The Lost Creek Guide November 03, 2021

Volume 14 • Edition 20

November 3, 2021

Delivering to over 11,500 homes & businesses in 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

7th Annual Boots & Scoots Event by Fort Lupton Boy’s & Girls Club held at the Fort In Fort Lupton

by Anna Conroy The Boys and Girls Club of Weld County is an integral part of our community. Not only does this give our kids a safe place to be when they leave school, but it also gives them a purpose and perhaps, even a bit of a second family. On October 16th, the City of Fort Lupton, Fort Lupton City Government candidates, the South Platte Valley Historical Society and the Knights of Columbus all converged on The Fort to support the efforts of the Boys and Girls Club to raise money to continue their mission to provide a safe place for our community’s kids. With several wonderful speeches and introductions to what the Boys and Girls club truly does by our local Clubhouse leader, Mr. Gavin Hamilton, and the CEO for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Weld County, Mr. Terry Adams, we really got to see the impacts of this organization. Gavin shared his story, where he went from one of the kids who attended this club after school every day to the moment he was offered the opportunity to be a leader for the same group that made such an impact in his life. A handful of their wonderful staff from several locations including Greeley and Fort Lupton clubhouses were also able to attend and helped further prove how vital this organization is to our community. After recognizing the Knights of Columbus, St. Williams Council for their valiant efforts to better the Fort Lupton community with the organization of events and fundraisers, there were auctions, a Fort full of laughs, and a wonderful live performance by Last Call Romance.

All sorts of valued people from Fort Lupton and the surrounding areas were able to be in attendance to support the youth of Fort Lupton including a number of city government candidates including Carlos Barron, Tommy Holton and the lovely Ms. Zo Stieber, Mayor of Fort Lupton. Mrs. Geri Holton could be found chatting amongst the crowd, the Knights of Columbus were manning the bar and the Grand Knight for the St. William’s Council was mingling within the crowd. Everyone had a wonderful time in support of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Weld County!

A huge thank you to the City of Fort Lupton, The South Platte Valley Historical Society, the numerous donors for the event, the Knights of Columbus, and certainly the Boys and Girls Clubs of Weld County for coming together to help fund the futures of our community’s kids.

Election Results November 2nd 2021 Fort Lupton Mayor

Vote Results 375 299 373

Zo Stieber Shannon Rhonda Tommy Holton

Ward 1 Council Member

110 91

Valerie Blackston Scott Tipton

Ward 2 Council Member Claud Hanes Tommy Martinez Jimmy Dominguez

193 113 138

Ward 3 Council Member

196 188 122

Carlos Barron Bruce Fitzgerald Michael Sanchwez

Ballot Question 2C 1.5% Retail Marijuana Excise Tax

514 541

Yes No

Keenesburg Weld RE3J Director District C Cindy Baumgartner Matthew Cole

1125 699

Wiggins School District RE50J

Ballot Issue General Obligation Bonds Yes No

WHAT IS IN THIS ISSUE? The Flag

Geri & Tommy Holton

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WAY OF THE WORLD

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BUCKLE UP THE LITTLE ONES

PAGE 3-4: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WATER IN THE WEST PAGE 5:

NO PLACE FOR PATIENTS TO GO

PAGE 9:

HOLDING YOUR BREATH – THOUGHTS OF A FOURTEEN YEAR OLD

PAGE 10: NEW BATTLE GROUND DISTRICTS PAGE 10: WOMEN OF WELD REMEMBER &

Geri Holton & Mayer Zo Stieber

Event Activity

More Pictures of the 7th Annual Boots & Scoots Event Continued On Page 11 ...

SUPPORT VETERANS

PAGE 13: PFIZER BOOSTER SHOT APPROVED BY CDC

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Lost Creek Guide

Way of the World

by Bob Grand Interesting week for Facebook. They changed their corporate name to META. Mark Zuckerberg claims it more reflects what the company is really all about which is not just social media. He calls it the metaverse. Do not feel bad I had to look it up too. It refers to “a fully immersive online realm that looks like the real world but is computer generated.” My goodness sounds like a super hollow deck program from Star Trek.

The reality is it just might have to do with a couple of things that are going on with legal world as well. Recently an Australian court ruled that social media platform liable for what third parties post on their sites. This was followed very recently by a European court focusing on “psychological harm” caused by online abuse. In 2019 the Federal Trade Commission settled for $5 billion from Facebook for various privacy issues and recently the state of Illinois settled for $650 million on similar basic issues. Whistle blower testimony in Washington exposing detailed Facebook correspondence did not bold well for the company either. On November 2nd, yesterday, Facebook announced it was shutting down its facial recognition system. This involves over one billion facial pictures. Our own Colorado State Attorney General, Phil Weiser, announced a week ago or so, that he was in discussions with the Pennsylvania Attorney General regarding the issue of the negative impact of Instagram abuse on young girls causing trauma, and in some cases, may have contributed to suicides. So, Mr. Zuckerberg may be putting out a good story, but I suspect there is a lot more to this than meets the eye, or at least the media.

Some of us remember Ronald Reagan and John Kennedy. These men were certainly not perfect, as no one is, but they understood what was required to be a leader.

Today we have allowed a bureaucratic monster to be created that is accountable to no one, especially not the voters, to take control of our lives. This monster is huge in Washington DC, but make no mistake, the seeds have been spread at the state, county, and local level. Some worse than others, but nonetheless the monster is there.

Please ask your officials the tough questions. They do work for you, in theory. If you do not you have no one to blame but yourself.

Southern Alaska this week is looking at twelve feet of snow. Yes, that was twelve feet in a couple of days. Be careful about what you ask God. The southern border issue is a disgrace. It is the role of our federal government to protect our sovereign borders. Has anyone asked our United States Senators, Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, what they have done? Have they even asked anything? We see weekly blurbs about some feely touchy stuff from both of them but nothing substantial. Have you looked at the violent crime numbers? Same thing. It seems we do not ask the tough questions – it is not politically correct. Our major cities are a disgrace. Yes, we have lots of well-paying union jobs in the cities but who pays for that as the cities continue to lose business and population to more hospitable locations. America needs to wake up, not woke up, and begin to address some of the root causes of these issues that are ruining our country. Up until this generation Americans always looked to making a better life for their children, we are now told by the drones in Washington to accept less. Well, I for one do not accept that, mediocrity is not what America was built on. It was built on a decent work ethic and people who worked for a better life for themselves and their families. Our political parties need to get back to basics or we need to find new parties, certainly new leadership at the very least.

We are at a tipping point. We must all work towards doing something to counteract this massive effort to destroy our country. A quote often attributed to Abe Lincoln but in reality was from Jenkin Lloyd Jones, a minister, who wrote in his book of sermon studies titled “Love for the Battle Torn People” published in 2016: “No outside foe can ever denude this country, however they may wish to storm our shores with shells or sink our battleships” Nations do not die from invasion, they die from internal rottenness.”

As always, your thoughts and comments are appreciated: publisher@lostcreekguide. com

November 3, 2021

Letter to the Editor

by Ike McCorkle It is a privilege to honor our military Veterans that dedicated years of their lives to the service of something bigger than themselves. Military Veterans join the service for a multitude of reasons: patriotism, education, opportunity, adventure, pay, or servitude to name a few. Whatever the reason for joining, the effect is the same. Veterans serve the Nation and swear a legally binding oath to “Support and Defend the Constitution,” and hence the rule of law “against all enemies foreign and domestic.”

At a base level, when you join the military, you are swearing an oath and saying that you are willing to put your life on the line when ordered to do so to protect the Nation, it is assets, interests, allies, and the privileges of freedom, liberty, and independence we all know and enjoy.

United States Military Veterans come from every walk of life, every race, every religious sect, and every geographical region. The United States Military is a perfect representation of the American people. The United States Military like the Nation we defend is a melting pot of culture, race, ethnicity, religion, and belief systems.

Service members receive an education just like I did when I joined the United States Marines at seventeen. The foundations of the Republic and the rule of law that binds the Nation together give the Veteran community a sense of unity and belonging in the Nation!

We swore to defend a Pluralistic, Democratically Elected, Representative, ConstitutionalRepublic dedicated to the principle that ALL are equal under the law and in the eyes of the Lord.

Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, or a jagged scar. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, or a piece of shrapnel. The last casualties of War are never lost on the field of battle. It is the families, broken homes, and friends lost to the enduring mental hardships of combat and service.

Being a U.S. military veteran also means you were willing to fight and die in service to this country. It meant being separated from friends, family and loved ones. It meant giving up control of your life to others and having to trust your well-being to them. It meant risking life and limb, to complete a mission, or help your friends fighting alongside you.

It meant you took an oath to ‘Support and Defend the Constitution of the United States’…

On this Veterans Day, we honor the service and sacrifice of our fellow men and women in arms.

Today’s partisan environment and discourse demands leadership! Leadership our veterans can provide. We must celebrate the service and sacrifice of our Veterans by bringing the American people together around our shared values and common interests again. The truth is that we have much mor in common than in conflict.

Being a Military Veteran means you dedicated your life to the preservation of freedom and liberty.

Divisive rhetoric, financial corruption, and partisanship in the Congress must be left in the past. Together we must honor the service and sacrifice of our Veterans by rejecting the demonization of our friends and neighbors for political expedience. Joining the military means you swore an oath to Support and Defend the Constitution and the rule of law.

We are not Independents, Democrats, or Republicans we are United States citizens and Veterans dedicated to the principles of liberty, freedom, equity under the law, and independence.

As this Veteran’s Day approaches it is more important than ever before for us to reflect on the principles of unity, liberty, equity, freedom, and independence that our Veterans fought for! It is more important than ever before for us to reject the rhetoric and politics that are currently dividing America…

For God and Country E Pluribus Unum Semper Fi Ike McCorkle – Combat Wounded, USMC Retired

Buckle Up The Little Ones

The Lost Creek Guide, Llc Bob Grand - Publisher 303-732-4080 publisher@lostcreekguide.com

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105 Woodward - PO Box 581 Keenesburg, CO 80643

Letters to the Editor are encouraged. Letters may be edited for length, libelous, or inappropriate content. All letter submissions should include name, address, & phone number for verification purposes. Letters are published at the editor or publisher’s discretion. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Lost Creek Guide or staff.

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By Master Trooper Gary Cutler I talk a lot about seat belts and how they save lives, and that is true. Using your seat belt is quite simple, you grab the strap, pull it over you and click the buckle. It makes sure you survive in a crash. But when it comes to securing your little ones in car seats, they are often installed improperly.

It’s really no fault of parents that child safety seats are not as secure as they should be. Today’s car seats are complicated. That is why there is help out there for any parents, grandparents, or guardians that have young ones that need car seats or booster installation assistance. If you are unsure that the car seat is secured properly you can call any of our State Patrol offices located throughout the state. We have trained Troopers available to assist you. There are also firemen that are trained in instillation as well.

There are several ways the seats may be secured in your car. To secure the base of the car seat you may use the seat belt to secure it to the vehicle or there are metal hooks that work the same way. There are also top tethers to help the stability of the seat from being moved forward during a crash. You want the seat so it doesn’t move around during a crash or hard braking. If any part of the installation confuses you, don’t hesitate to call one of the experts to help.

Now that you have it installed here are the requirements for your children as to which seat will be best for them. Which car seat you use and how to use it depends on 2 primary factors: how old the child is and how much the child weighs.

When your child is less than 1 years old and less than 20 lbs., they should be in a rearfacing seat in the back seat only.

Ages 1-3 and less than 20 lbs. they should be in a rear facing seat. 20-40 lbs. can be in a rear or forward-facing seat. Experts now want the child to be in a rear facing seat as long as possible.

Ages 4-7 and 20-40 lbs. the child can be in a forward-facing seat or booster. Forty lbs. or more is the same rule.

Once your children are ages 8-15 and 40 lbs. or more they can move to a booster seat.

When looking at booster seats, make sure the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder and chest, not the neck. The lap belt must lie flat across the upper thighs, not the stomach.

As always, safe travels!

November 3, 2021

Lost Creek Guide

From Sky To Bedrock, Researchers Near Crested Butte Are Resetting What We Know About Water In The West

The mobile observatory is manned by 100 scientists who hope to show how the West can get a better handle on where and when water will be available

by Mark Jaffe, Colorado Sun

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The longest-running of the projects, dating to 2015, is the Watershed Function Science Focus Area (no neat acronym, just SFA), which is tracing what happens to the snow and rain once it falls to Earth.

“The goal is to improve water forecasting and water accounting,” said Ken Williams, lead researcher for the watershed project.

Can studying a single, small watershed — with measurements from the size of raindrops to the amount of water finding its way deep into bedrock — tell the tale for the 1,450-mile-long Colorado River and its 246,000-square-mile basin?

“The East River shares characteristics with the vast majority of headwaters in the Rocky Mountains,” Williams said. “What we are learning in the East River will be translatable to other mountain systems.”

“We are used to working in places where you can’t run down to the hardware store.”

The switch was flipped on at DOE’s mobile observatory Sept. 1 and it will gather data through the next seven seasons.

During the winters the three technicians operating the site will be snowbound, save for a once-a-week snowmobile run to town.

“Lots and lots of ramen noodles,” Powers said. The observatory also comes with its own workshop and supply of spare parts. “We are used to working in places where you can’t run down to the hardware store.”

With Gothic Peak in the background, Anna Hodshire, associate scientist for Handix Scientific, works on a climate study installation as part of the Atmospheric Radiation Management)study being conducted by the mobile laboratories at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory facility in Gothic, Colorado, on September 15, 2021. The mobile units are one of three portable units used to study climate change across the globe. The units study the atmosphere using equipment sophisticated enough to measure the size of raindrops and snowflakes. (Dean Krakel, Special to The Colorado Sun)

CRESTED BUTTE – Eight white shipping containers, instruments spouting from the tops of some and a generator humming away in another, sit in the East River valley, on the outskirts of this mountain town, pulling data out of the air.

The containers, a “mobile atmospheric observatory,” will gather bits of information over the next two years about the winds and clouds and rain and snow and heat and cold above the silvery and serpentine waterway as it slides past the gray granite dome of Gothic Mountain on its way to the Colorado River.

“It is like a satellite, but on the ground looking up,” said Heath Powers, who oversees the atmospheric observatory program operated by the U.S. Department of Energy.

“It’s a traveling scientific carnival.”

Traveling, indeed. The last assignment for the observatory, now in the old mining town of Gothic, 9 miles north of Crested Butte, was on the deck of a German research vessel icebound in the Arctic.

“We’ve been to all seven continents with these observatories,” Powers said. “It is surprising to find such a remote and challenging place here in the old USA.” The observatory, while in demand all over the world, is the centerpiece in an unprecedented effort to understand how — and how much — water moves from the sky to the rivers of the West. Three separate teams, nearly 100 scientists in all, are in the East River valley studying every facet of the question.

The researchers are employing an equally large array of instruments, from balloons to drones to aircraft to multiple kinds of radar to cloud chambers and flux sensors to stream gauges and rain buckets.

The goal is to better understand the “water story” so that water managers across the West can, from year to year, have a better handle on how much water will be available.

The Western United States has always relied on water resources that come from these rugged mountain systems,” said Dan Feldman, the principal researcher for the project using the mobile observatory.

Those systems, however, are not well understood, hobbling forecasting. “We know the list of physical, chemical and biological processes that affect water,” Feldman said.

“The question is how do they fit together?”

It is more than just a theoretical question. As the climate changes, and the world gets warmer, the already declined by a fifth in the past 30 years and by 2050 the flow of the river, supplying water to 40 million people, could drop by as much as 20%.

“We are moving into a no-analog future, where the past doesn’t tell the future,” Feldman said. “We are moving far and fast away from the past.”

And so, Feldman is leading a group of scientists in the Surface Integrated Atmosphere Laboratory project (SAIL), while Gijs de Boer, is heading the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Study of Precipitation, the Lower Atmosphere and Surface for Hydrometeorology (SPLASH).

Both are seeking to better understand the atmospheric dynamics — clouds and rain, wind and snow.

A solar panel helps collect data on evaporation and undergrowth in a forest of aspen trees on Snodgrass Mountain near Crested Butte. Numerous instruments have been placed on Snodgrass by researchers from Northern Arizona University as part of an interagency group that is researching climate change as part of the Watershed Function Area project in Gunnison County. (Dean Krakel, Special to The Colorado Sun)

John Bilberry, a researcher for Atmospheric Radiation Management, stands on the roof of one of the mobile labs parked outside of the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab in Gothic. During one of his previous assignments with the mobile observatory he was stranded in the Arctic by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The units collect precipitation data at ground level and in the atmosphere and contain equipment sophisticated enough to measure the size of raindrops and snowflakes. (Dean Krakel, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Overseeing the operation is John Bilberry, 43, the lead project manager for SAIL. “I run the circus,” he said. Bilberry was with the mobile observatory in the Arctic (he had to hitch a ride on a Russian icebreaker to get there) and got stranded onboard by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his previous life Bilberry was a recording engineer for a record label and went on tour with the industrial metal band Ministry. “This is a lot like being on tour,” he said. “You’re given all this expensive equipment and you have to make sure it works.”

SAIL, which is being run under the auspices of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has deployed about 50 different instruments, some on the roofs or inside the shipping containers, some on valley hillsides.

The project also releases weather balloons twice a day and has a larger tethered balloon with an array of instruments that will be trucked around the watershed.

Those devices will gather detailed data on eight elements that affect the water cycle: the fine particles floating in the air called aerosols, clouds, rain and snow and the winds that drive them, sunlight, thermal energy and temperatures.

The total sky imager is tracking the horizontal distribution of clouds, microwave radiometers are measuring the water content of those clouds, doppler lidar radar is gauging the direction and speed of the wind, and a nephelometer is measuring the behavior of aerosols.

Wesley King, site tech for Rocky Mountain Biological Labs in Gothic, brings a research balloon to the launch site on Sept. 15,. Two balloons are released each day, coordinated with other balloon launches all across the globe. The balloons rise to a height of nearly 30,000 meters, gathering data from the atmosphere for transmission back to the ARM Atmospheric Radiation Management) mobile labs located in Gothic. The balloons implode after reaching their maximum height and fall back to Earth. (Dean Krakel, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Other instruments will log ozone levels, the water content of falling snow, how much snowpack is lost to evaporation (known as sublimation) and the surface energy balance — heat coming in from the sun and that radiating back into the air.

From Sky To Bedrock, Researchers Near Crested Butte Are Resetting What We Know About Water In The West Continued On Page 4...

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Lost Creek Guide

November 3, 2021

From Sky To Bedrock, Researchers Near Crested Butte Are Resetting What We Know about Water In The West Continues From Page 3...

Every hour a bank of computers, linked to the sensors, collects all the data and uploads it to the internet for use by SAIL and researchers around the world. “It is a virtual machine,” Bilberry said.

Each of these bits of information are like tiles in a mosaic. “Here we have an opportunity to piece these things together,” Feldman said.

Fitting the data into a big picture will be a challenge as the behavior of any one element can be complex.

Aerosols, for example, can, in the form of soot, warm the air, while sulfate aerosols can cool it. Dust covering the snowpack leads to a quicker melt. Aerosols create the nucleus around which moisture in the air forms rain and snow. Too little aerosol, no rain, too much and the moisture is disbursed and again there is no rain or snow, until it builds up and leads to really heavy downpours or snows.

“Aerosols have all these different effects that they are exerting on these mountainous watersheds,” Feldman said. “Aerosols are impacting the way water is delivered downstream.”

While SAIL efforts are centered in Gothic, NOAA’s SPLASH gear will be arrayed over more than 10 miles and will be focused on gathering data to help improve the administration’s forecasting tools.

These include the Unified Forecast System, which makes up to 14-day forecasts, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System, which provides hourly updates, and the National Water Model, which predicts stream flows.

“SPLASH was born out of a desire to build upon SAIL and tune things to be more specific to NOAA needs,” de Boer said. “That has turned into a very significant investment from NOAA.” The project is being led by NOAA’s Physical Science Laboratory in Boulder and the University of Colorado, in collaboration with about a dozen other institutions, including Colorado State University and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Among SPLASH’s installations will be a 33-foot tower to measure winds, turbulence, radiation and temperatures. It will also deploy three drones to measure things such as soil moisture and snow reflectivity.

“When combined, SPLASH and SAIL provide what may be the most comprehensive study of the physics of the lower atmosphere and exchange with the surface, including water, ever conducted in areas of complex terrain,” de Boer said.

Some water near Gothic has been underground for 2,000 years On a late summer morning, the SFA’s Williams was up on Snodgrass Mountain drilling a deep well into the mountaintop — SAIL’s white shipping containers could be glimpsed down below.

Granite dust billowed from the hole as the drill pounded away searching for groundwater.

Williams, a Berkeley Laboratory geologist, has drilled wells across the East River valley — into the shale beneath Aspen forests, the loose landslide deposits of Alpine meadows and hard granite of conifer forests — in search of groundwater.

That mixture of granite, shale and soils from mountainside erosion, and the spruce, aspen and evergreen forests, along with Alpine meadow sitting atop them, is a terrain widely shared by Rocky Mountain watersheds.

“The work we are doing is broadly representative of the Rocky Mountains in general,” Williams said, “and will enable us to get a handle on the structure of that system and how physical processes play out in that system.”

role microbes play.

“SAIL and SPLASH are providing a much higher resolution understanding of how and where precipitation is falling,” Williams said. SFA is “taking that handoff” and tracking the water flows.

“This is the first study going from the atmosphere to bedrock,” he said. “It has never been done before in a mountainous system.”

Among the questions Watershed Function is trying to answer is how much of the precipitation is lost to trees and plants sucking it up. In one experiment flux meters have been attached to trees to chart the water flowing from roots to leaves and out as water vapor.

Another question is how much water ends up in aquifers and how long does it stay there? While snowpack runoff feeds the river in the spring, by late summer more than 50% of the East River’s flow is coming from ground water, Williams said.

All the SFA data is also being put up on the internet — so far 69 data sets containing millions of data points — although not by the hour.

Data for modeling for everything from next week’s weather to climate change The tools for understanding the massive amounts of data being collected by the three projects are computer models that aim to reflect everything from how much water flows in a stream, to next week’s weather, to the future impact of climate change on the world.

The models, however, are vulnerable in two ways. First, they are based on assumptions about how the world works — how much water vegetation absorbs or how snow gathers on mountainsides — and then they are only as good as the data they crunch. “Garbage in, garbage out” is an idiom in computing that goes back, in idea if not the exact words, to Charles Babbage, the 19th century father of the computer.

“There is a critical linkage between measurement and modeling,” Williams said. “The models need to be informed by the data being collected, to show they are anchored in reality.”

“It is data gathering not for the sake of data gathering, but to assure that our predictive models are as accurate as possible,” he said. Scientists call it “ground truthing.”

A computer display shows data being collected in one of the mobile lab units that is part of Atmospheric Radiation Management research taking place in Gothic. The units study the atmosphere, collecting precipitation data at ground level and in the atmosphere and contain equipment sophisticated enough to measure the size of raindrops and snowflakes. (Dean Krakel, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Seth Escudero, a driller for the Authentic Drilling Company, shields his face as ground water spews from drilling rig during the Watershed Function Area project on Snodgrass Mountain near Crested Butte on Sept. 11. In order to send a camera down the drill hole, ground water seeping into the hole had to be blown out so the camera would have a clear view of the strata being drilled through. Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory drilled four different sites to a depth of 100 feet in order to find out what the flow of groundwater. (Dean Krakel, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Williams’ wells have hit groundwater 15 to 20 feet below the surface, but in the well atop Snodgrass Mountain they found no water even at 300 feet. A dry hole. Williams lowered a borehole camera and found only fractures with seepage. Still, they are being monitored.

“All data is useful data,” he said.

Once the water is found in a well, sensors are lowered to measure the soil moisture content at different depths. Samples are also taken for geochemical analysis, such as water dating. Some of the groundwater SFA has found has been down there for as long as 2,000 years.

Williams’ team of 55 scientists, buttressed by collaborators at universities around the country, is trying to write the last chapter in the mountain water story, how a mountainous watershed retains and releases water and how much actually gets to the river.

SFA researchers are trying to measure every drop from tree top to bedrock, down to the

The data can aid in refining the assumptions and algorithms that run the model.

“They can help improve our knowledge of the chemistry and physics of how the world works,” said Alejandro Flores, associate professor of geoscience at University of Idaho and a SAIL researcher focused on models.

Mountains have been particularly difficult to model.

“We have a big blind spot in terms of precipitation and how the models retain and release water,” Flores said. “We need to get a handle on precipitation in mountain landscapes which controls that precipitation.”

SPLASH, de Boer said, is seeking a better understanding of the “physics of key processes,” such as sublimation of snow, snow crystals and rain-on-snow events, that govern how much water ends up in the river.

Those data and insights will be used to evaluate the performance of the Weather Service forecasting and other NOAA models.

Ultimately, the data and knowledge of chemical, biological and physical processes gleaned from the East River could inform the Earth Systems Models that project the world’s climate.

“We currently do not have a good ‘truth’ (for these models), since we don’t have the ability to verify the projections as we do with weather models,” de Boer said.

Getting the model right is a bit like getting the recipe for a cake right, Powers said.

“You need to know and understand the ingredients, the proportions,” he said. “If you get it wrong the cake is too sweet or it collapses.”

And it is not just a question of what happens in the West. Between 60% and 90% of the world’s water comes from mountainous watersheds. “Mountain environments are important and they are changing rapidly,” Flores said. “This is an important part of the world and it is important to focus on it.”

“Understanding the physical properties of the East River will help us understand what is happening across the Rockies and all the way to the Urals in Russia,” he said.

“It will help anywhere there are mountains and people depend upon mountain snow for water.”

November 3, 2021

Joint Statement from U.S. and Mexican Agriculture Secretaries

AMES, IOWA, Oct. 20, 2021 – Mexican Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Victor Villalobos and United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issued the following statement at the conclusion of their bilateral meeting in Ames, Iowa.

“We reaffirm the importance of our two nations’ exceptional agricultural trading relationship and its role in supporting rural prosperity, creating good jobs and providing nutritious, safe and affordable food to consumers in both countries. Thanks to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and our hard-working farmers and ranchers, our nations enjoy the world’s largest two-way trade in food and agricultural goods.

“The integrated nature of our two agricultural sectors serves as a driving force for this enduring trading partnership, linking farmers, ranchers and consumers on both sides of the border. Our discussions in Iowa highlighted the importance of continuing to work together to advance rural prosperity and to fulfill our shared responsibility to protect our agricultural systems and producers. This includes collaborative efforts to prevent the spread of African swine fever and other animal and plant diseases and pests.

“From excessive drought to more extreme fires, our farmers, ranchers and producers are on the front lines dealing with the increasingly urgent challenges of climate change. Agriculture faces the daunting task of producing more food to meet the nutritional needs of a growing world population while at the same time coping with climate change and ever-tightening natural resource constraints. We are confident that our agricultural sectors will be a key part of the solution, with a focus on a more inclusive rural development and continuing to provide good incomes to rural workers and plentiful supplies of high-quality agricultural products to consumers worldwide.

“We share a commitment to keeping our markets open and transparent so that trade can continue to grow. That mutual commitment was reaffirmed in our discussions today. We remain proud of our shared successes and equally steadfast in meeting common challenges together.”

Local All Around Cowgirl Wins World Championship

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Lost Creek Guide

by Madison Richmann 15 year old, Hudson local, Harley Ann Baas says, “My favorite part about rodeo is always working to get better, meeting new people, and spending time and competing against friends.” The sophomore at Branson School online has rodeoed since she was just three years old. Harley is a true all around competitor as she competes in the barrel race, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, team roping, trail course, and ribbon roping.

The young cowgirl says, “I have met a lot of friends and new people rodeoing. I meet new people all the time even in associations that I have been doing for a couple of years. It is also really cool getting to meet people from other states.”Harley lives with her dad, step-mom, and step-sister. Her dad, Chad also did NLBRA rodeos.

Harley started rodeoing at Circle A Family Rodeo in Keenesburg, Colorado, and LBYA in Kiowa, Colorado. After that she went on and competed in CJRA, CJHRA, and NLBRA. She is currently rodeoing at NLBRA, FHAA, and CSHSRA rodeos.

When asked about her horses, Harley says, “Chief is a 22 year old sorrel gelding.

I use him for team roping and ribbon roping. I have also used him in breakaway, goats, and trail course. Tator is my 12 year old sorrel gelding, who I use for breakaway. Ford is a 13 year old bay gelding, and I use him for goat tying. We also use him for team roping; heading and heeling. Mighty Mouse is my 11 year old bay mare. I use her for barrels, poles, heeling, and trail course.” Harley and her horses have had some great accomplishments.

Harley proved she was the best of the best in youth rodeo this last summer at the National Little Britches Finals in Guthrie Oklahoma. She ended her final year in the junior girls division with a reserve world championship in the pole bending and breakaway roping, fifth in the world in the trail course and the team roping , and won the finals all around. She also came out on top as the World Champion junior girls all around. Shortly after the National Little Britches Finals she traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska to compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo. There she ended up 10th in the world in the pole bending, and 5th place rookie cowgirl.

Harley had a great summer full of accomplishments.

When not on the rodeo trail or in the practice pen, Harley likes to go camping, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and 4 wheeling. She enjoys being around her friends and family and outside around her animals. After high school, Harley would like to continue rodeoing at the college level, and pro level too eventually.

Harley says her biggest inspiration is all around cowboy, Trevor Brazile, a 26 time pro rodeo world champion. She says that she really likes his quote, “To be the best you have to work the hardest.” She also mentions that a couple years ago while watching the NFR that the commentators talked about world champion tie down roper Haven Medged. Harley says that they talked about how when he makes a mistake in his run, he does not let it ruin the rest of his run. She says that this is something she wants to work on. Even after making a mistake, Harley wants to be able to continue with a smooth run instead of making mistake after mistake.

Harley would like to thank her parents, her step-sister, Megan, and all of her friends for all their support, and help in getting her to rodeos and helping me get better in my events. We wish Harley Ann Baas, World Champion All around cowgirl, the very best as she continues on her rodeo trail.

‘No Place For The Patient To Go ’ — As A New COVID Wave Hits, Hospitals Struggle To Find Open Beds

By Stina Sieg, Colorado Public Radio

Hart Van Denburg/CPR News The UCHealth Greeley Hospital and helicopter in Greeley, Colorado, on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.

On a recent evening, as Dr. Thomas Tobin tried to transfer a patient from Grand Junction, he called every hospital equipped to offer a high level of care within a 500-mile radius.

“There was just no place for the patient to go to,” said Tobin, chief medical officer for Community Hospital. “No one had any beds.”

One finally did open up about 24 hours later — in another state — and Community was able to transfer the patient. The key is to just keep calling other hospitals, Tobin explained, and hope you’re the lucky one on the line when a bed finally becomes free.

There doesn’t seem to be any sign of things letting up for the hospital, either. At one point this week, Community was caring for 56 hospitalized patients, even though it only has 54 beds.

“We’re full on a daily basis,” Tobin said.

The situation at Community Hospital is one that is happening at hospitals all over Colorado. As large numbers of mostly unvaccinated COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, it’s putting stress on the state’s entire health care system. Scott Bookman, director of Colorado’s Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response, said that the state historically sees about 68 percent of ICU beds occupied at any given moment.

As of Thursday, that number was hovering around 90 percent.

“That means that we have approximately 120 ICU beds available across the entire state,” Bookman said during a press conference with the governor Thursday.

He called COVID-19 “the pandemic of the unvaccinated.”

State data show that areas with high vaccination rates have much lower rates of hospitalizations. Gov. Polis explained that in cities like Eagle, Boulder and Broomfield — where the vaccination rate is around 80 percent — the rate of hospitalization is just a fraction of that in counties with low vaccination rates, many of them small and rural. Those hospitalizations don’t just stay in those lower-vaccinated places, however. Patients often end up moved across the state or region, as health care workers try to fit the puzzle pieces together, trying to find care for everyone.

All the while, hospitalizations in Colorado continue to climb. Bookman, who’s also the incident commander for the state’s COVID-19 response, said all kinds of hospitalized patients are being affected by the decreasing capacity at the state’s hospitals.

“Brain surgeries, heart surgeries are being delayed because of a lack of availability to provide care to those patients because of the impact that COVID hospitalizations are going to have,” he said.

If things were to get worse, the state’s hospitals could even move to the most urgent medical approach: crisis standards of care. “I’m in regular discussion with all of our providers with regard to when, or if we need to re-institute, those crisis standards of care,” Polis said. The guidelines set out how to make the most grave medical decisions, as the crisis potentially overwhelms hospitals, and resources get scarce. Those standards would help determine who gets care and at what level.

Hospitals in other western states like Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Alaska have all either activated their own crisis standards or have come close in recent weeks.

Bookman stood with the governor in asking everyone who’s not vaccinated to take that step, to get their first shot, and for vaccinated people to get a booster shot when they are eligible.

“Our health care workers on the front line deserve that from all Coloradans so that we can get back to our way of life,” he said.

But the vaccine remains a tough sell, even among health care workers, in many of Colorado’s more rural, lower-vaccinated communities.

At Montrose Memorial Hospital, 10 employees have chosen to quit rather than take the vaccine or ask for an exemption. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Mengenhausen said that another 30 or 40 unvaccinated staff members — about 5 percent of its workers — have not told the hospital what they’re going to do yet, even though the vaccination deadline for Colorado health care workers is Nov. 1.

“Unfortunately, we’re not dealing with science,” Mengenhausen said. “We’re dealing now with emotion and beliefs and, and it’s a very polarizing issue and I’m trying to walk a very fine line supporting our caregivers and also supporting the vaccine and believing in the vaccine.”

He explained that he’d rather have “great, valued caregivers” taking care of patients than have to close down beds. He worries that the vaccine mandate might push more employees to leave. His hospital has had to hire traveling nurses to help fill the gap, and their average salary nationally is $200 an hour.

All of this comes as his hospital is seeing an unprecedented number of patients. In August, Montrose Memorial’s emergency room had its busiest month ever, though it wasn’t due to COVID, just typical accidents and ailments. Each month since has been just as busy or even busier — and now that a new coronavirus wave has hit, that has also added to the strain.

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November 3, 2021

grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and highpoverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climatesmart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

USDA and HHS Launch Resource Guide to Help Rural Communities Increase Access to Child Care Services

USDA to Make Up to $1.15 Billion Available to Help People Living in Rural Communities Access High-Speed Internet

Department Also Invests $50 Million to Improve Access to Telemedicine, Distance Learning for 7.6 Million People in Rural Areas GENESEO, Ill., Oct. 22, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a significant expansion of access to high-speed internet, health care and educational services for millions of rural Americans nationwide.

Today’s announcement continues to move forward President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda by prioritizing economic growth in rural America and investing in the backbone of our country – the middle class.

“For too long, the ‘digital divide’ has left too many people living in rural communities behind: unable to compete in the global economy and unable to access the services and resources that all Americans need,” Vilsack said. “As we build back better than we were before, the actions I am announcing today will go a long way toward ensuring that people who live or work in rural areas are able to tap into the benefits of broadband, including access to specialized health care, educational opportunities and the global marketplace. Rural people, businesses and communities must have affordable, reliable, high-speed internet so they can fully participate in modern society and the modern economy.”

Background: ReConnect Program Secretary Vilsack spoke about USDA’s commitment to helping rural Americans get improved access to broadband and health care during a visit to the newly renovated emergency department at Hammond Henry Hospital. The project was financed in part by a USDA loan.

He announced that on November 24 USDA will begin accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to expand the availability of broadband in rural areas. USDA is making the funding available through the ReConnect Program.

To be eligible for ReConnect Program funding, an applicant must serve an area without broadband service at speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) (download) and 20 Mbps (upload), and commit to building facilities capable of providing broadband service at speeds of 100 Mbps (download and upload) to every location in its proposed service area. In making funding decisions, USDA will prioritize projects that will serve low-density rural areas with locations lacking internet access services at speeds of at least 25 Mbps (download) and 3 Mbps (upload). In making funding decisions, the USDA will also consider, among other things, the economic needs of the community to be served; the extent which a provider will offer affordable service options; a project’s commitment to strong labor standards; and whether a project is serving tribal lands or is submitted by a local government, Tribal Government, nonprofit or cooperative.

USDA has simplified the application process and has expanded the program significantly. For example, ReConnect will now offer 100 percent grants for certain projects on tribal lands and in socially vulnerable communities.

The Department plans to make available up to $200 million in ReConnect Program loans, up to $250 million in loan/grant combinations, up to $350 million in grants with a 25 percent matching requirement, and up to $350 million in grants with no matching requirement for projects in tribal and socially vulnerable communities.

Background: Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Vilsack also announced today a $50 million investment in 105 rural distance learning and telemedicine (PDF, 345 KB) projects in 37 states and Puerto Rico. These awards are being funded through USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program. This program helps fund distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas to increase access to education, training and health care resources that are otherwise limited or unavailable.

USDA’s distance learning and telemedicine investment includes a $387,000 grant to OSF Healthcare System to help establish a telehealth network for 107,000 rural residents in central Illinois. Additionally, UHS of Texoma, Inc. is receiving a $199,015 grant to implement a distance learning system to improve mental health services for 8,000 people in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma.

For additional information on the upcoming ReConnect Program funding opportunity, see the Oct. 22, 2021, Federal Register (PDF, 319 KB). Once the application window opens, applications must be submitted through USDA Rural Development’s online application system on the ReConnect webpage. All required materials for completing an application are included in the online system.

To learn more about ReConnect Program eligibility, technical assistance and recent announcements, visit www.usda.gov/reconnect.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development Katie Hamm today unveiled a joint resource guide (PDF, 3.5 MB) to help people in rural and Tribal communities increase access to child care services.

“Access to quality, affordable child care and early learning opportunities is imperative for rural America. It enables parents to work, strengthens the economy and supports children’s overall development by laying the groundwork for future success in school and life,” Maxson said. “Under the leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris and Secretary Vilsack, USDA remains committed to helping rural and Tribal communities build back better by strengthening child care infrastructure and by meeting the increasing demand for affordable, quality child care for working families.”

Hamm added: “The first few years of life, particularly birth to five, set the foundation for development, learning, behavior and lifelong outcomes. Various studies have shown that access to high-quality early childhood education is associated with positive life outcomes. That’s why I am so excited about this guide and the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing support for early learning and child care. It is so important that we continue to invest in early childhood infrastructure and supply building – particularly in rural and Tribal communities – where child care and early childhood development options are already limited. We are committed to working with these communities to meet the growing need for quality, affordable early childhood programs.”

The joint resource guide follows the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement of the American Families Plan (AFP). The guide responds to the AFP, which targets investments to support America’s children and families – helping families cover the basic expenses that so many struggle with now, including lowering health insurance premiums and continuing the American Rescue Plan’s historic reductions in child poverty.

The guide was developed in partnership by USDA Rural Development and the Office of Early Childhood Development in HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF). It provides useful information to help stakeholders in rural communities – including Tribes and Tribal organizations – address the need for improved access to affordable, high-quality child care and early learning facilities through USDA and HHS funding and technical assistance resources.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and highpoverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

ACF promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and communities. ACF programs aim to empower families and individuals to increase their economic independence and productivity; encourage strong, healthy, supportive communities that have a positive impact on quality of life and the development of children. For more information, visit: www.acf.hhs.gov, and to subscribe to the Office of Early Childhood Development’s newsletter, email: earlychildhooddevelopment@ acf.hhs.gov.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

November 3, 2021

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USDA Works to Strengthen School Meals, Listens to Feedback from Food Industry Leaders Department continues to emphasize importance of serving children healthy foods

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, Stacy Dean and USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Cindy Long yesterday hosted a virtual listening session with 19 school food industry executives to discuss their critical role in strengthening access to nutritious foods for school meals programs, now and into the future.

“USDA’s school meal programs have a wide-reaching impact on the health and wellbeing of our nation’s children,” said Vilsack. “Now, more than ever, America’s children need access to the healthy and nutritious foods, and our industry partners play a huge role in making that happen.”

USDA’s meeting with these key partners came as the department, schools and other partners across the country celebrate National School Lunch Week (NSLW) between October 11-15. This week – and every week – is an opportunity to celebrate the highquality, delicious, and nutritious lunches children receive through schools.

The COVID-19 public health and economic crisis has highlighted the essential role that school meals play in addressing childhood hunger, as well as the tireless dedication and creativity of school food professionals in making sure children are well fed – no matter the situation.

In case you missed it, over the last week, FNS has engaged with schools in a variety of activities in celebration of National School Lunch Week:

• Department of Education Secretary Cardona and Secretary Vilsack kicked off National School Lunch Week with a video thanking school nutritional professionals for the work they do to ensure students have the healthy fuel they need to learn and grow.

• Secretary Vilsack visited Riverdale Elementary in Riverdale, Maryland to announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is joining with students, parents, schools, communities and partners across the nation in recognition of National School Lunch Week, as proclaimed by President Biden.

• Regional office activities included a virtual celebration with schools in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, congratulating them for increased school lunch participation and recognizing their innovations that have kept their students fed throughout the pandemic.

• “One of the most important things we can do to protect the future of our nation’s children is to make sure they have enough nutritious food to eat – and the National School Lunch Program does exactly that,” said Vilsack. “Research shows that school meals are the healthiest food children receive in a day, and students’ success in the classroom is connected to their ability to access healthy and nutritious meals.” Vilsack added that USDA is committed more than ever to listening to all its partners – state, local, industry and beyond – and giving them the resources and options they need to safely serve school meals that support students’ learning and development.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www. usda.gov.

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High Plains Bank Announces New Keenesburg Branch!

Kristine Bell, Branch Development; Isabel Granados, Branch Manager; Heather Huck, Customer Service; Krista Gibson, Market Leader; Lindsey Skinner, Customer Service High Plains Bank is excited to announce the opening of our newest bank branch in Keenesburg, Colorado, located at 165 N Market Street, next to the Market Street convenience store. We will serve customers at this location as we build our permanent branch at County Road 18 and Market Street just north of I-76.

High Plains Bank is an agriculture and commercial bank, founded in Flagler, Colorado in 1908. High Plains has branches in Wiggins, Bennett, Flagler and Longmont, in addition to Keenesburg. High Plains Bank is an employee and family owned bank with four generations of bank involvement.

High Plains chose to open a branch in Keenesburg because we have a team of people who are deeply dedicated to Keenesburg. Krista Gibson is the bank’s Market President and Kristine Bell serves as Business Development Director.

We are also excited to have Isabel Granados, Lindsey Skinner and Heather Huck as part of the opening team. All are long-time residents and/or have banking experience in the Keenesburg market.

High Plains Bank has made significant investments in our products and technology over the past few years. In addition to in-person service with people you know, we have excellent mobile and online banking services that provide customers the ability to manage their banking needs any time of day. You may learn more about High Plains Bank at our website, highplainsbank.com. You may reach us by phone at 800-984-0010.

The branch officially opened on Tuesday, October 12. We hope that members of the community will stop by to say hello. he High Plains team is very excited to earn the business of our neighbors.

High Plains would also like to extend our thanks to the Kleve family for their help with our temporary location at 165 Market Street.

November 3, 2021

Nicholson said. “If dogs chase them, they quickly expend their already limited fat stores, leading to poor health and eventual death from starvation. That is what we are trying to prevent.”

Wildlife managers say that although it may be legal to let dogs run free in some recreation areas, they strongly recommend keeping pets on a leash whenever encounters with animals are likely.

“The stress and injuries caused by dogs are concerns, but so are conflicts,” said Area Wildlife Manager Mark Lamb. “Each year, we investigate numerous incidents in which a person is injured by a wild animal. A common factor in many of these situations is that the victim’s dog first approached or harassed the animal.”

Lamb adds that because moose see dogs as a predatory threat, the large ungulates will aggressively try to stomp any dog that approaches it, often chasing it back to its owner who then becomes the target of the angry moose.

There have been at least four moose attacks this year in Colorado - three of which had dogs involved - that resulted in injuries to humans.

In addition, Lamb warns that mountain lions, bears or coyotes can easily make a meal of a dog.

“Predators do not differentiate between their natural prey and a dog,” said Lamb.

“You don’t want to be in a situation where you watch your pet being eaten. The best way to keep this from occurring is to either keep the pet close to you on a short leash, or leave it at home if you are heading to an area where you might encounter wildlife.”

In addition to keeping dogs on a leash or at home, CPW has other suggestions for viewing and enjoying wildlife in a safe and ethical manner.

“Watch wild animals from a distance with binoculars, a camera lens or a spotting scope,” Lamb said. “Remember, if the animal reacts to you or your dog, you are definitely too close.”

To report any instance of dogs chasing wildlife, the public can call their local Colorado Parks and Wildlife office or Colorado State Patrol. CPW’s Denver office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and can be reached at 303-291-7227.

Autumn

by Pastor Perry Bell

Keep Dogs Away From Wildlife, CPW Warns

Stock photo (by Nora Logue) DENVER - Colorado Parks and Wildlife is issuing a warning that your dog chasing wildlife is illegal and dog owners may be cited for it. The warning comes after two separate incidents in unincorporated Jefferson County where dogs mortally wounded deer.

Whether it is your dog attacking wildlife, or a dog chasing wildlife, both actions are illegal and hefty fines can come with it.

“People may forget that their pet dog is a predator and they can injure and kill wildlife if not properly controlled,” said Wildlife Officer Joe Nicholson. “Dog owners are liable for the damage they cause to wildlife.”

Dog owners can be cited for negligently allowing their dog to harass wildlife, which carries a $274 fine, including surcharges. If a dog attack leads to the death of wildlife, the owner can be cited for illegal take. The fine associated with the illegal take would be $959 for deer and $1,370 for elk, including surcharges.

The two incidents in Jefferson County involved dogs mortally wounding doe (female) deer. In one of the incidents near Evergreen on Oct. 20, the dog owner was cited for both illegal take of the deer and for negligently allowing their dog to harass wildlife. The second incident also involved a dog mortally wounding a deer, but that dog and its owner have not been identified.

Dogs that chase wild animals can cause them extreme stress and injuries from bites.

If that occurs in late winter, many big game animals susceptible to dog harassment are pregnant females. As they run to escape, deer and elk expend crucial energy that can lead to an increase in the mortality rate of the animals or their unborn calves and fawns.

Dogs that chase or harass wild animals are a serious concern any time of year; however, it is during wintertime when the consequences become more harmful for many big game animals.

“By winter, deer and elk are just trying to survive the snow and lack of forage,”

Isaiah 40:8 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

It has been getting colder here during not only the nights but the days too.

This morning, I brought in our geranium and citronella plants to see if I could make them last until next spring.

(I have high hopes.)

And with the colder weather comes the season which I have deemed the very best. The season of autumn.

Out of all four seasons, I love the season of autumn best… for a variety of reasons: When else can you go outside and smell a crispness in the air? When else does that pumpkin spice time arrive again? When else can you rake leaves up into a big pile and dive into them? When else do you dress up as Superman or Batman or Wonder Woman or the Mummy and head out to beg candy from all your neighbors? When else can you pull your letter jacket out of storage and begin to wear it again? (Now although these illustrate my younger days, admit it, wouldn’t you just love to jump into a pile of leaves?)

Yes, indeed, autumn is my very (to quote Pooh) “favoritest” time of year!

Even though all around us, the grass is becoming dormant, the flowers are fading and the trees are changing colors and beginning to lose their leaves, there is one thing that stays the same, stays ever-present, never changing. In fact, I would dare say that it is the only thing that has been consistent down through the ages. And that, my friends, is the Word of our God. Whether it is Winter, Spring, Summer, or Autumn. Whether it is an election year or not. Whether a Republican or a Democrat is in the White House. Whether you are straight or part of the Alphabet. Whether you are happy or sad, up or down, young or old, and whatever color or race you are… the Word of our God never changes. Never ever. It remains the same.

It is about love, and compassion, and understanding, and hope, and promise, and how He reaches out with outstretched open arms to each and every one of us, without judgment, without condition, and simply says: “I love you this much.’

Yes, I love autumn, because it reminds me that even though the seasons change, His Word is secure and available, to all those who would take the time to open their hearts to it.

Okay, that’s enough for today. I better get outside. I gotta go find me a big pile of leaves!

Be Well, Do Good Work, and …

Be Blessed Like Crazy!

Pastor Perry Destination Ministries

November 3, 2021

Colorado Ski Resorts Are In An Uphill Battle For Workers Amid The Historic Labor Shortage Ski areas are reaching out to locals, relying on visa programs and retooling jobs as they search for hundreds of workers in communities enduring critical housing and labor shortages.

by Jason Blevins, Colorado Sun

Few local businesses are not actively seeking employees along Main Street in Breckenridge on Saturday, October 16, 2021. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)

As the first snow of the season covers the high country, Colorado’s ski resorts are starting their search for thousands of workers in what many say is an unprecedented labor crisis.

Housing continues to be the albatross for ski resort employers. It was a challenge before the pandemic.

“But now it’s gone from ‘very difficult’ to ‘absolutely critical’ stage right now,” said Jim Laing, the head of human resources for Aspen Skiing Co. This story first appeared in The Outsider, the premium outdoor newsletter by Jason Blevins. Become a Newsletters+ Member to get The Outsider at coloradosun.com/join.

(Current members, click here to learn how to upgrade) Resort-area real estate prices continue to set records, driven by urbanites who fled cities for mountain communities during the height of the pandemic. More homeowners are renting their mountain-town properties to growing numbers of travelers, pinching the availability of homes for working locals.

For several months, employers in resort areas have struggled to hire and retain workers.

Restaurants are limiting hours. Construction projects are getting delayed for months, if not years. The “help wanted” ads in local papers exponentially outnumber the rare “for rent” ads.

Ski resorts are hoping for a revival of the J-1 visa program that ferries students from the southern hemisphere to Colorado to fill seasonal jobs. Last year, the number of J1 visa workers coming to Colorado during their summer break fell by 97%.

Last year, a mere 214 of those summer-breaking J-1 workers arrived in Colorado, down from 6,855 in 2019.

The lingering COVID travel ban on both visitors and workers from 33 countries will be lifted in November, which bodes well for ski area operators like Vail Resorts, Aspen Snowmass and Alterra Mountain Co, which draw a lot of international vacationers and employ hundreds of J-1 visa workers. The Trump Administration’s ban on visa workers also stymied the flow of J-1 workers in 2019 and 2020.

That foreign worker ban is gone and resorts are waiting for U.S. embassies in those 33 countries to start processing J-1 visas when the travel ban is fully lifted in November. That makes for a tight turnaround for resorts hoping to have J-1 workers on the job by the end of the year.

The students from South America, Australia and Europe are lining up for jobs in Colorado, said Fariba Hicks, a vice president with Camp Counselors USA, which sponsors more than 15,000 J-1 students from 40 countries, many coming to work at American ski areas.

“Interest is really high,” she said. “People have been quarantined and locked down worldwide, so the desire to travel and experience this program is at an all-time high.”

Hicks, who connects Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Co. with seasonal workers, said it’s not just U.S. resort-area employers who are eager for staff this winter.

“It’s not even specific to the U.S.,” she said. “This is a worldwide issue, but the good news is there is huge interest in the program as long as we can continue to process visas and connect exchange workers with jobs, we will have a good winter season.”

The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization that covers Colorado people, places and issues. To sign up for free newsletters, subscribe or learn more, visit ColoradoSun.com

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Holding Your Breath

We are told to live life in segments. “Breathe. Take it one step at a time.”

I’m not sure why we should take our time when we are all forced to grow up one day but, as a young adult, I must say that I find it hard to breathe while my mind is filled with constant immortal thoughts. I fear walking into my 4th period classroom because of the girls that don’t like me. I fear standing in front of a class to read nothing but a couple facts about a subject. I fear being alone.

I fear failure. All fears that seem reasonable for a 14 year old. Fears that hold accountability on me, distracting me from being a normal teenager. Some teenagers go as far as questioning their worthiness of living. These thoughts are established by school, family, society, and most directly, other teenagers. The long term impacts that depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, and trauma hold on teenagers further on throughout their lives is despondent. My whole life I’ve become friends with people who needed someone to save them from these unpredicted thoughts. At my school, I know multiple people who struggle with fighting off the voices in their minds. It can be hard to tell when someone is having suicidal thoughts so, as a parent, guardian, or even friend you can always make sure you check up on other people. Be open minded to others’ thoughts. Not everyone is as open about their problems as others. Just because they don’t show their obvious feelings doesn’t mean that they aren’t going through something deeper. At some point every single person on this earth will have struggled with something that took a toll on them. This life isn’t about being perfect. It’s about learning from your mistakes, growing, and evolving. Life is hard, live everyday with the thought that tomorrow isn’t promised.

-m.j

These Colorado Legislative Districts Are Poised To Be The New Battlegrounds After Redistricting

The fiercest fights for control of the Colorado House and Senate would no longer be mostly contained to the Denver area The Colorado State Capitol is seen from the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Denver. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun) The new Colorado House and Senate maps drawn through the once-in-a-decade redistricting process would shift the state’s legislative battlegrounds.

The maps still need final approval from the Colorado Supreme Court, but if they are adopted fights for control of the General Assembly would likely no longer be mostly contained to the Denver area.

For instance, Durango and the San Luis Valley, as well as Loveland and Nederland, would be the heart of competitive districts central to deciding which party is in the Senate majority. In the House, districts in El Paso and Weld counties could be the fiercest battlegrounds.

The Colorado Sun used an analysis by nonpartisan legislative staff of the results of eight statewide races between 2016 and 2020 to determine what may be the four most competitive House districts and four most competitive Senate districts: Battleground House districts • House District 19, which would straddle Interstate 25 around Erie and Firestone, would have a 1.5 percentage point advantage for Republicans. The district is home to both Democratic Rep. Tracey Bernett, of Longmont, and Republican Rep. Dan Woog, of Erie.

• House District 18 would be anchored in Manitou Springs but also include These Colorado Legislative Districts Are Poised To Be The New Battlegrounds After Redistricting Continues On Page 10...

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November 3, 2021

These Colorado Legislative Districts Are Poised To Be The New Battlegrounds After Redistricting Continued From Page 9...

Green Mountain Falls and most of southwest Colorado Springs. Democrats would have a 0.3 percentage point advantage in the district, which is home to Democratic Rep. Marc Snyder.

• House District 25 would be in the southwest Denver suburbs, including Ken Caryl. Republican Rep. Colin Larson lives in the district where the GOP would have a 1.8 percentage point advantage. Larson was considering running for higher office 2022, but said he has decided to seek another two-year statehouse term.

• House District 61 would be in Centennial and Parker. Democratic Rep. Tom Sullivan lives in the district, in which Democrats would have a 0.5 percentage point advantage.

Most competitive Senate Districts • Senate District 6, which would include the San Luis Valley and all of southwest Colorado, including Montrose and Ouray counties, would have a 0.5 percentage point advantage for Democrats. It’s home to Republican Sen. Cleave Simpson, who isn’t up for reelection until 2024.

• Senate District 11, which would include downtown Colorado Springs but stretches toward the city’s airport to capture its south-central core. The district, home to Democratic Sen. Pete Lee, would have a 2.4 percentage point advantage for Democrats. Lee is up for reelection next year.

• Senate District 15, which would include Loveland and take in Estes Park and the rest of western Larimer County as well as western Boulder County, including Nederland and Ward. The district, which doesn’t favor either political party, is home to Republican Sen. Rob Woodward, who is up for reelection next year.

• Senate District 16, which would include Columbine Valley and Centennial and is home to Democratic Sen. Chris Kolker. Kolker isn’t up for reelection until 2024, but Democrats would have just a 0.1 percentage point advantage in the district.

A few other districts to keep an eye on Senate District 12, which would include Colorado College just north of downtown Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Cascade, Fountain and Fort Carson, would also be highly competitive. Republicans would have a 2.4 percentage point advantage in the district, which effectively makes it up for grabs.

Both GOP Sens. Dennis Hisey and Bob Gardner live in the district, though Gardner would get to keep his seat if the map is upheld by the Colorado Supreme Court because his term isn’t up until 2025. The state constitution mandates that sitting state lawmakers be allowed to serve their entire term even if their district changes during redistricting.

This news first appeared in The Unaffiliated. Subscribe here to get the twice-weekly political newsletter from The Colorado Sun. Hisey is up for reelection in 2022. He could move into another district and run there to stay in the legislature. State lawmakers must live in the district they represent Given the district’s competitiveness, it’s possible a Democrat could win there. It would be wild to have two Democratic state senators from El Paso County given

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its historic status as a conservative stronghold. Though unaffiliated voters now outnumber Republicans in the county and former President Donald Trump saw a steep drop off in support from 2016 to 2020.

Meanwhile, four other House seats currently held by Democrats would be extremely competitive under the new maps.

They are: • House District 59 in southwest Colorado, which is home to Rep. Barbara McLachlan, a Durango Democrat. Democrats would have just a 2.2 percentage point advantage in the district.

• House District 28 in western Jefferson County. Both Democratic Reps. Kerry Tipper, of Lakewood, and Lisa Cutter, of Morrison, live in the district, would lean in their party’s favor by 2.3 percentage points The two representatives will have to decide whether to run against each other, move into a new district or not seek reelection.

• House District 26 in the high country, which is home to Rep. Dylan Roberts, an Avon Democrat. Roberts is running for state Senate, leaving the district that favors Democrats by 2.7 percentage points, up for grabs.

• House District 38 in the Littleton area, which is home to Democratic Rep. David Ortiz. Democrats would have a 2.9 percentage point advantage in the district.

Colorado Governor Prepares To Request Federal Medical Surge Teams, Stop Elective Procedures As COVID Hospitalizations Spike Gov. Jared Polis also said he may reinstate an order or orders rationing medical care in the state.

by Jesse Paul

Colorado Governor Jared Polis makes a point during a news conference on the state’s efforts against the new coronavirus Tuesday, July 21, 2020, in Denver.(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Thursday that he is preparing to request federal medical surge teams, stop elective and cosmetic surgeries, and scale up distribution of monoclonal antibody treatments as COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state continue to spike.

Polis also said he may reinstate an order or orders rationing medical care in the state.

The governor said the steps will be taken in the coming days unless the number of new COVID-19 cases begins to decline, which he said he doesn’t necessarily expect to happen.

“We still have space in hospitals,” he said. “It’s tight.”

Monoclonal antibody treatments are already being distributed to urgent care and mobile clinics so that people can access them outside of a hospital setting. The treatments can reduce the risk of hospitalization in people who contract COVID-19.

The announcement Thursday at a news conference at the governor’s mansion in downtown Denver is the most serious signal yet that Colorado’s coronavirus situation has worsened to the point that the capacity of the state’s hospitals is being threatened.

Last week, state health officials warned that the surge in hospitalizations had left Colorado with only about 120 available intensive care beds.

“The reality is we have a high level of cases in Colorado,” Polis said of Colorado’s COVID-19 hospitalizations.

As of Thursday , 1,167 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized in the state. That’s the highest number since December 2020.

“We are continuing to move very much in the wrong direction,” Scott Bookman, incident commander at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, told reporters on Wednesday. “We’re all very concerned at this point.”

Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state’s top epidemiologist, said Colorado is in the middle of “an unfortunate trend.”

Many of the new coronavirus cases in Colorado are among children. The state is setting up vaccine clinics for kids 5 to 11 in anticipation of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine being approved for that age group in the coming days.

Diana Herrero, deputy director of Colorado’s Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response, said the state anticipates being able to vaccinate young children against COVID-19 as soon as Nov. 5. Museums, schools, libraries and zoos could all become mass COVID-19 vaccination sites for kids, in addition to pharmacies and doctor’s offices.

The state is planning to offer at least one pediatric vaccine clinic in each county.

“Right now, we’ve got about 384 locations outside of the big events we’re planning,” Herrero said.

There are about 480,000 people in Colorado between the ages of 5 and 11. The state hopes to be able to inoculate at least half of those with at least one dose by Jan. 31.

This is a developing story that will be updated.

November 3, 2021

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Power Companies’ Plans To Expand Wind And Solar On The Eastern Plains Meet Local Headwinds

More Pictures of the 7th Annual Boots & Scoots Event Continued From Page 1...

By Sam Brasch, Colorado Public Radio

Sam Brasch/CPR NewsKipp Parker at his wheat farm near Limon, Colo. His land is part of the Rush Creek Wind Farm, which Xcel Energy finished building in 2018.

For years, Lacie Harman has watched wind turbines inch closer to her home on Colorado’s Eastern Plains. The white towers now dot the prairie from Limon north to the Wyoming border but have skipped over Washington County, where her family has farmed and ranched for five generations.

Harman is trying to keep it that way.

Earlier this year, she founded a nonprofit called Sacred Horizons to push for strict regulations on renewable energy development east of Colorado’s Front Range.

The group has helped organize local opponents who have packed county commission meetings to call for tough rules for renewables, which clean energy advocates called a “de-facto ban” on wind and solar projects.

“We have a moral obligation to preserve our land and our ecosystem,” she testified at a meeting in August. “We should approach anything with the potential to disturb or permanently wreck the Great Plains with a lot of caution.”

Those efforts fell short in the end. In early October, Washington County Commissioners adopted a looser set of rules than ones originally proposed by the county’s planning and zoning board. Harman says it’s a setback, but her organization plans to keep pushing the county to pass tougher standards.

As power companies move in, some Eastern Plains residents push back The local resistance to renewables comes as Colorado’s biggest power companies have set their sights on the Eastern Plains, a region that offers ideal conditions for a rapid expansion of wind and solar power: a consistent breeze, sunny skies and wideopen spaces without too many people.

Those resources could be critical to Colorado’s efforts to combat climate change.

To help meet targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Xcel Energy has already proposed a $1.7 billion high-voltage transmission line that would circle the Eastern Plains and ferry clean electricity to the Front Range.

While some residents see those plans as a rare economic opportunity, Harman fears industrial development could spoil a region known for wheat, corn and cattle.

Ultimately, she said future wind towers would exist to generate electricity for people who don’t have to live with many of the local consequences.

“At some point, we have to stop sacrificing agricultural land for big-city living,” Harman said.

Local threats to clean energy Washington County is one of many places where renewable energy development has met local opposition.

A 2021 survey from the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School, which develops legal strategies to support clean energy, found more than 100 examples of state and local policies to restrict new wind and solar projects across the country.

Michael Gerrard, the center’s founder and director, said local resistance to large renewable projects is understandable but risks blocking efforts to combat climate change. Gerrard said he was glad to see an opposite approach in New York, which recently passed a law to fast-track permits for renewable energy projects and preempt local opposition.

“We’re going to need to see more of that if we’re really going to achieve our objectives in moving away from fossil fuels,” Gerrard said.

A similar effort could be a tough sell in Colorado, where “local control” is a go-to axiom for elected leaders across the political spectrum. The term generally refers to any effort to shift power to local governments. Many environmental groups adopted it as a rallying cry in a battle to reform Colorado’s oil and gas laws, arguing cities and counties should have more control over fossil fuel development. Gov. Jared Polis signed a law overhauling Colorado’s oil and gas permitting process in 2019.

Harman doesn’t see much difference between her activism against wind and solar in Washington County and someone fighting an oil and gas well in a Denver suburb.

When it comes to approving new industrial land in any community, she said strong local regulations will help ensure people are “good neighbors.”

Support Our Troops

More Pictures of the 7th Annual Boots & Scoots Event Continues On Page 12...

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Thank you

There are no words to express our thanks and appreciation for all of the love and support shown our family in the loss of our precious Marc. Keenesburg is fortunate to have Fire Chief Tom Beech. He was so compassionate and helpful.

Our sincere thanks to the following individuals for all that they did during this extremely difficult time.: Sandra Galey, for organizing so many things – daily calls food and love. Pat tabor, Pastor Linda Meyer, and Matt Perry for their service. A big thank you to Kevin Campbell and Dawna Gudka for organizing the Tail Gate reception at the Legion Hall. Thanks to Dale Boehner for the generous donation of hamburgers and hot dogs and ANNA AND Louie Chioda for the Subway sandwiches. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the reception by setting up, contributing food and cleanup. Thank you for the messages, cards, flowers, visits, and contributions to the Athletic Memorial Fund. Thank you for sharing how much Marc meant to all of you.

Marc loved God, his family, friends, farming, his community, country and coaching the many young boys in sports. He loved being a Weld Central rebel and was so proud so proud of his three sons who were Weld Central Rebels.

Ted Barney expressed it do well : “A person can chase an impressive career and have that, but what Marc brought to lives he touched was way more valuable.”

Helen Sirios and Family

November 3, 2021

Colorado Launches Website To Connect Kids To Free Mental Health Sessions

By Yesenia Robles, Chalk Beat

The I Matter website and program was designed with input from Colorado students to be welcoming and inclusive. Screenshot / State of Colorado: https:// imattercolorado.org Colorado launched a program Wednesday to offer three free mental health sessions to children.

Anyone between 12 and 18 can go to the I Matter state website to take a short survey to assess their needs. If the results show they need help, the site will connect them to a provider for a 45-minute appointment in the next two weeks. One of the early questions asks if the young person is in crisis and directs those who answer yes to a crisis line and a more rapid response.

Children under 12 can also use the service but need a parent to do so, and young adults who are receiving special education services can access the free help up to age 21.

“We have reduced as many barriers as humanly possible,” said state Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Commerce City Democrat who spearheaded the effort. She said officials believe it’s the first of its kind in the country.

The program was created after a bill she sponsored passed with bipartisan support this spring. Lawmakers allocated $9 million to launch the effort in response to increasing student mental health needs.

In May, Colorado’s Children’s Hospital declared a state of emergency due to unprecedented numbers of youth experiencing mental health crises, including many showing up to hospital emergency rooms and straining existing systems.

But officials say that Colorado youth were struggling even before the pandemic, and the program is a response to earlier trends that worsened during COVID. The 2019 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey showed that more than a third of Colorado high school students felt so sad or hopeless that they stopped doing usual activities for at least two weeks at a time.

Become a Chalkbeat sponsor Online data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shows 101 youth between the ages of 10 and 19 died by suicide in 2020, slightly down from 103 in 2019. The number has been rising for years and has nearly doubled from 50 in 2010. Statewide, suicide deaths among people of all ages dropped slightly in 2020.

The state has hired 32 mental health providers to staff the new program with about 350 appointments per week.

“We have a good number of sessions to start,” said Liz Owens, director of policy and communications for the state Office of Behavioral Health. “We want to do much more recruiting and keep adding providers. We are hopeful that we will be able to meet the need and also hopeful that we will have providers who look like the youth in our state and are able to meet their needs. It’s definitely an ongoing process.”

With the allotted funding, the state estimates it can serve more than 10,000 children between now and June, but Michaelson Jenet hopes the state can ultimately reach more than a million children in the state — letting them know about the resources available to them and destigmatizing seeking help.

She also said that she hopes the service will help alleviate overburdened school social workers and mental health providers who are reporting high levels of students in need.

Kierra Ehnes, a junior at Julesburg High School in northeast Colorado, has been one of the teenagers providing the state feedback in advance of the program’s launch.

On Wednesday, she talked about how peer suicides have impacted her and why she believes this new program will help.

“Living in a small town community, the death of a teen is one that hits home hard,” Ehnes said. “I remember hearing of a teen suicide in every district surrounding us — all because kids felt like there was no end and that they didn’t have a way out.”

She believes the program will make a “huge impact,” especially because the state had young people involved as leaders in creating the website and the program.

“Knowing that someone your age has been through the same thing as you and has been able to recover provides a sense of security,” she said.

To get the word out, the state will run ads on Spotify, Pandora, and social media platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat. Outreach will also include school banners and yard signs.

Michaelson Jenet said one common question is whether the survey answers are confidential, and she assures youth that information there is protected by federal HIPAA privacy laws. The survey asks for insurance information, but it’s not required to get help. The state will try to connect youth to providers that take their insurance, for those who have it, in case they want or need to continue therapy sessions beyond the three free ones the state provides.

Officials will file a report in January and another in June to detail how many students have been served. Funding for the program is set to expire at the end of June, but Michaelson Jenet said Wednesday that she’s already working to make the program permanent.

November 3, 2021

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Pictures of the 7th Annual Boots & Scoots Event Continued From Page 11

JOIN US for the 3rd Annual 2K - 5K WALK OR RUN for our Veterans programs When: Saturday, November 13, 2021.

Registration starts at 8 a.m. and race starts at 9 a.m.

No Matter what the weather!

Where: Evans City Park Located at: 3929 Golden Street Evans, CO 80620 The race will end at Evans City Park with refreshments Entry Fee (includes T-Shirt): Early Bird registration for ages 14+ is $25 per person.

Day of Race registration is $30 per person.

Children ages 5 to 13 years old is $15 per child.

Children ages infant up to 4 years old are free

Support Our Troops Pfizer Booster Shot Approved By CDC For At-Risk Groups

DENVER (September 24, 2021) — Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially recommended Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for people at higher risk for COVID-19. Booster doses should be given at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series. The updated CDC guidance recommends Pfizer booster shots for people 65 years and older, residents in long-term care settings, and people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions. The recommendations also state that people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions and people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine based on their individual benefits and risks.

“This booster dose authorization is an important step in ensuring Coloradans most at-risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes have the greatest protection possible,” said Scott Bookman, COVID-19 Incident Commander. “We have the capacity across the state to administer these doses while continuing to offer first doses to the unvaccinated and second doses to those who have received only one dose.”

These recommendations apply to individuals who received Pfizer-BioNTech for their first two vaccine doses at least six months ago. This announcement allows Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots to be given immediately to anyone eligible. People who received a Johnson & Johnson/Janssen or Moderna vaccine should continue to wait for more information. More data on the effectiveness and safety of Johnson & Johnson/Janssen and Moderna booster shots are expected in the coming weeks.

The state has enough vaccine supply for providers to keep up with any increased demand related to today’s announcement and to provide eligible Coloradans with a booster dose immediately. Vaccine effectiveness may decrease over time in certain people, and a booster dose can help bring up immunity levels. Booster doses are common practice in routine childhood vaccines and require multiple doses at specific intervals to be most effective.

Colorado’s four large community vaccination sites in Aurora, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, and Littleton can accommodate up to 1,000 doses per day each and can provide first, second, and booster doses. Each site is open until September 30. This is in addition to Colorado’s more than 1,670 vaccine providers across the state. Coloradans can find more information or a location near them at covid19.colorado.gov/ vaccinefinder.

Booster doses are free and no ID, insurance or proof of medical history is required. Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

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Checks made payable to: VFW 6624 Auxiliary.

All entry forms needs to be completely filled out before person can participate in event.

For more information: Please contact Brenda Wright (970)302-7303 or Jesse Lowance at (970)616-2491 Follow our Facebook Page for more information too!

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Lost Creek Guide

Colorado’s COVID-19 Containment Response Corps Wins National Award CDPH&E

DENVER — The Colorado COVID-19 Containment Response Corps (CCRC) was recognized virtually last week at the 2021 America’s Service Commissions (ASC) Innovation and Leadership Awards with the Outstanding Service Program award.

Governor Polis and Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera provided remarks for the event.

The CCRC was created in May 2020 as an innovative public-private partnership between the State of Colorado, nonprofit organizations, private funders, and AmeriCorps to help contain the spread of COVID-19. The program provided extra support to Local Public Health Agencies responding to COVID-19, allowing information to be shared quickly to help contain the spread of the virus within Colorado. Over 900 AmeriCorps Members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers expanded Colorado’s case investigation, contact tracing, test result notification, and isolation and quarantine monitoring efforts. Together, these members provided COVID-19 support services to 60,000 Coloradans.

“Many Coloradans found the resources needed to thrive, families affected by this pandemic have hope for the future, and countless others across the state have been safeguarded from contracting the deadly virus because of the services provided by the members of the CCRC. We’re powering the Colorado Comeback because of the work done on the ground by these individuals and partners,” said Governor Jared Polis.

“I’m thankful for each and every AmeriCorps member, private partner, nonprofit organization, and staff who helped make this program a success.”

Partners of the program include: • Office of Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera/Serve Colorado • Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, • Community Resource Center, • Conservation Legacy, • Cultivate, • Volunteers of America - Colorado, • Gary Community Investments, • AmeriCorps Mountain Region Office, and • AmeriCorps NCCC. “I am so inspired by the dedication of the AmeriCorps members who have served their neighbors and our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera. “As our communities continue to recover from the pandemic, I encourage others to learn about the ways they can get involved.

Members remain on the ground assisting the state with vaccine outreach and data collection needs in both rural and urban areas.

America’s Service Commissions (ASC) Innovation and Leadership Awards are held each year to recognize the accomplishments of state service commission staff, commissioners, service programs and their champions throughout the United States and its territories. Honorees were selected by a panel of external reviewers through a competitive national process.

November 3, 2021

Guided by the Governor’s Commission for Community Service, Serve Colorado administers the AmeriCorps program in Colorado and promotes community service throughout the state to build a culture of citizenship, service, and individual responsibility. Serve Colorado empowers community-based organizations to meet locally identified needs and statewide challenges through service and volunteerism.

To learn more about Serve Colorado’s programs and serving with AmeriCorps, visit servecolorado.colorado.gov.

Group Picture of Attendees at WOW Event for Veterans

Republican Women of Weld Sponsor Pizza & Politics -Saluting Our Veterans

The Republican Women of Weld sponsored a “Pizza & Politics Night” at Ben’s Brick Oven Pizza in Hudson. The idea was great but turnout was a bit thin. As usual, Ben’s food was excellent. There were about half a dozen veterans that were honored. Colorado State House Representative Mike Lynch from Larimer County was the prime speaker but Dan Woog from District 63, our District, was there and participated A little interesting, Ike McCorkle, attended. as a marine veteran he had every right to attend. McCorkle is probably running against Ken Buck in CD 4 again. Good dialogue between Mike Lynch and Ike McCorkle and it is was very civil and certainly informative. Lynch made some excellent points about what he thought Republicans need to do to win. It was a shame the audience was so thin.

Representative Mike Lynch of House District 49

There is also “pickle/pull tabs” available everyday!

Please come join us for some fun and socializing!

Representative Dan Woog of House District 63

November 3, 2021

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Lost Creek Guide

SERVICE DIRECTORY Computer Support Repair, Service & Sales

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SERVICES Dave Haney Painting & Dry Wall Interior - Exterior Cabinets, Fence Staining Located in Platteville 720-217-2089

Thomas J Croghan DDS Family Dental Practice

Appointments: 303-377-8662 Appointments Available in Keenesburg and Denver

New Patients Welcome

Recycled asphalt, concrete Great for driveways & parking areas. Also sand & gravel.

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Keene Clinic

190 So. Main St., Keenesburg

303-732-4268

DOHERTY’S PLUMBING AND DRAIN Plumbing, Drain Cleaning, Water Heater Replacement Video sewer inspection Sewer & drain locating

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First Baptist Church, Keenesburg, Food Pantry

McCarthy Trucking

Open Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5pm Family Medical are for All Ages

Open every third Saturday 9 am to 12 pm 100 North Market Street, Keenesburg For emergency needs, please contact 720-480-6428 or email us at: http:// www.fbca.church Donations are welcome to help us defeat hunger in our community

Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry Assistance for Roggen, Keenesburg, Prospect Valley, & Hudson Call to Request Assistance

303-732-4319

HELP WANTED Truck Driver-Part-time Dairy Farm, located in eastern Colorado, needs a dependable & hardworking driver & willing to jump in where needed. Duties will consist of hauling commodities to the facility, hauling manure to fields, harvest driving, & anything that may need hauling. It will be local driving and home every night. Pay will be determined by experience, & retired drivers welcome to apply.

- Solid experience preferred - Need to be self-motivated, good communication skills with staff & ownership - Must have CDL Class A with a clean driving record - Able to pass a drug & alcohol screening - Most trucking is within a 200-mile radius, home at night.

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PROPANE SERVICE TECHNICIAN/DRIVER We are seeking a qualified, self-motivated, career oriented person with a strong work ethic to help us provide exceptional propane service.

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Keene Craft Mercantile Open House November 13th All Day 10:00 am to 6:00 pm 65 Main Street, Keenesburg 303-910-0640

10% Discount on All Merchandise Refreshments & Snacks

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Go to: www.ourtowncolorado.com

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Lost Creek Guide

November 3, 2021

The Lost Creek Guide remembers all veterans and first responders including, EMT’s, firemen & police officers. Thank you to the City of Fort Lupton, its Senior Advisory Committee, the Citizens of Fort Lupton and the Field of Honor Sponsors, for doing the same. God Bess America and a big thank you to all our first responders, our veterans, current military, EMT’s, firemen and police officers.