Volume 13 • Edition 20
October 21, 2020
Serving rural Adams, Morgan, and Weld Counties
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light” George Washington “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed” Thomas Jefferson
Endorsement of Mike Welch for Weld County Commissioner District 3
by Bob Grand, Publisher, Lost Creek Guide The Republican candidate for Weld County Commissioner for District 3, Lori Saine, recently gave an interview to the Greeley Tribune, while when invited to offer her views to the Lost Creek Guide in the primary she declined. Apparently, she believes that her power base among the Greeley area special interest supersedes the interests of the citizens of District 3. The Greeley Tribune has minimal distribution in Weld County Commissioner District 3 area. In her Greeley Tribune interview, Ms. Saine refers to her “ higher level issues experience” and the fact she has dealt “with a lot of statewide issues”. Perhaps most astonishing was her claim that she is “able to lead with bipartisan solutions across the board, across interests and subjects”. Apparently, Ms. Saine does not understand she is running for Weld County Commissioner for District 3. Does she not understand her constituents are the citizens of District 3 not some higher level of whatever? Has she recently, if ever, had substantive meetings with her real potential constituents, not just the special interests’ individuals in the Great Greely area? Does Ms. Saine believe that the Commissioner District 3 position is nothing more than the next rung on her political ladder, coming with a much larger paycheck? Although she may have extraordinary strong ties with the greater Greeley old guard Republican party members and certain special interests, what does that have to do with being the County Commissioner representing District 3? What does that have to do with the Heartland Biogas Energy facility, which is coming to the table again, or property right and health and safety issues surrounding the development of industrial properties close to major housing developments? Ms. Saine would do well to listen to Perry Buck, Republican candidate for the At-Large-
Vote For Mike Welch for Weld County Commissioner District 3 I will be an advocate for all of Weld County District 3 citizens. My background in the Oil and Gas Industry and the Weld County Government make me uniquely qualiied to be a County Commissioner. I will focus on the Weld County Budgeting Process so that we can evaluate where our tax money comes from and where it goes. I believe that government should work for all the people I ask that you participate also. When you get your ballot vote early and please vote for me! Paid for by Committee to Elect Michael Welch Registered Agent – Michael Welch
Commissioner a seat for Weld County., who states that she thinks “ it is absolutely important to listen to what the citizens have to say”. Instead, Ms. Saine, operating at “ a higher level of experience”, does not feel it is important to listen to all her potential constituents. The voters of District 3 are comprised of a diverse group of unaffiliated, Republican and Democratic voters. The Republicans, by themselves, are not a majority. We, in District 3, need to send a message to Lori Saine and the Greater Greeley old guard Republicans, that it is time to recognize that District 3 citizens are not to be treated as an orphan children but a group of citizens who expect their elected officials to represent their interests on the Board of County Commissioners as well as consider the health, safety, and welfare of all the citizens in the county. For too long District 3 has suffered with a Commissioner who was more interested in pursuing higher state office than representing District 3. One could argue that Fort Lupton has received attention, likely because long time Fort Lupton Mayor Tommy Holton was a strong advocate for the City. The Weld County 2021 budget will be under pressure because of the oil & gas revenue impacts. In a budget that already fundamentally favors the greater Greeley area what do you think will happen in next year’s budget process? District 3 cannot afford to have Lori Saine as its representative at the County Commissioner table. We require an advocate, a strong one. Do you really believe Lori Saine will be that advocate? Mike Welch will be an independent voice at that table, advocating for all the citizens of District 3. He can be elected but you must vote. If you do not vote, and let Lori Saine win, you are giving up your voice at the County Commissioner table. Do not let that happen. Vote for Mike Welch for Weld County Commissioner for District 3.
Vote
It is important for you to vote. This is an important election. You need to decide who you want to represent you in government at all levels. You must decide who is best to represent you, your family, your county government, state government and at the federal level. You decide, not some slick ad campaign or whether they have a D or an R next to their name. Our future depends on your participation. Please vote when the time comes. Given the mail situation, vote early. Nobody ever said living in a representative democracy was easy. Since the founding of our country over 1.5 million Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect your right to vote. Use it.
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE:
Page 2: Way of the World Page 2: Us Your Opponent Ethical? Page 5: Market Street Mart Building New Store Page 6: Dry Weather Worsens in Colorado Page 8: County Clerks Enjoy Relationship with Mail Ballots Page 10: 6 Great Ways to Celebrate Fall Page 11: Election Officials Must Verify Voter’s Signature Page 13: Connection Matters with Long Term Residents Page 14: Hickenlooper’s Defense Cost $150,000
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– Way of the World –
Lost Creek Guide
by Bob Grand The election is getting close. Ballots are out so, please, exercise your right, VOTE! It has been a frustrating election cycle for a lot of reasons. The Democratic base will never forgive the President for winning in 2016. No matter how much it tears at the fabric of our country. On the other hand, the Weld County Republican old guard stills try to hold on to its total control of the Weld County political picture. In the long run, ultimately, the Democratic National Committee and the old guard Weld County Republicans will both loose out. This election cycle I have chatted with a lot of folks. They are tired hearing the same old story from the leadership of both parties with no significant change in sight. John Hickenlooper’s biggest complaint about Cory Gardner is that he supports the President. If you look at and examine Cory Gardener’s record of accomplishment for the people of Colorado it is amazing, affecting all aspects of life throughout Colorado. John Hickenlooper brings what to the table, other than a heavy endorsement from Chuck Schumer, the New York senior Senator? I would hope that Colorado citizens could decide who to send or keep in Washington, not the extremists who have ruined New York and California. Our Governor Polis, in a recent tv ad for John Hickenlooper, touted Hickenlooper as the most honest man he knows. So much for the circle of friends the Governor has. With a press that hates the President as much as they do it is amazing that anything gets said that questions the left. The New York Post in a story a few days ago (go to NYPost.com) which has a story about a laptop found to contain a wealth of emails detailing the trail of dealings of Hunter Biden and his dad, the then sitting Vice President, with foreign nationals, the . It is apparent to me we have at least a two tier system of justice. That is not what America is supposed to represent.
Social Security Announces 1.3 Percent Benefit Increase for 2021
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 1.3 percent in 2021, the Social Security Administration announced today. The 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2021. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2020. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits). The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $142,800 from $137,700. Social Security and SSI beneficiaries are normally notified by mail starting in early December about their new benefit amount. Most people who receive Social Security payments will be able to view their COLA notice online through their personal my Social Security account. People may create or access their my Social Security account online at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. Information about Medicare changes for 2021, when announced, will be available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries receiving Medicare, Social Security will not be able to compute their new benefit amount until after the Medicare premium amounts for 2021 are announced. Final 2021 benefit amounts will be communicated to beneficiaries in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center. The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola. To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on Twitter @SSAPress.
The Lost Creek Guide, Llc Bob Grand - Publisher 303-732-4080 publisher@lostcreekguide.com Our deadline is 7 working days before publication
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October 21, 2020
‘Is Your Opponent Ethical?’ Senate Candidates Gardner And Hickenlooper Meet For Final Debate
By Bente Birkeland Under the backdrop of rising political tensions in Colorado and nationally, Republican Sen. Cory Gardner and his Democratic challenger, former Gov. John Hickenlooper held their fourth and final debate on Oct. 13 at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. This closely watched race could play a big role in determining which party controls the Senate. Denver’s 9News and a number of other media organizations aired the debate across Colorado, giving voters their final chance to see the candidates unfiltered. The hour included similar topics from earlier debates, from the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy to the country’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. But it also covered some new ground and provided a few new insights. Gardner and Hickenlooper, who worked well together when the Democratic challenger was still governor, were asked about each other’s character, and if they thought their opponent was ethical and moral. Hickenlooper responded, “Yes.” Gardner declined to answer the yes or no question and pivoted to talking about Hickenlooper’s ethics charges — which has been a major point in his campaign — until a moderator cut him off. It was followed up with whether they believe President Donald Trump is a moral and ethical man. Hickenlooper answered “No.” Gardner said, “Yes” before continuing, “I wish he would be more specific in his communications to the American people.” Trump came up at other points too. Gardner was asked if he is comfortable with endorsing the president, or any candidate, who won’t commit to accepting the results of the election and a peaceful transition of power. “The president should be crystal clear,” Gardner said. “Every single person in this country should be crystal clear. There will be a peaceful transition of power. There›s no doubt about that.” He also diverged from the president over the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon, which has developed in the dark corners of the internet but is gaining more prominence. Unlike Trump, who has expressed support for those who back the conspiracy, Gardner strongly denounced it and said he shared the FBI’s view that QAnon is a domestic terror threat, “Well, I don’t believe in QAnon and yes, I believe they’re a threat.” Gardner had to address the timing of his late February rally with Trump in Colorado Springs, not long before the coronavirus pandemic began to shut down the country. “We now know, thanks to the journalist, Bob Woodward, what the president actually thought of COVID-19 — at that point that it was ‘tremendously serious,’ ‘way worse than the flu’, ‘airborne,’ so forth. Did President Trump tell you before you stood next to him in that crowd, that he knew all those things?” asked 9News moderator Kyle Clarke. “Did you have that knowledge?” “No, I did not,” said Gardner. “But we knew this was something that we had to deal with. We knew that we had something from China that we didn›t understand. China was lying to us at the time. China was lying to the world saying it couldn›t be transmitted the way that we now know that it can.” Hickenlooper faced tough questions of his own, such as whether Democrats are the ones holding up a COVID relief package in Congress by loading up the economic package with “goodies.” “Yes. Certainly, if I was in Washington, I would do everything I can to make sure that there was an efficient process to get a lean bill to put forward,” said Hickenlooper. Democrats, including Hickenlooper, have criticized the Republican “skinny” bill for failing to provide enough money to help state and local governments and people who are unemployed. “What›s been to me most frustrating is we haven›t seen any willingness on the Republican or the Democratic side to sit down and actually roll up their sleeves and find, where do we agree? Where do we disagree and begin looking at it,” Hickenlooper said. In their previous debate, Hickenlooper and Gardner both said Congress should prioritize passing a COVID-19 relief package over addressing the vacancy to the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, Hickenlooper pushed the point, saying Gardner should refuse to vote to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett until a relief package passes. Gardner did not agree to the challenge. For his part, Hickenlooper again declined to say if he would consider adding more justices to the nation’s highest court, also known as court packing, dismissing the idea as “hypothetical.” “It’s worked for 150 years,” said Gardner of the current size of the Supreme Court. “It’s too bad that Gov. Hickenlooper can’t admit that.” Climate change and the candidate’s environmental records have been another ongoing theme in the Senate race, and one that came up again in the debate. While governor, Hickenlooper angered environmentalists at times, especially when he claimed he had safely sipped fracking fluid, and sided with the oil and gas industry to oppose initiatives pushed by anti-fracking groups. Asked about that record, Hickenlooper countered that he’s been focused on the threat of climate change since his early days studying for a master’s in geology. As governor, he said he worked with the industry to strengthen environmental protections. “We were the first state to hold the oil and gas industry accountable and to create methane regulations,” Hickenlooper noted. In response, Gardner argued that Hickenlooper was not supportive enough of the oil and gas industry while in office, and as a senator would try to eliminate energy jobs in rural communities like Craig, where the impending closure of a coal-fired power plant and the mine that supplies it will put many in the small city out of work. “I continued to fight for those jobs in Colorado that John Hickenlooper wants to destroy,” said Gardner. “I’ve fought against my party on immigration because I believe we need an immigration policy that works. I fought against my party on marijuana legalization because I believe state’s rights matter and the state of Colorado is leading the way. I fought against my party when it comes to conservation. It’s why we convinced the president to change his mind on permanent funding of the land and water conservation fund.” Gardner’s remarks highlight the different strategies both campaigns have followed throughout this expensive and heated race. As the incumbent, Gardner continues to tout his bipartisan record in Congress and the individual bills he’s passed. At the same time, his challenger, Hickenlooper, emphasizes a need for change in Washington, D.C., and ties Gardner as much as possible to President Trump, who is not expected to win in Colorado this November.
October 21, 2020
Lost Creek Guide
Rep. Bruce Westerman: Wildfires Ravage the US Every Year. They Don’t Have to. I’ve Seen Firsthand that Scientific, Commonsense Forest Management Works.
By Rep. Bruce Westerman | Fox News Across the West, wildfires are raging. They have already tragically claimed at least 26 lives and displaced thousands more. As I write this, dozens of American cities are dealing with the world’s worst air quality, suffering through a thick haze of post-apocalyptic smoke. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Six million acres have burned to date. In 2018, it was 7 million. In 2017, it was 8 million. 2015, nearly 9 million. Two factors are driving these infernos: rising temperatures and widespread, systemic mismanagement of our forests. Unfortunately, Congress continues arguing about the cause without ever implementing a solution. Mitigating climate change is a decades-long issue we should all be working on, but progress to that goal shouldn’t impede immediate solutions. In fact, the only way we can get to that goal is to start now, managing our forests properly and making them healthy and resilient. I’ve dedicated much of my career to studying forestry, and I’ve seen firsthand that scientific, commonsense forest management works. I’m a professional engineer and licensed forester, and I currently represent one of the most heavily forested congressional districts in America. I’ve dedicated much of my career to studying forestry, and I’ve seen firsthand that scientific, commonsense forest management works. If we gave land managers more resources to curb pests, thin trees, clear brush and more, we could begin to mitigate the severity of wildfires. Why don’t we? In short, because Democrats refuse to come to the table and negotiate on forestry reform. As a result, Congress continues to fiddle while the West burns. During my time as a congressman, I’ve introduced bills like the Resilient Federal Forests Act and the Trillion Trees Act, legislation that promotes healthy forests via scientific management. Yet when I try to engage with my Democratic colleagues on these issues, I hear the same refrains. “It’s too little too late.” “We don’t have time to make small changes.” “We need sweeping reforms like the Green New Deal.” Large-scale environmental changes have their time and place, but that doesn’t negate the fact that we need fast, reliable changes to forest management now. More from Opinion Kyle Mills: Terror or bio attack, nukes? No, America’s greatest threat is our vulnerable electrical grid Jeffrey Sutton: Justice Scalia and our Constitution -- a legacy that will endure Tom Homan: Attacks on police must end — they are America’s heroes and protect us all, regardless of race As temperatures rise and wildfire threats increase, we should immediately take an allhands-on-deck approach to mitigate wildfire damage in critical infrastructure areas. Democrats talk a lot about needing green solutions and infrastructure to withstand climate change, and that’s precisely what I’m trying to accomplish. We are at a tipping point, and there are four major areas where large-scale, judicious forest management should be happening 24/7: Wildland-Urban Interfaces (WUIs), transportation corridors, transmission corridors and critical watersheds. Every year, more people move into WUIs, and you may remember that the Camp Fire ignited along a Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) transmission line. These are exactly the kinds of areas we need to triage in order to mitigate wildfire damage. What might that forest management entail? Let me first make this clear: I’m not proposing clear-cutting. I’m proposing we use site-specific management prescriptions that meet the timber stand and landscape criteria. It’s called forest restoration, using tools like thinning from below, where you remove the lower-quality trees and tender and use cyclical, low-intensity fires to control the underbrush. It actually makes the residual trees healthier and more resistant to insects, disease and fire. This also results in better wildlife habitats, more plant and animal diversity and cleaner watersheds. On top of all that, these forests have a distinct, park-like beauty that more closely resembles how Native Americans managed timberland. Because forests are dynamic, growing ecosystems that are in constant flux, a decision to “do nothing” is still a management decision. More often than not, it is a bad decision, but it is a decision that, when made, turns overall management to nature. Nature is harsh. Her tools are insects, disease, wind, lightning and wildfire, unleashed with an insatiable desire to restore an elusive balance. Every year we delay and “do nothing” means another year of lost lives, destroyed property and billions of dollars of damage, not to mention the smoke releasing millions of pounds of carbon into the atmosphere. Scientific evidence shows that healthy, resilient forests are achieved through sound management, yet we are still doing nothing but loving our trees to death. We have all the tools to mitigate wildfire severity. We just have to use them in a big way with a bold vision.
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Weld County Press information – 2020 General Election
All election information can be found at www.weldvotes.com. We have posted the Blue Book, TABOR Notice and sample ballot to our website. We encourage everyone to look over our webpage as this will be our main means of communication along with the Clerk and Recorders Facebook page– Carly Koppes Weld Clerk and Recorder. We ask for your help to encourage the voters to return their voted ballots early to have more accurate early election night results. Main Contact: Carly Koppes Weld County Clerk and Recorder Cell: 970-815-1166 Email: ckoppes@weldgov.com General Election November 3rd - Information General Election Ballots will begin to be mailed out on October 9th.As of today (October 12, 2020) there are 75,775 Republicans, 44,704 Democratic, 90,535 Unaffiliated and 4,020 Third parties registered voters in Weld County.Last day to submit a voter registration form through a Voter Registration Drive – Tuesday, October 13thFirst day to begin counting mail ballots received for the General Election – Monday, October 19thLast day for an individual to submit a voter registration application and still receive a ballot in the mail. -Monday, October 26thSample ballots, TABOR Notice, and the Blue Book can be found at www.weldvotes.com.Again this election voters can sign up for Ballotrax – which is the voter’s ability to track their ballot in different stages of the process. They can sign up at https://weldvotes.ballottrax.net/voter/The website has an interactive map for voters to be able to find which location is closest to them! Below is the link, but if voters visit www.weldvotes.com it is on the right hand side of the screen.http:// weldgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2b080d49ff964173aa e9f2599 b0f1e402020 General Voter Service and Polling Center Locations and Dropoff locations information. Early Voter Service and Polling Center locations open October 19th. 1.Trinity Lutheran Church/School, 3000 35th Ave, Greeley2.Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S Harrison Ave, Fort Lupton3.Southwest Weld County Services Complex, 4209 Weld CR 24½, Longmont (Del Camino)Hours of Operation:Weekdays: Oct. 19th – Nov. 3rd Monday-Friday: 8:00 am-5:00 pm Saturday: Oct. 31st 8:00 am - 5:00 pm [Closed Saturday Oct. 24th ,Sunday Oct. 25th and November 1st] ELECTION DAY: November 3rd: 7:00 am-7:00 pm Early Voter Service and Polling Center locations open October 30th. 1.Aims College Cornerstone Building, 55401 W 20th St, Greeley2.Erie Community Center, 450 Powers St, Erie3.UNC Campus Commons, 1051 22nd St, Greeley4.Weld County Training Center, 1104 H St, Greeley5.Windsor Recreation Center, 250 11th St, Windsor Hours of Operation: Opening: Friday, Oct. 30th and Saturday, Oct. 31st: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm [Closed Sunday Nov. 1st] Monday: Nov. 2nd: 8:00 am-5:00 pm ELECTION DAY: November 3rd: 7:00 am-7:00 pm 24-Hour Drop-off location open October 9th – November 3rd ELECTION DAY: Closing at 7:00 pm 1.Aims College Cornerstone Building, 5401 W 20th St, Greeley2.Briggsdale School (District RE-10J), 420 Main St, Briggsdale3.Carbon Valley Recreation Center, 701 5th St, Frederick4.Erie Community Center, 450 Powers St, Erie5.Evans Community Complex, 1100 37th St, Evans6.Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S Harrison Ave, Fort LuptonGreeley City Hall, 1000 10th St, Greeley Drive Up Drop-off Locations ELECTION DAY: November 8th: 7:00 am-7:00 pm 7. Greeley City Hall, 1000 10th, Greeley 8. Grover Town Hall, 315 Chatoga St, Grover 9. Hudson Library, 100 S Beech St, Hudson10. Lochbuie Town Hall, 703 County Road 37, Lochbuie11. Milliken Town Hall, 1101 Broad St, Milliken12. New Raymer Church, 225 County Road 86, New Raymer13. Nunn Town Hall, 185 Lincoln Ave, Nunn14. Southwest Weld County Services Complex, 4209 Weld CR 24½, Longmont (Del Camino)15. UNC University Center, 2101 10th Ave, Greeley16. Windsor Recreation Center, 250 11th St, WindsorPast General Election Weld County turn out: *Presidential Election 2018 - Turnout 65.86% Registered Voters - 129,351 Cards Cast 257760 (two card ballot)2016* -Turnout 75.40% Registered Voters - 184077 Cards Cast - 1387922014 - Turnout 55.30% Registered Voters – 167306 Cards Cast - 92525 2012* - Turnout 94.38% Registered Voters – 124101 Cards Cast - 117121 2010 - Turnout 71.51% Registered Voters – 113124 Cards Cast - 80893 2008* - Turnout 91.61% Registered Voters – 116269 Cards Cast - 106518 2006 - Turnout 68.24% Registered Voters – 100924 Cards Cast – 68871 2004* - Turnout 90.28% Registered Voters – 98692 Cards Cast - 89099 For all past turnouts you can visit www.weldvotes.com and select Election Results on the left hand side of the page dating back to the year 2000. Voter Service and Polling Center locations open ONLY on Election Day. November 3rd 7am-7pm 1. Johnstown Senior Center, 101 Charlotte St, Johnstown 2. Keenesburg Town Hall, 140 S Main St, Keenesburg 3. Nunn Town Hall, 185 Lincoln Ave, Nunn 4. Platteville Town Hall, 400 Grand Ave, Platteville 5. Evangelical Free Church, 1325 3rd St., Eaton 6. Carbon Valley Recreation Center, 701 5th St, Frederick 1. Weld County Election Office, 1400 N 17th Ave, Greeley
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Lost Creek Guide
October 21, 2020
Gardner, Baldwin, Moran, Reed, Stewart, Moulton Applaud House Passage of 9-8-8 Suicide Hotline Bill
Bipartisan bill designates 9-8-8 as the suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline, now heads to President’s desk
Washington, D.C. – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 2661, the
National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, which was introduced by U.S. Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Jack Reed (DRI). This bipartisan legislation designates 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline, and companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Chris Stewart (R-UT) and Seth Moulton (DMA) “With approval from the House of Representatives today, our bipartisan bill to create a three-digit suicide hotline and make it easier for Americans dealing with a mental health crisis to receive life-saving support is now another step closer to becoming reality,” said Senator Gardner. “I’ve held countless meetings and roundtables with families, students, mental health care professionals, law enforcement officials, and others to address our state’s mental health needs. The tragic fact is we lose a Coloradan to death by suicide every seven hours, and we must keep fighting to provide mental health support to Coloradans in need, particularly in this time of crisis. I applaud the House for approving this bipartisan, commonsense legislation, and I look forward to the President signing it into law in order to save lives.” “In America, we lose about 45,000 people every year to suicide, including more than 6,100 veterans, making it one of the leading causes of death in this country,” said Senator Baldwin. “We need to do everything we can to prevent suicide and that means improving the tools we have to help people who are suffering from depression or other mental health concerns. I’m very proud our bipartisan legislation has passed the House of Representatives so we can make it as quick and easy as possible for Americans in crisis to get the help and support they need through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Veterans Crisis Line.” “This legislation provides an easy-to-remember number and easy-to-access service for people in need of a helping hand,” said Senator Moran. “I commend members of the House for passing this legislation, and I look forward to continuing to work with my Senate colleagues and the FCC to make certain 9-8-8 is implemented quickly and effectively once signed into law.” “The national suicide hotline is a proven lifesaver and this legislation will connect more people to the help they need, when they need it. The simplified, nationwide, three-digit number will expand the lifeline’s reach and link people to professional assistance,” said Senator Reed. “People know 9-1-1 is for emergencies and 3-1-1 is for local services. Now we must raise awareness to ensure people know 9-8-8 is for suicide prevention. Just as importantly, we need to back the hotline up with adequate resources and appropriate staffing levels.” “This is a great day for our nation. Those who find themselves in a mental health crisis will now have the extra support that they need. I’ve met with many across Utah whose loved ones have taken their own life. I’ve heard their stories, I’ve heard their pleas for help, and today, I am proud that we are able to provide a vital resource to those who need it most. This easy-to-remember hotline will save lives and give us additional tools to help reverse the tragic trend of suicide. Every life matters and we can all do our part to prevent suicide by providing love and support to our neighbors who may be struggling,” said Representative Stewart. “When your house is on fire, you can get help by calling 9-1-1. A year-and-a-half ago, we set a goal to make it just as easy to get help in a mental health emergency. Today we finished the job and made 988 the national number for mental health emergencies,” said Representative Moulton. “This is a win for every American who has been affected by a mental illness. It is a national step forward out of the shadows of stigma that prevent too many people from seeking help into a new era where mental health care is easy to get and normal to talk about. I’m so proud of my team and the partners that got this done. This will save tens of thousands of lives every day.” The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, S. 2661, designates 9-8-8 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which would include the Veterans Crisis Line for veteran-specific mental health support. The current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line is 10-digits long, which is a barrier to Americans in crisis seeking support. The bill includes a report to improve support services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and other high-risk populations. Until the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) finalizes the technical implementation of 9-8-8 as the nationwide number, anyone seeking help should still call 1-800-273-8255. Calls to the mental health crisis line in Colorado have spiked 48 percent due in part to COVID-19. Roughly 60 percent of calls to the crisis line are related to the ongoing pandemic. Background: Gardner and Baldwin sent a letter to House leadership in July 2020 calling the U.S. House of Representatives to pass S. 2661 without delay and wrote, “As our country is facing an unprecedented challenge in responding to COVID-19, this three-digit hotline would play a critical role in saving the lives of many vulnerable Americans who are facing mental health emergencies during this period of isolation and uncertainty.”
In July 2020, 48 mental health groups sent a letter to House leadership calling for swift passage of S. 2661 and wrote, “This bicameral, bipartisan legislation is urgently needed and, under your leadership, could save lives.” Every single commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) endorsed S. 2661 at a hearing held by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in June 2020. On May 13, the Senate unanimously passed Gardner’s National Suicide Hotline Designation Act. In April 2020, Gardner led a bipartisan, bicameral call to include the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act in the next COVID-19 relief package. Gardner sent a bipartisan letter to Senate Majority Leader McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Schumer requesting $80 million to support critical suicide prevention activities amid the public health crisis that is upending the social and financial stability of countless Americans. In February 2020, Gardner held a behavioral health roundtable at the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC) to discuss Colorado’s mental health needs and his work across the aisle to increase mental health support in Colorado. Gardner invited mental health advocate and 2018 Air Force Spouse of the Year Kristen Christy from Colorado Springs to be his guest at the President’s annual State of the Union Address and highlighted the need for more mental health support in Colorado. In December 2019, the FCC approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to designate 9-8-8 as the three-digit number for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously passed Senator Gardner’s bipartisan bill to designate 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline in December 2019. At a press conference in November with Senator Gardner, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the FCC would consider establishing 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention hotline at their meeting on December 12, 2019. Nearly 50 mental health organizations and veterans support organizations announced their support and urged Congress to pass the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act. In November 2019, Gardner met with Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners in Denver to discuss his bipartisan push to establish the three-digit hotline, which the organization said “will definitely be easier to remember and will result in significant utilization for a whole continuum of questions and needs related to behavioral health.” In October 2019, Senators Gardner, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced S. 2661, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, which designates 9-8-8 for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline and ensures states have the flexibility to strengthen local crisis call centers. The bill ensures states are able to collect fees for the line, similar to the way they do for the 911 emergency line, and requires reports to Congress to help ensure effectiveness and operability of the line. During his annual Colorado Farm Tour, Gardner held a roundtable in Julesburg regarding rural healthcare and mental health needs in rural areas in August 2019. In August 2019, the FCC released their report, which found that a national three-digit line would improve suicide prevention and recommended a simple number that Americans could dial in times of crisis: 9-8-8. In July 2019, Gardner participated in the Voices for Awareness event at Colorado Mesa University about the need to destigmatize mental health support and suicide prevention services. In April 2019, Gardner held a roundtable in Mesa County focused on teen suicide rates in Colorado and what the federal government can do to support students. In 2018, Gardner voted for the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act, which directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to evaluate using a three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. ### Cory Gardner is a member of the U.S. Senate serving Colorado. He sits on the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.
October 21, 2020
Lost Creek Guide
Market Street Mart Building New Store in Keenesburg
Page 5
In 1986 Larry Kleve was approached by our bank in Brighton to do a receivership of the Keenesburg Convenience store which was in foreclosure. Larry agreed and operated it for the bank for approximately a year. After a year of growing the business we purchased the convenience store from the bank and named it Market Street Mart. It was our second convenience store as we had purchased the Barn Store of Hudson in 1982. We kept all of the original employees and up to 2019 Dorothy Mullison was still an employee of Market Street Mart until her illness. We owned several other businesses in surrounding communities and after purchasing a house at 115 N Market and renting it for a few years we decided to tear down the house and built the Keenesburg Car Wash in 2006. We have been part of the community since 1986 and have seen a lot of change.....Citizens State Bank to Colorado East Bank and Trust.....to the current TBK Bank and Trust. Small businesses have come and gone and many are still active like Ries Electric. We attempted to be a part of the community and supported the schools and chamber as well as the SE Weld County Fair and Rodeo. Around 2016 Larry began to transition to semi retirement and our son Ryan took over the daily operations. Larry continued as consultant and Sue with financial administration. Before Larry passed in 2019 there was discussion of building a new store and Ryan and Sue moved forward with plans to complete the dream. The new Market Street Mart will be a concept store with a Beer Barn, a dog park and a vehicle charging station. We will continue to serve and support the Keenesburg area as well as offer services to the traveling highway customers.
Public Health Officials Recommend Flu Vaccines
WELD COUNTY, CO —Health officials recommend residents get their annual influenza (also known as the flu) vaccination. Flu symptoms can start suddenly and may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, or fatigue. Serious cases of the flu can require hospitalization and may lead to death in high-risk individuals. The current flu season officially begins in October and ends in May 2021. September and October are good times to get a flu vaccine. Currently, the Health Department has plenty of flu vaccines available for both children and adults. No resident will be denied a flu vaccine due to an inability to pay. Walk-ins accepted, but appointments are preferred at both the main office in Greeley, and the satellite clinic in Longmont. The Health Department also accepts some insurance plans. Other locations for flu vaccinations include pharmacies and doctor’s offices throughout Weld County. The Health Department recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. While there are many different flu virus strains, the flu vaccine is designed to protect against the main strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. Public Health officials further recommends people always cover their coughs, wash their hands, and if people get sick with the flu, to stay home from work or school to prevent spreading the illness to others. To learn more about influenza, visit www.cdc.gov/flu. To make an appointment at the main Greeley office, call 970304-6420, for the satellite clinic in Longmont, call 720-652-4238.
$3,535.00 $2,183.00
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
$15.50
$1.19 per gallon will call or route
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Lost Creek Guide
Dry Weather Worsens in Colorado; 17% of State is in “Exceptional Drought” The drought is happening just a year after most of Colorado was declared drought-free.
The summer drought that lingered throughout Colorado has become worse. The entire state is currently experiencing abnormally dry conditions and nearly 17% of the land area is in exceptional drought, the most extreme category, the U.S. Drought Monitor said. The drought is happening just a year after most of Colorado was declared drought-free. The western part of the state has been hit the hardest, with Kiowa County on the Eastern Plains also experiencing exceptional drought, which can bring dust storms and cripple agriculture, Colorado Public Radio reported. Conditions have deteriorated over the past year due to drier conditions, warmer temperatures and a higher level of evaporation. It has also been a perfect backdrop for wildfires. “That’s exactly why we’re still seeing a high fire danger and still seeing active fires in places,” said Brian Fuchs, a climatologist with the U.S. Drought Monitor. “Typically this time of year we’re cooling off and starting to get wetter. That just hasn’t happened yet.” There are several active fires in the state, the largest of which is in Larimer County in the north. The Cameron Peak fire has torched more than 200 square miles (518 square kilometers) and is 42% contained. A fire began on Wednesday just south of Kremmling near Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests. The wildfire burned more than 80 acres (32 hectares) in just a few hours, prompting evacuations. It is the fourth time in two decades — following 2002, 2006 and 2012 — that the entire state has been classified as abnormally dry or in drought. Tom Renwick, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the state could return to pre-2020 figures as long as the winter provides some precipitation. “If we get a decent winter, and it doesn’t have to be, ‘Oh my God, the most amazing winter ever,’ but a decent winter with a decent amount of snowfall, we’ll get rid of the drought,” Renwick said. “It looks really bad, but you know, I wouldn’t freak out just yet.”
October 21, 2020
I-76 Road Work near Fort Morgan and Brush! Nearing Completion Early
FORT MORGAN – The Colorado Department of Transportation anticipates reopening all lanes on Interstate 76 near Fort Morgan and Brush this month after a major resurfacing project. Meeting an aggressive construction schedule this season means little to no impact on I-76 through the center of Morgan County in 2021. Between now and the end of the month, CDOT will reopen lanes as soon as work is complete in a particular section. “We’re thrilled to wrap up this project in a single season. Thank you to the project team for the well thought out and executed plan and the town of Brush! and its citizens for your partnership and patience to make this a successful project. Several bridges and over 20 lane-miles of I-76 were in critical need of repair. We’re turning over a smoother and safer highway,” said CDOT regional Transportation Director Heather Paddock. Although mainline highway paving on I-76 was complete this summer, guardrail and bridge railing replacement required 24/7 lane closures to remain in place. The contractor team led by Martin Marietta is currently placing permanent signs and delineators, grinding rumble strips, and installing final erosion control measures. Final lane striping is also underway. The U.S. Highway 34 corridor through Fort Morgan and Brush also received attention this season. Crews repaired four bridges, resurfaced 24 lane-miles, and reconstructed five blocks in downtown Brush this year. Work on U.S. 34 is ahead of schedule with over 80 percent of the planned work complete in one construction season instead of two. When the contactor returns in spring, asphalt resurfacing work will be limited to a one-mile segment in Fort Morgan. PROJECT INFORMATION For additional information about this project, contact the project team. Project hotline: 970-427-4005 Project email: i76us34@workzone.info Project web page: https://www.codot.gov/projects/i-76-us-34-fort-morgan-brushresurfacing Construction alerts: Text CONSTRUCT to 21000 and sign up for updates at https:// www.codot.gov/projects/i-76-us-34-fort-morgan-brush-resurfacing. For information on travel conditions visit COTrip.org, sign up for GovDelivery, or call 511. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and CDOT’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/coloradodot. REMEMBER: SLOW FOR THE CONE ZONE The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones. • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits. • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected. • Watch for workers. Drive with caution. • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times. • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you. • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so. • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones. • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you. • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones. • Be patient! COVID-19 Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, road maintenance and construction continues on CDOT projects with social distancing and other health safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced guidelines for construction activities. The public is urged to join the campaign for #DoingMyPartCO by practicing social distancing, wearing face masks, staying at home when possible, and avoiding nonessential travel. With fewer vehicles on the roads, CDOT crews will be able to work more efficiently and safely. WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY. Last year, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. This initiative takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization›s operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely. ABOUT CDOT CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Gov. Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.
Keene Craft Mercantile
A Special Place Where Talented People Bring Their Home-made Crafts to Sell Booths are $25 and Tables are $20 We are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm 65 Main Street, Keenesburg, Colorado 303-910-0640
October 21, 2020
Lost Creek Guide
Report: Nine Dead Each Day from Distracted Driving
October is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
DENVER (Oct. 1, 2020) - You’re behind the wheel, your phone buzzes, and you briefly take your eyes off the road to check your notifications. Harmless, right? Dead wrong: Per research from AAA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), sending or reading a text takes an average of five seconds. At 55 mph, then, you’ll have traveled the length of a football field with your eyes off the road. Little wonder that distracted driving regularly results in devastating consequences. Each year, nearly 3,500 lives are lost to drivers who divert their attention from the road – even for a few seconds. Another 391,000 people are injured, according to NHTSA. All told, distracted driving is the third leading driver-related cause of crash fatalities, behind speeding and driving under the influence. Why? Using your cell phone is fundamentally incompatible with safe driving – just like drinking. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the nation’s leading automotive safety research organization, has found that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of being involved in a crash. What’s more, drivers interacting with cell phones to perform tasks such as texting or surfing the Internet are between two and eight times more likely to be involved in a crash. 43 percent of those involved in a recent crash admit to texting while driving in the past month compared to 27 percent not involved in a crash, and fully 59 percent of all teen crashes involve some form of driver inattention. “A distracted driver is a lot like an intoxicated one,” said Skyler McKinley, director of public affairs for AAA Colorado. “When a driver’s attention is diverted from the road, their reaction time slows – and lives are jeopardized.” Take the Pledge to Stay Safe According to the 2019 Traffic Safety Culture Index, nearly 97 percent of drivers believe that texting and driving is very dangerous – and yet, per the same survey, nearly 40 percent admit to having done it in the past 30 days. Why? Fundamentally, smartphone apps “leverage the very same neural circuitry used by slot machines to keep us using their products as much as possible,” per Harvard University. If it feels like you’ve become addicted to your phone, it’s because you have. Luckily, fighting that addiction while behind the wheel is as simple as stowing your smartphone. For Distracted Driving Awareness Month, take the pledge to drive distraction free at AAA.com/StaySafe. You’re in control of how you drive. Your smartphone isn’t. • Prepare for your drive. Set vehicle systems such as GPS, seats, mirrors, climate controls, and sound systems before hitting the road. Decide on your route and check traffic conditions ahead of time. Mental distractions last longer than you think - up to 27 seconds after dialing, texting or changing the radio station. • Disable or stow electronics. Never use text messaging, email, video games, or internet functions, including those built into the vehicle, while driving. Stow your smartphone away, turn it to airplane mode, or activate call/text blocking features. Learn how at AAA.com/StaySafe. • Stay focused. Do not let anything divert your attention. Be sure to actively scan the road, use your mirrors, and watch out for pedestrians and cyclists. If you have passengers, enlist their help as a “designated texter.” Ask them to answer your calls, respond to texts, and program the navigation. • Pull over. If you have to call or text while on the road, pull off the road safely and stop first. • Be a good passenger. Speak out if the driver of your vehicle is distracted. • Don’t be a distraction. Avoid calling or texting others when you know they are driving. Colorado Law For adult drivers, regular cell phone use for voice calls is permitted and headphones may be worn in one ear for this purpose. Distracted driving is illegal: Adult drivers are prohibited from manual data entry and transmission on a cell phone (i.e., to send a text message or browse the internet) while behind the wheel. Drivers under 18, meanwhile, are prohibited from using a cell phone while driving. The prohibition includes phone calls, text messaging, or similar forms of manual data entry and transmission. A single, seconds-long distraction is all it takes to forever change the course of your life,” McKinley said.”No life is worth losing to distraction. Pay attention, focus on the road, and put the phone away to save lives this National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and, in fact, all year long.” About AAA – The Auto Club Group AAA Colorado is a proud part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the second-largest AAA club in North America with more than 14 million members across 14 U.S. states, the province of Quebec and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 60 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA. com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Learn more.
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Polis Extends Mask Order As Colorado’s Coronavirus Hospitalizations Climb
By Chuck Murphy, David Zalubowski/AP Colorado Gov. Jared Polis pulls on a face covering after making a point during a news conference, Sept. 29, 2020, in Denver. Faced with rising hospitalizations and concern that COVID-19 is continuing to spread in Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis said Friday that a mandatory mask requirement would continue and be extended for at least another 30 days. During his regular state briefing on the coronavirus, Polis emphasized that while the infection may impact older populations at a higher rate it has resulted in hospitalizations for every age group. Currently, Coloradans in his age group, 40-49, are overrepresented in hospitalizations for the disease caused by the coronavirus. People in that age group are about 13 percent of Colorado’s population, but now almost 14 percent of those who are hospitalized with COVID-19. “I’m the most worried I have been since early in July,” Polis said. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has grown by 110, or nearly 45 percent, since Sept. 28, when 246 were hospitalized. As of Thursday afternoon, 356 were hospitalized with the illness caused by the virus. Polis attributed the growth in cases and hospitalizations to “coronavirus fatigue,” acknowledging that people are just tired of the virus, and the restrictions. At the same time, he warned that, with winter coming, Coloradans would need to further minimize their contacts with other people, and “wear a damn mask.” “We’re not through this yet,” Polis said. “I think more of it is behind us than ahead of us, but we need to redouble our efforts.” Polis’s mask order requires people 11 and older to wear a mask when inside a public space or public transportation. But, as he has many times during the pandemic, Polis appeared agitated at the notion that Coloradans need a government order to know that wearing a mask would protect them and their families from the spread of a potentially deadly virus. He called mask-wearing “common sense” and compared it to the spread of athlete’s foot in a gym, noting that, when that happens, everyone puts on shoes for a few days to protect their feet from the fungus. With the coronavirus, the consequences are far worse, he noted. “This ain’t athletes foot,” Polis said. The governor also emphasized the need to avoid crowds as Halloween approaches, revealing that his family intends to decorate a couple of rooms at his home and just trick or treat indoors on Halloween night. Not everyone will want to do that, he acknowledged, so if you go out, he encouraged it to be done safely. “Make the mask part of it,” Polis said.
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Lost Creek Guide
Colorado’s County Clerks, Voters Enjoy a Decades-long Relationship with Mail Ballots
DENVER, Sept. 25, 2020 -- Colorado’s 64 county clerks are gearing up to run their third statewide election of the year, the general election on Nov. 3. They’ve already run the presidential primary in March and the primary election in June, making them the most trusted source on a variety of election issues, including mail ballots. Ballots to military and overseas voters from Colorado went out Sept. 19, while instate voters will be mailed their ballots beginning Oct. 9. That’s why clerks are using the following hashtags: #TrustedInfo, #Safe&Secure and #Excited&Decided. “Colorado voters should know that their elections are amongst the best in the nation,” said Pam Anderson, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association. “The Colorado model is prepared to provide safe access for voters and the security required to support confidence in election results.” In Weld County, Clerk Carly Koppes told The Greeley Tribune that ballots are treated as first class, but the ballots also include an insignia on the envelopes to give them additional priority. “In Colorado, with our very good working relationship with the USPS, we’re continuing that relationship,” she said. Boulder County Clerk Molly Fitzpatrick echoed that sentiment. “Millions of Americans rely on the Postal Service to deliver their ballot so they can have their voice heard in our democracy. This includes military and overseas voters, those with disabilities, those who simply prefer to vote at home, and, now, those who fear for their lives because of COVID-19,” she said. La Plata County Clerk and Recorder Tiffany Parker, who is on the Postal Committee of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said she has been told by the U.S. Postal Service that election materials make up less than 2% of all mailed material between mid-September and Election Day. “You hear a lot about mail-in ballots now … but I’m very confident we’re going to be fine,” she told The Durango Herald. Colorado is a leader in elections. The state is ranked second in the nation for voter turnout, third in voter registration and fourth in lowest wait times -- and the numbers are getting better with every election. Page 2 of 10 Beginning in 1993, Colorado voters in off-year elections could receive mail ballots. Then voters were able to request absentee ballots be automatically mailed to them for primary and general elections. So many Coloradans took advantage of the option that in 2013 the Colorado General Assembly voted to make Colorado a mail-ballot vote state. So now ballots are mailed to all active registered voters, and possible irregularities are turned over to district attorneys. Anderson, the association director, added that voters have a role in making sure their registration is up to date and to safely return their ballot using any of the options available: the Postal Service, 24-hour drop boxes located in each county and voterservice and polling centers that clerks operate. “‘Your county clerk is your trusted source of reliable election information,” she said. The Colorado County Clerks Association (CCCA) is a non-governmental and nonpartisan entity; its members consist of all 64 County Clerks of Colorado. The CCCA members are mostly elected, with one appointed Clerk and Recorder (City and County of Broomfield). Each Clerk and Recorder’s office is responsible for issuing and recording marriage licenses, recording all real estate transactions, issuing liquor licenses, registering voters, conducting all primary, general, and county elections, and, when contracted, municipal and school district elections. The Clerk and Recorder’s Office also operates the Motor Vehicle Divisions in the State of Colorado for titling vehicles and issuing license plates. @COCtyClerks
kinnearinsurance@outlook.com
By GLAD Club
October 21, 2020
Weldon Valley News
Adventure Today I spied a winding path That beckoned me to come; I followed it with eager steps And soon was far from home. I passed a squirrel on his perch; He chattered loudly at me. I saw a timid rabbit run To hide behind a tree. I nodded to a happy flower; I chased a butter fly; I sat beside a murmuring stream And flung wee pebbles high. I saw a spider spin her lace And stopped a while to view. The landscape from a wooded hill And see the sky of blue. I lingered ‘neath the whispering pine And thought how good He Who placed such beauty on this earth That mortals here might see. Beatrice Wheeler
It been another week of sunny skies. We are all wanting for that first Autumn Weather to remind us winter is near. Smile a little: Driving test- Patient: “Doctor, “I get very nervous and scared during driving tests.” Doctor: ‘Don’t worry, you’ll pass eventually.” Patient: but I’m the examiner!” Community news: It was a fun day for Lincoln Lozier on Saturday when he was joined by family and friends to celebrate is third birthday. It was a ‘truck party’ as Lincoln and all had his buddies had fun playing in the dirt with their trucks. Happy birthday, Lincoln . The November election is just around the corner. Ballets will be in the mail soon. Everyone should have received their Blue Booklet with information on the eleven state wide measures to be voted on. On Monday, October 12 at 7:00 p.m. Jon Becker will be presenting the pros and cons on the issues. The meeting is open to all electors. It will be held at the Republican Headquarters, 618 E. Platte. Time is running out, be part of the future. Complete your 2020 Census. You can respond at my2020census.go or call 1-844-330-2020. The November election id drawing near. Are you registered to vote? You can do this on line or at the Morgan County Administration Building. This an important election, let your voice be heard. Church Chat: The St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church will celebrate Mass on Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. Pastor Reverend Erik Vigil Reyes and Parochial Vicar Reverend Francis Saleth, HGN will share the services. Confession will be celebrated before mass. Weldon Valley Presbyterian Church in Goodrich has Christian education and worship at 10 a.m. each Sunday. Contact information for Pastor Denise Shannon is 720-271-6733 or pastordeniseshannon@gmail.com. School Scoop: School just keeps rolling along, students and staff are busy. 4-H News: 4-H members are working on projects for the 2021 county Fair. What’s cookin’: Candied Pecans-1 teaspoon cold water, 1 egg white,1 pound pecan halves, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 cup sugar. Beat water and eg white till frothy. Mix well with pecans. Spread on large cookie sheet (one with edges works best.) They should be in a single layer. The sheet does not need to be greased. Bake at 225 degrees for one hour. Stir every 15 minutes. A fun treat! First facts: 1922-Rebecca L. Elton, Democrat from Georgia, became the first woman to be appointed to the U.S. senate. (However, she served only one day.) Weldon Valley History: Weldon Valley School-There were several one-room in the area, of which many joined the Weldon Valley District, or other surrounding districts. One of these was the Columbine School, also known as the “Pleasant Prairie School District. The Pleasant Prairie School District No. 14 was organized in 1911. It was located about 9 miles north of Goodrich. The district dissolved and the students were schooled in Weldona. Calendar of Events: Wednesday, October 7, 1:30, GLAD Club at the Goodrich church. Thought for the Day: “Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward; they may be beaten but they may start a winning game.” Johann Goethe
October 21, 2020
Lost Creek Guide
High Lights of Senator Cory Gardner’s Accomplishments for Colorado
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Addressing the Health Crisis Gardner worked with Taiwan to secure 4.48 million total masks for the U.S. and 200,000 for Colorado. (April 2020) (May 2020) The South Korean government delivered more than 100,000 COVID-19 testing kits to Colorado after Gardner worked closely with the Republic of Korea and Governor Polis to secure more tests. (April 2020) Gardner secured 100 ventilators for Colorado from the federal government. (April 2020) Gardner and Governor Polis secured the President’s commitment to send an additional 190,000 COVID-19 testing kits to Colorado in a White House meeting. (May 2020) At Gardner’s urging, the U.S. Trade Representative removed tariffs on certain medical products that are necessary for the U.S. to prepare for the COVID-19 outbreak. (March 2020) Gardner helped secure clarification from the Small Business Administration (SBA) that Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) will be eligible for relief provided by the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). (April 2020) After Gardner requested more funding for rural hospitals, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would set aside $10 billion solely for rural hospitals and clinics. (April 2020) The President directed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) fund 100 percent of the Colorado National Guard’s pandemic response emergency assistance activities after Gardner and members of the Colorado delegation requested the President approve Governor Polis’s request for additional funding. (April 2020) Colorado has received significant funding from Congress’ COVID-19 relief packages: $360.9 million from HHS in initial hospital preparedness funding to Colorado healthcare providers (April 2020) $288 million from HHS for Colorado hospitals to respond to COVID-19 and address revenue losses, including $188 million for rural healthcare providers in Colorado (May 2020) $159.5 million from the CDC to expand testing capabilities in Colorado (May 2020) $142 million from HHS for Colorado hospitals to respond to COVID-19 (July 2020) $44 million from HUD to respond to COVID-19 among individuals who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance. (June 2020) $36.5 million from FEMA for the City and County of Denver for emergency protective measures (April 2020) $34 million from HUD for the state of Colorado (April 2020) $20.2 million from HHS for Colorado health centers (June 2020) $16.6 million from FEMA for emergency protective measures (April 2020) $12.7 million from HUD to address public health, coronavirus, and housing and economic disruption needs (May 2020) $12.4 million from FEMA for emergency protective measures (June 2020) $14.6 million from FEMA for healthcare staffing contracts (May 2020) $11.7 million from HHS to expand capacity for COVID-19 testing (May 2020) $10 million from the CDC for COVID-19 testing in Colorado (April 2020) Providing Economic Relief Gardner and Rep. Neguse secured updated guidance from the Small Business Association (SBA) to help many mom and pop restaurants access small business loans and weather the COVID-19 pandemic. (April 2020) The U.S. Department of the Treasury clarified that rural electric cooperatives with fewer than 500 employees were eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which Gardner requested. (May 2020) Gardner secured guidance from SBA allowing partnerships and seasonal employers to increase their PPP loan amounts. (May 2020) Grants: $366.9 million from DOT for Colorado airports (April 2020) $13.3 million for taxiway construction for Denver International Airport (April 2020) Bipartisan, Effective: The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University ranked Gardner the 3rd most bipartisan U.S. Senator. (May 2020) A report from GovTrack analyzing legislative data in 2019 found Gardner ranked 1st in authoring the most bipartisan bills among Republican Senators and ranked 2nd when compared to every member of the Senate. (February 2020) The Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law, providing full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and billions to address the maintenance backlog of deferred projects on federal lands. (August 2020) The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, which establishes the 9-8-8 Suicide Hotline, was approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate. (May 2020) Gardner’s provision to establish the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics was approved by the U.S. Senate. (August 2020) The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act was signed into law, which Gardner consistently called for to boost Colorado’s trade relationships with Canada and Mexico. (January 2020) Gardner’s TAIPEI Act was signed into law, which is intended to strengthen Taiwan’s standing around the world. (March 2020) The Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act, part of Gardner’s VA Readiness Initiative designed to help ease the transition back to civilian life for service members, was signed into law. (February 2020) The President signed the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act into law, which Gardner helped introduce. (June 2020) Delivering for Colorado: The Bureau of Land Management headquarters officially opened in Grand Junction, after Senator Gardner pushed for years to relocate the headquarters. (August 2020) Peterson Air Force Base was selected as the provisional location for U.S. Space Command for at least the next six years. (May 2020) Colorado passed new legislation to improve military spouse licensure practices, as called for by Gardner and Bennet to bolster Colorado’s chances for the permanent headquarters. (June 2020) Gardner secured $28 million to begin construction on the Arkansas Valley Conduit, which will provide abundant and affordable clean drinking water to more than 50,000 people in 40 communities in Southeast Colorado. (February 2020) Evraz North America announced the Rocky Mountain Steel Mill’s long-rail mill project was moving forward to the construction phase in Pueblo. (August 2020) The Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas export facility was certified by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which would offer Colorado producers an opportunity to access overseas markets. (March 2020) A federal judge ruled the T-Mobile and Sprint merger could proceed, which Gardner supported to make Colorado home to the next major wireless carrier, bringing thousands of jobs to the state. (February 2020) Colorado Springs and the U.S. Forest Service announced a new permanent airtanker base and ramp will be built at the Colorado Springs Airport to support aerial firefighting efforts in the Rocky Mountain region and surrounding areas. (January 2020) DISH Network announced that Denver television stations would air in La Plata County during the COVID-19 pandemic, finally connecting Colorado satellite viewers in the Four Corners region with Colorado news and emergency information, as Gardner has worked on for years. (March 2020) The National Defense Authorization Act was approved by the Senate, authorizing $268.5 million total in military construction projects in Colorado. (July 2020) Major grants for Colorado: $60.7 million grant from DOT for the Vail Pass Project, improving I-70 between mile post 180 and 190 in Eagle County. (June 2020) $32 million from HUD to address homelessness and a fourth Continuum of Care was designated for Larimer and Weld Counties, which Gardner pushed for. (January 2020) $20.1 million from DOT to rehabilitate runways, taxiways, and lighting. (February 2020) $14.8 million from DOT to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment and to contract bus facilities. (August 2020) $10 million from DOT to design and develop a pipeline Research, Development, and Testing (RDT) facility in Pueblo. (July 2020) $4 million from DOT to create quiet zones in Longmont(February 2020) $225,000 from DOT to study extending Amtrak’s Southwest Chief Route to Colorado Springs, which Gardner supported and requested. (February 2020) Compendium of Press Release from the Office of Senator Cory Gardner
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Lost Creek Guide
6 Great Ways to Celebrate Fall in Colorado
By Emily Krempholtz The nights are getting cooler, the leaves are turning gold, and everywhere you turn, there’s someone holding a pumpkin spice latte or wearing a cute scarf. Fall is officially here! And while 2020 might look different from other years in a lot of ways, there are still some fantastic ways to celebrate fall in Colorado, and maybe we’re a little biased, but we think you should get out and enjoy them all.
Pumpkin Patches
Sure, you could grab a perfectly sized pumpkin from the bins outside Safeway or King Soopers, but there’s something just so satisfying about going out into that pumpkin patch and selecting your own, especially for kids. Since pumpkins are difficult to grow at higher elevations, you’ll probably have to travel to the Front Range or the Western Slope to pick your own pumpkins, but it’s worth the drive for the smiles you’ll put on your kids’ faces. Anderson Farms (Erie) Anderson Farms is practically an institution in the Front Range. With a corn maze, hay rides, pumpkin patch, plenty of great food, private campfire sites, playgrounds, pedal karts, and more, it’s a great way to spend the day celebrating fall with family and friends. Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms (Littleton) - The pumpkin patch at Chatfield Farms is available by reservation this year, and also includes passes to the Chatfield gardens as well as the corn maze if you buy them on weekends. Cottonwood Farm (Boulder/Lafayette) - At Cottonwood Farm, you can take a hay ride to the pumpkin patch, or visit the fall market for a selection of pre-picked pumpkins, squashes, and beautiful fall decor. Studt’s Pumpkin Patch (Grand Junction) - A lot of pumpkin patches offer hay rides, but Studt’s pulls theirs by horse! They also have corn mazes, pony rides, and of course, a massive selection of pumpkins, from very small to very giant, and every variety from classic orange to white and green. Moon Farm and Pumpkin Patch and Petting Zoo (Fruita) - This family-friendly pumpkin patch has a haunted straw maze for spooky fun adventures, hay rides, and a petting zoo with bunnies, ponies, horses, peacocks, goats, and more. Punk’s Pumpkin Patch (Delta) - Calling this experience a pumpkin patch wouldn’t be doing it justice, because Punk’s also has an obstacle course, a zip line, a huge inflatable slide, a petting zoo, playgrounds, and even a ninja course.
Apple Picking
In Colorado, apples aren’t quite as abundant as in other parts of the country, but we still have some great orchards with plenty of delicious fruit on their trees. You will most likely have to schedule a reservation to go apple picking, and the slots fill up well in advance, so
October 21, 2020
be sure to plan ahead! Many U-Pick apple orchards offer other fun apple-themed products as well, like apple cider, apple cider donuts, apple pies, apple butter, and more delicious treats. Ya Ya Farm & Orchard (Boulder) - At Ya Ya Farm & Orchard, you can get your pick of apples as well as apple themed products like delicious, fresh made cider donuts at their farm stand. Ya Ya Farm also has a variety of farm animals you can visit, including their massive Percheron draft horses. Big B’s Fruit Company (Hotchkiss) - At Big B’s, not only will you be able to pick your own apples, but you can stop by their tasting room for some of their delicious homemade hard cider, made with fruit picked right there on the farm. They also have a cafe, socially-distant live music on Thursdays, an orchard store, and even rustic campsites in the orchards!
Corn Mazes
Fritzler’s Corn Maize (La Salle) - Wander through the rows of corn to try and find your way out at Fritzler’s Corn Maize, or if you’re feeling extra daring, grab tickets for Scream Acres, the haunted weekend event that will have you feeling like a character in a horror movie. Jack Lantern’s Northern Colorado Corn Maze (Fort Collins) - With a 35+ acre corn maze that is perfect for families during the day, with an optional scavenger hunt for those looking for a challenge, as well as bounce houses, a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, and more, Jack Lantern’s is a great palace for some fall fun. When the sun goes down, the monsters come out and the corn maze gets a little spookier.
Leaf Peeping
The autumn aspen season is short in Colorado, but beautiful. Whether you want to see it by foot, out the window of your car, or even from the air, now’s the time to check out those golden aspens. Popular destinations like Kenosha Pass and Kebler Pass are often packed in the fall—for a more detailed look at leaf peeping options in Colorado, check out our blog post on the topic.
Haunted Houses
There’s something so thrilling about being scared on purpose, and Colorado has got you covered when
it comes to haunted houses. The Frightmare Compound (Westminster) - This is Colorado’s oldest haunted house, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t grown more terrifying year after year. Their team of “scare experts” works hard to create an experience you’ll never forget… even if you wish you could. Aftermath (Canon City) - This spooky place has been rated one of Colorado’s top scariest haunted houses for years. With four scare nights throughout October, and different routes you can take through the haunted forest and house, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure type of place that will have your heart pounding and your adrenaline pumping.
Enjoy Patio Season Before It’s Over
At lower elevations, you might get lucky and have a winter season that lets you enjoy the patio almost year-round, but it’s certainly not a given. So make sure you enjoy these final weeks of pleasant weather by taking advantage of all the delicious fall food and beverages Colorado’s restaurants, breweries, and distilleries have to offer. Take a brewery tour in Summit County to try local offerings of pumpkin ales, or visit Stem Ciders in Denver or on their farm in Lafayette for some appley, boozy goodness. Most breweries roll out seasonal varieties like Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers, as well as more creative varieties made with ingredients like spiced hops, cinnamon, and even yams, so get out and enjoy patio season while you still can with a local brew or cocktail.
Planning Ahead
Due to capacity restrictions and social distancing policies, many fall festivities are operating a bit differently this year, whether that means no tickets at the gate, limited time slots, mask restrictions, or less availability, so while it’s 100% possible to have a fun fall, it’s more important than ever this year to plan ahead. Get those tickets early, or plan your adventures for a weekday, if possible.But no matter where you go, and when you do it, we’re confident you’ll find a way to make this fall festive and fun, whether you’re picking pumpkins with the family so you can take them home to carve them, or planning a spooky date night in a haunted corn maze. Sponsored Content
October 21, 2020
Lost Creek Guide
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Colorado election officials must verify a voter’s signature to count a ballot. Here’s how it works. For the 2020 election, Colorado voters statewide can correct ballots rejected for signature discrepancies through through their mobile phones
Sandra Fish, Special to The Colorado Sun Perhaps your signature is picture-perfect cursive letters. Or maybe it’s a messy scrawl. Either way, you may be wondering: How do Colorado election officials verify that the signature on your ballot envelope is actually yours? Colorado election officials begin mailing ballots to registered active voters Friday and voters should receive them in the next week. When completing mail ballots, one of the most often-asked questions involves the required signature on the envelope. It’s what county election officials use to determine whether it counts or gets rejected. To get a sense of how it works, we talked to some county clerks and the Secretary of State’s Office about the process for signature verification. In short: The signatures required on the Mark Songer, a forensic document examiner from Robson Forensic, leads a training for a group of future election judges on signature outside of the verification at the Denver Elections Division headquarters Oct. 7, 2020 envelope used to in Denver. (Kathryn Scott, Special to The Colorado Sun) return your mail ballot confirm that the right voter filled out the ballot. They’re matched most often by a bipartisan team of two election judges, and if there’s a problem, the voter has a chance to fix it. In Colorado, few ballots — less than 1% — are rejected because of signature discrepancies. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, only about 16,000 in the 2016 general election and about 13,000 in the November 2018 contest. But a Colorado Public Radio investigation found that those whose ballots are rejected are often young voters or voters in counties with higher numbers of non-white voters. What signature are they using to compare? Typically, a voter’s signature on a ballot envelope is compared against one the most recent signature state has on file in its database. If you voted in the June 30 primary, that’s the signature that will be used for comparison. If you recently moved to Colorado and registered to vote when getting a driver’s license, that’s the signature that will be used. The state stores signatures on official documents that are used for review by local election officials, but they aren’t public, said Betsy Hart, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Jena Griswold. “For instance, our elections director, who lives in Denver, tells me he has 24 signatures in his file,” Hart wrote in an email. It’s Time to Vote! Sign up for The Colorado Sun’s pop-up newsletter explaining how elections and mail ballots work in Colorado Who does the signature comparison and how do they do it? All counties use a team of two election judges to determine whether a signature should be rejected. These judges are interviewed and selected from lists provided by the political parties, so a team of one Democrat and one Republican examine the signatures and both must agree in order to reject a ballot. The Secretary of State’s Office has a 20-page manual on signature verification with illustrations on what to look for. The state and individual counties train election judges on verification before they start work. A recent New York Times story put Jefferson County’s elections director to the test when it came to signatures, and Cody Swanson was able to identify the fake and real signatures correctly. The judges are taught to look for particular features that may indicate a questionable signature. Some large counties in Colorado actually use special software connected to their ballot processing machines to make an initial comparison and acceptance of signatures on ballot envelopes. Arapahoe County is among them. Sarah Bowers, left, attempts to copy a signature on a white board as Stuart Clubb, center, the Denver Elections Division ballot operations coordinator, and Mark Songer, right, a forensic document examiner from Robson Forensic, lead a group of future election judges through a signature verification training course on Oct. 7, 2020 in Denver. (Kathryn Scott, Special to The Colorado Sun) “It has a camera, that’s what captures the image of the signature,” said Peg Perl, the county’s elections director. “It only accepts (ballot signatures), it never rejects (them). Anything that doesn’t meet that high level of confidence goes to humans.” And the machine is only used when processing early mail-in ballots, Perl said. Election judges will do all the signature matching Nov. 2 and Election Day, Nov. 3. Perl said the county has doubled the number of signature verification judges from 30 to 60 this year, with two shifts of workers to allow for social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Delta County also doubled its team of election judges that check signatures to four for the November election. All signatures in the small Western Slope county are reviewed only by the election judges, not by machines. Deputy Clerk and Elections Director Rene Loy-Maas said less than 1% of ballots end up having signatures questioned. Loy-Maas noted that signature verification isn’t easy: “It is a very intensive manual labor.” What if a voter’s signature doesn’t match? In the rare instance that a ballot is rejected because of an unverified signature, there’s still a chance for voters to correct the issue and get their ballots counted. Elections officials will send a letter by mail, as well as email or text if that information is included in your voter registration, letting voters know that their signature was rejected
and offering them an attempt to “cure” the problem. This year, voters will be able to cure their signatures directly through their phones under a program announced this week. If you get a notice that your signature has been rejected, you may text the word “Colorado” to 2VOTE (28638). Then follow these steps: Click on the link you receive in reply. Enter the voter ID number on the notice you receive. Affirm you returned your ballot. Sign an affidavit with your finger. Take a photo of your ID and submit it. But voters also may go to a voting center and present an ID to correct their signature issues. “Arapahoe has been using the mobile curing for a while now,” Perl said. “Voters really like it.” If you don’t cure your ballot? It doesn’t count. “We keep the physical ballot on the shelf” in Arapahoe County, Perl said. “We don’t open the envelope. If they never send back that cure letter, we never open that envelope. It just goes to election records.” This story was produced with support from a grant from the American Press Institute.”
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Phone: 970-336-7204 Fax: 970-352-0242 1150 O St., P.O. Box 758, Greeley, CO 80632
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70% Of Lost U.S. Oil Jobs May Not Return Anytime Soon
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com As much as 70 percent of the more than 100,000 jobs lost in the U.S. oil, gas, and chemicals industries due to the pandemic may not return by the end of 2021, Deloitte said in an analysis on Monday. Since the previous oil price crash of 2014, employment in the oil, gas, and chemical sectors (OG&C) has become much more sensitive to changes in crude oil prices due to the short-cycle investment and production in the U.S. shale patch, Deloitte noted. “Our multivariate statistical analysis on employment and market data suggests that as much as 70% of jobs lost during the pandemic may not come back by the end of 2021 in a consensus business-as-usual scenario,” Deloitte analysts led by Duane Dickson, US Oil, Gas & Chemicals leader, wrote in the analysis. According to Deloitte’s analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the OG&C industry laid off about 107,000 workers between March and August 2020, apart from widespread furloughs and pay cuts. The lay-offs were the fastest in the industry due to the economic slowdown and the oil price crash in the COVID-19 pandemic. In a business-as-usual scenario for 2021, with oil prices at $45 a barrel and natural gas prices at $2.5/MMBtu, 70 percent of OG&C jobs lost during the pandemic may not come back by the end of 2021, Deloitte said. In a pessimistic scenario with oil at $35 per barrel and natural gas at $2/MMBtu, the rate of recovery in jobs would be only 3 percent by the end of 2021, the analysis showed. In the U.S. oilfield services sector, job losses slowed in August, at 2,600 jobs lost, the latest monthly report of the Petroleum Equipment & Services Association (PESA) showed. Still, total job losses due to pandemic-related demand destruction reached 103,420 in August, with oilfield services employment down more than 121,000 jobs since August 2019 and at its lowest point since March 2017, according to PESA estimates.
October 21, 2020
Public Work Sessions for 2021 Budget Set for October 20 and 22 NEWS RELEASE
Date: 10/13/20 Contact: Finch, 970-336-7203 WELDJennifer COUNTY, CO – The
Board of Weld County Commissioners will hold public work sessions regarding the 2021 Budget on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, and ThursPUBLIC22, WORK SESSIONS 2021 will BUDGET SETinFOR 20 AND 22Room day, October 2020. The workFOR sessions be held theOCTOBER Pawnee Conference at the Weld County Administration Building located at 1150 O Street, Greeley. The WELD COUNTY, CO – The Board of Weld County Commissioners will hold public work sessions regarding discussions will onOctober specific budgetOctober impacts as well aswill obtaining the 2021 Budget onfocus Tuesday, 20,program 2020, and Thursday, 22, for 2020.2021 The work sessions staff comments on proposed budget plans theAdministration upcoming Building year. Scheduled times are be held in the Pawnee Conference Room at the Weldfor County located at 1150 O Street, Greeley.and The discussions will as focus onwork specificsession program discussions budget impactsproceed. for 2021 as well as of budget approximate may vary the Copies obtaining staff comments on proposed budget plans for the upcoming year. Scheduled times are documents are available for inspection at the Clerk to the Board’s Office at 1150 O approximate and may vary as the work session discussions proceed. Copies of budget documents are Street. available for inspection at the Clerk to the Board’s Office at 1150 O Street. SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20 9:00 a.m.: 9:40 a.m.: 9:50 a.m.: 10:40 a.m.: 10:50 a.m.: 11:00 a.m.: 11:10 a.m.: 11:20 a.m.: 11:35 a.m.: 11:50 a.m.: 1:30 p.m.: 1:40 p.m.: 1:50 p.m.: 2:15 p.m.: 2:25 p.m.: 2:40 p.m.: 3:00 p.m.:
3:30 p.m.: 3:40 p.m.: 4:00 p.m.: 4:15 p.m.:
Overview of 2020 proposed budget Communications & Wireless Communications Sheriff’s Office Assessor Clerk & Recorder Office of Emergency Management Extension Service & Fair Justice Services, Work Release, Community Corrections Coroner County Council Planning & Building Inspection Oil and Gas Energy Public Works, Engineering, & Noxious Weeds Fleet Services District Attorney Community Development Block Grant Outside agencies (including Upstate
SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22 9:00 a.m.: 9:05 a.m.: 9:10 a.m.: 9:15 a.m.: 9:20 a.m.: 9:30 a.m.:
10:00 a.m.:
10:30 a.m.: 11:15 a.m.:
County Attorney Commissioners Public Information Office Clerk to the Board Health Department Treasurer, Public Trustee, Finance and Administration, Accounting, Purchasing, Human Resources, and other Administrative department budgets Information Technology, GIS, Criminal Justice Information System and Telecom Services Information Technology Projects Wrap-up session
Colorado Economic Development, Small Business Development Center, North Front Range Behavioral Health, Envision, Weld Seniors, Promises for Children, 211, Weld’s Way Home)
Bright Futures Social Services & Human Services Buildings and Grounds & Veterans Services Buildings and Grounds – Special Projects
Date:First 10/13/20 State Veterinarian Confirms Equine Contact: Jennifer Finch, 970-336-720 West Nile Virus Case of 2020
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Broomfield, Colo. - A horse residing in Jefferson County has been diagnosed with West PUBLIC Nile Virus (WNV), marking the first confirmed equine WNV case in 2020. WORK SESSIO Vaccines in horses have proven to be a very effective prevention tool for WNV, and horses that have been vaccinated in past years do need an annual booster. If a–horse WELD COUNTY, CO The has Board of W not been vaccinated in previous years, it will need the two-shot vaccination series within a the 2021 Budget on Tuesday, Octob three to four week period. be held the Pawnee In addition to vaccinations, as a preventative measure horse in owners should alsoConference work Street,breeding Greeley. The discussions will f diligently to reduce mosquito populations and their possible areas where horses obtaining staff comments on propo are located. Recommendations include removing stagnant water sources, keeping animals inside during the bugs’ feeding times, which are typically early in the and morning andvary eve- as the w approximate may ning, and using mosquito repellents. available for inspection at the Clerk Any time a horse displays clinical signs consistent with neurologic disease, a complete veterinary examination is warranted. All infectious or contagious equine neurologic disSCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, OC eases are reportable to the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office. A comprehensive chart of reportable animal diseases in a.m.: ColoradoOverview can be found on propos 9:00 of 2020 the CDA website. 9:40 a.m.: Communications & The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has reported 20 human Wireless cases to date in 2020. They have published data on human West Nile cases, as wellCommunication as posi9:50 a.m.: Sheriff’s Office tive mosquito pools, available on the CDPHE WNV website. 10:40 a.m.: Assessor ### The Colorado Department of Agriculture exists to support state›s Clerk agriculture indus10:50the a.m.: & Recorder try and serve the people of Colorado through regulation, 11:00 advocacy and education. misa.m.: Office ofOur Emergency Ma sion is to strengthen and advance Colorado agriculture,11:10 promote a safeExtension and high-quality a.m.: Service & Fair food supply, protect consumers, and foster responsible stewardship of the environment 11:20 a.m.: Justice Services, Work Re and natural resources. Community Corrections colorado.gov/ag 11:35 a.m.: Coroner 11:50 a.m.: County Council 1:30 p.m.: Planning & Building Inspe 1:40 p.m.: Oil and Gas Energy 1:50 p.m.: Public Works, Engineering Noxious Weeds 2:15 p.m.: Fleet Services 2:25 p.m.: District Attorney 2:40 p.m.: Community Developmen 3:00 p.m.: Outside agencies (includ
3:30 p.m.: 3:40 p.m.: 4:00 p.m.: 4:15 p.m.: PowerOn2020_LostCreek_4.625x6.875.indd 1
Colorado Economic Develo Business Development Cent Range Behavioral Health, En Seniors, Promises for Childre Way Home)
Bright Futures Social Services & Human Buildings and Grounds & Services Buildings and Grounds –
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October 21, 2020
- Obituaries -
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Lost Creek Guide
Roy Don Brown Roy Don Brown, 82, long term resident of Wiggins, Roggen, and Denver, Colorado, passed away Tuesday, September 9, 2020 in the Bonnell Good Samaritan Center, Greeley, Colorado. Roy was born on February 6, 1938, to Belle Elizabeth Giourard and William “Tex” Arthur Brown in Turkey Creek, Colorado. Roy lived at Turkey Creek, and attended Evergreen High School. As a high school senior he left and began working and singing country music. His musical talents took him from one end of the United States to the other, often playing with his own band. This allowed him acquaintances and performances with some of the finest country western musicians and venues in America. Musician, singer, and guitarist, Roy liked to play and sing for an audience. Roy and his wife Frances even entertained people in local retirement homes in eastern Colorado. Roy wrote several country western songs. He was also a gardener, leather worker, artist , and professional painter. He was a member of Summit Baptist Church of Wiggins, Colorado where he was active in the music and maintenance of the building. Roy was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings. Roy is survived by his wife, Frances Elizabeth Peggram Brown of Wiggins and two brothers, Ned Brown of Silver City, New Mexico, and Robert Brown of Montrose, Colorado. Surviving stepchildren are Keith McQueen of Denver; Linda K. Epple and Timothy Peggram of Wiggins; Bill Peggram of Hixon, Tennessee, and Joseph Peggram of Woodstock, Georgia. A memorial service was held at Summit Baptist Church, Wiggins, Colorado September 19 at 1:00 p.m. Memorial gifts can be sent to Summit Baptist Church, 401 E. 2nd Ave., Wiggins, Colorado.
Tool Thefts Continue to be a Problem in Weld County
Thefts of tools from construction sites and oil and gas facilities continue to be an issue in Weld County. Last week, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office issued a public service announcement about a recent uptick in tool thefts. The sheriff’s office received several more reports of tool thefts over the weekend and into this week. Although we are receiving calls from victims all over the county, the highest concentration of tool thefts has been reported in Del Camino, Hill-N-Park and on the south side of the county, from about Weld County Road 6 to the Adams County line. The items thieves are targeting run the gamut of small hand and power tools to higher ticket items such as generators, air compressors, demolition tools and other large equipment. It appears in the last week thieves are focusing more on small tools that don’t carry serial numbers. The sheriff’s office would like to reiterate residents take the following steps to prevent and protect themselves from tool theft: • Take an inventory of your tools, noting the serial numbers for high-ticket items. • Mark low-ticket items with your name or company logo for easy identification. • Do not leave tools out in the open at the jobsite or in the bed of your pickup. • Store tools securely, whether that’s in a storage container at the site or by bringing tools into your garage at the end of the workday. • If storing tools onsite, be sure to purchase high-quality locks. • Be wary of your surroundings and report suspicious people and activity by calling 911. Email: Public_information@co.weld.co.us Phone: 970-400-2802 Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime is asked to call the Weld County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 356-4015 or Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at www. crimeshurt.com. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the
Benefits of Driving Electric Vehicles Celebrated at United Power’s National Drive Electric Week Event
A free virtual event to learn more about electric vehicles and to ask an EV expert all your questions Brighton, Colo. – Electric vehicle drivers, supporters, and intrigued United Power members are invited to attend United Power’s “United We Drive EV” webinar on Sun., Sept. 27th from 2-3 p.m. During the live webinar, United Power will take members on a safe, virtual test drive of an electric vehicle. EV Outreach & Education expert, Nigel Zeid of Boulder Nissan will be on hand to walk you through the finer points of EV ownership, and United Power representatives will discuss how to make the most of an EV with United Power’s rates. Learn more and register for the free event at www.unitedpower.com/DriveEVWeek. “With more electric cars than ever before on the market and a larger, more accessible charging infrastructure, owning and driving an EV is within reach for more drivers,” said Joel Danforth, United Power New Business Director. “We want to help our members looking to make the transition to electric vehicles by providing trusted information, and information about rates and programs that make driving an EV even more attractive.” Today, you’re more likely to see multiple electric vehicles while you’re driving to work or the grocery store than not, and it’s becoming more common for gas stations and public spaces to install charging stations to accommodate electric vehicle drivers. You probably support a business with an electric vehicle fleet or know someone who has invested in either an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid. “There’s a perception that electric vehicles aren’t capable of meeting the average person’s needs,” Zeid says. “Every main concern can be boiled down to that root perception. With a little information, we can turn hesitation into excitement. Electric vehicles have all the benefits of any other vehicle without much of the cost.” United Power’s event is one of almost 300 across the country where electric vehicle owners, government and community leaders are celebrating the clean-air benefits and cost-savings of electric cars by holding Drive EV Week educational and informational events. For more information about United Power’s “United We Drive EV” event, visit: unitedpower.com/ DriveEVWeek. For a complete list of National Drive Electric Week events, visit: DriveElectricWeek.org
Connection Matters with Weld County Long-Term Care Residents
WELD COUNTY, CO — In continuing the tradition of recognizing the hundreds of residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout Weld County, October has been proclaimed Weld County Long-Term Care Residents’ Rights Month by the Board of County Commissioners. Many things change as people age and move into the next phase of life. However, one important thing does not: When moving into long-term care facilities, people retain their human and civil rights, also known as residents’ rights. Residents’ rights are guaranteed by the federal Nursing Home Reform Law, which requires nursing homes to care for residents in a manner that promotes and enhances the quality of life of each resident, ensuring dignity, choice and self-determination. In Weld County, the residents’ rights of more than 850 individuals living in nine nursing homes and more than 1,000 individuals residing in 29 assisted living facilities are promoted and protected by the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program through the Department of Human Services’ Area Agency on Aging (AAA). “This year has been difficult with COVID-19, and it’s great to see these facilities and ombudsman coming together to advocate for long-term care,” said Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer, Coordinator for the Department of Human Services. “Residents’ Rights Month truly signifies what we stand for in Weld County — quality of life and connection for all residents at any stage of life.” Nationally, October is annually designated as Residents’ Rights Month by Consumer Voice to honor residents living in long-term care facilities. The theme for this year’s Residents’ Rights Month, “Connection Matters,” emphasizes connections – to family, to friends and to the community – as an essential component of good health and quality of life for residents.“We want to honor and celebrate each long-term care resident’s individuality and connection to others, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Department of Human Services Director Jamie Ulrich. “Included in this framework, we help maintain their right to have a say in their care and civil liberties.” Learn more about AAA’s services and programs by visiting www.weldaaa.org. For more information about residents’ rights, or for questions or concerns, contact Raegan Maldonado, Weld County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Supervisor, at (970) 400-6128 or rmaldonado@weldgov.com.
Michelle Lehmann Appointed to Colorado Beef Council Board Powderhorn Cattle Producer to Help Direct State Checkoff-Funded Efforts
ENGLEWOOD, CO (October 2, 2020) – Governor Jared Polis recently named Michelle Lehmann, a cowcalf producer from Powderhorn, CO, to the Colorado Beef Council Board of Directors. Lehmann will join other beef producers and industry leaders on the board, which directs state Beef Checkoff investments in promotion, research, and education programs to help increase demand for beef. Lehmann and her husband, Tim, have a cattle ranch in Gunnison and Saguache counties, and have been active supporters of agriculture and the beef industry for many years. A 4th generation beef producer in the small ranching community south of the town of Gunnison, Lehmann also has a degree in accounting and human resource management and has worked for 24 years as an office manager for Deldorita Ranches, Inc. In addition, she has spent countless hours in the field tending the family’s cattle, irrigating and harvesting hay, and fixing fences. Lehmann has also been an active 4-H leader for more than a decade, serves on the board of directors for the Gunnison County Electric Association, and is an active member in numerous organizations, including the Gunnison County Stockgrower’s Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. She is also active in the Gunnison Valley Cattlewomen, where she serves as vice president, and the Colorado Cattlewomen. Filling one of two Cattle Raiser seats on the CBC board, Lehmann will serve a 4-year term. Lehmann says she is looking forward to continuing to serve the industry in this new capacity. “Colorado Beef Council plays a vital role in the beef industry for our state, and I want to do my part to ensure the industry continues to be strong,” she says. “We constantly face new challenges as an industry to make sure people understand that the beef they love is wholesome and nutritious. Furthermore, we need to work hard to engage experts, keep up with responsible practices, and ensure the industry has the proper checks and balances in place.” ### The Colorado Beef Council (CBC) manages demand building programs for Colorado’s $3.4 Billion beef industry. CBC operates under the guidance of its Board of Directors who are appointed by the Governor of the state of Colorado and represent the producer, feeder, dairy, beef distributor, beef marketer, and processor segments of the industry. Funded by the $1 per head beef checkoff assessment on all cattle sold in the state, CBC retains half of each dollar collected for state level programs and forwards the other half to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) for national level programs. USDA-Ag Marketing Service provides oversight for all CBB and CBC programs, services, and business activities.
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October 21, 2020
John Hickenlooper’s Legal Defense Against Ethics Complaint Cost Taxpayers $150,000, a Final Tally Shows Colorado paid an outside attorney $525 an hour to represent the former governor against the ethics complaint first made in October 2018
John Frank,The Colorado Sun — johnfrank@coloradosun.com Taxpayers spent $150,000 to defend former Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper’s against an ethics complaint that led to two violations of the state’s gift ban, records show. The final cost of the legal expenses matches the maximum allowed in a contract with Mark Grueskin. The prominent Democratic election attorney represented Hickenlooper on behalf of the state after a conservative nonprofit filed two ethics complaints against him in late 2018 just months before he left office. A preview of this story appeared in The Unaffiliated, the political newsletter from The Colorado Sun. Join now or upgrade your membership to get exclusive political news and insights first. The practice of hiring an outside counsel for such matters is routine, Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper turns in petition but the cost of the defense signatures to secure his spot in the 2020 U.S. Senate Democraticis a political touchpoint in primary on Feb. 19, 2020. (Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun) the U.S. Senate race, where Hickenlooper is challenging Republican incumbent Cory Gardner. Hickenlooper is facing a barrage of attacks from Gardner’s Republican allies related to the violations and the cost of his legal defense. Gardner has called on Hickenlooper to repay the legal costs from his own pocket, but Hickenlooper has rebuffed the suggestions even as he said he accepted responsibility for the violations. A campaign spokeswoman did not return calls Thursday seeking comment on the expenses. The case concluded Aug. 19 with the release of the 19-page written opinion from the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission that determined Hickenlooper violated the state’s ban for elected officials when he took a flight on a corporate jet owned by a top political donor and a ride in a Maserati limousine at an exclusive conference in Italy. Four other flights on private jets were found not to be violations. The expenses are detailed in a series of invoices obtained by The Colorado Sun from the governor’s office. The records are incomplete — and other reports estimate a slightly dif-
ferent total — but Jenna Goldstein, the office’s deputy legal counsel, told The Sun the final cost amounted to $150,000 and no additional costs are expected. The final invoice came in late July and covered the hearing before the commission and a subsequent June 12 penalty phase, during which the commission fined Hickenlooper $2,750. Grueskin earned $525 an hour for his work and a legal assistant at his firm Recht Kornfeld billed $150 an hour, the records show. The ethics commission discussed the case at virtual hearings in July and August but no comments from either side were allowed and Grueskin did not bill the state for listening to the meetings. Hickenlooper initially defied a subpoena to appear at the hearing and was held in contempt by the commission. But it’s not clear from the records whether additional legal expenses were incurred by the state related to Hickenlooper challenging the subpoena. In addition to the state-paid counsel, Marc Elias, a prominent national Democratic Party attorney, joined Hickenlooper’s defense for the ethics case. Hickenlooper’s federal campaign finance records show $151,000 in payments to Elias’ firm Perkins Coie through June 30, including $83,300 from April through the end of the reporting period when the ethics case neared a hearing. It’s not clear if any of the payments to Perkins Coie were related to the ethics case. The campaign also said at one point that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which is supporting Hickenlooper, hired Elias. The state money for Hickenlooper’s legal defense came from an account with leftover federal dollars provided to Colorado in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The legislation included the second round of tax cuts from President George W. Bush, as well as fiscal relief for states after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the recession that followed. Gardner and his Republicans allies misleadingly label the money as a 9/11 economic recovery fund even though the legislation was more expansive. The federal package allowed the state latitude to use the money on essential government services and the type of expenses permitted in the state budget, but U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, filed a complaint with the U.S. treasury in August alleging misspending of federal dollars. A Lamborn spokeswoman said the complaint is still pending. Lindsey Singer, a spokeswoman for Colorado Rising Action, a conservative group that is using the ethics complaint to undercut Hickenlooper’s campaign, said the candidate should repay the legal fees incurred by the state. “Hickenlooper is a millionaire, and he’s more than able to pay back Coloradans,” she said, referring to his net worth. “He lost his case and Colorado’s budget is struggling right now, so there’s lots of things that Colorado could use that money for right now.”
October 21, 2020
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Keith Weeks Estate Auction
October 21, 2020