Fort Lupton Press January 18, 2024

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Charter school group facing legal challenge Group fires management that helped launch schools in Brighton, Lone Tree

•In-door dining and large gatherings prohibited by new restrictions •A fundraiser to combat domestic abuse • Page 3

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COVID-19 LOCAL

BY ERICA BREUNLIN THE COLORADO SUN

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A Colorado charter school network in December fired the management group that helped it launch four schools across the state, triggering a chaotic series of events that included the dismissal of more than 300 employees, swift action to rehire all staff under a new management group and, now, a potential lawsuit.

Ascent Classical Academy Charter Schools — the governing board over charter schools serving nearly 2,000 students in Lone Tree, Brighton, Windsor and Grand Junction — terminated its contract early with management organization Ascent Classical Academies, which is a Goldenbased nonprofit with a similar name that establishes and operates charter schools.

Both the governing board and parents say the schools have faced multiple challenges with ACA over the past six years since their first school began operating in Lone Tree, including high turnover among school leaders and teachers and debates over what curriculum to use.

The board in September unanimously voted to end its contract with ACA on June 30, 2024, “contingent upon continued cooperation by ACA,” SEE LAWSUIT, P14

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January 18, 2024J

Brighton cautious as Aerotropolis remerges Plans for Denver International Airport development back after COVID

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Renewed plans for a Denver International Airport-centered economic development left fallow for six years drew some skepticism from behind the Brighton City Council dias.

Brighton City Manager Michael Martinez told councilors at their Jan. 9 study session that work on Aerotropolis is ramping up, with a new website expected within the next few months, updated marketing and a launch event set for February.

“Those who have been on council for a while, you’ve probably heard of Aerotropolis in one way, shape or form,” Martinez said. “But it’s been stagnant for some time. In fact, since before COVID, it had really taken a dive in terms of progress. But it’s picked back up now.”

But City Councilor Matt Johnston said it was the same thing he heard in 2018.

“I’m pretty apprehensive about putting any time or money into this at this point,” Johnston said. “I remember six years ago we had this exact same discussion. I can go back into my notes and look but if I remember correctly, the current status was about the same back then.”

Economic engine

Denver’s Aerotropolis is a scheme to take advantage of the vacant land surrounding the airport, developing it to bring in up to 74,000 new jobs over the next 20 years. Partners in the project include Adams County, the City and County of Denver and Commerce City, Aurora and Brighton.

“It really goes back to 1988, when the original intergovernmental agreement was signed by Adams County and Denver,” Martinez said.

That agreement allowed Denver to begin work that eventually led to building Denver International Airport some 20 miles to the east, in unincorporated Adams County.

“It wasn’t really contemplated about what to do with the land outside of the airport, the land that

was not specific to airport uses,” Martinez said.

Denver began considering developing an airport city around the Denver International Airport in 2014. Voters in 2015 approved an agreement allowing the airport to develop those non-airport uses on 1,5000 acres around the airport. Those could include hotels, restaurants and entertainment.

“They would receive the revenue from leases and all the other things, but there would be a sales tax share back,” he said. “Half would go to Denver and half would go to the Adams County communities.”

Denver, Adams County and the cities of Aurora, Brighton and Commerce City would share that revenue and they formed a regional committee to market the area under the Aerotropolis name.

The area runs from north of Colorado Highway 7 — Brighton’s Bridge Street —to the western limits of Thornton and south to about Colfax Avenue. It continues east to about Bennett, covering about 54 square miles.

“As you are all firmly aware, the airport is the largest economic development driver in Colorado,” Martinez said. “So the idea is to capture that economic development engine and make it larger for all of us in and around the airport.”

Work began analyzing other similar developments, studying the demand and target audience.

That work, considered the first phase of the project, wrapped up in 2019, Martinez said. It included a study that said that property values would rise around $30 billion by 2040 and additional tax revenue in the area would increase by up to $630 million.

“Phase one was really figuring out what we wanted to accomplish,” he said. “In phase two, we wanted to start putting it into action. But as COVID hit, it kind of died out on everyone’s radar and we didn’t pick back up until late in 2022 or early in 2023.”

Brighton Economic Development Project Manager Aaron Herrera said the Aerotropolis Regional Committee, which includes Brighton officials, said a new website explaining the effort is expected to go live within the next couple of months.

“The thing we are waiting on is a video that will highlight each member of the Aerotropolis committee, and once that’s done, they should launch the website,” Herrera said.

A 2020 map of the Aerotropolis Study Area that proposes development around Denver International Airport that would bring in new revenue to surrounding FILE PHOTO cities, including Brighton and Commerce City.

Low investment, big benefit

Johnston said his priority is working to develop some form of mass transit between Brighton and the airport, making the jobs there more easily accessible for Brighton residents.

“I hope we can figure out a way to make that happen,” Johnston said. “Let’s talk first about the infrastructure of transit for our city. Because right now, it’s hard to get an Uber to the airport sometimes, let alone the idea of light rail or a bus.”

But Councilor Peter Padilla, one of Brighton’s representatives to the committee, said Brighton’s share of the costs are relatively small but the benefits could be very big. It’s important that the city stays involved.

“My concern is that it’s Aurora’s economic development department that implementing most of this,” Padilla said. “So, there is heavy engagement in the 56th Avenue and Chambers part of this and not as much up past 104th and Tower Road. So that’s my goal, to make sure there is as much emphasis on the airport’s north exit as there is on the south exit.”

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January 18, 2024

Meals on Wheels keeps rolling Adams County adds $500,000 in support but may pick new provider in the spring

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The beleaguered Senior Hub in Northglenn appears likely to get a $500,000 boost from Adams County to continue its Meals on Wheels deliveries to some 500 homebound seniors in Adams County at least until spring.

But there are no guarantees The Senior Hub will run the Meals on Wheels program after May as the county may pursue another longterm senior services provider more to its liking.

Adams County Commissioners blasted the workings of Senior Hub management on Jan. 9 during a work session to discuss the future of the non-profit. The Senior Hub suspended Meals on deliveries on Dec. 31, saying it had run out of $1.7 million in COVID-19-related funding.

The organization had no other funding sources to fall back on after its American Rescue Plan Act – or ARPA – money ran dry. The announcement stunned seniors who depend on Meals on Wheels for at least five days of hot meals.

Volunteers for America has stepped in, delivering cold meals to Meals on Wheels clients over the past two weeks.

The suspended service led the commissioners to chastise The Senior Hub for past wasteful fiscal

practices.

“I think we have been funding this (The Senior Hub) for way too long without them righting the ship,” Commissioner Charles “Chaz” Tedesco.

The plan the commissioners tentatively backed called for Adams County, Volunteers for American and the Senior Hub to continue meal delivery until May. At that time, the county will bring in a longterm partner after issuing a Request for Proposal, according to a staff report to the county commissioners.

Long term strategy

The $500,000 effort would be paid by reallocating the county’s ARPA and Community Development Block Grant COVID funding, the report states.

Many non-profits – like the Senior Hub - depended on COVID funding to stay afloat while those who planned for those dollars to run dry have emerged from the pandemic in stronger fiscal standing, the staff report states.

“Organizations such as Adams County and Volunteers of America have demonstrated those efforts.

Others, such as Senior Hub, have not,” the report states.

The Senior Hub has not presented a long-term funding strategy. At the same time, the Denver Regional Council of Governments has indicated it is also facing the end of federal support dollars, according to the staff report.

Aside from its Meals and Wheels program, the Senior Hub has also struggled to maintain other services, opting this year to close its adult day program and its Well Elder technology access program.

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Adams County Commissions will fund another $500,000 for Meals on Wheels services through The Senior Hub but could look for a new provider this spring. MONTE WHALEY

The Senior Hub also owes the Golden Corral restaurant $100,000 for providing food to Meals on Wheels, officials said.

Skin in the game

Franklin Ramirez took over as executive director of The Senior Hub five months ago and pledged to tighten the agency’s reigns. That includes scaling back on the number of recipients who get Meals and Wheels visits and having Volunteers of America provide the meals. The move will cut the price of a meal from $11 to $9, the county said.

“I want people to recognize our work in the community,” Ramirez told the commissioners. “I want some skin in the game.”

Over the past five years, Adams

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County has contributed about $3.15 million in support to the Senior Hub, with much of the support coming during the COVID recovery period between 2020 and 2023, according to the staff report.

The county – in recognizing the end of COVID funding - also budgeted $1 million for its Adult and Aging Services in 2024 with a projected total amount of $3 million, the staff report states.

The county will consider new flexible partnerships to provide senior care, the report states.

Tedesco told Ramirez that The Senior Hub must change its ways if it hopes to remain a Meals on Wheels provider in the county.

“We need to see some sign of change,” he said.

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January 18, 2024J

Scenes from the Stock Show

Girls can do anything. Gabriella Kho, a first grader from Erie, Colorado, hung on to the lamb earning a first-place score of 82 out of nine riders. Gabriella loves riding horses, chasing cows, and dreams of being a cowgirl. Mutton bustin is the next best thing, she said.

Emilie Needham and her Hefeford were judged and earned a ribbon.

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The National Western Stock Show runs through Jan. 21.

Featuring a variety of rodeo shows – such as team roping, mutton busting,

PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD

and the RAM team Colorado Semifinals featuring saddle bronc riding – as well as restaurants, a live band in an outdoor food court, and an array Iris Flege from Denver prepares her Lincoln long wool lamb for the show. The lambs of merchant-selling clothing, unique are judged on wool, oil consistency and body structures. gifts, jewelry, and ranch supplies, the stock show has plenty to offer.

LEAP provides energy assistance to lower home heating costs.

LEAP proporciona asistencia de energía para bajar los gastos de calefacción.

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Carly Allison, 9, from Aberdeen, South Dakota, showed a miniature Hereford that originated from England in their small stature, then over time, they were bred to develop into the larger Hereford.

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January 18, 2024 ADVERTISEMENT

Here’s a Statistical Review of the Denver Metro Real Estate Market in 2023

Now that 2023 is in the books, I have done some statistical analysis of the year and how it compared to the other three “Covid years.”

The result of that research is reflected in the various charts on this page. In addition to the “Covid years,” of course, we have the “interest rate surge” years, which had the opposite effect.

Covid unexpectedly super-charged the real estate market, while the interest rate surge put a wet blanket on it. The effects of each are clearly visible in the charts.

One way to do an apples-to-apples comparison of the years is to look at the price per finished square foot, which is independent of the price of the home. In this first chart, you can see how the value of homes using that criterion surged during 2020 and 2021 but dropped quickly in 2022 and has more or less leveled off since:

Looking at the both the median and average sold prices of homes, you see the same trend. I like to look at the median rather than the average when studying the market, because a few multimillion-dollar home sales can have a big effect on the average price of sold homes but has no effect on the median price.

market but because listings go under contract so quickly. However, when interest rates surge as much as they did in 2022-2023, homeowners will refrain from moving up (or downsizing) because of “rate lock.” They don’t want to sell their home with a sub-3% mortgage only to buy a replacement home at double that rate (or more). You can see that in this chart of active vs. sold listings:

In mid-2022 as interest rates began to rise, the sale of homes began to plummet and sellers took or kept their homes off the market at a rate higher than usual. The initial surge in active listings at that time was because fewer listings already on the market were going under contract as buyers waited in hopes that interest rates would decline again. By January 2023 it was evident that rates were staying high, and the pent-up demand of buyers to buy and sellers to sell kicked in.

So, how slow did the market become?

The following charts are good measures of that. As the pandemic took effect in March 2020, buyers flooded the market (as reflected above) buying homes further from their places of work and/or with more room for home offices now that work-at-home became a thing. This depleted the supply of homes for sale (again as reflected above), and caused the median days on market to plunge to 5 or 6 days. Because there are always overpriced homes which languish on the market, the average days in MLS (DIM)

However, the fact that the average sold price is consistently higher than the median price shows how active the market in million-dollar homes is.

In a seller’s market, the number of active listings drops, not because homeowners aren’t putting their homes on the

We proudly provide free use of this moving truck to our sellers and buyers, along with free moving boxes, bubble wrap and packing paper.

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remained over 20 until finally sellers saw the writing on the wall and lowered their prices enough to sell, hence the low average DIM by mid-2023.

By November 2022, new listings had dropped to a record low, but that was matched last month as shown in the next chart. Expired listings are another meas-

ure of the market’s health — and of how many sellers overprice their homes.

That, too, hit a peak in late 2022 and again at the end of 2023.

One of my favorite measurements of the seller’s market during Covid was the average ratio of sold price to listing price, indicating how much the average home benefited from a bidding war. In early 2021 and 2022, as shown in the following chart, it reached a record of

about 6% over asking price. Prior to 2020 it was typical for homes, on average, to sell slightly below asking price.

As this last chart shows, homes aren’t now selling for above their original

How I Define Metro Denver

Every real estate statistician I know defines the metro area using county boundaries. The statistics I have gathered for this week’s column are derived from REcolorado’s listings within an 18-mile radius of downtown Denver, as shown above.

price but are selling for about their current listing price once that price had been lowered enough.

As I’ve said so many times in the past (see the archive of my columns online at www.JimSmithColumns.com), pricing your home at or slightly below the market will typically net you more than if you list it for a wished-for price and then chase the market downhill.

Also, just like politics, all real estate is local. Even within my hometown of Golden, I have watched homes languish on the market in one neighborhood while they trigger bidding wars a mile or two away.

Bottom line, always hire an experienced Realtor like those of us at Golden Real Estate if you want to price your home right and get the highest price.

Rita and I Are on Vacation — Sort of...

As you read this, I’m in the second week of my 122day world cruise on the Viking Sky with my wife, Rita.

You can subscribe free to my daily travel-blog at http:// WhereAreJimandRita.Substack.com.

Because of the excellent internet connectivity on the ship, I’ll continue to do “business as usual,” except that my broker associates will be my “boots on the ground.” If you are on WhatsApp, you can call me, even at sea, using the same number as my cell phone. And you certainly can still email me. If you want to list or buy a home, I’ll refer you to the broker associate I feel best fits your needs.

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401 Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727 CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855 DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835 GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922 AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071 KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428 “I cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good I can do.” —Jana Stanfield

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January 18, 2024J

BRIEFS A publication of

Call first: 143 S. 2nd Pl., Brighton, CO 80601 Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: FtLuptonPress.com To subscribe call 303-566-4100 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

JOHN RENFROW Sports Editor jrenfrow@coloradocommunitymedia.com

TERESA ALEXIS Marketing Consultant Classified Sales talexis@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Fort Lupton Police host Coffee with a Cop

Fort Lupton Police officers will be on hand at 8 a.m. Feb. 7 at Hard Bean Coffee,107 Dales Pl., for a chance to meet residents and discuss ideas.

Coffee with a Cop is an easy way to get to know the men and women who serve our community and let them know about the issues that matter most to you. These informal chats over coffee will be regularly scheduled on the 1st Wednesday of each month at Hard Bean Coffee.

Buc-ee’s hiring for Johnstown truck stop

Johnstown’s newest truck stop Bucee’s will host a hiring event Jan. 23 through 27 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Loveland Hotel Conference Center, 4705 Clydesdale Parkway, Loveland.

The company is looking to fill 250 jobs with benefits and hourly pay ranging from $18 to $21.

Applications must be submitted online prior to the event. Apply at www. buc-ees.com/careers. Online applications will be reviewed, and phone screens will be conducted. Candidates who advance to the next level will be extended an invitation to interview.

Due to the large volume and need for pre-scheduled interview times, walkins are not encouraged and may be turned away.

Community Development open house

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 Tues. 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 offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Fort Lupton Press, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

Fort Lupton’s community development staff will host an open house on the third Wednesday morning of each month to provide residents, businesses, and development professionals the opportunity to meet with staff in a casual setting. Welcome Wednesdays will be held at the Community Development Office, 1200 Dexter St Unit W13, from 7:30 to 9:00 am, on the third Wednesday of each month.

The next open house will be on Feb. 21.

Participants will have the opportunity to ask general questions and learn about building permits, active development projects and the common steps of a development process, business resources, waterwise landscaping options and programs and more.

Volleyball registration underway

Registration for youth volleyball at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center is open and continues through March 2.

Registration is $75 with an early bird discounted price of $60 if completed

by Feb. 24. The first games of the season are on March 23 and continue

through April 27. Team practices are set to begin during the week of March 11.

There are three leagues, one each for 3rd and 4th graders, for 5th and 6th graders and for 7th and 8th graders.

Registration is available online at the city’s website, www.fortlupton. gov. Volunteer coaches are needed as well and will receive a $20 credit.

Community Art Show registration is open

Registration for Fort Lupton’s annual Community Art Show is open and available to local community artists ages 16 and up. Each artist may submit up to two eligible pieces. View submission guidelines and register on the city’s website today: https://www. fortluptonco.gov/971/Annual-Community-Art-Show.

Elementary school soccer registration begins

Registration for Fort Lupton’s Spring Soccer Program is open for kids from pre-K through 6th grade online at www.fortluptonco.gov.

Registration for kids in pre-K through 2nd grade has a Feb. 17 deadline, and the normal fee is $55. There is an early bird discounted price of $40 if registration is completed by Feb. 10.

Registration for older kids in grades three through six has a Feb. 24 deadline, and the normal fee is $75. There is an early bird discounted price of $60 if registration is completed by Feb. 10.

Games will be played at Pearson Park and the NVAA Recreation Community Park. Volunteer coaches are needed as well and will receive a $20 credit.

Blessings in a Bag

Fort Lupton’s Backpack Program helps school children in need with a backpack of healthy food. It’s an allvolunteer 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.

Severe Weather Soliciting and Scams

Fort Lupton officials are warning that severe weather and natural disasters attract out-of-town contractors and solicitors. Not all “storm chaser” contractors are scammers but some may be.

The City of Fort Lupton does require solicitors to obtain a license before they go out and engage in sales.

More information and the ap-

plication for a solicitors/peddlers license can be viewed here: https://www.fortluptonco.gov/552/ Mobile-Food-Vending-LicenseSolicitorsPe?fbclid=IwAR2miHGz65HnRzy0zgs-mXikm3bANJ056VP5qgK4WZFBEfAk-T8G-dGrCk Contact your insurance company and ask about your policy coverage and filing requirements.

Do your research: Find businesses you can trust and preferably local.

Resist high-pressure sales. Some storm chasers use tactics such as the “good deal” you’ll get only if you hire the contractor on the spot.

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., on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-857-1096.

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 303857-4200.

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.

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.

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.

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January 18, 2024

Packing a lot of cow into a smaller package Miniature Herefords find a niche amid National Western Stock Show giants

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Something to count on at the National Western Stock is the size of the massive bulls on display, but one of the more unique attractions is the Miniature Herefords.

Erin Elridge, who owns Ace High Cattle Company from Bruneau, Idaho, raises the breed for more than 25 markets and shows.

“There are many benefits to the Miniature Hereford; they could be raised on less acreage,” Eldridge said.

“They’re easy on ground soil because they weigh less than the standard cattle. They eat hay and corn. If you use them for meat, it all fits in your freezer.”

Eldridge said the breed was first brought from England to Texas in the 19th Century.

“They were the cattle of the 1940s and 1950s in the United States. The Hereford Miniature cattle started at this small size and then bred to the larger frame Hereford. They were brought over from England by the Largent family and bred in Texas,” Eldridge said.

According to the Miniature Breeders Association, the C.W. Largent family moved from Tennessee to Merkel, Texas, with four sons in 1902.

They were the first families in Texas to breed and show registered Miniature Herefords. The goal was to breed valuable cattle, adapt to their ranch’s environmental conditions, and maintain its small stature.

History of bloodline

According to the Miniature Breeders Association, The ancestry of English Miniature Herefords goes back about 250 year. England was massively populated and relied on multi-purpose oxen that pulled carts and provided milk and meat for the families.

During the mid-century, city populations grew the size of animals became a problem.

The association said today’s breed is descended from those oxen.

One family that had been raising cattle in Herefordshire used native

Carly Allison, 9, from Aberdeen, South Dakota, showed a miniature Hereford Jan. 6 at the National Western Stock Show. The breed is descended from similar English cows that were bred to develop into the larger Hereford. There’s still a market for the smaller, more docile miniature version.

grass pastures to feed and fatten the animals and to fulfill the market’s Caleb Spencer, 17, from Missouri, is showing a Miniature Hereford owned by the Ace PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD need for beef economically. Those in- High Cattle Company. dividual animals were the ancestors of the modern breed.

Miniature Herefords were developed by selective breeding before they were imported to the U.S. from England, according to the Miniature Breeders Association.

Within the next hundred years, breeders of the Miniature Hereford, including the original family, have continued to improve its traits. Miniature Hereford can be registered with the American Hereford Society once tested and free of the dwarfism gene, according to the Miniature Breeders Association.

The mini has the same body proportion characteristic as the full-size Hereford. They average 42 inches in height and weigh around 1,000 pounds.

According to the Miniature Hereford Breeders Association, mini Hereford are that they are easier to handle due to their small size, reach maturity at about 20 years old and are very docile. What’s more, they convert the food they eat efficiently and produce highquality beef.

The breed also retains the outstanding traits of the Hereford. They are commonly used as pets and are suitable for children in 4H or Future Farmers of America FFA, according to the association.

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January 18, 2024J

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM

DON’T LET YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPERS GO SILENT.

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This year, even more than ever before, the news is in crisis.

More than 17,000 news media jobs were cut just by June, at national and local outlets including at some of the biggest names like NPR, The Texas Tribune and Gannett. In fact, newsroom layoffs are up 20% from last year. Some of these outlets laid off more than 10% of their staff in the last few months — even as we head into a critical election year.

These are devastating numbers. But all is not lost.

Many local and independent newsrooms continue to launch across the country. With your contributions and subscriber memberships, small newsrooms like ours continue to grow, adding new journalists and expanding reporting and investigations.

We’re committed to bringing the news to Coloradans. That’s because you deserve access to local, independent journalism that keeps you connected and informed — especially during challenging times. This is #newsCOneeds.

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January 18, 2024

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10

Motivating unmotivated people

LOCAL

VOICES

January 18, 2024J

T

he “quiet quitting” and its more aggressive cousin “act your wage” are gaining momentum, or as some who write about hot topics might say, they are setting the internet ablaze. We can sit back WINNING and try to wait them out, but the only thing wrong with that stratWORDS egy is that soon enough there will be a next catchy phrase for those who aspire only to mediocrity or to do the bare minimum.

A second and even more dangerous strategy would be to incentivize them by paying higher wages for underperformance.

It’s like the donkey and the stick Michael Norton idea where we hold out a carrot in front of the donkey in hopes that he will chase it looking for that bite. The problem is sooner or later the donkey catches on, and we need to allow the donkey to take a few bites. This is only a temporary fix as we would have to continue sweetening the carrot and shortening the stick just to get the donkey to do the work that is asked of him.

Another strategy to consider, but which rarely works, is trying to motivate the quiet quitter or act-your-wage people on the team with fear. What we are seeing is that this method simply doesn’t work. The only people who would fear losing their jobs are the ones who have a tremendous work ethic. They are diligent about their job and take pride in their work. The part-time workers receiving full-time wages on the team couldn’t care less, they feel like they can simply find the next gig and ride it out there until that gravy train runs out and they are on the move again.

Not only do we have frustrated leaders, managers, and human resources professionals, there are plenty of hard-working individuals in the same age groups who resent their half-hearted counterparts. And the danger for any organization is allowing the quiet quitter and act-yourwage employees to be seen as equal to those who are actually doing the work. Eventually, if the problem isn’t fixed, not only do the minimalists wind up leaving, but top performers will also leave.

Incentive-based motivation doesn’t work or last, fear motivation only makes the problem worse, and inconsistent management and mo-

tivation between hard workers and those who have decided to do less creates an unsustainable culture and unstable workforce.

We could take the approach of, “Who cares?

Some will make it, some won’t, who’s next?” This is perhaps the worst of all the strategies as it becomes an increasingly expensive revolving door.

The strategy that does work is personal growth motivation. This is different than temporary incentives, this gets at the heart of what each member of the team wants to do or become as a part of the team. This has to start early on, setting expectations during the recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding process. And this must be inspected often. Weekly or bi-weekly 1:1 meetings help surface anything getting in the way of their personal success that contributes to the team’s success.

When we take the time to build better people, those people will build us a better business. Getting to know their personal drivers up front, understanding their “What’s in it for me?” desires, helps us lead these individuals and hold them accountable for doing their part in reaching their goals.

We also live and work in a world of isolation.

We cannot manage what we do not see or do not know. The best approach for solving this particular problem is frequent communication and tighter collaboration. This is not micro-managing, nobody want that. This is leading people out of the trenches of self-pity who have gotten stuck in this kind of negative thinking, and helping elevate them to the levels of achievement that they can be proud of and feel like they are a strong contributor to the team.

Are you working with or managing quiet quitters? Have you tried to improve engagement and haven’t found the recipe for success yet? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail. com, and when we can manage and motivate our team to working together at a higher level, and each owning their part, 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.

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January 18, 2024

Post-high school certificates good business

BY ERIC GALATAS PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE

Coloradans who graduate from college or trade schools are ready to join the labor market equipped with high-demand, highly competitive skills needed to thrive in their chosen career path - according to the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s latest Return on Investment Report.

Department Director Angie Paccione, Ph.D said there are significant benefits to getting any education or training beyond high school.

“When you attain higher education, you get higher earnings, better health outcomes,” said Paccione. “You get less unemployment. Typical-

Our Family Helping Your Family

ly, debt goes down.”

Nine out of ten employers in the state say they have jobs to fill but can’t find skilled workers.

Colorado ranks second nationally with more than 60% of its residents with some postsecondary education, including large numbers of people who move to the state with a degree in hand.

Paccione said the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative shows that the attainment gap can be closed, but more funding is needed.

“It was designed for low-income students, firstgeneration students and students of color to get both the scholarships and the wrap-around support services,” said Paccione. “These students will change the trajectories of their families, and of themselves, of course.”

Each new postsecondary graduate in Colorado contributes more than $132,000 to the state’s GDP. Colorado workers without a degree or credential earn on average less than $1,000 per week, compared with $1,500 per week for those with bachelor’s degrees, and more than $2,000 per week for those with advanced degrees.

Paccione said the state has taken steps to remove cost as a barrier.

“We have about 12 occupations that students in Colorado can pursue at zero cost for tuition and fees,” said Paccione. “The construction trades, firefighting, elementary and early-childhood education, forest management, certified nursing assistants.”

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Elida Rayann “Lilly/LuLu” (Diaz) Diaz January 14, 1999 - January 1, 2024

Memory In Loving

Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. 303-566-4100 obituaries@coloradocommunitymedia.com Self placement available online at thebrightonblade.com

Elida Rayann Diaz, 24, transitioned into the spiritual realm on January 1st, 2024 two weeks shy of her 25th birthday.

She was a payroll professional at H and R Block, a poet, beloved daughter, mother, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend to many. She enjoyed music, anything to do with hair, makeup, and glam. She was at her best when spending time with her two young sons.

Elida was a free spirit and it wasn’t uncommon that once you were close to her you would be sure to laugh. Her humor paired with her passion made her unique and anytime spent with her would be an adventure to say the least.

She is survived by her sons Malachi David “Pooch”, and Jason Yae “Bean”, Father

Johnny Diaz (Brighton), Mother- Nicole Moore-Abeyta (Denver), Bonus Father Joshua Abeyta (Denver), SiblingsDeMarcus Martinez (Denver), Fallon Chavez-Bravo, Juanito Diaz (Brighton), Josiah Diaz (Brighton). Aunts and Uncles Pricilla Diaz, Cecelia and Rick Vogltanz, Frank Diaz, Arian Diaz, Jennica Escamilla, Robert and Nancy Diaz, and Anthony Diaz (Brighton).

Grandparents Lyle and Doreen Talbot (Brighton), Grandmother Natividad Diaz (Brighton), Grandfather Sidney Moore (Illinois), Great-grandparents, Lyle Sr. & Inez Talbot (Illinois).

Services will be held at Saint Williams Church in Ft Lupton, Colorado January 12th, 2024 1025 Fulton Ave, Ft Lupton Colorado 80621 at 10am with reception to follow in adjacent hall.

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January 18, 2024J

LOCAL

LIFE

STARTING 2024 WITH A SPLASH

More than 400 locals inaugurate the new year at Evergreen Lake Plunge

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

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hether they wanted to support a local cause or wash off any remnants of 2023, more than 400 people from across the Denver metro area celebrated New Year’s Day by jumping into Evergreen Lake.

The annual Evergreen Lake Plunge had record participation in 2024. Nonprofit Active4All, which fundraises for local parks and recreation programs, sold out its 400 pre-registered spots and limited day-of registrations.

The weather was likely a factor, as several plunge veterans said the sunny conditions and 40-degree temperatures made a difference. In other years, participants have faced cloudy, windy weather and literal 0-degree conditions, which made getting out of the water that much worse, they described.

This year’s participants were also a mix of returners and newcomers, with many convincing their friends and relatives to jump too.

Wheat Ridge’s Steve Moyer said doing a Polar Plunge-type event has been on his “bucket list” for years. So, when he decided 2024 would finally be the year he’d take the literal plunge, he convinced three of his loved ones to do it with him.

SEE SPLASH, P13

Wearing a shark hat, Wheat Ridge’s Steve Moyer leaps into the water during the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge.

Moyer, a newcomer to the plunge, convinced some of his family members to do it with him, saying it was one PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN of his “bucket list” items.

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January 18, 2024

SPLASH FROM PAGE 12

Moyer even sported a shark hat for the occasion, which was one of many fun costumes people wore to the event.

Evergreen’s Jon Balliet dressed as a hummingbird — complete with sound effects.

Balliet, who’s done the plunge seven or eight times, said he wears a new costume each year. He’s won the costume contest before as a shark eating a person and decided to dress as an elk for 2023’s event.

This year, he chose a hummingbird, saying, “They’re all over Evergreen.”

Brothers Stephen and Greg Leathers — from Highlands Ranch and Englewood, respectively — donned Christmas sweaters and pajama pants for the plunge. Stephen said he talked Greg into doing it, as they both thought it’d be fun.

Greg had plunged before at Lake Michigan, but both were newcomers to the Evergreen event. They appreciated the community aspect of it, noting how many people decided to start 2024 this way — plunging into icy waters together.

Several groups like Evergreen Country Day School seventh-graders and the Evergreen High School girls basketball team plunged together.

Golden High School swimmers Mica Gillaspie and Hanna Heard decided to as well.

Gillaspie, a member of the Evergreen Hurricanes swim team, said she heard about it from her coach and roped Heard into doing it too.

The two said their goals for 2024 included helping the Golden Demons “make it to state.”

The Evergreen Lake Plunge is also a fun New Year’s Day outing for the spectators, like bagpiper Dan Kingsley.

The Lakewood resident said event emcee Alan Gionet recruited him to provide music while participants are waiting in line. Kingsley’s now performed at the event five or six times, describing it as an overall positive experience.

“So many people are out here having a great time,” he said. “ … It’s a good way to start the year off fresh.”

So long, 2023!

Some participants signed up for the 2024 Evergreen Lake Plunge because they had a less-than-ideal 2023 and wanted a powerful way to transition

Dressed as walruses, the Bebarta siblings of Greenwood Village approach the platform for the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge. Emma Bebarta, who was doing her third plunge, said she signed her siblings up to do it with her this year.

Centennial’s Tricia Holloway reacts to the cold water during the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge. Holloway and her friends dressed as phoenixes to symbolize starting PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN 2024 by “rising from the ashes,” they described.

into the new year.

Greenwood Village siblings Emma, Grace and Owen Bebarta described their 2023 as “eventful” and “weird.”

So, they wanted to start the new year “with a bang.”

Emma, who was completing her third plunge, said she signed up the first time because she “wanted a refresh” after the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, she made her siblings do it with her.

Emma and Grace — who are both in college — and Owen — a junior and a swimmer at Cherry Creek High School — described the plunge as a fun activity they could do together while they were all on winter break.

In that spirit, they donned matching walrus costumes for their family

plunge.

Likewise, Tricia Holloway and Michelle Kemberling — both from Centennial — and Annie Zdrojewski of Evergreen dressed as phoenixes to symbolize starting 2024 by “rising from the ashes.”

The three friends plunged last year, saying it was a strong way to start 2023. Their intention when they plunged, they described, was to have a year of transformation.

2023 was ultimately a transformative year with a lot of growth, they said, but perhaps not in the way they wanted. They described it as “a burning year.”

So, the three were being more specific with their 2024 intentions, asking for transformation mixed with calm, stability and gratitude. And, rather than donning the tutus they wore in 2023, they dressed as phoenixes — creatures burn but rise to soar again.

Holloway, Kemberling and Zdrojewski recommended others try it, as it’s a “beautiful way to start the year” that people won’t regret.

All4 a good cause

The Evergreen Lake Plunge is Active4All’s biggest fundraiser, raising at least $25,000 annually for Evergreen Park & Recreation District’s special education program — called INSPIRE — and other programs.

Balliet said the fundraising aspect is a big reason he plunges every year.

“It’s a great cause,” he said. “Everyone should have access to parks and recreation.”

That’s something Clint Frost and his family know all too well.

Frost’s 9-year-old son is an INSPIRE participant, attending the annual summer camp, and going on regular outings like swimming and horse riding. Frost said his son really enjoys skiing and being in the mountains, adding, “That’s his happy place.”

So, Frost plunged this year to support his son and other INSPIRE participants who benefit from Active4All’s fundraising. Frost said he’s plunged before in 2016 or 2017, but travel and COVID-19 prevented him from doing it again sooner. Now, though, he wants to be a regular.

He described how hard everyone works to make the annual event a success, from the sponsors and organizers to the firefighters and volunteers. The participants’ financial contributions and word-of-mouth advertising are also big factors.

Frost said of everyone who helps make it possible: “I can’t thank them enough.”

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January 18, 2024J

LAWSUIT FROM PAGE 1

minutes from a Sept. 26 board meeting show. Rob Williams, the charter school network’s temporary president who has long served as the board chair and treasurer, told The Colorado Sun that the board decided to sever ties sooner.

“We sped that up,” Williams said.

“We didn’t feel like we were going to make it to the end of the year because they weren’t cooperating.”

When the governing board in November decided to pull funding from ACA beginning in January, the management organization “was left with no choice but to layoff its school level staff mid-year,” Derec Shuler, executive director of the organization, wrote in an email to The Colorado Sun. That meant that 313 employees across the four campuses — which educate more than 1,950 students in grades K-12 along with nearly 230 additional students in a home school enrichment program — were out of a job at the end of December.

“Our desire from the beginning was to ensure any terminations would have minimal impact on students, which is why we planned transitions take place

in the summer,” Shuler wrote. “This unnecessary and untimely mid-year transition will have impacts on students that we hope are handled to provide for the best experience for families.”

But Williams, who has a daughter at the Lone Tree campus, says neither students nor teachers are feeling any effects since the governing board hired Minga Education Group to take on some of the responsibilities formerly held by ACA. Minga Education Group rehired all school staff members and many of the home office employees within the charter school network so there was no disruption to their employment, according to Williams.

The board also circulated a letter to parents and staff in November explaining its plan to transition to Minga Education Group starting in January.

That letter reiterated the board’s plan to move all employees over to the new management group.

“This should be invisible to families and the students especially,” said Kim Gilmartin, a co-founder of the schools who previously worked for ACA and left last June and is now consulting the governing board. “The curriculum will stay the same. They will continue to get the same level and quality of education that they always had.”

ACA alleges that the governing

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board breached its contract with the company, including by deciding to stop paying them in January without a formal board vote or notice to terminate their agreement earlier than June 30, Shuler wrote. ACA said it would file a lawsuit this week against the governing board, likely in federal court.

Williams maintains there was no breach.

“We have followed the contract with them,” Williams said, declining to comment further because of “threatened litigation.”

He also declined to cite specific reasons for the board’s decision to cut ties with ACA because of potential litigation.

Shuler questioned how the governing board selected Minga Education Group as its new partner, saying he was aware that the board was going to issue a request for proposal and invite ACA to participate. He said he never saw the board go through with a public process and added that the Colorado charter schools will lose their licenses to the Ascent name due to the alleged contract breaches.

Williams responded that the board did not issue a formal request for proposal but asked groups including ACA to submit proposals and interviewed multiple organizations. He said the Colorado charter schools will continue to use the Ascent name, citing the board’s contract with ACA. The contract held between Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County and ACA states that “the name ‘Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County’ shall be a trade name of the school, and the school shall have the right to use the (name) after termination of this agreement without additional compensation to Ascent.’”

Charter schools are public schools managed by outside nonprofit operators that establish a performance contract with an authorizer — a school district, or in Colorado, the Colorado Charter School Institute. The contract gives charter schools more flexibility than traditional public schools over how they educate kids, but they are still subject to the same standards and assessments as traditional public schools.

Not all charter schools rely on a third-party management organization with more charter schools in Colorado running on their own rather than with outside help, according to Terry Croy Lewis, executive director of the Colorado Charter School Institute. The statewide charter school authorizer acts as an independent agency under the state education department.

Charter schools that opt to bring on a management organization in some

cases delegate back office responsibilities like human resources, hiring employees, managing payroll, bookkeeping and budgeting, Croy Lewis said.

A management organization has no authority over charter schools, Croy Lewis noted.

The authorizer, which holds a contract with the governing board, oversees the schools’ operations, academics and finances, evaluating schools each year and lending different levels of support in areas like school finance, student programs and data submissions, she said.

Meanwhile, the governing board acts as the school board for the charter schools, setting benchmarks for academics, enrollment, finances and spending and holding each school accountable for hitting expectations, Williams said.

The Colorado Charter School Institute has supported Ascent Classical Academy schools and the governing board throughout its transition to a new management organization, making sure the schools had what they needed to submit enrollment numbers to the state education department during Colorado’s annual count of students in October.

The governing board has the right to select which management company best fits its needs and to switch companies if a particular company is not aligned with the direction of the schools, Croy Lewis said.

“We’ve really stressed strongly that the board needs to have strong oversight of any education management organization they work with, that they need to hold them accountable and they need to evaluate them on a yearto-year basis to ensure they are getting the services that they have spelled out in the contract,” she said.

The governing board of Ascent Classical Academy schools has worked with ACA to create cost efficiencies across the four schools, Williams said, with the management organization handling day-to-day operations of schools, helping hire staff as well as making sure that employees get paid, that the schools are compliant with HR policies and that the schools are meeting requirements detailed in their charter with the Colorado Charter School Institute, for example.

Some management organizations promote a specific type of curriculum, which has been a sticking point between the governing board and ACA. The schools use a curriculum affiliated with Hillsdale College, a small Christian college in southern Michigan focused on classical liberal arts.

SEE LAWSUIT, P15

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January 18, 2024

LAWSUIT FROM PAGE 14

ACA no longer wanted to partner with Hillsdale College, Williams said, and he’s not sure why. The board explicitly directed the management organization to stick with the curriculum at public meetings for many months, he added.

ACA spokesperson Amy Willis said ACA is not opposed to partnering with Hillsdale College for curriculum.

However, the college’s K-12 Education Office wanted to sign an agreement with ACA “through which ACA’s larger operations would be negatively impacted,” Willis wrote in a text message to The Colorado Sun. She declined to talk about specific details of the agreement, explaining that “the terms of the proposed agreement are not public.”

The governing board also was unhappy with persistent turnover among its schools, including among

headmasters, Williams added, noting that the Lone Tree school had two headmasters in the course of one particular school year.

Centennial mother Annie Kaess was among the parents who helped found Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County in Lone Tree, the first Ascent Classical Academy charter school in Colorado. Kaess said she walked in parades to promote the charter school.

Four of her six children attend the school, which she was drawn to because of its focus on classical education — a liberal arts-based approach to education that focuses on critical thinking as well as studying classic literature, history and philosophy and building moral character.

“We knew there were going to be a lot of bumps, and so we gave a lot of grace for the first three or four years,” Kaess said.

But when the school was still “limping along” a few years after it opened, Kaess said, she began asking ques-

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tions. She was particularly troubled by the constant churn of staff, including headmasters and teachers, as well as the decision of other families to leave, including families who had advocated alongside her for the charter school to launch.

“To me, that was the big red flag,” Kaess said. “Why did we keep having this much turnover and this much instability at a school that people fought to get open?”

She relayed her concerns to the board, urging board members to hold ACA accountable and ensure they were delivering on services they had promised. She also signed a parent petition in the fall pushing for the charter school network to remain affiliated with Hillsdale College.

She now supports the board in shifting away from ACA. “As a management organization of a school that claims to put kids first,” Kaess said, “I always wanted them to focus more on the success of their school, not just on academic scores

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but the health of the school as a whole for the longevity of the school. And it seemed like they were more focused on the growth of their network than the health of their school.”

ACA has continued to try to expand, including through a failed attempt to open a school in Boulder, the Boulder Daily Camera reported Shuler, ACA’s executive director, wrote in an email to The Colorado Sun, that the management group will continue trying to add to its footprint of schools across the country.

The organization “will lose some economies of scale in the short run as we shift to other opportunities in the Rockies, Carolinas, and other states,” he wrote, “but ACA has an opportunity to rebuild quickly and with better models of governance and operations.”

This story was printed through a news sharing agreement with The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonprofit based in Denver that covers the state.

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16

LOCAL

January 18, 2024J

SPORTS

Family and friends remember beloved Brush legend and Colorado sports official Gerrard Flores Flores died after falling ill while refereeing a wrestling match — one of five sports he officiated

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Everyone who got to know Gerrard Flores loved him — and Flores knew everyone.

The Brush, Colorado native died doing what he loved — officiating youth wrestling — on Jan. 7. Flores was a father of two boys, grandfather of one, Brush High School homecoming king, three-sport athlete, five-sport official, coach, ordained minister and karaoke aficionado.

He was 55 years old.

Flores was born into a big family — he was one of 13 children. His experiences with sports began at a young age and continued throughout his life, as did his love of his

Flores in his youth.

COURTESY CHAD COX

hometown, Brush.

A Beetdigger through and through, even when Flores moved to Colorado Springs, he kept Brush close to his heart, forming a youth baseball organization named after his high school’s mascot.

Flores met his fiancé Rene McElhany in an unlikely place — on the wrestling mat. She joined Flores in his officiating pursuits and encouraged him to try new sports like softball and volleyball. On off nights, the couple would go to youth matches and support other officials “From the beginning, we met on the wrestling mat, and that is where he loved to be,” McElhany said. “But as we got to know each other and started building our relationship, he encouraged me to step on the mat in a different way, and to officiate with him.

“I traveled with him everywhere,” McElhany continued. “(Officiating) was our fun. It was our opportunity to go on a new adventure and do things together. It was how we lived and loved and spent our free time.”

Flores officiated football for 32 years, wrestling for 25 years, baseball for 18 years, softball for 5 years and started officiating volleyball last year.

One of Flores’ six sisters, Malessa Hernandez, said he worked to make

the young people he was officiating feel special and was always a positive presence in life.

“When he would officiate wrestling, he would hold the winners’ arm up and ask them, ‘Where are your parents?’ and he would turn them to their parents to represent the winner — but in his eyes every kid was a winner to him,” Hernandez said. “He was not ever in a bad mood, he was just one happy, happy guy.

“This is such a huge hit not only to our family but numerous communities,” Hernandez continued. “He was just huge to everyone in the world.”

Flores shared his love of sports with his two sons, Trea and Tristin, supporting their athletic endeavors and sharing his love of the Denver Broncos with them. He was able to meet his grandson, Hendrix — Tristin’s son — before he passed.

Trea said the last time he saw his dad was for a trip to a Broncos game.

SEE FLORES, P17

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January 18, 2024

FLORES FROM PAGE 16

“I will never watch a Bronco game the same without my dad,” Trea Flores said. “We enjoyed watching football together and the Broncos were our thing. Our last trip together was going to the Bronco game, and that’s the last time I saw him. It was a great trip. And he’s a good man.

“You just felt loved by him,” Trea Flores continued. “He loved everyone, literally. So, I’ll just miss him greatly.

He just had a big impact in life.”

Stephen Dabelko met Flores on the wrestling mat and said that the relationship Colorado wrestlers had with Flores differed from other officials.

“You couldn’t help but love him,” Dabelko said. “The news of his passing completely broke my son and I. Normally, wrestlers don’t have a relationship with refs but Gerrard was different. He made everyone feel special.

The wrestling community lost one of its favorite people. He made every kid feel important. He found joy in making everyone feel special.”

Flores’ longtime friend JJ Pursely said that Flores enjoyed being involved in every level of the sport and watching those in the community grow up and move through the ranks.

“You could tell that he really enjoyed refereeing; he enjoyed watching your wrestling,” Pursley said. “He especially enjoyed watching Brush wrestling.

And then the coaches that he got to ref when they were in their careers, he loved watching them coach.”

Another of Flores’ sisters, Shaire Chavez, attributed divine intervention to Flores’ ability to impact so many people around the state and country.

“We were all just wondering, ‘How did Gerard impact so many people throughout the United States?’” Chavez said. “And I came to the conclusion at 3 a.m. this morning that he was literally an angel on earth because how else could someone be loved all over?

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“And if this world would live like Gerard did, it’d be a much better place because he was never ever mad,” Chavez said. “He was always so happy.”

Outside of the athletic community, Flores was known as a “jokester, a prankster” who “made everyone laugh and made everyone feel loved,” according to McElhany.

He loved to dance and sing karaoke; his favorite karaoke songs were “Summer Nights,” “Neon Moon,” and “Friends in Low Places.”

McElhany said Flores’ joy in life was to support those around him and keep up long-lasting relationships. An ordained minister, Flores would marry anyone who asked him to, including former players he had coached or refereed.

“His priorities in life were his family, his friends and sports,” McElhany said. “Those are the things he loved the most. He loved getting together with all of his brothers and sisters, all of his nieces and nephews, great

nieces and nephews. He delighted in things like going to their sporting events, supporting them and in all the things they were involved in.

“It was his great pleasure to encourage and to lift up those that he loved,” McElhany continued. “He had a wealth of friends from all different areas of life, all the way back to his school days that he still kept in contact, to probably just the person he met on the street yesterday. And he valued all of them very deeply.”

Flores’ friend Chad Cox echoed McElhany’s sentiments, saying that he brightened the lives of those around him.

“He was always a guy that just loved to have fun, no matter what he was doing,” Cox said. “It was rare to find him without a smile on his face, without him putting smiles on people’s faces.”

A funeral for Flores is scheduled for Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. at Brush High School.

It is open to the public. Donations to the Flores family to help with funeral costs can be sent here.

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18

January 18, 2024J

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Solution

TRIVIA 1. MOVIES: What state is the setting for the 1990s movie “Twister”?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Lake Okeechobee is in which U.S. state?

3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president adopted the expression, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”?

4. MUSIC: Actor/singer Jared Leto also is the front man for which rock music band?

5. HISTORY: The U.S. Civil War ended in 1865 when Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union forces in which Virginia town?

6. SCIENCE: Which element has the symbol Pb? 7. GAMES: What is the destination in the board game Candy Land?

8. TELEVISON: Who was the longrunning host of “American Bandstand”?

9. U.S. STATES: What is the capital of Alaska?

10. LITERATURE: Who is the author of the autobiographical work “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”?

Answers 1. Oklahoma.

2. Florida.

3. Theodore Roosevelt.

4. Thirty Seconds to Mars.

5. Appomattox.

6. Lead.

7. Candy Castle.

8. Dick Clark.

9. Juneau.

10. Maya Angelou. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Crossword Solution

19

January 18, 2024

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Public Notices call 303-566-4123 Legals Bids and Settlements Public Notice

Littleton, CO 80120 Phone: 720-283-6783 ext. 134 Email: wleplatt@redland.com Legal Notice No. BSB2936 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice

INVITATION TO BID Prairie Center Metropolitan District No. 3 (hereinafter called the “Owner”) will receive sealed Bids for the Retail 4 Project (the “Project”) via email to wleplatt@redland.com until 11 a.m., February 1, 2024. At such time, Bids received will be publicly opened and read aloud via the following virtual meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84113568 047?pwd=KU0ivII9olLu2NRga3BI2nJh1jsFfB.1 A description of the Work to be performed is: District roadway improvements to include erosion control, grading, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, potable and non-potable water, concrete, asphalt, and signage and striping.

Bid packages will be available at the following link for download: https://redland.box.com/s/36fg336bc19fwp2 h055odjsa0xn5puz6 on the day of advertisement. Plan holders are required to notify Wade LePlatt at Redland via email that they are plan holders, no later than four (4) days prior to bid submissions, in order to receive notification of bid addenda. Bidders must acknowledge receipt of bid addenda on the designated form with their bid submission or their bid will be automatically disqualified.

A pre-bid conference will not be held.

Bids shall be made on the forms furnished by the Owner and shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope and endorsed with the name of the Bidder. A Bid Bond in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the total Bid amount will be required. The Bid Bond will be retained by Owner as liquidated damages should the Successful Bidder fail to enter into a Contract with the Owner in accordance with the Bid Bidders must supply a list of Subcontractors.

Attention is called to the fact that Bidders offer to assume the obligations and liabilities imposed by the Contract Documents. The Successful Bidder for the Project will be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Labor and Materials Payment Bond in the full amount of the Contract Price, in conformity with the requirements of the Contract Documents.

Bidders are hereby advised that the Owner reserves the right to not award a Contract until sixty (60) days from the date of the opening of Bids, and Bidders expressly agree to keep their Bids open for the sixty (60) day time period. Owner reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive any informality, technicality or irregularity in any Bid, to disregard all non-conforming, non-responsive, conditional or alternate Bids, to negotiate contract terms with the Successful Bidder, to require statements or evidence of Bidders’ qualifications, including financial statements, and to accept the proposal that is in the opinion of the Owner in its best interest. Owner reserves the right to accept any combination of Bids which in Owner’s sole and absolute judgment will, under all circumstances, best serve the Owner’s interests. Owner also reserves the right to extend the Bidding period by Addendum if it appears in its interest to do so.

Any questions concerning this bid shall be directed via email to: Wade LePlatt, P.E. Redland 1500 West Canal Court

INVITATION TO BID Wyndham Hill Metropolitan District No. 4 (District) is requesting sealed bids for furnishing of all labor, material, and equipment necessary to complete the following District improvement projects: Wyndham Hill 30” Irrigation Line (District Improvement Areas). Work may include grading, excavation, pumping, shoring, fine grading, erosion control, utility crossing, traffic control, concrete, and asphalt paving improvements, etc.

The Owner will provide geotechnical engineering and project surveying. District projects are tax exempt.

Construction bid documents and forms can be obtained electronically from Wyndham Hill Metropolitan District No. 4 starting on Friday January 12, 2024. Bid documents can be requested via e-mail to travis@cdgcolorado.com. Questions are due in writing by Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 at 5:00 PM to travis@cdgcolorado.com .

Bids are due by 12:00 NOON on Friday, January 26th, 2024 to Wyndham Hill Metropolitan District No. 4 2500 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 220, Boulder, CO 80302 or submit via email to travis@cdgcolorado.com. The Owner has sole discretion in selection of the bid and may reject any bid and waive any informalities in the Bid. Bids will not be read aloud.

Legal Notice No. BSB2917 First Publication: January 11, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Summons and Sheriff Sale Public Notice DISTRICT COURT ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO 1100 JUDICIAL CENTER DRIVE BRIGHTON, CO 80601 Telephone: 303-659-1161 Plaintiff: George Kline

are required to file your answer or other response within 35 days after such service upon you. Your answer or counterclaim must be accompanied with the applicable filing fee. If you fail to file your answer or other response to the Complaint in writing within the applicable time period, the Court may enter judgment by default against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint without further notice.

Attorney for Plaintiff: */s/ Kent L. Freudenberg #22246 115 E. Las Animas Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Legal Notice No. BSB2934 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 15, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Storage Liens/Vehicle Titles Public Notice Abandoned vehicle sale Tri-County Auto Recovery LLC 720 298 7466 02 Ford f-250. D 29520 02 Ford focus. 275018 02 Ford focus. 423913 04 Honda crv. 034290 07 Ford focus. 222943 11 Kia sorento. 165445 Legal Notice No. BSB2932 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice T&R AUTO REPAIR IS SELLING 303-659-6747 2013 FORD F-150 VIN ENDING IN E09414 Legal Notice No. BSB2930 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice Abandoned Vehicle Sale All About Towing & Recovery 303 944-5464 1758 S 112th St Broomfield CO 80020

v.

2007 Audi RS4 Gray VIN 902807

Defendants: Anthony Joseph Kline and All Unknown parties Claiming an Interest in this property

Legal Notice No. BSB2935 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Case Number:2023CV31238 Division W NOTICE OF SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO § 15-10-401, C.R.S. To: Anthony Joseph Kline and All Unknown parties Claiming an Interest in this property Last Known Address, if any: 9072 Rampart St, Federal Heights, Adams County, CO 80260 YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to file with the Clerk of this Court an answer or other response to the attached Complaint. If service of the Summons and Complaint was made upon you within the State of Colorado, you are required to file your answer or other response within 21 days after such service upon you. If service of the Summons and Complaint was made upon you outside of the State of Colorado, you

Notice to Creditors PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of TINA M. GILL, aka TINA GILL, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30977 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Jeff D. Erwine Personal Representative

c/o Michael Meurer 5347 S. Valentia Way, Ste. 335 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Legal Notice No. BSB2937 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Samuel T. Edwards Cathey III, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 365 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before May 4, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Marylee K Ortiz Personal Representative 1040 Sheldon dr Denver, CO, 80229 Legal Notice No. BSB2909 First Publication: January 4, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Terrence Gentry, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 330 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Anthony M. Gentry Personal Representative 14855 Echo Dr. Golden, CO 80401 Legal Notice No. BSB2931 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of PATRICIA L. BUTLER, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30800 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before May 11, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Attorney for the Personal Representative: Kenton H. Kuhlman, No. 9433 Kuhlman and Kuhlman, P.C. 8843 Swan River St Littleton, CO 80125 Telephone: 303-770-6664 Email: kk@kenkuhlmanlaw.com Legal Notice No. BSB2922 First Publication: January 11, 2024 Last Publication: January 25, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of DAVID WAYNE NICE, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30829 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before May 4, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Rodney C. Atherton – AEGIS Law, LLC 6870 W. 52nd Ave., Suite 203 Arvada, CO 80002 Legal Notice No. BSB2913 First Publication: January 4, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Kathy Ann Shank a/k/a Kathy A. Shank, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30973 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before May 4, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Paula Shank Personal Representative 13075 E 25th Pl Aurora CO 80011 John F. Cook Attorney for Personal Representative 12101 E 2nd Ave Suite 102 Aurora, CO 80011 (303)363-6200 cookjohnf1@qwestoffice.net Legal Notice No. BSB2914 First Publication: January 4, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Babe Henry Haviland, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30975 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before May 6, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Kimberly A. Barr, Attorney for Personal Representative Lyons Gaddis, P.C. PO Box 978 Longmont, Colorado 80501 Legal Notice No. BSB2912 First Publication: January 4, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of TOM DEAN MORGAN, aka TOMMY DEAN MORGAN, aka TOM D. MORGAN, aka TOMMY D. MORGAN, aka TOM MORGAN, aka TOMMY MORGAN, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30003 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before May 18, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Richard Morgan Personal Representative c/o Baker Law Group, LLC 8301 E. Prentice Ave, #405 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Legal Notice No. BSB2933 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: February 1, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Brighton Standard Blade/Fort Lupton Press January 18, 2024 * 1

22

January 18, 2024J

Public Notices Name Changes PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name Public notice is given on December 19, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Adams County Court.

Public Notices

Please call if we can help you with your legal publication.

The petition requests that the name of Adrianna Marie Peterson be changed to Audri Marie Martinez Case No.: 23 C 1914 By: Deputy Clerk

303-566-4088

Legal Notice No. BSB2916 First Publication: January 4, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade ###

Fort Lupton Expenditures Public Notice EXPENDITURES DECEMBER 19, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024 DATE

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COMPANY

AMOUNT

12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023

86306 86307 86308 86309 86310 86311 86312 86313 86314 86315 86316 86317 86318 86319 86320 86321 86322 86323 86324 86325 86326 86327 86328 86329 86330 86331 86332 86333 86334 86335 86336 101538 101539 101540 101541 101542 101543 101544 101545 101546 101547 101548 101549 101550 101551 101552 101553 101554 101555 101556 101557 101558 101559 101560 101561 101562

ACE HARDWARE OF FORT LUPTON $67.71 ACUSHNET COMPANY $528.66 AIRGAS USA LLC $18.61 BERMUDA SANDS APPAREL $1,080.76 EWING IRRIGATION PRODUCTS INC $1,413.42 FERRELLGAS LP $987.98 GOLF AND SPORT SOLUTIONS LLC $1,743.09 HIGH COUNTRY BEVERAGE CORP $186.10 LL JOHNSON DISTRIBUTING $1,296.63 O’CONNOR, INC. $383.85 SPECIALTY CIGARS, LLC $354.10 SUNICE $301.50 TERMINIX $163.00 COMCAST CABLE COMM, LLC $308.69 EAGLE ROCK COMPANY OF COLO $131.00 LL JOHNSON DISTRIBUTING $195.65 R & L TIRES $25.00 SRIXON/CLEVELAND GOLF/XX10 $65.25 TERMINIX $163.00 WASTE CONNECTIONS OF COLO, INC $643.58 ACUSHNET COMPANY $233.01 EWING IRRIGATION PRODUCTS INC $134.02 AGFINITY INC $395.45 BUCKEYE CLEANING CENTER $127.12 CENTURYLINK $61.94 COMCAST CABLE COMM, LLC $39.12 EWING IRRIGATION PRODUCTS INC $123.26 FUZION FIELD SERVICES LLC $255.75 HUDSON LOCKERS, INC $100.00 SUNICE $277.18 XCEL ENERGY-GAS $456.46 ADAMSON POLICE PRODUCTS $116.55 AMAZE HEALTH $1,740.00 BANK OF COLORADO $758.60 CARL CARSTENS $20.28 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE $40.00 COLORADO ANALYTICAL LAB $48.00 COMCAST BUSINESS $2,242.66 COMCAST CABLE COMM, LLC $387.23 CROSS LINE CONSTRUCTION CORP $148,496.00 FORT LUPTON CARWASH $3,269.75 FRONT RANGE LUMBER COMPANY $41.28 KONE INC $140.80 LANGUAGELINE SOLUTIONS $350.96 LEFTA SYSTEMS $4,640.23 LEGACY SCHOOL OF DANCE LLC $966.00 LL JOHNSON DISTRIBUTING $459.13 MERAKI INSTALLERS LLC $390.36 MILE HIGH SHOOTING ACCESSORIES LLC $161.94 MINUTEMAN PRESS $238.87 O’REILLY AUTO PARTS $981.42 PINNACOL ASSURANCE $228.99 PLACER LABS, INC. $9,975.00 R & M SERVICES $387.08 REDI SERVICES, LLC $1,200.00 RIVERDALE TREE SERVICES $13,100.00

12/28/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/19/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023

101562 101563 101564 101565 101566 101567 101568 101569 101570 101571 101572 101573 101575 101591 101592 101593 101594 101595 101596 101597 101598 101599 101600 101601 101602 101603 101604 101605 101606 101607 101608 101609 101610 101611 101612 101613 101614 101615 101616 101617 101618 101619 101620 101621 101622 101622 101623 101624 101625 101626 101627 101628 101629 101630 101631 101632 101633 101634

RIVERDALE TREE SERVICES -$13,100.00 SMART SOLUTIONS GROUP, INC. $1,000.00 STATE OF COLORADO $3,384.59 STERICYCLE $96.92 SUPERIOR UNDERGROUND $1,500.00 TRUDILIGENCE LLC $5.20 TYLER TECHNOLOGIES $514.80 ULTIMATE DENT REMOVAL LLP $2,796.00 UNIVERSITY AUTO PARTS $15.75 VERIZON WIRELESS SVCS LLC $5,421.14 WAGNER EQUIPMENT CO. $2,004.82 WELD COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH $170.00 TOSHIBA FINANCIAL SERVICES $963.89 4 RIVERS EQUIPMENT $7,104.87 ADOLFSON & PETERSON CONSTRUCTION $943,264.16 AFLAC $3,354.76 AMAZON.COM $6,976.16 BADGER METER $231,070.00 BSN SPORTS LLC $4,093.70 CEM SALES & SERVICE INC $2,005.00 CENTURA HEALTH $96.67 CH2M $523.10 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE $1,500.00 CHRISTOPHER CROSS $142.14 CINTAS FIRST AID & SAFETY $72.49 CITY OF FORT LUPTON $185.00 COLONIAL LIFE $105.96 COLORADO ASPHALT SVCS $1,575.95 COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA $487.07 CORE&MAIN LP $25,130.48 ECOLAB INC $133.35 FARIS MACHINERY COMPANY $2,595.00 FUREVERDOG RESCUE AND BOARDING $65.00 GREELEY LOCK & KEY $980.30 GREEN MILL SPORTSMAN’S CLUB $600.00 HEALTHY START CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTING, LLC $135.00 JALEN VASQUEZ $150.00 JOHN DEERE FINANCIAL $156.06 KNS COMMUNICATION CONSULTANTS $9,511.50 LASTPASS US LP $5,727.82 LOST CREEK GUIDE $1,200.00 MEANDERING WITH MARY $220.00 MEDICAL CENTER OF THE ROCKIES $190.73 MICHELLE MAGELSSEN $87.34 MORNING STAR ELEVATOR LLC $297.00 MORNING STAR ELEVATOR LLC -$297.00 O’CONNOR, INC. $1,426.61 OFFICE DEPOT $253.56 O’REILLY AUTO PARTS $639.01 PATRIOT DIAMOND, INC $580.00 PUSH PEDAL PULL, INC $220.00 R & M SERVICES $10.00 SWEET PEA CLEANING, LLC $1,292.00 THE CONSOLIDATED MUTUAL $120.36 TODD HODGES DESIGN, LLC $11,118.75 UNITED POWER $163.02 WANER CONSTRUCTION CO $1,500.00 WASTE CONNECTIONS OF COLO, INC $1,399.58

12/27/2023 12/29/2023 12/28/2023 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/26/2023 12/29/2023 12/29/2023 12/29/2023 12/29/2023 12/29/2023 1/3/2024 1/2/2024 1/2/2024 12/26/2023 12/20/2024 12/19/2024 1/3/2024 1/3/2024 12/29/2023 12/29/2023 12/27/2023 12/27/2023 12/19/2023 1/2/2024 12/29/2023 12/28/2023 12/21/2023 12/20/2023

101635 101636 101637 101638 101639 101640 101641 101642 101643 101644 101645 101646 101647 101648 101649 101650 101651 101652 101653 101654 101655 101656 101657 101658 101659 101660 101661 DFT0002299 DFT0002303 DFT0002307 DFT0002311 DFT0002312 DFT0002313 DFT0002314 DFT0002315 EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT

BUCKEYE CLEANING CENTER $8,219.13 SUTTELL & HAMMER PC $176.04 RIVERDALE TREE SERVICES $13,100.00 ADT SECURITY SYSTEM $151.47 AMERITAS LIFE INSURANCE CORP $8,645.85 ARCHIVESOCIAL INC $4,188.00 BURNS & MCDONNELL ENGINEERING CO INC $50,857.00 CIVICPLUS $18,444.66 COLORADO ANALYTICAL LAB $72.00 COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA $62.12 COMCAST BUSINESS $2,690.41 COMCAST CABLE COMM, LLC $499.35 EMC CORPORATION $3,892.54 ENCO SYSTEMS INC $1,592.00 HARD BEAN COFFEE COLORADO, LLC $287.88 L.G. EVERIST, INC $181.48 NEOGOV $577.00 OFFICE DEPOT $51.45 Oxygen Forensics Inc $3,695.00 PROCODE INC $39,532.74 TAIT & ASSOCIATES, INC. $418.40 TOSHIBA FINANCIAL SERVICES $334.52 UNITEDHEALTHCARE INSURANCE COMPANY $115,337.56 USA BLUE BOOK $1,922.92 WASTE MANAGEMENT OF COLORADO, INC. $2,191.21 WELD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE $37.83 XCEL ENERGY-GAS $859.17 BANK OF COLORADO -$50.00 BANK OF COLORADO -$150.00 BANK OF COLORADO -$50.00 BANK OF COLORADO $50.00 BANK OF COLORADO $50.00 VALIC_1 $46,826.20 IRS $81,128.20 CO DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE $14,169.00 Global Payments $1,110.16 Global Payments $713.50 FDMS $59.88 CWCB Wire $160,715.74 Comdata $4,445.30 Comdata $6,935.84 BOC Transfer $2,540,000.00 Full Steam $1,369.17 BOC Service Charge $58.60 BOC Lockbox Fee $474.65 PSN*Payment Serv Collection $169.43 BOC Transfer $16,000.00 BOC Transfer $1,300,000.00 BOC Loan Payment $36,364.92 NBS $1,604.73 NBS $2,242.30 NBS $516.13 Enterprise $12,609.79

Legal Notice No.: FLP993 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Brighton Standard Blade/Fort Lupton Press January 18, 2024 * 2

23

January 18, 2024

Looking to rural doctors to save mothers

BY SARAH JANE TRIBBLE KFF HEALTH NEWS

Zita Magloire carefully adjusted a soft measuring tape across Kenadie Evans’ pregnant belly.

Determining a baby’s size during a 28-week obstetrical visit is routine. But Magloire, a family physician trained in obstetrics in Georgia, knows that finding the mother’s uterus and, thus, checking the baby, can be tricky for inexperienced doctors.

“Sometimes it’s, like, off to the side,” Magloire said, showing a visiting medical student how to press down firmly and complete the hands-on exam. She moved her finger slightly to calculate the fetus’s height: “There she is, right here.”

Evans smiled and later said Magloire made her “comfortable.”

The 21-year-old had recently relocated from Louisiana to southeastern Georgia, two states where both maternal and infant mortality are persistently high. She moved in with her mother and grandfather near Cairo, an agricultural community where the hospital has a busy labor and delivery unit. Magloire and other doctors at the local clinic where she works deliver hundreds of babies there each year.

Scenes like the one between Evans

and Magloire regularly play out in this rural corner of Georgia despite grim realities mothers and babies face nationwide. Maternal deaths keep rising, with Black and Indigenous mothers most at risk; the number of babies who died before their 1st birthday climbed last year; and more than half of all rural counties in the United States have no hospital services for delivering babies, increasing travel time for parents-to-be and causing declines in prenatal care.

There are many reasons labor and delivery units close, including high operating costs, declining populations, low Medicaid reimbursement rates, and staffing shortages. Family medicine physicians still provide the majority of labor and delivery care in rural America, but few new doctors recruited to less populated areas offer obstetrics care, partly because they don’t want to be on call 24/7.

Now, with rural America hemorrhaging health care providers, the federal government is investing dollars and attention to increase the ranks.

“Obviously the crisis is here,” said Hana Hinkle, executive director of the Rural Training Track Collaborative, which works with more than 70 rural residency training programs.

Federal grants have boosted training

Public Notices

Metropolitan Districts Public Notice 00 11 13 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS ARISTOCRAT RANCHETTES WATER PROJECT WELD COUNTY, COLORADO WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS General Notice Aristocrat Ranchettes Water Project (Owner) is requesting Bids for the construction of the following Project: Water System Improvements – Phase I 0058.0005 Bids for the construction of the Project will be received via email opened and read at the offices of Element Engineering, LLC located at 12687 West Cedar Drive, Suite 300, until February 9th, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. local time. At that time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read.

AAFP. In a survey of 216 rural hospitals in 10 states, family practice doctors delivered babies in 67% of the hospitals, and at 27% of the hospitals they were the only ones who delivered babies.

The data counted babies delivered from 2013 to 2017. And, the authors found, if those family physicians hadn’t been there, many patients would have driven an average of 86 miles round-trip for care.

Mark Deutchman, the report’s lead author, said he was “on call for 12 years” when he worked in a town of 2,000 residents in rural Washington.

Clarifying that he was exaggerating, Deutchman explained that he was one of just two local doctors who performed cesarean sections. He said the best way to ensure family physicians can bolster obstetric units is to make sure they work as part of a team to prevent burnout, rather than as solo do-it-all doctors of old.

There needs to be a core group of physicians, nurses, and a supportive hospital administration to share the workload “so that somebody isn’t on call 365 days a year,” said Deutchman, who is also associate dean for rural health at the University of Colorado

Fort Lupton Press

The Project includes the following Work:

Legals

programs in recent years, Hinkle said.

In July, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a nearly $11 million investment in new rural programs, including family medicine residencies that focus on obstetrical training.

Nationwide, a declining number of primary care doctors — internal and family medicine — has made it difficult for patients to book appointments and, in some cases, find a doctor at all. In rural America, training family medicine doctors in obstetrics can be more daunting because of low government reimbursement and increasing medical liability costs, said Hinkle, who is also assistant dean of Rural Health Professions at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Rockford.

In the 1980s, about 43% of general family physicians who completed their residencies were trained in obstetrics. In 2021, the American Academy of Family Physicians’ annual practice profile survey found that 15% of respondents had practiced obstetrics.

Yet family doctors, who also provide the full spectrum of primary care services, are “the backbone of rural deliveries,” said Julie Wood, a doctor and senior vice president of research, science, and health of the public at the

Installation of approximately 56,000 linear-feet of 8-inch water main, 3,300 linear-feet of 12inch watermain, installation of a 330,000-gallon water storage tank, booster pump station and building, and site improvements such as grading, asphalt removal and replacement, road base removal and replacement, fencing, gates, and associated mechanical, electrical, structural, and HVAC work.

Obtaining the Bidding Documents: Information and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found at the following designated website: www.elementengineering.net Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the designated website. Prospective Bidders are urged to register with the designated website as a plan holder, even if Bidding Documents are obtained from a plan room or source other than the designated website in either electronic or paper format. The designated website will be updated periodically with addenda, lists of registered plan holders, reports, and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. All official notifications, addenda, and other Bidding Documents will be offered only through the designated website. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for Bidding Documents, including

addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the designated website.

The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is: Element Engineering, LLC 12687 W. Cedar Drive, Suite 300 Lakewood, CO

A pre-bid conference for the Project will be held on January 30th at 10:00 a.m. at Aristocrat Water Project Office, 15841 Dale Ave, Ft Lupton, CO 80621. Attendance at the pre-bid conference is encouraged but not required.

Instructions to Bidders.

For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.

American Iron and Steel Section 746 of Title VII of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (Division A Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017) and subsequent statutes mandating domestic preference applies an American Iron and Steel requirement to this project. All iron and steel products used in this project must be produced in the United States. The term “iron and steel products” means the following products

made primarily of iron or steel: lined or unlined pipes and fittings, manhole covers and other municipal castings, hydrants, tanks, flanges, pipe clamps and restraints, valves, structural steel, reinforced precast concrete, and Construction Materials.

The following waivers apply to this Contract: De Minimis, Minor Components, Pig iron and direct reduced iron, and This Advertisement is issued by: Owner: Aristocrat Ranchettes Water Project By: Brian Filkowski Title: Manager Date: Weeks of January 15th and 22nd.

Legal Notice No. FLP994 First Publication: January 18, 2024 Last Publication: January 25, 2024 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Bids and Settlements Public Notice INVITATION TO BID Wyndham Hill Metropolitan District No. 4 (District) is requesting sealed bids for furnishing of all labor, material, and equipment necessary

SEE HEALTH CRISIS, P24

to complete the following District improvement projects: Wyndham Hill 30” Irrigation Line (District Improvement Areas). Work may include grading, excavation, pumping, shoring, fine grading, erosion control, utility crossing, traffic control, concrete, and asphalt paving improvements, etc.

The Owner will provide geotechnical engineering and project surveying. District projects are tax exempt.

Construction bid documents and forms can be obtained electronically from Wyndham Hill Metropolitan District No. 4 starting on Friday January 12, 2024. Bid documents can be requested via e-mail to travis@cdgcolorado.com. Questions are due in writing by Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 at 5:00 PM to travis@cdgcolorado.com .

Bids are due by 12:00 NOON on Friday, January 26th, 2024 to Wyndham Hill Metropolitan District No. 4 2500 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 220, Boulder, CO 80302 or submit via email to travis@ cdgcolorado.com. The Owner has sole discretion in selection of the bid and may reject any bid and waive any informalities in the Bid. Bids will not be read aloud.

Legal Notice No. FLP992 First Publication: January 11, 2024 Last Publication: January 18, 2024 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press ###

Brighton Standard Blade/Fort Lupton Press January 18, 2024 * 3

24

January 18, 2024J

HEALTH CRISIS FROM PAGE 23

Anschutz Medical Campus School of Medicine. The school’s College of Nursing received a $2 million federal grant this fall to train midwives to work in rural areas of Colorado.

Nationwide, teams of providers are ensuring rural obstetric units stay busy. In Lakin, Kansas, Drew Miller works with five other family physicians and a physician assistant who has done an obstetrical fellowship.

Together, they deliver about 340 babies a year, up from just over 100 annually when Miller first moved there in 2010. Word-of-mouth and two nearby obstetric unit closures have increased their deliveries. Miller said he has seen friends and partners “from surrounding communities stop delivering just from sheer burnout.”

In Galesburg, Illinois, Annevay Conlee has watched four nearby ob-

stetric units close since 2012, forcing some pregnant people to drive up to an hour and a half for care. Conlee is a practicing family medicine doctor and medical director overseeing four rural areas with a team of OB-GYNs, family physicians, and a nurse-midwife. “There’s no longer the ability to be on 24/7 call for your women to deliver,” Conlee said. “There needs to be a little more harmony when recruiting in to really support a team of physicians and midwives.”

In Cairo, Magloire said practicing obstetrics is “just essential care.” In fact, pregnancy care represents just a slice of her patient visits in this Georgia town of about 10,000 people. On a recent morning, Magloire’s patients included two pregnant people as well as a teen concerned about hip pain and an ecstatic 47-year-old who celebrated losing weight.

Cairo Medical Care, an independent clinic situated across the street from the 60-bed Archbold Grady hospital, is in a community best known for its

peanut crops and as the birthplace of baseball legend Jackie Robinson.

The historical downtown has brickaccented streets and the oldest movie theater in Georgia, and a corner of the library is dedicated to local history.

The clinic’s six doctors, who are a mix of family medicine practitioners, like Magloire, and obstetrician-gynecologists, pull in patients from the surrounding counties and together deliver nearly 300 babies at the hospital each year.

Deanna Buckins, a 36-year-old mother of four boys, said she was relieved when she found “Dr. Z” because she “completely changed our lives.”

“She actually listens to me and accepts my decisions instead of pushing things upon me,” said Buckins, as she held her 3-week-old son, whom Magloire had delivered. Years earlier, Magloire helped diagnose one of Buckins’ older children with autism and built trust with the family.

“Say I go in with one kid; before we

leave, we’ve talked about every single kid on how they’re doing and, you know, getting caught up with life,” Buckins said.

Magloire grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and did her residency in rural Kansas. The smallness of Cairo, she said, allows her to see patients as they grow — chatting up the kids when the mothers or siblings come for appointments.

“She’s very friendly,” Evans said of Magloire. Evans, whose first child was delivered by an OB-GYN, said she was nervous about finding the right doctor. The kind of specialist her doctor was didn’t matter as much as being with “someone who cares,” she said.

As a primary care doctor, Magloire can care for Evans and her children for years to come.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

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