Daylight Savings Time Starts on March 11!
Volume 11 • Edition 4
February 21, 2018
PERA’s Problems Demand Meaningful Reform
Delivering over 17,000 papers to rural Adams, Morgan, and Weld Counties
By Joshua Sharf Colorado’s Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) doesn’t have enough money to keep its promises. Lower investment returns and longer lifespans have shocked a system already made fragile by decades of poor decision-making fed by wishful thinking. Currently, PERA is 58% funded – down from over 100% funding in 2000. PERA’s own actuarial projections have it declining to less than 20% funding before recovering. Under current plans, it would take nearly 60 years for the State Fund to reach full funding, nearly 80 years for the School Fund. Therefore, the PERA board has proposed a series of fixes to help the funding ratio, and bring the amortization period back under 30 years. As with past solutions, they only perpetuate the problem. They also demonstrate the profound unfairness of the current unsustainable defined benefit (DB) structure that the PERA board has fought tooth-and-nail to defend. Employers – taxpayers – who are already paying upwards of 20% of employee salaries will pay another 2%. Current employees will pay another 3% of their salaries. Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) will be reduced and delayed. New employees will retire slightly later. Employees may see the dollars they were promised, but at the cost of a permanent 3% pay cut. Communities will be forced to divert even more scarce resources into backfilling these promises. It’s a way of “keeping PERA’s promises” without actually keeping them, something that the Independence Institute has been warning about for years. Advertised as a recruiting tool, PERA is increasingly becoming a trap. The alternative – putting the burden on communities – is no better. Squeezing out classroom or road spending, or raising taxes on people trying to save for their own retirements is just as wrong. All of this to prop up a traditional guaranteed annual pension model that the private sector almost completely abandoned a generation ago. After 17 years of declining finances, we must admit the truth – PERA’s DB structure doesn’t provide secure retirement. It makes promises to retirees it can’t keep. It weakens communities by forcing them to compete for scarce resources. It puts future retirees’ financial security in the hands of politicians who are under pressure to meet current demands. Change is coming. The citizens of Colorado can choose to be its architects rather than its victims. We can change from this DB plan and give new and unvested members a defined contribution (DC) plan, and offer existing members the opportunity to switch their participation into it. DC plans operate like the 401(k)s that most of us are familiar with, with individual accounts and known balances. Instead of being offered uncertain promises, retirees will know exactly where they stand at all times. Communities will have predictable contributions. Future hires will no longer contribute more than they can expect to get out in order to cover for the promises of long-gone politicians. Members will be in charge of their own futures. DC plan opponents often accuse proponents of wanting to hand over members’ accounts to fee-hungry Wall Street firms. But there is no reason why PERA can’t be the default manager for members’ DC money. Continued success will be rewarded with continued member loyalty. Converting new and unvested member to a DC plan won’t eliminate PERA’s unfunded promises. Those members will continue to accrue new benefits, and the existing unfunded liability will need to be amortized over the lifetimes of those members. Employers will still have to contribute on a per-employee basis to fund the legacy plan, and members under that plan will still likely see their contributions rise. But such a new plan will stop the problem from getting worse. States as geographically and demographically diverse as Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Utah have all adopted some version of this change. Colorado can be even bolder. We didn’t get here overnight. PERA’s average return since 2000 has been 5.4%, even as its projected return has slowly dropped from 8.75% to today’s still-optimistic 7.25%. Legislators in the late 90s chose to increase benefits. In the early 2000s, the Board sold Service Credit at fire-sale prices. And the state legislature, while paying every legally-mandated dollar, failed to compensate for several years of poor returns. In 2004, 2006, and 2010, PERA proposed and the legislature cut benefits and increased contributions. Each time, the PERA Board hailed PERA’s return to long-term stability. Each time, they have been forced into additional fixes. Rather than endless knob-turning and dial-twisting that does little more than tighten screws, let’s retire this broken model and replace it with something that works both for Colorado’s taxpayers and its public servants. Joshua Sharf manages the PERA Project at the Independence Institute, a free market think tank in Denver.
Bob Garrison’s Suprise 80th Birthday Party at Deno’s
Terisa Garrison suprised Bob Garrison for his 80th Birthday. The suprise party was held at Deno’s where friends and family were invited to share the special day with Bob.
More Photos on Page 14...
Morgan County Extension: Let’s Celebrate Janice Dixon’s Many Accomplishments!
Janice Dixon is retiring after 35 years in Colorado State University Extension. Dixon started with CSU Extension in 1983, getting hired on as the 4-H and youth development agent in Morgan County. Please help us celebrate her many accomplishments with your favorite pictures and/ or memories. The retirement open house will be held March 2, 2018, at the Morgan County Fair Grounds, Event Center. Time to be determined. Photo Courtesy of Fort Morgan Times
What’s In This Issue:
Page 2: Way of the World Page 2: Morgan County Extension News Page 3: Celebrate Aims CC Ag Day at Fort Lupton Campus Page 4: United Way’s 2-1-1 Here to Help w/ Life’s Changes Page 5: Weld County 4-H Enrollment Page 6: Anatomy of Addiction: How Heroin & Opioids
Hijack the Brain Page 7: Kiowa Park Team and Builders in Wiggins, CO Page 8: Obituaries Page 9: Snow Tires Beat the Competition in CDOT’s Tire Demo Page 9-10: So You Want to Become a Physicist? Page 12: Tale of Two States: North Dakota has $4 Billion Saved from Oil and Gas Taxes; Colorado Has Almost None Page 13: Hudson Public Library March 2018 Calender
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Way of the World
Lost Creek Guide
by Bob Grand Horrible event in Florida. A flurry of ideas being circulated to solve the problem. A lot harder to do than talk about. A complement to the young people sharing their concerns and ideas. Reminded of the anti war gatherings in the late 60’s. We should do something that is meaningful. This case had several issues that stood out. The police had been to the person’s house almost 40 times on issues. Why didn’t that trigger something? The fact the FBI missed the tip comments was appalling. Maybe we need to have a policy in place where if people are judged a potential danger they should not have guns, or be in a house that has guns that are not secure. One has to feel empathy for the families involved. One, again, has to ask about the big city centers of America where many, many more people are murdered regularly. Those victims should be no less important but what does it take to get some attention there? The politics of this is depressing. Where is the sense of moral outrage across the board? This event should not be viewed as a political opportunity to score points. Latest on the Mike Flynn case. The original judge in this case has recused himself as it turns out he is also a F.I.S.A. judge. The new judge did something very unusual. Without request from Flynn’s attorney, he has asked for all the records regarding Flynn and his guilty plea. This, after the FBI agents that interviewed Flynn had noted that they did not think he had lied to them. Bullies should not be allowed to carry the day, no matter where they are, in grade school or the Department of Justice or the FBI. The indictments of the Russians is a little less than stimulating. They are accused of inciting disharmony among the American people. Something both of our major parties do on a routine basis. The fact they used Facebook and Twitter should come as no surprise as both are platforms that anyone can use to literally say anything. The 1st amendment is important and should be respected. The fact you have two major communication instruments who do not do enough to try and screen what is presented is disturbing. Our entire culture is being challenged by a relatively small group whose impact is totally out of proportion to their numbers. We should be working together to solve issues that we have. Is it too much to expect our elected officials to have a little common sense and work together to come up with a consensus to move forward? Early in the Colorado state legislative session certain Republicans put forth their usual gun support bills which, as always fail. When will the Republican party understand that the majority of new voters to the state are not Republicans. The Republican elected officials think pandering to their base will keep them in office. The day will come when that will not happen, even in Weld County. A New York City Sanitation management employee, who has earned (legally) a $285,000 retirement, twice his last regular annual salary, commented that he had earned it. Now the criteria that he qualified under was what they called the Tier I retirement has been changed but you have to ask where is the common sense? In the old days, for those of us who remember, you took a government job because it was low risk, not great pay but the health and retirement benefits were good. Today the pay is great and the benefits are vastly better than most of the private sector. It will be interesting to watch the case before the Supreme court regarding the right that unions have to make all employees pay union dues collected by the government. Many union leaders are very nervous about this. As always, your comments are always appreciated. publisher@lostcreekguide.com
Support Your Local Small Businesses! The Lost Creek Guide, Llc Bob Grand - Publisher 303-732-4080 publisher@lostcreekguide.com
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February 21, 2018
Morgan County Extension News
National Western Stock Show Morgan County Cattlemen, Fort Morgan Young Farmers Education Foundation and the Morgan County Extension staff took Morgan County third graders on four days of field trips to National Western Stock Show. This followed an agriculture lesson in the classroom with the students. In addition to the sheep shearing, students visited the Petting Zoo, Hall of Education with many Colorado agriculture exhibits, Pony Trails and the National Western nursery. AmeriCorps Programs Morgan County Extension has been offering science focused after-school programs again beginning in January. Maya Nagata and Becky Greenwood are teachers at Green Acres and will continue to be our AmeriCorps members through this spring. Diabetes Webinars There is more to diabetes than high blood sugar. It’s one of those health conditions that require constant attention; however one of the best ways to regulate the disease is through consistent physical activity or exercise. Come learn about using Exercise as a tool for Prevention and Management of Type II Diabetes with Dr. Braun on February 22nd at 12 during the first of the 2018 series of the diabetes webinars offered in Northeast Colorado. For more information or to RSVP, please call (970) 542- 3544. AgrAbility Conference As workers age, they are faced with increasing rates of arthritis, back pain, decreased strength/endurance, hearing impairments and other medical conditions. Assistive technology can help mitigate the impact of aging conditions and help aging farmers work more safely. Join us on Tuesday, February 13th from 10 am- 2 pm at the Morgan County Extension Office for the 2018 Colorado AgrAbility workshop to learn more about resources available for gaining farmers. For more information or to register, contact Jennifer at (970)542-3544. Tree Seedlings The Colorado State Forest Service and Colorado State University Extension partner each spring to bring the residents of Morgan County seedling trees grown at the seedling tree nursery in Fort Collins. The Seedling tree program was established as part of the Soil Bank Act of 1956 to help eliminate soil erosion. The CSU Forestry Service grows nearly 150 varieties of trees from seed in one of two ways; either bare root or grown in small containers. The nursery produces nearly 2.2 million bare root and 700,000 container grown seedlings on 180 acres in Fort Collins each year. Beginning in 2014 the nursery introduced small perennials and grasses to help with soil erosion and beautification of the prairies and eastern plains grasslands. The minimum acreage requirement of years past is gone, and now the only requirement for participating in this program is participants must use their seedlings for conservation purposes only and cannot resale them. Order forms are available at the Extension Office.
North Colorado Health Alliance
The North Colorado Health Alliance is a public and private joint venture dedicated to treating community health as a single complex phenomenon. On an ongoing basis, the Alliance serves as an incubator of best practices, and convenes community partners to stimulate innovation, integration, and a greater understanding of medical and non-medical factors contributing to community health. The Alliance engages in strategic health planning and innovative management to create health care neighborhoods for all individuals living in the northern regions of Colorado, with a special focus on the underserved. Our community joint venture has been built upon the four pillars of: access to care, workforce and organizational development, integrating infrastructure, and accountability. All Alliance partners and agencies participating in the community health campaign—Make TODAY Count!–are leaders in promoting greater community understanding of the complex of factors that contribute to the health of the community. Our ongoing integration of health and other community services is the outcome of this widening understanding of health as a single puzzle with many interlocking and equally indispensable pieces. Partner Organizations Members of the North Colorado Health Alliance are committed to making our communities thrive. In a highly creative public and private joint venture, Alliance partner organizations invest in strategic and collaborative projects that benefit the health of the community. We aim to build integrated health care neighborhoods that are, simply put, healthy for everyone. The North Colorado Health Alliance includes: Banner Health (Hospital operations) Banner North Colorado Medical Center Paramedic Services Centennial Mental Health Center Colorado Access Kaiser Permanente North Range Behavioral Health Northeast Behavioral Health Partnership Sunrise Community Health (Federally Qualified Health Center) Summitstone Health Partners Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment Weld County Department of Human Services Northern Colorado Medical Society United Way of Weld County University of Northern Colorado
February 21, 2018
Celebrate National Agriculture Day at Aims Community College’s Fort Lupton Campus on March 20
Lost Creek Guide
GREELEY, CO – February 20, 2018 – Aims Community College invites the public to celebrate National Agriculture Day at its Fort Lupton Campus, located at 260 College Avenue, on Tuesday, March 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. At the open house guests will have the opportunity to see baby chicks hatch, ride on our Precision Agriculture Mobile Educational Technology Unit (a John Deere gator equipped with auto-steer and GPS technologies), meet June the Cow, an animatronic full-sized fiberglass Holstein that teaches people about dairy farming, and get hands-on with the West Greeley Conservation District riparian trailer. Light snacks will be provided. WHAT: Aims Community College National Ag Day Festivities WHEN: Tuesday, March 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. WHERE: Aims Fort Lupton Campus, 260 College Avenue VISUALS: See baby chicks hatch, take a ride on our Precision Agriculture Mobile Educational Technology Unit (the Gator), meet June the Cow, an animatronic full-sized fiberglass Holstein that teaches people about dairy farming, and check out the West Greeley Conservation District riparian trailer MEDIA RSVP: Please email communications@aims.edu. Preschools, elementary classes, families and anyone curious about the world of agriculture are welcome to attend the festivities. The Aims Agricultural Sciences and Technology program gives students hands-on learning experiences in the fields of ag business, agricultural education, soil and crop sciences, horticulture and animal science. Aims is the only community college in Colorado to offer a precision agriculture certificate. In addition, the program’s articulation agreements with Colorado State University provide a smooth transfer to complete a bachelor’s degree. About Aims Agriculture Technology Program The Aims Agriculture Technology program offers associate of science degrees in ag business, agricultural education, soil and crop sciences, horticulture and animal science, as well as associate of applied science degrees and several certificate options. Aims’ articulation agreements with Colorado State University allows for a smooth transfer directly to complete a bachelor’s degree. For more information visit www.aims.edu/ academics/agriculture.
Community Foundationg: A History Spanning Two Decades in Weld County
In 1997, the Greeley Area Foundation and the Weld Community Foundation merged to form the Community Foundation Serving Greeley and Weld County. Since that time, it has provided more than $22.8 million, primarily in the Weld County community, in the form of grants, scholarships, and program support. As of December 31, 2016, the Community Foundation has assets of nearly $18.3 million and manages more than 135 funds. Notable Accomplishments •Providing $22.8 million in total grant and program support over two decades. •Creating two affiliate foundations -- one in Fort Lupton and one in Windsor -- to further the Foundation's reach throughout the County. •Providing $1.5 million in total grants and program support in 2016 alone, the closing date of the Foundation's most recent annual report. •Serving as an incubator for new non-profit organizations by providing administrative stewardship and support while they are getting started. •Working with local women to establish the Women’s Fund of Weld County. •Helping coordinate fundraising efforts to send World War II, Korean War, and other veterans to Washington DC to see their memorials. •Responding to natural disasters by accepting and distributing donations to help those affected. Deep Roots in Weld County The Community Foundation has deep roots in Weld County and a broad period of county-wide philanthropy pre-dated its founding. This activity began formally when The Greeley Area Foundation was established as a trust in 1972 by First National Bank of Greeley. It was created as a vehicle for the community that would provide a perpetual source for funds that could be left by its citizens for purposes that would benefit both individual segments of the population and the area as a whole. In 1993, it became clear that a new type of legal organization would better serve the whole community. With the cooperation of the trustees, the Greeley Area Foundation was changed from trust form to corporate form and received its 501c3 status in 1995. Two years later, the organizations and efforts were merged and became the Foundation in its current form. Since that time, the Foundation has expanded to include multiple funds and two affiliate foundations that deepen our reach in Fort Lupton and Windsor. The Foundation's 20th Anniversary The Community Foundation celebrated its 20th Anniversary throughout 2017. Staff and board created a number of activities to mark this milestone including a grant program which offered funding for a range of free community activities.
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Lost Creek Guide
February 21, 2018
United Way of Weld County’s 2-1-1 Here to Help Deal with Life’s Challenges
Life can throw us challenges. It doesn’t matter who we are, where we live or how much money we have in the bank. None of us are immune to challenges that can stop us in our tracks. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a notice that your child care provider has decided to move to another state, the realization that a family member is suffering from depression or your recent job loss finds it impossible to pay your rent, none of us are immune. Whether you’re searching for information or resources for someone else, chances are that dialing 2-1-1 or going to the 2-1-1 page on the United Way of Weld County website can help solve the problem. Every day, thousands of people call, text and web chat with trained specialists at 2-1-1 to find food, housing, health care, financial coaching, after-school care, senior services, job training and more. This vital service is part of United Way’s effort to fight for the health, education and financial stability
of every person in our community. Here are just five ways that 2-1-1 could help you, too: 1. Filing your taxes for free. Depending on your income level, 2-1-1 can help connect you with an easy way to file your taxes for free. 2. Making sure your new child is growing developmentally. There is so much information out there about the early stages of child development that it can be hard to understand. 2-1-1 specialists can connect you to someone who can help. 3. Getting a new job. Whether you’re looking to re-enter the workforce, upgrade your job or find a new career, contact 2-1-1 and they can refer you to programs that help with employment opportunities and training programs. 4. Help with basic services. Unexpected life circumstances can put families in situations where they need help with food, clothing, transportation or housing. 2-1-1 has a complete list of programs so that precious time is spent navigating these basic need services effectively. 5. Finding Support. If you, a friend, or a loved one is looking for a therapist, addiction treatment, resource or support group, don’t spend hours searching online or simply avoiding finding help. 2-1-1s maintain a robust list of resources in your community, including free services, so you can skip the frustration and headache. Last year, 2-1-1 answered more than 14.3 million requests for help nationwide, on the phone, via text and web chat. In Weld County, your 2-1-1 answered 8,413 requests for help last year. Call 2-1-1 today to get your question answered or visit www.unitedway-weld.org. Your United Way is here for you. Jeannine Truswell is the President and CEO of United Way of Weld County.
Welcome Elisabeth Krueger to the Weld County 4-H Team!
Recent Colorado State University graduate, Elisabeth Krueger, is very excited to join the Weld County Extension Team. Elisabeth studied Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and Agricultural Literacy at CSU. When she wasn’t studying, she spent most of her time playing the saxophone in the marching band. She grew up in Berthoud, Colorado, on a small family farm, where she learned the value of raising and growing one’s own food and the responsibility that goes along with it. Growing up in 4-H showing goats, sheep, and participating in shooting sports, Elisabeth always hoped she could start a career with 4-H and Extension. In the past, Elisabeth has worked for multiple educational organizations where she led programs and activities on topics from egg hatching to outdoor skills. Elisabeth continues to enjoy spending time with her goats and riding her horses as well as going hiking and exploring the Rocky Mountains. She is very excited to get to know the community and contribute to the 4-H program.
February 21, 2018
Weld County 4-H Enrollment
Weld County 4-H enrollment for the 2017-2018 year is almost over! 4-H is a leading youth organization in the nation and serves over 900 youth in Weld County! 4-H provides hands on learning opportunities for youth to gain necessary life skills and become the leaders of tomorrow. Youth begin their involvement by joining a local club where they have monthly meetings and events to learn together. The deadline for enrollment is March 1st! 4-H offers numerous projects for members to build those life skills ranging from leathercraft to sheep, horses to leadership, and woodworking to ceramics. Throughout the year, youth will work on their projects and have the opportunity to showcase them at the Weld County Fair in July. Along with projects, youth can also attend leadership conferences and events to meet others from the county and across the state. You only have until March 1st to enroll! Youth ages 5-18 as of December 31st, 2017 are eligible to participate in the program. If you have any questions about the program or the enrollment process, please contact Kim at 970-400-2079 or visit our website at www.weld4h.org
Christ in the Passover
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Lost Creek Guide
Jesus' Last Supper was actually a Jewish Passover. Larry Dubin of Jews for Jesus will re-create the traditional Passover service and explain how it foreshadowed Jesus' death and resurrection in a presentation called "Christ in the Passover" at Community United Methodist Church on Tuesday, March 27th at 7:00 PM. Larry Dubin will set a table with items traditionally used at the Passover meal and detail their spiritual significance. He will also explain the connection between the events of the first Passover in Egypt and the redemption that Jesus accomplished, as well as the deep bond between the ancient Passover feast and the Christian communion celebration today. Jews for Jesus has presented "Christ in the Passover" at over 38,000 churches. It has been enthusiastically received by Christians who appreciate learning more about the Jewish backgrounds of their faith. Moishe Rosen, who founded Jews for Jesus in 1973, has also co-written the book, Christ in the Passover, with his wife, Ceil. This seminal work includes a look at Passover in ancient times and how it is practiced today. It will be available after the presentation. Also available will be a DVD of the Christ in the Passover presentation with David Brickner, the executive director of Jews for Jesus, officiating. Brickner, a fifth-generation Jewish believer in Jesus, succeeded Rosen as Executive Director in 1996. Brickner has kept Jews for Jesus on the cutting edge as the ministry has expanded and established branches in eleven countries, including the United States, Brazil, Israel, Russia, France, and South Africa. "We exist to make the Messiahship of Jesus an unavoidable issue to our Jewish people worldwide," Brickner states. "There are still a few that haven't heard of us!" Larry Dubin will be happy to answer questions after the presentation. Call (303) 732-4319 or visit http://cumckeenesburg-org.a-step-back.com for more information. There is no admission charge.
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Lost Creek Guide
February 21, 2018
Anatomy Of Addiction: How Heroin And Opioids Hijack The Brain
From New Hampshire Public Radio/ North Colorado Health Alliance When Jack O'Connor was 19, he was so desperate to beat his addictions to alcohol and opioids that he took a really rash step. He joined the Marines. "This will fix me," O'Connor thought as he went to boot camp. "It better fix me or I'm screwed."
After 13 weeks of sobriety and exercise and discipline, O'Connor completed basic training, but he started using again immediately. "Same thing," he says. "Percocet, like, off the street. Pills." Percocet is the brand name for acetaminophen and oxycodone. Oxycodone is a powerful opioid. It's one of the most commonly prescribed painkillers, and is a key factor in one of the country's most pressing public health problems — an opioid addiction epidemic. It is a crisis that started, in part, from the overprescription of painkillers like Percocet, and then shifted to heroin as people addicted to prescription drugs looked for a cheaper high. O'Connor is one of an estimated 2.5 million Americans addicted to opioids and heroin, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Over three years, he detoxed from prescription painkillers — and heroin — more than 20 times. Each time, he started using again. So why is it so hard for opioid addicts to quit? You can boil it
down to two crucial bits of science: the powerful nature of opioids and the neuroscience behind how addiction hijacks the brain. "The first recording of opioid use was 5,000 years ago," says Dr. Seddon Savage, an addiction and pain specialist at Dartmouth College. It was "a picture of the opium poppy and the words 'the joy plant.' " 'It Ruined Me That Time. But I Loved It' Jack O'Connor says he ended his freshman year of college as an alcoholic. He went home that summer desperate to replace alcohol with something else. And it was not hard to do. In 2012, 259 million opioid pain medication prescriptions were written — that's enough painkillers for every American to have a bottle of the pills. O'Connor got his hands on some 30-milligram Percocet. "I ended up sniffing a whole one, and I blacked out, puking everywhere," says O'Connor. "I don't remember anything. It ruined me that time. But I loved it." Opioids got him higher faster than any drug he had tried. And even though different drugs produce different highs, they all involve the same pathway in the brain. How Opioid Addiction Works Opioids increase the amount of dopamine in a part of the brain called the limbic reward system. Dopamine causes intense feelings of pleasure, which drives users to seek out the drug again and again. They trigger the release of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that causes intense pleasure in parts of the brain that include the limbic system, according to Savage. It links brain areas that control and regulate emotions such as the pleasures of eating, drinking and sex. "This is a very ancient part of the human brain that's necessary for survival," says Savage. "All drugs that people use to get high tickle this part of the brain." People can become psychologically and physically dependent on opioids very quickly. Breaking the physical dependence involves a several-day nightmare called
detox, when the body gets used to being without the drug. "It is an amazing thing to see someone basically vibrating in their chair, feeling nauseated, looking like hell," says Jeffrey Ferguson, a detox specialist at Serenity Place in Manchester, N.H. Jack O'Connor put himself through detox 20 times, but that didn't stop his addiction. O'Connor's limbic reward system had hijacked other systems in his brain — systems that drive judgment, planning and organization — driving them all to seek that pleasure of getting high. This process can go on during years of sobriety, according to Savage. "Addiction recruits memory systems, motivational systems, impairs inhibitory systems and continues to stimulate the drive to use," she says. O'Connor says all his decisions began to serve his addiction. When he was using, everything was about getting the next drink or drug. Over his years of addiction, O'Connor lied to his family and stole from his job — all while also trying to get sober. A little over a year ago, he put himself through a five-day detox clinic and managed to get through five more days in the real world sober. Then he couldn't take it. One day he started obsessively searching his credit cards for drug residue. He found a bag of heroin in his wallet. "Somebody's telling me I need to get high," he thought at the time. And that's what he did. 'I Don't Need It Anymore' Feelings like joy and shame also play a role in drug dependence, and make it hard to quit. Practical issues are a challenge, too. "Finding the job, saving money, finding a place to live," says Ferguson. "Maybe they have some felony convictions. It's a lot." And the country is facing a shortage of addiction treatment facilities and specialists; the shortage ranges wildly from one state to another. Treatment for opioid addiction includes a variety of services: medication, talk therapy, job support, all stretched out over years. Detox isn't enough. "For people who don't get intensive treatment, people who are just detoxified [from opioids]," says Savage, "relapse rates can be above 90 percent." O'Connor is now 23 and he's finally sober — Jan. 11 is his one-year sobriety date. In that time he's been in a nonmedical residential treatment program in Dover, N.H., where he lives and works. He has support — a girlfriend, his family, the Marines. And in the same way that he once replaced his coping skills with drugs, he has rebuilt his coping skills around quitting drugs.
Support Your Local Small Businesses!
February 21, 2018
Lost Creek Guide
Kiowa Park Team in Wiggins Colorado
GDM is the developer that is creating Kiowa Park. We have worked very closely with the Town of Wiggins to make this dream a reality. GDM works with land owners or investors who buy land to meet their purpose of effectively and efficiently building community through innovating, marketing, caring and serving. The opportunities allow us to provide all services – “A One Stop Shop” – from land acquisition to entitlement to site construction and finally to sales and marketing. We have been creating quality communities in northern Colorado since 1977 and look forward serving the Wiggins community through Kiowa Park. Meet Our Team Jay Stoner, President Jstoner@genesis-dm.com, 970-566-4891 Jay graduated from the University of Colorado in 1977 with a BS degree in Business, emphasizing real estate and finance. Jay’s business accomplishments include managing over five thousand real estate closings, primarily focused on new home and developed lot sales. Jay has also been involved as the principal and manager of seven residential developments and three commercial projects, in and around Fort Collins. All ten projects are complete to the residents/occupants satisfaction and were financially rewarding to investors. Some of Jay’s residential projects include Eagle Ranch Estates, Greenstone, Clydesdale Park and The Hill at Cobb Lake. Jay’s commercial projects include the Austin’s building located at 2815 East Harmony Road and the Advantage Bank building located on the north east corner of Harmony and McMurry. One of Jay’s true motivations is innovation, especially when it comes to sustainable land planning designs and the use of renewable energy. He was instrumental in building the first Leed Gold certified single family home in Colorado. Mark Foster, Project Manager Mark Foster began in construction, early in his life, working with his dad whom he credits with teaching him the importance of clear and honest communication, hard work and attention to details. In college Mark designed and built a house for one of his professors and after graduating with a degree in Construction Management, partnered with another Professor and started a custom home design build compa-ny. Mark has been a leader of construction and design teams that have built thousands of homes and communities all over Northern Colo-rado. Mark believes a successful project is one that uses innovation and creativity along with knowledge and experience to maximize its performance and success. Whether communicating with a city planner or a client Mark believes communication must be consistent, hon-est, clear and real. Every project needs someone who can say “how do we make this work” or “why is that being designed like that” and see issues while it’s being designed. Mark is that person who can see the end result and manage the project to a successful result. Melissa Wheeler, Administrative Manager Mwheeler@genesis-dm.com, 970-4122153 Melissa Wheeler grew up in California and moved to Colorado in 1998. She has been in Greeley with her husband and daughter for almost 3 years. Melissa came to GDM with seven years of experience in the home improvement and construction industry. Melissa has great problem solving skills and is very resourceful, she also prides herself on her integrity and looks forward to assisting clients and trade partners with whatever their needs may be. Ron Olson, Vice President of Finance Ron Olson began his career as a CPA in Connecticut. He joined Fusco Corporation a major commercial builder and developer as a Controller and worked with them for 9 years. He moved to California in the 90’s working as a Controller/ CFO/VP of Finance for Residential Home Builders and Developers and has over 30 years of experience. He has worked on the financial and accounting components of several Master Planned communities in California, Washington and New Mexico. Ron provides our clients with the experience and expertise on projections, cash flows, contracting, accounting, scheduling reports, entity structuring and all reporting requirements.
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Meet Our Builders at Kiowa Park in Wiggins
Baessler Homes At Baessler Homes, we begin with family and end with dream homes. Ted Baessler, with passion and pride, started building homes in 1968. As the vision continues with Jamie Baessler at the helm, Baessler Homes has taken the promise to build affordable, innovative, and customizable homes and has built over 2500 homes across Northern Colorado. About an hour drive from the Denver metro area and the front range, this is the perfect location to raise a family. Kiowa park is an affordable option, allowing families room to grow. Surrounded by open space, lakes, and rivers, Wiggins offers a great opportunity for boating, fishing, camping, hunting, and other family recreation. With several proposed amenities in the works including a pool, recreation center, sports fields, and a playground all within walking distance, Kiowa Park allows for a broad appeal. 2 Valley Builders 2 Valley Builders- with us it’s personal My name is John Bailey and i am the President and owner of 2 Valley Builders, Inc., you may remember my former residential home building company, Bailey Homes Inc., which had been in business since 1996. We are a small and locally owned business uniquely suited for building homes in Northern Colorado. We have built over 350 homes in Ault, Evans, Greeley, Johnstown, Milliken, Firestone, Loveland, Fort Collins and now Wiggins. We personally design and build our homes, paying meticulous attention to detail, space and functionality. It has always been our goal to build quality, affordable homes that stand the test of time, in good neighborhoods that will give your family the opportunity to live, play and relax. We know that you will enjoy the conveniences and peacefulness that this community has to offer. C&B Construction C&B Construction is a local, family-owned construction company specializing in custom homes. We have been in business for 20+ years and we have always believed in quality over quantity. We are located in Fort Morgan and most of our work consists of referrals within the county, which is the ultimate testament to our work. While we may specialize in custom homes, we also provide services for additions and remodels, but it doesn’t stop there. Feel free to reach out and let’s see if we can get something done for you! King Family Construction For more information on King Family Construction please contact: Lisa Queen at 970-443-1101 or lisa_queen@msn.com
Boys Varsity Wrestling Finishes 8th Place at State Tournament at Pepsi Center The Weld Central Rebels Wrestling team finished in 8th place at the Colorado State Wrestling Tournament over the weekend. Highlighting the event were the state finals, where two Rebels were crowned champions (a first in school history). Jimmy LaConte was crowned champion at 160lbs and Quentin Jiner took home the Gold medal at 170lbs. Also stepping on the podium for the rebels was Junior Santana Hernandez, who after losing his first round match, wrestled hard through the consolation bracket to finish in 5th place. The Rebels had four other qualifiers compete at the Pepsi Center over the weekend. Kolton Robertson went 1-2 at the tournament before being eliminated. Wyatt Thyfault, Tanner Baumgartner, and Rieley Roskop all went 2-2 over the weekend. They were all eliminated from the tournament early Saturday morning. If they would have won that match they would have placed in the top 6 individually at the tournament. For photos, please go to http://bit.ly/2sJYfPb or check out the Lost Creek Guide Facebook Page!
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— Obituaries —
Lost Creek Guide
Mary Louise Ruiz
February 21, 2018
US Energy Information Agency Drilling Productivity Report February 2018
June 21, 1922 - February 12, 2018 Mary Louise Ruiz, 95, of Fort Lupton, Colorado passed away on February 12, 2018. Mary was born in Holly, Colorado on June 21, 1922 to Jesus Oviedo and Frances (Oliveras) Oviedo. Mary married Joe Ruiz on December 7, 1941. Together they had 6 children. Mary loved her family and she loved cooking. She worked in the food department for the Adams County School District, Brighton Detention Center, and Brighton Community Hospital. Mary’s warm smile and loving character brought everyone together. She always had a smile on her face and was so kind to everyone she interacted with. Mary not only watched her own children grow up but she also watched her grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up. Everyone was always welcomed at Gram’s House. Mary was a woman of her faith, as she believed strongly in God and prayer. She was a member of the Holy Family Society. She blessed everyone she came across, especially her family. Everyone will miss Mary, as she was such an influential figure to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her love and smile were one of a kind. Mary is survived by her children: Frances Solano, Nicky (Robert) Abeyta, Julia (Henry) Alvarado, Bob (Patsy) Ruiz, Kris (Joe) Diaz, Renee (Jimmy) Gonzales, her nephew; Ruben Ruiz, sister; Antonia Ruiz as well as 18 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, 13 great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Ruiz, her parents, brothers; Pete, Ventura, and Jimmy Oviedo, her grandson; Jimmy “Gordo” Gonzales, and her great granddaughter JaLisa Price. The Rosary Service will be held on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at St William Catholic Church at 7 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 11 AM at St William Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery.
Support Your Local Small Businesses!
The Drilling Productivity Report uses recent data on the total number of drilling rigs in operation along with estimates of drilling productivity and estimated changes in production from existing oil and natural gas wells to provide estimated changes in oil and natural gas production for seven key regions. EIA's approach does not distinguish between oil-directed rigs and gas-directed rigs because once a well is completed it may produce both oil and gas; more than half of the wells produce both.
February 21, 2018
4-H Shooting Sports Certification Workshop
Lost Creek Guide
Interested in being a part of the growing Weld County Shooting Sports program? Then mark your calendars because there are only 4 Leader and Jr. Leader Shooting Sports Certification workshops in the state. You can register for this workshop through 4-H Online, registration will be close one week prior to the start of the training and NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Discipline classes are capped so register early! You must be an enrolled leader to be able to attend one of these Certification Workshops. This requires online training videos, background check, and reference check. If you are interested in becoming a certified instructor and you are not an enrolled leader, there is still time to go through the leader process. You must be in the process of becoming a leader a minimum of 3 weeks before the training registration deadline. To start your leader application, login to your 4-H Online family account and add yourself as an adult. Please contact the Weld County Extension office for more information or visit http://colorado4h.org/ss/. There are only 4 shooting sports certification workshops in the state including: - Weld County (Greeley), March 9 – March 11, 2018 - Pueblo County (Pueblo), March 23 – March 25, 2018 - Arapahoe County (Aurora), April 6 – April 8, 2018 - Mesa County (Grand Junction), April 13 – April 15, 2018
Snow Tires Beat the Competition in CDOT’s Tire Demonstration Snow Tires Outperform Mud/Snow and Low-Tread Tires on Ice
STATEWIDE — Yesterday, the Colorado Department of Transportation and MasterDrive hosted a demonstration at Foothills Ice Arena to showcase the importance of sufficient tire tread during winter weather conditions. As part of CDOT’s Winter Wise campaign, the demonstration featured three identical compact cars, each with differing tires — low-tread tires, mud and snow designated tires and snow tires. Side by side, the vehicles first accelerated across the ice to demonstrate the improved control and traction provided by snow tires. In a second demonstration, the vehicles all accelerated and then hit the brakes to demonstrate each set of tires’ stopping distance. No surprise, the vehicle with snow tires was the first to come to a complete stop. “We repeatedly see highway closures due to spun-out vehicles with poor tire tread," said Stacia Sellers, CDOT Region 1 Communications Specialist. "We hope this demonstration reinforces the importance of adequate traction and the benefit of snow tires on ice and snow. Colorado drivers travel through snowy and icy roads often and we wanted to show them that their best bet to travel these roads safely is with snow tires.” Snow tires give drivers the best chance to avoid spin-outs and crashes on winter roads. The rubber compounds in snow tires stay soft and flexible in cold weather, giving them better grip and braking capability. The tread compound in other tires, like all-season, actually harden in low temperatures and give tires less grip on the road. Though snow tires outperformed mud/snow designated tires, that does not mean these tires won't be able to get motorists through some major snow storms. CDOT still recommends, however, remaining a few car links behind the vehicle ahead of you and driving slow for the conditions. If conditions require, CDOT may implement the Passenger Vehicle Traction and Chain Laws, making inadequate tires illegal on Colorado roads. The Traction Law requires every motorist to have snow tires, mud/snow tires or a four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicle. All tires must have a minimum of one-eighth inch tread. If conditions deteriorate further, the Passenger Vehicle Chain Law is reserved for severe winter conditions as it's the final safety measure before the interstate is closed. The law requires every vehicle to have chains or an alternative traction device, like an AutoSock. Non-compliance with these laws can result in fines ranging from $130$650. “It’s incredibly important for drivers to prepare their vehicles and themselves to travel on snow and ice in the winter,” said Ronn Langford, MasterDrive Founder and President. “Snow tires and sufficient tread are crucial to driver safety, but motorists must also be trained to travel on winter roads. Driver safety is our number one priority at MasterDrive and the impact of training on overall safety is significant.” CDOT recommends drivers assess their own tire tread by performing a Quarter Test. For a Quarter Test, insert a quarter into the tire tread upside down, with Washington’s head going in first. If the top of the president’s head is covered by the tread, your tires meet the minimum requirements of the Traction Law with one-eight inch tread. If his head is visible, you should consider investing in new tires. CDOT’s Winter Wise campaign focuses on education, tools and resources to help keep drivers safe on Colorado’s winter roads. To learn more and view helpful tips for winter driving, visit winter.codot.gov.
Model Rocketry in 4-H
Interested in Model Rocketry? Phil Rouse is willing to come to your club and put on a workshop if there is an interest of 3 members or more. Phil will provide a level I model rocket workshop at the club meeting to any junior member in their 1st year of model rocketry. If you are interested please contact Kim at 970-400-2079. Model Rocketry workshops will be held at 9:00 am on Saturday, April 21st, April 28th, May 12th and May 26th in the Outrider Building (the tan building at the 11th Avenue entrance close to the Grandstand Arena), Island Grove Park, Greeley. The practice launch day will be on June 2nd in the dirt parking south of Centennial Village.
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Animal Feeding Operation Fee Bill (SB18-033) Clears All Hurdles in Senate
SB18-033 Animal Feeding Operation Permits Continuation Passes Senate, Moves to House Greeley, CO - Since its introduction in the Senate in early January, SB18-033 the Environmental Ag Program Fee Bill, has moved swiftly through the Senate and passed third reading on the Senate floor Friday morning. The bill, sponsored by Senator Jerry Sonnenberg, Representative Jeni Arndt, and Representative Jon Becker, continues the current fee structure for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's (CDPHE) Environmental Ag Program (EAP). Colorado Livestock Association wholeheartedly supports SB18-033 which provides for the continuation of the Ag Program and replaces the July 1, 2018, repeal date for the CDPHE Environmental Ag Program with a repeal date of July 1, 2025. The Environmental Ag Program permits and registers concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and house commercial swine feeding operations (HCSFOs) to ensure protection of surface and groundwater resources. Since 1999, this program has been supported by cash fees paid by the regulated livestock facilities. Colorado Livestock Association members were instrumental in the creation of this program when leaders at the time recognized a need for one place within the department where livestock producers could obtain the required permits and pay fees related to livestock feeding operations. Today, the Environmental Ag Program focuses on compliance assistance, permitting and compliance assurance activities and collaborates with the agricultural sector through guidance, compliance assistance tools, annual stakeholder meetings and quarterly newsletters. CLA members, Norm Dinis, Empire Dairy and Justin Miller, JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding testified in support of the bill in front of the Senate Ag Committee. During their testimony, they each described their personal experience and the collaborative relationship that has been cultivated over the years between livestock agriculture and the Environmental Ag Program staff. The bill will now move to the Colorado State House of Representatives.
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Lost Creek Guide
February 21, 2018
So You Want to Become a Physicist?
By Dr. Michio Kaku: http://mkaku.org/ I’ve often been asked the question: how do you become a physicist? Let me first say that physicists, from a fairly early age, are fascinated by the universe and its fantastic wonders. We want to be part of the romantic, exciting adventure to tease apart its mysteries and understand the nature of physical reality. That’s the driving force behind our lives. We are more interested in black holes and the origin of the universe than with making tons of money and driving flashy cars. We also realize that physics forms the foundation for biology, chemistry, geology, etc. and the wealth of modern civilization. We realize that physicists pioneered the pivotal discoveries of the 20th century which revolutionized the world (e.g. the transistor, the laser, splitting the atom, TV and radio, MRI and PET scans, quantum theory and relativity, unraveling the DNA molecule was done by physicists. But people often ask the question: do I have to be an Einstein to become a physicist? The answer is NO. Sure, physicists have to be proficient in mathematics, but the main thing is to have that curiosity and drive. One of the greatest physicists of all time, Michael Faraday, started out as a penniless, uneducated apprentice, but he was persistent and creative and then went on to revolutionize modern civilization with electric motors and dynamos. Much of the worlds gross domestic product depends on his work. Einstein also said that behind every great theory there is a simple physical picture that even lay people can understand. In fact, he said, if a theory does not have a simple underlying picture, then the theory is probably worthless. The important thing is the physical picture; math is nothing but bookkeeping. Steps to becoming a Physicist: 1) in high school, read popular books on physics and try to make contact with real physicists, if possible. (Role models are extremely important. If you cannot talk to a real physicist, read biographies of the giants of physics, to understand their motivation, their career path, the milestones in their career.) A role model can help you lay out a career path that is realistic and practical. The wheel has already been invented, so take advantage of a role model. Doing a science fair project is another way to plunge into the wonderful world of physics. Unfortunately, well-meaning teachers and counselors, not understanding physics, will probably give you a lot of useless advice, or may try to discourage you. Sometimes you have to ignore their advice. Don’t get discouraged about the math, because you will have to wait until you learn calculus to understand most physics. (After all, Newton invented calculus in order to solve a physics problem: the orbit of the moon and planets in the solar system.) Get good grades in all subjects and good SAT scores (i.e. don’t get too narrowly focused on physics) so you can be admitted to a top school, such as Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech. (Going to a top liberal arts college is sometimes an advantage over going to an engineering school, since it’s easier to switch majors if you have a career change.)
2) next, study four years of college. Students usually have to declare their majors in their sophomore (2nd) year in college; physics majors should begin to think about doing (a) experimental physics or (b) theoretical physics and choosing a specific field. The standard four year curriculum: a) first year physics, including mechanics and electricity and magnetism (caution: many universities make this course unnecessarily difficult, to weed out weaker engineers and physicists, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t ace this course! Many future physicists do poorly in this first year course because it is made deliberately difficult.). Also, take first (or second) year calculus. b) second year physics – intermediate mechanics and EM theory. Also, second year calculus, including differential equations and surface and volume integrals. c) third year physics – a selection from: optics, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, beginning atomic and nuclear theory d) four year physics – elementary quantum mechanics Within physics, there are many sub-disciplines you can choose from. For example, there is solid state, condensed matter, low temperature, and laser physics, which have immediate applications in electronics and optics. My own field embraces elementary particle physics as well as general relativity. Other branches include nuclear physics, astrophysics, geophysics, biophysics, etc. Often you can apply for industrial jobs right after college. But for the higher paying jobs, it’s good to get a higher degree. 3) so then there is graduate school. If your goal is to teach physics at the high school or junior college level, then obtaining a Masters degree usually involves two years of advanced course work but no original research. There is a shortage of physics teachers at the junior college and high school level. If you want to become a research physicist or professor, you must get a Ph.D., which usually involves 4 to 5 years (sometimes more), and involves publishing original research. (This is not as daunting as it may seem, since usually this means finding a thesis advisor, who will simply assign you a research problem or include you in their experimental work.) Funding a Ph.D. is also not as hard as it seems, since a professor will usually have a grant or funding from the department to support you at a rate of about $12,000 per year or more. Compared to English or history graduate students, physics graduate students have a very cushy life. After a Ph.D: Three sources of jobs a) government b) industry c) the university Government work may involve setting standards at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (the old National Bureau of Standards), which is important for all physics research. Government jobs pay well, but you will never become wealthy being a government physicist. But government work may also involve working in the weapons industry, which I highly discourage. (Not only for ethical reasons, but because that area is being downsized rapidly.) Industrial work has its ebbs and flows. But lasers and semi-conductor and computer research will be the engines of the 21st century, and there will be jobs in these fields. One rewarding feature of this work is the realization that you are building the scientific architecture that will enrich all our lives. There is no job security at this level, but the pay can be quite good (especially for those in management positions – it’s easier for a scientist to become a business manager than for a business major to learn science.) In fact, some of the wealthiest billionaires in the electronics industry and Silicon Valley came from physics/engineering backgrounds and then switched to management or set up their own corporation. But I personally think a university position is the best, because then you can work on any problem you want. But jobs at the university are scarce; this may mean taking several two-year “post-doctorate” positions at various colleges before landing a teaching position as an assistant professor without tenure (tenure means you have a permanent position). Then you have 5-7 more years in which to establish a name for yourself as an assistant professor. If you get tenure, then you have a permanent position and are promoted to associate professor and eventually full professor. The pay may average between $40,000 to $100,000, but there are also severe obstacles to this path. In the 1960s, because of Sputnik, a tremendous number of university jobs opened up. The number of professors soared exponentially. But this could not last forever. By the mid 1970s, job expansion began inevitably to slow down, forcing many of my friends out of work. So the number of faculty positions leveled off in the 1980s. Then, many people predicted that, with the retirement of the Sputnik-generation, new jobs at the universities would open up in the 90s. Exactly the opposite took place. First, Congress passed legislation against age-discrimination, so professors could stay on as long as they like. Many physicists in their seventies decided to stay on, making it difficult to find jobs for young people. Second, after the cancellation of the SSC and the end of the Cold War, universities and government began to slowly downsize the funding for physics. As a result, the average age of a physicist increases 8 months per year, meaning that there is very little new hiring. As I said, physicists do not become scientists for the money, so I don’t want to downplay the financial problems that you may face. In fact, many superstring theorists who could not get faculty jobs went to Wall Street (where they were incorrectly called “rocket scientists”). This may mean leaving the field. However, for the diehards who wish to do physics in spite of a bad job market, you may plan to have a “fall-back” job to pay the bills (e.g. programming) while you conduct research on your own time. But this dismal situation cannot last. Within ten years, the Sputnik-generation will finally retire, hopefully opening up new jobs for young, talented physicists. The funding for physics may never rival that of the Cold War, but physics will remain an indispensable part of creating the wealth of the 21st century. There are not many of us (about 30,000 or so are members of the American Physical Society) but we form the vanguard of the future. It also helps to join the APS and receive Physics Today magazine, which has an excellent back page which lists the various job openings around the country.
About Dr. Michio Kaku
Dr. Michio Kaku — theoretical physicist, bestselling author, acclaimed public speaker,
February 21, 2018
So You Want to Become a Physicist?
Lost Creek Guide
Continued from Page 10... renowned futurist, and popularizer of science. As co-founder of String Field Theory, Dr. Kaku carries on Einstein’s quest to unite the four fundamental forces of nature into a single grand unified theory of everything. New York Times Bestselling Author Kaku’s newest book, THE FUTURE OF THE MIND was released on February 25, 2014 and is now available. Dr. Kaku is the author of numerous New York Times Bestselling Books: The Future of the Mind – 2014; Physics of the Future – 2011; Physics of the Impossible – 2008; Parallel Worlds – 2006; Einstein’s Cosmos – 2005; Visions – 1999: Beyond Einstein – 1995: Hyperspace – 1994 Media Figure and Popularizer of Science Kaku has starred in a myriad of science programming for television including Discovery, Science Channel, BBC, ABC, and History Channel. Beyond his numerous bestselling books, he has also been a featured columnist for top popular science publications such as Popular Mechanics, Discover, COSMOS, WIRED, New Scientist, Newsweek, and many others. Dr. Kaku was also one of the subjects of the award-winning documentary, ME & ISAAC NEWTON by Michael Apted. He is a news contributor to CBS:This Morning and is a regular guest on news programs around the world including CBS, Fox News, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, RT. He has also made guest appearances on all major talk shows including The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan on TBS, and others. BBC Series: Time — Michio Kaku goes on an extraordinary exploration of the world in search of time. BBC Four series: Visions of the Future — 3 part series exploring the cutting edge science of today, tomorrow, and beyond. History Channel’s The Universe — Interviews with the world’s leading physicists and historians are woven together with animated recreations and first-person accounts to explain concepts such as the formation of galaxies, the creation of elements and the formation of Earth itself. COSMOS Magazine — He stretches his mind to 11 dimensions, understands what Einstein failed to grasp, and he plans for the death of our Sun, five billion years from now. Michio Kaku is a superhero of the incomprehensible. Radio On-Air Personality Michio Kaku hosts two weekly radio programs heard on stations around the country and podcast around the world. Science Fantastic — a live science radio talk show which airs every Saturday. Explorations in Science — airing every first, third, and fifth Fridays of each month and podcast every Tuesday. For the full details of Dr. Kaku’s radio shows, visit Dr. Kaku’s Radio Page. Academia Theoretical Physicist — Dr. Michio Kaku is the co-creator of string field theory, a branch of string theory. He received a B.S. (summa cum laude) from Harvard University in 1968 where he came first in his physics class. He went on to the Berkeley Radiation Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley and received a Ph.D. in 1972. In 1973, he held a lectureship at Princeton University. Michio continues Einstein’s search for a “Theory of Everything,” seeking to unify the four fundamental forces of the universe—the strong force, the weak force, gravity and electromagnetism. He is the author of several scholarly, Ph.D. level textbooks and has had more than 70 articles published in physics journals, covering topics such as superstring theory, supergravity, supersymmetry, and hadronic physics. Professor of Physics — He holds the Henry Semat Chair and Professorship in theoretical physics at the City College of New York (CUNY), where he has taught for over 25 years. He has also been a visiting professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, as well as New York University (NYU).
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Lost Creek Guide
February 21, 2018
Tale of Two States: North Dakota has $4 Billion Saved from Oil and Gas Taxes; Colorado Has Almost None
In the midst of all the spending, lawmakers have left untouched tax deductions that the energy industry in Colorado enjoys far in excess of those offered by neighboring states
By Christopher N. Osher | cosher@denverpost.com | The Denver Post Nearly a decade ago, North Dakota and Colorado, poised for explosive growth in the drilling of energy resources, faced a decision: What to do with what appeared to be a never-ending geyser of new oil and gas riches? Voters in Colorado opted for the status quo in 2008, rejecting competing efforts to use tax revenue from oil and gas production to pay for what backers called vital needs. They voted down one proposal to eliminate favorable energy industry tax deductions to pay for higher education scholarships and wildlife restoration and another plan to use existing revenues to build new highways. Two years after the plans in Colorado collapsed at the polls, voters in North Dakota took the opposite approach and embraced radical change. They passed an initiative to set aside for future generations some of the tax revenue produced from the extraction of oil and gas. The Legacy Fund that North Dakota voters created in 2010 now has socked away more than $4 billion. This year, lawmakers in North Dakota will start debating how to spend the $300 million in interest earnings the fund is projected to generate annually. In contrast, lawmakers in Colorado, on the heels of a recent court case that expanded even further energy industry tax exemptions, are scrambling again to tap diminished severance tax revenues collected from mining and energy exploration. Once again, the tax stash is getting carved up to pay for budgetary emergencies and parochial interests. “We’ve frittered away every penny we’ve ever collected in severance taxes,” said former Sen. Pat Steadman, a Democrat in Denver who until early this year sat on the influential Joint Budget Committee, which sets budget priorities for Colorado. “There just isn’t a grand plan to do what some of the other states have done.” While North Dakota and Colorado’s neighboring states have built multibillion-dollar trusts off energy taxes, the amount of money Colorado will have left in cash in its socalled permanent severance tax trust fund is projected to plunge to as low as $10 million by June even though Colorado has collected nearly $1.7 billion in the taxes over the past decade, an average of about $171 million annually. Among nine Western states, Colorado’s effective severance tax rate, which includes deductions, ranked second to lowest at 1.7 percent, according to the nonpartisan Colorado Legislative Council. Only Utah had a lower rate. When other state and local taxes are added, Colorado’s total effective tax rate on energy producers and miners ranks fourth to lowest at 5.2 percent, compared with an average of 6.2 percent. Funds stretched Colorado governors and lawmakers repeatedly have raided severance tax collections to patch budget holes and pay for pet projects over the years. They also have left intact a system that in a typical year doles out tens of millions of dollars to counties and municipalities, fueling a massive public works spending spree. Critics say the disjointed spending leaves vital state functions and critical needs underfunded. And they fear that once the drillers in Colorado have finished extracting the finite oil, gas and minerals from the ground, the state will have nothing left over to help mitigate all the impacts from the drilling. “There are a lot of legitimate, important functions that could use more revenue, but what bothered me about how we spent severance taxes is that we spent it like rain all over the place,” said former Republican Sen. Josh Penry, who represented Fruita as minority leader when he was in the legislature. “We just spread the loot around.” About $360 million in the taxes have been diverted to shore up an unstable general fund since 2008. Gov. John Hickenlooper has asked the legislature for another $77.4 million this year to repay the fund for costs related to a lawsuit won by BP Production American Co., which expanded industry tax deductions. That court ruling allows oil and gas producers to amend their tax returns for the past four years to deduct capital costs for transportation, manufacturing and processing costs and continue claiming those deductions into the future. During the past eight years, the state has sent $615 million in severance tax to municipalities and counties, 60 percent of which came in the form of special grants for new parks, recreational centers and other regional wishes, even going so far as to pay the salary of an administrative intern in the town of Nederland. Local projects the state has funded with the tax in the last five years include $300,000 to help renovate an opera house in Leadville, $2 million for a new sport shooting complex in Palisade, $332,000 to build a clubhouse at a shooting complex in Gypsum, $1.9 million to build a new recreation center in Montrose and stipends to allow municipal workers across the state to watch a conference headlined by a futurist. Lawmakers and governors over the years have tapped the tax for special appropriations. Then-Gov. Bill Owens, in his last year of office in 2006, used it to provide an energy assistance program to low-income residents, an ongoing program that spent $11.8 million in severance tax funds last year. In 2007, then-Gov. Bill Ritter used the tax to give southeastern Colorado counties $650,000 for blizzard relief. Gov. John Hickenlooper reformed the Governor’s Energy Office in 2012 and that office has taken $1.5 million each year since in the tax revenue for operations. Severance taxes covered a $35 million payment to settle a water dispute with Kansas in 2005. A little more than $28 million have helped finance operating expenses at the Colorado Department of Local Affairs since 2008. Since 1995, the tax also has been used to fund the day-to-day operations of four agencies under the Department of Natural Resources, which last year amounted to almost $18 million. Lawmakers also have approved more than 30 bills over the years that siphoned off severance tax revenues for additional needs including wildfire mitigation, studies to increase dam water holdings and efforts to combat pine bark beetle forest devastation. Those special appropriations added up to about $38 million last year. Tax deductions cost state In the midst of all the spending, lawmakers have left untouched tax deductions that the energy industry in Colorado enjoys far in excess of those offered by neighboring states. Those deductions cost Colorado an average of more than $270 million annually, according to a Colorado Legislative Council study this month. Colorado and Wyoming energy companies took nearly identical amounts of oil and gas
out of the ground two years ago, with Colorado firms extracting an amount worth $15.6 billion to the $15.1 billion extracted from Wyoming, that study found. Yet the firms in Colorado paid $811 million in state and local taxes, nearly half the $1.5 billion their peers in Wyoming paid, even though Wyoming does not have a corporate income tax. A big reason for the difference is the generous severance tax deductions allowed in Colorado, where drillers can exempt from taxation lower-producing wells and can claim tax credits for virtually all of their prior year’s local property tax. Now, the cupboard in Colorado is nearly bare. To pay off about $110 million in projected tax refunds to energy companies, caused in part by the BP court case, the state departments of local affairs and natural resources are slashing programs that usually rely on severance tax revenue, according to recent budget documents. Impacts range from water conservation plans to an effort to keep invasive species, such as the zebra mussel, from destroying lakes. New fees on boaters may have to be imposed so the lakes remain protected, state officials say. “We prioritize funding out of the operational account, and higher priority needs are still getting met, but there are some pretty important needs that won’t get met,” said Bill Levine, budget director for the state’s natural resources department. State loans financed by the tax to boost water production also are getting cut amidst warnings that the state needs to dramatically boost water supplies to keep up with a surging population. One state study shows Colorado needs to finance as much as $20 billion in water projects over the next 30 years to accommodate its growth but only has the capacity to finance about 15 percent of those projects. al impact grants to communities to repair police stations, courthouses and other needs. It’s not so chaotic elsewhere. Wyoming’s $7.1 billion severance tax fund produces enough interest earnings annually to pay almost a third of the state’s budget. New Mexico has a $4.5 billion tax trust fund — enough to generate interest earnings every year of $200 million. Internationally, Norway sets the standard, with its 5 million residents having the world’s largest energy trust, worth $650 billion, more than that of any Middle Eastern oil state. Lawmakers in mood to act The contrast between those governments’ approach and Colorado’s has lawmakers and industry experts lamenting what they view as a missed opportunity. Lawmakers say they likely will tackle oil and gas tax issues this year, but just what they plan to do still is up in the air. “I think we need to have a conversation this year about severance taxes,” said State Rep. Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, a member of the Joint Budget Committee. “As far as I’m concerned, the options are open.” Rankin last year unsuccessfully pushed legislation to require the state to save some of the taxes in high-energy production years that could be used in the years when production declines. Efforts at significant reforms have foundered in the past, including the local grant program administered by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, which spreads the money to municipalities and counties. In 2007, a state audit of that grant program found the state had failed “to use these grant funds to address the social and economic impacts of energy and mineral resource development in a cohesive manner.” The audit report continued: “The statutes clearly indicate that grant funds are to be prioritized toward areas of the state that are socially and economically impacted by energy and mineral resource development. However, the statutes do not formally define what ‘socially or economically impacted’ means. The Department also has not defined this term.” A year after the audit, the grant program was expanded further. Discretion on which counties and cities get the grants is left up to the director of local affairs, with input from a state board that analyzes requests for money and ranks them on a scoring criteria. Last year, a bill that failed at the legislature would have restricted the grant program and required more of the money to go directly to energy-impacted areas in a direct distribution, based in part on a formula that accounts for the number of energy workers living in an area. Former Gov. Ritter defends the grants and says eliminating them would be foolhardy. “I’ve been in some really poor communities that could point to projects from that revenue stream,” Ritter said. “They had no way to do infrastructure without it. It gives a good bang for the buck.” State Rep. Mike Foote, D-Lafayette, said he would like to rein in oil and gas tax deductions — an effort that Ritter unsuccessfully waged in 2008. “In terms of the tax structure here in Colorado for the oil and gas industry, they’ve got a pretty sweet deal,” Foote said. But increasing industry taxes would require a ballot initiative. And other lawmakers are adamantly opposed. Sen. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction, the assistant majority leader, said increasing the effective tax rate in Colorado isn’t the way to go, and that he’d rather reverse the rejection by federal regulators of a natural gas terminal in Oregon, through which Scott said Colorado could export surplus energy via an existing pipeline. If that terminal were allowed, Colorado’s gas drillers would have access to an eager worldwide market, sending the taxes to all-time highs, Scott predicted. Even without raising the tax in Colorado to a more typical rate, the state eventually will see oil and gas revenues increase again when prices rise, Penry said. Instead of letting all that excess revenue go to existing programs when commodity prices rise again, he said, state officials should set aside some for a trust that could be used for future needs. “You’re using that growth then for something positive down the road,” Penry said. “The idea is to create something permanent and lasting, and a lot of states have had this foresight. Unfortunately, Colorado has given a subpar effort at that when it comes to oil and gas revenues.” State Rep. Dave Young, D-Greeley, who sits on the Joint Budget Committee, said he’s also intrigued about creating a trust that would produce interest earnings. “That takes a lot of discipline to do,” Young said. “It’s not undoable, but for it to happen there has to be a moment and time that everyone agrees that that’s the direction as a state we’re going to go. And I do mean everybody.”
February 21, 2018
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February 21, 2018
Bob Garrison’s Suprise 80th Birthday Party at Deno’s
Continued from Page 1...
Salmonella Sickens Eight at Aims CC Event
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WELD COUNTY, CO — The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) is investigating an outbreak of Salmonella illness at Aims Community College. This illness may be associated with catered events held at Aims on February 9 and February 13, 2018. The February 9 event has 1confirmed Salmonella case that had about 70 people attend. The February 13 event has 2 confirmed cases that was attended by 400 people. Of the 8 confirmed Salmonella cases, 6 adults reside in Weld County, 1 in Larimer, and 1 in Boulder county. The events were catered by an outside restaurant, the Burrito Delight, located in Fort Lupton. The public is not at risk and the restaurant is now closed for the duration of the investigation. “Salmonella is a bacteria that causes symptoms like diarrhea, upset stomach, fever, and occasionally vomiting,” said Mark E. Wallace, MD, MPH, Executive Director of the Weld County Health Department. “Symptoms typically last 4 to 7 days, and most people recover on their own. Anyone who suspects they became ill should contact their health care provider.” For questions from the public related to this investigation, please call the Health Department at 970.304.6410. For a non-staffed hotline (available 24/7), please call 970.300.4457. Additional information about this investigation can be found on the Health Department website at: www.weldhealth.org.
February 21, 2018
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February 21, 2018
Large Oil and Gas Operations Coming to Dacono
Anadarko has purchased 500 acres of land in the City of Dacono for oil and Gas Development under various LLCs. While the City of Dacono values a balanced approach to allow oil and gas development, the location, density and use of the land purchased for oil and gas activity is unprecedented. The City is currently negotiating an operator agreement to guarantee that best management practices are fundamental to Anadarko oil and gas operations with Dacono. Because Dacono will feel definite short-term and long-term impacts from the oil and gas operations, including a 16% reduction of developable land, our proposed agreement includes provisions that will positively impact our economy and way of life. Updates to the Operator Agreement activities will be posted on this web page. Additionally, maps and the Projected Effects on Dacono from Anadarko Oil and Gas Development are available in "Related Documents". Operator Agreement Updates January 23, 2018: Draft Operator Agreement, Best Management Practices, Mitigation Plan and Projected Effects on Dacono from Anadarko Oil and Gas Development submitted to Anadarko. City Council Adopts Moratorium until May 31, 2018 Effective November 27, 2017, the Dacono City Council has approved a six-month moratorium on oil and gas development within the city. The moratorium was established to allow the City to update its regulations and review processes regarding oil and gas development. These regulations were last updated in 1996. Letter to Residents LARGE OIL & GAS OPERATIONS COMING TO DACONO As a member of the Dacono community, you’re receiving this message to keep you informed of upcoming oil and gas development in Dacono. Our city is no stranger to oil and gas operations. Dacono’s location in the DenverJulesburg Basin makes it a prime target for oil and gas exploration. Very soon, residents will see significant activity inside and outside the city limits. Dacono city officials have discovered Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC) purchased nearly 500 acres of land within our borders. A map on the reverse side of this page shows the areas of this development. The location, density, and use of the land purchased by APC for oil and gas activity is unprecedented, and the cause for the City’s concern. APC plans to develop four oil and gas well pads in Dacono, each with between 16 and 21 wells, for a total of 73 wells. The City of Dacono values a balanced approach to allow oil and gas development, provided it preserves public health, safety and welfare. Unlike traditional development, the City has limited ability to regulate oil and gas development, because this falls under the authority of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC). Our residents should know there is an effort underway by city officials to prevent and minimize immediate impacts of the proposed oil and gas operations, and safeguard the long-term sustainability of our community. The City is negotiating an operator agreement to guarantee that best management practices are fundamental to APC oil and gas exploration within Dacono. Because Dacono will feel definite short-term and long-term impacts from the APC operations, including a 16% reduction of developable land, our proposed agreement includes provisions that will positively impact our economy and way of life. Our goal is to work with the company to allow for the necessary permitting and so far, APC has been a willing participant in these discussions. We are hopeful to bring a proactive and protective operator agreement to City Council and for public review in the coming months. Please take a few moments to review the information on this document. Gen-
eral information on oil and gas activities, as well as updates on the APC operations and the operator agreement will be posted on our website at www.CityofDacono.com. If you have any questions about new oil and gas development, our door is always open. You can also email questions or comments to oilandgas@cityofdacono.com.
Colorado Drillers Pumping Record Oil, More On The Way Another month, another expected record. The Energy Information Administration estimates drillers in the Niobrara region will produce 579,000 barrels of oil per day in March. The sweet spot of the Niobrara is in Colorado’s Weld County, where there are 23,753 active oil and gas wells. Producers are responding to prices. Oil prices have risen steadily since summer of 2017, from as low as $43 in June to over $60 a barrel for much of January and February. Saudi Arabia may have given a lift to prices by announcing it would maintain production cuts through the end of 2018. At first glance the numbers don’t make sense. There are record levels of oil production in Colorado, but the number of drill rigs working in the state hasn’t moved much. Baker Hughes reports 32 rigs operating in Colorado at last count, and the number of rigs has hovered in the mid-30’s for much of the recent upswing in production. “Rigs are only one part of the picture,” says Bernadette Johnson, vice president of
Market Intelligence at DrillingInfo in Littleton, Colorado. “What matters more is how quickly those rigs can drill wells, and how big those wells are.” “In a nutshell, [Colorado] operators can now do more with less and are growing production volumes as a result.” Operators are also drawing down their stockpiles of “drilled but uncompleted wells” — DUCs in industry speak. These are wells that were previously drilled, but not finished. The number of DUC wells in the Niobrara peaked in 2016 with 792. But producers are now completing those wells. The Energy Information Administration reported the number of uncompleted wells fell to 553, the lowest level since November of 2014. More new wells are on way however. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission reported receiving 5,548 applications to drill in 2017, up 70 percent over 2016, and the most in at least six years. Source: COGCC, CPR News Research Credit: Ben Markus, Jim Hill / CPR News
DATA DISCLAIMER: COGCC production numbers are subject to revision and are dependent filings from oil and gas companies. Yellow vertical bands denote U.S. economic recessions. Click-and-drag your cursor, or pinch on mobile, to zoom in on a narrower range; reset will appear in the upper right.
A comparison of oil prices and Colorado's drill rig count from April 2009 to present. Click-and-drag your cursor, or pinch on mobile, to zoom in on a narrower range; reset will appear in the upper right.