PAGE 8 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL PAGE 9 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALLJune 12, 2025 June 12, 2025
Hawk’s 2025 floral displays
might be the largest and most
colorful west of the Denver Bo-
tanic Gardens.
“Could the City of Black
Hawk look any more beautiful
and vibrant this summer than it
has in summers past? As hard
as it is to believe, the unequivo-
cal answer is YES! Black Hawk
might just be called “bloomtown” and “flow-
errific,” said Mayor David Spellman. “This
year’s flower program will be even more spec-
tacular than in previous years; it promises
to be nothing short of “mind-blooming,”
guaranteed to stimulate your visual sense
and mental well-being.”
Black Hawk will spend an estimated
$235,000 for its 2025 expanded the flower
program, one that requires planning, us-
ing city public works staff, hired seasonal
workers and professionals who know how
to deadhead plants, remove weeds and help
the annual plants look crisp throughout the
summer. After reviewing potential options,
the city also purchased new hanging bas-
kets that include water reservoirs that can
sustain the flowers for a few days and avoid
the cost for watering them by hand daily.
“All of the city’s flowerpots and planters
are now equipped with improved self-wa-
tering capabilities,” commented the mayor.
“The trial use of these containers was so
successful last year that the city has pur-
chased enough for use throughout the city.”
So, how large is this year’s floral dis-
• Eight box trucks delivered the various
flowers and planters last Wednesday and
Thursday, where city employees assisted
with unloading them and started trans-
porting them to designated locations.Black
Hawk will have 340 hanging pots, mostly on the
city’s decorative light poles around town.
• There are 63 ground planters, each about 31 by 26
inches and capable of holding 18 gallons of water.
A variety of plant species are installed in each, giv-
ing them what gardening pros call the “thrill, fill
and spill (over the side) effect.”
• Along the sidewalks, there are black railings to
ensure pedestrian safety in front of the Gilpin, Sas-
quatch, Wild Card, and other casinos, as well as in
front of Crook’s Palace – home of JKQ BBQ restau-
rant – and near selected city buildings. A total of
48 “rail planters” will be hung to enhance the view
for those walking and driving.
• There will also be two large “hay basket” planters
located near the cowboy-fountain sculpture at 143
Gregory St., in front of Black Hawk’s administra-
tive city office.
• There are also nearly two hundred “flats” con-
taining individual plants that will be installed in
various designated planting beds throughout Black
Hawk. Among the species that arrived are petu-
nias, guara, calibrachoa, verbena, osteospermum
(daisies), sweet potato vines, and helichrysum.
• Strohele Square, Mountain Life Park, and the Triad
Statue (at the corner of Highway 119 and Gregory
Street) will also have individual plants installed.
“Just on Main Street, we
added 100 more flowerpots
than last year,” said Steve
Jackson, Maintenance Ser-
vices Manager for the city. He
noted that planning for the
annual citywide floral display
required time and coordi-
nation with a dozen public
works department employees.
Last Wednesday, the first
four truckloads of plants from
Duran’s Garden Center of
Longmont were welcomed by
city team members, Jackson
and Elizabeth Allen of Color-
ing Colorado, whom the city
hires to install individual
plants this month and care for
them throughout the season.
“There were 14 of us there.
We have a fantastic crew,”
said Jackson, who endured
ongoing rain with the oth-
ers to help start moving the planting pots and hanging
baskets to their various locations.
Spellman stated that the planning has paid off. “The
public works crew has been diligently working to
enhance curb appeal throughout the city, as exempli-
fied at the Black Hawk’s John H. Gregory Monument,
situated at the intersection of Gregory and Cooper
Streets, near the Red Dolly Casino. The Gregory
Monument marks the site of the first lode gold strike
in what was then the Kansas Territory in May 1859.
The gold strike revived the Pikes Peak Gold Rush and
helped usher in Colorado’s statehood seventeen years
later. To the crew, I say “rock on;” the monument site
has never looked better. We are proud that the Greg-
ory Monument resides in the City of Black Hawk and
thank our public works crew for taking such good care
The completion of the flower installation process is
expected this week, in time for the city’s annual clean-
up day. An estimated 180 volunteers, including casino
employees, residents, business owners, city aldermen,
and staff members, are anticipated to participate in
the annual effort today (Thursday, June 12) to
further enhance the city’s welcoming appear-
ance.
Black Hawk leaders state their desire for
the flowers to be featured among the attrac-
tions for those planning to attend the third
annual Founders’ Day, set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
on Saturday, June 28, at Gregory Plaza. Last
year’s Founders’ Day was canceled due to
construction at the plaza, but organizers and
city officials express hope that the expanded
festival day will draw large crowds this year.
One of the floral displays that will greet visi-
tors will consist of red, white, and blue flowers
arranged to resemble the U.S. flag at the pe-
destrian stairs at the east end of Gregory Plaza.
Spellman noted, “The enhanced curb appeal
is evident not only in the city’s commercial
areas but also in its residential neighborhoods.
From one end of the city to the other, no area
is overlooked or deemed less important; public
works trucks and crews can be seen working
throughout the city, reflecting our immense
pride in maintaining no deferred maintenance
and upholding a high standard in Black Hawk.
These enhancements offer a fresh appeal to
both returning and new visitors, and we invite
everyone to come experience “Black Hawk
beyond-the-tables and slots.”
A two-member team worked together to install hang-
ing baskets on the black decorative sidewalk light
poles along Gregory Street before moving on to other
locations, including Main Street, Black Hawk Boule-
vard, and neighborhoods near Mountain Life Park.
Black Hawk Maintenance Services Director Steve Jackson oversees the vari-
ous aspects of the annual flower display program, including creating guide-
lines for the types of planters to be installed throughout the community.
Elizabeth Allen of Coloring Colo-
rado hand-installs colorful planting-
bed displays around Gregory Plaza
and other parts of the city. A U.S.
flag, created with red, white, and
blue annuals, is scheduled to be
completed this week near the stairs
leading to Gregory Plaza.
The Strohele Square pavilion, at the corner of Gregory and Main in Black Hawk, became one of the most-
decorated sections of the city last week when hanging baskets and ground planters were installed. Crews also
put new plants near other of the city’s statues and historical markers around the city.
A kaleidoscope of colors is part of Black Hawk’s expanding annual
flower display throughout the city. This aerial photo from above
showcases planters highlighting a small portion of the hun-
dreds of flowers being installed.
Drone and ground photos by Don Ireland
Floyd Hill projects for Floyd Hill projects for
the upcoming weekthe upcoming week
Motorists traveling through the I-70 Floyd Hill project area may experience
several traffic delays or detours in the coming days.
Crews will require two overnight westbound I-70 closures from 10 p.m. to 4:30
a.m. on Monday, June 16, and Monday, June 23, to install two new overhead
sign bridges between County Road 65 (Exit 248) and the U.S. 6 interchange (Exit
244) and perform a traffic shift. In the event of bad weather, the closures could be
postponed to Tuesday night during each of the two weeks, if necessary.
Eastbound I-70 will stay open during the westbound lane closures.
Westbound I-70 traffic will merge into one lane and exit at County Road 65
(Exit 248), then proceed west on U.S. 40 and take the U.S. 6 on-ramp (Exit 244)
to rejoin westbound I-70.
Starting Monday, June 16, crews will remove loose rock on the north side of
I-70, east of the Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway interchange (Exit 243), for
eight days. The operations will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mondays through
Thursdays, over the two-week period.
As a result, drivers should anticipate several traffic delays each day, roughly
every 60 to 75 minutes, on I-70 between the Veterans Memorial Tunnels and
Homestead Road (Exit 247). CDOT stated that motorists should prepare for
delays of up to 45 minutes for the traffic queues to clear, although delays could
persist until 4 p.m. Drivers should remain on I-70 as there is no detour route
available.
CDOT announced that eastbound I-70 drivers may encounter possible lane clo-
sures for utility work between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays,
and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays. The affected area will extend from Hidden
Valley-Central City (Exit 243) to County Road 65 (Exit 248).
The eastbound U.S. 6 exit ramp (Exit 244) on I-70 will be closed tomorrow
(Friday, June 13) for drilling work from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drivers will be directed
to take the eastbound I-70 off-ramp to the Homestead Road (Exit 247) off-ramp
and then use westbound I-70 or U.S. 40 to reach U.S. 6.
West of Idaho Springs
CDOT suggests that motorists plan ahead if they intend to use Fall River Road
in Clear Creek County to reach recreational areas at St. Mary’s Glacier or nearby
public lands.
Clear Creek County’s Fall River Road Project starts this month, with the coun-
ty’s road department implementing several improvements, including road resur-
facing, to the upper 3.3 miles of Fall River Road.
One-way lane restrictions will continue this week and next for the Peaks to
Plains Trail project along U.S. 6 in the Huntsman Gulch area in Clear Creek Can-
yon. Single-lane restrictions have returned between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. Mondays
through Fridays.
The single-lane restrictions are expected to continue between mile points 267
and 271.5. weekdays in the canyon through next year.
The I-70 Floyd Hill Dash 5K event is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Sunday, July 20,
with proceeds benefiting the Clear Creek Advocates organization.
The CDOT team will celebrate the conclusion of the Floyd Hill project’s second
year in June while also supporting Clear Creek County Advocates, a non-profit
victim service organization that provides comprehensive support to victims of
crime and personal tragedy, and offers community education on victimization
and crime prevention in Clear Creek County.
The 5K run and walk will feature a loop along the Scott Lancaster Memorial
Trail in Idaho Springs. Participants will gather at the game check station trail-
head parking lot, located at 970 E. Idaho Springs Drive.
To register, visit raceroster.com/events/2025/103831/floyd-hill-dash.
Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office
swears in new members
ceremony.
people of Gilpin County. As our office expands, so does our strength, capability and dedica-
tion. Every new appointment brings fresh energy, skill, and perspective to our mission of
public safety and community service,” according to a spokesperson for the department.
Sheriff Armstrong swore in the following new team mem-
• Gracie Putnam – Emergency Communications Dis-
• Tatum Lepro – Emergency Communications Dispatcher
• Shayna Campbell – Emergency Communications Dis-
• Sunny Garofalo – Emergency Communications Dis-
Administration Division
• Carolee Whiting – Records Specialist
• Ruth Strauss – Records Specialist
Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Division
• Steven Mingura – OEM Director
• Shane Meredith – Sergeant
• Zachary Meyer – Sergeant
• Kyle O’Brien – Detentions Officer
• Catherine David – Detentions Officer
• Katrina Pattridge – Detentions Officer
• Colton Tapia – Detentions Officer
• Lee Snyder – Detentions Officer
The sheriff’s office will have several law enforcement per-
sonnel in attendance when Armstrong hosts a community
roundtable, scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday,
June 18, at the multipurpose room in the Gilpin Commu-
nity Center.
Gilpin County Sheriff Kevin Armstrong recently welcomed and swore in 14
new members of the department during a ceremony.
Photo courtesy of the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office
reported that the original
Baby Doe’s Casino was
located on Main Street in
Central City. However,
one of our local historians
said the proposed site
for the new Baby Doe’s is
actually the same as the
original local. We apolo-
gize for the error.
More than 100 people filled the Gilpin Arts Society’s gallery
at Washington Hall on the evening of June 7. Throughout the
reception for the society’s 78th annual Juried Arts Show, praise
for the variety of art-
works echoed through
the various rooms of the
second-floor gallery.
President Eric Miller
pleased with the turn-
out, his response was,
“absolutely.” Miller
stated, “It gets better
and better every year.”
to be solid, according
to Miller. “The potluck
was a success and we
in here,” he said dur-
ing the opening-night
reception. “We had a lot
of locals, a lot of artists
and a lot of friends turn
out. So, I’m excited.”
Washington Hall, which
Miller, a professional
house painter, repainted
yellow, doesn’t seem to
have much space inside.
However, after climb-
ing the stairs, visitors
will discover four large
rooms and an outdoor sculpture area showcasing handcrafted
pieces, including paintings, photographs, statues, jewelry, and
more.
The front room (closest to Eureka Street) also features a vari-
ety of custom artworks available for sale to support the non-
profit organization that has occupied the building since 1947.
Gilpin Arts and the neighboring Central City Opera, located
across the street, are
recognized as the cor-
nerstones of the region’s
cultural history.
Visitors can view the
artworks until August
28. The gallery is open
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday at Washington
Hall, 117 Eureka Street,
Central City. For ad-
ditional information or
to take a virtual tour of
Washington Hall, visit—
Gilpinarts.org.
2025 Juried Arts Show winners
As announced by Gilpin Arts Society
First Place—Gazelle by Michael Potts.
Second Place—Harajuku Mirrors by Paul Brokering.
Third Place—Descending Storm by Ellen Nelson.
Honorable Mention—Vision by Dave Hanson.
First Place—Ghost Ranch by Robert Smith.
Second Place—Pitcher by Steve Briggs.
Third Place—Green Bowl with Leaf Motif by Kristin Bernhardt.
Honorable Mention—Blocked by Hector Sector.
First Place—Arches National Park by Carol Newsom.
Second Place—Sunrise by Bud Heiss.
Third Place—Pines and Needles by Buffalo Kaplinski.
Honorable Mention—Joy Ride by Britney Gibson.
Mourning Wind by Nick Barstad.
The 78th Annual Juried Arts Show at-
tracted patrons from across the state,
who viewed the entries displayed
throughout the numerous rooms of
the second-floor gallery in Washing-
ton Hall.
“Joyride” by Britney
Gibson, an honorable
mention award winner,
captured the attention of
art enthusiasts and dog
lovers alike during the Gil-
pin Arts Society’s opening
reception.
Photos by Don Ireland
(right), Gilpin Coun-
himself to the Central
meeting last week.
Mingura will be for-
mally introduced next
week as the county’s
County Sheriff Kevin
public. It is scheduled
for 6:30 to 8 p.m. on
Community Center.
Armstrong will have senior members of his leadership team in attendance to discuss his
direction and vision for ongoing service to Gilpin County citizens and visitors. He encour-
ages anyone who wishes to engage in productive public dialogue with him and his com-
mand staff to please attend.
Photo by Don Ireland
