PAGE 14 | WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL • October 19, 2023
Water solutions are a priority We all know that out here in Western Colorado, water is life. It sustains our agriculture, powers our outdoor recreation economy, and is the keystone of the beautiful environment we all cherish. All of us also know that our state’s water future faces immense challenges, from ongoing megadrought in the West, overuse of the Colorado River by California and Arizona, and much more. Even as we celebrate last winter’s snowfall, an above-average rainfall this summer, and hope for more good snow this coming winter, our water resources and long-term future are still uncertain. That is why the state legislature, among other public and private entities, have been hard at work on a multi-faceted approach to protect Colorado’s water future. The 2023 legislative session was one of the most productive and historic sessions for water in recent memory. As your State Senator, I made sure that water was at the forefront of my colleague’s minds, and I am proud to have led several successful water measures. Increased funding Addressing our water challenges will require considerable and sustained funding, and this year, Colorado made funding for water more of a priority than ever before. First, every year, Colorado passes a water projects funding bill that helps communities invest in updated infrastructure, conservation efforts, and funding the newly updated Colorado Water Plan, among other priorities. I sponsored this year’s water projects bill, and it was the largest amount of funding in Colorado’s history at $97 million. This means that more important projects will be funded in the coming year.
We also made sure our state is prepared for the serious interstate negotiations regarding the Colorado River that are ongoing and have our full support and attention by increasing our funding in the state budget to make the Colorado River Commissioner a full-time position and expand crucial staff at the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
islature’s Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee, of which I have the honor of leading as Chair, is actively working. Since the legislature adjourned Expanding policy tools in May, we have Smart policy will also be essential as we been taking the confront challenges, and we are working time to travel on expanding tools in Colorado water law the state, visit State Sen. Dylan Roberts (D) to carefully address our state’s needs. with agriculture In 2022, I helped pass a bill that will producers, water help cities create and expand turf remanagers, city placement programs to cut down on the use of leaders, and many others, as well as calling water-intensive landscaping across the state, experts before our committee to testify and especially on the arid Front Range. That proanswer hard questions. gram launched in July and has already been We are currently drafting several innovaincredibly successful as we look for ways to tive policy ideas for the 2024 session based on expand it. our work that would add tools to Colorado’s This year, I worked with House Speaker tool belt for protecting our water future. These Julie McCluskie and our Western Slope Reideas include prohibitions on nonfunctional, publican colleagues, Sen. Perry Will (D. Senwater-intensive turf, increased flexibility to ate District-5) and Rep. Marc Catlin (R. House allow farmers and ranchers to invest in water District-58), to pass a bill that created the efficiency without risking their water rights, Colorado River Drought Task Force. This task measures to improve water quality, and more. force has been hard at work all summer and We are also closely following the historic fall, carefully studying the current intrastate funding soon to be made available by the fedand interstate issues on the Colorado River. It eral government thanks to the Bipartisan Infrais set to deliver well-crafted policy proposals to structure Investment and Jobs Act and the $4 the legislature by the end of the year. We are billion that Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper grateful for the expertise of the diverse group of helped secure to address drought in the West. stakeholders serving on the task force and urge Maximizing Colorado’s benefit from those them to be bold and decisive in their recomavailable funds will be an important priority for mendations. us in the years ahead. Another great victory for rivers and While our water challenges are serious, I am Phone and Internet Discounts water this year was a bill I co-sponsored confident that our state is well-positioned as Republican Senator Cleave Simpwe head into the future. We will continue to do Available to CenturyLink Customers with son (Senate District-6) that removed red whatever we can to protect our state’s most imtape and administrative barriers to allow portant natural resource – the one that we need The Colorado Public Utilities Commission designated more stream restoration projects to go for our agriculture, our economy, our life – our CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier forward. Restoring streams and rivers water. As always, I encourage you to contact within its service area for universal service purposes. helps improve water quality and aquatic me on this issue or any other: senatordylanrobCenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential life and has broad-sweeping positive erts@gmail.com or my cell: 970-846-3054. voice lines are $30.50 per month and business services impacts to watershed health, wildfire Dylan Roberts is the State Senator for Clear are $43.50 per month. Specific rates will be provided upon resiliency, and so much more. Creek, Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, request. More work to do Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt, and Summit CounWater policy is complex, dynamic and ties CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline program, which requires careful deliberation. The legmakes residential telephone or qualifying broadband
service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. Eligible customers may qualify for Lifeline discounts of $5.25/month for voice or bundled voice service or $9.25/month for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal benefits if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to qualify. CenturyLink also participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service. The ACP provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. For both programs, a household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Services are not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in these programs. Consumers who willfully make false statements to obtain these discounts can be punished by fine or imprisonment and can be barred from these programs. If you live in a CenturyLink service area, visit https:// www.centurylink.com/aboutus/community/communitydevelopment/lifeline.html for additional information about applying for these programs or call 1-800-201-4099 with questions.
DESPERADOS Black Hawk Police Report
September 20 Criminal traffic violation — Officers contacted a vehicle for a traffic violation occurring on the 300 block of Main Street. The driver was given a warning, and officers cleared him with a field interview report. Crash and dash, criminal traffic violation — Officers responded to a hit and run occurring at the Horseshoe parking garage. A suspect was identified, and a report taken. Mental subject — BHPD responded to the Ameristar Casino on a report of a possibly intoxicated party. The party was contacted and determined to require mental health treatment. The party was transported to the hospital for further evaluation. Welfare check — Officers responded to the Lady Luck Hotel to conduct a welfare check. The parties checked okay, and officers cleared with a field interview report. Assist other agency — Officers responded to Chase Street to collect property for safekeeping. A report was taken. September 21 Shoplifting — Officers responded to the Monarch Casino, on a report of shoplifting. A suspect was identified and
issued a summons. Damaged property, theft — Officers were called to the parking garage of the Horseshoe Casino, on a report of someone siphoning gas from the vehicle. A suspect has yet to be identified. Officers completed a report. Theft — Officers responded to the Ameristar Casino regarding a stolen phone. A report was taken. September 22 Criminal traffic violation — Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation occurring on the 300 block of Main Street. The driver was given a warning, and officers cleared on a field interview report. Theft — Officers responded to the Monarch Casino, to take a theft report. A suspect has yet to be identified. Suicide — Officers were called to the Horseshoe Hotel for an unattended death. A decedent was located and identified. The coroner’s office took custody of the body, and officers cleared with a report. Theft — Officers took a phone call from Lodge Casino staff regarding concerning statements of self-harm from a female. The female was told a stolen phone would be re-
turned to the Lodge Casino and was upset when it couldn’t be found. The phone was found and placed in safekeeping, and the female was contacted. She was not in Black Hawk but was in contact with the crisis center regarding the statements she made. Assist Gilpin County SO — BHPD was dispatched to the Lodge Casino regarding a flagged account. The party was contacted, issued a summons, and a report was taken. Amphetamine, possession and sale — Officer Espinosa responded to the Monarch Casino on the report of found drugs. A backpack with fentanyl and drug paraphernalia was confiscated. A suspect was later identified and arrested. September 23 Escape — Black Hawk Officers contacted a male at the Lodge Casino. Officers were looking for a suspect in a felony drugs case when they contacted a male matching the description. Officers contacted a male who was later determined not to be the suspect but had a felony warrant for his arrest. The male was booked into Gilpin County Jail on his warrants.