Sentinel Colorado 1.29.2026

CREATING A TRAFFIC JAM

Aurora, local, regional and federal agencies work toward ending the sexual abuse and enslavement of human trafficking victims

Trump administration’s prolific lies make public trust in them impossible

President Donald Trump and key members of his cabinet must stop their prolific and pernicious lying or risk being unable to govern as a crisis develops over the administration’s ICE raids and mass deportations.

Trump has long and widely been outed as a profuse and provable liar, nearly building a brand from his endless and often ludicrous deceptions. Whether it’s pressing the “big lie” about his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race, or his golf prowess, Trump’s deceits have long undermined his credibility on public statements on everything.

But the sheer absence of veracity of top White House appointees and advisors involved in Trump’s calamitous mass-deportation scheme is creating extreme danger for millions of Americans, and the nation itself.

Controversy over the recent shooting deaths of Americans in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents has resulted in clearly provable lies and distortions by officials like Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and even White House communications officials.

Noem’s recent lies go far beyond her recent description of Minneapolis protester Renee Good as a “domestic terrorist,” after the woman was shot in the face behind the wheel of her car by a federal agent.

It’s absolutely arguable that Good went far beyond peaceful protesting Jan. 7 when she intertwined herself with ICE agents in her car, but Noem’s false mischaracterization of Good, and the event, would undermine the credibility of a top White House official even if she didn’t have her reputation of being a prolific liar.

Last month during a congressional hearing, Noem, under oath, lied about whether her agency had deported military veterans or U.S. citizens. At the time Rep. Seth Moulten. D-Mass., provided a letter signed by Noem herself, confirming eight American veterans had been deported. Confirmed and repeated reports also undermined Noem’s lie that U.S. citizens had not been mistakenly snagged in ICE raids, when in fact more than 170 citizens had been arrested

as of last year.

Noem came to the Trump administration secretary job with a long history of lies and deceptions as governor of South Dakota.

She was outed lying in her 2024 autobiography about a supposed meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. French officials outed her claim as prevarication.

She was caught lying about diverting $80,000 from a non-profit fund into her personal Delaware LLC, Ashwood Strategies,”in 2023, according to numerous media accounts of the scandal.

She was caught lying about improperly trying to pressure South Dakota state officials into giving her daughter a real estate license, another scandal widely reported in numerous media.

But her most recent prevarication has generated not just scandals, but real, deadly, danger for the nation.

First off, Noem claims that platoons of federal agents dropped into Minneapolis were acting under orders only of “targeted enforcement” in seeking out illegal immigrants. Reports across dozens of media, including far-right media, have made it clear ICE agents and others are demanding documentation of random and arbitrary people they encounter.

She immediately, after the ICE-agent shooting of protester Renee Good, said that the shooting was in self-defense, which at best remains unproven, and numerous credible analyses of the evidence and video recordings clearly counter that assumption.

She lied again Saturday in claiming that Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal agents after brandishing a gun during a confrontation between ICE agents and protesters.

Even video released nearly minutes after the shooting clearly showed that Pretti was “brandishing” only a cell phone. Video analysis over the day revealed agents kicking and beating Pretti on the ground, and one agent removing a concealed 9 mm handgun from Pretti’s waistband seconds before another agent shot Pretti numerous times while he was face down.

Other White House officials continue to promote their lies, even after irrefutable evidence reveals their deceits.

In Davos, Switzerland, earlier this week, Trump, wreaking chaos with his obsession to

take over Greenland, clearly on live and recorded broadcasts mistakenly referred to Greenland as Iceland, several times.

But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt lied on social media that Trump didn’t say what the entire planet clearly, and repeatedly heard him say.

Just this week, the White House broadcast and promoted a false, doctored video of the arrest of a civil rights attorney arrested during the disruption of a church service in Minnesota last week.

“On its official X page, the White House shared an image of Nekima Levy Armstrong that showed her in tears, with her arms behind her back, standing in front of someone wearing a badge around their neck,” the Associated Press reported. “The problem? Levy Armstrong wasn’t actually crying. The image was manipulated to make the moment more dramatic than it actually was.”

When confronted about the falsification, the White House dismissed the claims, and the post still exists.

Allegations that ICE, Border Security and other federal agents are marauding, incompetent and savagely violent thugs under the control of Noem raise are harrowing. Additional danger comes by distortions and lies told to defend the indefensible actions of Trump’s ICE and Border Control squads. By wrongly defending them, the administration emboldens them to continue their misbehavior

They must be credibly addressed, and either dispelled or rectified.

Noem’s devastated credibility makes it impossible for her to be accountable for changes or offer believable explanations. At this point, the nation critically needs to know the facts about the ICE actions and citizen deaths, and it clearly can’t get that from Noem or her agency.

Noem should immediately resign, or Trump should immediately fire her.

The Trump administration can’t at this point present any credible defense of what they and their mock-military forces are doing across the United States.

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Aurora Councilmember Rob Andrews voiced concerns about publicity during DUI arrest, video shows

“I AM MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUBLIC NOT KNOWING ABOUT IT,” AS HEARD IN THE VIDEO RECORDING.

BY SENTINEL STAFF WRITERS

Aurora City Councilmember Rob Andrews offered his first public remarks this week about drunken driving charges he faces after his Jan. 17 arrest, asking for privacy and mentioning what he said are legal restraints.

“I was pulled over by the Aurora Police Department and cited in connection with the DUI allegation,” Andrews said during the city council meeting Jan. 26. “It’s an active legal matter, so I cannot comment on the specifics.”

The meeting and his comments come after police released his arrest report and officer worn body cam video from the arrest. In those releases, Andrews hands an officer his city council ID card while being questioned for a possible DUI. He later told the officer he was concerned about his arrest going public, according to police records.

His blood alcohol level tests that night were logged as 0.252, more than three times the limit for a charge of driving drunk, according to police records.

Andrews repeated comments this week that he’d made in a statement the morning after his arrest that he provided to the Sentinel and other media.

“I will say clearly, though, like every citizen, I have the right to due process, and there are parts of what has been claimed and documented that I don’t believe are true, including inconsistencies I am addressing through the proper channels,” Andrews said Monday.

Andrews did not say what he believed to be unfactual.

“Accountability has to be more than words,” he said. “While this plays out, I am voluntarily registering for a restorative justice class, working on meeting with and working with MADD Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and taking proactive steps to ensure this never happens again in any form.”The morning after his arrest, Andrews issued a statement to the Sentinel admitting to the charge, apologizing to the community and insisting he would accept the consequences and make amends.

Aurora Police body camera video of the Jan. 17 initial contact and arrest of Andrews shows the officer approaching a pickup truck Andrews was driving. When the officer asks for Andrews’ driver’s license and car registration, Andrews immediately hands him his city council identification card, attached to a lanyard.

City officials say the cards are primarily used for admission to city rooms and facilities.

In the video, the officer hands the lanyard back to Andrews, and Andrews then hands the officer a driver’s license.

The officer, in his police report, noted the council identification handoff.

The encounter, roadside test and nearly twohour arrest, blood test and booking are unremarkable, as depicted in the body-worn camera video of both officers involved in the encounter.

A man Andrews said was his adult stepson was in the cab of the pickup during the arrest. Police could be heard telling him he could take the truck and Andrews’ belongings from where the truck was pulled over by police.

During the testing and booking process inside the Aurora detention center, Andrews is calm and cooperative the entire time. The arresting officer appeared agreeable and professional during the process.

As the officer explains to Andrews the police and legal process about to take place, Andrews at one point tells the officer that “I am most concerned about the public not knowing about it,” as heard in the video recording.

The officer tells Andrews that police policy is not to release the information about such arrests.

“We don’t tell anybody,” the officer says, but he explains that the arrest and information are public information and available upon request.

Andrews declined to comment earlier on Monday about his remarks to the officer and why he handed the officer his council identification.

The Sentinel and other news media acquired the arrest report and body camera video after a Colorado Criminal Justice Records request.

News of Andrews’ arrest was first made public Jan. 18 at about 6 a.m. in social media posts made by former Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky. Jurinsky lost her at-large council seat to Andrews and fellow newly elected Councilmember Alli Jackson.

Andrews did not respond to questions earlier this week bout why he handed the officer his city council identification card instead of his driver’s license, or provide context on his comment on being able to keep the public from learning about his arrest.

In his post-arrest statement, however, Andrews apologized and said he would be accountable for the crime.

“I take full responsibility for my decision. I am deeply sorry — to my family, to the people I serve, and to everyone who expects better from me,” Andrews said. “I am grateful no one was hurt. That does not lessen the seriousness of what happened. Driving when I was not fit to drive put others at risk, and that is on me.”

Andrews said last week he was “cooperating fully” with police and prosecutors “and working closely with my family and counsel as this moves forward.”

If convicted, the charge would not impact his ability to serve in public office, according to city codes. In 2018, former Councilmember Nicole Johnston was accused of driving while her

ability was impaired and continued her council term with relatively little controversy. Johnston’s charge was later converted to a deferred sentence.

Andrews, a Democrat, indicated in his statement that he would continue in his at-large city council term, which he won in the Nov. 4 election last year.

“Accountability has to mean more than words. I am committed to doing what restorative justice asks of all of us — naming the harm, learning from it, and taking concrete steps to repair trust,” Andrews said. “I will follow through on the consequences, do what’s needed to ensure this never happens again, and continue working to earn back the confidence of this community. I am sorry. I will do better, and I will prove it through my actions.”

Details of Andrews’ arrest

The arrest incident began just after 9:30 p.m. Jan. 17, officers said they saw Andrews commit multiple driving violations before pulling him over for a traffic stop.

“We observed a red pick-up truck make a lefthand turn onto (South) Chambers Road from (East) Florida Ave.,” the report said. “The pick-up truck made an improper turn… during the turn, the pick-up truck almost struck the east curb. The truck then drove north before making a U-turn and driving south on (South) Chambers Road.”

The report said the truck was weaving between two lanes near South Chambers Road and South Chambers Circle. Previously, Andrews confirmed in a statement his irregular driving when it was reported he was arrested for a DUI.

Andrews said that on Saturday night, “I was pulled over by Aurora Police after making an improper U-turn. After sobriety testing, officers determined I was not fit to drive.”

The report also alleged that when an officer asked Andrews for his driver’s license, he handed the officers his city council identification card instead. After handing officers the correct identification, he said he was unable to present his car insurance because his phone was broken,

according to the police report.

When questioned about where he was coming from and where he was heading, Andrews told officers he had come from an event at Stanley Market Place and had to meet his son to help him jump his vehicle, according to the report.

Police said they suspected Andrews was inebriated, smelling alcoholic beverages on his breath. Andrews told officers he had “two gin drinks,” the report said.

Andrews performed and failed a roadside sobriety test, and shortly after, the officers said in the report that they determined he was driving under the influence, and they arrested him and transported him to the Aurora Municipal Jail.

“Based on the results of the roadside maneuvers and the odor of alcohol, I informed Mr. Andrews that I believed he was driving under the influence of alcohol,” the officer said in the report.

He agreed to a blood-alcohol level test from a breath analyzer, police said.

At the jail, after waiting the required “deprivation period,” Andrews was given a breathalyzer that did not work. He finally passed a valid test at 11:02 p.m.

His blood alcohol level was 0.252, according to the police report. The blood alcohol limit for a driving while ability impaired charge is 0.05-0.08. A blood alcohol limit of 0.08 and above triggers a driving under the influence charge.

Andrews was taken in on a detox hold to the Aurora Municipal Detention Center and released Sunday, according to Joe Moylan. The report said Andrew’s personal belongings and vehicle were given to his stepson at the scene, per Andrew’s request.

Andrews is chairperson of the city council’s Public Safety Committee. He was among four new Democratic members elected to the city council, along with At-Large Council member Alli Jackson, Gianina Horton in Ward I and Amy Wiles in Ward II. The election allowed Democrats to take control of the city council, which had been under Republican majority control for the past four years.

AROUND AURORA

Aurora City Council’s accessibility woes continue despite ADA compliance

Voices murmur in the city council chambers as the next speaker is announced.

“Aly DeWills-Marcano,” the Aurora City Clerk says on her microphone. DeWills-Marcano, sitting in her electric wheelchair at the top of the Paul Tauer Council Chamber, begins to move toward the lift, yelling down to the clerk and city council to “hold on,” while she makes her way to the first floor.

She had already spoken to the security guards and made special arrangements in advance to use the handicap elevator to speak publicly to city council members. For her to reach the first floor, she needs staff to open and operate the lift because of safeguards on the elevator buttons.

The lift itself is just large enough to fit Dewills-Marcano in her electric wheelchair, alone. Her husband, former city Councilmember Juan Marcano, can not fit in the elevator to assist her.

“I’m stuck,” she yelled while inside the lift at the council meeting Jan. 12. People, including her husband, were seen and heard scrambling to help her, as the crowd waited patiently. She finally emerged from the area where the lift lets out and rolled to the lectern as City Clerk Kadee Rodriguez lowered it for DeWills-Marcano to comfortably reach the microphone.

“If you’ll give me just a second before the clock starts, just to center myself,” she said. “I just got stuck in the elevator, and there’s something really terrifying about being stuck in a box and having to yell for someone to let you out.”

This circumstance with DeWills-Marcano is a combination of four separate times she has spoken publicly to city council about accessibility in the chambers between mid December 2025 and January. The council chambers technically comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements, but many critics over the years have found the process degrading.

“Accessibility is often treated as a technical question,” DeWills-Marcano said Jan. 12. “But the ADA is a floor, not a ceiling. Universal Design asks a better question: who does this infrastructure exclude and why?

“Universal design means designing spaces so people don’t need special permission, secret keys or staff intervention just to belong, accessibility experts and activists say. When you design for disabled people, you also design for elders, parents with strollers, injured workers, people with anxiety, people navigating trauma and people who can’t afford to take an entire evening off to attend a meeting. In other words, universal design is solidarity built into infrastructure.”

Although a couple of minutes of time for a person to get through the lift seems like a short time, it can add up, as Councilmember Curtis Gardner pointed out in previous reporting about the lift in city council chambers.

“The current option we have with the lift for public comment is, frankly, humiliating,” Gardner said in previous reporting. “If we had extensive public comment from the disabled public, and we had public commenter after public commenter where that had to happen, I think it would be embarrassing for us

to have to sit through that.”

The issue has gone on for years. Gardner made those comments at a city council meeting in January 2024, and nothing has changed since that time.

During the study session meeting in 2024, a proposed project involved building a ramp extending to the floor of the council chamber through a storage room, and removing the existing lift to make room for another ramp leading to the dais.

Additional accessible seating was proposed, and the room would be repainted and recarpeted during construction, which would take several months. The construction was estimated to cost $840,000, with about $750,000 in funding from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation and $203,000 in building repair funds.

The city had already paid $113,000 on the design and permit fees, and Marcano and DeWills-Marcano said they have heard the design is still usable.

At the time, Marcano had just lost the election for mayor to Mayor Mike Coffman, and his seat in Ward IV was won by the now-seated Councilmember Stephanie Hancock.

The council at that time directed staff to look into the cost of bids to build a ramp to the chamber floor, which would cost less and allow the council to continue meeting in the space during construction.

It’s unclear what bids were offered or why the project stalled after that.

“When people already feel surveilled, targeted or unsafe, asking them to approach strangers, ask for a key and navigate a locked system just to reach this podium is not a small inconvenience; it is another social barrier layered on top of fear,” DeWills-Marcano said.

Colorado was a key leader in the national disability rights movement that led to the passage of the federal ADA in 1990. The movement was taken most seriously because of the way people protested, to emphasize the importance of creating an accessible world for people with disabilities. The “Gang of 19” in Colorado famously used their wheelchairs to block buses and protested by getting out of their wheelchairs to crawl into areas their wheelchairs could not reach.

DeWills-Marcano mentioned getting out of her wheelchair to crawl to the lectern to emphasize the impact of the lack of accessibility for her and others who may not be able to access the stairs to the floor on their own.

“My body is degrading faster than this chamber is getting fixed, and disabled residents should not have to sacrifice their health to attend their own government,” DeWills-Marcano said. “Do not wait for disabled residents to crawl back up to this podium again to remind you.”

City officials have said they are interested in looking into the matter, but there have been no proposed changes.

— By Cassandra Ballard, Sentinel Staff Writer

Aurora seeks Colorado Supreme Court rehearing on sentencing limit issues

The City of Aurora filed a petition for rehearing with the Colorado Supreme Court on Jan. 26, asking the justices to clarify the reach of a recent ruling that limits municipal criminal penalties, while saying it will comply with the decision as written and await the court’s response.

The petition stems from a Dec.

22 unanimous ruling in “People v. Simons” and a related case, “People v. Camp,” in which the state’s high court held that cities may not impose longer jail sentences for misdemeanor offenses than those allowed under state law for comparable crimes. The decision struck down Aurora ordinances that mandated tougher penalties for offenses such as shoplifting, trespassing and leaving a restaurant without paying.

Aurora officials say they are not challenging the outcome of the case. Instead, they are seeking guidance on whether the court’s reasoning could extend beyond criminal sentencing to other areas of local governance.

“To be clear – Aurora is not asking the court to change its ultimate holding in the case,” City Attorney Pete Schulte said in a statement. “The city

is committed to following the holding and will not sentence any individuals beyond what is allowed under state law for comparable state offenses. Aurora is only asking the court to consider providing more clarity and guidance to cities on its effect on other areas of Colorado law.”

In its ruling, the Supreme Court concluded that state law preempts local laws on issues of “mixed concern,” determining that state lawmakers intended sentencing rules to be consistent statewide. Schulte and other city officials say the court’s reliance on what is known as “intended preemption” — where legislative intent is inferred rather than explicitly stated — marks a shift that could have wide-ranging consequences.

“The big issue is, how deep does it

go?” Schulte said in a recent interview. “Is it just limited to the criminal justice system, or does it go to other areas of law, like land use?”

Aurora attorneys earlier requested, and were granted, additional time to consider whether to seek a rehearing. Schulte told city lawmakers in a closed session meeting earlier this month that the ruling had raised concerns about how a variety of existing city laws might be affected, possibly including zoning, land use and other regulations unrelated to criminal penalties.

The Dec. 22 decision followed lawsuits challenging ordinances adopted after Republicans gained a majority on the Aurora City Council in 2021 and pushed a tougher-on-crime agenda.

›› See METRO, 6

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Those measures increased and, in some cases, required jail time for misdemeanors tied to theft, homelessness and public order offenses.

The Supreme Court ruled that municipal courts in Aurora, Denver and Westminster were wrongly required to impose longer jail sentences than defendants would have received in state court for the same convictions. As a result, Aurora must revisit hundreds of cases and reduce sentences to align with state limits.

Denver has already begun revising its misdemeanor assault sentencing in response to the ruling, according to a report by The Denver Post. Westminster and Denver did not join Aurora in seeking additional time to consider a rehearing, and Westminster officials were not immediately available for comment on Aurora’s filing.

Public defenders have raised concerns about delays. Aurora Chief Public Defender Elizabeth Cadiz said earlier this month she worries that a rehearing request could slow the process of correcting sentences for affected clients.

City officials say they are moving forward with compliance regardless of the petition. The ruling has not been stayed and remains in effect. Aurora’s Public Safety and Courts Committee and Civil Service Commission are expected to review changes needed to bring municipal penalties into line with state law, City Council member Alison Coombs said.

Schulte said the city’s uncertainty underscores the need for clarity.

“Every statute now we’re going to have to consider whether there

could be an intended preemption, even though it’s not explicit,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to figure out moving forward.”

— Sentinel Staff

Winter Bike to Work Day in Aurora Feb. 13 offers free breakfast and bragging rights

Chill, everyone. Aurora is joining the Denver Regional Council of Governments and other metro-area communities for Way to Go’s annual Winter Bike to Work Day on Feb. 13.

Yup, Colorado folks bike all year and even in the winter.

The annual event asks participants to commit to traveling by bike that day, whether commuting to work, running errands or meeting friends.

City officials say the effort encourages reduced traffic congestion while giving residents a chance to get outside for winter recreation.

Participants can register and pledge to ride at BikeToWorkDay.co for a chance to win prizes.

Aurora will host a breakfast station from 6:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. along the Highline Canal underpass just west of Chambers Road, northeast of the Aurora Municipal Center at 15151 E. Alameda Parkway. The station will offer free coffee and breakfast burritos sponsored by Bicycle Aurora.

Those who stop by the station can also view the final draft of Aurora’s new citywide multimodal transportation master plan, Connecting Aurora.

Additional breakfast stations in Aurora are listed at BikeToWorkDay.co.

A bicycle maintenance station will be available on the west side of the Au-

rora Municipal Center for quick repairs, and bike racks will be accessible on both sides of the building.

Organizers encourage riders to dress for the weather by wearing warm gloves, a headband or light winter hat under a helmet, and layers.

Cyclists are advised to slow down and maintain an upright position when snow and ice are present. Teleworkers may also participate by replacing a car trip with a bike ride anywhere that day.

Motorist should take extra care that day to watch for bikers sharing streets and byways across the city.

— Sentinel Staff

Aurora business owner

Sarah Woodson enters crowded House District 42 primary

Democrat Sarah Woodson, an Aurora resident, business owner and community advocate, has announced her candidacy for the Colorado House of Representatives in House District 42, adding another contender to an already crowded Democratic primary.

Woodson said she is running to bring people-centered, service-driven leadership to a district she described as challenging and diverse, with communities facing issues tied to affordability, growth and representation.

“House District 42 is a tough district, and it requires leadership that can truly show up,” Woodson said in a statement announcing her campaign. “As a business owner, I understand how policy decisions affect people in real and practical ways. I’m running because this district needs leadership with a clear vision—someone who understands how to build coalitions, val-

ues stakeholder and community engagement, and leads from a place of service.”

Woodson is the founder and executive director of The Color of Cannabis, an organization focused on education, advocacy and policy initiatives related to social equity, small-business access and stakeholder engagement across Colorado. Through that work, she said she has collaborated with legislators, city councils and community leaders throughout the metro region, an experience she says has shaped her approach to public service.

In her announcement, Woodson emphasized that she views holding office as a responsibility rather than a milestone.

“Leadership should be people-focused, service-based, and grounded in integrity,” she said. “Holding office is not about title or recognition — it’s about accountability, listening, and making sure communities are included before decisions are made.”

House District 42 includes parts of Aurora and surrounding areas, with residents navigating the pressures of growth alongside concerns about economic opportunity and meaningful representation. Woodson said her campaign will focus on transparency, expanding economic opportunity and ensuring that residents have a consistent voice in the policymaking process.

“I believe representation means showing up, doing the work, and putting people first,” she said. “That’s the responsibility I take seriously, and that’s the leadership I intend to bring to the State House.”

With Woodson’s entry, the Democratic primary for House District 42 is now a four-way race. She joins incumbent Democratic Rep. Mandy Lindsay,

challenger Megan Siffring and former Aurora Public Schools board member Eric Nelson, all seeking the party’s nomination.

— Sentinel Staff

Aurora opens applications for premier East Colfax revitalization DDA board

The City of Aurora is inviting eligible residents, property owners and business representatives to apply for the inaugural board of the Aurora Downtown Development Authority, a newly voter-approved special district aimed at guiding long-term revitalization of the East Colfax Avenue corridor.

Applications will be accepted through Feb. 28.

Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old and reside in, own property within, or operate a business in the DDA’s boundaries, which stretch along East Colfax from Yosemite Street on the west to the Fitzsimons Urban Renewal Area on the east, with East 16th Avenue to the north and East 14th Avenue to the south.

The Downtown Development Authority is a quasi-governmental entity separate from the city. It was overwhelmingly approved by voters Nov. 4 within the designated district.

Under state statute, a DDA can use tax increment financing to reinvest future growth in property and sales tax revenues into economic development, infrastructure improvements and community enhancement projects within the district.

Once the application window closes, a city-appointed nomination com-

›› See METRO, 7

mittee will interview candidates in March. Mayor Mike Coffman will then nominate six individuals for Aurora City Council consideration at a public hearing in April, according to city officials.

The six confirmed board members will join at-large Council member Alli Jackson, who holds the seat reserved for an elected official, to form the authority’s seven-member board. Meetings are expected to begin later in the spring.

The new board’s first major responsibility will be to refine and adopt the Colfax Community Vision and Action Plan as the authority’s legally required plan of development, with final approval by city council, city officials said in a statement. The draft plan was shaped by extensive community engagement with more than 870 attendees at 24 public events and input collected from more than 100 residents, business owners, property owners and organizations.

City officials say the authority and its board will work in tandem with a proposed nonprofit Community Development Corporation that would pursue additional funding streams and support a broader set of initiatives in and around the corridor. Together, these entities are intended to help improve public spaces, support small businesses and foster economic growth while preserving neighborhood character. Information and application materials are available at AuroraGov.org/ DDABoard.

— Sentinel Staff

Colorado AG launches online form to report federal agent misconduct

Coloradans are now able to report federal agent misconduct online through a Colorado Department of Law’s public complaint-filing system, state attorney general officials announced Wednesday.

Attorney General Phil Weiser said the state added a new section on the Colorado Attorney General website for Coloradans to report federal agent misconduct, according to a statement from the Attorney General.

“Nobody is above the rule of law, including federal agents such as ICE or border patrol,” Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement.

Information shared through the “file a complaint” section of the website will assist the department in ensuring federal accountability, documenting concerns and identifying potential patterns of misconduct by federal agents, according to the statement.

“This new reporting form is about keeping our communities safe and reminding them that we have their back,” Weiser said in a statement. “If you see misconduct from a federal agent, we want to hear about it. Please document it and report it to our office.”

The reports will be reviewed and may be shared with relevant government offices with authority or oversight, including the Colorado congressional delegation and local district attorney offices, the statement said.

The reports are key to the depart-

ment’s data collection and to identifying patterns of unlawful conduct. In the form, the public will be asked to submit basic information, including details or images of an incident they wish to report, and to answer key questions such as whether other law enforcement was at the scene, the statement said.

“This complaint form is part of the state’s ongoing work to protect Colorado against the ongoing harmful and illegal actions of the federal government,” the statement said.

Weiser’s office has filed more than 50 lawsuits against the Trump administration since it took office last year.

A list of that work can be found on the Attorney General’s website under “Defending Colorado.”

Members of the public seeking legal assistance should contact a private attorney or organizations that may provide free legal assistance, since the Colorado Department of Law is not authorized to provide legal advice or representation to individuals, including in immigration proceedings. Victims or witnesses of a crime should contact their local law enforcement agency.

Aurora state Sen. Mike Weissman has created a state bill that would ensure that residents who are injured or suffer damaged property can sue the federal government in state courts. The bill must pass both chambers of the state legislature and garner the signature of Gov. Jared Polis before becoming law.

— Cassandra Ballard, Sentinel Staff Writer

COPS AND COURTS

Aurora apartment shooting leaves man with serious injuries

An unidentified man visiting residents inside a central Aurora apartment was shot and injured Jan. 24 after a dispute arose when other guests arrived, police said.

Police said the shooting occurred about 9 a.m. at an apartment inside the Preserve at City Centre complex at 1076 S. Elkhart St.

“The victim was inside the unit when additional unknown individuals arrived,” Aurora police spokesperson Matthew Wells-Longshore said in a statement. “After a short time, those individuals became involved in a verbal altercation that escalated into a physical confrontation, during which one suspect produced a firearm.”

Witnesses said “multiple shots were fired,” and and some point the man was struck.

“The suspects left in a silver sedan and have not been identified,” Wells-Longshore said. “The victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, where he remains.”

Police said they don’t know yet whether the injured man was target by the shooter, or what led up to the shooting.

Police said anyone with information can call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and still be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000, police said.

— Sentinel Staff

>>>>Fatal three-car crash on I-225 in Aurora leaves one dead, one injured

An unidentified man died in a threecar crash on I-225 in Aurora Jan. 23, and two others were injured, police said.

The crash occurred at about 6 p.m. on northbound I-225, just north of East 17th Avenue, according to Aurora police spokesperson Matthew Wells-Longshore.

“The preliminary investigation revealed that a work van traveling north on I-225 rear-ended a Ford SUV, which then collided with the rear of an Infiniti SUV,” Wells-Longshore said in a statement. “The man driving the work van was transported to the hospital, where he was later died.”

The driver of the Ford SUV was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for minor injuries, police reported.

The man driving the Infiniti SUV was treated at the scene and released.

“Evidence at the scene indicated speeds were below typical highway travel speeds at the time of the crash,” Wells-Longshore said. “The cause of death remains undetermined pending investigation by the Adams County Coroner, who will also identify the driver.”

— Sentinel Staff

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Life in the dark is filled with gray

What human trafficking looks like in Aurora and Colorado

BY CASSANDRA BALLARD, Sentinel Staff Writer

Human trafficking in Colorado is not some shadowy crime confined to distant places, and it rarely looks like the dramatic abductions portrayed online.

Instead, federal and local investigators say it often unfolds through manipulation, familiarity and unmet needs, frequently going unnoticed by the public, even when it is happening in plain sight.

“It’s not people being snatched out of parking lots,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation Victim Specialist Anne Darr, who works on Colorado’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. “Trafficking depends on vulnerability, coercion and manipulation. You cannot control an unwilling victim.”

Colorado’s FBI-led human trafficking task force was formed in 2012 and initially focused on reactive enforcement, which included online stings targeting escort advertisements on websites like Backpage and Craigslist, Darr said. Backpage was shut down and seized by the FBI in 2018.

While those operations recovered victims, they often came too late.

“We were recovering kiddos who were 16 and 17, young adults,” Darr said. “The average age of entry into the life is 12.”

To push back, she said they wanted to find kids aged 12 to 15 at entry levels to do preventive work.

In 2015, agencies across the metro area adopted a “high-risk victim model,” she said, forming multidisciplinary teams that include law enforcement, child welfare, prosecutors, health care providers and victim advocates. Arapahoe and Adams County sheriff departments have special human trafficking investigation units. Douglas County, and Aurora Police, also have victim units that specialize in human trafficking. They all work with the FBI as well.

Human trafficking of minors is now defined under Colorado law as child abuse, allowing information-sharing that was previously restricted and requiring mandatory reporting to child welfare, Darr said.

“A trafficking victim has contact with professionals an average of nine times before someone recognizes what’s happening,” Darr said.

Awareness

Aurora Police Sgt. Joseph Sullivan, who supervises a trafficking-focused unit, said public awareness is important, but it must be paired with context and proximity. Basically, don’t assume and take charge without understanding.

“If you really believe that this is happening, and this person is a victim, and you want to do something, report it,” Sullivan said. “It’s never going to go wrong to report something, because whether the hotline or law enforcement, they will evaluate the totality of the circumstances and then decide the best course of an investigation.”

Reports made to hotlines or police allow professionals to evaluate the totality of circumstances and, if necessary, connect information across multiple incidents, he said.

Signs of trafficking and sexual abuse are usually evident through a lack of autonomy. People are unable to speak for themselves. They don’t have their own identification or their luggage. They seem to regularly have someone acting for them in public places.

Where trafficking goes unnoticed

“Most trafficking victims don’t understand or see themselves as victims,” Sullivan said.

Sex trafficking rarely begins with force or confinement, and that can make it difficult for many victims to recognize what is happening to them.

The typical social media post about someone trying to abduct women by putting something on their car is mostly a hoax, since “people can’t control the unwilling,” Darr said.

If there is something strange involving a car in a parking lot, it is more likely to be a theft or car-theft attempt than abduction and trafficking, Darr said.

Sullivan and Darr said that traffickers typically rely on manipulation rather than violence, building relationships that meet emotional or financial needs before the exploitation begins. Victims may be promised love, protection, money or a better life, and then these promises gradually turn into control, debt or pressure to engage in sex acts for someone else’s benefit.

Because that shift happens slowly, many victims do not initially see themselves as victims. Some believe they are helping a romantic partner, supporting a shared future or making their own choices. The phenomenon is featured in the movie “Tangerine.”

“Human traffickers are very good manipulators, and they are people geniuses,” Sullivan said. “They understand who’s vulnerable, and then they target what’s missing.”

In some cases, questioning by law enforcement or advocates becomes the moment victims begin to understand their situation. In other cases, officers will encounter a victim in the child welfare system and later connect them to trafficking.

Both the Aurora and FBI trafficking specialists compared the dynamic to domestic violence, much like how abuse victims who stay with harmful partners, trafficking victims may return repeatedly, rationalize exploitation or defend the person controlling them. It’s almost a form of Stockholm Syndrome, with fear, emotional attachment, drug dependency and isolation all reinforcing that cycle, they said.

“You don’t wake up one day and decide this is the life you want,” Sullivan said.

That lack of self-identification is one reason trafficking cases are so hard to uncover, and why repeated, patient outreach is often necessary before a victim is ready to accept help, Sullivan said.

“That’s the problem with trafficking, whether it’s sex trafficking or labor trafficking. It happens, but it’s really hard to get the people you need to cooperate to make a case work,” Sullivan said.

While sex trafficking receives most of the public attention, both Darr and Sullivan said labor trafficking is also widespread. Much of their work involves helping the most vulnerable groups being children, but they sometimes deal with labor trafficking as well.

Common indicators include confiscated passports, employer-controlled housing, withheld wages and extortion threats tied to immigration status. It can also happen to people who are not immigrants but are still exploited by an employer.

Fear of deportation or retaliation often keeps some sex and labor trafficking victims from seeking help or contacting police.

Trafficking in Colorado and Aurora Darr said most recruitment now occurs online through social media such as Discord or Instagram and messaging apps, where traffickers pose as romantic partners, friends or people presenting opportunities such as modeling, acting or other chances at a “better life.”

Recruitment can occur in popular kid games such as Roblox, which is currently under investigation for a child-grooming sting.

Concerned parents can visit the FBI’s “Parents’ Guide to Internet Safety” to learn what to look for.

Once recruited, victims may be moved between cities or states. Colorado sits within a broader trafficking circuit that includes Texas, California, Oklahoma and Nevada because of its interstate highways. Darr said that the “Johns,” or the people who purchase sex workers, are also known to pay more in Colorado than in other states, making it more common for some traffickers to transport victims here, especially to the East Colfax Avenue corridor.

They’re transported because you can sell a drug and guns once, but a person can be sold over and over again, Darr said.

One case in 2020 in Arapahoe County involved two runaway 14-year-olds, one of whom was in foster care, who were recruited online by Kenneth T. Noel, a man in Texas, with the understanding that they were going to Las Vegas to be strippers. The man was caught for a traffic violation, and an officer noticed something was “off,” with the girls not being related to the man and the fact that they were bragging about becoming strippers.

The case was recently prosecuted by 18th Judicial District Attorney Amy Padden, with the help of Darr. The young girls were able to recognize that something was not right when they mentioned to the officer that the man assaulted them the night before. Noel received 35 years in prison because the victims were able to cooperate. One victim is now married and a mother.

In the Denver metro area, streetbased exploitation resurged after the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly along East Colfax Avenue near Yosemite Street, an area known as Colorado’s local “blade” or “track,” terms used by law enforcement to refer to sex work strips of roadway, within a 50-block range.

Despite local perceptions, Sullivan said most individuals working Colfax did not freely choose that life. Sometimes sex workers will work without a pimp, but in almost every case, there is someone who got them into the business.

“Very rarely is it just someone deciding to do this randomly,” he said. “There’s someone who manipulates people into this world.”

One of the most alarming trends Sullivan and Darr mentioned was cases where parents or relatives exploit children for money or drugs.

“These cases are discovered, they’re not disclosed,” Darr said. “For (the victim) to be able to put that trust in their law enforcement, detectives and investigators, and then in their federal partners, is crucial to be able to combat this problem and recognize that it is a problem here.”

The youngest victim Darr said she has personally encountered in Colorado was a 9-year-old being sold by her parents for drugs. Some advocacy organizations report victims as young as 3 years old.

“They were at a hotel, and they threw up an advertisement on Craigslist, and

they were seeking drugs,” Darr said. “Basically, they were willing to sell their nine-year-old daughter in exchange for getting their drug habit met. Probably one of the most horrific recoveries that I’ve ever had to do.”

Indicators and red flags

Aurora Police currently focuses its trafficking investigations on sex trafficking involving people aged 21 and younger, prioritizing juveniles due to limited resources and the long-term harm of early exploitation. Much of the work Darr does with the FBI is the same.

“A lot of times these cases are very much masked by domestic violence or sexual assault, and so it’s kind of looking beneath the surface of some of those hidden red flags and factors and asking more questions,” Darr said. “A lot of times, these cases come to the forefront because of that education and kind of preventative awareness piece.”

Between 60% and 70% of trafficking victims have had prior contact with child welfare, according to The National Foster Youth Institute. Nearly all have histories of abuse, neglect or instability, both Darr and Sullivan said. Children who have run away are significantly vulnerable to trafficking, with one in six runaways becoming likely victims of human trafficking, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Even children overdosing on heavy drugs can be a red flag for trafficking since drugs are a common way for traffickers to control their victims.

“Unfortunately, we’ve seen a couple of times where kiddos have overdosed and died because of what their pimp has given them, which is also their drug dealer,” Darr said. “I would say addiction is probably one of the most (controlling) of methods that they use to be able to keep those victims under their control.”

Cases often originate from patrol officers, runaway reports and patterns identified across investigations, Sullivan said. Federal law requires runaway incidents involving children in state custody to be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

“Runaways are running from something or running to something,” Sullivan said. “If all their needs were being met, they wouldn’t leave.”

Darr talked about a recent case she is completing in Denver where a pimp beat a 15-year-old runaway girl living in a motel on Colfax nearly to death because she refused to work for him.

They were able to charge the man with attempted murder and first-degree assault. The trial is coming up in Denver at the end of March on those charges. She said that this was a case that initially looked like a domestic violence or assault case, and was later realized to be trafficking.

Stacking drug charges against the pimps feeding underaged people drugs is one way they can hold people accountable if they are unable to prove trafficking.

Prosecution and punishment

Colorado has some of the strongest trafficking statutes in the country, Darr said. Trafficking a child is a Class 2 felony with mandatory prison sentences, and one recent case resulted in a sentence exceeding 400 years.

Colorado’s statutes are so strong that many cases are charged at the state level instead of the federal level, Darr said. Still, Sullivan said sentencing outcomes do not always match the severity of crimes involving children. Non-violent cases where people exploit children can be eligible for probation and early release. “I don’t think punishments are harsh enough for people who exploit children,” he said. “Some of these crimes are probation-eligible. That’s hard to justify.”

Darr said that successful prosecutions often depend on victim cooperation, which may not come for years. Also, some victims may not want to cooperate or may not think of their trafficker as an abuser or exploiter.

“That delay makes cases harder to prove,” Darr said. “But documentation matters.”

A Senate Bill called “Commercial Sexual Activity with a Child Offenses,” introduced this legislative session, could make it easier for prosecutors to crack down on people soliciting, facilitating or engaging in commercial sex acts with children, with lengthy prison sentences by redefining and reclassifying the crime. Sullivan said there are fears it could be tempered before it passes.

When in doubt, report it, they said. Reports can be made anonymously and evaluated over time, even if a victim is not ready to come forward.

For help or to report suspected trafficking:

Colorado Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-866-455-5075

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733

The Magazine

Aurora History Museum to showcase Black history with community-sourced exhibit

MUSEUM STAFF IS LOOKING FOR AURORA’S BLACK RESIDENTS AS WELL AS PEOPLE WITH RELATED ANECDOTES AND EPHEMERA TO BROADEN AND DEEPEN THE EXHIBIT

BY ELAINE TASSY, CPR News

Anew exhibit about Aurora’s Black history will open at the Aurora History Museum this summer, and there are two ways for community members to suggest what gets included in it.

First, a community roundtable was held last week. It was moderated by Adrian Miller, who served as co-project director and lead curator of an exhibit in Boulder that closed last September.

The Museum of Boulder was the home to a two-year exhibit, “Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History.”

Now, the Aurora History Museum is working on a similar exhibit that will focus on the history of Blacks in Aurora, set to open in July.

“It is intended to broaden understanding of Aurora’s Black history and bring forward the voices of people who have shaped the city,” said Keith Outcelt, the museum’s education curator.

He said the museum staff is looking for Aurora’s Black residents as well as people with related anecdotes and ephemera to broaden and deepen what’s included in the exhibit.

In addition to the roundtable, there is an online survey where people can make suggestions. Questions they can answer include: “Are there specific locations in Aurora that hold deep meaning for you or the Black community; places where important cultural, social or historical moments took place?” and “When you think about Black history in Aurora, what people, places, organizations or events come to mind as being especially important or influential” The survey will be open until Spring, 2026.

‘Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History’ exhibit opens MLK Day at El Pueblo History Museum

One example that’s already come from members of the community pertains to a Black cowboy named Henry Lewis, who hasn’t received much historical shine.

“His ranch was in what is now Aurora. His ranch was a stopping point for cowboys on the pro rodeo circuit. He was really helping to provide a place for Black cowboys to stay,” he said, adding that they’re still learning about this character in Aurora’s Black history and haven’t collected photos or dates yet.

“This really is an introductory piece for us, to make sure we are doing research into what the community thinks is important,” he said of the roundtable, where people can offer ideas of what should be a part of the exhibit, including their own local lore and items.

So far, in addition to what the museum staff has gathered, “what exists of the exhibit is what we are borrowing from the exhibit in Boulder, but we really want to fill that out with what we find out at the roundtable,” he added.

Scott Williams, director of the Aurora History Museum, said the idea to put on such an exhibit was formed after seeing the exhibit in Boulder.

With funding from the museum’s budget, the new exhibit, whose possible title will be discussed at the roundtable next Wednesday, will be up from July 14, 2026, through Nov. 7, 2026, according to Williams.

Aurora, Denver focus on community at Black History Month with free events Community organizations in Aurora and Denver are joining forces to mark Black History Month with two free public events in February that will bring together elected officials, faith leaders, advocates and residents for discussion, recognition and community engagement.

A panel discussion at one February event dubbed, “What’s Next for Aurora,” will focus on future priorities and challenges facing the city and its Black community.

The Colorado Black Round Table announced that it is collaborating with Black elected officials, businesses, faith leaders and community organizations from across the metro area to host events in Aurora and Denver this year.

Other organizations are offering a bevy of Aurora events as well across Black History Month in February.

The first CBRT event is scheduled for Feb. 12, on the main campus of the Community College of Aurora. The program is slated for 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. in Heritage Hall in the Fine Arts Building, 1600 E. CentreTech Parkway.

The event is free and no registration is required.

A community reception begins at 5 p.m., followed by the Black History Month program at 6 p.m. Organizers said the event will feature remarks from Colorado state Senate President James Coleman, along with comments from other Colorado elected officials.

An update on Justice for Black Coloradans, a statewide initiative, presented by its director, Yarkenda Payne is part of the agenda.

A panel discussion on “What’s Next for Aurora” is scheduled as well.

The Aurora event will conclude with a Colorado Black Round Table Black History Month Community Service Award ceremony.

Honorees this year include Community College of Aurora President Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, Arapahoe County Commissioner Rhonda Fields, Aurora community advocates Barbara Shannon Bannister and Everette Brinson, Aurora Public Schools Superintendent Michael Giles, Rocky Mountain NAACP State Conference President Omar Montgomery, Aurora NAACP President the Rev. Thomas Mayes, Colorado Interfaith Alliance Chief Ex-

“We got in touch with the creators of the exhibit; we got a tour of the exhibit, and at that point, there was an NEH grant that the Museum of Boulder was taking the lead in bringing in different partners for this traveling exhibit idea. The grant didn’t happen because the new administration got rid of that funding, but [the exhibit] was going to happen either way. We made that commitment at the end of 2024.”

Opportunity

A second CBRT Black History Month event is slated for Feb. 21, in Denver at the Zion Senior and Community Resources Center, 5151 E. 33rd Ave.

That event will begin with a Black History Month community meet-andgreet coffee hour at 9 a.m., followed by a program at 10 a.m. The program will include presentations and a panel discussion led by Smith on “Building Capacity in Black Community Through Black Community Organizations.”

The Denver program will also feature another Justice for Black Coloradans update, as well as a Black and Brown community “hot topics” conversation focused on the use of Flock Safety technology in Denver.

A recognition ceremony will be part of the program, with the Colorado Black Round Table presenting a Community Service Award to Richard Lewis and the RTL Foundation. The organization will also present its Regis Groff–Paul Sandoval Mile High Spirit Awards to Judge Gary Jackson and to Nita and Rudy Gonzales.

Following the program and recognition ceremony, a candidate forum and a Black History Month community reception are scheduled to begin at noon.

Organizers said both events are free and open to the public and are intended to celebrate Black history while fostering dialogue, civic engagement and collaboration within the community.

Tween Movie Club: Celebrating Black Voices at the Aurora Public Library

A special movie viewing geared toward ages 9-13 that highlights films focused on Black stories, creators, or characters. The library provides snacks and refreshments, and the screening is followed by an informal discussion encouraging youth to engage with themes of identity, history and representation. This is a great way for families to explore Black culture through age-appropriate cinema in a communal space.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Thursday, Feb. 12, 4 p.m.–5:30

p.m.

Place: Aurora Public Library – Central Activity Room, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway

Cost: Free Info: 303-739-6600 and auroraco. libnet.info/events

Library Teen Roundup: Black History Jeopardy at Aurora Public Library

Teens ages 12-18 are invited to test their knowledge of Black history in a game-show style Jeopardy competition. Participants will play in teams or individually, answering questions drawn from Black history, culture and achievements, with snacks and prizes provided. This engaging activity builds knowledge and community among youth.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Thursday, Feb. 26, 4 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

Place: Aurora Public Library – Central Activity Room, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway

Cost: Free Info: 303-739-6600 and auroraco. libnet.info/events

Tween Family Movie and Cultural Conversation at the Aurora Public Library

Although not exclusively listed as a Black History program on the library calendar, this Tween Movie Club screening is scheduled during the Black History Month and specifically celebrates Black voices in film, making it a relevant cultural event for families and youth.

>>>>>Black History Live 2026: African Americans in the West at the Aurora Public Library

This dramatic historical presentation brings to life the story of York, the only Black member of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, through performance and interpretation. The program is part of Colorado Humanities’ Black History Live tour and is designed to educate all ages about underrepresented figures in Western history. It includes context, Q&A and an exploration of African American con-

tributions to U.S. expansion westward.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Feb. 21, 2 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

Place: Aurora Public Library – Central Large Community Room, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway

Cost: Free Info: 303-739-6600; auroraco.libnet.info/events

Homeschool Day: Black History –Aurora History Museum

Part of the museum’s monthly Homeschool Days series, this event introduces students ages 5–12 to the history of Dearfield, an early 20th Century Black agricultural settlement in Colorado. Participants use primary sources and hands-on exploration to understand the community’s founding, everyday life and legacy. Siblings and adults are welcomed. Unique activities are designed to complement homeschool curricula.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Monday, Feb. 2, 9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.

Place: Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway

Cost: $8 per student and includes one adult

Info: 303-739-7000; auroragov.org/ museum

Black Chefs in the White House with Adrian Miller at the Aurora History Museum

Award-winning culinary author Adrian Miller, known for “The President’s Kitchen Cabinet,” discusses the influential role of African Americans in shaping U.S. presidential cuisine. Miller’s talk combines food history, cultural narratives and personal insights, exploring how Black chefs and culinary traditions have intersected with American political life.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Feb. 12, 6 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Place: Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway

Cost: Free, but registration is recommended

Info: 303-739-7000 and auroragov. org/museum

p.m.; Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada; tickets $28–$47; coloradojazz.org or 720-898-7200.

Waiting for Godot at the Aurora Fox Arts Center

scene & herd

Romeo and Juliet: Ellington’s Love Songs with the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra

The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra brings romance, sophistication and sweeping sound to the stage with Romeo and Juliet: Ellington’s Love Songs, a lush concert celebrating the tender and passionate side of Duke Ellington’s legendary catalog. The big band will be joined by a string section featuring violins, viola and cello, lending added texture and depth to the romantic arrangements. While Ellington’s music anchors the concert, the program also includes selections from other influential composers of the era, such as Leonard Bernstein and Irving Berlin, creating a broad musical portrait of love in all its forms—tender, joyful, heartbroken and bold. Mayfield, a nationally recognized vocalist, composer and educator, brings her voice and expressive artistry to the stage as the evening’s featured soloist.

IF YOU GO: Saturday, Jan. 31, 7:30

Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” arrives at the Aurora Fox in a thoughtfully staged production that leans into the play’s wit, melancholy, and enduring relevance. Often described as both absurdist comedy and existential meditation, the play follows two men, Vladimir and Estragon, as they wait endlessly for someone named Godot, filling the time with jokes, arguments, memories, and fleeting moments of hope. As the waiting stretches on, the play becomes a reflection on friendship, purpose, and the human need for meaning in an uncertain world. Whether encountering Beckett for the first time or revisiting a classic, theatergoers will find plenty to laugh at — and plenty to ponder — in this stripped-down yet emotionally rich production.

IF YOU GO: Jan. 30 through Feb. 22, at the Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax. Tickets are $17–$42. Details and reservations at 303-739-1970 or www.aurorafoxartscenter.org.

Exit, Pursued By A Bear

This dark, theatrical comedy weaves absurdity and emotional complexity in a story about Nan, who decides to break free from her troubled past and literally tape her abuser to a chair as part of a wildly imaginative re-enactment of their shared history. With sharp, surreal humor and memorable character dynamics, the production challenges audience expectations while probing themes of

catharsis, redemption, and the messy evolution of relationships.

IF YOU GO: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. through Feb. 1 at the People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave. Tickets: $17.55-$32.55. Go to www.thepeoplesbuilding.com or call 720-772-6950.

“The Shark Is Broken”

In a regional premiere full of wit and backstage antics, Vintage Theatre presents “The Shark Is Broken”, a fastpaced comedy chronicling the untold story of the making of “Jaws”. Running through Feb.15, 2026, this uproarious show dives into the turbulent production of one of cinema’s most iconic blockbusters — where the “shark” (the mechanical prop affectionately nicknamed “Bruce”) repeatedly malfunctions, tensions between stars mount, and absurdity bubbles over both on and off the constructed set. Written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon and directed by Luke Rahmsdorff-Terry, “The Shark Is Broken” artfully blends slapstick humor with sharp character interplay among actors portraying Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, and Richard Dreyfuss as they bond, bicker, and booze their way through endless technical setbacks. The Vintage’s Bond-Trimble Theatre space enhances the immediacy of the experience, placing audiences at the heart of the chaotic shoot — much like being “on set” with this hilariously beleaguered cast. Whether you’re a movie buff curious about Hollywood folklore or simply seeking a night of uproarious, character-driven comedy, this show offers both laughs and glimpses into the unpredictable theater of filmmaking.

IF YOU GO: Through Feb. 15, Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows.

Curtains vary at the Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St. Tickets: $20–$36 at www.vintagetheatre.org or call 303-856-7830.

The Long View: Making Art a Part of Life

Downtown Aurora Visual Arts opens its newest exhibition with a public reception celebrating the career of artist Linda Graham. “The Long View” examines how creativity evolves over a lifetime, featuring ceramic and mixed-media works that reflect decades of experimentation and personal growth. The opening reception invites visitors to meet fellow art lovers, engage with the artist’s themes of persistence and curiosity, and explore how art-making can be woven into everyday life. Light refreshments and informal conversation make this a welcoming entry point for both seasoned collectors and first-time gallery visitors.

IF YOU GO: Weekdays 10 am to 5 pm. through Feb. 23 at the DAVA studios, 1405 Florence St. No charge for admission. For details, call 303-724-0550 or go to www.davarts.org.

Denver Jewish Film Festival marks 30th anniversary

The Denver Jewish Film Festival celebrates three decades of cinema, culture, and community with its 30th annual festival, running Jan. 22 through Feb. 1 at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center. The 2026 edition features a carefully curated lineup of 40 films — narrative features, documentaries, and shorts — written or directed by Jewish filmmakers or exploring Jewish culture, identi-

ty, history, and contemporary life. The festival is known for bringing films to Denver that are rarely screened locally, pairing in-person showings with filmmaker Q&As, lectures, and community conversations that encourage dialogue across backgrounds and generations. The festival closes with “Match Maker 2”, accompanied by a champagne toast and a tribute honoring longtime festival contributor Mark Boscoe.

IF YOU GO: Jan. 22–Feb. 1 at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students/seniors. Multifilm passes are available. Details and tickets at tickets.jccdenver.org/djff.

Ritmo Cascabel brings Mad Cumbia Dance Party to Aurora

Ritmo Cascabel brings high-energy rhythms and infectious dance beats to Manos Sagrados with a Mad Cumbia Dance Party that blends live performance with communal celebration. Rooted in traditional cumbia and infused with modern influences, the music invites dancers of all levels onto the floor. The event emphasizes movement, joy, and cultural exchange, transforming the venue into a vibrant late-night gathering space. Known for hosting genre-crossing performances, Manos Sagrados provides an intimate backdrop where audiences can dance up close to the musicians or simply soak in the sound. The party atmosphere makes it an ideal choice for anyone looking to shake off winter and experience Aurora’s multicultural arts scene in motion.

IF YOU GO: Jan. 30, 9 p.m. at Manos Sagrados, 9975 East Colfax Ave. Tickets are free or for a donation. Details at www.manossagrados.com.

Right: Smoky Hill sophomore Taylor Dirden (5) races upcourt after pulling down a rebound during the opening half of a Centennial League home game against Cherry Creek Jan. 21. The Buffaloes downed the Bruins 53-49 for their first win in the matchup in more than two decades and for their first league victory since the 2021-22 season.

Below: Juniors Sasha Davis (13) and Emma Davis, right, double-team Cherry Creek’s Ivey Egan-Gibney (2) during a Centennial League contest Jan. 23. The Trailblazers had won five in a row going into the contest, a 70-55 loss to the Bruins.

With just eight combined wins over the past three seasons — none in Centennial League play — external expectations for the Smoky Hill girls basketball team were understandably underwhelming.

Internally, however, the Buffaloes knew things would be different in the 2025-26 campaign.

A second season of reshaping culture under head coach Shawn Dirden and the transfers of several impact players created a sense of optimism that has been born out on the court in a notable 11-3 start.

Stronger herd

BY COURTNEY OAKES Sports Editor

“Our goals from the beginning were set high, to have a winning season and make the playoffs,” Dirden said. “Last season was not as much about winning and losing, but about attitude and work ethic. We were building a foundation and I just told them ‘I need you to believe.’”

In his first season coaching a girls team, Dirden — a former assistant at multiple men’s college programs who also had the head job with the Cherokee Trail boys from 2008-11 — guided the team to five wins. It was a significant jump from one victory in the 2023-24 season after two wins the season prior.

That constituted momentum, which got accelerated with the additions of several new players.

Junior guard Ari Boyd — a regular in the rotation at Cherry Creek last season — made the move, while Dirden’s daughter Taylor, a sophomore, also got into the school after she played as a freshman at Denver South.

Sophomore Leilani Gordon, who played at St. Mary’s in Colorado Springs last season, arrived as well to join a

mix that included only two returning regulars in senior Chloe Davis and sophomore Sailor Roth, plus sophomore reserve Emma Stangle.

Dirden said the non-league schedule had been set up for a team that needed some winnable games and that’s just what Smoky Hill did with six wins in its first seven games, a span in which it held three opponents (Gateway, Palmer and Adams City) in single digits.

The Buffaloes went into winter break with a 6-2 record after a six-point loss to Poudre Dec. 18, then returned from break with four straight wins to reach 10 before the arrival of Centennial League play.

Smoky Hill had lost 23 consecutive conference games dating back to a win against Overland on Feb. 16, 2022, and had to face a Cherry Creek team it hadn’t beaten in more than two decades and lost to by 47 last season.

That’s what made a 53-45 home win Jan. 21 so sweet, as Boyd (who has scored in double figures in all 14 games and is averaging 23.1 points per game) poured in 28 points against her former team, Taylor Dirden had nine points and 13 rebounds and Gordon accounted for eight in the victory.

“The players, the staff and the administration were super excited and they were throwing water around when I got into the lockerroom,” Dirden said.

Dirden emphasized that to truly turn the corner into a successful program, lingering on wins or losses has to be brief and the focus must turn quickly.

“I keep telling them, this isn’t a 30-day lease, the rent is due every single day” he said. “They are buying into that.”

Smoky Hill had its winning streak snapped with a four-point road loss Jan. 24 at Eaglecrest, yet another team off to an outstanding start.

The Centennial League as a whole was extremely healthy ahead of conference play, as five of the eight programs (Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Overland and Arapahoe in addition to Smoky Hill) had double-digit wins,

while the three that didn’t (defending 6A state champion Grandview, Cherry Creek and Mullen) all have healthy traditions and started their respective seasons against especially tough competition.

Overland is also off to a remarkable start —12-3 — given its history, though it has not experienced a turnaround as dramatic as Smoky Hill. Coach Wondame Davis’ team had won double digits in the three previous seasons, but its start gives it plenty of time to take a run at matching or bettering the 18-win team from 2007-08.

The Trailblazers opened Centennial League play with a 52-49 win over Mullen, which had won the last 10 meetings between the teams by an average margin of victory of 43 points. A streak that began after Overland’s threepoint win on Feb. 14, 2018, came to end when junior Michaela Halton tallied a game-high 24 points and helped seal the result at the free throw line.

Eaglecrest has a new look with the arrival of transfers Kennedy and Kiarra Spellman and a new coaching staff that has forged a 12-3 start, while Cherokee Trail has established itself as a championship contender with a 13-2 start — which included a loss to Arapahoe in a powerhouse Centennial League opener — and Grandview (7-8) has been more than competitive in the wake of the graduation of superstar Sienna Betts.

but had the streak snapped in the opening event of the day when Dossey won the 1-meter diving competition.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Reloaded Rangeview wins 22nd straight APS meet

The Rangeview girls swim team has turned the page to youth this season, but hasn’t skipped a beat in competitiveness.

Seniors that combined to win 10 of a 12-event event sweep at last season’s Aurora Public Schools Championship/ Jim Fernald Memorial meet graduated, but coach Robin Allen’s team barely registered the difference at this season’s meet.

Junior Chela Gonzalez and sophomore Anna Arana captured two events apiece as did Daveah Archibeque — part of the host Raiders’ contingent of just four seniors — in a 642-point performance Jan. 24 that secured the program’s 22nd consecutive victory at the meet that also includes district programs Hinkley, Aurora Central and Gateway.

“We had a big number graduate from last year and it’s really exciting to have a lot of freshmen come in to help build the team again,” Allen said.

Coach Beth Himes’ Thunder accrued 354 points for second, followed by coach Jess Collins’ Trojans with 333 — which included an event title from senior Berenice Guerrero Cuarenta — and finally coach McKenna Laferriere’s Olys, who also had a winner in junior diver Makenna Dossey. Rangeview had swept the meet for each of the past two seasons and had won 35 consecutive events dating back to the first event of the 2023 competition,

Four-time city diving champion Hailey McDonald graduated and Dossey became the successor as she earned a victory by 6.6 points over Rangeview junior Kathy Nguyen to give the Olys a victory at the meet for the first time since Jenny Lorie won the 100 breaststroke in 2022.

The Raiders then ripped off eight victories before Guerrero Cuarenta won the closest race of the day with a touch out of Rangeview freshman Chloe Avison in final heat of the 100 yard breaststroke.

Guerrero Cuarenta became the Trojans’ first winner at the meet since 2023 when the 200 yard medley relay won after two teams were disqualified.

Archibeque finished second in two individual events at the APS meet as a freshman in 2023, but ended her career with 10 consecutive wins. She won the 200 yard freestyle for the third straight season with a time of 2 minutes, 32.11 seconds, which got her to the wall more than 12 seconds ahead of freshman teammate Marson Yemane. Archibeque also had a two-year winning streak in the 500 freestyle, but swam the 100 freestyle instead this season and dominated the event, which saw the Raiders sweep the top four spots on the medal podium.

Gonzalez finished fourth in the 200 individual medley and third in the 100 butterfly last season and moved up to win titles in both with decisive victories. Her time of 2:50.94 in the IM gave her a nearly 14-second edge over freshman teammate Olivia Le, while she had a margin of nine-plus seconds over Le in the butterfly.

Arana clocked a time of 29.76 seconds to win the 50 freestyle in a huge time

jump from the 32.29 from 2025 that left her fourth, while she was the 500 freestyle runner-up last season to Archibeque, but posted a win by more than a minute over freshman teammate Lara Genel in the event this time. Archibeque teamed with Arana, Gonzalez and freshman Faith Utt on the winning 400 yard freestyle relay, while she was also part of the victorious 200 freestyle relay squad along with a trio of freshmen in Utt, Le and Avison.

“There’s only four seniors, so as a team captain on a young team, it was my responsibility to push people and be able to be there for them,” Archibeque said. “We were able to keep a positive mindset and I’m really happy with how it ended.”

Gonzalez, Arana, Le and junior Scarlett Tambunan — who won a championship of her own individually in the 100 yard backstroke — combined to take the meet-opening 200 yard medley relay.

Hinkley had no champions, but had a consistent presence on the podium with help from sophomore Lilly Carter (who took third in the 100 breaststroke and fifth in the 200 freestyle) and senior Leessy Diaz (third in 100 butterfly and fifth in 200 individual medley), while both combined with juniors Tanya Lopez-Baldenegro and Asher Scares Hawk on the runner-up 400 yard freestyle relay team.

Aurora Central’s top performance came from Guerrero Cuarenta (who dropped nearly three seconds from her seed time in her win in the 100 breaststroke and was also fourth in the 200 IM), while Siobhan James finished fourth in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 freestyle. James, Taylor Paul, Adrianna Chatman and Maya De Haro had the Trojans’ best relay performance as well with runner-up result in the 200 freestyle relay.

Dossey also finished third in the 100 backstroke to lead Gateway.

WEEK PAST

The week past in Aurora prep sports

MONDAY, JAN. 26: James Coleman scored 47 points, while DeKimbae High had 16 as the Vanguard Classical East boys basketball team topped Rocky Mountain Lutheran 71-66 in overtime. ...The William Smith boys basketball team improved to 5-0 in the 3A/2A Foothills League with a 66-57 OT win at Nederland. ...The Regis Jesuit ice hockey team won a matinee against Heritage 4-2 on goals from Andrew Brennick, Dylan Nash, Beau Paton and Cedar Regan SATURDAY, JAN. 24: Reece Brown tied for game-high honors with 23 points for the Eaglecrest boys basketball team in a 68-59 Centennial League home win over Smoky Hill. Clayton Kalimba tallied 15 and Demari Manns Davis 13 for the Raptors, while Cruz Valdez had 23 points for the Buffs, who also got 12 from Daniel Boyd Naomi Emecheta and Kiarra Spellman had 11 points apiece for the host Eaglecrest girls basketball team as it downed Smoky Hill 43-39 in Centennial League win. Ari Boyd’s 16 points led the Buffaloes. ...The Gateway girls basketball team earned a 42-21 home win over Hinkley Nakhai Miller won the 190-pound bracket and Aiden Ritz (106) and James Pearson (126) were runners-up for the Eaglecrest boys wrestling team in its title win at the Northglenn Norse Invitational. ...The Vista PEAK Prep boys wrestling team had a handful of top-six placers — led by Gavin Fifita, who took third at 157 pounds — to finish 11th at the Mile High

Classic. Matthew Canales took fifth at 190 pounds for 16th-place Hinkley. ...The Eaglecrest girls wrestling team finished fourth among 46 scoring teams at the Tiara Challenge with Parice Jones’ 170-pound title leading five top-eight placers. Amelia Bacon of Vista PEAK Prep (125) and Regis Jesuit’s Remington Zimmerer (120) won championships. Owen Kulczewski, Matthew Lopez, Davis Ritter and Christian Romine scored goals for the Cherry Creek ice hockey team in a 4-3 road win over Monarch. ...FRIDAY, JAN. 23: Marceles Duncan poured in 37 points to help lead the Rangeview boys basketball team to an 82-66 City League road win at Denver East that also included 10-point efforts from Anthony Andrew, Conrad Marshall Jr. and Aidan Perez. ...The Grandview boys basketball team built a double-digit lead in the second half, but had to survive two last-second shots by Cherokee Trail for a 47-46 Centennial League road win. Ismael Kabongo paced the Wolves while Charlie Atkinson had nine, including seven in the pivotal third quarter, while Jordan Mitchell had a gamehigh 15 for the Cougars. ...The Regis Jesuit boys basketball team rolled to a 76-34 Continental League victory over Ponderosa as 10 players got in the scoring column. Eric Fiedler’s 24 points led the way for the Raiders, who got nine apiece from Anthony Lynett and Michael Price. ...The Cherokee Trail girls basketball team edged away from Grandview in the fourth quarter and evened its Centennial League record at 1-1 with a 66-56 home victory. A trio of Cougars scored in double figures in Milania Gutierrez (18 points), Aaliyah Broadus (14) and Hannah Hazim (10), while

FAR LEFT: Grandview’s Jason Stroope, right, hangs in the air before making a short shot over Cherokee Trail’s Anthony Ayon in the Wolves’ 47-46 boys basketball win Jan. 23. ABOVE LEFT: Eaglecrest’s Alyssa Apolinar, top, pins Vista PEAK Prep’s Noemi Ramos during the Raptors’ dual match win over the Bison Jan. 22. ABOVE: Regis Jesuit’s Beau Paton (12) heads up ice during the Raiders’ 4-2 ice hockey win over Heritage Jan. 26. BELOW LEFT: Rangeview’s Daveah Archibeque, center, sends an air high five to a teammate after winning the 200 yard freestyle at the Aurora Public Schools Championship/Jim Fernald Memorial meet Jan. 24. Archibeque’s two titles helped the Raiders win the meet for a 22nd straight season. BELOW CENTER: Aurora Central’s Berenice Guerrero Cuarenta smiles after winning the APS Championship in the 100 yard breaststroke Jan. 24. BELOW

RIGHT: Grandview’s Jonathan Montes Gonzales, top, finishes off a win over Cherokee Trail’s Ryan Everhart in the Wolves’ boys wrestling dual win Jan. 22. RIGHT: Cherokee Trail’s Jordan Mitchell completes a 360 degree dunk during the Cougars’ home loss to Grandview Jan. 23. (Photos by Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)

the Wolves got 20 from Sorrelle Kamgang plus 13 from Ava Chang Celie Dengler tallied 18 points and Molly Schimmer had 17 for the Regis Jesuit girls basketball team in a decisive 66-32 Continental League win over Ponderosa. ...The Vista PEAK Prep girls basketball team posted a 57-25 road win at Canon City with matching 16-point performances from Laila Armstrong and Knakai Starks. ...Despite 29 points from Michaela Halton, the Overland girls basketball team had its winning streak snapped with a 70-55 loss at Cherry Creek. ...The Cherokee Trail boys wrestling team competed in a tri-dual at Fort Lupton that included a 58-22 win over the hosts. Elijah Van Horn, Owen Babcock, Zachary Stevens, Andrew Dienhart, Cody Perkins and Youdas Aghouiles won by fall for the Cougars. ...Adrian Pacheco, Chris Chavez, Abraham Garcia, Monzair Arabi, Landen Barnett and Kent Luft recorded pins for the Vista PEAK Prep boys wrestling team in a 54-17 dual win over Highlands Ranch. ...Liam Corcoran had a goal and an assist and Matthew Lopez and Davis Ritter also had goals for the Cherry Creek ice hockey team in a 3-1 win over Denver East.

THURSDAY, JAN. 22: Alex Flores led a foursome of double-digit scorers for the Aurora Central boys basketball team with 25 points in a 78-56 Colorado League win over Thornton. Jamari Fleming added 14 points, while Fikiri Hawazi had 12 and Deon Davis Jr. 11 for the Trojans. ... The Lotus School For Excellence boys basketball team kept rolling with a 74-18 win over Aurora West College Prep Academy. ...The Aurora Central girls basketball team eased to a 50-17 Colorado League victory over Thornton with

the help forJamaea Johnson-Gonzalez’s 16 points, plus 12 for Bella Lumba and 11 for Andena Torres. ...The Grandview boys wrestling team rallied from a 12-0 hole after two matches to defeat rival Cherokee Trail 54-18 in a high-stakes Centennial League dual match. JR Ortega, Kyle Menuez, Anthony Segura, Marques Lawrence and Leland Day secured wins by fall for the Wolves to overcome pins by Elijah Van Horn and Charlie Rider to open the match. ...The Eaglecrest boys wrestling team dropped just one bout on its way to a 73-6 dual match road win at Vista PEAK Prep that included wins by fall from Aiden Ritz, Cade Picone, Dane Sims, Aisley Retallack, Tayte Tahja and Charles Swick. A pin from Kelvin Marfo earned the lone points for the Bison. ... The Smoky Hill boys wrestling team downed Aurora Central 65-18 in a non-league dual match that featured pins from Tagg Charity, Jovani Galvan, Dominick Crowe, William Ramirez, Anthony Nguyen, David Lopez and Ty Benedict to offset the wins by fall from the Trojans’ Happy Htoo, Alexis Gonzalez and Federico Amezquita Lara Sailor Matejovsky, Lily Homant, Sydney Babi, Olivia Fabbricatore and Alyssa Apolinar earned pins for the Eaglecrest girls wrestling team in a 66-16 win at Vista PEAK Prep. Amelia Bacon and Khloe Yizar countered with wins by fall for the Bison. ...Only two bouts were contested between the Smoky Hill and Aurora Central girls wrestling teams and each took one (Maria Pascual Francisco and Tremoni Scaggs, respectively), as the Buffaloes

won 24-6. ...The Regis Jesuit girls swim team topped Chaparral 128-58 in a Continental League dual meet that saw the Raiders get two victories from Elsa Osborne and Lexi Stramel to go with a relay sweep. ...The Smoky Hill girls swim team earned a 118-67 road dual win at Cherokee Trail as Mya Noffsinger and Cameryn Walkup were two-event winners for the Buffaloes. Natalie Daum and JJ Siah earned wins for the Cougars. Makenna Dyk’s two event wins and firsts in both freestyle relays weren’t enough for the Grandview girls swim team in a 102-84 Centennial League dual loss at Arapahoe.

For more on these stories, visit sentinelcolorado. com/preps

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21: The Rangeview boys basketball team built a 40-point lead over George Washington after one half and went on to an 87-51 City League home win. Marceles Duncan had 27 points and 11 rebounds, while Aidan Perez added 16 points, Archie Weatherspoon V 14 and Anthony Andrew 10. ...Matthew Samson had a game-high 17 points and Ismael Kabongo added 15 for the Grandview boys basketball team, which started fast and held off Eaglecrest for a 55-51 home win in the Centennial League opener for both teams. Clayton Kalimba had 14 points, Reece Brown 13 and Demari Manns Davis 10 for the balanced Raptors in defeat. ...Jordan Mitchell tallied 23 points to help the Cherokee Trail boys basketball team earn a 63-50 win at Arapahoe to open Centennial League play. Caleb Jensen (11 points) and Cameron Hopkins (10) also reached double digits. ...The Overland boys basketball team got outscored by eight points in the

fourth quarter to fall to Mullen 61-57 in a Centennial League home game. ...The Grandview girls basketball team outscored Eaglecrest 27-5 in the final quarter of the Centennial League opener and prevailed 58-38 at home. Ava Chang tallied 23 points, Sorrelle Kamgang had 11 and Kendall Tracy 10 for the Wolves, while the Raptors were led by Kennedy Spellman with 17 and Kiarra Spellman with nine. ...The Smoky Hill girls basketball team earned its first win over Cherry Creek in 20 years with a 53-45 home victory that was paced by former Bruin Ari Boyd with 28 points, while Taylor Dirden added nine and Leilani Gordon eight. ... The Overland girls basketball team held off Mullen for a 52-49 Centennial League home victory. ...The Cherokee Trail girls basketball team suffered a 67-58 road loss at Arapahoe to begin Centennial League play. ...Hugo Gonzalez had a pin, while Illia Fialkov, Roman Chavez and Juan Valdez Martinez won by technical fall for the Overland boys wrestling team in a 37-35 dual match win against Aurora Central. The Trojans got the majority of their points via forfeits to go with a pin from Logan Echeman and a tech fall from Andy Torres. ...The Overland girls wrestling team won all six of the matches wrestled — as Ellena Behre, Mihret Shimels, Isabela Perez Perez, Rabbona Khalifaeva and Jackelyne Torreblanca Oseguera had pins — in a 54-12 dual match win over Aurora Central. ...The Hinkley girls swim team earned 98 points to finish in front of Abraham Lincoln (28) and Adams City (16).

The Thunder took all three relays, while Lilly Carter, Leessy Diaz and Galilea Patino won two events and Valeria Jaquez had a first in diving. ...A goal by

Dylan Nash in overtime delivered a 1-0 victory for the Regis Jesuit ice hockey team over Chaparral. Beau Paton assisted on the game-winner, while Easton Sparks had a shutout on 26 saves. TUESDAY, JAN. 20: Eric Fiedler made four 3-pointers and went 14-for-16 from the free throw line on his way to 46 points and also pulled down 11 rebounds to help the Regis Jesuit boys basketball team to a 68-60 Continental League win at ThunderRidge. Joseph Haubert added eight points for the Raiders. ...The Aurora Central boys basketball team used a 17-point effort from Deon Davis Jr. plus 16 from Alex Flores as a significant boost to a 61-44 Colorado League win over Adams City. ...A 27-point fourth quarter lifted the Gateway boys basketball team over Thornton 72-67 in a tight Colorado League contest. ...The Lotus School For Excellence boys basketball team poured in 36 points in the opening quarter en route to an 82-46 win over Kennedy. Celie Dengler and Khloe Miller scored 10 points apiece, while Tiana Rogers and Molly Schimmer each had nine for the Regis Jesuit girls basketball team which held on to beat ThunderRidge 4844 in a Continental League home game. ...The Aurora Central girls basketball team picked up a 41-26 Colorado League win over Adams City. ...The Smoky Hill girls swim team earned a 131-42 Centennial League home dual win over Mullen behind 10 event wins, including a relay sweep plus two firsts apiece from Mya Noffsinger, Sophie Noffsinger and Cameryn Walkup. Diver Lyla Bailey also won for Buffs. ...Sadie Ballou won the 100 yard breaststroke for the Eaglecrest girls swim team in a 187-116 Centennial League road dual loss at Arapahoe.

Because the people must know

COMBINED NOTICE PUBLICATION

CRS §38 38 103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0678 2025

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On November 18, 2025, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

COMBINED NOTICE PUBLICATION CRS §38 38 103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0666 2025

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust: On November 7, 2025, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records. Original Grantor(s) Crystal Hazelwood Original Beneficiary(ies) MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. AS NOMINEE FOR UNIVERSAL LENDING CORPORATION, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS Current Holder of Evidence of Debt COLORADO HOUSING AND FINANCE AUTHORITY

Date of Deed of Trust April 29, 2021 County of Recording Arapahoe Recording Date of Deed of Trust June 10, 2021 Recording Information (Reception No. and/ or Book/Page No.)

E1092978

Original Principal Amount

$343,660.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$313,945.65

debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

CONDOMINIUM UNIT NO. 184, CLUB VALENCIA CONDOMINIUMS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION

RECORDED ON DECEMBER 12, 1979 IN BOOK 3135 AT PAGE 443. AND CONDOMINIUM MAP RECORDED ON DECEM-

BER 12, 1979 UNDER RECEPTION NO.

1922030, OF THE ARAPAHOE COUNTY RECORDS, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO.

Purported common address: 1306 S Parker Road Unit 184, Denver, CO 80231. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

If applicable, a description of any changes to the deed of trust described in the notice of election and demand pursuant to affidavit as allowed by statutes: Which has the adress of: 1306 S Parker Road Unit 18 more correctly known as Unit 184, Denver, CO 80231

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/18/2026, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication 1/22/2026

Last Publication 2/19/2026

Name of Publication Sentinel Colorado IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE

A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 11/18/2025

Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Alexis R. Abercrombie #56722 Scott D. Toebben #19011 Aricyn J.

hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

LOT 8, BLOCK 9, PRIDE’S SUBDIVISION, FILING NO. 4, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO

PARCEL ID NUMBER: 2073 10 3 03 008

Purported common address: 4882 S Tower Way, Aurora, CO 80015. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

mand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 02/25/2026, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication 1/1/2026

Last Publication 1/29/2026

Name of Publication Sentinel Colorado

Heather Deere #28597

Toni M. Owan #30580

Halliday, Watkins & Mann, PC 355 Union Blvd., Ste. 250, Lakewood, CO 80228 (303) 274 0155

Attorney File # CO25546

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees’ Association of Colorado Revised 1/2015

COMBINED NOTICE PUBLICATION CRS §38 38 103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0626 2025

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

Pursuant to CRS §38 38 101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. THE NORTHERLY 21.795 FEET OF LOT 116 AND THE SOUTHERLY 2.205 FEET OF LOT 115, EXCEPT THE EASTERLY 16 FEET THEREOF, LITTLE TURTLE, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO.

APN #: 1973 27 1 04 242

Purported common address: 10295 E Evans Ave Unit 116, Aurora, CO 80247. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST. NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/11/2026, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. First Publication 1/15/2026 Last Publication 2/12/2026 Name of Publication Sentinel Colorado IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED; DATE: 11/07/2025 Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado By: /s/ Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Alison L Berry #34531 N. April Winecki #34861 David R. Doughty #40042 Lynn M. Janeway #15592 Janeway Law Firm, P.C. 9540 Maroon Circle, Suite 320, Englewood, CO 80112 (303) 706 9990 Attorney File # 23 031070

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees’ Association of Colorado Revised 1/2015

COMBINED NOTICE PUBLICATION CRS §38 38 103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0620 2025

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust: On October 24, 2025, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records. Original Grantor(s)

Carolyn S. Iowa AND Thomas D. Iowa

Original Beneficiary(ies)

AMERIQUEST MORTGAGE COMPANY

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt

CITIMORTGAGE, INC.

Date of Deed of Trust November 22, 2004 County of Recording Arapahoe

Recording Date of Deed of Trust December 02, 2004

Recording Information (Reception No. and/ or Book/Page No.)

B4208332

$155,522.00

$78,205.73 Pursuant to CRS §38 38 101(4)(i), you are

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 02/25/2026, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication 1/1/2026

Last Publication 1/29/2026

Name of Publication Sentinel Colo-

rado IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED; DATE: 10/24/2025

Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: /s/ Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Alison L Berry #34531 N. April Winecki #34861

David R. Doughty #40042

Lynn M. Janeway #15592 Janeway Law Firm, P.C. 9540 Maroon Circle, Suite 320, Englewood, CO 80112 (303) 706 9990

Attorney File # 25 035866

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees’ Association of Colorado Revised 1/2015

COMBINED NOTICE

PUBLICATION CRS §38 38 103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0623 2025

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On October 24, 2025, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s)

Diane L. Evans

Original Beneficiary(ies)

Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as Beneficiary, as nominee for Broker Solutions, Inc., dba New American Funding, its successors and assigns

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt

New American Funding, LLC FKA Broker

Solutions Inc., DBA New American Funding Date of Deed of Trust

September 09, 2020

County of Recording

Arapahoe

Recording Date of Deed of Trust

September 25, 2020

Recording Information (Reception No. and/ or Book/Page No.)

E0128639

Original Principal Amount

$163,710.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$147,511.79

Pursuant to CRS §38 38 101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to make timely payments as required under the Evidence of Debt and Deed of Trust THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT “A” Legal Description Condominium Unit No. 200D, Building D, according to the Condominium Map filed for Record on January 11, 1979 in Plat Book 36 at Page 86 and Supplements thereto and as defined in the Declaration of Condominiums of Red Sky recorded January 11, 1979 in Book 2918 at Page 601, in the Records of Arapahoe County, Colorado, Together with the exclusive right to use Parking Space and/or Carport No. D200, and Together with the exclusive right to use Storage Space S200, in Building D, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado. Purported common address: 14652 E 2nd Avenue, 200D, Aurora, CO 80011. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and De-

IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED; DATE: 10/24/2025

Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By:/s/ Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Amanda Ferguson #44893

Heather Deere #28597

Toni M. Owan #30580

Halliday, Watkins & Mann, PC 355 Union Blvd., Ste. 250, Lakewood, CO 80228 (303) 274 0155

Attorney File # CO25552

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees’ Association of Colorado

Revised 1/2015

COMBINED NOTICE

PUBLICATION CRS §38 38 103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0624 2025

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On October 24, 2025, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s)

Guillermo A. Paredes and Veronica Pare-

des Original Beneficiary(ies)

Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as Beneficiary, as nominee for Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc., its successors and assigns

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt

Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC

Date of Deed of Trust

April 12, 2022

County of Recording Arapahoe

Recording Date of Deed of Trust April 13, 2022

Recording Information (Reception No. and/ or Book/Page No.) E2041954

Original Principal Amount

$538,434.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$510,844.50

Pursuant to CRS §38 38 101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to make timely payments as required under the Evidence of Debt and Deed of Trust THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

LOT 13, BLOCK 3, HARMONY SUBDIVISION FILING NO. 4, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO.

Purported common address: 26895 E Bayaud Avenue, Aurora, CO 80018. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 02/25/2026, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication 1/1/2026 Last Publication 1/29/2026

Name of Publication Sentinel Colo-

rado

IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED; DATE: 10/24/2025

Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado By: /s/ Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Amanda Ferguson #44893

On October 24, 2025, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s) Natalie Grant

Original Beneficiary(ies)

Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as beneficiary, as nominee for Fairway

Independent Mortgage Corporation

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC

Date of Deed of Trust June 17, 2022

County of Recording Arapahoe

Recording Date of Deed of Trust

June 21, 2022

Recording Information (Reception No. and/ or Book/Page No.)

E2067302 Book: N/A Page:

Original Principal Amount

$491,040.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$483,957.17

Pursuant to CRS §38 38 101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows:

Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

LOT 31, BLOCK 3, THE VILLAS AT AURORA HIGHLANDS SUBDIVISION 1ST FILING, ACCORDING TO THE DECLARATION OF COVENANTS, CONDITIONS, AND RESTRICTIONS RECORDED OCTOBER 28, 1998 AT RECEPTION NO. A8171611 AND ACCORDING TO THE PLAT OF PLANNED COMMUNITY PLAT OF THE VILLAS AT AURORA HIGHLANDS RECORDED OCTOBER 28, 1998 AT RECEPTION NO. A8171612, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO. Purported common address: 1514 S. Buckley Way, Aurora, CO 80017. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST. NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 02/25/2026, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication 1/1/2026

Last Publication 1/29/2026 Name of Publication Sentinel Colorado

IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE

A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED; DATE: 10/24/2025

Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado By: /s/ Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Alexis R. Abercrombie #56722

Scott D. Toebben #19011

Aricyn J. Dall #51467

David W Drake #43315

Randall S. Miller & Associates PC 216 16th Street, Suite 1210, Denver, CO 80202 (720) 259 6710 Attorney File # 24CO00330 2 The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose. ©Public Trustees’ Association of Colorado Revised 1/2015

Deed of

THEREFORE, Notice Is

that I will at

A.M. on Wednesday, 02/25/2026, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. First Publication 1/1/2026 Last Publication 1/29/2026 Name of Publication Sentinel Colorado IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED; DATE: 10/24/2025 Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado By: /s/ Michael Westerberg, Public Trustee The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Amanda Ferguson #44893 Heather Deere #28597 Toni M. Owan #30580 Halliday, Watkins & Mann, PC 355 Union Blvd., Ste. 250, Lakewood, CO 80228 (303) 274 0155 Attorney File # CO25465 The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees’ Association of Colorado Revised 1/2015

COMBINED NOTICE PUBLICATION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2026 BUDGETS

The Boards of Directors (collectively the “Boards”) of the E-470 COMMERCIAL

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 1-3

(collectively the “Districts”), will hold a public hearing on February 5, 2026, at 11:00 AM to consider adoption of the Districts’ proposed 2026 budgets (the “Proposed Budgets”).

https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/89755966733?pwd=QPiK58uF3lqxmFyPCDa3VuydzBE0FI.1

Meeting ID: 897 5596 6733

Passcode: 558673

Call-in Number: +1-720-707-2699

The Proposed Budgets and Amended Budgets are available for inspection by the public at the offices of Simmons & Wheeler, 304 Inverness Way S #490, Englewood, CO 80112.

Any interested elector of the Districts may file any objections to the Proposed Budgets at any time prior to the final adoption of the Proposed Budgets by the Boards.

The agenda for any meeting may be obtained by calling (303) 858-1800.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS:

E-470 COMMERCIAL

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 1-3, quasi-municipal corporations and political subdivisions of the State of Colorado /s/ WBA, PC

Publication: January 29, 2026

Sentinel

PUBLIC NOTICE

Mercy Housing Mountain Plains will submit an application to the Colorado Division of Housing (DOH). The purpose of this application is to request approximately $2,000,000 to develop 104 units of rental housing at 15961 E. Colfax Ave, Aurora CO 80011. The request of funding from DOH is to benefit persons with low and moderate incomes by increasing the availability of affordable housing in Denver. It is not the intent to cause displacement from any existing housing; however, if persons are displaced from their existing residences reasonable housing alternatives shall be offered.

All interested persons are encouraged to contact the Applicant for further information. Written comments should be sent to CReid@mercyhousing.org and will be forwarded to DOH for consideration during the application process.

Members of the public may request a public meeting and should arrange a request with the Applicant. Applicant shall post notice of meeting including date, time, and location to ensure other members of the public are aware of meeting. If reasonable accommodations are needed for persons attending the public meeting, please contact the Applicant.

Publication: January 29, 2026

Sentinel

PUBLIC NOTICE

MGL Partners will submit an application to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) to request Colorado State Credits for Evans Terrace. The development, Evans Terrace, will cost approximately $26,048,435 to construct. MGL Partners will request approximately $500,000 in annual State Credit Allocation, or $3,000,000 in total credits. The result would be approximately $3,000,000 in state equity investment that has a present value of $2,010,000. The purpose of the application is to develop 50 affordable rental housing units at 14383 East Evans Drive, Aurora, CO 80014. The request for funding is to benefit persons with low and moderate incomes by increasing the availability of affordable housing for older adults in Aurora, Colorado.

All interested persons are encouraged to attend a Public Hearing to discuss the use of the Colorado State Credits for this project at 12 PM on January 30, 2026. The meeting will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. The Meeting ID is 264 127

009 752 08. The Passcode is Cs9gt6GK. The phone number is 929-229-2436. The phone conference ID is 622 341 725#. Attendees will be able to voice their comments on the call or put them in the chat. Written comments may also be sent to 1936 W. 33rd Ave, Denver, CO 80211, Attn: Danielle Vachon Bell and will be forwarded to CHFA for consideration during the application process.

Publication: January 29, 2026 Sentinel

PUBLIC NOTICE OF CONTRACTOR’S FINAL SETTLEMENT

Pursuant to 1973

C.R.S. 38-26-107, notice is hereby given that on/or after the 27th day of January, 2026, final settlement with Himmelman Construction , will be made by the Joint District No. 28J of the Counties of Adams and Arapahoe (Aurora Public Schools) for and on account of the General Construction Contract for Del Mar Modular Addition, and that any person, co-partnership, association, company, or corporation who has an unpaid claim against any of the contractors for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by such contractors, or any of their subcontractors, in or about the performance of said work may file at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement on/or after, February 24, 2026, a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim with the Board of Education of said school district at the office of:

Support Services

Aurora Public Schools 15701 E. 1st Avenue Aurora, CO 80011

Failure on the part of a claimant to file such statements prior to such final settlement will relieve said school district from all and any liability for such claimant’s claim.

JOINT DISTRICT NO. 28J OF THE COUNTIES OF DAMS AND ARAPAHOE STATE OF COLORADO

First Publication: January 22, 2026

Final Publication: January 29, 2026 Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR30630

Estate of Tracie Denise Endlich aka Tracie Wulff Endlich aka Tracie W, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before May 22, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred.

Raymond Jerry Wulff

Personal Representative 5887 S. Paintbrush Ct. Littleton, CO 80123

First Publication: January 22, 2026

Final Publication: February 5, 2026 Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR30764

Estate of Jeannette L. Roller, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado, on or before May 1, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred.

Attorney for Personal Representative William L. Carpenter Atty Reg #: 8223 1775 Sherman St., #1650 Denver, CO 80203

Phone: 303-995-5021

First Publication: January 22, 2026

Final Publication: February 5, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S.

Case No. 2025PR30778

Estate of Jeffrey R. Borg aka Jeffrey Richard Borg aka Jeffrey Borg, Deceased. All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado, on or before May 16, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. Jonathan Williams Personal Representative 11844 Quam Dr. Northglenn, CO 80233

Attorney for Personal Representative Stephen Wilson, Atty Reg #: 39225

Law Office of Stephen Wilson, LLC

1000 E. 16th Ave, Suite 210 Denver, CO 80218

Phone: 303-586-5005

First Publication: January 15, 2026

Final Publication: January 29, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR30866

Estate of Bonnie Jean Groen, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado, on or before May 22, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. Ruth Ellen Leonard

Personal Representative 2938 E. 135th Pl. Thornton, CO 80241

First Publication: January 22, 2026

Final Publication: February 5, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR31255

Estate of Karen L. Scott aka Karen Scott, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before May 29, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred.

Attorney for Personal Representative Raymond M. Laws 811 Main St. Fort Morgan, CO 80701

First Publication: January 29, 2026

Final Publication: February 12, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR31264

Estate of Marty F. Soudani aka Reed Marty Soudani, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before May 15, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred.

Angelique M. Alexia

Personal Representative 16452 E. Berry Pl. Centennial, CO 80015

First Publication: January 15, 2026

Final Publication: January 29, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR31276

Estate of Deanna Lynn Ott aka Deanna Ott aka Dee Ott, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before May 31, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred.

Attorney for Personal Representative

Brian S. Popp

Atty Reg #: 30907

Law Offices of Brian S. Popp, LLC

4700 S. Syracuse St., Ste. 1030 Denver, CO 80237

Phone: 720-225-9135

First Publication: January 15, 2026

Final Publication: January 29, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S.

Case No. 2025PR31293

Estate of SARAH ELAINE THOEMKE AKA SARAH E. THOEMKE AKA SARAH THOEMKE AKA SARAH BRIDGES PAUL, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before May 15, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. Thomas Bridges

Personal Representative

6677 S. Catawba Way Aurora, CO 80016

First Publication: January 15, 2026

Final Publication: January 29, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR31317

Estate of Paula Florence Kinningham aka Paula Kinningham, Deceased.

Al persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before May 22, 2026, or claims may be forever barred. Brendan Kinningham, Personal Representative 17716 E. Greenwood Dr., Apt. 2137 Aurora, CO 80013

Attorney for Personal Representative

Mark A. Idelberg, Atty. Reg. #14474

BISLaw, LLC

600 S. Cherry St., Suite 1125 Denver, CO 80246

Phone: 303-771-9233

First Publication: January 22, 2026

Final Publication: February 5, 2026 Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR665

Estate of Joseph William Fisher, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to file them with the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before June 1, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. William Patrick Fisher, Personal Representative 2660 175th Ave. Erie, CO 80516

First Publication: January 29, 2026

Final Publication: February 12, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR03027

Estate of Jose D. Gallegos aka Jose Gallegos, Deceased. All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado, on or before June 4, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred.

Thomas E. Johnson Personal Representative 631 North Foote Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80909

First Publication: January 29, 2026

Final Publication: January 12, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR19

Estate of Mary Katherine Shore aka Katherine N Shore aka Kay Shore, Deceased. All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before June 1, 2026, or said claims may be forever barred.

John E Holcomb

Personal Representative 3455 S Corona St., Apt 224 Englewood CO 80113

First Publication: January 29, 2026

Final Publication: February 12, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR31238

Estate of Magdalena Jordan, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before May 15, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. Veronica Jordan aka Veronica Jordan Daggett

Personal Representative 670 Azalea Dr. Bartow, FL 33830

Attorneys for Personal Representative Charles E. Rounds Atty Reg #: 37786 Kirch Rounds & Bowman, P.C. Marketplace Tower II 3025 S. Parker Rd., Ste. 820 Aurora, CO 80014

Phone: 303-671-7726

First Publication: January 15, 2026

Final Publication: January 29, 2026 Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR31336

Estate of Robert C. Chapman Jr. aka Robert Charles Chapman Jr. aka Robert Chapman Jr. aka R.C. Chapman Jr. aka Bob Chapman, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before June 1, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred.

Mary A. Chapman

Personal Representative 7623 S. Quatar Way Aurora, CO 80016

Attorney for Personal Representative Bette Heller, Esq. Atty. Reg. #: 10521

19671 E. Euclid Dr., Centennial, CO 80016

Phone: 303-690-7092

First Publication: January 29, 2026

Final Publication: February 12, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S.

Case No. 2025PR31347

Estate of Terry R. Hill aka Terry Ray Hill aka Terry Hill, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before May 16, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred.

Patricia Rankin, Esq.

Atty Reg #: 27546

The Germany Law Firm, P.C.

77 Erie Village Square Erie, CO 80516

First Publication: January 15, 2026

Final Publication: January 29, 2026 Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801,C.R.S.

Case No. 2025PR588

Estate of Ruth M. Martin aka Ruth Martin aka Ruth Marie Martin, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before April 22, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. Aaron J. Martin

Personal Representative 14835 E. Caspian Pl. Aurora, CO 80014

First Publication: January 15, 2026

Final Publication: January 29, 2026 Sentinel PUBLIC

The Petition entered that the name of

First Publication: January 15, 2026 Final Publication: January 29, 2026 Sentinel

Editorials Sentinel

Jail fail: State lawmakers lockdown the wrong answer

Colorado’s Joint Budget Committee made a consequential decision last week when it rejected a request to fund hundreds of additional jail and prison beds, one that state residents shouldn’t have to live with.

The vote was framed as both fiscal restraint and reform-minded skepticism of the Department of Corrections. In reality, it risks deepening a crisis the Legislature itself has acknowledged for years — one that leaves county jails overcrowded, state prisons understaffed and people cycling out of custody no safer, healthier or better prepared than when they went in.

Lawmakers are not wrong about the direction Colorado has chosen. The state is right to pursue prison reforms that emphasize rehabilitation, mental health treatment, substance abuse care and job training over reflexive, long-term incarceration.

Decades of national research and evidence, and Colorado’s own experience, show that locking people up without addressing addiction, mental illness or chronic instability does little to improve public safety or the well-being of convicts.

It is also undeniable that incarceration is expensive. Housing someone in a Colorado prison costs far more than providing treatment, housing support or community-based supervision, particularly for people jailed for nonviolent offenses such as drug possession, alcohol-related crimes or offenses tied to chronic homelessness.

As the prison population ages, those costs balloon further, driven by rising medical expenses, reality and research show.

But good intentions do not excuse bad outcomes. Under the current system, Colorado’s jails and prisons are not equipped to deliver the rehabilitation the Legislature says it wants.

Programming does not scale with population.

Treatment backlogs keep people incarcerated long after they are eligible for parole.

Staffing shortages compromise safety and limit access to education, therapy and reentry planning.

As even reform advocates concede, the system as it exists today cannot reliably ensure that people released back into the community are less likely to re-offend than when they were locked up.

That’s the contradiction the Joint Budget Committee failed to confront.

Lawmakers rejected a request to expand capacity by roughly 900 beds, arguing that the Department of Corrections has not done enough to reduce admissions or increase releases under a 2018 population management law. Those concerns are legitimate. Parole releases have dropped. Technical parole violations have surged. Audits have identified inefficiencies in classification and release planning. The department deserves scrutiny and accountability.

Yet denying needed bed funding does not solve those problems. It shifts them — directly and predictably — onto county jails and the public. Colorado already relies on county facilities as overflow holding sites for people sentenced to state prison but stuck waiting for intake. The backlog hovers around 500 people, nearly double what the state budgets for.

The committee’s own actions acknowledge the problem. It approved only half the funding requested to pay counties for housing state inmates, even as it declined to meaningfully expand state capacity. That math does not work.

County jails were never designed to function as long-term extensions of the state prison system. They are more expensive per inmate, offer fewer programs and place additional strain on local governments that are already stretched thin.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike warned that denying additional beds would worsen this burden. They were right.

Compounding the problem is an acute staffing shortage within state prisons. Corrections officers are leaving faster than they can be replaced, a crisis acknowledged by Colorado WINS, the union representing state workers.

Fewer staff means fewer functioning beds, less programming and greater safety risks for employees, incarcerated people and the public. Refusing to fund capacity without simultaneously addressing staffing realities is not reform. It’s just wishful thinking.

The Joint Budget Committee should fully fund the jail and prison beds the system demonstrably needs right now, specifically to reduce the county jail backlog and stabilize operations, or at least come much closer to it.

At the same time, lawmakers should require the Department of Corrections, in coordination with local jails, to submit within 30 days a detailed plan to comply with laws already on the books to downsize the prison population through rehabilitation, treatment access, parole reform and smarter use of community corrections.

Colorado has spent years talking about moving away from warehousing people in prison. But last week’s decision to underfund prisons and jails will not move the state in the right direction.

This is the final report that President Trump is quietly trying to

Given what’s going on in Minnesota – another day, another ICE execution – it’s understandable few have noticed the latest authoritarian move to suppress vital information and deny us the right to judge it for ourselves.

I want to revisit a chain of events that occurred from 2021 to 2023, so please indulge me. I promise to connect the dots to our dire present day.

You may remember when Trump transitioned in 2021 to the status of private citizen, he stole hundreds of classified documents and spirited them to Mar-aLago. After umpteen federal demands that he return what he stole, he was indicted in 2023 by a federal grand jury on 38 counts of violating the Espionage Act, obstructing justice, and crafting a coverup. According to the indictment, the purloined material exposed “defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to nuclear attack,” thereby putting “at risk the national security of the United States.”

Federal sleuth Jack Smith and his team wrote a comprehensive final report believed to go far beyond the stark details in the indictment. But the MAGA regime refuses to release it.

And early last week, a Trump lawyer asked the courts to bury the report forever. His despotic client wants to block the Justice Department, “as well as its current, former, and future officers, agents, officials, and employees,” from sharing the findings with those of us who wish to read them.

Trump’s goal is to erase this sordid episode from history’s ledger for all time, regardless of whether this country regains its senses down the road.

I can see why. Thefts and coverups don’t play well with sane observers. Back when the classified doc case dominated the news, he was savaged in the polls abd assailed even by some conservatives. In 2022, Karl Rove went on Fox News and said: “None of these government documents are his to be taken. Under the Presidential Records Act of 1978 you cannot take original documents out of the White House when you leave…It’s verboten under the law.” A year later Trump falsely claimed, “I have every right to have those boxes” – but conservative talk show host Erick Erickson said otherwise: “Game over, legally. What an idiot.” But wait, I was talking about Jack Smith. Last Thursday, the ex-special counsel testified in a public House hearing – but only about the Trump indictment that covered the events of Jan. 6. He was barred from mentioning the classified documents case because his report is under seal down in Florida (or, in everyday

bury

parlance, suppressed) by MAGA Judge Aileen Cannon. Her longstanding order to squelch the report is set to expire on Feb. 24, hence Trump’s newly filed quest for a permanent ban. In his lawyer’s words, lifting the ban and allowing us to read the report would “irreparably harm President Trump.” (There’s a legal doctrine known as consciousness of guilt. His lawyer’s words suggest it.)

My broader point is the MAGA regime is not merely murdering truth via a tsunami of lies; it’s also doing so via omission. Burying the report on Trump’s theft of classified docs, an unprecedented act by an ex-president, is a classic (albeit overlooked) example of state-sanctioned silence. Erasure of history – deciding what it deems we are not fit to know – is a common authoritarian crime.

That’s the play in Minnesota, where the regime isn’t likely to write a factual report on the execution of Renee Good. That’s what happening with the Epstein files, only a fraction of which has been released despite a law-ordered Dec. 19 deadline. That’s the deal in Philadelphia, where Trump’s national park workers were ordered to remove the slavery exhibit at The President’s House, because apparently we can’t be trusted to judge George Washington’s flaws as a man in tandem with his greatness as a statesman.

The good news is millions of us do not wish to be deaf, dumb, and blind.

We’ve already seen the videos of Good’s final moments. We’ve already seen the videos of Alex Pretti’s execution, and kudos to the eyewitnesses who’ve surfaced to stop the MAGA feds from suppressing the truth. And we’ve already seen the photos of illegally stolen documents piled next to a toilet at Mar-a-Lago. And we’ve already seen Trump’s sexually suggestive birthday card to his pedophile pal. And we already know that slavery is a dark facet of the American saga; the protest signage at the Philadelphia site is proof that racist erasures won’t render us retroactively ignorant.

And we can draw strength from sages who have weathered oppression. One warning, from the late Soviet and Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, seems especially apt:

“When truth is replaced by silence, the silence is a lie.”

Dick Polman, a veteran national political columnist based in Philadelphia and a Writer in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania, writes the Subject to Change newsletter. Email him at dickpolman7@gmail.com

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Puzzles

CROSSWORD

ON PAFE 21

Obituary

Theresa “Terry” C. Howard

June 18, 960 - January 12, 2026

Theresa “Terry” C. Howard (née Menasion), age 65, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of service, advocacy, and deep love for her community.

Terry was born on June 18, 1960, in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, to Chris Menasion (née Cherry) and James Joseph Menasion. The youngest of five children, she loved telling the story of being an “oops baby,” arriving eight and a half years after her next-oldest sister, Ann — a tale she shared with humor and a grin, crediting her arrival to “a stolen night away spent in a borrowed Corvette convertible.” Her sharp wit and gift for storytelling remained hallmarks of her personality throughout her life.

About a decade ago, Terry moved from Aurora, Colorado, to Kiowa after falling in love with the town during drives to visit her sister Ann in Simla. She often spoke of cresting the hill from the west and seeing Kiowa spread out below her, a moment that assured her she had found her forever home.

Terry was deeply committed to public service. She served on the Kiowa Town Board for four years before being elected Mayor in 2024. She approached leadership with authenticity, determination, and genuine care, always focused on what was best for the community she loved.

Professionally, Terry spent the past decade as Program Director for Total Control Motorcycle Training School in Centennial, Colorado. A lifelong motorcyclist, she was a tireless advocate for motorcycle safety and rider rights. In 2007, she played a key role in advancing legislation requiring helmets for riders under 18, helping move a bill through the Colorado House. Her advocacy reflected her commitment to protecting both lives and freedoms.

Terry was married in the early 1990s to David Howard. Though the marriage lasted approximately seven years, they remained friendly in the years that followed. Terry had no children but poured her love into her family, friends, community, and beloved animals.

She is survived by her siblings, Rosanna Layson (Richard Barclay) and Patricia DeClassis, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Sue Brigham; and her brother, Louis Mosley.

Terry loved gardening, Native American culture, and, most of all, her animals. She will be remembered for her big heart, fearless advocacy, and the profound impact she made on Kiowa and beyond.

A Celebration of Life for Mayor Theresa “Terry” C. Howard will be held Saturday, February 7, at 10:30 a.m. at the Elbert County Fairgrounds in Kiowa. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ECCO, the Elbert County Coalition for Outreach, in her name.