A FIELD OF HONOR
With AI on hand, financial scammers on the rise
It started with a seemingly routine reminder for Nancy Hall to update her Norton antivirus software.
e 69-year-old Philadelphia resident sat down at her laptop to le her taxes recently and was prompted to call a number that was said to be the software company’s customer support. She had been hacked, the message said.
“It said, ‘you must call Microsoft right away, or else, you’re in danger of losing ev-
erything,’” Hall said. A man on the line claimed to be in talks with her bank, saying hackers managed to download child pornography to her computer and transfer $18,000 to Russian accounts overnight. He told Hall he was transferring her to the fraud department at her bank, where she spoke to someone who knew details about her local branch. After verifying personal details, that person asked her to come in to make a cash withdrawal that she could then use to purchase cryptocurrency at a speci c ATM.
e pair told her she was at threat of being arrested by Homeland Security for what was found on her laptop unless she obliged.
After a few stressful hours of trying to sort out the situation, something clicked, Hall said — a friend was scammed out of $800,000 in retirement savings last year after being persuaded to purchase cryptocurrency in an emergency. Hall hung up the phone, then blocked the number when it continually called her back.
Financial crimes, or scams like these, have always been
around, experts say. But the rise of arti cial intelligence, access to sensitive information on the dark web, and a lack of federal oversight for these crimes means it’s never been easier to be a scammer, security experts say.
“AI has made these things so believable,” said Melissa O’Leary, a Portland, Mainebased partner and chief strategy o cer at cybersecurity rm Fortalice Solutions. “Sometimes you can’t tell, ‘is this legitimate or not?’”
SEE SCAMMERS, P16
State sees 4th measles case of 2025
Denver adult identified with disease in April
BY JOHN DALEY CPR NEWS
Denver has a second case of measles. It’s the fourth recorded in the state this year and a number not seen in Colorado since at least 2014. It comes as the number of measles cases in the U.S. is rising sharply.
e new case is in an adult — a household contact of the rst Denver case identi ed earlier this month.
e health departments of the city and the state say there’s no risk of exposure to the general public because the person has been in public health quarantine during their infectious period.
Measles can be severe but is preventable. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97 percent e ective in preventing measles, according to a press release Wednesday from the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment. “ e MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective, providing long-lasting protection,” the release said.
is latest case comes as numbers in Colorado climb, mirroring a national spike.
e latest case is now the fourth con rmed in Colorado in just the last three weeks. Four cases are double the most for the state recorded in a single year; two cases were reported in 2016, according to the state health department’s website.
In no other year in the last decade has the state recorded more than 2 cases. For six of those years, there were zero cases.
Colorado recorded its rst case of 2025 in an adult in Pueblo County on March 31. A second case was con rmed in Denver in an infant about a week later. Both were unvaccinated.
e third case was in Archuleta County, in south-central Colorado, in an adult with an unknown vaccination history.
SEE MEASLES, P23
The Great Plains Field of Honor returned to Fort Lupton’s Pearson Park, bringing 1,020 unfurled flags to decorate the grassy field.
See more photos on page 6. SCOTT TAYLOR
Bill Dale seeking someone to take his building, and his mantle
Retired pharmacist looking for someone to assume his legacy at 237 Denver Ave
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A historic Denver Avenue retail space that’s been a pharmacy for 43 years is looking for a new business to call it home.
Pharmacist Bill Dale, retired since 2008, is looking for someone to take over his 237 Denver Ave. Dales Pharmacy space.
“I still own the building,” Dale said. “My wife Irene and I moved from the area in 2017. We have had a couple of failed lease attempts. It is currently vacant and ready for a new chapter. We are hopeful to nd a tenant with an existing business that will enhance the community and bring back a gathering place for local people.”
Dale learned of a great opportunity to start his own pharmacy when a former classmate was contacted by a group of businessmen from Fort Lupton looking for someone to open a new pharmacy to bring a more competitive environment.
Dale and his wife Marlene graduated from the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy in 1982, working as pharmacists while they raised two children.
“He passed on the opportunity and gave me the contact number of the person with the Fort Lupton Development Corporation and left it up to me to pursue.”
Replacing La Copita
Dale said he contacted Sam Funakoshi, who showed him an empty building at 417 Denver Ave and suggested that it would be a great space to open a pharmacy. It wasn’t ready to open, but he was able to visualize what it could be.
“When I saw it the rst time, the front of the building was gone, the oor had been stripped down to the joists, and across the back wall there was a mural of a huge Caballero with a mustache that stretched the entire width of the building. It had previously been La Copita, a local ‘watering hole,’” Dale said.
Dale said he agreed and opened Dale Professional Pharmacy in May 1982, selling their rst prescription.
“We stayed there until January 1988, when we moved to 421 Denver Ave. – the former home of Lenzi’s Sporting Goods and a much larger space,” Dale said. Dale said that while he was getting established, Bob Easterday was running a competing pharmacy at 237 Denver Ave.
“I developed a good working relationship and a good personal friendship as well with Bob Easterday, we attended the same church, Bob and I sang bass in the choir,” Dale said. “I found my pharmacy, a short distance from Easterday’s Pharmacy, did not have any detrimental effect on his business, and we worked well together as separate businesses to serve the needs of Fort Lupton.”
Transitions
It was a comfortable status quo until the mid-1990s. Marlene was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer in the summer of 1995.
“She passed away on January 2, 1996, and I carried on the best I could,” Dale said.
was ready to retire and asked Dale if he was interested. He was, purchasing the business, including the building, and moved to 237 Denver Ave. employees and brought one of my own. Over time, I ended up with about 12 employees in all, and business was good,” Dale said.
Dale said Easterday had an old-fashioned soda fountain and a co ee bar. Every morning, a group of men from in town would stop by and have co ee. “ ere were usually four of them, sometimes ve, so we kept an extra chair
nearby just in case. ese men would sit and drink co ee for usually 30 minutes or so and talk about world a airs, the high school football game last night, or the price of wheat,” Dale said. “I always ment to listen to these wise men, we could solve the nation’s problems in very short order.”
Retiring
Dale said he made several changes, however, and remodeled the building over the years. But nally, at his 25th anniversary running his pharmacy, and he decided to sell out if he could nd some-
“Almost exactly a year later, a young pharmacist who had been working in pharmacies in the Brighton area and I had an opportunity to talk,” Dale said. “We talked about the advantages of owning a pharmacy and discussed the relative bene ts of buying an existing pharmacy or starting from scratch like I did. Well, it turned out he was interested in buying and I was interested in selling.”
After the closing in 2008, Dale said Huy Duong R.Ph. corporation, called Caring Hands Pharmacy, Inc., took ownership of the Dale Pharmacy business and name while Dale kept the building.
“He asked if he could use the name Dale Pharmacy since it already had a loyal clientele,” Dale said.
Dale and he and his family moved from the area in 2017. Huy stayed there for the next 13 years, but decided to expand to larger place of his own, keeping the Dales Pharmacy name.
“He purchased a piece of land across the street from Safeway and built a new building, then moved the pharmacy operation,” Dale said. “His building also houses a co ee shop and has attracted several other businesses to that area.”
Now Dale said he’s looking for someone to take over his Fort Lupton building. e commercial space is unique, featuring 3,324 square-feet of wide-open retail area situated above a substantial 3,324 square foot basement for storage space, he said.
“ is building is also eligible for grant money for renovations through the Fort Lupton Urban Renewal Authority, which is the City of Fort Lupton’s redevelopment agency,” Dale said. “We are hopeful to nd a tenant with an existing business that will enhance the community and bring back a gathering place for local people.”
If interested in the property, contact Bill Dale at 720-490-5800 or email at thedalebuilding@gmail.com 720-490-5800.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF IRENE RIVERA DALE
The building with the HARDWARE sign is my building, 237 Denver Ave. The building was named
The McEver’s building when it was built in 1928.
Spaghetti dinner raises school supplies money
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Fort Lupton Community held its annual spaghetti dinner on April 16 to raise funds with the silent auction, and the dinner for $2,682 for school supplies in the Weld Re-8 School District.
Will Vowles, who teaches Social Studies at Fort Lupton High School, said he was happy to see so many members of the community out to support the future education of these students.
“It means so much to me that so many businesses from the community get in-
volved in it as well and are paying it forward. Holy Stromboli, the various sponsors that are with us tonight, and the rec center itself, it’s awesome, “ Vowles said.
Melissa Rickman, owner of Wholly Stromboli, thanked everyone for coming.
“Let’s give yourselves a huge round of applause, because I’ve heard a few times tonight that this wouldn’t happen without us, but that’s a lie, because you guys would nd spaghetti somewhere,” she said.
Wholly Stromboli served up homemade spaghetti and meatballs with fresh garlic bread, salads, Italian desserts, with
complimentary beer and wine. e duo music group called Doo Wop played 50’s music.
“It really wouldn’t happen without you guys and your generosity,” Rickman said. “And we have so many great businesses here in Fort Lupton, and we appreciate that, too. So, for our sponsors tonight, we’ve got Dale’s Pharmacy, Yoder Chevrolet, Charm Industries and Basalite and Fort Lupton Ames Community College, United Power, and Bank of Colorado.”
Christy Romano, Fort Lupton Events Coordinator, o ered her gratitude for the continued community support for the 18th
Annual Fort Lupton Spaghetti Dinner. “ e catering by Wholly Stromboli was top notch, and students from Fort Lupton High School and Middle School decorated, served the tables, and cleaned up,” she said.
“I’m so proud of my students for being a part of this and helping prepare for the event,” said Vowles. “ e community provides opportunities for the younger students within our school district, because so many of us lack the opportunity to succeed, and when we can provide school supplies, it provides a better education for our community, it helps everybody.”
Weld issues warning for veterans on benefits scam
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Weld County Veterans Service issued a warning to veterans of fraud scammers trying to steal residents’ disability bene ts by phone, email and unsolicited social media messages, according to a news release on April 16.
“Although we have not been made aware of any individuals being scammed, there are over 17,000 veterans in Weld County currently, and we want to ensure they know what legitimate resources are out there for them,” said Tim Marquart, Weld County Veterans Service O cer.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, more than $419 million has
been lost from scams impacting veterans. It is a huge increase from $292 million reported in 2022.
Filing a claim is free with the Department of Veterans A airs, but individual scammers and companies target veterans to process their bene ts, requiring them to pay fraudulent fees, according to o cials. e scammers make false promises to families and veterans to lure them in, promising quick process times and assistance with a 100% disability rating.
ey will scam you out of a percentage of your bene t, according to o cials.
Weld County urges veterans and their family to identify a scam and protect themselves by investigating the individ-
ual and company. e scammers typically follow a set of behaviors. ose can include;
• Charging high fees or requiring a portion or multiple portions of your VA bene t award.
• Charging for an initial claim at all.
• Promising to accelerate the claims process.
• Promising to obtain a 100% disability rating.
• Insisting that a contract be signed to exchange assistance for a portion of your bene ts.
Veterans that need assistance to conrm information should contact VA-accredited o ces, such as the Weld County Veteran Services O ce representatives
at Weld County or VA services in the county where they live. ose agencies can help with applying for service-connected disability, nonservice-connected pension, burial and survival bene ts, and more, according to o cials.
e Weld County o ce sta are all experienced veterans who are accredited through the Veterans Administration throughout the state.
To make an appointment with Weld, call (970) 400-344 or email VSO@weld. gov. Walk-ins are always welcome, although Mondays are preferred.
Learn more about the Weld County Veterans Service O ce by visiting www. weld.gov/go/veteransservice.
Part I: Affordable Housing? Think Small (Maybe an Accessory Dwelling Unit?)
This column is the first installment of a monthly series about one of the hottest topics in real estate: Accessory Dwelling Units. ADUs have gotten a lot of attention recently as a housing option. My thanks to John Phillips of Verdant Living for helping on the research for it. ADUs (accessory or additional dwelling units) are a wonderful idea. They utilize an existing piece of residential real estate and create a separate living space. They have been around for a long time. In the TV series Happy Days, Fonsie lived in one, on top of a garage. And often they have been a converted basement (still worth considering). They can be a separate building, usually in the backyard. Until recently, zoning regulations made that difficult to do. Throughout the United States, as a part of the need for more housing, zoning codes are being changed to allow ADUs. In Colorado, a law was passed last year allowing ADUs in all major metropolitan areas. That was the subject of my “Real Estate Today” column on February 13, 2025, which is archived online at www. JimSmithColumns.com
have been done by relatively well off homeowners and have been relatively expensive. They really don’t qualify as affordable.
So, can accessory dwelling units play a role in affordable housing? Absolutely, for a very understandable reason. They are smaller. The smaller living space is less expensive to build. Is it for everyone? Of course not, but the well designed living spaces are comfortable and mimic the way most of us live, which is in just a few rooms anyway.
Rita and I now live in a 3-bedroom apartment, having sold our 4,000-squarefoot home in Golden. Back then, we really only used the eat-in kitchen, the living room, the primary bedroom/bathroom, and the office. The basement was filled with stuff we didn’t use, except for a ping pong table we used a couple times a year and a portable sauna that we used a half dozen times. The formal dining room was made into a game room, but we hardly used that. The second bedroom was only occasionally used by a guest.
floor which has more equipment than I need. The apartment has all we need for daily life sort of like an ADU.
ADUs are perfect for intergenerational housing (AARP loves them), for young adults as starter homes, and for childless couples, like Rita and me.
ADUs are part of a larger movement emphasizing smaller, high quality living spaces. There are entire developments of smaller homes on smaller lots, some of them the size of an ADU.
Affordability Characteristics
¨ Cost. Because of their small size, ADUs offer a more affordable option compared to traditional homes, making homeownership accessible to a broader segment of the population, including young adults and seniors.
¨ Housing stock. By integrating ADUs into the housing market, communities increase the overall housing supply, especially when they are located in areas dealing with an affordable housing shortage.
Opportunty Alert! Kol Peterson, a recognized authority on ADUs, is holding an ADU Academy in Denver on June 13. Early registration ends May 9. Visit https://www.aduspecialist.org/ aduacademy
es land that is already owned. For a standalone mini home, the size of the real estate is much smaller.
¨ Water & Sewer. When the ADU is just that accessory to an existing single family home it can share the same water and sewer tap, saving a 5figure cost associated with building a new standalone home. .
Another positive is that an ADU adds long-term value to an existing singlefamily home, increasing the wealth of the homeowner.
When Colorado’s General Assembly passed the law, the legislature was concerned that ADUs would be possible for homeowners of moderate means and add to the affordable or “attainable” housing. Up until now, most of the few detached ADUs that have been built in Colorado
Now, in our 1,200-square-foot apartment, our life hasn’t changed much. We eat next to our kitchen, which is part of the living room. One bedroom is my office, and we have a guest bedroom that we’ve only used twice, but it’s nice to have. True, we have no room for a piece of exercise equipment that I’d like to buy, but there is a fitness center on the main
¨ Operational expense. Because of their smaller footprint, ADUs require less heating and cooling, as well as less long-term maintenance.
¨ Versatility. ADUs can serve various housing needs, including for family members or as rental properties, providing the homeowner with an additional income source.
¨ Land cost. This is a big one. When the ADU is a backyard bungalow, it utiliz-
If you want to find out more about ADUs, you should check out the buyer’s guide on the Verdant Living website, which lists many other companies and resources: www.VerdantLiving.us Or call or text John Phillips on his cell: 303-717-1962.
Next month: Why aren’t more ADUs being built in Colorado?
NOTE: My “Real Estate Today” column that normally appears on this page is now published bi-weekly. Look for it here next week and every other week thereafter.
Brighton artists turn spotlight on 27J students
2nd annual showcase features art from 16 di erent district schools
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Brighton Public Arts Committee hosted its second annual 27J School District Youth art show with 16 local schools, from students showcasing their talents on April 19 at Riverdale Park and Fair Grounds Al Lesser Building.
Wilma Rose Chairwoman, with the Brighton Public Art Committee on the Brighton Cultural Arts Commission, said they worked with the 27J school district in particular and with Riverdale Ridge High School art teacher Nathan Shaver.
“ is is our second year,” Rose said. “We started the 27J arts show because we noticed there was a gap, including our kids and the community, to recognize them for their work. is is one way we can recognize a kid, especially in the arts, so often that falls to the side, and so this is one way we thought it could help.”
e 27J students art using several types of medium, including photography, oil, pastels, water colors, colored pencils, clay sculptures and newspaper print.
e schools that participated were Stuart, Padilla Elementary, Quist Middle School, Reunion, Henderson, Eagle Ridge Academy, West Ridge, Overland Trail Middle School, Discovery, Prairie View High School, Second Creek Elementary, Brighton High School, Bromley East Charter School, e STEAD School, Prai-
rie View Middle School, and Riverdale Ridge High School.
e Brighton Jazz also entertained folks at the art show.
e 27J Superintendent of Schools, Will Pierce, announced the winners of “Best in Show.”
“ e art is amazing. I’m so excited that we can showcase art and display it in our schools. e kids are learning art and creativity, and having the support of our community to celebrate art is just incredible,” Pierce said.
Pierce chose Riverdale Ridge 11th grader Paris Sanchez’s painting as the Superintendent’s “Best in Show.”
“When they gave me the Best in Show table, they made it easy for me to decide which of these pieces of art speaks to me,
she was thinking behind the piece.”
“I’m super excited. I’m a little shaky. My painting is of Brandon Rogers, a famous actor who appears on several TV series. I saw him as inspiration, painted him in a few of his characters side by side,” Sanchez said. “So, it’s all the same guy, but it’s di erent characters that he plays. I had met him before and sent him a painting of him, that I did. He hasn’t seen this painting yet.”
Powell Ertle Donnely, a 12th grader at the STEAD school, who the overall “Best in Show” honors. Donnely said he was honestly shocked to win, and was impressed by the pieces showcased this year.
“So, my team, along with the other mentioned, as well as other schools, worked to pull the show back together,” Shaver said.
Shaver said he helped open Riverdale Ridge High School. e school teaches Painting & Drawing, Sculpture & Ceramics, Photography, Graphic Design, Foundations, and Yearbook.
“When we opened the building, our Principal Terry Elliot envisioned the school as an Arts Magnet of sorts. I love showing the work of the students,” Shaver said. “Art can be very personal and only for you, but it can also be made for others to enjoy, to think about, and re ect upon. So, if kids want their art to be seen and are comfortable with it, I love to display work in our school all the time and have our winter art show. I want kids to feel proud and generate excitement for the program.”
“ e piece to me felt like a representation of a ‘Memento Mori’, which roughly translates to ‘Remember to die.’ It’s such a powerful saying to me that I wanted to capture what it meant to me,” Donnely said. “ e skeleton is representative of someone who’s passed but still standing proud because of how they loved their life, surrounded by butter ies that represent their growth and peace in how they lived their life.”
Riverdale Ridge’s Shaver helped organize the student art show, contacting the school and arranging the submissions.
Shaver said the art show had almost gone by the wayside after COVID. It was looking like it wouldn’t get back o the ground unless a few people took charge to bring it back.
Shaver said he thinks of the show like a school band perforance: If a student worked hard at a song or instrumental or a piece of art, showing it o is a big payo .
“Art should also have its time to shine. Kids put countless hours and thought into the work, and we want them to show it o . It’s also really fun to see what other schools are doing and learn from each other.”
“Between all of us, we coordinate working together to notify people, and have had great success in pulling this o . e funding for the show is from two grants, the Science and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) fund and the Brighton Community Grant, and the former Lodging Tax Grant,” said Rose.
Paris Sanchez, 11 grade at Riverdale Ridge High School, took home Superintendent Choice “Best in Show.” PHOTO BY BELEN WARD
Great Plains Field of Honor returned for 2025
Fifth annual display of flags honored veterans, first responders in Fort Lupton’s Pearson Park
BY SCOTT TAYLOR
STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Fort Lupton’s Pearson Park was lled with wind-whipped ags again as the fth annual Great Plains Field of Honor returned o for 2025 last week.
e simple event, meant to honor veterans and rst responders alike, continueds all week and culminated in a closing ceremony at April 26 that included a yover by military aircraft, a reenactment by the Bu alo Soldiers, an honor guard and music and speakers.
e opening April 23 was a smaller affair but featured music by Fort Lupton’s Harmony Fields and yover by civilian aircraft.
Volunteer Judy Ceretto said she saw a similar display in Nevada eight years ago and began working to develop the program in Fort Lupton.
“And it only took me two years,” she said.
Organizers bring in 1,020 ags each year, a number that Ceretto said allows them to place the ags in the park in two groups on either side of the park.
ey then sell sponsorships for each ag, allowing family members to remember a veteran family member or friend or a rst responder. Sponsors who pay $10 get to take the card honoring their veteran or rst responder. ose who pay $25 get to take the ag as well as the card.
Volunteer Connie Hoglin said organizers sold 641 ags before Wednesday’s opening ceremony. Flags can still be purchased before the closing ceremony at the white tent at the entrance to the park.
e event was scheduled in November for its rst year but organizers moved it to April to take advantage of warmer weather and less competition for veterans and military honor groups, Ceretto said.
Fort Lupton volunteers opened the city’s fifth annual Great Plains Field of Honor at noon April 23 with musical performances and flyover of civilian aircraft. The display remains open daily from noon to 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 26.
Members of Fort Lupton’s Harmony Fields play patriotic songs April 23 at the city’s Pearson Park for the opening of the Great Plains Field of Honor. The group, from the left, Hana Vigil on the saxophone, Charlene Michel on the euphonium, Nathanial Michele on the saxophone and Marta Michel on the french horn, will be back with more members of their musical group Saturday for the April 26 closing ceremony.
Organizers said that this year’s Great Plains Field of Honor features 1,020 flags with 641 sponsored by families of local veterans and first responders.
Westminster woman gets a renewal on her life
Heather Bower developed heart failure but found help from an organ donor
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Heather Bower feels pretty good these days, going for regular walks with her pit bull/German Shepherd mix and riding horses when she gets a chance. Bower, 53, considers her life to be even more remarkable considering she underwent a heart transplant exactly one year ago.
“I am doing things I took for granted before my transplant,” said Bower, who lives in Westminster and works as a nurse recruiter with Intermountain Health.
“It’s impossible to put into words how grateful I am for this gift of life,” she said.
Bower received a heart transplant in April 2024 after being matched with a donor within just 72 hours of being placed on the waiting list. Bower said she struggled with heart issues since age 19 and eventually developed right-sided heart failure.
Bower was picked for a lifesaving heart donation because she lives in an area where more people than ever have decided to be organ donors, said Cheryl Talley, director of communications at Donor Alliance. In 2024, 311 organ donors from the Colorado-Wyoming region led to 957 life-saving organ transplants, a 1.3% increase over the previous year.
“People like Heather are so lucky to live where there are some of the highest donor designations,” Talley said. “As more people register to become organ donors,
it allows people like Heather to nd a match and go on to lead healthy lives.”
Bower chose to speak out about her heart transplant to help mark April as National Donate Life Month. Currently, 1,300 people are awaiting a lifesaving organ transplant in Colorado and thousands more need a lifesaving and healing tissue transplant, according to the Donor Alliance.
A big deal
Bower said at 19 she was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. She said she didn’t consider it a “big deal,” so she moved on with her life and went to college and got married. In her early 30s, she got pregnant with her daughter and developed congestive heart failure during her pregnancy.
During the delivery, Bower su ered a cardiac arrest and woke up in the hospital’s ICU. Bower said she was implanted with a pacemaker and underwent two heart procedures until she was diagnosed with right-sided heart failure.
“It was not treatable,” Bower said. “ e only solution was a heart transplant.”
She was put on the national heart transplant list in April 2024 and received a call that a donor heart had been found within 72 hours. e procedure did not work out as planned but another more compatible heart was quickly found and Bower underwent a successful 5 ½ hour surgery at UCHealth, she said.
Her doctor told her she was a good candidate for a transplant because of her blood type – A1 – is common, she said. She is also 5 feet, 2 inches tall with average weight.
“ e doctors said I would be able to ac-
ONLINE AUCTION
cept any kind of match from an adolescent to a teenager,” Bower said.
Her rehabilitation was long and grueling, but she was able to go back to work full-time in January. She has also composed a letter of thanks to the family of her donor and hopes to one day deliver it to them, Bower said.
“I just want to acknowledge how much
I cherish this gift that was given to me,” Bower said. “ is is incredible, and I am overwhelming grateful.”
e Donor Alliance says anyone can say “yes” to organ, eye, and tissue donation the next time you obtain or renew your driver license or state ID. People can also register anytime at DonateLifeColorado.org.
CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTING
May 7th @ 9:00 A.M.
Inspection Times: May 5th & 6th from 8:15am - 4:45pm
Heather Bower, left, celebrates her new heart with daughter, Skylar
COURTESY OF DONOR ALLIANCE
Brenda helped bring light, hope, encouragement
For years, I have been learning about resilience, its di erent nuances, the corners hiding the gems that make resilience so important and even the perceptions we hold that make it difcult to see the possibilities of resilience. Still, after many years of focusing on the subject, I learned stunning and beautiful things about the nature of resilience last July.
One Wednesday, last summer I received an instant message from the son of a former administrative assistant. It simply said, “Can you give me a call?” and left a phone number. It was the kind of message that leaves a pit in your stomach. Knowing that something was terribly wrong, I called the number. In our conversation, Tim told me that his mom, Brenda, had been severely injured in a motorcycle accident and that she would not recover. He explained that while she was still on life support, there was nothing to be done because the injuries to her head were too extensive. He concluded by saying that they did not need anything; I told him how sorry I was, and we hung up.
e next day, I texted Tim to see if he needed anything. He said “no,” and I did
When it comes to our nation’s history, I’m a romantic. I can’t help it. I love learning more about it…one can never know it all.
I don’t mean romantic in a simplistic my-country-right-or-wrong, love-it-orleave-it sense. Far from it. I embrace it all, the great along with the despicable. For if one cannot bear hearing uncomfortable truths, how can they truly appreciate the laudable triumphs?
When we read stories from our past, it’s natural to focus on acts of courage and triumph. at’s because we’d like our story, from our own to our nation’s, to be a heroically courageous tale. In very large part, America’s is, but it’s also haunted by ghosts of ugliness: slavery, ethnic cleansing of native peoples, brutal labor exploitation, repression of civil rights.
Our story can be likened to a blending process, not like a melting-pot in which disparate people form a monoculture, but instead a bubbling stew in which acts of heroic nobility were and are intermixed with ignoble ones.
Recent events made me think of a particularly dark period: the Palmer Raids, initiated by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer from 1919 to 1920 (a few historians posit earlier). It was an especially toxic stretch of time. Abroad, the Bolsheviks had recently overthrown the czar and seized control of Russia. At home, the struggling labor movement was becoming increasingly restive in reaction to the brutality the tycoons of industry had rained down on workers. Fear that communism could spread here was rampant. Firebombs mailed to prominent leaders, including Palmer, in amed the hysteria.
Palmer responded with revenge and fury. He launched raids across the nation. ousands of innocent citizens were rounded up and incarcerated.
the same on Friday. Friday’s text response was simple, “Could you come to an Honor Walk for my mom on Saturday morning?” I immediately responded, “yes,” and asked for details.
I had no idea what an Honor Walk meant. I thought it strange when I asked where to meet, and he responded, “In the ICU waiting room at Saint Anthony’s Hospital,” but I did not ask more questions; I just planned to go.
Once there, joining 50 or 60 other people, I began to put pieces together. We were not walking; we were to be the observers for Brenda’s nal walk. Her body was kept functioning, but with no chance of recovery, the family, following Brenda’s wishes, was going to have her organs donated.
e Honor Walk was Brenda’s move from her ICU room to the operating room where she would be taken o life support. When her heart stopped, the donation of her organs would begin.
e hospital liaison teared up as he thanked those who had shown up, saying it was unusual for so many to attend the walk. All in attendance knew it was a testament to the profound life Brenda lived.
e walk was simple. We were taken to the hallway between Brenda’s room and the operating room, and along with ICU hospital sta , we silently lined the hallway as Brenda was wheeled through the space, followed by her family. When they stopped brie y, someone shared a short prayer, then the gurney was pushed into an OR and the doors were closed.
e whole walk lasted no more than ve minutes, but the stunning beauty and devastating reality of that experience will stick with me forever. I will never again talk with the person who supported my work as an assistant principal for more than ve years. Never lament the poor Bronco’s performance from the weekend with her or learn from her how her children are doing.
At the same time, I will never forget being present as Brenda, with her nal breath, was given the opportunity to change lives forever. Brenda’s nal act of resilience gave life to another, maybe several others. She showed us that even
For our own safety’s sake
as we lose everything on earth, we know we can bring light, hope and encouragement.
Her example illuminates a powerful lesson for all of us. We can both nd and give encouragement no matter the situation.
Rest in peace, dear friend. ank you for your inspiring model.
I hope my words encourage 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 the valuable ideas you nd in these columns and how you use them to uplift those around you. You can reach me at jim. roome@gmail.com.
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.
Some were tortured simply for exercising their First Amendment rights. Immigrant groups lived in terror. Suspected “communist agitators” were deported en masse. Palmer likely felt invincible, but he wasn’t.
Palmer met his Waterloo when members of Congress, judges and lawyers stood up and called him down for his blatant disregard for due process, the bedrock of the American judicial system. In response, he vociferously claimed that there would be an armed mass uprising on May Day 1920. When it didn’t occur, he lost his credibility, and his power waned. e tide ebbed but it never completely receded. Hysteria would sweep back to shore from time to time.
e Palmer Raids were the rst Red Scare. e second and most infamous was McCarthyism in the early 1950s. And here we are. Xenophobia is a dark side of our legacy.
Merriam-Webster de nes due process twofold: one, a course of formal proceedings (such as legal proceedings) carried out regularly and in accordance with established rules and principles, and two, a judicial requirement that enacted laws may not contain provisions that result in the unfair, arbitrary, or unreasonable treatment of an individual.
e Fifth Amendment reads no person can “be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”
Section One of the Fourteenth Amendment, which nationalizes the Fifth, reads, “nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.”
In “A Man for All Seasons,” after omas More (sainted by the Catholic Church) tells his future son-in-law Will Roper in a terse exchange that he’d give the Devil the bene t of the law, Will retorts that he’d cut down every law in England to go after the Devil. In response, omas dissects Will’s reasoning.
“And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned on you, where would you hide, the laws all being at?” omas reminds Will about the country being thick with laws — not God’s but man’s — serves to protect everyone. He then asks Will if he could stand upright in the winds that blew if those laws were ignored or negated. In a reverential voice omas concludes, “Yes, I’d give the Devil bene t of the law, for my own safety’s sake.”
Dismayingly, the laws did not protect him because King Henry VIII usurped them and ordered omas, who was once his chancellor and close condant, beheaded.
America today is like England then: ick with laws. But there is also a fundamental di erence between us: We don’t have an all-powerful king. Instead, we have the Constitution with the right to due process enshrined in it to protect us from unchecked power. e Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments make it clear that due process is guaranteed to all persons within its jurisdiction. No exceptions. Even for non-citizens. Otherwise, it’s not guaranteed for anyone. Freedom-loving Americans not only grasp that but are also bound by and to it. ey do so not just out of principle but for their own safety’s sake.
Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.
A tale of two legislative bills in Colorado
Matters of little consequence often get major time and attention. And vice versa. Two energy bills in the Colorado Legislature this year, one about nuclear energy and the second about electrical transmission, illustrate this. e rst bill, HB25-1040, which is now law, declared that nuclear energy is clean. It proclaims that utilities can meet clean-energy targets with nuclear. It also allows private projects access tonancing restricted to clean energy development. e bill sailed through the Legislature. Gov. Jared Polis signed it into law March 31. For believers, those who want to believe that nuclear energy will be THE answer, it was a big win.
To what e ect? Likely none. Forget about nuclear waste and safety concerns. Cost of energy from new nuclear plans remains exorbitant.
Some of this was sorted through in a fourhour committee hearing in March. Chuck Kutscher was among several dozen individuals given two-minute slots to testify. He deserved more time.
A nuclear engineer by training, he subsequently moved into renewables, retiring from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory several years ago.
At a later meeting in Je erson County, Kutscher explained why he expects nuclear energy to play no role in Colorado’s energy transition. It comes down to cost.
“I like to give credit where credit is due.
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Jim Roome
JERRY FABYANIC
Columnist BIG PIVOTS
Allen Best
BY SHAUNEEN MIRANDA COLORADO NEWSLINE
U.S. to restart student loan collections
e U.S. Department of Education said that it will resume collections May 5 for defaulted federal student loans.
After pausing during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency has not collected on defaulted loans in over ve years. More than 5 million borrow-
ers sit in default on their federal student loans, and just 38% of borrowers are current on their payments, the department said.
“American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement.
During last year’s presidential cam-
to solar and wind for 5 and 6 cents.
paign, President Donald Trump criticized his predecessor and successor, President Joe Biden, for his e orts to erase student debt. McMahon resumed that line of attack April 21, blaming Biden’s administration for unreasonably raising borrowers’ expectations of forgiveness.
“ e Biden Administration misled borrowers: the executive branch does not
lines and associated infrastructure.
have the constitutional authority to wipe debt away, nor do the loan balances simply disappear. Hundreds of billions have already been transferred to taxpayers,” McMahon said. She added that “going forward, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Treasury,
SEE COLLECTIONS, P17
And the fact is that nuclear power in this country has saved a heck of a lot of carbon dioxide and air pollution emissions,” he said. “Nuclear provides almost half of U.S. carbon-free electricity, which is pretty impressive.”
As for costs, Kutscher cited two metrics courtesy of Lazard, a nancial company that monitors electrical generation. e cost of building new nuclear plants comes in at $8,000 to $13,000 per kilowatt of generating capacity. Solar comes in at $1,400, wind at $2,000.
A broader metric, the levelized cost, includes capital, fuel and operating costs over the life of an energy plant.
“ e longer a plant runs, the lower its life-cycle costs, because it’s producing more energy,” Kutscher explained. By this measure, nuclear still comes up short: 18 cents a kilowatt-hour compared
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Might costs drop with a new generation of small modular reactors? SMRs can generate 300 megawatts or less. One was planned in the West, but in 2023 the Utah Associated Municipal Power Sys tems pulled out of its contract with NuS cale – because of cost.
Larry Milosevich, a Lafayette resident, decided six years ago to devote himself to fewer pursuits. He says he chose the
lower cost. “We characterize it as a noregrets solution,” says Rubin Shen.
If nuclear costs make it a non-starter in Colorado, can renewables deliver us to an emission-free electrical system?
e sun vanishes daily, and sometimes winds on our eastern plains die down, even for days. Kutscher sees possible solutions in improving storage technologies and expanded transmission. Transmission can enable electricity to be shared across multiple time zones and weather systems.
Even moving electricity around Colorado more e ciently has value. e second bill, SB24-127, proposes to do that. It would require investor-owned utilities to investigate tools called advanced transmission technologies. ey will enable more use from existing transmission
cies.
“I would love to see advanced transmission technologies get a little more light,” he says.
Why hasn’t it happened? “It doesn’t have sex appeal.”
is bill will not solve all problems.
“You need a lot of arrows in your quiver to get there. And it’s not one technology that’s going to save the day,” says Leah Rubin Shen, managing director of Advanced Energy United, an industry association that advocates for technologies and policies that advance decarbonization.
More transmission will still be needed. Approvals take time. Using these tools can more rapidly expand capacity at
State Sen. Cleave Simpson, a Republican from Alamosa, was the primary author of the bill. “We can increase the capacity and resilience of our infrastructure without having to undertake expensive, large-scale construction projects,” he told committee members at a March meeting.
e committee that day heard from fewer than a dozen witnesses. It passed an amended bill and moved on within 45 minutes. Several weeks before same committee heard nuclear testimony for hours.
In a later interview, Simpson described the bill, slimmed greatly in ambition from its original iteration, as “maybe a tiny step forward, but a doable one.” Unlike nuclear, not THE answer, but a doable one.
Allen Best produces Big Pivots, which covers the energy and water transitions in Colorado. See BigPivots.com
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Veterinarian student Sarah Hilliard retreated to a far corner of a room lined with kennels for the animal hospital’s patients, sat down and thought about how she was going to end her life. Suicide seemed like the best exit out of a grueling, joyless life that included 70-hour work weeks and treating sick and dying animals in a callous, competitive environment.
“I just sat in the corner, and I cried and cried,” said Hilliard. “I was planning on going home and take a long cool smoothie with all my meds and calling it quits. I often thought about what it would be like to nally just take a long deep sleep and never wake up.”
Hilliard is now co-owner of PetVet 365, a new-style pet clinic in Westminster that emphasizes compassion for both animals and their veterinary caregivers. But in 2010 — when she considered her suicide — she was working on her residency in internal medicine at Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in old-school conditions that emphasized only clinical survival.
“ ere was no time for self-care,” said Hilliard. “ ere was no role model telling me, ‘Hey, you are not doing so well. Why don’t you take a day o ,’” she said. “You were pretty much on your own. No one talked about having any doubts about what they were doing. No one wanted to admit any kind of weakness.”’
A colleague found Hilliard and she was admitted to a psychiatric ward for seven days. She balked at going back to her residency and reconsidered her relationship with the veterinary profession, stepping away from practicing medicine for several years.
“I just felt the veterinary world just chewed me up and spit me out,” the 44-year-old Hilliard said. “I had to deal with the giant elephant in the world … what to do next.”
She underwent cognitive behavioral therapy to get to the root of her anxieties. She eventually helped open PetVet 365, which practices a “fear free” approach to treating its patients. She also speaks up about the prevalence of veterinarian suicides in the United States.
“It’s a problem that has not really been looked at or dealt with up until just the last few years,” Hilliard said. “It is time for people to realize that we deal with a lot of stu . It’s not just all bunny rabbits and owers.”
A study by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2019, found that veterinarians in the United States are three-to- ve times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. ere was a similar conclusion reached in a2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.
About 80% of all veterinarians su er from clinical depression at some point and about 50% report feeling unhappy in their careers, according to Psychology Today.
“ ese statistics paint a bleak picture that calls for a profound examination of the underlying factors fueling this troubling trend,” states Psychology Today.
e publication points to several factors that weigh heavily on the mental health of veterinarians, including performing euthanasia on patients, wrestling with large school debt and burnout.
“ e fear of making a mistake or failing to provide optimal care can foster feelings of inadequacy and perfectionism, which can be detrimental to their mental health,” the article states.
Veterinarians can also be the target of cyberbullying. A client can deliver poor online ratings on Yelp and Google or leave derogatory messages which leads to anxiety, depression and stress among
vets and veterinary technicians, states Psychology Today.
“Veterinarians may feel overwhelmed by the constant negativity,” the publication states.
Colorado State University o cials say they are responding to the new needs of veterinary students — including their mental health — through the university’s Veterinary Health and Education Complex, or VHEC, which includes a new Primary Care Center.
e facility includes a teaching hospital for routine and urgent care; a new Livestock Veterinary Hospital, fully equipped with medical, surgical and ambulatory facilities built to meet current and future demands for large animal care; and reimagined classrooms with interactive workstations, according to CSU. e complex — slated to be nished in fall 2026 — is coupled with a signi cant curriculum update. e new educational roadmap maintains the rigor of a robust science-based doctoral program while emphasizing ideas such as resilience, professionalism and wellbeing, according to CSU.
Dr. Matthew Johnston, professor of avian, exotic and zoological medicine and co-chair of the college’s curriculum renewal committee, told CSU Magazine last April that changes needed to be made to head o the mental and emotional toll exerted on veterinarian students and practitioners.
Veterinarian Sarah Hilliard holds Vienna, a rag doll cat at her practice in Westminster. PHOTO BY
Veterinarian Sarah Hilliard talks to her patient, Westly, an Australian shepherd.
VET HEALTH
“We started seeing declining attendance at lecture-based courses. We’ve seen upticks in students leaving the program not for academic reasons, but for mental health reasons,” Johnston told the magazine. “I personally have colleagues who have died by suicide.” Johnston, who has taught for more than 20 years, told the magazine that CSU’s revamped program can have a signi cant impact by changing the way it teaches veterinary medicine. Fewer static lectures. More hands-on learning and group work. Dedicated breaks throughout the semester for re ection and restoration.
“We’re not just going to give you information about mental health and wellness, we’re changing the whole system,” Johnston told CSU Magazine. “CSU is radically ipping the script more than any vet school has done.” Melinda Frye, associate dean for veterinary academic and student a airs at CSU, said the school will include an embedded counselor to aid troubled students. Financial counselors will also be available, as well as someone to talk about a student’s “vocational wellbeing.” Students can also take time o for religious holidays, Frye said.
“We want to encourage students to understand the human dimensions of our profession,” Frye said.
Students still are faced with a curriculum that demands they gain expertise on a variety of animal species from kittens to dogs and horses, she said. And it’s all done in four years.
“I do understand this contributes to a lot of our students feeling a bit overwhelmed,” Frye said. “ at’s a lot to take in in a short period of time.”
Hilliard grew up in Ohio and was always interested in animals and science. She wedded the two by attending Ohio State’s veterinary school from 2004 to 2008 to become a general practitioner.
She got into CSU’s internal medicine residency program and began dealing with feelings of inadequacy and “imposter syndrome,” she said.
“I kept thinking to myself, ‘How did I get here? What am I doing here?” she said.
Hilliard got help in counseling and began taking prescription drugs for panic and anxiety.
“ e medicine did multiple things to help my physical feelings, but I didn’t understand what the underlying problem was,” she said.
She returned to Ohio State for her residency in small animal internal medicine. Hilliard admits she was not ready for the emotional toll the program would take on her.
“Everything just intensi ed, the patients were very sick, and you are supposed to know the answers,” she said. “But I did know that you were not supposed to ask for help.”
Her breakdown and departure from Ohio State led her down several paths that included going back into a general practice with a friend. She also worked for a pharmaceutical company for a few years.
“Still, I knew something just wasn’t right,” Hilliard said.
at led her to cognitive therapy and
to a group of friends starting a new kind of veterinary practice.
“ ey wanted a nice place to work and for people to bring their pets to,” Hilliard said.
e group created PetVet 365, a Fear Free practice. e waiting room is eliminated, and every patient and pet “guardian” is given their own private dog or cat suite, complete with a TV, couch, rug, toys, species-speci c pheromones and treats.
“Everyone feels more comfortable, including the patients, guardians and the sta ,” Hilliard said.
Not every problem has been eliminated. Some pet guardians are still angered or hurt when they receive bad news about their pets.
“We just talk to them and tell them that our sta needs to be treated respectfully,” Hilliard said.
And there are days when a dog or cat must be euthanized. Hilliard said her sta works to help the animals slip peacefully away.
“It’s not the easiest part of our day, but it’s one of the things we can give as a gift to families that they have an opportunity to end their pet’s su ering,” Hilliard said. “ at’s the unique part of our profession. In many ways, it’s one of the more beautiful things we can do.”
Westminster veterinarian Sarah Hilliard tends to Wesley, an Australian shepherd.
Sarah Hilliard helped start PetVet365 in Westminster. The clinic emphasizes a “Fear Free” environment. PHOTOS BY MONTE WHALEY
Sarah Hilliard
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BRIEFS
The Mt. Calvary Lutheran church is having its annual plant sale. Mt. Calvary Church, 650 So. Park Ave., is hosting a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10. ere will be lots of plants and lots of baked goods lling the parking lot. For more information, contact Sylvia at 303-3498605.
Brighton hosts tree planting activity May 3 at Elmwood Cemetery In honor of Arbor Day, the City of Brighton invites residents, community organizations, and tree enthusiasts to make a meaningful environmental impact at Elmwood Cemetery. Join our Open Space, Forestry, and Cemetery teams by participating in a tree planting initiative at the cemetery May 3, from 8 a.m. to noon, at 14800 Old Brighton Road.
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.
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.
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.
is volunteer event o ers a unique opportunity to give back to the community while supporting the creation of a sustainable tree canopy at Elmwood Cemetery. Trees play a vital role in improving air quality, providing habitat and shelter for wildlife, and enhancing the aesthetic beauty of city properties yearround. As a token of appreciation, all attendees will be entered into a ra e to win free trees. Participants should wear longsleeved tops and pants, sturdy shoes, work gloves and bring a water bottle. e city will provide tools, equipment, trees, training, drinking water and snacks.
To register for the event, or for additional information, please contact City Forester Adam Rhodebeck at 303-655-2048 or via email at ajrhodebeck@brightonco.gov.
Brighton hosts Day in AA 2025 Brighton Alcoholics Anonymous is hosting the District 9 Day In AA 2025 for District 9 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 14 at their location, 147 Second Place in Brighton.
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.
For more information about the Higher Orbits event, visit www.higherorbits.org. To sponsor the event, go to sponsors@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.
e Day in AA includes eight meetings, three meals and one solution that will be delivered over the course of 13 hours.
e meeting is open to anyone in Colorado’s AA District 9, which includes the entire Metro Denver region and Boulder.
Art in the Park announces call for artists
e City of Brighton will host its annual Art in the Park festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Carmichael Park, 650 Southern St.
Historical Society tea tickets on sale
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 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
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Water audit program
e city of Brighton and Resource Central teamed up to 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
Legal advice
e Brighton-based school district operates schools in Brighton, Henderson, Commerce City and ornton.
Benedict Park renovations ongoing
Kit pickup will be in the spring — details will be released when they become available.
For more information, visit brightonco.gov/gardeninabox, email gardeninfo@resourcecentral.org or call 303-999-3820 ext. 222.
Renovations at Benedict Park at 1855 Southern St. are underway, resulting in limited public access to sections of the park through June 2025.
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.
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.
ose artists interested in showcasing and selling their artwork can visit www.brightonartinthepark.com for more information and to apply. e deadline for booth applications is Aug. 15. is one-day festival brings together talented artists, live performances, interactive activities, and a vibrant artist market. For more information, contact Communications & Engagement Director Kristen Chernosky at 303-655-2146 or kchernosky@ brightonco.gov.
Adams County o ers O ce of Strategic Partnerships
Adams County’s O ce of Strategic Partnerships & Resilient Communities is meant to serve the community more e ectively and enhance the way the county builds and sustains partnerships, both internally and with external organizations.
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.
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
Sidewalk, curb, and gutter program
e city of Brighton’s 50.50 Sidewalk, Curb, and Gutter program is underway. According to a statement, the program helps ease the nancial costs of maintenance and replacements. Property owners are responsible for that maintenance work. e program halves the replacement costs between the city and the property owner.
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,
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
e program began in 2004. Last year, it assisted 14 homeowners. e city says the program has saved about $75,000 worth of repairs.
Visit www.brightonco.gov/5050 to apply. Call 303-655-2036 with questions.
Thu 5/01
Amazing Athletes @ 1pm
May 1st - May 22nd
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Court Resources Clinic @ 1:30pm
Mon 5/05
Bootcamp May @ 5am
May 5th - May 28th
Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
Parent/Tot- Park Days @ 9am
May 5th - May 19th
Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Kidz Day Out: Swimming at Apex @ 9am
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Friends of the Center Chair Volleyball at Bison Ridge (5/5) @ 11:45am
Anythink Brighton, 327 East Bridge Street, Brighton. rbowman@anythinkli braries.org, 303-405-3230
Fri 5/02
Indoor Disc Golf Putting Class @ 5pm
May 2nd - May 16th
Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 East Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760
The Addams Family @ 7:30pm Buell Theatre, Denver
Holst The Planets w/ Colorado Symphony Orchestra @ 7:30pm Boettcher Hall, Denver
Sat 5/03
39th Annual Pancake Breakfast @ 8am
Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 East Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Mason Jar May @ 9am
Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Tangerine Sky Market Arvada @ 10am / Free Colorado Markets @ Arvada Market‐place, 7310 West 52nd Avenue, Ar‐vada. events@coloradomarkets.com, 303-505-1856
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship @ 4:30pm Empower Field At Mile High, Denver
Sun 5/04
CO-ED Adult Kickball @ 1pm May 4th - Jun 22nd Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
Eric Golden @ 2pm
Fly Mile High in Westminster @ 1pm
Irving Street Library, 7392 Irving Street, Westminster. wpl-intouch@westmin sterco.gov, 303-658-2700
Tue 5/06
Museum of the Mines (5/6) @ 10am
Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Sports Agility May @ 4pm
May 6th - May 29th
Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
Brett Hendrix: The Stillery Westminster @ 5pm
Prost Biergarten, 351 W 104th Ave Unit A, Northglenn
The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster
The Book of Mormon (Touring) @ 7:30pm Buell Theatre, Denver
Wed 5/07
What's the Scoop? (5/7) @ 1pm
Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Archery @ 5pm May 7th - May 21st
Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 East Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Colorado Rockies vs. Detroit Tigers @ 6:40pm Coors Field, Denver
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic @ 8pm Ogden Theatre, 935 East Colfax, Denver
Thu 5/08
CSU Spur @ 9:30am Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
Global Sips and Savories (5/8) @ 10am Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Colorado Rockies vs. Detroit Tigers @ 1:10pm Coors Field, Denver
Lifeguard Class (May 2025) @ 4pm May 8th - May 16th Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
Gallery on the Go - Paint Party @ 5:30pm Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
VOICES
Brighton athletes sign to continue careers in college
BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
It’s as much of a rite of spring as snowstorms in the Rockies.
Seventeen Brighton High School athletes signed their letters of intent to continue their careers and their education in college last week.
Here’s a synopsis.
Nick Gri n - Dodge City Community College
Gri n is taking his baseball skills to Dodge City Community College in Kansas to play baseball.
rough 15 games this season, Grifn had a batting average of .333. Five of his base hits were for extra bases. One of those hits was a home run. A season ago, Gri n led the Bulldogs with a .451 batting average and an on-base percentage of .521. His 16 RBIs put him in a tie with Brandon Wltemath for the top spot on the squad.
Ava Araujo - Grinnell College
Araujo will make a 700-mile trip to Grinnell College in Iowa to continue her softball career. She batted .524 in 26 games for the Bulldogs this season, a gure that was tops on the squad. Nineteen of her 44 hits were for extra bases, which included four home runs.
She was second on the team in on-base percentage (.548) and led BHS in stolen bases with 13. Brighton was 17-9 overall, 10-2 in the Class 4A/5A Rocky Mountain League.
Blake George - Adams State University
George is heading to Adams State University in Alamosa to play football. He completed 37 passes for 425 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Bulldogs last season. He also rushed for 525 yards and seven scores. His longest e ort was 45 yards. George also recorded 60 total tackles, 29 of which were solo e orts. Brighton was 3-7 last season and won two of ve Class 5A Front Range Northern League games.
Makena Keyes - Adams State University e goalkeeper for Brighton High School’s girls soccer team is heading for Adams State University in Alamosa for more soccer. According to MaxPreps, her 212 saves this season put her eighth in the nation in that category and tops in the state. rough midweek, she’d
played in all 12 games and recorded a goals-against average of 2.667.
A year ago, she saw action in 15 contests for BHS, and her goals-against average was 2.733. She posted four shutouts.
Anna Jorstad - Western Colorado University
Brighton High School went undefeated in dual swim meets this season, and Anna Jorstad was one reason why.
Her top time in the 50-yard freestyle this season was 24.58 seconds, which she set at the state meet. She placed 19th overall. Her season-best time in the 100-meter freestyle was 53.37 seconds. She quali ed for the state meet in that event, too, and nished 19th with a time of 54.22 seconds.
Jorstad is heading to Western Colorado University in Gunnison.
Austin Waltemath - Colorado State University
Waltemath is heading to Fort Collins to play baseball for the Rams of Colorado State University.
rough 15 games this season, he has a team-best .511 batting average to go with ve home runs and 17 RBIs. Eleven of his 23 hits are for extra bases.
As a junior, he compiled a team-best .410 batting average. Eight of his 32 hits went for extra bases, including a home run, and he drove in 18.
Ryan Elsen - University of Wyoming Elsen is a two-sport athlete at Brighton High School (basketball is his other endeavor). But he opted for the University of Wyoming to run track and eld for the Cowboys.
So far this spring, Elsen has recorded a time of 10.65 seconds in the 100 meters at the Niwot Invitational in late March. As a freshman, his top time was 11.37 seconds. is season’s time of 21.69 seconds in the 200 meters (at the Murray Kula Invitational at Windsor High School) is more than two seconds faster than his time recorded as a freshman.
Ivan Dorado Madera - Otero Junior College
A three-hour drive awaits Brighton’s Ivan Dorado Madera after he signed to play soccer at Otero Junior College. Dorado scored a half-dozen goals for the Bulldogs in 15 games as a junior. He nished with 17 points. Limited stats were available.
Explanation of Significant Differences for G ROUNDWATER T REATMENT S YSTEMS R EMEDIATION R EQUIREMENTS
Remediation Project – Rocky Mountain Arsenal Federal Facility Site
The U.S. Army recently completed the Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) for the groundwater treatment systems requirements at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires public notification for any modification to a Record of Decision (ROD), which provides detailed descriptions of the environmental cleanup approac h selected for the site. The Off-Post and On-Post RODs were signed by the U.S. Army, State of Colorado, and EPA, on Dec. 19, 1995, and June 11, 1996, respectively and are supported by Shell Oil Co. and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The On-Post and Off-Post ROD groundwater remedies consist primarily of extraction and treatment of contaminated groundwater through continued operation of existing boundary containment systems, on-post internal treatment systems, and off-post treatment systems. Due to the age of the existing boundary containment systems, replacement of the plants is necessary, as th e systems are expected to require operation indefinitely to achieve the cleanup objectives. Rather than constructing two new treatment plants, the existing plants are being replaced with a single new on-post Consolidated Groundwater Treatment Plant. This revision only affects the location of groundwater treatment and does not alter the requirements for continued operation of the boundary treatment systems. In addition, the RODs are being revised to include new treatment requirements for emerging contaminants identified after the RODs were signed.
These changes, while requiring an ESD, do not alter the overall hazardous waste management remedy selected in the ROD and are supported by federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.
This ESD, the administrative record, the RODs and Post -ROD documents supporting the environmental cleanup are available online at home.army.mil/rma or at the RMA Joint Administrative Record and Document Facility(JARDF), which is located on the RMA in Building 129. Please call 303-289-0200 to schedule an appointment to visit the JARDF.
Please submit comments and questions by May 23, 2025, to: Kelli Schneider Rocky Mountain Arsenal 7270 Kingston Pkwy, Building 129, Commerce City, CO 80022 Phone: 303-289-0200 E-mail: kelli.n.schneider.ctr@army.mil
Trinity Moreland - Northeastern Junior College
Moreland is heading to Sterling to continue playing soccer for Northeastern Junior College. Limited stats were available.
Raleigh Puzo - Missouri Western State University
St. Joseph, Missouri, will be home to Brighton’s Raleigh Puzo. She’s heading to Missouri Western State University to add to her golf experiences.
She nished in a three-way tie for ninth place at the 2024 state girls golf tournament at Broadlands Golf Course in Broom eld. She carded a 77. In March, she red an 83 in the Fort Morgan Invitational West, good for a third-place tie.
Brody Wadkins - Nebraska Wesleyan University
Wadkins played in eight of the Bulldogs’ 10 games this season. He recorded 24 total tackles, 13 of which were solos. As a junior, he played in 11 games for BHS and registered 47 total tackles and recovered a fumble.
Parker Daughtery - Dordt University
Daughtery is heading to Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, to continue to play football. He registered 47 tackles for Brighton this season. irty- ve were solos. In nine games, he had three sacks.
In his junior season, he had 36 tackles in 10 games. Twenty of those were solo e orts. He also recorded a pair of sacks.
Cooper Vance - Fort Lewis College
Vance is heading to southwest Colorado to play football at Fort Lewis College.
He was limited to seven games this season for the Bulldogs, but in those contests, he registered 2.5 sacks and 21 total tackles. He played in half of Brighton’s games last season and recorded ve total tackles.
Ethan Bertke - Adams State University
Bertke is going to head four hours southwest of town and attend Adams State University to play baseball. A season ago, Bertke batted .308 and drove in 13 runs for Brighton. Seven of his 20 hits were for extra bases.
He also played football for the Bulldogs. In ve games, he recorded 11 tackles, six of which were solo e orts. Wadkins also recorded 1.5 sacks.
Jordyn Martinez - Bethany College Martinez signed her letter to continue playing softball at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. She put together a .397 batting average for the Bulldogs this season.
Five home runs (tops on the squad) were among her 14 extra-base hits. She also drove in 30 runs, stole ve bases and scored 28 runs.
Brooks Logue - Colorado State UniversityPueblo
Logue is o to the campus of Colorado State University-Pueblo to continue with her volleyball career. is season, she had 85 kills in 62 sets and a 29.6% kill average. She served up 46 aces in those 62 sets and nished with a 91% serving average. Her stat line also included 16 blocks. BHS was 13-10 this season, 8-4 in the Class 4A/5A Rocky Mountain Conference.
Explicación de las diferencias significativas para los REQUISITOS DE REPARACIÓN DE SISTEMAS DE TRATAMIENTO DE AGUA SUBTERRÁNEA Proyecto de Reparación – Sitio de Instalaciones Federales de Rocky Mountain Arsenal
El Ejército de los EE. UU. completó recientemente la Explicación de las diferencias significativas (ESD por sus siglas en ing lés) para los requisitos de los sistemas de tratamiento de aguas subterráneas en el Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA). La Agencia de protección ambiental (EPA) requiere notificación pública para cualquier modificación al Registro de Decisión (ROD por sus siglas en inglés), que describe en detalle el enfoque de limpieza ambiental seleccionado para el sitio.
Las soluciones de aguas subterráneas del ROD en el sitio y fuera del sitio consisten principalmente en la extracción y tratam iento de aguas subterráneas contaminadas a través de la operación continua de los sistemas de contención de límites existentes, sistemas de tratamiento internos en el sitio y sistemas de tratamiento fuera del sitio. Debido a la antigüedad de los sistema s de contención de límites existentes, es necesaria la sustitución de las plantas, ya que se espera que los sistemas requieran ope ración indefinida para alcanzar los objetivos de limpieza. En lugar de construir dos nuevas plantas de tratamiento, las plantas exis tentes están siendo sustituidas por una nueva planta de tratamiento consolidada de aguas subterráneas en el sitio. Esta revisión sol o afecta la ubicación del tratamiento de aguas subterráneas y no altera el requisito de operación continua de los sistemas de tratamiento de límites. Además, se están revisando los ROD para incluir nuevos requisitos de tratamiento para contaminantes emergentes identificados después de la firma de los ROD.
Estos cambios, aunque requieren un ESD, no alteran la solución general de gestión de residuos peligrosos seleccionada en el R OD y cuentan con el apoyo de agencias regulatorias federales, estatales y locales.
Esta ESD, el registro administrativo, los ROD y los documentos posteriores al ROD que apoyan la limpieza ambiental están disponibles en línea en home.army.mil/ rma o en la Instalación conjunta de registro y documentos del RMA (JARDF), que se encuentra en el RMA en el Edificio 129. Llame al 303 -289-0200 para programar una cita para visitar el JARDF. Envíe comentarios y preguntas antes del 23 de mayo de 2025 a: Kelli Schneider Rocky Mountain Arsenal 7270 Kingston Pkwy, Edificio 129, Commerce City, CO 80022 Teléfono: 303-289-0200 Correo electrónico: kelli.n.schneider.ctr@army.mil
Brighton High School’s Austin Waltemath signs his letter of intent to play baseball at Colorado State University. He is one of nine athletes to sign to play at the next level. COURTESY PHOTO
Melding rock with mariachi at Parsons Theater
Electric violinist HaydnVitera o ers a groundbreaking performance
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Northglenn’s Parsons eatre will soon host a crackling bonding of classic rock ballads with the unique sound of mariachi music.
Parsons will roll out Mariachi Rock Revolution (also known as Tequila Rock Revolution) at 7:30 p.m. May 10
“ is genre-bending performance, led by two-time Grammy-nominated Austin Latino rocker and electric violinist Haydn Vitera, is a groundbreaking musical experience that fuses the soul of mariachi with the repower of rock,” according to a Parsons eatre news release.
Described as “ e Electri ed Mariachi Experience,” Mariachi Rock Revolution is a Latin-infused, rock-fueled spectacle of sight and sound that pays tribute to the rich tradition of mariachi music while reimagining it through the raw energy of rock, according to the news release.
“Audiences can expect a dynamic setlist that includes everything from hard-hitting rock anthems to heartfelt unplugged classics during their special “Old School Mariachi” segment,” the news release states.
CAREERS
Joey Delay - Chadron State College
Delay is heading toward the Nebraska panhandle to play football at Chadron State College in Nebraska.
“Mariachi Rock Revolution is a bold, high-octane celebration of culture and sound, blending the passion of mariachi with the raw power of hard rock,” said Michael Stricker, Executive Producer for Northglenn Arts, in the news release.
“It’s a genre-defying experience that’s as vibrant as it is family-friendly—we’re thrilled to bring this electrifying performance to our stage and invite audiences to discover the magic where tradition meets rock and roll.”
is high-energy performance offers something for everyone—from the abuela who grew up listening to Vicente Fernández, to the rock fan who lives for Led Zeppelin, to the mariachi purist who appreciates a nod to the roots.
Tickets start at $23 and are on sale now through the Parsons eatre Box O ce and online at NorthglennARTS.org.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/NGARTS-Mariachi-Rock-Revolution or call 303-4508888.
Media inquiries, interviews, and press passes: Terra Mueller, Marketing, P: 303.450.8945 or tmueller@northglenn.org.
is season, he caught 19 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown. He also caused a fumble. He led the squad in receiving yards (25.7 per game). Last year, he had 28 tackles, 17 of which were solo e orts.
Congratulations to all the athletes taking their talents to the next level this signing season.
Mariachi Rock Revolution is in the spotlight at Parsons Theatre. COURTESY PHOTO
SCAMMERS
Hall’s experience mirrors many of the thousands of well-established attempts at tech-enabled nancial crimes currently underway in the U.S. Scammers often pose as trusted corporations, government departments or as someone a victim knows. Many companies that have been spoofed, like Norton, put out warnings about these scams.
ey also use heightened emotional responses and a sense of urgency to get you to transfer money or release personal details, cybersecurity experts say.
“Now I look back on it, I’m like, ‘how was I so stupid to say stay on the line that long?’” Hall said. “But then I look at this girl I know, and they managed to get her to go all the way.”
The business of scamming
e Federal Trade Commission reported the overall loss Americans experienced via nancial scams in the 20232024 scal year to be between $23.7 billion and $158.3 billion. e gures di er so much because so many losses go under or unreported, the FTC said in the report.
Matthew Radolec, D.C.-based vice president of Incident Response and Cloud Operations at data security rm Varonis, said he sees these phishing attempts in two parts; the scam is the technique being used to get access to money, and the actual crime itself is the loss of the money.
Because these crimes are digital, it’s hard to know who to report them to, or how to follow up. Many scammers also ask for cryptocurrency payments, or transfer them to crypto accounts shortly after the transaction.
“ ere’s no insurance for accidentally wiring someone $10,000,” Radolec said. “If you fall for a ruse, you fall for a ruse. It’s like a carnival trick, a sleight of hand. It’s a digital form of that.”
Kimberly Sutherland, the Alpharetta, Georgia-based vice president of fraud and identity at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, said they’ve seen a 20% year-overyear increase in digital fraud since 2021, a ecting as much as 1.5% of all transactions, though many of those attempts are caught before they can go through.
A large part of their e orts are focused on monitoring new account openings and payments, as fraudsters want to either create a fraudulent account at the start, or they want to be able to intercept transactions as they’re happening, Sutherland said. ey’ve also had to evolve their monitoring strategies,
as over the last few years, there’s been a shift from laptop and desktop targeting to mobile attacks, she said.
A few decades ago, scammers were focused on getting enough information from a company or individual to pull o a fake transaction. But as data breaches have become more common, the personal data unearthed makes it easier to pose as someone a victim knows, or give them details to become trustworthy.
Sutherland said the concept of synthetic identities — carefully crafted digital pro les of someone who doesn’t actually exist — have also deepened criminal’s abilities to get access inside of a variety of institutions like banks, colleges and corporations.
“You don’t have to steal an identity of someone; why not create a brand new one?” Sutherland said. “It started with jokes like, ‘I can get a credit card in the name of my dog,’ and it became sophisticated fraud rings who could actually create identities and nurture them to be used by others.”
Individuals and companies are not the only ones at risk of nancial scams — government institutions have reported an increase in nancial crimes in recent years. In California, community colleges have reported at least $5 million in losses to AI-simulated students who applied for nancial aid.
One of the most current, wide-spread scams are texts and alerts from toll payment agency E-ZPass, asking a user to pay an outstanding bill at the included link. Last year, E-ZPass said the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center had received more than 2,000 complaints about the texts. ose who had lled out the included form should contact their banks, the company said.
It’s similar to a longstanding scam posing as UPS trying to deliver a package — it plays on our human nature of trust and curiosity, O’Leary said.
How AI is playing a role
AI has lowered the barrier for setting up a scam, O’Leary said. ose looking to lure someone to wire money or purchase cryptocurrency need some space on a server or in the cloud, and some sort of infrastructure to reach out to victims. Many programs that can be used to fake a persona, to send out mass text messages or phishing links are as easy as downloading an app.
“It’s almost a step by step for someone who wants to make a quick buck,” O’Leary said.
Large language models and AI chatbots can easily be prompted to sound like someone else, and give non-English speakers a much easier ability to communicate, O’Leary said.
Radolec has seen an uptick in AI bots being used to gain credentials to company databases or pay systems. Bots can hold legitimate conversations with a target to build rapport, and plant phishing scams to gain passwords in standard documents.
“ e next thing you know, you can log in as me,” Radolec said.
From there, scammers can divert paychecks to o shore accounts, sell data on the dark web or plant further phishing attempts in internal systems.
Because of the rapid advancements in AI technologies, phishing attempts and scam strategies are constantly changing. Now, AI tools can help alter legitimate images, and create deepfakes, or likenesses of someone’s image or voice, in just a few minutes. It’s the strategy behind an increasingly common scam on grandparents — they get a call from someone that sounds exactly like their grandchild, saying they need a wire transfer or cash for bail.
Many digital scams target older people, both because they’re expected to have less technical knowledge to spot a ruse, and because they tend to have larger sums of money accessible, Radolec said. In its report, the FTC estimated between $7.1 billion and $61.5 billion in losses for older adults.
is week, AARP, Amazon, Google and Walmart partnered on a new initiative that will be based out of Pittsburgh, called the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center, an attempt to tap in private companies who have resources in data privacy to assist in national law enforcement investigations. Its founder and CEO, former FBI agent Brady Finta, said that the technical side of these crimes are often partnered with an emotional side, like pretending to be a family member in trouble.
“ ey’re talking you through the crime,” Finta said. “ ey’re adding this anxiety and thought process to you and to overcome your normal decision making processes.”
Legislation and enforcement
ere are hundreds of thousands of victims of nancial scams each year, and they’re reporting them to di erent places — local police, state organizations, federal agencies, and the tech platforms where the crimes occurred, Finta said. Part of the reason some nancial scams go unreported is that there’s not one clear route, government agency or law enforcement agency that has ownership over them.
at was also the consensus of a new report by the Government Accountability O ce, FedScoop reported this month. ere are 13 federal agencies,
including the FBI, CFPB and the FTC, that work to counter scams, but they do not share one overarching strategy.
Finta is hoping that leveraging the private sector data from their partner corporations can help connect some fraud cases across the country and make these investigations more comprehensive.
While the FTC has the Fraud and Scam Reduction Act, which aims to raise awareness of nancial scams, there’s no o cial federal protection or legislation on this topic. Some states are passing consumer protection laws that put some liability on banks to do due diligence on fraud and even reimburse customers for fraudulent transactions.
And the U.S. may be facing less protections than it currently has. Susan Weinstock, CEO of the Consumer Federation of America, said she’s worried that Congress just voted on a resolution under the Congressional Review Act that removed the rule that required digital payment apps like Venmo and Apple Pay to be regulated for fraud.
“Years ago, nobody had heard of Venmo or CashApp, and now these things are ubiquitous,” Weinstock said. “So it puts consumers in a really tough, scary position to be subject to fraud and not have the ability to deal with it.”
Because the strategies behind thesenancial scams change often and because there are few ways to track these crimes after they happen, a lot of responsibility falls on individuals and institutions to be able to spot them. Radolec’s rst piece of advice is to slow down. If it really is your grandson calling from jail? Is it the end of the world if he spends a night in jail, he said.
Adding another person into the loop of communication is another strategy that will usually knock o an impersonator. If it appears to be a higher-up at work making a strange request for access to your nances, there’s no harm in looping in another person to review, Radolec said.
Lastly, the cybersecurity experts all said, it’s always safer to get in contact with the original source. If someone on the phone says they’re with your bank, hang up and call the bank directly to verify information.
“A lot of times they’re trying to create a sense of urgency that’s from a false place, so how can we ground ourselves?” Radolec said. “And can we ask, is this truly like a life or death situation that you have to act on right now? Or can time be in our favor?”
is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.
BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado joins multistate lawsuit to block tari s
Colorado joined a multistate lawsuit April 23 against the Trump administration to challenge import tari s that were rolled out by executive order and not by an act of Congress.
e lawsuit, led by attorneys general from the states of Oregon and Arizona, asks the court to rule the tari s illegal and block their implementation and enforcement because the tari s violate Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which grants “only Congress, not the President, the ‘power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises,’” said the suit led in the U.S. Court of International Trade.
COLLECTIONS
will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law, which means helping borrowers return to repayment — both for the sake of their own nancial health and our nation’s economic outlook.”
e department said the O ce of Federal Student Aid will restart the Treasury O set Program, which the U.S. Treasury Department administers, on May 5.
e Education Department statement said all borrowers who are in default will get emails over the next two weeks “making them aware of these developments and urging them to contact the Default Resolution Group to make a
“Under the Constitution, only Congress has the power to tax and impose tari s and there is no ‘emergency’ that justi es the Trump tari s,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a news release. “We are challenging these tari s in court because they are illegal and, as one study concluded, they will ‘increase in ation, result in nearly 800,000 lost jobs, and shrink the American economy by $180 billion a year.’” Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York and Vermont also joined the suit. e state of California led its own lawsuit in a U.S. District Court last week. All but two of the states have governors who are Democrats. Colorado exported $10.5 billion and imported $17 billion in goods last year, ac-
monthly payment, enroll in an incomedriven repayment plan, or sign up for loan rehabilitation.”
e department said the O ce of Federal Student Aid will “send required notices beginning administrative wage garnishment” later this summer.
More than 42.7 million borrowers owe more than $1.6 trillion in student debt, according to the department.
e administration claims that “instead of protecting responsible taxpayers, the Biden-Harris Administration put them on the hook for irresponsible lending, pushing the federal student loan portfolio toward a scal cli .”
is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.
cording to the O ce of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Currently, there is a 25% tari on imports from Mexico and Canada, though some goods are exempt because of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Another 57 U.S. trade partners were socked with an additional 10% tax this month, which was lower than Trump’s initial reciprocal tari s that were since paused on a number of countries that agreed to consider new trade deals.
China, however, retaliated against the retaliatory tari s, matching the new U.S. tax, leaving U.S. businesses paying not just the price of the item imported or exported, but an additional 145% more in the tit-fortat trade war with China. Some items were
ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
later excluded, including smartphones. e high tax caused chaos in the stock market but also hit many local businesses, farmers, the outdoor industry and Coloradans who buy imported food or groceries or other imports.
On Wednesday, the Trump administration was toying with lowering China tari s to somewhere between 50% and 65%, according to a Wall Street Journal report. A day earlier, Trump said in a news conference, “145% is very high and it won’t be that high. … It will come down substantially, but it won’t be at zero.” 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.
Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules: • Email your letter to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.
• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s newspaper.
• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.
1. TELEVISION: Which actor was nominated for an Emmy for the same character on three di erent sitcoms?
2. MOVIES: Who was the rst actor to refuse an Oscar award for Best Actor?
3. GEOGRAPHY: Which modern city is in the shadow of the active volcano Mount Vesuvius?
4. FOOD & DRINK: What gas is used to create seltzer water?
5. SCIENCE: What is the center of an atom called?
6. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Who are the six men who have made a career Grand Slam in pro golf?
7. ANATOMY: What is the largest artery in the body?
8. LITERATURE: For which category is the O. Henry Award given?
9. ASTRONOMY: Which star system is nearest to our solar system?
TrIVIa
10. U.S. PRESIDENTS: How many presidents have died in o ce?
Answers
1. Kelsey Grammer for “Wings,” “Cheers” and “Frasier.”
2. George C. Scott, for “Patton.”
3. Naples, Italy.
4. Carbon dioxide.
5. Nucleus.
6. Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
7. e aorta.
8. Short stories.
9. Alpha Centauri.
10. Eight.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
the last day of appeals.
Fax: You may fax your appeal to
This option is only available until
on the last day of appeals. In Person: We will have appraisers available to talk to you about your
Standard Blade Metropolitan Districts
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADOIN THE INTEREST OF: Sierra Salazar A Child, and Concerning
Angula Salazar, Josh Sanchez Respondents:
S U M M O N S
To the parents, guardian, or other respondents named above, GREETINGS: Josh Sanchez
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 19th day of May, 2025 at the hour of 11:00 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 22nd day of April, 2025.
Alana Percy Clerk of the District Court
Legal Notice No. BSB3837
First Publication: May 1, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGULAR ELECTIONS AND CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL SILVER PEAKS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 2 & 3
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Sections 1-13.5-513(6) and 32-1-104(1), C.R.S., by the Silver Peaks Metropolitan District Nos. 2 & 3 (collectively, the “Districts”) of Weld County, Colorado, that at the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the regular elections to be held on May 6, 2025, are hereby canceled and the following candidates are hereby declared elected:
John Covert to a 4-year term (2025-2029)
Vacancy 4-year term (2025-2029)
Vacancy 2-year term (2025-2027)
Contact Person for the Districts: David O’Leary, Esq. District Address: c/o Spencer Fane LLP 1700 Lincoln Street, Ste. 2000 Denver, CO 80203 District Telephone Number: 303-839-3800
SILVER PEAKS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 2 & 3 By: /s/ Courtney Linney, Designated Election Official
Legal Notice No. BSB3831 First Publication: May 1,
will
hand-delivered, mailed, or emailed. Proposals will not be accepted via fax. Emailed bids should be sent to the Project Manager at: admin@metrodistrictprojects.com. All submittals become the property of BPMD6. Interested parties are invited to bid on all or a portion of the project and BPMD6 reserves the right to award or not award all or any portion of the project. The project consists of, but is not limited to, the design services for a sanitary lift station and the related improvements. Requests for project details are to be directed to admin@metrodistrictprojects.com.
By Order of the Board of Directors of Bromley Park Metropolitan District No. 6
Legal Notice No. BSB3839
First Publication: May 1, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Summons and Sheriff Sale
Public Notice
DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO
Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601
Plaintiff: GREENS AT BUFFALO RUN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., a Colorado non-profit corporation
Defendants: DEBORAH A. SANDERS; U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE C-BASS MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-CBl; THE VILLAGES AT BUFFALO RUN PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.; ALEX VILLAGRAN AS PUBLIC TRUSTEE AND TREASURER FOR ADAMS COUNTY; UNKNOWN TENANT(S) IN POSSESSION
Attorneys for Plaintiff: WINZENBURG, LEFF, PURVIS & PAYNE, LLP
Wendy E. Weigler, # 28419
Address: 350 Indiana Street, Suite 450 Golden, CO 80401
Phone Number: 303-863-1870
wweigler@wlpplaw.com
Case Number:
2024CV030530
SHERIFF’S COMBINED NOTICE OF SALE AND RIGHT TO CURE AND REDEEM
Under a Judgment and Decree of Foreclosure entered on December 30, 2024, in the abovecaptioned action, I am ordered to sell certain real property as follows:
Original Lienee
Deborah A. Sanders
Original Lienor The Greens at Buffalo Run Homeowners Association, Inc.
Current Holder of the evidence of debt The Greens at Buffalo Run Homeowners Association, Inc.
Date of Lien being foreclosed June 23, 2022
Date of Recording of Lien being foreclosed June 23, 2022
County of Recording Adams Recording Information
2022000055175
Original Principal Balance of the secured indebtedness
$6,097.00
Outstanding Principal Balance of the secured indebtedness as of the date hereof
$29,743.97
Amount of Judgment entered December 30, 2024
$27,466.11
Description of property to be foreclosed:
Unit E, Building 28, The Greens at Buffalo Run according to the Condominium Map recorded on June 15, 2006 at Reception No. 20060615000609950, in the records of the Office of the Clerk and Recorder of Adams County, Colorado, and as defined and described in the Amended and Restated Condominium Declaration for The Greens at Buffalo Run recorded on September 16, 2004 at Reception No. 20040916000908710 and November 23, 2004 at Reception No. 20041123001187980, and Supplement recorded June 15, 2006 at Reception No. 20060615000609960 in said records, County of Adams, State of Colorado.
Also known as: 15501 E. 112th Avenue, #28E, Commerce City, CO 80022.
THE PROPERTY TO BE FORECLOSED AND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN.
THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
The covenants of Plaintiff have been violated as follows: failure to make payments on said indebtedness when the same were due and owing.
NOTICE OF SALE
THEREFORE, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that I will, at 9:00 o’clock A.M., on June 12, 2025, at the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, located at 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property described above, and all interest of said Grantor and the heirs and assigns of said Grantor, for the purpose of paying the judgment amount entered herein, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. Bidders are required to have cash or certified funds to cover the highest bid by noon on the day of the sale. Certified funds are payable to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.
First Publication: April 17, 2025
Last Publication: May 15, 2025
Name of Publication:
Brighton Standard Blade
NOTICE OF RIGHTS
YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY BEING FORECLOSED, OR HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS OR SUFFER CERTAIN LIABILITIES PURSUANT TO COLORADO LAW AS A RESULT OF SAID FORECLOSURE. YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REDEEM SAID REAL PROPERTY OR YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CURE A DEFAULT UNDER THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED. A COPY OF THE STATUTES WHICH MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS ARE ATTACHED HERETO.
A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE PURSUANT TO §38-38-104, C.R.S., SHALL BE FILED WITH THE OFFICER AT LEAST FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRST SCHEDULED SALE DATE OR ANY DATE TO WHICH THE SALE IS CONTINUED.
IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED.
A NOTICE OF INTENT TO REDEEM FILED PURSUANT TO §38-38-302, C.R.S., SHALL BE FILED WITH THE OFFICER NO LATER THAN EIGHT (8) BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE SALE, EXCEPT THAT, IF THE PERSON IS DEEMED AN ALTERNATE LIENOR PURSUANT TO §38-38-305.5, C.R.S. AND THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED IS A UNIT ASSOCIATION LIEN, THE ALTERNATE LIENOR HAS THIRTY (30) DAYS TO FILE THE NOTICE WITH THE OFFICER OF THE ALTERNATE LIENOR’S INTENT TO REDEEM.
IF THE BORROWER BELIEVES THAT A LENDER OR SERVICER HAS VIOLATED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT IN C.R.S. 38-38-103.1 OR THE PROHIBITION ON DUAL TRACKING IN C.R.S. 38-38-103.2, THE BORROWER MAY FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE COLORADO ATTORNEY GENERAL AT THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LAW, RALPH L. CARR JUDICIAL BUILDING, 1300 BROADWAY, 10TH FLOOR, DENVER, CO 80203, 720-508-6000; THE CFPB, HTTP://WWW. CONSUMERFINANCE.GOV/COMPLAINT/; CFPB, PO BOX 2900, CLINTON IA 527332900 (855) 411-2372 OR BOTH, BUT THE FILING OF A COMPLAINT WILL NOT STOP THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS.
The name, address, and telephone number of each of the attorneys representing the holder of the evidence of the debt is as follows: Wendy E. Weigler #28419 Winzenburg, Leff, Purvis & Payne, LLP 350 Indiana Street, Suite 450 Golden, CO 80401 303-863-1870
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Date: March 13, 2025.
By: Gene R. Claps
Adams County Sheriff Adams County, Colorado
Statutes attached: §§38-37-108, 38-38-103, 38-38-104, 38-38-301, 38-38-302, 38-38304, 38-38-305, and 38-38-306, C.R.S., as amended.
Legal Notice No. BSB3805
First Publication: April 17, 2025 Last Publication: May 15, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Misc.
Public Notice BEFORE THE ENERGY AND CARBON MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO IN
ADAMS AND BROOMFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
CAUSE NO. 1
DOCKET NO. 250200021
TYPE: PAYMENT OF PROCEEDS
NOTICE OF HEARING
Blackwell Energy, LLC (“Payee”) filed a Form 38, Payment of Proceeds Hearing Request (Form 38) pursuant to Rule 503.g.(5) and C.R.S. § 34-60-118.5, for an order awarding payment of proceeds and interest due to Payees for production attributable to the below-described Wells, which are operated by Extraction Oil & Gas Inc. (Operator No. 10459) (“Extraction”) and located in Adams and Broomfield Counties, Colorado. This Notice was sent to you because the Applicant believes you may own oil or gas (“mineral”) interests in the Wells identified below and or are responsible for making payments to the owners of mineral interests.
WELLS
Interchange A S22-30-3N
(API No. 05-014-20767) Interchange A S22-30-5N
(API No. 05-014-20763)
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 participate 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 Ap-
PLEASE
Condemnation
Kendra
c/o Baker Law Group, PLLC 8301 E. Prentice Ave., Suite 405 Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Legal Notice No. BSB 3157 First Publication: April 17, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Joshua James Owen, a.k.a. Joshua J. Owen, a.k.a. Joshua Owen, a.k.a. Josh Owen, a.k.a. Jhed Owen, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 030205
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 25, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Marty Joe Owen Personal Representative 6021 Key Largo Circle Punta Gorda, FL 33955
Legal Notice No. BSB3820
First Publication: April 24, 2025
Last Publication: May 8, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Elizabeth Stine, a/k/a Elizabeth I. Stine, a/k/a Elizabeth Irene Stine, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 30203
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 18, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
/s/ Casey L. Williams, #39117
Attorney for Debra L. Bustos
Personal Representative 203 Telluride St., Suite 400 Brighton, CO 80601
Legal Notice No. BSB3814 First Publication: April 17, 2025 Last Publication: May 1, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Name Changes
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name
Public notice is given on April 15, 2025, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Adams County Court.
The petition requests that the name of Raudel Chavez Reyes be changed to Raudel Olave Reyes Case No.: 25 C 0608
By: Deputy Clerk
Legal Notice No. BSB3838 First Publication: May 1, 2025 Last Publication: May 15, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Drive, Brighton, CO 80601.
Witness my hand and seal of said Court this 21st day of April, 2025.
Alana Percy Clerk of the District Court
Legal Notice No. BSB3833
First Publication: May 1, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Public Notice
STATE OF COLORADO IN THE DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ADAMS Division D1 No. 25JV30047
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADOIN THE INTEREST OF: Kevin Garcia A Child, and Concerning
Maydelin Santoyo, Carlos Garcia Respondents: S U M M O N S
To the parents, guardian, or other respondents named above, GREETINGS: Maydelin Santoyo
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 12th day of May, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 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 22nd day of April, 2025.
Alana Percy Clerk of the District Court
Legal Notice No. BSB3836
First Publication: May 1, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO
Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601
Children: Cyrra Sidley, Princess Sudella Deana
Angala Kay O’Dell, Cherree Lucky Lynn O’Dell
Respondents: Catherine Hughes, Lloyd Sidley, Shannon O’Dell
Special Respondents: Joe Duran, Deana Ballenger
Case Number: 24JV30035 Div: S
ORDER OF ADVISEMENT
NOTICE TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENTS,: Catherine Hughes, Lloyd Sidley, and Shannon O’Dell
YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED that the Petitioner, has filed a Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship which now exists between you and the above-named child(ren);
If a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister of the child is requesting guardianship or legal custody of the child such request must be filed within twenty days of the filing of this motion.
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that you have the right to have legal counsel represent you in all matters connected with the Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship.
If you cannot afford to pay the fees of legal counsel, you are advised that the Court will appoint legal counsel to represent you at no cost to you upon your request and upon your showing of an inability to pay.
If you have any questions concerning the foregoing advisement, you should immediately contact either your legal counsel or the Court.
Done and signed on: April 1, 2025
BY THE COURT:
District Court Judge/Magistrate
Legal Notice No. BSB3832
First Publication: May 1, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
STATE OF COLORADO IN THE DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ADAMS Division D1 No. 25JV30028
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORA-
DOIN THE INTEREST OF:
Breydi Orellana Garcia, Diego Perez Orellana A Child(ren), and Concerning
Maria Orellana Garcia, Jose Perez Rios, John Doe Respondents: S U M M O N S
To the parents, guardian, or other respondents named above, GREETINGS: John Doe
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 20th day of May, 2025 at the hour of 4:00 pm. 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 18th day of April, 2025.
Alana Percy Clerk of the District Court
Legal Notice No. BSB3830
First Publication: May 1, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice STATE OF COLORADO IN THE DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ADAMS Division D No. 25JV30063
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADOIN THE INTEREST OF:
Sierra Salazar A Child, and Concerning
Angula Salazar, Josh Sanchez
Fort Lupton Press Legals
Metropolitan Districts
Public Notice
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS SWEETGRASS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2
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 Sweetgrass Metropolitan District No. 2 (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:
Megan Thornam Until May 2027
Sarah Morehead Until May 2027
Jeffrey K. Stainbrook Until May 2027
Jon Lee Until May 2029
Michelle Laine Until May 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Designated Election Official Contact Person for District: K. Sean Allen, Esq. WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. FLP1280
First Publication: May 1, 2025 Last Publication: May 1, 2025 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press
Public Notice
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS WYNDHAM HILL
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2
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 Wyndham Hill Metropolitan District No. 2 (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:
Dana Miller Until May 2027
Jon Lee Until May 2029
Jessica Brothers Until May 2029
Notice STATE OF COLORADO IN THE DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ADAMS Division D1 No. 25JV30100
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADOIN THE INTEREST OF: Baby Boy Mahoney A Child(ren), and Concerning
Hannah Mahoney, John Doe Respondents: S U M M O N S To the parents, guardian, or other respondents named above, GREETINGS: John Doe
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 14th day of May, 2025 at the hour of 1:30 p.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
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that the Motion has been set for hearing in Division S of the District Court in and for the County of Adams, Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, Colorado, on the 16th day of May, 2025, at 10:00 am, at which time the Petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that: 1) That the child(ren) was adjudicated dependent or neglected; 2) That an appropriate treatment plan has not reasonably been complied with by the parent or has not been successful; 3) That the parents are unfit; 4) That the conduct or condition of the parent or parents is unlikely to change within a reasonable time; no less drastic alternative to termination exists, and 6) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed. OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the parent or parents have surrendered physical custody for a period of six months and during this period have not manifested to the child(ren), the court or to the person having physical custody a firm intention to assume or obtain physical custody or to make permanent legal arrangements for the care of the child(ren); and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed. OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the identity of the parent of the child is unknown and has been unknown for three months or more and that reasonable efforts to identify and locate the parent in accordance with section 19-3603 have failed; and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
Respondents: S U M M O N S
To the parents, guardian, or other respondents named above, GREETINGS: Josh Sanchez
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 19th day of May, 2025 at the hour of 11:00 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 22nd day of April, 2025.
Alana Percy Clerk of the District Court
Legal Notice No. BSB3837 First Publication: May 1, 2025 Last Publication: May 1, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
The following offices remain vacant: VACANT
Until May 2027
VACANT
Until May 2027
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Designated Election Official Contact Person for District: K. Sean Allen, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Legal Notice No. FLP1282
First Publication: May 1, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Fort Lupton Press
Public Notice
MEASLES
In the fourth case, the Denver health department could not verify proof of vaccination for the person; their blood results showed they did not have immunity to measles, a spokesperson said, via email.
As of April 17, 2025, a total of 800 conrmed measles cases were reported by more than two dozen states, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. e list includes Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington.
ree people have died from measles this year. Two were in Texas, which has recorded 624 cases as of April 18. e third, which is still under investigation, was in New Mexico.
What to know about Colorado’s confirmed measles cases
Nearly all the cases in the U.S. this year, 96%, were unvaccinated. Also, a third of the cases recorded were in those under 5 years, with another third being in people
In about one in 10 U.S. cases recorded this year, the person has been hospitalized, according to the CDC. People exposed to measles typically develop symptoms seven to 21 days, the incubation period, after exposure, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a distinctive rash. It usually starts several days later on the face and spreads. People with measles can spread the illness four days before the rash starts until four days after.
Measles is highly contagious. It can live for up to 2 hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves an area, according to the CDC. It spreads through contact with an infected person and via air droplets. Only humans spread measles, according to the agency.
According to the CDC, if a person with the measles enters a room with 10 people who are not immune to the disease, nine will become infected.
Health o cials urge people to call their doctor immediately if they think they or their child has been exposed to the mea-
is story is from CPR News, a nonprofit public broadcaster serving Colorado. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.
Seebohm, #15746 999 18th Street, Suite S3100 Denver, Colorado 80202 Phone: (303) 861-8888 Email: jseebohm@cp2law.com
NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION TO INTERESTED PERSONS AND OWNERS BY INHERITANCE PURSUANT TO §15-12-1303, C.R.S.
To All Interested Persons and Owners by Inheritance: Kevin Randell Bockius, Kelly Brian Bockius, Walter J. Bockius Family Trust, and all unknown parties who may claim an interest in the property.
A Petition has been filed alleging that the above Decedent died leaving the following
property interests, and concerning the descent or succession of the same to the Bockius Family Trust established under the Will of Walter J. Bockius:
100% membership interest in Memphis Court I, LLC
The hearing on the Petition will be held at the following time and location:
Date: June 6, 2025 Time: 8:00 a.m. Address: 901 9th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado 80631
Note: If you object to the descent and succession of Decedent’s property proposed in the Petition, you must appear and object to the Petition on or before the hearing date and time specified above.
All objections to the Petition must be in writing and filed with the Court, the filing fee must be paid on or before the hearing date and time, and the objection must be served upon the Petitioner.
The hearing shall be limited to the Petition, the objections timely filed and served, and, if no objections are timely filed and served, the court may enter a decree without a hearing.
Date: April 7, 2025
/s/ John M. Seebohm
Attorney for Petitioner
John M. Seebohm 999 18th Street, Suite S-3100
Denver, CO 80202
Legal Notice No. FLP1267
First Publication: April 17, 2025
Last Publication: May 1, 2025
Publisher: Fort Lupton Press Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Ralph Leslie Boling, Deceased Case Number: 2025PR030084
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Weld County, Colorado on or before August 28, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Justin Boling, Personal Representative 222 S Logan St Grover, CO 80729
Legal Notice No. FLP 6321
First Publication: April 24, 2025
Last Publication: May 8, 2025 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate
People often associate measles with its telltale red rash, but the disease can be much more aggressive than that — attacking the brain and the respiratory system. SHUTTERSTOCK
