Sentinel Colorado 5.28.26

Attorneys for the offense — AG candidates lash out at Polis for Tina Peters clemency

The lawyers in the room Saturday at Community College of Aurora weren’t having any of Gov. Jared Polis’ talk about convict Tina Peters being punished with too much prison for just her crazy talk protected by the First Amendment.

“Tina Peters abused her office and undercut election integrity and engaged in public corruption,” Boulder DA Michael Dougherty told both a live and virtual audience during a Democratic primary election candidate forum in Aurora. “She deserves every day of the prison sentence.”

Dougherty was joined by fellow Democratic Colorado attorney general candidates David Seligman and Hetal Doshi during the day-long Democracy Fest candidate forum held and moderated by Brother Jeff Fard and the Sentinel, with me joining Fard at the mic. The event drew primary candidates for House districts 9, 41, 42 and two Arapahoe County commissioner district races.

The day was broken up by a half-hour stopover with three Democratic attorney general candidates. Secretary of State Jena Griswold was unable to join.

The three who came all delivered fiery homilies covering a wide range of statewide injustices that each candidate promised to shoulder against daily if elected to the job in November.

All the fevered banter of protecting fraud victims, mistreated immigrants and running defense against a lawless Trump administration sounded like coffee talk compared to the steely gazes and sharp voices that came with their thoughts on Polis granting clemency to MAGA cultist Tina Peters, convicted of a variety of election fraud charges and sentenced to nine years in prison.

Polis has framed his decision as a principled defense of free-speech rights, insisting Peters’ nine-year sentence improperly considered her conspiracy-riddled rhetoric and election denialism. Polis has cited an appeals court decision that found much the same, sending the case back to the Mesa County district court that convicted her for an adjustment to her sentence.

Polis, for a reason he hasn’t disclosed, didn’t wait for that result and ended her jail term last week, creating a nuclear meltdown among statewide Democrats and even a vote of censure.

The governor made the call two days after the end of the legislative session, limiting any substantive action by lawmakers.

On Friday, Peters took to social media, returning to her conspiracy rants, resuming the free speech that the lawyers in the big room at Community College of Aurora on Saturday said is akin to yelling “fire” in a theater.

“No matter how hard people like Jenna Griswold and Phil Weiser try to cover up what was done to the people of Colorado, I will keep speaking the truth,” Peters said in a May 22 post on her X account. “And if (Democrats) are this afraid of mercy being shown to one whistleblower, the public should ask what they are still trying so hard to hide.”

Throughout Saturday, every Democratic candidate verbally or literally shook their fist at Polis. The Democratic attorney general candidates delivered red-hot opening arguments in a case they say won’t be going away.

Seligman gave a gritty response, suggesting the Legislature should reconvene to investigate impeachment if evidence shows Polis acted under pressure from President Donald Trump, which Polis has denied.

Seligman balked at Polis’ recent comments in his defense and said Peters wasn’t convicted for eccentric beliefs. She was convicted because she abused her office, compromised election equipment and fueled a national movement built on lies about stolen elections, he said.

The issue, Seligman said, is that her conduct went far beyond just her speech.

Her conspiratorial rants helped weaponize election conspiracy theories against public servants across America. Election workers have faced threats, harassment and intimidation ever since.

Dougherty, a longtime advocate of criminal justice reform, hammered that point with clenched-jaw force.

Colorado prisons are filled with nonviolent offenders who don’t have presidential allies, cable-TV-news defenders or political leverage at the State Capitol, he said.

Because Peters became a MAGA celebrity, she got extraordinary treatment, Dougherty said.

He accused Polis of strategically waiting until the Legislature adjourned before announcing the commutation, effectively insulating himself from immediate political retaliation.

In my more than four decades of professionally watching the Colorado Politics Show, there’s never been a shortage of inter-party skirmishes, but I’ve never seen Democrats so eager to pull the pin on a political grenade like the one Polis is holding.

Doshi administered the sharpest prosecutorial perspective on Saturday.

As a former federal prosecutor, she framed the Peters commutation as part of a larger pattern in America’s criminal justice system that regularly sees sympathy and second chances flowing disproportionately toward politically connected, white and white-collar defendants while others receive no comparable mercy.

She called Polis’ intervention “an absolute betrayal” — not only of election workers, but of jurors who heard the evidence and of a justice system that never got the chance to complete its appellate process.

Doshi said she believes Polis inserted his personal, non-legal judgment into a process where experienced judges, prosecutors and jurors had already spoken.

Griswold wasn’t at the CCA event, but she continued her daily blistering response in an email statement.

No one in Colorado has spent more time confronting election denialism than the secretary of state, who dealt directly with the Mesa County chaos that Peters orchestrated.

She called the Polis clemency grant “an affront to our democracy” that would “validate and embolden the election denial movement.”

Griswold has repeatedly pointed out that the damage created by Peters went far beyond her endless crazy talk. Her actions cost Mesa County nearly $1 million in replacement voting equipment.

And while Polis keeps insisting the real issue was sentencing fairness and First Amendment protections, Griswold and the other Democratic attorney general candidates repeatedly said her speech wasn’t the crime, but her conduct was.

Unsatisfied with just harsh words, Seligman raised the impeachment specter. Dougherty demanded broader sentencing scrutiny and accountability. Doshi argued for respecting the integrity of juries and appellate courts. Griswold emphasized aggressive protection of election systems and election workers.

From the AG candidates and about a dozen others from the Aurora area, the backlash isn’t fading. It’s metastasizing, the lawyers in the room said in their prognosis.

No one I heard from on Saturday expects it to be anything but fatal.

Follow@EditorDavePerryonBlueSky,Threads,Mastodon,TwitterandFacebookorreachhimat303-750-7555or dperry@SentinelColorado.com

Aurora moves to create ‘independent’ police oversight office amid state reform mandate

‘IF A PARTICULAR MAJORITY OF COUNCIL INFLUENCES THE CITY MANAGER TO HIRE WHO THEY WANT TO BE HIRED, THAT’S PROBABLY WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN’

BY MCKENNA HARFORD, Sentinel Staff Writer

After four years under a state mandated consent decree overseeing policy and training changes in Aurora’s public safety departments, the city is moving forward with creating its own permanent monitoring office to ensure accountability continues.

City Manager Jason Batchelor presented a proposed ordinance to create the Office of Public Safety Accountability to city council at Monday’s study session. The bill lays out the duties and scope of the office, which includes investigating critical public safety incidents that result in serious injury or death. The office would monitor all of the city’s public safety functions, including police, fire, 911 and detention.

The measure follows years of efforts to improve accountability and transparency in police and fire departments after the death of Elijah McClain in 2019, which, among other cases, prompted state investigators to find a pattern of racial bias and excessive use of force.

Since 2022, the city police reform efforts have been reviewed by a contracted monitor, which has released periodic progress reports about training and policy updates. The most recent report was released in April and found that police and fire departments are substantially compliant with the consent decree’s mandates.

The report also identified the need for the city to implement an independent monitoring system to sustain the changes and progress.

The proposed ordinance for the Office of Public Safety Accountability says its mission will be “the furtherance of the reforms achieved under the Consent Decree and culture of continuous improvement.”

In a statement, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who implemented the consent decree, said he has long called for the city to have an independent monitor and supports the efforts to create the new office to “advance meaningful reform in policing.”

“A permanent structure for independent review of the police department will help ensure that reform, accountability, and transparency continue, and that the city is responsive to community concerns,” Weiser said.

The office will be overseen by a manager, who will be hired by the city manager and report administratively to the city manager’s office, while providing information to the city council’s public safety committee.

In addition to investigating critical incidents, the office will review and report on all public safety functions on an ongoing basis, including “use of force reviews, policy development, and department operations and performance meetings.” It will also release annual reports on its findings, as well as take complaints and commendations.

The office will work in conjunction with the city’s internal auditor and the Civil Service Commission, which oversees hiring, promotions and discipline for police and fire employees.

Under the ordinance, the office would get “unrestricted access” to city employees, information, police records and electronic data, body-worn camera videos, property, equipment and facilities required for the office to conduct reviews and oversight.

Batchelor said the office is modeled after the internal auditor and designed to be independent and have unfettered access to information, though he clarified that requests for

information would need a specific reason and couldn’t be used for “fishing expeditions.”

City Attorney Pete Schulte said the city chose to model the office after the internal auditor because the city’s charter restricts boards and commissions, made up of appointed residents, to advisory roles without the ability to enforce change or access all the necessary information.

On top of the oversight function, the office’s duties include regular community listening sessions and providing a family liaison for critical incidents.

Batchelor said the city has budgeted for two full-time positions in the office for 2026.

Conservative council members questioned what protections the ordinance will have to keep politics from influencing the office. Language about consulting city council during the hiring process raised concerns for Councilmember Françoise Bergan. Under city charter, the council cannot hire or fire city staff, except for the city manager, the city attorney and the presiding judge of municipal courts.

Bergan said the council shouldn’t be involved in the hiring process at all because of the risk of swaying the decision or making it political.

“If a particular majority of council influences the city manager to hire who they want to be hired, that’s probably what’s going to happen,” Bergan said.

Councilmember Stephanie Hancock said she wants the leader of the new office to be certified by a national organization for police oversight as an assurance that they would be neutral during investigations.

Supporting council members said the creation of the office is a milestone in longtime

efforts to rebuild relationships between public safety responders and the public.

Councilmember Gianina Horton said she’s excited the city is taking its first steps to outline what accountability and transparency in public safety will look like in the future. She said the inclusion of family liaisons and ongoing community engagement came from suggestions at town hall events earlier this year.

Horton said the intent of the ordinance creating the office is to ensure a “balanced and independent approach that will provide trust building for communities across Aurora.”

During public comment at a council meeting focusing on the proposal, MiDian Shofner, an activist who has worked with some families of Black men who were killed by Aurora police, said the office is a start, but more work and community engagement is needed.

“We anticipate that there will be an invitation for stakeholding because we will not go away with the simple modifications that will come from that ordinance,” Shofner said.

On the same day, Aurora lawmakers approved a resolution to restrict public communications from the Aurora Police Department, including social media posts, mugshots, and press releases.

The resolution requires police communications to follow established city communications policies and procedures, and prohibits posting mugshots and suspect names on social media until the suspect pleads guilty or is convicted.

The move has been controversial, with some council members accusing progressive members of using the resolution to pressure Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain into quitting.

AROUND AURORA

Aurora says decrease in street homelessness linked to shelter options

For the second year in a row, the number of homeless people living on Aurora’s streets has declined as the city’s shelter capacity has increased.

The 2026 Point in Time Count, an annual snapshot of homelessness in the seven-county Denver metro area, reports in Aurora there were 638 people in shelters on the night of the January count and 194 unsheltered people. Also, for the first time in at least four years, there were no unsheltered families in the city.

From last year to this year, Aurora’s sheltered homeless population increased by 72% while the unsheltered count dropped 24%.

The annual Point-in-Time count is a federally required census conducted each January by volunteers and outreach workers to measure homelessness and guide funding and planning decisions. The count was conducted Jan. 26 this year.

Because the Point-in-Time count is done on a single night numerous variables may impact the count from year to year and could result in undercounting. The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, which oversees the count, does not recommend trending data year-over-year.

Data for Arapahoe County as a whole shows similar trends to the city.

Arapahoe County saw a 35% drop in unsheltered homelessness in its annual Point-in-Time count. No unsheltered families were identified during the one-night count, compared with 14 families counted in 2025.

The report recorded 205 people living unsheltered — including on streets, in vehicles or in other places not meant for habitation — down from 314 in 2025. The reduction of 109 people marked one of the largest year-over-year declines in recent years, according to county officials.

City and county officials attributed much of the improvement to expanded outreach and shelter capacity, including the opening of two so-called navigation centers in 2025. The centers provide what officials describe as “low-barrier” shelter, case management and housing assistance for unhoused people across the metro area.

Aurora opened its center last fall, which is located in Adams County, near Chambers Road and I-70. Bridge House Ready to Work opened last year, too, in Englewood.

City spokesperson Joe Rubino said Aurora’s numbers are consistent with what the city expected with the opening of the Aurora Regional Navigation Campus, which is the largest shelter in the state. He said intake data from the campus shows it’s serving people from across the metro area.

On the night of the Point-in-Time count, 362 people spent the night at the Aurora campus, which accounts for 57% of the sheltered people included in the city’s numbers.

“The city of Aurora is committed to helping those experiencing housing insecurity and making sure homelessness in our city is brief and nonrecurring,” Rubino said.

Arapahoe County Community Resources Director Kathy Smith said in

a statement that the rise in sheltered numbers reflected efforts to move people indoors rather than worsening street homelessness.

“When we see more people in shelter, that’s the system working,” Smith said.

In Arapahoe County, veteran and youth homelessness went down. Overall veteran homelessness fell 15%, from 47 people to 40, while the number of unsheltered veterans dropped 46%, from 28 to 15, according to the report.

Youth homelessness also decreased. The number of unsheltered youths counted across the county fell from 21 to seven, a 67% decline. Overall youth homelessness, including sheltered and unsheltered individuals, dropped from 32 to 26.

County officials also reported a sharp decline in newly unsheltered individuals. The number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness for the first time fell from 150 to 55, a 63% decrease.

“These results reflect the hard work of our county team, our community partners, and the nonprofit organizations working every day to connect our most vulnerable neighbors with housing and services,” Arapahoe County Commission Chairperson Leslie Summey said in a statement.

In Adams County, the data is more plateaued and people are more likely to be unsheltered. The January report found 340 sheltered people and 392 unsheltered people, though there were no unsheltered families.

Last year, Adams County had 422 sheltered people and 308 unsheltered people, including 19 unsheltered families.

Adams County Community Safety and Wellbeing Department Director Matt Rivera said Point-in-Time data and the county’s McKinney-Vento and Homelessness Management Information System data indicate that homelessness in the county has been relatively stable since 2024.

“Taken together, these trends suggest that local programs are making progress in helping people secure housing, while also underscoring the ongoing challenge of youth housing instability and ‘invisible homelessness,’ including individuals and families who are doubled up,” Rivera said in a statement.

— McKenna Harford, Sentinel Staff Writer

Tariffs, Iran War, AI and more leads to Aurora’s $20 million budget hole, officials say

The city is facing a more than $20 million budget shortfall for 2027 due to declining revenues and increasing costs.

Greg Hays, Aurora’s budget manager, told city council at a May 9 workshop that economic projections so far indicate the city will have a budget hole in excess of $20 million next year and will likely need to implement budget cuts, reduce hiring and staff furloughs.

“The economic indicators came in and it’s not necessarily good news for us and we’re not balanced in 2027,” Hays said.

Hays said the three main factors for the city’s budget shortfall are lower revenues than predicted, national economic headwinds and increased costs.

Last year, the city ended with a

$1.7 million surplus, but so far this year, sales tax collections through March are .7% lower, or $1.1 million, than at the same time period last year. Sales and use taxes are the most important revenue sources for the general fund, Hays said.

“If (sales and use tax are) falling, that’s a problem for us,” he said.

Last year, the city collected a total of almost $307 million in sales tax revenue, a 4.7% increase over 2024. Sales tax revenue consistently grew year over year since 2023.

Hayes said a lot of national factors are causing price increases and lost revenue, like tariffs, the war in Iran, artificial intelligence causing job

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ARAPAHOE COUNTY

Public Works & Development

Play Date at Dove Valley

Attend Arapahoe County Public Works and Development’s Play Date June 5, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at Dove Valley Regional Park. Kids can jump in the driver’s seat of heavy equipment, be a junior building inspector and more. Learn more at arapahoeco.gov/publicworks

Community Needs Assessment Focus Groups

Every three years, Arapahoe County does a deep dive to understand residents’ needs. The County is hosting focus groups to help us unlock that information. Interested?

Visit bit.ly/CR_FocusGroups

Landscaping with Native & Xeric Plants at Clayton Community Garden: May 30, 11 a.m–12 p.m.

Learn how to transform your landscape using native and xeric planes with CSU Extension Arapahoe County Master Gardener Kate Redford. No registration for this free event, located at 475 W. Union Ave., in Englewood.

loss, extreme weather events and the K-shaped economy, which describes the phenomenon of increasing incomes for the wealthy and decreasing incomes for the poor.

“(Americans) saved during Covid, but they’re not saving now and why that’s important for Aurora specifically is that we don’t tax groceries, we’re taxing those bigger things that you buy,” Hays said. “So if you don’t have a savings account, you may not be going out and getting that car or that big TV.”

While sales and use taxes are falling, the city is collecting more from audit and interest revenues than they predicted, which is helping to offset the tax loss. The city also has sent aside funding for recessions, which it can lean on next year, though Hays noted that any money borrowed from the fund will have to be paid back.

Additionally, Hays said they would be looking to lower costs wherever possible.

“We’re going to be trying to decrease some of our costs, make sure people turn off their cars when they’re working, try to save gas and electricity,” he said.

City Manager Jason Batchelor said layoffs would be “the last resort we would want to go to.”

Councilmember Gianina Horton said the city should focus on reducing the impacts to staff as much as possible.

“Trying to reduce the amount of furlough days for employees, I hope is a top priority for leadership and that we make sure that we’re pro-

tecting the individuals who make our city run,” Horton said.

Councilmember Françoise Bergan questioned whether the city should be hiring council aides while facing a budget hole, a move that progressive council members have pushed for recently. The city is currently hiring three full-time council aides.

Batchelor said the three aides would not be adding staff but filling existing vacancies, adding that if the positions aren’t filled, the city would try to avoid the elimination of the positions because of the workload impact to other staff.

“The purpose behind me recommending filling these positions is to have dedicated resources to provide that support directly,” he said.

Bergan responded that she still didn’t support hiring aides when the positions have been vacant for years.

“I don’t understand why we need those positions at this time during a deficit,” she said.

Another suggestion from Mayor Pro Tem Alison Coombs was for the city to consider asking voters to bring back an employment tax.

“That’s revenue we used to have ongoing every year and, as we do have employment growth, that revenue would have grown were it there,” Coombs said.

The city council repealed its occupational privilege tax, or so-called “head tax,” last year following a controversial proposal by former city councilmember Danielle Jurinsky.

The tax required employees and their employers to each pay $2 per month per employee. The tax was

initially intended more than 20 years ago to help fund city services for workers who might not contribute through other taxes. It was estimated to generate $5.9 million annually in 2025.

To reinstate the tax or something similar, the city would need voter approval.

— McKenna Harford, Sentinel Staff Writer

COPS AND COURTS

Police arrest mother of 4-year-old Aurora boy in connection with his beating death

A second person has been arrested in connection with what police say is the apparent beating death of a 4-year-old Aurora boy, police said last week.

Destini Rose Lipsky, 23, of Aurora, was arrested in Colorado Springs and faces charges of child abuse resulting in death, police spokesperson police Agent Kristopher McDowell said in a statement May22.

Investigators said Lipsky is the slain boy’s mother.

Lipsky was booked into the El Paso County jail and is being held on a $500,000 bond and is awaiting transfer to Arapahoe County, police said.

The arrest comes days after police arrested Alexander Martinez-Armstrong, 24, who faces a first-degree murder charge in the boy’s death, according to court and jail records.

Martinez-Armstrong is being held in the Arapahoe County jail without bond, records show. His next court date is scheduled for July 17.

Police and Aurora Fire Rescue crews responded about 10 p.m. Saturday to an apartment in the 14100 block of East Tennessee Avenue after receiving a report of a child who was unconscious and not breathing.

“When officers arrived at the scene, Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics were performing life-saving actions on the boy,” Aurora police spokesperson Joe Moylan said in an earlier statement.

Officers found the child had significant injuries, police said. The boy was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Investigators said Martinez-Armstrong, who was caring for the child at the time, admitted to repeatedly striking the boy before his death, McDowell said.

Police said additional interviews and evidence collected during the investigation led detectives to seek an arrest warrant for Lipsky.

Aurora Major Crime Homicide Unit detectives, assisted by Aurora and Colorado Springs fugitive teams, arrested Lipsky Thursday.

The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office will determine the child’s cause of death.

Anyone with information about Lipsky and her interactions with the child is asked to contact 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

car crash in

Aurora claims life of rideshare passenger

“A passenger in a rideshare vehicle was killed in a car-crash Monday night after another car ran a red light and t-boned the rideshare car in the intersection, police said.

Police said the unidentified rideshare car was passing through the intersection at East Sixth Avenue and Laredo Street at about 8 p.m. when the driver of a Toyota Rav4 ran the red light, broadsiding the rideshare car.

“The collision caused the driver’s side rear passenger door to be ripped off and the rear passenger to be thrown out of the vehicle,” Aurora police spokesperson Gabby Easterwood said in a statement. “Both the driver and rear passenger were transported to the hospital where the rear passenger, an adult male later died.”

Police said it was unclear at this point whether either the driver or the passenger were wearing seat belts, and the condition of the driver was not reported.

Police said the driver of the Rav4 “is cooperating with the investigation,” and that neither “drugs nor alcohol seem to be a contributing factor at this time.”

Police did not report on what if any charges might be filed.

— Sentinel Staff

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Shooting in Aurora office building parking lot leaves man injured

A 24-year-old man found his way to an Aurora hospital late Sept. 25 after being shot in the parking lot of an office building in south-central Aurora, police said.

Officers were called to the parking lot of an office on the 12100 block of East Iliff Avenue at about 11:30 p.m. after reports of a shooting there.

“Once officers arrived on scene they did not find any injured victim, but did find shell casings and other evidence in the parking lot of the location,” police said in a statement.

About 20 minutes later, employees at a local hospital contacted police to say a man had just arrived suffering gunshot wounds.

“Officers responded and the investigation revealed the two incidents were related,” police said. “The 24-year-old male victim at the hospital stated he had gotten into a verbal altercation earlier and was subsequently shot.”

No details of a suspect were reported and police said there have been no arrests.

— Sentinel Staff

Aurora apartment shooting leaves 48-year-old man dead, police seeking information

An unidentified 48-year-old man was fatally shot early May 26 at a central Aurora apartment, police reported.

Officers were called to an apartment on the 14100 block of East Colorado Driver at about 1:30 a.m. after reports of a shooting there.

Police said they encountered a man suffering multiple gunshot wounds, who was dead.

“The investigation revealed there was some sort of verbal altercation at the apartment which led to the shooting,” police said.

The dead man’s identity will be released later by coroner officials.

Police said no arrests have been made as of Tuesday afternoon.

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

Here’s the dirt on faux garden tricks

GARDENERS OFTEN HEAR ABOUT SUPPOSED HACKS AND QUICK FIXES. HERE ARE SOME COMMON ONES DEBUNKED

BY JESSICA DAMIANO, Associated Press

Now that the gardening season is in full swing, so is the bad advice. There is no shortage of social media “experts” doling out “genius gardening hacks,” and well-intended friends who, frankly, don’t know what they’re talking about. Their tips might sound brilliant on the surface, but dig deeper and you’ll find many belong in the compost pile. Here are some common myths and misconceptions that might seem to make sense but can ruin your garden and waste money.

Bad advice: Use vinegar as a ‘safe and natural’ weedkiller

Household vinegar merely serves as a contact herbicide that burns leaves without killing roots, so the weeds often grow back. Horticultural vinegar, which has a stronger concentration of acetic acid, is more effective but can damage soil, harm nearby plants, and must be used with caution (wear gloves and goggles) to avoid injury to skin and eyes. Instead: Manually pull weeds from garden beds, then cover the soil with 3-4 inches of organic mulch to discourage more from taking hold. Any that do germinate in the mulch will pull up very easily.

To eliminate small weeds from cracks and crevices between pavers, sprinkle with baking soda on a dry, windless day and let it sit (do not use baking soil in garden beds or on the lawn). Other efficient methods include using a crevice weeding tool or targeted propane flame tool to remove or destroy the weeds. Either way, fill cracks with sand or sealant afterward to prevent recurrences.

Bad advice: Apply wound paint to seal cuts on pruned tree limbs

Trees compartmentalize their wounds, so sealants aren’t generally necessary. In addition, the products can trap moisture and disease-causing pathogens and encourage decay, defeating their stated purpose while interfering with the tree’s natural healing process. Light sealants should be applied only to elm or oak trees that are pruned or injured during the growing season to discourage Dutch elm disease and oak wilt, respectively. Sealants aren’t necessary when pruning these trees at the recommended (dormant) time of year.

Instead: Be sure to use proper pruning techniques, prune only at the appropriate time of year and allow wounds to heal on their own.

Bad advice: Till garden beds every year to loosen the soil

Sure, it makes the garden look nice and neat, but over-tilling soil destroys beneficial microbes, kills earthworms, disrupts mycorrhizal fungi networks, damages soil structure, increases erosion and moves buried weed seeds to the surface, where conditions are perfect for them to sprout. The practice can also interfere with the soil’s moisture-holding capacity. Instead: In average conditions, spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost over garden beds and let it work into the soil over time.

To create new beds, cover the area with thick layers of newspaper or corrugated cardboard in the fall, then top it with a few inches of mulch or compost, and allow it to smother grass and weeds over the winter and into spring.

If you didn’t plan ahead, lay cardboard now, then cut holes and plant right through it. Be sure to apply mulch afterward.

If you must turn the soil to break up compaction in your garden, do so gently using a broadfork or long-handled garden fork. Use the same tools to gently work in amendments like compost.

Bad advice: Water plants lightly every day

Giving houseplants, garden plants, potted outdoor plants or the lawn a sprinkle every day moistens the soil surface only on its surface instead of at root-depth, where it’s needed. Lightly watered plant roots remain at the top, near their water supply, instead of growing downward and outward. Instead: Water more deeply and less frequently to encourage a larger root system that will withstand drought by accessing farther moisture sources from the surrounding area.

Bad advice: Use landscape fabric under garden beds to discourage weeds

Barrier fabrics fail to stop weeds long-term, create root-tangled messes, restrict the flow of water and oxygen, and introduce microplastics into the soil as they degrade.

Instead: Apply a 2-to-4-inch layer of organic mulch, such as shredded bark, wood chips or straw, over the soil, pushing it away from trunks and stems. Refresh it as it breaks down. It will regulate soil temperature and moisture, nourish the soil as it decomposes and support the soil life that supports your plants

Exception: Landscape fabric can be helpful under gravel or stone paths, or under walkways, where it creates a barrier between the hardscape and the soil below.

acceptance. Along the way, she encounters unexpected friendships and confronts difficult truths about identity, beauty and belonging. Featuring a score by Jeanine Tesori that blends folk, gospel and American roots music, the production is co-produced with the acclaimed disability-affirmative Phamaly Theatre Company.

scene & herd

“Ain’t Nothing But the Blues”

This acclaimed musical revue traces the evolution of the blues from Africa to the American South and beyond through a dynamic collection of songs and stories. Featuring music made famous by legendary blues artists, the production celebrates the genre’s enduring emotional power and influence on American music history.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through June 21. Friday and Saturday curtains at 7:30 p.m., Sunday curtains at 2:30 p.m.

Place: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.

Tickets: $20-$39

Information: www.vintagetheatre.org or call 303-856-7830

“Chosen Family” by the Denver Rock Orchestra at The People’s Building

The Denver Rock Orchestra celebrates Pride season with orchestral arrangements of music by artists including Lady Gaga, Chappell Roan and Queen. The concert combines rock performance with symphonic instrumentation in a program centered on community, identity and belonging.

IF YOU GO:

Date: May 29 at 7:30 pm and May 30 at 7:30pm

TICKETS: General Admission: $25; Student/Senior/Military: $20; Kids 8 & Under Free!

Place: The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave.

Information: www.thepeoplesbuilding.com or call 720-819-6680

“Contemporary Photography Exhibition” at Center for Visual Art

This exhibition showcases the work of emerging and established photographers exploring themes such as identity, environment and storytelling. Through a range of styles and techniques, the featured artists offer compelling visual narratives that invite viewers to reflect on their own perspectives.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through May

Place: Center for Visual Art, 965 Santa Fe Dr.

Tickets: Free

Information: msudenver.edu/cva or 303-294-5207

“Violet” at Aurora Fox Arts Center

Tony Award-nominated musical

“Violet” follows a young woman traveling by bus across the American South in the 1960s in search of healing and

IF YOU GO:

Date: Opens June 5 with weekend night and matinee curtains through June 28

Place: Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave.

Tickets: $17–$45

Information: aurorafoxartscenter.org or call 03-739-1970

“Miscast 2026” at Roaming Gnome Theatre

This inventive theatrical showcase turns traditional casting expectations upside down, inviting performers to sing songs and perform roles they would not typically be cast to play. The annual event celebrates creativity, inclusivity and unexpected artistic interpretation in a lively cabaret-style format.

IF YOU GO:

Date: May 29 and May 30, 7 p.m.

Place: Roaming Gnome Theatre, Aurora Cultural Arts District

Tickets: $10-$15

Information: www.auroraculturalartsdistrict.org or 720-819-6680

“Jazz Jam” at Cerebral Aurora Arts

Musicians of all ages and experience levels are invited to participate in this community-centered jazz session celebrating improvisation and collaboration. Hosted at Cerebral Aurora Arts, the event creates an inclusive environment where emerging and seasoned performers can share the stage and explore jazz traditions together.

IF YOU GO:

Date: May 31, 1 p.m.–3 p.m.

Place: Cerebral Aurora Arts at Cerebral Brewing, 9990 E Colfax Ave.

Tickets: Free Information: cerebralbrewing.com/ or 720-819-6680

“In the Absence of Shelter” Film Screening at The People’s Building

This world-premiere documentary follows students from RMSEL as they move beyond graduation and embark on solo wilderness journeys that test their resilience, independence and personal growth. The screening highlights themes of transition, education and self-discovery through an uplifting Colorado-made film. Discussion follows the documentary.

IF YOU GO:

Date: May 29, 6 p.m.–9 p.m.

Tickets: $5-$20

Place: The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave.

Information: www.thepeoplesbuilding.com or call 720-819-6680

jewelry and international crafts. Live music, dance performances, games and giveaways add to the festive atmosphere, making it a lively gathering for all ages. A major highlight is the rotating lineup of food trucks and culinary vendors serving global street fare— from Korean barbecue and Mexican tacos to African specialties and inventive fusion dishes—creating a dynamic, ever-changing dining experience.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Last Saturday of the month beginning May 30; continues monthly through September from 6 p.m.10 p.m.)

Place: Leezakaya, 2710 S. Havana St.

Tickets: Free admission Information: onhavanastreet.com or 303-360-7505

“Live Music at The Local Drive” at Stanley Marketplace

This ongoing live music series transforms the Stanley Marketplace hangar into a vibrant performance space featuring local and regional musicians. The programming spans genres—from indie and folk to jazz and rock—creating an eclectic soundtrack for Aurora’s creative community.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Fridays and Saturdays after 5 p.m.

Place: Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St.

Tickets: Free admission

Information: stanleymarketplace.com or 720-941-7070

“The Deluge” exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

Artist Bethany Collins examines American history, language and identity in this multimedia exhibition that combines sculpture, sound, text and installation. Collins is known for transforming historical documents and cultural symbols into artworks that explore how stories about the nation are constructed and remembered. The exhibition includes pieces created from materials connected to historic monuments as well as works that reinterpret literature and music through erasure, repetition and sound. By reshaping familiar texts and symbols, the exhibition invites visitors to consider how narratives about race, justice and national identity continue to evolve over time.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through July 5,

Place: Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, 1485 Delgany St.

Tickets: $8–$14; free for members

Information: mcadenver.org or call 303-298-7554

“World’s Largest Dinosaurs” at Denver Museum of Nature and Science

This traveling exhibition explores how the largest land animals in Earth’s history lived and functioned. Rather than focusing solely on fossil bones, the exhibit examines the biology of giant sauropods, which are dinosaurs whose massive bodies required unique adaptations for breathing, circulation

and movement. Through interactive displays, models and scientific research, visitors can learn how scientists study both fossils and modern animals to understand how these enormous creatures survived and thrived millions of years ago. The exhibition also explores the evolutionary advantages and challenges of extreme size, offering a deeper look at how the scale of these animals shaped their behavior and ecosystems.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through Sept. 7

Place: Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd.

Tickets: $6-$9

Information: dmns.org or call 303-370-6000

Havana Street Night Market

Aurora’s global street festival returns for the 2026 season, transforming the Havana Street corridor into a vibrant open-air celebration of food, art and community. Centered outside Leezakaya, the monthly night market features an eclectic mix of vendors offering handmade goods, clothing,

Buckley will use a portable nuclear reactor to generate electricity on the base, generating controversy first

BY OWEN SWALLOW, for the Sentinel

Buckley Space Force Base will soon be home to one of the first portable nuclear reactors installed on a U.S. military base as part of a Pentagon initiative aimed at making military bases less dependent on the civilian grid, according to Department of Defense officials.

Buckley was selected as one of the bases to be outfitted with a “micro” nuclear reactor and is slated to have it installed by 2028, contractor and base officials said. Part of the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations initiative, the Department of the Air Force and the Defense Innovation Unit announced that they had selected Radiant Industries, Inc. to design, install, and operate this microreactor.

The initiative launched in 2021, and other bases selected for the trials include Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and the Joint Base San Antonio in Texas.

A spokesperson for the Air Force said that they had “evaluated all available technologies that can provide reliable, uninterrupted power and support mission readiness,” and the micro-reactors topped the list of potential energy sources.

The spokesperson added: “Modern microreactors offer 24/7 resilient power, built-in safety features, and the ability to operate independently from the commercial grid.”

Nuclear microreactors generate electricity through a scaled-down version of traditional nuclear power, using controlled nuclear fission to produce large amounts of heat that are then converted into electricity through either thermal or mechanical energy.

According to the Idaho National Laboratory, microreactors can be operated for several years without refueling and can be integrated with other energy sources on and off the grid.

Democratic Congressman Jason Crow of Aurora, and Colorado’s two senators lauded the initiative in their recent meeting at Buckley. Crow pointed out that Buckley’s energy consumption runs off the civilian power grid, driving up prices for Colorado ratepayers. By this reasoning, getting Buckley off the grid would drive down energy costs in the surrounding area.

Buckley also operates a solar array that covers around 35% of the base’s energy needs, according to a report from the Defense Logistics Agency.

Radiant will be providing its Kaleidos portable nuclear microreactor, which can generate one megawatt of electricity. A spokesperson for Radiant likened that to being able to power about a thousand homes in America.

This microreactor may not cover all of Buckley’s energy needs, officials said. It will, however, get the base closer to running entirely independent of the civilian grid.

According to Radiant’s website describing the program, the Kaleidos reactor can be shipped back to the manufacturer to refuel once the fuel source has been depleted, and manage any waste, either through reuse or placement in underground federal repositories. The Kaleidos can be fueled four times during its anticipated 20-year product lifespan.

In a press release, Michael Borders, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment, called these microreactors and the innovations in nuclear energy a “pivotal moment for the Department of the Air Force.”

“The future of air and space dominance is powered by resilient energy,” said Borders. “By integrating advanced nuclear technology, we are not just keeping the lights on; we are guaranteeing that our most critical national

security missions will never be held at risk by a power outage.”

Still, for some, nuclear reactors conjure fears of a nuclear meltdown like that of the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 or Fukushima in 2011. These safety concerns, coupled with the environmental impact of construction and the fact that nuclear waste has to be disposed of onsite, have led to a whole host of environmental advocacy groups, such as The Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Greenpeace, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, which oppose the construction and operation of downscaled nuclear reactors.

The Sierra Club opposes the “licensing, construction, and operation” of any new nuclear reactors utilizing the fission process.

The Sierra Club cites past nuclear power plant meltdowns as proof that “none of the fundamental problems with nuclear power have ever been addressed.”

No one died from the Three Mile Island accident, and there were no direct deaths from radiation, according to the World Nuclear Association.

Radiant’s chief nuclear officer, Rita Baranwal, told the Sentinel that the Kaleidos reactor is “meltdown-proof and leak-safe.”

“First and foremost, Radiant is serious about maintaining the safety culture that the nuclear industry is known for,” Baranwal said. “The United States has decades of experience operating reactors with an impeccable safety record. (The U.S. has) 94 large reactors operating around the country.”

Baranwal added that, beyond the history of strong regulation and safety mechanisms in place for nuclear power, microreactors like the Kaleidos are designed with safety at the forefront.

“The reactor… is designed to be resilient and capable of withstanding very extreme environments. Really, safety is baked into the design of the reactor,” Baranwal said.

Part of the reason for this, Baranwal explained, is the passive cooling system in microreactors. If there is a total loss of power, microreactors are designed to shut down and cool off on their own, without any operator intervention.

Furthermore, the type of fuel in Kaleidos reactors is extraordinarily durable.

“This reactor runs on TRISO particles, which are specks of uranium,” explained Baranwal. “Then you’ve got layers of carbon and silicon carbide. So you’ve got four different layers there to retain the fission gas that is generated when the uranium fissions.”

Jenifer Shafer, a professor in the Colorado School of Mines Chemistry Department and Nuclear Science Program at the Colorado

School of Mines, confirmed that TRISO fuel has been tested to hold together up to 1700°C or 3200°F. The fuel isn’t indestructible; if it’s pushed too hot, the silicon carbide and carbon layers could hypothetically fail. Shafer said she didn’t believe there would be enough fuel to burn a reactor hot enough to melt TRISO in the case of Radiant’s reactor.

Shafer added that that only applies to specific designs operated within their limits.

Although nuclear micro-reactors are typically thought of as safe, there are those within the physics and engineering fields who are skeptical of those claims.

Edwin Lyman, a physicist who is the Director of Nuclear Power Safety with the Union of Concerned Scientists, has warned that, in some cases, passive features may not always work in extreme events like wildfires or earthquakes. And in some cases, those passive features could make accidents worse. Neither Shafer nor Lyman has worked on the Kaleidos reactor and said they cannot speak to the details of how it is engineered.

For the Air Force’s part, they say they are continuing to work alongside regulators to ensure they follow safety protocols.

Colorado has a turbulent history with nuclear power. The Rocky Flats Plant was a weapons manufacturing facility built on the western suburbs of Denver that produced nuclear arms from the 1950s to the early 90s. Airborne plutonium leaked into the neighboring communities, including Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield. Community members who lived close to Rocky Flats were staunchly opposed to the plant for a variety of concerns, including environmental, health, and anti-war sentiment.

More recently, DIA suspended its plan to install a similar modular reactor at the airport were shelved, partly due to backlash from metro residents.

Aurora City Councilmember Amy Wiles told the Sentinel that Buckley Space Force Base had not been in contact with the city council over the reactors.

“The base is federal property, and therefore the city has no control over what is built on the base,” Wiles said, adding that she has already started to hear concerns from some of her constituents. “I have received concerns from community members and have directed them to outreach to the appropriate federal agency to provide feedback.”

A spokesperson for Rep. Crow confirmed that his office intends to conduct oversight of the project both through their congressional

office and Crow’s position on the House Armed Services Committee.

“We are encouraged that Buckley Space Force Base is a finalist to be the new home for these microreactors, but we still have lots of questions,” said Eric Maruyama, spokesperson for Gov. Jared Polis, “We are a natural home for this innovative technology and look forward to securing these microreactors and having our questions answered. To date, the Governor’s Office and State of Colorado agencies have not been involved in the planning for this microreactor. The Governor expects the federal agencies responsible for this project to meet all applicable safety and environmental requirements.”

A spokesperson for the Air Force told the Sentinel that they were coordinating with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy to evaluate the safety of “each potential reactor technology to ensure adherence to the strictest safety options”. These regulators will conduct safety reviews for the chosen reactor to ensure safety for the installation and the local community. “As with all commercial nuclear energy facilities in the United States, the selected vendors must follow strict federal nuclear safety and environmental regulations and processes as part of the National Environmental Policy Act review process. This includes development and testing of detailed safety and emergency response plans — from reactor design to decommissioning.” Regarding whether the DOD/DAF had any contingency plans in place in the event of a natural disaster, the spokesperson said, “As with all commercial nuclear energy facilities in the United States, the selected vendors must follow strict federal nuclear safety and environmental regulations and processes as part of the National Environmental Policy Act review process. This includes development and testing of detailed safety and emergency response plans — from reactor design to decommissioning.”

The DAF spokesperson emphasized that any advanced nuclear reactor deployed as part of the (Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations initiative) would be operated by “welltrained, highly capable operators from the nuclear industry” who are licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or the Department of Energy.

Radiant is anticipating scheduling public meetings in Aurora sometime in the near future to talk to the community about their technology and answer any questions or concerns, officials said.

Editorials Sentinel

Polis should help police see their way to transparancy by signing law mandating it

Few things are as important to police and the public as ensuring transparency in how law enforcement operates, and especially when a life is lost during police intervention.

Senate Bill 26-290 moved that important goal ahead, and Gov. Jared Polis should sign it.

As the bill sponsors made clear as the legislative session wrapped up and the bill moved steadily forward, SB 290 isn’t radical, or anti-police or a way to stymie law enforcement investigations.

It is a long-overdue recognition that when someone dies at the hands of police, families and the public deserve timely, factual information instead of bureaucratic stonewalling, selective narratives and endless delays.

That’s been the history here in Aurora and across the state as families of those who’ve died at the hands of police, the Sentinel and media across the state have had to accommodate a wide range of capricious rules and regulations just to see unaltered video evidence for themselves.

In Colorado — and especially in Aurora — lawmakers should not need to explain why transparency matters.

The state’s painful history surrounding police encounters, from the death of Elijah McClain to more recent controversies involving the Aurora Police Department, has already demonstrated the corrosive damage caused when authorities appear more interested in controlling public perception than disclosing facts.

SB-290 offers an orderly and dependable framework for disclosure. That alone makes it necessary.

Under the bill, agencies would be required to provide immediate family members with body camera and dashboard camera footage within 21 days after an officer-involved death. Families would no longer be forced to plead for basic information while rumors, edited videos and official narratives circulate publicly ahead of verified facts.

The reform is badly needed.

The testimony lawmakers heard this session was heartbreaking and infuriating. Families described waiting weeks or months for information while agencies released curated videos and selective commentary to shape public opinion. Mothers whose children died in encounters with police recounted being ignored, misled or forced into litigation simply to learn what happened in the final moments of their loved ones’ lives.

The legislation also wisely reins in inflammatory or editorialized commentary by officers and agencies built into video replays in the immediate aftermath of deadly force incidents.

Police-generated “community briefing” videos too often blur the line between evidence and advocacy, effectively trying cases in public before investigations conclude. SB-290 appropriately requires disclaimers when footage is edited and prohibits subjective statements designed to prejudice public perception.

The measure is not designed to preclude police from providing details about police actions or crimes, it encourages it. SB-290 is created to prevent police from going beyond the facts and details of the case in what have been clear-cut efforts to try cases in the court of public opinion.

The public’s trust in policing depends heavily on whether agencies appear transparent, consistent and accountable when something goes wrong. Communities do not lose faith merely because officers use force. They lose faith when officials appear evasive, manipulative or more concerned about institutional protection than public disclosure.

The bill helps address that crisis of confidence, but one mistake still needs legislative attention.

As the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition correctly pointed out during the legislative session, SB-290 continues to require “a complaint of peace officer misconduct” before journalists and the broader public can obtain certain unedited recordings and records.

The requirement is unnecessary and counterproductive, causing transparency problems when the law works to clear them up.

If someone dies during a police encounter, transparency should not hinge on whether a grieving family member, witness or member of the public knows enough about Colorado law to file a formal misconduct complaint. Forcing a member of the media to file such a complaint is unethical for the reporter.

Police can simply hide behind the claim that “no complaint was filed,” even in cases where public interest plainly demands disclosure.

Colorado has already seen agencies exploit loopholes in existing law to deny access to footage involving deadly force. SB-290 improves the process substantially, but lawmakers weakened the bill by preserving this avoidable impediment.

Polis should sign the legislation anyway.

The bill moves Colorado in the right direction by preventing further contrived delays in releasing critical information to families and communities. It establishes predictable timelines, clearer standards and stronger protections against manipulative public messaging.

Most importantly, it recognizes that transparency after a police killing is not optional. It is essential, and it’s the law.

MAISHA FIELDS, GUEST COLUMNIST

Aurora City Council members keep turning their backs on victims

Aurora families deserve a city government that puts public safety and victims first. Instead, the Aurora City Council’s recent decision to restrict the release of booking photos sends the opposite message, that protecting public image matters more than protecting the public itself.

Aurora’s failure to prioritize victims is not limited to this ordinance. It is part of a larger and deeply troubling pattern.

In 2024, Aurora City Council voted to dismantle one of Colorado’s most respected municipal domestic violence court programs. It was a nationally recognized model created specifically to ensure survivors of domestic violence received focused legal protections, specialized intervention, and better long-term outcomes for both victims and defendants.

This was not a broken system. It was a program built over decades that earned national recognition because it worked.

Council justified shutting it down as a cost-saving measure, projecting roughly $3 million in annual savings while Aurora faced budget shortfalls tied to declining retail sales tax revenue. But balancing budgets on the backs of domestic violence survivors is not fiscal responsibility. It is moral failure.

The consequences became immediate.

Arapahoe County officials later confirmed they would not receive the $3.1 million in state funding necessary to absorb Aurora’s roughly 1,600 annual domestic violence cases. County commissioners formally asked Aurora to delay the transfer because they lacked the staffing, resources, and infrastructure to properly manage these highly sensitive and complex cases.

Aurora City Council refused.

Despite clear warnings from county officials that survivors could face delays, reduced services, and diminished access to justice, a majority of council members chose to proceed.

This decision sent a chilling message to victims across Aurora: When budgets tighten, your safety becomes negotiable.

Domestic violence cases are not ordinary municipal violations. They often involve cycles of coercion, trauma, escalating violence, and victims navigating fear, housing insecurity, child custo-

dy concerns, and retaliation from abusers. These cases demand specialized systems built around survivor safety — not bureaucratic reshuffling driven by accounting spreadsheets.

Now, while survivors are still facing the fallout of that decision, Aurora is advancing another policy that reduces transparency by limiting public access to booking photos.

Taken together, these decisions reveal a disturbing truth: Aurora’s leadership is systematically removing tools that support victim protection while offering no serious replacement.

For survivors of domestic violence, public visibility can be lifesaving. Public awareness can expose repeat offenders, connect patterns of abuse across jurisdictions, generate witnesses, and provide critical information that law enforcement may otherwise miss.

For families like mine, who lost my brother Javad Marshall-Fields and Vivian Wolfe, his fiancée, we know justice depends on urgency, transparency, and public accountability.

For my family, public visibility was not abstract policy. It was part of the path toward justice for Javad andVivian.

Their murders devastated our family and shook this community. In cases like theirs, public awareness, shared information, and visible accountability were essential to keeping pressure on law enforcement, engaging the public, and ensuring that justice did not disappear into silence.

When the public can identify suspects, connect information, and remain informed, cases move forward. Cold cases are solved. Families get answers.

Aurora has already weakened one nationally respected victim-centered system. It should not continue down a path that further isolates victims and shields institutions from public scrutiny. A city that claims to stand for public safety cannot simultaneously dismantle domestic violence protections, restrict transparency, and call it reform. That is not reform. That is abandonment.

Right: Regis Jesuit senior Hudson Alpert (15) celebrates with teammates after his three-run home run in the seventh inning of a 14-8 victory over Arvada West in a Class 5A Baseball Championship Series semifinal on May 23 at All-Star Park.

Middle: Regis Jesuit senior shortstop Chase Massey, left, yells is celebration after he scored the go-ahead run in the Raiders’ 3-2 win over Mountain Vista in a Class 5A Championship Series contest May 22 at All-City Stadium.

head

The first handful of innings of the Regis Jesuit baseball team’s Class 5A Championship Series appearance were certainly a little shaky.

But the Raiders definitely found their groove. Down a run in the late stages of an important opening contest against Mountain Vista, Regis Jesuit found its spark and from there, it turned great into a wildfire as the Raiders completed a 3-0 weekend and took command of the double-elimination series, which concludes May 30.

BASEBALL

The challenge for Regis Jesuit is doing something it wasn’t able to do the last time it was in this position — back in 2024 — and that is to stay sharp for a week so it can get the one win it needs. The Raiders lost twice to Cherry Creek — which they beat in the final game of the first weekend — on the final day of that Championship Series to see the title slip away.

Senior Hudson Alpert, a member of the 2024 team as well as this one, has a healthy perspective.

“This is great, but the job’s not done though,” Alpert said. “That was the message for us. It’s great to go 3-0, but I was here sophomore year and we couldn’t get it done. We just have to win one more, so we have to stay true to ourselves and have a good week of practice.”

One ‘W’ to go

“Since the sixth inning of the game against Vista, we were really able to turn it around,” senior catcher Jack Manthey said after Regis Jesuit’s 148 win over Arvada West May 23 at All-Star Park.

BY COURTNEY OAKES Staff Writer

“Baseball is such a momentum shift game,” he added. “I think we were a little nervous going into that, but since then, our confidence has been on another level. It’s been great.”

Indeed, since Regis Jesuit overcame that onerun deficit against Mountain Vista May 22 at AllCity Stadium, it outscored its three opponents (the Golden Eagles, No. 7 Legend and Arvada) 24-11 en route to prime position to win the program’s fourth all-time state title and first since 2019.

Coach Matt Darr’s Raiders (22-6)— who will play for the state title for a third straight season — will next take the field at 10 a.m. May 30 at All-Star Park against the survivor of two games played May 29, which will first pit No. 4 Pine Creek against No. 7 Legend with the victor taking on No. 1 Arvada West for a spot in the final.

Darr has guided his team to the final week of the Championship Series in several different ways in and he will try to put lessons learned into practice. In attempt to “eliminate the variables,” he plans to have his team practice daily in the same 10 a.m. slot when the championship game is scheduled. He also intends to get them to work on turf (the surface present at All-Star Park) as opposed to their grass home field.

“Every one of these is different because it depends on who you are playing,” Darr said. “I’ve been here in a lot of different spots. I don’t know if it makes me old, but I’m fortunate to be here. This is a good group.”

The last time Regis Jesuit sat in this position, Darr chose to hold his ace, Alpert, for the second game if it was necessary. The Raiders lost by 10 runs in the opening contest of the day and Alpert slowed, but was unable to overcome Cherry Creek’s potent lineup and dominant pitching in a heartbreaking 5-2 loss.

Preps

HALL OF FAME

Smoky Hill inducts its first Hall of Fame class

With five plus decades of history to chose from, Smoky Hill High School has selected the members of its inaugural Hall of Fame class, which were inducted this week.

A committee that includes current athletic director David Benedict in addition to current and former school administrators and coaches John Thompson, Scott Cohen, Bob Kennedy and Scott Henry picked the group, which were to be honored at a 6 p.m. May 27 ceremony in the school’s auditorium.

“It was not an easy task to determine this list of individuals with such a rich history over the last five decades,” Benedict said in a statement. “All have represented Buff Nation with great pride of success.”

The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 is made up of Derek Glenn (1977), Cody Dusenberry Kerekes (1992), Shelby Clark (2000), Megan Kaltenbach Burke (2003), Katelyn Kaltenbach Conlon and Rachel Holloway Freemyer (2005), Miguel Rosales (2007), Bowen Yang (2008) and Caroline Piehl (2011) plus coaches Mike and Molly Renes.

HALL OF FAME

Eaglecrest, Grandview seeking HOF nominations

The Eaglecrest High School Athletics and Activities Hall of Fame — which began back in 2014 — has a June 4 deadline for nominations for its next class of inductees after a 2025 group of Jalen Mergerson (football), Andrew Andrew Woods (performing arts) and the softball duo of Alyssa Velazquez and Brooklyn Fields. Those eligible for the Athletic and Activities Hall of Fame must have graduated from Eaglecrest for at least five years and be nominated by a member of the community. Visit the Hall of Fame page at https://eaglecrest.cherrycreekschools.org/ to present a candidate.

Grandview High School has now inducted three classes into its Hall of Fame — with a 2025 group of Lindsey Licht (volleyball), Reece Weber (football/baseball), Beth West (soccer) and Fabian Santillan (wrestling) and is currently taking nominations for the 2026 class to be picked later in the year. Grandview also has a five-year requirement for nominees to have their last roles at the school and nominations must be made by a member of the community. Visit the Hall of Fame page at https://grandview.cherrycreekschools.org/to nominate.

OPENINGS

Aurora area schools seek to fill head coaching jobs

With the end of the school year comes planning for the next one and some head coaching jobs among Aurora area prep sports programs have come open ahead of 2026-27.

Aurora Central currently has a trio of open coaching positions for one in each season. A boys soccer coach is needed for the fall, while the girls basketball coaching job is open in the winter and girls soccer is available for the spring. The boys soccer job has been posted on the Aurora Public Schools website (aurorak12.org), which also includes openings for boys and girls basketball coaches at Hinkley as well as a boys tennis coach at Rangeview.

— Sports Editor Courtney Oakes

Alpert — a Vanderbilt University signee — missed Regis Jesuit’s semifinal and championship game last season due to injury and underwent “Tommy John Lite” surgery to repair damage to the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL).

He returned in mid-April and has had a limited pitch count in six appearances, over which he is 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings. In the Championship Series opener against Mountain Vista, Alpert allowed two earned runs on three hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Immediately after the victory over Arvada West, Darr hadn’t yet made the plan for his pitching, but Alpert is excited to be out there whenever he gets the baseball to throw. At other times, he has been a valuable defensive player at second place and he is the team’s leading hitter on the season and is 4-for-11 with a home run and five RBI in three Championship Series games.

“I want to impact the game as much as I can, offense, defense or pitching,” Alpert said. “It’s been a great year, but we still have a job to finish. ...It (the championship game) will be awesome. There will be a lot of people there and it will be a great atmosphere, so we’ll be ready to play.”

Whoever they face, the Raiders hope to pick up how they left off rather than how they began play in the Championship Series.

A challenge awaited May 22 in the form of Mountain Vista, the team that finished with an identical 9-1 record as Regis Jesuit in Continental League play and had battled to within a run in a 4-3 contest April 13 that ultimately landed the league championship for the Raiders.

The Golden Eagles employed their ace in senior Sawyer Tipton, who worked past a solo home run from Regis Jesuit senior Deion Cesario-Scott and a following double by Alpert in the opening inning to take control of the ballgame. Tipton faced just 13 hitters in innings 2-5 and struck out eight of them, while nobody in the Raiders’ lineup hit the ball out of the infield in that stretch.

But Regis Jesuit turned over the lineup in the top of the sixth and finally came to life. Senior Jacob Olson, a University of Oregon recruit who had been the only hitter not retired in the middle innings after drawing a walk in the third, singled to become the only leadoff hitter in an inning to reach. Boston College-bound senior shortstop Chase Massey followed with a double to put two runners into scoring position.

A wild pitch brought home Olson with the tying run and Massey put the Raiders ahead when he broke for home after a dropped third strike to Cesario-Scott. Junior Mikey Kroll, a starting pitcher, finished off the win after he came on in relief of Alpert in the fifth inning.

“I kept thinking, we were down one run, but it felt like we weren’t close,” Darr admitted. “I turned to my coaches and said ‘if we get to the sixth inning with the top of the lineup, I like our chances. ...Tipton did a great job, but things can change when you go through the lineup three times.”

ever, as it went out and put up three runs immediately on a solo home run from Massey as the second hitter of the game, followed by a single from Cesario-Scott and a double from Alpert. Wright then delivered a two-run single.

That gave junior starting pitcher Cade Filleman a cushion to work with and he maintained the lead, though the Titans cut the advantage to 4-3 in the fifth and gained some momentum.

Enter Cesario-Scott, who crushed a 3-2 fastball from Legend reliever Tyler Houston over the fence in center field to move the advantage back to two runs.

For full coverage of 5A Championship Series, visit sentinelcolorado. com/preps

Junior Brady Wright lauded his team’s mental toughness for the ability to navigate adversity.

“I think there’s always nerves when it comes down to these games, but I think our team can control that really well,” Wright said. “We have a mental coach who walks us through it every day. He talked to us and had us prepared for this week, so we’re ready.”

The Raiders handled some adversity again in their subsequent contest against Legend, which had caused a stir in regional play with wins over host Rocky Mountain and then Cherry Creek, programs which had combined for 16 all-time state titles.

Regis Jesuit had some cushion this time, how-

“I was able to work my way back into the at-bat and then I was sitting on a fastball,” said Cesario-Scott, who moved into second place for the season on his team in home runs with seven, while Massey has nine.

One more rally put the game out of reach and junior Ezra Christ closed it out.

That pushed the Raiders into an anticipated showdown with an Arvada West team that hadn’t lost a game in Colorado — it took three losses at the Boras Classic in Arizona — and had rolled through No. 8 Chatfield (8-1) and No. 4 Pine Creek (9-2) in its first two Championship Series tilts.

In a game in which both sides had to dig into pitching depth with its leading arms used the day before — including Cooper Vais and Brayden Reiner of the Wildcats, plus Alpert, Kroll and Filleman for the Raiders — Regis Jesuit scored twice on a single by Wright and left the bases loaded.

It was a portent of things to come, as the Raiders put up runs in six of its seven at-bats and had

16 hits against a total of five Arvada West pitchers. Regis Jesuit trailed only once and cracked the game open with a four-run rally in the fifth inning that included a massive three-run double from Manthey.

“One thing we’ve been talking about this whole season is do it for your brothers,” said Manthey, who drove in another run later with a sacrifice fly. “I think it’s way less about me than it is about the team. I think that hit meant so much to the team and seeing my teammates really excited in the dugout felt great.

“There’s nothing else I could have asked for in that moment.”

Alpert hadn’t yet got in on the hitting until the seventh inning, when he put the exclamation mark on the victory with a three-run home run.

While they know the win over Arvada West did not clinch a title, it certainly was significant.

“All season, we’ve heard they’re better than us and heard they’re the No. 1 seed and we’re not as good as we were last year,” Olson said. “I think we played the harder schedule and I think we deserve to be here more than they do. I believe these boys truly have worked harder than anybody else. It feels great, but I think we knew we’d be here.”

Darr has seen his team get some of the fortunate things that championship teams have going for them on their runs such as the

at home plate against Mountain

that came after an errant pickup throw ended up in right field.

“We’ve had a lot of breaks ...sometimes if you are meant to win, that’s way more important than if you’re better,” Darr said. “We’re really good, but things are starting to line up.”

CHERRY CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 5

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SCHOOL BUDGET

Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Board of Education of Cherry Creek School District No. 5 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and has been filed in the Office of the Superintendent, 4610 South Ulster Street, Suite 1001, Denver CO 80237, where it is available for public inspection.

Such proposed budget will be considered for adoption at a Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of said district at Liberty Middle School, 21500 E Dry Creek Road, Aurora CO 80016, on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Any person paying school taxes in the Cherry Creek School District may at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget file or register objections thereto.

BOARD OF EDUCATION

CHERRY CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 5

John-Claude Futrell, Secretary

Publication: May 28, 2026

Sentinel DISTRICT COURT, ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE Case No. 2026CV000043

Travis Wilson 6913 S. High St. Centennial, CO 80122

You are hereby notified that the above captioned case has been set for NAME CHANGE HEARING. You are required to appear at 7325 S Potomac St Centennial CO 80112 o n June 03, 2026 at 10:00 AM in Div 34.

COPY TO: Parties may appear via Webex. Information below.

Date of Notice: May 05, 2026

MAC for Shana Kloek Clerk/ Clerk of Court

Continuance granted only by the Court on Written Motion

To appear from a computer: Click o n “Join Meeting” below to access my WebEx Virtual Courtroom

Meeting number (access code): 2594 408 0614

Join from a video conferencing system or application

Or Click on: https://iudicial.webex.com/ meet/D18-ARAP-Div34

Join by phone Tap to call in from a mobile device (attendees only) +1-720-650-7664 Access code: 2594 408 0614 then press #, # (no attendee ID is needed)

First Publication: May 21, 2026

Final Publication: June 4, 2026

Sentinel IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF LOVE COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA NOTICE OF PUBLICATION Case No. FD-2026-9

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF:

PATRICIA ELIZABETH PHILLIPS,Petitioner, -andCRAIG ROBERT BACHMAN, Respondent.

TO: Craig Robert Bachman:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you in the District Court of Love County, Oklahoma in the above entitled action, by the Petitioner, Patricia Phillips. This summons by publication is specifically directed to Craig Robert Bachman, whose whereabouts are unknown. The nature of this suit against you is in regards to a dissolution of your marriage to Patricia Phillips. The Petitioner is requesting a decree of Dissolution of Marriage; all separate property acquired by her prior to marriage and after separation; a fair and equitable division and distribution of the property accumulated by the parties, and such other and further relief to which Petitioner may be entitled.

Unless you answer the petition on or before July 2, 2026 judgment will be taken in favor of Patricia Phillips and against you as previously specified.

Issued this 28th day of April , 2026.

WENDY HOLLAND, Court Clerk

By: /s/ Deputy Court Clerk

Jacob Heskett (OBA # 34156)

Mary Beth Heskett (OBA #35414) Valley Law Partners, PLLC 215 N. Walnut

Pauls Valley, OK 73075

Phone: (405) 238-4460

jacobdheskett@gmail.com marybethheskett@gmail.com

ATTORNEYS FOR PETITIONER

First Publication: May 14, 2026

Final Publication: May 28, 2026

Sentinel INVITATION TO BID

The Sky Ranch Community Authority Board (hereinafter called the “Owner”) will receive sealed Bids for the Sky Ranch CAB Filing 9 Wet Utilities Project (the “Project”) via electronic submission to The Connextion Group, LLC; by 1:00 P.M. MT on June 30th, 2026. Electronic copies of the bid documents are to be sent to Marrocco@ TheConnextionGroup.com (please copy Gaittens@TheConnextionGroup.com).

A description of the Work to be performed includes but is not limited to: mobilization, bonds, insurance, water, sanitary, storm and associated apparatus, and any and all

other work necessary to complete the work in accordance with Contract Documents including the plans and specifications.

Complete digital project bidding documents will be available electronically upon request after May 28th, 2026. Send request for bid documents to Barrett Marrocco at Marrocco@TheConnextionGroup. com with copy to Andrew Gaittens at Gaittens@theconnextiongroup.com. Include company name, contact name and contact information in the request.

Bids shall be made on the forms furnished by the Owner and endorsed with the name of the Bidder. Also, Bidders shall submit in electronic form the Bid Documents, including a working file of the Bid Schedule (Excel format). Bidders must supply a list of Subcontractors and Suppliers providing $10,000 or more in labor and/ or materials to the Project. If not provided earlier, Bidders shall be required to submit a completed AIA A305 Qualifications Contractor Statement, or equal, including all attachments. The Owner will not provide the form.

Attention is called to the fact that Bidders offer to assume the obligations and liabilities imposed by the Contract Documents. The Successful Bidder for the Project will be required to furnish a Performance Bond, a Labor and Materials Payment Bond and Warranty Bond in the full amount of the Contract Price, in conformity with the requirements of the Contract Documents. These are not due with the Bid but will be required by the Successful Bidder with the signed Agreement.

All documents and Addenda provided with the above Bid Package, shall apply to this bid and will be provided with the above-mentioned Contract Documents when applicable.

Bidders are hereby advised that the Owner reserves the right to not award a Contract until ninety (90) days from the date of the opening of Bids, and Bidders expressly agree to keep their Bids open for the ninety (90) day time period. Owner reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive any informality, technicality or irregularity in any Bid, to disregard all non-conforming, non-responsive, conditional or alternate Bids, to clarify contract terms with the Successful Bidder, to require statements or evidence of Bidders’ qualifications, including financial statements, and to accept the proposal that is in the opinion of the Owner in its best interest. Owner reserves the right to accept any combination of Bids which in Owner’s sole, and absolute judgment will, under all circumstances, best serve the Owner’s interests. Owner also reserves the right to extend the Bidding period by Addendum if it appears in its interest to do so. The Owner reserves the right to award multiple contracts to multiple Bidders.

Additional Bidder requirements are included in the Contract Documents.

All questions concerning this bid shall be directed in writing to:

Barrett Marrocco

The Connextion Group, LLC Engineer for Sky Ranch Community Authority Board 4785 Tejon St, Suite 101 Denver, CO 80211

E-mail: Marrocco@theconnextiongroup. com

Please copy Andrew Gaittens at Gaittens@ theconnextiongroup.com on all correspondence.

Contacting the Design Engineer, District Representatives, Local Jurisdictions, or others involved in the development of the Project shall be reason for the Bidder’s Bid to be rejected. Responses to questions and clarifications shall be by written Addendum only, verbal responses are non-binding.

Publication: May 28, 2026 Sentinel

NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO § 15-10-401, C.R.S. Case No. 2025PR650

In the Matter of the Estate of: Jose Luis Espinoza Delgado

To: Jose Luis Espinoza; Jose Alonso Espinoza; Jose Angel Espinoza; Jose Pedro Espinoza; Maria Espinoza

Last Known Address, if any: Unknown.

A hearing on Petition for Appointment of Personal Representative and determine common law marriage to consider and determine the appointment of a Personal Representative for the Estate of Jose Luis Espinoza Delagado, Deceased, determine common law marriage and to address any objections or interested party input regarding the appointment will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be continued:

Date: June 23, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM Courtroom or Division: 12 Address: Virtual Hearing will be conducted remotely. Contact Court for access information.

The hearing will take approximately 30 minutes.

Margarita DeLeon Dominguez 12394 E. Iowa Ave. Aurora, CO 80012

First Publication: April 30, 2026

Final Publication: May 28, 2026 Sentinel

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF LIENED

PROPERTY

Notice is hereby given that a public auction will be held on June 8, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. at 2700 Chambers Rd, Aurora, CO. Chambers Road RV & Boat Storage will sell the following vehicle:

A 1999 Freightliner FLD120, VIN 1FUYDSEB3XPB82366, owned and stored by Omar Martinez Graciano of 4762 Altura St St, Denver, CO.

Merchandise is sold AS IS. Sale is subject to prior cancellation in the event of settlement. Sale is by the authority of CO Statute 38-21.5-103.

First Publication: May 28, 2026

Final Publication: June 4, 2026 Sentinel

NOTICE OF VACANCY

PURSUANT to Section 32-1-808(2)(a)(I), C.R.S., notice is hereby given that a vacancy did occur on the Board of Directors of the Colfax Sable Metropolitan District. Any eligible elector of the District who is interested in appointment to the Board may contact the District’s General Counsel, David O’Leary via e-mail: doleary@spencerfance.com. The Board of the Districts may fill said vacancy 10 days after the date hereof.

By: David O’Leary General Counsel to the District

Publication: May 28, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE OF VACANCY

PURSUANT to Section 32-1-808(2)(a)(I), C.R.S., notice is hereby given that a vacancy exists on each of the Boards of Directors of Fitzsimons Village Metropolitan District Nos. 1-3. Any eligible elector of a District who is interested in appointment to the Board may contact Tom N. George via e-mail: tgeorge@spencerfane.com. The Board of Directors may fill said vacancy 10 days after the date hereof.

By: Tom N. George, on behalf of the Board of Directors of Fitzsimons Village Metropolitan Districts Nos. 1-3

Publication: May 28, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO ELIGIBLE ELECTORS OF HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1

HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 3 – 10

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that one or more vacancies exist on the Boards of Directors of the HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1 AND HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 3 – 10 (the “Districts”), County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado. Pursuant to Section 32-1808(2)(a)(1), C.R.S., any qualified eligible elector of the Districts may file a letter of interest in filling the Boards’ vacancies. A letter of interest may be filed at the office of Icenogle Seaver Pogue, P.C. located at 4725 South Monaco Street, Suite 360, Denver, Colorado 80237 or by email to spacheco@isp-law.com.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS:

HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1

HORIZON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 3 – 10 /s/ ICENOGLE SEAVER POGUE, P.C.

Publication: May 28, 2026 Sentinel PUBLIC NOTICE

Our dental office is preparing for a record clean-up from inactive patient records dating 1995 – 2015 who have not returned to our office in the last decade. We will shred and dispose of all records during that period. All inactive records will be destroyed 60 days after this final notice.

If you would like to pick up your inactive record before they are destroyed, please contact our office to arrange to pick them up.

Timothy Kneller, DDS, PC 12101 East Iliff Avenue Suite U Aurora, CO 80014 303-696-9364

First Publication: May 14, 2026

Final Publication: June 4, 2026 Sentinel

SECOND CREEK RANCH METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOTICE OF FINAL PAYMENT

Re: Public Works Construction/Improvement Contract Tibet Road Phase 2 Landscaping & Irrigation Project Coloco Sprinkler, Inc. CONTRACT DATED: June 17, 2024

Notice is hereby given that the SECOND CREEK RANCH METROPOLITAN DISTRICT (the “District”), Adams County, Colorado, will make final payment on or after June 14, 2026 to Coloco Sprinkler, Inc. (the “Contractor”), for all work done by said Contractor for the above-referenced project concerning construction work performed.

Any individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, limited liability company, partnership, association, or other legal entity that has furnished labor, materials, sustenance, or other supplies used or consumed by such Contractor or its subcontractors, in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that has supplied laborers, rental machinery, tools or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work, and whose claim therefor has not been paid by the Contractor or its subcontractors, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for the work contracted to be done, is required to file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid, and an account of such claim, to the SECOND CREEK RANCH METROPOLITAN DISTRICT, c/o Schedio Group, LLC, 809 14th Street, Suite A, Golden, Colorado, 80401 Attn: Graham Gevirtz, with a copy to: Icenogle Seaver Pogue, P.C., 4725 South

Monaco Street, Suite 360, Denver, Colora-

do 80237, on or before the date and time hereinabove shown. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement of claim prior to such final settlement will release the District, its Board of Directors, officers, agents, and employees of and from any and all liability for such claim.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SECOND CREEK RANCH METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

First Publication: May 28, 2026

Final Publication: June 4, 2026 Sentinel

SERENITY RIDGE

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2 NOTICE CONCERNING 2025 BUDGET AMENDMENT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all interested parties that the necessity has arisen to amend the Serenity Ridge Metropolitan District No. 2 (the “District”) 2025 Budget; and that a copy of the proposed Amended 2025 Budget has been filed at the District’s office, 141 Union Boulevard, Suite 150, Lakewood, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection; and that adoption of the Resolution Amending the 2025 Budget will be considered at a public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. This District Board meeting will be held via Zoom.

Zoom information: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5469119353?pwd=SmtlcHJETFhCQUZEcVBBOGZVU3Fqdz09

Meeting ID: 546 911 9353

Passcode: 912873

Dial In: 1-719-359-4580

Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the Resolution to Amend the 2025 Budget, inspect and file or register any objections thereto.

SERENITY RIDGE

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2

By /s/ David

Solin

District Manager

Publication: May 28, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR030082

Estate of Kwang Oh Kim aka Kwang Kim, 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 September 22, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. Paul Bohyun Kim Personal Representative 4829 Via Bensa Oak Park, CA 91377

First Publication: May 21, 2026

Final Publication: June 4, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR251

Estate of Melvin Paul Covert aka Melvin Covert aka Melvin P. Covert aka Mel Covert, 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 September 21, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. Michael Covert Personal Representative 1701 S. Deerberry Trail Sioux Falls, SD 57106

First Publication: May 21, 2026

Final Publication: June 4, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR261

Estate of Janet Louise Sausker, 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 October 30, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. Kevin Sausker

Personal Representative 7581 S. Ulster Pl. Centennial, CO 80112

First Publication: May 28, 2026

Final Publication: June 11, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR299

Estate of Bret Douglas Dumler, 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 September 29, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. Marian Lee

Personal Representative 600 17th St. Ste. 2800-S Denver, CO 80202

First Publication: May 28, 2026

Final Publication: June 11, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR30386

Estate of Michele Charlene Quiring, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District/Probate Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before September 21, 2026, or the claims may forever barred.

Attorney for Personal Representative Krista Beauchamp, #47615

The Law Office of Ryan B. Scott, LLC 6851 S. Holly Circle, Suite 210 Centennial, CO 80112

Phone: 720-446-1966

First Publication: May 21, 2026

Final Publication: June 4, 2026 Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR30477

Estate of Amber Lee Jorgensen, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Arapahoe County District Court on or before September 21, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred.

Marco D. Chayet

Jennifer R. Oviatt

Personal Representative 18th Judicial District Public Administrator’s Office P.O. Box 460749, Denver, CO 80246

Phone: 303-355-8520

First Publication: May 21, 2026

Final Publication: June 4, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR30510

Estate of Michael Terry Hayden aka Michael T. Hayden, Deceased.

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Arapahoe County District Court on or before September 28, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred.

Marco D. Chayet

Jennifer R. Oviatt

Personal Representative 18th Judicial District Public Administrator’s Office P.O. Box 460749, Denver, CO 80246

Phone: 303-355-8520

First Publication: May 28, 2026

Final Publication: June 11, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR261

Estate of Angelique Dawn Layne aka Angelique D. Layne aka Angelique Layne aka Angelique Dillon, 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 September 28, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. Alex Jordan Layne, Personal Representative c/o Ellen M. Mueller, Esq. The Hughes Law Firm, PC 3801 E. Florida Ave., Suite 610 Denver, CO 80210

First Publication: May 28, 2026

Final Publication: June 11, 2026

Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR30440

Estate of Andrew S. Deitel, 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 September 15, 2026, or the claims may be forever barred. Steven S. Deitel

Personal Representative 6814 E. 10th Ave. Denver, CO 80220

First Publication: May 14, 2026 Final Publication: May 28, 2026 Sentinel

NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2026PR30452

Estate of Robert Joseph Ross aka Robert J. Ross aka RJ Ross,Deceased. All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Arapahoe County District Court on or before September 14, 2026 or the claims may be forever barred. Ruth E. Ross Personal Representative c/o Chayet & Danzo LLC 650 S. Cherry St., #710 Denver, CO 80246 (303) 355-8520 First Publication: May 14, 2026 Final Publication: May 28, 2026

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