Parker Chronicle July 17, 2025

PACE Center celebrates 15 years

New acts, events slated for upcoming season

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In the past 15 years, residents in and around Parker have come to know the Parker Arts and Cultural Event Center — the PACE Center — as a hub for entertainment.

Before the PACE Center was built, residents were accustomed to having to go to downtown Denver for exciting entertainment, but today, those same quality shows are available right in people’s backyard – and they don’t have to pay for parking, said Carrie Glassburn, cultural director at Parker Arts which oversees the PACE Center.

“People can come here and bring their family, still go out to eat and not break the bank like they might have for other entertainment,” Glassburn said.

With a 534-seat theater, Glassburn said that the intimate setting allows for per-

formers and artists to really connect with the audience.

She added that the PACE Center continues to bring new people into the theater, averaging about 30-40% new attendees each show.

“When they get here and they see that we’re a ordable and we’ve got quality shows that are really convenient, it’s everything that they love,” Glassburn said.  is season, there is even more to love. From magic to fashion to dinosaurs, the entertainment lineup for the 2025-2026 season has something for everybody.

“We’ve got even more variety this year,” Glassburn said.

“We try to nd some things for people who have never been to the theater before, especially young children, all the way up to our aging adults.”

In addition to returning musical performances by the Parker Symphony Orchestra and the Parker Chorale, sev-

eral Friday nights will feature the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra which o ers a mix of salsa, swing, jazz manouche and more.

e PACE Center will host numerous noteworthy live concerts — Devon Allman’s Blues Summit country artist Chris Cagle; Grammy nominated pianist Jim Brickman; and Celtic music with Natalie MacMaster, Donnell Leahy and the Celtic All-Stars.  e music doesn’t end there, as there are musical theater performances that will bring fairytale fun and take audiences through the decades.

Shows include “Shrek the Musical,” “BritBeat: e Immersive Beatles Tribute Experience,” “Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “Electric Avenue: e 80s Movie Soundtrack Night.”

ere are shows for the younger generation as well, including “Dinosaur World Live,” a theatrical adaptation of “Goodnight Moon” and the Family Discovery Series.

Residents blast Teal’s ‘communist’ accusation

Commissioner’s claim came after home rule was crushed by voters

BY

Douglas County residents ooded a July 8 Board of Commissioners meeting to ask for apologies from Commissioner George Teal, following his suggestion that opposition to the county’s failed home rule initiative might have been backed by the Chinese Communist Party.

George Teal

During a KNUS radio interview ahead of the June home rule special election, Teal said he and fellow commissioners Abe Laydon and Kevin Van Winkle had been briefed on an ongoing federal investigation concerning the communist party’s alleged funding toward nationwide “No Kings” protests, and suggested those in uences could have ltered down to a local anti-home rule campaign.

If you’re looking for a good laugh, there are comedy performances by national standup comedians like Adam Ferrara, Ryan Hamilton and the 2015 winner of “America’s Got Talent,” ventriloquist Paul Zerdin.

e season also includes performances by psychic medium Matt Fraser, comedic clairvoyant Peter Antoniou, the Magic of Rob Lake and and thrillers like the 360 ALLSTARS, which is a high-octane urban circus that blends breakdancing, basketball, BMX and beatboxing.

e holiday classics will return, along with new events such as Reel Stories: AANHPI Voices in Film — a one-day lm festival celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Paci c Islander narratives.

Tickets for the season are on sale to Parker Arts members now. ey go on sale to the public on July 22.

Find more information at ParkerArts.org or call 303805-6800.

“Here’s a nationwide (e ort), funded by China, funded by a communist organization that is actually trying to work against the people of Douglas County having a say on local control issues,” Teal said on KNUS on June 23.

Teal later told 9NEWS he was referring speci cally to the political committee “No Little Kings” in Douglas County, an opposition group led by Highlands Ranch resident Dr. Eiko Browning, who Teal named speci cally. Browning, a Japanese-American oncologist, contributed about $14,000 of her own money to oppose the home rule measure.

Teal told Colorado Community Media he referenced Browning “only in her capacity as the registered agent for the “No Little Kings” issue committee, which was led as a statewide, not a local, issue committee.”

Some are concerned that Teal’s claims about Browning have deeper implications. ough the July 8 meeting agenda included no items related to the home rule ballot measure, over a dozen residents showed up to ask that Teal retract and apologize for his statements concerning Browning.

“Recently, we’ve seen misleading and in ammatory claims made by a member of this body, speci cally false allegations

JULIA KING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

“Mary Poppins,” the musical, played at the Parker Center for Arts and Entertainment last winter.

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Food Bank of the Rockies steps up capacity

New facility is coming this winter in north Aurora

BY ISABEL GUZMAN IGUZMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In Colorado, one in eight people, and one in seven children struggle with food insecurity, according to Feeding America, which is a national hunger-relief charity. With the proposed new restrictions on SNAP eligibility, Food Bank of the Rockies is preparing for growing needs. is winter, the food bank will open a new distribution center in Aurora on East 38th Avenue that spans 270,000 square-feet. e new building will double the cold storage space the organization has for fresh and frozen food, quadruple the kitchen space and triple its volunteering capacity from the current main distribution center at 10700 E. 45th Ave. in Denver.

“We are seeing this increased need that’s coming at a time when just in the last several months, we have lost about 7% of Food Bank of the Rockies’ total food supply in government commodity food,” said Ering Pulling, the organization’s president and CEO. “ at’s why this new building can’t come soon enough.”

e new facility emerges from Food Bank of the Rockies’ $75 million capital campaign, funded by donors. e food bank is 15% away from its nancial goal and Cal Fulenwider, the capital campaign committee chair, and the Fulenwider Family Foundation are providing a $500,000 matching gift.

Amid a slash in government support, Pulling said the new facility is ahead of schedule and costs remain under budget, providing a hopeful glance into the future of the food bank’s new distribution center.

For Martha King, a volunteer for the food bank since 2020, the bigger space for volunteers to efciently transport and package food is what she’s looking forward to the most.

“At (the Denver distribution center), we’re always bumping into each other. It’s like I-25 rush hour,” she said.

Food Bank of the Rockies is the largest food bank organization in the region, serving Wyoming and most of Colorado. Since establishing 47 years ago, the organization has grown alongside the growing needs of people facing hunger.

ter operating there for 19 years — which has limited the amount of food donations it can accept and distribute, in addition to signicantly impacting how many volunteers can be hosted.

e new facility is designed to increase capacity for food storage and volunteering opportunities, enhance e ciency and provide a larger array of fresh produce, Pulling said.

“(By) doubling our refrigeration capacity, I no longer have to worry about not having enough room when met with a great opportunity to bring in produce and perishables,” said Kelly Green, Food Bank of the Rockies’ chief operating o cer. “Sometimes (at our current facility), a load appears and we can’t t it in. So we have to say no and then they go somewhere else.”

In addition to the larger refrigeration area, some food donation receiving docks will also be refrigerated so that if fresh or frozen food arrives after the morning team of volunteers have completed their shift, the load is safely kept in the dock for the next morning.

“When you’re dealing with fresh produce, you’ve got to move with incredible velocity — something an old building simply didn’t allow us to do. But the new facility will allow us to change that, with more loading docks, greater access for our trucks and adequate staging throughout the building,” said Steven Kullberg, chief of sta at Food Bank of the Rockies.

e ability to retain fresh food is a huge advantage that also helps reduce food waste and promote sustainability, Green said.

e new facility will also have a 13-megawatt solar panel system that will aim to power 100% of the center’s energy. It will also store energy into batteries for back-up power systems in case of an outage, in addition to 10 dual-part vehicle charging stations which will power two trucks for local deliveries.

In February 2023, the solar panels that the food bank installed on top of the Grand Junction facility generated 100 kilowatts — enough power for an electric car to travel the globe 2.4 times — which is about a quarter of the building’s power.

e new distribution center will also include cardboard recycling via the cardboard bailing system, a machine that compresses and bundles cardboard waste into dense, manageable bales for recycling. e food bank said the revenue generated from recycling cardboard will be reinvested into providing more food.

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In 1978, Kathy Hackwith Growth began saving bread that was being tossed out by grocery stores, despite still being in good condition. She gave the bread to people and started the Colorado Food Clearing House, which then became Food Bank of the Rockies. Today, the food bank saves food from more than 800 stores and 150 food distributors across Colorado and Wyoming.

Pulling said the food bank has outgrown the current facility af-

“I don’t let anything go to waste,” said Patricia Heib, an Arapahoe County resident who has been coming to the Food Bank of the Rockies for groceries for nearly a year after being let go from the U.S. Postal Service.

Heib grew up in a family of six kids and looked after her younger siblings while her parents served in the military and worked. She learned how to make food last and dollars stretch, she said. When she lost her postal service job, she

leaned on her church, which connected her with food resources to help her ll her pantry.  at’s when Heib discovered the Food Bank of the Rockies. She said at rst, she felt embarrassed to ask for help, but now is comfortable using local resources to keep food on the table.

“I have a master’s degree in social work. I have worked in human services for years, helping people — and you know what, everybody needs help. Everybody is one paycheck away from needing help,” Heib said.

A rendering of Food Bank of the Rockies’ new distribution center kitchen.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES

Food Bank of the Rockies will open its new distribution center in Aurora this winter.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES

A longtime Food Bank of the Rockies volunteer, Martha King, speaks on July 8 about the new volunteer space being built at the new distribution center in Aurora. PHOTO BY ISABEL GUZMAN

Food Bank of the Rockies president and CEO Erin Pulling delivers opening remarks on July 8 at the new facility in Aurora. PHOTO BY ISABEL GUZMAN

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‘Golden Real Estate’ Is Now ‘Century 21 Golden Real Estate’

Notice the logo at the bottom right corner of this ad. It’s unchanged except for the addition of the “CENTURY 21®” branding. Last week, I finalized an “asset purchase agreement” with the owner of several other Century 21 franchise branches in Colorado, headquartered at Century 21 Elevated Real Estate in Grand Junction.

They also purchased the Century 21 branch across the street from us in downtown Golden, and will be closing that office, inviting its agents to affiliate with our office.

quickly attracted some broker associates, which made the enterprise more viable.

— What It Means to You (and Me)

my continuation of this column by contacting me if you’d like to buy or list a home. If I can’t serve you myself, I’ll refer you to the

broker associate who I believe will serve you with the same professionalism as I would. Thanks for your support!

This is a big change for me, of course. I started Golden Real Estate, Inc., the same month that Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone in 2007.

At the time, I had been a RE/MAX Alliance broker associate for four years. I was purchasing a building on South Golden Road (currently the Golden Outpost), and RE/MAX wouldn’t allow it to be a RE/MAX office, because there were already three franchise offices (including my own) within a few miles. My solution was to start a new brokerage, which I was able to do, having attained licensure as an “employing broker” the year before. My vision had been to create a new RE/MAX franchise with the name “RE/MAX Sustainable Living.”

A big reason (for me) to purchase that building was its frontage on South Golden Road, where I could park the box truck which I was providing free to buyers and sellers. At the RE/MAX office, the truck was parked out of sight behind their office building. On South Golden Road it would stand as a billboard promoting me.

So, Golden Real Estate, Inc. was born, and I

I followed through on my sustainability values by adding 5kW of rooftop solar panels and, later on, another 15kW of ground-mounted solar panels to power not only the office and its heat pump HVAC system, but also my electric vehicles, those of my broker associates, and even those of the general public. It was a good life. Toward the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, a storefront became available next to the Ace Hi Tavern, and I moved Golden Real Estate into it, renting out the building on South Golden Road, but continuing to park our box truck there. Finally, I sold the building to Joe & Stacy Fowler of the Golden Hayride, who have done an amazing job of converting it into a venue called the Golden Outpost. I’m so impressed with their improvement of the site.

So what does this change to a Century 21 branch mean to you, my readers and clients? Not much, really. All our broker associates have signed on with the new owners, and I’m committing to staying as managing broker for another 12 months, after which I may stay or choose to retire. Since I’ll be 78 years old, probably the latter.

One difference you’ll notice is that this advertising becomes my sole expense, not the company’s, so I’ll continue it as long as it brings me clients. I will continue to promote our broker associates’ listings, as you see below with Greg Kraft’s new listing in Belmar, and get a small referral fee from them when I refer a reader who contacts me about listing or buying a home. In other words, please support

What’s In and What’s Out With Kitchen Improvements

The National Kitchen & Bath Association recently published a report on the changes in kitchen design. Fortunately, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) summarized the report, which would cost you $2,995 to purchase. Here are some of what was written. (Find a link to the full NAR article at http:// RealEstateToday.substack.com.)

“Kitchens in 2025 are becoming about self -expression, combined with playful sophistication. As such, the colors and materials homeowners choose are becoming important—and they’re moving beyond just white,” says the NAR article.

“Color is leading the charge. Seventy-one percent of design respondents say their clients prefer colorful kitchens that reflect personali-

ty. Whether subtly or boldly, color is entering the kitchen, with pops of color being brought in through backsplashes, kitchen islands, wallpapers and even accent walls,” says the article.

The top trending kitchen colors? Green, blue, and brown — in that order. All-white and all-gray kitchens are giving way to earth tones.

Retro is in. “Design elements of the 1950s and 1970s are showing up in kitchens today,” the article says. That’s good news for a listing I have coming up next month in Golden’s Beverly Heights. It has a wood cooking stove that is only avail-able for purchase outside of closing. 47% of kitchen professionals also tout minimalism in cabinetry and hardware.

These Past ‘Real Estate Today’ Columns May Interest You

Clickable links for each column can be found at www.JimSmithColumns.com

May 29, 2025 — Divorcing Couples With a Home Need a Realtor With Specialized Training

May 22, 2025 — Home Sharing Helps Single Seniors Deal With Finance and Loneliness, Allowing Them to Age in Place

April 24, 2025 — Lennar to Build 1,500 Geothermal Homes; My Review of the Mustang Mach E

April 17, 2025 — Redfin Report Highlights the Increasing Cost of Buying versus Renting a Home

June 6, 2024 — Here Are Some Simple Steps to Take to Avoid Unpleasant Surprises After Closing

Mar. 21, 2024 — What’s Behind the Buzz About ‘Indoor Air Quality’ and ‘Sick Building Syndrome’?

Feb. 22, 2024 — Most Sellers Don’t Know How to Interview a Listing Agent. Here’s Some Guidance.

Dec. 21, 2023 — D.R. Horton Inks Deal to Build Homes With OSB Made From Grass Instead of Wood

posted on our Real Estate Today Substack blog. Scan the QR code at left to open and subscribe to it — free of course. Each article and listing is there, often with additional content and graphics, plus useful hyperlinks.

My other Substack is Talking Turkey, a left-of-center political blog. It is not in print anywhere. Click on the QR code at right if you would like to see what I have to say.

Just Listed: 1-Bedroom Condo in Heart of Belmar

$419,900

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Sept. 28, 2023 — Insurance Companies Are Pulling Out of California. Is That in Our Future?

Aug. 10, 2023 — What Are Some Common Mistakes That Homeowners Make When Selling?

June 15, 2023 — Don’t Let Capital Gains Tax Deter You From Cashing Out on an Investment Property

May 11, 2023 — Do Agents Inflate the Cost of Buying or Selling Your Home with ‘Junk Fees’?

Apr. 20, 2023 — What Are Some Affordable Ways to Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers?

This penthouse condo at 7130 W. Alaska Dr. #D offers incredible views and natural light with floor to ceiling windows on the north and south facing walls. Hardwood floors throughout except for the main bedroom and office, which are carpeted. A wall mounted 65" flatscreen TV is in the living room and there is an electric fireplace. There is a second electric fireplace in the bedroom. The kitchen is completely equipped with GE stainless steel appliances and there are granite countertops for easy cleaning. The stacked washer/dryer is located in a closet along the hallway and in an adjacent closet is the Climate Master Water Source Heat Pump which was installed in March 2020 at a cost of $8,000. This unit provides superior and reliable heating and cooling throughout the year. There is a deeded parking space and storage area (#6) on the 2nd floor of the adjacent parking structure. A flexible non-conforming bonus room offers space for an office or other needs. Located in the heart of Belmar, shopping, restaurants and other amenities are only footsteps from the front door. Come enjoy the convenience of this great condo. See listing agent Greg Kraft’s narrated video tour at www. GRElistings.com, or call him at 720-353-1922 to see it.

2-BR Condo in Denver’s Morningside Complex

$250,000

Rarely does one find a condo complex that is so well managed and provides so many amenities for the monthly dues. Heat and hot water are included. This unit at 3460 S. Poplar St. #307 in the Morningside complex has been nicely updated except for the kitchen, with new flooring and an enclosed balcony. The building's laundry room serves only as backup, since you have a spacious laundry room in the unit. When visiting, there's a keycard so you can visit the community center across the street at 7100 S Poplar. You'll be so impressed at the condition of the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, the separate spas for men & women, each including a steam room, sauna and fitness equipment. Included is one reserved space in the secure garden-level garage. A storage locker is also included. Take my narrated video tour of both the condo and the fitness center at www.GRElistings.com, then call me at 303-525-1851 to arrange a private showing. You’ll agree with me, this is one of the best condo communities ever!

Feb. 27, 2025 — As Society Deals With Homelessness and Affordability, Expect a Greater Focus on Manufactured Homes

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Sept. 26, 2024 — Some Thoughts on Keeping Your Death From Becoming an Undue Burden on Your Heirs

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Aug. 8, 2024 — Seniors Over 70 Might Consider Downsizing Into a Rental, Not a Smaller Home

July 25, 2024 — Many Homeowners Don’t Understand Title Issues, Which Could Lead to Big Problems Later On

Mar. 16, 2023 — Here Are Some Ways to Make Your Home More Accommodating to Seniors Feb. 9, 2023 — Understanding Indoor Air Quality and How It’s Managed in Super-Insulated Homes

Oct. 27, 2022 — Sales Taxes May Be Lower, But Property Taxes Are Higher in Unincorporated Areas

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Sept. 22, 2022 — What Steps Can You Take to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient?

July 28, 2022 — Aging in Place vs. Moving to a 55+ Community: Here Are Some Considerations

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Jan. 6, 2022 — Marshall Fire Is a Wake-up Call for Building More Fire-Resistant Homes

Dec. 2, 2021 — My Favorite Home Improvements When Purchasing a New-to-Me Home

Oct. 14, 2021 — Court Rules That Sending an Email Can Bind You, Even Without Signing It Oct. 7, 2021 — What Are the Most Common Foundation Issues You Might Encounter in a Home? Jim

Ballot measure could be on the horizon

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

South Metro Fire Rescue has stated that it is facing a budget shortfall in 2026, so the board of directors is seeking the public’s input on whether to cut services — or, if the agency were to put a tax increase question on the November ballot, what would it look like.

Mike Dell’Orfano, the chief government a airs o cer with South Metro Fire Rescue, said that due to a combination of costs and legislation, there will be a $16 million shortfall by 2026 and nearly $270 million over the next decade.

“It’s kind of a story of increasing demand, increasing costs and decreasing revenue,” said Dell’Orfano.

On top of the shortfall, South Metro Fire Rescue is needing an additional $34 million annually to maintain its level of service to communities and retain sta .

Renee Anderson, vice chair of the South Metro Fire Rescue Board, said that the board’s goal is to maintain the agency’s efcient response time and adequate staing, but without additional revenue, it will not be able to maintain the high-quality re and emergency services it strives to provide.

However, according to community survey results from January and February, which reached more than 2,000 registered voters in the re district’s service area, about 41% believe that South Metro Fire Rescue has the nancial resources to provide an acceptable level of re protection, ambulance and emergency services in their given community. About 34% were unsure and 25% did not believe the district has the nancial resources it needs.

South Metro Fire details budget shortfall

Where is the need coming from?

South Metro Fire Rescue is a full-service re and emergency medical provider with 30 stations located across parts of Arapahoe, Douglas and Je erson counties, which includes 12 municipalities that are home to some major businesses such as Lockheed Martin and the Centennial Airport, serving more than 571,000 people.

Over the past six years, Dell’Orfano said there has been about a 25% increase in the agency’s call volume, with EMS being the most-needed service.

“As we increase demand, that puts more demand on stations,” said Dell’Orfano. He added that the agency may “need to consider di erent crews or types of services to handle the changing needs of the community.”

More than half of the above-mentioned survey participants agreed that the need for medical services has increased in the last ve years.

Anderson added that the agency — across the various municipalities — is an entire system that responds when something is happening within its boundaries.

“As the population grows to the south, we will be pulling resources from Centennial, Cherry Hills and the Aurora area,” Anderson said.

e agency has also been experiencing a 40% to 79% increase in costs for gear and apparatuses.

According to the agency, the cost to purchase a new re engine increased from about $725,000 in 2019 to $1.3 million today, and a 100-foot hose increased from about $660 to about $930.

Additionally, every re ghter requires two sets of bunker gear, which includes a helmet, jacket, protective pants, a pair of boots and gloves. ey are required to have two sets due to the di erent types of carcinogens that get on the gear while responding to calls. And, they must be replaced every ve years.

Within the past six years, one set of bun-

ker gear has increased in price from about $3,660 to $5,120, according to South Metro Fire Rescue.

“ at’s a 40% increase just to keep our remen and women safe and able to do their job,” Anderson said.

What South Metro entails

South Metro Fire Rescue is more than just a re department, the agency includes multiple special operations.

ere are ve response teams, which are aircraft rescue and re ghting, water rescue, hazardous materials, technical rescue, and wildland re ghting and mitigation.

ere are also four deployment teams and three operational support teams, which are extrication, research and development, and self-contained breathing apparatus.

In terms of emergency medical services, the agency has nearly 30 advanced life support paramedic vehicles and 19 basic life support vehicles.

As part of its community risk reduction e orts, South Metro Fire Rescue also o ers education programs. Its Public Health Program, which provides in-home care, medical resource connection and supports long-term health solutions for people, reached more than 1,200 patients in 2024.

Potential solutions to the budget shortfall

According to South Metro Fire Rescue, one solution for its budget shortfall would be to cut essential services.

If services were cut, a smaller re ghting crew could potentially compromise safety during emergencies and impact patient care. e cuts could also reduce wild re response and that of other specialty units.

e second option is to increase property taxes by raising the mill levy from 9.25 — which has been in place since 2004 — to 12.25.

“South Metro has the lowest mill levy tax rate of any sort of similar career re protection district that o ers all services throughout the front range,” Dell’Orfano said.

A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of an assessed value. is potential rise would cost the average homeowner with a $750,000 home about $11.72 more per month. Homeowners can learn what the increase would look like for them with South Metro’s property tax calculator found at tinyurl.com/property-tax-calculator.

If voters chose this option, it would generate about $50 million each year for South Metro Fire Rescue, according to the agency’s website.

e third option would be to collect a new 0.5% sales tax. is would be $0.50 for every $100 spent, generating about $50 million per year.

According to the community survey from the beginning of the year, 68% of participants said they would support a modest tax increase to create additional funding being placed on the November ballot.

If they had to choose between the two tax increase options, 49% chose a sales tax, 15% chose property tax, 18% chose neither and 18% were unsure.

An alternative ballot measure option would have voters approve or reject a 1.6 mill levy property tax increase speci cally dedicated to the agency’s capital needs. Survey results regarding this question showed that about 51% said they would reject it, 25% were unsure and 24% said they would approve it.

Despite what measure voters decide on and if it passes, Anderson said the funds will only go to South Metro Fire Rescue.

“It’s South Metro’s question, it’s South Metro’s revenue,” Anderson said.  Community members can provide feedback at engagesouthmetro.org/funding-solutions.

Mike Dell’Orfano, chief government a airs o cer with South Metro Fire Rescue, speaks with residents at the Highlands Ranch Senior Center on June 30 about the agency’s budget shortfall and the potential solutions.

PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA

Renee Anderson, vice chair for South Metro Fire District’s board of directors, explains the cost increase of firefighter bunker gear, which has been seen over the past few years.

about a local resident, Dr. Eiko Browning,” said former commissioner candidate Angela omas.

She presented a letter signed by more than 1,300 people from across Colorado condemning Teal’s remarks as “provocative and dangerous.”

Browning, calling into the meeting remotely, asked for Teal’s claims to be retracted.

“Commissioner Teal, I call on you to withdraw your claims that there was foreign in uence in the June 2024 election,” she said. “Commissioner Laydon and Commissioner Van Winkle, I call on you to denounce Commissioner Teal’s statements, to censure him and to strip him of his committee assignments. Silence is complicit.”

Other residents echoed her concerns.

Among them, Parker resident Kim Carroll said, “ e cruel lies of Commissioner Teal about Dr. Eiko Browning should not be tolerated and should have consequences.”

Meanwhile, Commerce City Council Member Craig Kim drove 45 minutes to Castle Rock to testify.

“ is allegation ... reveals a disturbing trend of stereotyping based on appearances,” Kim said. “ e individual leading the opposition is a U.S. citizen of Japanese descent ... It is imperative that this commission and any public o cial ... lead by example and uphold the values of dignity, respect and unity.”

During the meeting, Laydon referenced the brie ngs that allegedly indicated a federal investigation into foreign interference in the “No Kings” campaign.

“Now I don’t know if that’s true, but we

did hear that information, and that investigation is pending,” Laydon said. “Obviously, the local campaign was also called something very similar. So there might have been a connection there that Commissioner Teal drew.”

Teal’s response during the meeting was brief, requesting that public comments from residents be “factual and informed.”

However, a longer statement that Teal issued to Colorado Community Media on July 9 read in part:

“It’s absolutely outrageous to have my integrity attacked by these ridiculous, unfounded claims. It’s infuriating to see such blatant lies being thrown around with no basis in reality.

“So let’s be clear: those making these untrue allegations have con ated two separate issues — an ongoing federal in-

“While many governments, including Douglas County, were informed of a federal investigation into the coordinated ‘No Kings’ rallies potentially involving a foreign government, there has been no claim that the Colorado-based ‘No Little Kings’ campaign is part of that federal inquiry.

“ e truth is, the factions aligned against home rule have spent months pushing division within our county, spreading misinformation and often lies. is is more than just a political maneuver; it’s a manufactured outrage meant to sabotage the good work we continue to do for our Douglas County communities.”

Commissioner Van Winkle also started to issue a response during the meeting,

BY

but was interrupted by outbursts from the

“ is meeting has reached a point of absurdity, and they’re just yelling,” Van Winkle said, as Laydon called for order. e home rule initiative — which would have given the county greater control over its local government structure — was overwhelmingly rejected in late June, with more than 71% of voters opposed. On the eve of the special election, Rep. Bob Marshall (D-Highlands Ranch) called Teal’s claims about foreign interference “just freaking insane.”

“In Douglas County, whether (voters are) conservative Republicans or progressive Democrats, they don’t like seeing people smeared for no good reason,” Marshall told Colorado Community Media in June.

Outside of the Douglas County government building in Castle Rock.

PHOTO

ARIA MARIZZA

Colorado considers challenging ‘energy emergency’

January declaration invoked by BLM to fast-track train facility expansion

BY DAVID O. WILLIAMS COLORADO NEWSLINE

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser’s o ce will consider joining a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s declaration in January of a national energy emergency, he told Newsline in an exclusive interview.

e Trump administration’s Bureau of Land Management invoked the emergency declaration to complete accelerated environmental review of a permit to expand a loading facility near Price, Utah for oil coming out of the nearby Uinta Basin. e expansion could increase oil capacity on the main rail line through Colorado by up to 80,000 barrels a day.

It’s anticipated that the expansion of what’s known as the Wildcat Loadout facility — located on publicly owned federal lands — and other nearby facilities will allow the trucking and transfer to rail of up to 75% of the oil proposed for transport in the Uinta Basin Railway project. Eagle County and state o cials have long opposed increased oil trains along the Colorado River.

In a June 27 letter to Jerry Davis, acting Utah state director for the BLM, Weiser wrote that an expedited environmental assessment for the proposed Wildcat right-of-way expansion would be a “violation of applicable laws and regulations” that would block proper public input and “subject Colorado communities to signi cant economic, environmental, and health and safety risks.”

Weiser argued there is no national energy emergency given the United States produced more oil last year than any nation in history, and he urged the BLM to follow standard, legally required procedures in reviewing the project. An attorney for Eagle County and an environmental group that successfully sued the federal government to delay the rail project, also sent letters.

However, the BLM issued its approval,

A Union Pacific train travels along the Colorado River near Cameo on May 16, 2023.

nding “no signi cant impact” related to the expansion, which Colorado opposes due to increased derailment, wild re and oil-spill risks, and the agency directly cited its authority under Trump’s January executive order declaring a national energy emergency, allowing for the fasttracking of fossil fuel projects.

Before a recent fundraiser here for his 2026 gubernatorial campaign, Weiser said he had not heard about the expedited approval of the Wildcat Loadout or had time to debrief the ruling.

“I am sorry to hear that. I’m not shocked, but it’s a sign of the times we’re in — the lack of stewardship to protect our land, air, and water is appalling,” Weiser said. “We’re going to have to be creative to nd every way we can to make sure that these decisions aren’t being made hastily with long-term, harmful consequences.”

In May, 15 states — led by the attorneys general in Washington and California — led a lawsuit challenging the legality of Trump’s energy emergency executive order. Calling it a “fake” emergency designed to line the pockets of Big

Brown pointed to the order’s exclusion of clean energy projects as it strips away vital environmental protections.

e May lawsuit claims Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency is a violation of the National Emergencies Act itself, which is designed to prevent frivolous or partisan declarations.

“We don’t think it is a real emergency,” Weiser said Saturday. “Up until now, this national energy emergency order hasn’t a ected Colorado. But given these dynamics (of the expedited BLM approval), we’re going to be looking at that to make sure that we can do all we can to protect Colorado.”

Brown and California Attorney General Rob Bonta cited what they deemed illegal fast-tracking of environmental reviews by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in violation of the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, among other key environmental laws.

“ e only ‘emergency’ is that the president disagrees with policies to address

climate change in Washington state and elsewhere,” Brown wrote in May. “He is illegally using emergency authorities to keep the nation reliant on energy sources like coal, oil and gas.”

Weiser has previously said he will keep all of his options open in opposing the Uinta Basin oil expansion as it seeks to vastly expand oil-train tra c along the headwaters of the endangered Colorado River, which supplies water to more than 40 million people. e BLM approval in a two-week window now has him questioning Trump’s national energy emergency rules.

“So we didn’t have an ability to make this case [back in May], but we at the time said that we would be looking closely at whether and when it would a ect Colorado and we’d be ready to le,” Weiser said Saturday. “And with this, now we have to look at it.”

is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.

CHASE WOODRUFF

BY BELEN WARD BELEN@COTLN.ORG

Weld mosquitoes test positive for West Nile

Mosquitoes collected at several testing sites in northern Weld County have tested positive for West Nile Virus, county health o cials announced July 7. “ e increasing hot weather often leads to favorable conditions for the Culex mosquito that carries West Nile virus,” said Jason Chessher, Executive Director of the Weld County Health Department. “ e public needs to be vigilant because West Nile Virus has a permanent summer presence in Colorado.”

Weld County Public Health and Environment trapped mosquitoes in several towns in Weld County that tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to the county.

No human cases reported

Weld County testing will continue to monitor the West Nile Virus as o cials report an increase in Culex mosquitoes carrying the virus. According to health o cials, no human cases of West Nile have been reported in Weld County. As the weather stays hot in July and August, the number of Culex mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus is expected to rise.

According to o cials, it takes between three and 14 days for West Nile Virus symptoms and infection to appear. e symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, weakness, and rash; however, some individuals may not experience any symptoms.

Mosquito mitigation

According to health o cials recommend following the four “D’s” to prevent mosquito bites:

If you think you have symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately. O cials say there are no medicines to treat or vaccines to prevent West Nile Virus. Fewer than one percent of infected people develop a serious, sometimes deadly, neuroinvasive illness.

• DRAIN standing water around your house weekly. Remember to drain water from tires, cans, owerpots, clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, toys and puddles.

• DUSK and DAWN are when mosquitoes are most active. Limit outdoor activities and take precautions to prevent mosquito bites during these times.

• DEET is an e ective ingredient to look

for in insect repellents. Other repellents containing picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol are also e ective against mosquitoes. Always follow the product label instructions carefully.

• DRESS in long sleeves and pants, and a hat, in areas where mosquitoes are active.

A female Culix mosquito, similar to those captured and tested by a Weld County contractor this summer. West Nile virus has been found in mosquitoes trapped and tested in the northern parts of Weld County. FILE PHOTO

Chevron faces accusations in ‘blowout’

Weld County families displaced after ‘unprecedented’ incident

BY CHASE WOODRUFF NEWSLINE COLORADO

Colorado regulators have launched an enforcement action against oil giant Chevron for an April well “blowout” that caused evacuations and closures in a community in eastern Weld County.

O cials with the Energy and Carbon Management Commission said that some residents remain displaced from their homes in tiny Galeton, an unincorporated town of 250 people located about 10 miles northeast of Greeley, nearly three months after the incident at Chevron’s Bishop well pad.

e well failure caused a high-pressure ow of oil, gas and water to spew from the site for ve days before emergency crews were able to bring it under control. With millions of gallons of uid released, it’s believed to be one of the largest oil and gas spills in state history, and the resulting plume spread dangerous levels of toxic chemicals as far as two miles away, according to data from Colorado State University researchers.

Chevron that will then be adjudicated by commissioners. Greg Duranleau, the ECMC’s deputy director of operations, said the penalties were “one piece of the nancial impacts this incident may have on Chevron.”

“ ere may be civil settlements for damage, there’s a possibility for other agencies to enforce their regulations, and of course, there’s the cost of the response and cleanup,” Duranleau told commissioners during a special public hearing on ursday.

Four of 14 families that were evacuated from the Galeton area after the blowout remain displaced from their homes, according to Chevron.

“We continue to actively work with the remaining residents on the next steps, including getting access to their properties to conduct assessments and cleaning,” the company’s website says.

An extensive cleanup and remediation e ort is underway, a process that Chevron estimates could take up to ve years.

ousands of environmental samples have been taken across a 7-square-mile “assessment area” centered on the well site, sta told commissioners.

“I can say with certainty that this is signi cant and unprecedented during my tenure, not just in terms of volumes released … but in terms of complexity, in terms of scale of impact to environmental services, as well as residents,” said Je Robbins, who has served as chair of the ve-member ECMC board of commissioners since 2020.

A so-called notice of alleged violation is-

sued by ECMC sta to Chevron subsidiary Noble Energy lists six di erent breaches of the agency’s rules, initiating what is likely to be a lengthy regulatory enforcement action. e notice accuses Chevron of violating water quality standards, breaking employee safety rules, “fail(ing) to engineer and operate all equipment within the manufacturer’s recommended speci cations,” and more.

An initial analysis completed by Chevron earlier this month identi ed the root cause of the incident as “improper assembly” of on-site equipment by a contractor. A total of 16 oil and gas wells were planned to be drilled on the Bishop site as part of a development plan approved by the ECMC in September 2022.

As part of the enforcement process, ECMC sta will calculate penalties against

“I am optimistic that Chevron will work with us through the enforcement process to bring a timely resolution,” ECMC Director Julie Murphy said in a statement. “And I am grateful to the many folks at Chevron who are working diligently to remediate the signi cant impacts of this incident.”

is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.

Footprints in a pond close to Willow Creek by County Roads 72 and 51 on May 6, 2025, near where Chevron’s Bishop well blew out in Galeton on April 6, 2025. Much of the work around the well involves protecting the creek and other waterways from liquids that spewed from the well for nearly five days.

Halftime adjustments

IMidyear economics

WINNING WORDS

n sports, halftime is more than a breather; it’s a recalibration. It’s a chance for coaches and players to analyze what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change to win. Even with hours of prep and film study, surprises happen. The opposing team may roll out a new strategy. Injuries change the game. Momentum swings. And regardless of the scoreboard, teams don’t coast. Even when they’re up by 20, great teams use halftime to regroup and refocus. Because one good half doesn’t win the game.

We are halfway through summer already and economic uncertainty remains prevalent this year for consumers, taxpayers and investors.

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

e overall economic cycle is impacted by tari s and the uncertainty around future trade policy along with global tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine.

So here we are, our own halftime. Six months into the year. The locker room of life. What’s our score? Are we winning, losing, or tied?

Some of us may be riding high, crushing goals, building relationships, and running on momentum. If that’s you, celebrate the wins, but don’t take your foot off the gas. What got you here may not get you through the next six months. Double down on what’s working and stay humble. Great teams don’t assume the second half will be just like the first. Others might find themselves breaking even. You’re in the game, but not ahead. Like a team tied at the half, you’ve got options: you can settle, or you can surge. The second half is wide open, and a clear shift in strategy, attitude, or energy could create that breakthrough you’ve been waiting for.

And then there are those of us who feel like the first half hit like a blitz. The losses weren’t just on paper; they were personal. Maybe you lost a job, a deal, a relationship, or even someone you loved. Maybe the hits were emotional, financial, or physical. And no amount of preparation could’ve stopped the storm that came. If that’s your halftime story, hear this: the second half is not cancelled.

This is where I want to offer real encouragement. I’ve seen too many people write off the rest of the year when the first half goes sideways. They call it a “lost season” and start counting down to January 1. That mindset will keep you down. As the saying goes, fighters don’t lose because they get knocked down. They lose because they stay knocked down. It’s time to get back up.

Zig Ziglar said, “If we don’t like who we are, what we are, and where we are, we can change who we are, what we are, and where we are by changing what we put into our mind.” That’s not theory. That’s truth. Our mindset is the control center of our outcomes. And what we feed it matters: positivity, scripture, wise counsel, hope.

And if we’ve been brought to our knees in the first half, maybe our second half starts right there, on our knees in prayer. Surrender doesn’t mean defeat. It means you’re no longer trying to fight every battle alone. God has been with you every step of the way. He’s not leaving you now. In fact, He’s waiting for you to lean in. Whether it’s prayer, community, or trusted advisors, tap into your sources and resources. This is not the time to isolate.

I’ve lived through my share of rough first halves. Seasons where the light at the end of the tunnel seemed far off. But I’ve also lived to see how everything can change in a matter of months. If we choose to shift. If we choose to believe. If we choose to act.

Now is the time to regroup, recharge, and realign. Let’s make the adjustments. Let’s take the lessons from the first half and apply them with fire to the second. Let’s not just play the second half. Let’s win it. Let’s go.

Where are you halfway through 2025? What is your second-half strategy? If you would like to know more about my faith or why I rely on it so much, or if you just want to share your story, I would love to hear it at gotonorton@gmail.com. And whether we are maintaining our lead or building our comeback strategy, when we play both halves with passion and purpose, it really will be a better-than-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.

Consumers are ghting the in ation the government says we don’t have. is is causing a slowdown in high-end spending as more of us need to shift to necessities that always seem to cost more and never go down in price. In ation is a major concern, with the expectation it will remain elevated and could peak in the third quarter. Tari s are a key factor in keeping prices high. is may cause the Federal Reserve to remain cautious, holding rates steady for fear lower rates will increase in ation. e Fed needs to balance the need to control in ation with the potential for an economic slowdown.

Reduced spending contributes to slower economic growth. Real gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to slow to a range of 1.3% to 1.9%.

e labor market, while currently healthy, is starting to show signs of potential weakening with a rise in initial unemployment claims and declining federal government employment. Job growth is expected to slow.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Douglas libraries welcome everyone

Investors are observing all of this uncertainty with a wary eye, even after we had a pullback earlier in the year, which brought some valuations down.

e stock market does not like uncertainty and there are plenty of unknowns going into the second half of 2025.

In essence, July nds the economy in a delicate situation, with declining growth, uncertainty around trade policy and potential shifts in in ation.

Taxpayers will need to decipher the new tax bill (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). It still could make sense to consider pushing income, capital gains and even Roth conversions into this tax year, depending on how the changes will a ect you.

Financial advisers warn that economic conditions are never perfect, and it is futile to predict geopolitics or any key economic

Douglas County Libraries’ commitment, at the guidance of our citizen-governed board and in keeping with a long tradition of public libraries, is welcoming everyone.

Welcoming everyone requires the library’s sta and leaders to make decisions and sustain practices free from discrimination and our own preferences. Even though we may not always get it right, the library means to be impartial in a world where just about every interest wishes it to take a position. Our public library is unique as one of the only opportunities in our community for people with deeply di erent moral visions, political beliefs, and faith convictions to respectfully use the same spaces, take advantage of vast resources, and enjoy the same events.

Our library doesn’t advocate or formally celebrate positions or causes. e library o ers our community exceptional care, supporting customer freedom and self-determination. We inform customer choice impartially, without interference or improper in uence.

I am writing to you on the eve of our nation’s Independence Day. Welcome to the freedom of your public library.

Bob Pasicznyuk, Castle Rock Executive director, Douglas County Libraries

Bad commissioner behavior

On July 8, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners held their rst regular meeting since the results of the June 24 Home Rule special election. e meeting ended in a chaotic scene when the board chair, Commissioner Abe Laydon, cut o public comment to spare Commissioner George Teal the embarrassment of resident after resident — from all political persuasions — admonishing Teal for claiming that Home Rule was defeated due to foreign in uence from the Chinese Communist Party. Far from a graceful concession.

Home Rule, initiated by the county commissioners, went down in ames by a 43-point margin with

indicator. erefore, it is crucial to update your nancial plan each year to be balanced according to your risk appetite and time frame. Keeping your plan current allows you to be more exible when there are shifts you may want to take advantage of.

Economists are still on the fence regarding recession. ere is a recognized risk with low probability ranging from 28% to 40%. A tighter labor market could reduce more spending and continue to slow economic growth. A recession would be negative growth, so we have a decent margin before we are in the danger zone of a serious contraction.

Positive growth still provides investors with the potential of positive returns, which could be lower given economic uncertainty. erefore, it is generally not recommended that investors stay on the sidelines waiting for a larger opportunity. Slow steady growth is a better alternative than interest rates that don’t keep up with in ation.

Research from Google AI on e US Economy in July 2025. Patricia Kummer is managing director for Mariner, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser.

turnout comparable to a school board election. In any political contest, that’s nothing short of a knockout drubbing. If it was a boxing match, they would have stopped it.

I’ve won elections and lost elections. Even when I lost, I was able to walk out of the ring under my own power. e margin of defeat on Home Rule saw the county commissioners, metaphorically, picked up o the mat and carried out on a stretcher. After being accused of backroom deals and receiving a stinging rebuke at the ballot box, it’s no surprise they couldn’t stomach their rst public appearance to face the voters of Douglas County.

However, cutting o public comment speaks to a larger problem with the county commissioners: they deliberately silence their citizens. Commissioner Laydon often grabs the microphone to accuse dissenters of being Democrats, as if that settles the argument. On July 8, several angry residents stood and shouted that they were una liated or Republican voters, and that partisanship had nothing to do with their assessment of the commissioners’ conduct. It was at that point that Laydon ended the meeting. Faced with the prospect of hearing backlash from even their own party, the commissioners ed the scene and called in sheri ’s deputies to protect them from their neighbors as they retreated into the backrooms where all their decisions are made. e community’s discontent is not going away. e commissioners can hide for a time, but speaking from within the supermajority who opposed Home Rule, they would be far better o clearing time on the agenda for public comment and facing the music. e only way to clean up the mess they brought upon themselves is to hear people out and move on. Barrett Rothe, Castle Pines

The big ugly bill

Trump got his big beautiful bill passed. I prefer to call the big ugly bill for what follows below:

A potential $1 trillion cut in Medicaid over 10 years. is will result in 11.8 million more uninsured

LETTERS, P11

Michael Norton

people. Hospitals in rural communities will close since many of their patients are covered by Medicaid. I just learned the closest hospital to my hometown will probably close which will pose hardship for many individuals.

Our national debt will increase by $3.3 trillion thanks in large part to tax cuts to the ultra rich. Any tax cuts to the rest of us will be negated by an increase in the cost of living. Interest payments on the debt could lead to instability in nancial markets.

e cut of $285 billion in the SNAP program will cause more food insecurity for low income families. Children will be at greater risk of hunger and the health of these families will worsen due to this insecurity.

e increase of $150 billion in immigration enforcement leads to increased deportation causing mass exclusion and fear. In some cases individuals rounded up include citizens. I thought the storm troopers were a thing of the past. Financial barriers are created to legal immigration due to increased fees for work permits, asylum applications and the like and thus cause obstacles to legal immigration pathways. Concerns exist about oversight of deportation facilities especially in regard to overcrowding and medical neglect. Many immigrants, as most of us know, contribute to our economy.

e bill calls for cuts in energy tax credits. is could decrease the supply of clean energy and lead to increased costs of electricity for households, businesses, and schools. Reduced funding for electric vehicle tax credits will signi cantly drop the sale of those vehicles. is could increase demand for gasoline and thus increase the cost. 330,000 jobs in the solar industry will be lost. Climate change will worsen due to a decrease in clean energy. Changes in the endowment tax in our colleges and universities will lead to a decrease in nancial aid. Research activities, which often bene t you and I, will be decreased.

If you seek more information, which I could not include in this letter, you will nd so much which is detrimental to all of us.

Remember the words of Senators Ernst and McConnell respectively, “We’re all going to die” and “ ey’ll get over it.” When you cast your ballot in 2026 and vote those legislators who voted for the bill out.

Lawrence Sena, Castle Rock

Do the right thing, commissioners

My name is Eiko Browning. I am a Douglas County citizen, Colorado native, resident of Highlands Ranch for 13 years, taxpayer, homeowner, and parent of two kids in Douglas County Schools. I care deeply about our community.

I personally funded the Issues Committee “No Little Kings in Douglas County” with my own funds, with purpose of informing our community about the Home Rule Ballot Issue. All of my contributions and expenses are reported and are publicly available through the Secretary of State website, TRACER.

Falsely labeling a perceived political opponent as an enemy of the state is not conducive to civil discourse. I call on Commissioner Teal to withdraw his claims that there was foreign in uence in the June 24, 2025 election. Commissioner Laydon and Commissioner Van Winkle, I call on you to denounce Commissioner Teal’s statements, to censure him, and strip him of his committee assignments.

Silence is complicit.

Eiko Browning, Highlands Ranch

Recognition for gun owners

I read the letter about the lack of Pride displays in Douglas County libraries with interest. I can see that the displays may be o ensive to some, but the lack of them distressing for others.

While contemplating inclusion and acceptance, another large minority group came to mind which is persecuted and condemned both socially and politically just for being themselves.

Gun owners are often blamed for many ills of society; crime, murder, mayhem etc. I think this is very unfair because gun owners are the rock of any free society.

To correct this injustice, I would propose a Gun Owners or simply Gun Pride month. During this month we can educate and celebrate the world of gun owners. We can have displays in libraries on how gun owners harvest game animals and convert them to a proper meal or how an Olympian trains to shoot a perfect target. Surely, no one but an inconsiderate person can nd that o ensive.

And how about the parades with hunters carrying their nest ri es and shotguns, Police o cers with their dependable and sturdy sidearms, and military units with their high-tech implements.

And let’s not forget home and business owners, gunsmiths, doctors, lawyers and remen with their trusty self-defense rearms. Surely, anybody that believes in inclusion will enjoy and celebrate Gun Pride month. It is after all a constitutional right. Just a thought.

Tim Gerhardt Highlands Ranch

Sterling Ranch kids deserve better

For the past two years, the Douglas County Board of Education/superintendent have sounded the warning bell of declining enrollment in Highlands Ranch. During this critical time in DCSD, numbers were crunched, meetings were held, and dozens and dozens of parents were emailing and speaking at Board of Education meetings. Tough decisions were made on school closures. e conversations started heating up in the fall of 2024 to April 2025 when three schools were announced to close in 2026.

On the other hand, Sterling Ranch was booming with kids! ey had no schools and desperately needed one.

During this time, John Adams Academy (JAA) was applying to DCSD to open their “classical” charter school in Sterling Ranch. In December, the board majority comprised of Christy Williams, Becky Myers, Tim Moore, and Kaylee Winegar voted to allow JAA to apply directly with the Charter School Institute and avoid the BOE/DCSD oversight altogether. is was a political move with permanent consequences for DCSD and Sterling Ranch.

One of the responsibilities of the BOE is to oversee the development and implementation of school improvement plans, including charter school applications and renewal processes. e rami cations of the majority board directors’ vote are dire. is charter will not have to share any information with DCSD, including their budget and number of students per grade, which a ects transportation and infrastructure. DCSD will also have no line of sight to student assessment, academics, and student health. If there is a problematic or dangerous child at school who transfers out of JAA, the accepting school will never know because they will not receive records.

On June 17, the Charter School Institute approved JAA. e school will be

LETTERS

built on the Sterling Ranch land that was earmarked for a future district-run school. e rst year JAA will receive approximately $4.6M from the state that could have been used for the public neighborhood school that was voted on to open in 2027. If they hit their projection of 850 students, JAA will receive approximately $11M per year, with zero DCSD oversight. Actions have consequences. Williams, Myers, Moore, and Winegar shirked their duty to keep this charter under district watch. is school will be on an island, not part of the DCSD Family. eir decision is irrevocable. And Christy, Becky, Tim and Kaylee own it.

Bridget McEowen

Highlands Ranch

Make companies earn tax breaks

I’m 82 years old and served 25 years in the U.S. Navy. I believe in the voluntary system of paying taxes — it’s part of our civic duty. But today’s tax system doesn’t feel fair. Ordinary Americans pay what they owe. Large corporations, on the other hand, take full advantage of loopholes and special deductions — often without giving anything back.

In the Navy, I learned that voluntary systems work best when there’s a balance of incentives and accountability. at’s what our tax code is missing.

If corporations want tax breaks, they should earn them by reinvesting in the country that gives them the opportunity to succeed. at means raising wages, expanding employee bene ts, hiring locally, and contributing to public needs. We already do this in other sectors. e FCC requires broadcasters to serve the

public in exchange for use of public airwaves. Why shouldn’t we expect the same civic contribution from pro table companies that bene t from our tax code? is isn’t about punishing success. It’s about making sure success strengthens the nation — not just a few balance sheets. Let’s simplify the code, close the loopholes, and reward companies that do right by their workers and communities. Prosperity should come with responsibility. It’s time we demanded both.

Curt Smothers

Highlands Ranch

Demand justice for Jalin Seabron

On February 8, 2025, Jalin Seabron was not a threat. He was a young Black man turning 23, excited to share that he and his partner were expecting their rst child. at night was meant to be a celebration — until it turned into a tragedy.

Jalin had gathered his loved ones at Main Event in Highlands Ranch. Joy turned to chaos when his sisters andancee were attacked in the women’s restroom. As violence erupted, Jalin acted instinctively to protect his family — getting them to safety, placing them in their car, and returning to retrieve their belongings.

Outside, danger still loomed. e same individuals who attacked his family followed him, one brandishing a weapon. Jalin, legally carrying a registered rearm in an open-carry county, displayed restraint and issued a verbal warning: “Back up.”

Deputy Nicholas Moore arrived silently — no sirens, no announcements, no assessment. In less than 10 seconds, Moore red nine shots into Jalin’s back. Seven struck. Jalin died on the pavement. No attempt was made to save his life. Instead, Moore dragged and handcu ed his lifeless body.

is wasn’t justice. It was an execution.

Sheri Darren Weekly added insult to devastation, falsely claiming Jalin was an “accessory” and carried an “illegal weapon.” He misled the public, then failed to correct the lies. He damaged trust, distorted the truth, and stripped Jalin of dignity in life and death.

We demand the following:

• A full public retraction by Sheri Weekly of the false claims, with the same visibility as his original statements.

• Immediate termination of Deputy Moore for violating policy B-106, which requires o cer identi cation and warning before using deadly force.

• Full release of the Internal A airs investigation, timeline, and ndings.

• A formal, public apology to the Seabron family from both the Sheri ’s and District Attorney’s o ces.

Jalin was not disposable. His life mattered. He was a son, a brother, a partner, a father-to-be — and a Black man whose protective instincts were met with deadly force.

Douglas County must not hide behind badges or silence.

We will say his name. We will honor his restraint. We will not let lies go unchecked.

To Douglas County’s leadership: You owe the truth, and you owe Jalin his humanity.

To the community: Do not look away.

Say his name. Share his story. Demand justice for Jalin Seabron.

Sincerely, a grieving, unrelenting community member.

Portia Terrell-Beavers

Castle Rock

Disappointing editorial choice

Upon receiving your July 3, 2025 issue of the Highlands Ranch Herald I was immediately struck by the poor choice for

the front-page lead article. While a holein-one by anyone is quite an accomplishment, especially for a 12-year-old, it did not deserve to be the main headline over the larger story about the overwhelming rejection of the home rule ballot measure by the residents of Douglas County. I don’t know if this was an attempt to lighten the mood of the community, but burying the story that 71% of the voters rejected the idea of home rule in the county was a mistake. is was not only a story of county-wide interest but also became an issue nationally and therefore should have received more attention in our local paper. e article itself also gave the impression that despite a 71% referendum by the voters that the issue still “leaves questions.” is seems like a pretty clear message to me.

Richard Van Dok

Highland Ranch

Disappointment in commissioners

I attended the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting on July 8. Once again, many citizens showed up to their meeting for public comment and many wanted to express their concerns regarding public statements made by Commissioner Teal. Comments were cut o before many of those people were given a chance to speak.

Commissioner George Teal has done harm to the family of Dr. Eiko Browning and the Asian community as a whole. He has put them in danger by publicly stating lies and racist comments about Dr. Eiko Browning after badly losing the special election he initiated on Home Rule. It is disheartening that he, as an elected o cial, is unwilling to apologize for his behavior and that his colleagues are un-

SEE LETTERS, P13

Governor vows to fight for school funds

Trump administration abruptly withheld millions

BY DELILAH BRUMER COLORADO NEWLINE

As Colorado school districts wait to hear about the fate of $80 million in federal funds that the Trump administration unexpectedly put on hold, school ocials are reluctant to lay o sta or cancel programs. But with the start of the new school year only six weeks away, time is running out.

e funds, which school o cials had expected to receive on July 1, were set to be used for after-school programs, teacher training, migrant education and English-language learning, among other initiatives. States learned the funds would be withheld with just one day of notice, leaving districts scrambling to fund programs they were already committed to o ering and pay sta whom they had already hired.

Gov. Jared Polis led a roundtable with superintendents, teachers and education nonpro t leaders at West High School in

LETTERS

willing to hold him accountable and instead gaslight the community by trying to defend his character while he remains silent. Any person who uses their position of power as a leader of the community to openly and falsely make statements

Denver, where he blasted the withholding of funds as “harmful and opaque.” “ ese are very di cult decisions that districts now have to make, and it has to happen in the next couple of weeks,” Polis said.

e federal Department of Education has not provided a timeline on the funds, which in a notice to states it said are under review. e funds $6.8 billion nationwide were already approved by Congress. Colorado’s share of that withheld money was originally estimated at $70 million, but Polis said an updated estimate is $80 million.

If the federal funds are not restored, Jef-

about an individual and community does not exhibit the skill to be in that leadership position. Additionally, Commissioner Abe Laydon gaslights the citizens of Douglas County by declaring there is a place for the Asian community in Douglas County, but does not hold his colleague accountable for openly and publicly harming that community.

It’s really simple. All Commissioner Teal has to say is some form of, “I apologize for

THE WON’TGROW. SIDEWALKS PLANTS. SAVEITFOR

ferson County Public Schools will lose out on $3.3 million it had already allocated. at would result in cuts to sta and programs meant for coaching new teachers, supporting English language learners, lowering truancy rates and conducting family outreach.

One of the district’s services that would need to be scaled back is a program that sends sta across Je erson County in a refurbished bus to meet with parents, hand out resource yers and sign up kids who are recent immigrants for support services.

“We’re very worried about how to run our programs without that funding,” said Tracy Dorland, Je erson County Public Schools superintendent. “ is has an impact not only on our students, which is the most important impact, but also on our workforce.”

With potential layo s looming, Melissa Gibson, the executive director of the Colorado Association of School Executives, said superintendents and principals are having to make tough choices in the coming weeks.

“Every district leader is approaching this with students at the center and trying to mitigate the damage as much as pos-

my public outburst and behavior following the Home Rule special election in my county. I falsely accused Dr. Eiko Browning, an upstanding citizen of my county and a woman of Japanese descent, of being involved with the Chinese Communist Party to impact the Home Rule election. I let my emotions get the best of me in the landslide rebuke of my e orts and approach to introduce Home Rule to Douglas County. I apologize for those

sible,” Gibson said. “Every school community invests in them in di erent ways, but this is challenging.”

Both of Colorado’s U.S. senators, along with the state’s four Democrats in the House, sent a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon “demanding answers on the stalled education funds,” according to a Tuesday announcement.

“School districts throughout Colorado are depending on these funds to deliver critical services to students across the state,” the letter said. “ e delay and uncertainty around the distribution of this funding have made it incredibly di cult for school districts to plan and hire sta for the next school year.”

During the roundtable, Polis declined to specify if Colorado plans to sue over the withheld funds, but he said the state is “exploring all available options” to get the funding restored.

“We are being very aggressive, to ght for these funds and for the schools,” Polis said. is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.

false claims and for putting her family and the Asian community as a whole in the spotlight and endangering them with my behavior. I will aim to do better in my position as a community leader.”

Instead, Mr. Teal doubles down and refuses to take accountability, further impacting his ability to be taken seriously and hindering his ability to be an e ective public o cial in Douglas County.

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Gov. Jared Polis gestures to the gallery while delivering an address at the Colorado Capitol. FILE PHOTO

Colorado School of Mines runner Loic Scomparin, center, competes in the men’s 3K race at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships March 13-15 in Indianapolis. Scomparin, who took the silver medal in both the men’s 3K and 5K races took second in the event, will try to build on his successes at the outdoor national meet.

Mines teams win RMAC awards for academic excellence

Men’s XC, indoor track and field teams honored at conference banquet

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CORINNE@COTLN.ORG

e national title-winning Colorado School of Mines men’s cross-country runners aren’t just at the top of the podium. ey’re at the top of the classroom, too. e Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference recently announced the 2024-25 Brechler Award winners, recognizing the top-performing academic teams across the conference’s 22 sponsored sports.

e Mines men’s cross country and men’s indoor track & eld teams were among the winners.

Regis and Colorado Mesa led the member universities, with four recipient teams each. Chadron State followed with three, and Mines tied Black Hills State and Westminster with two each.

e Mines men’s cross country team’s win is the program’s rst since the award was established in 2012-13, the Orediggers con rmed in a recent press release. e two Mines teams and the other the Brechler Award-winning teams were scheduled to be recognized at the July 10 RMAC awards banquet in Colorado Springs.

is year’s Brechler Awards, named after former RMAC Commissioner Paul W.

Brechler, was based on the highest team GPA from the 2024-25 academic year, the RMAC described in its press release.

e team GPA includes all student-athletes who were on the institution’s NCAA eligibility list, and is calculated by dividing the total quality points for each semester by the total number of credits.

e Mines men’s cross country team produced a 3.595 GPA, Mines Athletics con rmed, while the men’s indoor track & eld team had a 3.563 GPA — winning its second-straight Brechler Award and fth overall.

Several Orediggers compete on both teams, as well as on the outdoor track & eld team.

In fall 2024, the Mines men’s cross country team went undefeated on the race

course. e Orediggers swept the RMAC and NCAA Regional titles and eventually won their fourth NCAA Division II championship in 10 years.

en, for the indoor track & eld season, the Orediggers had their best-ever nish at the NCAA Division II championships with six individual podium nishes and a third-place team trophy.

Right now, the Mines runners are on summer break, but o cial practices resume next month. en, both the men’s and women’s cross country teams kick o their 2025 competition schedule Sept. 20 at Denver’s Washington Park.

For more information, including Colorado School of Mines’ 2025-26 athletic calendar, visit MinesAthletics.com.

On Nov. 23, members of the Colorado School of Mines men’s cross country team celebrate winning the NCAA Division II national championship. They won their second national title in three years, and fourth in 10 years.

PHOTO BY SAM BOENDER MINES ATHLETICS

The Colorado School of Mines men’s track & field team celebrates taking third place at the NCAA Division II indoor championships March 13-15 in Indianapolis. This is the best-ever finish for a Mines track & field team at a national event.

PHOTO BY TIM FLYNN / MINES ATHLETICS

PHOTO BY TIM FLYNN/MINES ATHLETICS

Thu 7/24

All Your Stupid Friends: SunSet Series at Burndown Denver

@ 5:30pm

BurnDown Denver, 476 S Broadway, Denver

Brendan Walter w/ Ronjo V @ 6pm

Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Kyanté: SoFar Sounds Denver @ 7pm

SoFar Sounds Denver, Denver

Fri 7/25

Candlelight: The Best of The Beatles

@ 5:30pm / $29

Gallop to Give @ 4:30pm / $85

Kirk of Highland, 2205 W. 30th Ave., Denver. fever@eventvesta.com

Emily Gould Drumming:

SolOverLuna @ Wild Goose Saloon

@ 7pm

Wild Goose Saloon, Parker

Henry Fong

@ 9pm Temple Denver, 1136 Broadway, Denver

Sat 7/26

UNHINGED - The Dillinger Escape Plan

@ 5pm

Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop Street, Den‐ver

Candlelight: Magical Movie

Soundtracks

@ 5:30pm / $29

Kirk of Highland, 2205 W. 30th Ave., Denver. fever@eventvesta.com

AGON

@ 6pm

Jackson's Denver, 1520 20th St, Denver

Slayyyter: Tracks Nightclub 45th

Anniversary Party

@ 7pm

ReelWorks Denver, 1399 35th St, Denver

Mon 7/28

Midrift w/ Split Chain, I Promised the World, & Blackberry Crush @ 5pm

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Serpentent @ 6pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Tue 7/29

History Colorado Center, 1200 Broad‐way, Denver. dianee@theright stepinc.org, 720-893-0650

Sun 7/27

The Rock and Roll Playhouse @ 11am

Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Sta‐tion, 1338 1st St, Denver Quint @ 4pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Megalopolis @ 6pm

Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place, Den‐ver

DJ Rockstar Aaron @ 7pm

Ninety Percent 90s @ 5pm

South Suburban Parks and Recreation, 4810 E County Line Rd, Littleton Summer of Peril @ 6pm

Seventh Circle Music Collective, 2935 W 7th Ave, Denver

Bonsai Workshop at Sanitas Brewing Company - Englewood @ 5:30pm / $85

Jul 30th - Aug 27th Sanitas Brewing Company - Engle‐wood, 200 W Belleview Ave Unit 100, Englewood. info@bonsaibar.com

Thu 7/31

Bonsai Workshop at Full Frame Beer @ 5:30pm / $85 Full Frame Beer, 1139 20th St, Denver. info@bon saibar.com

The Word Alive: The Eyes Above Tour @ 5:30pm Marquis, Denver TX2 @ 5:30pm Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Eric Benny Bloom @ 6pm Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver

Death Support @ 6pm The Crypt, 1618 E 17th Ave, Denver

Englewood, CO - Mutiny Information Cafe - Jeshua Marshall and The Flood / White Rose Motor Oil / Tensas and The Mourners @ 6:30pm

Immortal Sÿnn w/ Cambo Slice and Great Lumbering Beast - HQ Denver @ 7pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

Peacekeeper @ 7pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

Kaize @ 7pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Main‐street, Parker

Chocolate Drop @ 7pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

Mutiny Information Cafe, Englewood

Charlotte Lawrence (16+ Event) @ 7pm

Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer Street, Denver

Wed 7/30

Cathartic Fall in the Park @ 5:30pm

Sterne Park, 5800 S Spotswood St, Littleton

Olivia Dean @ 6pm Ogden Theatre, 935 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Boombox Cartel @ 8pm The Church Denver, 1720 S Alcott St, Denver Denco @ 9pm Larimer Beer Hall, 2012 Larimer St, Denver

Birthdays: Sports & Games W Turf Party (4+ yrs) Aug @ 11pm Jul 31st - Aug 30th

Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E Plaza Dr, Parker

CROWSSUPDRO ELZZ

1. TELEVISION: In the show “Ted Lasso,” what does the sign over the locker room doorway say?

2. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many words are dogs believed to understand, on average?

3. U.S. STATES: Which two states don’t observe Daylight Savings Time?

4. LITERATURE: In the “Harry Potter” book series, how many balls are used in a Quidditch match?

5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which company owns car makers Porsche and Audi?

6. GEOGRAPHY: Which country is home to Lake Como?

7. MOVIES: What are the names of Cinderella’s stepsisters?

8. ACRONYMS: What does the computer acronym DOS stand for?

9. MEDICAL: What is the condition called

TrIVIa

solar erythema?

10. PSYCHOLOGY: Someone su ering from alektorophobia is terri ed by what?

Answers

1. “Believe.”

2. Dogs generally know an average of 89 words and phrases, but the number can range from 15 to 215.

3. Hawaii and Arizona.

4. Four balls of three di erent types (the Qua e, two Bludgers and the Golden Snitch).

5. Volkswagen AG.

6. Italy.

7. Anastasia and Drizella.

8. Disk Operating System.

9. Sunburn.

10. Chickens.

(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

Crossword Solution

MARKETPLACE

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Concrete/Paving

Flowers beautify Elbert County hillsides

Greenthread has many names and gorgeous yellow blossoms

BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e yellow owers blanketing Elbert County are nearing the end of their season. e blooms, commonly known as greenthread, are so bright and pervasive that the phenomenon can be clearly seen from above. Sometimes called golden wave, the small (less than two inches across) owers certainly live up to their name.

Scienti cally known as elesperma lifolium, they’re casually called many other names, such as Navajo tea, threadleaf yellowrays, eld coreopsis and Hopi or Zuni tea. Greenthread only seems to be this showy about every 10 years, making this year’s blooming season special indeed.

e Elbert County Extension O ce said greenthread can be seen throughout the hillsides of Elbert County. “More visible where grass has been grazed low in the previous year. e continued early spring moisture, on slopes that drain well, followed by hot summer days can create just the right conditions to make this spectacular wild ower phenomenon,” the o ce stated.

Greenthread is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant. It’s native to the U.S.

and gets its name from the thread-like appearance of its leaves. Many butter y species use it as a nectar source, and bees and other pollinators seem to like it too. e “annual can be found throughout the High Plains, from South Dakota to Texas,” the Extension Ofce shared, and it is “typically found in large colonies in dry, sandy soils.”

To make greenthread into Navajo tea, also called cota and traditionally used by Pueblo cultures, almost the entire plant is steeped — including stem, leaves and owers. e resulting tea tastes similar to green tea. Navajo tea can have a drying e ect and is traditionally used to help reduce mucus, reduce fevers, treat kidney problems and relieve stomach aches.

For more information about greenthread and other local ora, visit Front Range Wild Ones at frontrange.wildones.org.

For more information on the Elbert County Extension O ce, visit elbert.extension.colostate.edu. To speak to a master gardener, call the Extension O ce, 303-621-3162, on Tuesdays or ursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. e Extension O ce provides assistance with local agriculture, horticulture, family and consumer science, natural resources and 4-H youth programs. e o ce will o er a free master gardener education presentation, “Elbert County Wild owers,” during the upcoming Elbert County Fair on Aug. 1 at 1:30 pm in the Agricultural Building Conference Room.

LITTLE WINGS PLANE SPOTTING

Greenthread is only this vibrant and widespread every 10 years and can be seen throughout the hills and fields of Elbert County.

PHOTOS BY NICKY QUINBY

Greenthread blooms from late spring to mid-summer with small, vivid yellow flowers.

Greenthread, or Thelesperma filifolium, is so bright and vibrant that it can be seen from far away.