Delivering to over 17,500 homes & businesses including all of Morgan County. This issue delivering to: Briggsdale, Brush, Fort Morgan, Grover, Hereford, Hillrose, Hudson, Keenesburg, New Raymer, Orchard, Roggen, Snyder, and Stoneham
“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
Big City Water Buy-Ups in the Lower Arkansas Valley Are Raising Alarms
As Age-Old Battles Erupt Again
Aurora, Colorado Springs and Pueblo say they’re trying new methods to better protect farming communities after the water leaves. But bad memories linger in dry, rural areas, and calling it a “lease” may not help.
by Jerd Smith and Michael Booth, The Colorado Sun
OLNEY SPRINGS — From satellite view, the land north of the Arkansas River is a seemingly random checkerboard of vital green and desperate brown, quickly fading from a few thriving farm acres to the broad, water-drained desolation of northern Crowley County.
From the cab of Matt Heimerich’s pickup, each alternating square of emerald corn or desiccated knapweed is a decision by a distant big city — to either share Colorado resources responsibly or toss rural Arkansas River counties to the fate of the hot summer winds.
That square was reseeded with native grass after Aurora bought the water in the 1970s, Heimerich says. That plot, Colorado Springs dried up and it’s all weeds. That farm, Aurora wants to dry it up soon, but the water court referee wants a better reseeding plan.
Heimerich’s family is one of the few farmers remaining in the 790 square miles of Crowley County after city water buy-ups shrank the county’s irrigated acres from more than 50,000 in the 1970s to fewer just a few thousand this year. He jumps down from the pickup to clear invasive kochia weeds from a pipe opening gushing cool canal water down a 1,500-foot corn row.
Crowley is just the worst example of what can happen when nobody cares, and nobody pays attention.
Two miles away is downtown Olney Springs, population 310. Crowley County as a whole has only 5,600 residents, and more than a third of those are inmates at two prisons. The only retail operation left in Olney Springs is a soda vending machine against the wall of town hall.
As Heimerich clears his irrigation pipe, he pauses to jab a thumb over his shoulder 150 miles to the north at Aurora, where the population increased by more than 100,000 over 20 years.
“When you build a new development, at the end of the day, you’re drying up a farm,” Heimerich said. “Where else is it going to come from?”
“Crowley is just the worst example of what can happen when nobody cares, and nobody pays attention,” he said.
The tiny community serves as an enduring reminder of the cultural and economic ruin that occurs when big cities in Colorado and elsewhere purchase farms, dry up the land and move the water to urban areas. It gave rise to the term “buy and dry,” a practice now widely condemned.
The practice was supposed to end in the Lower Arkansas Valley in 2003 with a hard-fought federal court battle and settlement. Since then, state lawmakers and top water and farm agencies have changed laws and spent millions of dollars testing new protective methods for sharing water temporarily between rural and urban areas. They have also spent heavily to improve water quality for thousands of people living near the river who still don’t have clean water to drink.
The big cities insist they have learned their lessons from the Crowley County disaster.
“The results of what happened in Crowley County are unacceptable and widely recognized as a travesty,” said Colorado Springs Utilities spokesperson Jennifer Jordan. “We’ve taken those lessons to heart.”
But outraged Lower Arkansas growers and water districts say new efforts to protect their farm water aren’t working. At the same time, the big cities say new laws making it easier to share farm water don’t provide enough reliable water to grow their communities.
The cities also say big changes in the future water picture, climate-driven reductions in stream flows and threats to their Colorado River supplies leave them little choice but to draw more farm water.
This year they did that, inking deals in the Lower Arkansas worth more than $100 million to buy and lease land and water, raising alarms among local growers and generating big questions about whether the state is doing enough to protect rural farm communities and the water that keeps them going.
Buy and dry light
The cities say a lot has changed in the past 20 years and that these new deals represent innovations in water sharing. But critics in the Lower Arkansas Valley say these same deals signal that no one is doing enough to prevent “buy and dry” or the latest tool in the water acquisition quiver, “lease and dry,” in which water is pulled
Big City Water Buy-Ups In The Lower Arkansas Valley Are Raising Alarms As Age-Old Battles Erupt Again continued on page 4...
Thank You from the Southeast Weld Jr. Fair & Rodeo Association by
Jenna Pralle
By definition, a Community is a group of people with common interests, and more broadly people living in a particular area. The last week attests that this Community leads with its common interests. The Southeast Weld County Jr. Fair and Rodeo celebrated its 102nd year of support for 4-H and FFA youth in the RE-3J school district, providing agricultural education and experiences for future development. In times of great uncertainty, it is surely a comfort that this tradition is alive and well!
The second week of August in Keenesburg is more than the rodeos, parade, and Jr. Livestock Sale. They are long days of hard work, showing off the tireless hours members spend on their projects, learning skills and building relationships that will last a lifetime. The purpose of 4-H and FFA projects teach animal and environmental welfare, financial responsibility, honesty, integrity and acts of service.
It is plain to see the benefit of being involved in 4-H and FFA as a youth member, or a parent/guardian of these growing minds. And it is obvious in the grandiose gestures of the business men and women in this community that it is a tradition worth carryingon. Monetarily through scholarships, livestock sales, project add-on donations, and sponsorships this community shows up. Past the dollars there is a list a mile long of mentors and volunteers who are supporting these young men and women to become the best versions of themselves.
Each year, Thank You doesn’t seem to cut it when looking back at the donations of all kinds gathered by this community. Each year, this community becomes a larger family. And each year it is awe inspiring what good can come from a few short days in the August heat, or in this year’s case a few days of long anticipated cool and precipitation. In the history notes for the Southeast Weld County Jr. Fair we reference helping these young people grow. Just like the seeds sewn in agriculture, the requirements for sunlight and rain are the need for guidance and encouragement. An award winning crop is only as good as the nutrients and cultivation it is provided, and we hope we are providing top notch support to our best yields. The future is bright! Although it is never enough, the Southeast Weld County Fair Board would like to send a Thank You to each and every person and business who continue to show up for the future of this community. We could not do it without you and hope to see you all again real soon! Be grateful for the days we have because they are numbered, but each meaningful interaction with each other is a blessing to count!
second issue of the month distribution. Welcome!
Adding Briggsdale, Grover, Hereford, New Raymer & Stoneham to our
Way of the World
by Bob Grand Fair & Rodeo season is almost over for 2024. It is just a pleasure to see members of communities and businesses work together to support their annual events that recognizes and provides a community-wide venue to celebrate our young people’s efforts and achievements. Would it not be wonderful if that continued throughout the year? A bit optimistic, but you know if more folks tried that over the year, we might impact the quality of life we all have.
This issue focuses on our young people, and not so much on politics, which may be healthy. I would comment that I do not know where some of the politicians are living, certainly not in the real world. We, as citizens, need to participate more in the process. In both parties we have control freaks obsessed with their own agendas that ignore what the people need, and focus on what their special interests want, not necessarily need. We are all suffering with the cost of living. We are now beginning to see what the actual costs are in developing feel good efforts like “going green” or unrestricted mass illegal immigration. The electric vehicle programs are rife with failed companies that have sucked up an unbelievable amount of government money used to prime the pump. Somebody should have asked what we are really trying to accomplish. What about the cost of repair for electric vehicles or the danger from fires? This is why a balanced political system is needed. There should be dialogue and debate. Out of that should come better results.
Elections are coming up. Give thought to running for office. We need people who care about all their fellow citizens, not just their special interests, pet projects or keeping staff happy. It does take some effort, but it is worth it for you and your fellow citizens.
This issue has an unusual number of obituaries. We do not charge for obituaries as families have enough to deal with during these events. The obituaries in this issue cover a wide range of ages which should remind us of all that life is precious and we all should work at making it a better place for all of us to live in as we just never know what will happen when or to who.
As always, your thoughts and comments are appreciated: publisher@lostcreekguide.com
- ObituaryLocklynn Fay Burnett
Locklynn Fay Burnett left this world surrounded by her loving family and was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on August 5, 2024. Locklynn was born at Poudre Valley Hospital to Reese and Hannah Burnett on August 17, 2023.
She loved her life on the farm in Carpenter, Wyoming, and was happiest tagging along as a little helper, whether walking the calf barn with Mom or checking cows and riding in the side-by-side with Dad. Locklynn loved her dogs, horses, and cows, with her first word being “moo.” She loved making new friends and was adored by all the farm help who she would greet while playing beside Mom working in the farm office. Locklynn had a bright, joyous, outgoing personality that touched the lives of so many who knew and loved her. Locklynn was dearly loved by her parents and family and brought abounding joy to their lives.
She is survived by parents Reese and Hannah Burnett, Jeff and Kim Burnett (grandparents), Mindy and Jason Smith (grandparents), Robert Tingler (grandfather), Phillip and Kim Gratton (great grandparents), Michelle Tingler (great grandmother), Bill Blankenship (great grandfather), John and Geri Blackwelder (great grandparents), Rob Pachner (great grandfather), Jerry and Margaret Burnett (great grandparents), Linda Sharp (great great grandmother), Kaleb and Madison Guilfoyle (uncle and aunt), Nathan Striegel (uncle), Conner Tingler (uncle), and Layne Burnett (aunt). She was also survived by many cousins and great aunts and uncles who cherished her.
A viewing was held at Wiederspahn Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes on Friday, August 9, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. A service was held at the Pine Bluffs Community Center on Saturday, August 10, at 2:30 p.m. Burial services followed at the Carpenter Cemetery. The family requested colorful attire to celebrate the life of their sweet girl at remembrance services.
To send the family condolences please visit www.wrcfuneral.com or in lieu of flowers, the family requests honoring Locklynn with donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Loveland Archaeological Society is hosting the 90th Annual Loveland Stone Age Fair on Saturday, September 15th, 2024 in the McKee 4-H Youth & Community Building at the Ranch in Loveland, Colorado
The Loveland Archaeological Society is pleased to announce The 90th Annual Loveland Stone Age Fair which will be held on Saturday, September 14th in the McKee 4-H, Youth & Community Building at The Ranch in Loveland. This prestigious event happens to be the longest running Native American archaeological artifact show in the US. The Fair started in 1934, actually in the Town of Cornish just east of Greeley, Colorado and was the result of the incredible amount of stone projectile points uncovered by the Dust Bowl erosion. The school children started bringing artifacts to the Cornish School and soon teachers, parents and everyone became very interested and amassed a large collection of very unusual larger projectiles and blades. The Cornish School decided to host an event to display the collection to the public and this got the attention of professional archaeologists from the then Denver Museum of National History and local universities. They found that many of the artifacts were much older unknown types going back at least 10,000 years! This first event was called The Stone Age Fair and was so successful that the next year’s fair in 1935 drew 10,000 visitors from around the world as well as the leading archaeologists of the period, Hollywood celebrities and President Franklin Roosevelt who sent telegrams of encouragement for the scientific educational endeavor that the Fair became. This success led to the Stone Age Fair moving from Cornish, which had decided the event had grown too large for the town, to Loveland where it was held at the Pulliam Community Center until moving to The Ranch 2016. The Stone Age Fair is completely educational and non-commercial and buying or selling of artifacts is strictly prohibited. This allows professional archaeologists to be affiliated with the Fair and the list of archaeologists that have presented in The Stone Age Fair’s Distinguished Lecture Series going all the way back to 1934 is a Who’s Who of American archaeologists including such luminaries as Dr. Marie Wormington and Dr. Dennis Stanford.
This year’s 90th Loveland Stone Age Fair will be celebrating “Women of Archaeology”, professional archaeologists, women in the archaeological record, and avocationals and volunteers. In keeping with this theme, we are proud to announce Dr. Pegi Jodry from the Smithsonian Institution and Dr. Julie Morrow from Arkansas State University as our featured speakers. Dr. Jodry’s presentation will be “Folsom Matriarchs Holding Up Half the Sky: Tales from a Late Summer Buffalo Camp” and Dr. Morrow’s presentation will be “Men and Women, Points and Knives.” As an inside tip, the late summer buffalo camp in Dr. Jodry’s program is the Stewart Cattle Guard Folsom Site in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, which she was working just this year.
The Fair itself features incredible Native American artifact displays from around North America with many Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, Proto Historic and Historic period artifacts including stone projectile points and knives, pottery, bead work, and flint knapping displays as well as a children’s table where kids can rummage through our flint chip box for artifacts they can take home.
The Fair is free admission, hours are 9 AM to 6 PM and the public is invited to bring in artifacts for identification. The Speakers as well as the Stone Age Fair’s presentation of this year’s scholarships will begin at 1 PM. The Loveland Archaeological Society (the Fair’s Sponsor) is a non-profit organization which meets several times a year with archaeology based programs. We are always seeking new members interested in archaeology (https:// lovelandarchaeologicalsociety.com)
Loveland Archaeological Society, Inc. A Colorado Non-Profit Corporation Presents the 2024 90th Annual
LOVELAND STONE AGE FAIR
Featuring Displays of Prehistoric Artifacts Saturday, September 14th - 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Public is Welcome! Admission is FREE! NON-COMMERCIAL - NO BUYING OR SELLING OF ARTIFACTS
McKee 4-H, Youth & Community Building 5280 Arena Circle, Loveland, Colorado 80538
** PROGRAM **
Saturday, September 14th, 1:00 P.M. Celebrating Women in Archaeology
Dr. Pegi Jodry
Smithsonian Institution
Dr. Julie Morrow
Arkansas State University
** 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
Rick Miller, Miller & Law, P. C. Mr. Joe Mosier
STONE AGE FAIR – a Northern Colorado Tradition Since 1934 https://lovelandarchaeologicalsociety.com
The LosT Creek Guide, LLC
Colorado Voter Turnout June 25th, 2024
El Circulo de la Excelencia
Letter to the People – Politics is A Chess Game
by Dusty Johnson, House District 63 Candidate
I would first like to thank the great people of House District 63 again for hiring me to work for you and voting for me to be your next State Representative. This is an honor that I do not take likely, and I promise to always use my morals, principles, and what is in the best interest of folks in the Northeast to be my compass when making decisions.
Not only will I, along with your other future elected (or reelected) officials at all levels of government, be making crucial decisions, but you also have some crucial decisions to make this fall – who you choose to vote for! Who you choose to elect will be your voice and will have an impact on how you live…Put the personality of some of our candidates aside and instead focus on their platforms: are they for less government and more freedoms OR more government and less rights of the people? Will they fight for and uphold our U.S. Constitution?
With less than 85 days until the general election (November 5th), we need to start getting the word out that “[a] vote is not a valentine, you are not confessing your love for a candidate. It’s a chess move for the world you want to live in.” (Unknown). If voting is a chess move, then politics is a chess game. We must be looking at the long game and making decisions based off of strategy and not emotion. We need to stop getting stuck on the personal lives of some of our candidates and redirect our energy to researching why they will or will not be good for the job in terms of their voting history, policy agendas, and if what they are saying now matches what they stood for at other meetings.
And trust me, I get that “they are representing our area and how they personally behave will reflect that” or “as a Christian I cannot condone their behavior or what they say by supporting them.” However, at the end of the day the way they act in public or what they say at a press interview will NOT affect the price of your groceries, the conditions of the roads you drive on, or the regulations on small business owners. What will affect your business and cost of living is how that candidate or the other candidate will be voting on legislation if they win. Just like in chess, we must choose our next move based on sensible thought. This means that we must look past the dramatics of news headlines and vote based on the principles that we wish our government to be influenced by.
Big City Water Buy-Ups In The Lower Arkansas Valley Are Raising Alarms As Age-Old Battles Erupt Again continued from page 1...
from farmland periodically.
Aurora, for instance, spent $80 million in April to buy nearly 5,000 acres of farms in Otero County and the more than 6,500 acre-feet of water associated with that land. An acre-foot equals nearly 326,000 gallons of water, enough to irrigate half an acre of corn, or supply at least two urban homes for one year.
Aurora plans to use the water itself in three out of 10 years, leaving it on the farms the rest of the time. Some 4,000 acres of land will be dried up intermittently when Aurora is using the water, according to Karl Nyquist, a developer and grower who negotiated the deal with Aurora and who is operating the farms for Aurora under the lease agreement.
Colorado Springs has a different arrangement just downriver in Bent County, where it will permanently purchase up to 15,000 acre-feet of water from local farmers. Colorado Springs will also help pay local farmers to install modern center pivot irrigation systems that use less water, allowing the city to keep the saved water for its use.
In this deal, Colorado Springs and the farmers will be responsible for revegetating any dried up land. It will use the water in five out of 10 years, and it has agreed to make a one-time, upfront payment of $2.5 million to Bent County plus payments each year based on how much water is taken off the fields. The money is in addition to payments to farmers.
“We wanted to make sure Bent County was kept whole,” said Scott Lorenz, a senior water projects manager with Colorado Springs Utilities.
And in Pueblo County, perhaps the least controversial of the three deals, Pueblo Water agreed to purchase nearly one-third of the shares in the local historic Bessemer Ditch system for $56.2 million. Pueblo continues to lease the water back to the farmers for now. At the same time, the Palmer Land Conservancy has developed a sophisticated new framework that measures farm productivity on land watered by the Bessemer Ditch and will eventually help direct water to the most productive farms as Pueblo takes its water. The hope is that the new system will increase overall farm productivity on the ditch system and help make up for anything lost when the less productive lands are dried up, according to Dillon O’Hare, Palmer’s senior conservation manager.
Palmer is also working to analyze the impact of the deals on water quality downstream and how to prevent further damage, O’Hare said.
Irrigated farm land is evaporating
The three projects come as new data shows Colorado’s irrigated farmlands are shrinking. Since 1997, the state has lost 32% of these lands, with areas in the Lower Arkansas Valley seeing losses higher than that, according to an analysis of federal agricultural data by Fresh Water News and The Colorado Sun.
Crowley County has lost 90% of its irrigated lands in that period. Pueblo has lost 60.2%, and Bent and Otero have lost 37.6% and 35.2%, respectively.
State agriculture and water officials are worried about the decline, but say they have few tools to prevent it because farmers are free to sell their water rights to whomever they want.
“Am I concerned? Definitely,” said Robert Sakata, a long-time vegetable grower near Brighton, and former member of the Colorado Water Conservation Board who now serves as the director of water policy for the Colorado Department of Agriculture. “We all talk about water being a limited resource, but prime farmland is also limited and it’s important to take that into consideration.”
Not all these losses are due to big city water prospecting. Climate change, market challenges and legal obligations to deliver water to downstream states are also fallowing Colorado farmlands.
Everyone is sympathetic. No one is in charge.
Still, more than 20 years after the intergovernmental peace accords, it wasn’t supposed to be this way.
The Lower Arkansas Valley region is part of the sprawling Arkansas River Basin. The river has its headwaters near Leadville and flows through Buena Vista, Salida, Cañon City, into Pueblo Reservoir and on over the state line east of Lamar. Its counties were once a sweet spot in the basin’s agriculture economy. The river fed a bountiful chain of tomato, sugar beet and onion fields, as well as acres of luscious Rocky Ford melons, and chiles, corn and alfalfa.
Cities say these latest deals, which they call “water sharing” agreements, will bolster the agricultural economies and keep remaining water on farm fields forever. But the term “sharing” doesn’t sit well with some local farmers and water officials who have a deep distrust of the cities they blame for the region’s decline.
“I call it a charade,” said Mike Bartolo, a retired Colorado State University extension research scientist who farms in Otero County near Rocky Ford. “You dry up an acre, you’re drying up land that was formerly irrigated. That’s buy and dry.”
While the state’s highly touted Water Plan cheers for the concept of cities helping rural areas thrive after water losses, there is no mechanism or state law or bureaucracy to watchdog new sales.
After the 2003 agreement in the Lower Arkansas Valley, state and local water leaders began testing new ways for cities and farmers to temporarily share water, something that had been almost impossible under older water law.
I call it a charade. You dry up an acre, you’re drying up land that was formerly irrigated. That’s buy and dry.
But Aurora and Colorado Springs say the early experimental programs didn’t provide enough water at reasonable prices to fulfill their fast-growing community needs permanently.
Lorenz, the Colorado Springs Utilities manager, said the city does lease some water in the valley, but it hasn’t been enough to ensure the stability of its long-term water supply.
“The major concern is that we would lease from a particular farmer, and then a different city would come out and buy those water rights and the farmer wouldn’t lease to us anymore,” he said.
And in fact that is what just happened in April, when Aurora purchased the Otero County farms, which had formerly leased water to Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs Utilities formally opposes the latest Aurora water deal, as do the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District based in Pueblo, and the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District in Rocky Ford.
But their anger has so far been expressed by passing resolutions, not filing lawsuits. How Aurora Water and other cities have treated Arkansas River counties like Crowley after past buy-ups leaves nothing but suspicion about newly announced deals, local leaders say.
Though Aurora says it is not attempting any more permanent dry-ups of local land, “I don’t think any of us believe them,” said Heimerich, Crowley County’s representative on the Southeastern Conservancy board. Heimerich also is a member of the board of Water Education Colorado, which is a sponsor of Fresh Water News. “They’ll do whatever they need to do and apologize later.”
Thornton and Larimer and Weld counties conducted a similar debate publicly — from the 1990s to this year — as Thornton bought up 17,000 acres of northern Colorado farms and their water rights and began drying up the land. County commissioners and other local officials brought their legal weight and bully pulpits to bear in demanding extensive concessions from Thornton. The Adams County city has been reseeding dried up land with native grass and backfilling lost property taxes, but gets mixed reviews from locals.
The latest Lower Arkansas water deals are also pitting Colorado’s big cities directly against each other in conflicts not seen for decades. When the board of Colorado Springs Utilities passed a resolution earlier this year condemning Aurora’s Otero County deal, it was a direct shot from leadership of a city of nearly 500,000 — the Colorado Springs City Council is the utility board.
“The idea is that there’s Denver, there’s a Denver metro complex and they’re going to just do whatever they want to do and the rest of the state has to go along with it,” City Councilman Brian Risley said.
But Alex Davis, a top Aurora Water official, said Colorado Springs’ ire is unwarranted.
“Aurora has worked in close partnership with Colorado Springs for decades and that will continue,” she said. “This is a case where we disagree.”
Peter Nichols, general counsel for the Lower Arkansas Water Conservancy District in La Junta, said he is deeply concerned by what cities are proposing now. “We thought we were through with all of this. We thought we had it under control,” he said of the Aurora and Colorado Springs purchases.
Nichols is among those who have spent much of the past 20 years creating a system, now known as the super ditch, that allows seven local irrigation companies to negotiate leases with cities.
Importantly, it also won the legal right to move leased water stored in Pueblo Reservoir out of the valley, via the federal Fryingpan-Arkansas Project and the Otero Pipeline, removing what had been a key barrier to leasing.
Nichols said local growers and water districts have worked hard to find ways to share water so that it doesn’t permanently leave the valley. That the cities are now jumping the line with these new deals isn’t OK with him.
A farmer’s — and a county’s — greatest asset
Colorado Springs and the other thirsty Front Range cities want farmers like the young Caleb Wertz to be the new face of urban water agreements.
On a recent 95-degree summer afternoon, Wertz high-tailed it across Bent County driving an ambulance to take an injured neighbor to the hospital. He had planned to be on his farm, but that’s life in the Lower Arkansas Valley.
Colorado Springs is reimbursing the farmers to turn those corners into pasture land or to revegetate. … Even if it is not producing corn, it’s not just becoming wasteland.
The population is shrinking, and everyone has too many jobs to count. The local farmer is also a first responder. Your primary care provider is a farmer’s wife.
Arriving back at the farm just after 5 p.m., Wertz talks about what is perhaps the most controversial decision he has ever made: Selling a portion of his agricultural water to fuel housing growth in Colorado Springs.
The deal will pay him enough so that he can install modern irrigation systems, drying up portions of the fields, known as corners, that won’t be reached by the new, center pivot sprinklers, and allow Colorado Springs to buy the saved water.
He is also planting cotton alongside his traditional corn, and he believes he is the first in the state to do so. A new modern variety is supposed to use half the water, just one acre-foot per acre, rather than the two acre-feet of water that older types, such as those grown in Arizona, use.
For Wertz, the agreement will give him enough money to keep farming and enough new technology to make his remaining agricultural water go farther. He will become a rarity in the area: A young farmer with enough land and water to continue the business his family started in 1919 and to expand it.
“The water purchase makes it a lot more doable because we can farm those acres so much more with pivots,” Wertz said. “That’s the case even though we’re drying up the corners. … That has a bad connotation to it. But Colorado Springs is reimbursing the farmers to turn those corners into pasture land or to revegetate. … Even if it is not producing corn, it’s not just becoming wasteland.”
But to some of his neighbors in the valley, Wertz has entered a hostile no-man’s land, facilitating yet another dry-up of farm land in a region that has already lost too much water and land to urban thirst.
“I know people don’t like it and people are entitled to their opinions, but a lot of those are the older generation who don’t like seeing it because of what happened years before I was even born,” said Wertz, who is 23. “I was glad to see the Springs come in and ask questions about working with us.
“We were quite leery at first. But they have proved it to us. It is extending the water use for them and us, and allowing my brother and I to start taking over some of these acres that haven’t been farmed for awhile because there isn’t enough manpower.”
But can the land come back after fallowing?
Another worry for Lower Arkansas growers is whether new methods that allow cities to take the water off the fields for one or more years and then return it at a later time, do more harm than good. They’re not sure farmland in the region is resilient
Big
City Water Buy-Ups In The Lower Arkansas Valley Are Raising Alarms As
Erupt Again continued from page 4...
enough to bounce back from cycles of city-caused drought.
Perry Cabot, a research scientist and specialist in farming practices and farm economies, has spent years studying the issue. He says that there is hope for fallowing, after years of experiments and tests, but only with crops such as alfalfa and other grasses and sometimes corn.
“The programs we have done saw alfalfa return almost with a vengeance,” Cabot said. “Grass hay is the second-best candidate.”
Nyquist, the developer and grower who is leasing back and farming the land he recently sold to Aurora, agreed, saying fallowing programs do work, but they are not good for small growers who don’t have the cash to buy the necessary new equipment and nutrients that are needed to help fully restore the crops once water returns.
Still, Jack Goble, general manager of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District in Rocky Ford is wary of plans that take water from parts of farm fields over long periods of time.
“And I haven’t found a farmer yet that believes that that’s a viable farming situation, ” he said. “It’s tough to bring that land back.”
For years, valley water hasn’t been drinkable
Anger aimed west and north from Lower Arkansas Valley towns extends to water quality issues, not just water volume.
For many decades, groundwater wells and the river have been contaminated by farm runoff, mining operations and some naturally occurring pollutants.
The same federal Fryingpan-Arkansas Project that in 1962 created Pueblo Reservoir was also supposed to solve the drinking water problem for 40 communities downriver by building the 130-mile Arkansas Valley Conduit to move clean water from Pueblo Reservoir. But it wasn’t until 2023 that final funding for the $610 million pipeline arrived.
Some downstream leaders are galled that Aurora can start taking more fresh water out of the Arkansas before serious pipeline construction has begun to serve the 50,000 people in long-suffering downstream towns.
“My whole life has been under drinking water restrictions, not being able to attain safe drinking water except to go buy it or to go through extraordinary measures to treat it,” said Dallas May, whose family ranches 15,000 acres north of Lamar. May also is on the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District board.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Water Quality Division, which tests Lower Arkansas water a few times a year, classifies most of the river below Pueblo Reservoir as not supporting drinking water or “aquatic life use.”
The classification calls the Lower Arkansas suitable for “warm-water aquatic life” and recreation. The state did not respond to requests for more detailed assessments of Lower Arkansas water health.
Asked if state efforts were improving water quality on the Arkansas, a spokesperson said in an email, “Trend studies require extensive data over a significant period of time. The water quality in watersheds is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including precipitation and weather trends that can highly influence the water quality from year to year.”
Some Lower Arkansas farmers and officials are tired of waiting. They see the problem getting worse as, for instance, Aurora takes more water out of Otero County, “What happens is all of the bad things are concentrated into what is left,” May said, “and that is a huge problem.”
Silence at the state level?
The Colorado Water Conservation Board spent years writing the statewide Water Plan, convening forums and task forces, and conducting listening sessions on the tensions between city water needs and the survival of agricultural communities. They say they are concerned about new city water buys, but add they have no authority to influence any deals because water rights are private property rights and can be bought and sold at will.
The board declined an interview request about Aurora’s water purchase or the broader water use questions.
“The Colorado Water Plan sets a vision for meeting the state’s future water needs and was broadly supported by local communities,” Russ Sands, the board’s water supply planning chief, said in email responses to questions. “But the decisions that happen in local communities regarding their water purchases and planning are largely outside of the state’s control. Accountability for staying true to the vision of the Water Plan is a collective responsibility.”
The loss of irrigated farmland isn’t expected to slow anytime soon as climate change dries up streams and population growth drives cities to buy more. The Colorado Water Plan’s forecast shows the population of the Arkansas River Basin, which includes Colorado Springs and Pueblo, surging more than 60% by 2050, increasing the pressure to tap farm water.
Sakata, the state water policy advisor, who farms near Brighton, said protecting the state’s irrigated farmland will take more work. “We can’t just say lease the water for three out of 10 years. We need to have agreements so that water sharing will be really available.”
As an onion grower, Sakata can’t do interruptible water supply agreements because he has long-standing yearly agreements with suppliers that require him to deliver vegetables. If he fallows his land for a year, the money he would likely be paid wouldn’t be enough to compensate him for the loss of onion sales and the need to support his employees during the break.
Farm research scientist Cabot would like to see the state begin buying irrigated farms, using conservation easements to protect them from development or purchase, and then leasing that land and its water to young growers.
What else state leaders can do to preserve what’s left of Colorado’s irrigated land isn’t clear yet, but Alan Ward, a Pueblo native who is also director of water resources for the Pueblo Water, said the state needs to reexamine its policies and goals.
“There is only so much water available, and I don’t think it’s realistic for the state to continue to think that we can control our urban areas and grow them fast without impacting agriculture.”
Clarifying that he was speaking as a private individual, rather than a water official, he said, “I’d rather have the farms continue and not have the urban growth, but I am
probably in the minority on that.”
Where does the battle flow next?
Water veterans such as Cabot said the state is likely doing everything it can right now to protect irrigated ag lands. But like Sakata, he says more work needs to be done to shore up farm markets and to create easier, more lucrative water sharing arrangements.
“I don’t want to oversimplify this,” Cabot said, “but the simplest way for cities to get this water is to go to farmers and say ‘How much did you make last year?’ and then offer them 10% more. … These are not just fields. They are farm enterprises.”
Kate Greenberg, Colorado’s agriculture commissioner, is overseeing multimilliondollar efforts to protect farm lands by improving soil health, solving market challenges and making farm water use more efficient. She says the people of Colorado are on board with her agency’s efforts.
“We did a study last year that showed over 98% of Coloradans believe agriculture is an integral part of our state. If we’re taking water out of agriculture, where are we putting it to beneficial use?
“Are we conserving it to grow urban developments and do we want to see that over preserving agriculture and biodiversity. We need to answer that question as a state.”
Bartolo, the retired CSU researcher, hopes the answer comes soon, before any more of the valley water is siphoned off for urban use.
As news of the deals spreads, Bartolo’s sense of deja vu is growing and his fears for the future of the valley’s irrigated ag lands is growing too. No one knows yet what will happen when Aurora’s contract to use the Fryingpan-Ark to deliver water expires in 2047.
“Having lived through it in my lifetime, I have seen the drastic changes,” Bartolo said.
What worries him, and other growers too, is “what happens if they come back after 2047? What happens then?”
The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization that covers Colorado people, places and issues. To sign up for free newsletters, subscribe or learn more, visit ColoradoSun.com
Here’s to the last 85 years and the brilliant future we’ll create together. We’ve evolved, but our dedication to powering progress and making connections that contribute to a stronger tomorrow remains unwavering. We’re here for tomorrow - we’re here for good.
www.unitedpower.com
75th Annual Northeast Weld County Fair & Rodeo Pictures
by Lost creek Guide, Photographer Pat Lentell
Tanya Wahlert To see over 600 additional 75th Annual Northeast Weld County Fair & Rodeo Pictures Go to ourtowncolorado.com: go to Pawnee ByPass: go to either Briggsdale, Grover or New Raymer news/events. It’s FREE! Enjoy!
Letter to the Editor:
Thanks to friends, neighbors, and businesses from Northeastern Colorado, Southeastern Wyoming and Western Nebraska the 101st Earl Anderson Memorial Rodeo in Grover, Colo., was a success. The EAMR officially kicked off on Friday, June 14, with the steer roping and timed event slack followed by the annual Father’s Day weekend Professional Rodeo Cowboys and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association performances, a parade, and church service. Over 250 contestants from North Dakota, Texas, Arizona, Washington, Hawaii, and even one from Pennsylvania competed in the arena south of the water tower. Arkansas breakaway roper Ari-Anna Flynn claimed this year’s title while roping against nearly 60 other women including local favorites from Wiggins, Kersey, and Grover.
A renowned Mountain States Circuit rodeo, the contestant list was heavy with Colorado and Wyoming names and past champions. Speaking of champions, Riley Pruitt of Nebraska, the 2016 average winner at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), won the tie-down roping event followed by young standout Cason Kingsbury of Orchard, Colorado. Spectators were able to watch several other standout cowboys and cowgirls from near and far. JC Yeahquo, North Dakota, and six-time NFR qualifier Buddy Hawkins II, Texas, won the team roping. Although he didn’t cash in at Grover, Keenesburg steer wrestler Gage Hesse knocked them out at the Circuit Finals and proceeded to place second in the average at the NFR Open in July. College age competitors have double incentive to enter the EAMR as each year a $1,000 college scholarship is awarded to the student-contestant who wins the most money in their respective event(s).
A much-welcomed rain shower Saturday didn’t deter the crowd’s enthusiasm and sunny skies prevailed the rest of the weekend as they watched competitors in other standard events such as the bareback and saddle bronc riding, bull riding, and barrel racing. Kids calf riding, local team roping, and the wild horse race are crowd favorite specialty events added into the performances. The Grover Community Club who hosts this historic rodeo on the plains of Colorado would like to once again thank all those who support this endeavor and help to keep the tradition alive.
WIGGINS SCHOOL DISTRICT 50J AUGUST NEWS
GOOD PEOPLE OF TIGER NATION: August 2024
Welcome Back, As we begin the 24-25 school year, we are excited to see all of your smiling faces and eager minds.
We want to welcome all of the new students and families to the district. In Wiggins we take pride in our close-knit campus where everyone recognizes one another and supports one another. This year we will continue to build on that spirit and community, helping one another to reach their absolute potential.
No matter if you are walking into the school for the first time or are a returning student, remember that this school year is just beginning and it is full of opportunities. Opportunities to learn new things, join new clubs, take part in new activities, and make new relationships. Every day brings new experiences. Staff encourages you to take advantage of everything Wiggins has to offer.
Over the summer the district replaced all HVAC units on the Event Center. Each unit was 22 years old and at the end of their life. The district also filled in all of the potholes and cracks from Tiger Way through the secondary parking lot, and North to 4th.
The website has also been updated and has an App that is available. To download the App go to the bottom of our website and click on the box that applies to you under Download our App. This App will keep you up to date with all of our pertinent information from each school.
Our teachers, staff, and administrators are here to support you every step of the way. We believe in each and every one of you and are committed to helping you achieve. Here is to a great 2024-2025 School year!
Monthly Expenditures for July
General Fund
$1,811,414.88 Pre-School $2,777,927.08
Project
Fund
$38,194.89
$29,406.61
Total $6,548,023.29 Activity Account $19,358.87
Plan Ahead To Call Before You Dig
by Morgan County Rural Electric Association
Digging without locating underground utilities could leave neighborhoods in the dark, cause thousands of dollars in damages, or cause severe electrical shock. This is true regardless of how much area your project will cover or whether you consider the job to be large or small. To help stay safe, make use of the national underground utility locating service for free by calling 8-1-1.
The 8-1-1 “Call Before You Dig” number will route you to your local utility locating service. Make sure to tell the operator where and when you plan to dig and what type of work you will be doing. From there, it takes a few business days for a professional to come mark your public utilities with flags or spray paint.
There are different colors of paint and flags that mark the underground utilities, and each color is universal to what utility is buried.
• Red – Electric
• Orange – Communications, Telephone/CATV
• Blue – Potable Water
• Green – Sewer/Drainage
• Yellow – Gas/Petroleum Pipe Line
• Purple – Reclaimed Water
• White – Premark site of intended excavation
Even if you previously had utilities located by calling 8-1-1, it is best to call before every digging project. Underground utilities can shift, and it is important to be certain of where they are before ever putting a shovel in the ground.
It is important to understand that 8-1-1 locators do not locate privately installed facilities. If you have any private utilities, you will need to hire a private utility locator. Some examples of private utilities include: underground sprinkler system, invisible fences, data communication systems, private water systems, or gas piping to a garage.
Once all of your underground utilities have been located, it is time to start digging, but be sure to wear all of the proper protective gear before putting the shovel in the dirt.
For more information about 8-1-1 and digging safety, visit www.colorado811.org.
Sterling and Fort Morgan Walks to End Alzheimer’s: A Community United for a Cure
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating condition that affects millions of families worldwide, and in our local communities of Sterling and Fort Morgan, the impact is deeply felt. However, hope and solidarity shine brightly through the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, organized by the Alzheimer’s Association. This year, the Sterling and Fort Morgan walks promise to be more inspiring and impactful than ever, bringing together individuals, families, and businesses in a united effort to combat this relentless disease.
The Walk: More Than Just a Stroll
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is not just a fundraising event; it’s a movement. Participants from all walks of life come together, donning purple shirts and carrying flowers that represent their personal connection to the cause. Each flower tells a story—of someone living with the disease, someone who has lost a loved one, a caregiver providing relentless support, or a supporter of the cause. This poignant display of unity and hope is a powerful reminder that, as a community, we stand stronger together. The funds raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s are crucial in supporting the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission. These funds help provide care and support for families affected by Alzheimer’s, drive research toward treatment and a cure, and advocate for public policies that enhance the quality of life for those living with the disease.
Sterling Walk: A Beacon of Hope
The Sterling Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place on August 14th at the Logan County Courthouse. The event kicks off at 9:00 AM with an opening ceremony, followed by the walk at 10:00 AM. The Logan County Courthouse will be transformed into a vibrant hub of activity, with local businesses setting up booths, healthcare providers offering resources, and a DJ ensuring a lively atmosphere.
The walk is not just about physical activity but also about raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Last year, the Sterling community raised an impressive amount, and this year, the goal is to surpass that, further contributing to the fight against Alzheimer’s. To register your team for the Sterling walk, visit act.alz.org/ sterling.
Fort Morgan Walk: A Tradition of Support
In Fort Morgan, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is scheduled for September 21st at Glenn Miller Park. Breakfast and registration will begin at 8:30 AM, with the opening ceremony and the walk starting at 9:30 AM. Glenn Miller Park will be a sea of purple as participants gather to show their commitment to ending Alzheimer’s.
Fort Morgan’s walk is known for its strong community involvement. Local businesses and organizations come together, forming teams and competing in friendly fundraising challenges. The sense of camaraderie and shared purpose is palpable, making the event a cornerstone of the community’s annual calendar. To register for the Fort Morgan walk, visit act.alz.org/fortmorgan.
For more information and to register for the Sterling and Fort Morgan Walks to End Alzheimer’s, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at www.alz.org/walk.
Armstrong: Colorado Voters Repudiate Party Extremists
By Ari Armstrong, Complete Colorado Page 2
The big primary election news for Republicans is that Jeff Crank bent Dave Williams over his knee in the 5th Congressional District and delivered a well-deserved spanking.
Williams, who as chair of the state GOP oversaw the spending of $20,000 of party funds on his own campaign, recently sent out hateful messages encouraging people to burn all Pride flags. Then he went crying onto the show of his friend Joe Oltmann, who once “joked” that Jared Polis, the governor of Colorado, should be executed. Voters weren’t laughing.
Meanwhile, Democratic voters also got fed up with the crazies in their ranks. Remember the two teachers who pushed a measure through Colorado’s largest teachers’ union condemning capitalism? One of those teachers, Tim Hernández, also has called for a “forceful cultural revolution” against “whiteness,” promoted the ideals of Marx and Lenin, and apologized for not initially condemning Hamas’s brutal terrorism in Israel. Hernández, appointed to his legislative seat by a small band of party insiders, lost his primary.
The other capitalism-hating teacher, Bryan Lindstrom, who once said that “gangs are the response to racist capitalism and can be good,” also lost his primary.
Finally, Elisabeth Epps, another Democratic Socialist who once proclaimed “from the river to the sea,” a phrase suggesting that Jews be driven from Israel, lost her primary as well.
It would seem that many Colorado voters are tired of the nonsense from both major parties and ready to return to something resembling sanity.
Boebert wins with minority support
Surprising no one, Lauren “Carpetbagger” Boebert handily won the primary in her new 4th Congressional District after torching Republican chances in her old 3rd Congressional District on her way out the door.
Jeff Hurd won the 3rd CD Republican primary in an effort to replace Boebert, but Democrat Adam Frisch has raised tons of money thanks to Boebert’s shenanigans. Boebert almost certainly will win her new seat in Congress, but she might do it by sacrificing her old seat to the Democrats. We’ll see if Hurd is up for the challenge.
The election conspiracy monger Ron Hanks came in a distant second to Hurd. Slimy Democratic ads attempting to boost Hanks, because he would have been a weaker opponent in the general election, seem not to have worked.
Kyle Clark blamed Boebert’s five challengers for not coalescing behind a single alternative. To me, the problem is with our stupid system of voting that allows a candidate to win with minority support. If we had approval voting to allow voters to vote for as many candidates as they want, people could have in effect voted “anyone but Boebert.” Boebert probably still would have won in such a system, but we’ll never know for sure, because in our system voters cannot well-express their preferences when more than two candidates appear on the ballot.
State board of education races
New charter schools may be in for a rougher time given that teachers’ union pet Kathy Gebhardt beat Marisol Rodriguez in a Board of Education primary. But, even though a pro-charter group spent big money on Rodriquez, Gebhardt told the Denver Post that she supports school choice. I’ll believe it when I see it.
It appears that former GOP chair Kristi Burton Brown has won her primary for a Board of Education seat. Generally I disagree with Brown on social issues—she first made a name for herself trying to outlaw abortion in Colorado—but, after watching the majority of the Board denigrate parent-directed education, I think I will deeply enjoy watching Brown push back. Don’t worry; I’ll criticize Brown when I think she deserves it.
Low voter turnout
As I’ve mentioned, I returned a blank primary ballot (okay, I wrote a snarky note at the bottom) because most of the races were uncontested, and I didn’t much like any of the candidates in the contested races. The general problem is that state government favors political parties by giving them special ballot access and even subsidies for their primary elections. Gross.
Apparently plenty of other voters are equally disgusted by our lack of genuinely democratic primaries. The Colorado Secretary of State predicted especially low voter turnout. Again, we need equal ballot-access rules for all comers, regardless of party, an end to government-run party primaries, and approval voting.
A ballot tweak
A potential problem with returning a blank ballot is that an unscrupulous election worker could mark the ballot for me.
There’s an easy fix: For each candidate, put a “yes” or “no” on the ballot. If a voter does not mark anything, that’s the same as marking “no.” If I mark “no,” there’s no way someone else could mark “yes” and get away with it.
Notice that this ballot set-up would work perfectly with approval voting.
Another advantage to this yes/no voting is that voting “no” across the board would be the equivalent of voting “none of the above.”
We have work to do in making our elections more genuinely democratic. For now, though, I’m pleased that Colorado voters mostly have shown the crazies the door.
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. com.
Ben’s Brick Oven Pizza To Be Featured On America’s Best Restaurants
HUDSON, CO: – Local restaurant Ben’s Brick Oven Pizza will be hosting a visit from America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) in mid-August 2024.
America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently-owned restaurants, will bring its ABR Roadshow to the restaurant on August 19th . Popular dishes will be highlighted, along with an extensive on-camera interview with owner Ben Skoglund about the restaurant’s special place in the community. The episode will be aired extensively on social media channels at a later date.
Ben’s Brick Oven Pizza, a local culinary gem, will be featured on America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) as part of their ABR Roadshow. The national media and marketing company, dedicated to spotlighting independentlyowned restaurants, will visit the Hudson establishment on August 19th.
During the visit, ABR will highlight some of Ben’s Brick Oven Pizza’s most popular dishes and conduct an in-depth, on-camera interview with owner Ben Skoglund. The interview will focus on the restaurant’s unique role within the Hudson community. The episode will be widely shared across social media channels at a later date.
Originally a pharmacist in Kansas City, Ben Skoglund was inspired to fill a gap in Hudson’s culinary scene after hearing his family and community express their desire for a local pizza place. In 2015, Ben moved to Hudson and, with the support of his parents, Mark and Lori Skoglund, opened Ben’s Brick Oven Pizza the following year.
The restaurant offers an extensive menu featuring a variety of pizzas, calzones, pasta, salads, appetizers, and desserts, all served in a cozy, rustic setting where the brick oven takes center stage.
There are notable parallels between Ben’s previous career and his current one. As a pharmacist, building relationships within the community was central, and similar fulfillment has been found in the role of a pizzaiolo. It’s about connecting with people, mentoring young employees, and making a positive impact, albeit in a different way.
Ben’s Brick Oven Pizza has garnered numerous accolades, including the Tripadvisor Best Pizza Award, Restaurant Guru’s Best Pizza in the City, and recognition as one of Colorado’s Best Pizzas by The Washington Post.
The mission of Ben’s Brick Oven Pizza is simple: to serve top-quality pizza at an affordable price, with a commitment to excellence and no shortcuts.
Filming for America’s Best Restaurants will take place on Monday, August 19th, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM MST. Members of the press are invited to attend. The episode’s premiere date will be announced on the restaurant’s Facebook page and featured on the America’s Best Restaurants website.
Restaurants featured on the ABR Roadshow are chosen based on customer reviews, menu offerings, social media presence, and community engagement. Selections are made through customer nominations, internal review, or by application at www.americasbestrestaurants.com.
See Additional Brush 2024 July 4th Events Pictures at www.ourtowncolorado.com:
Go to I-76; Go to Brush; Go to News/Events 2024: Brush Parade – 222 pictures; Brush Rodeo – 206 Pictures; CASE Western Art Show – 263 pictures; Brush Quilters Show – 12 pictures Brush Lion’s Club Breakfast – 10 Pictures No paywall – it is free! Enjoy!
.22 Rifle and Pistol Results from Morgan County Fair 4-H Shooting Sports Contests
Thirty-Two Morgan County 4-H shooters gathered for their County Fair 4-H .22 rifle shoot on July 13, at Muir Springs. Individual champions and place finishers were determined in all .22 rifle shooting classes, and the .22 pistol discipline. The shoot also determined who the county representatives will be at the Colorado 4-H State Shooting Sports Championships in August.
Shooters were grouped as juniors (ages 8-13) and seniors (ages 14-18). A total of four different shooting classes were available at both the junior and senior levels. The top six participants in each class will comprise the Morgan County team in that class at the 4-H State Shoot. Should a participant elect to not participate in the state event, the next highest scoring participant will be asked to join the team in that discipline.
Top finishers in junior 3 Position were; 1) Saxson Keller, 2) Kaine Eicher, 3) Fowler Farnam, 4) Gavyn Larrick, and 5) Danica Bledsoe. Senior 3 Position finishers were; 1) Soul Keller, 2) Ben Werner, 3) Sateen Keller, 4) Chad Schilling, and 5) Arisa Eicher. Junior 4 Position Sporter winners were; 1) Saxson Keller, 2) Kaine Eicher, 3) Fowler Farnam, 4) Eli Williams, 5) Gavyn Larrick and 6) Aubrey Cordes. Danica Bledsoe also competed in the Junior 4 Position Sporter Class. Senior 4 Position Sporter finishers were; 1) Soul Keller, 2) Ben Werner, 3) Sateen Keller, 4) Arisa Eicher, 5) Chad Schilling, and 6) Elijah Butler.
Hunt Class junior champions were; 1) Saxson Keller, 2) Kaine Eicher, 3) Eli Williams, 4) Olivia Meusborn, 5) Aubrey Cordes, and 6) Greysen Reed. Other participants in the Hunt Class were Fowler Farnam, Wesson Farnik, Skylar Foster, Erica Hess, Gavyn Larrick, Raylan Neal, Annabelle Ramos, Gabrielle Ramos, Jaxson Stevens, Eli Thiel, and Averie Williams. Hunt class senior champions were; 1) Ben Werner, 2) Soul Keller, 3) Chad Schilling, 4) Rylee Stevens, 5) Wyatt Gorrell and 6) Jasmine Brindisi. Also competing in the senior hunt class was Arisa Eicher.
Scope Rifle junior winners were; 1) Saxson Keller, 2) Kaine Eicher, 3) Eli Williams, 4) Layne Steinman, 5) Gavyn Larrick, and 6) Baern Sweigert. Danica Bledsoe, Aubrey Cordes, Jacob Kral, Greysen Reed and Jaxson Stevens also participated. Senior Scope Rifle Champions were: 1) Rylee Stevens, 2) Ben Werner, 3) Sateen Keller, 4) Jasmine Brindisi, 5) Chad Schilling, and 6) Arisa Eicher. Also participating was Soul Keller. .22 Pistol was also held on July 13 with 11 participants competing. In the Junior Division the top finishers were 1) Kaine Eicher, 2) Eli Williams, 3) Bentley Larrick, 4) Raylan Neal 5) Abby Ramirex, and 6) Averie Williams. Senior member placings include 1) Chad Schilling, 2) Shylynn Larrick, 3) Ben Werner, 4) Arisa Eicher, and 5) Rylan Schreiner. 4-H .22 Rifle coaches are, DJ Eicher, Alison Gorrell, Stephaine Johnson, Janet Larrick, Justin Lowe, Laurie Mielke, and Danielle and Jeremy Williams. 4-H .22 Pistol Coaches are DJ Eicher, Alison Gorrell, Andy Larrick, and Danielle and Jeremy Williams. These coaches are volunteers through Morgan County 4-H, and dedicate many hours to teaching the youth that are involved in Morgan County 4-H Shooting Sports. Andy and Janet Larrick are the scoring superintendents.
Youth received their awards at the Shooting Sports Banquet on Tuesday, July 16 at the Mark Arndt Event Center at the Morgan County Fairgrounds
Air Rifle and Air Pistol Results from Morgan County Fair Shoots
and Bentley Larrick. Senior 4 Position Sporter finishers were; 1) Rylee Stevens, 2) Sateen Keller, 3) Tate Oliver, 4) Shylynn Larrick, 5) Chad Schilling, and 6) Elizabeth Whitney. Also competing for the seniors was Arisa Eicher, Wyatt Gorrell, and Soul Keller. Olympic Offhand junior champions were; 1) Kaine Eicher, 2) Saxson Keller, 3) Eli Williams, 4) Fowler Farnam, 5) Jaxson Stevens, and 6) Bentley Larrick. Danica Bledsoe also competed for the juniors. Olympic Offhand senior champions were; 1) Sateen Keller, 2) Rylee Stevens, 3) Soul Keller, 4) Chad Schilling, 5) Arisa Eicher, and 6) Shylynn Larrick. Wyatt Gorrell also competed in the Olympic offhand class.
Air Rifle Utility Class junior winners were; 1) Saxson Keller, 2) Kaine Eicher, 3) Jaelyn Olivere, 4) Erica Hess, 5) Bentley Larrick, and 6) Zeke Amen. Danica Bledsoe, Jacob Clark, Fowler Farnam, Hattie Hannan, Gabriel Higgins, Gavyn Larrick, Delaynie Piper, Jaxson Stevens, Seth Whitney, Averie Williams and Eli Williams also shot at the junior level. Senior Air Rifle Utility champions were; 1) Soul Keller, 2) Chad Schilling, 3) Rylee Stevens, 4) Shylynn Larrick, 5) Arisa Eicher, and 6) Wyatt Gorrell. Elijah Butler also competed in utility for the seniors.
An air pistol shoot was held in conjunction with the air rifle contest, junior winners were; 1) Kaine Eicher, 2) Raylan Neal, 3) Eli Williams, 4) Jerod Sandeen, 5) Hattie Hannan, and 6) Gabriel Higgins. Fowler Farnam, Liam Higgins, Bentley Larrick, Gavyn Larrick, and Averie Williams also competed with the juniors. Senior air pistol champions were 1) Wiley Eicher 2) Chad Schilling, 3) Arisa Eicher, 4) Rylan Schreiner, 5) Shylynn Larrick and 6) Rylee Stevens. Tate Oliver also competed in this division.
4-H Air Rifle coaches are DJ Eicher, Alison Gorrell, Stephaine Johnson, Janet Larrick, Justin Lowe, and Danielle and Jeremy Williams. 4-H Air Pistol Coaches are DJ Eicher, Alison Gorrell, Andy Larrick, and Danielle and Jeremy Williams. These coaches are volunteers through Morgan County 4-H, and dedicate many hours to teaching the youth that are involved in Morgan County 4-H Shooting Sports. Andy and Janet Larrick are the scoring superintendents.
More information regarding involvement of youth in air rifle and air pistol may be obtained by contacting the Morgan County Extension Office at (970)542-3540.
For full Morgan County Fair results go to: www.morganextension.colostate/morgan-county-fair
Twenty-seven Morgan County 4-H members gathered for their County Fair air rifle and air pistol shoot on July 14, at the Morgan County Fairgrounds Multi-purpose Building. Individual champions and place finishers were determined in all air rifle and air pistol shooting disciplines. The shoot also determined who the county representatives would be at the Colorado State 4-H Shooting Championships in August in Pueblo.
Participants were grouped as juniors (ages 8-13) and seniors (ages 14-18). A total of four different air rifle shooting classes were available at both the junior and senior levels. A single contest was held in air pistol shooting. The top six participants in each class will comprise the Morgan County team in that class at the state shoot. Should a participant elect to not participate in the state event, the next highest scoring shooter will be asked to join the team in that discipline.
Top finishers in junior 3 Position were; 1) Saxson Keller, 2) Kaine Eicher, 3) Bentley Larrick, 4) Eli Williams, 5) Erica Hess, and 6) Gavyn Larrick. Danica Bledsoe, Jacob Clark, Fowler Farnam, and Jaxson Stevens also competed for the juniors. Senior 3 Position International finishers were; 1) Soul Keller, 2) Rylee Stevens, 3) Sateen Keller, 4) Chad Schilling, 5) Shylynn Larrick, and 6) Arisa Eicher. Junior 4 Position Sporter winners were; 1) Saxson Keller, 2) Kaine Eicher, 3) Jaelyn Olivere, 4) Eli Williams 5) Jaxson Stevens, and 6) Gavyn Larrick. Also competing for the juniors was Danica Bledsoe, Jacob Clark, Fowler Farnam, Waylon Hannan, Erica Hess,
Morgan County Junior and Senior 4-H .22 Rifle shooting sports members and coaches prior to beginning the 2024 Morgan County Fair .22 Rifle Shoot.
Morgan County Junior and Senior 4-H Air Rifle and Air Pistol shooting sports members and coaches prior to beginning the 2024 Morgan County Fair Shoot.
Senior .22 Pistol Members during the contest for the 2024 Morgan County Fair.
4-H Members competing during the 2024 Morgan County Fair .22 Rifle Shoot.
Lost creek Guide, Photographer Pat Lentell
Morgan County 4-H Fashion Revue: Lights,
Camera, Fashion
Monday, July 22ND the Morgan County Fair Fashion Revue had a Fashion Premier, where various youth competed in Creative and Constructed Clothing categories. Evy Lozier and Elizabeth Whitney both participated in Constructed Clothing. Evy Lozier received Grand Champion and Elizabeth Whitney took Reserve Grand Champion. Kimber Heid, Kaitlyn Kral, Madison Kral, and Evy Lozier all participated in Creative Clothing where Kimber Heid was selected for Grand Champion and Madison Kral was Reserve Grand Champion.
Evy Lozier opened up the evening by taking us back to the good ole days. She wore a sunflower smock style cover up pattern from 1977 with tie closures on the sides. The fabrics she used this year were 100% gauze sunflower fabric and 100% cotton denim. Evy was Champion of the Junior Constructed Clothing class and overall Constructed Clothing Grand Champion.
Elizabeth Whitney was the second participant to show off her outfit. For her Heritage Arts project, she chose a skirt pattern called the Coquelicot because she really liked the 10 inch pockets and the adjustable waistband. She wove the fabric on a rigid heddle loom and used the Paton’s Classic Wool in colors winter white and natural gray. Elizabeth received Champion in the Senior Constructed Clothing class and overall Reserve Grand Champion for Constructed Clothing.
Kimber Heid opened up the Creative Clothing portion of the evening in her anime jacket. She upcycled a jacket by dying it purple and then drawing an anime character on the back. By doing this, she was able to incorporate her love of the Visual Arts project. She learned how to make her painting proportionally fit on her jacket. Kimber was the Senior Creative Clothing Champion and the overall Creative Clothing Grand Champion.
Next up was Kaitlyn Kral who showed off her upcycled denim jacket and shorts combo. Her love of dogs inspired her jacket, which had iron on paw prints on the collar and dog face on the pocket. She also ironed on a paw print to her shorts to tie the outfit together. In addition, she tie-dyed a t-shirt to wear under the jacket in case the weather is warm. Kaitlyn was Reserve Champion in the Junior Constructed Clothing class.
Madison Kral upcycled her outfit using gymnastics themed iron-ons on the pocket of her denim jacket, the front of her shorts, and on her tie-dyed shirt. Her shirt also had iron-ons of a rainbow and the quote “Just a girl who loves gymnastics.” Finding all of these gymnastics themed iron-ons was worth the challenge because she can now show off her love for the sport. Madison was the Junior Creative Clothing Champion and the overall Creative Clothing Reserve Grand Champion.
The final outfit of the evening was Evy Lozier’s Star themed denim vest paired with pink pants. She chose to cut out different sized stars out of old lace shirts and sew them in layers onto the back and front yoke of the vest. Many of the shirts she used were her great grandmothers and she sewed them with her grandma. She is going to love wearing this new outfit at school in the fall!
Unit Champions were:
Junior Constructed Clothing: Evy Lozier
Senior Constructed Clothing: Elizabeth Whitney
Junior Creative Clothing: Madison Kral
Senior Creative Clothing: Kimber Heid
Cloverbud 4-H Members showed decorated t-shirts that they made at a workshop earlier in July. This year they decorated their t-shirts by drawing on the shirt in permanent marker, then using rubbing alcohol to make the colors bleed. They also made fun shaped glasses to hold during the program and Hollywood Walk of Fame stars to decorate the stage. Cloverbuds that participated were Anthony Lookingbill, Joe Lookingbill, Lincoln Lozier, and Anna Walter.
The emcee for the evening was Cora Leora. Fashion Revue Superintendents making the show a success were Kathy Wood, Cora Leora and Jennifer Rhode. Dana Hanson also assists with securing the location and running sound through the contest.
Muzzleloader Shoot Held, Morgan Pre-County Fair Events Continue
Kaine Eicher and Ben Werner captured the first-place awards in the junior and senior divisions at the 2024 Morgan County Fair 4-H Muzzleloader Shoot. Eight youth competed in the contest that was held on Friday, July 13. The contest requires 4-H members to shoot a total of 15 shots, five at targets shaped like bottles, five at bullseye targets, and five at a metal gong.
Placings in the junior division were 1) Kaine Eicher, 2) Saxson Keller, 3) Eli Williams, and 4) Bentley Larrick.
Placings in the senior division were 1) Ben Werner, 2) Chad Schilling, 3) Arisa Eicher, and 4) Shylynn Larrick.
Superintendents for the muzzleloader shoot were DJ Eicher and Andy Larrick. All coaches for 4-H Shooting Sports are volunteers through Morgan County 4-H, are trained by individuals with Colorado 4-H using a nationally approved curriculum. The season runs from around April- August, and the coaches spend an average of four hours a month teaching the youth in this discipline. All muzzleloader practices and contest are held at Muir Springs.
All members who participated in the Muzzleloader contest qualified for the Colorado State 4-H Muzzleloader shoot which will be held in Pueblo on August 17 and 18, 2024. Shooting Sports awards were presented at an awards dinner on Tuesday, July 16 at the Mark Arndt Event Center at the Morgan County Fairgrounds.
Morgan County 4-H Shooting Sports
Overall Champions Named
Junior and Senior Grand Champion 4-H Shooter Awards were presented on Tuesday, July 16 at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Brush.
During the Awards Presentation the grand champion overall shooters were announced. Chad Schilling and Saxson Keller were named the Grand Champion Overall Shooters for senior and junior divisions, respectively. Chad Schilling’s senior plaque was sponsored by Engle Construction, Denny and Sandy Engle. Jon and Cheryl Flair, sponsored the junior award that was given to Saxson Keller. To qualify for awards, youth must shoot in a minimum of three divisions and complete a record book.
Schilling competed in .22 Rifle, Air Rifle, .22 Pistol, Air Pistol, Shotgun, and muzzleloading. Keller competed in .22 Rifle, Air Rifle, Muzzleloading, and Shotgun.
Junior Reserve Grand Champion was Kaine Eicher, and Senior Reserve Grand Champion Shooter was Soul Keller.
During the awards presentation, Outstanding Participant awards were awarded to a youth within each of the disciplines. These youth were nominated by their peers for going above and beyond in the respective disciplines, being a leader for others, and showing good sportsmanship. The winners of these awards were .22 Rifle – Kaine Eicher; .22 Pistol – Shylynn Larrick; Air Pistol – Chad Schilling; Air Rifle – Sateen Keller; Archery – Cole Koch; Muzzleloading –Ben Werner; and Shotgun – Damon Lucero.
Youth are now preparing for the state competition which will be held over two different weekends during the Colorado State Fair.
to: www.morganextension.colostate/morgan-county-fair
Junior and Senior Muzzleloader competitors prior to the 2023 Morgan County Fair 4-H Muzzleloader Shoot.
Junior Champion Kaine Eicher during the 2024 Morgan County Fair 4-H Muzzleloader Shoot.
Senior Champion Ben Werner during the 2024 Morgan County Fair 4-H Muzzleloader Shoot.
Junior and Senior Overall Grand Champions and Reserve Grand Champions from the 2024 Morgan County Fair.
Morgan County Archery Shoot Held on Sunday
In a very competitive archery shoot, 38 youth competed to capture their place on the Morgan County 4-H Archery Team who will compete at the State 4-H Shooting Sports Contests in August. It was held at the Morgan County Fairgrounds on Sunday, July 14, 2024. Youth have participated in practices held by certified 4-H archery instructors for the past three months in preparation for the County Fair shoot.
In the junior recurve traditional, Hudson Blake placed 1st; Jacob Whitney, 2nd; Bentley Larrick, 3rd; and Gavyn Larrick, 4th. Elizabeth Whitney placed 1st in senior recurve traditional.
Erica Hess was first in the junior archery compound traditional class. Faith Dalrymple placed 2nd; Ella Farnik, 3rd; Wesson Farnik, 4th; Maura Walter, 5th; and Waylon Hannan, 6th. Other youth participating were Nathaniel Bridges, Hattie Hannan, Jaxson Stevens, and Logan Weiderspon. Cole Koch won the senior division in compound traditional. Wyatt Gorrell placed 2nd; Lilyana Bridges, 3rd; and Piper Neal, 4th.
The junior archery compound limited competition was led by Cason Tow, followed by Seth Whitney, 2nd; Evan Ewertz, 3rd; Raylan Neal, 4th; Greysen Reed, 5th; and Teagan Clark, 6th. Also competing as a junior was Eddie Arndt, Hadley Martens, Tucker Martens, Cora Paris, Greysen Reed, and Gunnar Yocam. For the senior age group in archery compound limited, Wyatt Chacon came in 1st; Kirstin Powell, 2nd; Ceri Dixon, 3rd; Dillon Curtis, 4th; Rylee Stevens, 5th; and Anna Werner, 6th. Aiden Deiker and Mikaela Thiel also competed with the seniors.
Superintendents for the archery shoot were Dale Chacon, Levi Dixon, Stephanie Johnson, Chad and Katie Lorenzini, Justin Lowe, Paul Oliveira, Stefani Oliveira, and Janie Whitney.
For full Morgan County Fair results go to: www.morganextension.colostate/morgan-county-fair
Jonathan Hoffman of Grover, Colorado went to be with the Lord on August 7, 2024, at the age of 18. He was born in Greeley, Colorado on January 4, 2006, to Eric and Bobbi (Magnuson) Hoffman of Grover, Colorado. He lived in Grover for the first twelve years of his life and then lived on the family ranch southeast of Grover until his passing.
He grew up ranching and farming in the Grover and Briggsdale area. He loved tractors, old cars, and pickups. He was always good for a lesson about anything with an engine.
He was a caring, fun-loving young man who would always go out of his way to help someone in need. He loved God, his family, and his friends with a passion like no other. He had a love for all animals . . . dogs, cats, cows. His favorite things to do were to work on vehicles and tractors, the ranch, his uncle’s farm, helping family and friends, fishing, shooting sports, and video games with his friends.
He is preceded in death by his great grandparents, his grandparents Bill and Evelyn Hoffman, and great uncle Gene Hahn, along with several cousins.
Survivors are his parents, his sister Shelby Hoffman (Grover, CO), his grandparents Bob and Kathy Magnuson (Wood Lake, NE), his Uncle Rich and Aunt Magen Magnuson (Wood Lake, NE), his Aunt Amy and Uncle Bryan Hogsett (Eaton, CO), his cousins Emily Hogsett and Jimmy Beamon (Eaton, CO), Devin Hogsett (Eaton, CO), McKinley and Catherine Magnuson (Wood Lake, NE), his special great Uncle Rick and great Aunt Patti Cass (Briggsdale, CO), many more great aunts and uncles and cousins, and many friends.
His memorial service was held on Friday, August 16th at 10:00 a.m. at Pawnee School in Grover, Colorado. His ashes will be spread on the family ranch at a later date.
Morgan County Junior and Senior 4-H Archery shooting sports members and coaches prior to beginning the 2024 Morgan County Fair Archery Shoot.
Two Junior members competing during the 2024 Morgan County Fair Archery Shoot.
Two Senior members competing during the 2024 Morgan County Fair Archery Shoot.
Jonathan Hoffman
- Obituaries -
Christi (Rhoades) Boettcher
Christi Boettcher, a beloved Brush elementary music teacher, went to heaven on July 9, 2024. Christi was at home when she passed away. On February 1 – prior to the start of the school day – Christi collapsed from an unexpected heart attack. Christi spent five months in hospitals, during which time pastors, family, friends, colleagues, and students loved Christi through prayers –hoping for an earthly miracle.
Christi Lynn (Rhoades) Boettcher was born on March 20, 1975, in Sterling, Colorado to Merle and Lynda Rhoades. She grew up in Fort Morgan, Colorado and graduated from Fort Morgan High School in 1993. In high school, Christi played the violin and sang in Morgan High Singers. She was selected to participate in the UNC Honor Orchestra and was given the Fort Morgan High School Outstanding Orchestra Award. Christi attended Chadron State College where she sang in both jazz and concert choirs. She also played her violin in the college musicals. She played the keyboard at services for the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and started playing the piano in church services, an activity that she did through the rest of her life.
Growing up in the Fort Morgan Church of the Nazarene, Christi and her sister Lyndell sang, played their instruments, and participated in Bible Quizzing, Vacation Bible School, camps, and Sunday School. Both Christi and Lyndell attended the National Youth Congress. These activities were passed on to Christi’s children, Katie and Caleb. Last summer Christi chaperoned her two children along with other youths to the National Youth Congress in Tampa, Florida. While playing for a wedding in 1999, she was reacquainted with Greg Boettcher – a childhood friend from her 2nd grade Sunday School class. They married a year later on June 17, 2000. Greg and Christi were married for 24 years and cherished each year.
Christi taught second grade at Holyoke Elementary for 2 years following college. After she and Greg married, they moved to Morgan County where she taught second and fifth grades in Brush, before becoming an elementary music teacher, a position she held for 17 years. Christi emphasized the music standards set by the Colorado Department of Education. Christi received her Master’s of Music Degree from the University of Northern Colorado.
After getting married, Christi became involved with the Brush Church of the Nazarene teaching Sunday School, serving as Sunday School Superintendent, serving as Director for the summer Talent Camp, leading Bible studies, and serving on the church board. Playing the keyboard and violin, as well as singing with the worship team, were special weekly activities in Christi’s life.
Christi leaves to mourn her husband, Greg Boettcher; her two teenage children, Katie and Caleb; her parents, Merle and Lynda Rhoades; her sister and brother-in-law, Lyndell and David Bohl; her niece and nephew, Lydia and Ethan; her mother in-law, Sandy Howard; her husband’s grandparents, Keith and Julia Kelley; all of Morgan County, She is also is survived by her father- and mother in-law, Mike and Gladys Boettcher of Amarillo, Texas; her Uncle Dennis and Aunt Reba Rhoades of Harrison, Arkansas; her Uncle Mark and Aunt Susan Simons of Colorado Springs; and her Uncle Mike Simons of Weldona. Christi had a tight-knit family of uncles, aunts, cousins, and in-laws. She is also survived by special friends that she met while teaching in Holyoke, Bob and Lisa Tisher and family, who now reside in Thornton. Lisa was like a sister and spent many hours with Christi during the last five months of Christi’s life. Christi was preceded in death by her grandparents, Carol and Treba Simons; Lewis and Clara Rhoades; her father-in-law, Glenn Howard; and several uncles, aunts, and cousins. Christi is leaving behind many friends, especially those in the church and school. The worship team, along with Pastor Rick Davis and his wife Sandy, have stood beside her from the beginning of her illness until her passing. Brush School RE-2 administrators, teachers, and staff have supported the family throughout Christi’s time of suffering.
A memorial service was held at the Brush Church of the Nazarene, located at 26150 US Hwy 34 west of Brush, Colorado on Thursday, July 25 at 10:30 A.M. Rowanoak Mortuary in Fort Morgan is assisting with funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Brush Church of the Nazarene building fund in memory of Christi Boettcher. The service will be live streamed on https://www. youtube.com/@brushnazarene8718
Maria “Mary” (Schweitzer) Jurgensmeier
Maria “Mary” (Schweitzer) Jurgensmeier was born on 12/30/1945 in Wels, Austria, during her parents’ refugee status after fleeing the genocide that began in Yugoslavia in 1944. She grew up in Kirchdorff an der Krems, where she found all kinds of adventures with her village playmates. She told many stories of their forays into mischief with her as the leader.
In 1952, when she was just six years old, the family immigrated to the United States with the assistance of the National Catholic Welfare Council. NCWC arranged sponsors, and the family located in Keenesburg, CO. Her father farmed and ran a dairy there until his death in 1990. In the US, her name was Americanized to Mary, and she was sent to public school. She quickly learned English and excelled in her studies. She loved school; learning and teaching would be a passion her entire life.
She graduated high school in 1964 and attended UNC, but without financial aid, she had to suspend her studies and began working in banking. She married Ronald Jurgensmeier on November 20, 1965, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Roggen, CO. They had two children, Shari born in 1967 and Gary born in 1968. She was known for her bread baking and cinnamon rolls when she was a homemaker during the early years of her children’s lives.
In 1968, she went back into the workforce as a banker, and she had a career that spanned 20 years until she was able to return to college to finish her degree and enter the teaching profession. She got her Bachelor of Arts degree from UNC in 1990 and, in 1997, got her Master of Arts degree from the University of Phoenix. She was a beloved teacher at schools in District RE-3J, District 6, and St. Mary’s Catholic School from 1990-2008. Many times, previous students or parents would approach her while she was out on the town and tell her how much they appreciated her and the difference she had made in their lives. She especially loved teaching 8th graders and found their transitions from kids to young adults gratifying and, many times, quite entertaining.
From 2008 to 2011, she was part-time at St. Mary’s Catholic School. From 20112015, she found great joy teaching international students and ESL at Aim Community College & University of Northern Colorado. She retired from teaching in 2017 but continued to tutor from her home.
She was a volunteer with St. Peter’s Church for many years. She served in a number of ministries, including funeral ministry. She enjoyed playing cards and would substitute for pinochle players at the senior center and host games at her home frequently. She was an avid traveler and loved to see the world. She traveled with family, with college friends, with travel groups, and enjoyed so many destinations. She loved to learn about the history, the culture, and the people. She was able to see China, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Canada, the South Pacific, and many locations across the US.
She peacefully passed to heaven on July 7, 2024. She is preceded in death by her parents, Valentin & Elizabeth (Koch) Schweitzer, and a brother, Josef Schweitzer. She is survived by her husband: Ronald Jurgensmeier, sisters: Katharina Washburn, Elizabeth (Kenny) Frazier, and brothers: John (Marge) Schweitzer, Anton (Leslie) Schweitzer, Michael Schweitzer, children: Shari (Kent) Meyer, Gary (Tina) Jurgensmeier, grandchildren: Kayla (Mykel) Walsh, Carly (Trent) Sieg, Kaci (Ira) Smith-Lopez, Celis (Jordan) Santistevan, and six great-grandchildren.
Catholic Mass intentions will be held for Mary on 7/20/24-9am, 8/17/24-9am, 11/1/24-7am at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 915 12th St, Greeley, CO 80631. In addition, Guardian Angels Mead, 109 3rd St, Mead, CO 80542, will have mass intentions for Mary on 10/26/24-5:00pm. The family will be hosting a celebration of life for Mary upon her return from Science Care. Join Ron & Shari at 3819 W 16 Street Drive, Greeley, CO, anytime from 1-4pm on August 17 for a time of celebration & remembrance.
Roggen Telephone Cooperative Company Capital Credit Notice
In accordance with the bylaws of Roggen Telephone Cooperative Company, this is to give notice that the following members who had telephone service prior to and including 1998, have unclaimed capital credits due them. In some cases, the capital credit check was not cashed or was returned. For information, call our office at 303-849-5260, or send your new address to: Roggen Telephone Cooperative Company, PO Box 100, Roggen, CO, 80652 or email roggen@rtebb.net. If the following former member’s payment is not claimed by December 31, 2027, such failure shall constitute an irrevocable assignment and gift by such member or former member of such Capital Credits to the Roggen Telephone Cooperative Company. Lois Bartlett Dan Klausner Estate of Agnes Blick Elizabeth Whitfield William Buchholz Frank & Dorothy Smith If the following former member’s payment is not claimed by December 31, 2028, such failure shall constitute an irrevocable assignment and gift by such member or former member of such Capital Credits to the Roggen Telephone Cooperative Company. Raul Martinez Roy Brown Sheleste Grauberger George McAlear Reyes Hernandez Andres Castillo Baldomero Pinon Michael Reid Samuel Martinez Bertha Linnebur Eduardo Ceballos Karen Fischer Norma Miller Jimmy Nichols Gina & Jeremy Bittner Jesus & Barbara Fernandez Jonathan Guilbert Myron Moore Tri Valley Gas Co Anne Seyfried Gary Novotny Glen Vanselow Terry Foster Neal & Kelly Ehlers Sylvia Castaneda Jason & Angela Kimball Carolyn Zimbelman Philip McHenry Ross Seyfried E1 Cattle Company
Computer Support
R epai R , S e R vice & S ale S Reliable, Local, Professional Roggen Telephone Company 303-849-5260
McCarthy Trucking
Recycled asphalt, concrete Great for driveways & parking areas. Also sand & gravel. Reasonable Prices Call Kevin for free quote 303-901-5034
SE Weld Jr. Fair and Rodeo 2024 Pictures by Lost creek Guide, Photographer Pat Lentell
