COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Brett Ackerman, a commissioned wildlife officer with deep experience in parks and wildlife law and in a variety of leadership roles has been appointed as the new Southeast Region Manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Ackerman, who has served as Deputy Southeast Region Manager since 2014, was selected by Dan Prenzlow, CPW director who previously held the Southeast Region Manager title from 2005 until he recently became the director.
“We were fortunate to have many exceptional candidates apply for this role,” Prenzlow said. “Working closely with Brett the past five years, I came to know him as a true leader. He has the background needed to help CPW achieve its goals.”
Ackerman joined the former Colorado Division of Wildlife in 2000 as a District Wildlife Manager patrolling the Rifle area. Previously, he had worked for a private environmental engineering firm and for the National Park Service following his graduation from Brigham Young University in Utah.
While in Rifle, Ackerman served as an adjunct professor at Colorado Mountain College teaching Spanish-language courses (GED Preparation and English as a Second Language).
In 2005, he became CPW’s Regulations Manager based in Denver and spent a decade directing the state’s parks and wildlife regulations program, serving as the primary author of parks and wildlife law. He also attended the University of Colorado, earning a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in environmental policy, management and law.
In 2014, he became Deputy Southeast Region Manager where he managed the regional land use, energy, water, education, volunteer, and engineering programs and a multimillion-dollar annual budget.
As one of four CPW regional managers, Ackerman will oversee wildlife officers from Leadville to Trinidad to Burlington including Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Salida, Canon City and Lamar.In addition, he will direct management on seven state parks and serve on the CPW statewide leadership team.
“I look forward to continuing CPW’s great legacy of excellence in the Southeast Region and will work hard to serve the citizens of this state and conserve natural resources so that Coloradans can always continue to live life outside,” Ackerman said.
Ackerman lives in Monument with his wife, Tara, and their five children.
LAKE GEORGE — Colorado Parks and Wildlife K9 Samson will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Samson’s vest is sponsored by Troy DeCoux and friends of Pflugerville, Texas and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Born to Love -Trained to Serve-Loyal Always”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, Mass. whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 3,400 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $5.7 million dollars.
The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
Samson, a Belgian Malinois, is certified with the National Police Canine Association for handler protection, fugitive apprehension and various wildlife species odor detection, is working hard to help protect Colorado’s natural resources and all of those who enjoy them. Samson’s handler, Ian Petkash, is the wildlife officer for the Lake George District.
For the fourth year, Arapahoe County will be participating in Colorado’s Bike to Work Day on Wednesday, June 26, celebrating riders at two locations. Registration for Bike to Work Day 2019 is free and encourages those who are looking to stay healthy while exploring Colorado’s trails and open spaces, de-stress and refresh in a fun and engaging way.
New and seasoned bike commuters can visit either of Arapahoe County’s water and breakfast stations from 6:30 – 9 a.m. Wednesday:
Both locations will feature Little Anita’s breakfast burritos, coffee, water and give-aways including a keepsake map of Arapahoe County Bikeways and a Mirrycle Incredibell Original Bicycle Bell promoting rider safety.
A record breaking 25,000 Coloradans are expected to ditch their cars and hit the trails for their morning commute in celebration of the event, organized by the Denver Regional Council of Governments.
Since 2003, Arapahoe County’s Open Spaces program has built or improved 67 miles of trails, funded more than 150 park and trailhead projects and conserved more than 31,000 acres of open spaces.
BOULDER — On October 3, 2018, cell phones across the United States received a text message labeled “Presidential Alert.” The message read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
It was the first trial run for a new national alert system, developed by several U.S. government agencies as a way to warn as many people across the United States as possible if a disaster was imminent.
The researchers, who have already reported their results to U.S. Government officials, say that the goal of their study is to work with relevant authorities to prevent such an attack in the future.
“We think this is something the public should be aware of to encourage cell carriers and standards bodies to correct this problem,” said Eric Wustrow, a co-author of the study and an assistant professor in ECEE. “In the meantime, people should probably still trust the emergency alerts they see on their phones.”
Wustrow said that he and colleagues Sangtae Ha and Dirk Grunwald decided to pursue the project, in part, because of a real-life event.
In January 2018, months before the first presidential alert test went out, millions of Hawaiians received a similar, but seemingly genuine, message on their phones: someone had launched a ballistic missile attack on the state.
It was, of course, a mistake, but that event made the CU Boulder team wonder: How secure are such emergency alerts?
The answer, at least for presidentially-authorized alerts, hinges on where you look.
“Sending the emergency alert from the government to the cell towers is reasonably secure,” said co-author Sangtae Ha, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science. “But there are huge vulnerabilities between the cell tower and the users.”
Ha explained that because the government wants presidential alerts to reach as many cell phones as possible, it takes a broad approach to broadcasting these alerts—sending messages through a distinct channel to every device in range of a cell tower.
He and his colleagues discovered that hackers could exploit that loophole by creating their own, black market cell towers. First, the team, working in a secured lab, developed software that could mimic the format of a presidential alert.
“We only need to broadcast that message into the right channel, and the smartphone will pick it up and display it,” Ha said.
And, he said, the team found that such messages could be sent out using commercially-available wireless transmitters with a high success rate—or roughly hitting 90 percent of phones in an area the size of CU Boulder’s Folsom Field, potentially sending malicious warnings to tens of thousands of people.
It’s a potentially major threat to public safety, said Grunwald, a professor in computer science.
“We think it is concerning, which is why we went through a responsible disclosure process with different government agencies and carriers,” he said.
The team has already come up with a few ways to thwart such an attack and are working with partners in industry and government to determine which mechanisms are most effective.
Other co-authors on the new study include CU Boulder graduate students and researchers Gyuhong Lee, Jihoon Lee, Jinsung Lee, Youngbin Im and Max Hollingsworth.
(June 19) – This morning, the members of the Joint Budget Committee heard the June quarterly budget forecasts which showed a strong economy in the state of Colorado, an increase in expected revenue, and high wage growth. While the state economy was projected to continue growing, the forecasts also showed uncertainty and potential negative impacts due to federal tax policy changes and the potential for tariffs and trade wars.
In response, members of the JBC released the following statements:
“I am encouraged by the strong budget forecasts presented this morning; however, we will need to address the challenges resulting from prolonged TABOR refunds which mean fewer opportunities to invest in healthcare, education, and transportation. I am hopeful that we will be able to continue to protect our state’s finances while delivering for hardworking Colorado families in the coming year,” said JBC Chair Sen. Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City.
“Originally, we were only expecting a TABOR refund for the current fiscal year, but due to tight labor market and rising wages, this new forecast shows a refund for the foreseeable future ,” said JBC Vice-Chair Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “We have a great opportunity to strengthen our state’s resources for hardworking individuals and families, especially in Southern Colorado. These increases can strengthen our state’s K-12 education, transportation and help lower the cost of healthcare, leaving a state for our kids to thrive in.”
“With more revenue predicted for the 2019-20 fiscal year, I believe that we will be able to build on the successes of this past legislative session and make much needed investments in our state’s education and transportation systems. As always, members of the JBC will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to balance competing priorities, make smart investments to address our state’s biggest financial needs, and prioritize fiscal responsibility,” said Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada.
“While this new forecast shows an increase in revenue, it also shows a slight economic slowdown on the horizon,” said Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “Uncertainty at the federal level from rising trade tensions with the Chinese and tariffs with Mexico is dragging down our economy, hurting our agricultural sector and creating uncertainty for businesses across the board. If this uncertainty continues at the federal level withthis administration, we will see a slowing rate of growth and less ability to invest in the key needs of our state.”
A full copy of the Legislative Council forecast can be found here. A copy of the Office of State Planning and Budgeting forecast can be found here.
DENVER — The Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) today released the June forecast showing stronger than expected revenue growth. Strong wage growth is driving continued consumer spending, sustaining our economic expansion. However, trade conflicts pose a risk to Colorado’s economy, as recently proposed escalations could result in higher prices for domestic consumers and fewer export markets for farmers and manufacturers.
“Colorado has one of the strongest economies in the country and we want every Coloradan to share in that success. By saving families money on education and health care, investing in priority areas and growing our reserves, we can set our state up for long-term prosperity and ensure that our economy works for all Coloradans,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Even though this forecast shows strong growth in revenue, Washington’s misguided tariffs and trade wars could negatively impact key Colorado industries like agriculture and manufacturing. We must continue to stand against policies that threaten our state’s economic growth.”
General Fund revenue is projected to grow 7.1 percent in FY 2018-19 and 4.7 percent in FY 2019-20. The General Fund revenue forecast for FY 2018-19 was revised up from the March forecast by $270.7 million, or 2.2 percent. The forecast for FY 2019-20 was increased by $114.4 million, or 0.9 percent. The General Fund reserve is projected to be $274.8 million above the required statutory reserve amount of 7.25 percent of appropriations in FY 2019-20.
FY 2018-19 cash fund revenue is projected to grow 6.0 percent from the prior fiscal year, while FY 2019-20 cash fund revenue is forecast to decrease by 1.9 percent. Forecasted cash fund revenue for FY 2018-19 is $11.4 million, or 0.5 percent, lower than March projections. Cash fund revenue collections for FY 2019-20 are $29.8 million, or 1.2 percent, lower than March projections.
Revenue subject to TABOR is projected to be above the Referendum C cap by $295.6 million in FY 2018-19 and $412.2 million in FY 2019-20. TABOR refunds totaling $39.8 million will be paid out in FY 2018-19. This amount includes the $18.5 million in excess of the Referendum C cap in FY 2017-18, plus a net $21.3 million remaining from the FY 2014-15 TABOR refund.
Denver, CO — FASTER* Colorado — an organization committed to making our school children as safe as possible— announces its latest training class for armed school staff members. The class will be held June 21, 22, and 23 and will be held in Adams County, CO. The training is organized in partnership with Independence Institute.
FASTER Colorado launched its first training class in 2017, and is currently in its third year of training. FASTER Colorado curriculum includes skills to stop an active killer, as well as tactical medical training to deal with related injuries such as gunshot wounds.
“Colorado law already allows K-12 school staff to carry a concealed firearm on campus, provided they are designated by their school board, or charter school board, as a school security officer. They are also required to obtain proper training,” said Laura Carno, Founder of FASTER Colorado. “Over 150 school staff in Colorado are already so designated. We provide them world-class training in stopping active killers and saving lives.”
The tuition is $1,000 per class member, and scholarships are available. FASTER Colorado is a project of Independence Institute. According to Amy Cooke, Independence Institute’s Executive VP, “We raise scholarship money, because we never want lack of training budget to keep any school personnel from having access to this lifesaving training. We are honored to partner with FASTER Colorado to help save the lives of Colorado’s school children.”
Members of the media may attend portions of the class, and conduct interviews with: FASTER Colorado Founder, Laura Carno, FASTER Colorado’s instructors (all active-duty law enforcement), and Evan Todd (Columbine survivor). At class time, there may be class attendees who are open to interviews. We ask that media not report the names, schools, or images of class attendees without that individual’s express consent.
For more information, please go to FasterColorado.com. For media questions, or to schedule an interview, please contact Laura Carno at either 719-492-0211. Details of the daily schedule and location will be provided to those media with interest in attending.
*Faculty/Administrator Safety Training and Emergency Response
ORCHARD, Colo. – As part of the annual Operation Dry Water campaign, Jackson Lake State Park and Colorado Parks and Wildlife will join in the nationally coordinated effort to educate boaters about the dangers of boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The mission of Operation Dry Water is to reduce the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities on the water.
Operation Dry Water weekend, July 5-7, is the national weekend of amplified recreational boater outreach, education and coordinated enforcement surrounding boating under the influence. Alcohol use continues to be the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths and a leading contributor in boating accidents. Jackson Lake State Park and Colorado Parks and Wildlife are reaching out to our community to encourage those who will be spending time on the water to engage in safe boating practices, which includes keeping alcohol off the boat for both operators and passengers.
“Recreational boating is an activity enjoyed by people and families nationwide. Our goal is to not only educate boaters on the dangers of drinking alcohol and boating, but also to remind them of other safe boating practices, such as enrolling in a boater education course and always wearing a life jacket,” said Jackson Lake Senior Ranger Luke Stucker. “Alcohol impairs judgment and reaction time on the water even more so than it does in a car because of the added stressors of sun, heat, wind, noise and the vibrations of the boat. Jackson Lake State Park and Colorado Parks and Wildlife want everyone to have a great summer on the water, and to do that boaters must remain sober and alert while underway.
As part of Operation Dry Water weekend recreational boating safety volunteers, in collaboration with law enforcement in every U.S. state and territory, will be out at marinas and on the water educating boaters about safe boating practices and removing impaired operators from our waterways.
Jackson Lake State Park and Colorado Parks and Wildlife are asking boaters to enjoy this boating season and help keep everyone safe by not drinking alcohol while on the water, or operating a boat after you have consumed alcohol. Use of both legal and illegal drugs also impairs judgment and reaction time and makes it dangerous to operate a boat. In 2018, 494 impaired operators were removed by law enforcement across the country during the Operation Dry Water three-day weekend.
Boaters can learn more about boating under the influence by visiting https://cpw.state.co.us/ or operationdrywater.org. Operation Dry Water is coordinated nationally by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.
As part of the largest interventional canine clinical trial ever conducted, veterinarians leading the Vaccine Against Canine Cancer Study seek to enroll 800 healthy, middle-aged pet dogs to evaluate the effectiveness of a new cancer prevention vaccine.
The clinical trials portion of the study is led by Colorado State University’s Dr. Douglas Thamm, director of clinical research at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
“As one of the top animal cancer centers in the world, CSU and our team is in an excellent position to lead this new clinical trial,” Thamm said. “We look forward to contributing to this groundbreaking research study.”
Stephanie Foster, who is from Highlands Ranch, decided to see if her dog, Fraser, would qualify for the study. After a physical exam, bloodwork, ultrasound and X-rays, Fraser was cleared for enrollment in the trial in mid-May and was among the first dogs to receive a vaccination at CSU.
“One year after I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my dog Maple, was diagnosed with lymphoma. She died nine months later,” Foster said. “I hate cancer and if there’s a chance that this vaccine will prevent cancer in Fraser and we can find a way to prevent cancer all together in dogs and maybe even people, that would be a dream come true.”
Study qualifications
Owners must live within 150 miles of one of the participating trial sites.
To qualify, dogs must:
Be between 6 and 10 years of age
Weigh at least 12 pounds (5 kilograms)
Have no history of previous cancer or autoimmune disease
Have no significant illnesses that could result in a life span fewer than five years
Not be on a current treatment with oral or injectable immunosuppressive medications
In addition, dogs must be among the following breeds: boxers, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and a variety of mixed-breed dogs. See the complete list of breeds, 45 in total, on our website.
Danielle Biggs, clinical trials technician, and Dr. Doug Thamm examine a dog at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at CSU. Photo: Bill Cotton/CSU Photography
Companion dogs that meet the screening criteria will be randomly chosen to receive either the vaccine or a placebo version on a routine schedule. Study participants will live at home and visit the study site for semiannual check-ups for five years.
Patients that receive the placebo vaccine are expected to develop cancer at normal rates. The trial will determine whether the vaccine can delay or prevent cancer development in the vaccinated group.
Any owner whose dog develops cancer during the trial, on either the test or control arm, will be given a hospital credit that can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of their cancer.
For decades, conventional wisdom has suggested that a universal, preventive cancer vaccine would not be possible because all cancers are unique. However, Stephen Johnston, a professor and director of the Center for Innovations in Medicine, part of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, and his team recently discovered a way to identify commonalities among cancerous tumors. Using that information, they developed what they believe is a potential one-size-fits-all cancer prevention vaccine.
The new vaccine, called a multivalent frameshift peptide vaccine, was effective in mice and has been shown to be safe for use in companion animals.
The road to clinical trial
After developing and testing the vaccine in the lab, Johnston needed to identify a veterinarian to move the vaccine into a clinical trial in dogs. He chose Thamm, a trusted colleague who has collaborated with him for more than a decade.
“When Stephen brought up the idea of a universal cancer preventative vaccine, I was skeptical,” Thamm said. “However, the data he has shared has convinced me that the vaccine is worth testing.”
The project is supported by a multiyear grant of $6.4 million from the Open Philanthropy Project, which granted the award to Johnston in 2018.
If successful, this trial would provide strong support for the concept of using vaccines to prevent cancer in its earliest stages and could eventually justify human clinical trials.
“This is a critical study in the evaluation of this vaccine,” Thamm said. “While effectiveness has been shown in the lab, moving immediately to a very large, expensive and time-consuming human study is a leap that is hard to justify. Testing this approach in dogs will serve as the perfect bridge to human studies. Additionally, if it is successful, we will have a new tool for cancer prevention in our pets, potentially decades before it is available for humans.”
The Arapahoe County Long Range Planning Committee is assessing how the County can best meet increasing demands on public safety and transportation infrastructure. At its June 17 meeting, the Committee will have in-depth discussions with County staff on current and future needs.
WHAT: Third meeting of the Arapahoe County Long Range Planning Committee – a citizen-based advisory task force guiding the Board of County Commissioners.
WHY: The committee is in the process of reviewing the fiscal situation of the county along with making recommendations on how to meet critical public safety issues, especially those posed by aging facilities at the Arapahoe County jail and court house. The committee is also reviewing transportation needs.
WHO: 25 residents, business leaders and nonprofit representatives from the county.
WHEN: 4 p.m. June 17, 2019
WHERE: CenterPoint Plaza, 14980 E. Alameda Drive, Aurora
fiscal responsibility,” said 
