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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Upcoming Events

  • 2020 Ogallala Aquifer Summit will take place March 31-April 1 in Amarillo, Texas

    2020 Ogallala Aquifer Summit will take place March 31-April 1 in Amarillo, Texas

    The 2020 Ogallala Aquifer Summit will take place in Amarillo, Texas, from March 31 to April 1, bringing together water management leaders from all eight Ogallala region states: Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, South Dakota and Wyoming. The dynamic, interactive event will focus on encouraging exchange among participants about innovative programs and effective approaches to addressing the region’s significant water-related challenges.

    “Tackling Tough Question” is the theme of the event. Workshops and speakers will share and compare responses to questions such as: “What is the value of groundwater to current and future generations?” and “How do locally led actions aimed at addressing water challenges have larger-scale impact?”

    “The summit provides a unique opportunity to strengthen collaborations among a diverse range of water-focused stakeholders,” said summit co-chair Meagan Schipanski, an associate professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at CSU. “Exploring where we have common vision and identifying innovative concepts or practices already being implemented can catalyze additional actions with potential to benefit the aquifer and Ogallala region communities over the short and long term.”

    Schipanski co-directs the Ogallala Water Coordinated Agriculture Project (CAP) with Colorado Water Center director and summit co-chair Reagan Waskom, who is also a faculty member in Soil and Crop Sciences. The Ogallala Water CAP, supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, has a multi-disciplinary team of 70 people based at 10 institutions in six Ogallala-region states. They are all engaged in collaborative research and outreach for sustaining agriculture and ecosystems in the region.

    Some Ogallala Water CAP research and outreach results will be shared at the 2020 Ogallala Summit. The Ogallala Water CAP has led the coordination of the event, in partnership with colleagues at Texas A&M AgriLife, the Kansas Water Office, and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service-funded Ogallala Aquifer Program, with additional support provided by many individuals and organizations from the eight Ogallala states.

    The 2020 Summit will highlight several activities and outcomes inspired by or expanded as a result of the 2018 Ogallala Summit. Participants will include producers; irrigation company and commodity group representatives; students and academics; local and state policy makers; groundwater management district leaders; crop consultants; agricultural lenders; state and federal agency staff; and others, including new and returning summit participants.

    “Water conservation technologies are helpful, and we need more of them, but human decision-making is the real key to conserving the Ogallala,” said Brent Auvermann, center director at Texas A&M AgriLife Research – Amarillo. “The emergence of voluntary associations among agricultural water users to reduce groundwater use is an encouraging step, and we need to learn from those associations’ experiences with regard to what works, and what doesn’t, and what possibilities exist that don’t require expanding the regulatory state.”

    The summit will take place over two half-days, starting at 11 a.m. Central Time (10 a.m. MDT) on Tuesday, March 31 and concluding the next day on Wednesday, April 1 at 2:30 p.m. The event includes a casual evening social on the evening of March 31 that will feature screening of a portion of the film “Rising Water,” by Nebraska filmmaker Becky McMillen, followed by a panel discussion on effective agricultural water-related communications.

    Visit the 2020 Ogallala summit webpage to see a detailed agenda, lodging info, and to access online registration. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. The registration deadline is Saturday, March 21 at midnight Central Time (11 p.m. MDT).

    This event is open to credentialed members of the media. Please RSVP to or

     

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  • Colorado National Guard Soldiers conduct winter training in Vai

    Colorado National Guard Soldiers conduct winter training in Vai

    By Colorado National Guard Public Affairs

    CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers will conduct annual ski and winter training in Vail, Colorado, Feb. 14-17, 2020.

    This training will enhance the Soldiers’ mountain skills while honoring Colorado as the original home of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division.

    “Testing our warriors’ skills in a winter environment is critical to their readiness,” The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Loh said.  “We’re also following a proud legacy of service handed down by our 10th Mountain veterans who first trained in Colorado.”   

    Many 10th Mountain veterans returned to Colorado following World War II and laid the foundations of Colorado’s ski industry.

    This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Riva Ridge in Italy, where 10th Mountain Soldiers defeated Nazi forces on the slopes of the northern Apennine Mountains.

    Additionally the CONG’s 157th Infantry is commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Dachau labor camp led by CONG U.S. Army Lt. Col. Felix Sparks.

    A COARNG UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter used for mountain search and rescue and other domestic operations will land on Vail Mountain and be open to the public for viewing. The public will have the opportunity to view other equipment including a Small Unit Support Vehicle and a High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle. The Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High-yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package, a Special Forces all-terrain utility vehicle, and other team and individual military equipment used in high-altitude military and rescue operations will also be on view.

    While training, members of the 1st Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment (Mountain), will ski with the public, build snow caves, and demonstrate the CONG’s mountain infantry capabilities. Soldiers will also participate in a tribute parade and host a military ski race, both in Vail.

    The events are open to the public, however some of the events may only be available to lift ticket holders.

    Recruiters and unit representatives will be available to discuss the CONG’s missions and enlistment benefits.

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  • CANCELED • Mile House • Open House

    CANCELED • Mile House • Open House

    CANCELED: Due to adverse snow conditions, Saturday’s Open House is canceled.

    This Saturday, see what Valentine’s Day looked like in the 1800s with vintage valentines, refreshments and family-friendly crafts, including a make-your-own valentine you can take home. Join us for this special Open House on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the 17 Mile House at 8181 South Parker Road in Centennial.

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  • Colorado Missing Persons Day—February 4, 202

    Colorado Missing Persons Day—February 4, 202

    Prayer Vigil and Ceremony on the West Steps of the Capitol

     (January 31, 2020—CBI—Lakewood, CO)—Colorado’s Missing Persons Day is being honored with a series of events at the state Capitol building (200 E. Colfax Avenue) beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, with the Missing Person Resolution being read by Senator Jerry Sonnenberg during the Senate session on Tuesday.  At the conclusion of the Senate session on Tuesday, a ceremony will take place on the west steps of the Capitol to honor more than 524 individuals currently missing for more than a year in the State of Colorado.

     Order of events at the State Capitol on February 4, 2020:

    · 8:00 a.m. – Family members of the missing are invited to meet in room Senate Room 352

    · 9:00 a.m. – The Missing Person Resolution will be read during the Senate Session

    · 10:00 a.m. –  11:00 a.m. or at the conclusion of the Senate session —  A Prayer Vigil will be held on the West Steps of the Capitol building to include the         reading of the names of those persons missing in Colorado and will conclude with a Bubble Release.

    Colorado’s Missing Persons Day is being sponsored by the offices of Colorado State Senators Jerry Sonnenberg and Rhonda Fields.

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  • Blue Mesa Reservoir Lake Trout Tournament starts Feb. 1; $10,000 in cash prizes

    Blue Mesa Reservoir Lake Trout Tournament starts Feb. 1; $10,000 in cash prizes

    GUNNISON, Colo. – A six-month-long fishing tournament with $10,000 in prize money sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife starts Feb. 1 at Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison in western Colorado.

    The tournament, which continues through July 31, is aimed at maintaining adequate kokanee fry survival by limiting predation from lake trout. Anglers are asked to target smaller-sized lake trout, those that are 24 inches in length or smaller. 

    “By sponsoring this tournament, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is asking anglers to be our partners in helping to manage the renowned Blue Mesa Reservoir fishery,” said Dan Brauch, aquatic biologist for CPW in Gunnison. “We know we can have an excellent kokanee fishery and a trophy lake trout fishery, but we need to continue our work for both species and we need the help of Colorado’s anglers.”

    Here’s how the tournament works: Anglers who catch lake trout 24 inches or smaller will remove the heads and place them in a plastic bag provided at one of three boat ramps at the reservoir: Iola, Elk Creek and Lake Fork. Heads can also be turned in at CPW’s offices in Gunnison (300 W. New York Ave.) or Montrose (2300 S. Townsend Ave., U.S. Highway 550). There is no fee to participate in the tournament.

    Cash prizes will be awarded in three categories at the conclusion of the tournament:

    1) CPW has tagged 23 fish in the reservoir but anglers won’t know if they’ve caught one. CPW will scan the heads later to check for tags and those who caught them will receive $250 for each.

    2) Anglers catching the most fish: 1st place, $1,000; 2nd place, $500; 3rd place, $250.

    3) Anglers will be entered in a raffle for every lake trout head turned in. A total of 20 winners will be selected and each winner will receive $200.

    Kokanee provide the greatest draw for overall catch and harvest while lake trout provide the greatest draw for their trophy potential. Lake trout require plentiful kokanee as prey to achieve trophy size.

    Some lake trout that weigh over 50 pounds and 44 inches in length have been caught at Blue Mesa Reservoir. 

     A change in water management in the early 1990s at BMR resulted in improved conditions at lake trout spawning areas in the fall and now they reproduce naturally. As the number of lake trout grew, they feasted on kokanee which resulted in a significant population decline. Recently, through angler harvest and CPW’s lake trout suppression work, the number of predatory lake trout has been reduced and kokanee abundance has improved.

    CPW research shows that smaller lake trout, those 24 inches and smaller, consume the most kokanee. Consequently, the lake trout harvest tournament is focused on removing fish of those sizes.

    “Anglers harvest about 6,000 lake trout each year,” Brauch said. “But we need increased harvest of small lake trout to keep population growth in check and to reduce the need for additional lake trout suppression work by CPW.”

    Maintaining abundant kokanee will support quality fishing opportunities for kokanee and a source of kokanee eggs for restocking needs at up to 25 waters in Colorado while allowing for continued growth of trophy lake trout.

    There is no limit on the number of lake trout under 32 inches that can be caught in a day at BMR, but only one fish more than 32 inches may be kept.

    “By utilizing anglers’ skills and expertise we’re confident that we can maintain balance of the BMR fishery,” Brauch said.

     For more information about fishing at Blue Mesa Reservoir, including how to catch lake trout, research studies and management planning go to: https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/BlueMesaReservoirFisheryManagement.aspx.

     You may also call the Gunnison wildlife office at: 970-641-7060.

     

     

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  • See Roxborough State Park at night like never before with its new Trail of Lights

    See Roxborough State Park at night like never before with its new Trail of Lights

    ROXBOROUGH, Colo. – This Friday, Roxborough State Park is set to debut its new Trail of Lights to visitors. 

    This special seasonal light display will give visitors a chance to see its trail of lights, and be in the park after sunset to experience the Roxborough night sky. The trail of lights will be on the walkway from the parking lot to the visitor center and include sections around the patio and visitor center. 

    The trail of lights will be operational on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights only starting Jan. 24 and going through the end of February. The park will extend its hours to 7 p.m. in January and 8 p.m. in February for these special event nights only.

    All of the trails will be closed for the extended hours except Fountain Valley Trail. Visitors will be able to hike Fountain Valley Trail during the extended hours, but must be back at their vehicle by 7 p.m. in January and 8 p.m. in February. 

    For more information, please call the visitor center at 303-973-3959. Please remember that all vehicles entering the park must purchase an $8 daily pass or display a valid annual pass.

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  • Former UN Ambassador Susan Rice speaks at Colorado State University

    Former U.S. National Security Advisor and UN Ambassador Susan Rice will keynote Colorado State University’s Founders Day celebrations on Feb. 11. Her conversation with Greg Myre, NPR national security correspondent, will take place at 6 p.m. in the Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public as well as CSU faculty, staff and students, but tickets are required. Tickets are now available online at CSUtix.com.

    The event is part of the Global Engagement Distinguished Speaker lecture series presented by the Office of International Programs and the Provost’s Sesquicentennial Colloquium Series, celebrating the 150th anniversary of CSU’s founding in 1870.

    Ambassador Rice began her work in politics in 1993 under the Clinton administration and was appointed Ambassador to the United Nations by President Barack Obama. She was later appointed National Security Advisor by Obama, a position she held until 2017. In 2019, she published Tough Love: My Story of The Things Worth Fighting For, a memoir about her life and diplomacy work.

    In the book, she writes about lessons learned while working on foreign policy during the Obama administration: “Failure, as I discovered early, is an inevitable result of policy making. We did fail; we will fail. Our aim must be to minimize the frequency and the prices of failure, while learning from our mistakes — and hopefully not the wrong lessons.”

    Only clear bags will be allowed into the event. Tickets are limited, so reserve yours at CSUtix.com soon to be part of this historic event.

     

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  • MLK’s words illustrate his faith, patriotism and desire for unity

    MLK’s words illustrate his faith, patriotism and desire for unity

    By Mark Hillman

    Because he was taken from us just before my first birthday, what I know about Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. comes from his speeches and writing.  His words provide a stark contrast to so many activists and politicians in today’s polarized political climate.

    Despite his attempts to speak from a love of God, love of country, and love for mankind, he was not a unifying figure because Americans in the 1960s were sharply at odds over the Vietnam War and racial strife.

    King spoke in terms that were dear to most every American and which necessarily made many uncomfortable.  He pointed out the obvious mistreatment of blacks in an America that perceived this injustice but too often preferred to do little to correct it.

    He spoke a language that forced Americans to wrestle with the inconsistency between what they knew to be right and the wrongs that persisted.  While King’s words didn’t immediately persuade, they were a constant irritation, like a pebble in a shoe, that would eventually demand action.

    King was different from many of today’s social justice activists in three very conspicuous ways:  He was a minster of the Gospel who loved God and preached Jesus Christ as his Savior.  He loved America and the ideals upon which it was founded.  He showed love toward his adversaries rather than bitterness and hatred.

    “I’ve seen too much hate to want to hate (someone) myself,” he said in his American Dream sermon in August 1965.  “Hate does something to the soul.  . . . The man who hates can’t think straight. . . .

    “I know that Jesus is right, that love is the way.  And this is why John said, “God is love,” so that he who hates does not know God, but he who loves at that moment has the key that opens the door.”

    He was wary of forces “of bitterness and hatred” that “come perilously close to advocating violence,” naming specifically the emerging Nation of Islam.

    “It is made up of people who have lost faith in America, who have absolutely repudiated Christianity, and who have concluded that the white man is an incurable devil,” he wrote.  “There is a more excellent way, of love and nonviolent protest.  I’m grateful to God that through the Negro church, the dimension of nonviolence entered our struggle.”

    King embraced America’s heritage and our founding fathers.

    “When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir,” he said in his “I Have A Dream” speech on July 4, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial.

    He understood that “America has given the Negro people a bad check,” but “we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.”  Rather than repudiate the founders for their imperfection, he exalted them for their vision and challenged his fellow Americans to fulfill it.

    The Declaration of Independence, he said, expressed “a great dream” because “it doesn’t say ‘some men’ (are created equal), it says ‘all men.’”

    “That dream goes on to say another thing that ultimately distinguishes our nation and our form of government from any totalitarian system in the world.  It says that each of us has certain basic rights that are neither derived from or conferred by the state. … They are God-given, gifts from His hands.

    “Never before in the history of the world has a sociopolitical document expressed in such profound, eloquent, and unequivocal language the dignity and the worth of human personality.”

    King wanted to end Jim Crow segregation, but not so racial groups could re-segregate themselves as some want today.

    “One day, here in America,” he said, “I hope that we will become one big family of Americans.  Not white Americans, not black Americans, not Jewish or Gentile Americans, not Irish or Italian Americans, not Mexican Americans, not Puerto Rican Americans, but just Americans.

    “One big family of Americans.”

    That’s a dream America needs today, as much as it did fifty years ago.

    Republican Mark Hillman served as Senate Majority Leader and State Treasurer.  To read more or comment, go to www.MarkHillman.com.

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  • Go Code Colorado To Kick Off Its Seventh Year of Competition

    Go Code Colorado is a state-wide competition that challenges multidisciplinary teams to turn public data into useful business insights, analyses, and tools. Now in its 7th cycle, Go Code Colorado kicks off next month and features two tracks to compete in, (Business Application track and Business Analytics track) with $15,000 in available prize money for four winning teams.

    “Go Code Colorado is the nation’s only state-wide data competition, bringing entrepreneurs from every corner of our state together to help turn public data into useful tools for businesses throughout Colorado,” said Secretary of State Jena Griswold.  “I’m looking forward to seeing what the talented teams come up with in the 2020 competition!” 

    Apostrophe CTO and Co-Founder Kathy Keating, who was also a finalist judge in 2019, said, “Go Code Colorado inspires participants to solve problems to real issues. The missions, the social impacts these teams have is awesome. It’s incredibly inspiring to see the way they take raw public data and turn it into something meaningful to the world.”

    This event is an initiative of the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office’s Business Intelligence Center (BIC). BIC promotes economic growth across the state by making business-relevant data accessible and useable for informed decision-making. To date, BIC has published over 292 datasets for convenient public use.

    Over the past seven years, Go Code Colorado competitions have included over 900 team participants and almost 5,000 individuals from across the state including entrepreneurs, big thinkers, analysts, marketers, coders, and developers.

    The Competition will host kick-off events in Grand Junction and Denver where participants can find teammates, learn about the Challenge Statement and network with a community of people who believe in the power of public data.

    Kick Off #1

    Thursday, February 6th, 2020

    From 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at FACTORY at Maverick Innovation Center (CMU), 730 Mesa Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501

    Kick Off #2

    Thursday, February 13th, 2020

    From 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Great Divide Brewery, Bottling Hall, 3403 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO 80216.

    For a full schedule of events for Go Code Colorado, please visit www.gocodecolorado.com.

     

     

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  • 2020 Ag Outlook and Strategy Forum for Producers

    2020 Ag Outlook and Strategy Forum for Producers

    (Burlington, Colo.) Producers know their costs of producing crops and livestock continue to be high while market prices are going down. As profits decrease or there are losses, producers may have difficulty securing operating loans or have to take money from the savings they accumulated over the past few years of good prices. What are they to do?

    Colorado State University Extension will host an Agriculture Outlook and Strategy Forum in Burlington on January 22nd. Producers participating in the forum will learn about the outlook for commodity prices, production costs for each area, and various strategies for being profitable when prices are low.

    Dr. Brent Young, CSU Agricultural and Business Management Economist will present current outlook information for commodities common to northeastern Colorado as well as the costs and returns for various commodities. He will also explore strategies, including developing marketing plans and utilizing crop insurance.

    The program is scheduled for Wednesday, January 22nd at the Community Center at 340 S. 14th Street and will be held from 9 am to noon. Lunch will be provided.

    Registration is required and the fee is $15. To register online go to https://2020agoutlook.eventbrite.com . Space is limited and the registration deadline is Friday, January 17th.

    For more information about the forum, please contact Brent Young at 970-522-7207 or by email at .

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