25 things to watch in 2025

PAGE 8 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL PAGE 9 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALLSeptember 4, 2025 September 4, 2025

By, For, and About the citizens of Gilpin County

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The 10-time award winner for 2024

“The Paper of the People”“The Paper of the People”

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PO Box 93, Black Hawk, CO 80422

Paid for by Marshall 4 Gilpin

Marshall ’s histor y is

clean and impressive

Recently, an uniformed letter writer challenged residents to investigate my background

regarding a company I founded in 2012 (Tivoli Brewing Company) and a Civil Complaint

that I was forced to participate in. Hopefully, you all took the challenge, but if you didn’t, let

me take this opportunity to give you the cliff notes.

Tivoli Brewery. Company

Tivoli is an important company in the beer world and attracts news about its every move.

This is an amazing accomplishment and something I am very pr

oud of. As all businesses

do, they have great successes and many challenges. The news article was about a time in the

company’s life when we had to make major strategic changes, which the company did not

disclose. Tivoli has two major sides: a brewing company and a distribution company.

Due to changes in the laws and regulations of the distribution industry, beer distribution

was dramatically changing. Beer was no longer sold only thr

ough independent liquor stores

but now through all grocery and convenience stores. This change made it almost impossible

for small or medium-sized distributors to compete with massive companies like Budweiser

and Coors.

Due to these industry changes, the Tivoli Board (I was Chairman and CEO at the time)

decided to sell that portion of our business. We shut down our distribution company and sold

the brands to other distributors for a large profit. This was nothing to be ashamed of; it was

just a challenge we had to face, and the result was a capital infusion we could invest in the

brewery.

At the same time, we were also in the middle of changing ownership (selling some of the

interest in the company). While I am still a Board Member and one of the largest owners,

part of selling a large portion of my interest included new ownership wanting their own

management in place, which is common in these types of transactions. As all companies do,

Tivoli continues to have challenges.

However, Tivoli is now in almost all 50 states and is one of the fastest-growing beer

brands in the industry, if not the fastest. While founding a company that has become a

national brand is never easy, I’m proud of the results of my hard work, a great team, and

subsequent Leaders working for our Board.

The authors twisted the facts in their letter about an easement dispute that we were a party

to. I, along with other neighbors were forced to file a Civil Complaint against other neigh

bors. Those with me on the complaint have owned our properties and the related deeded

and surveyed easement for over 50 years. Some new residents purchased property on this

easement and put-up gates across the easement. My neighbors and I attempted all means

possible to amicably resolve these easement violations with the new residents, and the last

resort was filing the complaint.

720-877-1453 • www.marshall4gilpin.com

RCI-hosted ‘strip trip’ ﬁlled with many distractions

may be inappropriate

When I agreed to accompany

several Gilpin and Central City

residents on the strip trip to

several Denver adult cabarets,

the term “field trip” changed for

me forever. When I was a school

kid, “field trip” meant taking a

bus to the museum, science cen-

ter or zoo.

creatures were hanging around

Scarlett’s Cabaret in Denver –

with many climbing a stripper

pole quicker than I could climb

a tree when I was young. Before

we left Scarlett’s, RCI CEO Eric

Langan pulled out a big wad of

bills from his pocket and flipped

them all over the stage to the

dancers. Next came stops at

downtown Denver’s Diamond

Cabaret and Rick’s Cabaret

(formerly La Boheme). There

weren’t people loitering outside,

which made us feel more com-

fortable.

At the Diamond Cabaret,

I got a much larger impres-

sion of the type of operations

run by RCI Hospitality Hold-

ings, a NASDAQ-traded adult

entertainment company. They

take the business of pleasure

seriously and want their guests

to enjoy themselves. They work

to ensure patrons are treated

property.

prohibited. The security

guard who greeted me was a

large, tall man with an NFL-

style physique. He shook my

hand and gave a friendly, wel-

coming smile as the strip trip

entourage, and I walked into

the Diamond Cabaret. Several

other employees also greeted

us warmly as someone showed

us to an elevated reserved

area in the corner of the main

room. There was loud music,

flashing lights and four stages

where the various entertainers

danced. Before you could ask

for a drink, the server knew you

would ask for one. (For the re-

cord, I only drank bottles of wa-

ter and Diet Coke while several

of my fellow strip trip attendees

did a robust job sampling the

While the dancers I observed

didn’t use poles as part of their

routines, their dancing skills

were a step up from the previ-

ous place. Several years ago,

I remember the TV entertain-

ment shows showing Miley

Cyrus and her friends ‘twerk-

ing’ on stage. The dancers we

watched made Miley look like

an Amish librarian.

Several of us were also admit-

ted to the private VIP area, a

much quieter, lavishly deco-

rated private lounge filled with

comfortable couches and chairs.

It also had a pool table and a

couple of TVs on the wall. That

night, when CU was hosting

Kansas State and the Avs were

playing, the TVs were a distrac-

tion from all the many other

distractions.

A short while later, the entou-

rage traveled to Rick’s Caba-

ret. The Rick’s name is RCI’s

premier brand and is used on its

higher-end clubs and steak-

houses around the county. It’s

also the name planned for the

nightclub RCI wants to operate

at 130 Main Street in Central

City. (I don’t know the differ-

ence between an adult cabaret

or a ‘nightclub’ because both

feature adult dancers, upscale

food and expensive light and

sound systems.) This club had

several stages, including some

poles.

The dancers weren’t signifi-

cantly different from the other

places. One young woman who

stopped to talk told me that she

dances because of the money

and so she can be at home dur-

ing the daytime. “By doing this

night shift, I can be with my

daughter all day.” She also told

me she has a dance pole at her

home so she can practice. “It

can be scary up there. I taught

myself by watching a lot of

It wasn’t uncommon for

customers to buy her a drink. However, she commented, “I’m not here to party – I’m here to

work. This has been a really

good club for me. I earn enough

to pay my bills and then some.”

How does an adult enter-

tainer explain their line of

work outside the club? “All my

friends know. So do my parents,

although they don’t like it. We

don’t talk about it. However,

they’ve never pushed me out be-

cause of what I’m doing. I love

what I’m doing,” one dancer

told me.

Please don’t get the idea that

I’m a cheapskate. I generously

tipped the male bathroom at-

tendants, who offered hand

towels, mints and cologne after

I washed my hands. That’s the

first time in a while that I’ve

been in a place with bathroom

attendants, including some

country clubs and luxurious

meeting halls.

RCI offers customers a

welcoming atmosphere, adult

dancers, superior food and

a good experience – if that’s

your cup of tea. I felt safe. The

places weren’t “seedy,” al-

though I don’t enjoy businesses

where smoking is permitted

indoors. A personal visit to an

adult cabaret could easily cost

someone several hundred dol-

lars, considering cover charges,

high-priced drinks and tips for

any dancers who might throw a

smile someone’s way. I didn’t go

near the ATM, fearing what the

withdrawal fee would run.

When I talked with other

members of the ‘strip trip’

entourage, their reaction was

upbeat. Several women said

it was much nicer and cleaner

than they had imagined. They

told RCI CEO Eric Langan, who

organized and conducted the

tour that their impression of

what RCI does had changed for

the better.

Said one of the ladies, “The

clubs were classy and had good

security. The women were

beautiful and in amazing shape.

The patrons were respectful and

had a good time. I’m impressed

with Eric’s business model,

forethought and knowledge. He

answered all of our questions

with detailed information and

shared with us the various poli-

cies he has to mitigate concerns.

We all had a great time!”

Another said, “It was very

stimulating but not like a turn-

on. I spent a lot of time talking

with the girls rather than hand-

ing dollars to them like some of

the others with us. It was just

like entertainment.”

My purpose in going on the

strip trip was to observe, not

judge the appropriateness of

such businesses. I will leave that

decision to residents and city of-

ficials. I know that it’s uncertain

if—or when—RCI will open its

Rick’s Cabaret in Central City.

That may be decided by the

courts and lawyers.

The large adult clubs in

Denver can draw millions of

people from the metro area and

visitors. With Central City, Gil-

pin, Clear Creek and surround-

ing areas having a combined

population of around 10,000,

my question is: If they open,

will there be enough patrons to

sustain what could be a costly

business operation? Only time

will tell.

About 14 Gilpin residents – whom we won’t name – at

tended the ‘strip trip’ hosted by RCI CEO and President

Eric Langan on Oct. 12. The

group stopped at several

Denver cabarets owned by

RCI, which wants to open

one of its Rick’s Cabarets in

Central City soon.

Photo by Don Ireland

Dancer at one of RCI’s

Denver cabarets.

Photo courtesy of RCI

Visit the Gilpin History Museum

The Gilpin Historical

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information

www.gilpinhistory.org

Museum is closed during the winter.

Long-Term or Temporary RVSites are just minutes away!

2700 Stanley Rd. Idaho Springs • 303-900-8123

www.IdahoeSpringsRVResort.com

And,yes, dogs are welcome!

Limited spaces available

RESERVE NOW!

Hearing set this week over

GOP primary attack postcard

When Gilpin GOP mem-

ber Donna Okray Parman

mailed postcards in June

that contained negative

comments about a county

commissioner candidate,

she allegedly violated state

election laws. A hearing on

the subject was scheduled

to be heard by the Colorado

Secretary of State’s admin-

istrative hearing officer

was scheduled for 10 a.m.

yesterday (Oct. 2) in down-

town Denver.

Attorney General Phil

Weiser’s office, acting for

the Secretary of State’s

election division, filed a

complaint about Okray

Parman for her involve-ment in the Gilpin GOP

primary between District

1 county commissioner

candidates Jessica Kays

(Lovinger) and Marie

Mornis. Okray Parman

supported Mornis in her

successful bid for the party

nomination.

According to the com-plaint, Okray Parman

printed and mailed 2,700

postcards denouncing Kays

but didn’t include required

wording that said who

paid for the literature. The

postcards cost $1,015.88 to

print and $565.56 to mail.

The front of the postcard

showed a shadowy photo of

Kays and featured several

lines, including “7 News

exposes Lovinger,” “County

clerk facing internal audit,”

and “Clerk and recorder’s

fund balances do not add

up.” The statements re-

ferred to the early 2000s

when Kays was Gilpin’s

elected clerk and recorder.

The complaint alleges

“the postcards unambigu-

ously referred to Kays, were

distributed to members of

the Republican primary

electorate in Gilpin County

and distributed within 30

days of the June 25 Repub-

lican primary election. The

postcards include electoral

advocacy, plainly referenc-

ing Kays’s candidacy for

commissioner, and would

tend to influence the out-come of the commissioner

Kays, on June 6, filed a

campaign finance com-

plaint with the Election

Division of the Colorado

Secretary of State’s Office.

It alleged that Okray-Par-

man had violated Colorado

campaign finance law by:

1. Failing to register an

independent expendi-

ture committee.

2. Failing to report an

3. Failing to include

a “paid for by” dis-

claimer on the post-

cards.

report these electioneer-

ing communications to the

Secretary of State under

state elections regulations.

The elections division

wants to impose a $100

penalty for not filing an

election report plus five

percent of any activity

not reported, for a total of

$179.

division also asked the

court to impose a $158

penalty—the equivalent of

10 percent of the cost of

the postcards—and “such

other relief as the Court

deems just and proper.”

The elections division

said it wouldn’t file an ad-ditional charge because the

postcards didn’t include

“magic words” or their

equivalent, that explicitly

exhort the postcard read-

ers to vote for or against a

candidate. “Here, the post-

cards, although tending

to influence the election,

did not contain the magic

words or their equivalent,”

according to findings in

the report.

When contacted for com-

ment, Okray Parman said,

“I am an American with a

First Amendment Right

to Free Speech. As soon as

Jessica Kays filed to run

for Commissioner, the

comments started…Don’t

vote for her!…” Okray Par-

man then repeated some

of the same unsubstanti-

ated rumors that circu-

lated during the Republi-

can primary race in June

that the new ownership of

the Weekly Register-Call could not independently

verify and would not print.

She continued, “I de-

cided to do the research,

found articles published by

a legitimate local newspa-per. I read stories about

an FBI investigation on

Jessica Kays. Channel 7

News covered the story.

She admitted she’ll pay the

money back! It was crazy

to think she would run

for an even bigger office

in Gilpin County, but she

insisted.

“Voting is important.

Knowing the candidates

is critical. I tried to share

this information in the

local newspapers and local

social media sites (with

the previously published

articles).

“However, these out-

lets censored everything

I attempted to share, and

some refused to publish

anything at all.

“I decided to put the

information out alone. I

don’t appreciate anybody

taking away my civil rights.

I created a postcard with

a link to all the articles,

reports and the column

Mr. Sweeney (Publisher of

the WR-C) published after

the Gilpin Republicans’

scheduled debate for our

Primary candidates. The

one that Jessica walked

out on.

“Nobody has the right

to control/take away our

Freedom of Speech in this

country. I mailed the post-

card to all voters in Gilpin

County with one intent…

get the truth out. There

was no editorial comment

on the card, just facts. I

didn’t put my name on the

card, because it wasn’t my

opinion. I put the articles

out there. People would

decide for themselves

whether they would vote

for Jessica Kays or not. But

the information should at

least be available to the

voters before they vote.

“Jessica didn’t like it and

filed a Complaint. Now we

will find out if I get fined

for not contacting the

Secretary of State Elec-

tion Division. I guess they

expect individuals to jump

through their hoops even

if they just produce their

own mailing and send it

out.

“I hope they aren’t really

forcing everybody to get

permission from the State

before you mail a letter

to your community in an

election season. That is not

freedom.

“However, even if they

do charge me a fine, it was

worth it. Nobody takes

Kays did not respond

when asked for her com-

ment on the issue.

By the WR-C StaffVirginia Canyon Road has been nicknamed “Oh My God!

Road” for decades because of its steep grades and hairpin turns

along the dirt road connecting Russell Gulch and downtown

Idaho Springs. Last week, the secondary artery became a “No Go

Road!” because of construction closings.

The closing means locals who use Virginia Canyon may not be

able to use it as a local shortcut between Central City and Idaho

Springs. Instead, the primary route between the two communities

will require driving the Central City Parkway to I-70 and west to

Exit 241 in Idaho Springs.

The City of Idaho Spring, in conjunction with FNF Construc-

tion, last week began replacing 100-year-old utility infrastructure

along lower Virginia Canyon Road and Virginia Street to East

nd Street. The initial 900-foot stretch of work began on the

south end of Virginia Canyon Road. It will move uphill to Vir-

ginia Street, then east on 22nd. The project is expected to last until next August.

According to a city press release, residents will be notified

in advance of anticipated water shutoffs along the construction

route. Water service may be unavailable for eight hours. Officials

noted that because the piping is so old, work crews may encoun-

ter unanticipated problems that could result in schedule changes.

The new work will include upgrades to water and sewer lines,

including burying lines deeper to avoid winter freezing; new as-

phalt on Virginia Canyon and Virginia Street; drainage improve-

ments; multi-modal ramps at intersections; and replacement of

existing sidewalks.

There will be some one-way closures at times, total Virginia

Canyon Road closings until evenings at 7 p.m., and times when

only local traffic will be permitted. Bicycles will be permitted

in the closure zones, but cyclists must dismount. Metal plates

will be placed on the roads if work is incomplete on any given

day. Working times are scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mondays

through Fridays, although some weekend work will occur.

Separately, the Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COM

-BA) has announced that phase two of its Treks Trails at Virginia

Canyon has been completed. COMBA has been working with

the City of Idaho Springs on a 28-mile trail system that stretches

from the Argo Mine to the vicinity of the forthcoming entertain-

ment venue at the top of Virginia Canyon Mountain Park, further

up Virginia Canyon Road. For details, visit

COMBA.org.The hotline for construction-related questions is (970) 880-

2373. To receive email alerts, contact: PublicInfoCO@gmail.

com.

PAGE 12 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL PAGE 13 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALLJuly 11, 2024July 11, 2024

The list of memorable performances and inspired singers at the Central

City Opera over the years could fill a book. However, the events of Satur-

day, June 29, merited a special chapter of its own.

Against the backdrop of a pleasant summer evening, a large crowd

turned out for a unique double-bill feature. It included the Central City Op-

era and three iconic personalities being inducted into the Colorado Music

Hall of Fame, followed by a sold-out opening night for the opera’s Pirates

of Penzance.

The evening opened with a reception and dinner at the Teller House and

moved next door into the iconic, historic opera building. The Colorado

Music Hall of Fame conducted its first “destination” induction by installing

the Central City Opera into its Hall of Fame. Also inducted were singers,

Cynthia Lawrence and Keith Miller, in addition to the late John Moriar-

ity, the conductor and artistic director for the organization. The event was

hosted as a partnership between the city and the CCO.

Scott Finlay, Central City Opera’s new president and CEO, said, “Central

City Opera’s 92 years of rich musical heritage is a testament to the dedica-

tion of our supporters, volunteers, artists and staff who have made this

milestone possible. This distinction is a tribute to their commitment.”

Karen Radman, executive director for the CMHOF, commented, “Colo-

rado Music Hall of Fame is honored to be presenting an opera-themed

induction class for the first time, recognizing the important contributions

that opera has made in music while expanding to a new musical genre for

our inductees. Opera in the High Country, focused around the impressive

and historic Central City Opera and those whose careers were influenced

by it, also expands The Hall of Fame’s reach into the Colorado mountains

and out of the metro area. This June 29 event in Central City will be the

first of many destination inductions that The Hall plans to host statewide.”

Inductee Lawrence currently serves as the Endowed Chair for Voice and

Opera at the University of Kentucky School of Music. An alumna of the

University of Colorado Boulder and a Colorado native, the soprano went

on to become a principal artist with dozens of opera companies across the

globe, including Central City Opera, Colorado Opera Festival and Fort Col-

lins Opera. Including having more than 70 performances with Maestro Lu-

ciano Pavarotti, Lawrence has taken on some of opera’s most iconic parts.

As a dedicated music educator, Lawrence conducts Master Classes and

serves as a judge for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Miller was raised in Ovid, one of Colorado’s smallest towns (population

less than 300). A three-year starter for the University of Colorado’s football

team in Boulder, Miller played professional football in Europe and worked

out for several NFL teams before shifting his career to opera. Once an

apprentice artist at Central City Opera, Miller went on to a musical ca-

reer across the U.S., including serving as the Crested Butte Music Festival

Opera Director for six years to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City,

performing as a principal artist for 18 years.

The late Moriarty was a leader in the Central City Opera for more than

40 years, serving as an artistic director, educator, vocal coach, singer and

pianist. He had an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the New England

Conservatory of Music. The Conservancy has two scholarships named in

his honor: the John Moriarty Presidential Scholarship and the John Mori-

arty Encouragement Award. Moriarty Lane is named after him in Central

City, as is the John Moriarty Award of the Central City Opera. He was also

the recipient of the National Opera Association Lifetime Achievement

Award. Moriarty passed away at the age of 91 in 2022.

Central City Mayor Jeremy Fey advocated for the opera’s inclusion into

the CMHOF. She said, “It is a great honor for Central City to host the Colo-

rado Music Hall of Fame. We are especially proud as Central City Opera,

a pillar of Colorado’s cultural landscape for 92 years, leads the 2024 class

of inductees. June 29 will be [remembered as] a landmark day, celebrating

both the Opera’s venerable history and Central City’s ongoing revitaliza-

Following the induction ceremony, the first performance of Pirates of

Penzance was held before a sold-out audience. The show, along with The

Girl of the Golden West and Street Scene, continues through July and will

end Aug. 4.

Photos by Amanda Tipton Photography,

courtesy of the Central City Opera

LEFT: Baritone Armando Contreras and

Kira Dills-Desurra, a mezzo-soprano,

performed during the Hall of Fame event.

Both are former apprentice artists in the

Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Train-

ing Program.

The Teller House was filled for the dinner event leading up to the CMHOF

induction ceremony.

The induction ceremony included Karen Radman,

executive director of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame,

Sonny Wiegand, co-chair of the CCO Board of Directors,

and Kara Shay Thomson, dramatic soprano and 2024

festival artist for the CCO.

RIGHTP: Kira Dills-Desurra, a

mezzo-soprano, sang during the

Colorado Music Hall of Fame induc-

tion event.

Karen Radman (left), executive director of the Colorado Music Hall of

Fame introduced Keith Miller as a 2024 inductee into the hall of fame.

Scott Finlay (right), CCO president, participated in the ceremony.

It was the first opening-night sellout in many years for the Central City Op-

era’s Pirates of Penzance.

Guests enjoy cocktails and

fellowship in the garden area

between the Teller House and

opera building.

Central City Opera CEO and President Scott Finlay

welcomed longtime patrons and guests to the open-

ing night of the 2024 season and the Colorado Music

Hall of Fame induction ceremony..

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OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR GILPIN COUNTY, BLACK HAWK AND CENTRAL CITY, ALSO COVERING IDAHO SPRINGS, GEORGETOWN

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THE OLDEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IN COLORADO SINCE 1862THE OLDEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IN COLORADO SINCE 1862

2022 Winner of seven Colorado Press Association awards PRICE: $1.50Vol. 161 No. 41 March 28, 2024

BoCC extends, explains

local disaster declaration

A local disaster declaration has

been extended for Gilpin County

through Friday, April 19.

Gilpin County Sheriff Kevin Arm-

strong initially issued the local

disaster declaration two weeks ago,

on March 14, after a snowstorm that

dumped as many as five feet in many

parts of the county. The Gilpin Board

of County Commissioners, which

confirmed the declaration on Sun-

day, March 17, held a special meeting

last Wednesday, March 20, to extend

the situation for another month.

During the special meeting, the

BoCC and county leaders explained

the purpose of the local emergency

declaration and the need to keep it in

place.

Armstrong said Gilpin and other

counties impacted by the storm must

prove they collectively had $10 mil-

lion in damages to seek state disaster

recovery funding. “It’s a high thresh-

old that has to be met,” he told the

BoCC. Recovery is a part of this. It

could be several months before we

know the totality of this storm.”

When the snow starts melting,

flooding could occur in lower eleva-

tions of the county. If that does hap-

pen, leaders in those areas could also

approve local disaster proclamations.

Those losses also would factor into

the $10 million in damages required

to acquire state disaster funding.

According to the sheriff, the county

must fully document its costs related

to the storm’s aftermath. That in-

cludes the cost of employee overtime

and non-insured damages to resi-

dents’ homes and properties.For example, Gilpin’s public works

crews worked 12-hour shifts to reopen

roads closed by snowfall. At the same

time, the sheriff’s department em-

ployees worked overtime as they re-

sponded to calls, tried to assist people,

helped others reach a warming center

set up in the Gilpin County Justice

Center and provided other assistance.

Armstrong said people whose

homes and barns were damaged

or destroyed – and not covered

by insurance –may also be able to

file claims toward the $10 million

threshold if they can provide suf-

ficient documentation and proof of

damage.

Gilpin Public Works Director John

Combs said his department has been

working continuously as the staff

members and county snow-removal

equipment have tried to widen the

148 miles of county-maintained

roads. In the initial days following

the mammoth snowfall, Gilpin’s

crews tried to open at least a single

traffic lane on the roads. Since then,

the workers have continued to work,

attempting to return the roads to

their normal widths.

“We’re not done with this storm –

by any means,” Combs said. “There

may be road damage (under the

snow) that we’re not aware of yet.”

Recently hired Gilpin Emergency

Manager Melissa Lewis told the

BoCC she has been working with the

various departments to help them

determine the extent of the damages

and costs involved in recovery. “We’ll

see what we come up with in the days

Lewis recommended that residents

have seven days of food, medicine,

water, pet food, and other supplies in

case they cannot leave their homes

following large snow events.

The county leaders repeated earlier

statements, thanking staff members,

volunteers and residents throughout

Gilpin for pitching in to help others

in the aftermath of the storm, which

they say will be remembered as one

of the largest locally in over a decade.

The BoCC could extend the local

emergency disaster declaration again

before the current one expires in

three weeks.

(Editor’s note: The county com-

missioners’ letter thanking those

who helped with snow-recovery

efforts is in today’s edition.)

Kids and parents enjoyed photos with the Easter Bunny at the Rec

Center March 23. See page 10.

The wolf at your front door

probably isn’t (at least, yet)

Those who log into the “Home Sweet Home Gilpin County” Face-

book website often see residents’ photos posted of moose, deer,

bears, elk, lost pets or an occasional mountain lion that was captured

by their security camera or video doorbell.

For those who claim they’ve seen a wolf roaming around their

house, it’s unlikely they’re correct – at least, at this current period in

local history. However, sometime in the next year or so, it’s entirely

possible that the large critter outside someone’s home could be an

actual Gray Wolf.

February 8, 2024 • WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL | PAGE 21

275 Hwy 72, Nederland

Adult and Teen Bible Study – 10 a.m.

Worship and the Word – 11 a.m.

Children’s church and nursery

Pastor Todd Fletcher

29579 St, Hwy 72 (in Coal Creek Canyon)

Worship Service – 10 a.m.

infor@chapelinthehills.org

Non-denomination contemporary worship

with a casual atmosphere.

(Across from the fairgrounds)

Praise and Worship – 10:30 a.m.

office@ctkblackhawk.com

www.ctkblackhawk.com

135 Pine St., Central City

Mass – 11 a.m.

www.GodRushCatholic.org

Pastor Hansen Wendlandt

210 W. Jefferson, Hwy 72

(just west of the traffic circle)

Worship – 10 a.m.

Christian Education & Youth Groups

ncpcpastor@gmail.com

CHURCH – BLACK HAWK

Gregory Street in Black Hawk

Worship – 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School – 11 a.m.

73 Gross Dam Road on Hwy 72

(behind United Power in Coal Creek Canyon)

Worship – 10:30 a.m.

123 Eureka St. Central City

(across from the Opera House)

Worship Service – 10 a.m.

stjamescentralcity@gmail.com

ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL

226, First High Street, Central City

(Next to the Gilpin History Museum)

Worship Service – 10 a.m.

First Sunday- 10:30 a.m. – Prayer service followed

Second and Fourth Sunday’s-8:45 a.m.-

Traditional Eucharistic Service

Third Sunday- 8:45 a.m.- Guitar Mass and Prayer Service

stpaulschurchcentralcity@gmail.com

www.stpaulsepiscopalchurchcentralcity.org

Rev. William Breslin

24325 Hwy 119, Nederland

Mass – 9:30 a.m.

breslinw@shjboulder.org

275 Hwy 72, Nederland

Adult and Teen Bible Study – 10 a.m.

Worship and the Word – 11 a.m.

Children’s church and nursery

Non-denomination contemporary worship

with a casual atmosphere.

(Across from the fairgrounds)

Praise and Worship – 10:30 a.m.

office@ctkblackhawk.com

www.ctkblackhawk.com

135 Pine St., Central City

Mass – 11 a.m.

www.GodRushCatholic.org

Pastor Hansen Wendlandt

210 W. Jefferson, Hwy 72

(just west of the traffic circle)

Worship – 10 a.m.

Christian Education & Youth Groups

ncpcpastor@gmail.com

Pastor Todd Fletcher

29579 St, Hwy 72 (in Coal Creek Canyon)

Worship Service – 10 a.m.

infor@chapelinthehills.org

73 Gross Dam Road on Hwy 72

(behind United Power in Coal Creek Canyon)

Worship – 10:30 a.m.

123 Eureka St. Central City

(across from the Opera House)

Worship Service – 10 a.m.

stjamescentralcity@gmail.com

Rev. William Breslin

24325 Hwy 119, Nederland

Mass – 9:30 a.m., 303-258-3060

breslinw@shjboulder.org

ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL

226, First High Street, Central City

(Next to the Gilpin History Museum)

Worship Service – 10 a.m.

First Sunday- 10:30 a.m. – Prayer service followed

Second and Fourth Sunday’s-8:45 a.m.-

Traditional Eucharistic Service

Third Sunday- 8:45 a.m.- Guitar Mass and Prayer Service

stpaulschurchcentralcity@gmail.com

www.stpaulsepiscopalchurchcentralcity.org

CHURCH – BLACK HAWK

Gregory Street in Black Hawk

Worship – 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School – 11 a.m.

CCCAE shows oﬀ the Tower of Learning

Reporter and Photographer

The Weekly Register-

Call was recently invited

to join a “behind the

scenes” tour of the “old

high school” on Highway

103 just outside downtown

Idaho Springs, which is

being re-purposed as the

new Carlson Elementary

School. The building has

been nationally recognized

as the “Tower of Learning.”

It was built in 1968 and

served as the Clear Creek

County High School until

2010 when it was moved to

Floyd Hill.

Complex (as part of the

Clear Creek Center for Arts

& Education: CCCAE) will

reside on the fourth floor of

the historic building.

It will feature a 300-seat

main stage theatre and

community meeting space,

a 175-seat cabaret-style

theatre, and an 80-seat

children’s black box the-

atre. Additional areas will

have multifunctional use.

on educational programs

for all Clear Creek’s grade

school, middle school, and

high school students in the-

atre, dance, art, textile and

construction and design.

The Tower Arts Complex

will be a community center

for meetings, lectures and

special performances. It

will be home to a regional

repertory theatre com-

pany and allow local,

regional, and national

artists to share their

craft.

awarded a $1.538 million

grant from Colorado Cre-

ative Industries to sup-

port Phase 1 of the reno-

vation. Additional support

will come from the Clear

Creek School District for

mitigation and renovation

required under the 2021

bond program approved

by the County voters.

Phase 1 will include

designing and renovating

three performance spaces,

three event/performance

centers, educational

space, dressing rooms,

practice studios, costume

and set design and stor-

age space. Phase 1 will be

finished later this year.

the industrial or scenic

and textile (costume)

learning spaces. Phase 3

will include the finish of

a professional recording

studio space and additional

storage space.

The Clear Creek Center

for Arts & Education is a

non-profit organization; all

donations are tax-deduct-

ible. Partners include the

Clear Creek School District,

the City of Idaho Springs,

Clear Creek County and

Colorado Creative In-

dustries. CCCAE is in the

process of raising funds for

startup and programming

costs. Please visit the web-

site at www.CCCAE.org for

more information or learn

how to join in.

This is an excellent proj-

ect for a community anx-

iously awaiting its comple-

tion.

The fourth floor of the Tower of Learning. It’s in a beautiful setting, just up Chicago Creek on

Highway 103.

The tour group was led by Carla Pokrywka Cole (third from right), the executive director and

lead architect for the Tower Arts Tower project.

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orado.

Send address changes to the Weekly Register-Call, P.O. Box 93, Black Hawk, CO

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New issues of the Weekly Register-Call are available each Thursday in Black Hawk,

Central City, and throughout the Gilpin County

mountain community for $1.50.

The Weekly Register-Call is available by mail for $62 annually in Colorado, $68 out

side Colorado.

Opinions expressed in the Weekly Register-Call do not necessarily represent the

views of its staff or advertisers.

I like to read the little notes that Weekly Register-Call

subscribers send in with their checks. Almost all positive

with some suggestions to have less politics.

I agree. The election season is over. This newspaper

graciously gave all the candidates space to answer leading

issues and state their cases. All the candidates did a stel

lar job of setting forth positions on the issues, and you, the

voters, did the rest. I hope we can move forward on key

issues for this grand county.

Here are a few thoughts as we close out another year of

covering the news in Gilpin County.

I think we’ll have a new food bank. The location and type

of building is revolving. It was suggested that the county

buy a vacant building for the food bank and form a non-

profit organization to fund and operate the facility. How

ever, the food bank is currently a well-run operation.

Hopefully, a day care facility and learning center for

children will happen soon. It has been over a year since

the last facility closed. With little kids still at home, getting

that nonprofit designation,

restarting early education

and giving them first-class

childcare is imperative.

It’s too bad the county

won’t take the generous of-

fer from Black Hawk to help

support the Rec Center. It

would have been paid for by

overnight visitors to Black

Hawk.

Whatever happens, the

Rec Center should be open

daily for public use. It is a

large and expensive facility,

but it is an excellent county

asset. Will there ever be a

new steak house in Central

City?

Those are just a few of my

thoughts as we end another

year of capturing the news.

It seems that there is never a

dull moment.

For those who don’t know,

Pantone is the company that

comes up with all those colors

we see everywhere.—for paint,

ink, graphic arts, etc. Every

year, they come out with the

“Color of the Year.” Usually,

it’s something stupid. Last

year—”Peach Fuzz” and “Viva

Magenta” in 2023.

But this year—this year —

is one I can get behind, fully

support, full steam ahead and

take several extra spins on the

slot machine!

They selected one you will

start seeing because design-

ers will use it on furniture and

everything imaginable.

At least this year, Pantone

selected a color that is its very

own food group. Mind you, I

have nothing against peaches.

However, I don’t care for

beets or pomegranates. But I

do like cranberries.

This year, though, it’s

something special — mocha

mousse. Yes, chocolate. No

matter how hard you try, you

can’t go wrong with that!

Just image it now—homes

decorated to the hilt with mo-

cha mousse couches, mocha

mousse recliners and mocha

mousse fashions, mocha

mousse wallpaper and paint,

mocha mousse vehicles (look

out H. Throttle) and even

mocha mousse weddings.

Just to keep our readers

informed and ready to redeco-

rate, mocha mousse will go

with cream or off-white, deep

burgundy, soft beige, olive

green, gold or bronze, char-

coal gray and soft blush. At

least, according to ChatGPT.

Anyone who doesn’t think

this is not the best color ever

is either allergic to chocolate,

lives in a cave or is an alien

from Alpha Centauri that

hasn’t tried it yet.

My advice for 2025, when

things look bleak and there is

no hope of getting out of the

abyss, is to go buy the Color

of the Year and munch away.

Chocolate always cures what

ails ya’.

(Editor’s query: Does any

casino have a chocolate slot ma-

chine yet? Inquiring minds —

and taste buds— want to know.)

How busy is Gregory Street from Black

Hawk to Central?

For many Gilpin County

residents, guests and casino-

industry employees, travel-

ing Highway 119, U.S. 6 or

I-70 is part of the daily trek

from home to the gaming

towns or vice versa. Nearly

everyone knows thousands

of motor vehicles use those

roads quite often.

Several weeks ago, another

local traffic-related question

arose during a Central City

council meeting: How busy

is Gregory Street (and Law-

rence Street) between Black

Hawk and Central City?

It was a notable inquiry.

Around the two towns, many

people drive up Gregory and

Lawrence to reach Central

City or the Central City

Parkway. Conversely, others

jump off the parkway by

Central’s city hall and travel

down to Black Hawk using

Gregory Street.

All of which begs the ques-

tion: How busy does it get on

the roads straddling either

side of Gregory Gulch?

Fortunately, there are

some answers.

The Silver Dollar Metro-

politan District (SDMD), a

special district that includes

a dozen of Black Hawk’s

casinos, keeps track of such

statistics – including traffic

counts along Gregory Street

and the number of people

who use the free Gilpin

Tramway shuttle buses,

which offer rides regularly

between the two neighboring

casino towns.

The SDMD provided the

Weekly Register-Call with

some interesting tidbits,

For the week of Nov. 11-17,

the busiest day of the week

along Gregory Street was

Saturday, Nov. 16. A total

of 1,436 vehicles traveled

westbound Gregory (next to

Gregory Plaza) during the 24

hours that began just after

midnight Friday and ended

at Saturday midnight.

The busiest hours were

between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

(Saturday afternoon), when

607 vehicles traveled west-

bound – an average of 101

motorists per hour.

That same week, Friday,

Nov. 15, was the second-

busiest day, with 1,299

vehicles traveling westbound

past Gregory Plaza. That was

followed by 1,293 on Sunday

and 1,226 on Thursday. Trail-

ing behind those days were

Wednesday (1,136), Monday

(1,119) and Tuesday (1,080).

The cities of Black Hawk

and Central sponsor the

free red shuttle buses in the

gaming districts of the two

communities. The shuttles

operate from 10 a.m. until

2:30 a.m. every 30 minutes

from Mondays through

Thursdays. On weekends,

they operate every 30 min-

utes from 10 a.m. until noon,

every 20 minutes from noon

until 2 a.m. and every 30

minutes between 2 a.m. and

3:30 a.m.

Many shuttle users are

visitors traveling to the

various casinos and Gregory

Plaza. Some casino employ-

ees, including those who live

in Central City but work in

Black Hawk, also ride the

Gilpin Tramway to and from

work. The shuttle rides are

free, although riders can tip

their drivers.

A few sightseers also like to

ride the Gilpin Tramway sim-

ply for fun. During a recent

council meeting, Central City

Mayor Jeremy Fey said he

sometimes takes his daughters

for rides on the shuttle to pro-

vide an activity to keep them

busy and enjoy the scenery.

In November, Central’s

council approved raising its

transportation tax to $175

annually for every gam-

ing device in the city’s six

casinos. The money from the

estimated 1,700 slot and vid-

eo-poker devices is expected

to raise $297,500 in 2025.

However, city officials said

the higher revenues may be

a little short of the estimated

$321,000 for its share of its

shuttle costs for the Inter-

governmental Agreement

with Black Hawk.

During the Central City

discussion, which occurred

over the course of two meet-

ings, some leaders ques-

tioned whether their cost

toward the shuttle program

remains beneficial to the

community.

According to figures from

the SDMD, it does. In 2023,

the Gilpin Tramway shuttles

transported a total of 149,920

passengers. During the first

10 months of 2024, some

127,233 rode the shuttles.

Between 70 and 75 percent

of people who grab the free

shuttle rides do so in Black

Hawk, where they can easily

travel from casino to casino.

As one might expect, the

shuttles are the busiest during

June, July and August, the

peak of the tourism season

when the weather is at its

best. According to the SDMD,

5,005 people boarded the

shuttles in Central City in

August. During the month, the

“Night of Good Fortune” food

and music festival, the 12

nual Great Central City Beer

Fest and the Gilpin Historical

Society’s Cemetery Crawl were

among the events that attract-

ed visitors to Central. Because

of Central’s limited parking,

many tourists park in Black

Hawk and take the shuttles to

reach Central City.

In 2024, between Janu-

ary through October, about

30 percent of the shuttle

passengers board in Central

City, where the Gilpin Tram-

way stops at three locations

(compared to 16 stops in

Black Hawk). Last year, the

figure was 26 percent of the

tramway ridership – mean-

ing many folks are boarding

the shuttle in Central City.

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Flying hysteria: Is it a bird, plane, Superman or a drone?

I’ve mostly been laughing my head off the past few

weeks following all the “drones invading New Jersey

skies” news stories on TV and in the media. It’s

one of the funniest cases of mass hysteria I’ve ever

encountered.

Trust me. By next year at this time, almost nobody

will remember this event because the news cycle will

be fixating on something else.

Unidentified Flying Objects over New Jersey are

nothing new. In the famous 1938 radio broadcast,

War of the Worlds, Orsen Wells told the story of a

mysterious aircraft landing in Grovers Mill, New

Jersey. However, some mass hysteria began when

listeners tuned in late after listening to ventriloquist

Edger Bergan and his dummy, Charlie McCarthy.

The disclaimer was only at the beginning of the

radio drama, so some radio listeners believed aliens

had landed, planning to destroy mankind.

For most of us in the legitimate drone community

of FAA-certified pilots, the recent New Jersey stories

have been both a black eye on drones (because

people think they’re sinister or spying on them) and

a situation where we’re shaking our heads in disbe-

lief of how the story continued to unravel.

Of course, our government leaders have not

helped. One said, “We don’t know what they are,”

while another commented, “There’s nothing to

worry about.” These days, there is little trust in gov-

ernment officials.

Last week, the FAA stepped in, hoping to help

quell the situation. It issued Temporary Flight Re-

strictions (TFRs) for several counties in the Garden

State and later extended the restrictions into New

York. TFRs and NOTAMS (Notifications to Air-

men) are used to control the airspace and provide

information to pilots, including drone pilots, about

restrictions. The FAA TFR will continue until mid-

January. By then, federal officials hope the problem

with thousands of drone sightings will disappear.

Usually, the FAA issues a TFR around NFL

stadiums several hours before and one hour after

a professional football game. They’re also used to

keep the skies open when the president travels on

Air Force One to various cities across America. For

drone pilots and those who operate small, manned

aircraft, the TFRs steer the pilots from being in the

airspace for a specified time.

However, the New Jersey TFRs are a real problem

for legitimate, professional drone pilots who want

to use their devices to take real estate photos and

conduct aerial inspections. They are also a larger

problem for first responders who rely on drones for

law enforcement, fire monitoring or search-and-

rescue missions.

People often have their heads looking down into

their cellphones rather than seeing what happens after

dark in the New Jersey skies. Because there are several

airports and military bases in the state and surround

-ing areas (where drones aren’t allowed to fly), there

are many flights and objects with blinking lights at any

given moment. It’s been going on for years!

If you take a look at some of the TV news photos,

you’ll see red and green lights on the various “mys-

tery aircraft.” That alone should tell the curious

that these are legitimate aircraft

are followed.

law enforcement to determine where the drone or

its operator is. Plus, there’s nothing illegal about

flying a drone, so seeing one flying around doesn’t

mean anything illegal or sinister is tak-

ing place.

The other problem in New Jersey is

that most folks can’t accurately esti-

mate the size or scale of the aircraft

because it’s nighttime. They can’t tell if

an airplane flying at 10,000 feet is any

larger than a drone that’s flying at 400

feet. There also has a problem with

people threatening to shoot down the

mysterious aircraft or pointing laser

lights at them, actions that are illegal

in the U.S. and subject to fines, impris-

onment, or both.

Many of you will remember when

Colorado news stations reported on

mysterious night lights in the skies

over the eastern part of the state a few

years ago. It raised a temporary ruckus

but quickly died. I’m of the opin-

ion that the New Jersey situation is

similar, although the continuous news

stories and uninformed statements by

several politicians and those in govern-

ment positions have added fodder to

the situation.

The old saying used to be, “It’s a

bird… It’s a plane… It’s Superman!”

These days it’s “there’s something in

the sky – it must be a drone. So, I must

take a photo or video and post it

When I was a kid, the local

TV station had a special “radar

tracker” to monitor Santa

Claus’ flight from the North

Pole to our state every Christmas

Eve. Sometimes, we’d look out the

window before going to bed, hop-

ing to glimpse St. Nicholas and the flying

reindeer guiding his sleigh through the sky

near our home. Because I’m

writing this before Christ-

mas Eve, I’m worried about

what will happen when

poor Santa flies over New

Jersey.

C’mon folks. We’ve been

hearing about UFO, Elvis

and Bigfoot sightings for

decades – without any

credible proof. I think

most of the media hype

is unfounded near-panic,

although it’s been a story

that has kept growing legs.

As Capt. James T. Kirk used

to say, “Scotty, beam me up!

There’s no intelligent life

(If you are interested in finding out more about drones or want to fly drones,

visit faa.gov/uas. UAS is the acronym for Unmanned

Aerial Systems, the technical name for drones.)

last week.

The term for Collins Pe-

tersen, who will serve as a

non-attorney on the commis-

sion, will expire at the end of

2030. She is also president of

the Friends of Gilpin Commu-

nity Center, a non-profit that

raises funds for the county’s

rec center and provides finan-

cial assistance to those who

may be unable to afford to

participate in its programs.

Holiday closings, notes

• Gilpin County’s waste

transfer station will be

closed on New Year’s Day,

Wednesday, Jan. 1.

• Government offices, post of-

fices and banks also will be

closed on New Year’s Day.

Library holiday hours

Gilpin County Public Li-

brary will close at 5 p.m. on

Tuesday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s

Eve) and all day on New Year’s

(Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025).

The Gilpin Community

Center will be closed on New

Year’s Day but will have new

hours next year. Beginning on

Jan. 5, the center will be open

on Sundays from noon to 5

p.m. (the pool will be open

from noon to 4:30 p.m.

The facility will be open

from 7:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.

on Mondays; closed Tuesdays

(except for Youth Camp); 6

a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednes-

days; 4 to 8 p.m. on Thurs-

days; 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on

Fridays; and from 9 a.m. to 5

p.m. on Saturdays. The pool

will close 30 minutes earlier

than the rec center each day.

For additional information,

call 303-582-1453.

was named its Best New/Jump Flow Trail of

2024 in a poll conducted by

the Singletracks organization.

The new Drop Shaft opened

in September and offers riders

a 2.6-mile trail that descends

1,200 feet in elevation.

COMBA also maintains

several mountain-biking trails

at the Maryland Mountain

outdoor recreation area in

Black Hawk.

Central City and most of

Clear Creek County expe-

rienced a power outage on

Thursday, Dec. 19. The power

went out in Clear Creek at

about 5:30 a.m., lasting over

six hours.

The outage forced several

businesses to close, includ-

ing several Central casinos,

where slot machines could not

function. There were issues

at the Black Hawk Post Office

that could only accept cash or

checks for part of the after-

noon. During the blackout,

Timberline Fire Protection

District continues offering

free carbon monoxide/smoke

detector units to residents as

part of Timberline’s Carbon

Monoxide Awareness Month.

“The importance of having

working detectors in your

home cannot be overstated,”

said Fire Chief Paul Ondr.

“Carbon monoxide is a silent

killer, and smoke detectors

are critical in alerting families

to fire risks. We’re excited to

offer these lifesaving devices

For information and to

receive a free detector, call

the Station 3 headquarters at

303-582-576, extension 1.

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Moriarty working to stop human trafficking, with lots of help

Black Hawk Police Chief Michelle Moriarty is on a crusade

to stop any potential human trafficking – including sex traffick-

ing — in her city and the surrounding area. It’s a reason why she

has worked with the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

(LCHT) with local casinos to schedule regular training sessions on

the subject in recent years.

Working to help inform casino employees and others on the sub-

ject is just one small facet of her many duties. Moriarty leads the

police department in the tiny city of about 100 people, which can

swell to more than 20,000 on any given day because of the number

of visitors who travel to Black Hawk to enjoy the local casinos.

However, Moriarty’s mission isn’t limited to just Black Hawk.

She is working with groups and individuals throughout Central

City and Gilpin County to help spot and potentially eliminate hu-

man trafficking crimes that make many people shudder at the mere

thought of them.

“I think there’s been a huge impact [from the training],” Mo-

riarty said following last week’s LCHT seminars. “I think that

just the fact that people are watching, seeing red flags and are

reaching out. This week, we had somebody reach out. One person

Black Hawk Police Chief Michelle Moriarty welcomed local casino employees, managers and

staff members to three Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking seminars conducted at the

Ameristar Casino Resort Spa last week. Caesars Entertainment, which operates the Horse-

shoe Black Hawk Casino, has a policy requiring employees to be trained on human traffick-

ing and displays posters announcing its commitment to the topic. Photo by Don Ireland

This week’s edition of the Weekly Register-Call includes

a series of articles on human trafficking, including sex traf-

ficking. As a potential warning, some of the stories may be

uncomfortable for some readers, especially children.

Also included is a story discussing key information for

parents regarding the potential various online and social-

media dangers their children may face.

Highway 119 sewer construction

Talk about a timing coincidence: Monday,

Aug. 19, will be the first day of the new school

year for Gilpin County School District RE-1

students. It’s also the same day an $8 million

sewer construction project approved by the dis-

trict will begin on Highway 119 in Black Hawk.

This week, flashing roadside message boards

were scheduled to be installed along Highway

119 to inform motorists of the forthcoming

project.

Several months ago, Gilpin County School

Board members decided to award an $8 mil-

lion contract to ESCO Construction, which will

build the new sewer line called the “Wastewa-

ter Interconnect Program.” Once completed,

the new line will carry sewage from the school

complex and connect it to a regional sanitation

line owned by the Black Hawk – Central City

Sanitation District. The three-mile-long line

will connect to the existing sewer system near

the Black Hawk Fire Department at the city’s

northern edge.

According to a statement by the school

district, “The first phase of construction will

It didn’t come as a surprise that a short-hand-

ed Central City Council rejected RCI Hospital-

ity Holdings LLC’s appeal of the city planning

director’s decision to reject the company’s

request to allow it to open a strip club and

steakhouse at 130 Main Street.

Even RCI CEO and president Eric Langan

said he knew the city council, acting as the

Board of Adjustment (BoA), wouldn’t overturn

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Witchy Witch (Desiree Aragon) helped brew up

some candy apples during the first “Spooktacular”

in Central City on Saturday night. The event also

will be held on Saturday, Oct. 26, and Halloween

night along Main Street. For the story about the

night of candy, amusements and bewitching fun,

see the story in today’s edition.

Photo by Don Ireland PART 2 OF THE PART 2 OF THE “STRIP-TRIP” ON PAGE 6“STRIP-TRIP” ON PAGE 6

Deﬁant GOP election watcher booted

A Republican election watcher was asked to leave the Gilpin

County election office early Tuesday afternoon, allegedly for disrupt

-ing while observing the mail ballot verification process.

Donna Okray Parman (R) was instructed to leave the historic

county courthouse administrative building –or face a misdemeanor

citation from a sheriff’s deputy called to the Gilpin County Clerk and

Recorder’s office in the Central City building on Eureka Street.

After extensive debate with the deputy and County Manager Ray

Rears, who oversees the building home to multiple county depart

-ments, Okray Parman reluctantly left the building and the parking

lot to avoid being arrested or cited. New county attorney Todd Mes

-senger was also involved in the conversation between Okray Par

-man, Rears and Sheriff’s Deputy Zachary Meyer but departed before

the discussion was over.

returns. “Election watchers, as well as election workers, are all re

-quired to follow the rules set out by the Colorado Secretary of State

(SOS),” McCormick said.

However, Okray Parman insisted she didn’t do anything that

might’ve led to her expulsion from the room, where she also

watched previous elections. She cited the SOS’s election rule

8.10.2, which states election “watchers must be permitted access

that would allow them to attest to the accuracy of election-related

activities. That includes personal visual access at a reasonable

proximity to read documents, writings or election screens and

reasonable proximity to hear election-related discussions between

election judges and electors.” The rule further states election ac

-tivities include “signature verification of mail ballot envelopes.”

Donna Okray Parman walked out of the Gilpin

County Courthouse on Tuesday, accompanied

by Gilpin Deputy Zach Meyer and County Man

-ager Ray Rears. She had been ordered to leave

the county elections department for allegedly

disrupting the ballot return process.

Photo by Don Ireland

Crime & Public Safety

Wellington retires after 29-year career

During his working years, David

Wellington was used to large amounts

of water gushing from the fire hose he

was holding.

Last week, Wellington and his fellow

City of Black Hawk team members

dealt with holding back a different

type of water – tears – as they gave

the 29-year fire department veteran a

retirement party and sendoff during

Black Hawk’s council meeting.

Wellington was chosen to ring the

historic bell in the council chambers,

signaling to the outside city that the

bi-monthly meeting was about to start.

Minutes into the session, Mayor David

Spellman briefly set aside the agenda

so city team members could honor

Wellington for his 25 years as a paid

BHFD engineer and the four years he

served before that as part of the city’s

former volunteer department.

Spellman presented Wellington

with a plaque in recognition of his

years of service. It read: “With deep

appreciation and immense grati-

tude for your diligent and proficient

service to the City of Black Hawk.”

Moments later, Wellington was

swarmed by fellow workers and

city officials, who shook his hand or

hugged him several times.

“The fire department was re-

ally small, and a majority of it was

volunteers. There were only two

paid personnel per shift,” reflected

Wellington when he started with the

organization in the late 1990s.

Retiring is a bittersweet experi-

ence for Wellington. “It’s been great.

I couldn’t think of a better thing to

do, really. It’s been the best career I

could think of – it really has. The city

Not only is Wellington leaving the

Black Hawk Fire Department, but

he’s also moving away from the area.

Carolina.

there, too.

retiree.

much up here.

has grown since I’ve been here.”

When asked if he remembered the

most challenging day in his Black

Hawk career, Wellington replied,

“This is a pretty difficult one here

today [at my retirement]. It’s hard

lots of them.

ing accidents].

crew, you go and do your job. Overall,

as a crew, you have the satisfaction of

doing the best you could. I’ve really

appreciated the city and everything

that’s been done for me during my

A festive spread, including Beef Wellington – in honor of David

Wellington – was included in the retirement event for the

retiring firefighter.

Black Hawk Fire Department Chief Christopher Woolley was among the

city’s firemen, police and team members who turned out to honor fire

engineer David Wellington last week.

Photos by Don Ireland

Mayor David Spellman (right) presented the new retiree with

a plaque, honoring and commemorating his years of service

with the Black Hawk Fire Department.

Driving LX 700h is amazing

The factory reps were very

friendly to me this past week,

delivering a Lexus LX 700h with

a manufacturer’s retail price

of $119,755, which included an

extra Mark Levinson premium

sound system at $2,660 and

$595 for the “Manganese Luster”

premium paint. This isn’t a

luxury vehicle for everyone, but

for someone who wants true

luxury in a seven-passenger

SUV. The LX700h is assembled

in Toyota Aichi, Japan, by skilled

craftsmen. If tariffs go into ef-

fect, this price might increase, or

this model might be assembled

in the USA.

What makes this vehicle so

special includes luxury leather

seating with a smooth, gentle

ride over Colorado’s rugged

highways. The 3.4L V6 hybrid

engine delivers 457 combined

horsepower, paired with a

10-speed automatic transmission

with paddle shifters. The vehicle

boasts an impressive 8,000 lbs.

of towing capacity, ideal for

hauling a camper or boat.

The Lexis features 22-inch

forged alloy wheels with active

height control and multi-terrain

modes. It also has adaptive F

SPORT variable suspension.

Who would want to take this

luxurious vehicle on a mountain

trail? It looks even better with

friends at a country club, unload-

ing golf clubs from the power lift

rear trunk.

Safety features galore; adding

to rear cross-traffic alerts, there

is now front traffic alerts as

well. The LX 700h comes with

the Lexus 3.0 safety system with

heads-up digital display and the

premium sound system and a

cool box for beverages. All of the

latest technology of navigation

and communication with the

center 12.3” touchtone display

screen.

If you go camping with it,

there’s a 2400 mg power outlet

for lights and camping comforts.

It also has a power moonroof

with roof rails for skis or tents.

There are multiple drive

modes, including sport, which is

very powerful, and normal, both

of which are very fast. I mostly

used normal mode to conserve

fuel, as this powertrain tends

to drink fuel with an average of

20 mpg from the larger engine.

This is a large SUV that was a

pleasure to test drive, offering

a feeling of comfort and safety.

The power and acceleration are

exceptional, and road bumps

and outside noise just disappear.

Lexus says, “Experience

Amazing!” and they mean it!

Your nomination letter was

an all-encompassing descrip-

tion of Don Ireland and his

journalistic skills. As I read

it, I began anticipating what

would come next. Is she going

to say something about his

uncanny account of the “strip

trip?” Is she going to men-

tion his humor in the chicken

story? Sure enough, you

captured it all. (His headlines

often crack me up as well.)

Good work, Becky!

news@weeklyregistercall.com

Expanded parking, trails eyed for Briggs Lot

Lot on Gregory Street

will undergo plenty of

changes in the coming

year.

number of paved park-

ing spaces increase,

but the Briggs Lot will

also serve as a trail-

head for several new

walking trails that will

be built on the rocky

side of the city-owned

property.

Architects outlined the

options for the Briggs

Lot and the surround-

ing Bates Hill trails

during a presentation

to the Black Hawk City

Council last Wednes-

the city finalizes the

concept and design, it

will be submitted early

next year to Central City, since

the Briggs property is within

its borders.

According to Heinz, the

number of paved parking spac-

es is expected to rise from 61 to

about 110. It will accommodate

visitors to Gregory Plaza and

the upcoming Bobtail Mine

attraction, as well as those who

want to park and hike the new

trails on the north side of the

Briggs Lot parking lot.

The hikers will pass beneath

an overhead entrance sign

leading to the trails. They will

climb several different levels

of stairs surrounded by hand-

rails. The 156-foot-long climb

will include 144 steps, fea-

turing several side stopping

points. The small rest stops

may feature historical mark-

ers that discuss Black Hawk’s

history, according to Heinz.

Once the hikers reach a flat

landing area at the top, they

will cross a 28-foot metal

bridge that spans a rocky area.

The current plans include

the trail splitting in different

directions, including a con-

nection to the city’s Maryland

Mountain – Quartz Valley

outdoor walking and moun-

tain-biking trails to the north.

Another proposed trail

would lead to a “Liberty Ga-

zebo” that would be built on

the hill above the Black Hawk

Police Department and city

annex. The observation deck

would provide scenic views of

Gregory Point or downtown

Black Hawk.

The cost for the Briggs Lot

renovation, which would

include a new sidewalk along

Gregory Street adjacent to the

site and trails, isn’t currently

known because the design

plans are not yet complete. It

is possible Heinz’ completed

work will be given to the

council late this year or pos-

sibly in early 2026.

Approximately 15 Acres

Approximately 1 Mile of Trails

Previous Black Hawk City Boundary

Aerial Photograph Date: 2023

Black Hawk City Boundary

City of Black Hawk Property

BATES HILL TRAILHEAD

The map shows the existing Briggs Lot property outlined in red, while the City of Black

Hawk property is in blue. To the east is a proposed observation gazebo. Black Hawk’s

Chase Street is to the north, while the parking lots for the Z Casino are in the upper

right-hand corner.

Courtesy of PEH Architects of Boulder

Architect’s sketch of the entrance to the Bates

Hill Trailhead from the Briggs Lot.

Courtesy of PEH Architects

In a story about Sexually Oriented Businesses that appeared

in last week’s edition, Central City Alderman Zane Plsek was

quoted as saying, “[Council] is trying to make an illegal strip

club illegal.” To clarify the comment, it should have read “try-

ing to make an illegal strip club legal,” although most of our

intelligent readers probably understood what was printed.

Our apologies for the error.

We’re barely into Septem-

ber, but the City of Black

Hawk is already thinking

about Christmas. Specifically,

their gigantic holiday lighting

and decoration displays that

stretch from one end of the

city to the other.

The city council approved

a new $291,534 contract

with Alpine Artisan Studios

of Westminster during last

week’s meeting to decorate

the community in November.

There will be some new dis-

plays, while some older ones

will be repaired or upgraded.

Last year, Black Hawk spent

$225,000 on its holiday

display.

Gilpin Sheriff’s round-

Gilpin County Sheriff Kevin

Armstrong and his staff will

host a community roundtable

from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday,

Sept. 25, in the multi-purpose

room of the Gilpin Communi-

ty Center, 250 Norton Drive.

tions.

it!

advance notice, Gilpin County

held the groundbreaking

ceremony for its new County

Annex-Food Pantry yesterday

(Wednesday). As of late last

week, the date hadn’t been

determined.

Last Tuesday, County Man-

ager Ray Rears announced

last week that the final cost-

cutting changes for the $2.4

million building have been

completed.

summer.

outdoor Ameristar Richman

Beer Garden in Black Hawk.

The items collected will be

donated to the Gilpin County

Food Pantry.

An afternoon for dog lovers

and those who want to sup-

port local animal charities will

be held from noon to 4 p.m.

on Saturday, Sept. 13, at the

Very Nice Brewing micro-

brewery at 180 Jankowski

Drive, mid-county.

The free outdoor festival,

called Ales and Tails, will

feature a host of activities, in-

cluding agility courses, doggie

games, a silent auction and a

variety of pet-themed orga-

nizations and vendors. Pet

owners are invited to bring

their well-behaved leashed

dogs (no retractable leashes).

There will be prizes for dogs

and people.

The event will benefit

Friends of Charlie’s Place, No

Animal Left Behind, Old Soul

Canine Rescue and Colorado

Senior Dog Rescue.

S. Beaver Creek update

The preliminary design

study for South Beaver

Creek Road improvements

is expected to be received by

Gilpin County officials this

week. Once they are reviewed,

the county plans to sched

ule a public meeting later

this month to discuss which

upgrades will be made to the

second-busiest road in Gilpin

and the timing for any work to

begin.

Colorado Department of

Natural Resources has an-

nounced the launch of a new

website, ColoradoRiver.com,

to help people from across the

West to “understand, explore

and engage with the Colorado

River,” which Gov. Jared Polis

calls “the hardest-working

river in the American West.”

Water from the 1,459-mile-

long Colorado River impacts

two countries, seven states, 30

tribes and 40 million people.

Said Polis, “Colorado has

always been the leader in the

basin. This website will serve

as an educational hub with

maps, snowpack and flow

data, and policy discussions,

all managed here at the source

– Compiled by Don Ireland

Central gives green light to

CDOT Exit 243 roundabout

Central City Council unani-

mously approved CDOT’s plan

to build a new roundabout at

the I-70 exit to the Central

City Parkway during their

meeting Tuesday night (Sept.

2).

The traffic roundabout –

similar to those at two I-70

exits in nearby Idaho Springs

– will replace the existing,

five-way, signaled intersection

for traffic exiting the interstate

westbound at Exit 243 (Hid-

den Valley – Central City).

CDOT Floyd Hill project

manager Kurt Kionka told the

council that construction of

the new roundabout will likely

start “maybe in the next six

months” after all final paper-

work is completed. He assured

the council that the construc-

tion “will keep traffic moving”

at the exit. “We will try to get

in there and out as soon as we

can,” he added. CDOT also

plans to install more Central

City exit signs on I-70 in the

future.

Yet undecided is what type

of historic item or “artwork”

will be featured in the center

of the roundabout. Joe Behm,

executive director of the Cen-

tral City Business Improve-

ment District and the council’s

liaison with CDOT, said he

will work with stakeholders to

determine what will occupy

the center of the roundabout.

The $700 million I-70

Floyd Hill reconstruction

project won’t be finished until

early 2029. However, Kionka

predicted that the westbound

lanes will be completed by

2027, while eastbound lane

construction won’t conclude

until 2028. He noted that

U.S. 6, which currently enters

either direction of I-70 from

left-handed lanes, will be

rebuilt as part of the work. In

the future, westbound U.S. 6

will travel onto a new lane to

Exit 243, use the new round-

about, and then travel east on

a new segment that will con-

nect to the interstate midway

up Floyd Hill.

In other business at the

meeting, the council reaf-

firmed its right to use eminent

domain, in cooperation with

the Central Urban Develop-

ment Authority, to help secure

properties for the proposed

G3 Gaming development—

provided that amicable nego-

tiations fail. G3 plans to build

a $700-$900 million Gregory

Gulch Gaming Resort in the

valley between Lower Law-

rence and Gregory Streets.

Paid for by Brent Lambi, A concerned resident of Central City

City Council rushed this onto the

ballot.

A strip club on Main Street — in our

historic heart.

More adult businesses could follow.

Our community becomes a red-light

district while RCI laughs all the

way to the bank.

DON’T SELL DON’T SELL

CENTRAL CENTRAL CITYCITY

PROTECT CENTRAL PROTECT CENTRAL

CITY’S FUTURECITY’S FUTURE

We don’t need this.

We don’t want this.

We are BETTER THAN THIS.

25 things to watch in 2025

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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