25 things to watch in 2025

PAGE 8 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL PAGE 9 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALLOctober 2, 2025 October 2, 2025

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Gilpin Sheriﬀ’s new drone on duty, already helping out

Thanks to High County Auxiliary’s donation in

February to buy drones for the sheriff’s department,

the local agency now has a DJI-branded Mavic 3T

drone with an infrared lens and two newly arrived

DJI Avata 2 models, which are small enough to fly

indoors.

Gilpin County Sheriff Kevin Armstrong said last

week, “The larger one [Mavic 3T] has been deployed

multiple times and the two smaller ones just arrived

Here are situations where the Mavic 3T has

proven to be valuable to the sheriff’s office:

• “We’ve used them for several smoke sightings,”

Armstrong said. “They helped locate and identify a

fire because it gives us GPS coordinates, so we can

send in appropriate personnel. It helps us utilize our

resources appropriately.”

• In September, the sheriff’s office received a call

from OnStar, the service company that provides

vehicle-monitoring equipment in new cars and

trucks. The sheriff’s office said an

OnStar representative reported that

one of their customers’ cars – which

had been stolen during a carjack-

ing in Arvada – was tracked to Lake

Gulch Road, near the Central City

Parkway.

“We sent people and the drone up

there, along with the State Police

and one of their airplanes,” said

Armstrong. “We were able to iden-

tify and locate that vehicle, which

was in the woods. As you know, you

can’t always see or identify what’s

happening in the woods. However,

if you have a drone with infrared – a

heat sensor – you can tell if there’s

a suspect or a vehicle there because

of the heat coming off them. Most

importantly, it can provide informa-

tion that can help ensure the safety

of our deputies who were respond-

• In a different incident, the sher-

iff’s department drone was taken

to the Kelly Dahl Campground off

Highway 119 in the northern part of

Gilpin County on Aug. 31.

“Two kids went missing up there. The parents

went looking for them and they got lost, too,” ac-

cording to Armstrong, who reported the parents

found their children. However, the reconnected

family still couldn’t find their way back to their

campground site.

“Timberline got there first, and we brought in our

drone. We were able to find them and get them back

to [the] campground. So, it’s [the drone] already

paying off for us,” commented the sheriff. “It’s

saving time and saving resources. It’s also provid-

ing that officer safety that we can really use up here

in the mountains.” The department’s drone also

features a speaker, allowing officers to communicate

with individuals who may be lost in the national

forest.

With the arrival of two DJI Avata 2 models, the

sheriff’s department will practice flying these small

drones in places like hallways inside buildings to

evaluate potential emergency scenarios. Last year,

when Armstrong started seeking funds for a drone

program, he mentioned a situation involving a man

with a gun on the back balcony of a Central City

apartment building.

Although the situation ended without injuries,

Armstrong said drones could have been used to fly

around the back of the building to locate the gun-

man instead of sending officers into a potentially

dangerous situation. A smaller, indoor-capable

drone might have been used to navigate hallways

to assess if anyone inside was armed or in danger

before deputies entered the building.

Before the new sheriff’s drones arrived, Gilpin

got help from the Black Hawk Police Department,

which bought a DJI Mavic 3T and a DJI Avata 2.

The BHPD is training officers how to use the smaller

drone for situations like flying through parking ga-

rages or casinos during an emergency call.

Other local jurisdictions, including the City of

Boulder, Idaho Springs, Wheat Ridge, Arvada and

Denver, also use drones for police-related calls and

to assist first responders.

Football fans at the University of Colorado’s home

game against BYU last Saturday enjoyed a 10-min-

ute drone light show during halftime at Folsom

Field.

A university spokesperson said the show was

scheduled to launch the America 250-Colorado 150

Commission’s drone show series in celebration of

th anniversary of the state and university. The

show was produced by Brightflight Drone Shows,

featured hundreds of drones synchronized to display

scenes from around the state and region, including

the Flatirons, Ralphie the Buffalo, and CU Head

Coach Deion Sanders.

The America 250-Colorado 150 Commission is

expected to host additional drone locations across

the state during 2026.

Gilpin County Undersheriff Greg Demo and Sheriff Kevin Armstrong

said the department’s new DJI Mavic 3T drone has already proven

useful to help people and law enforcement officers.

Emergency-warning systems coming to Gilpin

Gilpin County plans to

strengthen its emergency early-

warning systems in the coming

months, which will help alert

residents to potentially dan-

gerous situations and whether

evacuation is necessary.

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong

and Gilpin County Emergency

Manager Stephen Mingura ex-

plained the upcoming systems

during a sheriff’s roundtable at

the Gilpin County Community

Center last week.

According to Armstrong and

• Early in 2026, the county

will invite residents to

download a new app called

Genasys onto their phones

so they can learn about

potential wildfires, floods

or other emergencies. The

new system, which is not yet

available for Gilpin County,

will alert residents to devel-

oping situations.

• The expansion of the N5

Sensor program on utility

poles in parts of the county

served by United Power is

currently underway. These

advanced sensors alert

Gilpin’s first responders if

new sources of heat, smoke

or fires are detected.

“Probably the biggest thing

we’re moving forward on is

the Genasys program. It will

bring us into the 21

evacuations and fire manage-

ment,” said Armstrong. “Other

Colorado counties are also

considering implementing this

Added Mingura, “The Ge-

nasys program will include

communication capabilities as

well as fire-predicting software

and mapping features. We will

be able to use it to monitor

wildfires or any other natural

events. We’re also working to

add layers for the elderly or

those who would need help dur-

ing an emergency. It will show

us a mapping system to show

us where to focus on critical

Mingura said the predictive

fire software has been used

elsewhere in the West to help

track fires, provide historical

data and determine wind pat-

terns and other variables. “It

will provide us with perspective

that will help us get a jump on

any evacuations,” he noted. “We

are looking to roll it out in early

2026 because of changes we are

making to the program.”

Armstrong added that the

Genasys program will feature

two platforms: one for civilians

and another for first respond-

ers. Some of the fire-prediction

information will be available

only to first responders. “The

software will help us narrow

down to specific areas that

need to be evacuated, based on

information from Genasys. My

philosophy always has been –

and always will be – to start

evacuations early. Someone

may get evacuated from an area

earlier than they would think

because there’s only one way

in and one way out in some of

our subdivisions. I may have

to get fire apparatus and law

enforcement into those areas,

so we would need to get people

The sheriff said the forthcom-

ing program will include maps

directing people to the evacu-

ation routes they should use,

when necessary. “Sometimes,

when you get out of a subdivi-

sion, there are only one or two

ways to get away,” noted Arm-

strong. “Lifesaving is the most

important thing we have to do.”

Armstrong said Gilpin has

been working weekly with Gena-

sys on the system, as cellphone

service is limited or unavailable

in parts of the heavily forested

mountain community. Develop-

ing redundancy systems is part

of the discussions, he noted.

Mingura reported that ap-

proximately 130 N5 Sensor

units have recently been in-

stalled by United Power on its

poles throughout part of the

county, although 32 have not

yet been fully activated. Ini-

tially, the county installed five

of the heat and smoke-detecting

sensors during a preliminary

program that began three years

ago.

The OEM noted that he

received notifications from the

operating N5 Sensors in Sep-

tember, although they turned

out to be false alarms, not

actual smoke. “We’re working

with United Power to improve

the system as things go along,”

commented Mingura.

“Those sensors are part of

the early-warning system we’re

putting in place,” added Arm-

strong. “For response, we’ll have

the Genasys system and the

N5s to alert us. We’re continu-

ously looking at options to keep

our community out of danger

Armstrong also reported that

the patrol and detention divi-

sions are now fully staffed for

the first time in years. However,

there are still three vacancies

in the dispatch center, which

is half the number from recent

years. A new dispatch super-

visor is scheduled to join the

department in mid-October.

Armstrong said he is working

with the Colorado State Patrol

on programs to catch speeding

motorcycles and luxury vehicles

along state-owned Highways 119

and 46. The sheriff mentioned

that the state has been using an

airplane to track speeders and

relay information to patrol cars,

which can then intercept the

violators. “If [the speeders] run,

the aircraft will follow them,”

according to Armstrong. “There

was a guy on C-470 going 140

miles per hour who eluded law

enforcement. However, when

he got to a motorcycle event, he

was arrested. We understand

this has been an ongoing prob-

lem for a number of years here.

However, we’re trying a variety

of options to address this issue,”

he added.

Gilpin Emergency Manager Stephen Mingura and Sheriff Kevin

Armstrong fielded residents’ questions as they discussed

forthcoming wildfire-detection programs being developed in the

county.

Photo by Don Ireland

A special day for a special ﬁreﬁghterA special day for a special ﬁreﬁghter

It was a day to remember

at Timberline Fire Protection

District as Nino, a local boy who

adores firefighters, got the sur-

prise of a lifetime—being named

an honorary firefighter.

Fire crews at Station 5 warmly

welcomed Nino with open arms,

presenting him with a personal-

ized, authentic fire helmet made

just for him. His eyes lit up as he

toured the station, checked out

the fire trucks, and asked lots of

questions about life at the fire-

house. The biggest thrill was when

Nino climbed into Engine 55 for a

ride with the crew, sirens and all.

The celebration ended with lunch

around the table with his new

firefighter family. For Timberline,

it was just as meaningful as it was

for their newest recruit. “These

moments remind us why we do

what we do,” one firefighter said.

U.S. 6 lanes near I-70 Floyd Hill will be shift-U.S. 6 lanes near I-70 Floyd Hill will be shift-

ing this eveninging this evening

CDOT advises drivers on U.S. 6 near

I-70 Floyd Hill to watch for lane shifts

later this evening (Thursday, Oct. 2).

According to the state, crews will shift

traffic on U.S. 6 north toward the shoul-

der between Two Bears Tap and Grill and

the Martin Marietta Walstrum Quarry

for construction access on the south side

of U.S. 6, near Clear Creek. Drivers are

advised to pay extra attention to the new

traffic pattern and watch for trucks enter-

ing and exiting the work zone.

Ongoing rock scaling and blasting

operations will continue in the upcoming

week above westbound I-70 between the

Veterans Memorial Tunnels near Idaho

Springs and Homestead Road (Exit 247).

The interstate will be shut down in both

directions during blasting and scaling

activities.

Blasting operations cause road closures

for 20-minute intervals between Idaho

Springs and the middle of Floyd Hill. Side

roads, including U.S. 40, U.S. 6, Central

City Parkway, and County Road 314, are

also closed during these periods. Traf-

fic delays of up to 40 minutes may occur

during blasting and scaling activities.

Most rock blasting operations occur

between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Monday

through Thursday. There may also be

traffic stops between 9 a.m. and noon

on selected Fridays. All work depends

on the weather and can change for the

$700 million Floyd Hill project, which is

expected to finish in late 2028.

Expect overnight, double-lane clo-

sures on eastbound and westbound I-70

between U.S. 6 (Exit 244) and County

Road 65 (Exit 248) for permanent strip-

ing and paving work.

Some eastbound closures started

earlier this week and are expected to

continue tonight (Thursday) between

8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Westbound closures

for striping and paving may also happen

during the same period.

CDOT said drivers can also expect

daytime, single-lane closures on east-

bound and westbound I-70 between

Homestead Road (Exit 247) and County

Road 65 (Exit 248) for paving, striping,

and shoulder and median work. The

work is scheduled between 7 a.m. and 2

p.m. tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 3).

Alternating one-way traffic is expected

to continue from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mon-

day through Friday next week along

U.S. 6 (Clear Creek Canyon) in Jeffer-

son County, between Highway 119 and

Golden.

The closings are connected to the ongo-

ing Jefferson County Peak to Peak Trail

Construction project in the canyon.

CDOT’s free Clear Creek Greenway

shuttle ended its season on Sunday, Sept.

28. It will reopen sometime late next

spring between Exits 244 and 243.

CDOT started resurfacing part of the

I-70 Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tun-

nels (EJMT) last week. The work will last

until late October. Drivers should expect

overnight tunnel traffic with delays of up

to 30 minutes.

Jessica Amend and Dylan Lindsay represented CDOT at the Idaho Springs

Rotary Club’s Touch-a-Truck on Sunday along U.S. 6. They provided information

about the ongoing $700 million I-70 Floyd Hill construction project and gave

away some SWAG, including stickers, information sheets and some “Floyd Hill

Construction Bingo” cards for children.

Photo by Don Ireland

The The Weekly Register-CallWeekly Register-Call

has the NEWS!has the NEWS!

Just some of the exclusive stories from the Weekly Register-Call – in 2025 alone!

• Central leaders ponder Main Street changes,upgrades

• David vs. Goliath: Spellman takes on Caesars

Entertainment over iGaming

• BH to stop assisting Central fire calls on April 30

• Central leaders eye $150K gameplan for future growth

• Cities, county combine to oppose iGaming

• No go for Monte Lobo Casino

• Gregory Gulch casino could cost $700-$900 million

• Maverick owes Central $197K in taxes per bankruptcy

• Topless dancers, all-male revue filing

• BH Housing authority?

• RCI offers to drop its federal lawsuit against Central City

Call Becky to advertise or subscribe — 303-906-9902Call Becky to advertise or subscribe — 303-906-9902

Drift is described as “a happy,

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the company of people and

other dogs. Drift is temporarily

in a foster home and not at the

shelter.

For more information, contact

Sue at clearcreekshelter@gmail.

com.

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School suicide awareness walk

September was Suicide Awareness Month, a fact not lost on the staff and students at Gilpin

County School. On Sept. 22, they held a one-mile walk and bake sale with students, staff, and

community members supporting the cause, raising over $500 for Interact and the Second

Wind Foundation.

During an assembly before

the walk, which was to be

moved to the gym due to the

weather, Gretchen Osteboe

said the Interact Club orga-

nized the walk to bring the

school and Gilpin community

together to ensure that any-

one experiencing tough times

receives the needed care

and never feels alone. She

encouraged everyone to take

time to offer a helping hand.

“You don’t have to be friends

with everyone, but being kind

is something everyone should

be,” she said.

Second Wind Fund covers

therapy costs for anyone up

is at risk of suicide

or social barriers to

mental health treat-

quality provider.

more information.

support 24/7.

ficers will be wearing

Cancer Awareness Month.

The county’s top law

enforcement officer said the

decision will also pay tribute

to late Undersheriff Tonia

Kapke, who died in August

2024 following a long and

courageous fight with cancer.

Kapke served Gilpin County

for more than 30 years.

Monday, Oct. 6, is Frances

Xavier Cabrini Day in Colora-

do. The Gilpin County offices,

except emergency services

and the community center,

will be closed that day.

Gilpin County’s transfer sta-

tion will be closed on Sunday,

Oct. 5, due to the Cabrini

holiday.

The following Monday, Oct.

13, is Indigenous Peoples’

Day. Colorado designated the

holiday as a replacement for

the former Christoper Colum-

bus Day. The date is a federal

holiday, during which post

offices, banks, and many gov-

ernment offices will be closed.

During the period from

Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the Gilpin

County Board of Commission-

ers has also recognized com-

munities across the nation

celebrating Hispanic Heritage

Month.

The Gilpin County Sher-

iff’s Office suggests residents

should be prepared in advance

of any forthcoming snow-

storms. Among the sugges-

tions are staying informed

of local weather conditions,

insulating one’s home and

water pipes, keeping an

emergency kit on hand, hav-

ing snow-related supplies in

vehicles, never using gas or a

stove-top oven to heat a home,

knowing the signs of frostbite

or hypothermia, and never

over-exerting oneself when

shoveling snow.

Marshall fire settlement

Last week, Xcel Energy an-

to pay approximately

$640 million over the

company didn’t admit

destructive fire that

killed two people, destroyed

more than 1,000 homes and

businesses and scorched more

than 6,000 acres.

The settlement was reached

just before a jury trial over

liability for one of Colorado’s

most devastating wildfires. The

power company said the settle-

ment was agreed upon in prin-

ciple for all claims by “insur-

ers, the public entity plaintiffs,

and individual plaintiffs.”

According to Xcel, about

$350 million of the payoff will

be covered by its insurance,

not from its customers. The

settlement is pending finaliza-

tion and the plaintiffs’ deci-

sion to opt in.

Biking trail funding

The Colorado Mountain

Biking Association (COMBA)

announced it has received a

$70,000 grant from Shimano,

a biking and equipment man-

ufacturer, and its Trail Born

Fund. The money will be used

to help COMBA complete its

28 miles of trails at the Treks

Trails in Virginia Canyon

Park, Idaho Springs.

Some of the Idaho Springs

mountain-biking trails are

finished near the upper termi-

nal area of the upcoming Argo

Experience cable car ride and

entertainment venue near the

old Mighty Argo Mine and

Tunnel. The gondola ride is

expected to open next spring.

Free water test kits

The Gilpin County Health

Department is offering free

PFAS testing kits for resi-

dents who drink water from

a private well. The kits will

be shipped directly to homes,

and some households may be

eligible for a complimentary

water filter. Test kits are avail-

able while supplies last.

For information, visit Gilpin

County’s website or buff.

ly/5kD2wPe.

– Compiled by Don Ireland

Clear Creek sheriff resigns

Mathew Harris, the Clear

Creek County sheriff since

2023, is resigning at the end

of October to take another

position in law enforcement.

In a statement, the Clear

Creek County Commission-

ers thanked Harris for his

service and leadership to the

county. They deeply ap-

preciated the organizational

advancements he made in

the sheriff’s office during his

brief tenure.

The BoCC also gave its

complete confidence to

Undersheriff Matt Brown,

who will take over the day-

to-day operations of the

department until the com-

missioners appoint someone

to fill the term left by Har-

ris. “Undersheriff Brown

has dedicated his career to

serving the people of Clear

Creek County, and he brings

the full range of experience,

leadership, and institutional

knowledge needed to con-

tinue the course set forward

by … Harris,” a press release

stated.

The BoCC will be working

with the sheriff’s office lead-

ership to identify a person

who meets the legal quali-

fications for sheriff and is

willing to seek election and

serve Clear Creek County for

years to come.

In the meantime, the

Board plans to request

letters of interest for the

position from qualified in-

dividuals who are residents

of the County (or who plan

to become residents by Nov.

3) and “share the Board’s

vision of continuity, com-

munity service, and strong

leadership for the future

of the Sheriff’s Office. By

promptly assessing interest

in the position, the Board

will be better equipped to

support that vision,” the

release states.

CCall the all the CCallall

Bob Sweeney, Publisher

……………………………….. 720-313-9741

Gerri Sweeney, Publisher

……………………………….. 303-773-8313

Patrick Sweeney, Associate

Publisher/IT ……………… 303-830-1800

Managing Editor 303-906-9902

Gerri Sweeney -Advertising

………………..303-773-8313

…………………………. 303-906-9902

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Becky Osterwald .. 303-906-9902

Black Hawk, CO 80422

25 things to watch in 2025

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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