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July 31, 2014 VOLU M E 6 | I SS UE 31
BrightonBanner.com A D A M S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
PRESENTING PRINCESS KEELY By Michelle Boyer
Mkboyer8@gmail.com It was all glitz and glamour, showered in her favorite color — pink — last Friday for Brighton resident and 6-year-old cancer survivor Keely Waterman. As proclaimed by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Friday was named “Princess Keely Day” in honor of the 6 year old. “I’ve always wanted to be a princess,” she said. “Today is pretty awesome.” She felt really special during her coronation at the Brown Palace in Denver. Keely was blessed with family and friends attending the formal tea Friday and wanted to thank them all for coming to the event and supporting her through her journey. Her favorite princess is “Aurora” from the fairy tale, “Sleeping Beauty.”
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“I like her because she wears pink all the time,” she said. “She also gets to sing and dance a lot.” As one of Keely’s first official acts as Princess, she started the Oyster Race an urban adventure race on Saturday at the downtown Aquarium in Denver. She also helped judge part of the Oyster Race competition. The princess suffers from a Wilm’s tumor, which is a cancer of the kidneys. “This has been an incredible experience for our family,” tearful mother Kristy Waterman said. “You don’t always realize it, as you’re going through the day-to-day of surviving cancer, how much it takes out of you. Keely has come through it all — like a rock star.” Waterman said the coronation was incredible. “It’s so fun to see her so serious and what all this has meant to her,” she said. The Watermans were guests at the Ritz-Carlton, Denver during the weekend. Keely was greeted with roses, chocolates and a necklace from Tiffany’s to help commemorate the weekend at the hotel. Make-A-Wish Foundation is the world’s largest wish granting organization. Since 1983, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has given hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions to more than 4,200
ABOVE: Parents Kristy and Scott Waterman, along with their daughters Keely,left, and Ella pose during the coronation of Princess Keely at the Brown Palace on Friday, July 25. Keely was granted her wish to be a princess by Colorado Make a Wish. LEFT: Princess Keely takes time out for a picture with her friends that were guests at her coronation and tea on Friday at the Brown Palace.Photos by Michelle Boyer
Wish continues on Page 5
‘E-470 Eagle’ dies two days after first flight BRIGHTON BANNER (USPS 290)
Eagle could not be saved after it got stuck in a muddy ditch
OFFICE: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031
By Tammy Kranz
PHONE: 303-566-4100
A young bald eagle born just a few yards near E-470 and 120th Avenue interchange in Adams County died July 23 after becoming trapped in a ditch. The death came despite efforts of the Raptor Education Foundation (REF), E-470 Public Highway Authority and several dozens of volunteers who did their best to ensure the fledging’s survival. “It is no small matter, the death of an eagle,” said Anne Price, curator of raptors with REF on its Facebook page. “And this eagle was very special to many, many people. All of us, from the men on the ground at the nest, to myself, and I know many of you, are shedding many tears. It does not matter that she was never truly ‘ours.’” Price said that an REF member and the district wildlife manager with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife discovered the eagle stuck in a ditch near the log she had been sitting on. She was weak, unable to stand and vomited quite a bit of muddy water and other stomach contents. Before she could be rushed to the veterinarian, she died at approximately 2:50 p.m.
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the Brighton Banner is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210, Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT BRIGHTON, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
tkranz@coloradocommunitymedia.com
The “E-470 Eagle” was hatched in mid-April just a few yards from the E-470 and 120th Avenue exchange. It died just a couple days after it took its first flight. Photo courtesy of the Raptor Education Foundation Facebook page “We who watch and work with eagles knew that the odds were against her from the start; around 70 percent of all bald eagles never live to see their first birthday,” Price said. The E-470 Eagle hatched in mid-April and had just taken its first flight two days before she died. She had been monitored by REF, the E-470 Highway Authority and about 50 volunteers, called the Eagle Brigade, for several days.
There was concern that it would land in traffic. The volunteers served as monitors to help steer her out of harm’s way. E-470 Public Highway Authority posted warning signs along the tollway to alert motorists of the eagle and provided safety vehicles and safety vests for the volunteers. “Lots of the staff members at E-470 are feeling very protective of this bird,” said Brighton Mayor Dick McLean, who serves as the E-470’s board chair, in a June 20 statement. “They’re putting a lot of effort into shielding it from harm, and a number of them are volunteering their free time.” Price said a necropsy is planned and the foundation would make those results available. The foundation posted daily updates, photos and videos of the eagle on its Facebook page. Posts included information on her movements, what she ate and some scary close calls, such as on July 22 when the eagle was acting erratic near a barbed wire fence. While the volunteers and foundation took the eagle’s safety seriously, there were signs of humor as they waited for her to take her first flight. On its July 9 post, it stated the eagle held a press conference saying she was tired of her parents pushing independence on her and was not ready to give up a fine view and free food.