The photos are arranged in the order they appeared in our April 4, 2026 issue. Click or tap on a thumbnail to view a larger version.
To return to the thumbnails, click or tap on the X in the image toolbar, which is above or to the right of the image. To view the captions, click or tap on the information icon (“i” in a circle ) in the image toolbar. To move between images, click or tap on the “<” and “>” symbols in the image toolbar or swipe left or right on the image. Click or tap on the full-screen icon to enter or exit full screen mode.
Above and inset: On March 5, Palmer Ridge High School (PRHS) culminated a week of activities that raised $30,000 for Make-A-Wish Colorado by celebrating 8-year-old student Brooks, whose wish is to go to Disney World. Brooks has a congenital heart disease. She got a standing ovation from the crowd in the gym and got to throw a pie in the face of English teacher Matt Frost. The celebration wrapped up with teacher Daniel Russel getting his head shaved (at right), something he agreed to do if donations hit the $30,000 mark. The event began on a somber note, as Elijah Arnholt’s mother addressed the crowd and delivered a tribute to her son, who was a PRHS student. He passed away a year ago in March at age 18 after a courageous battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Photos courtesy of D38.
March 25, landfill on the property atop Monument hill proposed for a future Buc-ee’s. Photo by Allen Alchian.
In honor of Music in the Schools month, at its March 16 meeting the Board of Education recognized Palmer Ridge High School Senior Benton Miles who was selected for the Colorado All-State Jazz Choir. In the photo, front row from left to right, are Palmer Ridge High School Principal Dr. Adam Frank, Board Vice President Dr. Patti Shank, Superintendent Amber Whetstine, and choir teacher Madeline Douthit. In the second row are Board Treasurer Todd Brown, Board Secretary Ginger Schaaf, Benton Miles, Board director Tim Bennet, and Board President Ron Schwarz. Photos courtesy of D38.
Four students from Lewis-Palmer Middle School were recognized for being selected for the Regional Honor Band. In the front row from left to right are Board Vice President Dr. Patti Shank, Band Teacher Sarah Loyer, Benjamin Bloomfield, Tristan Mendoza, Zeke Rhinesmith, and Superintendent Amber Whetstine. In the back row, left to right, are Board Treasurer Todd Brown, Board Secretary Ginger Schaaf, Lewis-Palmer Middle School Principal Courtney Harrell, Board Director Tim Bennet, and Board President Ron Schwarz. Student Jack Wittenborn was unable to attend the meeting. Photo courtesy of D38.
Several students from Lewis-Palmer and Palmer Ridge High schools were selected for the Western Slope Honor Choir. In the front row, left to right, are Amelia Whetstine. Noelle Garcia, Shandi Soper, Joella Streeter and Hadley Miles. In the second row are Palmer Ridge High School Principal Dr. Adam Frank, (unidentified), Superintendent Amber Whetstine, Choir Teacher Madeline Douthit and (unidentified). In the back row are Board President Ron Schwarz, Benton Miles, (unidentified), and (unidentified). Additional students pictured or absent: Sidney Black, Lucy Cavin, Krew Sloan, Finn Clark, Bernadette Korty, Seyana Schaffer, and Jane White Photo courtesy of D38.
Lewis-Palmer Middle School student Zander Billings performed a selection for the board on his guitar. Photo courtesy of D38.
At its March 12 meeting, the Monument Academy board recognized departing School Resource Officer (SRO) Max Ellis for his dedication and leadership at the school since 2022. Board President Ryan Graham expressed the heartfelt gratitude of the board for the work Ellis had done to establish a sound foundation for the SRO program and his dedication to a safe environment. He also noted his effort to build strong relationships with staff and students, wishing him well in his future endeavors. From left are board members Jilinda Dygert, Lindsay Clinton, Matt Ross, Ellis, Graham, and board member Craig Carle. Photo courtesy of Monument Academy.
Artist’s rendering of the exterior of the proposed Performing Arts Center. Courtesy of Monument Academy.
Artist’s rendering of the interior of the proposed Performing Arts Center. Courtesy of Monument Academy.
The location of the Beacon Lite Water Tank Annexation is shown in red. Map courtesy the Town of Monument.
From left, staff members from Flintco LLC construction company, NV5 (owners’ representative), OZ Architects, and Monument Fire Department at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Station 3 on March 25. Photo courtesy of Monument Fire District.
From left, Engineer Mike Rauenzahn, the survivor, Firefighter Chris Harrison, Firefighter/Paramedics Jay Bruchis and Andrew Dore after receiving Life Saving awards at Station 1 on March 25. Fire Chief Andy Kovacs presented multiple Life Saving awards to staff and four citizens (not pictured). Photo courtesy of Monument Fire District.
Forester Dave Root, left, with Shiloh Pines resident Mike Ballard. Firewise Chair Gayle Humm (not pictured) invited Root to visit her community so Shiloh Pines residents could hear his advice and ask questions on March 7. Photo by Lisa Hatfield
W. H. Jackson’s ca. 1880 photo of Palmer Lake documents how open the landscape was then, when healthy forests experienced frequent, low-intensity fires. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.
Above: Students from the Tri-Lakes community robotics team, The Bionic Sharks FTC Team 19541, received a $2,000 Gene Haas Foundation grant after a season powered by hands-on digital fabrication using CNC, laser, and 3D printing capabilities available in Monumental Impact’s makerspace. From left are Pranav Balaji, Corey Cinalli (Robot: SharkByte), Alexandra Gonzalez, Alexandra Epstein, Anushka Nandwalkar, and Brandon Johnson. Photo by Mike Hinkle.
Our Community News Managing Editor Michael Weinfeld (right) received Monument Hill Kiwanis Club’s highest honor at the club’s weekly meeting at Big Red on March 14. On the left is Monument Hill Kiwanis Club President Jim Head. Kiwanian Ted Bauman presented Weinfeld with the President’s Award in the form of a plaque (shown below) containing the words “In grateful appreciation.” Bauman praised Weinfeld for the press coverage he’s given the club and “what you do in the community.” Weinfeld said Kiwanis is a fun group to cover because he gets to attend the Fourth of July parade, the Stars of Tomorrow talent show and all the club’s “great work.” Weinfeld’s wife, Tia M. Mayer (center), told the group, “He loves what he does. It’s not a chore, it’s a passion.” Photo by Bob Harrigan.
A total lunar eclipse was visible in the Tri-Lakes area in the early hours of March 4. For several minutes, the moon turned blood red. This photo was taken in Woodmoor. Photo by Trish Wingert.
Nearly 30 students from kindergarten to high school won trophies at the 19th annual Lewis-Palmer School District Chess Tournament at Bear Creek Elementary School (BCES) on March 7. A total of 119 kids took part in one of the largest school district chess tournaments in Colorado. Bode Scally from Prairie Winds Elementary (PWES) won the kindergarten division. Michael Iatrow, also from PWES, was tops among first-graders. The second-grade winner was Chason Pace of Lewis-Palmer Elementary. BCES student Abraham Burruel finished first in the third-grade group. The fourth-grade trophy went to Simon Gonzalez-Smith of BCES. Among fifth- graders, Bradley Walker of BCES was tops. The sixth-grade winner was Charles Troupe, who’s homeschooled. Kyle Fieber of Monument Academy won the middle school division, and the high school trophy went to Robbie Collier of Lewis-Palmer High School. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
The choirs from Palmer Ridge High School (PRHS), Lewis Palmer High School (LPHS) and Lewis Palmer Middle School (LPMS) held a combined choir concert at PRHS auditorium on Mar. 17. Many of the selections were a-capella and each choir performed separately before the combined choirs, all 177 students, performed together. Performances included poems written by current and former students that were set to music by Trey Makkler. Mrs. Madeline Douthit directed the LPHS Mixed Choir, Treble Voices, PRHS Chamber Singers, and Women’s Ensemble, and Mrs. Lee Meyer directed the LPMS choir.
Photo by Steve Pate
Palmer Ridge High School (PRHS) senior Xavier Gonzalez won the top prize of $2,000 at the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club’s Stars of Tomorrow talent show on March 15. Gonzalez’s piano playing wowed the judges at the competition held at PRHS. Whether it was trying to compare instrumentals to gymnastics or singing and musical theater, or if it was just the talent of the performers, it took the judges about 45 minutes to make their decisions, much longer than usual. The second-place high school prize of $1,000 went to Bonneyclaire Patterson of PRHS, who played baritone sax, while the $500 third-place prize was won by Lewis-Palmer senior Jonathan Lilley, who sang a musical theater number. Among middle-schoolers, the $750 top prize went to Lewis-Palmer pianist Jack Wittenborn, while homeschooled violist Katherine Rose Johnson took home the $500 prize. Finally, fifth-grade pianist Esther Hunt of Prairie Winds won the $500 elementary school award. Pictured from the left: Esther Hunt, Jack Wittenborn, Katherine Rose Johnson, Xavier Gonzalez, Bonneyclaire Patterson, and Jonathan Lilley. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
Reconstruction of the ponds at Fox Run Regional Park continues. The ponds were being drained, and the gazebo and surrounding area were being demolished. The gazebo, built in the 1980s, was found to need a rebuild, along with the existing amphitheater. The new gazebo and amphitheater will be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible. Ben Dumakowski, north district supervisor with El Paso County Parks, asks that everyone stay away from the construction area and not cross where the road is closed or where the chain-link fence encloses the pond area. Construction is expected to be completed later this summer. Photo provided by Friends of Fox Run Regional Park.
An estimated 400 people took part in a No Kings protest in Monument, a town where registered Republican voters outnumber Democrats three to one. The protest organized by the group Tri-Lakes 4 Democracy was the first time Monument joined the thousands of similar demonstrations held nationwide. The two-hour peaceful protest started at the Park-n-Ride on Woodmoor Drive and continued over the I-25 overpass and onto Route 105. A No Kings 3 sign was visible to vehicles driving south on the highway. There were music and speeches in the parking lot next to the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Meeting House on 105. Many vehicles driving by honked their horns in support of the demonstration. A few trucks with Trump flags also drove by to show support for the president. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
Wakonda Hills neighbors gathered at wildfire group leader Ken Kay’s home on March 22 to learn more about how to reduce their wildfire risk and help each other as a community. Speakers included Lisa Hatfield and André Mouton, volunteers with Fire Adapted Colorado, and Catherine Methot from neighboring Colorado Estates. Contact your fire district to find out what you can do on your own property and in your neighborhood. Photo by André Mouton.
A bitterly cold mist was falling in Monument on March 27 when more than 50 people shivered through a ceremony dedicating a memorial bench to the late Jim Romanello on what would’ve been his 61st birthday. Romanello died last April after serving on the Monument Town Council since 2018. His daughter Gia Sherrill and son C.J. Romanello helped cut a blue ribbon during the ceremony. A plaque on the bench reads “A Good Father and Friend. He helped shape the Town of Monument into what it is today. He is greatly missed.” Mayor Mitch LaKind told the crowd that Romanello was “always a source of sunshine” and “always tried to have a positive attitude.” With the location near the waterwise garden on Third Street, LaKind said the bench would be a good place for people to sit and “reflect.” Pictured: In front, from left, son C.J. Romanello and daughter Gia Sherrill. In back, from left, Monument Town Council member Chad Smith, Mayor Mitch LaKind, Town Manager Madeline VanDenHoek, and Town Council members Steve Smith and Laura Kronick. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
Recent photo collections
- Vol. 26 No. 3 – March 7, 2026 – Photos (3/4/2026)
- Vol. 26 No. 2 – February 7, 2026 – Photos (2/6/2026)
- Vol. 26 No. 1 – January 3, 2026 – Photos (1/1/2026)
- Vol. 25 No. 12 – December 6, 2025 – Photos (12/4/2025)
- Vol. 25 No. 11 – November 1, 2025 – Photos (10/31/2025)
- Vol. 25 No. 10 – October 4, 2025 – Photos (10/2/2025)
- Vol. 25 No. 9 – September 6, 2025 – Photos (9/5/2025)
- Vol. 25 No. 8 – August 2, 2025 – Photos (8/23/2025)
- Vol. 25 No. 7 – July 5, 2025 – Photos (8/23/2025)
- Vol. 25 No. 6 – June 7, 2025 – Photos (8/23/2025)
Leave a Comment