Clear Creek Courant 090723

Bus barn issues prevail for school board, accountability team

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Developers plan to break ground for apartment complex on former Golddigger Field in November

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Four Points Development plans to break ground on former Golddigger Field and start construction on an apartment complex on Nov. 1, according to Carla Pokrywka Cole, Space Inc owner and Four Points

Development representative.

e three primary apartment buildings are planned to be built on the former Golddigger Field football site in Idaho Springs, which hosted games for more than 50 years and is a common landmark for travelers on Interstate 70.

e Clear Creek School District

constructed a new football eld at the high school and middle school in Evergreen.

Starting in early September, developers say they will drill at least 90 core soil samples. e cores will be dug two feet into the ground, and

Editor’s note: is is the fth in a series about issues surrounding the Clear Creek School District’s planned bus barn — called the Transportation and Maintenance Facility. is story looks at the tension among some school board members and the Citizens Accountability Team or CAT, particularly its location on the track site south of the former middle school and the potential for partnerships in the county.

Clear Creek school board members and members of the district’s Citizens Accountability Team hope to meet later in September to iron out issues and di ering opinions about the new bus barn, called the Transportation and Maintenance Facility or TMF.

ose on both sides of the issue believe they have spent too much time on one building, especially

SEE BUS BARN, P2

Project rendering of the future Fieldhouse in Idaho Springs Aug 29.

COURTESY PHOTO

Update on upcoming Clear Creek County community town hall

A column by Clear Creek County Public Information O cer Megan Hiler that ran in the Aug. 31 edition of the Clear Creek Courant stated that there would be a meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Clear Creek County Board of County Commissioners

meeting room and via Zoom for the community to meet and ask questions to the nal Sheri candidates. at meeting is being rescheduled, according to Hiler. Check your Courant for more information coming soon.

Weather Observations for Georgetown, Colorado

Week of August 31, 2023

Weather Observations for Georgetown, Colorado

Week of August21, 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.

considering other projects the district has undertaken as part of a bond approved by voters in 2021. A new elementary school will be completed by August 2024 in the former middle school on Highway 103 to replace Carlson Elementary, plus other projects are underway at the district’s other three buildings.

e TMF, which is currently planned for the track site south of the former middle school, will not be funded by bond dollars. Instead, the facility, now budgeted to cost $6.5 million, is being funded by proceeds from the sale of the district’s former bus barn and football eld, a loan, and the district’s general fund. ose questioning the TMF project are frustrated they are at odds with three school board members.

“It’s sad to me that we are spending so much time on this,” Mary Jane Loevlie, a member of the

Citizens Accountability Team or CAT, said. “ ere are so many good things about the district.”

ree school board members believe they have made the best decision for the district to put the TMF on the track south of the former middle school. ey say the building will be on school districtowned land near water in the heart of the county and will have room for the district’s eet of buses and other vehicles. e price tag for the building has increased since it was rst conceived, but that was to be expected.

Two school board members — who joined the school board after the location decision was made — and three community members on the CAT are frustrated they don’t have the information they need to independently analyze the project’s viability. ey believe work on the TMF should stop immediately, so school o cials can decide whether the price tag and site for the build-

SEE BUS BARN, P3

This photo, taken on Aug. 23, looks up the driveway on the south end of the track site to the construction location for the Clear Creek School District’s new bus barn or Transportation and Maintenance Facility.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

FROM PAGE 1

BUS BARN

ing are truly best for the district.

e Clear Creek Courant interviewed all ve members of the school board: President Sandi Schuessler, Kelly Flenniken and Erica Haag, who support the plan to put the TMF on the track, plus Kerry Ann McHugh, who was appointed to the board in June 2022, and Jessica North, who was elected to the board in November 2021.

e Courant also interviewed Loevlie, Pam Ginter and Mitch Houston, all of whom were appointed to the CAT when it was formed in March 2022 — four months after the school board voted to put the TMF on the track site.

According to the charge to the CAT, which is printed on the meeting minutes: “Purpose: become familiar with 2021 bond and capital improvement program and project list, monitor the progress of the improvements, report status of the program to the Board of Education quarterly. Responsibilities: meet monthly with program manager to review progress to-date; participate

in scheduled site visits during construction; review with the program manager anticipated revisions to the master schedule of projects; contribute to the scal responsibility of the program by reviewing the program and project nancials; report to board.”

e district plans to build a 60foot by 80-foot prefabricated metal building on the track. Buildings by Design is providing the building, and the school district expects it to be ready for use by this winter. e new building will be smaller than the current facility, but it will be more functional, district o cials say.  e school district owns 14 buses with one housed at King-Murphy Elementary School and another at Clear Creek High School/Middle School. e district also owns 15 smaller vehicles such as vans and trucks.

Planning for the building and its cost were reviewed in a story in the Aug. 31 issue of the Clear Creek Courant. It can be found at https:// www.clearcreekcourant.com/ stories/disagreement-over-thebus-barn-clear-creek-school-boardaccountability-team-have-di erenttakes,447108.

Location

McHugh and North believe the school board didn’t look at all possible sites for the TMF before voting to put it on the track.

“ ey were just going through the motions,” McHugh said.

Loevlie added: “ ey never did an appropriate study of the track. ey never did their real homework. ( e CAT was) frustrated with the level of diligence.”

She added that a metal building was not the highest and best use for the track site.

“It could be a soccer eld, something else, just not a bus barn,”

Loevlie said, suggesting that a threeacre site on Floyd Hill would be a better location for the TMF than the track.

North, whose rst school board meeting was the night of the vote to put the TMF on the track, said corners were cut in sharing information on the location options.

“In June 2022 (when the board voted 3-2 to rea rm putting the TMF on the track), it was obvious to me that (the track) was not the right location,” North said. After she started asking questions, “I wasn’t

DEVELOPMENT

the soil will be tested by an independent agency for contaminants such as lead and arsenic, developers said.

e Environmental Protection Agency will have to sign o on the test samples, according to Idaho Springs Assistant City Administrator Jonathan Cain. If the soil samples come back with high levels of contaminates, one of two remedies will likely be available, Cain explained.

If the contamination is at a level determined to be safe to simply cover, concrete will be poured over the soil. If the contamination exceeds safety levels, Cain said, the soil will have to be removed to a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment-approved facility.

Once testing and required remediation is completed, Four Points Development plans to start construction, and that should be in early November of this year. Construction is expected to take between 16 to 18 months, according to Cole.

“I mean there will be congestion around the bus barn, and that’s the primary entrance to the site, so once

they stage the equipment and start moving dirt, it should be all within the site,” Cole said.

Pre-construction agreements with the developer require letters to be sent to neighbors speaking to tra c construction impacts and require

sn on-site manager residents can contact regarding issues or problems during construction, Cain added.

Fieldhouse Plans

Current plans call for 119 apartment units of middle-income housing, according to Four Points plans before the Idaho Springs City Council. At least eight bedrooms will be reserved for rst-year Clear Creek County teachers at what Cole refers to as “low-cost” rents.

In addition:

• ree buildings with a total of 119 residential units, which will be a mix of studio, one-bedroom, twobedroom and four-bedroom apartments;

• About 2,500 square feet of commercial space;

• 191 parking spots on the site with others anticipated along Miner Street; and

• A park on the current bus barn property and other open spaces.

Originally, Four Points Development was estimating rents for one-bedroom units around $1,600$1,700; two-bedrooms around $2,000; and four-bedroom units at $3,600, Cole said. However, due to lengthy delays and project costs, Four Points will re-visit rental pricing, Cole added during a recent council meeting.

Environmental Protection Agency spokesperson Charles VanOtten declined to answer a series of questions provided by the Courant in connection with its continued involvement in the project.

Project rendering of the future Fieldhouse in Idaho Springs Aug 29. COURTESY PHOTO

Meet the Clear Creek Health Assistance Team

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A town hall meeting on Sept. 14 will provide answers and information on the recently created Clear Creek Health Assistance Team at the County Commission building, 405 Argentine St. in Georgetown.

“Clear Creek County wants to hear from its residents about our work within and services provided throughout the community. is is a great opportunity to not only learn but get your voice heard,” County Manager Brian Bosshardt said.

e CCHAT was required to be created as part of a multi-jurisdictional civil settlement with the family of Christian Glass in 2023.

Glass died on the night of June 1011, 2022 when he was stranded in his car. He had called 911 for help and o cers asked Glass to leave his car, but he refused in what turned into a long stando that ended when o cers broke the car window and used a Taser on Glass. Clear Creek Sheri ’s Deputy Andrew Buen shot Glass ve times, killing him, according to the indictment.

ere is no reason to believe that Glass would have been a danger to any law enforcement personnel, to himself or to any member of the public, the indictment states.

CCHAT is a coordinated e ort with Clear Creek EMS, the Clear Creek County Department of Human Services and law enforcement, including the Clear Creek County Sheri ’s O ce. CCHAT is overseen by Clear Creek EMS, according to the county.

It’s a well-researched, innovative concept in how rst responders can e ectively respond to an increasing number of challenging 911 calls. Last year, those calls represented 15-20% of total 911 calls, according to county spokesperson Megan Hiler.

e types of calls the CCHAT is responding to include:

Disturbances Indecent exposure Intoxicated persons Safe2Tell Suicidal persons Psychiatric calls Trespassing Unwanted parties Welfare check

e team is underway running emergency calls with two providers: a community paramedic and a licensed crisis clinician.

e idea is to gather data that will help the county understand the overall need, in addition to sta ng resources required and coverage, Hiler said.

Analyzing this data will allow for informed adjustments to the level and frequency of service moving forward.  When the CCHAT is not sta ed and this type of call comes in, the Je erson Center for Mental Health will be able to respond to ll the gap, according to Hiler.

e goal is to reduce arrests and contact with law enforcement when a community member is experiencing a nonviolent crisis, Hiler added.

“ is is a very exciting partnership with multiple entities that will do a lot of good for the community,” Clear Creek EMS Captain Clark Church said. “I want people in the community to know that we are there to help you when you need it most, and there is no shame in asking for help.”

The Clear Creek Health Assistance Team is up and running. PHOTO BY CHRIS KOEBERL

BUS BARN

privy to information when I asked for updated numbers.”

However, Haag countered: “In Clear Creek County, very few spots could accommodate the facility. We feel like we did a good job of looking at the locations, and some were not available.”

Haag and Schuessler said the track was a good location for the TMF because the school district owns the property, it’s a hub for buses because it’s across Highway 103 from AVA Rafting, it’s centrally located for bus drivers, and it’s big enough to hold all buses, district vehicles plus employee vehicles.

“Is it optimal in every single way, no, but it’s our property,” Haag said.

“Here’s the thing,” Schuessler added. “When you’re talking about a facility, we could be talking in perpetuity about the perfect place for a bus barn.”

Partnering

Ginter said school district o cials should have spent more time considering a partnership with Idaho Springs.

“I didn’t realize how willing (Ida-

ho Springs) was to work with us,” McHugh added. “I asked for discussion about the Idaho Springs proposal, and I don’t understand why there’s no discussion.”

Idaho Springs Mayor Chuck Harmon attended the May school board meeting, and during the public comment portion of the meeting, he offered to work with the school district, so the district could use some bays in the maintenance building the city is constructing.

School district o cials say the district needs more than maintenance bays. e district also needs space to park buses and vehicles plus room for o ces, which is why the school board is not discussing the o er. Parking vehicles and buses throughout the district is problematic, they say, because it’s more di cult to get drivers to the correct locations and because of the increase in the potential for vandalism.

“Sharing a city facility conceptually is really cool, but it doesn’t meet (the district’s) needs,” outgoing Superintendent Karen Quanbeck said.

Haag agreed.

“We are obligated to transport students in a safe manner driven by people who know and love these kids, and provide adequate maintenance

facilities,” Haag said. “ at will require an investment. If we go with Idaho Springs, it takes control of the bus facility out of our hands. Whose to say Idaho Springs won’t come back and say it needs more space? en what will we do? On the track, we have control of the building, and it will be operated by us for decades to come.”

North said the school district’s due diligence should include following up with Idaho Springs’ o er.

“It may not be the right choice, but we don’t know because we haven’t talked about it,” North said. “Maybe other board members don’t need that information, but I do. To be gifted with the city’s o er of a shared facility, I feel like there’s a better way forward that would save us millions of dollars.”

CAT

Houston believes a joint meeting of the school board and the CAT would solve many of the issues.

“We keep throwing rocks at each other,” Houston said. “We can get in the same room and work out relationship challenges. at’s what the CAT has been asking for for at least a year, an opportunity to meet with the school board.”

Loevlie said she expected that the CAT and the school board would

collaborate on the TMF and bond projects.

“We viewed ourselves as an added expertise to help the school board, but we came to the same conclusion: ( e school board) doesn’t want to listen,” Loevlie said. “I feel (the school board) appointed us to add to the base of knowledge. Instead, all of us on the CAT realized that we were being spoon-fed information and not getting information based on our scal responsibility.”

Ginter said the school board could have done things to make the CAT and the community feel better about the TMF.

Loevlie’s advice to the board: “Listen to the people you appoint.”

Flenniken believes that once the TMF is built, it will be a district asset.

“When we fast forward to the end of this construction program (including bond projects), we will have teachers making more money and facilities that have attention to them they have not had in decades,” Flenniken said. “… at’s pretty great.”

Haag added: “ is is an investment. Everybody is concerned about declining enrollment. If we take away the safety of our own buses, that won’t attract families to the district.”

CURRENTS

We’d like to know about events or activities of interest to the community. Visit www.clearcreekcourant.com/ calendar/ and post your event online for free. Email dbrobst@coloradocommunitymedia.com to get items in the print version of the paper. Items will appear in print on a space-available basis.

Devil on the Divide 2023: e Devil on the Divide 2023 50K and 22K will be Sept. 9, both reaching altitudes of 13,000 feet. Prior ultrarunning experience is required. For more information and to register, visit devilonthedivideultra.com/signup.html.

Touch a Truck: e third annual Touch a Truck will be from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, across the road from Albert Frei & Sons’ Walstrum Quarry at the foot of Floyd Hill. Climb into the driver’s seat of a giant haul truck, touch a quarry loader, and check out re engines and ambulances. Donations accepted, with proceeds going to the Clear Creek Rotary scholarship youth programs.

Free legal clinic: A free legal clinic will be from 2-5 p.m. ursday, Sept. 14, at both the John Tomay Library in Georgetown and the Idaho Springs Library. Volunteer attorneys will answer questions and explain the process and procedure for all civil issues, including family law, property law, probate law, collections, appeals, landlord-tenant law, small claims, veterans issues, and civil protection orders. Call your local library to be added to the sign-up sheet. Idaho Springs Library 303-567-2020 or Georgetown Library 303-569-2620.

Mountain Jams: Mountain Jams concerts start at 2 p.m. on Saturdays through Sept. 16 at Library State Park in Georgetown. is year’s acts, sponsored by Georgetown Cultural Arts and Georgetown Heritage Center, include a mix of jazz, bluegrass, rock, folk and country. Artists include local favorites and internationally recognized touring artists. For a complete lineup and additional details, visit www.eventbrite.com/cc/ eorgetown-mountain-jams.

Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Day in Empire: Friends of Clear Creek will host Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Days in Empire from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16. Meet at the Empire Visitors Center, and the group will clean up a half mile of Empire’s twomile stretch along Highway 40.

Fire & Ice Chili Cooko : e Fire & Ice Chili Cooko will be from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, in Strousse Park. If you wish to enter the chili contest, email Jaime@ jsoundgirl@bellsouth.net with the subject line: team.

Heritage Hops: Heritage Hops, a beer tasting with food pairings in support of the the John Tomay Memorial Library renovation in Georgetown, will be from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at e Old School, 809 Taos St. Georgetown is lled with hops plants left by the 19th-century breweries, and it had been a tradition for one of the local breweries to create a beer from thos hops. Enjoy Heritage Hops by Cabin Creek Brewery paired with bites from Chef Marty of Chef’s Corner. Bighorn Sheep Festival: e Bighorn Sheep Festival will be from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, in Strousse Park in Georgetown.

ONGOING

Blue Spruce Habitat volunteers needed: Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers. A variety of opportunities and exible schedules are available on new construction sites as well as for exterior minor home repairs. No previous construction experience needed. Contact  volunteer@bluesprucehabitat.org for information.

Walk-in vaccine clinics: Walk-in vaccine clinics for adults and children needing u and other vaccines are available from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays at the Clear Creek Health and Wellness Center, 1969 Miner St., Idaho Springs. No appointments required for the vaccines, though you can pre-register by calling 303-670-7528.

Resilience1220 counseling: Young people 12 to 20 can get free counseling through an Evergreen-based organization called Resilience1220. Comprised of licensed therapists, Resilience1220 serves individuals

and groups in the foothills including Clear Creek County. ey also facilitate school and community groups to build life skills in wellness and resilience among youth. For more information or to schedule a counseling session, visit R1220.org, email Resilience1220@gmail.com or call 720-282-1164.

Dental clinics: Cleanings, X-rays, dentures, tooth extractions and more. Most insurances are accepted including Medicaid. Sliding scale/ low-cost options are also available. No appointment necessary. is is a mobile dentist that comes once a month. Call program manager Lauralee at 720-205-4449 for questions.

Clear Creek Rotary 2000 meetings: Clear Creek Rotary 2000 meets at 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Marion’s of the Rockies. 2805 Colorado Blvd., Idaho Springs. For more information, email loe er806@comcast.net.

Support After Suicide Loss: A safe place to share and learn after losing a loved one to suicide. is group meets every fourth Wednesday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. via zoom or in person at the Resilience1220 o ce. For ages 14 and up. Suggested donation for this group is $15. Register at resilience1220.org/groups.

Sensitive Collection: Resilience1220 strives to inform and support highly sensitive people to live healthy and empowered lives. It meets the third Wednesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. and is o ered via Zoom or in person at the Resilience1220 o ce. Register at resilience1220.org/groups.

A publication of

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RUTH DANIELS Advertising & Sales rdaniels@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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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 Tues. for the following week’s paper.

Clear Creek Courant (USPS 52610)

Storytime with Miss Honeybun: Storytime with Miss Honeybun is at 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays at the Idaho Springs Public Library and at 11:15 a.m. ursdays at the John Tomay Memorial Library in Georgetown.

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Idaho Springs, Colorado, the Clear Creek Courant is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 1630 Miner St., Idaho Springs, CO 80452.

PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT Idaho Springs and additional mailing o ces.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Clear Creek Courant, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

Discover more at your Clear Creek County Library

The Clear Creek County Library District empowers our community through literacy, human connection, and equal access to resources. Connect with a librarian today to learn more. Library programs are always free!

SPECIAL EVENTS

September is National Library Card Sign Up Month

Do you have a Clear Creek County Library card? Creating your library account is FREE and easy! Visit www.cccld.org to sign up for your card online, or connect with a friendly librarian by phone or at your Clear Creek County Library branch.

Use your library card to win special prizes this month! Each time you check out library materials, be sure to ll out an entry form for our weekly prize drawings— you could win a gift card to a local co ee shop.

Mountain Jams Summer Concert Series

is program is a collaboration of the Friends of the Georgetown Library, the Georgetown Cultural Arts Program, and the Georgetown Business Promotions Commission along with their partners, Sweet Easy, the Georgetown Loop Railroad, and Two Rivers Real Estate. Special thanks to Buckskin Trading Post, Evergreen National Bank, Historic Georgetown, Inc., and the Georgetown Library Association. Enjoy live music on Saturday afternoons through Sept. 9! Just head over to Library Park Stage, located in downtown Georgetown on the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Rose Street (next to the John Tomay Memorial Library). Most performances run from 2 - 3:30 p.m.

T(w)een Night at the library –Glow Party

5-7 p.m. Sept. 28 at Idaho Springs Public Library

Get your glow on after hours at the Idaho Springs Public Library! Blacklight and glow-in-the-dark games and crafts promise a dazzling evening for tweens and teens. Space is limited, and registration is required. To reserve your spot, please contact chris@cccld.org by Monday, Sept. 25. Be sure to include your T-shirt size for the craft!

FIND US IN THE COMMUNITY

Touch-a-truck: Presented by the Cotary Club of Clear Creek 2000

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept.10  across the street from Walstrum Quarry at the bottom of Floyd Hill

Find CCCLD’s booth at Toucha-Truck to play a game and learn about library resources.

Parkerpalooza

Noon – 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at Rocky Mountain Village, 2644 Alvarado Road, Empire

Join us for a craft in the Kid Zone at Parkerpalooza!

PROGRAMS

Storytimes

11:15 a.m. Tuesdays at Idaho Springs Public Library

11:15 a.m. ursdays at John Tomay Memorial Library

Weekly story times begin in September! Share stories, play games and get creative with us. Storytimes are a great opportunity to connect with other Clear Creek County families with young children and make new friends.

Library Friyays

Calling Clear Creek kids: put the YAY into your Fridays at Library FriYAYS! Join us for FREE, scheduled activities at Idaho Springs Public Library and John Tomay Memorial Library, plus a range of activities kids can independently pursue at their own pace throughout the day (puzzles, games, computer time, quiet reading, etc).Children under the age of eight will need adult supervision.

Guided activities will last about one hour, except for movie matinees, which will last the movie runtime.

Schedule:

10 a.m. Sept.  8

Idaho Springs Public LibraryMarshmallow Challenge

John Tomay Memorial LibraryDrama Workshop

10 a.m. Sept.  15

Idaho Springs Public LibraryDrama Workshop

John Tomay Memorial LibraryFairy Gardens

10 a.m. Sept.  22

Idaho Springs Public LibraryFairy Gardens

John Tomay Memorial Library -

Almost bilked

Ia dmit it. I got scammed, and it nearly cost me my life savings.

When I look back at it, I’m aghast I fell for it. Yet I don’t feel stupid or ashamed. Rather, I feel intense anger at cretinous creatures that nefariously engage in bilking people out of their honestly earned life savings. I’ve dubbed and henceforth shall refer to them as Malwarians.

It began when researching information for a piece I was composing. Just as I clicked on what I had thought was a safe site, a red screen took over my monitor. It read something to the effect that my computer had been infected and was locked. I couldn’t manipulate the cursor with my mouse. I was at a loss about what to do and began to panic. But the message also read to call a certain toll-free number for Microsoft.

The Malwarian that took the call sounded professional and empathetic. It said Microsoft was seeing a rash of hacking and that it would call me back on a “secure line.” I got a call from a number with an area code that indicated it was close to MS corporate headquarters. (I learned later that scammers can use bogus numbers to conceal their real location. Seriously, phone companies?) The Malwarian convinced me that they were a MS representative. I allowed them to access my computer to trace the source of the infection and with that, I descended into tech hell.

The next morning, the Malwarian called and said they had detected something disconcerting. They said they had tracked three sales transactions from Russia charged to one of my accounts. My panic heightened, but the Malwarian assured me that they would get me in contact with a fraud specialist from the institution, and with that I entered a deeper cavern of tech hell.

I’ll skip over the murky details from that point forward, but it suffices to say the Malwarians really got into my head. I cannot overstate how malevolently adept they are at their dastardly machi-

JERRY FABYANIC Columnist

nations. They’re well trained in human psychology, and quite effective at playing good cop, bad cop. I trusted them similar to how in the Stockholm Syndrome a victim trusts the person who took them prisoner. But still, it took the right set of circumstances for their tactics to work, and their ploy coincided with a time when I was emotionally depleted.

I’m sure many can identify with the year-from-hell description for a grueling stretch in their lives. The first six and a half months of 2023 was mine. By mid-July, I’d morphed into an emotional zombie. I became fatalistic, convinced another painful event was around the corner. “What’s next?” became my mantra. Rationally, I was functional, but my natural guards had atrophied.

In the end, two interventions saved me: my bank and a friend to whom I finally opened up. My bank intervened not once but twice when I attempted to wire large amounts of money to a fraudulent account. The first time, their fraud specialists canceled the transaction outright, and the second time they put it on hold. When I spoke with them, they made it clear: Once the funds were sent, they couldn’t be recouped. That second intervention gave me a reprieve. Slowly I began coming to my senses.

My friend’s immediate response after hearing and seeing what was happening was “shut it down,” meaning my computer. I called LifeLock, and from another computer I logged onto the three credit agencies and froze my accounts. I then changed passwords and set up two-step verification wherever I could. The next morning, I drove to my financial institutions, closed my accounts, and opened new ones. Finally, I took my computer to the Geek Squad

to have it scrubbed. They found a virus despite the anti-virus protection I paid for.

On the heels of my travails was a news report of multiple seniors in Douglas County who were similarly accosted. Two differences between their experiences and mine were that theirs were local and in person — Malwarians actually went to their houses — and sadly they lost huge amounts of money.

I’m no expert on fraud prevention, but I am about knowing what it’s like to be a victim. It’s a most unpleasant feeling, but it was one from which I learned a few hard lessons. Given that, allow me to suggest a baker’s dozen of to-do’s and not-to-do’s.

Preventive:

If you haven’t yet, freeze your credit reports with all three agencies.

If not a member of LifeLock, seriously consider becoming one.

Have a discussion with your banker and other financial institutions about their fraud protocols.

If you haven’t had your computer scanned recently for viruses and other forms of malware, get it done.

Activate two-step verification for all of your accounts including email logins.

Become more educated about the ever-evolving and increasingly sophisticated tactics of Malwarians.

In the event of an attack:

Skip the usual shutdown process and immediately power your computer down.

Contact your computer pro and your financial institutions ASAP.

File a report with the FBI on their Internet Crime Complaint Center site: https://www.ic3.gov/

Never: Call a number provided to you, even if in the guise of an 800type.

Click on a link unless you’re absolutely sure it’s safe.

Download a document that

you’re not absolutely sure about. Allow any unknown party access to your computer.

Further, if you’ve been or become a victim, don’t feel ashamed. Talk about it. Speak out as I am. As friends and family can attest to, I’m a hard-nosed skeptic when interacting with unknowns. Yet I bit. But I’ve discovered that others far more tech-savvy than me have likewise fallen victim. We’re far from alone.

Sadly, a brutal reality of this super-tech age is that scammers are not necessarily hustling you upfront. They’re lurking in the cesspools of the Dark Web waiting to slither into and infect your tech body. And they’re spawning. Consider all the personal stuff you store on and use your computer for. With that in mind, think of it as an extension of yourself, your personal AI—artificial intelligence—space, and then take every precaution to protect it as you do yourself. Remain vigilant, not only during your forays into cyber space but also of yourself: your moods, temperaments, and states of mind, especially when you become worn down. Just because you might be functionally rational doesn’t mean you’re impervious to falling prey.

I’ve been not only acutely reminded about the risks of online research, I’m also keeping more attuned to my mental and emotional states. But I won’t let this interfere with what I love to do: writing.

Although this experience was most challenging, I continue to keep in the forefront of my mind the numerous caring and supportive professionals who helped me navigate the cleanup process. They’re a constant reminder that countering vile, viral cretins are many more wonderful human beings available to help and guide us when needed. For that and them, I’m grateful.

Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for Thought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.

OLDS: This week in the Clear Creek Courant…

50 years of Courant headlines not to be confused with news

BY TEDDY JACOBSEN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Clear Creek County commissioners mull recreational pot – Sept. 4, 2013

Clear Creek county commissioners discussed speci cs about implementing and allowing the sale of recreational marijuana. Issues raised included new shops’ proximity to schools and day-care centers.

Georgetown eyes an ambulance – Sept. 8, 1993

e Emergency Services District in Georgetown was slated to get a much-needed new ambulance thanks to a $54,550 grant from the Colorado Department of Health.

Location, location, location for elementary school – Sept. 8, 1978

e Clear Creek Board of Education

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Clear Creek Advocates appoint new director

e Clear Creek County Advocates are a nonpro t organization that provides comprehensive support to victims of crime and personal tragedy, along with providing education regarding victimization and crime prevention within Clear Creek County.

e Advocates’ board was informed by the long-time director, Joni Albers, that she would be retiring in the fall of 2023. Joni has been working with the Advocates for over 20 years. e Advocate’s board opened the director position in June of 2023 to allow outgoing Director Joni Albers time to train and work cooperatively with the newly appointed director before Joni’s formal retirement took place in the fall.

On July 18th, 2023, the Advocates board unanimously appointed Dawn Jones, of Idaho Springs, as the new director of the Clear Creek County Advocates. Dawn has over eight years of prior Advocate experience as a volunteer. Dawn worked in administrative positions at both the Clear Creek County Sheri ’s O ce

selected the so-called Elmgreen (Hyland Hills) site as the “priority site” for the construction of a new elementary school. e board also approved a list of projects to be covered by a $3.4 million bond issue, which included $2.3 million for the new school. Upgrades to other schools in the district were included in the total bond cost.

Seabees promise to work on railroad –Sept. 7, 1973

Eighty “Seabees” were expected to begin work on the reconstruction of the railroad tracks leading from Silver Plume down to the site of the Georgetown loop. A “Seabee” is a member of one of the construction battalions of the Civil Engineer Corps of the U.S. Navy.

e Clear Creek Courant was created in August of 1973. ese items come from Courant’s historic archives. As it turns out, previous Courant writers had the same idea for the paper’s 25th anniversary. eir section was dubbed, “Olds: Not to be confused with news.” It lives on for an entire year to celebrate the paper’s 50th birthday.

CABRERA

Guadalupe, “Wally” Cabrera Jr.

Guadalupe, “Wally” Cabrera Jr. , 96, was a resident of Idaho Springs Colorado for 11 years. After a a long full life he died May 7th , 2023. He is the son of Guadalupe Sr. and Sophie Cabrera of Chicago Illinois. During World War II he served in the US Navy. Wally is survived by his daughter Judy Gallaher, his son-in-law Dave, grandsons

Carl, and Ben, his two brothers Peter and Jim, and sister Lee, and his brother-in-law Frank , along with many nieces nephews, cousins and godchildren.

In lieu of owers please make a donation to: One Health Hospice 5610 S. Quebec Street Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111

(overseeing the Records Section) and most recently with Clear Creek County Probation. Dawn is also a volunteer re ghter with the Clear Creek Fire Authority.

Dawn has been a long-time resident of Clear Creek County and understands the nuances of working in a rural mountain community. Dawn has real-world knowledge of the challenges faced within a rural county that oftentimes has limited resources.

Dawn is excited to work with an already dedicated group of motivated volunteers who make the Advocates program such a success here in Clear Creek County.

Dawn’s existing relationships with various organizations and residents within Clear Creek along with her friendly demeanor make her an outstanding addition and leader to guide the Advocates program into the future.

e Advocates Board would like to formally welcome Dawn Jones as the new Director of the Clear Creek County Advocates.

Clear Creek County Advocates Board

Why we need friends

In an increasingly lonely society, friends are important for our health

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

At the Littleton branch of Meals on Wheels, delivering food is only one part of the mission.

e organization’s job is to deliver meals to seniors who need them. Volunteers help pack up the food made by the chef and then drive them to various homes in the South Metro area.

While addressing food insecurity, volunteers are also helping seniors feel less isolat-

ed. Gayle Melges, their director of operations, said drivers are encouraged to stay a while to talk with the client.

“ at makes a huge di erence,” she said.  Volunteers not only spend time chatting, but also remember birthdays. e organization will send seniors a birthday cake for the holiday, and for some, it’s the only thing they receive, Melges said.

“ at little bit of being remembered and being a part of the community I think is huge,” Melges said.

Melges has seen isolation increase due to

the pandemic. She noted a loss of community after guidance to stay indoors to not spread the virus. Some of that sense of community is still being rebuilt.

“COVID-19 created a lot of need, especially as everybody was encouraged to not go anywhere and do anything,” Melges said.

Isolation among adults has been a prevalent issue. e Surgeon General released an advisory earlier this year calling attention to the issue. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,

SEE

MAIN PHOTO CREDIT: STOCK IMAGE

FRIENDS

over half of U.S. adults reported experiencing some sense of loneliness, with the pandemic only making that worse.

Loneliness comes with health e ects, too. According to the Surgeon General, poor or insu cient connection results in a 29% increased risk of heart disease, 32% increased risk of stroke and 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults.

ere’s plenty of evidence pointing to how bene cial friendship is, as well as the adverse outcomes of loneliness and social isolation, according to Randi Smith, a professor of psychological sciences at Metropolitan State University.

“We know that people who are lonely and feel socially disconnected have a lot harder time with stress,” Smith said. “ ey’re more

inclined to depressive symptoms, anxiety, more likely to have suicidal ideation or be at greater risk of suicide.”

She provided the example of having a stressful situation to navigate. Having a friend to work through the problem helps, as opposed to being alone.

“We humans are better at being kind and supportive to other people often than we are to ourselves,” she said.

Friendship also increases emotional intimacy.

Smith explained that some of the need comes from evolution. As a social species, humans couldn’t survive without a group. As an example, she pointed to babies developing re exes like grasping to nd an adult.

“Relatedness is a hardwired need that human beings have,” she said.

Physical touch also comes into play. Not just sexual contact, but simple things like a hand on the shoulder or a hug can activate positive physiological responses, Smith said. With people isolating during the pandemic, physical touch sometimes fell by the wayside.

What is a friend?

To each person, a friend means something di erent. And there isn’t a universal standard.

“A friend is best de ned as a self-perception, not as some objective measure,” Smith said.

It’s not the number of friends someone has, but rather one’s own perceived social support. Someone may need one person who is always there for them, or six. It also comes down to reciprocity.

“It’s not just being on the receiving end of social support that we need. It’s also being on the giving end of it,” she said.

Humans feel like helping others because it helps develop a sense of belonging.

Making friends

As people age, it becomes increasingly difcult to make friends.

At di erent life stages, like when children are in school or young adults are in college, it groups many people in the same place going through similar circumstances.  ose settings aren’t as common as people age, but it’s still possible.

Smith said people can use a new app called Bumble BFF, or join in on community events.

MAIN PHOTO CREDIT: STOCK IMAGE

LIBRARY

Chalk Art

10 a.m. Sept. 29

Idaho Springs Public LibraryMatinee: “ e Super Mario Bros. Movie”(runtime: 1 hour, 32 minute)

John Tomay Memorial LibraryGames

Friday Virtual Reality Sessions

Explore new worlds at our virtual reality sessions for tweens and teens (ages 12 years and older). Registration is required. Please email heather@cccld.org to learn more and save your spot.

Schedule:

2-4 p.m. Sept 8 at Idaho Springs

Public Library

2-4 p.m. Sept. 22 at John Tomay

Memorial Library

Book Groups

Connect with other Clear Creek County readers at our book groups.

Let'sPlan ForThe Future

Light refreshments and enjoyable conversations served. Email libby@ cccld.org for information.

Schedule:

4 p.m. Sept. 11 at Idaho Springs

Book Group

“Horse” by Geraldine Brooks

3 p.m. Sept. 21 at John Tomay Memorial Library Book Group

“ e Dictionary of Lost Words” by Pip Williams

Adult Crafts

Craft a triple wrap, beaded boho bracelet at our September jewelry workshops! Supplies will be provided, but space is limited. To register for the workshop, please contact chris@cccld.org.

Schedule:

5:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at Idaho Springs

Public Library

5:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at John Tomay

Memorial Library

SEPTEMBER STAFF BOOK PICK

TEAM MEMBER: Holly

RECOMMENDATION: “And en

ere Were None” (e-audiobook version)

AUTHOR: Agatha Christie

GENRE: Mystery

HOLLY SAYS: Do you have the Libby app for your smart device? Browse through and borrow from a huge selection of e-books, e-magazines, and e-audiobooks – all FREE with your Clear Creek County Library Card! I especially love Libby’s selection of HarperAudio Agatha Christie mysteries; And en ere Were None ranks among the best. Summoned by a mysterious host, ten strangers arrive on an isolated island o the coast of England. One by one, they begin to meet with violent ends. An ominous nursery rhyme, a closed circle of suspects, and an ingenious puzzle make this a classic Christie mystery!

To access the Libby app, start at https://cccld.org/library-resources/, or connect with a Clear Creek County librarian.

LIBRARY SERVICES

COVID Supplies

FREE masks and take-home COVID tests are available for pickup at your Clear Creek County Library branches.  Collection

Check out books, movies, laptops, hotspots, tablets and more. Our Library of ings includes nontraditional items like cookware, kids’ science kits, a therapy lamp, and even an Oculus Quest!

• Explore our book and movie collection at www.cccld.org

• View our Library of ings at https://cccld.org/library-of-things/

• Or, call your Clear Creek County library to learn more and request items.

Do you have the Libby App?

Download the Libby App by Overdrive to your smart device to access thousands of e-books and audiobooks, available for checkout with your library card. Visit https://cccld. org/library-resources/ and click on the Overdrive/Libby icon to get started.

Clear Creek School District students can borrow e-books and audiobooks from CCCLD and the school via the Sora app. Learn more here: https://cccld.org/wp-content/ uploads/2020/08/Sora-Help.pdf

Online Resources

Many library resources are available online, 24/7. Access young learner resources, academic re-

(BPT) - Did you know you can start protecting your baby against u while you are still pregnant? For pregnant people, getting a u shot is the rst and most important action you can take to protect both yourself and your baby from u and its potentially serious complications.

You may have heard that pregnant people are at higher risk of getting very sick and being hospitalized with u. is may be because of changes in the immune system, heart and lungs during pregnancy. Flu also may be harmful to a pregnant person’s developing baby. A common u symptom, fever, has been associated in some studies with adverse outcomes for a developing baby. Additionally, babies younger than 6 months are at higher risk of getting very sick from u, but they are too young to be vaccinated themselves.

FLU SHOT BENEFITS FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY

But there is some great news about u shots for pregnant people and their babies. Studies show a u shot during pregnancy protects pregnant people from u during and after pregnancy. Vaccination during pregnancy also protects the infant during the rst few months after birth when they are too young to get vaccinated themselves. One study showed fewer cases of infants with in uenza in mothers who received the vaccine compared to those mothers who were not vaccinated, displaying a high degree of vaccine e ectiveness. is is because, as a pregnant parent, you pass your antibodies on to your developing baby during your pregnancy.

WHEN TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR BABY

A u shot can be given during any trimester of pregnancy. For most pregnant people, September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated. For pregnant people in their third trimester, however, vaccination during July or August can be considered to provide optimal protection against u for the baby after birth, when they are too young to get vaccinated. is information is outlined in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance for the prevention of u through vaccination for the 2023-2024 season, which was adopted by CDC’s director as CDC policy on June 28, 2023.

GET YOUR FLU SHOT TODAY!

ere are many di erent options for you to get a u shot, including at a health care provider’s o ce, at work, a pharmacy, some stores or even supermarkets. Speak to your health care provider today to learn more about how a u shot can protect you and your baby, and to access information about the importance of all maternal vaccinations including Tdap, COVID-19 and HepB vaccines. You can learn more about u and pregnancy at cdc.gov/ u/ highrisk/pregnant.htm.

Are you pregnant?

Here’s how to protect yourself and your baby against flu

Winter months bring the trifecta of illness Will 2023 have high numbers of flu, RSV, and COVID?

By elma Grimes

With colder months just around the corner, that means it’s time to start thinking about and preparing for the trifecta of illnesses that comes with winter. In 2022, the trifecta was a word used to describe the unseasonably high number of cases of COVID, in uenza and, on the rise in recent years, RSV, also known as a respiratory syncytial virus.

Not only has the increased number of RSV cases caused worries for health o cials across the Front Range, but the early onset of when they start seeing patients ll hospital rooms is a concern.

In 2021, from Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree to Children’s Hospital Colorado campuses across the metro area, doctors said they were seeing RSV cases in August and September, which is uncommon for a respiratory virus that is more common during what is considered u season.

Flu season generally runs between October and February, with the height of cases popping up between December and February.

RSV, usually a respiratory issue that a ects children, is also being seen in more adults over the last few years.

Dr. Ben Usatch, UCHealth emergency-room director at Highlands Ranch Hospital, said there is an RSV vaccine available this year. While noting it is not new, Usatch said attention to the vaccine has increased as more adults, especially senior citizens, are coming down with RSV.

Symptoms of RSV include runny nose, decreased appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever, and wheezing. More severe cases require hospitalization, especially for infants and toddlers.

According to the Colorado Department of Health and Wellness, since October 2022 there have been 2,597 RSV hospital admissions in

Douglas, Je erson, Arapahoe and Adams counties.

ere have been 4,174 COVID hospital admissions in the four-county stretch along the Front Range. In u cases, the state health department has tracked 1,502 admissions.

Usatch said that while he does not have any real studies to back it up, he believes when schools and society shut down during the pandemic, immune systems were weakened

Usatch said once the masks came o , immune systems were put back to work, and that could be the reason for more cases of u, COVID-19 and RSV in 2021 and 2022.

Agreeing with Usatch, Dr. Matt Mendenhall, chief medical o cer at AdventHealth Littleton, said unmasking invited cold seasons to return. During the stretch of the

pandemic when nearly everyone wore masks, colds, RSV and the u were almost nonexistent.

“Last year was a bit overwhelming since it all returned and caught like wild re,” Mendenhall said. “I have never seen an RSV season like last year. e worry this year is if RSV will overwhelm our healthcare systems again.”

Still, Mendenhall said he is optimistic about RSV in 2023, given there have been approved vaccinations for older adults, while the FDA approved Beyfortus for infants.

Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody, is approved for infants and toddlers 24 months and younger, who are the most vulnerable to RSV.

In the upcoming season, Usatch said he believes things could be better than the last two years because disease resistance has increased as

people have returned to ordinary living.

Usatch said the increase in tracking cases is also because doctors learned a lot more during the pandemic, meaning they are more vigilant in checking for everything. Doctors now check for COVID, u and RSV.

“Our box has become much bigger for what we are looking for,” he said.

Usatch said while the general public has seemingly moved on from COVID, cases exist and the virus still spreads quicker than other illnesses.

“With COVID continually mutating, we have to watch out,” he said.

“We have to see what other health issues come with it. Is the (new mu-

tation) more spreadable? Is it more contagious?”

COVID continues to create issues for health o cials worldwide, as the omicron variant was more prevalent in 2022.

In March, the World Health Organization, or WHO, said the omicron viruses account for over 98% of COVID cases since February 2022. ere are now two new COVID variants worrying health o cials, with the EG.5 variant being the most dominant strain in the U.S. In August, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that the EG.5 strain makes up about 20.6% of all new COVID infections.

On Aug. 9, WHO reported that the EG.5 variant poses a low public health risk, saying it is similar to past variants.

However, EG.5 is just as contagious as past variants. Globally, WHO reported that there have been over 1 million new COVID-19 cases and more than 3,100 deaths reported since July.

Since 2020, WHO reported that there have been 768 million conrmed COVID cases and 6.9 million deaths.

When it comes to u season, Mendenhall said he is less optimistic. Each year, U.S. health o cials try to gauge u season during the summer months when it’s wintertime in Australia.

In July, Australian health o cials said this year’s u season is worse than pre-pandemic numbers in 2019 and one of the worst on record.

Mendenhall said like the U.S., Australian vaccination numbers have decreased since the pandemic, with fewer residents getting the u shot.

e controversy surrounding COVID has hurt vaccinations in other areas, Mendenhall said, stressing that politics in healthcare has created some hardships since 2020.

Usatch said the u vaccination is vital to decreasing hospital admissions during winter months. While the vaccine is not 100% e ective, it does decrease a person’s chances of catching u or risking complications from it.

“It’s not about being a good or bad vaccine,” Usatch said. “( ose making the vaccine) consider recent

strains and work to make the best guess for the new vaccine and hope that it covers a lot of strains. Vaccines are just great tools for people to take advantage of.”

Mendenhall said it’s important for residents to listen to their physicians and follow the science when it comes to preparing for the upcoming season.

“ e science is clear — vaccines protect from illness,” he said.

Both COVID and u vaccinations are expected in September this year.

Mendenhall said for COVID vaccinations this year, it’s important to remember that the government is no longer paying for shots. is year, residents will have to rely on insurance or themselves to pay for them.

Usatch said vaccinations are the best option to decrease cases in the upcoming season.

“You really got to start vaxing up in September and October,” Usatch said. “ ere is a new COVID vaccination this year, there is more access to RSV vaccinations, and for those who qualify, there is a pneumococcal vaccine.”

e pneumococcal vaccine is usually available to vulnerable citizens aged 65 and older. e vaccine prevents pneumococcal pneumonia. According to the American Lung Association website, pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common type of bacterial pneumonia, with the risk increasing with a person’s age and certain chronic conditions.

Pneumococcal pneumonia can develop after a person has been infected with a viral cold or u.

Besides getting vaccinated, Usatch said the best way to combat the trifecta of viruses that can spread in and beyond the metro area is to be vigilant.

“Pay attention to your environment,” he said. “Pay attention to yourself. If you are sick, you need to respect your coworkers and stay home. We have tools and tests to do surveillance and understand what’s out there, but most importantly, you need to keep yourself protected. Keep yourself healthy.”

Mendenhall also advised parents to be cautious with children going to school. School-aged children showing symptoms of RSV, u, COVID or a cold should be kept home.

Via Mobility Services

Friendly

ƒ Affordable, door-through-door transportation

ƒ Specially trained drivers

ƒ Anywhere you need to go — medical appointments, social activities, recreation, and more.

CDC Shares Community Drug Overdose Prevention Successes in New Resources

(BPT) - Drug overdoses are preventable, yet more than one million people died from a drug overdose between 1999 and 2021. Every day, almost 300 people lose their lives due to drug overdose. Public health professionals, policymakers and communities all play a role in preventing overdose deaths. Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) is a CDC-funded program that helps state and local health departments, and the communities they serve, to get high-quality, timelier data on nonfatal and fatal drug overdoses and use those data to inform prevention and response e orts. CDC supports OD2A-funded communities in their ability to address drug overdoses by providing access to subject matter experts and tailored technical assistance, and overdose prevention resources. “ e impact of this crisis is far-reaching, touching the lives of our families, friends and neighbors in deeply personal and profound ways. By prioritizing successful prevention and response e orts and providing tailored tools and resources, we can help ensure everyone has access to the care and support they need to live healthy, ful lling lives - building stronger, more resilient communities,” says Christopher M. Jones, PharmD, DrPH, MPH (CAPT U.S. Public Health Service), Director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

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Sharing state and local overdose prevention and response strategies

CDC developed the OD2A Case Studies to capture in-depth information from funded jurisdictions about current and emerging practices related to overdose prevention and response. Designed for public health practitioners, these case studies share examples that can be adapted at the state and local levels. Partners on the ground asked for more relevant and applicable strategies, so CDC identi ed six key topic areas for interviews, analysis and write-ups in these case studies.

• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are preventable, potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years).

• Harm reduction is a public health approach that focuses on reducing the harmful consequences of drug use.

• Linkage to care is the process of connecting people at risk of overdose to evidence-based treatment, services and support.

• Public safety-led post-overdose outreach can help identify people at higher risk of overdose by linking them to care and other overdose prevention and harm reduction e orts.

• State and local health departments are uniquely positioned to respond to the drug over-

dose crisis, with the authority to enact policies, deploy resources and coordinate various partners.

• Reducing stigma at multiple levels and creating a culture of change is important to helping people at risk of overdose.

Helping communities put effective practices to work

When people’s lives are on the line, integrated data and e ective programs help communities take action to protect people from drug overdose and related harms. e overdose crisis requires prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction e orts that are tailored to promote optimal health for all.

Communities are demonstrating innovation in reducing overdose and are sharing compelling examples of collaboration and teamwork. CDC is showcasing these so that communities can learn from each other. Beyond promoting the critical work that continues nationwide, tools and resources like the OD2A Case Studies encourage applying solutions that work to help communities that need it most.

For additional OD2A resources or to learn more about how CDC is working to prevent overdoses and substance use-related harms visit: https:// www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/od2a/index.html/.

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LIBRARY

search

• Academic Search Premier EBSCO features more than 4,600 magazines and journals, including full text for nearly 3,900 peerreviewed titles.

• BookFlix builds a love of reading through thematically-paired ction and non ction titles, plus animated storybook classics.

• Brainfuse provides online homework help through the HelpNow service. Take advantage of services like live online tutoring, the writing lab, collaborative study sessions, and more.

• Access digitized local newspapers from 1867 to 1926. Search your family name or topics of interest for a quick exploration of the county’s history.

• Our Local History Archives’ digital repository includes over 500 historical images (as well as oral histories and local music) of Clear Creek County for you to nd and explore.

Find our full catalog of online resources at https://cccld.org/library-resources/. Need help getting started? Connect with your friendly Clear Creek County librarian — we are here to help you!

Home delivery

Do you need library materials, but are unable to leave your home? Let us bring the library to you! Call us for details. Home delivery services are intended for homebound per-

AUCTION CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

sons and patrons experiencing illness, and availability is determined by weather and sta ng.

Idaho Springs Public Library: 303567-2020

John Tomay Memorial Library: 303-569-2620

Local History Archives: 303-5692403

Tech access and study spaces

Enjoy access to computers, WiFi, and study spaces at your Clear Creek County Library.

Book our conference room at Idaho Springs Public Library for a quiet space to meet or work. Please call 303-567-2020 to make your reservation.

Technical assistance

Did you know that you can book a librarian for technical assistance? Our library sta can assist you with a variety of tasks –– using a tablet or

smartphone, navigating the internet, setting up an email account, posting a resume online, accessing information, and more. Contact your Clear Creek County Library branch or email heather@cccld.org for more information.

Prints, copies, faxes

Email printcccld@gmail.com or call your Clear Creek County Library branch to request prints, copies, and faxes — or, just come in and use our equipment during our hours of operation

Notary services

Notary services are FREE! Please contact your Clear Creek County Library branch to book your appointment.

Little Free Libraries

Help yourself to free, gently-loved

‘20 CAT 259D3 tracked skid steer loader

2023

SLASH

COLLECTION DATES & LOCATIONS

WHAT IS SLASH?

property, creating defensible space around their home. Organic debris such as tree limbs and branches, known as slash, contributes to the high risk of fire danger in Jefferson County. All slash is composted.

Site locations hours 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Please arrive no later than 3:30 p.m. as the unloading process takes ~30 mins.

WHAT IS SLASH?

Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes.

Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes. Allows residents to dispose of the wildfire fuel on their property, creating defensible space around their home.

Allows residents to dispose of the wildfire fuel on their property, creating defensible space around their home.

Organic debris such as tree limbs and pine needles, known as slash, contributes to the high risk of fire danger in Jefferson County. All slash is composted.

Organic debris such as tree limbs and branches, known as slash, contributes to the high risk of fire danger in Jefferson County. All slash is composted.

WHAT IS SLASH?

WHAT IS SLASH?

Not Accepted

Limbs

Branches

Woody debris

Tree bark

Pine cones

Logs:

-Max length: 8 feet

-Max diameter: 6 inches

Construction material

Lumber

Household trash

Metal of any kind

Rocks

Tree stumps

Yard waste/grass clippings

Bags

For more information, resources, and directions, go to:

SIGN-UP FOR

For more information, resources, and directions, go to: jeffco.us/slash

1 load = 6 cubic yards (162 cubic feet of material)

$20/load (1 truck bed or trailer) Credit Cards ONLY

Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes. Allows residents to dispose of the wildfire fuel on their property, creating defensible space around their home.

Entertaining the Community Since 1995

Colorado teachers can get up to $1,000 for classroom materials with new grants

BY ERICA MELTZER CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Colorado teachers can get up to $1,000 toward classroom learning materials. O er good while supplies last.

Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova announced the grant opportunity —a partnership with the website DonorsChoose —at Westview Elementary School in Northglenn in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district ursday. e money —$11 million in total —comes from federal pandemic relief money intended to help stu-

dents recover from COVID learning disruptions. In their applications, teachers will have to describe how the materials will contribute to learning recovery. Examples could include equipment for science experiments, games and puzzles to bolster reading skills, or hands-on materials that help students learn multiplication or fractions.

Córdova said she knows teachers dig into their own pockets every year —sometimes to the tune of hundreds of dollars —to make their classrooms inviting and engaging

SEE GRANTS, P23

DONATIONS

books from our Little Free Libraries at these Clear Creek County locations:

Idaho Springs: Clear Creek Metropolitan Recreation District, Clear Creek Health and Wellness Center, Edelweiss Pastry Shop

Georgetown: Georgetown Market

St. Mary’s Glacier: Alice Schoolhouse

Are you seeking a new home for your gently-used books? Please consider donating them to Clear Creek County Library District for use in our programs, book sales, and Little Free Libraries. Email kate@cccld.org or call 303-567-2020 for more information. Please do not drop o book donations without pre-approval.

VISITING AND CURBSIDE PICKUP HOURS

Idaho Springs Public Library Hours

Monday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. ursday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sunday: CLOSED

John Tomay Memorial Library Hours

Monday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

ursday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sunday: CLOSED

Local History Archives (in the Georgetown Heritage Center) — visitors are welcome with appointment.

Curbside pickup services — available by appointment; please contact your library branch to schedule your pickup.

Contact the library at hello@cccld. org or visit www.cccld.org.

FROM PAGE 19

GRANTS

places for learning. She said this grant complements other pandemic relief initiatives that aim to make bigger changes for lots of kids, such as paying for new curriculum or tutoring. By allowing individual teachers to apply for money, the state can match federal money to local needs and know the money “would go

directly into classrooms.”

e money comes from the second round of federal pandemic relief. e state has until Sept. 30 to distribute that money.

lot. ey also had to make do with a single container of Play-Doh per child.

“We know this will be very popular, and the funding probably won’t last very long,” Córdova said.

Having money to cover more materials means she can design more hands-on learning, and students stay more engaged, she said. It even means fewer behavioral problems.

Henderson is Hiring and Investing in Colorado!

Second grade teacher Jenny Lage recalled a project she did last year in which her students used Play-Doh to build animal habitats that were displayed in a miniature art show. Her students loved it and learned a

Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Oklahoma have done similar projects with pandemic relief dollars.

will review requests. Qualifying applications will typically be funded in two to ve days. DonorsChoose will withhold its suggested donation and sales taxes from the grant amount. e application is open now, and requests will be lled on a rstcome, rst-serve basis until the funding runs out.

Henderson has operated in Colorado since 1976 and is investing nearly $150 million into our operations to enable future production. We are committed to our employees and our community and are currently hiring new employees to join our 360 strong! Further, the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, recently announced more than $300,000 to Henderson Operations Social Investment Grant recipients in 2022. Learn more about the recipients below:

To participate, teachers should go to the DonorsChoose Colorado Instruction Page. DonorsChoose

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

• Clear Creek County: Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center – $100,000 (second payment of a $500,000 commitment) This will support the building and launch of the first collaborative care center in Clear Creek County.

Henderson is Hiring and Investing in Colorado!

Henderson is Hiring and Investing in Colorado!

Henderson has operated in Colorado since 1976 and is investing nearly $150 million into our operations to enable future production. We are committed to our employees and our community and are currently hiring new employees to join our 360 strong! Further, the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, recently announced more than $300,000 to Henderson Operations Social Investment Grant recipients in 2022. Learn more about the recipients below:

•Clear Creek County: DLD Sub-Area Planning Grant – $60,000 Funding supports a planning process to strategically identify enhanced community, land use and infrastructure proposals to provide new sustainable revenue streams and improved services.

Henderson is Hiring and Investing in Colorado!

Henderson has operated in Colorado since 1976 and is investing nearly $150 million into our operations to enable future production. We are committed to our employees and our community and are currently hiring new employees to join our 360 strong! Further, the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, recently announced more than $300,000 to Henderson Operations Social Investment Grant recipients in 2022. Learn more about the recipients below:

Henderson has operated in Colorado since 1976 and is investing nearly $150 million into our operations to enable future production. We are committed to our employees and our community and are currently hiring new employees to join our 360 strong! Further, the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, recently announced more than $300,000 to Henderson Operations Social Investment Grant recipients in 2022. Learn more about the recipients below:

• Clear Creek County: Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center – $100,000 (second payment of a $500,000 commitment) This will support the building and launch of the first collaborative care center in Clear Creek County.

•Clear Creek County School District: Career-Connected Learning Project – $10,000 When combined with a $10,000 match of Henderson employee donations through Mile High United Way, it will support increasing opportunities for students to engage in career-connected experiential learning.

• Clear Creek County: Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center – $100,000 (second payment of a $500,000 commitment) This will support the building and launch of the first collaborative care center in Clear Creek County.

•Clear Creek County: Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center – $100,000 (second payment of a $500,000 commitment) This will support the building and launch of the first collaborative care center in Clear Creek County.

•Clear Creek County: DLD Sub-Area Planning Grant – $60,000 Funding supports a planning process to strategically identify enhanced community, land use and infrastructure proposals to provide new sustainable revenue streams and improved services.

•Grand County Rural Health Network: Grand County Multisector Resource Hub – $25,000 Funding will support a collaborative planning process around the development of a multisector resource hub that would provide a one-stop resource for marginalized community members of Grand County.

•Clear Creek County: DLD Sub-Area Planning Grant – $60,000 Funding supports a planning process to strategically identify enhanced community, land use and infrastructure proposals to provide new sustainable revenue streams and improved services.

• Clear Creek County: DLD Sub-Area Planning Grant – $60,000 Funding supports a planning process to strategically identify enhanced community, land use and infrastructure proposals to provide new sustainable revenue streams and improved services.

•Clear Creek County School District: Career-Connected Learning Project – $10,000 When combined with a $10,000 match of Henderson employee donations through Mile High United Way, it will support increasing opportunities for students to engage in career-connected experiential learning.

•Grand County Rural Health Network: Grand County Multisector Resource Hub – $25,000 Funding will support a collaborative planning process around the development of a multisector resource hub that would provide a one-stop resource for marginalized community members of Grand County.

•Clear Creek County School District: Career-Connected Learning Project – $10,000 When combined with a $10,000 match of Henderson employee donations through Mile High United Way, it will support increasing opportunities for students to engage in career-connected experiential learning.

•Clear Creek County School District: Career-Connected Learning Project – $10,000 When combined with a $10,000 match of Henderson employee donations through Mile High United Way, it will support increasing opportunities for students to engage in career-connected experiential learning.

•Grand County Search and Rescue: Mission Control Vehicle – $46,000 The vehicle will replace an inoperable multipurpose avalanche response, complex mission and command truck for Grand County.

•Grand County Rural Health Network: Grand County Multisector Resource Hub – $25,000 Funding will support a collaborative planning process around the development of a multisector resource hub that would provide a one-stop resource for marginalized community members of Grand County.

•Grand County Rural Health Network: Grand County Multisector Resource Hub – $25,000 Funding will support a collaborative planning process around the development of a multisector resource hub that would provide a one-stop resource for marginalized community members of Grand County.

•Grand County Search and Rescue: Mission Control Vehicle – $46,000 The vehicle will replace an inoperable multipurpose avalanche response, complex mission and command truck for Grand County.

•Middle Park Medical Foundation: Kremmling Wellness Center Gym – $75,000 Funding supports the development of a modern community recreation space with a goal of improving the overall health of the community by creating more opportunities to engage in recreational activities.

•Grand County Search and Rescue: Mission Control Vehicle – $46,000 The vehicle will replace an inoperable multipurpose avalanche response, complex mission and command truck for Grand County.

•Grand County Search and Rescue: Mission Control Vehicle – $46,000 The vehicle will replace an inoperable multipurpose avalanche response, complex mission and command truck for Grand County.

•Middle Park Medical Foundation: Kremmling Wellness Center Gym – $75,000 Funding supports the development of a modern community recreation space with a goal of improving the overall health of the community by creating more opportunities to engage in recreational activities.

•Middle Park Medical Foundation: Kremmling Wellness Center Gym – $75,000 Funding supports the development of a modern community recreation space with a goal of improving the overall health of the community by creating more opportunities to engage in recreational activities.

Congratulations to the recipients!

•Middle Park Medical Foundation: Kremmling Wellness Center Gym – $75,000 Funding supports the development of a modern community recreation space with a goal of improving the overall health of the community by creating more opportunities to engage in recreational activities.

Congratulations to the recipients!

Congratulations to the recipients!

Since 2012, more than $1.6 million has been invested through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation in Clear Creek and Grand counties. The funds have been awarded to programs and projects that build community resilience and capacity.

Congratulations to the recipients!

Since 2012, more than $1.6 million has been invested through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation in Clear Creek and Grand counties. The funds have been awarded to programs and projects that build community resilience and capacity.

Since 2012, more than $1.6 million has been invested through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation in Clear Creek and Grand counties. The funds have been awarded to programs and projects that build community resilience and capacity.

Since 2012, more than $1.6 million has been invested through the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation in Clear Creek and Grand counties. The funds have been awarded to programs and projects that build community resilience and capacity.

For more information on hiring visit www.moly.jobs and for more information on community investment grants visit FreeportInMyCommunity.com

For more information on hiring visit www.moly.jobs and for more information on community investment grants visit FreeportInMyCommunity.com

For more information on hiring visit www.moly.jobs and for more information on community investment grants visit FreeportInMyCommunity.com

ADVENTHEALTHPARKER

PRESENTS

COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA'S 2023WOMEN'SHEALTH

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BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Modern times meet the Wild West thanks to the Westernaires.

Youth from around the metro area drive to Fort Westernaire next to the Je erson County Fairgrounds to learn, ride, look after and perform on horses. eir performances tell stories spanning from the old West to Disney characters.

e nonpro t organization is all about horses and performing, and while that’s what the public sees, for the 850 participants between 9 and 19 years old and the 500 adult volunteers, it’s so much more.

What makes Westernaires special, according to Rhoda Schleicher, a longtime volunteer from Evergreen, is it provides participants with a sense of community, an alternative to regular sports and school activities, and for many families, it’s a generational tradition with parents and grandparents now having younger family members in the organization.

Westernaires was formed in 1949, and participants train year-round at Fort Westernaire, which maintains three outdoor and three indoor arenas, as well as stables for the horses it owns and rents to participants. Fort Westernaire also houses classrooms, a club store, museum and caretakers’ quarters.

A July 16 show at the Evergreen rodeo grounds was an exercise in

Not horsing around

WANT TO GO?

The Westernaires’ Horsecapades annual fundraising show will be Oct. 28-29 at the National Western Stock Show Event Center, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver. Shows are at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Oct. 28 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 29. Tickets are $12 and available at www.westernaires.org.

controlled chaos as teams moved from performance to performance and costume to costume. While performers joked and chatted between performances, they were all business as they maneuvered their horses into the arena.

“High speed, precision horsemanship in a dazzling array of costumes,” the Westernaires website said. “Rope tricks. Flaming batons. Historical battle reenactments. Astonishing trick riding. All performed by young people who have chosen the road less traveled. While others take up more common sports and activities, the youth of Westernaires work year-round at honing skills that represent the best traditions of the American West.”

Westernaires encourages self-respect, responsibility and leadership through horsemanship and family participation.

“Westernaires gives kids something to do, and it teaches them to be good citizens and gives them responsibilities,” Schleicher said.

“ ey are trained in caring for horses, and they work hard to be accepted onto teams and perform. ( is organization) is very old school.”

Schleicher estimated that there were 10 girls for every boy in Westernaires.

e Cook family in Evergreen is

heavily involved in Westernaires. Isabella, 10, said she was afraid of horses as a youngster but that fear is long gone. She likes the opportunity to travel for performances and to be with her friends.

Isabella’s older brother, James Cook, said he’s made lifelong friends through Westernaires. In fact, half of his wedding party consisted of people he met through the organization.

Brother Lucas Cook said the best thing about Westernaires was being able to ride horses and connect with them. Lucas would like to be a bronc rider when he is older.

Josie Sandifer of Evergreen, who has been a member for 10 years, said Westernaires was a part of daily life for her and her family because it takes a lot of practice to perform routines correctly.

“It takes a lot of time and e ort to be in Westernaires,” she added.

Jordan Slotterback of Fort Lupton does a lot of driving to get to Fort

Westernaire, but it’s worth it, especially after making it to the Varsity Red Team — the top group in the organization.

Participants go through di erent levels, starting as Tenderfeet in the blue division, and as their skills progress, they move to the white division and then to the red division.

“My mom was in Westernaires,” Slotterback said. “We used to go to (Fort Westernaire) as kids.”

Logan Dunbar of Aurora will graduate from Westernaires at the stock show in January. He is planning to go into aerospace engineering, and while getting to spend time with the horses is the best part of Westernaires, he also has learned skills to help in college and beyond.

Grace McCormick, 19, who is in her last year of Westernaires, said the group is like a second family.

“When you have a hard day, it’s nice to come to the arena and be with the horses,” she said. “Horses are family, too.”

Members of the Westernaires ride into the Evergreen rodeo grounds in July during a show.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Members of the Westernaires are all business when it comes to horses, performing

1. TELEVISION: Which animated series stars a precocious toddler named Stewie Gri n?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Where are the Diomede Islands located?

3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Former President Jimmy Carter served in which branch of the military?

4. LITERATURE: Which 20th-century novel featured a character named Boo Radley?

5. U.S. STATES: What animal is featured on California’s state ag?

6. HISTORY: Which U.S. state was the last to remove a ban on interracial marriage?

7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of sharks called?

8. AD SLOGANS: Which products were advertised with a slogan that called them

Solution

TRIVIA

“indescribably delicious”?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What shape has been used in U.S. stop signs since the 1920s?

10. PSYCHOLOGY: What irrational fear is represented by the condition called alektorophobia?

Answers

1. “Family Guy”

2. e Bering Strait, between Alaska and Siberia

3. Navy

4. “To Kill a Mockingbird”

5. A bear

6. Alabama in 2000

7. A shiver

8. Mounds and Almond Joy candy bars

9. Octagon

10. A fear of chickens

Crossword Solution

1. Name the movie that included “Secret Surfin’ Spot” and “Swingin’ and Surfin’” in the musical lineup.

2. Who wrote the melody behind “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh”?

3. What do The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Starship have in common?

4. Who wrote and released “Peppermint Twist”?

5. Name the song that contains these lyrics: “When she mentioned how her aunt bit off the spoon, She completely done me in.”

NOW HERE’S A TIP

* Glitter cleanup can be a hassle. Here’s my tip for getting it up quickly with no mess left behind: Use play dough. Just press it into the stray glitter and it will pick it right up. en you’ve created glitter dough! Oh, your kids will be impressed. Here are some more kid tips. -- JoAnn

* Can’t seem to part with those baby blankets now that the kids are not babies anymore? Don’t! Sew them into oor pillow covers and watch the kids get a few more years out of them.

* My daughter is old enough to play on our street with her friends, but not necessarily old enough for a cellphone. Instead, we repurposed a set of walkie talkies. Her boundary is in walkie talkie range, and we can communicate. Plus, it’s just fun! -- T.F. in Maryland

* Our friends who live in an apartment have a great storable sandbox solution. ey use a plastic under-the-bed storage bin lled with sand and toys. It has a lid and can be stored easily on

their balcony. e kids still get to play in the sand even on rainy days. -- W. in Kentucky

* I saw this idea in a magazine somewhere, and now I make them for other moms and dads, as they are cute and functional: Make a cell number beaded bracelet your kids can wear when you go out. Little kids may not remember Mommy’s cellphone number, but they can bring the bracelet to a store employee and ask him or her to call the number on the bracelet. Use elastic thread and colorful number beads. -- P.S. in Oregon

* If you use a 1/4-inch hole punch, which you can get at a hardware store for cheap, you easily can make a straw hole in the plastic tops of kids’ single serving drinks, like milk and water bottles. Less chance of a spill.

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

FLASHBACK

Answers 1. “Beach Party,” in 1963, starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. There were seven beach films over the years.

2. Allan Sherman’s 1963 parody about a boy writing a letter home from camp was put to the music of Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours,” written in 1876. Several other works have also borrowed from that music, including Disney cartoons.

3. Grace Slick sang lead in all the groups.

4. Joey Dee and the Starliters in 1961. The early ‘60s saw dozens of “twist” songs, but this one topped the charts.

5. “On the Street Where You Live,” by Jeremy Brett in the 1964 film “My Fair Lady,” based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 stage play “Pygmalion.” Jeremy Brett’s song was actually dubbed by Bill Shirley, as Brett couldn’t sing.

(c) 2023 King Features Syndicate

Help Wanted

Tom Morton’s family is looking for a Caregiver!

Position Pay: $30 an hour, 5 days a week. Duties include: Companionship, Light Housekeeping, Errand Services & Grocery Shopping. You can email: tommy.mortom11@ gmail.com for more details.

Clear Creek County is hiring with new higher pay rates! Apply at: 403 Argentine Street in Georgetown.

Personals

Caregiver, 10 yrs. experience

Wanting to care for person once a week: meal preparation, light housekeeping, run errands. Get ready for the week ahead!

Joann

303-748-9007

Garage Sales

The Ridge at Hiwan Annual Community Garage Sale

A neighborhood wide sale of classy old stuff!

Saturday, September 9th

9 am to 3 pm

Enter at Keystone or Sugarbush and look for the signs

Merchandise

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Public Notices call

Legals

Public Trustees

Public Notice

COMBINED NOTICE -

PUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 2023-011

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

On June 22, 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) Tim R Hamid and Linda J Hamid as Joint Tenants Original Beneficiary(ies)

Bank of America, N.A. Current Holder of Evidence of Debt Bank of America, N.A.

Date of Deed of Trust

May 25, 2009

County of Recording Clear Creek

Recording Date of Deed of Trust

June 02, 2009

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

253052 Book: 807 Page: 251

Original Principal Amount

$140,000.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$103,378.75

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), You are hereby notified that the current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described above, the original principal amount of which was $140,000.00, declares that the covenants of said Deed of Trust have been violated for reasons including, but not limited to, the failure to make timely payments required under said Deed of Trust and the Evidence of Debt secured thereby. Therefore, the current holder of the Evidence of Debt has elected to accelerate the entire indebtedness. The outstanding principal balance (exclusive of interest and any other charges properly allowable under the document(s) evidencing said debt) due and owing upon the Evidence of Debt secured by the above-described Deed of Trust being foreclosed is $103,378.75.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

303-566-4123

LOTS 7, 8 AND 9, BLOCK 4, TOWN OF SILVER PLUME, EXCEPTING THAT PART OF LOTS8 AND 9 MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS, TO-WIT:

BEGINNING AT THE SE CORNER OF LOT9

WHENCE CORNER NO. 12 OF THE SILVER

PLUME TOWNSITE BEARS N. 87 DEGREES

10’30” E., 89.91 FEET; THENCE S. 66 DE-

GREES 46’ W., 18.50 FEET; THENCE N. 23

DEGREES 15’ W., 34.00 FEET; THENCE S. 66

DEGREES 46’ W., 13.90 FEET; THENCE N. 23

DEGREES 15’ W., 58.00 FEET; THENCE N. 66

DEGREES 46’ E. 32.40 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 23 DEGREES 15’ E., 92.00 FEET TO THE PLACE OF BEGINNING, COUNTY OF CLEAR CREEK, STATE OF COLORADO.

ALSO KNOW BY STREET AND NUMBER AS 1035 MAIN STREET, SILVER PLUME, COLORADO 80476

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, 10/19/2023, 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 Publication8/24/2023

Last Publication9/21/2023

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: 06/22/2023

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-23-960541-LL

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.

City and County

Public Notice

SILVER PLUME BOARD OF TRUSTEES VACANCY

THE TOWN OF SILVER PLUME IS SEEKING AN ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL TO FILL ONE (1) VACANCY ON THE SILVER PLUME BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

THE BOARD MEETS MONTHLY ON THE SECOND AND FOUTH MONDAYS AT 7:00PM.

IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS, PER COLORADO CONSTITUTION AND RELATED STATUATES:

• MUST BE 18 YEARS OLD AS OF THE DATE OF APPOINTMENT

• MUST BE A US CITIZEN

• MUST BE A RESIDENT OF COLORADO FOR AT LEAST 22 DAY PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT

• MUST BE A RESIDENT OF SILVER PLUME FOR AT LEAST 12 CONSECTUTIVE MONTHS

PRIOR TO THE DATE OF APPOINTMENT

• MUST NOT BE SERVING SENTENCE IN ANY PUBLIC PRISION

• MUST BE REGISTERED TO VOTE

THIS TERM WILL END WITH THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED ELECTION IN APRIL 2024.

INTERESTED PERSONS SHOULD SUBMIT A WRITTEN PROPOSAL OF INTEREST TO THE TOWN CLERK OF SILVER PLUME BEGINNING AUGUST 29TH, 2023.

WRITTEN PROPOSALS SHOULD BE TURNED INTO THE TOWN CLERK NO LATER THAN 4:00PM ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2023.

Town Hall Office Hours and Contact Information:

Monday though Thursday, 1:00pm-5:00pm. Closed Fridays. 303-569-2363 clerk@silverplumetown.com

710 Main Street (PO Drawer F) Silver Plume, CO, 80476

Legal Notice No. CCC683

First Publication: September 7, 2023

Last Publication: September 21, 2023

Publisher: Clear Creek Courant

Public Notice

L0907-MH DELQ LIST OF DELINQUENT MOBILE HOME AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE TAX YEAR 2022 CLEAR CREEK COUNTY

Following is a list of names, location and amount of MOBILE HOME & PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES assessed and unpaid, as evidenced by the current Tax Roll, including interest, penalties and advertising costs up to and including September 28, 2023. At any time after the First day of October, the Treasurer shall enforce collection of delinquent taxes on personal property by DISTRAINING, SEIZING and SELLING such property.

M016010 CLIFFORD GAIL

Parcel: 183728226027

MBL HOME TITLE: 51E151920 SERIAL: P278130 YEAR: 1997 MAKE: SCH

SIZE: 16X66 Subdiv: SILVER SPRUCE TRAILER COURT SP 7 MOBILE ONLY

203 S GUANELLA ST #7

Total Due: $110.61

P161052 NATURE MED, INC

Parcel: 196312 35715 US40 #D302 Total Due: $4,206.98