43 minute read
SPORTS
In business as in life, sometimes we approach situations and people strategically, and other times we recognize opportunistic moments. When that happens, we try and capitalize on those times when fortune seems to smile down upon us. It reminds me about the question, “Would you rather be lucky or good?” And the appropriate answer is always, “I want to be both, lucky and good.”
As much as these past two years have taken many of us out of our rhythm when it comes to seeing or meeting people, it has also created incredible opportunities to be opportunistic and strategic and to connect with more people than ever before. Social media platforms make it really easy to fi nd people and begin new relationships, both personally and professionally. And virtual meeting technology continues to improve, making it feel like we are actually in the same room with the person we are meeting with virtually.
One reality of the virtual world we live and work in is fatigue. Many of us spend our entire days on Zoom or Microsoft Teams, Google Hangout, or other such platform. In a future column I will share some tips and techniques for avoiding burnout and fatigue. For now, I would share that if we can get comfortable with using these platforms coupled with the technologies and sites that allow us to make new connections and receive new information, it creates an environment for new
opportunities.
Some of the businesses that I work with have shared that these past two years turned out to be the best years they have ever had in business. The salespeople on their teams fi gured out how to maximize all available resources and technology to fi nd new prospects, build better and deeper relationships with customers, leverage data and insights based on the readily available access to information, and all of that helped them to fi nd more opportunities to not only win more customers, but to serve their customers in such a way that it created raving fans.
And although we all are aware of what is being referred to as the “Great Resignation,” we are all probably aware of the job market that has an abundance of openings and opportunities. Many of you have reached out and shared some of your own success stories about connecting with people you had not known before, learning about companies you had never considered, and landing new positions in a role that you really wanted. New connections and new information led you to new opportunities.
In my industry, training and development and motivational speaking, conducting sessions virtually was already happening pre-pandemic. And when the pandemic hit, some companies and speakers were well equipped to move meetings and training sessions to virtual platforms. Others had to catch up. But now two years later, we are fi nding that leveraging the power of technology and virtual training environments has improved the effectiveness of the training and transfer of knowledge. Additionally, the new people, departments, and teams we can connect with has made it easier to share information across an organization and created new opportunities for learning that was otherwise unavailable in the past.
Here we are in another Valentine’s Day week. Romance is in the air. How many couples have met by making new connections online, were introduced to someone through an online platform or service, had the ability to learn more about the other person to see if they were compatible, and created opportunities to get to know one another better? I know several couples in my own circle who have benefi ted from this level of connection, information, and opportunity.
Are you making the most of your new connections and access to information? Have you noticed an increase in opportunities that have popped up for you, your family, or your friends over these past two years? I would love to hear your story at mnorton@ tramazing.com, and when we can harness the power of being lucky and good along with connection, information, and opportunity, it really will be a better than good year.
WINNING WORDS
Michael Norton
Michael Norton is the grateful CEO of Tramazing.com, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.
Achieving a more equitable, accountable and e ective behavioral health system
Igazed out the window at the snowcovered peaks and patchwork fi elds below as my plane approached the tarmac at Denver International Airport. Wheels down at last. I had arrived at my new home–a brilliant blue sky overhead and blinding snow as far as the eye could see. It is hard to wrap my mind around how such a majestic place can also possess one of the country’s highest rates of suicide and prevalence of mental health challenges. My mission? Harness the momentum that has driven an unprecedented two-year planning effort to bring about transformational change in Colorado’s behavioral health system so that it truly and compassionately puts people fi rst.
I am humbled that Governor Jared Polis has appointed me to serve as Colorado’s fi rst Behavioral Health Commissioner to lead the new Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), which we will launch by July. This clinically trained mental health and addiction treatment practitioner has come to Colorado at an urgent and exciting moment. We are on the verge of making history and have a real opportunity to develop a system that is equitable, accountable and effective. The BHA we build will oversee a system that serves all of Colorado, provides care that is timely and helps people fi nd success by achieving wholeperson health and wellbeing. When we get this right, our state stands to become an exemplar on the national stage of what it means to provide person-centered, community-based and data-informed behavioral health care.
When I worked as an emergency department psychiatrist in Boston, I saw fi rst hand how the scarcity of behavioral health treatment options in the community and the stigma of seeking support can result in our family, friends, and neighbors landing in some of their darkest moments. The BHA we build will be driven by individuals with this lived experience. By July we will have established an Advisory Council that is diverse in its membership and co-chaired by someone with lived experience. Council meetings will be inclusive and accessible, held in different parts of the state, with attendance and input widely encouraged and sought out. In the same vein, I am proud that the BHA’s fi rst offi cial action has been to sponsor fi ve individuals to participate in the College for Behavioral Health Leadership’s Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow Program pilot this spring. The program’s goal is to empower and equip leaders to take bold action to unravel systemic racism and create equitable behavioral health systems in their communities.
Sadly, we are all too familiar with the tragic stories of Colorado’s behavioral health safety net failing our state’s most vulnerable citizens, including those from marginalized populations. Individuals with complex needs are turned away, insurance coverage is inadequate or nonexistent, appointments are unavailable. The BHA we build will be transparent, accountable and effective. We will defi ne new metrics that will help us identify and design solutions to fi ll the gaps and ensure Coloradans are benefi tting from timely services that are culturally responsive and meet the highest standards of care. We will use data to measure our progress toward fortifying and expanding our safety net so that we catch people before they fi nd themselves in crisis. And we will publish our fi ndings in a transparent and accessible way through public dashboards and reporting to the General Assembly.
We are making history. Join us. I am committed to working with patients, partners and other stakeholders to build an equitable and just system of behavioral health care for Colorado. The BHA we build will bring partners together to align our funding and resources under a unifi ed vision and strategy for transforming our behavioral health system. This strategy will be bold, be based in empathy, integrity and data, and will always put people fi rst.
GUEST COLUMN
Morgan Medlock
Dr. Morgan Medlock is Colorado’s behavioral health commissioner.
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Fort Lupton Press (USPS 205880)
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Ft. Lupton, Colorado, Fort Lupton Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 143 S. 2nd Pl., Brighton CO 80601. . PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT Ft. Lupton and additional mailing o ces. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Fort Lupton Press, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110
Thu 2/17
Featured
2022 CHSAA State Wrestling Championships - Session 1 @ 12pm / $15 Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver
@ 6pm Bootstrap Brewing, 142 Pratt St, Long‐mont
John Brewster Music: John Brewster LIVE at The Wheel House
@ 6pm The Wheel House, 101 2nd Ave Suite B, Niwot
Keep Your Lawn Looking like a Golf Course
@ 12:30am Feb 18th - Feb 17th Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E.
112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-able and effective. We will defi ne new
3760
Taylor Tomlinson
@ 7pm Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place, Denver
standards of care. We will use data to
Movie & Popcorn
@ 8:30pm Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks De‐partment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton.
303-857-4200publish our fi ndings in a transparent
Featured
Phat Daddy @ 9pm Hoffbrau, 9110 Wadsworth Pkwy, Westminster
Sat 2/19
Family Fun Friday- Literacy Night Featured
Great Backyard Bird Count @ 10am Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Pica‐dilly Road, Brighton. Dnr_bar rlake.Naturecenter@state.co.us, 303-659-6005
10th Annual Front Range International Film Festival
@ 10am / $12-$50 La Vita Bella Cafe and Event Space, 471 Main Street, Longmont
Rocky Mountain Record Show
@ 11am / Free Redline, 2350 Arapahoe Street, Denver. rockymountainrecordshow@gmail.com
Snowshoes and Hot Chocolate
@ 4pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 East Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760
Featured
Brighton Sweetheart Dance @ 5:30pm / $20 Brighton Recreation Center, 555 North 11th Avenue, Brighton. kfrench@brightonco.gov, 303-6552200
Sun 2/20
Featured
Colorado Mammoth vs. Saskatchewan Rush @ 3pm / $10-$9999 Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver
Call Me Karizma Kenzo Cregan
@ 8pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver
Mon 2/21
100 Things to Do Before You're 12
@ 5pm Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760
SECRETS
@ 5:30pm Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver
Tue 2/22
Featured
Butter�y Pavilion's Butter�y Quest @ 9am / $14.50 Feb 22nd - Mar 20th Butter�y Pavilion, 6252 West 104th Avenue, Westminster. visi torservices@butter�ies.org, 303469-5441
We Are Scientists
@ 7pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver
Andy Grammer - the Art of Joy Tour
@ 7:30pm / $45-$65 Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm, Denver
Tuesday Movie Matinee at Eagle Pointe 2/22
@ 8pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760
Wed 2/23
Wii Bowling 2/23
@ 5pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760
Boulder Dinner Theatre/Glenn Miller
powered by
Featured
Nature's Educators: What A Hoot @ 4pm Anythink Huron Street, 9417 Huron Street, Denver. dalvarez@anythin klibraries.org, 303-452-7534
Featured
Slash: The River Is Rising Tour @ 8pm / $39.50-$99.50 Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glen‐arm, Denver
Thu 2/24
Featured
Destination World: Italy @ 4pm Anythink Wright Farms, 5877 East 120th Avenue, Thornton. mhibben @anythinklibraries.org, 303-4053200
Featured
New FLHS scholarship
The Genevieve Adame Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to one Fort Lupton High School boy and girl from the graduating class of 2022 who will be enrolling as a full-time student at an accredited college/university or trade school.
Applications are now available online and in the school’s guidance/ counselors’ offi ce. They are due by 4 p.m. May 2.
July 4 party is July 2
Fort Lupton’s Independence Day celebration is two days early this year, Saturday, July 2, at the city’s recreation center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.
The ingredients didn’t change -- food, fi reworks, the region’s only Ninja Warrior Course, water slides, a bounce house obstacle course, a bouncy boxing arena, a tractor people mover, face painting, food trucks, shaved ice-cream cones and a live concert.
The fi reworks show at Coyote Creek Golf Course, courtesy of the Fort Lupton Fire Department, starts at dusk.
Vendor, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities are available. Call 720928-4071.
National Night Out
Fort Lupton’s observance of National Night Out will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Koshio Park, 131 McKinley Ave. It’s a chance to meet police offi cers in an informal setting. It’s also a chance to munch on hot dogs and hamburgers hot from the grill. There will be bounce houses, games and a tug-o-war.
Get masks at the library
The Fort Lupton Public & School Library is a distribution point for KN-95 masks, according to Weld Re-8 school board member Matthew Adame.
‘Discover Exoplanets: The search for alien worlds’
The Fort Lupton Museum’s latest exhibition, “Discover Exoplanets: The Search for Alien Worlds” will continue through March 5 at 453 First St.
It is a national traveling exhibition exploring the world of space and astronomy. The exhibition covers topics such as the search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system, how NASA scientists are searching for these worlds and how they may be like our own planet.
Call 303-857-1634.
Splash pad
The city of Fort Lupton is searching for comments about and sponsorships for a new splash pad.
Sponsor funds will be used for the splash park and amenities. Call 303857-6694
Donation time
The Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank is asking for donations of canned fruits and nuts, varieties of dry pasta and pasta dinners, peanut butter and canned meat such as tuna (including the pouches).
Other potential donations could include chicken, Vienna sausages, spam and salmon. The bank also needs personal items, such as toiletries and baby needs.
Drop off donations at the food and clothing bank’s back door, 421 Denver Ave., weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-857-1096.
Teen hangout
Teens can stop by the Fort Lupton Pubic & School Library Wednesdays to play crafts, video games and hang out with friends after school.
Walk with a doc
Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr. Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute.
This is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and a fun conversation. It’s a great way to get out, get active and enjoy all the benefi ts that come from walking.
Blessings in a Bag
Fort Lupton’s Backpack Program helps school children in need with a backpack of healthy food. It’s an all-volunteer program and is in need of volunteers. If interested in volunteering or donating, call 303718-4440. Mail donations to Blessings in a Bag, 306 Park Ave., Fort Lupton 80621.
Drop-in child care
The Fort Lupton Recreation Center offers drop-in child care from
Do you need help paying your uilities this winter? Colorado’s Lowincome Energy Assistance Program or LEAP may be for you. LEAP helps Colorado families, individuals, older adults and those with a disability to pay a part of their winter home heating costs. www.UnitedWay-Weld.org/LEAPON
Committee openings
Fort Lupton has openings for several of its citizen advisory committees. Visit https://www.fortluptonco. gov/966/I-Want-To-Apply-for-aCommittee.
Boards/committees’ openings
The city of Fort Lupton is looking for volunteers for its historic preservation board, the Fort Lupton Urban Renewal Authority, FLURA business representative (a fi ve-year term), FLURA alternate member (term expires March 5, 2023) and library board trustee (term expires December 2024).
Call Alyssa Knutson at 720-4666128.
Chess tournament
The Fort Lupton Public & School Library put together a chess tournament that’s ideal for beginning players.
Visit https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/1UFPA1ENiETkHnJjaHh_ E3hUAOEWSRKUXpU7utzYab-U/ viewform?fbclid=IwAR1M9cUK4b p7cJyH9phmivtIV6gmeXqd3kNra 5q_L113Py-IhRIHDjMHRd4&edit_ requested=true
Fort Lupton senior lunches
Senior lunches are available at noon Mondays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Sign up by noon the previous Thursday. Call 303-857-4200, ext. 6166.
Co ee group
Fort Lupton’s weekly coffee group sessions are at 8 a.m. Wednesdays. Call 303-857-4200.
Silver Sneakers
Silver Sneaker Yoga is available Fridays from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Fort Lupton recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.
Water aerobics
The city’s water aerobics class meets from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at thke Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Call 303-857-4200.
Pen pals
Fort Lupton’s senior pen pal program through Twombly Elementary School is looking for participants.
Craft classes
Monthly craft classes through the Fort Lupton Recreation Center (203 S. Harrison Ave.) are available. Call 303-857-4200, ext. 6166 with questions.
Free short-term radon test kits
Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last). Test kits can be requested online at www. drhomeair.com/weld, according to a statement.
Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 400-2226 or visit: www.weldgov.com/go/radon.
Warm Line up and running
Community Reach Center is offering a Warm Line (303-280-6602) for those who want to talk to mentalhealth professionals about anxiety, lack of sleep and strained relationships, among other topics. The professionals can facilitate referrals to other programs for assistance.
The line is not for crisis intervention. Those feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services (1-844-493-8255) or text 38255 or visit the Behavioral Urgent Care Center, 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.
Also, the center’s COVID-19 Heroes Program is set up to assist healthcare workers during the pandemic. Those who live or work in Adams County can receive up to six free counseling sessions. Use the Warm Line for support and free counseling.
Brighton’s community intake location is at 1850 E. Egbert St., on the second fl oor. It’s open from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.
Here’s a list of locations where you can receive a test for COVID-19:
Brighton Advanced Urgent Care, 2801 Purcell St. Call 303-659-9700 or visit https://advurgent.com/locations/brighton/
Brighton Salud, 1860 E. Egbert St. Testing is available on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Call 303-6972583 or visit https://www.saludclinic.org/covid-testing
Fort Lupton Salud, 1115 Second St. Testing is available on Tuesday and Thursday. Call 303-697-2583 or visit https://www.saludclinic.org/covidtesting
Alcoholics Anonymous
The Brighton chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 147 S. Second Place. Meeting times are 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, noon and 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 6 p.m. Thursdays and 9 p.m. Fridays.
Call 303-659-9953 or visit www. brighton1aa.org.
Volunteers needed
Qualifi ed Listeners needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become qualifi ed listeners.
Visit qualifi edlisteners.org/volunteerapp and fi ll out the form or call 720-600-0860.
With heartfelt thanks and gratitude the family of Kelli Adams Benson and L.J. Benson sincerely thank all who organized and attended the fundraising event for Kelli on January 23rd. We are touched by the generosity of so many caring folks who donated items for the Silent Auction, the Fort Lupton American Legion #102, and the Legion Auxiliary for the dinner. Your thoughtfulness will long be remembered.
BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Rick Tillery is the public information offi cer for the U.S. Small Business Administration.
But these days, Tillery has more of a connection to his latest assignment, the Dec. 30 Marshall Fire in Boulder County, than he probably wants.
His sister’s home was very close to the fi re.
“Six of my friends lost their homes,” he said. The blaze destroyed more than 1,000 homes and damaged almost 150 more. Property damage is estimated at $513 million.
The fi re’s cause remains under investigation.
The SBA and FEMA are accepting applications for residential and business loans. The deadline for FEMA’s applications is March 2; it’s March 1 for the Small Business Administration.
“We’ve approved more than $69 million for homeowners and renters and $3 million for businesses and nonprofi ts,” Tillery said. “We can do mitigation work over and above the amount of the loan, 20 percent just for such things as fi reresistant roofi ng and up to $200,000 for uninsured losses to the structure and $40,000 for uninsured content losses and primary vehicles.”
Interest rates for homeowners’ and renters’ loans are 1.438 percent, as of Feb. 9. The rate for businesses is 2.83 percent and 1.875 percent for nonprofi ts.
The disaster recovery center is at 1755 S. Public Road in Lafayette. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Tillery said those interested in applying should go to the center in person.
“It’s an intricate process,” he said. “It’s not overly complicated. But there are a lot of details. It’s part of the process. Go in person. We have staff who will help walk you through it.”
Tillery and Rossyveth Rey-Berrios, the public information offi cer for FEMA, said they will be in the area past the March deadlines “because we have to close loan applications.”
“Traffi c is slowing down,” Tillery said. “We still have people coming in, though. We’ve approved more than 400 loans. We have a special disbursement team in Dallas just for the Marshall fi re to help people get the process moving.”
Questions? Call Rey at 202-5381325 or email Roosyveth.Rey@fema. dhs.gov. Contact Tillery at 571-7520659 or email Richard.tillery@sba. gov.
Some lawmakers seek more wildfi re investigators
Legislators want more fi re investigators to help change that
BY VERONICA PENNEY AND BEN MARKUS COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
Colorado legislators have proposed hiring more wildfi re investigators, an effort to reduce the state’s number of unsolved cases.
Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Kerry Donovan and state Rep. Dylan Roberts, would create a wildfi re investigation team at the state level to aid local fi re departments at a cost of $3 million annually. The bill also requires the state Division of Fire Prevention and Control to ensure the origin and cause data for fi res is accurate and used to prevent future fi res.
In October, a CPR News Investigation found that among Western states, Colorado ranks last at solving large, human-started wildfi res. In more than half of those wildfi res, investigators were unable to pinpoint the individuals or devices that sparked the fi re. Most of the state’s counties, which are responsible for investigating wildfi res, do not have a trained wildfi re investigator on staff.
CPR News spoke with dozens of current and former wildfi re investigators, experts and county and state employees who said that Colorado does not have enough resources to investigate each of the thousands of wildfi res reported each year.
“Colorado doesn’t do as thorough a job as we possibly should and could on determining the cause of wildland fi re,” said Donovan, D-Eagle County, who noted that the bill, SB 22080, is in early stages.
It is not yet known how new investigators at the state Division of Fire Prevention and Control would fi t in with investigative efforts by local sheriffs and fi re departments, which must currently ask the state for help before the agency can aid in an investigation. Many of Colorado’s largest wildfi res occur on federal land, and those wildfi res are investigated by the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management.
Donovan said discussions are ongoing “to see how best the Division thinks that they can support the locals and vice versa, kind of how that chain of command should work.” She envisions regional teams of state investigators.
The Division of Fire Prevention and Control told CPR back in October that it has six people certifi ed in wildfi re investigation, or in the process of obtaining certifi cation. It also has a dog trained to fi nd arson evidence.
Mike Morgan, the director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control, said through a spokeswoman that he looks forward to working with the bill sponsors and hearing more about what they want to accomplish through DFPC.
Gov. Jared Polis, while not referencing this specific bill, signaled his support for beefi ng up state investigations in a December interview with CPR News’ Colorado Matters.
“I think we have to have a real conversation about what resources are needed. Given the numbers of fi res we’re having and the increased incidence at both the local level and the state level to hold people accountable,” Polis said.
In the aftermath of the Marshal Fire, experts are recommending ways to prepare for tragedy.
COURTESY OF THE COLORADO SUN
Child advocates want to set the minimum age at 13
BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN
Elementary school kids as young as 10 are sent to juvenile lockup in Colorado, one of 15 states that sets that age as the minimum to face prosecution. Now, a coalition of child advocates is attempting to raise the bar to age 13.
More than 650 times, kids ages 10-12 were locked up in juvenile detention centers in Colorado from 2015-19, even though all but two of them were released after being deemed not dangerous enough to stay behind bars, according to data from the Colorado Division of Youth Services. On average, those kids stayed in lockup for about 11 days before they were sent home.
Being handcuffed and thrown in detention, no matter how long the stay, is traumatizing and increases the likelihood that a child will return to detention or adult prison, say advocates of raising the prosecution age to 13. A bill scheduled for its first hearing later this month at the state Capitol would prohibit the prosecution of 10-, 11- and 12-year olds, except in cases of homicide.
The proposal is raising concern among prosecutors and law enforcement officials, who say that arrests of elementary school children are rare and already handled with discretion. Plus, children in the juvenile justice system are getting therapy and other services that they likely would not get otherwise, and until Colorado has a better plan to help those kids, the state should back off from such a massive policy change, they urged.
The proposal mimics a 2018 California law that banned prosecution of younger children except for murder and rape. It also would raise the age to 14 years old from 12 that a child could face prosecution in adult court in Colorado.
The push is aimed at revamping the juvenile justice system so that kids aren’t branded criminals “for exhibiting behaviors that are consistent with their developmental stage in life,” said Dafna Gozani, senior policy attorney for the National Center for Youth Law. Children who are minorities and those who’ve been abused are more likely to get arrested and locked up, where they face more violence, she said.
Also, Black children are way overrepresented in the juvenile justice system in Colorado and nationwide.
Of the 417 children who were detained in Colorado in a fiveyear span, 81 of them, or 19.4% were Black, according to state data. Less than 7% of 10-12 year olds in Colorado are Black, however.
Also, 80% of the young kids held in juvenile detention were there for nonviolent offenses, including 15% of them for trespassing or criminal mischief, Gozani said.
The effort, whose prime sponsors include Democratic Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Republican Sen. Don Coram, is part of a national movement to “end the criminalization of youth,” including attempts to keep prosecutors from charging juveniles as adults, said Apryl Alexander, an association professor of psychology at The University of Denver. A bill that failed last year would have prevented elementary school children from being handcuffed on school grounds.
Children who are arrested and held in detention, even for a few days, are labeled as criminals by peers and often treated differently when they return to school, she said. Many were already victims of abuse, bullying and neighborhood violence before they were arrested, she said.
“Why don’t we get them treatment instead of incarcerating them?” asked Alexander, who is also the director of the Denver FIRST Juvenile Justice Project. “The juvenile justice system was intended to be rehabilitative.”
But Tom Raynes, executive director of the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council, said the proposal represents a massive policy change that actually might harm children. Entering the juvenile justice system triggers a host of therapy and treatment options, in juvenile centers or in the community, that children otherwise would not receive, he said. And other agencies — such as child protective services — are not equipped to handle an influx of kids who get in trouble but never enter the juvenile justice system, he said.
The data showing that children stay an average of 11 days, and that almost all of them are released, proves that prosecutors are more interested in getting kids services than on putting them behind bars, he said.
“This is a significant policy shift,” said Raynes, who previously was district attorney for the 7th District, which includes Gunnison and Ouray. “I’m not averse to getting more kids out from the juvenile justice system umbrella, but we have to build the alternative first.”
Besides, Raynes said, prosecutors and law enforcement already handle cases involving elementary school children “very carefully and with discretion.” A statewide mandate that prohibits them from making case-by-case decisions is not necessary, he said.
Colorado is one of 15 states that prohibits prosecution of kids under 10, and 28 states have no minimum age, Raynes said.
“Is it an eye-opener for an 11-year-old to be arrested? It is,” he said. “But hopefully through the services and therapy, we intervene in a positive manner.”
Prosecutors also want discretion regarding which cases are suited for adult court, he said. In one egregious case, a 12-year-old boy in Burlington shot and killed his parents and tried to kill his younger brother and sister in 2011. He was sentenced to seven years in the juvenile system.
Instead of the legislation as written, Raynes said he will push for a study of how best to handle the youngest offenders, including a vetting of the issue by the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice.
Colorado Counties, Inc., is also against the bill, concerned that it will prevent children from getting mental health treatment. “Making this policy change in the absence of building out the continuum of services has the potential to push children into the child welfare system when there are no signs of abuse and neglect,” said Gini Pingenot, director of external affairs for the association.
Data collected by Colorado Counties found 677 children ages 10-12 were arrested in Colorado in 2021, about half of them for crimes against people.
Stacie Nelson Colling, with the Colorado Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel, which represents kids in court, called the number of elementary age children held in lockup “heartbreaking.”
“I hear stories of a kid’s handcuffs sliding off their arms because they are too big. Their feet don’t hit the ground when they sit in a chair,” she said. “They’re terrified.”
Phillip Roybal was one of those kids. At age 12, in his third week of eighth grade, he was arrested on campus for a property crime he committed outside of school, and expelled from school. Roybal recalled the shame he felt getting handcuffed at school. Now 27, he’s the youth organizing manager for Colorado Circles for Change, which helps minority children who have been in the juvenile justice system or whose families reach out for help.
Roybal spent his high school years in youth corrections, eventually earning his GED at age 19. As a kid, he didn’t see his life as traumatic – even though he was raised by a single father who had recently gotten out of a prison while his mother, who was addicted to heroin, was in prison.
“I didn’t see those as traumatic experiences because that was baseline for what I knew, “ he said. “I was left to my own decisions. And at 12 years old, I didn’t have the capacity to make those right decisions.”
While it’s true that many kids don’t access treatment services until they are in criminal trouble, that’s not how it should work, Roybal said. Colorado should address that access to treatment as it raises the prosecution age to 13, he said.
The bill says that law enforcement could take children age 10 and up into temporary custody for safety reasons and then refer them to other services, and that the state would use existing youth detention funding to pay for those services.
“What are we waiting for?” he asked. “Are we waiting for other youth to overdose, to be lost within the juvenile justice system? We are tired of waiting.”
Kids as young as 10 are being sent to detention.
SHUTTERSTOCK
This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
Medical marijuana usage at work also in House Bill 1152
BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado employers would be prohibited from denying employment to or fi ring workers because of their off-the-clock cannabis use – either medical or recreational – under a measure introduced last week at the statehouse.
House Bill 1152 would also require employers to let their workers consume medical marijuana while on the job. The legislation would include exceptions for workers whose jobs are in dangerous fi elds or require fi ne motor skills, such as positions involving the use of heavy machinery.
“Marijuana is legal in Colorado,” said state Rep. Brianna Titone, an Arvada Democrat and prime sponsor of the bill. “And what people do in their spare time that doesn’t impact their work shouldn’t really be a problem for them. They should be able to enjoy the legal things that we have here in Colorado and not be penalized for it.”
The bill seeks to answer a workplace question that has been swirling in Colorado since voters passed Amendment 64 in 2012, legalizing the sale and use of recreational cannabis. Most states that have legalized medicinal and recreational pot leave the question over how to handle employees’ marijuana use up to employers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Nevada and New Jersey are two exceptions. In New Jersey, employers can prohibit employees from using cannabis while on the job or showing up to work impaired. But they are not allowed to penalize an employee solely because of their off-the-clock recreational cannabis use.
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In 2015, the Colorado Supreme Court sided with an employer, Dish Network, who fi red an employee, Brandon Coats, who tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol – or THC – in a random drug test. Coats had a medical marijuana card as a result of back spasms caused by his quadriplegia. Muscle spasms is one of the seven debilitating conditions for which medical marijuana can be recommended under Colorado law.
The closely watched case highlighted a contradiction within Colorado’s stance on pot: marijuana may be legal in Colorado, but using it can still be grounds for termination.
Titone and her co-prime sponsor of the bill, Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder, think that shouldn’t be the case.
“The whole idea is to signal to the business community and to employers that because we have legalized cannabis we should be following the same laws and rules that apply to alcohol and prescription drugs,” Hooton said.
She also pointed out that medical marijuana generally comes in the form of a CBD product, not a THC product.
The legislation was introduced on Feb. 4 and Hooton said she is still talking to the business and labor communities about it. Major opposition hasn’t cropped up yet, but it’s likely that employers who have drug-free workplace policies will push back on the measure. A similar bill was rejected in 2020.
“The National Federal of Independent Businesses has historically opposed any legislation that would (allow) the use of marijuana on the property of the employer or cause an employee to test positive for any prohibited drug or prohibit any authority of the employer to perform random drug tests,” said Tony Gagliardi, who leads the Colorado chapter of the group. “Marijuana remains illegal under federal law.”
The Colorado Chamber of Commerce said it hasn’t taken a formal position on House Bill 1152, but that it’s opposed similar legislation in the past.
Titone plans to pitch the measure as a way for employers to more easily fi nd workers in Colorado’s tight labor market.
But Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert, R-Douglas County, expressed early opposition to the concept. He has worked on a number of measures expanding medical marijuana access.
Holbert pointed out that Amendment 64 included the following provision: “Nothing in this (ballot measure) is intended to require an employer to permit or accommodate the use, consumption, possession, transfer, delay, transportation, sale or growing of marijuana in the workplace to to affect the ability of employers to have policies restriction the use of marijuana by employees.”
“That really did clarify that employers can have a 100% drugfree policy in their workplace, and that, in my opinion, should not be infringed upon,” he said.
Holbert said he would encourage employers in Colorado, however, to know the difference between drug tests that can tell if someone has activated THC – which can indicate if someone is actively high – in their system or just traces of the substance.
Colorado has a 5 ng/ml THC blood limit for drivers. People charged with a marijuana DUI in Colorado can argue that they were not impaired during the time of the alleged offense and that the THC in their bloodstream refl ects prior or frequent consumption.
As of Feb. 10, House Bill 1152 has yet to be scheduled for its fi rst committee hearing.
TURF BUYOUT
Denver Water revenues in 2021 from water sales were projected at $311 million. But advocates see public acceptance of buyouts as an important initial goal as climate change and shorter-term drought shrink the amount of water available in Colorado.
Environmental groups also believe city water departments need to participate more in conservation efforts – 80% to 85% of Colorado’s water goes to agricultural use, but conservation advocates say they want rural and urban areas to cooperate on long-term water demand issues. Front Range cities rely heavily on river water diverted from the Western Slope.
Sponsors also emphasize Colorado won’t be dictating that every town have a buyback program, or how they run their payouts.
Grass lawns are not getting outlawed, Bridges noted.
“We’re creating a fund to say if you agree with us, which we hope you do,” he said, “here’s a way to make it less expensive for you to make the fi x that we all know you need to make.”
This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media. This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun. com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
OBITUARIES
TAYLOR
Pearl Letterly Taylor
May 29, 1924 - January 5, 2022 Pearl Taylor, age 97, passed away in Eagle, CO at Castle Peak Senior Living where she had lived since 2016. She is survived by her children, Kristie Damico and Chuck Taylor, son-in-law Peter Damico, grandson Matt Damico and 2 great granddaughters, Elle and Aida. Pearl was preceded in death by her husband Chuck Taylor. Pearl was born and grew up in Brighton, Colorado. Her four grandparents were immigrants from Germany and Russia, settling in Brighton to farm. Her maternal grandfather was a founder of the Brighton German Lutheran Church in 1885 (now Zion Lutheran Church). Pearl wrote, ”My interests were sewing, 4-H club with my lambs, playing the accordion and belonging to an accordion band. I liked being outdoors and helped with the chickens, worked on the farm and helped Mother with the garden”. Pearl attended college in Greeley and then University of Denver during World War II, which was declared her Senior year of high school. When the war was over in 1945, she married Chuck Taylor who she had started dating as a senior in high school. ey moved back to Brighton and together built a CPA rm. She worked at the rm during tax season through the 60’s. Pearl participated in many aspects of small town living: the Lutheran Church & School, Boy Scouts, Camp re Girls, county Fair and Rodeo, bridge groups, to name a few. In 1969, they moved to Boulder. Pearl fell in love with the mountains of the Vail area in 1975 and Pearl and Chuck began living part time in East Vail. She learned to ski and did until she was 85. e move in 1991 to Wildridge, Avon, CO inspired her to build a huge ower garden from a sloping, sage brush, treeless lot into a showcase garden. She never did hire landscape architects or plantsmen. Pearl did her own hard work of 6 to 8 hour days of hauling rocks, wheelbarrows of dirt, experimentation with plants, deadheading and weeding. is led to the Betty Ford Gardens Vail Valley Festival of Flowers competition awarding her 1st place in her category in 1995, 97, 98 and 99, Grand Prize in 1996 and Gardener Emeritus in 2000. Pearl was certi ed as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat garden by the National Wildlife Federation, as a Colorado Wildscape and 1 of 13 gardeners named in Colorado as a Habitat Hero by the Audubon Society. e PBS Garden Smart lmed her as an inspiration to gardeners with challenging plots. All the while making time to hike, ski, crosscountry, volunteer at Vilar Performing Arts Center, and the Beaver Creek Chapel every Sunday. She was a weekly volunteer at the Betty Ford Alpine Garden beginning in 1986 until she was 89. Pearl never failed to make time for her family. Being a loving, always available and fun Mother and Granny came rst in her busy life. Her honorable legacy of kindness and happiness can be seen in her smile. As she would say, “It’s no fun not to be happy”. is mantra, dedication to hard work and play, a strong faith in Goodness and Mercy guided her through and inspired all who knew her. Her wisdom and grace were hers up to the very last days of her journey. Her wishes for a memorial service were that we all get out in Nature and enjoy ourselves. Just like a Pearl, she was one of a kind.
Requiring IDs can hamper outreach, exacerbate inequity, researcher says
BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
On Jan. 25, Littleton Public Schools made the decision to end hosting COVID-19 vaccine clinics after two minors, a 15-year-old Littleton High School student and a homeschooled 16-year-old, lied to clinic staff to see if they could get approved for a shot without parental consent.
The deception worked, with the 15-year-old giving staff a fake consent form and the 16-year-old lying about his age, saying he was 20, though neither ends up going through with getting a vaccine. Still, their parents said the videos proved that clinics need better guidelines to ensure younger people cannot get a vaccine without a parent’s OK. The most obvious solution, they said, was to check IDs.
“(The Colorado health department) took away the ability for us to determine how old somebody is that opened up a giant loophole to put children in harm’s way,” said Gregg McGough, the father of 15-year-old Owen McGough, one of the two minors involved.
But according to a social policy and healthcare researcher, avoiding I.D. requirements has been an essential pillar for avoiding vaccine inequity. And the guideline of allowing minors some healthcare without parental approval is nothing new.
“It really is a crucial component in ensuring equitable access to healthcare in general,” said Jennifer Greenfi eld, an assistant professor at the University of Denver, whose work focuses on the intersection between social policy and health disparities.
For children with families who may be undocumented in the U.S., as well as families with disabilities and transportation issues, IDs can be out of reach and the need for one would pose a barrier to healthcare access, Greenfi eld said. The same is true for those who may be experiencing homelessness.
“Housing insecurity, not having stable permanent addresses, certainly can get in the way of getting an ID,” Greenfi eld said.
By removing the need to show ID, vaccine providers can reach more vulnerable populations who may not otherwise feel comfortable, or have the ability, to show up for a shot. This was front of mind for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), when it issued guidelines on Jan. 17, 2021, telling providers to not ask for ID, though they may seek a name, date of birth, or address.
“We understand that while vaccine supply is limited, providers are looking to verify age
so that they know they are vaccinating groups within the current prioritization phase(s),” the agency said in a letter to vaccine providers. “However, requiring proof of ID, especially a government-issued ID, can exacerbate distrust and accessibility inequities for many critical groups. This requirement is a barrier for people who are unable to get identifi cation or have trouble accessing services that issue IDs, such as those who are undocumented, experiencing homelessness, have a disability, or others on the margins of society who are unable to get an ID.”
Greenfi eld said the practice of allowing minors to access healthcare at schools without their parents’ consent is nothing new.
“It’s actually a longstanding policy for school-based health clinics in Colorado,” she said, adding that this could apply for some mental health resources, STD testing and birth control.
When it comes to the COVID vaccine, Greenfi eld said the benefi ts of reaching great swaths of vulnerable populations outweigh the risks of approving shots for kids who haven’t gotten their parents’ OK.
“There’s more potential harm for the kids going unvaccinated,” she said. “If you look at all of the data about the effi cacy of the vaccines, the potential side effects … when you compare all of that information it becomes clear that having a higher percentage of our population vaccinated and a higher percentage of our kids vaccinated is good for kids, good for families and good for our communities.”
Fears have spread online and throughout communities about the safety of vaccines for children. Greenfi eld said that the risks posed by contracting COVID are far greater, especially from the still-unknown effects of long COVID.
“That’s a huge public health concern,” she said, adding that there are also immediate impacts such as hampering a family member’s ability to return to work.
Still, she said she understands the contention at play in Littleton.
“There’s this sort of tension between parents’ rights to determine their child’s healthcare versus the social good of having children have access to healthcare … and I think that is defi nitely at play here.”
But Greenfi eld said she wants parents to know that maintaining easy accessibility to school-based healthcare, whether for the COVID vaccine or other resources, is crucial.
“We know that school-based health clinics have been incredibly effective in reducing barriers for healthcare for kids,” adding that it has ripple effects on a child’s wellbeing when they don’t have to leave the school for healthcare.
As a working parent herself, Greenfi eld said she knows too well the stress of having to schedule appointments with pediatricians and take her children out of school for several hours, something she had to do when she vaccinated her kids.
“They missed reading and math that day,” she said.
Karen Fetter, a pharmacy technician at Sky Ridge Medical Center, draws the COVID-19
vaccine from its vial into a syringe Dec. 16. PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT
Gregg McGough,
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