Elbert County News 0415

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April 15, 2021

ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

ElbertCountyNews.net

VOLUME 126 | ISSUE 11

Tri-County Health amends mask order Mask order now to remain in place until June 30 rather than ‘for the duration of pandemic’

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

and current volunteer, the Stampede, like many businesses and organizations in Elbert County, took a huge financial hit when COVID hit last year and the Stampede was canceled.

“We are cautiously optimistic that we’re going to have a full capacity Stampede in June,” said Glick.

“But we’re about $35,000 short of a

The local public health agency for Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties amended its mask-wearing order to remove the requirement that masks be worn in outdoor public spaces, the agency announced in an April 5 news release.

The Tri-County Health Department also announced that the order is expected to remain in place until June 30, adding what may be a definite end to the requirement. Previously, the agency had extended its order “for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to an Oct. 20 news release.

“Until every person has had the opportunity to get the COVID-19 vaccine, many in our communities remain at risk for serious illness from this virus,” John Douglas, executive director of Tri-County Health, said in the April 5 news release. “By continuing to wear face coverings, we can protect our friends and loved ones and minimize the impact that outbreaks have on our schools and businesses.”

SEE STAMPEDE, P2

SEE MASK ORDER, P2

Clayton Sellars competes in the Xtreme Bulls event at the 2018 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo.

FILE PHOTO BY TOM MUNDS

Elizabeth Stampede struggles to keep rodeo going Volunteers hope support from community can save traditional event

BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Volunteers with the Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo are “cautiously

optimistic” that the rodeo, which dates back to as early as 1937, will be operating at full capacity for the June event, which will be held from June 3-6 at Casey Jones Park. It’s great news for community members and volunteers, but a challenge for rodeo officials, who are trying to make up for money they lost last year when the stampede was canceled.

According to Jace Glick, past president of the Elizabeth Stampede

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 21 | CALENDAR: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 27

INSIDE THIS ISSUE!

20 21 SPECIAL SECTION

2 Elbert County News

April 15, 2021

MASK ORDER FROM PAGE 1

Gov. Jared Polis in early April extended the state’s mask-wearing order for another 30 days, but TriCounty Health’s order would apply for longer than that if Polis allows the state order to expire first.

According to modeling done by the Colorado School of Public Health in the last week of March, roughly 27% of Coloradans are currently immune to COVID-19 “due to vaccination and/or prior infection,” the news release said.

“While about 68% of Coloradans age 65 years and older are estimated to be immune and hospitalizations of older adults has declined, modeling suggests that continuing to maintain prevention behaviors such as wearing face coverings when in public spaces can prevent large numbers of deaths and hospitalizations,” the news release said. “Mask-wearing will be especially important as our businesses are allowed to more fully re-open over the next six weeks.”

Who is exempt?

Tri-County Health’s order re-

STAMPEDE FROM PAGE 1

$175,000 goal to be able to put on the event at the same level of excitement and fun as previous years.”

quires that people older than 10 must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth in any public indoor space. Now, the requirement for use of face coverings outdoors within 6 feet of another person has been removed.

To avoid confusion, Tri-County amended its mask order in July to mostly align with the statewide mask order.

View a list of exemptions to TriCounty’s order on page 3 at tinyurl. com/TriCountyUpdatedMaskOrder.

Face coverings should be worn regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status except in situations exempted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the order says. Read about masks and vaccination at tinyurl.com/CDCmasksandvaccination.

“We are still learning more about the question of whether vaccinated people can transmit the virus to others,” Douglas, the health chief, said in the news release. “So, for now, it’s important to wear a mask and keep a safe distance to stop further spread.”

The CDC has found that mask mandates may reduce communitywide COVID-19 transmission and hospitalizations due to COVID-19,

Even though the rodeo was canceled last year, Glick said deposits were lost, and monies were paid that were not refundable. The awardwinning Stampede is self-funding each year, using proceeds from parking, ticket sales and beer sales from the previous year.

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Recent changes to state order In July of last year, Polis signed Colorado’s statewide mask order generally requiring masks to be worn in all public indoor spaces.

The governor has extended the order every 30 days since then.

Effective April 3, the statewide

order’s requirements changed for counties in level green on the state’s color-coded COVID-19 dial. Many of Colorado’s rural areas were in level green as of early April.

The state’s dial is the set of restrictions counties must follow based on the local spread of the virus. The system affects capacity at restaurants, other businesses, indoor and outdoor events, and other settings.

The updated state mask order established that the list of settings where masks are required in levelgreen counties now only includes preschool through grade 12 schools, child care centers, health care settings, personal services such as hair and nail salons, and some others.

In other words, many types of businesses — including grocery and retail stores, and others — are no longer included in the list of settings that require masks in level green. It remained to be seen how often businesses might decide to enforce their own mask requirements.

Tri-County Health’s order requires masks in all public indoor spaces, regardless of the level of a county on the state’s dial, according to the news release.

After seeing the outpouring of support from community members during the coronavirus closures, Glick said he’s hoping community members will get behind the Stampede and help raise the extra funds.

“We’ve created a booster club for people who want to help and get some nice perks,” said Glick.

“For $100 you can become a founding member, and get discounts on tickets and all kinds of stuff for the Stampede.”

The rodeo board has filed for a copyright of their new catchphrase “Life. Liberty. Rodeo,” and founding members will be the first to receive ball caps with the new logo. There is also a Mutton Bustin’ member-

ship for $50 that comes with its own perks.

“The Elizabeth Stampede is all about history,” said Glick. “It’s good for everybody, regardless of who they vote for, how they look or what they think. A rodeo brings people together for good reasons, and we really need that right now. And in the spirit of rodeo, we’re hoping the people of Elbert County will help keep us going.”

The stampede usually sees about 2,000 visitors each day of the threeday event, which includes several PRCA rodeos, concerts, events for kids and a parade.

For more information about this year’s Elizabeth Stampede visit www.elizabethstampede.com.

WHO OPTED OUT? The following cities, town and areas have opted out of Tri-County Health Department’s mask-wearing order: Bennett, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Columbine Valley, Deer Trail, Glendale, Parker, Douglas County areas outside of municipalities (unincorporated areas) and unincorporated areas in Arapahoe County east of Watkins Road all the way to the eastern county line, generally east of Aurora.

The City of Brighton had opted out but opted back into the order as of Oct. 21, according to the order’s text.

If a municipality or unincorporated county area has opted out, Gov. Jared Polis’ statewide mask order still applies in those areas.

Any county or municipality in the TriCounty Health jurisdiction that opted out of the order may opt back in at any time, according to a news release. the news release said.

Increased residency limits now apply citywide in Denver Council expands rule beyond area first allowed in February

BY ESTABAN L. HERNANDEZ DENVERITE

Denver City Council on April 5 extended the rule increasing the number of unrelated adult who can live together in a home to the entire city.

So, to back up: Lawmakers approved the so-called group living text amendment in February, which changed the city’s zoning code to allow up to five unrelated adults to live in homes in Denver (it made other changes as well). The city’s zoning code previously capped the number at two.

However, about 20% of the city

doesn’t fall under Denver’s zoning code, which was updated in 2010, according to a presentation by senior city planner Andrew Webb. That 20% falls under the Former Chapter 59 code, or what the city calls the “old” zoning code.

In order for the new rules about unrelated adults living together to take effect for areas governed by the “old” code, councilmembers had to step in.

About a quarter of the city’s residential units still fall under Former Chapter 59 zoning, according to Webb’s presentation. About a third of areas zoned under this “old” code are in far northeast Denver, including Green Valley Ranch and Montbello.

This story is from Denverite, a nonprofit Denver news source affiliated with CPR News. Used by permission.

For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite.com.

Elbert County News 3

April 15, 2021

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4 Elbert County News

April 15, 2021

Colorado makes voting far easier than Georgia Social-media commenters get it wrong after MLB moves All-Star Game

BY LUCY HAGGARD THE COLORADO SUN

Misinformation curveballs about Colorado’s election laws are flying around social media after Major League Baseball decided to move its All-Star Game to Denver from Georgia.

The league made the decision after Georgia’s Legislature overhauled its election laws in ways that many critics argue will make voting more difficult, especially for people of color and for lower-income neighborhoods.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred characterized moving the Midsummer Classic “as the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport,” according to ESPN. Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp responded by repeatedly — and falsely — saying Colorado’s voter laws are more restrictive than Georgia’s.

The Colorado Sun analyzed some of the claims made in recent days comparing voting laws in the two states.

Here’s what we found.

Voting before Election Day and mail ballots Colorado, whose voting system has been praised by Democrats and Republicans, has 15 days of in-person

Colorado voters cast their primary election ballots in downtown Denver on June 30. early voting compared with 17 in Georgia. But there’s a lot more to the story than two days.

For one, Colorado automatically mails a ballot to every active registered voter 22 days before Election Day in an “all-option” voting system, according to Boulder County Clerk and Recorder Molly Fitzpatrick. This

PHOTO BY JESSE PAUL/THE COLORADO SUN

means that voters can cast their ballots by mail, by returning their ballot to a dropbox or by voting in person.

“By treating every single voter the same and just mailing every voter a ballot, that’s one of the biggest things that’s moved the needle,” Fitzpatrick said.

By contrast, voters in Georgia

must request an absentee ballot if they don’t plan to vote in person. The state’s new voting law cut by more than half the period during which voters can request an absentee ballot to less than three months from more than six months.

SEE VOTING, P6

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Elbert County News 5

April 15, 2021

Museum celebrates elegant wardrobe, lifestyle Veronique and Gregory Peck had influence on fashion

IF YOU GO The Denver Art Museum is at 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway, Denver. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Limited capacity, reserve tickets ahead.) Go to denverartmuseum.org, 720-865-5000. Cultural Parking Garage entrance from 12th Avenue, just west of Broadway.

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Actor Gregory Peck and his wife Veronique are shown in 1965, part of an exhibit at the COURTESY PHOTO Denver Art Museum through July 18.

Charmeuse, jacquard, organza, surah are among the fabrics included in Denver Art Museum’s current exhibition of “Paris to Hollywood: The Fashion and Influence of Veronique and Gregory Peck,” which includes 100 ensembles from the wardrobe of Veronique Peck and continues through July 18. This collection should interest not only fashion lovers, but history buffs, who can contemplate the events the Pecks may have attended ...

Florence Muller, DAM’s curator of textile art and fashion, was contacted by the couple’s daughter, Cecilia Peck Voll, who gave 20 of Veronique’s distinctive looks to the museum, loaned others and assisted in collecting items to complete the 100 ensembles exhibited. They were designed by couturiers and designers around the world for the Parisian journalist, philanthropist and fashion influencer Veronique Peck. Voll also loaned personal documents, accessories, photographs and insights.

Veronique’s parents, a Paris architect and a Russian artist, encouraged their daughter’s interest in politics and science, as well as in

the latest trends in art, theatre, literature — and the best restaurants.

Gregory Peck was visiting Paris in 1952, en route to the filming of “Roman Holiday” with Audrey Hepburn, and was scheduled for an interview with the young journalist, Veronique Passani. (French American 1932-2012).

On his return trip, he invited her to lunch, which caused her to give up an interview with Nobel Laureate Albert Schweitzer. The glamorous pair married in 1955 and the romance continued until his death in 2003.

“Paris to Hollywood ...” includes not only the ensembles Veronique wore, but sketches (which were at times sent to her if she was not in Paris and created for her if she was interested), film clips, family snapshots and more that give insights into professional and home lives of this glamorous pair and their two children. Materials exhibited cover a period from the 1950s to the 1990s. (There is a Gregory Peck suit included.)

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6 Elbert County News

VOTING FROM PAGE 4

Georgia election officials are also now barred from automatically mailing absentee ballot applications to all voters.

The availability of mail-in or drop-off ballots also influences the number of people going to physical polling places.

Almost 94% of Coloradans voted by mail or dropbox in the 2020 election, whereas just one-third of Georgia voters cast their ballots by mail. For numerical comparison, that’s 198,645 Coloradans voting in person versus more than 2.7 million Georgians. That often results in long lines at Georgia polling places — something rarely seen in Colorado.

In other words, offering two extra days of in-person polling for hundreds of thousands more voters is “a false equivalency,” said Tammy Patrick, a senior adviser to the Democracy Fund, a nonpartisan foundation that, among other things, advocates for free and fair elections.

Voter ID laws Both Colorado and Georgia require some form of identification to cast a ballot. However, Colorado makes it far easier.

In-person voters in Colorado must show ID to cast their ballots. This can be a traditional state-issued ID or a passport, or they can provide another document to prove their identity and Colorado residency, such as a birth certificate, bank statement, utility bill, or an employee or student ID. First-time Colorado voters who are voting by mail or dropping off their ballot may have to include a photocopy of a form of identification if they didn’t register using an ID.

April 15, 2021 In Georgia, voters who cast a ballot in person must show a form of photo identification.

Georgia’s new law now requires voters submitting an absentee ballot — also known as a mail ballot — to always submit a copy of a form of identification, though it doesn’t necessarily have to be a photo ID. Other key voting law differences Georgia’s new voting law reduces the number of ballot dropboxes to one per 100,000 voters in a county, or one per early voting site, whichever is fewer. For example, if a county has five polling locations but only 300,000 voters, it would only be allowed to have three dropboxes.

“It errs on the side of underserving,” said Patrick, who advises the elections team at the Democracy Fund.

In contrast, Colorado has minimum requirements for the number of dropboxes per county. Depending on the county’s population, there must be one dropbox for every 12,500 to 15,000 voters.

Meanwhile, Colorado lets voters register on the same day as they cast their ballot, up to and including Election Day. Georgia does not.

Georgia’s new law prohibits people from providing “any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink” to anyone standing in line to vote. Colorado has electioneering laws that prohibit people from trying to influence voters’ decisions near polling places and ballot dropboxes, but there is no prohibition on giving people food and drink.

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. Used by permission. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com.

An installation in the “Paris to Hollywood “ exhibit at the Denver Art COURTESY PHOTO Museum includes a photo of Veronique and Gregory Peck.

MUSEUM FROM PAGE 5

Veronique Peck followed her parents on a path that included an interest in the arts, political science, theatre, literature, restaurants and of course, couturiers and their related houses: Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy and more ... She

is credited with introducing controversial pants suits and miniskirts by Courreges in the U.S in the 1960s, which soon became immensely popular among American women.

The 40 years covered in this exhibit were a period when women’s societal roles changed drastically as they launched into careers of all sorts — often calling for a change in style.

- E D U C AT I O N A L A DV E R T I S E M E N T -

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Elbert County News 7

April 15, 2021

Simla Matchwits team competes at state level Students take eighth place in field of 60 competitors at Knowledge Bowl

BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Five students from the Simla High School Matchwits put their trivia skills to the test during the Colorado State Knowledge Bowl March 15 and 16. The team competed against 60 teams from across Colorado, and earned an impressive eighth place by the time the competition was over.

“We were very happy with eighth place,” said Donna Jenkins, Matchwits coach for Simla High. “These kids worked really hard, and worked their

way up to the state level after placing in the regionals. During the regional competition students compete with kids from schools ranging from 1A all the way up to 5A schools.”

The Simla team garnered first place in regionals in the category of 1A schools. Teams are made up of four students, and competitions usually consist of 50 trivia questions, with teams earning points for answering correctly. The event was held virtually this year due to COVID-19, and because of the extra time necessary, the question list was cut back to just 35 trivia questions.

Team members are allowed to consult with each other only to decide which member will answer the question, but are not allowed to discuss the answer to the question. The Simla team was able to

Students from Simla High stay focused while participating in a Matchwits tournaCOURTESY OF SIMLA HIGH SCHOOL ment last month. study and prepare for the competition in person, as the school district has maintained in-person learning

throughout much of COVID. “It really helps when the kids can be together to study,” said Jenkins.

“The day of competition we ended up having the blizzard, so about half our students participated from their home, while the others were together at the school.

Matchwits is a “Jeopardy”-type knowledge-based club, and has been holding competitions within schools for nearly 20 years. Jenkins said it was challenging this year due to the added technology and virtual meeting due to COVID. “This year we were lucky enough to have an assistant, Mary Bauer, who really helped with all the extra stuff associated with doing it virtually,” said Jenkins. “These kids worked so hard, but they’ve done an amazing job and we’re so proud of them.”

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Fertilizer: arch enemy of waterways.

Streams, lakes and reservoirs don’t need it. Your lawn may not need it, either. Fertilizer, like other products that serve a necessary purpose, can become a problem if misused. Most lawn fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, represented by a three-number string on the front of the bag. Nutrient needs vary from lawn to lawn and can only be determined by testing the soil.

If over-applied, rain carries away excess nutrients not needed by plants and washes them to the nearest waterway, causing excess algae growth that uses up vital oxygen for fish.

Please take the time to have your soil tested to determine your lawn’s needs. This simple, small change in your lawn care makes a huge difference, not only to the health of your lawn but also to your nearby rivers, creeks and lakes.

Local stormwater agencies are teaming together to bring you this message. We take this so seriously that we posted this ad rather than send you more garbage in the mail. One thing is clear: our creeks, rivers and lakes depend on you.

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Visit onethingisclear.org to: • Report accidental and illegal dumping to your local agency • Search local volunteer events • Find more helpful tips

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Protect your waterways. Know what you are applying, and test your soil prior to using fertilizers.

Call the Colorado State University Extension, 970-491-5061, to have your soil tested.

Colorado Community Media agrees: Please recycle this newspaper responsibly and partner with our communities for a better tomorrow.

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8 Elbert County News

April 15, 2021

Delayed treatment will put pressure on health care system Heart health, cancer cases and stroke prognosis worse due to patients skipping care

BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Delayed care for major health conditions in 2020 are leading specialists through the Denver Metro region to worry that it could take more than a decade to recover from the emotional, financial, and societal price.

According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), medical care delay in 2020 contributed to the increase morbidity and mortality risk associated with treatable and preventable health conditions.

Cancer cases are increasing, longterm treatment for heart issues has become more complicated, mental health and general healthcare lost a year and doctors are working to clear a back log in all areas.

Cancer cases rising Dr. Radhika Acharya-Leon, section chief for medical oncology at Highlands Ranch Hospital, said the consequences of delayed treatment are starting to emerge each day where the disease is more progressed in colon, breast, prostate and lung cancer cases.

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Dr. Radhika Acharya-Leon, section chief for medical oncology at Highlands Ranch Hospital, talks to patient Suzi McCumber about PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES radiation treatment.

“The more people delayed screenings and follow-up testing, the more the prognosis is going to change,” she said. “The longer treatment is delayed, the more your rate of survival decreases. Patients we are seeing now have a worse outlook.”

According to the American Journal of Managed Care, screenings for breast, colon, prostate, and lung cancer dropped dramatically in 2020. At the peak of the pandemic, breast cancer screenings dropped 85%, colonoscopies dropped by 75%, lung cancer screenings were down 56%, and prostate testing decreased by 74%.

By delaying screenings, and ignoring symptoms, Acharya-Leon said all the education about the

PART 2: DELAYED MEDICAL This is the second part of a two-part series exploring impacts of delaying medical appointments due to inconveniences of COVID pandemic impacts. importance of early diagnosis and intervention went out the window in 2020.

Another concerning trend were patients skipping follow-up care.

Acharya-Leon said it is vital for patients who were treated for cancer in the past to follow up to make sure the disease has not returned. When they are returning, the prognosis is not good.

“The fallout from this is going to be a decade at least,” she said. “We

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have a situation in this country where you go from having a curable situation to an incurable situation.

The cost to society is going to be huge.”

Dr. Lisa Wynn, of CU Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology in Highlands Ranch, said it has been difficult talking to patients who put off care and are now receiving bad news.

Wynn said she had a patient who put off getting the recommended mammogram in 2018. She then skipped doing it 2019 and could not do it in 2020. In 2021, she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“We are doing a lot to get patients caught up,” Wynn said. “We are even doing walk-in mammograms.

We are set up to do everything in one day. We are doing your blood work, mammograms, and pap smear in this building. One day, all done.”

Heart Health Dr. Nick Tsipis, the associate medical director at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, said the emergency room had some alarming trends in 2020 that will take years to sort out. One of those trends was delaying care for a heart attack.

“The initial recommendations were to avoid hospitals,” Tsipis said. “While well intentioned, now we know it should have been worded differently. We saw patients who had had a heart attack that happened more than 24 hours before. These patients knew something was not right but wanted to wait. They did not want to burden the system.”

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the world with 86 million deaths and SEE TREATMENT, P9

Elbert County News 9

April 15, 2021

Virtual option is proving safe for patients during pandemic From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the state government, the public was warned to stay home starting last March when cases of COVID started spreading in the U.S. The problem with the messaging, as many doctors across the Denver metro area have pointed out, is that it made people stay home and skip health care from regular doctor visits and screenings, along with ignoring serious issues that needed an emergency-room visit.

Now, patients who are still afraid of leaving home for a regular doctor visit can turn to the emerging popularity of telemedicine.

Dr. Alison Shmerling, a family doctor in Westminster, said for UCHealth, telehealth visits jumped up to more than 60,000 appointments in 2020.

“We have really learned a lot about what we can and cannot do as doctors in telehealth,” she said.

Dr. Amanda Babcock, a family medicine provider in Arvada, said for those who still fear going to a doctor’s office, telehealth is an important option to take advantage of.

“A lot of people have been forgoing screenings,” she said. “Virtual

TREATMENT FROM PAGE 8

more than 523 million cases diagnosed a year. In 2020, the American College of Cardiology reported a drop in common heart attacks presenting in emergency rooms by 38%.

“COVID started as this strange phenomenon. We actually started wondering where all the heart attacks went,” said Interventional Cardiologist Anthony Cedrone, of South Denver Cardiology Associates. “In reality, they did not go to the hospital to get an official diagnosis. The heart attacks are still there, it is just much worse.”

The experts at South Denver Cardiology Associates, with offices in Littleton, Englewood, Castle Rock and Parker, have seen the fallout from delayed care. Cedrone said when he sees patients who were treated late for a heart attack, they still devise a treatment plan, working to preserve as much tissue as possible.

“It is plain and simple - The fear of COVID has led to more cardiac death this year,” Cedrone said. “It’s important to be less scared of COVID, pay attention to symptoms and go get treatment.”

Dr. Larry Allen, an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist with UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, said they saw a 40% decrease in heart patients at the peak of the pandemic.

calls are going up and can take place while you are at work, during lunch or on a break. The accessibility is there, and we can help.”

However, Babcock stressed that doctors’ office and hospitals are going to be safe with all the precautions and procedures they follow for patient safety.

According to the CDC, since March 2020, virtual doctor visits increased by 159% and will likely continue to be a trend in coming years.

Dr. Nick Tsipis, the associate medical director at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, said telemedicine has become a great alternative to in-person treatment.

“Telemedicine has been both appropriate and helpful,” he said.

“But it does not solve all problems.

We still need patients to get back to getting regular screenings and testing that has to be done in person.”

Kristin Orlowski, a UCHealth behavioral health expert in Highlands Ranch, said with the pandemic creating so much fear and anxiety, “Telemedicine is a good option for those who are still afraid of going in person.”

Most doctors and medical professionals in the Denver metro area offer appointments via telemedicine. Doctors stress that communication and updates with generalcare providers, even if by phone, is more important than ignoring medical care altogether.

— Thelma Grimes

“When (patients) stay home with cardiac disease, there is permanent damage.” Allen said. “By the time we saw them, the damage was so much worse than it could have been and so much harder for us to treat.”

Allen said the current trends are frustrating because it took decades to teach the public about the symptoms of a heart attack and the importance of seeking emergency treatment.

In cases that did not lead to death, Allen said the cost to the healthcare system will carry on for years.

Stokes Brandon Pope, neuroscience chief at the UCHealth Neuroscience Center, said there is a common saying for someone suffering from a stroke, “time is brain.” A stroke victim can lose up to two million neurons every minute they do not seek treatment, he said.

In 2020, Pope said doctors specializing in treating strokes across the Denver Metro Area saw a decrease in patients. Patients did not go to emergency rooms, and they skipped follow-up treatment way too often through the last year, he said.

Every hour without treatment quals about 3.6 years off their life expectancy, Pope said.

“No treatment means you are potentially aging your brain by years,” he said. “Over the last year, we saw patients coming in 24 hours or more after a stroke started. The longer the wait goes on, we can’t stress enough, the more brain you are losing.”

Looking for COVID-19 vaccine information?

The Tri-County Health Department is your source for COVID-19 vaccine information. Visit tchd.org/ COVIDVaccine or call 303-220-9200.

Volunteer to serve on the CSU Extension Advisory Council Do you have time to give and an interest in 4-H and youth development, agriculture/gardening, community engagement, or family wellness? Apply by April 21. For more information visit douglas.co.us and search for CSU Extension Advisory Council.

Community E-recycling Douglas County residents may dispose of unwanted electronics free of charge at Techno Rescue, 3251 Lewiston St. in Aurora. Drop off weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and occasional Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proof of residency is required. For a list of acceptable items, Saturday drop-off dates and more information visit douglas.co.us/community-recycling

Behind on your rent caused by COVID-19 impacts?

Douglas County residents, impacted by COVID-19, who are behind on their rent or utility payments may be eligible for assistance through the Douglas County Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Review eligibility details and apply at douglas.co.us/rentassistance

Slash-mulch site open The County’s main slash-mulch site, at 1400 Caprice Drive in Castle Rock is open Saturdays only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 30. For more information, directions and a list of acceptable items visit douglas. co.us and search for Slash Mulch.

Full property tax payments due Payments must be received by the Treasurer’s office by April 30, 2021. Payments received after the due date must include applicable interest. To obtain the amounts due or to pay online, please visit douglascotax.com and search for your account using the Public User Access.

What would you do if you suspected child abuse or neglect?

Call 303-663-6270 or 1-844-4CO-KIDS. Visit douglas.co.us and search Child Abuse FAQs for additional information.

Visit douglas.co.us

10 Elbert County News

T

LOCAL

April 15, 2021

VOICES

The sun comes up, and here we go again

he sun comes up right behind Sue and Andy’s house.

At least that’s what it looks like from where I am.

They live directly across the street and have an QUIET even better view than I do because DESPERATION they’re closer.

Most of the time, sunrise is a post card. That’s because we live in Colorado. Not one of the grim Midwestern states I grew up in where the sun never Craig Marshall seems to be around Smith in the morning, especially in the winter.

The sunrise horizon behind Sue and Andy’s is coral and blue with some red-orange.

If I haven’t read the paper, turned on the television or my computer, life looks pretty good, and until I do any of those things, I am pleasant to be around.

Life in its simplest terms at sun-

A

rise, sunset, next to a forest or an ocean, or on an innocuous suburban Denver street of lookalike houses in a community once besmirched by National Geographic is — what’s a good word? — magnificent.

Then the bipeds come along and ruin things. Why? The answer I’ve heard my entire life is “human nature.”

William Golding wrote a book titled “Lord of the Flies” about a bunch of British boys stranded on an island.

By the end of the book, the boys have divided up into two groups: one that is mostly cooperative and the other that has reverted to primitive and savage behavior.

Sound familiar?

It’s lauded as an insightful study of “rational and emotional reactions, and morality and immorality.”

That sums up the conflicting headlines in the morning paper.

Nevertheless, I press on with coffee and Harry at my side, turning the pages, knowing some horror awaits.

There are horrors right here in Colorado, across the country, and around the world, some in places I’ve never heard of until recently.

Why do I read the newspaper?

Or turn on the television? Or the computer?

Some people don’t.

Who are these people?

Since you’re reading this, you are not one of them.

Maybe you know someone who is uninformed. Are they blissful?

Being around someone who didn’t know what was going on might be difficult for me. What am I talking about? I spend twentyfour hours a day with a dachshund.

You’ve seen “Harvey,” starring Jimmy Stewart? His character, Elwood P. Dowd, is a very likable man who lives in his own little world with plenty of martinis and an imaginary friend.

Nothing seems to bother Dowd.

And those around him begin to see things differently, are more positive and optimistic, and experience life with less anger, anxiety, and

depression.

A Denver woman, Mary Chase, wrote the play. The film’s running time is 104 minutes.

For 104 minutes, I’m along for the ride. Maybe for another thirty afterwards. Then?

Then I’ll change channels and return to this world.

CNN, FOX, Boulder, Atlanta, the Chauvin trial, Ethiopia, Myanmar.

Why is Georgia Georgia?

Why not just leave the U.S. flag at half-staff? It would save a lot of time. Just leave it halfway up.

Bang. Pow. Boom.

I have my own antidotes. They used to come in bottles, like Dowd’s.

Facing life without bottles or an invisible rabbit takes a lot of something, doesn’t it?

Someone said, “Every sunrise begins with new eyes.”

Sunrise today was 6:36 a.m.

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

‘The 60 to 60 Success Plan for Life’

few years ago, I had the opportunity to be a passenger in my friend’s Porsche 911 as he demonstrated how fast going from zero to 60 MPH in less than 3 seconds WINNING feels. And I will share with you that WORDS it was quite exhilarating.

In late 2020, I was reminded that I would be turning 59 years old this year. And then it dawned on me, I would be turning 60 in 2022. Simple Michael Norton math right. Where has the time gone — I mean sometimes it feels like I went from 0 to 59 years old in 3 seconds too. And then I remembered a famous quote

by Michael Altshuler, “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

When I realized that I had 60 weeks to go until I turned 60, I knew I could no longer be a passenger, I had to get into the cockpit and take control over what happens next. With that inspiration,

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I wrote out my “60 to 60 Success Plan for Life.” The plan was built around one primary question, “How do I want to arrive to the party when I turn 60?”

I will share with you that as I developed my plan, I solicited feedback from family members, friends and advisers. And although my personal plan was a “60 weeks to 60 years old” plan, I had people ask me to help them with their “30 weeks to turning 30 years old” plan, “42 days to turning 42 years old,” and someone who wanted help with a “30, 60, 90-day success” plan that had nothing to do with reaching an age milestone, and everything to do with making changes in their life that would help them to succeed personally and professionally.

Here are the elements of my 60 to 60 plan that I shared with others.

You will recognize activities, concepts, and attitudinal adjustments around the things that I either wanted to change and would commit to change, or new strategies that would help me execute against my plan and reach my desired goals.

When I arrive at 60, I want to be: healthier; happier; in better shape; even more optimistic; motivated and full of energy; enjoying a greater sense of peace and accomplishment; and seeing the abundance of opportunities still ahead of me to help and serve others.

What it will mean to me personally is that I will have an even more loving relationship with my wife, my children, and my grandchildren whom I worship and adore; closer friendships built on mutual trust and respect; better sleep; fewer medications; an elevated level of physical fitness; and a closer walk with God. What it will mean to me professionally is that I will be a business owner known for servant leadership who enjoys the rewards of a loyal staff, happy customers and grateful partners, all of whom have been able to benefit personally, professionally and spiritually from our relationship.

What will I be, do, or have at 60 years old? I will continue to be a difference-maker in the lives of others; have written and published my 662nd column; ski; work out;

JERRY HEALEY President

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant

jhealey@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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MIKKEL KELLY Interim Editor

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Golf; read more; enjoy my Hawaiian vacations; and be seen as a relevant and respected thought leader.

What are the changes that I will have to make to achieve my goals?

Continued daily devotions, Bible study, prayer, and worship; amplifying my time spent reading; a well-balanced diet; sobriety; five or six days per week working out; journaling and writing; prospecting for new business; continued white-glove service for our existing customers.

If you need a little assistance or coaching to help you get to where it is you wish to be, do the things that you want to do, and have the things that are most important to you, send me an email at mnorton@tramazing.com, as I would love to help. And when we can plan to win and prepare to win, we will typically find ways to win in all areas of life, making this a better than good year.

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.

Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Elbert County News.

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

Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100) A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday

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POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Elbert County News, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

Elbert County News 11

April 15, 2021

T

Starting your own business later in life

he media has created a specific image of a startup business — a team of young people in hoodies creating something “techy” GUEST with a silly name.

However, entrepre- COLUMN neurship is actuColbe Galston ally most prevalent among those aged 55-64. Globally, there are 34 million adults in this cohort who want to start a business, giving this age group the highest rate of entrepreneurship, according to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor.

Starting a business requires a wide range of skills. It also requires taking risks, plus some planning and new ideas, while following rules and regulations. Older adults are uniquely suited because they bring their lifetimes of experience to the process. They also have broader networks and more capital, both of

which are significant for success.

Startups are driven by creativity and hard work, and seniors with the passion to build a new business later in life are usually bringing both in abundance. All of these characteristics fit with the challenges and opportunities that come with starting a business. Embarking on such a challenge also brings rich experiences to seniors’ lives. Entrepreneurs learn and grow every day, as well as stay busy. The technology available today allows for productivity and connectivity in myriad ways.

Senior entrepreneurship also benefits the larger community.

Businesses owned by older adults are more likely to pursue social or community-oriented goals compared to those of younger entrepreneurs. The flexibility of starting a business later in life means it can be a passion project with broader

Evergreen residents generally maintain natural forest and fields that do not require using groundwater. But we don’t have much hope when the rampant development continues.

We also find that poorly managed cattle grazing significantly damages riparian resources, in addition to degrading our prairie grasslands. Working with ranchers to improve grazing practices can lead to the important protection of biological resources.

The Colorado Water Plan is an important step in the right direction but it requires funding to be successful.

We can reduce our use of water. We just need to have sound decisions and direction. Please urge Governor Polis and local elected officials to prioritize the water conservation and The Colorado Water Plan!

JoAnn Hackos, Ph.D. Evergreen

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep in mind the following rules: • Email your letter to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.

• Submit your letter in a Word document or in the body of an email. No PDFs, please.

• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s newspaper.

• Include your full name, address and phone number. We will publish only your name and city or town of residence, but all of the information requested is needed for us to verify you are who you say you are.

• Letters will be considered only from people living in Colorado Community Media’s circulation area in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, Elbert and Jefferson y counties.

• We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, grammar, punctuation and length.

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attractive target market: growing, spending, and with a particular lifestyle. They may be looking for the opportunity to work with businesses that understand their experiences and can cater to their wants and needs.

Colbe Galston is the Business Services Supervisor for Douglas County Libraries. To learn more contact cgalston@dclibraries.org or visit DCL.org and select “DCL for Business” under the “Library Info” tab.

This column is hosted by the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County.

Please join us for our next virtual online presentation May 6 at 10 a.m.

Colbe Galston will be our presenter and will provide resources for starting your own business. For more information, please visit www.

MyDougCoSeniorLife.com, email DCSeniorLife@douglas.co.us or call 303-663-7681.

What’s going on in my hometown?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Conserve for Colorado’s water future Meeting Colorado’s water needs in the face of climate change requires that we significantly reduce the use of water, rather than build more environmentally destructive dams and diversion projects.

In my community, Evergreen, local residents are calling for our county commissioners to make better decisions regarding new buildings. Developers keep adding homes to areas that are already stressed in terms of water use and fire danger. Recently, a 52-home development was approved without regard to the availability of water. Local residents are clearly calling for better decisions that evaluate water availability before approving more development. We are concerned that our county government is more concerned with promoting development than protecting our water supply.

goals than monetary success or continuous growth. From an economic perspective, keeping older adults in the workforce not only grows the tax base and local employment, but also reduces the downward economic impact on services that retirees use.

While older business owners create enterprises in every industry and model, they also have the ability to meet the specific needs of their generation. The percentage of the U.S. population age 65 to 74 has grown by half since 2010 and is going to grow by 22% over the next decade, according to the Brookings Institute and Statista.

Additionally, according to AARP, Colorado households helmed by someone over age 50 accounted for 53 cents of every dollar spent in 2018, and this is projected to grow to 61 cents by 2050. This makes the senior population a hugely

• Keep it polite: No name calling or “mudslinging.”

• Include a source — and a link to that source — for any information that is not common knowledge. We will not publish information, including quotes, that cannot easily be verified.

• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for office. We cannot publish letters that contain unverified negative information about a candidate’s opponent.

• Letters advocating for or against a political candidate will not be published within 30 days of an election.

• Only submit ideas and opinions that are your own — and in your own words. We will not publish any letter that appears to be part of a letter-writing campaign or that copies text from an outside source, such as a website.

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From special events to local politics, We’ve got you covered.

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Elbert County News 15

April 15, 2021

April 15, 2021

Tips in planting a vegetable garden

BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

I

t’s As flowers begin blooming and the signs of spring emerge, many begin thinking about the summer vegetable garden. The master gardeners through Colorado State University Extension have created a guide to how and when all of summer’s favorite fruits and vegetables should be planted.

At the start, the master gardeners say understanding Colorado’s climate is important before seeds go in the ground. According to the Colorado Vegetable Guide, the state’s climate presents a lot of challenges for gardening, starting with the range in elevation, which can go from 4,000 to 12,000 feet.

With a clear atmosphere, low humidity,

intense sunlight and extreme variations in precipitation and temperatures gardening in Colorado is unique.

According to the guide, a successful vegetable garden can be directly impacted by the length of the growing season. The average last-killing frost in the spring can range from mid-May to as late as July. The first-killing frost in the fall can come as early as August.

The unpredictable weather in Colorado can cause growing season to be as short as 30 days or as much as 150 days.

While cool-season crops can survive a frost and thrive through cold weather, warm-weather fruits and vegetables do not fair as well in unexpected frosts.

For this reason, the gardeners with CU Extension recommend holding off on planting the warm-season seeds until the danger of frost passes.

Home & Garden Talk to a Master Gardener in your county: Jefferson County: (303) 271-6632 Arapahoe County: (303) 730-1920 Douglas County: (720) 733-6940 Adams County: (303) 637-8100 Visit the website at: extension.colostate.edu/ topic-areas/yard-garden/

The gardening guide, which can be found online at extension.colostate. edu, not only looks at specific plants,

but it also focuses on what Coloradans need in soil, which in this state can lack adequate organic materials.

Tips for planting some summer favorites include: Carrots • Cool-season crop • Sun exposure – full sun • Soil condition - Do not use fresh manure to amend the soil in a carrot bed (or in any root crop bed).

It can cause tough skins and hairy roots. Carrots grow best in loose, sandy soil; they are not able to germinate properly if there is crusting of clay soil.

• Irrigation needs – consistent moisture is key especially for germination.

• Mulching – if mulching, wait until after seedlings are up. Mulch can help prevent greening of the carrot shoulders.

Cucumber • Warm-season crop • Sun exposure – At least 8 hours of sun is necessary.

• Soil condition – Well amended soil with good drainage.

• Irrigation needs – Avoid soggy soil. Irrigate to keep soil moist to a depth of 10 inches; dry soil may cause deformed fruit.

• Mulching – Mulch can be beneficial but only after the plant is established.

Eggplant • Warm season plant • Sun exposure – full sun but site should be protected from wind.

• Soil condition – well amended soil, apply fertilizer when planting if necessary.

• Irrigation needs – once established can tolerate less regular watering.

• Mulching – can create a wire cage wrapped with plastic to combat drying winds, mulch with straw or grass to retain soil moisture.

Horseradish • A perennial crop that can be replanted every year or every few years.

• Sun exposure – Full sun but can tolerate some shade.

• Soil condition – Tolerates a variety of soils.

• Irrigation needs – Less water increases the intensity of flavor.

• Mulching – Deep organic mulch is beneficial.

Melons • Warm-season crop and can be difficult to transplant. In most of Colorado it is wise to seek out varieties with a short growing season.

• Sun exposure – Full sun • Soil condition – Soil temperatures need to be at least 75° for best germination. Well amended soil is best.

• Irrigation needs – Keep soil moist 8-10 inches deep. Be careful when cultivating as some roots are close to the surface.

• Mulching – Mulch can be useful but not necessary.

Onions • Warm-season plant that tolerates cool weather so their long season can be manageable. Seek out long day or day-neutral varieties.

• Sun exposure – Full sun • Soil condition – Onions prefer more clay soils, but high in nitrogen. If needed work fertilizer into soil prior to planting.

• Irrigation needs – Moist but not wet, onion roots will not tolerate being water-logged.

• Mulching – Can be done, not necessary.

Peppers • Warm season crop. Two main types: sweet and hot.

• Sun exposure – Full sun, although shade cloth can

• • •

be beneficial to prevent sunburn on the fruit.

Soil condition – Well amended soil, amend with fertilizer prior to planting if needed, and again midseason to encourage fruit production.

Irrigation needs – Keep soil moist to a shovel depth (10 inches).

Mulching – Plastic mulch can warm the soil and encourage rapid growth.

Summer Squash/ Zucchini (zucchini, patty pan, etc.)

• They have tender flesh and can be harvested through much of the season.

• Sun exposure – Full sun • Soil condition – Prefers a light soil but tolerates a well amended soil. High nutrients levels are beneficial.

• Irrigation needs – Water regularly. Do not let your plants dry out, can cause fruit to be deformed.

Plants will wilt during hot days, if they recover, they are getting sufficient moisture.

• Mulching – Plants respond well to plastic mulch to help warm the soil.

Tomatoes Determinate/Indeterminate • Tomatoes are a warm season plant; the favorite of many gardener’s vegetable plots.

• Sun exposure - Select a site in your garden where the plants will get at least 8 hours of sunlight each day and where the soil will warm up early in the spring.

• Soil condition - Prepare the tomato bed by adding organic matter and fertilizer based on soil test recommendations; spade it in at least 12 inches (preferably more).

• Irrigation needs - From time of transplant to late August, keep soil moist to about 12 inches. Do not let soil dry out.

• Mulching – mulch once the plant has established.

16 Elbert County News

April 15, 2021

Home & Garden

April 15, 2021

Tips to attract the good insects, detract the bad

BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

W

ith help from the expert gardeners at the Colorado University Extension project, local gardeners can create an environment that attracts butterflies and bees and detracts destructive insects.

Butterfly gardens According to the Extension project, there are dozens of butterfly species commonly found along the front range. While most butterflies stop by gardens for a drink, there are steps to take to prolong their stay.

The Extension project recommends providing the proper environment, which includes adding food plants used by caterpillars, food sources used by the adult butterflies, and physical environment.

Butterflies prefer some shelter from the high winds common along the Front Range. They also like open, sunny areas. This means planting windbreak plants or providing other shelter options, which provides a suitable physical environment.

Certain butterflies, especially males, can be seen on moist sand or mud collecting around puddles of water where they feed.

Female butterflies spend a lot of time searching for food plants required by immature caterpillar stages.

Caterpillars of the monarch butterfly develop only on milkweed. The black swallowtail butterfly feeds on parsley, dill and related plants.

When a female finds the proper host plant, they will

lay eggs. This makes it important to provide necessary food plants for developing caterpillars.

Food for adult butterflies includes sweet liquids, such as nectar from flowers that provide energy. Some flowers contain more nectar, and are more attractive to butterflies. Bright-colored flowers are also more

attractive to butterflies.

The Extension master gardeners recommend creating large patches of flower gardens that bloom in CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

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April 15, 2021

Home & Garden

April 15, 2021 FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

sequence. This is particularly important during summer when butterflies visit more frequently. Flowers and flowering shrubs are good choices.

Attracting native bees In Colorado, there are more than 946 native bee species. Of all pollinators in gardens, bees are the most common and efficient.

To create a proper bee habitat, just like humans, bees and other pollinators need food, water, shelter and space to support a robust bee population.

While honey bees are social and live in large colonies, 90% of native bee species are actually solitary. Another 70% of these nest underground in the soil.

When considering shelter and vegetation for native bees, it is best to plant in layers. It is important to establish structure as the first layer of trees and shrubs. The next step is to add perennials, grasses and groundcovers as further layers in the landscape.

To provide a drinking source, gardeners can provide a shallow dish filled with pebbles and water to allow bees and other insects to drink.

Insect control To control unwanted insects, the experts at Colorado Extension recommend a variety of options, starting with horticulture oils. A variety of oils, diluted with water can be applied or sprayed on plants to effectively control many plant pests.

Horticulture oils are refined petroleum oils combined with an emulsifying agent.

According to the Extension guide, the advantages of oils include safety, effectiveness and limited effects on beneficial insects.

It is important not to use oils on sensitive plants, and to remember that plants under drought stress may

concentration of about 2%. have increased risk of injury.

To learn more about insect control and gardening, Another option to deterring pesky, destructive insects visit the website at https://extension.colostate.edu. can be the use of soaps and detergent. These soaps can be used to stop aphids, mealybugs, psyllids and Talk to a Master Gardener in your Douglas County: spider mites are most county: (720) 733-6940 susceptible to soaps.

Jefferson County: To use soaps or Adams County: (303) 637-8100 detergents used for control (303) 271-6632 Visit the website at: extension.colostate. of insects are applied as Arapahoe County: edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/ dilute sprays, mixed with (303) 730-1920 water and to produce a

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April 15, 2021

Home & Garden

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Elbert County News 19

April 15, 2021

Home & Garden

April 15, 2021

Liven up the home with more color, spring flowers STAFF REPORT

A

s with tradition, spring is one of the best times of the year to evaluate a home. Think about the paint color in the kitchen, living room and bathrooms. Consider where a vase of bright-colored flowers will liven things up. Ask yourself if the heavier comforter should be stowed away and replaced with a quilt featuring spring colors and designs.

This year, it is possible to add a touch of spring without breaking the bank. Some good ideas to bring your home into the season include: • Adding flowers – Whether fresh or fake, adding a vase with flowers throughout the hallway, front-door

•

•

area and in several rooms can add a welcome touch of color. Some popular choices in spring include daffodils and tulips.

Painting – Spring is the best time of year to look at the home’s dingy walls and decide if a room could use an entire refresh, or the addition of an accent wall. As with most years, green is a popular spring color used to brighten rooms. While green is a go-to color, yellows and blues are also popular in spring.

House plants – If some plants did not quite make it through the winter, spring is a good time to

•

•

add new greenery to the home.

Small changes – Making simple changes throughout the home can bring a fresh, spring feel. Take the covers on throw pillows on beds and couches and exchange them with covers that add more color and light.

Patio furniture – What better way to use the latest round of stimulus funds from the government than updating patio furniture. New furniture can upgrade any deck or porch.

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April 15, 2021

Home & Garden

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Elbert County News 21

April 15, 2021

A

Open house set for new go-round of Earth Day

pril 22 is Earth Day and readers are invited to celebrate it at Hudson Gardens, with an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. where a beekeeper will show the inside of an active hive. Enjoy SONYA’S a community drum SAMPLER circle at 6:30 p.m.

Location is 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, hudsongardens.org.

Beneficial local insects A note from Littleton Garden Club president Liz Sonya Ellingboe Wuest reminds gardeners to take care when cleaning up your garden beds, to support local insects — the example was a praying mantis egg case, snuggled into a flax plant.

(Yes, they’re kind of scary-looking critters, but they will clean up other garden insects one would prefer not to have on board!) Bees may be tucked away as well — will you recognize our tiny native bees and other pollinators? Safe habitats are needed. No pesticides. The annual garden club plant sale will be online this year — date TBA. Nice to be thinking gardens!

Rockin’ on the River A 5K run will be held at Hudson Gardens on April 18 at 9 a.m. Register in advance at www.ssprd.org/ raceseries.

phil.org. Office: 303-781-1892. A miniseason also includes concerts May 7 and June 11.

Workshop reminder Heritage Fine Arts Guild will offer a three-day Zoom workshop with award-winning watercolorist Karen Knutson on May 13, 14, 15 from 9 a.m. to noon. Register at heritage-guild. com — select current workshops.

Cost: $75, HFAG members; others: $90. (Membership costs $40.) Students will make an abstract background and use special techniques to create texture. They may choose abstract flowers, birds and other figures. For information, contact Mary kay Jacobus at mkstudio@comcast. net. A Zoom link will be provided.

On Earth Day, April 22, Hudson Gardens will have a beekeeper open house from 3 to 6 SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE p.m.

Lone Tree Arts Center In-person and livestreamed: “Russian Romance: Arts in the Afternoon” with pianist Madoka Asari and violist Phillip Stevens at Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree, on April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Music historian Betsy Schwarm will comment on Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” as the musicians perform this Russian classic. Go to lonetree-

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artscenter.org, 720-509-1000.

Arapahoe Philharmonic “Agree to Disagree: Family Discovery Concert” will be presented by the Arapahoe Philharmonic Orchestra in person at Denver First Church of the Nazarene, 3800 E. Hampden Ave. in Cherry Hills Village at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on April 24. Director is Devin Patrick Hughes. Tickets: arapahoe-

Colorado Music Festival Colorado Music Festival will be held July 1 to Aug.ust 7 at the Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, offering 22 performances of orchestral and chamber music by the Colorado Festival Orchestra and guest artists. Tickets will be available on the Chautauqua website, www.chautauqua.com, beginning April 20 and will include four world premieres.

Veterans writing workshops National Endowment for the Humanities and Steamboat Creates offer free expressive writing workshops on Sundays at 3 p.m. Workshop leader is veteran Cindy Skaggs. To register: coloradohumanities.org/ programs/veterans-writing.

22 Elbert County News

April 15, 2021

State’s budget: $34 billion price tag for post-COVID economy B

F

Hundreds of millions in play after pandemic did less fiscal damage than expected

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado lawmakers last week began debating the state’s $34.1 billion budget, which helps chart a path out of the coronavirus crisis and sets aside millions of dollars for equity-related initiatives and a historic sum for future economic downturns.

The Legislature was able to reverse funding cuts made as the pandemic descended upon the state last year, and lawmakers now have hundreds of millions more to spend than they were anticipating because Colorado’s economy fared better than expected during the pandemic.

“It is an interesting time for the budget given the gravity and the extent of the cuts that were necessitated Moreno last year compared to this year,” said Sen. Dominick Moreno, a Commerce City Democrat and chair of the Joint Budget Committee, which writes the budget. “It turns out those (cuts) were not only

The Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels. not necessary, but that we could actually build upon restoring those reductions and be able to allocate additional resources for the state’s most pressing needs.”

The bipartisan budget measure, Senate Bill 205, was expected to land on the Senate floor on April 8 before heading to the House this week.

We talked with state budget writ-

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ers and combed through the budget bill to determine what you need to know about the spending: $3.8 billion That’s how much more money lawmakers are spending in the 2021-22 fiscal year than they did for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The 2021-22 fiscal year budget is $34.1 billion. The budget was $30.3 billion for the current fiscal year.

In the 2019-20 fiscal year, the budget was $30.5 billion.

Part of the reason the budget is so much larger is because lawmakers last year made cuts that ultimately were unnecessary. The leftover money is reflected in the new budget and allowed lawmakers to “fill the gap temporarily.”

Sen. Bob Rankin, a Carbondale Republican who sits on the Joint Budget Committee, said he’s concerned about how much money was available for lawmakers to spend.

“My least favorite part is we had too much money,” he said. “I know that sounds weird, but I’m still a

fiscal conservative and I just have a hard time dealing with (having) so much money that we just cannot be frugal. We cannot be good stewards of money because there’s too much of it.”

That said, this extra revenue is a one-time boon and lawmakers can’t rely on so much money in future years.

“This budget does prepare us for the reality that revenues are picking back up,” Moreno said. “They’re not quite to a level where they can sustain a budget that we were at prior to the pandemic.”

The American Rescue Plan Colorado’s state coffers received $3.9 billion as part of Congress’ recently passed coronavirus stimulus bill, called the American Rescue Plan.

That money, however, is not reflected in the total amount of the state’s 2021-22 budget. That’s SEE BUDGET, P23

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Elbert County News 23

April 15, 2021

BUDGET FROM PAGE 22

because lawmakers are still working to determine how to spend the money. A statewide listening tour is underway for people who’d like to submit ideas.

Lawmakers are taking that cash infusion into account, though, as they think through their spending priorities. $800 million for a state stimulus package Colorado’s new budget sets aside $800 million — up from the $700 million initially planned — for a package of bills aimed at helping people weather the lasting economic and health effects of the coronavirus crisis.

The legislation is still being rolled out, but the largest chunk of spending will be on infrastructure projects, including pricey repairs to the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels on Interstate 70.

House Speaker Alec Garnett said a bill introduced last week will allow restaurants to keep up to $70,000 a month in what they would normally owe to the state from sales tax in the coming summer months.

“Those months are key,” said Garnett, a Denver Democrat. “As the weather continues to warm up, as people continue to get vaccinated (you’ll) start to see a lot more economic activity.”

Garnett also touted a measure that will help the state attract conferences and events back to Colorado to spur economic activity on “main streets across the state.” $480 million for the negative factor The negative factor, also known as the budget stabilization factor, is Colorado’s annual K-12 school funding shortfall. It was created during the Great Recession to allow state lawmakers to legally withhold money owed to school districts despite funding requirements in the Colorado Constitution.

State Sen. Chris Hansen, a Denver Democrat, said the $480 million being set aside in the budget next fiscal year for the negative factor will cover about half of what’s

owed to schools next year. The rest will come from a $1.1 billion infusion from the American Rescue Plan.

“We have essentially wiped out the negative factor for the next two (fiscal) years,” Hansen said, explaining that he’s hopeful the money will allow schools to catch up children who have fallen behind because of COVID-19.

Hansen said lawmakers now need to look toward fiscal years 202324 and 2024-25 and how to tackle the negative factor in those years.

Colorado lawmakers will still owe schools at least $572 million in those years.

The budget would also set aside $100 million for the state education fund as a rainy day pool to be drawn from in future years.

Chalkbeat reports that the budget also calls for the state to spend $5 billion on K-12 education, which means schools will get about $7.8 billion when districts add in their own tax revenue. The sum represents a nearly 9% increase over the current fiscal year, translating into an average per-pupil allocation for districts of $8,857.

A 3% raise for state employees The budget calls for giving Colorado’s roughly 30,000 state employees a 3% raise, which is more than the 2.05% raise proposed by Gov. Jared Polis.

Why the higher amount?

“We looked at the inflation numbers and they were above 2.5%,” Hansen said. “And we had a situation where the salary survey was showing that state employees were significantly below market.”

Colorado WINS, the union representing state employees, said it is pleased with the raise.

“We’re glad that it’s there,” said Hilary Glasgow, who leads Colorado WINS. “We were glad for the 3%.”

The budget also restores the legislature’s $225 million annual distribution to the Public Employees Retirement Association, the state employees’ pension fund, but not until the 2022-23 fiscal year. Lawmakers are putting off the spending for another year because PERA is in better shape than expected and they feel it can wait for the infusion.

Lawmakers are, however, setting

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aside money from this year’s windfall for PERA that can be tapped even further down the line.

“We actually walked away, on top of that, with about $380 million to meet the state’s future PERA obligation,” which will take pressure off of future legislatures, Moreno said.

‘Unheard of’ reserve savings The budget sets aside about $1.75 billion for Colorado’s reserve fund, which is there to help lawmakers deal with economic downturns or unexpected state expenses.

“I think a 13.5% reserve is unheard of,” Moreno said. “My entire time in the Capitol has been single digits.”

Hansen called the savings “historic.”

“We haven’t had that level of reserves in a very long time,” he said.

“I don’t know the exact year, but it’s been decades.”

In the 2022-23 fiscal year, lawmakers are planning to go even further with a 15% budget reserve. Hansen thinks it’s needed to contend with the “massive amount of economic uncertainty right now.” $20 million more for people with developmental disabilities One of the most popular budget items among the six members of the Joint Budget Committee is the $20 million line item to create more than 500 new around-the-clock care slots for people with developmental disabilities.

“That buys about a quarter of the people who were waiting for state services on the (intellectual disabilities) waitlist,” Hansen said.

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Millions for equity initiatives State budget writers made equity a big part of their spending plans for the next fiscal year. While many of the initiatives have yet to be unveiled as part of the $800 million state stimulus package, lawmakers are highlighting one higher education initiative as proof of their commitment.

The budget sends about $100 million extra to the state’s colleges and universities to help first-generation, underrepresented and Pell Granteligible students.

“Those are the students who are having the most difficulty staying in school and completing” their degrees, Hansen said.

The spending comes after lawmakers cut general fund contributions by 58% for the current fiscal year.

The new budget calls for restoring those cuts, as well as the additional $100 million.

The Legislature is also allowing tuition to rise by as much as 3% for students at all state-run colleges and universities but the University of Northern Colorado, which is authorized to hike tuition by 7%.

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“I think that’s an important highlight.”

Rankin said that’s his favorite part of the 2021-22 budget.

“I think you’ll hear that from a lot of us,” he said.

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24 Elbert County News

LOCAL

April 15, 2021

LIFE

Post-pandemic fitness tips from the pros

Whether you’re looking for a restart or starting for the first time, experts offer up advice to get your body moving

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

I

f you’ve put on a few pounds during the pandemic, you’re not alone. And if you’ve only put on a few — consider yourself lucky.

A study by the American Psychological Association (APA) conducted at the end of February found that 61% of American adults experienced undesired weight gain or loss since the pandemic began. More than 40% of those responding to the poll experienced weight gain they never intended. That 40% gained an average of 29 pounds.

Median weight gain was 15 pounds.

And 10% of respondents said they gained more than 50 pounds — a staggering number in one year’s time.

So, here we are. Spring is springing, vaccinations are happening, the weather is warming up and you want to lose some of those pandemic pounds. But where do you begin?

In Colorado there’s no shortage of ways to keep fit, but even in a state consistently ranking near the top in physical well-being of its residents, taking that first step along the path to fitness can be daunting.

Allison Westfahl has been a fitness pro for almost 20 years. Currently, she’s the general manager for Tru Fusion, a fitness studio that brings all the boutique disciplines — yoga, cycling, barre, pilates, boot camp, boxing, TRX, meditation and more — together under one roof, and all in classes — no independent fitness floor. They started up last fall, a rough time to open a business, Westfahl said, but a time when it was much needed.

“It became clear to us that it was more important than ever, during a pandemic, for people to have a place where they can take care of them-

Meaghan Doherty of Denver Fitness Boot Camp.

INFORMATION ONLINE Find out more about these metro area fitness experts: www.facebook.com/TruFusion9Co www.denverfitnessbootcamp.com www.abundanceintegrative.com www.facebook.com/yogaintheparkdenver selves physically, emotionally and mentally,” she said. “So, we opened in September to 25% restrictions, and our classes were full with a waitlist by the end of the first month.”

She said they’re still under size restrictions to keep everyone distanced and safe. A class that in a pre-pandemic world would have 75 participants, right now only accommodates around 23.

Group dynamic helps Westfahl thinks the group dynamic that attendees get in a class, along

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COURTESY OF MEAGHAN DOHERTY

with instructors who are involved in their clients’ success, can help people stay accountable in their fitness quest.

But for people just getting back into the groove, she thinks being kind to your body and moving forward slowly is key.

“I’m hearing and seeing a lot of people just beating themselves up over putting on weight or not working out for the past year like they usually do — I see a lot of people scolding themselves for that — so, my biggest piece of advice would be to approach whatever happened over the past year with your fitness routine with grace and forgiveness,” she said. “None of us probably reached any fitness records over the past year, so just let that be in the rear-view mirror and continue to move forward.”

Just getting started is a common refrain among those in the know. Westfahl also offers up this bit of wisdom, no matter the activity you start with.

“Make sure it’s something that you love,” she says. “When it comes to fitness and wellness, there’s so many options out there — don’t do something

that you hate. Find something that you love and you’re going to be much more likely to stick with it.”

Meaghan Doherty has been doing fitness for 25 years, and teaching boot camps for the last six. She’s been able to ride the pandemic wave by moving her classes outdoors when necessary, doing online instruction when she had to, and being fortunate enough to teach in a facility she describes as the size of four warehouses.

She’s hoping that as COVID numbers get better, people will begin to feel better about getting back into the gym.

She typically teaches early mornings, with class times that start between 5-8 a.m. plus a noon class for those late risers. Her clients, she says, run the gamut in age from 22 to 71, and she modifies routines for everyone.

Her advice for people is to get a set of weights — nothing heavy, just something that will activate your muscles.

A daily walk is also something she thinks will benefit those trying to get back in the swing of things — even 10 SEE FITNESS, P25

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Elbert County News 25

April 15, 2021

FITNESS FROM PAGE 24

minutes per day.

“Just start — is my advice,” she says. “I don’t care if you go for a walk, ride a spin bike or go to the park to play Frisbee — just get yourself moving and start. Get those endorphins going and I guarantee you will do more and more every day.”

Frustration with weight Doherty said in her experience, weight gain can give people a sense of frustration and that can lead to procrastination.

She also wants people to be realistic with their expectations about dropping those pounds, because they typically go on a lot faster than they come off. And in her opinion, adding some weights to your cardio routine will help your body burn fat more quickly than cardio alone.

Doherty, also an M.D., is happy to offer nutrition information to her clients if they ask. She thinks every diet works — the question is, which diet works for you?

“There are so many (diet) options out there. You just have to figure out what works for your daily lifestyle, and what you can actually stick with,” she says.

If the thought of weights and cardio seems a bit much as you restart your ufitness journey, fear not. This article is eequal opportunity.

Leslie Conzemius is a registered nurse and integrative health coach who co-organized the popular Yoga in the Park at Denver’s City Park.

l .

A boxing class at TruFusion in Denver.

She says Yoga in the Park began to promote yoga in nature, build community and have yoga be accessible to all. Before COVID, it was always held outside. But with the pandemic, it detoured into an online Zoom model.

Conzemius, a former professional dancer and choreographer, said her hobbies and passions have always focused on dance and movement, so yoga was a natural progression. She’s been teaching yoga since 2016.

“I love spreading the benefits of yoga,” she says. “Not only what it gives you in that hour (of practicing) but also what it brings to the rest of your daily life.”

Stress reduction, how to breathe and even just being kinder to yourself and bringing gratitude to daily life are some of the benefits she thinks yoga

COURTESY OF ALLISON WESTFAHL/TRUFUSION

can offer.

Return to park possible Conzemius says this spring, Yoga in the Park is looking into the permitting process to bring yoga back to the park, while making sure it’s done safely.

But she’s happy to pass along tips for anyone who’s struggled during the pandemic and wants to make a fresh fitness start.

“I really love the science of behavior change, and that’s what I focus on with my clients,” she says. “Because we can know that we need to exercise, and have all of the knowledge, but it doesn’t mean we’re doing it.”

She has three pieces of advice for people looking to make a change for the better in their health. She agrees with Westfahl that finding something

you love doing is paramount.

“There are so many different things you can do, and so many ways to move your body — with people, alone, in classes, over Zoom, hopefully soon in person, sports, walking — and all of them are good,” she says. “And for any length of time is good.”

Conzemius’ second piece of advice is: “Everything counts.”

She says 150 minutes of exercise per week is the standard, but she would put those rules aside for people just starting out or starting over.

“Five minutes of stretching or a 20-minute walk — it (getting started) doesn’t have to mean an hour in the gym,” she says. “A lot of little moments can add up. Even things like playing with your kids, mopping the floor or gardening can be really beneficial for our bodies.”

Her third piece of advice is to celebrate.

“Celebrate your successes. People often focus on what they didn’t do, as opposed to what they did do,” she says.

“Be very intentional about celebrating your wins, however small. Pat yourself on the back. Wink at yourself in the mirror. Tell somebody what you did, because then your brain will remember it and get that signal and want to do it again, and it builds motivation.”

She said it’s important to talk to yourself the way you would talk to a friend — with encouragement and support — not unhealthy criticism.

It’s clear from chatting with these three local fitness pros that being kind to yourself and starting slow, but starting soon, will help you ease back into pre-pandemic shape, or maybe even better.

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26 Elbert County News

April 15, 2021

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April 15, 2021

Elbert County News 27

LOCAL

SPORTS

Ell brings intensity to the volleyball court

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Mountain Vista girls volleyball coach Doug Schafer calls senior Kelli Ell a fireball.

And she showed why she got that label in a match on March 30 against top-ranked Chaparral.

The 5 foot 8 inch senior had a match high 10 spikes, three aces and six digs as second-ranked Vista notched a 2-0 victory with 25-15 and 25-17 set wins.

“Kelli had come into her own this year,” said Schafer. “She is just a fireball. She has taken sort of a different role. She is definitely more of a leader both in her play and her attitude. She is somebody the team relies on.”

After the first eight matches this season, Ell was the Continental League leader in kills (86 and 4.5 per set) and aces (19). She was fifth in digs (43 or 2.3 per set).

“Realizing this is my last year playing at this high school and that made me think I need to leave it all on the court,” said Ell. “I’ve been working pretty hard so I can play all the way around.”

Schafer has seen Ell’s play elevate.

“She is just bringing a lot of different shots, a lot of different hits

Mountain Vista senior Kelli Ell is only 5-foot-8 but stands tall as one of the spike leaders in the Continental League this season.

SEE ELL, P29

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28 Elbert County News

April 15, 2021

Sisters spark competition on the volleyball court Siblings play different positions but share competitive drive

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

One opinion you often hear from many athletes is that the team is like a family.

For the Chaparral girls volleyball squad, the team is literally like a family.

There are two pairs of sisters on this year’s varsity. Junior Savannah Salter and her sophomore sister Briannah play for the Wolverines along with junior Sydni Brandon and her younger sister, sophomore Makenzie.

Last season sisters Katie and Julianna Dalton were members on Chap’s team along with their cousin Emma Ammerman.

“It’s kind of weird,” admitted Wolverines coach Amanda West.

“I don’t predict it happening often, but it’s fun that they are a year apart to be able to have them on the same team and have the parent support. It’s really fun, and I would say that about the girls from last year too.

“They get along really well on and off the court,” West continued about the sisters on the 2021 roster.

“It’s very refreshing and I think it’s beneficial to be able to go home and

Chaparral has two pairs of sisters on this year’s varsity volleyball team. Here is junior Sydni Brandon, left, and her younger sister, PHOTOS BY JIM BENTON sophomore Makenzie Brandon. talk over dinner like about what’s going on, how can I improve here, what are you seeing? Because they play different positions, the competition isn’t there and they can really support each other.”

Savannah Salter, an outside hitter, and Briannah, a middle blocker,

Junior Savannah Salter, left, and her younger sister, sophomore Briannah Salter, make up one of the two pairs of sisters on Chaparral’s varsity volleyball team.

have played together before on club and beach volleyball teams.

“It used to be a lot harder but now it’s a little bit easier because we are more focused on the game rather than with each other,” said Savannah. “Once in a while there will be a play where maybe something

happens and I’ll let the ball drop or she’ll let the ball drop and you have a miscommunication. Sometimes we’ll argue but it is usually off the court.’’

The Salter sisters are competitive.

SEE SISTERS, P31

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Elbert County News 29

April 15, 2021

Climb4Change to change lives C R O S S W O R D STAFF REPORT

Calling all outdoor enthusiasts and fitness buffs looking to change things up. This spring, changing your workout could change someone’s life at the Climb4Change event Saturday, May 22.

Climb4Change raises money and awareness for the Castle Rock adaptive recreation program. The program supports members of the community, and their families, who have cognitive and physical disabilities and helps them live an active lifestyle. Funds raised at the event provide scholarships and adaptive equipment for the recreation program.

These professionally timed events will be 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Challenge Hill at Philip S. Miller Park. The 200 steps offer a workout and a way to give back to the Castle Rock community. The Climb4Change events are: Power Hour: Go up and down the stairs as many times as you can in 60 minutes (three times to choose from) ClimbNRun 5K/10K: Climb the

ELL FROM PAGE 27

and gets the job done,” said Schafer.

“It’s good to see her doing so well.

She’s made a big leap from the past year. She’s earned it because she’s worked hard for it. She’s put in a lot of time and effort.”

Ell, who has signed to play next season at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Tx., isn’t a tall player at the net but she’s smart.

“I’ve been told every year that I’m short and I have to figure out how to play smart at the net,” she explained. “So, I’ve got more shots and high hits over the block and

stairs, down the switchbacks and run the trail Trail Reps: Go up the stairs, down the trail and repeat for 30 minutes Race to the Top: Go up the stairs once as fast as possible Run4Fun: Take a self-guided walk, run or jog anywhere on the trails (non-timed) Registration includes a shirt, finisher’s medal (except Run4Fun) and prizes. Fees range from $18 to $45, depending on the course and time of registration. Children under 5 are free but must be registered.

Head to CRgov.com/Climb4Change for more information and registration.

Packets will be available Friday, May 17, through Friday, May 21, during normal store hours at RNK Run & Walking, 440 Fourth St. Onsite packet pickup and registration begins at 6:30 a.m. the day of the event. Power Hours begin at 7 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon; the Climb4Run 5K/10K begins at 8:30 a.m.; Trail Reps begin at 9 a.m., and the Race to the Top event begins at 11:30 a.m.

The event will observe state health guidelines, requiring social distancing and masks.

Not up for the 200-stair challenge?

Volunteers are still needed to work the event. More information is available at CRgov.com/Volunteer.

P U Z Z L E

work on not hitting as hard and just playing smarter with the ball. I have the high shots down and the low shots so I have to work on my hitting techniques so even if I’m short I can still play.

“I think my backrow, just passing and stuff, has improved. I’ve always been pretty strong at the net and serving.”

Ell started playing volleyball and other sports when she was in kindergarten and her big sister Annie played and gradate from Mountain Vista in 2017. Annie Ell now plays at the University of Rhode Island.

“I’m going to miss it all (high school) and I want to get our team to state,” Ell concluded. “We’ve got a pretty good team this year.”

Answers

Solution © 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Special event to be held May 22

THANKS for

PLAYING! PLAYING!

30 Elbert County News

Classifieds

Classifieds Help Wanted

School Psychologist or Intern East Central BOCES is seeking a Full Time or Part Time School Psychologist or Intern to join our dynamic, multi-disciplinary team of professionals for the 2021-22 school year. Educational Specialist (Ed.S.), Colorado certified, BCBA Licensed preferred. Provide PreK-12 intervention including assessment, development of IEP’s & consultation services. Schools located within an easy drive to the Denver Metro area.

May be eligible for loan forgiveness.

Salary competitive and excellent benefits including dental, vision and medical insurance. Use of a car or mileage reimbursement. Questions contact Tracy (719) 775-2342, ext.

101. To apply for this position, please complete the Certified Application for Employment available on the East Central BOCES website www.ecboces.org under “Jobs”. EOE Public Works Operator The Town of Elizabeth Public Works Department is seeking an individual who is organized and self-motivated for an entry-level full-time position.

The preferred applicant should have at least one (1) year of experience in, but not limited to: assisting in park mowing, trimming, building maintenance, light and heavy equipment operation, equipment maintenance and repair, water meter reading, sewer and water mainline repairs, minor water and wastewater plant repair and maintenance, minor landscape type equipment repairs, and general labor for the department. Preferred applicant to be considered is to be within 30 minutes of the Town of Elizabeth, CDL Class B (or able to obtain a CDL Class B within 1 year of accepted hire/ training provided by the Town) and to be available if needed to work during weekends and Holidays along with any needed overtime. A background check and references will determine final eligibility. Please inquire with the Public Works Director for more detailed information at 303-913-6453.

Valid Driver’s license required. Hourly salary starting at $16- $18.00 per hour DOQ and includes current Town benefits EOE/M/FV. Applications will be accepted until the job is filled. Send resume and completed town application to Town of Elizabeth/Public Works Director Mike DeVol.

Help Wanted

Advertise: 303-566-4100 Speech Language Pathologist Full Time & Part Time Speech Language Pathologist or SLPA Positions. CCC’s preferred but open to School Internships. Able to provide supervision for CFY hours. Join our dynamic, multi-disciplinary team of professionals for the 2021-22 school year. Administer assessments, provide direct, indirect & consultation services for students PreK-12th grades. Competitive salaries: SLP $42,000-$53,900 & SLPA- $33,000$44, 200, both commensurate upon experience. Excellent benefits, including full health benefits & mileage reimbursement or use of a car.

Questions contact Tracy (719) 7752342, ext. 101. To apply for this position, please complete the Certified Application for Employment available on the East Central BOCES website www.ecboces.org under “Jobs”. EOE

Special Education Teacher for Strasburg Elementary Center Based Program- Current Colorado license as Severe Cognitive or Generalist teacher preferred. We are team oriented and collaboratively support efforts of our staff for our children. Salary based on education and experience. Excellent benefits.

Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101. Please fax completed application and supporting documents, including resume, to (719) 775-9714 or email tracyg@ ecboces.org.

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Town of Elizabeth PO Box 159/151 Banner St. Elizabeth, CO 80107, Fax to 303-646-9434 or Email to mdevol@townofelizabeth.org Building and Grounds Maintenance Director Kiowa Schools has an opening for a building and grounds maintenance director. Position is full-time with benefits. This job is five days a week for 12 months and reports to the Superintendent. Work includes maintaining facilities and grounds, getting quotes for larger jobs, and managing contracted workers. Experience preferred. Must pass a background check. Base salary starts at $32,700 and may be adjusted based on experience. EEO. Visit www.kiowaschool. org for more information.

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Elbert County News 31

April 15, 2021

SISTERS FROM PAGE 28

“We’re pretty competitive even at home like when we are playing a board game or something,” said Savannah. “We’re very competitive with each other sometimes we fight about that but most of the time we’re pretty good.”

Savannah and Briannah have several classes together in school.

“The more we’ve got to play together it has gotten better,” said Briannah. “We go over homework or whatever we are doing at home and we hang out a lot too.”

This season is the first time the Brandon sisters have played together.

“I really like playing with my sister,” said Sydni. “We don’t really play a lot together but we get along really well. I now have an extra support system and we get to help each other.

“If we have something to correct, she can always correct me. When we watch film she tells me what I do wrong. I’m really competitive. And yes, it carries over the dinner table at home.”

Makenzie likes having her sister around.

“This is the first year we’ve actually been playing together,” she said. “It’s been like an extra set of eyes for me.”

This season’s Chaparral volleyball team is a family affair with two sets of sisters on the team. From left to right are BrianPHOTO BY JIM BENTON nah Salter, Sydni Brandon, Makenzie Brandon and Savannah Salter.

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals Metropolitan Districts Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 32-1-204(1), C.R.S., that on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., or as soon as possible thereafter, a public hearing will be conducted at the Elbert County Fairgrounds Agriculture Building, 95 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, Colorado, or at such other time and place designated by the Elbert County Board of County Commissioners, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Contact Elbert County Community Development Services at 303-6213136 for more information. The public hearing will be heard upon Application No. SR-21-0020 on file with the Elbert County Board of County Commissioners, by the Board of Directors of the Spring Valley Metropolitan District Nos. 4, 5 and 6 (collectively, the “Districts”), for the approval of a Second Amended and Restated Service Plan for Spring Valley Metropolitan District No. 4 (“District No. 4”), and the approval of Amended and Restated Service Plans for each of Spring Valley Metropolitan District No. 5 (“District No. 5”) and Spring Valley Metropolitan District No. 6 (“District No. 6”) (collectively, the “Amended and Restated Service Plans”).

The affected property is generally located northeast of the intersection of County Road 174 and County Road 13, in Section 30, Township 6 South, Range 64 West of the Sixth Principal Meridian, in Elbert County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that all protests and objections must be submitted in writing to the Elbert County Board of County Commissioners at or prior to the hearing or any continuance or postponement thereof in order to be considered, and that any protests and objections to the Amended and Restated Service Plans of the Districts shall be deemed to be waived unless presented at the time and in the manner as specified above.

Reason: Approval of Title 32 Amended and Restated Service Plans for District No. 4, District No. 5 and District No. 6 Project Name: SR-21-0020 Date of Application: March 9, 2021 Type of District: Metropolitan Legal Notice No. 24591 First Publication: April 15, 2021 Last Publication: April 15, 2021 Publisher: Elbert County News

Misc. Private Legals Public Notice DISTRICT COURT, COUNTY OF ELBERT, STATE OF COLORADO 751 Ute Avenue Kiowa, CO 80117 Phone: (303) 621-8521 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO In the Interest of: CHLOE SANFILIPPO DOB 08/05/2006 And CALLEIGH WELDON DOB 03/25/2014 Children, ELBERT COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Petitioner, And Concerning: ALEXA WELDON, CHRISTOPHER WELDON, and JOHN DOE Respondents Stephanie L. Exner, #42535 Elbert Special County Attorney P.O. Box 1462 Thornton, Colorado 80614 Tel: (303) 362-3749 Stephanie.Exner.Law@gmail.com Case Number: 20 JV 12 Division: 1 NOTICE OF ADJUDICATORY HEARING AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that an Ad judicatory Hearing regarding JOHN DOE is set for June 17 , 20 2 1 at 9 :00 AM in Division 1 at the Elbert County District Court, 751 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, Colorado 80117. You have the right to be represented by an attorney during these proceedings; if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you. In the event you fail to appear for said hearing at the date and time indicated, the Petitioners, the People of the State of Colorado and the Elbert County Department of Human Services, will request that the Court enter a default judgment against you and adjudicate the child dependent and neglected in accordance with the Colorado Children's Code.

This hearing may be conducted electronically or by telephonically as follows: https://judicial.webex.com/join/Judge.

Gary.M.Kramer Dial (720) 650-7664 (local Denver area) or (415) 655-0001 (U.S.) Enter Meeting Code:927-598-250 # Respectfully submitted this 6th day of April 2011 /s/ Stephanie L. Exner

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Stephanie L. Exner, #42535 Elbert Special County Attorney Legal Notice No. 24590 First Publication: April 15, 2021 Last Publication: April 15, 2021 Publisher: The Elbert County News

Notice to Creditors PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Donald Stanley Jaworski, aka Stanley Donald Jaworski, aka Stanley D. Jaworski, Deceased Case Number: 2021 PR 030014 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before August 9, 2021, or the claims may be forever barred.

James T. Anest #16727 Attorney to the Personal Representative Arant Law LLC 11020 S. Pikes Peak Drive, Suite 220 Parker, Colorado 80138 Legal Notice No. 24586 First Publication: April 8, 2021 Last Publication: April 22, 2021 Publisher: Elbert County News

Name Changes PUBLIC NOTICE Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name Public notice is given on March 24, 2021, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Elbert County Court.

The Petition requests that the name of Logan Monroe Cooke be changed to Logan Monroe Mullinax Case No.: 21 C 7 By: Palmer L. Boyette County Court Judge Legal Notice No. 24589 First Publication: April 15, 2021 Last Publication: April 29, 2021 Publisher: Elbert County News

JUVENILE COURT, COUNTY OF ELBERT, STATE OF COLORADO 751 Ute Ave. Kiowa, CO 80117 In re the Matter of the Petition of: LAURA PAIGE MCDANIEL and BYRON MCDANIEL, For the Adoption of a Child.

GEM FAMILY LAW, LLC Attorney for Petitioners Ashley G. Emerson, #44867 Adeline M. Sulentich, #54548 650 S. Cherry Street Suite 500 Denver, CO 80246 Telephone: (303) 317-3239 Facsimile: (720) 438-7509 E-mail: aemerson@gemfamlaw.com asulentich@gemfamlaw.com Case Number: 2021JA1 Division: 1

Kiowa, CO 80117 The People of the State of Colorado In the interest of: A.B.M., minor child.

Upon the Petition of: LAURA PAIGE MCDANIEL and BYRON MCDANIEL, And concerning: AUSTIN TIMOTHY MCDANIEL and ELIZABETH DODSON. GEM FAMILY LAW, LLC Attorney for Petitioners Ashley G. Emerson, #44867 Adeline M. Sulentich, #54548 650 S. Cherry Street Suite 500 Denver, CO 80246 Telephone: (303) 317-3239 Facsimile: (720) 438-7509 E-mail: aemerson@gemfamlaw.com asulentich@gemfamlaw.com Case Number: 2021JA1 Division: 1

NOTICE OF HEARING To: Elizabeth Dodson Pursuant to §19-5-208, C.R.S., you are hereby notified that the above-named Petitioner(s) has/ have filed in this Court a verified Petition seeking to adopt a child. x 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 May 21, 2021, at 3:30 PM in the court location identified above. The Hearing will be conducted via WebEx. Join from a video conferencing system or application Or Click on: https:// judicial.webex.com/join/judge.gary.m.kramer Join by phone Tap to call in from a mobile device (attendees only) +1-720-650-7664 Access code: 927 598 250 then press #, # (no attendee ID is needed) 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(s).

Legal Notice No.24593 First Publication: April 15, 2021 Last Publication: May 13, 2021 Publisher: Elbert County News

NOTICE OF ADOPTION PROCEEDING AND SUMMONS TO RESPOND PURSUANT TO § 19-5-105, C.R.S. To the above named Respondents: You are hereby notified that a Petition for Adoption has been filed and if you wish to respond to the Petition, you must file your Response with the clerk of this Court within 35 days after this Notice is served on you.

Your response must be accompanied by the applicable filing fee of $192.00.

Your failure to file a Response, or to appear, within 35 days after service, and, in the case of an alleged father, your failure to file a claim of paternity under Article 4 of Title 19, C.R.S., within 35 days after service, if a claim has not previously been filed, may likely result in termination of your parental or your alleged parental rights to the minor child.

The following documents are also served herewith: x Petition for Kinship Adoption x Petition to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship x Affidavit of Abandonment x Consent to Adoption Date: Clerk of Court/Deputy Clerk Legal Notice No.24592 First Publication: April 15, 2021 Last Publication: May 13, 2021 Publisher: Elbert County News

Adoption / Guardianship

Public Notice

Public Notice

JUVENILE COURT, COUNTY OF ELBERT, STATE OF COLORADO 751 Ute Ave.

###

Elbert County Legals 4.15.21 * 1

32 Elbert County News

April 15, 2021

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