Previous: Vol. 26 No. 4 - April 4, 2026 — Next:
Water restrictions five weeks early
Listen to audio highlights of our May 2, 2026 issue
Listen to the articles and columns in our May 2, 2026 issue
View the photos from this issue
Download a 68 Mbyte PDF of this issue
Download pdfs of individual pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
- Drip Coffee House Mother’s Day Special Ad Correction
- Vol. 26 No. 5 – May 2, 2026 – Photos
- Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, April 9 and 23 – Proposed disciplinary hearing frustrates board; Water emergency declared
- Buc-ee’s buys parcel for over $10 million
- Monument Town Council, April 6 and 20 – Fire training facility Final Plat approved
- Monument Planning Commission – Town re-evaluates the metal barn look
- Monument Academy School Board, April 9 – Board hosts candidate forum, makes staff decisions
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, April 14 – Discussion of bylaws; improvements to Priority 3: valuing our people
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, April 20 – 2026-27 budget, transportation fees, curriculum adoption among topics
- Donala Water and Sanitation District, March 27 and April 16 – Board hires new general manager
- Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, April 9 – District signs on to PFAS lawsuit
- Monument Sanitation District, April 15 – Monument Ridge West addition included in service area
- El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, April 16 – Design contracts awarded
- Triview Metropolitan District, April 23 – Northern Monument Creek Interceptor funded; 2026 budget amended
- Monument Fire District, April 25 – Station 3 construction begins; training center is approved
- Shiloh Pines Wildfire Preparedness Meeting, March 7 – Ready, set, go! for wildfires
- El Paso Board of County Commissioners, March 31 and April 9 – Highway 105B project agreement approved
- Woodmoor Improvement Association, April 22 – Volunteers maintain trails
- Letters to Our Community – Upset that proposed train won’t stop here
- Between the Covers at Covered Treasures – Bookstore May is the month for advice
- May Library Events – CEO to talk about Pikes Peak Library District budget and planning
- Palmer Lake Historical Society, April 16 – Old West maps explored
- The Nature of Our Community – Making sense of 2025 pine beetle survey
- High Altitude Nature and Gardens – The vital refuge: water, soil, and the path to wellness
- Art Matters – Art and nature share a secret language
- Snapshots of Our Community
- Our Community Notices
- Our Community Calendar
- Monument Arbor Day, April 24
- Troop 194 Food Drive, April 11
- Gleneagle Easter Egg Hunt, April 4
- Teen donates bookends
- April 11 mulching event helps fire mitigation
- Monument imposes water restrictions early
- Monument Road Renaming Winner Announced, April 21, 2026
- Silver Key Thrift Store Relocation Grand Opening, April 17, 2026
- D38 District Wide Art Show
- E-Motorcycles a Continuing Issue on GCA Open Space
View all articles in full
Drip Coffee House Mother’s Day Special Ad Correction
We inadvertently ran the wrong version of the Drip Coffee House ad. Below is the correct version. Note that the date is Saturday, May 9th and the offer differs from what ran in the paper. OCN regrets the error.
Continue Reading Drip Coffee House Mother’s Day Special Ad Correction
Vol. 26 No. 5 – May 2, 2026 – Photos
The photos are arranged in the order they appeared in our May 2, 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, April 9 and 23 – Proposed disciplinary hearing frustrates board; Water emergency declared
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans In April, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) grappled with legal issues arising from a town employee’s charge that they were harassed by Trustee Roger Moseley. The alleged harassment complaint was first mentioned by the town’s previous attorney, Scott Krob, at a board meeting in December 2025 and…
Buc-ee’s buys parcel for over $10 million
March 25, landfill on the property atop Monument hill proposed for a future Buc-ee’s. Photo by Allen Alchian. By John Heiser In early April, for more than $10 million, Buc-ee’s EPCO LLC purchased from Monument Ridge West LLC the combined parcel west of I-25 and south of County Line Road, totaling about 53.4 acres. On…
Monument Town Council, April 6 and 20 – Fire training facility Final Plat approved
By Marlene Brown On April 6, the Monument Town Council received a request from the Monument Planning Department for approval of rezoning and Final Plat for a new fire training facility at 18650 West Highway 105, which will include the building of an 11,040-square-foot classroom building and a training tower. See site map on page…
Continue Reading Monument Town Council, April 6 and 20 – Fire training facility Final Plat approved
Monument Planning Commission – Town re-evaluates the metal barn look
By Janet Sellers At the Monument Planning Commission meeting on April 8, local officials began grappling with a question that could redefine the town’s skyline: When is a metal building an architectural asset, and when is it just an “over-sized barn?” Potential moratorium on metal buildings Planning Director Dan Ungerleider informed the commission that the…
Continue Reading Monument Planning Commission – Town re-evaluates the metal barn look
Monument Academy School Board, April 9 – Board hosts candidate forum, makes staff decisions
By Jackie Burhans The Monument Academy (MA) board met on April 9 to host a candidate forum and make various decisions on bonuses, stipends, and changes to staff positions. It also presented a first read on changes to its bylaws and chief financial officer (CFO) policies. The meeting ended with an executive session for the…
Lewis-Palmer D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, April 14 – Discussion of bylaws; improvements to Priority 3: valuing our people
By Harriet Halbig The Lewis-Palmer D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) revisited discussions of its bylaws and results of a recent survey of staff by the Human Resources Department. Bylaws discussion Co-chair Renee Butler reminded the committee of a suggestion received regarding the makeup of the committee. An individual had expressed concern that the…
Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, April 20 – 2026-27 budget, transportation fees, curriculum adoption among topics
By Harriet Halbig The Lewis-Palmer District 38 Board of Education discussed the 2026-27 budget, determined transportation fees for 2026-27, and approved a list of capital investments for the upcoming school year. Financial planning Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway outlined plans for the district’s 2026-27 budget. Ridgway said that the School Finance Act, which provides the…
Donala Water and Sanitation District, March 27 and April 16 – Board hires new general manager
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans At a special session on March 27, the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) board interviewed finalists for the role of general manager and chose John Kuosman to fill the position. At its regular meeting on April 16, the board heard three presentations addressing complex strategic decisions facing the…
Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, April 9 – District signs on to PFAS lawsuit
By James Howald At its April 9 meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board approved a letter of engagement with the SL Environmental Law Group PC (SLEL) to investigate recovering costs to the district for future PFAS mitigation related to the Loop project. It awarded a contract for site work at Well 12R…
Continue Reading Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, April 9 – District signs on to PFAS lawsuit
Monument Sanitation District, April 15 – Monument Ridge West addition included in service area
By Jackie Burhans and James Howald At its meeting in April, the Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board held a public meeting, followed by a vote, on a petition to include a 10-acre property in the MSD service area. The board approved minor changes to the district’s employee handbook and heard a report from District Manager…
El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, April 16 – Design contracts awarded
By James Howald The El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) awarded contracts for the design of two major portions of the Loop at its April meeting. Board President Jessie Shaffer discussed an extension of the deadline for the Loop to spend the money it received from the American Recovery Plan…
Continue Reading El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, April 16 – Design contracts awarded
Triview Metropolitan District, April 23 – Northern Monument Creek Interceptor funded; 2026 budget amended
By Natalie Barszcz Editor’s note: OCN needs a reporter to cover Triview Metropolitan District meetings. We will train you! Contact John Heiser at (719) 488-3455. At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) regular meeting on April 23, the board approved bond funding for the Northern Monument Creek Interceptor (NMCI) project and held a public hearing before…
Monument Fire District, April 25 – Station 3 construction begins; training center is approved
By Natalie Barszcz Editor’s note: OCN needs a reporter to cover Monument Fire District meetings. We will train you! Contact John Heiser at (719) 488-3455. At the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District (TLMFPD) dba Monument Fire District (MFD) meeting via Microsoft Teams on April 22, the board heard the district had received approval for…
Shiloh Pines Wildfire Preparedness Meeting, March 7 – Ready, set, go! for wildfires
By Lisa Hatfield Shiloh Pines Firewise Chair Gayle Humm invited residents to hear from Monument Fire District (MFD) Community Risk Reduction Specialist Aaron Wood on March 7. Wood explained the importance of planning for wildfire emergencies and recommended: Be “Ready, set, go!” for wildland fire when it comes here. Pick up your personal Wildland…
Continue Reading Shiloh Pines Wildfire Preparedness Meeting, March 7 – Ready, set, go! for wildfires
El Paso Board of County Commissioners, March 31 and April 9 – Highway 105B project agreement approved
By Marlene Brown The Highway 105 widening project continues moving east. The BOCC has the authority to purchase and hold real estate and personal property for the use of the county when deemed by the board to be in the best interest of the county and its capital projects. On March 31, the BOCC approved…
Woodmoor Improvement Association, April 22 – Volunteers maintain trails
By Jackie Burhans The Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board met on April 22 to hear about a volunteer effort to maintain common trails and heard director reports. Volunteers Residents Dawn Roney and Cindy Thrush, a former WIA board member, spoke about their efforts to work on trails that connect common areas. Roney said she wanted…
Continue Reading Woodmoor Improvement Association, April 22 – Volunteers maintain trails
Letters to Our Community – Upset that proposed train won’t stop here
By Steve Wilson – Flickr: Westbound: Southwest Chief – Colorado., CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=119192356 Front Range Railroad Colorado Connector (CoCo) plans a new passenger link from Fort Collins to Pueblo, however, “There is no plan for a stop in the Tri-Lakes area.” We will be required to help pay for the construction. It is being…
Continue Reading Letters to Our Community – Upset that proposed train won’t stop here
Between the Covers at Covered Treasures – Bookstore May is the month for advice
By the staff at Covered Treasures “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” —Henry David Thoreau May is the month of graduations and new beginnings. It’s a push from the safety of the nest; a rite of passage from the “carefree kid life” to “what are you going…
Continue Reading Between the Covers at Covered Treasures – Bookstore May is the month for advice
May Library Events – CEO to talk about Pikes Peak Library District budget and planning
By Harriet Halbig Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) CEO Teona Shainidze-Krebs will be at the Palmer Lake Town Hall, 42 Valley Crescent, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, to discuss a proposed hybrid library concept, the current PPLD budget, plans for future spending, and to answer questions. Space is limited, and registration…
Palmer Lake Historical Society, April 16 – Old West maps explored
By Marlene Brown The Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) held its membership meeting on April 16 at the Palmer Lake Town Hall. The PLHS promotes, preserves, and protects the history of the Palmer Divide area. April’s presentation was How the Expeditions of Pike, Long, and the Spanish put Colorado on the Map by Wesley A.…
Continue Reading Palmer Lake Historical Society, April 16 – Old West maps explored
The Nature of Our Community – Making sense of 2025 pine beetle survey
By Dr. Judith von Ahlefeldt, Landscape Ecologist Each summer, the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) and the national Forest Service (USDA) cooperatively conduct Aerial Detection Surveys (ADS) to monitor the health of forested lands. Each agency uses these results in its respective Forest Health Reports. In Colorado, ADS collects graphic signatures of healthy and diseased…
Continue Reading The Nature of Our Community – Making sense of 2025 pine beetle survey
High Altitude Nature and Gardens – The vital refuge: water, soil, and the path to wellness
By Janet Sellers In our current drought-stricken season, our landscapes require more than just a passing shower—they need a protective “skin.” As we navigate these arid conditions in the Tri-Lakes area, the practice of mulching transcends simple maintenance; it becomes an act of stewardship for both our local ecology and our personal health. The intelligence…
Art Matters – Art and nature share a secret language
By Janet L. Sellers “Bad art makes you say, ‘Wow! Huh?’ Good art makes you say, ‘Huh? Wow!’ “—Ed Ruscha How does art offer nature’s secret language, which is often written in fractals? Art that mimics these patterns—whether through “action painting” or organic tools—speaks directly to our stress-reduction centers. We connect the patterns in our…
Continue Reading Art Matters – Art and nature share a secret language
Snapshots of Our Community
Water restrictions five weeks early Above: The Town of Monument Water Department has imposed water restrictions five weeks early because of the lack of precipitation and higher than usual temperatures we’ve had. The restrictions started on April 7 and will continue until Oct. 30. Odd-numbered addresses will be allowed to water on Mondays, Wednesdays, and…
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. Black Forest slash drop…
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…
Monument Arbor Day, April 24
The Town of Monument celebrated its 32nd year of being designated “Tree City U.S.A.” by planting a tree on Arbor Day April 24. The Monument Parks Department planted a Vanderwolf Pine on the road leading to Monument Lake. This along with three other trees planted on the road earlier in the week are the town’s…
Troop 194 Food Drive, April 11
On Apr. 11, Scout Master Larry Nikolaus (far left) and members of Boys and Girls Scout Troop 194 – Gleneagle pose with donations dropped off by Gleneagle community members and others for the troop’s Spring Food Drive. The troop has been collecting food donations in the Spring and Fall for over 20 years, typically collecting…
Gleneagle Easter Egg Hunt, April 4
On Apr. 4, hundreds of children, aged pre-school through elementary school, participated in the 4th annual Gleneagle Easter Egg Hunt on the Antelope Trails Elementary School (ATES) field. Over 15,000 plastic Easter eggs filled with candies along with bubble wands, sticker sheets, coloring books and small cush balls were scattered on the field for the…
Teen donates bookends
Lukas Gizelbach, a Monumental Impact intern (left), presented bookends he created to Brieana Weaver, Silver Key Thrift Store’s retail sales director (right) on April 15. Silver Key gave Lukas the opportunity last fall to share his prototype and gather customer feedback. He completed his internship by creating and packaging a set of his final bookends…
April 11 mulching event helps fire mitigation
Area residents brought in their tree limbs and branches to be mulched in the second annual Mulch Madness event on April 11 in Monument. The event is sponsored by the Mountain View Electric Association (MVEA) in partnership with the Town of Monument Public Works Department and Monument Fire District. A total of 178 MVEA members…
Continue Reading April 11 mulching event helps fire mitigation
Monument imposes water restrictions early
The Town of Monument Water Department has imposed water restrictions five weeks early because of the lack of precipitation and higher than usual temperatures we’ve had. The restrictions started on April 7 and will continue until Oct. 30. Odd-numbered addresses will be allowed to water on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Even number addresses can water…
Monument Road Renaming Winner Announced, April 21, 2026
The Monument Town Council has picked “Doc Close Road” as the winner of the contest to rename a new segment of roadway created by the realignment of Old Denver Road between Santa Fe Avenue and Wagon Gap Trail. Senior Planner Jenna Gorney (in photo) told the council at its April 21 meeting that the winning…
Continue Reading Monument Road Renaming Winner Announced, April 21, 2026
Silver Key Thrift Store Relocation Grand Opening, April 17, 2026
A huge crowd packed the new location of the Silver Key Thrift Store in the Safeway shopping center on Route 105 in Monument for a grand opening celebration on April 17. The new location is much bigger than the old place on Route 105 in Palmer Lake where the shop was located the past two…
Continue Reading Silver Key Thrift Store Relocation Grand Opening, April 17, 2026
D38 District Wide Art Show
On April 11th, Lewis-Palmer School District 38 welcomed the general public to the district-wide art show at the school district administration building, Big Red, in Monument. Students from all grades were represented in their art efforts and families and the students enjoyed the event. Photo by Janet Sellers. On April 11th, Lewis-Palmer School District 38…
E-Motorcycles a Continuing Issue on GCA Open Space
As reported in the Apr. 4 issue of Our Community News (OCN), Gleneagle Civic Association (GCA) board members stated continuing concerns regarding E-motorcycles operating on and causing damage to the Ray Berg Open Space (RBOS). On Apr. 6, GCA President Mark Connell sent the following email to GCA members alerting them of a confrontation that…
Continue Reading E-Motorcycles a Continuing Issue on GCA Open Space