Founders’ Day returns after hiatus

PAGE 2 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL PAGE 3 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALLAugust 21, 2025

Come with me to the 146th

Annual Colorado Press Associa-

tion Convention at the Marriott

Delta Hotel in Thornton. The

three-day event included sessions

on various topics. There were

roundtable discussions on media

challenges, the induction of Hall

of Fame honorees, and awards for

Colorado newspapers recognizing

excellence in reporting, advertis-

ing, design, layout, and photogra-

phy, among other categories.

This is the 62nd Annual Con-

vention that Gerri and I have

attended. We lived in my home-

town of Craig when we attended

our first convention at The Brown

Palace Hotel. The convention

was magnificent, and newspapers

were in their prime.

Our area of the state has a long

history of involvement in CPA,

starting with Rae L. Larid, pub-

lisher of The Weekly Register-Call

in 1943; Kay Turnbaugh from The

Mountain Ear in 1992; and neighboring Boulder

Daily Camera publisher Barrie Hartman in 1996.

I took the president’s gavel in 1979.

This year, the award ceremony took place

Saturday afternoon, and the newspaper

awards were displayed on a video screen, with

awards presented to newspapers in various

categories. Before our category, the video mal-

functioned due to human error, so we didn’t

get a chance to cheer for WR-C’s 10 awards

and The Villager’s 13 awards.

As the program was ending, one last major

award was to be given – News Leader of the

Year. A CPA staffer approached our table and

called me into the lobby, where she explained

that our star reporter, Don Ireland, had won

this prestigious award. She asked me to pres-

ent the plaque to him, which I did gladly a few

minutes later. Don was surprised; his wife,

Lynn, was beaming.

It was a well-deserved equity award for Don,

who fills our pages with EXCLUSIVE coverage

every week. He is a very talented writer, and we

are proud and pleased to have him on our staff

and for being recognized for his outstanding re-

porting for Gilpin County readers. Don also won

five other editorial awards in various categories.

WR-C Managing Editor Becky Osterwald

nominated Don but didn’t tell anyone.

Becky owned the Hugo Eastern Colorado

Plainsman for 18 years. She won first place in

several categories, including legal notices on

classified and legal pages, headline writing,

best humorous column, best cover design, and

photo/layout design.

For the fourth consecutive year, Becky also

took first place in legal notices for The Villag-

er, where she served as edi-

tor before joining WR-C. The

43-year-old Villager won two

sweepstakes awards and 13

category awards.

We don’t have a large staff,

but a small team of dedicat-

ed professionals who have

come together to save this

162-year-old newspaper, the

oldest in Colorado.

We’ve had plenty of news for

Don to cover, and there seems

to be a scoop every week. We

thank our loyal subscribers,

advertisers, and especially the

City of Black Hawk and the

City of Central for their contin-

ued support of this historic

newspaper that truly is the

heartbeat of Gilpin County.

Thanks everyone for your

support!

CPA Convention & News Leader Award

PUBLISHED BY………… VILLAGER MEDIA GROUP

OFFICE HOURS ………….. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

OFFICE ……….. 303-906-9902 or 303-773-8313

Call for appointment

P.O. BOX 93, BLACK HAWK, CO 80422

111 EUREKA STREET, CENTRAL CITY, CO 80427

287 NORTON DRIVE, BLACK HAWK CO 80422

Email …………………. admin@weeklyregistercall.com

Digital Copy ……….. www.issuu.com/weeklyregistercall

Publisher ……………. Robert Sweeney . 720-313-9741, bsween1@aol.com

Publisher Emeritus …………………………Aaron Storms & David Spellman

Associate Publisher ……………………………………………….. Patrick Sweeney

……………………………. 303-83-1800, patrick@weeklyreigstercall.com

Managing Editor, Production, Subscription, Classified,

Public Notices ……… Becky Osterwald

…………………………. ..303-906-9902, news@weeklyregistercall.com

Advertising …………. Gerri Sweeney

…………………………………303-773-8313, gerri@villagerpublishing.com

…………………………. Becky Osterwald

…………………………….. 303-906-9902, news@weeklyregistercall.com

Senior Reporter and Drone Photographer…………………….Don Ireland

……………………………………………………. news.don.ireland@gmail.com

Business Development ………………………………………… Johnathan (JW) Wiesneth

………………………………………..720-577-7187, jw@villagermediagroup.com

Bygone Scribe, Circulation….. ……………………………………………… Gary King

……………………………………………………………………………………303-582-3532

NEWSROOM—If you have questions, comments or a news tip, contact

news@weeklyregistercall.com. Please send information and listings for potential

publishing to this email address.

LETTERS & COLUMNS—Send Letters to the Editor via email with all contact information

included to news@weeklyregistercall.com. The Weekly Register-Call does not guarantee

publication or pay for submissions and reserves the right to edit for length and content. Letters

should be short (less than 350 words) and of local content. Anonymous letters will not be

published. Deadline is noon Friday prior to the week of publication.

CORRECTIONS—The Weekly Register-Call strives to be accurate and fair

in its reporting and corrects all errors of fact. If you have a correction, please

contact news@weeklyregistercall.com.

To advertise in the Weekly Register-Call, email news@weeklyregistercall.

com or call 303-906-9902. Deadline is noon Friday prior to the week of publication.

USPS Periodical Permit No. 673-020

ISSN 2993-7345 (Online)

ISSN 0278-5838 (Print)

The Weekly Register-Call is an independent newspaper. No part can be reproduced

in any form without the Publisher’s written consent. Unsolicited manuscripts and pho-

tographs will not be returned.

The Weekly Register-Call is published every Thursday by Village Publishing Co. Inc., 22095

E Chestnut Place Aurora, CO 80016 and publishing offices at 111 Eureka Street, Central City,

CO 80422 by appointment only. Periodical permit held at Black Hawk, Colorado.

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

80422.

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

Central City, and throughout the Gilpin County mountain community for $2.00.

The Weekly Register-Call is available by mail for $75 annually.

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

views of its staff or advertisers.

Nomination letter to

Editor’s Note: The following is the letter that was written

nominating Don Ireland for the News Leader of the Year

It is with great pride that I nominate Don Ireland, senior

reporter for the Weekly Register-Call, for the News Leader

Award. Don’s work exemplifies everything this honor stands

for—compassionate reporting, community trust, and a strong,

unwavering dedication to public service journalism.

Over a recent two-month period, Don alone generated 13

exclusive stories, all based on strong sources and genuine

connections. Don’s laid-back attitude and deep respect for

people from all backgrounds make him a trusted voice in

Gilpin County. People talk to Don—because they know he’s

listening.

He brings an extraordinary range and dedication to our

newsroom. In any given week, Don might cover a Board of

County Commissioners meeting, a high-profile court case,

and a thoughtful feature on the WR-C Newsmakers of the

Year. His coverage of the ongoing legal and social debate

surrounding a sexually oriented business seeking to open in

Central City has been exclusive, courageous, comprehensive,

and fair. When the business invited citizens on a so-called

“Strip Trip” to tour their Denver locations, Don didn’t flinch

— he went, observed, and reported with clarity and profes-

sionalism. He even endured friendly ribbing for his inclusion

on the Strip Trip from the community — and the newsroom.

Don’s use of drone photography has added a distinctive visu-

al element to our coverage of community events, wildfires, and

infrastructure projects. His aerial shots provide both informa-

tion and artistry, enriching how readers engage with the news.

Don is also known for his quick wit and sense of humor,

which shine through in features that call for a lighter touch.

A recent favorite: In covering a city ordinance authorizing

backyard chickens, Don worked in more than a few well-placed

puns.

Seriously: Black Hawk pecks out new chicken-coop rules

“Last week, the Black Hawk

aldermen flocked together and

approved a part of the city’s code

that formally authorizes people

to keep chickens as an ‘accessory

use’ in residential areas. Those

who don’t follow the rules may

be considered running a-fowl of

the law.” And yes—he even found

a way to bring Foghorn Leghorn

into the piece.

Don’s integrity and dedica-

tion have earned him not just

readership but respect. In 2023,

when Don won several Colorado

Newspaper Awards, Black Hawk

Mayor David Spellman publicly

recognized him and surprised Don

by inviting him to ring the historic

council bell. This is a long-stand-

ing tradition that marks the start

of every city council meeting. Yet,

that simple gesture says a lot: Don

has become a trusted voice not

only for the public but also within

government circles.

Don’s journalism is charac-

terized by empathy, integrity,

fearless dedication to truth, and

often a touch of humor. He gives

voice to the unheard and holds

institutions accountable. His

byline is a trusted symbol for our

readers—and a cornerstone of the

Weekly Register-Call’s mission to

serve our community.

For these reasons and others, I

strongly recommend Don Ireland

for the News Leader Award.

backgrounds make him a trusted voice

in Gilpin County. People talk to Don—

because they know he’s listening.

“…His coverage of the ongoing legal

and social debate surrounding a sexu-

ally oriented business seeking to open

in Central City has been exclusive,

courageous, comprehensive, and fair.

When the business invited citizens on

a so-called “Strip Trip” to tour their

Denver locations, Don didn’t flinch — he

went, observed, and reported with clarity

and professionalism. He even endured

friendly ribbing for his inclusion on the

Strip Trip from the community — and

WR-C publisher Bob Sweeney

said during the presentation that he

would often tell Ireland about a story.

Ireland’s reply would usually be, “I

For his part, Ireland was uncharac-

teristically speechless after the an-

nouncement of the award. Don’s wife,

Lynn, was also surprised and thrilled

by the award.

Don Ireland with WR-C Publisher Bob Sweeney after the

awards ceremony.

Photo by Gerri Sweeney

State Sen. Dylan Roberts was presented with

the Legislative Collaboration Award during the

convention for “championing transparency in

modifying the Wildlife Damage Protection of

Personal Information bill that protects personal

information from being disclosed when dealing

with wildlife. Roberts represents Gilpin County

and other counties in northwest Colorado.

Photo by Bob Sweeney

Founders’ Day returns after hiatus

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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Founders’ Day returns after hiatus

PAGE 2 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL PAGE 3 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALLAugust 21, 2025

Come with me to the 146th

Annual Colorado Press Associa-

Delta Hotel in Thornton. The

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