Volume 3 No. 4 May 2018
Delivering to over 6,000 homes and businesses in Dacono, Frederick, Firestone PO Box 676, Firestone, CO 80520
Carbon Valley Veterans Memorial in Dacono on Memorial Day 2018
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Firestone American Legion Post 1985 Memorial Day Breakfast
Who is Sandi Elder, a Candidate for the Republican Nomination for Weld County Commisioner at Large, and Why is She “Stirring Things Up”
by Willie Elder Who is this Wonder Women that served on Greeley City Council for 8 years, labeled “the nicest person on council”?Why did her opponent hire a marketing firm to battle her when she was able to secure a spot on primary ballot with less than $1000 and few supporters? She is the love of my life. We met when we were young, grew up together, and started dating when she turned 18. We married, raised a family and 36 years later I love her more . She has a servant’s heart. Her faith is foremost her priority. She prayed on whether to run, she prays daily, but this was fervent prayer. She has a hereditary disease and 1 year ago, received a lifesaving transplant. Through illness, dialysis and pain, she had courage, remained compassionate and handled illness with grace. She takes serving and representing seriously. I know because while as council representative, she missed approximately 1 meeting a year in 8 years— through an ankle repair, dialysis and a kidney transplant. That’s dedication and commitment. (please compare to her opponents attendance) --stark difference. She put herself through school, raised two children who are public servants, worked full time and still found time to represent 110.000 citizens of Greeley. (As well as serving on Greeley/Welds Airport, Jobs of Hope, ACE board, Greeley’s Downtown Authority, and worked for preventing underage drinking in our county.) She is honest, ethical and fiscally responsible. (Except for her boot collection) I am very protective of this woman. If someone attempts to discredit her with lies and innuendos saying she is not who she says she is… if someone tries to bully her, she turns the other cheek, I on the other hand am not so forgiving. One thing that has irritated me the most in this race is the whisper campaign that she is anything less then conservative. I want to ask- why are you threatened by my wife who stands for truth, justice and will work for what is right? She is strong, confident, smart yet humble. She understands the importance of agriculture in our county as well as the benefits from our Oil and Gas rich soil and growth. She is a balance, and won’t rubber stamp any issue, and is VERY CONSERVATIVE! I’m voting for her because she will bring reason, honesty, integrity, joy and professionalism to the office of Weld County Commissioners. She is the right person for the job. Her work ethic is beyond reproach. She listens, makes informed decisions and is not going to “blanket” vote to be “one of the five”. My wife has a sense of justice. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “Elections belong to the people, it’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters” Weld is ready for a change, vote Sandi Elder, she is the right for the job!
What’s In This Issue:
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Page 2: Way of the World Page 3: Letters to the Editor Page 4: Erie High will Graduate First Engineering Program Seniors Page 5: VFW Post 9741 Poppy Sale at King Soopers in Firestone Page 6: Why Hire Veterans? Page 8: Town of Frederick Mosquito Control Program Page 12: American Legion Post 180 Memorial Day Service Page 13: Meet Some of St. Vrain’s Outstanding Graduates Page 15: Littwin’s Official Unofficial #CO2018 Governor’s Race Rankings
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Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
Way of the World
by Bob Grand I had the opportunity to cover six Memorial Day remembrances and celebrations over this past weekend. I have to say is was exhilarating to see the support that citizens and family members showed to support our veterans, our flag and what being an American stands for. We see so much negativism in the news these days both in print and on line. America is a great place, a place where opportunity abounds for those willing to work for it. Some media organizations seem to believe that being anti American is what people want to hear. They are mistaken. What was really eye opening was that the folks that attended theses events were multi-generational, not just old veterans. At Hearts of the Plain Cemetery in Roggen, Colorado. They have a great remembrance program that includes reading the names of veterans who are buried there. As the names are read family members place a small cross at the veteran’s grave site, to honor and remember the veteran. Most of those placing the crosses were young people. The spirit of America is very much alive. When will the news media people realize that it is a minority they are catering to, and a small one at that. At the Memorial ceremony in Keenesburg At American Legion Post 180, there was the usual great program which this year include a tribute to Col. Stan Cass, who passed away earlier this year. Col. Cass was the founder of the Northern Colorado Honor flight program which will have its 21st flight this coming September. Speaking of minorities, let us chat about the Democratic and Republican parties, neither of which is a majority party. The Democrats are in an internal conflict for the soul of the Democratic party. It is the extreme left, who has donated, and continues, to donate large sums of money, that is attempting to bring the party even further left. Now I think we need a system that allows all people to contribute to the dialogue. Driving towards a consensus usually brings a better solution and ones that are workable. Of course, that assumes that everyone really wants solutions. I am not sure that is true. As you look at Washington or the state house in Colorado is it in the best interests of the politicians to have resolution? Maybe for the people, but for the politicians. By gerrymandering districts extreme issue people can get elected. By having competitive districts politicians would be forced to be reasonable to get elected. What a thought, having politicians being responsible for results! The Republicans have similar issues. They tend to be a bit quieter about it, but nonetheless very similar issues, just on the other end of the spectrum. As our population grows in Colorado people will be looking for solutions and the party that presents the best case will be the one that is victorious. The book is still out on who will accomplish that. Unfortunately, as in the past, it maybe not who presents the best case but rather the opposition not making a good enough case. Our Weld County Commissioners continue to have disclosure issues. There are a few planning cases that again, appear to have disclosure questions involving Commissioners. Who reminds them that they represent all the people of Weld County not the selected and blessed few? When is enough, enough? When you have a chance to vote think seriously about Sandi Elder, Candidate for the Republican nomination for Weld County Commissioner at Large, and Scott James, Candidate for Weld County Commissioner for District 2. We need people who understand that being Commissioner means representing the people of Weld County, not just the select few. We deserve better than what we have. Your comments and thoughts are always appreciated: publisher@lostcreekguide. com.
Bob Grand - Publisher 303-753-6109 publisher@carbonvinews.com
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Carbon Valley Independent PO Box 676 Firestone, CO 80520 Our deadline is 7 working days before publication
Letters to the Editor are encouraged. Letters may be edited for length, libelous, or inappropriate content. All letter submissions should include name, address, & phone number for verification purposes. Letters are published at the editor or publisher’s discretion. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Carbon Valley Independent or staff.
The goal of the Carbon Valley Independent is to provide good news for our readers on the Local, County, and State level that will be of interest. We always welcome letters to the editor or email us directly.
April 2018
Aims Business Students Earn Second Place in the Monfort College of Business Ethics Case Competition for Community College
GREELEY, CO – May 8, 2018 – Aims Community College students Malcolm Dinnall, Isabelle Wolfe, Alan Grajeda and Devin Fuller placed second in the Monfort College of Business Ethics Case Competition for Community Colleges, held on April 12 at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). The students were awarded a $750 prize. “This is a wonderful example of Pictured L to R: Aims students Malcolm Dinnall, Isabelle a partnership beWolfe, Alan Grajeda and Devin Fuller. tween Aims and the UNC School of Business to offer an innovative learning experience for our students,” said Aims President and CEO Dr. Leah L. Bornstein. The Daniel Funds Ethics Initiative at the Monfort College of Business sponsored the competition. As part of the competition, students were required to prepare a response including a PowerPoint presentation and supporting documents for an ethics case study. George Rigby and Lou Cartier, two Aims business adjunct faculty, served as the team coaches. UNC Professor of Management Sharon Clinebell said, “We were very pleased to have Aims participate in our inaugural Monfort College of Business Ethics Case Competition for Community Colleges. The students did an excellent job. We look forward to working with them next year.” Aims Business program chair Ellen Swieter said, “I feel honored to have established business professionals in the Business program. The ability for students to be mentored by people working in the industry is ideal. I’m already looking forward to competing next year.” The Daniels Fund has several Ethics Initiative Principles such as Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Transparency. To learn more, visit http://mcb.unco.edu/ethics/.
Former San Francisco Mayor Calls for End of Dems' Trump-Bashing: 'Might Need 12-Step Program'
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown wrote an op-ed calling for his fellow Democrats to “stop bashing President Trump.” Brown, a longtime fixture in California politics, said his party may risk having problems in the midterms if they don’t let up on the antiTrump rhetoric. “It’s not going to be easy,” Brown wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle on the prospect of Democrats halting their repeated attacks on the president. “It might even mean checking into a 12-step program,” he said. Brown, 84, noted that his party is right to take issue with Trump’s “policies and personality” but that Democrats must understand that a “significant” amount of Americans are pleased with the New Yorker’s tenure. “They are making money. They feel safe and they agree with the president’s protectionist trade policies... even his immigration stance,” said Brown, who served as a state assemblyman for three decades prior to his 1996-2004 tenure as mayor. The former mayor said that for Democrats to win in November they must adjust their priorities when it comes to Trump, comparing the ability to set a “winning agenda” to that of “maneuvering an aircraft carrier.” “It takes time to change course,” Brown wrote. “If [Democrats] want to be on target [in] November... the[y] need to start changing course now.” Brown also commented on California’s crowded race for governor, predicting his mayoral protege Gavin Newsom will win the state’s June “jungle primary” ahead of former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) and Republicans Travis Allen and John Cox. On Friday, a California Republican House candidate said she believes a “red wave” is coming in the state because people are “pissed off” about the current leadership by far-left politicians.
Support Your Local Small Businesses!
April 2018
Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
Letters to the Editor Transparency in Government A Letter to the Editor from Sandi Elder Candidate for Republican Nomination for Weld County Commisioner at Large
Openness, accountability, and honesty define governmental transparency. In a free society, transparency is the government’s obligation to share information with the citizens. It is at the heart of how citizens hold their public officials accountable. Ask yourself as I have, do you feel the current Board of Weld County Commissioners have been transparent with the citizens of Weld County? Do you occasionally feel that they are the opposite of being transparent? —Opacity is deception, secrecy or being disingenuous. After listening to the citizens that live on County Road 29, and the neighbors around the Martin Marietta asphalt facility, I can say with no reservation, that the people I have spoken to, are adamant, that they have not been listened to, and are convinced that transparency is missing in many parts of what has transpired. We must as a board that represents the people, for the people make it transparent. We must make our meetings accessible to as many citizens as possible. In this day and age, we have the ability to post meetings on the intranet and we could partner with municipalities and cities to broadcast our meetings on their local stations, so all can view.—Accountability and trust— two words that mean a lot and quite frankly should be expected! If there is a land issue, a rezoning issue, or a USR that has a significant impact on citizens, (who decides significant, the people that it will affect) those meetings should be in the evening or before work, when people can attend, not at 10 in the morning which is the most inconvenient time for working folk. If there is a rezoning or land use issue, the homeowner or property owner needs to be notified, a postcard is not adequate. A registered letter, that requires a signature, a phone call, every attempt must be made to reach them. Transparency goes hand in hand with accountability. Are the commissioners being accountable to the taxpayer and the citizens that elected them to lead and represent their interests? Do you know where your representative is? How many hours did they work? Office hours? Conferences they attended? What are they learning from retreats & trainings? Taxpayers pay the salaries! Governments exist to SERVE THE PEOPLE. I am called to serve and ask for your vote in the upcoming primary. I would love the opportunity to listen, lead and serve you to the best of my ability. Sandi4Weld Let’s change the status quo!
“Whisper Campaigns”
GREELEY –Nothing infuriates me more than whisper campaigns, my friends complaining about politicians right before they tell me they didn’t vote, or blindly supporting a “nice guy.” I know a lot of nice guys, and I wouldn’t vote for most of them. And then there is this latest idea:“You don’t challenge an incumbent from your own party.” Ha! Challenging an incumbent is the only way for a political party to check itself, and if there were ever a time to challenge a sitting Republican in Weld County, it’s now. For decades, Weld County has proudly been debt free and tax-free. It’s built roads for cash and has a fully-funded pension system. What we can thank this current board for is that at least they haven’t bankrupted us, yet. We face more lawsuits than ever. Commissioners fight more than they listen. They meet secretly, plot against each other and gain financially from land use applicants. And that’s just the 30,000-foot view of the problems on O Street. When Scott James and Sandi Elder announced their intentions to run, it was a breath of fresh air, then came the hysteria. Mike Finn calls James, Sean Conway’s hand-picked candidate, despite the fact James went through the County Assembly while Finn bought his way on the ballot with Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer carrying petitions and former Greeley Mayor Tom Norton footing the bill. And now I hear he’s refusing to debate James. That by itself should signal who to vote for. But if you need more, Finn’sstump speeches are focused more on why Cozad got out of the race instead of what he will do differently. The last thing Weld needs is status quo or people pleasers, e.g. Finn told this publication that he’s running because the current board is too Greeley centric, but then he told the Greeley Tribune that commissioners don’t pay enough attention to Greeley. Then there’s Moreno, who likes to falsely whisper that Elder is anti-oil and gas rather than tell constituents what he’s done —other than rubber stamp the majority. Elder is who she says she is. She thinks for herself. She listens, and she debates. When you fill out your Republican ballot this year, remember county commissioners make the rules, interpret the rules and enforce the rules. They are the most powerful of all elected officials. Put someone in charge of our county that you would trust with your own personal finances. Don’t vote for your friend. Don’t vote for the incumbent because it’s what you’ve been programmed to do. Vote for the person who will best represent Republican values while respecting the county charter and following the county codes. Join me in saying that’s Scott James for District 2 and Sandi Elder for at large. Sherrie Peif / Greeley
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Special Events at the HPLD Libraries
Adults| Nyibol Bior: Walking to Freedom June 6, 6:30-8:00 pm Carbon Valley Regional Library When she was just a child, Nyibol Bior’s world was turned upside down as her country of Sudan descended into civil war. She and her family were forced to leave their home and walk hundreds of miles in search of safety. Eventually their path brought them to the United States where she received a second chance to live the life she had dreamed. Come hear the rest of her inspiring story and find out how Ms. Bior is able to keep a positive outlook in her life despite all that she has overcome. Adults| Facebook for Beginners June 14, 10:00-11:30 am Carbon Valley Regional Library Facebook can be a big plunge into the social networking world. In this class, we will cover your profile, newsfeed, adding friends and messaging. We’ll answer all your questions about security settings, privacy, and who can see what you share. Bring your device (optional), existing Facebook account info (preferred) or email account info. Registration required. Adults| Spirits of the High Plains June 14, 6:30-7:30 pm Erie Community Library Longtucky Spirits will come to talk about their products, how they are made, how they got started and will conclude with a tasting. Registration required; ages 21+. Adults| Introduction to Tole Painting June 19, 5:30-7:30 pm Erie Community Library Join us to learn Tole Painting, a style of Norwegian decorative folk art. Take home a painted wood item of your own creation. No art experience needed. All supplies provided. Registration required; ages 18+. Adults| SBDC Start-Up SeminarsS June 19, 6:00-7:45 pm Carbon Valley Regional Library This seminar will provide you with a Colorado Start-Up Guide, free library resources to support your business and websites, as well as a general overview of the things to consider when starting a business. Registration required. Adults| Local History Series: Orphan Trains June 21, 7:00-8:00 pm Erie Community Center, 450 Powers Street In the 1800s organizations were established in several East coast cities whose focus was placing orphans, often immigrant children, in adoptive and foster homes in the West. Over 150,000 children were placed in several western states during the 75 years the system was in operation. Colorado received 1,500 Orphan Train riders, who now have thousands of descendants. Adults| Career Edge: Crush Your Interview June 26, 1:00-2:00 pm Carbon Valley Regional Library Once you've gotten your foot in the door it's time to give a good first impression at the interview. In this class we'll discuss strategies for answering some of the most commonly asked interview questions and give tips about body language and what to do after the interview.
May Proclaimed Foster Care Month
WELD COUNTY, CO — In recognition and appreciation of those who touch the lives of children and youth in Weld County foster and kinship care, May has been proclaimed as Foster Care Month by the Board of County Commissioners. “We are immensely grateful to our dedicated Weld County foster and kinship caregivers, faith-based and community organizations, and child welfare professionals,” said Commissioner Chair Steve Moreno. “You are building stronger communities and improving the lives of children, youth and families by tirelessly providing advocacy, nurturing and unwavering care, and we proudly acknowledge your selfless commitment not just this month, but all year-round.” This year marks the 30th anniversary of National Foster Care Month. Originally introduced in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan, the goals of this recognition include raising awareness about the increasing number of children and youth entering foster and kinship care and to encourage citizens to bring hope and healing to our county’s most vulnerable children and families by becoming a foster parent. There are currently 428 infants, children and youth in Weld County foster and kinship care and not enough families to provide loving homes for them all, which results in less than desirable placements in group homes, residential treatment facilities or with families in other counties or even other states. Due to the urgent need for more foster families in our own county, Weld County Department of Human Services began a foster parent recruitment campaign last year. Since the campaign launched in August, 19 families have become certified to provide loving homes for young people in foster care, with several more on track to becoming certified in the next few months. The recruitment campaign isn’t over, however. The county is seeking at least another ten families by the end of August, particularly for young people with special needs, sibling groups, older youth ages 8-18 and Spanish-speaking children and teens. To find out how to help support children and teens in foster care, informational Welcome Nights are held twice a month in both north and south county locations, allowing a larger reach for residents to have their questions about fostering answered in a no-commitment, informal atmosphere. Welcome Night information is regularly shared on the county’s Facebook page, @ WeldCountyGovernment. To learn more about foster care in Weld County, please call (970) 400-6849, email fostercare@weldgov.com or visit https://tinyurl.com/WeldCoFosterCare.
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Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
Erie High will Graduate First Engineering Program Seniors
From St Vrain Valley School District By Amy Bounds, Staff Writer, Times-Call Katie Huonder considered becoming a doctor but didn't think she could deal with the "blood and guts" that goes with the job. Enrolling in Erie High School's new engineering program as a sophomore, she found an alternative option, biomedical engineering. "Instead of being a doctor, I figured I could design the tools," she said. One of four students who will be the first Erie High engineering program graduates, she's headed to the Colorado School of Mines in the fall to major in mechanical engineering and minor in biomedical engineering. "Erie's engineering program been a really great learning experience," she said. "It's prepared me really well. I'm looking forward to going to college because I can study what I want to do with a group of like-minded peers." An estimated 2,000 St. Vrain Valley seniors are graduating in the class of 2018, most on May 26, and many are starting college or careers a step ahead. All of St. Vrain Valley's comprehensive high schools offer a slate of honors classes, mainly advanced placement, that may qualify for college credit. Then there are a slew of specialty classes and programs, from STEM programs to a leadership academy to vocational classes. The district also is in its second year of offering a P-TECH, or Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools, program at Longmont's Skyline High. Erie High started its engineering and aerospace program three years ago. Of the four graduating seniors, two started as sophomores and two enrolled after they transferred to Erie High this school year. The program includes a senior design class where students spend a year working on capstone projects. For her project, Huonder is working with a team of 12 other Erie and Skyline engineering students who won a $10,000 grant from the Lemelson-MIT Program to design an affordable, portable emergency beacon system. They plan to present their final product in June at EurekaFest at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "It's been a lot of learning through trial-and-error to get everything to run smoothly and a lot of collaboration," she said. As part of the senior design class, students are required to participate in a 30-hour internship at a local business. Huonder's was at Longmont's Xilinx, where she tried some coding. The students also recently showed off their final projects at the University of Colorado's Engineering Projects Expo. Erie High senior Cristian Misola also signed up for the engineering program as a sophomore. His interest in the design of WWII tanks, plus strengths in math and science, led him to take a chance on the new program. "I found out all the ups and downs and ins and outs of engineering," he said. For his senior project, he built a cost-effective home security camera. Other favorite projects included building gliders, rockets and robots. He would recommend the program to other students, even if they're not sure if they want to go into engineering as a career. "It's good for anyone who's interested in design or interested in math and science," he said. "It's a good experience." He's planning to enroll in Front Range Community College's engineering program in the fall. Erie High's senior design class, which meets at Longmont's Innovation Center, is combined with Skyline High's senior design class. Skyline's STEM — Science Technology Engineering and Math — program is graduating about 50 seniors this year, adding up to about 240 STEM graduates since 2013. One of those is Lena Weisman, who started as a freshman and took classes on robotics and biomedical engineering. "It provided the specialized education I was interested in," she said. "It opened me up to all the different kinds of engineering and taught me a lot of valuable skills." She said she loved the hands-on nature of engineering, building everything from windmills to robots. In her senior design class, her group started with research and brainstorming to develop a project, then moved on to building and testing prototypes. Their goal was to find a way to keep bathroom mirrors from fogging — a common frustration for teens with limited time to wait for the mirror to clear in the morning after a shower. They developed a tube placed at the bottom of a mirror with a heating component and fans to blow hot air on the mirror's surface, keeping it clear. Weisman's experiences in the program led her to settle on civil engineering as her major when she attends Lehigh University in Pennsylvania in the fall. She's planning to add in global studies, and likely will specialize in structural engineering. "I'm very excited to move on to college, to meet new people and have new opportunities," she said.
April 2018
The West Greeley Conservation District Scholarship Winners
The West Greeley Conservation District has selected 10 students who live within the boundaries of the conservation district’s service area to benefit from their scholarship program during the 2018-19 academic year. Four recipients are graduating from high school right now, four are renewal awards going to students who received a scholarship from WGCD as freshmen this past year and two are upper class women. All 10 will receive $5,000. All are attending a Colorado institution of higher learning, pursuing careers in: Natural Resources, Environmental Studies, Agriculture, Animal Science, Agribusiness, Water, Forestry, and related conservation fields. They earned a 3.0 GPA or better and have been very involved in their schools and community. Incoming Freshman Scholarships are awarded to: Kayla Johnson, (Johnstown) Roosevelt High/CSU, Natural Resource Management, Agribusiness Mattea Klein, (Johnstown) Roosevelt High/Adams State, Agriculture, Agribusiness *Grant Rivera, (Greeley) Greeley “Words cannot express how truly Central/CSU, Environmental honored and thankful I am to have Engineering received a WGCD Scholarship. I was *Zuleica Vizcaino, (Greeley) Greeley more than ecstatic when I heard that West High/CSU Veterinary Medicine, I was chosen as a recipient. My Life Science Family has always anticipated *Dream Team Scholars paying for college would be a Renewal Scholarships awarded struggle, but that challenge has now to: become easier – thanks to you! It Katherine “Katie” Potter, (Greeley) is very encouraging to know that I University High/Fort Lewis College, have so many kind, wonderful people Environmental Science supporting my future and education!” & Law/Geology -Mattea Klein, (future) Adams State, McKenzie Schneider, (Gill) Platte Freshmen Valley High/CSU, Animal Science Nicholas Sevier, (Greeley) Union Colony Prep/CSU, Rangeland Ecology, Conservation Management Allen Olmedo Soto, (Evans) Greeley West High/CSU, Equine Science Continuing Education Scholarship awarded to: Jenna Frink (Eaton) CSU, Agribusiness, Animal Science Amber Thormodsgard (Briggsdale) CSU, Animal Science, Agribusiness West Greeley Conservation District also selected Tiana Rose Smith last year to receive a $2,000 scholarship. Tiana had to put college on hold for one year while she fulfilled her duties serving as the State FFA President. She had a very busy year traveling throughout the state and nation working with youth in the Future Farmers of America program. Tiana has earned credits from Aims/CSU, and will be studying Soil and Crop Science, Precision Agriculture. With the District and Board’s commitment to education, WGCD increased the Scholarship program from $2,000 in 2017-18 to $5,000/ “I am deeply grateful to receive the student award for the coming year. John West Greeley Conservation District Leone, President of the WGCD Board Renewal Scholarship for 2018/2019! of Supervisors said, “We are pleased to College is very expensive and this keep expanding our scholarship program scholarship is a huge help. Beyond my and equally pleased by the quality of the gratitude to the WGCD, I also want to student applicants.” make sure I express my commitment WGCD invites these award winners to work hard, every day, to be worthy to volunteer and stay in touch with of this support! I take education very conservation and educational activities seriously and, with the help of the sponsored by the District. They are great West Greeley Conservation District mentors for our community’s youth. scholarship, I move closer to a future Those whose schedule will allow will where I can be a positive force for help at the WGCD Community BASH conservation and environmental on Friday, August 10 (all are invited to sustainability in our community. Houston Gardens) and at their Annual Thank you!” Meeting on Thursday, November 1. -- Katherine Potter, Fort Lewis You can learn more about the programs College and services provided by West Greely Conservation District at wgcd.org. You can sign-up for our quarterly newsletter to stay aware of local happenings. Scholarship forms are also available on our Web site: wgcd.org. If you have questions please contact Kristi Helzer, Community Outreach & Education Coordinator at kristi. helzer@wgcd.org or 970.356.8097 x:143.
April 2018
Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
Verve Integrative is Engaged by Marijuana Company of America’s Hempsmart TM Brand to Manage Television Ad Campaign for its CBD Pet Drops Product
Carbon Valley Veterans Memorial in Dacono on Memorial Day 2018
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Las Vegas, NV, CA — (May 25, 2018) – Verve Integrative (VI) a division of Intention Products, LLC is pleased to announce that Marijuana Company of America Inc. (“MCOA” or the “Company”) (OTC: MCOA), an innovative hemp and cannabis corporation, has engaged it to create go to market strategy and manage a direct response television (DRTV) ad campaign to promote the hempSMART™ brand product line. hempSMART is working with Verve Integrative and their experienced marketing team to develop a market strategy and a television commercial for the hempSMART Pet Drops that will air on cable networks in select regions nationally this summer. The hempSMART commercial spot will have featured placement on the official eCommerce site of a well-known DRTV company and will be broadly promoted on integrated social media outlets, benefiting from well-established consumer engagement strategies. The Verve team that has more than 25 years of experience in many variations of media strategy, development and production, working for Disney, GM, ABC, Paramount, Grey Group and McCann, to mention just a few. They specialize in multipoint story experiences designed to educate, entertain and endorse while mirroring the human mind’s process of solving a problem, thereby supporting consumers in making emotional and logical product conclusions. Creative Director Kim Castle’s experience in front of and behind the camera provides an invaluable edge to the hempSMART marketing campaign. In addition, Ms. Castle has personally been an advocate of CBD as an alternative to traditional products currently on the market. “We are very pleased to partner with hempSMART on their journey to bring such thoughtful and well-developed products to the people who need natural relief and enhanced health solutions. I wish hempSMART Pet Drops had been available to support my cherished dog when we were going through a health challenge together,” said Castle. Donald Steinberg, CEO of MCOA, stated “Kim’s experience gives us an excellent opportunity to greatly expand the marketing strategy for the hempSMART brand and product line. We are honored that the hempSMART product line will be managed by her and the Verve Integrative team. We look forward to the new television commercial airing this summer.” About Verve Integrative (VI) a division of Intention Products, LLC VI is an advertising and marketing agency with more than 25+ years accumulating a rare and broad range of award-winning projects across several industries, encompassing both large and small scale budgets.They use an integrated approach that fuses brand communication, content integrity, video storytelling and social engagement. They’ve perfected the collaborative process in four key areas—strategy, communication, creation and execution. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: verveintegrative.com
Aims Fort Lupton Campus Offering CNA and Welding at Night this Fall
GREELEY, CO – May 4, 2018 – The Aims Community College Fort Lupton campus will be offering the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) certificate once again as well as expanding the Welding program to evening classes this fall semester. The Aims Community College Fort Lupton campus is offering a section of the Nurse Aide program this fall semester. Students will attend class on campus from September 27 through November 1 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in addition to online homework. This is followed by a three-day clinical in Brighton from November 2 through November 4. Orientation to register for this section will be held on August 20 at 5 p.m. in Prairie Building room 209 at the Fort Lupton campus. For more information, please contact Kendra Merriott at (970) 339-6218. The Welding program is also expanding their program to offer evening classes in Fort Lupton. Students can earn their Welding degree or certificate by attending night class at our Fort Lupton campus. Classes will be held Monday through Thursday from 6 to 9:45 p.m. Classes are also offered during the day in Fort Lupton, Monday through Thursday from 8:10 to 11:55 a.m. Evening classes in Welding are also available in Greeley. For more information visit www. aims.edu/academics/welding/evening. “I’m excited that we’ll be able to offer these programs to our students in Fort Lupton,” said Julie Luekenga, executive director of the Fort Lupton campus. “This will give us the opportunity to serve those students who may have other commitments during the day or may not be able to commute to the Greeley campus to take classes.” Registration is open now for the Fall semester. Visit www.aims.edu/schedule to sign up.
Support Your Local Small Businesses!
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VFW Post 9741 Poppy Sale at King Soopers in Firestone
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Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month: 10 Ways to Love Your Brain
There are two ways to look at June’s commemoration of Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. First, Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death. Currently, 5.7 million people in the U.S., including 71,000 Coloradans, are living with the only major disease without a prevention, treatment or cure. On the other hand, Alzheimer’s Association researchers remind people that the steps they take to ensure a healthy heart and body are keys to maintaining a vibrant brain, and may provide some defense. “Research on cognitive decline is still evolving,” said Amelia Schafer, interim e x e c u t i v e director of the Alzheimer’s Association C o l o r a d o Chapter. “But there are proactive steps people can take to support the health of our brain. Certain healthy behaviors known to combat cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes are believed to also reduce the risk of cognitive decline. These include staying mentally active, engaging in regular physical activity, and eating a heart-healthy diet that benefits your body and brain.” Coloradans are supporting the search for a cure The search for a cure for Alzheimer’s is a global initiative that has roots in Colorado. Recently, the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association committed $1.1 million in locally raised dollars to fund seven promising young researchers on four continents in their effort to find a cure. “This is a significant undertaking by the board of directors of the Colorado Chapter to commit more than $1 million to these very promising research projects,” said Heather M. Snyder, Ph.D., senior director of Medical and Scientific Operations for the Alzheimer’s Association. “Efforts like this support the Association’s commitment to research and extend funding to more qualified scientists and proposals.” How lifestyle changes may reduce Alzheimer’s risk Research published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, offers 10 tips on healthy lifestyle changes that may reduce the risk of cognitive decline: 1. Break a sweat. Engage in regular cardiovascular exercise that elevates your heart rate and increases blood flow to the brain and body. Several studies have found an association between physical activity and reduced risk of cognitive decline. 2. Hit the books. Formal education in any stage of life will help reduce your risk of cognitive decline and dementia. For example, take a class at a local college, community center or online. 3. Butt out. Evidence shows that smoking increases risk of cognitive decline. Quitting smoking can reduce that risk to levels comparable to those who have not smoked. 4. Follow your heart. Evidence shows that risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke – obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes – negatively impact your cognitive health. Take care of your heart, and your brain just might follow. 5. Heads up! Brain injury can raise your risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Wear a seat belt, use a helmet when playing contact sports or riding a bike, and take steps to prevent falls. 6. Fuel up right. Eat a healthy and balanced diet that is lower in fat and higher in vegetables and fruit to help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Although research on diet and cognitive function is limited, certain diets, including Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), may contribute to risk reduction. 7. Catch some Zzz’s. Not getting enough sleep due to conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea may result in problems with memory and thinking. 8. Take care of your mental health. Some studies link a history of depression with increased risk of cognitive decline, so seek medical treatment if you have symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mental health concerns. Also, try to manage stress. 9. Buddy up. Staying socially engaged may support brain health. Pursue social activities that are meaningful to you. Find ways to be part of your local community – if you love animals, consider volunteering at a local shelter. If you enjoy singing, join a local choir or help at an afterschool program. Or, just share activities with friends and family. 10. Stump yourself. Challenge and activate your mind. Build a piece of furniture. Complete a jigsaw puzzle. Do something artistic. Play games, such as bridge, that make you think strategically. Challenging your mind may have short and long-term benefits for your brain. “While the adoption of all of these habits is important in influencing brain health, if it seems overwhelming, start with one or two changes and build on them,” Schafer said. “Some changes may be challenging, while others can be fun. Try to choose activities and foods you enjoy." For more information about memory loss and proactive steps that you can take to support brain health, call the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado’s free 24-hour Helpline at 800-272-3900 or go to www.alz.org/co. Alzheimer’s Association The Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter is the premier source of information and support for the more than 71,000 Coloradans with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and caregivers. Through its statewide network of offices, the Alzheimer’s Association offers education, counseling, support groups and a 24-hour Helpline at no charge to families. In addition, contributions help fund advancements in research to prevent, treat and eventually conquer this disease. The Alzheimer’s Association advocates for those living with Alzheimer’s and their families on related legislative issues, and with health and long-term care providers. For information call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 bilingual Helpline at 800-272-3900, or visit www.alz. org/co.
April 2018
Why Hire Veterans?
By: Terri Clinton, Department Commander From American Legion Observer I was invited to attend StoryTellerX—A Veteran Story Telling Event held at the University of Colorado in Denver. StoryTellerX is held in conjunction with the Office of Veteran and Military Student Services and the United Veterans Committee and is an evening of inspirational stories of success from local military veterans. I was in good company. The Master of Ceremonies was Dennis Orr, and the speakers were Patrick W. Tetrick, Director of Guest Relations for the Denver Broncos; Tom Ferrell, an Intern at Senator Bennet’s Office; Bob Thompson, a war hero and Aurora Police Officer; Bill Lindsey, Past Board Chair of Craig Hospital and President of Lockton Benefit Group; Leanne Wheeler of Wheeler Advisory Group LLC and Amber Longoria, Economist/Civil Servant and fellow linguist. Our topic was why employers should hire veterans – the premise being that some employers think veterans are “broken” (I assume due to Terri Clinton, PTSD/TBI/MST and disabilities as a result of inDepartment Commander juries sustained in war zones). Each speaker had seven minutes to speak using only a notecard. I felt very passionate about the topic and, although I had four events to attend that day, made sure to arrange my schedule so I could be there. You see, I wanted to stand up for my brothers and sisters. My speech started with stories of my childhood and the lessons I learned from my father - a Marine. Growing up, perfection was not something my sister and I strived for, but something that was expected. Militaristic values were instilled in me from a young age. I then gave a description of my time in service and my transition from the military to the civilian world. I explained, like I always do, that everyone’s time in service is different. I told them that I stood before them as a stereotypical successful business woman and Department Commander of the world’s largest Veterans Service Organization. But, that success is defined in all different kinds of ways. I compared the book “All I Really Need to Patrick W. Tetrick, Director of Guest Relations for the Denver Broncos, right lets Commander Clinton try on his championship Know I Learned in Kindergarten” ring, which by the way is way too big for her finger. to my time in Basic Training. Because, everything I needed to know I learned there. How the world is bigger than just me. How there really in no “I” in team. Not that it’s just a cool thing to say, but because if orders are not followed precisely, human lives are in danger. I learned what character is. You know, when you go to the bathroom and still wash your hands when nobody else is in there just because it’s the right thing to do. We know how to fall in, get our hands dirty and complete a mission without complaining (well, without too much complaining). We also know how to fall out, have fun and create long-lasting relationships. I told them I had the pleasure of meeting Medal of Honor Recipient Leroy Petry, and how I was recently reading something he posted on Facebook about one of the veteran organization he belongs to that helps soldiers recover from their wounds. In the string of messages, somebody said something that struck me as profound. Soldiers dealing with wounds of war are just leaning a new normal. They are NOT broken. They will adapt, they will overcome, and they will persevere. They will adapt to adversity and overcome challenging obstacles, because it was what they were taught to do in Basic Training. I cited a successful veterans job fair hosted by Post 13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they consistently reach a participation level of close to 600 employers and veterans. Some employers actually hold interviews and hire veterans on the spot. The event is called Hiring Our Heroes – I couldn’t think of a better name for the event. In closing, I implored employers to hire our heroes, because they wouldn’t be sorry. And, besides the skills veterans bring to companies, companies can also earn the Returning Heroes Tax Credit that provides a $5,600 incentive, and the Wounded Warriors Tax Credit that doubles the existing Work Opportunity Credit up to $9,600. When I introduced myself, I said I was the third female American Legion Department of Colorado Commander since 1947. I told the audience I identified as a lot of different things: Daughter, sister, mother, friend and colleague. But, the proudest thing I identify as is a United States Veteran. I am part of an elite family. I am a proud 1 percenter. And, in my mind, every veteran is already successful.
Support Your Local Small Businesses!
April 2018
Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
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Aims Students Recognized at the 20th Annual Academic Honors Ceremony
Article and Pictures Courtesy of Aims Communications GREELEY, CO – May 14, 2018 – Aims Community College recognized the amazing academic achievements of 66 students at the 20th Annual Academic Honors Ceremony and two outstanding faculty on May 11, 2018. Hosted by the Aims Alumni Connection, this yearly event celebrates the passion, dedication and hard work that Aims students and faculty put into their education and future. “Aims Community College would like to congratulate all of these remarkable students!” said Aims CEO and President Dr. Leah L. Bornstein. “Aims prides itself on building an atmosphere that many refer to as their family. We are proud of our current and graduating students and wish them well as they continue to achieve their dreams.” Four types of awards were recognized at the event: Student Selected: Full-Time & Part-Time Faculty of the Year Awards – The Associated Students select faculty who they feel have gone above and beyond by embracing the Aims spirit through outstanding and creative classes. This year’s recipients are: • Eric Hashberger of Evans, Full-Time Instructor, Math • Kevin Pollock of Loveland, Part-Time Instructor, Astronomy & Meteorology Honor Medals: Students who have completed all coursework and achieved a cumulative GPA of 4.0 are awarded this prestigious medal. This year’s recipients are: Sarah Adams of Greeley, Bridget Arnott of Fort Collins, Brittney Bearly of Wellington, Denise Bircher of Evans, Ryan Boone of Evans, Juan Briones of Evans, Lawrence Brown of Milliken, Carlene Brown of Greeley, Aryn Chasteen of Brighton, Ami Dyer of Ault, Stefanie Feazell of Greeley, Cody Gamet of Greeley, Jessica Glycenfer of Fort Collins, Conner Hindman of Longmont, Anna Hunt of Hudson, Holly Hunt of Hudson, Chloe Johnson of Greeley, Jared Jurk of Greeley, Dylann Leal of Johnstown, Michael Martinez of Firestone, William Mattise-Lorenzen of Berthoud, Christina Maurer of Platteville, Colin Monnes of Greeley, Casey Morales of Greeley, Barbara Moro of Aurora, Janae Mudge of Windsor, Alena Nelson of Greeley, Courtney Newman of Fort Collins, Tanya Perekrestenko of Greeley, Alexis Romero of Greeley, Skylar Ryan of Severance, Taylor Schmidt of Berthoud, Michael Strom of Champaign, IL., Brenna Sydow of Greeley, Astwin Tavizon Almeida of Johnstown, Miguel Trevino of Greeley, Anthony Vaughan of Loveland, Rachel Washam of Loveland, Malcolm Weaver of Greeley, Ian Whiston of Fort Lupton, Hayley Whitney of Milliken, Kyle Wickstrom of Eaton, Casandra Wojahn of Evans Distinguished Scholar Award: Faculty nominate and select students who have a 3.5 cumulative GPA, and earned 30+ credits. This year’s recipients are: Sarah Adams of Greeley, Brittney Bearly of Wellington, Katherine Cramer of Loveland, Noelia Espino of Lochbuie, Amber Franklin of Milliken, Matt Lester of Pierce, Clinton Lough of Greeley, Salvador Lozano of Evans, Caden Martin of Greeley, Michael Martinez of Firestone, Amber McFarland of Greeley, Sharolyn Nolde Lopez of Loveland, Cristin Riley of Loveland, Angel Rivera of Brighton, Lee Ann Sappington of Evans, Hayden Schmidt of Windsor, Hannah Sullivan of Loveland, Ian Whiston of Fort Lupton Special Department Awards: Each department has the opportunity to select individuals who demonstrate remarkable qualities. This year’s recipients are: • Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance Outstanding Woman Accounting Student: Lee Ann Sappington of Evans • The Aims Review Literary and Arts Award: Dana Leverett of LaSalle | Annika Jendzel-Scott of Greeley • Frank Gordon/Walt Francis Social Science Award for Exemplary Academic Achievement in History or Political Science: Dylann Leal of Johnstown • Gordon E. Hadlow Outstanding Aviation Student Award: Tanya Durham of Aurora
• Katherine Scoresby Routledge Award for Anthropology: Bobby McFarling of LaSalle • Outstanding Computer Information Systems Student: Rori "Eden" Mugg of Fort Collins • Outstanding General Chemistry Award: Colista West of LaSalle • Phi Theta Kappa All-Colorado Academic Team: Courtney Shook of Fort Collins, All-Colorado Academic Team, Workforce Pathway | Hannah Sullivan of Loveland, All-Colorado Academic Team, Transfer Pathway • Phyllis Gosch FirstYear Experience Award: Adrienne Garcia of Greeley • Student Engagement, Inclusion, and Success Award: Hannah Sullivan of Loveland Bornstein added, “For this year’s graduates, we congratulate them for their exemplary achievement of receiving an award as well as completing their degree or certification. As they step out into the next chapter of their journey, we welcome them to remain connected to the Aims family as our most recent Aims alumni. They are now proud members of the Aims Alumni Connection.”
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Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
Hudson Memorial Day Service
Libraries in the High Plains Library District
www.MyLibrary.us/locations-and-hours
Administration & Support Services 2650 West 29th Street, Greeley, CO 80631 1-888-861-READ(7323) Carbon Valley Regional Library 7 Park Avenue, Firestone, CO 80504 1-888-861-READ(7323) Centennial Park Library 2227 23rd Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 1-888-861-READ(7323) Eaton Public Library 132 Maple Avenue, Eaton, CO 80615 (970) 454-2189 Erie Community Library 400 Powers Street, Erie, CO 80516 1-888-861-READ(7323) Erie Community Library 400 Powers Street, Erie, CO 80516 1-888-861-READ(7323) Farr Regional Library 1939 61st Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 1-888-861-READ(7323) Fort Lupton Public & School Library 425 S. Denver Avenue, Fort Lupton, CO 80621 (303) 857-7180 Glenn A. Jones, M.D. Memorial Library 400 S. Parish Avenue, Johnstown, CO
80534 (970) 587-2459 Hudson Public Library 100 S. Beech Street, Hudson, CO 80642 (303) 536-4550 Kersey Library 415 1st Street, Kersey, CO 80644 1-888-861-READ(7323) Lincoln Park Library 1012 11th Street Suite B, Greeley, CO 80631 1-888-861-READ(7323) Nantes Library 703 Birch Street, Gilcrest, CO 80623 (970) 737-1035 Northern Plains Public Library 216 2nd Street, Ault, CO 80610 (970) 834-1259 Outreach 2650 W. 29th Street, Greeley, CO 80631 1-888-861-READ(7323) Platteville Public Library 504 Marion Avenue, Platteville, CO 80651 (970) 785-2231 Riverside Library & Cultural Center 3700 Golden Street, Evans, CO 80620 1-888-861-READ(7323)
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April 2018
Town of Frederick Mosquito Control Program
The Town of Frederick Public Works Department is handling mosquito control activities. The Town utilizes a combination of Larvicide activities and Adulticide activities to try and mitigate the occurrence of West Nile Virus. Public Works goes out and tries to identify possible breeding grounds and areas where mosquito larvae may thrive. These are typically areas with standing water. Staff then applies larvicides in the form of pellets to control the mosquitoes before they become adults. Adulticide spraying occurs on an as needed basis based upon West Nile conditions (as shown on the County threat level), citizen complaints, and general need. Beginning Tuesday, May 22nd, town staff will spray on Tuesday and Thursday night 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Spraying cannot occur if the wind is 10MPH or over, or if there is inclement weather. Staff will make a judgment call on whether spraying can occur. Tuesdays and Thursdays are scheduled days for fogging. If more fogging is required Wednesdays and Fridays will be added. The entire Town will be completed every scheduled day. The Public can do their part in the battle against mosquitos by eliminating sources of standing Water such as disposing of old tires, any type of containers that collect and hold water, Maintaining gutters, etc. Pet dish and bird bath water should be changed every 2 days. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to call 720-382-5800. Chemicals Used: LarvicidesVectoBac BTI Based. Granular VectoLex BTI Based. Granular Sustain MBG. BTI Based. Granular Altoside BTi Based. Tablets AdulticidesAquaLeur 20-20. Water Based Permithricide Opens a New Window. . The materials used in fighting mosquitoes are not hazardous to humans or animals. If you have questions or concerns about the materials used please either email or call Public Works at 720-382-5800. Please call the Frederick Public Works at 720-382-5800 if you have mosquito concerns in your area. Help Fight Mosquitoes! You can help fight mosquitoes by doing the following things: -Drain or empty standing water on property/items that hold stagnant water like old tires, poorly maintained gutters, etc. Pet dishes and bird bath water should be changed every two days. -Check and eliminate places that accumulate water after irrigating your yard -Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets -Use insect repellent that contains DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 -Dress in long sleeves and pants that are light in color and loose fitting when outdoors -Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
Discover a New Way to Read this Summer!
It's that time of year again. Kids (and adults) are mourning the school year with tears in their eyes and sorrow in their hearts... Why not dry those eyes and register for the Summer Reading Adventure? It's a Summer of Discovery here at HPLD, so register now and participate through July 28th. ALL AGES, birth to adult, are welcome. Find a variety of activities that will engage your mind in a variety of formats that will encourage a lifetime of reading for everyone in the family. Register through Beanstack from the comfort of your own home while wearing your PJs, or at any HPLD branch library. Upon registering, each participant will receive a Discovery Card filled with a variety of activities like "talk about a book at dinner," "read under the stars," "cook something new," or "go on a bug safari." Upon completion of 12 squares on the Discovery Card, participants will be entered to win 1 of 3 grand prize drawings according to their age group. Let the fun begin! Our programs will have you trying out instruments, singing, dancing (even with robots!), finding your inner chef, dissecting a cow's eye, exploring the solar system and more. We have programs and activities for everyone, so come check us out and discover a whole summer of fun!
April 2018
Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
New State Law Forces Denver to Change Course on its ‘Early Colleges’
Melanie Asmar, Chalkbeat Colorado A change in state law meant to rein in the cost of Colorado high schools that allow students to stay longer to earn college credit has forced the Denver district to slow down its expansion of the model. District officials were proposing adding another “early college,” as the schools are known, to the seven that already exist in Denver Public Schools. But on Thursday, Antonio Esquibel, the district’s executive director of early college who submitted the application to open the school, confirmed he was withdrawing it. “With the change in statute, it will force us to have to rethink what early college is and what it should look like in Denver Public Schools,” Esquibel said. Denver’s seven early colleges are: Southwest Early College (charter) CEC Early College West Early College Denver School of Innovation a n d Sustainable Design Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College High Tech Early College Manual High School The school board was scheduled to vote on whether to approve the school, temporarily called Denver Early College High School, at a meeting Thursday night. It could have opened as soon as 2019, either as a brand new school or a replacement for a low-performing school. The application said it would “provide all students the option to enroll for an additional one to two years to obtain credits leading toward or culminating in an associate’s degree.” But the change in state law essentially prohibits early college students from staying in high school for a fifth or sixth year for the sole purpose of taking free college courses. A bill lawmakers approved earlier this month defines early colleges as schools where students earn an associate’s degree or at least 60 college credits alongside their high school diploma. The bill specifies that the curriculum “must be designed to be completed in four years.” Lawmakers in the Colorado House and Senate passed the bill, but it has not yet been signed into law by the governor. Denver district officials did not testify against it publicly. Lawmakers wanted to change the law because they feared the early college model would become too expensive. Currently, the state pays for early college students who stay in high school for a fifth or sixth year at the regular per-pupil rate, which varies by district. In the case of Denver Public Schools, it’s $7,939 per student this year, according to state budget analysts. There are currently 20 early colleges in Colorado, up from five in 2009. While only 315 students this year were in their fifth or sixth year, trends indicated that number would grow. Last year, there were 224 students in a fifth or sixth year. In 2013, there were only 84. Denver’s proposed early college was based on a six-year model. At a presentation to the school board last week, Esquibel said most Denver students would likely earn just 12 college credits during their first four years of high school, and then stay for a fifth and sixth year earning 24 credits each year to get them to a total of 60, which is typically how many credits a student needs to earn an associate’s degree. Most students in Denver’s early colleges are students of color from low-income families who are on track to be the first in their families to go to college, Esquibel said. “Unfortunately, our students of color don’t have as much access or opportunity to take college courses or, for that matter, enroll in a college,” he told the board. “So the concept of an early college was created specifically for that reason: to buck the trend.” School board members praised the idea. “We have these age-old timelines that, for some reason, this is how we believe young people should go through school,” said board president Anne Rowe. “What you’ve been able to do is really push the model. … That out-of-the-box thinking is so important.” Given the impending change in state law, Esquibel said he and other district officials will spend the next several months figuring out how to make the early college model work in four years instead of six. The leaders of other Colorado early colleges have said most of their students complete the requirements in that time, and Esquibel said Denver officials have been studying early colleges in Texas whose students do it in four years. “It’s a little daunting, but we’ve seen schools across country doing it,” he said. Esquibel said he hopes to re-submit the application for a new early college in the fall. The district will have to reconfigure its six existing early colleges, as well, he said. (The seventh early college is a charter school.) However, high school juniors and seniors currently enrolled and planning to stay for a fifth or sixth year won’t be affected by the bill. It allows districts to receive full state per-pupil funding for those students in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years. This story was originally posted on Chalkbeat by Melanie Asmar on May 17, 2018. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. Photo credit: Wokandapix, Creative Commons, Pixabay
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Firestone American Legion Post 1985 Memorial Day Breakfast
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Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
April 2018
Former Anadarko Brass Slam Company for Safety Risks, Callousness
Susan Greene from Colorado Indpendent Six former Anadarko employees have come forward on behalf of investors to describe a culture of corporate callousness that puts profits before safety. The six include the oil and gas giant’s one-time chief lobbyist and spokeswoman, both of whom say Anadarko can’t be trusted to maintain deteriorating wells like the one that caused last year’s fatal home explosion in Firestone. An amended complaint in a shareholders’ lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Houston likens Anadarko’s operations in Colorado to “a ticking time bomb.” The complaint includes previously unreported interviews with Chris Castilian, Anadarko’s former longtime government relations chief in Colorado, and Robin Olsen, its former spokeswoman in the state. Castilian – who created Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development (CRED) – says that when it comes to safety and corporate responsibility, his former employer has lost its credibility. “I have no ax to grind. But, you know, people died, and it made everybody reevaluate whether this was the company they thought it was,” he told The Colorado Independent during an interview last week. “It was a different company when I left than when I started, and not one that I wanted to continue risking my personal reputation representing.” Anadarko is mum about the lawsuit. “Although we do not comment on specific allegations in pending litigation, the company looks forward to the opportunity to substantively respond through the judicial process when appropriate,” Jennifer Brice, the company’s current spokeswoman, wrote in an email Monday. What’s wrong with the Wattenberg Field? The Anadarko Petroleum Corp. is a publicly traded company that drills in Texas, where it’s headquartered, and in the Gulf of Mexico and Colorado. Weeks after an abandoned flow line from one of its wells caused the Firestone explosion in April 2017, major shareholders filed a federal class-action suit against the company and its chairman, president and CEO Al Walker, Chief Financial Officer Robert Gwin, Chief Administrative Officer Robert Reeves, and Darrell Holleck, a senior company advisor. Edgar v. Anadarko Petroleum Corp. alleges that Anadarko broke federal securities laws by making false and misleading claims about its safety protocols and failing to disclose risks associated with its wells before the deadly blast. At issue, specifically, is the company’s handling of about 100,000 acres obtained in a 2013 land swap with competitor Noble Energy. Known as the Wattenberg Field of the Denver-Julesburg Basin, the once-rural area primarily in southwest Weld County has experienced massive residential and commercial development since many of the 1,500 oil and gas wells Anadarko obtained in the deal were drilled there decades ago. The well that caused the Firestone disaster was drilled in 1993 and sat within 170 feet of where the house on Twilight Avenue was built in 2015. Anadarko acquired it in the land swap, but never disconnected and sealed the flow line that ran from the well right up to the house’s foundation. Because of that oversight, the line spewed odorless gas that seeped into the house and ignited when homeowner Mark Martinez and his
brother-in-law Joey Irwin were fixing a hot water heater in the basement. Both died in the blast. Erin Martinez, Mark’s wife and Joey’s sister, was critically burned. Her son escaped injuries by jumping out a window. The shareholders – in a legal complaint first filed in May 2017 but amended in November – slam the oil and gas giant for ignoring a flow line that came so close and posed such risk to a neighborhood: “Anadarko did not consider safety threats in determining which few wells to remediate, even though many of those wells were located near houses or schools.” A change in “core values” The suit refers to Castilian as “FE1” – former employee #1 – rather than by his name. The former Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck lawyer and deputy chief of staff to Gov. Bill Owens led Anadarko’s government relations efforts in the Rocky Mountain region for eight years and headed its corporate engagement and strategy efforts for two before leaving the company in November 2016. He and three other former employees interviewed for this story speak glowingly about the company while it was led for nearly a decade by former chairman and CEO Jim Hackett until his resignation in 2012. All say Hackett built a culture of loyalty and trust within Anadarko’s workforce and fostered a steadfast commitment to the communities where the company operates and to Colorado as a whole. “The core values they ingrained in us were remarkable,” Castilian said. “But since the Hackett era ended, you saw a transition away from those values. That loyalty, that commitment, those core values exist no more. They’re out the door.” Under the leadership of current CEO Al Walker, he said, those values gave way to a hard drive for profits, alarming safety risks, and a sense of disinterest in the communities where Anadarko operates. Within about six months of the 2013 land swap, as the complaint cites Castilian saying, top Anadarko executives learned that several hundred wells had deteriorated with age and posed environmental and safety risks far beyond what they had expected. He said the company budgeted tens of millions of dollars to fix them, but drastically reduced the remediation budget after oil and gas prices crashed in the fall of 2014 and winter of 2015. Safety problems were compounded in March 2016 when the company laid off more than 20 percent of its workforce, including as many as 1,000 workers in Colorado, the complaint says. Rather than cutting back oil and gas production here, it asserts, executives ramped it up, expecting a skeleton staff to do more work than had been done when it had fully staffed its crews. In this context, Castilian said the company didn’t inspect much more than “a tiny proportion” of the wells it acquired from Noble. He said executives were fully aware of the safety risks and made a spreadsheet ranking several hundred wells as risky and problematic. Even then, the complaint alleges, they were intent on keeping wells in production for financial reasons stemming partly from the fact that they lease most of the land on which Anadarko operates in Colorado. Contractually, most of those leases expire if the company isn’t using a well. So, as former employees tell it in the complaint, the company kept faulty wells in production to avoid having to renegotiate
Sandi Elder for County Commissioner at Large
April 2018
Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
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Former Anadarko Brass Slam Company for Safety Risks, Callousness
leases, presumably at much higher prices. Castilian attended executive meetings at which these decisions were discussed and said executives overrode workers’ safety concerns by prioritizing repairs on wells and equipment that supported active production over repairing those closest to development. Citing him as a source, the lawsuit says that “A well’s potential safety risks, and whether it was located in a residential area or near a school, played no part in whether it was chosen for remediation.” “Keep quiet” and “Shovel shit” Olsen, for her part, was Andarko’s government and public affairs manager for five years starting in 2012. She handled the company’s communications about crises such as oil spills, fires and injuries – of which, she said, “there were a lot.” She, too, is not named in the lawsuit, but referred to as “FE2” – former employee #2. The Independent identified her through sources and by the specifics of her job history. T h e lawsuit cites Olsen saying that one single employee was responsible for checking the safety of all of Anadarko’s flow lines in Photo of the Firestone explosion site taken in May 2017 by Tina Griego the Wattenberg Field in Weld County when there should have been 12 to 20 safety workers. It also cites her saying that she took environmental and safety concerns to her boss, Vice President for Corporate Communications John Christiansen, about 12 times between late 2016 and early 2017, warning him that there would be problems if the company didn’t address them. In January 2017, an Anadarko well blew out of control, spilling 28,000 gallons of oil and wastewater near Hudson north of Denver. Executives blamed the spill on workers rather than on their own decisions to cut safety and repair efforts. The suit cites Olsen saying that Anadarko did not inform state regulators about key safety problems that led to the spill. Also, according to the complaint, Olsen said Christiansen told her to “keep quiet” and that her job “was to shovel shit, and to clean up the messes” the company’s employees made. Soon after, it notes, she “quit in disgust.” Her last day was March 30, 2017 – two and a half weeks before the Firestone explosion. Olsen told The Independent that a non-disclosure agreement she signed after a legal dispute with Anadarko binds her from discussing what she told the plaintiffs’ lawyers in the shareholders’ suit and “from speaking ill about the company.” In an interview Sunday, a former Anadarko safety manager spoke on the condition of anonymity because he now works for a company that does business with Anadarko. He said that he has struggled with anger, guilt, and anxiety since the Firestone blast, constantly wondering where else his crews didn’t have the resources to prevent disaster. He says he prays every night and morning for the Martinez and Irwin families and thinks often about reaching out to Erin Martinez. “But what would I say? What would I tell (her)? That those tightwads in corporate couldn’t give a shit about the guys who worked on those wells or the people who lived near them?” “Things are better here, very much so,” he added about his new employer, which he noted heeds his and his colleagues’ advice about safety concerns. “Don’t make it sound like all these companies are like Anadarko.” “Wrongful acts and omissions” Firestone wasn’t the company’s first safety debacle. It has paid more than $9 billion in environmental fines and legal settlements, largely for its involvement in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2015, three years after Hackett left, Anadarko assured investors that it was in compliance with all environmental and safety regulations. A company safety report boasted that Anadarko “[a]pplies state of the art oil, natural gas, and water management to Anadarko tank batteries, facilities and pipeline infrastructure.” “Anadarko promotes a culture that allows for employee involvement in maintaining a safe work environment while recognizing that environmental incidents are preventable,” it reads. “The teams strive for ZERO incidents. Spills can be prevented by designing and operating equipment and training staff to avoid releases.” The safety report touted a high-tech operations center in Colorado that it said lets Anadarko monitor wells in the Wattenberg Field in real time to identify and address potential safety problems. But the company wasn’t in fact able to pinpoint problems related to many of its underground flow lines because it didn’t know where they were. To make matters worse, state regulators didn’t require Anadarko to inform developers or the public about the lines’ locations. And the state didn’t impose rules for keeping new development from sprawling up on top of the company’s underground webs of abandoned and deteriorating oil and gas equipment. The shareholders’ suit says Anadarko’s failure to disclose key information about operations that were at increased risk of explosion allowed it to keep its stock price artificially high. The price fell by nearly five percent a week after the Firestone explosion when fire officials announced that the flow line in question belonged to the company. And shares plummeted 7.7 percent a few weeks later when more details surfaced about the company’s lack of oversight, including that it hadn’t disconnected the flow line from the well head nor sealed it at both ends. The lead plaintiff in the class-suit is the Philadelphia Ironworkers’ Benefit and
Pension Fund, a major holder of Anadarko shares. Also represented are the Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Rhode Island, two individual investors who call themselves the Anadarko Investors Group, and anyone who bought or acquired Anadarko securities between Feb. 17, 2016, and May 2, 2017. The complaint alleges that “Anadarko knew that hundreds of the wells it had acquired in the Land Swap did not comply with a variety of Colorado laws and regulations” and that the company “intentionally violated Colorado law and regulations as a matter of course.” “As a result of defendants’ wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the company’s securities, plaintiff and other class members have suffered significant losses and damages,” it reads. The lawsuit seeks damages for investor losses. When asked for its response to the suit, Anadarko’s Brice wrote, again, that the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation. But, she noted, “[We] appreciate you reaching out to us.” “I don’t know that I fell on my sword.” Castilian left Anadarko in November 2016 when he says top executives told him he needed to move to Texas to keep his job. That was five months before Firestone. When The Independent first contacted him about the information he provided for the shareholders’ lawsuit, he cited his new job heading Great Outdoors Colorado – the quasi-governmental agency tasked with investing state lottery revenues into open space – as reason for “wanting to stay out of news on this.” But, after being told The Indy would write the story with or without him, he agreed two weeks later to speak about his nine years at Anadarko. He started by saying he still holds “a lot of stock” in the company, and by noting that he is “not a whistleblower.” Castilian said he sat through leadership team meetings in which top brass were unabashed about hinging safety efforts on fluctuating energy prices, and unapologetic about spending money that had been earmarked for remediating old wells on oil and gas production instead. “It wasn’t just me. There were a number of people who knew what the right answer was on safety, but were told it’s not a priority right now,” he said. “It was a precarious situation for all of us. You may be telling your boss or the person who manages your budget or the person who [gives] you day-to-day direction that you don’t agree with him or that the decisions being made are not the right decisions. We all expressed our opinions. We made our concerns known. And then we sort of lived with the outcome.” “I don’t know that I fell on my sword,” he added. It was, in fact, Castilian’s job as the public face of the company to smooth over its missteps with public relations efforts. Chief among Anadarko’s PR tools was its investment – along with Noble Energy – in Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development, the industry spin machine that Castilian created. One of CRED’s goals, he said, was to educate the public about engineering and safety advances in oil and gas development. Another was to “escalate conversations” about the industry when local municipalities were passing anti-fracking measures and U.S. Rep. Jared Polis was supporting two 2014 ballot measures to curb fracking statewide. “So, the genius behind CRED was to take a very complicated process and boil it down into a 30-second TV ad to make sure the public knew that the people I worked with, these brilliant engineers, were in charge and knew what they were doing and everybody could be confident in the decisions they were making,” Castilian said. “[Anadarko] spent a lot of time and energy and money and reputations of people like me purchasing a social license to operate in Colorado. That social license helped us to beat ballot measures, defeat issues in the legislature, win support from people and communities throughout Colorado.” Whether because of the power of that social license, the omnipresence of CRED’s TV and radio ads, the displeasure of Gov. John Hickenlooper – a former oil and gas geologist – or all of the above, Polis was persuaded to end his support for the ballot measures on a promise from Hickenlooper to create a task force on oil and gas development in 2014. But Castilian notes that if the Firestone explosion had happened that year, the outcome would have been completely different. “I don’t think Jared Polis would have backed down, and you’d have either an outright ban on fracking or setbacks. I don’t think the industry would have been able to win that fight.” And now, post-Firestone? As Castilian tells it, no amount of TV and radio spots, bus ads and billboards, and Cinco de Mayo and Juneteenth parade sponsorships can buy back Anadarko’s credibility and persuade the public that it can be trusted to keep doing business in Colorado. “Now they don’t have the standing to say we deserve that social license,” he said. “That bank account is largely dry.” Note: The CVI asked for a comment from Anadarko and none was recieved.
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Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
April 2018
American Legion Post 180 Memorial Day Service in Keenesburg
April 2018
Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
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Meet Some of St. Vrain’s Outstanding Graduates
By St. Vrain Valley School District Meet just a few of the appoximately 2,000 students who will walk across a stage this week to receive their St. Vrain Valley Schools diploma. Congratulations to all students in the Class of 2018! Erie High School Danny Trevino Music Education, Montana State University What's a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? One of my all-time favorite memories in St. Vrain was representing my district at the 2018 Colorado All State Mixed Choir. I was able to connect with collegiate level music professors from across the country and meet students from every county in the state. From bonding with my fellow choir mates to introducing myself to distinguished conductors, All State was a very wonderful experience. Frederick High School Payton Garcia Colorado Mesa University What teacher has had the biggest impact on your success so far? The teacher that has had the biggest impact on my success is my 5th grade teacher Jen Mayer. She was able to help me get identified as Gifted and Talented in leadership and that lead to a lot of projects and involvement that I am extremely proud of. Longmont High School Amanda Kowalski Anthropology, Colorado State University What teacher has had the biggest impact on your success so far? My yearbook advisor, Annie GorensteinFalkenberg, has taught me since my sophomore year. From that first day in Honors English 10, her passion for teaching matched mine for learning. Her constant support in my writing, graphic design, and life in general has given me an incredible role model that I know I’ll have for the rest of my life. Lyons Senior High School Nathan Schneider Dartmouth College What's a favorite memory from your time at Lyons Middle Senior High School? My favorite memories of Lyons are my years with the Cross Country team under Coach Roberts. It was a great time, and taught me so much. Coach Roberts as well as the experience taught me that you will get out what you put in and to always work hard. Mead High School Sarah Lutter International Business, University of California Irvine How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success? The abundant AP courses offered allowed me to select and take those which interested me. This helped me explore different subjects while attempting to determine what I wanted to study after high school. Especially the AP English classes and the AP Capstone program prepared me for higher level research and writing. Niwot High School Kamran Elahi Business (Economics) and Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania What's a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? The Academics Game League of America encourages middle and high school students to think creatively and create a love of learning. I participated in several competitions with the St. Vrain team at the state and national level while attending Sunset Middle School, and in high school, I took on a coaching role by passing on what I learned to younger students. Being involved in something long term where I used my former experiences to mentor others is one of my favorite experiences and one of my best memories from my time at St. Vrain. Olde Columbine High School Heather Copeland Early Childhood Education, Front Range Community College What teacher has had the biggest impact on your success so far? I don’t think I could narrow it down to one teacher. All of my teachers at Olde Columbine High School have pushed me to be able to graduate when I thought I wouldn’t be able to and I couldn’t thank them or the whole staff enough for giving me the push I needed. Silver Creek High School Jacob Boettcher
Political Science and Psychology; Concentration in Family Studies, St. Olaf College How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success? The Silver Creek Leadership Academy (SCLA) has given me the opportunity to identify how I want to serve, invest and engage in the people and the community that surrounds me! As I look to my future I know that I will carry with me, my experiences from four years in the Leadership Academy. These experiences are ones that has challenged me to go beyond my comfort zone, develop new global outlooks, and to lead a project that will define my high school experience. Skyline High School Madison Reed Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success? My program of focus has been the STEM program, which has helped me focus my love of the outdoors into a career. The diversity and group structure of the STEM program has helped me grow as an analytical thinker, and I am excited to continue pursuing engineering in my post secondary education. St. Vrain Online Global Academy Andrew King Computer Science Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder What's a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? I fondly look back at times when I was competing in track, cross country and soccer, however some of the best memories I have are when I complete a class. The sense of accomplishment you get is unrivaled by all other feats in high school and you’re getting closer to your goal- finishing high school- every time you finish one more. Twin Peaks Charter Academy Teagan Quintana Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder What's a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? My favorite memories from saint vrain was certainly the track meets. Being involved with all the other schools and spending time outside to compete all day is great, not to mention the competition aspect of the track meets. Through track I was able to make some great new friendships and meet some wonderful coaches and students of our school district. APEX Homeschool Program Anna Ramsey Elementary Special Education, University of Northern Colorado What advice would you give to students entering high school next year? Explore different subjects, and volunteer if you can. Take the time to find your passions and invest yourself in the things you love. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice from people you respect, and don’t take every piece of advice at face value. Career Development Center Brianna Nuss Forensics, Mesa University How has the CDC program prepared you for postsecondary success? I have taken four medical focused classes at the CDC. I have wanted to go into forensics, and thought it would be good to learn about the body and to easily recognize the problems.
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Carbon Valley Independent & Erie Independent
Heart of the Plains Memorial Day Service in Roggen
April 2018
Letter from the Wild Animal Sanctuary Director “The Wildlife Refuge”
Pictures and Article from The Wild Animal Sancuary in Keenesburg, Colorado Land, land, land… definitely a topic we have intently focused on for quite some time now. Even so, in our last Newsletter that went to press in March, I had no choice but to leave everyone hanging with no solid solution on the horizon. The unfortunate situation of our becoming virtually land locked was as sudden and unanticipated as many of our rescues tend to be, which forced me to reevaluate our longterm goals while simultaneously calling for a special meeting of the Board of Directors. Luckily, I had spent an inordinate amount of time looking for positive solutions to this problem prior to our meeting, which gave the Board an opportunity to look at both the pros and cons of purchasing land that would not be contiguous with our current operation. The good news was, no matter how dark the landscape around us seemed to be getting… bright rays of sunshine continued to find their way through in order to illuminate our path going forward! On one hand, not being able to remain and operate on one contiguous piece of land (located here in Keenesburg) was concerning… but on the other hand, being able to secure enough land somewhere else where we would never have to worry about becoming land-locked again would be absolutely priceless! And, finding a large parcel of land somewhat near our current facility would make traveling and sharing resources much easier… but again, finding a parcel that had much more to offer than just open wheat fields would give the animals far more amenities to enjoy! As the Board and I discussed, it wasn’t that long ago when we were sure the Sanctuary would have many more years filled with options for continued growth here in Keenesburg. Yet, times change and the accelerated growth we have seen over the past few years has been nothing short of totally shocking. Not only are more and more homes and businesses been built around the Sanctuary, new massive oil well rigs continue to sprout skyward on many of the properties around us. One particular rig is just across the street and produces a constant roaring noise akin to the Army, Navy and Marines storming the beaches of Normandy again! With land and options disappearing so quickly, one has to wonder if this outcome may have been in the cards this whole time. Either way, we were now fully tasked with securing a solution that would solve all of our numerous concerns. It was critical we find a parcel of land that would be logistically viable – meaning it may be in Colorado, or out of state - but bottom line it would need to be located where food, staffing and many other resources were close at hand. It also needed to be large enough to serve our mission for decades to come, which meant it would need to be thousands of acres in size, rather than just a few hundred. Add-in other factors, such as licensing, zoning, insurance, security and hundreds of other critical details… our possible land options began to shrink. Finally, with our number one goal in mind (which we all agreed was a non-negotiable item) we ruled out all land that didn’t contain heaps of natural amenities. If anyone was going to benefit from this new direction, it was definitely going to be the animals! Given our current property in Keenesburg is located on the open plains of Colorado, we do have great amounts of open space with oceans of grass. Yet, other features such as rocks, trees, hills and valleys all have to be added or somewhat man-made. There’s no doubt having five to twenty five acres of free roaming space, as well as having your food delivered each day, can be pretty awesome. However, beyond all the incredible freedom we provide, we know the animals still deserve more. This is why we do try to embellish our habitats, yet, having to purchase many of the necessary landscaping items makes most of our projects economically unfeasible. Creating dens, hills, waterways and ponds, as well as planting trees and obtaining hundreds of boulders gets expensive very quickly. Of course, in the end, we have a nice space for the animals, but the size and scope of our larger habitats makes it nearly impossible to afford. As I’ve mentioned previously, the very nice Fox habitat we created a couple years ago was filled with all of these embellishing items - but their 1.3-acre habitat cost over $100,000 to complete due to expensive landscaping items that we were unable to get donated. Now imagine having to spend that level of money across all 789 acres - which would end up costing more than 70 million dollars! This is why finding a new property complete with natural habitat already in place was now of utmost importance! Moving forward, one property rose to the surface above all else for two important reasons. One was the fact it was an incredibly large and beautiful piece of land full of pine forests, rocks, hills, bluffs, buttes, valleys, water and so much more! Second, the owner was willing to finance! This would be the only way we could secure such a large parcel of land, as our Wild Open Spaces Fund had nearly two million dollars accumulated - but that would still fall short of what would be needed to purchase a large parcel outright. We definitely had enough money to render a significant down payment, but would need time to raise the remaining amount. Finding a seller who was willing to give us terms that allowed time for additional fundraising was crucial. We were very fortunate to meet a remarkable realtor named Brandon Gray who was representing a very nice ranching family in southern Colorado. Brandon and his wife have a brokerage firm called The QEY Team, with Keeler Williams, and operate out of an office located in Castle Rock, CO. Brandon took the time to research the Sanctuary’s mission, as well as become familiar with our current predicament, and realized there was a unique opportunity with a ranch he Continued on Page 16...
April 2018
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Littwin’s Official Unofficial #CO2018 Governor’s Race Rankings, Week Eight Mike Littwin The big question here this week at the Littwin gov panel headquarters is when the gloves will finally come off. Time is running short. And nearly all the blows dealt in both campaigns so far have been self-inflicted. Something has to give. As close readers of the gov ranking know well, we have before us the most competitive set of primaries for governor in years, and yet races in both parties have been remarkably civil. On the Dem side, in fact, it has been so quiet you could hear a tattoo needle drop. For the Republicans, Cynthia Coffman unloaded on Walker Stapleton Illustration by Mike Keefe in an ill-conceived and ill-received speech at the state assembly — and we know how well that turned out. So, here we are. The ads are up, money numbers are in, forums/debates are beginning in earnest (by earnest, I mean something like three a week). We’re just weeks away from the ballots being mailed, and according to our panel and according to basically everyone else, Stapleton is the clear leader on the Republican side and Polis’ money seems to be overwhelming the Democratic field. So, what to do? The strategy is pretty obvious. As panelist Cinamon Watson advises the challengers, “Time is running out. Land your punches. You have to change the dynamic.” We here at the Littwin gov panel, of course, applaud civil behavior in campaigns and abhor all dirty tactics and advocate for an open and honest discussion of the issues (remind me, what are the issues?), but come on. To this point, it seems the Republicans are running against sanctuary cities and Dems are running against Trump. I’m not saying we need anyone to go purely negative, but how about a few, you know, contrast ads. In explaining the situation, panelist Ian Silverii goes all movie buff on us, bringing the great Stanley Kubrick into the discussion. “When we’re talking about each side starting to go after one another, I picture the opening scene of “2001: A Space Odyssey” where the primate finds bones on the floor, discovers he can bash the heads in of his fellow primates, and then, you know, war. “It has to happen, it just hasn’t happened in an overt way on the Dem side yet, as far as I can tell. There are whispers and accusations starting in Facebook groups and the like from grassroots folks and staff … but for now, it seems as if the Democratic candidates are behaving themselves and respecting one another. That’s likely to change, though I haven’t seen any elbows thrown, or any skulls bashed in, despite the fact that there are plenty of bones on the floor.” GOP strategist and panelist Josh Penry has been saying for weeks that Doug Robinson and Victor Mitchell will inevitably start throwing punches, or maybe bones, at Stapleton because it’s the only way they can possibly win. Robinson has landed a couple of jabs. Mitchell seems to believe that he can spend his way into voters’ and their pets’ hearts and minds. Let’s just say the strategy is not working. “I don’t think Vic’s numbers have moved as much as they should have given what he’s spent,” Penry says. “Not too late for a guy with Victor’s ability and resources. But sure is getting close.” That, I would say, is the optimistic take. Dem strategist and panelist Alan Salazar wonders what Republicans would use against Stapleton, other than the long-ago DUI: “The question is what represents a shortcoming in a GOP primary. Uh, moderation comes to mind. Maybe whatever Walker has done to look un-Trump or open minded. “It’s the classic formula that has continued to hurt Republicans in this state. They beat on one another to demonstrate who hates immigrants more, who disbelieves climate science, who loves guns more, who is the most right-wing, which spoils the brand for a fall campaign when normal voters are paying attention.” Democrats have a similar problem. Cary Kennedy has run a great campaign, and her team seems very confident in what they’ve been doing, which is basically running as a happy warrior but a warrior who is, however, very, very unhappy about a guy named Donald Trump. Someone could go after Kennedy because of her support from the teachers’ unions, but that seems like it will wait until the November campaign, if it gets that far. Johnston is running as the charisma candidate who also doesn’t like Trump. But can he go after Polis for his deep pockets when Johnston has been raking in all that out-of-state ed-reform money, which opens the question of what do they expect in return for all that money? But if Johnston is in third place, who’s going to waste money punching down? What his Super PAC has been doing is sending out slick mailers putting Johnston firmly in the militant anti-NRA camp. This is before the Santa Fe, Texas gun massacre, which will now become a critical point in the governor’s race. Not incidentally, Republicans, meanwhile, have been lining up in opposition to the proposed red flag laws. Penry thinks the race will be decided by who has the nerve to go after Polis, knowing that Polis has the resources to hit back a lot harder. On the day these rankings came out, Johnston took a shot at Polis during a forum in Colorado Springs. Silverii: “I’m not sure who needs to throw the punches, but if someone who is not Jared Polis wants to win this thing, they need to start drawing some blood pretty soon here. I honestly don’t know what the lines of attack will be, the Republicans seem
pretty keen on going after the fact that Jared didn’t wrap a sandwich before putting it in a lunchbox for his kid in an ad.” Salazar thinks it may not be as clear cut as that. “If this were a two-person race on the Democratic side the contrast would be drawn by necessity. But because it is, at least for now, a four-person race, and because there is absolutely no reason for Jared to criticize any of his opponents, there is a temptation to stay back and let someone else throw the first punch. The real question is when a shadowy “independent” (ha) expenditure comes out of the darkness and does the dirty work the candidates themselves do not want to own.” That would be not quite ironic, but as close as you get in politics, where on the Dem side, it could come down to Polis’ money vs. dark money. But here’s where it gets confusing. Establishment Dems are worried about Polis as a general election candidate, worrying that he might be too easy to caricature as one of those darn Boulder liberals because, well, he is one of those darn Boulder liberals, or, as Polis likes to say, a bold and progressive Democrat. If Kennedy is holding her own, if Johnston is starting to get some momentum, If Lynne stays in the race, all of that helps Polis. ”There’s some chatter in Democratic circles that Jared will win the primary so long as he does not face Cary or Mike Johnston solo,” panelist Salazar says. “In other words, a two-person race is something he wants to avoid like the plague. I would guess there is some soul-searching going on in the other camps right now.” It’s hard for me to see how Kennedy or Johnston could leave the race at this point. But getting in and getting out (Perlmutter, Brauchler, Joe Salazar, etc.) has been one of the main themes of the race. Why stop now? Onto the rankings: REPUBLICANS 1. Walker Stapleton is helping the challengers by doing a job on himself. First there was the fraudulent signature screw-up. He rescued himself at the assembly, but only by selling his soul to Tancredo, and he then does an ad in which he claims to be the only GOP state treasurer in America who backed the Trump tax cut. This was so demonstrably false as to be funny. He didn’t stop there. He also claims to have “stopped” the Amendment 66 tax hike and “defeated” universal health care. He opposed both. He didn’t stop or defeat anything. In rating the claims false, 9News’ Brandon Rittiman says that “this ad is writing checks his record can’t cash.” 2. Doug Robinson. So far in this race, he’s still Mitt’s nephew and so long as he remains Mitt’s nephew, he’s not going anywhere. He has been doing well in the debates, and there will be many debates to come, some of them on TV, most of them available on livestream. Expect him to throw more elbows than bones, but we’ll see. 3. Victor Mitchell. I keep wanting to put him in second place, but his low-impact ads keep talking me out of it. 4. Greg Lopez. Will someone please tell me what I can say about Lopez? I’d love to say something. DEMOCRATS 1. Jared Polis. So, here’s a question. Does anyone think there’s a fairness issue here in Polis being able to, as Penry says, buy an election? There’s actually a more pressing question: Do Democratic primary voters think there’s a fairness issue here? Or will unaffiliated voters put Polis over the top? 2. Cary Kennedy. I desperately want to see some polls, want to see if she’s staying even or ahead of Polis among Democratic voters. She put a lot of her money into her big ad, which is a good ad, but Polis, and Johnston, have a lot more money to spend on that kind of thing. 3. Mike Johnston. The thinking among the strategists is that he’s starting to gain momentum. Johnston’s stance on guns isn’t much different from that of his rivals, but he made the early, smart decision to lay claim to the issue, which will now move back to front and center. 4. Donna Lynne. You know you’re in trouble when the main question you get is why are you still in the race. So, here we go: Why is she still in the race? Panelists: Big-shot GOP strategist Josh Penry, principal at EIS; long-time Dem strategist and Hancock chief of staff Alan Salazar; ProgressNow progressive Ian Silverii; GOP strategist, and always good quote, Cinamon Watson, principal at Blueprint Strategies— and, of course, me.
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Letter from the Wild Animal Sanctuary Director
April 2018
“The Wildlife Refuge”
Continued from Page 14... happened to list. It was a 9,004-acre property situated just south of La Junta, CO and was located in a unique area that I never knew existed. Having driven on countless rescues utilizing Colorado Highway 287, which runs through the southeastern portion of Colorado as it heads into Oklahoma and Texas, I would have never guessed this rare type of landscape existed there. For anyone having shared my experience of driving the wide-open plains of southeastern Colorado, especially through the city of Lamar and continuing south along 287, you know how hot dry and desolate the area seems. Yet, just a mere 30 miles west of 287, a unique area exists that is quite similar to the incredible land found along the not-toodistant Purgatory River. The area’s predominantly flat landscape unexpectedly changes into deeply carved canyons flowing in all directions. Filled with grass and halfsprinkled with Pinyon Pines and Oneseed Junipers, each valley ultimately becomes saturated with evergreens as their walls shoot upward to skylines filled with stony bluffs and rocky outcroppings. Forested buttes add to the ever-intriguing topography and generously share their own brand of unique rock formations. One very long and massive outcropping known as the “Windsplitter” became a predominant landmark for countless explorers and numerous generations of early American settlers as they innocently navigated the area’s seemingly endless miles of winding canyons. Standing like a stalwart compass needle, pointing due north, the Windsplitter rock formation indubitably crowns the northern end of this massive property. Encompassing nearly 15 square miles, the parcel is one large contiguous piece of undeveloped land. There are no public or private roads passing through it, nor are there housing developments or commercial expansions of any kind for nearly 40 miles. The small town of Springfield, CO is located about 25 miles to the southeast (as the crow flies) and La Junta, CO is equally distant heading to the northwest. Paved roads are nowhere near the parcel, and the dirt roads that lead to the southern end of the property are seldomly used, even by ranchers that occupy this remote part of the country. Most of the parcel lies within Baca County, which has a small population of 3,700 residents. More than half reside in the small town of Springfield, or even smaller towns such as Pritchett, Walsh or Two Buttes. About a quarter of the acreage spills into Las Animas County, which sees the majority of its development concentrated 40 miles to the west in and around the town of Trinidad, CO. The property is definitely in a remote area, which is a major plus for us when pondering how long it might be before development of any type would grow near. As far as amenities go, it’s like hitting the lottery jackpot for animals! Between the thick forests, endless hills and canyons, rock outcroppings, caves, springs, drainages and bountiful protection from the elements… it is truly an enriched paradise! The only improvements we need to add would be habitat fencing, power and a few operational support buildings. There are already seven wells on the property and over thirteen miles of piping that supplies water to nearly every corner of the parcel. The ground water is far more abundant and closer to the surface than at our current site, so animals would have plenty of H2O to enjoy. Historically, cattle have ranged in this part of Colorado since the 1800’s, with one enormous British operation once occupying the entire southern area of Colorado from the Kansas border all the way to the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Additionally, ruts created by thousands of wagons traveling one branch of the famous Sante Fe Trail still exist less than four miles from this amazing property. In the early 1920’s, homesteaders occupied these canyons attempting to garner a new life for themselves in the Wild West. Yet, few were able to retain their picturesque land allocation without finding additional ways to subsist. Earthen foundations and the fallen walls of tiny rock houses remain today as testaments to this bygone era… and even the walls of “Old Post Office #9” have withstood the test of time to remind us how thriving this canyon community once was. Of course, these relics will remain undisturbed, with many likely being restored at some point in the future. From Native Americans to fur traders, the Santa Fe Trail, iconic Texas cattle drives, Hispanic sheepherders, homesteaders, the dust bowl and so much more… the property has been through so much – yet remains surprisingly unchanged. Looking much the same as it did 10,000 years ago, Mother Nature created a masterpiece that modern-day ranchers continue to utilize. With tight canyons offering significant protection from harsh winter storms, and gentle breezes flowing down and out of the canyons on hot summer days, the unique topography organically moderates the seasonal extremes. Fortunately, for everyone’s benefit, the property will remain more or less undisturbed. Since a plethora of natural amenities already exists, all is needed is for us to install our normal fencing along the canyon bottoms. This will be the easiest and most native approach toward framing the land’s wonderful features so that our rescued animals can live and exist in a semi-natural state. Of course, the area is home to native wildlife, so we will not fence the parcel’s perimeter. Instead, we will create habitat zones that allow numerous large corridors to exist so native animals can move about freely. This practice has worked well at our Keenesburg site so we know it will succeed just as well at the Refuge. Being located so far from larger cities, there is no viable way or valid reason to host visitors at this location, so only the animals and their caretakers will be located there. Operations staff will join the caretaking crew living on site, and we will draw help from the local communities as needed. We will not be relocating our current Sanctuary to this new location, as it serves as an
invaluable educational resource for the Front Range and is “home” to the rehabilitated animals currently living here. Once the new property is ready, we will begin receiving most of our future rescues there. Older animals, or ones that have medical needs… or simply those that would not do well in large challenging habitats will still be able to come to the Keenesburg site. Yet, most of the animals we rescue quickly become healthy once they receive the proper nutrition and excellent care we provide. Those animals will definitely prosper at this new location and will live in amazing spaces with endless exploration opportunities. Each habitat will have everything from flat grass areas to hills, bluffs, rock formations, lush forests filled with beautiful pines and even natural dens and caves to enjoy. Imagine each cat or wolf being able to explore dense forests that lead to elevated rock outcroppings where they can sit in the warm sun and survey their territory from such a perfect vantage point above! This will truly be living as they should, and will be completely different from the horrid lives they left behind. Bears and many of the smaller animals will absolutely love the myriad of naturally occurring den sites, and could easily spend years exploring the incredibly diverse topography that flows in all directions. I know this new property represents a giant shift and new direction for the Sanctuary, but it is absolutely the right move for the animals. They will be the real beneficiaries of this effort, so we need to do everything we can to ensure their new home is paid for and ready for them to enjoy. We closed on the $7 million dollar property March 27th, 2018 and now have to focus on two main objectives. Of course, the primary goal will be to pay for the property in full, as the Lion’s share is still outstanding. By the grace and kindness of the generous ranch family who sold us the property, we have numerous years to pay this remaining balance. Yet, given the costs associated with developing the property, it is vitally important we get the balance settled as quickly as possible. We’ve started a public campaign to raise money for this purpose, and also want everyone who already supports the Sanctuary to consider helping as well. This is absolutely an historic event for us all, and our success will solidify an incredibly bright future for countless rescued animals moving forward! Many of you have already contributed to the Wild Open Spaces land fund over the years, which has enabled us to provide a wonderful home to hundreds of rescued animals. Many more have donated very recently toward the new land, and another 65-acres next door. In fact, a single anonymous donor provided the $600,000 to purchase the 65 acres adjacent to the Sanctuary and an additional $1,027,000 towards the purchase of land in Springfield, CO designated for this Wild Animal Refuge project - which definitely helped us make the two million dollar down payment. Now, with this amazing new home secured, we are offering extremely rare and unique Founder Membership Program for people who choose to help going forward. Each acre of this extraordinary land costs $777, so a Founder Program has been established to honor people who help us pay for one or more acres. When you donate money to purchase an acre or more, you will receive an exclusive commemorative Founder Certificate, as well as invitations to special events and email updates on the Refuge’s progress. It is possible for you to band together with family or friends to purchase an acre, but the benefits are limited to individuals, or sometimes couples in certain cases. Our goal is to pay off the rest of the debt quickly so we can prepare the Refuge for animals to begin arriving. Getting power and roads installed, as well as setting up logistical support buildings will take most of the summer. Once we have those in place, we can start planning habitat placement and the many other details related to receiving new rescues. Adding 9,004-acres to the Sanctuary’s current acreage creates a total of 9,793-acres that we currently hold. This will definitely solve our land problems for decades to come, so I want to thank everyone who has previously donated to our special land fund… or will be joining us moving forward with this new project. Our Sanctuary is the largest and oldest carnivore sanctuary in the world only because you cared enough to get involved. We accomplish monumental successes due to your compassion and continued drive to help majestic creatures that are suffering. I know our staff and volunteers are ready to tackle this new project with the same enthusiasm and conviction they always bring to everything we do for the animals… and I hope you will join us on this new journey toward creating the most incredible Sanctuary ever! When you love someone or something so much, you can never give up… so we gladly begin our march forward with pure hearts and pellucid minds! I look forward to the day when each of us can stand and adore these magnificent creatures roaming freely within this beautiful and majestic property. Thank you for caring so much and doing everything you can to help. As you know, the animals we rescue come from some of the worst situations imaginable, so being able to save their lives and give them their own slice of heaven on earth will be a gift to us all. Knowing their years of suffering and endless pain will be washed away and replaced by your love and compassion, as well as our tender care, is a sincere and welcome blessing. We were all put on this earth for a reason, and I can easily say it wasn’t to simply watch other people torture animals. I feel incredibly honored to present this opportunity for us to make history together! Please take the time to visit the Refuge’s new web site to learn how you can help, and know that I am forever indebted to you for helping in whatever way you can! www.WildAnimalRefuge.org