Fort Lupton Press 111722

Caraveo wins close race in Colorado’s new 8th District

Thornton pediatrician first Latina to represent Colorado in Congress

BY JESSE PAUL AND SANDRA FISH THE COLORADO SUN

Democrat Yadira Caraveo will be the first representative in Washington from Colorado’s new 8th Congressional District after she beat Republican state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer in a very close race.

Caraveo, who works as a pediatrician, will be the first Latina to represent Colorado in Congress. The 8th District’s population is nearly 39% Latino.

Coloradans vote to cut income taxes, limit liquor chains

BY MARK HARDEN ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

Coloradans gave themselves a tax break in the Nov. 8 election, while also blocking a proposal to let liquor-store operators add more locations.

Voters also agreed to raise taxes on high-income Coloradans to support free school meals, refused to relax rules for charity bingo games and raffles, and expanded property tax exemptions for the

surviving spouses of fallen military service members.

By nearly a 2-1 margin, Colorado voters approved Proposition 121, reducing the state income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.4%. The measure is projected to reduce state tax revenue by $412.6 million, a cut of about 2.4% to the state’s general fund, while saving the average Colorado taxpayer $119 in fiscal-year 2023-24.

SEE BALLOT, P15

RE-8 board to continue school safety discussions

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Discussion about school security in the Weld Re-8 School District Nov. 10 ranged from arming teachers to bringing in armed security guards to leaving security in the hands of those with professional training.

“There are a number of teachers and, frankly, a number of administrators who are in favor (of arming teachers),” said board member Cody LeBlanc. “It tells me that staff is willing to take on the added responsibility, which makes me happy.”

Superintendent Alan Kaylor reminded the board that FASTER training allows teachers to be armed in schools. Board member Michelle Bettger agreed with LeBlanc — to a point.

“We need to talk to the community about their likes and dislikes,” she said. “Maybe we could convince the community to (pass) the bond to make schools safer so we don’t have to go down this road.”

The district is seeking a bond election next year.

The comments board member Matt Bovee heard told him that people would rather leave security concerns to the professionals.

“It makes me think people are

more receptive to armed security guards,” he said. “It might make a lot more people feel a lot safer.”

Board member Cristian Gonzales agreed.

“At the beginning of the school year, our principal told us we had an armed guard,” he said. “I applauded that. Even if it were a security guard, I would feel pretty good about walking around the hall, stuff like that.”

Mitchell Wilcox, who teaches art at Twombly Elementary School, was not in favor of the FASTER program. Instead, he suggested the district make sure that lockdown training was consistent.

“Firearms meant to take lives do not belong in public education,” he told the board. “My dad was a cop. He had the benefit of experience. The training is 26 hours over three days. What mistakes will teachers make?”

Resident Frank Alvarado favored a collateral approach to school safety involving the public and the employees.

“It’s guns that kill people,” he told the board. “Teachers should carry guns? What kind of baloney is that?”

The board agreed to continue to look at all options as they relate to school building safety. It couldn’t make a decision because of the format of the meeting.

Frank Jemison checked in with election workers Mark Anderson and Sandy Gross. He chose to vote by paper ballot.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

Democratic state Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a candidate in the 8th Congressional District, makes remarks to reporters Nov. 8, 2022, in Thornton. She will be the first Latina to represent Colorado in Congress.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN, THE COLORADO SUN

Fort Lupton floats liquor occupation tax

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

There may be a new tax on its way for liquor stores, brew pubs, lodging and entertainment venues and any place that serves beer and wine.

City Clerk Mari Pena presented the concept to a work session of Fort Lupton City Council Nov. 8. She plans to present cost figures to the City Council

during its meeting Dec. 6. She also asked to match up the deadline with this new tax with the date of the business’ licenses renewal date.

“Every owner calls about the license fee,” Pena told the council. “I’d like to make the occupation date at the same time as the renewal.”

She called it more of a fee than a tax.

“It’s the cost of doing

business,” she told councilors.

There was no decision because of the format of the meeting.

New library furniture

Bids for new furniture and shelving for the soon-to-be relocated Fort Lupton Public & School Library came in under budget, according to library Director Thomas Samblanet.

The library board accepted five bids for new furniture. Three of the firms didn’t have access to all of the items on the board’s list. Office Space did. The board also accepted two bids for shelving. One didn’t provide all of what the board wanted. The other, Shelf Image, did.

“The amount of money in the budget was $350,000,” Samblanet told

council. “The two bids were $61,000 under budget. We did not add a few things that we forgot. Even still, the bids were $33,000 under budget. They have the same 12- to 13-week lead times. Those are sufficient for our needs.”

Council approved the library’s new location in April, but who will manage the firm and who has which responsibilities has yet to be determined.

Fort Lupton council examines retirement plans

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The question before Fort Lupton City Council Nov. 8 wasn’t about an increase in retirement plan costs for police officers and other city employees.

The question was whether to make such contributions mandatory or voluntary, whether the city should pay into those funds – and how much it should pay.

“We surveyed employees, and they were pretty clear,” said Human Re-

sources Director Laura Howe. “They thought we should do better than just changing the medical plan.”

Howe outlined options for councilors to consider during its work session. Employers and employees make contributions to a 401a program. By contrast, employees contribute to a 401k plan, and the city doesn’t have to.

A 457b plan allows employees to invest some of their salaries before taxes. It’s voluntary.

“The city could make the plan work without requiring employees to make contributions,” Howe told the council. “A 457 would be available to all staff.”

City employees are getting a cost-of-living adjustment in their paychecks next year. Councilwoman Valerie Blackston supported the 401a program without an increase in employee contributions.

“I’ve had to live paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “The way the prices

are going up? We’ve got to understand that. With the health plan increases, I don’t want to throw it to them at once and make the cost-of-living adjustment no factor.”

“The 401a has a vestment schedule,” Howe said. “Employees may not be happy with the increased costs. But we have options, and the simpler one is the 401a.”

Another paid holiday?

Juneteenth, the date of the effective end of slavery in the United

States, is a federal and state holiday. But city councilors weren’t eager to make it a city holiday during their Nov. 8 work session.

“More and more people are moving in this direction,” Howe told the council.

She added city employees get 10 paid holidays per year plus a “floater.”

“I don’t think we’re ready to make that decision,” said Mayor Zo Hubbard.

Next year’s Juneteenth holiday is June 19.

Health website with a wealth of information

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A new website designed to help Weld County residents keep track of 11 key health issues – including causes of death, substance abuse, information about housing concerns and population growth – debuted last week.

The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) launched a new Leading Health Indicator Dashboard to bring attention to the increase in health issues that the Weld County population is facing, according to a news release.

“Some health trends have improved, while oth-

ers have worsened,” said Cindy Kronauge, MPH, Ph.D., Senior Health Data Specialist at WCDPHE. “For example, our leading causes of death, which account for many deaths, are heart disease and cancer and are trending downward, whereas diabetes and obesity rates are increasing.”

The health dashboard is an encyclopedia of data, sources, educational information, healthy lifestyle changes, sexual health, maternal health, wellness, and prevention programs offered.

For example, the obesity rate is on the rise in Weld County. The overweight or obese adult rate is 68.7%, according to a resident self-

reported survey by the 2022 Weld County Community Health Assessment. Obesity and being overweight are linked to health problems such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment CDPHE includes data on the health dashboard. In particular, data showed that sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea have doubled over the past five years.

According to the CDPHE annual profile of sexually transmitted diseases data reported incident rate of new cases per 100K population in

2020 primary and secondary syphilis is at 3.9%. And the reported incident rate of new cases per 100K population and in 2020 Gonorrhea is at 125.6% of previous years.

Data also shows mental health problems increasing, with more people experiencing anxiety and depression. According to a 2022 Weld County community health assessment self-reported by residents, 22% percent said they had anxiety, and 24% said they had depression.

Data also showed that infant fatality rates increase when women do not seek prenatal care within the first trimester of pregnancy.

Weld County health of-

ficials acknowledge that the strength of public health is bringing people together.

“We can’t address these complex health issues in a vacuum. It takes a strategic partnership with health care, community groups, education, and the business community,” said Eric Aakko, Director of Health Education, Communication, and Planning for Weld County. “With good data, we can begin to make informed decisions.”

To visit the dashboard go to: https://www. weld.gov/Government/ Departments/Healthand-Environment/ Data-and-Reports/Leading-Health-IndicatorDashboard

A free mobile library brings literacy to kids

Convertered trailer making the rounds and promoting reading

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Melissa Rippy, the owner of Allstate Insurance, opened another page in her life with Elsie, the free mobile library.

The goal is to help low-income children by offering them free books.

“It’s another way to serve the community. I loved the adventure of reading as a kid and Elsie’s primary focus is to serve low-income neighborhoods and bring books to families that maybe we can’t get to libraries,” Rippy said.

Rippy purchased, Elsie a 1966 Canned Ham-Lit camper, last October, to convert to a free mobile library. Elsie got her name from the

not to change the name, so she became Elsie, the little free mobile library”, Rippy said.

Rippy’s business purchased the camper with all the accessories that came with it. Within the last year, she raised money through the com-

books are received through donations,” she said.

Last week Elsie parked at Hughes Station on the main street. The kids came out to the little mobile library to get books. A little boy came in and asked if he could keep a book.

“I said, buddy, you can take as many books as possible — fill up your backpack. It’s moments like this; I love to see the smiles on their faces,” Rippy said.

Elsie is scheduled to visit CASA in Broomfield and Rippy is organizing other events on her Elsie’s

When Elsie is not traveling, she’s parked at the Brighton Pavilions at Pavilions Place, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the winter. Sometimes she opens on the weekend.

“Melissa Rippy has always been a great supporter of the community. There is nothing that 27J likes better than literacy, and she’s bringing literacy to the people. We couldn’t be prouder of a free bookmobile, basically given those kids books for free, and we just love it, “ said Tom Green, 27j Board of Education Director.

To follow Elsie, visit: https:// www.facebook.com/ElsieTheLittleFreeMobileLibrary/

No charges for Thornton o cers involved in March shooting

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Brian Mason, district attorney for the 17th Judicial District, cleared two Thornton police officers who were involved in a shooting in March.

Mason made the decision in a letter to Thornton Police Chief Terrence Gordon on Nov. 7. The incident happened near East 120th Avenue and Quebec Street.

Police responded to a pair of related calls involving Dean Saiki. The two callers, who were relatives of Saiki’s, told authorities Saiki was “mentally unstable,” according to the letter, and “was behaving in a manner that made them (the relatives) feel unsafe.”

Officers found Saiki’s truck, a white Dodge Ram pickup, pulled over to the side of the road near 120th Avenue and Quebec Street. Officer Aja Williams parked behind the truck, got out of her squad car and walked to the driver’s side door. The letter said the driver of the truck rolled down a window and displayed the barrel of a handgun as the window came down.

The suspect fired two shots at the officer. Williams, in turn, ran back toward her patrol car. The letter said she “was not able to return fire because she was focused on trying to get away from the shooter.”

A second Thornton officer, Eric Cos-Y-Leon, saw the driver fire the shots and watched Williams run back toward her car. Cos-Y-Leon then drove toward the truck. The driver got out of the driver’s side of the truck and pointed the handgun at officer Cos-Y-Leon as he drove by.

“Officer Cos-Y-Leon drew his 9-millimeter handgun and fired two rounds at the suspect from his driver’s side window, but thought he missed the suspect,” the letter said. “He continued to drive toward Officer Williams to check on her and provide her cover.”

Officer Wise armed himself with an AR-556 rifle and watched the suspect, who was holding a semiautomatic handgun as he moved around the truck.

Officers commanded Saiki to “Drop the gun, you’re under arrest” and “Put your hands in the air” from afar. The suspect held the semi-automatic

handgun in his hand as he moved around the white truck. The officers continued and yelled at the suspect, “Drop the gun!” “Police, you’re under arrest!” and “Put your hands in the air!” The suspect ignored these commands, paced around the truck, and pointed his handgun at the officers, the letter said.

After seeing the suspect raise the handgun, Officer Wise fired a shot but thought he missed the suspect. Officers repeated their commands, this time over a squad car’s public address system. The department’s crisis negotiation team joined a phone call between Saiki and his youngster sister, who was out of state.

The letter said Saiki told his sister he thought the FBI and the CIA were ”after him and that the law enforcement officers were part of a cult that worshipped 666.”

Despite efforts to get the suspect to put the gun down, the standoff continued and Saiki remained outside the truck.

Around 6 p.m., officers tried to approach the suspect from different directions while using armored ve-

hicles. As this was going on, the letter said officers fired “a less-lethal” round at Saiki. The shot missed.

“Within a second, Mr. Saiki raised the handgun to his head and fired one round,” the letter said. “He immediately fell to the ground.”

Officers called for medical assistance. Saiki later died at an area hospital.

Mason’s letter said state law affords police officers and other individuals “the right to defend themselves or others from the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force.”

“The evidence supports each of these officers’ belief that Mr. Saiki presented an imminent danger to them and that responding with a lesser degree of force was not reasonable in the moment. Given this evidence, I find the officers’ use of force to be legally justified.

“Applying the facts of this incident to the applicable law, the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges against Officer Eric Cos-Y-Leon and Officer Brendan Wise for firing their weapons at Mr. Dean Saiki.”

Melissa Rippy, with the community members outside Elsie, celebrated with a ribboncutting ceremony.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

Operation Freebird returns to Adams County

What to know about sustainable investing

You may have heard about “sustainable investing.” But if you’re not familiar with it, you might wonder if it’s a good option for you.

You can follow a sustainable strategy in different ways. You could choose an approach known as “ESG,” which stands for environmental, social and governance. Examples of an ESG approach include investing in businesses that work to improve their waste management, stress gender equality, diversity within their own ranks and/ or follow transparent financial and accounting procedures.

You could also consider a strategy known as values-based investing. Examples of this approach include refraining from investing in segments of the market, such as tobacco or firearms. Or you could specify investments in certain industries, such as solar power.

If you consider sustainable investing, too many exclusions may lower your portfolio’s diversification and potential returns. And, of course, choose investments that are suitable for your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.

If sustainable investing interests you, give it some thought – you may find it rewarding to match your money with your beliefs.

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Operation Freebird, Adams County’s free Thanksgiving food giveaway, will return this year with plenty of Thanksgiving trimmings but one big difference: There won’t be any turkeys at the event.

“Instead, we are going to be giving away a free certificate that anyone can take to a location that sells Butterball turkeys and get a free turkey there,” said Deputy Sherri Cole with the Adams County Sheriff’s office. “Logistically, for the last two years, it’s cost us more than it should have to keep the birds cold and fresh. So we are going with the certificates that people can redeem literally anywhere that sells Butterball turkeys. We hope we can use the savings to help even more people.”

The event is being held this year at 10 a.m. Nov. 19 at Mountain States Toyota, 201 W. 70th Ave. in Denver. There is no registration needed, so residents just need to show up and collect their food and their Butterball turkey certificate.

Operation Freebird is an annual event designed to provide all the makings for a Thanksgiving meal, from the bird to the rolls to the cranberries to the pie. No profits or income are generated by this event. The sheriff’s office, the Adams County Sheriff’s Foundation and more than 200 local non-profit agencies and other community partners also help provide a range of services to the needy in the North Metropolitan area.

Cole said the county is prepared to give Thanksgiving meals to 2,500 families. Multiple service agencies will also be available for dental screenings, flu shots, housing and food assistance, veterans services, and mental health resources.

Sheriff’s Deputies will also be on hand, with opportunities to meet the county’s K9 officers and their handlers and the county SWAT Team and Bomb Squad.

Like last year, community groups and agencies will be on hand Nov. 19 for Operation Freebird, o ering advice and some goodies.

Operation Freebird returns for 2022 to Mountain States Toyota on Nov. 19. FILE PHOTOS

Free birds won’t be o ered but certificates for free turkeys will

Acold, clear day greeted Northglenn’s annual Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11, a new tradition at the Veterans Plaza outside of the city’s recreation center. Veterans from Northglenn’s American Legion Post 22 provided the honor guard and taps and City Councilor Richard Kondo offered his thoughts.

Honor guard from American Legion Post

21-gun salute at Northglenn’s annual Veterans Day observance on November 11.

Bugler Ed Lawson from American Legion Post #22 blows taps near the end of Northglenn’s annual Veterans Day observance.

Standing Rock Lakota Doug Good Feather of Conifer, a veteran of the Iraq War, delivers remarks during Northglenn’s annual Veterans Day Observance, held at the Veterans Memorial on Nov. 11.

U.S. Navy Retired Captain Richard Kondo, a Northglenn City Councilman, delivers remarks during the city’s annual Veterans Day ceremonies.

VOICES

What parents should know about RSV

As RSV cases continue to spike across parts of the U.S. — with some areas nearing seasonal peak levels — those typical “bugs” your child brings home may have you feeling on edge. With so much swirling around these days, it can be difficult to know what’s behind a constant cough, especially if your child is very young.

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, can include symptoms similar to a common cold. However, the virus can develop into something more serious. RSV can infect people of all ages but is most severe for older adults and young children.

Usually almost every child under the age of 2 has been exposed to RSV, but due to all the pandemic response over the last few years, kids have not been exposed as much to RSV. That is one of the reasons why we are seeing such a spike this year, as well as RSV in children older than 2.

Symptoms

RSV symptoms may vary and typically begin four to six days after infection. The most common symptoms might include:

Runny nose

Low appetite

Coughing

Sneezing Fever

Wheezing

For young infants with RSV, they might be irritable, sluggish or find it harder to breathe.

Your pediatrician will be able to figure out whether it’s a common cold, COVID-19 or RSV, if you have concerns about symptoms your child is showing. They might perform tests, like chest X-rays, to see if pneumonia has developed.

When should you call a doctor?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes an increase in RSV-associated emergency room visits. However, most cases will go away on its own in a week or two. Symptoms are typically at their worst on days three to five of infection. Only 3% of children with RSV will require a hospital stay.

If symptoms become severe, contact your pediatrician right away. This may include:

Symptoms of bronchiolitis

Symptoms of dehydration (only one wet diaper in 8 hours or more)

Difficulty breathing

Gray or blue lips, tongue or skin

A significant decrease in activity or alertness

Even though RSV is common, and it might seem difficult to figure out how severe it will become, there are some risk factors parents should be aware of.

Children who are born premature or are 6 months old or younger are most at-risk for RSV complications. Children with chronic heart or lung disease, or a weaker immune system, can also be susceptible to RSV.

Treatment

There’s currently no vaccine to prevent RSV and no specific treatment for the infection. As stated, most cases will resolve on their own. However, there are a few things you can do to help relieve the symptoms:

Manage pain and fever with overthe-counter medications (consult your pediatrician for guidance and never give aspirin to children)

Drink plenty of fluids Nasal saline to help with breathing Cool-mist humidifier to help break up mucus

Talk to your health care provider before you give any over-the-counter cold medicine to your child.

How it spreads

RSV is typically spread through coughs and sneezes, but can

spread when someone touches a surface that has the virus on it and then touches their face, before washing their hands.

The following tips may help reduce your family’s risk:

Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your arm, not your hands.

Avoid close contact with others, especially those who are sick.

Wash your hands frequently.

Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home.

If you’re sick, stay home.

The best way to avoid transmission of RSV is what we have been doing very well over the last few years: Scrupulous hand hygiene with washing our hands frequently with soap and water, and cleaning the surfaces small hands get to, like doorknobs and handles. Also, wear a mask if you have any respiratory symptoms.

With the knowledge of what RSV may look like — and how it is different from other viruses — you’ll be able to take steps to keep your child as healthy as possible all year round.

For more information, visit the CDC website.

Dr. Matthew Husa is the chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare of Colorado & Wyoming.

Outnumbered but never out of the game

They were a new and small startup consulting company. Having barely opened the doors of the business, they identified an opportunity where their specialized expertise could help find and deliver the solutions that a very large corporate prospect was looking for. Although they were new and small, their reputation in the industry was solid, and they were invited to compete for the business.

Three other organizations were also invited in to vie for the opportunity to possibly provide services to the prospective client. All three were well-established consulting companies and were coming to the table with decades of experience and proven track records of success. There was not much risk in choosing any of these three companies.

PRESS FORT LUPTON

A

Contact us: 143 S. Second Pl., Brighton, CO 80401 - 303-566-4100

Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: FtLuptonPress.com To subscribe call 303-566-4100

As the vetting process went on, the founders of the tiny startup still believed that they could absolutely provide the highest levels of service for the prospective client and were already starting to assemble a bench of potential independent contractors they would need should they be awarded the business. They discussed the competition every week as the process went on, and they knew they were outnumbered and maybe even seen as outmatched because of the strong reputations of the three competitors.

Outnumbered and maybe outmatched, yet they were never out of the game.

When the prospect had made the announcement that they had narrowed the field down to two, the small startup was not shocked to find themselves in the final two. They truly believed that they could provide the client with exceptional service and work with them to deliver the desired results. Their final competitor was shocked that the prospect had selected the startup,

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher

lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

SCOTT TAYLOR Metro North Editor staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

BELEN WARD Community Editor bward@coloradocommunitymedia.com

and they became overconfident that they would win. This was a mistake.

In the final discovery, due diligence and sales presentations, the team from the startup showed up better prepared and presented comprehensive performance solutions that included a practical and tactical plan that made sense. The larger, more established, and well-known and respected consulting company came in with overengineered and complicated plans, and plans that included very little in the way of tactical execution.

At the end of the process the prospective client awarded the business to the new and small startup because they felt like they had demonstrated that they had the client’s best interest at heart. Although they were new and small, they trusted them enough to assemble a team that could meet all expectations and deliverables. Outnumbered, perceived to be outmatched, but never out of the game.

When the executive team of this startup shared their reasons from

STEVE SMITH Sports Editor ssmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

TERESA ALEXIS Marketing Consultant Classified Sales talexis@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

why and how they won, I was so fired up and happy for them. I mean who doesn’t love a great underdog victory story? It had me reflecting on some of the situations where I found myself in the underdog’s seat, and where I may have lost a little bit of confidence myself.

In life, there are times where we all get to feeling a bit outnumbered and outmatched, so much so that we become uninspired or demotivated, believing we may have already lost. When this happens it can set us back or even completely derail us from completing something or competing for something that we were once very passionate about. What we should always remember is that it doesn’t matter if they seem bigger, better, faster or stronger than we are. No, what matters is how we show up and the size of our heart, passion and desire to win.

The small consulting company beat the Goliaths they faced because they were better prepared, brought

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.

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

Dr. Matthew Husa

VID-19 or RSV, if you

Fentanyl possession nets DOC term for 35-year-old

BRIGHTON – A 35-year-old man drew a 12-year sentence in the Depart ment of Corrections after pleading guilty plea of the distribution of a controlled substance – in this case, it was fentanyl.

Adalberto Rohas entered his plea in September.

The incident happened in early April. A press statement from the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Of fice said an Adams County sheriff’s deputy tried to stop a car that had an improper license plate. Rojas was the driver and didn’t stop. After a pursuit, Rojas crashed his car after encoun tering stop sticks and fled on foot. Another deputy arrested Rojas.

The statement said deputies recov ered a fanny pack containing $1,100 in cash, five bags of methamphetamine (125 grams), cocaine and 22 bags of fentanyl that contained almost 1,300 pills. The statement also said a deputy saw Rojas toss a bag – while he was running – that contained a stolen .22-caliber handgun.

“Fentanyl is having a devastating

impact on our community because of dealers like this defendant,” said District Attorney Brian Mason in the statement. “I hope this conviction and sentence sends a message to all other drug dealers. We’re coming after you, and the penalty will be severe. Those who are distributing this poison deserve to spend time behind bars.”

Exit fee calculations in place for United Power’s split with Tri-State

STAFF REPORT

BRIGHTON – Brighton’s energy co-op, United Power, filed a pair of exit-fee calculators as part of its re sponse to a decision from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

A press statement said the calcula tors can help the commission and others to evaluate the impact of the co-op’s proposed balance sheet and modifications to the balance sheet

NORTON

FROM PAGE 6

specific expertise and were never intimidated by their competition.

Our Family Helping Your Family

Cecil was born in Hamilton, Missouri on June 11,1933 to Myrtle and Frank Bell. e family moved to Colorado in the spring of 1936 due to his father’s health. ey lived on a farm west of

1942 they moved to a small farm north of Hudson, Colorado. Cecil went to school at Keenesburg and graduated in 1951. He was drafted into the army in July,1953. He trained as a communication chief and was sent to Korea in December. He served there until he was discharged in June, 1955.

He married Shirley Gabel on January 21, 1956. Four children were born to this couple who were married for 66 years. eresa Tucker (Tim) of Smiths Falls, Canada, Mark of Fort Lupton, Kristine Gronquist (Bob) of Greely and Maureen Medved (Tim) of Littleton. Cecil had three grandchildren Jeremiah Tucker (Oui) of Longmont, Nicholas Medved (Krysta) of Parker, Abigail Medved of Littleton and one great granddaughter Lily Tucker of Longmont.

that the commission proposed and that Administrative Law Judge Re nee Terry approved.

The tool lets the 42 utility mem bers to assess exit fees from Tri-State Generation and Transmission. One set of fees, modeled on the commis sion’s adopted calculations, allows each member to enter their desired departure date and to select exit options

“We appreciate the hard work by

They never let themselves feel like they were out of the game.

How about you? Are there times where you feel overwhelmed, outnumbered and outmatched? Do you keep yourself in the right head space when it comes to staying in

FERC staff in proposing solutions for departure from our power suppli er that are in most respects aligned with what United Power has consis tently advocated as a fair outcome,” said Mark A. Gabriel, president and CEO of United Power, in the state ment. “By following United Power’s balance sheet approach, everyone can calculate their actual cost to depart. This is critical for future planning for our current power

the game? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can show up prepared to win, expecting to win, and with the passion and desire to win, it really will be a better than good life.

supplier and its utility members. Though the initial decision modi fications present implementation questions and other obstacles that we challenge in our exceptions brief, we believe the decision’s principles chart a course toward members’ fair transition to competitive supply and open access.”

United Power indicated its depar ture from Tri-State, effective May 1, 2024.

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

24-Hour Phone Lines 303-654-0112 • 303-857-2290

Brighton: 75 S. 13th Avenue Obituaries, Arrangements and Resources Online at taborfuneralhome.com

Cecil and Shirley bought their farm in 1965 and operated a dairy until 1983 then sold the dairy and raised registered Gelbviech bulls until Cecil retired in 2003. Cecil served on the District 8 school board for 12 years. He enjoyed going to Blackhawk, playing computer games, doing jigsaw puzzles and watching the Broncos, Rockies and Nugget games.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters baby Elizabeth, Doris and Dorothy and his brother Jim. He is survived by his wife Shirley, 3 brothers Don (Norma) of Brighton, Bob (Anita) of Hudson and Floyd (Chris) of Germany, 1 sister Charlotte Smith (Don) of Idaho and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life for Cecil will be held on Friday, November 18th, 2:00 PM at Tabor-Rice Funeral Home, 75 S 13th Avenue,

Special thanks to the people of TRU CommunityCare Hospice who took such good care of Cecil in his last days.

On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Billie Constance Landeck, loving wife and mother of two sons, passed away at the age of 78. Connie was born on February 11, 1944 in Chicago and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. Connie had a passion for life, the 1950s, and “Days of Our Lives” and it was a rare occasion when she wasn’t in an upbeat mood. She was

FLAHARTY

a devoted wife and a ercely loyal mother who always put her sons’ needs before her own. Connie was preceded in death by son Jay Landeck. She is survived by husband James, son Lewis, brother David, and cousin Lavonne. A funeral service will be held at Tabor Funeral Home in Brighton, Colorado at 11 a.m. with viewing beginning at 10 a.m.

Arnea Roland Flaharty

September 16, 1938 - November 2, 2022

Born September 16, 1938 in Denver, 84 years old died November 2, 2022 in Brighton CO.

Married to Avis L. Elliott November 8, 1997.

Arnea joined the Navy December 1960 to December 1964.

He was an antique dealer for 40 years. He enjoyed traveling from state to state doing antique shows and meeting new friends. He also did jewelry repair.

Survived by his wife sister in law, brother in law, 3 step children, 8 step grandchildren, 5

great step grandchildren and 2 great great step grandchildren, 3 nieces and nephew and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, one brother and one great nephew.

He was a member of Elmwood Baptist Church in Brighton. e service will be held there on Saturday November 19th at noon. He died from agent orange exposure when he was in Vietnam.

He will be missed by family and many friends.

LANDECK Billie Constance Landeck

February 11, 1944 - October 26, 2022

BELL

Charles Cecil Bell

June 11, 1933 - November 8, 2022

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Traditionally, playing with food has a bad reputation, but the rising popularity of charcuterie boards is changing that by encouraging diners to get creative with endless mix-and-match options.

Part art project, part meal prep, charcuterie is typically a combination of cheeses, meats and crackers or bread, arranged on a shared plate, Chad Halbrook, general manager for Postino Winecafe on Broadway in Denver, said.

However, the growing love for charcuterie has also led to an expanded take on the term, with all sorts of spins offering a variety of finger foods and pairings, he noted.

Halbrook said charcuterie gained a lot of fans during the pandemic when restaurants were reduced to take-out and more people were cooking at home because it’s an option that’s quick, versatile and requires few kitchen skills.

“People wanted to spice up what they were snacking on at home, make it look good and not necessarily spend a lot of time cooking,” Halbrook said.

He said that charcuterie’s popularity also spikes during the holiday season for those same reasons.

“When we dine with friends, it’s a communal experience and there’s something that brings people together in conversation over a charcuterie board as opposed to individual entrees,” he said.

The demand for charcuterie resulted in the option popping up on restaurant menus all over the area, including several at Postino’s, as well as spawning classes on building boards and whole businesses dedicated to selling premade charcuterie for those not inclined to make their own.

Postino Winecafe, which has four locations in Denver and Highlands Ranch, o ers a variety of board appetizers that can be ordered for take out. Chad Halbrook, assistant manager for the Postino on Broadway, said the communal nature of charcuterie makes it a common choice for groups and parties.

COURTESY OF POSTINO WINECAFE

Charcuterie is a popular choice for holiday events because it can be a quick and versatile option for any size group, whether as an appetizer or meal, Melissa Clement said.

COURTESY OF MELISSA CLEMENT

CHARCUTERIE

In Castle Rock, one such business is Farmgirl Foods, a market that features local products, including charcuterie, and offers DIY classes. Owner Melissa Clement said she thinks the charcuterie boards and classes are so popular because it’s a fun and social activity, whether you’re making a spread or just eating it.

“People will get so excited when they learn how to make a prosciutto rose or taste something, whether it’s a combination of flavors or one particular product, that opens up their palate,” she said.

When Clement is putting together her charcuterie, she typically starts with opposing textures and flavors, like a savory creamy brie and candied walnuts. She likes to include a hard cheese, a soft cheese and a crumbly cheese alongside some dried or smoked meats, like salami, prosciutto or chorizo, as well as crackers, bread and toppings.

Toppings can range from fruits, veggies, nuts or chocolate to spreads like honey, jam, hummus or mustard, she said.

“You want all the flavors to play with each other,” Clement said. “I always like to do something smoky or spicy together with something sweet.”

Halbrook also noted that swapping out meat for more cheese or adding more alternative options

makes charcuterie easy to alter for a variety of diets and allergies. Similarly, Halbrook suggested making seasonal changes, such as adding in herbs, cranberries and oranges for winter spreads.

“It doesn’t always have to be meat and cheese,” he said. “You can do all sorts of things to please every person attending your holiday event or party. You can do veggie board for your vegan friends,

which allows you to really splash more color on the board.”

Both Halbrook and Clement recommend splurging on the cheese, since it’s the star of the spread, but noted charcuterie doesn’t have to be pricey. Clement suggests cutting down on the accouterments or using what’s already on hand.

For proportions, Clement said she plans around two ounces of each cheese and meat per person if serving as an appetizer, or up to 6 ounces of each food per person if it’s the main meal.

Halbrook added there’s no harm in starting with smaller amounts.

“There’s no shame in refilling or having a backup item,” he said.

As for styling the charcuterie in an Instagram-worthy way, Clement said she will start by laying out the bigger items so that she can design around them. One of her favorite tips is to top the board by sprinkling dried fruit or edible flowers on top.

Ultimately though, she said there are no set rules, and that’s what makes it fun.

“A lot of times I won’t do a flat board, I’ll do a tiered tray,” Clement said of the possibilities. “The No. 1 thing to remember is you can’t do it wrong, you really can’t.”

Still, for those that don’t want to spend the time to prep and build charcuterie, there are several businesses in the Denver metro area that offer pre-made charcuterie, including both Farmgirl Foods and Postino, which also has locations in Highlands Ranch, LoHi and at 9th and Colorado.

A Christmas Carol

By Charles Dickens

Adapted by Richard Hellesen

Music by David de Berry

Directed by Anthony Powell

Melissa Clement, owner of Farmgirl Foods, a market in Castle Rock that o ers charcuterie boards and classes, said the finger food has been gaining fans thanks to the mix of creativity and socialization involved in eating or building one. At its basic level, charcuterie is a variety of cheeses, cured meats, bread or crackers and toppings.

COURTESY OF MELISSA CLEMENT

Trejo siblings stand out in first year cross country season

BY JUAN ARELLANO SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

For many years, Fort Lupton High School has had a small cross country team.

That has not been different this year, but the Bluedevils still had a good season, as head cross country coach Karch Hickman said.

“We had a lot of individual successes. Each runner on the team improved their times by over a minute and a half throughout the course of the season,” he said.

With the five runners on the team running at different levels, each one had different goals they wanted to focus on and improve on, which they did.

“As dual sport athletes, Cameron Reeves and Jairo Compean had strong races for the

team. Aiden Montoya had a great senior season, showing off how his military training has impacted his running,” said Hickman.

The Trejo siblings, Kenya and Jonathan, barely started running earlier in the year but showed that athletic ability sure runs in the family.

“Kenya Trejo had the biggest improvement of over eight minutes. Jonathan Trejo had his best races this season when it mattered most, taking second in our league meet and placing 12th at our regional meet,” Hickman said.

No small tasks for the Trejo siblings. Jonathan was the only one to qualify for the 2A Colorado State Championships that were held in Colorado Springs Oct. 29. In the state meet, the sophomore finished 33rd overall with a time of 17:58.

For any coach, seeing their studentathletes improve with big strides from the beginning of the season to the end is something to be happy about.

“It’s been a lot of fun to watch Jonathan and Kenya run with one another. Jonathan enjoys running a lot more than Kenya does. But it’s wonderful seeing them get excited for one another. They are both really supportive siblings,” said Hickman.

With the improvement and success both siblings had in cross country, the running will not stop this Fall. Jonathan and Kenya will look to lace up their running shoes in the spring for track season.

“Kenya has said she is thinking about wrestling and will do track. Jonathan is going to focus on running year-round in cross country and track,” Hickman said.

Snowball softball

The Fort Lupton Recreation Department needs lower E and upper D men’s and coed softball teams for the annual Snowball Softball tournament. It starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and is part of the city’s Winterfest program.

Team fee is $250 by Sunday, Nov. 20. Games will be at the Pearson Park Complex, U.S. Highway 85 and state Highway 52. Call 303-857-4200.

All-state softball

The Colorado High School Activities Association, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps announced their votes for all-state softball teams.

In class 4A, Frederick’s Haley Howell and Makenzie Sais were first-team choices.Hailey Simmons was an honorable-mention pick.

In class 3A, Fort Lupton’s Sammy Gonzales, Rozzie Mendoza and Genevieve Hunt were honorablemention choices.

Youth basketball

The time has come to fill out the city of Fort Lupton’s youth (third- through sixth-graders) basketball teams for the coming season.

Practice begins the week of Jan. 9, and the season begins Jan. 21.

The fee is $60 if paid by Dec. 3 and $75 if paid by

Dec. 10. Call 303-857-4200.

Softball

Fort Lupton’s Albert Vasquez was the Frontier League’s coach of the year this season. The Bluedevils won a regional title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state 3A softball tournament.

Areliana Bravo,. Genevieve Hunt, Julissa Galicia, Reagan Mewbourn, Rozzie Mendoza and Samantha Gonzales were FLHS’ all-conference representatives. All played in the first Frontier League all-star game, and Galicia was named the game’s most valuable player.

Thu 11/17

Sun 11/20

Wed 11/23

Lost World of Pompeii (11/23) @ 5pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Flobots

@ 7pm

The Oriental Theater, 4335 W 44th Ave, Denver

Stories come to life in Augmented Reality

@ 5pm

Anythink Huron Street, 9417 Huron Street, Thornton. swhitelonis@any thinklibraries.org, 303-452-7534

Man vs. Food (11/17)

@ 5:30pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Tony Crank

@ 6pm

Bootstrap Brewing, 142 Pratt St, Long‐mont

Keith Hicks

@ 6pm

Mother Tucker Brewing, Thornton

Sat 11/19

Clay Creations @ 12am

Nov 19th - Nov 18th

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Teens: Colorado Eagles Game

@ 12:30am

Fort Lupton Community / Recreation Cen‐ter, 203 S. Harrison Avenue, Fort Lupton. 303-857-4200

Junior Jam - Thankful

@ 1am Nov 19th - Nov 18th

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Mysteries of the night sky

@ 6:45pm

Standley Lake Regional Park & Wildlife Refuge, 11610 West 100th Avenue, Westminster. standley lake@cityofwestminster.us, 303425-1097

Fri 11/18

Teen Try 'N Escape - Autumn Nostalgia

@ 1am

Nov 18th - Nov 17th

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Many Mountains Live at The Post LoHi

@ 3pm

The Post Chicken & Beer - LoHi, 1575 Boulder St, Denver

Breakfast Burrito Bingo 11/18

@ 4pm

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Tony Crank

@ 6pm

Left Hand Brewing Company, 1265 Boston Ave, Longmont

Phat Daddy

@ 8pm

Brewski's Pub and Grill, 2100 E 104th Ave, Thornton

38th

Trot

Annual Brighton Turkey

@ 8:30am

Brighton Recreation Center, 555 North 11th Avenue, Brighton. jram sey@brightonco.gov, 303-6552221

Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders

@ 2:05pm / $90-$445

Empower Field At Mile High, 1701 Bryant St., Denver Shook Twins

@ 7pm

Dharma Farm, Longmont

Mon 11/21

Big Head Todd and The Monsters: 18th Annual Last Waltz Revisited @ 7pm

Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St, Denver

A-Mac & The Height

@ 7pm

The Oriental Theater, 4335 W 44th Ave, Denver

Operation Freebird

@ 10am

Mountain States Toyota, 201 West 70th Avenue, Denver. community connections@adcogov.org, 303654-1850

Paper Quilling With Craftsman & Apprentice

@ 4:30pm

Anythink Huron Street, 9417 Huron Street, Thornton. swhitelonis@any thinklibraries.org, 303-452-7534

Gallery on the Go @ 5pm

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Tue 11/22

Horse Trek @ 4pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 East Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Gallery on the Go @ 5pm

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks

@ 8pm / $54-$999

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

Thu 11/24

Broom�eld Turkey Day 5K/10K

@ 8:30am / $13-$40

13200 Sheridan Blvd, Broom�eld County Commons, Broom�eld

Denver Nuggets vs. Detroit Pistons

@ 7pm / $10-$2540

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

The Pilgrimage Run 2022

@ 9am / $20-$30

400 Powers St, Erie

Avista Adventist Louisville Turkey Trot 5K

@ 9am / $20

951 Front St, 951 Front Street, Louisville. david@louisvilleturkeytrot.org, 602-3124499

BRIEFS

First United Methodist Church Christmas

Tea

Enjoy a nice cup of tea, great fellowship, delicious food, and entertainment with Neven Castaneda- if you love Elvis.

First United Methodist Church 306 Park Avenue

December 4th at 2:00 p.m.

For more information contact Sharon Kay at 303-907-9592.

Turkey Trot

Brighton’s 38th annual Turkey Trot takes off at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the pavilions outside the Brighton Recreation Center, 555 N. 11th Ave. The 5k run/walk is a Bolder Boulder qulaifier. First-, second- and third-place winners in each age division will receive prizes.

Early bird entry fees are $30 for adults and $20 for youth and seniors. Race day entry fees are $35 for adults and $25 for youth and seniors. Entry fees will include a T-shirt, breakfast, awards, prizes and drawings

Packet and bib pick-up will be Nov. 16 and 17 at the recreation center. Those who have not registered by Nov. 14 will have to wait and pick up their bib on the day of the race.

To register, call 303-655-2200 or visit brightonco.gov/turkeytrot.

Closures

City Hall will be closed Friday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day.

City offices are closed Thursday, and Friday, Nov. 24-25, for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Cookies and cocoa and Santa

Cookies and cocoa with Santa comes to the Fort Lupton Public & School Library, 425 S. Denver Ave., at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. Call 303857-7180.

Home tour

The Fort Lupton Historic Preservation Board presents its first historic home tour at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at City Hall, 130 S. McKinley Ave.

The tour takes in homes in the first and second Reynolds additions, most of which were built in the first half of the 20th century.

R.S.V.P. by calling 720.466.6111.

Splash for cash

The Fort Lupton rec center, 203 S. Harrison Ave., is hosting a splash for cash from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9. It’s designed for fifth- to

eighth-graders.

Check out the front desk or call 303-857-4200 for more information.

Parade of Lights

Downtown Fort Lupton and the Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce will host the annual parade of lights at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9.

The holiday celebration continues in the parking lot of the Bank of Colorado Operations Center, 605 Fourth St., for a tree lighting and a chance to visit with and get a picture with Santa.

To enter the parade, visit https:// business.fortluptonchamber.org/ events/Details/parade-of-lights701388?sourceTypeId=Website&fbcli d=IwAR0NPMw90rNYdD2uj200T1B UDLKwvzroUSnkc1mzCECYyK8PfGyqmkuNNUg

Copper Kettle clock giveaway

The Copper Kettle, 737 Denver Ave., is having its annual clock giveaway until Thursday, Dec. 22. Customers are entered into the drawing when ordering a meal. The clock is displayed on the wall in the restaurant.

Call 303-857-3981.

ONGOING

United Methodist Church Turkey Dinner November 5, 2022

Serving a traditional Turkey dinner with all the trimmings: Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, sauerkraut, cranberries, vegetables, rolls, and pumpkin dessert.

Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for children 3-12

Dine in and take out available 5-7 pm

306 Park Avenue, Fort Lupton, CO

For more information call: Gwen303-857-2257, Claire- 303-918-6735, Iva303-857-2244 and Sharon- 303-907-9592

United Methodist Bazaar Bake Sale 306 Park Avenue Fort Lupton, Colorado November 4th…10-4 pm November 5th…10-7 pm

Come and do your Christmas shopping early… Hand-crafted items and delicious homemade baked goods and candies.

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.

Copper Kettle Family Christmas

Join us in helping the less fortunate this Christmas. We will offer free meals to the homeless, less fortunate, elderly, and the lonely on December 24th from 11 am to 3 pm. We will serve ham, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy and cranberry sauce, a roll with butter, and a slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream. They will also get coffee, tea, or water with their meal.

We are asking businesses and individuals in our community to help make this day successful. We could use donations on any of these items already listed, paper goods (paper plates, napkins, etc..), and monetary donations.

We could also use some volunteers to help on this day. If you are interested in donating or volunteering, please stop by and see us at the 737 Denver Ave fort Lupton restaurant or call us at 303-857-3981.

We genuinely appreciate all this community does and how you all support our small mom and pops restaurant.

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 fun talk.

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 8:30 to 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call 303-857-4200.

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 the 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. Learn more at: https://www.fortluptonco.gov/950/Senior-Pen-PalProgram.

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.

“My mom got hurt on the job and can’t work. She doesn’t get enough in disability to afford an apartment. After scraping by for a couple of months, we moved in with friends. Now we are sleeping on my grandma’s couch.”

HOUSING SOLVES HOMELESSNESS

Let’s build more housing and make it affordable to rent or own.

“Homelessness found me.”

Voters approve free school meals program

BY ERICA BREUNLIN THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado public school students will have access to free school meals after voters approved Proposition FF on Nov. 8, slashing tax breaks for households that earn more than $300,000 in federal adjusted gross income starting in tax year 2023 to help pay for a new school meals program.

The measure passed with more than 55% of voters approving it.

The success of the measure means that all kids in public schools, no matter their family’s income, will be able to eat free school breakfasts and lunches, reflecting the critical role schools play in helping students facing food insecurity. The state’s new school meals program — the Healthy School Meals for All program — will take the place of a federal initiative that provided free meals to all kids through the first two years of the pandemic.

“This is a win for our fight against childhood hunger,” said Ashley Wheeland, director of public policy for Hunger Free Colorado, a nonprofit that helps people struggling with hunger. “Many more children that need food will now have access to it with their learning, and this is something that we’ve needed for a long time.”

The demand for food assistance swelled during the pandemic, with 68,000 more Colorado kids participating in school lunch programs supported by federal funds, said Wheeland, whose organization has supported the ballot measure since it was first referred by Democrats in the Colorado legislature this year through the passage of House Bill 1414. This school year, with the federal initiative no longer in place, school meals are reaching fewer students, she said.

Proposition FF will limit the amount that households earning

more than $300,000 can claim in state income tax deductions to cover many of the costs of the new school meals program. It will also require school meal providers to take advantage of federal reimbursements to help ease program costs for the state.

The restriction will impact a taxpayer’s standard deduction or itemized deductions, which include charitable contributions, state and local taxes and mortgage interest.

Taxpayers who make more than $300,000 will be able to deduct no more than $12,000 for single filers and no more than $16,000 for joint filers. Currently, taxpayers who earn more than $400,000 can claim a maximum of $60,000 in state income tax deductions for a joint filer and a maximum of $30,000 for a single filer, caps that were passed under House Bill 1311. Taxpayers whose income is between $300,000 and $400,000 are not limited in how much they can deduct from their state taxable income.

Proposition FF will increase income tax revenue in the state by an estimated $100.7 million during the first full year of the tax change,

fiscal year 2023-24, which begins on July 1, 2023.

School meal providers will be reimbursed for providing meals to all kids, and any school meal provider can benefit, whether they serve one or more school districts or charter schools. Currently, 183 school meal providers serve kids throughout the state and cover the costs of providing free and reduced-price lunches with state and federal funds and by charging families whose income exceeds federal poverty levels.

Students might qualify for free or reduced-price meals, depending on their household income, but Colorado students who are eligible for reduced-price meals get free meals instead because the state funds their portion of the meal cost.

Denver resident Noah Hayden, 25, voted in favor of Proposition FF so that all students have enough to eat while trying to learn.

Hayden, an unaffiliated voter, teaches social studies at a charter school in Broomfield, and while most of his students come from families who can afford meals, he knows not all kids have the same resources.

“I just think it’s better that every kid is always ensured a lunch throughout the day,” Hayden said after voting at ReelWorks Denver Tuesday evening.

Joey Chester, 30, an unaffiliated voter from Westminster, came to the polls with at least one thing in mind: school lunches.

Chester, who grew up in Aurora, voted “yes” on Proposition FF. He said he sees hope in the proposition.

“When I grew up, my mom gave us 40 bucks a month for school lunches, and I got lazy and would just burn it out and then have to make my own lunch finally for the rest of the year. I knew kids that didn’t always get meals, and I know things have gotten worse,” Chester said.

He added: “I hope it’s going to pass and the people that it’s going to tax are not going to be whiny about it.”

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.

Students could choose from pears, apples, carrots and tomatoes for their hot lunches.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Plan will reduce tax breaks for wealthy

BALLOT

FROM

And nearly two-thirds of voters opposed

CARAVEO

Caraveo, a state representative, was leading Kirkmeyer, a state senator, by less than 1 percentage point and fewer than 500 votes when Kirkmeyer conceded Wednesday night at about 6 p.m.”While this is not the outcome we hoped for, I am proud of our team and our campaign,” Kirkmeyer posted on Twitter.

Caraveo’s win also gives Democrats a better chance at holding onto their slim majority in Congress.

“In many ways, the story of my family is the story of this district — my parents immigrated here to afford us a better life,” Caraveo said in a written statement Wednesday. “And because of their hard work, I was able to go to college, become a doctor and live my version of the American Dream. But for too many people in Colorado, that dream has slipped out of reach. Our district deserves a leader who will fight to restore access to the American Dream for working families — a leader who will not side with wealthy donors and special interests.”

She added: “It’s the honor of my lifetime to receive this vote of confidence to serve working families from Greeley to Commerce City in Washington, D.C. I look forward

Proposition 124, which would have let retail liquor chains grow from a limit of three stores statewide now to a maximum of eight, and then to 13 in 2027, 20 in 2032 and an unlimited number in 2037. Under existing law, liquor chains will

to doing the hard work to fight for working families across every part of the 8th Congressional District.”

Coloradoreceived an eighth congressional districtafter the 2020 U.S. census due to the state’s population growth. The tossup district, which stretches from Denver’s northeast suburbs into Greeley, was drawn as part of last year’s once-in-a-decade redistricting process.

It had a slight Democratic advantage, according to a nonpartisan legislative staff analysis of election results in the district from 2016 to 2020. But most national prognosticators considered the district fully up for grabs, if not slightly leaning toward Republicans.

Kirkmeyer benefited from national GOP help, while Caraveo’s campaign —which was always trailing in polling— was mostly left to fend for itself.

Kirkmeyer got help from the National Republican Congressional Committee to pay for more than $1.7 million in TV advertising starting in September. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee didn’t begin assisting Caraveo with TV advertising until mid-October.

Republican groups spent $10.2 million to support Kirkmeyer, compared with only $6.4 million for Democratic groups.

But Caraveo’s campaign raised more money than Kirkmeyer’s,

be allowed a four-store maximum in 2027 but not more. The Colorado Licensed Beverage Association, representing independent liquor stores,had saidProp 124 would let big chains drive its members out of business.

outspending her rival $2.6 million to $1.2 million through Oct. 19, according to federal campaign finance records analyzed by The Colorado Sun.

Caraveo and her campaign aimed to attract the support of workingclass families like the one she grew up in. She said she originally ran for the state House after hearing parents’ concerns about the high costs of health care and their concerns about getting a good education for their children. Her support of abortion rights also played a significant role in her congressional bid.

“My message is that I come from (the) community,” she told reporters on Tuesday afternoon, before voting ended. “For me, it was about building on all of those experiences that I had taking care of them in my clinic and that I grew up with, seeing my parents have to have conversations around the kitchen room table about what we could afford to do.”

Caraveo said her campaign knocked on 295,000 doors, made 225,000 phone calls and sent over 340,000 text messages to voters. Getting out Latino voters in the district was especially important to Caraveo.

“As somebody who speaks Spanish, I’ve really been concentrating my efforts in the Spanish-speaking areas of the community,” Caraveo

This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.

said on Tuesday. “In Commerce City, and then Greeley in particular.”

Kirkmeyer’s loss is another disappointment for Republicans,who suffered major defeats on Election Day. The Colorado GOP felt Kirkmeyer, who focused her campaign on inflation and crime, was likely to be a bright spot on an otherwise disappointing election night.’

Instead, Kirkmeyer’s loss adds to the nightmare that has been 2022 for the state’s Republicans. Kirkmeyer’s campaign said it conceded despite the narrow margin in the race because it felt it no longer had a path to victory.

Kirkmeyer, who lives in Brighton, still has two years left in her current four-year state Senate term.

Caraveo thanked the community in her victory statement.

“Together, we will fight to lower costs, make prescription drugs more affordable, make childcare and family leave more accessible, and fight for every person in America to, once again, have reproductive rights restored to them,” she wrote.

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.

Republicans have to wait for 2026 for shot at power

BY JESSE PAUL, DELANEY NELSON AND SANDRA FISH THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado Republicans were shellacked Tuesday night, which means, starting next year, the GOP will no longer have any statewide elected officials. And the party will have to wait until 2026 before they get a chance to change that.

That’s because there are no statewide offices up for reelection in 2024.

Additionally, the GOP was on track Wednesday morning to fall even further into the minority in the Colorado Senate — so far so that they won’t realistically have a shot at taking back the chamber in 2024. A Republican majority in the Colorado House is also largely seen as out of reach for the foreseeable future.

Democrats have never held this level of sustained power at the state or congressional levels in Colorado.

“It’s just super depressing if you’re a Republican,” said George Brauchler, a conservative talk radio host who ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 2018. He called his party’s 2022 losses “epic.”

Brauchler spoke to The Sun on Tuesday night at the Colorado GOP’s watch party at the DoubleTree Hotel in Greenwood Village, which was perhaps the saddest place in the state. It was not even 10 p.m. when the ballroom had almost fully

cleared out, following concession speeches from U.S. Senate candidate Joe O’Dea, secretary of state candidate Pam Anderson, treasurer candidate Lang Sias and John Kellner, who ran for attorney general.

A band played Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” to an audience of mostly reporters busy digesting the GOP’s stunning defeats.

“The outcome is a tough pill to swallow,” O’Dea said in his concession speech to a hushed crowd at about 8:30 p.m., when early returns showed him trailing Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet by 18 percentage points. “But that’s life in the big city.”

O’Dea, a first-time candidate and Denver construction company owner, ran as a moderate in the hopes of winning over voters in a state moving increasingly toward Democrats. It didn’t work — in a big way. (O’Dea was trailing Bennet by 12 percentage points on Wednesday morning.)

Heidi Ganahl, a University of Colorado regent who was the only statewide elected Republican, lost her bid Tuesday to unseat Democratic Gov. Jared Polis. The contest was called by Fox News, playing in the DoubleTree ballroom, minutes after the polls closed. Ganahl was trailing Polis by 18 percentage points on Wednesday morning.

Former state Sen. Greg Brophy,

an Eastern Plains Republican, was predicting a good night for Republicans heading into Election Day. On Wednesday morning he was in disbelief.

“I’m blown away,” he said. “In shock.”

Kristi Burton Brown, chairwoman of the Colorado GOP, said Tuesday’s results show where Colorado “really is” politically “and whether or not Colorado has become a state more like Washington or California.”

Republicans, she said, will now have to focus district by district on legislative races and on local elections — school board, mayoral and city council contests, for example — until they get another shot at statewide office. U.S. House races, which are decided every two years, will also be a major focus for the party.

“If it’s district by district,” she said, “we’ll go fight district by district.”

Burton Brown said the GOP’s next big focus will be in Aurora, where they hope to keep a Republican in the mayor’s office in Mike Coffman and a GOP majority on the City Council. (Aurora’s municipal races are technically nonpartisan.)

And then there’s the 2024 presidential race. But no Republican presidential candidate has won in Colorado since George W. Bush in 2004.

In the Colorado Senate, where Republicans hoped to win a majority and be able to stop Democratic Gov. Jared Polis’ agenda, the GOP needed to win six of seven competitive races this year to secure the gavel. On Wednesday morning they were losing in all seven races.

While Republicans were hoping to ultimately win in a few of the seven districts once the vote count is complete, the party was bracing for the reality that they may fail in all of the races.

If Democrats ultimately prevail in the seven competitive contests, the party’s majority will expand to 23-12 from 21-14. There are only two Democratic seats the party is at a real risk of losing in 2024, which means their future majority doesn’t appear in doubt until at least 2027.

Republicans may have lost seats in the House his year, as well, where they were already outnumbered by Democrats 41-24.

“We as a party have self-imploded in Colorado,” Ben Engen, a Republican political consultant and data analyst, said Nov. 9.

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.

Colorado is second state to legalize ‘magic mushrooms’

BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN

Ten years after legalizing the use and sale of marijuana, Colorado became only the second state in the U.S. to legalize the use of psilocybin mushrooms.

The ballot measure, Proposition 122, squeaked across the finish line as ballots were tallied the day after Election Day, receiving 51% of the vote.

Proponents called it a “truly historic moment.”

“Colorado voters saw the benefit of regulated access to natural medicines, including psilocybin, so people with PTSD, terminal illness, depression, anxiety and other mental health issues can heal,” co-proponents, Kevin Matthews and Veronica Lightening Horse Perez said in emailed statement Wednesday evening.

Natural Medicine Colorado, which got Proposition 122 on the ballot, spent nearly $4.5 million to promote the measure. In contrast, the primary opposition, Protect Colorado’s Kids, raised about $51,000.

The measure will allow people 21 and older to grow and share psychedelic mushrooms, as well as create state-regulated centers where people could make appointments to consume psilocybin, the hallucinationinducing compound derived from psychedelic mushrooms. It calls for licensed “healing centers” to give clients mushrooms in a supervised setting, but — unlike marijuana — does not include an option for retail sales.

Once again, Colorado passed a drug measure that’s illegal under federal law. Psychedelic mushrooms became illegal in the U.S. in 1970 under the Controlled Substances Act. Even with Proposition 122’s passage, psilocybin remains federally classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, like heroin, for which there is no current medical use.

Colorado became the first to legalize marijuana a decade ago, and is second only to Oregon in legalizing psilocybin.

Luke Niforatos, chairman of Protect Colorado’s Kids, said he was concerned as a parent and for Colorado’s public health.

“We now need to have a very frank and public conversation about who is in charge of medicine,” he said. “This is now the second time our state has rejected the FDA process.”

Niforatos, who is also executive vice president of the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions, said Colorado has allowed “billionaires, startups and entrepreneurs” to take control of medicine in this state instead of “scientists, medical doctors and the FDA.”

Niforatos said that if opponents of the measure had been able to raise enough money to educate the public about the dangers of allowing the use of drugs with no regulated dosage amounts or prescriptions, Proposition 122 would have failed.

“We can’t compete with $4 million from out of state,” he said, adding that proponents of the measure and the psilocybin industry will benefit from its passage while his side had no way to entice big-money donors.

He’s also concerned that the opening of psychedelic healing centers and advertising of the drugs in cities across Colorado will normalize drug

use among young people, leading to more teens using psilocybin. There is no opt-out provision in Prop 122 for cities and counties that do not want psychedelic healing centers, although cities and counties could enact rules about where the centers could open and their hours of operation.

Proposition 122 also will allow facilities to expand to three plantbased psychedelics in 2026. Those are ibogaine, from the root bark of an iboga tree; mescaline, which is from cacti; and dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, a natural compound found in plants and animals. Mental health and substance abuse treatment clinics also could seek licenses to offer psychedelic treatment.

Denver voted to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms three years ago.

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.

How sober curiosity can turn into a lifestyle change

Movement has grown after influential book

BY DANA KNOWLES ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

Sydney Golden battled various unknown health issues for 20 years; everything from allergies, headaches, bloating, joint pain, fatigue, depression and anxiety. Visits to medical specialists didn’t give her any concrete answers and she was repeatedly told nothing was wrong with her.

“I would walk around as a healthylooking person, but I felt horrible,” Golden said.

Even though Golden was never a heavy drinker, she decided to make a lifestyle change and stop consuming alcohol four years ago, and the results were surprising. Golden emphasizes that even when she would have only one or two drinks, her body always felt it the next day, but not anymore.

“When I don’t drink, there’s no brain fog, there’s no lethargy, there’s no fatigue. There’s a totally different feeling,” she added, saying that her mood immediately improved. “I have motivation, I have no aches, I have no pains in my body. I have no more bloating, no more stomach issues. It’s just better for me.”

Caitlin Opland is a licensed clinical social worker who works for Thriveworks, a mental health com-

pany. Opland says over the last few months, she has been working with more and more clients who are on a similar journey of wanting to cut out alcohol, not because of a problem, but because they want explore a different way of living.

“I’ve had many clients come to me and say, ‘I don’t think it’s a problem, but …,’” she explained, adding that she typically asks clients what’s influencing their curiosity about sobriety and the possibility of no longer drinking. “Many people hesitate because they don’t want to have to label themselves as an alcoholic, but they still want to make a lifestyle change.”

The “Sober Curious” movement has grown in recent years after author Ruby Warrington published the book called “Sober Curious” in late 2018. A CivicScience survey published last month, shows a greater percentage of people report they are curious about living a sober lifestyle, from 12% in 2020 to 19% this year.

Opland feels that educating her clients about what’s considered too much alcohol according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, helps people make more informed decisions. “The guide for healthy drinking limitsfor women is eight drinks a week and for men it is 15,” she added, saying that most people are surprised when she tells them. “That educational piece actually tips them over from being

curious to actually taking that first step.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, also says that even minimal amounts of alcohol of any kind increase a person’s risk for several types of cancer. “The benefits [of being alcohol-free] are it’s better for your kidneys, your liver, your skin. You’ll feel better, but you’ll also sleep better and eat better,” said Opland.

Opland added that one of the biggest barriers to people exploring an alcohol-free lifestyle is peer pressure from society itself.

“The media influences us, families influence us, holidays coming up influence us, work influences us,” Opland said.

Both Golden and Opland say the best advice they can give anyone who might be sober-curious is to start by setting boundaries.

“You can have a mocktail or a club soda,” said Golden. “It looks like a drink, in case you’re not ready to tell people you don’t want to drink anymore.”

“Is it a last family gathering? Is it Grandpa’s last visit? Do you actually want to go? Is it a champagne toast at a wedding where you can just put Sprite in the glass?” Opland added, explaining that she encourages her clients to ask themselves these types of questions. “Are there alterations to drinks so you can still participate? Sometimes the temptation is too big, and that’s okay.”

This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.

Draft beer

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOPS N DROPS

Mural will honor Chinese history, heritage in downtown Denver

BY KYLE COOKE AND JULIO SANDOVAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

When she was a child, Nalye Lor’s parents pleaded with her not to draw on the walls. “But here I am about to paint on a wall, so they’re super excited to see that,” said the Hmong American artist who was born and raised in Colorado.

On Oct. 31, Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU) announced it had selected Lor to paint a mural on the side of Denver Fire Station 4, located at 1890 Lawrence St. in downtown Denver. The mural will honor and celebrate the Chinese immigrant community in Colorado.

CAPU made the announcement on Oct. 31 for a reason — it marked 142 years since the anti-Chinese race riot of 1880 in which a white mob killed a Chinese man, Look Young, and ruined the city’s Chinatown.

For a long time, the only acknowledgement of the race riot in Denver was a plaque located on the outside of a building at the intersection of 20th and Blake. But the plaque was inaccurate and offensive — it called the attack a “Chinese Riot,” didn’t name the victims and praised the heroism of white people — and historians and community members criticized it for years. It was finally removed earlier this year.

After the plaque was removed, CAPU announced its intention to

add new historical markers, as well as murals, throughout LoDo that will more accurately describe the history and contributions of Chinese immigrants to Denver.

“While present-day Denver may not have an official Chinatown,” CAPU said in a statement, “it’s home to generations of Chinese families and entrepreneurs that contributed to tremendous growth and diversity.”

Lor’s mural will be an homage to the past and a celebration of the future. The vibrant artwork will depict an “endless noodle” that traces the history of Chinese immigrants in America. It starts with railroad workers and ends in the modern day.

“As an Asian American, as a Hmong American, there’s a lot of history that goes unwritten or goes invisible and it just gets walked over, passed by, and it’s really important to bring that to light to show what we have built upon — to show why there are people here today and where they came from,” Lor said.

The noodle is a long-life noodle, or longevity noodle, that many people from China eat with the hopes of having a long life, Lor explained.

The mural also has silhouettes representative of people from the past — railroad workers and laundry workers — as well as people from the present.

“They are showing life before,

life now, and what life can be in the future as we move into 2023,” Lor said.

Lor will start on the mural this month, pending permit approval from the city and hopes to finish it in less than a month. She also hopes that the public passing by the mural will take time to reflect on what it means.

“I hope they really take a minute to think about history and can see what they can learn from it but also what they can change to really

make a difference today based on what’s happened in the past, and learn about different cultures and learn about different stories that are part of us and part of Denver as it is today,” Lor said.

This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.

Nalye Lor was selected to paint the mural, which will be located at 1890 Lawrence St. in downtown Denver. COURTESY PHOTO

How to cover the state with super-fast internet

BY TAMARA CHUNG THE COLORADO SUN

An ambitious new plan by the state of Colorado seeks to end the state’s digital divide once and for all — and to do so using fiber, the gold standard for the fastest internet connections.

Just ask Brandy Reitter, who became the executive director of the Colorado Broadband Office in February. She took the gig because she wanted to do impactful work “that was well funded” so she could actually fix the problem. Now she’s leading the state’s plan to use $1 billion in federal money to improve internet service, not just to help those with no internet access, but those with subpar service. Unless Colorado households have a fiber connection, they are underserved or not served.

The Federal Communication Commission defines adequate speeds as 25 megabits per second down and 3 mbps up? That’s not good enough, Reitter says.

“So 25/3 is what we’re classifying as not served. And anything that’s under 100/20 is underserved,” Reitter said. “Do people feel like 25/3 is being served? It depends on your situation but I’ve heard from a lot of people that that’s not the case.”

She’s in the slow boat herself, though it sped up after a publicprivate effort to run fiber connecting Western Slope communities brought faster service closer to her home in

Eagle. But not completely. She’s now on fixed wireless technology, which means an antenna on a facility miles away beams internet wirelessly to the antenna at her house. Distance, bad weather and other potential interference degrades speed. If she had a fiber-optic cable connecting her house to the internet source, data speeds would reach 1 gigabit per second in either direction, or 1,000 megabits.

“I probably now get maybe 50 (megabits) down and 18 up, which is still what we would classify as underserved,” said Reitter, previously the town manager of Eagle. “But before that, I was getting 12 down and like 1

up.”

Her office inside the Governor’s Office of Information Technology recently released the Colorado Broadband Roadmap report, which aims to get 99% of the state covered by 2027. This includes building training programs, providing tools for distance learning, and adding gigabit broadband to state parks, prisons and libraries.

The roadmap was done because of what appears to be the largest infusion of federal dollars for broadband ever. At minimum, there’s about $500 million available to Colorado. If targets are met, it could reach

$900 million over five years. Include other federal grants, like the Federal Communication Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect program, and the state’s share is more than $1 billion.

“There’s trends in every small town and one of those trends has always been connectivity,” Reitter said. “It has been crippling at times from, from a quality of life perspective and public safety and just from pure economics and economic prosperity. When we don’t have good connectivity, it’s hard to attract people to towns. It’s just hard to function. I’ve been in situations where the internet will go down for a whole day in the middle of the summer. And I know people are losing money.”

Reitter sat down with The Colorado Sun to explain what’s next and talk about the state’s roadmap.

Q: The state wants 99% broadband coverage by 2027. Urban areas are already at or near that rate. Rural coverage was estimated to be at 93% last year. Where are we exactly?

A: Those numbers are from the old way the state collected data.

That included asking internet service providers about their coverage. But not all would volunteer to share for competitive reasons resulting in incomplete data. The state also used federal broadband maps, which relied on census data. But the flawed method counted an entire census

Colorado has a plan to extend high-speed internet availability to nearly every corner of the state. SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

in federal funds is key

Real Estate & Rental

Manufactured/Mobile Homes

3 bed 2 bath Copper Key MHP, Ft. Lupton. Down payment $8500. Finance at $634 per month. Lot rent $700 includes water/sewer/trash Debbie (303) 637-7000 or (303) 6377001

Market Place

Merchandise

Health & Beauty

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS!

50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

DENTAL INSURANCE - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258.

Medical

Attention oxygen therapy users!

Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Miscellaneous

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-6101936

HughesNet– Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888489-3936

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author`s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

Protect your home from pests safely and affordably. Pest, rodent, termite and mosquito control. Call for a quote or inspection today 844394-9278

The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-877-539-0299

Miscellaneous

Attention Homeowners! If you have water damage and need cleanup services, call us! We’ll get in & work with your insurance agency to get your home repaired and your life back to normal ASAP! 855-7677031

Put on your TV Ears & hear TV w/ unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original - originally $129.95 - now w/this special offer only $59.95 w/code MCB59! 1-888-805-0840

DISH TV $64.99 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR included, Free Voice remote. Some Restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-479-1516.

Switch and save up to $250/yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time get $50 off any new account. Use code GIFT50. 1-855-903-3048

Miscellaneous

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800245-0398

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-4171306

Personal & Business Loans. Up to $500,000 unsecured. Personal, Emergency, Auto, Business Startup, Debt Consolidation, Home Improvement, etc. Visit: EasyLoanNetwork.com

Call to

block as being served even if only one household had service.

And that makes the numbers hard to nail down, Reitter said. “We’ve been using census block data and selfreported data for a number of years and it’s hard to capture everybody on a map.”

The current belief is that 166,000 Colorado households lack internet access of speeds of up to 100 down and 20 up. About 14% of the state’s urban and rural areas are considered unserved or underserved.

The office is following the FCC’s lead by using a vendor that develops deeper location-level data by ana lyzing “hundreds of data sources,” according to the FCC. That includes “address records, tax assessment records, imagery and building foot prints, census data, land use records, parcel boundaries, and geo-spatial road and street data.”

“What’s the number? I can tell you the number today because it’s in the report,” she said. “But six to nine months from now, it’ll be different because we’ll have better insight into location level mapping.”

The FCC, by the way, has been working to update how it tracks broadband coverage and plans to release the first draft of its new map in November.

(funding by IIJA)

• $5 million to $100 million — En abling Middle Mile Broadband Infra structure Program, (funded by IIJA)

• $171 million — Capital Projects Fund (funded by American Rescue Plan Act)

• $75 million — State and Local Fis cal Recovery (via ARPA)

It’s those last rural households that are the most expensive to connect.

The Broadband Office calls them “negative business” cases, because no for-profit company was ever tempted to cut through rocky, mountainous terrain or to lay miles of cables just to add a new customer.

The state estimated that 20% of the most expensive areas to build will use up 67% of the capital investment — up to an estimated average cost of $134,000 for one location. And the way to attract companies to build out fiber is to provide more financial incentive.

“When we say targeting, it’s more about adjusting our subsidies and our grant programs to support dif ferent areas with different business cases so investment does happen,” she said. “In the negative business case, the subsidies will be a little bit higher and the (local) grant matches might be lower.”

to the state.

Federal funding would help the Department of Local Affairs invest in “middle mile” infrastructure. With out it, local internet providers cannot connect to the internet backbones running nationwide. Additional access creates redundancy if the internet is cut off on one end.

There are also plans to equip an chor institutions, such as libraries, state parks and state prisons, with gigabit internet service. The idea is that better internet will help those communities connect to services like telemedicine, or work and education al opportunities.

A: “Do we have enough funds? I believe so. We’re estimating it as any where from $400 million to $700 mil lion as a state, but also in addition to what the state is receiving, there are so many other broadband programs out there, like ReConnect and (Rural Digital Opportunity Fund) awards, the Tribal connectivity grants.”

A: In the past two years, Congress passed spending plans to provide up to $900 million in funding to Colorado to improve broadband access. These include:

• $400 million to $700 million — The Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment Program (funded by the U.S. Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA)

• $21 million — Digital Equity Act

This is similar to how the state’s broadband subsidies work today. For-profit internet providers can apply for grants from the Colorado Broadband Fund but also must pro vide some funding themselves. In September, $22.8 million was awarded to 15 projects, including a $1.3 mil lion project from PC Telecorp to get gigabit internet to 55 households in a Yuma County farming community. About a quarter of the amount is coming from PC Telecorp.

The roadmap doesn’t spell out how the money will be split up to provide household access or digital literacy programs or infrastructure. But the report provides a timeline for the grant programs to be set up and awards made. The money must be pretty much used by 2026, according

A: Many internet companies now offer lower-priced plans because of the Affordable Connectivity Program, a federal program that started in January and provides $30 a month to low-income households for broadband service. In order for any internet company to get funding from the state, they must offer ACP, Reitter said.

“The state funding it or setting up a separate program outside the federal government, we’re not doing that. We’re supporting the efforts to promote the Affordable Connectivity Program,” she said. “And our num bers are on the rise.”

According to the latest federal data, about 167,220 Colorado households are enrolled in ACP. Based on a pos sible 761,000 households in the state that fall within income guidelines, that’s about 22% of eligible house holds, as of Oct. 24.

“Right now, it’s about physical access,” she said. “It’s really challeng ing for the government to get into the business of price control or market control.”

Fiber may not work in all cases and federal grants allow for alternatives, like fixed wireless service. But what Reitter’s not considering in the finan cial investment is satellite internet service, like Starlink from SpaceX. While available to the farthest reaches of the state, it’s pricey, at $110 a month, plus a one-time hardware cost of $599. It’s also not that fast. Speedtest site Ookla clocked Star link’s speeds at up to 110 megabits but concluded the median U.S. speed was a mere 62 megabits.

“I think Starlink is absolutely a solution for those that are so remote that the reality of them getting any kind of internet anytime soon from another carrier is going to be a chal lenge,” Reitter said. “(But) satellite doesn’t really come into the decision making process because our cost thresholds are really based on the cost to construct the fiber.”She’s not counting on Starlink to get Colo rado to 99%. But the federal funding should help build enough fiber access to help the state end the digital divide. At least for those who want it.

“The intent is universal coverage,” she said. “There’s always going to be that 1% that’s like, ‘I don’t need internet’ or ‘I don’t want internet’ or ‘I’m not connecting to the internet.’ But the folks that need it and want it, we’re covering all of you.”

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

First

NOTICE

Metropolitan Districts

Public Notice

City of Ft. Lupton

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Proposed 2023 Budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District, on October 10, 2022, for the ensuing Fiscal Year of 2023; a copy of such proposed budget has been filed in the office of the Fire District located at 8426 Kosmerl Place, Frederick, Colorado, where same is open for public inspection, and; that such proposed budget will be considered at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fire District to be held at the Administration Building, 8426 Kosmerl Place, Frederick, Colorado on November 14, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. and December 12, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.

Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2023 Budget on December 12, 2022, inspect the budget and file or register any objections thereto. These meetings are open to the public.

Public Notice

NOTICE OF BUDGET

NOTICE is hereby given that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Fort Lupton City Coun cil for the ensuing year of 2023, a copy of such proposed budget has been filed at the City of Fort Lupton City Hall, 130 S. McKinley Ave., where the same is open for public inspection; such proposed budget will be considered at the special meeting of the Fort Lupton City Council to be held at City Hall, 130 S. McKinley Ave., on November 29, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Any interested elector of the City of Fort Lupton may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections thereto at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget.

Legal Notice No. FLP748

By:Russell W. Dykstra, Counsel for the District

Legal Notice No. FLP749

First Publication: November 17, 2022 Last Publication: November 17, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Notice to Creditors

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 March 3, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Steven H. Olson and Jill O. Glaser Personal Representatives 1897 Oak Creek Drive Greenwood Village, CO 80121

Legal Notice No. FLP736

First Publication: November 3, 2022 Last Publication: November 17, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of MILLER MELL CAIRNS, a/k/a Miller M. Cairns, a/k/a Miller Cairns, Deceased Case Number: 2022 PR 30607

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 March 10, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Patricia Rankin, Esq. The Germany Law Firm, P.C 600 17th Street, Suite 2800 South Denver, CO 80202

Legal Notice No. FLP742

First Publication: November 10, 2022 Last Publication: November 24, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Name Changes

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public Notice is given on October 19 2022 that a Petition for a Change of Name of a Adult has been filed with the Weld County Court.

The Petition requests that the name of Nicole Breeanne Pargee be changed to Nicole Lynn Grimm.

Case No.:22C1198

Legal Notice No. FLP740

First publication: November 10, 2022

Last publication: November 24, 2022

Publisher: Fort

By: Rachael Erickson Clerk of the Court / Deputy Clerk

Lupton Press

Q: What funding did Colorado get and what’s the plan for getting to 99%?

Q: What about the digital divide within urban areas where gigabit service is avail able, but not a ordable?

Q: Is there enough money to get Colorado to 99%? Who gets left out? Who is that 1%?