Fort Lupton Press March 27, 2025

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Taking on American Ninja Warrior and type 1 diabetes

Thornton’s Katie Bone has set high standards in competitive climbing

Scrambling up a sheer climbing wall or tackling a grueling American Ninja Warrior obstacle course are all challenges 19-year-old Katie Bone have taken on and mastered.

It’s not a surprise then that her type 1 diabetes has just won more barrier Bone has battled and beaten.

Bone said when she was rst diagnosed with the disease at age 11, she hardly blinked and decided the news was not going to slow her down.

“ e rst question I had for the doctor was can I climb again?” the ornton woman said.  When the doctor said yes, Bone quickly turned to “I am going to gure out how I was going to manage this,” she said.

Bone went onto become a nationally-ranked speed climber, earning a spot on the prestigious Youth National Climbing Team – USA. She also made history as the youngest champion in American Ninja Warrior’s Women’s Championship.

e Ninja Warrior competition fed Bone’s need to compete in an environment that encourages both courage and athletic skill. e Ninja obstacle courses as also just plain fun to take on, Bone said.

“ e movements are so cool, there you are ying through the air, it’s just super fun,” Bone said. “ ere are also di erent movements, and they are scary, but they push you hard. It pushed me as hard as I have ever been pushed.”

Bone has su ered plenty of physical setbacks including an injury to her ACL and MCL. at did not stop her from returning to American Ninja Warrior Season 17, which will be aired in June. She also barely missed qualifying for the 2024 Paris

Rough labor report for Colorado

State unemployment was worse than previously thought in 2024

Colorado’s unemployment rate increased by a tenth of a percentage point nearly every month last year. en in January, the increase shot to 4.7%, up three-tenths of a point.

While it may seem like something changed in January, it wasn’t as big of a jump as you’d think.

Blame the increase on data revisions. As it does every March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revises the data when new information comes in, such as “new population controls, re-estimation of models, and adjustment to new census division and national control totals,” said Tim Wonhof, program manager for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s division of labor standards and statistics. Still, Wonhof added, this was pretty noteworthy.

“It was a large revision,” he said in an email. “ e January 2025 unemployment rate of 4.7% is elevated compared to a year ago, but it is still below the state’s historical average of ~5.2%.”

Thornton’s Katie Bone takes on a climbing wall. COURTESY KATIE BONE

Aims begins work on Greeley work center

Aims Community College held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Greeley campus on March 13, celebrating a new facility dedicated to strengthening the local workforce helping graduates nd jobs.

Aims new $25.5 million Workforce Innovation Center is the rst innovation incubator in Weld County. It will serve as a convening space in Northern Colorado’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, providing a hub for innovation, business development, and job training by fostering collaboration between students, startups, and industry leaders.

“AWIC (the Aims Workforce Innovation Center) is a launchpad for opportunity,”

said Marilyn Schock, Chair of the Aims Board of Trustees. “By bringing together education, entrepreneurship, and industry, we are not only strengthening our regional workforce but also positioning Weld County as a leader in innovation and economic growth.”

e new center is expected to be complete in the fall of 2026. Its workforce center would be a 45,000-square foot center, a cutting-edge facility with the latest technology in Northern Colorado.

According to o cials, it would be the rst with an entrepreneurship ecosystem, business development and job training, with students collaborating with startups and industry leaders.

Dr. Leah L. Bornstein, Aims Community College CEO and President, said, the overarching goal is to ensure all who

Brighton Spring Trash Bash returns

use the facility can become future-ready through access to emerging technologies and spaces to innovate.

“ e AWIC represents a bold investment in the future of the Northern Colorado region, providing students, entrepreneurs, and industry partners with cutting-edge technology needed to drive innovation,” said Bornstein. “Designed to evolve with next-generation tech, the AWIC will feature spaces for students and community members to use emerging technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality tools.   e center will also o er business incubator space, with manufacturing labs and outdoor testing areas able to accommodate power, data and space needs for high-tech equipment.”

For updates on the visit project at aims. edu/news.

Fort Lupton spring clean-up April 12

Fort Lupton’s annual Spring clean-up day is is set for April 12 at 800 12th St. e city hosts two clean up events letting Fort Lupton residents dispose of approved household items and debris each year, in the spring and in the fall. e fall event is set for September.

Allowed items include furniture, cabinets, mattresses, bicycles, outdoor toys, carpet, doors, lawn and yard equipment, bundled or contained branches, and yard waste.

Items not allowed include industrial or commercial waste, concrete debris, household hazardous waste, regular curbside trash, essential documents to be shredded, and freon-based appliances.

Tires are allowed with the rims must be removed and will incur a recycling fee –

$4 for car and truck tires, $10 for semi and $15 for bigger tires.

Electronics and computers, CRT TVs and monitor will also need incure recycling fees: $25 for monitors under 25”, $30 for monitors between 27-32”, $50 for monitors that are 32” and bigger. Flatscreen TVs and miscellaneous electronics will incur a $5 fee.

Residents should bring a copy of your utility bill or driver’s license to prove residency. Only up to two pickup-sized truckloads of items are allowed.

Curbside collections in April e city is scheduling special curbside collections for seniors and the disabled on each ursday before the April 12 drop o day. ose interested in curbside

pickups should call the Public Works departmentat 303-857-6694 by April 8 to be added to the pickup list e Public Works department is asking residents to have your items at the curb or alley and easily accessible for quick pick up. City sta cannot leave the street to pick up items and recommends friends, family and neighbors assist seniors and the disabled in getting items to the curb.

Also, do not leave items that need to be broken down for disposal, such as hot tubs or camper shells. All branches must be in ve foot bundles. One pickup-trucksized load is allowed per address.  e city will not pick up tires or electronics curbside because of the fees charged for those items.

If you have questions, please call 303857-6694.

Brighton’s annual Spring Trash Bash program returns April 25 and 26 with trash drop-o and curbside collections earlier in the week for some. e program is for Brighton residents. Items can be dropped o at the Brighton Street entrance of the Brighton Wastewater Treatment Facility, 325 Kuner Road.

Items allowed include bicycles, lawn and yard equipment, and mattresses and box springs. Furniture, cabinets and appliances – not including refrigerators or freezers – will be accepted as well. Carpets will be accepted but must be cut up.

Yard waste will be accepted, but tree branches that must be cut to less than ve feet in length and bundled securely. Old doors and construction debris – nail-free sheeted material, wood, or lumber that is less than ve feet in length – can also be dropped o . In addition, small loose items must be in a container with a total weight relative to the type of container.

No commercial or industrial services are allowed to drop o items. Residents must bring a driver’s license or water bill as proof of residency.

Car and light pickup tires are accepted for a fee of $7 each and overside pickup tires would cost $10 each and semi-tries cost $20 each.  Residents with large trailers will be asked to unload the items themselves to keep lines moving.

e other collections are free but the city is asking for donations of $10 to help with the cost of service.

According to o cials, items not allowed include household trash, commercial waste, concrete, home improvement project debris, grass clippings, televisions, computers, stereos, air conditioners, freezers, microwaves, refrigerators, o ce electrical equipment, car bodies, smoke detectors, liquids, paint, motor oil, pesticides, chemicals, toxic, corrosive, or explosive materials or any sealed containers with unknown contents.

e city will curbside pickup for seniors and the disabled on April 22 and 23.  To schedule a pick-up call 303655-2087.

A fall Trash Bash is scheduled for on Sept. 19 and 20.

For more information, please call 303-655-2087.

Weld debuts scheduling service for planning department

Weld County hopes to make it easier for residents and county businesses to schedule Planning and Building Department services and inspections with a new telephone system, set to debut March 17.

“We are excited to o er this new system to our residents,” said Weld County Planning Director, David Eisenbraun. “It provides a more seamless experience, allowing customers to have more control over their appointments, and reducing wait times. is change is part of our ongoing e ort to modernize our services and make it easier for our community to

access the resources they need.”

e new Planning and Building Department started its new inspection scheduling system on March 17.  It improves on the old hotline number, which required people needing to schedule an appointment to leave a voicemail and then wait for a return call from a sta member.

With the new phone system, residents can call and schedule an inspection or manage their scheduled appointments.  e new system inspection scheduling number is  (970) 400-3015. For more information and detailed instructions, visit https://www.weld.gov/Government/ Departments/Building/Inspection-Process-Information.

Aims groundbreaking ceremony to build the new Aims Workforce Innovation Center. COURTESY AIMS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

One Large Brokerage Takes the Lead in Promoting Off-MLS ‘Private Exclusive’ Listing Networks

A few years ago, the National Association of Realtors promulgated the “Clear Cooperation Rule” making it harder for individual listing agents to have “pocket listings.”

of clients.” This, they say, allows you to:

Showcase before being market-ready

Generate early demand

Test your price and gain insights

Attract competitive offers

Those are listings which are withheld from the MLS so that the agent could sell it without having to share his or her commission with an agent representing the buyer. Doing so is a disservice to the seller, because the universe of potential buyers is substantially reduced when a listing isn’t posted where every other real estate agent and buyer can see it — that is, on the MLS.

Some brokerages with hundreds of agents are taking advantage of that rule’s one big loophole called the “Office Exclusive” listing. The bigger the brokerage, the more successful that approach can be. It allows all their broker associates to see the listing, but no agents outside that brokerage can see it. By keeping both ends of the transaction within the brokerage, that brokerage makes twice as much money.

One such large brokerage, which I’ll call Gotcha, has a page on its website promoting its “Private Exclusives.” At right is a screenshot from the top of that web page. Scrolling down, it explains Private Exclusives this way:

“Gotcha Private Exclusives are properties that are only accessible to Gotcha agents and their serious buyers. This means you can get a head start marketing your home, without accumulating any public days on market or price drops that could negatively impact its value. When you work with a Gotcha agent, listing as a Private Exclusive is the first stage of our 3-Phased Marketing Strategy designed to maximize demand and fine-tune your positioning for the best possible sale outcome.”

It describes the process as “pre-marketing,” although the company’s expectation is that the seller will sell to one of their own agents before getting to second base — listing it publicly on the MLS where over 20,000 others agents with prospective buyers can see it.

They call is a “soft launch to an exclusive audience,” exposing your listing to “a network of thousands of agents and their millions

Maintain your privacy

This approach is not only self-serving by Gotcha while preventing agents from other brokerages, including ours, from knowing about homes that our buyers might want to bid on, it also has serious Fair Housing implications, keeping less desirable populations from coming to your open houses and their agents from setting showings.

“Preserve Your Privacy,” boasts the web page: “Buying a Gotcha Private Exclusive helps safeguard your privacy by keeping your home’s photos off third-party sites — unlike publicly marketed properties, where images can stay online for years.”

This ignores the fact that a buyer can request that the agent or the MLS remove all pictures, videos and public remarks from the listing when it changes to “Closed.” I had exactly that request made of me after I sold a home in Golden to a privacy-minded buyer. A simple call to Support at REcolorado had all those pictures and videos removed immediately, and I deleted the website I had created for the home when I listed it. Just now, I Googled that address, and not a single website has anything more than the Google street view and one picture of the front porch. Even the public remarks paragraph was deleted. What is not explained by Gotcha in the way they promote their “private exclusive” program is that those listings are indeed posted on the MLS as “office exclusives” which

means that only other Gotcha agents can see that MLS listing until it is sold, at which point it becomes a publicly visible closed listing with all its pictures unless the agent removes them before changing the listing to “Closed.”

Looking at the closed listings for the Denver office of Gotcha on REcolorado, I found that only half of the listings had the pictures removed, so those pictures are on Zillow, Redfin and every other public website that displays sold listings. So much for Gotcha’s privacy promise!

The strategy is paying off for Gotcha, which benefits when both sides of a listing are sold in-house. A study for the 1,252 closings by the Denver office of Gotcha in the last 180 days shows that 64 listings were only entered as “closed” with zero days on the MLS, a sign that they were “office exclusives,” and roughly half of those were sold to agents within the same office, and 15 of them were double-ended by the listing agent. Among all MLS listings, the average percentage of listings that are double-ended is about 5%. It goes without saying that Gotcha agents are really excited that their brokerage facilitates and encourages agents to promote their off-MLS “private exclusive” process.

One of our Golden Real Estate agents lives on Lookout Mountain and showed me a flyer that he received soliciting him to list his home as a Gotcha Private Exclusive with all the selling points listed above.

Although it’s impossible to say whether sellers who fell for Gotcha’s pitch about being a “Gotcha Private Exclusive” left money on the table by not exposing their listing to at least 20 times as many buyers by going to traditional route and abiding by the intention

of the Clear Cooperation Rule, but I still feel that they are being duped into doing something that feathers the nest of Gotcha and its agents and doesn’t serve the interests of their clients, as the Realtor Code of Ethics requires. Certainly, I don’t see any warning, to prospective sellers regarding the limitations of staying off the MLS, something the Colorado Real Estate Commission encourages in Position Statement #27:

“During the negotiation of the Listing Contract, and as part of the Broker’s duty to exercise reasonable skill and care, a Broker is responsible for advising the seller or landlord “of any material benefits or risks of a transaction which are actually known by the Broker.” This includes benefits or risks of limiting a property’s market exposure…. Are the intended marketing limitations for the benefit of the Consumer or the Broker? What are the advantages and disadvantages for the Consumer? These types of marketing limitations that reduce the seller or landlord’s buyer/tenant pool... for the benefit of the Broker could be a violation of the license law because the Broker is not exercising reasonable skill and care…. [T]he Broker may be viewed by the Commission as also violating their fiduciary duties. Finally, a Broker who places the importance of receiving a commission or other Broker benefits above their duties, responsibilities, or obligations to the seller or landlord... is endangering the interest of the public.”

Not satisfied with exploiting the “Office Exclusive” loophole on the MLS, the national president of Gotcha is the loudest voice for eliminating the Clear Cooperation Rule.

Here’s How Money Is Handled at Real Estate Closings

As closing day approaches, both buyers and sellers have questions about how money is going to be handled. Let me explain.

Sellers ask:

Q. Should I bring money to the closing?

A. No. It is the title company’s job to receive and disperse all funds related to the closing. They collect the money from the buyer and the buyer’s lender and disperse funds as needed, including what’s left to the seller.

So, let’s say you have a mortgage to pay off. The closer gets a payoff figure from the lender and withholds that amount from the seller’s proceeds, plus a few extra days’ interest to cover the time between when they send the payoff and the lender receives it.

The seller will also owe commissions to one or both agents, plus property taxes pro-rated to the date of closing. There will also be a final water & sewer bill for which the closer will escrow some of your proceeds. There’s the cost of title insurance (the “owner’s policy”) and the closing fee charged by the Notary. If a loan is being paid off, there will be a small charge for obtaining and recording the release of the lender’s lien with the county clerk and recorder. Maybe the seller agreed to a concession to cover needed repairs or to buy down the interest rate on their loan.

Those and any other fees for which the seller is responsible will simply be deducted from the seller’s proceeds. The seller will not have to write any checks at closing.

Q. What about the funds which my lender has escrowed for paying property taxes and the renewal of my homeowner’s insurance?

A. Those funds can’t be brought to the closing table. You will get a check from your lender within 30 days of closing refunding the funds

that had been escrowed.

Remember to call your insurance company on the day of closing to let them know you have sold the home and to cancel your policy. You will receive a return premium check from them within 30 days of closing.

You will also receive a check from the title company refunding any escrowed funds for those extras days of interest and the money left after paying your final water bill.

Buyers ask:

Q. Can I bring a check for my down payment?

A. Typically, no. Your closer may accept a certified check if the amount is small, but expect to wire the funds not covered by your lender. Get those wiring instructions in person or over the phone, not by email or any other means. There are scammers who may send you an email with “new” wiring instructions, but immediately call the title company to get them verbally. And don’t call the phone number provided by the scammer! If you don’t already know the phone number to call, get it from your real estate agent or search online for it.

The funds should be wired the day before closing by both you and your lender, especially if it’s a morning closing. Wired funds can take as much as 3 hours to navigate the Federal Reserve system, which needs to verify that funds are not laundered from some illicit source.

All you and the seller should bring to closing are your government issued photo IDs, which are needed to Notarize your documents. You might bring your checkbook in case there are any incidentals expenses which arise or if you’ve agreed to purchase any of the seller’s furniture, etc., “outside of closing.”

Gotcha

LABOR REPORT

Everything rose — the number of adults in Colorado’s labor force, the number employed and the number unemployed. More people joined or rejoined the state’s workforce in January, putting the state’s labor force participation rate at 68%, the sixth highest nationwide. e revisions led Colorado to change its average unemployment rate in 2024 to 4.3%, from 3.9%. Wonhof gave no explanation for the increase other than it’s the result of the usual data benchmarking process. Colorado tied with Alaska for seventh highest jobless rate in the U.S.

e increase in January runs counter to Colorado’s recent past, at least compared to the national trend. Colorado’s jobless rate had been lower than the U.S. for most of the past decade and most of the past three years. As Colorado’s unemployment rate rose in January, the U.S. went the other direction, falling a tenth of a point to 4%.

Caitlin McKennie, director of research at Common Sense Institute, a conservative think tank in Greenwood Village, called the opposing direction “signicant.”

“For a considerable amount of time we have seen Colorado outpace the nation in terms of lower unemployment levels,” McKennie said in an email. “Colorado has boasted lower unemployment levels relative to the U.S. averages in nearly all state reports for years. We don’t know just yet whether this is a data bug or a true

indictment of Colorado’s job growth.”

How unemployment rates are determined e monthly unemployment rate isn’t based on how many people le for unemployment bene ts each month, since some folks run out of bene ts before nding a new job. e rate is based on the Current Population Survey by the BLS and U.S. Census Bureau. It surveys about 59,000 households nationwide every month, asking questions of the whole household about their work status. It has an average response rate of 75%, one of the highest for a government survey.

e unemployment rate is essentially an estimate of how many working-age adults are unemployed compared to the labor force.

As new data from other sources comes in — including the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, which employers must share employee counts and wages for state unemployment eligibility — revisions occur. e BLS suspended Colorado’s QCEW data last fall to investigate data quality concerns but resumed publication last month after issues with the state’s overhaul of its unemployment system were addressed.

e additional data helps provide a more complete understanding of local economies, down to the city. Otherwise, there’s a high chance that very few people, if anyone, was surveyed in any given city in Colorado, said Brian Lewandowski, executive director of the Business Research Division at the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business.

He uses an anecdote to help people better understand local unemployment rates. In a city like Westminster, the BLS

may have surveyed 13 people or zero people for any given month. But the city is still assigned an unemployment rate because it has more than 25,000 people. (Westminster’s estimated December unemployment rate was 4.9%.)

“I think that’s sort of remarkable when you think about how small that sample likely is for a place like Westminster,” he said. “It’s a handful of people. And the same for Boulder. It just demonstrates how they’re using a large sample (at) a national level but they’re inferring a lot about local areas.”

e latest revision put Colorado’s unemployment rate higher than the U.S. for nearly the entire year, except for February when the two were the same.

January’s rising unemployment rate

Since data is always getting revised, economists caution about using a single month’s number, like January’s 4.7%.

“But is it exactly 4.7%? at’s immaterial,” Lewandowski said. “It’s elevated and it’s been rising. … I hesitate to say this out loud but it’s sort of like a recession threshold. I look at it creeping up to 4.7% and I’m like, we’ve got to keep an eye on it.”

e other aspect is that after the revisons, there are now more people in Colorado’s labor force, so it’s not just about people losing a job. With growth in the labor force, there’s more people working, possibly creating a tighter labor market.

McKennie shared data from labor research rm Lightcast, which estimated that Colorado employers posted 1.3 million unique job postings last year while there were 630,531 active job seekers in the state.

“While labor force participation and job growth are both strong in 2025, it is likely that the state’s labor market continues to be tight — with a mismatch between what employers are looking for and the available talent,” McKennie said. January’s increasing rate in Colorado is still something to watch. During the month, industries seeing the biggest job gains were private education and health services, up 2,500 jobs. e government sector was up 2,100 jobs compared with December.

But the month also saw a higher than usual loss of jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry, which was one of two sectors with job losses of more than 1,000.

Wonhof said that while this industry, which includes hotels and restaurants, tends to see slight job gains in January, it’s di cult to pinpoint a speci c reason for the monthly decline.

However, he said, “in ation for food and beverage in the Denver MSA (our best proximate estimate for in ation in the state) has been ticking upward since September 2024, which could be dampening demand and therefore impacting hiring for the sector.”

According to the revised data, the state’s leisure and hospitality sector has shed 3,600 jobs since October. At the national level, the sector is down 30,000 jobs since December.

“Since we’re also seeing national losses in leisure and hospitality, there are likely other factors at play,” Wonhof said. is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

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Adams County’s Air and Space Port an economic engine locally and for the state

e Colorado Air and Space Port is becoming an important economic catalyst for both Adams County and Colorado, according to a study that rates the economic impact of the state’s airports.

e facility – also known as CASP – is classi ed as a National General Aviation Reliever Airport with over 500 based aircraft and 126,000 operations in 2024. It is also  FAA-licensed Horizontal Launch Spaceport and wants to position itself as a national leader in suborbital ight, aerospace research, and commercial space transportation, according to an Adams County news release.

Located in unincorporated Adams County adjacent to Aurora and six miles southeast of Denver International Airport, CASP “continues to fuel the re-

Report details Spaceport impact

gion’s growth, o ering opportunities for business and innovators alike,” the news release states.

As evidence, county o cials point to the latest Colorado Aviation Economic Impact Study, which reports that CASP generated a staggering $213 million in total business revenues in 2023, supporting over 1,000 jobs and contributing $130.4 million in value to the state’s economy.

“CASP isn’t just making an impact, it’s shaping the future of our county and state in real time,” said Commissioner Lynn Baca, Chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners, in the news release.

“It’s fueling growth, sparking innovation, and pushing the boundaries of suborbital space research and development,” Baca said. “But beyond that, CASP is building a strong economic future for Adams County. e progress we’re seeing today means more stability for families and new opportunities for our young people to explore careers in aerospace and aviation, creating lasting bene ts that go far beyond the numbers.”   e Economic Impact Study, con-

ducted by the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics, highlights CASP’s expanding role in the aviation and aerospace sectors.

Of the total $213 million impact, $187.1 million stems from on-airport activities, including aerospace manufacturing, ight training, aircraft maintenance, and corporate travel. Visitor spending added another $25.9 million, further demonstrating CASP’s in uence on local businesses and tourism, according to the news release.

“ is report really highlights the in uence that the Colorado Air and Space Port has on the regional economy,” said Je Kloska, Director of CASP, in the news release. “It’s not just about giving planes another place to take o —airports act as economic engines and draw business to them. CASP is more than just a general aviation airport, it’s an access point to the region from both national and international locations which is important for business operators.

“With the spaceport side of our operation, we’re continuing to grow CASP as a destination for aerospace within the Adams County’s economy,” Kloska said.

“As we keep pushing the limits of commercial space and aviation, our county is cementing its role as a leader in this fastgrowing industry.”

El Paso, Adams top counties for speeding citations in school zones

Too many drivers are blowing through school and construction zones in Colorado and El Paso and Adams County are the top two counties where the most speeding citations are issued for rushing through low-speed zones.

According to Colorado State Patrol data, 49 of Colorado’s 64 counties had at least

one instance of a driver receiving a citation in either a work zone or school zone. e top ve counties with the most speeding citations issued by Colorado State Troopers in these low-speed zones in 2024 were El Paso County, with 327 citations, Adams County with 104, Eagle County, with 77, Boulder County with 56 and Park County with 56.

El Paso’s 2024 numbers represented an increase of 222 citations compared to

2023.

In all, Colorado State Troopers in 2024 cited almost 1,220 people for speeding in construction or school zones.

“Kids, neighbors and road workers count on all of us to care about other humans when they enter these spaces. Currently, too many motorists are failing these vulnerable populations,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol in a news release.

“A driver should never assume people will not be present in these low-speed zones, no matter the day of the week or time of day. Follow the law because people’s lives depend on you.”

Speeding is a common type of aggressive driving, and it can happen on neighborhood streets as well as busy four-lane highways, Packard said.

“Speeding can be habit forming, but it doesn’t make it excusable,” said Pack-

dedicated to engaging with our communities to better understand how we can provide healthcare and services to meet local needs.

Please join us for a two-hour in-person public meeting on Wednesday, May 14, from 1 - 3 p.m. to learn more about our community impact on health and wellness. The meeting

Colorado Air and Space Port received it’s new classification designation as a National General Aviation Airport. FILE PHOTO

After the struggle comes the story

“When you are in the middle of a story it isn’t a story at all, but only a confusion; a dark roaring, a blindness, a wreckage of shattered glass and splintered wood; like a house in a whirlwind, or else a boat crushed by the icebergs or swept over the rapids, and all aboard powerless to stop it.” Margaret Atwood, “Alias Grace”

I came across this Atwood quotation from her novel this week while listening to Daniel Pink’s book, “When.” It was no more than the introductory quotation for a chapter on midpoints in work, life, and projects but the words resonated for me. Although not the intent of either author, Atwood’s words perfectly capture what happens when we let our struggles control us. Following my MS diagnosis in 2009, I could not have described more accurately the chaotic helplessness I felt. I believe all who have faced a signi cant struggle understand this. e feeling is dark, confusing and overwhelming, and the direction up is not clear in the midst of the turmoil.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

After reading those words and pondering the ideas she so perfectly framed for me, I discovered there was more to the quotation. Atwood, in her novel, goes on to say… “It’s only afterwards that it becomes anything like a story at all. When you are telling it, to yourself or to someone else. “

I was mesmerized by the beauty of Atwood’s word choice. As I dove into her words and moved beyond the de nition of chaos into the resolution she describes, it sparked a realization about my struggles.

I recognized that the road out of “the wreckage of shattered glass and splintered wood” comes with the empowerment of understanding that the “afterwards” is not at the end of our life or even at the end of our struggle it is at the mo-

ment when we decide we will be the author of our story and that circumstances will no longer write the narrative.

Let me explain a little bit more about what I mean. While we will never control the circumstances of our struggle, when we understand that the events that weaken our bodies, tragedies that rupture our families, or happenings that change our circumstances are not the author of our story we begin to change. Moreover, when we realize that our mindset is the author of our story then we have accomplished something truly transformative.

When we are the author, we have taken what is rightfully ours and can begin to write with a clarity that only comes from ownership. In that moment, we move from “I can’t.” to “Can I, this way?” is change removes the walls of limitation crushing into us, replacing them with the boundless possibilities of hope and enthusiasm.

Easier said than done? Yes.

Worth the e ort? Undoubtedly. is week I hope that you will take on

Making the climb worth the view

Climbing the mountain, whether in summer or winter, is a test of endurance, perseverance, and growth. e climb is always worth the view, but the journey itself teaches us invaluable lessons. And just as the ascent requires strength and determination, the descent can present unique challenges depending on the trail’s steepness.

In the winter, di erent climbers take di erent approaches. Some choose to snowshoe up and back down, embracing the challenge of both the climb and the return. Others prefer to snowshoe to the top and take the lift down, opting for a mix of e ort and ease. en there are the extreme athletes who “skin” up the mountain, placing tear-away skins on their skis to gain traction as they ascend and then remove the skins to ski down. ese individuals always amaze me. Personally? I prefer to take the lift up and enjoy using gravity to help me glide back to the base. A hike up the mountain is invigorating and gorgeous during the summer. e climb is worth it in both seasons, whether we’re rewarded with a panoramic view of snowcapped peaks or an expanse of aspen trees and wild owers. Regardless of the method, the journey to the top mirrors the personal and professional growth we experience in life. When hiking or skinning, people exert and push themselves. ey learn valuable lessons about pacing, endurance, and adaptability. Each climb builds muscle, experience, and knowledge. ey gure out where to step and where not to step, how to navigate the snow or the rocky terrain. Some areas are steeper, demanding greater strength and tenacity, while other parts provide small plateaus where we can catch our breath. With each climb, they get stronger, better, and more knowledgeable. However we get there, reaching the summit brings a sense of victory. We see, feel, and even taste the crisp mountain air at the top. e view is spectacular, and the reward for our e ort is undeniable. e same is true in our personal and professional journeys. We live in an era of immense learning opportunities, where AI and advanced technology enable us to reach new heights if we

WINNING

develop a mindset of continuous learning. at rst hike or “skin” up the mountain is tough for new salespeople. However, the climb becomes more manageable with each practiced role-play, prospect interaction, and one-on-one coaching session. It doesn’t necessarily get easier, but they become stronger, more skilled, and more prepared for the next ascent.

Newly promoted managers face a similar challenge. eir rst climbs are steep as they learn to coach, mentor, and have di cult conversations. With experience, they gain con dence in their decisionmaking, making the climb less daunting. e peaks and valleys initially seem almost insurmountable for entrepreneurs who take the bold step of starting a new business. But as they gain traction, nd their footing, and take each step as it comes, they, too, will one day enjoy the breathtaking view from the top.

I may prefer the lift in winter, but that doesn’t mean I stop observing and learning. As I ride up, I look down at the skiers and identify the beginners, the intermediates, and the experts, even those who have mastered their craft beyond expert levels. It gives me perspective. In di erent areas of life, I have been, and still am, at all these stages, a beginner in some things, an intermediate in others, and occasionally an expert.

e mountains, the climbs, and the descents serve as metaphors for our journey through life and career. No matter where we are in our climb, we have the opportunity to grow, to get stronger, and to reach new heights. And when we do, the view will always be worth it.

I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can put in the work, the climb will be worth the view.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

the challenge of seeing yourself and not your circumstances as the author of your story and that you will begin to act in a way that re ects the beauty of the tale you have to tell.

You have got this.

I hope my words encourage you, and that you will share them with those who need support. ank you to everyone who has shared their stories with me so far; I truly appreciate hearing about the valuable ideas you nd in these columns and how you use them to uplift those around you.

Jim Roome lives in Arvada with his wife Beth. He spent 34 years in public education. Lessons learned from the one two punch of being diagnosed with MS shortly before his best friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer led him into a new pursuit as a freelance writer and speaker. He uses his life experiences and love of stories to inspire, educate and encourage local, national and international audiences. Contact him at jim.roome@gmail.com.

Plan for needs, wants during uncertain time

Recent events may make you feel the future is very uncertain. Technically, of course, all futures are uncertain. You can look at history or make assumptions about tari s, layo s, budget cuts and taxes, but that still won’t give you a clear path. It’s time to look at what you do and don’t have control over and build on your needs and wants.

I always start with the inevitable and create my plan around the worst-case scenario. is considers aging, elder care, even death. It includes longevity, market volatility and in ation. Stack as many potential factors into your plan and see if it still holds up. Add rising taxes, a low-growth economy and uctuating interest rates. Now review what you need to live on and what you would like to see for your career, family and legacy. Yes, proper planning can be very involved, but this is the best way to protect yourself.

All these items need to be considered before you ever start to design a portfolio. Mapping out these situations and marking what is a necessity and what you can control are key to getting it right. is is quite di erent than looking to the government or the markets to x all your problems. Searching for the best performer and building your investments around it won’t deliver lasting results either.

Once you have identi ed as many roadblocks as you can, drill down to a relatively simple subject such as retiree income. Identify your resources, such as Social Security, pension and investments. Determine your income needs for necessities such as housing, medical, food and insurance. Does your xed income cover your xed expenses? If so, then your

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

investments could be geared towards some of your goals and wishes. Now add in your lifestyle with discretionary items such as travel, entertainment and home improvements. Next, layer your legacy wishes for what you would like to pass on to your heirs and the message you want to send.

Now you know what portion of your investments need to be designated for income or growth, and you can start to see what assets should be dedicated to which decade and how to plan for in ation. You can determine when you may need more income if you strip out any cost-of-living increases from Social Security or a pension, since you don’t ultimately have control over those. en your timeline will clearly indicate how your needs will be taken care of and how much will be available for your desires and for future generations. Now market volatility only a ects you in the near term on an investment you may not need for a decade. You know where your income and in ation hedges will come from, and you can sleep peacefully.

You will have much less stress if you work on your own plan — not the president’s, not the Federal Reserve’s, not the stock market’s. Use your plan as a guide in both good times and bad to help you focus on what matters most to you.

Patricia Kummer is managing director for Mariner, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser.

Jim Roome
Patricia Kummer

Two days after detaining a well-known Denver immigrant rights activist, federal o cials responded to public outcry by calling Jeanette Vizguerra a “convicted criminal alien” and laying out her 16year legal saga to attempt to stay in the country.

Vizguerra, who spent three years living in a Denver church to avoid deportation, was arrested March 17 while on a break from her job at a Target. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were quiet about the arrest until March 19, when they said Vizguerra was picked up “without incident” and “will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States.”

Vizguerra, 53, entered the United States illegally in El Paso, Texas, in 1997, according to federal o cials. In 2009, she was pulled over in Arapahoe County and authorities found that she had used documents that included a false Social Security number. e mother of four, including three children born in the United States, has been ghting deportation efforts ever since.

“Vizguerra is a convicted criminal alien from Mexico who has a nal order of deportation issued by a federal immigration judge,” ICE said in a news release, its rst comment on the detention that stirred

Our Family Helping Your Family

anger and panic within the immigration community. “She illegally entered the United States near El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 24, 1997, and has received legal due process in U.S. immigration court.”

News of Vizguerra’s detention set o a restorm of comments from Democrats, including Gov. Jared Polis and members of Congress. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston called it a “Putin-style persecution of political dissidents.”

After Vizguerra’s arrest by the Arapahoe County Sheri ’s O ce in 2009, she was picked up by ICE on an immigration detainer. She was released on bond after two weeks in detention, and later convicted in Arapahoe County of driving without a license and not having insurance.

Vizguerra was granted a stay of deportation until 2015, and when the application for another stay was denied in 2017, she took sanctuary in First Unitarian Society Church in Denver instead of reporting, as ordered, to ICE.

She was denied applications to stay in the U.S. multiple times from 2019 to 2021, until she was eventually given a one-year stay of deportation, which was renewed.

Vizguerra’s last stay of deportation expired in February 2024, ICE said, leading to her arrest Monday.

Vizguerra’s time in the church, where federal agents were prohibited from ar-

A year and a half later, in 2011, a federal immigration judge denied her application to remain in the country, but agreed to a “voluntary departure,” meaning she agreed to leave the United States, according to ICE.

But Vizguerra did not leave then. In 2012, she returned to Mexico because her mother died. She was picked up by Border Patrol agents in 2013 as she tried to return to her family in the United States, crossing the border in Candelaria, Texas, according to ICE. Entering the U.S. illegally after a judge has ordered removal from the country is a felony, but Vizguerra ended up pleading guilty to a lesser charge, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to one year of probation. e previous order that she be removed from the country was reinstated, however.

in the world in 2017, and in the past few months, has spoken out in the media against President Trump’s immigration policies.

Vizguerra was being held at the ICE detention center in Aurora, where family and friends were keeping vigil outside. Her attorneys sued federal o cials in U.S. District Court in Denver, arguing that Vizguerra should be released from detention and deserves a hearing before she is deported.

Vizguerra’s detention comes after at least two other high-pro le immigrant activists or university leaders were taken into ICE custody, including Brown University professor Rasha Alawieh and former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil.

It also follows the Trump administration’s attempts to deport immigrants without hearings or other usual protec-

tions, including invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime measure that allows the country broader authority to conduct mass deportations. e administration claimed the United States is at war with the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. e move was struck down by a federal judge March 15. is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

Jeanette Vizguerra ROSSANA LONGO BETTER

GRAND JUNCTION — County Road 46 meanders around the northern edge of Rangely, curving next to the White River before bending toward the oil and gas infrastructure that’s a major part of the town’s identity.

One piece of industrial equipment — a decadesold, 75-foot-tall water tank — looks right at home on CR 46. But e Tank Center for Sonic Arts isn’t part of the oil and gas industry. It’s a renowned recording space for music and other performing arts with a oneof-a-kind reverb and echo that signer Cameron Beauchamp describes as the space collaborating with you.

“If I’m singing a long tone that would last 20 seconds, I can take a breath in the middle and you won’t notice it at all in the room, because the room carries your voice for so long,’’ he said.

His vocal ensemble, Roomful of Teeth, has recorded two projects at e Tank, and rely on thousands of dollars of National Endowment for the Arts money to create their art, year in and year out.

Artists and small endeavors like e Tank are concerned about the future, as many of their projects depend on NEA grants directly. e NEA was one of the many programs thrown into chaos during the Trump administration’s short-lived federal funding pause earlier this year. Future funding is uncertain.

President Donald Trump previously called to eliminate federal arts funding, and the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank behind Project 2025, has called NEA endowments “wasteful.”

e Tank also receives money from Colorado Creative Industries, the state arts and culture o ce. at o ce has a total budget of $4.2 million for 2025. e

NEA contributed $948,000 to the budget, according to the Colorado O ce of Economic Development, of which CCI is a part.

Governor Polis and the state legislature increased funding for CCI last year, possibly making Colorado eligible for more federal money, but it’s too early to know what NEA funding will look like next year.

NEA and CCI also provide funding to organizations like the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance company in Denver, the Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia and a program that develops new American plays at the Creede Repertory eatre, located in the town of less than 300 people tucked in Colorado’s San Juan mountains.

It’s not just the former Rio Grande railroad equipment that makes e Tank special -- it’s rural Colorado.

“ e Tank couldn’t be anywhere else. It’s a very sensitive instrument for sound, if it were next to the freeway, no one would ever go in there. It’d be a howling mess,” said James Paul, executive director of e Tank.

Paul is counting on continued funding from NEA

for a residency program at e Tank during which CU Boulder students will use the space to record their work before performing at the university’s Black Box Experimental Studio.

For a few days in January, when the Trump administration froze federal grants and loans, the check for that residency program wasn’t going to be paid. e freeze was rescinded in late January, and the graduate students have gotten underway on their recording.

Paul and Beauchamp both said arts funding is always in a state of uncertainty, regardless of the administration, but said there’s so much to lose if the creative ecosystem created by these grants is severely reduced or taken away altogether.

Su Teatro, the performing arts center focusing on Latino culture on Santa Fe Drive in Denver, is part of that larger creative community, receiving funding to put on a play from Knoxville artist Linda Parris-Bailey. at funding, an NEA grant, was $15,000.

SEE ARTS FUNDING, P9

Cameron Beauchamp, signer
Zeena Parkins and Scott Amendola play in The Tank in Rangely. COURTESY JAMES PAUL
BY JOSHUA VORSE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

ARTS FUNDING

“In the end the biggest loss is to the country, as so much of the texture and beauty that makes us interesting and inspiring will disappear. Some people think they are silencing the ‘others,’ but inevitably in silencing the NEA we will silence ourselves,” wrote Tony Garcia, executive artistic director at Su Teatro, in a statement to Rocky Mountain PBS.

Garcia says that funding hasn’t been cut. ere’s a chance it could be, as NEA now requires grant applicants to abide by an executive order that targets anyone

promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

Hundreds of artists signed a protest letter against the new rules in February. Last week, the ACLU led suit against the federal arts agency about a similar rule that says grant applicants can’t promote “gender identity” in their art.

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance has a long history with the National Endowment for the Arts; Robinson was on the National Arts Council in the 90s and early 2000s. is scal year, the dance company received a $25,000 grant for their 55th anniversary season.

“So much of who we are and the notoriety and what allows us to do our arts and education work is really because of the quality of dancers that we have and the type of projects that we’re able to do with support from the

NEA,” said Malik Robinson, CEO of CPRD.

In Rangely “a multi-level chandelier of microphones” hung 30 feet above Beauchamp and company as they recorded in e Tank last year, for an album where each song is sung in the tuning frequency of a di erent planet in the solar system.

“Governments on our planet that support the arts in a meaningful way have a great respect for humanity, and for kindness, and for beauty,” said Beauchamp. “Some countries really succeed at this and some don’t at all.” Rocky Mountain PBS multimedia journalist Carly Rose contributed to this report.

Printed with permission from Rocky Mountain PBS. For information about supporting the organization, go to rmpbs.org.

From left, Thann Scoggin, Steven Bradshaw, and Cameron Beauchamp, recording in The Tank in 2024. COURTESY HALEY FREEDLUND
Once property of the Rio Grande railroad, this 75-foot-tall water tank is now
space in Rangely. IMAGE
Dancers with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble perform in an open rehearsal in 2023. PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN

Women’s soccer team plan location for future stadium

e National Women’s Soccer League team that is coming to Denver is still unnamed, but the question of where it will play has been answered.

e team will build a stadium and “recreational district” at Sante Fe Yards, a planned development adjacent to the Broadway Station light rail stop at Santa Fe Drive and Interstate 25.

“ is will be the largest overall investment in a women’s professional sports team in history,” Denver NWSL controlling owner Rob Cohen said in a press release.

e new stadium will open in 2028. e team, set to debut in 2026, will play at a yet-to-be-announced temporary site until then.

Renderings for the stadium show a 14,500-seat, three-sided arena surrounded by a park and mixed-use development. e design was led by architecture rm Populous.

e land will be purchased by both the club and the city, according to e Denver Post. City property records for the

sites show the properties are valued at about $24 million.

Any land acquisition by the city would have to be approved by Denver City Council, and a portion of the property will need to be rezoned.

More about the site

e stadium will be built at the southern border of Denver’s Baker neighborhood, near the Broadway on-ramp to I-25. at area has been at a crossroads for years. While three light rail lines connect to the nearby RTD station — making it a promising location for a dense, walkable and transit-oriented neighborhood — attempts at that kind of development have slowed.

A few years ago it was envisioned as part of a 7.5 acre-development known as Broadway Station, which included Santa Fe Yards. So far, those e orts have stalled, and the land remains a collection of dirt lots. e area was once home to the former Gates rubber factory site. Denver’s Baker neighborhood has been historically middle-class, but recent city data shows it has shed that reputation.

In 2023, 54 percent of its residents made more than $100,000. Citywide, 46 percent of Denverites make that amount of money. Meanwhile, from 2018 to 2023, the share of residents who make

A sports medicine strategy for her

First-of-its-kind program launches at Children’s Hospital Colorado

ree years ago, Nevaeh Zamora was running cross country as a high school freshman at Pinnacle Charter School in ornton when her body gave out. Malnourished and overtrained, she tore her hip exor, an injury that sidelined her and forced her to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about fueling her body. “I went to eating only one meal a day because I thought, ‘Oh, the smaller runners are the ttest and the fastest, and that’s going to get me to that next point.’ And it ended up just running me to injury,” Zamora said.

at injury ultimately led her to the Female Athlete Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where she worked with sports medicine specialists, a nutritionist and a physical therapist to heal physically and mentally.

“Without the Female Athlete Clinic, I would not be where I am today,” Zamora said. “ ey de nitely took the naarrative that food was bad and shifted that completely. Without them, I don’t think I’d be graduating this year.”

Now, the Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado is home to a rst-of-its-kind resource for young female athletes. Launched last fall, the Female Athlete Program takes a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to athlete health, one that goes beyond injury treatment to address nutrition, menstrual health, and long-term wellness.

Aubrey Armento, a pediatric sports medicine doctor, marathon runner and advocate for young female athletes, leads

the program.

Armento said she battled with underfueling and missed periods during high school and college, giving her rsthand insight into how these challenges a ect performance and long-term health. As a result, she created a specialized program that not only treats female athletes but also helps prevent these issues before they start.

“We bring together a sports dietitian and an adolescent gynecologist, which many programs don’t have because we know female athlete health isn’t just about one issue,” Armento said.

less than $75,000 dropped from 52 percent to 33 percent. is story is from Denverite, a Denver news site. Used by permission. For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite.com.

According to her, one of the most signi cant risks for female athletes is low energy availability, which refers to a mismatch between how much energy an athlete burns and how much she consumes.

“If an athlete doesn’t have enough energy to support normal body functioning, it can lead to what’s called the female athlete triad, “ Armento said. “So in response

to that, we can see an athlete lose their period, have infrequent periods or delayed starts of their period.”

Dr. Aubrey Armento treats a patient at the Sports Medicine Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado. COURTESY OF CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO
A rendering of the future women’s soccer stadium at Santa Fe Yards, at Santa Fe Drive and Interstate 25. COURTESY OF DENVER NWSL

Colorado Early Colleges (CEC) 2025 SCHOOL OF CHOICE

Colorado Early Colleges (CEC) is a network of tuition-free public charter schools, providing Colorado families with accessible, flexible, and individualized learning and a direct path to debt-free college degrees and other industry credentials.

Since the doors of our first high school campus opened in 2007 in Colorado Springs, Colorado Early Colleges and our accredited college partners have been committed to creating a community of lifetime learners and building a culture throughout our network of schools that fosters academic, career, and personal success for every student, and do so at zero tuition-cost to them and their families.

CEC now has campus locations all across

Colorado, including local high school campuses in Aurora, Castle Rock, and Douglas County North. CEC Online Campus is also our online learning option, open to families anywhere in Colorado, also at zero-cost.

Our schools work in partnership with local community colleges and universities, offering students the chance to take college-level courses, both on and off campus. The goal is to create a pathway that allows students to graduate high school with a competitive edge and ready to enter the workforce upon graduation. Through CEC, students can earn college degrees, industry certifications, and 60 or more college course credits while simultaneously earning their high school diploma.

Why choose Colorado Early Colleges?

Flexible Learning Options: CEC offers accessible, flexible and individualized learning, recognizing that each student has unique academic needs and personal goals. Students work with their advisors on an academic plan that is right for them and aligns with their career aspirations. This

flexibility enables students to work at their own pace, challenging themselves with advanced coursework when ready, while also receiving the support they need to succeed.

Career Pathways and Technical Education: CEC offers career pathways and technical education in a variety of industries. These programs incorporate curriculum that aligns with industry standards that leads to an industry recognized credential so that students may be prepared to enter the workforce after high school. Career Pathways in health science, engineering, construction, IT, aviation, multimedia and more are available at CEC (may vary by campus location).

Free Tutoring: CEC offers free tutoring at its campuses to ensure that students have the support they need to succeed academically. This support is very valuable for students balancing high school and college work, as it ensures they never have to face academic struggles alone and can receive the help they need to excel.

Money Saved: By earning college credits while in high school, students can save a considerable amount of money upon graduation. Students graduate from high school with a head start on their college education, potentially reducing the time spent in college and the associated tuition costs. For many students, this is a crucial financial benefit, and takes the pressure off students and families when it comes to higher education.

Since 2007, alumni of CEC enter the workforce with valuable skills and experience gained through their time here, and have gone on to have exceptional careers.

“I think the most impactful thing CEC offered to me was the flexibility. I from the start knew I didn’t want to follow the traditional route. I didn’t want to go to college and spend a bunch of money. CEC offers a head start on college, but also offers a head start on other career options. I always was interested in construction but knew nothing about it. Being able to attend trade school at such an early age got my foot in the door, and helped me get my first job in construction as a deck builder. At this point, I was 16 working full-time for a construction company and attending night classes at Red Rocks Community College. No other school offers that kind of freedom and flexibility, and so that was by far the most impactful thing CEC was able to offer me.” – Mason R., CEC Castle Rock graduate

CEC is open to all students, regardless of background or skill-level. Our schools are now enrolling for the upcoming school year, so visit our website for upcoming informational meetings and school tours so you can see for yourself how CEC can be the right fit for you and your family.

2025 SCHOOL OF CHOICE

2025 SCHOOL OF CHOICE

Aims Community College Combines

Affordability,

Throughout Northern Colorado, you can see Aims Community College billboards boasting a surprising statistic that has received much attention: “91% of Aims students graduate without debt.”

One reason many learners are not burdened with student loans is that tuition at Aims averages 50% less than nearby two-year schools and 80% less than area four-year institutions. Additionally, the new Aims Tuition Promise initiative makes higher education tuition-free for many Coloradoans. Aims factors in a combination of federal, state, and institutional aid and scholarships to pay tuition. After those programs are applied, Aims makes up the difference.

Affordability is just one aspect of the Aims story. The College emphasizes inclusivity, accessibility, student-focused learning, state-of-the-art facilities and small class sizes.

Since 1967, the College has established its presence in Northern Colorado with locations in Greeley, Fort Lupton, Windsor, and Loveland. Aims empowers learners to achieve their academic and career goals by offering more than 200 degree and certificate programs to help students prepare to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year school. Aims equips students to excel in numerous fields, including healthcare, skilled trades, business, education, public safety, agriculture, aviation, arts, sciences and more.

The College has recently seen a notable increase in enrollment in the Fall 2024 semester, with numbers indicating a more than 20% rise compared to last year’s figures. This is the most significant enrollment jump that Aims has seen in a post-COVID world.

“We’re excited that so many students are choosing Aims to begin or continue their education,” said Dr. Larry Pakowski, Vice President of Student Engagement, Inclusion & Success. “More and more people are discovering the hidden gem that is Aims.”

“Not Your Mom and Dad’s Community College”

Aims invests in the holistic student experience, from connecting through activities to using state-of-the-art technology to foster advanced education and hands-on learning on equipment used in the work world.

Pakowski believes when people come to campus and see the facilities and technology available, they change their perceptions about community colleges and Aims. He had recently heard a parent at orientation say, “It’s not your mom and dad’s community college.”

Aims offers a wide array of co-curricular activities, campus events and student resources to provide an enriching college experience. Traditional service and honor society organizations are on campus. There are also groups focused on career interests, identity groups, or shared interests, like video games.

Innovation and Student-First Focus

The Aims Welcome Center and Student Commons are the beating heart of student engagement outside the classroom. These vibrant spaces are designed to help students acclimate to college life and make lifelong connections. These spaces host college and community events to bring people together.

Aims invests in state-of-the-art equipment and learning tools to provide hands-on experience for students in career and technical education courses. Below are a few examples of technology in action.

•An Anatomage Table is a technologically advanced 3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection tool for anatomy and physiology education.

•Automotive, welding and nurse aid students learn using virtual reality training equipment.

•Future truck drivers will practice on a CDL simulator, and tomorrow’s pilots and air traffic controllers train on aviation simulator technology before flying.

•In the newly expanded Windsor Campus, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) students can access a drone fabrication and design lab, while public safety students can replicate real-world scenarios at the Sim City.

•Ed Beaty Hall is home to experiential learning with a theater, radio station, TV studio, green-screen room, surround sound studio and videoediting booths.

•The greenhouse on the Fort Lupton Campus offers Aims agriculture students an indoor space for yearround, hands-on learning.

•The Community Lab is a maker space open to all Aims students and the community. Students use the lab to work on assignments for their classes, such as building a model for a diorama, printing large-scale posters, and producing elements of a multimedia art project. Technology includes 3D printers, laser cutters, soldering equipment and much more.

•Alquist 3D, an innovative 3D printing construction company, is partnering with Aims to incorporate its technology into the curriculum and train the workforce. An online non-credit online certificate program is open to anyone wanting to learn more about the industry. This online course is the first step in formalizing workforce development and training in 3D construction and infrastructure printing. Future plans include hands-on classes with this technology.

Management Dana Kohler attributes part of the surge in enrollments at Aims to the College’s faculty, staff and administrators. “There are a lot of really, really good people at Aims who are trying to support students and help them do the right thing. When we all do that together, the students are the ones that benefit from that.”

Aims 2024 graduate Ixel Macias believes the education she receives at Aims boosts intellectual rigor. “My professors challenged my way of thinking. I’m challenged much more than I was at previous schools, in the best way possible,” she said. Ixel feels like her instructors keep pushing her to climb to something bigger and better. Even though they encourage her to take it to the next level, she still feels comfortable asking questions and gaining further understanding of her learning.

This level of support is also evident outside of the classroom. Aims offers many services to foster success as a college student and beyond. This includes advising, disability access services, counseling services and more. Aims was among the first higher education institutions to receive the Hunger-Free Campus designation by the State of Colorado. By helping our students manage the critical issue of food insecurity, they can succeed and meet their individual goals with muchreduced stress.

The Learning Commons is another resources dedicated to student success. It includes academic support such as library services, tutoring, online learning support and technology assistance. Aims students can check out laptops, hotspots, and tablets to help them with their studies.

All of this builds a culture of success at Aims. This leads learners to thrive in moving into their next steps, whether it be going into the workforce or continuing in their education.

After graduation, 54% of Aims students continue their education by transferring to four-year institutions. Those looking to attend the University of Northern Colorado can streamline this journey with the Aims2UNC program. Other programs, like an articulation agreement with the Colorado School of Mines, create a formalized pathway for student transfer.

The Transfer Services team on campus is here to prepare students for their next destination.

Aims also get many of our learners into high-demand fields like healthcare, trades and technology. Nine months after graduating from Aims, 80 percent of students are employed, contributing to the workforce. Career Services at Aims offers programs to help students find jobs to start their careers.

Innovation and Expansion on the Horizon

“We’re continuing to do things to improve the student experience. There are greater things to come down the road,” Pakowski said.

The 2024-2027 Strategic & Tactical Plan, recently approved by the Aims Board of Trustees, outlines the direction for the College’s future growth. Among the planned projects is the opening of the Student Health and Wellness Center in 2026.

Planning for the new Workforce Innovation Center is also in progress. The project creates a supportive environment to help new businesses, ideas or projects flourish. It will provide production space for technology, manufacturing, and more. Aims students will benefit from hands-on experience with leading-edge technology and business development processes.

Additionally, Aims Community College plans to open a new Aircraft Maintenance Training Center along with the launch of an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic degree program in January 2026 in Loveland.

Efforts are also underway to improve veteran education services and achieve recognition as a Military Friendly School. Several years ago, Aims was designated a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and is intentionally furthering programs to support this population.

“The plan shows all the things that we are doing to improve the student experience and student success. That’s why students are choosing to come here,” Pakowski added. “Those things have created much buzz and excitement for us.”

To learn more about Aims Community College, please visit aims.edu.

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750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110

Phone: 303-566-4100

Web: FtLuptonPress.com

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BROOKE WARNER Executive Director brooke@ntln.org

LINDA SHAPLEY Director of Editorial & Audience lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

SCOTT TAYLOR Metro North Editor staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

BELEN WARD Community Editor bward@coloradocommunitymedia.com

JOHN RENFROW Sports Editor jrenfrow@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Press.

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

Email letters to staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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Fort Lupton Press (USPS 205880)

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Ft. Lupton, Colorado, Fort Lupton Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 143 S. 2nd Pl., Brighton CO 80601. .

PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT Ft. Lupton and additional mailing o ces.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Fort Lupton Press, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

CORRECTIONS

Colorado Trust for Local News asks readers to make us aware of mistakes we may have made.

Email linda@cotln.org if you notice a possible error you would like us to take a look at.

BRIEFS

Co ee with a cop Fort Lupton Police set aside one morning each month to share a few cups of co ee with residents.

Co ee with a Cop is a chance for police to meet with community members and discuss many topics, including parking regulations. To accommodate more people, they have changed their meeting location to the Multi-Purpose Room at the Fort Lupton Rec Center!

e same time is on the rst Wednesday of each month at Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S Harrison Ave, Fort Lupton. e next scheduled event is from 8-9:30 a.m. on April 2.

Co ee with a Cop is an easy way to get to know the men and women who serve our community and tell them about the issues that matter most to you. Remember that you can always reach our police department at our non-emergency number, 720-652-4222.

Colorado Favorite Ghost Towns

Ron Ruho , with Ghost Town Club of Colorado, will be at the South Platte Historial Society, sharing the history of Colorado’s ghost town. It’s free and bring a dinner. After the presentation, there will be a brief meeting for members.

e event will be March 31 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Fort Rendezvous Room at 2001 Historic Parkway, Fort Lupton. e fort is located o of Highway 85 on the north side of Fort Lupton; turn west on 14 1/2 Road. e parking will be on the right.

Annual Egg Hunt

Bunny arrives at 9 a.m. April 12, egg hunting starts for all ages at 9:30 am. ere will be LOTS of prizes in each age group, donuts for all, and hot co ee for the grownups!

Saturday pancakes

Spaghetti Dinner

Make a di erence in the lives of local students by attending our Spaghetti Dinner at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center on Wednesday, 5-7 p.m. April 16.

Celebrating more than 18 years of partnership, fun and food! Spaghetti Dinner is a very special fundraising event where 100% of the proceeds from this dinner go directly to purchase school supplies (everything from backpacks to modeling clay to notebooks to computers) for our local Weld Re-8 School District schools, K-12. Silent Auction donations are needed.

e auction bene ts the FLHS Student Government and their activities for the school. Please contact Christy at 720.928.4071. Tickets are $20 for adults, which inlcudes a choice of beer or wine, dinner, and dessert. Tickets are $10 for youth younger than 12.

Go For Launch

e Fort Lupton Public Library hosts a simple pancake breakfast on the last Saturday of each month in the library’s community rooms. is month’s pancake breakfast runs from 9:30-10:30 a.m. March 29. e library is located at 370 S. Rollie Ave.

e event is combined with the library’s weekly reading program, so families can enjoy a good meal while listening to popular cult classic children’s stories that never get old. Breakfast starts at 9:30, and read-aloud starts at 10 a.m. every last Saturday of the month.

All ages are welcome.

Weld announces the Annual Youth Advancement Scholarship

e Weld County Sheri ’s O ce will award its annual scholarship to one deserving Weld County student who intends on pursuing a degree in higher education. e scholarship will be a one-time $500.00 award.

Colorado Air & Space Port is hosting a Higher Orbits for students from 8th and 12th grades to expand their STEM skill sets learning with teamwork, communications, research design, and leadership.

Students would get to work with an astronaut, Captain Wendy Lawerence, and work on an experiment design project during the event, learning, growing, and developing skills to succeed throughout their lives.

e student teams will present their project to a panel of judges who work in the Space and STEM elds. ey will choose a winner from each Go for Launch event.   e winning experiment will be launched to board the International Space Station or a suborbital ight. Michelle Lucas is the founder and CEO of Higher Orbits.

For more information about the Higher Orbits event, visit www.higherorbits.org.  To sponsor the event, go to sponsors@higherobits.org. To call for information at 281-4515343.

To be eligible, the applicants must be a high school graduation senior or current college / university student, a citizen of Weld County and have been accepted at an accredited university or college.

e applicant must submit a completed application form via U.S. Mail by April 11.

Mail the form to the Weld County Sheri ’s O ce – Scholarship Committee, Attn: Rosy Soto, 1950 “O” Street, Greeley, CO 80631

e scholarship application must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation by a teacher or counselor from the applicant’s school and an o cial certi ed scholastic transcript. All applicants must also submit a 500-word essay on the following question:“What do you see as the future for law enforcement in our nation?”

e competitive selection process is based GPA, student’s need, and community involvement. Finalists will be selected by the Weld County Sheri ’s O ce scholarship committee and will be informed by April 28, 2025.

Fort Lupton replacing water meters

e City of Fort Lupton has hired Northern Colorado Contractors to replace the water meters in town.

Over time, meters age and require replacement to ensure accurate measurement and e ciency of water use. e majority of the meters in the City are reaching their useful life prompting this program. e replacement of the meters is entirely free of charge to residents.

According to the city, the current meters continue to work properly, however, some meters do not transmit the data from the meter to the system. e meter must then be read manually.

Accounts with meters that can’t be manually read, will be estimated. If the actual amount consumed is lower than the estimated amount previously billed, then the bill will be adjusted to re ect the higher usage. When the new meter is connected, it will re ect the correct usage moving forward.

younger than 24 and seniors older than 66 all reported feeling lonely at some point. e campaign encourages everyone to nd ways to connect with others, build relationships, and promote a stronger sense of wellbeing and a culture of connection for all. e group has sponsored a website at https://actsofconnectionweld.org/ to survey members of each group, o er some tips to help and take pledges to connect to the community and connect with other members of the community.

Visit the e ort’s website at https://actsofconnectionweld.org/ for more information.

Blessings in a Bag

Fort Lupton’s Backpack Program helps schoolchildren in need with a backpack of healthy food. It’s an all-volunteer program and needs volunteers. If interested in volunteering or donating, call 303-718-4440.

City committees need members

Fort Lupton is looking for several community-minded individuals to ll openings on several boards that advise the City Council and help run city programs.

e Cemetery Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee, Golf Committee, the Library Board, Public Safety Committee and the Senior Advisory Committee have openings. e openings consist of a two-year term running through the end of 2024. If you or anyone you know is interested in serving on a committee, please complete a committee application at https://www.fortluptonco. gov/966/I-Want-To-Apply-for-a-Committee on the city’s website.

Help for vets

Quali ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has several power chairs, scooters, and electric wheelchairs available.

Contractors will notify residents when they will replace meters in their vicinity. For houses with meters that are outside and accessible, the contractors will let residents know when they plan to replace the meter. For houses that have inaccessible meters that are inside, in a basement or a crawl space, residents should contact Public Works to schedule an appointment.

More information can be found herehttps://www.fortluptonco.gov/1240/WaterMeter-Replacement-Program.

Acts of Connection seeks to lessen loneliness

Weld County and North Range Behavioral Health are working to target social isolation and build personal connections throughout the county with the Acts of Connection Initiative.

According to the group, four of ve adults

e VA o ers urgent care services to eligible veterans at VA medical facilities or several in-network urgent care clinics that are closer to home.

To nd the closest facility to you, visit www. va.gov/ nd-locations or call 720-600-0860.

Quali ed Listeners also needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries, and veterans to be trained to become quali ed listeners.

Donation time

e Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank is asking for donations of canned fruits and nuts, varieties of dry pasta and pasta dinners, peanut butter and canned meat such as tuna (including the pouches).

Other potential donations could include chicken, Vienna sausages, spam and salmon. e bank also needs personal items, such as toiletries and baby needs.

Drop o donations at the food and clothing bank’s back door, 421 Denver Ave., on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-857-1096.

Free short-term radon test kits

Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last). Test kits can be requested online at www.drhomeair.com/weld, according to a statement.

Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 4002226 or visit: www.weldgov.com/go/radon.

Silver Sneakers

Silver Sneaker Yoga is available three times per week, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.

Revenue from retro license plates may be diverted

With $1 billion budget bill, lawmakers weigh whether funds should blunt cuts to education and Medicaid

When Helena Perez of Newcastle bought a white Subaru two years ago, her car wasn’t the only thing she wanted to upgrade.

She also wanted di erent license plates to go with it. She thought Colorado’s standard white and green license plates were boring and wanted “something new and fresh.”

For an extra $25 fee she decided to get the state’s reissued black license plates, with white lettering.

“I thought it was retro,” she told CPR News. “I thought it looked really nice, the combination of the black plates with the white vehicle. I really liked that.”

What she hasn’t liked so much is seeing how many other people have had the same idea; the roads these days seem to be full of black plates.

“ ey look like mine,” she lamented. “I like to be unique.”

Over the past few years, Colorado has started to reissue a number of historic license plate designs in solid red, blue, or black, as well as green mountains on a white background. e black plates, originally from 1945, have been by far the most popular. According to the most recent gures, there are now roughly 378,000 thousand vehicles with black license plates on Colorado’s roads.

To get them, car owners must pay a $25 upfront fee, plus an annual $25 fee. e money goes to support programs for people with disabilities.

“It’s become very popular,” said Benjamin Meyerho , the Colorado Disability Funding Coordinator, whose o ce is housed in the state’s newly created Colorado Disability Opportunity O ce. So popular in fact — bringing in a

million dollars each month — that this money could soon be a victim of its own success, as cash-strapped lawmakers look anywhere and everywhere for funds to balance the state budget.

With Colorado facing a more than $1 billion budget shortfall, lawmakers are weighing whether money collected for speci c things, like the plate fees that support disability services, should be redirected to blunt cuts to core areas of the state budget, like education and Medicaid.

Relationship with disability services

In 2011 the disability community, tired of hearing over and over that there wasn’t money in the state budget for the things their members needed, came up with the idea to auction o highly desirable personalized license plates. Over the years, o erings have included cannabis-themed plates and the names of pro sports teams.

e returns were modest, to say the least. e program generated only $100,000 over its rst decade according to state gures. But bringing back the historic license plates has been a game changer. Coloradans are paying around $12 million a year to put those plates on their cars.

“It’s a really great example of sifting through the couch cushions for change and that change adding up to a whole bunch of money. It’s pretty extraordinary actually,” said Danny Combs, head of the state’s new Colorado Disability Opportunity O ce.

e money helped set up that new ofce, which will coordinate all disability services in the state, as well as funding grants to various organizations. Both the o ce and the grants are overseen by people with disabilities.

“What’s really important in this particular program is that the decisions where the money goes are made by people with disabilities,” said Lt. Gov Dianne Primavera, whose o ce helped set up the new Opportunity O ce. “ ey have their nger on the pulse much better than some of the rest of us.”

SEE PLATES, P18

Nonprofit o ers grants for period products in schools

A Colorado nonpro t is introducing a grant program for the state’s schools that would provide free period products to students.   e one time-grant would supply pads, tampons, and dispensers to help schools meet the requirements of Colorado HB-1164, states Justice Necessary.

Justice Necessary was formed to address hygiene and period poverty and diaper needs across the state, according to the group’s website. e legislation is

aimed at ensuring that no student must miss class due to lack of access to essential menstrual products, Justice Necessary states.

e one-time grant would provide dispensers and free pads and tampons and one-month bags of period products to support students over the summer of 2025 as well as the 2025-2026 school year. e grant will help  schools reach the rst HB24-1164 milestone of having 25% of female and gender-neutral restrooms stocked with period products. All Colorado school districts, individual and charter schools are eligible to

apply, and rural schools and those with a many free and reduced lunch students will special consideration

Last year, Gov. Jared Polis signed HB241164, which makes modi cations to the Menstrual Hygiene Grant Program to expand support to rural districts.

“Periods don’t wait – and this important law ensures that Colorado students can access the menstrual products they need, when they need them,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D- Arvada. “Without access to menstrual products, our students risk missing out on valuable learning time and can experience emotional

2025 SCHOOL OF CHOICE

distress. Our new law makes menstrual products free and accessible in schools to Colorado’s teens.”

Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn said in the news release that “67 percent of U.S. students miss valuable school time due to a lack of necessary period products, and the numbers are even higher for low-income and students of color,” said Willford.

“Our important bill helps combat period poverty in Colorado by making menstrual products free and accessible in middle school and high school bathrooms,” she said.

Renaissance Secondary School

Renaissance Secondary is a small, deeper learning school serving students in Grades 6-12, and expanding to serve Grades PK-5 beginning in 2027.

Renaissance utilizes authentic, integrated learning experiences to empower students to become modern learners who are critical thinkers and problem solvers, communicators, collaborators, and creative innovators who contribute to the world around them.

At Renaissance, students experience top-notch academic opportunities within a tight-knit small school community, and:

• Rigorous, integrated, real-world learning experiences through learning expeditions and fieldwork

• Emphasis on Design Thinking and STEM opportunities

• Adventure Education program (all students participate in a multi-night outdoor education trip each year)

• Unique building design emphasizing natural light and ample opportunities for students to be outdoors

• Late start time (9:00 a.m.)

• Emphasis on character and an ethic of service

• Arts integration and rich performing and visual arts opportunities

11students)

Servingfamiliesacross29 zipcodesinsouthmetro

Denver InternationalBaccalaureate (IB)WorldSchool

ColoradoUniversalPre-K (UPK)Member Learnmore! mackintoshacademy.com|info@mackintoshacademy.com|(303)794-6222

Mackintosh Academy stands out as a leader in innovation and excellence In a world where gifted education is often an afterthought. Founded in 1977, Mackintosh is Colorado’s first school dedicated exclusively to gifted students, offering one of the Denver metro area’s only private International Baccalaureate (IB) programs for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. For over forty years, Mackintosh has redefined how gifted and creative learners are educated.

At Mackintosh, gifted education is not just an add-on or a pull-out program; it’s the foundation of everything we do. Our full-time program meets the unique intellectual, emotional, and social needs of gifted children. Unlike traditional schools, where gifted students may feel isolated or underchallenged, Mackintosh fosters a nurturing, holistic environment. Here, students are surrounded by peers who share their curiosity and passion for learning, creating a rare sense of community and belonging.

Keen Minds: A Curriculum That Inspires

social and emotional challenges, such as heightened sensitivity or feelings of being misunderstood. At Mackintosh, we emphasize social-emotional learning, helping students develop collaboration, communication, resilience, and empathy. Strong relationships between students and faculty create the optimal conditions for growth, both academically and personally.

Global Action: Preparing for the Future Mackintosh’s IB curriculum goes beyond academics, incorporating design thinking, innovation, and service projects. Students engage in real-world problem-solving, developing the skills and mindset to tackle global challenges with creativity and confidence. This focus on global awareness ensures graduates are not only academically prepared but also equipped to make a positive impact.

Mackintosh’s learning environment is rooted in the globally respected International Baccalaureate program. Our inquiry-based, hands-on curriculum challenges students to think critically, solve problems creatively, and explore their interests in depth. Teachers are skilled at recognizing and nurturing each child’s unique potential, ensuring students not only learn but thrive.

Compassionate Hearts: SocialEmotional Growth

Gifted children often face unique

A School Where Bright Kids Thrive Mackintosh Academy is more than a school—it’s a community where gifted children flourish intellectually, emotionally, and socially. If you’re seeking an educational experience that celebrates the unique nature of gifted learners, discover Mackintosh.

To learn more, email info@mackintoshacademy.com or call (303) 794-6222 to schedule a tour or conversation.

PLATES

Half of the money goes to help people with disabilities access the full range of bene ts they may be eligible for, like Medicaid, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income. e other half goes to innovation grants to improve people’s quality of life.

In that realm, Meyerho said, “the sky’s the limit.” Grantees have included a training program to work in food service and an e ort to design accessible pinball machines. One nonpro t got help to put in a vibrating dance oor so deaf people could feel the beat and follow the music.

Money too tempting to ignore

While people with disabilities have celebrated the increase in funding, the grant program could become a casualty of this year’s state funding shortfall. e lawmakers in charge of writing the budget need to nd more than a billion dollars to keep state nances in balance, and redirecting the revenue raised by specialty license plates is one of the options they’re looking at.

e fees for Colorado’s 200 or so specialty license plates, which include the historic black, blue and red designs, raise about $30 million to $40 million annually. at money is earmarked for speci c programs, but it all counts toward the overall cap on how much the money the state is allowed to spend each year under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. “ at’s something that you wouldn’t think of as being particularly di cult or problematic for the state’s budget, but it is,” said Democratic Rep. Shannon Bird. “It’s impacting what the state could oth-

erwise use to invest in key services.”

So Bird and other members of the Joint Budget Committee are looking to potentially sweep the specialty license plate funds into the general budget, to help blunt how deeply they will have to cut into other programs, like K-12 schools and Medicaid, which make up the largest share of state spending.

“Medicaid is crucial,” said Bird. “ ey are the most vulnerable people in our communities that without this coverage won’t be able to enjoy any quality of life. People need oxygen, they need diabetes medication, they need heart medication. ey rely upon Medicaid for all of these things.”

Many people with disabilities also use Medicaid to pay for services like in-home care, so they can live independently, and for medical equipment and wheelchairs. But Meyerho thinks the needs met by the current grants are too great to redirect this money.

“ ese funds deserve to go to folks with disabilities to improve their lives,” he said. “ is historically is an underfunded community, and just because the state is having a di cult time funding-wise doesn’t mean that these funds should go to the general fund. We need these funds.”

Other advocates seem more resigned to the possibility the money could be redirected. Hillary Jorgensen, one of the heads of the Cross Disability Coalition, said she hopes any redirected funding would still go to programs that help people with disabilities, and that the state would restore the grant funding in future years.

“I think it would be really a misstep to cut the program completely,” she said.

No nal decisions have been made yet, and some of it could hinge on the state’s next economic forecast on March 17.

Vote

The all-black, all-red, all-blue and the retired green-and-white license plates were among those Colorado began o ering in 2023, allowing people to choose from among four historic license plates, with revenue benefiting the Colorado Disability Funding Committee. COURTESY THE COLORADO

at will provide the nal numbers the budget committee needs before it can present its proposed spending package to the full legislature.

Adding an extra layer of uncertainty over this whole process is the question of what may happen at the federal level.

“We are also very much aware that there are some things that are beyond our control that will have a big impact on the work we’re doing or have the potential to have a big impact on our role,” said Democratic Sen. Judy Amabile of Boulder who sits on the budget committee.

But the Colorado drivers that CPR News spoke with were unaware of the potential drama surrounding their plates.

Jesse Bennas of Carbondale has a solid red plate on his vehicle, his wife has the solid blue and his father in law, the black plates.

“I liked it a lot and it matches my car and I get a lot of compliments on it,” he said. “I’m glad the money’s going to good places.”

For Perez, it was her rst time learning the extra fee she pays for her black plates helps support the disability community.

“ ank you for letting me know,” she told a reporter. “Because I had no idea that I was contributing to this, but now I feel better about myself honestly.”

She said she’ll no longer feel annoyed when she sees all those black plates on the road. is story was produced by the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and e Colorado Sun, and shared with news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

STRATEGY

Armento emphasized the long-term risks of these issues, particularly for bone health.

“So we know that if somebody is not optimizing their bone health during adolescence in particular, which is when a large proportion of the bone mass that we have into our adult life is gained, we’re basically setting these athletes up for increased risk for osteoporosis,” she said.

She explained that warning signs can range from frequent injuries and slow recovery times to more subtle cues like avoiding team meals or engaging in restrictive eating patterns.

One challenge Armento sees regularly is the impact of social media on young athletes’ eating habits.

BONE

Bone said her accomplishments are important but so is getting the word out about type 1 diabetes and how it can be managed.

“Managing my diabetes properly has helped me live my daily life,” she said. “I just try and focus on eating food that makes me feel good.”

Insulin dependent

According to Mayo Clinic, type 1 diabetes, which usually appears in childhood, is a chronic condition that can be caused by genetics or some viruses.

“In this condition, the pancreas makes little or no insulin. Insulin is a

“Unfortunately, we see a lot of young people who may start to engage in bad diets that they see on TikTok, for example.”

Restrictive eating habits can worsen energy imbalances, leading to more injuries and long-term health consequences, which is why the program includes a nutrition consultation with a registered sports dietician and individualized nutrition goals.

Shifting the narrative around female athlete health

Beyond patient care, Armento said the Female Athlete Program aims to raise awareness about the risks associated with the female athlete triad.

“Our big goal is to be a resource in the Colorado area,” Armento said. “So for these young female athletes who may be struggling with body image, proper fueling or slow recovery, they know they can come to the Female Athlete Program at Children’s and get high quality, compre-

hormone the body uses to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy,” the Mayo Clinic explains.

WebMD says that people who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes can live a long, healthy life.

“Keeping a close eye on your blood sugar levels will be key. Your doctor will give you a target range, and making healthy choices daily will help you stay within that range. It’s also important to know the symptoms of very high or low blood sugar, and how to treat them,”

WebMD states.

Bone said her use of a Dexcom G7 CGM system, a xed to her arm, makes it easier to monitor her blood sugar levels and manage her diabetes. e small device provide continuous glucose readings every ve minutes, allowing users to see their glucose levels in re-

hensive care.”

Armento has found encouragement in the increased visibility of elite athletes discussing these issues.

“I’ve been really happy to see highpro le athletes that have a platform use their platform in a positive way to try to promote healthy relationships with food and di erent body types and exercise,” she said.

Zamora is now using her experience to help other athletes. For her senior capstone project, she created a workshop for freshmen at her school about food positivity and the impact of diet culture on young athletes.

“I told them, ‘If you ever need an excuse to eat ice cream, I’m your excuse. Eat the ice cream because life’s too short,’” Zamora said. “It’s not that I run so I get to eat. I eat so I get to run.”

Armento urged athletes to reach out early if they are struggling.

al-time on a compatible smartphone, smartwatch or Dexcom receiver, according to Dexcom.com.

Her device eliminates the need for constant nger pricks and gives her and her family instant information on her glucose levels. “It’s really about management and this system helps me do that.”

She said well-meaning people who know about her condition, will sometimes remind her that she shouldn’t eat a certain food.

“Actually, I can eat just about anything because Dexcom gives me good information about food,” she said.

“I just want people to know that, if you have type 1 diabetes that doesn’t mean you can’t do the things you want to do,” she said. “It’s about good management and getting the right informa-

“My biggest piece of advice is not to be scared to speak up and let somebody know that you’re having a hard time because there (are) many resources in place to help provide support. And I think the sooner the better,” she said.

She also reminds athletes that they are not alone in this.

“ ere are sports dietitians that work virtually and can see patients all over the country,” she said.

Zamora, now preparing for college, said the program helped her build a healthy relationship with food that will serve her for years to come.

“I can say with full con dence that I trust that I’m going to eat, and my mom trusts that I’m going to eat,” she said. “Without that program, I wouldn’t be able to move in this direction.”

Armento hopes the program will become a key resource for young female athletes across the region.

as quickly as possible so you can finally start living the

you want.

Thornton athlete Katie Bone manages her type 1 diabetes with a constant glucose monitoring device that is attached to her right arm. COURTESY KATIE BONE

Thu 3/27

The Great American RV Show + OffGrid Expo @ 10am

Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street, Denver

Mermaid Day at Anythink Commerce City @ 4pm

Sat 3/29

Family Sports Jam - Colorado Avalanche vs Calgary Flames @ 5pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 East Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Anythink Commerce City, 7185 Monaco Street, Commerce City. rcardenas@any think.com, 303-287-0063

Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings @ 8pm Ball Arena, Denver

Fri 3/28

Spring Break Boredom Busters @ 9am

Westminster Public Library Westmin‐ster, 7392 Irving Street, Westminster. wpl-intouch@westminsterco.gov, 303658-2306

Potluck at Eagle Pointe (3/28) @ 11am Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Kidz Only- March Madness @ 6pm Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz @ 7pm Ball Arena, Denver

Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames @ 6:30pm Ball Arena, Denver

Tue 4/01

Home School April 9am @ 9am

Monthly Bird Walks - March @ 9am / Free Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Picadilly Rd, Brighton. 303-659-4348 ext. 53

Teens: Loveland Laser Tag @ 12pm Fort Lupton Community / Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Avenue, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200

Denver Onyx vs Bay Breakers @ 1pm In�nity Park, Denver

Colorado Rapids vs. Charlotte FC @ 2:30pm

Apr 1st - Apr 24th

Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200

Home School April 10am @ 10am

Apr 1st - Apr 24th

Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200

Franz Ferdinand @ 8pm

Boulder Theater, 2032 14th Street, Boulder

DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, Com‐merce City

Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues @ 2:30pm Ball Arena, Denver

Singing bowls March @ 3pm Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks Depart‐ment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200

Mon 3/31

April Fools: Spilled ice cream @ 4pm

Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves @ 8pm Ball Arena, Denver

Wed 4/02

Loteria @ 4pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Poetry Workshop, Reading, and Reception with Alejandro Jimenez @ 1pm College Hill Library, 3705 West 112th Avenue, Westminster. wpl-intouch@ westminsterco.gov, 303-658-2604

Anythink Thornton Community Center, 2211 Eppinger Boulevard, Thornton. jseelig@anythinklibraries.org, 303-4053234

Denver Nuggets vs San Antonio Spurs @ 7pm Ball Arena, Denver

Thu 4/03

Denver Auto Show @ 11:30am Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Amazing Athletes @ 1pm Apr 3rd - Apr 24th

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Eric Golden: Hesters (Formally Odde's Music Grill) @ 6pm Odde's Music Grill, 9975 Wadsworth Pkwy, Westminster

Restorative Yoga April 3 @ 7pm Apr 3rd - Apr 24th

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

1. GEOGRAPHY: Mount Everest is part of which mountain range?

2. MOVIES: Which color lm was the rst to win an Academy Award for Best Picture?

3. ASTRONOMY: Which planet in our solar system is believed to be the windiest?

4. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Where is the U.S. Constitution stored?

5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of lemurs called?

6. TELEVISION: Which city is the setting for the dramatic series “ e Wire”?

7. GEOLOGY: Which country has the most active volcanos?

8. LITERATURE: Which character in a Charles Dickens novel famously said, “Please, sir, I want some more”?

9. ART: Which Dutch artist is considered a master of light and shadow, creating dramatic e ects in paintings?

TrIVIa

10. SCIENCE: What is an ectothermic animal?

Answers

1. e Himalayas.

2. “Gone With the Wind.”

3. Neptune.

4. e National Archives.

5. A conspiracy.

6. Baltimore, Maryland.

7. Indonesia.

8. Title character in “Oliver Twist.”

9. Rembrandt.

10. Cold-blooded.

(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

5 irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade Metropolitan Districts

Public Notice

AVISO DE CANCELACIÓN DE ELECCIONES y DECLARACIÓN CERTIFICADA DE LOS RESULTADOS

DISTRITO METROPOLITANO DE THE LAKES N.º 5-6

P M D D P S T SM conforme a las 1-13.5-513 de C. .S. de ue al cierre de la ornada laboral del de marzo de 2025 no hab a m s candidatos ara los cargos a cubrir incluyendo candidatos ue resentaron declaraciones uradas con la intenci n de ser candidatos or escrito ara cada uno de los Distritos Metro olitanos de The akes . 5- con untamente los Distritos . Por lo tanto uedan canceladas las elecciones ara los Distritos del de mayo de 2025.

Se declaran electos or aclamaci n los siguientes candidatos para cada Distrito:

V Hasta mayo de 2029

T. CH DS

Hasta mayo de 2029

M CH . CH DS Hasta mayo de 2029

s shley . risbie e resentante electoral designada

Persona de contacto para los Distritos: Heather . Hartung s . H T T -

D

ttorneys at aw 215 . Commons venue Suite 2000 Centennial Colorado 80122 303 858-1800

egal otice o. S 3735

irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025

Publisher righton Standard lade Public Notice

NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS THE LAKES METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1

T C S H V ursuant to 1-13.5-513 C. .S. that at the close of business on March 2025 there were not more candidates than offices to be filled

including candidates ling a davits of intent to be write-in candidates for The akes Metroolitan District o. 1 the District . Therefore the election for the District to be held on May 2025 is hereby cancelled.

The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation:

M CH . CH DS ntil May 2029

T. CH DS ntil May 2029

V ntil May 2029

s shley . risbie Designated lection cial

Contact Person for District Heather . Hartung s . H T TD ttorneys at aw 215 . Commons venue Suite 2000 Centennial Colorado 80122

303 858-1800 egal otice o. S 372 irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade

Notice NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS THE LAKES METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 3

T C S H V ursuant to 1-13.5-513 C. .S. that at the close of business on March 2025 there were not more candidates than offices to be filled including candidates ling a davits of intent to be write-in candidates for The akes Metroolitan District o. 3 the District . Therefore the election for the District to be held on May 2025 is hereby cancelled.

The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation:

M CH . CH DS ntil May 2029

T. CH DS ntil May 2029

V ntil May 2029

s shley . risbie Designated lection cial

Contact Person for District Heather . Hartung s .

H T TD

ttorneys at aw 215 . Commons venue Suite 2000 Centennial Colorado 80122

303 858-1800

egal otice o. S 3730 irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025

Publisher righton Standard lade Public Notice

AVISO DE CANCELACIÓN DE ELECCIÓN y DECLARACIÓN CERTIFICADA DE LOS RESULTADOS DISTRITO METROPOLITANO DE THE LAKES N.º 1

P M D D P S T S -

M conforme a las 1-13.5-513 de C. .S. de ue al cierre de la ornada laboral del de marzo de 2025 no hab a m s candidatos ara los cargos a cubrir incluyendo candidatos ue resentaron declaraciones uradas con la intenci n de ser candidatos or escrito ara el Distrito Metro olitano de The akes o. 1 el Distrito . Por lo tanto se cancelan las elecciones ara el Distrito del de mayo de 2025.

os siguientes candidatos ara el Distrito se declaran electos por aclamación:

M CH . CH DS Hasta mayo de 2029

T. CH DS Hasta mayo de 2029

V Hasta mayo de 2029

s shley . risbie e resentante electoral designada

Persona de contacto para el Distrito: Heather . Hartung s .

H T T -

D

ttorneys at aw 215 . Commons venue Suite 2000 Centennial Colorado 80122 303 858-1800

egal otice o. S 3727

irst Publication March 27 2025

ast Publication March 27 2025

Publisher righton Standard lade Public Notice

AVISO DE CANCELACIÓN DE ELECCIÓN y DECLARACIÓN CERTIFICADA DE LOS RESULTADOS

DISTRITO METROPOLITANO DE THE LAKES N.º 3

P M D D P S T SM conforme a las 1-13.5-513 de C. .S. de ue al cierre de la ornada laboral del de marzo de 2025 no hab a m s candidatos ara los cargos or cubrir incluyendo candidatos ue resentaron declaraciones uradas con la intenci n de ser candidatos or escrito ara el Distrito Metro olitano de The akes o. 3 el Distrito . Por lo tanto se cancelan las elecciones ara el Distrito del de mayo de 2025. os siguientes candidatos ara el Distrito se declaran electos por aclamación:

M CH . CH DS

Hasta mayo de 2029

T. CH DS

Hasta mayo de 2029

V

Hasta mayo de 2029

s shley . risbie e resentante electoral designada

Persona de contacto para el Distrito: Heather . Hartung s . H T T -

D

ttorneys at aw

215 . Commons venue Suite 2000 Centennial Colorado 80122 303 858-1800

egal otice o. S 3731

irst Publication March 27 2025

ast Publication March 27 2025

Publisher righton Standard lade Public Notice

AVISO DE CANCELACIÓN DE ELECCIÓN y DECLARACIÓN CERTIFICADA DE LOS RESULTADOS

DISTRITO METROPOLITANO DE THE LAKES N.º 4

P M D D P S T S -

M conforme a las 1-13.5-513 de C. .S. de ue al cierre de la ornada laboral del de marzo de 2025 no hab a m s candidatos ara los cargos a cubrir incluyendo candidatos ue resentaron declaraciones uradas con la intenci n de ser candidatos or escrito ara el Distrito Metro olitano de The akes o. el Distrito . Por lo tanto se cancelan las elecciones ara el Distrito del de mayo de 2025. os siguientes candidatos ara el Distrito se declaran electos por aclamación:

M TTH PH P Hasta mayo de 2029

V Hasta mayo de 2029

M CH CH DS

Hasta mayo de 2029

s shley . risbie e resentante electoral designada

Persona de contacto para el Distrito: Heather . Hartung s . H T TD

ttorneys at aw 215 . Commons venue Suite 2000 Centennial Colorado 80122

303 858-1800

NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTIONS and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS THE LAKES METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 5-6

the Districts . Therefore the elections for the Districts to be held on May 2025 are hereby cancelled.

The following candidates for each of the Districts are declared elected by acclamation:

egal otice o. S 373 irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON INCLUSION OF PROPERTY INTO ADAMS EAST METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

T C S H V that the oard of Directors the oard of dams ast Metro olitan District the District dams County received a etition raying that certain ro erty which is described below be included into the boundaries of the District. The owner of one hundred ercent 100 of the ro erty identi ed in the etition has given its consent to the inclusion of the ro erty into the District s boundaries.

Pursuant to 32-1-903 C S as amended the ublic hearing on the inclusion of ro erty will be conducted electronically tele honically or by other virtual means. ccordingly notice is hereby given to all interested persons that they shall a ear at the ublic hearing via videoconference at htt s us0 web.zoom. us 83 9 0 305 at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 31, 2025, and show cause in writing why the etition should not be granted. The oard in its own discretion may continue the hearing to a subse uent meeting.

The owner of the ro erty being etitioned for inclusion is lywheel Holdings C whose address is 8301 ast Prentice ve. Suite 100 reenwood Village Colorado 80111. The ro erty for which inclusion is sought is generally described as a portion of the lot located at 22 00 . 1 8th venue in the Town of ochbuie dams County Colorado located on the south side of 1 8th venue between agon Trail venue and onanza oulevard.

full and com lete legal descri tion of the ro erty being etitioned for e clusion is on le at the aw ce of Michael . Davis C 1151 agle Drive 3 oveland Colorado 80537 and is available for ublic ins ection during regular business hours 9 00 .M. to 5 00 P.M. D TH D D CT S D MS ST M T P T D ST CT

y C M CH . D V S C

ttorneys for the District egal otice o. S 37 2 irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade Public Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON EXCLUSION OF PROPERTY FROM ALTAMIRA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 5

T C S H V that there has been led with the oard of Directors of ltamira Metro olitan District o. 5 the District Town of ochbuie eld County a etition raying that certain ro erty which is described below be e cluded from the boundaries of the District. The owner of one hundred ercent 100 of the ro erty identi ed in the etition has given its consent to the e clusion of the ro erty from the District s boundaries. Pursuant to 32-1-903 C S as amended the District s meetings may be conducted electronically tele honically or by other virtual means. ccordingly notice is hereby given to all interested persons that they shall appear at a ublic hearing via videoconference at htt s us0 web.zoom.us 83 9 0 305 at 10:00 AM on March 31, 2025, and show cause in writing why the etition should not be granted. The oard of Directors of the District in its own discretion may continue the hearing to a subse uent

The name and address of the etitioner is

PUBLIC NOTICES

S 3737 irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade

Notice NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS THE LAKES METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 4

T C S H V ursuant to 1-13.5-513 C. .S. that at the close of business on March 2025 there were not more candidates than offices to be filled including candidates ling a davits of intent to be write-in candidates for The akes Metroolitan District o. the District . Therefore the election for the District to be held on May 2025 is hereby cancelled.

The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation:

M TTH PH P ntil May 2029

V ntil May 2029

M CH CH DS ntil May 2029 s shley . risbie

Designated lection cial

Contact Person for District Heather . Hartung s .

H T T -

D

ttorneys at aw

215 . Commons venue Suite 2000 Centennial Colorado 80122

303 858-1800

egal otice o. S 3732

irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade Public Notice

NOTIFICACIÓN DE ANULACIÓN DE ELECCIONES ORDINARIAS POR EL FUNCIONARIO ELECTORAL DESIGNADO §§ 1-11-103(3), 1-13.5-513, C.R.S.

P M D D ST D C M T S T C al Distrito de Clear Creek Transit Metro olitan District o. 1 Condado de dams Colorado ue al cierre o des u s del cierre de negocios del se ag simo tercer d a antes de la elecci n ue se llevar a cabo el de mayo de 2025 no hab a m s candidatos a director ue cargos a cubrir incluidos los candidatos ue resentaron declaraciones uradas de intenci n de ser candidatos or escrito or lo tanto la elecci n fue cancelada de conformidad con la Secci n 1-13.5-513

C. .S. y los siguientes candidatos fueron declarados electos por aclamación: udy yler

Cuatro a o de mandato

Michael . leinman Cuatro a o de mandato

V C T Cuatro a o de mandato

V C T Dos 2 a o de mandato

V C T Dos 2 a o de mandato

Por f . o ail uncionario electoral designado Distrito de Clear Creek Transit Metro olitan District o. 1

Publicar en Cada colegio electoral del distrito la o cina de la D y la o cina del secretario y registrador del condado rchivar con Divisi n del obierno ocal

Servir a os candidatos

egal otice o. S 3738

irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade S S S Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY STATE OF COLORADO 1100 Judicial Center Dr. Brighton, CO 80601

RACHELE DAVIS, P HUBERT T. MORROW, STEVEN LESTER, HARENE BREW and RONDA DEVERS, Defendants.

Case Number: 24 CV 31634

A P R D yron . Miller eg. o. 351 illiam . Peters eg. o. 11325 Cook Street Suite 100 Denver Colorado 8020 Phone umber 303-91 -3088 -mail info criminallawmatters.com

DISTRICT COURT CIVIL SUMMONS

T TH V M D D D T HARENE BREW

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and re uired to le with the Clerk of this Court an answer or other response to the attached Com laint. f service of the Summons and Com laint was made u on you within the State of Colorado you are re uired to le your answer or other res onse within 21 days after such service u on you. f service of the Summons and Com laint was made u on you outside of the State of Colorado you are re uired to le your answer or other res onse within 35 days after such service u on you. our answer or counterclaim must be accom anied with the a licable ling fee. f you fail to le your answer or other res onse to the Com laint in writing within the a licable time eriod the Court may enter udgment by default against you for the relief demanded in the Com laint without further notice.

Dated ctober 29 202

Clerk of Court Clerk s yron . Miller

This Summons is issued pursuant to Rule 4, C.R.C.P., as amended. A copy of the Complaint must be served with this Summons. This form should not be used where service by publication is desired.

egal otice o. S 3 irst Publication ebruary 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025

Publisher righton Standard lade Public Notice

COMBINED NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE OF REAL PROPERTY AND RIGHT TO CURE AND REDEEM

DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS, STATE OF COLORADO

Civil ction o. 2 CV30092

P TH H H M S SS C T C.

v. Defendants, D T T et al.

n December 2 202 the dams County District Court issued its Decree of oreclosure.

riginal rantor s D rturo uintana

riginal ene ciary orth Hill Homeowners ssociation nc.

Current Holder of vidence of Debt orth Hill Homeowners ssociation nc.

Date of ien

ovember 13 2023

County of ecording dams

ecording Date of ien ovember 17 2023

ecording ece tion umber 20230000 5 0 riginal mount 2 207.98 utstanding mount 577. 0

Pursuant to C S 38-38-101 you are hereby notified that the provisions of the orth Hill Homeowners nc. s Declaration Declaration have been violated as follows ailure to ay common e ense assessments as that term is de ned in 38-33.3-31 C. .S. together with all other payments provided for in the Declaration or by Colorado Statute secured by the ssessment ien.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN:

T 5 C 2 H H S ST T S . 1 2 D M DM TC D D 13 2018

also known by street address as 1 370 vanhoe Street Thornton C 80 02 and assessor s schedule or arcel no.2 1571-202-07-020 with all a urtenances.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the ien described herein has led the Court s Decree in oreclosure as rovided by law. The lien being foreclosed may not be a rst lien.

TH otice s Hereby iven

A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE FILED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 38-38-104 SHALL BE FILED WITH THE COUNTY SHERIFF AT LEAST FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRST SCHEDULED SALE DATE OR ANY DATE TO WHICH THE SALE IS CONTINUED; A NOTICE OF INTENT TO REDEEM FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 38-38-302 SHALL BE FILED WITH THE OFFICER NO LATER THAN EIGHT (8) BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE SALE.

If the sale date is continued to a later date, by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.

The date of sale determined ursuant to section 38-38-108.

The lace of sale determined ursuant to section 38-38-110

The lien being foreclosed may not be a rst lien.

dams County Sheri Civil Divison 1100 udicial Center Dr. 1st loor righton Co 80 01

f the borrower believes that a lender or servicer has violated the re uirements for a single oint of contact in C. .S. 38-38-103.1 or the rohibition on dual tracking in C. .S. 38-38103.2 the borrower may le a com laint the Colorado ttorney eneral at the Colorado De artment of aw al h . Carr udicial uilding 1300 roadway 10th loor Denver C 80203 720-508- 000 or the Consumer inancial Protection ureau P. . o 2900 Clinton 52733-2900 855- 11-2372 htt www.consumer nance.gov com laint or both but the ling of this com laint will not sto the foreclosure rocess.

D T ebruary 27 2025

y Sarah Tedesco

dams County Sheri

dams County Colorado

The name bar registration number address and tele hone number of the attorney is ichard . ohnston eg. o. 19823 inzenburg e Purvis Payne. P 350 ndiana Street Suite 50 olden C 80 01 tele hone number 303 8 3-1870. egal otice o. S 3 79 irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication ril 2 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade Public Notice

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE AND COMBINED NOTICE OF RIGHTS TO CURE

SHERIFF SALE NO. 2025001287 TO THE ADAMS COUNTY SHERIFF

Pursuant to the terms of the Deed of Trust described as follows: riginal rantor s S M CH V M . D M S riginal ene ciary

.S. T SS C T Holder of vidence of Debt

.S. T SS C T

Date of Deed of Trust ugust 17 2015 ecording Date of Deed of Trust ctober 05 2015 ook and Page o. or ece tion o. of ecorded Deed of Trust n book on age at ece tion o. 2015000082859 and County of ecording D MS riginal Princi al mount of vidence of Debt: 2 900.00

utstanding Princi al mount of vidence of Debt as of the date hereof: 2 88 .58

The real ro erty to be foreclosed is described as The South of ot 2 all of ot 3 lock 1 Hillto Subdivision County of dams State of Colorado.

Sub ect to all easements covenants conditions restrictions leases and restrictions of record all legal

all right of way all zoning building and other laws ordinances and regulations all rights of tenants in ossession and all real estate ta es and assessments not yet due and ayable eing the same ro erty conveyed by deed recorded in Document o. 20130000083975 of the dams County Colorado ecords hich has the address of 080 H ST C MM

The Holder of the debt secured by the Deed of Trust declares a violation of the covenants of said Deed of Trust for reasons including but not limited to the failure to make ayments as rovided for in the Deed of Trust and egotiable nstrument.

notice of ntent to Cure led ursuant to Colorado evised Statutes 38-38-10 shall be led with the undersigned at least 15 calendar days rior to the rst scheduled sale date or any date to which the sale is continued.

A notice of Intent to Redeem pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes 38-38-302 shall 8 business days after the sale.

If the sale date is continued to a later date, N Cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.

IF THE BORROWER BELIEVES THAT A LENDER OR SERVICER HAS VIOLATED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT IN SECTION 38-38103.1 OR THE PROHIBITION ON DUAL TRACKING IN SECTION 38-38-103.2, THE BORROWER MAY FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE COLORADO ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE FEDERAL CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU (CFPB), OR BOTH. THE FILING OF A COMPAINT WILL NOT STOP THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS.

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

Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau P.O. Box 4503 Iowa City, Iowa 52244 (855) 411-2372

The foreclosure roceedings have been commenced at the re uest of lainti .S. T SS C T the legal Holder of the debt secured by the Deed of Trust. The name address and tele hone number of the attorney re resenting Holder of the Debt is as follows:

/s/ Randall M. Chin andall M. Chin s . eg. o. 311 9 arrett ra ier eisserman P 1391 S eer oulevard Suite 700 Denver Colorado 8020 303 350-3711

NOTICE OF SALE

The undersigned will on May 29, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at 1100 JUDICIAL CENTER DR , BRIGHTON, CO 80601-8217 sell the Property at public auction to the highest bidder who has submitted bid funds to R S 38-38-106(7) to pay the Debt and certain other sums, all as provided by applicable law and the Deed of Trust.

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

D T D ebruary 27 2025. Sarah Tedesco Sheri of D MS County Colorado egal otice o. S 3700 irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication ril 2 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade Public Notice

SUMMONS

SERVICE BY PUBLICATION IN THE DISTRICT COURT IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF ADAMS AND STATE OF COLORADO

Civil Action No. 24CV30433, DIV. C THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, P vs. UNKNOWN PERSON and TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY, Defendant.

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT, GREETINGS: ou are hereby summoned and re uired to le with the Clerk an

rovided by law.

**BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING CASH OR CERTIFIED FUNDS SUFFICIENT TO COVER THEIR HIGHEST BID AT TIME OF SALE** NOTICE OF RIGHTS

before the

date and time s eci ed above. ithin the time re uired for answering the etition all

ections to the etition must be in writing led with the

and served on the etitioner and any re uired ling fee must be aid. The hearing shall be limited to the etition the ob ections timely led and the arties answering the etition in a timely manner. f the petition is not answered and no objections are led the court may enter a decree without a hearing.

egal otice o. S 3702

irst Publication March 20 2025 ast Publication ril 3 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Doris Lorraine Osborne, a.k.a. Doris L. Osborne, a.k.a. Doris Osborne, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 030100

ll ersons having claims against the abovenamed estate are re uired to resent them to the Personal e resentative or to the District Court of dams County Colorado on or before uly 28 2025 or the claims may be forever barred.

Julia E. Doak Personal Representative 6691 King Street Denver, CO 80221

egal otice o. S 3 8

irst Publication March 13 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of BETTY J DINGES, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 73

ll ersons having claims against the abovenamed estate are re uired to resent them to the Personal e resentative or to the District Court of dams County Colorado on or before uly 1 2025 or the claims may be forever barred.

Shelley Lopez Personal Representative 4285 Corte Bella Drive Brighton, CO 80601

egal otice o. S 3 78

irst Publication March 13 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade Children Services (Adoption/Guardian/Other)

Notice DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601

Child: Tanyilah Tillman

Respondents: Tatyana Green, John Doe

Special Respondents: Samaria Russell Case Number: 23JV30149 Div: D ORDER OF ADVISEMENT

T C T TH V - M D SPD TS Tatyana Green, John Doe

H DV S D that the Pe-

titioner has led a Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child egal elationshi which now e ists between you and the above-named child ren

TH DV S D that the Motion has been set for hearing in Division D of the District Court in and for the County of dams dams County ustice Center 1100 udicial Center Drive righton Colorado on the 4th day of April, 2025, at 9:00 am, at which time the Petitioner must rove by clear and convincing evidence that 1 That the child ren was ad udicated de endent or neglected 2 That an a ro riate treatment plan has not reasonably been complied with by the arent or has not been successful 3 That the arents are un t That the conduct or condition of the arent or arents is unlikely to change within a reasonable time; no less drastic alternative to termination e ists and That it is in the best interests of the child ren that the parent-child legal relationship which e ists between the child ren and the res ondent s be terminated and severed.

1 That the child ren has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the parent or arents have surrendered hysical custody for a eriod of si months and during this eriod have not manifested to the child ren the court or to the erson having hysical custody a rm intention to assume or obtain hysical custody or to make ermanent legal arrangements for the care of the child ren and 2 That it is in the best interests of the child ren that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child ren and the res ondent s be terminated and severed.

1 That the child ren has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the identity of

the arent of the child is unknown and has been unknown for three months or more and that reasonable e orts to identify and locate the arent in accordance with section 19-303 have failed and 2 That it is in the best interests of the child ren that the arent-child legal relationship which exists between the child ren and the res ondent s be terminated and severed.

f a grand arent aunt uncle brother or sister of the child is re uesting guardianshi or legal custody of the child such re uest must be led within twenty days of the ling of this motion.

TH DV S D that you have the right to have legal counsel re resent you in all matters connected with the Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child egal elationshi . f you cannot a ord to ay the fees of legal counsel you are advised that the Court will a oint legal counsel to re resent you at no cost to you u on your re uest and u on your showing of an inability to ay.

f you have any uestions concerning the foregoing advisement you should immediately contact either your legal counsel or the Court. Done and signed on March 19 2025

TH C T District Court udge Magistrate egal otice o. S 37 irst Publication March 27 2025

ast Publication March 27 2025

Publisher righton Standard lade Public Notice

STATE OF COLORADO IN THE DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ADAMS Division D1 No. 25JV30016

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADOIN THE INTEREST OF:

Rocky Loy A Child(ren), and Concerning

Lisa Rodriguez, Rocky Loy, John Doe

Respondents:

S U M M O N S

To the arents guardian or other res ondents named above T S Rocky Loy and John Doe

ou are hereby noti ed that a veri ed etition has been led in the above named Court in which it is re resented to the Court that said child are alleged to be dependent and neglected for the reasons set forth more fully in said etition a co y of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for greater certainty.

ou are further noti ed that the arent-child legal relationship may be terminated by this action if rayed for in the etition.

ou are further noti ed that the Court has set said petition for hearing on the 16th day of April, 2025 at the hour of 11:00 a.m. ou are hereby noti ed to be and a ear at said time before this Court located at the dams County ustice Center 1100 udicial Center Drive righton C 80 01.

itness my hand and seal of said Court this 18th day of March 2025.

lana Percy Clerk of the District Court

egal otice o. S 373 irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025 Publisher righton Standard lade

Fort Lupton Press

otice is hereby given that the City of ort u ton

ublic hearings will be held remotely accessible to the ublic by hone and internet. nformation on how to attend the hearings will be provided in the agenda as posted on the City s website www.fortlu tonco.gov.

urther information is available through the City Planning and uilding De artment at 720 928- 003. ALL INTERESTED PERSONS MAY ATTEND.

The Peaks ndustrial Metro olitan District egal otice o. P12 0 irst Publication March 27 2025

Publication March 27 2025

ort u ton Press

Notice NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGULAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL DACONO ESTATES METROPOLITAN DISTRICT §1-13.5-513, C.R.S.

T C S H V by the Dacono states Metro olitan District eld County Colorado that at the close of business on the si ty-third 3rd day before the election no one submitted a nomination form for director o ces to be lled at the election including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates therefore the election to be held on May 2025 is hereby cancelled ursuant to 1-13.5-513 C. .S. Since no self-nomination and acceptance form nor afdavit of intent to be write-in candidates were led no candidates are declared elected by acclamation and o ces to be lled at the May 2025 election shall be vacant.

y s Dianne Miller Designated lection cial Dacono states Metro olitan District

egal otice o. P1239

irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025

Publisher ort u ton Press

Bids and Settlements

Public Notice

NOTICE INVITATION TO BID BUILDING REMODEL AT THE CARBON VALLEY GYMNASTICS CENTER FOR THE CARBON VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION DISTRICT

The Carbon Valley Parks and ecreation District CVP D is seeking bids from ualed commercial construction com anies to remodel arts of the gymnastics building at the Carbon Valley ymnastics Center.

This re uest for ro osals will be released on March 28 2025.

Co ies of the P may be obtained from the CVP D ecreation Center located at 701 5th St. rederick C 80530.

The com lete document will also be available at htt s www.cv rd.com htt s www.bidnetdirect.com colorado carbon-valley- ark-recreation-district

Sealed ro osals must be received by 5 PM

Mountain Standard Time MST on riday ril 18 2025 at the Carbon Valley Parks and ecreation District ecreation Center located at 701 5th St. rederick C 80530.

Proposals received after that time will not be acce ted. ll Pro osals must be sealed in a ackage clearly marked with the ro oser s name and CVP D ymnastics emodel.

The e uest for Pro osal and any addenda will be available on March 28 2025 on the Carbon Valley Parks and ecreation District website at htt s www.cv rd.com and htt s www.bidnetdirect.com colorado carbon-valley- ark-recreation-district.

Carbon Valley Parks and ecreation District reserves the right to re ect any or all or any art to waive any formalities and to award the proposal to the vendor deemed to be in the best interest of CVP D.

ll corres ondence and uestions regarding this P should be directed to elly lson ecreation Manager

Carbon Valley Parks and ecreation District 701 5th St. rederick C 80530

Tele hone 303-833-3 0 e t. 111 mail kolson cv rd.com

egal otice o. P12 2 irst Publication March 27 2025 ast Publication March 27 2025 Publisher ort u ton Press

Misc. Private Legals

. . verist ncor orated has led an a lication amendment to their eclamation Permit with the Colorado Mined and eclamation oard under the rovisions of the Colorado Mined and eclamation ct for the e traction of construction materials. The mine is known as the agsdale eservoirs

Please note that comments related to noise, truck traffic, hours of operation, visual impacts, effects on property values and other social or economic concerns are issues not subject to this Office’s jurisdiction. These subjects and similar ones, are typically addressed by your local governments, rather that the Division of Reclamation, Mining &

the eld County Clerk to the oard s o ce 1150 St. reeley Colorado 80 32 or the above named a licant.

Comments must be in writing and must be received by the Division of eclamation Mining and Safety by 00 .m. on ril 23 2025.

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