Elbert County News 0603 by Colorado Community Media

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June 3, 2021

ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

ElbertCountyNews.net

VOLUME 126 | ISSUE 16

Plane emergencies have varied causes Busy Centennial Airport has had scattering of reported events in recent years BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

for three hours picking up trash around the Elizabeth Walmart, focusing on grassy ditches and roadways. The group collected seven bags of trash. “My goal is to clean up the high points of Elizabeth that visitors will see when they come into

When two planes collided in midair over the Cherry Creek State Park area near a neighborhood just north of Centennial, one plane deployed a parachute and came down in an open field. The second plane continued to fly, making it safely to Centennial Airport. Both planes came to earth with no injuries. It wasn’t clear from public safety agencies how close to the nearby residential area the collision or the first plane’s landing occurred. Initial information indicated the planes collided May 12 over state park property near where Belleview Avenue meets Peoria Street in unincorporated Arapahoe County, according to tweets from South Metro Fire Rescue. The fire agency did not immediately respond for comment May 21 about how close to the neighborhood the first plane landed. At least several aircraft incidents or accidents in the Centennial Airport area have made local headlines in recent years. The airport says the way planes land or depart is generally overseen by the Federal

SEE TRASH, P16

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Patricia Sizemore, at right, and another volunteer pick up trash near the Safeway in Elizabeth.

PHOTO BY CHANCY GATLIN-ANDERSON

Volunteers tackle trash before Stampede Goal of cleanup is to make Elizabeth look its best BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

On May 15 and May 22, volunteers worked diligently to clean

the Town of Elizabeth streets and nearby property ahead of the Elizabeth Stampede on June 3. The cleanup effort, which will continue through mid-June (see dates below), was organized by Jenny Case and Patricia Sizemore. On their first outing, they and multiple volunteers worked

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 13

OUTSTANDING STUDENTS Time to highlight Elbert County students P2

2 Elbert County News

June 3, 2021

Graduation season celebrated in Elbert County

Julianna Havard

COURTESY PHOTOS

Mitchell Morasco

Bridget Eddy

Valedictorians give words of wisdom to the class of 2021 BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

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It is graduation season in Elbert County, and the class of 2021 is ready to take on life’s next chapter. Over the past few weeks, the Elbert County News had the opportunity to hold Q&As with a few of the county’s valedictorians about their post-graduation goals as well as their words of wisdom for the graduating class. Julianna Havard — Elbert High School What are your plans postgraduation? I plan to go to Colorado State University for four years to earn my degree in animal science. After that, I plan to go to a college abroad to get my master’s degree in veterinarian sciences, ultimately hoping to specialize in exotic animals (specifically large felines). I have always cared for animals and they have helped me through the darkest parts of my childhood. I would like to help animals in the way that they have helped me over the years. What words of advice do you give for the 2021 class? The main idea behind my speech was for my class to leave high school with the best memories. I talked about some memories that I would take with me and how they were the moments where I laughed the hardest and smiled the widest because

of the people I call friends. I just wanted my class to think of the good times and keep those memories close because those moments are what high school is really about. Bridget Eddy — Elizabeth High School What are your plans postgraduation? I plan to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. I am hoping to go into a design field but can’t wait to see what other options there are. I will continue to play soccer and am excited to explore the world! What words of advice do you give for the 2021 class? I am one of 10 who gave a speech during graduation. We chose a theme of “Past, Present, and Future” and each chose one of the three to give our speeches on. My words of advice to the class of 2021 is to never give up and don’t forget your own happiness. College is going to be full of parties and good memories but also a place where you decide what you want to do for the rest of your life. That can be stressful but there are many who believe in you and will help you! Mitchell Morasco — Elizabeth High School What are your plans postgraduation? I plan on attending Colorado State University and studying mechanical aerospace engineering. What words of advice do you give for the 2021 class? Make the most of every opportunity that life presents to you. Don’t be afraid to jump off into the deep end and leave the familiar (Elizabeth and the people you know here).

Elbert County News 3

June 3, 2021

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4 Elbert County News

June 3, 2021

Youth mental health services in crisis BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With suicide attempts on the rise, and emergency rooms statewide filling up with psychiatric patients, Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHC) declared a state of emergency last week. During a special round-table discussion on May 25, health experts said they are seeing dramatic increases in young patients suffering from depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation and social disconnectedness. Participants in the panel agreed hospital beds are filling up, resources are running low and more help from the county, state and federal levels are needed. According to statistics provided in the hour-long discussion, the leading cause of death for children and young adults, starting at age 10, is suicide in Colorado. According to 2021 data from Mental Health America, Colorado ranks 42nd in youth mental health services. CHC has hospitals and services throughout the Denver metro area, including locations in Arapahoe, Jefferson, Douglas, Denver and Adams counties. In Aurora, at the main regional campus in Aurora, the 52-bed emergency department is now overrun with youths in crisis. Emergency visits went up 90% in April compared to the same normal time in 2019. In declaring a pediatric mental

health state of emergency, CEO Jena Hausmann said CHC has worked more than decade to expand facilities, programs, and beds to serve mental/behavioral health issues for children and teenagers. However, she noted, it is not enough with the continual increase in patients starting in 2020 and continuing at an even faster pace in 2021. “Now we are seeing our pediatric emergency departments and inpatient pediatric units overrun with kids attempting suicide and suffering from other major mental-health illness,” Hausmann said. “The current system is unsustainable, and it is hurting our children. Our children need us to rally together.” Dr. Janna Glover, CHC director of psychology training, said even though society is seeing COVID issues improve, the impacts on children and teenagers are going to continue. “Kids have dealt with chronic stress in the past year that a has interrupted their development and education,” she said. “Now, kids are asked to get back to life again and they feel completely unprepared. They are burnt out and they feel so behind that they do not know how to catch up. They feel a sense of hopelessness.” Glover said hopelessness is the top predictor of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Through tears, David Brumbaugh, the CHC chief medical officer, said some of the cases hit too close to

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home. Brumbaugh said he had a ninth-grade patient who attempted suicide after failing to make the baseball team. Brumbaugh said his own son is in ninth grade and plays baseball. Brumbaugh said in his 20 years of treating pediatric patients, he has never seen such a high demand for mental health services. The stress on the system started about 15 months ago, Brumbaugh said, and the last three to four months have been even worse. “Our kids have run out of resilience,” he said. “We are seeing kids who were largely functional and now the floor is falling out. They are

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attempting suicide.” Patricia Givens, the chief nursing officer for CHC, said, “We are tapped out in all areas. We cannot build enough beds to keep pace with demand.” Givens said hospitals are seeing children as young as 8 years old attempting suicide. CHC experts said a lot of the problems in are rural communities where training in schools and services are lacking. Experts said if teachers, counselors and staff receive more training, they can intervene and get help for children and teens before they get into a crisis mode. CHC officials said hospital beds once being used to treat patients with physical injuries and illnesses are being converted into beds for patients presenting with behavioral health issues. Besides treating patients who have attempted suicide, hospitals are seeing an increase in patients suffering from eating disorders and presenting with symptoms associated with substance abuse. Many of the health experts said the situation is going to require partnerships with county governments, health departments, school districts and state and federal agencies. Heidi Baskfield, CHC vice president of population health and advocacy, said it is going to require more funding. It is going to require more work to reach children or teens in

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Elbert County News 5

June 3, 2021

Trial for older STEM shooting suspect begins BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The trial for the older suspect in the deadly STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting from May 7, 2019 has begun. Devon Erickson, 20, is accused of helping co-defendant Alec McKinney, 18, carry out the shooting, which left STEM senior Kendrick Castillo dead and eight others injured. In January 2020, Erickson pleaded not guilty to dozens of charges, including first-degree murder. Jury selection for the trial, which drew from a pool of 600 potential jurors, concluded May 27. Last year, McKinney, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to numerous charges, including murder, and was sentenced to life in prison plus 38 years, with the possibility of parole after 40 years. If Erickson is found guilty of first-

CRISIS FROM PAGE 4

crisis before they attempt suicide and put pressure on the healthcare system, she said. Mike DiStefano, chief medical officer in Colorado Springs, said a major focus must be placed on prevention, where outpatient services intercept children in crisis long before they attempt suicide.

degree murder, there is a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Here are some more thing to know about the trial: 1. You can watch it live, virtually Due to COVID-19 precautions in the courtroom, no members of the public outside of the case will be permitted to be in the courtroom. Instead, those interested in watching can do so via a livestream. The link to the virtual courtroom, which will change every day, can be found by visiting www.courts.state.co.us then going under the “courts” menu and selecting “trial courts by county” then navigating to “Douglas County.” At the top of that page, there is a link to join the virtual trial. 2. The story told by the co-defendant, Alec McKinney, has evolved Just after the attack, McKinney told

investigators that he had planned the shooting and forced Erickson to cooperate. Erickson told a similar story, adding that McKinney had threatened his life if he didn’t participate. However, prosecutors have worked to poke holes in that narrative, pointing out that Erickson had several opportunities to stop the attack but didn’t do so. During his sentencing hearing in 2020, McKinney alleged that he had actually acted under pressure from Erickson. 3. McKinney may testify In a pretrial motions hearing, the prosecution and defense mentioned that McKinney could, at some point, be subpoenaed as a witness for the prosecution. 4. George Brauchler will lead the prosecution team While George Brauchler, the former district attorney for the 18th

While not present during the Preventive services are also in round-table discussion, Douglas crisis. Over the last few years, BaskCounty Commissioner Lora Thomas field said 47 facilities across the state said the county wants to be the exclosed. These are facilities that have ample other communities across the traditionally provided mental health state can follow. care to children and teenagers. In 2017, Douglas County started “At a time when we are seeing investing more than $1 million per volumes increase, severity increase year into mental-health services, and overall need, the system that is creating a Community Response meant to be in place to serve these Team. In 2019, the county created kids not only does not exist but the Youth Community Response those attempting to do this work Team after more than 40% of the are underwater and overwhelmed,” T:9.625" calls for help were for residents 19 Baskfield said.

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Judicial District, officially stepped down from his term-limited position in January, he was asked by his successor, John Kellner, to help finish the case. Erickson will be represented by private attorneys Julia Stancil and David Kaplan.

5. The trial is scheduled to last until June 25 After jury selection, the trial will proceed like any other case, beginning with opening statements from the prosecution and defense. Then, the prosecution and defense will each present their cases along with witness testimonies. Each side will also have the chance to cross-examine the other side’s witnesses. Then they will deliver closing statements, followed by jury deliberations and then, if the jury can reach a unanimous decision, the court will announce those verdicts.

and younger. Thomas said the partnerships health experts are calling for can work statewide and the CRT program is proof. Douglas County suicide rates are falling and partnerships with local organizations, especially the Douglas County School District, have gone up, she said. “We want to take the success we have had here statewide,” she said. “For us, the good news is we are ready to handle the crisis with our youth.”

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6 Elbert County News

June 3, 2021

Renovated Marjorie Park to open near Fiddler’s Green Free, family-friendly event will be held June 12 BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Saturday, June 12 will be the opening date for a renovated Marjorie Park — on the north side of Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, 6331 S. Fiddlers Green Circle in Greenwood Village, and the beginning of a new story for the small green space. It is owned by the Museum of Outdoor Arts, which was co-founded in 1981 by Marjorie P. Madden, her husband, developer John W. Madden Jr., and their daughter, Cynthia Madden Leitner, who is MOA’s president. The timing coincides with MOA’s 40th anniversary. Readers will be familiar with the busy MOA indoor galleries and studio at 1000 Englewood Parkway — with ongoing exhibits and classes in normal times — but may not have made the connection with this sweet spot, and with Fiddler’s Green. MOA’s mission is “to make art a part of everyday life” and the free, family-friendly event on June 12 will run from noon to 4 p.m., with artwork walking tours, stadium grass seating, a lion’s den sculpture walk, a delightful life-sized bronze series of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Harry Marinsky and other

A sculpture of Alice and the Cheshire Cat is part of a series of life-sized bronzes by Harry COURTESY PHOTO Marinsky.

permanent artworks. These large “Alice” sculptures are inspired by John Tenniel’s original illustrations for Lewis Carroll’s classic and include a charming Mad Hatter’s Tea Party — a particular favorite with this art lover. Drinks and food will be available for purchase from Simply Pizza Food Truck and Em’s Ice Cream. Entertainment by DJ Walt White.

A new feature will be a labyrinthlike hardscape, designed after the seven petal vesica, in the center of the 2.1 acre park, which contains more than 40 art installations, including a lion’s den sculpture walk and a kinetic sculpture. (A vesica is a pointed oval shape.) MOA will operate Marjorie Park with a variety of programs, including a summer concert series; a

“Lunch and Learn” series, focused on artwork demonstrations and lectures; UnWine Wednesdays, a weekly fitness series; ongoing yoga classes and more. Included: Lunch and Learn, with local sculptor Reven Swanson on June 14; YogaRita on June 15 and 29; a family-friendly concert series kickoff event with Stone Beat Invasion, featuring music by the Beatles and Rolling Stones on June 17; and live music by the String Bean Duo on June 23. Throughout the month of June, programming will be free and open to the public. Coming soon, MOA will offer regular hours and a park membership program for individuals, families, corporations, photographers and dogs, which will include free or discounted access to ongoing programs and events. This membership will provide funding for ongoing park maintenance, art conservation and programming. In addition, MOA will continue with its indoor galleries, art studio work, and outstanding education program, and “Design and Build,” which allows young artists to work with professionals on collaborative art projects. MOA has a collection of more than 150 artworks, 85 of them exhibited outdoors. (Event registration is required to maintain a safe environment: moaonline.org/events/.)

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Elbert County News 7

June 3, 2021

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June 3, 2021

Facing a utility shut-off due to COVID-19 impacts? Funds are available to assist Douglas County residents who rent an apartment or house and are impacted by COVID-19 and who are struggling to pay their utility bills or rent. See if you qualify and apply today at douglas.co.us/rent-assistance

Help make our County Fair a success! Energetic, friendly volunteers age 16 and older are needed during the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo, July 31-Aug. 8. Serve your community, celebrate your County’s history and have fun all at the same time. Visit douglascountyfairandrodeo.com and search Volunteers to learn more and sign up. The University of Colorado campus in Boulder.

FREE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS Douglas County Fairgrounds 500 Fairgrounds Road in Castle Rock Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon - 7 p.m. No appointment needed! No insurance or photo ID required 12 to 15-year-olds must have parent or legal guardian present. 16 and 17-year-olds written parental consent is required. For additional information visit joganhealth.com/clinics

Free electronics recycling Douglas County residents may dispose of unwanted electronics free of charge at Techno Rescue, 3251 Lewiston St. in Aurora. Drop off weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and occasional Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proof of residency is required. For a list of acceptable items, Saturday drop-off dates and more information visit douglas.co.us/community-recycling

Decode Douglas County Outdoors Visit eight Douglas County Open Space or Park locations, and look for clues to crack the code. Pick up your 2021 booklet today, discover new places, and decode the secret of Douglas County Outdoors! Visit dcoutdoors. org/decode to start your outdoor adventure.

It’s wildfire season It only takes one spark to change your life forever. Thankfully, it takes only seconds to sign up for free emergency notifications ensuring that you will be in the know if a wildfire is happening near you. Sign up today at douglas.co.us/CodeRed

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UNSPLASH IMAGE

Colorado ends ‘legacy admissions’ at public colleges SAT/ACT requirement also will be thing of the past BY PATTY NIEBERG THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill on May 25 making the state a leader in the nationwide effort to ban legacy admissions at public colleges and universities. Prateek Dutta, Colorado policy director for Democrats for Education Reform, who brought the bill idea to state lawmakers, said Colorado is the first state he has found to have enacted such a law. The bill prohibits public higher education officials from looking at “legacy preference,” or familial relationships to alumni of the institution, in their admissions process. “Just because your parent or grandparent went to one of our colleges in Colorado, that doesn’t mean that you automatically get in,” Polis said. “Because that could take the spot of somebody who is more worthy of that spot.” Legacy admissions can disproportionately harm Coloradans who are first-generation college students, people of color or those who are living in the country illegally, he added. In Colorado, nearly 63% of white students and 67% of middle- to high-income students enroll in a bachelor’s degree program right after high school compared with only 42% of Latino students and 47% of low-income students who enroll directly from high school, according to the bill’s text. “This bill will help move us in a direction where our higher education institutions are moving towards being meritocracies — meaning that you have to earn admission because of who you are and what you can do and what

your potential is. Not who your parents or grandparents were,” Polis said. While several states have tried to ban affirmative action based on race, Colorado seems to be the first to ban “affirmative action for the rich, aka legacy preferences,” said Richard Kahlenberg, director of K-12 equity and senior fellow at The Century Foundation, a progressive, independent think tank. Several universities are considering ending their practice of legacy admissions, following behind Johns Hopkins University, which made its announcement in January 2020. Texas A&M University made the decision to abolish its legacy program in 2004. In October 2019, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law requirements for colleges to disclose whether they give preferential admissions to applicants related to donors or alumni. The bill came in response to the college admissions scandal that revealed dozens of wealthy families paid bribes to get their children into elite California universities. Polis also signed a bill on May 25 lifting requirements for public colleges in the state to consider SAT or ACT scores for first-time freshmen, encouraging what he called a more equitable and holistic approach to the admissions process and access to education.

Patty Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. Used by permission. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun. com.

Elbert County News 9

June 3, 2021

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LOCAL

June 3, 2021

VOICES

Welcome to Denver — weather permitting

hoenix, 96, and plenty of sun. Miami, 85, and partly cloudy. Denver, 42, with periods of rain mixed with snow and snow QUIET mixed with rain. Newcomers to DESPERATION Colorado want to know, “What’s going on?” It’s springtime in the Rockies. Since the first of the year, we’ve already had the Four Seasons. It has been Craig Marshall 80-something, Smith setting a record. People out in shorts soaking up the sun. Days when Harry’s ears are lifted by the wind, making him look like a different breed. Mowers revved, lawns aerated, flower beds flower bedded. Looking out this morning there were rabbit tracks in the snow on my front lawn. It looked like two rabbits met, dated, and attempted to add to the population.

Harry went out and returned with a white daub on his nose. Maybe you don’t appreciate it, but I do. Two days from now, the high in Phoenix will be 102. And again the following day. A month from now 102 will be the low for the day. Phoenix never has rain mixed with snow. Has Phoenix ever had snow? Yes, trace amounts. And on January 20, 1933, and January 21 and 22, 1937, Phoenix had one inch of snow. With the Major League Baseball season in its second month, there was overnight snow in Denver. One day, newcomers, it will be 95. I promise. If that’s what you want, we’ll have two months just for you. July and August will be miserable for my roommate and me. Right around the time my neighbors decide once again to blow things up it will be hot, insufferable, and summery. The weather in metro Denver is as non-linear as my thinking.

Maybe that’s why I like it. It’s illegal to milk someone else’s cow in Texas. In 1977, I moved from Phoenix to Denver without an overcoat, boots, or snow shovel. Because of a childhood in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, I was familiar with winter weather. Didn’t care for it back then. Do now. What’s the difference? Maybe retirement, because I don’t have to get out in it. Maybe because it slows me down, just a little. Being somewhere isn’t what it used to be. Being at home is better than ever. When I had to drive downtown to teach, however unpleasant the rat race was, I was used to it. Compared to other major cities at the time, Denver was still a little sleepy. Not anymore. It’s rush hour at all hours. Who is to blame? I am. And others like me who moved here from someplace else. My neighbors are from California, New Mexico and Iowa.

Some of these oddly times snowfalls are heavy and overburden our trees, toppling branches. That’s not good. Drivers, underestimating the conditions, drive as if there aren’t any. That’s not good. But wasn’t it beautiful to see? Winter looking over its shoulder to say goodbye, like Jimmy Durante? Durante always signed off on his radio and television programs with, “Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are.” He didn’t explain the comment until 1966. It was a tribute to his first wife, Jean. Mrs. Durante, he said, always loved the name of a small town they had stopped in on a crosscountry road trip Calabash, North Carolina. The temperature in Calabash right now is 72. Cloudy with a fifty percent chance of schnozzolas. Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast.net.

Have you found what you are looking for?

Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For — Song by U2 Most of us are probably familiar with this song by U2, if not, I highly recommend giving WINNING it a listen. This WORDS song popped into my head recently as I was on vacation. Yes, vacation, my first trip in 14 months. As I walked along the beach, I was scanning the sand for unusual shells, sea Michael Norton glass, or unique pieces of coral. Something I have always done when visiting a beach. Over the years I have trained my eyes to quickly identify shells of unique shape and color. On most walks along the shoreline, I will automatically find little treasures where the sea meets the sand. Sometimes I am very casual about it and a shell or piece of coral happens to jump right out at me. And other times, I am heads down in full search mode,

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looking for exactly the right size, color, or shaped shell for my collection. Well on my recent trip, I found myself looking but not finding, searching but not really seeing anything. After a couple of days of coming up empty, I thought about why this could be happening. And I realized that my mind had not caught up with being on vacation yet. I realized I wasn’t quite relaxed enough to see anything popping out at me, and I wasn’t focused enough to be intentional about seeking out something special. I found myself in a weird state of work and vacation limbo. Have you ever been there? Are you there right now? Maybe it’s not searching for seashells, sea glass, or coral, but searching for something, something you aren’t quite sure about or haven’t clearly defined yet. And since what we are searching for isn’t always completely obvious, it becomes harder and harder to find. Or as the U2 song goes, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” We search for understanding

and we find confusion instead. We look for peace only to see conflict all around us. We want answers but only seem to come up with more questions. More than anything we seek the truth and become frustrated by half-truths or lies. We really do want to find the good in others and yet we confront disappointment time and time again. What I have found in each one of these scenarios is that we don’t find what we are looking for because we have placed ourselves in “understanding-peacehope-truth-good” limbo. When our heart and mind are in a good space, we would tend to see everything around us that is positive whether we are searching for it or not. And when we are aligned mentally, physically, and spiritually, we have the ability to become laser-focused, seeing exactly what we set out to see. Not just what we want to see, but what we are intentionally looking for when it comes to understanding, peace, hope, truth, and goodness. When we still can’t find what it is that we are looking for, we may

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need a quick “checkup from the neck up,” as Zig Ziglar used to say. We may need to snap ourselves out of that weird state of limbo, somewhere between not being relaxed enough to trust our instincts and not being confident enough to pursue what it is that we want the most. Ambiguity hinders us wherever we are, at work, at home, taking a hike, or walking along the beach looking for the perfect seashell. Have you found what you are looking for yet? Have you identified whether it is because you are in limbo and not allowing yourself to be relaxed enough to come upon it naturally? Or are you simply lacking focus to do a thorough search? Either way, I would love to hear your story at mnorton@ tramazing.com, and when we do find what it is we are looking for, it really will be a better than good year.

Michael Norton is the grateful CEO of Tramazing.com, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.

Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Elbert County News. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone. Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100) A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Elbert County News, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

Elbert County News 11

June 3, 2021

Annual water garden sale coming June 6

he Colorado Water Garden Society will host its annual sale on June 6, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. SONYA’S Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. AdmisSAMPLER sion is free and visitors may want to stroll through the gardens while there. Selection of tropical water lilies, hardy water lilies, lotus, marginal tropical plants. Fertilizer tabs on Sonya Ellingboe sale. Knowledgeable staff on hand for information and advice. (Business office/residence area.) Jazz orchestra The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra will perform at 2 p.m. on June 6 at Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood. Tickets, Lakewood.org/tickets or 303-987-7845. 20th Annual Indian Market The Fort Restaurant at 19192 Highway 8, Morrison (near Red Rocks), will host the 20th Annual Indian Market and Ceremonial Dance from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 5 and 6. Tickets: $10. Children 12 and under free. Parking is free. Shopping, drum and dance exhibitions. Food. 303-839-1671, tesoroculturalcenter. org. Nice for kids.

Water plants will be for sale June 6 at Hudson Gardens in Littleton. COURTESY PHOTO

Buntport Theater A new original show from the inventive folks at Buntport Theater, 717 Lipan St, Denver. “Space People in Space” runs through June 13, Wednesdays to Sundays in Buntport’s parking lot. (@ 60 minutes.) Tickets: Name your own price, available for parties of one to six. buntport.com, 720-946-1388. These tend to sell out, so obtain tickets in advance. Cherry Creek Arts Fest Cherry Arts has postponed the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, originally scheduled July 2, 3, 4, until Sept. 4, 5, 6 in the outdoor area of cherry Creek Shopping Center. The artists will be those juried into the 2020 celebration, which was canceled.

the White Pavilion, 414 Perry St. in downtown Castle Rock. (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.) Participating artists will paint on private properties during the week of June 21-25. Free to attend. Lone Tree Nicolle Davis is the new executive director of the Lone Tree Arts Center at 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree. The Highlands Ranch resident has been executive director of library systems, including Arapahoe County, and is currently assistant commissioner of the Colorado State Library. She starts June 4. Leigh Chandler will serve as the first ar-

tistic director of the Lone Tree Arts Center. Denver Botanic Gardens Cast bronze works, “Of Sky and Ground: Yoshitomo Saito” will be exhibited in the Denver Botanic Gardens’ Freyer-Newman Center Kemper Family Gallery July 24 through Nov. 28. It will feature large works and a multi-object “Millionyearseeds” that features more than 1,000 bronze castings of natural objects such as pine cones and banana peels. Included with general admission. Maze “Numbers in Nature: a Mirror Maze” opens on June 4 at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver. Guests can lose themselves in a seemingly infinite repeating pattern of mirrors. Guests will learn snout patterns by exploring fractal branching, spirals, Voronoi patterns, as if you’d stepped into a giant kaleidoscope. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 9 p.m. on Fridays through the summer. Special timed ticket required. dmns.org.

Douglas Land Conservancy The annual Douglas Land Conservancy’s “Capturing the Beauty of Open Land” plein air painting show and sale will be June 26-27 at

Tips for older adults emerging from pandemic year It can take time to return to former levels of activity BY JUDITH GRAHAM KAISER HEALTH NEWS

Alice Herb, 88, an intrepid New Yorker, is used to walking miles around Manhattan. But after this year of being shut inside, trying to avoid COVID-19, she’s noticed a big difference in how she feels. “Physically, I’m out of shape,” she said. “The other day I took the subway for the first time, and I was out of breath climbing two flights of stairs to the street. That’s just not me.” Emotionally, Herb, a retired lawyer and journalist, is unusually hesitant about resuming activities even though she’s fully vaccinated. “You wonder: What if something happens? Maybe I y shouldn’t be doing that. Maybe that’s dangerous,” she said. Millions of older Americans are similarly struggling with physical, emotional and cognitive challenges following a year of being cooped up inside, stopping usual activities and seeing few, if any, people. If they don’t address issues that

have arisen during the pandemic — muscle weakness, poor nutrition, disrupted sleep, anxiety, social isolation and more — these older adults face the prospect of poorer health and increased frailty, experts warn. What should people do to address challenges of this kind? Several experts shared advice: Reconnect with your physician. Large numbers of older adults have delayed medical care for fear of COVID. Now that most seniors have been vaccinated, they should schedule visits with primary care physicians and preventive care screenings, such as mammograms, dental cleanings, eye exams and hearing checks, said Dr. Robert MacArthur, chief medical officer of the Commonwealth Care Alliance in Massachusetts. Have your functioning assessed. Primary care visits should include a basic assessment of how older patients are functioning physically, according to Dr. Jonathan Bean, an expert in geriatric rehabilitation and director of the New England Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center at the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System. SEE TIPS, P12

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TIPS FROM PAGE 11

At a minimum, doctors should ask, “Are you having difficulty walking a quarter-mile or climbing a flight of stairs? Have you changed the way you perform ordinary tasks such as getting dressed?” Bean suggested. Therapy may be needed Get a referral to therapy. If you’re having trouble moving around or doing things you used to do, get a referral to a physical or occupational therapist. A physical therapist can work with you on strength, balance, range of motion and stamina. An occupational therapist can help you change the way you perform various tasks, evaluate your home for safety and identify needed improvements, such as installing a second railing on a staircase. Don’t wait for your doctor to take the initiative; too often this doesn’t happen. “Speak up and say: Please, can you write me a referral? I think a skilled evaluation would be helpful,” said James Nussbaum, clinical and research director at ProHealth & Fitness in New York City, a therapy provider. Start slow and build steadily. Be realistic about your current abilities. “From my experience, older adults are eager to get out of the house and do what they did a year ago. And guess what. After being inactive for more than a year, they can’t,” said Dr. John Batsis, as-

June 3, 2021 can find videos of some sample sociate professor of geriatrics at exercise routines on YouTube. The the University of North CarolinaYMCA has put exercise classes onChapel Hill. line, as have many senior centers. “I’m a fan of start low, go slow,” For veterans, the VA has Gerofit, Batsis continued. “Be honest a virtual group exercise program with yourself as to what you feel that’s worth checking out. capable of doing and what you Bienvenido Manzano, 70, of Bosare afraid of doing. Identify your ton, who retired from the Coast limitations. It’s probably going to Guard after 24 years and has sigtake some time and adjustments nificant lower back pain, attends along the way.” Gerofit classes three times a week. Nina DePaola, vice president of “This program, post-acute serit strengthens vices for Northyour muscles well Health, the and involves largest health every part of care system your body, and in New York, it’s a big help,” cautioned that he said. getting back Have realistic in shape may expectations. If take time. you’re afraid of “Pace yourself. getting started, Listen to your try a bit of body. Don’t activity and see do anything how you feel. that causes Then try a little discomfort or bit more and pain. Introduce see if that’s yourself to new Dr. Thomas Cudjoe, OK. “This kind environments in a thoughtful geriatrician and assistant professor of repeated exposure is a and a measured at Johns Hopkins Medicine good way to fashion,” she deal with resaid. sidual fear and Be physically hesitation,” said Rachel Botkin, a active. Engaging regularly in physical activity of some kind — a physical therapist in Columbus, Ohio. walk in the park, chair exercises “Understand that this has been a at home, video fitness programs — is the experts’ top recommenda- time of psychological trauma for many people and it’s impacted the tion. The Go4Life program, sponway we behave,” said Dr. Thomas sored by the National Institute Cudjoe, a geriatrician and assison Aging, is a valuable resource tant professor at Johns Hopkins for those getting started and you Medicine in Baltimore. “We’re not going to go back to pre-pandemic activity and engagement like turning on a light switch. We need to respect what people’s limits are.”

‘We’re not going to go back to pre-pandemic activity and engagement like turning on a light switch. We need to respect what people’s limits are.’

Good eating is key Eat well. Make sure you’re eating a well-balanced diet that includes a good amount of protein. Adequate protein consumption is even more important for older adults during times of stress or when they’re sedentary and not getting much activity, noted a recent study on health aging during COVID-19. Reestablish routines. “Having a structure to the day that involves social interactions, whether virtual or in person, and various activities, including some time outside when the weather is good, is important to older adults,” said

Dr. Lauren Beth Gerlach, a geriatric psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan. Routines are especially true for older adults with cognitive impairment, who tend to do best when their days have a dependable structure and they know what to expect, she noted. End-of-day routines are also useful in addressing sleep problems, which have become more common during the pandemic. According to a University of Michigan poll, administered in January, 19% of adults ages 50 to 80 report sleeping worse than they did before the pandemic. Reconnect socially. Mental health problems have also worsened for a segment of older adults, according to the University of Michigan poll: 19% reported experiencing more sadness or depression while 28% reported being more anxious or worried. Social isolation and loneliness may be contributing and it’s a good idea to start “shoring up social support” and seeing other people in person if seniors are vaccinated, Gerlach said. Families have an important role to play in re-engaging loved ones with the world around them, Batsis suggested. “You’ve had 15 months or so of only a few face-toface interactions: Make it up now by visiting more often. Make the effort.” Laura Collins, 58, has been spending a lot of time over the past month with her mother, Jane Collins, 92, since restrictions on visitation at Jane’s nursing home in Black Mountain, North Carolina, eased and both women were vaccinated. Over the past year, Jane’s dementia progressed rapidly and she became depressed, sobbing often to Laura on the phone. “She loves getting outside and that has been wonderful,” Laura said. “Her mood immediately shifts when she gets out of the building: She’s just happy, almost childlike, like a kid going out for ice cream. And, in fact, that’s what we do — go out for ice cream.” This story is from Kaiser Health News, a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Used by permission. For more, khn.org.

Notice of Proposed School Budget Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Board of Education of Elbert County School District C-2 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021 and has been filed in the Central Administration Office at Kiowa School where it is available for public inspection from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. Such proposed budget will be considered for final adoption at a regular meeting of the Board of Education of said District at Kiowa Middle School Room 209 on June 16, 2021 at 6:00 PM. Any person paying school taxes or any person residing in said district may at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget file or register his objections thereto. Dated MAY 25, 2021 BOARD OF EDUCATION ELBERT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT C-2

Signed Stacy Morgan, Board Secretary

Elbert County News 13

June 3, 2021

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LOCAL

June 3, 2021

LIFE

Mount-aining social distance on trails

A group of friends pose for a photo along a trail in Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks.

With many mask mandates lifted statewide, public health officials urge caution outdoors BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

ith many Denver metro counties moving to “level clear” and Colorado ending its statewide mask mandate, the era of coronavirus restrictions seems to be coming to a close. Nevertheless, local public health officials urged caution

when asked how to properly practice trail etiquette in a summer that will still feature the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outdoor mask mandates have seen rollbacks for months, with Jefferson County Public Health and Tri-County Public Health — which covers Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties — lifting their outdoor mask mandates on April 5 and Boulder County following suit on April 9. A statewide executive order was amended on May 14 to allow fully vaccinated people to go outdoors without wearing masks. Nevertheless, many public health officials are urging caution when visiting trails and open spaces in

the coming weeks. The pandemic is far from over in Colorado, which on May 18 reported a case rate of 20 per 100,000 people — the highest in the U.S. at the time of the report. Jefferson County Public Health Public Affairs Manager Ashley Sever said that despite the move to “level clear,” JCPH was still recommending that people wear masks if they’re in large crowds or uncertain of the vaccination status of those around them. “We’ve moved to level clear,” said Sever. “We still recommend when anybody is around people who don’t have a good vaccination status, if they don’t know, or if they know they’re unvaccinated or in larger crowds, things like that, we certain-

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ly want people to continue to take prevention measures.” Dr. Bernadette Albanese, an epidemiologist with Tri-County Health Department, added that while getting a vaccine is likely the best thing to do to avoid getting sick, there are increased risk factors when in heavily trafficked public spaces that would compel mask wearing. “Getting a vaccine is probably the number one thing you can do to keep healthy,” said Albanese. “When you’re outdoors with a lot of people you don’t know — you don’t know their infection status — and you want to put yourself in SEE TRAILS, P15

Elbert County News 15

June 3, 2021

TRAILS

TAKE OUT

FROM PAGE 14

the best position to remain healthy, how about a mask? “I don’t think it’s hard to do,” Albanese continued. “And it’ll protect you. And also protect others.” Sever added that some examples of high-risk situations could include being outdoors with people who are being boisterous or have recently vacationed. “When you’re in a higher-risk scenario,” said Sever, “like with someone who recently vacationed, or if people are yelling or screaming or singing and you’re in closer proximity with those people, that’s another reason to wear a mask outdoors. It’s in those higher-risk scenarios where wearing a mask outdoors is still probably a good idea.” Enessa Janes, Arvada’s deputy director of the Department of Vibrant Communities and Neighborhoods, said that she recommended people continue wearing masks and practice social distancing in parks and on trails, despite the change to “level clear”. Janes added that in situations where it is impossible to socially distance, using one’s best judgment should suffice. “For our part we’re really encouraging people to continue to use (masks),” said Janes, “and to follow CDC guidelines and not visit the parks if they’re feeling sick. “There will probably be situations where you can’t always keep six feet social distancing with

A hiker walks along a trail in Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks. PHOTO BY RYAN DUNN

passing,” Janes continued. “In those cases, step off the trail if you need to, but please don’t step off so far that you disturb the natural environment or disrupt the habitat. Just be as respectful to other walkers and hikers as possible.” Janes added that she anticipated continued high usage of open spaces, and thanked the maintenance teams that have been working to keep public parks clean throughout the pandemic. “Our trails and parks have gotten so much use over the course of the pandemic,” said Janes,” and can continue to get that use because of how hard our teams have been working to keep the parks looking clean and ready for increased use. We’re really anticipating the same level of use this summer — if not more.”

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June 3, 2021

C R O S S W O R D TRASH P U Z Z L E FROM PAGE 1

town, like Big R, Safeway, and the library,” said Sizemore. “I want our town to look pristine and have visitors comment on how beautiful our town is.” The Town of Elizabeth has seen an increase in the amount of trash over the past few years, causing alarm to some local residents. Cleanup volunteers speculate that there are many contributing factors to the increase, including construction trash from nearby residential and commercial development, trashhauling companies, from the back of personal pickup trucks, and some people who throw trash from

their cars. After the June events, Sizemore hopes to curb this increase by making the cleanup effort a monthly event to promote overall maintenance of the town. “There is an amazing volunteer organizational ability of the people who live here,” said Sizemore. “If we work together to focus on the little things, we can achieve big things.” The cleanup effort schedule for the month of June: • June 1, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. • June 8, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. • June 17, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Gloves, trash bags and reflective vests will be provided to volunteers. For questions and further information, contact Patricia Sizemore at 620-629-1477.

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Speech Language Pathologist Full Time & Part Time Speech Language Pathologist or SLPA Positions. CCC’s preferred but open to School Internships. Able to provide supervision for CFY hours. Join our dynamic, multidisciplinary team of professionals for the 2021-22 school year. Administer assessments, provide direct, indirect & consultation services for students PreK-12th grades. Competitive salaries: SLP - $42,000-$53,900 & SLPA- $33,000- $44, 200, both commensurate upon experience. Excellent benefits, including full health benefits & mileage reimbursement or use of a car. Questions contact Tracy (719) 775-2342, ext. 101. To apply for this position, please complete the Certified Application for Employment available on the East Central BOCES website www.ecboces.org under “Jobs”. EOE

Teacher of the Visually Impaired East Central BOCES is seeking a Part-Time (3.5 days/wk) Teacher of the Visually Impaired for the 2021-22 school year. This position requires working with multiple administrative units including East Central BOCES, Ft. Morgan, Santa Fe Trails BOCES, South East BOCES , North East BOCES and Sterling. Option to work 1 day a week for East Central BOCES only if preferred. Requires Colorado Teaching License with an endorsement in Visual Impairment. Provides collaborative consultation services, including assessment direct & indirect special education services & attends IEP meetings as needed. Salary Competitive. Excellent Beneﬁts including mileage reimbursement or use of a car. To apply please complete a Certiﬁed Application, downloadable on our website at ecboces.org under “Employment Opportunities” at the bottom of the page. Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Registered Occupational Therapist 4 Day/Per Week Full-Time Registered Occupational Therapist. OTR must have, or be eligible for appropriate Colorado licensure. Provide Pre-12 intervention, assessment, direct & indirect services just east of Denver on I-70, Bennett, Strasburg Byers & Kiowa areas. Support from an experienced COTA is available. Salary range for PhD: $47,000-$60,300. Excellent beneﬁts. Access to company vehicle or mileage reimbursement. To apply for this position, please complete the Certiﬁed Application for Employment available on the East Central BOCES website www.ecboces.org under “Jobs” on our website ecboces.org. EOE Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101 or email tracyg@ecboces.org

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18 Elbert County News

June 3, 2021

Colorado Community Media garners 27 awards in Better Newspaper Contest STAFF REPORT

The Highlands Ranch Herald took two top honors in its weekly newspaper division with General Excellence in Editorial and Advertising in the 2021 Colorado Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. The paper was among numerous weekly and monthly Colorado Community Media publications in the annual statewide competition. Colorado Community Media — which prints 24 publications — also won 25 total awards in specific categories: 15 first place and 10 second place. The virtual convention was May 20-21. Advertising awards In Best Advertising Special Section, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place and the Golden Transcript’s “Golden Guide” visitors guide won second place. The first-place award was for “New Year, New You,” by Erin Franks, Stephanie Dyke and Tina Meltzer. The second-place award was for the “Golden Guide 2020” by Glenn Wallace, Erin Franks, Tina Meltzer, Shanna Maxcy and Ben Wiebesiek. For Best Advertising Campaign, the Littleton Independent won first place for “Vita Littleton invites you” by Tina Meltzer. For Best Classified Pages, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place. For best print ad, the NorthglennThornton Sentinel won first place with “NerdToGo North” by Tina Meltzer. The Arvada Press won second place for “Virtual Colorado”

by Tina Meltzer. For Best Classified Pages, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place under the direction of Erin Franks. Editorial awards For Best Breaking News/Deadline Reporting, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place for “Shooter sentenced to life in prison, possible parole” by Jessica Gibbs: The Littleton Independent won second place for “Homeless sweep starts process over again” by David Gilbert. In Best Business News/Feature Story, the Littleton Independent won second place for “Renters struggling amid pandemic” by David Gilbert. For Best Editorial Collaboration, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place for “Under attack” by Jessica Gibbs (Colorado Community Media) and Jesse Paul (Colorado Sun). For Best Editorial Special Section, the Highlands Ranch Herald won second place for “STEM School tragedy: One year later” by Jessica Gibbs. In Best Education Story, The Centennial Citizen won first place for “A united voice” by Ellis Arnold. The Highlands Ranch Herald won second place for “Parents fight medical marijuana policy” by Jessica Gibbs. In Best News Story, the Brighton Standard Blade won second place for “Adams County judge: Supporters find flaws in retention process” by Liam Adams and Michael Karlik. For Best Investigative Package, the Highlands Ranch Herald won

second place for “A school’s nightmare” by Jessica Gibbs. For Best Health Enterprise/Health Feature Story, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place for “A ferocious fighter” by Elliott Wenzler. “From the first time I heard Patrick’s story, I was blown away by his tenacity and passion. Telling stories like his is one of the greatest privileges of being a journalist and I’m so grateful that I was able to do that and that CPA recognized this story,” Wenzler said. In Photo and Design, the Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel won second place for “Remembering Service” by Stefan Brodsky. In Best Page Design, the Highlands Ranch Herald won second place for “Community Service Groups” by Stephanie Dyke. In Best Sports or Sports Event Story, the Highlands Ranch Herald won second place for “Cycling event survives” by Jessica Gibbs. In Best Photography Portfolio, the Littleton Independent won first place for photos by David Gilbert. For Best Photo Slideshow, the Littleton Independent won first place for work by David Gilbert. For Best Public Service Project in Class 3, the Canyon Courier won first place for “Teen Mental Health” by Deb Hurley Brobst. In Class 4, the Centennial Citizen won first place for “A united voice” by Ellis Arnold. Monthly publication awards In Best Column Writing Award in monthlies, the Washington Park Profile won first place for “A reflection of

the times” by Christy Steadman. “I had never written a personal column before, so receiving the first-place win for my column on pandemic times was certainly a surprise, but one that I am proud of,” Steadman said. In Best Education Story for monthlies, the Washington Park Profile won second place for “An unexpected new normal” by Christy Steadman. For Best Feature Story, the Washington Park Profile won second place for “Grasmere Lake: murky no more” by Kirsten Dahl Collins. For Best Series of Sustained Coverage, the Washington Park Profile won first place for “Rosedale Elementary” by Christy Steadman. For Best Photo and Design, Life on Capitol Hill won first place for the February 2020 cover by Ben Wiebesiek. “I work closely with the page designer to ensure that with each turn of the page, readers have something spectacular to enjoy, something new for them to learn or something to experience in their community,” Steadman said of her work on the two monthly papers. Statewide major awards Major award winners were First Amendment: Jeff Campbell, for letters to the editor about a killing by sheriff’s personnel in Kiowa County; Rising Star: Erin McIntyre and Mike Wiggins of the Ouray County Plaindealer; and News Leader: Lisa Schlichtman and Steamboat Pilot & Today staff for the paper’s “Indivis-

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Elbert County News 19

June 3, 2021

tPLANES

ABOUT THE AIRPORT

FROM PAGE 1

Aviation Administration, and says that whether a plane lands safely depends largely on the pilot. “The FAA mandates that pilots undergo extensive — and recurring — training, particularly in aircraft emergency procedures,” said Deborah Grigsby Smith, spokesperson for Centennial Airport. “Pilots are taught to seek out open fields and other sparsely populated areas in which to land should they be unable to land at an airport.” Crashes, accidents over years Centennial Airport, one of the busiest general aviation airports in the nation, sees roughly 340,000 takeoffs and landings each year, on average — or about 930 takeoffs and landings per day, according to the airport. “General aviation” means the airport features flight training and medical evacuation, corporate charter, small cargo, and recreational flights, among other uses. But commercial airline flights, like those on United or Southwest airlines, for example, are not part of the mix. The airport is not located in the City of Centennial, which was formed long after the airport, in 2001. The airport sits at 7800 S. Peoria St., just south of Arapahoe Road. In recent years, Centennial Airport had 15 on-airport “incidents” — which are less serious and can involve minor damage to aircraft and minor or no injuries — and six on-airport “accidents,” which are more serious and can involve substantial damage to the aircraft and serious injuries, according to FAA and National Transportation Safety Board records, Grigsby Smith said. That data ran from January 2017 through May 1 of this year, she said. The May 12 incident is the only

Firefighters inspect the crash site of a Cirrus SR-22, which collided with another aircraft as both prepared to land at Centennial Airport on May 12. COURTESY OF SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE

midair collision Centennial Airport has had in that time, Grigsby Smith said. The airport has seen a handful of emergencies that involved crashes or landings in the broader area around the airport in those years, according to Grigsby Smith. Some of those cases: • May 11, 2018 — A Cirrus SR-22, departing Centennial Airport to the south, went down in an open field near Lone Tree. The aircraft’s engine traveled from the impact area and was found lodged in the side of a house. The only person on board was the pilot, who died as a result of the crash. No other injuries were reported. • Feb. 18, 2017 — A Piper Arrow, departing Centennial Airport to the south, clipped a tree on takeoff and landed in a parking lot south of the airport at Peoria Street and Belford Avenue. Of the two persons on board, one sustained serious injury and the other minor injury. No damage to any structures was reported. • Oct. 26, 2018 — A small plane made a “hard landing” in an open field in Lone Tree. Neither of the two people on board nor anyone on the ground was injured, according to South Metro Fire Rescue. The plane left Centennial Airport and

Centennial Airport is a general aviation airport, which means it features flight training and medical evacuation, corporate charter, small cargo and recreational flights, among other uses — but commercial airline flights, like those on United or Southwest airlines, for example, are not part of the mix. It opened May 12, 1968, as Arapahoe County Airport and is owned and operated by the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority, a governmental body. It is not located in the City of Centennial, which was formed long after the airport in 2001 — the airport changed its name to “Centennial” in 1984. It is mostly in unincorporated Arapahoe County but extends south into Douglas County. Based on Federal Aviation Administration data for fiscal year 2017, Centennial Airport ranked as the third-busiest general aviation airport in the nation, according to General Aviation News.

shortly after went down in a field south of Lincoln Avenue and east of Havana Street. FAA staffs air traffic control The responsibility of guiding planes near Centennial Airport falls to the FAA, according to the airport. “Centennial Airport is the only general aviation airport in the state that has 24/7 FAA-staffed air traffic control,” Grigsby Smith said. She added: “We have some of the best air traffic controllers in the region, and they are an important part of the overall safety picture.” Causes can vary for “emergency landings,” Grigsby Smith said, using a term that doesn’t necessarily mean a crash. “For example, a pilot might make an emergency landing at an airport because a passenger may have become ill during the flight or needs emergency medical attention,”

Grigsby Smith said. One of the most important safety elements in terms of avoiding crashes is “the skill and training of the pilot,” Grigsby Smith added. “The pilot plays the most important role in safety and control of the aircraft.” Airport can’t control development Residential and commercial developments abound near Centennial Airport and the paths leading to or from it, but the airport has no authority to regulate land it does not own, Grigsby Smith said. The airport opened in May 1968. “Over the years, Centennial Airport has taken a very active role to connect with and educate surrounding jurisdictions on land use,” Grigsby Smith said. “We strive to inform the public and surrounding jurisdictions regarding the airport’s proximity, activity and potential for any compatibility problems before development begins.” Centennial Airport is a referral agency for both Arapahoe and Douglas counties, and surrounding jurisdictions, meaning that any proposed developments within the “airport influence area” must be referred to the airport for comment. The influence area is roughly bounded by Belleview Avenue, Yosemite Street, Parker Road and a line south of Lincoln Avenue on the south end. Many neighborhoods and homeowners’ associations around the airport have “avigation” agreements where the homeowner acknowledges in writing that the property is near the airport and within the airport influence area, Grigsby Smith said. “While the airport may make recommendations to local jurisdictions regarding proposed developments, the decision to approve development near the airport rests with the approving jurisdiction,” Grigsby Smith said.

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals City and County Public Notice Records Destruction: Policies and Procedures (Recommended by the Colorado Department of Education) Due to the increasing volume of special education records, school districts spend a significant amount of time and money maintaining those records. Consequently, a systematic procedure for the retention and disposition of inactive special education student records is necessary. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal privacy protection act that protects student education records. FERPA defines education records as all records that school or educational agencies maintain about a student. FERPA applies to public schools and state or local education agencies that receive federal education funds. It is the policy of Elizabeth School District that the contents of special education files shall be kept for a minimum of five years after all special education and related services for a student have ended. Upon exiting from special education services, the student and parent/guardian shall be informed that records will be destroyed after five consecutive years of in-active status. Prior

to the destruction of in-active records, efforts to notify the parent/guardian or student 18 years old or older shall be made and through public notice in a local newspaper and on the district website. Absent a request, the records shall be destroyed in conformance with C.R.S. §24-80-101, et seq., and federal law. No record shall be destroyed as long as it pertains to any pending legal case, claim, action or audit. Legal Notice No. 24617 First Publication: May 27, 2021 Last Publication: June 3, 2021 Publisher: Elbert County News PUBLIC NOTICE CHILD FIND Elizabeth School District would like to locate all 0 through 21 year olds, who may have a disability. The Colorado Department of Education maintains a comprehensive child identification system consistent with Part B of IDEA and ensures that each Local Education Agency (LEA), in collaboration with a variety of community resources, assumes the leadership role in establishing and maintaining a process in their community for the purpose of locating, identifying and evaluating all children, birth to 21 years, who may have a disability and may be eligible for services and supports under Part C or special education services under Part B of IDEA. Ages 0 through 5 year-old concerns should be directed to Amber Davis, Early Childhood Coordinator at 303-646-6716.

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

All 5 through 21 year-old concerns should be directed to Tammy Krueger, Special Education Director at 303-646-1844 Services for infants and toddlers are voluntary. References: IDEA, Part C, Section 303.320-323 IDEA, Part B, Section 300.125 ECEA CCR 301-8 2220-R-4.01-4.04(4) Legal Notice No. 24618 First Publication: May 27, 2021 Last Publication: June 3, 2021 Publisher: Elbert County News

Notice to Creditors PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Joseph F. Geisendorfer, Deceased Case Number: 2021 PR 2 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before September 27, 2021, or the claims may be forever barred. Kurt McClain, Personal Representative 5666 S. Garland Way Littleton, Colorado 80123 Legal Notice No. 24622

First Publication: May 27, 2021 Last Publication: June 10, 2021 Publisher: Elbert County News

Personal Representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before October 10, 2021, or the claims may be forever barred.

Public Notice

James T. Anest #16727 Arant Law LLC Attorney to the Personal Representative 19751 E. Mainstreet, Suite 365 Parker, Colorado 80138

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of WILLIAM GARY FRANGIS, Deceased Case Number: 2021 PR 30004 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to: DISTRICT COURT OF ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO on or before OCTOBER 3, 2021, or the claims may be forever barred. Kathryn Jane Lengel Personal Representative c/o Chayet & Danzo, LLC 650 S. Cherry Street, Ste. 710 Denver, CO 80246

Legal Notice No. 24624 First Publication: June 3, 2021 Last Publication: June 17, 2021 Publisher: Elbert County News PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Shirley Myrle Shelton, Deceased Case Number: 21PR176 All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before September 20, 2021, or the claims may be forever barred.

Legal Notice No. 24625 First Publication: June 3, 2021 Last Publication: June 17, 2021 Publisher: Elbert County News

Lynda Ruggeberg, Personal Representative 5512 Harbor Town Drive Elizabeth, CO 80107

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Antonio Frank Collado, aka Anthony F. Collado, aka Anthony Collado, Deceased Case Number: 2021 PR 030023

Legal Notice No. 24612 First publication: May 20, 2021 Last publication: June 03, 2021 Publisher: Elbert County News

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the

###

Elbert County Legals 6.3.21 * 1

20 Elbert County News

June 3, 2021

CCool MMo ##11 loorarad ortrt RRee doo’ ggaa vveer ’ss ggee rssee BBrroo k er

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