The Lost Creek Guide August 2, 2023

Southeast Weld County Fair Edition

Delivering to over 19,800 homes & businesses including all of Fort Lupton and Lochbuie.

“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light” George Washington

“If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed” Thomas Jefferson

How the West was Won! One Hundred and One

by Jenna Pralle

You could say the Southeast Weld County Fair has been built on dreams, a bit like the railroad was built from coast to coast. The prospectors who were not able to make it to the County Fair decided they were going to create their very own establishment within their little railroad town many years ago. And that is how our Fair began.

From there our roots were established. Just as a seed planted with well wishes and the best of hopes, it may not receive any rainfall, but still reaches deep down into the soil and finds its way to grow, just as our community has found its ways to prosper. The railroad communities of the wild, wild, west over time have seen history through a lens that many choose to turn the page of history on. It has not always been pleasant and especially by today’s standard is not the most celebrated way of life, but our heritage is one for the ages.

Hard work, honesty, and respect are the foundations of the western way of life and the Southeast Weld County Fair Board is full of community members, businessmen and women who grow their careers and successes on these foundations. It is repeated over and over again that the success of this fair is because of the support of our community. And that truth rings! Farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and natural resource leaders gather together to raise up the most profitable of our crops, our youth. The 4-H and FFA Motto and Creed say it best, stating we “Make the Best Better”, and “believing in the future of agriculture with a faith born not of words but of deeds”. Those deeds are the nods of judges in the show rings, the handshakes and expressions of gratitude, the conversations of blooming young men and women who are seeking their own paths, encouraged with advice from those who have paved the highways of success from these very grounds and onto the far reaches of the map.

The opportunities provided within the grounds of the fair and rodeo for each youth that crosses that street. The excitement in the eyes of a young person seeing a lamb or bucking horse for the first time is something only the fair can provide. We are a liaison to a growing stream of interstate commerce. Whether we, as a rural community, appreciate the anticipated growth of Colorado, or our Keenesburg, Rogen, Hudson area, it is coming. The best the Southeast Weld County Fair Board can do is to promote the important and historical agricultural roots and traditions of our communities. Through this endeavor we hope that as we add wonderful new citizens to our phonebooks, our 4-H and FFA memberships grow and we continue to build this Fair and its traditions. Making the newest members of this community an integral part of our flourishing and long lived traditions!

The triumphs of agricultural life call us to endure the difficulties of life and growth. A plant cannot thrive without sunlight or water. And the storms must bring rain and thunder.

We look forward to weathering the storms ahead together and raising the crops of

Weld County Commissioners Vote 4 to 1 to Reassign All of District 3 Commissioner Lori Saine’s Oversight Responsibilities

by

Bob Grand

In a not well publicized unusual event we were notified that the Yellow Scene Magazine, a Boulder/North Denver Metro Area Magazine (go to yellowscene.com) had published an article by Robert Davis, a freelance journalist, regarding Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine being relieved of all her oversight responsibilities for the county departments that she had been assigned earlier in the year. The County Commissioners divide up the responsibilities for oversight at the beginning of the year and annually rotate the assignments. In the article Robert Davis asserts that the move was attributed to ethical conflicts. We reached out to both Yellow Scene Magazine and the writer Robert Davis for permission to reprint but have not received answer back. Being on a press deadline, we opted to highlight the story and refer readers to the Yellow Scene article by Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis is also doing a series of articles entitled The Dacono Files, a four-part story of the recent successful recall elects in Dacono of which three parts have been published, which can be viewed on the Yellow Scene online site. The fourth part has not yet been published. In today’s world of so strongly stressed importance of governmental transparency the action involving Ms. Saine is markedly noted by no transparency at all. The County minutes reflected a 4 to 1 one vote and that was it. No explanation. Ms. Saine was the sole dissenting vote. As many of you know, I have been critical of Ms. Saine’s performance as a County Commissioner as I do not believe District 3 has had adequate representation at the Board of County Commissioners. Having said that, if Ms. Saine’s reassignment is not justified where is the opportunity to hear the facts? Well, there is not any. The latest County Charter changes removed authority of investigating County Commissioners from their purview. So where does Ms. Saine go for a hearing? The answer is no place. Where does the public go to learn what the reasons for the reassignment, the answer again is no place. This does not seem right. The County Board of Commissioners cannot terminate Ms. Saine as a Commissioner. Only the public can at the ballot box. Or if the actions were so onerous, with a recall election. However, to have a recall you must define why you are wanting to have a recall election. A 4-1 vote is not a vote of confidence but is it grounds for a recall? A recall is also expensive. You have to go back to the 2020 election in which there were 47,742 votes of which Ms. Saine received 26,358, Michael Welch, the Democrat received 18,819 and Matthew Hess, the Libertarian received 2,295. Title One requires 25% of the votes cast in the previous election as the threshold for a successful recall at the State level. The Home Rule Charter for Weld County requires only 15% of the vote in the previous election to have a successful recall, if one is justified. A recall to be successful in Weld County Commissioner District 3, at the moment, would require 7,120 valid signatures of active voters in District 3. Costs of a recall for the size of the active voters list in District 3, which is about 68,000 active voters, would range from $50,000 and $100,000.

All the citizens of Weld County and particularly the citizens of County Commissioner District 3 should know what the facts are. If there was cause, Ms. Saine should consider resigning. In any case the citizens of Weld County deserve full transparency in government. We invite Ms. Saine and the Weld County Board of Commissioners to comment, which we will publish in the Lost Creek Line and on our on line site: www.ourtowncolorado. com: publisher@lostcreekguide.com.

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE

Page 2: Way of the World

Page 3: Steve Laffey 2024 Candidate for GOP Presidential Nomination

Page 3: Property Taxes Going Up – Colorado State Rep. Gabe Evans

Page 4: Royalty for a Day SE Weld Fair & Rodeo Royalty Clinic

Page 8-9: Big Balloon Build Pictures

Page 12: SE Weld Jr. Fair & Rodeo 2022 Livestock Sale Supporters

Page 16: Loveland Archeological Society Stone Age Fair 2023

Page 18: SE Weld Jr. Fair & Rodeo Livestock Sale

Page 24: SE Weld Jr. Fair & Rodeo 2023 Event Schedule

Way of the World

by Bob Grand

This week the 522nd day of Vladimir Putin’s excursion into Ukraine has been reached. What was supposed to be a two week walk in the park to take Kyiv by Vladimir Putin has turned into a bloody nightmare for the Russian leader and his people. It is unthinkable that Russian casualties are approaching 250,000. How is that possible in our world today? The Russian economy is in tatters, there is even talk being heard of a possible internal revolution against Putin’s regime. The wonderful life in the Russian Federation that Putin’s media control has tried to portray, it appears, may not be true.

China is also another picture of a failing entity, although not with a foolish war, but by every other economic calamity possible. The real estate markets, once the base for China’s prosperity, has seen its bubble breaking badly. In a nation where real estate was viewed as the only way to create wealth for the majority of middle-class Chinese citizens, the pain has been extreme. Once the envy of the world for its manufacturing capability China’s factories are becoming empty, resulting in mass loss of employment. There are no jobs, and people who left their farms to go to the cities for a better life are now returning, to what? College graduates cannot find work. The reality of an economically failed China is becoming increasingly obvious even to its own people.

A major contributor that is common to the failures of both of these countries is the inherent corruption at all levels of government. In Russia, money that was earmarked for the military did not make to where it was supposed to go, but rather into the pockets of corrupt officials. In China, the term tofu dreg building which refers to the leftovers when tofu is made, has become, and often spoken, about far too many projects. It is a statement about shoddy construction. Examples of failed dams, buildings and road projects are rampant are all over China. The Chinese leadership is faced with an ongoing situation that is getting uglier and uglier.

We should learn from both the Russian and Chinese governments. Total control corrupts totally. Bureaucrats who have total control, be they elected officials, civil servants, educators or whoever, if allowed to remain in power too long, really forget who they work for. They also begin to believe that they know better than the rest of us humble mortals. We are all way too busy with our lives and therefore do not participate anywhere near as much as we should in reviewing what our elected officials accomplish. Our elected officials depend heavily on their staffs to accomplish the task of running the government. Very rarely is there any real accountability. What has happened and is happening in Russia and China should be a wakeup call. Many folks have said we, the American people, get the government we elect. President Dwight Eisenhower warned of the military/industrial complex becoming too strong when he was leaving office. Today it is a much broader problem as there are more players, but the result is the same, a small group focusing on maximizing the benefits for themselves at the expense of the American people.

Our founding fathers were not perfect, but they created a Constitution with the Bill of Rights, which presented a base upon which our country has grown and prospered. It is based on a checks and balances system that involves the three branches of government, legislative, executive, and judicial. That is how it is supposed to work. Today we face a situation where the major parties have the top contenders for the nomination to run for the Presidency of the United States in 2024 both involved or facing significant legal questions. No one should be above the law. There is a system in place that is based on equal justice under the law for everyone. Does it always work perfectly, no. That is why we, as good citizens, have a responsibility to hold people accountable for what they do or do not do. It also means that no one should put their thumb on scale either directly or through minions. We, as a nation have to wake up and let all of them know that this not Russia or China, this is America. We are better than that. How dare you lead us down that path!

On a lighter note, it is fair season! It is really uplifting to see all the effort made by members of our communities to support the young people as they work through their fair efforts either showing animals or whatever project on which they have worked. Our country grew up on agriculture and the result of that was to create a population who understood the value of work ethic and family values. We, as a country, have seem to have lost our way a bit and we need to figure out how to get it back. America became great because it was a land of opportunity for those willing to work for it, regardless of their background or where they came from. That opportunity has been replaced by too many people with a how do I get it from the government for free, with no work required attitude. Folks, that does not work. There are no free rides. Somebody has to pay the bill. It should not be our grandchildren and their grandchildren.

When you think about who to support or vote for, think about what they are saying, not necessarily what you would like to hear but what you need to hear. Are you really satisfied with where we are today and the road we are on and where we are going?

I am proud to be an American, but we all need to work a little harder to make sure we leave a better place for our children. As always, your thoughts and comments are appreciated: publisher@lostcreekguide.com.

The LosT Creek Guide, LLC

Bob Grand - Publisher 303-732-4080 publisher@lostcreekguide.com lcgnews.com

Our deadline is 7 wOrking days befOre publicatiOn

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

Letter to the Readers:

Unusual situation, I received a letter to the editor from a citizen. After reading I called, and we chatted. It was a parent of two young girls 9,& 11. Upset to say the least. The letter was inappropriate as it was extremely specific and raised some legal issues, in my mind, however the basic concern was very real, and I believed was worth sharing.

The mother with her two children were in the woman’s restroom of a national chain restaurant at one of the shopping malls. They had just finished washing their hands when a young male in his early twenties walked in and entered one of the stalls. He was well groomed and dressed and made no inappropriate actions other, in her mind, than being in the woman’s restroom. The mother was concerned and contacted the restaurant at the local level and then at the corporate level. It seems that as part of their corporate diversity and inclusion program the corporate offices stated that the person involved identifies as a woman so that in compliance with their diversity and inclusion program thought it was appropriate to have that person use the woman’s rest room. The sign on the door of the rest room bathroom does say women.

The mother’s frustration was trying to explain to her 9 and 11 years why she was upset because a man had come into the woman’s restroom. To have to discuss the subject she felt was a burden that she should not have put through for her and her children. At 9 and 11, they had more questions than mom was comfortable answering. The concern the mother had was that suppose it had been a person who was a potential threat to her children and herself. She then had to explain, as best she could, what those perceived threats might be.

In today’s world we have corporate officials making decisions to support the woke culture with not enough thought io the impact on others If the corporation wants to have unisex bathrooms, which is their decision. Label them as such and provide adequate notice to patrons. Just permitting it to occur without any consideration for the impact of others is not fair to other patrons. Decisions have consequences and people need to be sensitive to everyone.

House Republicans Should Deliver a Balanced Budget

The American people want a balanced budget and our government under control.

by Newt Gingrich

The American people want a balanced budget and our government under control.

Our work at America’s New Majority Project confirms this.

By 70 percent to 13 percent, Americans favor a constitutional amendment for a balanced budget. This includes 67 percent of Democrats, 74 percent of Republicans, and 70 percent of Independents.

Americans are convinced balancing the budget and cutting spending will help reduce inflation. In fact, by 67 percent to 19 percent, Americans favor reducing spending to reduce inflation. This is supported by key demographic voter groups (74 percent of Hispanics and 55 percent of Blacks are for it). It also crosses political lines. Fifty-two percent of Democrats, 70 percent of Independents, and 81 percent of Republicans are for cutting spending to curb inflation.

Most Americans believe simply eliminating waste and corruption in government would be enough to balance the budget. This includes Democrats, who traditionally support large, centralized government. In one Gallup study, people estimated that 50 percent of government spending is waste.

On the fight between the House and Senate over whether spending could be cut below the debt ceiling agreement, the American people were overwhelmingly with House Republicans. More than half of all Americans (57 percent) favored even deeper spending cuts while less than one quarter (22 percent) opposed additional cuts.

Of the 57 percent who said cutting government spending would benefit the economy, 22 percent said it would be “very good.” Only 7 percent thought it would be “very bad” for the economy to cut government spending.

In fact, the American people favor spending cuts so much they, would support a limited, temporary shutdown of the federal government to get it done. There is a similar 57 percent to 22 percent margin in favor of cutting spending even if it takes a shutdown.

This depth of support from the American people even manifests itself in partisan questions. A full 51 percent of voters prefer a GOP candidate who wants a budget bill that cuts spending and is willing to allow non-critical parts of the government to shut down to pressure the President to sign it. Only 34 percent favor a Democratic candidate who wants a budget bill that continues to raise spending and opposes allowing noncritical parts of the government to shut down.

This gap in responses represents a 4–point gain from the generic ballot for the Republican and a 7–point drop from the generic for the Democrat. The generic ballot is a simple survey which asks people for their party preference for Congress. Interestingly the largest gain in the GOP vote comes from Independents (plus 13 percent) and Asians (plus 12 percent).

The current massive deficits and the enormous national debt hurt Americans and America in a number of ways. Just paying interest on the debt this year will exceed $1 trillion.

That’s right, we will spend more paying interest to bond holders than we will spend on the entire Department of Defense. Bigger government deficits mop up capital that should go to creating jobs and increasing productivity. Bureaucrats guiding the economy is a disaster compared to the effectiveness of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Overregulating small business kills job creation.

If a business or a family had a debt burden on scale with the U.S., it would be considered a crisis that had to be solved. It is a crisis for America, and it must be solved.

The best strategy for saving Medicare and Social Security is to return to a high growth economy that is creating jobs and strengthening government revenues through growth rather than taxation.

I know this can be done. As I wrote in my latest book “March to the Majority,” as Speaker of the House in the 1990s, I led the effort which created the only four consecutive balanced budgets in your lifetime.

The time has come for House Republicans to join the American people in fighting for a balanced budget. We learned a great deal when I was Speaker – and House Republicans (and rational Democrats) should use what we learned to do it again.

It’s what the American people want.

Property Taxes Are Going Up

by Gabe Evans, Colorado State House Representative District 48

Property taxes are going up. Elected officials work for the people, so what are they doing about it? As the state representative for House District 48, I would like to share what is happening.

First, some tax basics: property taxes predominantly fund schools, fire districts and other local entities (usually minus cities and towns). Municipalities are primarily funded by sales and use tax. The state government’s revenue largely comes from both sales and income taxes. These revenue sources will be important in a minute.

Property taxes are calculated via three components:

1. The value of properties is assessed June 30th of even numbered years with the most recent valuation date being June 30th, 2022.

2. The mil levy (a mil is one tenth of a percent) is set by school boards, county government, fire protection districts, etc. An average total mil levy is 100 mills (or 0.100), however, it may be higher or lower depending on what jurisdiction(s) you live in.

3. An arbitrary number set by the state to reduce your tax burden, the assessment rate for residential property is currently 0.06765.

The property tax calculation is Assessed Value x Mil Levy x Assessment Rate. For example: a $500,000 residential property with a mil levy of 100 (0.100 for the equation) would be: $500,000 x 0.100 x 0.06765 = $3,382.50 annual property tax. An increase or decrease of any of the three components will increase or decrease the total tax.

The recent property tax spike is predominantly due to inflated market values. As the economy recovered from the convulsions of COVID, residential market values were extremely high on the June 30, 2022 valuation date. Republicans recognized the artificially high property values, and our answer was a two-year timeout. House Bill 23-1054 would have skipped the 2022 valuation, waited for the economy and housing market to stabilize, and allowed taxes for another two years to be based on the 2020 rate. This solution did not require referral to the voters and could have been in effect now.

The Democrat supermajority in the state legislature killed this bill in its first committee. Their plan, Senate Bill 23-303/Proposition HH, provides a small reduction in assessment rate (literally a 0.00065 reduction) and an additional $35,000 deduction from your home’s market value (assessed value of a $500,000 home would decrease by $35,000 for tax purposes). Based on the earlier example, this would save $267.

That small savings doesn’t come out of the state government’s pocketbook. Since property tax funds local government, it comes from schools, fire districts, etc. Democrats don’t want to be seen taking funds away from those entities. Thus, the second part of their plan.

Remember those $750 checks everyone got last year? The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) caps how much tax the state government can keep and requires the rest to be refunded to the taxpayers. This year’s refund is projected to be around $800. Repealing TABOR, and keeping that money for the government, is one of the Democrat party’s stated goals.

In November, Proposition HH will be on the ballot. Proposition HH offers you a small discount next year on your property taxes in exchange for allowing the state to keep a similar amount of your Taxpayer Bill of Rights refund. The state will use that to reimburse local governments. The deceptive part of Proposition HH is that, every year, it increases the amount of TABOR refunds the state is allowed to keep. In 10 years, the state can keep an extra $1.3 billion per year. In 30 years, the state can keep an additional $17 billion per year. That money should have been returned to the taxpayers!

Spiking residential property taxes could have been solved by taking a two-year timeout. Instead, the ruling Democrats are trying to give you a few hundred dollars back, but only if you vote for Proposition HH, which takes a continually increasing amount out of your TABOR refund and your pocket. This proposal is disingenuous, costs the taxpayers money, and effectively repeals the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. I’ll be voting “no” on Proposition HH this November.

Gabe Evans

State Representative

Colorado House District 48

303-866-2943 (Office)

303-243-1791 (Cell)

gabe.evans.house@coleg.gov

United Power Announces Wholesale Power Agreement with Guzman Energy

Denver-based firm to provide key power block for co-op’s future needs Brighton, CO—United Power, Inc. (United Power), an electric cooperative serving Colorado’s northern Front Range, and Guzman Energy (Guzman), a wholesale power provider dedicated to developing portfolios that meet their clients’ needs for economical, reliable power, announce the signing of a 15- year contract to deliver wholesale power to the cooperative.

The power supply agreement features fixed wholesale power pricing that provides the cooperative predictable and stable power supply costs. Under the agreement, Guzman will deliver approximately one-third of the cooperative’s power needs, beginning in May 2024.

“As we move forward with our plan to diversify our power portfolio, this contract is an important part of our strategy,” stated Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power. “Guzman has an excellent track record of providing economical resources for cooperatives, and their commitment to integrating renewables will help us control costs while still keeping our eye on environmental impacts.”

United Power’s planned exit from its current power contract will take place May 1, 2024. The move was motivated by a desire to stabilize power costs and provide greater flexibility to the cooperative and its members.

“Wholesale power continues to be United Power’s largest expense, accounting for over 70% of our costs,” stated Gabriel. “Having more predictable power purchase costs will offer many benefits to United Power members today and into the future.”

“We are proud to contribute to United Power’s efforts to reduce power supply costs, gain greater control over generation mix, and contribute to more local, sustainable energy,” said Robin Lunt, Chief Commercial Officer at Guzman Energy. “We look forward to continued opportunities to support United Power and other cooperatives’ success.””

“United Power serves nearly 110,000 meters and maintains and operates over 6,500 miles of distribution line. The 900-square mile service territory wraps around the north and west borders of the Denver International Airport. It includes the north and northeast metropolitan development corridors along Interstate 25, Interstate 76, State Highway 85, and E-470 and the Golden Gate and Coal Creek Canyons, two of Colorado’s most iconic and historic mountain canyons. As a result of its geographic location, United Power’s system is experiencing significant demand and energy growth, averaging approximately 6% annually.

To learn more about United Power’s power supply transition, visit www.unitedpower. com/powersupply.

A Visit with Steve Laffey: GOP Presidential Candidate

By Bob Grand

This past week I had the opportunity to interview Steve Laffey, who is running for President of the United States, at his home in Fort Collins. He, his wife Kelly and his two daughters were gracious hosts. I did not meet the whole family, but it certainly provided a look at what makes the Laffey household what it is, an example of a great American family. Very down to earth and real, no pretention at all. They are what they are.

The first item we talked about was why is he running? Why put yourself and your family through the grind of a political effort, a particularly grueling one? I quickly realized that Steve Laffey can communicate. He thrives on it and infarct believes it is key to his success. He is an evangelical Christian and does not apologize for it. He does not support Donald Trump as he does not believe in his values. He believes that too many of our elected officials in Washington, in both parties do nothing but talk, serving up platitudes with no solutions. He believes that the country needs to be united, not divided, and that we should work to restore the middle class. His comment was ‘how could I not run when our country is in such a crisis’.

He has identified key problem areas that he believes need immediate attention:

Fix social security: A hot third rail subject that has not been adequately addressed.

Fix the Federal Reserve & The Banking system: It should be run for the benefit & protection of the People not the elites

Make the Tax Code Fair & Simple: Politicians always talk about this, but nobody ever does anything. to simplify it.

Stop Corruption in the Federal Government: Our government should be for protecting the rights of the people not pandering to the elites of either party.

Fix our Education System: Control should be at the local level. The Federal government has no business in our local education

Steve Laffey can talk but he also knows how to count. He supplements his comments with data. He is a quantitative person. I suspect he is intimidating to many politicians who talk easily but rarely have any substantiating data to support their views.

Laffey believes Roe vs Wade is a settled issue and it is now up to the states to enact the legislation they believe appropriate for their states.

Elections today are popularity contests and are not based on substantive discussions where solutions are presented and debated. Laffey is a solutions-orientated person, make no- mistake. This will make him an unpopular invitee among the political class. He recognizes that it will be almost impossible for him to make the major debates because of the criteria that has been established by the RNC. His plan is to go out and meet the people of New Hampshire in their towns, at their businesses, and at public gatherings. He is from Rhode Island and understands New England culture. I think when all is said and done people will be surprised at how well he does in the New Hampshire primary. How far will that carry him, who knows. But you can be sure that you will know where Steve Laffey stands on the issues, and that he has a plan. Steve Laffey believes that he knows that he has to have the right people in place to get the job done. He showed that when he was elected as the Mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island, a city with a failed government, that he turned around. He did not make a lot of friends but earned the respect of everyone by getting the job done. He did the same as the chief operating offer of an investment banking firm that was later acquired by a larger entity. He gets things done!

Steve Laffey is an American story. Make no mistake, he is not a politician in the way we have become accustomed to seeing. He is a sincere, straight forward person. His statements over the years are consistent. What you see and hear is what you get. My, how refreshing.

For more detailed information on Steve Laffey, his vision, his views, his history, go to his web site:www.stevelaffey.com

Steve Laffey for President 2024

Royalty for a Day Clinic

by Bonnie Koehm, SE Weld County Fair Queen for 2023

The Southeast Weld County Fair Royalty, Bonnie Koehn and Hannah Chambers, put on a Royalty for a day clinic on Thursday, July 13, 2023. They had 14 young ladies in attendance, ranging from ages 5-10. They participated in activities such as sash and crown decorating, interview and impromptu questions, modeling, and stick horse queen wave laps. The Royalty decided to invite this next generation of cowgirls to help them understand what it is that a Fair Queen represents, and how she can use her knowledge to bring light to the aspects of the Western way of life, as well as how Rodeos are run. The girls spent three hours participating in the fun activities that simulate what a fair Queen can do during the fair, and her impact in the community. The Southeast Weld County Fair believes in the future of agriculture and the little girls who came to the Royalty for a day prove that there is great hope in the future, and that Rodeo Queens can continue to support the agriculture industry and bring knowledge to anyone who is willing to listen. After all, county fairs are about “being a role model, giving back, and making the best better!”

Aims Community College Offers the First UAS Associate Degree in Colorado for Drone Pilots

GREELEY, CO – July 11, 2023 – Beginning this fall, Aims Community College offers an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Associate of Applied Science Degree. It is the first UAS associate degree offered in Colorado. Aims is the fifteenth two-year college nationwide to offer a degree in this field.

Since 2021, Aims has offered a UAS certificate to prepare students to take the Federal Aviation Administration small Unmanned Aerial Systems certification exam and obtain the basic credentials to fly drones professionally. This new associate degree program takes things to the next level as this industry expands. “It provides students with the basics of flying with professional-level drones and the ability to build and program their own drones.” Said UAS Chief Instructor Pilot Jake Marshall.

In the last few years, demand for UAS expertise has increased substantially. “We just grew,” Marshall said. “Students, high schools and the community wanted more.”

The Aims Unmanned Aircraft Systems Sciences program also cultivates opportunities for students to gain experience, such as working on mapping construction sites for Weld County and filming regional television commercials. “Students are involved with some extracurricular projects beyond just the class we offer. We’re building up this case for the need and now we’re adding the classes to support all this,” Marshall said.

The home to this new degree will be at the expanded Windsor Campus, in the Gateway Building currently under construction; the new facility is opening in January 2024. This new academic building features a drone fabrication and design lab. The campus is also adding a drone takeoff and landing pad area. “The classroom is set up to help with data production and understanding the postproduction process of collecting all this data,” Marshall said. “This facility allows our students to design and build drones and test them.”

Marshall believes that people who love technology, have an entrepreneurial spirit and are adaptable to change will thrive in a UAS career. “You’re going to be a part of the pioneer stage of the industry,” he said. “I want our students to be leaders and part of the next evolution of drones to accomplish our societal needs.”

UAS systems and applications are rapidly expanding, and skilled, certified pilots are already in demand. The FAA predicts an average annual job growth rate of 24.7 percent. Market research shows an estimated increase of 100,000 drone-related jobs by 2025. The average annual salary for a UAS operator is $80,000 per year.

“There are some established companies and new ones are starting up every single day,” Marshall said. “They all need pilots to take their companies to the next level.”

Visit aims.co/UAS to learn more about the UAS learning opportunities at Aims.

How to Weed Your Garden and How Often

Written by Derek Carwood, Greenwood Horticulture

What is the Santa’s Hard Luck Fund?

Many years ago a few wise fairboard members realized that we provided a great opportunity to our RE3J students during the Southeast Weld County Jr. Fair & Rodeo each year, to showcase their hard work on projects in 4H and FFA, and even more wonderful, an opportunity to market specifically their livestock projects in the sale. They also recognized children and families in our community were less fortunate, and/ or unable to take advantage of this specific opportunity.

Supporters have come from near and far for 100 years now to support budding youth in our community at the fair. Many of those supporters walk the halls of our schools each day, or have children of their own who commingle with families who just have not had the best of luck. It is a sad reality that we aren’t sure that each and every child in our community will have a warm and bright Christmas morning by the tree, or a hot meal before they fall asleep with visions of sugar-plums dancing in their heads. It was when this doubt of less fortunate children longing for the holiday joy crept into these wise men’s heads that they sprung to their feet much like St. Nick and plotted a way to deliver more support to our community. Keep reading, this Christmas story is about to get good!

What is a weed? While certain plant species are generally classified as “weeds,” such as dandelions and creeping Charlie, weeds are simply defined as any plant that isn’t desired in a given location. Even a rose would still be a weed if it popped up in the middle of a vegetable garden! To keep your garden in tip-top shape, here’s how to weed your garden and how often.

Weeding Basics

Most plants need three basic factors to grow: sunlight, water and soil. Weeds take advantage of open soil, access to sunlight and ample amounts of water in our landscapes to grow and thrive if left unchecked. Weeding is the process of removing these undesirable plants from the garden or lawn. While there’s no easy way to get rid of weeds in a fully planted garden, you can use techniques to inhibit weed growth or remove them from the garden.

How Often to Weed Your Garden

All gardens will have weeds from time to time. The question of how often to weed your garden is largely dependent on the climate, your planting style and the amount of time you can devote to weeding. Locations that receive more precipitation and have warmer growing seasons tend to see more weed growth, while gardens in drier, cooler climates tend to have fewer weeds.

Likewise, sparsely planted yards will see stronger weed growth due to ample access to open soil, while gardens with a heavier concentration of plants and less space between plants inhibit weed growth. The time you spend weeding in the garden will vary depending on all these factors, but keep in mind that it’s not necessary to eliminate every small weed from the garden. Some weedy species, like common purslane, are completely harmless and actually edible! However, checking your garden weekly (or even daily as you stroll through your garden) for weed growth can help you keep unwanted plants at bay.

How to Weed Your Garden

When weeding your garden, you’ll first need to decide what tools are right for the job. While many herbicides are available on the market, hand tools such as a stainless steel weeder or garden hoe can help you weed without the need for noxious chemicals. When using implements, be sure to remove the weeds in their entirety, including their often long, sturdy tap roots. Many weeds have the remarkable ability to regenerate from even small pieces of root left in the soil, so removing the whole plant is important.

You might also prefer to use a weed control film in your yard. Often made of fabric, these products allow for water and airflow while physically inhibiting weed growth. Weed barriers are especially effective in locations around large annual plants, such as pumpkins, tomatoes and squash, where the barrier can be seasonally removed and refitted or replaced.

Another effective weed control method is the naturalistic planting approach where you grow many plants close together, crowding out would-be weed seedlings and avoiding the problem altogether. This technique requires one to two years for plants to fully mature but creates a more natural feel and habitat for microorganisms, insects and birds.

When all else fails, call your local County Extension Office for further assistance. Weeding the garden can be a tedious task, but with the right tools and know-how, you can have a healthy, flourishing garden nearly free of weeds in no time! For more information on how to get started weeding, check out how to weed an overgrown garden.

The Santa’s Hard Luck Fund began small and has continued to grow each year. Since its start hundreds of children have benefited. The fund’s biggest gifting goes toward helping families nominated by the school district each Christmas season with Target Gift Cards. Target cards are specifically chosen so that these families can purchase warm clothes, food, and toys, but removes the opportunity for it to be spent on tobacco or alcohol products. It should also be noted that during the year our community continues to see other challenges and the Hard Luck Fund stands to support those in need past the holiday giving season!

The thoughtful and generous men who came up with this cause still stand strong in their belief of making sure, “We Do It For the Kids!” With this note I will leave you, if you find yourself searching for a place to donate this season, and would like to serve those in our community, please stop by High Plains Bank and make a donation to the SEWC Hard Luck Fund! If you donated through the silent auction at this years’ fair or made other donations to our cause we would like to extend the greatest of our gratitude for your continued support!

Charlie

In the fast-paced world of construction, having reliable and efficient equipment is the backbone of any successful project. One company that has made significant strides in providing top-notch construction equipment solutions is MTC Equipment. Born in a modest 2-bay garage in Commerce City in 2020, MTC Equipment has quickly become a trusted dealer for XCMG construction equipment, focusing on sales, rentals, and service to cater to the diverse needs of the construction industry. With its commitment to customer satisfaction and a state-of-the-art 15,000 sq ft shop in Hudson, MTC Equipment has emerged as a leading force in the sector.

The Humble Beginnings and Rise of MTC Equipment:

What started as a small operation in a two-bay garage has evolved into a remarkable success story. MTC Equipment was founded in 2020 with a vision to revolutionize the construction equipment industry with superior products and unparalleled service. From the outset, the company focused on the core principles of integrity, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

The XCMG Partnership:

MTC Equipment’s partnership with XCMG has been a crucial factor in their success. XCMG is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of construction machinery, renowned for producing high-quality, innovative, and technologically advanced equipment. As an authorized dealer for XCMG, MTC Equipment gained access to a vast array of machinery that catered to the diverse needs of the construction sector. This allowed MTC Equipment to meet its commitment to customers, ensuring they receive the best solutions for their projects.

Customer-Centric Approach:

MTC Equipment’s relentless pursuit of customer satisfaction sets it apart from the competition. Instead of treating clients as mere transactions, MTC focuses on building lasting relationships. The company’s sales representatives take the time to understand the unique requirements of each customer and recommend the most suitable equipment for their projects. By providing personalized attention and tailored solutions, MTC Equipment ensures that every client receives the best value for their investment.

Sales, Rentals, and Service:

MTC Equipment’s comprehensive range of services encompasses sales, rentals, and service, making it a one-stop destination for all construction equipment needs.

Sales: Whether a construction company is looking to expand its fleet or needs specific machinery for a project, MTC Equipment offers a wide selection of new and used XCMG equipment. From excavators and loaders to telehandlers and scissor lifts, they have the tools to meet any construction challenge.

Rentals: Not all projects require long-term investments in equipment. MTC Equipment recognizes this and provides flexible rental options, enabling construction companies to access top-tier machinery without the burden of ownership. Their rental fleet is well-maintained and up-to-date, ensuring optimal performance on the job site.

Service: Recognizing that equipment downtime can significantly impact project timelines, MTC Equipment prioritizes timely and efficient service. Their team of skilled technicians is equipped to handle maintenance and repair tasks promptly, minimizing interruptions to construction operations. Moreover, their commitment to providing genuine XCMG parts ensures that equipment remains in top condition, maximizing productivity and longevity.

The Hudson Shop:

MTC Equipment’s decision to operate out of a 15,000 sq ft shop in Hudson reflects their commitment to quality and professionalism. The state-of-the-art facility is equipped with the latest tools and technology to provide top-notch maintenance and repair services. The spacious shop also allows them to house a diverse range of equipment, ensuring quick access for customers.

Looking Ahead:

As MTC Equipment continues to grow, they remain dedicated to enhancing their offerings and customer experience. They plan to expand their inventory to include the latest advancements in construction equipment, embracing new technologies that improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

Conclusion:

In a relatively short period, MTC Equipment has achieved remarkable success by prioritizing customer satisfaction and aligning with a world-renowned brand like XCMG. Their journey, from a small garage to a state-of-the-art facility, exemplifies their commitment to excellence and innovation. As the construction industry continues to evolve, MTC Equipment’s customer-centric approach, along with its range of sales, rentals, and service, is set to leave an indelible mark on the sector, empowering construction projects across the region with the best-in-class machinery and support.

Big Balloon Build at Aims Community College Community Center in Greeley

Hosted by Life Stories, Balloon Art/Merry Makers, Big Balloon Build

Pictures By SE Weld Chamber of Commerce, Lost Creek Guide; Photographer: Pat Lentell

Big Balloon Build at Aims Community College Community Center in Greeley continued from page 8

Hosted by Life Stories, Balloon Art/Merry Makers, Big Balloon Build

Pictures By SE Weld Chamber of Commerce, Lost Creek Guide; Photographer: Pat Lentell

South Platte Valley Historical Society Gets Ready for Trappers Day

by Jackie Smith

Whether visiting the park or volunteering, South Platte Valley Historical Park offers a sense of cultural experience and an excellent opportunity to give back to a worthy cause.

Taking place several times throughout the summer, the society hosts periodic workdays where volunteers help maintain the park. They clean, trim branches, remove dead wood and trash, stain wood, and paint. These volunteers are a special bunch of people dedicated to the success of the park. Volunteers like Ron Martin who lends his expertise to repair doors, beams, and signs; Ken Wee who puts his painting experience to benefit the park. Bill Taylor is also constantly in the park. Dressed in his stylish bibs, Bill can usually be found in the settler’s garden growing tomatoes, beets, and other delicious vegetables. He also assists in the repairs, mowing, and gives tours when the park is closed to visitors who just show up. These are just a few of our numerous heroes! Thank you to all who graciously donate their time. If you are interested in helping out, Sunday, August 13 is the next scheduled workday from 9AM – 2PM; lunch will be provided for the volunteers. All you have to do is bring your gloves and show up.

Do you know what is coming up September 9th? It is Trapper Days and Jerry the mountain man is back, and he has brought a few friends and they are hungry! So, what’s Jerry to do? Well Jerry, you can take your friends and go to the Annual South Platte Valley Pancake Fundraiser Breakfast. You and your friends can get all you can eat pancakes, sausage, and drink for $10.00. Kids under six eat free. Smiles are also free. The Society will be flipping them up early from 7-10 AM at the Ft. Lupton Fire Station on Saturday, September 9. Part of the downtown Trappers Day festivities. Umm, umm good! Also, on Trappers Day the park will be open with re-enactors in the park. Visit us from 10 AM-4 PM. Do not forget to join us for our potluck membership meeting and historical talk on Monday, August 8 at 6:00 PM. A historical guest speaker will enlighten us on the 1800’s. Check the website for details www. spvhs.org or follow us on Facebook South Platte Valley Historical Park. Remember we are not just a fort, but a living history park. We are located at 2001 Historic Parkway in Fort Lupton. On highway 85, the northside of Fort Lupton, turn West on 14 1/2. The park will be on your right. We are looking forward to your visit.

CCPC Congratulates Troy Schneider on election to Corn Board, Matt Mulch on Corn Advocate Award

Troy Schneider Elected to NCGA Corn Board

Delegates attending the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Congress, which was held July 20 in Washington D.C., elected four farmers to serve on the organization’s Corn Board. Taking office on Oct. 1, the start of NCGA’s 2024 fiscal year, are new board members Troy Schneider of Colorado, Kelly Nieuwenhuis of Iowa and Bill Leigh of Illinois. Current board member Jed Bower of Ohio was reelected. All four candidates were elected to three-year terms.

Schneider served several years on the CCPC Board, including as president. He has also served as the chair of the Market Development Action Team for NCGA. “It is an honor and a humbling experience to be elected to the NCGA Board. The three of us that were elected have huge shoes to fill, and I look forward to working with the team,” he said.

The NCGA Corn Board represents the organization on all matters while directing both policy and supervising day-to-day operations. Board members represent the federation of state organizations, supervise the affairs and activities of NCGA in partnership with the chief executive officer and implement NCGA policy established by the Corn Congress. Members also act as spokesmen for the NCGA and enhance the organization’s public standing on all organizational and policy issues.

“This year’s Corn Board candidates brought impressive records of service to their fellow farmers,” said NCGA Nominating Committee Chairman Chris Edgington. “Their willingness to share their time and talent serves as a testament to the importance of the work we do. I look forward to watching how the insights, ideas, experiences, and perspectives each brings helps guide NCGA’s work to build a bright future for corn farmers across the country.”

Matt Mulch selected as Corn Advocate of the Year

CCPC’s Secretary Matt Mulch was selected as one of three NCGA Corn Advocates of the Year. This is the first year this award has been presented, and it was done at this year’s Corn Congress on July 20.

“I was very surprised to receive the award. I do really enjoy being a voice for the corn producers of Colorado, and hope that this could just be the beginning. I tried to do as much as I could this year to learn and am grateful for the opportunity,” said Matt Much.

Recipients were selected based on their participation in NCGA’s call to action alerts, participation in various leadership development opportunities, CornPAC membership and participation in flyin/Hill engagement opportunities. The individuals were recommended by the NCGA Grassroots Team and voted on by the NCGA Corn Board.

The Colorado Corn Promotion Council (CCPC) was established over 30 years ago to manage a one-pennyper-bushel assessment collected by first handlers of sales of corn in the state.

Armstrong:

Reading Past Colorado

Media’s Gas Stove Click-Bait

By Ari Armstrong, Complete Colorado Page 2

News

Did you see the headline about how cooking with a gas stove is reasonably safe especially if you have good equipment and adequate ventilation? Of course you didn’t. No major news outlet ran such a headline, even though the statement is accurate.

Instead, the Denver Post’s Matt Sebastian Tweeted the following summary of a story in the paper: “Cooking with a gas stove in your home is like living with a smoker, new Stanford University research conducted in metro Denver finds.” I responded, “I notice the words ‘can’ and ‘depending’ in the lede of the article, which are pretty important qualifiers!” When I looked a few days later, the headline atop the story said using such a stove “can be like living with a smoker.” Better! Then the implication is clear: It also can not be. And it usually isn’t.

Reporter Noelle Phillips’s lede says the of benzene present depends “on ventilation and the size of the house.” The further you read, the more qualifiers you find. Phillips quotes the Stanford-produced study as saying benzene “may increase health risks under some conditions.” By paragraph fourteen, we find, “Benzene levels exceeded health benchmarks in one-third of the 87 homes studied.” So—let me do the math here—that means benzene levels were low in two-thirds of homes. How long do you think the paper’s editors considered the headline, “Gas stoves produce low levels of benzene in two-thirds of homes”?

We can look to the full study for additional details. The study does discuss other toxins emitted by gas stoves, but it studies only benzene and makes comparisons only with respect to that substance. Smoking tobacco also emits carbon monoxide, tar, arsenic, formaldehyde, and other toxins.

Here is the actual, highly qualified comparison to smoking from the study: “In 9 of the 33 cases (29%),a single gas burner on high or an oven set to 350° F raised kitchen benzene concentrations above the upper range of indoor benzene concentrations attributable to secondhand tobacco smoke (0.34−0.78 ppbv [parts per billion by volume]).”

The study cites other research to the effect that “any additional benzene exposure increases leukemia and lymphoma risk,” implying that even low levels of benzene can have some adverse health effects. Of course, the same can be said about exposure to radiation from the Sun or to radon gas, both of which Coloradans tend to get at higher rates.

Here’s a funny detail: The study uses the same “benchmark” for second-hand smoke as for “the median indoor benzene concentration measured in the US, Canada, Western Europe, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Australia,” in both cases 0.78 parts per billion. Indeed, that figure is the “upper range of indoor benzene concentrations attributable to secondhand tobacco smoke.” In other words, in terms of benzene exposure, second-hand smoke can be about as bad as just being in a typical room.

To me, here is the most remarkable thing about the study: In almost all cases, its organizers intentionally turned off available ventilation so as to maximize benzene accumulation. “We kept the range hood (a potential sink) off if one was present,” the study says.

In two whole houses, the study organizers did turn on the vent hoods. In one of those houses, even with the hood on, “benzene concentrations exceeded” California standards of 0.94 parts per billion. However, if you refer to supplementary figure S2, you’ll find that the hood did nevertheless substantially reduce benzene levels. Obviously more-powerful ventilation displaces more air. In the other house, the hood didn’t seem to have much effect—but benzene levels never surpassed the California bar whether the hood was on or off.

Unfortunately, “surveys show that ventilation hoods are used by residents only 20–40% of the time,” the study relates. Ventilation doesn’t work if it’s not present, not fully functional, and not turned on!

Here is another remarkable fact, via supplementary figure S10: Benzene emissions varied radically by cooking unit, from close to zero to over 70 micrograms per minute. Even within the same brand, emissions could vary widely. A related detail: The study covered both natural gas and propane stoves, even though propane tends to emit more benzene.

When we turn to the Colorado Sun, we find this variant of the comparison to smoking: “Gas stoves in Colorado produce toxic benzene levels worse than secondhand smoke, Stanford study finds.” I had to chuckle at the subhead, “Researchers don’t want families to panic . . .” Apparently unnecessarily panicking people is the job of news journalists! Only after you dig through the hyperbolic bullshit of the first seventeen paragraphs of reporter Michael Booth’s article do you reach the 9-in-33 qualifier.

Here, then, is the common-sense conclusion from the study (one consistent with previous findings): Cooking with a clean-burning gas stove with good ventilation is reasonably safe. Burning a crappy stove with poor or no ventilation is likely to result in unhealthy buildups of benzene. (I personally cook with electric and plan to continue doing so.)

Unfortunately, common sense seems to be in short supply among Colorado’s news journalists and headline writers, who too often favor cheap click-bait over contextrich facts.

Ari Armstrong writes regularly for Complete Colorado and is the author of books about Ayn Rand, Harry Potter, and classical liberalism. He can be reached at ari at ariarmstrong dot com.

Proposed Ballot Measure Mandates Violent Offenders Serve Most Of Prison Time Prior To Parole

by Sherrie Peif, Complete Colorado Page 2

DENVER —A man known for putting tax-reducing initiatives on the Colorado ballot has shifted to criminal justice matters, saying the state legislature won’t do anything to get the criminals off the street, so he’s decided to take it to the people.

Michael Fields, President of Advance Colorado is currently pursuing an initiative for 2024 that would mandate violent offenders serve a large percentage of their sentence before being released back into the public.

Fields said his initiative is the result of a 2021 crime in which Kenneth Dean Lee was arrested for impersonating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent to an Aurora family and then sexually assaulting their 7-year-old daughter while they were in the home.

At the time of his arrest, Lee was on parole for similar crimes he committed a decade earlier. For those crimes, Lee was sentenced to 23 years to life but was released after serving nine and half years, or just 40 percent of his sentence.

If passed, Initiative 71 — which it is known as for now — would force violent offenders to serve most of their sentences, possibly lowering the recidivism rates and reducing crime in Colorado, Fields said.

“Why do we have the fourth worst recidivism rate (in the country), but we’re letting people out after only serving 40 percent of their sentence,” Fields said. “I understand good behavior, you get a little time off. But 23 years to life, how are you out after just nine years?”

Fields initially attempted to put this on the 2022 ballot, but it was submitted late in the process and Attorney General Phil Weiser’s representative on the state’s title board was able to block it, Fields said.

Initiative 71 is currently in the Legislative Council’s hands, but the process should go rather quickly, Fields said, because it has already gone through the process successfully once this year, despite a multi-subject challenge in the courts. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled in Fields’ favor, and it was ready to begin gathering signatures, but Fields decided to change something in the ballot language, so the measure will go back before the title board.

“This will be on the ballot next year,” Fields said. “This is one that will pass, that will have an impact. It will be only about 500 people a year that will be impacted by it, but they are the worst of the worst.”

Fields said after some investigation, some Class 2 violent felons are getting out on average after just 43 percent of their sentence. Class 2 felonies include such things as second-degree murder, rape, first-degree assault, kidnapping, and aggravated robbery, to name a few.

Under this initiative, most people sentenced for second-degree murder, first-degree assault, first-degree kidnapping, first-or second-degree sexual assault, first-degree arson, first-degree burglary or aggravated robbery that was committed between July 1, 1987, and Jan. 1, 2025, and who had been convicted previously of a crime of violence would be required to serve at least 75 percent of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Anyone convicted and sentenced for second-degree murder, first-degree assault, class 2 felony kidnapping, certain sexual assault crimes, first-degree arson, firstdegree burglary, or aggravated robbery after Jan. 1, 2025, will be required to serve 85 percent of their time before becoming eligible for parole.

Anyone convicted of the same crimes in the two different categories named who was convicted twice previously of a crime of violence will have to serve 100 percent of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Fields said the initiative polls at a 78 percent acceptance rate.

“People say ‘Of course we want them to stay in longer,’ “Fields said.

Fields said the problem is not just with Colorado’s laws — which do not classify sexual assault as a violent crime — but partially the parole board too, which determines what is and what isn’t good behavior. According to a 9News report after Lee was arrested in 2021, the parole board released him because “appropriate treatment dosage” was received and “adequate institutional conduct” was met.

Just months after he was released, “he goes and does the exact same thing to a 7-year-old girl in Aurora,” Fields said. “Go explain to that family why this guy was out when he got 23 years to life, and he was allowed to do the same thing to your little girl.”

Fields said there are many stories like this where they are re-offending after they should have been incarcerated for 25 years or more and they are out after spending just a small percentage of that time behind bars.

Fields said Initiative 71 should be out of the title board and gathering signatures in the next few weeks.

“I’m excited about it,” Fields said. “It can have an impact. This is such a commonsense thing that the legislature should pass. Once you find out it’s 43 percent it’s ridiculous. It’s the one thing that everyone latches on to. I talk about a lot of issues on the campaign trail, but this is the one where (everyone), is like ‘yes, that makes sense.”

U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz Introduces Bill To End ‘Unqualified Birthright Citizenship’

by Brett Rowland | The Center Square

Something’s Wrong

By: Bill O’Reilly

Did you see Senator Mitch McConnell freeze in front of the TV cameras yesterday? I mean, literally freeze.

Something’s wrong.

And not just with the Senate minority leader. Senator Dianne Feinstein can’t even walk down the hall, and a bunch of other powerful elected folks are in their cups.

But by far, the most concerning senior citizen in the country is President Biden. The strategy now is pretty much limit him to two canned speeches a week and multiple naps. We report his event calendar every day, and there’s usually little on it. Yesterday, he did a podcast with a guy named Jay Shetty. That’s it.

Cognitive decline is a fact of life, but when it befalls powerful people - people can get hurt. I do not believe Joe Biden understands what’s happening on the border, in the economy, or even what his son Hunter did.

That’s plenty scary.

Mr. Biden is cloistered by his ambitious wife and White House security. No one can evaluate what’s happening in the Executive branch. He will only do cupcake interviews (hello, NBC News) and avoids clarifying anything because he simply can’t clarify anything.

The man says he wants to run again. Run for what, Mr. President? When’s the election? Where’s your campaign staff?

Maybe Jay Shetty knows.

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

(The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a bill Tuesday that would deny automatic citizenship at birth to children born within the United States whose parents are not U.S. nationals.

The measure excludes “aliens lawfully admitted as refugees or permanent residents or performing active services in the U.S. Armed Forces,” according to the congressman.

Gaetz introduced the “End Birthright Citizenship Fraud Act of 2023” in the U.S. House of Representatives to end what he called “unqualified birthright citizenship.”

“Birthright citizenship has been grossly and blatantly misapplied for decades, recently becoming a loophole for illegal aliens to fraudulently abuse our immigration system,” Gaetz said in a statement. “My legislation recognizes that American citizenship is a privilege – not an automatic right to be co-opted by illegal aliens.”

Gaetz said the measure was needed to ensure “that citizenship is not treated as a loophole to be exploited but rather a privilege to be earned when legally migrating to our country.”

The measure would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act.

“The United States is one of two developed nations that currently grants automatic citizenship so expansively to children born within its borders,” according to the text of the bill. “Unqualified birthright citizenship provides a strong incentive for illegal immigrants to cross the southern border of the United States.

The text of the bill said illegal immigration comes at a cost for U.S. taxpayers: “Illegal immigrants who crossed into the United States to give birth, often return to Mexico, sending their children across the border daily to attend American public schools, crowding out American students and taking advantage of American tax dollars.”

Caldara: Polis’ Secret Police Come For Your Gas-Powered Lawn Mower

by Jon Caldara, Complete Colorado Page 2

Gov. Jared Polis has his own secret police.

They create their laws without the approval or even review of any of our directly elected representatives.

We must live by their edicts or be punished as they see fit.

The governor has sole tyrannical authority to appoint his secret police, just like Stalin.

OK, maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement. Maybe.

Since we just celebrated the Fourth of July, it’s worth remembering our forefathers dumped a bunch of tea into a harbor to protest “taxation without representation.”

So, the idea that we directly elect our representatives to make policy decisions is an indispensable, foundational American value.

When one guy appoints his cronies–stooges we don’t directly elect–and those thugs make decisions we must live by, well that’s the opposite of representative government.

Even if we did elect that guy to sign or veto bills, it brings us a lot closer to why we threw a bunch of tea into a harbor when he does an end-run around our representatives.

Let’s take our state legislature, as overwhelmingly progressive as they are. They considered a bill to prohibit the sale and even advertising of devices with “small, offroad engines” — such as lawn mowers and leaf blowers. And they refused to pass it.

Attention — I repeat: our duly elected representatives, who were sworn in without Capitol riots, insurrections or nothing, these ultraprogressive legislators declined to outlaw gasoline-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers.

So controversial, so disliked was the idea of banning these items the Democrat who wrote the bill had to pull the anti-lawn mower/leaf blower language out of his Senate Bill 22-138 for it to survive.

So, as we just learned, the governor’s unelected secret police might just outlaw the mowers despite our elected representatives’ expressed votes. Who are these Stasi?

They are call the Air Quality Control Commission. They are as powerful as the unelected, all-governor-appointed Public Utilities Commission, the good mafioso folks who continue to raise our electric rates for their buddies at Xcel. And “mafioso” power isn’t an overstatement. For both these two commissions (even that sounds mobbed-up) answer to only one Don. Don Polis.

All this begs a simple question: A legislature that’s willing to ban shopping bags should be more than willing to criminalize the preferred choice of violent drug lords when they’re gardening — those gas-powered, assault leaf blowers.

So why have a faceless committee of thugs do the dirty work?

Simple: because the anti-fossil fuels mob under the Gold Dome doesn’t want their fingerprints on the murder, we hire nameless thugs.

Even Polis can wash his hands of this and claim that “regulators” made this unpopular decision, with most not asking the follow-up question, “you mean your hand-picked regulators made the decision, Governor?”

It’s one of the many, many ways our “libertarian” governor continues to say he tries to “keep government off the backs of Coloradans.”

The recommendation that the commission will use to consider this ban comes from the Regional Air Quality Council. But by their own numbers, they admit this lawn equipment doesn’t create any ozone problems.

According to RAQC, lawn and garden equipment adds 2.5 ppb (parts per billion) to our “summertime ozone concentrations.” Yet natural and background sources, like plants and wildfires (including a lot from out of state) create 48.6 ppb.

It’s worth remembering Gov. Polis rescinded previous Gov. John Hickenlooper’s application for a waiver to the EPA for noncompliance on ozone because, duh, it had nothing to do with anything Coloradans did.

So, because the governor yanked that waiver the EPA is requiring a reformulation of our gasoline costing us about $0.50 more a gallon. And recall Polis wrote a letter to the EPA “outraged” that they were doing so, but took no responsibility for being the cause of it (sensing “hey, it wasn’t because of me” theme?).

And by the end of the year, in opposition to our elected officials vote, Polis’s crew may well ban gardening equipment.

The legislature did give a 30% cash incentive (more of your tax money, less of your TABOR refund checks) for folks to buy electric lawn equipment. That might help homeowners but does nothing for small businesses who need powerful, long-lasting equipment.

These companies are often owned and almost always employ minorities, particularly Hispanics. You know, the people Democrats say they work for.

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

Why Coloradans Aren’t So Sure About A Property Tax Cut

by Andrew Kenney

Hart Van Denburg/CPR News Townhomes fronting Cheeseman Park in Denver, March 28, 2023.

When likely voters first hear about Democrats’ plan to rearrange billions of dollars of taxes, a narrow majority of them like it, a recent survey found. About 54 percent of voters said they supported Proposition HH after learning its most basic details.

But as they learned more, the poll found that support weakened — showing Colorado may be heading for a tough fight this fall over property taxes, schools, local governments and, of course, TABOR refunds.

“You’re in tossup territory,” said pollster David Flaherty of Magellan Strategies. “The electorate currently is highly uninformed about it. When they hear the top-line message, they generally like it. When they hear a lot of the details, they dislike it.”

What the 10-year Colorado property tax proposal would mean for you

The online poll included about 660 likely voters. First, the respondents were asked to read the language that will appear on their ballots this November.

The measure was written by the Democratic legislature. Its text focuses on the idea that the measure will “reduce property taxes,” and “use a portion of the state surplus” to minimize the impact of the cut on schools and other districts.

That ballot language got the support of about 54 percent of respondents. Another 34 percent said no, and 12 percent were undecided, with a margin of error of about 4 percent.

But the survey then told the respondents more about different parts of the measure.

Most notably, Proposition HH will raise the state’s annual spending cap. After 10 years, the general fund could be up to $2.2 billion larger as a result of Prop. HH, with the extra money mostly going to schools to ensure their finances aren’t affected by the property tax cuts, and similar but more limited money for cities. The measure could also increase school spending, if the economy is strong.

The idea of raising the TABOR cap is popular among Democrats, the poll results suggest, with 65 percent saying it actually improved their opinion of Proposition HH. But Republicans despised the idea, with about 75 percent saying it turned them against the measure.

Ultimately, the respondents were split on the proposal: 43 percent said they supported it after taking the survey, 46 percent opposed it, and the rest were undecided. That’s the statistical equivalent of a tied game, since the difference is smaller than the survey’s margin of error.

The measure could easily pass or fail, Flaherty said.

Prop. HH is a top priority for Gov. Jared Polis and other leading Democrats. They have positioned it as their response to eye-popping increases in property tax bills this year. But it also could be the biggest change to TABOR in nearly 20 years, with some Democrats hoping it will raise school funding levels in the long term.

The challenge for Democrats will be explaining why a property tax cut should come with so many other conditions, Flaherty said.

“Its complexity is what weighs it down. That’s the No. 1 thing at this time,” he said.

Prop. HH is supposed to be about property taxes — but it could also change the future of TABOR and schools funding

Voters this November will likely skew older and wealthier, since it is an off-year election that doesn’t include any of the federal or state-level races that attract younger voters, Flaherty said. Many of those likely voters would benefit from the property tax cut, especially since it comes with expanded benefits for seniors. But they’ll also be more conservative than the rest of the state, making it tougher to sell them on TABOR changes.

A conservative coalition, Advance Colorado, is suing to keep the measure off the ballot, arguing that it’s unconstitutional because it touches too many subjects. Advance Colorado is also preparing a political campaign against the measure.

Prop. HH still has more support than it has opposition, said Michael Fields of Advance Colorado, who will head up the group’s opposition campaign. “All the work is still in front of us, but there’s a clear path to defeating it.”

The measure’s supporters also are gearing up their own campaign. But neither the “yes” or “no” campaigns have reported any fundraising or spending yet, with the election fight not expected to truly begin until Labor Day, early in September.

“It’s really critical that we pass it so that the state can be on a stable financial path and respond to this very critical moment for small businesses, for homeowners, for renters, for homeowners,” said state Sen. Chris Hansen, a Democratic sponsor.

That will include clear explanations of how all the moving parts could affect voters, from TABOR refunds to property taxes, he pledged.

“I think we’ve been doing a lot of work around how to communicate this clearly to the voters,” he said.

Loveland Archaeological Society, Inc. A Colorado Non-Profit Corporation

Presents the 2023

LOVELAND STONE AGE FAIR

Featuring Displays of Prehistoric Artifacts

Saturday, September 23rd - 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

McKee 4-H, Youth & Community Building 5280 Arena Circle, Loveland, Colorado 80538

Public is Welcome! Admission is FREE! NON-COMMERCIAL - NO BUYING OR SELLING OF ARTIFACTS ** PROGRAM **

Saturday, September 23rd, 1:00 P.M.

Dr. Randy Haas

Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Wyoming

** FREE ARTIFACT IDENTIFICATION **

***STONE AGE FAIR SPONSORS***

The Loveland Archaeological Society, Inc.

ARC Air Compressors

Bob Grand, Publisher of the Lost Creek Guide and ourtowncolorado.com

Dr. Grayson Westfall, Dr. Laura Brunner, Anna, and Jackson Westfall

Mr. Joe Mosier

Rick Miller, Miller & Law, P. C.

STONE AGE FAIR – a Northern Colorado Tradition Since 1934

Total Cost of Crime in Colorado was $27.2 Billion, Equivalent to $4,623 per Coloradan, Costing the State Numerous Jobs

Study analyzes the economic impact of increasing crime rates and their effects on the overall state economy

Denver, CO – Today, Common Sense Institute (CSI) issued a new study analyzing the economic impact of increasing crime rates and their effects on the overall state economy.

“If Colorado continues on its current crime trajectory, our economy could be severely impacted with total costs of crime reaching $27.2 billion in 2022, equivalent to $4,623 per Coloradan,” said Kelly Caufield, CSI Executive Director.

The report provides an in-depth analysis of Colorado’s economy by examining the state’s crime rates. Of concern, summer homicides have spiked, with an 18% increase in the murder rate from the first half of 2022 to the first half of 2023. This has led to substantial societal costs, as each murder comes with a price tag of $8.8 million.

Additionally, the analysis shows that Adams County and the City & County of Denver account for 40% of all crimes. Such high crime rates come with both tangible and intangible costs, severely impacting the state’s economy.

“Reports such as this underscore the significance of crime and safety policy in relation to job creation and economic influence,” said J.J. Ament, President & CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and a member of the CSI Board. “It’s crucial that both policymakers and the general public understand the immediate and longterm economic implications of high crime rates. This knowledge allows for a balanced evaluation of benefits and drawbacks, thereby enabling more informed decision-making processes.”

While crime rates have been soaring in recent years, the study emphasizes that the situation can change rapidly with effective crime prevention policies and strategies, as evidenced by certain counties’ successful attempts in reducing crime rates.

“Our analysis sheds essential light on the intricate relationship between crime rates and economic prosperity. It is our hope that these critical insights inform and inspire effective strategies, driving a stronger and safer Colorado for all,” said CSI Senior Economist Steven Byers.

Other key findings include:

● Crime rates would have to be reduced significantly to lessen the cost of crime. For every 1% decrease in the number of crimes the state adds 474 jobs and $56.2 million to GDP

● If crime went to zero, insurance premiums could decrease by 25%, leaving $1.71 billion more in consumers’ pockets, and lead to an increase in GDP by $5.62 billion

Common Sense Institute is a non-partisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of Colorado’s economy. CSI is at the forefront of important discussions concerning the future of free enterprise in Colorado and aims to have an impact on the issues that matter most to Coloradans. CSI’s mission is to examine the fiscal impacts of policies, initiatives, and proposed laws so that Coloradans are educated and informed on issues impacting their lives.

For full report: https://commonsenseinstituteco.org/the-cost-of-crime/

Congress Must Empower Law Enforcement to End the Fentanyl Epidemic

by Ambassador Callista L. Gingrich

This week, an 18-year-old college-bound wrestler died of a suspected fentanyl overdose at his home in California. Last week, an 11-year-old overdosed on fentanyllaced marijuana in Louisiana. In May, two 17-year-olds died from fentanyl overdoses at Fayette Ware Comprehensive High School in Tennessee, just hours before the school’s graduation ceremony.

“Fentanyl is killing all of our kids, it’s affecting all of our families,” California’s Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp said. “It doesn’t discriminate by race, color, religion – it’s affecting everybody.”

As Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram confirmed, “Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered.” In 2022, more than 109,000 people died from drug overdoses, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate, the majority of which are linked to synthetic opioids. This staggering figure emphasizes the prevalence of fentanyl in the drug supply as overdose deaths surpassed 100,000 for the second year in a row – and for the second time on record. Further, for 18- to 49-year-old Americans, fentanyl poisoning is the leading cause of death, surpassing heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide, and other accidents.

But these are more than just facts and figures – behind these numbers are daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, mothers, and fathers.

As I wrote in November 2021, “Unless we stop the flow of these deadly drugs into the United States and provide law enforcement and first responders with the necessary tools and resources to combat this crisis, lives will continue to be tragically lost.”

While fentanyl precursors primarily come from China, the illicit deadly products are most commonly manufactured by Mexican drug cartels, smuggled across the U.S. southern border and distributed to American communities.

The DEA classifies drugs into five categories, known as schedules, with Schedule I substances defined as “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

Last month, Bloomberg Law reported, “Classification of fentanyl as a Schedule I drug is the biggest measure to help address the synthetic opioid crisis in the US.”

Reporting on a June 21 House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing, Bloomberg Law also reported, “Scheduling fentanyl would give the DEA authority to infiltrate and prevent the trafficking of the substance, ensuring it doesn’t cross borders and fall into the hands of violent street gangs.”

Currently, various fentanyl-related substances are temporarily classified as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, but there are numerous pieces of legislation in Congress that would make the temporary scheduling order permanent.

In March, Sens. Tom Cotton and Lindsey Graham introduced the Protecting Americans from Fentanyl Trafficking Act. And last week, Congressman Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) introduced its companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the HALT Fentanyl Act, and the bill was received in the Senate.

As President Joe Biden fails to address the fentanyl crisis plaguing communities across the United States, Congress must enact legislation that gives law enforcement the tools it needs to protect all Americans.

Fort Lupton Muzzle Loading Club will host the Colorado Sate Muzzle Loading Association in a State Shoot on August 11th to 13th

by Jackie Smith

With guns getting a bad rap in today’s society, this club works extremely hard to show how to safely own and shoot a firearm. In fact, FLMC’s mission is to provide members with a regulated safe place to shoot their antique muzzleloading firearms. These include two types of firearms; percussion that fires with caps, and flintlock which fires with flint and steel. You will be surprised that members range from 8 to 90 years old.

The club also hosts hunters’ education to the Adams County 4H groups. In June, they compete in a firsthand competition with a twenty-two.

Thirty-three kids practice March through July once a week shooting air rifles, twenty-two caliber pistols and rifles, and of course muzzleloaders.

In July, they compete in a county competition to qualify for state. Weld County has twenty kids that do similar to what Adams County does but includes archery, their practices are every other week.

During the state shoot August 11th-13th competitions are in subgroups; from junior (under 12) to legacy (over 75) and they will heat up the range. They will shoot at paper and silhouette targets at different distances from 25, 50, 75, to 100 yards.

Tomahawks and knives will also fly. One of the club’s favorites is the novelty shoot, with farmers market veggies. As you can imagine bits and pieces fly in the air upon impact. The crowd oohs and awes, as the vegetables explode into smithereens.

The top shooters will win prizes. Last year 60 individuals from all over Colorado and from Kansas competed, it was the most in 17 years.

Throughout the year, about once a month, the club has rifle and pistol competitions. In April, they have a “peep” shoot. It is a kind of firing line, where the shot peeps blast into nothing. After taking out a tissue and

drying my tears, I am sad to inform everyone by the end of the shoot there are no peep survivors. In food for thought, I am not thoroughly convinced the “peep” shoot was the only thing contributing to the peeps demise, not one person would admit it, but I think there may have been just a little bit of peep snacking.

In November, its turkey season. With guns loaded waiting for that familiar sound “gobble, gobble” then followed by bang, bang. The turkeys are down! Not to worry, no harm comes to any real turkeys during this shoot. However, they do enjoy a Thanksgiving meal afterwards.

If you are interested in membership, it is $60 for a member, $80 for a family. Contact Vice President, Linda Preston at lprestonco@gmail.com. The range is open from dawn to dusk only for its members.

Will Joe Have to Go?

by Bill O’Reilly

Now, I don’t have all the answers, but I have more than most. We’ve been diligently investigating this potential game-changer for every American.

First of all, it looks bad for President Biden. Evidence is mounting that he knew his son and brother were taking massive amounts of foreign money and selling influence to get it.

No reasonable doubt on that. They did it and derived close to $20 million, maybe more. But where did all that money go? That question remains unanswered largely because the Justice Department and many Democrats could not care less.

In fact, strong evidence has been presented that Attorneys General Holder, Barr, and, of course, Garland tanked the Biden investigation.

But what about Joe? On Monday, I will run down the likelihood that this scandal will take him off the board.

Here are some unanswered questions beginning with, who is paying the Biden family’s legal bills? It’s not them.

- Was Joe Biden actually sitting next to his son when he shook down a Chinese Communist guy for $5 million? Hunter Biden described that scenario, but the Justice Department blocked a location search for Joe Biden on the day the damning Hunter email was sent. However, it is not beyond the grifter Hunter to lie for money, so there’s doubt.

- And why isn’t the President’s brother Jim under public scrutiny? He was a big part of the money scheme.

- Why did the wife of US Attorney Matthew Graves, who refused to investigate Hunter despite being formally asked, visit the White House 28 times? Extremely bad look that the Justice Department overlooks with enthusiasm.

What say you, Fatima Graves?

-And finally, $20 million is a colossal amount of money coming into a family for nothing. But it was not the FBI that traced the cash through a variety of shadowy banks. No, it was Republicans in the House who did the tracking because the establishment swamp in DC is corrupt and would not.

That kind of terrible behavior is the bad news. The positive development is the investigation continues at an energetic clip in Congress.

President Biden may not even know it, but I believe he’s “this close” to going down. And if he did, indeed, take Hunter’s money, he should.

A Brighter Future for India Must Include Religious Freedom

By Ambassador Callista L. Gingrich

On July 24, Wall Street Journal columnist Walter Russell Mead published an opinion piece titled “The Movement Shaping a Modern India,” in which he described a recent visit to India for a conference attended by supporters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

As Mead wrote, “Americans need to engage more deeply with a movement that is reshaping the politics and culture of one of the most important countries in the world. The RSS, the leading Hindu nationalist organization, is the most important—and most controversial—civil-society movement in modern India.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a lifelong member of the RSS and a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which began as the political wing of the RSS. (The Hindu nationalist ideology of the BJP is drawn from the RSS movement.)

When the BJP won the national election in 2014, many were concerned about the implications that such a victory would have for religious freedom and for good reason. Consider the following excerpt from the Congressional Research Service:

“For political parties such as the BJP and its antecedents, Hinduism as a concept is almost always concurrent with nationalism, the core belief being that India is an inherently Hindu nation, even if the establishment of a strictly Hindu state is not a goal. In this regard, it is the proselytizing religions—Islam and Christianity in particular—that can be characterized as representing a threat to the Hindu nation.”

During his 2014 campaign, Modi emphasized the importance of good governance and development. He made only minimal references to Hindutva ideology, which includes the notions that Hindus are the true Indian people. Christians and Muslims are seen as interlopers whose beliefs are not native or loyal to India.

However, as Mead noted, “Concerns about violence are legitimate, but what drives Hindu nationalism is less antagonism against Islam [and other religious minorities] than fear for the future of India.”

Unfortunately, early concerns about the fate of religious freedom have proved to be warranted. As the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reported, religious freedom conditions declined in India in 2022. USCIRF recommended that India be classified as a Country of Particular Concern, which is defined as a nation that has “engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”

Furthermore, Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List ranked India number 11 among the worst countries in the world where Christians face extreme persecution.

At various levels of the Indian government, officials continue to promote and enforce policies that further religious discrimination, including anti-conversion laws, as well as laws targeting interfaith relationships.

Additionally, the government targets those who support religious minorities using surveillance, harassment, demolition of property, detention under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and by going after nongovernmental organizations using the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

As USCIRF reported, “The continued enforcement of discriminatory laws facilitated

a culture of impunity for widespread campaigns of threats and violence by mobs and vigilante groups.”

Despite such assaults against religious freedom, Mead observed that some Hindu nationalists are seeking to bridge old and new thinking to modernize the religion and culture of India.

“RSS leaders believe that India can remain united as the shock waves of modernization propagate across the subcontinent only if the changes are seen as grounded in ancient Hindu principles,” Mead wrote.

A modern and prosperous India is an admirable goal that will benefit the Indian people, the region, and the world. However, if India’s politicians are serious, they have their work cut out for them. History has shown that nations that champion religious freedom are safer, more prosperous, and more secure.

If India is to usher in a brighter future for its people, country leaders must change course and advance and defend religious freedom for everyone within its borders.

The Fix

by Bill O’Reilly

On the Cuomo program last night, your humble correspondent got a bit worked up because so many Americans are diminishing the Biden finances story. Now, I understand the politics of the situation, but the overriding issue here is corruption at the federal level, not party nonsense.

The evidence is overwhelming that three Justice Departments led by Eric Holder, Bill Barr, and now, Merrick Garland, impeded the investigation into Hunter Biden’s influence peddling. No question that happened to the tune of at least $17 million.

Yet Congressional Democrats could not care less. Same thing with the corporate media as well as 33 percent of voters who continue to support a compromised President.

Depressing doesn’t even come close.

The rationalization is that Trump is the devil, so it doesn’t matter what Biden does. You heard that during the whistleblower testimony on Wednesday. Democrats on the Oversight Committee simply don’t care. They tried to make the testimony about Trump.

Pathetic.

Fifty-four years ago this week, Senator Edward Kennedy left 28-year-old Mary Jo Kopechne to drown in a car Kennedy drove into Chappaquiddick Creek. The Senator escaped and did not report the situation for ten hours. He could have easily been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

But a corrupt Massachusetts judge covered for Kennedy. The fix was in, and the Senator avoided any meaningful punishment.

The fix is also apparent in the Biden family finance situation for about ten years. That is flat-out corrupt.

Or am I wrong?

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CPW Ranger Saves Three In Dramatic, Midnight Rescue On Arkansas River

by Bill Vogrin, Southeast Region Public Information Officer

to the two victims and put my kayak in the water.”

Hammond said the water was calm where he entered, but it quickly turned into whitewater and it was unnerving even to someone like him – an expert kayaker who has logged many days on the Arkansas since he joined the AHRA in 2017.

“It’s still whitewater and you are trying to judge the rapids through the relatively small beam of light from your headlamp,” he said.

Hammond was aided by the two SAR members who used spotlights to help guide him to the victims as he paddled the 25 yards across to the two victims. After assessing their condition and determining they were uninjured and in no imminent danger, he left them with a promise to return. Then he paddled back across the river to resume the search to locate the guide.

A mile downstream he found her and the raft, also on the opposite river bank. Hammond repeated his process of bushwhacking, scouting the river and paddling across. The guide was also uninjured. So he loaded her and his kayak into her raft and they paddled back across the river to the waiting SAR members.

“We basically hopped from boulder to boulder, resting in the calm water below the boulders before resuming our paddling,” Hammond said.

Then they loaded the guide, the raft and the kayak onto the ATVs and went back upstream a mile to the two friends left on the riverbank.

Hammond made his third and final roundtrip crossing of the river that night on the raft with the guide. They reached the two friends who climbed aboard and the four paddled back across where the two ATVs were waiting.

The SAR members drove the two friends to Nathrop, then returned to get the guide, Hammond, and his kayak.

At 2:30 a.m., Hammond said he texted his fiance’ he was coming home for the night.

As wild an incident as it was, Hammond said it could have been much worse and ended tragically.

BUENA VISTA, Colo. – It was nearly bedtime, after 10 p.m., when Jeff Hammond, a river ranger with Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, received a call for help from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s office.

“They told me a boat with three people in it had flipped in Zoom Flume in Browns Canyon,” Hammond said. “They had made contact with one person and two were unaccounted for. All three were still in the canyon and needed to be rescued. So I quickly got back in uniform, grabbed my gear and jumped in my truck.”

Late-night rescues of boaters on the Arkansas River are not common. And it would not be easy searching in Browns Canyon, a 13-mile boulder-strewn gorge between Buena Vista and Salida carved over eons by the Arkansas.

But Hammond didn’t hesitate even knowing he’d be fighting exactly what makes Browns Canyon one of the most popular stretches of whitewater in Colorado: its series of Class 3 rapids that draw people from across the nation to experience.

On this July 6 night, Hammond headed a few miles south of Buena Vista to Nathrop to rendezvous with the Chaffee County Search and Rescue (SAR) North Team and begin the search. The plan was for two SAR members on all-terrain vehicles (ATV) to take Hammond down the abandoned railroad tracks that parallel the river through the canyon until they reached the Zoom Flume rapids.

“I was told an off-duty commercial raft guide had taken two people out on a private trip around 7:30 p.m.,” Hammond said. “That should have given them enough time to reach their take-out spot at Hecla Junction. But they never made it.”

Cellphone service in the canyon is unreliable but the guide was able to send a 9-1-1 text for help, alerting authorities of the incident.

It was approaching 11:30 p.m. when Hammond hopped on the back of an SAR ATV with his gear, kayak and paddle and off they rode into the darkness, bouncing down the railroad tracks as the river roared below them through the rapids of the canyon.

As the trio headed south down the tracks, another team from Chaffee County SAR South, headed northbound from Hecla Junction on electric bikes that they ferried on a raft across the river.

It took Hammond and the SAR team about 20 minutes to reach Zoom Flume where they began hearing shouts for help from the other side of the churning river.

“We found the two friends who had been tossed out of the raft,” Hammond said. “They were on the river bank on the west side. They couldn’t hike out because they were cliffed out by the canyon walls.”

So Hammond bushwhacked down through the brush from the tracks to the water’s edge. In the pitch black, he studied what he could see of the river using his headlamp.

“There was no moonlight in the canyon and the water was roaring through the rapids, just upstream,” Hammond said, describing the scene. “I scouted the river, plotted a course

“First, they were all wearing life jackets,” Hammond said. “That’s the biggest thing. And they had a cellphone. Even though they couldn’t make a call, they could send a text for help.”

Best of all, they didn’t panic, Hammond said. When they realized they wouldn’t be able to hike out, they stayed put and planned to wait for daylight when commercial rafting trips would provide a means for rescue.

“If things go wrong, don’t compound the problems,” Hammond said. “Call for search and rescue. It’s free and safer than wandering off into the wilderness. We’d rather get a call early and start searching than get a late call and face a more complex rescue.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Jeff Hammond, a river ranger with the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, made three trips across the Arkansas River at midnight on July 6, 2023, to rescue three people who were tossed into the water in a rapid in Browns Canyon. Members of Chaffee County Search and Rescue held spotlights from the east bank as Hammond paddled his kayak to the west side to reach the victims. Photo courtesy of Chaffee County Search and Rescue.