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Colorado - Tue. 07/01/25 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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ELITCH GARDENS ROLLER COASTER REOPENS AFTER BEING CLOSED FOR OVER TWO YEARS
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After being closed for over two years, the “Sidewinder” roller coaster is looping again at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, meaning Denver is home to an amusement park relic among the last of its type left operating in the world. Sidewinder, the park's old launched loop roller coaster, manufactured by the defunct Arrow Dynamics, reopened on Saturday as a line of riders stretched all the way up the 50-foot tall staircase to the station platform. Instead of using a standard chain lift, Sidewinder was among the first-ever launched roller coasters in the world. It is also one of the first to feature a vertical loop. Out of many launched loops built across the world decades ago, only three remain. One is in Oklahoma City, while the second is across the pond in Blackpool, England.
For the past two years, maintenance crews have addressed issues with Sidewinder, along with the popular wooden coaster, "Twister lll: Storm Chaser," which remains closed for now and was last open during the 2024 season. Most recently, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment became the sole owner of several properties along the proposed River Mile development that includes Meow Wolf and Elitch Gardens.
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COLORADO RIVER MANAGERS PRESENT PLAN TO SHARE WATER BASED ON SUPPLY, NOT DEMAND
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The seven states that share the Colorado River are floating a new concept for how water could be shared in the future, marking forward progress after a long standoff between the Upper Basin and Lower Basin states. Officials from Colorado laid out the proposal, which they are calling a supply-driven approach, at a meeting of the Interbasin Compact Committee in Grand Junction on Wednesday. The amount of water released from Lake Powell would be based on a percentage of a three-year rolling average of the “natural flow” at Lee Ferry, the dividing line between the Upper Basin (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) and the Lower Basin (Arizona, California and Nevada). The natural flow is what would flow past Lee Ferry if there weren’t any Upper Basin dams or diversions.
A supply-driven approach adds a measure of annual variability, meaning that in dry years there would be less water released from Lake Powell and therefore less available for Lower Basin use. Exactly how much of the natural flow would be released to the Lower Basin is one of the big unanswered questions of the concept, still to be fleshed out.
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ROARING FORK SAFE PASSAGES RELEASES MITIGATION PLANS FOR WILDLIFE CROSSINGS
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To address the dangerous issue of wildlife-vehicle collisions along State Hwy. 82, a new mitigation strategy released in June outlines a plan to build a series of wildlife crossings between Aspen Village and the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport. The effort is being led by Roaring Fork Safe Passages, in coordination with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Pitkin County, and the Colorado Dept. of Transportation. Over the past decade, this 12-mile stretch of highway has experienced more than 450 documented wildlife-related crashes involving elk, mule deer, black bears, and moose, threatening not only wildlife populations, but also the safety of motorists. “Wildlife-vehicle collisions are a significant issue in Colorado, costing the lives of people and wildlife, in addition to a lot of money,” said Bridget O’Rourke, public information officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “From 2022 to 2024, there was an average of 5,629 animals that were hit and killed in Colorado.”
O’Rourke emphasized the proven success of wildlife crossings, saying, “Entire herds of mule deer and elk have used them successfully, as have bears, mountain lions, river otters, turkeys, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and even wolves.” The proposed plan targets five priority locations for wildlife crossing infrastructure: the Airport segment, the Brush Creek corridor, Shale Bluffs, Snowmass Canyon, and Wingo Junction. Additional information, including public meeting schedules and how to participate, will be released in the coming days. For more details, visit roaringforksafepassages.org.
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MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK REPORTS RISE IN NON-NATIVE PLANTS, FALL IN MANCO RIVER
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With more than 600 plant species, 70 types of mammals, 200 varieties of birds and 1,000 forms of insects and other invertebrates, Mesa Verde National Park boasts a diverse range of life. But stress placed on these organisms and their landscapes, from wildfires to invasive species to climate change, shows a need for monitoring. Mesa Verde’s new report takes a detailed look at six natural resources - divided into birds, ungulates, rare plants, springs and seeps, upland vegetation and the Mancos River. Topping off the report were suggestions on future stewardship, such as bringing in native plant species in areas affected by wildfires, protecting a rare flower in the Pea family and upkeeping the portion of the Mancos River running through the park.
Of three raptors, only the golden eagle was found as likely to have a stable population, whereas researchers concluded that the presence of peregrine falcons in the park could not be fully known. The Mexican spotted owl had not been spotted there since 2009. Of 53 songbird species surveyed, most populations remained stable and some grew, while a small number had declined. While all among the 14 of Mesa Verde’s rare plants are of some conservation concern, the average density of one small, purple flower-producing rare plant, the Cliff Palace milkvetch, decreased by 95 percent in areas affected by burning and 80 percent in unburned areas. The report described the plant’s loss as “a dramatic, concerning decline in its population.”
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KVNF RAFFLES OFF NEW TOYOTA 4RUNNER
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KVNF Community Radio is raffling off a brand-new 2025 Toyota 4Runner SR5, featuring a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine, 4WD, valued at $45,658. This annual raffle is a fundraising effort used towards KVNF’s operating costs. Tickets are 1 for $20 or 3 for $50. Tickets will be sold through Aug. 28. The drawing is Aug. 29 at 10 a.m. Tickets are anticipated to sell out and can be purchased online at kvnf.org/raffle, at the KVNF office, 233 Grand Ave. in Paonia, or at Hellman Motor Co., 750 Hwy. 92, in Delta. The summer raffle is sponsored, in part, by Alpine Bank.
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LONGTIME VAIL-AREA HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL TO BE INDUCTED INTO COLORADO GOLF HALL OF FAME
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The first time Tom Apple traveled west of the Mississippi was for the 1969 NCAA Division I golf championships in Colorado Springs. The Penn State senior glanced around the Broadmoor Golf Course and had an epiphany. “I figured if everything in Colorado is like the Broadmoor, I’m coming back,” Apple said. The Pennsylvania-born golfer did — and never left. “Tom is a wonderful ambassador for golf,” said 18-time PGA major champion Jack Nicklaus, a close friend. Nicklaus designed the course at the Country Club of the Rockies in Edwards, where Apple has spent the last 41 years as head professional. In honor of his sterling career as a local golf pro, Apple will be inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame on Oct. 3. Apple is the first person from the Colorado Mountain Region to be elected into the hall. Apple has spent over 50 years working as a golf professional in the Vail area.
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CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE OLD DILLON SCHOOLHOUSE JOINING STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES
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The Summit County Historical Society will unveil plaques commemorating the Old Dillon Schoolhouse as a part of the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties on Tuesday, July 1, at 3:30 p.m. A historical society news release stated Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie and state Sen. Dylan Roberts will attend the ceremony. The register includes places significant to Colorado’s culture that are deemed worthy of preservation for the future education and enjoyment of residents and visitors, the release stated. The ceremony will be at the Old Dillon Schoolhouse at 403 La Bonte Street. To learn more, visit online at summithistorical.org or call 970-468-2207.
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MILLIONS OF TONS OF COAL ASH BURIED UNDERGROUND IN COLORADO
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When Xcel Energy stopped burning coal at its Valmont Power Station in 2017, it left 1.6 million tons of toxic coal ash on the property, and now that waste is leaking hazardous metals into groundwater, threatening nearby drinking-water wells. Xcel plans to scoop most of the coal ash from a landfill at the site and turn it into an ingredient in concrete to be sold in metro Denver. The project awaits approval from the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment. The utility company expects to spend $24 million over the next 10 to 12 years to remove ash and treat contaminated groundwater. Xcel will be the first utility company in Colorado to initiate such a large-scale coal-ash cleanup after lithium and selenium leaked into groundwater and seeped toward wells used for drinking water on nearby properties.
But there are millions of tons of coal ash in other landfills and ponds around Colorado, and almost all of those sites are leaching pollutants into groundwater. In 2022, two environmental organizations compiled a list of coal-ash waste sites across the United States, using Environmental Protection Agency reports, and their research identified 12 known coal ash locations in Colorado.
Xcel is responsible for seven of the coal-ash waste sites in the state:
- The former Arapahoe Generation Station in Denver
- The former Cameo Generation Station in Mesa County
- The Cherokee Generation Station in Denver
- The Comanche Generation Station in Pueblo
- The Hayden Generation Station in Routt County
- The Pawnee Generation Station in Morgan County
- Valmont Power Station in Boulder County
The other sites in Colorado include:
- Colorado Springs Utilities’ Clear Spring Ranch Landfill, which holds waste from the Ray Nixon Power Plant and the former Martin Drake Power Plant
- Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association’s Nucla Ash Disposal Facility, which holds waste from its former Nucla Station in Montrose County and its Craig Station in Moffat County
- The Platte River Power Authority’s Rawhide Energy Station in Larimer County
Earthjustice lists three Colorado coal-ash sites among the 50 most contaminated in the country because they have multiple pollutants exceeding EPA standards:
- Valmont is ranked 31st
- Tri-State’s retired Nucla station is 39th
- Xcel’s Hayden Station is 44th
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HERE ARE NEW LAWS THAT GO INTO EFFECT TODAY IN COLORADO
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A new round of laws will take effect in July in Colorado after bills were passed by the state legislature. Some laws were passed in the 2025 regular session, while others were from 2023 or 2024 with parts taking effect now. Here are some of the laws passed by the Colorado General Assembly and signed by Gov. Jared Polis that take effect on July 1:
- Privacy of Biometric Identifiers & Data: HB24-1130 from 2024 Regular Session: This act amends the "Colorado Privacy Act" to add protections for individuals' biometric data by requiring a person who controls or processes one or more biometric identifiers to adopt a written policy that establishes a retention schedule for the data, includes protocol for data security, and establishes guidelines for deletion of biometric identifiers.
- Protect Victims in Civil Sex Misconduct Suits: HB25-1138 from 2025 Regular Session: The act prohibits the admission of evidence in a civil proceeding of the victim's manner of dress, hairstyle, mode or manner of speech, or lifestyle as evidence of the victim's consent, credibility, or the existence or extent of damages or harm.
- Criminal Record Sealing & Expungement Changes: HB24-1133 from 2024 Regular Session: When a person is arrested in a case of mistaken identity, the arresting agency is required to petition the court for an expungement order. This act allows the defendant in a mistaken identity case to petition for an expungement order if the arresting agency does not file a petition within the prescribed time frame.
- Concealed Carry Permits & Training: HB24-1174 from 2024 Regular Session: Beginning July 1, 2025, an applicant may demonstrate competence with a handgun by completing a training class only if the class satisfies the minimum standards for a training class, described below, and the applicant completes the class within one year before submitting an application for a permit.
- Firearms Dealer Requirements & Permit: HB24-1353 from 2024 Regular Session: This act requires a firearms dealer, beginning July 1, 2025, to obtain a state firearms dealer permit in order to engage in the business of dealing in firearms other than destructive devices in Colorado.
- Consolidation of Crisis Response Services: SB25-236 from 2025 Regular Session: Colorado's 988 crisis hotline and the telephone crisis service that is part of the behavioral health crisis response system operated as two separate services. The act consolidates the telephone crisis service with the 988 crisis hotline and ensures that callers who call the telephone crisis service are routed to the 988 crisis hotline.
- Modification of Recording Fees: HB24-1269 from 2024 Regular Session: This act modifies the fees collected by county clerk and recorders to be a flat $40 fee instead of a fee per page, unless otherwise specified. No fee is allowed for the filing or recording of a certificate of death, a verification of death document, or a certified copy.
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WHERE TO FIND FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS & CELEBRATIONS IN COLORADO
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Colorado communities are prepared to illuminate the skies and the streets for Independence Day with fireworks, laser shows, parades and festivals across the state. Here's where to find an event near you:
- Aspen: "Retro Rewind" Fourth of July at Aspen Mountain, July 4-6, with a drone show July 4 at 9:30 p.m.
- Aurora: 4th of July Spectacular at the Aurora Municipal Center on July 4. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
- Avon: Salute to the USA at Harry A. Nottingham Park, July 3. Fireworks follow a 6 p.m. concert.
- Bayfield: 4th of July Celebration at Joe Stephenson Park on July 4, with fireworks at dusk.
- Beaver Creek: Independence Day Celebration at Beaver Creek Resort, July 4. Live music starts at noon, fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
- Cortez: Fourth of July Celebration at Parque De Vida on July 4. Celebrations start at 2 p.m. with fireworks at dusk.
- Craig: Independence Day Celebration at the Moffat County Fairgrounds on July 4, fireworks after dusk.
- Delta: Western Sky Balloon Festival & Fireworks at Confluence Park. Fireworks around 9:45 p.m. on July 4, with festivities running from Thursday, July 3, through Sunday, July 6.
- Denver: Indy Eve at Civic Center Park on July 3. Festivities start at 5 p.m. with live music and a drone show starting at 8 p.m.; Colorado Rockies Fireworks at Coors Field after the baseball games on July 4 and 5; Elitch Gardens Fireworks on July 5 at 9 p.m.
- Durango: Four Days of the Fourth, from July 3 through 6. Fireworks have been canceled due to fire danger.
- Fruita: Fireworks Show at Snooks Bottom Open Space on July 3 at dusk.
- Georgetown: 4th of July throughout Georgetown, including a SUP-athon, beer garden, BBQ and live music. No fireworks.
- Glenwood Springs: Fourth of July Celebration at Two Rivers Park on July 4. Celebrations begin at 4:30 p.m. with a laser show at 9 p.m.
- Golden: 4th of July Festival at Lions Park on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. No fireworks.
- Grand Junction: Grand Junction Jackalopes Fireworks at Suplizio Field on July 4, with fireworks after the game.
- Gypsum: Independence Day Celebration at Lundgren Amphitheater Field on July 3. Live music at 7:30 p.m. with fireworks around 9:30 p.m.
- Montrose: 4th of July Celebration at Sunset Mesa on July 4. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. and end with fireworks at dusk.
- Ouray: Ouray 4th of July begins with a 10k at 7:30 a.m. and activities continue through the day, ending with fireworks over the city at 9:30 p.m.
- Pagosa Springs: 4th of July in Pagosa Springs at Yamaguchi Park on July 4. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. and end with fireworks at dusk.
- Pueblo: 4th of July Fireworks Celebration at the Pueblo Riverwalk on July 4 at 9:30 p.m.
- Silverton: 4th of July in downtown Silverton on July 4, fireworks at dusk.
- Vail: Fourth of July Parade & Celebration at Vail Mountain on July 4. Festivities begin with a 10 a.m. parade and end with fireworks at 9 p.m.
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MARKET UPDATE - 06/30/2025 Close
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(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
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Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
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Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
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30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 06/26/2025)
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*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
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Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
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