—March 21, 2022
WESTCLIFFE, Colo.
Town to Develop Policy for Outdoor Restaurant Seating, Snow Route Ordinance Modified, Town Manager Gets
New Credit Card
by Becky Olson
The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees for the Town of Westcliffe convened as scheduled at 5:30 p.m. in Patterson Hall. A quorum of Trustees was present and proceedings commenced after recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
After the consent agenda was unanimously approved, discussion turned to the one item of old business, Bootlegger’s Mercantile restaurant’s application for additional outdoor seating. Ed Stefanich, owner of Bootlegger’s, informed the Trustees he learned from Dave Schneider at Round Mountain Water & Sanitation District (RMWSD) that the town actually owns the water and sewer lines that run to the public bathrooms in Jess Price Park to the east of Bootlegger’s where the additional outdoor seating is proposed. RMWSD does not assume responsibility for those lines until the alleyway, so the town is free to handle this request from Bootlegger’s in any manner they please without input needed from the water district. Continue reading Westcliffe Town Meeting- March 2022
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Sore Loser: Sue Happy, WM Tribune
Sore Loser: The Trib Hires a Lawyer Over
the Legal Notice Bid Award
by George Gramlich,
News and Notations
Our local whine fest lib newspaper, the Wet Mountain Tribune, apparently has had a pretty sizable meltdown following the Custer County’s Board of County Commissioner’s decision in January of this year to award the county’s legal notice publication bid to the Sangre de Cristo Sentinel. The Trib’s owner and editor, Jordan “Red Bug” Hedburg* hired a local lawyer, Mr. Wade Gateley to fight this.
Mr. Gately did some basic research based on Red Bug’s opinion that somehow awarding the bid to another local newspaper was illegal. Mr. Gately then sent a “Demand Letter” to the commissioners stating that they violated the Colorado Constitution and a U.S. Supreme Court decision. (Red Bug also attacked our Custer County Attorney Clint Smith in the Trib in several pieces about allowing this ‘outrage’ to happen, and, in a continuing temper tantrum, accused Smith of being incompetent and not doing his job. See below for more on that.) Continue reading Sore Loser: Sue Happy, WM Tribune
March Custer County Schools Board Meeting
Custer County School District
School Board Meeting
by Laura Vass
The meeting began at 4:30 p.m. First grade teacher Jasen
Alvarado and some of his students lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
All Board members were present. After roll call, guests in attendance were introduced.
Middle School (MS) Girls’ Basketball players were recognized individually with Championship Certificates. The Teams took the A and B division championships this year. MS coaches are Coach Jennifer Kriegh and Keely Smith.
There was no public comment.
School Board President Jake Shy made vague comments about rumors in the school and assured attendees that the school is up to date on everything, and personnel issues are not discussed at public meetings.
Minutes were approved with a note that the end time of executive session is not recorded.
MS Girls Basketball coach Jennifer Kriegh said we have had an amazing year, amazing coaches and amazing admin. She would like the MS coaches to get more gym time. After school both gyms are occupied by high school programs and the middle schooler’s need more time allotted to them. She requested that admin work with the AD on this.
Reports and Discussion
Curriculum Update – Joe Vergilio reported on student progress and areas of improvement. Elementary had significant growth. MS arts and sciences had growth, but students remain behind in math. High school students had growth in reading, algebra, and geometry with weaknesses in language arts (grammar, punctuation, etc.)
Second grade teacher Kim Goodfellow presented on the Wonders reading program curriculum purchased last year for K-5 grade. Grammar, spelling, vocabulary and writing assignments coordinate with the reading assignments. They have to work in groups, discuss with their peers, create and answer questions. She said the structure stays the same and the students know what to expect. Board President Jake Shy and a few parents in the
audience remarked that the kids are excited and engaged with reading and like the curriculum.
Facilities update – Mike McFalls reported that the daycare portable unit is partially set up. The school is waiting on plumbing and electricity to be hooked up.
The district is getting bids for projects being considered for the remainder of bond money- 400K. A main priority is renovating the kitchen. They are still waiting on bids. McFalls said once those come in all the bid and projects will go to the Bond Oversight Committee which will make recommendations about priorities and bids.
Another project is safety and security of the admin building. (problems with the card reader at the entry.) The company hired has not fulfilled its obligation and district is working with a new company to fix the problems.
In 2019, through the Bond Improvements, the school had
solar panels and geothermal heating system put in. There has been a bit of a problem (recently) with the schools heating system. Most of the issues seemed to be communications between the systems. They have contacted Trane and are in the process of getting that taken care of. Also, one of sensors went out in a classroom.
Someone asked for the deadline on the Bond monies being spent. The projects have to be determined/started by summer 2023.
Reports
District/School Accountability (SAC/DAC) –
Kids Council hosted the family night for grade school. Jennifer Kriegh said they did a good job. Seventy families attended. The next one is May 5th. She said two new teachers come in monthly to do a review. The Band/Choir and Spanish teachers came in last month. The Spanish teacher said the books are a higher level than beginner. Band teacher Maddy is building a new program and got suggestions to help get the student numbers/interest up.
The committee is also reviewing some of the policy handbook which will go back to the board and admin.
District Advisory Council report: Preschool Roundup is planned for Friday April 8th. They have partnered with Starpoint, Solvista,
BOCES, etc. to set up screenings for preschool enrollment.
Currently, CCP (preschool) slots criteria require three criteria. They are wanting to explore adding an additional criteria item which might help create more
eligibility.
SCBOCES: Board member Jordan Benson said the new director seems to be doing the job. Concerning Terre Davis’ inquiry, he said that SCBOCES was probably going to sweep it under the rug. (Reporter’s Note: There was an item of concern sent by past SCBOCES member, Terre Davis, to SCBOCES concerning the old director signing off with one other SCBOCES person on receiving upon resignation, more days of pay than possible to accrue for vacation and personal days unused. The amount was approximately $23,000. Terre gathered detailed information and sent requests to SCBOSES last month (March) as a concerned citizen. She shared those documents and letter(s) with the current CCSD-1 school board. See that documentation here. She also wrote a letter to CCSD-1 in February, concerning the issue. See here.
Under Legislative Report: Board member Peggi Collins said that HB 22-1101 is in the legislature. (That bill “expands a program, currently scheduled to repeal on July 1, 2023, that allows a public employees’ retirement association (PERA) service retirees to work full-time without any reduction in the service retirees’ retirement benefits for a rural school district that has a critical shortage of qualified individuals with specific experience, skills, or qualifications that the service retiree has.” That bill was signed by the Governor on March 18th. A connected bill, HB 22-1057 also passed.) There is a Bill to remove 10-, 11- and 12-year- olds from being prosecuted or detained by the courts. The parents bill of rights bill (voted down), and a bill proposing additional money for Special Education with adjustments for inflation.
There is also a bill on Universal Preschool. Preschool for All (paid for using the marijuana sales tax) is about to sunset. Last year CCSD-1 got $139K. So far, money that has gone into the general fund. Under the bill, future funds would have to be allocated specifically.
Report on Excellence in Ed: a celebratory lunch for Staff planned. The annual fundraiser dinner will be in the fall instead of
the spring.
Redistricting: The Board’s lawyer says they cannot match up Board districts to the County districts but they can pursue a ballot measure to have all five seats be “at large” (this failed a few years back.) There will be a special meeting scheduled to discuss this further.
Emergency Leave Policy/ Maternity Leave: The Board considered a policy where teachers and staff would not be docked a scheduled personal day that was approved if that day becomes a snow day issued w/o remote learning.
Superintendent Search: McFalls has talked to eleven different organizations local, Colorado and national – 21 BOCES and eight other school districts were contacted. McFalls said there have been twenty inquiries, one application returned so far.
Mike said for the search, there are three committees; the elected Board, a school committee and a community committee which all work on determining a new superintendent. The deadline for submission of application is March 28th. The Board can
extend the date if their applicant pool is not as deep as desired.
Budget: The budget template is in process. It’s also too early to look at Insurance. There will be budget meetings later. The proposed Budget is not due until June.
The Board voted to accept the District Financial Report.
Actions
Resignations and New Hires: The board voted to vote on new hires individually. They voted to accept/hire school secretary/ office and attendance: Donna Newell, Substitutes–Stacy King, Peyton Cree and Bus Driver Lenny Hawks. For some reason, they did not have a majority vote for substitute applicant James Gilbert.
School Calendar 2022-23 options were discussed. Board member Newell Woodbury said option B is consistent with past calendars. Board member Tracy Broll said option A was more popular with teachers and staff. The vote 4-1 was in favor of Option A.
Approval of Policies: Approval of License MOU for license provider daycare provision, Sick Leave GBGG, and final reading of Staff ELB request were approved.
Administration Reports
Principal’s Report: Joe Vergilio said Teacher Conferences were well attended.
Student/Parent night had 70 families with good feedback. Miss Simpson’s second graders are making a book about jobs. Three boys got to “shadow” the principal for this.
Truancy: Colorado laws include a compulsory attendance law for school attendance to age 17.
The school has kids that do not come and parents that don’t bring kids. They have done attendance contracts. HDS can be involved but the agency gets overwhelmed. Officer James Barr has helped work with the system on this and Judge Hunter is willing to hold a truancy court which should be ready by May.
AD Report: Caden Parker said HS Track is underway with thirteen top twenty finishes competing against larger schools. HS baseball had 17 kids starting practice. Girls basketball finished 8 and 10. Boys finished 10 and 8. MS girls school basketball finished A & B league champions. HS wrestling sent two to state. MS wrestling sent three to State. MS baseball starts practice after spring break.
Superintendent’s Report – Mike McFalls
Preschool/Daycare is open and does have openings through the end of school. It is operating at the Church of Christ building. The cost for the public, set higher than local providers in an effort not to compete, seems too high for some of the community. The plan is to revisit the rate after talking with the two local licensed daycares. The school is still getting bids for a maintenance truck replacement.
Closing
Future items: Jake Shy would like a meeting with Booster Club, School Board, AD, and Coaches to get on the same page.
Public Comments: James Gilbert asks the Board to reveal what in his qualifications was lacking that they denied his application to be hired for teacher substitute. Jake Shy said that public discussion on personnel issues is not lawful. Gilbert said, so you are not going to tell me why? Several Board members said no.
Adjournment followed. Next Meeting: April 12th, Workshop 2:30 p.m. – Admin. Conference Rm., Regular meeting 4:30 p.m. – Library. There will also be a special meeting TBA – March 30 and April 6, both have Superintendent search as an agenda item.
SB22-153 Election integrity??? Bill: Recommended Reading
NEW National: Videos of people stuffing the ballot boxes https://twitter.com/realLizUSA/status/1513585569779040262
Crane admits election law violations! HERE
Cranes letter to the legislature HERE
fraud PROVEN in colorado, cabal freaks out, legislators respond
https://asheinamerica.com/2022/03/23/fraud-proven-in-colorado-cabal-freaks-out-legislators-respond/
Joy Overbeck: Egregious bill criminalizes clerks checking election accuracy
“This flagrantly despotic bill fixes that dilemma by actually eliminating the authority of the local county clerk and canvassing board to certify their own elections. Section 13 of the bill gives the secretary of state sole authority to overrule a county’s decision not to certify. If a local canvassing board refuses to certify because it has found problems in the election, as have been found in many counties – such as hundreds of invalid voter registrations because voters moved, or died, or don’t exist – the secretary of state can certify anyway. This provision effectively renders the work of the local canvassing board null and void.
Some of the provisions of this jaw-dropping bill drastically change existing Colorado law, some are also very likely unconstitutional, and some are both. Examples:……”
AsheinAmerica-
https://asheinamerica.com/2022/03/18/denver-despotism-and-the-death-of-self-governance/
Downloading the reports concerning Mesa County Voting Machines: All three reports now available.
https://www.tinapetersforcolorado.com/election-reports
NEW 05/01/22 Jeff O’Donnell Explains Audit #3 Mesa County and other election fraud items.
Custer County Visitor Center Open, New Maps and Guidebook
Press Release
Custer County Tourism Board
The Custer County Tourism Board is pleased to announce the release of fresh literature to welcome the 2022 season as our community prepares for a festive season of music, art, and spectacular summer events that will bring an economic boost to our county. Tourism’s marketing efforts continue to help visitors to have an enjoyable experience while supporting the businesses and events that bring vitality to our little town. Continue reading Custer County Visitor Center Open, New Maps and Guidebook
BOCC: Short Term Rental 90-Day Moratorium, Flower Pedals Exceptions
by George Gramlich,
News and Notations
The March 16, 2022 Custer County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting was held down the hill in the Wetmore Community Center. It started at 9 a.m. All three musketeers showed up: Chair Kevin Day and members Bill Canda and Tom Flower.
The first jousting contest centered around the Southern Colorado Development District’s request for the county to cough up $14,300 for more mythical broadband infrastructure studies or something. Continue reading BOCC: Short Term Rental 90-Day Moratorium, Flower Pedals Exceptions
denver, despotism, and the death of self governance
by Ashe in America
Amid the chaos, destruction, and distractions, the Colorado Communists have been busy, led by the youngest Secretary of State…the darling of the Cabal…the doe-eyed pinocchio to Soros’ Gepetto…the incomparable Jena Marie Griswold.
Secretary Griswold and her legislative lapdogs are ramming through a radical power grab of Colorado elections, and based on the pace they are currently moving, Ron Hanks (HD60, US Senate Candidate) is predicting whiplash:
“This can be rammed through by the end of next week, in my estimation. It went through Senate State and Veteran Affairs and was referred to Senate Appropriations. We could see it in the State House committees as early as Monday. Passing any meaningful amendments through the House is unlikely, so it could move quickly.”
Representative Ron Hanks (R), HD60 and US Senate Candidate
The bill abstract states that it, “increases election security measures for the secretary of state’s office, election officials, candidates for elected office, and voters.” That’s one way of looking at it.
Representative Hanks has another, “Every one of my colleagues needs to admit that this piece of legislation effectively nullifies local oversight of elections. County Officials are elected, just like the Secretary of State, but this law subjugates them to her. It removes local governance and control in one of the most important area of American government — our elections.”
he’s not wrong – this bill destroys self governance
In our current gold standard, Emperor, er, Secretary Griswold controls pretty much everything. The Communist, er, Democrat Party doesn’t allow for dissent in Colorado or, let’s face it, anywhere. They all do what they’re told.
While there are a few loopholes in our current election law that this legislation aims to close – a few areas where the People of Colorado still have some visibility and oversight in how their rulers are selected – the true aim of this radical bill is to make it a crime even to question the Empress of Golden Election Fraud.
Keep in mind that, according to the March 8, 2022 Rasmussen poll, 54% of likely voters believe it is likely that cheating affected the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Only 40% don’t think it’s likely, and that’s only because there has been zero coverage of the mountains of evidence that continue to accrue since election day.
Anyone who looks knows the election was stolen. The tide is turning – and Jena is wigging.
For heaven’s sake, the Wisconsin Speaker Vos just admitted Wednesday (March 16, 2022) that fraud in Wisconsin was widespread. I joined Joe Oltmann on Conservative Daily Wednesday to discuss the developments in Wisconsin, and we were joined by Peter Bernegger, Draza Smith, Dr. Doug Frank, and Jeff O’Donnell. It was both fun and illuminating, and you should check it out!
All over the country, elected officials like Speaker Vos have had to walk back their previous fraud denials. That doesn’t bother Secretary Griswold. She is committed to keeping her Empire of Fraud. Let’s take a look.
what are we looking at?
The preamble of this abomination to self governance reads:
“The bill increases election security measures for the secretary of state’s office, election officials, candidates for elected office, and voters. Current law authorizes the attorney general and the secretary of state (secretary) to enforce the provisions of the election code by injunctive action brought in the district court for the judicial district in which any violation occurs.” (emphasis added)
Colorado SB22-153
The key words and phrases to pay attention to here are, “enforce,” “by injunctive action,” and “any violation.” That’s the set up.
And in the amended version from committee, the “and” is changed to “or,” meaning Secretary Griswold can act alone on this. May the odds be ever in your favor.
Attorney General Phil Weiser and/or Secretary of State Jena Griswold are going to enforce, by injunctive action, certain punishments on anyone for any violation.
That seems like a totally legit thing they can do.
Keep in mind: AG Weiser has had the Mesa County Forensic Report #1 since September 2021, showing evidence of criminal violations of State and Federal election law by Griswold, and Weiser has not so much as used a sentence with letters that could spell “investigation,” much less investigated. That means Colorado election laws are meant for Griswold to subject you to, not for her to follow…..
To read the rest of the article, please see https://asheinamerica.com/2022/03/18/denver-despotism-and-the-death-of-self-governance/
“Reproductive Health Equity Act” Abortion Bill
by Becky Olson
Colorado House Bill 22-1279 “Reproductive Health Equity Act” (hereafter referred to as “HB-1279”) passed the third reading by a vote of 40-24 along party lines on Monday, March 14th, with no amendments and was introduced in the state Senate for the next phase of the legislative process.
This bill addresses a long-standing, core issue in American politics and is fomenting much controversy and attention from both sides of the aisle. Indeed, the bill only moved to its third reading in the House after a record-setting, twenty-three hour plus continuous debate late last week that included lawmakers catching some winks in their cars in the parking lot and a verbal altercation between two lawmakers at one point, according to Colorado Newsline, in addition to a rally of pro-life activists on the Capitol steps.
The bill’s sponsors and co-sponsors, all Democrats, assert this legislation is “necessary for the immediate preservation of the
public peace, health, or safety” and have admittedly chosen, for expediency’s sake, to pursue the legislative route as opposed to the Constitutional Amendment route that would require a ballot measure be put forth to a vote of Colorado citizens.
The bill’s sponsors and pro-abortion activists state they intend to still pursue a ballot measure for the 2024 election, but this legislation provides a necessary stopgap in the interim to head off the ramifications of potential outcomes of a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the famous Roe v. Wade opinion of 1973. That original SCOTUS opinion is widely viewed to have established a woman’s right to procure abortion services, and abortion activists in Colorado are concerned women’s rights and access to these services will be restricted should SCOTUS overturn the long-standing opinion on that case later this year.
Specifically, HB-1279 seeks to restrict Colorado “public entities” (which also includes private contract prisons) from any action that would “deny, restrict, interfere with, or discriminate against an individual’s fundamental right…to continue a pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion…”. The bill would also codify into Colorado law the declaration that, “a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent or derivative rights under the laws of this state.”
Aside from the underlying subject matter which is always guaranteed to draw fierce controversy, the bill’s language does appear to have a large degree of non-specificity and ambiguity that critics argue would conceivably give legal cover to exploitation of vulnerable women or outcomes that many view as the taking of a human life. For example, the bill does not identify a time limit on how far into a pregnancy a woman can be and still make the decision to terminate; nor is there a minimum age defined for pregnant girls or women to have the legal capacity to make this decision without parental notification or consent. The bill’s language also begs the question and could invite endless legal debate over the precise moment a “fetus” becomes a “baby”, and whether a fetus that survives an abortion attempt is entitled to life-saving procedures and medical care.
Ambiguity in statutes like this also creates an environment ripe for what is colloquially referred to as “legislating from the bench”, whereby legal gray areas are not clarified by lawmakers, but instead are ultimately hashed out in court cases which then establishes judicial precedent on a topic that other jurists defer to when presiding over future cases.
It’s worth noting abortion is already and has been legal in Colorado for decades. There is even a process called “Judicial Bypass” under which minor girls can obtain a court order which allows them to terminate a pregnancy without parental notification or consent. Even if Roe v. Wade were overturned by SCOTUS, that would simply mean this issue is returned to the individual States. As discussed, Colorado has long recognized a woman’s right to procure abortion services – a position which is supported not only by most of the state’s elected officials, but also by an increasing number of Coloradans due to shifting demographics, so the likelihood of abortion being outlawed as a whole in Colorado is effectively zero at this point. What the bill’s sponsors appear to be trying to address with this legislation is the possibility of the imposition of local restrictions on abortion services within certain parts of the state in the event SCOTUS overturns its prior Roe v. Wade decision later this year. This also begs the question of why Colorado’s lawmakers encourage local decision making on other important issues such as immigration and self-defense, but not on this crucial topic.
HB-1279 now heads to the Judiciary Committee in the state Senate, where it is expected to pass and then land on the desk of Governor Jared Polis who has expressed support for the legislation. For more information and to read the most recent version of the bill, click HERE
GOP Legislators Emerge from Historic Filibuster to Massive Applause at Pro-Life Rally
Photo by Matt Connelly
by Matt Connelly,
CampfireColorado.com
Colorado’s House Republicans spent almost 24 hours fighting a Democratic abortion bill from 10:53 a.m. Friday morning to 10:18 a.m Saturday morning – setting what appears to be a record in Colorado’s state capitol.
A massive rally of pro-life Coloradans organized outside the Capitol rewarded those efforts Saturday morning with raucous applause as many of the Republican legislators stepped out into the light of day on the Capitol balcony overlooking the pro-life rally.
A minority in Colorado’s legislature, House Republicans were ultimately unsuccessful in their
efforts to push back on what a
recent Gazette editorial called a “barbaric new bill.”
At the rally, opposition protesters from Denver Communists and other unidentifiable groups played sirens and yelled through loudspeakers in an attempt to drown out the pro-life crowd’s message and enthusiasm. They were not successful.
The demonstrators screamed F-bombs through megaphones around young children, insulted Christianity, and screamed at the adults and the children that they were Nazis.
In return, the pro-life crowd prayed for the protesters.
(Editor/GG: You think our local libs are any different than these evil dem creatures in Denver. Vote conservative. Save Custer County from this evil.)
Please see this full story and more Colorado news at the new CAMPFIRE COLORADO site here
Also: For more on the bill’s background see this article in this week’s Sentinel.
BOCC: Academy Award Performance by Flower?
BOCC: Academy Award Performance by Flower?
Two Epic Temper Tantrums Over His Discipline
Flower Plays the Victim Now
by George Gramlich,
News and Notations
This almost five-hour Custer County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting will go down in the books as one of our regal commissioner’s finest Academy Award acting efforts ever. Too bad it was all about anger, aggression, revenge and narcissistic behavior. (Guess who?) In the end, did he win his Oscar? Read and make your own decision. Continue reading BOCC: Academy Award Performance by Flower?