Health o cials warn of West Nile virus

Brighton cool to moving jail Councilors advise sheri to keep detention center in same location

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

If Adams County hopes to build a new jail and keep it in Brighton, City Councilors told Sheri Gene Clapps it would be best to keep it where it is.

BY TEDDY JACOBSEN TJACOBSEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Weeks of heavy rainfall followed by a string of hot days, has health o cials in Adams County warning residents to be aware of mosquitoes.

e weather has created perfect conditions for mosquitoes, some with the ability to transmit the potentially deadly West Nile virus.

e Adams County Health Department runs a mosquito trapping program in various parts of the county. From there, they identify mosquitoes that could carry the virus and run tests on them.

Ferah Jaura, manager of the program, said that monitoring mosquitoes in this way is the county’s primary tool for warning the public about health risks.

So far, Jaura said the county has ing the virus.

However, the virus has been found in mosquitoes in Arapahoe, Boulder, Delta, Larimer and Weld counties, according to recent tests in each county.

West Nile is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of those who are infected don’t feel sick, but about one in ve people develop a fever and other symptoms. About one in 150 people become seriously ill and may die, according to the CDC. irty-six cases have been reported to the CDC so far this year, none of them yet in Colorado. However, based on past trends, health o cials in the state believe cases will appear soon.

Last year, Colorado reported 206 total cases and 20 deaths in 2022. Of those, Adams County had 23 cases and 5 deaths, said Adams County Environmental Health Division Director Brian Hlavacek.

“We expect we will see some cases can’t predict the numbers.”

Jaura expects mosquito activity to rise towards the end of July into August. She said the time to take preventative measures is now. ere are countless ways to prevent mosquito populations from growing and spreading the virus, despite the rain this summer.

“Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water and require water to complete their life cycle,” Jaura said. “Due to the abundance of rain in Colorado, mosquito populations are ourishing.”

Arranging space

To limit mosquito harborage, Jaura said it is important to identify and clear areas where stagnant water could be present:

Remove pet dishes that can hold water from patios and decks Clean and inspect roof gutters Remove piles of debris from outdoor areas, including buckets, barrels, toys and tire swings that can hold pools

“It’s hard to nd a place to put a jail and that to me lends some bene t to nding out how to expand or rebuild on land you already own, where you wouldn’t have to go through that particular process,” Brighton Councilor Peter Padilla said during Brighton’s July 11 study session meeting. “Any site you look for something new will run into a ‘Not In My Backyard’ scenario and whoever is closest to it will challenge it.”

Claps said the county has outgrown the current Adams County Detention Facility, just north of Bridge Street on N. 19th Ave. e jail, built in 1983, is about a fourmile drive through Brighton neighborhoods from the Adams County Courthouse along Interstate 76 at Bromley Lane.

Any option, which could cost between $180 million and $500 million, would require a vote of Adams County residents.

Claps said the crowding at the current jail is keeping his sta from working with inmates to cut back on recidivism. at includes space for counseling and training, he said.

“It’s taken away some opportunities for us to help people to be able to be stable enough to be released and to help reduce the recidivism and provide services that can help them and their families,” Claps said. “So we have lost, because of interior size, lots of opportunity to program

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Farm to Market tickets on sale

Tickets for Farm to Table, a fundraising event for the Platte Valley Medical Foundation scheduled for Aug. 17 or on sale now.

e Foundation’s biennial fundraising campaign will bene t women’s health services to help women connect with the care they need throughout their adult years and to support area women who do not always prioritize their own health needs. The foundation hopes to raise $500,000 in the campaign cycle. They conduct multiple fundraising efforts annually with Farm to Table as the largest event.

Farm to Table will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 17 on the hospital campus.

Platte Valley Medical Center’s Chef Mike Anderson uses produce donated by area farmers to create a gourmet meal for about 450 guests.

The event garners so much support that it often sells out long before the date. This year, Muñoz reserved a block of tickets that are available to the public for $75 each. They are available at https:// ftt2023.cbo.io.

Commerce City Music in the Park Commerce City’s free summer concert series moves to River Run Park, 11515 S. Oswego St. from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. July 17 featuring the Brass Attack Band.

Enjoy this family-friendly event with performances from local bands and fun activities and face painting for kids. Don’t forget to grab a bite to eat from a variety of food trucks and take home a swag bag filled with information from the city, local nonprofits and service providers. Learn more at c3gov.com/MusicInThePark

Platte Valley Medical Center earns recognition for breastfeeding program

Platte Valley Medical Center is one of 45 hospitals recognized by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for e orts to promote breastfeeding and o er healthier food and beverage options through the Colorado Healthy Hospital Compact and Colorado BabyFriendly Hospital Collaborative. e initiatives are part of the state’s work to promote healthy eating and active living to reduce rates of death and disease from chronic illness among Coloradans.

Platte Valley was recognized at the Gold Level for the Healthy Hospital Compact.

Learn more about the Colorado Healthy Hospital Compact and the Colorado Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative at cdphe.colorado.gov/ colorado-healthy-hospital-compact and at BreastfeedColorado.com.

A Stroll in the Garden for CASA e Court Appointed Special Advocate program, or CASA, for the 11th Judicial District is promoting one of its major fundraisers now scheduled for September. is Garden Party will be full of delicious food and drinks, fantastic auction prizes, exciting entertainment, and more! Indulge for CASA is presented by the Kenneth & Myra Monfort Charitable Foundation.

CASA is inviting supporters to come enjoy a Stroll in the Garden at this year’s Indulge for CASA Gala from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Denver’s Balistreri Vineyards, 1946 E 66th Ave.

CASA’s mission is to provide court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children and youth from the child welfare system so every child can be safe, have a permanent home, and have the opportunity to thrive.

Work Options FREE Culinary Training Program e Adams County Human Services Department is partnering with local nonpro t Work Options to provide a free culinary training program for residents. e café is located on the third oor of HSC.

Program participants train with professional chefs over a six-week course and earn certi cations and up to $400 per month. Work Options also o ers food truck internships.

In addition to the training program, Work Options provides the Human Services Center 11860 Pecos St., Westminster, with a full menu of breakfast and lunch options including breakfast burritos, pastries, burgers, pizza, daily specials, and more in the Mountain View Café.

Learn more about the program at workoptions.org.

Brighton residents encouraged to take community survey e City of Brighton is launching e National Community Survey (NCS) through Polco NRC (National Research Center) to get resident input on a wide range of community issues ranging from crime and safety and employment opportunities to overall quality of life.

An estimated 3,000 households in Brighon should begin receiving surveys in the mail asking them to participate, and their responses will be weighted and analyzed for the survey results. Following the distribution of the mailed surveys, an online version of the same survey will be available for the rest of the community to complete in late July. More information will be sent out on the online survey when it becomes open. All residents will be able to complete the online survey by visiting www.brightonco.gov/ survey. e City of Brighton last worked with Polco to conduct a community survey in 2021. e National Community Survey allows Brighton to compare results and benchmark residents’ opinions against other communities across the country. e survey will include questions about quality of life, important characteristics of community, services provided by the City, and priorities for the future. e survey will be available online in English and Spanish. Responses will remain anonymous and personal information will be securely stored on Polco. Once results are in, they will be analyzed by Polco, then presented to City Council.

Residents with questions about the survey may contact the City of Brighton by email at communications@brightonco.gov.

GOCO $350K grant goes to the High Line Canal preservation work e grant is part of GOCO’s Land Acquisition program, which supports urban and rural landscape, waterway, and habitat protection priorities and improves access to the outdoors.

E orts to protect the High Line Canal as a regional open space picked up a $350,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado.

High Line Canal is a 71-mile, 860acre corridor provides valuable recreation access for the Denver-metro

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