Wet weather brings uptick in ticks

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e wet weather this season means nature lovers should be on the lookout for ticks as they enjoy Colorado’s mountains, woods, parks and trails.

“ ere does seem to be a lot more ticks this year,” said Chris Roundy, a medical entomologist at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “ ey do like wet weather, so our wet spring has certainly created ideal environments for them.”

Types of ticks and diseases e two most common ticks in Colorado are the Rocky Mountain wood tick and the American dog tick, which can both carry diseases, Roundy said. e likeliness of getting a disease from a tick bite in Colorado, however, is relatively low.

“ ough we are seeing an increase in ticks, that doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in tick-borne diseases,” Roundy said. “If you are bitten by a tick, there’s still a very slim chance that they will transmit anything.” e seriousness of these diseases can range from having u-like symptoms to life-threatening conditions, Roundy said, but the latter is very rare.

Luckily, ticks in Colorado do not carry Lyme disease, a sometimes serious and long-lasting disease carried by ticks in other parts of the country, according to the Colorado State University Extension o ce. ey can instead carry Colorado tick fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever or tularemia, depending on the type of tick.

If a person is bitten by a tick in Colorado, Roundy said they should watch for a headache, fever or rash and seek medical attention if they develop any of these symptoms. Several of the diseases can be treated with antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Prevention and tick collection

To prevent ticks, Roundy said people should wear long pants tucked into socks, use insect repellent with DEET and consider treating their

SEE TICKS, P15

Age 79, surrounded by her family, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2023, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born April 15, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, to Carl George Lepar and Gertrude Loretta ( eel) Colley.

In 1962, Lynne graduated from Irvin High School in El Paso, Texas, and continued her education, taking criminal justice classes at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, Michigan. While she held various jobs throughout her life, law enforcement was her passion. She held various positions within law enforcement, ending her career and retiring from the Adams County (Colorado) District Attorney’s O ce. Lynne loved to love people. She crocheted washcloths, hats, scarves, and blankets, donating 100’s to local charities, and was perfecting her hand at quilting. She was a fabulous cook, baker, and canner, sharing her culinary creations with family and friends. Her garden, however, was her biggest passion, pride, and joy. She canned what she grew, and her owers, so beautiful would sing. She also loved to read, sing, swim, and enjoyed traveling and the outdoors. roughout her lifetime, she was a member of several choirs in Michigan and Colorado. Lynne is survived by her three daughters, Dawn (Bartholomew) Bagozzi, Lisa Ralph, and Rebecca (James) Cook; nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; her sister Kasey Anne and brother James Robert (Bob), along with several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Lynne also leaves her trusted service dog and best friend, Cherry. Lynne is preceded in death by her parents, brother Carl Andrew, sister Kandy Marie, and granddaughter Heather Anne. A sun ower, Lynne’s favorite ower, symbolizes happiness, cheerfulness, joy, and new hope. Lynne lived like a sun ower, living life to the fullest and always in bloom. e family invites you to join them in the celebration of Lynne’s life on ursday, July 27, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with services beginning at 11:00 a.m.at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 106 Dexter Street, Milan, Michigan. Private burial will follow in Glen Eden Cemetery, Livonia, Michigan. In lieu of owers, the family requests donations in Lynne’s name be made to her church St. Paul Lutheran Church; or Aid in Milan, 89 West Main Street, Milan, MI 48160. www.ochalekstark.com

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

They proudly call themselves the B.O.B. from the 303, bringing the Big Easy up to high altitudes with their soul-gripping blend of music stylings with New Orleans jazz.

Known for its vibrant nightlife and colorful buildings is the French Quarter. e French Quarter is the heart of New Orleans, and jazz is its heartbeat.

Breathing life into Bourbon Street are the sounds of brass instruments and drums continuously owing out of numerous jazz clubs. With just a trumpet, clarinet, berry sax, alto sax, trombone, snare, bass drum and tuba, the Brothers of Brass are bringing that one and only soulful heartbeat to Colorado.

“It’s a cultural tradition that most of the country doesn’t have,” said Armando Lopez, a member of the Brothers of Brass.

e group’s repertoire is a simmering mix of slow and angsty tunes and fast-paced tempos with a kick of familiar melodies. e Brothers of Brass blend of other genres like R&B, hip hop and psychedelic jam rock into each set.

A day after a tornado hit Highlands Ranch in late June, the Brothers of Brass dished out a much-needed evening of fun for the community. Soon, everyone went from clapping to full-out dancing, allowing concertgoers a chance to relax.

“It was nice to see so many kids, like, actually getting up out of their seats and the older people getting up and dancing and enjoying the music,” said Khalil Simon, who is originally from New Orleans. “It’s not so often that we get to play like New Orleans brass music for a crowd like this and appreciate it, that’s pretty unique.”

Not only did the band members interact with one another on stage throughout the night, they got the crowd involved by singing along and repeating after them. Although it was an outdoor concert, there was no excuse for the crowd not being loud enough.

Among some crowd favorites were “Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr., and “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers. And of course, they couldn’t call themselves a brass band without playing the beloved spiritual hymn “When the Saints Go Marching In.” e strong, powerful notes of brass instruments and the beautiful harmo-

In true New Orleans fashion, each band member was called out to do a solo, each one emoting a di erent feeling.

As the music continued and the sun began to set, the crowd let the good times roll as more children and adults came to the front of the stage, dancing as if it were Mardi Gras.

Just when the sun went behind the buildings, the Brothers of Brass were kind enough to strap on their instruments for an encore, playing “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child.