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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Local News

  • Gov. Polis & CDHS Launch SEE ME Campaign to Battle Stigma of Behavioral Health Conditions

    Gov. Polis & CDHS Launch SEE ME Campaign to Battle Stigma of Behavioral Health Conditions

    DENVER– Gov. Jared Polis joined Michelle Barnes, executive director at the Department of Human Services, to launch the new SEE ME campaign, to address the stigma associated with getting mental health or substance use disorder support. The campaign is designed to complement the work of the Colorado Behavioral Health Task Force (BHTF) and provide an opportunity for all Coloradans to take action in support of behavioral health system reform.

    “This campaign is about ending the stigma for the one million Coloradans living with a behavioral health condition or substance abuse disorder,” said Governor Jared Polis. “This just one step toward reforming our behavioral health system, but a critical one. We want to ensure that Colorado is a state where anyone who needs services can get them without fear of judgement.”

    “We have an unprecedented opportunity to positively influence the future of the behavioral health system in Colorado,” shared CDHS Executive Director, Michelle Barnes. “Many Coloradans are touched by mental health conditions or addiction disorders either personally or by someone they know. But, they are not reaching out for help because of the stigma associated with mental health conditions and substance use. The SEE ME campaign gives a voice and face to those impacted and takes us one step closer to reducing stigma and shame.” 

    SEE ME Colorado will move Coloradans from awareness to action by engaging them through the following campaign components:

    • The 14-Day Challenge, which includes prompts ranging from engaging in the conversation about changing the behavioral health system, to new ways to pay it forward and see more than a diagnosis. 
    • The SEE ME pledge, which Coloradans can sign to acknowledge that they will ask for help and help those around them when needed. 
    • The virtual story wall, where Coloradans can submit their experiences with mental health conditions, addiction disorders and their experiences with Colorado’s behavioral health system.

    Gov. Polis was also joined by Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, Rick Garcia, Executive Director at the Department of Local Affairs, Stan Hilkey, Executive Director at the Department of Public Safety, and Dean Williams, Executive Director at the Department of Corrections. 

    Current State of Colorado’s Behavioral Health

    Colorado dedicates over one billion dollars annually to its behavioral health system yet it has among the highest suicide rates in the country. Many national rankings place Colorado in the bottom quarter of states when evaluating the quality of behavioral health and access to care. According to Governor Jared Polis, “Providing upstream care and services through community behavioral health promotes the health, well-being, and civil rights of our citizens and also ensures we are using state resources effectively.” 

    Please visit  https://seemecolorado.com/ to join the cause.

    ABOUT BHTF

    The Colorado BHTF was formed in the spring of 2019 at the request of Governor Polis. The task force is intended to shape the future of behavioral health services in Colorado. BHTF has been charged with creating a statewide blueprint to ensure that all Coloradans have access to timely, high-quality and affordable behavioral health services within their communities. 

    If you have questions, contact Madlynn Ruble, Deputy Director of Communications, by email at ; or by phone at 303-866-3411 (office).

    To learn more about the campaign or to take the challenge, visit the website. 

     

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  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife Starting Winter Big-Game Classification / Capture Flights in Southwest Colorado

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife Starting Winter Big-Game Classification / Capture Flights in Southwest Colorado

    MONTROSE, Colo. – As part of its ongoing work to monitor the health of the state’s big-game herds, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has started its winter classification and capture flights in southwest Colorado.
     
    CPW biologists use the flights to observe and record trends in deer and elk populations. Employing survey methods used for decades, biologists are flown by helicopter over areas where animals historically congregate during the winter months. Using a specialized “counting” technique, biologists record their observations of female, male and young animals. This allows biologists to understand the ratio of male-to-female animals following the hunting seasons, and ratios of young-to-female animals going into winter.
     
    “We use our classification data, harvest data and collar data to plug into our computer models and determine trends in the health of herds and make population estimates,” said Brad Banulis, a terrestrial biologist for CPW in Montrose.
     
    The classification data, population models and herd-management plans provide big-game managers with the information needed for setting license numbers for the next fall’s hunting seasons.
     

     

    People on the ground who sometimes see the helicopters will notice a change in the type of aircraft being used this year. In past years, CPW contracted with a company that flew a yellow helicopter – small with a large glass bubble. This year a larger, white helicopter is being used.
     
    Besides the classification flights, CPW also utilizes helicopters for long-term studies that are examining survival of deer and elk. For example, on the Uncompahgre Plateau west of Montrose, CPW has used helicopters to catch and place telemetry collars on deer since 1997. In the Gunnison area, similar captures have been used for deer and elk-survival studies occasionally over the years.
     
    The biggest project for the agency involves capturing and monitoring elk in the southern tier of the state where calf-to-cow ratios have been declining for the last decade. The purpose of the project, which started last spring, is to determine why survival of young elk is declining in southern Colorado. For this study, elk are being captured in the area west of Trinidad, on the Uncompahgre Plateau and in the Glenwood Springs-Carbondale area. Captures near Craig are also being done to act as a “control” in the study; elk in northern Colorado are doing very well.  
     
    Captures for the long-term elk research started last spring when about 100 cow elk were captured. Pregnant cows were fitted with telemetry collars. In the spring, technicians on the ground captured and collared newly born elk. In the next few weeks more young elk, about six months old, will be captured and collared.
     
    The telemetry collars are GPS equipped, so biologists can watch their computers to see how elk are moving and if any animals die. In case of a mortality, biologists go to the site, examine the animals, and attempt to determine cause of death. The study is scheduled to continue for six years.
     
    “This is a very big and important study. We expect that it will provide valuable data, but it will be at least a year before we’ll have relevant information,” Banulis said.
     
    To learn more about big-game management in Colorado, go to: https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/BigGame.aspx.

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  • Statement of Senate Cybersecurity Caucus Co-Chairs Gardner and Warner

    Statement of Senate Cybersecurity Caucus Co-Chairs Gardner and Warner

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA), the bipartisan co-chairs of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus, issued a statement after convening a classified briefing with Senators and Chris Krebs, Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), to discuss the growing threat posed by ransomware attacks:

     “The continued prevalence of ransomware should really capture our attention. It’s costly, devastatingly high-impact, growing, and, in most cases, easily preventable with basic responsible cybersecurity practices. 

     “Ransomware and its destructive cousin wiperware are designed to inflict fear and uncertainty, disrupt vital services, and sow distrust in public institutions. While often viewed as basic digital extortion, ransomware has had materially adverse impacts on markets, social services like education, water, and power, and on healthcare delivery, as we have seen in a number of states and municipalities across the United States.

     “We are glad our colleagues in the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus could join Director Krebs for this much-needed conversation about ways Congress and the federal government can better address this important issue.”

     

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  • Colorado’s Governor, Adjutant General to preside over Colorado State Capitol holiday tree lighting

    Colorado’s Governor, Adjutant General to preside over Colorado State Capitol holiday tree lighting

    By By Colorado National Guard Public Affairs

    CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Loh will preside over the State of Colorado Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony  at the north foyer of the State Capitol, Denver, Dec. 5, 2019, at 11:30 a.m.

    The State of Colorado’s Holiday tree tradition follows very closely with those ceremonies celebrated in all 50 states.  The 2019 Colorado tree is decorated in the states colors – red, white, blue and gold – which honors all those who serve under the Colorado state flag.

    The Governor’s Office and Capitol Complex Grounds Employees decorate the tree.The tree is a sub-alpine fir.  The Colorado State Forest Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, harvested it at 8,500 feet in northern Larimer County on State Trust Land as part of wildfire mitigation efforts.  A Colorado National Guard color guard and 101st Army Band will also participate in the ceremony. The ceremony is open to the public. The State Capitol is at 200 East Colfax, Denver, CO 80203.

    CONTACT: Staff Sergeant Joseph VonNida, 720-250-1058,

     

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  • Gov. Polis Appoints New Court of Appeals Judges

    Gov. Polis Appoints New Court of Appeals Judges

    DENVER — Gov. Polis today announced the appointments of David H. Yun, Sueanna P. Johnson, and Christina F. Gomez to the Colorado Court of Appeals. These vacancies are occasioned by the retirement of the Honorable Robert D. Hawthorne, Honorable Daniel M. Taubman, and Honorable John R. Webb.

    Yun is a Partner at Jaudon & Avery LLP, a position he has held since 2001. His practice consists of civil appeals and professional licensing matters. Previously, he was a Partner (2000-2001) and an Associate (1993-2001) with Long and Jaudon, P.C. Yun earned his B.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1989 and his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1993. 

    Johnson is a Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, a position she has held since 2017. Her practice consists of civil enforcement litigation in securities matters, appellate litigation, and general counsel work. Previously, she was an Assistant Attorney General (2004-2017); and a Law Clerk to Judge John Coughlin, Denver District Court (2003-2004). Johnson earned her B.A. from Colorado College in 1997 and her J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2003. 

    Gomez is a Partner at Holland & Hart LLP in Denver, a position she has held since 2012.  Her practice consists of appellate litigation as well as review of quasi-judicial orders from governmental bodies. Previously, she was an Associate with Holland & Hart (2004-2011). Gomez earned her B.A. from Millsaps College in 1996 and her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2002.

    Johnson’s appointment is effective February 13, 2020, Gomez’s appointment is effective February 25, 2020, and Yun’s appointment is effective February 29, 2020.

     

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  • CSU’s Ag Innovation Summit returns to campus, Dec. 5 and 6

    CSU’s Ag Innovation Summit returns to campus, Dec. 5 and 6

    The fourth annual Ag Innovation Summit returns to Colorado State University Dec. 5 and 6 at the Lory Student Center. Since its inaugural debut in 2015, the summit has brought together a diverse range of perspectives from higher education, industry and government to catalyze momentum and spark conversations about the future of agriculture. This year, the summit will focus on the theme, “Building the Innovation Mindset.”

    The event is ticketed, and registration can be found here.

    Innovation in Agriculture

    “This year, we wanted to broaden the conversation around innovation beyond strictly technology to include the science of organizations—how we can be innovative in building processes, teams and cultures for transformative results,” said Paula Mills, who organizes the annual summit. “One way innovation shows up this year is in diversity and inclusion, one of the core values of the college’s strategic plan. Incorporating a variety of perspectives in our decision-making is not only the right thing to do, but it makes good business sense.”

    This year, the event features two keynote speakers: Saswati Bora, head of food systems innovation for the World Economic Forum, and Robb Fraley, former executive vice president and chief technology officer for Monsanto Company.

    As the head of food systems innovation at the World Economic Forum, Bora leads a global initiative to leverage technology and innovations to address food systems challenges. In that capacity, she is also responsible for content development, partnership facilitation and program development on food systems transformation. Speaking at the summit on Thursday, Bora will address global forces—including macroeconomic, environmental, political, social, technological and financial—that are demanding a relentless focus on innovation in agriculture.

    Fraley, who speaks on Friday, led a team of agricultural scientists at Monsanto that were dedicated to developing seeds and solutions that help farmers around the world yield a more abundant, affordable, and sustainable food supply. His keynote will focus on the importance of disruptive thinking and technologies as it relates to a successful future for global agriculture.

    Additionally, a wealth of panels featuring a diverse range of people, perspectives and experiences fill out this year’s summit. Highlights include:

    • Polly Ruhland of the United Soybean Board, a CSU alumna, who will discuss the opportunity of using agriculture as a teaching tool to expose more kids to STEM;
    • Quentin Tyler, the associate dean and director for diversity, equity and inclusion at Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will join a panel on leveraging diversity as a catalyst for innovation;
    • Florian Schattenmann, vice president for research and development at Cargill, will join a leadership roundtable on the defining principles of perennial innovators;
    • Candace Laing, vice president of sustainability and stakeholder relations at Nutrien, will be featured on the final industry panel and will explore innovation for resilient food systems.

    Select female leaders from the summit program will reprise their roles as panelists at a networking event on Friday evening, where they’ll share wisdom from their leadership journey with students.

    Sesquicentennial Colloquium Series

    As Colorado State University celebrates its 150th anniversary, the 2019 Ag Innovation Summit is officially part of the university’s Sesquicentennial Colloquium Series. This will be the fourth installment in the series.

    For more on the summit visit the website.

  • ‘Perfect Storm’ for Holiday Travelers – Stay off the roads if you can. Plan for long delays if you can’t. 

    ‘Perfect Storm’ for Holiday Travelers – Stay off the roads if you can. Plan for long delays if you can’t. 

    DENVER (Nov. 25, 2019) – In many ways, it’s the perfect storm: Severe winter weather will bring a foot or more of snow to much of Colorado through Tuesday night, at the same time that nearly a million Thanksgiving travelers will begin to mix with folks commuting to and from work. 

    The National Weather Service warns that travel may become “impossible” across the I-25 urban corridor and north of I-70 across the Eastern Plains. 

    AAA urges Coloradans to avoid driving until the storm has passed. If you must drive, slow down, be cautious, and prepare for worst-case conditions. Before heading out, visit CoTrip.org for the latest road conditions.  

    Effects on Thanksgiving Travel
    Thanksgiving travelers headed to or through Denver International Airport through Tuesday evening should expect delays and cancellations. Check with your airline for travel advisories and potential itinerary changes. 

    Motorists should adjust their trips to avoid driving until the storm has passed. If you can’t wait out the entire storm, Thanksgiving travelers should at least stay off the roads during the Tuesday morning and evening commutes, when traffic will be at its worst. 

    Coloradans traveling Wednesday should plan for lengthy delays, as folks with earlier travel plans instead join them on the roads and at the airport on what was already the single busiest travel day of the period. 

    Other than anticipating a transfer of travel volume from Monday and Tuesday to Wednesday, AAA Colorado is not adjusting its holiday travel forecast at this time.

    Emergency Roadside Assistance
    AAA Colorado will be fully staffed with essential personnel, and our emergency roadside assistance fleet will be out in full force. High call volume, treacherous conditions, heavy traffic, and road closures will sharply increase response times. Moreover, emergency assistance vehicles are only able to rescue stranded motorists on open, maintained roads. If a roadway is closed by an authority, AAA vehicles cannot legally and will not traverse it to provide emergency roadside assistance.  AAA Colorado will be working in tandem with local governments and emergency personnel throughout the storm. Stranded motorists should follow local emergency guidance.  

    How to: Stay Safe
    Hazardous storms and inclement weather are a factor in half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. 

    If you can avoid driving, avoid driving – especially when it’s busy.

     

    • Stay in: If you don’t absolutely have to drive in wintry conditions, don’t drive. Appointments that can be re-scheduled for later in the day, should be.
    • Stagger start:  It almost goes without saying: The easiest way to both avoid traffic and creating traffic is to stay clear of the roads when everybody else is on them. If your employer offers staggered start times or work-from-home opportunities, look into those to avoid the morning rush. 
    • Early or later: A good rule of thumb is to plan to arrive to work much, much earlier or much, much later than you normally would. 

    Before You Head Out

     

    • Time: The only way to drive safely in snow and ice is to drive slowly. Budget extra time for your morning commute. Even if traffic jams are minimal, it will take you longer to get to work because you will need to move more slowly – so avoid creating extra stress by budgeting at least twice the commute time.
    • Parking brake: Avoid parking with your parking brake before and in cold, rainy or snowy weather. It can get frozen and may not disengage. For automatic transmissions, simply shift into park. For manual transmissions, shift into first gear when parking facing downhill or front-in and reverse when parking  facing uphill or back-in.
    • Wipers: Your wiper blades have been warning you for months that they’re not ready for winter by streaking, screeching, or bouncing around on the glass. New wiper blades are among the cheapest pieces of safety-critical equipment you can purchase for your vehicle. They take only a couple of minutes to swap out, and most auto parts stores will do that for you immediately after purchase. Make sure you’ve got wiper fluid that won’t freeze in winter, and plenty of it. After all, if you can’t see clearly, you can’t drive safely. 
    • Snow-covered car: If your car was parked outside during the storm, completely clear off all snow and ice before heading out. That means the windshield, your windshield wiper nozzles, the windows, the hood, the roof, the trunk, the mirrors and even the running boards. Everything. Why? When you start moving, that snow and ice will start moving with you. Once dislodged, it can seriously impair your ability to see – and even fly off and endanger other motorists . Why take the risk?
       
    • Gas: Keep your gas tank at least half full to prevent a gas line freeze-up and potential long-term issues with your fuel pump. You’ll be glad you have the extra gas in an emergency situation, to boot. 
    • Tires: If your low tire pressure warning light came on, fill up your tires to the level recommended by your manufacturer (in your owner’s manual or on your door jamb). This is the recommended level specifically for cold weather, so you’ll want to fill up before heading out and after your car has been sitting for a while. If you can’t fill your tires at home, stop to fill them off before your commute. This light comes on specifically to warn you that you might not have enough pressure for the road conditions, so don’t ignore it. If, once filled, your tires fail the quarter test for tread, it’s time for new tires. Avoid driving, especially in wintry conditions, until you have them.

     

    On the Road

     

    • Gradual start: You have the greatest traction just before the wheels spin. Gentle pressure on the accelerator pedal when starting from a stop is the best method for retaining traction and avoiding skids. If your wheels start to spin, let up on the accelerator until traction returns. Do not use cruise control. 
    • Go slow: No matter what type of vehicle you have or what type of tires you’re riding, it’s plainly unsafe to drive as quickly as you would in dry conditions. Normal following distances for dry pavement (three to four seconds) should be increased to eight to 10 seconds. Give yourself even more space (12-15 seconds or more) if you are new to winter driving.
    • Stay in your lane: On a four-lane highway, stay in the lane that has been cleared most recently. Avoid changing lanes because of potential control loss when driving over built-up snow between lanes. 
    • Steering: At speeds above 25mph, steering is the preferred way to avoid a crash – as less distance is required to steer around an object than to brake to a stop. In slick conditions, sudden braking can lead to a loss of control.
       
    • Know your environment: Shaded spots, bridges, overpasses, and intersections are where you’ll most likely find the slipperiest ice. Even if your commute was dry and manageable in parts, it is likely you will encounter ice along the way – so focus your attention as far ahead as possible and slow down as much as possible before driving over likely ice patches. 
    • Manage a skid: If you lose traction and begin to skid, stay calm to regain control of your vehicle. Always steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go. Do NOT slam on the brakes, which will make it harder to regain control. 
    • Put the phone away: Put your phone in the glovebox, or, if used for navigation, in a secure mount. Do not read or send text messages, place a call, check social media, browse the internet, or adjust your GPS directions while moving. Distracted driving is always dangerous driving, and doubly so when challenging conditions demand your absolute attention at all times. 

     

    About AAA Colorado
    More than 695,000 members strong, AAA Colorado is the state’s greatest advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 60 million members with travel, insurance, financial, and automotive-related services — as well as member-exclusive savings. A not-for-profit organization since its founding in 1923, AAA Colorado has been recognized as the number one Colorado company its size for its advocacy, community engagement, and corporate social responsibility efforts – and is a proud member of Points of Light’s “The Civic 50 Colorado,” recognizing the 50 most community-minded companies in the state. For more information, visit AAA.com.

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  • State government offices in Denver area will open late tomorrow

    State government offices in Denver area will open late tomorrow

    DENVER — State of Colorado government offices in Denver and surrounding suburban counties will open to the public at 10 a.m. due to extreme weather conditions. There will be a two-hour delay in scheduled start times for state employees to arrive to work safely. 

    State facilities essential to public health and safety will maintain regular operating schedules and “essential personnel” will maintain regular schedules. 

    The Colorado Judicial Branch posts its own information regarding closures and delays related to Colorado’s courthouses and probation offices. Visit www.courts.state.co.us for current information related to courts and probation. The Colorado General Assembly posts daily schedules at www.leg.colorado.gov.

    The state will monitor weather conditions throughout the evening into tomorrow to evaluate a potential closure.

     

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  • Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 Locomotive Embarks on ‘Great Race Across the Southwest’

    Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 Locomotive Embarks on ‘Great Race Across the Southwest’

    WHAT: Union Pacific’s iconic steam locomotive Big Boy No. 4014 is making a brief whistle-stop in Strasburg, providing rail fans an opportunity to interact with this rolling piece of history during its tour across the Southwest.

    WHEN & WHERE: Monday, Nov. 24, 2019, 10:15 a.m. MT at the Monroe St. crossing

    WHY IT’S IMPORTANT: Twenty-five Big Boys were built exclusively for Union Pacific, the first of which was delivered in 1941 to handle the steep terrain between Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Ogden, Utah. Of the eight still in existence, No. 4014 is the world’s only operating Big Boy and the only one still owned by Union Pacific. Following more than two and a half years of restoration, No. 4014 recently completed a tour of the upper Midwest and a trip to Ogden in May for Union Pacific’s 150thanniversary of the transcontinental railroad’s completion. The Big Boy and historic steam locomotive Living Legend No. 844 met nose-to-nose, recreating the iconic image taken May 10, 1869, when the last spike was tapped into place at Promontory Summit, creating America’s first transcontinental railroad.

    A comprehensive route map and tour schedule, including No. 4014’s GPS location tracking information is available at upsteam.com. Due to the dynamic nature of these operations, running times and scheduled stops are subject to change.

     

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  • Franktown man attacked by deer that was suspected to be hand-raised by people

    Franktown man attacked by deer that was suspected to be hand-raised by people

    FRANKTOWN, Colo. – A 56-year-old man was gored by a deer and received medical treatment at a hospital Wednesday evening. Wildlife officers suspect the aggressive deer was hand-raised by people.

    The man was released from the hospital Wednesday evening. The deer was dispatched by a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputy after responding to a 911 call from the homeowners. The deer had displayed aggressive behavior towards the officer. 

     

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