Commerce City Sentinel Express 021623

New COVID-19 restrictions will prohibit indoor dining, personal gatherings

PUC responds to Polis’ call for utility relief

Searching for answers

BY JOSHUA PERRY THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 8 discussed addressing bill price hikes in response to Gov. Jared Polis’s utility cost-reduction directive, but it isn’t clear what the rst steps will be.

Chairman Eric Blank said that the PUC has been tasked with a wide range of objectives to ease an a ordability crisis that made consumers’ utility bills 52% higher on average in December. Some consumers saw their bills double or even triple.

Commerce City hires new police chief

Commerce City native Guadnola gets job

Police Department and most recently as a division chief for the Wheat Ridge Police Department. Guadnola led the city’s support services division, overseeing investigations, records, training and accreditation and crime analysis.

of the department values of Trust, Respect, Excellence, Leadership, and Restraint. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Commerce City picked former resident and Wheat Ridge Police o cer Darrel Guadnola as the city’s next chief of police.

Guadnola is scheduled to take over leadership of the Commerce City Police Department on March 6, replacing current interim Chief Richard W. Myers.

A long line of cars outside the city of Brighton’s rapid testing site at Riverdale Regional Park. The site has had to close early many days in recent weeks due to high demand. Adams County’s 14-day test positivity rate was 15.9 percent, as of Nov. 17, according to Tri-County Health Department. Brighton and Commerce City’s test positivity rates were both higher than 13 percent. Forty- ve people in Brighton and 29 in Commerce City have died from COVID-19 related health issues. To limit the spread of COVID-19, at least 15 counties moved to tighter restrictions that prohibits indoor and personal gatherings.

A lifelong Coloradan who spent part of his childhood in Commerce City, Guadnola has worked in law enforcement for 27 years, rst as an o cer in Brighton.

He later joined Greenwood Village

“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve this community as chief of police,” said Guadnola in written statement from the city. “As a former and future resident of Commerce City, I look forward to strengthening relationships between the community and the police department to address public safety needs as the city continues to grow. I am committed to serving in a manner re ective

Guadnola has also served as an investigations commander who routinely oversaw investigations into o cer involved shootings. He also helped develop the department’s naloxone program and a full-service computer forensic investigations lab. Other assignments in his Colorado law enforcement career include detective sergeant, eld training o cer sergeant, crisis negotiations team sergeant, investigator, rearms instructor, and negotiator.

a new level of rules that prohibits indoor dining and personal gatherings — a change that applies to the majority of the Denver metro area and many counties in other regions.

“ is position garnered a highly quali ed and competitive candidate pool, and we were committed to a

e state’s COVID-19 dial, which has been in e ect since September, is the set of di erent levels of restrictions that each

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“Among other things, the governor has asked us to identify ways to support customers in the most dire circumstances, improve access to and the capacity of the bill assistance program, nd ways to incentivize utilities to reduce customer costs, analyze approaches for limiting bill spikes, and to expand public engagement on these issues before the end PUC,” he said.

Blank said he didn’t know how the PUC would take action on this directive right now, but they would continue addressing a ordability in the coming weeks.

county is required to follow based on the severity of a county’s local virus spread. e dial grew out of the state’s safer-athome order — the policy that came a er the statewide stay-at-home order this spring and allowed numerous types of businesses to reopen.

e state recently switched to color identi ers — levels blue, yellow and orange rather than numbered levels — to avoid confusion. Until Nov. 17, level red meant a stay-at-home order. Now, level red — “severe risk” — is the second-

One way the PUC can make progress is driving down base rates, Commissioner Megan Gilman said. Under the current rules, a utility seeking to add new infrastructure, such as transmission lines or a power plant, must rst convince PUC regulators that it is necessary. If PUC agrees, it issues a certi cate of public convenience

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Please see RESTRICTIONS, Page 2

Photo by Belen Ward

Eagle Ridge’s Hunter Hill finishes a first-half dunk against Kent Denver Feb. 9 in Brighton. See the story at https://commerccitysentinel.com online.

PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH

27J Schools stay in-house for new superintendent

Pierce sole remaining candidate to follow Fiedler

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

27J Schools didn’t have to go very far to find its new superintendent.

The school board tabbed Will Pierce as the sole finalist for the job that becomes vacant next year. The current superintendent, Chris Fiedler, announced his plans to retire when his contract expires. Pierce has been in the district for 24 years. He’s been a dean, a prin-

cipal, a director and the district’s chief academic officer. He also served a short stint as the boys’ basketball coach at Brighton High School. He’s the present deputy superintendent and oversees the district’s student achievement department

A press statement said Pierce redesigned the student achievement department and developed programs to support increased academic achievement in the district. As an example, the district said he redesigned graduation requirements to meet state guidelines and to be sure that students show “competency toward a career and a future beyond graduation.”

The design of the district’s dashboard was one of Pierce’s projects. It helps show parents, staff and the community what sort of progress the district is making toward academic, social and emotional goals, the statement said. He also was in charge of the development and opening of two elementary schools, West Ridge and Pennock.

“We’re thrilled to name Will Pierce as our sole finalist for the superintendent’s position in 27J,” board President Greg Piotraschke said in the statement. “Being a local school board member who’s active in state and national education groups, I know the caliber of candidates you have to have to

hire a successful superintendent. There is no better candidate than Will Pierce.”

Several districts lost their superintendents in the past few years, which led to outlays of money for searches.  Piotraschke said 27J has a proven leader who’s established many of the hallmarks that earned the district five straight years of increased graduation rates.

The board plans to host a community engagement/meet and greet for finalist meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, in the district’s training room, 80 S. Eighth Ave. The board is expected to make its hiring decision during its March 8 regular business meeting.

New ward options unveiled for Commerce City

anything preconceived - ‘Oh, Ward 1 is going to look like this, Ward 2 like this’,” City Clerk Dylan Gibson said. “We wanted residents to really be a part of the process from the start.”

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Commerce City will put ve plans for redistricting City Council seats up for public discussion, leading to a March 6 approval of a new map.

“We didn’t want to come in with

e city is looking to redraw the boundaries between City Council Wards based on 2020 census results City Clerk Dylan Gibson said.

“In 2010, the population for Commerce City was 45,913. Our 2020 population was 62,418,” Gibson said. “ at gives us a 35.9% increase in population since 2010 and as we are all familiar with, must of that growth

was in the north.”

Commerce City’s four wards are meant to be roughly equal in population — within a 10% di erence, according to the City Charter.

Results from the 2020 census show how unbalanced the wards have become since the boundaries were last adjusted in 2013. Gibson said the goal is for each ward to have roughly 15,605 residents.

Ward 4, in the far northeastern part of the city, is the most populous, with 21,239 residents, according to the census - 5,634 people above the goal. Ward 2, in the southwestern, has the fewest residents, 12,196. at is 3,409 below the goal.

e 9,043 resident di erence between those two ward represents a nearly 58% discrepancy - far beyond the 10% di erence required by the charter.

“So we are a little out of band for what is allowed for a municipality, therefore we must redistrict our wards,” Gibson said. “It’s also important to preserve the idea of one person, one vote.”

Gibson said city sta hosted ve public information sessions in 2022 to nd out what residents wanted and reviewed 11 maps, narrowing those down to the ve presented to City Councilors.

e nal maps need to have populations roughly equal to each other - at least within 10 percent. ey also have to balance racial equity.

Both of those are requirements by

law, Gibson said, but there are other factors that might not be legally required but are important. ose include compactness, trying to preserve current boundaries as much as possible and protecting communities of interest - such as neighborhoods and special districts.

Gibson said the first map was drawn up by a computer algorithm.

“It’s an algorithm that take total population and racial demographics from the census and tries to draw as equitable boundaries as possible,” Gibson said. “However, one thing it does not do is consider ‘communities of interest’. So this plan is technically satisfying for the legal criteria. But you will notice it divides streets and major thoroughfares and neighborhoods.”

Councilor Susan Noble said she could eliminate three of the plans immediately. Plans 1, 4 and 5 all divide up Commerce City special districts.

“There are little areas that need to be part of certain metro districts,” Noble said. “Maps 1, 4 and 5 break up those districts in ways that isn’t unworkable.”

Councilors did not settle on a single plan but continued the public hearing until March 6. Gibson said the maps and more information about the process would be available at https://www.c3gov. com/redistricting on the city’s website for residents to review.

Commerce City’s current ward map, adopted in 2013. City Councilors are scheduled to select a new map from one of five versions with new boundaries based on the 2020 Census. COURTESY CITY OF COMMERCE CITY

After residents review five choices council to pick boundaries March 6

IRS to Coloradans: Don’t file your taxes yet

BY SARAH MULHOLLAND COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

Coloradans may owe federal taxes on last year’s TABOR refunds.

e IRS says the state’s residents should hold o on ling their tax returns until the agency gures out how it’s going to handle the issue.

e IRS issued the directive to residents of several states that received refunds or special payments in 2022. Coloradans shouldn’t have to

pay any taxes on TABOR refunds, according to the state’s revenue department. TABOR, which stands for the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, goes back to 1992 in Colorado. e law requires the state to return excess state revenues to taxpayers.

“We have done so on various occasions and through various statutory methods,” Dan Carr, a spokesperson for Colorado’s revenue department, said in an emailed statement. “We have provided this information to the Internal Revenue

Service in response to the questions they’ve raised to many states. We will continue to monitor the IRS process and be clear on our position that these refunds are not taxable.”

Colorado’s excess tax revenues totaled about $3 billion last year. at resulted in sizable refund checks of $750 for individuals and $1,500 for joint lers. Normally those refunds would have been paid this spring, but Gov. Polis and the legislature moved up the timeline to last sum-

mer.

Last year, 19 states o ered special tax refunds and payments, according to the Associated Press. Many were meant to provide relief from in ation. Colorado’s TABOR refunds, though not prompted by in ation, were issued at the same time as the other states’ checks. is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

Age is not a factor in heart disease risk

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It is a common myth that heart disease does not a ect the younger population. However, Dr. Je Park, a cardiologist with Aurora Denver Cardiology Associates at e Medical Center of Aurora says that is a common myth.

“High long standing blood pressure issues with long standing cholesterol issues, long standing diabetes, yeah, that puts you at higher risk for sure,” said Park. “But there’s de nitely a genetic component.”

Heart disease can present itself in many ways to di erent people and may not always be obvious.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conditions such as high blood pressure, high

cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes and unhealthy eating patterns are appearing among younger people and placing them at a higher risk for heart disease.

“ e patients are getting younger, we’ve had heart attacks in patients who are in their twenties,” said Park.  ere are certain genetic conditions where individuals are at increased risk of having a heart attack, Park said. Cholesterol issues is a primary indicator.

One example given by Park is a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia, or FH. is is a genetic disorder where people have high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. People have a predisposition for heart disease at that point as the body cannot recycle bad lipids, Park said.

“You’re like ‘I’m too young to see

a doctor’ and I’m guilty of that same concept, you know, but it’s a matter of if you get identi ed early on, it’s a matter of your treatment starts earlier and you’re protected early,” said Park.  Park says it’s never too soon to check one’s heart health. e American Heart Association has ways to help prevent heart disease throughout each stage of life, starting when at 20 years and older.

Heart disease is a man’s disease

“ at’s a false, false, false statement,” said Park. “I think I’ve treated more women than I have treated men, or at least equally, and I guess it’s a matter of what’s the cause of the heart disease that you’re talking about.”

According to Park, heart disease and heart attacks in women present themselves di erently from men.

It might notbe the typical chest pain and it might not be the typical exertional component that people tend to think about, said Park. Women can feel some indigestion but end up having a heart attack.

A map presented by the CDC shows heart disease death rates among women 35 and older across the U.S.

According to the CDC, between 2018 and 2020, the Colorado average estimated heart disease death rate for all races and ethnicities in women 35 and older was 195 per 100,000 people. e average estimated number for Douglas County was 154.

Symptoms do not always occur while the body is doing physical activity, Park said, symptoms can arise while the body is resting.

“Even if you’re feeling great, you never know,” said Park.

and necessity to approve the request.

Once the project is in operation, the cost of the investment is passed on to consumers through an increase in base utility rates. PUC also has the power to set a return on investment rate, which determines the pro t that utility companies get from these investments. at ROI rate can contribute to higher prices as well. Base rates have been increasing for years. Higher base rates make periods of extreme price pressure — usually resulting from high fuel costs

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comprehensive process,” said City Manager Jason Rogers in the written statement. “Darrel

or unusually cold weather conditions — even worse. e PUC can’t control those factors, but they can drive base rates down in the long run by limiting unnecessary investments by utility companies, Gilman said.

“What are we doing to really try to ensure that rate-payers are protected in the long run and (ensure) that those utility investments that end up being repaid by rate-payers are really the best use of that money, and the best option available?” she said. Blank said that managing base rates will be part of the discussion on a ordability moving forward. Later at the meeting, the commission also approved updates to its policy for service disconnection

Guadnola rose to the top during our many evaluations, and I look forward to seeing him take over leadership of the department and help stitch CCPD into the fabric of our neighborhoods.

I am confident that he will think progressively and intellectually

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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reporting, which now will include data on areas with the highest proportions of disconnections in order to identify geographic disparities in access to utility services.

Additionally, they made plans to meet with assistance program coordinators and utility companies to improve the e ectiveness and accessibility of low-income quali ed programs.

Access to sources of assistance like the Percentage of Income Payment Program, which limits utility costs for low income families to up to 6% of their monthly income, must be improved, according to Gilman. e PUC has taken some steps already to make its process open and easy to understand, she said, but there’s

challenge what it means to police within our community. As the city continues to grow, evolve, and prosper, I am excited to have Chief Guadnola as part of this organization to accomplish what the department needs, and what the community deserves.”

TERESA ALEXIS Marketing Consultant Classified Sales talexis@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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still much room for growth when it comes to working in a mode that engages the public on addressing longterm a ordability moving forward.

“ is is a massive issue, to take this agency and all of the sudden try to humanize, try to improve accessibility, try to improve language access, try to improve these opportunities,” Gilman said. “By no means do we have it all gured out.”

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

Guadnola holds master’s degrees in both Business Administration and Management from Regis University in Denver, with a graduate certificate in Executive Leadership. His bachelor’s degree in Political Science is from the University of Colorado at Denver.

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Sentinel Express. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

Adams County celebrates Black History Month

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Paying attention to the progress people of color have made in the country at large and Adams County specifically, staff and officials kicked of the county’s Black History Month celebration Feb. 7.

“We honor those who have come before to celebrate how far

we have come as a society but we also honor those who continue to fight today,” said Femmi Clemons, Adams County’s Veteran’s Services officer. “The struggle is still far from over.”

Clemons said she’s proud of her role.

“I am an example of progress, being the first woman of color to hold this position,” Clemons said.

Adams County staff and officials noted the month of February as Black History Month during a brief ceremony at the start of business Feb. 7.

Later, County Commissioners approved a proclamation declaring the month, from Feb. 1 through March 1, 2023 as Black History Month.

February has been set aside

as a month to review and celebrate the achievements of Black Americans since 1976, but the event was discussed and called for more than 100 years ago. It has its roots in the original Negro History week that typically celebrated during the second week of February - bracketed by

Tuskegee Airmen coming to Commerce City

Group featured guests at Black History Month celebration

STAFF REPORT

Survivors of the legendary World War 2 ghter pilots the Tuskegee Airmen and their support crew will come to Commerce City for a city Black History Month celebration.

e city will host a celebration of Black History Month at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Civic Center, 7887 E. 60th Ave.

Black History Month is held every February to honor the triumphs and struggles of African Americans through-

out U.S. history. is year, Commerce City’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission invited Tuskegee Airmen to come to Commerce City.

e Tuskegee Airmen were a group of 932 ghter and bomber pilots and their support crews who trained at Tuskegee Army Air eld in Alabama. Of that group, 355 ew some 1,500 missions in Europe between 1942 and 1946. e pilots were mostly African American and they were the rst aviation unit of their kind during a time when the U.S. military was still racially segregated and many U.S. states still had Jim Crow laws on their books.

e unit had an excellent combat rating, was highly praised by military commanders and earned six Distinguished Unit Citations while its members earned 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses.

Members of the 477th Bomb Group, a unit of the Tuskegee Airmen, pose for a picture in 1944. Commerce City is inviting speakers from the group to come for a Black History Month celebration. COURTESY THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN ARCHIVES

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Walk with a doc

Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr. Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute.

is is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and fun conversation. It’s a great way to get out, get active and enjoy all the bene ts that come from walking.

‘Taking No Chances’

e 17th Judicial District Attorney’s O ce and e Link, a community resource and assessment center in ornton, are o ering free, 10-week programs to families of Adams county teenagers to help develop personal and interpersonal drug-resistance skills.

Sessions are from 5:30 to 6;30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 720-292-2811.

Boards/commissions’ openings

Commerce City has openings for several of its boards and commissions, including the city’s cultural council, the housing authority and the Derby review board.

Visit https://www.c3gov.com/ Home/Components/Form/Form/70 316b05422c448492c51da0f0e0fd86/ to sign up.

Legal self-help clinic

e Access to Justice Committee hosts a free, legal self-help clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. the rst Tuesday of every month.

e program is for those who don’t have legal representation and need help navigating through legal issues.

Volunteer attorneys are available to discuss such topics as family law, civil litigation, property and probate law. Call 303-405-3298 and ask for the Legal Self-Help Clinic at least 24

hours in advance.

Help for vets

Quali ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has a number of power chairs, power scooters and electric wheelchairs available.

To nd the closest facility to you visit www.va.gov/ nd-locations.

Quali ed Listeners also need volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become quali ed listeners. Call 720-600-0860.

COVID-19 testing

Here’s where you can receive a test for COVID-19:

Brighton Advanced Urgent Care, 2801 Purcell St. Call 303-659-9700 or visit https://advurgent.com/locations/brighton/

Brighton Salud, 1860 Egbert St. Testing is available on Tuesday, ursday and Friday. Visit https:// www.saludclinic.org/covid-testing

Fort Lupton Salud, 1115 Second St. Testing is available on Tuesday and ursday. Call 303-697-2583 or visit https://www.saludclinic.org/covidtesting online.

Mental health

Community Reach Center o ers in-person intake assessments from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at the Brighton Learning and Resource Campus, 1850 E. Egbert St. in Brighton. Call Community Reach Center at 303853-3500.

For walk-in intake, bring an ID and insurance information. For those who would prefer to complete the intake forms and schedule an appointment, the intake forms are available online at www.com-

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the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, on Feb. 12, and Frederick Douglas on Feb. 14. Douglas later died on Feb. 20, 1895.

“We do not have to go all the way back in history to see the effects of institutional racism in our country,” Clemons said. “You can go back to events that happened the lifetimes of many people here.”

munityreachcenter.org. ere will be a short screening for u-like symptoms before the entrance to the center to ensure safety and wellness for everyone.

Anyone feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255, text 38255, or visit the Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) Center at 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.

Warm Line up and running

Community Reach Center is o ering a Warm Line (303-280-6602) for those who want to talk to mentalhealth professionals about anxiety, lack of sleep and strained relationships, among other topics. e professionals can facilitate referrals to other programs for assistance.

A press statement said the line is not for crisis intervention.

ose feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services (1-844-493-8255) or text 38255 or visit the Behavioral Urgent Care Center, 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.

Also, the center’s COVID-19 Heroes Program is set up to assist healthcare workers during the pandemic. ose who live or work in Adams County can receive up to six free counseling sessions. Use the Warm Line for support and free counseling.

Brighton’s community intake location is at 1850 E. Egbert St., on the second oor. It’s open from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.

Food distribution

27J Schools have free grab-and-go

meals for youngsters up to age 18. Drive-by or walk up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Vikan Middle School, 879 Jessup St., Overland Trail Middle School, 455 N. 19th Ave., and at immig Elementary School, 11453 Oswego St. Food for Hope is the sponsor.

St. Augustine food pantry, 129 S. Sixth Ave., o ers food Tuesdays and ursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Brighton residents who love between Quebec St. and Cavanaugh Road and between Weld County Road 4 1/2 and 96th Ave.  Chapel Hill Church, 10 Chapel Hill Drive, Brighton, hands out one box of food per family the second and fourth Wednesdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and alternating Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.

Calvary Chapel Brighton Food Pantry, 103 E. Bridge St., Brighton. Open from 4 to 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month.  Community Baptist Church Food Pantry, 15559 Weld County Road 2, Brighton. Open from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays.

Volunteers needed

Quali ed Listeners needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become quali ed listeners.

Visit quali edlisteners.org/volunteerapp and ll out the form or call 720-600-0860.

Femmi Clemons, Adams County’s Veteran Services administrator, talks about Black History Month Feb. 7 at the Adams County Government Center in Brighton. County Commissioners later proclaimed the month of February as Black History Month.

PHOTO BY SCOTT TAYLOR

Prairie View’s Vigil gets shot at third straight state title

Four T-Hawks advance to state 5A wrestling tournament

Chat eld High School. He wants a third straight state championship.

“ is has been my best season so far,” he said after a quarter nal round win against Fountain-Fort Carson’s Dayton Albrecht. “I’ve been the most con dent I’ve ever been. I’ve trained way harder this year than any other year. I’ve been working out two times a day seven days a week. I’m very con dent in my training.”

that goes wrong. I can’t think of anything that’s gone wrong.”

PVHS also quali ed Javen Villarreal at 120 pounds. He placed fourth. Donovan Archuleta took fourth at 126 pounds. Lukas Villalobos wound up third at 215 pounds.

Benjamin Nichols took fth at 175 pounds.

Vigil, who sports a record of 37-2, picked up one of those wins in the quarter nals against Albrecht. Vigil

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“I know I have a target on my back. Everyone wants that state title,” Vigil said. “I don’t want to say they’re after me. Everybody wants to be the best. Everybody wants to be on top of the podium.”

PVHS was 10th in the team standings.

His way to work around the pressure of being the defending state champ?

“I hate losing,” Vigil said.

A memorial service for former Colorado high School Activities Association assistant Commissioner Bert Borgmann will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 4, at Smoky HIll United Methodist Church, 19491 E. Smoky Hill Road. A live stream will be available at facebook.com/ smokyhillumc.org.

Prairie View’s Ane’e Vigil ties up Fountain-Fort Carson’s Dayton Albrecht in the quarterfinal round of 113-pound matches at the class 5A Region 4 tournament at Chatfield High School Feb. 10. Vigil pinned Albrecht in 1:41, won the regional championship and qualified for the state tournament.

PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH

State of education report finds teachers in need of more support

BY ALISON BERG ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

Survey results conducted by the largest educator’s union in Colorado paint a bleak picture of how most educators feel in their jobs.

The Colorado Education Association recently surveyed around 1,600 public educators in the state and found their main concerns were lack of investment in the education system, disrespecting their professional experience and feeling unsafe at work. Those issues were more pronounced for LGBTQ+ educators, who said they felt particularly unsafe existing authentically at work.

Education association leadership members presented the report in a press conference last week they called “State of Education,” mimicking the nationwide “State of the Union,” address.

“Respecting our educators as experts means centering our voices in legislation that affects our work,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, a high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association. “We need to be asking our educators who do the job every day

Our Family Helping Your Family

RUGGIERO

Virginia Jean “Ginny” (Vincent) Ruggiero October 11, 1925 - December 19, 2022

Virginia Ruggiero 1925 – 2022. Virginia Jean Vincent Clark Ruggiero aged 97 passed away peacefully December 19, 2022. She was born October 11, 1925 in Ft. Lupton, CO to Elizabeth and Rollie Vincent. For full

HAMMERLUND

obituary go to www.crownhillfuneral.com.

Memorial service Saturday Feb. 25, 4PM at Alli Event Center, 100 S 3rd Ave, Brighton, CO 80601

George Hammerlund April 8, 1924 - December 4, 2022

George H. Hammerlund of Brighton Colo. He was laid to rest along with Harriet Hammerlund Dec.27th 2022 at Fort Logan National Cemetery. George and Harriet are survived by their 5 children , 9 grand children , 17 great grand children and 3 great great grand children. ey will be greatly missed.

ROMERO

Eva Romero

March 20, 1934 - February 3, 2023

Eva was born on March 20th, 1934 in Brighton, Colorado, were she was also raised. She was widowed and raised 8 children.

Eva enjoyed a career in healthcare. She was a very loving Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Great-Great Grandmother. She was a wellloved member of the Brighton Community. She raised her children in California before returning to Brighton, Colorado in 1986 where she remained a resident until her death. Eva loved shing, bingo, gambling up the hill and trips to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. She loved to wear hats, bracelets and you

would often see her in a vest.

She is preceded in death by her husband Ernest Romero, her son Gerald Romero, and her siblings Bertha, Tony, and Eloy.

She is survived by her brother Candido Sanchez, her children Carmen (David) Castro, Vicki (Oscar) Soto, Rachel (Rudy) Ramirez, Cynthia ( e late Robert) Bowman, Adam ( e late Gretchen) Romero, Anthony Romero, Amy (Danny) Huizar, 21 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Eva will be missed by her entire family and her dear friends.

what is needed.”

Baca-Oehlert said the COVID-19 pandemic, skyrocketing costs of living with wages that haven’t kept up, an increase in school shootings and politicization of the classroom have all pushed teachers out of the profession.

Most survey respondents pointed to low pay as their primary reason for leaving the profession. An average teacher’s salary in Colorado is about $60,000, the report states, which is 35% less than comparably-educated adults. The National Education Association also reported Colorado ranks 49th in the country for paying its teachers a liveable wage.

Dave Lockley, educator and president of the District 12 Educator Association, said his district in Westminster currently has 40 vacant paraprofessional and educator positions, meaning teachers are stretched even thinner trying to fulfill roles outside their job description without pay matching the extra work.

“Every time we’re missing one of these key cogs in the larger

Fifth grade teacher Megan Morgenthaler explains a calligraphy exercise during colonial day.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST SEE SUPPORT, P12

CROWSSUPDRO ELZZ

©

TRIVIA

2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: To date, how many people have walked on the moon?

3. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of the Canadian province Nova Scotia?

4. MOVIES: How many “Police Academy” movies have been produced?

5. U.S. STATES: Why is Indiana known as “ e Hoosier State”?

6. FOOD & DRINK: What percentage of a cucumber is water?

7. HISTORY: Which company published its rst mail-order catalog in 1872?

8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What does the armadillo’s name mean in English?

9. LITERATURE: What is author Mark Twain’s real name?

Solution

10. CELEBRITIES: What is one of singer/actor Frank Sinatra’s famous nicknames, based on a physical attribute?

Answers

1. Long Branch Saloon.

2. 12.

3. Halifax.

4. Seven, including the original movie and six sequels.

5. e name became popular in the 1800s, likely from the poem “ e Hoosier’s Nest.”

6. 96%.

7. Montgomery Ward.

8. Little armored one.

9. Samuel Langhorne Clemens.

10. Ol’ Blue Eyes.

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Project: Porteos – PA-3 (Segment 6) Landscaping Location: Aurora, Colorado

The project consists of the installation of new landscape and irrigation. An estimated value of these improvements will not be published. The entire project area will be maintained for two full landscape seasons following the installation and date of substantial completion.

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Please provide a contact person(s) and their e-mail address for bids. All addendums and plans will be distributed to this contact person(s).

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Any questions concerning this bid shall be directed in writing to:

Owner’s Representatives: Barney Fix Barney.Fix@Merrick.com

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machine of education, it means our students don’t get the education they deserve,” Lockley said. “We’re asking our educators to sometimes do double the amount of workload that they’re doing and they’re falling off and leaving at an unprecedented rate.”

Twenty-one percent of survey respondents said they considered leaving education due to politically-motivated attacks on their curriculum or themselves.

“Especially as social studies teachers and across the board with educators, we try to present a variety of perspectives for kids so they can learn, be effective problem solvers and be critical thinkers,” said Kevin Vick, vice president of the Colorado Education Association and a teacher in Colorado Springs. “What we’re seeing on an increasing basis is

educators getting harassed over and over again for not supporting one particular viewpoint in the classroom.”

Teachers in the LGBTQ+ community reported higher levels of concern than their cisgender, heterosexual peers. According to the survey report, 85% of LGBTQ+ educators reported not being “out,” at school, and 80% reported working in a school without gender-neutral restrooms.

Additionally, 40% of LGBTQ+ educators said they had witnessed or heard about students being harassed or discriminated against, and 45% said if their school engages in equity work, they are not asked to be involved in such work.

Several education association leadership members said LGBTQ+ teachers being mistreated is an issue both for the teacher and for LGBTQ+ students, as students gain a perception of the “real world,” at school.

“It’s important to understand that these statistics of how wel -

come or unwelcome our LGBTQ educators feel at their schools provide a mirror of how our LGBTQ students feel at their school as well,” Baca-Oehlert said.

The 2022 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey also told a dismal story for LGBTQ+ children: around 20% of gay, bisexual and lesbian youth reportedly attempted suicide in the last year. The number was higher for transgender students at 26%.

“I think it also sends a message to the students in that building that if the educator isn’t accepted, what does that mean for me, as a student,” said Kasey Ellis, counselor and president of the Cherry Creek Education Association.

As American public spaces are plagued by gun violence, 67% of respondents reported feeling “very” or “somewhat” worried about a mass shooting at their school. While some politicians have proposed increasing school security and arming teachers with guns, most respondents said car-

rying guns would make them feel even less safe. What would help increase feelings of security, 39% of respondents said, is increased access to mental health resources.

While the state legislature convenes over the next several months, education association members said they hope legislators prioritize affordable housing, higher teacher’s salaries, education licensing, educator working conditions and mental health for both students and teachers.

“Though Coloradans often pride themselves on being progressive and championing inclusion, our state’s budget on education tells a different story,” Baca-Oehlert concluded.

This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs. org.

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