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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Local News

  • ArapCo seeks applicants for Citizen Redistricting Advisory Committee

    LITTLETON — Arapahoe County will redraw boundaries for county commissioner districts in 2023.

    To assist with the process, the county is seeking residents to serve on a Citizen Redistricting Advisory Committee that will help solicit public input and feedback and help draw proposed at least three draft district maps for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners. The process will last 10 months, from December 2022 to September 2023.

    Serving on a county committee can be a rewarding process. Applicants should be aware that committee members are expected to hold themselves to a high standard of privacy.

    Time commitments and a complete list of requirements are below. To apply, visit arapahoegov.com.

    Background

    Under state law, boundaries for county commissioner districts must be redrawn every 10 years based on the most recent U.S. Census. Because of a nationwide delay in states receiving the 2020 data, the Colorado State Legislature delayed the process for counties until 2023 to allow time to analyze it and prepare to redistrict. The new districts will be in effect for the 2024 election.

    Nine members are required for the committee: Three Democrats, three Republicans and three unaffiliated voters. Their voter registration must not have changed since the 2020 General Election, and all committee members must be Arapahoe County residents.

    Applicants will be interviewed by the Board of County Commissioners and selected based on:

    • party affiliation;

    • civic interest;

    • willingness to listen to, respect and understand diverse viewpoints;

    • experience working with others to reach outcomes or decisions;

    • commitment to a fair and equitable process;

    • geographic and demographic diversity; and

    • commitment to attending all meetings as required by law.

    Time Commitment

    • Limited, 10-month appointment  from December 2022 through September 2023;

    • monthly meetings (60-90 minutes each), beginning in December;

    • potential for bi-monthly meetings (60 minutes each), if necessary;

    • a minimum of three public engagement events over 10 months (60-90 minutes each); and

    • unless otherwise specified, applicants should expect to attend all meetings in person.

    Role and Responsibilities

    Consistent with state statute, commissioners create and present at least three proposed county commissioner district maps to the county commissioners for consideration. They must:

    • understand requirements, data and context to make recommendations;

    • provide input and direction to staff to draw initial maps for consideration in open meetings;

    • provide input on the proposed public engagement plan in open meetings;

    • participate in open advisory committee meetings;

    • advocate for resident engagement in the process;

    • review public feedback and provide direction to staff on incorporating the input into map revisions;

    • present recommendations to the county commissioner in open meetings;

    • recognize that members cannot engage in any discussion of this process with anyone outside of the established public process. Any discussions, “side conversations,” or requests for feedback cannot occur with any elected officials, political party officials, peers, staff or colleagues on this topic outside of scheduled public meetings;

    • conduct oneself in accordance with group norms;

    • recognize that all work is subject to Colorado Open Records Act requirements, including correspondence, work product and communications between and among colleagues and staff; and

    • be willing to submit to a background check.

  • Colorado State Patrol Requesting Assistance Locating Hit and Run Driver in Fatal Crash

    Colorado State Patrol Requesting Assistance Locating Hit and Run Driver in Fatal Crash

    WELD COUNTY – Investigators with the Colorado State Patrol are requesting assistance from the public to locate Octavio Gonzales-Garcia after his suspected involvement in a crash that left another party dead.

    At approximately 5:31 PM on Sunday, September 18, troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash located at the intersections of Weld County Road 37 and AA Street.  Initial investigations show a 2006 Ford van was westbound on AA street; a 2021 Kawasaki motorcycle, driven by a 24 year old female from Windsor, CO, was southbound on CR 37.  The Ford Van proceeded from a stop sign at the intersection into the path of the motorcycle; the motorcycle collided its front with the passenger side of the van, causing the motorcycle to catch fire. The female motorcycle rider was declared deceased on scene.  No other parties were on or in either vehicle.  The identity of the deceased is being withheld while notifications are being made.

    Investigators believe Mr. Octavio Gonzalez-Garcia, DOB 5/25/86, was operating the Ford van and fled the scene on foot after the crash.  A search was conducted in the area but Mr. Gonzalez-Garcia was not located.  Mr. Gonzalez-Garcia is wanted for questioning related to the crash.  He is described as a Latino male, 5’7”, heavier build, with brown hair and brown eyes.  He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.  He is last known to have resided in the Greeley area   Mr. Gonzalez-Garcia is encouraged to turn himself into the authorities.  Anyone with information to the whereabouts of Mr. Gonzalez-Garcia is asked to contact investigators at: 303-239-4501, reference case # 3A221639.  You can remain anonymous.

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  • Military academy shindig coming Thursday

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., is inviting high school students, family members, school administrators, and educators to the 2022 Virtual Military Academy Night from 5:30-7:45 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 22, via Zoom.
    The meeting addresses the application process for the U.S. Service Academies for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Merchant Marines and Coast Guard and the required congressional nomination. Representatives from the ROTC will also be on hand.
    To participate, register at usafa-admissions.zoom.us for instructions on joining the meeting.
    Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with all nine members of Colorado’s U.S. congressional delegation: Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper; and Reps. Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Lauren Boebert, Ken Buck, Doug Lamborn, Jason Crow and Ed Perlmutter.
  • Brady Mowbray: National Merit Scholarship semifinalist

    Brady Mowbray: National Merit Scholarship semifinalist

    ELIZABETH, Colorado – Elizabeth High School senior Brady Mowbray’s hard work and varied interests in school have resulted in him being named a semifinalist for the National Merit Scholarship. 


    Today, officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in Evanston, Illinois, unveiled their list of 16,000 semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors.


    Brady, who currently ranks first in his class at EHS, is among the academically talented high school seniors who have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring. 


    To be considered for the Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95% of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.


    What it takes to be a semifinalist
    High school juniors entered the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2021 Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.


    To become a finalist, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. 


    Out of the three times Brady has taken the SAT, his top score was 1,550. A perfect score on the test is 1,600. 


    “Math is probably my strong suit; I don’t think I’m very bad in any of the other subjects, either,” Brady said, understating his academic successes. According to EHS principal Bret McClendon, the lowest grade the senior has received in high school is a couple of A’s: Everything else has been an A+. 


    In middle school, Brady took most of the math classes that are required for high school students to graduate. In high school, he has taken the most difficult Advanced Placement calculus classes EHS offers and then took more advanced math through Arapahoe Community College. 


    “I just do the work and am good at test taking,” Brady said, noting that he’s able to focus more clearly when taking exams and is able to recall information more easily. “I have a positive mindset with tests.” He said he looked at the PSAT and SAT as challenges “because they’re bigger and … kind of fun in my mind.”


    Well-rounded scholar
    National Merit Scholarship semifinalists will be notified in February if they have achieved finalist status. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference.


    Brady has a wide set of interests and perhaps an even wider path for potential success in college. Since middle school, he has run cross country, played baseball and, during track and field season, focused on the high jump as his primary physical competition. Meanwhile his main mental exercise regimen outside of the classroom includes Chess Club, Knowledge Bowl and the Dungeons and Dragons Club. This year, he also plans to participate in FBLA and theater. 


    Chess Club reigns as his favorite. “It’s like puzzle solving,” he said. “The main reason anyone would play chess is because it’s fun: It gets your brain thinking – makes you feel smarter when you make good moves.” How good is he? “I would rate myself not very good in the grand scheme of things, but everybody who doesn’t play chess would call me good.”


    As for other subjects in school, Brady said he likes history, especially AP European History and AP U.S. History. While he likes reading about a lot of different subjects, writing might be at the bottom of the list of all the classes in which he excels: “It takes a lot more thought to write an essay than it does to solve a math equation.” 


    Science classes have also been a highlight for Brady. He joked that he has learned about photosynthesis every year since third grade. Chemistry was his favorite science class, and it represents one of the many directions he’s thinking of pursuing in college. 


    Chemistry, chemical engineering, or any form of engineering lead the list. Math is a strong possibility given Brady’s aptitude for it, “but that doesn’t necessarily mean I’d want to become a mathematician.” Perhaps studying to become an accountant would match his skills, but then again, he also has interest in becoming an editor. Another route toward putting his considerable talent for analytical thought could be pharmacy studies. 


    With such a wide array of interests and abilities, Brady said choosing an excellent school with a quality liberal arts program is important to him so he can explore as many options as possible. Because he still has time before the application window opens, he is in the exploratory phase, with a constantly shifting list of more than a dozen institutions – all known for their rigor and excellence.


    About National Merit Scholarships


    NMSC, a not-for-profit organization which operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 340 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of excellence.


    Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2023. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 950 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 180 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 160 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who attend the sponsor institution. 


    National Merit Scholarship winners of 2023 will be announced in four nationwide news releases, beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join nearly 368,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

  • ArapCo seeks applicants for Citizen Redistricting Advisory Committee

    LITTLETON — Arapahoe County will redraw boundaries for county commissioner districts in 2023.

    To assist with the process, the county is seeking residents to serve on a Citizen Redistricting Advisory Committee that will help solicit public input and feedback and help draw proposed at least three draft district maps for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners. The process will last 10 months, from December 2022 to September 2023.

    Serving on a county committee can be a rewarding process. Applicants should be aware that committee members are expected to hold themselves to a high standard of privacy.

    Time commitments and a complete list of requirements are below. To apply, visit arapahoegov.com.

    Background

    Under state law, boundaries for county commissioner districts must be redrawn every 10 years based on the most recent U.S. Census. Because of a nationwide delay in states receiving the 2020 data, the Colorado State Legislature delayed the process for counties until 2023 to allow time to analyze it and prepare to redistrict. The new districts will be in effect for the 2024 election.

    Nine members are required for the committee: Three Democrats, three Republicans and three unaffiliated voters. Their voter registration must not have changed since the 2020 General Election, and all committee members must be Arapahoe County residents.

    Applicants will be interviewed by the Board of County Commissioners and selected based on:

    • party affiliation;

    • civic interest;

    • willingness to listen to, respect and understand diverse viewpoints;

    • experience working with others to reach outcomes or decisions;

    • commitment to a fair and equitable process;

    • geographic and demographic diversity; and

    • commitment to attending all meetings as required by law.

    Time Commitment

    • Limited, 10-month appointment  from December 2022 through September 2023;

    • monthly meetings (60-90 minutes each), beginning in December;

    • potential for bi-monthly meetings (60 minutes each), if necessary;

    • a minimum of three public engagement events over 10 months (60-90 minutes each); and

    • unless otherwise specified, applicants should expect to attend all meetings in person.

    Role and Responsibilities

    Consistent with state statute, commissioners create and present at least three proposed county commissioner district maps to the county commissioners for consideration. They must:

    • understand requirements, data and context to make recommendations;

    • provide input and direction to staff to draw initial maps for consideration in open meetings;

    • provide input on the proposed public engagement plan in open meetings;

    • participate in open advisory committee meetings;

    • advocate for resident engagement in the process;

    • review public feedback and provide direction to staff on incorporating the input into map revisions;

    • present recommendations to the county commissioner in open meetings;

    • recognize that members cannot engage in any discussion of this process with anyone outside of the established public process. Any discussions, “side conversations,” or requests for feedback cannot occur with any elected officials, political party officials, peers, staff or colleagues on this topic outside of scheduled public meetings;

    • conduct oneself in accordance with group norms;

    • recognize that all work is subject to Colorado Open Records Act requirements, including correspondence, work product and communications between and among colleagues and staff; and

    • be willing to submit to a background check.

  • ARAPAHOE LIBRARIES: DAVIES LIBRARY ADULT BOOK CLUB

    Adults are invited to their own book club on Monday, September 19, 6-7 pm at Davies Library, 128 2ND Ave., Deer Trail. This month, adults are invited to discuss Miracle Creek by Angie Kim.

    To save your spot or for more information, visit arapahoelibraries.org or call 303-769-4310.

  • Welby Days Celebrates Historic Fall Festival at Rotella Park

    Largest Harvest Festival in Adams County
     

    What:             Welby Days—a historic fall festival with more than 70 vendors, car and tractor shows, interactive art, artisans, live performances, local produce, fall flowers, and food trucks.    

     

    Where:           Rotella Park, 1824 Coronado Pkwy., Denver

     
    When:            Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
     

    Who:               The Welby Heritage Foundation, Adams County Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts

     

    Why:              Welby Days is an historic community event and fundraiser dating back to the 1940s when local farmers would celebrate the annual harvest. Welby Days was brought back to life in 2009 and is now held annually in the fall to honor the history of the area and gather the community together. Free and open to all!

  • Constituting America

    Colleyville, TX: Constituting America is pleased to announce our program celebrating Constitution Day/Week will take place on Friday, September 16, from 10:00 am ET to 3:30 pm ET.

    A federal law, enacted in 2004, requires schools receiving federal funds to provide educational programming about the U.S. Constitution on or around Constitution Day, September 17, the day the U.S. Constitution was signed, in 1787.  Additional information can be found in the Federal Register. This year, because Constitution Day falls on a Saturday, many schools are observing Constitution Day on Friday, September 16, and throughout the week before and after Saturday, September 17. Constituting America’s program fulfills Constitution Day requirements for schools

    Constituting America will hold online workshops for students across the country on Friday, September 16, from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm ET. In these workshops, “We The Future”scholarship contest winners will read the Constitution aloud, in its entirety.  This will be followed by 30-minute workshops with scholars and students on various aspects of the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.  These workshops are offered free of chargeto public, private, charter, and home-school groups, as well as individuals.

    The day will begin with “We The Future” Contest winners reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and performing the National Anthem.  This will be followed by a live reading of the U.S. Constitution.

    Workshops include:

    The Constitution & Poetry, Artwork – Featuring former Texas Poet Laureate Karla Morton

    The Constitution & Communication – Featuring Harvard Institute of Politics Resident Fellow and CNN’s Alice Stewart

    The Constitution & Film – Featuring Film Producer Micheal Flaherty

    How To Have A Civil Civic Conversation – Featuring America 250 Chair and former Treasurer of the United States, Rosie Rios

    The Constitution & Song – Featuring Nashville Songwriter, Steve Dean

    Click here for more information and segment times. Sign up here: https://us.constitutingamerica.org/SignUpSeptember16

    Constituting America is a nonpartisan, educational 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating Americans about the U.S. Constitution, including the rights and liberties it provides and protects for all of us. 

    ConstitutingAmerica.org

  • Volunteers rally to begin the recovery of the Cache la Poudre River fishery

    Volunteers rally to begin the recovery of the Cache la Poudre River fishery

    Debris flows in 2021 devastated fish populations in the Cache la Poudre River west of Fort Collins

    FORT COLLINS, Colo – A year after a catastrophic debris flow decimated over 20 miles of the Cache la Poudre River fishery, 24 volunteers joined Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists to begin the painstaking process of rebuilding fish populations.

    As a hot morning turned into a rainy afternoon, the team hauled buckets of fish up and down a 40-mile stretch of the river to replace the CPW-stocked rainbow trout and support the self-sustaining brown trout that suffocated when sediment and debris cascaded off the Cameron Peak Fire burn scar and choked the river in a July 2021 flash flood.

    “The plume of sediment and debris that moved downstream from that event led to fatal conditions in the river for fish due to heavy sediment loads preventing fish from exchanging oxygen across their gills, leading to the fish suffocating,” said Kyle Battige, Aquatic Biologist for CPW.

    The recovery effort was necessary after CPW biologists conducted a 10-day sampling effort last fall that found just one brown trout from the Black Hollow Creek confluence to 16 miles downstream at the Narrow sampling station, indicating a complete loss of the fishery. Although trout were captured 20 miles downstream at Stove Prairie, numbers were 80 percent lower in 2021 compared to historic estimates.

    A major step in CPW’s multi-year repopulation effort began August 25 with the help of volunteers from Otterbox, The Nature Conservancy, and Rocky Mountain Flycasters, the local chapter of Trout Unlimited.

    Jake Eichler, assistant manager of CPW’s Glenwood Springs Hatchery, delivered 115,000 one inch rainbow trout fry to be stocked along a 40-mile stretch of the Cache la Poudre River from the Poudre River State Fish Hatchery to the Overland Trail. Fry are recently hatched fish, approximately one inch in length, that have reached the stage where its yolk-sac has almost disappeared and its swim bladder is operational to the point where the fish can actively feed itself. 

    The fry were reared at the Glenwood Springs Hatchery from milt and roe (sperm and eggs) collected from wild brood stock. This hatchery is one of the few that rear rainbow trout from wild stock. 

    Volunteers met with the hatchery truck along Highway 14 to pick up buckets of 500 fish, before driving them to designated stretches of the Poudre River for release. They drove back and forth most of the day, taking bucket after bucket of fish to their new homes. 

    “The goal is to spread the fish out as much as possible to increase their chances of surviving to adulthood,” Battige said. “Fry can only live in the buckets for a short amount of time before they run out of oxygen, so quickly getting them to a calm stretch of water along the river is important.”

    It will be several years before these fish grow to a catchable size; however, the long wait and some afternoon rain weren’t enough to deter Rocky Mountain Flycaster members, including president Mark Miller from doing this important work.

    “Over 20 of our members traveled from Berthoud, Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley and Evans to assist CPW in restoring this fishery,” Miller said. “Rocky Mountain Flycasters has been conserving and protecting Northern Colorado watersheds since 1983 and we are excited to be a part of this effort to improve this amazing resource for the future”

    [VIDEO] Watch CPW and volunteers stock fish in the Cache la Poudre River

    At this time CPW is not stocking brown trout. Brown trout are still present up and downstream of the impacted reaches of the river and the long-term hope is that they will return naturally over time. The intent is to establish rainbow trout populations while brown trout numbers are reduced.

    “Assistance from organizations such as Trout Unlimited is vital to the work that CPW does,” Battige said. “Without them, the amount of time, effort and resources required to stock these fish increases dramatically.”

    “The sportfishing benefits of this effort will not be felt for years to come, but with the hard work and dedicated support of organizations like Trout Unlimited, we were able to take these early steps toward recovery,” Battige said. 

    Learn more about CPW’s history as fishery and aquatic management leaders:
    https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/Aquatic.aspx 


  • Outdoor safety tips for Labor Day weekend celebrations

    Outdoor safety tips for Labor Day weekend celebrations

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife

    DENVER – Nature belongs to all of us, and recreating responsibly shows you care about keeping our landscapes healthy and wildlife thriving. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is sharing a few safety tips ahead of the holiday weekend to help you balance your outdoor recreation with mindful conservation.

    Know Before You Go
    Be aware of weather conditions, water temperatures and trail closures where you plan to visit.

    • Camping reservations are required at Colorado State Parks.
    • Use the CPW Park Finder to discover outdoor activities available at each state park and to learn about park or trail closures.
    • On a holiday weekend, expect lines and potential gate closures. Have a backup plan and please be kind to park staff and other park visitors.

    Be Bear Aware
    As bears prepare for hibernation and hunt for food, Coloradans may see more bear activity. Below are tips and precautions to help you prevent human-wildlife conflicts that can also save a bear’s life. For more information on bears in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us/bears.

    Properly store all trash and lock bear-accessible windows and doors:

    • Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
    • Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors.
    • Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
    • Don’t leave pet food or stock feed outside.
    • Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
    • Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
    • Clean the grill after each use.
    • Clean up thoroughly after picnics in the yard or on the deck.
    • If you have fruit trees, don’t allow the fruit to rot on the ground.

    Cars, traveling and campsites:

    • Do not keep food in your vehicle; roll up windows and lock the doors.
    • When car-camping, secure all food and coolers in a locked vehicle.
    • Keep a clean camp in a campground or in the backcountry.
    • When in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet or more from the campsite; don’t bring any items with strong odors into your tent.
    • Cook food away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.

    Be Careful with Fire
    Colorado’s low humidity can create dry, dangerous conditions that impact if fires are allowed or restricted.

    • Check fire restrictions or bans before you go. Visit www.coemergency.com to find county-specific fire information.
    • Avoid parking or driving on dry grass. Check your tire pressure, exhaust pipes and if chains or exposed wheel rims are dragging from your vehicle that may create sparks.
    • Use designated campfire areas when allowed and available.
    • Keep campfires small and manageable.
    • Put fires out with water until you can touch the embers.
    • Never leave a campfire unattended and report campfires that have been left burning.

    Wear a Life Jacket
    Enjoy the water, but always do so with a life jacket on – they save lives. Before going onto the water make sure you are carrying essential safety gear:

    • Wear your life jacket​
    • Check your boat and all required boating safety gear.
    • Avoid boating alone and tell someone where you are going.
    • Boat sober. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths.
    • Stand-up paddleboards are considered vessels in Colorado and require a life jacket on board at all times.
    • Protect yourself from the dangers of cold water immersion and shock. Regardless of your age or experience level, cold water can quickly create a drowning emergency.

    For more information on outdoor recreation in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us.