1
October 22, 2014 VOLU M E 49 | I S S UE 40 | 7 5 ¢
Tri-LakesTribune.net T R I - L A K E S R E G I O N , M O N U M E N T, G L E N E A G L E , B L A C K F O R E S T A N D N O R T H E R N E L P A S O C O U N T Y
A publication of
Lewis-Palmer’s Kathy Thirkell named Colorado Teacher of the Year Math department chair has taught more than 5,000 students in 33 years By Danny Summers
dsummers @coloradocommunitymedia.com During her 33 years as an educator, Kathy Thirkell has taught math - mostly calculus to over 5,000 students at Lewis-Palmer High School. As the math department chair, she has had a say in the hiring of teachers, and has been contacted by numerous former students who have thanked her for her dedication in helping them become better citizens. On Oct, 13, during an all-school assembly at Lewis-Palmer, Thirkell was named the 2015 Colorado Teacher of the Year by State Education Commissioner Robert Hammond. “We’ve always known for years how wonderful of a teacher she is,” said Lewis-Palmer principal Sandi Brandl, who was hired as a math teacher at the school by Thirkell 18 years ago. “She’s been my mentor, colleague and friend for 18 years. She’s been a mentor and a leader and a cornerstone in our building for 18 years. She keeps that Lewis-Palmer tradition alive.” After receiving the award, which included numerous other gifts, Thirkell addressed the crowd, telling those in attendance that she was “… standing up here representing all of the great teachers at L-P.” “Teaching is always a work in progress,”
LEFT: Lewis-Palmer calculus teacher and math department chair Kathy Thirkell, center with flowers, is flanked by Colorado Education Association President Kerrie Dallman, left, and Vice President Amie Baca-Oehlert at the awards ceremony to congratulate their colleague, a member of the Lewis-Palmer Education Association, on being named the Colorado Teacher of the Year. ABOVE: Kathy Thirkell’s calculus students wore “Team Thirkell” t-shirts adorned with mathematical formulae and they sang some of her most-loved “calculus songs;” a class activity for which she is famous. Courtesy photos said Thirkell, 57. “It’s a challenge and an honor. “But I still love what I do and I’m not thinking about retiring anytime soon.” Thirkell also gave the student body homework at the assembly. She provided them with cards and asked each of them to write a thank you to a teacher who has influenced their lives. She plans on collecting them and see that they get delivered. Thirkell concluded her speech by saying the nation needs to recruit, train, and retain good teachers to do the job, and asked LewisPalmer students to consider a career in education. “We need you to be the difference-makers,” Thirkell continues on Page 6
Lewis-Palmer High School teacher Kathy Thirkell, holding papers, is congratulated by her calculus students at an assembly in her honor Oct. 15 at the school. Thirkell was named the Colorado Teacher of the Year by the Colorado Education Association.
More road improvements and roundabouts planned for Tri-Lakes area The work is never done for El Paso County engineers POSTAL ADDRESS
TRI-LAKES TRIBUNE (USPS 418-960)
OFFICE: 325 Second Street, Suite R Monument, CO 80132 PHONE: 719-687-3006 A legal newspaper of general circulation in El Paso County, Colorado, the Tri-Lakes Tribune is published weekly on Wednesday by Colorado Community Media, 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WOODLAND PARK, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legal: Thurs. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 10 a.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
By Danny Summers
dsummers @coloradocommunitymedia.com El Paso County Department of Transportation engineers always have projects in the works. Because of that the Tri-Lakes area will likely continue to benefit, according to El Paso County engineer Andre Brackin. “We have budgeted for a lot of road projects in the Tri-Lakes area,” Brackin said. “Everything from paving Beacon Lite Road from Highway 105 to County Line Road (exit 163) to putting in a roundabout at Gleneagle Drive and Struthers Road, as well as other roundabouts.” Brackin and his team have been conducting studies on the intersection of Struthers and Gleneagle for years. In early 20ll, the Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a professional service contract to Wilson and Company for Civil and Traffic Engineer Planning and Design Services. The traffic study examined possible ways in which to make the intersection safer. “Ultimately this is all about safety,” Brackin said. “We did a study and what the study recommended is a roundabout. A signal would not make sense there. Plus it would be too costly.” Currently, there is an all-way stop sign located at the intersection. Brackin said there have been several accidents over the years caused by motorists running the stop signs. The County added flashing beacons atop the stop signs in 2010. Brackin said that an outside consultant group will design the roundabout. It will be two lanes on each side. The two roundabouts on North Gate Road near Interstate 25 were built by the Colorado Department of Transportation last fall as part of its I-25 expansion project. Last month at a Town Hall meeting at Lewis-Palmer High School hosted by County Commissioner Darryl Glenn, Brackin explained some of the benefits of roundabouts compared with signalized intersections, or the current stop sign approaches. El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew
Monument Hill Road is now maintained by El Paso County. County engineer Andre Brackin said improvements will be made to the road in the next six to nine months. The County also has many more projects that will affect Tri-Lakes area roads. Photo by Danny Summers Thompson was featured in a short video shown to the crowd of about 25 people explaining the driving procedures and safety of roundabout intersections. Informational flyers were also provided at the meeting. Brackin addressed the crowd and answered questions. He said some of the benefits of roundabouts include a 78 percent reduction in fatal or severe crashes, and a 48 percent lower instance of overall vehicle crashes. He added that roundabouts would likely also reduce head-on collisions and rear-end collisions, which generally occur in the early morning and late afternoon hours. In addition, Brackin said that roundabouts are less expensive to maintain, have increased economic efficiency because there are no signals to maintain, have an increased opportunity for pedestrian crossings, In addition, all vehicle types are allowed. Brackin said that other planned roundabout
intersections include: 1. Old Denver Road, Baptist Road, and Woodcarver Road; and 2. Baptist Road, Hodgen Road, and Roller Coaster Road. Brackin also addressed the water control problem at the intersection of Northgate Road and Struthers Road and said that it is scheduled to be improved by next spring. Brackin told the crowd that the County instead of the Department of Transportation - now has control over Monument Hill Road, which is the main outlet for Palmer Ridge High School. Brackin added that the county is gathering community input concerning planning and design, including suggestions from LewisPalmer School District 38 regarding frontage road safety. Ongoing Tri-Lakes road projects that the County is involved with include Black Forest Road culvert replacements, numerous projects along County Line Road, Lake Woodmoor/ Moveen intersection improvements, and work along Baptist Road west of Interstate 25.