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Edmondson scores 1,000th point
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Vol. 26 No. 3 – March 7, 2026 – Photos
The photos are arranged in the order they appeared in our March 7, 2026 issue. Click or tap on a thumbnail to view a larger version. To return to the thumbnails, click or tap on the X in the image toolbar, which is above or to the right of the image. To view the captions,…
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Feb. 12 and 26 – Board vacancies filled; planner resigns
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans In February, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) interviewed four candidates for the board seats vacated by the departures of Michael Boyett and Tim Caves. Interim Town Administrator Glen Smith announced that Community Matters Institute (CMI), a nonprofit that has been acting as the town’s planner for years…
Monument Planning Commission, Feb. 11 – Conexus proposes 158 apartments and townhomes on 23 acres
By Janet Sellers The Monument Planning Commission on Feb. 11 introduced Jenna Gorney, the town’s new senior planner. She brings a decade of experience from Pennsylvania, Utah, and western Colorado, and expressed her enthusiasm for helping manage Monument’s growth. Development includes 158-unit residential subdivision on 23 acres The primary focus of the meeting was a…
Buc-ee’s applies to El Paso County to expand parcel
By John Heiser In early January, Vertex Consulting Services, representing Robert Ferguson, managing partner and president of Interstate Properties Ltd., applied to El Paso County for approval of a property boundary adjustment to convey about 11 acres to Monument Ridge West LLC, owners of the parcel proposed for the controversial Buc-ee’s travel center. The application,…
Continue Reading Buc-ee’s applies to El Paso County to expand parcel
Monument Town Council, Feb. 2 and 17 – Single-family home construction drops; commercial building jumps
By Marlene Brown Summarizing the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) 2025 Report, Greg Dingrando, chief public information officer for the PPRBD, reported to the Monument Town Council (MTC) on Feb. 2 that single-family home construction in the Monument area dropped 27% in 2025, with 152 residential construction permits issued. The breakdown by neighborhood is…
D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Feb. 10 – Update on Priority 3, Valuing Our People; introduction to Lewis-Palmer High School; discussion about report to board
By Harriet Halbig The Lewis-Palmer D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) met at Lewis-Palmer High School on Feb. 10, following a special meeting of the Board of Education that morning. Principal Jeffrey Zick, in his first year at that location, spoke of his own background and several unique programs at the school. Among the…
Monument Academy School Board, Feb. 12 – Board affirms handling of parental grievance, need for code of conduct
By Jackie Burhans The Monument Academy (MA) board met on Feb. 12 with many teachers in attendance and entered an executive session with legal counsel regarding parental grievance on student matters as well as East Campus facility funding. The board heard a mid-year academic dashboard and a proposal to submit for an Army JROTC program.…
Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Feb. 10 – Board discusses possible adjustments in light of state budget crunch
By Harriet Halbig The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education received a detailed report from Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway regarding the possible impacts on the district from a shortfall in the state budget. The Parent and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) presented information on its activities and suggestions on improving communications with the board. District budget…
Monument Fire District, Feb. 25 – Fire Station 3 sale approved
********** Editor’s note: OCN needs a volunteer to cover Monument Fire District meetings. We will train you! Contact John Heiser at 719-488-3455. ********** By Natalie Barszcz At the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District (TLMFPD) dba Monument Fire District (MFD) meeting via Microsoft Teams on Feb. 25, the board approved a purchase agreement for the sale…
Continue Reading Monument Fire District, Feb. 25 – Fire Station 3 sale approved
Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy
By James Howald At its February meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board heard a report from Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine regarding the theft of water by subcontractors. LaFontaine asked the community to help spot water being taken from fire hydrants without required permits. Board Treasurer Dana Franzen provided a financial report closing…
Monument Sanitation District, Feb. 18 – Work on Beacon Lite Road proceeds
By Jackie Burhans and James Howald In his February report, District Manager Mark Parker gave the board an update on the work being done by the El Paso County Department of Transportation on Beacon Lite Road. Utilities coordinate efforts on Beacon Lite Road Parker said he was attending meetings between utility providers to plan storm…
Continue Reading Monument Sanitation District, Feb. 18 – Work on Beacon Lite Road proceeds
Triview Metropolitan District, Feb. 19 – Northern Monument Creek Interceptor approved
Correction The TMD article in the February edition of OCN mistakenly identified Director Erik Demkowicz as Mark Demkowicz. OCN regrets the error. ********** Editor’s note: OCN needs a volunteer to cover Trivew Metropolitan District meetings. We will train you! Contact John Heiser at 719-488-3455. ********** By Natalie Barszcz At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) regular…
Donala Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 19 – Board considers fire mitigation at Willow Creek Ranch
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans The Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) board met in February to hear a presentation about fire mitigation at its Willow Creek Ranch property from the Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative (ARWC). It considered a request to lease effluent from the Upper Monument Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (UMCRWWTF), and…
El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Feb. 18 – Board hears preliminary engineering designs
By James Howald In February, the companies engineering the water treatment plant, the pumps and pipelines and the expansion of the Callahan Reservoir presented their preliminary engineering designs to the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board. For this meeting, the Loop board invited board members from the three participating…
Woodmoor Improvement Association, Feb. 25 – Public Safety notes stage 2 fire alert; Buc-ee’s continues
By Jackie Burhans The Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board met on Feb. 25 to hear a Public Safety report on the county fire alert status, the status of the Buc-ee’s project, and director reports. Stage 2 fire alert Director of Public Safety Brad Gleason reported that El Paso County has enacted stage 2 fire restrictions.…
Letters to Our Community – Dollars to donuts!
What is the purpose of the D38 Financial Transparency Committee (FTC) and the Parents and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC)? To assist, access, and advise D38 on budgets and funding priorities. Such as: Our school district infrastructure is crumbling. Holes in the walls and deteriorated buildings. Kids packed into trailers like sardines in a can. Half…
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Letters to Our Community – Botox Barbie rebuttal
I read Jim Adams’ February 7, 2026, OCN letter “Botox Barbie” with interest and deep concern. Several points demand clarification. First, Mr. Adams displays a fundamental misunderstanding of U.S. civics. Non-citizens—including legal permanent residents—are prohibited from voting in federal, state, and most local elections. Citizenship carries specific privileges and responsibilities, foremost the right to vote…
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Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – Books for young readers
By the staff at Covered Treasures “You don’t start getting old until you stop learning. Every book teaches me something new or helps me see things differently. I was lucky to have parents who encouraged me to read.—Bill Gates Earhart; The Incredible Flight of a Field Mouse Around the World Torben Kuhlmann (North South) $21.95…
Continue Reading Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – Books for young readers
February Library Events – Quilt exhibit, craft groups, device drop-in, and tax assistance
By Harriet Halbig The Monument Library’s Winter Adult Reading Program ended on Feb. 28. Over 400 patrons participated in the program, reading or attending selected library programs at least 30 minutes a day for 30 days to receive the exclusive WARP coffee mug and a coupon for a free dessert from the Crumbl bakery. For…
Palmer Lake Historical Society, Feb. 19 – Ranch owners discovered Cherokee Trail artifacts
By Marlene Brown The Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) heard about Cherokee Trail artifacts on Feb. 19 at the Palmer Lake Town Hall. The night’s topic was titled Cherokee Trail Artifacts Across the Palmer Divide, History, Culture, and Discoveries Unearthed. Anne Berlemann shared her and her family’s discovery of Cherokee Trail artifacts at their ranch…
High Altitude Nature and Gardens – A Colorado calendar, seed rolls, and Effective Microorganisms (EM)
By Janet Sellers In the Tri-Lakes area, unpredictable weather makes phenology—nature’s calendar—the best planting guide. It tracks seasonal cycles like blooming and migration to determine the perfect timing for your garden. Windowsill sprouting strategy DIY snail pack: Waterproof paper, bubble wrap, or corrugated card (best choices), feed bags, even Amazon packages cut to 3 to…
Art Matters – Art, physics, Argyle socks, and math
By Janet Sellers Richard Feynman, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist, was a man of immense curiosity. He was also a visual thinker who, at age 44, decided to become an artist. Signing his sketches under the pseudonym “Ofey,” Feynman spent decades capturing “scientific awe” through portraits and life drawings. He was encouraged by artists to embrace…
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Snapshots of Our Community
Correction to the Feb. 7 issue of OCN In the February 2026 issue of Our Community News, Steve Eaton was credited for a snapshot of members of the Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary Club assembling Blessing Bags for the local Police Department that will be distributed to people in need. The photo credit should have been Maryam…
Our Community Notices
By Janet Sellers Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the information number for that event. Please notify us if your event listing needs to be updated. El Paso County Property…
Our Community Calendar
By Janet Sellers Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the info number for that event. Please contact calendar@ocn.me with changes and additions. GOVERNMENTAL BODIES Academy Water and Sanitation District board…
Bionic Sharks advance to State Championship
Monument’s robotics team, the Bionic Sharks, advanced to the Colorado State Championship at Colorado School of Mines on Feb. 15. They received the REACH Award for outstanding community outreach. The award came with a $2,000 check. The team earned the right to compete in the championship by winning its second qualifier of the season at…
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Kiwanis Stars of Tomorrow Auditions, Feb. 21 & 22
What do eight singers, four pianists, one gymnast, a cellist, a violinist, a violist, one dancer, a trumpeter, a baritone sax player and two make-believe pirates have in common? They’ll all compete for cash prizes in the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club’s Stars of Tomorrow talent contest on March 15 at Palmer Ridge High School. A…
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Paper Tigers – Origami is paper engineering, Feb. 20
Connie Stanton, (standing) leads a class called “Paper Tigers” on third Fridays where students learn 2-3 new designs each time. On February 20, the Monument Library held an origami class for the experience of creating small paper sculptures with children and adults.
Continue Reading Paper Tigers – Origami is paper engineering, Feb. 20
D38 Lady Rangers recognized, Feb. 18
Five seniors playing for Lewis Palmer Lady Rangers basketball team were recognized after the game against Discovery Canyon on Feb. 18. The seniors were recognized with their parents in a ceremony following the game. The Lady Rangers beat Discovery Canyon in this final game before the playoffs. Photo by Steve Pate. Pictured is Aubrey Gross and…
D38 Senior Rylee Edmondson scores 1,000, Feb. 6
During a varsity basketball game at Cheyenne Mountain, Rylee Edmondson, a senior at Lewis Palmer High School, scored her 1,000th point on Feb. 6. The game was stopped to recognize this accomplishment. Photo by Steve Pate
Continue Reading D38 Senior Rylee Edmondson scores 1,000, Feb. 6
Monument Hill Kiwanis presents bell ringing check to Salvation Army
Monument Hill Kiwanis Club (MHKC) has turned over the money it made ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. A check for $29,869.29 (later rounded up to $30,000) was presented to the Colorado Springs Salvation Army (SA) on Jan. 31. Members of Kiwanis, Tri-Lakes Women’s Club and Lewis-Palmer D38 Key Club members spent 375 hours…
Continue Reading Monument Hill Kiwanis presents bell ringing check to Salvation Army
Rotary Club raises money for Play Park
Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary Club has raised $2,256 that will go toward the planned Heart of Monument Play Park. Club President Maryam Eaton and club executive Katie Lenger presented a check to the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club on Feb. 14. The money was raised at the Glow Bingo event held Jan.23 at Monument Community Presbyterian Church.…
Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Arts Education Advisory Committee, Feb. 9
On February 9, Joseph Jesse (left) and Micaela Cimino gave a talk on the importance of engagement in the arts during the education years at a D38 gathering of interested school staff and citizens. The pair offered highlights from the years of their respective pursuits in the arts and entertainment industries and how the arts develop creative and engaged lives and careers. They are the owners of Bella Art and Frame Gallery in Monument. Photo by Janet Sellers.
Continue Reading Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Arts Education Advisory Committee, Feb. 9