WEEK OF MARCH 6, 2025
VOLUME 130 | ISSUE 1
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Lawmakers offer more mental health help for youth BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
From left, Troop 68184 Leader Sue Duncan, Girl Scout Shelby Ordal, Brownie Rhyan Richter and Amber Richter gather on a chilly day outside the Elizabeth PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY Walmart, where Shelby and Rhyan cheerfully sold cookies.
Cookies are sweet even if weather isn’t Girl Scouts will continue to sell the organization’s signature treats around the area through March 16 BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Despite Colorado’s fickle weather, Girl Scouts are out and about selling their signature cookies again. Troop 68184, the lone troop in the Elizabeth/ Kiowa area, sold cookies at the Elizabeth Walmart on Feb. 22. Though their patch of sun slowly turned into shade, Shelby Ordal and Rhyan Richter were all smiles as they waved hello to shoppers. Sue Duncan, who has been
involved with Girl Scouts for decades, started the troop in 2021. “We are currently the only troop in Elizabeth so we are a multi-level troop — Daisies, Brownies, and Junior Girl Scouts,” she said. The troop has 17 girls ranging in age from kindergarten through fifth Grade and includes girls from every area elementary school as well as the homeschool community. Duncan became Cookie Mom for her oldest daughter’s troop back in 1993. After that, she became Troop Leader for her
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17 | PUZZLES: 18
youngest daughter’s troop from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. She ended up becoming a Service Unit Leader, Fall Product Manager and Cookie Manager. After her youngest daughter graduated she still volunteered because she believed in the program. When asked why she thinks Girl Scouts are beneficial to the community, she said, “There are not many, if any, organizations that work with only girls. I’ve been involved with Girl Scouts since 1993 and have seen many
changes with the program. The organization definitely provides many opportunities for the girls from camping, business management, learning about the community, etc.” This year, Troop 68184 wants to sell 6,000 packages of cookies and is already well on their way. The girls have brainstormed what they might do with some of the funds raised. Possibilities include visiting a zoo or the Denver Mint, visiting a planetarium, SEE COOKIES, P12
Legislation aimed at improving the mental health of Colorado’s children is gaining ground after garnering bipartisan support among lawmakers, say bill advocates. “I think everyone is aware that there is a mental health crisis among our kids,” said Zach Zaslow, VP of Community Health and Advocacy at Children’s Hospital Colorado. “I think (lawmakers) are stepping up to be helpful in fighting this crisis.” Zaslow, Dr. Lauren Eckhart, clinical director for the Colorado Springs division of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado and about 100 parents, health care providers and primary care physicians were at the State Capitol to hail the passage of two key bills — HB 25 1002 and HB 251135. Both measures passed the State House and now are headed for Senate hearings before they are voted on by the whole legislature. Zaslow said neither measure costs taxpayers but could likely save lives in the long term. HB 1002 tries to cut the disparities between standard physical health and mental health benefits. The measure would ensure private health insurance carriers are not denying coverage for medically necesSEE MENTAL HEALTH, P6
2025
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