Elbert county news 0227

1-Color

February 27, 2014 Elbert County, Colorado | Volume 119, Issue 4 A publication of

elbertcountynews.net

Planners OK new oil, gas activity

WHAT’S THE STORY?

Mustang Creek’s application approved hours after new regulations adopted by BOCC

By George Lurie

glurie@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Llibrarian Denise Vandas reads “Seadog” to children during a Feb. 19 morning storytime at the Elizabeth library. Photo by George Lurie

Elizabeth targets water protection Stakeholders meeting scheduled for March 10

Gas continues on Page 5

County attorney accepts new job

By George Lurie

glurie@coloradocommunitymedia.com The Town of Elizabeth Board of Trustees has given the green light for the town to move forward together with the Colorado Rural Water Association to develop a Source Water Protection Plan.

“The Town of Elizabeth values a clean, high-quality, drinking water supply and would like to work collaboratively with citizens, government agencies and water districts to develop this (plan) to protect this valuable resource,” said Town Administrator Dick Eason.

Eason said the source water area includes land overlaying the alluvial aquifers that supply water to Elizabeth as well as the surrounding areas.

“I would like to proactively assure the community that this has nothing to do with water rights and everything to do with protecting the quality of the water for the town and the surrounding community,” said Eason. “It is a good thing for the area.”

Eason said the first stakeholders meeting will be held Monday, March 10 from 6-8 p.m. at Elizabeth Town Hall, which is located at 151 South Banner Street.

“The Town believes in team cooperation and we have been in contact with

The planning commission held a twohour hearing on Feb. 14 and then unanimously recommended the BOCC approve an application for a new oil and gas development filed by Mustang Creek, LLC, a subsidiary of Denver-based, privately held NexGen Oil and Gas. Although Mustang Creek had applied for the Special Use by Review permit before the BOCC passed the new oil and gas regs on Feb. 12, NexGen, which has some 200,000 acres under lease in Lincoln, El Paso and now Elbert counties, reportedly has plans to file two more applications for wells in Elbert County using the newly adopted — and much speedier — administrative review process.

“NexGen has been holding those applications back until the new process went into effect,” said Kyle Fenner, director of community and development services.

NexGen has been drilling a well just across the county line in El Paso county and if that well proves to be successful, the company is reportedly going to shift into a higher gear, development-wise, in Elbert County too.

Beltz resigning to take position with Denver firm

By George Lurie

glurie@coloradocommunitymedia.com

said.

The Colorado Rural Water Association receives funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to help rural communities with Source Water Protection. Their role is to provide technical assistance in order to coordinate and facilitate the process of developing a Source Water Protection Plan.

CDPHE regulates and monitors water providers such as the Town of Elizabeth’s water department.

“It is very important for the local water systems and communities to be actively involved in this process and to take advantage of this opportunity that CRWA is

One of Elbert County government’s youngest and brightest rising stars is leaving.

County Attorney Alex Beltz told county commissioners on Feb. 18 that he is resigning in order to accept a job offer with a Denver law firm.

Beltz has been the county attorney since May of 2012. Prior to being hired by the county, Beltz worked for nine months with Reid & Scheffel as the outside counsel to Elbert County.

“Alex has done a great job for the county,” said Commissioner Robert Rowland.

“We knew this day would come sooner or later. Alex is a young man with a bright future and we wish him well.”

Beltz, 30, a graduate of the University of Missouri at Kansas City Law School, said the exact date for his departure has yet to be set.

“The firm I am going to work for would like me to start in early March but all of the details are still being worked out,” Beltz said during an interview in his county office on Feb. 19.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my opportunity here,” Beltz said. “It’s been a tremendous experience and I want to thank the county and all of its citizens for allowing me to be

Water continues on Page 5

Job continues on Page 5

Elizabeth Town Administrator Dick Eason sits at his desk in town hall. Photo by George Lurie other community members and government agencies that are connected with this source water area and have invited them to participate in this meeting as well,” Eason

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Please recycle this copy.

2-Color

2 Elbert County News

February 27, 2014

news in a hurry Professor headlines seminar

Dr. Temple Grandin, the Colorado State University professor world-renowned for using insights gained from autism to design human livestock-handling systems, will be the guest speaker at an Elbert County 4-H livestock seminar on March 1.

The seminar will be held at the Elbert County Fairgrounds, 95 Ute Ave. in Kiowa.

Grandin, who has autism, often talks about the crucial role of animals in her life.

She began riding and showing horses as a girl and was a member of a 4-H club in New Hampshire, where she attended board school. Her early experiences with horses provided Grandin with comfort and a sense of accomplishment during a difficult time in her life. Her story was featured in an acclaimed 2010 HBO movie and she was later named to TIME magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential People in the World.

“The event is open to the public and we invite everyone to come enjoy this special speaker. Her inspiring talk is not only for 4-H members or agriculture producers, but for people in the education system and the community as a whole,” said Elbert County Extension Director Sheila Kelley.

Seating at the event will be by reservation only and must be called in to 303621-3162 no later than 5 p.m. on February 27. Those without reservations will not be guaranteed a seat.

Superintendent testifies at Capitol

At the Education Legislative Session held at the Colorado state Capitol in early February, Director Dee Lindsey, Director Chris Richardson and Superintendent Douglas Bisonette testified in favor of SB 14-136, a bill to delay Common Core and

elbert county news

PARCC testing in Colorado public schools.

Lindsey read the board resolution on the topic into the record and Bisonette discussed the concerns regarding the amount of testing and issues with how these tests reflect state and local values.

To the disappointment of district officials, following the hearing, SB 14-136 was defeated along party lines in committee.

E-470 board, officers announced

The E-470 Public Highway Authority board of directors, composed of representatives from each of its eight-member municipal and county jurisdictions, has announced board appointments and officer elections for the current year.

Elected as chair was Brighton Mayor Dick McLean, who moved up from vice chair. Thornton Mayor Heidi Williams was elected as vice chair. Adams County Commissioner Chaz Tedesco was elected secretary/treasurer. The five other board members are Parker Councilman Josh Martin, Douglas County Commissioner Roger Partridge, Arapahoe County Commissioner Bill Holen, Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan and Commerce City Councilman Jim Benson.

Each of the eight jurisdictions selects one of its elected officials as its own appointee to serve on the board of directors.

Appointments are normally made by the jurisdictions during January and February. The E-470 Board of Directors also has seven non-voting members: the cities of Arvada and Greeley, the City and County of Broomfield, and Weld County; and three agencies, the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Denver Regional Council of Governments, and the Regional Transportation District.

(USPS 171-100)

The joy, importance of reading aloud I recently read an article in Real Simple Magazine about ways to be a “good enough” parent, when you’re feeling crunched for time or are trying to keep a sane work/life balance.

Tip No. 4 in the article states: “When you are short on time or energy (or both), just read to your kids.” The article goes on to cite a study conducted by Reading is Fundamental that found that “only onethird of parents read to their kids every night.”

Reading helps foster a bond between caregivers and children, and it helps young children develop language skills. Reading to your child also instills a lifetime enjoyment of reading, which, along with endless hours of delight, gives them an academic boost.

Alice Ozma wrote about the bond created with her father as they read together. In “The Reading Promise,” she describes “The Streak,” a reading challenge that started as reading out loud together for 100 days.

Then 100 stretched into 1,000 and then to 3,000, lasting until Ms. Ozma was in college and they were calling home every night to keep the streak alive.

It doesn’t matter what you read to your child, so much as that you do read to your child. Below are some suggestions of great books to read. Remember, funny voices and sound effects always delight!

“Duck on a Bike” by David Shannon and “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson are good books to read to pre-school aged children. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle is a classic. “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” by Eileen Christelow is another. Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” is a good one for grownups and kids to read together, and “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak is always a delight as well.

It’s always good to pick books that match your child’s interest. For animal lovers, try “Kiss Kiss” by Margaret Wild or “My Big Dog” by Janet Stevens. The Pigeon series by Mo Willems is fun too — my favorite is “Pigeon Wants a Puppy.”

As your children grow older, it’s fun to read longer books together. A chapter book can last you several weeks, and you can introduce your child to stories that they can’t yet read to themselves. Second and third graders might like “Jumanji” by Chris Van Allsburg, and our librarians have found kids of any age are often hypnotized by “I Am the Mummy Heb-Nefert” by Eve Bunting.

Artemis Fowl is a great series by Eion Colfer that both older boys and girls might enjoy. Another great read for older children is “Wonder” by R. J. Palacio.

Remember, it doesn’t matter what you read, just that you do read. And don’t be surprised when your child asks to hear the same book. Again and again. That’s a compliment — you’ve found a book they love, for today at least. And you’ll create shared memories to last a lifetime.

Kari May lives in Elizabeth and is the Director of the Elbert County Library District. She can be contacted through the library at director@elbertcountylibrary. org. Visit the library at www.elbertcountylibrary.org.

OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | PhOnE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday

by Colorado Community Media.

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HAVE A STORY IDEA? Email Elbert County Community Editor George Lurie at glurie@coloradocommunitymedia.com or call 303-566-4109.

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1/31/14 9:56 AM

3

Elbert County News 3

February 27, 2014

Hickenlooper unveils marijuana plans Colorado’s retail pot revenue exceeds expectations

By Vic Vela

vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com Marijuana tax revenues that exceeded original expectations will go toward youth pot-use deterrence programs, substance abuse treatment and other services, under a proposal released by Gov. John Hickenlooper on Feb. 19.

The state expects to rake in $184 million in total marijuana revenue by the end of June 2015, with about $153 million of that coming from retail pot sales that began on January 1, according to projections by the governor’s office.

The remainder of the projected pot revenue will come from medical marijuana sales.

Retail pot sales are projected to reach $610 million next fiscal year. That’s a sig-

nificant increase from Legislative Council projections tied to last year’s retail pot tax structure bill, which set a gross retail pot sales forecast of $395 million.

The revenue comes as a result of last year’s voter-backed Proposition AA, which imposed a 15 percent excise tax and a 10 percent retail tax on all retail marijuana transactions that became legal through 2012’s Amendment 64.

The first $40 million of annual excise tax revenue goes toward school construction and the rest goes into the Marijuana Cash Fund, which pays for industry regulations that are overseen by the Department of Revenue.

With the additional projected revenue, Hickenlooper will seek $99 million next fiscal year to fund programs aimed at providing “responsible regulation for adult-use marijuana and the effective allocation of resources to protect public safety, and health and to prevent underage use,” the governor said through a budget proposal letter sub-

mitted to the Joint Budget Committee.

“Indeed, we view our top priority as creating an environment where negative impacts on children from marijuana legalization are avoided completely,” Hickenlooper’s letter reads.

“Underage use of marijuana can have long-lasting effects on individuals and communities.”

Hickenlooper proposes that the state spend $45.5 million over the next two fiscal years for youth marijuana use prevention and deterrence. Priorities include the transferring of $5 million from the Marijuana Cash Fund, which Hickenlooper wants to go toward grants for school health professionals who will educate students about marijuana use.

Other youth-targeted spending will go toward a youth marijuana education campaign that aims to curb pot use among kids.

Another $40 million of Hickenlooper’s marijuana spending proposal will go toward substance abuse treatment programs.

Former DA Jim Peters dies Peters’ legacy honored by officials; funeral this week Staff report The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s office has announced the passing of former DA Jim Peters.

Peters died Feb. 19 after an extended battle with cancer. He was the predecessor to Carol Chambers, serving the 18th Judicial District from 1997 to 2005. Peters successfully prosecuted

mass murderer Nathan Dunlap, the man who killed four people at Chuck E. Cheese in 1993.

District attorney George Brauchler said Peters’ “legacy is one few could match.”

“Our community has lost one of the great champions for justice,” he said.

“Jim inspired prosecutors — both novice and seasoned — to give victims a voice and vigorously pursue justice for them, ever mindful of the need to temper the application of our laws with mercy.”

Peters’ funeral will be at 11:30 a.m.

Feb. 28 at St. Thomas More Catholic Parish, 8035 South Quebec Street in Centennial. Arapahoe and Lincoln counties lowered their county flags Feb. 21 and will do so through the day of the funeral.

Douglas County will lower its flag at the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center and the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office will lower their flag through the day of the funeral as well. The U.S. and state flags will be lowered on the day of the funeral.

That includes $7 million that will pay for 105 residential drug treatment beds and another $4 million for services that help those leaving residential treatment centers continue their drug treatment in their communities.

The governor’s budget request also includes money for law enforcement and public safety and public health programs related to marijuana awareness.

Hickenlooper acknowledged in his letter to the Joint Budget Committee that these numbers are merely projections and that his proposal leaves room for “forecast fluctuations and unknown needs that could arise during the year.”

“Given the many uncertainties surrounding Marijuana Cash Fund projections and the potential need for additional funding for the Department of Revenue’s marijuana-related enforcement activities, this package represents a strong first step toward ensuring a safe and responsible regulatory environment,” Hickenlooper said.

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4-Opinion

4 Elbert County News

February 27, 2014

opinions / yours and ours

Don’t accept high cost of health care The conversation around health care and what we pay for it is beginning to change. The realization that we pay way more than other countries for the same services is beginning to sink in.

Why do Americans on average pay $8,143 for hospital and physician services for cataract surgery while the Swiss pay $2,566 and the French only $1,938? By all accounts, outcomes are similar.

For too long, Americans have accepted these high price tags for medical care without asking questions. Politicians have justified them, saying American quality is better. But studies by many organizations have shown that justification doesn’t necessarily hold up, and in the last year or so I’ve detected a pushback from the public.

Last spring came the expose of hospital and pharmaceutical prices in Time magazine by journalist entrepreneur Steven Brill. One piece I wrote about Brill’s 36-page story got more than 13,000 hits on one website that reprinted my post. Brill told me that was indicative of interest from the public he received. People want to know why medical care costs so much.

At the end of last year, a 20-year-old Californian named Nick Gonzales had his appendix removed at Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento. The bill for a 24-hour stay: $55,029.31. His family’s insurance policy covered a good chunk of it, but he still was left with $11,119 to pay out of pocket.

At the end of last year he posted his bill on the link-sharing community Reddit, saying “I never truly understood how much healthcare in the U.S. costs until I got appendicitis in October. I’m a 20-yearold guy. Thought other people should see this to get a real idea of how much an unpreventable illness costs in the U.S.” His $55,000 bill went viral much to the chagrin of the hospital.

Two weeks ago, Dr. Rita Redberg, a prominent cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, and a colleague penned an op-ed in the New York Times with the catchy title “We are Giving Ourselves Cancer.” Her piece was about the overuse of CT scans in the U.S. “CTs, once rare, are now routine,” she wrote. One in 10 Americans undergo a CT scan every year, and many of them get more than one.”

Not only are many unnecessary, and add to the country’s national health care

tab, but they also deliver high doses of radiation, Redberg writes.

She reports that the use of medical imaging with high dose radiation, particularly CT scans, has soared in the last 20 years resulting in exposure to medical radiation that has increased “more than six-fold between the 1980s and 2006 according to the National Council on Radiation Protection & Measurements.”

CT scans are becoming common in emergency rooms where patients are getting scans at rates that are five times higher than in the mid-1990s, Kaiser Health News reported in 2011.

While some use surely saves lives, Kaiser noted that doctors’ fears of malpractice suits, patients’ demands for the tests and the presence of more machines and the financial pressure on hospitals to use them boost their use.

Patient demand? Hummm! Redberg had a suggestion, which I agree with. Since patients are becoming more aware of the high costs they must pay out-of-pocket, they must ask if a recommended test, whether a CT scan or something else, is really needed. Clearly Nick Gonzales needed his appendix removed. But for many patients there’s time to weigh the benefits, safety, and costs of what physicians recommend.

Redberg suggested patients consult a website called www.abimfoundation.org/

Initiatives/Choosing-Wisely.aspx. Choosing Wisely, sponsored by the ABIM Foundation, furthers medical professionalism.

Working with the medical specialty societies, Consumer Reports, the AARP, and other organizations the foundation has created the website to help patients make smarter decisions about medical tests especially those commonly overused.

When it comes to CT scans Redberg advises asking: Will the scan lead to better treatment and outcome? Can you get the recommended therapy without the scan?

Is there an alternative that doesn’t involve radiation such as ultrasound or an M.R.I.?

Can radiation exposure be minimized if a scan is necessary?

Come to think of it, these questions can be adapted for other tests too. I’ll add another. Because of the Great Cost Shift from insurance companies to patients, you might want to ask how much of the bill you’ll have to pay yourself. And if you feel inclined to use social media, there’s always a way to alert others to the high cost of medical care.

Trudy Lieberman is immediate past president of the Association of Health Care Journalists. The Rural Health News Service is funded by a grant from The Commonwealth Fund and distributed through the Colorado Press Association, the Nebraska Press Association Foundation and the South Dakota Newspaper Association.

The life you change could be your own There is an old short story, actually written in 1955, that was part of a series authored by Flannery O’Connor titled “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.” And several years ago as the use of seat belts became mandatory, a slogan and commercial became popular that used this very same wording, “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.” What if we modified the statement with just one word, “The life you change may be your own?”

Have you ever done something for someone else, maybe changed their life in a small or maybe even very significant way? And although you helped the other person, in some way you also recognized that a part of you had been changed as well. Some people have shared with me that when they actually did something for another person or helped them make a change, their own lives changed as well, and generally for the better.

The change may have been only temporary, but they noticed a change. And others have told me that the impact on their own

life has changed them forever, just by helping someone else make a change in their personal or professional life.

I receive emails all the time from the community and the testimonies regarding this are really incredible. And the stories are very similar, people experience a positive change in their lives when they have provided assistance to someone else. And the cool thing is this, many of the stories include examples where the person was unaware that they were actually doing something to help out another individual, and before they knew it their own life was

Julia always said, ‘save the leftovers’ Butter-loving chef Julia Child — or maybe it was Dan Aykroyd, who impersonated Child — said “save the leftovers.” It is good advice. I save my leftovers, that’s for sure. What I mean is, I save the written bits that don’t make it to the final draft.

There is always something that has to be cut out that I really wanted to keep in a column, but for a number of reasons had to be scrapped. I put the scraps in a folder and save them for a day when I need to throw something together pronto for my editor because I have to catch a plane Julia was taller than Dan. She was 6-foot-2 and Dan is 6-1. People make fun of Julia, but not old Craig. She was terrific.

Sure, her appearance was unusual, and her cadence was too, and she wasn’t exactly chef Cat Cora now, was she?

She was what my ornithologist would call a “hoot.” She said, “The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.”

And, “How can a nation be called great if its bread tastes like Kleenex?”

I saved this leftover from an in-depth column about Phil Knight, Nike, and the Oregon Ducks. If you have seen the Oregon football team, you know they never wear the same uniform twice, and it’s thanks to Nike CEO Knight.

“Doctor, doctor, my wife thinks she’s a duck.”

“Bring her in to see me right away.”

transformed in wonderful ways.

Now being intentional about it is something totally different, offering assistance and aid because we are in a position to do so emotionally, financially, spiritually, or physically is awesome. Whether I hear about the examples of success at a seminar or corporate meeting or through an email from someone, each story inspires me and fills me with the belief that there is so much good in this world and that gets done in this world by good people, including you.

The coolest thing that I admire most from each story or example is that the person who shared it with me never claimed to receive anything physical in return. It was not like they did something for someone else and were rewarded in some way, shape, or form. The gift they received was a just a `feeling’ of change or being changed themselves. Some had a hard time explaining or articulating it, but I knew exactly what they meant. There is something inside of us that does change whenever we are able to help someone else, and again it

ELBERT COUNTY NEWS 9137 Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

“I can’t - she’s already flown south for the winter.”

Man, it was hard to delete that.

I wrote a column about our neighbor to the east, Nebraska. Some of my favorite people are from Nebraska. Fred Astaire was from Nebraska, and so were Marlon Brando, Henry Fonda and civil rights advocate Malcolm X. So why did I have to blemish the homage with a Nebraska joke or two?

“What’s the best thing to come out of Nebraska? I-80.”

That was so unnecessary. I researched strange Nebraska laws, and discovered this one. In Waterloo, it’s illegal for barbers to eat onions between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. That was cut.

I wrote a column about the junk that people put in their coffee, like cream and sugar. I said that some people think that on the Eighth Day, God created coffee. You can Smith continues on Page 12

gerard healey Chris rotar ryaN Boldrey george lurie ViC Vela eriN addeNBrooKe roN MitChell audrey BrooKs sCott aNdrews saNdra arellaNo

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is generally for the better.

It could mean helping them find a job, encouraging them as they battle an addiction, support them as they try and get in shape, talk to them while they are grieving, give them a hand-up if we are in such a position to do so, juts listen, offer a smile, give a necessary and timely hug, enrich their lives with introductions to other people, defend them if they are wronged or just stand by their side.

There are hundreds of other examples of how we can help change a life, but the only ones that ever matter are the ones that we take action on.

“The life you change could be your own,” and I would love to hear all about your story or example at gotonorton@ gmail.com. And when we help someone make a change, and when we feel that positive change in our own lives, it truly will be a better than good week.

Michael Norton is a resident of Highlands Ranch, the former president of the Zig Ziglar Corp. and the CEO/founder of www. candogo.com.

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Phone: 303-566-4100 | Fax: 303-566-4098 On the Web: elbertcountynews.net Columnists and guest commentaries The Elbert County News features a limited number of regular columnists, found on these pages and elsewhere in the paper, depending on the typical subject the columnist covers. Their opinions are not necessarily those of the Elbert County News.

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5-Color

Elbert County News 5

February 27, 2014

Job

ON THE JOB

Continued from Page 1

the county’s attorney.”

Beltz said he will be practicing real estate law for a mid-sized law firm whose main office is in downtown Denver. “They have a small office in New York too,” he said.

“For me, this is an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up,” Beltz said, adding that he did not want to name his new employer “until all of the details have been worked out.”

Beltz worked as a clerk for the Denver firm, which employs about 40 lawyers, while he was attending law school.

Gas Continued from Page 1

The county’s new election manager, Rhonda Braun, started on Feb. 18. Braun and Clerk and Recorder Dallas Schroeder are busy preparing for the Republican and Deomcratic precinct caucuses, which will be held March 4.

Photo by George Lurie

BOE passes ‘intrusion’ resolution Highlights from the Feb. 10 school board meeting

By Michele McCarron

Special to Colorado Community Media When the Elizabeth School Board of Education met on Feb. 10, the board passed a resolution concerning “the growing and alarming pace of state and federal intrusion into the local school district’s control of education,” specifically but not limited to the use of common core standards and PARCC assessments.

Members of the board presented the resolution to the Senate Education Committee at the state Capitol on Feb. 13. In addition to presenting the resolution, board members planned to support SB14-136, a proposed bill to delay implementation of Common Core and PARCC by one year.

The resolution was also sent to members of the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB), Colorado Department of Education (CDE), and to the Colorado Association of School Executives and distributed to over 150 school districts in the state of Colorado.

Superintendents sign letter

Over the past several months, Superintendent Douglas Bissonette has been working across the state with other superintendents to collectively communicate their shared concerns regarding the extreme state of inadequate funding for Colorado’s public schools. Funding for Colorado’s public schools has fallen by more than $1 billion.

The dramatic funding cuts forced reductions that have resulted in increased class size, reduced services for children, and deferred investment in critical infrastructure needs including safety and security systems. At the same time, the Colorado Legislature has implemented significant unfunded reforms that require substantial school district investments and resources.

A letter representing Colorado school districts serving more than 99 percent of the public school students in the state was delivered to Gov. Hickenlooper and members of the General Assembly requesting that Legislature restore K-12 funding to pre-recession levels. The superintendents asked to meet with the state’s executive and legislative leadership to address the pressing needs of Colorado’s students and schools.

Public participation

Community member Belinda Seville applauded the work by the Elizabeth Board of Education in keeping education at the local level. Seville stated, “It is a courageous and brave effort.”

Seville hosted a one-hour meeting in her home on Feb. 19 to enlighten the community on the work the board is doing in standing up to Legislature and to provide information on the SB14-136 to slow down Common Core and PARCC.

Oil and gas developers have targeted the eastern and southern sections of the county as potential sources, in particular areas thought to be part of the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian shale formations.

“Staff included a list of conditions for BOCC approval prior to the permit being issued, all of which NexGen had already dis-

“Until the county gets another attorney in place,” Beltz added, “I will be maintaining my representation for Elbert County on all pending litigation matters.”

Ed Ehmann, the county’s director of public works, called Beltz’s departure “a tremendous loss to Elbert County. Alex is so calm and level-headed,” Ehmann said. “He has really brought fairness and professionalism to his position. It will be a big set of shoes for us to fill.”

“I’m really excited and ready to start a new chapter,” Beltz said. “I’ve always wanted to practice real estate law.”

The county posted the job opening on its website on Feb. 20. The salary range is $75,000 to $90,000, depending on experience.

cussed with staff and were generally already their standard practice,” said Fenner. “The inclusion of conditions in the staff report memorialized them for the record and established them as best management practices for this particular well.”

Fenner added: “Including (the conditions) on the record also gives Elbert County leverage for compliance.”

Fenner also reported that if NexGen’s efforts in El Paso County prove to be successful, company officials have informed her that they plan to drill all three Elbert County wells in the third quarter of 2014.

Elizabeth Education Foundation

At the Feb. 10 meeting, Mary Smith gave an update on the activities and events sponsored by the Elizabeth Education Foundation.

The purpose of the EEF is to provide additional services and educational programs where current district funding is not available. The goal is to ensure that the students are the direct beneficiaries.

This year EEF was able to fund 95 percent of the grants requested from various Elizabeth School District teachers. Grants are awarded on making a direct impact for students in the classroom. EEF was able to award these grants from the funds obtained through the reloadable grocery cards program.

EEF received and put back into our schools approximately $5,000 from the reloadable grocery card program.

EEF recently sponsored their first Elizabeth School District Community Night with the Denver Nuggets. Approximately 150 people participated in this event benefiting EEF $4 per ticket. The second Community Night out is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, 2014 for the Colorado Avalanche vs St. Louis Blues hockey game.

Every year, the Elizabeth Education Foundation sponsors the STARS; students taking accountability and responsibility seriously. Teachers nominate students in grades 5 through 12 that demonstrate the following characteristics: • Model responsible behavior.

• Involved in clubs, organizations, community, performing arts, and/or athletics.

• Committed to learning and motivated to do well in school.

• Demonstrates a high value of caring by helping others.

• Makes good choices.

This year’s STARS banquet will be held on April 5.

In other news:

The Elizabeth School District Health and Wellness Expo will be held at the Elizabeth Middle School on March 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free for the expo. Several nutritional vendors will be displaying their health and wellness products and services.

Free exercise and nutrition sessions will also be taking place. The first 100 attendees will receive a drawstring backpack. A group of volunteers have joined the Citizen Impact Committee to help drive community engagement and to help make an impact for our schools. The committee is forming subgroups including Fundraising, Volunteer Coordinator, Parent Involvement, Community Member Engagement, and Message/Marketing subgroup. If you are interested in leading or participating in one of these subgroups please contact mmccarron@esdk12.org.

Mark your calendars for the Elizabeth Middle School production of Finian’s Rainbow on March 13, 14, and 15, 7 p.m. at EMS. The next BOE Meet and Greet will take place on March 10 from 6-7 p.m. in the Board Room of the District Office.

Water Continued from Page 1

providing,” Eason said.

Eason stressed that the meeting “has nothing to do with water rights. It’s all about getting ahead of possible contamination of our water supply by doing things like identifying abandoned wells that need to be capped, dealing with road debris or chemicals that may be leeching (into the water

supply) from manufacturing facilities,” he said. “We need to identify threats to our water supply and come up with a plan to mitigate them.”

Eason said that those who attend the first meeting will get an overview of the SWPP planning process as well as hear the State’s Source Water Assessment for the Town of Elizabeth.

Those interested in getting more information about the SWPP or attending the meeting can contact Eason at deason@ ci.elizabeth.co.us or call 303-646-4166, ext.504.

To place an Obituary for Your Loved One… Private Contact: Viola Ortega 303-566-4089 obituaries@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

Funeral Homes Visit: www.memoriams.com

6-Color

6 Elbert County News

February 27, 2014

Magazine ammo ban repeal efforts fail GOP lawmaker takes heat for comments made about 2012 Aurora theater shooting

By Vic Vela

vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com As expected, Republican efforts to repeal a law that limits ammunition magazine rounds failed in majority Democrat legislative committees last week.

But one of the hearings produced unexpected comments from a lawmaker who would end up having to do some damage control over his remarks concerning events that took place during the 2012 Aurora theater shooting.

Sen. Bernie Herpin, R-Colorado Springs, told the Senate’s State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Feb. 12 that it may have been a “good thing” that Aurora theater shooting suspect James Holmes was carrying a 100-round ammunition magazine because it jammed.

“If he had instead had four, five, six 15-round magazines, no telling how much damage he could have done until a good guy showed up,” Herpin told committee members.

Herpin was trying to make the point that larger capacity magazines are unreliable and that fewer people were killed or injured because Holmes’ weapon jammed. He later apologized for coming across as being insensitive.

Herpin’s comments were met with outrage by Tom Sullivan, the father of 27-yearold Alex Sullivan, who was one of 12 people who were killed in the July 2012 Aurora theater shooting.

“I’ve had a lot of thoughts since July 20, 2012, and I can tell you that I never have once thought that it was better that that man walked into that theater with a 100-round drum, and opened fire on the

over 200 people that were in that theater,” Sullivan said.

Herpin is a freshman senator who won a recall election against John Morse last fall.

Morse, who at the time was Senate president, was one of three Democratic lawmakers who were either voted out of office or resigned in the face of recall elections over their votes on gun bills last year.

Herpin was in front of the committee to sponsor a bill that sought to repeal a law from last year that banned ammunition magazines from carrying more than 15 rounds.

The bill was one of two GOP-sponsored repeals that failed at the Legislature last week, each one falling on party-line votes in the Democrat-led General Assembly.

Two days earlier, a House committee rejected a separate effort sponsored by Rep. Chris Holbert, R-Parker, which also sought to repeal the magazine limit law.

Holbert argued that limiting the number of rounds in a magazine is arbitrary and does nothing to promote public safety.

But Democrats and other supporters of magazine limits say the law saves lives because the fewer rounds that a killer can get off, the less damage they can cause.

The law was drafted in response to recent mass shootings like the one in Aurora and at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School the same year.

In a nod to the ramifications from last year’s recall efforts, Holbert tried to appeal to Democrats on the committee to seize the “political opportunity” by supporting his repeal bill.

“Are you willing to risk political capital?”

Holbert said. “I ask you to please keep an open mind.”

But Rep. Mike Foote, D-Lafayette, took exception to Holbert’s comments.

“I don’t think we should be making a decision based on what’s politically expedient or politically smart,” Foote said.

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Ribbon ‘shooting’ held at gun club Feb. 20 event spotlights 2nd Amendment rights

By George Lurie

glurie@coloradocommunitymedia.com A ribbon “shooting” was held at the Centennial Gun Club on Feb. 20 and some highprofile political leaders turned out for the event — and to voice their support for the Second Amendment.

Sponsored by the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, several hundred people attended the ceremony at Colorado’s largest gun club, which opened Jan. 4.

The facility, owned by Richard and Mary Abramson, encompasses some 35,000 square feet and includes 28 shooting lanes, a 5,000-square-foot retail store and a lavish, members-only VIP lounge.

Castle Rock Mayor Paul Donohue, an outspoken gun rights advocate, is a managing partner of the club and attended the Feb. 20 event, which allowed dignitaries who signed waivers to shoot, rather than cut, ribbons to officially open the facility.

Because the ribbon shooting was also promoted as a gun rally, a number of area elected officials declined invitations to attend the event.

But a veritable constellation of Republican lawmakers and political candidates did come, including Congressman Mike Coffman, Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler and 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler.

Douglas County Sheriff Dave Weaver,

who is term-limited and a candidate for the Board of County Commissioners, turned out for the event, as did the three candidates seeking to replace the sheriff — Undersheriff Tony Spurlock, Castle Rock Police Cmdr. John Anderson and Coroner Lora Thomas.

Centennial City Councilmember Stephanie Piko, a member of the gun club, also attended the event, which was emceed by KOA Radio’s Stephan Tubbs, who kicked off the proceedings by stating his unequivocal support of the Second Amendment and adding that it was his job “to keep Mike Coffman from speaking for more than 10 minutes.”

Coffman, who represents Colorado’s 6th Congressional District — which includes Aurora, Centennial, Littleton and Highlands Ranch — kept his remarks brief, reaffirming his support for the Second Amendment and recounting how his office had helped the Abramsons secure their SBA loan to build their facility.

Addressing the Abramsons directly before turning the microphone back to Tubbs, Coffman said: “God bless you and best of luck with the facility.”

South Metro Chamber CEO John Brackney also gave a short speech about the importance of protecting Constitutional rights.

“What makes America great are people like Richard and Mary (Abramson) doing the hard work.”

Richard Abramson thanked the crowd for coming out, saying, “We believe owning firearms is a tremendous responsibility.”

Legislation tackles prisoner earned time

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Congressman Mike Coffman, right, chats with 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler on Feb. 20 at the Centennial Gun Club’s Ribbon “Shooting.” Photo by George Lurie

Bill strips away `good time’ if inmates re-offend behind bars

By Vic Vela

vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com Prisoners who commit violent crimes behind bars can have their “earned time” credits removed, under a bill that is making its way through the Legislature.

“This bill is a simple question,” said Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, a bill sponsor. “Should rapists and murderers who commit violence in prison be allowed out early?”

The bill, which received initial approval in the House on Feb. 20, was precipitated by the fallout from last year’s murder of state prison chief Tom Clements.

Under current law, prisoners who rack up earned time — either through good behavior or through participation of treatment programs — cannot have their sentence reduction credits revoked, regardless of whether they commit new crimes in prison.

But supporters of the bill say that’s something that needs to be fixed.

“This is a public safety issue,” said Rep. Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, a bill cosponsor. “If they commit a violent act, all of their earned time will be revoked. I think that’s a very necessary guardrail.”

Following an administrative hearing, if an inmate is found to have been responsible for a violent crime while behind bars, DOC would be required to strip away any

earned time credit, the bill states.

The DOC could revoke earned time credit whether or not the person was adjudicated.

The bill passed a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing unanimously and is expected to continue to receive bipartisan support moving forward.

“When you commit a separate offense while being incarcerated, you shouldn’t be rewarded with free time off your sentence,” said Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora.

The bill is one of several measures taken up by lawmakers in the wake of Clements’ murder in March of last year. Clements was gunned down at his home in Monument, allegedly by Evan Ebel, a former prison inmate who had been released four years early because of a clerical error.

Ebel was killed following a high-speed chase with authorities in Texas, two days after Clements’ murder.

Clements’ death has resulted in several recent pieces of legislation aimed at tightening release procedures, such as imposing mandatory jail time for offenders who tamper with ankle monitors and the straightening out prison sentences where they may be confusion over consecutive or concurrent terms.

Ebel, who had earned time credit, assaulted a guard in prison, meaning the McNulty/Waller bill could have increased his time served.

“We learned so much from that incident and the dangerous laws that need to be corrected,” McNulty said. “So, one by one, were going through and fixing those things.”

South Metrolife 7-Life-Color

Elbert County News 7 February 27, 2014

Paintings, books, stars and more A drawing of “Coors Field-1st Base” by artist Elayne Moseley represents her new series, “Architecture Lingua,” which focuses on how we, as viewers, are affected by abstract consideration of architectural detail or structure. Five prints by Moseley of iconic Denver landmarks will be featured through March 21 at Hilliard Moore’s Great Western Art Gallery, 1455 Curtis St., Denver. A reception is planned from 5 to 8 p.m.

March 7. Call 303-396-2787 for more information.

That Demon Barber Master Chris Turnquist and Kevin Kallas, instructors at the Parker Academy of Martial Arts, demonstrate the proper technique for reversing a hold. Photos by Chris Michlewicz

Bully defense with

discipline

And Pirates…

“Pirates of Penzance” by Gilbert and Sullivan — in the Kevin Kline/Linda Ronstadt Broadway version — will play Feb. 28 to March 2 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 8817 S. Broadway in Highlands Ranch. Performances: 7 p.m. Feb. 28 March 1; 2 p.m. March 2. Tickets at the door: $10/$5. Proceeds from St. Luke’s productions benefit local and international charities. “Pirates of Penzance” proceeds will benefit construction of a school in Guatemala, according to music director James Ramsey.

Martial arts studios use verbal, physical defense to violence

By Chris Michlewicz

cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com The escalation of school violence has parents and their kids seeking the most effective ways to avoid becoming a victim.

The sometimes-tragic consequences of bullying have made national headlines in recent years, highlighting the need for proper defense training from kindergarten on. Martial arts — among the most popular outlets — utilizes verbal methods first to defuse potentially dangerous situations.

Trent Quinn, chief instructor at Tiger Rock Martial Arts near Mainstreet and Dransfeldt Road, says bullying prevention is “something that’s on the forefront of everybody’s mind.”

Quinn and his team of in-

learn more Tiger Rock regularly hosts communitywide bully-prevention seminars that are free and open to the public. Visit the studio’s website or call 303-841-5425.

The Parker Academy of Martial Arts, 18632 Pony Express Dr., is hosting a “verbal judo - bully defense seminar” from noon - 2 p.m. April 19. structors have visited several elementary schools in Parker, spending a few days teaching bully defense techniques during gym class. Lessons include the use of “verbal weapons” and assertive body posture to deter bullies.

“They won’t go after someone who is confident in defending themselves,” Quinn says.

Kids can also ignore the taunts, agree with them to take away control, or rob the bully of the emotional reaction they are seeking, he said.

Tim Luft, owner and master

Master Chris Turnquist instructs a class at the Parker Academy of Martial Arts Feb. 17. The studio teaches verbal and physical defenses against bullying.

Rock Canyon High School’s Thespians will present the school edition of “Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, adapted by Christopher Bond (less violent/bloody than the movie — suitable for 11 and up.) Logan Schafer plays Todd and Meredith Ham is Mrs. Lovett, with a large supporting student cast. Performances: 7 p.m. March 5-8 at the school theater, 5810 MacArthur Ranch Rd., Highlands Ranch.

Tickets: $10/$8 at the door or in advance at www.showtix4u.com.

A century in Rocky Mountain National Park

Master Chris Turnquist executes a move on Kevin Kallas Feb. 17 at the Parker Academy of Martial Arts. While defensive physical techniques are taught, the studio instructs kids and teens to use verbal judo to combat bullying. instructor at the Parker Academy of Martial Arts, began implementing lessons in “verbal judo,” a discipline based on law enforcement tactics, more than three years ago. Loud and aggressive vocalizations are deployed to de-escalate or turn a situation in their favor.

In the lobby of his studio on Pony Express Drive, Luft points to a word written on the wall: confidence. It’s a common theme in the martial arts world and it often comes into play before physical toughness is required.

Luft says the process of learning to defend oneself from physical attacks instills a confidence that makes it less likely for a person to be attacked verbally or physically.

However, both can still happen.

Chris Turnquist, master instructor at the Parker Academy of Martial Arts, says the majority of bullying situations are verbal, but preparedness for the ones that aren’t is a

routine part of class.

“Obviously, things can escalate and at that point, it’s good to know what to do when you don’t want to get yourself hurt or get into a situation where you hurt someone else,” said Turnquist, who has been teaching martial arts for nearly 12 years.

Every few months, Tiger Rock offers a bully prevention seminar and adds something new each time. They teach, for example, how to fall correctly, how to reverse a position if a bully gets on top and how to prevent a chokehold.

Both Tiger Rock and Parker Academy of Martial Arts use roleplaying to reenact common bullying scenarios, enabling kids to practice their defensive moves in an adrenalized state.

“There are ways you can get out of stuff without seriously hurting someone,” Turnquist said. “The goal is to protect ourselves and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Castle Rock author Mary Taylor Young has just published her book, “Rocky Mountain National Park: the First 100 Years,” and will meet readers and sign books at 6:30 p.m. March 7 at the Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock. Young has written a number of books about nature in Colorado. Call 303-791-7323 for information.

Birding 101 at the Museum

The Littleton Museum will collaborate with the Audubon Society of Greater Denver starting at 8 a.m. March 8, to study the many varieties of birds that find a perch, or a home, on the museum’s wooded grounds at 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. A bird walk will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. (limited to 50 birders, ages 10 and older, so please preregister). At 10 a.m. return to the museum to learn about attracting birds to your yard, and follow that with an 11 a.m. talk about photographing birds. The program is free, but a donation of $5 is suggested. 303-7953950.

Party with the stars at ACC

Join ACC Astronomy Professor Jennifer Jones for a Star Party at 8 to 10 p.m. March 7 on the West Lawn at Arapahoe Community College, 5900 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton. Dress for the outdoor weather. ACC will provide a telescope. Free and open to the public, no RSVP needed. For information: Jennifer. jones@arapahoe.edu, 303-797-5839.

Modern Masters

“Picasso to Pollack: 20th Century Icons from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery “opens March 2 at the Denver Art Museum, with Paintings continues on Page 8

8-Color

8 Elbert County News

February 27, 2014

Paintings

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(More on this next week.)

From Page to Stage…

Continued from Page 7

P O W E R E D

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a related exhibit: “1959” at the Clyfford Still Museum next door. A timed and dated ticket is required for combined general admission to the DAM and Still Museum, www.denverartmuseum.org, 720-913-0130 or onsite.

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“So I Wrote It—Now, What Do I Do?” The Arapahoe Community College Writers Studio will host a public workshop at 4 p.m. March 6 in Room 3750, Main Campus, to discuss the next step with written works. Colleen Hubbard, writer, film writer, playwright, will talk about her plays, including “The Con-

tents of Her Purse.” Anthony Powell, Artistic Director of Stories on Stage, former actor, director will speak about actors reading prose pieces and how it differs from theatrical performance.

Nancy Stohlman, fiction writer, singer and author of the Flash-Bomb Reading Series, will talk about adapting your work for the stage. Pam Roth O’Mara will talk about improve and her ThumbPrintPlays. Refreshments served. Admission is free.

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Help Wanted Maintenance Worker Job Opening

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Kiowa Schools has an immediate opening for a maintenance worker.

Position is full-time with benefits.

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GALLERY OF GAMES & weekly horoscope

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SALOME’S STARS FOR THE WEEK OF FEb 24, 2014

ARIES (Mar 21 to Apr 19) Try to say as little as possible about the work you’re doing through the end of the month. Then you can make your announcement and accept your well-deserved plaudits.

TAURUS (Apr 20 to May 20) You face a more difficult challenge than you expected. but with that strong Taurean determination, you should be able to deal with it successfully by week’s end.

GEMINI (May 21 to Jun 20) before you act on your “feelings” about that upcoming decision, it might be wise to do a little fact-checking first. You could be very much surprised by what you don’t find.

crossword • sudoku & weekly horoscope

GALLERY OF GAMES

CANCER (Jun 21 to Jul 22) A recent workplace success can open some doors that were previously closed to you. On a personal level, expect to receive some important news from a longtime friend and colleague.

LEO (Jul 23 to Aug 22) Put your wounded pride aside and do what you must to heal that misunderstanding before it takes a potentially irreversible turn and leaves you regretting the loss of a good friend.

VIRGO (Aug 23 to Sept 22) One way to kick a less-than-active social life into high gear or rebuild an outdated Rolodex file is to throw one of your wellorganized get-togethers for friends and associates.

LIBRA (Sept 23 to Oct 22) Getting out of an obligation you didn’t really want to take on can be tricky.

An honest explanation of the circumstances can help.

Next time, pay more attention to your usually keen instincts.

SCORPIO (Oct 23 to Nov 21) Use your Scorpion logic to push for a no-nonsense approach to a perplexing situation. This could help keep present and potential problems from creating more confusion.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 to Dec 21) A friend’s problem might take more time than you want to give. but staying with it once again proves the depth of your Sagittarian friendship and loyalty.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 to Jan 19) The Sea Goat can benefit from an extra dose of self-confidence to unsettle your detractors, giving you the advantage of putting on a strong presentation of your position.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 to Feb 18) You might want to ask a friend or relative for advice on an ongoing personal matter. but be careful not to give away information you might later wish you had kept secret.

PISCES (Feb 19 to Mar 20) Use the weekend for a creativity break to help restore your spiritual energy.

Once that’s done, you’ll be back and more than ready to tackle whatever challenge you need to face.

BORN THIS WEEK: You get great joy out of creating beautiful things and sharing them with others who appreciate them. © 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.

ElbertSPORTS 9-Sports

Elbert County News 9 February 27, 2014

Elizabeth girls win league title Cardinals repeat as champs with 66-27 win over Pirates

By Tom Munds

tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia. com The Elizabeth girls basketball team demonstrated the skills that again earned them the top spot in the league standings Feb. 21 as they rolled to a 66-27 win over Englewood to cap a perfect 12-0 league season.

“This is an amazing team. It probably is one of the best teams I have had as a coach,” Jaime Schmalz said after the game. “The girls all get along and they want to work hard to get better. They do everything I ask them to do and it has been a great league season.”

The Cardinals wrapped up the regular season schedule Feb. 22 with a non-league game against Falcon, which they won 7436. Then they waited until the Class 4A state girls basketball tournament pairings were announced.

The bracket released by the Colorado High School Activities Association on Feb. 23 awarded a bye to Elizabeth for the Feb. 25 first-round games. The Cardinals then play the winner of the Air Academy-Widefield game on Feb. 28.

Elizabeth set the tempo early in the Feb. 21 against Englewood. The Cardinals came out playing aggressive defense, mounting a full-court press at times and, at other times, putting the press on when Englewood brought the ball over the half-court line.

The defensive pressure resulted in steals and turnovers Elizabeth used to launch the attack.

The Cardinals pushed the ball quickly up the court. They varied the attack, hitting the outside shots plus capitalizing on shooting opportunities in near the basket to build a 30-13 halftime advantage.

Schmalz substituted frequently, taking out the starters so the reserves could get playing time. Even so, Elizabeth stretched the lead and won the game, 66-27.

Tatum Neubert led the Cardinals in scoring with 30 points and fellow senior Sabra

Tatum Neubert (44) puts up an outside shot in the Feb. 21 game against Elizabeth. Neubert paced the Cardinal attack with 30 points to help her team win the game and repeat as league champs. Photo by Tom Munds Ross had 18.

The Cardinals coach said after the game she was pleased to see the offense was playing better.

“We haven’t been shooting will the last couple games and we seemed to have corrected that tonight,” Schmalz said.

“We have been successful all season because of the makeup of this team. They are willing to work and often work harder than I push them to work. We won the league title last year then lost in the first round of the

state playoffs. We want to do better this season.”

She said Ross and Neubert are team captains for the second year and have provided the senior leadership for the team.

“This has been a great season for me,” Neubert said after the game. “We clicked and our team has a lot of fun working together.”

She said her height is an asset to the team and she works hard to pull down rebounds and to make the inside shots.

“I have been working on developing accuracy shooting outside,” she said. “The outside shot opens things up inside.”

She said another reason for working to improve outside shooting is the future as she has signed to play basketball at the University of Oregon.

“I know I’m not tall enough to play the post position in college,” she said. “So I am working to shoot the outside shot. I am even working to hit my shots from threepoint range.”

Elizabeth’s Gavril Houston grabs third place Tyler Erzen snags fifth-place medal for Cardinals

By Scott Stocker

Special to Colorado Community Media It was not exactly what Elizabeth’s Gavril Houston had wanted, but nevertheless, he ended his high school wrestling career on a high note. And, the same can be said for the Cardinals’ Tyler Erzen.

Broomfield won the Class 4A title Feb. 22 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, scoring 127.5 points and was followed by Thompson Valley (120) in second and Windsor (112) in third. Elizabeth, with no wrestlers competing in the championship round, was 16th with 39 points.

Houston came through with a thirdplace finish, thus concluding his high school career on the mats with a 4-3 victory over Windsor’s Jon Lewis. It was the highest finish among the six wrestlers that Elizabeth, under coach Gary Martin, had qualified for the state tournament.

It took an escape in the third period for Houston to gain the win over Lewis in his 120-pound weight class. Lewis, who had come into the tourney as the weight’s No. 1 seed, finished his senior season, 41-4, while Houston, the No. 4 seed, finished 45-6.

“It’s not exactly where I wanted to finish,” said Houston, who will attend the Air Force Academy in the fall. “But it’s my second year to place, only losing one match here at state each year. I can leave with my head up. I was confident on my feet in the match. ... Third, for me, feels like an enormous victory.”

Houston opened the tournament by pin-

ning Delta’s Hayes McCracken in 4:42 then followed with a 5-3 victory against Pueblo South’s Davis Baxter. He was then sent into the consolation rounds after being beaten

by Discovery Canyon’s Sam Turner, 4-2, in the semifinals.

“I just wanted to leave everything out on the mat and make every second and minute count,” Houston said after his opening match. “We’re all here to win and not to care about anything else.”

However, he couldn’t pull out the win against Turner.

“I was frustrated, but I can’t complain,” Houston said. “It turned out fine for me in the end. Baxter (my second-round opponent) was a lot better than the last time that I wrestled him. I think I pinned him before.”

Erzen, who finished his season with a 42-10 record wrestling at 106 pounds, was able to make short work of his openinground opponent, William Tomisc of Pueblo Central, who he pinned in 1:05. However, he couldn’t pull off his quarterfinal match, losing to Grant Willis of Pueblo County, 6-2.

“It was a good way to start,” Erzen said after his opener. “I just wanted to get my tournament off right and get rolling. I wrestled him before at Discovery Canyon and pinned him in just about the same amount of time. Last year I lost in the first round here at state and I just wanted to start on the right foot.”

Erzen, who admittedly had trouble getting started against Willis in his second match, then moved on to the consolation rounds where he pinned Greeley Central’s Alonzo Samaniego in 3:59 and gained a 6-2 victory against Windsor’s Sam Zdenek, before losing to Terrell Banuelos of Montrose, 4-2.

He then closed out his prep career pinning Widefield’s Stephen Dabelko in 2:07, finishing fifth in the final standings in his weight class and making it to the podium.

“This is a pretty good way to close out my senior year,” Erzen said. “I’m on the top of the world. I guess I really can’t describe how I feel.”

The final wins for Houston and Erzen had Martin beaming.

“It was their last matches and it’s sad to see them go,” Martin said. “But, what a way to go out. I’m on the top of the world and proud of what the kids have done. All the boys have worked hard and I’m so happy for all of them.”

Dallas Reins, at 285, was the only other Elizabeth wrestler to win his first-round match, pinning Greeley Central’s Jorge Munoz in 3:28. However, his championship quest came to an end when he was beaten in the quarterfinals when he was pinned by Pueblo East’s Jacob Robles in 5:31and then lost to Lewis-Palmer’s Luke Fowler in his first consolation match, 2-1.

“It was a good match for me to start and I did what I had to do,” said Reins about his opener. “He’s a decent wrestler and I’ve wrestled him before in Berthoud. He’s short and short guys do give me some trouble.

The thing is to stay focused and just do my stuff.”

The tournament appearance also turned out to be a short run for the Leonards, Rob, at 145, and John, at 152 for Elizabeth.

Rob lost his opener to Tyler Oberg of Discovery Canyon then was pinned by Pueblo Centennial’s Ulises Flores in 2:28, thus ending his junior season with a 29-20 record.

His brother John, a senior, closed his campaign at 28-15. John was pinned by

Pueblo Central’s Keenan Wyatt in 1:59, bounced back to beat Lane Lanier of Pueblo County, and then lost a major decision to John Torres of Pueblo South, 12-3.

Elizabeth’s Kyle Prario was beaten by Pueblo Centennial’s Brian Roberts, 10-0, in an opening match in the 160-pound weight class, 14-0. However, he was quick to rebound in his second match as he beat Daniel Brown of Delta, 3-2. It all came to an end in the consolation semifinals when he was pinned by Jeremy Jaquess of Sand Creek in 2:46.

Other action

It was not the best of rounds for Kiowa’s Connor Wills or Calhan’s Aaron Van Zorn, who hails from Simla, as they were both out of the tournament in two rounds in Class 2A competition. Wills, wrestling at 145 pounds, opened against Center’s Jeremiah Moreno and was beaten, 9-0. He next faced Hayden’s Kent Miller and was pinned in 1:28 to finish the year, 19-11, while making his second straight appearance at state.

“I knew he had a solid seed and I just wanted to go out and give it my all,” said Wills, Kiowa’s only state qualifier. “I was fine in knowing that I was among the top 16 in my weight. I wanted to stay focused and there are no regrets. I was able to stay off my back. It’s a true blessing to be representing my school.”

Van Zorn, at 182, felt his shoulders on the mat much quicker than he had expected in both matches. He lost his tournament opener when he was pinned by Ignacio’s Christian Knoll with 1:18 left in the third period. It certainly wasn’t any better when he was pinned by McClave’s Sterling Noecker 56 seconds into his consolation match.

10

10 Elbert County News

February 27, 2014

New Parker eatery to embrace history Brent Walker to bring old style to former Warhorse Inn

By Chris Michlewicz

cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ShopLocalColorado.

A new downtown restaurant is adopting a theme that pays homage to the old Parker Garage on Mainstreet. The building has served many purposes, most recently as the Warhorse Inn. Courtesy photo building in its first seven decades. The new owners, including two in-state partners, are awaiting permits to get a closer inspection.

The ultimate goal is to “take everything down to the original walls and build everything back up on the inside,” said Walker, who was 20 years old when he started as a bartender at an Earl’s that was opening in a suburb of Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada.

The timing in which the restaurant changed hands was opportune. Walker,

who lives in Tallyn’s Reach in southeast Aurora, left Earl’s last spring in search of a fresh adventure in the restaurant industry.

A friend who works in downtown Parker mentioned last fall that the famed Warhorse Inn was up for sale.

A tour of the building, guided by Warhorse Inn founder Stevan Strain, brought Walker to a faded picture on the wall. The image showed the simple façade of the Parker Garage with two men in period dress

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The restaurateur who bought the shuttered Warhorse Inn is developing a concept that embraces the history of the building.

Brent Walker, the man behind the three Earl’s Restaurant and Bar locations in Colorado, purchased one of the most coveted spots on Mainstreet in January after an “aligning of the stars.” His vision for the locale is one that celebrates the storied life of the Parker Garage, an old auto repair and filling station that has been converted into various uses since.

Walker makes it clear that he is not seeking to establish a theme restaurant, but rather a gathering place that allows the “old architecture to tell the story.” Of course, such an endeavor is not exactly an easy or inexpensive process.

“It’s an older building,” Walker says. “It’s got a lot of challenges that we’re discovering on a daily basis as to what it’s going to take to get it reconditioned, make it look a lot like it used to.”

The interior spots that have been stripped to the original brick reveal scorch marks from one of three fires to hit the

standing out front. It prompted Walker to dream up the restaurant concept, one that uses the name of the first business there.

The interior will include an open kitchen that enhances an atmosphere already enlivened by the old brick, metal trusses and barrel roof. There are good restaurants in the Parker area, but the landmark’s character will help separate it from the “usual suspects,” Walker said.

Walker traveled the world while working with Earl’s and had a chance to see the role that food plays in different cultures. That international flair will periodically find its way onto the menu.

“We want to bring the world to Parker and share some of those experiences that we’ve got,” he said. “We really want to change the landscape of dining in Parker and have people look forward to a different experience.”

While many of the details are still being worked out, including the menu and a definitive opening date, Walker is eager to share his experience and love of food and wine with Parker. Likewise, the neighborhood is anticipating the arrival of a new independent eatery.

Josh Rivero, who owns Fika Coffee House across the street from the future Parker Garage, says it’s encouraging that Walker comes from the restaurant business.

“Everybody on Mainstreet is excited,” Rivero said.

Continued to Next Page 927092 and 927903

11-Color

Elbert County News 11

February 27, 2014

Screening saves man’s life Ed Peterson got first colonoscopy at age 69

By Chris Michlewicz

cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Ed Peterson readily admits he was 19 years late in getting his first colonoscopy.

It’s the type of screening that’s easy to put off, especially when there is no cause for alarm. But when Peterson got winded trying to keep up with his family during a March 2013 vacation to Disneyland, he decided a physical was in order. By chance, his physician asked if he had ever had a colonoscopy.

“None of the doctors I’ve ever gone to really made a big issue out of a colonoscopy and no one I’ve ever known has had colon cancer,” he said.

A month later, the 69-yearold’s screening at Parker Adventist Hospital revealed an apricot-sized tumor that almost completely blocked his small intestine. Pe-

terson was still under anesthesia when Dr. John Sun delivered the news to Peterson’s wife, Della, who was sitting in the waiting room. Coincidentally, she had already gone through this once.

Her first husband died after a long battle with cancer. Peterson, her husband of five years, had been the “healthiest man I know” up to that point.

“I was just waiting, had no anticipation of anything being wrong. It was just a normal routine procedure,” she said. “And Dr. Sun came out and said, `I am so glad he came in’ and he showed me the picture they had taken of the tumor.”

Surgery was immediately scheduled and a PET scan was performed. It confirmed that the stage-2 cancer, which Sun believes had been growing for five to six years before it was caught, had not spread to his lymph nodes.

“That was the good news, so I was glad we caught it when we did, and obviously it saved my life,” said Peterson, who lives in Saddle Rock in southeast Aurora.

All of the information — from surgical tools to survival rates to recovery timeframe — was laid out on the table. Radiation wasn’t necessary, but Sun encouraged Peterson to undergo chemotherapy, despite a difference of opinion from Peterson’s oncologist. The hospital gave Peterson the option, and he took it because he didn’t want any lingering doubts.

Sun removed 10 inches of Peterson’s lower colon and he underwent six months of chemotherapy. Now that it’s known that colon cancer runs in the family, his children have been instructed to get regular colonoscopies starting at age 40. The general recommended age for a first colonoscopy, after extended dialogue between insurance companies and medical associations, is 50 years old, although Sun believes it should be earlier. However, insurance will not cover colonoscopies before age 50, Sun said.

Sun says colonoscopies are just as important as regular mammograms for women, and actually have a higher yield in discovering

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Colon cancer survivor Ed Peterson, left, shakes hands with surgeon John Sun, MD, at Parker Adventist Hospital. Peterson’s first colonoscopy revealed a tumor. Photo by Chris Michlewicz

discomfort. Peterson had surgery two days after his four-year anniversary, and his wife could not be more grateful for the outcome.

Della Peterson is unquestionably devoted to her husband, but she has gained a real affinity for Sun. “I love that man,” she said, referring to the doctor as an advocate for his patients. “I trust him with Ed’s life.”

polyps or cancerous growths.

“The most common symptom of colon cancer is no symptoms, and that’s why screening is so important,” he said.

The entire procedure, from pre-op to post-op, has gotten easier on patients and it takes 1035 minutes. Doctors have found better ways to find abnormalities and use anesthesia to reduce

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THINGS TO DO Smith

Girls on the Run of the Rockies

Continued from Page 4

EDITOR’S NOTE: Calendar submissions must be received by noon Wednesday for publication the following week. Send listings to calendar@coloradocommunitymedia.com. No attachments, please. Listings are free and run on a space-available basis.

MARCH 5 CLUB MEETING The Elizabeth Lion’s Club will meet

from 6-7 p.m. March 5 at the Pawnee Hills Clubhouse in Elizabeth. Learn about the Lion’s Club does for the community and get involved. Contact Terry Clayton at 303-646-3772.

MARCH 13 BUSINESS AFTER hours Enjoy visiting with local businesses at the next business after hours from 5-7 p.m. March 13 at Amazing Fibers LLC, 4325 PVT RD 160, Elizabeth. Great networking tool. Bring your business cards.

MARCH 19 BLOOD DRIVE Walmart Community Blood Drive, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 19 inside Bonfils’ mobile bus at 2100 Legacy Circle, Elizabeth. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Bonfils’ Appointment Center at (303) 363-2300 or visit www.bonfils.org.



MARCH 22 GARDENING GROUP Gather with fellow gardeners,

share your knowledge of gardening and get new ideas at the Simla Library Gardening Group meeting from 10-11:30 a.m. March 22 at the library.

APRIL 9, April 10 WRITING CONTEST Creative Communication is

accepting submissions for its essay contest, with divisions for grades 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12, through Feb. 18; and its poetry contest, with divisions for grades K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12, through April 10. Top 10 winners will be named in each division. Essays must be between 100 and 250 words on any non-fiction topic. Poetry must be 21 lines or less in English. Entries can made online at www.poeticpower.com or mail entries, labeled Poetry Contest or Essay Contest, to 159 N. Main, Smithfield UT 84335. Include author’s name, address, city, state and ZIP, current grade, school name, school address and teacher’s name. Home school students are welcome to enter. Selected entries of merit will be invited to be published in an anthology. An art contest for grades K-12 also is coming up.

To enter, take a photo of your original artwork and enter it at www.celebratingart.com; deadline is April 9. Full contest information is available online, or call 435-713-4411.

probably figure out why that had to go.

I wanted to compliment the dentistry profession. I have a wonderful dentist. But it just seems inevitable that I’ll want to try to slip something in there that doesn’t belong. She was named Dentist of the Year, so I asked her, “What did you get? A little plaque?”

I can hear the groans. I read what other columnists write, and it doesn’t seem like any of them have this problem, or maybe they do and we just don’t know about it because they hit “delete” before it goes out.

I don’t know if this is a true story or not, but Charles Dickens allegedly was asked by his publisher to delete one sentence, just one sentence, from the manuscript of “A Christmas Carol.” I wish it had been left in. What do you think? Here it is, or was: “Tiny Tim, quit picking your nose.”

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

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Learn more online at:

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At Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric, we give $1,000 every month to a local charity or nonprofit nominated by YOU! We’ve contributed more than $95,000 over the past 9 years with our monthly giveaway, and we’re still at it...making a difference where it matters most, close to home. Nominate your favorite local charity or nonprofit to win at www.ApplewoodFixIt.com.

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  

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Franktown

Lone Tree

Parker

Trinity Lutheran Church & School

Sunday Worship 8:00 & 10:45 a.m.

Trinity Lutheran School & ELC (Ages 3-5, Grades K-8)

 303-841-4660 www.tlcas.org  Castle Rock  First United

Where people are excited about God’s Word.

Plans Gone Astray? To whom will you go when you’re out of ideas?

There are times when we simply need a gracious God to guide us. Come and join us at 9:30 a.m. Sunday mornings at Lone Tree Civic Center, 8527 Lone Tree Parkway.

For directions and any questions about our ministry, contact Pastor Craig: (303) 883–7774 Immanuel Lutheran Mission is a member congregation of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ

Lone Tree

Methodist Church 



Parker

1200 South Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 303.688.3047 www.fumccr.org

 Services:  Saturday 5:30pm

Sunday 8am, 9:30am, 11am Sunday School 9:15am

Little Blessings Day Care www.littleblessingspdo.com

Chabad

Jewish Center

Douglas County’s only Synagogue, Hebrew School and Preschool No membership required www.DenverJewishCenter.com

Lone Tree

Lone Tree

Sunday Worship: 10:45AM & 6PM Bible Study: 9:30AM Children, Young People & Adults 4391 E Mainstreet, Parker, Colorado 80134 Church Office – (303) 841-3836

www.parkerbiblechurch.org

Highlands Ranch

GRACE PRESBYTERIAN

303-792-7222

Currently meeting at: 9220 Kimmer Drive, Suite 200 Lone Tree 80124 303-688-9506 www.LoneTreeCoC.com

Littleton

Greenwood Village

Connect – Grow – Serve

Sunday Worship

8:45 am & 10:30 am 9030 Miller road Parker, Co 80138 303-841-2125 www.pepc.org

Church of Christ Sunday Worship - 10:00am Bible Study immediately following Wednesday Bible Study - 7:30pm

Parker evangelical Presbyterian church

Alongside One Another On Life’s Journey

www.gracecolorado.com

You are invited to worship with us:

Sundays at 10:00 am

Grace is on the NE Corner of Santa Fe Dr. & Highlands Ranch Pkwy.

(Across from Murdochs)

SErviCES:

Saturday 5:30pm

Sunday 8:00 & 10:30am

Education Hour: Sunday 9:15am Joyful Mission Preschool 303-841-3770 7051 East Parker Hills Ct. • Parker, CO 303-841-3739 www.joylutheran-parker.org

United Church Of Christ Parker Hilltop 10926 E. Democrat Rd. Parker, CO • 10am Worship www.uccparkerhilltop.org 303-841-2808

303-798-8485 Parker

Community Church of Religious Science

An Evangelical Presbyterian Church Sunday Worship 10:30 4825 North Crowfoot Valley Rd. Castle Rock • canyonscc.org 303-663-5751 “Loving God - Making A Difference”

A place for you

Denver Tech Center

Welcome Home!

Weaving Truth and Relevance into Relationships and Life

worship Time 10:30AM sundays 9:00am Spiritual Formation Classes for all Ages 90 east orchard road littleton, co

Sunday services held in the historic Ruth Memorial Chapel

Join us at Sheraton Denver Tech Center 7007 S Clinton Street in Greenwood Village (nearby I-25 and Arapahoe Rd.)

www.cbsdenver.org

303-794-6643

Highlands Ranch

303 798 6387 Meets at the Marriott DTC 4900 S Syracuse St, Denver, CO 80237

10 am every Sunday Free parking

www.gracepointcc.us

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

Sunday Worship 8:00 am Chapel Service 9:00 & 10:30 am

Spiritual Ancestry Pastor Mark Brewer

Sunday School 9:00 & 10:30 am Sunday

8:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

1609 W. Littleton Blvd.

(303) 798-1389 • www.fpcl.org

...19650 E. Mainstreet, Parker 80138

Abiding Word Lutheran Church 8391 S. Burnley Ct., Highlands Ranch

(Next to RTD lot @470 & University)

New Thought...Ancient Wisdom Sunday Service

& Children’s Church 10:00 a.m.

Visit our website for details of classes & upcoming events.

303.805.9890

www.P a r k er C C R S.org P.O. Box 2945—Parker CO 80134-2945

Worship Services Sundays at 9:00am

303-791-3315

First Presbyterian Church of Littleton Open and Welcoming

Current Study:

at the Parker Mainstreet Center

Congregation Beth Shalom

www.st-andrew-umc.com 303-794-2683 Preschool: 303-794-0510 9203 S. University Blvd.

Highlands Ranch, 80126

pastor@awlc.org www.awlc.org

Parker

To advertise your place of worship in this section, call 303-566-4091 or email

kearhart@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com.