Elbert County News 071323

WEEK OF JULY 13, 2023

Elizabeth to mark 133rd birthday

Birthday Bash Movie Night set for Aug. 25

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

e Town of Elizabeth will celebrate its 133rd birthday with its rst “Birthday Bash Movie Night.” e event will take place at Running Creek Park at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 25.

EHS Cardinal Club holds 5k

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

e Elizabeth High School Cardinal Club held its annual Independence Day 5k Fun Run/Walk

on Independence Day. e 5k trail twisted throughout Evans Park and Casey Jones Park in Elizabeth. e EHS Cardinal Club partnered with the Elizabeth Park and Recreation District to host the event.

e parks have been greatly impacted by the torrential rains that Colorado has experienced this summer. e race trail was slightly altered from last year due to dam-

age from the Running Creek ood in June.

“ e rains have taken a toll on the park and the trails,” said Mike Barney, Elizabeth Park and Recreation District executive director. “It’s almost like a mountain trail in some places due to the rut and drainage issues.”

“We usually combine the town’s birthday celebration with the ‘Wine in e Pines’ event,” said Town of Elizabeth Deputy Clerk Harmony Malanowski. “ is year we wanted to make it a little more familyoriented and family-friendly, so we hold the event closer to the actual anniversary date, September 24th.” e free event is welcoming to the whole family, including leashed furry friends. To celebrate, the town will show the family-friendly animated lm “Despicable Me.” e movie will be shown on a giant outdoor screen. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to stretch out on while they watch the lm. ree local organizations will be fundraising at the event. ey will provide food and drinks for purchase to help them raise money.

e Elizabeth High School Marching Band will provide popcorn, the Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo Royalty will provide candy, and the local Girl Scout troop will serve beverages. In addition, the town will o er free birthday cookies to everyone in attendance.

Runners wait at the starting line at Evans Park for the Cardinal Club 5k run/walk.

PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

e 5k race is held each year to raise money for the EHS Cardinal Club Athletic Fund, a nonpro t organization that helps to provide scholarships for student athletes. is year’s event raised nearly $2,000 for the fund.

“ e funds that are raised help us provide scholarships to graduating seniors, for student athletes, and for their continuing education,” said Rhonda Kildu , Cardinal Club volunteer. “Without this annual fundraiser, we wouldn’t be able to fund the scholarships.” is year, 63 participants and a few four-legged friends took on the course. is is a drastic increase from last year where only 35 racers took on the challenge.

After the race, participants and their friends and families were served a free breakfast made by members of the Elizabeth Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. e breakfast included pancakes, sausage, eggs and more.

“Our independence is really important to us. We want to celebrate our freedoms, like our freedom to practice religion as we see it kind of thing,” said Jeff Edwards, a mem-

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Participants gather in front of the Elizabeth Park and Recreation District building to sign in for the race.

PHOTOS BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

Participants sign in with the Cardinal Club. Here they picked up their numbered bibs and swag bags.

Supportive family and friends showed up to cheer on the runners and walkers.

CARDINAL 5K

ber of the church and breakfast organizer. “We do this because this is our community. We live here and want to support our local organizations. We also just like to reach out and get to know people.”

The winner of this year’s race was Russell Nelson, a student at Elizabeth High School. He finished the race in 20 minutes and 24 seconds, over four full minutes faster than last year’s winner (Caden Farnsworth at 24 minutes and 28 seconds).

“It feels amazing to win,” said 17-year-old Russell Nelson. “I’m just preparing for my crosscountry season this fall. This is a part of my training.”

You can learn more about the EHS Cardinal Club at tinyurl. com/EHScardinalclub2023

Your Douglas County Fair & Rodeo is just around the corner

Looking for unique food options, star-studded country music and vintage cars all in the same place this summer? Visit the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo from July 28 to Aug. 6. To purchase tickets and view the schedule, visit FairandRodeoFun.com

STRIVE TO THRIVE

Resource & Service Fair Tuesday, July 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd. in Highlands Ranch, CO

Douglas County families who are struggling financially can receive backto-school items for the kids, a hot meal and access resources from more than 20 different organizations. Attendees in need of school supplies must preregister at https://tinyurl.com/4jafend For more information, visit douglas.co.us and search for Strive to Thrive

Lock it up - don’t be a victim

Douglas County is one of the safest places in the state, but a nightmare scenario that could have you scrambling to fix your car, cancel bank cards and chase down lost identification is possible no matter where you live. For more information, visit douglas.co.us and search One Simple Mistake

Living among wildlife in Douglas County

Living among wildlife means sometimes you’ll find one that’s dead or injured. Your Douglas County Health Department wants to make sure you know what to do:

If you find a dead rodent or bird, don’t touch it. If it must be moved, use gloves and a long-handled shovel.

If you find an injured animal, don’t approach it. Call Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 303-297-1192

For more information and an online reporting form, visit douglas.co.us and search for dead animal and disease.

The 5k run/walk event helps raise money for the Elizabeth High School Cardinal Club Scholarship Fund, a nonprofit organization that funds athletic scholarships for graduating seniors.

PHOTOS BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

Members of the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make the post-race breakfast.

A yummy breakfast is prepared by members of the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Two young boys lead the pack at the starting line of the 5k.

ere will be no vendors selling their merchandise at the event. However, a representative from Banner Mortgage will be present to provide free bubbles to all of the kids who want them.

“My kids are really looking forward to seeing ‘Despicable Me,’” said Morgan Pickle of Spring Valley. “We’re planning to pack a picnic and make a whole evening of it. I think it will be really fun.”

Brief history of Running Creek Park ough the Town of Elizabeth “Birthday Bash Movie Night” is being held on Aug, 25, the Town’s actual birthday is just under a month later on Sep. 24. e town was o cially incorporated on Sept. 24, 1890, making it 133 years old as of 2023. e Town, once called Russellville, was incorporated after only 35 years.

In the early days of European settlers moving into the area, a bustling sawmill camp was in operation on the bank of Running Creek (1855). e town was moved to its present location after a huge storm ooded Running Creek. Later it served as a corn eld for several decades.

On Oct. 12, 2021, the Town of Elizabeth Board of Trustees dubbed Elizabeth’s downtown park o of Highway 86 “Running Creek Park” after the creek that works its way through the town.

Two months earlier, the board had asked the public to suggest names for the event park at 500 E. Kiowa Ave. e town received 18 submissions through email, drop box and in-o ce. For up-to-date information on the event, visit tinyurl.com/ elizabethbirthdaybash

To learn more about the history of the Town of Elizabeth, visit townofelizabeth.org/community/ page/history-elizabeth

Running Creek Park, the location for the Town of Elizabeth Birthday Bash Movie Night.

PHOTOS BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

Floodlands around Running Creek Park. This area supported the early sawmill industry in Elizabeth beginning in 1855.

Douglas County OKs homeless camping ban

Commissioners unanimously approve prohibition

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Amid an ongoing crisis of homelessness in the Denver metro area, Douglas County’s elected leaders unanimously approved a law to ban unauthorized camping on county property in areas outside of cities and towns.

Area residents have expressed fears in recent months about the possibility of more shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Douglas County, a topic the county attorney addressed before the ordinance passed.

“Our goal is to work with our partners throughout the state to make sure that shelter is available and we transport individuals who need that shelter to that already-existing shelter,” Je Garcia, county attorney, said at the June 27 county commissioners meeting. “We are not going to create new shelters in Douglas County.”

e conversations about shelter and a long-discussed potential

restriction on camping in the county are intertwined because of recent court cases along the Front Range.

Commissioner Abe Laydon and others have referenced People v. Wiemold, a district court case out of Fort Collins where a judge ruled a man couldn’t be cited for violating a camping ban because there was no shelter available to him.

“It is important to note that a party cannot violate this ordinance if there is no other alternative shelter available,” Garcia said about the county’s new law.

“We have taken direction from Colorado courts on this, and that’s why the exception exists that permits nonenforcement where there is no shelter available,” Garcia said, referencing a legal case out of Boulder.

What’s in the ban

e county’s new law is not a universal ban on camping across all public property.

Instead, it concerns camping on county property, which the ordinance de nes as “all land, including, any park, parkway, recreation area, roadway, open space, or any other public property owned by Douglas County.”

e new law applies in “unincorporated” Douglas County — in other

words, areas that sit outside of city or town boundaries.

e county can only give an individual a citation if the person does not have county permission to camp on county property, the county is aware of available alternative shelter and the person refuses shelter, Garcia told Colorado Community Media.

Douglas County has no large-scale homeless shelter, but the Winter Shelter Network — an organization of churches — serves Douglas County women and children experiencing homelessness.

e network provides shelter from Jan. 2 through March 31, according to its website. Guests stay at local churches that open their facilities on a rotating basis. In 2022, the network sheltered ve households, according to Laydon.

But the ordinance can be enforced based on shelter outside of Douglas County, Garcia said.

Asked whether the county must speci cally o er to transport a person to a shelter, Garcia said: “ e ordinance is silent regarding transportation to a shelter. However, (as) a matter of procedure, the HEART team does o er rides to shelters.”

at’s a reference to Douglas County’s Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team of

“navigators” who respond to homelessness, working with law enforcement when safety is a concern.

e new law also targets encampments in general, stating: “No person shall erect or use any tent, net, or other temporary structure for the purpose of shelter or storage of property on county property without rst having obtained the written permission of the authorized o cer of such public property.”

e term “temporary structure” includes “any structure used to shelter a person or property after sundown and all enclosed structures,” the ordinance says.

A person who violates the ordinance “shall be punished by a ne of not more than $1,000,” the law says.

e ordinance is set to take e ect as of July 31, according to its text. Not universal ban

e new law’s focus on land owned by the county leaves a lessclear picture of what enforcement could look like on other types of land.

CCM asked the county about the following other types of land:

• Creeks, rivers, other bodies of water, or storm drainage areas that are not owned by the county;

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• Parks, open space or other recreation areas that are not owned by the county, such as those owned by local governments called metropolitan districts or other entities;

• And areas in the right-of-way, such as sidewalks or other areas along the road, along state or federal roads or highways, such as those owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation or U.S. Department of Transportation.

“ e county does not have laws prohibiting camping on these types of property,” Garcia said. “However, other state laws may prohibit unauthorized camping in these areas.”

Camping bans vary around metro area Laws that may ban camping by the unhoused vary widely across the Denver metro area, and some local governments in Douglas County already had their own bans.

Parker approved a camping ban in June 2018. Overnight camping on public property is not allowed in the City of Lone Tree, according to the city’s website.

e Highlands Ranch Metro District is a type of government body called a special district — not a municipality — and is located in unincorporated Douglas County. A rule related to parks and open space says camping is prohibited

without a permit. at rule was added in 2018, according to Sherry Eppers, metro district spokesperson. e rule applies to all Highlands Ranch Metro District-owned property — that includes parks, open space, parking lots, parkways and property surrounding o ce buildings, Eppers has said.

Complicated picture

People who have experienced homelessness told CCM in recent years they’ve had concerns that led them to avoid shelters, including worries about safety or being separated from a companion. e advocacy group Denver Homeless Out Loud has also expressed those concerns.

e Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has argued that camping bans don’t solve homelessness but, rather, only may eliminate the visibility of homelessness for a period of time.

Cathy Alderman, a spokesperson for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, in March 2022 pointed to what she called “the unproductiveness of having competing camping bans between cities,” arguing that camping bans will push people back and forth across city and county lines.

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Plan leads to fight over electric vehicle chargers

Private sector says it can’t compete with utilities

BY JUDITH KOHLER THE DENVER POST

Supporters of speeding up the move to electric vehicles see investment by utilities as essential, but business groups say it will be hard for them to compete with utilities on providing charging stations for the public.

In its second plan on electric vehicles filed with regulators, Xcel Energy proposes spending $145 million to build a public charging network over the next three years in addition to offering rebates and other programs. Charge Ahead Partnership, a national coalition that includes retailers that want to build EV charging stations, opposes proposals by Xcel and other utilities to install and operate chargers.

Coalition spokesman Ryan McKinnon said regulated utilities like Xcel Energy would have an unfair advantage in the emerging market because they can use ratepayers’ money to invest in the infrastructure and they get a certain rate of return on their investments.

“We’re advocating for policies that will make it more of a level playing field for private business retailers, basically just letting the free market come in and be able to provide this service without having to compete with a monopoly,” McKinnon said.

The coalition also objects to utilities owning and operating chargers because the money will come from ratepayers, including low-income customers and people who don’t have EVs.

Will Toor, executive director of the Colorado Energy Office, said there’s plenty of room for investors who want to build the thousands of charging stations that will be needed to meet the state’s goals for electrifying transportation.

“I’m more concerned that between state, federal, utility and private sector investment, can we get enough investment to meet that need,” Toor said.

An updated EV plan released earlier this year by the Polis administration calls for 2.1 million cars and SUVs on Colorado roads by 2035 and 1,700 fast chargers and 5,800 slower public chargers.

An analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation said that nearly $1 billion will have to be spent on charging in -

frastructure through this decade if Colorado wants to meet its goals.

The analysis suggested that Colorado will need nearly 5,000 fast-charging EV ports by the end of 2030, said Christian Williss, managing director for transportation at the energy office.

“Right now we’re at a little over 800,” Williss said. “It kind of takes an all-hands-on-deck approach.”

Not the right vehicle?

Ray Huff doesn’t think Xcel Energy and other investor-owned, regulated utilities are the right vehicles to build EV-charging networks. Huff is president of HJB Convenience Corp, a Lakewoodbased convenience store operator. He said private businesses nationwide want to take advantage of state and federal incentives to start installing chargers but worry about competing with utilities.

“They want to charge me as a ratepayer for their buildout of the network and then get their 10% or 9%c return on the money that they took from us,” Huff said. “I can’t do that as a private business person, why can they? Well, it’s because they have a monopoly.”

Public utilities are regulated but essentially operate as monopolies, providing service in certain

geographical areas. In return, they get to recover the costs of building power plants, transmission lines and other expenses while making a certain amount of profit.

Both Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy have submitted plans to the PUC for supporting the use of electric vehicles. Business and trade groups that object to utilities getting into the EV charging business have focused on Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest electric utility.

Xcel has proposed building and operating up to 460 public fast chargers in its service territory from 2024-2026. That number is less than 10% of the more than 6,000 additional chargers needed to support the state’s goal of having 940,000 EVs on the road by 2030, Jack Ihle, Xcel’s regional vice president for regulatory policy, said in testimony to the PUC.

Ihle said that leaves more than 90% of the additional charging needed to be met by others. Xcel’s plan includes offering rebates for installing home EV chargers; rebates for vehicles; support for the electrification of commercial fleets; rates that encourage

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CHARGERS

charging when demand on the grid is low; and public outreach.

“Transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions in the United States and our EV vision complements our net-zero carbon emissions goal for 2050,” Xcel spokeswoman Michelle Aguayo said in an email.

e goal is to provide everyone in communities served by Xcel “the bene ts of electric transportation, whether they own an EV, use public transit or bene t from improved air quality,” Aguayo added.

Xcel Energy recovers its costs of electri cation through a rider on customers’ bills. Aguayo said the new plan will increase the average residential electric bill by 77 cents a month.

However, Xcel’s large commercial and industrial customers will see average monthly increases of $15.

In the long run, Xcel customers will bene t from more electric vehicles tapping into the grid, said Travis Madsen, transportation program director for the Southwest Energy E ciency Project. People charging at home usually plug in

their cars at night or when demand is low and there’s excess capacity on the system.

“In e ect, we’re using our electric system more e ciently. We’ve already invested in these power plants, the wires and the transformers and whatnot,” Madsen said.

Electric vehicle drivers are putting more money into the electric system, which will help lower everyone’s rates, Madsen said.

A study by Synapse Energy Economics said customers with EVs in three of the utility service areas with the most electric vehicles in the U.S. contributed more than $1.7 billion in net revenue between 2012 and 2021. e result has been “downward pressure” on electric rates, the study said.

Fueling competition or not?

Bill Levis, an AARP Colorado volunteer, has a di erent viewpoint. He testi ed against a 2019 law in part because it allowed utilities to cover the costs of building chargers by increasing the rate base, the basic rate customers pay. e law cleared the way for electric utilities to supply public charging stations and, with approval of the PUC, recover their costs.

Levis, the former head of what is now the Colorado O ce of the

Utility Consumer Advocate, said AARP Colorado remains opposed to utilities adding the expense to the rate base.

“Putting it in the rate base means that those on xed incomes and lower income people who can’t a ord EVs would end up paying for subsidized charging stations,” Levis said in an email.

In addition, because regulators authorize set rates of return for the investments that utilities make, it gives them an unfair advantage in the marketplace, Levis said.

“If Xcel is looking to get ratepayers to subsidize their own investment, it will distort markets to such a degree that retailers who today are strongly considering installing EV charger stations would abandon that e ort,” said David Fialkov with the National Association of Truck Stop Operators. e association has weighed in on utilities proposing to build and run EV chargers in other states. One of those states is Minnesota, where Xcel Energy is based and where it recently withdrew a transportation electri cation plan.

Xcel withdrew a clean transportation plan in early June after it got a lower rate increase than it sought from the Minnesota Public Utility Commission. e Star Tribune in Minneapolis reported that Xcel had

proposed building and owning 730 EV fast chargers in the state.

Xcel Energy spokeswoman Aguayo said the company is evaluating its next steps and will submit another transportation plan to Minnesota regulators in November.

e Minnesota Department of Commerce said in a document to the utilities commission that it’s encouraging Xcel to review how it can help develop the state’s EV infrastructure. e department said Xcel “has not shown that it can build, operate, and maintain even the limited number” of the fast-charging stations it has been approved to build.

Fialkov said his organization and businesses don’t oppose Xcel Energy and utilities building EV chargers “on their own dime” or in areas where private businesses might not be willing to build.

“A lot of companies are looking at applying for federal grants to install EV chargers and if Xcel continues down the path it’s intending to go on, those plans will be abandoned and Colorado will be left behind,” Fialkov said.

is Denver Post story via e Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member.

Mosquito season is here, worsened by rainfall

West Nile a concern

BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e trees are green, the grass is lush and all the rainfall brought some much-need moisture to the Denver metro area. However, the added wetness this spring also means a lot of standing water, which is prime breeding ground for mosquitoes.

More mosquitoes means more bites and a possible increase in West Nile virus cases. Mosquitos are most active between May and October each year. West Nile virus cases tend to increase in August and September.

In 2022, Colorado led the nation in West Nile virus, with a con rmed 152 positive cases. In 2021, Colorado ranked second, falling behind Arizona.

Dr. Mark Montano, medical director of CareNow Urgent Care Clinics, said urgent care centers across the metro area are starting to see patients complaining of multiple mosquito bites. While none has been too serious, and Montano said they do not test for West Nile, the added rainfall this year means residents should think of prevention over reaction.

“When it comes to mosquitos the biggest concern on our end is the diseases they can carry,” Montano said. “In most years a lot of these areas are usually dried up by July, but this year is di erent.”

Montano said the rst line of defense has to be eliminating standing water and consistently using repellent.

Paul Galloway, the marketing and communications manager with the Division of Disease Control for the

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said this year could be a challenge.

“Last winter’s heavy snowpack and the wet spring we’ve had in Colorado are already causing an increase in mosquitoes in some areas,” he said.

So far, Galloway said the biggest increase has been in Aedes vexans mosquitos, which do not transmit human diseases but are named for being aggressive biters.

As summer continues, Galloway said, state health o cials are just starting to see a shift from Aedes mosquitos to the Culex mosquitos, which can transmit diseases such as the West Nile virus.

“While we do expect to see more Culex mosquitoes this summer,”

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sive in the early morning hours and evening, warning hikers and bikers to get prepared rather than dealing with the itching and rami cations later.

While mosquito bites are generally annoying more than anything, Montano said there are instances where a person can have a bad reaction. Topical creams such as Hydrocortisone and Benadryl can be useful, he said.

However, if a person sees unusual swelling in the bite area and has an abnormal allergic reaction, Montano recommends seeking care because added oral or steroid treatment may be required.

Galloway said most people infected with West Nile virus don’t have symptoms. About 20% of infected people will have u-like symptoms, and fewer than 1% develop a serious, potentially deadly illness.

Galloway said people aged 60 years and older and those with certain medical conditions are at greater risk of serious illness.

Galloway said, “more mosquitoes does not always result in more human infections. We have not seen any mosquitoes with the virus yet, but it’s important to use insect repellent and empty or treat sources of standing water.”

is includes everything from plant pots and rain barrels to ooded streams and elds. People should empty standing water from tires, cans, owerpots, clogged gutters, rain barrels, birdbaths, toys, and puddles around their home at least once every week, Galloway said.

Standing water is a breeding ground for all kinds of mosquitos as these areas are where they lay eggs.

Montano said everyone should be using repellent outdoors. Montano said mosquitoes are most aggres-

Montano said if when someone is having severe headaches or experiencing confusion from a mosquito bite they should seek medical care immediately.

Other tips provided by the state health department include: Use insect repellents when you go outdoors. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthanediol products provide the best protection. For more information about insect repellents visit the EPA’s information webpage. Always follow label instructions. Limit outdoor activities at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks in areas where mosquitoes are active. Spray clothes with insect repellent for extra protection.

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Standing water in yards and throughout the area is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This year, there is a lot more of it.

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Olivia Harms: Wide Open Saloon @ 6pm Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Mark Masters Comedy: Comedy Night at Raccoon Creek Golf Club @ 5pm Raccoon Creek Golf Course, 7301 W Bowles Ave, Littleton

Cory Michael @ 12pm

Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Thu 7/27

Eric Golden @ 6pm

Discovery Park, 20115 Mainstreet, Parker

Fri 7/21

Little Feat @ 6pm Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., En‐glewood

Sat 7/22

Alkaline Trio @ 12pm Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Village

Rotating Tap Comedy @ Fiction Beer Company @ 7pm

Summer Salt @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Tony Goffredi: Tony G @ Exchange Coffee House @ 4pm

The Exchange Coffee House™, 1415 Westbridge Dr, Castle Pines

CHADZILLA MUSIC: Deborah Solo

Trio at the Belleview Beer Gargen @ 5pm

Belleview Beer Garden (BVBG), 6751 E Chenango Ave, Denver

The Inablers at The Alley @ 7pm The Alley, 2420 W Main St, Littleton

Buddy Mondlock @ 6pm

Pyne Backyard House Concerts, Centennial

Sun 7/23

Fiction Beer Company, 19523 Hess Rd. #103, Parker Sean BE: Speaking Event @ 8am

Praise Center Church, 3105 W Florida Ave, Denver

The Mike G Band @ 11am Takoda Tavern, 12311 Pine Bluffs Way # A, Parker

Addison Grace @ 7pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Staying in the loop

When the topic of a school district keeping parents out of the loop about their children rst started coming up two years ago – I didn’t give it much thought. I believed if the school is going to send a note home or call when they administer a small dose of Tylenol, then they surely would notify me of other, more serious issues.

Recently, the Douglas County School District took up the issue of pronouns and parent involvement. While I disagree with ignoring a student’s preferred pronouns – I am OK with the idea of communicating with parents.

A lot of the debate has come as more students are going by di erent pronouns or considering a gender transition. In 2022, a New York Times article said, “Educators are facing wrenching new tensions over whether they should tell parents when students socially transition at school.”

In the article, a parent told a story about her female student identifying as a male student only at school — writing a di erent name on homework assignments, having teachers use he/him pronouns.

e mother in this instance asked the school how they could be doing this without at least letting her know. According to the article, the school counselor said because the student did not want his parents to know, the district and state policies instructed the school to respect his wishes.

For students, it can be a confusing time and they can be struggling with their identities. Being able to turn to someone at school such as a counselor is important. However, gender identity is a serious topic and if a student is considering it, there should be a well-rounded supportive circle, which means keeping parents in the loop.

I cannot see how it is healthy to encourage a student to be one person at school and another at home. at would be both mentally and

physically exhausting for a teenager already questioning their identity. Should a school counselor be encouraging a student to move forward with changing their gender? What if that student is 12? Should they decide parents are not to be part of such a major life change?

As a parent, I have my concerns. School counselors are important for our students to turn to. However, at some point, the student has to go home. e student will leave or move on from that school. Should the parent have the tools needed to help the student with life’s transitions with a full picture of what their children are thinking and feeling?

I am becoming more concerned with the power school administrators, boards and counselors think they have over our children. at goes both ways. I think some districts are getting too extreme on both sides of the debate.

e school district trying to take away student rights such as the use of preferred pronouns is not OK. However, encouraging the student to be deceitful while honoring a secret life at school knowing they are living another at home is not healthy for the student or family.

I have three children — ages 17, 9, and 6. If one of my children is having an identity crisis, struggling, or questioning who they are — I am ne with them turning to a school counselor. What I am not ne with is that counselor agreeing to secrecy. If my child were to go to the counselor rst due to not quite knowing how to tell me something — I still need to know. e school counselor spends a total of a few hours with my children. I live with them. I know them, and their father and I are the ones who need to help guide them in making choices that t their needs currently and in the future.

Keeping adults in their lives in the dark is a trend I will never sign o on.  I know some parents may not have what society views as the “right” reaction to some of these tough topics, but they cannot be disregarded.

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

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

Managing what appears to be unmanageable

When I relocated from New Jersey to Colorado, I had made the drive ahead of the moving truck. Crossing through Kansas and into the eastern plains of Colorado on Highway 70, I still couldn’t quite make out the mountains in the distance. However, the further into Colorado I drove, the purple mountains’ majesties began to appear in the distance. And even though it was July, I could still make out the snow-capped peaks standing tall against the sunset.

At the time I wasn’t familiar with Longs Peak, Mount Evans or Pikes Peak, just a few of the 14ers in the

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beautiful state of Colorful Colorado, but I still could see these massive mountain structures in the distance. ey were awe-inspiring for sure, but from a distance seemed much too di cult to think about trying to hike or climb them. And as my family and I settled into the foothills, the views of the mountains in the distance at both sunrise and sunset amazed us, as coming from New Jersey we were familiar with the oceans and hills of the east coast, but nothing compared to the grandeur of what now stood before us.

As newbies to Colorado at the time, we were anxious and nervous yet so excited to get into the mountains and do some exploring. Driving west on 70 those mountaintops didn’t disappoint — there are times along the road where their beauty is only

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A wet spring is springing up mushrooms

GUEST COLUMN

Andrew W. Wilson

It has been a wet, wet, wet spring here in Denver. I moved here in 2017 and I have not experienced such a verdant spring since arriving. As such, I’ve already been getting more than my fair share of mushroom inquiries. Recently, I’ve answered questions from a concerned dog owner who passed along pictures of a Stropharia mushroom, and some primordial birds nest fungi, growing in the wet mulch of a local dog run. Apart from telling him to pick and toss the mushrooms and enjoy the birds nest fungi, there’s not much else that can be done other than monitor what your four-legged furry child sticks in its mouth.

But this got me thinking, what have people been seeing in this wet, wet, wet spring? To nd out, I decided to jump onto iNaturalist and see what others around Denver have put on the app since June 1. In the rst 12 days of June in Denver County, there was a total of 103 mushroom observations on iNaturalist, representing 42 species. Several observations of the beauti-

NORTON

exceeded by their ominous features. I remember my family thinking that maybe we should turn back. And we are all glad we did not turn back, we kept going and nally stopped in Beaver Creek. After leaving the exit, and making our way toward the mountain, we could still not quite see the top, and again from far away it looked like that day’s hike might be more di cult than we had anticipated.

Beaver Creek isn’t even a 14er (a mountain that is at least 14,000 feet in elevation), yet it seemed gigantic to us, almost unmanageable for rookies to the area. But as we got closer, we realized we could no longer see the top, as a matter of fact the closer we got to that mountain, the smaller it became. And when we looked at the trail map and out at the winding trail ahead of us, we realized that what was right in front of us was more than manageable for sure, so we readied ourselves and took o up the mountain.

What mountain are you looking at right now? Does it look ominous and frightening from where you are currently standing? Maybe it’s a new cancer diagnosis, a personal battle with addiction, or a family member or friend ghting addiction. Perhaps it’s a relationship challenge at home. You may be facing a nancial burden that seems to be getting bigger by the day. Your mountain could be a problem with your business or

ful — but potentially poisonous — Chlorophyllum were made. ere’s also the beautiful Lepiota lilacia that has been surfacing in mulch and yards. en there’s the fun, but adult rated, Phallus hadriani. ese are fun because they often start o as rubbery eggs. I get a kick from the startled gardeners believing aliens have laid o spring in their mulch beds. When they come out of their shells, these impudent alien forms de nitely don’t conform to polite societal standards. What sort of surprises me are the lack of Agaricus barnardii observations on iNaturalist. It’s surprising because they’re so abundant in Denver’s parks that they’re almost a weed. However, they’re easy to identify because they look like a fat portobella mushroom, but smell kind of like the ocean. Another species that people didn’t put on iNaturalist in early is Coprinellus micaceous. is is truly a weedy mushroom species because when it’s wet, you always see it fruiting in large “inky” bouquets at the base of trees and tree stumps. One of our most common wood eaters, it is mushrooms like this that return stumps back to the soil.

your team. If you are in sales and you are now halfway through the year and your numbers are way o , the chasm between your quota and where you currently are regarding your year-to-date sales seem like a much higher climb than you can conceivably make up in the next six months.

Whatever your mountain is, get closer to it. Stop looking at it from miles away. Find a guide, a coach, a family member, or a friend who you trust to help you build your trail map. Get to the base of the mountain, identify the trailhead and execute your plan. e mountain isn’t going to climb itself, nor is it going to fall into the ocean and go away. You have more courage than you think, there is grit deep inside of you that needs to be surfaced to start the climb, and never underestimate your endurance to see it all through.

Is it time for you to get closer to the base of the mountain instead of imaging how di cult the climb might be from afar? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@ gmail.com, and when we can realize that what seems completely unmanageable from a distance can seem completely manageable the closer we get, 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.

As a mycologist, this is a fun time of year to help people explore their mushroom curiosities. ere’s a ton of diversity out there, and each one of the species mentioned above can be found around Denver and the Denver Botanic Gardens. For those who are truly enthusiastic, the best way to gain experience in mushroom identi cation is to join your local mushroom club. Check out the Colorado Mycological Society. ey have monthly meetings at the Denver Botanic Gardens and you can go there to meet with other mushroom enthusiasts who are happy to share their knowledge. Better yet, join the society and go on a local mushroom foray.

Andrew W. Wilson is the associate curator of fungi for the Denver Botanic Gardens

Chlorophyllum molybdites often comes up in well-watered lawns in Denver. It’s most notorious as the mushroom responsible for poisonings. Its telltale feature is the olive-green spore print it produces when the mushroom is mature.

PHOTO BY A. W. WILSON

How to take up running, from starting out to marathons

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Roxane Geisler started running in high school as a new challenge — somebody told her she should run cross country.

“I didn’t even know how to run a mile,” said Geisler, who is now president of the Highlands Ranch Running Club.

Getting into running “just gradually happened for me,” said Geisler, who is 54. “Suddenly, I was like, ‘Oh, I really do enjoy it, and I love getting out and seeing the views.’”

For people who are inexperienced at running but want to improve, it’s key not to be intimidated, Geisler said.

“A lot of people think, ‘Oh, I can’t join the running club because I’m not a real runner.’ And that’s totally silly,” Geisler said. “If you run, you’re a runner.”

Ryan Marker, an assistant professor who teaches exercise physiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, said it’s important for beginners to start slow. “Setting appropriate expectations, I think, is really important,” Geisler said. “So if someone’s never run before, you’re not going to get o the couch and do a marathon.”

But with the right plan, even beginners can work their way up to a marathon within months. (Here’s a tip: You don’t have to run the whole thing.)

Here’s some advice on how to start running or take your training to the next level.

Part of the group

One thing that can help you get into running: nding a group of runners to keep you moving.

When Geisler moved to Highlands Ranch in 2003, she noted how many people were out running by themselves.

She learned about the Highlands Ranch Race Series, and part of the idea behind starting her running club was to get some runners to train together.

“It makes running so much easier, training so much easier, when you have people to train with,” Geisler said.

And the people she’s met through her club “were a tremendous in uence on me — just people who really push themselves and try to get the best out of themselves,” said Geisler, who has run marathons.

e club provides a communal atmosphere:

Ryan Marker, who lives in Centennial, finishes a marathon last fall.

PHOTO BY DAVID MERRILL

LONG RUN

Runners don’t just work out but also make connections in her group. “De nitely lots of friendships have formed, and even a few people have met their spouses,” Geisler said.

Starting out

For beginners who are getting over the initial hump of starting to run, it’s important not to bite o more than you can chew, said Marker, who works in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

“If you’re just starting, even running for a mile, say — or even less than that — is meaningful,” Marker said.

Another strategy, he said, is to remember you don’t have to run consistently for a whole workout. “Run for ve minutes and walk for two,” Marker said as an example of setting planned walk intervals. at method “can help people build up their initial capacity.”

For runners ages 35 and up, Geisler said starting slow can help, like working toward a goal of “I’m going to run this whole mile without walking,” she said. “And then go from there.”

Also important: making sure you have the right running shoes for you. Geisler recommends getting a shoe tting at a specialty running store like Runners Roost.

“You can really get injuries if you don’t have the right footwear,” Geisler said.

Mental game

“Running is a mental sport” is a cliché for a reason — getting your mind used to running is a big part of the battle.

Di erent strategies can help you tackle the mental aspect of running, according to Marker.

“One very accessible one is goal setting … maybe you’re someone that really thrives on, you know, competition, getting a personal best,” Marker said. For those people, always having an appropriate race that you’re training for can help.

For others, distraction works well, so nd a good music playlist or podcast or audiobooks, Marker suggested.

Or opt for using running as a headclearing experience.

“I can almost do a mindfulness type of thing in running,” Marker said, adding: “Especially if you’re trail running, it can make you stop thinking of other things.”

Gearing up for a marathon

For those who aim to run a marathon — about 26 miles or 42 kilometers — it’s a good idea to schedule an initial training plan of at least six months, Marker said.

For inexperienced runners, there’s “not a small chance that you may get injured in that time, so you want to incorporate some bu er room,” Marker said. at’s partly so if you do develop an injury, you can adjust your training instead of trying to push through the pain and making it worse.

Expecting a long training period can help you eld interruptions that

may pop up.

“Life happens,” Marker said, adding that if you have a busy week at work, for instance, and are not able to stick with your training plan, there’s no need to feel that you’ve failed and have to stop.

In terms of distance, “you want to get in at least one longer run a week,” Marker said.

Expect to run three to four days per week at minimum and six days per week at most.

at’s because runners need to incorporate rest periods to avoid overtraining problems, Marker said, adding that it’s important to give your body time to adapt.

It may surprise you to hear that you shouldn’t be about to keel over throughout your run when training for a marathon.

“It’s not a bad idea to keep most of your training at moderate intensity,” said Marker, who referenced “the talk test.”

at’s “the idea that you’re doing moderate intensity exercise if you’re able to relatively easily carry on a conversation (while) you do that exercise,” Marker said.

If it gets so hard to breathe that you can’t say more than a few words without pausing for breath, that would be higher-than-moderate intensity.

In “the marathon, you’re going to be going at a relatively steady pace for a long period of time,” Marker said, adding it’s a good idea for your training to re ect that pace.

Yes, runners walk

You could call it running or “com-

pleting” a marathon.

“ ere’s no shame if you incorporate walking into a marathon,” Marker said.

“When you get to the elites, they’re running the entire time, and they’re running a pace that people, even me, couldn’t keep up even a 10th of the distance,” said Marker, who has done a couple marathons and one ultramarathon. (An ultramarathon is anything longer than a marathon, he said. e one he did was 50 miles.)

For walking, the biggest tip is making sure it’s planned, Marker said.

“ e moment you start walking because you’re tired,” that can be “game over,” he said.

He added: “You want to have more ‘on’ than ‘o ’ — not ending up with a 50/50 split” of time spent running and walking.

Fuel on the way

Something else you might not know: People training for marathons eat while on the run. at could be energy gels or bars, Marker said.

“I’d say if your long runs are starting to get longer than an hour, that might be a good time to gauge how you’re feeling,” Marker said, adding it could help to start bringing food with you.

Hit the gym

Strength training — not just running — can be key to pushing your running further, as it can help with injury prevention.

“If someone has the time and they’re able to incorporate strength training into their routine,” Marker said, “it can de nitely help them.”

Highlands Ranch Running Club volunteers stand at the Backcountry Wilderness Half Marathon in November.

COURTESY PHOTO

see record

BY PARKER YAMASAKI THE COLORADO SUN

Foot tra c on Colorado’s highest peaks tumbled 33% in 2022 from the record 415,000 hiker days logged in 2020.

e annual Hiking Use Estimates report by the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative recorded an estimated 279,000 hiker use days during the 2022 season. at’s about 24,000 fewer hikers than in 2021, which saw 303,000 hiker days, and a dramatic drop from 2020’s record of 415,000 hiker days.

ough some ebbs and ows are expected in hiker data due to drought or snowpack, Lloyd Athearn, executive director of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, worries that the last year’s decrease is in part an overreaction to the high-tra c pandemic year.

For instance, in 2021, Clear Creek County posted “No Parking” signs along the road that

Hikers and members from nonprofit groups cross paths on the DeCaliBron loop accessed from Kite Lake Trailhead in July 2022, near Alma.

PHOTO BY HUGH CAREY / THE COLORADO SUN

people traditionally parked along to access Grays and Torreys peaks. And in 2022 a reservation system was in e ect for the full season on Quandary, the fourteener that has consistently topped the hiker use charts since recording began.

“It’s sort of curious to me. Just as we’re getting close to having almost every fourteener with some kind of intentional route on it — something we’ve been working on for decades, and that the state has spent millions of dollars on — now the communities are saying, ‘we don’t want people here,’” Athearn said. “It’s like we built an interstate highway and all of a sudden the towns start saying they’d rather people run out the county roads.”

ough almost all of the fourteeners experienced a decline in tra c, the numbers and impact are not evenly dispersed. Overall, the state experienced an 8% decrease in tra c. is, in itself, is not particularly alarming. e pandemic year, when people got bored of fearing for their lives inside, created a high watermark of tra c. Even the double-digit decrease from 2020 to 2021 was something to be expected.

e Mosquito Range and the Elk Mountains are the only groups that did not see decreases. e Elks near Aspen — which consist of Castle Peak, Maroon Peak, North Maroon, Capitol Peak, Snowmass Mountain, Conundrum Peak, and Pyramid Peak — showed roughly the same number of hikers as last year, at 7,000. e Mosquito Range, just east of Leadville, actually increased its hiker count to almost double — to 32,000 in 2022 from 17,000 in 2021 — because of a twomonth closure of Mount Lincoln, Mount Democrat and Mount Bross in 2021.

e most drastic decrease was on Quandary Peak, just south of Breckenridge, which saw roughly 13,000 fewer hiker days in 2022

than in 2021. Athearn speculated that a season-long reservation system and the introduction of a shuttle fee in 2022 drove down that number. e next steepest losses came from the Sawatch Range, west of Buena Vista, which hosted 11,500 fewer hiker days, followed by the San Juans at 10,000 fewer hiker days. e Front Range peaks, including some of the most accessible fourteeners like Grays and Torreys, Mount Evans, and Mount Bierstadt, lost about 3,000 hiker days, while the Sangre de Cristos rounded out the losses with 1,500 fewer hiker days.

Athearn isn’t unsympathetic to the concerns of local communities.

In rural mountain towns, residents face the consequences of high visitor numbers— acutely felt in labor and housing prices — and a loss of the serenity that many moved there for in the rst place. Last month, a report by Montana’s Headwaters Economics outlined the paradoxical challenges of living in a mountain town so plentiful with natural features that its allure brings in crushing numbers of visitors and second-home owners, thereby degrading the quality of life for locals. e report called this type of town an “amenity trap.”

ose fears carry over to natural spaces. e dialogue about “overloved” natural resources is wellfounded in Colorado, and many heavily tra cked areas have implemented strict permit systems to try to do some damage control.

What Athearn is wary of is the knee-jerk reaction by local communities who see more people and immediately want to regulate rather than invest in better infrastructure.

“Some people think we need to permit everything, but you have to think, who are the people that really bene t? People who have exible schedules, who can book a trip six months in advance,” Athearn said. “What about someone who works a retail shift and might not know they can get out until the day before? Who are the people that will get access to public lands, versus those who will feel locked

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out or that the system is too Byzantine to navigate?”

With so much focus on diversifying public lands, and on reducing barriers to entry like cost, Athearn nds it strange that communities also want to start charging people for something that was traditionally free.

“We’re at this crosscurrent,” he said about the future of the fourteeners. “What do people actually want?” is year, the heavy and late-staying snowpack is going to have an impact on the hiking season. at much CFI is expecting. Overlaid on those natural conditions are an increase in parking and reservation fees, and an increase of private land closures — more than 10% of the fourteener’s summits are on private land — due to liability issues. e way that those three forces will impact hiker numbers this year concerns Athearn.

“I worry that we’re going in this negative direction where people are just saying ‘there’s too much. Too many people, too many dogs, too much whatever, and so let’s just stop,’” Athearn said during a recent fourteener safety panel. “Is this a canary in the coalmine for our recreation-based economy?”

Another driver of what Athearn called the knee-jerk, “shut o the tap” reaction, is the fallacy that more people means more damage.

In 2015, CFI’s trail condition report card, an assessment that they conduct every four years, gave the Quandary Peak trail a C+. at year the trail hosted 18,000 people, according to the hiker use report. CFI used that information to prioritize the Quandary trail’s improvements.

In 2018, the next iteration of the report card, the trail received an A-. It hosted 38,000 people that year.

“ ere were more than twice the amount of people on it, but the trail was better,” Athearn said. He emphasized that high numbers don’t necessarily mean high impact. “If you have a good trail, people are going to follow it like cattle. Nose to tail,” he said. “And that’s a good thing, right? at means they’re not

going to be going o trail, picking owers, damaging the ecosystem.”

Higher concentrations of visitors on popular peaks is also a boon for local search and rescue crews. “From a rescue standpoint, to go back up the same trail again to rescue someone with a broken ankle, it gets a little monotonous,” Je Sparhawk, executive director of Colorado Search and Rescue, said.

“But, if we had to go search for people all over the place, searches take a long time. And that’s volunteer time. at’s time away from work or time away from family.” Sparhawk added that locals go wherever they want to go. ey understand tra c patterns, and know where they can nd solitude. e majority of rescues that COSAR conducts are for out-of-state visitors. Sparhawk hesitated to say it aloud, but added that keeping those travelers on a few consolidated peaks makes COSAR’s job easier.  Athearn recently had the opportunity to talk with climbers on Grays while a helicopter ew logs to the summit. While he was holding the foot tra c back, he asked where all of the climbers were from. “I recall only about ve people from Colorado,” he said. “ ere was an extended family from St. Louis, a woman from Maryland, a man from Wisconsin, some people from Los Angeles, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee.”

Ultimately, Athearn encouraged Coloradans to think more broadly. “ e thing that’s always hard for communities to understand is that these are our national forests and our national parks,” he said. “ ey may be located largely in the West, they may be in our backyards, but they’re really owned by all the people in the USA.”

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.

How ruling on race-based admissions could a ect Colorado

Only a few schools in state had factored race into policy

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Colorado’s colleges and universities will no longer be allowed to consider race when admitting students, after the nation’s high court recently ruled that admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina are unconstitutional.

Only a few Colorado schools factor race into their admissions decisions, including the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado College and the University of Denver.

e Supreme Court decision to halt 45 years of colleges’ use of race-conscious admissions could reshape campuses here and nationwide.

e decision means the state’s most selective schools won’t be able to consider racial diversity as a factor in enrollment, which could limit the tools they use to balance their student bodies to be more re ective of states and the nation. It also could discourage students from applying to college and deter university o cials from addressing racial inequities on campus, according to experts.

Native American, Black and Hispanic students enroll in college at lower rates than their White and Asian peers.

Ben Ralston, Sachs Foundation president, said race-based admissions were created to rectify systemic inequities that had erected barriers to Black students and students of color. e Colorado Springs-based

foundation supports Colorado’s Black communities, including by o ering college scholarships.

“ e fact that the federal government is saying that historic inequity is something that they no longer want to address is just a clear signal to the students that we serve that those inequities are going to continue to persist throughout the course of their education and probably the rest of their lives,” Ralston said.

Biden weighs in President Joe Biden said the ruling should not deter colleges from seeking to improve diversity. University administrators in Colorado said that they are working to understand how the ruling will a ect their admissions processes and that they’ll keep working to admit students from a range of backgrounds. at includes putting more weight on students’ personal experiences and removing barriers in the application process.

“Excellence is not de ned by a test score, so this will force us to de ne excellence even better,” said Shanta Zimmer, senior associate dean for education at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

e majority of Colorado’s public universities and community colleges do not consider race in their admissions decisions. Students of color go to those schools at higher rates than more selective schools but typically have fewer resources. at contributes to lower overall graduation rates.

Selective colleges typically have more nancial and student support resources that help students of color graduate at higher rates.

In admissions, selective colleges in Colorado largely consider the rigor of classes taken in high school, grade point average, application essays, recommendations, and geo-

graphic location. Colorado’s public schools do not consider scores from standardized tests like the ACT and SAT, but some private colleges do.

CU Boulder, Colorado College, the University of Denver and the U.S. Air Force Academy treat academic performance and rigor as the most important factors in deciding whether to accept a student, but they do consider race as well.

e high court’s decision exempted military academies, on the premise that they are not party to the case and have “potentially distinct interests” that were not considered in the court cases. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor called that distinction essentially arbitrary and said it shows that even the majority doesn’t believe the 14th Amendment prohibits all use of race in admissions.

CU Boulder unusual

CU Boulder, the state’s agship institution, is the only Colorado state university that considers race in admissions. Public universities in the state have tried to be more representative of the state’s residents — and, in turn, taxpayers who help pay for their operations.

CU Boulder is 65% White, 13% Hispanic and 2% Black, according to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. In contrast, Colorado’s K-12 population is just 51% White, 35% Hispanic, and 4.6% Black. e school has become slightly more demographically diverse in the last decade. e student population also has grown, and the school is admitting and serving more students who are Black and Hispanic.

In a statement, University of Colorado President Todd Saliman and Philip DiStefano, chancellor of CU Boulder, said the university would

continue to use admissions processes that consider “the whole student,” including demographic characteristics and life experiences.

“As we move forward, the University of Colorado will continue to advance our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” they said. “We are steadfast in our belief that a vibrant and inclusive community leads to a richer educational experience for all, contributes to a positive society, and prepares our graduates to excel in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world.”

Jennifer McDu e, CU’s associate vice chancellor of enrollment management, said the university plans an audit of all its admissions practices and sta trainings to gure out what needs to change in response to the ruling. At the same time, CU is looking at what barriers it can reduce in admissions, which may mean expanding nancial aid or removing extra essays from its application process. e university also wants to ensure students from diverse backgrounds feel wanted and welcome, McDu e said.

University of Denver Chancellor Jeremy Haefner said in a statement that his institution would continue to work to build a more diverse study body, for example by prioritizing diverse high schools in its recruitment e orts and working to create a more welcoming campus environment.

“Without question, there is much to learn about how this decision will impact admission processes at the undergraduate and graduate level,” he said. “Legal professionals will apply their expertise to interpreting the decision over the coming days and weeks, and we will make the best choices for DU’s commitment

SEE RULING, P19

to diversity and our students while complying with the legal landscape.”

e Supreme Court decision stems from two cases that were brought by Students for Fair Admissions, an organization headed by Edward Blum, who has spent years ghting admissions policies that consider race.

e group alleged that the raceconscious admissions policies of Harvard and the University of North Carolina are unfair and discriminate against Asian American applicants, among other allegations.

e universities said they needed to take race into account to build a diverse student body, which brings bene ts to the schools and students.

Roberts wrote opinion

In a 6-3 opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court ruled that argument relied on stereotypes about how people of di erent races and ethnicities think and behave.

e majority opinion argues that using race as a factor in admissions inevitably harms groups that aren’t favored by the policy.

“College admissions are zero-sum, and a bene t provided to some applicants but not to others necessarily advantages the former at the expense of the latter,” Roberts wrote.

Opponents of the use of race-

based admissions had argued that Asian American applicants are harmed by the practice.

But the decision also will have an impact on the Asian American community, said Jennifer Ho, a University of Colorado Boulder professor. While Asian Americans are highlighted in the case, they have a mixed view on a rmative action and using race in admissions, according to a Pew Research Center study.

While some Asian American communities are highly educated, many struggle to get to college, such as Hmong, Laotian and Cambodian students, and those from Myanmar, Ho said.

“Asian American students who are from Southeast Asian groups are vastly underrepresented in colleges and universities and have some of the lowest graduation rates from high school by percentage,” said Ho, a professor of Asian American studies.

Many Asian Americans have also bene ted from race-based admissions policies, Ho said, including herself.

“My guess is that some of the parents who are driving the narrative that a rmative action is harming their children have actually been the bene ciary of a rmative action policies,” she said.

Last case was in 2016 e last time the Supreme Court took up a rmative action was in

2016, when it upheld that colleges and universities can use race in admissions. e makeup of the court has since shifted to a more conservative majority.

Data from states that previously banned the use of race in admissions provide a look at what may happen nationwide.

After California and Michigan banned the use of race in admissions, the share of Black, Latino and Indigenous students at several of the most selective universities fell sharply. ose gures tended to tick back up with time, but never fully rebounded — and they still fail to represent the racial diversity of high school graduates in those states, the Boston Globe reported.

When colleges become less racially diverse, students of color often feel the schools are less welcoming — which could discourage Black and Latino students from applying or staying in college. at matters because Black and Latino students are more likely to bene t from the social capital that comes from attending a top college.

Ralston said more of his students have chosen to go to historically Black colleges and universities because some schools have felt like less of a place for them. He expects that portion to increase as students feel less inclined to consider a school that’s less diverse.

Experts nationwide say it’s hard to boost admissions of Black, Hispanic and other underrepresented

students without considering race. Some people worry the ruling will discourage universities from even trying, for fear of running afoul of the ruling.

Kelly Slay, an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University, said states could consider sending more resources to colleges that serve higher numbers of students of color. CU Boulder’s Ho said that schools could also try to diversify their student bodies by considering the economic background of students or whether they’re the rst in their family in the United States to attend college.

Advocate Satra Taylor said she hopes foundations will step up scholarship o ers to get students of color to college.

“No matter what, we’re going to have to be proactive,” said Taylor, higher education director of Young Invincibles, which works on promoting student voice in policy debates, “and we’re going to have to ensure that we’re creating equitable access pathways for students from marginalized backgrounds.”

Administrators at the University of Colorado said they are committed to just that. McDu e pointed to recent initiatives such as a partnership with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe that provides free tuition to some tribe members and a program that pays for travel and lodging for students and families from Colorado’s rural San Luis Valley to visit campus.

SEE RULING, P23

Education can reduce prison sentences

BY MOE K. CLARK THE COLORADO TRUST

Soon after Bikram Mishra got out of prison in 2018, an administrator at Adams State University in Alamosa called to ask if he would teach a college class for incarcerated students. Mishra earned three business degrees from Adams State during his 12 years of incarceration, and was known for being an educator behind bars.

“At rst, I said ‘hell no.’ I didn’t want to voluntarily walk into another prison,” recalled Mishra, who is now in the Denver metro area. But after learning the classes would be taught online and thinking about the impact he could have, he agreed.

Mishra was one of a few formerly incarcerated people to testify in support of a bill passed during the 2023 state legislative session that seeks to make college degrees more accessible — and enticing — for incarcerated students in Colorado. e bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis on April 12, decreases prison sentences for those with nonviolent felony o enses who earn accredited higher education degrees or certicates.

Under the new law, a person will receive six months o their sentence for a certi cate or other credential that requires the completion of at least 30 credit hours; one year o for an associate’s or baccalaureate degree; 18 months o their sentence for earning a master’s degree; and two years o their sentence for a doctorate degree.

Currently, three higher education institutions in Colorado o er prison programs: Adams State University, Pueblo Community College and Trinidad State College. No institution currently o ers a doctorate degree for incarcerated students and Adams State o ers the only accredited master’s degree program.

By Sept. 20, three more accredited institutions will be approved to of-

fer programs, though the names of the institutions have yet to be announced. e current programs were formally launched in 2020 as part of a federal pilot program and have faced many obstacles, including COVID-19 lockdowns, severe sta ng shortages across the prison system and technology delays. e Colorado Department of Corrections is working to expand broadband capabilities within the state’s prisons, said Annie Skinner, a spokesperson for the department, in an email.

e new law comes as signi cantly more incarcerated people become eligible for federal Pell Grants to pursue college through the U.S. Department of Education. Starting in July 2023, incarcerated students will be able to access the funding for the rst time in decades. Eligibility for incarcerated students was stripped in the now-infamous 1994 crime law. e nancial assistance — currently up to $7,395 per academic year — is awarded to low-income students to cover tuition and other educational expenses.

“Access to and completion of higher education programming can open up many new job opportunities” for formerly incarcerated people, Skinner wrote in an email. “Having a job has been shown to reduce recidivism which not only improves public safety but also has a positive impact on current and future generations.”

at’s especially impactful for people of color who are disproportionately represented in state and federal prisons as a result of decades of racist policing practices and federal policies that led to mass incarceration. e U.S., with approximately 2 million people in prison and jails, incarcerates more people than any other country, and the number of people incarcerated has increased 500% over the last 40 years, far outpacing crime rates.

SEE PRISON, P23

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PRISON

Incarcerated people who participate in postsecondary education are 48% less likely to return to prison for new crimes after being released, according to the Vera Institute of Justice. e nonpro t estimates that increasing educational opportunities in prison could save $366 million in taxpayer funds each year, primarily from the reduction in recidivism. Each year, the savings incurred by the earnedtime program will be allocated to the Colorado higher education institutions o ering prison programs.

RULING

CU is doubling the number of students eligible for its CU Promise Program, which waives tuition for students whose families earn less than $65,000 a year. e extra nancial aid will be paid for in part by admitting more out-of-state students. CU also plans to reduce extra essays not already required by the Com-

e earned time from the educational attainment will be calculated automatically in the Department of Corrections system. When a person is nearing their parole date, they will submit o cial transcripts with their parole packet.

For State Rep. Matthew Martinez, an Alamosa Democrat who co-sponsored the bill, an important aspect of the new legislation is that the sentence reduction is mandatory.

“DOC can’t say, ‘Well, they earned their degree but this, this and this,’” said Martinez, who is the former prison college program director at Adams State University. “It has to be accounted for, for early release.”

“Some other states have this in some

monApp, continue diversifying its recruiters, and do more outreach in communities that historically don’t send a lot of students to the university, McDu e said.

Zimmer said she believes the court ruling relies on a mistaken idea about merit. With more than 10,000 applicants for just 184 spots, the school has always looked at test scores to ensure students are academically prepared. But simply ranking applicants by their MCAT scores wouldn’t produce the best medical school class — or the best doctors, she said.

way, shape or form, but this is by far the most overarching policy in the nation at the moment,” Martinez added, who co-sponsored the bipartisan bill alongside State Rep. Rose Pugliese, a Colorado Springs Republican, and State Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Denver Democrat.

State lawmakers will receive an update in 2028 on how the new program is meeting its objectives, according to the law. Martinez hopes to commission a study in the coming years to measure recidivism, employment rates and the wages a person receives once released.

Mishra hopes that better access to education for incarcerated students will lead to larger systemic changes within the criminal justice system. He

In the future, the medical school likely will give more weight to essays and responses to questions about past experiences, advocacy work, and personal attributes, Zimmer said. Relevant information could include whether applicants speak another language, whether they’ve had to seek primary care in an emergency room or been pulled over by the police without cause, whether they are the rst in their family to go to college, or whether they have worked with community groups to improve health outcomes for marginalized

hopes that those with violent felony convictions will also be given the opportunity to earn time o their sentences for obtaining college degrees.

“We need to punish for crimes because we live in a civilized society. But we don’t need to punish them so bad that we make them worse,” Mishra said. “ ey need to be given the tools to make themselves better, and then motivate them to do so. And that’s where education comes in.”

Freelance reporter Moe K. Clark wrote this story for e Colorado Trust, a philanthropic foundation that works on health equity issues statewide and also funds a reporting position at e Colorado Sun.

communities.

Given the correlation between diverse health care providers and patient health outcomes, admitting diverse medical students is “not just about what the class looks like,” Zimmer said. “It’s about how patients get healthy and how they survive, literally.”

Kayln Belsha and Erica Meltzer contributed reporting to this article.  Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF HEARING (Subject to change)

The assigned Hearing Officer will hold a hearing only on the above referenced docket number at the following date, time, and location:

Date:September 6, 2023

Time:9:00 a.m.

Place:Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

The Chancery Building 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 801 Denver, CO 80203

PETITIONS

DEADLINE FOR PETITIONS BY AFFECTED PERSONS: August 7, 2023

Any interested party who wishes to participate formally must file a written petition with the Commission no later than the deadline provided above. Please see Commission Rule 507 at https:// cogcc.state.co.us, under “Regulation,” then select “Rules.” Please note that, under Commission Rule 510.l, the deadline for petitions may only be continued for good cause, even if the hearing is continued beyond the date that is stated above. Pursuant to Commission Rule 507, if you do not file a proper petition, the Hearing Officer will not know that you wish to formally participate in this matter and the date and time of the hearing may change without additional notice to you. Parties wishing to file a petition must register online at https://oitco.hylandcloud.com/DNRCOGExternalAccess/Account/Login.aspx and select “Request Access to Site.” Please refer to our “eFiling Users Guidebook” at https://cogcc.state.co.us/ documents/reg/Hearings/External_Efiling_System_Handbook_December_2021_Final.pdf for more information. Under Commission Rule 508, if no petition is filed, the Application may be approved administratively without a formal hearing.

Any Affected Person who files a petition must be able to participate in a prehearing conference during the week of August 6, 2023, if a prehearing conference is requested by the Applicant or by any person who has filed a petition.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information, you may review the Application, which was sent to you with this Notice. You may also contact the Applicant at the phone number or email address listed below.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if any party requires special accommodations as a result of a disability for this hearing, please contact Margaret Humecki at Cogcc. Hearings_Unit@state.co.us, prior to the hearing and arrangements will be made.

OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

By: Mimi C. Larsen, Secretary

Dated: June 27, 2023

GMT Exploration Company LLC

c/o Jamie L. Jost

Kelsey H. Wasylenky Jost Energy Law, P.C. 3511 Ringsby Court, Unit 103 Denver, CO 80216 720-446-5620 jjost@jostenergylaw.com kwasylenky@jostenergylaw.com

Legal Notice No. 25018

First Publication: July 13, 2023

Last Publication: July 13, 2023

Publisher: Elbert County News

Notice to Creditors

also known as JOHN D. READ, and as JOHN READ, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30040

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before October 29, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

JoAnne Read, Personal Representative

c/o M. Lisa Clore, Esq. Lisa Clore, LLC 5500 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Suite 130 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. 25014

First Publication: June 29, 2023

Last Publication: July 13, 2023

Publisher: Elbert County News

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Terry Jay Oesch, Deceased

Case Number: 2023PR13

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before November 7, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Terri Jean Sugden, Personal Representative 1041 Impala Trail Bailey, CO 80421

Legal Notice No. 25016

First Publication: July 6, 2023

Last Publication: July 20, 2023 Publisher: Elbert County News

Case Number: 2023PR30029

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before October 19, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred. Zoey Tanner, Attorney for Personal Representative 24 South Weber Street, Suite 205 Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Legal Notice No. 25019

First Publication: July 13, 2023 Last Publication: July 27, 2023

Publisher: Elbert County News

Name Changes

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on June 9, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Elbert County Court.

The Petition requests that the name of Rebecca Yvette

CU looks at income