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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Front Page

  • Colorado state park summer safety tips for Memorial Day weekend

    Colorado state park summer safety tips for Memorial Day weekend

    Picture: Sylvan Lake State Park

    DENVER – As people gear up for an outdoor adventure this holiday weekend, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds our local outdoor community of a few safety tips to help support a positive outdoor experience.

    With increased visitation to outdoor spaces throughout the state, spending time outside remains a popular pastime in Colorado. Nature belongs to all of us, and the need to balance outdoor recreation with conservation never takes a holiday.

    Know Before You Go
    Be aware of weather conditions, water temperatures and trail closures where you plan to visit. In Colorado, even late spring can bring snowstorms, strong winds and extremely cold water temperatures.

    • Camping reservations are required at Colorado state parks.
    • Use the CPW Park Finder to learn about what activities are available at each state park.
    • COTREX provides additional outdoor opportunities in surrounding areas if your desired trailhead or park is crowded or closed.
    • On a holiday weekend, expect lines and potential gate closures. Have a backup plan and be kind – CPW staff is working hard to provide a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for all.

    Life Jackets Save Lives
    As boat ramps open and warmer temperatures entice people to recreate on the water, Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges people to wear a life jacket and boat responsibly.

    Be Careful with Fire
    Know any restrictions or bans before you go. Colorado’s low humidity has perks but can create dry, dangerous conditions. Keep campfires small and manageable to avoid sparking wildfires.

    • Dry conditions frequently impact what type of fires are allowed, and they may be completely restricted in some areas. The websitewww.coemergency.com provides up-to-date information on county fire restrictions and bans.
    • When putting out a fire, water it until you can handle the embers.
    • Never let a fire burn unattended or put hot coals in a dumpster.
    • Buying locally-sourced firewood can help prevent invasive critters from crossing state lines.

    Keep Wildlife Wild
    Colorado is home to 960 species of wildlife. To keep them — and you — safe, don’t feed or approach them.

    Together, we can live life outside and all do our part to care for Colorado and keep our landscapes healthy for future generations. Learn more about Colorado state parks and outdoor activities, visit https://cpw.state.co.us/.

      
  • After an exhaustive search for a missing party, Cherry Creek State Park will re-open to boating Friday

    After an exhaustive search for a missing party, Cherry Creek State Park will re-open to boating Friday

    AURORA, Colo. – The recovery operation in the search for the missing 29-year-old male victim in the reservoir at Cherry Creek State Park continues. The reservoir will re-open to boating on Friday at 6 a.m.

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife, South Metro Fire Rescue, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and volunteers from Tightline Outdoors participated in the five-day recovery operation while the reservoir was closed. They utilized specialized underwater equipment, drones and personnel to search and support Cherry Creek State Park.

    During the six-day closure everyone involved maximized technology and personal resources to the fullest. The reservoir bottom has been thoroughly searched with specialized equipment to the extent they were designed for. CPW will continue searching difficult areas with an underwater drone that is not impacted by lake traffic and will continue to search shorelines and utilize equipment on daily patrols.

    Now that the specialized equipment has been provided a search environment without boaters and has been maximized to the fullest extent, CPW will re-open the lake. CPW will maintain an investigation into all possibilities regarding the report of the missing victim.

    CPW sincerely thanks all participants for their dedication and continued time with the search. The goal has been and will continue to be to bring closure for all impacted by this tragic event.

    If you have any information regarding this incident please contact CPW’s Denver office at 303-291-7227.

    Stay up to date on the latest in the search and the status of the reservoir as it pertains to boating by following CPW’s Northeast Region Twitter account,@CPW_NE.

  • Air Quality Health Advisory for Fine Particulates

    Issued for the eastern plains of Colorado
    Issued Wednesday May 11, 2022
    Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

    Affected Area: Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Morgan, Washington, Yuma, Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Pueblo, Crowley, Otero, Kiowa, Bent, Prowers, Las Animas, Baca, and eastern portions of Weld, Adams, Arapahoe, El Paso, and Huerfano counties. Locations include, but are not limited to, Sterling, Julesburg, Holyoke, Fort Morgan, Akron, Wray, Kiowa, Hugo, Burlington, Cheyenne Wells, Pueblo, Ordway, La Junta, Eads, Las Animas, Lamar, Trinidad, Springfield, and Walsenburg.

    Advisory in Effect: 9:00 AM MST, Wednesday, May 11, 2022 to 9:00 PM MST, Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

    Public Health Recommendations: If significant concentrations of fine particulates are present and reducing visibility to less than 10 miles across a wide area, People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children in the affected area should reduce prolonged or heavy indoor and outdoor exertion.

    Outlook: Strong and gusty winds will produce areas of blowing dust on Wednesday. Areas of blowing dust will persist throughout the region during the late morning and afternoon hours. The threat for blowing dust will gradually diminish across the advisory area Wednesday evening. Additionally, smoke from out-of-state wildfires will be transported into the advisory area throughout the day on Wednesday.

    For the latest Colorado statewide air quality conditions, forecasts, and advisories, visit:

    http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

    Social Media:

    http://www.facebook.com/cdphe.apcd http://twitter.com/#!/cdpheapcd

  • Shred-A-Thon

    SATURDAY, May 14

    Shred-A-Thon hosted by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office at Dove Valley canceled.

  • Jury convicts man of manslaughter for fentanyl overdose death of 16 year old girl

    Jury convicts man of manslaughter for fentanyl overdose death of 16 year old girl

    On May 3, 2022, an Arapahoe County jury found Jorge Alexander Che-Quiab (26) guilty of manslaughter and other charges for his role in distributing fentanyl to a 16-year-old victim who ultimately died of an overdose.

    On August 7, 2020, officers with the Aurora Police Department responded to Che-Quiab’s home on a report of a possible overdose of a young female. A subsequent investigation revealed that Che-Quiab and another adult male supplied alcohol, marijuana, and fentanyl to a group of underage girls during a social gathering at Che-Quiab’s home. Che-Quiab admitted to police that one of the girls appeared to be suffering from symptoms of overdose, but decided to go to sleep rather than seek medical attention on her behalf.

    The following morning, others awoke and noticed that the girl was not breathing and called 911. Che-Quiab admitted that he used the time before paramedics arrived to flush some of the remaining drugs down the toilet. Tragically, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

    Investigators later learned that during the same gathering Che-Quiab sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl to whom he had also supplied a large quantity of alcohol. A search of Che-Quiab’s apartment yielded approximately 300 pills containing fentanyl, disguised as blue “M-30” Oxycodone pills, in addition to several bricks of Heroin. The total street value of the recovered narcotics was in excess of $20,000.

    Che-Quiab was charged with first degree murder (extreme indifference), felony murder, two counts of distribution of a controlled substance to a minor, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, sexual assault of a child, enticement of a child, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, sexual assault (victim under 15), and attempted sexual assault.

    Che-Quiab pleaded not guilty to the charges, and a jury trial commenced on April 25, 2022. Following the six-day trial, the jury returned guilty verdicts on charges of manslaughter, two counts of distribution of a controlled substance to a minor, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, sexual assault of a child, and sexual assault (victim under 15).

    “This defendant used alcohol and extremely dangerous drugs to manipulate these girls for his own selfish purposes,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Gallo, who tried the case with Chief Deputy Darcy Kofol.  “When it became clear one of them needed immediate medical care, he callously chose to do nothing.”

    A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 21, 2022 at 3:00 pm. Che-Quiab faces a term of imprisonment of eight to 116 years to life.

    “This is yet another tragic case underscoring the danger that fentanyl and other synthetic opioids pose,” District Attorney John Kellner said.  “My office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who distribute these poisons in our community.”

    The Honorable Judge Darren Vahle presided over the trial.

  • Take a Friend Fishing and reel in great prizes!

    Take a Friend Fishing and reel in great prizes!

    Mentor Gregory Geiger and mentee Roy Romero, winners of the 2021 Take a Friend Fishing contest, show off Roy’s first catch ever!

    DENVER – For the fourth consecutive year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and our partner Colorado fishing companies are encouraging anglers to take a friend fishing. As a reward for sharing your expertise and love of fishing, we’ve created a contest for mentors who take the time to pass on their knowledge. We are now offering prizes for the mentor as well as the mentee!

    “Fishing is something a person can enjoy their entire life. When you teach someone how to fish, you can literally change their life forever,” said CPW Angler Outreach Coordinator Andre Egli. “We’ve received some truly inspiring stories about fishing in Colorado over the past few years. I’m excited to see what kind of photos and stories our anglers will send in this year.” 

    Mentors, take a beginner angler out or mentees encourage an experienced angler to teach you how to fish and enter to win some great prizes by submitting a photograph and brief story of your time on the water. Submissions will be judged by their ability to inspire. 

    Winners will be selected at three different times throughout the year (July, October and February). Both the mentor as well as the mentee will receive a prize. All prizes retail between $300 – $900!

    Prizes include:

    • six-hour guided boat fishing trip for two provided by Northern Colorado Fishing Outfitters – $475
    • Full-day guided fly fishing trip for two on the Platte River near Denver provided by Trouts Fly Fishing – $550
    • Cooler package: Soft-sided YETI cooler and 60-quart polar cap cooler from Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – $600
    • Full beginner fly fishing set up (rod/reel combo, tippet, leaders, tools, and fly box with 60 flies) from Ascent Fly Fishing – $400
    • Full beginner spin-casting set up (rod/reel combo, net, and tackle box with over $300 worth of gear and lures) – $400
    • Full ice fishing set-ups including; sled, auger, rods/reels, and pop-up shelter – $600
    • Premium fly fishing set-up: Orvis rods with Ross Reels – $900
    • Tenkara rods from Zen Tenkara – $300
    • Belly boat with accessories (fins & pump) – $300

    Each winner will also receive a year subscription to Colorado Outdoors Magazine.

    • Mentor and mentee must be at least 21 years of age.
    • Mentees must meet one of these criteria:
    • Never had a fishing license until 2022
    • Only had a fishing license in 2021 (e.g., a second-year angler)
    • Not had a fishing license in the past five consecutive years (i.e., since 2017)
    • Contest participants must follow all applicable Colorado fishing regulations.
    • Mentor must have had a Colorado fishing license before the start of the contest.

    To learn more, see the official rules and find out more about how to Take a Friend Fishing in 2022. 

  • AAA’s Best Cars for 2022: Drivers prioritize fuel economy, safety.

    DENVER (May 5, 2022) – Shoppers for new vehicles primarily want two things in their next ride: Better fuel efficiency, and more driver assistance safety features.

    That’s the takeaway from AAA research out today that found nearly 80% of all drivers want automakers to focus on improving fuel economy, while 76% want advanced safety tech such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control.

    In its review of 62 new vehicles for the 2022 AAA Car Guide, AAA found that drivers’ wants and needs are best met by the newest batch of EVs (electric vehicles), which are at once often the most technologically cutting-edge and the most fuel-efficient.

    In 2021, domestic electric vehicle sales rose to nearly 477,000, representing just 3.3% of total vehicle sales – but a whopping 81.5% increase over 2020. Many of the world’s major automakers have announced plans to dramatically increase electric vehicle production or phase out gasoline-powered vehicles entirely by 2035. 

    “EV sales, while small, are growing – and the signs are everywhere that the future is electric,” said Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for AAA. “That future may arrive even faster, given consumer concerns about the environment, the political impacts of fossil fuel reliance, high gas prices, and the gradual phasing-out of gasoline-powered vehicles altogether.”

    AAA’s Best Cars for 2022
    Amid a dynamic car-buying environment, AAA today released its 2022 AAA Car Guide , an online resource for consumers looking to purchase a new vehicle. Of the 62 vehicles reviewed for this year’s edition, six are electric.

    Notably, all category winners for 2022 are either electric, plug-in electric hybrid, or hybrid vehicles. In addition to being highly fuel-efficient, the winners are also loaded with the latest in advanced driver assistance systems. 

    The AAA Car Guide includes comprehensive reviews of each vehicle based on 12 criteria, including:

    • Number of ADAS safety features
    • Fuel efficiency
    • Emissions
    • Braking and handling
    • Ride quality
    • Acceleration

    The overall winner is the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD. AAA researchers gave special praise to the vehicle for its dramatic new profile, its power, and for being quiet, quick, roomy, and fun to drive. 

    Best Overall: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD (electric)
    Best Small Car: 2021 BWM 330e (plug-in hybrid)
    Best Midsize Car: 2021 BMW 530e (plug-in hybrid)
    Best Large Car: 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580 4MATIC Sedan (hybrid)
    Best Pickup: 2021 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew Hybrid 4×4
    Best SUV/Minivan: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD (electric)
    Best Under $35K: 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited
    Best $35K – $50K: 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 1st Edition (electric)
    Best Over $50K – 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD (electric)

    For those in the market for newer used vehicles, the online AAA Car Guidealso contains links to the two prior editions for 2021 and 2020. Winners, detailed evaluation criteria, vehicle reviews, and an in-depth analysis of ADAS technology can be found at AAA.com/CarGuide. 

    Industry analysts forecast that the COVID-19 pandemic, the semi-conductor chip shortage, and the proliferation of EVs will affect the availability, types, and prices of new and used cars in 2022. 

    Drivers can use the free AAA Mobile app to find EV charging stations or compare fuel prices in their area.  

    About AAA – The Auto Club Group
    The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America with more than 13 million members across 14 U.S. states, the province of Quebec and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 62 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

  • States With the Most Job Openings

    As the U.S. continues to navigate the lasting ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, key economic indicators are sending mixed messages about where the economy stands today.

    On the positive side, GDP increased by 6.9% in the last three months of 2021, and consumer spending started off strong in 2022. Simultaneously, year-over-year inflation is at record levels according to the Consumer Price Index, and the U.S. Federal Reserve is raising interest rates to slow the economy. Many supply chain issues from 2021 have extended into 2022, with new COVID outbreaks in China, the war in Ukraine, and high energy prices creating additional challenges.

    The labor market provides another set of unclear signals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in April 2022 that the unemployment rate had fallen to 3.6%, around where it was in February 2020 before the pandemic hit the U.S. The “Great Resignation” has record numbers of workers leaving jobs to seek out positions that pay more or provide better working conditions. But workers have more power in the economy in large part because the labor force participation rate remains below pre-pandemic levels, which means fewer people are available for all the jobs that are currently open.


    Additional BLS data confirms the gap between open positions and hires. After falling to 3.5% amid COVID shutdowns in April 2020, the rate of job openings has doubled to 7% over the last two years. While the rate of hiring has been above 4%—higher than typical levels historically—every month since May 2020, this figure has not been sufficient to keep up with the explosion of open positions. And employers face even more challenges with the quit rate at around 3%, meaning that they are struggling to retain employees in addition to hiring new ones.


    But as with many aspects of the current economy, the overall statistics do not tell the full story, and the hiring outlook depends heavily on industry. Many of the sectors with the highest job openings rates have been the most challenging to work in during the pandemic. Leisure and hospitality businesses, whose workers face low wages and greater volatility in their working conditions due to the effects of COVID, have a job openings rate of 10.57%. The health care and social assistance industry, whose workers have been on the front lines of the pandemic, has a job openings rate of 8.73%. In comparison, the total nonfarm rate is 6.97%, and in fields like construction and real estate, the rate is below 5.00%.


    The rate of openings is also dependent on geography. At the high end, Alaska (9.00%) and Hawaii (8.60%) have the highest job openings rates, which may in part be due to the difficulty of recruiting labor to their more remote locations. In contrast, states with rapid economic growth like Washington (6.13%) and Texas (6.47%) or with denser populations like New York (6.17%) and Connecticut (6.20%) have lower rates of openings.

    The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). To determine the states with the most job openings, researchers at Commodity.com calculated the average job openings rate for the fourth quarter of 2021, the most recent quarter available. In the event of a tie, the state with the greater total number of job openings was ranked higher. Researchers also included statistics on hiring rates, total hires, and total employment.

    The analysis found that the average job openings rate in Colorado in the fourth quarter of 2021 was 7.43%, with an average of 222,333 openings per month. Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:

    • Average job openings rate: 7.43%
    • Average hire rate: 4.63%
    • Average monthly job openings: 222,333
    • Average monthly hires: 128,667
    • Average monthly employment: 2,776,978

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

    • Average job openings rate: 6.97%
    • Average hire rate: 4.40%
    • Average monthly job openings: 11,154,667
    • Average monthly hires: 6,538,333
    • Average monthly employment: 148,598,485

    For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Commodity.com’s website: https://commodity.com/blog/job-openings/

  • Seventeen Names to be Added to Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial (CLEM)

    WHAT: Each year, members of Colorado’s law enforcement community gather to honor those law enforcement officers who gave their lives at the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial (CLEM) ceremony.

     

    WHERE: Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial, 15055 S. Golden Road, Golden, CO 80401

     

    WHEN: Friday, May 6, 2022

                10 a.m. start time (please arrive early to set up)

     

    BACKGROUND: The names of nine Colorado law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021, along with the addition of the names of eight historical Colorado line-of-duty deaths will be formally added to the state’s memorial. With the addition of these seventeen names, there are now 342 officers’ names engraved on the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial.

     

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

    1) Eric H. Talley / Boulder Police Department / March 22, 2021

    2) James A. Herrera / Denver Sheriff’s Department / May 16, 2021

    3) Daniel J. Trujillo / Denver Sheriff’s Department / May 26, 2021

    4) Gordan Beesley / Arvada Police Department / June 21, 2021

    5) Eric J. Scherr / Aurora Police Department / August 30, 2021

    6) Ty A. Powell / Windsor Police Department / October 13, 2021

    7) Clay Z. Livingston / Elbert County Sheriff’s Office / December 3, 2021

    8) Joseph A. Pollack / Douglas County Sheriff’s Office / December 9, 2021

    9) Wayne S. Weyler / Mesa County Sheriff’s Office / December 10, 2021

    Past line-of-duty deaths also being honored:

    10) James C. Richey / Denver Marshal’s Office / February 4, 1862

    11) Charles Wilcox / Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office / September 19, 1899

    12) Rafael Pena / Antonito Marshal’s Office / August 7, 1908

    13) Andrew Sandberg / Denver Police Department / October 31, 1911

    14) Frank S. Potestio / Denver Police Department / November 22, 1918

    15) Peter A. Walsh / Denver Police Department / November 23, 1918

    16) Eduardo Dominguez / Conejos County Sheriff’s Office / April 10, 1940

    17) Robert E. Sandoval / Denver Police Department / October 29, 2020

  • Real Property Appeal Begins May 2 through June 1

    There are several options to appeal your valuation for tax year 2022.

    Appeals for all property types may be filed via mail, fax or save postage and utilize our 4 conveniently located, secured drop boxes. View drop box locations.

    To enhance your experience, we are offering phone appointments with appraisal staff responsible for your area. You may request a phone appointment by emailing or by calling our office at 303-795-4600.

    Walk-in services are available, appointments are strongly encouraged to avoid waiting in line by calling our office at 303-795-4600. Often, same day appointments are offered. Building hours are 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

    Telephone hours of service: 303-795-4600; Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

    Residential property owners also have the option to file an appeal using our dedicated online appeal form.

    Senior Citizen and Veteran Property Tax Exemption

    Forms are now available. The applications must be filed before their deadlines in July. Learn about eligibility requirements and apply.

    Locations and Hours

    The Assessor’s staff is available by phone, email and fax. For in-person services, walk-ins welcome, but appointments recommended. View office hours and drop box locations

    Arapahoe County Assessor

    PK Kaiser is the Arapahoe County Assessor, he was elected by voters in November 2018. The Assessor’s Office is dedicated to providing accurate information to the citizens of Arapahoe County in an efficient and accommodating manner. Learn more about PK Kaiser.

    Resources for Citizens

    Data Transparency

    Data transparency is of the upmost importance to our office. We want to assure our residents that data being reported are accurate and are coming from the official source.

    • Interactive Assessment Transparency Tool 2021: In collaboration with our GIS department, the Assessor’s Office has an interactive map demonstrating value changes from the 2019 to 2021 general reassessment for residential parcels. This tool allows searches to reveal values, links to parcel information, demonstrates average value within the field of view and also overlays sales within the relevant time period.
    • Maps and GIS Uploads/Downloads: View more maps, data tools, and GIS/FTP information.

    Our Services

    Adobe Acrobat is required to read the forms available on this site. Download Adobe Acrobat.

    FAQs

    1. How is the value determined on my property?
    2. How often is property revalued?
    3. What is the difference between actual value and assessed value?
    4. How are property taxes calculated?
    5. Why don’t all properties increase or decrease by the same percentage?