Lefty London Publisher Knocks the Sentinel and Custer County’s Citizens
Plus: The Real Deb Adams!
Sentinel Support Staff
by George Gramlich, Sangre de Cristo Sentinel
Commentary
Last July 4th, just after the parade ended, I walked back from the end of the parade route to the Sentinel where there was a whole bunch of people on the lawn and inside talking and having fun. I went inside, put my rifle down on a table and grabbed some water. Somebody outside said that there was a reporter from London, United Kingdom, outside and he wanted to talk to me about Custer County. All the red flags went up in my deplorable head (London, reporter, our Independence Day Parade/GUNS….) but I thought, hey why not, this could be fun. And it was. Continue reading Home on Derange→
L to R: County Judge Amanda Hunter, Undersheriff Lloyd “Rich” Smith, Sheriff Robert Hill
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A new Custer County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff, Lloyd “Rich” Smith, was sworn in Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at the County Courthouse by County Judge Amanda Hunter. Rich is also the only candidate on the November ballot for County Sheriff and will be our new Sheriff in January of 2023.
The Progressive War on Our Children: Cañon City Is Ground Zero in the Fight
by Charlotte Burrous, The Fremont Crusader
More than 100 people gathered in the Cañon City School Board District office while another 100 or more gathered in the Cañon City Middle School auditorium to watch the video of what their school board was going to do with the proposed AC-E3 Transgender Policy, which is available at www.canoncityschool.org.
Heavily guarded with Cañon City Police and security, the crowd was respectful and took turns speaking their opinions on the policy. Most of the individuals spoke against the transgender policy with only a very few speaking for it. Continue reading The Progressive War on Our Children: Cañon City Is Ground Zero in the Fight→
Press Release
Dundee Memorial Park Association Board of Directors
It’s time again for the Birdhouse Bonanza, an annual online auction fundraising event to benefit Dundee Memorial Park, a Colorado non-profit 501(c)(3) in Silver Cliff. Local artists have submitted some beautiful and amazing birdhouses for the auction. Prizes will be awarded to the winning artists based on “Best of Show”, “Most Creative, and “Innovative Use of Materials”.
The online auction will take place on Facebook at “Birdhouse Bonanza Auction to benefit Dundee Memorial Park Dog Park” page. Bidding will begin on 8/19/22 at 9 a.m. and end on 9/1/22 at noon. For more information and to get a sneak peek at some of these wonderful creations, please go to our Facebook page “Dundee Dog Park”. Continue reading Birdhouse Bonanza→
by George Gramlich, News and Commentary
You never know what new issue is going to raise its ugly head at a Custer County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, and the thing that popped up at this meeting might get some citizen’s feathers flying. Read on, fellow peasants.
The August 3, 2022 BOCC meeting started at 9 a.m. All three royal musketeers were present: Chair Kevin Day and members Bill Canda and Tom Flower. Continue reading BOCC: Prop tax eval, OEM on Mitigation and Grant Deposits→
Fremont School District RE-1 1st Read of New proposed Gender Policy, Citizens’ Group Reacts with a Call to Action
by Charlotte Burrous
Fremont Crusader
After the RE-1 School Board approved a seven-page Transgender Policy at its July 25 meeting, a group of citizens formed a group to stop this in its tracks during its meeting on July 29th. They met at the Grandview Christian Church.
“This is an informational meeting and call to action, regarding Fremont RE-1 School District proposed transgender policy,” said Mandy Reed, former Cañon City Councilwoman. “The goal is to get transparency to as many people as possible .As a whole, we feel there has not been good transparency from our school board so we, as community members, are trying to figure out what we can do.”
As a parent of grown children, Susan Jones learned of the school board meeting and decided to find out what was happening; it was not to her liking.
“I got involved with this (July 24th),” she said. “One of the very first things we were told about ‘this policy is this is a result of changes in state and federal law.’”
When she researched it, she could not find many changes.
“A little over a year and a half ago in 2021, we did change state law,” Jones said. “We added two protective classes to include gender expression and gender identity. In that law, it said very specifically, ‘school boards must act within anti-discrimination laws in addition to other agencies.’ The school board did that. In June of this year, we added an anti-discrimination policy. It’s on the website. Anybody can see it. We complied with that state law by adding the four words to the policy.”
The other thing the audience was told is that the board had to add this policy because of the changes in Title 9.
“To change Title 9 is a very long and cumbersome rulemaking process,” Jones added. “They are in the middle of a rulemaking process or they were for a 60-day comment (period). It’s my understanding that has been solved with a federal injunction, but the bottom line is, the federal law did not change. It did not require this particular seven-page policy we have in front of us.”
The third thing the audience was told was that the policy was based on ‘best practices.’ What that means is someone calls around and finds out who is doing good things, then call it ‘best practices,’ she continued.
“That’s what we’re really talking about — what’s working in other places,” Jones continued. “We were told it was based on state law and ‘best practices….The policy you have in front of you tonight, it’s because we want to change it, not because we have to change it.”
Jones said she was concerned over three areas of the policy.
1. Consists of parental consent and parent notification. “It is through-out this policy in at least three places, it says parental consent is not needed, notification is not needed or we’re going to use ‘best practices’ again to decide whether or not we should call the parent,” Jones said. “This is the biggest problem I have with this policy.”
2. The sports program. “This idea of sports programs no longer being separated by sex, the reason we have separate programs for girls for high school and college is because of Title 9,” Jones continued. “Title 9 was passed in 1972 and it is the main reason we have girls’ sports. Here we are, however, many years later, this is actually in jeopardy.”
This essentially erases women’s sports, she said.
3. Shared space. “This policy actually allows any child to use any bathroom, locker room or changing area,” she said. “It actually allows access to those areas, not based on sex but on gender. You can have a child in a restroom of a person of another sex, based on the other person’s gender identity. I think it’s dangerous and I think it’s something that needs to be addressed.”
The policy adds that if a child is uncomfortable with any of this, the district has to provide a private bathroom, private changing area and when it comes to overnight trips, the district has to provide them with a private room.
Every trip her daughters took, they stayed in a room with three other girls, which was a burden to the district and the parents.
“Now we’re saying every child can get a private room,” Jones said. “What child or what parent is not going to demand a private room for an overnight trip? Even though people will say that will never happen, how are we going to pay for that? If one person gets a private room, shouldn’t all kids get a private room?”
After she spoke, several individuals asked questions about such things as what is the percentage of transgender is in the area, what does the policy cover and other issues. At the end of the meeting, the group also broke up into subcommittees to make a plan of action to stop the policy proposal from being passed on second reading.
Those who do not have a copy of the transgender policy proposal, can find it at the Fremont County Republicans headquarters at 603 Main St. in Cañon City or by emailing GraceAnn Pittner at gpittner@mac.com. This is a chance for concerned citizens to stop this in its tracks, but it takes everyone to get it done.
UPDATE: After the community’s reactions, the
Fremont School District RE-1 Board, a statement was issued by Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman and Board of
Education President Robin Reeser, saying that “we are tabling our policy adoption efforts at this time in order to participate in additional community engagement about the needs of our transgender students and federal legal require-
ments and the district must adhere to.” (Editor/GG: Meanwhile, there are rumors of a recall effort for school board members, some of them just newly elected last fall! Time to drain the swamp. Save our children from these enablers.)
Big Problems with Town Manager/Inspector Shank, Planning Commission Chair Kicked Off for No Reason, Bluffs Pond Has to Go
Town of Westcliffe
Board of Trustees Meeting
—July 18, 2022 by Becky Olson
The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees for the Town of Westcliffe convened as scheduled on Monday, July 18, 2022 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, the board’s first item of old business was approving a motion allowing the Mayor to accept one of two bids for concrete work at Veterans Memorial Park upon his review and approval. The next item was a unanimous vote to opt out of the state’s new FAMLI Act which mandates paid time off and other leave policies for municipalities and businesses which opt in. This was the second time the Trustees unanimously voted to opt out of this program, the second vote being necessary to allow time for public comment that hadn’t taken place prior to the first vote. No public comment was received. Continue reading Westcliffe July Meeting: Big Problems with Town Manager→
BOCC: Oh My! Flower Thrown Off Upper Ark Water Board, Airport Out of Fuel, HR Proposes Four-Day Work Week
for County Courthouse Employees
by George Gramlich
News and Commentary We are so blessed this week with having TWO just wonderful BOCC meeetings.
The Custer County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) July 5, 2022 meeting:
All three of our truly royal mighty musketeer commissioners were there: Chair Kevin Day and muskies Bill Canda and Tom Flower. Mercifully, the Commissioner Items,
where our royalty tell us all the wonderful things they have done since the last muskie fest, was short. Even Flower was somewhat brief.
Somewhat.
Day brings up the first item of business: the Upper Arkansas Water Conservation District (“Upper Ark”) sent the commissioners a letter asking them to replace the current BOCC’s ex officio representative, muskie Tom Flower, with another muskie. Day reads the letter. (Basically, Upper Ark doesn’t want an elected official who was just “convicted” of multiple state ethics violations on their board. Fair enough and good move.) There is a slight pause. (Flower knew this was coming.) Continue reading BOCC: Flower Thrown Off Upper Ark Water Board→
First-Gracie Johnson and Grumpy, Second- Aubrynne Cozzetto and Moana, Third-Kaitlyn Grossardt and Luna, Fourth-Kailynne Evert and Bruno, Fifth-Keller Johnson and Larry
GRAND CHAMPION CAT: Gracie Johnson
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION CAT: Kaitlyn Grossardt
Dog Show Results
Showmanship:
Junior Novice: Maecie Shank-Red Award, Second Place
Junior Open: Jaliane Gonzalez-Blue Award, First Place
Born to Frances M. Kochevar and Phillip J. Yaklich, in the small mining town of Crested Butte, Colorado, “Eddy” was the youngest, with three siblings: Phil, Frances and Fred. Though all proceeded him in death, their influence persisted throughout Ed’s 101 years. He was enormously proud of his parents’ coal mining and hard-working heritage. Stories of 4 a.m. cow milking, followed by after-school milk peddling, in a horse-drawn sleigh through chest-high snow, burrowed into many conversations.
A student at the University of Colorado, Ed became smitten with his future wife, Jeannette Luther, at a Student Union dance. “It was that yellow seer sucker dress and that gorgeous smile” that caught his eye. Their romance collided with WWII’s call to service. Ed trained to become a Naval pilot. Upon earning his wings, with a three-day layover, snatching two strangers off the street as witnesses, Ed and Jeannette (Jan) were married in Pensacola, FL. on March 7, 1944. After the war, they moved back to Boulder, where Ed finished law school. By the time they moved to Pueblo, Colorado to set up a practice, three of their children, Phil, Ronnie and Joanie were on the scene. Judy arrived later.
A liberal Democrat, Ed had strong convictions that embraced diversity and equality. He shook the hand of John F. Kennedy with the same vigor as a migrant farmworker. Discrimination was abhorrent to him. His law firm hired the first female attorney in Pueblo when all other firms closed their doors. He collaborated to install the first handicap-accessible sidewalk in Colorado, served as President of the Easterseals, Southern Colorado Democratic Chairman, as well as District Judge.
Ed loved parties! The more the merrier. The more often the better. He embraced his mother’s adage, “Wherever the sheep are gentle, there is always room for another”. Whether at legendary Christmas parties in their castle-like house in Pueblo, their ranch in Westcliffe, or his La Paz home, Nuesta Casa, all were welcome and hundreds came. Quick to share insights and stories, Ed’s intergenerational circle of friends loved his company, many considering him their mentor. A trusting handshake meant more to him than a contract, and friendship was paramount. His desired epitaph carved onto his stone was the driving principle etched into his life: “His only footprint: to be and become a friend.”
From daughter Joanie’s heart: “Dad had the heart of a poet and musician. He often said he would have liked to have been a conductor. He loved to listen to me play my violin, and piano and sing. I would see my music come alive in his brilliant blue eyes. My heart smiled every time.”
From daughter Judy’s heart: “I knew my Papa as both flawed and fabulous. Like all of us, he could cause great pain, but also great joy. I knew him to be brave and foolish. exasperating and endearing. I count it my deep privilege to be alongside him as he grew old. I miss him desperately, and am grateful he is now fully fledged… finally free.”
Ed’s three remaining children, Phil, Joanie Houston, and Judy Mandeville, six remaining grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren will treasure his legacy and the memories we hold so dear.
There will be a Rosary at 10 a.m., slide show to follow, Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 20th, at Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Westcliffe, CO. The interment immediately follows at Ula Cemetery, followed by a Celebration of Life at Shangri-La Ranch, 1180 County Rd.129.
Born to Frances M. Kochevar and Phillip J. Yaklich, in the small mining town of Crested Butte, Colorado, “Eddy” was the youngest, with three siblings: Phil, Frances and Fred. Though all proceeded him in death, their influence persisted throughout Ed’s 101 years. He was enormously proud of his parents’ coal mining and hard-working heritage. Stories of 4 a.m. cow milking, followed by after-school milk peddling, in a horse-drawn sleigh through chest-high snow, burrowed into many conversations.