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Volunteers reporting on community issues in Monument, Palmer Lake, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes area

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Snapshots of Our Community

WMMI Family Days, July 15 and Aug. 12

Neighborhood Watch, Jun. 29

Above: Brent Ambuehl, coordinator of Crime Prevention for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, presented an informal report to about 45 people on how to protect against various types of criminal activity at a Neighborhood Watch event on June 29 at Wesley Owens Coffee & Café. Actions by residents can reduce risk of home and vehicle break-ins, including signage indicating your home is protected with a security system and/or cameras, exterior lighting, locking all doors including the entrance from your attached garage to the house, not leaving garage door openers on the visor of your vehicle parked outdoors, etc. We’ve all heard the admonition to lock your vehicle and don’t leave valuables visible from outside your vehicle. Ambuehl once conducted a test at a local trailhead and found 14 cars unlocked. For useful information, see www.EPCSheriffsOffice.com, including how to file non-emergency crime reports online. Photo by Steve Pate.

Stallsmith’s 100th, July 1

Above About three dozen friends and relatives helped Palmer Lake resident Joseph Stallsmith celebrate his 100th birthday on July 1. Stallsmith told Our Community News, “There’s not too many around here” who have reached that milestone, “so, I guess it’s a big deal. I never thought when I was going to school that I’d make 100.” Stallsmith says he feels “all right.” Asked if he had any advice on how to live to 100, Stallsmith said, “Stay out of trouble.” Did he follow his own advice? “Not always,” he admitted, smiling. This has been a big year for Stallsmith. In addition to turning 100, the Palmer Lake Sanitation District dedicated its building to him in March. Stallsmith created the district 45 years ago. He also helped set up the sanitation system at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

July 4th Festivities

Photos by David Futey

Palmer Lake Fun Run

Above: The 41st Palmer Lake Fun Run started off the Fourth of July festivities in the Tri-Lakes area. Race Director Kelsey Belsher said over 800 in-person and virtual runners from across the country participated in this year’s race. Belsher said the race is “100% volunteer led and organized” and she “thanks the community for having the race as an integral part of the Fourth events.” Belsher added, “All of the proceeds go to the Palmer Lake Elementary School (PLES) PTO who uses the funds to enrich the PLES student environment in the classroom, through field trips and teacher grants.” Andrew Bel (20:32) and Aubrey Surage (23:42), both from Colorado Springs, were the top male and female finishers. Pictured: Colorado Springs resident Susan Cassell, left, and Cinnamon Lepore of Monument.

Pancake Breakfast

Above: Knights of Columbus Council 11514 of St. Peter Church hosted its annual Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast. Grand Knight Alan Feldkamp coordinated the event with volunteer assistance from council members, Boy Scout Troop 17, students from St. Peter, and Monument Hill Kiwanis members. Feldkamp said, “We really enjoy doing this every year. We started serving at 6:30 a.m. to first responders and others and expect over 1,500 to take part including finishers of the Fun Run.” The breakfast choices were pancakes, eggs, two types of sausage, coffee, and orange juice. This is the Knights’ largest fundraiser of the year. Feldkamp said the Knights “donate to over 60 organizations including Eagle Scout Colin Sager’s P-51 monument project.”

Parade

Grayson Merriam, left, and Cameron Stathan have their bikes adorned with festive Fourth of July decorations as they await the start of the Monument Hill Kiwanis Children’s Parade.
Mitch LaKind, Monument mayor.
Glant Havenar, Palmer Lake mayor.
WWII Navy veteran Jim Swanson
WWII Army veteran Ed Beck
OCN volunteer and Colorado Front Range Unicyclist Audrey Burkart jumps rope while unicycling.
Greg Bielanski, Kiwanis president.
Makena Norton of Monument, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Girl of the West.
Excited parade spectators yelling, “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!”
WWII Army Air Force Veteran, Jim Akin
Monument Fire Department
Palmer Ridge High School football team
Lewis Palmer High School football team

Tri-Lakes Chamber Street Fair

The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Street Fair in Monument was filled with post-parade spectators after the Monument Hill Kiwanis Main Parade on the Fourth of July. The spectators enjoyed a variety of food options and visited vendor booths.
John Howe and Karrie Pittman staffed the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce booth Photos by David Futey.

Pier ribbon cutting, July 24

Above: Members of Monument’s Parks, Water, and Streets Departments, along with the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, watched Mayor Mitch LaKind cut the ribbon for the new pier at Monument Lake on July 24. It took three weeks to build the 375-foot pier. The project cost nearly $239,000. A Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission grant covered more than $171,000 of the price. The pier in the northeast corner of the lake has been very popular since opening on June 14. It gives anglers and pedestrians access to a part of the shoreline that previously had been inaccessible. This pier is in addition to the old, shorter pier at the southeast corner of the lake. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

Patillo at TLCA, July 7

Above: Singer, songwriter, evangelist, and philanthropist Leon Patillo brought his uplifting one-man show to the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts (TLCA) on July 7. Patillo’s music career started in the 1960s performing with the funk group Creation and with Funkadelic and Martha and the Vandellas. In the mid-1970s, he joined Santana and performed on two of their albums, Borboletta and Festival. After two years with Santana, he turned to a solo career of contemporary Christian music. On this evening Patillo performed Proud to be an American along with his own songs, including Flesh of my Flesh, which is often played at weddings, and J.E.S.U.S. Between songs, Patillo shared life stories and philosophies such as “life is built on relationships” and his efforts toward helping children through his SING Foundation and Rise Above Bullying. Photo by David Futey.

Water tank nears completion

Above: On July 25, workers were wire wrapping and shooting layers of specialized concrete body coating on the Town of Monument water storage tank project. Wire wrap reinforces the installed concrete tank dome and side wall panels yet allows flexibility for fluctuating water levels inside the 2-million-gallon capacity tank once it is in service. Dismantlement of framing and decking, as well as piping, cleaning, and disinfecting of the interior will follow. Exterior painting will be the last step to complete the tank structure. Excavation began in spring 2022 in Forest View Estates west of Monument. A Colorado Supreme Court opinion says the town’s declaration of eminent domain, overriding the established Forest View Estates residential-only restricted covenants, does not require the town to compensate adjacent property owners for lowered property values based on the tank site appropriation. Photo by Sharon Williams.

Sunrise at Palmer Lake

Above: A fisherman casts his line and enjoys the serenity and sunrise at Palmer Lake on the Fourth of July. Photo by David Futey.

Eagle Scout seeks support

Above: Troop 17 Eagle Scout Colin Saber had a booth set up at the Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast to bring awareness to his Eagle Scout project. The project is to honor WWII Col. Earl Depner, a Monument resident who passed away in January 2022. He flew a P-51 Mustang. Saber said he really wants to honor all WWII U.S. pilots and fallen heroes for their sacrifice. The project is to move and install a 2,000 pound, 11-by-7 by 6-foot P-51 Mustang sculpture from Fort Collins to the Monument Town Hall. Saber needs to raise $55,000 for the project and is seeking support from the community. Information on how to support his project is at p51monument.com. Photo by David Futey.

Cruisers holds fundraiser, July 22

Above: The Tri-Lakes Cruisers Hotrod Club sponsored a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association at Jackson Creek Senior Living on July 22. Vintage hotrods and muscle cars were on display, including a ‘32 “deuce coupe,” a souped-up ‘55 Chevy, Andy Houck’s restored ’55 Chevy “first series” pickup shown above, and many others. Jackson Creek Senior Living provided hot dogs, soft drinks, and cookies. Photo by Steve Pate.

TLWC visits Bear Creek Robotics

Above: Members of Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) got to see the results of one of their grants on June 14. From left, Grant Chairperson Julie Shook and co-President Shelley Pruett watched students use the robotics building kits that were bought with the grant. Shook and Pruett were guests of Bear Creek Elementary School at its Summer Robotics Camp. The camp, open to all second- to sixth-grade District 38 students, focuses on robotics and engineering. Last fall, the school started a formal robotics program through the First Lego League Challenge, a research and robotics tournament for 9- to 16-year-olds. To participate in the program, the school needs to buy model robot kits over the next few years, and that is where the TLWC grant came in. Photo by Anne Campbell.

Cherry Creek Chipping Day, July 15

Above: On July 15, residents of Cherry Creek Crossing held their First Annual Chipping Day with the Monument Fire Department. They hope to do this again. From left are firefighters Greg Lovato and Morgan Cudney and residents Dave Lewis and Jeff Childers. Photo by Mike Pipkins.

Monument Farmers Market

Above and below: Where is everybody? They were at the Farmers Market in Monument on Saturday morning. The Farmers Market was in full bloom and brimming with vegetables, fruit, baked goods, soap, and other items in the parking lot at Big Red, 66 Jefferson St. The Farmers Market will be open every Saturday until October, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Photos by Marlene Brown.

MSD celebrates 50th

Above and below: A band, balloons, and hot dogs marked the 50th anniversary celebration of Monument Sanitation District (MSD) on July 29. Members celebrated the board working out of the MSD office on Second Street since 1973. Mark Parker, district manager, was there making sure that all who attended had everything they needed to enjoy their lunch. MSD collects wastewater from the residents and businesses west of I-25 in and out of the town limits of Monument. See https://monumentsd.colorado.gov. Photos by Marlene Brown.

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