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May 22, 2014 Adams County, Colorado | Volume 6, Issue 21 A publication of
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Students garner band awards By Lou Ellen Bromley It was a big night for Prairie View High School’s Music Department. The evening May 12 was divided into two parts, starting off with the music department’s fundraiser dinner, donated by The Olive Garden restaurant in Thornton. After dinner there was a band concert in the auditorium. Dinner was accompanied by music from both the Prairie View Jazz Band and later the Prairie View Jazz Ensemble directed by Music Director Gregory Haan and student teacher Ben Pollack. Haan said he wanted the jazz bands to experience what playing at events in the real world were like, with people eating and chatting. Both bands played a variety of wellknown songs as well as a few new ones, including the song “Skyfall” from a recent James Bond movie, sung by Prairie View High School student Adele Adkins. After dinner everyone moved to the au-
ditorium to watch a dance performance by the Prairie View High school Color Guard, directed by Elizabeth C. Haan, for which they won fourth place in state competition this year. This was followed by musical performances by the Concert Band, the Symphonic Band, the Jazz Band and the Jazz Ensemble directed alternately by Haan and Pollack. Band Awards for the school year 20132014 were awarded during the concerts: First year Letter students; Katy Groover, Jalen Thomas, Adriana Huiras, Sydney Foster, Izzy Pawlak, Wesley Von Axelson, Adyn Yamamoto, Jordan Diekneit, Sierra Holguin, David Vandiver, KJ Wickware, Alicia Garcia, Rachel Smidt, Rochelle White, and Ryan Jabri Zink. Second year Letter students; Navana Britto, Ani Saldivar, Alex Vogel, Saul Saldivar, and Gabi Sanchez Barajas. Third year Letter students; Tyler Knott, Band continues on Page 11
COMPETITION IN FULL SWING
Music Director Gregory Haan conducts the Jazz Band during the fundraiser dinner at Prairie View High School. Courtesy photo
Felony DUI bill dies yet again Bill would have created stiffer drunken-driving penalties By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com An effort that dies every year suffered another death this Legislative session as a Senate committee on May 6 killed a bill that sought to create a felony drunkendriving penalty in Colorado. The bill would have made a person’s third DUI in seven years or fourth in a lifetime a felony punishable with possible prison time. But the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 6 put an end to the bill, which would have resulted in millions of dollars in costs for having to incarcerate more offenders. But that’s a cost worth paying for a safer society, said Republican bill sponsors who blasted Senate Democrats who killed the legislation. “The health and traveling safety is at risk from people who consistently drive under the influence of alcohol,” said Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction. “They do have a problem and they’ve gone through treatment and they continue to drive because it’s easy for them. “At what point does justice outweigh treatment?”
The bill had previously passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. But Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Steadman, D-Denver, said the bill would have resulted in an enormous cost to the state. The bill wouldn’t have cost anything for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, but state expenditures over the next three years would have combined for about $20.7 million, according to an updated Legislative Council fiscal analysis. But Rep. Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, the bill’s House sponsor, said the state is in much better economic shape than it has been in recent years. That led him to wonder, “If we’re not going to prioritize it this year, with this budget, when are we going to prioritize it? “There is money in the budget to make this happen and we’re never going to have a better circumstance than what we have today to make this happen,” Waller said. Both Waller and King have tried for several years to make a felony DUI law a reality in Colorado. The bill has failed each time. Colorado is one of only a handful of states that does not have a felony DUI law. Senate President Morgan Carroll, DAurora, said she wasn’t opposed to the bill, but understood why it failed. For one thing,
DUI continues on Page 11
Little Britches Rodeo coming up The Brighton Elks are proud to be supporting youth in the great sport of rodeo and bring the fifth annual Little Britches Rodeo to the Brighton community. Rodeo has a long tradition in the history Deziree Lipsett competes in state track shot put competition. See sports on Pages 16-17. Submitted photo of the west, showing the skills of cowboys and cowgirls. It became not just the every day work on ranches and farms, but an entertainment sport of competing against POSTAL ADDRESS each other. These young cowboys and cowgirls are carrying on the great tradition of rodeo while at the same time showing a great respect for each other, their animals, their parents, and us. Printed on recycled newsprint. Come see talented youth show off their Please recycle this copy. skills of calf roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling and bull riding – just to name a few of the 27 events performed at the rodeo. Contestants come from both all over the state of Colorado and out of state, travelling
each weekend to compete to gain points for a spot in the National Little Britches Rodeo held each year in July. But points aren’t the only reason; there is a cash payout for the top contestants in each event. Buckles are handed out to the All-Around Champion and Reserve All-Around Champion for each group: Little Wrangler Boy, Little Wrangler Girl, Junior Boy, Junior Girl, Senior Boy, and Senior Girl. Please come and show your support for these young people who are the future of our great country while enjoying the rodeo with your family and friends. While admission to the rodeo is free, there will be food and beverage available for purchase. The rodeo will be held at the Adams County Fairgrounds Outdoor Rodeo Arena on Saturday, May 31, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday June 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.