FORT LUPTON PRESS S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 19 0 6
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ISSUE 12
WEEK OF MARCH 23, 2023
,N 25 , 2020 Communities tryWdesign to improve public safety
VOLUME 117
EDNESDAY
State dollars aim to prevent crime with environmental changes BY BRITTANY FREEMAN AND CULLEN PURSER ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS
Mike Burns bought a home right on the river near Delta, Colorado, with plans to spend the summers
ISSUE 48
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T H E S E A S O N Froughly O R 10Spercent H AofR IN every callG the
fishing outdoors with his grandkids. But those kinds of excursions haven’t always felt safe, since the family learned more about what had been happening in their new neighborhood. “Crime, drugs, theft, things like that,” he said. “Because of the things that are going on, it’s created some anxiety in us.” It turns out the Burns family had moved to a 2,000-foot stretch of dirt road that is at the epicenter of
small local sheriff ’s office receives. The sheriff sent more deputies to patrol the area but that has left some neighbors even more unnerved. “You’ve got four or five sheriff ’s vehicles parked next to your yard,” neighbor Steve Martinez said. “What are people going to think about what kind of neighborhood it is that you’re living in?” But there’s a new sense of hope on this rural Delta County road these
days, thanks to an infusion of state dollars set aside to prevent crime — not with more police officers — but with environmental improvements. The Crime Prevention Through Safer Streets grant program is providing communities with millions of dollars funds for projects like installing new lighting and fences, removing overgrown vegetation in highcrime areas, and building sidewalks SEE SAFETY, P14
Fort Lupton has events in mind and promotion ideas, too BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Like a lot of people, the city of Fort Lupton is getting ready for warmer weather so it can host its 11 events this spring and summer. The first one is the Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 8, outside the recreation center at 203 S. Harrison Ave. While that specific event may not get the out-of-area promotions as others (Field of Honor in late April, Fourth of July, Trapper Days in September Great horned owls are kept in the hospital area of the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program in Fort Collins. The program rehabilitates will), special events coordinator PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN; THE COLORADO SUN VIA REPORT FOR AMERICA Christy Romano said the overall around 300 birds a year, 78% being treatable cases that can be returned to the wild. goal of any city event is community engagement. “We want to build in fundraisers within these events, especially Trapper Days and Independence Day, nationwide, is expected to have that virus into our domestic poultry Romano said at the council’s March a surge in cases as the migratory operations on both the commercial 14 town hall. “We want to focus on season begins in Colorado. and the backyard side,” Baldwin some of the nonprofits that are willIt’s been nearly a year since the said. ing to come forward and talk about first outbreak in Colorado, and So far, about 6.4 million chickens how they serve our community.” while cases have slowed, Colorado have either been killed by the virus Part of her effort also includes state veterinarian Maggie Baldwin or put down to prevent outbreaks some swag for those who attend, BY PAOLO ZIALCITA said the risk will go up as more within a flock. Hundreds of wild such as a grab bag. COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO flocks of birds pass through. birds, mostly geese and ducks, have “We want to reward the sponsors Every year before Thanksgiving, First United Methodist Church in Fort Lupton and the killed Fort Lupton Food Death and Clothingwho Bank provide community “[These wild birds] are bringing also been by the virus. come forward, either in-kind or members with food boxes. This will be the program’s 10th consecutive year. Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert with Change Change, Highly pathogenic avian influmore virus, they’re shedding more is all but guaranteed for birds that monetarily,” Romano said.4“We want enza, theorganization disease spreading among virus in the environment, andPage we’re another that helps with the food drive. See more on 2. SEE COUNCIL, P2 wild and domestic bird populations likely gonna see more spillover of SEE AVIAN FLU, P16
State warns of avian flu surge amid migration
As flocks head north, increase in virus shedding will heighten risk
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