Category: Front Page

Run, drink, eat and support preserving trails in the County,  

 

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO—Aug. 23, 2023— Arapahoe County Open Spaces hosts 5K Trail Run presented by Les Schwab Tires, Thursday, Aug. 24 at Tagawa Gardens (7711 S. Parker Road) from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 

 

Lace up your sneaks for a timed 5K trail run beginning at Tagawa Gardens, running along the Cherry Creek Regional Trail and finishing back at Tagawa Gardens. Funds support trail maintenance and Arapahoe County Open Spaces. Includes dinner, craft beer or sports drink, and live music at the finish line. 

 

This event is for everyone, whether walking or running with a dog or stroller, enjoy the combination of paved and dirt trails along the Cherry Creek Regional Trail. Register online for $25 or $30 at the event.  

 

For tickets and more information visit: 5K Trail Run 

 

Who:     Arapahoe County Open Spaces 

 

What:   5K Trail Run presented by Les Schwab Tires 

 

When:  Thursday, Aug. 24, 5:30-7:30 P.M.  

 

Where: Tagawa Gardens (7711 S. Parker Road Centennial, CO 80016) 

 

When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the United States at the beginning of 2020, quarantine and social distancing regulations caused consumer behaviors to change dramatically. Many stores and restaurants were required to close down temporarily, and only able to reopen with limited capacity and increased safety regulations. Several other businesses that were deemed non-essential—such as beauty salons and barber shops—were unable to operate for an even longer period.

As a result, many Americans were able to save money during the pandemic. When stimulus checks and other financial relief began reaching bank accounts—from the first payment in March 2020 to the third round in March 2021—many households were able to improve their financial situations by increasing savings and paying down debt.

As businesses closed down during the pandemic, a large number of Americans also experienced financial difficulties due to layoffs and furloughs from their employers. However, to help ease financial burdens caused by the pandemic, state and federal governments offered additional types of financial relief, such as forbearance on several types of loans. For example, student loan forbearance has been extended for over 3 years, with payments to resume in October 2023. Delinquent student loan balances decreased dramatically, from more than 9% of student loan balances being transitioned into delinquency in Q4 2019—the final quarter before the COVID-19 virus was confirmed in the U.S.—to a low of just over 1% in Q1 2022.

Additionally, many auto lenders provided this same type of relief, permitting their borrowers to skip several monthly payments and make them up at the end of their loan. As a result, auto loans also saw a decrease in delinquency, from nearly 7% of loan balances in Q4 2019 to a low of less than 5% in Q4 2021.

Delinquencies on credit card balances and loans can quickly impact an individual’s credit score. Experian reports that 35% of a FICO credit score is calculated based on payment history. And as delinquencies on loans decreased, Americans saw large increases in their credit scores. Millennials benefitted the most, with an increase of 19 points between 2019 and 2022, but they were followed closely by Generation X with an increase of 18 points over the same time period. The Silent Generation—the generation with the highest average credit score—saw the lowest percentage change in credit scores with an increase of just 3 points.

Many COVID-19 regulations and relief options varied by state, leading to varied financial impacts around the country. Additionally, the virus—and its effects on public health—spread unevenly across the United States, sometimes contributing to prolonged restrictions in some areas more than others. While the average credit score in the West region of the U.S. increased by nearly 1.9%, the Northeast—once home to the early epicenter of COVID-19 in the U.S.—was slower to lift pandemic restrictions and experienced a slower economic recovery.

At the individual state level, Idaho, Alaska, Arizona, and Nevada led the nation with average credit score increases of 2.3%—an increase of 16 points. At the other end of the spectrum, North Dakota (+0.8%) and South Dakota (+1.0%) had the smallest credit score increases, but both had an average credit score of 727 in 2019, the highest credit scores at that time behind only Minnesota.

The data used in this analysis is from Experian and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. To determine the states with the biggest increase in credit scores during COVID, researchers at Upgraded Points calculated the percentage change in average credit score from full-year 2019 to September 2022. In the event of a tie, the state with the greater total change in average credit score during the same time period was ranked higher.

Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:

• Percentage change in average credit score (2019–2022): +1.7%
• Total change in average credit score (2019–2022): +12
• Average credit score in 2022: 730
• Average credit score in 2019: 718
• Average household debt-to-income ratio (2022): 1.954

For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

• Percentage change in average credit score (2019–2022): +1.6%
• Total change in average credit score (2019–2022): +11
• Average credit score in 2022: 714
• Average credit score in 2019: 703
• Average household debt-to-income ratio (2022): 1.558

For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, see States With the Biggest Increase in Credit Scores During COVID on Upgraded Points.

CPW officers prepare to relocate a bear

DENVER – Black bears in Colorado are entering hyperphagia and will spend up to 20 hours a day trying to search out and eat as much food as possible as they fatten up for winter. In the coming months, it is critical that people are vigilant and proactive in removing all attractants from outside homes and campsites in order to prevent conflicts and encounters with black bears. 

Twenty chicken sandwiches, 10 large orders of french fries, 10 soft drinks and 10 milkshakes is the approximate fast food order needed to total 20,000 calories. That is how many calories hyperphagia, an increase in feeding activity driven by biological need, drives a hungry black bear to consume every single day as they pack on the pounds to build up their fat reserves to survive the winter.

Over half of bear incident reports in 2022 occurred in the months of August, September and October. And as bears begin this annual quest to prepare for winter and hunt for food, Coloradans may see more bear activity in urban areas. 

Reported conflicts with bears most commonly result from attractants such as trash, bird seed, pet food, and barbecue grills. When bears become too comfortable around people, they can destroy property or even become a threat to human safety.

“Research shows that bears prefer natural sources of food. But they will seek out sources of human-provided food if it’s available which can become dangerous to humans,” said CPW Northwest Region Senior Wildlife Biologist Brad Banulis. “Preventing bears from relying on human food sources takes a community effort, and it’s important that we all take proactive steps to limit human food sources in order to avoid any possible conflicts with bears and bear-proof our homes.” 

A black bear’s natural diet consists of berries, fruits, nuts, plants and grasses that grow naturally in the foothills and forests. When natural sources of food become scarce, a bear’s drive to search for food can overcome its fear of humans.

Significant portions of Colorado experienced abundant rainfall throughout the spring and summer, leading to ample natural food production for bears in the form of acorns, berries and other forage. Despite this, bears will still be more active in the coming months as they search for much needed calories to survive the winter, pushing some to venture toward homes and campsites.

Become Bear Aware
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers a reminder that by taking some simple precautions, you can avoid human/wildlife conflicts and help to keep bears wild. 

CPW offers printable resources on our website and encourages you to share these materials and talk to your neighbors about being Bear Aware.

Bear-proofing your home:

• Keep garbage in a well-secured location. Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
• Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors: ammonia is effective.
• Keep garage doors closed. Do not leave pet food or stock feed outside.
• Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
• Bird feeders are a major source of bear/human conflicts. Attract birds naturally with flowers and water baths. Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
• Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, haze it by yelling at it, throwing things at it and making loud noises to scare it off.
• Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
• Clean the grill after each use, and clean up thoroughly after cookouts.
• If you have fruit trees, don’t allow the fruit to rot on the ground.
• Talk to your neighbors and kids about being Bear Aware.

Cars, traveling and campsites:

• Lock your doors when you’re away from home and at night.
• Keep the bottom-floor windows of your house closed when you’re not at home.
• Do not keep food in your vehicle; roll up windows and lock the doors of your vehicles.
• When car-camping, secure all food and coolers in a locked vehicle.
• Keep a clean camp, whether you’re in a campground or in the backcountry.
• When camping in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet or more from the campsite; don’t bring any food into your tent.
• Cook food well away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.

Protecting your chickens, bees, livestock:

• Keep chickens, bees and livestock in a fully covered enclosure, especially at night.
• Construct electric fencing when possible.
• Don’t store livestock feed outside.
• Keep enclosures clean to minimize animal odors.
• Hang rags soaked in ammonia and/or Pine-Sol around the enclosure as a scent deterrent.

CPW asks all residents and visitors to help save Colorado’s bears by being actively bear aware throughout the late summer and fall seasons. Bear conflicts and, unfortunately, bear euthanization is most often traced back to human behavior. It is all of our responsibility to help minimize risks to humans and bears alike by being mindful of our impacts.

For more information on bears in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us/bears. If you have questions or need to report bear problems, call your nearest CPW office.

A new study from SmartAsset ranks the 10 best places to retire in Colorado. The analysis considers four criteria, including tax burden, access to medical care and opportunity for recreation and social activity. Counties which ranked the best across these metrics were the counties that ranked highest in the study. According to the study, Arapahoe County ranked as one of the top places for retirees in Colorado.

For a closer look at the top 10 counties in Colorado, check out the table below:

More details on the study, including the methodology and interactive map, can be found here: [LINK]

Adequate shooting ranges and facilities are vital in ensuring sportspersons have the knowledge and skills to be safe and ethical during hunting season.

DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is offering grant funding to shooting range projects that make improvements at public and private shooting range facilities that allow hunter education classes, public sight-in days and youth and family involvement in the shooting sports. Projects must be between $500 and $5000 in value and matching funds must be provided. Deadline to apply is September 29, 2023 at 5 p.m.

The Shooting Range Small Grant Program provides matching funds to Colorado entities for the improvement and maintenance of Colorado shooting ranges. The grants available through this program reimburse project sponsors for up to 75% of approved expenses.

“Hunter education is vital to CPW’s mission to educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado’s natural resources,” said CPW Statewide Hunter Education Coordinator Jordan Likes. “Having publicly available shooting ranges and facilities helps to ensure hunters have the knowledge and skills to be safe and ethical during hunting season.”

Funding for the Shooting Range Small Grant Program is generated from the Hunting and Fishing license plate that provides dollars specifically set aside to increase recreational shooting opportunities.
 
Who can apply
Local government agencies, parks and recreation departments, private shooting ranges that allow use by hunter education classes and allow public sight-in days, shooting associations or any other shooting facility that is open to the public may apply for a small shooting range grant.  Commercial, for-profit ranges are not eligible. Please contact the CPW’s Hunter Education Office at 303-291-7470 if you have questions about eligibility. 

Applicants must match a Small Shooting Range Grant award with non-state cash or in-kind services like donated labor and/or supplies and equipment use. Grant activities must produce improvements at shooting ranges that are readily available for public use – some private use is allowed.  

Eligible project  
The Shooting Range Small Grant Program is designed to improve shooting ranges across Colorado. The following are general requirements of all projects:

• Proposed improvements are substantial in nature.
• Improves access and/or amenities at a shooting range that is available for public use.
• The public access to the shooting range resource is assured for hunter education classes and use by hunters for sight-in and practice.
• The project is determined to be a cost-effective investment.
• The grant funded activities will be maintained for the life of the project for shooting range purposes, which is normally considered to be 15 years, if major construction work is involved.
• The project will assist Colorado Parks and Wildlife in reaching its Strategic Plan goals of an increase in hunter recreation days and hunter satisfaction.

How to apply
Applications undergo a detailed review process by a review panel. Project sponsors may be contacted during this time for more information. Please follow the steps below in completing your application:

• Application is available here: 2023 Shooting Range Small Grant Application
• Contact your local CPW wildlife office at least three weeks prior to the application deadline to discuss the details of your proposed project. Call the Hunter Education Office at 303-291-7470 for more information.
• During this review period, applicants may be asked to explain, revise, or expand their application. Be sure to make any changes in a timely manner.
• Forward your completed application to the Hunter Education office by 5 p.m. on September 29, 2023.
• By Mail: Colorado Parks and Wildlife ATTN: Hunter Education to 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216
• By Email:

Projects will be ranked primarily in terms of new and/or improved shooting range opportunities for the greatest number of users. CPW plans to select approximately five to eight projects annually. Each project request should not be less than $500 or more than $5,000.  

Be sure to completely describe the project in the application, emphasizing how it benefits hunter education, hunter sight-in and practice, and youth participation in shooting sports. 

For additional information refer to CPW’s Shooting Range Small Grant FAQ page or contact Jordan Likes at .

Extension will ensure that no Veteran or survivor will miss out on a single day of backdated PACT Act benefits

Today, VA announced that Veterans and survivors who apply (or submit their intent to file) for PACT Act benefits by 11:59PM ET on Monday, August 14, 2023 will be eligible to have their benefits backdated to August 10, 2022 – the day that President Biden signed the PACT Act into law. This is an extension from the original deadline of August 9, 2023. We encourage all Veterans and their survivors to apply – or submit their intent to file – for PACT Act benefits now by visiting VA.gov/PACT. 

VA has made this decision out of an abundance of caution after experiencing technical difficulties with VA.gov/PACT in recent days. Specifically, due to extremely high demand, some Veterans who have sought to submit their intent to file for PACT Act benefits have received error messages while doing so. Despite these messages, VA has successfully logged every one of these intents to file – meaning that every Veteran or survivor who has received an error message while applying for PACT Act benefits can consider their intent to file complete. We are working to contact these individuals to confirm directly to them that their intent to file will be honored and their effective date protected. Most importantly, no Veteran or survivor will miss out on a single day of benefits due to this issue. 

VA has also resolved nearly all of the technical issues with VA.gov/PACT. As of 5:00pm, less than one tenth of one percent of attempts to submit an “intent to file” today (August 9) had resulted in an error message. This percentage is down from about 18% on August 8. Additionally, we have had a high volume of calls to VA call centers throughout this week, and we are working to decrease abnormally long call center wait times. We continue to work on these issues and will not rest until they are fully resolved. 

Throughout the past day, VA has sent out communications from all channels to reassure Veterans and survivors that they would not miss out on their earned benefits due to this issue. We put an emergency banner on the VA website to tell Veterans and survivors that their intents to file will be honored. We changed the intent to file error message to confirm that, despite the error message, the intent to file has been saved. Finally, we communicated with Veterans directly on social media, via email, and through coordination with Congressional leaders and Veterans Service Organizations. All of this messaging will be updated tonight (details below) to reflect the extended deadline for Veterans and survivors to apply for benefits backdated to August 10, 2022. 

We at VA will continue to encourage Veterans and their survivors to immediately file their PACT Act claims — or submit their intents to file — at VA.gov/PACT. With the extended deadline, Veterans and survivors who do so by 11:59PM ET on Monday, August 14, 2023 may receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022. 

Updated website banner: 

PACT Act backdated benefits deadline extended!

You now have until 11:59PM ET on Monday, August 14, 2023 to file your PACT Act claim—or submit your intent to file—and be eligible for benefits backdated to August 10, 2022. Take advantage of this extension and file now!

Due to high volume, some Veterans have received error messages when submitting their intent to file PACT Act claims. If you received one of these messages, don’t worry! We have logged your intent to file and saved your effective date for benefits.

File a disability claim online

Submit your intent to file

Updated Error Message

Due to the high volume of submissions we are receiving, you can’t continue with this claim form at this time – but we have received your intent to file and saved your effective date for benefits.

Here’s what this means for you:
• You have 1 year from today to complete your claim.
• If we determine that you’re eligible for disability compensation, we’ll use today to determine the effective date of your benefits.
• If you’re filing a claim based on the PACT Act, you may still be eligible to receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022.

Note: If you come back to this form in the next few days and continue to get this message, don’t worry. Your intent to file date is set for today.

Legal background for this extension: 

Under the authority in 38 C.F.R. 3.1(r), the Under Secretary for Benefits may extend a deadline such as this “when he or she determines that a natural or man-made interference with the normal channels through which the Veterans Benefits Administration ordinarily receives correspondence has resulted in one or more Veterans Benefits Administration offices experiencing extended delays in receipt of claims, information, or evidence from claimants served by the affected office or offices to an extent that, if not addressed, would adversely affect such claimants through no fault of their own.” In the coming days, VA will submit a federal register notice to codify this extension.

Colorado Springs —­­ As part of “The Mountain Rules” truck driver education series, the Colorado Department of Transportation is releasing three new videos aimed at educating and preparing truck drivers — especially those from out of state — for the unique challenges they face on Colorado’s mountain highways. 

The videos are specifically focused on safe winter driving, navigating construction work zones, and handling hot brakes.

“We know that our state’s terrain and unpredictable weather conditions create immense challenges for semitruck drivers,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “We’ve created this series as a way to equip truck drivers with the necessary knowledge and awareness to safely and confidently navigate our highways, especially in the high country.”

“The Mountain Rules” series was developed by CDOT, in partnership with the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Motor Carriers Association in 2019. All videos in the series emphasize the importance of being prepared for the specific obstacles truck drivers face when traveling through the state. 

While local truckers may be familiar with Colorado’s highways, those from out of state often are new to the intricacies of navigating winter driving conditions along steep mountain corridors, understanding chain and traction laws, managing hot brakes, and adhering to Colorado’s Move Over law. Each topic has its own dedicated, 10-minute video as part of the overall series to help prepare drivers.

“Traveling along the I-70 corridor includes sharp curves, seven and eight percent grades, not to mention congested peak travel times accompanied by quickly changing weather conditions,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Colorado relies on your presence and services, and this video series will help prepare you for the common conditions on I-70. Safety should never take a back seat – prepare yourself before the trip.” 

CDOT and its partners encourage all truck drivers to educate themselves and view the videos, which can be found on CDOT’s YouTube channel and at freight.COtrip.org. The Mountain Rules videos also are distributed to truck driving schools, trucking companies, and other trucking-related entities. 

“The steep downgrades, winding roadways, and fast changing weather conditions, make for a challenging drive, for even the most experienced truck driver,” said the CMCA President Greg Fulton. “The Mountain Rules program and videos provide a great educational tool for truck drivers, especially those unfamiliar with Colorado’s mountains. It helps them to understand how to navigate our mountainous roadways in a safe manner.  We believe this tool and other strategies by our state and local partners will make mountainous corridors like I-70 safer and reduce delays and closures.”

The Northern Colorado Brew Fest (NoCo) isn’t your average backyard barbecue. When you sign up for the event, you’ll get to sample beer from countless different breweries across Colorado. You receive a two-ounce glass when you first walk in. Then, you’re free to explore.
Event Dates & Times: August 12th, 2023
 
Bring a group of friends and hang out at the Island Grove Regional Park, 501 N. 14th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631, on August 12th, 2023. The pouring hours are 3-8 on Saturday August 12th with VIP starting an hour early at 2pm.
 
This is a 21+ event and all the beer is unlimited 2oz tasters from 3PM – 8PM. VIP tickets can be purchased for an additional cost and get you in an hour before at 2PM so you have first dibs at samples and swag from breweries. No brew fest would be complete without yard games, food trucks, and live music.
 
Admission: General Admission is $50, VIP Admission is $60. Ticket cost includes a taster glass. VIP Ticket Cost includes a swag bag this year (Drawstring bag, sunglasses, drink lanyard, bottle opener, sticker, and koozie).
 
Ticket sales go towards a scholarship for Firefighters and EMTS through the nonprofit Thunder Mountain Wind & Fire Chapter 81. There are currently 24 breweries or distilleries signed up for this years event.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/noco-brew-fest-2023-tickets-598435194777
 
Web: www.nocobrewfest.com