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CU Buffs take center stage of sports in Colorado

Brandon Rivera
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CU Buffs take center stage of sports in Colorado

For some, college football has been the little brother of the NFL since the start of the professional football. Football fans from coast to coast consider the end of summer and the start of fall the best time of year for sports and while college football has been a staple in America society for over a century, the NFL has lead the way as the most watched sport amongst all sports across the U.S. That is until the Prime effect.

Photo courtesy: CU Football Instagram

Over the weekend the Coach Prime led Colorado Buffaloes hosted their in state rivals, the Colorado State Rams (CSU) for the Rocky Mountain Showdown, for a rivalry game, almost as old as the state itself.

In the week leading up to the game, CSU Rams coach Jay Norvell made a statement on ESPN that seemed to be directed solely at coach Prime. Norvell said, “I don’t care if they hear it in Boulder. I told them, I took my hat off and I took my sunglasses off. I said when I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat off and my glasses off. That’s what my mother taught me. (CU’s) not going to like us no matter what we say or do.”

This became fuel for coach Prime, his staff and the players heading into Saturday night’s primetime game, which drew ESPN’s biggest prime time audience at 9.3 million viewers and 11.1 million peaking viewers becoming the fifth most watched college football game ever.

The Rams were 23.5-point underdogs in Saturday’s matchup however; you would have never guessed it by the half.

The first quarter was one of the most productive first quarter in state history (both local and professional) as both teams managed to score a combined 28 points with two decisive turnovers by both teams. The Rams scored in the second leading the Buffs heading into the half.

In the third the Buffs and Rams held one-another to no additional points but in the fourth the Buffs down 17-28 after a field goal from CU and a touchdown from CSU. Colorado added a 41-yard field goal with 7.33 left. CU’s defense stiffened and was able to get Colorado’s quarterback Shedeur Sanders back on the field for one last march down the field.

Photo courtesy: CU Football Instagram

With less than a minute left to play in regulation, S. Sanders connected with Jimmy Horn Jr. for the touchdown and then found Tight End Michael Harrison in the back of the end zone for the two-point conversion to tie the game. CU and CSU went into overtime tied 28 – 28.

The first overtime score came from a 3-yard touchdown connection from S. Sanders to Michael Harrison again to take a 35-28 lead. CSU answered with an 8-yard pass from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to Tory Horton (his top receiver of the day).

The final score came in the 2 Sanders connected with Michael Harrison yet again on an 18-yard pass, followed up by a 2-point conversion. CSU was unable to answer and CU bested CSU in the 2023 Rocky Mountain Showdown 43-35. 

This week the number 19th ranked CU Buffs will take on the number 10 ranked Oregon Ducks on Saturday September 23.

In other sports the Denver Broncos lost at home again to the Washington Commanders dropping to 0 -2. The Broncos will face the Miami Dolphins in Miami this Sunday at 11 a.m.

A new COVID variant’s already here, be prepared

Ernest Gurulé
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A new COVID variant’s already here, be prepared

That early morning chill that has brought blankets out of storage is one sign that seasons are changing. Another is postings from local health departments that we’re moving into cold, flu and COVID season. Yes. There’s a new COVID variant on its way, in fact, it’s already here.

While we have learned how deadly a virus can be—the pandemic taught us volumes—public health officials don’t think this new variant will have anywhere near the impact of COVID-19. It brought the nation to its knees, upending American life, everything from education to the economy.

Over a period of two-plus years beginning in 2020, the pandemic killed more than a million Americans and another estimated 15 million worldwide. It also left millions of others with long-term health issues. It’s no time to panic, said Pueblo County’s Alicia Solis, but it would be wise to be paying attention.

“All of the information I have received,” said Solis, Pueblo County’s Program Manager in the office of Communicable Disease and Emergency and Response, “(says)we are in pretty good standing.” The communicable disease specialist, however, stops well short of even hinting we’re in the clear. In fact, Solis suggests going back to best practices of the pandemic.

“Wash your hands regularly, wear masks and disinfect surfaces,” just to be safe, she suggests. Also, when a vaccine becomes available, give serious consideration to getting it.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends the vaccine for everyone six months of age and above.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recorded slightly more than 63.000 cases of COVID-19 in Pueblo County with 900 deaths. There were 14,502 deaths statewide. Solis said the majority of COVID deaths were “older adults.”

No county escaped the wrath of COVID. Alamosa County, the nerve center of the San Luis Valley, also took the viruses best shot. The county, with a population of just over 16,000 reported 6,080 cases of covid and 69 deaths.

While life has pretty much returned to normal in this country, COVID is still very much an everyday reality. The new virus, christened Eris by the CDC, has accounted for 21 percent of all current U.S. COVID cases as of early September. In all, nine U.S. states have become landing points for the new variant, including Colorado.

Solis, a fifth generation Puebloan., cautions against anyone thinking that the new variant portends anything close to the COVID era. Still, she remembers well feeling a bit uncertain about things when reports began trickling in about a previously unknown virus from China.

“I remember it like it was yesterday,” the public health official said. In late November 2019, she recalled, there were reports about “a new emerging virus.” In short order, she began reading that the still unidentified virus “was getting closer.” Just as world health agencies began counting cases globally—around March—Pueblo got its first case. “What we didn’t know is what direction it would take.” Soon, her city and the whole country would find out.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration is working with vaccine manufacturers to ensure the new shot meets all safety requirements but there has been no announced date when it will be available to the public.

While health experts are hoping for a release date that beats the arrival of cold and flu season—usually mid-November—its arrival date remains unknown.

One big reason for the concern is that the shot’s effectiveness doesn’t usually take hold for two weeks after inoculation. But working in the public’s favor, say doctors, is that many, if not most Americans, are heading into the cold and flu season with a degree of immunity from previous covid vaccinations.

The county’s efforts at getting citizens vaccinated did not go as well as it would have liked, said Solis. Sites set up for vaccinations had Army and local law enforcement personnel nearby. Their presence, she said, “deterred a lot of people from getting vaccinated…we began giving (shots) in smaller places.” Ultimately, the department would have liked to have reached more people.

When the vaccine for the new variant does become available, Solis said that one element of the plan for getting shots into people’s arms is to create sites in “smaller places,” even going to where people work and “giving them to employees.”

The challenges of mental illness

David Conde
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The challenges of mental illness
David Conde, Senior Consultant for International Programs

The idea of being called crazy has historically been part of humorous exchanges between people. Much of it comes from the fear of being branded as such or having problems of that kind and trying to hide it.

Throughout my early life I ran into some older (usually old) people that displayed what us kids considered odd behavior. The teasing these people received from the children and some adults was a commonplace response. Another type of usual response was that given to the two soldiers in the field by General George Patton in World War II. Although Patton suffered serious consequences that kept him out of the war until the Normandy invasion, that kind of thinking kept, especially men, from showing this side of their mental state.

At the same time, it was the same state of mind displayed by men returning from war and military service that began to change family attitudes toward the illness. In my family, death of one of our returning warriors visited us as a result of the Iraq invasion.

The transfer of the concern from a mental illness associated with war to a more generalize view of its effects caused mostly by our lifestyle was brought to the limelight by COVID when most had to retreat to their homes and live an isolated existence for three years. The sense of solitude caused by the circumstance exacerbated that trend especially among the new Millennial Generation.

The Millennial generational trend describes a preference to communicate on cell phones, computers, video and other technological facilities rather than person to person or in a group setting face to face. This represents a major change in the style of human interaction.

COVID hid some of that. But now it is out in the open. Many in the labor force prefer to work from home. That preference is part of the new style of communication that tends to also cause mental illness.

Research is indicating that almost 21 percent of adults and 11.5 percent of youth in the country are suffering from mental disorders. This represents almost 53 million people.

Inbedded in the crisis are the 15 percent of adults reporting substance abuse and the 4.8 percent considering suicide. Ninety-three and one half percent of the population has received no treatment.

Similarly, 16 percent of youth amounting to 2.7 million have reported major depression episodes. Of that number, 60 percent have received no treatment.

Of particular interest to Latinos are the 11 percent of multiracial adults that are suffering from mental issues. This is because Latinos are not only multiracial, but also have the fastest growth in interracial and interethnic marriages.

Also creeping into American mental health are cultural identity themes that appear to be caused by major and relatively rapid changes in our demography. The emergence of the new minority majority for example, is not only creating social and political division, but is also causing some confusion about what the image of an American should be.

The Latino community has a lot of experience with the matter. The centuries of carrying an identity pulled apart by a variety of cultural forces has left a mark on its very soul.

Mental illness in the United States is real and covers all of our landscape. The speed of change is a major cause.

The pressures brought by our evolution as a country are part of the baggage that can make us unwell. A lot of that can be treated individually by modern therapies. Lifestyle choices are another matter. That goes to the fabric of who we are.

The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of la Voz bilingüe. Comments and responses may be directed to News@lavozcolorado.com.

September is Newborn Screening Awareness Month

admin
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September is Newborn Screening Awareness Month

Colorado’s life-saving screenings detect 39 disorders

The Colorado Newborn Blood Spot Screening Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s State Public Health Laboratory is observing Newborn Screening Awareness Month this month by raising awareness about the importance of newborn screening.

The newborn screening program began nearly 60 years ago when it first started screening for phenylketonuria (PKU), an inherited metabolic disorder that increases the levels of a substance called phenylalanine in the blood. There are approximately 63,000 births in Colorado every year, and newborn screening is a set of tests that checks for a variety of conditions. Through newborn screening, the state lab is able to identify more than 700 children every year who are at risk of a metabolic or genetic dis- order. These children are quickly connected to specialized follow-up clinical care, resulting in improved quality of life.

“Newborn screening is critical and one of the most essential programs in the state. There are no clear signs or symptoms present, and each disorder tested has a treatment to improve the child’s health or even save their life,” said Greg Bonn, the newborn screening program manager. “The mission of our program is important to all of us because the work that we do each day helps save the lives of babies throughout Colorado.”

Some of the screened conditions include:

  • Cystic fibrosis.
  • Sickle cell disease.
  • Congenital hypothyroidism.
  • Critical congenital heart disease.

The Colorado Newborn Screening Program is a three-part system consisting of the blood spot screen, which can detect 39 disorders, the hearing screen, and the pulse oximetry screen. The blood spot screen is collected at the hospital and then sent to the state lab. The second screen is collected at the primary care provider office between 8-14 days of age.

The program runs six days a week, including holidays, in order to ensure timely testing, reporting, follow-up, and education of these disorders. For more information, visit Newborn Screening’s webpage or email cdphe_conbs@state.co.us.

Our Government

admin
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Our Government

White House

Statement from President Joe Biden on the Return of American Detainees from Iran: “Five innocent Americans who were imprisoned in Iran are finally coming home. Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, Emad Sharghi, and two citizens who wish to remain private will soon be reunited with their loved ones—after enduring years of agony, uncertainty, and suffering. I am grateful to our partners at home and abroad for their tireless efforts to help us achieve this outcome, including the Governments of Qatar, Oman, Switzerland, and South Korea. I give special thanks to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, and to the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, both of whom helped facilitate this agreement over many months of difficult and principled American diplomacy.”

Colorado Governor

Governor Polis signed an Executive Order directing state agencies to reduce air pollution from state operations and advance water conservation at state facilities. This executive action builds on the previous success of the Polis administration’s greening government initiatives focused on reducing the state government’s greenhouse gas emissions and protecting water throughout Colorado.

Denver Mayor

Mayor Mike Johnston submitted the city’s 2024 budget proposal to the City Council. His 2024 budget responds to Denverites’ need for a city that is affordable, safe, sustainable, and vibrant for everyone. “Every budget is a moral document, it is an affirmation of our values and a roadmap to deliver a city that lives up to its greatest potential,” said Mayor Johnston in his letter to City Council, city employees, and residents of Denver. “In my first budget as your Mayor, we are positioning our city to respond quickly and decisively to our toughest challenges and take advantage of our greatest opportunities. I deeply believe the challenges we face as a city are solvable, and we will be the ones to solve them.”

A Week In Review

Joseph Rios
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A Week In Review

Africa

South Africa city deals with water shortage

Authorities in Johannesburg, South Africa are telling residents to use less water because of an intense water shortage. Residents have been asked to shower for two minutes, limit flushing toilets and to only wash cars on weekends using buckets. Authorities also asked residents to stop filling swimming pools and to avoid watering gardens and lawns. Some of the city’s institutions like hospitals have gone without water in recent weeks.

UN releases report on war crimes in Ethiopia

War crimes and crimes against humanity are still common in parts of Ethiopia even after a peace deal between the government and regional forces from Tigray. Details of war crimes and crimes against humanity were recently documented in a report by the UN that described the situation in Ethiopia as extremely grave. Human rights groups also recently accused Ethiopia’s government of arresting, detaining and torturing civilians.

Asia

China talks security with Russia

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi will visit Russia to discuss security talks. China is accused of supporting Russia indirectly during the war in Ukraine but has denied those allegations. Recently, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un visited with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Wang’s trip could lay the foundation down for Putin to travel to Beijing in the near future.

Netflix actress runs for vice president in Taiwan

Tammy Lai was chosen as Taiwan billionaire Terry Gou’s running mate in Taiwan’s January presidential election. Lai was featured in the Netflix show “Wave Makers,” a series that sparked a MeToo movement in Taiwan earlier this year. Gou is the founder of iPhone maker Foxconn and is running as an independent. He described Lai as an outstanding, all-round writer and spiritual mentor when he said she would be his running mate.

Europe

Grain ship arrives in Ukraine

Cargo ships carrying grain have reached the Ukraine after traveling through the Black Sea. It is the first time civilian ships have reached a Ukraine port since a deal fell through with Russia that would’ve ensured the safety of vessels. The cargo ships will eventually deliver wheat to Egypt and Israel, Ukraine’s agricultural ministry said. Russia has previously threatened to treat civilian ships sailing to Ukraine as potential military targets.

Dinosaur skeleton to be featured at Paris auction

A 150 million year-old camptosaurus dinosaur skeleton will be sold at a Paris auction next month. The skeleton was discovered in the 1990s in Wyoming and is well preserved. Known as Barry, the dinosaur is considered to be one of the most complete of skulls ever documented of its kind. It is expected to sell for up to $1.2 million. Earlier this year, a Tyrannosaurus rex was sold at auction for the first time in Europe.

Latin America

Plane crash in Brazil kills 14 people

At least 14 people were killed over the weekend when a plane crashed during bad weather in the Brazilian Amazon. The plane was near the end of its route when it went down. Local news in Brazil said the plane and its crew met all the necessary requirements to be flying. Among the victims included 12 passengers and two crew members. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

Colombia artist Fernando Botero passes

Fernando Botero, a world-famous artist who became famous for his sculptures and paintings of corpulent figures, has passed at the age of 91. The Colombian artist’s work featured oversized people and animals. Colombia President Gustavo Petro called Botero “the painter of our traditions and defects, the painter of our virtues.” Botero was suffering from pneumonia and was living in Monaco. He was also known for addressing politics and other serious subjects with his art.

North America

America/Iran reach prisoner swap deal

Five Americans who have been jailed in Iran have been released and returned to the United States. Among those who are being released include Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, and environmentalist Morad Tahbaz. Meanwhile, five Iranians imprisoned in jails in the United States are also being granted clemency. However, not all of those prisoners are expected to return to Iran. Talks for the prisoner swaps began in February of last year.

Car workers strike

Around 13,000 workers for America’s biggest car-makers walked off at three plants owned by General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. Workers are fighting over terms of new labor agreements. President Joe Biden said “no-one” wanted industrial action but added he understands the workers frustration. Workers are seeking a 40 percent pay raise and pointed to the pay wages earned by company bosses who received compensation packages worth more than $20 million last year.

Opill, over the counter birth control pill now available

Ernest Gurulé
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Opill, over the counter birth control pill now available

It has not been the best of times for American women and their ability to make personal choices about health care and specifically about reproductive rights. Last June 6th, the United States Supreme Court overruled the landmark Row v Wade decision allowing women to exercise their own choices on the right to abortion. In doing so, the Court negated a half century of settled law.

The majority ruling, which came as no surprise, was accompanied by Justice Sam Alito’s affirmation that the 1973 high court decision allowing abortion was “egregiously wrong” and “must be overturned.” Months before the early summer decision, a leaked draft signaling the Court majority’s intention to rule on Roe and thought to be the work of Alito, made the announcement a foregone conclusion. Alito has denied he leaked anything and a subsequent investigation into how the document made the light of day has turned up no proof that it was him who leaked nor has it zeroed in on anyone, including high court clerks, who might have made the draft public. Still, doubts linger on the veracity of his denial.

But just weeks after the Dobbs decision, the name attached to the law overturning Roe, the Food and Drug Administration ruled that an approved hormonal birth control pill—Opill—could be sold over the counter. The July 13th FDA announcement allowed the pill to be sold in stores and online in early 2024. Buying the pill will not be accompanied by any age restrictions.

For many teenage girls and women, the FDA decision means that access to birth control will require neither a doctor’s prescription nor health insurance, impediments for many with neither a doctor nor medical insurance.

The FDA decision has been uniformly endorsed by Planned Parenthood and its president/CEO Alexis McGill Johnson who called the decision one based on “essential health care.” The FDA announcement, she said, follows the science and removes an unnecessary barrier to accessing basic health care. Birth control, she said, “is a critical part of protecting our reproductive freedom, especially as states across the country continue to double down on their unpopular abortion bans and restrictions.”

Pro-life groups who hailed the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe decried the FDA’s decision to sanction over-the-counter birth control. The decision—one that doesn’t require doctors—makes it “easier for criminals to cover up their sexual abuse and statutory rape crimes,” said SLA President Kristan Hawkins.

Despite opposition to the FDA decision, a Kaiser Family Foundation survey conducted in 2022 found that 77 percent of women 18 to 49 stood firmly with the decision making the pill available. Additionally, 39 percent of those surveyed said they would use the pill because it was convenient and would not require a doctors’ office visit. Objections to using the contraceptive device were made by those who thought consultation with a doctor was essential if they were to even consider using it.

Perhaps one of the pills’ biggest selling points for teenage girls is that they could have access to the pill without either discussing it with their parents or having to visit a physician. Still, there were other young girls surveyed about the pill who were leery about taking something without knowing of any side effects. According to the research on the Opill, one side effect is unscheduled bleeding. The pill, according to the FDA, has no serious long-term risks but it is not recommended for women who have had breast cancer or a history of breast cancer in their family. Physicians also recommend that those who have had severe liver cancer avoid use.

While costs for the pill have not been made public, its manufacturer, Perrigo Company, said that it intends on keeping the price point for a 28-pill package “affordable.” It is estimated that the ultimate cost would be in the $20-$30 price range. While those figures do not seem unreasonable, a New York Times survey found that “only one in six” would be willing to pay more than $20 a month. By contrast, a package of twelve condoms costs around $10, an emergency ‘day after’ pill around $50.

Buying over-the-counter birth control pills is a giant leap from the early days of the birth control pill which came available in 1960. Within two years of its introduction, more than 1.2 million women were using birth control pills or ‘the pill,’ as it became known. The ‘pill’ ushed out the days when adult women had to discreetly ask pharmacists just to buy condoms. For many others, it also eliminated the shame in making a purchase.

The ‘pill’ also altered the course of American society. Soon after it became available and the preferred choice for family planning for millions of women, the complexion of the workforce as well as gender diversity on college campuses slowly began to change. No longer were young women relegated to staying home and taking care of growing families. For the first time, the ‘pill’ gave them and their families a freedom that previous generations could only imagine.

Remembering Arthur Martinez, a member of the Greatest Generation

Joseph Rios
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Remembering Arthur Martinez, a member of the Greatest Generation

Hispanic Heritage Series – Part 1 of V

Arthur Martinez came from the Greatest Generation and served in the U.S. Army with honor in World War II.

Martinez grew up during the Great Depression in Sugar City, Colorado and was close to his nine other brothers and sisters. His mother was born in Colorado while his dad was born in New Mexico. He shared a special bond with his siblings as the family made ends meet and preserved throughout major historical events like the war. During World War II, Martinez took part in the D-Day invasion. His family also served in the military, including his brother Everett Martinez who served in the Korean War.

Martinez lived a life of courage, honor and love and leaves behind a legacy as a Veteran and father to his five children Barbara (Robert) Maes, Beverly Martinez Grall (Stanley Davenport), Arthur Jerome Martinez, and Charles (Amelia) Martinez.

Photo courtesy: Martinez Family

The U.S. Army Veteran passed away at his home on Aug. 18 while being cared for by his family. Martinez, who passed at the age of 99, lived independently up until the end of his life.

He graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class at Sugar City High School before attending the University of Denver where he graduated with a degree in accounting. Martinez worked as an auditor for the U.S. Army and traveled all around the world for his job including in Korea and parts of the United States.

Education was pilar in the Martinez family and all of Martinez’s children went to college, Grall said.
“I think (Martinez’s family) grew up with a real sense of how important education is. They just knew that the only way they were going to get out of the poverty they grew up in was by getting an education, and the service afforded them the opportunity to do that,” said Grall. “They were smart, and they knew it. They knew that they had good brains.”

One of Martinez’s favorite activities was traveling to Twin Lakes where him and his sons built a cabin where he would go to nearly every weekend after retiring. While in Twin Lakes, Martinez enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family.

Up until a week and a half before he passed, Martinez was still living life as an active adult. He was computer literate and was described as well read by Grall.

“He was extremely disciplined, and he was very well structured. I think that’s why he lived so long,” said Grall. “He was extremely strict, but extremely fair. He gave a lot to his children but he also expected a lot of them.”

“He really was a special, special man. He was one of the last of the Greatest Generation, and we miss him,” Grall added. “I wish we had him longer.”

The wild, wild, not so Wild West

Brandon Rivera
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The wild, wild, not so Wild West

This past weekend football fans in Colorado were lucky to see four rivalry teams face off at the collegiate and professional levels.

On Saturday, Coach Deion Sanders (Coach Prime) of the (previously) number 24 ranked Colorado Buffalos faced the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Boulder for CU’s home opener. The tickets for that game skyrocketed after Coach Prime led the Buffs to their first victory of the season in Dallas last week when they defeated the runner up in last seasons National Championship, Texas Christian University (TCU).

The cheapest tickets for Saturday’s game were more expensive than tickets to all the NFL games this weekend making Boulder one of the hottest spots in football this season.

The Buffs and Cornhuskers were all defense in the first quarter with a volley of stops. By the second quarter, the Buffs capitalized on a couple turnovers which led to a field goal and later a touchdown. Just before the half, CU hit a 32 yard field goal to take a 13 – 0 lead heading into the half. In the third quarter, Nebraska cut the lead to six but

CU responded with a touchdown with just less than seven minutes left in the third to take a 20 – 7 lead over Nebraska. CU added three more before the end of the third to take a 23 – 7 lead heading into the fourth.

The Buffs added 13 more points in the fourth quarter to defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 36 – 14.

Colorado will now face the Colorado State Rams on Saturday, Sept. 16, at an in state rivalry, the Rocky Mountain Showdown, a tradition that has been strong in Colorado for decades. The Buffs are favorites heading into Saturday’s game, which has become a primetime game virtually overnight. The truth is, everyone in the country is intrigued by Coach Prime’s turnaround of the CU Football Program, which has instantly made the Buffs a national favorite.

While the Buffs have set the tone for exciting football in Colorado, the Denver Broncos became the anti-fun-to-watch team in the state.

On Sunday the Denver Broncos hosted the Las Vegas Raiders for their season home opener and while Coach Prime embraced the long school rivalry that Colorado shared with Nebraska for decades, it seemed as though the Broncos new head coach Sean Payton took a much different approach downplaying the rivalry between the Broncos and the Raiders.

His sentiment spilled onto the field as the Broncos lacked any excitement other than coach Payton’s failed onside attempt that kicked off the game.

That particular decision set the tone for the game and while the Broncos led at the half their inability to score in the second half resulted in a loss at home to the Las Vegas Raiders 17 – 16. Next week the Broncos will be at home to host the Washington Commanders who defeated the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday 20 – 16.

Colorado City, easy to miss, impossible to forget

Ernest Gurulé
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Colorado City, easy to miss, impossible to forget

The drive south from Pueblo gives a not-so-subtle hint of just why Colorado has a reputation for sheer beauty. To the east, you see the first stretch of the Great Plains, a vast expanse of mostly flat land interrupted only by periodic undulations that can only—and generously–be called hills. Still, there is a quiet beauty across these plains. They have a rugged loveliness all unto themselves. To the west, is an amazing geographic contrast. What you see are the Wet Mountains, the gem of which is Greenhorn Mountain, a peak that, depending on the sunlight, seems to have a unique and ever-changing chameleon beauty.

Getting off the interstate, the first town you encounter is Colorado City. But you need to be careful. There are no signs posted reading, ‘You are now entering Colorado City.’ Still, if you miss it and go too far, the drive is a lovely excursion and you may end up in the nearby hamlet of Rye which, by contrast to Colorado City, is a bustling metropolis. But that is just fine with the folks in Colorado City. They appreciate the quiet. It’s one of the reasons they call it home.

“We are not the touristy type of place,” said James Eccher, Colorado City’s District Manager. Of course, it is your kind of place, he added, if “you enjoy the outdoors… golfing, camping and fishing.” The town has a championship golf course that Eccher said offers specials on

“Tuesday and Thursday.” There’s also a nice sized lake within its boundaries and, of course, if camping and fishing are your cup of tea, that’s not far away.

Colorado City is an easy getaway that’s less than twenty miles from Pueblo, the place where most of its residents go for shopping, doctor visits and all the amenities of a city. That, said Ecchers, is just the way the 2,200 residents want it. Of course, if things had gone according to plan, a plan devised way back in the mid-twentieth century, it would not be the place it is today.

When Colorado City was first conceived, Ecchers said, developers saw it as a retirement community. “Lots were sold back East for people to move out to Colorado and retire.” The plan was great in theory, but theory and reality often don’t intersect. Also, it didn’t help when the developer died. His dream and death were followed by a bankruptcy.

Had theory and reality merged, buyers would have scooped up many or even all of the area’s 16,000 lots, some ranging from a fifth of an acre to others many times that size.

The developer, for reasons unknown today, also omitted two key elements of his vision. “Eighty percent or more of the lots have no access to water or sewer,” said Ecchers.

But scanning the landscape, it appears that a developers’ failed dream actually worked out well. Open space is abundant and majestic views are unobstructed. And for those who did buy into their long-ago dream of living at the foot of the Rockies, many of whom were scattered across the country, even around the world, there seems to be no memory of their disappointment. Still, the town is growing, but slowly. “We have grown in the last four years,” said the affable Ecchers. Since he’s been the town’s top-of-the-food chain administrator, growth has been “at a rate of 25-30 houses a year.”

Photo courtesy: Shopoldcolorado.com

While Colorado City remains a shadow of what a long-ago developer envisioned when he started selling lots, that doesn’t bother the 2,200 residents who today call it home. It’s close enough to Pueblo to escape ‘city life,’ yet not so far that a twenty-minute drive can’t solve the challenge of visiting a doctor, taking in a movie or doing whatever needs to be done in nearby Pueblo. Incidentally, the short drive to Pueblo is a regular thing for a lot of the town’s folks who commute to the city for work.

For historians, the area where Colorado City now sits, there’s a fascinating and bittersweet legacy. The land was once explored by Spaniards who came up from New Mexico and engaged in regular and bloody conflicts with the Comanche, the land’s original occupants. Not surprising, as is the case in so many other places, there is little trace today of the Comanche.

Incidentally, Green Mountain was originally known as Cuerno Verde, one more legacy of the Spaniards and expedition leader, Juan Bautista de Anza. It remained that way until the early 20th century when the mountain was renamed. On April 4, 1906, the U.S. Board of Geographic Names decided to use the Americanized appellation. If you happen to be traveling on I-25 south of Pueblo and find yourself wondering about it, the easily identifiable jewel of this range rises to the elevation of 12,352 feet.

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