Courier View Pikes Peak
Teller County, Colorado • Volume 51, Issue 44
October 31, 2012
75 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourtellercountynews.com
Choices launches teen program By Pat Hill
phill@ourcoloradonews.com
Kathryn Sneckner, executive director of Choices, has steered the nonprofit organization toward a debt-free addition. This weekend, Peak Internet sponsors the Rocky Mountain Christmas Boutique, a fundraiser for Choices. Photo by Pat Hill
Along with the expansion of Choices to 2,500 square feet, the nonprofit organization launches teen and fatherhood programs. “If dads come in for the ultrasound, they’ve seen the child and it makes a difference,” said Kathryn Sneckner, the executive director. “Suddenly their heart is bonded and, while most of them don’t have the skills to stay in the relationship, if they have someone walking beside them they can develop the skills.” The fatherhood program is another step in the organization’s crisis intervention in unplanned pregnancies. “Most of our clients are not still in the relationship with the mother by the time the child is born but the key is to keep the father engaged in the child’s life,” Sneckner said. “We even teach them the skills to treat the mother with respect, which just gives the child a much more stable start.” The fatherhood program is run by volunteers. “The fathers have an experienced dad meeting with them once a week who is available around the clock for questions and concerns,” Sneckner said. “We try to get the dads connected to the parenting program right away because that increases the bonding and even more so with the fatherhood program,” Sneckner said. The teen program, on the other hand, focuses on developing healthy relationships. “We want kids to think about future goals and
what choices they’re making today that either work toward those goals or could derail those goals,” Sneckner said. With a move-in date the week of Oct. 19, Choices features a baby boutique in pink and blue, separate rooms for consultations, ultrasounds and classes. “We have a two-fold goal, to impact teen pregnancy on the front end and also to improve the outcome for children born to young unprepared parents,” Sneckner said. A tour of the addition highlights the work of Choices and efforts to foster a sense of connection for teenagers who seek help. “We have wonderful clients and it’s so satisfying because we can see the progress they’re making in their lives,” Sneckner said. “A lot of these kids have never had healthy parenting modeled for them.” At $360,000 for the addition designed by David Langley Architects, Choices is down to the last 10 percent of fundraising. “The goal is to have absolutely no long-term carried debt. Park State Bank & Trust has given us temporary financing to cover pledges and grants, on a six-month basis,” Sneckner said. “Vectra Bank has donated thousands of dollars’ worth of furniture.” This weekend, Jayson Baker and Peak Internet sponsor a fundraiser for Choices. A Rocky Mountain Christmas Boutique is from noon to 7 p.m. Nov. 2 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center. The boutique features handmade gift items and gourmet food baskets.
County rakes it in By Pat Hill
phill@ourcoloradonews.com
Teller Trekkers stick to the trail up Boreas Mountain during an Oct. 19 hike, one of the last of the 2012 hiking season. Courtesy photo by Kent Drummond
Teller Trekkers hike while the hiking is good On Oct. 22, Teller Trekkers took advantage of another day of good weather to hike to Signal Butte. Courtesy photo by Dean Jones
Hiking weather will soon go the way of fall leaves but as long as they can, Teller Trekkers will be out on
POSTAL ADDRESS
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.
the trails. In less than a week, the trekkers hiked the 12-Mile Lake trail in the Mosquito Range, up Black Bear Pass to Boreas Mountain, also in the Mosquito Range, and to Signal Butte. Anyone with good hiking skills is welcome to join the group, which is dedicated to taking some of Colorado’s more strenuous trails. For information, email Karen G. Brian at brianmimiraka@q. com.
A significant victory for Teller County, this year’s Limited Gaming Impact grants were right on. “We got full funding for everything we requested,” said Jim Ignatius, Teller County commission chair. In a squeaky time for balancing the county’s budget, the grants are spread around the county, with various agencies and organizations scooping up the extra funds: • Teller County jail, $450,000 • Teller County Sheriff’s office patrol division, $224,792 • 4th Judicial District Attorney’s office, $223,188 • Peak Vista Community Health, $56,000 • Prospect Home Care & Hospice, $60,000 • Court Appointed Special Advocate, $53,400 • Community of Caring, $190,250 • TESSA, $10,000 With $4.8 million in requests and only $3.5 million available from the Limited Gaming Impact Funds, Teller County scored in the 100-percent category. “We did very well,” Ignatius said. More than a mere crap shoot, Ignatius credits Teller County Sheriff Mike Ensminger for the county’s hitting the jackpot. “Mike did a presentation with visual handouts; it was an unbelievable presentation,” he said. “He did a knockdown drag-out presentation.”