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Aurora tries to make a case for getting tough on crime, but it fails to make any sense
Aurora has made a host of mistakes recently, all for a noble cause.
The Aurora City Council has for the past few years been preoccupied with getting tough on thieves, hoodlums and assorted riffraff in a vain attempt to reduce crime.
It’s not working. It won’t work. Now the city is digging itself deeper into a hole filled with potential civil rights abuses. That’s a quagmire that Aurora — a city trying to redeem itself from being disciplined by state authorities for allowing police to brutalize the public, and especially people of color — really needs to avoid.
About three years ago, a handful of pro-police conservatives won city council seats. Their campaigns were throwbacks to Colorado’s 1980s when similar conservatives passed a library full of laws that sponsors were certain would take a big bite out of rising crime. It didn’t.
DAVE PERRY Editor
Aurora and Denver were in the thick of being introduced to the national gang problem. The big Colorado “oil bust” was decimating the economy, and communities were nervous about a rise in gun violence, shoplifting and car theft.
Sound familiar?
Then Jefferson County District Attorney Don Mielke was the statewide celebrity pushing what he claimed to be just common sense: the harsher the punishment, the less-likely bad guys will do bad things.
Sound familiar?
Mielke climbed to the top of local media headlines by consistently telling anyone who would listen that his sympathies were with victims of crimes, not perpetrators, and Colorado should do whatever it takes to lock up black hats to keep the white hats safe, no matter their age or background. Equal opportunity incarceration was his mantra.
“A criminal is a criminal is a criminal,” Mielke famously said. He famously said and did a lot of things that appealed to conservative types. He pressed, successfully, to try kids as adults in many cases. It would have been all cases if state lawmakers and courts had never stopped him. It was about this time that “three strikes and you’re out” made the state’s “habitual offender” law a way to remand mostly young, delinquent minorities to prison for decades.
Did it make a lot of headlines? Yes.
Did it fill up a lot of jails and prisons at huge costs to taxpayers? Yes.
Did it prevent crime? No.
Sound familiar?
In a perfect illustration of the tenet that those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it, Aurora ended up in the House chamber of doom a couple of weeks ago, trying valiantly to justify one useless and bad law after another.
Aurora officials gave it their best shot in front of the state House Judiciary Committee, swatting at House Bill 1174.
The measure would make illegal the city’s “gettough” sentences for crimes like shoplifting and trespassing. The city infamously mandates jail time for walking out on a restaurant tab of $15 or more.
While state law allows for up-to-year-long jail sentences, sometimes more, for egregious shoplifting culprits, Aurora created “mandatory minimum” sentences for some misdemeanor and petty offenses.
Civil rights attorneys and, so far, a majority of state lawmakers, say Aurora’s get-tough tactics are clear violations of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment.
I’ll keep this simple, because it is. The 14th Amendment requires the state to ensure that “all individuals within a state’s jurisdiction are treated the same way under the law,”
It means that if you are convicted of stealing a TV from a Walmart in Englewood, the punishment can’t be more harsh than if you steal the same TV from a Walmart in Aurora,
Like it or not, it’s way-settled law across the nation, and it’s a critical part of the foundation of American justice.
Aurora is arguing that the state Constitution guarantees chartered cities, like Aurora, have local control over making constitutional laws and constitutional sentences.
And Aurora is absolutely right — except — Aurora must govern within the confines of the U.S. and Colorado constitutions. Unless Aurora city lawmakers can persuade the state Legislature to impose 30 days mandatory jail time for walking out on a $15 tab, proponents are wasting everyone’s time and taxpayer money.
But they already have been.
The underlying problem with Aurora’s fascination with spending $40,000-$80,000 taxpayer dollars a year to lock up shoplifters is that it doesn’t discourage other people from shoplifting, or stealing cars, or even murder.
It may be a secret to Aurora lawmakers and some others that stiffer fines, harsher punishments and even the death penalty does not affect the crime rate. It does not create some kind of moral appeal to potential scofflaws to take their sticky fingers to another city where the fines are less.
If you’re surprised and skeptical, go ahead. Search online. The studies are endless, all coming to the same conclusion: harsher sentencing do not prevent crime.
What does prevent crime, however, is persuading people that they will get caught, according to just as many studies.
When cities like Aurora increase police presence or simply make it clear that they have a way of identifying people committing criminal behavior and prosecuting them, that makes a difference, and sometimes a big one.
This isn’t the first time Aurora was taught that lesson. Back in the 1990s, when it became clear that tough-on-crime laws were useless but getcaught changes were useful, Aurora proposed, and adopted, a Two-Per-Thousand police staffing mandate.
City officials agreed that tougher sentences weren’t nearly as valuable as more cops driving around in cop cars, riding on bikes and wandering in and out of stores, and the city needed more cops.
The rule meant the city must hire at least two sworn officers for every 1,000 Aurora residents to meet the staffing needs.
It’s not cheap, but it works.
Aurora gave Two-Per-Thousand its best shot for several years before realizing the city was growing too fast and training cops to replace the ones who quit or retired was just too hard.
The pandemic came and crimes like car-theft and shoplifting spiked in Aurora, and Denver, and Lakewood, and across the metro area, and across the country.
When the pandemic essentially ended two years ago, all those crime tallies started shrinking in Aurora, and Denver, and Lakewood, and across the metro area, and across the country.
Aurora needs to stop punching itself in the face on issues of crime and public safety. City lawmakers each have access to computers and a fleet of highly-trained staff that can do the science needed to make decisions that have a provable profound effect on everyone.
For those in charge who just can’t believe the long-established truth and science when it comes to managing people and cities, fight the urge to follow your mistaken instinct. Fight hard. Fight harder.
We really do need less crime and a safer community, and to get those things, we need leaders willing to do what really works, not what really sounds good.
Follow @EditorDavePerry on BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon, Twitter and Facebook or reachhimat303-750-7555ordperry@SentinelColorado.com
Aurora allows police to pursue stolen-car suspects despite studies exposing danger
‘DECIDING
WHETHER AN OFFICER INITIATES A CHASE OR NOT IS AT THE OFFICER’S DISCRETION’
BY CASSANDRA BALLARD, Sentinel Staff Writer
Contradicting decades of national research, Aurora’s police chief has eased restrictions on when officers can chase criminal suspects, allowing for car pursuits linked to stolen vehicles and drunken-driving suspects.
“Over the past several years, the Aurora Police Department has not engaged in pursuits of stolen vehicles, despite auto theft being a felony offense,” Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said in a statement last week. “This has created a reality where offenders believe they can victimize our community with no consequence, simply fleeing from law enforcement to avoid accountability.”
Aurora police have for years allowed officers to pursue suspects who have committed or are committing a felony and considered a serious risk to public safety if they are not immediately apprehended. Police policy has also allowed officers to pursue a suspect committing a crime involving a firearm who the officer believes poses a serious threat to the public.
Allowing police to chase suspects solely for stealing vehicles or driving under the influence were essentially the only changes to the policy, according to Aurora police spokesperson Sydney Edwards.
Fatalities, injuries and property damages resulting from police pursuits have become increasingly controversial over the last two decades, with numerous vetted studies warning against the dangers and costs of police pursuits.
Police departments renewed pushes for relaxing pursuit policies when crime spiked in Colorado, and across the nation, from 2020 to 2022.
Chamberlain said that despite documented reduction in car thefts in Aurora and across the metro area, he hears from residents and community leaders that people feel unsafe.
“As the chief of police, my primary responsibility is ensuring the safety of the Aurora community while upholding the rights of residents not to be victimized by crime,” Chamberlain said in the statement.
Most national police organizations and public safety advocates cite numerous studies revealing that police pursuits are dangerous for police, suspects and bystanders, while showing
little or no benefit in impacting crime rates.
“There are ways to incentivize people to follow the law, apart from engaging in a dangerous police chase that is putting the lives of officers and bystanders at risk, and also putting the lives of the driver and passenger at risk who don’t deserve the death penalty for fleeing because of a stolen vehicle,” said Josh Parker, deputy director of policy for Policing Project.
A Federal Bureau of Investigation published a landmark report in 2010, saying that during police chases, 30% of suspects crashed, 30% stopped, and 25% outran the police. The report also said that the people who fled were usually accused of nonviolent crimes, with 32% driving a stolen car, 27% having a suspended driver’s license, 27% wanting to avoid arrest, and 21% driving under the influence.
Critics of permitting police chases say the dangers are substantial.
In an Aurora carjacking police pursuit in 2024, a 24-year-old bystander died from injuries while sitting in his parked car. The suspect was being chased by police in a northwest Aurora neighborhood, hit a speedbump, lost control and crashed into multiple parked vehicles, including the bystander’s vehicle.
Chamberlain said officers will consider the risks and try to avert injuries to suspects, bystanders and even themselves.
“This agency remains committed to prioritizing public safety in every decision we make,” Chamberlain said in the statement. “Pursuits will be conducted in a manner that weighs the risk to the community against the necessity of apprehending criminals who threaten our residents. Aurora is not a place where offenders can operate without fear of consequence.”
Los Angeles Police Department has a similar pursuit policy to the one Chamberlain spelled out last week in his statement. The LA chief of police published an analysis in 2023 showing that 25% of their pursuits ended in a collision, with the majority injuring a bystander.
One major study showed that relaxing the chase policy and making public that police would pursue would-be thieves had the opposite of the intended effect. The City of Milwaukee produced a comprehensive report on
its police pursuits in 2022 after easing up on police pursuit restrictions multiple times over the years, which showed that the more police pursuits they allowed, the more the apprehension rate declined.
“In 2010, 62 of the 68 pursuits resulted in 91% apprehension. In 2019, 419 of the 879 pursuits resulted in 48% apprehension. After remaining relatively consistent for the three years between 2015 and 2017, the apprehension rate rose in 2018 and 2019, falling back to 38% in 2022,” according to the report.
In 2022, the Aurora Police Department did pursue a suspected stolen vehicle, which involved the driver, Anthony Edwards, 31, who drew a gun and pointed it at officers. Officers shot at him, and ultimately, Edwards shot himself in the head, with investigators ruling his death a suicide. Another suspect, in 2023, shot himself after being suspected of driving a stolen vehicle in Denver. He was chased into Aurora and back into Denver, where both departments “immobilized” him, and he barricaded himself in the car and shot himself.
Parker said that although officers are in the best place to weigh the options of possible dangers to the public in a pursuit, they usually choose wrong. He also said that just because an officer works to be safe doesn’t mean the suspect is. If they are already driving recklessly, they will continue to drive recklessly while being pursued.
There is also no evidence that more restrictive pursuit policies are linked to higher criminal activity, Parker said, which was found in a 2021 study conducted by the Policing Project.
“90% of pursuits are initiated because of traffic violations,” according to Vehicular Pursuits: A Guide for Law Enforcement Executives on Managing the Associated Risks by the Police Executive Research Forum.
The California Highway Patrol’s report on 2020 police pursuits found most charges upon apprehension were for stolen vehicles, driving under the influence, resisting arrest and suspended or unlicensed driving.
A comprehensive report was published in 2023 was created after Congress directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in partnership with police jurisdictions, to conduct a study that would lead to the de-
velopment of accurate reporting and analyses of crashes that involve police pursuits.
The report urges police departments to conduct pursuits only for violent crimes and in situations of imminent danger. The report, like others, specifies that vehicle theft and drunken-driving suspects should not prompt a police pursuit.
The report also provides departments with a multitude of alternative approaches they can use.
One example of an alternative solution listed in the report is tracking a stolen vehicle while it’s on the road, and when it reaches an intersection, having two unmarked police cars pull in front of the vehicle in the middle of the intersection (blocking traffic) and having an officer pull up behind and put a tire deflator in front of the back wheels.
Tagging and tracking devices and drones were other solutions listed.
The Aurora Police Department did not detail how they will gauge safety protocols for police pursuits.
“Deciding whether an officer initiates a chase or not is at the officer’s discretion. If they decide the situation warrants a pursuit, they will let a supervisor know, and from there, the supervisor will oversee the pursuit as it’s happening,” Edwards said.
Chamberlain also stressed the importance of putting the safety of the community first. Having a supervisor assess the situation with the officer in pursuit is one of the recommendations the study suggests to continuously evaluate safety threats while engaging in a police pursuit.
Chamberlain said the change in policy is meant to address what he perceives to be people behaving as if there were no consequences to criminal behavior.
“This is unacceptable,” Chamberlain said in the statement. “Public safety demands a balanced approach, one that allows officers to exercise discretion in holding offenders accountable while always considering the risks associated with vehicle pursuits. “This broader policy does not mean that officers engage in reckless chases but rather a measured and responsible approach to stopping those who exploit gaps in enforcement.”
Sentinel Colorado File Photo
AROUND AURORA
Nomination time for those global tastes of Aurora cuisine
Everyone in the city will be the epicurean judge, but first come the nom-nom-nominations.
Foods from across the globe, found across town in Aurora, are the focus of a favorite flavors contest for the city’s annual Global Fest event this summer.
The June event will host 440 authentic specialty restaurants and markets, dozens of food trucks and other small cuisine businesses, according to a statement from the city.
“As an extension of Global Fest, Global Flavors is a creative initiative that seeks to actively support and involve the local business community in this global celebration, showcase the diversity of food across Aurora, and unite people through food,” said Ricardo Gambetta, manager of the Office of International and Immigrant Affairs said in a statement.
Local companies are invited to submit a dish, drink or dessert that is globally inspired to the city between now and March 30. In May, the public will be able to visit participating businesses, purchase and taste the featured items and vote for their favorites, according to the statement.
The top three favorites will be recognized at Global Fest, featured on AuroraTV and throughout the city’s media.
“Last year, the top three places were owned by members of the immigrant community, which was a perfect opportunity to recognize our diverse population’s economic and cultural contributions as acknowledged in the city’s Immigrant Integration Plan; we encourage all local food providers to be part of Global Flavors 2025,” Gambetta said.
Last year’s winners included SweetPepper Kitchen with their Jollof Rice, HoneyBee Asian Bistro & Sushi with their signature Flaming Tiger Roll and Ladydee’s Authentic Nigerian Cuisine’s Heritage Red Beef Stew, according to the statement.
To participate in the competition, businesses must be based in Aurora and licensed by the City of Aurora to sell food. They must also be in good standing with all their respective regulatory agencies, according to the statement. Only one application per category is allowed for a total of three different items per business.
Nominations are currently accepted and can be submitted at AuroraGov.org/GlobalFlavors.
In an attempt to catch the broad diversity in Aurora’s food scene, Global Flavors was created as an extension of Global Fest, according to the release.
“Global Flavors is intended to expand upon those offerings to showcase more great restaurants from across the city,” the statement said. Global Fest is slated for June 14 on the Aurora Municipal Center Great Lawn, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway. To learn more about Global Flavors and Global Fest visit AuroraGlobalFest.org.
— Cassandra Ballard, Sentinel Staff Writer Crow, Hickenlooper back bipartisan bill to preserve Guard units at Buckley SFB
Two Colorado Democrats in Congress are backing a bipartisan bill that would preserve Air National Guard units, including one in Colorado, by planning replacements or improvements for aging aircraft.
The Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, a Centennial Democrat, and Democratic U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, instructs the Air Force to develop recapitalization plans for air squadrons scheduled for divestment, including the 140th Wing based at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora. The base sits in Colorado 6th Congressional District, which Crow
represents.
According to a news release from Hickenlooper’s office, the Air Force currently intends to retire Air National Guard “legacy equipment” without a plan to restore or replace them.
“A strategy for the future of our Air National Guard fighter fleet strengthens our national security,” Hickenlooper said in a statement. “Our bipartisan bill directs the Air Force to update all National Guard fighter squadrons, including the Buckley-based 140th Wing, in order to preserve their flying missions and retain their experienced pilots.”
The bill was originally introduced in 2023, and some of its language passed in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.
“Every day the men and women of the Colorado Air National Guard go to work to help protect America’s national security,” Crow said in a statement.
“Colorado’s servicemembers are some of the most experienced pilots in our country, and we cannot afford to lose these units. I will continue fighting to protect the 140th Wing and keep their mission operational.”
Colorado’s servicemembers are some of the most experienced pilots in our country, and we cannot afford to lose these units.
Co-sponors include U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, an Idaho Republican; U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican; U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, a Michigan Republican; U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth, a Maryland Democrat; U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, a Maryland Republican; U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat; U.S. Rep. John James, a Michigan Republican; U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, a South Dakota Republican; and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, an Ohio Democrat.
According to a news release from Crow’s office, the Air National Guard leads 94% of domestic air defense missions and accounts for 30% of the Air Force’s total fighting force.
Major General Laura Clellan, who leads the Colorado National Guard as adjutant general, said Air National Guard wings cost a third of what active-duty fighter wings cost, while maintaining the ability to activate urgently as needed. She said these wings are an efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
“By acting as a retention net for talent exiting active duty and serving as a cost-effective model to both develop and retain fighter pilots, the Air National Guard presents the nation with an unrivaled value proposition,” Clellan said in a statement. “Throw in the secondary uses of Air Guardsman domestically such as wildfire mitigation, homeland airspace defense, and manpower for civil support all for a fraction of the cost of an active-duty Wing; the Air Guard’s value proposition truly is unparalleled.
“It’s simple, we provide more for less, without sacrificing capability,” she added.
— Sentinel Staff
Metro hospital gunviolence prevention programs at risk in Trump funding cuts
Seven years ago, Erica Green learned through a Facebook post that her brother had been shot.
She rushed to check on him at a hospital run by Denver Health, the city’s safety-net system, but she was unable to get information from emergency room workers, who complained that she was creating a disturbance.
“I was distraught and outside, crying, and Jerry came out of the front doors,” she said.
Jerry Morgan is a familiar face from Green’s Denver neighborhood. He had rushed to the hospital after his pager alerted him to the shooting. As a violence prevention professional with the At-Risk Intervention and Mentoring program, or AIM, Morgan supports gun-violence patients and their families at the hospital — as he did the day Green’s brother was shot.
“It made the situation of that trau-
matic experience so much better. After that, I was, like, I want to do this work,” Green said.
Today, Green works with Morgan as the program manager for AIM, a hospital-linked violence intervention program launched in 2010 as a partnership between Denver Health and the nonprofit Denver Youth Program. It since has expanded to include Aurora’s Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado Hospital.
AIM is one of dozens of hospital-linked violence intervention programs around the country. The programs aim to uncover the social and economic factors that contributed to someone ending up in the ER with a bullet wound: inadequate housing, job loss, or feeling unsafe in one’s neighborhood, for example.
Such programs that take a public health approach to stopping gun violence have had success — one in San Francisco reported a fourfold reduction in violent injury recidivism rates over six years. But President Donald Trump’s executive orders calling for the review of the Biden administration’s gun policies and trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans have created uncertainty around the programs’ long-term federal funding. Some organizers believe their programs will be just fine, but others are looking to shore up alternative funding
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“We’ve been worried about, if a domino does fall, how is it going to impact us? There’s a lot of unknowns,” said John Torres, associate director for Youth Alive, an Oakland, California-based nonprofit.
Federal data shows that gun violence became a leading cause of death among children and young adults at the start of this decade and was tied to more than 48,000 deaths among people of all ages in 2022. New Yorkbased pediatric trauma surgeon Chethan Sathya, a National Institutes of Health-funded firearms injury prevention researcher, believes those statistics show that gun violence can’t be ignored as a health care issue. “It’s killing so many people,” Sathya said.
Research shows that a violent injury puts someone at heightened risk for future ones, and the risk of death goes up significantly by the third violent injury, according to a 2006 study published in The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection and Critical Care.
Benjamin Li, an emergency medicine physician at Denver Health and the health system’s AIM medical director, said the ER is an ideal setting to intervene in gun violence by working to reverse-engineer what led to a patient’s injuries.
“If you are just seeing the person, patching them up, and then sending them right back into the exact same circumstances, we know it’s going to lead to them being hurt again,” Li said. “It’s critical we address the social determinants of health and then try to change the equation.”
That might mean providing alternative solutions to gunshot victims who might otherwise seek retaliation, said Paris Davis, the intervention programs director for Youth Alive.
“If that’s helping them relocate out of the area, if that’s allowing them to gain housing, if that’s shifting that energy into education or job or, you know, family therapy, whatever the needs are for that particular case and individual, that is what we provide,” Davis said.
AIM outreach workers meet gunshot wound victims at their hospital bedsides to have what Morgan, AIM’s lead outreach worker, calls a tough, nonjudgmental conversation on how the patients ended up there.
AIM uses that information to help patients access the resources they need to navigate their biggest challenges after they’re discharged, Mor-
clude returning to school or work, or finding housing. AIM outreach workers might also attend court proceedings and assist with transportation to health care appointments.
“We try to help in whatever capacity we can, but it’s interdependent on whatever the client needs,” Morgan said.
Since 2010, AIM has grown from three full-time outreach workers to nine, and this year opened the REACH Clinic in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. The community-based clinic provides wound-care kits; physical therapy; and behavioral, mental and occupational health care. In the coming months, it plans to add bullet removal to its services. It’s part of a growing movement of community-based clinics focused on violent injuries, including the Bullet Related Injury Clinic in St. Louis.
Ginny McCarthy, an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Colorado, described REACH as an extension of the hospital-based work, providing holistic treatment in a single location and building trust between health care providers and communities of color that have historically experienced racial biases in medical care.
Caught in the Crossfire, created in 1994 and run by Youth Alive in Oakland, is cited as the nation’s first hospital-linked violence intervention program and has since inspired others.
The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, a national network initiated by Youth ALIVE to advance public health solutions to gun violence, counted 74 hospital-linked violence intervention programs among its membership as of January.
The alliance’s executive director, Fatimah Loren Dreier, compared medicine’s role in addressing gun violence to that of preventing an infectious disease, like cholera. “That disease spreads if you don’t have good sanitation in places where people aggregate,” she said.
Dreier, who also serves as executive director of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education, said medicine identifies and tracks patterns that lead to the spread of a disease or, in this case, the spread of violence.
“That is what health care can do really well to shift society. When we deploy this, we get better outcomes for everybody,” Dreier said.
The alliance, of which AIM is a member, offers technical assistance and training for hospital-linked violence intervention programs and successfully petitioned to make their ser-
vices eligible for traditional insurance reimbursement.
In 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive action that opened the door for states to use Medicaid for violence prevention. Several states, including California, New York, and Colorado, have passed legislation establishing a Medicaid benefit for hospital-linked violence intervention programs.
Last summer, then-U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis, and the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act earmarked $1.4 billion in funding for a wide array of violence-prevention programs through next year.
But in early February, Trump issued an executive order instructing the U.S. attorney general to conduct a 30-day review of a number of Biden’s policies on gun violence. The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention now appears to be defunct, and recent moves to freeze federal grants created uncertainty among the gun-violence prevention programs that receive federal funding.
AIM receives 30% of its funding from its operating agreement with Denver’s Office of Community Violence Solutions, according to Li. The rest is from grants, including Victims of Crime Act funding, through the Department of Justice. As of mid-February, Trump’s executive orders had not affected AIM’s current funding.
Some who work with the hospital-linked violence prevention programs in Colorado are hoping a new voter-approved firearms and ammunition excise tax in the state, expected to generate about $39 million annually and support victim services, could be a new source of funding. But the tax’s revenues aren’t expected to fully flow until 2026, and it’s not clear how that money will be allocated.
Trauma surgeon and public health researcher Catherine Velopulos, who is the AIM medical director at the University of Colorado hospital in Aurora, said any interruption in federal funding, even for a few months, would be “very difficult for us.” But Velopulos said she was reassured by the bipartisan support for the kind of work AIM does.
“People want to oversimplify the problem and just say, ‘If we get rid of guns, it’s all going to stop,’ or ‘It doesn’t matter what we do, because they’re going to get guns, anyway,’” she said. “What we really have to address is why people feel so scared that they have to arm themselves.”
— Stephanie Wolf, KFF NEWS
SCHOOLS
AND EDUCATION
Vista Peak student honored for short film challenging Trump to ‘Build Our America Together’
An Aurora high school student is among the national list of honorees for C-SPAN’s 2025 StudentCam short film competition. Lily Mauro, a 11th grade student at Vista Peak Prep School, earned an honorable mention for her film, “My Message To The President: A Story of Unity and Advocacy,” which tackles complicated cultural divides during the onset of a second Trump presidency.
“What does it mean to ‘Make America Great Again?’ Is greatness an equal opportunity concept or something that will ultimately require more sacrifice from some than others? Or, if our past carried so much disparity, what is left to return to?” Mauro asks in the film.
The film plays a clip from a speech by Trump, in which he says, “It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us.”
But, as Mauro says in the film, “Unity is often easier to preach than practice.” In Trump’s case, his call for unity has seemed, to many, less like a call to find common ground and more like a demand to get behind his agenda or get out of the way.
“To the President, I say, allow us to continue to build our American together instead of ripping us apart at the mercy of the economy and the expense of our lives,” Mauro says. Mauro’s artistic vision cannot be fully conveyed over text, as her sections have the cadence of spoken-word poetry.
During the film, Mauro interviews multiple local leaders to ask them for their thoughts on moving forward as a community in the time of Trump, and how the president could, if he wanted to, work to strengthen those bonds rather than cause more divisions.
“When there’s no faith in the system, the rule of law doesn’t exist. The people chose President-Elect Donald Trump for a second term,” says Don J. Toussaint, Judicial Court Judge for the 18th Judicial District, which covers Arapahoe County.
Isaiah Powers, who is the Student Body President at Vista Peak Prep, echoed the sentiment about Americans losing faith in their government.
“I think that in order to create trust between American citizens and the government, there needs to be some type of accountability holding true to what they say they’re going to do,” he
“If I could relay a message to our next leaders that are coming in, really relay the message of uniting a community to come together to listen, and hear each other’s stories,” says Mehran Ahmed, Principal of Vista Peak
In his segment, Ahmed posits that people can find common ground not just through similarities, but through understanding the value of different experiences and perspectives from their own.
“Sometimes we always think about how our similarities bring us together, but at the same time if we could really think about our differences bringing us together that can lead to some good conversations for how we want to live our life in our community.”
Keithen Holiday, CEO of Seb’s Recreation Center, which serves aging and disabled people in Aurora, referenced cuts to assistance programs by the Trump administration. While such benefits may seem abstract to those who don’t need them, he advised empathy towards those who do.
“If you live long enough you will end up elderly and could possibly be disabled. And some of the services they are thinking about or trying to cut, we need,” Holiday says. “Just because you’re not in that predicament
now doesn’t mean a family member or yourself won’t be in that predicament.”
Mauro concludes by expanding the message of the film not just to the president, but to everyone. Statistics over the past several years have shown that while much of the U.S. population remains politically moderate, partisan polarization has only increased.
“This address isn’t just for our incoming president, it’s for our community. A reminder that in a time when sides are chosen, we find ourselves in the same cities, surrounded by the same people. People that we need and people that need us,” Mauro says.
— James O’Rourke, Colorado Times Recorder
COPS AND COURTS
Two teenagers charged with murder in shooting death linked to shoe robbery in Aurora parking lot
Police say they have arrested two 19-year-old men in connection with a fatal March 11 shooting in a southwest Aurora office park and both men face murder charges in what investigators say was a robbery over the sale of shoes.
Isaac Delacruz, 19, has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated robbery, according to police. He is being held at the jail without bond. Kevin Hernandez-Gonzalez, 19, has been charged with second-degree murder and aggravated robbery, police said. He, too, is being held at the Arapahoe County jail in lieu of $1 million bond.
“Our thoughts are with the victim’s family, friends and members of our community who have been impacted by this tragic and senseless crime,” Mark Hildebrand, chief of the Aurora Police Department’s Investigations Division said in a statement.
In a statement last week, police said Delacruz is accused of being the shooter in the case, and Hernandez-Gonzalez drove a getaway car from the scene.
Police were called to 10805 E. Bethany Drive at about 9:30 p.m. after reports of a shooting in a parking lot. The building is part of a larger office park.
Aurora police said they found a man critically wounded from gunfire outside an office building.
The slain man was identified Friday by the Arapahoe County corner as Yousef Jamal Elnaffar, 23.
“The victim was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries,” police said previously in a statement.
The man later died from his gunfire injuries.
“The investigation to date has determined the victim traveled to the area after facilitating a transaction through an online marketplace,” police said in a statement. “Detectives are investigating the homicide as an isolated incident and don’t think the shooting is connected to any schools, places of worship or businesses in the area.”
Police said the transaction was supposed to be the sale of a pair of shoes and that the suspects were linked to other crimes and robberies in the metro area, but they did not provide details of those crimes.
Police credited the arrests to a collaborative effort among APD’s Fugitive and Narcotics Unit and a host of other local police agencies.
Arrest warrants for Hernandez-Gonzalez and Delacruz were both sealed by a county court at the request of prosecutors.
Police said anyone with information can call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and still be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000, police said.
— Sentinel Staff
HOOPS HEAVEN
Eaglecrest boys, Grandview girls bring 6A state championships back after stellar postseason performances at Denver Coliseum
BY COURTNEY OAKES Sports Editor
Not one, but two, Class 6A state championship trophies found their way to into the eager hands of Aurora area basketball teams March 15.
The Grandview girls laid claim to the first title at the Denver Coliseum with a 22-point win over Legend in the 6A girls final, while the Eaglecrest boys matched it a few hours later with a two-point defeat of Valor Christian in the 6A boys final.
It was the third time Aurora area teams had swept the boys and girls championships in Colorado’s largest classification, joining the sweep of the Grandview boys and girls in 2018, while the Eaglecrest boys and Regis Jesuit girls took titles in 2013 when the tournament’s championship games were played in Boulder.
Here’s how both Aurora area basketball teams emerged as state champions:
RESILIENT EAGLECREST BOYS DETHRONE VALOR CHRISTIAN TO CAPTURE 3RD STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Jarris Krapcha admitted to tremendous nerves in the day leading up to the Class 6A state championship game.
But not because of the play of his Eaglecrest boys basketball team, which had demonstrated resilience, grit and every other adjective that could describe clutch play this season.
It was more the challenge presented by the second-seeded Raptors’ opponent, No. 5 Valor Christian, led by megawatt postseason star guard Cole Scherer, who had just dropped 39 points in a semifinal upset of No. 1 Rangeview.
“I was so nervous since Thursday (when Eaglecrest rallied and won in overtime in the semifinals) and I went for a walk at 9 o’clock last night and walked three miles,” Krapcha said. “I was so nervous all day today and then I just walked into the building and it all went away. It was wild. It was like ‘OK, I’m ready to coach.’”
A couple of hours later, the feeling would be even better as his team exhibited all of its best traits and overcame some self-imposed late drama in a 65-63 victory that earned Krapcha his first state title and marked the third in Eaglecrest history.
Going in, there was a lot to make Krapcha comfortable, as his team had accomplished no small feat as it went undefeated in 10 games against Centennial League rivals — including a rally against upset-minded rival Smoky Hill in the Centennial League Challenge championship game — and stood up when challenged in each of its first three playoff games (wins over No. 34 Rocky Mountain, No. 15 Arvada West and No. 6 Mountain Vista).
A roster built of several players with significant postseason experience (seniors Garrett Barger, Lucas Kalimba, Jason Noone, Gavin Gallegos and La’Quince York plus super sophomore reserve Kris Coleman), including a heartbreaking semifinal loss in last
season’s semifinals, combined with a full half season of transfer senior standout Anthony Nettles integrated into the lineup and an uncommonly deep group of contributors had the Raptors primed.
“This has been three years in the making really,” Krapcha said. “We knew the class coming up was pretty darn good and even sophomore year we had two freak injuries, so kids got to play who probably wouldn’t have played all year. ...We came close last year, so we knew from the get go we had the capability to do it, but obviously it’s a very difficult task.”
TOP: Players and coaches from the Eaglecrest boys basketball team pose with the Class 6A state championship trophy and banner following a 65-63 victory over Valor Christian that yielded the program’s third all-time state title on March 15 at the Denver Coliseum. ABOVE: Players and coaches from the Grandview girls basketball team captured the program’s fifth state crown with a 61-39 defeat of Legend March 15. (Photos by Courtney Oakes/ Aurora Sentinel)
That task was made more difficult by the opponent, which featured Scherer, who has been as prime time of a player as anybody in Colorado over the past two seasons and is the state’s reigning Gatorade Player of the Year.
The Eastern Washington-bound guard averaged 26 points per game in the postseason over the last two seasons and was near impossible to contain when Valor Christian got a lead. Scherer did his thing in the championship game, including hitting three 3-pointers in the quarter, including two in a row that put the Eagles up eight late in the period.
But Eaglecrest’s plan to throw a cadre of defenders at him for the entire game — and with the talent to actually do it effectively — eventually took effect. A clutch three-point play from Coleman helped the Raptors get back into the game and a layup followed by a corner 3-pointer from Nettles (who had a teamhigh 14 points) got Eaglecrest in the lead.
The toll of so much attention began to show in Scherer, who subsequently airballed a 3-point try and then had a ball stolen from him near center court by York, who got fouled and made free throws to build the lead.
“That’s what our plan was, take a team approach at stopping him,” York said. “If Gavin got tired, I’d go guard him, if I got tired, Lucas guards him. It would just wear him down. He’s definitely a great player, I give him props for that, we just had to take a team approach.”
The Raptors left the door open a bit in the final minute with some uncharacteristic missed free throws (14 in all for the game), but Noone sealed it with his free throws at the end. He finished with 11 points to join Nettles (14) and Barger (12) in double figures, while Kalimba added nine.
It was no surprise to Noone that the team got it done.
“We made the Final Four last year and lost one senior and somebody (LaDavian King) transferred, but then somebody transferred here (Nettles), so other than two kids, we’re the same team,” he said. “Everybody got better over the summer, so I felt we would win state this year. It feels so good.”
Added Barger: “It’s crazy, winning my senior year, I wouldn’t want to end it with anybody else. It’s been a hell of a ride with everyone. I’ve played with almost all of them since freshman year and some of them even in middle school, then we added Ant. It’s the best feeling right now.”
Said Gallegos: “It just comes down to the bond we’ve built over time. ...We know each other very well and I come off the bench every single time in the fourth quarter and say ‘trust your brothers, trust your brothers to get it done.’ Everybody on the floor for Eaglecrest can play, we just trust your brothers.”
A void was created when King transferred to Rangeview after three seasons as a starter, but that was filled when Nettles was cleared to join the team in the new year. The Raptors didn’t lose a single game with him in the lineup and finished the season 26-2.
“They took me in with open arms and I felt welcome coming here,” Nettles said. “I knew we could get it done. We’re state champions now.”
Eaglecrest’s championship was the first for Krapcha, who took over on the bench for John Olander, who guided title runs in 2013 and 2017.
“It’s why I applied, Eaglecrest wins,” Krapcha said. “It takes awhile to make the program your own. We broke through last year and then now, this.”
GRANDVIEW GIRLS RETURN TO TOP, WINNING THEIR THIRD STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN FOUR SEASONS
Sienna Betts controlled the opening tip-off for her Grandview girls basketball March 15 in the Class 6A state championship game against Legend and knew that was it.
Not that results in the postseason are ever a given, but the Wolves’ senior star — recently crowned the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year for a third straight time and a McDonald’s All-American — had the pulse of her team and knew what was coming would be something to behold.
Spurred by the sting of last season’s Sweet 16 loss and the urgency of four senior starters in Betts, Deija Roberson, Maya Smith and Leaiva Holliman, top-seeded Grandview came out with determination that never wavered on its way to a 61-39 victory and the extension of a dynasty.
“The minute the game started, I could tell from our energy,” said Betts, who finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds in her final prep contest before she heads to powerhouse UCLA. “Everyone was so focused and we were not going to let them come back and we didn’t want them to think they had chance. So right from the get go, I knew it was over.”
The Wolves have won five all-time state championships and got back to the top after back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 when Betts, Roberson and Smith were on the roster.
Last season’s loss to Mullen on Grandview’s home floor — which kept the then-juniors from another trip to the Denver Coliseum — was a supreme motivator.
“It was kindof like revenge for us,” said Smith, who finished with nine points. “The seniors were saying that this year was personal because last year hurt us really bad.”
Betts, in particular, was motivated to go out on top. She had earned a ring a freshman with a team that included mostly revolved around her older sister, Lauren (who is now starring at UCLA) and she emerged as the main factor in Grandview’s repeat run the next season.
With one more chance to taste a title, the 6-foot-4 Betts did her part early against Legend with 13 points in the opening two quarters and her presence deterred the Titans in the paint, while the rest of the lineup took turns closing down the 3-point line, where seventh-seeded Legend thrived all season long.
The result was only two triples made by the Titans in the first two quarters and Grandview with a 16-point lead at halftime as Roberson added nine more points.
Wolves coach Josh Ulitzky — who is now 5-1 as a head coach in state championship games — is never comfortable until the final
buzzer sounds, but he had a good feeling early given how well his team limited the outside looks, rebounded and played carefully and efficiently on the offensive end.
“The senior girls are like ‘we are not losing’, so it was obvious from the jump we would be in a good place if defended,” Ulitzky said. “I honestly didn’t pay much attention to the score, but I knew if we defended like we game planned and we did it consistently, we’d be in a good place. Credit to the girls, they did everything we asked.”
Legend made only one more 3-pointer in the third quarter to up its total to three — one less than the Wolves had as Smith and sophomore Ava Chang hit two apiece — as the lead remained 14 points with one quarter to go.
A Chang basket and two hoops from Roberson (who had 15 points) boosted the lead to 20, which sustained Grandview when the Titans made three 3-pointers to cut the lead to 13.
Chang was glad to finish things off for the seniors.
“It means everything for them to get three championships in four years,” Chang said. “I know I’m only a sophomore, but them being seniors means I won’t ever get to play high school basketball with them again. It was a really fun two seasons and I’m so thankful for them.”
Ulitzky will remember the team for how it came together despite adversity. Junior Lexi Yi, who would have been a starter for a third season, was lost for the majority of the season and sophomore Amya Narducci missed significant time.
“We only had six girls at one point, so they really circled the wagons,” he said. “They were like this is us and we’re going to do it. I said to them many times, ‘you guys are so impressive because you just find a way.’ Outside of one stinker in Phoenix, they found a way every game.”
LEFT: From left, senior Anthony Nettles, sophomore Kris Coleman, senior La’Quince York (23) and senior Garrett Barger (12) hold up the Class 6A boys basketball state championship trophy after second-seeded Eaglecrest’s 65-63 win over No. 5 Valor Christian on March 15 at the Denver Coliseum. BELOW LEFT: Eaglecrest boys basketball players Kris Coleman, Lucas Kalimba and Anthony Nettles sit on the railing at the Denver Coliseum above the court to celebrate with classmates after the state championship victory. BELOW CENTER: Grandview senior Sienna Betts, second from left, hugs sophomore Ava Chang, left, and senior Maya Smith, right, as she looks up at the scoreboard following the Wolves’ 6139 win over Legend in the Class 6A girls basketball state championship game March 15 at the Denver Coliseum. BELOW RIGHT: Valor Christian’s Cole Scherer, left, gets off a layup just before Rangeview freshman Marceles Duncan (23) can block it during the first half of a Class 6A boys basketball semifinal on March 13. The Eagles ended the Raiders’ bid for an undefeated season with a 61-51 win. ABOVE: Grandview senior Sienna Betts carries the Class 6A girls basketball state championship trophy over to celebrate with fans. Two days before the championship game, Betts was chosen as Colorado’s Gatorade Player of the Year for a third straight season. (Photos by Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel) FULL STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT PHOTO GALLERIES AT COURTNEYOAKES.SMUGMUG.COM
For her part, Betts had a hard time picking which of the championships was her favorite given how different they were.
“Each team was so different and it was a complete new group of girls every time,” she said. “I feel like each group worked hard in different ways to build our connections and confidence as a team. Even if we don’t have big basketball names, we don’t care. We just trust each other and trust our coaches and we showed that today.”
RANGEVIEW BOYS’ RUN AT UNDEFEATED SEASON STOPPED BY VALOR CHRISTIAN IN 6A FINAL FOUR
The irresistible force of the Rangeview boys basketball team came up against Colorado’s recent prep postseason immovable object — Valor Christian star Cole Scherer — March 13 at the Denver Coliseum.
The top-seeded Raiders were in the final stretch of a unique, undefeated season that they hoped would end with
the school’s third all-time state championship, but ran into the fifth-seeded Eagles and streaking star Scherer, who lifted his team to last season’s Class 6A state title and had them on the cusp of playing for another. Instead, Scherer finished 16-for-16 from the free throw line — including 7-for-7 in the fourth quarter — and tallied 39 points as Valor Christian stopped Rangeview’s run with a 61-51 in a 6A semifinal clash. Senior LaDavian King scored 21 points as the only player in double figures for coach Shawn Palmer’s Raiders, who finished the season 26-1. Freshman Marceles Duncan added seven, while seniors Kenny Black-Knox III and Royce Edwards and sophomore Archie Weatherspoon V scored six points apiece.
Rangeview earned its way to the Denver Coliseum (home of the Great 8, Final Four and championship games) for the first time since the 2020-21 season in which it made it to the semifinals before the remainder of the tournament was wiped out by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
PREPS
BOYS SWIMMING
Regis Jesuit wins Dick Rush Invitational meet
The Regis Jesuit boys swimming team is off to a fast start to the young season, which now includes a championship at a large meet.
Coach Nick Frasersmith’s Raiders accrued 923 points in the pool March 15 at the Veterans’ Memorial Aquatic Center to finish in front of defending Class 5A state champion Cherry Creek (899) and Highlands Ranch (523) atop a multi-classification field of 29 teams.
Regis Jesuit picked up bookend relay victories in the meet, as it set the tone with a victory in the 200 yard medley relay from Greyson Connett, Shepard Kerscher, Spencer Greene and Nolan Kohl and finished a win in the 400 freestyle relay from Greene and Kohl along with Reid Magner and Trevyn Krauss. In between, Greene took first in the 100 yard butterfly, while Kohl claimed the 100 yard backstroke. Grandview had no event winners, but managed to score 452 points and finished in fifth place, just eight points behind Fairview in fourth. Oliver Schimberg finished second in the 50 freestyle to lead the Wolves, while Evan Linnebur was third in the 100 butterfly. Smoky Hill made it into the top 10 overall with 290 points and had an event winner in Ian Noffsinger, who grabbed the 500 freestyle. Cherokee Trail earned 227 points (paced by Ian Madigan’s eighth-place finish in the 500 freestyle) to place 14th and Overland took 28th with 15 points, all of which came from diver Chad Hamilton’s 18th-place finish.
WEEK PAST
The week past in Aurora prep sports
MONDAY, MARCH 17: A small slate for Aurora area teams included two baseball games and one in girls soccer. ...SATURDAY, MARCH 15: The Grandview baseball team opened its season with a 12-1 home win over Northfield that ended in five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. Starting pitcher Ethan Wachsmann picked up the win with three innings and one run allowed with seven striekouts, while Kayden Bohmeyer had two hits and joined Chase Chapman with two RBI apiece. ...Eric Houser tripled as part of a 2-for-2 day, but the Vista PEAK Prep baseball team fell 11-1 on the road at Fruita Monument. ...The Grandview boys track team won the championship of the Murray Kula Invitational hosted by Windsor High School, as it scored 80 points to finish four in front of runner-up Fossil Ridge to lead 29 scoring teams. The Wolves’ lone win came from its 4x100 meter relay team, while Sasha Kennedy ruled the 300 meter hurdles for the Grandview girls which finished seventh among 31 scoring teams. ...The Cherokee Trail boys track team had four individual event champions and scored 107 points to finish second behind Fort Collins (123) at the ThunderRidge Invitational at EchoPark Stadium. Nurudeen Diallo (long jump), DeMarcues Harris (triple jump), Joshua Stewart (110 meter hurdles) and Taylor Waters (pole vault) picked up wins for the Cougars. Smoky Hill finished 19th, Regis Jesuit 20th and Aurora Central tied for 25th in the boys field. Alexandria Carelock (300 meter hurdles) and the 4x100 meter relay team won for the Cherokee Trail girls, which finished third among 24 scoring teams. Keyed by wins in the 100 meter hurdles from Aniya Sigars and Poli Fifita in the discus, Smoky Hill grabbed 10th place. ...In a rematch of a Class 5A state playoff quarterfinal contest from last season, the Regis Jesuit girls lacrosse team earned a 12-8 win at Fairview. Morgan Neir led seven goal scorers with three, while Madisyn Jokerst tallied two goals and had two assists for the Raiders. ...The Grandview boys volleyball
team earned wins over Lincoln and Lutheran, while it lost to ThunderRidge at the Douglas County Tournament. Cherokee Trail also finished 2-1. ...FRIDAY, MARCH 14: The Cherokee Trail baseball team emerged from a memorable experience at Coors Field with a 1-0 Centennial League victory over Eaglecrest in a local matchup. Carter Wilcox and Ethin Woltz combined on a three-hit shutout for the Cougars and Woltz earned the win with four spotless innings that included seven strikeouts. Cosme Vera had an outstanding six-inning effort for the Raptors and ceded only one run on a wild pitch that brought in Harper Knopp in the fifth inning. Connor Roberts and Landon McWilliams had two hits apiece for Cherokee Trail. ...The Regis Jesuit boys lacrosse team got three goals apiece from Austin Ryan and Marco Walsweer and two more from Rocco Biviano in a 14-3 win at Kent Denver. Fourteen Raiders picked up at least one point, while Jackson Large made four saves. ...The Grandview boys lacrosse team scored in double figures in goals for the third time in as many games in a 13-7 win over Mountain Range that kept the Wolves undefeated. ...The Cherokee Trail boys lacrosse team
had a huge opening quarter and rode it to a 16-5 home win over Lakewood.
THURSDAY, MARCH 13: The Vista PEAK Prep baseball team picked up an 8-3 road win at Grand Junction Central behind a big game from Abel Salinas. Salinas scattered four hits and struck out eight over six innings, while he homered, doubled twice and scored four runs. Eric Houser had 2 RBI for the Bison. ...Eric Aleman struck out 10 hitters over 5 2/3 innings and Max Goodrich, Anthony Aragonez-Vasquez and Hudson Roth drove in runs in the Smoky Hill baseball team’s 6-4 win over Adams City. ...The Eaglecrest baseball team lost to Chatfield 11-10 despite home runs from Tavish Dey (3-for-3 with 4 RBI), Blake Anderson (3-for-4) and Connor Brennan Sam Garafolo and Kate Vogel scored goals in the second half for the Cherokee Trail girls soccer team in a 2-0 victory over Fort Collins. ...The Regis Jesuit girls soccer team dropped a 3-2 contest against Cherry Creek despite goals from Brooke Metcalfe and Izzy Meyer. ...The Smoky Hill boys swim team dropped a 131-52 Centennial League dual to powerhouse Cherry Creek despite two wins from Ian Noffsinger and one from Cooper Walkup. ...The Cher-
okee Trail girls lacrosse team edged Dakota Ridge 17-16. ...Brynn Goodwin scored five goals to pace the Grandview girls lacrosse team in a 16-3 win over Denver North. ...Despite five goals from Natalie Chilton, the Regis Jesuit girls lacrosse team fell to rival Valor Christian 12-9. ...The Grandview boys volleyball team got 22 kills from Alex Garcia and 21 from Connor Deickman, plus 52 assists from Devan Hall, in a 20-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-15, 15-11 win at Valor Christian. ...Trevor O’Shea had seven aces and seven digs and Vincent Johnson had a handful of kills for the Overland boys volleyball team in a 25-23, 25-8, 25-23 win over Kennedy. ...The Eaglecrest boys volleyball team bounced back from a first set loss to defeat Arvada West 18-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-23. ...The Regis Jesuit girls golf team finished fifth in the first Continental League tournament of the season played at Aurora Hills G.C. Audrey Whitmore shot plus-6 78 to tie for ninth. ...WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12: Ruben Luna had three hits and five RBI and Uriel Hernandez homered among three hits among highlights in the Overland baseball team’s 12-11 win over Kennedy. ...Rene Castillo, Fabian Amaya and Derek Catalan drove in runs for the Rangeview baseball team in a 6-3 win over Palmer. ...Seven different players scored for the Eaglecrest boys lacrosse team in a 7-5 win over ThunderRidge. Caden McVicker had a goal and two assists. ...Ava Stubbs won at No. 3 singles and the Nos. 2, 3 & 4 doubles teams prevailed as the Grandview girls tennis team topped Chaparral 4-3. ...Brinnon Cook of Cherokee Trail shot plus-nine 72 to win the first Centennial League girls golf tournament. Grandview’s Jean Lim took third with a 76. ...TUESDAY, MARCH 11: Jacob Ryan homered and drove in three hits to help the Cherokee Trail baseball team top Legend 6-1. ...Connor Brennan’s 4 2/3 solid innings helped the Eaglecrest baseball team beat Highlands Ranch 5-1. ...The Regis Jesuit boys swim team downed Highlands Ranch 119-64 in a
Growing excitement
SPRING’S OFFICIAL START IS NEARLY HERE AND THERE’S WORK TO DO IN THE GARDEN. A CHECKLIST
BY JESSICA DAMIANO, Associated Press
There’s just days to go before the official start of spring and there’s already gardening work to do.
Anyone who’s lived long in Aurora and the Front Range will tell you the proverbial wisdom about setting out tomatoes and any other cool-sensitive plant: never before Mother’s Day. That’s the traditional, although not entirely accurate, last day of frost danger in Aurora.
Long-timers will tell you, however, we’ve had heat-waves in April and snow around Father’s Day.
With that, gardeners — it’s time to dig in.
Soil
First, test your soil’s pH level. Each plant thrives best within a specific range, and nutrient absorption will be impaired if the reading falls outside that range. If warranted, amend the soil with ground limestone to raise its pH or elemental sulfur to lower it. Test kits are readily available and reasonably priced.
Trees
Fertilize trees with a slow-release product. Get pruning. Most deciduous trees and shrubs (those that lose their leaves in autumn), including fruit trees, should be pruned before they emerge from dormancy. But hold off on pruning spring bloomers until just after their flowers fade.
Similarly, relocate trees and shrubs while they’re still dormant. Be sure to dig up as much of their root systems as possible and replant into a hole that’s twice as wide but exactly as deep.
Flowers
If you ordered bare-root roses, clear beds now so you can get them into the ground as soon as they arrive lest they rot while waiting for you to get your act together. The same goes for asparagus crowns and onions.
If your roses were infected with mildew or the dreaded black spot disease last year, remove and replace the mulch around them to avoid a
recurrence.
If fall-blooming perennials are getting crowded, dig up and divide them after they poke out of the ground. Plant the divisions elsewhere or share them with a gardening friend. Spring and summer bloomers should be divided in fall.
Early-season vegetables
It’s time to order seed potatoes. Get them into the ground two to three weeks before the last expected frost in your area, which is typically indicated by the greening of dormant grass.
Plant peas, radish, lettuce, chard and spinach as soon as the soil temperature reaches 45 degrees. (Soil thermometers are widely available and nominally priced). Soak pea seeds overnight in warm water to improve germination speed and rates, then treat with a nitrogen-fixing inoculant to provide an additional boost, particularly if peas are new to the bed.
The cool-weather crops will struggle in hot weather, so be prepared to protect plants with shade cloth if you expect temperatures above 80 degrees F within 60 days of sowing.
Indoors, start seeds of annuals, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, observing the lead times listed on their packages.
Care for houseplants
Repot houseplants into the next-size pot, no more than 2 inches wider than their current container, and fertilize. If you’re planning to move them outside for the summer, they’ll need to be acclimated: Wait until the danger of frost has passed, then gradually increase their time outdoors by one hour each day for a week.
Practice patience
Resist the urge to mulch beds and borders until things really heat up. Otherwise, you’ll risk trapping the cold in the ground, which may delay the re-emergence of bulbs and perennials and the leafing out of dormant trees and shrubs. You can fill planters with pansies while you wait.
Oh, that dog
If you’ve ever had a dog, you know they don’t exactly tiptoe through the tulips. I’m fortunate that none of mine ever had a penchant for digging holes, but my late pit bull, Maddie, used to run through my perennial beds like a weed whacker, leaving horizontal coneflowers and black-eyes Susans in her destructive path.
Her bathroom breaks would also imprint an ever-expanding array of canine crop circles on the lawn.
Typical landscaping designs often space plants far apart, leaving areas of mulch-covered soil between plants and shrubs. Dogs love to run obstacle courses on those bare paths, kicking up mulch and, invariably, straying into planting beds. Instead, opt for a dense garden style that allows only enough space between plants for the expected mature size of each. By their third year, most of the gaps will be filled, eliminating the spaces and, along with them, the invitation to enter.
If you grow delicate plants or edibles, situate them in a raised bed or surround them with short fencing or another barrier to discourage entry.
Next, consider safety. Many common plants are toxic to dogs (and cats), so avoid planting them altogether, even if your pet hasn’t shown an interest in grazing. A one-time curiosity could spell disaster. Check with the ASPCA for a sortable list of plants (including weeds) that are toxic to cats, dogs and horses, and remove any that your pets could access.
Avoid using chemicals. If you must apply them, keep pets out of the garden until the products have dried or dissipated.
Seeding indoors
If you’re planning to start seeds indoors this season, you likely know you’ll need a growing medium (packaged, sterile seed-starting mix is ideal), a sunny windowsill or grow lights and, of course, seeds. But have you given thought to what containers you’ll use?
You might be planning to buy rimmed trays,
peat pots or compartmentalized plastic flats, but they’re not your only options. With a bit of imagination, you can easily upcycle items you already have while keeping trash out of the landfill and your money in your wallet.
If you have a coffee maker that uses K-Cupstyle plastic pods, don’t discard them after brewing. Instead, peel off their foil covers, dump out the used coffee grinds and remove the paper filters underneath. The pods are the perfect size for starting seedlings, and can be washed, disinfected and reused from year to year. You’ll notice the machine even poked a hole in each pod’s bottom for drainage.
Most other small plastic food containers, such as single-serving yogurt cups, clamshell-type salad packages or egg cartons, are also well-suited for starting seeds -- as long as you’ve poked holes in their bottoms to allow excess water to drain. You can even make seed pots from sheets of newspaper. Much of today’s newsprint uses soybased ink, which is generally considered non-toxic, suitable even for starting edibles.
Here’s how: Fold a newspaper page in half lengthwise, then fold it a second time to achieve a long strip. Next, place a tomato paste can, which is the perfect size for a seed pot, along one edge of the newspaper, a couple of inches from the bottom. Then, roll the newspaper tightly around the can to form a cylinder. Fold the excess newspaper in at the base of the can, set the wrapped can right-side-up and press it firmly against a flat surface like a table or counter to fortify the bottom of your new pot. If necessary, use a small piece of tape to secure the bottom. Remove the can and voila! You’ve made a free starter home for your seedlings.
Instead of watering conventionally, which would risk soaking the newspaper, keep the soil surface moist with a spray bottle.
Or cut four 1-inch slits, evenly spaced, around one end of a toilet paper roll. Fold in the resulting tabs and tape them in place to create a solid bottom for your pot.
This May 2, 2023, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a pansy-filled planter hanging on a fence on Long Island, N.Y.
Jessica Damiano via AP
Where: Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, 7711 East Academy Blvd.
Details: wingsmuseum.org and 303-360-5360
World Premiere of ‘Collecting Myself’
scene & herd
Aurora Fox — ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’
The Aurora Fox Arts Center brings the Tony Award-winning drama ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ to the stage through April 13. Adapted by Simon Stephens from Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel, the show follows 15-year-old Christopher Boone, a brilliant but socially challenged teenager, as he investigates the mysterious death of his neighbor’s dog. What begins as a detective story quickly evolves into a deeply moving journey of self-discovery, perception, and resilience.
Directed by Richard R. Cowden, the production features striking visual effects that immerse audiences in Christopher’s unique perspective. “This play is a deeply moving exploration of perception, trust, and resilience,” said Cowden. “It’s a story that resonates as both a mystery and a profound coming-of-age journey.” Recommended for teens and older, the production includes strong language, mature themes, and sensory-sensitive effects.
IF YOU GO
When: March 21 - April 13, with curtains on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Where: Aurora Fox Mainstage Theatre, 9900 E. Colfax Ave.
Tickets: $17-$42
Details: AuroraFoxArtsCenter.org and 303-739-1970.
Guys and Dolls
Back from the past, some of the most memorable favorites of the stage will run through March 23 at the Vintage Theatre in Aurora.
Guys and Dolls and all the favorites, including “Adelaide’s Lament,” “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” “If I Were a Bell,” and “Luck Be a Lady,” and all the classic characters from the legendary Broadway musical are on tap.
IF YOU GO
Dates: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 23. Evening curtains at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$39
Venue: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.
Details: vintagetheatre.org and 303-856-7830
What’s to come with space travel, an expert panel discussion
Join leading space industry experts at for an insightful panel discussion on the future of crewed space missions. Covering topics such as astronaut health, technological advancements, international collaboration, and commercial spaceflight, this event offers a deep dive into what lies ahead for human space exploration.
The panel features Alires Almon, an expert in behavioral health in space; Barry Hamilton, CEO of Red Canyon Engineering; Angie Wise, Chief Safety Officer at Sierra Space; and Carolyn Overmyer, Chief Engineer of the Orion Program at Lockheed Martin.
IF YOU GO
Tickets: $20-$25 and must be purchased in advance. Online sales close at Noon March 28.
When: 6:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
And Toto too Theatre Company celebrates 20 years of championing women’s voices with the world premiere of *Collecting Myself*, a one-woman musical by Denver playwright Paula Jayne Friedland. Featuring original songs and personal storytelling, the show explores the search for meaning and purpose with humor and heart. Through humor, vulnerability, and soulful melodies, Friedland unpacks the highs and lows of her search for direction, asking: “What does it really mean to find your purpose?” Funny and uplifting, Collecting Myself celebrates the courage to follow your passions and the beauty of finding your own way.
IF YOU GO
Tickets: $27.38-$32.64 for general admission
When: 7:30 p.m. April 10-12, April 17-19
Where: The Roaming Gnome Theatre, 10522 E. 25th Ave. Details: www.andtototoo.org
From the Sea to the Stars: Faythe Freese in Concert
The Denver Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents world-renowned organist Faythe Freese in “From the Sea to the Stars: The Organ and Multimedia.” a captivating concert showcasing the 32-rank McManis pipe organ. The program includes works by J.S. Bach, Alesh Jermar’s Revêtu de Lumière with recorded whale songs, and an excerpt from Hans Zimmer’s Interstellar score. The event will offer a behindthe-scenes discussion and a reception with the artist.
IF YOU GO
Tickets: The event is free, with donations accepted When: 7 p.m. March 21
Where: Wheat Ridge Center for Music and Arts, 7530 West 38th Ave. Details: www.agodrmc.org and 720-323-1274.
Ballet Ariel presents ‘A Night in Spain Featuring Carmen Suite and The Three Cornered Hat’
Ballet Ariel closes its season with A Night in Spain, a captivating double-bill featuring Carmen Suite and The Three Cornered Hat. Resident choreographer Gregory Gonzales re-imagines Carmen Suite, a tale of love and betrayal set to Bizet’s timeless music. Artistic Director Ilena Norton presents a fresh take on The Three Cornered Hat, a comedic ballet blending Spanish dance and classical ballet.
IF YOU GO
When: April 12 at Cleo Parker Robinson Theater, 119 Park Avenue West and April 26-27 at the Lakewood Cultural Center 480 S. Allison Parkway. Tickets: $20-$35
Details: www.balletariel.org or call 303-945-438
The Life and Art of Tokio Ueyama
The Life and Art of Tokio Ueyama features more than 40 paintings loaned to the museum by the Japanese American National Museum and Ueyama’s family, whose combined efforts to preserve his work have allowed the story of this accomplished and cosmopolitan artist to be told at the Denver Art Museum for the first time.
Born in Japan, Tokio Ueyama moved to the United States in 1908 at age 18, where he made a home until his death in 1954. This exhibition tells the story of Ueyama’s life, including his early days as an art student in San
Francisco, Southern California, and Philadelphia; his travels abroad in Europe and Mexico; his role as artist and community member in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles; and his unconstitutional incarceration during World War II at the Granada Relocation Center, now the Amache National Historic Site, in southeast Colorado.
IF YOU GO
Through June 1
Where: Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy Tickets: Included in general admission, which is free for members and for all visitors 18 and under.
Details: www.denverartmuseum.org
’Something Rotten!’ in Northglenn at the Parsons Theatre
Northglenn Youth Theatre brings the Broadway hit ‘Something Rotten!’ to life in a laugh-out-loud musical comedy about two playwrights in the 1590s who set out to outshine Shakespeare — by creating the world’s first musical! Packed with witty wordplay, show-stopping numbers, and overthe-top characters, this production is perfect for theater lovers and comedy fans alike.
IF YOU GO
When: April 25–May 4. Curtains vary, 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets:$15–$17
Details: NorthglennARTS.org or 303-450-8888.
Where: Parsons Theatre, One East Memorial Parkway
MAD LIBrarians Improv Show
No beige sweaters with this bookish cast. “Whenever this team of buttoned-up librarians hears about a fantastic new book, they go wild,” Arapahoe Library District officials said in a statement. “In each show, buttons
go flying as the MAD LIBrarians craft a new book title based on your suggestions and then — right before your very eyes — they act, sing and shout that book out full-blast.” Improv-bookings? “Come visit the library that can’t ever keep quiet …no matter how hard its terribly serious and wonderfully silly librarians may try, presented by Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company.” Suggested for kids of all ages, even old ones.
IF YOU GO
When: 1 pm March 23
Where: Koelbel Library, 5955 S. Holly St. Details: www.facebook.com/ events/2398392137169732/
Art Crawl: Guardians of the Galleries at Clyfford Still Museum
The Clyfford Still Museum invites caregivers and infants (newborns to 14 months) to explore art together in Art Crawl: Guardians of the Galleries. This interactive program encourages little ones to engage with art while museum educators lead discussions on early art exposure and its benefits. March’s session will focus on conservation practices and cause-and-effect exploration. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Admission is free for museum members, $15 for adults, and discounted for seniors, teachers, military personnel, and Museums for All participants. Arrive 10 minutes early to settle in before the program begins in The Making Space on the museum’s second floor.
IF YOU GO
When: 10:30 a.m. March 23
Where: Clyfford Still Museum, 1250 Bannock St.
Tickets: Free for museum members $15 for adults with some discounts available.
Details: clyffordstillmuseum.org or 720- 354-4880.
Get the buzz on beginning beekeeping
The Denver Botanic Gardens is offering Beginning Beekeeping, a two-session course designed to introduce aspiring beekeepers to the fundamentals of the craft. Led by expert beekeeper Beth Conrey, this class will cover essential topics such as local beekeeping regulations, hive types, equipment sourcing, colony setup costs, and the time commitment required. Participants will also gain insight into bee biology and colony social structure, providing a strong foundation for responsible and successful beekeeping.
Conrey brings extensive experience as the owner of Bee Squared Apiaries, which manages 200 colonies across Colorado. She is a former president of the Northern Colorado Beekeepers Association, the Colorado State Beekeepers Association, and the Western Apicultural Society. Currently, she serves on the boards of the Pollinator Stewardship Council and the People and Pollinators Action Network, both dedicated to improving pollinator health through pesticide reduction and habitat conservation. This hands-on class is perfect for those considering beekeeping as a hobby or looking to deepen their understanding of honey bees.
IF YOU GO
When: 6:30 p.m. March 25
Tickets: Registration is required, $75-$80
Details: www.botanicgardens.org/ programs/beginning-beekeeping and 720-865-3500
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGULAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN BY THE Sable Altura Fire Protection District, Adams and Arapahoe Counties, Colorado, that at the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election to be held on May 6, 2025 is hereby cancelled pursuant to §113.5-513(1), C.R.S. The following candidates are declared elected: Teresa Robinson 4 Year Term Heather Ahrenkiel 2 Year Term By Order of the Board of Directors of Sable Altura Fire Protection District. /s/ Hope Williams Designated Election Official Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGULAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL FOR THE EAST ARAPAHOE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the East Arapahoe Metropolitan District, Arapahoe County, Colorado, that at the close of business on the sixty-third (63rd) day before the election or thereafter there were not more candidates for Director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election to be held on May 6, 2025, is hereby canceled. The following candidates are declared elected:
William Bentley Four year term to 2029
Deanne W. Bihler Four year term to 2029
Vacancy Four year term to 2029
Lloyd Nathan Crumb Two year term to 2027
Clinton J. Dawes, III Two year term to 2027 EAST ARAPAHOE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By: /s/ Micki L. Mills Designated Election Official
Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGULAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL §§ 1-11-103(3), 1-13.5-513, C.R.S. HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 3
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Horizon Metropolitan District No. 3, County of Arapahoe, Colorado, that at or after the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election to be conducted on May 6, 2025, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election was canceled pursuant to Section 1-13.5513, C.R.S.
The following candidates were declared elected by acclamation:
David M. Andrews May 2029 (4) Year Term Jason Rutt May 2029 (4) Year Term Vacant May 2029 (4) Year Term Vacant May 2027 (2) Year Term HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 3
/s/ Stacie L. Pacheco
Stacie L. Pacheco, Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the District: Alan D. Pogue, Esq. ICENOGLE SEAVER POGUE, P.C. 4725 South Monaco Street, Suite 360 Denver, Colorado 80237 Telephone: 303-292-9100
Email: APogue@ISP-Law.com
Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS BEACON POINT METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on March 4, 2025, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for Beacon Point Metropolitan District (the “District”). Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 6, 2025 is hereby canceled.
The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation: PATRICIA ANN GARDNER Until May 2029 PETER L. ROUSE Until May 2029 DAVID GUY Until May 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Designated Election Official
Contact Person for District: Heather L. Hartung, Esq. White Bear Ankele Tanaka & Waldron Attorneys at Law 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800 Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS CONSERVATORY METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on March 4, 2025, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for Conservatory Metropolitan District (the “District”). Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 6, 2025 is hereby canceled.
The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation: ROBERT A HUNCHBERGER
Until May 2027
HARLAN J. BALDWIN Until May 2027
TIM SIML Until May 2029
BIRGIT A. BALDWIN Until May 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Designated Election Official
Contact Person for District: Heather L. Hartung, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Publication: March 20, 2025
Sentinel
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS CORNERSTAR METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on March 4, 2025, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for Cornerstar Metropolitan District (the “District”). Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 6, 2025 is hereby canceled.
The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation:
ERIK CHRISTOPHER Until May 2027
PATRICK McGLINCHEY Until May 2029
KIMBERLY ARMITAGE Until May 2029
The following offices remain vacant: VACANT Until May 2027
VACANT Until May 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Designated Election Official
Contact Person for District: Heather L. Hartung, Esq.
WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WAL-
DRON
Attorneys at Law
2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Publication: March 20, 2025
Sentinel NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS CROSS CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on March 4, 2025, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for Cross Creek Metropolitan District No. 2 (the “District”). Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 6, 2025 is hereby canceled.
The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation:
TRACY COOK Until May 2029
JERALD E. LANE Until May 2029
TAMARA A. CRANDALL Until May 2029
/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Designated Election Official
Contact Person for District: Heather L. Hartung, Eq. WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Attorneys at Law 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800
Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGULAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL §§ 1-11-103(3), 1-13.5-513, C.R.S.
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1
/s/ Stacie L. Pacheco, Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the District: Alan D. Pogue, Esq.
ICENOGLE SEAVER POGUE, P.C.
4725 South Monaco Street, Suite 360 Denver, Colorado 80237
Telephone: 303-292-9100
Email: APogue@ISP-Law.com
Publication: March 20, 2025
Sentinel NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGU-
LAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL
§§ 1-11-103(3), 1-13.5-513, C.R.S.
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Horizon Metropolitan District No. 2, County of Arapahoe, Colorado, that at or after the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election to be conducted on May 6, 2025, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election was canceled pursuant to Section 1-13.5513, C.R.S.
The following candidates were declared elected by acclamation:
David M. Andrews May 2029 (4) Year Term
Jason Rutt May 2029 (4) Year Term
Peter Navik May 2029 (4) Year Term
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2
/s/ Stacie L. Pacheco
Stacie L. Pacheco, Designated Election Official Contact Person for the District:
Alan D. Pogue, Esq.
ICENOGLE SEAVER POGUE, P.C.
4725 South Monaco Street, Suite 360 Denver, Colorado 80237
Telephone: 303-292-9100
Email: APogue@ISP-Law.com
Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGULAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL §§ 1-11-103(3), 1-13.5-513, C.R.S.
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 4
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Horizon Metropolitan District No. 4, County of Arapahoe, Colorado, that at or after the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election to be conducted on May 6, 2025, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election was canceled pursuant to Section 1-13.5513, C.R.S.
The following candidates were declared elected by acclamation:
David M. Andrews May 2029 (4) Year Term
Jason Rutt May 2029 (4) Year Term
Vacant May 2029 (4) Year Term
Vacant May 2027 (2) Year Term
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 4 /s/ Stacie L. Pacheco, Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the District:
Alan D. Pogue, Esq.
ICENOGLE SEAVER POGUE, P.C. 4725 South Monaco Street, Suite 360 Denver, Colorado 80237
Telephone: 303-292-9100
Publication: March 20, 2025
Sentinel Email: APogue@ISP-Law.com
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGU-
LAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL
§§ 1-11-103(3), 1-13.5-513, C.R.S.
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 5
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Horizon Metropolitan District No. 5, County of Arapahoe, Colorado, that at or after the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election to be conducted on May 6, 2025, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election was canceled pursuant to Section 1-13.5513, C.R.S.
The following candidates were declared elected by acclamation:
David M. Andrews May 2029 (4) Year Term
Jason Rutt May 2029 (4) Year Term Vacant May 2029 (4) Year Term Vacant May 2027 (2) Year Term
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 5 /s/ Stacie L. Pacheco, Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the District:
Alan D. Pogue, Esq.
ICENOGLE SEAVER POGUE, P.C. 4725 South Monaco Street, Suite 360 Denver, Colorado 80237
Telephone: 303-292-9100
Email: APogue@ISP-Law.com
Publication: March 20, 2025
Sentinel
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGU-
LAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL
§§ 1-11-103(3), 1-13.5-513, C.R.S.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Horizon Metropolitan District No. 1, County of Arapahoe, Colorado, that at or after the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election to be conducted on May 6, 2025, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election was canceled pursuant to Section 1-13.5513, C.R.S.
The following candidates were declared elected by acclamation:
David M. Andrews May 2029 (4) Year Term
Jason Rutt May 2029 (4) Year Term
Vacant May 2029 (4) Year Term Vacant May 2027 (2) Year Term
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 6 /s/ Stacie L. Pacheco, Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the District: Alan D. Pogue, Esq. ICENOGLE SEAVER POGUE, P.C. 4725 South Monaco Street, Suite 360 Denver, Colorado 80237
Telephone: 303-292-9100
Publication: March 20, 2025
Sentinel Email: APogue@ISP-Law.com
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGU-
LAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL §§ 1-11-103(3), 1-13.5-513, C.R.S.
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 7
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Horizon Metropolitan District No. 7, County of Arapahoe, Colorado, that at or after the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election to be conducted on May 6, 2025, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election was canceled pursuant to Section 1-13.5513, C.R.S.
The following candidates were declared elected by acclamation:
David M. Andrews May 2029 (4) Year Term
Jason Rutt May 2029 (4) Year Term
Vacant May 2029 (4) Year Term
Vacant May 2027 (2) Year Term
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 7 /s/ Stacie L. Pacheco, Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the District:
Alan D. Pogue, Esq. ICENOGLE SEAVER POGUE, P.C. 4725 South Monaco Street, Suite 360 Denver, Colorado 80237 Telephone: 303-292-9100 Email: APogue@ISP-Law.com
Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGU-
LAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL §§ 1-11-103(3), 1-13.5-513, C.R.S. HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 8
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Horizon Metropolitan District No. 8, County of Arapahoe, Colorado, that at or after the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election to be conducted on May 6, 2025, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election was canceled pursuant to Section 1-13.5513, C.R.S.
The following candidates were declared elected by acclamation:
David M. Andrews May 2029 (4) Year Term
Jason Rutt May 2029 (4) Year Term
Vacant May 2029 (4) Year Term
Vacant May 2027 (2) Year Term
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 8 /s/ Stacie L. Pacheco, Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the District: Alan D. Pogue, Esq. ICENOGLE SEAVER POGUE, P.C. 4725 South Monaco Street, Suite 360 Denver, Colorado 80237 Telephone: 303-292-9100
Publication: March 20, 2025
Sentinel Email: APogue@ISP-Law.com
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGULAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL §§ 1-11-103(3), 1-13.5-513, C.R.S. HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 9
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Horizon Metropolitan District No. 9, County of Arapahoe, Colorado, that at or after the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election to be conducted on May 6, 2025, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election was canceled pursuant to Section 1-13.5513, C.R.S.
The following candidates were declared elected by acclamation:
David M. Andrews May 2029 (4) Year Term
Jason Rutt May 2029 (4) Year Term
Vacant May 2029 (4) Year Term Vacant May 2027 (2) Year Term
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 9 /s/ Stacie L. Pacheco, Designated Election Official
Contact Person for the District: Alan D. Pogue, Esq. ICENOGLE SEAVER POGUE, P.C. 4725 South Monaco Street, Suite 360 Denver, Colorado 80237 Telephone: 303-292-9100
Publication: March 20, 2025
Sentinel Email: APogue@ISP-Law.com
HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 6
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Horizon Metropolitan District No. 6, County of Arapahoe, Colorado, that at or after the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election to be conducted on May 6, 2025, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election was canceled pursuant to Section 1-13.5513, C.R.S.
The following candidates were declared elected by acclamation:
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF REGULAR ELECTION BY THE DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIAL §§ 1-11-103(3), 1-13.5-513, C.R.S. HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 10
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Horizon Metropolitan District No. 10, County of Arapahoe, Colorado, that at or after the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election to be conducted on May 6, 2025, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election
Description:
4.
Publication:
NOTICE
Acres)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all interested persons that a Petition for Inclusion of Property (the “Petition”) has been or is expected to be filed with the Board of Directors of Cottonwood Creek Metropolitan District No. 3, City of Aurora, Arapahoe County, Colorado (the “District”). The Petition requests that the property described below be included into the District. The Petition shall be heard at a public meeting on Friday, March 21, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. via teleconference:
https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/84351274515?pwd=pbmaAq9VlbDiWiirOklhDxGOtVWIGd.1 Meeting ID: 843 5127 4515 Passcode: 732531 Call-in Number: +1-720-707-2699
The name and address of the Petitioner and a description of the property to be included are as follows: Name and address of Petitioner: Cottonwood Creek Investors, LLC 9570 West Cambridge Place Littleton, Colorado 80127
General Description of Property: Approximately 10.362 acres of land situated in the Northwest Quarter of Section 27, Township 4 South, Range 65 West, of the Sixth Principal Meridian, City of Aurora, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN to all interested persons that they shall appear at the public meeting and show cause in writing why such Petition should not be granted.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COTTONWOOD CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 3
By: WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON
Attorneys at Law General Counsel to the District
Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON INCLUSION (District No. 5 – 6.313 Acres)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all interested persons that a Petition for Inclusion of Property (the “Petition”) has been or is expected to be filed with the Board of Directors of Cottonwood Creek Metropolitan District No. 5, City of Aurora, Arapahoe County, Colorado (the “District”). The Petition requests that the property described below be included into the District. The Petition shall be heard at a public meeting on Friday, March 21, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. via teleconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/84351274515?pwd=pbmaAq9VlbDiWiirOklhDxGOtVWIGd.1 Meeting ID: 843 5127 4515 Passcode: 732531 Call-in Number: +1-720-707-2699
The name and address of the Petitioner and a description of the property to be included are as follows: Name and address of Petitioner: Cottonwood Creek Investors, LLC 9570 West Cambridge Place Littleton, Colorado 80127
General Description of Property: Approximately 6.313 acres of land situated in the Southeast Quarter of Section 27, Township 4 South, Range 65 West, of the Sixth Principal Meridian, City of Aurora, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN to all interested persons that they shall appear at the public meeting and show cause in writing why such Petition should not be granted. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COTTONWOOD CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 5 By: WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Attorneys at Law General Counsel to the District Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel Probate Court Adams County, Colorado 1100 Judicial Center Dr. Brighton, CO 80601 NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION TO INTERESTED PERSONS AND OWNERS BY DESCENT OR SUCCESSION PURSUANT TO § 15-12-1303, C.R.S Case No. 2025PR030135 In the Matter of the Determination of Heirs or Devisees or Both and of Interests in Property of: MARIE BECKETT, AKA MARIE A. BECKETT, AKA MARIE E. BECKETT, Deceased.
To all interested persons and owners by descent or succession (List all names of interested persons and owners by descent or succession): Debra Thomas Leona M. McInnis Terry Beckett Cynthia S. Powell Ida M. Beckett Blackwell Energy, LLC
A
Address: Probate Court Adams County, Colorado 1100 Judicial Center Dr. Brighton, CO 80601
Note:
You must answer the petition on or before the hearing date and time specified above.
Within the time required for answering the petition, all objections to the petition must be in writing, filed with the court and served on the petitioner and any required filing fee must be paid.
The hearing shall be limited to the petition, the objections timely filed and the parties answering the petition in a timely manner. If the petition is not answered and no objections are filed, the court may enter a decree without a hearing.
Attorney for Petitioner: Dusty Aldrich Law, LLC
Dusty J. Aldrich, #44572 605 Coral St. Broomfield, CO 80020
Phone: 419-957-0671
Email: aldrichd88@gmail.com
First Publication: March 6, 2025
Final Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel
Trails Park and Recreation District Invitation to Bid
Sealed Bids will be received by the Trails Park and Recreation District, hereinafter referred to as Owner, at The Trails Recreation Center, front desk, 16799 East Lake Avenue, Centennial, Colorado 80016 (request for manager to verify submittal) Until 10:00 a.m. local time, April 7th, 2025, for the Trails Recreation Center Play Area. At said place and time, and promptly thereafter, all Bids that have been received will be opened and read aloud. This Contract provides for the following Work:
Clearing and grubbing, site preparation (incl. herbicide treatment to kill existing grass), sodding, mulching, concrete paving, and play structure installation.
Beginning March 20th, 2025, electronic copies of the Bidding Documents will be available by emailing Annie McCracken at amccracken@streamla.com. Requests shall have “Trails Recreation Center Play Area” in the subject line. Submittal requirements are outlined in the Bidding Instructions included in the digital bidding packet.
An optional site tour will be held at 12:00 p.m., March 26th, 2025 at the project site (16799 East Lake Avenue, Centennial, Colorado 80016). The cutoff time for questions regarding the bid packet is 5:00 p.m., March 28th, 2025. Questions must be submitted by email to amccracken@streamla.com, and shall have “Trails Recreation Center Play Area Bid Questions” in subject line. Refer to Bidding Instructions for required contractor qualifications, and other submittal requirements.
Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel VEHICLES FOR SALE
2004 NISSAN XTERRA VIN—674950
1976 FORD PICKUP
VIN—R63070
1995 GMC RALLY PASSENGER VAN VIN—544300
Extreme Towing 303-344-1400
Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel
NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION
PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR030031
Estate of Theodore Albert Jaramillo, Jr. , Deceased. All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado, on or before July 18, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred. Jessi Jaramillo Personal Representative 425 Starlight Rd. Thornton, CO 80260
Attorney for Personal Representative Nicholas Klimas, Esq. Atty Reg #: 48658
GENDELMAN KLIMAS EDWARDS, LTD. 517 E. 16th Ave. Denver, CO 80203 Phone: 720-213-0687
First Publication: March 20, 2025
Final Publication: April 3, 2025 Sentinel NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION
PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR30124
Estate of Vicky Rae Shaffer, Deceased. All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado, on or before July 3, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred. Gant Law, LLC 8213 W. 20th St., Ste. G Greeley, CO 80634
First Publication: March 6, 2025 Final Publication: March 20, 2025 Sentinel NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION
PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR62
Estate of Laura Kay Cornelious, Deceased. All persons having claims against the above-named
Despite Trump’s widespread chaos, Americans must unify against any cuts to Medicaid
Set aside the allegations and counter-claims between Congressional Republicans and Democrats about whether the GOP, President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and his tech bros want to or even can cut hundreds of millions of dollars out of the Medicaid budget, it would be catastrophic for Colorado and the nation.
Over the last few weeks, congressional Republicans have identified about $880 million in “possible” cuts to a “possible” program like Medicaid, coincidentally about 10% of its annual budget.
Despite the coy distraction, it’s no secret that Republicans are eying Medicaid and other safety net programs as ripe for cuts.
It’s important to understand what Medicaid is and is not.
Medicaid is a national health-insurance program administered and partially funded by states, primarily serving the nation’s poorest citizens and those with disabilities.
Medicaid is not a slush fund doled out to undocumented immigrants or a source of wealth for people who are jobless, homeless or both.
More than 94 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid, according to KFF research. Although elderly and disabled make up about 25% of Medicaid recipients, they account for about half of all Medicaid spending.
In Colorado, Medicaid pays for about two-thirds of all nursing home patients, according to state officials.
A statewide Medicaid catastrophe would engulf nursing homes, across the state and across the nation, first.
Because the U.S. healthcare and elder care systems are so cumbersome, expensive and dysfunctional, hundreds of millions of Americans depend on Medicaid for assisted living and nursing home care. They have no choice.
A cruel part of qualifying for Medicaid in order to obtain nursing home or elder care is that applicants must essentially be penniless, or make themselves that way. It means hardworking Americans who get to the end of their work life with a home, some furnishings, a Social Security check and not much else have one choice when they can no longer care for themselves or need substantial assistance.
These Americans are forced to clean out their bank accounts, if they have any reserves at all, sell cars or a home and present themselves as virtually bankrupt to qualify for Medicaid benefits.
Most then turn over their benefits directly to a nursing home, and often some or most of their Social Security earnings as well.
If Congress or even Colorado were to make substantial cuts to Medicaid, these seniors would be at risk of eviction, penniless and homeless.
The nursing homes themselves would be at risk of financial collapse. Few state residents are able to pay full price for nursing home services, often well over $120,000 a year. Booting nearly two-thirds of nursing home patients into the street would mean that the remaining residents would have to pay dramatically more.
As an increasing number of nursing homes closed, prices would get even higher.
Many families would be forced to take their elderly parents in, rather than force them onto the streets, creating an entirely new layer of disaster as working family members would be forced to quit their jobs to care for ailing and elderly parents in their homes.
All of this would be occurring at the same time millions of children, disabled residents and other working members of families lose healthcare, ignoring health problems until they become a cause for emergency room visits.
Hospitals, under law having to treat life-threatening ailments, without Medicaid reimbursement, would buckle under the financial strain.
Those physician practices, hospitals and treatment centers able to stay open amid such economic chaos would be forced to pass along huge cost increases to insured and wealthy patients, creating yet another spiral effect on the healthcare industry as a whole.
Despite the uninformed and maligned narrative promoted by some Congressional Republicans, Medicaid is not a “Blue State” slush fund. Medicaid is a critical component of America’s flawed health care system, and especially critical to the nation’s rural, disabled and working poor adults and elders.
The United States is clearly in for endless “unintended” disasters created by the incompetent attempt by Trump, Elon and his techbros to reduce federal spending without any federal, or adult, planning.
But inflicting the defective DOGE budget saw on Medicaid will undoubtedly result in the deaths of thousands and possibly millions of Americans.
Aurora’s Congressional Rep. Jason Crow, as well as Colorado’s two senators, Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, are already in front of the effort to stave damage to Medicaid.
It’s up to every Aurora and Colorado resident to reach out to friends and relatives elsewhere to contact their congressional representatives to let them know Medicaid is off limits for Trump’s schemes and antics.
Too much is at stake for anything less.
A looming shipping port and trade catastrophe would affect everyone
During the pandemic, Americans learned how painful supply chain disruptions can be. Now, a newly proposed action from the Trump administration could unintentionally make the pandemic’s supply chain disruptions seem tame.
President Trump is looking to rapidly rebuild American shipbuilding. That’s an important goal since the erosion of U.S. shipbuilding—and China’s growing dominance in global shipbuilding—must be confronted. But the administration’s proposed plan could send costs soaring for U.S. consumers, grind U.S. exports to a halt, wreak havoc at U.S. ports, and completely undermine the president’s own energy and trade agendas.
The problem rests in a plan authored by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to charge exorbitant port fees—in some cases $1.5 million dollars—for every incoming vessel that’s part of a fleet with even one Chinese-built ship.
The proposal is intended to encourage the use of U.S.built vessels. Unfortunately, for goods being shipped today, there simply isn’t a shipping fleet in the world that won’t be hit by the port fees. According to shipping analysts, Chinese-built container vessels comprised 81% of the global market in 2024. For bulk carriers, Chinese ships represent 75% of the global fleet.
Although Chinese control of shipping and shipbuilding absolutely demand a response, the proposed fee will hurt domestic U.S. industries more than China. Since there’s currently no way to avoid the fees, U.S. importers and exporters are going to be walloped by punishing costs.
While the ultimate goal is to resurrect domestic U.S. shipbuilding, our current shipbuilding capacity has atrophied to the point where bringing it back could take decades. In other words, there aren’t U.S.-made shipping vessels to charter right now—and there won’t
be for some time.
If the administration’s plan is implemented in the coming weeks as planned, the impact will be immediate—a major case study in unintended consequences.
A wide range of U.S. industries have submitted comments to the USTR painting a remarkably grim picture.
Shippers are warning the proposed fees would reach tens-of-billions of dollars for their industry, and those costs will be passed on to U.S. consumers. Shippers will also turn to large vessels to reduce their number of port calls, creating congestion at major ports and dealing a devastating blow to secondary U.S. ports.
The Association of Ship Brokers & Agents told USTR, “If the maximum fees are imposed, the resulting economic pain will reverberate through every sector of the U.S. economy and in every household.”
The president has said that he wants to help America’s farmers and energy producers grow their overseas markets. But they’ll likely be some of the hardest hit. In fact, the oil and gas industry warned the plan could “undermine President Trump’s ‘energy dominance’ agenda,” by making it uncompetitive to export U.S. energy.
Similarly, America’s mining sector warned, “increased costs, supply chain disruptions and even the outright inability to import or export critical materials could bring the industry to a standstill.”
And echoing concerns from other farmers, the American Soybean Association warned, “U.S. soybeans will be effectively shut out from our global export markets.”
Rebuilding American shipbuilding is urgently important. But it must be done without clobbering America’s consumers and bringing U.S. exports to a standstill. Common sense needs to prevail.
MatthewKandrachispresidentofConsumerAction for a Strong Economy, a free-market advocacy organization.
MATTHEW KANDRACH, GUEST COLUMNIST
Honest Journalism
