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Investigation of Tim Watkins’ murder revitalized
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Monument Town Council, Sept. 3 and 16 – Council discusses budget deficits, strategic spending, future priorities
By Chris Jeub The Monument Town Council met on Sept. 3 and 16 where various financial concerns were brought to light, including shortfalls in the General Fund, Police Fund, and Water Fund. The council worked to identify potential areas for spending adjustments while also tackling issues related to project prioritization, police retention, and councilmember compensation.…
Triview Metropolitan District, Sept. 19 – Northern Delivery System fully operational; resident raises traffic concerns
By Natalie Barszcz Post-publication Update The next regular meeting of the Triview Metropolitan District board of directors has been changed from October 17 to October 24. At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on Sept. 19, the board heard about the Northern Delivery System (NDS) delivering district water via Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) and the…
Monument Planning Commission – September meeting canceled
By Janet Sellers The Monument Planning Commission canceled its regular monthly meeting scheduled for Sept. 11. The Planning Commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Town Council chambers at 645 Beacon Lite Road, Monument. The Planning Commission usually meets on the second Wednesday of each month. To…
Continue Reading Monument Planning Commission – September meeting canceled
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Sept. 12 and 26 – Board considers church’s request to use Elephant Rock property
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans At its board meetings in September, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) considered a request to hold a large church picnic at the town’s Elephant Rock property. The board authorized Mayor Glant Havenar and Reid Wiecks, chair of the Parks and Trails Commission, to sign a letter of…
Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 16 – Board hears financial and operational report
By James Howald At its September meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board introduced its newly hired district engineer. It heard financial and operational reports from board Treasurer Roy Martinez, District Manager Jessie Shaffer, and Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine. The meeting ended with an executive session, after which no actions were taken. Cydney…
Monument Sanitation District, Sept. 18 – Board reviews rate study
By Jackie Burhans and James Howald At its September meeting, the Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board heard a report on a rate study performed by GMS Inc. and an operational report from District Manager Mark Parker. The board discussed the three board seats that will be open in the next election cycle. Dannah Koeniger, a…
Continue Reading Monument Sanitation District, Sept. 18 – Board reviews rate study
El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Sept. 19 – Board postpones non-disclosure agreements
By James Howald The El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board met briefly in September to hear a progress report from John Kuosman, a water practice leader with Merrick and Co., who serves as the Loop’s workflow manager. Board President Jessie Shaffer gave a financial report. The meeting ended with…
Donala Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 19- -Board continues term limit debate
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans At its September meeting, the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) board continued its discussion of waiving its current policy which allows directors to serve a maximum of two four-year terms. The board heard financial and operational reports. Board President Wayne Vanderschuere was excused from the meeting. Board Vice…
Continue Reading Donala Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 19- -Board continues term limit debate
Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, Sept. 5 and 18 – Interim fire chief on board; live fire training suspended
By Natalie Barszcz The Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) Board of Directors held a “special meeting” on Sept. 5 to receive legal advice from attorney Dakota Spence-Zurek of Cockrel Ela Glesne Greher & Ruhland, P.C. (CEGR) Law regarding the hiring of an interim fire chief and to receive legal advice regarding the departure…
Donald Wescott Fire Protection District, Sept. 25 – Meeting postponed due to board member’s absence
By Natalie Barszcz At the Donald Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) meeting on Sept. 25, the board was set to approve three notices of termination for mutual aid to partner agencies and approve an assignment and assumption agreement for vehicle storage at the property on Sun Hills Drive (former fire Station 3). But the meeting…
Monument Fire District, Sept. 25 – Meeting postponed due to lack of quorum
By Natalie Barszcz The Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District dba Monument Fire District (MFD) meeting on Sept. 25 was postponed after 15 minutes when the participants realized a quorum could not be reached. A “special meeting” will be scheduled in early October to allow the board to receive the first presentation of the 2025 budget,…
Continue Reading Monument Fire District, Sept. 25 – Meeting postponed due to lack of quorum
Lewis-Palmer D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Sept. 10 – Committee discusses strategic plan, assessment results, bylaws change
By Harriet Halbig The first meeting of the Parent and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) was held at the district learning center on Sept. 10. Presenters included the Assessment and Accountability coordinator, the district’s assistant superintendent, and new Superintendent Dr. Stacie Datteri. Welcome and goal statement Co-Chair Kirsten Zook welcomed committee members to the new school…
Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 12 – Board discusses parental review of library materials, adopts management system
By Jackie Burhans The Monument Academy (MA) board met on Sept. 12 to discuss its library materials parental review policy and adopt a new board management system. The board also heard a citizen comment on discipline, updated several policies, and spotlighted a teacher for her engaging and innovative lessons. Library materials parental review policy The…
Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Sept.16 – District performance framework, bullying policy revision
By Harriet Halbig The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education discussed its district performance framework and a revised bullying policy at its Sept. 16 meeting. District performance framework The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) accredits school districts which in turn accredit individual schools based on the results of testing in the spring. District 38 was accredited…
El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Sept. 12, 24, and 26 – Development approvals for Black Forest and Palmer Lake projects
By Helen Walklett During September, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a request to extend the Cathedral Pines subdivision in Black Forest, adding eight residential lots. The commissioners also approved land use applications for a Black Forest and a property in the unincorporated county near Palmer Lake. The Estates at Cathedral Pines…
Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO) – NEPCO gets an update on county planning and code enforcement
By Marlene Brown NEPCO held its bi-monthly meeting Sept. 14 at the Woodmoor Barn. NEPCO is an association of homeowner associations in northern El Paso County. With over 50 member associations in the Tri-Lakes and Black Forest area, NEPCO represents over 22,000 voters. It works to inform residents of Land Use and Transportation issues as…
Gleneagle Civic Association, Sept. 19 – GCA annual meeting date moved
By David Futey The Gleneagle Civic Association (GCA) Zoom meeting began Sept. 19 with a quorum of board representation. The attending board members were Shawna Uehling, board vice president and Architectural Control chair, Glen Leimbach, board member at-large and Ray Berg Open Space manager, Mark Connell, board member at-large and Roads, Signs and Ditches chair,…
Continue Reading Gleneagle Civic Association, Sept. 19 – GCA annual meeting date moved
Woodmoor Improvement Association, Sept. 25 – Board seeks community support for wildfire mitigation grant
By Jackie Burhans At its regular board meeting on Sept. 25, the Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board called for residents to express their interest to qualify for a fire mitigation grant and approved the Waterside development governing documents. The board also heard from residents about the prairie dog removal and heard director reports. Treasurer Pete…
September Weather Wrap
By Bill Kappel Temperatures were well above normal most of the month, with plenty of sunny and warm days interrupted by just a few days with rainfall. Precipitation ended right below normal overall. Unfortunately, we have transitioned into a strong La Niña pattern, which usually means drier than normal conditions for us during fall and…
Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – Book series for children and young adults
By the staff at Covered Treasures “Let children read whatever they want and then talk about it with them. If parents and kids can talk together, we won’t have as much censorship because we won’t have as much fear.”—Judy Blume These series books for children and young adults are a fun way to settle into…
October Library Events – Discussion group, book clubs, fall book sale, scrap exchange
By Harriet Halbig Every Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Monument Library, join Socrates Café, an adult discussion group which discusses such subjects as philosophy, religion, politics, morality, and the common threads among humanity. All are welcome to attend this well-moderated group. The Monumental Bookworms, an evening book club sponsored by the Tri-Lakes…
Palmer Lake Historical Society, Sep. 19 – Author focuses on Old West
By Marlene Brown The Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) monthly membership meeting at the Palmer Lake Town Hall on Sept. 19 featured guest speaker Mike Torreano, presenting an author’s talk titled Cowboy Stories. Torreano has a military background, and his focus is on American history and the Old West. His most recent book, Fireflies at…
Continue Reading Palmer Lake Historical Society, Sep. 19 – Author focuses on Old West
High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – The garden as investment: gardening is like banking
By Janet Sellers Our high-desert forest clime relies on its natural system of growth and decay to thrive. When we vandalize that system, we are the robbers of the soil and the forest, and also our gardens if we choose to have those. We have to create our garden soil for the plant life we…
Art Matters – October is Arts Month, aka Artober
By Janet Sellers We just finished our summer-long local art festival, Art Hop, held on the last Friday of each month from May through September. Now we’re in October, which is National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM). The White House and Congress, as well as many arts and cultural organizations, have recognized October as NAHM…
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Snapshots of Our Community
Cruisers’ car show raises $7,500 Above: Antique cars filled Monument’s downtown area for the Tri-Lakes Cruisers’ 21st annual benefit car show on Aug. 18. The event raised $7,500 for Tri-Lakes Cares (TLC). A check was presented to the group on Sept. 11. In the photo, from left, are Cruisers Vice President Andy Houck, Cruisers Secretary…
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. Be “bear smart” and…
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 Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, Pinon Pines…
On the Trail (in Memory of Tim Watkins) – Investigation of Tim Watkins’ murder revitalized
By Steve Pate Seven years after Tim Watkins was killed, the investigation into his murder has been reinvigorated. There’s a new detective on the case who’s been reinterviewing friends of Watkins in the past month. As OCN has previously reported (see the October 2022 issue at https://ocn.me/v22n10.htm#photos), Watkins was murdered while riding in one of…
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- Vol. 24 No. 5 – May 4, 2024
- Vol. 24 No. 4 – April 6, 2024
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- Vol. 24 No. 2 – February 3, 2024
- Vol. 24 No. 1 – January 6, 2024