TikTok star comes to Colorado to fly rockets
documentaries. e project is being led by U.K. Producer Jonathan Levene, who met Bourgeoise in 2021 through TikTok.
Francis Bourgeoise, who has made his name on social media watching as fast moving trains shoot past him, now has his eye on space ight — and he came to Fort Lupton in March to see if that’s possible. “ is is part of the journey and inspiration to see the rockets launch. I’m looking to see if it’s possible for me to become an astronaut and to go through the steps along the journey of training and getting my body ready with the hope of becoming an astronaut,” Bourgeoise said.
Bourgeoise was in Fort Lupton March 19 to meet the Colorado Rocketry Association of Space Hobbyists at their launching site, learning how they build the rockets and getting the opportunity himself to press the launch button as they blast o into the sky. It’s all part of documentary for Shine TV, a British television production company that specializes in reality show contests and
“I met him in 2021 when I saw his trainspotting videos on TikTok, I reached out to him and said, I’m a TV producer, and if you ever wanted to do anything for television...”
Levene said. “I told him I’d love to throw my hat in the ring, thinking that people ask him all the time. And he emailed back straight away saying, let’s chat. So, we’ve been working together ever since.”
Levene described a documentary that takes the TikTok star around the world experiencing various aspects of space ight. e project does not have a title yet or an air date, Levene said.
Rail to orbit
Bourgeoise said he has spent most of his life living in Somerset, along Britain’s western coast. He has had a lifelong passion for trains, which broadened during the COVID-19 pandemic when he began lming his
railway experiences and adventures.
“Trains and railway enthusiasm has been a part of my life since I was a toddler when I was able to process the world. It’s when I knew I loved trains,” Bourgeoise said.
Trainspotters is the British name for particularly ardent rail fans who make a hobby out of tracking trains, noting speci c engines and recording their movements.
“It existed throughout my life, and during COVID, I started lming my railway, trainspotting moments. Kind of by mistake, it has become my career now, and I’m here in America, which wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t posted my rst video,” he said.
He recorded most of his viral videos himself with a sh-eye lens on a GoPro camera mounted in front of his face to capture his expression as the trains zoom past. His social media fame soon blew up in 2021, and he claims to have more than 2.9 million TikTok followers and another 2.3 million on Instagram.
Food truck bill would cut licensee red tape
Bill could ease licensing, permitting requirements in di erent jurisdictions
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
David Sevcik knows all about the Mac ‘Noodles, Mile High Cheeseteak and Walking Tacos as well as other culinary delights he serves up in his 10 food trucks that circulate in the metro area. His menu aside, Sevcik also has to keep track of which city and county requires him to get new health and re safety permits to allow his truck grills to operate. e new permits are necessary in many Colorado cities and counties, even though he may have already earned the same permit from a di erent jurisdiction.
New fees for health and re inspections for each truck can quickly add up, Sevcik said. e Westminster resident said last year he paid nearly $10,000 in fees to local jurisdictions to stay in local compliance.
“I am not trying to fail, I want to stay in business and make everyone safe,” Sevcik said. “But this can get expensive.” Sevcik Tuesday was prepared to testify in the State Legislature or HB25-1295,
Francis Bourgeoise interviews Jake Slater, a Dawson School 10th grader who built a rocket to launch at the C.R.A.S.H. launch site in Fort Lupton, while Shine TV cameraman Sam Redmond and soundman Alex Faucheux of Centennial record. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD
Planning for Brighton’s future
Seven programs under discussion at Brighton’s planning open house
BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Downtown Brighton resident Izzy Maloney said she’s not opposed to eliminating parking along Main Street if it makes the road friendlier for foot tra c.
“I feel like we need to help the ascetic and the experience on Main Street, with bigger sidewalks,” Maloney said.
She was one of the many folks who wandered into the Brighton Memorial Armory March 25 to view plans for improving Brighton’s downtown. It was part of a community planning open house discussing seven di erent options for changing the downtown works, from changing tra c patterns to improving Colorado Highway 7 west of the town and creating bus services a long that route.
City sta and consultants were also on hand to discuss updating the city’s Comprehensive Plan in 2026 and nding a replacement for BURA, the Brighton Urban Renewal Authority, which is set to end in 2027.
City Councilors in February discussed potential road changes in the downtown’s core area designed to make the area more walkable by removing some on-street parking and widening sidewalks.
Councilors discussed three options. e rst would keep two-way tra c along the road, one lane in either direction, but would e ectively double the sidewalk space on both sides, replacing the on-street parking there. at would remove parking spaces on the street north of the Bridge Street intersection. at was her favorite.
“ e fact that there are only 17 parking spaces there is big, for me,” Maloney said. “It’s just 17 spaces and they are always taken. If you do manage to get one, it’s the luck of the draw. You can’t count on it, so I don’t see a problem with doing away with them.”
A second option would convert Main Street to one-way tra c headed towards Bridge Street from the north and the south
— northbound between Bush and Bridge and southbound from N. Cabbage to Bridge. at plan would preserve one side of on-street parking in line with the ow of tra c and widen sidewalks slightly.
e third option would make Main Street a southbound one-way for its entire path through the downtown, with on-street parking on the west side of the street and slightly wider sidewalks. N. Cabbage Street would become a dedicated one-way road between Egbert and its intersection with Main Street. and would get a new tra c signal.
“I like one way streets, but the sidewalks are not wide enough,” she said. “I like the idea of calming downtown. It’s scary, it’s loud and it’s lled with big trucks and semis. at makes me uncomfortable.”
Her suggestion is to create a walkway connecting the street with parking lots on the other side.
Councilors are expected to take the idea up later this year.
Bus Rapid Transit options
Tammy Herreid, marketing director for Denver Metro transit group Smart Commute, came to talk about improvements to Highway 7 between Brighton and Boulder. Starting as Bridge Street in Brighton, the highway becomes Baseline Road in Boulder, carrying thousands of commuters daily to Boulder, Broom eld, Lafayette and Erie.
ments of Brighton’s Urban Renewal Authority, or BURA.
e state is considering also building a mobility hub at the intersection with Interstate 25 with bus service along the route, and dedicated bike and pedestrian paths along the sides.
Brighton Public Works sta ers were on hand to discuss a micro-mobility service around the city for handicapped and elder residents.
“It would work like an Uber or Lyft for people, just be getting a ride and getting around the city,” Noe Martinez, of Brighton Public Works.
Martinez said the city hopes to go out to bid for the service later this year.
City sta were also presenting federal EPA Brown elds grants that can help cleanup sites that contain asbestos, lead or other hazards.
A successor for BURA
e event was hosted at the Armory, which is one of the crowning achieve-
BURA was created in 2001 to redevelop and renew the downtown area and the neighborhoods around it. Over the past 24 years, BURA has helped build a ordable housing downtown, and in 2009 refurbished the city’s old Armory building into an entertainment venue brought in Anythink Library Brighton downtown.
But the authority is set to end in 2027, and local leaders are looking for a replacement.
City Councilor Jim Snyder said a Downtown Development Authority is one option.
“If we lose BURA, we lose all those abilities in the future,” Snyder said. He’s also the City Council’s appointee to the BURA board.
According to state law, communities can create a Downtown Development Authority or board to plan and fund downtown improvements, including marketing, promotion and public improvement such as roads, sidewalks, buildings and other kinds of public in-
vestment.
ose boards can hire a director and sta , go into debt and levy property taxes on the downtown area according to state law.
“It’s not even up to the City Council. It’s up to the voters and speci cally the voters in the DDA area,” Snyder said. “So, if we they end up voting on a mill levy or a tax increment of some kind, that’s up to them. It wouldn’t be up to the City Council.
Voters would need to approve creating the authority, according to state law. Amanda Kannard of Progressive Urban Management Associates, the city’s consultant on the Development Authority question, said the current plan is to ask voters to support the authority on the November ballot.
“ ere are several ballot questions that would be involved, but that depends on public support this summer,” Kannard said. “We won’t move into that legal process unless we have support from the city, particularly the property and business owners in the downtown area.”
Facebook a pain for Brighton City Councilor
Fraudsters use hacked account to defraud friends, Facebook followers
BY SCOTT TAYLOR
Tom Green discovered his Facebook account had been hacked on Monday, but it wasn’t until Wednesday that it really hit home.
“I had friends calling me all asking about it, but on Wednesday someone was pounding on my door, saying he was there to pick up the motorcycle and the trailer he’d purchased,” said Green, a Brighton City Councilor and member of the School District 27J board. “He said he’d given them, like, $1,000. I didn’t
know how to help him. I felt sorry for him but I didn’t know how to help him because it wasn’t me he was talking to.”
Green said his 20-year-old Facebook account slipped out of his control sometime overnight Sunday March 16 or early on the 17th.
“I usually get noti cations when anything changes, but this one came in overnight, while I was asleep,” he said. “I just missed it.”
When he awoke, he found the top of his page now asked for help from the community in caring for a sister-in-law with lung cancer.
In real life, his sister-in-law is just ne.
“I had to apologize to her, too,” Green said. “She lives in another state and her daughter, my niece, called me and asked what was going on. I said, ‘Tell her I’m sorry.’ She’s ne. She’s ne, and she’s a healthy active person.”
70 items for sale
But the post said the family was selling several personal items to help pay for her care.
“FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS!” the post read. It has since been removed by Facebook.
“Hello everyone we’re conducting a sale of personal items due to my Sister in law move to a care facility he was diagnosed with lung cancer stage 4 , which requires signi cant downsizing. To manage this transition smoothly, We have a truck and can deliver at a small extra fee.
Send a Dm if interested in any item.”
It went on to list more than 70 items for sale, ranging from two di erent household electrical generators, bicycles, household appliances, golf carts, a trampoline, dog crates and kennels and a 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle as well as 10 cars or trucks.
ose interested were asked to send in a deposit electronically, through Apple Pay or some other kind of service. ey were then directed to wait for Green to contact them.
Warnings deleted
Most of his long time friends realized something was wrong and contacted him directly. Some posted directly on the hacked page, saying it was a scam and that the page had been hacked.
“But their comments were just deleted, as soon as they made them, and then they were blocked,” he said. “I had several contact me directly and o er help, and one person said they were going to send some money but they were stopped by PayPal. It’s sad, because if you are a trustworthy person, people want to help.
Brighton Associate Planner Summer McCann and Planning Technician Hampton Moore discuss updates to the city’s Comprehensive Plan at the Brighton Armory March 25. SCOTT TAYLOR
NAHB’s International Builders’ Show 2025 in Las Vegas Provided a Glimpse of New & Inspiring Products
Regular readers of this column know that I’m a sucker for new and innovative products. Many of them are on display each year at the National Association of Home Builders’ annual International Builders’ Show (IBS), which was held in Las Vegas the last week of February.
For me, as a real estate professional, IBS is comparable in interest to what the Consumer Electronics Show (now CES) is to geeks. This is where we learn about new concepts in manufacturing, both of home building materials and of houses themselves.
There were many “smart home” products promoted at IBS, including an app called OliverIQ, which claims to tie together all of one’s smart home devices into “smart home as a service” (SHaaS). At right is a screenshot of this app shown on an iPhone.
Literally hundreds of companies purchased exhibit space at February’s IBS show in Las Vegas, and I wish I could have attended, but here are some of the new or improved products which I learned about from press reports.
Lighting is an important part of any home, and one of the innovations that caught my attention was Alloy LED’s SurfaFlex 1 Tape Light. It is demonstrated in the picture below, providing a nice alternative to indirect lighting, which was also on display in various forms by other vendors.
When I visited a Scottsdale hotel several years ago, I was captivated by the folding garage door on its restaurant. Well, that concept is now going mainstream, albeit at a cost many home builders or homeowners might not feel they could justify.
Instead of the garage door traveling overhead on rails, rendering that part of the ceiling inaccessible and unusable, this garage door folds itself at the top of the opening. Clopay’s VertiStack garage door, shown below, won “Best of Show” at this year’s IBS.
Another product concept that caught my attention was under-counter refrigerator and freezer drawers, great for a wet bar, shown here between a couple beverage coolers.
Attention Wood Workers & Hobbyists!
I’m listing a home next month (or sooner) that has a fully equipped woodworking shop in the basement with lots of expensive woodworking equipment, most of which are Delta branded — table saw, planer, drill press, band saw, miter saw, and sawdust vacuum, plus hand power tools. Help me help the seller liquidate these tools before we put his home on the market. Call me at 303-525-1851
speaker system to the heated seat with hands-free opening and closing.” It is priced at $9,796.01 on Kohler.com. I’ll pass, thank you. Walls of glass are nothing new, of course. I saw my first example of a wall of sliding glass panels that opened onto a patio (with outdoor kitchen, of course) in a house in Lakewood’s Solterra subdivision that I helped a client purchase several years ago. I haven’t seen others quite as large and dramatic since, but maybe they’ll catch on following the display of a “multi-slide door” at IBS. They are also sold as pocket doors, but more typically stack into the width of one panel.
maintenance-free way to bring nature and tranquility indoors.
In the posting of this article on our blog, http://RealEstateToday.substack.com, I’ll include links for each of these products
Over 90% of Listing Agents Insert Faulty Legal Descriptions in MLS
I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating. As a finicky editor, it has always bothered me that my fellow agents don’t know what is and isn’t the proper legal description.
I analyzed 100 listing on REcolorado, our local MLS, and only 8 of them had a clean legal description. Let me explain.
Most non-rural listings are in a subdivision, and are legally described by the name of the subdivision plus the block and lot numbers. But almost every listing agent inserts the “legal description” provided by the Realist report obtained via the MLS. That description also contains a Section, Township, and Range as well as the size of the parcel in addition to the subdivision, block and lot, like this from a recent listing of mine:
SECTION 34 TOWNSHIP 02 RANGE 69 QTR NE SUBDIVISIONCD 138000 SUBDIVISIONNAME CLUB CREST FLG #2 BLOCK 003 LOT 0011 SIZE: 11001 TRACT VALUE: .253
Heading the list of truly weird products was a “smart toilet” from Kohler, the Numi 2.0, shown below. It “combines unmatched design and technology to bring you the finest in personal comfort and cleansing. Kohler's most advanced toilet now offers personalized settings that let you fine-tune every option to your exact preferences, from ambient colored lighting and built-in audio
Client Praises One of Our Agents
Hi, Jim. This is Rita Levine. I just wanted to give you feedback, and I'm sure you already know this, but I closed on a home recently, and my broker was Chuck Brown. I just wanted to let you know he was the best real estate agent I have ever had, and this is my ninth house in three states. So, he was just so accommodating, so helpful, and so patient because we've been looking for four and a half years trying to find somebody that would do a contingency and find something I could afford.
And so, I just wanted to let you know how much I greatly appreciate his assistance and what a wonderful person he is.
I'm just really happy I had the opportunity to get to know him, and I'm so happy when I met with you that you brought him along and recommended that he would be the best person for me to work with because he absolutely was the best person to work with.
So, just giving you feedback, and I'm sure that's much better than any complaint because many times people only call to complain about things, and I just like to always let people know when somebody went way beyond what was expected of them, and he certainly did that. So, thanks again, and let him know that I let you know. Okay, have a great day. Bye-bye.
Lastly for this article, have you heard of “green walls”? RIVA Moss, sustainably harvested from European forests, allows for the creation of captivating living walls, framed art, and other custom installations, offering a
Here is the actual legal description, which the title company inserted in the warranty deed transferring the property to the buyer: Lot 11, Block 3, Club Crest Filing No. 2, County of Jefferson
Defying Critics, NAR Retains Its Policy Against ‘Pocket Listings’
Last week, I wrote about the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR’s) Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP), which some major brokerages would like to see abolished, claiming that it is anti-competitive.
However, NAR, bolstered by an unsolicited determination by the U.S. Department of Justice that the CCP by itself was not anti-competitive, announced last week that it was retaining the policy, while throwing some crumbs to objectors in the form of a new MLS policy called “Multiple Listing Options for Sellers.”
That new policy was effective immediately (March 25, 2025), but gave MLSs until September 30th to implement it. The irony is that our MLS and possibly many others already offer these “new listing options” specified in NAR’s new policy. Those options are spelled out as follows:
1) A consumer will have the option to market their home as a “delayed marketing exempt listing.” This means a seller can instruct their listing agent to delay the marketing of their listing by other agents outside the listing firm through IDX or syndication for a period of time. REcolorado already has this feature, a “Coming Soon” status that is limited to 7 days, during which no showings may occur, including by the listing agent.
2) During the delayed marketing period, the home seller and the listing agent can market the listing in a manner consistent with the seller’s needs and interests. At the same time, the delayed marketing exempt listing will still be available to other MLS Participants through the MLS platform so they can inform their consumers about the property. That’s how “Coming Soon” status works.
3) Each MLS will have discretion to determine a delayed marketing period that is most
suitable for their local marketplace. REcolorado set that period as 7 days.
4) Listing agents representing sellers who choose to delay the public marketing of their listing must secure from their seller a signed disclosure documenting the seller’s informed consent to waive the benefits of immediate public marketing through IDX and syndication. Seller disclosure is required for both delayed marketing exempt listings and office exclusive exempt listings. The Colorado Real Estate Commission dictates that sellers be advised that restricting the exposure of their listing may not be in the public interest, but I don’t believe that such disclosures are being made to sellers by agents who convince sellers to keep their listing visible only to fellow agents within the same brokerage.
As I noted in last week’s column, listing agents can simply check a box during data entry to keep a listing off other broker websites, including realtor.com, redfin.com, and Zillow.com.
In summary, REcolorado has nothing to do to comply with this new “rule.”
My only wish is that NAR would disallow the “office exclusive” policy, which is itself anticompetitive, in that it disadvantages independent brokers and small brokerages, which, like small businesses, are the real workhorses of the real estate industry.
Does State Law Trump NAR Dictates?
Alabama has enacted a law that buyers do not need to sign an agreement with a broker in order to be shown a home for sale, directly overriding a key part of last year’s NAR settlement. The local Realtor Association lobbied for the bill, saying it put undue duress on buyers and was not in the best interest of consumers.
ROCKETS
He has since collaborated with singer Joe Jonas and other celebrities and hosted a digital series “Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeoise” on Britain’s Channel 4.
Going from train engines to rockets was a modest step.
“I have a broad interest in engineering and particular interests in the railway space and rockets,” Bourgeoise said.
C.R.A.S.H in Colorado
e Colorado Rocketry Association of Space Hobbyists got its start about 30 years ago, according to Range Advisor Roland Halperin. He’s been a rocket fan much longer than that.
“When I was younger, I got into rocketry in the 60s while in college,” he said “I had a son, he became interested in rocketry, and so we started building rockets together.”
He found a core group who enjoyed building and launching rockets that are much bigger and more powerful than the standard ones available in hobby stories. Halperin said there few places to launch these rockets since most municipalities consider them to be reworks. e group eventually founded “Crash the Club”, at Bear Creek Lake Park and launched from there for about 20 years.
“ en things changed down there, we were no longer able to launch, and so we needed a new site, and it had to be a very large area,” Halperin said. “You don’t want a lot of grass that potentially could catch on re. You don’t want to be near houses or trees where rockets can hit them.”
Halperin said they found near Fort Lupton and have been leasing the land from the state of Colorado for about four years as C.R.A.S.H.
C.R.A.S.H rocketeer John
Scuba said he loves rocketry as a hobby.
“You spend months building something. I mean, not little things, I can y big rockets too, when you put it out of the pad, and you ignite the motor, and it goes up,” Scuba said. “You’ve done everything right, it’s exciting, it’s a beautiful ight and it’s a very good feeling. If you haven’t done something right, well it is- what it is.”
STEM Connection
“We launch on the rst Sunday and third Saturday of every month, starting at nine o’clock. We have a lot of STEM students come out, a lot of families. We have a lot of people that are just interested in rockets and want to have the support,” Halperin said.
twice a year and launch rockets as part of their training,” Halperin said. “ ey have a mandatory program where they have to build a rocket and launch it and learn about aerodynamics.”
Working with STEM students was a bonus for the lmmakers, and Halperin said it was one of the things that brought them to Fort Lupton. In fact, the production March 19 included several nearby students.
Six middle and high school students from Lafayette’s Dawson School came to meet Bourgeoise and launch the rockets they made in science class.
Physics teacher Eric Friedman brought the students to test the rockets that he helped them learn how to build.
“I taught them the construction of the rockets and on the physics side of things, we talked about propulsion and thrust, and things like impulse and speci c impulse, which are words that are used to describe sort of the overall oomph that a rocket motor has,” Friedman said. “ is is my rst time out here, and it’s super fun. e rockets are great, and the students have been really into it and that’s wonderful.”
“We also have the Civil Air Patrol cadets come out at least
Trainspotting with Big Boy
While in the U.S., Bourgeoise also made a stop in Wyoming to visit Union Paci c’s 4014 “Big Boy,” the world’s largest steam locomotive. Bourgeoise said he was profoundly impressed by the “Big Boy” noting its immense size and detail.
“I got to see “Big Boy” and everything that I know about standard guage steam locomotives and the scale, and all its reference points vaporized,” Bourgeoise said. “It was completely blown out of the park being next to the wheels and the motion. “With this massive boiler, I was able to stand inside of the smoke box, stand up straight. is thing’s huge, the world’s biggest steam locomotive.”
Francis Bourgeoise helps Jack Slater to set up the rocket he built for launch.
Francis Bourgeoise talks with David Bauer, who built a steam train and wants to make it fly. He calls it New York Central. Daniel Winter likes rockets too and grew up with a dad who is a model rocketeer. PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD
Weld releasing oil and gas newsletter
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Weld County is launching a newsletter to inform its communities about the oil and gas work the Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department does, according to a news release on March 3.
“We’re fortunate to have oil and gas in our county, but the positives the industry brings sometimes get lost in the headlines,” said Weld Commissioner Chair Perry Buck. “ ere may be many people who may not know about the work of the OGED, and this newsletter will touch on that as well. We encourage everyone to sign up for the Weld County Energy Line.”
Weld considers two locations for new judicial center
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Weld County will hire two rms to determine the costs and plans for a new judicial center, commissioners announced on March 24.
Engineering and PCL Construction to do the groundwork of the cost to build and for civil engineering at both potential sites and present it to the board in May.
e county’s goal of publishing a newsletter is to provide the following information and education about the work they are planning and building.
e newsletter will provide information about the relationship between agriculture and oil and gas, the history of oil and gas development in Weld County, why and how the oil and gas industry is critical and the county’s stance on important legislation and participation in the industry.
Weld County Energy will also serve to introduce employees and their roles working for the energy department and o er ways to engage with residents and with industry reps and will feature a question and answer section.
Weld County is the state’s leading energy producer, producing 80% of oil and gas production and 50% of natural gas production.
e rst issue of the newsletter will be released in April and it will be published bi-monthly. To receive the newsletter, visit the https:// public.govdelivery.com/ accounts/COWELD/ subscribers/new online and select Weld County Energy Line, and enter your email.
Board of Commissioners voted to let facilities director Patrick O’Neill to hire the rms to work on the judicial center planned for two potential sites, in North Greeley or downtown Greeley.
e county contracted with RJA
“We have presentations and estimates on the cost of the building itself, regardless of where it is built,” said Commissioner Chair Perry Buck. “Now what we need are the costs to get the building running at either location — road improvements, water and sewer lines, etc. ese rms are going to research that for us.”
“At rst glance, for example, it may appear cheaper to build a new justice center on O St., because there wouldn’t be any building demolition costs, but the county would have to pay for perhaps one mile of water and sewer line to get the new building,” said Commissioner Pro Tem Scott James. “We are trying to get an apples-to-apples comparison. ere are infrastructure costs that need to be calculated into the equation so we, as a board, can make the best decision for the county overall.”
Weld County o ering landfill vouchers
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment is o ering its annual free voucher program for residents to dispose of unwanted items at the North Weld or Front Range Landlls, according to a news release on March 19.
Approved items for disposal include mattresses, couches, and tables for free; however, there is a limited number of vouchers available.
e voucher can only be used for one truckload with bed rails level or a trailer weighing up to one ton. If the items exceed voucher limits, then a fee will be charged at the time of disposal, according to o cials.
ONLINE AUCTION
e vouchers are limited to one per address in Weld County and can be used at either the North Weld Land ll in Ault or the Front Range Land ll in Erie.
For more information about the approved items to be dropo and hours and other land ll questions, please contact the sites directly:
• North Weld - www.wmsolutions.com or call 970-686-2800.
• Front Range - www.frontrangeland ll.com or call 303637-9431.
e voucher program will run from April 1 through June 2. To receive a voucher, residents must register on the Weld County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) webpage at www.weld. gov/go/hhw.
April 9th @ 9:00 A.M.
Inspection Times: April 7th & 8th from 8:15am - 4:45pm
North Weld or Front Range Landfills is accepting vouchers from the county for residents to drop o unwanted. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD
Walking the line of ‘all of the above’
Colorado sends four Democrats and four Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives. Of them, Je Hurd, a Republican from Grand Junction, and Gabe Evans, a Republican from Fort Lupton, will be the most interesting to watch during the next two years. ese two representatives, both new to Congress in January, were among 21 Republican signatories in the House to a letter calling for restraint in e orts to gut the In ation Reduction Act.
e letter expresses concern about “disruptive changes to our nation’s energy tax structure.” e New York Times and Utility Dive both interpreted the language as a reference to the IRA, the landmark climate legislation adopted in August 2022. President Donald Trump, the Times notes, often talks about repealing the law.
Atlas Public Policy, a research rm, reported in February that 80% of funds authorized by the law have gone to Congressional districts represented by Republicans.
Hurd, an attorney who formerly was chief counsel for the Delta-Montrose Electric Association, essentially replaced Lauren Boebert in the ird Congressional District. Boebert was almost certainly headed for defeat had she tried to run against Aspen’s Adam Frisch a second time in the Western Slope-dominated and Republican-leaning district after
squeaking out just 50.6% of votes in the strongly Republican-leaning district. With a new home in Windsor, she easily won election in Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District.
While Boebert inevitably echoes Trump, Hurd signaled his measured distance from MAGA hat-wearing positions when he criticized Trump’s blanket pardon of rioters who had invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. At the same time, his bill, Productive Public Lands Act, rhymes with Trump’s drill-baby-drill slogan. Never mind that the United States has already been setting records for oil and gas extraction.
As long as he can survive Republican primaries. Hurd can probably return to Washington for a good many terms. His drill bill is likely part of that political dance.
Evans has a more tricky path to negotiate. He narrowly beat the incumbent Democrat, Yadira Caraveo, in the Eighth Congressional District. e district extends from the edge of Denver to the farm country of northern Colorado. Although a former police o cer in Arvada, he nonetheless refrained from criticizing Trump’s
pardons of the rioters, as Denver TV newscaster Kyle Clark pointed out.
Most of Weld County lies in his district. e county delivers 82% of Colorado’s crude oil and 56% of its natural gas extraction. e district also has the Vestas factory in Brighton that produces nacelles for wind turbines. Vestas has 1,800 employees in Colorado between that factory and another in Windsor. Evans’ district also has many solar energy installations.
On March 13, Evans visited the Vestas factory, a ve-megawatt solar installation near LaSalle, and an oil installation. Bayswater, operator of the latter, proclaims itself a producer of “some of the cleanest energy molecules in the country and world.”
Invited to tag along, Channel 4 gave Evans the time to say that he favored an “all-of-the-above safe, a ordable, secure energy supply to bring costs down to consumers and jobs back to the United States.”
at “all-of-the-above energy approach” was a key element of the letter signed by Evans and Hurd. Combined with a robust advanced manufacturing sector, the approach “will support the United States’ position as a global energy leader,” the letter said. “Both our constituencies and the energy industry alike remain concerned about disruptive changes to our nation’s energy tax structure.”
Skiing is more than just a day on the hill
There’s something about skiing that transforms us, no matter our age, back into kids again. It’s enough to make even those of us who have seen a few more seasons behave with a youthful exuberance that feels as fresh as the mountain air itself. On a bluebird day, after a night of fresh powder, we can’t help but smile with delight as we carve our way down the mountain, feeling an unmatched sense of freedom and exhilaration.
ere are plenty of other sports that get our competitive juices owing. Whether we’re measuring ourselves against personal bests, friendly rivals, or family members, the thrill of competition is alive in us and in so many di erent ways. Pickleball is all the rage these days, and I completely understand why; it’s fast and fun and brings people together with a mix of strategy and humor. Watching pickleball videos and memes only adds to the enjoyment.
ferent altogether.
ere’s an incredible magic to it, a mix of adrenaline and serenity that few other sports capture. Watching little kids trailing behind their ski instructor, giggling and squealing with delight, is enough to bring a smile to anyone’s face. With boundless excitement, these same kids will later tell their parents about the “massive air” they caught on the tiniest of jumps, their enthusiasm unshaken by reality.
by the re, and raise a glass to the adventures we’ve just had. e live music plays, laughter lls the air, and everyone, whether they spent the day conquering double blacks or simply cruising the greens, shares in the collective joy of a day well spent. Kids revel in the simple pleasure of a hot chocolate and a gooey chocolate chip cookie while the adults sip on a well-earned drink, recounting the day’s best runs and near-misses.
ITennis is another fantastic sport with players of all ages stepping onto the courts, proving that a good rally never goes out of style. And then there’s golf, one of my personal favorites. It’s a game of patience, skill, and, let’s be honest, occasional frustration. Golf is one of those four-letter words that can bring both joy and agony in the same round. Yet, occasionally, we hit that perfect shot or drain that unexpected long putt, and suddenly, we’re hooked all over again.
But let’s get back to skiing because skiing is something dif-
It’s infectious, that joy, and it reminds us why we keep returning to the mountain year after year. en there’s the chairlift, that unexpected place where conversations with strangers become part of the adventure. We meet people from all over, sharing stories of our favorite runs, the best powder stashes, and what brought us to the slopes in the rst place.
ere’s an unspoken camaraderie among skiers and snowboarders alike, whether we’re carving wide, sweeping turns, chasing the thrill of speed, or tackling moguls with a mix of determination and grace.
Even if we’re admiring others from the lift as they attack the bumps or oat e ortlessly through fresh powder, we’re all in it together, bound by the love of the mountain.
And then there’s Après Ski. at glorious time of day when we unbuckle our boots, nd a warm spot
Skiing is more than just a sport; it’s a celebration of family, friendship, and the joy of being alive. It’s about those moments we spend with loved ones, the community we create with strangers who, for a day, feel like old friends. It’s about the pure, un ltered happiness of gliding down the mountain, feeling the crisp air on our faces, and knowing that, no matter how many years we’ve been at it, the joy of skiing never fades.
So, here’s to winter, fresh snow, blue skies, and the timeless magic of skiing. I hope to see you on the slopes and would love to hear about your ski adventures at gotonorton@gmail.com. And remember that when we can nd something like skiing that puts us all in that child-like state, it really will be a better-than-good life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.
Tax credits adopted over the last decade “allowed energy developers to plan with these tax incentives in mind. ese timelines have been relied upon when it comes to capital allocation, planning, and project commitments, all of which would be jeopardized by premature credit phase outs or additional restrictive mechanisms such as limiting transferability.”
e Evans all-of-the-above tour was arranged by a former Republican state senator, Greg Brophy. Brophy grows watermelons north of Wray and operates an organization called e Western Way. Brophy has been a strong supporter of renewable energy for eastern Colorado and also has a presence on the Western Slope. Brophy told me that he has organized a similar tour for another member of Congress from Colorado, but it has not been scheduled. He declined to identify the representative. What if Trump succeeds in rolling back the federal energy tax credits? Energy Innovation, a think tank, estimates increased average household energy costs in Colorado of $180 per year by 2030. Will other Republicans in Colorado’s congressional delegation join Evans and Hurd? After all, renewable energy didn’t start out as a partisan issue.
Allen Best chronicles Colorado’s energy and water transitions at BigPivots.com.
Sometimes it’s not about swinging for the fences
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
n the summer of 1927, at a high point in America’s love a air with baseball, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were embroiled in a widely publicized home run-hitting battle. Both were having career years hitting the long ball and in a 155-game season, Ruth would ultimately hit 60 home runs, with Gehrig hitting 47. Although the end tally does not seem to re ect it, throughout much of the season, these teammates were in close competition for the most home runs.
e combination of their home run race and the remarkable strength of the Yankees that year — who nished with a 110-45 regular season record and swept the World Series 4-0 against Pittsburgh, trailing for just one-anda-half innings throughout the entire series — made the Yankees the team that captured everyone’s attention.
During this epic home run battle, Lou Gehrig wrote a syndicated article with this insightful passage, “And now a word about home run hitting. If the ball goes in the bleachers, well and good. If it goes for a single that scores a run, better still. I am proud of my record for driving in runs. I think I have a right to be. And if I live to be ninety and play baseball every day of that time, I will still get a thrill when I pound out a hit that sends a run over the plate.” is article, republished by historian Alan Ga , gives us such insight into Gehrig’s mindset. Gehrig certainly knew a ton about hits. In fact, he had 218 in 1927, almost 1.5 hits per game, an awesome number.
Gehrig’s words and self-proclaimed celebration of “run-scoring hits” got me thinking about how we spend time, in our individual struggles, trying to hit the home run, looking to end the hardship quickly with one heroic action.
I nd, in Gehrig’s comments, a challenge to focus less on the home run and more on “run-scoring hits.” What does “runscoring hits” mean in our struggles? For me, it means doing my morning exercises with delity and skipping that extra cookie that I think I need. For others, it means small improvements, little changes, maybe an afternoon walk, or time spent practicing a new skill, or even a chance to read a book. It will most certainly mean something di erent to each of us.
WINNING
Jim Roome
BIG PIVOTS
Allen Best
which would require local governments to grant reciprocal business licenses, health permits, and re safety permits to food truck operators that hold active licenses and permits from another local jurisdiction.
e measure is sponsored by Rep. Manny Rutinel, an Adams County Democrat, who says food truck operators now must pay for health and re safety permits in di erent
jurisdictions even though they have met the exact requirements in another locale.
“Food trucks are a growing part of Colorado’s economy, and they are inherently mobile and meant to operate across multiple jurisdictions,” Rutinel said in Capitol Watch, which breaks down each proposed bill. “Local government licensing and permitting requirements create unnecessary burdens on food truck businesses.”
e measure would require food trucks to be granted reciprocal business licenses and permits if the food truck owners provide a valid business license from another local government, a valid health depart-
he didn’t hear anything from Facebook or parent company Meta. He suspects the Facebook was busily communicating with hacker.
ere were a lot of good people who were taken in and they just wanted to help.”
Green said he didn’t get the identity of the person who stopped by his house, but suggested they contact the Brighton Police.
As of March 24, no reports had been led, according to police ofcials.
A man without a Facebook
What’s almost as frustrating for Green is the lack of help he received from Facebook. Facebook directs people who nd posts they didn’t make or who have had their photos, text or entire account hijacked to go to “www.facebook. com/hacked” to make a report.
Green said he tried to do that, but
Multiple friends made reports to the company, and the page was removed by Wednesday afternoon.
Green said it’s no longer under his control and he cannot access anything on the account, including friends lists and photos. A political page he used to create ads for the seats he was seeking was removed as well.
“It’s all gone now,” he said. “I had 20 years of memories, interactions and friendships I can no longer see. I had 534 friends and no way to contact them now, and tell them what’s happened.”
He tried to make a replacement Facebook account, to no avail.
“It looks like I have become the man without a Facebook,” he wrote on Sunday. “I had created a new account and posted
ment permit from another local government and a valid re safety permit, according to the bill.
Consistency or local concerns e current system of permitting food trucks discourages people looking to break into the business because of the weight of red tape, said Maria Gonzalez, founder and CEO of Adelante Community Development. e Commerce Citybased non-pro t works to help Spanishspeaking entrepreneurs succeed in the business world.
“We just need more statewide consis-
a couple things, interacting with friends and then FB decided I wasn’t ‘me’. After several attempts to ‘con rm my identity’, sending pictures of my passport and driv ers license, the powers that be sent me this.”
In an email, Facebook noti ed him that it had removed the new account as well, citing violations of Facebook community standards regarding account integrity. According to Facebook, he cannot request a review of that decision.
tency in the permitting process,” Gonzalez said. “ at would help those just starting out.”
e legislation is opposed by the Colorado Municipal League, which says in part that “ e bill overrides local decisions about where and how often food trucks operate.”
“ e bill also overrides local public health, re, and licensing regulations by requiring jurisdictions to accept health and re safety permits from other jurisdictions with potentially less stringent rules,” according to the Colorado Municipal League.
age you, and that you will share them with those who need support. ank you to everyone who has shared their stories with me so far; I truly appreciate hearing about your run-scoring hits and celebrations.
Green said he didn’t worry about security on the account before and didn’t know if he had two factor authentication enabled. at requires a user to type in an updated code after typing in their password. e code can be generated on a phone app or via text message and its one of top security recommendations that Facebook and its parent company Meta urge its users to adopt.
cannot de ne it for you, but I do know this — hitting “runscoring hits” entails making a small di erence for yourself or someone else; it is de nitely more than simply breathing that day.
I hope that you nd time to de ne your hits and then will take more time to celebrate the miraculous number of “run-scoring hits” you have.
You are amazing. Keep your eyes wide open to all you have and all you will accomplish. You have got this.
I hope my words encour-
Jim Roome lives in Arvada with his wife, Beth. He spent 34 years in public education. Lessons learned from the one-two punch of being diagnosed with MS shortly before his best friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer led him into a new pursuit as a freelance writer and speaker. He uses his life experiences and love of stories to inspire, educate and encourage local, national and international audiences. Contact him at jim.roome@ gmail.com.
in municipal court KIDS ON THEIR OWN
Children as young as 10 can face charges with no court-appointed representation
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
“Yes, your honor,” a teenager answers, her voice barely audible in the quiet courtroom in March. Lakewood Municipal Court Judge Corin Flannigan has just asked her if she understands the charge against her — ghting in public — and the possible penalties she faces.
“I know you’ve spoken to the city attorney about your options,” Flannigan continues. “ ey are recommending a term of diversion if you choose to plead guilty.”
e girl’s grandmother, standing beside her, hesitates before speaking.
“What happens if she pleads not guilty? She was protecting her property,” she says.
“If you wish to plead not guilty today, you absolutely can, and I will set your case for trial,” Flannigan replies. “Please know that, unlike state court, juvenile cases aren’t eligible for the public defender because no detention or out-ofhome placement is possible. So if you plead not guilty, you would either have to represent yourself or hire your own attorney.”
e girl glances at her grandmother. ey exchange a brief, uncertain look, and Flannigan asks if she wants to plead guilty after all.
e girl nods.
is scenario isn’t an anomaly. It’s routine in municipal courts across Colorado, where children can be prosecuted for minor o enses without court-appointed legal representation unless they face jail time.
Amanda Savage, a visiting assistant
professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, said the disparity in these cases is profound.
“ ere is such a power imbalance any time an individual is in a courtroom, even if they are represented,” Savage said. “You have the power of the city or the state on one side against a single person, even if they have an attorney. And that’s so much more dramatic when it’s a child or a young person, especially when they are standing there by themselves.”
The harsh reality of youth in municipal court ousands of Colorado youth receive municipal citations every year, often for school-related incidents such as ghting, disorderly conduct or petty theft.
According to a 2025 National Center for Youth Law report, Lakewood Municipal Court alone handled over 8,000 youth cases between 2016 and 2022, many of which originated from school-based incidents. e report found that only 1.5% of these cases involved a defense attorney, meaning nearly all children were left to defend themselves.
Not only do the vast majority not have an attorney, but the report highlighted just how young many of the defendants are. In Lakewood, 36 cases involved 10 year olds, 98 involved 11 year olds and 278 involved 12 year olds, most of whom faced court involvement for minor, child-like misbehavior.
Hannah Seigel Pro , a defense attorney representing youth in municipal and state courts across Colorado, said that this pattern of prosecution unnecessar-
ily entangles young children in the legal system and imposes excessive supervision for behaviors that could be handled within families and schools.
Pro believes this over-supervision of youth who don’t have signi cant risks or needs is problematic.
Savage agreed, describing the lasting impact this can have on children’s futures.
“It can certainly set people on a path that involves increasing levels of involvement in the system,” she said. “If they don’t do well while they’re on that diversion or that probation, it can get longer, additional problems can crop up from it, and it can become a big part of that person’s life and future identity.”
A courtroom stacked against kids
Pro emphasized that the system places an undue burden on children and their families.
“You have a system that is designed for adults being applied to children with no modi cations,” she said. “You’re putting children in front of a judge and a prosecutor, without counsel, and expecting them to understand their rights, their legal options and the long-term impact of their decisions.”
Pro noted that many of these children have no way to obtain legal representation.
“In municipal court, they give you a piece of paper with a list of low-cost lawyers, but most of those lawyers don’t take these cases or won’t return calls. So in reality, these kids have no representation at all,” she said. “Without legal rep-
resentation, families do not understand their rights. Prosecutors downplay the severity of the municipal court system, but these cases are often the rst stop on the school-to-prison pipeline.”
e report also highlights another stark disparity — youth in municipal court must pay for discovery, which is the process of obtaining evidence against them. In contrast, evidence is freely available to juveniles in state court. is nancial barrier means many children never see the evidence being used against them before making critical legal decisions.
e report also argues that prosecutors often encourage youth to plead guilty and enter a diversion program, regardless of whether they fully comprehend the long-term consequences. In Colorado’s juvenile justice system, diversion is an alternative to formal prosecution. It aims to prevent further legal involvement by requiring youth to complete certain obligations, such as community service, restitution payments or educational classes, in exchange for dismissed charges.
While intended to keep youth out of the court system, diversion still carries signi cant nancial and time commitments that disproportionately burden low-income families.
Pro said she’d seen the push for families to accept diversion programs — without the families fully understanding the consequences — play out many times.
ON THEIR OWN
“What has become clear to me is that the majority of juvenile municipal dockets are kangaroo courts,” Pro said. “Most children are unrepresented, and prosecutors push them to accept diversion sentences before carefully reviewing the facts of the case.”
A guilty plea can also have negative consequences concerning immigration status.
A YouTube video advising Lakewood juveniles of their rights states: “a plea of guilty or nding of conviction or possibly just the charges themselves could a ect your immigration rights. You could be deported, you could lose your ability to become a naturalized citizen and it could a ect your ability to return to the United States if you were to leave the United States.”
Punishment beyond the courtroom e consequences of municipal court involvement extend far beyond a single court appearance. Youth can face nes and fees as high as $2,650, which the National Center for Youth Law report notes are amounts they often cannot pay.
Parents, too, are drawn into the process, sometimes held nancially responsible for their child’s penalties or are required to accompany them to community service, court dates or probation meetings, according to the report.
Savage also noted that the burden doesn’t just fall on the child.
“ ere’s such a huge impact on the whole family when the kid has a municipal court case,” she said. “Because not only does the young person have to be there, but the parent does, too. at means the parent is missing work. e fact is, the parents also have to disrupt their lives and spend time doing this, instead of spending time at work or with their other kids or doing productive things.”
Who benefits from this broken system?
e National Center for Youth Law argues that Colorado’s municipal court system disproportionately impacts lowincome families and youth of color, indicating that schools in lower-income neighborhoods are more likely to call law enforcement for behavior that could be addressed through school disciplinary measures.
e report found that at least 22% of youth cases in Lakewood stemmed from school-based o enses, highlighting a school-to-municipal court pipeline that disproportionately a ects students of color.
e data also showed that the three schools referring the most students to Lakewood’s municipal court have some of the highest percentages of Black and Latino students in the Je erson County school district, reinforcing concerns about racial disparities in school discipline.
Pro said this disproportionate referral pattern raises concerns about how disciplinary decisions are made and whether schools rely too heavily on law enforcement for matters that could be handled through alternative interventions.
She pointed to Littleton’s restorative justice program as an example of an approach that, when implemented thoughtfully, can provide a more meaningful alternative to punitive measures. Pro was particularly impressed by the program’s restorative justice circles, which o er youth the opportunity to engage in community-based resolution rather than facing legal consequences that may not t their situation.
However, she also noted that restorative justice should not be applied as a onesize- ts-all solution and that careful consideration is needed in determining which cases are appropriate for such programs.
The fight for reform
In December 2023, Denver City Council unanimously approved a bill to provide free legal representation to minors between the ages of 10 and 18 who are facing municipal violations. is initiative, which took e ect on July 1, 2024, ensures that youth accused of o enses such as alcohol possession, trespassing, theft and minor assault receive appropriate legal counsel.
However, Denver is currently the only county in Colorado o ering public defenders to minors in municipal court settings.
e National Center for Youth Law is now pushing for similar reforms statewide, calling for automatic legal representation for juveniles facing charges in municipal courts.
e center recommends that policymakers enact legislation to eliminate youth nes and fees, raise the minimum age for prosecution, mandate legal repre-
sentation for minors in municipal court and require comprehensive data collection on ticketing and court outcomes. e center also urges police departments to limit or discontinue issuing tickets for school-related o enses and shift discipline away from the legal system. For school districts, it’s calling for revising disciplinary codes to reduce student ticketing for minor infractions and adopting restorative justice practices to address con icts that promote accountability and resolution without legal consequences. Pro believes that the question of whether children should be expected to navigate the complexities of the legal system without an attorney is one of fundamental fairness.
e presence of a lawyer can signicantly change how a young person experiences the legal process, Pro said, helping to demystify the system and ensure that youth feel heard and understand what’s happening.
“Even if the result is the same, even if a kid decides to still take a diversion at the end of things, just having a lawyer there and feeling like it was a fair process has value,” she said. “It makes it less scary. It helps people understand what’s going on.”
She added that many people are unaware that children can be prosecuted without legal counsel — a reality that often comes as a shock.
“ e fact that a child can face prosecution without legal counsel is something that shocks most people when they hear about it,” Pro continued. “It just feels really backwards.”
Are more restaurants closing or opening?
Here are the sources, what they say and what they mean
BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN
Eric Escudero prefers to stay apolitical, especially when it comes to contentious political issues like a proposal to pay tipped workers in Denver the same minimum wage statewide, which would e ectively lower the city’s current tipped pay by $4 an hour.
Just don’t misinterpret his data.
As the communications director for Denver’s Excise and Licenses department, his agency issues licenses to restaurants that pass safety inspections. But “retail food” licenses are also issued to food trucks, convenience stores like 7-Eleven, stadium hot dog vendors and more. Not all are restaurants. And not all “active” licenses mean a restaurant is still in business.
One cut of the data shows a decline in what are likely restaurants. Another shows an increase. Both are awed, Escudero said. But some used the data to support House Bill 1208 to let restaurants count a larger amount of a worker’s tips to o set base wages in places where the minimum wage is higher than the state. Others used it to show the fast rise of Denver’s minimum wage isn’t solely to blame for a large number of restaurant closures.
e point is, he said, “ ere is no such thing as a restaurant license in Denver.”
So what does the city’s licensing data mean? We break it down here, as well as data from other sources that provide some measure of how restaurants are surviving or failing in Colorado.
Denver’s licenses: Unclear
While older data from the city’s Excise and Licensing department shows that the number of retail food licenses grew between 2021 and 2023, the whole system was overhauled last year. at means it’s an apples-to-oranges comparison — and more like a Cara Cara oranges-to-oranges comparison.
Starting in 2025, the agency began asking applicants, “Is your business considered a restaurant?” as part of the license system overhaul.
In other words, Escudero said, Denver
now asks applicants to self-identify as a restaurant.
e best comparison he can o er is that there are currently 1,780 active licenses, compared with 2,356 in July 2023. at’s a 24.4% decline, or a loss of 576 businesses.
But again, the data sets aren’t perfectly aligned.
e 2025 numbers are businesses that con rmed they are a restaurant.
e 2023 data is “our closest estimation of what would constitute a ‘restaurant,’” he said. It excludes festival food stands or food trucks, but does include stadium hot dog vendors, 7-Eleven and McDonald’s. e 2024 data is no good because of the system overhaul.
In either case, licenses last for 15 months so some “active” licenses could include shuttered restaurants. e number of shuttered restaurants could be even higher.
“Excise and Licenses does not recommend using license data to draw conclusions about the health of the restaurant industry because licensing does not necessarily re ect whether a business is failing or thriving or if they are even operating,” Escudero said.
Denver sales-tax data
Restaurants in the city of Denver were ying high before the pandemic, but by 2021, the more than 2,600 “unique restaurant sales tax lers” dropped by 250, at least in terms of those that actually led taxes, according to the latest data from the city of Denver’s Department of Finance.
Two years later, however, the city added back 238 for a total of 2,593 restaurant-related tax lers at the end of 2023. at year, restaurants contributed $130.8 million in sales tax to the city. ere were 12 more restaurants than in 2019, when restaurants contributed $110.9 million.
Data for 2024 should be available in early April, said Joshua Rosenblum, a spokesman for the department. And the city does “expect a slight increase in collections and number of restaurant tax lers from 2023,” he said.
By “restaurants,” the city’s nance ofce uses the North American Industry Classi cation System, code 722. at includes a lot of di erent types of “Food services and Drinking Places,” such as bars, food trucks, catering services and full-service restaurants.
Another caveat, Rosenblum said, “it encompasses how the business self-re-
ported their own NAICS.”
Colorado sales tax data
Last year, more restaurants than ever led sales tax returns in Colorado, an estimated 15,865, according to the state’s Department of Revenue. Some months were higher, some lower, depending on whether a business collected sales tax from customers. is data is based on the NAICS code of 722, so it counts not just full-service restaurants but also limited-service restaurants, bars, caterers, etc. e state began extracting the number of retailers in July 2020 in the pandemic. Amber Egbert, the revenue department’s research and legislative services director, said the better measure for this story was returns because if a business like McDonald’s has 12 locations, it counts as one retailer but 12 returns.
Based on available public data since 2016, Colorado’s highest monthly returns were in September, when 17,911 food and drink-related establishments led returns. at’s a big jump from the pandemic low of 13,741 in 2020.
But Colorado had been above 17,000 before. at was in 2018, a year after Amendment 70 went into e ect to increase the state minimum wage faster than in ation. e minimum wage increased 90-cents that year to $10.20 an hour.
In 2019, returns plummeted to 14,524 in September. e pandemic hit the year after that and restaurant-related returns fell 15.7% to 14,524.
“Somewhere between 10 to 20% of the overall (retailer) population is either rolling on to the sales tax or rolling o just because of business churn,” Egbert said. “So year over year, as much as 20% of the lings are new and as much as 20% of the businesses are closing. It’s usually closer to the 10% number.”
e state breaks down industry retail sales by county and certain cities, but it doesn’t share how many returns or restaurants are in a county, at least for the food and drink category (“Some of those categories would get so small, they’re not releasable by us” for privacy reasons, she said).
We’ve compiled all the data on food and drink businesses in the larger coun-
Cook Julio Palma pulls a pizza out of the wood-fired oven Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, at Vero in The Denver Central Market. ALYTE KATILIUS/COLORADO SUN
RESTAURANTS
ties to show comparisons of how restaurant-related businesses are doing by region based on retail sales.
Federal data: Bureau of Labor Statistics
A oft-used source called the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages takes a census of employers each quarter about jobs and wages.
at gives us a good idea of how many restaurants exist in Denver and Colorado and how many workers those businesses employ. Here’s what that looked like as of thirdquarter 2024:
e data’s considered high quality because between 85% and 95% of the state’s employers share their numbers each quarter, according to QCEW’s reporting rates. Employers must ll out the survey for unemployment insurance.
e quarterly data ”basically serves as the universe/census for most labor market data (and really that is through employers submitting that data each quarter for unemployment insurance purposes, so the two are intertwined),” Denver economist Ryan Gedney said in an email. It’s more granular if you want to know about industries and wages, though the most recent data often gets revised. His perspective is to “proceed cautiously when trying to interpret recent Colorado establishment data as economic trends.”
e latest numbers for Denver do show that the number of full-service restaurants were on the rise before the pandemic. After the dip in 2020, numbers started growing again to 910 in early 2023, only to lose momentum and drop to 827 by the third quarter last year. Limited-service restaurants that would count fast casual eateries with few servers have fallen since last March but are overall higher than in 2019.
Restaurant workers are a more exaggerated trend. e number of workers fell dramatically in the pandemic, growing during the recovery until the end of 2022. Since then, full-service sta ng has seen ups and downs and never recovered to 2019 levels. But the number of limitedservice restaurant workers did recover, and then some.
Weekly wages, on the other hand, have continued to increase since 2019.
Colorado Restaurant Association members e statewide restaurant association has 5,000 member locations around the state. But it’s kind of an uno cial count since not all pay membership dues.
Large restaurant chains that are part of the National Restaurant Association count as members of the Colorado organization “if they have local locations” here, said Denise Mickelsen, spokesperson for CRA, but “ ey do not pay us dues, they pay dues to the NRA.”
at said, it’s more challenging to nd historic data on how many “members” CRA had years ago. However, Mickelsen shared these o cial numbers:
In 2024, 38 members dropped out due to lack of funds, while 99 dropped out because they went out of business. In 2023, 16 dropped out due to lack of funds and 62 went out of business.
Yelp.com: Growth in new restaurants since 2019
According to review site Yelp.com, there has been an increase in new restaurants in Denver every year since the pandemic disruption in 2020.
Yelp’s data science team tracks this number anytime someone creates a new business and it is veri ed as an active restaurant. One caveat is its data isn’t just the city of Denver. It is the entire Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area, a common U.S. Census Bureau standard many economists use to measure local data (including Denver in ation).
Yelp also won’t share how many restaurant closures it has documented, a spokesperson said. at’s a difcult question to answer because they can be hard to nd since Yelp removes shuttered companies from its search. But you can search for a speci c restaurant that has closed.
In a report last June, the company found that the number of new restaurants in the U.S. had slowed. ere was still some growth, at just 6% (between May 2023 to April 2024) compared to 10% a year earlier.
is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.
USWNT to face Ireland at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
June 26 event brings international soccer to Commerce City
BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Local fans of professional women’s soccer have enjoyed 2025 so far in the Denver area. Just two months after the city was awarded the newest National Women’s Soccer League expansion team, a blockbuster matchup has been announced for this summer in Commerce City.
On June 26, soccer enthusiasts can catch the U.S Women’s National Team square up against the Republic of Ireland at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. e star-studded match will be the rst of two meetings between the two teams, with the second coming on June 29 in Cincinnati, Ohio. e games will be the rst meetings with Ireland since April of 2023, when the USA swept a pair of games in Austin, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri, ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, according to a release.
“We’re thrilled to have the U.S. Women’s National Team return to Colorado and DICK’S Sporting Goods Park,” said Colorado Rapids President Pádraig Smith. “We’ve been honored to host and support the USWNT over the years, and we’re proud of the impact that Coloradans have on the squad. I am personally excited to welcome my home team of Eire and to
LEAP
USA’s
another incredible showcase for women’s soccer in our state.” Colorado is the home state of several current USWNT players, including team
captain Lindsey Heaps (Golden) and forwards Sophia Wilson (Windsor) and Mallory Swanson (Highlands Ranch). Heaps is a Golden High School graduate and
played for the Colorado Rush Soccer Club. She made history as the rst American female player to sign a professional contract straight out of high school, traveling to Europe to play for Paris Saint-Germain in France in 2012 upon graduation. Heaps’s long list of accolades includes:
2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist 2021 Olympic Bronze Medalist 2021 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year 2013 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year Swanson attended Mountain Vista High School and famously scored the goal to lift the USWNT to Olympic gold in a 1-0 match over Brazil in 2024.
Like Heaps, Swanson is also a 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion. She’s also a 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist and the 2015 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.
is will be the 16th meeting between the U.S. and Ireland squads. e U.S. has won every matchup so far. is will be the USWNT’s ninth match all-time at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. e USA is 7-0-1 at the venue, with the most recent game being Head Coach Emma Hayes’ debut last summer. e game kicks o at 7 p.m., and tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, March 28, at 10 a.m. MT at www.ussoccer. com.
Fans can also catch the action on TBS, truTV and Max, Universo and Peacock in Spanish and on the radio on Westwood One Sports.
Lauren Cheney (12) gets tripped up by Australia’s Clare Polkinghorne during the first half of an international friendly match Sept. 19, 2023, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. FILE PHOTO
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BRIEFS
Historical Society hosts Genie Petrocco
e Adams County Historical Society is having a Book Signing with Genie Petrocco, who will be signing her book “CHEERS TO 80!” from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. April 5 in the Museum O ce Building, 9601 Henderson Road. Refreshments will be available.
Artists invited to transform traffic boxes into public art in Brighton
Brighton will continue to transform tra c signal boxes into vibrant public art installations across the community this year, selecting six new locations for public art.
Building on last year’s success, this project invites artists to create imaginative designs that enhance neighborhood identity, turn everyday spaces into creative landmarks and encourage engaging conversations within our community.
Six pieces of art will be selected and placed on weather-resistant vinyl printing. Each artist or artist team will receive a $500 honorarium. All artists must reside or work in the Denver metro area.
e tra c signal boxes have been strategically selected for this project. Artwork will be on display for at least two years.
sors@higherobits.org. To call for information at 281-451-5343.
Garden In A Box kits on sale e Brighton Utilities Department has once again partnered with conservation nonpro t Resource Central to o er to Brighton residents the Garden In A Box Program.
City of Brighton utility customers can receive a $25 discount o each individual purchase of the program’s water-wise garden kits, while supplies last. Purchase your garden before they sell out.
e call is open to individual artists, artist teams, or community groups with a designated lead artist. e submisison deadline is April 6.
Submissions will be divided into categories for 18 and older (adult) and 17 and under (youth). At least one tra c box will be exclusive to the youth category; however, the judging committee may select more.
Details on how to submit your original artwork, as well as the design guidelines and the selection process can be found on at www.brightonco.gov/trafcboxmurals or by contacting Communications & Engagement Director Kristen Chernosky at kchernosky@brightonco.gov.
Sales are now open to the public. Residents can choose from 13 Garden In A Box kits with the $25 discount. Box kits include anywhere from nine to as many as 30 starter plants, with selections ranging from vibrant hardy xeric (low-water) perennials to a pollinator-friendly vegetable garden. Gift certi cates are also available for purchase.
ese pre-designed kits are tailored to Colorado soil, and the simple plant by number maps take the guesswork out of buying and planting. Plus, the garden kits can help you save around 7,300 gallons of water over the garden’s lifetime compared to a traditional lawn.
Kit pickup will be in the spring — details will be released when they become available.
Go For Launch
Colorado Air & Space Port is hosting a Higher Orbits for students from 8th and 12th grades to expand their STEM skill sets learning with teamwork, communications, research design, and leadership.
Students would get to work with an astronaut, Captain Wendy Lawerence, and work on an experiment design project during the event, learning, growing, and developing skills to succeed throughout their lives.
reserve tickets. For more information or to buy tickets, call 303659-7103 and visit https://www. adamscountymuseum.com/ events online for more information.
School District 27J accepting openenrollment applications
Adams County School District 27J announced that Choice of Schools applications are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 school year. 27J Schools allows any student to apply to attend any 27J school or program on space/program availability and the applications are being accepted for the district’s 14 elementary schools, six middle schools and ve high schools — including the district’s online academy.
For the full list of available schools, an application and a list of frequently asked questions, visit https://www.sd27j.org/ enrollment/accepting-applications online.
e Brighton-based school district operates schools in Brighton, Henderson, Commerce City and ornton.
Benedict Park renovations ongoing
provide a free water audit for businesses and homeowner associations. e program aims to help residents and cities increase water use e ciencies and reach conservation goals. Call 303-999-3824 or visit https://www.brightonco. gov/589/Water-Audit-Program
Brighton Police o er online reporting
Brighton Police Department has launched an online reporting system at its newly updated website at www.brightonco.gov/ police.
For more information, visit brightonco.gov/gardeninabox, email gardeninfo@resourcecentral.org or call 303-999-3820 ext. 222.
Adams County launches O ce of Strategic Partnerships
Adams County’s Executive Leadership Team is excited to announce the creation of the Ofce of Strategic Partnerships & Resilient Communities to serve the community more e ectively. e goal of SPARC is to enhance the way the county builds and sustains partnerships, both internally and with external organizations.
e student teams will present their project to a panel of judges who work in the Space and STEM elds. ey will choose a winner from each Go for Launch event. e winning experiment will be launched to board the International Space Station or a suborbital ight. Michelle Lucas is the founder and CEO of Higher Orbits.
e online reporting system allows community members to submit a report directly to the police department from their smartphone or computer. It can be used to report criminal tampering, identity theft, lost property, theft, vandalism, and other matters.
Renovations at Benedict Park at 1855 Southern St. are underway, resulting in limited public access to sections of the park through June 2025.
e construction project will add a variety of amenities and upgrades, including two new playgrounds, a new irrigation system, a skate park expansion, new shelters, new lighting, supplemental landscaping, and a walking trail on the east end of the park.
e parking lot along Southern Street will be closed but access to drive through it is permitted. Portions of the parking lot adjacent to the splash pad at the northwest corner of the park will be closed. School access will be allowed.
All cases led using the online reporting system will be reviewed by a police sergeant. is tool can only be used when the incident is not an emergency; no one was injured, no known suspects, and no physical evidence. All incidents that do not meet this criteria should be reported by calling our non-emergency line at 303-288-1535. Emergencies should always be reported by calling 911.
e team is led by Adminstrator Daniela Garcia, who played a key role in establishing SPARC for Adams County. She leads efforts to secure diverse funding, promote equitable resource distribution, and empower communities to foster resilience and prosperity.
e team will collaborate with partners to foster ongoing engagement with programming and organizations in the community, and remain a reliable place where anyone can turn when challenges arise and resources are needed.
Learn more at sparc.adcogov. org.
Historical Society tea tickets on sale
e path along the east side of the park will be closed in sections and the skate park, Disc golf course, playground and all shelters will be closed. Sports programming will be relocated to other parks during the work.
Internships available with Adams County
Are you interested in learning more about working for local government? Adams County currently has paid internships available.
Opportunities include a cook ($16.48/hour) and classroom aide ($15.62/hour) for Head Start, an IT intern ($17/hour) for the Sheri ’s O ce, and a Healthy Farmers Market intern ($17/hour).
Block Party trailers return
Unincorporated Adams County residents can apply and reserve a complimentary Block Party trailer for their next event. e Block Party Trailer is intended to build and strengthen neighborhoods in Adams County. e Neighborhood Services division in the Community Safety and Well-Being Department administers the program on a rst-come, rst-served basis. For more information, go to https://adcogov.org/block-party, call 720 523-6465 or email blockparty@adcogov.org
Legal advice
e Access to Justice Committee hosts a free, legal self-help clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the rst Tuesday of every month. e program is for customers without legal representation who need help navigating through legal issues.
Volunteer attorneys are available to discuss family law, civil litigation, property, and probate law. Call 303-405-3298 and ask for a Legal Self-Help Clinic at least 24 hours before.
ese opportunities are available through the Workforce & Business Center. ose interested should work with their Business Center case manager or call 720.523.6898 to get established with a case manager.
For more information about the Higher Orbits event, visit www.higherorbits.org. To sponsor the event, go to spon-
e Adams County Historical Society & Museum is hosting its annual – and popular – Spring Tea from 1-3 p.m. Saturday May 17 at Ho man Hall, located on the Riverdale Regional Park campus.
Tickets for the tea are on sale now and going quickly. Volunteers can accept credit cards to
Water audit program
e city of Brighton and Resource Central teamed up to
Get trained to administer Naloxone e Adams County Health Department’s Harm Reduction Team will supply all Automated External De brillator cabinets in government buildings with Naloxone this month. Naloxone will be made available to take home after these trainings.
If you have any questions about the training or other resources, contact our Harm Reduction team at 303-363-3077 or by email: harmreduction@ adcogov.org
Sean Slamon closer to becoming North Metro Fire Chief
Sean Slamon given conditional o er by the district’s board
of directors
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Sean Slamon, re chief and emergency manager for Carson City, Nev., is one step closer to becoming North Metro Fire Rescue District’s new re chief.
e re district’s board of directors voted 3-2 on ursday to extend a conditional o er to Slamon. Slamon is set to succeed the current North Metro Fire Chief David Ramos following his retirement this summer.
e board’s decision came following a nationwide search and thorough evaluation process that involved employees, governmental partners and community members, according to a re district news release.
Slamon has more than 30 years of expe-
rience in re service leadership. His career began at Modesto Fire Department in California, where he spent 28 years with the department and progressed through the ranks from re ghter, re engineer, and captain to battalion chief, division chief, and ultimately re chief, according to the news release. Slamon then moved to Carson City, Nevada, where he serves in his current position.
Beyond his departmental leadership, Slamon has been actively involved in re service organizations, serving as President of the Northern Nevada Fire Chiefs Association and holding leadership roles with state and regional re service associations, according to the news release.
Pending additional testing and assessments, Slamon is expected to be conrmed by early May. However, his o cial start date as re chief for North Metro Fire would be late July or early August, following the retirement of Ramos, who has served North Metro Fire since 1984, including 11 years as the district’s re chief, the district states.
RTD increase in security patrols pay o
Higher visibility of RTD police halves crime calls
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Regional Transportation District ofcials say a new emphasis on law enforcement at high visibility bus and train stops has resulted in a big drop in security-related calls from RTD passengers and personnel.
An increased number of RTD Transit Police o cers patrolling the system has resulted in both a month-over-month and year-over-year decrease in calls for security help, according to RTD. e agency has also focused on upgrading facilities and adding bus and train enhancements to improve the personal safety and security of customers and employees, RTD states in a news release.
In February 2024, RTD logged 4,460 calls, and that number was cut in half to 2,134 calls in February 2025. Similar month-over-month decreases have been observed going back to July 2024, shortly after RTD implemented 24/7 patrols and gained momentum in recruiting additional police o cers, the news release states.
“Calls have been decreasing because RTD is deploying more o cers in highvisibility areas, and they’re regularly riding buses and trains,” said RTD Acting Chief of Police and Emergency Management Steve Martingano in the news release. “We’re enforcing the Customer Code of Conduct, conducting fare sweeps, and maintaining a regular presence. ese e orts are making a noticeable di erence for our customers and frontline employees.”
RTD says that in 2024, a majority of security incidents recorded by the agency were the result of o cer observations. As RTD expands its police force and dispatches more o cers across the service area, RTD-PD is able to proactively in-
tervene instead of relying on customers to make reports, the agency states. Last year, the number of o cer observations nearly doubled, a metric that the agency sees as clear evidence that growing its police force is working, according to the news release.
e increase in the department’s sworn o cers, standing at approximately 100 currently, is a force multiplier” and enables greater patrolling coverage across the agency’s 2,345 square-mile service area, RTD Manager of 911 Operations Michelle Lawrence said in the news release. e agency is budgeted to have 150 o cers on its force by the end of 2025.
In 2024, RTD logged approximately 43,000 security-related calls for service, or an average of 118 calls each day. e metric includes customer reports of grafti, drug activity, noise complaints, unattended bags, and other personal safety concerns, the news release states.
In January 2025, RTD received 2,774 security-related calls for service to the agency’s dispatch center (see the agency’s February 2025 Customer and Community Engagement Report, page 44).
During that same month, RTD had approximately ve million customer boardings, which equates to approximately one security-related report for every 1,800 boardings across the entire system, the news release states.
Reports from customers allow RTD-PD to know what is happening in real time and become aware of problematic areas that need addressed. e reports also support data-driven policing strategies and o cer deployment, the agency says.
“RTD is interwoven into the fabric of the communities it serves,” said General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson in the news release. “Whatever challenges or problems are happening near a stop or station will most certainly impact the agency’s buses and trains. Whether a customer is waiting for a connection or traveling to their destination, RTD is doubling down on its e orts to ensure their journey is seamless, comfortable, and convenient.”
Gun shows could face more regulations
BY SARA WILSON COLORADO NEWSLINE
e Colorado House of Representatives approved a bill that would set new safety regulations and requirements for gun shows that operate in the state.
House Bill 25-1238 passed on a 34-30 vote, with eight Democrats joining Republicans in opposition.
“Just as we expect other large-scale events to have security measures in place, gun shows should also take responsibility for the safety of their patrons and the surrounding community,” Rep. Sean Camacho, a Denver Democrat, said during debate on the bill.
Camacho ran the bill with Rep. Junie Joseph, a Boulder Democrat. It is sponsored by Democratic Sens. Cathy Kipp of Fort Collins and Jessie Danielson of Wheat Ridge in the Senate.
“ is bill is about enforcing Colorado state law — laws that we have already passed. e intent of this is to make sure when you are going to a gun show, that it is safe for you and your family and your friends,” Camacho said. “Many people are already doing this. is bill is about those who are not.”
A 2022 analysis found that there were 417 advertised gun shows in Colorado between 2011 and 2019.
e bill would require gun show promoters to create and submit a security plan to local law enforcement two weeks before the event that includes the anticipated vendors, estimated number of attendees, number of security personnel who will be at the show and a oor plan of the venue. Gun show promoters
would also need to have liability insurance for the event.
Vendors would need to have a federal rearms license and the state rearms dealer permit created by the Legislature last year. ey would need to attest that they will comply with state laws around background checks, waiting periods, high-capacity magazines and ghost guns. Various notices of those state laws would need to be displayed around the venue.
Vendors would also need to keep ammunition out of easy reach to attendees to comply with a bill expected to pass into law this year about ammunition sales.
Additionally, the bill would set standards for video surveillance of the parking lot, entrances and exits in order to deter theft and record any instances of crime. e promoter would need to retain that video footage for six months.
“I have veterans that have gun shows that aren’t going to be able to put cameras in parking lots in southeastern Colorado. Hell, they don’t even have a paved parking lot in southeastern Colorado,” said Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, a Trinidad Republican.
Republicans argued that the requirements in the bill would limit gun show operations in Colorado and push the vendors to sell at shows in other states.
Camacho countered that there are companies that rent portable security cameras for parking lots at an a ordable price.
e bill would also prohibit minors from attending gun shows unless they are with a parent, grandparent or legal guardian. e minimum age to buy a gun in Colorado is 21.
“Gun shows, in order to be able to continue selling guns, are likely going to say ‘We’re not admitting anyone 18 or younger,’” said Rep. Stephanie Luck, a Penrose Republican who questioned how a promoter could verify a familial relationship. “It will switch from being a family-friendly event and a communitybuilding event with food and quilts and all of the things we heard before, into just selling weaponry.”
First violations of the bill would be a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent violations would result in a Class 1 misdemeanor and a ve-year ban from holding gun shows for promoters. e bill now heads to the Senate, where Democrats hold a 23-12 majority. is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.
A gun show was held at the Colorado State fairgrounds in Pueblo in 2023.
The psychedelic mushroom experiment has arrived
State regulators are issuing licenses and plans are in place for ‘healing centers’
BY KATE RUDER KFF HEALTH NEWS
BOULDER — Colorado regulators are issuing licenses for providing psychedelic mushrooms and are planning to authorize the state’s rst “healing centers,” where the mushrooms can be ingested under supervision, in late spring or early summer.
e dawn of state-regulated psychedelic mushrooms has arrived in Colorado, nearly two years since Oregon began o ering them. e mushrooms are a Schedule I drug and illegal under federal law except for clinical research. But more than a dozen cities nationwide have deprioritized or decriminalized them in the past ve years, and many eyes are turned toward Oregon’s and Colorado’s stateregulated programs.
“In Oregon and Colorado, we’re going to learn a lot about administration of psychedelics outside of clinical, religious, and underground settings because they’re the rst to try this in the U.S.,” said William R. Smith, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
Psychedelic mushrooms and their psychoactive compound psilocybin have the potential to treat people with depression and anxiety, including those unresponsive to other medications or therapy. e National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, says the risk of mental health problems caused by ingesting mushrooms in a supervised clinical setting is low, but may be higher outside of a clinical setting. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a social media post last year, before his nomination as U.S. health secretary, that his “mind is open to the idea of psychedelics for treatment.”
Medical experts say more research is needed, particularly in people with a diagnosis or family history of psychotic or bipolar disorder. Adverse e ects of psilo-
cybin, including headache and nausea, typically resolve within one to two days. However, extended di culties from using psychedelics can last weeks, months, or years; anxiety and fear, existential struggle, social disconnection, and feeling detached from oneself and one’s surroundings are most common. After the decriminalization and legalization in Oregon and Colorado, psychedelic mushroom exposures reported to poison control centers ticked up in these states and nationally.
In February, about 40 people organized by the psychedelic advocacy group the Nowak Society gathered in Boulder to talk about the coming changes in Colorado. ey included Mandy Grace, who received her state license to administer psychedelic mushrooms, and Amanda Clark, a licensed mental health counselor from Denver, who both praised the therapeutic power of mushrooms.
“You get discouraged in your practice because the current therapies are not enough for people,” Clark said.
Colorado voters approved Proposition 122 in 2022 to legalize natural psychedelics, after Oregon voters in 2020 approved legalizing psilocybin for therapeutic use. Colorado’s program is modeled after, but not the same as, Oregon’s, under which 21,246 psilocybin products have been sold as of March, a total that could include secondary doses, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
As of mid-March, Colorado has received applications for at least 15 healing center licenses, nine cultivation licenses, four manufacturer licenses, and one testing facility license for growing and preparing the mushrooms, under rules developed over two years by the governor-appointed Natural Medicine Advisory Board.
Psychedelic treatments in Oregon are expensive, and are likely to be so in Colorado, too, said Tasia Poinsatte, Colorado director of the nonpro t Healing Advocacy Fund, which supports state-regulated programs for psychedelic therapy. In Oregon, psychedelic mushroom sessions are typically $1,000 to $3,000, are not covered by insurance, and must be paid for up front.
e mushrooms themselves are not ex-
pensive, Poinsatte said, but a facilitator’s time and support services are costly, and there are state fees. In Colorado, for doses over 2 milligrams, facilitators will screen participants at least 24 hours in advance, then supervise the session in which the participant consumes and experiences mushrooms, lasting several hours, plus a later meeting to integrate the experience. Facilitators, who may not have experience with mental health emergencies, need training in screening, informed consent, and postsession monitoring, Smith said. “Because these models are new, we need to gather data from Colorado and Oregon to ensure safety.”
Facilitators generally pay a $420 training fee, which allows them to pursue the necessary consultation hours, and roughly $900 a year for a license, and healing centers pay $3,000 to $6,000 for initial licenses in Colorado. But the upfront cost for facilitators is signi cant: e required 150 hours in a state-accredited program and 80 hours of hands-on training can cost $10,000 or more, and Clark said she wouldn’t pursue a facilitator license due to the prohibitive time and cost.
Group sessions are another option to lower costs.
Colorado law does not allow retail sales of psilocybin, unlike cannabis, which can be sold both recreationally and medically in the state. But it allows adults 21 and older to grow, use, and share psychedelic mushrooms for personal use.
Despite the retail ban, adjacent businesses have mushroomed. Inside the warehouse and laboratory of Activated Brands in Arvada, brown bags of sterilized grains such as corn, millet, and sorghum and plastic bags of soil substrate are for sale, along with genetic materials and ready-to-grow kits.
Co-founder Sean Win eld sells these supplies for growing psychedelic or functional mushrooms such as lion’s mane to people hoping to grow their own at home. Soon, Activated Brands will host cultivation and education classes for the public, Win eld said.
Win eld and co-founder Shawn Cox recently hosted a psychedelic potluck at which experts studying and cultivating psychedelic mushrooms discussed ge-
netics, extraction, and specialized equipment.
Psychedelic mushrooms have a long history in Indigenous cultures, and provisions for their use in spiritual, cultural, or religious ceremonies are included in Colorado law, along with recognition of the cultural harm that could occur to federally recognized tribes and Indigenous people if natural medicine is overly commercialized or exploited.
Several studies over the past ve years have shown the long-term bene ts of psilocybin for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, and the Food and Drug Administration designated it a breakthrough therapy. Late-stage trials, often a precursor to application for FDA approval, are underway.
Smith said psilocybin is a promising tool for treating mental health disorders but has not yet been shown to be better than other advanced treatments. Joshua Woolley, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California-San Francisco, said he has seen the bene ts of psilocybin as an investigator in clinical trials.
“People can change hard-set habits. ey can become unstuck. ey can see things in new ways,” he said of treating patients with a combination of psilocybin and psychotherapy.
Still, Woolley said, between the federal ban and new state laws for psychedelics, this is uncharted territory. Most drugs used to treat mental health disorders are regulated by the FDA, something that Colorado is “taking into its own hands” by setting up its own program to regulate manufacturing and administration of psilocybin.
e U.S. Attorney’s O ce for the District of Colorado declined to comment on its policy toward state-regulated psychedelic programs or personal use provisions, but Poinsatte hopes the same federal hands-o approach to marijuana will be taken for psilocybin in Oregon and Colorado.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — an independent source of health policy research, polling and journalism.
State board of education wades into immigration debate
BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT
Colorado State Board of Education members on March 12 unanimously approved a resolution signaling their support for students to feel safe in schools.
e board rarely votes on resolutions making a statement but the chair wanted to give members a chance to speak out.
e resolution comes as school districts around the country are grappling with how to respond to the Trump administration crackdown on immigration and its impact on students.
First discussed in February, the resolution was amended multiple times by both Democratic and Republican board members in an attempt to nd language that everyone agreed on.
As the board debated the language of the resolution, members argued about getting into political statements and the merits of immigration policies or actions. At one point, two Republican board members discussed the usage of illegal immigrant as opposed to the term illegal alien in a piece of language that failed.
e nal approved resolution states that the board is “committed to supporting public schools to ensure that all students feel safe and supported in schools” and is “aware that Colorado schools serve diverse communities who may feel worried or uncertain about the safety of their students.”
“We should be advocating across the political spectrum to ensure that our schools are safe places where learning is not disrupted,” the resolution states.
State Board Chair Rebecca McClellan, who represents Aurora, one of the targets of federal immigration raids last month,
introduced the resolution, saying she wanted to give the board an opportunity to speak in a uni ed voice “to a rm the right of every Colorado student to receive a free public education.”
e resolution also made a point of tying that a rmation to the state’s recent goals of improving attendance and reducing the number of students who are chronically absent as a way to help student achievement rise.
Some district leaders, including in Denver and Je co, have discussed attendance rates dropping in certain schools as they see some immigrant families afraid to leave their homes because of fears of encountering immigration enforcement agents. Local school districts have also passed resolutions in support of immigrant students, often with more direct language, but also with more authority to enact local policies on how schools will respond if immigration agents show up at a school.
e state board does not have much authority over such decisions, and so its resolution is more of a symbolic gesture.
McClellan thanked the board for having a professional discussion despite disagreements.
One amendment that was successful was introduced by Republican State Board member Kristi Burton Brown, who wanted to add a line that also signaled support for law enforcement.
“We support the actions of law enforcement to remove violent criminals from Colorado and, in so doing, making our school children safer when they walk to school and back home,” the nal language of that amendment reads.
“ e arrests we have seen happen in Colorado are of violent criminals, the ar-
rests we have seen across the nation are of violent criminals who are endangering our children on their way to and from school,” Burton Brown said. “Violent criminals should be taken o of our streets if they are here illegally and so I think that my suggested amendment is coming from a bipartisan standpoint that’s saying if we want our kids to be safe in school we should want them to also be safe on their way to and from school.”
Some board members opposed the language saying that violent criminals exist in any group, and some of the immigration enforcement actions have instead been blanket door-to-door raids. Nationally, the raids have swept up many people with no criminal record.
e amendment passed with three board members opposed, but was not an obstacle for board members approving the nal resolution.
State Board member Kathy Plomer, who represents areas of ornton that were also targeted last month when federal immigration raids were conducted in Denver and Aurora, also introduced an amendment that would have acknowledged the Trump administration’s decision to rescind a decades-long policy that treated schools as sensitive or protected locations where immigration enforcement could only take place if there was an immediate danger to the public.
Her amendment would have read:
“We’re aware that Colorado schools serve diverse communities who feel worried or uncertain about the safety of their students based on the removal of schools as protected spaces and recent neighborhood immigration enforcement activities.”
But Republican board members said
they would not support the resolution with that language because it felt overly political.
State Board member Burton Brown said she felt the removal of any protected spaces where federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, was blocked from entering to remove “someone including those who are violent criminals” was a good thing that made students safer.
State Board member Steve Durham said that if the board was going to open the door to be political by introducing such resolutions, he had in mind several more political resolutions he could introduce soon.
Plomer said her amendment was intended to add clarity so school districts knew that the State Board understood what had changed to make them deal with this issue now.
But, in the end, she said having a bipartisan statement was more important and revoked the amendment.
“I don’t want to just create chaos that’s not doing anything, and getting in the way of something that I hope could be productive, and a statement from this board, that we want kids to come to school and feel safe,” Plomer said.
State Board member Yazmin Navarro, also a Republican, thanked Plomer.
“I think it’s amazing that you want to work with everyone on the board and that you’re willing to do that. at’s hard,” Navarro said. “It goes back to the idea that everyone’s sentiment has been across the board that we’re all here for students.”
Reprinted with permission from Chalkbeat, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.
Vote
O ce to handle complaints against judges was never set up
by judges.
In the wake of an alleged blackmail scandal that roiled the state judicial branch, the Colorado legislature in 2023 created an independent o ce to help ensure it didn’t happen again.
But two years later, the ombudsman ofce still doesn’t exist — and it’s not clear why.
e apparent oversight came to light this week when a legislative budget staer — looking line by line for things to cut from the state’s operating budget to close a $1.2 billion shortfall — discovered an oddity: a $400,000 budget for an agency that had no employees, hadn’t made a budget request and didn’t appear to exist anywhere but on paper.
“ is independent agency does not exist,” Craig Harper, the legislative budget sta director told the Joint Budget Committee this week. “ ere’s no sta . ere’s no one (that has) been hired.”
e unhired ombudsman is now a target of state budget cuts, presenting a rare opportunity for the JBC to reduce spending without cutting back on existing services or harming government operations.
But the decision would eliminate a key accountability measure the legislature overwhelmingly agreed was needed.
e idea for an ombudsman came from a 2022 interim committee, set up in response to a Denver Post investigation.
e paper uncovered allegations that a former court administrator had awarded an employee a $2.5 million contract in 2019 in order to keep her quiet about sexual harassment and other misconduct
e committee found widespread distrust in the judicial discipline process and considered a series of reforms — including an independent ombudsman to ensure that employees had a safe space to report misconduct anonymously without fear of retaliation. Voters in November approved another recommendation of the committee that would become Amendment H, establishing an independent board to hear ethics complaints against state judges.
e interim committee never formally endorsed the ombudsman o ce, but the legislature did in the following spring, voting 88-11 in favor of House Bill 231205.
“It became pretty evident pretty quickly, when we started seeing complaints and where needs were not met by folks that had complaints, we needed to come up with a real-world solution for people to be able to not feel threatened,” said former Rep. Mike Lynch, a Republican from Wellington who co-sponsored the bipartisan bill.
e measure created a ve-person selection board, made up of two Republican lawmakers, two Democrats and a judge appointed by Gov. Jared Polis. e board was supposed to begin meeting in January 2024, with a deadline of March 2024 to hire an ombudsman.
e board appears to have been appointed, though legislative sta ers disagree on who the members were. By the House Democrats’ account, Rep. Jennifer Bacon and Sen. Julie Gonzales were tapped to represent legislative Democrats, while Republicans appointed Rep.
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Rose Pugliese and Sen. Bob Gardner. Pugliese, however, told e Sun through a spokesperson that she wasn’t aware of the appointment, and House Republicans provided a letter dated July 2023 showing that Lynch was actually the appointee.
Whoever the members were supposed to be, the board never actually met — let alone hired anyone.
“Our understanding is that the Selection Board has never met,” Suzanne Karrer, a spokesperson for the judicial branch told e Sun in an email. “ e Judicial Department remains ready to collaborate with the O ce of Judicial Discipline Ombudsman if an ombudsman is appointed.”
e revelation caught the six-member JBC by surprise this week, creating a rare moment of levity as the panel scours the $16 billion state general fund for di cult cuts to critical services like health care and schools.
“One more time?” asked an incredulous Sen. Je Bridges, the Greenwood Village Democrat who leads the budget panel. e JBC swiftly agreed to cut the o ce’s budget for next year, and will try to claw back the funding it was already given.
When another lawmaker suggested that “they” — the o ce’s imaginary employees — could always come back to the JBC to argue why it needs its funding, it only added to the confusion.
“Who would “they” be?” asked Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver.
“ ey can come back,” Bridges said, “if there’s anybody there.”
Without a sta , the responsibility to
ght for the agency’s budget will fall to its supporters in the legislature. But today, three of the four bill sponsors — two of whom were supposedly appointed to the board -- are no longer in the General Assembly.
Moreover, the o ce’s independence from the Judicial Department may help explain why it was never set up in the rst place. Lawmakers don’t usually conduct board meetings or hire people without the help of state sta — and in this case, the department was barred by design from being involved.
“We’re trying to understand what has happened,” Sirota told e Sun. “Maybe there were some structural de ciencies in the setup of how this would get established. I’m not sure that there’s necessarily any sta support.”
e remaining bill sponsor, Bacon, initially agreed to an interview with e Sun but did not respond in time for publication.
In the meantime, Judicial Department o cials say they’re moving forward with initiatives of their own to improve the workplace culture, including an anonymous reporting system for complaints. e department attempted to hire an ombudsman on its own back in 2022, but the JBC denied its request for funding, Karrer said.
is story was produced by the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and e Colorado Sun, and shared with news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
plus
&
Thu 4/03
All Levels Bird Walk @ 7am
Standley Lake Regional Park, 8600 Simms Street, Westminster. standley lake@westminsterco.gov, 303-4251097
Kairo Worship @ 7pm
Iglesia Cristiana Hispana Impacto de Fe, 5155 E 64th Ave, Commerce City
Sun 4/06
Embrace DIY @ 6pm Apr 8th - Apr 22nd Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights @ 7:30pm Ball Arena, Denver
Wed 4/09
Mines Museum of Earth Science & Lunch @ 9am Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
Colorado Rockies vs. Milwaukee Brewers @ 6:40pm Coors Field, Denver
Poetry Workshop, Reading, and Reception with Alejandro Jimenez @ 1pm College Hill Library, 3705 West 112th Avenue, Westminster. wpl-intouch@ westminsterco.gov, 303-658-2604
Amazing Athletes
@ 1pm
Apr 3rd - Apr 24th
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Eric Golden: Hesters (Formally Odde's Music Grill)
@ 6pm
Odde's Music Grill, 9975 Wadsworth Pkwy, Westminster
Fri 4/04
Coors Tour @ 11am Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Colorado Rockies vs. Athletics
The Polite Heretic @ 7pm Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thornton
Colorado Rockies vs. Athletics @ 1:10pm Coors Field, Denver
Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers @ 6pm Ball Arena, Denver
Mon 4/07
Kidz Day Out- Children's Museum @ 9am
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Rotating Tap Comedy @ Something Brewery @ 7pm
Something Brewery, 117 N Main St unit A, Brighton
Thu 4/10
Global Sips and Savories (4/10) @ 10am
@ 2:10pm Coors Field, Denver
Family Fun Friday-Embroidery 101 @ 6pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Sat 4/05
Denver Onyx vs New York Exiles @ 1pm In�nity Park, Denver
Dirty Side Down Band: Dirty Side Down @ Hester's @ 7pm
Hester's Burgers, Brews & Blues, 9975 Wadsworth Pkwy M1, Westminster
Colorado Mammoth vs. Buffalo Bandits @ 7pm Ball Arena, Denver
Gallery on the Go - Paint Party @ 10am
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Tue 4/08
Birding for All - April @ 10am / Free Bird Conservancy's Environmental Learning Center, 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton. 303-659-4348 ext. 53 Brunchin’ at Bison (4/8) @ 10am
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Colorado Rockies vs. Milwaukee Brewers @ 1:10pm Coors Field, Denver
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks @ 7pm Ball Arena, Denver
1. TELEVISION: In the sitcom “Modern Family,” Gloria is from which country?
2. LITERATURE: Which author wrote “ e Kite ief” and “A ousand Splendid Suns”?
3. GEOGRAPHY: What is the deepest lake in the world?
4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which rst lady’s nickname was Lady Bird?
5. ASTRONOMY: How many stars make up the Big Dipper?
6. MOVIES: Which famous Hollywood couple played lead roles in the lm version of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”?
7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of skunks called?
8. GEOMETRY: How many sides does a decagon have?
9. ART: Which American artist focused on women and children in her paintings?
TrIVIa
10. ANATOMY: What substance gives skin its color?
Answers
1. Colombia.
2. Khaled Hosseini.
3. Lake Baikal, Russia.
4. Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, wife of President Lyndon Johnson.
5. Seven.
6. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.
7. A surfeit.
8. 10.
9. Mary Cassatt.
10. Melanin.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
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AVISO DE VOTACIÓN INDEPENDIENTE POR CORREO
PROMONTORY METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1 MARTES 6 DE MAYO DE 2025
Por la presente se notifica que se llevará a cabo una elección independiente por correo en el Distrito Metropolitano No. 1 de Promontory, en el Condado de Adams, Estado de Colorado (el “Distrito”) el martes 6 de mayo de 2025.
Esta votación será solo independiente, por correo. Las boletas se enviarán por correo a los votantes elegibles entre el 14 de abril de 2025 y el 21 de abril de 2025.
LUGAR DE ENTREGA Y HORARIO:
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Oficina del representante electoral designado 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
De lunes a viernes, entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 5:00 p. m., del 14 de abril de 2025 al 5 de mayo de 2025, y el martes 6 de mayo de 2025, entre las 7:00 a. m. y las 7:00 p. m.
Nombres de los candidatos a director para ocupar el cargo hasta mayo de 2027 (un puesto que se elegirá por votación):
JIMMY OGÉ
Nombres de los candidatos a director para ocupar el cargo hasta mayo de 2029 (tres puestos que se elegirán por votación):
TUCKER HANLON
DON SUMMERS
GEORGE R. HANLON JR.
Asuntos sobre los que se votará en la boleta electoral:
Asunto electoral A (De-TABOR)
Por:/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Representante electoral designada
Legal Notice No. BSB3760
First Publication: April 3, 2025
Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTIONS and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS
ADAMS CROSSING
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 1-8
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on March 4, 2025, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for each of the Adams Crossing Metropolitan District Nos. 1-8 (collectively, the “Districts”). Therefore, the elections for the Districts to be held on May 6, 2025, are hereby cancelled.
The following offices remain vacant for each District:
VACANT Until May 2029
VACANT Until May 2029
VACANT Until May 2029
VACANT Until
larly, to the electors of the Fruition Lochbuie Metropolitan District Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 (collectively, the “Districts”) of the Town of Lochbuie, Weld County, Colorado.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that elections for each of the Districts will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. regarding the question of the waiver of property tax revenue limits, the election of certain members of the boards of directors, and any questions necessary to implement the provisions of Article X, Section 20, of the Colorado Constitution as applied to the Districts.
The elections are being conducted as mail ballot elections by the Designated Election Official, Jennifer S. Henry, c/o McGeady Becher Cortese Williams P.C., 450 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80203, telephone number 303-592-4380. The place of deposit for mail ballots and walk-in polling place for voting at the elections will be at said office.
Not sooner than April 14, 2025 and no later than April 21, 2025, the Designated Election Official shall mail to each active registered elector of the Districts mail ballot packets for each district.
For each of the Districts, there are two vacancies for terms extending to the second regular election for which there are no candidates, and there is one vacancy for a term extending to the next regular election for which there is no candidate.
The walk-in polling place shall be open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. beginning not sooner than twenty-two days prior to the election, April 14, 2025 and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the date of election.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an eligible elector of the Districts for the purpose of said election is a person registered to vote pursuant to the “Colorado Uniform Election Code of 1992”; and (i) who is a resident of the Districts, or (ii) who, or whose spouse or civil union partner, owns taxable real or personal property within the Districts, whether said person resides within the Districts or not. A person who is obligated to pay taxes under a contract to purchase taxable property within the Districts shall be considered an owner of taxable property for the purpose of qualifying as an eligible elector.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for absentee voter ballots may be filed with the Designated Election Official at the address set forth above no later than the close of business on the Tuesday immediately preceding the election. Return of absentee voter ballots and replacement ballots may be received by the Designated Election Official at the above address, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. beginning on April 14, 2025, until the day prior to the election, or between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the date of the election.
Fruition Lochbuie Metropolitan District Nos. 1-4
By:/s/ Jennifer S. Henry Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3767
First Publication: April 3, 2025
Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF INDEPENDENT MAIL BALLOT ELECTION
PROMONTORY METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1 TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2025
NOTICE is hereby given that an independent mail ballot election will be held by Promontory Metropolitan District No. 1, in the County of Adams, State of Colorado (the “District”) on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
This election will be conducted as an independent mail ballot election only. Mail ballots will be mailed to eligible electors between April 14, 2025 and April 21, 2025.
DROP-OFF LOCATION AND HOURS: WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WAL-
DRON Office of the Designated Election Official 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., April 14, 2025 through May 5, 2025, and Tuesday, May 6, 2025 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The names of persons nominated as Director to serve until May 2027 (one seat to be voted upon):
JIMMY OGÉ
The names of persons nominated as Director to serve until May 2029 (three seats to be voted upon):
TUCKER HANLON
DON SUMMERS
GEORGE R. HANLON JR.
Ballot Issues to be voted upon:
Ballot Issue A (De-TABOR)
By:/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3759
First Publication: April 3, 2025
Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF INDEPENDENT
MAIL BALLOT ELECTION
PROMONTORY METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 5 TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2025
NOTICE is hereby given that an independent mail ballot election will be held by Promontory Metropolitan District No. 5, in the County of Adams, State of Colorado (the “District”) on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
This election will be conducted as an independent mail ballot election only. Mail ballots will be mailed to eligible electors between April 14, 2025 and April 21, 2025.
DROP-OFF LOCATION AND HOURS:
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Office of the Designated Election Official 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., April 14, 2025 through May 5, 2025, and Tuesday, May 6, 2025 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The names of persons nominated as Director to serve until May 2027 (one seat to be voted upon):
JIMMY OGÉ
The names of persons nominated as Director to serve until May 2029 (three seats to be voted upon):
DON SUMMERS
TUCKER HANLON
GEORGE R. HANLON JR.
Ballot Issues to be voted upon:
Ballot Issue A (De-TABOR)
By:/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3764
First Publication: April 3, 2025
Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
AVISO DE CANCELACIÓN DE ELECCIÓN y DECLARACIÓN CERTIFICADA DE RESULTADOS
DISTRITO METROPOLITANO DE CASE FARMS
POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, conforme al § 1-13.5-513(6), CRS, que, al cierre de operaciones del 4 de marzo de 2025, no había más candidatos que cargos por cubrir, incluidos los candidatos que presentaron declaraciones juradas de intención de ser candidatos por escrito, para el Distrito Metropolitano de Case Farms (el “Distrito”). Por lo tanto, se cancela la elección del 6 de mayo de 2025 para el Distrito.
Se declara que los siguientes candidatos para el Distrito son elegidos por aclamación:
Clarke D. Carlson
Hasta mayo de 2029
Los siguientes cargos siguen vacantes:
VACANTE
Hasta mayo de 2029
VACANTE Hasta mayo de 2029
VACANTE
Hasta mayo de 2027
VACANTE
Hasta mayo de 2027
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Representante electoral designado
Persona de contacto para el Distrito: Zachary P. White, abogado
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WAL-
DRON Abogados 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
(303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. BSB3754
First Publication: April 3, 2025 Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
NOTICE OF INDEPENDENT
MAIL BALLOT ELECTION
PROMONTORY METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 4
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2025
NOTICE is hereby given that an independent mail ballot election will be held by Promontory Metropolitan District No. 4, in the County of Adams, State of Colorado (the “District”) on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
This election will be conducted as an independent mail ballot election only. Mail ballots will be mailed to eligible electors between April 14, 2025 and April 21, 2025.
DROP-OFF LOCATION AND HOURS:
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WAL-
DRON
Office of the Designated Election Official 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., April 14, 2025 through May 5, 2025, and Tuesday, May 6, 2025 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The names of persons nominated as Director to serve until May 2027 (one seat to be voted upon):
JIMMY OGÉ
The names of persons nominated as Director to serve until May 2029 (three seats to be voted upon):
DON SUMMERS
GEORGE R. HANLON JR.
TUCKER HANLON
Ballot Issues to be voted upon:
Ballot Issue A (De-TABOR)
By:/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie
Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3762
First Publication: April 3, 2025
Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
CANCELLATION OF ELECTION AND DECLARATION DEEMING CANDIDATES ELECTED FOR PRAIRIE CENTER METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 7
The Designated Election Official of the Prairie Center Metropolitan District No. 7 has been duly authorized by the Board of Directors to cancel and declare candidates elected if, at the close of business on the sixty-third (63rd) day before the election, there are not more candidates than offices to be filled at the election to be conducted on May 6, 2025; and As of the close of business on March 4, 2025, there were not more candidates for Director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates.
Pursuant to Section 1-13.5-513(1), C.R.S., the Designated Election Official hereby cancels the regular election to be conducted on May 6, 2025.
THE ELECTION IS CANCELLED AND THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES ARE DECLARED ELECTED FOR THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
Vacant, 4-Year Term
Vacant, 4-Year Term
Vacant, 4-Year Term
DATED this 4th day of March, 2025. /s/ Peggy Ripko
Designated Election Official
Contact Person for District: Peggy Ripko
303-987-0835
141 Union Boulevard, Suite 150 Lakewood, Colorado 80228
Legal Notice No. BSB 3154
First Publication: April 3, 2025
Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE OF ELECTIONS
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly, to the electors of Prairie Center Metropolitan District Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 (collectively, the “Prairie Center Districts”) of the City of Brighton, Adams County, Colorado.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that elections for each of the Prairie Center Districts will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. regarding the question of the waiver of property tax revenue limits, the election of certain members of the board of directors, and any questions necessary to implement the provisions of Article X, Section 20, of the Colorado Constitution as applied to the Prairie Center Districts.
The elections are being conducted as mail ballot elections by the Designated Election Official, Craig Sorensen, c/o McGeady Becher Cortese Williams P.C., 450 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80203, telephone number 303-592-4380. The place of deposit for mail ballots and walk-in polling place for voting at the elections will be at said office.
Not sooner than April 14, 2025 and no later than April 21, 2025, the Designated Election Official shall mail to each active registered elector of the Prairie Center Districts mail ballot packets.
For each of the Prairie Center Districts, Richard J. Merkel and Michael S. Tamblyn are candidates for terms extending to the second regular election. There are also two vacancies for terms extending to the next regular election and one vacancy for a term extending to the second regular election.
The walk-in polling place shall be open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. beginning not sooner than twenty-two days prior to the election, April 14, 2025, and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the date of election.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an eligible elector of said Prairie Center Districts for the purpose of said election is a person registered to vote pursuant to the “Colorado Uniform Election Code of 1992”; and (i) who is a resident of the District, or (ii) who, or whose spouse or civil union partner, owns taxable real or personal property within the Prairie Center Districts, whether said person resides within the Prairie Center Districts or not. A person who is obligated to pay taxes under a contract to purchase taxable property within the Prairie Center Districts shall be considered an owner of taxable property for the purpose of qualifying as an eligible elector.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for absentee voter ballots may be filed with the Designated Election Official at the address set forth above no later than the close of business on the Tuesday immediately preceding the election. Return of absentee voter ballots and replacement ballots may be received by the Designated Election Official at the above address, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. beginning on April 14, 2025, until the day prior to the election, or between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the date of the election.
Prairie Center Districts
By:/s/ CRAIG SORENSEN
Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3757
First Publication: April 3, 2025
Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Noice
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS
CASE FARMS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on March 4, 2025, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for Case Farms Metropolitan District (the “District”). Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 6, 2025, is hereby cancelled.
The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation:
Clarke D. Carlson Until May 2029
The following offices remain vacant:
VACANT Until May 2029
VACANT Until May 2029
VACANT Until May 2027
VACANT Until May 2027
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Designated Election Official
Contact Person for District: Zachary P. White, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WAL-
DRON
Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122
(303)
PUBLIC NOTICES
Interchange A S22-30 7C (API No. 05-014-20768)
Interchange A S22-30-8N (API No. 05-014-20766)
Interchange A S22-30-9N (API No. 05-014-20771)
Interchange A S22-30-10C (API No. 05-014-20760)
Interchange A S22-30-12N (API No. 05-014-20765)
Interchange B S22-30-14N (API No. 05-014-20779)
Interchange B S22-30-15N (API No. 05-014-20780)
Interchange B S22-30-16C (API No. 05-014-20783)
Interchange B S22-30-18N (API No. 05-014-20781)
Interchange B S22-30-19C (API No. 05-014-20778)
Interchange B S22-30-20N (API No. 05-014-20851)
DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF HEARING (Subject to change)
The assigned Hearing Officer will hold a hearing only on the above-referenced docket number at the following date, time, and location:
Date:June 4, 2025
Time:9:00 a.m.
Location:Virtual Hearing with Remote Access via Zoom
To participate virtually navigate to https:// ecmc.state.co.us/#/home and locate the Zoom meeting link on the left side of the webpage. Energy and Carbon Management Commission
The Chancery Building 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 801 Denver, CO 80203
PETITIONS
DEADLINE FOR PETITIONS BY AFFECTED PERSONS: May 5, 2025
Any interested party who wishes to partici-
pate formally must file a written petition with the Commission no later than the deadline provided above. Please see Commission Rule 507 at https://ecmc.state.co.us/#/home, under “Regulation,” then select “Rules.” Please note that, under Commission Rule 510.l, the deadline for petitions may only be continued for good cause, even if the hearing is continued beyond the date that is stated above. Pursuant to Commission Rule 507, if you do not file a proper petition, the Hearing Officer will not know that you wish to formally participate in this matter and the date and time of the hearing may change without additional notice to you. Parties wishing to file a petition must register online at https://oitco.hylandcloud.com/DNRCOGExternalAccess/Account/Login.aspx and select “Request Access to Site.” Please refer to our “eFiling Users Guidebook” at https://ecmc. state.co.us/documents/reg/Hearings/External_EfilingSystemGuidebook_2023_FINAL. pdf for more information. Under Commission Rule 508, if no petition is filed, the Application may be approved administratively without a formal hearing.
Any Affected Person who files a petition must be able to participate in a virtual prehearing conference during the week of May 5, 2025, if a virtual prehearing conference is requested by the Applicant or by any person who has filed a petition.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information, you may review the Application, which was sent to you with this Notice. You may also contact the Applicant at the phone number or email address listed below.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if any party requires special accommodations as a result of a disability for this hearing, please contact Margaret Humecki at Dnr_ECMC_Hearings_Unit@state.co.us, prior to the hearing and arrangements will be made.
ENERGY AND
A12371 4)13 Chevrolet Equinox. 104171 Legal Notice No. BSB3768
to Creditors
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before July 21, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Sandra J. Carter, Attorney for Paul Montoya III Personal Representative
c/o S2P2 Law, LLC
6105 S Main Street, Suite 200 Aurora, CO 80016
Legal Notice No. BSB3692
First Publication: March 20, 2025
Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of JAMES W. HOUG, AKA JAMES WADE HOUG, AKA JAMES HOUG, AKA WADE HOUG, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 30190
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before August 4, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Mary G. Houg
Personal Representative 14287 Downing St. Brighton, CO 80602
Legal Notice No. BSB3758
First Publication: April 3, 2025 Last Publication: April 17, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
District Court Adams County, Colorado 1100 Judicial Center Brighton, CO 80601
In the Matter of the Determination of Heirs or Devisees or Both and of Interests in Property of:
(1)Maud B. Worts, deceased
(2) Charles Santford Thompson, deceased AND (3) Thelma Eugenia Thompson, deceased
Case Number: 2025PR030167 Division T1
Attorney (Name and Address): Chris Michael Ball Morse Lowe PLLC
c/o Industrious
1801 California Street, Suite 2400 Denver, CO 80202
Phone Number: (720) 907-7897
Email: cmichael@bml.law
FAX Number: (720) 897-8651
Atty. Reg. #: 44661
NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION TO INTERESTED PERSONS AND OWNERS BY DESCENT OR SUCCESSION PURSUANT TO § 15-12-1303, C.R.S
To all interested persons and owners by descent or succession (List all names of interested persons and owners by descent or succession):
•Bluebird Energy Partners LLC; •Donna Russell, as Trustee of the Thelma
Eugenia Thompson Revocable Trust, dated 11/17/1993; •Donna Russell, as Trustee of the Donald Irving Hiteshew Trust, dated 9/19/2019; •Primetime Oil and Gas LLC;
•Donald Irving Hiteshew. And any unknown persons claiming an interest in the estates.
A petition has been filed alleging that the above decedent(s) died leaving the following property (including legal description if real property):
Description of Property Oil, gas, and other minerals
Location of Property
TOWNSHIP 3 NORTH, RANGE 64 WEST, 6TH P.M.
Section 34: SW/4, excepting therefrom that certain tract of land conveyed to the Department of Highways, State of Colorado, by Deed recorded September 24, 1958, in Book 74, Page 420.
Containing 144.3220 acres, more or less
Adams County, Colorado
The hearing on the petition will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be continued:
Date:Thursday, May 15, 2025
Time:8:00 a.m.
Address:1100 Judicial Center
Brighton, CO 80601
Courtroom or Division:T1
The hearing will take approximately: (this is a non-appearance hearing).
Note:
•You must answer the petition on or before the hearing date and time specified above.
•Within the time required for answering the petition, all objections to the petition must be in writing, filed with the court and served on the petitioner and any required filing fee must be paid.
• The hearing shall be limited to the petition, the objections timely filed and the parties answering the petition in a timely manner. If the petition is not answered and no objections are filed, the court may enter a decree without a hearing.
Legal Notice No. BSB3702
First Publication: March 20, 2025
Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Linda Jo Saunders, also known as Linda J. Saunders, Linda Saunders, Linda Jo Beaver, Linda J. Beaver, Linda Beaver, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 30136
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before July 21, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Ashley A. Geary, Esq., Attorney for Personal Representative JORGENSEN, BROWNELL, AND PEPIN, P.C. 900 S. Main Street, Suite 100 Longmont, Colorado 80501
Legal Notice No. BSB3713
First Publication: March 20, 2025 Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of BARBARA JOANNE GINTHER, a/k/a Barbara J. Ginther, a/k/a Barbara Ginther, Deceased Case Number: 2025PR030210
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before Monday August 4, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Patricia Rankin, Esq.
Atty. Reg. #27546
Attorney to the Personal Representative 77 Erie Village Square Erie, CO 80516
Legal Notice No. BSB 3150
First Publication: April 3, 2025
Last Publication: April 17, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Norma Rodriguez, a/k/a Norma Rodriguez Guzman, Deceased
Case Number: 2025PR30044
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before Monday, July 21, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Joan Anchondo, Personal Representative c/o Colton D. Craft, Esq. Davis Schilken, PC 1658 Cole Blvd., Ste. 200 Lakewood, CO 80401
Legal Notice No. BSB 3146
First Publication: March 20, 2025
Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Everett Le Roy Yeager,
a/k/a Le Roy Yeager, a/k/a LeRoy Yeager, Deceased: January 31st, 2025
Case Number: 2025PR30186.
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before Monday July 21, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Ruby Jean Booton
Personal Representative 15798 East Union Avenue Aurora, CO 80015
Legal Notice No. BSB 3147
First Publication: March 20, 2025
Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Shawn D. Goossen, AKA Shawn Goossen, AKA Shawn Goodssen, AKA Shawn D. Goosen, AKA Shawn Goosen, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 30185
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before July 28, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Justin Brian Pierce 8030 S. Holly St., Unit G Centennial, Colorado 80122
Legal Notice No. BSB3725
First Publication: March 27, 2025
Last Publication: April 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of PHYLLIS WALTEMATH, a/k/a PHYLLIS KALLSEN, a/k/a PHYLLIS BERGER, a/k/a PHYLLIS DESSIE BERGER, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 30171
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before August 4, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Ellen Toomey-Hale Attorney for Allan Lloyd Waltemath, Personal Representative PO Box 1008 Platteville, CO 80651
Legal Notice No. BSB3748
First Publication: April 3, 2025
Last Publication: April 17, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Children Services
(Adoption/Guardian/Other)
Public Notice
STATE OF COLORADO IN THE DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ADAMS Division D1 No. 24JV30277
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADOIN THE INTEREST OF:
Dilan Liberato Angel A Child, and Concerning
Brenda Angel Garcia, Jesus Liberato Bello Respondents:
Elvia Talavera, J. Carmen Casas Tabullo
S U M M O N S
To the parents, guardian, or other respondents named above, GREETINGS: Brenda Angel Garcia and Jesus Liberato Bello
You are hereby notified that a verified petition has been filed in the above named Court in which it is represented to the Court that said child are alleged to be dependent and neglected; for the reasons set forth more fully in said petition, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for greater certainty.
You are further notified that the parent-child legal relationship may be terminated by this action, if prayed for in the petition.
You are further notified that the Court has set said petition for hearing on the 1st day of May, 2025 at the hour of 10:30 a.m. You are hereby notified to be and appear, at said time, before this Court located at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601.
Witness my hand and seal of said Court this 21st day of March, 2024.
Alana Percy Clerk of the District Court
Legal Notice No. BSB3750 First Publication: April 3, 2025 Last Publication: April 3, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Fort Lupton Press Legals
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 an Annexation with Initial Zoning, and a Comprehensive Plan Amendment referred to as the 1.21 Annexation Nos. 1-7, located south and immediately adjacent along County Road 8, between County Road 31 and 33 in 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, April 24, 2025, at 6:00 P.M., and before the City Council on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 6:00 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 the City Hall is closed 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 (720) 928-4003.
ALL INTERESTED PERSONS MAY ATTEND.
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
Annexation No. 1
A PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 21 AND THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 16, TOWNSHIP 1 NORTH, RANGE 66 WEST OF THE 6TH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, COUNTY OF WELD, STATE OF COLORADO, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:
COMMENCING AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID SECTION 21; THENCE N89˚ 39’47”E ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 21 (CONSIDERING THE NORTH LINE OF THE NORTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 22 TOWNSHIP 1 NORTH, RANGE 66 WEST OF THE 6TH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN ASSUMED TO BEAR N89˚ 36’26”E WITH ALL BEARINGS STATED HEREIN RELATIVE THERETO), A DISTANCE OF 579.81 FEET TO THE EASTERLY LINE OF BILLINGER ANNEXATIONS #1, #2 AND #3 RECORDED UNDER RECEPTION NUMBER 4520897 AND THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING;
THENCE N27˚ 59’05”E ALONG SAID EASTERLY LINE, A DISTANCE OF 34.08 FEET TO THE NORTH RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF WELD COUNTY ROAD 8 BEING 30.00 FEET
NORTH OF SAID SECTION LINE;
THENCE S79˚ 08’18”E, A DISTANCE OF 154.48 FEET;
THENCE S80˚ 23’50”W, A DISTANCE OF 186.31 FEET TO THE SOUTH RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF SAID WELD COUNTY ROAD 8;
THENCE N27˚ 59’05”E ALONG THE EASTERLY LINE OF SAID ANNEXATIONS, A DISTANCE OF 34.08 FEET TO THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING;
CONTAINING 5,031 SQ. FT. / 0.1155 ACRES, MORE OR LESS.
ALL LINEAL DISTANCE ARE REPRESENTED IN U.S. SURVEY FEET.
Annexation No. 2
A PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 21 AND THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 16, TOWNSHIP 1 NORTH, RANGE 66 WEST OF THE 6TH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, COUNTY OF WELD, STATE OF COLORADO, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:
COMMENCING AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID SECTION 21; THENCE N89˚ 39’47”E ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 21 (CONSIDERING THE NORTH LINE OF THE NORTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 22
TOWNSHIP 1 NORTH, RANGE 66 WEST OF THE 6TH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN ASSUMED TO BEAR N89˚ 36’26”E WITH ALL BEARINGS STATED HEREIN RELATIVE THERETO), A DISTANCE OF 579.81 FEET TO THE EASTERLY LINE OF BILLINGER ANNEXATIONS #1, #2 AND #3 RECORDED UNDER RECEPTION NUMBER 4520897; THENCE N27˚ 59’05”E ALONG SAID EASTERLY LINE, A DISTANCE OF 34.08 FEET TO THE NORTH RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF WELD COUNTY ROAD 8 BEING 30.00 FEET NORTH OF SAID SECTION LINE AND THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE N89˚ 39’47”E ALONG SAID NORTH RIGHT OF WAY LINE, A DISTANCE OF 75.00 FEET; THENCE S88˚ 04’29”E, A DISTANCE OF
A DISTANCE OF 760.00 FEET TO THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING. CONTAINING 109,184 SQ. FT. / 2.5065 ACRES, MORE OR LESS. ALL LINEAL DISTANCE ARE REPRESENTED IN U.S. SURVEY FEET.
Annexation No. 4 A PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN THE NORTH 1 /2 OF SECTIONS 21, 22 AND 23, AND THE SOUTH 1 /2 OF SECTIONS 14, 15 AND 16, TOWNSHIP 1 NORTH, RANGE 66 WEST OF THE 6TH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, COUNTY OF WELD, STATE OF COLORADO, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID SECTION 21; THENCE N89˚ 39’47”E ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 21 (CONSIDERING THE NORTH LINE OF THE NORTHEAST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 22 ASSUMED TO BEAR N89˚ 36’26”E
