Clear Creek Courant 041323

Clear

Creek County

commissioners hear updates on I-70 at Floyd Hill

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The rising sun and risen Son

Red Rocks Amphitheatre the perfect backdrop for Easter Sunrise Service

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It’s not often that a band provides a soundtrack for a spectacular Colorado sunrise.

But that’s what the Conifer-based band Blood Brothers did on April 9 when they performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre for Easter Sunrise

Service. It was standing-room-only as thousands of people packed into the amphitheater for the 76thannual nondenominational service.

is is the second year that Blood Brothers, led by Lance Swearengin, pastor at Conifer Community Church, provided music for the service. ey played traditional hymns like “Amazing Grace” and “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” along with some original material.

Hosted by the Colorado Council of Churches, the Christian Sunrise Service draws people from across the state and metro area to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Gates

opened at 4:30 a.m., and worshippers arrived early to nab seats with a view of the eastern horizon. As it got closer to 6:32 a.m., some moved out to the stairway to grab sel es and photos of the sunrise.

The band

Blood Brothers began forming in 2015 when Swearengin, vocalist and guitarist, and his friend Josh Harwood, also a guitarist, began playing together. Drummer Taylor Mead joined next, and then Troy Steinbach on keyboards, Jay Genender on the

Construction on the east portion of the I-70 at Floyd Hill project will begin in May, which will have an impact on travelers using the interstate.  Clear Creek County Commissioners held a public hearing on April 4 and discussed the approval of a 1041 permit for the Floyd Hill project. A 1041 permit allows local governments to identify, designate and regulate areas and activities of state interest through a local permitting process, according to the Colorado Department of Local A airs. e commissioners discussed approving the permit with conditions, including but not limited to water quality testing and monitoring, noise monitoring, air quality monitoring and preservation of the county welcome sign during the I-70 Floyd Hill project. ese conditions would ensure the project’s surrounding areas are not negatively a ected by the construction.  e idea behind these 1041 powers is to allow local governments to maintain control over particular development projects even where the development project has statewide impacts.

SEE I-70, P2

The sun came up up over a packed Red Rocks Amphitheatre during the 76th annual Easter Sunrise Service on April 9. PHOTO BY SARA HERTWIG

SEE EASTER, P3

e board heard updates on the project, including construction and completion timelines outlined below.

East Section

Final design: March 2023

Begin construction: May 2023

Substantial completion: Fall 2025 e plan:

• Construct a third travel lane on westbound I-70 from the top of Floyd Hill to connect with the existing Westbound Mountain Express Lane (which currently starts at the Veterans Memorial Tunnels). e new lane will be a tolled Express Lane, the existing two will remain free;

• Install wildlife fencing on the north and south sides of I-70 between Exit 247 and Soda Creek Road; and

• Construct an eastbound I-70 climbing lane for heavy commercial or slow-moving vehicles from a new US 6 ramp to eastbound I-70 from the bottom of Floyd Hill to the Hyland Hills/Floyd Hill interchange at Homestead Road at the top of Floyd Hill.

Central Section

Final design: Fall 2023

Begin construction: Oct. 2023

Substantial completion: Fall 2024

e plan:

• Continue the express lane/third travel lane on westbound I-70;

• Replace the bridges at the bottom of Floyd Hill with new structures and alignment to improve safety and sight distance;

• Flatten curves on I-70 to improve safety and achieve a 55 miles per hour (MPH) design speed;

• Construct a new frontage road connection between the US 6 and Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway interchanges;

• Relocate the US 6/I-70 on- and o -ramps to the Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway interchange (via the new frontage road connection);

• Construct a new on-ramp to eastbound I-70 from the bottom of Floyd Hill/US 6, which will connect to the new eastbound I-70 climbing lane for heavy commercial or slow-moving vehicles;

• Reconstruct the Clear Creek Greenway trail from the bottom of Floyd Hill to County Road 314; and

• Realign and restore portions of Clear Creek.

West Section

Final design: Sept. 2023

Begin construction: Oct. 2023

Substantial completion: Fall 2026  e plan:

• Continue the third travel lane on westbound I-70 through the Veterans Memorial Tunnels to Exit 241;

• Flatten I-70 curves to improve safety and achieve a 55 MPH design speed;

• Rebuild the bridges over Clear Creek, just west of Hidden Valley;

• Resurface/reconstruct the Clear Creek Greenway trail from the Hidden Valley interchange to the Veterans Memorial Tunnels; and

• Install a noise wall east of Idaho Springs Exit 241

A second part of the central section is also planned to be designed by April 2024 and have substantial construction completed by the end of 2027.

Weather Observations for Georgetown, Colorado

Week of April 3, 2023

Nurture Your Inner Writer

at Workshops with English Faculty from Red Rocks Community College

Poetry: April 22, 2023

1:00pm–4:00pm

Lakewood Campus Room 1160

Write poems that leave a mark! Learn to explain less and transfer emotion and experience to the reader. All levels welcome.

Fiction: May 6, 2023

1:00pm–4:00pm

Lakewood Campus Room 1160

Write short ction that accelerates plot and character development while connecting with readers. All levels welcome.

$25

for each 3-hour workshop

Register Here: https://bit.ly/3R9NzRu

Questions? sandra.sajbel@rrcc.edu

Weather Observations for Georgetown, Colorado

Week of April 3, 2023

A local National Weather Service volunteer observer makes temperature and precipitation observations each day at about 8 a.m. at the Georgetown Weather Station. Wind observations are made at Georgetown Lake. “Max” and “Min” temperatures are from digital displays of a “MMTS” (“Maximum/Minimum Temperature System”); “Mean daily” temperature is the calculated average of the max and min. “Total Precipitation” is inches of rainfall plus melted snow. “Snowfall” is inches of snow that accumulated during the preceding 24 hours. T = Trace of precipitation. NR = Not Reported. “Peak wind gust at Georgetown Lake” is the velocity in miles per hour and the time of the maximum wind gust that occurred during the 24 hours preceding the observation time. Historic data are based on the period of record for which statistical data have been compiled (about 54 years within the period 1893-2022). Any weather records noted are based on a comparison of the observed value with the historical data set.

A local National Weather Service volunteer observer makes temperature and precipitation observations each day at about 8 a.m. at the Georgetown Weather Station. Wind observations are made at Georgetown Lake. “Max” and “Min” temperatures are from digital displays of a “MMTS” (“Maximum/Minimum Temperature System”); “Mean daily” temperature is the calculated average of the max and min. “Total Precipitation” is inches of rainfall plus melted snow. “Snowfall” is inches of snow that accumulated during the preceding 24 hours. T = Trace of precipitation. NR = Not Reported. “Peak wind gust at Georgetown Lake” is the velocity in miles per hour and the time of the maximum wind gust that occurred during the 24 hours preceding the observation time. Historic data are based on the period of record for which statistical data have been compiled (about 54 years within the period 1893-2022). Any weather records noted are based on a comparison of the observed value with the historical data set.

Day and date of observation (2023)

EASTER

ddle and Bob Brown on bass guitar. en vocalists Suzy Nelson and Sarah Bauer, who also has her own band, the Sarah Bauer Band, joined in.

Performing on the Red Rocks Amphitheatre stage is a dream come true for the musicians.

“It’s on the bucket list for most musicians,” Steinbach added.

Bauer said when she went to a concert at Red Rocks when she was 7, she knew she wanted to perform on that stage.

Swearengin said playing this Easter gig has been a huge blessing for both his calling as a pastor and his lifelong enjoyment of music.

is year, three of the band members’ daughters joined on stage: Conifer High School freshmen Mattie Brown and Lily Harwood, and West Je erson Middle School eighthgrader Megan Swearengin. Megan explained that the three got to perform thanks to a pinky promise. Dad Lance promised the girls could sing with Blood Brothers if they played the Sunrise Service a second time.

While attending Sunrise Service is pretty special, performing at Red Rocks is even more special, according to the girls.

“You can see the sun rise every day, but performing at Red Rocks is amazing,” Lily said.

e band got its name when Harwood sent Swearengin a song called “Blood Brothers,” and Swearengin thought it would be a great name for

a band. In 2022, when the Colorado Council of Churches asked for videos of bands interested in providing music for Sunrise Service, Swearengin took a chance and sent one in. e band was selected and has returned for its encore performance.

The attendees

Young and old attended Sunrise Service, all agreeing that Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a special place with beautiful views. Couple that with the picture-perfect sunrise and the 40-degree weather, and the service was a superb event.

Kevin and Rebecca Moots traveled from Parker to Morrison to attend the service with their children for the rst time.

“We are very blessed to be here,” Rebecca said. “It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Kristen and Matt Maloney of Idaho Springs brought their sons Luke, 7, and Gram, 3, who were wide awake as they waited for the service to begin. is was also their rst time attending the service.

Don and Sarah, who live in Morrison, attend Sunrise Service occasionally, and this year the early service close to home was helping since they were hosting Easter dinner for family.

“ is is unique,” Don said. “ is is a one-of-a-kind experience.”

Sarah added: “We are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus and the joy of the day.”

Hugh Morgan of Windsor and Stacey Banks of Golden also attended for the rst time.

Lance Swearengin, pastor at Conifer Community Church, sings with his band Blood Brothers during Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks.

PHOTO BY SARA HERTWIG

More than 300,000 Coloradans could soon lose Medicaid coverage

BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN

Roughly one out of every 18 Coloradans could nd themselves looking for new health care coverage over the coming year, after the end of a federal pandemic-era rule means that more than 300,000 people are likely set to lose Medicaid bene ts.

e insurance turmoil — the result of the end of the o cial federal public health emergency for COVID-19 — represents the largest transition in health coverage since the A ordable Care Act went into place 10 years ago.

“ e end of the public health emergency is a pivotal moment for Coloradans,” Adam Fox, the deputy director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, said at a news conference earlier this year. Medicaid is the joint state and federal government health insurance program for people with low income. In Colorado, the program is known as Health First Colorado. To qualify, households must make 138% of the federal poverty level or below — about $20,000 a

year for a single person or $40,000 for a family of four. Children and pregnant people in families who make slightly more could qualify for a related program called the Child Health Plan Plus, or CHP+.

People on Medicaid typically must go through eligibility reevaluations to make sure they still qualify. But the federal government paused those redeterminations during the height of the COVID pandemic. at grew Colorado’s Medicaid rolls to roughly 1.7 million people, or more than one out of every four people in the state.

Now that the public health emergency is coming to an end, Medicaid o cials in Colorado will again start doing the eligibility reevaluations. Kim Bimestefer, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which administers Medicaid in the state, said her department currently estimates there are 325,000 people who are currently covered by Medicaid who will no longer be eligible.

e department and a bunch of other state agencies and health care organizations are now focused on

making sure those folks maintain coverage by connecting them to other options.

“Everybody is working together in a collaborative, collective, meaningful way to help keep Coloradans covered,” Bimestefer said. “One of the most important things we can do is make sure people have a ordable access to the care they need.”

e disenrollments won’t happen all at once. Instead, it will be a gradual process playing out over the next year.

e state began sending renewal notices to the rst wave of Medicaid members last month. Once people receive their renewal notices, they will have about 60 days to complete the paperwork before their renewal deadlines. at means the rst disenrollments will start happening in May.

e process will continue monthly through April 2024 until everyone in the program has had an eligibility redetermination.

Some people — about a third of those covered by Medicaid, Bimestefer said — will be automatically renewed and won’t have to take any further action. ose folks

will be noti ed of their auto-renewal about two months before their renewal date.

People who are no longer eligible for Medicaid will need to nd other coverage options. For most, that will mean buying a private health insurance plan or checking with their workplace to see if they are eligible for employer-sponsored coverage.

e most important thing for Medicaid members to do now is to update their contact information with the program. at will ensure that they receive the renewal paperwork — and also make sure that everyone who is still eligible for Medicaid remains covered.

“People need to act,” said Patrick Gordon, the CEO of insurance company Rocky Mountain Health Plans. “Please don’t wait.”

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.

Colorado collecting 2-cent-per-gallon gas

Total at 3 cents

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado began collecting a 2-cent-per-gallon fee on gasoline purchases on April 1.

Revenue from the fee, which increases to 3 cents per gallon on July 1, will go toward addressing the state’s multibillion-dollar transportation project backlog. e charge was imposed through a bill passed by the legislature in 2021 that also added fees on deliveries, rideshare rides and electric vehicles.

e gas fee was originally supposed to begin in July 2022, but the legislature delayed the start until April 1, at a cost of $45 million, because of high gas prices. A year ago, the average cost of a gallon of regular gas in Colorado was $3.97. is week, it was hovering around $3.47.

Fuel prices reached an all-time high in Colorado in June 2022, when a gallon of regular gasoline averaged $4.92 and diesel was at $5.54 a gallon, according to AAA.

e gas fee is set to increase gradually by 1 cent per year until it reaches 8 cents per gallon in July 2028. In

Nominations for the 2022 Officer and Citizen of the Year for the Lyle Wohlers’ Law Enforcement Award

Organizers of the annual Lyle Wohlers’ Law Enforcement Luncheon and Awards Ceremony are soliciting nominations for the 2022 Officer and Citizen of the Year. The annual event will be hosted by the Empire and Georgetown Police Departments. Law Enforcement included in this luncheon are Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Department, Colorado State Patrol, Empire Police, Georgetown Police, and Idaho Springs Police which commemorates Colorado State Trooper Lyle Wohlers who was killed in the line of duty near Georgetown in 1992.

An interdepartmental awards committee seeks to identify those officers who serve the citizens and visitors within greater Clear Creek County, and particularly that member of the law enforcement community who has shown exemplary service during 2022. The committee will also select the 2022 Citizen of the Year who supports area law enforcement and public safety or has engaged in an extraordinary feat to safeguard another.

Nominations must be received by 5:00 PM, Monday April 24, 2023. Nomination forms may be found at the following locations: Idaho Springs Police Department, Idaho Springs City Hall, Empire Town Hall, Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Department, Georgetown Town Hall. To request nomination forms, please email nominations@empirecolorado.us or call EPD at 303-569-2281.

July 2032, the fee will be adjusted annually based on in ation.

Other fees imposed by the bill include:

• A 27-cent fee on deliveries

• A 30-cent fee on rideshares

• A 4-cent-per-gallon fee on diesel fuel. Like the gas fee, the diesel fee increases annually — but by 2 cents — until it reaches 16 cents in 2028.

e fuel and road-usage fees are the subject of a lawsuit led in Denver District Court by conservatives who argue the charges were illegally imposed. Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights requires that voters approve all tax increases, but fees can

be imposed by the legislature as long as the revenue goes to a set purpose. Colorado also collects a 22-cent tax on each gallon of gas sold. e state’s gas tax is among the lowest in the country.

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.

Denver seeks input from LGBTQ+ community

BY STAFF REPORT

Denver’s LGBTQ Commission and e Center on Colfax, a nonpro t organization and community center located at 1301 E. Colfax Ave. that serves the Rocky Mountain region’s LGBTQ+ community, is seeking input to learn about challenges the LGBTQ+ faces. e survey is geared toward LGBTQ+ people who are 18 years or older and live and/or work in the Denver metro area. e questions focus on a variety of issues: policing and public safety, mental health and wellbeing, housing, civil rights and engagement, and nancial wellbeing.

e Denver LGBTQ Commission

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Meet Kiwi

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Hello everyone, my name is Kiwi! I’m a two-year-old boxer-pitbull mix, and I’m around 40 pounds.

I’ve only ever lived at the shelter; I’ve been at Charlie’s Place for a year and a half now. My friends at the shelter think that maybe I got overlooked due to bad timing. ere were a lot of adoptions at the beginning of the pandemic, and then they slowed down. During my time at the shelter, I started to get anxious and

will use the survey responses to develop recommendations for the next mayoral o ce for ways the city can advance social, economic and political equity for the LGBTQ+ community, according to a news release.

It is expected that the survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and is anonymous. e survey can be accessed at surveymonkey.com/r/lgbtqcommsurvey. To learn more about the Denver LGBTQ Commission, which is part of the Denver Agency for Human Rights & Community Partnerships, visit tinyurl.com/Denver-LGBTQCommission. To learn more about e Center on Colfax, visit lgbtqcolorado.org.

now I feel fearful and reactive when I meet new people.

Luckily, I just nished my twoweek “friends for life” training in Evergreen! My friends said I did well and made progress, but my future humans will need to be patient and committed to helping me work through my behaviors.

Once I warm up to you, I’ve been described as a “goofball” who just wants to snuggle. I walk great on a leash and get along well with other dogs. I love hiking with other dogs!

My friends at the shelter really want to help me nd a foster or potential adopter who will give me a chance to know a home outside of

some ongoing “friends for life” training sessions, and recommend I go home for a trial period with my new

ink we could be a match? Call the shelter at (303) 679-2477 to come meet me.

Kiwi has spent his whole life in the shelter.

COURTESY OF CHARLIE’S PLACE ANIMAL SHELTER

Addressing issues through dialogue

New grassroots movement gets the conversation started between Black and Jewish people

BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

It seems so long ago, but there was a time that Jewish people and Black people banded together to help push the nation’s civil rights agenda across the nish line.

But that was in the 1960s. Today, the two groups barely seem to know each other and relations are hindered by mistrust, misunderstanding and anger from both communities. It comes during a period of white supremacists increasing attacks — physical and through social media — against both groups.

Still, if Denver’s Caren Press has her way, the two groups gradually will move closer via the organization she recently formed, called “ e Denver Dialogue: A Conversation

Between Denver Blacks and Jews.”

Press was spurred to action after hearing the anti-Semitic attacks by Kanye West a few months ago.

After a preliminary meeting a few months ago at a Montbello barber shop, the second gathering drew more than 100 people to George Washington High School’s library on March 15.

e group conducted a frank talk about the tensions between the two communities and how to close that gap.

“We want to address some of the issues between the two groups and see if there is a way both can work together to combat white supremacy,” said Press, a retired attorney.

“ is grassroots movement is not controlled by any church, synagogue, school district or advocacy group. It’s our communities coming together with no agenda other than understanding, reconciliation and combining to ght the white nationalists that want to destroy us both.”

White nationalist groups send out a steady stream of fake news lies, and anti-Semitic and racist material and tropes.

“ is group ( e Denver Dialogue) would like to begin a dialogue and see if the relationship can be re-

said.

e March 15 event was a breakthrough, and some attendees suggested not only more gatherings, but also some with a social bent, such as a barbecue. ere was a frankness, as some Jewish attendees said they didn’t know any Black people, and some Black attendees said the same about Jews.

e gathering not only enabled people to learn about others, but also helped debunk some of the supremacists’ messages.

Israel’s relations with Palestine was a hot topic on March 15 — and some of the Black attendees were interested to learn that not all Jews felt the same way about Israel’s actions. Jews in attendance learned that some Black people were horri ed by what West had to say.

at can help open some doors.

“Anti-Semitism is a real thing,” said Evan Weissman, an activist with Warm Cookies of the Revolution and one of the two guest speakers on March 15. “For a lot of White Jews in the Denver area, it’s not something that’s felt in the same ways as systemic institutional prejudice is. Speaking for White Jewish folk: We need to be involved in racial justice e orts all the time, not just when it a ects Jews in a more direct way.”

eo Wilson, a Black man who is the executive director and lead facilitator with ShopTalk Live Inc., was the event’s other speaker.

Pet Adoptions Meet PRESLEY!

This 8 month old pretty tabby teenager is the last of her litter. As the shy one, she was overlooked while her siblings went home. She has flourished in her foster home, finally coming into her own as a playful and affectionate girl. Check out Presley and all of our adoptables at imhs.org

“I don’t operate from a hopeful frame,” he said. “ is is what is necessary and this is in front of me. It’s necessary to have this conversation, to build this bridge. We can’t move forward unless we understand that this is what we have in common.”

Wilson has been involved in improving relations between African immigrants and Black Americans.

In summary, Press said, “It’s a waste to ght amongst ourselves. We’re putting energy into not trusting others. ere are people that want to annihilate both. It’s dumb; we should be helping each other. We should be understanding each other and reconciling.”

To learn more about e Denver Dialogue, contact Caren Press at carenpress@gmail.com.

A grassroots conversation called The Denver Dialogue: A Conversation Between Denver Blacks and Jews event drew a crowd of at least 125 community members on March 15.

PHOTOS BY DAHLIA LINKOW

Theo Wilson, an author and social justice leader, listens to Evan Weissman, an artist and social activist, speak on March 15. The two participated in The Denver Dialogue: A Conversation Between Denver Blacks and Jews event on March 15.

Evan Weissman, an artist and social activist, speaks at The Denver Dialogue: A Conversation Between Denver Blacks and Jews event on March 15.

Universities may admit more out-of-state students

Cap would increase under proposed law

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

In exchange for o ering nancial aid to more in-state students, Colorado universities soon could be allowed to admit more students from out of state who pay almost twice as much in tuition.

Universities such as the University of Colorado Boulder have been allowed to admit two out-of-state students for every student they admit who participates in the Colorado Scholars Program. e number of students who can be double-counted has been capped under current law to 8% of in-state students in the incoming freshman class.

House Bill 96, which is close to becoming law, would raise that cap to 15% of in-state freshmen in the program. at higher cap would create an incentive to enroll more Colorado Scholars, who can get $2,500 a year or more in merit aid, so that universities can also enroll more high-paying, out-of-state students.

State o cials and others want Colorado colleges and universities to bene t Colorado students as much as possible, since they get taxpayer support. But lawmakers have cut state funding for schools over the years while allowing tuition hikes. at has led schools to look toward out-of-state students to bring in more revenue.

At the same time, the rising tuition has made some students rethink whether universities, especially the state’s agship, are worth the nancial burden, or if they can nd a better deal elsewhere.

e bill would likely have the biggest impact on the University of Colorado Boulder, which backs the proposal. State law requires that an average of no more than 45% of incoming freshmen at public universities come from out of state, and CU Boulder is near that limit.

University of Colorado System o cials say they would use the increased money from enrolling more out-of-state students to o er Coloradans more merit- and need-based scholarships, and to become more competitive when recruiting in-state students — especially with a smaller

pool of college-aged students.

School o cials said the university accepts every quali ed Colorado applicant. But many Colorado students never end up on campus, and the school is able to consistently enroll only about 80% of Colorado students who were accepted. Last year, however, was an outlier, with the school enrolling 92% of all Colorado students who were accepted.

Colorado funds its public higher ed institutions at some of the lowest rates in the nation, leading colleges to raise tuition and recruit more outof-state students who can pay more. Meanwhile, Colorado families carry high tuition burdens compared to other states.

Colorado students pay about $30,000 a year in tuition. Out-ofstate students pay about $57,000.

Across all classes, CU Boulder provides $15.5 million in merit aid for about 4,200 students, school o cials said in a statement. It also supports about 1,700 students through a need-based program that pays for a student’s share of tuition.

O cials at the school said enrolling more out-of-state students is a way to sustain and increase that aid.

University of Colorado System spokesman Ken McConnellogue said in a statement the Boulder campus’ primary focus remains on recruiting, retaining, and graduating Colorado students.

“We believe this bill will increase a ordability and access for those students while also enhancing our ability to keep Colorado’s top students in the state,” he said.

Colorado isn’t the only agship school that’s considered how to weigh in-state student enrollment versus out-of-state enrollment, according to Tom Harnisch, State Higher Education Executive O cers Association vice president for government relations.

Because out-of-state students pay higher tuition, universities around the country have lobbied to lift enrollment caps on them as states’ overall spending on higher education has declined in recent years, he said. is year, for instance, North Carolina increased how many outof-state students its universities can admit.

Similar to what the Colorado bill proposes, some schools have increased merit aid while also

increasing the overall number of out-of-state students on campus, he said. e change doesn’t mean there are fewer in-state students, Harnisch added, just a shift in the share of students not from the state.

e bill has passed the House and Senate and needs approval from Gov. Jared Polis. It is sponsored by state Sen. Dylan Roberts, a Democrat from Avon, Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, a Monument Republican, and state Reps. Judy Amabile, a Boulder Democrat, and Matt Soper, a Delta Republican.

e bill initially raised eyebrows among some state leaders.

Colorado Department of Higher Education Executive Director Angie Paccione said in February that she didn’t want to see schools become predominantly out-of-state student serving.

But a department spokeswoman said Paccione now believes CU Boulder has demonstrated that all eligible in-state students are accepted at the school — and that accepting eligible resident students is a priority. Paccione no longer has concerns about the legislation.

e bill will also require schools to report how many out-of-state and in-state students schools enroll before the double count occurs, how

schools use revenue for the purpose of aid, and where students that qualify for aid come from in the state. Colorado needs more homegrown talent from its universities, especially because that state has large gaps when it comes to who gets a degree, said Katie Zaback of Colorado Succeeds, which brings together business leaders to advocate for education.

Zaback, the organization’s vice president of policy, said a priority for Colorado Succeeds is to examine what solutions there are to get more Colorado students access to a high-quality education, such as at CU Boulder.

CU Boulder enrolls a group of students that aren’t representative of the state’s high school graduates, she said. And she worries the bill, if it’s enacted, would send a message that Colorado’s best and brightest can only be educated if the state recruits more out-of-state students.

“I wonder if that’s true,” Zaback said. “I wonder what the overall equity implications are.”

is story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters

More financial aid to in-state students could let Colorado universities admit more higher-paying students from out of state. SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

A dancing bird finally gets some protection

What I remember most about that dark early morning of crouching on the prairie is the rhythmic sound of pounding. It was so loud I wondered if someone had put a microphone near the skinny legs of the dozen birds dancing on the turf. As the sun rose above the horizon in southeastern New Mexico, the male lesser prairie chickens continued their ritual performance, each hoping to entice a female.

ey strutted, leaped in the air with feathers spread, and bowed, but the greatest thrill was watching them pu up the garish, red-orange air sacs on either side of their necks.

Concealed in a blind, we watched late into the morning that spring of 1999, until the last birds — members of a rapidly vanishing species —  ew o .

I recalled that wonderful day recently, because in late March, after countless lawsuits and scienti c opinions, the lesser prairie chicken in New Mexico, Colorado and eastwards nally got what it so desperately needs — federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.

e designation, however, comes 25 long years after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  rst determined that this magical dancing bird could go the way of the passenger pigeon.

WRITERS ON THE RANGE

dangered Species Act protection for the lesser prairie chicken has mainly been about oil and gas development. Meaningful protection of this bird, whose habitat covers millions of acres across New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma, would mean restraint from the oil and gas and agricultural industries. Pump jacks and plows are the greatest threats to prairie chicken survival.

John Horning

In June 1988, the Service did something seemingly mundane, though it had profound consequences. It relegated the lesser prairie chicken to what might be called endangered species purgatory — making its protection status “warranted but precluded” under the Endangered Species Act. Precluded apparently meant, “We should list the birds but nd it impossible to do that.”

For decades, the Fish and Wildlife Service, under pressure from opponents in Congress and powerful industries, has used this designation to delay Endangered Species Act protections for hundreds of species that need an ecological safety net, including the lesser prairie chicken.  e result since 1998 has been predictable: e bird’s numbers have plummeted. In many parts of the West, it has disappeared entirely. Lesser prairie chickens now number about 30,000, less than 2% of what they were in the 19th century when the birds ourished in the hundreds of thousands.

Controversy around granting En-

Kansas Republicans, namely Sen. Roger Marshall and Rep. Tracy Mann, have already pressured the Fish and Wildlife Service to delay the date that the listing takes e ect. Texas has also led a lawsuit to block the listing, and Kansas and Oklahoma are threatening to sue. e long struggle to keep the birds alive is far from over.

Fifty years ago, Congress enacted the Endangered Species Act to recognize the importance of endangered and threatened species, citing their “esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational and scienti c value to the Nation and its people.” e Act’s vision was remarkable, and Americans are fortunate that the law fought for a half-century ago continues to be fought for today.

I am proud that our nation passed this powerful law to protect the diversity of life. But for our nation’s

laws to really mean something, they must be enforced, even when — especially when — opponents are among the most economically and politically powerful industries.

You’d think that identifying a species as “endangered” meant that there was still time to save it. But the prairie chicken, along with its high-pro le distant cousin, the sage grouse, is running out of time. e birds need lots of open space, and the new designation only puts some constraints on existing oil and gas operations, while limiting new development.

Later this spring, I intend to return to the prairies near the town of Milnesand, New Mexico, this time with my nine-year-old twins in tow. I can only hope that the birds are still dancing. I also hope that my boys have the opportunity to watch and wonder about why these birds return to woo females at the same place each spring, and what we, as a society, must do to ensure that the dance continues.

John Horning is a contributor to Writers on the Range, an independent nonpro t dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He is the executive director of WildEarth Guardians and lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Spring is coming - join us as a community scientist

After the cold and wet winter we’ve been experiencing in Denver, I know everyone is looking forward to spring. As the days grow longer and warmer, we all start looking for the telltale signs that spring is arriving — birds chirping, trees lea ng out, lilac buds, bulbs emerging out of the damp soil. As you observe nature around you, why not start taking pictures, recording your observations and contributing to large projects as a community scientist? April is the perfect month to join community science e orts across the globe.

At the Denver Botanic Gardens, we seek to connect people with plants. Our scientists are particularly interested in studying patterns and processes of biodiversity. One way we do this is through community science (also known as citizen science) initiatives such as the Denver EcoFlora project. ese initiatives

Contact Us: 1630 Miner St., Idaho Springs, CO 80452 - 303-566-4100

Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110

Phone: 303-566-4100

Web: ClearCreekCourant.com

To subscribe call 303-566-4100

GUEST COLUMN

Jennifer Neale

allow participants to connect with plants by making observations of biodiversity patterns in their environment. EcoFlora is based on the traditional ora concept, a list or inventory of plants in a given area or period of time. e eco in EcoFlora represents going beyond a traditional ora and encompassing the study of urban ecosystems. We run the Denver EcoFlora project on the iNaturalist platform where we engage the community in documenting plants living in the Denver metro area. Our goal is to document all plants living in the seven county metro area (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broom eld, Denver, Douglas and Je erson counties) using the iNaturalist app. Why? You may ask. Well, understanding the ora of an area is the best way to protect it.

As part of the EcoFlora project, we send out monthly challenges called

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

EcoQuests to engage participants in documenting a speci c species, group of plants or theme.

April’s EcoQuest has two parts: the rst is focused on some of the rst owers to emerge in spring, the pasque owers (Pulsatilla nutalliana). en, starting April 28, a global competition begins with the start of the City Nature Challenge - a challenge to document the most biodiversity within cities. Using the iNaturalist app, you can make observations of any wild organism: plant, bird, insect, fungi. Observations made between April 28 and May 1 count towards the competition. Last year, we had nearly 400 participants observe more than 600 species. Our goal is to surpass those numbers this year. And, if the wet winter unfolds into a sunny spring, we just might be able to do it. Many local partners are organizing hikes or bioblitzes during the City Nature Challenge. Check our website (botanicgardens.org/

science-research/citizen-scienceprograms/city-nature-challenge) for details on events and how to register.

You can contribute to scienti c studies by downloading the iNaturalist app and using it to take photos of the nature around you. We encourage you to get outside, feel the sun on your face and contribute to science while you’re out there.

Denver Botanic Gardens Citizen Science projects: botanicgardens. org/science-research/citizen-science-programs

Denver EcoFlora project: inaturalist.org/projects/denver-eco oraproject

Denver Botanic Gardens City Nature Challenge information: Denver-Boulder Metro City Nature Challenge: https://www.inaturalist. org/projects/city-nature-challenge2023-denver-boulder-metro

Jennifer Neale is the director of research and conservation for the Denver Botanic Gardens

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Courant.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please Include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

BY SHANNON MULLANE THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado’s snow season is nearing its typical peak with above-average snowpack, and water o cials are beginning to worry about ooding and gauging potential reservoir releases. But in some places, the snow just keeps coming.

Each year, April marks the point in the season when the snowpack starts to reach its peak as temperatures warm and spring runo begins. It’s also an important point for water o cials, water users and even emergency managers: How high the snow piles up is a key indicator of water supply for the next year, but how fast it melts can have big impacts on ooding and seasonal irrigation.

“We do anticipate high water,” said Sgt. Todd Wheeler, emergency management coordinator for Mo at County in northwestern Colorado. “Will it be higher than normal? at remains to be seen.”

In the Colorado River Basin, which supplies water to 40 million people spread across seven Western states and 30 Native American tribes, the snowpack was above average as it reached its seasonal peak.

In the Upper Colorado Region, which includes Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah, the snowpack usually peaks around April 8, and on ursday, it was about 160% of the median from 1991 to 2020, according to Natural Resources Conservation Service data. It was even nearing the highest snowpack recorded since 1986.

e Lower Colorado Region, which includes Arizona, California and Nevada, was at 446% of the historical median as of ursday.

e above-average snow is welcome news for the parched basin, which is facing its worst drought in 1,200 years. However the basin’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, will need to see this kind of snowfall for multiple years to recover from the impacts of pro-

longed drought and overuse, experts say. e water levels at Lake Mead are even projected to fall further this year, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.

“While this year has been really good news in terms of above-average snowpack and above-average stream ows into Lake Powell over the summer, it’s not enough to totally re ll those reservoirs or even get them back to normal,” said Peter Goble, a climatologist with the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University.

e seasonal peak refers to the snow-water equivalent — the amount of liquid water in snow — in the snowpack. e peaks vary regionally and year to year, and the data can be sparse for elevations higher than 11,000 feet and lower than 9,000 because of the distribution of data collection stations, called SNOTEL sites, Goble said.

In Colorado, the snowpack has already passed its historical peak in southern basins, including the Upper Rio Grande, Arkansas and the combined San Miguel-DoloresAnimas-San Juan basin. Northern basins, like the Yampa-White, Gunnison, Colorado main stem, North Platte and South Platte, will peak this weekend or later this month. at means more winter storms might roll through — and help add to the water supply — but they will balance out with spring runo as temperatures warm.

“ at’s not to say that the moisture that falls after peak snowpack isn’t important,” Goble said. “In fact, it is really important, what happens in late April and May, in terms of the overall runo that we get. But I think you’ll probably see our numbers peak quite soon here.”

Western Slope river basins, which feed the Colorado River, were all reporting above-average snowpack Wednesday. e snowpack in the Upper Rio Grande basin, which usually peaks April 2, was at 135% of the historical median, according to SNOTEL data April 5.

“ is is a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather and celebrate Christ’s resurrection,” Banks said.

Morgan added that the turnout was impressive.

Regis Jesuit High School stu-

dents Rosary Tambunan and Katie Nelson brought exchange student Ruby Hascka of Switzerland to see the sun rise at Red Rocks, not realizing that thousands would be joining them to witness the sight at the service.

“ is is a gift from God,” Tambunan said. “It’s a blessing in disguise.”

Jessica Gray of Littleton stopped on a stairway to admire the view,

noting that the last time she went to Sunrise Service was about 25 years ago.

“It’s great to be here with the community and take in the beauty of God’s creation,” Gray said.

Easter is one of Gray’s favorite holidays because it’s about love and forgiveness, noting that the high attendance at the service showed people’s belief in God and the meaning of Easter.

The service

Adrian Miller, who welcomed attendees to the service, told the crowd that it was easy to see that they loved the Lord because they came out even with a chill in the air. He was impressed that by applause, many said this was their rst time at Sunrise Service. e Colorado Council of Church-

SEE EASTER, P11

From left, Lily Harwood, Megan Swearengin, Mattie Brown and Sarah Bauer sing during the 76th annual Red Rocks Easter Sunday Service. PHOTOS BY SARA HERTWIG

Josh Harwood plays the guitar on stage at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with Conifer band Blood Brothers during the annual Easter Sunrise Service.

es, which sponsors the service, is comprised of 13 Christian denominations representing 800 churches.

e Rev. Tamara Boynton said she had a beautiful view from the stage as she looked at all the faces in the crowd.

“No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here,” she told them, calling Red Rocks Amphitheatre an apt location for the service. She told

them to breathe in the area’s beauty and breathe out the distractions in their hearts; to breathe in unconditional love and breathe out others who sway them from that love; to breathe in the wonders of the risen Christ and breathe out the darkness of the tomb.

Blood Brothers sang an original song, “Nothing but the Blood,” which Swearengin told the crowd talked about the tension between the trouble in people’s lives and the celebration of Easter.

“We need to embrace (both) the hurt and the hope from our faith in Christ’s resurrection,” he said.

The glow of the sun peeks over the stage and onto the crowd gathered at Easter Sunday Sunrise Service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

PHOTOS BY SARA HERTWIG

Josh Harwood does a sound check before Blood Brothers plays the 76th annual Red Rocks Easter Sunday Service.

Shelly Bowman with Aphrodites Doves holds one of the doves released at the end of Sunrise Service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Warm Hearts Warm Babies serves hospitals, agencies across Colorado

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Surrounded by colorful fabric patterns, handmade baby items and frequent laughter, volunteers of the Warm Hearts Warm Babies nonpro t went to work on a Friday morning to put together layettes for organizations who need them.

e nonpro t has a list of roughly 40 agencies it delivers items to throughout Colorado, said Kathleen Williams, the nonpro t’s grant coordinator. e list includes the Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Platte Valley Medical Center and Denver Medical Center.

“Warm Hearts is totally made up of volunteers,” said Sandi Powis, president of the board of directors. “Everyone’s volunteering with their heart and skills to make things for newborn (babies), preemies to help them get a good start in this world.”

Volunteers sew, knit, crochet and quilt items such as bibs, burp pads, jackets, hats and blankets. e items are assembled into a layette, which is a collection of clothing and accessories for newborn infants.

Each layette contains a quilt, two receiving blankets, bibs, burp pads, clothing and a goodie bag containing items such as a bottle, some diapers and a small toy. ese items are delivered in a handmade tote bag.

“All these items are made with love,” Powis said. “We don’t connect to the individuals personally. We deliver the layettes to hospitals, birthing centers, food banks — anyone that can help us help the newborn.”

A number of the mothers who receive these items are experiencing homelessness, sometimes living in shelters or in their cars, Williams said.

e nonpro t also o ers items for the neonatal intensive care units at hospitals in Colorado, such as positioning roles that are used to help support the infants.

“We also provide clothing for babies that don’t survive, from tiny little babies to full-term babies,” Williams said. “We have clothing for them that we hand out at the hospitals.”

Included in those burial layettes is a cloth-made envelope intended for the parents to hold important items and memories, Powis said.

“It’s sad, but it’s so important,” Powis said. “And to know that a mom wouldn’t have to go out, or send her mom or her sister to go out and nd things for her precious one that has passed — that it can be given to them and that’s not a worry for them.”

How it began

e nonpro t’s origin dates back to 1996, when a woman named Victoria Swain gave birth to a stillborn infant, according to the nonpro t’s website. e hospital she was at could not provide a blanket or clothes for her infant, prompt-

ing Swain to look into how she could help donate these types of items.

After recruiting some volunteers and spending a few years working through a di erent organization called Newborns in Need, in 2000, Swain and the other board members decided to create their own nonpro t: Warm Hearts Warm Babies.

Powis estimated the nonpro t currently has about 200 volunteers and 12 work groups throughout the state including in Arvada, Brighton, Littleton and ornton.

Powis is part of the work group in Conifer, where she lives. She joined the organization roughly six years ago.

“I’ve been doing things for babies for many years, donating to other groups, but they were all missing something. ere was no social connection with anyone else making things,” Powis said. “I found that they had a local organization up here in Conifer and it was like, that’s it — that’s one I can link up with. I can meet people right here in our community.”

Williams learned about the nonpro t through a quilt show, as representatives of the organization had a table at the event. Living in Aurora at the time, she initially joined the Aurora group. Since then, she has moved to Colorado Springs

SEE IN NEED, P13

CIRCLE PHOTO: Eleanor Morris, left, smiles alongside her grandmother, Glenda Bredeson, on March 17 at The Baby House in Arvada.

TOP RIGHT: Signs hanging in the Warm Hearts Warm Babies’ building, called The Baby House, in Arvada on March 17.

Information pamphlets within Warm Hearts Warm Babies’ building in Arvada on March 17.

PHOTOS BY TAYLER SHAW

Sandi Powis, president of the board of directors

IN NEED

FROM PAGE 12

and joined the local work group there.  e importance of the nonpro t’s work resonated with Williams after an interaction she had with a stranger a number of years ago, she said.

“I was still up in Aurora, out buying onesies and things for our (goodie) bags so that we could deliver onesies and diapers and things, and a lady was standing behind me at the cash register,” Williams said.

e woman asked her what she was buying the materials for, to which Williams began to explain Warm Hearts Warm Babies.

“And she stopped me and she said, ‘ en, I need to thank you, because my daughter just had a baby at the hospital and it was wintertime and … we had nothing to bring that baby home in. And I told the nurses and they brought us one of your bags,’” Williams said.

“And so that keeps me going,” she continued. “I think about that and that keeps me going and seeing how important it is, the work we do.”

Fostering community

Materials for making items and assembling the layettes are stored in the nonpro t’s building, based in Arvada, which is nicknamed “ e Baby House.”

Among the volunteers who gathered at the building that Friday was Glenda Bredeson, an Arvada resident who has been a part of the organization since 1999.

Over time, the nonpro t has gradually grown and expanded in di erent areas of Colorado, said Bredeson, vice president of the nonpro t’s board.

Volunteering for the nonpro t has become a family a air, as Bredeson’s 18-year-old granddaughter, Eleanor Morris, worked alongside Bredeson in e Baby House.

“I remember volunteering here when I was a little girl,” Morris said, explaining she and her cousins would help assemble goodie bags. “I’ve always loved it.”

Since then, she began crocheting and knitting items to donate.

“She was thrilled when she made her rst two baby hats and brought them in,” Bredeson said.

Although Morris lives in Virginia, she visits when she can and also plans to still create items to donate and ship them to the nonpro t.

“I was so excited just to be here and volunteer because I grew up always coming here. Every time I visited, I would be here, and it was just amazing,” she said.

One of Bredeson’s favorite parts of the nonpro t is the people. Vickie Lutz, an Arvada resident who began volunteering for the organization in 2020, agreed and said that’s true for most of the volunteers.

Lutz said the nonpro t has incredibly talented volunteers. She showed o intricate blankets, toys and clothing items in e Baby House that volunteers spent hours creating.

Challenges and goals

e talent of the volunteers isn’t just for making impressive items, though

— it can also be applied toward teaching younger people the craft.

“Eleanor came to us. She didn’t know how to knit or crochet, and now she’s phenomenal at it. ere are so many people here that are willing to teach,” Lutz said.

e need for more younger volunteers is a challenge the nonpro t faces.

“We’re all older, and it’s just not going to be sustainable if we don’t get young people,” Lutz said.

Powis said the organization also needs more volunteers who will sew.

“ e last couple of months, unfortunately, we’ve had to cut back. We’ve had to cut back on the clothes,” Powis said. “We were sending out two out ts. Now it’s down to one.”

Before COVID-19, the nonpro t was able to have a backup supply of clothing, she said. Now, the organization is scraping by, month by month, due to losing a lot of active members.

On top of the need for volunteers, there are also nancial pressures.

“Our donations have gone down drastically over the last couple of years,” Powis said. “And again, our volunteers and the items coming in have really gone down — but the need is still the same — more, more.”

To help raise funds to pay for costs such as rent, volunteers will create items to sell at various craft shows. e nonpro t is also one of the charities that people can select as part of the King Soopers Community Rewards program.

As the grant coordinator, Williams plans to work this year on nding new areas to get donations and support, she said. She noted that Sue Lee, cofounder of the nonpro t Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign, has helped by not only donating socks to Warm Hearts Warm Babies but also in providing connections to other people.  e nonpro t creates 125 to 150 layettes every month, Powis said.

e main goal she has for this year is getting enough donations of money and items to continue the nonpro t’s work.

“ ere are other organizations out there that would love to have us help them, but at this point, we can’t go out and look for more agencies. But I know they’re there — I know there’s more mamas that could use the help,” she said. “I would (like) not only to be able to help who we have, but also for it to grow and help more.”

ere are a variety of ways that community members can support Warm Hearts Warm Babies, Williams explained.

“Even if people don’t sew or … they don’t crochet, but they can help in, you know, at e Baby House or they can help in collecting donations for us — do a donation drive for us in their schools or their churches — to help us so that we can continue to help these mothers and babies and give them a good start in life,” Williams said.

Powis encouraged people to reach out to the nonpro t and come visit them. ose interested in learning more about Warm Hearts Warm Babies can visit warmheartswarmbabies. org.  “We’re a world that needs to be more interactive with each other,” Powis said, emphasizing the importance of volunteering. “It’s so good for your soul.”

Handmade toys are one of the accessories included in layettes that Warm Hearts Warm Babies volunteers create.

PHOTOS BY TAYLER SHAW

Colorful fabric patterns in The Baby House on March 17 in Arvada.

Completed layettes in The Baby House in Arvada on March 17.

In southwestern Colorado, the combined San Miguel-DoloresAnimas-San Juan basin blasted past its historical median this season, reporting the highest snowpack in the state at about 180%. e basin typically peaks April 2 with a snowwater equivalent of 18.1 inches. is year, the basin reported 31.5 inches, which is half an inch lower than the maximum recorded between 1987 and 2022.

“In the modern SNOTEL observation era, we’re right on the doorstep of a record,” Goble said. “I’m not sure if we’re going to get there … but we’re going to get darn close to a new, modern era snowpack record in the San Juan combined basin.” e region has been hit hard by the drought in recent years, and water o cials, farmers, ranchers and other water users are enthusiastic about the deep snowpack.

For Ken Curtis, general manager of the Dolores Water Conservancy Dis-

trict, the plentiful snowpack means that the local reservoir will ll, and the district is even starting to plan a managed release for rafters and ecological purposes, he said.

Montezuma County emergency manager Jim Spratlen said the high snowpack could also mean ooding as rivers swell in May and June. Spratlen’s team was already updating emergency planning resources online and handing out sandbags to people in the towns of Dolores and Mancos in early April as a precautionary measure.

“Basically, we prepare for everything,” he said. “We prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

As of April 6, projections from the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center indicated that three areas of the Western Slope, in Mo att, Routt and Gunnison counties, are already more than 50% likely to see ooding. Higher, northern elevations are still seeing new snow, and spring runo is weeks away; however, emergency managers in those areas are also preparing for the spring runo . ey’re taking precautionary steps,

like clearing ditches and culverts, holding planning meetings, running high-water public service announcements and monitoring ow-rates and areas prone to ooding. ey’re also watching weather forecasts for signs of prolonged warming, higher nighttime temperatures and duston-snow events, all of which can speed melting.

e Gunnison County snowpack was well above average according to SNOTEL data, said Scott Morrill, the county’s emergency manager.

“What the Snotel data does not re ect is the mid and low elevation snow levels/water content,” he said in an email to e Colorado Sun.

“As of a couple weeks ago, readings at all of the low/mid elevation sites were very high, with some of them at historic highs.”

e Gunnison and Yampa-White basins were at 161% and 146% of their historical medians, respectively, as of Wednesday. Both will pass their usual seasonal peaks this weekend. e Colorado main stem, which was 132% of its historical median Wednesday, usually peaks around April 14.

In Routt County, particularly north of Steamboat Springs, conditions are similar to 2011 which was a big ood year, said David DeMorat, emergency operations director.

“It all depends on how quickly it melts. at’ll be a key thing,” he said.

Before the spring runo heightens in coming weeks, the key for community members is to contact their local emergency management o ces and sign up for their alert systems, Spratlen said.

“To us, that is one of the biggest things that the public really needs to do, and then they will be noti ed if something’s going on,” he said. “ ey’re going to be very aware of it, whether it’s a law enforcement issue, a ood, a re evacuation, or whatever.”

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.

Battling property tax bills could be settled at ballot

Governor wants fix as competing nonprofits o er their solutions

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

e Colorado legislature’s inaction so far this year on a long-term x e ort to address rising property tax bills has prompted two scal policy nonpro ts — one conservative and the other liberal — to propose competing ballot measures that would dramatically reshape the state’s nancial picture.

e policy battle is a repeat of what happened at the Colorado Capitol last year, when the same groups, neither of which have to disclose their donors, initiated property tax ballot measures when the General Assembly was slow to act. ey backed down only when lawmakers passed a Band-Aid bill giving property owners two years of temporary tax relief.

Property tax revenue funds schools and local governments, meaning that any discussion about how they should change carries extremely high stakes. e stakes have only increased since Colorado voters in 2020 repealed the Gallagher Amendment, which prevented residential property tax bills from getting too big but, when combined with the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, strangled local government budgets.

Rising property values across Colorado after the COVID-19 pandemic began have caused property tax bills to jump, too. Coloradans will get new property assessments from their counties starting May 1.  Colorado’s property taxes are among the nation’s lowest. But a big increase in property tax bills will really a ect people with xed incomes, such as retirees, who bought their homes when they were worth much less and weren’t expecting such a large nancial burden.

Gov. Jared Polis and Democrats, who control the Capitol, say they are committed to coming up with a long-term x this year. But the legislative session is more than halfway over — the General Assembly adjourns May 8 — and no proposals have been made public.

e governor and lawmakers have committed to expanding an existing

property tax relief plan in the 2023 and 2024 tax years to $900 million, $200 million more than what was approved during the 2022 legislative session in a deal that got the nonpro ts to abandon their ballot measures.

“Conversations are obviously ongoing,” Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, told reporters. “I know there’s conversations happening with advocates, with connected districts, with businesses etc.”

In the absence of state lawmakers doing something, however, independent groups have stepped in to try to ll the vacuum — and also pressure the General Assembly to get moving.

Advance Colorado, the conservative scal nonpro t, entered the property tax conversation rst this year with Initiative 21, which would be on the November statewide ballot. It would amend the state constitution to cap property tax increases

at 3% per property and set aside up to $100 million in state TABOR surplus each year for re districts.

TABOR caps government growth and spending each year based on population increases and the rate of in ation. Any money collected above the cap must be refunded to taxpayers unless voters say otherwise.

Michael Fields, who leads Advance Colorado, said the measure is an insurance policy against legislative inaction this year. “I think we’re wanting to see what the legislature comes up with,” Fields said. “But given that we can’t go back in time, we wanted to get it led and get it through the process.”

e Bell Policy Center, the liberalleaning scal nonpro t, responded last week by ling eight proposed 2023 ballot measures for review by the state’s Title Board. If they are approved, Bell Policy Center can begin

collecting signatures to have them placed on the fall ballot.

e measures, submitted in partnership with the Colorado Education Association, the state’s largest teacher union, would reduce or cap property tax increases and/or use TABOR surplus to replace the revenue lost by school, re district and local water project budgets.

Scott Wasserman, who leads the Bell Policy Center, says the measures are intended to neutralize Initiative 21 from Advance Colorado and also serve as a hedge against legislative inaction on property tax policy this year.

“It is clear from the initiatives already led by those who seek to destroy Colorado’s revenue base that these interests want to undercut the legislature’s ability to address the uneven e ects of a property tax

As time runs out at the Capitol to address property tax issues, advocates for change look to take the issues to voters. SHUTTERSTOCK

©

2. GEOGRAPHY: Which U.S. state shares the same name as one of the Great Lakes?

3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: What are the ZIP codes assigned to the president and rst lady?

4. LANGUAGE: What is cryptophasia?

5. MOVIES: What is the number on top of the bus in the movie “Speed”?

6. LITERATURE: What is the setting for Dashiell Hammett’s novel “ e Maltese Falcon”?

7. ANATOMY: Which two parts of the human body contain the most bones?

8. U.S. STATES: In which state would you nd the Grand Teton National Park?

Solution

9. AD SLOGANS: Which popular product uses the slogan, “Is it in you?”?

10. FOOD & DRINK: What is the primary ingredient of baba ganoush?

Answers

1. Josiah “Jed” Bartlet.

2. Michigan.

3. 20500-0001 and 20500-0002.

4. A language developed by twins that only the two children can understand.

5. 2525.

6. San Francisco.

7. More than half the bones are in the hands and feet, 27 in each hand and 26 in each foot.

8. Wyoming.

9. Gatorade.

10. Eggplant.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

NOW HERE’S A TIP

* Rub hands with lemon slices to get rid of onion or sh smells. Afterward, you can put the lemon slices down your garbage disposal unit with a few ice cubes to get rid of smells there, too.

* Here’s a great way to get a longer life out of a bar of soap: Press the plastic top of a pop bottle into the side of a wet bar of soap. When you set the bar down in your soap dish, put it plastic side down. is way, the bar doesn’t sit in any residual water and turn into a goopy mush. e plastic top comes out easily if you need to remove it. -- Y.P. in Illinois

* Nylon stocking strips are great and work really well in the garden. If you have a pair that has a run, chop them up into pieces. You can use them to tie up staked plants, as they are strong but gentle enough to not cause any harm. -- E.S. in Wisconsin

* Reduce your energy costs of drying clothes by hanging heavy items (think towels, throw blankets, jeans, sweats)

for a few hours to air dry before popping them in the dryer. You can cut the drying time by as much as two-thirds, and still get that tumble-dried softness. -- M.N. in Missouri * Keep a kitchen timer near your phone so you can limit the length of long-distance calls. ey can add up quickly if you don’t watch it!

* Renew your paintbrushes with this trick: Heat vinegar to boiling. Pour into a tall, narrow container that won’t melt. Add hardened brushes, bristle side down. Stick a pencil through the hole in the paintbrush handle and balance it across the top of the container. It keeps the bristles from bending in the bottom of the container. Let brushes soak until vinegar is cooled. Use a wire brush to clean. Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Careers

The Town of Georgetown wants to bring to your attention 4 positions that we currently have open here in Georgetown.

GEORGETOWN - UTILITY WORKER

Seasonal summer position (mid. May thru August, possible extension). Skills and knowledge desired in equipment operation and maintenance, excavation, water/ wastewater plant, line and manhole maintenance, and general repair. With a focus on Hydrant Flushing and Sewer Line Jetting. Wage rate is $20.00 per hour to start.

GEORGETOWN – MARKETING & EVENTS COORDINATOR

Full-Time Town Employee position. $45,000 + bene ts, after 3 months’ probation period possible salary increase.

GEORGETOWN – Part time SUMMER SEASONAL PARKS TECHNICIAN for Town of Georgetown . Works outdoors for up to 25 hours per week at $18.50 per hour, including some weekend hours doing all facets of parks, grounds, and ower maintenance.

ROAD AND BRIDGE OPERATOR:

Incudes some weekends, under the supervision of the Road and Bridge Supervisor and Public Works Director by performing all facets of Road and Bridge work including snow plowing, building maintenance, support to Water Wastewater when needed. Rate of pay DOE .

Full job description and application form are available at Town Hall, 404 6th Street, Georgetown and online at www.townofgeorgetown.us/employment.htm.

For more information call 303-569-2555 extension 3. Application deadline is 5:00 p.m. Friday April 21, 2023

Market Place

Merchandise

Health & Beauty

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS!

50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

DENTAL INSURANCEPhysicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurancenot a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258.

Medical

Attention oxygen therapy users!

Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Miscellaneous

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage:

1-855-948-6176

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months!

Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

Careers

Miscellaneous

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom!

1-833-758-3892

DISH TV $64.99 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR included, Free Voice remote. Some Restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24. 1-866-479-1516.

Inflation is at 40 year highs

Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote: 1-877-592-3616

Miscellaneous

Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on vet bills? Physicians Mutual Insur-ance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-844-774-0206 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow. com/ads

The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-877-539-0299

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888489-3936

Unlimited wireless 4G LTE or 5G internet. Only $50/month. 15-day trial. No contract. Includes hardware. Fast & reliable. 888-996-6799. https://broadbandq.com

Switch and save up to $250/yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time get $50 off any new account.

4 by 6 foot digital sign from Daktronics.

Use code GIFT50. 1-855-903-3048

HughesNet– Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

Miscellaneous

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author`s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800245-0398

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service.

Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time!

Financing available. 1-855-4171306

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-6101936

the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust and other violations of the terms thereof

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF THE NORTHEAST1/4, SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP4 SOUTH, RANGE 72 WEST OF THE6TH P.M., COUNTY OF CLEAR CREEK, STATE OF COLORADO

Also known by street and number as: HIDDEN WILDERNESS ROAD, IDAHO SPRINGS, CO 80452.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

Idaho Springs City of 2023 Drinking Water Quality Report

Covering Data For Calendar Year 2022

Public Water System ID: CO0110020

Esta es información importante. Si no la pueden leer, necesitan que alguien se la traduzca.

We are pleased to present to you this year’s water quality report. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. Please contact ANDREW MARSH at 303-567-4421 with any questions or for public participation opportunities that may affect water quality

General Information

All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1800-426-4791) or by visiting epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV-AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk of infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, or to receive a copy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and microbiological contaminants call the EPA

Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (1-800-426-4791).

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

•Microbial contaminants: viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

•Inorganic contaminants: salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

Pesticides and herbicides: may come from a variety of sources, such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.

•Radioactive contaminants: can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

•Organic chemical contaminants: including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and also may come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment prescribes regulations limiting the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.

Lead in Drinking Water

Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials andcomponentsassociated with service lines and home plumbing. We are responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbingcomponentsin your home.

You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family’s risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact ANDREW MARSH at 303-567-4421. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at epa.gov/safewater/

lead

Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP)

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment may have provided us with a Source Water Assessment Report for our water supply. For general information or to obtain a copy of the report please visit wqcdcompliance.com/ccr. The report is located under “Guidance: Source Water Assessment Reports”. Search the table using our system name or ID, or by contacting g 110020, IDAHO SPRINGS CITY OF, or by contacting ANDREW MARSH at 303-567-4421 The Source Water Assessment Report provides a screening-level evaluation of potential contamination that could occur. It does not mean that the contamination has or will occur. We can use this information to evaluate the need to improve our current water treatment capabilities and prepare for future contamination threats. This can help us ensure that quality finished water is delivered to your homes. In addition, the source water assessment results provide a starting point for developing a source water protection plan. Potential sources of contamination in our source water area are listed on the next page.

Please contact us to learn more about what you can do to help protect your drinking water sources, any questions about the Drinking Water Quality Report, to learn more about our system, or to attend scheduled public meetings. We want you, our valued customers, to be informed about the services we provide and the quality water we deliver to you every day.

Our Water Sources

Sources (Water Type - Source Type)

DEVILS CANYON (Surface Water-Intake)

CHICAGO CREEK INTAKE (Surface Water-Intake)

Potential Source(s) of Contamination

EPA Superfund Sites, EPA Hazardous Waste Generators, EPA Chemical Inventory/ Storage Sites, Aboveground, Underground and Leaking Storage Tank Sites, Solid Waste Sites, Existing/Abandoned Mine Sites, Other Facilities, Commercial/Industrial/ Transportation, Low Intensity Residential, Deciduous Forest, Evergreen Forest, Mixed Forest, Septic Systems, Road Miles

Terms and Abbreviations

• Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) − The highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.

• Treatment Technique (TT) − A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

• Health-Based − A violation of either a MCL or TT.

• Non-Health-Based − A violation that is not a MCL or TT.

• Action Level (AL) − The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment and other regulatory requirements.

• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) − The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) − The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) − The level of a drinking water disinfectant, below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

• Violation (No Abbreviation) − Failure to meet a Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulation.

• Formal Enforcement Action (No Abbreviation) − Escalated action taken by the State (due to the risk to public health, or number or severity of violations) to bring a non-compliant water system back into compliance.

• Variance and Exemptions (V/E) − Department permission not to meet a MCL or treatment technique under certain conditions.

• Gross Alpha (No Abbreviation) − Gross alpha particle activity compliance value. It includes radium-226, but excludes radon 222, and uranium.

• Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) − Measure of the radioactivity in water.

• Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) − Measure of the clarity or cloudiness of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the typical person. • Compliance Value (No Abbreviation) – Single or calculated value used to determine if regulatory contaminant level (e.g. MCL) is met. Examples of calculated values are the 90th

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, 06/08/2023, at The Clear Creek County Public Trustee’s Office, 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, Colorado, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication4/13/2023

Last Publication5/11/2023 Name of PublicationThe Clear Creek Courant 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;

DATE: 02/07/2023

Carol Lee, Public Trustee in and for the County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Randall M. Chin, Esq. #31149 Barrett Frappier & Weisserman, LLP 1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80204 (303) 350-3711

Attorney File # 00000009704198

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 2023-005

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On February 7, 2023, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Clear Creek records. Original Grantor(s) James M. Houston and Elizabeth M. Houston Original Beneficiary(ies) Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for GMAC Mortgage Corporation Current Holder of Evidence of Debt West Coast Servicing Inc. Date of Deed of Trust July 25, 2002 County of Recording Clear Creek Recording Date of Deed of Trust August 05, 2002

Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.) 214536 Book: 645Page: 917 Original Principal Amount $100,000.00

Outstanding Principal Balance $32,477.99

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION

A parcel of land located in the Southwest 1/4 of the Northwest 1/4 of Section 24, Township 4 South, Range 72 West of the 6th P.M., County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado, described as follows:

Beginning at a point on the North line of said SW 1/4 NW 1/4, whence the Northwest corner of said SW 1/4 NW 1/4 bears South 84 Degrees 02 Minutes 47 Seconds West, 457.95 feet; thence North 84 Degrees 02 Minutes 47 Seconds East, along said North line, 358.00 feet; thence South 00 Degrees 30 Mminutes 09 Seconds East, 642.00 feet; thence South 19 Degrees 40 Minutes 37 Seconds West, 436.42 feet, to the Northeasterly right of way of Old Squaw Pass Road; thence Northwesterly along said right of way, along the arc of a curve to the left, having a radius of 163.47 feet and a central angle of 49 Degrees 51 Minutes 00 Seconds, 122.25 feet; thence North 71 Degrees 51 Minutes 58 Seconds West, 30.94 feet, to a point of curvature; thence along the arc of a curve to the right, having a radius of 491.66 feet and a central angle of 10 Degrees 56 Minutes 30 Seconds, 93.89 feet; thence North 60 Degrees 55 Minutes 28 Seconds West, 56.00 feet, to a point of curvature; thence along the arc of a curve to the left, having a radius of 212.81 feet and a central angle of 24 Degrees 22 Minutes 30 Seconds, 90.53 feet, to a point of curvature; thence along the arc of a curve to the left, having a radius of 191.74 feet and a central angle

Public Notices

of 20 Degrees 04 Minutes 00 Seconds, 67.15 feet; thence North 22 Degrees 40 Minutes 50 Seconds East, 548.85 feet; thence North 02 Degrees 57 Minutes 54 Seconds West, 339.49 feet, to the Point of Beginning, County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado.

A/K/A Parcel B of the Williams Class B Exemption Reception No. 91049411

Also known by street and number as: 361 Red Tail Trail, Evergreen, CO 80439.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, 06/08/2023, at The Clear Creek County Public Trustee’s Office, 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, Colorado, sell to the highest and best bidder

for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

Attorney File # FJGG 7174-1320/HOUSTON, JAMES 0803451H38

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 2023-002

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On January 31, 2023, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Clear Creek records.

Original Grantor(s)

Carol Lee, Public Trustee in and for the County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Britney D. Beall-Eder, Esq. #34935 Frascona, Joiner, Goodman and Greenstein, P.C. 4750 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, CO 80305-5500 (303) 494-3000

Jeffrey J Payne and Deborah A Payne

Original Beneficiary(ies)

Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems as nominee for Bank of The West, A California State Banking Corp., Its Successors and Assigns Current Holder of Evidence of Debt BMO HARRIS BANK N.A. Successor by merger to Bank of the West Date of Deed of Trust January 26, 2012 County of Recording

Clear Creek Recording Date of Deed of Trust

February 08, 2012 Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.)263275

Original Principal Amount $100,000.00 Outstanding Principal Balance $35,458.01

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

Lots 6 and 7, Block 22, Blue Valley Acres, Unit 6, County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado also know by street and number as81 Sawmill Lane, Idaho Springs, CO 80452 Also known by street and number as: 81 Sawmill Lane, Idaho Springs, CO 80452.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

• Level 1 Assessment – A study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system.

• Level 2 Assessment – A very detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why an E. coli MCL violation has occurred and/or why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system on multiple occasions.

Detected Contaminants

IDAHO SPRINGS CITY OF] routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws. The following table(s) show all detections found in the period of January 1 to December 31, 2022 unless otherwise noted. The State of Colorado requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year, or the system is not considered vulnerable to this type of contamination. Therefore, some of our data, though representative, may be more than one-year-old. Violations and Formal Enforcement Actions, if any, are reported in the next section of this report.

Note: Only detected contaminants sampled within the last 5 years appear in this report. If no tables appear in this section, then no contaminants were detected in the last round of monitoring.

Disinfectants Sampled in the Distribution System

TT Requirement: At least 95% of samples per period (month or quarter) must be at least 0.2 ppm OR

If sample size is less than 40 no more than 1 sample is below 0.2 ppm

Sources: Water additive used to control microbes

The City of Idaho Springs has done well on Lead and Copper testing and has been placed on reduced monitoring (every 3 years). The next sampling occurs in 2024. These results are for 2021.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, 06/01/2023, at The Clear Creek County Public Trustee’s Office, 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, Colorado, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication4/6/2023

Last Publication5/4/2023

Name of PublicationThe Clear Creek Courant

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; DATE: 01/31/2023

Carol Lee, Public Trustee in and for the County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Ilene Dell’Acqua #31755 McCarthy & Holthus, LLP 7700 E. Arapahoe Road, Suite 230, Centennial, CO 80112 (877) 369-6122 Attorney File # CO-22-951096-LLP

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS

§38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 2023-004

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On January 30, 2023, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Clear Creek records.

Original Grantor(s)

Patricia A. Fleming

Original Beneficiary(ies)

Chase Bank USA, N.A.

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt

JPMorgan Chase Bank National Association

Date of Deed of Trust

August 27, 2007

County of Recording Clear Creek

Recording Date of Deed of Trust

September 11, 2007

Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.)

246139 Book: 780 Page: 64

Original Principal Amount $250,000.00

Outstanding Principal Balance $448,903.79

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

That parcel of land known as Tract No. 7034, described in Quit Claim Deed from the United States of America, acting by and through the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, to Van Eden Corporation, recorded September29,1987, in Book 457 at Page 415, as follows:

All that certain parcel of land in the East OneHalf of Section15, Township4 South, Range 73 West of the Sixth Principal Meridian, Clear Creek County, Colorado, described as follows:

Beginning at Corner I, a granite stone 6x12x32 inches chiseled 5-17253, said Corner 1 also being Corner5 of the Soda Creek Placer, Mineral Survey 17253; Thence S 63° 11’46” W, 258.62 feet to Corner2, a standard Bureau of Land Management3 1/4 inch brass cap marking the North Center One-Sixteenth Corner of said Section15; Thence S 5° 14’00” W, 1333.42 feet along the North-South Center Line of said Section15 to Corner 3, a standard Bureau of Land Management 3 1/4 inch brass cap the Center Quarter Corner of said Section15; Thence S 5° 15’00” W, 1308.34 feet along the North-South Center Line of said Section15 to Corner 4, a standard Bureau of Land Management 3 1/4 inch brass cap marking the South Center OneSixteenth Corner of said Section15; Thence N 31° 15’40”: E, 1482.79 feet to Corner5, a granite stone 6x12x34 inches chiseled 3- 17253, said Corner 5 also being Corner 3 of the Soda Creek Placer, Mineral Survey 17253; Thence S 89° 55’42” W, 377.10 feet to Corner6, a granite stone 6x16x30 inches chiseled 4- 17253, said Corner 6 also being Corner4 of the Soda Creek Placer, Mineral Survey 17253; Thence N 3° 05’08” E, 1482.45 feet to Corner I, the Point of Beginning.

Also known by street and number as: 3001 Van Eden Rd, Idaho Springs, CO 80452.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST. NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

Public Notices

Arsenic: while your drinking water meets the EPA's standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. The EPA's standard balances the current understanding of arsenic's possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. The EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.

Nitrate: Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant you should ask advice from your health care provider.

Fluoride: This is an alert about your drinking water and a cosmetic dental problem that might affect children under nine years of age. At low levels, fluoride can help prevent cavities, but children drinking water containing more than 2 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride may develop cosmetic discoloration of their permanent teeth (dental fluorosis). The drinking water provided by your community water system has a fluoride concentration above 2 parts per million (ppm), but below 4 parts per million (ppm). Dental fluorosis, in its moderate or severe forms, may result in a brown staining and/or pitting of the permanent teeth. This problem occurs only in developing teeth, before they erupt from the gums. Children under nine years of age should be provided with alternative sources of drinking water or water that has been treated to remove the fluoride to avoid the possibility of staining and pitting of their permanent teeth. You may also want to contact your dentist about proper use by young children of fluoride-containing products. Older children and adults may safely drink the water.

Drinking water containing more than 4 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride (the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s drinking water standard) can increase your risk of developing bone disease. Your drinking water does not contain more than 4 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride, but we're required to notify you when we discover that the fluoride levels in your drinking water exceed 2 parts per million (ppm) because of this cosmetic dental problem. For more information, please contact us. Some home water treatment units are also available to remove fluoride from drinking water. To learn more about available home water treatment units, you may call NSF International at (1-877-8-NSF-HELP).

Secondary Contaminants**

**Secondary standards are non-enforceable guidelines for contaminants that may cause cosmetic effects (such as skin, or tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects (such as taste, odor, or color) in drinking water.

Violations, Significant Deficiencies, and Formal Enforcement Actions

for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication 4/6/2023

Last Publication 5/4/2023

Name of Publication The Clear Creek Courant

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;

DATE: 01/30/2023

Carol Lee, Public Trustee in and for the County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Marcello Rojas #46396

The Sayer Law Group, P.C. 3600 S. Beeler Street, Suite 330, Denver, CO 80237 (303) 353-2965

Attorney File # CO220112

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS

§38-38-103 FORECLOSURE

SALE NO. 2023-003

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On January 26, 2023, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Clear Creek records.

Original Grantor(s)

Jason Mercer and Misty Mercer

Original Beneficiary(ies)

Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc.,

as Nominee for NBKC Bank Current Holder of

Evidence of Debt NBKC Bank

Date of Deed of Trust

August 25, 2021

County of Recording

Clear Creek

Recording Date of Deed of Trust

August 30, 2021

Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.) 302306

Original Principal Amount

$570,000.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$559,585.26

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

3, COUNTY OF CLEAR CREEK, STATE OF COLORADO.

Which has the address of: 55 Hillside Rd, Idaho Springs CO 80452

Also known by street and number as: 55 Hillside Rd, Idaho Springs, CO 80452.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, 05/25/2023, at The Clear Creek County Public Trustee’s Office, 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown, Colorado, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication3/30/2023

Last Publication4/27/2023

Name of PublicationThe Clear Creek Courant

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; DATE: 01/26/2023 Carol Lee, Public Trustee in and for the County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Scott D. Toebben #19011

Randall S. Miller & Associates, P.C.-CO 216 16th Street, Suite 1210, Denver, CO 80202 (720) 259-6710

Attorney File #

applications for a Minor Subdivision Exemption (an exemption from the terms “subdivision” and “subdivided land” pursuant to CRS 30-28-101(10)(d)) and the Creation of Vested Property rights have been submitted to the Board of County Commissioners, Clear Creek County, State of Colorado:

Request: To subdivide a 59.96 acre parcel into a total of 2 separate parcels to provide for an additional building site.

Existing Zoning: Mountain Residential – Single Family Units (MR-1)

Location: 38 Sacred Mountain Trail, Section 15, Township 5S, Range 72, West of the 6th PM, Clear Creek County, Colorado.

Hearing Dates: The Clear Creek County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on May 17, 2023 at 6:30 pm to consider the minor subdivision exemption application before recommending approval, approval with conditions, or denial to the Board of County Commissioners. The location of the public hearing is the Commissioners’ Hearing Room in the Clear Creek County Court¬house, Sixth and Argentine Streets, Georgetown CO, 80444 (you can also access this meeting virtually via Zoom), where and when all parties may appear and be heard.

Prior to final action, the Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on June 20, 2023 at 9:30 AM, to consider the minor subdivision exemption application. The location of the public hearing is the Commissioners’ Hearing Room in the Clear Creek County Court¬house, Sixth and Argentine Streets, Georgetown CO, 80444 (you can also access this meeting virtually via Zoom), where and when all parties may appear and be heard.

All Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioner meetings are subject to change, without further notification. Please contact the Planning Department for remote access links if you plan to attend the meetings virtually, or to determine if these public hearings have been continued or if the meeting dates and/or times have been changed.

Written testimony may be submitted to Adam Springer, Clear Creek County Planning Department, P.O. Box 2000, Georgetown, Colorado, 80444, faxed to (303) 569-1103, Attn: Planning Department, or e-mailed to: aspringer@clearcreekcounty.us . For more information call the Planning Department at (303) 679-2361.

Randall Wheelock, Chairman Board of County Commissioners

spike,” the Bell Policy Center and Colorado Education Association said in a joint statement. “ e measures we’ve led would restrict the damage of possible statewide reductions or limitations, and ensure communities are adequately funded, while also protecting property taxpayers at this time of increasing property values. In the event the legislature is unable to reach a solution this year, we fully intend to move them forward and supersede any other initiative.”

Here’s the gist of what the Bell Policy Center/Colorado Education Association measures would do, in some combination:

Direct TABOR surplus — forecast to be more than $2.5 billion in the current scal year ending June 30 — to education, local re districts and water projects to make up for any money lost from property tax assessment rate reductions or caps on Coloradans’ increasing property tax bills. e measures wouldn’t a ect TABOR surplus until the 2023-24 scal year, which begins July 1.

Cap commercial and residential property tax increases at 3% annually, unless a property is valued at more than $2 million or $3 million, depending on the version of the ballot measure. Two of the initiatives would instead limit property tax increases by lowering property assessment rates.

Groups often le several iterations of the same or similar ballot mea-

sures and then decide later which one to pursue.

Some of the Bell Policy Center/ Colorado Education Association proposals would change statute and others that would amend the state constitution. Wasserman estimates the changes would reduce property tax revenue by about $800 million. If state economic and tax forecasts are correct, there should be enough TABOR surplus in coming years to replace the de cit.

In reality, it will be very di cult for either Advance Colorado or the Bell Policy Center to get a property tax measure on the November ballot.

It takes time and a lot of money — potentially millions — to go through the Title Board process and then collect the 125,000 voter signatures required to get an initiative on the statewide ballot.

Public Notices

Carol Lee, Treasurer Clear Creek County

It’s even harder to get a constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot. at comes with the additional requirement that the voter signatures gathered include at least 2% of the registered voters in each of Colorado’s 35 state Senate districts.

Advance Colorado has deep pockets — again, it doesn’t disclose its donors — and Fields has a proven track record of getting scal policy questions on the ballot.

Bell Policy Center, by comparison, is backed by some wealthy foundations, including Gary Community Ventures, a philanthropic group focused on policy change that helps children and families. But the Bell Policy Center hasn’t really spent the kind of money that Advance Colorado and its associated political nonpro ts have dedicated to ballot measures in recent election cycles.

subject property consists of the Heckla, Emma, Gold Dust, Butte, and Cambrian mining claims as well as a portion of tract within section 28 which is a total of 14.27 acres. A portion of the property and the claims listed above are currently located within unincorporated Clear Creek County. The subject site is located within Section 28, Township 3 South, Range 74 West of the 6th Principal Meridian within the Town of Empire, Colorado.

Legal Notice No. CCC596

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: May 4, 2023

Publisher: Clear Creek Courant

PUBLIC NOTICE

REAL PROPERTY PROTEST DEADLINE

Fields cast doubt on the Bell Policy Center’s ability to follow through.

“I would encourage Scott and his donors to do some polling on how popular TABOR refunds are with Coloradans. Last time, they couldn’t even get enough signatures to get their tax hike (Initiative 271 in 2020) on the ballot, so it’s hard to believe these are actually serious proposals.”

Wasserman pointed out that Initiative 12 — which would have tied income tax rates to the amount of money people make, charging higher earners more — was a proposed constitutional amendment and that signature gathering for the measure was launched during the pandemic. He said his proposals this year are 100% serious.

“We always are serious when we le measures at the Title Board,” he said. “You can’t just cut local revenue without a back ll for the loss.” ere are also questions about the viability of the proposals from both the Bell Policy Center and Advance Colorado. Properties often fall into multiple taxation districts with di erent mill levy rates, which determine how much people owe the government.

It would likely be tough for local governments to work together and determine how to cap a property owner’s tax bill. 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.

be for the shooting sheds.

Separate Bids will be received for the following

Contracts:

Contract No.Description of Contract

1 Construction of the Clear Creek Shooting Range

Obtaining the Bidding Documents

Information and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found at the following designated website: https://www.clearcreekcounty.us/bids.aspx

to the said Premises and To Whom It May Concern, and more especially to HEADTKE JULIA

And Whereas, You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 15 day of NOVEMBER, A.D.

2019 the then County Treasurer of Clear Creek County, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to JOAN LOUISE DUDLEY COLE the following described real estate in the County of Clear Creek, State of Colorado, to wit:

TAX LIEN SALE CERTIFICATE OF PURCHASE #2019-00981

Property Schedule R009738

Parcel 195912100608

MINE: ARGENTITE - 6365

5.147 ACRES CAS 12-4-74 COUNTY OF CLEAR CREEK STATE OF COLORADO

And Whereas, Said County Treasurer issued a Tax Lien Sale Certificate of Purchase therefore to JOAN LOUISE DUDLEY COLE;

And Whereas, That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2018;

And Whereas, That said real estate was taxed in the names of HEADTKE JULIA for said year of 2018;

And Whereas, That said JOAN LOUISE DUDLEY COLE on the 27 day of MARCH, A.D. 2023, the present holder of said certificate, who has made request upon the Treasurer of Clear Creek County for a deed to said real estate;

And Whereas, That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued to the said JOAN LOUISE DUDLEY COLE at 11:00 o’clock A.M., on the 15 day of August, A.D. 2023, unless the same has been redeemed.

And Whereas, Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed.

Witness my hand this 04 day of APRIL, A.D., 2023. /s/ Carol Lee

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that revisions to the Clear Creek County Commissioner Districts have been proposed to the Board of County Commissioners, Clear Creek County, State of Colorado.

The County is seeking public comment on the proposed commissioner district revisions. The proposed county redistricting maps can be viewed on the County website, or in person at the County Annex Building located at 1111 Rose St. in Georgetown during normal business hours.

Public Hearings will be held before the Board of County Commissioners to allow the public the opportunity to attend and/or provide comments on the following days and times:

•Tuesday April 18th at 10:30 am

•Tuesday May 2nd at 10:15 am

•Tuesday May 16th at 9:05 am

The public hearings will be held at the County Courthouse in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room, located at 405 Argentine Street in Georgetown. The public is invited to attend and/or provide comments in person or via Zoom during the above listed public hearings using the following link: HTTPS://ZOOM.US/J/167562115. Comments can also be submitted to mapping@ clearcreekcounty.us prior to the scheduled public hearings.

Randall Wheelock, Chairman Board of County Commissioners

Legal Notice No. CCC593

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Clear Creek Courant

Clear Creek County Assessor’s Office PO Box 2000 405 Argentine Street Georgetown, CO 80444 Colorado law requires the County Assessor to hear objections to real property classifications and valuations beginning no later than May 1, 2023. Objections to the valuation or classification of real property must be postmarked, delivered, or presented in person to the County Assessor’s Office no later than June 9, 2023. For additional information, contact the County Assessor’s Office at (303)679-2322.

Legal Notice No. CCC589

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Clear Creek Courant

Bids and Settlements

Public Notice

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Clear Creek County Georgetown, CO 80444 Clear Creek County Shooting Range

General Notice

Clear Creek County (Owner) is requesting Bids for the construction of the following Project: Clear Creek County Shooting Range Bids for the construction of the Project will be received at the Clear Creek County Public Works Division located at 3549 Stanley Rd. Dumont, CO 80436 PO Box 362, until Tuesday, 05/03/2023 at 3PM local time. At that time the Bids received will be privately opened and read. The Project includes the following Work: For the Clear Creek Shooting Range, there will be 3 different bid items. The first being all horizontal work, grading, and paving. Second will be for the main building. The last bid will

Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the designated website. Prospective Bidders are urged to register with the designated website as a plan holder, even if Bidding Documents are obtained from a plan room or source other than the designated website in either electronic or paper format. The designated website will be updated periodically with addenda, lists of registered plan holders, reports, and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. All official notifications, addenda, and other Bidding Documents will be offered only through the designated website.

Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for Bidding Documents, including addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the designated website.

The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is: Clear Creek County Public Works Division 3549 Stanley Rd. Dumont, CO 80436 PO Box 362

Pre-bid Conference

A pre-bid conference for the Project will be held on 04/27/2023 at 11AM at Clear Creek Shooting Range 3204 County Road 312, Dumont, CO 80436. Attendance at the pre-bid conference is encouraged but not required.

Instructions to Bidders.

For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.

This Advertisement is issued by:

lowing time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be continued:

Date:5/30/23

Time:9AM Courtroom or Division: L

Address:405 Argentine St Georgetown, CO 80444

The hearing will take approximately 30 minutes.

Note: You must answer the petition on or before the hearing date and time specified above.

• Within the time required for answering the petition, all objections to the petition must be in writing, filed with the court and served on the petitioner and any required filing fee must be paid. The hearing shall be limited to the petition, the objections timely filed and the parties answering the petition in a timely manner. If the petition is not answered and no objections are filed, the court may enter a decree without a hearing.

Legal Notice No. CCC588

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Clear Creek Courant ###

Houses sit in an upscale neighborhood Nov. 21 in the east Centennial area. PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD