Voices
Sports
Life
Now is one of those times to get out and enjoy Colorado
Four Palmer Ridge distance runners dominate
Art lovers turned out in force for Open Studio tour
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September 28, 2016 | 7 5 ¢
Volume 51 • Issue 39 • pikespeaknewspapers.com • trilakestribune.com
‘Keep the important things important’ By Danny Summers dannysummers@yourpeaknews.com
An apparent student suicide rocked The Classical Academy on Monday, Sept. 19, prompting school officials to cancel classes. Unfortunately, it was far from the first Tri-Lakes area student suicide this year. At least a half dozen students have taken their own lives in the past year in what has become a sickening drumbeat of death. It is unsettling to even think about young men and women reaching a point where they feel they have no hope. Even more disturbing is the fact the victims are all described as “good kids” from “good families.” It makes no sense. Four days before the TCA student died, I sat among 2,000 people at Don Breese Stadium in Monument watching Lewis-Palmer face Palmer Ridge in their rivalry football game. L-P players, coaches and fans left the stadium that night feeling pretty pumped after their team’s 51-9 victory. The Palmer Ridge faithful were subdued, yet upbeat, knowing that it
FROM THE SIDELINES
Danny Summers dannysummers @yourpeaknews.com
was only Week 3 of the season and that plenty of football lay ahead. After the latest death, I thought about the passion I saw in the stands for that football game. And I thought about the passion we see in the stands and on the sidelines for all youth sports. Do we show the same passion for our kids in the classroom and in life, in general? Have we misplaced our passions? Have we lost perspective? L-P football coach Dustin Tupper is a man I have grown to respect over the years. He seems to do a pretty good job of keeping things in perspective. He never seems to get too high after a win or too low after a loss. His players and coaching staff reflect those same ideals. After the TCA death, Tupper went
Photo courtesy of Lisa Slaatten Reich
on Facebook to remind his friends to keep TCA in their prayers as the school struggles with the loss of another student. He also reminded folks of the death of a Longmont High School coach and his wife who died in an automobile accident over the weekend, and of a Peak to Peak High School cross country run-
Monument’s water system largest in state with elevated radium By Bill Vogrin
State water experts say Monument is the largest among 24 of Colorado communities that have radionuclides – radioactive atoms – in their water systems exceeding federal health standards. That’s 24 out of approximately 2,000 public water systems in the state. Of that two dozen, 19 have excess radium (Ra-226 and Ra-228) in their water, as does Monument. Radium is a radioactive metal that occurs naturally in trace amounts in rock, soil and groundwater, according to government fact sheets. As it decays over years, radium releases energy until it is no longer radioactive. But not all of Monument’s 6,000 residents are affected. Its water system has about 1,100 customers, serving less than half the town’s population, on the west side of Interstate 25. There’s one thing all 24 contaminated water systems have in common. “All the systems that have issues with radium use groundwater wells as their supplies,” said Ron Falco, safe drinking water program manager at the Water Quality Control Division. Statewide, the largest concentration of radiumcontaminated water is in Otero County, southeast of
Pueblo, where 13 water systems exceed safety standards, according to data compiled by the Water Quality Control Division. Monument is the only water system in El Paso County with radium in its water. Elsewhere, the list includes a mobile home park in Teller County, a system in Larimer County north of Denver, another in Jefferson County and a smattering of others in eastern Colorado, with the exception of one system in Garfield County on the Western Slope. Falco said the number of systems registering high for radium varies over time as communities address the issue. He said radium typically shows up in well water, as opposed to surface water from rivers and reservoirs, because the water picks up contaminants as it filters through aquifers. “Over the course of time, as water moves through the soil and rock that constitutes an aquifer, water chemistry changes can take place,” Falco said. “For a long period of time, the concentrations (of radium) may remain low. But things change. Rainfall. Drought. The location where the water is coming from in a rock formation varies. A lot can affect the water in an aquifer.” That’s why wells, like Monument’s No. 6 and No. 9
POSTAL ADDRESS
TRI-LAKES TRIBUNE (USPS 418-960)
See Radium on Page 12
By Bill Vogrin
In March, water rates for Monument residents west of Interstate 25 jumped dramatically, from $8.80 a month to $31. And plans call for them to climb 9.5 percent each year until 2021. Now that those rates have been in effect for the town’s 1,100 customers, the cost of connecting newly built homes and businesses to Monument’s municipal water system also is soaring. Under a rate structure approved Sept. 19 by the Board of Trustees, “tap fees,” or the amount charged to builders for tapping into town water, will jump 66 percent. Under the new rates, a ¾-inch residential water line will climb from the previous $9,000 rate to $15,000. And like water rates, tap fees will climb 9 percent a year over the next six years until they reach $23,080 in 2021. Similar increases are planned for commercial buildings, which require larger water lines ranging from 1 inch in diameter up to 4 inches. For example, a common 2-inch commercial See Water on Page 12
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ner who died after a race the same day L-P defeated Palmer Ridge. “Keep the important things important,” Tupper wrote. “Our heart is hurting.” Tupper’s heart was hurting last year when one of his former football players jumped off a freeway overpass to his
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2A The Tribune
September 28, 2016
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Man shot by Colorado Springs police officer out of hospital and in jail By Kaitlin Durbin The Gazette
Christopher Liles, who was wanted in connection with burglaries in the Tri-Lakes region, is out of the hospital and in jail. The 31-year-old Liles is being held in the El Paso County jail without bond related to a warrant out of Tucumcari, N.M., on two counts of aggravated assault, according to court records. Locally, Liles is accused of aggravated motor vehicle theft, second-degree burglary and 58 counts of possession of a forged instrument related to an Aug. 30 burglary in the Gleneagle area, according to El Paso County Sheriff spokeswoman Jackie Kirby. He is suspected in a burglary spree that started in late August hitting homes in Palmer Lake, Monument and Gleneagle, authorities said. Deputies were trying to serve a warrant on those charges Sept. 16 when Liles ran, prompting a chase through several northern Colorado Springs neighborhoods, Kirby said. The chase ended when a Colorado Springs police officer shot Liles as he was attempting to flee in a stolen vehicle. Liles may face additional charges related to that incident, Kirby said. In the meantime, Tucumcari and El Paso County agencies will work together to determine which charges Liles will answer to first, Kirby said.
Fun/Color Run – Friday, Sept. 30 What: Ribbon cutting and Fun/Color Run to celebrate Monument Academy grand opening of its “green play” area. When: 8:15 a.m., Friday Sept. 30 Where: Monument Academy, 1150 Village Ridge Point, Monument Info: Contact PTO vice president Victoria LaPorte at maptovicepresident@gmail.com, call 761-0606 or visit www.monumentacademy.net
Christian Concert – Friday, Sept. 30 What: Concert by award-winning, Christian guitar soloist Phil Keaggy, acclaimed instrumentalist and voted one of the top fingerstyle guitarists by Guitar Player Magazine readers. When: 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 30 Where: Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, 304 Highway 105, Palmer Lake Prices: Tickets are $20 in advance; $22 day of show for member, $22/$24 non-members. Info: Call 481-0475 or visit trilakesarts.org
Christopher Liles
Liles has been in and out of the criminal system in New Mexico since at least 2006, records show. He was sentenced in 2007 to five years of probation for driving the getaway car for a man who brutally beat a person to death in Raton. In 2008, Liles pleaded guilty to battery upon a peace officer and was ordered to 18 months of supervised probation, to be credited alongside an earlier probation sentence. In 2015, he was convicted of one of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In July, Liles received a deferred sentence while he participated in probation. In August, he was accused of a probation violation and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Arts/Crafts Fair Friday & Saturday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1 What: The Palmer Lake Arts Group hosts the 43rd Annual Arts and Crafts Fair When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday, Sept. 30Oct.1 Where: Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent St., Palmer Lake Cost: Free Info: Visit PalmerLakeArtGroup.com or call Margarete Seagraves
Empty Bowls Dinner – Wednesday, Oct. 5
Briefs Help restore the fire-damaged Black Forest Regional Park For The Tribune
The Rocky Mountain Field Institute, which organizes public service projects in area parks, trails and open spaces, will continue fire restoration projects in Black Forest Regional Park on Saturday, Oct. 22. Led by trained RMFI staff and crew leaders, volunteers will complete trail maintenance and restoration projects. This is moderate to strenuous work and requires some heavy lifting. Work will focus on slope stabilization, revegetation, trail repairs, and water management. Of the park’s 385 acres, about twothirds were affected by the 2013 Black Forest Fire and work continues to mitigate erosion and regrow the area.
What: The annual Empty Bowls Dinner to benefit the Tri-Lakes Cares food pantry and sponsored by the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club. When: 5-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5 Where: Lewis-Palmer High School, 1300 Higby Road, Monument. Cost: Tickets are $20 and are available online at www.monumenthillkiwanis.org and at local Tri-Lakes merchants.
Volunteers must be at least 16, or 13 if accompanying a parent volunteer. If you have any questions, or would like to register a group, please contact Molly Mazel, volunteer coordinator, at 719-471-7736 ext. 4, or molly@rmfi.org Workdays run from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Free flu shots to be offered by Tri-Lakes Cares For The Tribune
Tri-Lakes Cares is partnering with Penrose-St. Francis Health Services and Walgreens to offer free flu vaccines to uninsured and those whose insurance doesn’t cover vaccines. The vaccines will be offered to people 4 years of age and older. The vaccines will be given noon-3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, at Tri-Lakes Cares, 235 N. Jefferson St., in Monument.
Supplies of the vaccine are limited. For more information, contact Cindy Stickel, Faith Community Nurse, Penrose-St. Francis Mission Outreach, by email at cindystickel@centura.org.
Burgess Road reopens after culvert replaced For The Tribune
Burgess Road in Black Forest reopened Sept. 22 after being closed most of the week while El Paso County Public Works crews replaced a corroded metal pipe.
Road crews installed two new 18inch corrugated metal culvert pipes under the road. The original plan was to install a 30-inch concrete culvert to replace the 24-inch metal culvert that had rusted out. But gas utility lines were positioned in such a way two smaller pipes were needed to fit the location. Many culverts and drainage pipes in Black Forest that were installed decades ago have reached or passed their expected lifespan. The Black Forest wildfire and subsequent flash flooding have compounded storm water management problems throughout the area.
September 28, 2016
The Tribune 3A
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Hero of methadone fight narrowly wins appointment By Bill Vogrin
Photos by Bill Vogrin/The Tribune
John Howe, left, a former Monument trustee, and Scout Kent Griffith presented to the town on Sept. 19 a mold used by town staff 14 years ago to create plaster headstones for unmarked graves in Monument Cemetery.
Scout honored for organizing ‘unknown’ grave installation By Bill Vogrin
The Monument Cemetery is cleared of most of its broken and crumbling plaster markers designating unknown graves and the Board of Trustees is grateful to the former trustee and the Boy Scout who made it happen. At its Sept. 19 meeting, the board honored ex-trustee John Howe and Scout Kent Griffith, who made his bid for Eagle Scout by organizing an effort to replace dozens of the old plaster markers with new, granite headstones. The plaster markers were installed 14 years ago by town staff after groundpenetrating radar identified what See Graves on Page 7
Scout Kent Griffith displays a new granite headstone to the Monument Board of Trustees. In August, Griffith organized dozens of volunteers to replace 129 crumbling plaster markers with new, granite headstones.
Jamie Fenley, the hero of last summer’s grassroots effort to stop a methadone clinic/dispensary from opening in Monument, narrowly won appointment Sept. 19 to a three-year term on the Monument Board of Adjustment. It is the first level of appeal for people who disagree with decisions by the town planning staff about zoning, or from builders and developers seeking variances from town codes for their construction projects. And it’s the same board Fenley appealed to last summer when she wanted to overturn a decision by town staff to approve the zoning application of a Florida company trying to open the methadone facility. She objected because it was to be located in downtown Monument in a residential neighborhood across from popular Limbach Park and near St. Peter Catholic Church and School. Fenley, 32, was the face of the No Methadone in Monument movement, telling her personal story of her heroin addiction and experiences in methadone facilities to inspire upward of $60,000 in donations to fight the planned Monument dispensary. And it was her testimony on Aug. 10, 2015, before the five-member Board of Adjustment that helped persuade the panel to overturn the zon-
Jamie Fenley
ing decision, blocking the methadone facility from opening. She received a thunderous ovation at the packed hearing in the Lewis-Palmer School District administration building. But her appointment last week by the Monument Board of Trustees was not a slam dunk, even though she was the only candidate out of six applicants who bothered to show up for an interview at its Sept. 19 meeting. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to serve my community,” Fenley told the five trustees in attendance. She was praised by Trustees Jeff Bornstein, Shea Medlicott and See Appointment on Page 7
MONUMENT KEY-CLUBS TRI-LAKES CARES & SCHOOL DISTRICT 38
It’s not too early to start Present thinking about THE 2013
Monument Hill Kiwanis Club and Service Leadership Clubs, Tri-Lakes Cares, and School District 38
EMPTY BOWLS
DINNER
present
&
SILENT AUCTION
DINNER & SILENT AUCTION
Join us for a
Wednesday October 5, 2016
Home Cooked Dinner
Lewis-Palmer High School 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Ticket Price - $20
Ticket purchase includes: DINNER - Soup, Bread, Beverage, & Dessert HANDMADE BOWL - donated by local artists
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Tires• Brakes PLUS • Engine Diagnostic A HANDMADE BOWL by local artists Wheel Alignment donated • Shocks & Struts Heating/AC • DATE: Transmission Wed, Oct 9, 2013Diagnostic Lewis-Palmer HS Scheduled PLACE: Maintenance & More!
es i l i am
F y r ng
u H . . ls.
w o B y mpt
One Child Under 12 - FREE - with a purchased ticket
-soup, bread & dessert-
TIME: 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM COST: $20.00 CHECKS: Payable to Monument Hill Kiwanis
10% Discount off labor on any job
TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE AT THESE Serving LOCATIONS BOUGHT DOOR theorarea for AT 29THE years and counting • Online at www.MonumentHillKiwanis.org Tires/Brakes • Wheel Alignment • Covered Treasures Bookstore - Monument Full Service Repair Facilities Tickets at the Door or In Advance at these Locations: • Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce ONLINE: www.monumenthillkiwanis.org • Tri-Lakes Printing - Jackson Creek Shopping Center Covered Treasures Bookstore - Downtown Monument Proceeds to benefit Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce - Monument • Rock House Ice Cream & More - Palmer Lake Tri-Lakes Cares! Tri-Lakes Printing - Jackson Creek Shopping Center • Hangers - Downtown Monument Rock House Ice Cream & More - Palmer Lake Your Hometown Tire & Auto Center Hangers to Hutches Thrift Shop - Downtown Monument • Serranos - Monument Serranos - Monument • Hamula Orthodontics The Wine Seller - Palmer Lake
• • • • • • • • • Hamula Orthodontics - Monument • Espresso Americano - Jackson Creek Shopping Center
For Information Call Mark Zeiger at 719-488-5934 719.481.4393
Mon.- Fri. 8-6, Sat 8-5 One Child 12 - FREE - with a purchased ticket 297Under N. Beacon Lite Road
Make checks payable to: Monument Hill Kiwanis
www.jjtracks.com
Fax: 719.481.0048
Ticket purchase includes ENTRY to drawing for a Barnes & Noble Nook HD+
For more information, contact: Dave Wittman, 925-683-8291 or dtwittman@sbcglobal.net
4A The Tribune
September 28, 2016
www.trilakestribune.com
Now is one of those times to get out and enjoy Colorado Why did you move to Colorado? I ask because most of us were not born here. Did you come for a job? Were you drawn by family? The panoramic scenery? Or the opportunities to hike, climb, ski, fish, bike or otherwise recreate in the wide open spaces and vast public lands and forests? If you are like me, it was a combination of those factors that landed me in this place I never hope to leave. And right now we are in the midst of one of the scenic wonders of Colorado – the turning of the aspen. Again, if you are like me, you might have gotten too busy to enjoy much of what brought you here. Demands of work and family in recent years have left little time to ski or hike or just go sightseeing. But I have vowed to renew my quest to top every 14er and ski the bumps and bike to exhaustion and to see all the wondrous sights of our glorious state And there is no better time than right now to get on the road. I made the trek to Durango last weekend to see as much color on the mountainsides as possible. Our little weekend escape included a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. I can’t imagine a more spectacular trip than hanging out the window of one of Gen. William Jackson Palmer’s antique coaches as the train snakes along the cliffs above the Animas River on its perilous journey to the historic mining town of Silverton. It was my third ride on the train and I never tire of the views, the sounds of the steel wheels grinding the rails, the smell of the belching steam locomo-
PIKES PEAK BILL Bill Vogrin
billvogrin@yourpeaknews.com
tive, the smoke and ash and rocking of the cars as the train climbs to Silverton. On the train, I completely understand Palmer’s passion for his trains and I try to imagine travelers in the 1870s in the same seats making the journey for reasons other than my pure entertainment. If you haven’t ridden the Durango & Silverton, put it at the top of your list for next year. As I reconnect with Colorado, I have many adventures to cross off my own list. They include a weekend at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Dinosaur National Monument and a visit to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Of course, my wife and I will return to our beloved Rocky Mountain National Park, perhaps to celebrate our wedding anniversary in the meadow where we took our vows. The point is, my impending career interruption has me thinking of all the things I’ve missed in recent years as I tried to build my media empire, such as it was. In the future, I’m going to be all about balance in work and play. I’m starting now. Maybe when you see me next, it will be on top of a 14er!
File Photo
File Photo
Like your ex, your knees have unforgiving memories For Achilles, it was his heel. For the over-50 crowd, it’s our knees. The knee is a complex joint consisting of bones and soft tissue structures that are designed to move and endure the demands of everyday activity. The forces on the knee are centralized in three areas, or compartments. Two of the compartments are located at the junction of the tibia (the large bone of the lower leg) and the femur (the thigh bone) with the third compartment lying beneath the patella (knee cap). Each compartment absorbs the stress of daily activity through cartilage, a rubbery tissue that protects the bone. Knee cartilage is like the tread on your automobile tire, very durable but susceptible to wear. It loses approximately a quarter of a millimeter each year during adulthood. Knees are a little like an ex-spouse – they tend to have long, unforgiving memories. Each athletic trauma and daily micro-trauma is recorded and eventually played back in the form of
FIT AND HEALTHY Cord Prettyman cordprettyman@msn.com
aches and pain. Harvard Health Letter researchers presented a review of some low and high-tech treatments for achy knees. Here’s a short synopsis from the least invasive approach to total knee replacement. Losing weight is the first line of defense for knee pain. Carrying extra weight puts the knee under additional mechanical stress and may also have a metabolic effect on joint tissue. Strengthening your quadriceps (thigh) muscles can help stabilize a bad knee and provide some pain relief. Leg extensions, leg press and squats are all effective in increasing
STAFF
Office: 153 Washington Street, Suite 106 Monument, CO 80132 Phone: 719-686-6448 Mailing address: PO Box 340 Woodland Park, CO 80866
Editor BILL VOGRIN
Advertising Sales Representative DAVID LOWE
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davidlowe@yourpeaknews.com
General Manager Rob Carrigan
Business Manager LAURA MEYERS • 719-687-3006
robcarrigan@yourpeaknews.com
Sports DANNY SUMMERS dannysummers@yourpeaknews.com
quad strength. Orthotics are shoe inserts that can help relieve knee pain by slightly altering the angle of the joint. They can make a big difference for people with early, mild arthritis. Short of getting orthotics, make sure your shoes are in good shape. Worndown heels and soles can aggravate knee problems. The dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin are touted by the supplement industry as being a safe and effective treatment for knee pain. However, according to the Arthritis Foundation, most studies assessing their effectiveness show modest to no improvement in pain relief. On a more invasive note, viscosupplementation involves a series of three to five injections of hyaluronic acid into the knee joint. Hyaluronic acid is a molecule found in synovial fluid, which is a naturally occurring lubricant in the knees. Numerous studies have shown that hyaluronic acid injections provide pain relief Please send us your news tips, photos and comments to billvogrin@yourpeaknews.com robcarrigan@yourpeaknews.com
from osteoarthritis. Cartilage replacement may become a treatment for worn-out knees in the future. But for now, only tiny pieces of defective cartilage can be replaced, so it is mainly used to treat younger people with injuries. The most invasive approach to achy knees is total knee replacement. Candidates for knee replacement are those 55 and older who show one or more of the following symptoms: pain while standing or walking short distances; pain changing position, such as sitting to standing; persistent knee swelling; giving out or locking of the knee; and failure of the knee to respond to therapy or medication. Pain is the body’s warning signal. Listen to your knees and be proactive in their care. Cord Prettyman is a certified Master Personal Trainer and owner of Absolute Workout Fitness and Post-Rehab Studio in Woodland Park. He can be reached at 687-7437, at cordprettyman@msn.com or at cordprettyman.com.
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September 28, 2016
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For decades, early October was Potato Bake time in Monument Potato Bake Day in Monument was celebrated every year for decades in the early history of Monument, just about this time of year, in the first few weeks in October usually. The event helped put Monument and the Divide Country on the map nationally, and established the area’s reputation as a top producer for Colorado and surrounding states. “Yesterday was big day for Monument for the annual Potato Bake,” said the Oct. 11, 1890, Colorado Springs Herald. “Fully 1,500 people came from all parts near and far to enjoy the hospitality. The Mount Herman band furnished the music for the occasion. The menu was two roast beefs, four roast sheep, two roast hogs, and fifty bushels of potatoes, plenty of homemade bread, butter, cakes, pies, and coffee.” Local historian Lucille Lavelett noted that all this was free, as farmers and merchants donated everything, and a committee of men dug the pits, baked the potatoes, and roasted the meat. “It was held West of the Rio Grande tracks and East of Monument Lake. In the afternoon there was horseshoe pitching, tugs of war, and a baseball game. At night, a dance in Walker Hall finished the day,” Lavelett said.
RESTLESS NATIVE Rob Carrigan
robcarrigan@yourpeaknews.com
All in celebration of the remarkable plant that can grow in tremendous range of climates and altitudes and produce more than any other staple crop. The potato, of course, is so basic, it is possible for people to live on them alone. It has changed the arc of history from the rise of the Inca Empire in Peru, to the Potato Wars in Europe of the 17th and 18th centuries, and on to “Great Hunger” in the middle of the 19th century Ireland. “The Divide potatoes were known as the best potatoes in the country. It was the chief industry,” writes Lavelett. “In 1877, the greatest number of potatoes raised to the acre were 25,000 pounds by Paton Wilson. The average number of pounds were from 4 to 6 thousand per acre. In 1875, potatoes sold for 75 cents a hundred. One potato would weigh 3 and quarter pounds.
Courtesy Photos
Special trains would bring visitors from near and far to the Monument Potato Bake in 1892.
“At potato harvest time, it wasn’t uncommon to see 60 wagon loads of potatoes in a day coming in from Table Rock and Gwillimville areas to be stored in Walker’s large potato cellar, or to be shipped out. At first Denver and Colorado Springs were the only markets for the Divide potatoes, but Monument soon became a permanent shipping point.” By 1889, Monument was shipping as many as 380 rail cars of champion potatoes to Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. And special trains were arranged with railroads to bring people to the Bake.
Unfortunately, a blight, thought to have been caused by abundant wild rose bushes locally, eventually took a toll on the big potato crops, and like “Gorta Mor,” or Great Hunger, in Ireland, completely changed the local agricultural picture. In Ireland’s case, more than three million people were entirely dependent on the potato, and the failure of the crop left them destitute. Of a better fortune, the Palmer Divide Country also had rye, and oats, and corn growing. Local sawmill blades whirred. Dairies produced milk, cream, butter and cheese. Beef cattle proliferated. Monument moved on from the potatoes, though the Bake was still an annual occurrence as late as 1917. Ah, the Irish moved on, as well.
One potato might weigh as much as 3.25 pounds in the heyday of harvest.
As many as 60 wagon loads a day could be seen in Monument during harvest.
Yes, the English still remember U.S. contributions in WWII I recently made a trip to England. Early in my visit, I had occasion to do a bit of family research. My sister’s father-in-law, Jack, crewed on a B-17 during World War II. He survived some of the largest raids over Europe. He had a close call or two, but he was not severely injured. One of these was after one of the largest raids into Germany. He was one of the gun crew. The B-17 Jack crewed on was damaged, but was able to return to England. The aircraft was sent to land on an emergency airfield west of London. During the landing, the aircraft clipped an old oak tree near the end
CABOOSE COBWEBS Mel McFarland
of the runway. All of the crew survived crashing, including the ball turret gunner, who hung in a Plexiglas bubble hung under the bomber. He had been injured by a shot that hit his foot! The bird was nearly destroyed, and was recovered mainly for parts. The
crew was assigned to another B-17. Jack never talked about his experiences in the war. On an earlier visit to England, I visited the airbase where his squadron was based, now a racetrack. I also visited a memorial in a nearby village church. My sister recently learned that Jack was quoted in a book about the raid, and that there is a memorial to the crash. I was given the location, not far from where a friend lives. One afternoon, we ventured to the site. A shop that sells horse rigging, and boards them too, sits near the site. One of the grazing fields sits on part of the old runway where the B-17 crashed.
Behind a barn is the memorial, in a tiny park. The story of the raid and the crash. with a list of names of the crew is included. The owner of the shop was thrilled to show someone with a connection to the crew, even though mine is a distant connection, the site and the memorial. It was a touching experience. There is no clue to the history of the site except the memorial. We could even walk where the crash happened, with the same old oak tree in the distance. Yes, the English still remember what we did during the war.
40 Years Ago Tri-Lakes Tribune Sept. 30, 1976 Art board: The new board for the Palmer Lake Art Group includes President Patti Schmidt; Vice President Sue Rogers; Secretary Elaine Young; Corresponding Secretary Bea Clark; and Treasurer Marie Pribble. The Christmas Arts and Crafts festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Palmer Lake Town Hall. Monument Homemakers will prepare lunch and snacks with proceeds going to the Monument Rescue Unit. Profits from the craft fair will go to a scholarship fund for a Lewis-Palmer High School graduate. World Communion Day: Monument Community
Presbyterian Church will celebrate World Communion Day with the observance of the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, Oct. 3. A congregational meeting will be held after the service. Little Log Church will also observe the Lord’s Supper. Operation Flying Start: On Oct. 1-3, over 500 Senior Patrol Boy Scout leaders and their assistants will gather for a weekend of training and fun. The encampment will be at Monument Lake and is sponsored by Pikes Peak Council of Boy Scouts of America. In June, 53 Senior Patrol leaders trained at Camp Alexander to prepare for the event. School News: Penrose Library’s Kidsmobile makes an appearance at the Palmer Lake Elemen-
tary School. The side of the Kidsmobile opens to display a stage for movies and a puppet show. All kindergartners and first graders will have vision checks this month or next. Phone Rates Down: Call a friend tonight in Colorado after 5 p.m. when long distance rate go down. Fall sorority activities: The Eta Beta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi is organizing their fall activities. New officers are: Louise Dudeck, president; Jean Reinebold, vice president; Sylvia Gernet and Betty McCoy, secretaries; Dee Suhr, treasurer; Barb Paulson, extension officer. The September social was a progressive dinner which included husbands. Compiled by Linda Case
6A The Tribune
September 28, 2016
www.trilakestribune.com
Giving reaches $1 million over 10 years Monument Hill Foundation’s Director of Granting, Barbara Broshous, just announced the completion of the Foundation’s annual granting cycle for grants to be awarded in late 2016 and 2017. Thirty-six grant requests were received by the Foundation totaling $141,628. Twenty-six grants will be awarded valued at a total of $48,890. Among the organizations to receive grants is the Lewis Palmer District 38 Schools. District 38 will re-
ceive eight grants totaling $17,840. Among these eight grants are Career Starter College level-Scholarships for students in Lewis Palmer and Palmer Ridge High Schools, support of the Palmer Ridge High School Robotics Team, and the District’s Preschool Program. In the past ten years, the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club (formerly Monument Hill Sertoma Club) and its granting arm, the Monument Hill Foundation, has granted over $1,000,000 to worthy Tri-Lakes and El
Paso County organizations. The service Club’s focus is support of youth programs. The Monument Hill Foundation and the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club are Colorado corporations and are federally designated 501(c)(3) public charities. For more information about the Foundation’s annual granting program, please contact Barbara Broshous at 719-999-5447.
Colorado’s shortest race, Palmer Lake .5K, set for Oct. 2 By Danny Summers dannysummers@yourpeaknews.com
It is advertised as the largest and shortest running event “in Colorado” and may be the most fun run in the state as well. It’s the Second Annual Palmer Lake (point).5K race and it will take place in Palmer Lake on Oct. 2. It’s for folks who prefer something a little less challenging than breaking a sweat like in a traditional 5K or 10K race. “There’s a donut stop 830 feet into the race,” said Jeff Hulsmann, owner of O’Malley’s in Palmer Lake and one of the organizers of the unique event. “If
you finish the race, you get a beer or a root beer.” The race is 1,660 feet long – a little less than a third of a mile – and features some of the most picturesque scenery in the Tri-Lakes area. “This is Palmer Lake’s premier sports event,” Hulsmann said with a grin. “Last year we had people dress up in costumes, run back and forth, participate as families. We even have a dog category.” The purpose of the race is to raise money for the Awake the Lake project (awakepalmerlake.org). Last year, 850 participants helped raise $17,000. “We’re hoping to get 1,000 people this year,” Hulsmann said.
The semi-cardio race is located on the west side of Rockin’ the Rails Park in Palmer Lake and ends at O’Malley’s Pub. It takes place between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. The official shotgun start is 10:30. “We’ll celebrate our fabulous feat with food, drink and football,” Hulsmann said. The day of registration pricing of $30 ($20 for dogs) includes: entry into the race; a spectacular “one of a kind” Palmer Lake (Point).5k shirt; a very hip .5K Euro sticker commemorating your success; a tasty donut carbo booster; and one free “Colorado Native” beer, or a root beer, or a dog treat (depending on your age and species).
Fall Color Photos by Rob Carrigan
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Graves Continued from Page 3
appeared to be about 190 unmarked graves. But the plaster markers didn’t age well, cracking and crumbling after years in the harsh climate and from grass mowers and foot traffic. In August, Griffith, 18 and a 2016 graduate of Lewis-Palmer High School, led a team of 55 or so volunteers who dug holes 15 inches long by 8 inches wide by 2 inches in depth and cemented in the new granite markers. Many of the volunteers were
freshman students at Lewis-Palmer High School and they spent hours cementing into place 129 granite markers. It was the culmination of years of work by Howe, who worked to identify as many graves in the five-acre cemetery as possible. Then, a year ago, he convinced his colleagues on the board to invest $3,250 in granite replacements. Howe told the board on Sept. 19 that upward of 30 stones remain to be installed.
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Dennis Murphy for her involvement in the community and willingness to raise her hand and contribute. Bornstein and Medlicott are particularly familiar with her crusade last summer, as both sat on the Board of Adjustment and ruled on her appeal. But the first vote on Medlicott’s motion to appoint Fenley failed on a 2-2 tie as Bornstein had briefly left the room. Both he and Murphy were in favor of Fenley with Mayor Jeff Kaiser and Mayor Pro Tem Don Wilson opposing her. Bornstein returned and broke the tie on a second vote. After the meeting, Wilson said he opposed Fenley’s appointment because he doubted her ability to be an impartial board member. “I don’t think she can be objective,” Wilson said. “She has personally attacked me on social media.” Kaiser said he agreed with Wilson’s assessment. “Members of the Board of Adjustment must have the ability to work together,” Kaiser said. “Her attacks on Mr. Wilson and others raised con-
cerns for me.” Fenley said she was caught off-guard by the opposition to her nomination. “I was surprised because they all know how dedicated I truly am to this community and they have seen firsthand what I am willing to do for it,” she said. “And not to mention that I was the only one interested enough to show up.” She assumed Wilson was angry about a social media post several weeks ago in which she criticized him for his part in a particularly aggressive and bitter exchange with Bornstein and Trustee Greg Coopman over a proposed water audit. In her post, Fenley described herself as “appalled” at Wilson’s “attitude and unprofessionalism” in verbally sparring with the other trustees. She called his comments “absolutely unacceptable” in her post. In the wake of the Sept. 19 meeting, Fenley said she stands by her criticism of Wilson and the need for public officials to treat each other with respect. “I’m very excited to be a member of the Board of Adjustment,” she said.
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Art lovers turned out in force for Open Studio tour The sixth annual Front Range Open Studio tour weekend saw 16 local studios and workshops welcome guests from Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Parker, Castle Rock and even Aurora and Westminster. The guests included old friends along with many newcomers who were surprised to discover the Tri-Lakes region is home to so many artists and craftsmen working in a great variety of mediums in such a beautiful and charming setting. It pays to get off the interstate. Besides being treated to demonstrations, several studios allowed the guests to try their hand at creating their own work of art. There were prize drawings at every location for either an original work of art or a gift card to one of our sponsors. The weekend was a success to both the artists and the public. But the artists on the tour didn’t accomplish this by themselves. Fortunately we live in a community that supports the arts and our sponsors helped us reach our goals. Special thanks go out to the town of Monument, Bella Art and Frame, La Casa Fiesta, the Coffee Cup Café, Wesley Owens Coffee and Café, the Villa in Palmer Lake and the Speedtrap Bistro for their generous sponsorship and faith in us. Thanks, also, go to all the merchants
GUEST COLUMNIST Nancy Bonig
in Monument and Palmer Lake who displayed our posters and handed out our brochures and maps. One of the original artists on the tour, Mattie O, was unable to participate this year because her studio was empty. Thirty-two of her latest pieces are currently on display at the Littleton Museum in her exhibit titled “In Suspension.” I had the pleasure and honor of attending the invitation-only opening reception on Thursday, Sept. 15, and was amazed at the scope and invention of her latest pieces. Many of them are called Kiki’s dresses and have fanciful bodices of paper mache and skirts of gossamer thread and leaves. They behave as kinetic sculptures as the slightest breeze interacts with the garment. As an admirer of Alexander Calder, Mattie has taken the concept of a mobile to new heights, no pun intended, with floating themes of fall leaves, aquatic life and even more couture! I highly recommend you go see this exhibit! The Littleton Museum is located at 6028 S. Gallup St., a short 45 minutes away, and the show runs until Oct. 23. Closer to home, there are local art events during October: Palmer Lake Art Group hosts the 43rd Arts and Crafts Fair at Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent St., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Bella Art and Frame in Downtown Monument hosts the 2nd Annual Miniature Fine Art show from Oct. 7 to Nov. 4, with an opening reception from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 8.
Artist Mattie O has 32 pieces on display at the Littleton Museum in an exhibit titled “In Suspension.” Many of artist Mattie O’s pieces are called “Kiki’s dresses” and have fanciful bodices of paper mache and skirts of gossamer thread and leaves. They behave as kinetic sculptures as the slightest breeze interacts with the garment.
Artist Mattie O’s mobiles left to right , Thoroughly Modern Rocks , Roots in Heaven, and Turquoise Aspen Leaf.
September 28, 2016
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Paralympians showed the world we are all the same The word “Paralympic” derives from the Greek preposition “para” (beside or alongside) and the word “Olympic.” Its meaning is that the Paralympics are the parallel to the Olympics and illustrates how the two movements coexist. Like the Olympic Games that preceded them, the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the third-largest sporting event in the world, recently ended, but their legacy will remain forever. During the 11 days of competition of the Paralympics in Rio, 4,350 participating athletes from more than 150 countries from all five continents defied expectations by achieving athletic success and showing the world what they can do instead of what they cannot do. Paralympic athletes were not content with just winning medals at the games. They sought to set Paralympic and world records in their names and for their countries. Consider the achievement of Iranian powerlifter Siamand Rahman. Born with a congenital abnormality that affected his legs, Rahman nonetheless set the world record in bench press by lifting 310 kilos. It was so massive a weight that it bent the bar holding the weight plates. Then there was the one-legged men’s 100-meter race. The winning time of 10.81 seconds, by Great Britain’s Jonnie Peacock, was just one second off Jamaican Usain Bolt’s winning time a couple weeks earlier at the Olympic Games. American Brad Snyder, who in 2011
GUEST COLUMNIST Mark Lucas
lost his eyesight in a bomb explosion while serving in the U.S. Navy in Afghanistan, broke a swimming world record that had stood for 20 years. In fact, you can pretty easily argue that Rio 2016 was one of the best Paralympics ever with 210 world records set. Paralympians inspired the world as millions of people across the globe watched on television. Another 2.1 million tickets were sold to spectators, 80 percent of them Brazilians. Managing a sporting festival of such a large scale required the contribution of 15,000 volunteers from 119 countries, plus the work of the 3,000 employees of Rio 2016. The Brazilian people responded to the efforts of athletes and organizers with the warmth and enthusiasm that is typical of their culture. There is more to the success of a Paralympic Games than numbers alone, however. The Paralympic Games are quite amazing not only from an athletic performance but in the transformation of society to raise the level of our consciousness to become even more positive and promote
Photo courtesy of Mark Lucas
USA Women’s Goalball celebrate after winning the bronze medal at the Rio Paralympic Games.
human difference. No other movement drives such social inclusion. Athletic performances by Paralympic athletes creates a seismic shift in our attitude towards people with disabilities. Through their tremendous athletic abilities and performances, a Paralympic athlete who has no eyes, no arms or legs, is a dwarf, is in a wheelchair, or has cerebral palsy show us all how to achieve more with less. The Paralympic Games show us all how we can include and recognize every person as equal, yet at the same
Art is for
time be different. Underneath it all, we are similar; it is how we think of ourselves and how we think of others. Human barriers have always been broken, from the 4-minute mile to the 10-second 100 meter. Paralympians confront life the same way: when obstacles are perceived as challenges, the human spirit will rise and demonstrate the drive within us all to excel. Mark Lucas is executive director of U.S. Association of Blind Athletes and lives in Woodland Park. You can contact him at mlucas@usaba.org
veryone
Engage your inner artist at PeakRadar.com/ArtsMonth
10A The Tribune
September 28, 2016
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Harvesting Hope By Tribune staff
Hundreds of people packed the Spruce Mountain Ranch in Larkspur on Sept. 22 for Harvesting Hope, a fundraising event for the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club. Guests paid $65 apiece to sample food from 16 vendors, taste a dozen different wines, craft beers and spirits at the event. Besides all the food and drink, there was a chef competition, silent auction, music and dancing. The women’s club has been raising money for non-profit, public service and educational organizations in the Tri-Lakes region for more than 40 years.
Photos by Bill Vogrin/The Tribune
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Helping bears by removing a fruity temptation By JONATHAN ROMEO The Durango Herald
DURANGO, Colo. (AP) _ Ripened fruit on the ground may be a welcome sight to urban gatherers, but for BearSmart’s Bryan Peterson, it’s just another threat that adds to the risk of human-bear conflicts. “Your choice in human-bear conflicts is: Deal with bears or deal with why bears are around,’’ Peterson said. “And that’s the route that we’ve chosen, which involves removing human foods that bring bears into communities. “Fruit is one of the bigger ones.’’ Peterson said unsecured household trash is the main reason for human and bear conflicts, but ripened fruit left on or under trees is another human food source that attracts bears that could largely be avoided. Bears have great memories, he said, and can recall locations of easy food sources: i.e. open, unprotected fruit trees in people’s yards. And while electric fencing has proved extremely effective in keeping bears out of most anything, including fruit trees, electric fencing is not allowed within city limits, per city code. BearSmart a few years ago teamed with the Fort Lewis College Environmental Center, Colorado State University
Extension and Healthy Community Food Systems to create an online bulletin board that connects residents desiring fruit with those having fruit available for harvest. A group of 10 or so FLC students volunteered to gather apples from a home in north Durango. The effort is part of a weekly harvesting project, said the environmental center’s director, Rachel Landis. “This is a local food source that doesn’t get harvested,’’ she said. The pounds and pounds of apples collected will be pressed and made into juice, which will be available for purchase on campus. It will also be used to make apple ice cream, Landis said. The “crop mobs’’ are just part of FLC’s environmental center’s push to ensure ``local food security,’’ an initiative set in 2009 to shed light on the importance of local food sources in La Plata County, Landis said. The volunteer groups also help local farmers and ranchers on an as-needed basis, and are constantly looking for partnerships. “Fort Lewis College has really excited students,’’ said Landis. “And this is a way to educate the next round of consumers on the importance of local food sources.’’ The recent gathering of volunteers was an opportunity to remind residents that
as the fall colors set in, so do increased chances for bear interactions as they enter their “feeding frenzy’’ stage. Though it’s difficult to draw conclusions from bear interaction data, the numbers point to a quieter year, mostly because it is a good natural food year. Last year, between July and August, there were 260 human-bear interactions compared to this year’s 50. Four bears have been euthanized to last year’s six. Peterson pointed to a 2010 study by the University of Montana that found homes in northern Missoula, Montana, had a 60 percent chance of being visited by a bear. When apples were available, the odds increased by 269 percent. He said five years ago, it was taboo to talk about gleaning fruit to avoid bear interactions in Durango. People loved seeing bears, he said, even in their yards. “A lot of residents think apples and other fruits are a natural food source for bears, and it’s not. It’s like trash. It’s an attractant,’’ he said. ``This program came out of a bear working group that meets twice a year. The goal is to get unused food to community members, and reduce the risk of bear interactions.’’ Information from: Durango Herald, http://www.duran goherald.com
Coutesy Photo
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September 28, 2016
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Water Continued from Page 1
connection will increase from the previous $72,000 fee to $80,000. By 2021, the 2-inch connection fee will reach $123,090. The tap fees, called “water impact fees” by the town, were scheduled to increase in March at the same time residential water rates jumped. But Town Manager Chris Lowe decided to delay action because of harsh criticism from the development and building community. They accused the town was trying to recoup years of lost water revenue by unfairly taxing builders. “It wasn’t well-received when we put it out there,” Lowe conceded in describing the new fees to the trustees. “But we took a lot of input from stakeholders and came together over this plan. “It’s unusual the town could come together with
the development community and come up with a plan that meets the expectations of both sides. I’m proud.” A year ago, Thomas Tharnish, town public works director, proposed increasing tap fees from their current $9,000 level up to $19,400 for residential connections. For 2-inch commercial connections, Tharnish had proposed nearly doubling the current $72,000 fee to $138,210. Lowe said the new fee structure has the blessing of the Housing and Building Association, which was most vocal in opposition last winter, the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Commission. Tharnish said last week the new fees put Monument in the middle of surrounding communities and water districts. The fees remain lower than Castle
Rock, Fountain, Donala and Woodmoor although they exceed Colorado Springs Utilities’ rates, among others. Builder Charlie Williams, who was a harsh critic of the original fee structure, confirmed the HBA’s support in remarks to the trustees. An interesting feature of the rate structure protects developers and builders from future revisions of rates. The fees imposed on each lot are assessed at the time of construction on a specific lot, but they will reflect the fees in place at the date the final development plat is recorded for the subdivision. If, during the next four years, tap fees are raised, the builder gets the rate in place at the time the plat was recorded with no more than a 9 percent upward adjustment.
Radium Continued from Page 1
wells, can run free of radium and suddenly spike with the contaminants. Well No. 6 was discovered to be in violation of safe radium levels a few years ago and shut down, except for emergencies. Well No. 9, Monument’s newest and highest producing well at 200 gallons per minute, saw its radium levels spike last October, said Thomas Tharnish, public works director. When the radium levels remained at 6.1 picoCuries per liter, above the federal safety level of 5 picoCuries per liter, for nearly an entire year, the state ordered Monument to alert the public and take action. According to the U.S. EPA, the risk of drinking water containing 5 picoCuries of radium per liter is a long-term, chronic health threat, assessed at about 1 in 10,000. That means if 10,000 people drink two liters of radium-contaminated water each day for 70 years, one additional fatal cancer would occur among the 10,000 exposed individuals. Radium in water poses a hazard when it is used for drinking or cooking. A small portion of ingested radium can be absorbed from the digestive tract and distributed throughout the body. Most is passed unchanged from the body. Falco said it’s important to remember Monument did nothing to cause the contamination. “We’re sympathetic with these communities that find themselves in these situations through no fault of their own,” he said. “Aquifers are a bit fickle.” But sympathy won’t clean the water and there aren’t a lot of cheap solutions. “They can treat the water, blend it
Sudoku with existing water sources or find new sources,” he said. “We’ll be working with Monument as it works through this issue and implements a solution.” Blending contaminated water with radium-free water is the cheapest and easiest solution and usually the first option, Falco said. “From our perspective that is a good solution,” he said. “Treating water for radium is a fairly significant undertaking. It’s a good idea for systems to consider whether they can blend with existing systems or drill a new well to blend.” Monument already has tried mixing water from Well No. 9 with other sources and was unable to bring down its radium levels. It is considering other options for bringing its water into compliance with federal standards. Falco said Monument must now work with an engineering consulting firm to explore all options. “When you start talking about treatment, there are significant capital costs involved, long-term operational costs as well as ongoing maintenance costs,” he said. “Treatment systems generate waste with higher levels of radioactive material that then has to be disposed of,” he said. “It’s a fairly significant undertaking.” Falco said the state “appreciates Monuments efforts to do the best they can to address” the violation and he doesn’t anticipate any fines being assessed because the town is cooperating fully in working on solutions. “We know this is a very involved process and we work one-on-one with these communities to try to help them,” he said. “They are doing the best they can in the struggle.”
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Photo courtesy of Julie Tims
Continued from Page 1
death in an apparent suicide. Trying to rationalize that was impossible. Tupper’s admonition about “important things” is a great reminder for us all about keeping perspective in life. Don’t get me wrong. I love sports. Sports are valuable as a tool to teach important lessons about teamwork, following rules, pushing yourself beyond what you thought possible to achieve a goal, overcoming adversity, winning with class and losing with dignity. Great life lessons can be taught through sports. That was never more evident than a couple of weeks ago when a Michigan high school football team suit-
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ed up its water boy, Robby Heil, and put him into the starting lineup. Heil took a handoff and ran 50 yards for the game’s first score. As players from both teams gathered in the end zone to celebrate Heil’s touchdown, his mother, who is ailing from cancer, was in tears. Heil’s touchdown run was by far the most important moment of that game. It showed the spirit of goodness that is within all of us. Those players and coaches exemplified what the true priorities in life are, even during the heated moments of competition. Heil’s story reminded me of Yariv Bennaim, an autistic Palmer Ridge boys’ basketball manager who got into a game last season and scored a layup in the closing moments against Sand Creek. Palmer Ridge lost the game, but Bennaim was all anybody was talking about afterwards. He was king of the court. Most athletes who participate in high school sports will never play at the next level. In fact, most will never play an organized game again in any capacity. The lessons learned on the field – good and bad – will likely have a lasting impact on those young men and women for the rest of their lives. But at the end of the day, what’s really most important in your life? Is it really whether your team was on the winning end of a lopsided football score. Did it really matter if you scored the game-winning goal in a field hockey game or had the assist that led to the pivotal goal in a soccer match? Do we focus so much on the “winners” that we lose track of all the other kids struggling to find their way in life? Try to spend a little more time talking to them about what’s happening in their daily lives, instead of how much harder they need to work on improving their time in the 40-yard dash or how much higher their batting average would be if they spent more time in the batting cage.
Youth suicide experts strongly urge us to have uncomfortable conversations with our children. Don’t be afraid to probe and see how they are really feeling. Are they depressed? Are they contemplating suicide? Get to know their friends. Find out what kind of music they’re listening to, what types of television shows they watch, what video games they play and how they spend their time on social media. Hopefully, every parent is spending time with their kids and talking about important things and staying connected. You need to be engaged. One of the coolest things I’ve learned in recent weeks is how Woodland Park football coach Joe Roskam and his son, Dominic – a junior running back – retreat most evenings to the upstairs office in their home to watch game film. They are together for only about 30 minutes, but the impact that time has on each other’s lives is immeasurable. Experts say kids need to feel connected to a larger group, like a team or a club, or a church. Most importantly, they need know they are valued, that their life has meaning. And that they are loved. Instead, too many kids set up kingdoms in their bedroom, or their basement, and it becomes their sanctuary. The experts strongly warn against it. They lock themselves up and they might as well be 100 miles away, if we are not engaged in their lives. Maybe the best advice from the experts is to remember how you celebrated the birth of your child. Try to remember that joy as the years pass and we settle into our routines of daily life. Take time to remind your child, and yourself, that they were a gift to be treasured. Don’t get distracted by all the inconsequential, petty annoyances that may occur. Remember that winning in life is a happy, healthy, productive child. Try not to focus on the minutia of life. Take the advice of Coach Tupper and keep the important things important.
14A The Tribune
September 28, 2016
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Pair reunites 40 years after 1976 Big Thompson flood By DANA RIECK Loveland Reporter-Herald
LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) _ Forty years ago, Sandy Lasson’s vital signs were nowhere to be found. The 18-year-old woman was living in the Big Thompson canyon when the 1976 flood rocked the Northern Colorado community. She was airlifted to safety the day after the water rushed through the canyon. When she landed, Loveland firefighter Jack Sullivan put his arm around the in-shock teen as medical personnel rushed to treat her. Their embrace filled the front page of the Fort Collins newspaper the next day, on Aug. 2, 1976. Sandy tracked Sullivan down 40 years later, and they reunited to share their memories of that day and the disaster that took so many lives, reported the Loveland Reporter-Herald (http://bit. ly/2cPDKWa). “To tell you the truth, I don’t remember much,’’ Lasson said while sitting in Sullivan’s kitchen. “I do know I was in shock ... I had my dog Sugar, which was really important to me.’’ Jack remembers being told to find someone who needs help and help them when the helicopter landed _ which is why Sandy found herself in his arms that day. “I remember being there when they took her vitals and there weren’t any,’’ Jack said. “... I guess, you know, the only thing we really remember besides that is the picture _ we were there.’’ The two were told the emotional picture gained national attention as news outlets across the country picked it up off The Associated Press wire and published it. Sandy, who still resides in the canyon, said she asked about Jack for years. It wasn’t until about one year ago, though, that she finally had his contact information. But, she said, her job kept her schedule tight. Finally, though, flood survivor Barb Anderson urged her to visit Jack just after the flood’s 40th anniversary this year. “That’s when I made it a priority,’’ Sandy said. Jack’s wife Pat said they were expecting the call, even before their friend told them Sandy would be calling. “You know, I told Pat the other day that this meeting and everything came about because she was ready,’’ Jack said. “You know, when (Sandy) got that number you just had to call _ and then this all happened. You didn’t call the first time, and I know you said you had a patient, but you would have found
w o ! N ! n Ope
Sandy Lasson, right, gives a kiss to Jack Sullivan as they hold a photo of themselves 40 years ago after the 1976 Big Thompson Flood. Sullivan was a volunteer firefighter who found Lasson in bad shape and helped her. The two recently reunited and Lasson was able to thank him for his help. (Jenny Sparks / Loveland Reporter-Herald)
time if you were ready.’’ Sandy said Jack was probably right. She called for the first time in August and set up a time with Pat. Both Jack and Sandy agreed their first meeting was surreal. “It was really nice,’’ Sandy said. Jack said he and other emergency responders were not ready for the disaster that hit the canyon on July 31, 1976. “Oh, we weren’t prepared for that flood,’’ Jack said. “We had done some training, but nothing of that magnitude. You don’t think about being scared when you’re there _ you are just focusing on the disaster and what you can do or where you can
go, you know. You don’t think about whether you’re going to get hurt.’’ For Sandy, her memories about the flood are vague, but the emotion lives in her to this day _ her dreams are often full of water. “The only time we could see was when it was lightning or a propane tank exploded,’’ Sandy said. “ ... People were either gone or they were OK _ there wasn’t much in between,’’ she added. Lasson would learn her father’s body was recovered from the flood shortly after her encounter with Jack. “Jack was some comfort, more than you’ll ever know,’’ Lasson said.
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Why it matters: Executive Authority EDITOR’S NOTE _ One in an AP series examining issues at stake in the presidential election and how they affect people By ERICA WERNER AP Congressional Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) _ THE ISSUE: “Your Majesty’’ isn’t in the American political lexicon. But when a president sets a major policy by edict, skirting Congress, it invariably sets off a debate that traces back to the time of kings and queens _ and the Founding Fathers who rejected the authority of the crown. Lawmakers cry foul when a president, especially of the other party, usurps their authority through executive action. Defenders say it can be the only way to get something done when those lawmakers tie everything up in knots. President Barack Obama has used his executive authority expansively, most notably on the issue of immigration, where he moved unilaterally to curb deportations for millions of immigrants in this country illegally. The Supreme Court deadlocked in June over the major portion of the immigration executive actions, effectively killing the plan for the rest of Obama’s presidency. He’s tested the limits of executive authority in other areas, too, as have presidents
before him.
WHERE THEY STAND
On immigration, Democrat Hillary Clinton has pledged that as president she would work to restore the Obama programs and go further. Republican Donald Trump said he would make sure Obama’s “unconstitutional actions’’ never come back. But Republicans including House Speaker Paul Ryan have been openly concerned about some of Trump’s comments that suggest he, too, might pursue an “imperial presidency.’’ He’s supported reinstating water boarding and other extreme forms of torture; has indicated he would revisit libel protections of journalists, notwithstanding the First Amendment; and has suggested the military would follow his orders even if illegal.
WHY IT MATTERS
Obama claimed that congressional inaction gave him no choice but to act on his own on immigration. And indeed as long as the House remains in GOP hands, action on a comprehensive immigration bill is unlikely, making presidential initiative a major arena of advancement on that issue. However, the Constitution created a system of checks and balances meant to ensure that America
could not be hijacked into becoming a monarchy like the one the nation had just freed itself from. Republicans argue that under Obama, an undue amount of authority has accrued to the executive branch, and that to ensure the intended functioning of our democracy that power must be checked. This election season a few lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, have campaigned on promises to check executive power next year no matter who is in the White House. Obama has also used his executive authority to change certain elements of his health care law, and has flexed his authority in other areas as well, like the environment. The White House even mulled closing the Guantanamo Bay prison via executive action though the administration ultimately did not pursue that route. In 2014 Obama famously promised to get around a balky, GOP-led Congress with the tools at his disposal, saying “I’ve got a pen, and I’ve got a phone’’ and pledging to use his pen to sign executive orders “that move the ball forward.’’ ___ This story is part of AP’s “Why It Matters’’ series, which will examine three dozen issues at stake in the presidential election between now and Election Day. You can find them at: http://apne.ws/2bBG85a.
Ouray hot springs closed for renovations OURAY, Colo. (AP) – The hot springs pool in Ouray are closed until May while the city completes renovations. The Daily Sentinel reports that the 89-year-old pool closed Sept. 6 for the first part of a $10.6 million renovation and the addition of a new two-story bathhouse. The first phase of the project is scheduled to keep the pool closed until Memorial Day weekend in 2017. Talks of renovating the pool, which
has been open since 1927, began in 2012 when a number of leaks were noticed. The need to fix the leaks led to conversation about paving the parking lot and making the temperature easier to regulate entered the equation. Last year, the master plan was approved, and it includes a separate soaking pool with an infinity edge, a hot pool with islands, a regulationsized lap pool that will be maintained
at 78 to 82 degrees, a climbing wall with a diving platform and a shallow pool with a zero-depth entry ramp for easy accessibility, among other amenities. The pool will be completed and opened as soon as possible, and the bathhouse will wait until fall 2017. Part of the financing is coming from a public sale of sales-tax bonds, available through George K. Baum & Co. in Denver, which is scheduled for Sept.
14. Investors can purchase bonds in $5,000 increments. The balance of the financing is coming from a voterapproved sales-tax increase. “We’re just really excited about how this is going to enhance our visitors’ experiences,” said Heidi Pankow, public relations manager for the Ouray Chamber Resort Association. “The more effective filtering system, the new configuration and the amenities are going to be great.”
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