Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – The reign of Botox Barbie (02/04/2026)
Letters to Our Community – Thank you, Monument Hill Foundation (12/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Eighty is the new sixty (12/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Vote for Ginger Schaaf (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Manipulative vs. persuasive speech (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Jackie Burhans (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Endorsement for Ginger Schaaf—D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf endorsement (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Schaaf for family values (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Vote for Ginger Schaaf (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Endorsement of Jackie Burhans (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – D38 safety—a senior and grandfather’s perspective (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf: common sense candidate for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans is the experienced voice we need in D38 (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Ginger Schaaf for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Todd Brown for Ginger Schaaf (10/02/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Bullying in our community (10/02/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans is great for D38! (10/02/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Kettner’s reply to Sellers (10/02/2025)
Letters to Our Community – A dedicated advocate for D38 Board of Education (10/02/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Endorsement for Ginger Schaaf—D38 School Board (10/02/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Endorsing Jackie Burhans (10/02/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Letter of endorsement for Jackie Burhans (10/02/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Vote for Jackie (10/02/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Open Dirty Woman Park to everyone (09/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – I’m running for D38 Board of Education (09/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Thanks to all for the big move (09/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Jackie for D38 (09/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Feral horses are not wildfire solutions (09/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Response from columnist Janet Sellers (09/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – A proven advocate for our students, educators, and schools: Vote for Jackie! (09/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Monument Hill Kiwanis awards grant to Quilts of Valor (09/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Vote for D38 school board (09/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf for D38 school board (09/04/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Urgent need for conservatives to run for D38 Board of Education (07/03/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Scrub oak (Gambel oak), pine needles and other debris (07/03/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Thank you to the outgoing board members (06/07/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Tri-Lakes Women’s Club gets thanks (06/07/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Grace Best demolition (03/01/2025)
Letters to Our Community – D38 chaos (03/01/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Thanks to OCN for its support (02/01/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Wildfire call to action (02/01/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Opposed to proposed Buc-ee’s (12/05/2024)
Letters to Our Community – Lodging tax issue rebuttal (12/05/2024)
Letters to Our Community – Tax, spend, and tax some more (11/02/2024)
Letters to Our Community – Vote no on Prop. 127 (11/02/2024)
Letters to Our Community – Back to school (09/07/2024)
Letters to Our Community – Freedom of speech (08/03/2024)

Letters to Our Community – The reign of Botox Barbie

Last week Kristie Noem (aka, Botox Barbie) spoke from a podium with the words, “One of ours. All of yours” on the front. This is a reference to fascist Nazi idea of collective punishment. It is the threat that if anyone hurts even one of Botox Barbie’s ICE agents, she will punish the whole city, region, state, or nation. So, if the American people do not submit to the tyranny of the DHS and ICE, then the American people (especially those living in blue areas) will be punished for not surrendering to the fascist regime that currently occupies the White House. This destructive policy is being managed and executed by the executive branch of our government in collusion with the Republicans in Congress and the Republicans on the Supreme Court.

This is Project 2025 in full erection. The United States no longer exist. Executive crime with impunity is the new standard. So, no freedom, only submission. No citizenship, only subjects. No trials, no due process, no court, no judges, and no jury. Just masked thugs without insignias, in unmarked vehicles, beating up protesters. Bring on the arbitrary and capricious. Say goodbye to progress, freedom, equality, and justice. Say hello to criminals in camouflage telling you how to live, and smirking while they shoot tear gas into your face. Say hello to being disappeared. Say hello to torture.

We were once a great nation, but now we are the Empire of 47. Sycophants wanted, brown-nosers welcome, gangsters invited. Oh, and especially extremely wealthy oligarchs; those are most sought after. Peasants are to be rounded up and disposed of. Hourly wage labor is no longer recognized as significant. And women, only the Botoxed need apply.

Jim Adams

Our Community News welcomes letters to the editor on topics of general interest to readers in the Tri-Lakes area. Guidelines for letters are found here. The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer. When there is more than one letter, the letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

Other Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – The reign of Botox Barbie (2/4/2026)
Letters to Our Community – Thank you, Monument Hill Foundation (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Eighty is the new sixty (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Vote for Ginger Schaaf (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Manipulative vs. persuasive speech (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Jackie Burhans (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Endorsement for Ginger Schaaf—D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf endorsement (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)

Letters to Our Community – Thank you, Monument Hill Foundation

On behalf of the Palmer Ridge High School (PRHS) Outdoor Learning Lab, I would like to thank the Monument Hill Foundation for their generous donations of a gorilla cart wheelbarrow and organizational bins for the tools and supplies in our shed. These donations have met a very practical need in the Outdoor Learning Lab, allowing students to experience an easier workflow as they participate in volunteer work days and other activities in the lab. We are a fully donor- and volunteer-based organization, and as such, a donation means so much to us. Again, all students who have been influenced by or who have volunteered in the Outdoor Learning Lab are very grateful for the donations made by the Monument Hill Foundation. I, along with my fellow students, are very appreciative of your support!

Faith Anderson
PRHS student

Letters to Our Community – Eighty is the new sixty

Eighty is the new sixty, I happily maintain.

As long as I keep myself healthy and try to stay out of the rain.

I pre-date the Baby Boomers and was too old for hippy attire.

I watched as they did their protests, setting old thinking afire.

I happily married my husband and became a dutiful wife,

but never accepted the premise that second fiddle would be my life.

So after raising our toddlers, I resumed my chosen career

and joined the legions of women who competed with little fear.

But once the grandkids came, priorities took a sharp turn.

I no longer aspired for promotion and allowed my career to burn.

While enjoying our retirement, our grandkids are ready to soar.

We’ve done all we could to support them and now can do little more.

So now 80 years are upon me, and I’m proud to have gotten here.

It’s why I’ve decided I’m 60 since I’ve learned age isn’t to fear.

Betsy Lambert

Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board

I am writing to share my enthusiastic support for D38 School Board candidate Jackie Burhans. Since we moved here seven years ago, Jackie has been a community resource for all things Lewis-Palmer School District through her Lewis-Palmer D38 Education Community Facebook group. There, she has live-blogged School Board meetings for at least the last five years, making sure all community members have easy access to School Board information. I am currently serving on a district committee with Jackie, and she is a positive voice for students and staff. In my many volunteer roles at LPES, LPMS, and now PRHS, I have appreciated the support Jackie gives to all events and fundraisers benefiting students and staff. Her student has long graduated, but she is still engaged and involved, contributing her time to D38 schools. We need a candidate who will work with all stakeholders in D38 to responsibly manage taxpayer funds and support all students and staff. Please join me in voting for Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board.

Corey Grundel

Our Community News welcomes letters to the editor on topics of general interest to readers in the Tri-Lakes area. See the Letter Guidelines. The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer. When there is more than one letter, the letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

Letters to Our Community – Vote for Ginger Schaaf

With the upcoming School Board elections on Nov. 4, and so many current concerns for parents’ rights, I’m inspired by the common-sense conservative candidacy of Ginger Schaaf.

Ginger is not only promoting academic excellence, but she understands that educational fads take time away from proficiency in the basics that parents desire for their students.

Ginger is an advocate for safe places for girls in lavatories, locker rooms, and athletics.

Ginger has a low tolerance for increasing our property taxes through mill levy overrides and prefers petitioning the Legislature to allocate proper funding for education. She also supports our local charter school, Monument Academy.

As the wife of a retired 20-year military serviceman, Ginger understands well the sacrifices required to keep America free. She understands the importance of reasserting students’ grasp of history, civics, and particularly love of country.

Ginger and her husband have two children in the district, making her particularly attentive to the D-38 district’s parental concerns.

If your family wants a school board member with traditional values and a concern for perpetuating American exceptionalism, please consider Ginger Schaaf for D-38 School Board member on Nov. 4.

Leslie Hanks

Letters to Our Community – Manipulative vs. persuasive speech

I am shocked and in awe of the lies and hatred being spread about a kind woman who has dedicated her personal time to supporting our school district and the future of every child in the D38 area.

I understand how fearful these lies feel. The tactics the people spreading this fear are using a type of speech called manipulative speech. Manipulative speech often creates a strong emotional reaction — guilt, fear, shame, or obligation — instead of giving you space to think clearly. Manipulators often frame choices as black and white to steer your decision. Manipulative speech leans heavily on emotional debts or moral pressure. If you question the manipulator, they deflect, blame others, or change the subject.

Pay attention to how these folks are reacting to questions about what they are spreading. The difference between persuasive and manipulative speech is easily detected. Persuasive speech is based on facts and logic, respects the listener’s autonomy, seeks a mutual benefit, and is transparent. Manipulative speech is based on distortion or deceit, undermines the listener’s autonomy, seeks personal or one-sided gain, and conceals the speaker’s true intent.

Remember, it is easier to dupe someone than it is to convince them they have been duped. This is not the kind of future I wish for our community or our county. Please do not believe the fear-mongering that has been going around about Jackie Burhans; she is the best-qualified candidate and the most dedicated to making sure public education is representative for all students. Vote for Jackie before Nov. 4!

Heather Jacobson

Letters to Our Community – Support Jackie Burhans

As a retired military member and longtime resident, I’ve always believed that each person in our community deserves to have their voice heard—especially our children. After meeting Jackie Burhans and learning more about her background as a dedicated community advocate and longstanding Monument resident, I am inspired to support her candidacy for the District 38 School Board.

What impressed me most about Jackie is her commitment to represent all voices in our schools, rather than prioritizing one group over another. Jackie understands that effective leadership means understanding the diverse needs of our students and working toward solutions that consider everyone—even if it’s impossible to satisfy each person completely every time. She recognizes that the School Board’s job isn’t about championing a single agenda, but rather about giving every child, regardless of background, a chance to be heard.

Unfortunately, some in our community are trying to make this election about LGBTQ rights alone. In reality, it’s about making sure all students’ needs and perspectives are recognized. Jackie’s record speaks volumes—she has supported kids from all backgrounds, including those in the LGBTQ+ community, and her work at Tri-Lakes Cares Food Bank has given her a unique understanding of the challenges local families face.

One board member cannot change the entire board, but one member can make sure every voice is considered. Jackie Burhans brings deep experience, compassion, and an open mind to this role. Our schools need leaders willing to listen, not just to those who agree with them but to everyone. We don’t have to think, live, or act alike—but we do need to give each other the respect of being heard. That’s why I am proud to support Jackie for School Board.

Kerri Kilgore

Letters to Our Community – Endorsement for Ginger Schaaf—D38 School Board

I have lived in Monument, Colo., for over three years and chose this community because of its strong schools and small-town feel—an ideal environment for raising my five children. As a 2005 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and current Air Force Reserves member, I value service, integrity, and the importance of quality education.

I am a firm supporter of parental rights and school choice. I’ve seen firsthand how school choice has positively impacted families—improving academic outcomes and providing peace of mind for unique medical or personal needs. I believe we must approach education with common sense and a family-first mindset.

That’s why I strongly support Ginger Schaaf for the District 38 School Board. Ginger exemplifies everything we need in a board member. As part of a military family, she brings a broad perspective from experiencing diverse school districts across the country. Her dedication to her family is evident and reflects the values that will keep our children at the forefront of decision-making.

Ginger’s professional background in management showcases her decisive leadership, excellent problem-solving skills, and work ethic. She is a person of deep integrity and strong character—someone who will serve our community with honesty and determination. She has a commonsense approach to ensure that our children will come first in board decisions. She fosters open communication and is always seeking ways to improve our community with an unparalleled work ethic.

I wholeheartedly recommend Ginger Schaaf for the D38 School Board and encourage you to vote for her.

Lt. Col. Jessa Liegl

Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf endorsement

Tri-Lakes is a great place to live! We have wonderful neighbors, a sense of community, and terrific schools. We are all passionate about protecting our “small town” regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum. But whether people want to believe it, part of what makes this area so wonderful is our history of conservative values and voting. Ginger Schaaf, a dedicated conservative candidate running for the School Board, is an exceptional choice to represent our families and students and continue the legacy of D38 being a great place to live.

Ginger’s platform prioritizes the safety and well-being of our children, particularly through her advocacy for safe spaces for girls in our schools. Some will speculate that because she wants to protect our girls, this means she will discriminate against others. Ginger understands the importance of creating environments where all students feel secure and respected. Her commitment to protecting all students demonstrates her focus on fostering a positive and inclusive educational experience.

Ginger supports charter schools, keeping our taxes low, and parent involvement. She deeply cares about our teachers and will voraciously petition to get money from the state to support them. She comes from a family of service. As a military spouse, she’s traveled the world, where she has seen schools and districts, both good and bad, from which she draws invaluable firsthand experience. This knowledge will serve her well in D38, bringing new and fresh ideas to the table.

I urge the residents of Monument to support Ginger in the upcoming School Board election. Her vision, integrity, and dedication to our students and community make her the ideal candidate to help shape the future of our schools.

Melissa May

Letters to Our Community – Support Burhans for D38 School Board

It is with great confidence and enthusiasm that I endorse Jackie Burhans for a seat on the Board of Education in Lewis-Palmer School District 38.

Through community engagements and as a former member of the Lewis-Palmer School District staff, I have had the pleasure of serving alongside Jackie as she engaged as a volunteer in multiple capacities. Whether it be in focus groups, committees, or targeted community projects aimed at enhancing both our schools and the broader community, Jackie has consistently shown up with energy, insight, and a deep commitment to positive change.

Jackie approaches every engagement with active participation, thoughtfulness, and a genuine curiosity that invites dialogue and fosters progress. She brings a solution-focused mindset to every conversation, asking thoughtful and often challenging questions that reflect her desire to truly understand and serve all members of our school community.

One of Jackie’s greatest strengths is her ability to balance innovation with tradition, displaying a deep respect for the values of our community while also advocating for forward-thinking approaches that benefit students and educators alike. Her relational demeanor makes her a unifying and trusted presence in any group.

I have no doubt that Jackie will bring the same dedication, thoughtfulness, and integrity to her role as a Board of Education member. I wholeheartedly endorse her candidacy and believe she will be a tremendous advocate for students, families, educators, and the entire Lewis-Palmer School District community to carry forward the mission of “Every Student. Every Day.”

Jessica McAllister
Former director of D38 Innovative Programs

Letters to Our Community – Schaaf for family values

Candidates were asked what policy recommendations they would support at the September school board candidate forum on the question about gender and student inclusion, concerning the use of bathrooms and locker rooms and safety and fairness in sports. Ginger Schaaf said she didn’t believe the opposite sex belongs in her bathroom, and you should go to the bathroom/locker room based on your birth-assigned gender, and boys should not compete in girls’ sports because they are physiologically different.

Jackie Burhans said she wants to elevate all students and spoke about the district following legal regulations without, in my opinion, directly answering the question. (The video can be found at lewispalmer.org, under Board of Education resources and links for the video. The question was at about the 39:10 point.) Since I have a collegiate swimmer daughter, Schaaf’s response aligns more with my family’s values on safe spaces for girls.

The other important topic for me has to do with school choice. As a teacher at Monument Academy and a parent with kids who have done public, charter, alternative, and homeschool, Schaaf’s support for school choice also aligns with my family’s values. I know she supports MA as she attended two recent events there, and I have personally spoken to her. Other than attending MA as a reporter for this publication, I cannot recall a time over the last decade when Burhans has attended an event at our charter school.

Schaaf has two current D38 students, so I believe she will be invested in their education. I also think her business background will help guide the district’s financial decisions. These are my main reasons for supporting Ginger Schaaf for the D38 School Board.

Amy McKenzie

Letters to Our Community – Vote for Ginger Schaaf

As a mom of two D38 students who graduated in 2023, one was the valedictorian at Palmer Ridge that year, I want to voice my support for Ginger Schaaf running for the one contested seat for the District 38 Board of Education. I want to see this district continue to maintain excellence in education while focusing on content that makes a difference and not the many distractions we see across our nation. Ginger is the commonsense conservative choice. A fresh start. A new perspective. A political newbie. A smart, savvy, involved mother of two children currently in D38. She is a proponent of:

Keeping property taxes low by petitioning Denver for prioritization of educational funding instead of raising property taxes on our local residents with every need.
Protection of private spaces for girls and sports—Title IX and a Presidential Executive Order provide for this protection as well.
School choice to include support for Monument Academy.
Promotion of what is needed to maintain Accreditation with Distinction from the CDE.
Parent involvement in the education journey of their student(s).
Age-appropriate content in our school libraries.

I encourage you to vote yes for Ginger on or before 7 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2025. Mail-in or drop box voting only in our district. To all that is good…

Karen McVay

Letters to Our Community – Endorsement of Jackie Burhans

I wholeheartedly endorse Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board director, District 3. I lived in Monument for 17 years (2005-23). During that time, I relied on Jackie for accurate, fact-based information on the school district to guide my vote on ballot measures.

Jackie has been involved in District 38 for over 20 years as a parent, reporter, and concerned taxpayer, attending School Board meetings, taking notes, and doing the research to understand the issues deeply.

Jackie also works at Tri-Lakes Cares, helping our most vulnerable neighbors in the Tri-Lakes area. I have volunteered alongside Jackie, putting on caucuses and getting out the vote in Monument.

I know first-hand that Jackie consistently shows up and puts in the work. More importantly, Jackie has a true heart for community service and a passion for public education.

Amy Paschal

Colorado state representative, District 18

Letters to Our Community – D38 safety—a senior and grandfather’s perspective

Thanks to the volunteer construction engineers donating their time to draft design privacy-assured, safe mixed-gender bathrooms and showers.

I agree with their personal consensus that the best solution is no.

However, should mixed gender in sports and bathrooms be sadly supported or pursued, what would it cost to lessen student safety with mixed bathrooms?

Roughly $160-$200 per square foot per each bathroom or shower. I believe that is D38 cost prohibitive without a bond to finance remodel across PRHS, LPHS, LPMS, HSA & Transitions facilities, and the new CIC.

I believe student safety is the primary responsibility of D38, and Ginger Schaaf prioritizes student safety overall. She has my grandfather vote.

Gordon Reichal

Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf: common sense candidate for D38 School Board

I am writing this letter in support of Ginger Schaaf, who is running for the D38 School Board. As a former military wife, teacher, and mother of two former students in D38, the entire reason we relocated to Monument was the excellent and outstanding reputation of D38. During that period nearly 20 years ago, Monument was a tight-knit community known for its small-town values, traditions, and family-friendly atmosphere—and although we have grown significantly since then, it is still the same and, in my opinion, still one of the best school districts in the state.

Ginger Schaaf is running as a conservative candidate for our school board. A former military wife, Ginger is an active and involved mother with two young children attending district schools, so she is extremely invested in School Board outcomes. She advocates for parental involvement in all levels of student education. She supports our outstanding and very successful local charter school: Monument Academy. She supports safe spaces for girls in bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports. She is against pornographic content in our school libraries. She has a conservative view of property tax increases, MLOs, and bonds, preferring to petition other funding resources that will not impact homeowners who have already seen their property taxes double and, in some cases, triple in our community. In essence, Ginger Schaaf represents the same traditional family values that Monument is known for. She is the most outstanding, common-sense candidate for D38, without question.

Vote for Ginger Schaaf for D38 School Board: the common sense candidate who will advocate for safety and excellence.

Dolly Rickerman

Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans is the experienced voice we need in D38

I wholeheartedly endorse Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board! She is the most qualified and knowledgeable candidate that I have seen run for our School Board in the 10 years my family has called Monument home.

I met Jackie not long after my family was stationed in Colorado in 2015. Shortly after moving here, I got involved with our district, volunteering in my children’s schools, coaching, and participating on several district-level committees. Jackie was also heavily involved with volunteering in D38, and I was immediately in awe of her selflessness and enthusiasm in giving her time to community endeavors.

Jackie has volunteered literally thousands of hours to the betterment of our community. She is a thoughtful listener and critical thinker, understanding the many issues facing our public education system—and D38, specifically. Her vast knowledge of where we’ve been, coupled with her understanding of the state and federal legislation that guides education policy, means she will step into Day 1 on the board with foundational knowledge and ready to contribute to tackling the most pressing issues in our district.

Jackie’s top priorities are valuing educators, maintaining the academic excellence D38 is known for, enhancing the multiple educational pathways D38 offers, and fostering continued community collaboration and transparency.

As one of five members of the board, Jackie will bring an informed and balanced voice to D38, where she will continue her 30-year legacy of commitment to our Tri-Lakes community.

Amy Shertzer

Letters to Our Community – Support Ginger Schaaf for D38 School Board

Seventy-nine percent of Americans agree: keeping biological males out of women’s sports, locker rooms, and restrooms is essential to protecting the safety and privacy of girls and women in educational settings.

Yet here in Colorado, progressive liberals in the Legislature—led by a bill written by a trans-identifying activist—have pushed a radical gender ideology agenda that undermines both parental rights and religious liberties.

In the D38 School Board race, the choice could not be clearer: progressive liberal Jackie Burhans or conservative leader Ginger Schaaf. For parents who care about protecting children, families, and educational integrity, the only real choice is Ginger Schaaf.

Ginger’s platform reflects common sense and community values—lower taxes, academic excellence, school safety, support for teachers, and healthy learning environments. She’s a mother with children in the district and the wife of a retired military officer. Her proven leadership has earned the endorsement of respected education champions, including current BOE members Todd Brown and Kris Norris, former BOE member Chris Taylor, CU Regent Frank McNulty, State Board of Education member Kristi Burton Brown, State Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell, and former Senate President Bill Cadman.

Meanwhile, Jackie Burhans’ husband is a former Obama field organizer, part of a network of leftist community activists who have learned to blend in by volunteering for everything. They use friendliness and visibility to embed themselves in the community while quietly advancing a divisive political agenda. Now they’re working on every social media platform to smear Ginger Schaaf and mislead voters—the same old tactics of attack, divide, and manipulate I saw firsthand when I served in the Legislature.

Ginger Schaaf will restore sanity, accountability, and academic focus to District 38. Join me in standing up for our children’s future—vote for Ginger Schaaf for D38 School Board.

Amy Stephens
Former state House Majority Leader

Letters to Our Community – Todd Brown for Ginger Schaaf

My name is Todd Brown, and I am a current D38 board member. While I can speak only for myself and not the board in any way, I will say that I feel my time on the board has been incredibly productive and rewarding, in large part because of the strong partnership and value alignment between the board, the D38 administrative team, and the community.

I am writing to express my support for Ginger Schaaf in the upcoming election for District 3 of the Board of Education. I first met Ginger when their family joined the same Scout troop as my boys, and I quickly saw how eager they all were to get involved. Since moving here, Ginger and her family have consistently shown a genuine commitment to our community. They chose D38 as the place to raise their children with intention and love for what makes this district so special, and now they are choosing to deepen that commitment with Ginger serving on the School Board.

From my conversations with Ginger and from observing her character, I believe she will be an excellent addition to our team. Ginger shares the values that guide the current Board and administration, and I am confident she will work collaboratively to keep our positive momentum. Internal conflict would only distract from progress, and I know Ginger will be the kind of leader who focuses on what truly matters—with no other agenda—doing what’s best for our kids, ensuring a safe and supportive atmosphere that provides for the best possible outcomes for them, and being wise stewards of our taxpayer resources.

For all these reasons, I wholeheartedly support Ginger Schaaf for the D38 School Board seat, and I encourage you to do the same.
Todd Brown

Our Community News welcomes letters to the editor on topics of general interest to readers in the Tri-Lakes area. Guidelines for letters are found here. The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer. When there is more than one letter, the letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

Letters to Our Community – Bullying in our community

D38 School Board Priority 1 is to ensure safe and healthy schools where students feel secure and supported in their learning and growth. Safety is a top priority for both parents and the district. The board policy on bullying prevention and education can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/d38-policy-JICDE. It defines bullying as a form of intimidation that includes spreading false information.

Bullying is not just physical; it can be verbal, in person, or online. There is an increase in cyberbullying on social media. It’s not just kids who are dealing with this but adults as well. We need to remember, kids see how we behave and what we tolerate. What are we teaching as a community?

I have experienced bullying as a kid and still see it as an adult. To make sure my son knew how to stand up to bullying, I enrolled him in martial arts at the age of 3. He built confidence, self-defense skills, respect, and discipline. Once he was old enough to have online access, I leveraged school and community resources to teach him about being cautious about sharing personal information online and to use critical thinking about how to spot falsehoods, conspiracy theories, and cyberbullying.

We set and periodically review our security settings on social media to a level of privacy that is right for our family. As an IT professional, I recommend good cybersecurity practices.

Whenever I see bullying, I choose to stand up, not stand by. I speak out at board meetings, online, and in person. I stand between bullies and their victims. As a School Board or community member, I will always stand up. I hope that more community members will join me.

Here are some good resources for kids and adults: https://www.safewise.com/resources/internet-safety-kids/

Jackie Burhans

D38 School Board candidate

Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans is great for D38!

As the D38 School Board election draws near, I would like to share with the community why I support Jackie Burhans as the obvious choice to represent our wonderful school district. I met Jackie almost 20 years ago at a forum to educate the community about the challenges Colorado school districts face. Her comprehensive understanding of the complex funding formula and the many challenges facing Colorado schools was and is unmatched.

Since that time, I have seen Jackie in action in our local school district. Not only was she an active parent in her child’s schools, serving on school-based oversight committees and helping whenever necessary, she also took her knowledge to the district level, serving on many committees and as a key communicator in our community. Her long-term commitment to education and grasp of the important issues at the school and district level are exceptional.

I had the opportunity to serve on some of these committees with Jackie and was always impressed by her professionalism, even-handed approach, and thoughtful consideration of issues and potential solutions. Her support for students, teachers, and staff was undeniable. Later I had the opportunity to hire Jackie at Tri-Lakes Cares and saw that same professionalism and passion carrying through to her work with our community.

Public education is a foundational cornerstone of our American exceptionalism. We are all better when we have an educated public. Jackie recognizes the importance of a great school district to benefit our students, impact the value of our homes, and attract and retain vibrant community members and businesses. I challenge other candidates to demonstrate the same long-term, passionate volunteer commitment to our schools and community. Vote for Jackie! She will represent D38 with knowledge, thoughtfulness, and integrity.

Julie Keim

Letters to Our Community – Kettner’s reply to Sellers

Regarding Ms. Sellers’ response to my letter, she states, ”Modern wild horses fill that old ecological niche,” but neglects to point out that the horses that roamed North America 10,000 years ago competed with other large herbivores and had to avoid large predators.

“In addition to horses, the Miocene mammal faunas of North America were dominated by rhinos, such as Teleoceras, a large variety of camels, extinct relatives of elephants called gomphotheres, ‘bone-crushing’ borophagine dogs, and cat-like saber-toothed predators known as nimravids.”
—American Museum of Natural History. Miocene Mammals

Modern mountain lions will prey on horses where their habitats overlap, but horse populations have so far not been controlled sufficiently by natural predation.

“…wild horse population growing 18 percent annually, any forage on additional acreage would be quickly consumed.”—PERC. You Can’t Drag Them Away

Another statement in the rebuttal is that a single horse eats about 5.5 tons of forage per year. I can agree with this number, but the idea that this amount of forage, not to mention the 5-15 gallons of water per day, can be consumed by horses (70,000-plus horses on Bureau of Land Management lands alone—i.e., public land owned by all of us) without impacting native animal (elk, deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, etc.) populations seems implausible, at best.

I do not purport to be a wildlife expert, but the experts have been discussing this topic for decades, and the consensus is that there are too many horses on our public land and their populations and range must be controlled (i.e., reduced), not expanded, if we want to have healthy populations of highly desirable native animals.

”One theme that was repeated over and over again was the sense of urgency and responsibility … If the current management policies continue, the impacts to fragile western rangelands, wild horses and burros, wildlife and their habitats, and humans will intensify, resulting in irreversible consequences.”—Terry Messmer, TWS member and director of the Berryman Institute at Utah State University The Wildlife Society

Nathan Kettner

Letters to Our Community – A dedicated advocate for D38 Board of Education

I am proud to endorse Jackie Burhans for the D38 Board of Education. Her unparalleled involvement in public education spans decades at every level, showcasing her unwavering commitment. Jackie stands out due to her extensive volunteer work and her dedication to communicating with the community about D38 issues, values, and solutions. Her ability to integrate her corporate experience with her reporting duties at OCN while maintaining a passion for public education is exceptional. I strongly urge you to consider Jackie Burhans for the D38 Board of Education on Nov. 4 as an informed, engaged, exceedingly qualified, and competent candidate.

Laura Kronick

Letters to Our Community – Endorsement for Ginger Schaaf—D38 School Board

As vice president of the Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Board of Education, I am proud to endorse Ginger Schaaf for the D38 School Board. While I haven’t worked directly alongside her, I’ve had meaningful conversations with Ginger and know the people who have encouraged her to step forward and run. Their respect for her character, combined with what I’ve seen in her passion and priorities, give me full assurance that she is the right person to serve our district. Ginger’s first priority is always our kids, and she is running to make sure students come first in every decision the board makes. She brings both emotional intelligence and strong problem-solving skills, which allow her to listen, collaborate, and guide discussions in a constructive way. Her background in management gives her a thoughtful, analytical approach, while her work ethic and motivation drive her to constantly look for ways to improve. She is inspirational, steady, and committed, and I know she will continue to serve our students and community with integrity. I fully support Ginger Schaaf for the D38 School Board and encourage our community to join me in casting a vote for her. This endorsement is a personal opinion and does not reflect the opinion of the board or D38.

Kris Norris

Letters to Our Community – Endorsing Jackie Burhans

As a 20-plus year educator and longtime District 38 community member, I am confident in endorsing Jackie Burhans for the D38 Board of Education.

Jackie brings unparalleled preparation for this role. For more than a decade, she has closely followed board activity, attending meetings across the tenure of four superintendents and reporting faithfully on the district’s challenges and progress. She has also served on numerous committees and participated at the state level, gaining a firm understanding of education policy, budgeting, and governance. Jackie has thus developed a tremendous grasp on the history and trajectory of our local educational system. She has developed deep depth and robust breadth of insight into how our district operates.

I have known Jackie since 2017. We met at a D38 Deliberates event, bringing community members from all aspects of our area together to collectively advise the Board of Education. Jackie immediately struck me as an active listener and thoughtful contributor, with practical ideas that took the concerns of others into account.

During my later tenure on the Board of Education, she often commented publicly on the positive aspects of what she observed and offered her perspective regarding pathways for improvement. During those comments, and in all my personal interactions with her, she has remained respectful, willing to engage, and added important perspectives that, again, carefully considered the needs of all students.

Most recently, I continued to interact with Jackie as she participated on the Arts Education Task Force. She was instrumental in advancing that task force into a standing committee. She demonstrated her continued commitment to supporting the district while celebrating students’ many achievements.

D38 benefits with dedicated and knowledgeable board members. Jackie is a collaborative leader with the policy acumen needed to be exceptionally effective!

Theresa Phillips

D38 Board of Education, 2018-23

Letters to Our Community – Letter of endorsement for Jackie Burhans

As a former member of the Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Board, I had the privilege of seeing firsthand the kind of leadership, integrity, and commitment it takes to serve our students, teachers, families, and community well. It is from that experience that I am proud to endorse Jackie Burhans for our School Board.

Jackie brings exactly what our schools need right now: a clear vision for student success, a steady hand for decision-making, and a genuine dedication to listening to parents, teachers, and students. She understands that strong schools are the foundation of a strong community.

I’ve watched Jackie engage with complex issues thoughtfully, ask the right questions, and keep the focus on what matters most: helping every student thrive. She also brings the kind of collaborative spirit that makes a school board effective: willing to lead when needed, but also eager to listen and build consensus.

Serving on a school board is not easy work. It requires long hours, tough decisions, and a commitment to doing the right thing even when it isn’t the easy thing. I am confident Jackie will serve with integrity and courage.

For these reasons, I wholeheartedly support Jackie Burhans for the Lewis-Palmer School Board and encourage you to join me in casting your vote for her.

Robb Pike

LPHS Class of ‘93 and member of the board from 2008 to 2015

Letters to Our Community – Vote for Jackie

I have run the District 38 Chess Tournament for the last 18 years. After each tournament, we have taken the winners to a school board meeting so that they could be recognized for their achievements by the members of the school board. At those meetings, I have learned that the most effective school board members are those who have extensive and lengthy ties to our community and our schools and are not there simply because they need something to do.

Jackie Burhans has been in our community for two decades. She has been at every school board meeting that I have ever attended. That includes meetings with the Monument Academy school board. She understands what is going on with our schools and will not have to learn on the job.

Jackie is intelligent and compassionate and will do what is best for our children. She should be elected to the school board.

Steve Waldmann

Letters to Our Community – Open Dirty Woman Park to everyone

It seems the mayor and key city people voted to change the use options for Dirty Woman Park. Monument changed Dirty Woman Park from a public park to a private park for the mayor and his staff’s use only, on July Fourth.

The city only has three parks. Dirty Woman Park is the only full-service park. Limbach Park has bathrooms, no grills or parking. Lavelett Park has no bathroom, no grills, or parking. Limbach and Lavelett parks are not available for July Fourth due to the parade.

Dirty Woman Park goes to the first bidder, which the city reserves for itself on Jan. 1 each year. Over 18 years ago, the city invested by putting three grills in the park so more people could use it. Why would you spend the money to put in grills when no one can use them when the city reserves the pavilion? I request that we go back to the old rules! Current rules make no sense.

Did the city and/or mayor think through any of the alternatives? Dirty Woman Park is the only park set up to have multiple groups. It was done that way when the city added all the extra grills under the tree line.

Maybe the city could require more full-service parks; it’s a beautiful area. This town needs more community areas, not more houses right next to each other.

I talked to some city staff people, and they said we would need more people writing to the city to get the mayor to change his mind.

Doug Anema

Letters to Our Community – I’m running for D38 Board of Education

I’m Jackie Burhans, and I’m excited to announce my candidacy for the Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education. My deep commitment to public education, professional background in technology at IBM, time as a small business owner, experience as a facilities specialist at Tri-Lakes Cares, and years as an Our Community News (OCN) reporter give me a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead for our district.

My husband and I moved to Monument in 1992. Our son attended Lewis-Palmer schools from kindergarten through Palmer Ridge High School. From volunteering in classrooms and PTO, to serving district accountability and ad-hoc committees, to reporting on school meetings for OCN, I have spent more than 20 years actively engaged in our schools and our community.

Educators are the heart of D38, inspiring a love of learning, guiding students through challenges, and preparing them for successful futures. They deserve respect and compensation that match the exceptional results they deliver. I will advocate for policies that attract, support, and retain high-quality teachers.

I believe in championing educational choices that allow every student to shine—whether through strong core academics, arts, athletics, dual enrollment, or the many options at the new Career Innovation Center. Our schools should open doors to the widest range of opportunities beyond graduation.

Finally, I will build bridges between our schools and the wider Tri-Lakes community. All families in the district, even those without students in school, have a stake in the success of our future leaders. By fostering communication, transparency, and engagement, I will ensure that D38 continues to be a source of pride and strength for us all.

I look forward to listening, learning, and working with you to support the future of our students and our community.

Jackie Burhans

Letters to Our Community – Thanks to all for the big move

The recent move of the Silver Key Senior Center from Grace Best school to the Monument Community Presbyterian Church is concluded. I was privileged to work with the steering committee as well as assist with the many volunteers that came forward from near and far to complete the extensive move that involved sorting and designating what goes in storage or to the church and Goodwill. It took many trips and enthusiastic volunteers. I took several necessary trips to Goodwill, where all of the workers unloaded my jam-packed SUV. I gave my kudos to Brenda and Lauren (manager/supervisor). I’ve visited the new setup at the church and found it well-attended and very well set up for the seniors. My compliments and thanks to all who made the necessary move painless.

John H. Howe

Letters to Our Community – Jackie for D38

I am writing to enthusiastically support Jackie Burhans for the Board of Education. Jackie is exactly the kind of leader our schools need—dedicated, thoughtful, and deeply committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.

After years of unbiased reporting on all of our schools in D38, Jackie brings a unique blend of professional expertise and community involvement. She listens carefully, asks the right questions, and seeks balanced solutions. Most importantly, she values collaboration, transparency, and accountability—all qualities that build trust between families, teachers, and the district.

In a time when our schools face tough challenges, Jackie offers steady leadership and a clear vision. She cares about academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, and creating a safe, supportive learning environment for all students. Her ability to engage respectfully with diverse perspectives will make her a unifying voice on the board.

I am excited to cast my vote for Jackie Burhans, and I encourage others who want a strong advocate for our kids and community to do the same. Jackie has the heart, the skills, and the commitment to make a real difference. You can follow her and learn more about her platform on her Facebook page and at http://jackie4d38.com.

Let’s elect Jackie Burhans to the Board of Education—our students, teachers, and families deserve nothing less.

Heather Jacobson

Letters to Our Community – Feral horses are not wildfire solutions

The idea that feral horses reduce wildfire risk and belong in wilderness areas is misleading and ecologically harmful. Despite romantic claims, today’s feral horses are not native wildlife but are descendants of domestic horses brought by Europeans. Native wild horses have been absent from North American ecosystems for over 10,000 years. Ecosystems have since evolved without them.

Claims that they control wildfire fuels ignore a critical fact: Feral horses have no natural predators, and their populations grow unchecked. Unlike strategically managed livestock, wild horse herds cannot be moved or regulated by timing or intensity. They often overgraze and damage native grasses, trample wetlands, and degrade critical wildlife habitat.

Far from reducing fire risk, this unmanaged grazing can make landscapes more vulnerable. Overgrazing invites invasive plants like cheatgrass, which dries early and fuels more frequent, intense wildfires. Studies show feral horses also outcompete native species such as pronghorn and bighorn sheep for scarce water and forage, especially during drought.

Placing horses into protected wilderness areas—home to sensitive plant and animal species—is irresponsible. These landscapes are supposed to remain as undisturbed as possible, not serve as dumping grounds for undesirable and unwanted animals.

Yes, we should treat horses humanely. But turning them loose into fragile ecosystems is not conservation—it’s mismanagement. Real wildfire mitigation requires science-based strategies— prescribed burns, invasive species control, and targeted grazing—not introducing unregulated feral grazers.

Let’s respect the difference between wild mythology and ecological reality.

Nathan Kettner

Letters to Our Community – Response from columnist Janet Sellers

Q: Are wild horses non-native?

A: They are reintroduced natives. Horses evolved in North America but went extinct about 10,000 years ago. Modern wild horses fill that old ecological niche. Some debate this, noting changes since then, but advocates see them as a restored keystone herbivore.

Q: Do they outcompete wildlife like pronghorns or bighorn sheep?

A: No. In fact, they can help ecosystems. At Anza Borrego NP, bighorn sheep deaths spiked after horses were removed—mountain lions turned to sheep instead. Scientists note livestock, not horses, cause most rangeland damage. Livestock numbers are far higher and have heavier impacts.

Q: Do they overgraze and raise wildfire risk?

A: No. Horses roam widely, spreading out their grazing. This mobility prevents overuse and allows plants to recover. Even at fence lines, horse-grazed areas often show 30% more native grasses than cattle-grazed areas.

Q: Isn’t wildfire control better achieved with prescribed burns, invasive species control, and targeted grazing?

A: In wilderness, burns and machines are not allowed. Here, wild horses act as natural fire managers. They eat flammable grasses and brush, lowering fire risk. A single horse can clear about 5.5 tons of fuel a year—the equivalent of reducing 5–7 acres of wildfire-prone vegetation.

Letters to Our Community – A proven advocate for our students, educators, and schools: Vote for Jackie!

As the school board election approaches this November, I’m writing to express my enthusiastic support for my friend, Jackie Burhans, a highly qualified and passionate candidate who has dedicated years of her time, energy, and expertise to improving public education in our community.

I’ve known Jackie and her family since the early 2000s, and I can confidently say there are few individuals more committed to the success and well-being of our students, educators, and administrators. With a strong background in business, volunteering in public education/service, and community organizing, Jackie brings both knowledge and heart to every decision and discussion.

What sets Jackie apart is not just her impressive qualifications and consistent commitment but her ability to truly listen and learn. Whether it’s parents, teachers, students, admins, or board members, she takes the time to understand concerns and seek thoughtful, balanced solutions. Jackie believes that every child deserves access to a top-notch education and that schools should be safe, inclusive spaces that foster academic, artistic, athletic, and personal growth.

Our district and school board need strong leaders who are very well informed, engaged, highly competent, and ready to roll up their sleeves—and that’s exactly what Jackie will do. I urge voters to support Jackie Burhans this November and help ensure our schools and district have the leadership they deserve.

Gabriele Lacrampe

Letters to Our Community – Monument Hill Kiwanis awards grant to Quilts of Valor

The Monument Hill Kiwanis Club Board of Directors recently awarded a grant of $500 to the Colorado Springs Quilts of Valor group. The Quilt of Valor Foundation has chapters throughout the county. The group’s mission is to honor service members and veterans who have been touched by war with a comforting and healing Quilt of Valor. A Quilt of Valor is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand-quilted. It is awarded to a service member or veteran who has been touched by war. The quilt says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.”

With the support of the Monument Hill Kiwanis, our local chapter will continue to be able to construct quilts to be awarded to nominees. We gratefully appreciate the Kiwanis’ generosity as we continue to award comforting and healing quilts.

Ann Przybylski
Group Leader

Letters to Our Community – Vote for D38 school board

D38 Board of Education directors will be elected this November. Your money will ultimately be spent based upon their direction. More importantly, student safety and educational quality depend on your voice, and the D38 Directors are the keys to our community school district future. We The People form the basis of our nation. We The People are entitled to direct our children’s education. Ultimately, We The People direct our community education through the D38 School District directors. Let them hear your voice and vote this November.

Gordon Reichal

Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf for D38 school board

My name is Ginger Schaaf, and I am announcing my candidacy for the D38 Board of Education District 3 position. My family joined the Monument community two years ago after nearly 20 years of moving for my husband’s military career. We have two children in the D38 school system and have been extremely satisfied with the education and programs made available to them. I have been fortunate to have a professional career with the same company during the past 12 years of our final military moves, involving a combination of in-person and remote work. I am now happy to be back to working in-person and look forward to contributing to my community.

Our family chose D38 because of its established standards of excellence. I was raised by an educator who had a passion for teaching. Throughout our military moves, we have experienced a variety of school districts. I hope to use these perspectives to benefit the community.

I would appreciate your support on Nov. 4.

Ginger Schaaf

Letters to Our Community – Urgent need for conservatives to run for D38 Board of Education

District 38 needs two conservatives to step up and run for Palmer Lake’s and North Woodmoor’s school board seats this fall. The need is urgent. As with most conservative communities across the country, we have organized progressives here with media-directed axes to grind. They are disproportionately vocal on social media repeating whatever propaganda is served to them, be it forced masking, the Covid jab, DEI, and, above all else, LGBTQ advocacy. If there’s a Facebook frame for it, they will believe it. And push it on the rest of us.

The grip the teachers union has on the country provides an infrastructure for their activism and a pool of volunteers and potential candidates for school boards. Conservatives don’t have this because they didn’t embed themselves into our education system. On the contrary, conservatives have been rooted out.

What a difference it would make if conservatives joined the fight. And our schools taught American exceptionalism instead of multiculturalism, individual responsibility instead of collective guilt, and virtue instead of hedonism.

Sitting back and waiting for the Facebook-frame people to produce your next two board members is a terrible idea. This town is full of intelligent, educated, perceptive, well-spoken conservatives. Please answer the call to help our community. Board members meet twice a month. Candidates need to pick up paperwork and collect signatures in August. Anyone interested looking for more information is free to reach me.

Derek Araje

Letters to Our Community – Scrub oak (Gambel oak), pine needles and other debris

Let me introduce myself. I have a BS in Forestry (1960) and a PhD in Forestry (1995), which included studies in wildland fire behavior. I first attended a U.S. Forest Service fire and lookout school at age 14 at my dad’s remote ranger station in the Idaho wilderness. That would not be possible today. I continued to attend through age 17 when I was hired as a wildland firefighter on two two-man fires and a 14-man fire. This was before my senior year of high school. I continued as a wildland fire fighter at a Forest Service ranger district in Montana while in college; this included very large fire in central Idaho and a one-man fire when the district ranger ran out of crew. While serving on a range survey crew for the BLM near Madeline, Calif., a fire started nearby on the base of McDonald Peak.

Since I was the only one with wildland fire experience, I became the leader of an ad hoc fire crew. We almost had the fire under control when the wind and sun came up resulting in a 50,000-acre fire. So, it can be said that I know a little about vegetation and wildland fire.

I live in North Woodmoor and it bothers me to see residents raking up pine needles and other debris, except to protect lawns, while continuing to let scrub oak grow. Scrub oak is highly flammable and a danger to our neighborhoods, while pine needles are not. Pine needles should be looked upon as mulch and long-term fertilizer.

John Schumaker PhD

Letters to Our Community – Thank you to the outgoing board members

Over the past eight years, Triview Metropolitan District has been transformed from a region facing critical water shortages with limited preparation for the future to one with sufficient renewable and reuseable water resources for our grandchildren and beyond. This would not have been possible without the leadership and vision of the outgoing members of the Triview Board of Directors: President Mark Melville, Vice President Anthony Sexton, and Secretary/Treasurer James Barnhart.

Their hard work led to the purchase of more than 2,100 acre-feet of renewable water resources, covering 95% of Triview’s future water needs. In collaboration with Colorado Springs Utilities and Forest Lakes, Triview developed the Northern Delivery System to deliver water from as far away as Buena Vista and Pueblo to Triview customers. Triview can also develop two reservoirs which will enable us to store 19,500 acre-feet of water, making Triview drought resistant and an excellent partner for other municipalities.

They foresaw the need to improve Triview’s roads. In 2019 they directed the widening of Jackson Creek Parkway. It would cost twice as much to build today. This award-winning improvement anticipated the arrival of new commercial partners to provide services and reduce the tax burden on Triview’s homeowners. They led the charge to widen Higby Road, which will result in safety improvements around Lewis-Palmer High School and ease emergency response and community evacuation in case of wildfires.

Mark, Anthony, and James, thank you for setting Triview up for success. And to our friends and neighbors, if you see Mark, Anthony, or James, please give them a big thank you. The investment you have made in your home and community is more secure due to their efforts.

Amanda Carlton, Erik Demkowicz, John Gibbons, Jason Gross, and Anne-Marie Jojola Triview Board of Directors

Our Community News welcomes letters to the editor on topics of general interest to readers in the Tri-Lakes area. Guidelines for letters are found here. The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer. When there is more than one letter, the letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

Letters to Our Community – Tri-Lakes Women’s Club gets thanks

Thank you to the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club for granting the money to purchase a box set of 10 Bouncy Bands. The Bouncy Band chair bands slide onto the legs of student desks or chairs and allow students to fidget quietly using their feet and stay focused without distracting other students. Studies have shown that students stay on task nearly 10% longer with the chair bands! I am so grateful to have the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club’s support. Having chair bands helps students focus and relieve stress. I currently have some chair bands, but not enough for every student’s desk, and my students have been begging for all of my chairs to have their own Bouncy Bands! My students love having a Bouncy Band on their desk, and now everyone will have their own, thanks to the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club! My students and I are very grateful for your support!

Mrs. Molly Ketchell, LPHS math teacher

Letters to Our Community – Grace Best demolition

D38 is using stagecraft to justify destroying a politically inconvenient school building. After years of complaining about Grace’s maintenance and repair costs, they are now using a fire marshal inspection that the building supposedly failed to leave the impression that “the fire department condemned the building.” Their descriptions of the building’s actual status are suspiciously vague and inconsistent.

The problem with this narrative is that D38 got a surprise windfall last year that could have paid to fix the problems. D38 convinced the state to let them spend $8 million of their reserves. Instead of fixing Grace, they’re spending it all to purchase and renovate a 37-year-old building for a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) center—”transforming an open warehouse into a space for learning that mirrors a Google or Facebook workplace.” They’ll have to pay another $3 million to complete the buildout. The administration provided cost estimates for the project and for building new but estimates for transforming Grace into the CTE center weren’t presented. It wasn’t even discussed.

Worse yet, if you have a building the fire marshal wants to shut down until certain repairs are made you don’t jump to spend $1.3 million to demolish it. You try to sell it as-is. To save yourself $1.3 million. But D38’s board didn’t even discuss selling the building, let alone check if anyone might be willing to take it off their hands. By the district’s own calculations, the land the building sits on is only worth $700,000. Why spend $1.3 million to clear land that’s worth $700,000?

All their narrative-building has left them scrambling to find a home for the homeschool and special needs transitions programs housed at Grace Best. It’s clear that making sure taxpayers cannot use this space for a school in the future is more important to them.

Derek Araje

Guidelines for letters

Disclaimer: The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer. When there is more than one letter, the letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

Letters to Our Community – D38 chaos

The D38 Board of Education took the unusual action to “accept” Dr. Datteri’s resignation after about six months on the job and post out a confusing severance package which includes a large cash payment that varies from $224,000 to about $84,000 depending on if more staffing changes occur or more resignations come in.

This chaos needs to be solved with well-justified plans to be resolved before June 30 to start a new superintendent search or hire from within D38 from several candidates (old and potentially new), which could be expected.

Sound chaotic to you? During this time of unexpected staff turbulence and transition, we are fortunate to have D38 quickly declare Amber Whetstine as interim superintendent pending June 30.

At the February D38 Working Session, the 5-0 unanimous hiring decision was declared a failed decision, and now several paths forward are being discussed with the next milestone decision scheduled for June 30 (4.5 months from now).

Right now D38 does not have an assistant superintendent but we do have an interim superintendent. Do we also need declared an “interim” assistant superintendent?

How will that new senior staff member salary costs impact “savings” from Dr. Datteri’s resignation salary avoidance?

Gordon Reichal

Guideline for letters

Letters to Our Community – Thanks to OCN for its support

As we reflect on the wonderful turnout for our recent book signing of Shootouts, Killings, and War Heroes: The History Hidden in Monument’s Cemetery, we wish to express our gratitude to OCN for its coverage as we presented our research and photos to local community groups prior to the printing of the book. Folks at Covered Treasures Bookstore were amazed when they saw 70 books were sold in two hours of the November book signing. Our thanks to OCN and all who came to congratulate us on our endeavor as well as to purchase the book.

John Howe and Michael Weinfeld
Authors

Click here for Guidelines for letters.

Other Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – The reign of Botox Barbie (2/4/2026)
Letters to Our Community – Thank you, Monument Hill Foundation (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Eighty is the new sixty (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Vote for Ginger Schaaf (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Manipulative vs. persuasive speech (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Jackie Burhans (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Endorsement for Ginger Schaaf—D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf endorsement (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)

Letters to Our Community – Wildfire call to action

As I have watched the events of the last several days unfold in Southern California, I have been reflecting on what more we can do as a community with our wildfire preparedness and mitigation efforts. A wildland-urban interface conflagration is the greatest threat to lives and property within our jurisdiction. We need only look back to 2021 to recall the devastation wrought by the Marshall Fire in Boulder County that killed two people and destroyed 991 structures, becoming the most destructive fire in Colorado history.

In recent years, Monument Fire District (MFD) has proactively been doing the following:

Hiring firefighters.
Purchasing wildfire-specific fire apparatus.
Developing wildfire preplans.
Partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to conduct a prescribed burn.
Writing a grant-funded community wildfire protection plan (CWPP) to include a partnership with the Town of Monument on a wildfire mitigation demonstration area adjacent to Monument Lake.
Free wildfire home inspection program.
Expanding our chipping/mitigation efforts with 23 homeowners associations.
Utilizing state of the art technology/software for real-time incident notification/evacuation.

And yet, I think we need to do more.

I understand that the ponderosa pine and vegetation are, in part, what attracted all of us to live in North El Paso County. However, fuels thinning and removal, planting fire-resistive fuels, and use fire-resistive materials in our home construction will make our community more resilient to wildfire. Today is a call to action to join our efforts to help prevent another Marshall Fire, Black Forest Fire, Waldo Canyon Fire, and what we have witnessed this week in Southern California.

I am asking each of you to help by establishing a chipping program in your community, become a FireWise community, mitigate your personal property, building or remodeling your home with fire-resistive materials in mind, have a free home inspection performed by MFD personnel, signing up for Peak Alerts, support removing vegetation from rights of way, and advocating wildfire preparedness to your neighbors.

We cannot do it without you! Please visit www.monumentfire.org or call 719-484-0911 to learn how to get involved.

Andy Kovacs
Fire Chief, Monument Fire District

Click here for Guidelines for letters.

Other Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – The reign of Botox Barbie (2/4/2026)
Letters to Our Community – Thank you, Monument Hill Foundation (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Eighty is the new sixty (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Vote for Ginger Schaaf (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Manipulative vs. persuasive speech (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Jackie Burhans (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Endorsement for Ginger Schaaf—D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf endorsement (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)

Letters to Our Community – Opposed to proposed Buc-ee’s

Concerning the proposed annexation of acreage southeast of Beacon Lite Road and Palmer Divide Road:

“Flagpole” annexation is a device used by speculators to purchase undeveloped rural land at the value of raw land and then get a municipality to “annex” the property to provide services to said property; not limited to a police, fire, road maintenance including the flagpole, and; most importantly utilities; greatly enhancing the original value of the property.

The flagpole consists in most cases of including a road to and past the property. Then the object is to get a municipality to annex the property and the roads, thereby satisfying the requirement that one-sixth of the property is next to the Town of Palmer lake. The essence of the planning requirement is that annexation should be an organic part of natural expansion. This is, of course, not the case requiring the gimmick of flagpole annexing half of the Palmer Divide Road that is in El Paso County and Beacon Lite Road. The method is obviously to skirt annexation requirements described in Item 2 of the Annexation Ordinance that endeavor to provide orderly growth; questionable at best but certainly dishonest. I also don’t see compliance with Item 8 stating that all of a street must be annexed.

Anyone paying attention knows that Colorado Springs and Monument have each rejected flagpoles!

A Buc-ee’s representative, Mr. Beard, states that impact to Palmer Lake would be non-existent, offering up neighbors next to the behemoth as sacrificial lambs.

Donn Hume

Other Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – The reign of Botox Barbie (2/4/2026)
Letters to Our Community – Thank you, Monument Hill Foundation (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Eighty is the new sixty (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Vote for Ginger Schaaf (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Manipulative vs. persuasive speech (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Jackie Burhans (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Endorsement for Ginger Schaaf—D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf endorsement (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Schaaf for family values (10/30/2025)

Letters to Our Community – Lodging tax issue rebuttal

Letters to Our Community – Lodging tax issue rebuttal

In the November issue of OCN, a Letter to Our Community was printed from “Warren James” containing only uninformed, untrue statements. Here are the facts:

Paragraph 1 presented figures from Sept. 3. These were projected numbers presented in advance of anything catastrophic (contrary to the implications in James’ letter) and used for discussion.
Paragraph 2 suggests that the police budget was to be raided to compensate for shortfalls. The Police Fund is composed of two components, General Fund plus 2F dollars that can only be spent for what the ballot initiative outlined. Neither of these sources was or is in jeopardy and there was never any conversation to that effect. Ask the police chief.
Paragraph 3 says that Council (previous Trustees) only recently has the right to make monetary changes only when that does not violate previously approved ballot initiatives (2A Water Fund and 2F Police Fund are restricted). No, the Council can not defund the police nor do they wish to do so.
This year’s ballot initiative (2A) was a lodging tax earmarked exclusively for previously unfunded parks with the tax paid only when lodging occurred. The current Council budgeted substantial dollars for the improvements made to Limbach. Spend a few minutes watching the children (of all abilities) play on the new equipment. This was the lodging tax destination.
There was no shell game and never any intent to deceive; however, “Warren James” is spewing untruths and, unfortunately, it must have worked because the measure was defeated—too bad for Monument children.

In the future, suggest if they/them want the facts, they/them consider attending meetings and/or listening to the recordings and/or asking questions of staff and/or Council directly rather than lurking in the shadows with a poison pen to punish the innocent.

Laura Kronick
Monument councilmember

Other Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – The reign of Botox Barbie (2/4/2026)
Letters to Our Community – Thank you, Monument Hill Foundation (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Eighty is the new sixty (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Vote for Ginger Schaaf (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Manipulative vs. persuasive speech (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Jackie Burhans (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Endorsement for Ginger Schaaf—D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf endorsement (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Schaaf for family values (10/30/2025)

Letters to Our Community – Tax, spend, and tax some more

The Town of Monument is at it again. In the October 2024 OCN, the Monument Town Council (MTC) talked about how to make up a $2.663 million budget deficit. That’s 22.8% of the town’s budget unpaid for by projected revenues.

Part of where they want to cover that deficit is by raiding the Police Department’s budget. This is the same PD budget that voters approved a tax increase for three years ago that would add to the existing PD budget, not replace the PD budget.

But what MTC doesn’t want you to know is that the new Town Charter gives them the right to move that money wherever they want. No matter what promises were made in the past, or in the language of the ballot initiative, they can defund the PD without voter approval.

Now with Ballot Initiative 2A, they want to increase your taxes so that they can “fund the town’s parks.”

We’ve seen that shell game before. We’re seeing it right now.

Tell MTC that they need to get their budget in order and stop lying to the us about what they’re doing with our tax dollars.

Vote no on 2A.

Warren James

Click here for Guidelines for letters.

Disclaimer: The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

Letters to Our Community – Vote no on Prop. 127

Science as the basis for wildlife management decisions is a core tenet of the North American model of wildlife conservation. This hunting ban runs counter to science. Mountain lion populations are not biologically threatened. They range from northern Canada to the southern extent of South America, the largest latitudinal range of any mammal in the Western Hemisphere.

Likewise, bobcats are widespread across the U.S. and are not biologically threatened. They are the most common North American wild cat species. Also, trophy hunting is already illegal in Colorado, and lynx are protected from harvest thanks to existing state and federal law.

Be an informed voter. Read about the long history of successful species and ecosystem restoration and Colorado’s healthy wild cat populations from the experts at Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The out-of-state extremists pushing this ban claim that lions reduce the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), but there is no peer-reviewed science that shows lions target CWD-infected deer, and even if they do, the prions are still on the landscape and spread around the landscape by other scavengers.

Lastly, trophy hunting is already illegal in Colorado, and lynx are protected from harvest thanks to existing state and federal law. Supporters of Prop. 127 are using intentionally deceptive language to pass a statewide ban on regulated hunting. Colorado’s wildlife professionals are the experts. Leave the big cat management to them, not out-of-state extremists. Vote no on 127.

Nathan Kettner

Click here for Guidelines for letters.

Disclaimer: The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

Other Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – The reign of Botox Barbie (2/4/2026)
Letters to Our Community – Thank you, Monument Hill Foundation (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Eighty is the new sixty (12/4/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Jackie Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Vote for Ginger Schaaf (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Manipulative vs. persuasive speech (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Jackie Burhans (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Endorsement for Ginger Schaaf—D38 School Board (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Ginger Schaaf endorsement (10/30/2025)
Letters to Our Community – Support Burhans for D38 School Board (10/30/2025)

Letters to Our Community – Back to school

The time of year has finally come for many students to return to school and get back to their studying. With the return of school, stress levels can rise for many students as they are uncertain of what the new school year will hold. These concerns are important to address with your child and will help better prepare them for the school year ahead.

One way you can ease the stress is to talk to your student about their concerns and then discuss possible ways to eliminate those concerns. If that doesn’t work, you could also try to talk to their friends and make sure they are doing well socially and academically. It could be a learning experience for you both. It is also very important to make sure they maintain the fun activities they have been doing over the summer.

In conclusion, I would encourage all parents to make sure their child is ready for the more difficult school year ahead and to allow them to grow and develop on their own as well. I personally believe school is not so bad once you make friends, engage in your classes, and maintain a positive attitude. Finally, I would like to say that school is not just a place to learn but a place to grow and find new opportunities for yourself and others.

Thank you for consideration,

Luke Carter

Guidelines for letters are on page < 23 >.

Letters to Our Community – Freedom of speech

Freedom of speech

A social media troll shares unwelcome content within an online conversation to purposefully instigate an argument with one or more people. It is dangerous to young and old alike, and we see it every day.

It is not always protected by the First Amendment freedom of speech, as some would have you believe; it is fair in politics and elections particularly.

Examples of speech that may be limited: true threats, incitement, unlawful conduct: such as advocating violations of private life, defamation, hate speech, obscenity, pornography, public order, national security, classified information, trade secrets, or copyright violations.

Our national elections are coming, and trolling is rising to an epidemic level. Please vote and consider as a factor in your ballot decisions the honor, integrity, and ethics of each candidate and issue, no matter the level of trolling we are exposed to.

Thanks for your consideration.

Gordon Reichal

Click here for Letter Guidelines.

Letters to Our Community

Other Letters to Our Community

Other Letters to the Editor articles

Other Letters to the Editor articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community

Other Letters to Our Community

Other Letters to Our Community

Other Letters to Our Community

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Other Letters to Our Community

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Freedom of speech

Other Letters to Our Community articles