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OURIE est. 1958
WE D NE SD AY, JA NUA RY 6, 2021
The mountain area’s newspaper since 1958
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Counties’ COVID-19 restrictions loosened
Braving the elements
State moves Arapahoe, Douglas, Jefferson, Adams, others to Level Orange BY LIAM ADAMS LADAMS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
From left, Layne Jarrett, Aaron Jarrett and Eric Hubbard at dusk on Dec. 23. They had already walked about 25 miles on their quest to walk 50 miles to bring awareness to COURTESY PHOTO Make-a-Wish Colorado and inspire people to donate.
Conifer man says walking 38 miles is a small price to pay to help Make-a-Wish kids BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Aaron Jarrett walked 38.2 miles through the night on Dec. 23, and while the feat may seem crazy, he says it’s all for Make-a-Wish Colorado. Jarrett braved zero-degree temperatures and high winds for 12 hours — still, it’s all about Make-a-Wish Colorado.
Jarrett carried a 30-pound pack and powered through pain throughout the walk — to help Make-a-Wish Colorado. Jarrett, 54, of Conifer has made it a mission to raise money for the nonprofit for 30 years because the foundation grants wishes to terminally ill children. “I just like their mission and what they do,” Jarrett said. “Life stops for families that have a kid who becomes ill. We have four healthy kids. I can’t imagine that happening to my family.” His walk is raising money to send Thomas, a 6-year-old from Gunnison who has a brain tumor, to Jurassic Park at Universal Studios and to get 7-year-old Declan from Cañon City, who suffers from a rare disease, an
above-ground swimming pool. “We are so thankful for Aaron and other fundraisers like him, especially in such a challenging year when the pandemic has affected fundraising,” said Lauren Beede, vice president of development for Makea-Wish Colorado. “Right now, we are working with over 400 eligible kids,
Public health restrictions in Denver metro counties were loosened on Jan. 4, even though many didn’t qualify for a lower level of restrictions. Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties, which were all in level red on the state’s COVID-19 dial, moved to level orange. County health departments finalized the decision on Dec. 31 after an unexpected announcement from Gov. Jared Polis late the night before. “Throughout this pandemic, we have had to walk a difficult line between the public health crisis and the economic crisis,” Polis said in a tweet explaining the rationale for his decision. Citing a decline in statewide hospital ICU bed space, he said level red counties are ready to take it down a notch. However, according to metrics established by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environ-
SEE MAKE A WISH, P12
SEE LEVEL ORANGE, P4
From left, Layne Jarrett, Aaron Jarrett and Eric Hubbard start their walk to bring awareness to Make-a-Wish Colorado and inspire people to donate. COURTESY PHOTO
WANT TO HELP? Aaron Jarrett has set a goal of raising $15,000, and donations are being accepted until Jan. 8. To donate to Jarrett’s Believe in Wish Magic fundraising effort, visit BelieveinWishMagic.com.
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