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Issue #301 — Volume 26 Number 4 — Saturday, April 4, 2026
PRHS raises $30K for Make-A-Wish, honors 8-year-old
Local Events Readers should assume that event information published in this issue is subject to change and information should be confirmed a day or two before the event by calling the information number or checking the organization’s website. See page 22 and page 23 or check www.ocn.me/events for event locations and other details of these and many other local events. • OCN mailing days, Thu., Apr. 2 & Apr 30, approx. 7-8:30 am. If you can help, even for an hour or two, getting the papers ready to mail, contact AllenAlchian@ocn.me or (719) 488-3455. • St. Matthias Maundy Thursday Service: Thu., Apr. 2, 7 pm-8:30 pm. Good Friday Service: Fri., Apr. 3, 12 pm-1:30 pm. Easter Sunday Service: Sun., Apr. 5, 10 am11:30 am. See ad on page 5. • Monumental Impact - Orientation, Sat., Apr. 4, 2 pm-3 pm. See ad on page 3. • Lewis-Palmer D38 Districtwide Art Show, Sat., Apr. 11, 11 am-2 pm. • Shred Event, Sat., Mon.-Thu., Apr. 11, 13-16. • Monument Hill Foundation Grant Applications Accepted, Wed., Apr. 15-Sun., May 31. See ad on page 8. • 100+ Women Who Care Membership/Social Networking, Wed., Apr. 15, 5 pm-7 pm. • Monumental Impact - Networking Night, Thu., Apr. 16 & May 21, 5:30 pm-7 pm. See ad on page 3. • Palmer Lake Historical Society, Thu., Apr. 16, 7 pm-8 pm • YMCA Healthy Kids Day, Sat., Apr. 18, 9 am-12 pm. See ad on page 6. • Monument Community Presbyterian Church - Panel Discussion on Home and Food Insecurity, Sun., Apr. 19, 11:15 am-12:15 pm. See ad on page 5. • Monumental Impact - Orientation, Mon., Apr. 20, 5:30 pm-6:30 pm & Sat., May 2, 2 pm-3 pm. See ad on page 3. • Tri-Lakes Women's Club (TLWC) Scholarship Application Deadline, Fri., Apr. 24 • Annual Black Forest Arts and Crafts Guild Spring Craft Show, Wed.-Sun, Apr. 29-May 3, Wed. 4 pm-7 pm. Thu.-Sat. 9 am-7 pm. Sun. 10 am-2 pm. • Business Roundtable, Sat., May 1, 11:15 am - 12:45 pm. Terri Carver. • Space Foundation Discovery Center National Space Day, Sat., May 2, 10 am-4 pm. See ad on page 24. • D38 Career & Technical Education Community Showcase, Mon., May 4, 4-6 pm. • Taste of Tri-Lakes Cares, Wed., May 13, 5:30 pm-10 pm • Silver Key Senior Summit, Thu.Fri., May 14-15, 8 am-2 pm. See ad on page 2. • YMCA Summer Day Camp Kickoff, Tue., May 26. See ad on page 6. • Western Museum of Mining and Industry - Picnic and Planes, Thu., May 28, 9 am-4. See ad on page 9.
In this issue Buc-ee's Community Meeting, 1-5 Palmer Lake News 1, 6-7 D38 News 1, 7-10 Monument News 10-11 Fire District News 11-12 Water & San District News 12-14 County News 14-15 HOA News 15-17 Columns 17-19 Snapshots 19-20 Notices and Calendar 21-23 OCN Info 1, 4, 8, 21-24
Above and right: On March 5, Palmer Ridge High School (PRHS) culminated a week of activities that raised $30,000 for Make-A-Wish Colorado by celebrating 8-year-old student Brooks, whose wish is to go to Disney World. Brooks has a congenital heart disease. She got a standing ovation from the crowd in the gym and got to throw a pie in the face of English teacher Matt Frost. The celebration wrapped up with teacher Daniel Russel getting his head shaved (at right), something he agreed to do if donations hit the $30,000 mark. The event began on a somber note, as Elijah Arnholt’s mother addressed the crowd and delivered a tribute to her son, who was a PRHS student. He passed away a year ago in March at age 18 after a courageous battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Photos courtesy of D38.
Buc-ee’s Resistance Community Meeting, March 19
“It’s not over”
Above: March 25, landfill on the property atop Monument hill proposed for a future Buc-ee's. Photo by Allen Alchian.
By James Howald A standing-room-only crowd of 300 or more gathered at the Tri-Lakes YMCA on March 19 to hear the latest news about the proposed Buc-ee’s travel center from Matthew Beverly of Tri-Lakes Preservation Inc. (TPI), a nonprofit committed to supporting responsible growth in the Tri-Lakes area, and from Kat Gayle, a lawyer with Integrity Matters (IM), a nonprofit government watchdog group. Beverly gave an overview of the travel center design, discussed recent developments, zoning issues,
water supply, public services, and property values, ending with a call to action. “It’s not over,” he said. Gayle argued that El Paso County has ignored the law to allow the project to go forward and presented IM’s next steps.
Scale and scope
Beverly said Buc-ee’s planned to build a 74,000-square-foot building on the west side of the intersection of I-25 and County Line Road with 25 to 35 acres of concrete parking lot. The travel center would have
120 fueling spots, nearly doubling the number currently in the TriLakes community. Eleven thousand cars would exit and re-enter the freeway on the average weekday after stopping at the center, Beverly said. He expected more traffic on weekends and holidays. Buc-ee’s plan calls for 320 light fixtures and a 100-foot sign. The light pollution would be visible for miles. The center is estimated to use around 1.3 million gallons of water a month,
BUC-EE'S (Cont. on 2)
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, March 12, 25, and 26
Search for town attorney grinds on By James Howald and Jackie Burhans In March, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) continued its efforts to find an attorney to represent the town. It approached three law firms and chose one with which to negotiate. Interim Town Administrator Glen Smith, who was leading
the search for an attorney, raised a concern with the board’s choice. In response to Smith’s memo, the law firm withdrew its proposal. The board then directed staff to begin negotiations with a second firm. Smith reported progress on the town’s effort to wrap up the withdrawal of the annexation appli-
cation by Buc-ee’s, which the town has not been able to accept due to its lack of an attorney. The board tried, unsuccessfully, to fill three vacant seats on its Planning Commission. Hinkle and Co. CPAs gave the board a report on its audit of the town’s 2024 finances.
PALMER LAKE (Cont. on 6) Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, March 16
Music in Our Schools recognitions; athletic complex resolution; financial analysis By Harriet Halbig The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education recognized staff and students’ achievements during Music in Our Schools Month, discussed a proposal to build a multi-purpose athletic complex at the Grace Best location, and received a financial analysis update during its March 16 meeting.
Music recognitions
Sam Anderson, band teacher at Lewis-Palmer High School, was named Outstanding Young Music Educator by the Colorado Music Educators Association. Benton Miles, a senior at Palmer Ridge High School, was recognized for being selected for the Colorado All-State Jazz Choir. He performed for the board.
Four students from Lewis-Palmer Middle School were selected for the Regional Honor Band. They are Zeke Rhinesmith, Benjamin Bloomfield, Jack Wittenborn, and Tristan Mendoza. Lewis-Palmer Middle School student Zander Billings performed a selection on his guitar.
D38 (Cont. on 7)