Fort Lupton Press 010523

Ten stories we talked about in 2022

million loan from Colorado Waster Resources and Power Development Authority for related tap fees late in the year. e interest rate cannot be higher than 2.75 percent. Funds will come from the city’s wastewater revenue budget.

“We’re taking the solids, but they don’t disappear. We have to get rid of the bacteria.

“We’re constipated.”

Boom year

STAFF REPORT

A downstream issue

Wastewater improvements - and the funds to pay for them - dotted many a council conversation in 2022.

One theme held true from late in February all the way through.

“We have to spend a lot of money,” Mayor Zo Hubbard said. “Unfortunately, it has to come from citizens. I don’t like it.”

e price tag is around $37 million. e city agreed to accept a $25

e Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is forcing several cities, including Fort Lupton, to clean up the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and chlorophyll in surface water. More than 60 cities led an appeal, citing the more than $1.5 billion combined cost of the repairs. CDPHE turned it down.

e need for a new plant didn’t rule out repairs on the existing one. In March, then-plant operations manager Jon Mays (he died later in the year at age 65) told council the plant’s centrifuge was breaking down.

Fort Lupton was a little late in getting to the housing party. But for much of 2022, it seemed to be making up for lost time.

In April, sta said the city population could grow at a rate of 3 percent per year. Almost 200 housing permits were on le just for 2021.

e city’s public works director, Roy Vestal, wants to nd a way to save 2 million gallons of wastewater, though large commercial development was on the city’s radar.

“We need to plan forward, and we don’t want to do this for another 20 years,” Vestal told council

Caraveo wants to tackle healthcare, climate and a ordability

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As Congresswoman-elect D-08 Yadira Caraveo inches closer to beginning her rst term as a U.S. Representative, she’s squaring away the logistics.

For housing in Washington, D.C., she’s in an apartment building that houses many other members of Congress.

Her medical practice will remain and the o ce is planning to hire a replacement, but she’s planning on taking a few shifts when she’s in the district.

“Just to keep my skills up,” she said.

She plans to come back to the district as often as possible to be able to spend time with her family as well as to strengthen her connection to the community.

When it comes to a congressional mentor, many people have been helpful to her while nding her bearings but hasn’t thought about a speci c person she wants to spend most of her time with. People from the Hispanic Caucus and the Democratic Coalition all come to mind, she said.

On the issues

As a Democrat state legislator, most of her time consisted of serving in the majority. Now as a minority member in the soon-to-be Republican-controlled House, her game plan won’t change from her actions in the state legislature.

“Having a very clear majority in the House and having a trifecta in the State, I really always strove to make my legislation bipartisan,” she said. “Two-thirds of the bills that I carried had bipartisan votes on them.”

ree issues she campaigned heavily on were healthcare, climate and a ordability.

Riley Wise, 14, rolls around in the little red truck he and his dad made for his wheelchair for Halloween. It’s Riley’s dream to create costumes like this for other kids in a wheelchair or special needs.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

From wastewater treatment to marijuana and cars left on train tracks, a lot happened

in April. “We want to make the next piece a retro t. We won’t reach 6 million gallons for at least 40 more years.”

“I’d like to look at this every ve years,” Stieber said. “ ere are a lot of things we let slide.”

Pot shops coming on board Council approved a total of four marijuana licenses for both retail sales and medical and retail sales this year.

As the process played out, there was some concern about potential impacts. Mike Mericle, who own an RV business on Factory Circle, cautioned council about what he called “a lot of unforeseen issues,” such as what he’d seen during trips to downtown Denver. Mayor Zo Hubbard said sta and council spent “countless hours” to make sure that there was protection from potential impacts.

Train versus squad car

Litigation began late in the year for two police o cers, one from Fort Lupton and one from Platteville, who faced charges after an incident that began in Fort Lupton in September. Authorities said a Platteville o cer found the related suspect vehicle near U.S. Highway 85 and Weld County Road 36, Police arrested a woman and put her in the back of a Platteville squad car that was on the tracks. A northbound train hit the car and seriously injured the woman.

Time for New Year’s financial resolutions

It’s that time of year when many of us promise ourselves we’ll go to the gym more or learn a new language. But when making New Year’s resolutions, why not also consider some financial ones?

Here are a few suggestions: First, don’t let inflation derail your investment strategy. Last year, some people may have stopped contributing to their 401(k)s as the cost of living rose. But if you can cut back in some areas, you may still be able to invest in your retirement plans.

Also, try to control your debts. With rising interest rates and inflation, your credit card debt could increase. If you can pay your bill fully each month, you can avoid getting bogged down in debts and you’ll have more money to invest.

And if you haven’t built an emergency fund, try to do so. It’s a good idea to keep three to six months’ worth of living expenses in a liquid, low-risk account.

Finally, review your investment portfolio to help ensure it’s still appropriate for your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.

These resolutions can be useful — so try to put them to work in 2023.

Drama on the school board

e Weld Re-8 School District board of education talked about bullying prevention and potentially eliminating the Fort Lupton High School football program in 2022. ere was also the rare instance of internal disagreements that resulted in the removal of Cody LeBlanc from his assignments as the board’s representative to the Colorado Association of School Boards. Re-8 board President Susan Browne said she made the call because LeBlanc hosted a town hall meeting after the rest of the board held a similar forum.

In September, the board ruled that parents have to sign o on future district health and family life/ sex-ed classes if the district makes such classes available.

e board stopped o ering those classes in 2018.

Toward the end of the year, the board took up the issue of arming school teachers. State law allows school districts to designate such a policy, though the state doesn’t specify training requirements for those who might carry rearms.

Faster Colorado Executive Director Laura Carno said an armed response within the school would lead to lower death counts. Former FLHS teacher Judy Callaway said the idea puts kids at greater risk.”

Angeles Navarro retired from teaching at Fort Lupton High School after 31 years.

Big Boy came roaring back

Having Big Boy 4014, Union Paci c’s massive 1940s-era steam locomotive, blast through Fort Lupton and Brighton is becoming an annual experience.

Union Paci c sent the historic engine down the line between Cheyenne and Denver for the third year straight in 2022, with fans lining the train tracks along the way to catch a glimpse or take a picture.

But this year, for the rst time, Union Paci c opted to keep the engine at Denver’s Union Station for a couple of days.

Big Boy left Cheyenne on July 28, traveling south through several towns with spectators lining the tracks along the way.

Big Boy pulled into Union Station a day later for display, with crowds awaiting its arrival to take video and photos. ey also got the chance to tour the inside of the restored rail cars, including an educational rail car set up like a museum featuring the history of trains, Union Paci c and its rail infrastructure.

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

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

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

to Cheyenne for years of major restoration.

Found books trace family’s history Timothy Johnson, who lives in Shakopee, Minnesota, regularly searched online for branches of his Paulson family tree. He never guessed he’d nd three whole books about them in Fort Lupton, of all places.

“I was searching online, and an article came up. I think it was the Commerce City Sentinel Express. e article did not have pictures but the description matched the Paulson family tree, I immediately called the librarian, “Johnson said.

It was a November 2021 story about how librarians at the Fort Lupton Public Library had found some very speci c genealogical books among a pile of donations. Librarians had hoped to nd the family whose past they detailed. e story starts when Cindy Lyons, a librarian with Fort Lupton Public School and Library, found three three-inch ring binders of the Paulson, Miller genealogy in the library storage room. ese binders documented the family’s lineages and generations of the Miller and Paulson families, up to 1980. It included decades of family photos. e story ran in several Colorado Community Media papers and online in December. By August 2022, Johnson called Lyons to claim the genealogy books, and she sent all three along right away.

Johnson said all three albums are very valuable. He is from the Paulson side of the family; his grandmother was a Paulson and Johnson is from his Dad’s side. He thinks one of the relatives from California must have put the books together.

Young man’s dreams on wheels

Riley Wise, 14, dreams of someday making a living designing cars. For now, the Fort Lupton teen helps his Dad design unique costumes for his and other kids’ wheelchairs for Halloween.

Despite having Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Riley loves to help. e designs are almost always show stoppers at trick-or-treat events and perfect for inspiring communities.

Riley and his family have started a GoFundMe to build costumes for other people like himself.

“It started a few years ago, before Riley was in a wheelchair, and we used to participate with 4-H, so we did a trick-or-treat street event in Keenesburg,” said Brian Wise, Riley’s dad. “ ey gave us space to work and we all went out! Riley was dressed as Anakin Skywalker with a pod racer as a prop made out of cardboard and his sister dressed as a Tusken Raider the sand people in Star Wars.”

Riley’s condition progressed and he went into a wheelchair. at did not stop him from continuing to build unique costumes.

“A couple of years ago, Riley’s mom dressed as a pin-up girl, and Riley dressed as a pilot with a bomber jacket, and we made his wheelchair into an airplane bomber and went trick-or-treating,” Brian said.

Henderson murder victim remembered through his art Artist Raphael Sassi passed through quite a few places in his 42 years of life: Maryland, Manhattan

and Colorado Springs among them.

But this last stop was at a kitchen table in Henderson, where he was killed on April 5, 2019.

His family and his friends in Colorado Springs started a scholarship fund in his honor in 2022 and they promoted the fund with a one-day retrospective on Sassi’s work at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Galleries of Contemporary Art, followed by a celebration in downtown Colorado Springs.

Brian Mason, 17th Judicial District for Adams and Broom eld counties, attended the art display in memory of Sassi. Mason prosecuted omas Holleman Jr. for the murder of Sassi and their landlord Mary Broad, 59. Holleman was found guilty and sentenced to life plus 48 years without parole.

e exhibit displays Sassi’s work from his childhood up to his last days. It includes letters and artifacts of his early life. Doug Sassi, his brother, said it was commissioned by Daisy McGowan, director and chief curator of the UCCS Galleries of Contemporary Art.

Sassi moved to Henderson in 2019 to work at Schneider Trucking Co. as a second source of income to supplement what he earned teaching art. He was saving money to move to Asheville, North Carolina, hoping to be closer to his family.

e trucking terminal was close to Henderson, and Sassi found a temporary room for rent nearby on Craigslist.

Broad, who owned the home, rented a bedroom to Sassi and the basement to Holleman.

Holleman was not a roommate with either Broad or Sassi, but the family suspects he had a crush on his landlady. A brother, Sebastian Sassi, said the family found scribblings Holleman left behind referencing sexual and bizarre ideations of Mary.

“I think she moved in my brother hoping it would protect her from this guy. ey both relayed concerns about his creepy behavior, “ Sebastian Sassi said.

Welcoming home Company B e community of Fort Lupton lined up ona cold winter snowy day waving ags, cheering and honking horns to welcome home 130 members of the Colorado Army National Guard Company B 1 st Battalion, 157 th Infantry Regiment bck home. e 130 soldiers were deployed to the horn of Africa in March 2021 and returned home in January. After such a long deployment, all members returned home, arriving home on three buses. Most of the soldiers live in the surrounding area.

” ey are my heroes! Anybody who serves thier country deserves respect,” Mayor Zoe Stieber said at the greeting ceremony. ”Welcome home!”

Sta Sergeant Connor Burnett said the soldiers were in Africa providing security at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.

Family drove from as far away as Alamosa to greet the returning soliders.

”We have our son Andreas back,” said Solomon Mondragon. ”It’s been a heck of a ride for us. We’ve been holding down the fort. It’s been a hard time but we are so excited that he’s back home and that he’s safe.”

Copper Kettle Christmas spreading the love

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

More than 200 people enjoyed free Christmas dinner with ham, turkey, veggies, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, and dessert at Fort Lupton’s Copper Kettle

“It was wonderful spreading the love of Christmas and the love of feeding the community of Fort Lupton, my son Francis came up with the idea,” said owner

e diner gave out to-go meals and delivered meals to the Fort Lupton Fire Protection District and Police Department.

“ e police department and the re department are an important part of our community,” LaBarbera said.

e Copper Kettle Kitchen opened in 2020 during COVID serving comfort food made from scratches, such as soups, sandwiches, burritos, etc., from a small kitchen. e following year they moved into their restaurant at 737 Denver Avenue.

“We will do it again next year bigger and better, “ LaBarbera said.

Weld County leaders recognized for dedication to communities

STAFF REPORT

Weld County Commissioner Chair Scott James and Director of Human Services Jamie Ulrich were honored with dedication and leadership awards for extraordinary work in their communities Dec. 20

“I am honored to be named a Commissioner of the Year,” James said. “I am extremely passionate about county government. Working on these projects and serving on various committees is not only helping better my county but also other counties in Colorado.”

“Receiving this award is very special,” Ulrich said. “It is always humbling to be acknowledged by your peers, and I appreciate it greatly!”

James is a proponent of energy production and advocates for the environment by producing green energy, land use, and air quality.

According to o cials, he strongly supports Colorado’s leader in agriculture, the National Western Stock Show, the City of Denver, the Colorado Cattleman’s’ Association, and other agricultural-producing counties around the state.

Ulrich is recognized for over 20 years of dedication to providing human service programs across Weld County and Colorado. In addition, she received the 2022 Colorado Human Services Directors Association,

Director of the Year Award.

With Ulrich’s leadership, Weld County received numerous accolades for building community and business relationships in addition to data measured and used by the state of Colorado to keep an eye on the human services department and guidance.

Ulrich has added a role appointed to the Behavioral Health Administration Advisory Council. According to o cials, it informs the Colorado Behavioral Health administration of issues and concerns by individuals, family members, providers, local government, other localities, and subject matter experts.

e Colorado Counties Foundation CCI Winter Conference recognized the awards a few weeks ago.

CCI is a non-pro t membership association that advises county commissioners, mayors, and council members to cultivate relationships with counties to support and work together on issues, according to ofcials.

e nominations for the awards are received from counties across the state. CCI criteria with nal selections are based on participants from CCI committees, district caucuses, and activities in the county.

ese outside agencies go beyond their call of duty, according to ofcials.

Jamie Ulrich, Director of Human Services, and Scott James, Weld County Commissioner Chairman were honored. COURTESY WELD COUNTY

Robin LaBarbera, Dan Frazier, Francis, and Rebecca LaBarbera are spreading the love of Christmas.

PHOTO BY FRANCIS LABARBERA

BRIEFS

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.

Copper Kettle Family Christmas

Join the Copper Kettle in its efforts to help the less fortunate this Christmas.

The restaurant, 737 Denver Ave., will serve free meals to the homeless, less fortunate, the elderly and the lonely from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas Eve. The menu includes a beverage (coffee, tea, water), ham, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, a roll with butter and a slice of pumplin pie with whipped cream

Donations from businesses are welcome. Volunteers are needed.

Call 303-857-3981.

ONGOING

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 303-857-6694

Donation time

The Fort Lupton Food & Cloth-

ing 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.

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

303-718-4440. 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 303-8574200.

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 303857-4200, ext. 6166.

Coffee 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-Pal-Program.

Craft classes

Monthly craft classes through the Fort Lupton Recreation Center (203 S. Harrison Ave.) are available. Call 303-857-4200, ext. 6166 with questions.

Free short-term radon test kits

Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last). Test kits can be requested online at www.drhomeair.com/ weld, according to a statement. Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 400-2226 or visit: www.weldgov.com/go/ radon.

Warm line up and running

Community Reach Center is offering a warm line (303-2806602) for those who want to talk to mental-health professionals about anxiety, lack of sleep and strained relationships, among other topics. The professionals

can facilitate referrals to other programs for assistance.

The line is not for crisis intervention. Those feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services (1-844-493-8255) or text 38255 or visit the Behavioral Urgent Care Center, 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.

Brighton’s community intake location is at 1850 E. Egbert St., on the second floor. It’s open from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.

Alcoholics Anonymous

The Brighton chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 147 S. Second Place. Meeting times are 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, noon and 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 6 p.m. Thursdays and 9 p.m. Fridays. Call 303-659-9953 or visit www. brighton1aa.org.

Volunteers needed

Qualified Listeners needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become qualified listeners.

Visit qualifiedlisteners.org/volunteerapp and fill out the form or call 720-600-0860.

Eagle Express rides

Barr Lake State Park will offer virtual rides aboard the Eagle Express. Join Ranger Michelle and her friends as they read a story about our natural world that is sure to entertain your preschooler while teaching them about plants, animals and our planet. Call 303-659-6005.

Help for vets

Qualified Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has several power chairs, power scooters and electric wheelchairs available.

The VA offers urgent care services to eligible veterans, both at VA medical facilities or at several in-network urgent care clinics that are closer to home.

To find the closest facility to you visit www.va.gov/find-locations or call 720-600-0860.

Qualified Listeners also needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become qualified listeners.

Healthcare

As a pediatrician, she hopes to work on and pass legislation that brings down the cost of medications, citing her work as a state legislator.

When it comes to COVID-19 and preventing another pandemic, she doubles down on the effort of federal powers listening to doctors, scientists and people across the board in the healthcare system.

She said many issues in the healthcare system were uncovered by the pandemic and those workers were the first to bear witness. Now, they need to be involved in the solutions to fix the problem.

“Being able to have an agile healthcare workforce, and making sure that we learn from the issues of the healthcare industry,” she said.

As well, she noted the need to invest in antibiotic research and vaccine research to be prepared for future situations that arise.

It also starts at the education stage. Right now, she pointed to long waiting lists for nursing schools and the unaffordability to attain those degrees. Those students need to be trained so those jobs can be filled, particularly in rural areas.

“We need to make sure to invest in residency programs, in particular in rural areas, so that we can address some of the big shortages we already have in terms of doctors in rural areas,” she said.

Adding more employees can also reduce burnout to lessen overtime hours needed to fill in the gaps.

Additionally, moving funding away from insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies to providers and the people who actually take care of patients.

Climate

Creating jobs by transitioning to renewables will help keep a strong energy economy in Colorado, Caraveo said, instead of losing them to other parts of the country.

“We have a thriving oil and gas industry with many important and well-paying jobs,” she said.

“And we can also make sure that we’re preparing for the future by investing in wind and solar and other types of renewable energy so that we’re really making sure that we’re addressing issues of climate change and air quality in Colorado.”

Not only does that help the economy, but also the health of Coloradoans. During ozone days in the summer, many kids came to her clinic with asthma attacks. Others were unable to get their oxygen levels up.

With that as a reason she ran for office, she sees investing in renewable energies and making electric vehicles more accessible as solutions.

Acknowledging electric vehicles don’t always work in incredibly cold climates, she also sees public transportation as a way to get cars off the road.

Affordability

Caraveo grew up with her dad as a construction worker and says she realizes what normal, everyday families are going through.

She sees affordability as the prime issue facing her district.

“Normal, everyday people are really struggling to make ends meet and Congress really needs to focus more on making it possible for them to live the lives that they worked so hard for,” she said.

That can start with making campaigning more accessible to working families. She said she saw many obstacles while running for office, such as finances and time.

She said the campaign process isn’t designed for someone who has to work for a living, since all the time is dedicated to fundraising, events and focusing on how much a campaign costs.

for,” that

“You can’t work during the time that you’re campaigning. It’s hard for somebody that doesn’t have money, that doesn’t come from money to serve,” she said.

Then once someone is elected, they may be paying high prices for housing. For her, she’s paying for a mortgage and for her place in D.C..

The election

Looking back on the election, Caraveo thinks Coloradoans sent a clear message on what type of candidate they want to send to offices.

With the rise of far-right candidates, the state overwhelmingly voted Democrat.

“We swept every statewide position and we elected two new Democrats to Congress. Extremism doesn’t work here in Colorado,” she said.

Looking to her first day, she has three bills on her Christmas List she’d like to pass immediately: creating a public option for health insurance, passing a federal voting system that’s similar to Colorado to make it “as easy as possible” to vote and to codify Roe v. Wade.

Yadira Caraveo, Congresswoman-elect for Colorado’s new 8th District. COURTESY PHOTO

VOICES

New year, new plans, new attitudes

No matter where you are in the world, this week o ers us all the opportunity to enter the new year with a new plan and a new attitude. Even if we believe we have the right plan and a great attitude, there could be room for a little improvement raising the bar for ourselves and those around us. What if we could make the slightest incremental improvements to our existing plans and our outlook? I think you would agree that we would experience even greater results.

ese past couple of months have kept us busy with clients and internally with business planning, writing sales plans, prospecting plans, training plans, new onboarding plans, and working with clients and friends on creating and building vision boards that help provide visual reminders of our goals and what we expect the new year to bring. And if we forget or fail to plan, this old quote often attributed to Benjamin Franklin still holds true all these years later, “By failing to plan, you are preparing to fail.”

Now some of us might be thinking

that our plans are just ne, and our attitude is exactly where it needs to be. Whenever I hear this, I am reminded of something my great uncle Harry would always say, “ ere is nothing so good it couldn’t be better, and nothing so bad that it couldn’t get worse.” So, even if we believe our plans are solid and our attitude is good and positive, maybe we could take one last look at our plans and give ourselves a check-up from the neck up to try and identify any blind spots we may have missed.

When it comes to planning, I am a big advocate of using a planning tool. I am a little biased to the Ziglar Performance Planner as it is an annual planner that helps me not only manage my days and meetings, but it also helps me to plan out my goals for the year and track those goals each and every day. It also contains some

of Zig’s most famous motivational quotes, and when I read those each day, it de nitely inspires me, and ensures my attitude is in the right place as I glance at those words of wisdom throughout my day. If you aren’t using one, I would highly recommend that you nd one that works for you and your schedule.

How do we develop and maintain a positive attitude in a world that can sometimes feel so negative? at is a question I receive from many of you throughout the year. And here at the beginning of the year is the perfect time to take control of our own attitude regardless of what the world throws our way. Setting our foundation upon an attitude that starts with gratitude. It’s really di cult to slip into a negative head space when we are grateful for everything we have and everyone in our circle of friends and family.

Maintaining a positive and healthy attitude isn’t just about gratitude alone, we also must be careful of what we allow to enter our minds. Again, here at the beginning of the year it

is a fantastic time to create a reading calendar for the year of the good books that we want to read, books that inspires us and that keep us grounded. It’s a great time to nd the podcasts that are lled with powerful and positive information that can motivate and challenge us to grow in mind, body, and spirit.

How about you? Is the new year the right time to reevaluate your plans? Are you failing to plan? Or are you all over this and have a brilliant plan and a wonderful attitude? Either way, I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can take the time to create a plan that will help us to achieve all that we hope to achieve in the new year, and support that plan with a positive attitude, it really will be a better than good life.

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

Renewables move forward in Colorado, but in Wyoming? Not so fast

Colorado’s largest electrical utility this week announced it will begin construction of 300 miles of major new transmission next year to harvest wind from the state’s eastern plains. In Wyoming, though, a wind farm proposed 15 years ago still needs crucial permits.

e di erence? Land ownership, at least in part. e 345-kV transmission line that Xcel Energy plans to string between Brush and Lamar, connecting new wind farms along the way, will not cross federal land. In Wyoming, the wind farm lies on a checkerboard of private and federal lands.

Projects involving federal lands trigger reviews mandated by a 1969 law, the National Environmental Policy Act. NEPA merely requires disclosure of impacts. In practice, say authors of a new book, “ e Big Fix,” the process is itself the outcome. e review must be accelerated to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century.

“ e Big Fix,” written by Aspen native Hal Harvey and former New York Times reporter Justin Gillis, paints a detailed but still accessible picture of how to decarbonize our economy. For example, we can create comfortable buildings without burning fossil fuels. Harvey has experience in this going back to the 1970s, when he built and designed passive-solar homes. After studying engineering at Stanford University, he now runs a 36-person think tank in San

LINDA

Francisco.

Gillis was writing about the intersection of climate and energy from a base in New York City when he became aware of Harvey. As he consulted experts from across the country, he says, Harvey’s thoughts impressed him as the most practical.

In the book, the authors break down the challenges of our energy transition into seven sections, including transportation and carbonintensive industries such as steel and concrete. Every page sparkles with insights and absorbing statistics. For example, the world each year produces 5 tons of concrete products for every man, woman, and child. Concrete causes 7% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

In one chapter, they take on forestry and food. To solve our climate threat, we must eat less meat, especially beef. Chicken comes out on top for those of us who can’t quite gure out vegetarian meals.

ey also talk about electricity. We will need more of it in buildings and transportation. Existing technology — especially wind and solar — can take us a long way, probably 70% to 90% in Colorado.

To advance even deeper, we need

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

MICHAEL

SCOTT

BELEN WARD Community Editor bward@coloradocommunitymedia.com

other technologies and business models. is will require major government support on par with or even greater than the support that resulted in dramatic reductions in wind and solar prices. ey call for the same support for hydrogen, carbon capture, and geothermal technologies, all of them promising but still costly. e key will be scaling up production to lower costs, as has occurred with everything from Model Ts to solar panels to smartphones.

is includes nuclear, which Harvey and Gillis call a “vexed and vexing technology.” It delivers 20% of emissionsfree energy now, but new plants have had humongous cost overruns. Instead of big plants, they see a possible path of smaller modular units using factoryproduced components.

For the next decade, though, they hope to see far more cost-e ective noemission technologies, chie y wind and solar. And this will require more transmission and, in Wyoming, permits for the wind farm that Phil Anschutz wants to build for the export of electricity to balance the solar energy of Arizona and California.

“ ey’re trying to put up this truly colossal wind farm in this superb spot in Wyoming, one of the windiest places in the country, and it has taken them well over 15 years to get the permits that they need under NEPA,” Gillis said when I interviewed the authors several weeks

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

Columnists

ago.

ey see the need to reform, not gut, NEPA and other environmental reviews to create hard deadlines and accelerate the pace.

Without reform, said Gillis, “it will take us 30 to 40 years to do that which really needs to be done over the next 10 years.” He hopes for leadership from more leftish leaders in Congress, perhaps in the Senate. And he also says the environmental movement, so long focused on saying no, must gure out ways to say yes.

ere are nuances. e authors readily admit there are places we should not build solar and wind farms. And there is also a lively debate about the balance between big and distant renewables versus local sources.

As for Colorado, they see us as being a step or two ahead of much of the rest of the United States. And the United States, they say, can become a model for the world, even those countries whose economies today depend heavily on burning coal.

Colorado continues to close its coal plants. Another unit, Comanche 1, located at Pueblo, will cease operations before the champagne gets hoisted to celebrate 2023.

Allen Best publishes Big Pivots, which focuses on climate change and the energy and water transitions in Colorado. See more at BigPivots.com.

& 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

WINNING BIG PIVOTS

Dec. 10

Police arrested a Denver man, 27, at U.S. Highway 85 & Weld County Road 18 for speeding, failure to obey a tra c control device and driving while his license was revoked for DUI. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

A Commerce City man, 44, was arrested in the 100 block of First Street for DUI and multiple tra c offenses. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Police issued a summons to a Lochbuie man, 33, for public indecency and trespassing in the 400 block of Paci c Avenue.

A Fort Lupton man, 65, was issued a summons in the 1000 block of South Denver Avenue for careless driving and failure to yield for an emergency vehicle.

Police arrested a Fort Lupton woman, 32, in the 60th block of Grand Avenue for domestic violencerelated assault charges. She was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Dec. 12

A Fort Lupton man, 19 was issued a summons for careless driving in the 9200 block of Weld County Road 24.

Police arrested a Dacono man, 19, at U.S. Highway 52 & Weld County Road 23 on a Weld County

Our Family Helping Your Family

warrant for failure to appear on DUI, tra c charges and possession charges. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Dec. 13

Police took a Fort Lupton man, 38, into custody for domestic violence-related menacing charge. He was held on bond at Weld County Jail.

Two Fort Lupton residents in the 800 block South Grand reported theft from their vehicles. e case was under investigation.

Dec. 14

Police arrested a Fort Lupton man, 31, in the 1000 block of Trapper Dr. for domestic violence-related animal cruelty charge. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Dec. 15

A Keenesburg man , 36 was arrested in the 900 block of Denver Avenue on a felony menacing. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Two Aurora men, a 19-year-old and an 18-yearold, were issued summonses at U.S. Highway 85 & Weld County Road 18. e 19-year-old passenger was issued a summons for obstructing government operation and trespassing. e 18-year-old driver was issued a summons for reckless endangerment, speeding, no proof of insurance and failing to yield right of way.

Dec. 16

Police arrested a Fort Lupton woman, 36, on a Weld County warrant for failure to comply with conditions of probation. She was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules:

• Email your letter to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.

• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s newspaper.

• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.

• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for o ce. We cannot publish letters that contain unverified negative information about a candidate’s opponent. Letters advocating for or against a political candidate or ballot issue will not be published within 12 days of an election.

• Publication of any given letter is at our discretion. Letters are published as space is available.

• We will edit letters for clarity, grammar, punctuation and length and write headlines (titles) for letters at our discretion.

• Please don’t send us more than one letter per month. First priority for publication will be given to writers who have not submitted letters to us recently.

• Submit your letter in a Word document or in the body of an email. No PDFs or Google Docs, please.

• Include your full name, address and phone number. We will publish only your name and city or town of residence, but all of the information requested is needed for us to verify you are who you say you are.

• Letters will be considered only from people living in Colorado Community Media’s circulation area in Adams, Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Je erson and Weld counties.

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

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

GENEREUX

Connord Dayton Genereux May 21, 1945 – December 18, 2022

Connord Dayton Genereux 77, of Hudson, Colorado passed away at his home on December 18th. Connord was born in Denver to Homer and Maxine Genereux on May 21, 1945. He graduated from Brighton High School in 1963. After high school, Connord farmed with his dad Homer on the family farm until he was drafted into the US Army in 1965. He served in Hanau, Germany until he was discharged in 1967.

Connord returned home where he continued to farm for the next 15 years. He married Shirley Chinn in 1968 in Brighton, Colorado. After farming, Connord went to work for American Pride Co-op where he retired after 30 years.

Connord was very involved with the Adams County 4-H program, serving as the club leader for the Box Elder Gang 4-H club for 10 years. He also served on the Adams County

4-H Livestock and Sale Committees for 10 years, eventually becoming the chairman for both.

Connord loved going to garage sales and farm auctions. He was also a talented carpenter, building small scale replicas of a stagecoach and covered wagon. He also enjoyed photography, hunting, shing, and leathercraft.

He is preceded in death by his mother, father, brother-in law Max Chinn, niece Mitzi Keith, nephews Matthew Brown, Eric Brown, and Je Pigg. Connord is survived by his wife of 54 years, Shirley, his daughter Shelly Genereux of Keenesburg, Colorado, and his son Shanon Genereux of Brighton, Colorado. He is also survived by his two sisters Pomela Buck of Valrico, Florida, Darlene (Jack) Long of Ft Lupton, Colorado, and many nieces and nephews.

Here are the police reports for Dec.10 to Dec. 16 to the Fort Lupton Police Department. Not every call made to the police is not listed on this report.

People, places, events dot prep sports recap

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It felt like a normal year. After COVID-caused interruptions and cancellations, 2022 felt like a much more normal year in the world of prep sports. Masks weren’t required, and crowds came to cheer on their teams.

It also meant a fuller slate of things to present on our pages during the year. Here’s a list of some of the things we talked about in 2022.

Sports people

We talked about people. A lot of people. Like Fort Lupton’s Taylor Fells, who signed her letter of intent to play softball at Blue eld State College in Vermont.

And Bryce Conover of Frederick High School. Frederick’s starting quarterback signed to play football and continue his education at Western State Colorado University Gunnison.

And Reygan Garcia of Fort Lupton. She fought her way through more than just the usual recruiting issues and the ones courtesy of COVID-19.

“After I tore my ACL, a lot of colleges didn’t want to trust me anymore,” she said. “ ey thought I would keep reinjuring it.

“ is coach (Coach Chad Miller) stayed consistent with me,” she said And Alex Sturn, also of Frederick, who wanted to combine his two main interests - college football and engineering. He found a place where he can do both, the South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City, South Dakota.

And Frederick alum Lucas Dunker, who hasn’t had a lot of luck in his college football career. He enrolled at Garden City (Kansas) Community College, only to see the season called o because of COVID-19. He transferred to Washington State University and walked on the football team. But that didn’t work out either.

Dunker eventually chose Tulane University after entering the NCAA’s transfer portal.

ere aren’t many people who can say they are thankful for anything to do with the pandemic.

Fort Lupton’s Conner Moll can, even thought the pandemic made staying sharp tough and nding a college to recruit him tougher.

Moll signed a collegiate letter of intent May 26 to play basketball and study business entrepreneurship at Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“I’m grateful for COVID now,” he added. “It was a hard few years. It really helped me out.”

e area also had to say goodbye to a former FLHS state champion wrestler, Joe Serna, who died at Prairie View High School Aug. 30. Serna won his state title in 2000. Tom Galicia, Fort Lupton’s current wrestling coach, knew Serna.

State tournament slots

Fort Lupton’s Rylee Balcazar was the top seed in the 100-pound weight class at the girls state tournament at Ball Arena, and she showed the

pollsters right. Balcazar won the state title with a 4-0 decision over Larhae Whaley of Soroco.

Her teammate, Lashya Tijerina, also quali ed for the state girls tournament. She penned a column about her experience against Mead’s Renata Means in a uni ed wrestling match.

Even though the Frederick boys basketball team made it to the nal four of the state tournament for the rst time since 1956, it was easy to see the disappointment on the faces of the Warriors’ players at the Denver Coliseum in mid-March.

Pueblo South took advantage of 23 FHS turnovers to end Frederick’s season 67-56 March 11.

Frederick’s run through the state 4A softball tournament consisted of three familiar opponents and a berth in the semi nals.

But that’s where the season came to an end, thanks to the eventual state champions from Lutheran High School. LHS beat the Golden Eagles 8-2 at Aurora Sports Park Oct. 22.

Frederick and Lutheran paired up in the semi nals Oct. 22, and the Lions led from start to nish en route

to the 8-2 win. Malea Yoxsimer’s tworun single opened the scoring in the rst inning, part of a three-run rally.

Fort Lupton’s softball team made it to the quarter nal round at the state 3A softball tournament for the second year in a row, and for the second year in a row, that’s where the Bluedevils’ season came to an end.

e Bluedevils captured their second straight regional title and nished with a record of 20-7. FLHS loses six to graduation.

Fort Lupton’s Jonathan Gonzalez wrapped up his senior year of highschool soccer by scoring his team’s only goal in a 4-1 loss to Colorado Academy. e loss in the second round of the state 3A playo s ended the Bluedevils’ season.

More from the postseason: Frederick and Fort Lupton sent teams to the regional rounds of postseason volleyball, but neither quali ed for the state tournament. Frederick’s football team made it to the second round of the class 3A football playo s.

Frederick High School’s Ali Davis and Hailey Simmons quali ed at No. 1 doubles at the state 4A girls tennis

tournament.

Celebration

GREELEY - ough there was basketball in progress at University High School March 22 featuring players from all over Weld County, it wasn’t serious.

Fort Lupton’s Maddax Farrer called it “an iso-show,” particularly in the second half. Bryce Andrews, the MVP of the boys game, had to ratchet down his defense to a point where he was “playing defense but really wasn’t.”

e Weld County all-star basketball games were the scene. Five players from southwestern Weld County took to the oor. e coaching sta from Fort Lupton High School manned one of the benches.

e Frederick Warriors’ Jadyn Glasgow played in the rst of the two games and nished with seven points, including a 3-pointer and a chance to tie the score at the end with another 3-pointer that fell short.

FLHS coach Jim Roedel said

Fort Lupton’s Rylee Balcazar was the top seed in the 100-pound weight class at the girls state tournament at Ball Arena, and she showed the pollsters right. Balcazar won the state title with a 4-0 decision over Larhae Whaley of Soroco.

FILE PHOTO

Sports betting tax haul is expected to double

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado budget analysts expect tax revenue from sports betting to double in the coming year in what would amount to a touchdown, a eld goal and a safety for the Colorado water projects.

e Governor’s O ce of State Planning and Budgeting and the nonpartisan Legislative Council Sta project that sports betting tax revenues will be as high as $24 million in the 202223 scal year, which began July 1. Of that money, $22.5 million would go toward the Colorado Water Project, the plan aimed at ensuring Colorado has enough water for its growing population amid climate changeinduced drought.

e state collected only about $12.4 million in sports betting taxes in the 2021-22 scal year, which ended June 30, about $11.4 million of which will go toward the water plan. Hence, the touchdown ($6 million), eld goal ($3 million) and safety ($2 million) analogy.

Bryce Cook, chief economist for OSBP, said the reason for the big forecast increase is that the legislature passed a bill this year limiting the number of free bets that sports betting operators can o er starting Jan.1. (Colorado imposes a 10% tax on casinos’ net sports betting proceeds. A free bet doesn’t generate any proceeds.)

“We’ve also just seen record wagers News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

FROM PAGE 8

some of the reward of coaching the game was seeing players he’d either coached against or actually coached before they got to high school.

Movers/shakers

We found a group of Frederick High School students who were interested in sports but weren’t necessarily athletes.

ey were studying broadcast journalism twice a week. e student-run play-by-play e ort broadcast some 30 home games in football, basketball and baseball on the internet.

Faculty advisor Jake Marsing wants to add in-school newscasts, as well.

Before taking his teaching job at FHS (he teaches social studies), Marsing worked in sports radio in two markets, including Denver. He covered college football, the Denver Nuggets and the Denver Broncos.

“I’m teaching them based on what I learned,” Marsing said. “ e rest is trial and error.”

CHSAA news

e Colorado High School Activities Association’s board of directors chose its new leader March 7. He is Mike Krueger, who will become the association’s 10th commissioner. He replaces Rhonda Blanford-Green, who stepped down at the end of this school year.

Blanford Green took in her last Colorado High School Activities As-

sociation Legislative Council meeting April 21.

She discussed the association’s budget, and she thanked the council for the privilege of serving as CHSAA’s commissioner.

“We’ve been through a lot together the past 14 months,” she said.

Her husband passed away, as did former associate commissioner Tom Robinson.

“ ere were a lot of times when I had to be Rhonda and be the commissioner,” she said. “I had to have a safe place to be Rhonda.”

Robinson died this spring at the age of 74. e former associate commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association Bert Borgmann said a lot of things came to mind. e boys tennis postseason had an historic new look starting this fall. e change involves the state team championship, a dual-style tournament in mid-October, according to CHSAANow.com. e individual championships won’t change. ey will take place the second week in October.

High-school o cials’ fees are among the lowest among nearby states, according to Riverdale Ridge athletic director Aaron Reisen. e pay scale depends on the level of game (junior varsity vs. varsity) and how many o cials are assigned to work.

By comparison, Texas high-school football o cials were paid, at minimum, $105 to $135 per game this season.

According to retired CHSAA umpire Dan Weikle, who worked state-

level playo games during many of his 46 years as a certi ed baseball o cial, the pay for an umpire in 1964 was $10 per game.

“If you extrapolate that out, that’s $88 today,” he said a year ago. “We get paid $62. e pay hasn’t kept up with in ation.”Sports programs

e Weld Re-8 School District board of education voted to save the Fort Lupton High School football program after parents made pleas this spring. Among the suggestions were looking at the superintendent’s salary to a reclassi cation for the next two-year athletic cycle, which begins in the 2024 school year.

e school board brought up the idea of cutting the sport at a savings of $39,000. e district wound up with an extra, unexpected $1.9 million for next year’s budget, but some of that had to go to infrastructure needs and increases in teachers’ salaries, among other things.

“To cut the football program, or any other program, due to budget cuts is absurd,” Michelle Galicia told the school board. “We are supposed to be here for the students. Now, let’s show them we are.”

In late October, the Bluedevils rallied to beat Faith Christian 34-21 e win was Fort Lupton’s fth in nine starts, the rst time in nine seasons that the Bluedevils posted a record that was better than .,500.,

“We came out with a great game plan,” quarterback Will Alvarado said. “We were looking forward to everything. ey (Faith Christian) showed pretty much the same looks in lm.”

Frederick’s Alex Sturn, right, attempts a reverse layup against Pueblo South’s Mateo Esquivel (33) during a CHSAA 4A semifinal playo game at the Denver Coliseum March 11. The Colts ended the Warriors season 67-56.

FILE PHOTO

Thu 1/05

Boot Camp Jan 2023

@ 1am

Jan 5th - Jan 30th

Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks De‐partment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-857-4200

Parent/Tot - Lets Learn the Alphabet (Bilingual)

@ 4pm

Jan 5th - Jan 26th

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

JumpBunch- Fitness Fun for Tots

@ 5pm

Jan 5th - Jan 26th

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

Denver Nuggets vs. LA Clippers

@ 8pm / $12-$3410

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

Sat 1/07

Glowtastic Tween Party (2023) @ 3am

Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks De‐partment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-857-4200

Tiny Treks on the Road at Fronterra Park

@ 5pm

Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Mon 1/09

100 Things to Do Before You're 12 @ 5pm

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

Cooking Cultures- Jan @ 5pm

Jan 9th - Jan 23rd

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

Artic Animals

@ 5pm

Jan 10th - Jan 31st

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

They Might Be Giants: Colorado

For All Sneaker Ball

@ 6:30pm

Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St,, Den‐

Nordic Daughter: Halfway to RenFaire

@ 6pm

@ Cheers, 11964 Washington St, Northglenn

Professional Bull Riders @ 7pm

Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt St., Denver

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers

@ 7pm / $16-$6705

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

Survivalist Seekers @ 8pm

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

Burr it's Cold @ 8pm

Jan 9th - Jan 23rd

Anavrin's Day Thursday @ Hoffbrau @ 9pm

Hoffbrau, 9110 Wadsworth Pkwy, Westminster

Fri 1/06

Man VS Food (1/6)

@ 5:30pm

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

Colorado Mammoth vs. Calgary Roughnecks

@ 8pm / $20-$999

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

Sun 1/08

Colorado Symphony Orchestra @ 1pm

Boettcher Hall, 1000 14th Street, Denver

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

Archery @ 11:30pm

Jan 9th - Jan 11th

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

Tue 1/10

New Year, Get in Gear! @ 1am

Jan 10th - Mar 29th

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

Colorado Avalanche vs. Florida Panthers @ 7:30pm /

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver Belinda Carlisle @ 7:30pm

Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St,, Den‐ver

Wed 1/11

Denver Nuggets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

@ 7pm / $14-$3410

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

Dirty Side Down Band: Dirty Side Down @ Cheers @ 8pm @ Cheers, 11964 Washington St, North‐glenn

Fiber Friends

@ 1:30pm

Hill Library,

Birding for All @ 10am / $7

Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Pica‐dilly Rd, Brighton. 303-659-4348 ext. 53

Century Casino @ 3:15pm

Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks De‐partment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-857-4200

Denver

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

Thu 1/12

Professional Rodeo @ 7pm

Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt St., Denver

SOAR Social @ 11:30pm

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

powered by

TRIVIA

1. HISTORY: What is the name of the ancient trade route that connected the East and West? 2. LITERATURE: What was playwright Anton Chekhov’s other profession? 3. TELEVISION: Who are the next-door neighbors in TV’s sitcom “Laverne & Shirley”? 4. GEOGRAPHY: Which continent has the most countries? 5. MUSIC: What does the shortened term K-pop stand for? 6. FOOD & DRINK: What is another name for a kiwi? 7. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: From which Roman god did the month of January get its name? 8. MEDICAL TERMS: If you su er from medial tibial stress syndrome, what is the condition commonly called?

9. PSYCHOLOGY: What irrational fear is represented in the condition called ablutophobia? 10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby turkey called? Answers 1. e Silk Road. 2. Physician. 3. Lenny and Squiggy. 4. Africa. 5. Korean popular music. 6. Chinese gooseberry. 7. Janus, the god of beginnings and endings. 8. Shin splints. 9. Fear of bathing. 10. A poult. (c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Real Estate & Rental

Rentals

Homes

3 BD, 2 BA Brighton house for rent with garage & basement. $1800/mo. 720-308-4279.

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 insurancenot 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

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-758-3892

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.

Miscellaneous

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

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

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

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

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

Miscellaneous

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

Caring for an aging loved one? Wondering about options like seniorliving communities and in-home care? Caring.com’s Family Advisors help take the guesswork out of senior care for your family. Free, noobligation consult: 1-855-759-1407

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

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

FREE $20 Cash App Everyone! Yes It’s Real. Very Limited supply until we run out! Go to Free20Now. com

Miscellaneous

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

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

!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!!

GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN,

Shoppers face statewide fee for bags

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado businesses are required to charge consumers a 10cent fee for each plastic and paper bag they carry out of the store as of Jan. 1.

at’s because of a bill passed by the state legislature in 2021 and signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat.

e fee, which isn’t subject to the state’s 2.9% sales tax, may be higher if a town, city or county enacts a higher charge.

People who are in federal or state food assistance programs don’t pay the fees as long as they can prove that they are enrolled in one of those programs.

Businesses are required to send 60% of the bag-fee revenue they collect to the municipality they operate in. If the business is within an unincorporated part of a county, the money will be sent to the county.

Local governments would be required to spend the money on the following initiatives:

• Bag-fee enforcement costs

• Waste-diversion programs, including outreach and education  e remaining 40% of the bag-fee revenue will be kept by businesses.

Stores that collect less than $20 in bag-fees in a given quarter don’t have to remit the revenue to their municipality or county and can keep the money.

Plastic bags will be banned in

e 2021 bill also bans the distribution of all single-use plastic bags in Colorado starting in 2024. But there are asterisks.

Restaurants that prepare or serve food in individual portions for immediate on- or o -premises consumption would be exempt, as would stores that operate solely in Colorado and have three or fewer locations.

Businesses that are still allowed to o er plastic bags must collect a fee of at least 10 cents on each bag. e fee may be higher if a city or county enacts a higher charge.

Say goodbye to plastic foam It’s not just plastic bags that are

— such as Styrofoam — across the state starting on Jan. 1, 2024.  e only exception is that restaurants will be able to continue using polystyrene products for takeout after that date until their existing inventory is gone.

What if businesses don’t comply?

Municipalities and cities will be able to sue businesses that don’t comply with the new bag-fee and styrofoam rules.  ey also may assess the following nes:

• $500 for a second violation  • $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation  e nes can be assessed per

handed out 10 plastic bags during one transaction, they would be considered to have violated the law only once.

e measure also repeals a state prohibition barring local governments from introducing restrictions on plastic materials that are more stringent than the state’s.

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

The City of Fort Lupton intends to seek financial assistance from USDA,

Service (RUS) for Construction and infrastructure improvements. The proposed action consists of improvements made to the existing wastewater treatment facility site as well as construction of a 6.3 mile 20” PVC force main travelling within the Highway 85 corridor to Metro Water Recovery’s Northern Treatment Plant. The existing wastewater treatment facility is located just to the north of Pearson Park. RUS has assessed the environmental impacts of this proposal and determined that the location of a portion of the 20” PVC force main will convert or effect a floodplain or critical action floodplain. In accordance with Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management and USDA Departmental Regulation 9500-3, Land Use Policy, the Agency is notifying the interested public of this land conversion. It has been determined that there is no practicable alternative to avoiding this conversion or effect and that there is a significant need for the proposal. The basis of this determination is due to the limited impacts to the existing floodplain as the designed

CITY OF FORT LUPTON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that the City of Fort Lupton

a Special Use

as the Land Fed 10-29HZ Oil

Permit, located 0.5 mile north of County Road 16 and approximately 0.6 miles east of Highway 85 in Fort Lupton, Colorado, pursuant to the City of Fort Lupton Municipal Code Notice Requirements.

The public hearings are to be held before the Planning Commission on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 6:00 P.M., and before the City Council on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 6:00 P.M. or as soon as possible thereafter.

The public hearings shall be held at the Fort Lupton City Hall, 130 S. McKinley Avenue in Fort Lupton,

Colorado. In the event that the City Hall is closed at the time of the hearings, the public hearings will be held remotely, accessible to the public by phone and internet. Information on how to attend the hearings will be provided in the agenda as posted on the City’s website, www.fortluptonco.gov.

Further information is available through the City Planning and Building Department at (303) 857-6694.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS MAY ATTEND.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION

A PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN THE CITY OF FORT LUPTON, COLORADO IN THE WEST

NOTICE

Beginning 8:00 a.m. (MST) on Thursday, December 15, 2022, the pre-qualification application (“Application”) may be obtained either in-person at the District’s administrative office located at 8426 Kosmerl Place, Frederick, Colorado 80504, or by requesting a copy of the Application by email to Gary Cahill at the following email address: cahill@dunakilly.com. The subject line for the email must state: “Request for Prequalification Application – Station #5”.

All Applications must be received by the District on or before 4:00 p.m. (MST) on Thursday, January 12, 2023 (“ Submission Deadline ”). Applications received after the Submission Deadline will not be considered. Applications must be submitted by email to Gary Cahill at the following email address: cahill@dunakilly. com. The subject line for the email must state: “Prequalification Application Submission –Station #5”.

Contractors are solely responsible for ensuring that their emailed Applications have been received by the District. The District will not search for

emailed Applications that are not delivered or are delivered to “spam” or “junk” folders. Contractors may contact Gary Cahill at 720.346.8377 to confirm that their emailed Application has been received. Contractors preparing and submitting an Application do so solely at their own expense.

Each Application must conform and be responsive to the standard application form provided by the District. Any deviation from the standard application form or failure to provide the required information may be considered nonresponsive and grounds for disqualification and rejection of the Application in the District’s sole discretion. The District has the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any or all Applications and to waive any irregularities in any Application received. The District also has the right to modify or terminate this selection process or the Project any time in its sole discretion. Submitted Applications become the District’s property and will be considered public records within the meaning of the Colorado Open Records Act, unless a general contractor conspicuously labels the portion(s) of its Application that it deems confidential and proprietary as “Confidential and Proprietary”, and separates such materials from the rest of the Application. The general contractor is solely responsible for all costs incurred in preparing and submitting an Application.

Legal Notice No. FLP767

First Publication: December 29, 2022

Last Publication: January 12,, 2023

Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

Lawmakers, Polis gave green light to new charge during 2021 session