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PVHS’ Padilla picks community college

ThunderHawks quarterback picks California school

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It was a fairly simple choice of colleges for Prairie View High School graduate and football player Eliah Padilla.

“I chose Feather River (Community College in Quincy, California, about 80 miles northwest of Reno, Nevada) over other schools because it felt like my home away from home,” he said.

Padilla didn’t get an on-site visit to the campus. But head football coach Nick Goulet “made sure to give me multiple virtual tours.”

“But it didn’t play too much of a factor because it is still in California,” Padilla said.

Padilla played quarterback in seven of the ThunderHawks’ games last season. He completed 13 of 23 passes for 280 yards and fi ve touchdowns. He ran the ball 22 times for 149 yards and scored two touchdowns, and Padilla caught 10 passes for 173 yards and scored a TD.

“I had multiple other schools interested in me,” Padilla said. “But, like I said, coach Goulet wanted me to be an Eagle and never gave up on getting me to be one. So, that’s what got me.”

Distance from home was a small factor.

“Distance always plays a huge part no matter what you’re doing or going,” Padilla said. “But yes, it plays a big part. It defi nitely made the choice hard, although I still get to do what I love in a beautiful state.”

Padilla wants to major in business. His goal is to get a journeyman’s license and open up an electrical company.

“The pandemic impacted a lot of things,” he said. “I lost a year of eligibility my junior year after coming off and hot sophomore year. I couldn’t play a down of varsity junior year. The recruiting process was impacted because the coaches couldn’t recruit the way they would’ve liked to recruit, like camps, home visits, school visits, etc.”

Come what may, Padilla is anxious to move on.

“I’m ready to get this show on the road and start this football season,” Padilla said. “Defi nitely has been a crazy journey. I just want to thank everyone who has pushed me through it all.”

Prairie View High School graduate Eliah Padilla is heading for northern California to

continue playing football. FILE PHOTO

Local athletes adjust to the balance of school, athletics

BY BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

This is part three, the fi nal part of a three-story series. The fi rst part introduced the athletes and the second discussed academic support at their chosen schools.

We’ve spent the last couple of weeks with former high-school athletes as they talk about their adjustments to college athletics - everything from more intense practice routines to being responsible for their clean clothes.

To wrap up our series, the newly minted college athletes talk about how to balance their athletic life with their new freedoms and the purpose of going to college in the fi rst place - their education.

Most think they made a good choice.

That delicate balance

Vershon Brooks went from Brighton High School to college football at Luther College in Iowa.

“Balancing life with academics and athletics in college was tricky at fi rst,” he said. “You have to look at your schedule and plan ahead of when you’ll get things, like eating, laundry, cleaning and homework, done. You’ll fi nd a routine around your classes and training with the team. It just becomes second nature.”

Former Brighton and Frederick High School pitcher Chase Prestwich, who’s playing collegiately at Northwestern State University in Louisiana, said a lot of people don’t think about that balance of life, academics and athletics.

“But it’s really hard,” he said. “I have to really plan out my days and just squeeze in time for things like eating, doing laundry, etc. I have to take advantage of every bit of free time I get because I don’t get much.”

In the case of Izayah Elize, former Frederick High School basketball player and now a collegiate player at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, Wyoming, it was “hard and scary being by yourself.”

“But once you get in a routine and schedule you realize it’s not that hard,” he said.

His high-school classmate, Ryan Chacon, who is running cross country at Butler Community College in Kansas, agreed.

“Balancing daily chores and things is diffi cult,” he said. “But if you make a schedule every week and stick to it, you’ll be fi ne. Either a team study time will be put into play or making a time to do things.”

Emma Kulbida, who attended Stargate School, swam for Legacy High School and is swimming at Carnegie Mellon in Pennsylvania, said balancing her academic, athletic and other needs was diffi cult.

“Managing the rigorous course loads that CMU has to offer is extremely challenging by itself and competing at a high athletic level on top of that makes it so much harder,” she said. “However, having set practice times forces you to keep somewhat of a schedule, and being a high-level athlete makes you prioritize sleep and nutrition, which helps with school as well.”

Brighton High School’s Eli Bowman, who played football at the South Dakota School of Mines, said balancing all of necessary things in school was tough - on occasion.

“But it’s something I’ve gotten used to,” he said. “Whether it’s when to do laundry or managing my relationship with my girlfriend, it all took some adjusting and fi guring out what works best for me, my schedule and my health. Ultimately, school has to be my No. 1 priority, and I understand that.”

Bowman’s classmate, Jespyn Bishop, who is playing water polo at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois, split the difference.

“I wouldn’t say it has been too diffi cult, but it hasn’t been easy,” he said. “It honestly all depends on the classes you take. My fi rst semester, none of my classes was extremely hard, but I just had a lot of work. So I ended up scheduling my week to where I could get everything done and still be able to go to bed early enough to be able to get up and go to morning practices. I also have a work study on campus at the library, which I am able to work while being able to do homework. So normally I get a lot of my homework done then.”

Bishop said he tried to plan for other needs a few days ahead of time “which helps me with not having any confl icts.” His second semester was an off-season for water polo.

“I get done with all my classes at 12, and then I have practice TuesdayThursdays from 1-3, then weights from 4-5 Tuesdays and Thursdays,” he said. “After that the rest of the day is mine. I normally try to get all my homework done by 10 and then leave two hours to do whatever I want. I normally leave store runs to the weekends because it’s easier to get everything all at once.”

Adding structure

Erica Derby, who took her soccer skills from Stargate School to Northeastern Community College in Nebraska, said it hasn’t been hard to balance her daily tasks.

“Playing soccer adds structure to my day. I have to be at practice and the games. So all my classes and tasks I do revolve around that,” she said. “If my classes confl ict with soccer, I either can take it fully online or come up with a solution with my coach.”

Brighton police o cer Jodie Avery guards Isaiah Garmann, 12, of Brighton, during a 3-on-3 basketball game at Brighton High School June 17. Avery is a school resource of-

fi cer at Brighton High. PHOTOS BY STEFAN BRODSKY

BY PHOTOS BY STEFAN BRODSKY

Brighton Police threw down the challenge and basketball players responded June 11 at the Brighton Recreation Center.

Kids from across Adams County came to play three-on-three games against Brighton Police Department’s fi nest. Teams of middle schools played in the morning, high schoolers in the afternoon.

Prairie View school resource o cer Justin Stadler of Brighton Police, snares a rebound during a 3-on-3 basketball game with area youth on Friday, June 17 at Brighton High School. This is the second consecutive year that Brighton P.D. has held this event, which attempts to get area kids positively involved with the department.

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When she comes home, she helps with cooking meals and the laundry.

“So coming to college and having to do my own laundry wasn’t a big change,” Derby said. “Our cafeteria is open at certain times, so I make sure I can eat during those times. I do my laundry on the weekend. I don’t have any classes, and I have extra time.”

Gerardo Caldera, who graduated from Adams City High School and went on to play football at Waldorf University in Iowa, said his ability to balance all things college wasn’t too hard.

“Maybe when I fi rst got here it was a hassle. But once you know the fl ow of things and you play around with your schedule, you can fi gure out when to do what at a certain time,” Caldera said. “For example, I may not always get breakfast or lunch at our café. But we have a thing called a `Warrior Crossing.’ It’s like a little store where you can get some quick snacks and some quick sandwiches. As for laundry you could do it at night while you’re doing assignments and homework, so you can pass time while doing laundry. But right after practices, everyone goes and eats dinner at our cafeteria.”

Riverdale Ridge alum Dakota Pruitt, who played baseball at Otero Junior College in southern Colorado, said it was easy to fi nd that balance.

“You just have to fi nd a routine and understand that you’re completely in control of your actions, so you have to make sure you’re doing everything you can to make you comfortable and successful,” he said.

Stargate School graduate Madison Roecker, who is cheerleading at Nebraska Wesleyan, said her combination of experience in sports, clubs, academics and holding down a job “helped to prepare me to manage my schedule now in college.”

The overall experience

Brooks, the Brighton High School grad and Luther College football player, said he found no surprises.

“The experience overall is what I expected, that being time management with school and chores and your responsibilities to the team,” he said. “What I didn’t expect was how much I would miss home and the people that made it home.”

Brooks former Brighton classmate Bowman said his experience at the South Dakota School of Mines wasn’t what he thought it would be.

“I knew sports would be hard, so that wasn’t a huge surprise,” Bowman said. “I underestimated how diffi cult school would be and how much work is involved. I didn’t think I’d be able to make such good friends as well. We all have to rely on each other to keep going, though, so it brings us all together. I’ve made some really good friends already.”

McKendree University’s water polo player Bishop said he doesn’t regret his decision at all.

“College athletics are defi nitely a different atmosphere but totally worth it at the end of the day,” he said.

“I didn’t expect it to be this busy,” said Northwestern State University in Louisiana’s Prestwich. “But overall, it has been good and much like what I expected. I didn’t really know what to expect about living on my own, but I like being responsible for things myself.”

Frederick alum Elize he knew what he was getting into.

“It’s been a good experience,” he said. “ I have grown as a basketball player overall, and that’s all I can ask for.”

Stargate soccer standout Derby said the experience was what she expected ... and better.

“I have met some amazing friends on the soccer team that I probably wouldn’t have met if I didn’t play,” she said. “I have been able to take classes that are giving me insight to future career options. I work at the basketball games by helping take stats and go to school events that are held to be involved.”

Frederick alum Chacon said the experience at Butler Community College in Kansas was what he was expecting.

“As long as you stick to your goals and be smart with time management you will strive,” he said. Maturing fast is a key to so say `survive’ college. If you take advantage of your resources and be mature about things, the goals you make will be closer than ever before.”

Former Legacy swimmer Kulbida said she knew the experience would be a challenge.

“But it was way more diffi cult than I expected,” she said. “However, being around peers who have similar drive and determination to succeed has been really helpful. It pushes you to reach a higher level and be the best version of yourself that you can be.”

Riverdale Ridge alum Pruitt said the experience was about what he fi gured, too.

“I expected to fi nd myself in a position where I have to grind to ensure I get to stay,” he said. “But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I get to play the sport I love most every day.”

Adams City alum Caldera said the experience was what he thought, but more so.

“It has also opened up a lot to be grateful for everything in life as well,” he said. “Sometimes, you have to take it in that you’re a part of that small percentage of student athletes that move on to play at the next level.”

In closing

Caldera had one parting piece of advice.

“If you’re going to play a different sport, make sure you’re willing to lose some playing time in some sports. For example, I played baseball in the spring for Waldorf but I am losing spring ball and learning my playbook for football to play another sport,” he said. “Make sure if you’re going to play something else, it’s because you love playing that sport.”

“I am grateful to my high-school coach, Meaghan Walsh, for starting our cheer program and guiding me to get where I am today,” said Stargate School graduate Madison Roecker.“I am enjoying my time here at Nebraska Wesleyan and love our cheer team.”

“Playing football in college is the best decision I could’ve made,” Bowman said. “As much work as it is, college football has already been a blast and has made me a better person.”

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Public Utilities Commission o cials want more study

BY MARK JAFFE SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission on June 10 balked at approving a billion-dollar price tag to shut down Xcel Energy’s fi ve remaining coal-fi red generating units — to be paid by customers — and instead is seeking more detailed fi nancial analysis.

The proposed closing costs were part of a settlement agreement between Xcel Energy, the state’s largest electricity provider, and a group of state agencies, local governments and labor and environmental groups.

The commission, however, wanted more scrutiny of the fi nances. “We’ve expressed concern over understanding these costs,” Commissioner Megan Gilman said. “We owe that to the ratepayers.”

At issue is the fi nancial method Xcel Energy is proposing to recover the closure costs. The commission said it wants Xcel to analyze a range of options, particularly using securitized bonds, which are seen as a potential cheaper fi nancing mechanism.

“It is incumbent upon the company to model securitization and other options,” Commissioner John Gavan said. “We will need to take this off to a separate proceeding.”

As part of its electric resource plan — which forecasts the utility’s electricity demand for the next four years and the generating resources to meet it — and its Clean Energy Plan, aimed at cutting the utility’s greenhouse gas emissions, Xcel Energy is moving to close all its coal-fi red plants.

The plan is to close the utility’s fi ve remaining units — in Craig, Hayden, Fort Morgan and Pueblo — between 2027 and 2031 at a cost of a little more than $1 billion.

The bulk of that fi gure — $732 million — is for shutting the 750-megawatt Comanche 3 unit, in Pueblo. The $1.3 billion plant only went into operation in 2010 and will be the last to close at the end of 2030.

The plant has been beset with operating, equipment and fi nancial problems, leading to more than 800 days of shutdowns. Initially, Xcel proposed running the plant until 2040 and then under pressure cut the closure date to 2035 and eventually 2031.

The commission also asked for more detailed data on project operation and maintenance costs for Comanche 3, while it is still in use. “We have seen escalating unexpected costs in terms of unit 3 maintenance,” Gavan said.

Xcel Energy is proposing using securitized bonds to fi nance the Comanche 3 closure which includes $690 million to pay for the unamortized part of the utility’s investment in the unit, $32 million in cleanup costs and $10 million in bond costs.

The securitized bonds are linked to a guaranteed revenue source from the utility and as a result can be offered lower interest rates, reducing overall costs.

For the three other units, however, Xcel Energy proposed, in the partial settlement of its resource plan submitted to the PUC, using other fi nancing mechanisms, such as accelerated depreciation and a so-called regulatory asset.

A regulatory asset is a fi nancial device in which all the costs associated with closing a coal-fi red unit would be gathered in one place and paid off by customers over time — with Xcel Energy also getting an interest payment on the account.

The PUC move may be a concern for the settling parties, said Gwen Farnsworth, a managing senior policy advisor for environmental group Western Resources Advocates, which signed on to the agreement.

One of the goals of the settlement was to close the coal-fi red plants as quickly as possible with Pawnee closing its coal-fi red unit and switching to natural gas in 2025, followed by the Hayden 2 unit in 2027, and Hayden 1 and Craig closing in 2028.

Breaking the retirement costs off to a separate proceeding could delay the closure process and even lead to knockon-effects in delaying the acquisition on new, clean resources, Farnsworth said.

The Comanche Generating Station in Pueblo on Oct. 21, 2021.

PHOTO BY MIKE SWEENEY/SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

ISSUES

something about immediately by using our leverage to force the

Biden administration to act,” she said. “After that, my priorities are to rein in infl ation, reduce defi cit spending and debt, and restore America’s energy independence.”

KULMANN: “I’m an oil and gas engineer, and the No. 1 thing I hear from voters is just how diffi cult record-breaking energy costs are making their lives. My top priority in Congress would be to fi nd solutions that unleash American energy dominance.”

SAINE: “My No. 1 priority will be to stop President Biden’s Marxistsocialist agenda and use the power of the purse to force the executive branch to bring back policies to secure our border, strengthen our military and increase domestic energy production… Biden-era infl ation must be halted and reversed before our economy, family budgets and businesses are destroyed.”

Do you believe climate change is human caused and, if so, what should be done about it?

None of the candidates clearly answered whether anything should be done to address climate change.

ALLCORN: “We don’t need to destroy our economy or pursue the Green New Deal policies of the radical left to protect our environ-

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An effort between Adams County and a housing non-profi t have a created a mediation program to help cut down on forced evictions.

Colorado Housing Connects has operated a helpline to offer statewide housing information to property owners and renters alike.

Operators at the help line, 1-844926-6632, have provided information about HUD-approved housing counseling agencies throughout Colorado for foreclosure prevention since 2014.

Now the group has launched a mediation program to help mitigate landlord-tenant disputes in Adams County. The goal of the program is to divert parties away from court-sanctioned eviction proceedings and to work toward mutually agreed alternatives between renters and landlords, according to a written statement.

Alternatives can include rental assistance, payment plans, lease compliance and more.

State data shows 2,445 eviction cases have been fi led in Adams County in 2022 as of May 31.

“Far too often, we hear from tenants and landlords at their wit’s end. The relationship has eroded, and communication is strained,” said Colorado Housing Connects Program Director Patrick Noonan. “This can lead to eviction, other litigation, or lease non-renewal. Mediation is an opportunity for both parties to come to the table and work out an agreement that spares landlords avoidable costs and tenants an eviction. A tenant-landlord mediator can cut out the emotion and support a solution driven discussion.”

The program is designed to help those who are concerned about paying rent, residents who are worried that rental assistance won’t come soon enough and those who are experiencing lease dis-

putes or violations. Outside of Adams County, Colorado Housing Connects offers tenant-landlord mediation services to Denver residents. The Denver tenant-landlord mediation program serves for all manner of housing disputes, including maindepreciation and a so-called regulatory tenance issues, lease disputes, security deposit disagreements, and more. device in which all the costs associated Housing nonprofi t Brothers Redevelopment operates Colorado Housing Connects in partnership with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. To learn more, visit the group at coloradohousingconnects.org.

Farnsworth, a managing senior policy

ISSUES

ment. Colorado is a world leader in responsible energy development, and we can supply the world if radical liberals would just get out of the way,” Allcorn said. At a March candidate forum, he said that the country needs to be energy closure process and even lead to knock-independent and that the “green energy industry” is “not ready to take over.” KIRKMEYER: “The climate is always changing, and the Earth has been gradually warming since the Little Ice Age. To what extent any warming is a result of man-caused activity is unknown. The United States has been reducing its emissions of carbon dioxide in recent years, but worldwide emissions continue to grow due to China, India and other emerging economies.”

KULMANN: “Climate change is happening, and humans contribute, but it is innovation and technology that will solve it, not bureaucracy and certainly not far-left policies. Witness: carbon emissions have plummeted in the U.S. in recent years because of the growing prevalence of natural gas to power our economy. It wasn’t a law or a mandate that made this happen. It was private sector innovation, and some really smart engineers,” Kulmann said in a written response. “Where Biden and the Democrats get energy wrong is by trying to make one good and the other bad. The truth is, we need an all-of-the-above energy strategy in this country. And we need to get serious about American energy independence. If I have my way, America will never beg for another drop of energy from OPEC or Putin again.”

SAINE: “Weld County not only has the largest production of oil and gas in Colorado, it also has the largest renewable energy production portfolio in the state, including wind, solar and biogas. • Government should not pick winners and losers in the energy market and Weld (County) now encourages an all-the-above energy production that our consumers and businesses have asked for. The petroleum industry and farmers and ranchers in Weld are teaming up to produce solar at record rates. Farmers particularly like the stability of the extra income that solar provides.” As commissioner, she supported a county solar code, she said.

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun. com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

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Solution

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TRIVIA

1. TELEVISION: Which TV show is set at UC-Sunnydale? 2. FOOD & DRINK: What is an affogato? 3. MOVIES: Which famous movie features a character named Almira Gulch? 4. HISTORY: Which U.S. state was the fi rst to legalize marijuana for medicinal use? 5. ENTERTAINERS: What rapper/songwriter’s real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.? 6. SCIENCE: What part of the brain controls hunger? 7. GEOGRAPHY: The Gulf of Cadiz lies off the coasts of which two countries? 8. LITERATURE: Who are the best friends of Nancy Drew in the mystery series? 9. LANGUAGE: The archaic term “grippe” was used to describe what common ailment? 10. ASTRONOMY: What kind of star is the sun in our solar system?

Answers

1. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”

2. Italian dessert of coffee and

ice cream

3. “The Wizard of Oz”

4. California, 1996

5. Snoop Dogg

6. Hypothalamus

7. Portugal and Spain

8. Bess and George

9. Infl uenza

10. Yellow dwarf

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