Sunday, June 12th - Association Passes Misleading Information To Residents... In a community meeting on Saturday, the Cedar Springs Improvement Association passed out documents to residents pertaining to the road chemicals used on FDR 128 containing misleading information. In a paragraph entitled, "Miscellaneous", the following incorrect, incomplete and misleading information was provided: 

Claims of high levels of Barium, Selenium, and Arsenic in soil and claims it comes from the chemicals is scientifically unmerited. The drinking water standard for Barium is 2.0 ppm. A typical analysis of the magnesium chloride as used on the Storm Mountain Roads would demonstrate a Barium level of 0.23 ppm. That is one tenth the allowable limit in drinking water. The drinking water standard for Selenium is 0.05 ppm. A typical analysis of the magnesium chloride as used on the Storm Mountain Roads would demonstrate a Selenium level of 0.02' ppm. That is more than one half lower than the allowable limit in drinking water. The drinking water standard for Arsenic is 0.01 ppm. A typical analysis of the magnesium chloride as used on the Storm Mountain Roads would demonstrate an Arsenic level of 0.74 ppm. Colorado ground and surface water standards list 0.340 ppm as the Acute level for Aquatic Life. Now remember, that this is the level in water. Therefore, at the levels in the product, we would need a 1:1 blend of magnesium chloride with the surface water before aquatic life was at risk from Arsenic. Certainly they would die from the chloride long before Arsenic.

Below are the "Actual Documented Facts" pertaining to chemical concentrations in residual sludge from the chemicals used on FDR 128:

1 - Claims of high levels of Barium, Selenium, and Arsenic in soil and claims it comes from the chemicals is scientifically unmerited. This is absolutely a false statement. The FACT is that testing by, "Stewart Environmental Consultants", a world renowned scientific analysis company, indicated the presence of high levels of Arsenic, Barium, and Chromium (not Selenium) in residual sludge from the chemicals used on the road. The test results have very substantial scientific merit!

2 - A "typical analysis" of the magnesium chloride as used on the Storm Mountain Roads would demonstrate a Barium level of 0.23 ppm. While the statement itself may be true, it does not address the "atypical issue" of mixing magnesium chloride with other chemicals and substances, resulting in the release of heavy metals, as is the case on FDR 128. The FACT is that testing by, "Stewart Environmental Consultants", confirmed the actual level of Barium in sludge from the road to be 958.0ppm, 4162 times the level a "typical analysis" would demonstrate!

3 - A "typical analysis" of the magnesium chloride as used on the Storm Mountain Roads would demonstrate an Arsenic level of 0.74 ppm. Colorado ground and surface water standards list 0.340 ppm as the Acute level for Aquatic Life. Once again, while the statement itself may be true, it does not address the "atypical issue" of mixing magnesium chloride with other chemicals and substances, resulting in the release of heavy metals, as is the case on FDR 128. The FACT is that testing by, "Stewart Environmental Consultants", confirmed the actual level of Arsenic in sludge from the road to be 224.0ppm, 308 times the level  a "typical analysis" would demonstrate!

This type of behavior, the passing of incomplete and misleading information, is very disturbing as residents and homeowners have a right to know the true facts. It is believed by some that this is intended to purposely misinform people so chemicals can once again be used on FDR 128, with another dumping reported to be planned during the next few weeks.

In another statement reportedly made at the Cedar Springs Improvement Association's meeting, an Association board member stated that the new "Homeowner's Act 05-100" does not apply to them. This is another false statement as 05-100 is directly targeted at all organizations demanding fees from homeowners for any common interest. While the association may want to be on both sides of the fence, both a non-profit corporation and a Colorado Community Interest Corporation, the law is quite clear. Issues are also now being raised as to the "Conflict of Interest" the majority of the board members would now have under the new law. This could result in a complete changeover in management of the association. One thing is certain, under the new law things will soon be quite different with the associations now facing a plethora of legal problems and challenges.

The entire text of the document on Magnesium chloride handed out by the Cedar Springs Improvement Association on Saturday can be found via the link below. It should be noted that nowhere in this document is the issue of mixing Magnesium chloride with other chemicals, and/or substances, mentioned or addressed. This mixing of chemicals, and the resulting release of heavy metals, is the actual issue of concern on FDR 128, and not the safety of the MgCl2 if used properly.

Friday, June 10th - 79th Annual Rooftop Rodeo Begins Saturday... Dust off those cowboy hats and polish up those spurs! The 2005 Rooftop Rodeo will kick off with a colorful parade on Tuesday, July 12 at 10:30 a.m. in downtown Estes Park. There will be six exciting PRCA Rodeo performances starting at 7:30 p.m. each evening beginning Tuesday, July 12 and going through and Sunday, July 17, 2005 at Stanley Park Fairgrounds. Saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping, bareback bronc riding, barrel racing and bull riding are among the PRCA sanctioned events that will entertain and astonish each evening's audience. In addition, people will not want to miss the antics of this year's rodeo clown. Both general admission and box seat tickets are available for each rodeo performance. General admission seats are not reserved and prices are $12 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-11. Box seat tickets are $15 for all ages. To order tickets, or for more information about the award winning Rooftop Rodeo, call the Estes Park Special events department at 970-586-6104 or email us at events@estes.org.

Wednesday, June 8th - New Law Limits Power Of Homeowner's Associations... Governor Bill Owens on Tuesday signed into law a bill aimed at limiting Homeowner's Associations (HOA's) power dramatically. This bill has been long needed as abuse by these HOA's has become increasingly prominent, with many horror stories about high dues and autocratic leaders who tried to oust dissidents by foreclosing on their homes. This will now be next to impossible. Under the new law, HOA's will now have to pay all of their own attorney fees, open their books to the homeowners and public, allow homeowners to speak at their board meetings, and fully explain increases in dues and/or fees. The new law also strongly protects "Freedom of Speech" and allows homeowners to fly flags and place political signs on their property, the parking of emergency vehicles on the street, and many other freedoms previously banned by some HOA's. Senate Bill 05-100 has empowered homeowners against abusive associations' dictatorial rule. This a huge relief to many homeowners in the Storm Mountain area. Several complaints of abuse by the associations have been voiced by homeowners, with Cedar Park Road Maintenance Corporation (318) and the Cedar Springs Improvement Association (30) filing a whopping 348 liens against homeowners' properties since 1990. It is exactly this type of behavior, that the new law is designed to end. Many provisions of the new law went into effect immediately with the remainder to be fully in effect by January 1st, 2006. The complete text of the new law can be found via the link below:

Tuesday, June 7th - Daytime Arietid Meteor Shower Peaks Tomorrow... Every year in early June thousands of meteors streak across the sky. Most are invisible, though, because the Sun is above the horizon while the shower is most intense. These daylight meteors are called the Arietids. They stream from a radiant point in the constellation Aries, which lies just 30 degrees from the Sun in June. No one is sure where Arietid meteoroids come from, although some astronomers suspect they are debris from the sungrazing asteroid 1566 Icarus. If you want to see a few Arietids, try looking just before sunrise. The Arietid radiant rises in the east about 45 minutes before the sun. This is true for observers in both of Earth's hemispheres, northern and southern. Pre-dawn Arietids tend to be "Earthgrazers", meteors that skim horizontally through the upper atmosphere from radiants near the horizon. Spectacular Earthgrazers are usually slow and bright, streaking far across the sky and worth waking up for! The Arietid meteor shower is the strongest daylight shower of the year. It lasts from late May until early July, and peaks on June 8th.

Paying Property Taxes With An Electronic Check... Electronic check payments for current year property taxes will be accepted for the Larimer County Treasurer through Payment Resources International and Home State Bank. This does not mean that electronic check payments can be accepted over the counter at the Larimer County Treasurer's Office. There is a computer at the Larimer County Treasurer's office that can be used to access the electronic payment link. However, you can access the electronic payments link from any computer with internet access. To access the payment link and complete payment information, please click below:

Monday, June 6th - Arsenic Poisoning Indicated In Dog's Death... The owner of a dog suspected to have died as a direct result of chemicals used on FDR 128, reported today that the results of a necroscopy and tissue samples are back, and indicate Arsenic poisoning as the ultimate cause of death. The animal was shown to have extensive intestinal cancer, and Arsenic present in tissue taken from the liver and kidneys. Intestinal cancer is highly symptomatic of Arsenic exposure, and very common in certain animals, primarily dogs, cats, and horses.

"We were already 99.9% sure it was the chemicals that killed our dog", stated the homeowner, "Now we have very solid proof. We have an unbroken chain from the truck containing the chemicals to the crematory where my dog ended up. And our concerns over our daughter's health problems, as well as others in the family, are now validated as well. I spent literally thousands of dollars, trying for a year to make people aware of what was happening, but nobody wanted to listen. They instead tried to make me out as a troublemaker or just plain crazy. As it turns out, everything I have claimed and feared is now being confirmed to be true."

The homeowner has also stated, that no further information will be released publicly, due to the legal implications of these new findings. The homeowner's property was contaminated by the careless use of chemicals on FDR 128 during 2003 and 2004, by the Cedar Park Road Maintenance Corporation and Cedar Springs Improvement Association. The resulting residual sludge left behind by runoff, was confirmed in 2004 to contain high amounts of Arsenic, Barium, and Chromium. With testing now indicating an animal's death from the same chemicals, many new questions are being raised, and the complaints of the dangers to human health by one homeowner, have now become a major concern of every single person who lives near and/or travels on FDR 128. Should Arsenic be present in the road dust, as is highly suspected, hundreds are being exposed to the deadly substance daily. It should be noted that the effects of Arsenic are accumulative, and symptoms of poisoning may not appear until after several years of low-level exposure. Children with immature immune systems and the elderly are most susceptible to it's effects. 

Symptoms and Effects of Arsenic exposure can include:

• A Bitter Metallic Taste in Mouth

• Irritability and Depression

• Frequent Headaches

• Numbness in Fingers and Toes

• Gastrointestinal Problems

• Respiratory Problems

• Neurological Problems (Shaking, Unsteady Gait)

• Impaired Liver and Kidney Functions

• Unusual Growths (Arsenic Corns)

• Various Forms of Cancer

• Coma and Death

Arsenic is quickly removed from the bloodstream by the liver and kidneys and therefore rarely present in the blood after 48 hours. Arsenic is stored in body proteins like hair and fingernails, which provide the best samples for testing. Arsenic has for years been known as one of the deadliest substances known to man and in the past, was often used in murders because of the difficulty in detection of it's presence, and its uncanny ability to mimic a wide variety of medical conditions and diseases. Modern methods of testing have now made Arsenic exposure more easy to detect, although the cost restricts testing for many.