The mountain area’s newspaper since 1958
WEEK OF APRIL 17, 2025
VOLUME 66 | ISSUE 22
$2
County commissioners give unanimous green light to Elk Creek Fire unification BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
EPRD president Betsy Hays addresses a standing-room only crowd at the Evergreen Lakehouse during an April 9 celebration of life for John Ellis. PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
Evergreen celebrates the life of John Ellis Huge crowd gathers to share stories about their deeply-loved, lifelong community member BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A standing-room only crowd of people who loved John Ellis gathered April 9 at the Evergreen Lake House to honor Evergreen’s unofficial mayor. The celebration of life was also a reunion for Evergreen’s most long-standing and prominent residents, characterized by deep hugs, laughter, tears and shared memories of the man all called their friend.
“He would’ve been so proud of this,” Barbie Alderfer said to the crowd. “Wouldn’t he have loved this? He would have had such a good time.” The lifelong Evergreen resident died March 19 at 77 of congestive heart failure. Ellis worked as director of community relations at Evergreen National Bank and as a Blue Quill Angler fishing guide. Among his volunteer positions, he served as a board member for the Evergreen Metropolitan
District and the Evergreen Park & Recreation District, and as an Evergreen Chamber of Commerce ambassador. An extroverted, philanthropic man who his brother said understood, even as a child, how to give back and make others feel good, Ellis served on multiple Evergreen boards and as an events volunteer but was also known for small, individual acts of kindness. “Mr. Happy,” friend Nancy Grant said of him. “We will al-
ways miss John.” The formal portion of the three-hour gathering started with Evergreen optometrist Dr. Dan Hock playing bagpipe. Hock walked from the back of the room to the front, and back again, playing “Amazing Grace” and other songs. Longtime friend Rich Reynolds spoke about their 32 years of friendship, which he said he“will cherish forever.”
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 14 | PUZZLES: 19
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HIGHWAY 73 SEES CLOSURES P2
SEE ELLIS, P16
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In a unanimous vote and with no discussion, Jefferson County Commissioners denied an appeal April 8 against Elk Creek Fire Protection District’s unification efforts, allowing the district’s merger with Conifer Fire to proceed. While the motion was a partial victory for Elk Creek Fire, the battle isn’t over. Appellants Chuck Newby and Neil Whitehead III said they will appeal the issue to Jefferson County District Court, and that could mean unification remains stalled. “This is sort of what we expected,” Newby said after the hearing. “But these are matters of law and procedure they didn’t get right and still haven’t gotten right, so we will fight on. We will appeal.” Newby, an Elk Creek board member, and Whitehead, an Elk