Fort Lupton Press 012722

FORT LUPTON PRESS S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 19 0 6

VOLUME 119

WEEK OF JANUARY 27, 2022

‘Personal choices’ behind surge in traffic deaths

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 , 2020

VOLUME 117

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ISSUE 4

ISSUE 48

THE SEASON FOR SHARING

Officials study statewide increase, with total for 2021 likely to top 700

BY PAOLO ZIALCITA CPR NEWS

Preliminary data from the Colorado Department of Transportation shows 672 people died on Colorado roads in 2021, the state’s most since 2002.

That number is expected to exceed 700 once final tallies come in, according to Colorado State Patrol chief Matthew Packard. During a Jan. 19 press conference announcing the record, Packard urged people to take personal responsibility for reducing traffic deaths. He said too many people get behind the wheel while impaired, or are distracted when on the road.

Soldiers from Colorado Army National Guard Company B, First Battalion start searching for their personal items after getting “It’s appalling to me to think that off their bus home in Fort Lupton Jan. 21. See more photos page 3. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD that many people senselessly lose their lives in something that we do every day,” Packard said.

Overall, the state has seen a 50 percent increase in traffic deaths since 2011, and deaths on Colorado roadways increased by 8 percent Health and Environment is requir- told council. “We’re not outpricing last year compared to 2020. The earBY STEVE SMITH ourselves. We are covering ouring cities, including Fort Lupton, ly count shows 432 crashes involved SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM selves.” to decrease the amount of phospeople in cars and trucks, while 145 phorus and nitrogen in its wastewere motorcycle or bicycle riders.

Fort Lupton City Council thinks Sketch plan revisions water plants.

In addition, 87 pedestrians were U.S. Highway 85 is the best route Council also approved a change In other business, the council killed by incoming traffic. to transport materials once the in sketch plans for the Cottonwood also unanimously approved a $500 mandatory wastewater treatment Colorado Springs and greater Greens development near Ninth increase in residential tap fees and improvements begin.

El Paso County had the most road Street and Weld County Road 31. sewer tap fees.

The vote was unanimous during fatalities in the state last year, with Planner Alyssa Knutson said the Staff notes said the increase was a business meeting Jan. 18.

77. Denver reported 65 fatal crashes addition brings in a new parcel of Roy Vestal, public works director, necessary because of an anticipatduring the same period. land – a bit more than 156 acres – ed need to expand water and sewer said U.S.85 was “the most benefiPolice officials from around the on the southern end of the developcial and the least impactful” after a plants over the next 20 years. The state said they plan to expand ment. When built out, there will be city pegged that work at $76 milcost analysis. enforcement in areas with a dis410 single-family detached homes lion, according to staff notes. The “We will save $5 million” by proportionate share of fatalities.

Every year before Thanksgiving, First United Methodist Church in Fort Lupton and the Fort Lupton Food and Clothingand Bank provide community 137 single-family attached new residential water tap fee is using US 85 “instead of going out But they argued during Tuesday’s members with food boxes.

This will be the program’s 10th consecutive year.

Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert Changeneighbor4 Change, clubhouse, $8,000 per tap. Sewer fees increased units, plus awith to (Weld County) Road 23, Vestal briefing that a systemic crackdown hood dog park, pocket parks and to $10,000. said. drive.

“The next to walk on trafficorganization safety is not that the solution. another helps with the food See step moreison Page the 2. trails, according to staff notes.

“We are running barely above route.”

SEE TRAFFIC, P8 The vote was unanimous. the ranks of our neighbors,” Vestal The Colorado Department of

Council OKs ‘best route’ for wastewater work

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January 27, 2022

Our Family Helping Your Family

24-Hour Phone Lines 303-654-0112 • 303-857-2290 Brighton: 75 S. 13th Avenue Obituaries, Arrangements and Resources Online at

taborfuneralhome.com

LAUER

SUPPES

Robert “Bob” Lauer

July 29, 1940 - January 9, 2022

Robert “Bob” Lauer of Brighton, Colo., was born July 29, 1940, to Florence and Martin Lauer in a home just five doors north of his lifelong home on South 9th Street. He passed away on January 9, 2022.

He was the middle of three children.

His elder sister, Joann Watts preceded him in death in 2005; his younger brother, Tommy, passed in 1991.

Bob returned to Brighton and his grocery roots where he became as dedicated an employee as Safeway ever saw. Outside of work, he pursued his love for drag racing. He sped to a national title and even announced races. In 1969, meeting a blue-eyed blonde named Lori Schreibvogel stopped him in his tracks. He left a dance at the Big A without her contact information, but being resourceful, he tracked down her Aunt Betty.

Just a year later, the couple wed in Las Vegas on April 11, 1970. Not long after, Lori told him to choose between her and driving drag cars. He announced races from then on.

Norbert “Sonny” Suppes April 6, 1932 - January 7, 2022

The couple received their first gift from God on November 14, 1970, a blue-eyed girl they named Wendy.

Daughter Robin followed two years later on October 29, 1972. Bob loved to joke that he was surrounded by so many women, that even the family dog was a girl.

Bob turned down offers to announce drag races professionally, worried that such a job couldn’t support a family, but that wasn’t Bob was a proud Brighton Bulldog. He the only opportunity he left on the table, attended Brighton Schools and his class was consistently putting his family above all else. the first class of sophomores in the “new” high school building. He enthusiastically told He continued at Safeway where he was a store manager and “cleaner,” sent to stores that stories of those days, most memorably one of were in trouble and needed put in order. He young boys squeezing bullets in a vice grip, another of setting fire to the town’s discarded was with Safeway for over 20 years followed by his own store, the Village Market. A family Christmas tree pile, and one of filling a affair from the start, he then moved into food teacher’s basement with live geese. brokerage. Lori traveled with him to different Always a hard worker, Bob was a jack of all stores and he loved the work. He worked trades who shined shoes, delivered a paper later as a construction supervisor for his sons route, and worked at Oakner’s Grocery. He saved enough to buy the living room furniture in law. When that work ended, his Lauer Krauts career began. Bob drove the food in their family home, working and hustling truck and was the all around, go-to guy for enough that his income rivaled what his dad the restaurant. earned at Kuner’s.

In the spring of 1959, he and his first and best buddy Emmett Formby left for the Army. It was there he learned life lessons, like not returning to the barracks drunk. Doing so, he found out, resulted in cleaning the grease trap in the blazing sun with a hang over. He also learned how to use an automatic potato peeler, and just how long to leave the potatoes in the peeler before they became potato pebbles. It was in the service he saw Ray Charles perform, back before he was famous.

allieventcenter.com

He and Lori’s first grandson, Deiter, was born in 2000, followed ten years later by Max. He relished having two grandsons after a lifetime surrounded by women. He was gifted another grandson, Roman, when Robin and David we’d in 1999. Always proud of his family, there’s little doubt that he’s in Heaven bragging about his boys.

Known also as Paxton, Lieutenant, Riley, Lauer, Lover, Daddy, and Papa, Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings. He is survived by his wife Lori; daughters Wendy (Roberto Leyva) Meija and Robin (David) Trujillo; grandsons Roman Lopez, Deiter Leyva, and Max Trujillo.

Services honoring Bob were on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, with viewing at 10:00 a.m., rosary recited at 11:00 a.m., and Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11:30 a.m., all at St. Augustine Catholic Church, in Brighton, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the American Diabetes Association.

On January 7, 2022, Norbert “Sonny” Suppes went to join the Lord peacefully. Sonny Suppes was born April 6, 1932 in Loretta, Kansas, the son of John Suppes and Martina (Schoenberger) Suppes. Sonny’s education was in the Brighton school district.

Sonny worked in the meatpacking industry until his retirement in 1982. On August 29, 1959 in Brighton, Colorado, Sonny Suppes married Charlene Ann Riedel and have been married for 62 years. Both were longtime residents of the Brighton community.

CO, Louise Kois of Brighton, CO, Genevieve Pillion fromof Hartford, CT, Joseph Suppes of Brighton, CO, Julitta Knox of Thornton, CO, Dorothy Brown of Northglenn, CO, Georgina Kanzler of La Salle, CO, Mary Jane Younger of Brighton, CO and is survived by Georgina Isaac of Louisville, KY.

Sonny loved his polka music and would always be in the mood for some good accordion and triangle. He also loved to play his scratch tickets and loved playing bingo every Friday night. He was an avid Broncos fan and was up for camping and fishing during the summer. Sonny had an amazing sense of humor and will be missed.

Sonny is survived by wife, Charlene (Riedel) Suppes; sons, Adam Urban of Vancouver, WA, Delbert Suppes of Brighton, CO, Christopher (Shannon) Suppes of Brighton, CO; and daughter, Sharon (Duane) Garbett of Aurora, CO. Sonny is also a grandfather to: Jason Urban, Brandy Urban, Dewey Garbett, Mark Garbett, Brianna Dolittle, Ashley Garbett, Ryan Suppes and Shelly Garbett; great grandfather to 17; as well as, survived by numerous nieces, nephews and multiple god-children.

Sonny was preceded in death by his siblings, William Suppes of Kansas City, MO, Elanor Urban of Hays, KS, Mary Suppes of Liebenthal, KS, Leo Suppes of Brighton,

Services were at Tabor Funeral Home in Brighton, CO on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 11:00 am. A reception followed the service at the family home in Brighton, CO.

Memory

Tabor Funeral Home, in Brighton, CO handled arrangements.

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January 27, 2022

Welcoming Company “B” back to Fort Lupton 130 soldiers returned home from the Horn of Africa

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The community of Fort Lupton lined up on a cold winter snowy day waving flags, cheering, and honking the horns to welcome home 130 Colorado Army National Guard Company B “Battle” 1st Battalion 157th Infantry Regiment back home on Friday, Jan. 21.

“They are my heroes! Anybody who serves their country deserves respect. Welcome home!,” said Fort Lupton Mayor Zo Stieber.

The Company B “Battle” 1st Battalion 157th Infantry deployed about 130 soldiers to the Horn of Africa almost a year ago, on March 6. After such a long deployment, all 130 came home, arriving on three buses to where they are based. Most live in the surrounding areas.

“They were there in March to perform pre-mobilization training then traveled to the Horn of Africa,” said Staff Sargent Connor Burnett with the Battle Company 1-157 unit administrator at the Fort Lupton Colorado National Guard Armory.

“Their mission was providing security forces at Camp Lemonnier Djibouti, Africa which is a much larger base. I think it’s great that all of them came back and performed their mission well.”

The Horn of Africa is in the eastern region of Africa with countries Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

Solomon and his wife April Mondragon drove from Alamosa to welcome their son Andreas,on one of the arriving buses, back home.

“We have our son Andres back. It’s been one heck of a ride for us. We’ve been holding down the fort. It’s been a hard time, but we’re so excited that he’s back home and he’s safe,” said Solomon Mondragon.

Company “B” soldiers getting off the bus to check-in at the readiness center.

Gabe Evans, a former UH-60 Blackhawk pilot with Colorado National Guard and is now running for Colorado House District 48 also was there with his son to welcome Company B back home.

“Welcome back to Company B! I know what it’s like to be deployed, and I know what it’s like to come home. I’ll never forget this day,” said Evans.

“My little boy was 18 months old when I came home, and I can remember every minute of it. I just wanted to make sure that we show these guys the same honor that was showed to me when I came back and they were all here with flags flying.”

As the soldiers got off the bus they started to look for their duffle bags of personal PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD items.

Company “B” soldiers got off the bus and checking in at the Colorado National Guard Armory readiness center.

Do you need help paying your uilities this winter? Colorado’s Lowincome Energy Assistance Program or LEAP may be for you. LEAP helps Colorado families, individuals, older adults and those with a disability to pay a part of their winter home heating costs.

www.UnitedWay-Weld.org/LEAPON 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435)

4 Fort Lupton Press

January 27, 2022 Owner Robin LaBarbera of Copper Kettle Kitchen next to her wall of art of the individual bricks that are painted by the community. PHOTO

BY BELEN WARD

TUCSON SOUTH

Restaurant pledges its bricks to local food bank Writing is on the wall as Copper Kettle Kitchen gets decorated

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

VISIT OUR UPDATED WEBSITE tucsonsouthmineproject.com

The website is regularly updated with project information including pre-mining construction activities.

Have questions or need assistance, please call the construction hotline at (303) 716-5220 You can also reach us at tucsonsouthproject@gmail.com

Copper Kettle Kitchen owner Robin Labarbera wanted a way to help feed Fort Lupton residents, and she found a way – one brick at a time.

“We sell each brick for $10.00 and all the proceeds go to the Fort Lupton Food and Clothing Bank. We don’t keep anything,” said LaBarbera.

LaBarbera opened her brick-andmortar restaurant in Nov. 2020, paying special attention to brick walls that surround the dining room. She decided instead of putting up art pieces, she’d invite the community

of Fort Lupton to buy a brick and paint personalized artwork.

Since then, she has sold numerous bricks and made over $2,000 to donate to the food bank. Now, her walls are covered with colorful art and still have lots of space in the restaurant for more art.

“It’s a win-win for both of us, and I get to have a piece of the community, and they get to be a piece of me as well as helping the food bank,” she said.

LaBarbera is hosting a raffle for a couple of months to win one of the unique clocks on the wall. If interested in showing your artistic skills contact the restaurant.

“We’re humbled and honored to have Copper Kettle raise money for us to help us meet some of the costs that we can’t ordinarily meet so we’re very grateful to them,” said Linda Hunt, Executive Director, Food and Clothing Bank.

Council breaks open the check book Fitness park, water project and sewer service get city benefit

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fort Lupton City Council spent some money at its Jan. 18 business meeting.

Council voted 7-0 to approve a $25,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign for a new fitness park at Railroad Park, across the street from the city’s recreation center. Council also approved the purchase and installation of the court.

The price tag is $115,000, though the grant from the fitness campaign will cut that cost some.

Council also approved payment of no more than $66,112 from the water sales tax fund for this year’s Windy Gap Firming Assessment. The money goes to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.

According toits website, the Windy Gap project is supposed to provide a more reliable water source for the Front Range and the Western Slope.

Staff notes said the district settled a lawsuit against the project for a total of $15 million. In exchange, project supporters agreed to address concerns about water quality and

impacts on the area’s ecology.

That sum will be paid out in intervals corresponding to specified milestones in dam construction, staff notes said. The first installment – $5 million –is due this year.

Staff notes said the city of Fort Lupton has almost 1,200 units of Windy Gap Firming, which makes the city’s assessment liability a bit more than $66,000.

Council’s vote was unanimous.

One more approval Council also approved a service agreement with Rodolfo Melendez and Hilda Manzo for sanitary sewer service in the 1400 block of 14th Street. The pair purchased the property and built a new home. Even though the home is in Weld County, the couple wanted a sanitary sewer service connection to the city’s mains east of the home.

The agreement includes a 5-year payment plan of monthly installments with the service billing. The rate is $158.33. The city also charged a $38.75 monthly flat charge without a water meter connection Council’s vote was unanimous.

Historic Appointment Council also approved a resolution to reappoint Ginny White to the city’s historic preservation board.

Her three-year term expires Jan. 18, 2025.

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LOCAL

January 27, 2022

VOICES

Take the win, celebrate the victory

C

ongratulations! You have made it through the first 30 days of the year and have conquered all your goals and objectives, you have lived up to WINNING each resolution and WORDS commitment made on New Year’s Eve, and you have made all the desired and even necessary changes to help you achieve success.

Wait, that’s not you? Are you kidding me? Don’t Michael Norton sweat it, it’s not me either and I would venture say the larger population is in the same boat. But wait, there’s more. There are still reasons to celebrate as we still have 11 more months ahead of us as we put this one into the rearview mirror.

One of the best ways to reignite the flame is to celebrate the little wins along the way. Those small achievements and positive disciplines that are repeated daily are what will lead us to the long-term

realization of our dreams. So don’t quit. Don’t give up. Instead find the smallest victory and celebrate it.

Now imagine what it could look like if we just made a little more progress this month. What would the next level of success feel like? Take in the moment and bring your future success into the present, right into the reading of this column.

Achievement of worthy goals takes work, commitment, and belief.

There is a Navy Seal quote that reads, “The only easy day was yesterday.” And when it comes to breaking bad habits, creating new and better habits, or impacting change, it’s been said that the only thing harder than the first 30 days is the next 30 days. Some will point to this as the very reason to stop. People who are willing to put in the work, and who are committed, and who believe that their intended goal or dream is still the target, they use these types of motivating statements as fuel.

What are we really talking about here? We are only one month into our 2022 journey, with 11 times more opportunity in front of us than behind us. And for those of you

who are totally committed, tracking nicely towards your dreams, keep it going, you are an inspiration to the rest of us.

Last year I wrote a column titled, “The 60 to 60 Success Plan.” In this column I talked about turning 60 years old, and how I wanted to arrive at that age mentally, physically, and spiritually. I talked about some of the changes I needed to make, knowing that once I put it all out there, I would never be able to take it back. This level of accountability through transparency was important to achieve my goals. Earlier this month, I hit my 60th birthday, and through starts, stops, starts, re-starts, effort, commitment, and belief, I achieved what I had set out to achieve.

Here’s what was on my list of change and better habit building: 371 straight days of sobriety, 20 pounds of weight loss, 3 inches off the waistline, 42 books read, 60 new columns written and published, I wrote and published my first e-Book, 60 consecutive weeks of prayer, Bible study, and devotions, 400 straight days and counting of

praying with friends and family, greater endurance and strength as I have spent three to five days every week working out. Did I feel like giving up along the way? Several times.

Did I give up? Sometimes? Did I get back into the journey toward my goals and dreams? Every single time. The hills were hard to climb, but the view from the top has been fantastic.

The most important thing for me along the way was finding time to celebrate the little wins. Celebrating each small victory keeps me going as I am now onto this year’s goals.

How are you doing? Is your year off to a good start or do you need to find a little win to reignite the fire? I would love to hear your story at mnorton@tramazing.com, and when we remember to build upon the small victories that lead to lasting success, it really will be a better than good year.

Michael Norton is the grateful CEO of Tramazing.com, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.

Fix medical billing practices to fix healthcare

H

ealthcare in the United States is at a crossroads. Over the last couple of years, we’ve had to confront the gaps in our healthcare system due to the pandemic.

GUEST But due to reconCOLUMN ciliation, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make lasting changes that will positively impact millions of Americans.

As a trans man with chronic illnesses, my experience Kris Garcia with the American healthcare system has been fraught with challenges. Most recently, I underwent surgery and due to complications stemming from the surgery, I was saddled with a bill of $172,000.

Unfortunately, my story is all too common in Colorado.

Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcies in the United States, and in Colorado, medical debt affects people of color more than their White counterparts. In fact, 22 percent of Coloradans of color, twice the amount of White Coloradans, are facing debt-in-collection. Further-

more, 32.9 percent of African Americans and 21.7 percent of Hispanics have reported problems paying their medical bills.

What’s worse is that desperate Coloradans reported various ways to absolve their medical debt, which included taking out loans and going into credit card debt. A whopping 32.7 percent of Coloradans reported that they were unable to pay for basic necessities like food, heat and rent due to the financial burden that they were straddled with after receiving medical care.

I also live with chronic illnesses, all of which stem from hemophilia. Hemophilia is a rare disorder in which blood can’t clot properly due to a lack of clot-producing proteins. There are only a few ways to treat hemophilia, one of which includes receiving transfusions. Each infusion that I receive costs $40,000, and I need these infusions in addition to other medications every few months to manage my chronic illnesses. I work multiple jobs in order to cover my out-ofpocket medical costs, which often leads to my work hours being as high as 70-80 hours per week. And I know that I’m only one of several millions of Americans that are suffering from

the high cost of medical care.

A recent survey showed that 73 percent of Colorado voters said that the amount they pay for healthcare seems to be going up each year.

Furthermore, 61 percent of those voters said that they had at one time or another struggled to pay a medical bill even though they had insurance and 25 percent of those surveyed said that they actively have unpaid or past-due medical bills that they are having trouble paying off. A survey also showed that the majority of Coloradans agree that insurance deductibles should be low enough so that they don’t get in the way of the healthcare that patients need.

Despite the fact that Americans want affordable healthcare, insurance companies are set on lining their pockets. Accumulator adjustment programs are extremely prevalent in the American healthcare system; due to their prevalence, insurers save money by refusing to allow prescription drug coupons to count towards a person’s deductible.

That leaves millions of Americans with unexpected out-of-pocket costs when it comes to filling their prescription drugs. And if any of these Americans are like me, that could

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be deadly. When cost-sharing assistance provided on medications are not applied to insurance deductibles, the prevalence of high-deductible plans means that many patients like me could be asked to shoulder many thousands of dollars more and too many of us cannot afford to do so, even if our lives depend upon it.

It is far past the time to reform healthcare. We’re at a serious crossroads in our country’s history and we can make lasting healthcare reform that will lead to more compassion for all Americans suffering from chronic diseases or health crises. Our elected officials, beginning with Senator Bennet, need to come together to do what’s best for the American people and pass commonsense legislation that combats toxic billing practices in the reconciliation process.

Kris lives in Colorado with his wife and kids. Kris is active in pushing for change in his state and nationally, advocating for change in areas like paid family leave, LGBTQ rights, transgender and transition health care, and mental health and suicide. He is a board member of 9to5 Colorado.

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Harley Troyer Antique Barn @ 7am Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks De‐ partment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton.

303-857-4200

Buff Bones @ 6pm Feb 1st - Mar 1st Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Wed 2/02 Color Outside the Lines

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@ 1am Feb 2nd - Feb 1st Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

The Snow Queen

Destination World: Japan @ 4pm Anythink Wright Farms, 5877 East 120th Avenue, Thornton. mhibben @anythinklibraries.org, 303-4053200

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Sat 1/29 Wine Tasting @ 1am Jan 29th - Jan 28th Fort Lupton Community / Recreation Cen‐ ter, 203 S. Harrison Avenue, Fort Lupton.

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Family Fun Friday- Family Flix Encanto

Featured Condemned to Burn @ 7:30pm Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thornton

Sun 1/30 Adaptive Game Night @ 12am Jan 30th - Jan 29th Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

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8 Fort Lupton Press

January 27, 2022

State Legislature argues over Jan. 6, election integrity Democrats introduce resolution

BY ANDREW KENNEY CPR NEWS

When Colorado Democrats introduced a resolution to support their party’s national push for new voting rights laws, House Republicans responded with a mixed set of their own messages.

On one hand, Republican leaders accused Democrats of trying to relitigate the 2020 election for political purposes. On the other, some Republican rank-and-file representatives introduced amendments that again attempted to undermine the 2020 elections.

In a debate that lasted more than two hours, right-wing members of the House GOP caucus proposed a series of amendments to question the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s election; support Tina Peters, the Mesa County Clerk being investigated over a security breach in her office; and thank some of the people who marched on Washington, D.C. last January 6th.

“We all could agree — those that didn’t break the law, those who acted honorably, we should thank ‘em, even if we disagree with them,” said Rep. Dave Williams, arguing that protesters were exercising their First Amendment rights.

Williams’ amendment specifically mentioned Rep. Ron Hanks, who atPAID ADVERTISEMENT

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The Colorado state Capitol in Denver.

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tended the rally but says he did not participate in the Capitol breach.

The Republican amendments were doomed to fail, since Democrats control the chamber, and instead were meant to send a message. They won the backing of most but not all of the House Republicans.

One failed amendment would have flatly declared that the state legislature “call(s) into question the legitimacy of Joseph R. Biden to be President.” The various counter-proposals also called for more auditing of election results and the removal of dead voters from election rolls. Colorado already requires county clerks to conduct risk-limiting audits after each election, in which they check random paper ballots against the machine tallies.

The leader of the House Republicans, Rep. Hugh McKean, took a different approach from most of his caucus. While speaking

on the resolution, he underlined that Biden won the election, while arguing Democrats were unnecessarily drawing the state into federal politics.

“Our election systems here in Colorado work — let’s not turn how we run our elections in Colorado into yet another partisan issue,” he said.

Republicans also argued that the election laws being debated in Congress amount to a federal takeover of state election procedures.

Democrats said that the federal proposal was important because it responds to bills proposed in Colorado and elsewhere that would reduce polling sites, voting hours and mail-in voting.

The Democratic resolution reads, in part, that lawmakers “(o)ffer Colorado’s premier electoral system as a model for states across the country to adopt in order to increase voter participation while ensuring electoral integrity; and (call) on the

TRAFFIC

ture. A lot of it’s not about public transit. It is about a personal choice to run a red light.”

CDOT director of maintenance and operations John Lorme acknowledged asking Coloradans to be more careful does not guarantee change, but he reminded people worried about road safety that improving other transportation options would make residents less

FROM PAGE 1

“The causations we’ve talked about today that cause accidents, those are personal choices,” Colorado Springs Police Department chief Vincent Niski said. “It’s not infrastructure, a lot of it’s not infrastruc-

United States Congress… to protect the fundamental right to vote, which has been the cornerstone of our democracy since the founding of our republic.”

House Majority Leader Alec Garnett said the amendments from Republicans showed the need for federal action.

“Your ability to vote is under threat. Go pull those records of who voted for those amendments.

This couldn’t be more serious,” he said in a speech that at times had him shouting from the lectern.

The resolutions in support of the federal voting legislation passed in both chambers along largely party lines. Colorado’s U.S. Senators, Democrats John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, already support the bills up for debate.

This story is from CPR News, a nonprofit news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org. dependent on driving.

“CDOT knows that we can’t grow out of this problem,” he said. “One of the ways that we can [improve] is to increase transit availability to everybody within the state.”

This story is from CPR News, a nonprofit news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

TURN TO THE COLORADO SUN FOR NEWS ACROSS THE STATE The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our community — can better understand itself.

In this way, The Sun contributes to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado.

The Sun, launched in 2018, is committed to fact-based, in-depth and non-partisan journalism. It covers everything from politics and culture to the outdoor industry and education.

Now, The Colorado Sun co-owns this and other Colorado Community Media news-

papers as a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy. The Sun is CCM’s partner for statewide news.

For Colorado Sun stories, opinions and more, and to support The Sun’s misssion as a member or subscriber, visit coloradosun. com.

Fort Lupton Press 9

January 27, 2022

State consider bill on whether to let local public workers unionize Prospective bill could grant thousands more public employees a seat at the negotiating table

BY THY VO COLORADO SUN

A bill that would grant more public employees in Colorado the right to unionize is shaping up to be the next big labor fight at the state Capitol.

The proposal, sponsored by House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, a Pueblo Democrat, would allow people working for cities, counties, schools, public hospitals and other local government entities the right to collectively bargain.

It would be a major expansion of labor rights for those workers, who can currently form unions but don’t have negotiating power over their work conditions, unless they are recognized by voters or the organization they work for.

“We want to make sure it doesn’t matter where you live, you have the right to bargain,” Esgar said.

Although the measure has not been introduced and many details are still in flux, labor groups say it’s the last major piece in their long effort to expand collective bargaining for workers in Colorado. In 2020, Democratic lawmakers passed a measure allowing the union for nearly 28,000 state workers to collectively bargain. Labor advocates had another win last year when they passed a contentious law granting agricultural workers minimum wage, collective bargaining and other protections.

“This is the unfinished business of making sure all Coloradans have the freedom to join a union,” said Dennis Dougherty, executive director of the Colorado AFL-CIO. This year’s effort has garnered early opposition from conservatives and public sector groups, including the Colorado Municipal League, a powerful advocacy organization representing cities and towns that argues the measure would unconstitutionally infringe on local control.

“Local governments and their voters are fully equipped to be able to have the conversation locally and determine what’s appropriate,” said Kevin Bommer, the group’s executive director.

The conservative dark money nonprofit Advance Colorado Action says it will spend six figures on a direct mail and digital ad campaign against the measure, Gov. Jared Polis and Democratic lawmakers.

And Advance Colorado Institute, an affiliated nonprofit, says it will sue to overturn the proposal if it becomes law.

State Sen. Bob Gardner, a Colorado Springs Republican, argues that without limits on strikes, the measure would give public employees far too much power.

“It’s an extraordinary, unimaginable piece of leverage being handed to public employees,” Gardner said.

There’s another big hurdle for proponents of the bill: getting the governor’s approval. Polis doesn’t

support the bill “in its current form,” spokesman Conor Cahill said, though he did not cite any specific part of the bill.

“The governor was proud to sign legislation that provides the state workforce collective bargaining while striking a balance between collective bargaining and elected representation,” Cahill said in a statement. “The door is open to a much narrower legislation to expand collective bargaining and the governor hopes the advocates engage local governments more earlier in this process.”

A major expansion of the right to unionize The coronavirus pandemic highlighted how essential public workers are to society, said Esgar. And while there are already laws that give most private sector workers the right to organize and force their employers to the bargaining table, Coloradans working for local government, schools and public hospitals and universities don’t have that ability.

“Many everyday public heroes who take care of our kids, clear off roads and respond to emergencies, they don’t have collective bargaining rights,” Esgar said. “(This bill) gives us a huge opportunity to level that playing field and create equity and fairness for working families across the state.”

A number of local public workers have tried unsuccessfully in recent years to unionize under current law.

Last year, nurses and other workers at UCHealth and Denver Health tried to form a union, but their efforts weren’t recognized by their employers.

In Colorado Springs, voters turned down a 2019 ballot measure that would have amended the city’s charter to allow local firefighters to form a union.

In Denver, which allows collective bargaining by rank-and-file police and fire employees, efforts over the last two decades to bring a charter amendment granting bargaining rights to other city employees have failed.

Among Colorado’s 272 cities, just 16 currently allow some or all of their workers to unionize.

The forthcoming bill could grant more than 250,000 more public workers the right to collective bargaining, said Dougherty, the AFL-CIO president.

“You can have near-unanimous support for a union, go to a board and they can say, ‘We’re not interested,’” Dougherty said. “This should be a fundamental right.”

The proposal is the AFL-CIO’s No. 1 focus this session, Dougherty said.

It also comes after the union told Democratic lawmakers that it would suspend fundraising for Democratic legislative groups until May 2022 because their interests have been “excluded.”

The AFL-CIO is not basing its funding decisions on support for the bill, he said. But recent discussions with Democrats about working relationships have been productive and are “headed in a positive direction.”

Many details are still unclear This isn’t the first year lawmakers have mulled whether to expand the number of public employees who can unionize.

Lawmakers are seen at the Capitol’s House floor on Jan. 12, 2022 in Denver at the start PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN of Colorado’s General Assembly’s 2022 session.

Last year, a draft of a similar proposal allowing county and municipal workers to more easily collectively bargain was circulating ahead of the legislative session. But a bill was never introduced.

Esgar hopes to introduce her measure this year at the end of January.

But many policy details are still uncertain, said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat who is working on the legislation, too.

“There’s still a lot of conversation on what it is,” Fenberg said of the prospective measure. “Who it applies to, what exactly it is — it’s a little too soon to say. I think the caucuses generally want to do what they can to move collective bargaining rights forward for all employees, not just state workers.”

Many interest groups wait until a measure is introduced before taking any official positions. But the Colorado Municipal League said it’s likely to oppose the measure no matter what exemptions or carve-outs end up in the final text.

“It has little to do with whether or not there should be collective bargaining,” Bommer said, adding that the league has opposed past attempts by the legislature to ban public-sector collective bargaining on the same principle. “Employment matters at the local level should be a matter of home rule and local control.”

The group argues the soon-to-be measure would infringe on the constitutional right of cities that operate under “home rule” charters, which is nearly 100 Colorado cities and towns. The home-rule status gives the municipalities the right to self-govern in policy issues of “local concern.”

But if Democrats do decide to pursue the legislation, CML and Gardner said there should be limits placed on the ability of the affected workers to strike. The 2020 law allowing the state workers’ union to collectively bargain prohibits them from striking.

Gardner said he would advocate for the same prohibition under the new proposal to avoid employee groups “holding the state hostage” by disrupting government services.

“They would have extraordinary power, coupled with this right of concerted action … to just walk off the job of providing state services,” Gardner said.

According to the AFL-CIO, the latest draft of the prospective bill includes requirements that public safety workers – people working for law enforcement and fire departments – use arbitration to settle an impasse and prohibits them from striking. The draft bill wouldn’t otherwise limit strike activity.

“I wouldn’t say we’ve landed anywhere,” Fenberg said, but “everybody recognizes there are certain professions and certain lines of work that have to be there for public safety purposes.”

Proponents also dispute CML’s argument that requiring cities and towns to recognize employee unions would infringe on home rule, arguing the requirement would be similar to state laws governing anti-discrimination and worker’s compensation that apply to all municipalities.

Bommer also raised concerns that the proposal would affect existing bargaining agreements brokered by local governments or passed by their voters, and about language in earlier drafts that lay out specific requirements for the bargaining process.

Workers would still need to win the support of their coworkers to form a union and go through a negotiating process with their public employer, Esgar said.

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

10 Fort Lupton Press

January 27, 2022

Colo. wants more mental health providers for Medicaid patients But getting approved can take months

BY JENNIFER BROWN COLORADO SUN

Woodland Park psychologist Chris Estep spent decades helping foster children and Colorado prison inmates with mental health issues, so when he opened a private practice two years ago, he wanted to take patients on Medicaid across the eastern half of the state.

He’s still waiting for permission after filing an application 14 months ago.

Estep, one of the few licensed psychologists who performs mental health and cognitive evaluations for kids all the way up to older adults with dementia, is allowed to take Medicaid patients in just three counties, despite wanting to serve a much broader region that would include Sterling and Pueblo. As a result, he’s had to turn down patients, or take them without getting Medicaid reimbursement.

His frustration with Colorado’s mental health system for the needy – in which mental health professionals have to enroll not just at the state Medicaid department but also contract with regional agencies that serve as middlemen between the state and the providers – is echoed across the industry.

And the anger over the complicated and slow process is rising among mental health workers at the same time the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which oversees the Medicaid program, is touting a dramatic boost in providers who are accepting Medicaid patients. Increasing the number of providers has been a priority of Gov. Jared Polis’ administration in order to increase access to mental health care, and there is $24 million in federal coronavirus aid to put toward the effort.

But therapists, psychologists and others in private practice across the state are asking why – when the goal is to increase their numbers – is it so hard to get permission to join the Medicaid program? And they’re questioning whether the state’s numbers showing a surge in Medicaid providers are accurate.

“There are so many hurdles,” said Estep, who specializes in telehealth and wants to see patients in rural southeastern and northeastern Colorado. “It’s really disheartening.

And it doesn’t even have to be this way.”

The state Medicaid department said it increased the number of mental health providers accept-

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ing Medicaid to 8,371 at the end of 2021, up from 6,185 two years ago.

This is the number of individual people – not clinics or community mental health centers – who’ve been approved by a Regional Accountable Entity to receive Medicaid reimbursements. It’s a number tallied by an external agency, not the state.

The bump in providers is significant, but not enough to meet the need. During the coronavirus pandemic, Colorado has added about 350,000 people to the Medicaid program – and 30% of them are dealing with anxiety and other mental health issues, according to the department.

The first step for behavioral health professionals who want to take patients on Medicaid is to apply to the state department. The second is to submit paperwork to one or more of the seven regional entities that provide reimbursement.

It’s relatively easy, mental health professionals say, to enroll as a Medicaid provider with the state – but it typically takes months to get credentials from one of the state’s seven Regional Accountable Entities, called RAEs. A second tally by the Medicaid department tracks the number of clinics — from individual private practices to substance abuse clinics to community mental health centers with hundreds of professionals – that have enrolled in the state Medicaid program. This would include providers who enrolled with the Medicaid program but have yet to get approval from a regional agency to begin taking Medicaid patients.

The various numbers have led to criticism from mental health professionals and their advocates, who are casting doubt on whether the department knows the actual number of behavioral health providers who are currently seeing Medicaid patients. Ahead of this legislative session, they’ve fired off letters to state lawmakers asking for further review of the system.

State Medicaid officials acknowledge the way they’ve counted Medicaid providers – and their messaging around it – is confusing to the industry. One department memo, for example, included an erroneous calculation about the increase in providers. But the state argues that the numbers are correct.

“There are a lot of ways to count providers, which is why there is more than one number out there that we have used to count our progress,” said Cristen Bates, population health division director at the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

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The logo for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which administers Medicaid in the state, on a sign in the department’s offices on Feb. 26, 2019.

PHOTO BY JOHN INGOLD/ THE COLORADO SUN

tem, meaning the Medicaid program contracts with the regional agencies and gives them a lump sum to spend.

The contracts mandate that 85% of the funding is spent on patient care, while the other 15% can go toward administrative costs and services such as data-tracking for providers.

The regional entities get to decide which mental health providers to allow into the network, and they can reject providers based on complaints of poor service or if the region already has enough of that type of provider. The regional agencies also set reimbursement rates, and can base them on supply and demand.

In a joint effort, state Medicaid officials and the regional entities are working to increase the number of mental health and substance abuse providers in the government insurance program. The state created a “recruitment tool kit” and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies is about to send letters to psychologists, addiction professionals and others who aren’t taking Medicaid and ask them to sign up.

The regional entities, meanwhile, are offering incentives, such as signon bonuses, thanks to the federal coronavirus aid.

“In Colorado we know there is an issue with accessing behavioral health services,” Bates said. “We are hearing clearly from the community that there needs to be more access.”

But those who’ve waited months for Medicaid credentials say the state needs to put more focus on smoothing out that process.

It varies by region, but it typically takes two or three months for regional entities to provide those credentials, said Stephanie Farrell, CEO of Left Hand Management, which helps mental health providers with the process as well as billing issues between providers and the regional entities.

Beacon Health Options, which runs two of the seven regional entities, often takes 10-14 months to credential providers, including Estep, the Woodland Park psychologist, Farrell said.

“And that is with no mistakes along the way by either the provider or the RAE in a very fragmented credentialing process,” she said.

“Those providers cannot really do anything to improve access to care, so they should not be counted as enrolled.”

Beacon Health, which runs regions 2 and 4, did not return requests for comment from The Colorado Sun. In one case, Farrell said, a regional entity denied a behavioral health

professional who does neuropsychological testing for children on the autism spectrum, as well as counsels their families. The entity said it did not need any more providers of this type in the region, although Farrell said there is a severe shortage of such providers statewide. The decision is now on appeal, two years after the initial application.

A chart from the Colorado Health Institute’s 2021 Colorado Health Access Survey shows the increase in the percentage of people reporting eight or more days of poor mental health during the previous month.

(Provided by the Colorado Health Institute) Farrell said it’s likely that the state numbers of providers taking Medicaid are inflated because when providers stop taking Medicaid, they often don’t bother with the long, convoluted process of terminating their enrollment with the regional entities. Instead, they just stop taking Medicaid patients, she said.

In November, multiple mental health providers told The Sun they were dropping Medicaid after a months-long paperwork issue that resulted in one of the regional entities, Colorado Community Health Alliance, ordering providers to return reimbursements they had already received for providing treatment. The health alliance reversed course after reports in The Sun and 9News, and pressure from state policymakers.

For Estep, the delay in his credentialing process has him wondering about all the patients who aren’t getting help. His psychological evaluations, which measure IQ, cognitive function and mental disorders, help people determine a course of treatment. In 2019, he started a part-time private practice, and knew from the start that he wanted to serve the state’s neediest population – particularly because those he worked with while they were behind bars would likely qualify for Medicaid upon release from prison.

He is allowed to see Medicaid patients from El Paso, Teller and Park counties, but the need for his services extends much farther, Estep said.

“It’s so strange,” he said. “The whole thing is stupid.”

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

Fort Lupton Press 11

January 27, 2022

Colorado public schools enrollment declines Declining birth rates, coupled with COVID disruptions drives down numbers

BY ERICA BREUNLIN COLORADO SUN

Student enrollment has continued declining across Colorado public schools, with the state counting about 1,200 fewer students in kindergarten through 12th grade this fall than last year, when enrollment in preschool through high school plunged by about 30,000 students.

State officials largely attributed last year’s enrollment slump — which was the first of its kind reported in more than 30 years — to parents’ pandemic-driven decisions. Many held off on enrolling kids in preschool and kindergarten while other families switched to homeschooling or online education programs. And the Colorado Department of Education, which on Wednesday released enrollment numbers from a count conducted in October, expected that enrollment numbers would increase again within the next few years.

But the dip in K-12 students this year points to an underlying issue that has nothing to do with the pandemic: declining birth rates.

The drop in student count this year isn’t some kind of “COVID blip,” said Brian Eschbacher, a Denver-based independent education consultant who previously served as executive director of planning and enrollment for Denver Public Schools. Declining birth rates are having a trickle-down effect on K-12 enrollment, with education being “the first government institution that is going to feel the impacts of a shrinking country,” Eschbacher said.

“It is absolutely here and it is not going to get better and our school systems don’t know how to deal with it,” he said.

Declining numbers could spell financial trouble for some school districts, because district budgets are largely determined by pupil counts.

“The reality is fewer kids does equate to less funding in many cases,” said Kate Bartlett, executive director of school district operations for the state education department.

During fiscal year 2021, Colorado had 61,970 births, down about 9,000 from 2007, a peak year that saw 70,777 births, according to state demographer Elizabeth Garner. The decrease comes even though Colorado has more women of childbearing age, Garner said.Colorado districts across metro, suburban and rural communities showed enrollment declines, as did schools in cities and towns of all sizes across the country, Eschbacher said.

The state, which measures student enrollment in 178 school districts each year, tallied 855,482 K-12 students this year — down 1,174 students from fall 2020. DPS, Colorado’s largest school district, counted about 84,200 K-12 students this year,

down from 85,400 students last year.

DPS was already seeing enrollment decreasing, first at the elementary school level, which fed into a dip in middle school enrollment “in the last year or two,” said Liz Mendez, executive director of enrollment and campus planning for the district.

“We were already seeing a decline moving through our system based on population dynamic changes,” Mendez said, citing decreasing birth rates.

Soaring home prices in Denver are also factoring into the district’s enrollment downturn, she added.

“A lot of families have moved out of the Denver boundary because they can no longer afford housing,” Mendez said.

DPS officials anticipate that declining birth rates will continue to drive down enrollment in the future.

When asked about the decline in K-12 enrollment this school year, Bartlett, of the state education department pointed to increased mobility among students as one critical driver.

“There’s just a lot of variability and mobility within the system overall,” Bartlett said, citing students moving, switching school choices and the possibility of immigrant families returning to their home countries.

Future school enrollments could possibly swell depending on student numbers in preschool and kindergarten, particularly as the state expands its preschool program in fall 2023 and as it continues offering free, full-day kindergarten.

Enrollment in preschool and kindergarten this school year bucked the trend of K-12 enrollment, with preschool enrollment climbing by 4,478 students — a nearly 17% increase over last year. Schools are educating 3,868 more kindergarteners than they did last year, which amounts to a year-over-year increase of about 7%.

More students in those grades could translate to higher student counts in subsequent grades down the road.

Bartlett is encouraged by the boost in enrollment among Colorado’s youngest learners, particularly preschoolers.

“I am a huge believer in early childhood education,” she said, “and the more students we have engaged in the system earlier, the better outcomes I hope we can deliver for them.”

Eschbacher sees increases in preschool and kindergarten enrollment as modest after schools suffered the greatest enrollment losses in those grades last year. The state reported a 23.3% drop in preschool enrollment and a 9.1% decrease in kindergarten enrollment last year.

So many parents held back their 4and 5-year-olds amid the pandemic last year, he said, that “some percentage of them rejoined districts this year.”

Demographic shifts in schools could stem from state’s population changes With the spread of COVID, particularly the omicron variant, still challenging schools’ abilities to keep classes in person, the pandemic is also tamping down K-12 enrollment

Students sit for finals in a classroom at Options Secondary Program.

in Colorado.

The number of students opting for home-schooling this school year is 10,502, a third fewer than the 15,773 students home-schooled in fall 2020.

However, the number of homeschooled kids in the state remains much higher than the 7,880 kids who were home-schooled in 2019, before the pandemic. Many students are also choosing to learn through online educational programs — 31,382, compared with 32,034 who did their classes online last year, according to figures from the state education department.

Public school demographics are also shifting statewide, according to enrollment figures. The state’s population of Hispanic students enrolled in schools jumped by 4,357 students to 306,215 total. Meanwhile, fewer white students showed up to public schools this year, with 3,106 fewer students counted than last year. The state recorded 460,186 white students this school year.

Those shifts could be indicative of broader population changes in Colorado. The percent of white residents living in Colorado dropped by 0.2% from 2010 to 2020, translating to a decrease of nearly 6,300 people, according to 2020 census data. In the same time period, Colorado’s Hispanic or Latino population rose by 21.6%, increasing by more than 224,700 people.

“The overall demographic of Colorado is becoming less white and more diverse,” said Van Schoales, senior policy director of the Keystone Policy Center, a nonprofit research group. “I think that the schools would reflect that.”

While Colorado is facing decreasing birth rates, its general population has grown by 14.8% from 20102020, according to 2020 census data.

PHOTO BY ROBERT TANN

“Only time will tell if that will help sort of steady K-12 enrollment,” said Maya Lagana, a contractor for the Keystone Policy Center.

Bartlett, of the state education department, also cautioned against making broad assumptions about enrollment changes in the state, emphasizing the importance of looking at changes district by district.

That’s important in terms of both demographics and enrollment numbers. More than 60 Colorado districts tallied fewer students this school year, but 115 districts experienced a bump in enrollment.

Colorado has devised a funding mechanism to assist districts struggling with flagging student enrollment.

A state formula that seeks to average out funding is meant to help soften the blow, providing funding to districts based on their current year of student enrollment or an average of two, three, four or five years —whichever results in the highest student count.

But the averaging provision won’t solve the entire funding problem for districts.

“Colorado does not fund public education as well as a lot of states,” DPS chief financial officer Chuck Carpenter said, “and certainly a decline in enrollment plus state funding is a challenge for all school districts, not just Denver.”

Colorado Sun staff writer Thy Vo contributed to this report.

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com.

The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

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12 Fort Lupton Press

January 27, 2022

FORT LUPTON POLICE BLOTTER

Here are the police reports for Jan. 8-14 to the Fort Lupton Police Department. Not every call made to the police is not listed on this report.

Jan. 8 Police summonsed a Fort Lupton man for having an animal that creates danger in the 12000 block of state Highway 52.

Jan. 10 A Loveland man was issued a summons at U.S. Highway 85 and 14th Street for failing to yield at an intersection causing an accident.

A Fort Lupton woman reported her license plate stolen in the 1600 block of Conestoga Trail. The

case was under investigation.

Police issued a summons to a Fort Lupton 12-year old boy for criminal mischief in the 200 block of Park Avenue.

A Fort Lupton teen was issued a summons for harassment and marijuana possession charges in the 500 block of Reynolds street.

Jan. 11 Police arrested an Aurora man, 57, in the 2900 block of Ninth Street on a Weld County warrant for failure to comply with probation on a sexual assault charge. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

A Greeley man, 36, was issued a summons for careless driving causing an accident at U.S. Highway and Weld County Road 8.

Jan. 12 Police arrested a Westminster man, 40, in the 100 block of First Street for possession of a schedule I

and II drugs and also drug paraphernalia. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Jan. 13 Police issued a summons to a 17-year old for trespassing on school grounds at First Street and McKinley Avenue.

A Brighton man, 51, reported the theft of his white 2004 Lexus RX in the 2900 block of Ninth Street. Case was under investigation.

Jan. 14 Police arrested a Fort Lupton man, 34, for DUI and resisting arrest in the 100 block of Denver Avenue. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

A Fort Lupton woman, 32, was taken into custody at Second Street and Park Avenue on a Weld County warrant for failure to appear.

Police issued a summon to a Fort Lupton man, 65, for a careless driving traffic accident in the 100 block of Rollie Avenue.

BRIEFS Light of Hope postponed COVID-19 forced a postponement of the fundraiser for Court Appointed Special Advocates. The new date is April 19 at the Omni Interlocken Hotel.

The event aims to increase awareness about CASA and recruit volunteers while funds to continue providing advocacy for children who have experienced abuse and neglect.

Visit https://casa17th.wixsite. com/casalightofhope2022?blm_ aid=18554916.

Splash pad The city of Fort Lupton is searching for comments about and sponsorships for a new splash pad.

Sponsor funds will be used for the splash park and amenities.

Call 303-857-6694 Wine tasting The Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave., will host a wine tasting at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28.

Uruguay is the featured country for the event. Cost is $40 per person. Call 303-857-4200.

National Night Out Fort Lupton’s observance of National Night Out will be at 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Koshio Park, 131 McKinley Ave. It’s a chance to meet police officers in an informal setting. It’s also a chance to munch on hot dogs and hamburgers hot from the grill. There will be bounce houses, games and a tug-o-war ONGOING ‘Discover Exoplanets: The search for alien worlds’ The Fort Lupton Museum’s latest exhibition, “Discover Exoplanets: The Search for Alien Worlds” will continue through March 5 at 453 First St.

It is a national traveling exhibition exploring the world of space and astronomy. The exhibition covers topics such as the search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system, how NASA scientists are searching for these worlds and how they may be like our own planet.

Call 303-857-1634.

Donation time The Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank is asking for donations of canned fruits and nuts, varieties of dry pasta and pasta dinners, peanut butter and canned meat such as tuna (including the pouches).

Other potential donations could include chicken, Vienna sausages, spam and salmon. The bank also needs personal items, such as toiletries and baby needs.

Drop off donations at the food and clothing bank’s back door, 421 Denver Ave., weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-857-1096.

Teen hangout Teens can stop by the Fort Lupton Pubic & School Library Wednesdays to play crafts, video games and hang out with friends after school.

Walk with a doc Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr. Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute.

This is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and a fun conversation. It’s a great way to get out, get active and enjoy all the benefits

that come from walking.

Blessings in a Bag Fort Lupton’s Backpack Program helps school children in need with a backpack of healthy food. It’s an all-volunteer program and is in need of volunteers. If interested in volunteering or donating, call 303718-4440. Mail donations to Blessings in a Bag, 306 Park Ave., Fort Lupton 80621.

Fridays from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Fort Lupton recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.

Water aerobics The city’s water aerobics class meets from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at thke Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Call 303-857-4200.

Drop-in child care The Fort Lupton Recreation Center offers drop-in child care from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call 303-857-4200.

Pen pals Fort Lupton’s senior pen pal program through Twombly Elementary School is looking for participants. Learn more at: https:// www.fortluptonco.gov/950/SeniorPen-Pal-Program

Committee openings Fort Lupton has openings for several of its citizen advisory committees. Visit https://www. fortluptonco.gov/966/I-Want-ToApply-for-a-Committee.

Craft classes Monthly craft classes through the Fort Lupton Recreation Center (203 S. Harrison Ave.) are available. Call 303-857-4200, ext. 6166 with questions.

Boards/committees’ openings The city of Fort Lupton is looking for volunteers for its historic preservation board, the Fort Lupton Urban Renewal Authority, FLURA business representative (a five-year term), FLURA alternate member (term expires March 5, 2023) and library board trustee (term expires December 2024).

Call Alyssa Knutson at 720-4666128.

Free short-term radon test kits Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last).

Test kits can be requested online at www.drhomeair.com/weld, according to a statement.

Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 400-2226 or visit: www.weldgov.com/go/radon.

Chess tournament The Fort Lupton Public & School Library put together a chess tournament that’s ideal for beginning players.

Visit https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/1UFPA1ENiETkHnJjaHh_ E3hUAOEWSRKUXpU7utzYab-U/ viewform?fbclid=IwAR1M9cUK4b p7cJyH9phmivtIV6gmeXqd3kNra 5q_L113Py-IhRIHDjMHRd4&edit_ requested=true Fort Lupton senior lunches Senior lunches are available at noon Mondays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Sign up by noon the previous Thursday. Call 303-857-4200, ext.

6166.

Coffee group Fort Lupton’s weekly coffee group sessions are at 8 a.m.

Wednesdays. Call 303-857-4200.

Silver Sneakers Silver Sneaker Yoga is available

Warm Line up and running Community Reach Center is offering a Warm Line (303-2806602) for those who want to talk to mental-health professionals about anxiety, lack of sleep and strained relationships, among other topics. The professionals can facilitate referrals to other programs for assistance.

The line is not for crisis intervention. Those feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services (1-844-493-8255) or text 38255 or visit the Behavioral Urgent Care Center, 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.

Also, the center’s COVID-19 Heroes Program is set up to assist healthcare workers during the pandemic. Those who live or work in Adams County can receive up to six free counseling sessions. Use the Warm Line for support and free counseling.

Brighton’s community intake location is at 1850 E. Egbert St., on the second floor. It’s open from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.

January 27, 2022

Fort Lupton Press 13

LOCAL

SPORTS A diamond on the gridiron in Fort Lupton

Sanders makes the switch from softball manager to football player

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Scott Sanders loves all things baseball. It extended to a stint as manager of the Fort Lupton High School softball team in 2020; in the fall season, it was the closest thing to baseball he could find.

But last year, Sanders wanted to try something different.

High-school football.

“Coach (Joey) O’Connor had seen me heading out to baseball one day and introduced himself,” Sanders said. “Coach asked me if I had thought about playing football, and I practically laughed at him.”

“He laughed me off and said, ‘Not a chance, coach. But thanks for trying,’” O’Connor said. “Once he got to practice, that is when our relationship became stronger.”

Two of his baseball teammates, Danny Rodriguez and Isaac Rodriguez, also played on the Bluedevils’ squad. Danny Rodriguez was a wide receiver and a cornerback, while

Isaac Rodriguez played running back.

“So, naturally, they hounded me until I finally said, ‘I’ll go to one practice,’” Sanders said. “One practice turned into one season, and now, I plan to play my senior year as well.”

Sanders played football in middle school.

“But (I) was always undersized and just not quite athletic enough,” he said. “So, I didn’t play a whole lot.

I consider this my first true year of football.”

He finished the season with three carries for 8 yards and a pass reception for 4 yards.

“I came in thinking I wanted to play slot wide receiver,” Sanders said. “I have always been a football fan and understood the game pretty well. I figure I am fast, fairly small and catching touchdown passes sounded really nice.”

About two weeks into practice, O’Connor asked Sanders to take some snaps at running back.

“From there, I never practiced with receivers again,” Sanders said.

“Similarly with defense, I wanted to play safety or corner (cornerback), and coaches thought I could make a SEE SANDERS, P15

Scott Sanders, left, gave up his role as manager of the Fort Lupton High School softFILE PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH ball team for the Bluedevils’ football team.

Two top CHSAA officials announce retirements

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Two of the top brass at the Colorado High School Activities Association announced their plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Rhonda BlanfordGreen was the first African-American female commissioner in the history of the 103-yearold National Federation of High Schools, according to CHSAANow. Blanfordcom. Blanford-Green, Green who was a star athlete at Aurora Central High School, rejoined CHSAA in 2017. She’d been an assistant and associate commissioner with CHSAA from 1996 to 2012.

Blanford-Green was Robinson the executive director at the Nebraska School Activities Association from 2012 to 2015 and was an assistant executive director at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association from 2015 to 2017.

“I love my job, this staff, and the membership, and I have been proud to serve the students and member schools of Colorado, and to lead one of the best associations in the nation,” Blanford-Green said in a statement on CHSAANow.com. “I look forward to viewing from the sidelines as they continue to raise the bar on education-based athletics and activities.”

Blanford-Green introduced digital

platforms that improved education, operations, outreach and communication, chsaanow.com said. She also created a handbook committee to help facilitate collaborative statewide discussions before CSHAA’s board of directors turned them into bylaws. The website said studentathletes were able to complete all 31 seasons and other related events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Someone has to captain the ship, but it took a collective effort from leaders at all levels across the state to make that happen for the mental and physical well-being of our student athletes that have been negatively impacted by COVID,” Blanford-Green said in the CHSAANow.com statement.

Blanford-Green was an 18-time All-American in track and field at the University of Nebraska. After college, she qualified twice for the U.S. Olympic Trails and then coached at Aurora Central and Eaglecrest high schools and the University of Wyoming before joining the CHSAA. The other retiree is associate Commissioner Tom Robinson. He graduated from Colorado State University (he played football, basketball and ran track and field) in 1969. He started officiating that summer. CHSAANow.com said his first teaching job was at Regis Jesuit High School in 1969. He also coached several sports, including basketball from 1983-1993).

He joined CHSAA in 2001.

For all 20 years at CHSAA, Robinson has overseen officials, the sportsmanship program, as well as

boys and girls golf.

“I’ve met so many great people along the way,” Robinson said on CHSAANow.com “The CHSAA, a unique set of people dedicated to education-based activities and athletics, made my life fuller and more whole.”

Robinson is the president of the National Association of Sports Officials and the replay coordinator for the Big-12 Conference.

“On behalf of the board and the association, I want to thank Rhonda and Tom for their service,” CHSAA

Board of Directors President Luke DeWolfe said. “The association owes a great debt of gratitude to both of them. They have truly exemplified what educationally-based athletics are about. Through their combined efforts, they have helped to make Colorado one of the most respected interscholastic athletic associations in the country.

“We will miss them dearly but are happy and excited for them to begin a new chapter in their lives. We wish them nothing but the best moving forward.”

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14 Fort Lupton Press

January 27, 2022

S P O R T S SCORECARD Frederick High School Postponements Frederick’s swim meet against Roosevelt in Longmont was called off Jan. 19 because of poor road conditions.

Wrestling Frederick’s wrestling team was 11th at the Northglenn Norse Invitational Jan. 22.

Santana Leon (113 pounds) finished third. Adrian Casillas was third at 160 pounds. Wyatt Schust took fourth at 138 pounds. Diego Rangel (145 pounds) wound up fifth. Tristan Dean, the Warriors’ 106-pounder, was sixth.

Girls basketball Frederick rolled to a 73-25, homefloor win over Fort Morgan Jan. 20.

Savanna Staff scored 18 points for

the Warriors. Ali Davis was next with 13, and Jadyn Glasgow added 11.

Roosevelt beat the Warriors 76-28 in Johnstown Jan. 22. Gwen Hanks and Ali Davis led the Warriors with nine points. Gabby Jima added four.

Boys basketball Frederick stayed undefeated in the class 4A Longs Peak League by beating Fort Morgan 81-55 in Frederick Jan. 20.

Matias Aldana scored 21 points for the Warriors. Jacoby Conway added 15, and Luke Justice tossed in 10. No stats were available for the Mustangs.

Frederick’s win streak reached six with a 65-58 win at Roosevelt Jan. 22. FHS was down 11 points at the half before rallying to pick up the

victory. No stats were available for either team.

Fort Lupton High School Girls basketball Manual downed the Bluedevils 3014 in Fort Lupton Jan. 18. No stats were available for either team.

Fort Lupton beat Arvada’s Bulldogs 44-23 in Arvada Jan. 20. Emma Ngewasi led AHS with eight points.

Sydnee Fark added seven. No stats were available for FLHS. Boys basketball Fort Lupton beat Arvada 62-52 in Arvada Jan. 20. No stats were available.

Resurrection Christian downed the Bluedevils 68-38 Jan. 22 in Loveland. No stats were available for either team.

Girls wrestling Fort Lupton’s match against Riverdale Ridge was called off Jan. 20.

Fort Lupton took first place at the Loveland Girls Invitational Jan. 22. Rylee Balcazr was first at 100 pounds. Angelrae Garxia followes suit at 215 pounds. Anastyn Livesay placed third at 161 pounds.

Genevieve Hunt was fourth at 118 pounds. Gizell Adame was fourth at 185 pounds, while Abigrail Retana was fifth at 105 pounds. Alexia Buschman was fourth at 147 pounds.

Wrestling Fort Lupton took 15th at this year’s Top of the Rockies tournament at Centaurus High School.

D’mitri Garza-Alarcon was second at 138 pounds.

SPORTS BRIEFS Baseball Fort Lupton High School wants to start a baseball hall of fame.

New coach Ted Bergquist outlined his plans and hopes during his first meeting with his players Jan. 13. Call 720-207-4948.

Team sports Fort Lupton’s recreation center is looking for players to fill out various leagues this spring.

Girls volleyball Registration is underway for girls volleyball for third- through eighth-graders It’s available at www.fortluptonco.gov.

The costs is $55 through Saturday Jan. 29, and $75 through Saturday, Feb. 5, the last day to sign up. First games are March 19, and they will be at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center and surrounding areas.

Volunteer coaches are needed.

Frederick’s Tristan Dean wraps up Greeley Central’s Kevin Soto during a quarterfinal match at 106 pounds during the Northglenn Norse Invitational Jan. 22. Dean won PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH the match 6-4 and took sixth in the weight class.

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Adult basketball The deadline to sign up for the center’s adult basketball league ends Sunday, Jan. 30. The fee is $450 per team. Games start at noon; the season begins Sunday, Feb. 13. Register at the front desk of the rec center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Adult softball league The city’s adult softball league begins Monday, March 14, at Pearson Park, state Highway 52 and U.S. Highway 85.

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Registration costs $375 per team, and the deadline is Monday, Feb. 21; afterward, the fee increases to $400.

Youth soccer A coed soccer program needs prekindergarteners, kindergarteners and first- through sixthgraders to participate starting Thursday, March 10.

The early registration deadline (with fees of $35 for pre-K through second grade and $55 for thirdthrough sixth-graders) is Saturday, Feb. 12. Afterward, the fee increases $15 for the younger age groups and $20 for the older ones. The final registration date is Saturday, Feb. 19.

Questions on any of these leagues? Call 303-857-4200.

Girls golf Frederick High School’s girls golf team will have an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, in the high-school library.

g Business move t Different Breed Performance, p owned by Mead High School alum Gabe Knapton, is moving Feb. O 1. The new home will be at state t Highway 66 and Weld County Roads D 19. p On Facebook, Knapton posted that the gym size will increase, the ( equipment will be upgraded and p athletes will have access to both t g cold and hot tubs for recovery.

Call 720-771-7699. “ a t

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Fort Lupton Press 15

January 27, 2022

Winter Sports Calendar STAFF REPORT

Fort Lupton High School Boys basketball Team score on left, Opponent and their score 44, *Wiggins, 48 53, *Valley, 44 54, *Platte Valley, 57 57, **Stargate School (OT), 56 57, **Bennett, 44 42, **Lutheran, 50 54 Jefferson Academy, 47 53 Brush 49 56 @Estes Park 37 62 @Arvada 52 38: @Resurrection Christian 68 Upcoming games Jan. 25: Weld Central, 7 p.m.

Jan. 27: Englewood, 7 p.m.

Feb. 1: @Thornton, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 3: @Skyview, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 7: Eagle Ridge Academy, 7 p.m.

Feb. 10: Aurora Central, 7 p.m. *-Platte Valley HS tournament ** - Santiago’s Shootout Girls basketball Team score on left, Opponent and their score 38, Aurora West , 4 6, JFK, 53 23, *Stargate School, 16 38, *Jefferson, 26 L, *Skyview 18, @St. Mary’s, 100 9 Jefferson Academy 48 19 @Lincoln 26 Upcoming games Jan. 18: @Manual, 6 p.m.

Jan. 20: @Arvada, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 25: @Weld Central, 7 p.m.

Jan. 27: @Englewood, 7 p.m.

SANDERS FROM PAGE 13

good linebacker. So, I tried it a few times, and then, that was my new position.”

“Scotty is a very coachable player,” O’Connor said. “He is the type of kid that will do anything you ask. He started as a WR (wide receiver) and DB (defensive back) but ended up playing RB (running back) and LB (linebacker). This was his first time playing football in a few years, so it took him a few weeks to grasp the game.”

Sanders still remembers his “firsts” on the varsity team and admits to remembering a few more than others.

“My first varsity carry, my first start, the list goes on,” Sanders said. “One that really stands out is my first interception. Before going out, Coach Casey (Casey Hofferber) relayed a message from Coach Chris (Chris Tijerina) and said, ‘Somebody go get me the football.’

“Then, on three back-to-back-toback plays, I allowed 20-plus yards. I could tell the offense was picking on me,” Sanders added. “I showed them a weak link, and they wanted to exploit it. I told myself, ‘I wasn’t getting burned again, and I was done giving up yards.’”

The next throw was deep and toward the end zone.

“After that, all I remember is standing up, pointing the football at Coach Chris, then running back towards the sideline, holding the ball in the air.”

Feb. 1: Thornton, 7 p.m.

Feb. 3: Skyview: , 7 p.m.

Feb. 8: @Eagle Ridge, 7 p.m.

Feb. 10: @Aurora Central, 7 p.m.

Wrestling Team score on left, Opponent and their score 36, @Riverdale Ridge, 36 2-1 , Fort Lupton duals 21, @Pueblo East, 42 2-0, Weld Central, Wiggins Jan. 8, Gary Daum Classic, Niwot HS 2nd @Eaglecrest Invitational 15th @Top of the Rockies Upcoming games Jan. 26: @Fort Morgan, 6 p.m.

Feb. 5: Colorado League meet Weld Central High School Feb. 11-12 : Regionals Feb. 17: State 3A tournament, Ball Arena Girls wrestling Team score on left, Opponent and their score 42, Golden, , 6 36, Platte Valley, 9 30, Severance, 15 Jan. 8, @Bennett tournament Jan. 12, Chatfield, 6 p.m.

Jan. 14-15, MLK girls tournament ccd @Riverdale Ridge 1st Loveland Girls Invitational Upcoming games Jan. 24, Mead, 6 p.m.

Jan. 27, @Northridge, 6 p.m.

Frederick High School Boys basketball Team score on left, Opponent and their score 57, @Centaurus, 64 Sanders didn’t have to make a lot of adjustments.

“Tackling came pretty easy to me,” he said. “I have a deep wrestling background, so I understand what I have to do to bring guys down.

Something that was especially hard was learning the playbook. I like to think I’m pretty intelligent and can learn most things with enough time and practice. It just so happened that the playbook was one of those things that took a lot of time and practice.”

Sanders is interested in playing football in the fall, though he’s not 100 percent sure of his plans. Even if he doesn’t play again, he took advantage of the social aspect of a new team sport.

“On top of Danny and Isaac pressuring me to play, they also introduced me to Will (quarterback Will Alvarado) in a way,” Sanders said. “I had known Will for years but never been close with him. After we hung out a few times with mutual friends, he also started pressuring me to play.

When you have QB1, WR1 and an RB1 (starters at those positions) all pressuring you to play, it makes it really hard to tell them no.”

“The most important thing I have learned about Scotty is that he is about the team and has adapted to the culture we are building,” O’Connor said. “He wants what’s best for the team, even if that means he’s a starter or just a special-teams guy. he is a competitor and wants to win, but he wants to win the right way.”

“The season was very fun for me,” Sanders said. “I definitely got used to going home with bumps and

71, *Pueblo East, 40 74, *Thomas Jefferson, 68 83, *Sierra, , 45 53 @Longmont 51, 41, Silver Creek, 58 76, @Skyline, 56 57, **Green Mountain (OT), 63 79, Harrison, 65 68 @Thompson Valley 58 88 Berthoud 40 66 @Mountain View 55 81 Fort Morgan 55 65: @Roosevelt 58 Upcoming games Jan. 25: Niwot, 7 p.m.

Jan. 28: @Severance, 7 p.m.

Feb. 2: Riverdale Ridge: , 7 p.m.

Feb. 5: Northridge, 7 p.m.

Feb. 9, 12, 16, 18-19: Tri Valley League tournament *- D’Evelyn/Golden Preview Classic ** - Ball Arena Denver Girls basketball Team score on left, Opponent and their score 63, @Centaurus 57 47, Mead, 58 80, *Mountain Range, 34 32, *George Washington, 72 58, *Thomas Jefferson, 48 78, @Skyline , 41 76, Silver Creek, 49 66 @Harrison 24 51 Thompson Valley, 58 33 Berthoud, 54 63 @Mountain View 56 43 @Ralston Valley 63 63 Fort Morgan 25 26 @Roosevelt 78 Upcoming games Jan. 25: Niwot: , 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 28: @Severance, 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 2: Riverdale Ridge, 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 5: Northridge, 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 8, 11, 15, 18: Tri Valley League tournament *Centaurus tournament Girls swimming Team score on left, Opponent and their score 67, @Eaton, 113 42, @Thompson Valley, 137 88, @Rangeview, 225 6th All St. Vrain City meet Upcoming games Jan. 25: @Berthoud, 4:30 p.m.

Jan. 27: @Brighton, 5 p.m.

Jan. 28-29: @Boulder County Invite Broomfield Community Center Feb. 4-5, Longs Peak League meet Loveland Wrestling Team score on left, Opponent and their score 36, Berthoud, 48 3-3 , @Fort Lupton dual tournament 18, Riverdale Ridge, 47 Dec. 17-18: @Weld Central tournament Jan. 5: Mead: , 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 8: @Niwot tournament Upcoming games Jan. 13: Niwot, 6:30 p.m.

Upcoming games 6th: Warrior Invitational Jan. 22: @Northglenn Invitational Jan. 27: @Roosevelt, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 29: @Thomas Jefferson tournament Feb. 11-12: regionals Feb. 17: State 4A tournament, Ball Arena

bruises. I had a lot of really good experiences, had the chance to work with some great coaches and met some great people that I may never have talked to if not for football.

“Whatever happens, I’ll go in whatever direction God wants me to go. And whatever He throws at me, I’ll take in stride,” he concluded.

“The change (in the athletic culture at FLHS) is real. Coach O’Connor preached it to us all year, I could see it from the start. The culture of student-athletes is changing. The emphasis is on the fact that we are students before we are athletes.

Regardless of how our next season plays out, Fort Lupton High School football is changing the culture for the better at Fort Lupton.”

O’Connor said Sanders is an example “of what happens when you buy into the program.”

“Scotty and many others players are bought in, and I am excited to see what not just him but his senior class can do in the offseason and next fall.

I know that his first love is baseball, and I cannot wait to see what he does ion the future. I am excited to be able to coach him for the two short years I will get to.”

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16 Fort Lupton Press

January 27, 2022

C R O S SWO R D P U Z Z L E

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Solution

TRIVIA 1. ANATOMY: How many ribs are in the human body?

2. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What kind of animal is a flying fox?

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10. SCIENCE: What weather condition is measured in millibars?

Answers

4. U.S. STATES: What animal is featured on the state flag of Louisiana?

1. 24

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3. Mediterranean Sea

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8. FOOD & DRINK: The “Iron Chef ” TV cooking show originated in which country?

9. HISTORY: In what year did the Cold War end?

2. A type of bat

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Fort Lupton Press 17

January 27, 2022

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PUBLIC NOTICES

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Public Notices call Marley 303-566-4123 Legals City and County Public Notice 2022 BOARD MEMBER ELECTION The Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District is governed by a five-member Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors meet the second Monday of each month and additional special meetings called by the Board of Directors throughout the year.

Board member elections will be conducted on May 3, 2022, two (2) eligible electors must be elected to fill the positions currently held by Director Clyde A. Walb and Director David Stout, which elected officials will then serve for a term of three (3) years each, and one (1) eligible elector must be elected to fill the position currently held by Director Jeffrey Jurgena by appointment, which elected official will then serve for a term of one (1) year. To self-nominate oneself for the upcoming election, an individual must be registered to vote in the State of Colorado and must meet one (1) of the following condition(s): •The individual resides in the Fire District boundaries.

•The individual, or the spouse or civil union partner of the individual, owns taxable real or personal property within the Fire District boundaries.

Note: A person who is obligated to pay taxes under a contract to purchase taxable property within the District shall be considered an owner. A mobile home as defined in section 38-12-201.5 (2) or 5-1-301 (29), C.R.S., or a manufactured home as defined in section 42-1-102 (106) (b), C.R.S., shall be deemed sufficient to qualify as ownership of real property or land.

Those individuals interested in running in the next Special District Election on May 3, 2022, must fill out and complete a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form according to C.R.S 1-13.5-303; 32-1-103(4); 1-45-109(1); 1-45-110; SOS CPF Rule 16; 1-4-908(1), 1-4-912. The completed form with signatures is due to the Designated Election Official no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, February 25, 2022. These forms can be provided in person at our Administration Office located at 8426 Kosmerl Place, Frederick, Colorado 80504 or electronically by contacting the Fire District’s Designated Election Official as provided below.

The form must be returned to the District’s Designated Election Official.

Frederick-Firestone Fire District Kammy K. Tinney – Designated Election Official (DEO) Pinnacle Consulting Group Loveland, Colorado 80537 kammyt@pcgi.com 970-669-3611 x116 Legal Notice No. FLP505 First Publication: January 27, 2022 Last Publication: January 27, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

City of Ft. Lupton Public Notice CITY OF FORT LUPTON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the City of Fort Lupton is in receipt of an application for a site plan known as the Hope Grayson Commercial Site Plan located at 110 Copper Pl. Fort Lupton, Colorado, pursuant to the City of Fort Lupton Municipal Code Notice Requirements.

The public hearings are to be held before the Planning Commission on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 6:00 P.M., and before the City Council on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 7:00 P.M. or as soon as possible thereafter.

The public hearings shall be held at the Fort Lupton City Hall, 130 S. McKinley Avenue in Fort Lupton, Colorado. In the event that there are City Hall closures due to COVID-19 at the time of the hearings, the public hearings will be held remotely, accessible to the public by phone and internet. Information on how to attend the hearings will be provided in the agenda as posted on the City’s website, www.fortluptonco.gov Further information is available through the City Planning and Building Department at (303) 857-6694.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS MAY ATTEND LEGAL DESCRIPTION LOTS 6 AND 7, VINCENT’S EAST ADDITION 3RD FILING SECOND AMENDED SUBDIVISION, CITY OF FORT LUPTON, COUNTY OF WELD, STATE OF COLORADO. Legal Notice No. FLP510 First Publication: January 27, 2022 Last Publication: January 27, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Metropolitan Districts Public Notice CALL FOR NOMINATIONS § 1-13.5-501, C.R.S. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of The Springs Metropolitan District (the “District”), Tow of Firestone, Weld County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election for the District will be held on May 3, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. At that time three (3) directors will be elected to serve 3-year terms of office for the District.

Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the board of directors for the District may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form from Dianne Miller, the Designated Election Official of the District, at the offices of Miller & Associates Law Offices, LLC, 1641 California Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202, 303-285-5320, or by email to: elections@ddmalaw.com, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. on regular business days.

Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms, or letters which meet the requirements of § 1-13.5-501, C.R.S., are to be returned to the Designated Election Official not less than sixty-seven (67) days prior to the election, which date is Friday, February 25, 2022. If the Designated Election Official determines that a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form once, at any time, prior to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022. Earlier submittal is encouraged as the deadline will not permit curing an insufficient form. A person who wishes to be a write-in candidate shall file an affidavit of intent to be a write-in candidate with the office of the Designated Election Official by the close of business on the sixty-fourth (64th) day before the election, which date is Monday, February 28, 2022.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for and return of absentee ballots may be filed with the Designated Election Official until the close of business on the Friday immediately preceding the election, which date is Friday, April 29, 2022.

THE SPRINGS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By: /s/Dianne Miller, Designated Election Official Legal Notice No. FLP509 First Publication: January 27, 2022 Last Publication: January 27, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press Public Notice CALL FOR NOMINATIONS § 1-13.5-501, C.R.S.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of Stoneridge Metropolitan District (the “District”), Town of Firestone, Weld County, Colorado.

intent to be a write-in candidate with the office of the Designated Election Official by the close of business on the sixty-fourth (64th) day before the election, which date is Monday, February 28, 2022.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election for the District will be held on May 3, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. At that time two (2) directors will be elected to serve 3-year terms of office for the District.

Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the board of directors for the District may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form from Dianne Miller, the Designated Election Official of the District, at the offices of Miller & Associates Law Offices, LLC, 1641 California Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202, 303-285-5320, or by email to: elections@ddmalaw.com, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. on regular business days.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for and return of absentee ballots may be filed with the Designated Election Official until the close of business on the Friday immediately preceding the election, which date is Friday, April 29, 2022.

Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms, or letters which meet the requirements of § 1-13.5-501, C.R.S., are to be returned to the Designated Election Official not less than sixty-seven (67) days prior to the election, which date is Friday, February 25, 2022. If the Designated Election Official determines that a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form once, at any time, prior to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022. Earlier submittal is encouraged as the deadline will not permit curing an insufficient form. A person who wishes to be a write-in candidate shall file an affidavit of intent to be a write-in candidate with the office of the Designated Election Official by the close of business on the sixty-fourth (64th) day before the election, which date is Monday, February 28, 2022.

Public Notice

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for and return of absentee ballots may be filed with the Designated Election Official until the close of business on the Friday immediately preceding the election, which date is Friday, April 29, 2022.

STONERIDGE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By: /s/Dianne Miller, Designated Election Official Legal Notice No. FLP506 First Publication: January 27, 2022 Last Publication: January 27, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press Public Notice CALL FOR NOMINATIONS § 1-13.5-501, C.R.S. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of The Peaks Industrial Metropolitan District (the “District”), Town of Dacono, Weld County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election for the District will be held on May 3, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. At that time four (4) directors will be elected for the District. Tow directors will serve 3-year terms of office and two directors will serve a 1-year term of office.

Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the board of directors for the District may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form from Dianne Miller, the Designated Election Official of the District, at the offices of Miller & Associates Law Offices, LLC, 1641 California Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202, 303-285-5320, or by email to: elections@ddmalaw.com, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. on regular business days.

Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms, or letters which meet the requirements of § 1-13.5-501, C.R.S., are to be returned to the Designated Election Official not less than sixty-seven (67) days prior to the election, which date is Friday, February 25, 2022. If the Designated Election Official determines that a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form once, at any time, prior to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022. Earlier submittal is encouraged as the deadline will not permit curing an insufficient form. A person who wishes to be a write-in candidate shall file an affidavit of

THE PEAKS INDUSTRIAL METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By: /s/Dianne Miller, Designated Election Official Legal Notice No. FLP507 First Publication: January 27, 2022 Last Publication: January 27, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Weld County, Colorado on or before May 13, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred.

Leif A. Nelson, P.C. Attorney for the Personal Representative 29029 Upper Bear Creek Road, Suite 202 Evergreen, Colorado 80439 Legal Notice No. FLP495 First Publication: January 13, 2022 Last Publication: January 27, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Edward William Swanberg, A/K/A Edward W. Swanberg, A/K/A Ed Swanberg, Deceased Case Number: 2021PR30726 All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Weld, County, Colorado on or before May 20, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS § 1-13.5-501, C.R.S. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of The Springs South Metropolitan District (the “District”), Tow of Firestone, Weld County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election for the District will be held on May 3, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. At that time four (4) directors will be elected for the District.

Three directors will serve 3-year terms of office and one director will serve a 1-year term of office.

Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the board of directors for the District may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form from Dianne Miller, the Designated Election Official of the District, at the offices of Miller & Associates Law Offices, LLC, 1641 California Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202, 303-285-5320, or by email to: elections@ddmalaw.com, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. on regular business days.

Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms, or letters which meet the requirements of § 1-13.5-501, C.R.S., are to be returned to the Designated Election Official not less than sixty-seven (67) days prior to the election, which date is Friday, February 25, 2022. If the Designated Election Official determines that a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form once, at any time, prior to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022. Earlier submittal is encouraged as the deadline will not permit curing an insufficient form. A person who wishes to be a write-in candidate shall file an affidavit of intent to be a write-in candidate with the office of the Designated Election Official by the close of business on the sixty-fourth (64th) day before the election, which date is Monday, February 28, 2022.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for and return of absentee ballots may be filed with the Designated Election Official until the close of business on the Friday immediately preceding the election, which date is Friday, April 29, 2022.

THE SPRINGS SOUTH METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By: /s/Dianne Miller, Designated Election Official Legal Notice No. FLP508 First Publication: January 27, 2022 Last Publication: January 27, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Garrett Swanberg, Personal Representative 4119 R Street Omaha, Nebraska 68107 Legal Notice No. 529939 First Publication: January 20, 2022 Last Publication: February 3, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Robert A. Briggs, Jr., also known as Robert A. Briggs, Robert Alvin Briggs, Jr., Robert Alvin Briggs, Robert Briggs, Jr., Robert Briggs, Bob Briggs, and Bob A. Briggs, Deceased Case Number: 2021PR030728 All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Weld County, Colorado on or before May 13, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred.

Shirley C. Briggs, Personal Representative Patrick R. Thiessen (40185) Frie, Arndt, Danborn & Thiessen P.C. 7400 Wadsworth Blvd., #201 Arvada, Colorado 80003 303/420-1234 Attorney for Personal Representative Legal Notice No. FLP494 First Publication: January 13, 2022 Last Publication: January 27, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of PASQUALE VARRA, a/k/a JACK VARRA, Deceased Case Number 2021PR30730 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Weld County, Colorado on or before May 20, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. /s/ signature on original in office Signature of Attorney for Person Giving Notice Personal Representative.: Denny L. Compton c/o: BOATRIGHT, RIPP & LUSK, LLC 4315 Wadsworth Blvd.

Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 Ph: 303-423-7134

Notice to Creditors

Legal Notice No. FLP500 First Publication: January 20, 2022 Last Publication: February 3, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Juliana S. Fix, Deceased Case Number: 2020 PR 31197 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of

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