Dec. 30, 2015 Tribune

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TRI-LAKES REGION, MONUMENT, PALMER LAKE, WOODMOOR, GLENEAGLE, BLACK FOREST and NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY

Volume 50 • Issue 52 • pikespeaknewspapers.com • trilakestribune.com December 30, 2015 | 75¢

TRI-LAKES TRIBUNE (USPS 418-960)

Monument feline featured in page-a-day calendar

See Page 10

By Luke FallentineContributing writer

One thing Gina and Don Begier have learned from other grieving parents they’ve met is that many fear their children who have died will soon be forgotten.

Gina and Don know that fear is real. It is something that has haunt-ed them since their son, 17-year-old Beau, died in a car wreck on Sept. 1, 2014. That same Labor Day weekend wreck also killed 18-year-old Ryan Pappas and seriously injured a third Palmer Ridge High School student, Mitchell “Jack” Clark.

“Just about every bereaved par-ent has a fear that their child will be forgotten, and we do not want that to happen,” Gina said. “We are going to do all we can to make sure he’s (Beau) not forgotten and in doing so, helping someone else out.”

To sustain the memory of Beau - an athletic senior at Palmer Ridge when he died - the Begiers are cre-ating a memorial scholarship fund at the school in his name.

In partnership with Palmer Ridge, the Begiers will award a $1,000 scholarship to a student involved in athletics with a 2.5 grade-point-average or higher. It is

to be used for any type of educa-tion after high school, from a GED or vocational program to a four-year college or university.

“How your child lives on is through the things you do in their memory,” Don said. “Beau loved Palmer Ridge. He was so proud to be a Bear. So we wanted to give back to the school.”

Susan and Glen Pappas have launched a similar effort in memo-ry of their son, Ryan. They formed the nonprofit Ryan Pappas Memo-rial Foundation charity to work with Lewis-Palmer School District 38 to pay for alcohol-free parties for students to attend after football

games and other events.The Begiers want to reward stu-

dents who might have struggled academically, yet desire to con-tinue their education after high school.

“We wanted to give it to that second-chance kid that was ma-turing,” Don said, referring to Beau’s own academic issues early in high school. “For a kid like Beau, who maybe didn’t start out strong academically.”

He said as these kids mature, often they get better grades and want to go to college. But they are denied typical scholarships be-cause their grade-point-averages never recovered.

“I think (Beau) would be happy to know we were helping some-one who wasn’t perfect to start in school, academically,” Don said.

The idea came to the Begier family as they met other parents who experienced similar losses. They said one particular event was a half-marathon race in Den-ver that they ran in October 2014, less than two months after Beau’s death. The race included many other grieving families who spoke of their desire to preserve the memories of their loved ones.

Don said they were moved bySee Begier on Page 2

Editor’s note: Today we welcome award-winning columnist Rich Tosches to The Tribune Rich has lived in the region more than 20 years and is a co-owner of the paper.

Dear Morgan,

So I hear you and your wife are hav-ing a baby. Due in late April. Through the magic of ultrasound, you found out last week you are having a girl. Here’s what you should do:

Remove your heart and wrap it up in a sparkly box with pretty ribbons.

When the big day comes and you’re in the delivery room and someone gen-tly places the little girl in your arms for the first time and you look into her eyes and she snuggles against your chest, hand her the box.

Because starting at that moment, your heart will forever belong to her.

I’ve been there. When I first held my daughter – 30 years ago now – my eyes filled with tears. One of them fell gently onto her forehead and I quickly wiped it away with my finger. Seemed like the tear ruined the perfection of the most beautiful face I had ever seen.

Then one day, much sooner than you think, you’ll be unable to speak for a long time when you drop her off at kindergarten for her first day of school. The lump in your throat will feel like you’ve swallowed a bowling ball.

See Tosches on Page 6

Prepare, Morgan, to gift-wrap your heart and give it away

Begier family creates memorial scholarship fund

ROCKY MOUNTAIN RICH

Rich Tosches

By Avalon A. [email protected]

Monument resident Gail Gallagher will be cel-ebrating the New Year riding on a Rose Parade float in front of millions of television viewers worldwide, trying to raise awareness of the need for organ dona-tions.

She will also be celebrating the life of her daughter, Kate, who became an organ donor upon her death in 2012.

Gallagher will be joined on the 13th annual Do-nate Life float by people who received transplants and folks, like herself, whose loved ones donated or-gans upon their deaths.

Gallagher thinks the parade is a wonderful oppor-tunity to spread awareness about organ donation and need.

“(The parade) will be viewed by...millions of peo-ple,” and she hopes this will spur people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors, either online or at the DMV (that’s what the little hearts at the bottom of licenses mean).

The theme of this year’s parade is “Find Your Ad-venture.” The Donor Alliance float is called “Treasure Life’s Journey,” because, Gallagher said, “When you donate, you’re helping continue someone else’s jour-ney.”

Both describe Kate, who, in 2005 as a senior at Air Academy, was diagnosed with Budd-Chiari syn-drome, which causes blood clots in the veins of the

See Rose on Page 3

Monument mom rides in Rose Parade Honors memory of donor daughter

Beau Begier

Round And Round We GoTire lines in the snow still guide motorists through the cone zone near the roundabout at the intersection of Baptist, Old Denver, Hay Creek and Woodcarver Roads as the bridge overpass opened last week and workers battle weather at times to complete the project./Photo by Rob Carrigan

2 The Tribune December 30, 2015www.trilakestribune.com

Continued from Page 1the comfort and support brought through the interaction with similarly grieving families.

“It’s very powerful to meet other people who are trying to keep their memory alive and you know you can fi nd happiness again in our sorrow,” Don said.

The Begiers ran the race again this year and used the event to raise mon-ey to fund the scholarship, generating more than $2,000 through a GoFundMe account.

Students applying for the scholar-ship must write an essay answering the question: “What was that moment?”

The idea is for them to explain when

Dec. 31What: Pikes Peak Brewing Broadway Gala - Ring in 2016 Where: Pikes Peak Brewing Co., 1756 Lake Woodmoor Dr., MonumentWhen: 8:30 p.m.-?Cost: Tickets $38 must be bought in advance includes 1 drink, hors d’oervres, champagne toast, music by Tri-Lakes Jazz CollectiveInfo: Call Judi Wright at Pikes Peak Brewing, 719-445-0330, or pikespeakbrewing.com

Jan. 2What: Family Exploration Day -- Geology; learn about Colo-rado’s mineral and mining heritage, dig for fossils, pan for gold Where: Western Museum of Mining and Industry, 225 North Gate Blvd., Colorado SpringsWhen: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 2Cost: $4 ages 3-12; $8 adultsInfo: wmmi.org or call Casey Pearce, 719-488-0880

Jan. 3What: 5Ks and IPAs Fun run on Santa Fe TrailWhen: 4 p.m., SundayWhere: Meet at Pikes Peak Brewing Co., 1756 Lake Woodmoor Dr., MonumentCost: FreeInfo: Call Judi Wright at Pikes Peak Brewing, 719-445-0330

Calendar

Begierthey decided to take school seriously and apply themselves to further their education after high school. The family, including the Begier’s daughters Kend-all and Brenna, will read each essay and choose the winner.

Gina explained how they would love to see the memorial fund grow to make it possible to either increase the amount of the scholarship each year or to provide more than one every year.

“We would love to see it grow,” Gina said. “But even if it doesn’t, we just love giving money to a student at Palmer Ridge as a scholarship.”

The family plans to create a website for the scholarship to make informa-tion easier to access for students as well as a way for people to make donations.

Also, they are in the process of apply-ing for tax status as a non-profi t organi-zation, which the family hopes will lead to a larger foundation that will provide services to families that have lost chil-dren.

These services would eventually help those families get away to a place where they can feel safe to grieve and heal, particularly for those who may not have the means to get away on their own for a much-needed retreat.

They hope to build long-term rela-tionships with each student who re-ceives a scholarship so they can see other young people blossom and ma-ture to become all that they can be.

The memorial scholarship an-

nouncement comes two months af-ter the driver in the deadly Labor Day 2014 wreck, then 17-year-old Marshal Gregory of Parker, was sent to prison for four years in the Youth Offender System after pleading guilty to two counts of felony vehicular homicide.

“It was very hard watching him get taken away in handcuffs.” Gina said, “There were no winners in the out-come. He’s (Gregory) in jail and Beau is dead.”

She said her heart is heavy for Gregory and she prays for him every day.

Don said the legal process prolonged the family’s grief and Gregory’s sen-tencing re-opened wounds.

“It felt like the week Beau died,” he said. “It just really tore that wound open for a while and caused me to really have to focus on the good memories of Beau and the joy he brought to my life.”

And though nearly 16 months have passed since the wreck, the loss of their son remains vivid and hard to bear.

“The absence of such a large person-ality leaves an indescribable void in our lives, in our home,” Don said, fi ghting tears. “It’s empty.”

The family plans to provide the scholarship and run for at least the next fi ve years. Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/ht494u6n or by searching “Beau Begier Memorial Scholarship” on the GoFund-Me website.

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Continued from Page 1liver. Only about one in every million humans suffers it.

Even as the disease advanced, Kate treasured her life’s journey. She worked, became engaged and be-gan studying early childhood development at Pikes Peak Community College.

“She was such a trooper,” Gallagher said. “She went to work (at the YMCA childcare center) with a smile on her face.”

She did all this despite increasing pains in her ab-domen and swelling in her legs.

“When she wanted to do something, you wouldn’t even know she had health issues,” Gallagher said.

And working with children was what Kate wanted. “Whenever she was in a room with children,” Gal-

lagher said, “they gravitated toward her.” As time went on, it became clear that blood clots

had caused irreversible damage to Kate’s liver. In 2009, after more than three years of living with her illness, Kate was placed on the liver transplant wait-ing list with the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver.

While Kate and her family waited for a compatible donor – which can and often does take years – Galla-gher began to learn about organ and tissue donation, in the hopes of helping Kate through the transition once she received a transplant.

She learned about the donor process, about how more than 50 lives can be affected by a single organ, eye and tissue donor, and she talked with transplant recipients to hear their stories.

Three years later, on March 12, 2012, and still awaiting a liver donor, Kate was rushed to the hospital with a severe headache. That day, Kate, then 26, suf-fered a cerebral hemorrhage; the next day, she passed away.

The same day that Kate was admitted to the hos-pital, doctors had made a medical decision about an-other patient in the building – a 12-year-old girl who had suffered a heart attack while playing basketball at school. They told her she needed a new heart.

The same day Kate died, she gave her heart to that girl.

In fact, Kate became a multiple organ donor upon her death, Gallagher said. Kate’s heart and both her

kidneys were donated to people on the organ trans-plant waiting list.

Gallagher has met two of the three recipients of Kate’s donation: the girl in the hospital, and a man in Nucla, Colo., who received one of Kate’s kidneys.

Carrying on her daughter’s work, Gallagher began volunteering with Donor Alliance. She started while Kate was on the transplant waiting list, and she still does, sharing Kate’s story and honoring her at the pa-rade next month.

And, she said, everyone in and around the float has a similar, powerful story. There’s a woman riding on the float this year who had the same illness Kate did, and who received a transplant.

“(It’s a chance) to share our story and meet other participants and learn their stories,” Gallagher said.

Raising awareness of the need for organ donors and telling Kate’s story is why Gallagher will be riding in the parade. Though it can be emotionally draining, Gallagher said, she hopes it will help some people take the step to registering as a donor.

Gallagher has shared Kate’s story with media out-lets, schools, churches and community groups. She’ll talk to whoever will listen if it will help people register as donors.

“I want to do these things to honor Kate,” Gallagh-er said. “But when you get home, nothing’s changed. She’s still gone. At least this gives me the chance to talk about her and the things she’s done.

“And gosh, when you think about it, there are three people still alive who maybe wouldn’t have been. It’s pretty powerful.”

Gallagher said it’s important each individual de-clare their desire to be an organ donor so, after they are gone, there is no question what their loved ones should do. There was never a question for Kate.

“Kate would have wanted to save lives and help however she could,” Gallagher said.

The need is great. There are more than 123,000 people waiting for organ transplants in the U.S.; about 2,700 of them are in Colo. With an average 81 transplants taking place daily in the nation, the sup-ply simply isn’t keeping up with demand. More than 21 people die every day while waiting for a compat-ible donor.

And it doesn’t have to be that way. Living donors

can give a kidney or a portion of their liver, lung, pan-creas or intestines. Deceased donors can give much, much more, regardless of their medical history.

“One donor can save 50 lives,” said John Romero, spokesman at Donor Alliance, describing all the ways donors can help, including donating organs, bones, tissue and eyes.

“Speaking as a donor recipient myself, one donor can make such a difference,” Romero said. “I received a kidney in 2013, and it saved my life.”

To register as a donor, check out donatelifecolo-rado.org or make a note of your choice to the desk attendant the next time you visit the Department of Motor Vehicles.

To follow Gallagher at the parade on Jan. 1, check TV listings or view online.

Check back with The Tribune in the coming weeks for Gallagher’s experience at the parade.

Rose

Gallagher holding a photo of Kate before departing for the Rose Bowl Parade to ride in her momory. /Photo by Avalon A Manly / The Tribune

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A couple of weeks ago, I was reviewing the work of our team at The Tribune as we considered enter-ing stories in the Colorado Press Association annual Better Newspaper Contest.

The winners will be announced and honored at the 138th annual CPA convention in May.

After studying every paper for the six months since my wife, Cary, and I bought The Tribune with our partners Rich and Susie Tosches, I’d say there is a clear winner already.

(Did I really just write that we’ve owned the paper six months? It hardly seems possible.)

I declare myself the grand-prize winner because I’ve enjoyed writing and editing The Tribune more than I ever imagined.

First, I inherited a talented crew, added a couple more great people, and we’ve been working hard to make The Tribune the only place to go for lo-cal news, compelling feature stories that make you laugh and cry, and provocative opinion pieces that make you think.

Then I started to get know many of you, our read-ers and advertisers. It was gratifying to be so warmly welcomed by folks in the Tri-Lakes area.

Often, people in small towns brag about their superior lifestyles compared to city folk. People like me, who grew up in a city and have never known any different, are tempted to roll their eyes and scoff at the notion.

Well count me among the converted. In six months, I’ve enjoyed the hospitality and charm of the area. I’ve enjoyed the smiles of strangers and the welcome handshakes of people who only met me once or twice.

I must say, it’s really heartwarming to walk into a restaurant and be genuinely greeted as a friend. Or bump into someone at a community festival or the farmer’s market or a Board of Trustees meeting and

get teased or complimented as friends tend to do.Anyway, back to the contest.I want to say how proud I am of the work we’ve

done at The Tribune.What a wild six months it has been.

Of course, the story that dominated everything was the proposed methadone “clinic” in downtown Monument. It appeared on our front page 11 con-secutive weeks!

And it has reappeared many times since as it has evolved from a community uproar and effort to stop it from opening into a legal battle over the actions of elected leaders to overturn its zoning and enact a moratorium on all clinics as zoning laws are re-vised.

Our team dug into the issue aggressively from Day 1. We investigated the clinic owners and used open records requests to learn the company, Colonial Management Group of Orlando, Fla., had been disci-plined and fined in other states for poor operations.

For example, we reported one CMG clinic in Ala-bama was fined for losing 3,400 doses of methadone. Officials in Minnesota and Texas cited CMG clinics with dozens of infractions. One clinic lost its license.

Of course, there were many other stories, includ-ing the sad followups to the Labor Day 2014 wreck that killed two Palmer Ridge High School students and severely injured a third. We observed the anni-versary of the tragedy, the sentencing of the driver to prison and the aftermath on the victims’ families.

Elections, education, politics, crime and growth have produced many more stories.

And we’ve had the pleasure of meeting and pro-filing some of the unique people who inhabit the region and contribute to the charm.

No doubt, we’ve missed some stories. That’s where we need your help. Shoot us an email when you think of a story we need to report or an unsung hero or a good kid who deserves recognition.

I’m pretty proud of the start we’ve made in our first six months. I hope you agree. Now our goal is to make the next six months, and all of 2016, even better.

PIKES PEAK BILL

Bill [email protected]

Wearing a palette of reds and purples, they flaunt their snappy and zippy “regalia,” capped off by hats and bright scarves. Names are equally colorful and memorable: Lady Bee Well, Baroness Boots, Princess Amethyst.

Beverly, Anne, Florence and Sandi are members of Monumental Red Hatters, an energetic and happy bunch of ladies, determined to push back against Mother Nature, to shout down myths and percep-tions about the aging process and, if the truth be known, basically refuse to act their age!

So who are Red Hatters, and what entices women of a certain age to join?

“It’s a sisterhood,” says Florence Fusco, aka Baron-ess Boots.

For Sandi Watson-Staggs, aka Princess Amethyst (also Countess of Caring & Sharing and Princess Pop-py Bright), “It’s our time. No real purpose but to have fun with friends. We’re a play group.”

The Red Hatters’ theme song says it all: “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

The very first Red Hat group formed in California in 1998, and the society now totals over 40,000 regis-tered chapters worldwide.

Red Hat ladies generally are 50+ and celebrate each other’s birthdate, rather than age. And yes, there’s even an under-50, ladies-in-waiting contin-gent, the Pink Hatters, who eventually “graduate” to Red Hat status.

Chapters have personalities; some are vivacious, others bodacious, still others caring and support-ive. Chapters typically have around 20 members and are loosely organized to maximize fun at each social

outing. While each chapter is unique, it’s fair to say a

Red Hat outing is like no other assemblage. Out-ings are held at local restaurants every few months. Adorned in vivid red and purple outfits, topped off

by distinctive hats and scarves, ladies colorfully radi-ate a bright, high-energy presence that sparkles and charms restaurant patrons.

The Red Hatters’ palette is as extensive as Sher-win-Williams: fuchsia, crimson, purple, raspberry, cherry, coral, cranberry, plum, ruby, pomegranate, cinnamon, berry, tomato and the list goes on and on and on.

Outings are a splashy, glittering, regal gaggle of women proudly wearing and strutting their stuff, cheerily and laughingly declaring their indepen-dence from societal conventions about middle age and approaching senior-dom.

A year ago, Beverly Wells and Pat Schill founded the Monumental Red Hatters. Bev is the Queen Mum, or queen forever. However, she’s displayed regal mag-nanimity by allowing a two-year rotating Queenship for chapter members.

Chapters are led by a self-proclaimed queen or princess. She regally presides as a colorful concierge of fun, orchestrating enjoyable and memorable ac-tivities for her sisters.

Hatters typically have enjoyed workplace careers and families and extensive volunteering, and eagerly embrace a fun, caring sisterhood without constraints or added responsibilities. Individuals adopt unique and creative titles to fit their “wannabe” personality, exemplified by Sandi’s Empress Oh La La.

While treasuring their families, friends and neigh-bors, members hold dear their red-hued sisterhood; reveling in their colorful regalia; and both welcom-ing and celebrating their girl-ness. Red Hat ladies just want to have fun.

Award nominations make me proud of our first six months

RETIREMENT YEARS

Dave [email protected]

Members of the Monumental Red Hatters, from left, Flor-ence Fusco, Beverly Wells, Sandi Watson-Staggs and Anne Bevis. /Courtesy photo

Red Hatters are a bunch of fun ladies refusing to act their age

The first community meeting over the methadone clinic./File Photo


The wheels turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine.

I thought about that when considering plans for Pike National Forest — recent plans, and those from 50 years ago.

Just about a year ago in a meeting at Ute Pass Cultural Center in Woodland Park, I asked Pikes Peak District Ranger Oscar Martinez about any specific areas of concern as it pertains to the threat of wild-fire.

He tabbed the Upper Monument Creek land-scape.

“We are just beginning a modelling project to take that landscape and look at how to fragment the way that fire moves there. Our intention is to manage the landscape so that we might be able to design treat-ments to put speed bumps in place should a major wildfire occur.”

Carin Vadala, NEPA Planner for the Forest Service is the lead for the Upper Monument Creek Project, and said things were just beginning.

“The Front Range Roundtable identified this area as a high priority treatment area to reduce the risk of large severe fires and to increase the function of the watersheds. They have worked to garner fund-ing through the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project which will help fund the work done on the forest. The estimated costs are approxi-mately $10 million over a ten-year period or about $1 million a year to implement. The main objective is to create a forest structure that is varied across the landscape and is also resilient to disturbances. The timeline is not completely set because the district is currently working on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which will be released to the public for review later this year. Once the EIS is finalized it is anticipated that projects will continue for about 10 years,” Vadala says.

According to a description in Forest Service re-ports, “The landscape is highly urbanized with the Colorado Springs metropolitan area dominating on the southeast border and the community of Wood-land Park on the southwest. Two smaller communi-

ties, Monument and Palmer Lake, border the land-scape to the northeast. The U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) is a significant presence on the landscape’s eastern boundary. The USAFA also maintains the private 655-acre Farish Recreation Area as an inhold-ing within the landscape itself. The northern por-tion of the UMC landscape includes approximately one-quarter (4,407 acres) of the U.S. Forest Service’s Manitou Experimental Forest and 3,409 acres of

designated Colorado Roadless Area. The 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire burned across approximately 11,000 acres at the landscape’s southern tip.

Based on these analyses, it recommended over the next 7-10 years, the USFS use a combination of mechanical, manual and prescribed fire treatments to manage conditions on approximately 18,000 acres within the UMC landscape.

Back in July of 1966, the USFS released grand plans of another project, perhaps much larger in scale, but having effects in the same area.

“Rampart Range Road could become one of the top scenic attractions in the country if plans now being developed by Pike National Forest planners become a reality,” wrote Dave Richter of the Colo-rado Springs Free Press at the time.

Thomas Evans, Pike National Forest supervisor then, said the project, called the Rampart Range Recreation Way, is recognized nationally as a prior-ity project. He said then that an impact survey of the affected area was being carried out and would be forwarded to the Denver regional office by Nov. 1 (1966), and after study, sent to the Forest Service chief in Washington and eventually to the Bureau of Budget for Congressional appropriation.

The Rampart Range Recreation Way was tied into development of the Monument Rock Recreation Area on the the site of the abandoned Monument Nursery, and the enlargement and proposed open-ing to the public of Northfield Reservoir No. 5, (part of the Homestake Project) and construction of Two Forks Reservoir on the South Platte River north of Deckers. At the time, it was noted that not any of the projects had been appropriated.

The Monument Rock area was to have provided all types of recreation facilities, including game areas, an amphitheater, visitor information center, camp and picnic grounds, group picnic concessions, and parking for 560 cars. It was to be built on the old nursery beds, which are divided from one another by rows of mature trees.

Supervisor Evans said that the idea of a highly See Carrigan on Page 7

RESTLESS NATIVE

Rob [email protected]

As we mark another year, please allow me to look back to my job on the mountain for the inspiration for this column.

In the old days, a passenger train had several con-ductors. The conductor in the Pullman sleeping cars served only those passengers. On some trains, even the Santa Fe, that might only be one or two cars, with maybe 20 passengers.

The passengers were mainly Easterners, taking their first trip into west. The experience raised their curiosity.

The conductor served as an “Answer Man.” The temperament of these men was of primary impor-tance. On a trip, one might field some pretty unusual questions.

On a trip north from Pueblo, a conductor was resting, having checked all of his passengers’ com-fort. He had a spot in a far corner of the car where he could catch a nap. He had just dozed off when a touch on his shoulder raised him. It was a very nervous lady.

“Say, Mr. Conductor,” she said, “my ticket says says that I am to have 200 pounds of baggage and my trunk does not weigh more than 125. What am I to do about it?”

“Madam,” replied the accommodating conduc-tor, “we will be arriving at Colorado Springs in a few minutes and you can gather 75 pounds of stone to fill it up.”

Another interesting question related to the hot springs at Glenwood Springs.

This conductor had been continually answer-

ing questions as the train ran over the Continental Divide, along the Frying Pan River and past Aspen, which was just a mining town a hundred years ago.

He too found a nice quiet spot to rest, when a pas-senger spotted a coaling facility just outside town.

“Mr. Conductor, what is that and what is all that coal for?”

“Madam, you are going to Glenwood for the hot waters, are you not?” He quickly shot back. “This is where they heat the water!”

A few days later, his boss heard from the manager of the pools at Glenwood, that this passenger had shared the answer with him. Perhaps this conductor should rethink some of his answers!

On Pikes Peak, I got odd questions, and I had to think before answering some of them.

A couple of my “good” ones are: “Why are there no pine cones up here?” “Does the train stop at the toll gate?” “Do the people who drive up the mountain come up to the same top?”

Oh, I could go on for hours!

‘Mr. Conductor?’ was often followed by goofy questions from flatlanders

CABOOSE COBWEBSMel McFarland

Plans for the Forest, now and 50 years ago

The view on Rampart Range Road last week/Photo by Rob Carrigan


Continued from Page 1You’ll turn and take a few slow steps toward the

parking lot. You’ll want to run back and pick her up and hug her again and tell her how much you love her. But you’ll keep walking and my goodness it will hurt.

It won’t be any easier years later, if you’re lucky and you get the chance to take her to college. I dropped my daughter off at Arizona State and nearly lost my mind. I drove back to Colorado alone that day. I cried for 200 miles.

In between, if you’re as lucky as I was, there will be camping trips and fi shing trips and campfi res and ski trips and a million other moments that will fi ll your soul with such happiness you just won’t believe it.

There will be boys, too. I don’t want to tell you what

to do, but my daughter was, and is, stunningly beau-tiful and here’s how I handled those teen-age years:

I told her she could go out with anyone, could go anywhere, didn’t have to call home, could stay out all night if she wanted to and when she came home, she didn’t even have to tell me where she’d been. There’d be just one rule covering all of that: I’d be going with her.

(One evening, when a boy arrived to pick her up, I put on my jacket and asked: “So, where are we going?” My daughter rolled her eyes and exhaled so hard she nearly blew the cat off the kitchen table.)

She graduated from college and moved away far too soon, to Baltimore, and I don’t see her very often anymore. The space where my heart used to be aches for those long-ago moments we shared.

So get ready, Morgan. Life is about to take you to a place you can’t even imagine.

Take care, as I know you will, of that baby girl you’ll

soon meet. Wring every second out of the times you’ll share because it all goes by so fast.

And do me a favor. Sometime today, give your smart, funny, sarcastic and beautiful wife a big hug.

Tell her that her dad really, really misses her.

Discover Goodwill Bids You

‘Tis the season to clear the clutter from your closets and DONATE.

• Donations made by December 31, 2015 are tax deductible.

• Your donations to Discover Goodwill change lives!

Visit DiscoverMyGoodwill.org for holiday hours and locations.

635.4483

“Season’s Tidying”

DONATE • Your donations to Discover Goodwill

DiscoverMyGoodwill.org

KEEP

Your Opinion Counts!In the next few weeks, you may receive a call asking you to participate in the 2015 National Survey on the Cooperative Difference. The survey will be conducted by Bellomy Research. Caller ID may show Opinion Counts or a 336 area code.

Responses from the survey will help us to make key decisions impacting the electric industry and better understand member expectations.

Thank you for your participation.

Stay connected, “Like” us on

facebook.com/MVEAInc

Stay connected, “Like” us on

(719) 775-2861 (719) 495-2283 (800) 388-9881 www.mvea.coop

From your Front Range Team

we wish you and yours a wonderful

Holiday Season! Wishing you good health

and prosperity for the New Year!

Front Range Real EstateHow the Futureof Real Estate Will Be Sold

719.488.3026 • [email protected]

we wish you and yours a wonderful

Holiday Season! Wishing you good health

GlobalPropane

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Thank youFrom Sam, Persephanie, Jim and David

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Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays & an abundant New Year!

Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays &

From Sam, Persephanie, Jim and DavidFrom Sam, Persephanie, Jim and David

Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays &

Tosches

Rich Tosches and his daughter Maggie circa 1989./Courtesy Photo

Milestones

MonumentKara Marie McKee, of Monument,

graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Campbellsville University.

LarkspurMorgan Heath, of Larkspur, was

named to the fall 2015 dean’s list at Eastern New Mexico University.

Guinevere Grace Swierczek, of Larkspur, graduated in December with a master’s degree in library science from Emporia State University.


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Tribune1512

Thanks to the following local businesses, organizations,communities, and individuals for making the 2015 ThanksgivingDay Community Coming Together event a great success.It was another great example of our Community Coming Together.

Eric and Madeline VanDenHoek

Thank You

Tri-Lakes

Area!

Winton Trust Town of Palmer Lake

Anonymous donors and volunteers

Lt. Col. Howard G. and Margaret D.Crites

Monnument Homemakers Club

P I N T GI NR

SINCE 1901

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Continued from Page 5developed recreation area was new to the Forest Service then, noting that historically it concerned itself with more rustic facilities as part of mul-tiple use of the forest. “The idea of such recreational facilities, with their concentration of people and activities, is more in line with the National Park Service philosophy,” he said.

Also in the works, at the time, was plans for a connecting road between Monument and Rampart Range Road, although no grade had been picked.

“The road could use the old Mount Herman Road or follow a road be-ing built by American Telephone and Telegraph for access to a relay station,” it was reported.

“The idea is to provide access to the recreational way for visitors to the Monument Rock area without a long trip via Colorado Springs or Sedalia,”

Plans for further development along the Pikes Peak Toll Road were also included in the proposed recreational study, and it was suggested that Ram-part Range Road would be paved and a strip of land on both sides would of the road would be left in a natural state. Private land along the road would be bypassed by new construction, so that no commercial development, which would ruin the road as a scenic way, could occur.

The route was to provide a scenic alternative to Interstate 25 for travel-ers between Denver and Colorado Springs, Evans said back then, and it would be easily accessible to residents between Fort Collins and Pueblo on the fast-growing Front Range.

About 80 percent of the state’s population resided on the Front Range at the time.

“The effect of the recreation way on the economy of the region would be large. Some small cities, such as Wood-land Park, which is at the end of the upper portion Rampart Range Road, may receive a substantial economic shot in the arm from the project,” it was reported in 1966.

“It is possible the recreation way, which will be similar to a larger one already in existence along the crests of the Great Smoky Mountains, may be-come important to the tourist industry as the Air Force Academy and Pikes Peak are now.”

Carrigan

Pikes Peak District Ranger Oscar Martinez


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Michael D. CuculluAttorney At Law

1864 Woodmoor Dr., Ste 211Monument, CO 80132

Tel (719) 488-9395 Fax (719) [email protected] www.trilakeslaw.com

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[email protected]

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Tim Coy

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Val Ross- Coy Broker Associate

Mobile 719.237.8787

Direct: 719.535.7376Office: 719.953.1000

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47 Third Street, Unit CMonument, CO 80132

719.487.0444Historic Downtown Monument

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Michael Ahlers - Agent66 2nd St. PO Box 1212Monument Co [email protected]

ShelterInsurance.com/Michael Ahlers

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Lisa M. Hernandez719-660-3485

[email protected]

Registered by the Department of Real Estate ColoradoMember of the National Association of Mortgage Professionals

110 1/2 N. Tejon Street, Suite 201Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Office : 719-591-1111 • Fax: 719-457-5975

Bear Creek Mortgage, LLC

Colorado License Number: 100030565 - NMLS: 228851 Company: 382829

HANDYMAN

Fence Repair • Minor Home RepairsGutter Cleaning • Landscaping • Painting

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Sunday Worship: 8:30, 9:45& 11:00 am

Sunday School: 9:45 am

The Churchat

Woodmoor

488-3200

A church for all of God's people

Sunday 8:15a - Daybreak ServiceSunday 10a - Traditional Service

18125 Furrow RoadMonument 80132

www.thechurchatwoodmoor.com

Crossroads Chapel, SBC

840 North Gate Blvd.

Bible Study 9am

10:15am Celebrating HIM in Worship

6pm evening Adult Bible Study

Wednesday AWANA 6:15pm

495-3200

Pastor: Dr. D. L. Mitchell

Child care provided

True Direction from God’s WordWorship Service at 9:30 a.m.

Lewis Palmer High SchoolHigby Road & Jackson Creek Parkway

www.northword.org 481-0141

Maranatha Bible FellowshipA Home Church Spirtual Growth

Meaningful Relationships Solid Biblical Teaching

A New Testament early churchformat that is changing lives

495-7527

Monument Hill Church, SBC

18725 Monument Hill Rd.481-2156

www.monumenthillchurch.orgSunday: Bible Classes 9:15amWorship Service 10:30am

Pastor Tom Clemmons USAFA ‘86, SWBTS ‘94

Preaching for the Glory of GodGod-centered, Christ-exalting

worshipWed: AWANA 6:30pm

The “New” MHC - Where Grace and Truth Abound

Service TimeSWoodmoor Campus

8:15, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m1750 Deer creek rd., monument, cO

Northgate Campus9:30 a.m.

975 Stout Dr., colo Spgs, cOChurch Office

1750 Deer creek rd.monument, cO 80132

(719) 481‐3600www.TheAscentChurch.com

Lutheran Church 675 W. Baptist Road

Colorado Springs, CO 719.481.2255

Family of Christ

Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod

Pastor David Dyer

8:00 AM – Classic Worship9:30 & 11:00 AM – Modern Worship9:30 & 11:00 AM – Children and Student

Programs5:00 – 7:00 PM – Programs for all ages

To advertise your place of worship in this section, call 719-687-3006 or email kathyfl [email protected]

(Corner of Beacon Lite & County Line Road) www.trilakeschurch.org

20450 Beacon Lite Road ● 488-9613 Christ-Centered ● Bible-Based ● Family-Focused

SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:00 am

●Fellowship Break 11:00 am (Refreshments Served) to 11:15 am

●Life Application Classes 11:15 am (Applying Morning Message)

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

●Free Fellowship Meal 6:00 to 6:30 pm

●Singing/Bible Classes 6:30 to 7:30 pm

By Avalon A. [email protected]

When Cathy Ezell opened the envelope containing 2016’s “365 Cats” page-a-day calendar she orders each year, she was surprised to see included a letter of congratulations: Her cat, Silver, will be featured on Nov. 27, 2016.

Ezell and her husband, Charles, have had manx cats since they were married in the 70s, and buy a 365 Cats calendar each year.

In the mid-80s, Ezell submitted to the calendar what she considers to be probably the best photo she’s ever taken of any of their cats, a Christmas photo of a manx called Crazy Cat, under their tree.

But Crazy Cat was passed over that year, to Ezell’s dismay.

“I was crushed,” she said, “but they probably get a million Christmas pho-tos at least.”

She gave up on any of her pictures being selected after that. But Silver, one of the family’s two current cats, apparently was too charming for the calendar’s selection process to pass up.

The picture the calendar is using, Ezell says, is about three or four years old, taken at Silver’s birthday party.

“The photo they chose isn’t the best photo,” Ezell said. In the picture, Silver is licking her chops, standing beside a present almost as large as she is.

Silver seems ambivalent about her newfound notoriety, but Ezell was thrilled. She even sent a letter and a copy of the calendar to Silver’s breeder, from whom Ezell had adopted the cat, because she “knew (the breeder) would just love them,” she said.

They had a spare calendar to give. The copy that Ezell received with the notice of Silver’s featured date was the second in the household.

“We’d already bought one (for 2016),” Ezell said, “but we got a free calendar (as a reward for Silver’s ac-ceptance).

“Now we just gotta work on getting (Tess) in there,” said Ezell, laughing and gesturing to the other household manx cat, asleep in a heated plush bed on the floor nearby.

365 Cats is a page-a-day calendar put out by Workman Publishing. To enter your fine feline companion for consideration in the 2017 calendar, visit pageaday.com/contests/rules.

Monument feline featured in page-a-day calendar

Silver the cat is nonplussed about her newfound fame. /Photos by Avalon A Manly / The Tribune

Sunday, Nov. 27 is Silver’s day in the calen-dar, taken several years ago on her birthday.

Right: Cathy Ezell and her cat, Silver, who is featured in 2016’s 365 Cats page-a-day cal-endar.


Teacher Spotlight: Mary Gregory

Mary Gregory decided to study space upon discovering that her car had been broken into and her belongings stolen. She was an exchange student, far away from home in Billings, Montana, and the stars promised answers. This strange but true story resulted in a great addition for Lewis-Palmer School District. Mary began teaching earth science at Lewis-Palmer High School in 2007. She added Astronomy to her repertoire, which is now Advanced Astronomy, so her students can earn college credit. Since knowledge of space, planets, asteroids and stars increases every year, she enjoys the ever-expanding educational climate around these topics.

Mary’s first love, the study of dead things, paleontology, led her to Paris where she became fluent in the language of paleontology, French.

January 1 District Closed

January 5 Students Return

January 18 District Closed

January 27 LPMS/LPHS/UNC Band Concert

JanuaryUpcoming

Events

Scout Initiates Robotics Club

The Lewis-Palmer Middle School Robotics Club came about due to an interesting set of circumstances. First, as part of cleaning out storage cabinets, Dewayne Mayo, LPMS technology teacher, discovered multiple boxes of Lego robot kits in various conditions of completeness, some needed work or repairs. Then, Cailin Foster, a Girl Scout and robotics student at Palmer Ridge High School, approached Mayo with a desire to start and support a robotics club. The club started a little late for a November competition, but the team came together well and placed sixth out of 35 teams.

Foster, a scout since kindergarten, enjoyed robotics clubs in Alabama prior to moving to Colorado. She wanted middle school students to have the opportunity to explore engineering via the fun vehicle of robotics prior to entering high school. She sees robotics as a gateway to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Three other PRHS juniors assisted the club: Jimmy Gammell, Kirk Lobban, and Sean Bowers. Her involvement also contributes to earning her Girl Scout Gold Award, which requires scouts to spend at least 150 hours on a project that serves the community in a sustainable way. Mayo and Foster plan to continue working with the club next year.

Lewis-Palmer School District #38SCHOOL NEWS146 Jefferson Street, Monument, CO 80132(719) 488-4700 • [email protected] • www.lewispalmer.org

After growing up in Ohio and getting her BA and MS from Bowling Green, there were moves to Rhode Island, California, Hawaii, and the Pentagon in DC (in time for 9/11) and then a move to Colorado. After 26 years of marriage, she tries to keep up with her four kids. She is happy that her kids are working to realize their dreams, wherever that leads them.

Mary is passionate about education and believes that each child has unlimited potential, some just need encouragement toward personal responsibility in order to find it. When asked how she would feel if she couldn’t teach astronomy, her face falls, and she replies, “I wouldn’t know what to do on Star Party nights.” Star Parties are usually in October on the soccer practice fields at LPHS. Students, parents, and community members are invited to peer into telescopes and come face-to-face with the worlds above. Hopefully, Mary Gregory’s October Friday nights will remain booked for years to come.

HELP WANTEDElizabethElizabeth

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Tri-Lakes TribuneJan. 1, 1976

Advice from the State Patrol: Make a New Year’s resolution to wear safety belts when driving or riding in a car.

Debbie Daniels, 14, of Colorado Springs, won $25 second runner-up prize in Seventeen Magazine’s Pizza contest. Her entry was “Mexically Pizza” and was chosen from more than 2,500 recipes. Debbie is a 9th grader at Air Academy Junior High School. She is a member of the newspaper staff and track team. Debbie is the daughter of Major and Mrs. John Daniels.

Town of Monument dog tags for 1976 are available at the clerk’s offi ce for $3.50. Proof of rabies vaccina-tion is required.

Frontier Boy’s Village Christmas program “Echos of 32 Feet and 8 Little Tails” was presented at the annual Christmas party. Tom Dane, owner of the Inn at Woodmoor, provided room and light refresh-ments for 50 boys, 40 staff and 100 guests. Mrs. Anne Bradley and Mrs. Eileen Crawford directed the vil-lage choir. Mr. Lynn Roth, teacher at Frontier, edited and produced a version of Dickens’ Christmas Carol, performed by the boys.

Woodcarving instruction is available at the Wood-carvers Museum , exit 72 off I-25.

The Little Log Church children presented a Christmas play and songs. The theme was “Message of Faith and Love to Our Christ Child.

An 18-hour retreat for junior high youth of the Church at Woodmoor will be held at the Ponderosa Southern Baptist Assembly Jan. 10-11. The theme is “Getting the Spirit in ‘76.

The main emphasis is setting goals and plans for junior high activities including values search and goal setting in individual lives. Cadet First Class Stefan Eisen, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Ronald C. Daniels and Pastor Douglas Wasson will be resource leaders. The cost is $5 per person. Retreat is open to all junior high students of all faiths, grades 6-8.

Compiled by Linda Case

40 Years Ago Missed an Issue?Check out trilakestribune.com

to read back issues of the Tribune


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Good, Clean Advice: Wash Your Car More In WinterRemember that the most damaging thing you can do to your car during the harsh winter weather is nothing! Washing the salt, slush and mud off your car in cold weather is essential in safeguarding your vehicle from corrosion. Also, the chemicals used on roads can easily damage the flooring in your garage. Because concrete has pores, these chemicals can penetrate over time. Don’t be afraid to wash your vehicle every few days if you’ve been driving on treated roads.

By Danny [email protected]

It was another banner year for Tri-Lakes area ath-letes and the high schools they represented.

We had individual and team state champions. We also celebrated the accomplishments and feats of those outside the realm of prep sports.

Here is a brief look back at some of the highlights and things we covered in 2015, as well as a look for-ward to my wish list for 2016:

In February, Discovery Canyon junior Sam Turner captured his second consecutive Class 4A state wrestling championship. Turner was honored a month later during a spirit-filled assembly at the school.

Turner is man-handling his opponents again this season. Is there a third state title in his future? The state finals are scheduled for Feb. 18-19 at the Pepsi Center.

In March, the Lewis-Palmer boys’ basketball team made a deep playoff run – typical for the Rangers – before losing to eventual state champion Air Acad-emy in the 4A semifinals.

If you haven’t checked lately, the Rangers are off to a 5-1 start and looking every bit like a team that could win it all in 2016. Three Rangers are averag-ing double figures in scoring – Jonathan Scott (17.2), Charlie Hovasse (14.2) and Sam Strasburger (10.7).

In May, the Palmer Ridge boys’ track and field team easily repeated as 4A state champions. The Bears were led by an all-star cast that included sprinter Caleb Ojennes and distance runner Eric Hamer. The Bears will be loaded again next

spring as they seek a three-peat.While Hamer has moved on to Colorado State

University, Ojennes is a senior at Palmer Ridge and prepping himself for another successful season.

Nicole Montgomery capped her incredible ath-letic career with three more gold medals at the state track meet in May. Montgomery is now running for the University of Kansas, competing in indoor meets this winter as she prepares for the rigors of a Big Eight Conference competition.

Also in May, the Lewis-Palmer baseball team advanced to the state championship game, where it lost to Green Mountain, 4-0. The Rangers were 22-4, the best mark in the school’s history, and were led by Paul Tillotson. The strapping right-hander is gearing up for his senior season, having already committed to the University of Nebraska.

Less than two weeks after the Rangers reached the title game, Lewis-Palmer principal Sandi Brandl fired head coach Tom McCabe and replaced him with Brett Lester. McCabe’s firing was met with backlash from players and parents of players.

The Lewis-Palmer girls’ soccer team had its most

successful season in almost two decades, posting a 17-2-1 record and advancing to the 4A finals in May. The Rangers played Cheyenne Mountain to a 1-1 tie after two overtimes, but lost on penalty kicks.

The Rangers graduated just three seniors. They return super junior Bri Alger and her 24 goals.

The Classical Academy’s girls’ soccer team went 16-1, losing 2-0 in the second round of the 4A tournament to Standley Lake. TCA was led by sophomore Hannah Burgo (20 goals, 15 assists), junior Mikayla Murphy (14, 9) and freshman Alison Smith (12, 12).

I would not be surprised if the Titans made a deep playoff run this season.

DCC junior Gabriella Hesse won her first tennis match in No. 1 singles for a second consecutive year.

The fall sports season was action-packed from late August until early this month, when Palmer Ridge won the 4A state cheerleading title. It was the first-ever for the school in the sport.

DCC freshman Nick Lorenz enjoyed a banner year on the tennis court, finishing runner-up in the state at No. 1 singles.

All four Tri-Lakes area football teams qualified for the postseason for the first time in the same season. Discovery Canyon, Palmer Ridge and The Classical Academy all won first-round games.

Lewis-Palmer’s volleyball team advanced to the finals of the 4A state championship game in No-vember, where it lost to Cheyenne Mountain. The Rangers, who won back-to-back state titles in 2013 and 2014, graduate just three seniors and will no doubt be primed to make another deep playoff run next season.

Also in November, the TCA boys’ soccer team played in the 4A state championship game only to come up short for the fourth time in five seasons. The Titans lost to Standley Lake, 1-0, in the finals.

TCA junior Titus Grant was recently named the Player of the Year by the Colorado High School Activities Association. Grant missed the finals when he received a red penalty card in the semifinals.

So what will 2016 hold for us? I guess we’ll have to follow the action and see where it leads us. My guess is that Tri-Lakes area fans will have plenty to cheer about again.

Already this winter, Lewis-Palmer senior Becca Hetrick is establishing herself as one of the premier divers in the state.

DCC freshman 6-foot-5 inch center Ashten Prech-tel has posted monster numbers and might be the best female basketball player the Tri-Lakes area has ever produced.

The Lewis-Palmer ice hockey team is 4-1 as it heads into its Jan. 8 game against Valor Christian at the Colorado Sports Center. Senior Cameron Brum-mond and junior Sam Riesling are two of the many Rangers’ stars on the ice.

FROM THE SIDELINES

Danny [email protected]

It was a year to remember for Tri-Lakes area teams and athletes

The Lewis-Palmer hockey team is off to a 4-1 start and looking every bit like a state title contender this winter./Photo courtesy of Lewis-Palmer hockey


MARK D GEORGE, DDS, ORTHODONTIC SPECIALIST

MARK D GEORGE

1880 Willow Park Way, Suite 102Monument, CO 80132

W W W . D R G E O R G E O R T H O . C O M

Much more to DCC freshman’s basketball talent than sheer heightBy Danny [email protected]

Discovery Canyon freshman Ashten Prechtel can shoot the three.

Her quick hands make her a danger-ous thief on the basketball court.

And her defensive skills contribute to many blocked shots.

Her 6-foot-5-inch frame doesn’t hurt, either.

But don’t be distracted by her size. Prechtel is much more than just anoth-er tall player in short pants.

She’s leading the DCC varsity girls team to its best start in years, with a 6-3 record. The Thunder won just eight games all of last season. And just three the year before.

Prechtel is averaging 15.3 points, 12.6 rebounds, 5.3 blocks and 2.4 steals per game to pace the Thunder. Remem-ber, she’s only a freshman.

She scored a season-high 23 points

in a 39-30 victory over Eagle Valley on Dec. 11. In that game, she showed off her shooting skills when she stepped beyond the arc and swished 2-of-3 3-point attempts.

The next night against Battle Moun-tain, Prechtel – who wears a size 13 shoe and 39-inch length pants – made two more 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 20 points.

“I really like shooting outside,” Pre-chtel, 14, said with a huge grin. “I re-ally don’t get the opportunity a lot. But when I do I try to take advantage of it. I work on my outside shooting a lot, so it’s good to do it in a game.”

But she’s most dangerous inside where she can touch the rim. So she is working on dunking by doing drills to increase her vertical leap. And long-time DCC coach Danelle Rivera has installed offensive plays specifically de-signed to utilize Prechtel’s height.

“We have a lot of lob plays,” Prechtel

said with a smile.Woodland Park senior center Bayli

Jones had the unenviable task of de-fending Prechtel in a game played Dec. 18 at DCC. Prechtel had 15 points and 14 rebounds in the 54-29 Thunder vic-tory.

“When they dish it to her, it’s hard to have any control over those lobs,” said the 5-11 Jones. “It’s difficult to play against her in a man or a zone. She’s just so tall.”

And Prechtel’s skill as a rim protect-ing shot blocker makes her even more valuable.

“When she blocks shots, we get pret-ty hyped” said DCC sophomore guard Bri Smith. “If someone beats us on the

See Basketball on Page 14Discovery Canyon 14-year-old freshman center Ahsten Prechtel is averaging almost 16 points and 13 rebounds per game for the Thunder. She is 6-feet-5./Photo by Danny Summers

Faces to FollowBrett Lester, baseball/football coachLewis-Palmer H.S.Lester and his wife, Victoria, be-

came the proud parents of a baby boy on Dec. 11 when Boone David Lester (pictured) was born at 6:35 p.m. at Memorial Hospital North.

Boone weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 20 and three-quarters inches long. Brett is an assis-tant football coach for the Lewis-Palmer football team, and is also the school’s head baseball coach.

Kiel OstermanfootballColorado MesaOsterman, a Palmer Ridge High

Scholl alum, is a junior tight end for the Colorado Mesa football team in Grand Junction. Osterman made the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll

this fall. He played for the University of St. Thomas before transferring to Mesa. He is majoring in sports management.

Jeremy AquinofootballColorado MesaAquino, a Palmer Ridge alum,

was a starting defensive end for the Colorado Mesa football team this season. Aquino (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) had 43 total tackles in 11 games for the Mavericks in his

senior season. He started all 11 games in 2014, and played in 10 games for Mesa as a sophomore in 2013 after transferring from Nebraska-Kearney.


By Danny [email protected]

The Discovery Canyon girls’ swim and dive team

competes in one of the best conferences in the state. More often than not, Thunder swimmers are touch-ing the wall after those from traditional powers Lewis-Palmer, Cheyenne Mountain and Air Academy high schools.

“It’s pretty tough sometimes, but it always gives us something to shoot for; somebody to beat,” said DCC junior Erin McGill. “Since we’re not the biggest team out there, we’re really tight-knit and everyone knows each other’s names. And we always cheer for each other and that keeps us close as a team.”

McGill is one of four returning state qualifiers on the team of 36 girls. Junior Lauren Deray is also a re-turning state qualifier and one of four students from the Classical Academy on the team. The other Titans are juniors Annie Walker and Megan Law, and fresh-man Julia Law.

“When I first got here, I was really scared,” Deray said. “But these girls are the most caring and they are like my family now. I wouldn’t trade these girls for anything.”

The Thunder has a strong group of divers, led by

seniors Megan Smiley and Hannah Olson, both re-turning state qualifiers.

“Working harder this year with a higher degree of difficulties on my dives will give me a better chance to doing well at state,” Smiley said.

Added Olson: “I do a lot of simpler dives, but I feel like I do them pretty well. I am pretty clean, so I am hoping that will help me out, score wise. There are a lot of girls who have harder dives, but they don’t con-trol them as well.”

Senior Madison Bleike already has a qualifying dive score for the state meet. She met the criteria at a dual meet with Pine Creek on Dec. 12.

“I’m going to continue to work on harder dives,” said Bleike, who is in her first year with the program. “I want to work on more flips, but it depends on the type of dive.”

Freshman Megan Jenkins is a former gymnast who is also swimming for the first time. She specializes in the 50 freestyle.

“So far it’s really fun,” Jenkins said. “The 50 free is pretty simple. It’s really fast and easy.”

Pine Creek alum and former state qualifier Debo-rah Woody is in her second season as coach of the Thunder. She recognizes the value of going up against strong teams.

“We swim against some great competition and success is measured differently,” Woody said. “We may not win every event at every meet, but we are de-veloping values that will last a lifetime.”

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Members of the Discovery Canyon girls’ swim and dive team include from front to back: Erin McGill Lauren Deray, Megan Smiley, Maddie Bleike, Hannah Olson and Megan Jenkins./Photos by Danny Summers

Discovery Canyon swimmers have a strong team bond

Continued from Page 13perimeter, it’s nice because we know Ashten has

things taken care of. We don’t have to go foul and stuff like that.”

Rivera said it’s a mistake to underestimate Prechtel.“She is a high-caliber girl and her basketball skills

get better every day,” Rivera said. “She’s an obvious game changer and it’s not just because she is tall. ”

Woodland Park interim head coach Del Garrick certainly agrees.

“This young lady at Discovery Canyon did a lot of good things with the ball and away from the ball,” he said. “We did some things to try and take her out of the game, but she is a great player. And the coaches at Discovery Canyon have done some great things to

take advantage of her talents.”Already comparisons are being made between Pre-

chtel and Mesa Ridge 6-4 senior center Kylee Shook, who led the Grizzlies to the 2014 Class 4A state cham-pionship as a sophomore. Shook is averaging nearly 30 points and 16 rebounds per game this season. She has already signed with Louisville.

As a freshman, Shook averaged 11.8 points and 12.4 rebounds per game as Mesa Ridge posted a 25-1 record, losing to Pueblo South in the state quarterfi-nals.

DCC is not scheduled to play Mesa Ridge this sea-son, but the two teams could meet in the playoffs.

That is if Prechtel can duplicate Shook’s success and help DCC reach the postseason.

Basketball


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Dec. 30, 2015 Tribune