Or was it just a typical boom?
By Forrest Whitman
Much of the American west had a boom in the 1990s and Gilpin County was no different. I knew a few people who cashed in. One friend sold some property in Black Hawk for about six times what he’d paid for it. Even properties in remote gulches like Lump and (more…)
Making Tails Wag Better
by Deb D’Andrea
Summer time is here and I’m sure we are aware that we should leave our pets home if it’s hot out! We’ve all heard the stories of both pets and children being left in the car, and they die due to heat. If you see either children or pets in a car during the high temperatures we (more…)
Results of vehicle sealed-bid auction
By Lynn Volkens
Gilpin County Commissioners Buddy Schmalz, Connie McLain and Gail Watson had a full morning of public hearings at their June 11, 2013 meeting, as they considered applications for new and renewed liquor licensing and zoning changes. (more…)
By Colorado’s Concealed Carry Law
By Jeffrey Hare
In 2003, the Colorado State legislature passed a bill that allows adults, who pass a criminal background check, the ability to carry a concealed handgun for their personal protection. Prior to that, law-abiding citizens were only allowed to openly carry a handgun (more…)
County Management
By Roger Baker
One of the major events on the County calendar is coming up this weekend, and this year it will be bigger and better than ever. (more…)
Pastor’s Pulpit
By Pastor Tom Davidson
Jacob grew old, but he didn’t grow weary of God’s promise. Hebrews 11:21 “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” Jacob was nearing the end of his life; he was making the final (more…)
Life Coaching
By Dr. Mike Brooks
I was at my desk when the phone rang, “I can’t stand her anymore! I’m done! I’m finished! It’s over!” I sat back and listened to every reason why this man wanted a divorce. He went on to complain, “She’s not respecting me! She does not take care of our kids! (more…)
Runners challenged themselves in a 12 mile or 30 mile off-road race
By David Josselyn
Early on a cool, overcast morning, the opening strains of the National Anthem sung by Nederland High School freshman Faeryn Sepanik-Copke were heard by more than 400 racers before they took off up the Mountain Lion trail in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. (more…)
Motions on expenditures and an emotional proclamation on the table
By David Josselyn
Call to Order
The Central City Council Meeting was called to order by Mayor Ron Engels at 7:11pm on Tuesday, June 4th. All Council members were present along with City Manager Alan Lanning, City Attorney Marcus McAskin, and other staff. (more…)
Training Program offered by COFA
PRESS RELEASE – This COFA sponsored program introduces attendees to the knowledge, skills, and attitude involved in safely, responsibly and effectively employing a concealed pistol for self-defense. This is an intensive advanced course, as the attendees must learn (more…)
County Management
By Roger Baker
It’s always a good time to remember our military veterans here in Gilpin County, though certainly no time is more appropriate than Memorial Day. (more…)
Pastor’s Pulpit
By Pastor Tom Davidson
Faith is a common denominator. Everyone has faith. Faith is at the heart of life. You go to a doctor whose name you can’t pronounce. He gives you a prescription you can’t read. You take it to a pharmacist you’ve never seen. He gives you medication you don’t understand – (more…)
Life Coaching
By Dr. Mike Brooks
I was six years old when our military family made the long drive from Fort Lewis, Washington to Fort Slocum, NY. My sister Deb had a knack for picking fights. My dad didn’t tolerate fighting in the car and my sister, who was 5 years old at the time, was (more…)
Ignorance is no defense – it’s your responsibility to know the law
By John Hough
In the November 2012 election Colorado voters approved an amendment to the State Constitution that makes the personal possession, use and limited home-growing of small amounts of marijuana for individuals 21 years of age or older legal under Colorado law. In (more…)
Program at the Gilpin Library
PRESS RELEASE – The Gilpin County Public Library received a $4,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA) to host a five-part reading and discussion series titled “Let’s Talk About It: Muslim (more…)
Air Life, local first responders reach out to students with vital message
By Patty Unruh
“Safety Day” was brought to the students of Gilpin County Elementary on May 22 by several first responder organizations. Air Life, Gilpin Ambulance Authority, Black Hawk Fire Department, Central City Fire Department, Timberline Fire Protection District, the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Department, Central City Police, Black Hawk Police, Colorado State Troopers, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Drive Smart all convened on the school’s football field to inform the students on various kinds of safety. The main purpose was to teach the children about fire safety, stranger danger, the importance of buckling up in the car, and what to do in case of an emergency. The students also met the individuals that will be there to help in a stressful situation.
Diane Stundon of the Gilpin Ambulance Authority (GAA) said the Colorado State Troopers, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Black Hawk and Central City police departments, and Drive Smart were all new this year, and she hopes to have them back again next year.
It all started last year when Stundon asked her daughter’s teacher if GAA could come in and do a presentation to her class, and it led to preschool through fifth grade participating. Stundon explained that when she was young, High Country (now Timberline) would teach students about safety, and that education helped her family when they lost a house to fire. Safety Day may help today’s students in similar emergencies.
Pilot Cayce Batterson of Air Life made a perfect helicopter landing on the field that sunny morning. He and two flight nurses, Kathy Myers and Beth Ahl, instructed the children on helicopter safety. Batterson said Air Life was started in 1983 in Denver, making 2013 their 30th anniversary. Air Life is a medical transport service and takes patients to hospitals from highway accidents and other scenes.
The kids were invited into the chopper by twos and threes and were allowed to touch the equipment to see what it could do and where a patient goes. The children examined the search lights, radios, and devices that help people breathe, keep their heart working, and receive fluids intravenously. Batterson, Myers, and Ahl answered the children’s questions about a career as a pilot or flight nurse and what subjects they would have to take in school that were needed for those careers.
Batterson explained that when Air Life began, there was just one pilot and one nurse, so the pilot also provided some medical care. However, it was found that it would be better to have two nurses and have the pilot focus on flying. “I have no medical training and am not responsible for medical care,” he noted, “but I do assist if asked, following instructions given to me.” He ensures that the helicopter stays running and supervises the safety of people moving around the outside of the helicopter.
The morning would be spent with the children, Batterson advised, and in the afternoon, there would be a safety in-service session. That session would involve the helicopter personnel meeting with local law enforcement, fire departments, and ambulance services to advise them on helicopter landing safety, radio communications, and the types of illnesses and injuries for which a responder would summon a helicopter.
One attraction for the children that was almost as appealing as the helicopter was a cute puppy tucked inside Nurse Ahl’s uniform. “We found it under our helicopter when we landed,” she marveled. Apparently it belonged to someone had brought it that morning to school. “It’s not a rescue dog!” she laughed.
In addition to Air Life, several law enforcement agencies were present to interact with the youngsters. Colorado State Trooper Jason Sparks said the kids learned about general public safety, strangers, guns, and anti-bullying. The kids had the opportunity to see a myriad of Trooper equipment: a photo scale and digital scale for drugs, laser device for measuring speed, portable breathalyzer, general evidence kit, gas mask, ballistic tactical shield, safety vest for swift-water rescue, and a spit hood. Sparks elaborated on that interesting item by saying that if a person is spitting at them, they put it over the person’s head; the individual can still breathe, but can no longer target a Trooper with saliva.
One young man tried on the vest, helmet, gas mask and riot shield and wore them for two minutes, finding the gear very heavy. “Imagine also holding a ten-pound rifle and standing for one hour,” the Troopers told him.
Jerra Matthews, an emergency medical technician with Gilpin Ambulance Authority, gave kids a “show and tell” through the ambulance. Dave Reynolds and Dale Sternlicht, paramedics, were also on hand. The kids observed stretchers for moving patients, a blood pressure apparatus, and stethoscope. The crew advised the children how to dial 911 and how the ambulance personnel work with the fire department.
Matthews explained, “We showed them different things they might experience as patients. They also got to be the EMT.” She said, “We have a new electrical pram—the patient lays on it and it lifts into the ambulance hydraulically, so the EMTs don’t have to do the physical lifting. It saves our backs.”
She noted that the kids were especially interested in the snowshoes, bunker gear, and swift water rescue gear. They also loved trying on the headsets and talking with each other. Two of the kids said they wanted to be paramedics, so the ambulance crew got some new recruits out of the session.
Captain Kevin Martschinske of the Black Hawk Fire Department told the kids to give their parents some homework: to help their children plan an escape route from their house in case of fire and to plan where to go. The children were instructed in fire safety, and one of the firemen gave the children a “stop drop and roll” demonstration. The youngsters examined the thermal image camera, which is an infrared device that aids the firefighters in finding people in a burning building.
Sgt. Troy Hendricks and Deputy Clinton Wenholz of the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Department related that the kids observed a demonstration of SWAT team equipment. They said not many Gilpin residents know of the SWAT team. Usually the team works in high-risk warrant situations; this year they have utilized the team twice with barricaded subjects.
Safety Day was a great success, and GAA hopes to make it an annual event at the school. GAA has also applied for a grant to do a community-wide safety day.