Pueblo East will meet Sierra in the 4A championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Coors Events Center in Boulder.

Complete story and statastics to follow.

White was arrested Feb. 24 on suspicion of committing four counts of sexual assault on a child and one count of child abuse, according to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. Before this year’s arrest, White had been convicted of sexual assault on a child.

The Coroner’s Office has not yet determined an official cause and manner of death. An autopsy is being performed today.

By Kendra Appelman-Eastvedt

The health care reform battle has been going on for over a year now. During this year, 45,000 Americans have died due to lack of health insurance. In 2009, 1,384,090 American families ended up in foreclosure due in some part to medical expenses. These numbers demonstrate why it is so important for Congress to pass health reform right away. These numbers demonstrate why we can’t start over, why we can’t pass reform piece by piece or item by item.

Our country has already lost precious ground and lives. To begin with, I fault the President and our Democratic members of Congress for not doing a better job of explaining health reform. It took months for Democrats to realize that Americans didn’t understand how closely this legislation was tied to both national and personal financial devastation, or how quickly a law would go into effect protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions, removing lifetime insurance coverage ceilings, and stopping insurance companies’ policy rescissions.

Letting the public option fall by the wayside has by far been the biggest mistake made during the Democratic Party’s push for reform. This President, who has made health reform his number one domestic priority and rode into Washington on a huge mandate bringing majorities in both houses of Congress with him, should have fought harder to keep the public option in pending legislation.

Conversely, I hold responsible the Republican Party naysayers for lying to constituents last summer. Death panels and the dreaded socialization of our country would be laughable if so many Americans had not believed it. At the recent health reform summit, Republican leaders stated that finally, after wasting months and lives, they have a health reform plan and would like to sit down and start over as willing participants. This is too little too late. Where they were a year ago? 45,000 lives ago?

Mostly, I blame Americans. Can it be we didn’t realize our insurance premiums were going up and up and our policy benefits going down and down? Nearly everyone I have spoken to has had at least one experience fighting for health insurance payments due from their provider, and usually more than one such experience. If you are currently unemployed you may be at risk of running out your COBRA policy, and if you also happen to have a pre-existing condition, you may never have health insurance again. Americans should have crammed the National Mall insisting that health reform legislation be completed, passed, and signed by President Obama months ago. And most certainly, we should never have allowed ourselves to be bamboozled by lying politicians and political action committees.

Yes, a year has passed, but it’s not too late to demand reform. Call your Representative (Betsy Markey or Jared Polis) and tell her or him to pass the Senate bill, then call your Senators (Michael Bennet and Mark Udall) and tell them to pass correcting legislation including a public option by reconciliation.

Longmonters – while you were reading this, another American died due to lack of health insurance. We can’t wait any longer to pass health reform. Every minute counts.

Kendra Appelman-Eastvedt lives in Longmont.

Mary Hagans

Mary Hagans, 47 of Longmont passed away March 1, 2010 at her home with her lifetime partner Nancy, family and friends by her side.  She was born January 12, 1963 to Barbara and Elwin Hagans in Denver.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her sisters Irene Connelly of Thornton and Diane McCormack of Buena Vista, her brother Brian Hagans of Milliken and her partner Nancy Crispin.

Mary enjoyed camping fishing, spending time with her family and friends but most of all her dog Bear.  She had many talents, landscaping being one and owning her own Company “In and out Landscaping”

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at the VFW, 206 South Main in Longmont at 3:00 p.m. Friday March 19, 2010. Cremation entrusted to Carroll- Lewellen Funeral & Cremation Services. . Memorial contributions may be made to the Longmont Humane Society in Mary’s name c/o Carroll-Lewellen Funeral & Cremation Services.  Friends may share thoughts, memories and condolences with the family at www.carroll-lewellen.com

BOULDER – Seedings don`t matter to the Longmont girls basketball team.

After falling to a No. 4 seed with two losses just before the Class 4A state tournament began, Longmont is now right where it belongs.

Longmont's Jamie Katuna cries after winning the semifinals against Mullen High School during the 4A State Basketball Playoffs at the Coors Event Center on the University of Colorado campus Wednesday night. Kasia Broussalian photo

The Trojans knocked off perennial powerhouse No. 2 Mullen by a score of 49-40 in the state semifinals at the Coors Events Center on Wednesday.

Longmont will play for its first ever state title on Friday when the Trojans take on three-time defending state champion Broomfield at 6 p.m.

Longmont last reached the championship game when they lost in 2003 to Ranum.

“One of our goals was to have that last day of practice and we get to enjoy that (today),” Longmont coach Jay Darien said. “We`re going to be ready. ”

In a very defensive first half marred by turnovers on both sides, the two teams battled to a 21-18 Mullen lead at the break.

Longmont junior Tambre Haddock kept the Trojans within striking distance while the other Trojan stars struggled to find a rhythm. She finished with 14 points, shooting a flawless 8-for-8 from the line.

After the third quarter, Mullen still held the lead at 30-26 and it was looking like the Mustangs would pull away at any moment.

Longmont, however, took control when it mattered most — the end of the game. With the season on the line, Jamie Katuna realized it was her time to shine.

Katuna started slow, struggling with a sore back that has been bothering her. She missed the the quarterfinal game against Cheyenne Mountain and part of the Sweet 16 game against Centaurus with the injury.

She battled through the injury, though, and willed her team to victory.

Katuna finished with a team-high 15 points, including a run in which she scored 10 straight points for the Trojans in the final minutes. Longmont outscored Mullen 23-10 in the final quarter.

“We finally made it,” Katuna said. “We`ve been through such adversity.”

When asked about her injury, Katuna just smiled and said, “It`s mind over matter.”

Hannah Kingsbury also had a big game for Longmont. She finished with 10 points, including two free throws with 27 seconds left to seal the deal.

“You only kind of dream about it, but now it`s a reality my senior year,” Kingsbury said of the huge win.

Now the Trojans get ready for a big rematch. Broomfield won a regular season meeting this year 42-37. It was Longmont`s only loss in the regular season as the Trojans lost two games to close out the Northern League tournament heading into state.

“We`re peaking at the right time” Darien said. “I think we`ll be better on Friday.”

mont 16, Mullen 20. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls — none.

According to the Worship and Word Movement, organizers of the festival, it could draw as many as 30,000 people. The group’s Web site has indicated that as many as 50,000 people.

The permit allows the group to use 70 city-owned acres next to the reservoir park and includes about 1,800 spaces for campers.

The organizers are paying about $17,000 in up-front fees. That includes $8,000 for using the park, a $2,750 damage deposit, $5,140 for police and $900 for a brush truck and fire crew for 12 hours. The deal also requires the group to pay $55 for each hay bale below the expected second-cutting harvest of 175 on adjacent farm property.

The group is still in negotiations with state and county officials on a transportation plan.

City officials have said that the event could bring $700,000 to local businesses by conservative estimates. Some local residents and the Boulder County Audubon Society opposed having the event, citing concerns about wildlife, traffic and damage to the local environment.

Altona Middle School Chess Club members, left from top, Alex Lathrop-Melting, 11, Rohan Baishya, 11, and Sam Eggen, 11, play chess against classmates Isaac Sawvel, 12, and Amakaya Jackson, 13. In its inaugural year, the club has attracted 36 active members. Kira Horvath photo

But the Knights aren’t a sports team, a fantasy game club or a group that loves the recent movie with a similar name. Instead, they are  group of sixth, seventh and eighth grade students at Altona Middle School who were completely absorbed in their weekly tournament game of chess.

Altona’s chess club was started this year by Ross Greiner, a language-arts teacher new this year to the school. An avid chess player, he suspected there would be interested in playing or learning the game.

So in the fall, Greiner announced that he was forming a chess club and found that he was right — more than 30 active members of the Altona chess club now meet on Thursdays after school to play a tournament game, followed by as many social games as they can fit in during the 45 minutes or so the club meets. During the tournament game, the room is silent; there’s no talking allowed at rated and ranked tournaments, so Greiner teaches his players to follow that rule. But during the social games, the chatter (and a little trash-talking) ratchets up.

“The neat thing about chess is that it is an equal opportunity sport,” Greiner said. “You don’t have to have physical abilities or be a certain size to play. You just use your brain. It’s open to all abilities and experience levels, and available to everybody.”

Rose Yang, 11, advances her queen while Naomi Gainor, 12, right, plots her next move while playing chess with the Altona Middle School’s Chess Club. Kira Horvath photo

“My dad taught me to play chess, and I really like it,” said seventh grader Isaac Sawvel. “I wanted to learn some new moves in chess club, so I joined. Plus, whenever I get mad, I can always calm down with chess.”

Amakaya Jackson, a seventh grade student who said she learned to play chess when she was younger, said she wants to get “really good” at chess so she joined the club to learn and practice. “I really like the sport.”

Chess is easy to learn, but takes a lifetime to master, Greiner said. About half of the Altona club members are new to chess.

“It’s really interesting to see how much the kids get into the strategy of the game once they learn the basic moves,” Greiner said. “They really tap into the warrior within.”

Focus is important in chess, said seventh grader Timothy Rooney. “You have to keep a good eye on your opponent’s pieces and your own, or you’ll be checked without even noticing,” he said. Rooney also wants to learn new lead moves, because he thinks he’s “too predictable.”

Students learn much more than just the moves to play chess, Greiner said.

“They learn how to compete and how to control their emotions in order to think clearly,” he said. “It helps with social skills such as graciously winning and losing. And sometimes it can open up another avenue of communication with a parent who plays chess.”

Altona Assistant Principal Jake Leyba, who had popped in to see how the tournament games were going, pointed out more benefits of chess to the students.
“This is a program that is a good fit for our kids,” he said. “They are taking part in a very challenging critical-thinking activity. It’s really wonderful to see such good participation.”

Seventh grade student Ariel Dukes, a newcomer to chess, said she joined the club because she wanted to learn strategy and planning and “hang out with my friends. I also am hoping to get good enough to challenge my dad,” she said.

Greiner and the club will host its first chess tournament open to district schools from 4 to 8:15 p.m. Monday, March 15  at Altona. The club is expecting about 50 competitors from Altona, Longs Peak Middle, Erie Middle, Eagle Crest Elementary, Twin Peaks Academy and Flagstaff Academy. All competitors will play in all five rounds, earning points for the games they win. Trophies will be awarded for the top places in each division (elementary, middle and high school) and for the top-ranked school.

“I hope we can spark some more interest in chess at some of the other schools in the district,” Greiner said. He hopes to register the Altona club as a member of the United States Chess Federation next year to give students the opportunity to be part of a national group that offers ranked games and ratings for players.

Greiner said he learned to play chess from his dad, and played it with friends and one of his teachers while in high school. He follows that teacher’s example by occasionally playing chess with students during lunch period, or after school with chess club members.

“I think chess gives these kids a sense of community,” he said. “And if they play me and can win, they get bragging rights!”

Email: kcglasscock@comcast.net

Helen Stiegler

Helen Stiegler, 95, of Longmont, died March 4, 2010 at Longmont United Hospital.

She was born October 29, 1914 in Louisville, Colorado to Robert Ryan and Laura Frey. Helen graduated from Longmont High School in 1932.

Helen married William Hoff in Longmont in 1937 and he preceded her in death. She later married Vernon Stiegler on September 19, 1971 at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

She worked in the law office of attorney Bud Menlel. Helen then worked in the Finance Department of Boulder County for 27 years, from 1960 until her retirement in 1987.

Helen was a Charter Member of the John P. Murphy Circle of Honor in Boulder County and a former member of The Women of the Moose and American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed traveling, taking Mississippi and Ohio River Steamboat Cruises. Helen also enjoyed sewing.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband; four brothers and five sisters.

Helen is survived by her husband Vern of Longmont; her children, Dianne Seldin (George), Dennis Hoff (Rita) and Kae Harris (Gary); five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held. Cremation at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and mailed to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel.

The Longmont boys track and field program is poised for a championship-caliber season with six returning state qualifiers this spring.

Longmont's Tevan McIntire clears the bar in the high jump during the 2008 4A State Track and Field Championships. McIntire missed the 2009 season with a knee injury, but is back this spring to help the Trojans' quest for a state title. Marty Caivano photo

Tevan McIntire, coach Tim McIntire`s son, is among those state qualifiers, but the last time he was at state was in 2008. McIntire is returning for his senior year after missing last season with a knee injury.

“He tore his meniscus and that hurt us big time,” the coach said of his son. “It will be a welcomed addition to have him back. I know his goal is to win a couple individual state titles.”

The healing process is a relief for the Trojans, who may have won a team title last year had McIntire been able to compete as a junior. He was scratched for the season after a stellar sophomore year in 2008. In that season, McIntire placed ninth in the high jump, sixth in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump in the 4A state championships as the Longmont boys captured first overall.

With McIntire healthy and able to jump the way he can, expectations are high for the Trojans.

“It`s just as good as it ever was,” McIntire said of his knee. “(The injury) gave me more drive in my goals and everything. I think we have a good shot at bringing home a team title. I just want to do my best and try and bring home some individuals as well.”

McIntire, who is also a starter on the Longmont basketball team competing for a state title this week, has committed to take his jumping ability to the next level, signing with Liberty University.

“Liberty is a top 10 men`s program and one of the top five decathlete schools,” coach McIntire said of his son`s decision. “That`s what they want to turn him into — (a decathlete).”

Along with McIntire, Longmont will need other touted athletes to step up for a championship to be possible this season.

Aaron Praska finished fourth in the 110-meter hurdles in 2009 and should be a favorite this year during his senior campaign.

Tyler Johnson, also entering his senior season, is looking to take over the top spot in pole vault.

“He was second last year, he`s probably the person to beat there,” coach McIntire said of Johnson.

As a team, the Longmont boys finished fourth overall last year while the girls struggled and finished 16th.

Samantha Kee will be a crucial component to the girls` improvement this year. In 2009, Kee placed fourth in the 100-meter dash and third in the 200-meter dash. Kee has committed to the University of Wyoming.

Rachel Antoniak is another athlete that the girls` team will rely on this spring. Notching top-ten finishes last year at state in both the long jump and triple jump, Longmont is expecting big things from the senior.

“She`ll be a top-three contender this year, especially in the long jump,” McIntire said.

And the Trojans should be contenders, too.