fbpx

The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Arts & Humanities

  • Andra Day shines in overstuffed Billie Holiday bio

    By MARK KENNEDY — AP Entertainment Writer

    Billie Holiday has always been a monster of a role. Diana Ross tackled her on film and Audra McDonald did it on stage. Now it’s time for Andra Day — a singer and actress perfectly named to play Lady Day — and she shines. It’s a pity the film she’s in is so messy.

    In the frustrating “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” Day gives it her all as Holiday but she can’t save a film that is overstuffed and also thin. Director Lee Daniels and screenwriter Suzan-Lori Parks offer an unfocused, meandering work for much of the time, interrupted by devastating scenes that feel like a punch to the gut.

    Day plays Holiday in the last years of her life as a haunted and crushed icon, an addict with terrible choices in men but the voice of an angel. Day’s body is angular and lean and seemingly always prepared for blows to rain down, a piece of gum and a cigarette ever-present in her mouth. But she is also liable to punch back and rip into anyone crossing her. It is a remarkable performance, not least because it is Day’s first acting role.

    Daniels and Park have chosen as their skeleton an unlikely love affair between Holiday and Jimmy Fletcher, a Black federal agent ordered to infiltrate her group and get her arrested for using heroin. Why? Because whites cannot stand her singing the anti-lynching song “Strange Fruit.”

    The material is adapted from Johann Hari’s “Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs.” It’s now the third recent movie project to show government infiltration of Black leaders, following the “MLK/FBI” documentary and the film  “Judas and the Black Messiah.”

    The film suffers a stuttering start — and the introduction of a poor framing device with a sit-down Holiday interview — before going back in time 10 years and tracing the toll drugs and abuse slowly take on an increasingly haggard Holiday, leading to her death in 1959.

    The natural villain in this piece would be the agent who rats out Holiday several times before falling in love with her. The filmmakers haven’t quite figured him out. Why would Holiday allow a federal agent who has helped arrest her twice back into her life? “It’s complicated,” she says.

    Trevante Rhodes, who was super in “Moonlight,” plays the infiltrator, a man torn between his job and his race. He and fellow Black agents toil in the basement in segregated areas, tasked with planting evidence to bring down Black icons for white America. “You ever feel strange about what we’re doing?” an agent askes Fletcher.

    The real bad guy is Federal Bureau of Narcotics leader Harry J. Anslinger (a mustache-twirling Garrett Hedlund), who is a virulent racist and cartoonishly unsubtle about it. “This jazz music is the devil’s work. That’s why this Holiday woman has got to be stopped,” he says.

    But a film that desperately needs to be taut is anything but, making space for over-the-top dog funerals, distractions like Roy Cohn and Holiday’s friendship with Tallulah Bankhead. And yet there are moments of brilliance, as when Jimmy takes heroin and Lady Day appears in the haze of his high as a child to take him for a flashback to the whorehouse she spent time in as a youth. It is a fascinating technique but quickly abandoned.

    The best parts are listening to Day as her Holiday sings onstage — perfectly put together with a red lip and a big blossom over her right ear — and watches the men in her life sit at lounge tables and determine her fate. Sometimes her gowns hid cracked ribs. “She look like a million bucks but she feels like nothing,” we are told.

    The film’s clear climax is a scene in which Holiday stumbles on a rural family after a lynching and it is searing, anguishing and horrific, images that will stay with the viewer as much as they fueled Holiday’s need to sing “Strange Fruit” despite the risks to her career. The scene is filmed like a kaleidoscope as Holiday goes from outside to inside and then seamlessly onstage to sing her signature song.

    The film is bookended by reminders of America’s history of lynching. It opens with an image of a Black man murdered by a mob and, heartbreakingly, closes with a note that a bill to designate lynching as a federal hate crime has stalled in the Senate.

    “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” a Hulu release, is rated R for drug use, domestic violence, language, nudity and mature themes. Running time: 130 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

     

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • 2020 Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Awards will support rehabilitation efforts across Colorado

    These great horned owl chicks went to the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program for rehab after their nest tree was cut down.

    DENVER – Ten recipients of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s third annual Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants have been announced. The grants are offered by CPW to support wildlife rehabilitation efforts across the state.

    “These ten grants reach across the state,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow. “They include investments to expand rehabilitation facilities for the long-term and funding to help keep existing facilities open to meet public demand.”  

    “We had more than $48,000 in funding requests but only $16,200 in funding available,” said Jim Guthrie, Program Coordinator for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants Program. “There’s a big need out there. A lot of Colorado rehabbers run on shoestring budgets. They put in tremendous personal effort for the love of helping animals recover from accidents or injury.”

    “The rehabilitation of Colorado’s wildlife species often happens quietly, by a relatively few number of qualified and licensed professionals around the state,” said John Gale, Chair of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants Board. “They provide critical services across a diversity of species – large and small – often at great personal expense. Colorado’s grant program provides important support to wildlife rehabilitators, increasing resources and allowing them to help more animals.”

    The work supported through this year’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants includes:

    • Flight cages and equipment to overwinter bats at the Colorado BatCREW facility in Conifer
    • Continued construction of a new rehabilitation facility at the SonFlower Ranch in Brighton
    • Food and medical supplies at the Rocky Mountain WildHeart center in Colorado Springs
    • Veterinary and medical expenses at the Rocky Mountain Raptor center in Fort Collins

    The grant program was created through House Bill 17-1250. Funding for the grant program comes primarily from the nongame tax check-off program, along with fines from nongame wildlife-based offenses and interest income. For the first $250,000 raised annually, 10 percent is allocated to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program, which aims to provide funding specifically for wildlife rehabilitation centers. For many rehabbers, this kind of funding fills a critical gap.

    “On behalf of my fellow committee members and Colorado Parks and Wildlife professionals,” said Gale, “I want to extend our appreciation to Colorado taxpayers for their generous donations and continued investment in this highly successful grant program.”

    Applications for Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Awards are due each year in early November. For more information on the grant program and application materials, please visit the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants page.

    2020 Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Awards

    Rocky Mountain WildHeart – Colorado Springs

    Lynette Carson – Beulah

    Colorado BatCREW – Conifer

    Emily Davenport – Sedalia

    North Park Wildlife Rehabilitation

    Wild Bird Rescue – Englewood

    Shellee Lawson – Bailey

    Rocky Mountain Raptor Program – Fort Collins

    SonFlower Ranch Wildlife Rehabilitation – Brighton

    Bill Main – Colorado Springs

    Caption for photos below: This red-tailed hawk was struck by a vehicle and had severe spinal and head trauma when it was brought to the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program for rehab. With time and care it was released back to the wild again.  

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • CSU study looks at how the performing arts can return in a healthy manner during COVID-19 pandemic

    CSU study looks at how the performing arts can return in a healthy manner during COVID-19 pandemic

    How far apart should the trumpet section be from the trombone section at my first band rehearsal during COVID-19?

    How many singers can rehearse together or perform on my school’s stage?

    Can dancers resume their rehearsals and performances? Can actors rehearse and perform scenes with other actors? Should I cancel my group’s performance schedule, or wait and see?

    These are questions that are on the minds of thousands of band leaders, choir directors, acting coaches, dance instructors, performers and countless others connected to the performing arts. And a unique team at Colorado State University is searching for those answers.

    Led by John Volckens, a professor of mechanical engineering in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering, and Dan Goble, director of the School of Music, Theater, and Dance, the team is launching a study – Reducing Bioaerosol Emissions and Exposures in the Performing Arts: A Scientific Roadmap for a Safer Return from COVID19.

    Researchers will aim to determine how far airborne particles and droplets are projected by those playing wind and brass instruments, singers, actors and dancers, and whether steps can be taken to protect both performers and audience members from the risks of co-exposure to COVID19.

    Interdisciplinary approach

    The team, which includes Rebecca Phillips, CSU’s director of bands in the College of Liberal Arts; Charles Henry, chemistry professor in the College of Natural Sciences; and Dr. Heather Pidcoke, the university’s chief medical research officer, hopes to collect and analyze data starting in early to mid-July. The multidisciplinary team also includes experts in environmental health, Kristen Fedak and Nick Good, from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and engineers Christian L’Orange, John Mehaffy and Jacob Fontenot. They hope to be able to recommend best practices for those in the performing arts in a timely manner.

    “What we know is this issue is being looked at by a lot of people around the world, but there appears to be very little actual scientific study going on,” Goble said. “Colorado State is a Tier 1 research institution, and we also have a highly regarded performing arts school. It makes sense that a scientific study be launched here because we have the people and facilities to do it well.”

    Goble said he has been getting questions from school music teachers around the country about how to proceed once classes resume in the fall. Those same questions have been keeping him up at night as he tries to negotiate the uncharted waters created by the pandemic.

    “Over the centuries, performers have always found a way to adapt, to keep their art forms viable, even in the worst of times,” he said. “This is different. COVID-19 has not only shut down school programs, it has halted groups like the Larimer Chorale and the Colorado Symphony. The Metropolitan Opera had to shut down until at least 2021, and Broadway has gone dark. Everyone is looking for a path forward.

    “This really was one of those ‘why not us?’ moments,” Goble continued. “This is something we can and should do.”

    Measuring aerosol emissions

    The key scientific piece of the project is a human exposure facility, built by a team of mechanical engineering undergraduate students as part of their senior capstone project. This unique facility, at CSU’s Powerhouse Energy Campus, can be used to measure human aerosol emissions and exposures in a clean, versatile environment. Only a handful of the chambers exist, and Volckens and his team use a custom-built computer control and data acquisition system to track human release of aerosols of varying size, concentration and chemical composition.

    Volckens hopes to recruit up to 100 volunteers to participate in the study. Each participant will do some singing, and he is seeking brass and woodwind multi-instrumentsalists. Subjects will wear a variety of face coverings, including cloth and N-95 masks, to determine best practices for singers, actors and dancers.

    “This is a great example of what a top research university can do, and a great example of colleagues from across campus working together to solve a challenging and serious problem,” Volckens said. “Our goal is to develop actionable information that allows people in the performing arts to get back to what they love to do.”

    Goble said similar studies have been launched at the University of Colorado and the University of Maryland.

    “John (Volckens) is well connected with the researchers at CU, so our research will be collaborative,” he said. “The bottom line is that the more people who are working on this, the better. The quicker we can come to some conclusions, the better. It will take some time to reach conclusions, and this is something we want to get right. There are a lot of people depending on us.”

    Funding needed

    Testing is tentatively set to begin when study procedures are approved by internal and external experts, and when modifications to equipment are complete.

    In the meantime, Volckens and Goble are seeking funding to ensure the project’s success. To date, several organizations/companies have combined to provide about half of the needed financial backing to pay for research supplies, salary for project staff (one graduate student, one post-doc, one research scientist), calibration and maintenance of equipment and open access publication fees to make sure the study results are freely accessible.

    Supporters include the American Bandmasters Association Foundation; American Choral Directors Association; Auburn University; Big Ten Band Directors Foundation; CSU School of Music, Theatre and Dance; Conn-Selmer; Mill City Church; National Band Association; Texas A&M University Bands; Wegner Corp.; Women Band Directors International Foundation, and Yamaha Corp.

    To learn more about the study and how to lend your support, visit: https://smtd.colostate.edu/reducing-bioaerosol-emissions-and-exposures-in-the-performing-arts/

     

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • Together we can keep the music playing

     

    Because of Your Support We Will #PlayOn

    Your Colorado Symphony continues to #PlayOn, responding to the unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing incredible digital programming like our &sourceNumber=8248">Virtual Ode to Joy. But help is needed to keep the music playing, so the Colorado Symphony is participating in the #GivingTuesdayNow Global Day of Giving and Unity.

    #GivingTuesdayNow is set to take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The day is designed to drive an influx of generosity, citizen engagement, philanthropic activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world.

    If you are able, please consider participating in the Colorado Symphony’s #GivingTuesdayNow efforts to help us continue providing music now and into the future:

    &sourceNumber=8248">Give Now

     

     

     

    Coming Soon! Instrument Interviews

    MusiCurious Instrument Interviews, a series of videos featuring educational questions from children alongside answers and instrument demonstrations from Colorado Symphony musicians. It’s a delightfully entertaining experience that’s available from the comfort of home. Stay tuned on &sourceNumber=8248">Facebook or at the link below for the first installment of the Instrument Interviews.

    &sourceNumber=8248">Are You MusiCurious?

     

    A Virtual Duet

    Principal Harp Courtney Hershey Bress is joined by Colorado Symphony Chorus member Kate Emerich as they #PlayOn with a heartfelt prayer, “En Prière,” by Gabriel Fauré. Take a moment and listen to their beautiful virtual duet:

    &sourceNumber=8248">Watch the Video

     

    Up Next: A Tribute to Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops

    Virtual Music Hour • Boston Pops • Available 6pm Friday through Sunday • Dedicated to DaVitaGather online any time between 6pm Friday and Sunday with your Colorado Symphony as we relive some of the best audio-only classical recordings from our past few seasons! This week features our fun and fabulous 2019 Tribute to Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops with a special introduction by Principal Tuba Stephen Dombrowski.   &sourceNumber=8248">Virtual Music Hour

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

     

     

  • House Passes Rep. Michaelson Jenet’s Annual Mental Health Wellness Exams Bill

    The House of Representatives today passed HB20-1086, sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Colin Larson, by a vote of 45-17. The bill would guarantee insurance coverage for annual mental health wellness exams.

    “This is one of the most important bills I have worked on in my time in the legislature, and I am so pleased that it has passed the House,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Too many Coloradans don’t have access to the mental health care they need. This bill will go a long way towards breaking down the barriers, may they be stigma, financial or provider availability, that have made it far too difficult for Coloradans to access life-saving mental health care.”

    HB20-1086 would require health insurance plans to cover an annual mental health wellness examination as a part of their coverage for preventative health care services. The coverage must be comparable to the coverage for a physical examination, comply with federal mental health parity laws, and not require any deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.

    The legislation aims to further break down barriers to mental health care. Our current system often treats mental health on an expensive crisis-by-crisis basis. By enhancing access to preventative care, the bill would help provide treatment for mental health conditions before someone is faced with a crisis. It would also reduce the stigma around mental health by ensuring we value preventative mental health care in the same way we currently value physical health care.

    Colorado is experiencing a persistent and rising suicide rate while far too many residents report barriers to accessing the behavioral health care they need. Suicide is the seventh leading cause of death in Colorado. In 2019, 769,301 Coloradans were unable to get mental health services when needed, and 68 percent reported that cost and insurance coverage were barriers, according to the Colorado Health Access Survey.

    The legislation is supported by Mental Health Colorado, the Colorado AFL-CIO, the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, the Colorado Association for School Based Health Care, the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, and the Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

    The legislation will now be considered in the Senate.

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

     

     

  •  Electric Vehicles Now Competitive on Price

     Electric Vehicles Now Competitive on Price

    New AAA research finds electric cars are becoming cheaper to own, “range anxiety” diminishing. 

    DENVER (Jan. 22, 2020)  – New research from AAA finds that over five years and 75,000 miles of driving, the annual cost of owning a new compact electric vehicle is only slightly more expensive – about $600 annually – than its gas-powered counterpart, despite steeper sticker prices and higher depreciation costs. Importantly, the study also revealed that the most significant concern surrounding an electric vehicle – range anxiety – eases considerably after purchase.

    Per new AAA survey data, prior to owning an electric vehicle, 91 percent of owners said they had at least one significant concern about these vehicles generally – including insufficient range, inability to plan for long-distance trips, and difficulty finding a place to charge. Many of these worries disappeared after purchase. This suggests a perception problem: If consumers have a better understanding of the actual cost and experience of owning an electric vehicle, the gap between expressed interest and adoption should begin to close.

    “While 40 million Americans have signaled an interest in buying electric for their next car, the actual adoption of these technologies is happening much, much more slowly,” said AAA Colorado spokesman Skyler McKinley. “With this research, we’ve begun to explore what the experience of owning an electric vehicle has on perception of these cars and, perhaps more importantly, whether consumers would choose to go green again.”

    By the Numbers

    AAA’s survey of electric vehicle owners, 71 percent of whom had not previously owned an electric car, revealed some interesting results:

    • The majority (96 percent) say they would buy or lease another electric vehicle the next time they were in the market for a new car.
    • Two in five (43 percent) say they drive more now than when they owned a gas-powered car. On average, electric vehicle owners drive 39 miles per day.
    • Three quarters (78 percent) also have a gas-powered car in the household, although they report doing the majority of their driving (87 percent) in their electric vehicle.

    Perhaps the most surprising result of the survey was the impact ownership has on commonly held fears about electric vehicles, particularly those that have deterred consumers from making the leap to green. Previous AAA research has found that the top two reasons why Americans shy away from electric vehicles are not enough places to charge (58 percent) and the fear that they will run out of charge while driving (57 percent). 

    Almost all owners surveyed (95 percent) report never having run out of a charge while driving . On average, they do 75 percent of their charging at home. As a result, those who were originally concerned about insufficient range said they became less or no longer concerned post-purchase (77 percent).

    Still, Colorado drivers take note: Hilly and mountainous terrain and cold weather can significantly reduce an electric vehicle’s potential range – and Colorado has plenty of both. Prospective electric vehicle buyers should evaluate how often they face these conditions in the understanding that advertised ranges may not accord with Colorado’s unique motoring landscape. For this reason, AAA Colorado was proud to introduce the nation’s first dedicated electric vehicle charging truck in 2015. 

    Driving Costs

    Employing the same methodology used for its annual Your Driving Costs study, AAA calculated the costs for owning a new compact electric vehicle as they compared to those of a comparable gas-powered vehicle. While the study found that the overall cost of electric vehicle ownership is eight percent more per year, individual categories such as fuel and maintenance/repair are lower. 

    • Fuel – The electricity required to drive 15,000 miles per year in a compact electric vehicle costs an average of $546, while the amount of gas required to drive the same distance costs $1,255 (or 130 percent) more.
    • Maintenance/Repair – Electric vehicles do not require as much maintenance as gas-powered ones, as they do not need oil changes or air-filter replacements. If maintained according to the automakers’ recommendations, electric vehicles cost $330 less than a gas-powered car – at a total of $949 annually. 

    Vehicle ownership, whether electric or gas-powered, is a personal choice that should take many factors into consideration. For consumers who are interested in electric vehicles, AAA recommends visiting a dealership, test driving one, and asking as many questions as possible to make an informed decision.

    Methodology

    The electric vehicle and internal combustion engine driving costs in this study were established using the proprietary methodology employed for AAA’s Your Driving Costs (YDC) project. The 2019 electric vehicle models selected for this study were:  Chevrolet Bolt (LT), Hyundai Ionic Electric (Base), Kia Soul EV (+), Nissan Leaf (SV) and Volkswagen eGolf (SE). The 2019 internal combustion engine vehicles selected for the comparison were:  Chevrolet Cruze (LS), Honda Civic (LX), Hyundai Elantra (SE), Nissan Sentra (SV) and Toyota Corolla (SE). This methodology models the purchase of a new vehicle for personal use over a period of five years and 75,000 miles. A copy of the 2019 AAA Your Driving Costs brochure with the latest study results is available at https://bit.ly/35I5GG8.

    The survey of electric vehicle owners was conducted using a consumer panel maintained by a third-party electric vehicle research firm. The online panel consists of more than 40,000 electric vehicles owners, weighted to balance drivers by vehicle type, make and model. In total, 1,090 surveys with plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) owners were completed during a 24 hour period on October 1, 2019.

     

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • Gardner Celebrates the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Gardner Celebrates the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) released the following statement recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and his tremendous legacy as a civil rights icon and role model:

     “Today we celebrate the life and legacy of an incredible man who altered the course of history forever,” said Senator Gardner. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s powerful teachings of love and tolerance in the face of fierce hate echo through time and serve as an example we should all aspire to follow. Today as we reflect on Dr. King’s inspirational life and leadership, I hope we can all strive to find the common good that unites us and dream of a more perfect Union together.”

     

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • Field Notes of a Rookie Sportsperson

    Field Notes of a Rookie Sportsperson

    ‘Taking my gun for a walk’ plus learning to butcher and prepare deer like a gourmet

    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Ten months of classroom study, days of target practice at the shooting range and hours of immersing myself in the ethics and strategies of hunting all built to a climax on the weekend after Christmas: my first big game hunt.

    The anticipation was almost overwhelming as, on Dec. 28, my daughter, Natalie, and I embarked on our first big game hunt as members of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Rookie Sportsperson Program (RSP).

    The RSP is a free program offered by CPW’s Southeast Region headquartered in Colorado Springs. It takes novice outdoors enthusiasts like Natalie and me and teaches them outdoor skills. Hopefully, attendees are inspired to get outside and sample all the adventures available in Colorado’s great outdoors.

    We are learning about hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and much more. We became certified in the safe handling of firearms through a Hunter Education course and have been out on a couple small-game hunts with our mentor, District Wildlife Manager Logan Wilkins.

    Along the way, Natalie and I began to understand why people hunt. We learned how hunting provides perhaps the most organic, natural protein one can find. And we learned how CPW uses hunting to protect big game animals from starvation and disease that result when herds grow too large, leaving no food for them on over-grazed habitat. 

    Way back on March 30, in anticipation of my hunt, Wilkins helped me decide which hunting license to buy so I could join him on a mentored pronghorn hunt near his district in Limon. Ever since, I’ve had the license in my wallet, just waiting to use it. 

    Every once in a while, I would take it out and read it: “Resident Pronghorn License. Doe Late Rifle. For Units 110, 111, 118, 119, 123, 124. Season Dates: 12/01/19 – 12/31/19.”

    On the big day, Natalie and I met Wilkins at 6:30 a.m. in Limon. It was a cold Saturday morning, but I was burning with the Big Game Fever. Wilkins had gotten permission from a landowner in the area to let a couple novice hunters come try their luck at pronghorn hunting.

    As we stepped out of the truck, the wind blew bitter cold in our faces and would continue to blow throughout the day. I was proud of my daughter: she never complained.  

    My first good chance to get a pronghorn came early in the day. We found a position in a field around 150 yards away from a group of pronghorn and sat down to keep from drawing attention to ourselves. 

    I positioned my lefty Savage Rifle, loaded with .243 Winchester ammunition, on a set of shooting sticks and tried to aim as the wind whipped us. Out in the field were two does and one antlerless buck, “all legal” with my license, Wilkins told me. 

    I took a deep breath and found them in my scope. But I couldn’t get the crosshairs to hold still long enough to feel comfortable taking a shot. We had practiced on targets at 100 yards and these pronghorn, at 150 yards, were just out of my range. 

    As I struggled to calm my sights, I sat back on my butt and we adjusted the shooting sticks. But I still couldn’t get the scope to remain still long enough to feel comfortable taking a shot. We decided to get up to try to get cover behind a nearby hay bale. 

    “We’ll see what they’ll tolerate,” Wilkins said. 

    Turns out they didn’t tolerate much from us. As soon as we got up and began walking, the three pronghorn took off, moving so quickly out of range that their speed seemed almost supernatural.

    “They say they evolved alongside big cheetah-like cats,” Wilkins said. “Myself, I like to say God was just showing off.”

    He told me pronghorn will stand facing into the wind so that the scent of predators is blowing toward them. And I read online later that windy days on the plains can dry a pronghorn’s eyes, impairing their sight and making them skittish.

    They certainly were jumpy the day we were hunting them. We spent the rest of the morning trying to spot and stalk them. Many times we saw a herd and crossed freezing fields hoping to sneak up only to pop up over a small hill and find the herd had disappeared.

    We broke for a late lunch around 1 p.m. Wilkins offered to get a hunting blind – essentially a camouflage tent – that we would sit in until dark. But bad weather was moving in and news of cars sliding off nearby Interstate 70 convinced me to call it a day.

    When we got home, I fell asleep sitting on the couch while my girlfriend was talking to me about how our hunt went. The next week, when people asked me how my hunt went, I told them what I’d heard others say: I ended up just taking my gun for a walk.

    But the day was much more than just a cold hike with my gun. As with my small-game hunts, I got to experience with my daughter an adventure we will never forget. Sure we didn’t even get off a shot. But we enjoyed the preparation, the anticipation, the quest, the shared experience of trying to feed ourselves the way our ancestors did a century ago. 

    Like many things, it’s more about the journey than the actual destination.  

    A week later, I was back in class, learning more about how to cook wild game from professional wild game chef Jason Nauert. 

    Wearing a black Prosper Meats hoodie and a hat with a Colorado logo and a forearm loaded with tattoos (are you even a chef without them?), Nauert told us about his background.

    He attended the Rocky Mountain Institute of Meat after leaving a career in law enforcement due to an ankle injury. In 2014, he began working with Special Forces units to develop a program teaching soldiers how to harvest, field dress and prepare animals in the field. Now, when he’s not traveling around the country teaching these skills at U.S. military bases, Nauert imparts his knowledge at classes like this one.

    Nauert showed us how to process a deer, demonstrating different cuts and explaining his techniques as he went.

    It was incredibly helpful to see how a professional breaks down an animal into its different cuts of meat. He had great tips for cutting and preparing every part of the animal, such as the deer’s legs or “shanks.” 

    “With shank meat, a lot of people waste their time cutting all that connective tissue, the silver skin, apart,” Nauert said. “Don’t waste your time. If you braise these in tomato sauce, or something with acidity, they’re fantastic. And you’re not wasting your time trying to cut all that silver skin off. You can tie butcher’s twine around a shank, then let it braise for six to eight hours. The meat falls off, you’ve got a beautiful dish.”

    Nauert also dispelled the myth that some cuts of meat have to be tough.

    “Some of the biggest reasons people end up with tough cuts of meat are, one, they cook it too long,” he said. “Two, they don’t use the right marinade if they’re trying to marinate it. And three, they cut it wrong.“

    Another trick is cutting across the grain of the meat.

    “If you cut with the grain, you’re screwed,” he warned. “If you cut against the grain, it’s going to be beautiful. Try not to cut super thick cuts either. It’s wild game. It’s not a cow. You can’t get away with three-inch pork chops or something like that. You want it thin.”

    Nauert had prepared a few dishes ahead of time to show the class what the results of cutting and cooking wild game could be. The delicious smell of venison carne asada and venison chili wafted around us and we all dug in to the delicious dishes.  

    At the end, Nauert wrapped up the different cuts of meat from the deer and everyone was able to take home a cut of their choosing. My girlfriend, Jamey, and I chose a roast.

    For dinner the next evening, we took chopped carrots, potatoes and onions and put them in a slow cooker with salt, pepper and garlic. Then we added broth and water to the pot and cooked it on high for about eight hours. The result was a delicious dinner for our family for the next two evenings.  

    For our final month of RSP, we’ll be participating in an ice fishing class and then have a final banquet consisting of wild game prepared by participants in the program. You’ll be able to read all about it in the next installment of Field Notes of a Rookie Sportsperson. 

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Logan Wilkins, district wildlife manager in Limon area, scans for pronghorn as Travis Duncan aims his rifle.

     

    Professional wild game chef Jason Nauert teaches members of CPW’s Rookie Sportsperson Program how to properly butcher and prepare wild game.

     

    Deer steaks cook in a class to teach members of CPW’s Rookie Sportsperson Program how to properly prepare wild game.

     

     

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • 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.

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US

     

  • Experience Holiday Cheer Outdoors This Year ith Colorado Parks and Wildlife

    Experience Holiday Cheer Outdoors This Year ith Colorado Parks and Wildlife

    DENVER – With a number of activities and gifting occasions slated for the upcoming weeks, Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites you to celebrate the holiday season with us. Whether you prefer snowshoeing across a snowy landscape or warming up by a crackling fire with a magazine, our 41 Colorado state parks or online store offers a wide selection of activities and items for you to enjoy and to share with loved ones.

    State Park Events

    Several state parks have organized fun outdoor activities for all ages to mark the holidays. Take a stroll on the trails and warm up with some cider or hot cocoa during the Old Fashioned Holiday Celebration at Roxborough, participate in the Moosemas Tree Cut and Open House at State Forest, enjoy refreshments and making holiday crafts at Highline Lake, Lathrop and Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, or bring the kids for a truly magical Princess and Reindeer Day at Barr Lake.

    “The Holidays are a great time to come out for a hike with loved ones,” said Roxborough State Park Manager Ben Vinci. “It’s always great to see the community gathering around special events like these to meet others that share their love of the outdoors and Colorado’s beautiful natural resources.”

    Visit the CPW Calendar to find more holiday activities at a state park near you.

    The Perfect Holiday Gift

    For those that love living life outside, share some seasonal cheer with a gift from CPW. Recreationists, hunters, and anglers alike can enjoy the one-of-a-kind items found at our state park visitor centers or online store. Specially designed park shirts, colorful patches, books and decals provide unique gifts not found in any mall.

    If you’re having trouble deciding which item is best for your loved ones, CPW gift certificates allow them to choose how to enjoy Colorado’s great outdoors in any season. Gift certificates can be purchased and redeemed online, by phone at 800-244-5613 or at any CPW office or park.

    For a one-size-fits-all option, CPW’s Colorado Outdoors magazine puts our amazing wildlife and wild places directly in your hands. Every issue pairs valuable insights from wildlife, hunting, and angling experts with breathtaking photography from across the state. Each issues also includes information about upcoming events, environmental news, volunteer opportunities and more.

    Subscribe to or gift Colorado Outdoors and receive your choice of our annual hunting guide or fishing guide for free – or get both guides for just $2.50 more. As a Cyber Monday special, subscriptions will be 50% off on Dec. 2 from 12:01 a.m. to midnight.

    This year, give the gift of outdoor cheer and enjoy getting out to Live Life Outside  To learn more about outdoor recreation in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us.

    Happy Holidays from the CPW family to yours.

    SPREAD THE NEWS

    COMMENT, Like, Follow & SHARE @I70Scout

    CURRENT EDITION

    WEATHER & TRAFFIC    PUZZLES    RECENT NEWS    ADVERTISE WITH US