Fort Lupton Press 080422

FORT LUPTON PRESS S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 19 0 6

VOLUME 119

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ISSUE 31

WEEK OF AUGUST 4, 2022

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 , 2020

VOLUME 117

ISSUE 48

Where Colorado jobs pandemic T H E would S E A S O be N Fif OR S H A R I N Ghadn’t happened Even with setback, state is at one of its highest levels ever

BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN

Thanks to a gain of 4,500 nonfarm payroll jobs in June, Colorado has now recovered 110.1% of jobs lost in the first two months of the CO-

VID-19 pandemic. That helped push down Colorado’s unemployment rate to 3.4% in June, the lowest since February 2020’s very low 2.8%.

The U.S. unemployment rate didn’t change for the fourth straight month, at 3.6% in June.

But if the pandemic hadn’t happened, Colorado would have added another 100,000 more jobs by now, according to data compiled by the state Department of Labor and Employment. Before the pandemic, the state’s job growth trajectory was at

4,900 per month.

However, getting to 2,857,400, as the state did in June, still puts the state at one of its highest levels of jobs ever. Colorado had a fast recovery, said Ryan Gedney, senior economist with the labor department. But that job growth is starting to slow.

“I think we’ve gotten out of that recovery mode. The state has regained what jobs that were lost (after) February 2020,” Gedney said.

But he added that had the pandemic not happened, there might

Big Boy comes roaring back Historic locomotive makes third annual trip down to Denver

have been a recession anyway, or at least a slowdown in new job creation. It was already challenging to hire enough workers before the pandemic.

“Remember, at the end of 2019, the nation, the state, we were still at a historically long economic expansion,” he said. “Was 4,900 a realistic measure? Possibly not. Could there have been a recession that happened? You’d go crazy if you tried to SEE JOBS, P15

Fort Lupton considers retail at Historic Park

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORDOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The South Platte Valley Historic Having Big Boy 4014, Union Park could be in for an overhaul.

Citing a lack of volunteers and a Pacific’s massive 1940s-era steam lolack of a management structure, comotive, blast through Fort Lupton Fort Lupton events coordinator and Brighton is becoming an annual Christy Romano put forth a plan experience. to rebrand the facility and keep This is the third year straight the everything else in its place. She rail company has sent the historic outlined her thoughts to Fort engine down the line between Cheyenne and Denver, with fans lining Lupton City Council during a July the train tracks along the way to 26 town hall. catch a glimpse or take a picture.

One suggestion she made was to add an education center. ”I’m videotaping Big Boy for my “We could create a visitors’ YouTube channel. I’ve seen him numerous times, and it is still an excenter. We could model it after the perience that blows you away,” said Rocky Mountain Arsenal,” RoBrighton resident Eric Abramovitz. mano told councilors. “They (the arsenal) use theirs as an educaBut this year, for the first time, tion center, a retail center and a Union Pacific opted to keep the engine at Denver’s Union Station for visitor center. They also use it as a a couple of days. museum.”

Mayor Zo Stieber-Hubbard cauBig Boy left Cheyenne on July 28, traveling south through several tioned against potential pushback. towns with spectators lining the But Romano said a steering comtracks along the way. mittee was “amenable.”

“The city needs to have ownerBig Boy pulled into Union Station ship of the property,” Romano said. on Friday for display, with crowds Every year before Thanksgiving, First United Methodist Church in Fort Lupton and the Fort Lupton Food and Clothing Bank provide community “You’d have to have an IGA (interawaiting its arrival to take video members with food boxes.

This will be the program’s 10th consecutive year.

Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert withagreement) Change 4 in Change, governmental place.” and photos. They also got the chance Dickens is the engineer operates another organization that helps with theEdfood drive.

See morethat on Page 2. Big Boy. Crowds came to see the massive train at Union Station.

SEE TRAIN, P14

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August 4, 2022

Fort Lupton council recaps CML conference

BY STEVE SMITH STEVESMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fort Lupton City Council took some time July 26 to recap its visit to the 100th Colorado Municipal League conference in Breckenridge.

The CML website says it offers “skills and education necessary for good governance” through learning opportunities, such as the annual conference.

“The opportunity to meet other people was great,” Mayor Zo Stieber-Hubbard said. “The best seminar I attended was a presentation on personnel needs, retention and recruitment.”

Councilors have had several discussions on that topic this year.

Both Stieber-Hubbard and Councilman Carlos Barron cited inspirational speaker John Register, who tried out for the Olympics in 1988 and again in 1992. A bad landing caused a severed popliteal artery in

his left knee. After surgery failed, he lost his knee to amputation.

He earned a silver medal in the 2000 Paralympic Games and set an American record in the long jump.

“He came back, and he is a super motivational speaker,” StieberHubbard said. “He questioned, at one time, whether he was going to live. He’s competed at the Special Olympics, and he’s helping others.”

Barron also listened in as the mayor of Superior, Clint Folsom, discussed the recent Marshall Fire.

“It made me think, ‘You’ve got to be prepared,” Barron said.

City Administrator Chris Cross listened to a couple of speeches about the Marshall Fire and one that discussed a recent school shooting.

“The one thing that keeps me up at night is how we put all these pieces (emergency services, public information officers, etc.) together,” he said. “Anything could go through here .. a train derailment.

How are you going to deal with this?”

“There’s a lot of potential stuff that could go wrong here,” said Planning Director Todd Hodges.

“The whole structure was very interesting,” Cross said. “There are a couple of communities that are looking at building the story before it happens.”

“I want to thank everyone who attended,” Stieber-Hubbard said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had so many people go at all.”

Fourth of July The city’s events planner, Christy Romano, told the council that more than 3,000 people attended this year’s July 4 event at the park outside the recreation center.

That prompted a discussion about when to have next year’s observance of Independence Day in 2023, when the holiday is on a Tuesday.

“Do an event on the weekend and do the fireworks on July 4,” sug-

gested Stieber-Hubbard.

Earlier this summer, councilors discussed adding a fireworks show to Trapper Days but declined the change. At the time, Stieber-Hubbard said there wouldn’t be enough time to pull it off.

“When we moved Trapper Days to the week after Labor Day, we didn’t think we’d get as much participation,” she said. “School is back in session, and there was the impression we were too small.”

“Not as many people travel that week,” said Councilman David Crespin.

Water supply project The city has to fork over more than $71,000 for its part of the Southern Water Supply Project.

Finance Director Leann Perino said $28,000 of the funds go toward operations; the balance goes toward pump station maintenance.

“We don’t have a choice,” StieberHubbard said.

West Nile Virus turns up in Weld County

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@GMAIL.COM

West Nile Virus has been found in mosquitoes trapped in the southern parts of Weld County, according to the Weld County health department.

According to officials, there are no reported human West Nile cases in

Weld County.

The virus was found in Culex mosquitoes trapped in two of three testing zones in Weld County. Those zones include the towns of Johnston, Milliken, Platteville, Fort Lupton, Dacono and Firestone.

The virus was not found in traps taken from the first zone, which

includes Greeley and LaSalle.

Culex mosquitoes are known for being vectors for several diseases, including West Nile Virus and encephalitis. According to a Weld County press release, the number of Culex mosquitoes is increasing.

The trapped Culex mosquito count in 2022 is higher than the five-year

Old-Fashioned

Summer mer Picnic SATURDAY, AUG. 13 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Adams County Museum 9601 Henderson Road Brighton, CO 80601 Featuring the Vintage Motorcycle Club (dozens of bikes from the early 1900s to 1990s), a stilt walker, free ice cream (while supplies last), black smith demonstrations and games! Entry into the museum buildings for free!

average, according to the release.

“The increasing hot weather and afternoon thundershowers have created favorable conditions for the Culex mosquito,” said Mark Lawley, the executive director of the Weld County Department of Public SEE WEST NILE, P5

4 Fort Lupton Press

August 4, 2022

Weld County Fair offers educational aspect as well as ribbons

together, they made a footstool.

“They work hard and had five months to get it all done and understand how 4-H works. It’s been a wonderful experience with the club they belong to in Frederick. The folks there are friendly and have good leaders and all of the members and parents,” Stephanie Miller said.

“It was fun the kids got to hang out and get to know each other better, as well as the parents and leaders,” Stephanie said.

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Weld County Fair might be an annual showcase for big animals and agriculture but the heart of the annual event is the youth contests, showcasing youth from local 4-H clubs, Future Farmers of America, and Boys and Girls Scouts.

And what’s more, according to Frederick resident Stephanie Miller, it rewards kids for learning things they don’t get elsewhere.

Her kids, Madison and Wyatt Miller from Frederick joined the Firestone Free Thinkers 4-H Club this past January.

“We decided to put the kids in 4-H to learn some skills that I can’t give them,” Stephanie said. “Wyatt wanted to learn about using tools and woodworking with Mr. Ron Martin club leader. He is a great asset to join this club. With Maddie already going down the road learning about agriculture we thought it would be good for her too and her future. They plan on doing multiple projects.”

The 104th Weld County fair was from July 24 through August 1.

Ribbons Madison Miller, 15, a sophomore at Mead High School is inspired by photography, so she entered a photo she took in the fine arts category at the fair.

“I take photos of simple things in life and make them pretty. I like taking photos and it’s fun,” Madison

Danika Lambrecht, ten years old from Kersey, won third place in the Boer goat competiPHOTO BY BELEN WARD tion.

said.

Madison took home three ribbons and grand champion in photography at the fair.

“I was so surprised to get grand champion for photography! I am very honored and pleased that my hard work paid off,” Madison said.

Madison likes her history class and is in the agricultural program at school, and after graduation, she will pursue a degree in agriculture.

“I want to do something with animals like livestock,” she said.

Wyatt is ten years old, will be a

fifth grader at Legacy Elementary, and loves math. He chose woodworking and won two ribbons and a champion certificate for his project, a footstool.

“I thought it would be fun making something for their first time,” Wyatt said. “I was very happy to get champion in my group, and it makes me feel more confident in my new skill,” Wyatt said.

Stephanie Miller said she has no complaints. Wyatt’s coach did a great job explaining safety on how to use the tools to Wyatt. And then

English riding Platte Valley High School student Paige Pointer is from Kersey and a member of the High Plains Ag 4-H club, where she participates in the show English Riding horsemanship category. She has been competing for two years.

“I wanted to get into the competition because we have horses and have been riding horses my whole life,” Pointer said. “We took one of our horses to a trainer, and I’ve been showing Reined cow horses and Bristol show horses at the world show level. It’s enjoyable and I love it.”

When she graduates, she wants to be an anesthesiologist.

Hannah Chambers, 15, from Roggen, also participates in the English Riding horsemanship category with the Waggoneers 4-H club. Chambers has been riding since she could walk and has been showing horses since she was two years old. She is a Junior at Weld Central High School and wants to be a veterinarian.

Fort Lupton Public & School Library presents

4 ANNUAL FORT LUPTON COMMUNITY ART SHOW TH

Community members age 16 and up are encouraged to create pieces for the show this fall. Art will be reviewed for suitability for display in a school/public library setting.

Two dimensional entries must be appropriately matted or framed and ready for display in a gallery setting.

Mat board only is acceptable on flat work with no exposed tape; canvas work must have finished edges.

Maximum 2D size is 24”x36.” Maximum 3D size is 12” x24.”

COMING THIS NOVEMBER | TWO SUBMISSIONS PER ARTIST

ON THE LIBRARY LAWN!

SUMMER CONCERT

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SCOTLAND IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD! Experience Scottish culture, traditions and history. Although the flavor is Scottish, there’s something for all cultures and all ages.

CITIZEN’S PARK • EDGEWATER, CO

AUGUST 6 - 7, 2022 SATURDAY 9AM - 9 PM

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Fort Lupton Press 5

August 4, 2022

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HISTORIC FROM PAGE 1

“The city is universally behind developing projects,” the mayor said.

“It would be so much better if we had some retail and shops. We could have a lot of things in there to bring revenue.”

Councilman Claud Hanes agreed.

So did city Planner Todd Hodges.

“There are a lot of things going on that play into this,” Hodges said. “If this works, it would be an awesome master plan along the river.”

Four historic structures are inside the park. The 100-acre park includes a replica of Fort Lupton from 1836, a restored cabin from the 1850s and a school house and house from the 1860s.

The property was the site of one of the early trade forts. According to the historical society’s web page, the Trappers Trail ran between Fort Laramie in what is now Wyoming down to the Arkan-

City Councilors are discussing creating a visitor’s center and gift shop at the South FILE PHOTO Platte Valley Historic Park.

sas River and then along the Taos Trail to the Mexican village of Taos.

Credit card fees It will cost credit card users more to pay for municipal court costs online. Fort Lupton court administrator Jeanelle Andersen said the rate would increase 5%.

“The fee doesn’t cover everything we need,” she told councilors. “So far, the city has paid the difference for what’s not picked up by the customers.”

Council approved the use of online payments in 2019.

United Power offering EV charging service to homes STAFF REPORT

United Power launched United EV, a new charging-as-a-service pilot program designed to provide at-home charging solutions for cooperative members with electric vehicles.

The Brighton-based energy co-op made the announcement on July 25 in a press release.

“There’s been rapid growth in electric vehicle sales and ownership within the United Power service territory,” said Joel Danforth, United Power’s energy programs director, in the statement. “Our comprehensive EV strategy began with the deployment of rapid chargers along major corridors throughout our territory where there were gaps in charging infrastructure. We’re now turning our attention toward reducing the upfront cost, risk, and burden of home charging to make electric vehicle ownership more affordable and accessible.”

WEST NILE FROM PAGE 3

Health and Environment.

The Culex mosquito season is from July to August, so Lawley said officials predict to see some human cases of West Nile.

“The public needs to be vigilant because West Nile Virus has a permanent summer presence in Colorado,” Lawley said.

Symptoms can appear from three to 14 days after a mosquito bite and can include fever, headache, and nausea. Vomiting, muscle aches, weakness and rash are also reported.

Many people infected with the virus will not show any symptoms, according to Weld County health.

However, fewer than one percent could develop a severe fatal neuroinvasive illness.

The company claims that the United EV program will help lower the up-front ownership and installation costs of wall-mounted, at-home EV chargers, to reduce the costs of charging and help the cooperative effectively manage electric demand on the grid.” The co-op also said the program will be available to 50 homes at first.

The program costs $19 a month.

The program service package includes installation and set-up of a wall-mounted ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 charger, maintenance and repairs for the duration of the enrollment period.

Customers can also qualify for rebates of up to $1,000 for wiring expenses and outlet installation to help address the cost of updating home electrical wiring, the press release said. The rebate covers half of those installation costs and UP members who aren’t part of the EV program can receive a rebate of up to $500.

Those who suspect they have been infected should contact a health care provider immediately, especially if these symptoms develop. According to officials, there is no medicine or vaccine to treat or prevent the West Nile virus.

Avoiding mosquitoes Health officials recommend the four D’s to prevent mosquito bites: Drain standing water around your house weekly, including water from tires, cans, flowerpots, clogged gutters, rain barrels, toys and puddles.

Dusk to dawn is when mosquitoes are most active, so take precautions outdoors.

Deet is an effective repellent against mosquitoes. Other effective repellents contain picaridin or IR3535. A mixture of lemon and eucalyptus oils can also be effective at repelling mosquitoes.

Dress in long sleeves, pants and a hat in areas that attract mosquitoes.

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LOCAL

August 4, 2022

VOICES The tidal wave of complacency

T

here is plenty of discussion happening around what is being called “The Great Resignation.” The impact of people not willing to work has a vast-reaching impact and implications on every aspect of life. We are all experiencing fractured supply chains, an understaffed service industry, and gaps in inventory resulting in shortages around the world, just to name a few.

This disruption and rising inflation are causing severe emotional and financial stress, leading to anxiety for businesses and many of us at home.

When will it end? That is a question no one can answer, with some experts believing that it will be around longer than we think and whether that is a little longer or a lot longer.

What many businesses are experiencing that is worse than “The Great Resignation,” is a tidal wave of complacency.

When the pandemic began, both employer and employee were trying to figure out the whole remote work situation. In the beginning, there were struggles with working from home, and leaders were anxious because they felt work might not be get-

ting done in the same capacity.

But within just a few short months, employees became extremely comfortable and grateful to be able to work from home, especially those who had difficult commutes.

The work-life Michael Norton balance began to get better for most of us. We became aware of the fact that we could decide to work when we wanted to work and take a few hours off and then return to our work in the evening. This strategy worked well for some, but it also created an opportunity for complacency for others.

We would convince ourselves we would do the work later, and then later became tomorrow, and tomorrow became next week. We lost any sense of urgency that we may have had before.

Hunger and desire have been replaced by distractions and atrophy of our business muscles and attitude. Where we once strived for excellence, we have settled into striving for medioc-

WINNING WORDS

rity. We know that talent without effort breeds mediocrity.

We have fantastic people on our teams, and we know they can do more, do better, and once again be capable of striving for excellence.

There is so much great content around how we can break out of our comfort zone, or as I heard this week, how we can break free from our confinement zone.

Comfort zones are breeding grounds for mediocrity, and confinement zones hold us hostage, as they hamper our enthusiasm and our creativity. Just because we may work from home or have a hybrid work schedule does not mean we should settle for doing the minimally acceptable level of work. We owe our company, customers, co-workers and ourselves more than that. We owe ourselves and all of them our absolute best effort.

We become frustrated because we cannot find what we need at the store because of no inventory. We have the right to be upset because it takes our meals longer to come out because the restaurant is short on help. Our impatience grows because we cannot get the car we want for several months. And we believe

we have the right to be frustrated, upset and impatient, being angry about what we cannot get or have. Yet we never stop to think about how our lack of effort and complacency impacts our company, customers, coworkers, and even our ability to grow, advance, and earn a higher income. Complacency is the enemy of achievement.

“The Great Resignation” is very real. So, we must ask ourselves a hard question. Are we willing to accept or tolerate complacency just to keep the company going? Or do we need to find a way back to leading and motivating those who are on our team to break out of the complacency zone and into the striving for excellence zone?

I would love to hear your thoughts at mnorton@xinnix. com, and when we can get back to what made our economy thrive in the past, that awesome work ethic, it really will be a better than good year.

Michael Norton is the grateful president of XINNIX, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.

Since you asked ...

I

’ve been writing this column for years, and I often get a few email or in-person responses, mostly positive, but sometimes opposing views, of course. I love that. It shows me we live together in a community full of diverse thought.

But that’s usually.

Last month, my post-Roe column drew several opposing responses in the form of letters to the editor and emails.

It is clear that this issue draws passionate beliefs and feelings.

But I thought it fascinating that all of those were written by men, supposedly people without the physical capability to have an abortion or become pregnant. Now, why would men be so interested in allowing the government to tell a person with a uterus what they are not allowed to do with their body?

One man accused me of being

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“hyperbolic” as I admitted I had painfully bawled with my children after the decision.

And another told me via email that I was a “CNN fake.”

What do you think that’s about? Why would someone assume I’m not tellLinda Newell ing the truth about my emotions? Is it because they don’t express any themselves, and thus, simply don’t comprehend why someone would cry over the government wanting to control their body?

Or, perhaps it’s because they don’t have any empathy for women who don’t want to be pregnant or emotionally can’t be pregnant.

When I went through my chaplaincy training in seminary, I

GUEST COLUMN

deepened my understanding and use of a trauma-informed approach with others. Acknowledging patients’ stress, anxiety, or any emotion stemming from their lived experiences became especially critical as I served those different from me. It helped me become more empathic with male patients who were vulnerably sitting in a hospital gown attempting to deal with their health predicament. Considering the trauma they were experiencing helped me develop empathy for them even though I was not a male or ill. This, of course, helped me serve them more effectively as they felt more comfortable sharing and expressing their inner feelings.

We were also taught that there’s nothing better in relating to others than similar lived experiences. For instance, I

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fully knew that it was not my place to give men advice on their emotions about erectile dysfunction. I needed to simply listen, honor the fact that I could not possibly know the emotional pain they were going through, but acknowledge it anyway.

So, going back to the allmale responses on my post-Roe column, perhaps what’s needed for us to work through this together is a bit of empathy and acknowledging the real trauma many women are going through right now.

Former Colorado state Sen. Linda Newell is a writer, instructor, facilitator and conflict and DEI coach. Senlindanewell@ gmail.com, www.lindanewell. org, www.senlindanewell.com, @sennewell on Twitter, Senator Linda Newell on Facebook.

Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Press. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

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Fort Lupton Press 7

August 4, 2022

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Thu 8/04 JumpBunch- Sports and Fitness for Parent/Tot @ 3:15pm Aug 4th - Aug 18th Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

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Horse Trek @ 3pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 East Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Colorado Music Festival @ 7:30pm Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Rd, Boulder KT Tunstall: Triple A Summitfest @ 8pm Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St, Boulder

Paul DeHaven @ 4pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

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8 Fort Lupton Press

August 4, 2022

Brighton breaks ground on water plant New facility should come on line near the end of 2025

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Work is officially underway on Brighton’s new water treatment plant after City Councilors, staff and contractors celebrated the groundbreaking July 27.

“On hot days like this, we are reminded how important water is — not just any water, quality sustainable water,” City Manager Michael Martinez said.

Actual site preparation and construction should start this month. Construction on the project is scheduled to be finished in April 2025, with the plant beginning operation by Dec. 2025.

Overall, the project is expected to cost $155 million. The construction is being funded with bonds that will be repaid by fees paid by future developers and by a flat $6 per month user fee set to begin in January.

The plant will augment the city’s current facility, which is next door to the new facility at 4350 E. Bromley Lane. Both plants are just west of the Adams County County Courthouse.

When it comes online, the plant will be able to treat 10 million gallons of water daily, nearly

City staff and councilors toss shovels full of dirt during the groundbreaking for the city’s new water treatment plant July 26.

COURTESY PHOTO

doubling Brighton’s water treatment capacity.

“We talk about growth often and subsequently the growing water needs of our community.

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water per day.”

It’s designed to meet Brightons’ projected needs for 20 years once it comes online.

“It will also provide water treatment growth for years to come,” Martinez said. “We anticipate this will last us until 2045.”

Councilors approved work on the new water treatment plant in November. Until it comes online, the city can produce up to 12.5 gallons of water daily and has the capacity to store up to 16 million gallons for later use.

City officials also touted the new plant’s environmental benefits. Typically, water treatment plants end up releasing brine as a byproduct that must be treated itself or discharged. The new plant will do away with any brine discharge.

“It’s a project that’s been years in the making and we are thrilled to finally break ground,” Martinez said.

TURN TO THE COLORADO SUN FOR NEWS ACROSS THE STATE The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our community — can better understand itself.

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10 Fort Lupton Press

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then taking a walk through most metro area communities can be a delightful treat for the eyes.

Many communities have outdoor sculptures placed either in sculpture gardens or throughout the cities to provide beauty, create community, revitalize metropolitan areas and make people think. For those in charge of acquiring the sculptures, it’s vital work.

“I think there are a lot of reasons why public sculpture is important,” City of Northglenn Arts, Culture and Community Manager Michael Stricker said.

“Not only does it help beautify parks and public areas, but it builds a sense of identity and community. Our community has really embraced all of the public art as their own.”

While public art also includes outdoor murals and other displays, sculptures come in all shapes and sizes, created out of every sort of material and in various genres from traditional to modern. And the best part is that viewing public sculptures is free.

“Outdoor sculptures are like a museum without walls in a way,” explained Tim Vacca with the Greenwood Village-based Museum of Outdoor Arts. “Our mission is to make art part of everyday life where people are walking in public areas, and it might bring a pleasant surprise to

August 4, 2022

them. We want it to be accessible to all.”

Tricia Rosenthal, president of Sculpture Evergreen, a nonprofit that has placed 42 permanent sculptures throughout Evergreen, called it an artistic imperative to place sculptures in the downtown area and in area parks.

“They speak to people,” Rosenthal said. “It is fun for me to see that, and it’s pretty exciting. I’ve been to numerous places where many communities have decided this is something they want to do as part their community cultural enhancement, and people relate to the sculptures. There is something for everyone — especially with the pieces that change.”

Some communities have sculptures that are displayed on a rotating basis along with their permanent collections.

For Golden, which has extensive public sculptures throughout the city, the Public Art Committee believes sculptures contribute to community identity, civic pride and economic development, and allows the community to feel engaged with the city, according to Robin Fleischmann, Golden’s economic development manager.

Sculptor Shohini Ghosh of Highlands Ranch agrees that public sculptures are a great and important way to introduce art into people’s lives. The sculptor, originally

from India, has work displayed as close as Evergreen, Hudson Gardens and the Denver Art Museum, and as far away as Topeka, Kansas; Edina, Minnesota; and even China.

“Sculpture is a mode of expression,” she explained of her art. “The whole concept of expressing a whole idea in one form excites me.

It’s not a canvas where you have a story visually developing.

Sculpture is one idea, one moment, one emotion that you want to catch and make it permanent.

Each sculpture has its own rapport with the public.

That’s how it is supposed to be.”

Different styles Public-sculpture selection and tastes vary wherever you go. In Evergreen, for example, a committee selects the sculptures that are part of the rotating Sculpture Walk. Since Evergreen is not incorporated, the nonprofit Sculpture Evergreen needs to look for sites by working with private property owners and other entities that own area parks.

Evergreen’s Sculpture Walk was started 28 years ago.

“For us, it’s a grassroots thing,” Rosenthal explained.

“Other than money from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District and Colorado Creative Industries, everything is funded by donors. Also, in many ways, Evergreen is unique because of the environment we have.”

The rural area makes selecting sites that enhance the sculptures more challenging, she added.

In Northglenn, a committee of 50 people selects six sculptures for its rotating Art on Parade and invites the public to vote for their favorite, which is purchased by the city to add to its permanent collection of about 30. Northglenn started its collection in 2000.

Stricker said Northglenn is committed to public art and putting it throughout the city, with Art on Parade located at Eleanor M. Wyatt Centennial Park to create a destination feel. The permanent collection is throughout the city and continues to grow.

Golden’s sculpture collection is on temporary hold as the Public Art Committee evaluates its current collection and determines what sculptures should be added. Many of the 34 sculptures are along Clear Creek and Washington Avenue. Golden also has what it calls the Itty Bitty Art Project, which includes 14 tiny sculptures.

The commission wants to begin diversifying its sculpture collection since a large number of the sculptures are traditional bronze donated to the city by other entities, Fleischmann said.

The Museum of Outdoor Arts’ permanent sculpture

SEE MOLDING, P11

“Snow Queen” by Stephen Landis in downtown Evergreen.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Fort Lupton Press 11

August 4, 2022

“Brother and Sister at the Rodeo”

by Mario Pahua in Golden.

PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

n

-

s

s

In Greenwood Village, Harry Marinsky’s “The Mad Tea Party” from the “Alice in Wonderland” series is displayed by the Museum of Outdoor Arts in Marjorie Park.

“Joy of Music” by George Lundeen in Golden.

MOLDING FROM PAGE 10

garden is at Marjorie Park just outside Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village, with 40 sculptures, plus more than 30 throughout Englewood.

The Museum of Outdoor Arts 1was started in 1981.

T

PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

Making sculpture relevant Ghosh is excited that public sculptures have caught on in many cities in the United States and abroad in part to help rejuvenate municipalities. Historically, a sculpture was put in town squares to help identify the town, and public sculpture is continuing that mission, she added.

“I love that this art form is used as a tool to help cities as they

COURTESY PHOTO

Shohini Ghosh’s “Man” sculpture being installed in Evergreen’s BerPHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST gen Park.

go through the revival process of bringing a city back to life,” Ghosh said.

She wants to see sculptures generate discussion among those who see them.

“I’ve seen people stop and contemplate sculptures,” she explained. “Even in their hurried day, most people don’t just walk by. They give (the sculpture) a moment of thought. Art is a very

strong form of communication other than writing or talking.

(Sculptors) express directly from our souls — unadulterated, honest expression.”

For those who help bring public art to their communities, its importance is without measure. “(Sculptures) really reach into people’s hearts,” Rosenthal said.

“That’s something worth preserving.”

12 Fort Lupton Press

August 4, 2022

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Fort Lupton Press 13

August 4, 2022

C

Going behind the scenes: Private tours at RMNP

olorado is blessed with one of the largest and most diversified national parks in the nation. The Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), established in 1915, spans 265,000 acres of beautiful natural vegetation and is home to every wildlife species found in the western states, ranging in elevation from low extended prairie meadows and grasslands of 7,600 feet to rugged, massive year around snow covered peaks reaching 14,259 feet.

The treeless tundra includes 89,000 acres of openness with 94% of the park terrain designated as Wilderness. This high country RMNP environment produces two of the nation’s largest headwater river systems. The Colorado River originates in the RMNP high country and the Cache La Poudre River basin flows

east.

Each year, between 100,000 150,000 campers find peace and calmness in the colorful and cool air that encompasses the RMNP campground and trail systems.

Most of the campgrounds, trail Ron Hellbusch systems and openaccess lands are explored by the individual self-guided visitor.

However, there is an alternative many fail to investigate. For the more adventuresome outdoors enthusiasts, the RMNP “Private Tours service” offers an expanded look deeper inside the park; its terrain, wildlife, vegetation and especially

OUTDOOR LIVING

the peacefulness and photographical opportunities.

The private tours are conducted on the west side of RMNP highlighting the countless natural attractions and historical features. The yarns and stories go on in the truest lifestyle by guide Dave Lively. Small groups and families can hear animated stories and storytelling history by Dave who knows the Park, the off-beaten landmarks and the characters and how it became the attraction it is.

Small groups of four will travel in four-wheel drive vehicles through the Kawuneeche Valley, the Fairview Curve overlook, Harbison meadows, mining camp towns such as the Gaskill, the Buckaroo Barn and a variety of historical mining and timber lodges. Some of these sites may sound unfamiliar but will be very fulfilling during the daytime

four-hour RMNP private tours.

Private tours last four hours during the morning or afternoon hours, for participants of 14 years in age and older. Private tours provide water, snacks, maps and share binoculars. Guests should bring sunglasses, light rain gear, camera, sunscreen, hat and good walking shoes or boots.

The experience and appreciation of the RMNP can be broadened when getting off the beaten path with Dave. Here is an opportunity to do just that and see more this summer. Tour reservations can be arranged by calling 970 531-1211 or contacting https://livelytoursandtalks.com/. The tours cost $130 per person.

Outdoorsman and Westminster resident Ron Hellbusch can be reached at Ron-Hellbusch@comcast.net

Rocky Mountain National Park making a comeback

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

The same few months of 2020 that Colorado crown jewel Rocky Mountain National Park was suffering its worst losses from COVID closures, the whole place also nearly burned down.

Now, things are looking up in the original Switzerland of the West.

The park’s in-house firefighting crew, which said they’d been prepping for a sparkfest like East Troublesome for 20 years, used a landscaping “catcher’s mitt” to stop the record fire from blazing on into Estes Park in October 2020. Those crews will be following up on that success with new federal grants to bolster firewall efforts on Deer Mountain, which stands sentinel between prime wildfire paths and Estes Park, evacuated as a precaution before East Troublesome smoldered out.

And with COVID’s grip loosened from much of the American psyche, the park returned to 4.4 million visitors last year — not a record, but enough to reinforce a timed-entry system that by some evaluations is going well.

Now park folks are ready to brag about some wins, not just some avoided losses.

• The Green Mountain Trailhead area on the west side, just north of fire central at Grand Lake, is back open. The before-and-after photos above show some intriguing recovery, though the deeply blackened trunks and trees bent over by firestorm winds will linger for decades.

• Over the next year, the park will use $19 million in federal economic recovery money to close, rebuild and reopen Moraine Park Campground,

the largest in the park and for many Americans, their childhood memory of family camping.

• Nearly $40,000 in federal infrastructure law funds will go to more fire mitigation on Deer Mountain, for brush clearing, tree limbing of the same kind that helped slow East Troublesome. If fire coming from the west gets over Deer Mountain, it would roar down Fall River, the Stanley Hotel, and into town.

• Planners are making progress on replacing the housing for 22 employees that was lost when East Troublesome swept through Kawuneeche entrance station on the west side on its way up and over the high country toward Moraine Park. Affordable west-side housing is vital to attract park employees, RMNP spokeswoman Kyle Patterson notes, and to keep commutes shorter after long days on the trails.

The housing should break ground next spring, and “that’s a pretty quick turnaround in the federal government,” Patterson noted.

Closing Moraine Park’s 244 camp sites, hosting 30,000 people a year, will put a crimp in tourism, but the park and town are working together to highlight other spots. A rehab is “way, way past due,” Patterson said. One great feature of the rebuilt site will be 17 accessibility compliant campsites, including easier paths to bathrooms and other facilities.

The park is still seeing some of the same stresses hitting the surrounding territory. Park fire chief Mike Lewelling has been unable to completely round out his resident hotshot crew, as other jobs compete for their attention. Some of his crew is away now to protect Zion National Park in south-

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“Our main message is we feel very, very fortunate that we have been able to receive the funds to be able to tackle these really important projects, with a park that’s as old as we are,” Patterson said, referring to the 1915 opening year. “We just have to continue to chip away at some of our deferred maintenance.”

Some of the boosts for the park were announced at the same time the National Park Service was reminding taxpayers of the economic impact of the lauded protected lands system in the U.S. In its annual impact report, the federal government said Rocky Mountain National Park had 4.43 million visitors in 2021, nearing pre-pandemic record levels. Those visitors spent $323.3 million for lodging, food and other services in the Estes Park area, supporting 4,421 jobs, the Park Service said.

Though not quite so high, impacts are significant from other national parks in Colorado.

Mesa Verde National Park in the Four Corners area attracted 548,000 visitors, spending $62.6 million and supporting 825 jobs, the report said.

Great Sand Dunes reported about 603,000 visitors spending $41.3 million in the area, supporting 536 jobs. By contrast, Rocky Mountain National Park’s northern competitor, Yellowstone, attracted 4.9 million people spending $630.3 million, and supported 8,736 jobs.

RMNP staff continue to tweak the timed-entry and hiker shuttle systems now embedded in park management. They may never go back to the previous jammed chaos, though the park has fielded equity complaints and held talks with a group demand-

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ing the entry system go through a more rigorous National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) evaluation process.

Dan Denning is part of a group that has circulated petitions they say have collected thousands of signatures questioning timed-entry reservations.

They argue park officials have not presented statistics or studies documenting park overuse or crowding to justify such a big change for the public.

Meanwhile, they say a reservation system discriminates against locals, who use the park as a backyard for spontaneous picnics or family visits.

Such a system also favors those with enough money to plan well ahead for air travel or RV vacations, or sign up for guided trips or other park uses arranged by others, they have told park officials.

Park officials have responded that annual visitation rose 42% from 2012, and that they have made presentations to the community about the impacts they see. They also have increased available reservation slots in subsequent years of testing the entry program, and keep the reservation windows to the busiest times of day and months of the year.

They say a formal NEPA process will take place in 2023, and there will be continued opportunities for public comment.

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.

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August 4, 2022

TRAIN FROM PAGE 1

to tour the inside of the restored rail cars, including an educational rail car set up like a museum featuring the history of trains, Union Pacific and its rail infrastructure.

The train headed back to Cheyenne on July 30, but this time on a passenger trip. Passengers were allowed to buy a ticket and ride in a rail car pulled by the big engine, with the proceeds benefiting the rail company’s Union Pacific Museum.

Roger Wisehart Jr. and Roger Wisehart Sr. drove from Longmont to see Big Boy at Union Sation. The elder Wisehart has a history with one of the train’s cousins.

“I helped move the Big Boy 4005 at the Forney Museum of Transportation,” he said.

“This is my first time seeing Big Boy, and it’s exciting,” Wisehart Jr. said.

Twenty-five Big Boy locomotives were built for Union Pacific to haul heavy freight during World War II. It was delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941. The frame is hinged to navigate curves traveling through the rigged mountains of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

Big Boy No. 4014 traveled about a million miles in 20 years of its service and retired in December 1961 at the Rail Giants Museum in Pomona, California. Union Pacific inherited it and relocated it back to Cheyenne for years of major restoration.

Seven Big Boys are on public display around the country, but No. 4014 is the world’s only functioning Big Boy. They brought it back to the tracks on May 8, 2019, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad’s completion.

The return of steam Ed Dickens is the Heritage Operation manager and the engineer driving Big Boy. He has been an engineer for about 35 years. Dickens said it was easy for him to go from driving a modern locomotive to a steam engine because he worked on steam locomotives as a young man.

“It was really interesting in my career, I had a really good background on the steam locomotive, which helped me to learn the diesels,”

Big Boy was roaring through Brighton on Thursday on its way to Union Station.

Inside the restored rail car, riders can experience travel views.

Dickens said. “So as my career progressed, I had an opportunity to join this crew back in 2004.”

It is an eight-member team that services and rebuilds Big Boy. In 2014 they took the locomotive entirely apart.

“In two and a half years, we put it back together again, with lots of new parts they built because you can no longer find parts for locomotive built in 1941,” Dickens said.

It is part of the story of why people are so fascinated with the locomotive, he said. Experts promised them that the Big Boy would impossible to restore, he said.

“It would never run again, it’s too big and heavy, it won’t go anywhere,” Dickens said he was told.

“They said ‘You can’t do anything with it.’ In 30 years, they said you’ll never see a Big Boy.” But Dickens said Union Pacific Railroad decided to restore the locomotive anyway.

“Everybody was very skepti-

$

$

PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD

Cruz Aguilar traveled with his brother Andres from Brighton to see the Big Boy.

cal– even rail fan groups were very skeptical, saying we’d never do it,” Dickens said.

It’s one of the reasons people get so excited about it now, he said.

“There’s a lot of firsts with this locomotive because we have taken it many, many places already. We have about 14,000 miles on it since we rebuilt it,” Dickens said.

One of those firsts was this year, with crews bringing the Big Boy locomotive to Denver’s Union Station for the first time. When Big Boy started its tour in Denver, Colorado, it would stop a mile and a half up from the Union Pacific terminal, but it never made it to Union Station.

Dickens said it’s an exciting day for Big Boy to travel on the Denver and Rio Grande track.

“There haven’t been steam locomotives on the Denver and Rio Grande since 1956, on that part of the track,” he said. “Having this crowd of train enthusiasts on this

People traveled from all over Colorado to see the Big Boy lined up to tour the rail cars and museum.

historical day, it’s fun to be a part of it with all of us that are running the locomotive.”

Big Boy has two crews monitoring it regularly, a standard maintenance crew of eight and a heritage fleet crew of 20 that takes care of the special passenger cars.

“We have our media colleagues, our public affairs colleagues. So we’re a big family, a lot of people behind this massive railroad infrastructure with people in Omaha and people locally,” Dickens said. “It is a group effort to get all of this done.”

And it’s worth it, he said. People may take rail for granted, but seeing something like Big Boy in operation is special.

“Day in and day out, we run trains all the time,” Dickens said. “You see Union Pacific trains traveling all over the place. So this kind of operation is out of the ordinary and extraordinary. We get to do remarkable things. Everybody gets to be involved in that.”

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Fort Lupton Press 15

August 4, 2022

Brighton opts for long term ward changes New map shifts boundaries between City Council wards after population shifts

Peter Padilla said.

Councilors were scheduled to vote on the new map a final time at their Aug. 2 meeting. The new map would be used in the 2023 City Council election.

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Out of balance Each of Brighton’s four wards are meant to have roughly the same number of people, at least within a 5% difference. New population numbers released by the U.S. Census in 2021 showed more growth in some areas more than others, putting the individual wards out of balance. Ward 1 is currently the largest, with 10,965 residents. Ward 2 has 10,515, Ward 3, 9,368 and Ward 4 9,239.

“We typically look at Ward redistricting every six years, unless we hit that 5 percent deviation — which we have hit sooner than six years,” Kayla Barber-Perotta, Brighton’s budget and perfor-

Brighton voters — at least 1,000 of them — should expect to see bigger changes in their City wards and precincts this year, after councilors agreed to make a long-term update to the city’s political map.

Councilors voted unanimously to shift the city’s ward boundaries with an eye towards future development.

“We recognize we are making more of a change now, but we are looking for something that will have a likelihood of lasting for a longer period of time and doing this less frequently,” Councilor

JOBS FROM PAGE 1

play out all these different what ifs.”

But he did revise that 4,900 prepandemic projection, dropping it to a “what if” of 2,500 new jobs per month instead. That puts Colorado ecloser to reaching the projected job growth had the pandemic not happened. See the red and black lines in the chart below.

Only two regions in the state haven’t recovered all the lost jobs.

The Fort Collins metro area has recovered 97% of jobs lost, while the Greeley region is still down 4,800 jobs having recovered just 59% of jobs lost.

The decline in mining and logging is to blame. The industry, which includes oil and gas companies, not only hasn’t recovered, it continues to shed jobs. It lost 2,400 jobs in the first two months of the pandemic, but is still down 3,400 jobs since April 2020.

mance manager.

The difference between Ward 1, Brighton’s biggest ward, and Ward 4 is about 1,726 residents. That’s a difference of more than Padilla 18% and well beyond the 5% threshold, according to the city’s charter.

The current map was adopted in 2017.

Boundaries shift In the new map, the general ward layout would remain the same, with Ward 1 to the northeast, Ward 2 to the northwest, Ward 3 to the southwest and Ward 4 to the southeast. Only minor lines between the wards would shift.

For example, the lot east of Tower Road between Bromley Lane and Southern Street is currently part of Ward 1, but would be part of Ward 4 on the new map. The But as Colorado continued to add more jobs elsewhere and people joined or returned to work, the state is now near its highest labor force participation rate since March 2020.

Approximately 69.5% of workingage adults were employed or looking for jobs in June. The preliminary count is 3,248,800 Coloradans in the labor force — the highest number to date.

Industries that saw the most change in June: • Leisure and hospitality gained

area south of E. Southern Street and north of Voiles Drive would move out of Ward 2 and into Ward 3.

In all, Ward 1 would lose 746 residents based on the current counts and Ward 2 would lose 342 residents. Ward 3 would gain 480 residents and Ward 4 would gain 608. That would put the difference between Wards 1 and 4 at 3.8 percent, about 372 residents.

The new ward map should last for at least six years, Barber-Perotta said. But that’s an estimate based on growth trends.

“Six years is the goal we are aiming for, but we don’t have a crystal ball in terms of how quickly each developer is doing,” Barber-Perotta said. “We did our best based on where they all are sitting in the process now, who is ready to move dirt and who is moving dirt now.

But that’s really a crystal ball question.”

2,300 jobs.

• Government (largely in education), gained 2,100 jobs • Professional & business services, down 1,800 jobs.

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.

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16 Fort Lupton Press

August 4, 2022

Free lunches in area school districts are no more

BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Add one more thing to your to-do list before school starts: an application for free and reduced-price lunch.

This year, school district leaders are renewing the push by reminding parents to fill out this form. For the past two years, students could get school meals for free whether their parents filled out the form or not — but that won’t be the case this fall.

Beth Wallace, the executive director for food and nutrition services for Jeffco Public Schools, said her district served about 30 percent more meals than before the pandemic.

At the same time, as the eligibility forms weren’t required, districts saw a drop in the population identified as eligible for subsidized lunches. In Jeffco, eligibility dropped 10 percent to about 28 percent of the student population from the 201920 school year. Across the country, districts reported similar patterns.

District leaders and child advocates wanted the federal government to allow schools to continue offering free lunches to all students, but the government has reinstated the requirement to prove a student’s eligibility.

Colorado voters will consider a ballot measure in November to offer free school meals for all students, but that won’t change anything for this coming school year.

This fall, students must have a new form on file with their school district to determine if they’re eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” Wallace said. “Now we have secondgraders who have never gone into this process.”

With the help of some district directors of school meal programs, Chalkbeat got answers to some basic questions about how it all works.

Who has to fill out the form and when does it need to be filled out?

Any parent who feels they need help covering the cost of school

meals should fill out the form. The form asks for information about your income and household size that will be used to figure out if you qualify. A family of four would qualify for free lunch if the household income was $36,075 or less.

The form also asks for the last four digits of a Social Security number, but that is not required to receive assistance.

There isn’t a strict deadline for when to fill it out. Really, you could fill it out any time during the school year, but the forms aren’t retroactive. If you wait until October to fill it out, even if you are deemed eligible for free lunch, you would still be charged for meals that your children take from the start of the school year, until whenever the school district approves your form.

And just because you’ve filled out a form in the past, that doesn’t exempt you. The forms are never valid past June 30. So, even if you fill one out in May, for example, it expires at the end of June. After July 1, every family needs to fill out the form again.

If a family experiences a change in the middle of the school year — like a new baby, or a loss of income — they can apply to change their status that year. Also, if you change school districts in the middle of the school year, you’ll need to fill out a new form again because districts don’t share the forms with each other.

Are there options for how to fill it out?

Yes. Many parents fill out the forms online, but your district should have paper copies available as well. Additionally, some districts, like Jeffco, set up computer cubicles where parents can come in and fill out these forms while receiving guidance.

Many districts also provide the forms in different languages. If you need help filling out the form or want to request a paper or translated copy, call your district’s lunch services department.

Who sees the information I put on my form?

Usually only one or two people

read and process forms, depending on the school district, leaders say.

The school districts have to report how many students applied and were deemed eligible for the federal government to pay for the lunches those students receive, but that information is given to the government in aggregate. The federal departments don’t get copies of the forms parents fill out. District directors say schools never share these forms with immigration officials either.

Other than that, state auditors sometimes request to look at some of the forms from a district to verify that the district is processing forms correctly.

“They don’t look at any information beyond that,” said Tony Jorstad, director of nutrition services for the 27J School District in Brighton.

If I don’t qualify for free lunch, or my child doesn’t eat school food, why should I fill it out?

District leaders point out that there are other benefits to families and to schools, other than the reduced cost of school meals.

For example, a family that qualifies for free or reduced-price meals might also qualify for waivers or fee reductions for various school or district services and activities like sports, transportation, and technology. Outside of school, internet providers also offer households a reduced price for internet access if children qualify for free or reducedprice lunches.

The amount of funding schools get from the federal government, the state, and the district can depend on how many of their students qualify for the subsidized meals. The forms are used to measure poverty, which may qualify schools to receive more resources for students.

And even without the federal government waiver that allowed all meals to be free for all students, when a school has a particularly high level of students living in poverty, it may still be able to offer free breakfasts and lunches to all students.

If school lunch departments have less money coming in, will students see a difference in the meals that are offered?

School lunch directors say no.

Although all districts are expecting fewer students to eat school lunches, because fewer will qualify for subsidies, officials also expect a bump in reimbursement per meal, compared with pre-pandemic levels.

However, supply chain difficulties and increased costs of food could affect what foods show up on menus.

“We really try to plan our menus to work within the reimbursement that we think we’re going to be getting,” Jorstad said. “Right now, we’re not looking at changing any menu products of fruit and veggie choices that we offer. We’re pretty proud of the fresh fruit and veggie choices that we offer each day.”

If families don’t qualify for free or reduced-price meals, but still can’t send their child with lunch or money for a school meal, can schools offer other help?

District lunch directors said this is a tough question. Parents should talk to their schools about other options. Federal rules prevent school districts from giving school meals away for free.

Often, a school may allow a student to take meals without paying but will bill the families for the meals. Before the pandemic began, many school districts worried about how much debt families were accumulating. Some schools have a discretionary budget specifically for these situations. In other cases, districts have received donations to help clear debt that students may accumulate for school meals.

“Don’t be afraid to ask,” Jorstad said. “But the first thing, the most important thing, is filling out that form, that information, to figure out that determination.”

Chalkbeat Colorado is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. Used by permission. For more and to support Chalkbeat, visit co.chalkbeat. org.

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18 Fort Lupton Press

August 4, 2022

Suit alleges developer mislead Thornton, Amber Creek residents DAVE MIGOYA THE DENVER GAZETTE

Developers behind the Amber Creek Metro District in 2017 allegedly misled Thornton city officials when they saddled district homeowners with a substantial amount of extra construction debt in order to pocket millions of dollars in illicit profits, according to a new court filing.

An engineer hired by homebuilder Lennar Colorado and developer Stratus Amber Creek allegedly concocted, with their consent, about $8 million in bogus reimbursable expenses the two companies purportedly expected to have on the project, the metro district says in lawsuit papers filed this month in Adams County District Court.

Residents of the metro district, which is an independent governmental entity with taxing authority to finance its infrastructure costs and services, would have to repay that money through property taxes levied on their homes over the next 40 years.

In emails to an attorney for the district, the engineer - Guy Ford of Independent District Engineering Services - wrote that he wasn’t sure if “we can justify any increase” in the debt the developers wanted, would come up with “some bull(expletive) estimate” in order to accomplish it, then later chortled at how he couldn’t “believe they bought that garbage” when it appeared Thornton officials had ac-

cepted the figures he created.

IDES bills itself as “Colorado’s go-to metro district consulting services firm” on its web site and has worked on many such projects in the state over several years. Ford lists himself on his LinkedIn page as the company’s former owner who retired in early 2020. Efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.

The fabrication fooled Thornton officials enough that the city in August 2017 approved an increase in the amount of public debt the metro district could issue against the project, from $12 million to $20 million, the court filing says. City records show it came with the recommendation of the city’s building department.

Amber Creek Metro District board members at the time - nearly all of them affiliated in some way with Lennar and Stratus - quickly approved $18.9 million in bonds just a few months later and just before elected residents took control of the district’s business.

In reality, a portion of the bonds was merely a scheme Lennar and Stratus used to “siphon” millions of dollars in profits from Amber Creek, the court filing alleges. Attorneys for Lennar and Stratus did not respond to requests for comment.

“It’s disheartening if true,” said Heidi Williams, Thornton’s mayor at the time the debt increase was approved by its city council. “It’s too bad metro districts can be messed up like this. You risk a very successful development tool being taken

away when things like this occur.”

The allegations are some of the most serious yet against a metro district developer. Advocates for reforming how metro districts operate have long sought ways to curb what they see as abusive practices, including the ability of a developer to purchase bonds they issued while serving as metro district board members. Reformists say it’s a self-dealing conflict of interest that should be barred.

But several efforts at legislative fixes have failed in recent years. Several fixes offered by developers have included the review of reimbursable expenses by independent engineers hired by the district.

The City of Thornton in October 2021 made a number of revisions to how it handles metro districts, including setting limitations to protect homeowners from excessive tax burdens. That followed several public meetings and discussions since early 2020.

Former Mayor Williams said elected officials are “public volunteers” who are “not trained in land use and this sort of oversight” and rely heavily on city employees’ recommendations.

“Engineers give our staff numbers and if it makes sense, if you get the staff’s recommendation, the council usually goes with that,” she said.

The allegations are laid out in court papers filed July 15 by the metro district’s current leadership in a lawsuit the developers began last year. Lennar and Stratus sued

the metro district, saying they’re still owed nearly $4 million in costs they incurred on the project. Amber Creek counter-sued, claiming the companies used metro district laws to create a “profit center” that fleeced residents.

Metro districts are virtually the sole method in which new housing communities are created in Colorado. Developers nearly always create the district before any homes are built and vote themselves, relatives, or employees to run the district’s board of directors.

Cities and counties must first approve of the metro district and have oversight authority, including the right to limit the development and increase the amount of debt a project can issue on its residents.

A district’s board often makes financial decisions affecting hundreds of future homeowners - sometimes thousands - including property tax levies to pay the infrastructure that developers install, such as streets, sewers and sidewalks.

Districts sell municipal bonds to finance and reimburse those infrastructure costs. Just like a loan, the bonds must be repaid, usually through an additional levy tagged on district homeowners’ property taxes over many years.

After the city approved the debt increase for Amber Creek, the bonds were issued in three batches, called tranches. The first two were sold publicly, but the third, known as SEE LAWSUIT, P19

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Fort Lupton Press 19

August 4, 2022

Emergency agency scrutinized

BY OLIVIA PRENTZEL THE COLORADO SUN

State officials are seeking a consultant to evaluate the culture, structure and effectiveness of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, state documents show, days after a Denver Post investigation documented a troubling history of aggressive and inappropriate behavior from one of its directors, Mike Willis.

The Colorado Department of Public Safety is looking for a consulting service to gauge employee satisfaction within the state’s division that responds to all types of disasters in Colorado, according to documents posted Monday on the state’s database of vendors.

The contractor will conduct “an environmental scan using whatever tool the vendor deems appropriate” to review leadership and employee development opportunities, as well as analyze current organizational structure, including office placement and supervisory lines, according to state documents outlining the project.

The state set a June 28 deadline for applications and is asking vendors to complete a report, including recommendations for the division to improve its culture and structure, no later than Dec. 31.

It’s unclear how much money the state plans to spend on the review.

The Colorado Supreme Court and state capitol are located in downtown SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE Denver.

The request for vendors comes after a scathing Denver Post report about Mike Willis during his five years at the helm of Colorado’s responses to natural and public health disasters. Willis has been suspended twice in the past 18 months for behavior that included intimidating workers, throwing objects in rage and berating female employees, the Post reported.

Willis, who was appointed to run the state’s Office of Emergency Management in 2017, was warned that he would likely be fired “for any similar misconduct” in the future, the newspaper reported.

Willis did not immediately return a request for comment. In an email to the Post, Willis called some accounts from his colleagues as “inaccurate,” that he can be “intimidating on occasion” and that he is “passionate about our mission and ensuring those that work, live and play in Colorado are served to the best of our

ability.”

The controversy surrounding Willis has become a political issue for Gov. Jared Polis as he campaigns for reelection in November.

A spokesman for Polis declined to comment on the situation when reached on June 27 by The Colorado Sun. Polis’ Republican opponent, Heidi Ganahl, issued a statement calling for the governor to hold Willis accountable. Colorado GOP Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown blasted Polis for not speaking out.

“Coloradans deserve a governor who will fire individuals like this who create unacceptable, hostile work environments,” Burton Brown said in a written statement. “Polis’ lack of leadership in standing up for state employees against this kind of harassment is pathetic.”

Willis has been the director of Colorado’s Office of Emergency Management since November 2017, meaning he was hired when former Gov. John Hickenlooper was still in office. Polis became governor in January 2019.

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.

LAWSUIT FROM PAGE 18

junior bonds, were purchased by Lennar.

Amber Creek’s management today says the extra debt was unnecessary.

“The debt ultimately issued includes the 2017C Junior Lien Bonds: $1,752,000 of debt at 10.625% compounding interest issued directly to Lennar that will ultimately pay $25,777,107 at an approximately 40% net effective interest rate,” according to the court filing. The bonds “did not need to be issued at all.”

Developers say metro districts are needed to meet the state’s burgeoning housing needs and that not allowing them to issue municipal bonds to cover infrastructure costs would make homes too expensive.

Lennar is one of the nation’s largest homebuilders and is part of many metro districts across Colorado. Stratus is run by a family of developers with ties to several metro districts, according to documents filed with the Colorado secretary of state.

“In the case of `reimbursements’ to Lennar and Stratus, the District was only supposed to remit payments based on receipt and review of construction contracts, purchase orders, invoices, evidence of payments, as-built drawings and other construction documents,” Amber Creek wrote in the court filing.

Instead, the developers “ran the District as a piggy bank, abusing their public trust. … defrauding both the District and Thornton simultaneously.”

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August 4, 2022

C R O S SWO R D P U Z Z L E

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TRIVIA 1. AD SLOGANS: Which product’s advertising slogan is “Look, Ma, no cavities!”?

2. MOVIES: The movie “300” is based on which famous historical battle?

3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: How many presidents have served more than two terms?

4. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How far can a skunk’s spray reach?

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2. The Battle of Thermopylae.

3. One. Franklin D. Roosevelt.

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4. About 10-20 feet.

6. LANGUAGE: What is a funambulist?

6. Tightrope walker.

7. HISTORY: Who was the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon (unofficially)?

7. Bobbi Gibb, 1966. The race was opened to women in 1972.

8. TELEVISION: What was the name of the cruise ship on the sitcom “The Love Boat”?

8. Pacific Princess.

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which colors make up the fivering Olympic symbol?

5. Cape Town.

9. Blue, yellow, red, green and black.

10. Cacao trees. (c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

Crossword Solution

Fort Lupton Press 21

August 4, 2022

Police Blotter STAFF REPORT

Here are the police reports for July 16 to July 22 to the Fort Lupton Police Department. Not every call made to the police is not listed on this report.

July 16 A Fort Lupton man, 43, reported $655.48 of damage on his property in the 300 block of Joseph. The case was under investigation.

Police arrested a Burwell man, 43, at Ninth Street and Northrup Avenue for DUI, weaving and speeding. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

July 17 A Fort Lupton man, 65, reported his Ruger single action revolver, firearm holster and bandoleer stolen in the 600 block of Park Street. The case was under investigation.

Police arrested a Fort Lupton man, 59, in the 200 block of First Street on a Weld County warrant for failure to appear on a criminal mischief charge. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

July 18 Police took a male transient, 33, into custody in the 1100 block of Denver Avenue for a violation of a protection order. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

A Fort Lupton man, 53, was arrested at Denver Avenue and Second Street on a Jefferson County warrant for failure to comply with the conditions of a menacing charge. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Police took a Brighton man, 31, into custody in the 70th block of South Grand Avenue for violation of a protection order and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held on

bond at the Weld County Jail.

A Fort Lupton woman, 38, was arrested in the 200 block of Park Avenue for failure to appear in court for multiple traffic offenses. She was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Police arrested a Denver man, 38, in the 600 block of 12th Street on an Adams County warrant for failure to appear on a driving-while-licenseis-under-restraint charge and as a habitual traffic offender. He was held on bond at the Adam County Detention Center.

A Fort Lupton man,51, reported his license plates stolen in the 200 block of Fulton Avenue. The case was under investigation.

July 20 Police arrested a Fort Lupton woman, 19, at U.S. Highway 85 and Weld County Road 22.5 on a Fort

Lupton warrant for failure to appear in court on a traffic offense. She was released on a personal recognizance bond.

July 21 Police issued a summons to a Fort Lupton woman, 38, in the 1100 block of Lantern Drive for keeping a pig in a residential area of the city where that is not allowed.

July 22 A Brighton woman, 32, was arrested at Weld County Road 31 and Coleman Avenue for eluding police, DUI, causing an accident and driving while her license was under restraint.

Police arrested a Fort Lupton man, 36, in the 1600 block of Aspen Street on a Weld County warrant for failure to comply with conditions of probation. He was held on bond at the Weld County jail.

approaching. Visit , https://fortluptonco.gov/346/Preschool or call 720-466-6163 to register. The parent Meeting will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9.

ages (boxed milk, juices, protein drinks), meals (chunky soups and mac and cheese), dry foods (cereal, crackers, pasta, rice) and snacks (chips, fruit snacks, granola) are welcome.

Donate three or more items and get a free goodie bag from the recreation center. Bring donations to the center. Call 303-857-4200 w/questions.

Sundays.

Individual tours outside of the first weekend of the month are available by contacting the society at lancaster.lupton@spvhs.org or calling 303-857-9360 and leaving a message.

BRIEFS Road work Brighton’s public works department will be doing road maintenance repairs on Weld County Road 31 this month.

WCR 31 will be closed from WCR 4 to Wagon Wheel Drive through Aug. 5. The following week, WCR 31 will be closed from WCR 2 to Wagon Wheel Drive. Detours will be in place. No truck traffic will be allowed.

Call 303-655-2088.

Library to close The Fort Lupton Public & School Library will close Friday and Saturday, Aug. 5 and 6, for carpet cleaning.

It reopens at 7:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8.

Barr Lake campout Barr Lake and the city of Brighton Recreation Department are hosting a campout from 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, to 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 7.

The event includes an afternoon of outdoor and nature-themed vendors and activities. The evening includes a movie under the stars and s’mores by the campfire.

Visit www.brightonco.gov/1623/ Camp-Out-2022 or call 303-655-2200.

Preschool enrollment Preschool enrollment is open through the city of Fort Lupton, but the registration deadline is quickly

Spaghetti dinner The annual fundraising dinner for school supplies in the Weld Re-8 School District is from 5 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. All proceeds go directly to purchase school supplies -- backpacks, modeling clay and computers, as examples for Weld RE-8 schools, The dinner raised more than $3,000 a year ago. Allen Bennett provides the entertainment To reserve a table, call 720-928-4071.

Back-to-school night Fort Lupton High School’s backto-school night is from 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 24. it’s a combo barbecue and meet and greet while taking a look at booths for school clubs and interscholastic sports. Call 303-857-7100.

Summer supply drive The Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave., is hosting a summer supply drive through Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Donations of canned foods (beans, pasta, tomato sauces/fruit), bever-

Gummball 5K The fifth annual Gummball Rally will be Saturday, Oct. 1, at Adams County Regional Park, 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton. The 5K walk/ run is in honor of former Adams County sheriff’s deputy Heath Gumm, who died in the line of duty in 2018.

The cost is $30 for racers 13 and older and $10 for 12 and younger.

Those 12 and younger get in free.

Each includes a shirt/swag bag guaranteed with entry by Sept. 14.

Packets will be available for pickup at 4201 E. 72nd Ave. from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30. Proceeds benefit a nonprofit that supports law enforcement and first responders.

For more information, email tracykilgore71@gmail.com.

Hours change at the historical park The South Platte Valley Historical Park will be open for public visitation the first weekend of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and

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 Public & School Library Wednesdays to play crafts and video games and to hang out with friends after school.

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PUBLIC NOTICES

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Public Notices call 303-566-4123 Legals Notice to Creditors PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Maija Liesma Vitek, Deceased Case Number: 2022 PR 187 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Weld County, Colorado on or before November 21, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred.

Adiyan Haran, Personal Representative PO Box 22 Escalante, UT 84726

Legal Notice No. FLP665 First Publication: July 21, 2022 Last Publication: August 4, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Name Changes PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

By: Deputy Clerk

Public notice is given on May 24, 2022, that a Petition for a Change of Name of a minor child has been filed with the Weld County Court.

Legal Notice No. FLP664 First Publication: July 21, 2022 Last Publication: August 4, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

The petition requests that the name of Atticus Rowan Hoeltgen be changed to Atticus Robinson Hoeltgen Case No.: 22 C 421 Rachael Erickson

22 Fort Lupton Press

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August 4, 2022

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Garage Sales Multi-Family Garage Sale Fri., Aug. 5, 8 am - 3 pm and Sat., Aug. 6, 8 am - noon. 920 South Fulton Ave., Fort Lupton.

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4 by 6 foot digital sign from Daktronics.

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The sign is PERFECT for a liquor store, car dealership, car repair clinic, wellness center or chiropractic clinic--but any business would benefit. Call Alan at 303-378-7537

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Fort Lupton Press 23

August 4, 2022

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