Elbert County News 0507

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May 7, 2020

THE SOUND OF HOPE First responders play bagpipes amid COVID-19 crisis P10

ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

Graduation ceremonies remain uncertain

BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

“It’s been super hard not to have my last day of school,” said Berkenkotter. “And missing senior ditch day has been really hard. Seniors usually go to the lake and just all hang out. That sounds really good, especially right now.”

Students of all ages across Colorado have been learning from their homes, after Gov. Jared Polis issued

School officials from Elizabeth School District, Elbert County School District C-2 in Kiowa and Big Sandy 100J District in Simla are trying to figure out the best way to hold commencement ceremonies for the four Elbert County high schools, in the midst of the state executive order limiting gatherings to 10 people or less.

The Elizabeth district, which includes Elizabeth and Frontier high schools, has released a tentative plan for the small Frontier graduating class to hold an outdoor commencement ceremony on May 29, and is hoping for state approval of a waiver request to hold a limited, livestreamed Elizabeth High ceremony on June 6.

SEE SENIORS, P14

SEE GRADUATION, P15

Shelby Berkenkotter, a senior graduating from Legend High School who lives in Elizabeth, poses with a banner that mysteriously showed up on her front lawn, thanks to her “adoptive” sponsors from the Adopt a Senior program in Elizabeth and Kiowa.

COURTESY OF SHELBY BERKENKOTTER

Community ‘adopts’ high school seniors Elbert County residents deliver gifts, surprises to Class of 2020

BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Like every graduating senior, Shelby Berkenkotter, who is enrolled

at Legend High School in Parker but lives in Elizabeth, was looking forward to all the festivities that come with the final days of her 13-yearslong education.

But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Berkenkotter won’t get to walk the halls of her school one last time, walk across the stage to receive her diploma in front of family and friends soon, or experience senior ditch day.

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THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL

“I really think this (demand for mental-health services) is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Cynthia Grant, chief clinical officer for AllHealth Network | Page 4 INSIDE

VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 10

ElbertCountyNews.net

VOLUME 125 | ISSUE 14

2 Elbert County News

May 7, 2020M

Recovered COVID patients share experience, worries of stigma To some who have had it, COVID-19 is unlike any illness

BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Three Parker residents who say they were sick with COVID-19 around the same time in late-March and early April report varying symptoms and durations of the disease.

One said felt so weak she couldn’t get to the hospital. Another said she did not feel fully functional again after almost a month. A third reported recovring in about two weeks.

All three women agreded to speak with Colorado Community Media on condition that their names not be published, saying they anticipated possible backlash from some people if they were identified.

Reluctance to be linked to the global pandemic doesn’t surprise Dr. Devin Bateman, chief medical officer at Parker Adventist Hospital.

“I think there’s a certain level of respect for the virus where people really want to avoid exposure and people want to avoid letting others know they’ve had it in some instances,” Bateman said. “This is an illness that can last for some period of time.

That may be one reason people may

be reticent to tell others they’ve had it.”

The novel coronavirus has been in Colorado since early March. The first confirmed cases were reported in Douglas and Summit counties March 5. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported more than 16,000 cases of COVID-19 statewide as of April 29.

However, testing is generally limited to those who need hospitalization, health care workers and first responders, meaning thousands more could have it or had it and recovered without knowing.

“People are well aware of the common symptoms,” Bateman said.

“The common ones include fever and cough, muscle pain... loss of taste and smell is becoming better known as well, but in terms of duration of symptoms, there’s been data that shows even mild symptoms can be” undiagnosed for weeks.

The three women interviewed in this story will be referred to as Melissa, Ginger and Karen. All three say they have since recovered. Each woman is in her early to mid-40s and lives in Parker.

All three women said they reported symptoms to their respective doctors and were considered “presumptive positive,” at the beginning, meaning they likely had COVID-19 based on symptoms.

“From a physician’s perspective, it’s

an interesting illness because there’s more and more that’s being learned every day,” Bateman said.

‘Karen’ Karen said she got March 12. She said she quickly felt “off ” and came down with a fever.

“We wanted to say it was the flu, and I thought it was the flu,” said Karen, an entrepreneur who has owned a couple businesses in Parker.

Karen said she has three autoimmune diseases and expected she would get COVID-19, but she didn’t think it would be that fast. Karen was hospitalized for H1N1, also known as swine flu, about 11 years ago, she said.

“This was something that totally was different,” she said. “I had never been slammed with a sickness that hard and it took everything to not go to the hospital, because just the severity of the pain.”

Karen said she had a fever and a cough, and lost her sense of taste and smell.

“The headache was insane. The body aches were something I had never felt,” Karen said.

Karen said she showed symptoms that were not widely known to be related to COVID-19 at the time, including body aches and lost of taste and smell. Those symptoms are now included on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

“We were very confused,” she said.

“Should I get medicine for the flu?

Should I not be out in public?”

She called her doctor, who told her to self-isolate, she said. Her husband, a former smoker, then go sick, she added, and she and her husband had to borrow an oxygen machine from her husband’s mother, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“When I talked to my doctor... she said that probably saved us from going to the hospital,” Karen said.

“The people that don’t believe this and think it’s a hoax, you can’t change their minds,” she said. “They want everything to open back up. I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t advise that. After having coronavirus and having felt that, it is the worst feeling I have ever felt.”

‘Ginger’ Ginger, a local businessowner, said all her clients, family and friends know she had COVID-19. But nevertheless, Ginger said she is afraid her reputation could be harmed by a handful of people, she said. She’s afraid misinformation about the disease could lead to people ostracizing patients of COVID-19.

“Like a leper, basically, is the best way to describe it,” Ginger said, describing her fear of people knowing she was sick and recovered from the virus. “I’m concerned there is kind of a stigma about being sick and what we SEE PATIENTS, P12

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Elbert County News 3

May 7, 2020

Parker Adventist reports COVID-19 numbers are down

BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Parker Adventist Hospital reports that it has seen a decline in COVID-19 patients since early April and is slowly ramping up its regular services.

Dr. Devin Bateman, chief medical officer at Parker Adventist, said the goal now is to balance the reintroduction of elective surgeries while maintaining safety precautions.

“The focus has been ‘How do we continue to keep an eye on COVID within our community?’ to now providing the services that the community relies upon and do so safely,” Bateman said.

“We’re able to do that. We’ve reopened operations, but are doing so in a way that continues to monitor our inpatient capacity, personal protective equipment, medications and other resources.”

Parker Adventist, a Centura Health hospital, separates patients with COVID-19 from non-COVID patients.

Visiting hours are still limited.

“Our next steps are to continue to safely ramp up to full operations over the course of a few weeks,” Bateman said. “We want to do so thoughtfully and cautiously. We want to keep our community safe, so we’re committed to doing that. With it, we’ll see, eventually, the loosening of visitor restric-

tions and an increase of traffic in and around the hospital.”

Centura Health officials declined to reveal the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 at Parker Adventist. Sky Ridge Medical Center, a HealthONE hospital in Lone Tree, had about 100 patients being treated as of April 23, more than a third of the hospital’s bed capacity.

Bateman recommended that people continue following the guidance from the governor as well as the Tri-County Health Department.

“Coronavirus is going to be around for some period of time. It’s not going to go away quickly. We just need to be aware of it,” Bateman said. “I would recommend people continue to be patient with it, continue diligence around hand washing, coughing and sneezing precautions, continue to wear a mask, continue to physically distance from others, to some extent.

“As time goes on, it becomes more and more fatiguing and challenging,” Bateman said. “People will be anxious to get back to normal life, but normal life is not going to be back for some time. We’re going to see modifications for the foreseeable future and I think maintaining those connections and social relationships is important while trying to maintain the other precautions.”

COVID-19 Community Response Assistance is as close as your phone or computer. We understand that this is a difficult time for many in our community. Douglas County is ready to help you find support. Call 303.688.4825 for information about human services countywide including: *Food, shelter and childcare emergency assistance *Aging, employment and disability resources *Physical and mental healthcare The call center is staffed 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday to answer your questions and provide assistance. Call to speak with department staff or visit DouglasCOVID19.com

May is Mental Health Month Everyone face challenges in life that can impact their mental health. The Douglas County Mental Health Initiative has resources to help you navigate these challenging times. For more information visit douglas.co.us/mental-health-initiative

It’s Wildfire Season On May 7, 2019, you answered the call when we needed you the most.

From all of us at STEM School Highlands Ranch, we Thank You for your commitment to serve, protect and care for others.

THANK YOU • Our Entire STEM School Highlands Ranch Community (current and former students, families and staff) • First Responders from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Lone Tree Police Department, Littleton Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, National Parks Service Rangers, Parker Police Department, Centennial Police Department, Paramedics, South Metro Fire District Station 18, and so many more

It only takes one spark to change your life forever. Thankfully, it takes only seconds to sign up for free emergency notifications at douglas.co.us/CodeRed/ ensuring that you will be in the know if a wildfire is happening near you.

What’s happening with your County government?

Our commitment to open and transparent government includes online posting of information about all public meetings at which the business of government is conducted. To view agendas for various public meetings, visit douglas.co.us and search for Meetings and Agendas.

• Douglas County School District Security and Administrators • Doctors and nurses from Littleton Adventist and Children’s Hospital • Staff and volunteers from the Highlands Ranch Community Association • Members of the Highlands Ranch Community and surrounding areas • Businesses surrounding STEM School Highlands Ranch and in our community

We will forever be #STEMStrong together.

DoItOnlineDouglas.com

4 Elbert County News

May 7, 2020M

Mental health providers see demand grow amid pandemic ‘It is a global crisis that we are all dealing with’

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES If you or someone you know needs additional support for their mental health during the COVID-19 crisis, here are some resources in the Denver metro area.

BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The coronavirus crisis has impacted mental health services across metro Denver in different ways.

One provider, AllHealth Network, with locations in Arapahoe and Douglas counties, has taken on hundreds of new clients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s also seen an increase in pharmaceutical needs and expects that demand for treatment will continue rising.

Another, Community Reach Center in Westminster, reports a dip in the number of new clients it typically takes on, while also watching demand among its acute care services rise. That’s left the center’s chief clinical officer afraid that community members are pushing off mental health treatment during the pandemic until they reach a crisis point.

Both organizations report seeing higher levels of loneliness, anxiety and depression within their communities. The COVID-19 pandemic is also unique, they said, in that it has affected people across the globe and across demographics.

“Historians and probably social scientists around the world are

AllHealth Network A mental health nonprofit with crisis services, a walk-in center, acute treatment, counseling and substance use services.

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Cynthia Grant is chief clinical officer for AllHeallth Network. grappling with that right now,” said Abigail Tucker, chief clinical officer for Community Reach Center. “Something that is so unique to COVID is that it really is, other than I suppose perhaps climate change, it is a global crisis that we are all dealing with.”

The pandemic hasn’t caused fear about physical health, job security, and economic stability alone, Tucker said. It also created barriers to common coping mechanisms. Ways someone might usually relieve stress — eating at a favorite restaurant, vis-

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iting a friend — are harder or impossible amid the pandemic.

Cynthia Grant, chief clinical officer for AllHealth Network, based in the Centennial area, said the organization has seen nearly 500 new clients since the state’s stay-at-home order began. The pharmacy department’s volume is up more than 30%.

“Demand for services is high and it’s continuing to go up,” she said. “Everything at the beginning was focused SEE PROVIDERS, P9

Community Reach Center A mental health community center also offering substance use disorder assistance.

The center is based in Westminster and has locations in Thornton, Northglenn, Broomfield, Brighton and Commerce City.

For more information go to communityreachcenter.org.

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Elbert County News 5

May 7, 2020

Colorado Renaissance Festival delayed Coronavirus concerns postpone bawdy event in Douglas County

BY MARK HARDEN MHARDEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Colorado Renaissance Festival — a popular summer attraction that draws throngs to south Douglas County — has been postponed for several weeks because of the

coronavirus pandemic and will now start Aug. 1, organizers said.

The festival in Larkspur, midway between Denver and Colorado Springs west of Interstate 25, had been scheduled to open its 43rd anniversary season on June 13.

“Due to the current health concerns and taking into consideration the safety of our patrons and Renaissance community the Colorado Renaissance Festival will be postponing its 2020 opening day,” says a notice on the festival’s website.

“The new dates will be Saturday

August 1st, 2020 for 8 weekends with a closing day of Sunday, September 20th, 2020. Dates will be posted publicly on both our website and announced through our social media outlets,” the notice says. “Please stay safe during these unsettling times and we look forward to seeing everyone soon!”

The festival, set in a faux-16th century Tudor village, celebrates Renaissance culture with a bawdy mix of shows and music, jousting matches, animals, costumed characters, games, food and drinks. It’s

one of dozens of similarly themed events staged across the country each summer.

The festival typically draws about 200,000 attendees during its run, The Gazette of Colorado Springs reports.

The announcement comes as “stay at home” orders are being gradually relaxed across Douglas County and most other parts of Colorado, but people are still being urged to practice social distancing and to avoid crowds larger than 10 people to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

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6 Elbert County News

May 7, 2020M

Douglas County food banks ask for help Many are seeing their demand surge and their supply diminish

BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The COVID-19 pandemic is driving the demand for food services up while simultaneously strangling the supply. That’s why food banks in Douglas County are reaching out to the community, asking for help as they struggle to feed those in need.

Food banks in the county have reported a roughly 400% increase in demand for food compared to the same time period last year, according to a statementr from the county.

“People have lost income, people have lost jobs,” said Diane Roth, volunteer spokeswoman for the Parker Task Force. “People can no longer afford to go to the grocery store so they come to us.”

The Parker Task Force, which normally has eight community food drives per year to keep their supply full, had to cancel their April event.

“Usually we get one to two months of supply when we do one,” Roth said.

Now, they’re relying on residents and community groups checking out the food bank’s website to see what items they need and bringing them in,

Instead of having guests come inside to get food from the Parker Task Force, volunteers are loading up their cars with the items they need while wearing masks and gloves.

COURTESY PHOTO

she said.

The Help and Hope Center, which mainly serves Douglas County, has also seen its supply of food dwindle.

About 90% of their food supply comes from grocery store donations. With many people stocking up and leaving grocery shelves empty, there isn’t as much food for donation, said executive director Dan Marlow.

“At King Soopers or Sam’s Club we typically get two to three pallets of food. ... (But) there have been days when we literally get nothing,” Marlow said.

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The Help and Hope Center usually supplements their supply by purchasing food from the Food Bank of the Rockies, where they can get a significant discount on items. This drives their costs higher and higher, though, as they spend more money to make up for lost donations.

“We typically have a month or two of food on hand, so we’ve been able to keep up with demand so far,” he said.

While many think of Douglas County as an exclusively affluent community, area food banks see another side to that story. The Parker Task Force,

which serves Parker, Franktown and Elizabeth, served about 1,059 families in 2019.

The Help and Hope Center, which also provides aid in Elbert County, served 20,432 people last year with more than 90% coming from Douglas County.

In Douglas County, “if someone gets laid off or goes through a divorce or illness or has some kind of crisis, cost of housing is really high so they get in trouble quick,” Marlow said. “We look at ourselves as an emergency room for people in financial crises.”

Most people who use the center’s services only use it four or fewer times, Marlow said.

The best way for residents to help food banks varies from center to center. At the Parker Task Force, volunteers are asking for food or financial donations. At the Help and Hope Center, the team is mainly looking for financial support and volunteers.

“The same $20 someone would spend on groceries, we can buy significantly more than that at the Food Bank of the Rockies,” Marlow said.

Roth worries that as the pandemic rages on, the struggles food banks are facing now will only increase.

“People are going to need food banks and support resources for some time as a result of the current situation,” she said. “The need is not going to diminish, the need is going to grow.”

Elbert County News 7

May 7, 2020

Teen headed to American Ninja Warrior Junior championships Kaden Lebsack, 14, makes finals as Season 2 ‘comeback kid’

BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Colorado residents can catch one of their own in the grand finale of “American Ninja Warrior Junior” this summer.

Kaden Lebsack, 14, of Castle Rock advanced from the semifinals in the show’s most recent episode, which aired April 10. The championships will air June 12 on the Universal Kids network. At stake is the title and a $15,000 cash prize.

Kaden, a newcomer to the television show, is no stranger to ninja athletics, which involves extreme obstacle courses built to test an athlete’s speed or endurance.

The teen competes in professional ninja competitions nationwide and trains at Ninja Intensity, the gym his family founded with his coach John Maul in 2016.

Kaden first became interested in ninja athletics after watching “American Ninja Warrior.” On the junior spinoff version, children are timed while running against a competitor through elaborate obstacle courses in a race against each other and the clock.

Kaden Lebsack, 14, competes during American Ninja Warrior Junior season 2.

Uncontrollable nerves build up in Kaden when he waits at the start line, he said, although he uses those moments to form a game plan.

“Before I run the course, I pretty much plan out every single move and I just try to get it down as fast as I can,” he said. “And then hopefully everything goes right.”

His mother, Brandi, said she feels even more stressed than Kaden watching him compete. Athletes lose the race if they fall off the course, and the

COURTESY PHOTO

slightest misstep can cost them precious seconds.

During competitions, Brandi stands on the sidelines with the family, looking at the course and wondering how Kaden will be able to manage the obstacles, she said.

But when the buzzer sounds, Kaden is off at lightning speed. He became known on this season for his signature move on the Sky Hooks obstacle — where athletes must use hoops to jump from one hooked peg to another

— and proved to be one of the fastest athletes in the competition.

Kaden, 13 at the time of the show’s July filming in Los Angeles, made the finals after recovering from “the brink of elimination,” as announcers put it.

“He raced the fastest kid in the first episode (he appears in),” Brandi said, explaining Kaden overcame a 1-2 record through a wildcard round before qualifying for finals. “He’s basically been the comeback kid in this whole season.”

In wildcard rounds, athletes with the fastest times who were knocked out in earlier rounds can compete to get back into the competition.

“Just to see him not give up, because that can eventually take an athlete down, when they get beat,” she said.

“You never know how that is going to affect them mentally.”

Ninja competitions are unique from other sports in more ways than one, Kaden said. Athletes not only train together but cheer each other on while competing. Kaden clapped and cheered for competitors he won against so far in Season 2, urging them to finish the course. Brandi can be seen on camera hugging the mother of an athlete who fell off the course while running against Kaden.

“I think it really makes the sport,” Kaden said of the supportive environment. “It’s just really cool to see other people do well, because you know what they put into it.”

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8 Elbert County News

D

LOCAL

May 7, 2020M

VOICES

This seems like dreams and weird extremes ickens memorably began “A Tale of Two Cities” with a perfect description of 2020, especially the first twelve

words.

It sums up, at least in my lifetime, the current world, where extraordinarily good people QUIET are doing extraordinarily good things, DESPERATION and where extraordinarily bad people are doing extraordinarily bad things.

It seems where there are challenges and tragedies and vulnerabilities, some of us crawl out from the Grimpen Mire, Craig Marshall look around, and seize the opportunity Smith to take advantage of the situation.

I am old enough to know it comes as no surprise.

Ask Sartre.

I am one of the lucky ones. Retired,

a safe home to live in, sufficient paper products, and an enviable roommate.

My roommate has no idea what is going on. That helps.

Not much has changed around here.

We just go on fewer car trips.

When was the last time you filled your car’s gas tank?

Half the news is heartwarming and the other half is inconceivable.

Conspiracy theorists blame a U.S. Army reservist and mother of two for starting the pandemic. The false claims about her are spreading like the virus itself.

Lewis Carroll said, “What I tell you three times is true.”

Is there anything worse than being wrongly accused?

I was blamed for things I didn’t do when I was a kid. My sister was an angel and could do no wrong. But if she did, she cruised, because little Craig was seen as an impish lad, more capable of spilling the milk.

Alfred Hitchcock understood the effect false accusations have on someone: therefore, his films often featured

someone trying to prove his or her innocence.

Best: “North by Northwest,” but also “The 39 Steps,” “The Wrong Man,” “Strangers on a Train,” and “Saboteur.”

I anticipate a 21st-century retelling of “The Grapes of Wrath.” Small business owners who have lost everything and have to find something else to do with their lives.

There will be documentaries and coffee-table books filled with haunting photographs.

And there will be humor. There already has been.

(Some of it, unfortunately, has been unintentional. Take your pick.)

The mystery, of course, is not knowing when it will be safe again to move around and commingle like always.

Some are ready to resume now.

Maybe you have noticed the protests and rallies.

A woman in my birth state held up a sign that conjoined the governor’s name with Adolf Hitler’s.

Hand-lettered words beyond compre-

hension provided the woman with her legacy. No apology accepted.

Television commercials are outdoing themselves with soothing words instead of self-promotions. Nice, isn’t it, not to have someone blasting deep dish car and truck discounts at you?

I look forward to the day when I can go back to doing what I do best: namely, find fault in irrelevancies such as the broken English the newest National Football League millionaires gargled and tweeted when they were drafted.

And Christmas music in November.

And sitting on an airplane next to someone who talks too much. Won’t it feel good to sit on an airplane again?

ESPN and others have been showing replays of football, basketball and baseball games. Stadiums are filled with people. It looks very normal. And it looks very strange.

Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident.

He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast.net.

Unleash your kindness and let it run wild

L

ots of conversations going on these days are about unlocking or unleashing our potential.

There are so many podcasts, webinars, columns, and blogs speaking to the need for us to focus on our mindset so that we can keep our heads and attitude in a good place right now. As a matter of fact, I am one WINNING of those voices and WORDS faces on those podcasts and webinars and authoring many of those columns and blogs, just like this one.

Kindness is a mindset or attitude, but it is also an emotion and an action.

How awesome would Michael Norton it be if we could unleash our human potential and also unleash our kindness at the same time? Powerful. During this time, we are seeing so many examples of kindness being lived out. After last week’s column where I shared the story of

an owner of an awning company repairing an awning at no charge for a shop on Main Street, I received so many emails from people sharing their experiences and observations of other people and businesses demonstrating kindness.

When we live with the attitude or mindset of kindness it means we are actively thinking about ways that we can show kindness, and our kindness radar is always on. When we live with kindness in our hearts, we get to experience firsthand the emotions that are stirred as acts of kindness play out in front of us. I don’t know about you, but it brings absolute joy to my heart when I see kindness in action. And when we live with the attitude of kindness and with the emotion of kindness it’s impossible not to demonstrate kindness in everything we do and in everything we say.

My brother-in-law Dylan is a perfect example of this. He and my sister-inlaw Caroline have this awesome dog, Ziggy. As Dylan was walking Ziggy the other day, there was a woman in their neighborhood walking her dog.

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and remember that I can’t control how others react, I can only control how I choose to respond. Unleashing kindness is never a bad thing. As a matter of fact, it is one of the greatest things we can do for each other.

“Do things for other people, not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.” - Harold S. Kushner So how about you? Are you seeing amazing acts of kindness in your home, neighborhood, and on your virtual meetings? Are you living with the attitude and emotion of kindness that puts your kindness muscles to work? I’ll bet you are, and I would love to hear your kindness story at mnorton@tramazing.com. And when we all learn how to unlock our human potential and at the same time unleash our kindness, it really will be a better than good week.

Michael Norton is the grateful CEO of Tramazing.com, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.

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jhealey@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Elbert County News.

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AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager

We welcome letters to the editor. Please Include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

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She was using one of those retractable leashes and as her dog maxed out the length of the leash, the leash snapped and recoiled all the way back into the handle. As the woman tried to gain control of her dog, she realized that the leash had broken. As she was still quite far from her home, she became a little distressed. Dylan quickly came up with a solution. Since he was close to his own home, he offered the woman his leash so that she could get her dog home. He unleashed his kindness. Hence the origin of this week’s column. Thanks Dylan.

Kindness costs us nothing, but it returns to us everything.

That old saying, “No good deed goes unpunished,” is absolutely a falsehood. Some may say that they attempted to do something nice for others or show kindness in some way only to be on the receiving end of anger or hurtful words. I do know how that feels, it feels like a gut punch, it is awful. However, when I look back at what I might have done with the attitude, emotion, and act of kindness to help someone else, I let that sink in

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PROVIDERS FROM PAGE 4

on medical and now we’re seeing a shift toward behavioral health. I really think this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Staff delivered more than 6,400 therapy services in the past month, and the no-show rate among clients is sitting around 8%, a couple percentage points lower than usual, she said.

“Everyone shows up,” she said. “It’s a very captive audience.”

Roughly 71% of services are being delivered by telephone and 23% by video conference. Certain services are still available to in-person care, including AllHealth’s acute treatment unit, crisis stabilization unit, walk-in crisis center and medication services.

Similar programs are also available to in-person treatment at Community Reach Center.

Grant said she has heard anecdotally AllHealth is seeing “a lot of people who are” essential workers like restaurant staff, grocery store employees and people providing delivery -services.

AllHealth typically serves 18,000 people a year and employs 200 clinical staff across 11 locations. It also has providers at south-metro schools and jails.

Community Reach Center serves numerous communities in the north metro, including Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, Brighton, Broomfield and more.

The mental health center has

y

Abigail Tucker is chief clinical officer for the Community Reach Center. COURTESY PHOTO largely transitioned to using Telehealth, a remote platform, during COVID. Early into the transition, the center saw clients spending roughly 20 minutes on sessions, Tucker said.

Three to four weeks ago, that shifted, and clients began spending 30, 45 and up to 60 minutes in a session. That is more typical of sessions before the pandemic struck, Tucker said.

“We know that people are sort of settling back to their treatment goals,” she said, explain that’s brought relief amid other troubles. “One of the things that we do see emerging though that does concern us is the level of acuity.”

Acuity means people who are acutely psychotic, struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing symptoms in multiple areas of their life.

Along with higher acuity, the center has seen fewer new clients seek services amid the pandemic. On average, Tucker said, they sign up between 800 and 1,000 people in a month. That’s

dropped to between 600 and 800 in April and March.

She worries those 200 people they would usually bring in as clients are not getting help until they are acutely ill.

Tuckers understands the hesitation to seek help. People are scared to leave their homes, afraid of taking a spot at the center from someone in more distress or combatting stigma and isolation, she said.

Tucker also fears some people are not aware they can continue receiving behavioral healthcare during community shutdowns, despite the center’s best outreach efforts.

“Access to treatment sort of changed overnight,” Tucker said. “We don’t want people to think that they cannot get mental health services.”

One of the center’s school based managers March Ryan said there are positive outcomes from the behavioral healthcare world’s experience with COVID. Community Reach Center operates the largest school-based services

program in Colorado, according to its website. The program provides students with counseling and case management in school.

Using Telehealth has allowed the center to continue fostering relationships with clients while they cannot meet in person, Ryan said. Her team is also seeing higher engagement among parents of younger children while administering care remotely.

Ryan thinks people will continue using remote services after the pandemic, and that Telehealth might eliminate some barriers to treatment, allowing the center to reach families whose parents work long hours or struggle with childcare.

That’s a good thing as she braces for future demand and continued effects on the community’s mental health, she said.

“I’m anticipating that we’re going to have an increase when we do come back to school,” she said. “It’s tough, it’s hard for kids to be out of that structure and routine (of school) and coming back there may be anxiety.”

PARKER AND ELIZABETH FUNERAL HOMES

& CREMATORY

Parker Funeral Home was entrusted with the care of these loved ones.

Maureen Ellen Edelmann, 92, of Parker, CO, passed away on April 15, 2020. She resided at Morningstar of Parker. She was born to Daniel and Anastasia (Fitsmaurice) Harnett on October 21, 1927 in New York. A small, private service was held with family. Please visit www.pfh-co.com to leave condolences for the family. Parker Funeral Home was honored to make arrangements with the family.

Annette North, 75, of Parker, CO, passed away on April 16, 2020. She was born Annette Elizabeth Pankavich to Anthony and Helen (Sinkivich) on June 13, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York. At this time, there are no services planned, but you may leave condolences at www.pfh-co.com. Parker Funeral Home was entrusted with her care.

John Arthur Weitzman, 67, of Elizabeth, CO passed away on April 16, 2020. He was born in Brooklyn, New York to Frank and Genevieve (Sonnergren) Weitzman on December 20, 1952. Parker Funeral Home walked alongside this family to assist in arrangments. Please visit www.pfh-co.com to leave condolences for the family.

Paul David Pospeck, 59, of Elizabeth, CO, passed away on April 17, 2020. He was born to Henry and Mary (Gormley) Pospeck on May 14, 1960. No services are planned at this

time, however, there will be a celebration of life scheduled at a later date. Please visit www.pfh-co.com to leave condolences for the family. Parker and Elizabeth Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.

John Paul Clopton, 84, of Parker, CO, passed away on April 18, 2020. He was boron in Tennessee to John and Maxine (Criswell) Clopton on August 29, 1035. At this time there are no services planned, however you may leave condolences for the family at www.pfhco.com. Parker Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Deborah Markkanen Stidham, 69, of Denver, CO passed away on April 20, 2020. She was born on December 12, 1950 to Karl and Laura (Cartwright) Markkanen in Denver, CO. She had resided at the Rowan Community Center in Denver. No services are planned at this time, although you may visit www.pfh-co. com to leave condolences for the family.

Kasey Marie Morgan, 46, of Parker, CO, passed away on April 15, 2020. She was born on June 15, 1973 to Roger and Jackie (Cadwell) Wakelam in Ontonagon, Michigan.

Parker Funeral home was in charge of the arrangements; no services are planned for now, however you may visit www.pfh-co.com to leave condolences for the family.

Please visit us online at www.pfh-co.com for full obituaries and more.

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May 7, 2020M

LOCAL

LIFE

The Colorado Emerald Society Pipe and Drum Band, which includes 75 first responders throughout Colorado, began playing bagpipes at sunset every night as part of an international movement.

Locally, it’s called Pipers for Sundown Solidarity.

Dave Carrigan, of South Metro Fire Rescue, plays his Great Highland Bagpipe every evening as the sun sets in solidarity with pipers around the globe in a movement to spread hope.

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lone in a field at the edge of the Cottonwood subdivision in Parker, firefighter Dave Carrigan stood tall and stiff has he played his bagpipes.

The sun started to set April 22 at about 7:46 p.m. As sunlight disappeared, Carrigan’s few regular fans gathered to hear him play. A handful of neighbors ventured to the slight overlook at the foot of Carrigan’s driveway. Some driving by on Parker Road across the field to the east pulled off, listening to the notes slice through the droning of passing cars.

Carrigan, a firefighter for South Metro Fire Rescue for 29 years, has marched out to the field bordering his house every evening since March 29, three days after the stay-at-home order began, to play traditional marches and songs until the sun sets.

“It’s to show solidarity not only for everybody who’s fighting the disease, but all our brothers and sisters, firefighters, police officers, paramedics. … They’re kind of taking a beating out there,” Carrigan said. “It’s to show we’re all in this together and we have each other’s back.”

Carrigan is one of many first responders regionwide playing bagpipes at dusk to inspire hope amid the stay-at-home orders and COVID-19 crisis.

First responders throughout Colorado are participating in Pipers for Sundown Solidarity, a movement organized by the Colorado Emerald Society Pipes and Drums Band, a bagpipe band made up of 75 firefighters and police officers throughout the state.

Thousands of pipers play songs from their respective homes at the same time each night as the sun sets in an ongoing effort to encourage strength and resolve in the community.

‘Next phases or normalcy’ Mike West, fire chief for Front Range Fire Rescue, is the Pipe Major for the Colorado Emerald Society. He helped start the pipe band at South Metro Fire in 2002. He resigned from South Metro in June 2019. Front Range Fire covers Johnstown, Milliken, Larimer and Weld counties.

“Our guys and gals are working every day at their police stations and precincts and firehouses dealing with the pandemic face-to-face,” West said. “It was a great way to wind down from the day spread a little hope to the neighbors and make sure they still know we’re still out there fighting the good fight every day.”

Carrigan does not always deck himself out in his kilt and uniform.

He said he plays because it brings a smile to his neighbor’s faces and connects people when they’re more isolated than ever.

Pipers in the group play every day and play whatever they want, except on Sundays, when the group collectively decides on a single song to play at the same time together.

The Colorado Emerald Society announced on its Facebook page April 24 that members would stop playing bagpipes nightly beginning May 3.

Pipers still play on Sundays “until the state moves to the next phases of normalcy,” the post reads.

“We can’t express our gratitude enough for your cheers, posts, shares and love. When we get through these SEE BAGPIPERS, P11

Elbert County News 11

May 7, 2020

BAGPIPERS FROM PAGE 10

social distancing steps and back to holding events, we’re looking forward to seeing you all at a big celebration,” the post reads.

West said the Colorado Emerald Society plans on holding a celebration to make up for losing the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

‘A droning feeling’ The movement, which started shortly after the stay-at-home order began, is steeped in tradition.

Soldiers began marching to the sound of bagpipes in Scotland in the 1400s. The instrument is used often as a morale booster for the military.

South Metro Fire Rescue and Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Department each have Pipe and Drum bands.

Carrigan has been playing pipes for about 11 years, around the time South Metro Rescue’s pipe and drum band started.

West, who has been playing bagpipes on and off for 30 years, noted the way the vibrations from the drones blaring from the player’s shoulder hits you.

“It runs through you,” West said.

“A lot of people, prior to this, the

Dave Carrigan has played his bagpipes at dusk every night since the start of the stay-at-home orders in Colorado. “It’s to show we’re all in this together and we have each other’s back,” he said.

NICK PUCKETT Jake Auten, firefighter/ paramedic, and Lt. Jay Allen of the Castle Rock Fire Department play their bagpipes with the Rock monument in the backdrop.

only time they hear bagpipes is at a funeral, so they associate that droning note with an emotional event. …

To me, it’s that kind of droning feeling. It kind of gets down to your soul sometimes.”

Keep your fingers crossed and your eyes open

W

e will assume, optimistically, that summer drama classes and performances for kids will happen, because registration has been ongoing. Some organizations are not on a regular track due to the current otherworldly, ongoing upset, so one will have to keep searching the internet … Also, classes in visual arts, crafts and more are scheduled as of this SONYA’S writing …

SAMPLER e Plans underway We communicated with Town Hall Arts Center education director Robert Michael Sanders at the Littleton venue, and he says classes for “Kokonut Island,” “Shrek” and Sonya Ellingboe “Performing the Song” are “moving forward” and may still have some available space. Each involves classes and a performance. Townhallartscenter.com.

Town Hall possibility Also re: Town Hall Arts Center — we are told that they still hope to present “Almost Heaven,” the John Denver musical program, if only … Stay tuned if you have tickets — or if not…

“We are following state mandates and applying a powerful disinfectant, Perisept 62 …”

Happenings in Parker Parker Performing Arts, PACE Center, has a full schedule of classes and performances, geared to different age groups. See Parkerarts.org. Look also for visual arts offerings here …

COURTESY PHOTO

FIND WHAT SPARKS YOUR INTEREST.

Check into Englewood Englewood Parks and Recreation offered a strong summer drama program and production in past years.

I am not finding a listing yet, but assume this will again be offered when the world starts up again …

Wonderbound Dance Company Wonderbound Dance Company has been offering “Dance Along,” a series of dance classes, at wonderbound.com.

Writing class Local Theater Company offers a class for adults: “Writing for Stage and Screen” offered on Zoom, May 7, 14, 21, 28 — Thursdays at 6-7 p.m. $125. (Two scholarships available.) See localtheaterco.org.

Stay up to date Watch for more communications from your local park and recreation districts, as well as school districts as we head towards summer---the corona virus will dictate/limit what programs are possible. There will no doubt be a number of creative projects at home from backyard drama to basement murals to original books and prints. We’d be interested to learn about them!

SUMMER BREAK CAMPS

Arts, Co Video a oking, nd Film , y g o l o n ch eater e T , c i s Mu e, and Th Scienc PARKER ARTS.ORG/EDUCATION

12 Elbert County News

May 7, 2020M

Activity book for students to focus on financial literacy

Economic Literacy Colorado has partnered with Bellco Credit Union to create an activity book for elementary students so they can further the conversation about financial literacy with their parents and family members.

National Financial Literacy Month was recognized in April to focus on

the importance of financial literacy and to teach Americans and children how to establish and maintain healthy budgets.

The booklet, titled “FUNancial $marts,” is available online, and it will also be distributed through Bellco Credit Union locations and though its community partners. The book’s collaborative lessons of counting money, budgeting and creating a

business are intended to encourage Colorado youths to go down the right path to making educated financial choices.

To access the booklet, visit www. bellco.org/funancialsmarts.

To further support teachers and families who are seeking financial literacy tools, Economic Literacy Colorado has compiled a wide variety of resources on its website.

Educators who are teaching remotely will find resources that include webinars, lessons, articles, and recommendations for online engagement systems and presentation tools. For kindergarten to 12th-grade students and their parents, Economic Literacy Colorado offers age-appropriate financial literacy program resources to support at-home learning about personal financial responsibility.

PATIENTS

Ginger lives alone in Parker, but her loved ones’ fears made life a little stressful, she said.

on the eighth day, it came back with a vengeance, she said.

“I coughed so hard I would be weak in the knees,” Melissa said. “I had never been fatigued like that in my life.”

The cough lasted about five more days and the fever persisted for two weeks, she said.

“It felt like someone was trying to chisel a piece of my skull out from my head in a very specific spot with a hammer and nail,” Melissa said.

Over-the-counter acetaminophen, a pain reliever, had zero effect on her fever, she said. The only thing she could do to feel better was place a chilled peppermint oil rag on her forehead.

She added that she had no sense of smell or taste, could not eat or hardly move from bed.

Around Day 23 (April 10) she said she felt relatively symptom-free. She could do the dishes, cook dinner and

do laundry again. It took another week before she started feeling “normal” again, she said.

Melissa and Scott said they are not worried about their friends or family finding out about their illnesses so much as they were worried about the unknowns of the virus itself. Melissa said she would feel more comfortable having her identity known publicly once more is known about the virus.

“The most informed, knowledgeable and educated doctors and epidemiologists and infectious disease doctors are the ones saying it’s a mystery to them because it’s not behaving the way a normal virus does,” Melissa said. “I’m not so concerned about my immediate circles knowing what’s up, but I don’t want my brand, reputation or business or anyone affiliated with my husband’s business affected by the stigma of this virus.”

STAFF REPORT

FROM PAGE 2

should do about staying open or staying shut down. I just don’t like to seek drama.”

Ginger said she had allergies about a week prior to when her fever hit on March 13. She also starting having body aches, congestion and a cough.

That’s when she knew something wasn’t right. She went to the doctor and ruled out the flu.

“I was really sick for two weeks, I’d say,” Ginger said.

She said she told her family and friends once she found out she was presumed positive for COVID-19.

“I never got to the point I was afraid it was bad enough I was going to have to go to the hospital,” she said. “The fear from everyone else was intoxicating.”

‘Melissa’ Five days after Ginger’s fever started, Melissa’s began, she said.

Melissa, an entrepreneur, described having COVID-19 as the worst possible version of the flu, cold and any virus she’s had packaged together.

“It comes all at once and it stomps you into the ground for three weeks,” she said.

Melissa said she had a low-grade fever and a cough for the first three days, and her skin “hurt to the touch,” as if she had a really bad sunburn on her entire body, she said.

In the first week, she had severe fatigue and couldn’t get out of bed to do anything, she said. Her fever ramped up to 101.4 degrees. The cough started to die down after a week, but

Elbert County News 13

May 7, 2020

W

e’re making a transition in editorial leadership for Colorado Community Media, publisher of your hometown newspapers.

After 13 years with these papers, longtime Managing Editor Chris Rotar is leaving to pursue other directions. Our papers are outstanding journalistic products in great measure because of Chris’ leadership FROM THE and commitment to PUBLISHER the mission of community journalism.

We greatly appreciate his outstanding work and dedication and wish him well as he tackles his next adventure.

We are excited to introduce Mark Harden, a veteran, award-winning jour- Jerry Healey nalist in the Denver area, as the new editor of all our publications — the 18 metro-area weeklies and the two Denver monthlies. (Mark said hello to readers in a column in last week’s issue.)

It has been an interesting process, conducting interviews for the position and introducing Mark to the newsroom and staff, during these COVID-19 times. We have been working remotely since mid-March.

Mark, who came on board in April, has had to meet everyone — and learn our production systems — all by videoconferences.

We are thrilled about the extensive print and digital experience and leadership he brings to our

newsroom and can’t wait until we’re able to work with him face-to-face.

Mark worked at the Denver Post from 1993-2007 in various positions, as city editor of a 35-reporter desk; online news, state/regional and national/foreign news editor; and music critic. He launched online breaking news coverage at the Post and expanded it at the Denver Business Journal, where he worked from 2007-2018 as reporter, new media editor and news director. He then spent a year and a half as managing editor of Colorado Politics, a weekly magazine and digital outlet of the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Before joining the Post, he was a reporter and editor at daily newspapers in San Francisco and the Seattle area, covering politics, science/environment, business/ development and local government.

He has been freelance reporting and editing since October. He has won many national and regional awards for his work over his career.

Mark and his wife have lived in Centennial for 22 years; his two children attended Cherry Creek schools. He is passionate about the importance of local news to a community and delivering the best journalistic products we can.

We are excited to work with Mark — and for you to get to know him— as he helps us move forward with the next chapter at Colorado Community Media.

Jerry Healey is the president and publisher of Colorado Community Media. He can be reached at jhealey@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Answers

Solution © 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

t

The next chapter begins at CCM

THANKS for

PLAYING!

14 Elbert County News

May 7, 2020M

SENIORS FROM PAGE 1

an executive order March 18 suspending all in-person learning until April 17. The order was later amended, declaring that in-person learning would not resume during the 2020 school year.

Berkenkotter and her fellow students have missed out on all extracurricular activities, hanging out with each other, and planning their senior activities. Staying home and being isolated from friends has been difficult, according to Berkenkotter, and the uncertainty of their final year has taken a mental and emotional toll on some seniors.

In an effort to give every senior in Elizabeth and Kiowa well-deserved recognition, and to lift their spirits, Elizabeth resident Sophia Byers started a Facebook page calling for community members to “Adopt a Senior.” Parents of seniors offered their seniors up for “adoption,” and requests started pouring in for the chance to help.

“We initially reached out to parents, and through the private page we started getting tons of responses from parents of seniors,” said Byers. “The admins on the page started connecting community members who wanted to help with parents of seniors, and they coordinated with each other to surprise the seniors with different gifts, surprises and all kinds of fun things.”

A gift beach basket was delivered to senior student Shelby Berkenkotter, after her “adoptive” sponsors found out she planned to move to Florida after her graduation.

COURTESY OF SHELBY BERKENKOTTER

Berkenkotter’s first surprise from her adoptive family was a banner that showed up on her front lawn that said “Congratulations Shelby.”

“I also got a beach basket, filled with stuff for the beach, because they knew that I plan to move to Florida after I graduate,” said Berkenkotter.

“I don’t know who adopted me, but I’ve known all the people in Elizabeth my whole life. All the parents know me from when I was little, and it’s so special to me that there are a lot of

people out there rooting for us.”

Janice Richardson serves as an admin on the page, and has helped coordinate community members and parents, and said the page has not only benefited the seniors, but has been good for community morale as well.

“To see the community response to this has been fun,” said Richardson.

“Everybody has wanted to do something rather than just set home and feel sorry for themselves, and this

gives them a way to help. The seniors are loving it, and the community members are loving it as well.”

Sponsors have had a lot of fun with showering recognition on adopted seniors. Seniors don’t know what each day will entail as far as gifts showing up, banners popping up, or sponsors surprising them at home or work.

“It’s pretty exciting to wonder what might show up each day,” said Berkenkotter.

The Adopt a Senior program gained momentum quickly, with parents offering seniors up for adoption almost immediately. As seniors were posted for adoption on the page, most of them were adopted within 24 hours, according to Byers.

“As of April 28, we had 112 seniors and 520 members on our page, and it continues to grow every day,” said Byers. “And it’s not just parents who have seniors or kids in school. We have sponsors that have no connection to the students, but want to help make their senior year memorable.”

Any senior who lives in Elbert County can join the group, and parents can offer them up for adoption.

Students from Frontier High and home-schooled seniors are welcome as well. The group’s goal is to have every senior in the county be adopted before the end of the school year.

“Thank you so much for making me feel like I’m part of a community and that I’m a part of something big and special,” said Berkenkotter.

“I feel like even though our class activities were forgotten, we weren’t forgotten.”

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May 7, 2020

GRADUATION FROM PAGE 1

Throughout the county, postponing graduation ceremonies until late summer or autumn is one option, which might allow for a traditional in-person graduation with family members and friends allowed to attend. However, the late date could pose a problem for seniors who will be leaving to go to college, military service or a job.

A ceremony like the recent Air Force Academy graduation — where graduates only were allowed, and stood a mandatory six feet apart, with the ceremony being livestreamed — is another option, and a third option includes a drive-in theater-style ceremony, with seniors being allowed on the field but family and friends being relegated to their vehicles surrounding the field.

The scenarios could play out differently for Elbert County’s high schools, as the three smaller schools, Simla, Kiowa and Frontier, each have fewer than 20 students graduating . Elizabeth High has closer to 200 students slated to graduate in the Class of 2020.

Steve Wilson, superintendent of Big Sandy 100J district, said they’ve been working with students and parents to get ideas about what students want to have happen.

“I think everyone would really like a traditional ceremony,” said Wilson. “Because we only have 12 students graduating, we’ve applied for a waiver from the state and will hopefully know soon what we’ll be allowed to do. We would sure love to have parents be able to attend.”

State has variance protocol Under the state’s executive order,

has been working with the health cars are parked in a big oval around counties can apply for a variance the field, and the ceremony can be from the state-mandated guidelines, department, students and parents in streamed on the radio, Facebook provided they submit an alternacoming up with its hoped-for plans and the internet.” tive COVID-19 suppression plan and for its two ceremonies.

Scott Mader, superintendent of meet certain criteria, such as havDwayne Smith, Elbert County ing the local health department sign Elbert County School District C-12, Public Health and Environment adsaid his students would also like a off on the plan, have local hospitals ministrator, addressed the issue of traditional graduation, but under verify they have the capacity to graduating classes during a recent the governor’s orders that couldn’t serve all people needing their care, public health meeting with Elbert happen until fall. and endorsement of the plan by County commissioners.

“The problem with waiting until county commissioners.

“We’re working with the schools “The local variance process allows fall is that some students, who are and helping with variances, and leaving because communities will make the case for the natural they have jobs that are not social distancing factor in a rural or going to colexperiencing community,” said Smith. “We anticilege, wouldn’t a high rate of pate there will be a lot of schools be able to transmission to wanting waivers, and hope we can attend,” said tailor social disget some waivers approved as early Mader. “Whentancing policies as this week.” ever graduation to local condiFrontier High School has set a tenhappens, we’re tions, in order tative date to hold an outside gradugoing to make it to promote comation May 29, with students only as unique as we munity wellness allowed on the field, while mainpossibly can.” and economic taining social distancing practices, Kiowa High stability. To proincluding wearing masks. If the School has 12 tect other comceremony goes forward as planned, seniors graduatmunities and each student will have the opporing, and school hospital systems tunity to approach the lectern and officials are statewide, it is speak, then receive their diplomas.

Public Notice considering paramount that The lectern will be sanitized after Dwayne Smith, DISTRICT COURT, ELBERT COUNTY, placing banthe local varieach speaker, and a new microphone STATE OF COLORADO withNO. each ance process cover put in place. Parents can view CIVIL ACTION 2020CV30002 Elbert County Public Health and ners Division/Courtroom student’s photo only be used the ceremony from their vehicles, NO. 20-01 Environment administrator on theSALE poles when transmisand anyone who attends must sign a NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE lining Main sion is at a low waiver acknowledging the risk.

OF REAL PROPERTY Street. Having enough level to Elizabeth High School has subSPRING VALLEY RANCH MASTER the seniors go be suppressed mitted a waiver request to the ASSOCIATION, INC., a Colorado non-profit corporation, Plaintiff: through some kind of ceremony through testing and containment efstate for a June 6 date, and district v.

PHILLIP BURR HOME now, without a crowd, thenULLOM; hold- CITYWIDEofficials forts to detect positive cases, ensure are awaiting a decision. If a Utah corporation dba Citywide ing a traditionalLOANS, ceremony in the successful isolation and quarantine approved, only graduates and staff Home Loans; SHERYL L. HEWLETT, Elbert County Public Trustee, Defendant(s): fall is also an option being considclose contacts,” says the order. will be allowed to attend, and the ered. Mader is working In the event Big Sandy’s waiver ceremony will be live-streamed for Regarding: with Lot 31, Elbert Section 33 Township 6 Range 64 Subdivision Spring Valley Ranch County Public Health and Environisn’t granted, Wilson said they are parents and family members. SuperPhase 2, County of Elbert, State of Colorado ment to ensure that whatever they prepared to live-stream the cer- Public Notice intendent Douglas Bissonette said Also known as: 42395 Forest Oaks Dr., decide, social distancing and(the masks emony.

DISTRICT COURT, ELBERT COUNTY, Elizabeth, CO 80107 “Property”). on May 1 that they hope the June 6 OF COLORADO will be strictly adhered to.

“We would adhere strictlyCIVIL to STATE date and the plan submitted for the ACTION NO. 2020CV30002 Under a Judgement and Decree of Foreclosure social distancing guidelines andDivision/Courtroom entered on March 13,2020, relating to Tranwaiver will be approved, but a final 20-01 scripts of Judgments recorded in the Elbert for approval masks,” said Wilson. “It would beSALE NO. Hoping approval won’t likely be available County Government County public records the OF SHERIFF'S SALE is ordered to sell certain real The Elizabethundersigned School DIstrict similar to our football games,NOTICE where for another week.

OF REAL PROPERTY

‘We anticipate there will be a lot of schools wanting waivers, and hope we can get some waivers approved as early as this week.’

property set forth and described above.

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

PHILLIP BURR ULLOM; CITYWIDE HOME LOANS, a Utah corporation dba Citywide Home Loans; SHERYL L. HEWLETT, Elbert County Public Trustee, Defendant(s):

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS, Please take notice: You and each of you are hereby notified that a Sheriff's Sale of the referenced property is to be conducted by the Civil Division of the Sheriff's Office of Elbert County, Colorado at 10:00 A.M., on the 18th day of June, 2020, at 751 Ute Ave. Kiowa, CO 80117, phone number 303-6212027. 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. All bidders will be required to have in their possession cash or certified funds at least equal to the amount of the judgment creditor’s bid. Please telephone 303-621-2027 prior to the sale to ascertain the amount of this bid. The highest and best bidder will have two hours following the sale to tender the full amount of their bid, or they will be deemed to have withdrawn their bid.

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, ELBERT COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO CIVIL ACTION NO. 2020CV30002 Division/Courtroom SALE NO. 20-01 NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

Regarding: Lot 31, Section 33 Township 6 Range 64 Subdivision Spring Valley Ranch Phase 2, County of Elbert, State of Colorado

Also known as: 42395 Forest Oaks Dr., Elizabeth, CO 80107 (the “Property”).

Under a Judgement and Decree of Foreclosure entered on March 13,2020, relating to Transcripts of Judgments recorded in the Elbert County Government County public records the undersigned is ordered to sell certain real property set forth and described above.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS,legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com INC., 303.566.4088 Public Notices callASSOCIATION, Sheree Please take notice: a Colorado non-profit corporation, Plaintiff: BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CASH SPRING VALLEY RANCH MASTER

Summons and Sheriff Sales Public Notice DISTRICT COURT, ELBERT COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO CIVIL ACTION NO. 2020CV30002 Division/Courtroom SALE NO. 20-01 NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

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

PHILLIP BURR ULLOM; CITYWIDE HOME LOANS, a Utah corporation dba Citywide Home Loans; SHERYL L. HEWLETT, Elbert County Public Trustee, Defendant(s): Regarding: Lot 31, Section 33 Township 6 Range 64 Subdivision Spring Valley Ranch Phase 2, County of Elbert, State of Colorado

Also known as: 42395 Forest Oaks Dr., Elizabeth, CO 80107 (the “Property”).

v.

PHILLIP BURR ULLOM; CITYWIDE HOME LOANS, a Utah corporation dba Citywide Home Loans; SHERYL L. HEWLETT, Elbert County Public Trustee, Defendant(s):

Summons and Sheriff Sales

Regarding: Lot 31, Section 33 Township 6 Range 64 Subdivision Spring Valley Ranch Phase 2, County of Elbert, State of Colorado Also known as: 42395 Forest Oaks Dr., Elizabeth, CO 80107 (the “Property”).

Under a Judgement and Decree of Foreclosure entered on March 13,2020, relating to Transcripts of Judgments recorded in the Elbert County Government County public records the undersigned is ordered to sell certain real property set forth and described above.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS, Please take notice: You and each of you are hereby notified that a Sheriff's Sale of the referenced property is to be conducted by the Civil Division of the Sheriff's Office of Elbert County, Colorado at 10:00 A.M., on the 18th day of June, 2020, at 751 Ute Ave. Kiowa, CO 80117, phone number 303-6212027. 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. All bidders will be required to have

You and each of you are hereby notified that a Sheriff's Sale of the referenced property is to be conducted by the Civil Division of the Sheriff's Office of Elbert County, Colorado at 10:00 A.M., on the 18th day of June, 2020, at 751 Ute Ave. Kiowa, CO 80117, phone number 303-6212027. 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. All bidders will be required to have in their possession cash or certified funds at least equal to the amount of the judgment creditor’s bid. Please telephone 303-621-2027 prior to the sale to ascertain the amount of this bid. The highest and best bidder will have two hours following the sale to tender the full amount of their bid, or they will be deemed to have withdrawn their bid.

Summons and Sheriff Sales

BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CASH OR CERTIFIED FUNDS SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE INITIAL BID AT THE TIME OF SALE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE JUDGMENTS BEING FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY. Recorded Transcripts of Judgement are in the amount of $6,493.43.

All telephone inquiries for information should be directed to the office of the undersigned Sheriff at 303-621-2027. The name, address and busi-

OR CERTIFIED FUNDS SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE INITIAL BID AT THE TIME OF SALE.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE JUDGMENTS BEING FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY. Recorded Transcripts of Judgement are in the amount of $6,493.43.

Summons and Sheriff Sales

All telephone inquiries for information should be directed to the office of the undersigned Sheriff at 303-621-2027. The name, address and business telephone number of the attorneys representing the current owner of the Deed of Trust and Modifications are: Tammy M. Alcock Esq., Alcock Law Group P.C., 19751 E. Mainstreet, Suite 225, Parker, CO 80138, 303-993-5400, Attorney Reg. No. 39816.

Dated 04/30/20, Kiowa, Colorado Timothy Norton, Sheriff Elbert County, Colorado Kristy Haas, Civil Clerk Elbert County, Colorado Legal Notice No.: 244355 First Publication: April 30, 2020 Last Publication: May 28, 2020 Published In: Elbert County News

Name Changes PUBLIC NOTICE Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on February 3, 2020, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Elbert County Combined Court.

The Petition requests that the name of Katrina Berla Martin be changed to Katrina Luna Windecker Case No.: 2020 C 8 By: Jafeen Jenkins, Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk Legal Notice No: 244358 First Publication: May 7, 2020 Last Publication: May 21, 2020 Publisher: Elbert County News

Elbert Legals 5.7.20 * 1

16 Elbert County News

May 7, 2020M

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