Denver Herald Dispatch January 25, 2024

Serving the community since 1926

WEEK OF JANUARY 25, 2024

VOLUME 97 | ISSUE 8

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Packing a lot of cow into a smaller package Continued

decline of streamflows projected for Colorado

BY HEATHER SACKETT ASPEN JOURNALISM

Caleb Spencer, 17, from Missouri, is showing a Miniature Hereford owned by the Ace High Cattle Company.

Miniature Herefords find a niche amid National Western Stock Show giants

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Something to count on at the National Western Stock is the size of the massive bulls on display, but one of the more unique attractions is the Miniature Herefords.

Erin Elridge, who owns Ace High Cattle Company from Bruneau, Idaho, raises the breed for more than 25 markets and shows.

“There are many benefits to the Miniature Hereford; they could be raised on less acreage,” Eldridge said.

“They’re easy on ground soil because

they weigh less than the standard cattle. They eat hay and corn. If you use them for meat, it all fits in your freezer.”

Eldridge said the breed was first brought from England to Texas in the 19th Century.

“They were the cattle of the 1940s and 1950s in the United States. The Hereford Miniature cattle started at this small size and then bred to the larger frame Hereford. They were brought over from England by the Largent family and bred in Texas,” Eldridge said.

According to the Miniature Breeders Association, the C.W. Largent family moved from Tennessee to Merkel, Texas, with four sons in 1902. They were the first families in Texas to breed and show registered Miniature Herefords. The goal was to breed valuable cattle, adapt to their ranch’s environmental conditions, and maintain its small stature.

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PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

History of bloodline

According to the Miniature Breeders Association, The ancestry of English Miniature Herefords goes back about 250 year. England was massively populated and relied on multi-purpose oxen that pulled carts and provided milk and meat for the families. During the mid-century, city populations grew the size of animals became a problem.

The association said today’s breed is descended from those oxen.

One family that had been raising cattle in Herefordshire used native grass pastures to feed and fatten the animals and to fulfill the market’s need for beef economically. Those individual animals were the ancestors of the modern breed.

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Scientists predict with high confidence that Colorado’s future spring runoff will come earlier; soil moisture will be lower; heat waves, droughts and wildfires will be more frequent and intense; and a thirstier atmosphere will continue to rob rivers of their flows — changes that are all driven by higher temperatures caused by humans burning fossil fuels.

These findings are according to the third Climate Change in Colorado Assessment report, produced by scientists at the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University. Commissioned by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the report’s findings have implications for the state’s water managers. Borrowing a phrase from climate scientist Brad Udall, climate change is water change — which has become a common maxim for those water managers.

The report focuses on 2050 as a planning horizon and projects what conditions will be like at that time. According to the report, by 2050, the statewide annual temperatures are projected to warm by 2.5 to 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit compared with a late-20th-century baseline and 1 to 4 degrees compared with today. Colorado temperatures have already risen by 2.3 degrees since 1980. By 2050, the average year is likely to be as warm as the hottest years on record through 2022.

SEE STEAMFLOWS, P2

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STEAMFLOWS FROM PAGE 1

This warming, which scientists are very confident will come to pass, will drive the other water system changes that Colorado can expect to see. As temperatures rise and streamflows decline, water supply will decrease.

According to the report, by 2050 there will be an annual reduction of 5-30% in streamflow volume; a 5-30% reduction of April 1 snowwater equivalent (a measure of how much water is in the snowpack) and an 8-17% increase in evaporative demand (a measure of how “thirsty” the atmosphere is). A hotter, drier atmosphere can fuel dry soils and wildfire risk. Peak snowpack, which usually occurs in April, is also predicted to shift earlier by a few days to several weeks.

“Streamflows are primarily driven by snowpack that melts in the spring,” said Becky Bolinger, CSU research scientist, assistant state climatologist and lead author of the report. “When you are warming your temperatures, you are first changing the timing of when that snowpack will melt. And because we’re losing more to the atmosphere, that means we have less to run off in our rivers and be available for us later.”

Scientists are less certain about whether precipitation will increase or decrease in the future. Dry conditions have persisted across the state over the past two decades, with four of the five driest years occurring since 2000. Most climate models project an increase in winter precipitation, but they suggest the potential for large decreases in summer precipitation.

But even if precipitation stays the same, streamflows will dwindle because of increased temperatures.

CWCB officials hope water man-

Under skies made hazy by wildfire smoke, flows in the Crystal River near Carbondale dipped in 2018. A new report on climate ASPEN JOURNALISM change in Colorado projects more frequent and intense wildfires and reduced streamflows in the future.

agers across the state will use the report to help plan for a future with less water. Many entities have already shifted to developing programs that support climate adaptation and resilience.

“I think we can say with confidence that it is more likely that we will have water shortages in the future,” said Emily Adid, CWCB senior climate adaptation specialist. “I think this report is evidence of that and can help local planners and people on the ground plan for those reductions in streamflow.”

Denver Water is one of those water

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providers that will use the report’s findings in its planning. The utility, which is the oldest and largest in the state, provides water to 1.5 million people and helped to fund the report.

Denver Water has been preparing for a future with a less-reliable water supply through conservation and efficiency measures, reservoir expansion projects and wildfire mitigation.

“Projected future streamflows is a huge challenge for the water resources industry,” said Taylor Winchell, Denver Water’s senior planner and climate adaptation specialist. “The same amount of precipitation in the future means less steamflow because temperatures will continue to warm. … All this leads to this concept of uncertainty. We really need to plan for a variety of ways the future can happen essentially.”

Another finding of the report is that temperatures have warmed more in the fall than other seasons, with a 3.1 degrees Fahrenheit increase statewide since 1980, a trend that is expected to continue. Although it’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of fall warming, Bolinger said it may have to do with the summer monsoons pattern, which can bring moisture with near-daily thunderstorms, but which have been weaker in recent years. That precipitation is critical, she said.

“First, you’re keeping the temperatures from getting too hot because you’re clouding over and getting storms,” Bolinger said. “And generally, with higher humidity, you’re going to have less evaporative loss from the soil. What we’ve been seeing in recent years is that we’re not getting that moisture in the late summer and into the fall.”

Less moisture and higher temperatures in the fall also leads to lower soil moisture and kicks off a vicious cycle of decreased water supplies. The dry soil gets locked in under the winter’s snowpack, and when spring melting begins, the water must first replenish the soils before feeding rivers and streams. This is what occurred in the upper Colorado River basin in 2021 when a near-normal snowpack

translated to just 31% of normal runoff and the second-worst inflow ever into Lake Powell.

Some water-use sectors already experience shortages, especially those with junior water rights. Initiatives set up to support the environment and recreation are also at risk with shortages. And those shortages are likely to get worse in the future. In addition to grant programs, one of the ways CWCB aims to help these water users adapt with a future avoided cost explorer (FACE) tool, which is outlined in the 2023 Water Plan. This modeling tool can help water managers figure out the costs of addressing — or failing to address — hazards such as wildfires, droughts and floods.

According to the report, extreme climate-driven events such as heat waves, droughts and wildfires are expected to be more frequent and intense.

“That gives you a little bit of perspective to say, ‘Well, what if I invest to mitigate this now, how can I lessen the potential impact in the future?,’” said Russ Sands, chief of CWCB’s water supply planning section. “I’m not trying to scare people; what we’re trying to do is motivate change and help them invest early.”

Despite the near-certainty of continued warming and resulting changes to the water system, Bolinger said there is a bright spot. Since the last time that a Climate Change in Colorado report was issued, in 2014, the world has begun to take action on reducing fossil fuel use and has shifted away from the worst-case scenario.

Earlier projections were based on a “business as usual” assumption, with no climate mitigation.

“We do have things that have been put into place internationally like the Paris Accord,” Bolinger said. “We are more along the lines of a middlecase scenario. As long as we continue to take the actions that have been planned out, we are going to follow that middle scenario, which does show warming, but it’s not as bad.”

This story via The Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member.

Denver Herald 3

January 25, 2024

STOCK SHOW FROM PAGE 1

Miniature Herefords were developed by selective breeding before they were imported to the U.S. from England, according to the Miniature Breeders Association.

Within the next hundred years, breeders of the Miniature Hereford, including the original family, have continued to improve its traits.

Miniature Hereford can be registered with the American Hereford Society once tested and free of the dwarfism gene, according to the Miniature Breeders Association.

The mini has the same body proportion characteristic as the full-size Hereford. They average 42 inches in height and weigh around 1,000 pounds.

According to the Miniature Hereford Breeders Association, mini Hereford are that they are easier to handle due to their small size, reach maturity at about 20 years old and are very docile. What’s more, they convert the food they eat efficiently and produce high-quality beef.

The breed also retains the outstanding traits of the Hereford. They are commonly used as pets and are suitable for children in 4H or Future Farmers of America FFA, according to the association.

Carly Allison, 9, from Aberdeen, South Dakota, showed a miniature Hereford Jan. 6 at the National Western Stock Show. The breed is descended from similar English cows that were bred to develop into the larger Hereford. There’s still a market for the smaller, more docile PHOTO BY BELEN WARD miniature version.

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NAR Releases Profile of Denver Metro Area Buyers and Sellers

Last week I reported on the real estate market in metro Denver. This week, I’m providing information from a National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey of buyers and sellers that was released in December. NAR did a national survey but provided data from the 169 Denver area respondents who had purchased a home in the 12-month period from July 2022 through June 2023. The buyers were identified from public records of transactions, not from MLS data.

Those buyers who had also sold a home constituted the database for the survey of sellers. The survey was limited to buyers of primary residences, not investment properties. Here’s my editing of the report released for Denver via the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.

Characteristics of Home Buyers • In Denver, the median age of recent home buyers was 43 years old, compared to 49 nationally. The largest share of home buyers in Denver this year were in the 25 to 34 years age group (27 percent) and the 35 to 44 years age group (25 percent). This graph shows both the Denver and national breakdowns:

• 82 percent of buyers were White/ Caucasian, 9 percent were Hispanic/ Latino, 2 percent were Black/African American, 8 percent were Asian/Pacific Islander, and 3 percent identified as other.

Financing the Home Purchase • For 42 percent of buyers, the source of the downpayment was their savings, and 35% of buyers cited using the proceeds from the sale of a primary residence for their downpayment. 10% used gifts from friends or relatives.

• The median percent financed for first-time buyers was 91 percent compared to 75 percent for repeat buyers.

• Buyers continue to see purchasing a home as a good financial investment. 82 percent reported they view a home purchase as a good investment.

home was the desire to move closer to friends and family (17 percent), the prior neighborhood had become less desirable (9 percent), or they moved due to retirement (8 percent).

• Sellers typically lived in their home for 10 years before selling.

Do replace damaged countertops.

Do repair damaged walls and replace damaged doors that can’t be repaired.

Do replace those 1990s glass-and-brass lighting fixtures. (They’re so unappealing that Habitat’s thrift store won’t accept them as donations!)

Do replace burned out light bulbs. Now that LED replacement bulbs are so cheap (under a dollar in bulk at many stores), I suggest replacing all your incandescents or CFLs with LED “daylight” equivalents.

Do repaint where there is peeling or discolored paint. (Think “eyesore.”)

Do replace rotted timbers on your deck, then power wash and re-stain or repaint as necessary.

Do improve curb appeal (always the first impression), including weeding and pruning and freshening the front door.

man for our clients.)

Beyond the above advice, I tell my sellers to be strategic about major issues which they know need to be done. If these are likely to become inspection issues, don’t fix them prior to listing your home if they’re not the kind of eyesore which would deter a buyer from making an offer.

For example, I had a listing with damage to the concrete driveway. The seller was thinking he should repair it before putting the home on the market. We knew it would be an inspection issue, but by leaving it undone we could use it as a bargaining chip. Sure enough, we got under contract and the inspection demands included repairing the driveway. Since it was the most expensive item on a long list of repairs, we said we’d repair that but nothing else, and the buyer accepted it.

Characteristics of Homes Purchased Home Selling and Real Estate Professionals • 16 percent of buyers pur• Nationally, 85% of sellers reported chased a new home, and 84 perthat their agent provided a broad range cent of buyers purchased a preof services and management of most viously-owned home. aspects of the home sale. In Denver, 80 • Detached single-family homes percent said that their agent provided a continued to be the most common home type for recent buyers at 79 Home Sellers and Their Selling Expe- broad range of services.

• 67 percent said that they would defpercent, followed by townhouses at 11 rience • For Denver sellers, the most com- initely or probably (19 percent) recompercent. 7% purchased units in multifamily buildings, including half-duplex- monly cited reason for selling their mend their agent for future services. es, etc.

• 68% of all buyers purchased in a Consider These Tasks to Make Your Home Market Ready First, only make improvements that (It’s true that red doors sell homes…) suburb/subdivision, 20% purchased in Do have someone with “fresh eyes” an urban area/center city, and 11 percent eliminate a defect or an issue which might turn off a prospective buyer. I call walk through your house and identify in a rural area or small town.

• When it came to sustainability fea- these “eyesores,” things that stand out like other turn-offs. (Our free staging consulttures, windows, doors and siding were a sore thumb, and not things that are simp- ant performs that function.)

Do not replace undamaged countertops “very important” to 34% of Denver buy- ly “dated” or out of style.

Here are some examples: or bathroom fixtures just because they are ers. Coming in second was energyDo refinish hardwood floors that are “dated” — even those pastel colored bathefficient lighting at 28%, heating and seriously and obviously in need of refin- tubs and sinks. (I tell buyers “You can’t cooling costs at 27%, with solar panels ishing. buy those anymore!”) The exception being “very important” to only 9% of Do replace carpeting that is seriously would be the toilets. A white chair height buyers. (Nationally, solar panels were old, such as 1970s shag carpeting, or car- low-flow toilet can be replaced for a couonly very important to peting that is seriously worn or stained. ple hundred dollars and installed by any 6% of buyers.)

(Again, think “eyesore.”) handyman. (We have a $25/hour handy-

Home Buying and Real Estate Professionals • 89 percent purchased through a real estate agent, and two percent purchased di• Denver buyers had a median 2022 rectly through the previous owner. income of $146,900.

I’m Now Publishing on Substack • 60 percent of buyers were married Everything you read in this ad each couples, 16 percent were single females, week — and more — is published at ten percent were single males, and ten http://RealEstateToday.Substack.com percent were unmarried couples. and comes to you automatically each • 34 percent were first-time buyers.

Wednesday. I also write a political column you might like. Find it at http:// • 27 percent of buyers had children TalkingTurkey.Substack.com. Since 1/6 under the age of 18 living at home.

Rita and I are on a world cruise on the • 11 percent of home buyers purViking Sky. You can subscribe to my chased a multi-generational home, to daily travelogue at http://WhereAreJim take care of aging parents, because of andRita.substack.com. children or relatives over the age of 18 During the cruise, I am making and receiving calls and emails as usual, moving back home, and for costeven at sea, so feel free to contact me. savings.

We proudly provide free use of this moving truck to our sellers and buyers, along with free moving boxes, bubble wrap and packing paper.

Non-profits and community organizations also put lots of free miles on it!

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Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401 Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727 CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855 DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835 GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922 AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071 KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428 “I cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good I can do.” —Jana Stanfield

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January 25, 2024

Crisis Text Line comes to Denver’s youth Assistance addressing violence She added that sometimes a teen will Schools, community among youth and suicide has dou- “clam up” or feel intimidated if they bled since 2017, said Lorez Meinhold, have to talk with a stranger — albeit look to text line to help executive director of Caring for Den- a professional therapist — about a ver. struggle or mental health issue they students facing anxiety, Caring for Denver focuses on three are facing. primary funding areas — youth, beOther teens don’t have the time to community-centered, and alter- commit to an hour-long appointment other mental health issues ing natives to jail. It recently put a grant amid their studies, after school activiBY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

One recent day, Lucy Roberts, a Denver Public Schools nurse, was checking the eyes of the students at Manual High School.

While doing a vision test for a 14-year-old student who wears glasses, an unrelated question came up.

“How do I know if I have anxiety?” the student asked Roberts.

While the question was unexpected given the setting, teens asking about anxiety is not uncommon, Roberts said. She leads a professional development course for DPS nurses on mental health interventions, and the in-house estimate is that 80% of the students they work with have some sort of mental health issue.

“Anxiety is the most common,” Roberts said.

For middle and high schoolers, anxiety can lead to many adverse outcomes, including self-harm and thoughts of suicide.

“They (youth) are definitely in need of support,” Roberts said. “The ability to talk about it is critical.”

School nurses are not the only ones who have recognized this need in the community.

Caring for Denver, which is a tax funded foundation that voters approved in 2018, also noticed that youth in need of mental health support has gone up significantly.

toward a partnership to work with the Crisis Text Line, a national nonprofit that provides free, 24/7, confidential text-based mental health support in English and Spanish to young people.

The Crisis Text Line received $326,257 in grant funding to promote the line to students. Another $325,846 went to Montbello’s Struggle of Love Foundation programming, which works to increase mental health support for those in need. Denver Health and its foundation received $1,722,813 to assist with its schoolbased health centers and a crisis intervention team to respond to mental health needs involving school personnel, hospital emergency rooms and inpatient treatment within 24 hours.

“We have (mental health) resources in our schools, and we have resources in our communities,” Meinhold said.

The text line will “bring an additional tool to young people. We want to have as many resources available as possible.”

What attracted Caring for Denver to the Crisis Text Line is that it is designed for people age 24 and younger, and can provide free support at any time day or night with a live volunteer crisis counselor in a way that’s familiar to youth — texting.

Providing the opportunity for youth to get the support they need immediately and in real time via a text conversation is so valuable, Roberts said.

ties, social time with friends and family and/or anything else they’ve got going on. Still others may not have transportation available to them to be able to see a therapist in person.

“A text line is key for this type of support,” Roberts said. Youth “are comfortable reaching out by text.”

While the Crisis Text Line’s counselors can help with mental health emergencies such as self-harm and suicidal thoughts, they are also available for anything a youth might be struggling with — not doing so well on an important exam, not getting the part in the school play they wanted or the position they trained for on an athletics team, moving or transferring to a new school, isolation, a relationship break-up and much more.

“Lots of things can add up,” Roberts said, adding that she has had students say to her that they can’t sleep at night because of something they’re worried about. “Even if they’re not in crisis, they’re going to have some hard days.”

Caring for Denver had heard about the Crisis Text Line and found that its success rate included serving roughly nine million youth across the nation.

The organization thought it would be a benefit for Denver as well, Meinhold said.

“Young people have real struggles,” she said. The Crisis Text Line can help them with “the kinds of things youth are trying to sort through.”

The Crisis Text Line is now available for all Denver youth, thanks to a grant from COURTESY PHOTO Caring for Denver.

The Crisis Text Line is available to anyone needing mental health support, though it is designed for youth, teens and young adults age 24 and younger.

Individuals seeking support can text DENVER to 741741 to immediately reach a live, volunteer crisis counselor 24/7 to have a text conversation in real time.

Crisis volunteers are available for text conversations in Spanish as well.

Learn more about the Crisis Text Line at crisistextline.org. To learn more about the Caring for Denver Foundation, visit caring4denver.org.

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Denver Herald 5

January 25, 2024

Tips to driving in snowy and icy conditions in Colorado help make our roads safer, and significantly reduce your odds of needing to call for assistance in dangerous conditions,” McKinley said.

BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With colder temperatures comes snow blanketing the streets. The roads can be slippery and dangerous for Colorado drivers – new and native to the state. Experts say it’s important to be prepared for the difficult task of driving in the winter.

Colorado AAA says following a few tips can help keep drivers safe when traveling in the harsh winter climate.

“The first sustained, major weather event is always a useful reminder to Coloradans, regardless of whether you grew up here or if you’re new to town, to brush up on winter driving fundamentals: Slow down, don’t tailgate, and don’t slam on the gas or brakes,” Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs, said.

Driving on icy roads

Prepare the vehicle

Colorado AAA encourages drivers to test their batteries and electrical systems, check all fluid levels, including antifreeze, transmission fluid, brake fluid and engine oil and make sure all lights operate properly.

Additionally, AAA advises people to inspect their tires, brakes, windshields and windshield wiper fluid.

“Remember, too, that four-wheel drive does not mean four-wheel stop. We’ve had to winch out many top-of-the-line trucks and SUVs, many equipped with winter tires, simply because their drivers were going too fast for the conditions,” McKinley said. “Still, as with any storm, the majority of our calls were related to dead batteries, flat tires and engine operability, and most of those were from folks who were already safe at home.”

Driving in the snow can be scary if drivers don’t take precautions. Colorado AAA offers PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY a lot of tips to keep all drivers safe in and out of the mountains.

Keep an emergency kit

For those unlucky enough to end up stranded, whether by sliding off the road or getting stuck in traffic during a closure, Colorado AAA encourages drivers to keep an emergency kit in their cars.

“Keep an emergency kit in your car with tire chains, abrasive material such as sand or kitty litter, small shovel, flashlight with extra batteries, ice scraper, rags or paper towels, flares or other warning devices, booster cables and a first aid kit,” Colorado AAA said.

Drivers should bring blankets, jackets, hats and gloves for themselves and passengers. People

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should also pack water and snacks, such as energy bars, and bring pet food if they’re traveling with fourlegged friends.

“Finally, remember that an ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure. Your battery likely tried to warn you it wasn’t up to the task of starting your engine in sub-zero temperatures, likely through dimming headlights or sluggish starts in warmer weather,” McKinley said.

McKinley said by addressing issues drivers will be more prepared for the conditions and any emergency situations they may accrue.

“By addressing all those issues when they first come up, you can

When driving on icy roads, Colorado AAA advises that people slow down and be careful when accelerating, turning or braking, doing all gradually.

“Adjust your speed to the road conditions and leave yourself ample room to stop. Allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you,” the company advises.

People also shouldn’t tailgate, they need to watch the traffic ahead of them, avoid unnecessarily changing lanes and use extreme caution on bridges and overpasses.

“Black ice typically forms first in shaded areas of the roadway and on bridges and overpasses that freeze first and melt last,” McKinley said.

“Although the road leading up to a bridge may be fine, the bridge itself could be a sheet of ice.”

Crystal Essman, a crime prevention specialist for Englewood Police Department, said it’s important for people to make sure they slow down and increase their distance from other cars.

“Increase your following distance enough so that you’ll have plenty of time to stop for vehicles ahead of you,” Essman said. “Don’t crowd a snowplow. Snow plows travel slowly, make wide turns, stop often, overlap lanes and exit the road frequently.”

She also encourages people to make sure their children are secure in the proper car seat and that those seats are installed correctly.

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6 Denver Herald

January 25, 2024

The Navy’s mission comes to Prairie View and Brighton high schools the U.S. for several years.

“This is the first event here in Colorado, but also recruiting for the military,” Rust said. “I love it. It gives the kids a chance to come in and see what we do and a chance to interact with them and answer any questions. It’s an opportunity to come out into the community.”

“If anyone’s interested in joining the military, we can give them all the information they need,” Rust said.

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For high school students interested in a career with the Navy, a virtual reality tour of duty is a great place to get their feet wet – virtually, of course.

Officials from the U.S. Navy visited Prairie View in Henderson Jan. 17 to find top-notch STEM students.

They brought a virtual reality experience with the Nimitz mobile unit that simulates a Navy SEAL mission to the school.

They took their demonstration to at Brighton High School Jan. 19.

“We are extremely excited to spend time at Prairie View and Brighton high schools, meeting with exceptional students and faculty, and discussing the great opportunities available in today’s Navy,” said Commander Dominique Jackson of the Navy Diversity and Outreach program. “It is important for today’s high school students to understand that a Navy STEM career offers an exceptional future.”

The Navy Outreach and Diversity mission is to seek students with strong analytical

Dog tag access

Isaiah Moultry is participating in a briefing before he starts his mission. His father is in the Navy. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

and problem-solving skills to fill high-demanding jobs in STEM fields of nuclear engineering, cryptology, IT, and health care, according to a press release.

In addition, the Navy is offering an ROTC scholarship for $180,000 for students

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with outstanding academic and leadership skills. It pays full college tuition for students who qualify, according to officials.

Their efforts in Brighton this week feature the Nimitz, a mobile, state-of-the-art virtual reality experience that

simulates an actual highspeed Navy SEAL mission.

The Nimitz was transported in a semi to the schools.

Maria Rust, Public Affairs Officer for Navy Talent Acquisition Group, said this event with the Nimitz mobile unit has been traveling across

At the Prairie View High School event, the students start the process by completing a survey of their interests and if they are interested in the military. After the survey is completed, they are given a Navy dog tag to access the Nimitz mobile unit.

The students also got the opportunity to take photos with a green screen. When the image is produced, it has a Navy jet in the background.

Then, the student enters the Nimitz mobile unit, which starts with a video briefing about their mission with information about career options in the Navy.

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Denver Herald 7

January 25, 2024

Colorado Cowboy Gathering returns to Golden yodel versus sing.

While she only performed 10 minutes during the Jan. 12 show, she expected a full slate for the Jan. 13-14 shows. But, she hoped to perform at CCG again if invited.

Finally, Russell wanted newcomers to know CCG is family-friendly and features about 20 of the very best cowboy and cowgirl performers in the country.

“They have to come,” Russell said of those who’ve never attended a show. “ … After one time, they’re hooked.”

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLOROADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

If anyone can brave subzero temperatures and snowy conditions to put on a night-to-remember show, it’s cowboy poets and musicians.

After taking a break last year, the Colorado Cowboy Gathering returned to Golden Jan. 11-14, but this time at a new venue.

Or, technically two.

After hosting a special members-only show Jan. 11 at the new Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, the Colorado Cowboy Gathering held its Jan. 12-14 shows at the Buffalo Rose.

During the Jan. 12 “Kickin’ It Off ” show, the place was nearly filled to the brim.

From the front row to the back of the balcony, people eagerly listened to the performers’ songs and poems, which were a mix of classics and originals.

Musician Lori Beth Brooke, a first-time CCG performer from Texas, was impressed to see how packed the Buffalo Rose was on a Friday afternoon. She and the other performers described how they see each other at Western events throughout the year, so the annual Goldenbased gathering feels like a family reunion.

Many of the regular attendees felt similarly. Golden’s Paul Chamberlin said he and his wife Nona love seeing their friends among the performers and fellow attendees every year.

“It’s a fun weekend,” Chamberlin said. “ … We’re here to try and help support it because it’s a good event.

We have lots of fun, and we’ve been to most of them for the last 33 years.”

Edgewater’s Judi Karg, who’s been following CCG for a few years, loves how local the event is. She also appreciates the opportunity to enjoy cowboy poetry and music, saying, “It’s different. It’s not country. It’s not Western. It’s down to earth.”

A publication of

Call first: c/o The Colorado Sun Buell Public Media Center 2101 Arapahoe St., Denver, CO 80205 Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: DenverHerald.net To subscribe call 303-566-4100

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Musician Mike Blakely tips his hat to the audience after performing at the Jan. 12 Colorado Cowboy Gathering’s “Kickin’ It Off” show at Golden’s Buffalo Rose. Blakely, a singer-songwriter from Fredericksburg, Texas, has released 14 albums and performed across the United States and Europe.

ence, both locally and longdistance. It draws in regular attendees from all over Colorado, plus others who drive in from Kansas, Wyoming and elsewhere, he described.

Stamey, who headlined the Jan. 14 show, traveled from California himself because he loves performing in Golden every year.

“It’s a neat place,” he said. …and the skies are not cloudy all day

Give me a home where the Buffalo Rose…

The Colorado Cowboy Gathering started 35 years ago at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities and typically coincides with the National Western Stock Show.

Around 2011, CCG moved to the American Mountaineering Center in downtown Golden, board member Dennis Russell said. The 2021 show was canceled because of COVID-19 but returned in January 2022.

However, the organizers decided to forgo last year’s show, with Russell describing how everyone needed a

As attendees listen, Dale Page recites a poem during the Jan. 12 Colorado Cowboy Gathering’s “Kickin’ It Off” show at Golden’s Buffalo Rose. Western musicians and poets from across the country PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN performed during at shows Jan. 11-14.

break.

For 2024, the organizers wanted to keep the shows in Golden but find a bigger venue, Russell continued.

So, the Buffalo Rose seemed like a good choice.

“The town wants us here, and we want to be here,” Russell said, adding how welcoming the Chamber

of Commerce, the city and residents have been.

Dave Stamey, a singer/ songwriter who’s been performing at CCG for 15-plus years, described how CCG has changed since he started performing while it was still at the Arvada Center.

He said CCG continues to develop a very loyal audi-

For the uninitiated, Russell emphasized how the Colorado Cowboy Gathering doesn’t showcase the country music one hears on the radio, but rather songs and poems — whether original or traditional — about the cowboy lifestyle.

Russell, a poet and singer/ songwriter, said he writes about his life keeping cows and horses in southern Colorado. Many of his fellow performers had similar experiences, like Miska Paget who shared poems about being a veterinarian or Brooke who shared her yodeling, accordion-playing and songwriting skills.

While she’s been playing accordion since second grade, Brooke started yodeling about 20 years ago. She said it’s about emphasizing the break in one’s voice that one normally covers up, but people can practice how to

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

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8 Denver Herald

January 25, 2024

Fewer students enrolled in Colorado schools again this year

BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

The number of students in Colorado schools continues to drop and is now lower than it was after the large decrease in enrollment at the start of the pandemic.

In October 2023, 881,464 students were enrolled in public schools, down 1,800, or 0.2%, from October 2022, according to official enrollment counts released by the Colorado Department of Education in January.

Before the pandemic, enrollment numbers in Colorado had been increasing every year since the 1980s.

But in fall of 2020, after months of mostly remote learning, enrollment sank by about 30,000 students from the previous year. In fall of 2021, enrollment went up slightly, but has been falling again since.

State Demographer Elizabeth Garner told the State Board of Education that the decline in enrollment is due partly to decreasing birth rates, but also to a slowdown in migration and mobility.

“We are forecasting that total school-age population to decline basically through 2028-2029, then start to increase, but not get back to levels that we saw in 2019 until about 2035,” Garner said.

She said the trend is statewide.

“Forty-three of the 64 counties had an absolute decline in the under-18 population over the last decade,” Garner said. “It doesn’t matter where you were — Eastern Plains, San Luis Valley, West Slope, Denver metro.”

In a statement, Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova noted concern about the drop in enrollment among the youngest students.

“We know that pre-kindergarten and kindergarten are where students build critical foundations for life-long academic success including language development, early literacy, and social skills,” she said.

Still, she said, “we are encouraged by the state’s commitment to early learning through the Colorado Universal Preschool Program.”

The universal preschool program

Chart: Thomas Wilburn Source: Colorado Department of Education

provides free preschool to all Colorado 4-year-olds and some 3-yearolds. This year, about 50,000 students are enrolled in various types of public and private preschools across the state. Public school districts’ pre-K programs have 32,060 students, slightly fewer than a year earlier.

First grade and kindergarten saw some of the largest decreases in enrollment this year. First grade enrollment declined by 3.91%, or 2,478 students, compared with the first grader group of 2022. Kindergarten had 1,068 fewer students, a 1.79% drop. Eighth grade and ninth grade also had large enrollment declines.

Only five grade levels saw an increase in students compared with last year. The largest increase was among second graders, up by 5%, or more than 3,000 students.

Other segments that grew included those who are home-schooled, and those who are enrolled in online programs.

Enrollment in charter schools decreased by 1.8% to 135,223.

The number of students identified as experiencing homelessness statewide went up by 1,570 compared

with last year.

Last school year only one district in Colorado, Adams 12, had more than 1,000 students identified as needing services related to homelessness. This year, there were four such districts — Aurora, Adams 12, Jeffco, and Poudre.

By percentage, the tiny district of Sheridan continues to have the highest proportion of its students experiencing homelessness in the metro area, but the number has dropped over the years. This school year, 149 Sheridan students, or 14.1%, are experiencing homelessness, down from 205, or 18.2%, last year.

Broken down by race, white students had the largest decreases in enrollment, while Hispanic or Latino students had the largest increases.

Schools counted 312,687 Hispanic or Latino students in October 2023, up from 308,739 the year before.

By percentage, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students had the largest enrollment jump: 9.18% more than last year. These students make up a tiny proportion of all Colorado students.

Among the state’s largest districts, just a handful recorded more stu-

dents than last year. They include Aurora Public Schools, which had a slight increase, and Denver Public Schools, which gained 371 students.

Denver has attributed the increase to an influx of migrant students, many from Venezuela.

Among the metro-area districts, School District 27J in Brighton had the largest growth in enrollment. It gained more students than Denver, Aurora, or any of the large districts.

Meanwhile, Sheridan, Westminster, and Adams 14 had the largest decreases in the metro area.

The state’s data reflect official student counts in October, and those are the counts typically used to determine funding levels.

But the state’s release acknowledged that several districts have seen a large number of students who are new to the country arriving throughout the school year.

“CDE is committed to working with districts and school teams to ensure they are supported in serving these multilingual learners,” the department’s statement notes.

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

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Denver Herald 9

January 25, 2024

Tips on filling out the new Better FAFSA

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

The rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid has been anything but smooth.

Technology issues have frustrated families since the federal government’s Dec. 31 soft launch of the FAFSA, which is usually available in October.

The Better FAFSA, as the new form is known, has been redesigned to include fewer questions. The federal government intends it to be faster for students to fill out, leading to higher completion rates.

But there have been technical difficulties.

“The form is simpler,” said MorraLee Keller, senior director of strategic programming at the National College Attainment Network, a nonprofit focused on increasing college access and attainment, especially among students of color and those from low-income backgrounds. “I think the user experience of getting into the form is maybe the tougher hurdle.”

Issues have included the new application only being available for limited hours. Families and students have gotten stuck waiting for screens to load and have reported difficulty submitting the form. It’s left families anxious after months of waiting for the form, because the FAFSA is a crucial part of the college-

going process. Filling out the FAFSA opens up student aid, scholarships, and grants. The potential financial help gives families an idea of which college or university they can afford.

After the rocky launch, counselors from inside and outside of Colorado provided tips on successfully filling out the Better FAFSA. The federal government said in a news release it’s addressed issues that have made the experience difficult. It will continue to make technical updates as needed.

The new Better FAFSA comes after years of advocates calling for a simplified FAFSA to cut down the number of questions on the form. This year, the federal government made it happen by cutting the number of questions from over a hundred to under 20 for most people. Fewer questions should mean an easier form that takes less time to complete.

The federal government also says more students will be eligible for federal student aid because of expanded income eligibility. The federal government announced on Monday the form is now accessible 24 hours a day.

The government says the form should take about an hour, but make sure you aren’t in a rush. Clear your schedules for a few hours, just in case.

Families and students can also return to the form if they run into is-

sues by saving their progress.

This depends on who you ask.

While the U.S. Department of Education has said families have plenty of time, Keller said families should do it as soon as possible. About half of all families who fill out the FAFSA typically do so from October to December, and the delay means less time with counselors who can help with the logistics.

Although colleges won’t get students’ FAFSA information until February, many students need the FAFSA for other scholarships and free financial aid opportunities.

“You need to attempt to get your FAFSA completed as quickly as possible,” Keller said.

If you’re in the Denver area, Natasha Garfield, Denver Scholarship Foundation’s director of scholarships, said the foundation will be holding several information sessions.

The FAFSA events are a chance for families and students to connect with counselors o who can give advice and answer questions.

Garfield said parents and students shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to counselors even if they don’t go to an event.

Counselors across the state are paying attention to communication from the federal government about glitches in the system.

Families can also reach out to the Federal Student Aid helpdesk to troubleshoot problems, Garfield said.

Families should ready their documents.

When will families hear from schools?

Should families wait to fill out the form?

Despite the rocky start, the federal government announced over one million students have filled out the form since its launch. Families and students who plan to fill out the form should be ready.

Families should gather student and parent Social Security or Anumbers and financial documents such as bank and savings accounts or investment information.

Need help? Check with a counselor.

Many schools will begin holding FAFSA nights in the coming weeks.

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The federal government will send the information to schools in February, Keller said.

Families should receive information from schools about potential financial aid information by late February or in March as long as nothing gets delayed, Keller said.

“Students will have their information hopefully by this spring to be able to make their decisions for next year,” she said.

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

10 Denver Herald

January 25, 2024

Faith-based music school looks to grow Centennial business got its start in November 2022

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With melodies rushing through their veins, Kaye Dee Richards, her daughter, Victoria Richards, and former student, Taylor Worley-Glazier, hope to inspire young people to take a deeper dive into the world of music.

Taylor took lessons from Kaye Dee and she was roommates with Victoria at Bob Jones University where they both received music degrees.

Through their shared passion for music, they became close friends.

“We dreamed about starting a company together,” Taylor said.

But they did not expect their dream to become a reality so soon.

Just over a year ago, Kaye Dee opened Inspire Music Arts, a faithbased music school in Centennial.

There, children and teens learn everything from music theory to how to play instruments and sing.

The three women will always remember the day the school opened.

It was a very snowy November day, yet people still attended their open house. With about 50 students now, the women are looking to continue to grow the school.

Music has always been part of Kaye Dee’s life. In addition to being a member of several professional music organizations, she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music, piano and music education from Bob Jones University. Her specialty is the harp.

Music has also been important to Kaye Dee’s husband, Colin. Since the beginning of their marriage 31 years ago, the couple have been in ministry together, bringing along music to many churches. As they often moved around the country, Kaye Dee taught music privately and worked in a few churches they were a part of.

Having lived in Colorado for more than a decade and wanting to open a music school that would be an easier location for parents to be able

Victoria Richards, a teacher at Inspire Music Arts in Centennial, prepares for lessons in PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA her office.

As guests walk into the lobby of Inspire Music Arts in Centennial, they are met with two grand pianos. With multiple music degrees, Kaye Dee Richards, her daughter, Victoria Richards and former student Taylor Worley-Glazier teach voice, piano, violin, cello, viola, harp, recorder, flute, guitar, ukulele and harp.

to drop off their children and run errands, Kaye Dee pitched the idea of opening a new studio to her husband and he was all in.

However, opening the studio has come with its challenges, such as getting children involved and being flexible with schedules as they understand the love for sports and its commitment.

Between Kaye Dee, Victoria and Taylor, they teach voice, piano, violin, cello, viola, harp, recorder, flute, guitar, ukulele and harp.

Additionally, Victoria is certified in Orofacial Myology, a method of therapy that works with the muscles of the mouth, tongue and face from the Coulson Institute.

Inspire Music Arts offers private

lessons for 25 or 50 minutes for those 5 years old and up. Students wishing to take private lessons must audition for the instrument they want lessons in and have an additional interview.

“It’s really nice that I can have interviews with my students and I can place them where they’re needed,” said Victoria.

Victoria added that close bonds can form between music teachers and students.

“We get to hear a lot about their lives,” said Kaye Dee. “We get to cheer them on and grieve with them when they’re sad and rejoice with them when they’re doing fantastic.”

Most of the students who take other instruments are also taking piano, said Taylor, because music theory makes more sense when students can understand the visual references a piano provides.

The school also provides group lessons where students ages 6 to 12 learn music foundations such as rhythm, vocal exploration, sounds and symbolism and more. These lessons also provide an interactive environment for children to learn the instrument of their choice.

They have also started doing family group classes, which Victoria says is a nice way for everybody to learn. And for outside families that are interested but don’t know what instrument to choose, they can get a little taste of each instrument at the school’s Discovery Camp in the summer.

And to get a head start in music, the school has a Petite Academy for kids ages 2 to 5 where they incorporate music and play that helps children learn the basics of music.

“It’s amazing how music really enhances everything in the brain,” said Kaye Dee. “The more they know about classical music, the better they’re going to do in their basic core subjects at school.”

Although it’s a tough ambition because of the many wonderful teachers in the community, said Kaye Dee, she would like to see Inspire Music Arts be recognized as one of the premier music schools in the area.

Inspire Music Arts is located at 8200 S. Colorado Blvd, Unit A, in Centennial and can be contacted at 303-841-8899 or info@inspiremusicarts.com.

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Denver Herald 11

January 25, 2024

Family and friends remember beloved Brush legend and Colorado sports official Gerrard Flores Flores died after falling ill while refereeing a wrestling match — one of five sports he officiated

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Everyone who got to know Gerrard Flores loved him — and Flores knew everyone.

The Brush, Colorado native died doing what he loved — officiating youth wrestling — on Jan. 7. Flores was a father of two boys, grandfather of one, Brush High School homecoming king, three-sport athlete, five-sport official, coach, ordained minister and karaoke aficionado.

He was 55 years old.

Flores was born into a big family — he was one of 13 children. His experiences with sports began at a young age and continued throughout his life, as did his love of his hometown, Brush.

A Beetdigger through and through, even when Flores moved to Colorado Springs, he kept Brush close to his heart, forming a youth baseball organization named after his high school’s mascot.

Flores met his fiancé Rene McElhany in an unlikely place — on the wrestling mat. She joined Flores in his officiating pursuits and encouraged him to try new sports like softball and volleyball. On off nights, the couple would go to youth matches and support other officials “From the beginning, we met on the wrestling mat, and that is where he loved to be,” McElhany said. “But as we got to know each other and started building our relationship, he encouraged me to step on the mat in a different way, and to officiate with him.

“I traveled with him everywhere,” McElhany continued. “(Officiating) was our fun. It was our opportunity to go on a new adventure and do things together. It was how we lived and loved and spent our free time.”

Flores officiated football for 32 years, wrestling for 25 years, baseball for 18 years, softball for 5 years and started officiating volleyball last year.

One of Flores’ six sisters, Malessa Hernandez, said he worked to make the young people he was officiating feel special and was always a positive presence in life.

“When he would officiate wrestling, he would hold the winners’ arm up and ask them, ‘Where are your parents?’ and he would turn them to their parents to represent the winner — but in his eyes every kid was a winner to him,” Hernandez said. “He was not ever in a bad mood, he was just one happy, happy guy.

“This is such a huge hit not only to our family but numerous communities,” Hernandez continued. “He was just huge to everyone in the world.”

Flores shared his love of sports with his two sons, Trea and Tristin, supporting their athletic endeavors and sharing his love of the Denver Broncos with them. He was able to meet

From left: Kelsi Galyk, Gerrard Flores, Caleb Cox, Rene McElhany, Levi Cox at Brush COURTESY OF RENE MCELHANY High School.

his grandson, Hendrix — Tristin’s son — before he passed.

Trea said the last time he saw his dad was for a trip to a Broncos game.

“I will never watch a Bronco game the same without my dad,” Trea Flores said. “We enjoyed watching football together and the Broncos were our thing. Our last trip together was going to the Bronco game, and that’s the last time I saw him. It was a great trip. And he’s a good man.

“You just felt loved by him,” Trea Flores continued. “He loved everyone, literally. So, I’ll just miss him greatly.

He just had a big impact in life.”

Stephen Dabelko met Flores on the wrestling mat and said that the relationship Colorado wrestlers had with Flores differed from other officials.

“You couldn’t help but love him,” Dabelko said. “The news of his passing completely broke my son and I. Normally, wrestlers don’t have a relationship with refs but Gerrard was different. He made everyone feel special.

The wrestling community lost one of its favorite people. He made every kid feel important. He found joy in making everyone feel special.”

Flores’ longtime friend JJ Pursely said that Flores enjoyed being involved in every level of the sport and watching those in the community grow up and move through the ranks.

“You could tell that he really enjoyed refereeing; he enjoyed watching your wrestling,” Pursley said. “He especially enjoyed watching Brush wrestling.

And then the coaches that he got to ref when they were in their careers, he loved watching them coach.”

Another of Flores’ sisters, Shaire Chavez, attributed divine intervention to Flores’ ability to impact so many people around the state and country.

“We were all just wondering, ‘How did Gerard impact so many people throughout the United States?’”

Chavez said. “And I came to the conclusion at 3 a.m. this morning that he was literally an angel on earth because how else could someone be loved all over?

“And if this world would live like Ge-

rard did, it’d be a much better place because he was never ever mad,” Chavez said. “He was always so happy.”

Outside of the athletic community, Flores was known as a “jokester, a prankster” who “made everyone laugh and made everyone feel loved,” according to McElhany.

He loved to dance and sing kara-

oke; his favorite karaoke songs were “Summer Nights,” “Neon Moon,” and “Friends in Low Places.”

McElhany said Flores’ joy in life was to support those around him and keep up long-lasting relationships. An ordained minister, Flores would marry anyone who asked him to, including former players he had coached or refereed.

“His priorities in life were his family, his friends and sports,” McElhany said. “Those are the things he loved the most. He loved getting together with all of his brothers and sisters, all of his nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews. He delighted in things like going to their sporting events, supporting them and in all the things they were involved in.

“It was his great pleasure to encourage and to lift up those that he loved,” McElhany continued. “He had a wealth of friends from all different areas of life, all the way back to his school days that he still kept in contact, to probably just the person he met on the street yesterday. And he valued all of them very deeply.”

Flores’ friend Chad Cox echoed McElhany’s sentiments, saying that he brightened the lives of those around him.

“He was always a guy that just loved to have fun, no matter what he was doing,” Cox said. “It was rare to find him without a smile on his face, without him putting smiles on people’s faces.”

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12 Denver Herald

LOCAL

VOICES

January 25, 2024

From illusion to delusion

T

o make good decisions

unfettered by illusions, we must act on clear, honest, factual information. At times though, we JERRY ignore the truth in front of our FABYANIC nose and forge ahead despite ominous flashing caution and warning signs.

Think of a person or group you thought would never do you harm but did or Columnist had your best interests at heart but didn’t. How did you feel when you realized that? Angry? Hurt? Snookered?

Betrayed? If you’ve been played the fool, you not only might harbor those feelings, you might also feel demeaned, used, or manipulated like a puppet on a string.

Understandably so given that no one, I presume, wants to be used, to be another’s puppet. When the truth is revealed, it can be akin to ripping a bandage off raw skin because it invariably touches on sensitive core areas like religious, political, social, or personal. Of them, the personal can be the most difficult to swallow because it can reveal something uncomfortable about you.

SEE FABYANIC, P13

W

A new look at a new year hat a difference a year

makes! While 2022 was horrible for many investors, 2023 showed a considerable rebound for equity asset classes. Investors who stayed focused on their goals and strategy should have been rewarded. Those who sold out and did not buy back in before the recovery will be hard pressed to find a reasonable return.

The adage “It’s about time in the market, not timing the market” certainly held true this past year.

Last year was all about the Federal Reserve, and there will be a lot to learn from the Fed in 2024 as well, but rapidly rising interest rates along with the threat of recession created a choppy but positive market in 2023.

Now for 2024, there are several potential outcomes in the tea

leaves but more good news than bad, according to Jeff Krumpelman, CFA.1 He recommends looking at the facts, not the headlines. The key metrics of inflation trends, revenues, earnings, and interest rates support returns Patricia Kummer positive and are trending in the right direction. However, it is important to avoid whiplash when there is short-term volatility.

Economic growth is expected to slow as inflation comes down. If the Fed hits its target, then watch for it to pivot from tightening to easing.

The consumer continues to spend and will likely increase purchases as

inflation comes down a bit.2 There are always potential risks, such as this being an election year.

There is still a shadow of a possibility of a recession, but that will likely trigger the Fed to cut rates sooner if it does materialize. Lower interest rates should help bond prices recover and equities are expected to be favorable. Especially for those stocks that remain undervalued.

I suspect that this will be a pivotable year for inflation to calm, interest rates to reverse, and recession worries to abate. Therefore, the investor can expect continued volatility but could be rewarded for creating and sticking to a strategy that matches the time frame of your goals.

Designing custom portfolios this year will be crucial for investors, especially if you were able to tax-loss

harvest last year. You have a clean slate to begin a new strategy in the new year that fits with your financial plan. Don’t wait to get in front of your advisor. Plan well while the year is young. Fourth-quarter earnings season is here, and many yearend numbers and current-year forecasts will hit the charts. It is best to be prepared when this information becomes available and provides potential opportunities.

1 Jeff Krumpelman is chief investment strategist and head of equities at Mariner Wealth Advisors 2 JP Morgan 2024 Outlook

via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.

• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s

newspaper.

• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.

• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and

should not be submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

Patricia Kummer has been a Certified Financial Planner professional and a fiduciary for over 37 years and is managing director for Mariner Wealth Advisors, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser.

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules: • Email your letter to csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send

Denver Herald 13

January 25, 2024

T

Motivating unmotivated people he “quiet quitting” and its

work. The only peoWINNING more aggressive cousin ple who would fear WORDS “act your wage” are gainlosing their jobs are ing momentum, or as some the ones who have who write about hot topics might a tremendous work say, they are setting the internet ethic. They are diliablaze. We can sit back and try to gent about their job wait them out, but the only thing and take pride in wrong with that strategy is that their work. The partsoon enough there will be a next time workers receivcatchy phrase for those who aspire ing full-time wages only to mediocrity or to do the on the team couldn’t bare minimum.

Michael Norton care less, they feel A second and even more dangerlike they can simply ous strategy would be to incentiv- find the next gig and ride it out ize them by paying higher wages there until that gravy train runs out for underperformance. It’s like the and they are on the move again. donkey and the stick idea where Not only do we have frustrated we hold out a carrot in front of the leaders, managers, and human donkey in hopes that he will chase resources professionals, there are it looking for that bite. The prob- plenty of hard-working individuals lem is sooner or later the donkey in the same age groups who resent catches on, and we need to allow their half-hearted counterparts. the donkey to take a few bites. This And the danger for any organizais only a temporary fix as we would tion is allowing the quiet quitter have to continue sweetening the and act-your-wage employees to carrot and shortening the stick just be seen as equal to those who are to get the donkey to do the work actually doing the work. Eventuthat is asked of him. ally, if the problem isn’t fixed, not Another strategy to consider, only do the minimalists wind up but which rarely works, is trying leaving, but top performers will to motivate the quiet quitter or also leave. act-your-wage people on the team Incentive-based motivation with fear. What we are seeing is doesn’t work or last, fear motithat this method simply doesn’t vation only makes the problem

worse, and inconsistent management and motivation between hard workers and those who have decided to do less creates an unsustainable culture and unstable workforce.

We could take the approach of, “Who cares? Some will make it, some won’t, who’s next?” This is perhaps the worst of all the strategies as it becomes an increasingly expensive revolving door.

The strategy that does work is personal growth motivation. This is different than temporary incentives, this gets at the heart of what each member of the team wants to do or become as a part of the team.

This has to start early on, setting expectations during the recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding process. And this must be inspected often. Weekly or bi-weekly 1:1 meetings help surface anything getting in the way of their personal success that contributes to the team’s success.

When we take the time to build better people, those people will build us a better business. Getting to know their personal drivers up front, understanding their “What’s in it for me?” desires, helps us lead these individuals and hold them accountable for doing their part in

reaching their goals.

We also live and work in a world of isolation. We cannot manage what we do not see or do not know.

The best approach for solving this particular problem is frequent communication and tighter collaboration. This is not micro-managing, nobody want that. This is leading people out of the trenches of self-pity who have gotten stuck in this kind of negative thinking, and helping elevate them to the levels of achievement that they can be proud of and feel like they are a strong contributor to the team.

Are you working with or managing quiet quitters? Have you tried to improve engagement and haven’t found the recipe for success yet? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can manage and motivate our team to working together at a higher level, and each owning their part, it really will be a better than good life.

FABYANIC

consciences of acknowledging the unpleasant truth of a person or group so to continue covering for and supporting them by ignoring or explaining away their excesses.

As it is with the Buddhist teachings on illusion and emptiness, it can be hard for the Western mind to grasp the Buddhist concept of impermanence, although the impermanent nature of phenomena might be easier to grasp because we know nothing lasts forever. Including us.

One day each person taking breaths in 2024 will be gone. And

all that will remain is that which we leave behind, primarily our legacy and our story replete with a chronicle of our behaviors and choices.

If we’d keep that forefront in our minds, our lives would be not only more authentic and reality based, they’d be less illusionary. We’d make wiser choices, maybe sleep better, and this world would be in a far better place.

FROM PAGE 12

It’s important to distinguish between illusion and delusion. While they mean similar things—something false or misleading—delusion is a mental disorder that is often a symptom of psychosis. It involves the inability to tell what is real from what is unreal and truth from falsehoods. Illusion, on the other hand, can be not only more benign, it can be useful at times.

After all, if we knew all that could be known about another, we’d probably shrink back in disgust or horror. We’ve coined a term for that: TMI. Frighteningly though, sometimes we know the truth but opt to deny or disregard it. Why do we do that? Why create and hold fast to illusions and live out parts—if not all—of our life in accordance with them?

Myopia is both a physical and psychological condition. While eyewear can facilitate correcting the physical limitation, it takes conscious will to step from the world of myopic illusion. If we fail to do that, we fall into the trap of believing that our perceptions and worldviews are the only valid ones.

To that the nineteenth-century philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer stated, “Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.”

A tenet of Buddhism is that we spend much of our earthly time liv-

ing lives of illusion, seeing all that surrounds us, from the immediate to the greater universe, as substantial, ultimate reality. It’s hard for the Western mind to wrap itself around that as well as the Buddhist concept of emptiness. Reason suggests that if something is empty, there’s nothing in or to it. But that is not necessarily the case. An uncovered empty bottle is not empty.

Rather, it’s filled with the same benign—hopefully—air that you’re breathing. But a sealed bottle that is similarly empty might be filled with a noxious gas. That image can serve as a metaphor about the negativity we fill our minds with and help us take stock of our illusions.

Some are benign; others malodorous.

We generally believe the stories we tell ourselves about others or situations, both positive and negative, are true. But that can be selfdelusional because sometimes we discover we were wrong, what we believed was erroneous. Our healthy nature surfaces when we admit the errancy of our perspective and change it. The unhealthy aspect appears when we obstinately remain steadfast despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary. That is when illusion can morph into pathological delusion, which often manifests or expresses itself as bitterness, anger, or rage.

That has ramifications at the personal and interpersonal levels and at the macro, societal level.

To our detriment, we sometimes don blinders and concoct fantastical fictions in order to absolve our

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

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

14 Denver Herald

January 25, 2024

LOCAL

LIFE STARTING 2024 WITH A SPLASH More than 400 locals inaugurate the new year at Evergreen Lake Plunge

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

W

hether they wanted to support a local cause or wash off any remnants of 2023, more than 400 people from across the Denver metro area celebrated New Year’s Day by jumping into Evergreen Lake.

The annual Evergreen Lake Plunge had record participation in 2024. Nonprofit Active4All, which fundraises for local parks and recreation programs, sold out its 400 pre-registered spots and limited day-of registrations.

The weather was likely a factor, as several plunge veterans said the sunny conditions and 40-degree temperatures made a difference. In other years, participants have faced cloudy, windy weather and literal 0-degree conditions, which made getting out of the water that much worse, they described.

This year’s participants were also a mix of returners and newcomers, with many convincing their friends and relatives to jump too.

Wheat Ridge’s Steve Moyer said doing a Polar Plunge-type event has been on his “bucket list” for years. So, when he decided 2024 would finally be the year he’d take the literal plunge, he convinced three of his loved ones to do it with him.

Moyer even sported a shark hat for the occasion, which was one of many fun costumes people wore to the event.

Evergreen’s Jon Balliet dressed as a hummingbird — complete with sound effects.

Balliet, who’s done the plunge seven or eight times, said he wears a new costume each year. He’s won the costume contest before as a shark eating a person and decided to dress as an elk for 2023’s event.

This year, he chose a hummingbird, saying, “They’re all over Evergreen.”

SEE SPLASH, P15

Wearing a shark hat, Wheat Ridge’s Steve Moyer leaps into the water during the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge. Moyer, a newcomer to the plunge, convinced some of his family members to do it with him, saying it was one of his “bucket list” PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN items.

Denver Herald 15

January 25, 2024

SPLASH FROM PAGE 14

Brothers Stephen and Greg Leathers — from Highlands Ranch and Englewood, respectively — donned Christmas sweaters and pajama pants for the plunge. Stephen said he talked Greg into doing it, as they both thought it’d be fun.

Greg had plunged before at Lake Michigan, but both were newcomers to the Evergreen event. They appreciated the community aspect of it, noting how many people decided to start 2024 this way — plunging into icy waters together.

Several groups like Evergreen Country Day School seventh-graders and the Evergreen High School girls basketball team plunged together.

Golden High School swimmers Mica Gillaspie and Hanna Heard decided to as well.

Gillaspie, a member of the Evergreen Hurricanes swim team, said she heard about it from her coach and roped Heard into doing it too.

The two said their goals for 2024 included helping the Golden Demons “make it to state.”

The Evergreen Lake Plunge is also a fun New Year’s Day outing for the spectators, like bagpiper Dan Kingsley.

The Lakewood resident said event emcee Alan Gionet recruited him to provide music while participants are waiting in line. Kingsley’s now performed at the event five or six times, describing it as an overall positive experience.

“So many people are out here having a great time,” he said. “ … It’s a good way to start the year off fresh.”

Dressed as walruses, the Bebarta siblings of Greenwood Village approach the platform for the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge.

Emma Bebarta, who was doing her third plunge, said she signed her siblings up to do it with her this year.

So long, 2023!

Some participants signed up for the 2024 Evergreen Lake Plunge because they had a less-than-ideal 2023 and wanted a powerful way to transition into the new year.

Greenwood Village siblings Emma, Grace and Owen Bebarta described their 2023 as “eventful” and “weird.”

So, they wanted to start the new year “with a bang.”

Emma, who was completing her third plunge, said she signed up the first time because she “wanted a refresh” after the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, she made her siblings do it with her.

Emma and Grace — who are both in college — and Owen — a junior and a swimmer at Cherry Creek High School — described the plunge as a fun activity they could do together while they were all on winter break.

In that spirit, they donned matching walrus costumes for their family plunge.

Likewise, Tricia Holloway and Michelle Kemberling — both from Centennial — and Annie Zdrojewski of Evergreen dressed as phoenixes to symbolize starting 2024 by “rising from the ashes.”

The three friends plunged last year, saying it was a strong way to start 2023. Their intention when they plunged, they described, was to have a year of transformation.

2023 was ultimately a transformative year with a lot of growth, they said, but perhaps not in the way they wanted. They described it as “a burning year.”

Centennial’s Tricia Holloway reacts to the cold water during the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge. Holloway and her friends dressed PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN as phoenixes to symbolize starting 2024 by “rising from the ashes,” they described.

So, the three were being more specific with their 2024 intentions, asking for transformation mixed with calm, stability and gratitude. And, rather than donning the tutus they wore in 2023, they dressed as phoenixes — creatures burn but rise to soar again.

Holloway, Kemberling and Zdrojewski recommended others try it, as it’s a “beautiful way to start the year” that people won’t regret.

All4 a good cause

The Evergreen Lake Plunge is Active4All’s biggest fundraiser, raising at least $25,000 annually for Evergreen Park & Recreation District’s special

education program — called INSPIRE — and other programs.

Balliet said the fundraising aspect is a big reason he plunges every year.

“It’s a great cause,” he said. “Everyone should have access to parks and recreation.”

That’s something Clint Frost and his family know all too well.

Frost’s 9-year-old son is an INSPIRE participant, attending the annual summer camp, and going on regular outings like swimming and horse riding. Frost said his son really enjoys skiing and being in the mountains, adding, “That’s his happy place.”

So, Frost plunged this year to sup-

port his son and other INSPIRE participants who benefit from Active4All’s fundraising. Frost said he’s plunged before in 2016 or 2017, but travel and COVID-19 prevented him from doing it again sooner. Now, though, he wants to be a regular.

He described how hard everyone works to make the annual event a success, from the sponsors and organizers to the firefighters and volunteers. The participants’ financial contributions and word-of-mouth advertising are also big factors.

Frost said of everyone who helps make it possible: “I can’t thank them enough.”

16 Denver Herald

January 25, 2024

Teens to take 911 calls as a county scrambles for dispatchers

BY ERICA BREUNLIN THE COLORADO SUN

One of the first lessons Scott Brettell teaches his high school students is the importance of being last.

The last person to stay with someone through their last moments — even if only over the phone.

“You might be the last person that person ever gets to talk to,” Brettell told his students during a recent 911 dispatching class at Calhan Public High School near Colorado Springs.

“I’ve spent time with people in their last breaths, sometimes on the highway, sometimes in their home. It just depends. It’s sad, but I’m actually thankful that I was able to be there for them to have someone there as they passed away.”

Brettell and about a dozen students are pioneering a new emergency telecommunications course in Calhan School District RJ-1 that gives students an entryway into a dispatch job they can pursue immediately after high school. The program comes at a time El Paso County is desperately searching for more dispatchers.

It is among the latest efforts by rural school districts to tap into a pipeline of young people who can step into emergency response roles and help their communities cut down on the time it takes to connect callers with lifesaving help.

Other schools in both rural and metro parts of the state have rolled out their own programs in recent years to introduce students to careers in emergency response and stem workforce shortages: At two remote schools in Las Animas County, students have learned how to become emergency medical responders while Denver high schoolers have spent class time practicing CPR and checking blood pressure in preparation to work as emergency medical technicians.

In Calhan and other area districts, the focus is on the very first step in the minute-by-minute frenzy to keep someone alive and send them help: listening to their panic-filled pleas after they dial 911.

Through a broadcast device, Calhan School District — which has nearly 440 students in preschool through 12th grade — is expanding access to its 911 dispatching class to neighboring districts, Colorado Springs School District 11 and Miami-Yoder School District 60-JT. Nearby Ellicott School District 22 is also offering a 911 dispatching course and enabling students from Peyton School District 23JT to tune into each instruction.

The courses train students to become certified to take calls in a dispatch center, walking them through the procedures and protocols they need to calmly talk to a person in distress and direct emergency responders to a crisis. A certification takes 40 hours to complete, with students from each district chipping away at that requirement through two hours of class time each week.

Students will also learn customer service skills anchored by a sense of empathy, said Brettell, who reinforces to his class that they “have to be ‘Chick-fil-A courteous’ to these people.”

“These are going to be people

Scott Brettell, who worked at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for about 16 years, teaches high school students in person and remotely during an introductory course on emergency dispatching Jan. 11, 2024, at Calhan Public High School.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN FOR THE COLORADO SUN VIA REPORT FOR AMERICA

having the worst day of their life,” Brettell, who doubles as Calhan School District’s school security officer, tells his students. “And you are going to be the one person that holds it all together for them and you are going to be the person that gets them help as soon as possible. But you also have to be the person that under really stressful situations is going to have to understand that you have to be cool, calm and collected and keep your composure through the worst of the circumstances.”

Brettell worked for the El Paso County Sheriff ’s Office for about 16 years, including running a work release program, patrolling and operating drones to locate missing people.

Now as a teacher, he wants to both equip students with the basic information they will need to seamlessly deploy emergency resources and help them develop the endurance necessary to think clearly in a highstress, high-stakes environment.

“Even though people are calling you on their worst day,” Brettell told his students, “the objective in dispatching is to make it go from their worst day to as best of a good day as possible.”

Other times in class, Brettell opens up about his own experiences with saving lives on the job or comforting someone he knew he was losing.

He held their hand. He talked to them. He told them everything is going to be OK. He watched their chest rise and fall one more time.

“It sucks, but at least I got to be there to do it,” Brettell said. “If I was in a car accident and dying, I would hope that there’d be someone there to at least spend it with me, not be alone.”

Katelynn Tatman, a junior at Calhan Public High School, enrolled in the 911 dispatcher class because of her lifelong interest in criminal justice and an ambition to become a criminal profiler to help solve crimes by better understanding the psychology of offenders.

But at 18, she’s also getting mentally prepared for what she anticipates

would be a demanding, emotionally wrenching job.

“I think with dispatching it’s probably one of those jobs where you’re going to have to take a step back and take some time for yourself because it’s going to be stressful,” Tatman said. “I know that before even taking the class.”

Phoenix Fail, a sophomore, hopes to work as a dispatcher in college while studying to become a forensic pathologist “This can apply to you in real life, not just like a job,” Phoenix, 16, said.

“This can apply to friends if they’re going through something.”

Colorado Springs’ 911 Communications Center has long struggled to keep a full staff, with nearly 30 vacancies in October, according to The Gazette. The chronic shortages mean that instead of having 15 employees ready to take calls during the busiest times of the day — like the National Emergency Number Association standards recommend for that particular center — only seven or eight workers manned phones during those periods in the fall.

The El Paso County Sheriff ’s Office has 13 openings out of 60 dispatch positions, with some candidates working their way through the hiring process, according to spokesperson Sergeant Marc Miller.

Call takers at Colorado Springs’ 911 Communications Center earn a yearly salary of about $57,680, which is one reason educators in Calhan and adjacent districts say dispatching is a promising option both for students who need a job while earning a college degree and for those who don’t necessarily look at college as their next step after high school.

Calhan Superintendent Dave Slothower started to see the potential in bringing a 911 dispatching class to his small district about a year ago, when he joined a group of local superintendents on a trip to Las Vegas to attend a conference focused on career and technical education.

While there, Slothower visited Vet-

erans Tribute Career and Technical Academy, where high schoolers can get a taste of a variety of public service fields, such as law enforcement, criminal justice and 911 dispatch.

“We were alerted to the fact that there’s a whole career and technical education pathway that we really hadn’t even explored,” Slothower said. “I think this is something we can replicate or should replicate.

It’s a viable career path for our kids that they may be interested in. This is the beauty of it, is that you get the chance to explore these things right now while you’re still in high school.”

Calhan School District is continuing to develop its dispatch program with plans to construct a simulated call center where students can get firsthand experience with software used by dispatchers and practice fielding calls in a high-pressure environment.

Meanwhile, about 30 miles southeast of Calhan, students in Miami-Yoder School District are also learning about the mechanics of dispatching from Brettell, using technology to watch his lessons remotely. Their criminal justice teacher, Kevin Jaramillo, who also works as the district’s school resource officer, will get certified in dispatching later this school year and begin teaching students about handling 911 calls in future semesters.

High schoolers can quickly pick up the demands of 911 dispatching because they’ve grown up with technology and are used to “a fast-paced life,” said Jaramillo, who previously worked for the La Junta Police Department for nearly five years.

“Their minds are already going 100 miles an hour,” he said. “All they need is a little help tweaking and adjusting their mindset, and that’s to handle the screaming and maybe hearing gunshots on the phone.”

This story was printed through a news sharing agreement with The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonprofit based in Denver that covers the state.

Denver Herald 17

January 25, 2024

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January 25, 2024

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Solution

TRIVIA 1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the last name of Ken, who was Barbie’s boyfriend?

2. TELEVISION: In the sitcom “The Office,” the company is in which U.S. city?

3. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is The Matterhorn located?

4. MUSIC: Which 1990s group was the singer Beyonce a part of?

5. U.S. STATES: In which state is Monument Valley located?

6. LITERATURE: In which children’s book do the characters Tweedledee and Tweedledum appear?

7. MATH: In Roman numerals, what is XLVIII divided by XII? 8. MEDICAL: What is a common name for polythelia?

9. CHEMISTRY: How many elements are listed on the Periodic Table?

10. MOVIES: What is the year of the Olympics in the movie “Chariots of Fire”?

Answers 1. His full name is Kenneth Sean Carson.

2. Scranton, Pennsylvania.

3. Switzerland.

4. Destiny’s Child.

5. Arizona.

6. “Through the Looking-Glass.”

7. IV (Four).

8. Having an extra nipple, which affects about 1%-5% of the population.

9. 118.

10. 1924. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Crossword Solution

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Denver Herald 19

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January 25, 2024

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call 303-566-4123 Legals Misc. Private Legals Public Notice January 25, 2024 SECOND NOTICE TO MORTGAGEES IN THE ONE CHEESMAN PLACE CONDOMINIUMS COMMUNITY Second Notice is hereby given to all mortgagees within the One Cheesman Place Condominiums community in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, that the One Cheesman Place Condominium Association, Inc. is seeking mortgagee approval of a proposed Amended and Restated Declaration of Grants, Submissions and Covenants Establishing Condominium Ownership of One Cheesman Place Condominium, Denver, Colorado (the “Proposed Amendment”). The Proposed Amendment can be obtained at the following address: Altitude Community Law P.C., 555 Zang St., Ste. 100, Lakewood, CO 80228. Failure of any mortgagee to deliver a negative response to the One Cheesman Place Condominium Association, Inc., c/o Altitude Community Law P.C., 555 Zang St., Ste. 100, Lakewood, CO 80228, within 60 days shall be deemed consent on behalf of the mortgagee.

Legal Notice No. DHD227 First Publication: January 25, 2024 Last Publication: January 25, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Notice to Creditors Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of CAROLYN RUTH REED, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31417 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Dwight C. Reed Personal Representative 1045 Highway 120 Big Rock, Tennessee 37023 Legal Notice No. DHD223 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Sherry Lea Garcia, aka Sherry L. Garcia, aka Sherry Garcia, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31609 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Tori Lynne Garcia Personal Representative 32186 Castle Court, Ste 301 Evergreen, CO 80439 Legal Notice No. DHD235 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

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Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of JAMES RYAN WILSON, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31352 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 25, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Sarah Pheral

legals2@coloradocommunitymedia.com

P.O. Box 229 Hygiene, CO 80533 Legal Notice No. DHD238 First Publication: January 25, 2024 Last Publication: February 8, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of CYNTHIA L. HUTCHINSON a/k/a CYNTHIA LEW HUTCHINSON, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31322 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Jennifer Merer Personal Representative c/o Keith L. Davis, JD Davis Schilken, PC Blvd., Ste. 200 Lakewood, CO 80401

1658 Cole

Legal Notice No. DHD234 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Brian William Mindnich, A/K/A Brian Mindnich, A/K/A Brian W. Mindnich, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31536 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Bob Mindnich Personal Representative 3501 S. Dawson Street Aurora, CO 80014 Legal Notice No. DHD231 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of MARGIE M. DUFF, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31513

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 25, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Patrick H. Duff Personal Representative 19365 Cypress Ridge Terrace, Unit 916 Leesburg, Virginia 20176 Legal Notice No. DHD244 First Publication: January 25, 2024 Last Publication: February 8, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of RICHARD M. HESS, a/k/a RICHARD MATHESON HESS, a/k/a RICHARD HESS, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31508 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 13, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Richard M. Hess, Jr. Personal Representative 50 Jersey Street Denver, CO 80220 Legal Notice No. DHD219 First Publication: January 11, 2024 Last Publication: January 25, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice District Court, 2nd Judicial District, County of Denver, Colorado 1437 Bannock Street, Room 230 Denver, Colorado 80202 In the Matter of the Estate of: BRUCE EDWARD LONGO, a/k/a BRUCE E. LONGO, a/k/a BRUCE LONGO, Deceased.

Case Number: 2023 PR 31603 NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO§ 15-10-401, C.R.S. To: Longo, Unknown Heirs Last Known Address, Unknown, c/o Attorney General Phil Weiser, 1300 Broadway, 10th Floor, Denver, Colorado 80203 A hearing on Amended Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Formal Appointment

Denver Herald Dispatch January 25, 2024 * 1

22 Denver Herald

January 25, 2024

Public Notices

of Personal Representative for the Estate of Bruce Edward Longo, Deceased will be held at the following time and location.

Date: February 22, 2024 Time: 8:00 AM Room 230 Address: Denver Probate Court, 1437 Bannock Street, Denver, Colorado 80202 Ronald W. Servis, Esq. attorney for Dustin Parsons 11616 Shaffer Place, Unit S-102 Littleton, Colorado 80127 303-237-5020 Legal Notice No. DHD243 First Publication: January 25, 2024 Last Publication: February 8, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Diane J. Hammerberg, aka Diane D. Hammerberg, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31552

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Eric Kuno Hammerberg Personal Representative 401 N. High Street Denver, Colorado 80218 Legal Notice No. DHD230 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of FRANCES LUCILLE CILIBERTI, a/k/a FRANCES L. CILIBERTI, a/k/a FRANCES CILIBERTI, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 577 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 25, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Baysore & Christian Fiduciary Services, LLC Personal Representative 7000 E Belleview Ave., Suite 150 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Legal Notice No. DHD237 First Publication: January 25, 2024 Last Publication: February 8, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of TIMOTHY PAUL WILLIAMS, Deceased

Case Number: 2023 PR 31520

Case Number: 2023 PR 031587

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 11, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Mary J. Williams Personal Representative 5 Lynwood Avenue Wheeling, West Virginia 26003

Helen L. Gray Personal Representative 375 S. Emerson Street Denver, CO 80209

Legal Notice No. DHD220 First Publication: January 11, 2024 Last Publication: January 25, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Legal Notice No. DHD232 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of RONALD K. SCHIFF, a/k/a RONALD KAY SCHIFF, a/k/a RON SCHIFF, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31533

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Lorena Elaine Woltemath, aka Lorena E. Woltemath and Lorie Woltemath, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31345

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 25, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Michael W. Reagor, Atty. For Personal Representative 8400 E. Prentice Ave., Suite 1040 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Shari D. Caton Attorney for Robert J. Woltemath Caton Law, LLC 7887 E. Belleview Ave., Suite 1100 Englewood, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. DHD240 First Publication: January 25, 2024 Last Publication: February 8, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

Legal Notice No. DHD229 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of ALLAN JULIUS GALONSKY, aka ALLAN J. GALONSKY, aka ALLAN GALONSKY, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31484

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of DONNA C. KETTENBACH, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31573

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 27, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Robert S. Galonsky Personal Representative c/o 5347 S. Valentia Way, Ste. 335 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Daniel Chapman Attorney for Personal Representative 7900 East Union Avenue, Suite 1100 Denver, CO 80237

Legal Notice No. DHD228 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Legal Notice No. DHD242 First Publication: January 25, 2024 Last Publication: February 8, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of CHRISTOPHER A. GRAY, also known as CHRISTOPHER AMES GRAY, CHRISTOPHER GRAY, CHRIS GRAY and CHRIS A. GRAY, Deceased

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Anna Kay Duer, a/k/a A. Kay Duer, a/k/a Kay Duer, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31518

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 25, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Beth A. Hessel-Kirkman Personal Representative c/o Carleton H. Hutchins 1999 Broadway, Suite 1400 Denver, CO 80202 Legal Notice No. DHD236 First Publication: January 25, 2024 Last Publication: February 8, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of RICHARD WILLIAM REED, SR., Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31416 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Dwight C. Reed Personal Representative 1045 Highway 120 Big Rock, Tennessee 37023 Legal Notice No. DHD224 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Vera P. Gasch, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31541 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 28, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Ilka Poncelet Personal Representative 785 S. Alton Way, 9A Denver, CO 80247 Legal Notice No. DHD239 First Publication: January 25, 2024 Last Publication: February 8, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of KATHLEEN CLAIRE GIDEROFF, a.k.a. KATHLEEN C. GIDEROFF, a.k.a. KATHLEEN GIDEROFF, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31542 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative

Denver Herald Dispatch January 25, 2024 * 2

Denver Herald 23

January 25, 2024

MISSION FROM PAGE 6

Next, the students get ready for their virtual mission. They put on an Oculus Rift headset and a wearable piece of technology called a Sub Pac that transmits real-time sounds of the mission.

Student Isaiah Moultry was impressed.

“I like virtual reality because it is so realistic, like the movies,” he said. “I’m interested in the Navy, and I have been on a Navy ship with my Dad. He’s in the Navy in Hawaii, where I was born. I love

the Navy.”

The students simulate piloting a high-speed Navy Special Warfare Combat Crewman boat using a steering wheel and throttle system and tasked withg extracting a team of SEALS. The system replicates the actual sensation of navigating the boat.

And once the students complete the virtual mission, it gives them feedback on their virtual performance.

Christopher Cassey, who has autism, came with a group of students with special needs on a field trip.

“I’m kind of interested in STEM, and this virtual reality was really fun,” Cassey said.

“(But) I’m unable to enroll in the Navy because of my autism and ADHD but I enjoy this.”

The ROTC and recruiter were available for questions with the student or if interested in signing up for the Navy.

Mario Cesaroni, a Navy recruiter, said that only a few high school students are considering the military, especially here in Colorado.

“We are spreading Navy awareness,” Cesaroni said.

“Our number one mission here is to make sure that people know that they have the option. Having definite options helped me out in high school, and it’s why we’re here.”

Cassey Christopher is on his mission to driving the Navy Special Warfare Combat Crewman boat to extract the NAVY Seals team.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

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Public Notices

MICHAEL SCOTT GIDEROFF and MARK STEVEN GIDEROFF Co-Personal Representative 1386 S. Newport Street Denver, Colorado 80224 Telephone: 303-918-0413 Legal Notice No. DHD225 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of WENDELIN MAE MARTIN, a/k/a WENDELIN M. MARTIN, and WENDELIN MARTIN, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31475 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Carol Frances Helstosky Personal Representative 2249 Hudson Street Denver, CO 80207 Legal Notice No. DHD222 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Pete Hernandez, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 31371

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or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 20, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

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All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 11, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Edward Lucero Personal Representative Shannara Quissell #52547 Zalessky Law Group, LLC Attorneys for Personal Representative, Edward Lucero 9725 E. Hampden Ave. Ste 305 Denver, CO 80231 Legal Notice No. DHD221 First Publication: January 11, 2024 Last Publication: January 25, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Children Services (Adoption/Guardian/Other) Public Notice Denver County Probate Court Address: 1437 Bannock Street, Rm. 230 Denver, CO 80202 (303) 606-2303 In the Interest of: Michael Enrique MENJIVAR RIVERA Respondent/Minor

Phone Number: 303-679-8266 E-mail: katie@grobeirich.com FAX Number: 303-679-8960 Cell Number: 720-255-6383 NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO § 15-10-401, C.R.S. To: Oscar Antonio Menjivar Herrera A hearing on the Petition for Appointment of Guardian for Minor will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be continued: Date: March 5, 2024 Time: 3p.m. Courtroom: 300 Division: 1 Address: 1437 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80202 The hearing will take approximately 60 minutes PLEASE NOTE: This hearing will take place remotely via the Webex videoconferencing platform.

To join the Virtual Courtroom via Web (from a cell phone or computer), download Cisco Webex, and then enter the following link at 3:00p.m. on March 5, 2024: https://judicial.webex.com/join/ courtroom300 To join the Virtual Courtroom via Phone at 3:00p.m. on March 5, 2024, call 720-650-7664, then enter meeting number/access code 920 159 400, then push # and # again.

Case Number: 23PR31510 Division: 1 Courtroom: 300

Kathleen M. Glynn 12596 W. Bayaud Ave., Suite 390 Lakewood, CO 80228

Attorney for Petitioner: Kathleen M. Glynn, #39115 Grob and Eirich, LLC 12596 W. Bayaud Ave., #390 Lakewood, CO 80228

Legal Notice No. DHD241 First Publication: January 25, 2024 Last Publication: February 8, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch ###

PUBLIC NOTICES

Commercial Equestrian Hobby Shops

14-DAY

It’s your right to know what the city and county governments are changing and proposing. ~~~ See the ordinances on these legal pages. ~~~ Read the public notices and be informed!

Denver Herald Dispatch January 25, 2024 * 3

24 Denver Herald

January 25, 2024

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM

DON’T LET YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPERS GO SILENT.

This year, even more than ever before, the news is in crisis.

More than 17,000 news media jobs were cut just by June, at national and local outlets including at some of the biggest names like NPR, The Texas Tribune and Gannett. In fact, newsroom layoffs are up 20% from last year. Some of these outlets laid off more than 10% of their staff in the last few months — even as we head into a critical election year.

These are devastating numbers. But all is not lost.

Many local and independent newsrooms continue to launch across the country. With your contributions and subscriber memberships, small newsrooms like ours continue to grow, adding new journalists and expanding reporting and investigations.

We’re committed to bringing the news to Coloradans. That’s because you deserve access to local, independent journalism that keeps you connected and informed — especially during challenging times. This is #newsCOneeds.

PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS AND THE COMMUNITY CONNECTION WE PROVIDE. To contribute online: www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/give-to-CCM To contribute by phone: Please call 303-566-4100 • Monday-Friday 9am-4pm To contribute by mail please send your contribution to the following address:

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