POSTAL CUSTOMER LOCAL FREEpdf.southplattesentinel.com/issue/2013-04-10/1.pdf · 10.04.2013 ·...
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Sterling, Colorado 80751 Over 8,300 Copies Distributed Weekly FREE PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID STERLING, CO 80751 PERMIT NO. 33 POSTAL CUSTOMER LOCAL Wednesday, April 10, 2013 Volume XXV Issue 52a Posturing ends in 'okay' By Forrest Hershberger News Editor DENVER - Approving the state budget is only the start as legislators spend days debating a final product. Thursday morning Colorado House legislators met in their respective caucus to discuss proposed changes to the Long Bill. Legislators had 40 amendments to consider before resuming debate in the House. During the caucus, State Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen, a member of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), reminded fellow Republicans that the JBC has a history of opposing any amendments to the Long Bill. She said the JBC’s opposition to amendment is in support of the five months of work. Gerou said while there are amendments she may agree with, vote in favor of, as a member of the JBC she will not support amendments. Some of the amendments discussed include adding $500,000 to the Department of Parks and Wildlife. The funds Please See Sonnenberg Page 3 Robert Patten views a plot at Sunset Memorial Garden with what ap- pears to be recently moved soil. The question is if a person was buried or disinterred. (SPS Photo by Forrest Hershberger) Cemetery questions still remain By Forrest Hershberger News Editor When a family contracts for a cemetery plot and headstone, there is usually an assumption that the location will continue to be a place of beauty and memories. Cemeteries are nicknamed gardens of stone for that implied beauty and serenity. Likewise, when the garden no longer displays the look of quiet beauty and instead appears as a forgotten homestead, investors -people who own plots at the cemetery - have this feeling of loss twice. Clients of Sunset Memorial Gardens have witnessed the condition of the facility deteriorate to the point some have considered if the property can be purchased. To do that, legal questions need to be answered such as who is the rightful owner and how many clients are at Sunset. Mike Hoppe, who has family buried at Sunset, said he is upset because agreements clearly state the company agrees to establish a perpetual fund. Yet, that is one of the reasons Richard Lawler, the current owner, offers for why work is not being done at the facility. A contract from 1955 shows Sunset Memorial Gardens agreed to create a perpetual care fund by committing 10% of every lot sold to the perpetual care fund. Since then, the facility has been sold a couple of times, most recently to Lawler. Hoppe, Larry Propp and Robert Patten met at Sunset Friday. Their concern is a lack of onsite management and how many records are still available to track what the property is Please See Questions Page 3 From Monday evening and well into this morning, hazardous weather ranging from severe thunderstorms to blizzards crossed Logan County. Visibility in the rural areas, including Peetz (above) was nonexistant and livestock scrambled for cover to escape freezing conditions. Eastbound Interstate 76 closed mid-evening Tuesday as storms continued east into Nebraska, closing I-80. The highway was expected to reopen by noon today. (Photos Courtesy of Kris Vencel.) Conflict 'blows' at County meeting By Forrest Hershberger News Editor Conflict was blowing in the wind Tuesday as homeowners and wind energy company representatives were at an impasse regarding where to place wind energy towers in Logan County. Among the agenda items for the Logan County Commissioners Tuesday was an application for an amendment to The Colorado Highlands Wind, LLC, conditional use permit. The amendment allows Colorado Highlands Wind, LLC, to construct 14 more turbines northeast of Fleming, completing a planned field of 67 turbines with a maximum output of 90 megawatts. Please See Homeowners Page 4 Council treks path of ATVs By Forrest Hershberger News Editor In some communities, vari- ous definitions of recreational vehicle can be found on a public street at any given time. The Sterling City Council Tuesday discussed the possibilities of specific types of ATVs to be on city roads. The discussion of allowing ATVs to legally travel city roads has been an on and off discussion for at least one year. Please See Council Page 4 65th District State Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling) makes his point while testifying before the Colorado State Legislature last week. (SPS Photo by Forrest Hershberger)
Transcript of POSTAL CUSTOMER LOCAL FREEpdf.southplattesentinel.com/issue/2013-04-10/1.pdf · 10.04.2013 ·...
Sterling, Colorado 80751Over 8,300 CopiesDistributed Weekly FREE
PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE PAIDSTERLING, CO 80751PERMIT NO. 33
POSTAL CUSTOMERLOCAL
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 Volume XXV Issue 52a
Posturing ends in 'okay'By Forrest Hershberger News Editor DENVER - Approving the state budget is only the start as legislators spend days debating a fi nal product. Thursday morning Colorado House legislators met in their respective caucus to discuss proposed changes to the Long Bill. Legislators had 40 amendments to consider before resuming debate in the House. During the caucus, State Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen, a member of the Joint Budget
Committee (JBC), reminded fellow Republicans that the JBC has a history of opposing any amendments to the Long Bill. She said the JBC’s opposition to amendment is in support of the fi ve months of work. Gerou said while there are amendments she may agree with, vote in favor of, as a member of the JBC she will not support amendments. Some of the amendments discussed include adding $500,000 to the Department of Parks and Wildlife. The funds
Please See Sonnenberg Page 3
Robert Patten views a plot at Sunset Memorial Garden with what ap-pears to be recently moved soil. The question is if a person was buried or disinterred. (SPS Photo by Forrest Hershberger)
Cemetery questions still remainBy Forrest Hershberger News Editor When a family contracts for a cemetery plot and headstone, there is usually an assumption that the location will continue to be a place of beauty and memories. Cemeteries are nicknamed gardens of stone for that implied beauty and serenity. Likewise, when the garden no longer displays the look of quiet beauty and instead appears as a forgotten homestead, investors -people who own plots at the cemetery - have this feeling of loss twice.
Clients of Sunset Memorial Gardens have witnessed the condition of the facility deteriorate to the point some have considered if the property can be purchased. To do that, legal questions need to be answered such as who is the rightful owner and how many clients are at Sunset. Mike Hoppe, who has family buried at Sunset, said he is upset because agreements clearly state the company agrees to establish a perpetual fund. Yet, that is one of the reasons Richard Lawler, the current owner, offers for why
work is not being done at the facility. A contract from 1955 shows Sunset Memorial Gardens agreed to create a perpetual care fund by committing 10% of every lot sold to the perpetual care fund. Since then, the facility has been sold a couple of times, most recently to Lawler. Hoppe, Larry Propp and Robert Patten met at Sunset Friday. Their concern is a lack of onsite management and how many records are still available to track what the property is
Please See Questions Page 3
From Monday evening and well into this morning, hazardous weather ranging from severe thunderstorms to blizzards crossed Logan County. Visibility in the rural areas, including Peetz (above) was nonexistant and livestock scrambled for cover to escape freezing conditions. Eastbound Interstate 76 closed mid-evening Tuesday as storms continued east into Nebraska, closing I-80. The highway was expected to reopen by noon today. (Photos Courtesy of Kris Vencel.)
Confl ict 'blows' at County meetingBy Forrest Hershberger News Editor Confl ict was blowing in the wind Tuesday as homeowners and wind energy company representatives were at an impasse regarding where to place wind energy towers in Logan County. Among the agenda items for the Logan County Commissioners Tuesday was an application for an amendment to The Colorado Highlands Wind, LLC, conditional use permit. The amendment allows Colorado Highlands Wind, LLC, to construct 14 more turbines northeast of Fleming, completing a planned fi eld of 67 turbines with a maximum output of 90 megawatts.
Please See Homeowners Page 4
Council treks path of ATVs By Forrest Hershberger News Editor In some communities, vari-ous defi nitions of recreational vehicle can be found on a public street at any given time. The Sterling City Council Tuesday discussed the possibilities of specifi c types of ATVs to be on city roads. The discussion of allowing ATVs to legally travel city roads has been an on and off discussion for at least one year.
Please See Council Page 4
65th District State Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling) makes his point while testifying before the Colorado State Legislature last week. (SPS Photo by Forrest Hershberger)
