Douglas County deputies help solve kidnapping
Commissioners hand-pick members for library board
One appointee supported book removals twice in 2023
BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Douglas County commissioners altered a longtime appointment process for the Douglas County Libraries Board of Trustees when they hand-picked new members of the board, including a Castle Rock resident who advocated for the libraries to remove books with LGBTQ+ themes.
At a Feb. 24 meeting, the three county commissioners unanimously appointed Amy Windju of Castle Rock and Pam Hampton of Parker to the library board. On March 4, the commissioners unanimously appointed Taylor Watson of Parker to the board. e appointments follow a December decision to disregard recommended appointments made by an interview panel drawn from the Partnership of Douglas County Governments, which included a current library board member and local government ofcials. e interview panel recommended Rick LaPointe, Meghann Silverthornn and Joe Kopacz be appointed to the library board. LaPointe and Silverthornn were seeking reappointment to the board.
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A call to the Douglas County Sheri ’s Ofce to report a trespassing in a Highlands Ranch neighborhood resulted in the recovery of a child in a national kidnapping case. “ is call not only led to the apprehension of two suspects, but — unknown to everyone at the time — to the discovery of a missing child and the resolution to a seven-yearold mystery,” said Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly.
Abdul “Aziz” Khan, now 14, was found safe and healthy after an e ort to locate him that spanned seven years and involved multiple agencies across the U.S.
He was found at a Highlands Ranch home, with a 40-year-old woman who authorities have identi ed as his mother, Rabia Khalid,
Aziz’s family in Louisiana are asking for privacy at this time, but provided the sheri ’s o ce with a statement: “We are overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has nally been found. We want to thank everyone for their support over the last seven years. We specifically want to recognize the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce for their exceptional work in solving this case.”
Since Aziz went missing seven years ago, his case gained national attention, including being featured on Net ix’s “Unsolved Mysteries.”
In addition to the Louisiana Kenner Police Department’s involvement, the U.S. Marshals Service got involved in 2020 and traveled to 11 di erent states for search efforts. e National Center for Missing & Ex-
ploited Children, a nonpro t corporation, also worked with the family.
“In family abduction cases, it can be difcult to garner public attention, but we knew that the national media coverage was crucial — Aziz could have been anywhere,”
John Bischo III, vice president missing children division of the NCMEC said in a statement.
A call to Kelliwood Way
Just before 4 p.m. on Feb. 23, deputies with the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce were dispatched to a vacant home listed for sale on Kelliwood Way in Highlands Ranch after the homeowners saw two people enter the house on their security cameras.
Deputies thought they were there to inves-
e Library Board of Trustees declined to comment on the change to the appointment process.
Commissioners George Teal and Abe Laydon directed sta
42-year-old Elliot Blake Bourgeois and another child.
District of Colorado U.S. Marshal Kirk Taylor, left, joins Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly and other elected o cials at the Douglas County Courthouse in Castle Rock on March 5 to speak about the nationwide e ort to find a missing boy.
PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
Candlelight vigil takes place one year after the youth’s death
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
As night fell on March 6, dozens of people walked down a candle-lit path into Toepfer Park in Highlands Ranch, looking over the baseball field where Alexander “Alex” Mackiewicz once played.
From students to parents to elected officials, this crowd gathered to remember Mackiewicz’s life, who at the age of 13, was struck by a vehicle and killed on Highlands Ranch Parkway on his way to school one year ago.
The crowd reminisced about Mackiewicz, but also gathered to advocate for legislation that would make roads safer.
“This tragic accident was preventable by simply following the rules of the road,” said Mackiewicz’s father, Robert. “They are there for a reason — to protect us and to save lives.”
On March 6, 2024, Victoria Cegielski, Mackiewicz’s mother, got a notification that her son wasn’t at school. She tracked her son’s phone location to the intersection of Highlands Ranch Parkway and Venneford Ranch, where she was met with the flashing lights of first responder vehicles.
Today, flowers, pinwheels and a painting with the words “We miss you” surround the blue sign that memorial-
a step to gain more public awareness for
pedestrian
Highlands Ranch community gathers to celebrate Alex Mackiewicz’s life
izes him. This sign was put up as a step in the family’s mission to remind drivers to be cautious and responsible and know that driving is a privilege.
“This year was tough,” said Cegielski. “But I am tired of being miserable.”
Although the past year has been difficult for the family, Cegielski said she was grateful to have met others who have lost a loved one due to careless and reckless driving, many of whom joined her at the vigil.
Determined to not allow her son’s death be in vain, Cegielski decided the theme of the vigil would be: The change begins with us.
‘Change is needed’
Since Mackiewicz’s death, Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly has continued to saythat he is going to meet with legislators to seek potential changes to not only improve roadway safety, but to have harsher penalties for careless and reckless drivers.
Court proceedings revealed that Ruben Morones did not have the intention of killing someone that day. Still, Morones, 53, was sentenced in January to the maximum punishment for careless driving resulting in death in Colorado, which is one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
However, Weekly said the penalty will never be enough and that “change is needed.”
“Our legislature needs to pay attention,” said Weekly. “March 6, 2024, is a date in Colorado that will change the course of our criminal justice system
and the way that careless driving resulting in death is handled in our court system. We need to do better.”
Republican Sen. John Carson, who represents Douglas County, also attended the vigil. After meeting with families impacted by careless and reckless driving, Carson said he is going to be working on bipartisan legislation to increase the penalty for careless and reckless driving resulting in death from a misdemeanor to a felony.
“We all need to work as a community to raise the profile on this issue,” said Carson. “We’ve got to prevent these types of tragedies from happening again.”
Michael White, another Colorado parent who lost a child to a vehicle-involved crash, met with Cegielski the day before the vigil.
White is the co-founder of thewhiteline.org and is working with the state legislature to pass a bill — called the Magnus White Cyclist Safety Act of 2024 — that would require auto manufacturers to implement automatic emergency braking systems that can detect pedestrians, cyclists and vulnerable road users.
White lost his 17-year-old son on July 29, 2023, after he was struck by a driver from behind while nearing the end of a cycling training session before representing Team USA at the World Mountain Bike Championships.
While building a data center to track accountability, The White Line also advocates for stricter state and national laws that impose harsher penalties.
“We’ll be able to see exactly what penalty is potential, what is actually sentenced and what is actually served, so we can actually show these lawmakers, show the media, that people are not being held accountable,” said White.
A night of remembrance
Terri Vogel, who lost her husband in 2019 after he was struck by a hit-andrun driver, has become close with Cegielski since Mackiewicz’s death and has learned about his character.
He was “a bright light extinguished way too soon,” Vogel said of Mackiewicz.
That sentiment was shared as Mackiewicz’s classmates came up one by one to share stories of their friend.
Generous, goofy, friendly, smart and loving were just some of the words used to describe Mackiewicz. His peers said that it didn’t matter how long his classmates had known him, he could become friends with anyone. He was someone to talk to, play games with and could make a darker day brighter, they said.
“I think that he had such an impact on so many people that even through this very sad event, he still has a bright shine on others,” one of Mackiewicz’s friends said during the vigil. “It just makes me so proud and happy that just one person can make such a big impact on people.”
As the family and community continues to grieve, they want Mackiewicz to be remembered for his generosity, his love for sports and most importantly, his love for his family.
“We will all get together and we will fight for a change,” Cegielski said.
One year after Alexander “Alex” Mackiewicz was struck by a vehicle and killed on Highlands Ranch
PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA
Alex Mackiewicz’s mother, Victoria Cegielski, encourages other community members and students to speak about what Mackiewicz meant to them during a candlelight vigil on March 6.
Flowers, pinwheels and a painting with the words “We miss you” surround a sign memorializing Alex Mackiewicz at the site where he lost his life on March 6, 2024.
In
road and
safety, Victoria Cegielski and her family dedicated a sign to her son, Alex Mackiewicz, a few feet from where he lost his life on Highlands Ranch Parkway last year.
Family members, neighbors and Alex Mackiewicz’s classmates stand close to one another as they listen to stories about Mackiewicz on the one-year anniversary of his death.
While
the White House Reverses ‘Green’ Policies, Will Colorado Be Able to Hold Its Course?
For many years, Colorado, like California, has pursued its own “green new deal,” with its Democratic Governor and General Assembly passing one law after another that promotes everything that is now anathema to the current national administration.
Colorado sends a lot of tax dollars to the federal government and gets lots of tax dollars in return, especially for road projects such as the rebuilding of Interstate 70 through Denver. The current administration is using the leverage of withholding funds to pressure localities to fall in line with its immigration policies. It could just as easily withhold funds unless the state reverses its own green initiatives, such as incentivizing the purchase of new or used electric vehicles with bigger tax credits than any other state.
structed under laws passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor.
The CEO’s website describes several laws it is implementing that address the issue of building efficiency, both residential and commercial. Primarily, it is requiring all jurisdictions in the state of Colorado that create or amend building codes to adopt the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which was adopted by the International Code Council, Inc., a non-governmental organization. It also requires all jurisdictions to adopt the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code upon updating any other building code.
“Cities and counties with building codes must adopt the 2021 IECC along with the model electric ready and solar ready code when adopting or updating any building code between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2026.”
This isn’t a political column. Coloradans need to know whether its movement toward a “green” economy will be halted or reversed by the new administration. My intent in this column is merely to describe the programs and policies that may be in jeopardy.
The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is the arm of state government which develops and implements “green policies,” including in the real estate domain, as authorized and in-
According to the CEO, jurisdictions are encouraged to amend their building codes every three years and to incrementally move in the direction of the model codes, and they are prohibited from making amendments to their code which “decrease the effectiveness or efficiency” of the code.
The more liberal jurisdictions, such as Aspen, Denver and Jefferson County, have moved quickly to adopt those model codes, which include requiring new construction to include conduits and pre-wiring to facilitate future installation of EV charging stations and solar panels. According to the CEO website,
Also being developed, according to the website, is The Model Low Energy and Carbon Code, consisting of the 2024 IECC, as amended by Colorado’s Energy Code Board. To the White House and DOGE, the names alone suggest they’ll be targeted by the new administration. Let’s just say they’re “woke.”
A Model Green Code, currently in draft form at the CEO, “will address building attributes such as energy and water use efficiency, electrification, low carbon building materials, and other strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of new buildings. Local governments may voluntarily adopt this code in addition to the required energy code,” according to the website.
The state of Colorado has no statewide building code, but it does require any jurisdiction (i.e., counties or home-rule cities) which
Some Eager Sellers Cut Out Potential Buyers by Accepting a Quick Good Offer
Yes, the seller’s market of the Covid years is over, but there are still listings which sell right away, and too many sellers accept a fullprice or better offer on the first or second day, when they might get a better price if they just waited a few days.
This January, the average days on the MLS for listings within 25 miles of downtown Denver peaked at 60, compared to 22 days in January 2022. The median days on the MLS peaked at 44 this January compared to only 5 days in January 2022.
However, of the 2,396 listings in that area which closed this January, 63 went under contract the first day they were on the MLS and another 44 listings sold without even being entered on the MLS so that other buyers could know about them. 47 more went under contract the second day they were on the market, and 57 went under contract on the third day. I tell my sellers that if someone makes an
offer that quickly, and there are lots of showings, there are probably other buyers who might have paid more. It is my job as a listing agent to help my sellers get the highest price for their home, and I’m not doing that if I don’t convince them not to go under contract in less than four days.
This topic was inspired by a broker associate who said that twice in the past couple of months his buyer had lost out on a new listing that he showed the first or second day it was on the market because the seller had accepted a quick offer that our buyer would have beaten, given the chance.
In conclusion, just because the market has
Interested in a Different Take on Politics?
I have my own political blog called “Talking Turkey.” You can find it online at http://TalkingTurkey.substack.com
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slowed down, sellers who price their home wisely and get a quick full-price offer should at least look at how many showings have been set, inform those other agents about the offer, and give them a chance to submit.
has a building code to follow state laws regarding building codes, and it’s common to adopt one of the codes created every few years by the International Code Council, amended as appropriate to their local needs.
The above map from the CEO website, shows the extent to which each county has adopted the IECC codes by year. The lightest colors are counties which have adopted (likely with amendments) the 2021 IECC, and the darkest counties have no building codes. The other colors have building codes based on IECC years 2006, 2009, 2015 and 2018. It’s a interactive map, and can be changed to display home-rule cities and their codes, or you can search a county or city and it will display the details of its code requirements and IECC year.
As usual, I have the links for all this at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com
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BOARD
to reopen applications for library board candidates and change the process to give the commissioners the sole ability to appoint board members moving forward.
Teal and Laydon decided to leave the seats open during the second application process. Teal said he was disappointed that only ve candidates applied and he wanted to see more applicants. At the Feb. 24 meeting, Teal nominated Hampton and Windju, but did not elaborate on why he selected them over the recommendations of the appointment committee. ere was no mention of other applicants or an interview process.
Windju and Hampton both serve as district captains in the Douglas County GOP. Hampton also helps run the Parker Conservatives group with her husband, Mark Hampton.
According to TRACER records, Hampton has donated about $4,500 to the Douglas County Republican Central Committee and Windju has donated about $300 to the Douglas County Republican Central Committee and $50 to Teal’s 2024 campaign for commissioner.
In 2023, Windju was one of many people who spoke during two library board meetings about the removal of four
books from Douglas County libraries because of LGBTQ+ themes. e books were “ e Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish,” “ is Book is Gay,” “All Boys Aren’t Blue” and “Jack of Hearts.” e request to remove the books from library shelves failed with a unanimous vote from the library board.
In her comments, Windju said removing books from library shelves is not book banning. Windju said she was concerned that the book “Let’s Talk About It” was available in the “youth section” because it described the use of sex toys.
“No one is banning books, no one is calling for books to be banned,” she said.
“It is about age-appropriateness and leaving politics out of kids’ minds.”
Windju said that as a taxpayer service, the library should heed the community’s opinions.
“Our taxes are paying for this, and we all, as a community, have a voice,” she said.
Windju also accused the library board of having ties to “social activism” because it signed a 2022 statement from the Urban Library Council on racial and social equity and is a member of the American Library Association.
In a phone call with the Douglas County News-Press, Teal said he nominated Windju and Hampton because he felt they represent people in the community who were “involved over the last couple of years in terms of some of the content and how that content is displayed in the
Vote
libraries.”
“A lot of it does come from the input I’ve received from residents of the county that – and maybe these are residents of the county that may represent a more traditional view of the role of libraries –they weren’t being listened to and their input didn’t matter anymore,” Teal said.
During the February meeting, Commissioner Abe Laydon said he had spoken with Windju and Hampton and felt con dent in their appointments, noting “these are great folks that share our perspectives.”
Laydon said he wants the county to balance freedom of speech with parents’ rights and protecting children.
“My concern is always balancing the First Amendment constitutional principles and a parent’s right to raise their kids as they see t with protecting kids as a county and making sure kids are not exposed to something that is inappropriate,” Laydon said. “You don’t want Playboys right on the bottom shelf when you walk into the libraries. It’s a great hypothetical that I don’t think would ever occur, but certainly colors what we’re talking about. We don’t want obscene, inappropriate materials.”
Laydon said he supports Hampton and Windju because they told him they don’t support censorship.
“I asked pointedly and they both said ‘We don’t want to book burn; we don’t want to censor, we believe in freedom of information and education, and the
libraries are a place for that,’ so I feel really good about both of them,” he said.
Laydon also spoke of Windju and Hampton as being people of faith who
“both have connections to members of the gay community that they have a respect and appreciation for that.”
“ ey share my view that radical agendas that we’re seeing out there are wildly inappropriate, but they have relatives in the community and they recognize the need for education and information, particularly for youth that are three times more likely to commit suicide,” he said. “So I was really impressed with their balancing, and they shared my freedom principles and I think they’re both great potential candidates.”
Laydon made similar comments about Watson during the Mar. 4 discussion, saying that he is a man of faith with ties to the gay community.
Teal said he met Watson at the National Prayer Breakfast and appointed him because Watson’s experience as a nancial planner impressed him.
According to county sta , the library board appointment process was designated to the Partnership of Douglas County Governments from 1999 to 2013. From 2013 to 2018, the library appointment process was the responsibility of the commissioners.
Since 2018, the Partnership of Douglas County Governments has recommended appointments that the commissioners vote on.
KIDNAPPING
tigate a trespassing and potential burglary in process, but when they arrived at the home, they found two children sitting in a vehicle parked in the driveway. e older child was identi ed as Aziz and the younger child’s identity is not being released at this time.
“When the deputies contacted the (older) child in the driveway, the child immediately called the two people inside” the home, said Weekly. “We believe that the child was actually coached on what to say if they came into contact with law enforcement.”
Bourgeois and Khalid later exited the home, claiming to be associated with a real estate agent.
As deputies began to question them, bodycam footage reveals that the deputies gathered multiple and inconsistent stories from the two adults.
“ ey (the deputies) knew something wasn’t right,” said Weekly. “ ey dug and dug for about ve hours until they could gure out what was going on.”
Meanwhile, the kids were taken to a neighbor’s house where they got food and watched TV.
After deputies located fake identication documents in the vehicle and tracked where the vehicle came from, they discovered that Khalid had an active warrant for kidnapping and that Aziz was involved.
Both children were taken into protective custody.
On Nov. 27, 2017, Khalid, a non-custodial parent, allegedly abducted her son from Atlanta, Georgia, and was charged with felony kidnapping, according to the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce.
Both adults are being held in the Douglas County jail on multiple charges, including second degree kidnapping, forgery, identity theft, providing false information to authorities and trespassing.
George Brauchler, the District Attorney for the 23rd Judicial District, further explained that Bourgeois is facing 14 charges, 12 of them being felonies; and Khalid is facing nine charges, seven of
them being felonies, including conspiracy to kidnap.
Each is being held on a one million dollar bond and are expected to appear in court on March 27.
Bourgeois and Khalid are facing state charges, and Brauchler said the conversation on if the federal government will get involved has not happened yet.
‘A long road ahead’
A lot of questions remain unanswered but detectives and the Douglas County Financial Crimes Unit continue to investigate the incident.
Detectives are looking to answer why the family was in Colorado, what they were doing in Highlands Ranch and on Kelliwood Way, if the kids were enrolled in school, and if the child knew he was kidnapped, among other questions.
“I often wonder, how many law enforcement contacts did this family have before our deputies were able to dig in and identify exactly what was going on,” Weekly said.
Weekly met with Aziz’s father and family members after they made their way to Colorado.
Weekly said there was not a dry eye in the room as he heard from the family about how this transpired. He said the family supposedly had a hard time getting law enforcement to be responsive to what appeared to be a custody dispute.
e father told him that he had not had contact with Aziz for about nine years.
e mother, Khalid, allegedly left with the child after learning that the father was going to get full custody. Weekly said he believes they have been all over the country.
Aziz has not been reunited with his father yet, however, the transition is underway. Weekly said that it is going to be a slow process.
“ is is the only life that Aziz has known,” said Weekly. “It’s going to take some time, it’s baby steps to get up to that point, and there’s just a lot of work to be done for this reuni cation.” is is an ongoing investigation. If you have information on where these individuals have been over the past seven years, contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
Douglas County increases teacher pay, but remains the lowest in the metro area
BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Douglas County School District is still working to make its teacher compensation more competitive with other metro area school districts by approving a small increase for next school year.
e school board approved an average 3% increase to salaries for licensed sta , including teachers, as well as a 3% increase for classi ed sta and a 2% increase for administrative sta . e district will also cover any increases in health care costs for all employees.
With the approved increase, Douglas County’s starting teacher salary will go from $51,400 to $51,900. Douglas County’s starting salary is the lowest in the metro area, with Je co and Denver public schools o ering the next lowest salaries at
about $55,200 in the 2024-25 school year. e district is planning to cover the cost of the salary increases with funds from its unassigned balance, which is roughly $75 million. Chief Financial O cer Jana Schleusner said the unassigned balance has increased more than expected since 2020 because of federal funding during the COVID-19 pandemic and sta vacancies.
Schleusner said the district will use about $12.5 million from the unassigned fund balance to increase teacher compensation.
“What we’re proposing is to continue prioritizing our sta and have strategic use of our fund balance to have a softer landing and decrease volatility at the state level,” Schleusner said.
Superintendent Erin Kane said she is comfortable with the plan despite the
state’s school funding plan for next year being unclear.
“If we can’t continue to treat our employees well and take care of our employees, it is our children who will pay the price,” Kane said.
Kane said district o cials don’t expect long-term issues with state funding for education, but if that were to happen, Kane said she would prefer a hiring freeze to a compensation freeze.
“We always have the option of rightsizing sta in order to keep continuing to give people increases, but I feel like not giving increases is the worst of all options,” Kane said.
e district has been working to make sta compensation more competitive for the last few years. From 2022 to 2025, salaries for licensed sta went up almost 30% on average, classi ed sta saw a 24%
increase and administrators received a 20% increase.
e largest increase came after the passage of the $66 million mill levy override in 2023.
“Although we’ve made a lot of progress, we still have a lot of work to do as a system to continue to make our employee salaries competitive with our Denver metro area peers,” said Chief Human Resources O cer Brian Condon.
e 2025-26 compensation plan received unanimous support from the school board, with board member Brad Geiger noting that the increases will be tempered by in ation.
“We’re doing this just so our teachers can buy what they bought last month, and I wish we were in a position to do better than that,” Geiger said.
Brauchler, Weekly tout county’s approach to safety at private GOP fundraising event
BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly and 23rd Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler spoke about their approaches to public safety at a private fundraising event hosted by an organization supporting Colorado House Republicans. Hosted by New Day Colorado Fund, a political organization that raises money for Republican candidates running for the state House, the Feb. 20 event featured comments from Weekly and Brauchler on public safety. e event was not open to the media.
An advertisement called the event an “exclusive, private event to discuss how we can keep Coloradans safe” and listed a $250 minimum suggested contribution per person, $1,000 for sponsors and $2,500 for hosts.
Following the event, Brauchler and Weekly spoke with the Douglas County News-Press about what they discussed at the fundraiser.
Brauchler said the event was informal with comments from him and Weekly, as well as opportunities for attendees to ask questions. Brauchler said he
SEE EVENT, P13
speak at a press conference in February at the Douglas County Justice Center. Weekly and Brauchler gave comments on public safety at a private fundraiser, which they say focused on the county’s approach to crime.
Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly and 23rd Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler
PHOTO BY MCKENNA HARFORD
Dispose of household chemicals properly
Never pour household chemicals or paint down a stormdrain. Stormdrains lead directly to our local creeks and waterways where wildlife live and people play! Check with your local Health Department for chemical disposal and Paintcare.org to recycle paint.
Videos released in Highlands Ranch shooting
Jalin Seabron was holding gun when deputy killed him
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Footage of the o cer-involved shooting that took place outside of the Main Event entertainment center in Highlands Ranch on Feb. 8 has been released to the public.
Under Colorado law, if there is an ofcer-involved shooting, the law enforcement agency must release the raw unedited footage. Legal questions regarding the ongoing case delayed the release of the footage to the public.
In the morning on March 3, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Tyrone Glover, the attorney representing Jalin Seabron’s family, released body cam, dash cam and surveillance footage of 23-year-old Seabron being fatally shot by a deputy with the sheriff’s office.
Both parties expressed the importance of releasing the video.
“It is important to see the totality of the situation our deputy faced as he ran toward gun re in an active-shooter situation without hesitation,” Sheri Darren Weekly said in a statement. “We believe this video will help clarify the facts surrounding this tragic incident, correct misinformation, and reassure our citizens that our deputy acted within the law.”
In a press release from Glover, he states that the video evidence contradicts what has been said previously by the sheri ’s o ce, adding that the shooting was “unjusti ed, unnecessary, and in direct violation of the sheri ’s o ce’s own policies and procedures.”
Footage shows deadly shooting e video released by Glover provides text describing the incident as it unfolds, with momentary pauses in the video. e video shared by the sheri ’s o ce is verbally narrated, slowed down and zoomed in, including photos that were taken following the incident.
Both videos show footage from the deputy’s dash-cam, body-worn camera and an outdoor surveillance camera.
In the video released from the Seabron family attorney, outdoor surveillance video shows Seabron exiting the Main Event building and walking to a car parked in the front row.
As Seabron walks around the back of the vehicle, the attorney’s video shows that Seabron said, “I warned you. I said
back up,” to others in front of the building.
e video released by the sheri ’s ofce does not show Seabron walking out of the building, however, a recording of the initial active shooter call is played. In the recording, a caller can be heard saying there were multiple shots red — stating there were too many to count — inside the building and that people were exiting the building.
In a press release from the sheri ’s o ce, Weekly states that the responding deputy heard on the radio that there were multiple reports of shots heard.
“He arrived on scene in less than a minute,” Weekly said in the release. “He saw people eeing the business and confronted a man with a gun in the parking lot. e gunman pointed his gun at several people and refused multiple commands to put his gun down before turning toward my deputy.”
In accordance with state law, a peace o cer is justi ed in using deadly physical force if the suspect possesses an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury to the o cer or other people.
In both videos, outdoor surveillance footage shows Seabron walking around the back of a vehicle with a handgun in his right hand. ere are people outside of the front doors of the building.
e body-worn footage — in both videos — show the deputy get out of his vehicle and approach Seabron. Seabron, standing in between two vehicles, has his back to the deputy as the deputy approaches Seabron with a weapon.
e deputy commanded Seabron to drop the gun: “Hey, drop the gun, drop the gun right now, drop it.”
Seabron can be seen turning his head towards the deputy and opening the passenger door to a vehicle when the deputy red several shots.
In the video released by Glover, text on the screen states that the deputy did not identify himself or that he had a weapon.
e press release from Glover states that the footage shows that Seabron never pointed his weapon at anyone, that his back was turned to the deputy when shots were red and that Seabron was never given a reasonable opportunity to comply with the deputy’s commands.
In the video released by the sheri ’s o ce and in the press release, the agency claims that Seabron ignored multiple commands to drop his weapon.
e time between the rst verbal command given by the deputy and shots red from the deputy’s gun was less than ve seconds, according to Colorado Community Media’s calculations from the video footage.
“The gunman pointed his gun at several people and refused multiple commands to put his gun down before turning toward my deputy.”
Darren Weekly
Douglas County sheri
e press release from the sheri ’s ofce also states that the investigation has led detectives to determine that Seabron was involved as a step-sibling and an accessory to the female suspect who is accused of ring multiple shots inside the Main Event building.
Weekly said in the video that the sheri ’s o ce has identi ed dozens of victims who had to run from the gun re inside.
Glover denies the sheri ’s o ce’s description of Seabron being painted as an “accessory” to the shooting inside the building.
“Jalin Seabron, a young man celebrating his 23rd birthday, was unjusti ably gunned down while trying to protect his family,” the release from Glover reads. “Now that the public can see the truth with their own eyes, we call on all relevant authorities at every level of government to pursue meaningful justice for Jalin.”
is is an ongoing investigation. ose with information are encouraged to call the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
Viewer discretion is advised. e video from Seabron’s family attorney can be seen at tinyurl.com/Glover-main-eventfootage. e video from the sheri ’s ofce can be seen at tinyurl.com/dcsomain-event-footage.
Taken from security camera video, a Douglas County deputy stands with his gun where he encountered Jalin Seabron outside the Main Event Entertainment Center after responding to a report of shots fired.
SECURITY VIDEO FOOTAGE RELEASED BY THE DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Delivery driver wins $25,000
Aaron Nee, a driver for a local Amazon delivery service partner called Delivered On, stands for a photo as a grand prize winner of the annual Amazon Thank My Driver program. He is one of five grand prize winners in the U.S.
COURTESY OF AMAZON
to the Black Forest area — won a national Amazon program award for the most customer appreciation.
Aaron Nee, a driver for an Amazon delivery service partner called Delivered On based in unincorporated Douglas County, was one of ve grand prize winners in the United States to win the annual Amazon ank My Driver program. He has delivered packages to homes and businesses in local area since July 2023.
“I was excited and super grateful that I was named one of the grand prize winners,” said Nee, who lives in Glendale. “It made me realize that all my hard work paid o . It made me aware of customers’ satisfaction from my deliveries.”
During a celebration on Feb. 26, Nee received a $25,000 grand prize award, and Amazon gave another $25,000 on Nee’s behalf to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, the nonpro t that Nee selected.
“I feel the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is important to me since my dad was homeless at one point,” said Nee, who is originally from Hawaii. “It made me realize the type of challenges that were presented to people without a home. I gured donating this amount was a way to give back.”
Gordon Foster, owner of Delivered
On, manages the more than 100 drivers who deliver for Amazon customers out of the more than 700 drivers who are based out of the Douglas County delivery station. Amazon has nine delivery stations in Colorado and 12 ful llment and sortation centers.
“Nee is always there to do his job well. He’s very team-oriented,” said Foster, who has run the delivery service with his wife Emalee since 2018. “He always does his own route on time and customers appreciate how he takes care of their packages. He shows up and delivers smiles.”
Amazon developed the ank My Driver feature that allows customers to directly thank drivers for making their deliveries. is feature is available to U.S. customers with an Alexa-enabled device, the Alexa app or an Amazon account, making it easy to thank drivers in the U.S. anywhere. Since it was rst introduced in 2022, Amazon customers have thanked delivery drivers more than 40 million times.
Nee said he’s grateful for a good living and bene ts through Amazon. He’s become inspired to pursue a commercial drivers license and start a career in driving semi-trucks. Among many bene ts, Amazon pays for tuition for its drivers interested in continued education.
“Amazon gives me a good living,” Nee said. “If I had not worked at Amazon, I never would have become interested in a career in driving and now I want to get my CDL and drive trucks.”
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Finding the will and the way
When our oldest daughter, Kate, was just over two years old, I found her perched on top of the refrigerator with one hand holding open the door of the freezer and the other reaching in to grab an Otter Pop.
I was shocked by the sight and asked her what she was doing. Kate, who always wanted to be exactly like her mother and therefore refused to call me “Dad” because that’s not what Beth (Mom) called me, turned her head, looked at me, and said, “Nothing, Jim.”
To get in this precarious prone position six feet o the ground, Kate had gone to the corner of the kitchen and placed her plastic step stool on the counter. She then must have moved her highchair across the kitchen so that she could use the chair to climb onto the counter.
Apparently, after getting on the counter, she pushed her step stool over next to the refrigerator, stepped up on it and climbed on top of the refrigerator. From there, for this two-year-old fearless climber, it was easy to open the freezer door and begin to reach down to grab the prize.
We can critique our parenting regarding this situation all day long. How is it that a 2-year-old could be left alone long enough to accomplish such a feat? Why did I not hear the furniture being moved? What other safety features were not in place? e list goes on. In the end, whether it was good parenting or not, after getting her down safely from the top of the refrigerator, Katie, Beth, and I had Otter Pops. I am sure we took a few minutes to talk about not doing that anymore, but I do not remember that part of the conversation.
We have shared that story with people numerous times over the course of the last 30 years laughing with each retelling. ose are great memories. In the last 16 years, since my MS. Diagnosis, I have come to recognize that beyond the great memories, the story holds lessons about overcoming obstacles.
ree things stand out for me.
Most obviously, there is the idea that where there is a will, there is a way. In our struggles, it is so easy to get stuck with an “I can’t do that.” recording playing in our head. We need to get rid of that record; it is
limiting and debilitating. When we change the message to, “I can’t do that in the way I used to.” It opens doors and creates possibilities.
Next, while I can only imagine what her 2-year-old brain was thinking, I suspect that Kate broke the problem of wanting an Otter Pop into several parts: How do I get on the counter? How do I get on top of the fridge? How do I get an Otter Pop? To nd di erent ways to do things, we may have to break hurdles down into parts. Figure out one step that gets us a portion of the way there and then gure out the next. When we do that, eventually we will get our Otter Pop.
Finally, Kate was bold and open to taking chances. To take on the struggles we face we too must be bold, willing to take chances.
Struggles put us at a crossroads, an inection point where we must decide what our mindset and path will be. My hope for each of us is that we will choose the path with options, with possibilities, with joy.
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.
Education in the United States, and how the di erent states fare
How does the U.S. do in educating its citizens compared with other developed nations? e following quote from education expert Judy Butler gives a perspective I never thought of.
Iam a recently retired lawyer, having practiced for 45 years in Colorado. Over the past 10 years, my wife and I have had the honor of working as volunteer interpretative rangers in Rocky Mountain National Park (“Rocky”).
Neither Rocky Mountain, nor any of Colorado’s other national park units (of which there are about 16, including parks, monuments, historic trails and other sites), are oversta ed. Indeed, they have been understa ed for quite some time. at is based on our rsthand knowledge. When Elon Musk announced the indiscriminate employment cuts to our federal government, including all of our national
“Education system rankings are always an apples and oranges comparison. Educational systems are a product of the countries’ culture,” she said.
She contends the U.S. is No. 1.
“ at’s because we educate everyone through age 18 and don’t siphon o kids around age 16, sending only the best students on to high school making them eligible for college and other post-high school education,” Butler said.
So, our democratic ideas a ect our ranking. We live up to the idea that everyone in the U.S. deserves a chance to succeed.
I looked at many rankings and only one, a U.S. News and World Report study in 2024, ranked the U.S. No. 1 in education. It included our world-class colleges and universities as part of our education system. As a result of my research, I know we are not 24th, as Elon Musk reported, but we are not the best either. e U.S., despite ranking high in educational system surveys, falls behind in math and science scores compared to many other countries. In reality, we have 50 educational systems as our K-12 education is managed and funded almost completely by the 50 states, according to a 2024 report by Fullerton College of Education at Michigan State University.
So, as a result, I focused on measuring the 50 states in terms of their K-12 school systems. I found three credible studies that measured school quality, student safety and student success. As each study had di erences, I combined the three averaging each state’s scores. e following are those results.
First quadrant (highest performing states in order): New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, Maryland, Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa.
Second quadrant (above average
states in order):Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Utah, Ohio, Maine, Florida, Delaware, Washington, South Dakota, Rhode Island. ird quadrant (Below average states in order):Montana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Idaho, Texas, Arkansas, Michigan, North Carolina.
Fourth quadrant (Poorest performing states in order): Hawaii, California, Oregon, Mississippi, South Carolina, Alaska, Alabama, Nevada, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico.
Some of these rankings are in uenced by the makeup of the individual states. ere is a study by the National Center for Education, which studies 67,977 schools in 12,842 districts. at study shows that suburban schools produce reading scores of 50.7 vs. similar scores of 41.4 in rural schools and 37.4 in urban schools. Math scores are also highest in suburban schools at 49.7 vs. 41.7 in rural schools and 38.0 in urban schools.
e three di erent school settings have similar student to pupil ratios and similar teacher pay per student ratios. is suggests that the scores students produce depend on their school environment. States with predominantly suburban schools will produce higher scores and the reverse is also true. You may be wondering how we are doing. Schooldigger.com, an organization that helps parents understand school quality, rates both Evergreen and Conifer High Schools in the top 3% of the over 26,000 high schools in America.
I had a wife, sister and two aunts who were teachers. All would agree that the two facts that matter most in student success are parental involvement and the quality of the teacher. Who among us has not had that special teacher who motivated and challenged us.
My son, upon graduating from college, wrote to his fth-grade teacher thanking her for her extra e ort on his behalf. I invite you to remember your special teacher and tell someone about them.
Jim Rohrer of Evergreen is a retired businessman who worked in small, medium and very large businesses. His books “Never lose your job. Become an MVP” and “Improve your bottom line, develop MVP’s today” focus on fostering success.
Protect our parks by contacting your representatives
park units, I immediately began contacting the ofce of 8th District Congressman Gabe Evans to discuss the catastrophic e ect of these cuts on our national parks in Colorado, and I asked when he would publicly support our parks.
I’m in my third week of constant contact, and while I have spoken to people at his o ce, no one has given me any impression that he cares the least about our parks. Most re-
cently, when I asked a representative in his o ce to tell me when he would support the reversal of employee cuts in our national park units in Colorado, he said he did not know and instead referred me to the videos on Mr. Evans’ website touting his support for a recent House budget resolution and potential cuts in Medicaid. Please, let Mr. Evans know that our national parks are a beacon of light in the world.
My wife and I, in our jobs, discuss the beauty and majesty of Rocky with literally thousands of visitors from throughout the U.S. and dozens of other countries. I can think of nothing more important for us to promote in these trying times for our country, and nothing more shortsighted than ignoring the park’s needs. Let Mr. Evans further know that if he does not care about our parks, he does not care about Colorado and has no business representing its citizens, whether in the 8th or any other district.
is guest column was written by Boulder County resident Kevin Allen, who moved to Colorado in 1978 and practiced law for 45 years, mostly at Allen Vellone Wolf Helfrich & Factor P.C. Now retired, he and his wife have served as volunteer interpretative rangers at Rocky Mountain National Park for 10 years.
Jim Roome
GUEST COLUMN
Kevin Allen
GUEST COLUMN
Jim Rohrer
The journey toward authentic transformation
In our pursuit of change, it’s easy to get caught up in the tangible, a new haircut, a sleek set of clothes, or even a shiny new ride. ese external adjustments can certainly provide a burst of con dence and a touch of swagger. ey are the visible badges of change, a way to signal to the world that something is di erent. But while a rep at the gym or a new car might spark a temporary uplift, true transformation begins with the subtle shift that happens within.
Consider the allure of physical tness. ere’s a moment of pride when you add weight to your bench press or see the de nition of muscle emerging under your skin. And yes, that newfound strength can translate into condence. Yet, if the only change you make is super cial, the uplift is often eeting. It’s not merely the muscles we build, but the internal resilience we cultivate that leads to lasting transformation. When we push through our physical limits, we also train our minds to overcome obstacles, rea rming the belief that we are capable of more than we ever imagined.
WINNING
is brings us to the perennial debate: Does attitude drive behavior, or does behavior shape attitude? Some days, we wake up with a re in our belly, ready to conquer every challenge. Every action we take, whether hitting the gym, taking on a new project, or engaging in meaningful conversations, reinforces our positive mindset. Conversely, there are mornings when motivation seems elusive. Even then, when we push ourselves to take that rst step, we often nd that our mindset catches up to our actions. e physical act of moving, of doing something, can spark an internal shift that transforms hesitation into determination.
Similarly, a fresh haircut or updated wardrobe may transform how others perceive us and even how we see ourselves. New clothes can be a metaphor for new beginnings, a way to leave behind old patterns and step boldly into a reimagined self. But these changes, while invigorating, are just the surface. ey signal a desire to change, yet without the foundational work of inner growth, they risk being mere band-aids on deeper wounds. Real con dence emerges not from the approval of others but from the acceptance and understanding of who we truly are. Sometimes, the urge for change leads us to alter our surroundings, even our social circles. We may think that by surrounding ourselves with high-energy, ambitious people, we will be swept up in their momentum. And indeed, the people we choose to spend time with can have a profound impact on our mindset and behavior. Yet, if our inner dialogue remains unchanged, the external shift in friends can only do so much. e company we keep can mirror our aspirations, but the inner commitment to growth and self-improvement is what ultimately propels us forward.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Trump is embarrassment
In his meeting with Zelenskyy on Feb. 28, Trump showed his most awful side. After two European leaders, Macron of France and Starmer of Great Britain, visited and deferentially fed Trump’s ego, Zelenskyy stood up to Trump and Vance and that did not sit well at all. Vance, as he has done several times in the past few weeks, became the o cial daddy, scolding Zelenskyy for not being thankful enough, much like he scolded the Europeans at the Munich Security Conference. is, in view of the disrespect Trump has shown Zelenskyy in the past, is especially egregious.
At the heart of changing from the inside out is a willingness to examine our current state and envision who we want to become. It’s about taking a hard look at our values, our dreams, and the areas in our lives that feel stagnant. Whether that means working on our physical health, mastering a new skill, or deepening our spiritual journey, the catalyst for real change lies within us. It’s a journey that demands introspection and a commitment to personal growth. e truth is that transformation isn’t a destination but an ongoing process. It requires patience, persistence, and the courage to face our vulnerabilities. While external changes can temporarily boost our self-esteem, the internal shift, a renewed mindset, a commitment to lifelong learning, and a deepseated belief in our potential create lasting change. We are all a work in progress, under construction, always evolving.
I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can identify what we want to change and why, taking the necessary actions to pursue it, it really will be a betterthan-good life.
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.
As the Trump administration cozies up to Russia, Zelenskyy attempted to set straight that Russia had invaded Ukraine and couldn’t be trusted, Trump exploded. Images of Trump’s ugly demeanor clearly showed how he
reacts whenever he is challenged. Rep. Seth Moulton of the Armed Services Committee summed up the situation very succinctly — in the White House there sat two cowards and one hero, a leader of a people who has steadfastly refused to capitulate to the Russian aggression, who have sacri ced many lives in that e ort. Our bone-spurs president and his lackey VP have no right to self-righteousness. What a wonderful president we have, what an embarrassment.
Ernst Popke, Highlands Ranch
Disrespectful Zelenskyy
It was very disrespectful for Ukraine President Zelenskyy to show up at the White House for the formal signing of the important Rear Earth Minerals Agreement, wearing a chip on his shoulder and a black ninja costume.
Raoul De Chant, Parker
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License for Sheridan animal rescue MAMCO suspended after rabies risk and allegations of neglect
The shelter’s 87 dogs are being transferred to nearby facilities
BY ISABEL GUZMAN ISABEL@COTLN.ORG
e license for Moms and Mutts Colorado (MAMCO) Rescue for Pregnant and Nursing Dogs was ordered to be suspended on Feb. 28 due to allegations of animal neglect, and mishandling of hookworm and potential rabies exposure.
is comes months after MAMCO faced scrutiny in August when a dozen puppies were euthanized following a rabies diagnosis. e Colorado Department of Agriculture now claims the rescue failed to properly isolate puppies with hookworm and those potentially exposed to rabies or distemper, leading to four puppies being euthanized.
e Colorado Department of Agriculture also alleges that two dogs escaped the facility during an inspection.
In December, the shelter entered a probationary period with the state due to several
allegations of multiple violations that occurred in 2024 between January and July. ese include inadequate pest control, failure to sanitize enclosures, keeping dogs in enclosures that were not appropriately sized, and insu cient cleaning of animal waste.
Aron Jones, who is an owner of MAMCO along with her husband, Robert Jones, are now transferring the 87 dogs that were housed in MAMCO to other shelters. ey deny the allegations, and in an Instagram post, claimed the state is using fabricated information to scare the public.
“We have been political pawns and (the state) has been using MAMCO Rescue as a way to make it so that no dogs can come into the state of Colorado without a rabies vaccine,” Aron Jones said in her March 1 Instagram video. “Which means no dogs under the age of 12 weeks can be brought into Colorado, which means no moms, no puppies — nothing.”
She also alleges that the state illegally “wrote up” the shelter and that the violations were only repairs the building required.
According to the order issued by the Department of Agriculture, the shelter was noti ed on Feb. 13 that it had failed two inspections in addition to the alleged viola-
tions in 2024, resulting in the suspension of its license. e Colorado Department of Agriculture ordered the immediate surrender of all dogs to other shelters or rescue organizations, citing an “imminent threat to the health and safety of Colorado dogs and their owners.”
e document states the shelter had imported puppies from Texas infected with hookworm in December, but failed to isolate them, increasing the risk of cross-contamination.
One puppy became severely ill with symptoms possibly indicating distemper or rabies and was euthanized on Jan. 29 after visits to a vet emergency hospital. According to the document, despite potential exposure, the puppy’s three littermates were not isolated and were euthanized to be tested for rabies, which is the only possible way to test a dog for the virus.
e MAMCO owners are now fundraising to ght the State in court.
In a caption of their social media post showing police ordering the shelter to be shut down, the owners stated, “And if this is the end, we thank you all for helping us save 1,4382 dogs and cats that wouldn’t have had voices without us as community.”
Mark Baisley to run for Colorado governor
He is the second Republican lawmaker to enter the 2026 race
BY BENTE BIRKELAND COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
e list of Republicans aiming for Colorado’s top o ce is growing.
Two current statehouse Republicans have o cially entered the race for governor in 2026, when Democratic Gov. Jared Polis is term limited.
Colorado has not elected a Republican governor since Bill Owens handily defeated a Democrat in 2002.
Sen. Mark Baisley of Woodland Park said the political left has tightened its grip on the Colorado community to pass radical bills, some of which are “blatantly unconstitutional.”
“ e state government has taken on an attitude of micromanaging the people’s behavior rather than respecting and empowering ‘We e People’” he sent in a text message to CPR News.
Baisley said his campaign will focus on economic opportunity, education and safety.
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Email linda@cotln.org if you notice a possible error you would like us to take a look at.
“Working with innovative government and industry leadership, we have managed to make several meaningful accomplishments in bringing advanced technology and manufacturing to the state. We may even land the competition to host the coveted Sundance Film Festival. I have spent much of my energies working with education institutions towards preparing students to step up to those good paying jobs.”
Rep. Scott Bottoms of Colorado Springs led paperwork with the Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce last month to launch his bid.
e second-term lawmaker is a pastor and Navy veteran. He is one of the most conservative members of the legislature and at times butts heads with Democrats on issues of free speech and decorum in the chamber. is session, he’s introduced bills to make it a Class 2 felony to help an out-of-state minor come
to Colorado for gender-a rming care and to ban commercial insect production for human consumption. Both were defeated in their rst hearings.
Bottoms and Baisley are both sponsors of a bill this year that would have made it harder for medical professionals who provide gender a rming care to minors to get medical malpractice insurance. Democrats defeated that proposal. e two also worked together on the creation of an ‘In God We Trust’ license plate option which became law in 2023.
For the most part, Baisley has primarily focused on business and technology during his time at the Capitol. He previously served in the House and now sits on the Senate’s Business, Labor and Technology and the Local Government and Housing committees, as well as the General Assembly’s and Joint
Technology Committee.
He’s also been working with Democrats on the AI task force that was set up to help implement Colorado’s rst-in-the-nation law aimed at preventing and reducing discriminatory AI systems in key decisions that impact people’s lives in areas like housing and education. Bottoms sits on the Appropriations Committee and the State, Civic, Military and Veterans A airs Committee.
is story was produced by the Colorado Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS and e Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
State Sen. Mark Baisley, R-Woodland Park, in the Senate chambers on the first day of Colorado’s 2025 legislative session on Jan. 8 at the Colorado Capitol in Denver. PHOTO BY JESSE PAUL FOR THE COLORADO SUN
Federal public safety funding remains frozen
BY LINDSEY TOOMER
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on March 3 urged the Trump administration to comply with a court order prohibiting the federal government from freezing funding, highlighting $69.5 million in public safety grants promised to the state.
At the end of January, President Donald Trump issued a sweeping freeze on federal spending, which a federal judge soon temporarily blocked. State o cials said more than $570 million that Congress approved for Colorado remained inaccessible in early February.
A news release from Polis, a Democrat, said the administration has stopped paying for Homeland Security grants allocated to the state in de ance of a court order mandating funding be disbursed. e release said the state will do “everything it can to bridge the gap in funding.”
“In Colorado, we are focused on improving public safety and this delay and uncertainty makes us less safe,” Polis said in a statement. “Common sense support to improve safety for Boys and Girls Clubs, places of worship, stopping school violence, and disaster assistance is illegally being cut o by the Trump administration. is wrecking ball approach from the federal government puts communities throughout Colorado at risk.”
Funding promised to Colorado that the state has not received includes:
• $18.66 million from state homeland security grants
• $6.36 million from emergency management performance grants
• $9.79 million from state and local cybersecurity grants
• $2.45 million in emergency operations center grants
• $9.87 million from nonpro t security grants
• $775,720 from targeted violence and terrorism prevention grants
• $15.2 million from urban area security initiative grants
Summit County Sheri Jaime FitzSimons said the ongoing funding freeze is “deeply concerning” for his county.
“As home to the most visited national forest in the nation — the White River National Forest — a critical stretch of Interstate 70, and dam infrastructure vital to the Colorado River Basin, Summit County relies on federal funding to support public safety across private, public, and federal lands,” FitzSimons, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Public safety must remain a priority, and restoring these funds is essential.”
is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.
start winning some elections, because the people that are in charge of the gold dome right now, don’t give a damn about public safety,” he said.
shared details about the newly launched 23rd Judicial District, its history and his plans as district attorney.
“I also talked about our approach to property crimes that is di erent than what I’ve seen from other people, and di erent than what we’ve done in the past,” he said.
Brauchler said he also advocated for three pieces of legislation, including bills to change the penalties for strangulation and retail theft, as well as a bill that would repeal limitations on law enforcement working with federal immigration agencies. e bills regarding retail theft and immigration enforcement failed to make it out of committee last month.
Brauchler said he spoke at the fundraiser to support Republicans’ e orts to address crime.
“None of these bills matter until we
Brauchler added that his comments echoed what he’s said in public and at press conferences.
“ ere really wasn’t anything I can think of that I said in that room that was any di erent than what I say to the public,” he said.
In an emailed statement, Weekly said he didn’t have a written speech but spoke about “Douglas County setting the example and being the envy of the rest of the metro area” in regards to public safety. Weekly said the sheri ’s o ce is not experiencing hiring issues because of its positive reputation.
“I spoke about our crime- ghting efforts and the great work our frontline sta are doing to keep our community safe,” Weekly said. “I also talked about how great it is to have (District Attorney) Brauchler and our daily collaboration to make Douglas County a safe place.”
FINDING PIECES OF IRELAND IN THE METRO AREA
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Rather than vibrant green landscapes and stone bridges arched over running waters, the Rocky Mountains act as the backdrop for various pieces of Irish culture throughout the Denver metro area. Ireland’s rich history shines through in many aspects of life, re ected in clothing, cuisine, artwork, family life and much more. However, it’s the music, dancing and pubs that play integral roles in the nation’s identity and keeps Irish culture alive across Denver.
“Denver has a strong Irish cultural scene,” said Ariel Bennett, owner of the Denver-based Heritage Irish Stepdancers dance school.
Denver’s Irish history
e Irish have had a strong presence in Denver since the mid-to-late 1800s.
Between 1845 and 1855, many Irish people immigrated to the United States due to the Great Famine in Ireland that decimated potato crops. A few decades later, Irish immigrants migrated to Leadville when silver was discovered. But when the Colorado Silver Boom ended in 1893, they began to make their way to Denver.
ey continued to work as laborers, but as generations evolved with the turn of the century, the Irish became more involved in the development of the city – in uencing religion, education and politics.
“Including eight Irish dance schools, a number of Irish pubs and a bunch of home-grown Celtic bands.”
e in uence of the Irish continues to be seen today through dance, music and pubs.
“Singing, playing and dancing are an essential part of social interaction, artistic expression and cultural identity,” Bennett said.
Stepping into the culture
When Bennett was a child, her mom, Molly, played in an Irish band and while playing at a party, Molly met two teenagers from Ireland. e teens asked if anyone would be interested in joining an Irish dance class.
Bennett was immediately put in the class and was later joined by her sister and mom.
e family started their own school, Heritage Irish Stepdancers, in 1998. While the main studio is in Denver, located at 7808 Cherry Creek South Drive, they also have classes at the Dance Academy, 8600 Park Meadows Drive in Lone Tree, and at Flatirons Dance, 8390 W. 80th Ave. in Arvada.
Although the exact origin of Irish dance is unknown, Bennett has learned about the di erent types of dances and how important it is to the culture.
ere are two forms of Irish social dancing. One is called set dancing, which has roots in English dancing, said Bennett, and the other is ceili dancing. is type of dance – which has become popular in competitions – involves couples dancing with other couples, similar to American square dancing.
“Sometimes people would do what was called a stepabout at these gatherings, where dancers would take turns showing o their fanciest moves,” Bennett said.
One of the more commonly-known styles is seeing the dancers with their arms by their sides. is is stepdancing, also known as solo dancing, and there are two styles within stepdancing. e soft shoe is more like ballet and the hard shoe is more like tap.
Also, women typically perform light and graceful moves while men do moves that are more powerful and rhythmic.
“Historically, stepdancing was done by common people, and they didn’t have special dance equipment,” said Bennett. “ ey wore ordinary clothes and shoes when they danced.”
Women and girls wore knee-length dresses with embroidered Celtic designs, said Bennett, but as competitive Irish dance became more popular, performance attire became shorter and lighter, with bright and bold designs.
For Bennett, Irish culture has always been part of her life, and over time, she has seen how dancing plays a key role in Irish identity.
A rainbow sits over a bright green landscape at the Rock of Cashel in Cashel, Republic of Ireland.
The River Lee runs through the Republic of Ireland’s second largest city, Cork, which is home to the English Market and the Blarney Castle and Gardens. PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA
PIECES OF IRELAND
Unique and distinctive music
“I was once told by an Irish person that the way you tell if someone has Celtic blood in them is by putting on Irish music. If they tap their feet and can’t sit still, they’re a Celt,” said Bennett. “ is just shows the importance that music has in Irish culture.”
With distinctive rhythms and unique traditional instruments, Irish music has always been a way to express emotions, tell stories and share culture.
Laura Schulkind, founder and executive director of the Chamber Music Society of Greater Denver, has been traveling around the metro area this March with the chamber, celebrating Celtic culture through music.
“Celtic music can be sorrowful, re ecting a lost love,” said Schulkind. “Or joyful and full of dance.”
Similar to many cultures, music was used to resist oppression. And Celtic music has also been used to preserve history, celebrate the nation’s identity and build community. It’s the instruments that are unique to the Celtic sound that instills life into the music.
Although Schulkind is a utist, she nds the distinctive sound of the Irish harp soothing and uplifting, making it one of her favorite instruments.
Other instruments that make up the Celtic sound include ddles, utes, the mandolin, concertina, tin whistles, highland pipes, uilleann pipes, Irish Bouzouki and the bodhrán.
A bodhrán is a frame drum where one side of the drum is open and the musician places their hand against the inside of the drum to control the tone and pitch while the other hand beats the drum.
“ e instruments create a rich texture that can go from a dense sound to a very light sound,” Schulkind said.
It’s often said that Irish music is a blend of storytelling and musical expression. Schulkind agrees.
A piece Schulkind is playing is called “In Ireland” by Hamilton Harty. She said the note at the beginning from the composer states: “In a Dublin street at dusk, two wandering musicians are playing.”
“ e composer is compelling me to tell a story with his piece,” said Schulkind. “He wants me to paint a picture with sound through the fantasy-type writing at the beginning and the joyful music at the end.”
Celtic music is not just for formal settings.
‘Good-ole Irish craic’
“Many of the tunes are also drinking tunes for the pubs,” Schulkind said.
From Celtic on Market to the Irish Rover, there are a multitude of pubs hidden throughout the Denver metro area. ere may not be as many as the 6,000 plus like in Ireland, but the metro area has its fair share.
Pubs are more than just a place to grab a drink. ey serve as a hub for the community, fostering a sense of belonging and contribution to the town.
“You just sit and have a good time, chat with your local friends, meet new people – and that’s exactly what we’ve tried to establish here,” said Megan Casey.
Casey has worked at Ned Kelly’s Irish Pub for 14 years and has fallen in love with getting to know the community and sharing a piece of Ireland.
e pub is a small, bright red building tucked away o Main Street in downtown Littleton. It rst opened in 2009 by two men – one of whom is from Ireland – after owning Scru y Murphy’s in downtown Denver.
Littleton “de nitely had the small town charm that a lot of Irish pubs have,” Casey said, adding that the building was remodeled in 2013 to make the pub more authentic.
While musical and stepdancing performances, as well as fundraising for local charities bring authenticity to the pub, Casey said getting to know its patrons on a personal level is what makes the pub feel genuine.
Having been to Ireland a few times, Casey said everyone in the pub is treated like family and that is what they aim for at Ned Kelly’s.
“ e few Irish pubs that I was in, that’s exactly how it was,” said Casey. “Everybody just welcomed you and wanted to get to know you. Like they say, ‘the good-ole Irish craic.”’
Stepdancing, also known as solo dancing, is a form of dance where the dancers perform with their arms down to their sides where women typically perform light and graceful moves while men do moves that are more powerful and rhythmic. COURTESY OF ARIEL BENNETT
Ned Kelly’s Irish Pub in downtown Littleton is one of many Irish pubs scattered throughout the Denver metro area. Established in 2009, it is the only Irish pub in Littleton. PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
With various styles of social and competitive dance, dancing has been an integral part in Irish culture. The Denver-based Heritage Irish Stepdancers dance school continues to carry on the Irish culture in the metro area. COURTESY OF ARIEL BENNETT
Valor Christian hockey lights up Poudre for 5A state championship
Eagles capture fourth championship in six years with 7-4 victory
BY HESTON MOSHER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
A fast start propelled Valor Christian to its fourth CHSAA 5A hockey championship in six years. e Eagles defeated the nationally ranked No. 2 Poudre School District High School Stars 7-4 at Magness Arena on March 3.
Valor wasted no time setting the tone, scoring 10 seconds into the game when the Eagles won the faceo and Ronan Hirsch eld found the back of the net, astounding everyone in the arena.
e Eagles capitalized on every opportunity in the rst period, including a short-handed goal from Elijah Fischer in the 10th minute and another quick strike for a goal by Hoyt Sorensen a minute later.
And then, when Andrew Jenkins nished a breakaway with a slick move past the keeper, Valor Christian had a commanding 4-0 lead after the rst period.
“Being on this stage is really important for a high school-aged kid,” Valor Head Coach George Gwozdecky said before the game. “Dealing with the pressure and nerves, playing in a game like this is bene cial, no question.”
His team showed no nerves, executing e ciently and outpacing Poudre early.
e Stars, in just their second year unied under the Poudre School District banner, found themselves with a prime
opportunity to start the second period, opening with a 5-on-3 power play.
Star’s Dylan Hice took advantage, slipping a goal past Valor’s keeper in the fourth minute to cut the de cit to 4-1.
Poudre found another breakthrough in the sixth minute, closing the gap to 4-2, but Valor Christian responded when Bauer Bodhaine buried a perfect behindthe-net feed to push the lead back to 5-2.
Star’s Weston Nerby’s goal for Poudre with 6:24 left made it a 5-3 game heading into the third.
“We have some kids that have developed a team philosophy, and they’ve battled, played for each other, and we’ve
been successful,” said Poudre Coach Riley Nelson before the game. “Tonight, I want them to embrace the opportunity.”
e Eagles’ discipline and opportunistic play continued into the nal frame. Despite multiple power-play chances for the Stars, Valor Christian extended their lead when Jenkins intercepted a pass and nished a short-handed breakaway with 4:23 remaining.
Poudre looked to gain momentum with Weston Nerby’s second goal of the night at 3:32, making it 6-4. But after pulling their goalie in the nal minutes, the Stars conceded an empty-net goal to Eagle’s Maddux Charles with one minute
left, sealing Valor Christian’s 7-4 victory.
“It feels awesome. I love my team,” said Jenkins. “I love that we were able to bounce back after our kind of rough season, and we got the job done. So, I am really happy.”
Poudre showed grit throughout this game and season but never fully recovered from Valor Christian’s early barrage. e Eagles, now 2-2 in championship wins over the past four years, once again proved their status on the big stage.
“We’re a growing hockey state,” Jenkins added. “And I think there are big things to come for high school hockey in Colorado.”
Players clash on the ice in a rough-andtumble play in the 5A ice hockey state championship.
Valor Christian won 7-4.
PHOTO BY HESTON MOSHER
Thu 3/20
Eric Golden
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Denco @ 9pm
Mon 3/24
The Ginn Mill, 2041 Larimer St, Denver
Sun 3/23
Moves & Brews at Western Sky Bar & Taproom @ 9am / $25
Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 11am Denver
Alpha Charlie's Tap & Tavern, 6631 S Peoria St Suite 100, Centennial
Clem RockZ: Live Littleton CO
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The Toad Tavern, 5302 S Federal Circle, Littleton
Tatiana Eva-Marie
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Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver
Corsicana
@ 7pm
Goosetown Tavern, 3242 East Colfax Ave, Den‐
ver
Fri 3/21
Chris Koza
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The Hampton Social - Denver, 2501 16th St, Denver
Don Goblin EP Release/Goodnight Native/Soph And Austin @ 7pm
Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver
Cheryl Wheeler: On A Winter's Night Reunion Tour
@ 7pm
Swallow Hill, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver
Avi Snow @ 8pm
Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver
Sat 3/22
BILLY
@ 6pm Ski House, 2719 Larimer St, Denver
Nate Bergman @ 7pm
Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver
Javier Rosas Y Su Artilleria Pesada
@ 8pm
Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora
Snap!
@ 8pm
Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St, Den‐ver Five8
@ 9pm
Larimer Beer Hall, 2012 Larimer St, Denver
Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S BROADWAY, Englewood. westernsky barco@gmail.com
Heathers @ 3pm
The Delorean, 1753 S Broadway, Denver
Holy locust, yes ma’am and doom scroll at moe’s @ 6pm
Severo Y Grupo Fuego: Noche NBA Pregame Concert - Hispanic Heritage Night @ 5pm
Moe’s BBQ, Englewood
2ŁØT Presents the Entro Tour @ 6pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver
Pretty Boy Floyd @ 7pm
Wild Goose Saloon, 11160 S. Pikes Peak Drive, Parker
Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Cir, Denver
Thomas Day @ 5:30pm
Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St, Denver
Modern Swing Mondays 2025 @ 5:30pm / $16.51 Stampede, Aurora
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Your Mom's House, 608 E 13th Ave., Denver
The Riverside: Looking for House Concert Hosts! @ 6pm
Looking for House Concert Hosts!, Denver
Stephen Day: Gold Mine Headline Tour @ 6pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver
Tue 3/25
Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 3pm Denver
High Country Dance @ 6pm / $16.51 Stampede, Aurora
The Rocket Summer "hello, Good Friend." 20th Anniversary Tour w/ Mae @ 6pm / $30 Marquis, Denver
Wed 3/26
Ladies Night @ 5pm / $16.51 Stampede, Aurora
ANNABEL LEE @ 6pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver
DEAD EYES @ 6pm
Shootin' DICE Studios @ The Rickhouse, 6100 East 39th Avenue, Denver
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Peter Raffoul @ 6pm
Skylark Lounge, 140 S Broadway, Denver
Jake Xerxes Fussell @ 6pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver
So True Live Tour With Caleb Hearon @ 6:30pm / $39.50-$49.50 Paramount Theatre, Denver Dollpile @ 7pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver
Thu 3/27
Chris Koza @ 2pm
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Parsons Dance keeps the joy in art form
Company will perform in Lone Tree on March 16
BY MARC SHULGOLD SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Here’s what to expect from Parsons Dance: A male dancer ying across the stage without wings or wires. A balletic romp through the music of Mozart. Six dancers swaying and leaping to the infectious rhythms of Brazil. e late Bill Withers’ life celebrated through his spoken words and songs.
David Parsons and his nine-member company have made the trek from New York to delight an audience at the Lone Tree Arts Center with these and other surprises — and he’s happy to talk about it.
“We’re going to keep pushing,” he said of his internationally renowned ensemble, re ecting on 38 years of creating works for his contemporary dance troupe and other major ensembles, in addition to performing in Europe, Russia, China and elsewhere around the world.
Life these days for dance companies has not been easy, Parsons admitted. “We don’t even have a studio or an o ce here in New York. I spend a lot of time fundraising. I now call myself a fundraiser/choreographer — in that order.”
But the joy of doing what he does can be heard in his energetic voice as he outlines the program his dancers will perform in Lone Tree.
“We created ‘Wolfgang’ for Aspen Santa Fe Ballet around 20 years ago,” he said, referring to the opening work. “It’s just a lot of fun using Mozart’s music. I got so inspired watching (the movie) ‘Amadeus.’”
A duet comes next — another piece inspired by a love of the movies, utilizing music by Oscar-winner omas Newman. Parsons emphasized that the lighting here and throughout the program is by his longtime collaborator and “muse,” Howell Binkley, who lit some of the most important Broadway shows before his death in 2020.
What follows is a tribute to the late singer/songwriter Bill Withers. “I always look for people with real authenticity,” Parsons said of Withers. “You get to hear him talk, telling you where he’s from, sharing some of his life story, and then we hear his songs.” And that’s just the rst half. e second half dips into the jazz world of Miles Davis, featuring some “structured improvisation” for six dancers, followed by that ying fellow — Parsons’ iconic Caught from 1982, lit magically by Binkley — and concluding with Nascimento, which the choreographer described as “a gringo’s look at the colors of Brazil.” e piece grew from the gift of a song from that nation’s beloved songwriter, and ve-time Grammy winner, Milton Nasci-
IF YOU GO
Parsons Dance will perform at 7 p.m. on March 16 at the Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St. in Lone Tree. For information, visit lonetreeartscenter.org or call 720-5091010.
“We recently did another tour down there,” he said. “It’s always been a special place for us, and he is such a wonderful man. His name means ‘birth,’ by the way.”
As one would expect, that nale brims with joy, rhythm and unstoppable energy — like so much of Parsons work through the years. Still, it’s hard to escape the fact that his dance company is one of the few still able to tour the country and the globe, leaving the safe con nes of New York City.
“ ere have been lots of changes, even before COVID hit all of us (in the dance world). But we’re starting to come back,” he said.
at said, there’s the worry about the shrinking source of talented dancers.
“ e old days of the university (training) system have changed,” he said. “We used to go and teach students in master classes in dance departments. But then it all stopped. ere’s been a disconnect.”
Ever the optimist, Parsons’ mood switches.
mento, during a visit to Brazil by Parson’s company.
“ eaters are starting to be built,” he said. “Look, this is a business — everyone has to work at it to survive. We just did two weeks in Brazil. Before that, a six-week tour in Europe, then a two-week tour out of New York.”
e dance-maker shared his delight at the prospect of performing at the Lone Tree Arts Center — he’d heard good things about the facility, where it has been said that contemporary dance is getting a boost — and also spoke enthusiastically about visiting Los Angeles, where the company will do six shows for schoolchildren at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
“ ere they are,” he said of his L.A. audiences. “ ey’re the future. I’m watching dance change.”
He wondered if the thousands of kids attending those shows might include a few inspired enough to go out and start taking dance lessons — and one day become professionals.
“Where will the next generation of dancers come from?” he asked.
Well, perhaps from some in his L.A. audience? Or perhaps from some young folks attending the performance at the Lone Tree Arts Center.
is coverage comes courtesy of a grant from the Littleton Arts and Culture Program. As a matter of policy, funders exercise no control over editorial decisions.
Parsons Dance is a New York City-based contemporary American dance company. The company will perform at the Lone Tree Arts Center on March 16.
Parsons Dance will perform at 7 p.m. on March 16 at the Lone Tree Arts Center. PHOTOS BY RACHEL NEVILLE
1. TELEVISION: Which 1960s sitcom was about a TV comedy writer, his job and his family?
2. AD SLOGANS: Which candy slogan urges consumers to “Taste the rainbow”?
3. COMICS: Which superhero gets his power from a ring?
4. GEOGRAPHY: Which country has the most islands?
5. MEASUREMENTS: How many cups are in a pint?
6. MOVIES: Which scary 1980 movie contained the phrase “red rum” and what does it mean?
7. ANATOMY: What is the outermost layer of human skin called?
8. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the rst president to ride in a car to his inauguration?
9. HISTORY: When did India gain its independence from Great Britain?
TrIVIa
10. CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: Who lives at 32 Windsor Gardens?
Answers
1. “ e Dick Van Dyke Show.”
2. Skittles.
3. e Green Lantern.
4. Sweden.
5. Two.
6. “ e Shining.” It’s the word “murder” spelled backward.
7. Epidermis.
8. Warren Harding (1921).
9. 1947.
10. Paddington Bear and the Brown family.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
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