Elbert County News 0131

75 CENTS

January 31, 2019

ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

special edition financial pages inside this issue!

Officials hope to split up 18th Judicial District Proposed 23rd District could bring more specialty courts to Douglas County

BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

SNOW PLACE LIKE HOME Crews were out in force, clearing roads as a blizzard swept across Elbert County on Jan. 22. Officials estimate that 8 inches of snow and wind gusts of up to 50 mph pounded the county. COURTESY OF ELBERT COUNTY

Colorado’s most populous judicial district could soon become two.

Some state lawmakers and county officials are declaring it’s time for the 18th Judicial District, marked by rapid population growth, a lopsided disbursement of serious crime and ideological differences, to break up.

A bill to split the 18th Judicial District has not been introduced at the state Legislature but may be in the next month. Four sponsors are ready to see it through: Rep. Mike Weissman, D- Aurora; Rep. Kevin Van Winkle, R- Highlands Ranch; Sen. Rhonda Fields, D- Aurora; and Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs.

“I’m working with a broad number of other interested folks,” said Weissman, “to explore whether the idea of a new judicial district serving Arapahoe County makes sense.”

Reports show about one in five state residents live within the 18th Judicial District.

Another document predicts that if legislation to split the district is not passed this session, plans could be delayed another four years.

SEE SPLIT, P10

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VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 11

ElbertCountyNews.net

VOLUME 124 | ISSUE 1

2 Elbert County News

January 31, 2019J

‘Government 101’ salutes third graduate Elbert County program helps military veterans transition to new careers

BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Larson spent more than 22 years in the military, as an intelligence officer. His duties included analysis, instruction in weapons and tactics, cross-cultural communications and strategic planning at the Pentagon.

Larson retired in December at the age of 44. With a 3-year old daughter and a wife, Larson needs to continue working. The problem is, none of his experience from the military translates well on a resume — making it difficult to find a position or new career.

“How do you take a young infantry officer, who was in charge of 16 enlisted folks, how do you translate his job leading people through exercises and training events and the field, how do you translate that into civilian speak?” said Larson. “We want to find a way of translating that skill set into something that is understandable on the resume.”

Larson, who said he wants to find a career that allows him to continue contributing to his community in a positive way, took advantage of the Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship through Elbert County.

The VLGM program is a 16- to 20-week program, in partnership with the Department of Defense, that provides an internship role to help service members transition out of the military who have an interest in local government.

Retired Lt. Col. Eric Larson, pictured here with his wife Meredith and daughter Emily, recently completed the Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship with Elbert County.

COURTESY OF MARGARET SARDA

SEE GRADUATE, P7

Women and Families Wednesdays kicks off for legislative session Weekly event offers opportunity to lobby legislators on familial and equality issues

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Some people may think their legislators don’t want to talk with them.

But that’s not the case, said Gena Ozols, the political director for NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado.

“Legislators are putting in a lot of work here (at the Capitol) and they want to know that it’s working,” Ozols said. Women and Families Wednesdays is “a reminder to the legislators that we’re here. And we will be here

TO LEARN MORE Women and Families Wednesdays will take place every Wednesday. It is organized by NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado and other local grassroots organizations.

To learn more about NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, visit https://prochoicecolorado. org/. Information on Women and Families Wednesdays events can be found by joining the group, or visiting the group’s page, on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ womenandfamilieswednesdays/. every single Wednesday until the end of the year.”

The Women and Families Wednesdays 2019 Kickoff was Jan. 16 at the Colorado State Capitol in downtown Denver. Organized by local grassroots organizations, the kickoff and the events going forward are an opportunity for Colorado residents to lobby

on familial issues important to them.

These can include fair pay, family leave, child care, access to contraception and reproductive healthcare services, pregnancy discrimination and affordable health care.

“You can’t have justice for just some,” said Wendy Howell, the deputy director for Colorado’s chapter of the national organization Working Families, “you have to have justice for all.”

Take the wage gap as an example, Howell said. It can’t be addressed for only one sector of women.

All women — including women of color, women with a disability and LGBTQ+, among others — need to be represented.

“We need to have all of those voices at the table,” Howell said.

But it’s not only about the work that being done at the capitol, said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez (D-Denver).

“It’s also about the work we’re doing in our communities,” she said.

Rep. Rochelle Galindo (D-Greeley) agreed. “We need legislature that reflects the community they represent so that they have a better understanding of what regular people are going through and the issues they need addressed,” Galindo said.

A diverse legislature can help ensure every demographic is represented, Galindo added.

And across the U.S., voters elected more diversity to the 116th Congress.

This includes two Muslim women and two Native American women, being the first-ever for both ethnicities. Colorado’s Jared Polis is the first openly gay person to serve as governor in the nation.

“With this diverse group of people,” Gonzales-Gutierrez said, “I am hopeful we can work toward the goals of family equity.”

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4 Elbert County News

January 31, 2019J

State’s economy needs moderation, taxes, experts say Economists: Fixing infrastructure will require voters to tax themselves more

BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Colorado’s economic star is rising, but promoting continued growth will require addressing the state’s government funding paradox, according to leading economists.

“What’s wrong with public finance in Colorado isn’t bad people, it’s bad systems,” economist Henry Sobanet, chief financial officer of Colorado State University, said at the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce’s annual Economic Forecast Breakfast on Jan. 18.

Colorado’s economy is booming, but the state’s infrastructure — think roads and bridges — is lagging, which could start to weigh on the state’s business prospects, Sobanet said during the event at CU South Denver in Lone Tree.

The problem is a trio of contradictory laws, Sobanet said. TABOR, or the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, limits how much revenue the state government can take in. Meanwhile, Amendment 23 mandates ever-increasing funding for K-12 education, while the Gallagher Amendment holds down the growth of property tax revenues, which offset how much the state needs to spend on schools.

The logjam means that the state is perpetually on the hook for a massive education bill, meaning there’s little left over for roads.

If voters really want to fix the roads, Sobanet said, one of the best ways would be to raise gasoline taxes, which have sat at 22 cents per gallon since 1991.

Inflation-adjusted revenues from gas taxes have been falling for years, Sobanet said, as cars’ gas mileage has improved. Meanwhile, concrete, steel, asphalt and labor all cost more. Gas taxes would have to be 44 cents per gallon to have the same purchasing power as they did in 1991, he said.

“I’m going to say something extremely controversial: The users of the transportation system should pay for its upkeep,” Sobanet said. “Over half the states have adjusted their gas tax or added sales tax to deal with a model that doesn’t work. In Colorado, to get more money requires a vote of the people.”

Elected officials need to have the guts to ask voters to tax themselves more,

J.J. Ament, CEO of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, speaks at the Economic Forecast Breakfast Jan. 18. NICK PUCKETT

said Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet.

“We continue to have a fight at the Capitol that there’s enough money to fund all the things we must fund, you just need to spend it differently,” Millet said. “There isn’t enough money.

These are obligations written into our constitution… It’ll take the courage of elected leaders to go out and say, `This is what we need and this is how we will spend the money.’”

The partisan political divide in what has traditionally been a moderate state could hinder efforts to fix funding problems, said JJ Ament, the CEO of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp.

“We have to find a way to cram some space between utopia — be it liberal or conservative — and apocalypse,” Ament said. “Business happens between those two things… With all this bitterness, can you focus on what’s happening, and decide if the person across from you is not valid to interact with?”

Voters have tended to respond positively to calls from local governments to override TABOR revenue caps, Sobanet said, allowing municipalities to fund needed infrastructure projects.

But the lift seems to get heavier at the state level.

“People feel disconnected from the state government,” Sobanet said, adding that political heavyweights stand ready to pounce on policy officials who suggest tax increases.

“You ask the voters and you’re an apostate,” Sobanet said.

Collaboration and moderation built the state’s economy to where it is today, said Mike Fitzgerald, president of the South Denver Economic Development Partnership.

“We run the risk of hollowing out the center,” Fitzgerald said. “But the center is where decisions of collaboration get made.”

Elbert County News 5

January 31, 2019

Gardner among GOP senators seen as vulnerable in 2020 Trump is elephant in room as Colorado trends toward Democrats

BY NICHOLAS RICCARDI, ADAM BEAM AND DAVID SHARP ASSOCIATED PRESS

Republican Sen. Cory Gardner helped mastermind the GOP’s midterm strategy of pushing Senate candidates closer to President Donald Trump. But heading into his own 2020 re-election bid in Colorado, he’s allowing more distance with the not-so-popular president.

And he’s not alone.

Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina is reviving his proposal Gardner for an immigration deal as part of talks to reopen the government. Centrist Sen. Susan Collins, who did not support Trump in 2016, faces a delicate balancing. In Arizona, Sen. Martha McSally has to consider her proximity to Trump as she runs to keep the seat she was appointed to after having lost to a Democrat in November.

As Republican senators set out to

run for re-election in states where views on Trump are mixed, they’re trying to figure out how closely to align themselves with Trump.

“I made it clear when I ran for Senate that, when my party’s wrong, I’m going to say it,” Gardner said in an interview.

Gardner is one of two Republican senators up for re-election in states won by Democrat Hillary Clinton in the last presidential election; Collins is the other.

Democrats will be on offense in 2020, on much easier terrain with a wider map of incumbent Republicans at risk. Winning the Senate majority will require a net gain of at least three seats — four if Republicans hold the White House.

Democrats are expected to target Tillis and McSally, representing states where demographics are shifting against Republicans and where Democrats recently won statewide elections.

Democrats also hope to field a strong candidate against Sen. David Purdue in Georgia, which has been trending their way, and are watching Kansas, where Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been mentioned as a possible contender for a seat opening up due to a retirement.

SEE GARDNER, P6

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

Presidents Day Douglas County offices will be closed Monday, February 18 for Presidents Day. Many county services are available online at www.douglas.co.us

Art Encounters Call for Entries Are you a sculptor? Have you considered submitting your artwork to the Douglas County Art Encounters public art program? All applications for entry must be received via online entry at www.callforentry.org no later than Feb. 15. Selected work will be on display from May 2019 - June 2020. For more information visit www. douglas.co.us/artencounters/

Take advantage of SCFD Free Days Want to learn more about history, spend time appreciating abstract or contemporary art or get in touch with nature?

SCFD organizations have your entrance fee and cultural passions covered. For more information about SCFD and free days - including specific dates and locations - visit www.scfd.org

Funds available to serve at-risk Veterans Emergency assistance is available to veterans struggling with housing (mortgage and rent payments), transportation, employment, healthcare or other emergency needs. To apply for the veterans assistance funds visit www.douglasveterans.org or call 303663.6200.

Need help with home heating costs?

Eligible low income households in Douglas County may apply for energy assistance through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). For more information, or an application, please visit www.douglas. co.us and search for LEAP or email LEAPHELP@ discovermygoodwill.org

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6 Elbert County News

January 31, 2019J

GARDNER

‘The vitriol against Donald Trump among the median voter who’s going to decide this election is so strong. It needs to be really strong from Cory about why he’s his own man and not just a rubber stamp on Donald Trump’s policies.’

FROM PAGE 5

Mike Noble, a Republican pollster in Arizona, said the 2020 election in Arizona probably will be a repeat of what McSally just encountered in 2018. She hewed close to Trump to survive a GOP primary but was rejected by voters in the general election.

“This is just a replication of the situation she was put in during the campaign,” Noble said.

Republicans now hold a 53-47 edge in the Senate.

GOP picks targets While Republicans will try to protect their incumbents in 2020, they also will look to take on Democratic senators on the ballot in states won by Trump. They include Sen. Gary Peters in Michigan, though Democrats won a Senate race in the state handily in November, and Sen. Doug Jones in Alabama.

Strategists say it’s much too early to assess how shutdown politics or other developments this early in the campaign cycle will influence the 2020 Senate map, if at all.

Carl Forti, the political director at Senate Leadership Fund, an influential outside group aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the race for the White House between Trump and the wideopen field of Democratic contenders will almost certainly overpower the congressional contests.

“The presidential race drives the messaging,” Forti said. “It’ll be a

David Flaherty, GOP pollster in Colorado

struggle down ballot to be heard.”

Some Republicans seem certain to position themselves closer to Trump as they see the political power he brings to their home states.

McConnell, who was initially cool to Trump’s candidacy, has since embraced him, particularly on the shutdown strategy.

In daily speeches in the Senate, McConnell is backing up Trump. Some voters seem pleased with the turn of events.

“Up until this year I wasn’t really too fond of Sen. McConnell,” said 76-year-old Sandy Furjanic, who lives in Princeton, Kentucky. But this year, she says McConnell has shown he is “supporting the president, unlike some other Republicans I know.”

In Maine, Collins’ brand of centrist politics is being put to the test. She is the last Senate Republican in New England, but voters are known for splitting their tickets and independents comprise the largest voting bloc. Democrats are eager to take her on. But no big-name Democratic candidates have stepped forward to challenge her, despite early rumblings about former U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice jumping in the race.

Gardner in spotlight Yet it’s Gardner, a skilled politician and fundraiser, who is widely considered the most vulnerable Senate Republican. Clinton won Colorado by 5 percentage points in 2016, and the state took an even sharper turn to

the left in 2018, when Democrats won every statewide contest and captured the governor’s mansion by 11 percentage points.

Colorado Democrats have criticized Gardner as being too close to Trump.

The senator voted for the president’s two Supreme Court nominees, the GOP tax cut and unsuccessful effort to repeal much of President Obama’s health-care law. He also led the arm of the GOP overseeing Senate races and helped the party expand its majority by two in November before stepping down from that arm weeks later.

“The vitriol against Donald Trump among the median voter who’s going to decide this election is so strong,” said David Flaherty, a GOP pollster in Colorado. “It needs to be really strong from Cory about why he’s his own man and not just a rubber stamp on Donald Trump’s policies.”

This year, Gardner was among the first Republicans to quickly call on the president to reopen the government, without the money Trump is demanding for the border wall with Mexico, and took the message directly to the president during a recent meeting with Senate Republicans.

That stance illustrates how Gardner is squeezed in Colorado, where Trump still has an avid following. Anil Mathai, chairman of the Republican Party in suburban Adams County, said on a local radio show that Gardner’s stance on the shutdown was “ludicrous.”

David Pourshoushtari, a spokesman for Colorado’s Democratic Party, said Gardner is “trying to have it both ways, and I think Colorado voters are going to see straight through that.”

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Elbert County News 7

January 31, 2019

GRADUATE FROM PAGE 2

As part of the program, Larson earned the International City and County Management Association’s “Government 101” certificate, while interning with Elbert County, learning the day-to-day operations of local government.

“I want to take my dedication to having the government do good things and move that over to a local government,” said Larson. “I want to continue in public service, just in a different way.”

During his time with Elbert County, Larson worked on open records and records management, economic development, the hemp permitting ordinance and learned administrative duties of the county. Larson said he saw similarities between his work on policy issues while with the Pentagon, and bureaucratic processes he experienced at Northern Command. He also feels the program made him aware of areas he needed to improve in.

“I learned I need to work on budget, finance and economic development,” said Larson.

Elbert County Manager Sam Albrecht said Larson is the third intern they’ve had come through the program, and both the county and the intern benefit from the program.

“Eric has been working on economic development and finishing up a project on industrial hemp that the intern before started,” said Albrecht. “The nice thing about the military is they are used to jumping in and getting business done. They can walk right in and

‘I want to continue in public service, just in a different way.’

Eric Larson, graduate, VLGM program they’re not opposed to jumping into the middle of a project that someone else has started.”

Larson made a conscious decision to take several weeks off after retiring, and has not yet decided where or what his next job will be. His wife is still active in the military, and he is adjusting to the new title of “military spouse,” and said several transfers are still in his future. He is working on his second master’s degree, in community development, and hopes to eventually work for a small municipality.

“I want to be a city manager, a leader, in a municipality or county,” said Larson. “I think the best way to continue giving back to fellow Americans is through local government.”

The program is part of the Department of Defense Career Skills Program that offers retiring military members up to 180 days to learn new skills or take education and training classes that enhance their ability to be hired in the civilian sector. The program helps with technical skill certifications, including helping military medics get EMT or paramedic certifications, and military mechanics get certifications necessary for civilian employment.

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8 Elbert County News

January 31, 2019J

special edition financial pages

Live your best retirement without a mortgage payment

BY KATHY MUNI SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

If you have paid off your home and have no mortgage, you have done well and should feel proud of your accomplishment. It took faithfulness and sacrifice to achieve that mile marker.

Your home is likely your greatest asset, and yet the money that is in the home, your housing wealth, is tied up with no way to access it unless you sell the home. However, most seniors want to stay in their home forever.

Other seniors are well into retirement and have a monthly mortgage payment that, as the years go on, feels like it is strangling them. If you have a large monthly house payment and would like to eliminate it, then you can also use the wealth in your home

to eliminate your monthly mortgage payment.

Many people are in the situation where they are “house-rich, and cashpoor.” They have paid off the house, but are not enjoying retirement due to the constraints of a fixed income. The equity in your home is YOUR money. Why not access it and put it to work for you?

A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage converts some of your equity into Muni a usable asset – either as a lump sum of cash, a growing line of credit, a monthly income stream, or a combination of the three.

At least one borrower must be 62 years old or older, and you need to have around 50% equity in your home, so if

you have a mortgage you can still tap into your housing wealth. Income and credit qualifications are adjusted to accommodate senior homeowners, and bruised credit is often no problem.

The amount of equity you can draw is established by the age of the youngest borrower, the value of the property and what is owed. Substantial equity always remains in the home. This is your housing wealth. No one owns the home but you, and you will the property to your heirs who never inherit any debt.

The proceeds of a reverse mortgage are not taxable like other investment accounts, and may be used for any purpose. Many people do a reverse mortgage to plan ahead to be sure that the surviving spouse will always be able to live in the home without a mort-

gage payment. For others, the line of credit provides a safety net and easy access to funds if-and-when needed. The guaranteed growth of around 5 percent y a year, compounding annually means a that there will often be a large sum of c money for use in the future to pay for h home health care or anything else. c The house you paid into for so long s can become an asset that pays you back u for the rest of your life. Call your local s Reverse Mortgage Specialist for the specifics of how this will benefit you. o You owe it to yourself and your family p to know your options so that you can l t live your best retirement.

Editor’s Note: Kathy Muni is a reverse t m mortgage specialist with Silver Leaf c Mortgage in Centennial. You can contact her at (720) 485-4041, or eamil at 1 KathyM@SilverLeafeMortgages.com. m

c d a i Closing unnecessary accounts e In this day in age of identity theft- it’sb just not a good idea to keep unneces- p sary accounts opened. Keep it simple. i s Know where your money is. Consolidate accounts to ones you look at frequently so you can keep your eye on any suspicious activity. It just makes sense. Plus, most accounts charge fees to keep them open. Don’t pay unnecessary fees for accounts you don’t use.

Get financially healthy in 2019 – Define it, develop a plan and be disciplined

BY NELISHA FIRESTONE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, getting family finances under control is a big one.

Whether you are retired and looking to stay on track, or managing a family and full household, there are plenty of areas to consider in putting finances on the right course.

Prioritizing debt Not all debt is created equal.

There’s good debt and bad debt. Good debt increases your net worth or has future value such as a home loan.

If it doesn’t do that and you don’t

have cash to pay for it, it’s bad debt.

Bad debt can get out of hand if not addressed. There are 2 schools of thought on prioritizing paying down bad debt.

1. Pay off highest interest debt first.

This way you’re chipping away at the debt that’s costing you the most to finance.

2. Pay off lowest balances first. This gives you a sense of accomplishmentlike you’re making headway towards your goal to become debt free faster.

IRA accounts (opening a new one and managing a current one) IRA’s are a great way to build a nest egg especially if you don’t have

an employer plan. The contribution limit for 2019 is increasing to $6,000 for people under age 50 and an extra $1,000 “catch up” contribution for those over 50 making their maximum contribution $7,000.

Automatic savings plans The best savers are disciplined.

To automate your savings is a great way to become a disciplined saver.

Just like your 401K you can autosave in just about every type of account. Figure out what you can afford monthly and pay yourself first! If you don’t have it in your checking account, you’re likely to not spend it.

Personal finance software The new year is always a great time to get a handle on budgets.

SEE PLAN, PX

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Cut your monthly bills in half by refinancing your mortgage.

With home values soaring and mortgage rates low for the moment, now is the time to refinance and consolidate your debt. Pay off credit cards and other monthly debt saving hundreds and sometimes $1,000s per month.

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Elbert County News 9

January 31, 2019

special edition financial pages

Eliminate high-interest debt, do home improvements with a cash out refinance

BY KATHY MUNI SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

“Our debt had been growing over the years as we financed three weddings and put multiple children through college. Being able to refinance our home and pay off the high-interest credit cards was a blessing. It not only simplified our financial lives, it saved us money!” ~ KC Many homeowners are in a similar situation. When they become aware of the high interest rates they are paying on personal debt such as car loans, credit cards, and student loans the interest rates can be much greater than doing a refinance of their home mortgage. The average interest rate for credit card debt at the end of 2018 was 16.71 percent while the average 30-year mortgage rate was 4.3 percent.

The average American household carries about $16,000 in credit card debt, approaching $30,000 in car loans, and many 10’s of thousands of dollars in student loans. The savings in interest can be significant. The difference between the credit card debt (16.71 percent) and the average mortgage rate in the 4 percent is over 12 percent in savings.

Doing a cash-out refi can help solve

PLAN FROM PAGE X

Most people don’t know what they spend. Free personal finance software is available that will help you track your spending by interfacing with your bank accounts and credit cards.

It will categorize your spending down

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this problem of overwhelming debt.

A refinance allows you to tap into the equity tied up in your home putting it to work for you. When you refinance and access some of your money, you may use it for any purpose. Many pay off debt, which means optimizing their finances. Others want to do upgrades to their home, take a vacation, buy an investment property or pay for a wedding. The choice is yours!

Some of our clients save $100s and even $1,000s per month restructuring their debt by refinancing.

If you are concerned that your mortto the penny to help you assess where you can cut some fat in the New Year.

Saving for children’s college fund With college costs soaring- the sooner the better when it comes to saving for Jr’s college. Today, a 4-year degree at an in-state school will cost you between 25K-30K per year. Those costs are rising faster than inflation at 4 percent. Colo-

gage will start over at 30-years, we have programs that offer flex terms, so you can keep your current term. We can do just about any term between 10-30 years. If you want 23, 18 or 12 years, we can do it.

If you currently have mortgage insurance, you may be able to eliminate that portion of your payment if your value has increased enough in the past few years.

Refinancing is an easy process and can have the added benefit of boosting your credit score when all is said and done. If your cards are maxed out or are higher than the recommended 30 percent usage, paying them off with proceeds from a refinance can help your credit score.

Also, if you have an FHA loan, refinancing has never been faster or easier with an FHA Streamline. You can lower your monthly mortgage payments - in some instances, even if you owe more than your home is worth.

No appraisal is required, rates are low, and there is no income documentation required (W-2s and pay stubs). The benefit to you must be at least a 5 percent drop in your mortgage payment, and there are 15, 20, 25, and 30-year terms available, with Primary Residence and Non-owner Occupied properties

allowed.

An FHA Streamline can lower your monthly mortgage payment as well as your interest rate. If you have not refinanced since HUD lowered the MIP in 2015, now is the time! You may also be able to refinance out of an FHA loan, if you qualify for a Conventional loan eliminating the mortgage insurance, assuming your home value has increased enough.

The VA has a streamline process to lower your rate. You can also take advantage of this rising real estate market using a VA cash out refinance with a loan up to 100% of the current value.

Interest rates are still at historical lows, but may be set to rise soon.

Silver Leaf Mortgage is a broker, which means that we can seek out the very best options for you offered by a variety of lenders whether you are self-employed, or W2. Our loan officers have years of experience and will work closely with you to be sure that the refinance loan you select will best meet your needs.

Editor’s Note: Kathy Muni is a reverse mortgage specialist with Silver Leaf Mortgage in Centennial. You can contact her at (720) 485-4041, or eamil at KathyM@SilverLeafeMortgages.com.

rado has made it easy to save in the state sponsored 529 plan at www.collegeinvest. org. The money you put into the 529 plan is also state tax deductible. Colorado is one of few states that doesn’t cap that deduction. So, your savings for college is working for you 2 ways.

without a plan is just a wish. If you document your goals you are 80 percent more likely to achieve them.

Define it, develop a plan, and be disciplined.

Editor’s Note: Nelisha Firestone is an LPL Financial Advisor for Properion Financial Advisors, located in Greenwood Village. Visit their website at www.prosperionfinancial.us.

Tips to get financially healthy in 2019 Bottom line- have a plan. A goal

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10 Elbert County News

January 31, 2019J

SPLIT FROM PAGE 1

In 1965 the 18th Judicial District comprised Arapahoe, Douglas and Elbert counties.

The district added Lincoln County in 1969, and hasn’t been changed since. In 1970 its population was 180,000 and by 2018 it exceeded 1 million people. The district is projected to grow by another 350,000 people in the next 30 years.

The next largest of the 22 judicial districts is the 4th Judicial District (El Paso and Teller Counties), with a population of 737,684.

In the 18th district, Arapahoe County is the largest in population. It contributed 64 percent of the judicial district’s 2018 budget while accounting for nearly 70 percent of all felony crime in the district.

The 23rd District The proposal calls to make Arapahoe County its own judicial district and Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln into another. The three counties would likely become the 23rd District while Arapahoe remained the 18th, although exact titles aren’t set in stone.

Douglas County officials including Commissioner Lora Thomas began researching a potential split of the 18th Judicial District in August.

Thomas said Douglas County wasn’t getting a fair return on investment.

Much of that perspective is anchored in a report compiled

by Douglas County officials and provided to Colorado Community Media.

The report found Douglas County pays roughly 33 percent of district costs but accounts for less than 25 percent of felonies. About 20 percent of district prosecutors are allocated to the county.

In 2017 and 2018, Douglas County was the only county in the district that paid a percentage of the budget that was greater than its percentage of felony crimes, according to the report.

SOURCE: DOUGLAS COUNTY

Counties within any district contribute to the budget based on population, but resources, namely manpower and time, are allocated based on the number of severe crimes.

Simply put, serious felonies require more prosecutors than misdemeanors.

The county’s report shows 81 percent of serious felonies and about 70 percent of all felonies occur in Arapahoe County and based on that, 78 percent of prosecutors are allocated there. The report also estimates Douglas, Lincoln and Elbert would pay about $857,000 less if put into a 23rd District than what they’ll contribute to the 2019 budget.

POPULATION BREAKDOWN A look at the population of each of the four counties in the 18th Judicial District: Arapahoe County: 655,902 Douglas County: 345,342 Elbert County: 27,773 Lincoln County: 5,623 Source: Douglas County

Colorado District Attorney’s Council Thomas Raynes said by email that the council supports breaking up the 18th Judicial District for numerous reasons. Population growth is one, but “equally important is consideration of the demographic differences and growing political dispariteis between the two largest counties in the 18th,” he said.

Splitting the two into separate districts will give Arapahoe County voters “a stronger voice in choosing the criminal justice philosophies implemented in their community,” he said, as well as in Douglas, Lincoln and Elbert counties.

“Quite frankly, it probably creates a very competitive election in the district that would be Arapahoe County, in which either a (Democrat) or (Republican) candidate could win,” Raynes said.

The Colorado Constitution requires any bill that creates a new judicial district get a two-thirds supermajority vote in each legislative chamber to pass. Van Winkle said he is optimistic the bill will be successful this session.

“It wouldn’t be introduced unless it had bipartisan support,” Van Winkle said. “It does require two-thirds majority to pass but we think the support will be there.”

JUDICIAL DISTRICT FUNDING

The following is a breakdown of A the money each county contributed to funding the 18th Judicial District in 2018, along with data on the felony crimes each county accounted for that same year.

Arapahoe County: $14.5 million (64 percent); 3,746 (69.5 percent) Douglas County: $7.5 million (33 percent); 1,350 (25 percent) Elbert County: $573,534 (2.5 percent); 145 (2.7 percent) Lincoln County: $126,950 (0.56 percent); 153 (2.8 percent) Sources: Douglas County, 18th Judi- P cial District Attorney’s Office

district attorney into the 23rd District if a bill doesn’t pass in 2019.

A bill would need to outline a method for electing or appointing the district attorney outside the regular 2020 election, T but “aside from adding potentially complicated one-time procedure to statute, there may also be constitutional issues” to this strategy, the secretary of state’s assessment says.

As a result, legislation passed in 2020 or later would likely require waiting to elect the new district attorney until 2024, delaying the 23rd District by another four years.

Creating a new district would require hiring more personnel than a new district attorney alone. Douglas County’s report says the number of staff now allocated to the three counties is not sufficient to run the 23rd District. It outlines 15 additional positions in total, including the district attorM ney’s at a salary of $91,000.

Van Winkle said passing the bill this session would give the new district ample time to set itself up. Raynes said breaking up the district would cause a shake-up to the delivery of criminal justice services, but temporarily, calling it “short- H term pain for long-term gain.”

“Justice should be accessible and close to home and I’ve always believed that government closer to home is more accessible and efficient,” Van Winkle said. “A judicial branch is no different.”

What's Next?

Community Justice Services program, which oversees programs like community service, the multiple offender program and the electronic in-home detention program.

Distance to the 18th Judicial District’s specialty courts, located in Centennial, creates a barrier for people utilizing them from outside of Arapahoe County but so does docket capacity, said the Community Justice Services Director Scott Matson.

“Having a new judicial district,” Matson said, means the ability to do a full analysis of what issues are in Douglas, Lincoln and Elbert counties and then being able to “set up our specialty courts around that.”

Still, it’s too early to know precisely what a 23rd Judicial District would look like. Specialty courts are created at the direction of the district’s chief judge and available funds, Matson said.

Executive Director of the

‘Closer to home’ An assessment completed by the Secretary of State’s Office and obtained by Colorado Community Media found passing a bill this session is crucial to creating a new district soon.

If the 23rd District is created in 2019, its district attorney could run in the next election cycle of 2020. District attorneys are all elected in the same year to four-year terms. Under this timeline, the 23rd District could be up and running by 2021.

However, legislation passed in 2020, even fast-tracked bills, would give candidates little to no time to make the 2020 ballot, according to the Colorado secretary of state’s assessment.

There would be other avenues toward instating a

Senior Living Options Explained Tailored to the community Passing the bill could present the chance for Douglas, Lincoln and Elbert counties to customize a district around their communities, particularly with the creation of specialty courts.

All of the 18th Judicial District’s specialty courts, or problem-solving courts, are run in Arapahoe County. In Colorado, specialty courts include adult drug courts, juvenile drug courts, veterans treatment courts and more. The 18th Judicial District offers drug courts, veterans courts and a mental health court.

Douglas County has a

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Elbert County News 11

January 31, 2019

THINGS TO DO Author Talks: Robert Thomasson: 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31 at the Elbert Library, inside the school, 24489 Main St., Elbert.

Robert is a retired educator, local historian and photographer in Elbert County. The barn book project began after shooting a telephoto image of the pastoral remains of Soaring Hawk Ranch. “The Barns of Elbert County” is full of carefully-researched localhistory alongside beautiful images of Elbert County’s iconic barns. In Robert’s words, “Barns tell wonderful stories.” For more information, call (303) 648-3533 or visit pplibraries.org.

Pink Tutu Yoga: Fund Raiser for Breast Cancer Patients: 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 at Ponderosa Plains Farm, 4999 Spruce Ct., Elizabeth. We hope you will join us in supporting breast cancer patients.

Our goal is to minimize their financial worries and allow them to focus on getting well. Even a small donation will go a long way to helping us meet our goal for The Tutu Project of the Carey Foundation.

Visit thetutuproject.networkforgood.com/ projects/59106-ponderosa-plains-farm-sfundraiser for more information.

Practice Your English: 10:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 2 at Douglas County Libraries in Parker, 20105 East Mainstreet. Adults of all skill levels, cultures and language backgrounds converse in English in a relaxed environment, facilitated by a trained volunteer. Ages 17-plus. Registration is required at 303-791-7323 or DCL.org.

The Elizabeth Library welcomes R. Weir, author of Amazon bestselling Jarvis Mann PI books: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4 at the Elizabeth Library, 651 W. Beverly St., Elizabeth. Weir lives in the Mile High city with his wife, daughter and dog, where the Rocky Mountain High isn’t always achieved with an herbal substance. When not glued to the computer for work and writing, he relaxes by enjoying the outdoors; playing tennis, traveling in their motorhome and riding a motorcycle wherever the wind takes him. His writing beckons back to the days of detectives and dames, but with modern plots and twists. PI Jarvis Mann is tough, resourceful and a man with as many faults as virtues. His oddball sense of humor is much like Weir’s, though Weir is not nearly as tough and fearless as Mann is. Though no evil stands a chance against his written word! For more information, call (303) 6463416 or visit pplibraries.org.

Meet Libby!: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Douglas County Libraries in Parker, 20105 East Mainstreet. Learn how to download and stream e-books and audiobooks for free using the Libby app. Presented by guests from OverDrive. Adults. Registration is required at 303-791-7323 or DCL.org.

How To Manage Chronic Pain Without Opioids: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6 at PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker.

Chronic pain is a common and complex medical problem. Historically, opioids have been a mainstay of treatment for patients with pain, however their inappropriate use has revealed serious consequences, without demonstrating evidence of benefit, especially with long-term use. In contrast, there are many distinct non-opioid therapies that have been shown to produce sustained improvements in both pain and function.

The goal of this talk is to discuss what nonopioid treatments are available for chronic pain and the evidence to support them, from conservative approaches like psychotherapy to more invasive techniques like spinal cord stimulation. By combining these approaches, most patients can achieve a life of satisfactory pain control and function. Please RSVP: 303805-6800.

Vintage Hollywood Daddy Daughter Ball: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Douglas County Events Center, 500 Fairgrounds Drive, Castle Rock. Tickets are on sale now at the Recreation Center, the MAC at Philip S. Miller Park and online at CRgov. com/ddball19. In response to community feedback, the ball will be held for the first time on Saturday evening instead of Friday.

Fathers, daughters, grandfathers, and granddaughters of all ages, come dressed in your best for an evening of dancing, games, refreshments and fun. A professional photographer will be there to help capture sweet memories. Advance tickets are $25 per couple ($30 for nonresidents). Admission at the door is $40 per couple. Tickets for additional family members are $8 each.

The Parks and Recreation Department’s Teen Advisory Group also hosts a raffle each year at the ball. The Teen Advisory Group is a group of young residents who play an active role in planning events for the community’s youth. More information and ticket details are available at CRgov.com/ DDball19.

Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum’s Monthly Presentation: 6:45 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock.

Please join us on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019 for a presentation by Mary Lou Fenton about Wellspring. Did you realize that there is a thriving community in Castle Rock that serves people with Down Syndrome, Autism and other special needs? And these special people are incredibly artistically gifted!

You’ve probably passed their special place dozens of times and not known it. Visit castlerockhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

7th Annual Castle Rock Bull Riding Challenge: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 500 Fairgrounds Rd., Castle Rock. More than 100 bulls will buck and be scored individually no matter if the rider stays on for the required 8 seconds. The owner of the winning bull will be awarded a championship Tres

Rios silver buckle.

Bull riders are also competing for a trophy buckle. Not to be missed, the mini bulls and young bull riders return to the event in hopes to earn a buckle of their own. Visitors will have an opportunity to gain educational information regarding bucking bulls, how they are cared for, the equipment used, training and much more from former bull rider and now stock contractor, Ty Rinaldo. Shopping opportunities are endless with a wide variety of vendors. Entertainment vendors will include a mechanical bull and pony rides.

Food concessions are available and parking is free. Tickets prices are: $20 Adult $15 Youth (ages 6-12) Youngsters under the age of 5 are admitted free. For further information: tntevents@msn.com or 719-641-3233.

Life Ready; Skills Not Taught in School: 5 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20 at Castle View High School, 5254 N. Meadows Dr., Castle Rock. the Academic Booster Club of CVHS will present a special evening of community involvement and student opportunity. We have set up a schedule of classes taught by community members for middle and high school students that cover a range of topics from auto maintenance to healthy relationships, credit cards to job skills. The evening is free to students and will also have a business expo component

and three food trucks to handle dinner. Call (303) 387-9000 for more information.

Ballet Ariel presents Ballerina by Degas: 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 at the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker.

Ballerinas by Degas enchants as his paintings come to life, by telling the story of a young dancer, Simone, her rapid rise within the Paris Opera ballet company and the Impressionist artists, Degas, who records it all. Discounted ticket prices are available for Seniors (65+), Students, and Children (12 & under) by using dropdown menus by the appropriate seats in your shopping cart prior to checkout. Visit www.balletariel.org or call (303) 945-4388 for tickets Editor’s note: Calendar submissions must be received by noon Wednesday for publication the following week. To place a calendar item, go to eventlink.coloradocommunitymedia.com.

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12 Elbert County News

LOCAL

January 31, 2019J

VOICES Picture-perfect pictures aren’t always a good look

I

f you were born after World War II and before Apple, you might have some out-of-focus family photographs around the house.

Unless you had a Nikon or a darkroom, and not many of us did.

QUIET We had Brownies DESPERATION and other crummy Kodaks that took rolls of film that had to be taken to a drugstore.

A week later, you’d get an envelope with 12 crummy prints and your negatives.

Some of those Craig Marshall prints were better than others, and mi- Smith raculously captured a moment.

You took what you got. There was no improving the prints.

That’s all changed.

Almost anyone can point and shoot a camera or a phone these

W

days, get a high resolution image, and then improve it with Photoshop or a variety of other applications.

There’s even one that lets you take a clean and clean contemporary image and turn it into a crummy one that looks like it was taken after World War II and before Apple, complete with scratches.

Oh, there are still some among us who couldn’t take a good photograph if Ansel Adams was standing next to them, and take pictures outdoors at high noon when the sun makes anyone’s nose look like mine.

Professional photographs of my artwork once required a controlled environment with all kinds of equipment, tripods, special lamps and filters. Now? Angela shoots in my living room with a handheld camera and nothing else nearby, except Harry at her ankles.

If a color is slightly off in the resulting image, she can correct it.

She does that on a computer, not in a darkroom. She doesn’t have a darkroom.

who have the most to say about the bad calls and refs, and the fans of the teams that won who place the blame on the players and team’s inability to score. It’s just how it goes.

Well here is where we stop talking about the mistakes and errors made by referees, coaches, and players and we talk about the mistakes and errors that we all make. There is no question that the mistakes and errors made over the weekend in the Championship Games will create new opportunities for more replay capabilities and rules changes. And the same should hold true for us, shouldn’t it?

I mean, when we screw up, make a mistake, make a bad decision or error in judgment, doesn’t that create an opportunity for us to make changes in our own lives for the better as well.

The answer is obviously yes, isn’t it? And if we are going to make those changes and create new opportunities for ourselves, it must start with owning our mistakes and

JERRY HEALEY President

750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: ElbertCountyNews.net To subscribe call 303-566-4100

my taxes.

Nothing is better than working with someone who knows what they are doing.

Those bad photos we all have are beloved by art galleries and collectors, precisely because they are primitive and grainy.

Imagery of all kinds has changed.

Films and commercials are full of truly unbelievable special effects.

However, if you check out the Rotten Tomatoes rating for the 1933 “King Kong” and compare it with later versions, you’ll see a big difference: 1933 wins.

Sometimes, in fact very often, technology does not improve art.

You might even have a drawing taped to your refrigerator of crooked animals and flying pirates that you appreciate more than you would if a Chagall were taped to it.

Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast.net.

When mistakes create opportunities for change

hether you are a football fan or not, there is a high likelihood that you have heard about the “blown calls” or the “no calls” that took place during the recent NFL Championship Games. Everyone from the fans to television and radio programs WINNING continue to share WORDS how things went so horribly wrong and how these missed calls impacted the teams who are now not going to the Super Bowl.

There are even some who are pointing the finger of blame on specific Michael Norton players and coaches for poor decisions and ineffective play calling or the ability to score when they had the chance as the reason for the loss instead of the poor officiating. And we all know how this works too, right? It’s usually the fans of the teams that lost

A publication of

I took a number of photography classes when I was in college, and everything had to be developed in a darkroom in the dark, amid trays of pungent and dangerous liquids.

There were darkroom tricks to achieve special effects, but it was nothing like current options that can swap my head for John’s on the cover photo of “Abbey Road” and make it look authentic.

All of this means a number of things.

For one, everyone on Earth can be a good photographer.

For another, photographs can no longer be trusted.

Ostensibly, I could document my paintings myself. But I don’t and won’t because of the cost of a camera like Angela’s.

The other reason is more human, and it’s why I don’t stretch my own canvases or do my own taxes.

I like to work with Angela. I like to work with Pat at Meininger, who stretches my canvases, and I like to work with Harley and Amy, who do

errors. What I am talking about here is accountability, personal accountability.

You see, just like fans who end up on the losing side of a bad call or game, there are some people who will look at everyone else and point the finger of blame everywhere else when things go wrong in their own life. There are a lot of tips and techniques that people can use to learn how to create new opportunities that are born out of mistakes and mishaps, but believe it or not, what happens many times is that people who make mistakes look for a trick of some kind, or magic way out of the problem. Well here’s the trick and the magic: taking ownership and having personal accountability.

Even if by chance, our misfortune or loss came at the hands of someone or something else, out of each and every mistake, error, and failure we can find new opportunities. As many have said before, “It’s not what happens to us in this world that matters, it’s how we handle

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what happens to us that matters.”

Mistakes were made in both games, mistakes have happened in all of our lives, and mistakes and errors will continue to happen in life because we are human. So, we can choose to react or overreact, or we can choose to respond and look for ways that we can learn from our mistakes and create opportunities for changes, changes for the better.

How about you? Are you still caught up in the mistakes and bad calls that have happened in your life, or have you figured out how to create opportunities out of those very same mistakes? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@ gmail.com, and when we take ownership and personal accountability to create opportunities from our mistakes and errors, it really will be a better than good week.

Michael Norton is a resident of Castle Rock, the president of the Zig Ziglar Corporate Training Solutions Team, a strategic consultant and a business and personal coach.

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Elbert County News 13

January 31, 2019

Tensions brew between council, staff, public in Larkspur Recall petition, sudden termination stir controversy in small town

BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Town of Larkspur is seeing some big disputes among members of the public and local government as a recall petition circulates for a councilmember, the second highest-ranking member of staff was unexpectedly terminated and recent council meetings brimmed with emotion.

Some of the controversy in the town of 195 people started with budget planning that later received hefty backlash, and centered around a plan for retirement.

That was for Town Manager Matt Krimmer, who hopes to hand over his role to a successor. In 2018 he requested council create a deputy town manger position with available funds in the 2018 budget and to carry the position through the 2019 budget.

His hope was to train whomever filled the job to take over his position.

Both budget requests were approved.

In October, Krimmer, 81, hired Sandra Mason as the deputy town manager at a salary of $25 an hour, short of his own salary of $28.13 an hour.

She had 31 years in corporate experience, focusing on strategic and financial planning.

Tensions came to a head on Jan. 3, when the seven-member town council ended an executive session, reversing its decision by publicly voting to eliminate the deputy town manager’s position.

The move came under mounting pressure from some members of the public who felt the deputy’s salary was too high, that having two town managers was inefficient and that the number of staff had grown too big for the small town.

Among them was Marvin Cardenas, a former council member who asked council in December to remove Mason.

In addition to concerns about cost, he disliked that the transition period when Mason would be trained was for an unspecified amount of time.

“It wasn’t anything about the deputy herself,” he said. “It was not to pick on the individual.”

But following the Jan. 3 vote, Krimmer kept Mason on staff and on the payroll, which council learned at its Jan. 17 council meeting.

This led them to hold another executive session seeking legal advice regarding Krimmer’s actions, as councilmembers debated if they were the result of a miscommunication or an act of defiance. Council took no action after adjourning the executive session.

Krimmer said he held off on terminating Mason until she could complete certain projects she’d already begun.

The council hadn’t specified a date she should be terminated by, he said, although some members said Jan. 17 they intended their decision be carried out immediately.

Mason’s last day and final paycheck

‘By roll call vote they publicly fired her. In the interim, the crowd would cheer every time a councilmember would vote to eliminate her position. It was horrible.’

Linda Black, program development manager with Larkspur

was Jan. 18. Mason declined to comment for this story.

Her termination came as a blow to some members of staff who said she was instrumental in bringing added efficiency, order and experience to town hall. It also deepened anxiety among staff, as they feared being the next to lose their job.

Linda Black, a program development manager with Larkspur, said staff — including Mason — had no warning the position would be eliminated and little explanation from council as to why it was. Black recalled the vote to terminate Mason.

“By roll call vote they publicly fired her,” she said. “In the interim, the crowd would cheer with every time a councilmember would vote to eliminate her position. It was horrible.”

Krimmer gave a fiery speech on Jan. 17, condemning council’s handling of Mason’s position, calling it cruel and arguing they’d subjected her to public embarassment. He learned of their intentions after being called before the council at the end of an executive session held Jan. 3 where he “was informed that they decided to abolish the deputy town manager position to appease a handful of dissident residents and stop the threat of recalls on councilmembers and the mayor,” Krimmer said.

“This action was not only cruel, unprofessional, unjustified and heartless,” but also humiliating for Mason, Krimmer said.

For now, there is not transition plan in place. Krimmer said he’s in good health and able to work until one is found. He told council Jan. 17 he would not be resigning.

The town has been pursuing a needs assessment to determine what staffing is needed for Larkspur and hired a consultant from the Denver Regional Council of Governments to facilitate, but terminated Mason before its completion.

Tensions have flared elsewhere, too. A recall petition is circulating for Councilmember Jeremiah Holmes. He did not return requests for comment.

Gary Abel and Brian Cook, two of the three recall petitioners, said a lack of transparency from the town and a resistance to providing information to the public has led to an at times strained relationship between the public and town staff.

Cook declined to offer specific comment on pursuing the recall of Holmes, deferring to the petition’s language. Abel said, “We just need to change some of the people.”

The petition says their grounds for

recalling Holmes are “Continued combative and bullying behavior towards residents and council members. Does not represent the spirit of Larkspur.”

Krimmer and Black said staff provide information as it’s requested and as it’s available.

Councilmember Tabitha Parks said she stands by council’s choice to

terminate Mason, although in hindsight she questioned if it needed to be public. Regardless, Parks said, she felt she was acting in line with the public’s wishes.

Between demands for firings, recalls and contentious council meetings, Parks said, “What it boils down to is distrust.”

In Loving Memory Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. Private 303-566-4100 Obituaries@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

Funeral Homes Visit: www.memoriams.com

14 Elbert County News

January 31, 2019J

Battle against opioid crisis: Map is sorrowful guide to lost loved ones Partnership addressing opioid crisis is tied to project born of grief

BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The online map is a living, breathing eulogy of people who have died from opioid use.

Matt Lazarus, of Castle Rock, “was known for having a ‘heart of gold’” and “will be missed by many,” according to his profile, which does not specify when or how he died. “I am so proud to call him my son,” the profile reads. “Love and miss you forever Matthew.”

Alexander Leeds, of Golden, overdosed on heroin in 2013. His profile says it was the 22-year-old’s first time using the drug — he was attempting to stifle pain from a dry socket complication from the removal of his wisdom teeth. “As a mother it never gets easier, it just gets different.

Prayers to every mother that’s gone/ going through this same pain.”

J.T. Lindemann was a Wyoming man who died in 2007 at age 22 after

battling a drug addiction that started with a prescription for oxycodone. “He is greatly missed by family and friends and will be remembered by all as a free spirit, the spark J.T. that lit up a room with his smile and fun-loving Lindemann ways,” his profile says.

The Celebrating Lost Loved Ones map — now housed on the National Safety Council website as a nationwide testament of grief and love — was first created in 2015 by J.T.’s older brother, Thornton resident Jeremiah Lindemann, to show the human impact of the opioid crisis. Armed with data from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Lindemann built a series of maps showing the steadily increasing numbers of opioid overdose deaths in Adams County and the state from 2000 to 2014.

Lindemann then scheduled a meeting with Adams County commissioners, which inspired them to connect with other organizations and elected officials battling opioid misuse.

Eventually, as a result of that outreach, Adams and Arapahoe coun-

ties teamed with Tri-County Health Department, a health agency serving Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas county residents, to form the TriCounty Overdose Prevention Partnership in 2016. Its mission: to prevent opioid overdoses in the three counties and better educate the community on their addictive power.

“This initially started with just a concerned citizen coming in,” Adams County Commissioner Steve O’Dorisio said of Lindemann. “He was so influential.”

Diving in For Lindemann, the maps were a way to open up about his brother’s death after years of silence.

J.T. was transparent about his oxycodone use, Lindemann said. “He said, ‘Give me five minutes and I can go into any bar and come out with it.’ He knew how to get it. It was just everywhere.”

Lindemann, however, was confused by the drug. He’d rarely heard of oxycodone and didn’t know the medication could be addictive. At the time of J.T.’s death, in 2007, no one talked about opioids, namely prescription pain medication, as addictive substances, let alone an epidemic, Lindemann said.

In those days, Lindemann rarely spoke about his brother’s drug use.

“It’s not easy talking about losing someone close to you to drugs, because of the stigma,” he said.

Then actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died in 2014 from a combination of drugs, including heroin. A Colorado senator’s son was arrested and charged with heroin possession that same year. A story related to opioids was seemingly on the news each night, Lindemann said. The issue suddenly seemed to be everywhere.

In 2015, he decided J.T.’s story also needed to be told. And that he needed to do something to help.

A self-described tech geek who works in GIS mapping and knows how to mold piles of data into animated, storytelling maps, he did just that by creating a presentation comprising about seven maps detailing the rising number of opioid-related deaths in Adams County. In May of that year, he showed them to the Adams County commissioners and coroner.

The maps were haunting, O’Dorisio remembers.

The first one painted counties across Colorado in shades of red based on their number of opioid deaths since 2000. Adams County, along with Denver, Jefferson and El Paso, had the darkest crimson hue.

The others showed activity on social media from people sharing about lost loved ones, locations of medication drop-off sites, deaths broken down by age or drug type, and more.

“It really struck each of us, how

scary it was, how serious the situation was,” O’Dorisio said. “It made me want to dive in.”

Roughly three months after the meeting, Adams County created the Adams County Opioid Prevention Group to explore how opioid overdoses and misuse could be prevented in Adams County. Its membership included county commissioners, the county coroner, the Tri-County Health Department and more.

Just the beginning In Arapahoe County, Bill Holen was grappling with his own connection to the epidemic — a 21-year-old nephew from California who grew addicted to oxycodone following a car accident.

In 2012, the Arapahoe County commissioner was appointed to his first term in office when he began noticing signs of the opioid problem beyond his own family. Holen started networking with other county and state officials to address the issue. In the spring of 2013, Arapahoe County formed the Arapahoe County Opioid Task Force to closely examine the problem and try to develop a plan to begin to address it. It initially included the coroner, sheriff and Holen, but later expanded to include Kaiser Permanente, Holen said.

In 2013, Holen’s nephew died of a drug overdose the day after checking into a halfway house. He was attempting to transition back home after successfully completing a 30-day detox and a six-month outpatient program. He’d asked to come home, Holen said, but his parents feared he wasn’t ready and hoped the halfway house could be a stepping-stone out of treatment.

“He was a beautiful young man,” Holen said.

In 2013 and 2015, the years the Arapahoe and Adams county initiatives, respectively, began, rates of overdose deaths painted a troubling picture.

Colorado providers wrote approximately 3.7 million opioid prescriptions in 2013 and about 3.5 million in 2015, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The rate of prescription opioid overdose deaths in Arapahoe County in 2013 was 1.6 per 100,000 people. In 2010, the rate was 1.95 and last year it was 6.2 per 100,000 people. For heroin, the rate was 2 overdose deaths per 100,000 people in 2013. In 2010, it was 0.64 and in 2017 nearly 2.5 per 100,000 people.

In 2015, when the Adams County initiative began, the county’s prescription opioid overdose death rate was 7.6 per 100,000 people. In 2010 it was 5.1 and in 2017 it was 12.6 per 100,000 people. The rate of heroin overdose deaths was 2.8 per 100,000 people in 2015 compared to 0.84 in 2010 and 4.6 in 2017.

SEE CRISIS, P21

Elbert County News 15

January 31, 2019

Cardinals baseball team getting ready for season Team plans small ball with focus on strong pitching, defense

BY TOM MUNDS TMUNDS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

High school baseball season doesn’t begin until March, but members of the Elizabeth coaches and players are practicing outside when weather permits, moving inside when the weather is cold or snowy.

“We want to be ready when the weather lets us get outside every day but right now we are practicing in the gym,” Cardinals coach Andrew Melton said. “We can do that because we have a drop-down net that provides the area so we can practice fielding, hitting and pitching. This is basketball and wrestling season and we work with them to schedule our practices when the gym is available.”

He said in addition to indoor practices, the team also holds strength and conditioning workouts.

The coach also said his team is fortunate because they are

Cardinals catcher Colt Tyler looks up to try to catch a foul ball during an Elizabeth baseball game last year.

Tyler is among the returning lettermen expected to help their team seek to repeat as league champions.

FILE PHOTO

in a rural area and there are families with large barns that also can provide space for the team to practice.

The Cardinals open season play with a scrimmage at home against Palmer Ridge March 2 and play the first

game of the season on the road at Golden on March 9.

Elizabeth won the league championship last year and Melton said he has a strong lineup of returning lettermen to help the Cardinals defend the league title.

“We graduated five seniors, which include our mid infielders. But we have good returning players in those position who I expect will step up and fill those positions,” the coach said. “Coming into this season we have five return-

ing seniors, three returning juniors and two returning sophomores who were starters or got varsity playing time last season, so I feel we definitely will be contenders to repeat as league champs.

However we are in a competitive league and I expect Canon City, The Classic Academy and Mesa Ridge will all have strong teams this season.”

He said the Cardinals will be tested early as they play a rigorous preseason schedule.

Melton said he expects team strengths to be defense and pitching.

“We will not be a power hitting team,” he said. “We will be playing small ball and the players will be swinging the bat a lot during practices now and in the spring so we can push runs across the plate.”

He said left-handed pitcher Tyler Richardson had a strong season on the mound last year and he expects the senior will be even stronger this season.

“Tyler has been on varsity since his freshman year,” the coach said. “He wants to continue to play baseball after graduation and plans to go play for the Vikings of Augustana Junior College in Rock Island, Illinois.”

Mamma Mia!: ‘70s Movie Night Friday, February 8 at 7pm

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The Choir of Man

Thursday, February 21 & Friday, February 22

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16 Elbert County News

The magic touch

January 31, 2019J

LOCAL

LIFE

GETTING TO KNOW HARRY POTTER Here are key characters and terms connected to the Harry Potter books and movies.

J.K. Rowling, author of the record-breaking novels.

Harry Potter fans celebrate fictional books, movies in real-life ways

Harry Potter, known as “The Boy Who Lived,” is Lord Voldemort’s rival and the main character.

Lord Voldemort, also known as “He-WhoMust-Not-Be-Named,” is the most powerful dark wizard of all time.

BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

T

rivia nights. Beer festivals. Running clubs. Theme parks. Symphony concerts. Quidditch teams.

All are present-day examples of groups and activities inspired by the magical world of Harry Potter in which people can participate in the real world. The book and film series forged a lasting legacy — the last book was released in 2007 — and created a global community of people connected by their love of the story.

Local enthusiasts say it boils down to author J.K. Rowling’s use of a wide range of characters that the reader, or film viewer, can relate to. Strong themes of working together, standing up for what’s right, living as an outcast and never giving up inspire people in the books and in daily life, they say.

The story of a young wizard caught in a battle of good versus evil spans seven books and later came to the screen in eight films (the final book was split into two movies).

In 2007, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” took the Guinness World Record top spot for fastest-selling book of fiction in a 24-hour period. In 2016, Harry Potter became the most liked fictional character on Facebook.

Aside from inspiring, the story also galvanizes people.

Take for example, Fanthropy Running Clubs. The organization is a virtual running group managed by the nonprofit Random Tuesday. It includes a Denverbased chapter of the Harry Potter group called Potterheads. Random Tuesday began as a Harry Potter-based running group in 2014 but has expanded by offering groups for other “fandoms” like Doctor Who and Gilmore Girls.

“We are currently recognized by Facebook as the largest Harry Potter independent community,” said Keir Hansen, the organization’s communications director.

About 65,000 have participated in the group’s Facebook discussions and events.

They schedule race events online and members complete them on their own time from wherever they’re based. Proceeds go to charity.

Hansen said the storyline and universe in Harry Potter revolve around creating a better world, and that appeals to people. There are also examples of groups from different backgrounds joining forces. But what is it about Harry Potter that motivates them to run for a cause?

“They all found ways to be able to work toward their common goal and to better the world,” Hansen said of the series’ characters. “Our community does the same

Hermione Granger is one of Potter’s two closest friends and fellow member of house Gryffindor.

Alex Hatch pictured in London while visiting the Warner Bros. studio where Harry Potter scenes were filmed. COURTESY PHOTO

Matthew, Kim and Ruby Reeder pictured in Harry Potter costumes, celebrate Harry Potter as a family in numerous ways, Kim says. Ruby’s nursery is Harry Potter themed and they attend Harry Potter themed events in the Denver metro area. COURTESY PHOTO thing.”

The same lessons that drive people to do philanthropic runs are ones that Kim Reeder, of Parker, passes on to students in her classes. Reeder teaches social studies for an online public school.

She said the books and movies helped her when life got tough.

“It’s just kind of the arc of the whole story about perseverance and what’s right and never giving up, even when all of the obstacles are stacked against you,” she said.

Reeder, 35, began reading the books in high school and fell in love with the world’s aesthetic, she said. She found the books cleverly written, with enough detail that she could visualize the places, and she enjoyed the characters.

“They’re really human,” she said.

“They’re flawed. They’re not perfect.”

Denver woman Alex Hatch, 30, said Harry Potter became her escape at age 11 when her parents were going through a divorce. She hasn’t connected to any other

series like she has Harry Potter.

“I think there’s a lot of correlation with what happened in the books and what happened with today’s day and age,” she said.

“In the books, good prevails, so that’s a message of hope for people.”

Fans flock to the Colorado Symphony when it shows the Warner Bros. and CineConcerts Harry Potter Film Concert Series, which travels globally. Spokesman Nick Dobref said by email it has been an audience favorite since it began in 2017.

The concerts allow audiences to “relive the magic of the film” on a 40-foot screen “while hearing the orchestra perform each unforgettable score.”

“Each installment has drawn huge crowds to Boettcher Concert Hall,” he said, “and it’s always a hot ticket with fans of all ages.”

Fanthropy isn’t the only competitive way Harry Potter enthusiasts are celebrating their fandom. Alex Bihlmeyer, of Denver, leads the local Mile High Quidditch Club, part of the US Quidditch league. They play the fictional game of quidditch made famous by Harry Potter that’s turned notso-fictional.

During the game’s season, Bihlmeyer and the team of about 16 people practice for three hours every Sunday.

“I loved the books when I was growing up,” Bihlmeyer said.

He related to the plots involving Harry Potter growing up as an outcast but “finally reaching a good place with a good group of friends.” When Bihlmeyer moved to Colorado roughly two years, ago, quidditch helped him find community.

Reeder said she and her family celebrate in many ways. They read the books for her 2-year-old daughter. They’ve seen the Colorado Symphony play the film concert series. They visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida. It’s all a fun family experience she’s glad to share with her daughter, she said.

“Throughout history, throughout modern times, there’s a few select books and/or movies,” Reeder said, “that really resonate with people. I think it’s kind of something that hadn’t been seen before.”

Ron Weasley is the second of Potter’s two closest friends and a Gryffindor member.

Albus Dumbledore is headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts and considered the most powerful wizard of his time.

James and Lily Potter, Harry Potter’s parents, were killed by Voldemort during Harry’s childhood.

Muggles are non-magical people.

Dementors are the guards of Azkaban, a prison for dangerous witches and wizards.

Shaped like humans and dressed in cloaks, they feed on happiness and extract souls.

Butterbeer is a wizard drink.

Horcruxes are objects used to conceal parts of Voldemort’s soul.

The Deathly Hallows are three legendary objects — a wand, stone and cloak — that when combined make one a “master of death.”

Expecto Patronum is the only known defense against Dementors. It is a difficult, defensive spell.

Expelliarmus is a spell used to remove an object, including wands, from someone’s grasp.

*Source: Pottermore.com

Elbert County News 17

January 31, 2019

Maya Angelou’s story to be shared by actor, scholar

A

ctor and scholar Becky Stone will portray American poet and author Maya Angelou (1929-2014) at 2 p.m. Feb. 21 at Bemis Library, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton. Presented

by Colorado HuSONYA’S manities as part SAMPLER of Black History Month, Stone will talk about Angelou’s autobiographical “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and more about her multi-faceted life in theater and literature. Angelou was one of the first Sonya Ellingboe African-American women to discuss her personal life publicly and wrote seven autobiographical volumes, as well as poetry, plays, movies and television shows. Stone’s performance is presented by Colorado Humanities and Center for the Book, located in Greenwood Village. Coloradohumanities.org. Stone will also appear at: Denver Public Library, Corky Gonzales Branch, 1498 N. Irving St., 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 23; Metropolitan State University, 890 Aurora Parkway, Tivoli Room 329, at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 26; and Community College of Aurora, 16000 E. Centre Tech Parktway, Fine Arts Building F100, at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 28. Free.

Underwater photography The Englewood Camera Club will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 6400 S. University Blvd. Centennial. The speaker will be Bill Knoll, about whom the group said: “If you plan to travel to warm waters yet this winter, you may want to attend the Englewood Camera Club’s February meeting, which will feature a presentation on underwater photography by Bill Knoll. Knoll is an engineer, scuba instructor and amateur photographer. He will present the basics of underwater photography for

perform the “New World Symphony”; Haydn’s “Sinfonia Concertante,” featuring four of the orchestra’s principal players; and “Capricio Espagnol” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22, at Littleton United Methodist Church, 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton. Tickets: $22/$19/$5. Littletonsymphony.org, 303-933-6824.

Actor/scholar Becky Stone will portray American poet and author Maya Angelou at 2 p.m. Feb. 21 at Bemis Library, a Colorado humanities program. COURTESY PHOTO snorkeling and scuba diving, explain the needed equipment and show examples.” Guests and new members welcome.

Bernstein presentation Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree, presents “One Hand, One Heart: 100 Years of Leonard Bernstein” at 7 p.m. Feb. 10, with a cast of Broadway singers. Tickets: lonetreeartscenter.org, 720-509-1000.

Also coming up at LTAC: “The Choir of Man,” nine guys who perform in a working pub with a wide range of music, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and 8 p.m.

Feb. 22.

Wonderbound troupe “Cupid’s Playground with the Colorado Symphony” plays at 7:30 p.m. Feb 23 and 2 p.m. Feb. 24 at PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker.

Wonderbound Dance Company will again perform with members of the Colorado Symphony. ParkerArts.org, 303-805-3377.

Littleton Symphony The Littleton Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jurgen de Lemos, will

Jewish Film Festival The annual Jewish Film Festival runs Feb. 6 to 18 at the JCC Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., Denver. Films will show at JCC, Alamo Drafthouse/Sloan’s Lake and the Sie FilmCenter. Forty-four films will be shown — 30 of them Colorado Premieres. Opening-night VIP reception at 6 p.m. Feb. 6, with a screening of “The Last Suit” about an elderly Jewish tailor who runs away from Buenos Aires to his native Poland.

Website: jccdenver.org/arts-culture/ Denver-jewish-film-festival.

Aurora Fox, Curious productions provide cause for contemplation

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Aurora Fox is presenting “Hooded or Being Black for Dummies” by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, while Curious Theatre stages “Gloria”

by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins.

Both playwrights are awardwinning, highly skilled, prolific black writers who have Julliard connections and a number of recent plays produced. m Regional premieres, both

Center for Natural Law

seminar features guest speaker Michele Poague, Author and Libertarian Topic is “Impact of Government Regulation and the Minimum Wage”

Benefit for elementaries Voices West Chorale has for many years offered support and musical training to choral students at East and Field elementary schools in Littleton.

A concert for the community will present young singers with the chorale at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 at Littleton United Methodist Church, 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton. Tickets are free/pay what you are able at the door. These kids develop a lifetime love of music trough this generous program, which has raised thousands over the years.

Saturday, February 9, 2019 • 6-9 PM

Art of the State 2019 The third iteration of Arvada Center’s juried “Art of the State” exhibit fills three galleries at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada.

The call for entry brought in 1,555 entries from 566 artists. Jurors Colin Parson, Joy Armstrong and Daisy McGowan selected 154 pieces by 135 Colorado artists, which will be displayed through March 31. Admission is free. Gallery hours: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

MON-TUES-WED February 4, 5 & 6

Two theaters stage unflinching plays plays address social issues and are very much worth a visit — and contemplation afterwards. (Be warned: guns appear in both ...)

• “Gloria” opens in a competitive magazine publishing office, where four desks are occupied by Dean, Kendra, Ani and Miles — the intern who is about to leave. Snarky conversation ensues as competitive writers talk shop and gossip.

It seems that Gloria, who also works in this office, had a party last weekend and Dean was the only one who showed up.

Director Chip Walton and associate director Jada Suzanne Dixon have worked with a skilled cast to look at the range of personalities in

New from Buntport Buntport Theater, 717 Lipan St., Denver, has developed new editions of its live sitcom “Magnets on the Fridge,” which will run on the first Thursday of the month from Feb. 6 to June 5.

Tickets cost $10. Buntport.com. Also to be repeated is “Rembrandt Room” from Feb. 15 to March 2, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday Feb. 24 at 3 p.m.; Monday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. (pay-what-you-can performance, aimed at the theater community). (It will also play March 8-9 at the Longmont Museum and Culture Center.)

Tickets: buntport.com, 720-946-1388.

each of three acts (most play several parts) and the range of possible responses to a tragedy. Of course, writing a book about what happened is an expected outcome.

Several of these folks are in that process. Is it OK to profit from a tragedy? Who will get published first? How do you deal with a traumatic event?

Desiree Mee Jung plays the harsh, super-competitive Kendra in Act 1 and the boss, Jenna, in Act 2, while Brian Landis Folkins, the fact checke/boss in Act 1, becomes the newly hired low-level employee later — he stands out in both situations.

SEE THEATERS, P23

IF YOU GO CURIOUS THEATRE is at 1080 Acoma St. in the Golden Triangle, Denver. Performances of “Gloria”: 7:30 p.m.

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays.

Curioustheatre.org. Box office: 303-623-0524.

AURORA FOX is at 9900 E. Colfax, Aurora. Performances of “Hooded or Being Black for Dummies”: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Aurorafox.org. Box office: 303-739-1970.

Complimentary dinner and beverage with Cash bar.

Location: Sheraton DTC, 7007 So. Clinton St. Greenwood Village, CO 80112.

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RSVP a must!

Call Greg at 303.759.3599, or email greg@centerfornaturallaw.org.

Name, phone #, and number of persons in your party required.

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18 Elbert County News

January 31, 2019J

HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Editor’s note: How to Make a Difference listings are published free, on a spaceavailable basis. Listings are submitted by the community; to submit a listing, or to change or delete an existing listing, contact hharden@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

Deadline is noon Wednesday a week before publication.

Parker Senior Center: Provides services to local seniors.

Need: Volunteer drivers to take seniors to the center for a hot meal, to appointments, to the grocery store, and more.

Contact: Louise West at 303-841-5370.

PeopleFirst Hospice: Denver hospice Need: Volunteers to provide companionship to hospice patients and their families.

Contact: Rachel Wang at 303-546-7921 Red Cross: Supports the elderly, international causes and social services Need: Volunteers to provide support Contact: 303-607-4768 or 303-266-7855 Sunset Hospice: end-of-life support Need: Volunteer training is from 6-10 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesdays; they also meet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every first and third Saturday Contact: Jami Martin at 303-693-2105 The Right Step Inc.: Therapeutic horseback riding program for children and adults with disabilities. Based in Littleton.

Need: Volunteers to help with horses before, during and after lessons, as well as to walk alongside clients as they ride to help keep them securely on their horses. Volunteers also needed to help with administrative tasks and fundraising.

Requirements: Volunteers who help with lessons must be at least 14 years old and attend a three-hour training session.

Contact: volunteercoordinator@therightstepinc.org or go to www.therightstepinc.org.

Volunteers of America, Foster Grandparent Program: Foster grandparents volunteer in early childhood centers and public schools focusing on literacy and numeracy for at-risk children and youth.

Need: Seniors on a low, fixed income who enjoy working with children. Volunteers work 15-40 hours a week.

Contact: 303-297-0408 or www.voacolorado.org.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide: Offers free tax filing help to anyone, especially those 50 and older, who cannot afford a tax preparation service.

Need: Volunteers to to help older, lowerincome taxpayers prepare their tax returns.

Requirement: All levels of experience are welcome; training and support provided.

Contact: 1-888-OUR-AARP (687-2277) or www.aarpfoundation.org/taxaide Alzheimer’s Association, Colorado Chapter: Provides care and support to 67,000-plus families dealing with all kinds of dementing illnesses.

Need: Walk to End Alzheimer’s committee members.

Requirements: Individuals who love to help plan and execute. Our Walk to End Alzheimer’s attracts more than 10,000 people, so planning committee members are essential.

Contact: Deb Wells, 303-813-1669 or dwells@alz.org.

Our Lady of Loreto Catholic School Offering Preschool through 8th Grade with a licensed faculty • Rigorous curriculum • Christ-centered, Catholic Faith Formation • Exceptional faculty and staff involvement • Before and After care Program for P-8 • Extensive selection of extracurricular activities including strong athletic program • Strong partnership between parent and teacher

Forming faithful disciples today to be strong leaders tomorrow

Animal Rescue of the Rockies: Provides foster care for death-row shelter dogs and cats throughout Colorado Need: Foster families for animals on lists to be euthanized Contact: animalrescueoftherockies.org.

Ainsley’s Angels in Denver: Pairing runners and riders with special needs or physical limitations in races from 5k’s to marathons.

Need: Volunteers to run and help push the specialized race chairs in local races.

Volunteers to take pictures and videos of Angel teams at the start, middle and finish of races.

Requirements: Able to run/jog a 5k and/or work an iPhone.

Contact: Law Dickerson, 225-278-4265 or Denver@ainsleysangels.org, https://ainsleysangels.org/signup Arthritis Foundation, Colorado/Wyoming Chapter: Helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to care, advancements in sciences and community connections.

Need: Walk to Cure Arthritis committee members and general office volunteer support.

Requirements: Individuals who love to help plan and execute Walk to Cure Arthritis. We combat arthritis every day, so support from volunteers so that we can serve people is crucial.

Contact: Amy Boulas, aboulas@arthritis.org, 720-409-3143.

ASSE International Student Exchange Program: Organizes student exchange programs Need: Local host families to provide homes for boys and girls age 15-18 from a variety of coutries.

Contact: Cathy Hintz, 406-488-8325 or 800-733-2773 AYUSA: International Youth Exchange Program: Promotes quality exchange programs for high school students from around the world.

Need: Host families for international high school students ages 15-18 studying in the Denver area.

Requirements: To provide students with a safe home, meals and transportation for 5-10 months. All family types are considered. Must fill out onlilne application and pass background check.

Contact: Adrienne Bivens, 720-467-6430 or abivens@ayusa.org. Go to www.ayusa.org.

Castle Rock Senior Activity Center: Provides services to local seniors Need: Volunteer drivers to take seniors to appointments, the grocery store, pharmacies and more.

Contact: Steph Schroeder, 303-688-9498 Colorado Humane Society: Handles animal abuse and neglect cases Need: Volunteers to care for pregnant cats,

dogs and their litters, as well as homes for cats and dogs that require socializing or that are recovering from surgery or injuries.

Contact: Teresa Broaddus, 303-961-3925 Court Appointed Special Advocates: Works with abused and neglected children in Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties Need: Advocates for children, to get to know, speak up for and ensure their best interests in court Contact: 303-695-1882 or www.adv4children.org.

Douglas/Elbert Task Force: Provides assistance to people in Douglas and Elbert counties who are in serious economic need, at risk of homelessness or in similar crisis.

Need: Volunteers to assist in the food bank, client services and the thrift store Treasures on Park Street.

Contact: Marion Dahlem, 303-688-1114, x32 Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center: Cares for homeless horses and other equines.

Need: Volunteers to work with horses and other opportunities.

Requirements: Must be 16 years old, pass a background check, and be able to commit to at least three hours a week for three months.

Other Information: Two-hour orientation provides an overview of the services provided, learn about the volunteer opportunities, take a tour of the center, and talk with staff and volunteers.

Contact: 303-751-5772 or go to ddfl.org.

Elbert County Sheriff’s Posse: Supports the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of Emergency Management with detentions support, patrol, administrative duties, event security, emergency services support, and call-outs as need arises.

Need: With proper training and clearances, volunteers help with patrol, fingerprinting, records keeping, community event security services, disaster response and management (wildfire, tornado, blizzard, flood, disaster relief, etc.).

Requirements: Must be 21 years of age or older; retired individuals are great. Must complete a employment application, pass a background check, and complete interviews. After being sworn in, in the first three months of membership, complete a minimum of 45 hours of orientation and training curriculum. After this 90-day probationary period, members must log a minimum of 10 hours of month and attend monthly training meetings. Persons ages 15-20, may join the Elbert County Sheriffs Explorer POST that is associated with the Posse.

Contact: David Peontek at djp1911@msn.com or 303-646-5456. Go to http://www.elbertcountysheriff.com/posse.html; print out and complete an employment application and turn it into the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office in Kiowa, “Attn: David Peontek.”

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Elbert County News 19

January 31, 2019

t

ANOTHER WILD RIDE

Bareback riding at the Mexican rodeo. BRETT STAKELIN/BRETTSTAKELIN.COM

Cultural dance at the Mexican rodeo. BRETT STAKELIN/BRETTSTAKELIN.COM

T

he 113th annual National Western Stock Show came to a close Jan. 27.

As they do each January, hundreds of thousands of people attended the event in Denver during its more-than-two-week run -- which included rodeos, demonstrations and the chance to see prize-winning livestock.

A prize-winning steer was auctioned for a record-setting amount Jan. 25. Ames Construction Company made a winning bid of $150,000 for the Grand Champion Steer at Friday night’s auction of junior competitors’ livestock.

Kutter Bland, a 17-year-old

The Mexican flag is presented at the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza on Jan. 13 during the National Western Stock Show. PHOTOS BY BRETT STAKELIN/BRETTSTAKELIN.COM

from Idalou High School in Slaton, Texas showed the 1,339-pound steer.

Overall, the auction sales of eight champion animals totaled $480,000. That included the Grand Champion Hog, which sold for $70,000, and the Reserve Grand Champion steer, which sold for $90,000. Stock show officials say the auction proceeds support young exhibitors as they plan for college and future agricultural work.

For many, the highlight of the stock show was the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza on Jan. 13. The event featured dancers, bull riding, bareback riding and more.

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SCORE also offers free business mentoring provided by skilled and experienced business people.

For a full listing of courses and times, please visit:

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20 Elbert County News

January 31, 2019J

CLUBS Editor’s note: Clubs listings are published free, on a space-available basis. Listings are submitted by the community; to submit a new listing, or to make changes to or remove an existing listing, contact hharden@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

Story Time: Help your little one build literacy skills by interacting with engaging stories, followed by a craft. Kids and adults alike make new friends. Drop in: noon to 4 p.m.

Mondays and 4:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Elbert Library; 10 am.

Wednesdays at the Elizabeth Library; 11 a.m.

Wednesdays at the Simla Library; 1 p.m.

Thursdays at the Elizabeth Library; 11 a.m.

Fridays at the Kiowa Library. Learn more at pplibraries.org Teen Craft Works: Come make creative crafts from recycled and new materials.

Tweens welcome too. Meets from 4-5:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at the Elizabeth Library. Learn more at pplibraries. org Teen Game Night: Enjoy table top and video games from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at the Kiowa Library. Learn more at pplibraries.org Teen Time: Hang out, get homework done, play board and/or video games from 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Kiowa Library. Learn more at pplibraries.org.

Therapeutic Riding: Promise Ranch Therapeutic Riding in Franktown is a nonprofit organization that provides equine assisted activities and therapies for children and adults with disabilities and/or other therapeutic or rehabilitative needs. We offer adaptive/therapeutic riding and horse-

Christ-Centered: Service

manship lessons, hippotherapy treatment sessions, to include occupational therapy and physical therapy services, and horsemanship for veterans. The ranch provides financial assistance for individuals that could not otherwise afford to participate through sponsorships and donations. Call 303-817-6531 or visit our website at www. prtr.org.

people who have shared life experiences.

Members live in the Denver metro area and surrounding communities. Members are encouraged to visit different links to find the best fit for their interests. Contact Dorothy at 303-794-7547 or Les at 303-797-1209, or go to www.widowedamerica.org.

Unplugged Café: Play board games, jacks, marbles, hopscotch, other vintage games or create your own games. Get help with homework if needed. Drop in from 4:306:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Simla Library.

Learn more at pplibraries.org.

Women’s Divorce Workshop: 8:30 a.m. to noon the fourth Saturday of each month at Southeast Christian Church, 9650 Jordan Road, Parker. Check in from 8-8:30 a.m.

Register online at www.divorceworkshopdenver.com. Legal, financial and social issues of divorce. Volunteer presenters include an attorney, mediator, therapist and wealth manager. Discussion items include co-parenting, child support, family coping, tax consequences, property division, hostile spouses and more. Contact 303-210-2607 or info@divorceworkshopdenver.com.

VFW Post 10649: 8:30 a.m. the first Saturday of every month at 24325 Main St., Elbert. Go to http://www.vfwpost10649. org. Contact Alan Beebe at 303-435-2560 for questions.

The Write Group: A community of young writers for tweens, teens and young adults meets from 4-5 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the Elizabeth Library. Learn more at pplibraries.org

VFW Post 4266: 7 p.m. the third Monday of every month at the Pinery Fire Station, Community Room Lower Level, 8170 N. Hillcrest Way, Parker. Serving veterans of foreign wars in Parker, Castle Pines and Castle Rock areas. Go to www.vfwpost4266. org. P.O. Box 4266, Parker, CO 80134. On Facebook at VFW Post 4266, Parker.

AA If you want to drink, that’s your business.

If you want to stop, that’s ours. More than 1,000 AA meetings are offered in the Denver area every week. If you think you may have a problem with alcohol, come see us. To find a meeting near you, call 303-322-4440, or go to www.daccaa.org.

Trading Card Club: Bring your cards (Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering) and play from 4-7 p.m. Mondays at the Kiowa Library. Learn more at pplibraries.org.

Widowed Men and Women of America, a nonprofit organization of the state based in Denver, has more than 5o0 members. The group sponsors social events for members to make new friends and have fun with

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Book Club meets from 7-8 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the Elizabeth Library; Brown Bag Book Club meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month at the Elizabeth Library; Elbert Book Club meets the last Thursday of the month at the Elbert Library; Wizarding World of Harry Potter Book Club meets from 4:30-6:30 p.m. the third Friday of the month at the Simla Library; Mystery Book Club meets from 10-11 a.m. the first Saturday of the month (October-May) at the Simla Library;Diverse & Rowdy Book Club meets from 10-11:30 a.m. the second Saturday of the month at the Simla Library. Learn more at pplibraries.org Brain Booster: Drop in and get homework help, work on a group project or use the space for tutoring. Open from 4-7 p.m.

Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Kiowa Library. Learn more at pplibraries.org Camping Singles: 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month. Membership ranges from 40s to 60-plus. Colorado single adults who enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, biking, sightseeing, photography, the camaraderie of others, and starry nights around the camp fire. We usually camp in designated forest service or state park campgrounds within 2 to 5 hours of Denver. Contact campingsingles@gmail.com

Affordable Colleges Online: guidebook includes a collection of scholarships for women, including due dates and award amounts; insight into the financial aid application process; and other funding opportunities, such as industry-specific scholarships and funding for special groups.

Go to http://www.affordablecollegesonline. org/womens-guide-paying-for-college/

Community Family Game Night: Bring family and friends for games of all sorts from 5-7 p.m. Thursdays at the Elbert Library.

Learn more at pplibraries.org

Anime Nights: Watch and discuss anime; some snacks provided. Meets from 7-9 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month at the Kiowa Library; from 7-9 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays at the Elizabeth Library; and 4:30-6:30 p.m. the second Friday of the month at the Simla Library. Go to pplibraries.org.

Douglas-Elbert County Music Teachers’ Association: 9 a.m. every first Thursday at Parker Bible Church, between Jordan and Chambers on Mainstreet. All area music teachers are welcome. Call Lucie Washburn, 303-814-3479.

Book Clubs: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club meets from 5:30-6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of the month at the Elizabeth Library; Kiowa Book Club meets from 7-8 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at the Kiowa Library; Rising Strong Book Club meets from 5:30-7 p.m. every Tuesday at the Elbert Library; Elizabeth

Construction Masters: Show off your Lego building skills from 4:15-5:15 p.m. Wednesdays at the Elbert Library. Learn more at pplibraries.org.

Elbert County Sheriff’s Posse: a nonprofit volunteer organization that is part of the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office. As volunteers we support the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, all law enforcement in our county, and the community at large. Go to http://www. elbertcountysheriff.com/posse.html or contact Dave Peontek at 303-646-5456.

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Elbert County News 21

January 31, 2019

CRISIS FROM PAGE 14

O’Dorisio had begun researching how neighboring communities were addressing opioids when he learned Holen had already started work in Arapahoe County.

Leadership from both counties’ opioid initiatives met in early 2016 to discuss shared goals and decided to join O’Dorisio forces.

The Tri-County Health Department came in to facilitate a new group comprising members from Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties. With that, the Tri-County Overdose Prevention Partnership, referred to by its members as TCOPP, was born. It met for the first time in May 2016.

The partnership quickly identified people in the community who wanted to fight the epidemic, including law enforcement agencies, members of the criminal justice system and community leaders, O’Dorisio said. The partnership, managed by Tri-County Health Department, today comprises more than 30 organizations and private citizens.

In 2017, the partnership drafted goals and a multipronged attack plan by creating workgroups to focus on six key areas: youth prevention, public awareness, provider education, safe disposal, harm reduction and treatment.

TCOPP is among several organizations in Colorado leading the way to curb the opioid epidemic, said J. Scott Bainbridge, founder of Denver Back Pain Specialists and board member of the Colorado Pain Society. Holding workshops, like ones that TCOPP offers to educate providers on best prescribing practices, is important in the mission.

Holen believes the partnership has had a positive impact in the decrease of prescription-opioid overdose deaths and improved awareness of opioids’ addictiveness.

The number of prescription opioid-

related deaths in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties from 2012 through 2013 was 150. From 2014 through 2015 it was 206. From 2016 through 2017, the number dropped to 183.

Still, “the enormity of the problem is getting worse, not better,” Holen said, as some people move to street drugs, such as heroin, when they can no longer afford prescriptions.

“Now we’re seeing increases in heroin deaths and, with the introduction of fentanyl into the mix, we’re seeing increased uses of that,” he said.

Fentanyl is a synthetic, or manmade, opioid medication that’s classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration as having a high potential for abuse. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the most recent cases of overdoses or deaths related to fentanyl involved illegally made versions of the drug.

Pharmaceutical fentanyl is typically used to control severe pain among people like cancer patients. The illicit version is often mixed with other substances like heroin or cocaine.

From 2012 through 2013, the three counties reported 44 heroin deaths.

Over the next two years that increased by 39 percent, and from 2016 to 2017 it increased again by 54 percent from 2014-2015 for a total of 94 heroin deaths in the two-year period.

Approximately 70 percent of Colorado’s heroin users say their drug use began with a prescription, according to the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health.

The partnership is collecting data so that it can accurately measure the effects of its efforts, O’Dorisio said.

He hopes it continues to make relationships with organizations relevant to the crisis and further promote accountability for opioid use and the prescribing of opioids.

Holen is hoping for the same.

“Thousands and thousands of people’s lives have been altered — families are grieving every place in America,” Holen said. “The only way it’s going to get resolved is through a collaborative effort.”

WANTED: 5 HOMES

‘It just gets different’ The maps Lindemann showed his commissioners three years ago are now filled with outdated data and links that don’t work — except for Celebrating Lost Loved Ones, which gained widespread attention when the National Safety Council began running it on its website in 2018.

Katherine van den Bogert, a program manager for survivor advocates, volunteers at the nonprofit National Safety Council, which works to reduce preventable deaths. She learned of the map through a former colleague and believed it would fit well with the organization’s campaigns about opioid education.

“We just thought it was a really nice way to raise awareness of the broad impact of the opioid epidemic,” she said. “It was just such a personal story, that (Lindemann) took as a personal mission.”

The map is now promoted in the organization’s Stop Everyday Killers campaign, which travels the country exhibiting a memorial comprising 22,000 white opioid pills engraved

with the faces of someone who died in the epidemic during 2015. Anyone who views the memorial is also informed about Celebrating Lost Loved Ones.

And anyone can add a loved one, his or her photo and a brief biography to the map.

In Highlands Ranch, there’s Lindsey Jo, who grew addicted to pain medication after being prescribed pills for back problems, her profile says. She died in 2016 after several attempts at treatment and an eightmonth stint of sobriety.

“I cannot describe the pain that my entire family is going through,” one of Lindsey’s parents wrote. “We will never be the same and I am so angry that she did not get the help she needed.”

Devon Miller, an avid snowboard and wakeboard rider whose experiences with prescription opioids began with a torn meniscus in his knee, lived in Morrison.

He attempted rehab three times, his profile states.

He died in 2016 at age 30.

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22 Elbert County News

January 31, 2019J

‘Wizard of Oz’ premieres in Colorado Ballet shows L. Frank Baum tale from 1900 is adapted for classical dance

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As a forward to his original “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” published in May 1900, L. Frank Baum wrote: “A time for a newer set of wonder tales ... without stereotypic genie, dwarf and fairies ... together with all the horrible and blood curdling incidents created by the authors to put a fearsome moral to every tale ... Modern education includes morality, therefore the modern child seeks only entertainment in its wonder tales and gladly dispenses with all disagreeable incidents.”

Baum’s thoughts are a good lead into thinking about his wonderful storytelling more than a century later.

From Feb. 1-10, Colorado Ballet will present ballet, “Wizard of Oz,” based on Baum’s stories, at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts downtown. (Baum published 14 Oz books.)

A concept floated by famous choreographer Septime Webre (presently artistic director of the Hong Kong Ballet, formerly with the Washington National Ballet) led to Colorado Ballet’s collaboration with the Kansas City Ballet and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to bring those Oz characters dancing along the Yellow Brick Road again.

Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet artistic director, observed that “a company of our size might be able to contribute to the creation of a new full-length work every 20 years ... this is an extremely exciting time for Colorado Ballet to be part of something so special and extraordinary ...”

IF YOU GO “Wizard of Oz,” presented by the Colorado Ballet, showing at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Denver. Dates and times: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1, 2, 8, 9; 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3, 10; 2 p.m. Feb. 2, 3, 9, 10. Call 303-8378888, ext. 2 or visit coloradoballet.org.

Prices: $35 to $155. (Colorado Ballet asks that you buy tickets directly from them.)

American composer/violinist Matthew Pierce, who has found his groove s in composing scores for ballet companies, was commissioned to create a score, and a team from across the nation was assembled to create the additional stage magic. Liz Vandal designed costumes; set and lighting design were F developed by Michael Raiford and Trad Burns; and puppeteer Nicholas Mahon E added his skills to the new production, while video and projection skills of Aaron Rhyne round out a package. The resulting production package, owned by the three companies, can in the future generate revenues as it is rented to other ballet companies who are looking for new material.

Colorado Ballet hosts its annual gala Feb. 7 in the Land of Oz, with cocktails along the Yellow Brick Road, an auction and meal in the Emerald City. Call for tickets.

Performances are grouped on weekends. Some dates are sold out, so reservations are in order, to avoid the prospect of a dismayed little dancer, dressed in her special outfit, being told “No seats are available.”

The season continues with two additional productions: • March 8-10: “Tour de Force,” featuring Colorado Ballet, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and Wonderbound at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

• April 5-14 “Ballet Masterworks” at Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

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Elbert County News 23

January 31, 2019

THEATERS FROM PAGE 17

Candace Joyce plays editor Nan in Act 2 after starting out as conflicted Gloria. Brian Kusic (Dean/Devin) is argumentative and hung over, but draws one’s sympathy for his frustration. He voices opinions that lead us along in forming judgments ... Rakeem Lawrence, who plays Miles the intern at first and a Starbucks guy in Act 2, progresses to VP Rashaad in a TV/film studio in Act 3, when the story, of course, goes to film. Sydnee Fullmer plays Ani/Sasha/Callie — all more likable characters ...

Kusic commented that the playwright was specific in saying which characters were to be played by the same actor. The audience gets mini

CLUBS FROM PAGE 20

Elizabeth American Legion, Post 82: a veteran’s association supporting veterans, their families and the community, meets the first Monday of every month (except when the first Monday is a holiday, in which case the meeting is the second Monday) at the Legion Post Hall at South Banner Street and Elm Street in Elizabeth. Social hour begins at 5:30 and the regular business meeting starts at 6:30. Friday Afternoon Club meets from 5-7 p.m. every Friday and Veterans Coffee Club meets every Wednesday from 8-11 a.m. for social time with other veterans. All veterans invited. Website: aml82.org.

pictures of today’s society — none especially inviting.

A cynical look at a segment of society? Yes, but so very well-written and acted. Kusic called “Gloria” a “modern masterpiece” in the talkback session that followed. There was general agreement that there was no one answer to the issues the play raises ... Kusic also commented on the especially well-put stage directions that were included in the script ... and added “it’s kind of wonderful being in a play that’s not about love or rich people.”

• After one is seated at the Aurora Fox, for “Hooded or Being Black for Dummies,” a cocky, funny Officer Borzoi (Laurence Anthony Curry) struts onstage and warns the audience he’s keeping an eye on them ... then we meet two teenage guys in a jail cell — one stretched out face down — “Tray-

vonning,” Marquis calls it. Marquis (A.J. Voliton) is an uptight prep school type, adopted by a white family, and Tru (Randy Chalmers) is a streetwise Baltimore kid, with very special red sneakers, who says he “was arrested for being black in the wrong place at the wrong time.” A familiar tale, unfortunately ... Marquis’ fierce white lawyer/mother Debra (Jacqueline Garcia, who also plays schoolgirl Prairie) soon appears to bail them out.

They talk through some time at Marquis’ home, at the prep school, dealing with cheerleader-type girls: Meadow (Tara Kelso), Clementine (Adeline Mann), and not-so-pleasant guys Hunter (John Hauser) and Fielder (Drew Hirschboeck) ...

Well-known Denver actress Betty Hart is director for this well-crafted play — and will play the lead in “Caroline, or Change” this spring at Aurora

Fox. Tru determines to write a guide for Marquis that will teach him how to be black — “you talk like a white person,” he tells Marquis. And he follows with instructions on posture, speech and attitude as situations arise. Funny and sad at the same time, with solid acting from beginning to end.

Marquis is interested in fellow student Clementine and romance enters the picture. Dialogue is especially well-written as this story develops and the boys become friends.

Hart says in her Director’s notes: “I invite you to lean in, laugh, love and embrace that which is uncomfortable...”

New artistic director Helen R. Murray has selected an interesting series of plays for her first season at the Aurora Fox. We look forward to returning.

Elizabeth Food Bank: 12:30-3 p.m. Friday and 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday at 381 S. Banner in Elizabeth (next door to Elizabeth Presbyterian Church); available to help anyone who needs food. Other times by appointment.

Kiowa Creek Food Pantry: open from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays in the Fellowship Hall at 231 Cheyenne Street, Kiowa. Distribution for the State TEFAP food program.

Food is distributed monthly to low-income individuals/families that qualify. We also distribute low-income senior food boxes for the state; those 60 and older may qualify for a monthly supplement. Call the food pantry at 303-621-2376.

Knitting and Crocheting Baby Beanies: Join #beaniesforbabies and use your knitting and crocheting skills for baby beanies that we donate to local hospital nurseries and NICUs. Meets every second and fourth Saturday of the month. Call 303-503-9773.

Garden Clubs: Seedy Ladies meets from 1-3 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at the Elbert Library; Gardeners/Homesteaders (SRA) meets from 2-3 p.m. the third Saturday of the month at the Simla Library.

Learn more at pplibraries.org GED Preparation & Career Online High School: Get started with GED preparation and coaching throughout the process. COHS allows students 19-plus to earn a certified high school diploma. Call 303-646-3416 for more details. Learn more at pplibraries.org

Knitting & Crocheting Groups: Simla Witty Knitters meets from 2-3:30 p.m.

Tuesdays at the Simla Library; Close Knit Crochet Group meets from 4-5 p.m.

Wednesdays at the Kiowa Library; Hats for the Homeless meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursdays at the Elizabeth Library. Learn more at pplibraries.org

Lawyers at the Library: 6-8 p.m. the second m 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Elizabeth Library. Free legal clinic for parties who have no attorney. Volunteer attorneys will answer questions, help fill out forms and explain the process and procedure for the areas of family law, civil litigation, criminal defense, property law, probate law, collections, appeals, landlord-tenant law and civil protection orders. Walk-ins welcome.

Everyone will be helped on a first-come, firstserved basis. Learn more at pplibraries.org

Classifieds

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Elbert County School District C-2 is looking for a Part-time Spanish interpreter Monday and Tuesday, 7:20 AM - 11:30 AM (possibly Wednesday and Thursday as well) Please call (303)621-2220 for more information.

Road Grader Operator Elbert County is looking for a team-player with CDL safe driving records for: Road Grader Operator $20/hour Monday-Thursday, 6:30-4:00, 36 hours/week with full benefits.

Job description and application available at www.elbertcounty-co.gov or 215 Comanche Street, Kiowa.

For information call 303-621-3150.

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Plaintiff: SPRING VALLEY MASTER ASSOCIATION INC., a Colorado non-profit corporation v.

JEFFREY H. KATZOFF, ET AL, Defendant(s),

24 Elbert County News

the applicable portions of Colorado statutory law relating to curative and redemption rights; therefore, you should read and review all the applicable statutes and laws in order to determine the requisite procedures and provisions which control your rights in the subject property.

January 31, 2019J

Public Notice

Elbert County District Court 751 Ute Avenue, Kiowa CO

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices RE: Sheriff’s Sale of Real Property pursuant to Court Order and 38-38-101 et seq., C.R.S.

IF THE BORROWER BELIEVES THAT A LENDER OR SERVICER HAS VIOLATED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT IN SECTION 38-38-103.1 OR THE PROHIBITION ON DUAL TRACKING IN SECTION 38-38-103.2, THE BORROWER MAY FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE COLORADO ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE FEDERAL CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BURAU (CFBP), OR BOTH. THE FILING OF A COMPLAINT WILL NOT STOP THE FORECLOSUE PROCESS.

In the Matter of the Petition of: Zachary Douglas For the Adoption of a Child Case Number: 18JA11 Division: 1 Courtroom: 2B

PUBLIC NOTICES This is to advise you that a Sheriff’s sale proceeding has been commenced through the office of the undersigned Sheriff pursuant to an Order re: Verified Motion for Default Judgment and Decree of Foreclosure dated November 5, 2018, and §38-38-101 et seq., C.R.S., by Spring Valley Ranch Master Association, Inc., the current holder and owner of a statutory lien against the real property located at 5523 Bear Creek Loop, Elizabeth, CO 80107, CO, in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado. The foreclosure is based on an Order for Default Judgment which establishes a lien for the benefit of Spring Valley Ranch Master Association, Inc. WHICH LIEN BEING FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS:

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 legally described as follows, to wit: Bids and Settlements

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

INVITATION FOR BIDS:

INVITATION FOR BIDS:

Independence Water and Sanitation District (IWSD) is requesting sealed Bids for the “Influent Fine Screen”. All Bids are to be delivered to W2 Engineers, LLC (W2E) via e-mail at will.raatz@w2eng.com by 1:00 p.m. local time on February 14, 2019. Bids received after that date and time will not be considered. E-mailed Bids must use the subject “IWSD Influent Fine Screen Bid”. Bid packages will be available on or after 12:00 p.m. on January 31, 2019 and can be obtained by emailing W2E at will.raatz@w2eng.com, and questions regarding the Bid can also be directed to the same e-mail address.

Independence Water and Sanitation District (IWSD) is requesting sealed Bids for “FRP Basin Covers”. All Bids are to be delivered to W2 Engineers, LLC (W2E) via e-mail at will.raatz@w2eng.com by 1:00 p.m. local time on February 14, 2019. Bids received after that date and time will not be considered. E-mailed Bids must use the subject “IWSD FRP Basin Covers Bid”. Bid packages will be available on or after 12:00 p.m. on January 31, 2019 and can be obtained by emailing W2E at will.raatz@w2eng.com, and questions regarding the Bid can also be directed to the same e-mail address.

Legal Notice No.: 24223 First Publication: January 31, 2019 Last Publication: January 31, 2019 Publisher: The Elbert County News

Legal Notice No.: 24226 First Publication: January 31, 2019 Last Publication: January 31, 2019 Publisher: The Elbert County News

LEGAL NOTICE

Summons and Sheriff Sales

INVITATION FOR BIDS:

Independence Water and Sanitation District (IWSD) is requesting sealed Bids for the “Ultraviolet Light Disinfection Equipment”. All Bids are to be delivered to W2 Engineers, LLC (W2E) via e-mail at will.raatz@w2eng.com by 1:00 p.m. local time on February 14, 2019. Bids received after that date and time will not be considered.

E-mailed Bids must use the subject “IWSD Ultraviolet Light Disinfection Equipment Bid”. Bid packages will be available on or after 12:00 p.m. on January 31, 2019 and can be obtained by emailing W2E at will.raatz@w2eng.com, and questions regarding the Bid can also be directed to the same e-mail address.

Legal Notice No.: 24224 First Publication: January 31, 2019 Last Publication: January 31, 2019 Publisher: The Elbert County News LEGAL NOTICE INVITATION FOR BIDS: Independence Water and Sanitation District (IWSD) is requesting sealed Bids for a “Diesel Generator”. All Bids are to be delivered to W2 Engineers, LLC (W2E) via e-mail at will.raatz@w2eng.com by 1:00 p.m. local time on February 14, 2019. Bids received after that date and time will not be considered. E-mailed Bids must use the subject “IWSD Diesel Generator Bid”. Bid packages will be available on or after 12:00 p.m. on January 31, 2019 and can be obtained by emailing W2E at will.raatz@w2eng.com, and questions regarding the Bid can also be directed to the same e-mail address.

Legal Notice No.: 24225 First Publication: January 31, 2019 Last Publication: January 31, 2019 Publisher: The Elbert County News

Public notice DISTRICT COURT ELBERT COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO CIVIL CASE NO. 2018CV30060 SHERIFF’S NOTICE OF SALE Plaintiff: SPRING VALLEY MASTER ASSOCIATION INC., a Colorado non-profit corporation v.

JEFFREY H. KATZOFF, ET AL, Defendant(s), RE: Sheriff’s Sale of Real Property pursuant to Court Order and 38-38-101 et seq., C.R.S. This is to advise you that a Sheriff’s sale proceeding has been commenced through the office of the undersigned Sheriff pursuant to an Order re: Verified Motion for Default Judgment and Decree of Foreclosure dated November 5, 2018, and §38-38-101 et seq., C.R.S., by Spring Valley Ranch Master Association, Inc., the current holder and owner of a statutory lien against the real property located at 5523 Bear Creek Loop, Elizabeth, CO 80107, CO, in the County of Elbert, State of Colorado. The foreclosure is based on an Order for Default Judgment which establishes a lien for the benefit of Spring Valley Ranch Master Association, Inc. WHICH LIEN BEING FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS: legally described as follows, to wit: Lot 81, Section 33 Township 6 Range 64 Subdivision Spring Valley Ranch Filing 3, County of Elbert, State of Colorado also known by street and number as: 5523 Bear Creek Loop, Elizabeth 80107 (the “Property).

Summons and Sheriff Sales

also known by street and number as: 5523 Bear Creek Loop, Elizabeth 80107 (the “Property).

Judgement is in the amount of $4,724.50.

You may have an interest in the real property being foreclosed or have certain rights or suffer certain liabilities or loss of your interest in the subject property as a result of said foreclosure.

You may have the right to redeem the real property under §38-38-302, C.R.S. or you may have the right to cure a default under the instrument being foreclosed under §38-38-104, C.R.S. Any Notice of Intent to Cure pursuant to section 3838-104, C.R.S. must be filed within fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the first scheduled date of the foreclosure sale or any date to which the sale is continued. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a Notice of Intent to Cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended. Any Notice of Intent to Redeem pursuant to section 38-38-302, C.R.S. must be filed no later than eight (8) business days after the foreclosure sale. In this regard, you may desire and are advised to consult with your own private attorney.

Further, you are advised that the parties liable thereon, the owner of the property described above, or those with an interest in the subject property, may take appropriate and timely action under Colorado statutes, certain sections of which are attached hereto.

In order to be entitled to take advantage of any rights provided for under Colorado law, you must strictly comply and adhere to the provisions of the law. Further, you are advised that the attached Colorado statutes merely set forth the applicable portions of Colorado statutory law relating to curative and redemption rights; therefore, you should read and review all the applicable statutes and laws in order to determine the requisite procedures and provisions which control your rights in the subject property.

IF THE BORROWER BELIEVES THAT A LENDER OR SERVICER HAS VIOLATED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT IN SECTION 38-38-103.1 OR THE PROHIBITION ON DUAL TRACKING IN SECTION 38-38-103.2, THE BORROWER MAY FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE COLORADO ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE FEDERAL CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BURAU (CFBP), OR BOTH. THE FILING OF A COMPLAINT WILL NOT STOP THE FORECLOSUE PROCESS. Colorado Attorney General 1300 Broadway, 10th Floor Denver, Colorado 80203 (800) 222-4444 www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau P.O. Box 4503, Iowa City, Iowa 52244 (855) 411-2372 www.consumerfinance.gov You and each of you are hereby notified that a Sheriff's Sale of the referenced property is to be conducted by the Elbert County Sheriff's Office, State of Colorado at 10:00 A.M., on the 15th day of March, 2019, at 10:00AM, Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, 751 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, CO 80117. At which sale, the above described real property and improvements thereon will be sold to the highest bidder. Plaintiff makes no warranty relating to title, possession, or quiet enjoyment in and to said real property in connection with this sale.

BE Informed!

Judgement is in the amount of $4,724.50.

You may have an interest in the real property being foreclosed or have certain rights or suffer certain liabilities or loss of your interest in the subject property as a result of said foreclosure.

You may have the right to redeem the real property under §38-38-302, C.R.S. or you may have the right to cure a default under the instrument being foreclosed under §38-38-104, C.R.S. Any Notice of Intent to Cure pursuant to section 3838-104, C.R.S. must be filed within fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the first scheduled date of the foreclosure sale or any date to which the sale is continued. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a Notice of Intent to Cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended. Any Notice of Intent to Redeem pursuant to section 38-38-302, C.R.S. must be filed no later than eight (8) business days after the foreclosure sale. In this regard, you may desire and are advised to consult with your own private attorney.

Further, you are advised that the parties liable thereon, the owner of the property described above, or those with an interest in the subject property, may take appropriate and timely action under Colorado statutes, certain sections of which are attached hereto.

BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CASH OR CERTIFIED FUNDS TO COVER THEIR HIGHEST BID AT TIME OF SALE. CERTIFIED FUNDS ARE PAYABLE TO: ELBERT COUNTY COURTS.

All telephone inquiries for information should be directed to the office of the undersigned Sheriff at (303) 805-6105. The name, address and telephone number of the attorney representing the legal owner of the above described lien is: Tammy M. Alcock, Esq. Alcock Law Group, PC 19751 E Mainstreet, Suite 225 Parker, CO 80138 (303) 993-5400 Dated: December 24, 2018 Sheriff Shayne Heap Elbert County, Colorado By: /s/ Sheriff Shayne Heap

Legal Notice No.: 24217 First Publication: 01/17/2019 Last Publication: 02/14/2019 Published In: The Elbert County News

Read the Legal Notices!

In order to be entitled to take advantage of any rights provided for under Colorado law, you must strictly comply and adhere to the provisions of the law. Further, you are advised that the attached Colorado statutes merely set forth the applicable portions of Colorado statutory law relating to curative and redemption rights; there-

Pursuant to §19-5-208, C.R.S., you are hereby notified that the above-named Petitioner has filed in this Court a verified Petition seeking to adopt a child.

If applicable, an Affidavit of Abandonment has been filed alleging that you have abandoned the child for a period of one year or more and/or have failed without cause to provide reasonable support for the child for one year or more.

P.O. Box 4503, Iowa City, Iowa 52244 legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com (855) 411-2372 www.consumerfinance.gov You are further notified that an Adoption

Lot 81, Section 33 Township 6 Range 64 Subdivision Spring Valley Ranch Filing 3, County of Elbert, State of Colorado

Bids and Settlements

Colorado Attorney General 1300 Broadway, 10th Floor Denver, Colorado 80203 (800) 222-4444 www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov

NOTICE OF HEARING To: Kenneth Paul Padilla

Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

You and each of you are hereby notified that a Sheriff's Sale of the referenced property is to be conducted by the Elbert County Sheriff's Office, State of Colorado at 10:00 A.M., on the 15th day of March, 2019, at 10:00AM, Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, 751 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, CO 80117. At which sale, the above described real property and improvements thereon will be sold to the highest bidder. Plaintiff makes no warranty relating to title, possession, or quiet enjoyment in and to said real property in connection with this sale.

Summons and Sheriff Sales

BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CASH OR CERTIFIED FUNDS TO COVER THEIR HIGHEST BID AT TIME OF SALE. CERTIFIED F U N D S A R E P A Y A B L E T O : E L B E RT COUNTY COURTS. All telephone inquiries for information should be directed to the office of the undersigned Sheriff at (303) 805-6105. The name, address and telephone number of the attorney representing the legal owner of the above described lien is: Tammy M. Alcock, Esq. Alcock Law Group, PC 19751 E Mainstreet, Suite 225 Parker, CO 80138 (303) 993-5400

You are further notified that if you fail to appear for said hearing, the Court may terminate your parental rights and grant the adoption as sought by the Petitioner.

Misc. Private Legals

Legal Notice No.: 24219 First Publication: January 10, 2019 Last Publication: February 7, 2019 Publisher: Elbert County News Public Notice District Court, Elbert County, Colorado 751 Ute Ave, P.O. Box 232 Kiowa, CO 80117

Plaintiffs: ANTELOPE CREEK COMMONS, L.P., GORDON DIHLE (General Partner and Proprietor) v.

Defendants: NICHOLAS SHAWN MAUTH a.k.a. NICHOLAS CANTY, SALVADOR MADERA, ARTURO PAREDES, and MARLEAN PAREDES. Attorney for Plaintiffs: Brandon “Todd” Collins 724 E Kiowa Ave, Suite 7 P.O. Box 456 Elizabeth, CO 80107 Phone: (303) 588-2200 Fax: (800) 787-9516 e-mail: tcollins@tcollinsatlaw.com Atty. Reg. ID: 49544 Case Number: 18CV30093 Division 1

Dated: December 24, 2018 Sheriff Shayne Heap Elbert County, Colorado By: /s/ Sheriff Shayne Heap Legal Notice No.: 24217 First Publication: 01/17/2019 Last Publication: 02/14/2019 Published In: The Elbert County News

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

Misc. Private Legals Public Notice Elbert County District Court 751 Ute Avenue, Kiowa CO In the Matter of the Petition of: Zachary Douglas For the Adoption of a Child Case Number: 18JA11 Division: 1 Courtroom: 2B NOTICE OF HEARING To: Kenneth Paul Padilla Pursuant to §19-5-208, C.R.S., you are hereby notified that the above-named Petitioner has filed in this Court a verified Petition seeking to adopt a child.

If applicable, an Affidavit of Abandonment has been filed alleging that you have abandoned the child for a period of one year or more and/or have failed without cause to provide reasonable support for the child for one year or more.

You are further notified that an Adoption hearing is set on March 28, 2019 at 4pm in the court location identified above.

You are further notified that if you fail to appear for said hearing, the Court may terminate your parental rights and grant the adoption as sought by the Petitioner.

Legal Notice No.: 24219 First Publication: January 10, 2019 Last Publication: February 7, 2019 Publisher: Elbert County News

hearing is set on March 28, 2019 at 4pm in the court location identified above.

Defendant: Nicholas Shawn Mauth, a.k.a. Nicholas Canty

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT: You are hereby summoned and required to appear and defend against the claims of the complaint filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this court an answer or other response. You are required to file your answer or other response within 21 days after the service of this summons upon you. Service of this summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the complaint may be obPublic tained from the clerk of Notice the court.

NOTICE If you fail to file OF yourPUBLIC answerHEARING or other response CASE NUMBER to the complaint [petition]SU-18-0042 in writing within 21 days after the date of the last publication, judgNOTICE HEREBY GIVEN THATagainst THE PROPment by IS default may be rendered you by ERTY AT 25295 ELBERT RD., ELBERT, CO the court for theNrelief demanded in the com80106 SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR A SPEplaint without further notice.

CIAL USE BY REVIEW, PURSUANT TO ELBERT This is COUNTY an action: REGULATIONS. FURTHER INFORMATION THIS PROAmended DistrictCONCERNING Court Civil Summons POSAL MAY BE OBTAINED Dated: December 26, 2018 BY CALLING THE CDS DEPARTMENT AT (303) 621Published in the Elbert OFFICE County News 3185.

First Publication: January 10, 2019 Last Publication: January 10, 2019 A HEARING IS TO BE HELD BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE 19TH DAY /s/ Todd Collins OF ToddFEBRUARY, Collins, 49544 2019, IN THE ELBERT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ Attorney forBUILDING, Plaintiff BOARD ROOM, 215 COMANCHE STREET, KIOWA, COLORADO, Legal Notice No.: 24216AT 7:00 P.M., OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS First Publication: January 10,POSSIBLE. 2019 Last Publication: February 7, 2019 APublisher: HEARING IS TO BE News HELD BEFORE THE Elbert County BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THE 13TH DAY OF MARCH, 2019, IN THE ELBERT COUNTY BUILDING, COMMISSIONERS’ BOARD ROOM, 215 COMANCHE STREET, KIOWA, COLORADO, AT 1:00 P.M., OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE.

Public Meeting

Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CASE NUMBER SU-18-0042 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE PROPERTY AT 25295 N ELBERT RD., ELBERT, CO 80106 SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR A SPECIAL USE BY REVIEW, PURSUANT TO ELBERT COUNTY REGULATIONS. FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PROPOSAL MAY BE OBTAINED BY CALLING THE CDS DEPARTMENT OFFICE AT (303) 6213185.

A HEARING IS TO BE HELD BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE 19TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2019, IN THE ELBERT COUNTY BUILDING, COMMISSIONERS’ BOARD ROOM, 215 COMANCHE STREET, KIOWA, COLORADO, AT 7:00 P.M., OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE.

CONTACT ELBERT COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR MORE INFORMATION: 303-621-3185 LEGAL DESCRIPTION: A PARCEL OF LAND IN THE SOUTH HALF OF SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 9 SOUTH, RANGE 64 WEST, OF THE 6TH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN CONSISTING OF 68.46 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, COUNTY OF ELBERT, STATE OF COLORADO. Legal Notice No.: 24227 First Publication: January 31, 2019 Last Publication: January 31, 2019 Publisher: The Elbert County News

A HEARING IS TO BE HELD BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THE 13TH DAY OF MARCH, 2019, IN THE ELBERT COUNTY BUILDING, COMMISSIONERS’ BOARD ROOM, 215 COMANCHE STREET, KIOWA, COLORADO, AT 1:00 P.M., OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE. CONTACT ELBERT COUNTY COMMUNITY

Elbert County 1.31.19 * 1