environment, and communities.

In addition to National Ag Week, Colorado continues its tradition of celebrating “Meat In” day across the state. Beginning on March 20, 2021, Colorado producers and consumers alike celebrate the countless contributions of livestock production and agriculture while uplifting those in need through Meat In events and supporting local causes. Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) joined its affiliates and friends in the industry to celebrate all that agriculture has to offer.

“Every year we are blessed to gather as an industry at Meat In events. These events are a great reminder of the dedication and commitment of Colorado’s livestock industries to serve others,” stated Robert Farnam, CCA President. “Thank you to livestock producers, businesses, and consumers for joining in and celebrating livestock production in our state.”

“Meat In” day gatherings and events will continue throughout the month of March with events taking place all across the state - from Sterling, CO to Grand Junction, CO. These proceedings have come with reports of thousands of community members participating in different events and raising over $200,000 for families in need, programs fighting food insecurity, local charities, FFA and 4H chapters, and others.

For those interested in additional opportunities to show support for the industry, consider donating to Beef Sticks for Backpacks - a non-profit organization whose mission is to produce and distribute high quality beef sticks to Colorado backpack programs that help feed kids facing food insecurity on the weekends. As a proud partner in the organization, CCA has pledged to contribute funding to support statewide distribution for the program.

Thank you to Colorado’s beef community for all your hard work and confronting the challenges of livestock production each day. Your efforts help ensure a better future for generations to come. We look forward to continued celebrations of National Agriculture Week and celebrating our producers throughout the year.

Allo Colorado General Manager Bob Beiersdorf , Natalie Cummings, Executive Director of Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce, and Brighton Mayor Greg Mills.

Brighton Mayor Greg Mills

Jaime Campbell President, Platte Valley Hospital

Inside Buc-ee’s, The

Big, Beloved Convenience Store Opening Its First Colorado Location

More than a gas station, Texas-based Buc-ee’s brings barbecue, a devoted following and that adorable beaver mascot to I-25 in northern Colorado by Parker Yamasaki, The Colorado Sun

JOHNSTOWN — As a kid, Randy Pauly’s favorite barbecue in Texas was served out of a window. He’d order a brisket sandwich, step back and wait for a hand to slide a plate out in front of him. He never saw what he called “the action.” The chopping, slicing, saucing and slamming it all together.

When Pauly became the full-time pitmaster for Buc-ee’s, a Texas-based gas station known for its fresh-cut brisket sandwiches and buck-toothed beaver mascot, he wanted to turn the sandwich assembly into a show.

“Freeeeeeeshhhh brisket on the board!!!” a man in a red polo shirt, denim apron and fake tattered cowboy hat yells out from the Buc-ee’s butcher block. “Fresh brisket on the board!” The other deli counter employees around him echo, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

Heeding the call, the gas station’s customers gather around and pull out their phones to film the chopping, slicing and saucing — then they post it on social media. Type “fresh brisket on the board” into the YouTube search bar and you can watch Bucee’s employees holler out from Athens, Alabama; Daytona Beach, Florida; Tennessee and all over Texas.

“First it was going to be a cowbell and a chant, but we decided to just start with the chant,” Pauly said. “We never thought it would become a thing, right?”

But of course it became a thing. Because everything at Buc-ee’s becomes a thing.

Fresh brisket on the board videos can start pouring out of Johnstown on March 18, when Buc-ee’s opens its first Colorado location at the southwest corner of exit 252 off Interstate 25. It is the company’s 14th store to open outside of Texas and its largest — for now. The anticipation has been slowly building since June 2022 when Buc-ee’s officially broke ground on the site, and picked up momentum when the opening date was announced at the end of last year.

Two weeks ago one Facebook user posted on the Buc-ee’s Johnstown Facebook group that he was looking for 15 Buc-ee’s onesies for his extended family to wear to the grand opening. “Any idea where to get some?” he asked. Thirty-eight people responded.

Others in the group posted photos of their Buc-ee’s branded blanket collections, cup collections, T-shirts, water bottles and stuffed beaver toys. People worried about traffic on opening day, hotly debated a new roundabout at the Buc-ee’s entrance and gave construction updates as opening date neared.

Buc-ee’s has the traditional signs of a fandom: Facebook groups, reddit subs, a dedicated community willing to debate the limits of their loyalty. Like with many avid followings, people’s behavior surrounding this cheerful beaver with an overbite is perplexing from the outside looking in. And with Buc-ee’s, it’s hard to parse what is an ironic attraction to the brand and what is genuine devotion — but maybe those two things aren’t mutually exclusive.

Why a buck-toothed beaver has become such a beloved landmark of many Southern road trips remains a mystery, even to those who work for the company. Cultural fandoms emerge for all kinds of reasons: relatable characters, exciting plotlines, aesthetics — but rarely, if ever, do they emerge out of necessity.

And Buc-ee’s is not a necessity.

“When you look at Johnson’s Corner, when you look at similar gas stations in that area, they are service-based businesses,” Sarah Crosthwaite, economic development manager for Johnstown, said of the truck stop two miles north of Buc-ee’s that is so reliably open there are allegedly no keys to the front door. “You get your gas. If you go inside, you use the restroom and maybe purchase a couple of items, right? That’s a service that they’re providing. It’s a needed service. But Buc-ees, for me, is more of a destination retailer.”

The company recognizes this. Which is why even though Buc-ee’s is a gas station, it barely focuses on gas (though you wouldn’t guess it just by looking down their infinitymirror-like row of 116 gas pumps). And even though they’re convenience stores, they do little to create a sense of convenience. One oft-cited study showed that customers are willing to drive an average of 21 minutes out of their way to visit a Buc-ee’s.

Instead, Buc-ee’s pours its energy into creating an unforgettable customer experience that hinges on good food, clean bathrooms and an insanely popular clothing line. Josh Smith, director of operations, told BizWest that about half of their revenue comes from selling food.

The company also pumps out merchandise adorned with Buc-ee beaver — and while Kum & Go fanny packs and Casey’s T-shirts have had their moments, Buc-ee’s is probably the only gas station brand to land a feature in the New York Times’ Style section.

“What convenience stores do is they eliminate hassles and they solve simple, everyday problems,” said Jeff Lenard, spokesperson for the National Association of Convenience Stores. “Buc-ee’s doesn’t really address hassles. It’s the amusement park version of a convenience store.”

What is a Buc-ee’s?

The Buc-ee’s origin story is about as hometown Texas as it gets.

Arch “Beaver” Aplin III grew up visiting

his grandparents in Harrisonburg, Texas, where they owned a small mercantile known for farm fresh produce and cured meats from animals his grandpa raised. In 1982, when Aplin was 23 years old, he bought a plot of land for $52,800 at a fourway intersection a few towns over in Lake Jackson. He built a small mercantile of his own and called it Buc-ee’s. The interior was adorned with brass ceiling fans and extra elbow room — 3,000 square feet compared with the industry standard of 2,400.

These days, the industry standard for travel stops and gas stations is 3,000 square feet, while the average Buc-ee’s is upward of 50,000.

Last summer, Buc-ee’s opened a 74,707 square foot store in Sevierville, Tennessee, which stripped the “world’s largest convenience store” title from the Buc-ee’s in New Braunfels. When the Johnstown location opens, it will be tied for first — but only for six months, when the company’s Luling, Texas, location finishes a remodel that will nudge the store over the 75,000-square-foot mark. This means by summer, Buc-ee’s will have the first-, second-, third- and fourth-largest convenience stores in the world. But who’s counting? Buc-ee’s is.

Despite the massive footprint of its stores and oversized cultural presence, Buc-ee’s doesn’t even crack the top 100 in terms of number of stores in the U.S. The nation’s leader, 7-Eleven, has more than 12,000 stores. The Western-themed Maverick has about 400 stores nationally, the merch-heavy Kum & Go also nears 400, and Love’s Travel Stops, which shares a color scheme and emphasis on clean bathrooms with Buc-ee’s, operates more than 600 stores. Buc-ee’s, on the other hand, has 47 stores — soon to be 48.

So, what is Buc-ee’s? “We’re a family travel center that’s gonna have something inside of our store for every person in your vehicle,” Smith, the director of operations, said in an interview with The Sun, then added: “It’s overwhelming.” And he meant it in a good way.

The most commonly cited features of the massive convenience store are the beef jerky wall, the beaver nuggets (a brown sugar coated corn puff) and the remarkably clean bathrooms. But the energetic center of every Buc-ee’s is the Texas Round Up, a circular deli counter where the fresh brisket hits the board and the sandwiches are dished out. This is Randy Pauly’s domain.

Randy Pauly the pitmaster

Randy Pauly is a competitive barbecue champion who got a knock on his door seven years ago. That’s how he describes it, anyway, that Buc-ee’s came knocking on his door.

The way Pauly got into competition barbecue is too cinematic not to tell, which he has surely done 20 times over. A young Pauly, born and raised in central Texas, loses his dad at age 15. His dad was “in the meat business,” Pauly said without elaboration, and was a passionate cook. A neighbor takes Pauly — “a jacked young guy,” in Pauly’s words, with a love of cooking and in need of distraction — to the county fair to compete in a barbecue competition. Pauly is hooked. “Girls, music, food,” he said. “What’s not to love?”

The following year Pauly cast around for a barbecue team to take him in and ended up working with Regroup Cookers. One competition day, in 1994, the chief cook overslept. Pauly, then a dishwasher for the team, spiced, smoked and hustled a rack of ribs to the judges. The ribs made it to the finals, and Pauly hasn’t stopped competing since.

But now he competes on the side of his full-time job as the official Buc-ee’s pitmaster. He still dons a big, black cowboy hat even when he’s inside working at the test kitchen, and still has the energy of a jacked 15-year-old central Texas boy who just wants to make good barbecue.

More than once Pauly motions toward his heart when he’s talking about the people he works with at Buc-ee’s, especially when he gets to talking about training new hires for the Texas Round Up. Part of his job is to travel to new Buc-ee’s locations and teach Inside Buc-ee’s, The Big, Beloved Convenience Store Opening Its First Colorado Location continued on page 8...

Inside Buc-ee’s, The Big, Beloved Convenience Store Opening Its First Colorado Location continued

the deli teams how to assemble the perfect brisket sandwich.

from page 7...

“We get to walk into Colorado with a couple hundred employees and we’re gonna teach them a Texas barbecue skill set. On day one I’m gonna see a dozen, two dozen folks that don’t even know what a brisket is,” he said. “And then we’re gonna open a month later, and they’re gonna be champions on the knife. That’s what excites me.”

Kind of in the middle of nowhere

“Where is Johnstown? Is it kind of in the middle of nowhere?” asked Lenard of the National Association of Convenience Stores. It’s in northern Colorado, just south of Fort Collins, I told him, and waited for a reaction. Halfway between Denver and Cheyenne.

“No disparagement toward the town, but that absolutely fits Buc-ee’s,” Lenard said.

You won’t find a Buc-ee’s in downtown Denver, Lenard explained. Or even downtown Fort Collins. Where most convenience stores rely on a mix of highway travelers and repeat customers at in-town locations, Buc-ee’s strategically positions itself between major destinations. In doing so, it becomes its own destination.

“What they want to do is just create a feeling that you have to stop there, that you can’t miss this,” Lenard said.

Over the past 10 years Johnstown, along with nearby I-25 corridor towns like Windsor, have seen — and pursued — aggressive population growth. The growth has been especially pronounced during the past three years, as Johnstown rapidly approved new residential permits, filling fields that flank the highway with uniform neighborhoods, the sky around them dotted with balloons signaling the next wave of housing developments. In 2021, Johnstown approved around 200 new residential permits, according to Crosthwaite, the economic development manager. In 2022 that number more than doubled to 420. Last year, the town approved another 440 permits.

Accommodating a nearly 50% increase in population over the past decade also means greatly expanding service and retail needs, and Johnstown maintains a good reputation among business developers.

“That’s something we’re really proud of,” Crosthwaite said. “It’s not to say that we’re bending the rules for anybody in particular. What we’re doing is saying: Here is the process and here are the rules for getting approved. As long as you’re meeting that process, checking off those boxes, you know exactly when you’re gonna be able to put a shovel on the ground.”

Buc-ee’s has been shopping around outside of the Lone Star state since shortly before 2019, when they opened their first non-Texas location in Alabama. The company invited Johnstown to the table just over two years ago. To secure the company as their first Colorado location, Johnstown offered Buc-ee’s a competitive incentive package that included a mix of tax rebates, performance incentives and a four-week review policy, meaning that comments had to be addressed within four weeks of submission from either side.

“The purpose of that (four-week policy) was ensuring that we both stayed on track with this project, because we know that this is going to have a huge economic impact on the community and we wanted to make sure that they open the doors as quickly as possible,” Crosthwaite said. “Time is money.”

Among those estimated economic impacts are close to 300 jobs and 1.5% in sales tax revenue. Johnstown has a 3.5% sales tax rate, with 0.5% earmarked for roads and infrastructure. That gave the city 3% in revenue leverage with Buc-ee’s — they settled on a 50-50 split. Buc-ee’s keeps 1.5% of their sales tax share through rebates, while Johnstown receives the other 1.5%.

“Our owner always says, ‘Life’s too short to do business with people who don’t want to do business with you,’” Smith said. “So finding a location that is going to be suitable first for the company and for the town, it really requires a relationship.”

And not everybody wants to do business with Buc-ee’s.

In 2014, city leaders in Corinth, Texas, shot down a proposal from Buc-ee’s to build a 60,000-square-foot facility, citing traffic and light pollution concerns from residents. Similar worries plagued residents of Denton, Texas, who organized a 200-person protest of a new Buc-ee’s the following year (the Buc-ee’s opened anyway).

In 2021, residents in Efland, North Carolina, fought the beaver’s arrival and won, after their city council asked Buc-ee’s to shrink the size of its project — an offensive blow to a brand that promises “the largest convenience store in the world” to nearly every community it expands into.

But Johnstown is ready for Buc-ee’s. During a weeklong hiring fair in January more than 1,500 people interviewed for 250 advertised jobs. And as for the other gas stations in the area — Buc-ee’s sits across the street from a Loaf n’ Jug, and about two miles from Johnson’s Corner, a travel stop famous for its plate-sized cinnamon rolls — Lenard, of the National Association of Convenience Stores, said they have nothing to worry about.

“An experience is what people buying gas at Buc-ee’s are looking for. They’re looking for something different than the person stopping for gas two exits later and expects to be on the road in 10 minutes,” Lenard said. “So there is competition, but it’s a different kind of competition. And I would imagine you’d go out of business if you tried to out-Buc-ee’s a Buc-ee’s.”

Another roadside attraction

When Buc-ee’s started meeting with the town of Johnstown, company representatives wasted little breath trying to describe Buc-ee’s.

“All they said was, ‘you gotta come see it,’” Crosthwaite said. “We were kind of wary, like, ‘all right, I guess we’ll come see what it’s about.’ You imagine a gas station and you think, well, how grand can a gas station really be? But Buc-ee’s is so much more than that.”

Smith thinks that part of the business’s success comes from keeping their employees happy. Their starting wages are advertised between $17-$21, significantly higher than the national average for gas station attendants of $14.73, and three weeks paid vacation. That said, on Glassdoor, a site where employees anonymously submit reviews of their employers, Buc-ee’s has a 2.9 out of 5 star rating. But close to onethird of those reviews do mention the good pay.

What makes Buc-ee’s Buc-ee’s can’t be traced to one specific element — its size, its strategic geography, the goofy grinning beaver or the brisket sandwiches. It’s a lucky

mixture of them all and, most importantly, a very dedicated fan base.

“What Buc-ee’s has done better than anybody is they’ve taken the things that people really don’t like to do — use the bathroom, buy gas, pick up food — and made it into things that people absolutely want to do,” Lenard said. “And that’s really, really hard to do. But you don’t see anybody walking into a Buc-ee’s in a bad mood, and you don’t really see anybody leaving a Buc-ee’s in a bad mood.”

After visiting Buc-ee’s at the company’s insistence, Crosthwaite had to concede: “It is really cool, though.

“I can’t describe it except to say that you gotta come check it out,” she laughed, realizing that she’d borrowed the company’s own line from their early meetings. “You just have to come see it. You become a believer.”

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

An Unexpected Crisis: The Financial Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease

One in nine Americans age 65 and older– including 76,000 Coloradans – are among the 6.7 million people across the United States living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Beyond the tremendous physical toll the disease takes on diagnosed individuals as well as family members who provide care for them, the costs associated with the disease can be overwhelming, putting a huge financial strain on families.

An analysis by the Alzheimer’s Association outlined the enormous personal and financial sacrifices many families and caregivers make in order to care for their loved ones living with dementia. Frequently, those disease-related costs will jeopardize a family’s financial security. The analysis found:

• Cost of Care: In 2022, the lifetime cost of care for a person living with dementia was $392,874.

• Reduce Spending: Nearly half (48%) of care contributors must cut back on their own expenses – including basic necessities like food, transportation and medical care – to afford dementia-related care for loved ones, while others must draw from their own savings or retirement funds.

• Unpaid Time: The average family caregiver will spend 30 hours per week caring for their loved one.

• Cut Back on Work: Frequently, this will require the individual to cut back on work. (statistics from National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP):

o 61% of caregivers experience at least one change in their employment due to caregiving

o 49% arrive to their place of work late/leave early/take time off

o 15% take a leave of absence

o 14% reduce their hours/take a demotion

o 7% receive a warning about performance/attendance

o 5% turn down a promotion

o 4% choose early retirement

o 3% lose job benefits

o 6% give up work entirely

• Medicare? Nearly two out of three people incorrectly believe that Medicare helps pay for nursing home care, or are unsure whether it does.

• Out-of-Pocket Costs: The average unpaid family caregiver will spend $12,388 annually out of their own pocket to cover costs ranging from medications to food.

To help families navigate these and other financial challenges, the Alzheimer’s Association has a free online education program, “Managing Money: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finances.” Tips from the program include:

• Plan early — There are many benefits of planning early when it comes to your finances – both for the caregiver and the person with the disease.

• Start a positive discussion about finances — Bring in trusted family members or close friends for a discussion about what the person with the disease wants for the future.

• Avoid financial abuse and fraud — Individuals living with dementia have a greater risk of becoming victims and may struggle with making good financial decisions.

• Organize your finances — Conduct an inventory of your financial resources (savings, insurance, retirement benefits, government assistance, VA benefits, etc.). A financial planner or elder care attorney can help.

• Create a backup plan — Designate a trusted back-up agent for the person’s power of attorney and consider designating responsibilities to more than one person.

“It’s not uncommon for caregivers to experience financial problems because they have to reduce their hours or take time off work,” said Jeff Bird, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado. “As the disease progresses, caregivers will need to pay for services or support for the person living with Alzheimer’s. Financial literacy is especially important for caregivers, because it provides them with the knowledge and skills needed to better support themselves and others.”

For more information on financial planning, visit: Plan for Your Financial Future or www.alz.org.

Caldara: ‘Free’ School Lunch Running

Out Of Other People’s Money

by Jon Caldara, President of Independence Institute, Complete Colorado

Page 2

Indulge me as I quote a few old dead white guys. Yes, of course, we hate them because somehow, they victimized all of us. But, you know, that whole thing about a squirrel occasionally finding a nut…

Who would have guessed Nobel prized economist Milt Friedman was so right when he said there is no such thing as a free lunch. Quite literally.

With Prop FF in 2022 Coloradans voted to tax rich people to give free lunches to all public-school kids.

Taxing other people is a delightful pleasure. Political minorities are there for us to abuse after all, think cigarette smokers, out-of-towners who rent hotel rooms and cars, and people who make more money than you, the scum.

But a small problem happened on the way to the lunch table. About 40% more families than projected are taking up the offer of free food.

I find it wildly surprising that when you give people free things, they gladly take them.

State schools have been providing free lunches for less than a year and the program is already going bust, $56 million under water. Impressive.

There is a reason the “no free lunch” term was around a long time before Mr. Friedman used it.

Coined in 1942 by reporter and columnist Paul Mallon, it became even more popular in 1966 with Robert Heinlein’s sci-fi classic The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

The term was used in the 1800s when bar owners would give patrons a “free lunch,” usually a hard-boiled egg and peanuts. Even drunkards figured out while the egg was “free,” the alcohol was expensive. But Colorado voters still haven’t figured it out.

More and more families will be feeding their kids the free school lunch as food prices continue to skyrocket. The program is wholly unsustainable. It was from the start. We all knew it, including those who pimped it.

Will it ever be reversed? Of course not. As Ronald Reagan said, “there is nothing closer to immortality than a new government program.”

But worry not! The Joint Budget Committee in the legislature has appropriated a quarter million dollars to hire a consultant to figure out how to close the funding gap.

The consultant might suggest having the program means-tested, so hideous rich kids don’t get the free meal their parents paid for. Of course, that flies in the face of the whole idea of Prop FF. The free lunch program we had before was means-tested, and therefore stigmatized the “not rich” kids.

The real solution, which I hear is currently being implemented, is making the food taste so hideous that kids won’t eat it. Sure, they’ll go hungry throughout the school day, but that just builds character, right?

The new FAMLI paid leave act will quickly fall to the same fate. We aren’t even three months into employees taking paid time off and there are whispers of needing to raise the payroll tax.

Dead white guys understood the hazard of people voting themselves free stuff.

Thomas Jefferson purportedly said, “The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”

But a slightly more dead white guy gave a clearer warning. Alexander Fraser Tytler was a Scottish lawyer, writer, and history professor:

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.”

Odd how, and I’m generalizing here, that those who promote voting themselves largesse today seem the most preoccupied with a new fear of “dictatorship.”

Tytler went on to say, “The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.”

I was luckily raised in the “liberty to abundance” phase of this sequence. I fear we are dangerously close to the “apathy to dependence” phase.

But hey, my kid gets a “free” lunch.

Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute, a free market think tank in Denver.

Stein: Don’t Let Lawmakers Get Away With Open Meetings Carve-Out

by Ben Stein, Complete

Colorado Page 2

There is an old saying attributed to Otto Von Bismarck: “If you like laws and sausages you should never watch either one being made.” Certainly, this applies to sausage making, but in 1972 the citizens of Colorado decided that it should not apply to lawmaking. So, via a citizen’s initiative we implemented the Colorado Open Meetings Law: also known as the “Sunshine Law.”

With only modest modifications, this law has remained in effect for over fifty years, ensuring citizens, journalists, yes, lobbyists and even the executive branch of Colorado’s state government, the capacity to view the legislative “sausage making process.” The law does this by requiring open meetings, and it defines a meeting quite broadly as “any kind of gathering convened to discuss public business whether in person, by telephone, electronically or other means of communications.” The transparency this law mandates is arguably one of the great success stories of our democratic process because it largely ensures that citizens can learn what their legislators are considering so that they can provide their perspective and input.

Unfortunately, the Democratic majority legislators in the Colorado legislature have determined that they know better and don’t need these pesky citizens bothering them as they draft the bills that impact us all. So having determined that allowing citizens’ this long-accepted access to the legislative process is too burdensome, the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, co-sponsored Senate Bill 157, carving an exemption to the open meetings law for themselves. Legislators claim they passed this to fix what we citizens view as a nonexistent problem and, no surprise here, the Democratic majorities in both chambers promptly passed it and Governor Polis

quickly signed it into law. In fact, a mark of just how enthusiastic our legislators are about this bill is how rapidly it was passed and enacted, just one month.

Quite frankly for those who label themselves as “Democrats” this is an act of astonishing hypocrisy. The majority party has chosen to make its own members’ lives easier at the expense of an essential element of the democratic process: transparency. They do so by denying the public access to key elements of the process through which lawmakers discuss, form, and develop actual legislation. Specifically, “the bill establishes that written communication, electronic or otherwise, exchanged between members of the general assembly are not subject to the COML (Colorado Open Meetings Law).”

What this really means is that now legislators can send each other text messages or set up chat groups through which they can discuss legislation and develop policy outside public purview. You can see this today down at the Capitol as legislators sit in committee hearings staring at their cell phones. Prior to cell phone they would conduct an actual open discussion but now as they hear testimony they can, and do, use text and chat to develop public policy in private.

At this point they have chosen only to eliminate a portion of the open meetings law, and only for themselves. If this first step goes unchallenged, however, it is hard to imagine local governments, city councils, school boards, etc., not demanding and obtaining a similar exemption. If Democrats gets away with passing this bill they may well grant themselves even greater exemptions in the future.

Sausage making and law making may be ugly processes to watch but we are grateful that there are inspectors on the sausage making lines ensuring the process is safe and hygienic. The vast majority of us are too busy in our daily lives to closely watch the law-making process, but as much as we may disdain lobbyists, “special interests” and even those activists with whom we disagree, having these groups closely watching as the legislature goes about its business perform a function similar to that of the inspectors on the sausage making line. Unfortunately, this change to the law greatly limits their ability to perform this important service on our behalf.

Coloradans decided years ago that we are more likely to get better legislation with more input and more citizen involvement, not less. Now the questions are why did the current Democratic majority choose to eviscerate the open meetings law, and what comes next, the same “clarification” for our local governments, or further weakening of the law to give the legislature more room to roam with less citizen oversight?

Colorado is and remains an initiative state. Our sunshine law was created in this manner and apparently we will need to follow the same course once again to remind the folks we sent to the Capitol that their job is to serve us, not themselves. Do not let the sun go down here in Colorado. Let’s “clarify” for our legislators what a sunshine law is supposed to do by placing an initiative on the ballot in November to restore our open meetings law.

Ben Stein previously served as Colorado’s deputy state treasurer, as well as chief financial officer for the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Federal and State Veterinary, Public Health Agencies Share Update on HPAI Detection in Kansas, Texas Dairy Herds

Wild migratory birds believed to be source of infection; viral testing and epidemiologic efforts continue Commercial milk supply remains safe due to both federal animal health requirements and pasteurization

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state veterinary and public health officials, are investigating an illness among primarily older dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico that is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms.

As of Monday, March 25, unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as an oropharyngeal swab from another dairy in Texas, have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Additional testing was initiated on Friday, March 22, and over the weekend because farms have also reported finding deceased wild birds on their properties. Based on findings from Texas, the detections appear to have been introduced by wild birds. Initial testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans, which would indicate that the current risk to the public remains low.

Federal and state agencies are moving quickly to conduct additional testing for HPAI, as well as viral genome sequencing, so that we can better understand the situation, including characterization of the HPAI strain or strains associated with these detections.

At this stage, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health. Dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption; milk from impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the food supply. In addition, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce.

Federal agencies are also working with state and industry partners to encourage farmers and veterinarians to report cattle illnesses quickly so that we can monitor potential additional cases and minimize the impact to farmers, consumers and other animals. For the dairies whose herds are exhibiting symptoms, on average about ten percent of each affected herd appears to be impacted, with little to no associated mortality reported among the animals. Milk loss resulting from symptomatic cattle to date is too limited to have a major impact on supply and there should be no impact on the price of milk or other dairy products.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and USDA and federal and state partners will continue to share additional updates as soon as information becomes available. More information on biosecurity measures can be found here.

United Power 2024 Candidates for Board of Directors

Stephen Whiteside - Mountain District

Stephen Whiteside currently serves on the United Power Board of Directors (Mountain District) and is seeking re-election to his second term. His board duties include the Audit Committee and Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer. He previously served 16 years as a volunteer Director for United Power’s Roundup Foundation, which is a community-focused effort to provide financial assistance to members with emergency needs. Whiteside has completed 18 educational courses offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and has earned the Credentialed Cooperative Director designation, Board Leadership Certification and Gold Leadership Certification. He is a lifelong Coloradoan, lives in Coal Creek Canyon and has been a member of United Power for 35 years. Whiteside is a graduate of the University of Colorado and owner of Whiteside’s Boots in Brighton and Greeley.

“As a member-owned distribution cooperative, all United Power members have a direct stake in the management and future of the company by participating in the democratic election of the Board of Directors. As a Director, I have a fiduciary duty, along with fellow Board members and United Power management, to oversee the business of our co-op. My goals are straightforward -- using an all-of-the-above approach to provide the most reliable, the most affordable and the safest power to our members. I rely on my business background, education and experience when making Board decisions on oversight and governance.

Exciting opportunities lay ahead. The utility industry is rapidly evolving, and United Power is at the forefront of this great transition. Most importantly, instead of a single power provider, we are developing a portfolio of power resources with a mix of traditional, low carbon, battery storage and renewables with the capability to meet our reliability and demand requirements. The one-size-fits-all model of the past is no longer the best power supply option. Our new mix of power resources will allow United Power to better control costs, utilize more local energy, and enhance efficiency and resiliency by participating in expanding power markets. The future is bright.”

Other important issues at United Power:

• Fiscal responsibility and risk management. Only a financially sound business can be successful -- and United Power has 85 years of success.

• A consistent focus on safety for employees and members. Regular safety meetings and training help keep safety awareness top-of-mind.

• United power is ranked in the top 5% nationally for reliability.

• United Power has developed a Cooperative Roadmap/10 Year Plan to define our strategic vision and measure our progress toward those goals.

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve on the Board for the last 3 years. There is much more work to be done. I respectfully ask for your vote in the upcoming election.”

Brian McCormick - Northern District

Dear fellow Member,

It has been an honor and privilege to serve you on the United Power Board since 2009. I am seeking reelection because I continue to find the work important and rewarding. Strong, experienced leadership is essential for United Power’s success in the significant evolution underway as we transition from our previous reliance on Tri-State to our new future securing and managing our own power supply. Success in our transition will enable lower power supply costs through a more diverse power portfolio, reduced transmission expenses and the ability to develop innovative projects and partnerships. We will be able to bring greater economic benefit to our community and develop more responsive and flexible options to meet your energy needs and expectations.

Safety, reliability and affordability are my top priorities in acting on your behalf. United Power has continued to invest in upgrades, rebuilds and new technology across our system to provide ever more reliable service. The excellence and dedication of our team in maintaining and operating our system is outstanding. In 2023, United Power’s reliability metrics placed among the top performers of all utilities in the United States. This means that most members experience very few power outages and that when outages do occur, they are quickly repaired by our team. We all understand that keeping the lights on in this digital age is essential to your wellbeing and quality of life.

As a working family with two school-aged children, my wife and I have experienced the price increases of so many necessary goods and services these past few years along with you. I understand the strain on family budgets caused when we have to raise electric rates. I insist that the United Power team pursue every efficiency and consider all possible alternatives before approving any rate increase.

I am self-employed as an investor. Over my years of service, I’ve been honored to have previously served as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of our board. My professional history includes a decade of service in the United States Army and working many years in information technology for the cities of Boulder, Greeley and Thornton. My education includes a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell and an MBA from Colorado State. I regularly participate in electric cooperative and industry courses on issues of governance and industry change.

My family is the joy and purpose of my life. My wife Jill and I and our children, Allison and James, live in Frederick. We love our Carbon Valley community where Jill and I have lived since 2001.

I humbly ask for your vote. I am always available to visit with you about United Power, my vision for our future, or any other questions.

b@brianamccormick.com

303-882-8554

Tim Erickson - Central District

Hello, my name is Tim Erickson; as your current Central Director on the Board of United Power, I sincerely thank you for allowing me to represent the continuation of United Power Inc. for these last three years. The full measure of my job is to serve you, the Member. The guidelines to serve the Membership is, first and foremost, that a Director shall read, understand, and hold the cooperative Bylaws and Corporate policies to their highest standard. My duty is to be respectful to all Members of the Board and work effectively with that governing Board. To that end, the Board has selected me to hold the leadership position of past Secretary of the Board and various leadership assignments on related association’s boards. To serve you best, I have also earned the NRECA Credential Director’s certificate, the Board Leadership certificate, and a Gold Award in continuing education.

United Power is a nonprofit electric distribution cooperative guided by the laws of the state of Colorado. The Board of Directors is chosen annually by its over 100,000 members. The Board’s responsibility, by law, is to ensure every Member within our service territory has access to electric service, whether residential, small or large commercial or agricultural irrigator. The Board’s mandated responsibility is to serve as a rate-making commission and a bonded fiduciary. To this end, all eleven board Directors have personally accomplished business acumen with an added touch of political savvy.

Beyond law requirements, the Board of Directors has endorsed a “roadmap” for a successful future. Today’s electric market is fluent, alive, and available to leadership that breathes innovation and sustainability and commands their share in the market arena. United Power will always exercise its core mission of delivering safe, reliable, and affordable electricity. United Power has gone well beyond these original torchlight goals. United Power has already achieved the highest rooftop solar production in the cooperative districts. The first in the state of Colorado to utilize utility-sized storage batteries. The only cooperative in the state to give back Capitol credits of over 50 million dollars in the last ten years. United Power is required in our “roadmap” to acquire only carbon-neutral sources of electric generation by the year 2050.

I, Tim Erickson, ask for your vote in this year’s Annual Election 2024 for Director of the Board.

Paige Wagner - Central District

Greetings United Power Members:

I respectfully invite you to consider me for the United Power Board of Directors. I am currently serving my 4th year as a volunteer director on United Power’s Charity Board, Round Up Foundation. I truly enjoy serving our community and United Power members. I am a Colorado native and grew up on a dairy farm in rural Ft. Lupton.

My professional experience includes over 40 years in the utility industry, with a focus on customer service, customer growth, design, install and maintenance for both gas and electric infrastructure. I also worked closely with governmental agencies, and other community boards.

I recognize the many challenges that face the utility industry: customer growth, rates, governmental pressures, clean energy focus, grid stability and security, just to name a few. United Power’s focus is to provide safe, cost effective and reliable energy for us, keeping fire mitigation efforts and the safety of our members and employees up front. I believe my experience can make a difference in the ever-changing times ahead.

I live in the Brighton area with my husband Larry. We have three adult children and two grandchildren. We enjoy camping, gardening, home projects, and spending time with family and friends.

Thank you for your support. I can be contacted at pgmarrs@icloud.com.

United Power 2024 Candidates for Board of Directors

Brad Case - South District

Brad Case is running for re-election for the South District of the United Power Board. He has lived in the United Power territory his entire life. He is currently the representative for the Midwest Electric Association, the representative for the Western United Electronics Cooperation, and an alternative for SEDC Corporation. He is proud that he has never missed a United Power board meeting or event. He has a flexible schedule as an independent business owner, so he can dedicate himself almost full-time to the United Power Board and our members. He is accredited with the NRECA National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Board Leadership Program, he has received the Credentialed Cooperative Director Program (CCD) and Board Leadership (BLC).

He is the owner of Case Powdercoating. Previously, he worked at Majestic Metals, a precision manufacturing shop, for 34 years. He managed up to 80 employees. Additionally, he managed, organized, and monitored million-dollar projects in aerospace, military, wind, solar, and OAG projects. He has a degree in Computer Science. He grew up on the Case dairy farm, where he learned about dedication and hard work. He volunteered as a Lieutenant officer in the Brighton Police Department and coached sports through Brighton Recreation District.

His greatest accomplishment is his long-term marriage of 31 years to his wife, Deborah Case. She is a special education teacher at Southeast Elementary. His oldest son Kyle retired from the Air Force and received a bachelor’s degree in Business. His youngest son Erick, also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business. He is a family man who enjoys camping, snowmobiling, and fishing during family vacations.

He is seeking re-election because of his commitment to the members, community, and the cooperative. He supports all prosperous technological growth, economic, environmental, and sound resource development. He feels his input and vote on the board aligns with the majority of our members and reflects their interests. He looks forward to our new challenges and opportunities, as we exit our current power supplier. We have the opportunity for a brighter future with cleaner more reliable locally generated power which we can control and predict the cost of for our members. He is committed to the cooperative and underlying fundamentals of giving back to United Power’s customers through diligent management of our energy resources.

He enjoys talking to our members and understanding their needs, wants, and comments as valuable input for directing United Power. Please contact him at bradcase52@gmail.com or 720-778-6869.

Wiggins FFA Hosted District XIV

Parliamentary Procedure & Quiz Bowl

Wiggins FFA hosted the District XIV Parliamentary Procedure and Quiz Bowl contests on Thursday, March 21st. FFA Chapters participating were Brush, Fort Morgan, New Raymer, Weldon Valley, Weld Central and Wiggins.

The evening started off with all contestants taking exams for their respective contests. They then broke for a quick supper provided by the Wiggins FFA Alumni & Supporters group. Everyone then moved into the Auditorium for the Parliamentary Procedure contest.

The Parliamentary Procedure contest entailed members taking an exam, then demonstrating the proper use of parliamentary procedure in a mock meeting. They were given one minute to look at their cards and then had 10 minutes to demonstrate. Following the demonstration each member was asked a couple of questions on parliamentary law from the judges.

Following the Parliamentary Procedure contest we began the Quiz Bowl contest. This contest was only opened to first year ag students. Teams went head to head answering 21 questions per round. Winner of the head to head contest advanced to the next round until a champion was named.

The winners of this year’s Parliamentary Procedure contest was the Wiggins FFA. Weld Central won the Quiz Bowl contest. Both teams will represent District XIV at the State contests in June at the State FFA Convention to be held at CSU Pueblo.

2024 RACING SCHEDULE

District Parliamentary Procedure Champions Weld Central FFA

District Quiz Bowl Champions Wiggins FFA

Colorado Will Allow Some Of This Year’s New Migrant Students To Skip State Tests

by Yesenia Robles, Chalkbeat

In Denver schools, a majority of students new to the country are expected to be eligible to skip the state tests. (Nathan W. Armes/Chalkbeat)

Some students who are new to the U.S. and enrolled in Colorado schools after the official October count will not have to take any standardized tests this spring.

That’s according to new guidance issued recently by the Colorado Department of Education.

The department changed the guidance as school districts are seeing unprecedented numbers of new students who are new to the country. Teachers have described various challenges they’ve faced trying to educate migrant students, and the students are unlikely to do well on standardized state tests given in English. As of February, the Denver, Aurora, Cherry Creek, Greeley, Adams 12, Jeffco, and Mapleton districts told Chalkbeat they had enrolled more than 5,600 newcomer students after October count.

Denver Public School leaders told their school board this week that in their case, the majority of students new to the country will fall into that category to be exempt from testing.

Colorado students who are identified as new to the country and have no or limited proficiency in English already are exempt from taking standardized English reading and writing tests for at least their first year of school. Before the new guidance, they were expected to take standardized math and science tests with accommodations.

This spring, if students are new to the country, have no or little English fluency, enrolled after October count, and had limited or interrupted schooling before arriving, they can also skip the math and science tests.

Limited or interrupted schooling includes not attending school for six consecutive school calendar months prior to Colorado enrollment or having two or more years of missed schooling compared to similarly aged students in the U.S. Students who had limited school options in their home country because of war, civil unrest, or needing to travel a long distance to an available school could also qualify for that designation.

Students who have not had interrupted schooling will still be expected to take math and science tests with accommodations. Their participation will count toward overall participation rates, but their scores will not be factored into school ratings for state or federal accountability systems.

Colorado tests students in third through 11th grades. CMAS English and math tests are given to students in third through eighth grade. Science tests are only given to students in fifth, eighth, and 11th grades. In high school, students take the PSAT in ninth and tenth grades, and the SAT in 11th grade.

Families can always opt students out of tests.

In Colorado, this year’s spring testing window begins April 8, after most districts come back from spring break.

Reporter Ann Schimke contributed to this report.

Yesenia Robles is a reporter for Chalkbeat Colorado covering K-12 school districts and multilingual education. Contact Yesenia at yrobles@chalkbeat.org.

Study: Fatalities Due to Drowsiness 10x Higher Than Reported

Drowsiness accounts for nearly 30,000 deaths.

DENVER (Mar. 4, 2024) - Ahead of the upcoming Daylight Saving Time switchover, complete with darker mornings and lost sleep, new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals that drowsy driving is a factor in roughly ten times as many traffic fatalities as traditional crash data indicate.

“This study should be a wakeup call for drivers: Drowsy driving is often deadly,” said Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for AAA. “Whether you’re driving to work or taking the family on a road trip, stay alert - or get off the road.”

According to the new Foundation study, drowsy drivers were involved in:

• 18% of all traffic fatalities between 2017 and 2021, accounting for nearly 30,000 deaths.

• 6,725 estimated deaths in 2021 alone.

These figures, based on in-depth crash investigations and national fatal crash data, are far higher than official government statistics alone, highlighting the underreported nature of drowsy driving crashes. According to NHTSA, there is broad agreement across the traffic safety, sleep science, and public health communities that the impact of drowsy driving is underestimated.

Drowsiness impairs drivers in different ways:

• Reduced alertness: Makes it harder to react quickly to hazards. Just one hour less than the expert-recommended minimum of 7 hours of sleep increases a driver’s risk of crashing.

• Impaired judgment: Increases the risk of making poor decisions on the road. Sleep deprivation increases a driver’s risk of making many ordinary mistakes, leading to crashes. Those deprived of sleep by 4+ hours suffer impairment similar to those over the legal BAC limit.

• Hazardous Microsleeps: Can cause momentary lapses in consciousness,

leading to loss of control of the vehicle and failure to respond to dangers on the road.

• Self-Perception of Drowsiness: Previous Foundation research found that drivers often underestimate their drowsiness, putting themselves and others at risk.

Warning Signs of Drowsy Driving:

• Frequent yawning or blinking

• Trouble remembering the past few miles driven.

• Missing your exit.

• Drifting from your lane.

• Hitting a rumble strip on the side of the road. Who’s at the greatest risk?

• Teen and young adult drivers

• Drivers on the road between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the later afternoon.

• Drivers who don’t get enough sleep.

• Commercial truck drivers.

• Drivers who work the night shift or long shifts.

• Drivers with untreated sleep disorders - like sleep apnea, where breathing repeatedly stops and starts.

• Drivers who use medicines that make them drowsy.

What can drivers do to avoid drowsy driving?

• Get enough sleep before driving. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night.

• Don’t underestimate the power of a quick nap. A 20- to 30-minute nap can significantly improve your alertness.

• Travel at times of the day when you are normally awake. Avoid driving when you are tired or sleepy.

• Listen to your body. If you start to feel tired, pull over and take a break. Don’t try to push through it.

• Take breaks every two hours or 100 miles. Get out of the car, stretch your legs, and get fresh air. Plan and identify safe, comfortable places to take breaks. Don’t wait until you’re already feeling drowsy.

• Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving. Sharing the driving can help you stay awake and alert.

• Avoid heavy meals before driving. Eating a large meal can make you feel tired and sluggish.

• Avoid alcohol and drugs. Both can impair your driving ability. Besides harming driving directly, they can also amplify drowsiness.

AAA supports the development of vehicle technology that can detect drowsiness and prevent drivers from operating a vehicle when impaired. This technology could help to save lives by preventing drowsy driving crashes.

Where Are All the Men?

New CSI study examines the declining participation of men in the labor force Denver, CO – Today, Common Sense Institute (CSI) released a new study authored by Tamra Ryan, Coors Economic Mobility Fellow. The study, Where Are All the Men? examines the labor force participation rate among men nationally and in Colorado.

According to the study, while women are leading the post-pandemic labor force recovery with the highest participation rates ever recorded, men’s rates continue to lag. Over the past 50 years, the labor force participation rate (LFPR) for US primeworking age men dropped over 4.4 percentage points to its current level of 89.7%. This drop translates to about 7 million prime-age men who are out of the workforce nationally.

“While Colorado’s male LFPR is higher than the national LFPR at 92.5 percent, now is the time to sound the alarm in Colorado,” said Ryan. “At a time of low unemployment and a plethora of available jobs, the bigger question is why are men leaving the workforce at all?”

Ryan reports, for men with only a high school diploma, inflation-adjusted real wages have dropped since the 1970’s. It’s estimated that this factor alone accounts for 44 percent of the growth in labor force exit. She also notes that social factors contribute as well. “As society has shifted and more men are born to single mothers, their likelihood of being nonworkers has grown. When single mothers are less educated, or have low household incomes, the boys growing up in these households are more likely to be nonworkers as adults.”

Ryan also notes that work is not only a source of income, but also dignity, belonging and self-respect, the loss of work and the possibilities work creates lead to disconnection, hopelessness and negative emotions that cause both physical and psychological pain. “The US male life expectancy has dropped and the rate of deaths of despair are increasing. Men in Colorado accounted for 77 percent of suicide deaths from 2010 to 2020 and 62 percent of suicide deaths.”

The study makes several recommendations:

• Efforts to address the drop in participation should include helping men adapt to jobs currently in the workforce, and more importantly, jobs of the future. This includes jobs in healthcare, education, mental health and social work careers where the number of men has declined precipitously in recent decades,even though boys and men are over-represented in groups needing services such as substance abuse counseling or special needs education.

• In 2021 the Global Initiative on Boys & Men issued a report recommending a Colorado Commission on the Status of Men and Boys be created in Colorado.

• Men are 91% of the incarcerated population in Colorado and would benefit from employers embracing second chance hiring.

• There are some federal initiatives that could help get men back to work and prevent more from leaving. Changing the requirements for qualifying for SSDI and SNAP to include work requirements for individuals at whatever level is possible could help address the growth in the use of SSDI and SNAP to replace earned income.

• Additionally, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one program which has shown to motivate employment for workers with modest incomes. However, the current EITC rules disincentivize marriage by considering a couple’s combined income and thus, decreasing their tax credit. Changes to the EITC to allow married couples to apply for EITC based on their individual incomes would help families and help men because married men’s rate of work is higher.

Common Sense Institute is a non partisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of Colorado’s economy.

Amid Influx Of Students New To The Country, English Development Teachers In Colorado Feel Overwhelmed

by Yesenia Robles, Chalkbeat

This school year has been overwhelming for teachers like Joel Mollman.

As an English language development teacher at Hamilton Middle School in Denver, Mollman has had to take on more work to keep up with the growing number of students who need help learning English.

In previous years, for example, his school might have only received three students a month who needed to be screened for English fluency. This year, he screens at least three new students each week — a process that takes one to two hours per student.

“It could quickly take up two of my mornings where I could be in classrooms,” Mollman said.

Across the state, English language development teachers describe similar scenarios.

As many schools have experienced an influx of new students with limited English skills all year, their roles have been changing.

Traditionally, these teachers are tasked with screening new students, teaching English as a second language, administering English fluency tests, and coaching other classroom teachers.

Now they must also support many students who are new to the country in much larger classes than typical.

As of the end of February, seven of Colorado’s districts — Denver, Aurora, Cherry Creek, Greeley, Adams 12, Jeffco, and Mapleton — told Chalkbeat they had enrolled more than 5,600 students new to the country after October count.

Some schools, in particular ones where there haven’t traditionally been large numbers of English learners, have relied on their English language development teachers to be the main support for children new to the country. Some of the teachers describe helping students and their families navigate a new country, and even taking in a child whose family was living in a car, during a bout of chickenpox.

Often, they say, certain parts of their job have fallen to the wayside, and state advocates say that in small districts, even screening students to identify their English needs, a crucial step, gets skipped.

Cynthia Trinidad-Sheahan, president of the Colorado Association for Bilingual Education, said districts don’t have the manpower, and often don’t know what to do.

“The expertise is lacking with some of the districts,” Trinidad-Sheahan said. “How do we get training to the teachers that are in these rural districts? And it’s not just on the paraeducators and teachers. The administrators leading these buildings do not have a clear understanding of language acquisition.”

Teachers start by testing for English fluency

When a student who is suspected of not being fluent in English is enrolled in school, the district is required to screen them to identify their language level and needs for services. That screening is supposed to happen within two weeks of enrollment.

In a typical year, that occupies time in the beginning of the school year for English language development teachers. This year, with some schools receiving new students every week, that process has taken up a lot more time.

At Hamilton Middle, where Mollman is also team lead for the school’s multilingual team, he’s taken on the role of screening all students this semester. Official state numbers show 40% of Hamilton’s 700 students have been identified as English learners.

In addition to administering the tests, Mollman has to block off a few hours per week to do the paperwork for the district. That requires entering scores and other information into the computer, and three school staff members to sign off.

Last semester, another English language development teacher on his team was sharing the load, but with so many new students, that teacher had to take on another class, giving up one of her free periods. Mollman now does all the screening.

Each Monday, he starts his week preparing for testing, double-checking the schedules given to new students to make sure they’re in the right classes, tracking down Chromebooks if they haven’t received them, and sometimes making calls as he tries to figure out what proficiency the new students have in their native language.

Kayli Brooks, a teacher at Tollgate Elementary in Aurora, said screening new students didn’t consume her job only because her school was able to get help from Aurora district leaders who stepped in to do that work.

But she recalls how many of the students arrived just before the annual testing window for ACCESS tests, the tests English learners take each year to measure their progress in English fluency. Those students had to take both tests within days or weeks.

“Every office or room was filled with testing,” Brooks said. She said it was heartbreaking to pull students and have them realize they had to take yet another English test they wouldn’t be able to do well on.

It’s hard to find time to help more students

Both Brooks and Mollman said that in their schools, giving students a block of English language instruction — a legally required practice — has not stopped.

But other help for students and staff has.

Brooks, for instance, said she used to pull groups of students such as those new to the country out of class for extra English instruction where she would let them practice speaking. She used to cater those sessions to phrases and vocabulary the students might encounter in other content classrooms such as science or social studies so they might feel more able to participate.

“All of that stopped,” Brooks said. “It came to an absolute screeching halt.”

In recent weeks, as the number of new students has slowed, she started back on a rhythm of reconvening some small groups of students.

“They are so happy,” Brooks said. “They want to learn. I taught them last week some basic advocacy: I need water. I need the bathroom. I need food.”

Still, she isn’t doing as much as she would like. And she hasn’t been able to help other classroom teachers in her school. At Tollgate, she said, about 60% to 75% of students are considered level 1 English learners, which means they don’t have any English fluency.

“We have a little over half of every classroom filled with students who don’t speak English, so half of their students are understanding what they say,” Brooks said. “Our team wants to — and should be — supporting teachers and having professional development around this. It’s just been such an overwhelming time that it’s not something that’s happening.”

Trinidad-Sheahan said districts need to allow English language development teachers to coach other teachers so the responsibilities for teaching students gets shared.

At the schools seeing an influx of emerging bilingual students, she said, instructional coaches should be teachers with experience in teaching English learners.

Keep learning.

Mollman said at his Denver school, his team is trying to help other content teachers, but “we’re still trying to figure out the best way to do this.”

In other years, at his school teachers may have paired new students with other students who also speak the same language. But with so many new students, including some who speak Spanish and others who speak Arabic, it’s not always possible.

He’s also trying to get teachers to adapt how they grade students who don’t yet speak English. But it’s all a challenge.

“Some teachers are very good at adapting,” Mollman said. “Some have really struggled with it and we haven’t quite found the solution.”

Teachers feel unprepared for student needs

Even teachers who have experience working with students learning English as a new language say they’ve felt unprepared at times this year.

Dakota Prosch, is an English language teacher at Academia Ana Marie Sandoval in Denver, where she teaches fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students at the dual language Montessori school. In a typical year, her students are already close to fully bilingual. Because of the school model, and being a magnet school, most students by fourth grade have been in the school since kindergarten.

But this year, because of the large numbers of migrant students in Denver, the school has had to accept new students. It means Prosch is now working with students who have just arrived in the country and speak no English.

“We don’t have any materials for students who don’t speak English,” she said.

In February, the district provided some materials used at newcomer centers, but Prosch wishes she had gotten those resources sooner. For at least 30 minutes a day, she pulls aside the new students to work with them on some English development.

“There’s essentially two classes in one,” Prosch said. “I cannot deliver the same instruction.”

Most of her students are usually analyzing text. She tries to have her new students do that too, but many are just trying to learn what a sentence is and “how to put their tongue between their teeth” to learn the sounds different letter combinations make.

Still, Prosch said, “they’re really awesome kids and I’m really glad to have them.” It’s a sentiment echoed by other teachers.

Lawmakers are discussing a plan that would give some school districts additional funding for the students new to the country who have enrolled after October count when school funding is set.

Mollman agrees that more resources would help.

Right now, he said, schools like his are making tough decisions, such as choosing between bringing in a second English language development teacher or another science teacher. At his school, this year, they added a new ELD teacher to relieve a class that had more than 40 students.

“It was a pretty easy decision this year, but that then impacted one of our teams more severely than others,” Mollman said.

But, even without funding, teachers say their roles have to adapt to meet the needs of students.

“The goal is to ensure all of our students are successful regardless if they’re language learners or not,” Mollman said.

Yesenia Robles is a reporter for Chalkbeat Colorado covering K-12 school districts and multilingual education. Contact Yesenia at yrobles@chalkbeat.org.

Many English language development teachers say they’ve had growing class sizes and are seeing new challenges as they try to help students new to the country. (Reema Amin / Chalkbeat)

- Obituary -

Clara Frances Smith

Clara Frances Smith passed away on March 25, 2024. She was born on January 25, 1933 to Russell and Eva Gurtler (Lutz) in Denver, Colorado.

She lived in Denver until she was 12, and the family moved to the farm on Kersey Road. Clara went to school in Keenesburg and graduated from Keenesburg High School. After high school, she worked at Morey Mercantile Co. and the Colorado State Bank until she married Lyle Smith on January 12, 1952. They were together for 52 years. After Lyle’s discharge from the service, they settled on the farm on “4 corners” where they lived until they built their house in Keenesburg.

Clara was a member of the Community Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School, was a youth sponsor, served as secretary of the board for several years, served as treasurer for eight years and sang in their choir. She was also a charter member for Epsilon Sigma Alpha.

Lyle and Clara farmed for over 40 years and she worked beside Lyle on the farm until three years before they quit farming. She had part time jobs after farming.

Clara enjoyed sewing, reading, loved arranging flowers with her sister, and spending time with her grandchildren and family. She took care of her Mom, Mother-In-Law, as well as Lyle until their passing.

Clara is survived in life by her daughters, Sallie (Bill) Linnebur, and Susan DeShon; son, Tim (Teri) Smith; sisters, Dru Housend, Phyll Morman, and Georgene Brnak; 8 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

She is preceded in death by per parents; her husband, Lyle Smith; brother, Butch Gurtler; and grandson, Bob Dowdy.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Community United Methodist Church, 195 S. Main Street, Keenesburg, Colorado 80643.

A Funeral Service for Clara will be on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Community United Methodist Church, 195 S. Main Street, Keenesburg, Colorado 80643 with Interment to follow at Elmwood Cemetery, 14800 Old Brighton Road, Brighton, Colorado 80601.

County Sheriffs of Colorado Scholarship Program

Sheriff Reams announced today that the County Sheriffs of Colorado, Inc. (CSOC), the state Sheriffs Association, will award a $500 scholarship to a deserving Weld County student next spring. CSOC established the scholarship program in 1978. Since then, this effort has continued as a meaningful expression of the sheriffs’ confidence in and respect for education and training. CSOC considers this an investment in the future and believes that our membership is helping to provide deserving students with an opportunity to make a positive contribution to society.

Scholarship announcements have been mailed to all high school offices in the eligible counties and to all Colorado higher education institutions. Applications are available online at www.csoc.org, or at the Weld County Sheriff’s office, which is located at 1950 “O” Street Greeley, CO 80631.

Sheriff Reams explained that since 1978, the year that County Sheriffs of Colorado has made such scholarships available. A scholarship will be awarded in more than thirty Colorado counties this year. Applications will be reviewed, and a selection will be made on the basis of criteria established by CSOC. This criterion includes leadership, merit, character, involvement, and career purpose.

Any legal permanent resident of Weld County enrolled in, or applying to, a vocational training program or institution of higher learning in the State of Colorado as a full- or part-time student is eligible to apply. There are no restrictions as to the course of study or training which may be pursued, and no restrictions are placed upon applications by reason of race, creed, age, sex, or national origin.

For more information, contact your local high school, college, the Weld County Sheriff’s office, or County Sheriffs of Colorado, or visit the CSOC Scholarship website at: www. coloradosheriffs.org/scholarships.

Importance of Air Condition Servicing

Servicing your air conditioner can ensure its optimal performance, energy efficiency, and longevity. With regular maintenance, you can enjoy cool and comfortable indoor air while preventing costly repairs and extending the lifespan of your AC unit. Here are some essential steps and benefits of servicing your air conditioner:

1. Regular Inspections: Schedule annual inspections with a professional HVAC technician. During these inspections, the technician will check various components such as the condenser coils, evaporator coils, refrigerant levels, thermostat calibration, electrical connections, and overall system performance.

2. Cleaning and Replacement: Over time, dust, dirt, and debris can accumulate in your air conditioner, leading to reduced airflow and efficiency. Cleaning or replacing air should be done every one to three months, depending on usage. Dirty filters can obstruct airflow, strain the system, and decrease indoor air quality. Cleaning the evaporator and condenser coils helps maintain optimal heat exchange and energy efficiency.

3. Checking Refrigerant Levels: Adequate refrigerant levels are essential for proper cooling performance. Low refrigerant levels may indicate a leak or improper installation, leading to inefficient operation and potential damage to the compressor. A qualified technician can inspect and recharge refrigerant levels if necessary.

4. Inspecting Ductwork: Leaky or uninsulated ductwork can lead to air loss and reduced cooling efficiency. During maintenance, technicians can inspect ductwork for leaks, seal any gaps or cracks, and ensure proper insulation, enhancing overall system performance and energy savings.

5. Calibrating Thermostat: A properly calibrated thermostat ensures accurate temperature control and efficient operation. Technicians can recalibrate thermostats and check for any malfunctions or wiring issues that may affect performance.

6. Checking Electrical Components: Faulty electrical connections, worn-out capacitors, or damaged wiring can lead to system failures or safety hazards. Regular maintenance includes inspecting electrical components, tightening connections, and replacing worn-out parts to prevent breakdowns and ensure safe operation.

7. Preventing Costly Repairs: Routine servicing helps identify minor issues before they escalate into major problems, saving you from expensive repairs or premature AC replacement. Addressing minor issues promptly can prolong the lifespan of your air conditioner and improve its overall efficiency.

8. Improving Indoor Air Quality: Clean air filters and well-maintained AC systems contribute to better indoor air quality by reducing dust, allergens, and pollutants circulating in your home.

9. Energy Efficiency: A well-maintained air conditioner operates more efficiently, leading to lower energy bills and reduced environmental impact. Regular servicing, cleaning, and tuning of your AC system ensure optimal performance and energy savings throughout its lifespan.

10. Peace of Mind: Knowing that your air conditioner is in top condition provides peace of mind, especially during hot summer months when reliable cooling is essential for comfort and well-being.

Regular air conditioner servicing is essential for optimal performance, energy efficiency, cost savings, and indoor comfort. Schedule annual maintenance with a qualified HVAC technician to ensure your AC system operates smoothly, lasts longer, and provides cool, clean air for your home or business.

Schedule your AC Checkup today with locally owned *and operated since 1987: Tonville HVAC 303.659.8583

Steve Reams – Sheriff

Taste of Fort Lupton 2024

Pictures by Lost Creek Guide, Photographer Kim Thomsen

Town of St. Vrain

On October 6, 1859, the St. Vrain Claim Club was organized at the site of old Fort St. Vrain by settlers in the St. Vrain and South Platte River valleys. Since there was no law nor legal courts to settle disputes, the claim clubs were organized to protect land claims from claim jumpers. The St. Vrain was named the county seat of St. Vrain County, Jefferson Territory, a self-proclaimed territory by the residents of what is now Colorado. Which was never recognized by Congress. The St. Vrain County, Jefferson Territory was the fore runner of Weld County, Colorado. (from the introduction of “Village Along the Platte”, by the Platteville Historical Society).

The Town of St. Vrain was the first County Seat of Government when this part of the country was settled in 1859. It was first, part of Nebraska Territory, then Jefferson Territory 1859-1861 and then Colorado Territory 1861 to 1867. There was no one special building which was used for county business. Several log cabins were used for that purpose over the years, including those owned by Dute J. Hopkins, John Paul, F. W. Hammitt and David Hodgson. The one used for the Post Office by A. Lumry was moved to the David Birkle Farm near old Fort Vasquez. Given to the County and placed at the North end of the old fort until it was moved in 1976 to Centennial Village in Greeley. (from Weld County Old and New, by Carol Ren Shwayder, Volume V).

The site of Fort St. Vrain is owned by the Platteville Historical Society since 2014. It is a one-acre site surrounding the 1911 Daughters of the American Revolution monument, located west of Weld County 23 and 40 intersections, accessible by an easement road containing, the DAR Monument and interpretive signage by the Platteville Historical Society, telling the history of the Bent, St. Vrain and Company trading post established in 1838 to 1848 and the second licensed business in the current Weld County Colorado. For more on the History of old Fort St. Vrain, a book by Diane Brotemarkle is available to purchase at the Platteville Welcome Center located in the former Fort Vasquez Museum, 13412 US Hwy 85, Platteville Colorado (970) 785-2832 open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM to 4 PM.

This historical moment is brought to you by the Platteville Welcome Center.