Elbert County News 011223

Waggin’ wheels west

o ering a variety of services for both vehicles and furry friends. e new addition to Elizabeth opened its doors on Dec. 26.

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Anna’s Car & Dog Wash is the newest business to open in the growing Elizabeth West area. e business at 2332 Legacy Circle is the rst of its kind in Elbert County,

Anna’s Car & Dog Wash is owned by Elizabeth-area residents Danielle and Rob Kinney. Not a franchise or chain business, the new car and dog wash is exclusive to Elizabeth and is completely familyowned and operated. e Kinneys named the business after their daughter, Anna. She can be found

loading cars in the wash tunnel right along with her parents.

“Owning a car wash has been Rob’s dream for about 15 years. We researched car washes for years before taking the plunge into owning one,” said Danielle Kinney in an email correspondence from Jan. 2. “We moved to Elizabeth seven years ago and were surprised that there wasn’t a car wash like ours here yet.

Storms, cold hit Elbert County

Public health chief shares safety tips for winter

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e winter season is in full swing, bringing in blustery snowstorms and subzero temperatures to Elbert County. On Dec. 22, many areas of Elbert County saw temperatures drop further than 20 degrees below zero. A week later, the county’s rolling hills and eastern plains were pummeled with deep, wet snow, well over a foot deep in some areas. e western portion of Elbert County has a growing population with many newer residents moving in from outside of Colorado. For those not raised in a place with severe winter weather, adapting to heavy snow and extreme temperatures can be a struggle. On Jan. 3, the Elbert County News spoke with Public Health Director Dwayne Smith to learn about winter weather safety.

Below is a list of safety tips provided by Smith and the Elbert County Health Department to keep Elbert County residents safe during the cold winter months:

1. Drive safely in the snow.

“First and foremost, buckle up on every trip, and make sure all children are safely secured,” said Smith.

“Driving Elbert County roadways in the winter means changes in the way you drive. As we have seen from recent storms, snow, sleet, and ice can lead to hazardous road conditions. Avoid using cruise control in wintry conditions.”

Anna’s Car & Dog Wash employees pose with the Elizabeth High School Spirit Team, which held a Dec. 31 fundraiser at the new business in the Elizabeth West area.

PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

A customer washes a dog at the indoor dog-washing station in the new Anna’s Car & Dog Wash.

FROM PAGE 1

e combination of dirt roads and snowy winters left our cars with a wintery mix we could never seem to get ahead of.”

The extra-large entrance to the 100-foot tunnel at Anna’s Car & Dog Wash can accommodate larger vehicles, such a “dually” trucks.

Two Anna’s Car & Dog Wash employees proudly

SEE WASH, P3

WASH

Monthly plans are also available at $35 a month. e tunnel was designed with Elizabeth residents in mind and can accommodate larger vehicles, including dual rear-wheel “dually” trucks. Vacuums, micro ber towels and glass cleaner are available free of charge.

Anna’s Car & Dog Wash also had a dog-washing station equipped with two types of shampoo, a conditioner, and two settings for blow drying. Free dog treats and water-proof aprons for both kids and adults are available for use.

“We have a great Dane who is difcult to bathe at home but gets very muddy with all the snowfall in the winter,” said Kinney. “Adding the dog wash seemed like something we, and our neighbors, could all use. So far, it’s a hit.”

e Kinney family is passionate about their involvement with the Elizabeth community and aims to maintain a local feel for their business.

“As a locally-owned and operated small business, we want to support our community and local schools. Some of our employees are football and baseball players at Elizabeth High School,” said Kinney. “We also plan to work with the Elizabeth Stampede and we welcome other businesses to partner up with us as we go forward. Our hope is to bring the community closer by organizing fundraising opportunities as well.”

On Dec. 31, Anna’s Car & Dog Wash held a fundraiser to bene t the Elizabeth High School Spirit Team. Ten members of EHS Spirit were present, clad in their warm winter jumpsuits, big red bows and glittery pom-poms. ey greeted cars and dogs as they came through.

e EHS Spirit Team raised $250 at the fundraising event. e money will go toward training, paying for new uniforms and competition fees.

To learn more about Anna’s Car & Dog Wash, please visit annascarwash.com.

You can also nd them on Facebook at tinyurl.com/FBACADW or on Instagram @annas_car_and_ dog_wash.

Douglas County Health Department

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

This nutrition program provides education, breastfeeding support, healthy food, and other services to families who qualify. As of Jan. 1, 2023, WIC services for residents in Douglas and Elbert counties are administered by the Douglas County Health Department. Visit douglas.co.us and search WIC to see if you

Are you a Douglas County property owner?

Your property tax statement or postcard notification is scheduled to be delivered the week of Jan. 16

Pay your taxes online at douglascotax.com More information visit douglas.co.us/treasurer

• Distribution of your taxes yourdougcotaxes.com

Questions about snow removal in unincorporated Douglas County?

Do you ever wonder how county roads are prioritized for snow removal? Questions about citizen snow removal responsibilities? Answers to these questions and more can be found by visiting douglas.co.us/snow.

Strive to Thrive o ers hot meal and assistance

The Strive to Thrive Resource Fair will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 4-6 p.m. at the Calvary Chapel, 1100 Caprice Drive in Castle Rock. Enjoy a free hot meal and access valuable resources from more than 20 different organizations. Individuals and families are welcome to attend. For more information, visit douglas.co.us and search for Strive to

Garden question? Ask a Master Gardener.

Douglas County Master Gardeners provide useful information to help your gardening efforts all year long via the “Virtual Helpdesk.” Email your questions to dcmgardenr@gmail.com for answers seven days a week.

Need help with home heating costs?

Eligible low-income households in Douglas County may apply for energy assistance through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). Visit douglas.co.us and search LEAP for more information or an application, or email LEAPHELP@discovermygoodwill.org

Martin Luther King Jr. Day o ce closure

Douglas County offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.

Many services are available at DoItOnlineDouglas.com

FROM

A customer at Anna’s Car & Dog Wash uses the indoor dog-washing station.

PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

WEATHER

2. Prepare your vehicle for winter weather.

• Colorado law requires every child younger than 8 years old to be properly restrained in an age- and size-appropriate car seat.

• Once you’re out on the road, remember to accelerate and decelerate slowly, and increase following distance to 8 to 10 seconds.

• If possible, don’t stop when going uphill.

• Test your battery; remember, battery power drops as the temperature drops.

• Install winter tires with a deeper, more exible tread on your vehicle.

• Check your wiper blades and replace if needed.

• Add wiper uid rated for 30 degrees below zero.

• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze.

3. Avoid injuries when shoveling or snow blowing.

“ ese activities can be very grueling,” said Smith. “High levels of activity in cold temperatures put many people at risk of heart attack, especially those that have inactive lifestyles.”

4. Treat frostbite immediately.

Use rst aid to help someone who may have hypothermia or frostbite.

Gently rewarm frostbitten areas by soaking for 20 to 30 minutes or until the skin becomes its normal color or loses its numbness. For the face or ears, apply a warm, wet washcloth. Don’t rewarm frostbitten skin with direct heat, such as a stove, heat lamp, replace or heating pad, as this can cause burns.

5. Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

e risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases during the winter months as home heating systems run for hours each day. Every year, many people are treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. e most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often described as “ u-like” — headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. Smith suggests that people obtain carbon monoxide detectors for their homes.

Smith gave one last word of advice to Elbert County residents: “If the forecast looks i y, wait out the storm; if you must travel, share your travel plans and route with someone before you leave.”

For Elbert County Public Health weekly updates, visit elbertcountyco.gov/532/Public-Health-WeeklyUpdates.

FROM PAGE 1

PHOTOS BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON Thick snowfall o County Road 166 in northwestern Elbert County.

Local businesses work to stay open during winter weather.

Polis urges incentives for electric cars, mowers, e-bikes

progress on clean air in Colorado,” Toor said. “I would anticipate it’s going to be pretty attractive to many members of the legislature.”

BY SAM BRASCH COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

Gov. Jared Polis is pushing lawmakers to make it even cheaper for Colorado residents to buy an electric car, electric bike or electric lawnmower.

e governor announced the plan as an amendment to his 2023-2024 budget proposal on Jan. 3. Ahead of the upcoming legislative session, he now wants legislators to approve $120 million in new tax credits to nudge the public to buy products that combat climate change and air pollution.

“ is is for Colorado to get a head start to help more people a ord electric vehicles earlier and reduce the cost in Colorado,” Polis said at a press event at the governor’s mansion.

Polis’ request comes as lawmakers prepare to manage a tricky budget in the upcoming legislative session. State economists have warned about the possibility of a recession, which could throw o Colorado’s already complicated plans for spending and taxpayer refunds. During his press conference, Polis appeared to try to dispel any concerns about further depleting state co ers with a new set of rebates.

“ is is not the general fund. is is tax credits,” Polis said.

e proposed incentive package is the latest example of Polis’ carrotheavy approach to climate policy. Will Toor, the executive director of the Colorado Energy O ce and a chief architect of the state’s climate e orts, said the proposed budget amendments would expand the state tax credit for electric vehicles from $2,000 to $5,000.

Under the proposal, anyone who buys an e-bike would also be eligible for a $500 rebate, while low-income residents could receive a $1,000 discount. Toor said the new tax credits would also cover 30 percent of the cost of new electric lawn and garden equipment.

“ is package is an important complement to existing policy and federal incentives that would help supercharge climate action and

Toor said the plan is a direct response to the In ation Reduction Act, which Congress approved last year with an estimated $370 billion in spending for new climate programs.

e new law renewed a $7,500 federal EV tax credit but added a long list of restrictions. Starting around March, a buyer can get half the full credit if a vehicle has a battery with at least 40 percent of minerals from the United States or its trade partners. e other half is only available if 50 percent of the battery components are made in North America. ose rules could exclude many EV models. To account for the new policies, many automakers have announced plans to shift supply chains and build new factories in the U.S., but it could take years for their vehicles to qualify for the federal discounts.

By expanding the state tax credit, Toor said the state could avoid a slowdown in Colorado’s electric car market. Almost 70,000 EVs are already on the road, according to a Colorado Energy O ce dashboard. Polis has set a goal to have 940,000 EVs on Colorado roads by 2030.

To reach those targets, Colorado has split from electric vehicle strategies in California. Last year, the state’s Air Resources Board approved new vehicle regulations, which included a ban on the sale of

new gas-powered vehicles starting in 2035. Other deep-blue states are in the process of adopting the same rules.

Meanwhile, the Polis administration has proposed a modi ed version of the same regulations. While it includes many of California’s aggressive electric vehicle sales targets, it drops the 2035 ban.

Other pieces of the proposed Colorado tax rebate package would incentive the use of clean hydrogen, community geothermal heating projects and sustainable aviation fuel.

It follows a bill Polis signed last year allocating more than $110 million for programs to improve local air quality. at included a two-year e-bike incentive program, which the state plans to launch later this year.

Toor said the new proposal aims to make sure Colorado continues to o er e-bike discounts even after the program expires. He said that’s especially important following the success of Denver’s e-bike rebate program, which helped more than 4,000 residents buy a new twowheeled electric vehicle in less than a year.

“People love them and there’s demand for them. And so we will be proposing an ongoing e-bike tax credit as a part of the clean transportation package,” Toor said.

is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

Bird scooters in Arvada shortly after the launch of the pilot program. PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

Governor wants tax credits to make purchases cheaper

Prepare for some new costs of being employed

Paid family leave cost is among hits to paychecks

BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN

As another year begins, so do some new state laws. And 2023 has a major one that will hit many workers’ paychecks almost immediately.

Paid family leave, which Colorado voters approved in 2020, will cost roughly $4.33 per week for a worker who makes $50,000 a year. In return, that worker will be eligible for up to 12 weeks (or 16 weeks for complicated births) starting in 2024. is isn’t a vacation fund, but kind of an emergency fund that will provide workers paid time o to have a baby or take care of sick loved ones or themselves.

“Starting in 2024, this is going to cover pretty much all employers in Colorado with a very small number of carve outs that were in the statute. All employees would be eligible for up to 12 weeks per year,” said Tracy Marshall, division director of the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, or FAMLI. “ is is an annual bene t. It’s not a once-in-a lifetime bene t.”

Keep in mind, companies and workers are paying into the program this year so that there will be money to support family or medical leave next year. e expectation? e FAMLI fund will have $1.3 billion in contributions by the end of 2023.

What’s Working covered the details of the how the law will impact companies in an earlier column, but here’s a quick recap:

For employees: For a worker who earns $50,000 a year, here’s what the contribution is, according to the state Department of Labor and Employment:

• $4.33 — Employee’s weekly payroll deduction, or $225.16 a year.

• $4.33/$225.16 — Employer’s payment for the employee, though companies can be generous and cover the employee’s portion, too.

For companies: For a company with 10 employees (smaller companies aren’t required to participate) who all earn $50,000 a year, that comes out to:

• $4,503.20 — is is the employer’s annual contribution. Half of this can be deducted from workers’ paychecks.

• Companies with existing plans can opt out but their paid-leave plans must be approved.

e bene ts: Starting in 2024, here’s what that same $50,000-wage worker will get paid if they take leave:

• $750.88 — Weekly bene t for the worker. at’s about 80% of the worker’s regular pay. Bene ts are based on wages. e maximum is $1,100 a week. e bene t is paid by the state, not through the employer, so workers must apply through the state portal.

It’s also not just for new parents. Paid leave will provide a temporary benefit for Coloradans who

need to take care of their sick loved ones or even themselves. It’s a benefit that an estimated 2.7 million workers could be eligible for. Roughly 216,000 employers need to register with the state’s program and the first payments are due April 30.

On average, wages in Colorado have increased 8.5% in one year. But that’s the average hourly wage. For minimum wage earners, that’s going up too — by 9%, or the rate of in ation for the rst half of the year, which is what the state uses to calculate the annual cost of living change.

In Colorado, minimum wage is moving to $13.65 an hour on Jan. 1

from $12.56. In Denver, it jumps to $17.29 an hour from $15.87.

For comparison, here is how Colorado’s average hourly earnings have grown by month, according to data from the state Department of Labor: Tipped workers are getting an 11% increase to $14.27 an hour in Denver.

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

e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

Thu 1/19

Parent Guide to ADHD: ADHD 101 (18+ yrs)

@ 1:15am

Jan 19th - Jan 18th

Parker Recreation Center, 17301 E Lincoln Ave., Parker

Sandra Bernhard "Soul'd Out" @ 8pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Cameras, Cooks, and KidsWilder

@ 2:30pm / $190

Jan 19th - Mar 16th

Wilder Elementary, 4300 W Ponds Circle, Littleton. 720-996-0894

Anavrin's Day: Tailgate main stage @ 8:30pm

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Sat 1/21

Neil Z @ 7pm

Lincoln

Conjunto 4 Norte @ 8:30pm Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

Fleming Mansion Walkthrough (for permit holders only) @ 10pm

Fleming Mansion, 1510 S. Grant St., Den‐ver. 720-913-0654

Randy Riggle @ 1am

Jan 22nd - Jan 21st

Heather Gardens Clubhouse, 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way, Aurora

Red Mountain Boys @ 7pm Swallow Hill, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Teague Starbuck

@ 6pm

The Pint Room, 2620 W Belleview Ave, Littleton

Butcher Days @ 11am

Tony’s Meats & Market, 4991 East Dry Creek Road, Centennial. sup port@tonysmarket.com, 303-9911350

Estate

Parker

Vamonos

FRTC Presents ROCK OF AGES

@ 7pm / $20

Jan 19th - Jan 21st

Parker Performing Arts School, 15035 Compark Boulevard, Parker. psalyers@gmail.com, 720-2856705

Fri 1/20

Phat Daddy @ 7pm

Pindustry, 7939 E Arapahoe Rd, Centen‐nial

Rayito Colombiano

@ 7pm Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

Nefesh Mountain @ 7pm

Swallow Hill, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Citizens @ 7pm

Colorado Christian University, 8787 W Alameda Ave, Lakewood

Sandra Bernhard @ 8pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

AOA: Trip: Brass Armadillo @ Platt @ 6pm

Denver Parks and Recreation (PPS), 1500 S Grant St., Denver. 720-913-0654

Ladies Night @ 6pm / $5 Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo at 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 8pm

Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

Hot

Tyler

ADR: Adaptive Cardio/Circuit Training Session II

@ 12am

Jan 26th - Mar 1st

Platt Park Recreation Center, 1500 S. Grant St., Denver. 720-913-0654

ADR: Adaptive Martial Arts & Safety Session II

@ 1am

Jan 26th - Mar 1st

Platt Park Recreation Center, 1500 S. Grant St., Denver. 720-913-0654

AOA: Cooking with Friends: Taste of Morocco @ Platt Park @ 7pm

Platt Park Recreation Center, 1500 S. Grant St., Denver. 720-913-0654

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LOCAL VOICES

The good and bad

This month marks the one-year anniversary of me taking over as the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media. ese are 11 newspapers spanning over Arapahoe and Douglas counties and, to some degree, Elbert County. I say to some degree because we have a great member of our sta , Scott Gilbert, who deserves credit for going above and beyond as he took Elbert County duties to a high level this year. Let’s put him and his work with freelancer, Chancy Gatlin-Anderson, in the good column for all of 2022.

Beyond my o ce, as editor, I have seen a lot of great things happening throughout the Denver metro communities.

I continue to be thoroughly impressed with Littleton and the work the council and community do. It is a good community, setting a great example in many areas. Littleton’s council operates with the kind of forethought all our communities need.

I love their board that makes recommendations on the environment. To answer world problems, local work has to be done in our cities and towns. It’s not all about Washington all the time.

Another major example for Littleton is the fact that the city buys into the concept that a ordable housing is in crisis mode right now and programs must be approved to move forward and keep working-class families in the communities. When a teacher cannot a ord to live in the community in which they teach — it is a tragedy. When retail, restaurant and everyday workers are hard to nd — a lack of a ordable housing is the reason.

From supporting federal measures to creating their own programs locally, Littleton is thinking about sustainability, growth and stability. at is a good thing to have right now.

In Douglas County, a ordable housing is becoming even more scarce. I think Parker Chamber CEO T.J. Sullivan said it well when he brought up the ght against apartments and rentals. Without people working and living in our communities — they cease to function well.

One of my reporters recently talked about teachers in Douglas County driving through the metro area along I-25 and passing the neighboring district Cherry Creek knowing teachers there are paid more money. ey drive past the higher-paying district to Douglas County where they make less to do the same job. at is not good and not worth it to that teacher.

I was surprised that both the district’s

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher

ballot measures to bring in more funding failed. If we continue to pay teachers like crap — we are going to keep losing the best teachers and quality is going to continue to decrease.

In the area of transparency — I have to say Castle Rock and Littleton are fantastic. Castle Rock creates websites that are informative, easy to maneuver and make me feel like they care if their citizens know what is happening.

eir sta is also top-notch. Led by Melissa Hoelting, Castle Rock’s communication operations are great. ey are proactive and when asked for interviews, information and their time, they are receptive.

e same can be said for Littleton.

Now the bad — law enforcement. One of my pet peeves since joining the media in Colorado is that common response — “It’s under investigation.” I fully agree that information must be protected to do the work good detectives and police have to do. However, when the public information o cer uses that “It’s under investigation” loophole to the point of abuse — I get completely frustrated.

e public’s right to know and the laws protecting that are there for a reason. When a police department says there is no further information and nothing further is happening with a case — I cannot really support the “It’s under investigation” response.

Trying to get information on the Charles Hay Elementary closing due to a potential threat in Englewood is a perfect example. Waiting and stalling to get the information we nally got is not necessary. Work with us — we work with you.

In Centennial and Arapahoe County I have loved watching the growth and commitment to dealing with homeless issues, even appointing someone to lead the e orts. I love it because this problem is not going away, cannot be ignored and cannot be shrugged o .

To end, I must say in regards to mental health issues facing our area and nation — it’s a mixed bag. In Douglas County the program is fantastic. Seeing Community Response Teams up close — I love the work and goals they have.

Arapahoe County is also following suit and improving mental health response operations.

However, after participating in the Douglas County Youth Congress program this year, I can say — we are not doing enough. ese teenagers spoke honestly about counselors being paid but not really listening, about fears of even speaking up and about all the stress and pressure they face without an outlet.

We have to continue the work to do better, since 2023 is now here.

elma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

LINDSAY NICOLETTI

WINNING

Saying it and praying it

By now most of us have heard what happened to the Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin, during a Monday Night Football game on Jan. 2. Hamlin su ered cardiac arrest after making a tackle against a Cincinnati Bengals player, collapsing on the eld after the tackle. In the days following his cardiac arrest Damar Hamlin was listed in critical condition.

Kudos to the league and the people responsible for suspending the game. I am a huge fan of football, but a bigger fan of life and respecting life. And a huge applause to the players and coaches from both teams who joined together in an on- eld prayer. As there is an ever-increasing scrutiny and e ort to cancel prayer or public displays of prayer, it was obviously more important to those on the eld who witnessed what happened rsthand to come together in prayer for Damar Hamlin.

Over recent years, coaches, players, and teams from youth leagues to high school and from college to the pros have been taken to task for praying in public — some even losing their jobs and being forced to bring lawsuits to try and keep their position. So, making what we witnessed happen during that Monday night game relative to the prayer was both promising and truly inspiring.

en there was the next unbelievable moment, an amazing event took place on ESPN as Dan Orlovsky took the time to pray out loud for Damar Hamlin. I lled up with tears as I watched his prayer, listening to the intensity, compassion and sincerity with which he prayed. Hats o to ESPN for not shutting this down, and a tremendous shout out to you Dan Orlovsky for your courage, bravery and conviction to your faith.

Being a part of several prayer groups myself, prayers for Damar Hamlin were surfacing each day for his recovery, for strength in recovery, for complete healing, for his family and for his teammates. Nothing less was expected, because that’s what we do for each other in our prayer groups, we pray with each other and for each other and for all those that may need prayer. We pray with people and for people from all over the world and from every walk of life.

We all know what happens sometimes. Someone we know will share a story about something or someone in their life where there is a problem, a challenge, an injury, or an illness. And with the best of intention we say, “I’ll be praying for you,” or “I’ll say a prayer for them.” And then we go about our day, and we never actually stop for minute and say the prayer. Did we mean it when we said we would pray? Or did it just feel like the right thing to say in the moment?

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

A publication of

lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

THELMA GRIMES South Metro Editor tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com

SCOTT GILBERT Editor

sgilbert@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE

Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS

Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN FRANKS Production Manager efranks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Elbert County News.

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

Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100)

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110.

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POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Elbert County News, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

Thelma Grimes

Red Flag laws work, but they have to be used

When Colorado passed its Red Flag law, called “Extreme Risk Protection Orders,” in 2019, El Paso County Sheri Bill Elder announced his opposition: “I am exploring all legal options and am vigorously challenging the constitutionality of this law.”

He wasn’t alone. Many county sheri s in Colorado said they believed the law didn’t allow enough due process or was unconstitutional.

But since then, some 20 of these so-called “sanctuary” counties have seen the light, implementing this sensible law so that weapons have been taken away from violent people. But it was not used in El Paso County’s Colorado Springs, where a man recently killed ve people and wounded many others at Club Q, an LGBTQ bar.

e shooter, who survived, never had to go to court to defend himself against the Red Flag law — even after law enforcement was called in a year ago to stop him from threatening his family with a bomb.

If anyone needed to be parted from weapons, it was the Club Q shooter. But sadly, in the wake of massacres like this, we frequently learn that no action was taken earlier by either law enforcement or family.

e El Paso County Sheri ’s o ce, in a statement to the Colorado Sun, admitted that it has never initiated an extreme risk protection order, the

NORTON

FROM PAGE 8

A few years ago, in a coffee shop in Denver, I was approached by a man who recognized me from this column. He told me he appreciated the motivational columns but was turned off when I would mention my faith or anything to do with prayer. We talked for a few more minutes and I shared my faith journey with him, but he still said that he was not a believer. Then he said that even though he didn’t believe in God or prayer, his family really needed some prayer and could I please pray for them. The irony was real, and I prayed for his family.

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rst step in removing a rearm from someone under Colorado law.

e Red Flag law builds in due process, as only a judge can begin the process of removing someone’s guns. A second court appearance is necessary to extend a temporary protection order beyond two weeks. While a Red Flag law is now used in 19 other states, the Associated Press found that Colorado residents invoke the law less often than residents of other states.

Why not? A major reason is the anti-democratic ideology of county sheri s who choose what laws to enforce. Sheri s have bought into the peculiar notion that a county has ultimate legal authority to uphold the Constitution of the United States.

One result of this old “Posse Comitatus” approach is that local sheri s feel free to ignore state laws they don’t like. All they have to do is label them “unconstitutional.”

is attitude was on full display in several states when they issued emergency orders to curb the spread of Covid 19. Rural sheri s in Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and California resisted. ey de ed the orders of their state government and refused to enforce public health

at is why what the players did on the eld matters. It’s why what ESPN and Dan Orlovsky did matters. e power of prayer is an incredible gift we have been given. So, if we say we are going to pray for someone, we need to pause and pray, we never know the impact we may have. I would love to hear your thoughts on prayer at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can come together in prayer for those who need a little bit of prayer or a lot of prayer, it really will be a better than good life.

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.

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measures.

e backbone of this county approach is best represented by the Constitutional Sheri and Peace O cer Association, a group based in Arizona and founded by Richard Mack, described by the AntiDefamation League as an “antigovernment extremist.” Mack is also credited as a founding member of the Oath Keepers, infamous for their involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

In my home state of Oregon, this rhetoric has made inroads. ough a contentious ballot measure restricting magazine capacity and implementing a new rearm permitting system recently passed, several county sheri s have joined lawsuits to prevent the reforms from going into e ect. Many more of Oregon’s 36 county sheri s have stated they will not enforce all or parts of the law.

While not all of these sheri s may view themselves as members of the Constitutional Sheri and Peace Ofcer Association, the in uence of its ideology is undeniable.

You would think it goes without saying, but the job of a county sheri has never been to interpret laws as

they see t. Sheri s are elected ofcials entrusted by their community to apply laws fairly.Allowing sheri s to act as supreme legal arbiters is wrongheaded and dangerous. If the El Paso County sheri or the shooter’s family had implemented the Red Flag law, a massacre might have been prevented.

So called “Constitutional Sheri s” couch their rhetoric and ideology as a ght to preserve liberty and justice. It is almost as if they were living in a ctionalized version of the Wild West, where a lone sheri with a gun upholds civilization.

at is not the world we live in. Guns are not sacrosanct possessions, unstable and dangerous people should not be allowed to stockpile weapons, and activating the Red Flag law can save lives.

If our sheri s won’t uphold the laws, maybe it’s time to vote for someone who will.

Brian Sexton is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonpro t dedicated to spurring conversation about Western issues. He writes about wildlife and hunting in Oregon.

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When two friends joined forces to donate socks to homeless shelters in January 2012, they had no idea it would lead them on a path to creating a nonpro t that has collected nearly one million pairs of socks for people in need throughout the U.S. e Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign, co-founded by Sue Lee and Phillis Shimamoto, collects and distributes new pairs of socks for people experiencing homelessness and those in need, such as low-income families, Marshall Fire victims and migrants who arrived in Denver in late 2022.

Although it was more than a decade ago, Lee remembers nearly every detail of how the nonpro t originated. She was in the soup aisle at King Soopers, shopping for anksgiving dinner on a Tuesday night in 2011.

“As I was literally grabbing a can of cream of mushroom soup, written in my head were yellow block letters with a red outline, and it went like a marquee and went across my head, inside my head, and it said, ‘Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign, socks for the homeless.’ And it kept rotating,” Lee said.

It made her stop in her tracks. “Literally, it was written — so it wasn’t like a thought I had conjured up,” she said. “If the message were from God, I looked up and down the aisle to make sure nobody was around, and I said, ‘Seriously? You think I have nothing else to do?’” e message kept repeating as she nished shopping. She walked to her car and, out loud, said, “OK, I’ll do it.”

“I got in the car and I called Phillis. And I said, ‘Phillis, you won’t believe what just happened. I might have gotten a divine message, I don’t know,’” Lee said.

Lee suggested they ask their friends to gather new pairs of socks through the end of December, and then take them to some homeless shelters in January.

“I was like, ‘Well, let’s do it,’” Shimamoto said.

During the rst week in January 2012, in 7-degree weather, Lee and Shimamoto took 575 pairs of socks to three locations.

“And at every location, they were saying, this is the number one clothing need,” Lee said.

Shimamoto said after they found out socks were “the most requested

item and the least donated,” they decided to continue collecting socks.

“We said, well, let’s do what we can. Let’s try to make it as big as we can,” Shimamoto said. “And who knew that after all this time, we would be on our way to a million socks.”

The value of socks

Educating people about the value of socks, especially to people experiencing homelessness, is part of the nonpro t’s work, Lee said.

ere are an estimated 10,857 people experiencing homelessness on a given night in Colorado, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

e research article, “Foot Conditions among Homeless Persons: A Systematic Review,” cited a study that found people experiencing homelessness walked a median of ve miles each day.

In another study, it was reported “that only 61% of homeless participants changed to a clean pair of socks daily.”

With walking being their primary mode of transportation, many people experiencing homelessness go through their socks fairly quickly, Lee explained.

“A pair of socks on a homeless person might last two to three days,” she said. “It’s really important to be — have those constant socks out there at shelter services and agencies for them.”

Lee said people sometimes only picture men as experiencing homelessness. However, a November 2014 report by the American Institutes for Research stated approximately 2.5 million children are homeless each year in the U.S.

“We had to educate people that … we need socks for men, women and children,” she said.

Something else Lee informs people of is the danger of foot ailments for people experiencing homelessness.

“One of the main reasons a person who’s homeless goes into the emergency room is a foot ailment, and they can die from that,” Lee said. “One way to stop that from happening is for them to have clean, dry socks to wear on a regular basis.”

“Every time someone gives socks, they should realize this might save a person’s life,” she said.

Eric Hill, an emergency medicine physician and the EMS medical director for the Medical Center of Aurora, said cold weather injuries

and foot problems are high on the list of reasons people experiencing homelessness go to the emergency room.

“Especially around the wintertime, when you get really cold spikes, we tend to see more of it, especially in the days afterwards when they already have the frostbite,” Hill said. “ ey’re at a much higher risk just given their exposure levels and lack of appropriate clothing for that kind of environment.”

He noted people experiencing homelessness come to the emergency room for other, variable reasons, such as issues related to mental health and substance abuse.

“ ey may come in with (an) alcohol-related issue or drug-related issue, but when you’re actually evaluating them, you see that they actually have signi cant feet problems with that,” he said.

e toes are very susceptible to frostbite, he explained, saying having regular access to dry, clean socks is a big part of preventing foot ailments.

“Access to good footwear, waterproof, recurrent socks, is a great thing,” Hill said.

Becoming a nonprofit

After continuing their work of collecting socks in 2013, by 2014, Lee and Shimamoto realized they needed to o cially establish themselves as a nonpro t, which they did in 2015.

In the beginning, Lee and Shimamoto were counting, sorting, bagging and storing the socks themselves.

Now, members of the National Charity League do almost all of the counting, sorting and bagging for them, Lee said, and then the socks are stored in a storage unit until they’re ready for pickup from an organization that needs them.

e nonpro t collects and distributes socks in a variety of ways, and it has had in uence in least 47 states in the country, Lee said.

One of the methods for collecting socks is through sock ambassadors, which Lee said is any person, business, place of worship, or organization that collects new socks for the nonpro t.

“And then they get them to us, we count, sort and bag them, and we get them out to shelters, services and agencies,” Lee said.

Over the years, the nonpro t has given socks to more than 200 shelter services and agencies, Lee said. ey also give socks to individual

people who may be assembling “blessing bags” and want to include socks in them for people experiencing homelessness, she added.

Among the extensive list of sock recipients is Cardenas Ministries, a family operated nonpro t based in Henderson, in Adams County, that hosts a range of events and initiatives aimed at giving back to the community.

“We just enjoy doing stu in the community, whether it’s for kids who are underprivileged or whether it’s for the women’s shelters, homeless,” said Valerie Soto, one of the family members.

“We were buying socks and we never had enough socks to give out,” Soto said.

During one of their events, roughly four years ago, they connected with someone who introduced them to Lee and the Sock It To ‘Em nonpro t.

“Sue has just been a big blessing. We’ve been able to help so many people because of Sock It To ‘Em,” Soto said.

She said they’ve received thousands of socks from the nonpro t, which are distributed through efforts such as their holiday events, gift bags they assemble for people experiencing homelessness, and their school supplies donations to southern Colorado communities.

Recently, Cardenas Ministries’ had about 1,000 pairs of socks from Sock It To ‘Em to hand out during its December “Spirit of Giving Parade of Toys” event, in which they gave out hats, gloves, socks and toys to families at di erent housing developments in Brighton and Commerce City.

“ ey’re angels on earth,” said Gloria Estrada, the mother of Soto, about Sock It To ‘Em. “ e need is there.”

Soto said she can speak from experience, as when she was growing up, both of her parents were in college and there were “ ve of us kids.”

“We didn’t have enough clothes. We were very, very poor at that time,” Soto said. “And we would have to share socks.”

When children come up at the events and pick the pair of socks they want, it creates a good feeling, Soto said.

“Sock It To ‘Em, I’m telling you, they are just so amazing,” Soto said.

Cathy Law — the project manager for the Volunteers of America Colorado AmeriCorps Seniors Retired

Senior Volunteer Program in Denver, Douglas and western Arapahoe counties — also praised Sock It To ‘Em for its partnership with Volunteers of America.

“It’s an amazing partnership,” Law said, explaining they rst connected in 2016. “Sue and Phillis give me a bunch (of socks), and then I can distribute them in the community because we have partnerships with these other agencies.”

Law said she’s taken socks to many di erent places, such as to the Volunteers of America veterans’ service center and to food banks Volunteers of America works with.

“I really feel like it’s a heartbeat in the community, where they’re connecting people,” Law said about Sock It To ‘Em.

“ ey’re showing you that an act of kindness can go so far,” she added. “And that if you believe in something, you can make it happen.”

e nonpro t’s impact is also growing outside of Colorado, as Lee said the nonpro t gets submission forms from across the country of people wanting to do sock drives.

ere are also people called “sock sherpas” who o er to transport socks to areas outside of Colorado.

In some states, smaller networks of people working together to collect and donate socks are forming, Shimamoto said.

“ at’s always been our goal, is to be able to have pods of people in di erent states who can connect with one another and kind of build a small community,” Shimamoto said. “Hopefully, it just gets bigger and bigger.”

Support from Colorado cities, towns

Even before earning its o cial nonpro t status, Sock It To ‘Em began making a name for itself in Colorado cities and towns.

On the Friday before anksgiving in 2014, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock proclaimed the second Wednesday in December a “Sock It To ‘Em Work Day,” Lee said.

Following the proclamation, Lee emailed seven mayors the next Monday asking for their support as well.

e next night, she went shopping for anksgiving in the same King Soopers at the same time as she had in 2011.

“I’m in the soup aisle and literally, I’m grabbing a can of cream of mushroom soup, and my phone goes o in my pocket,” she said.

It was Catherine Marinelli, the executive director of the Metro Mayors Caucus, a voluntary, regional association of 38 mayors. She told Lee two mayors had forwarded the

email Lee sent to the caucus.

“And she goes, ‘We love this idea,’” Lee said.

Marinelli invited members of Sock It To ‘Em to attend the caucus’ legislative holiday party, which was the same day as the proclaimed work day, and said the mayors would be bringing socks to donate.

“And that got some other mayors interested in us,” Lee said.

One of those mayors was Clint Folsom, who was the mayor of Superior from 2014 to 2022. e town began collecting and distributing socks to people experiencing homelessness, Lee said.

When the 2021 Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County, displacing residents, Shimamoto reached out to Folsom to donate socks.

In total, they donated about 16,000 pairs of socks, Lee said.

“It was really cool to be able to give back to them after all that they had given to the community all of those years,” Shimamoto said. “It really warmed our hearts to be able to see that come full circle.”

A lot of the 16,000 pairs that went to Superior came from other cities who held Sock It To ‘Em sock drives, Lee said.

“It was really emotional,” she said. e cities of Centennial, Greenwood Village and Englewood hosted sock drives again in late 2022, collecting new pairs of socks of all types and sizes through mid-January.

Schools have also joined in on the sock drives, such as High Five Preschool in Castle Rock, Bradford Primary School in Littleton, and Timberline Elementary School in Centennial.

Some schools, on the other hand,

are the recipients of socks through the nonpro t’s sock drawer program. ese drawers are typically implemented in Title I schools, which are schools receiving federal resources due to having a lowerincome student population.

“Many of those kids go to school and they don’t have socks, and so we decided to do sock drawers,” Lee said. “And so we get them into schools and then we try to replenish them as we can.”

Some volunteers in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program gave back to Sock It To ‘Em by putting together sock drawers, Law said.

Since the 2022-23 school year began, the nonpro t established approximately 22 sock drawers in schools across the Denver metro area, Lee said.

Law re ected on how many people are involved in the collection and distribution of socks to people in need.

“By the time that individual gets that pair of socks, it’s not just a pair of socks. It’s those hands of love that say we’re thinking of you — and sometimes that’s more important, is just people knowing that someone’s thinking of them,” Law said.

Looking ahead

Sock It To ‘Em plans to celebrate collecting one million pairs of socks on Feb. 16, re ecting on how the nonpro t has grown over the past decade and how it can continue to do so.

Expanding the sock drawer program, as well as the sock ambassador program, across the country are on the list of goals Lee has for the nonpro t’s future.

Another goal is raising funds.

“It would be signi cant to raise a

quarter of a million dollars — that would allow us to really expand to the degree that we know we can,” Lee said, adding she would like to establish a facility for the nonpro t to operate in.

On top of its constant need for sock donations, the nonpro t also needs more volunteers, Lee said. Volunteer duties may include calling schools to see if they want a sock drawer, overseeing sock ambassadors, or transporting socks.

Lee encouraged those interested in learning more about the nonpro t and participating in it to ll out the submission form on their website: sockittoemsockcampaign. org.

Looking back at how the nonpro t has evolved over the years, Lee and Shimamoto encouraged people to pursue their ideas.

“If you have an idea, do it — and don’t be afraid that you won’t know how to do it, because there will be enough people in your sphere of in uence that will know how to help you,” Lee said, encouraging people to ask themselves: “what if, what else and why not” when they have an idea.

e two friends expressed gratitude for all the ways people have supported their vision and nonpro t.

“We wouldn’t be able to be able to do what we do if it wasn’t for them,” Lee said. “It’s thousands of people who have really participated in where we are today.”

“Everybody’s contribution has meant something to someone,” Shimamoto added. “And everybody who has contributed one pair of socks has contributed to this large amount that just keeps growing every year.”

Tammie Limoges, the chief development and operations o cer of the nonprofit, smiles alongside Sue Lee, showing o the sock drawers in the nonprofit’s storage.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUE LEE

Sue Lee, left, and Phillis Shimamoto pose next to their Sock It To ‘Em sign in 2015.

Colorado considers changing its Red Flag Law

Mass shooting at club sparks new discussion

BY MARKIAN HAWRYLUK KAISER HEALTH NEWS

A Nov. 19 shooting that killed ve people and wounded 19 at a Colorado Springs nightclub has o cials considering changes to strengthen Colorado’s red ag law, particularly in self-declared “Second Amendment sanctuaries,” where emergency petitions to remove a person’s guns are led less frequently and usually denied.

e three-year-old state law allows law enforcement o cials or family members to seek a court order to seize the guns of a person who poses a threat to themselves or others. But the Club Q shooting underscores a fundamental challenge for it and other red ag laws: Sheri s often refuse to use the measures based on a belief that they infringe on the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms.

El Paso County, where the Colorado Springs shooting happened, is one such place. It has the lowest approval rate for initial court petitions led under the law of any county in Colorado where more than three cases have been led, according to a KHN analysis of court records. Now Colorado lawmakers, like those in other states that have experienced mass shootings in recent years, will try to turn angst over the incident

into legislative action to strengthen the state’s red ag law, including potentially expanding the pool of people who can petition for a protection order.

Soon after the arrest of Anderson Lee Aldrich, the man accused of the Club Q shooting, reports surfaced of a previous incident in which he surrendered to police after threatening to blow up his mother’s home with a homemade bomb.

hearing that the defendant had been stockpiling weapons and explosives, was “clearly” planning a shootout, and that he needed mental health treatment. Neither the family nor law enforcement sought an extreme risk protection order to ensure Aldrich didn’t have access to guns, leading to questions about whether November’s shooting could have been prevented if they had.

Colorado’s red ag law, passed in 2019, has been used more than 350 times, with initial petitions for protection orders being granted in nearly 2 in 3 cases.

Judges in El Paso County approved 11 out of 53 initial petitions, just over 20%, through Nov. 22. Although El Paso County is the most populous county in Colorado, about twice as many petitions were led in Denver County, the next largest. ere, judges approved 91 of 104 initial petitions, or nearly 88%.

Violence prevention advocates attributed El Paso County’s low approval rate to several factors. Among them, the county declared itself a Second Amendment sanctuary county in opposition to the red ag law, and El Paso County Sheri Bill Elder has been adamant sheri ’s o cials won’t seek any protection orders, “unless exigent circumstances exist.”

So far, the only two petitions led by law enforcement in the county were sought by the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Analyses of red ag laws across

the country show law enforcement o cials are much more successful when they le petitions than when relatives or roommates of the person in question do.

“ e ones that are petitioned for by law enforcement were approved more than 90% of the time, whereas the ones that are petitioned by family members, cohabitants, or parents were approved less than a third of the time,” said Dr. Chris Knoepke, a gun safety researcher with the University of Colorado’s Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative.

It’s unclear why law enforcement’s batting average is higher. It may be that police are more familiar with the legal requirements for processing and don’t make simple mistakes that can sink a petition. Law enforcement may also have easier access to legal help in ling, and judges may consider law enforcement o cials more credible than family members. Second Amendment sanctuary declarations by county governments or sheri s can also have a chilling e ect on petitions if laypeople misconstrue the largely symbolic gesture as preventing them from seeking a protection order.

e El Paso County Sheri ’s O ce was widely criticized for not seeking a protection order after the Club Q suspect had been arrested and his guns seized in June 2021 after threatening to blow up his mother’s home. e sheri ’s o ce issued a statement in December saying the suspect’s weapons had already been seized and a mandatory protection

Vigil outside of Club Q on Nov. 21.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHY LEES

order was in place, preventing him from buying additional rearms.

However, the charges against him were dismissed in July 2022, removing the mandatory protection order. e case records were sealed, which sheri ’s o cials said prevented them from using that incident to pursue an extreme risk protection order. And no new evidence was available that would have allowed the sheri to seek one, o cials added.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, said his administration will look into why petitions were not led in Colorado Springs and ways to strengthen the red ag law.

“We’re having a discussion now with local law enforcement, with state legislators about what holes exist in extreme risk protection orders and how we can better make sure that we have a system that works to keep people safe across Colorado,” the governor said.

Polis has oated the idea of expanding the group of eligible petitioners and has mentioned district attorneys as another potential category.

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have red ag laws on their books, allowing di erent parties to petition for protection orders. Law enforcement o cers le most red ag law petitions, although the lines between ling groups are often blurred. Family members or others with the ability to petition often ask police to le on their behalf, and some police departments urge relatives to let police handle the petition because they’re better at it.

Four states and the District of Columbia also allow health providers to petition. But those still represent a sliver of the total petitions led.

“Health providers see this as a tool that can help their patients, but they don’t have the time to do it,” said Lisa Geller, director of state a airs at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Gun Violence Solutions.

Maryland is hiring navigators to help health providers petition for protection orders, without having to go to court themselves. at kind of assistance could help other petitioners improve their chances of getting

a protection order granted.

“When petitioners for domestic violence restraining orders have lawyers, their petitions for restraining orders are more likely to be granted,” said April Zeoli, an associate professor with the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention at the University of Michigan. “ ese legal forms are not something that the general public is used to lling out.”

Geller said advocates are pushing states to use money available through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to increase education about red ag laws, both to make more people aware of the tool and to help law enforcement or other eligible petitioners learn how to seek them.

Colorado can access $4.6 million in funding for the 2022 and 2023 scal years and must apply for funds this month.

Florida passed its law after the 2018 Parkland high school shooting, and New York and Illinois expanded their laws after mass shootings in Bu alo and Highland Park, respectively. New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul directed state police to expand the use of protection orders and created sta positions to make that happen. According to the governor’s o ce, 832 temporary and nal extreme risk protection orders were issued in New York state in the three months after Hochul’s directive, compared with 1,424 issued from August 2019 to April 2022.

Colorado gun violence prevention advoca/,tes expect state legislators to push for tougher gun laws in the upcoming legislative session.

Democrats held a slim majority in 2019 when they passed the bill establishing the red ag law, limiting its scope. But a landslide victory by Colorado Democrats in 2022 could provide the votes to o er more sweeping gun measures, such as a red ag law expansion, a semiautomatic weapons ban, or a raise in the minimum age for purchasing guns to 21.

“ ere was an appetite for this, anyways, before the Springs shooting,” said Eileen McCarron, president of gun violence prevention group Colorado Cease re Legislative Action. “But I think that shooting has exacerbated the issue, giving it more momentum.”

is article was originally published inKaiser Health News.

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