Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

American Red Cross of Mile High

444 N. Sherman St.

Denver, CO 80203

www.redcross.org/colorado

Media Contact: Brian Szabelski

(720) 388-0515 | brian.szabelski@redcross.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Red Cross Offers Tips to Enjoy this Summer Safely

Whether you decide to hike a 14er or spend time camping outdoors, here are steps to help you stay safe.

DENVER, Colo. (May 7, 2026) — Summer is here, the time to enjoy the great outdoors and warm weather. But it’s important that everyone enjoy an emergency-free summer, so the American Red Cross of Colorado offers steps you can follow to help keep you and your loved ones safe throughout the summer.

“Across Colorado, people love to go outdoors in the summer to hike, bike, swim, or camp,” said Andrea Miller, regional chief executive officer of the Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming. “However, Colorado’s unique experiences bring with them unique risks that require careful planning. You can find more summer safety topics at redcross.org/summersafety.”

If you’re headed to a remote area with limited access to phone service and emergency help, being prepared for a potential emergency is critical:

• If an outdoors adventure is in your plans, know the level of ability of the people in your group and the environment around you. Plan accordingly. Choose trails that match your experience.
• • Check weather forecasts ahead of time and be prepared for sudden changes in the weather. Have a way to monitor updates before and during your trip, and check in with park rangers when you arrive for the latest information.
  • Remember, no place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area. If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, keep moving toward a safe shelter. When thunder roars, go indoors!
  • Outdoor activities at higher altitudes require additional preparation and precautions, especially if you are not yet acclimated to altitude.
• Pack a first aid kit to handle insect stings, sprains, cuts, bruises, and other injuries that could happen. Sprains and falls are some of the most common misfortunes travelers may face. Falls are the biggest threat, many due to poor decision-making, lack of skill, or not being properly prepared. Dehydration is also a danger, especially at altitude.
• Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR course and download the First Aid app so that you will know what to do in case help is delayed. You’ll learn how to treat severe wounds, broken bones, bites and stings, and more.
• Share your travel plans and locations with a family member, neighbor, or friend.
• Bring nutritious food items and water, light-weight clothing to layer, and supplies for any pets. Wear sunscreen and a hat.

Swimming in Lakes, Rivers, and Streams

Being water competent in natural water requires additional knowledge and skills than in the pool. Whenever you are near a lake, river, stream, or other natural water environment, watch and prepare for:

• Unexpected changes in air or water temperature.
• Thunder and lightning; leave the water immediately if you see lightning or hear thunder, even if the storm appears far away.
• Fast-moving currents, waves, and rapids, even in shallow water.
• Hazards, such as dams, underwater obstacles, or rocks and debris.
• Vegetation, animals, and fish.
• Drop-offs that can unexpectedly change water depth.
• Other people’s activities in the same waters, such as boating.

Swim safely and sober; always enter water feet first and only dive in areas clearly marked as safe for diving. Don’t enter water from a height, such as a bridge or boat, as you may not be able to see what lies under the surface.

Always wear a life jacket when boating, canoeing, or kayaking, as well as in open water or cold water.

Camping

Camping is becoming more popular every year ? in 2025, camping saw its second-highest year on record with an estimated 82.4 million people enjoying this outdoor activity. Camping safety follows many of the tips for other outdoor activities, but also includes the following:

• Build campfires at least 25 feet away from tents, shrubs, and anything that can burn.
• Use a metal screen over wood-burning fires to keep sparks from floating out.
• Turn off or put out fires before you leave the area.
• Watch children closely and store matches and lighters where they can’t get them.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

# # #

The post Red Cross Offers Tips to Enjoy this Summer Safely appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2025

Democrats championed a host of legislation during the 2025 legislative session to support military-connected Coloradans

DENVER, CO – Three laws spearheaded by Colorado Democrats to support Colorado’s veterans and their families will go into effect August 6, 2025.

HB25-1132, sponsored by Senators Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, and Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, and Representatives Sean Camacho, D-Denver, and Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood, allows funding allocated through Proposition KK, approved by voters last November, to fund eligible non-profit organizations that offer community-based mental health services to veterans and their families. To be eligible, organizations must offer evidence-based practices, provide proper competency training to staff and have established verifiable community partnerships. The bill also expands veterans’ access to complementary services, such as acupuncture and massage therapy, by directing available funds to providers.

“Since my time in the Army, I’ve become intimately familiar with the critical need for community-focused mental health services for veterans,” Hinrichsen said. “Our veterans and their families gave everything they had to protect and serve our country, and they deserve all the life-saving support we can give in return.”

“As a member of the Air Force, I have seen firsthand how military veterans and their families can struggle to access proper health care for their behavioral health issues,” said Camacho. “Voters approved Prop KK to boost funding for crime victim programs, public safety grants, and behavioral health crisis services just like the one this law funds. Military members and veterans need quality health care, and this law will boost lifesaving behavioral health support for Colorado heroes and their loved ones by implementing the will of the voters.”

“Too many of our state’s veterans struggle with PTSD, anxiety, and other life-altering mental health conditions without access to proper treatment,” Bridges said. “Voters approved Prop KK, which boosts funding for crime victim programs, public safety grants, and behavioral health services like the ones supported by this bill. This legislation provides crucial support for our service members while implementing the will of the voters.”

“Far too many military members and veterans suffer from PTSD, anxiety, and other behavioral health struggles that impact their day-to-day life without the proper treatment,” said Stewart. “With this law going into effect, we can fund community behavioral health programs and other beneficial services, improving access to the behavioral health care that veterans and their families deserve.”

HB25-1132 follows a law passed by Colorado Democrats referring a ballot measure to voters in the November 2024 election to create a new excise tax on the sale of firearms sold by gun dealers, gun manufacturers, and ammunition vendors to fund the Colorado Crime Victim Services Fund, Behavioral Health Administration, and school safety efforts. Nearly 54.5 percent of Colorado voters approved Prop KK to bolster crime victim support and behavioral health programs.

SB25-073, sponsored by Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, clarifies that Colorado students with disabilities who are children of active duty military members are entitled to the same rights to open enrollment and guaranteed matriculation as any student who lives in the public school district. It also requires school districts and charter schools to ensure those students receive the appropriate services.

“Changing schools and hopping from one military base to the next is difficult enough, and a lack of timely access to disability services exacerbates those difficulties tenfold,” said Marchman. “No child should be deprived of access to the educational pathways they need because of their background or ability. This law gives them the support they need to seize every opportunity available to them and ensure every student has the potential to succeed.”

“As a veteran and an educator, I’m excited that our new law is going into effect to break down barriers to education for students in military families,” said Martinez. “It’s very common for military families to move around every few years, and students suffer when unnecessary administrative delays prevent them from accessing the programs they need to succeed. I’m proud to have sponsored this bipartisan law that will streamline the process for military-connected children with disabilities to transition into Colorado schools to better support students and their families.”

SB25-282, sponsored by Senator Matt Ball, D-Denver, and Representative Lisa Feret, D-Arvada, protects veterans from unaccredited consultants, often called “claim sharks,” who charge money to help navigate the application process to receive benefits from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA).

The law mirrors regulations the federal government uses to regulate Social Security benefits from the Social Security Administration. It requires that businesses must unambiguously notify veterans that they can receive the same services for free from the DMVA, clearly state that they are not affiliated with the DMVA, and limit the amount of money consultants can receive from veterans’ back pay.

“Too often, those who have bravely served our country are misled into paying thousands of dollars in fees and even going into debt for services they receive for free from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs,” Ball said. “Without preventing honest consultants in the industry from doing business, this law will address the backlog in claims from the DMVA while cracking down on bad actors who mislead and defraud our nation’s veterans.”

“My fellow veterans deserve fair and safe access to services that help them get benefits they earned through their service and sacrifice for our country,” said Feret. “‘Claim sharks’ rake in millions of dollars each year from excessive fees on service members’ disability claims, sometimes when they don’t even win. Our law helps create guidelines in this unregulated space to protect disabled veterans while allowing companies to address the backlog of disability claims. I will not back down as dark money groups try to scam veterans who put their lives on the line for our country.”

The post Trio of Bills to Support Veterans and Their Families Go Into Effect appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27, 2025

CONTACT: Nina Krizman

Senate Majority Communications Director

nina.krizman@coleg.gov

913-981-3713

HB25-1132 would fund community-based programming for military members and their families.

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, and Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, to authorize existing funds to cover community-based behavioral health services for veterans and their families passed the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today.

“Since my time in the Army, I’ve become intimately familiar with the critical need for community-focused mental health services for veterans,” Hinrichsen said. “Our veterans and their families gave everything they had to protect and serve our country, and they deserve all the life-saving support we can give in return.”

“Too many of our state’s veterans struggle with PTSD, anxiety, and other life-altering mental health conditions without access to proper treatment,” Bridges said. “Voters approved Prop KK, which boosts funding for crime victim programs, public safety grants, and behavioral health services like the ones supported by this bill. This legislation would provide crucial support for our service members while implementing the will of the voters.”

HB25-1132 would allow funding allocated through Proposition KK, which passed in November, to fund eligible non-profit organizations that offer community-based mental health services to veterans and their families. To be eligible, organizations must offer evidence-based practices, provide proper competency training to staff and have established verifiable community partnerships.

Colorado Democrats passed a law referring a ballot measure to voters in the November 2024 election that would create a new excise tax on gun dealers, gun manufacturers, and ammunition vendors to fund the Colorado Crime Victim Services Fund, Behavioral Health Administration, and school safety efforts. Nearly 54.5 percent of Colorado voters approved Prop KK to bolster crime victim support and behavioral health programs.

Track HB25-1132’s progress HERE.

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About the Colorado Senate Democrats
The Senate Democratic Caucus for the 2025 legislative session includes Senators James Coleman, Robert Rodriguez, Julie Gonzales, Jeff Bridges, Jessie Danielson, Faith Winter, Chris Kolker, Nick Hinrichsen, Lisa Cutter, Dylan Roberts, Tom Sullivan, Janice Marchman, Kyle Mullica, Tony Exum, Sr., Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Marc Snyder, Cathy Kipp, Judy Amabile, Lindsey Daugherty, Mike Weissman, Iman Jodeh, Matt Ball, Katie Wallace

The post Bill to Increase Mental Health Funding for Veterans and Their Families Passes Committee appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

1966

In my frequent nightmares I was in a jungle in Vietnam, rifle bursts coming from all directions, the Vietcong slipping unseen and unseeable through the fetid night. My night sweats were jungle sweats.

I had been drafted and was in Army Basic Training, being schooled in the dark art of killing – exhorted to impale the gooks on my bayonet and to follow orders without question. I had been an indifferent and careless college student, but I was an engaged and skillful trainee.

Over the next nine months I was further indoctrinated into the craft of war, fluent in M14, M16, M60, mortar fire, hand grenades, calling for air support and shining boots and buckles to a mirror sheen. I earned a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and wore my gold bars with the pride I had lost when flunking out of college.

For the next two years I served with neither risk nor distinction, lucky in my assignments and thereby avoiding the grim choices I had imagined. Had I gotten orders for Vietnam, would I have fled to Canada or been compelled to affirm my manhood and join a war I knew to be futile and immoral? I’ll never know, but I suspect I would have submitted to the latter, as did many of my friends, who didn’t live to reconsider.

A provocative column in the New York Times raises many questions about unjust wars, soldiers and how we honor the dead on Memorial Day. The piece, written by Phil Klay, an ex-Marine, offers cogent perspectives, worthy of Memorial Day reflection.

Among Klay’s observations is the use of social and economic immobility to ensure a steady supply of military recruits. Young men and women who see limited prospects are drawn into the military for useful training, secure employment and future benefits, including the possibility of reaching the elusive goal of a college education. For many it is indeed a step up, although the ladder is often unsteady, as deployment to a war zone may be the final rung.

Klay’s analysis misses what may be the most significant dynamic in sustaining the war machine.

A great many boys and men – perhaps all of us – crave respect and recognition. (I omit women from this analysis as they comprise only 17% of our military. For many of those women, the motivations may be similar.)

Our culture offers a competitive gauntlet, where race and privilege provide a head start to some, while impeding others. There are many avenues to self-worth that are pinched closed to the vast majority of ordinary folks. Even professions that should draw wide if not universal respect are unevenly appreciated. Nurses are underpaid and overworked. Teachers are too often blamed for the problems that are caused by societal neglect or political gamesmanship. The most noble work – on behalf of the unhoused, the neglected, the fragile environment and social justice –  is largely unnoticed or ridiculed by smug critics.

The two life choices that seem sure to bring universal affirmation are the military and first responders. First responders differ in the crucial reality that there are no, or very few, controversial missions to taint their social standing. Soldiers, by contrast, are called to do noble work for an ignoble purpose. As Klay contends, and I agree, every war in which we have engaged from Vietnam forward, has been highly questionable and ultimately futile. There are, to be sure, selfless, often heroic acts that deserve admiration and respect. But saving a fellow soldier or pulling a small child out of rubble we created does not erase the broader immorality of the wider conflict.

I know from my time, and Klay confirms the contemporary truth, that many soldiers are acutely aware of the political expedience that sends them on a deadly mission with no ethical or practical justification. But as I might have done, they soldier on nevertheless. The American concept of “being a man” requires it.

The price is high, but respect is earned. It is ubiquitous. “Thank you for your service” rings warmly in the minds and hearts of many who would otherwise be invisible. “Support Our Troops” is offered unconditionally despite the meaningless loss of life our blind patriotism perpetuates. With the very brief exception of the immediate aftermath of Vietnam, a military uniform is sure to draw thanks, praise, a smile and occasionally a free beer or two.

One does not dishonor the dead by noting the causal circumstances. On Memorial Day we can both grieve the lost souls and mourn the injustices that took their lives.

It should be a time to examine the cultural and political factors that perpetuate war and that unconditionally celebrate its collateral victims.

As a bumper sticker demands, “Support Our Troops By Ending War.”

The post If Not For . . . appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

[NATIONAL]

• NPR quits Twitter after the Musk-led company slapped on a false label of “State Media” to the account.
• National Guardsman is arrested over a massive leak of Pentagon secrets, one of the largest security breaches in decades.
• DeSantis continues his clash with Disney in his latest culture wars brawl, with the company filing a lawsuit against the governor claiming he used his political power to hurt Disney.
• Buzzfeed shuts down its news division and cuts staff by 15% showing it’s more important than ever to support real journalism.
• Tucker Carlson loses his show on Fox News, a blow to disinformation and white supremacy dog whistles everywhere.
• Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony charges in the campaign finance case regarding payments to Stormy Daniels.
• Supreme Court Justice Thomas Clarence has been secretly accepting luxurious vacations and other donations over the years without properly reporting them raising questions over the Court’s biases.

[LOCAL]

• Boulder City Council removes Lisa Sweeney-Miran from the Police Oversight Panel sparking debate over the panel’s effectiveness and independence.
• Governor Polis signs several gun control bills into law including raising the minimum age to buy a weapon to 21 and imposing a waiting period.
• Dacono sets a June 27th date for the recall election of council members stemming from their surprise removal of long time city manager A.J. Euckert.
• False report of a pipe bomb in Erie at the King Sooper’s market sparks fear and highlights the growing threat of false gun and bomb reports.
• Erie Home Rule Commission completed its draft of a Home Rule Charter after four months of meeting and deliberation on the issue.

Small Talk:

“There’s so much excitement and optimism. How can you not feel good in the midst of everything else? … Our city is hungry for a new kind of leadership in these times and we’re already hard at work.” – Yemi Mobolade, on his candidacy for Mayor of Colorado Springs. He will be the city’s first Black mayor.

“I said we are in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are. The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer.” – Joe Biden announcing his bid for reelection in 2024

“Our phones should be blowing off the hook, which they are, but they should be blowing off the hook even more.” – Charles Graves, Assistant Veterans Service Officer with the El Paso County Veterans Services on new compensation program for toxic exposure

“These defendants put many lives at risk during what should have been a normal lunch hour on campus.” – CO District Attorney John Kellner on sentencing two teens in 2021 Hinkley High School shooting

“Juul lit a nationwide public health crisis by putting addictive products in the hands of minors and convincing them that it’s harmless.” – Letitia James, New York Attorney General, on $462 million settlement that includes Colorado and other states

By the Numbers:

50% – 1 out of every 2 transgender individuals experience sexual violence according to statistics by MESA

72% – Reduction in plastic bag use after Louisville passes bag tax program

4+ per week – Average number of Americans killed in mass shootings this year, a record pace so far

$38.5 Billion – Proposed total state budget sent to Governor Polis

6 Weeks – New Florida bill would ban abortion following six weeks of pregnancy in the most recent attack on reproductive rights 

$6 Billion – NFL Team Washington Commanders sell for a record amount. Why does building these stadiums need public funding again?

The post Month in Review | May 2023 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

WARNING: This article contains graphic imagery.

From the Law Offices of Harry M. Daniels LLC

Attorneys say videos show that Dalvin Gadson is lucky to be alive

December 13, 2022

Colorado Springs, CO – Attorneys for Dalvin Gadson, the 29-year-old black man and veteran beaten by officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), today released body camera videos of the October 9 beating that makes it clear how close the incident came to tragedy as, in addition to repeatedly punching and kicking Gadson in the head and back, one of the officers actually drew his firearm and was prepared to shoot the unarmed veteran.

“I [EXPLETIVE] drew down on him when you were hitting him,” one of the officers can be heard saying as he and two others laugh and talk after the beating.

Gadson is represented by national Civil Rights attorneys Harry Daniels (The Law Offices of Harry Daniels), Latrice Latin (Latin Law Group) and Bakari Sellers (The Strom Law Firm).

“It’s difficult to listen to these officers laugh and joke about beating a veteran to a bloody mess and drawing their firearm on an unarmed man,” said Daniels. “With officers this casual about the use of excessive and potentially deadly force, Dalvin Gadson is lucky to be alive.”

In addition to showing the full altercation, which officers initiated, the video shows the officers trying to explain their use of force and escalation by saying there was a knife in the car’s center console. However it  does not explain their excessive violence repeatedly punching Gadson in the head so hard that one officer split his knuckle through his gloves. Nor does it explain why the officers continued to punch and kick Gadson after he’d been pulled from the car and was on the ground.

“There’s no excuse for the excessive violence and brutality these officers used against Mr. Gadson,” said Sellers. “No matter what excuse they try to manufacture, the fact is that they beat an unarmed man, a veteran, and they should be charged.”

Click HERE to view body camera videos of the incident.

Click HERE for photos of Gadson and officers following the beating.

“Colorado Springs Police Department faces another allegation of excessive force” (NPR)

The post Video Released of Colorado Police Beating Black Veteran appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Location: Broomfield Veterans Museum, Photos by Paul Wedlake Studios

What Does it Mean When We Say: “Thank You for Your Service”?

We spoke with military veterans for this installment of The Heroes. Lew Roman, board president of the Broomfield Veterans Museum, defined a hero as someone who saves someone else’s life. A more nuanced definition would include going above and beyond to help others.

Like many heroes we’ve covered up until this point, they were all hesitant to refer to themselves as heroes. In some cases, it’s modesty. In others, their reluctance may be fueled by disappointment with their experience in the service or when they returned home as civilians. Still, they were all quick to acknowledge the heroism that their peers demonstrate in service to our country as well as in their day-to-day lives.

It’s important to remember that, in addition to combat operations, the six branches of the military train young people to become teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police officers, among many other professions. So, the military may be the most productive training ground for heroes.

Even so, there is no monolithic “veteran experience.” While many veterans lead successful lives after their service, they’re also at increased risk of mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness. When those individuals fall through the cracks, their fellow veterans often step up to help. Their service doesn’t end when they trade in their uniforms for street clothes.

Broomfield Veterans Museum all photos taken by Paul Wedlake Studios, ltr: Josh Gehrels, Samantha Gehrels, Brian Augustine, Leon Bartholomay, Jennifer Parenti

Samantha Gehrels: U.S. Army

Samantha Gehrels joined the U.S. Army after she graduated high school. She was trained in military intelligence before joining the National Security Agency where her primary responsibility was to intercept and decode signals. “We’re not just talking about emails and phone calls,” she said. “We got images of a billboard that had encrypted information on it. That information revealed the position of enemy troops and was used to direct American troops away from hazardous locations. We used that information to save lives.”

Gehrels became a military trauma medicine specialist before earning a master’s degree in nursing. Now, she’s a nurse practitioner who specializes in palliative and hospice care. “In the field, we’re trying to stop severe bleeding and get them to the hospital as quickly as possible,” she said. “In hospice, we know the end is near. My job is to help them come to terms with the end.”

When caring for veterans, she feels grateful for her experience in the military. “The military is more than a job,” she said, “it’s a way of life. I connect quickly with veterans because we’ve had similar experiences. They can reflect and reminisce with me in ways they can’t with a civilian,” she continued. “Helping them find peace at the end is very important to me. That’s what keeps me going.”

Josh Gehrels: U.S. Army

Compelled by the events of 9/11, Josh Gehrels joined the U.S. Army as an 18 Delta. “That’s Special Forces, Medical Sergeants,” he said. Josh and Samantha met roughly 12 years ago, when they were leading trauma medicine training in North Carolina. Before long, Josh was helping Samantha fence in her 8-acre horse property in the scorching summer sun. “That’s love right there,” Josh said via phone.

As the Gehrels prepare to celebrate their tenth anniversary, he was somewhere in Africa working as a contractor with the Department of Defense. “We take somebody who is having a very bad day,” he said, “and we try to make it better. We try to get them home to their families.” Josh said that he feels the need to get home to his family too, as the sacrifices — the missed birthdays, sporting events, and graduations — weigh heavily upon him. “A lot of people think we’re afraid of the loss of life or limb, but really, we’re scared of missing our families grow.”

When asked about the heroes in his life, Josh spoke quickly and sincerely. “Samantha is the reason our situation works,” he said. “When she’s not caring for people on their deathbeds, she’s caring for our three children. She’s a strong woman who was made stronger by her military service. It teaches you to be more selfless while rising to numerous and ever-changing challenges.”

Josh appreciates it when strangers thank him for his service, but he wishes there was more awareness about challenges common among veterans. “Many are suffering from mental illness, homelessness, substance abuse,” he said. “For some, it’s harder to go to work every day than it is to live in a combat zone.”

Brian Augustine: U.S. Army

Brian Augustine served in the U.S. Army from 1979 to 1981, when he was discharged. “I had a mental breakdown in Germany after my girlfriend left me,” Augustine said. “I had no American friends, I was so lonely. After that, they said I was ‘unable to adapt to military life.'”

Augustine works as a writer and vendor for the Denver Voice, an independent weekly whose mission is to address the “roots of homelessness by telling stories of people whose lives are impacted by poverty and homelessness….” He became homeless after a house he bought with his brother was repossessed. “My brother took out some loans I didn’t know about,” Augustine said, “and they took our house.”

Up until the pandemic, Augustine earned enough money through writing to rent a room on Capitol Hill, which was no small feat, considering he taught himself to read with a dictionary and a copy of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” But as rent skyrocketed across the nation, Augustine’s savings were quickly depleted. “I can no longer afford that room,” he said.

As he turns 61 in July, he’s preparing to live on the streets again. While there are a number of programs set up to help the 40,000 veterans who face homelessness on any given night in the U.S., Augustine said it’s harder to find a home when contending with mental health challenges, “which affects our self-esteem,” he said. “The Bible says that we ought to love our neighbor as we love ourselves — but what happens if I don’t love myself?”

Augustine dreams of having a home of his own again. “A house,” he said, “with enough land to keep a bunch of dogs. To make them happy makes me happy.”

Leon Bartholomay: U.S. Marine Corps

Leon Bartholomay joined the 1st Marine Division, 11th Marines Regiment, an artillery battalion, in 1968. Before long, he was in Vietnam helping to defend his compound from what he called a mini Tet Offensive. “A group tried to overrun us,” Bartholomay said, “but they tried to run through two posts where machine guns had been set up. That didn’t work out too well.” The following morning, Bartholomay said, “we collected about 20 bodies.”

Today, Bartholomay is the coda master and adjutant of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2601 in Longmont. The VFW is a fraternal organization where veterans can connect with other veterans. “We help them get connected to the Veterans Affairs for medical care,” Bartholomay said, “We help them with their G.I. Bill. When they can’t get mental healthcare, we listen.”

Echoing Josh Gerhels’ concerns, Bartholomay said that 22 veterans die by suicide each day. “That has to stop,” he said. “The World War I veterans helped us. Now, they’re gone. As we go — most of us Vietnam veterans are in our 70s — the next generation will need to take our place.”

Jennifer Parenti: U.S. Air Force

As a young woman, Jennifer Parenti dreamed of becoming an astronaut. To achieve her dream, she needed a degree in engineering, and she’d need to attend flight school. She was accepted into the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs after graduating high school. “They provide you with four years of education and a stipend in exchange for four years of service,” Parenti said. She gave the U.S. Air Force 20 years of service before she retired.

Her dream to become an astronaut was dashed by a medical disqualification, so she became an engineer. Then she joined the International Airmen Program, the diplomatic arm of the Air Force. In that role, Parenti worked to foster collaboration between the U.S. Air Force and other like organizations around the world. “If we go to war,” she said, “we’re able to collaborate with air forces from other countries.” After working at the Pentagon and the U.S. Embassy in Paris, Parenti was hired by NATO to continue the same work.

Parenti returned to Colorado in 2019, where she’s running for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives. “I’m running on a traditional progressive platform,” she said. “Housing affordability is an issue in the 19th District. Transportation instability is an issue. Environmental conservation is important to me.” All those issues are entwined, she said, and veterans are disproportionately affected. “Whether I’m elected or not,” she said, “I will keep fighting for our veterans.”

Lew Roman: U.S. Navy

Lew Roman said that his path to becoming Board President of the Broomfield Veterans Museum was not a heroic one. “A hero is someone who saves someone else’s life,” Roman said. “I didn’t save anybody. I just kept the shelves stocked.” Roman joined the U.S. Navy in November 1968, because he “didn’t want to get drafted by the Army and sent to Vietnam.” Instead, he was sent to storekeeper school in Rhode Island. “Then I was shipped off to Vietnam to run a store aboard a barge,” he said, laughing. “That’s poetic justice.”

After spending a year there, he returned to the States to earn a degree in accounting. He joined the U.S. Post Office as a clerk in 1986, retiring 20 years later. “Then, I got really bored,” he said. “I had to find something to do.” So, Roman joined the Broomfield Veterans Museum’s collections department and was put in charge of the display and exhibition committee. Today, as the president of the board, he sees his job as preserving the stories of heroes. “If we don’t preserve these stories, they’ll be lost,” he said.

“When we thank veterans for their service, we should know what we’re talking about.”

The post The Heroes: Veterans of Boulder County appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Self-described “Conservative Christian” Dan Woog, current State House Representative for Colorado House District 63 and candidate for House District 19, sat in the Colorado House Tuesday, January 18, 2022, the day after Martin Luther King Day, with his fellow Republicans and voted down the renewal of the Voting Rights Act.

Republicans presented and voted, Woog included, amendments that congratulated and commended the terrorist attack on January 6 of 2021, leaving seven dead.

Other amendments that were proposed focused on votes received of citizens recorded as deceased and other voter fraud claims. Pushing the language that Colorado is hard on voter fraud and a suggested forensic audit of the 2020 election, Republicans other than House Minority Leader McKean, stated Biden had NOT won the 2020 Presidential election. These and other outlandish amendments were dismissed by House Democrats, yet Woog and his fellow Republicans continued to vote in favor of questionable bills. One amendment proposed regarded groups that GOP claimed were not knowledgeable enough to vote or appoint a set of electors to properly “control the conduct of elections” and referred to mail-in voting errors with unfavorable election outcomes.

Woog was eager to show his love of Martin Luther King Jr with a Facebook post made on Monday stating; “Today we remember Martin Luther King, Jr. and his contributions to the civil rights movement. We must continue to live by his ideals of hope and love.”

Dan Woog-Facebook

His own words seemingly left his mind the VERY next day, as he voted no on the Voting Rights Act.

The rest of his social media feed reflects the actual values of Woog, focusing on harmful ideas that go against CDC guidelines, stating in a tweet on October 25, 2021, that mask mandates are the cause of the worker shortage in CO. “As sickening as these numbers are, the bigger disgrace is the unconstitutional mandates that created thousands of jobs lost for so many hard-working tenants.” The State House Representative also supported an amendment back in August 2021, which favored reducing funding for the CO. Department of Public Health and Environment.

Dan Woog – Facebook

We spoke with Woog’s opponent for House District 19, Jennifer Parenti, about the vote on January 18th and the amendment votes that followed. Parenti, a veteran and single mother, took to the campaign trail after the attack on January 6th last year.

“These are not the values our country is built on. No one should be out there thanking and congratulating people who commit crime. The people caught on January 6th in the Capital, they’re going to jail. I am a veteran, and I served for over 20 years between the Air Force and NATO. People like me, that they seem to hold in such high regard as veterans, spent our entire careers defending against these attacks against our democracy. Today at the Capitol, the Republicans, by and large Dan amongst them, voted against the history of the Voting Rights Act that was first signed in 1965. This Voting Rights Act is what Martin Luther King Jr. was marching for. They are saying we support Martin Luther King Jr., then the next day they’re voting against the Voting Rights Act.” 

Woog’s Twitter post from last year’s celebration on January 17, 2021, sits as a reminder of a promise broken, “Let us always remain committed to upholding his legacy and meeting our sacred obligation to protect the unalienable rights of all Americans.”

When asked whether she thought there was any particular motive behind Woog’s actions, Parenti noted the connection of prioritizing the rights of minority groups within the Voting Rights Act. “The federal legislation is geared toward protecting minority voting rights. We are fortunate to have a fair and open democracy here in Colorado. He’s not willing to sign a piece of paper that says, ‘I support Federal Voting legislation that will support minority voting rights.’ I think that’s pretty clear his actions speak for themselves.”

With Woog’s intentions made clear, it brings into question whether he is genuinely the right candidate in his current position with the State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee. The committee oversees the safety and celebration of veterans, active military members and voting affairs. His decision to thank those who breached the Capital goes against the very oath he took in defending the U.S. Constitution.

Yellow Scene Magazine attempted to contact Woog for comment. He would not speak to us, yet released an official statement on Facebook regarding his vote of the Voting Rights Act, which stated: “We have one of the best, if not, the best Clerk in the State in Weld County. I am proud of the tireless work that Carly Koppes does to keep our elections secure.” His statement has made it clear Woog has one thing on his mind, keeping in good standing with the Weld County Clerk, Republican Carly Koppe. 

Dan Woog – Facebook

The post Dan Woog Praises Insurrectionists, Yet Votes Against MLK Voting Rights Bill – While Praising MLK appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

I’m sitting in an army tent draped in string lights. The propane heater ran out as the barrel furnace became operational. A crew of happy hardworking stove fixers extended the chimney another few feet to stop the smoke from billowing back into the room. One of them cut his hand getting tools from the truck, and his blood froze in the open air. The cold is deeper towards the tent walls, where bottles of water sit frozen, useless. By the stove, it can be unbearable. The Goldilocks zone is somewhere between 18?-36? from the barrel, where liquid melts but doesn’t evaporate. This is congruent with our planet’s distance from the sun. Right now, my hands are on the keyboard over Neptune.

As I write, I’m using my hand warmers to soften pieces of chocolate and keep my cell phone battery from succumbing to the freezing temperatures. A Baefeng FM transceiver periodically crackles on the dedicated medical and media channels, telling me stories that are too numerous to capture. Indoors, my nose is dripping – outside, handsome icicles form. Stopping Dakota Access, staying unified, and surviving the elements have all become ongoing tasks at Standing Rock.

Triage

The picture used to describe “triage” in grade school was a soldier hiding behind a log, shooting at Indians. One Indian was leaping over the log with a tomahawk in hand, while the soldier shot at the Indian on a far hill. The question was posed, “What’s wrong with this picture?”

Our triage today is to keep our bodies and our faith warm ahead of stopping Dakota Access, or, what is also called the “Black Snake.” It is not just a threat to water in the minds of Water Protectors. It is also a spiritual threat. As we descend into winter, our fires must stay lit.

The sacred fire was allowed to die yesterday. In a sense, it was the spiritual core of the camp. It was allowed to go out by the native men who had initially envisioned it. Their higher power instructed them to let it die. When I asked the son of one of the men, he told me the fire would be within us. We scrambled in the media room to find a way to report this. My editor asked me to come back from camp up to Cannonball to help in the effort, but before I left, a native woman spoke to me.

“So what?” said rhetorically. “A fire goes out. What does it mean? Another will be lit. I hope you miss your deadline. And what is your faith, exactly?”

“I’m just reporting the voice of the camp – I have no spiritual agenda here. Are you threatened by me writing about it?”

“I’m not threatened. I didn’t say that. Now you’re putting words in my mouth.”

“Well, why do you want me to miss my deadline?”

The interaction faded amicably, but I couldn’t understand her reasoning. Non-native reporters are, perhaps, not the best candidates to speak about spiritual matters. But we needed a simple explanation for the website

Every day in Oceti Sakowin Camp Media we wage an under-slept struggle to maintain the voice of the camp to the outside world via multimedia and copy. We clarify the will of leadership to the Water Protectors of Standing Rock, too. Because the media center is located in a gymnasium, mess hall cum emergency shelter, we also double as stewards of the refugees from the camp who have failed to protect themselves from the elements. Cots line the basketball court. Water is filled there by Jay, the water man. Donations are sorted by Kai and Sunny. The kitchen feeds everyone in the building. We even feed the native seniors when their dedicated food donations do not show up. At night, the painful lives of the reservation come drifting in for coffee, sometimes intoxicated, and stand over us as we hunch over our laptops, examining the novel occupation in their town. We also answer emails – thousands of them.

Regardless, I was concerned about the fire going out. Although it was politically incorrect, I, too, prayed with tobacco and cedar there. We all prayed there to collect ourselves and refocus our minds. Not being native, I try to refrain from appropriating traditions that aren’t mine, lest I suffer some kind of indigenous Jerusalem Syndrome. But it mattered to everyone. It was a fiery incantor, a Wailing Wall, friend and ally.

Before midnight, the youth had lit a new fire – the Unity Fire. During the first prayer around it, a dissenter spoke up. This person was one of the original sacred fire inceptors. They told the people not to put prayers into this fire – it had been put out for a reason – and we would be responsible for the Black Snake going under the river if we continued. Then, a new member of Standing Rock spoke up. His name was Chase Iron Eyes. He diplomatically calmed the youth and appeased the elders. The fire should die out, and another lit in ceremony. The process by which a thing becomes sacred in native communities is beyond this author’s expertise. Suffice it to say, it is not a democratic process. As an ally to the movement, I abide by their ways.

When an eagle flies overhead at Standing Rock, the people look up. They see a sign from the Great Spirit. They believe that the Great Spirit called us to Standing Rock to oppose the Black Snake’s attempt to bite the water of life. Fires are lit and consecrated as sacred. A Sacred Fire is a multidimensional object, existing in this world and as something we carry within us. In this way, we align ourselves to the same piece of land for the same purposes.

Stocks and State Policy

When the veterans arrived over a week back, the gym took on a goodly load of eager soldiers ready to serve the cause. I walked out to the bridge where the police barricades are set up, only to be told by one vet to turn around. On his chest was a “Homeland Security” patch (his day job, so he said). When I asked why, he told me, “For your protection.”

That’s what the police had been telling us from the start…

Camp was ill-prepared to accept the 2000 vets, and as a result, their deployment was not easily integrated or successful. The next day, the Army Corps of Engineers denied the necessary easement for Dakota Access to drill beneath Lake Oahe. This was hailed as our victory, for a few hours; then it faded. Some vets remained, but the rest marched out of town to Flint, Michigan, to demand that their water be fixed. Before they left, many dropped to their knees to formally beg forgiveness from the native community. Within a few days, Congress passed a bill to fix the water pipes in Flint.

That brief victory against Dakota Access was compounded when a federal court in D.C. upheld the easement denial. Their next appeal is in February after Trump takes office. They claim to have lost 450 million, and 20 million each week hereafter. It will be close to a billion dollars in losses, which is close to the annual revenue expected from transporting crude to Illinois from the Bakken via Dakota Access. This, too, is another victory. Although their stock has not yet dropped, some advisers are telling investors to avoid investing in Energy Transfer Partners.

Curiously, the helicopter is still flying, and infiltrators still reside in the camp. Recently, the internet cable in Oceti Sakowin was cut by a saboteur. People’s phones still turn on voice recorders and scroll internet sites, possessed by malware and digital interference. The drill is still putting out smoke in a vertical dive into the earth, and satellite imagery over the site is strangely out-of-date compared with surrounding maps.

I had the privilege of talking with an inside man, so to speak, who had worked in the oil industry all of his life. He was privy to the mindset of the men behind infrastructure projects like Dakota Access. These were not simply savage, greedy men who operated without conscience. In fact, their reasoning reached higher than the concerns of the average citizenry. These men believed – to their core – that they needed oil in ample supply in order to maintain the economy, geopolitical stability and domestic security. The crazy part wasn’t that I agreed with that assessment. Worse, I believed they had moral ground to stand on.

But what does that look like, exactly?

I am the descendant of a systematically slaughtered people. On my father’s side, our family came from Russia and Lithuania. Ninety percent of Lithuanian Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany. One group decided another group had to go, either because they believed it or because it helped them control the greater masses by demonizing minorities. My mother’s side are mutts, but her father was the son of two Jewish orphans from New York City. Our people have been scattered and hunted by the greater culture because our story is different. When I see Standing Rock, in all of her imperfect attempts to unify, it breaks my heart in ways most people might not understand. Because it is undeniably a slower version of a genocidal policy.

People accept Jewish stereotypes because, like most stereotypes, they have a seed of truth. Why are Jews good with money? And why are they so funny? How come when you become friends with a Jew they instantly want to feed you? What’s with the guilt?

The Jews who couldn’t save money died. The Jews who couldn’t laugh at everything died. The Jewish families who didn’t cluster with other Jews in solidarity, to support them in the rough times, died. I have no theories on the guilt thing. Maybe it’s just perversely amusing. Maybe it keeps us together. Maybe it causes us to constantly consult our higher selves for guidance.

We survived. Despite continuing attempts to marginalize and destroy us, we managed to innovate ways to not let ourselves succumb to spiritual defeat, and therefore political defeat. Keeping our spirits alive is one of the hardest and most central tasks at Standing Rock. Destroying the public expression of that spirit is the first step in destroying a people – and a movement.

Burnout

I took a night at the casino down the road to reboot myself. I took a bath and slept in a large bed for the first time in six weeks. After breakfast, I was approached by two friends, non-native allies from the west coast – burner types – who were reaching for higher vibrations than I could afford. We sat over a table of empty food trays and cups whose manufacture alone could have required thousands of gallons of fresh water to produce, and discussed how the movement was inspiring real change the world over. We were learning to listen to one another more. We were part of a global uprising. We had spirituality at our core – we had been called to stand at Standing Rock.

I bitterly laid into them. I was tired of sacred fires within a system of governance that couldn’t govern this many people. I was tired of seeing people attempt to personally gain from the movement. I was tired of feeling resented as a minority class in a cold landscape. I was tired of listening to people. Most of all, I did not want to be reminded that any of this mattered – especially by burners. Fucking Christ. We already had enough snowflakes in North Dakota.

I felt like an asshole. Without a continuing crisis, all of the pain and fear I’d live through was beginning to come up. These friends meant very well indeed, but I couldn’t hear it. As the momentum of the movement waned, I’d become antsy and restless. At camp, the moon waxed, catching a peaceful glow over the night. Even the DAPL lights seemed prettier, holiday-like, as they shot spires of light in the falling snow like iridescent prison bars.

When the Eagle Flies Over

Our infighting has correlated with our anger against DAPL and the greater hegemony trying to destroy the Indian and save the man. Any voices of camaraderie are essential here. Any prayer that leads to authentically kind words is cherished.

Weeks ago, I was on an action west of Mandan at a DAPL supply yard where a white man in a truck drove into a crowd of prayerful Native American women just fast enough to shove them violently to the side. Afterwards, an eagle flew overhead as we stood facing a wall of riot police. Then, the eagle was our strength.

When these terrible doubts level my shrines, I can only look to the feeling that brought me here. We know this kind of energy infrastructure constitutes a suicidal policy. We serve every drop of red blood flowing in humanity with the donations and support heaped on us many times over.

There are hard times ahead for everyone. We must remember to pray to our higher power for guidance, consult our souls, and discourse with one another. We have no room for cynicism in this area of our lives – but plenty of gallows humor.

When the eagle flies overhead, I am exactly where I need to be.

After two days at the casino, I was ready to come back. As I returned to the community center in Cannonball, my cell phone again reset. Some of the bigwigs of camp were in the media center. We were asked if our legal paperwork had been filled out. Apparently, people were now being arrested outside of North Dakota. An unmarked SUV had also been spied down the street with a dash camera and no one inside. What was going on?

Earlier that day, I’d given an interview to a colleague who was creating a small documentary on the media room staff. I felt foolish for expounding on my political beliefs. I tried to rest, but my heart was racing. I felt afraid for speaking candidly about my deepest reasons for being at Standing Rock. I was afraid they would be used against me, or used to categorize me in some dossier, or against my colleagues, or my family. I wasn’t as important as all that, yet the possibility loomed.

That was really the point of all these little digital violations. A very different kind of eagle was flying over us – no one knew what it was capable of.

The Happy Ending

Winter has been called the great equalizer. It prompted many to leave, and those who remain are hardier stock. The sun shines on blinding white snow, cast over smoking chimneys from tents and tepees. People live now within one page of a longer story wherein we fight to preserve the Lakota way of life, indigenous rights, and water rights. Corporate personhood strives to reduce these lands to assets measured in stock prices and preserve a way of life that contradicts native existence itself. To the Lakota, the land – and every resource we utilize today – has its own personhood. This legal precedent has gained traction in New Zealand, where lands and rivers can possess legal personhood, allowing people to advocate for their rights. If non-sentient corporations are entitled to personhood, why not living lands and rivers, too?

When I look up, I see a bird. When the eagle flies overhead, it means exactly what I need it to mean at that exact moment.

The post Voices from Standing Rock: When the Eagle Passes Overhead appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

A dozen camping tickets later, Boulder Occupiers linked their movement with that of homeless activists. NedFest founder Michael “Michigan Mike” Torpie died, a ranger shot Boulder Creek Path’s cyclist-chasing coyote, and St. Vrain Valley School District fired a 24-year-old janitor after he allegedly told police he’d had sex with a 13-year-old girl. Broomfield’s Emerald Elementary School principal resigned without explanation, and Longmont’s Kaitlyn Sims, 22, was killed when she jumped into the path of a tractor-trailer on Highway 66. A 72-year-old man stands accused of poisoning two Firestone dogs, Longmont police are investigating low-tech $10, $20 and $100 counterfeit bills, and Boulder County’s Land Use Code may soon include classifications for community gardens, farms and farm-based restaurants. A former Lafayette dispensary owner was arrested for allegedly trying to sell 10 pounds of marijuana, Boulder Hockey Club coach Zachary Meints was arrested on suspicion of Internet child exploitation, and Superior Medical Supply Inc. is again under fire for allegedly price gouging short-supply hospital drugs. Biodesix Inc. will move its headquarters to Boulder, ConocoPhillips nixed its proposed Louisville research center, Target announced plans to close its Broomfield store Jan. 28, and a man robbed a 91-year-old former Marine on Veterans Day.

Small Talk

“One of the things we’re trying to do is coexist with these animals.”

—Erie Police Chief John Hall on the city’s policy allowing residents to shoot coyotes with plastic pellets and BBs.

“We’re very excited. It’s been a long process to figure out a replacement, but I think we’ve got a great program that we’ll be able to roll out that I think people are really going to love.”

—County Commissioner Will Toor on the EnergySmart loan program created to replace ClimateSmart Loan Program shot down by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

“It’s been sitting in our storage room scaring everyone who sees an amputated arm.”

—Animalhouse Veterinary technician Rachel Petro on Louisville’s iconic wooden bear’s broken-off arm. Wild Wood Studio repaired the arm and will carve a new bear for free.

“We have some really good contacts with international coaches and we want to bring players from other countries to use the center as a high-altitude training facility.”

—Kendall Chitamber, the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center’s director of tennis, on what would be the state’s largest tennis club if it’s approved by the city. The Louisville club would feature more than 25 indoor and outdoor courts.

“I make no profit from this. It is a grant to a nonprofit, and benefits the town with no extra town expenditures of funds.”

—Superior Trustee Lisa Skumatz said of a grant to her firm to research the city’s new food-waste recovery program she helped launch.

Sources: Daily Camera, Times-Call, Colorado Daily

3,300

Homes to receive energy from Front Range Landfill’s gas-to-energy project

7

Boulder dispensaries among the 26 state-licensed facilities

362,645

The dollar amount of Lafayette’s final inducement payment to Wal-Mart

115

Jobs to be lost when Louisville’s LEGO Play Well Studios closes in January

8,400

OSHA fine against SJ Ward Landscape after its ditch collapsed, killing a Longmont man

The post Month in Review: Dec. ’11 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.