Funeral services will be held at 2;00 P.M. on Friday, September 3, 2010 at New Creation Church in Longmont.

Burial will follow at Foothills Gardens of Memory with full military honors provided by the United States Air Force.

David Robert Couch

David Robert Couch, 37, of Longmont, left this life the afternoon of August 29, 2010 at his Longmont home.

David was born October 31, 1972 in the Mile High City to Robert Couch and Nola Jones.

David was mechanically inclined from a young age, showing a skill and talent fixing and rebuilding his automobile engines………always a Ford, usually a truck. He had worked in the manufacturing area for the past number of years. Joining Lexmark most recently, he showed expertise and an innate skill to make equipment run smoothly, efficiently and properly. He would see to it that this machinery would run and it’s highest and effective level by his intricate and refined skills.

He indulged in poker, reveled in sports (especially the Broncos, Nuggets, and Avalanche), and enjoyed watching Carl Edwards fly down the speedway. Always the joker, he was quick with his wit and never without his trademark smile. He also indulged throwing a dart or two and would catch a UFC bout when he could. He will be fondly remembered as a hard working individual and dedicated to his family.

Surviving are his wife Nikki; his daughter Avery Couch, stepdaughter Tori Maestas; stepson Austin Carlson; mother and stepfather Nola (Bill) Combs; father Bob Couch; step sister Heather Combs and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who keep his memory alive.

Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, September 1, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m at the Howe Mortuary Chapel.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, September 2, 2010 at the Howe Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Rick Ebbers officiating. Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 3, at Chapel Hill Cemetery, Littleton, Colorado.

Memorial contributions may be made David Couch Memorial Fund, Bank of the West, 700 5th Ave., Longmont, CO 80501.

He was born March 13, 1946 in Cañon City, Colorado to Robert and Harriett (Mason) Thornton. Thomas served in the U.S. Navy Reserves.

Thomas married Linda Dills on November 16, 1964 in Cañon City. He has lived in Longmont for 30 years.

He was a heavy equipment operator in road and highway construction and worked for many companies. Thomas was a member of the Operating Engineers Local #9. He enjoyed working on his 1955 Chevy Pickup, drinking coffee and discussing cars and hot rods with his buddies at Aunt Alice’s.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Thornton of Longmont; his son, Tom Thornton; his daughter, Rhonda Thornton; two brothers, Jerry and Floyd Thornton; three sisters, Erma Miller, Eva Daniels and Judy Buss; three grandchildren, Lacy VanPay, Dylan Snyder and Shelbie Snyder and three great-grandchildren, Taylor Thornton and Corbin and Mia VanPay.

At Thomas’ request, no services will be held. Cremation at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. Memorial contributions may be made to the Longmont Humane Society.

Trudee was born Leona Gertrude Raver on March 15, 1925 in the town of Clarksfield, Ohio to Earl and Juanita Raver. She was the second of four children born to this family. Her older sister had gotten the grandmothers’ first names – Della Alice – so that left the grandmothers’ middle names for the second child – Leona Gertrude.

A few weeks later Juanita’s good friend Melissa Wheeler came over to see the new baby and to show off her own new baby son Ernie. The two mothers put the babies in the same crib while they chatted. The two babies were batting at each other and Melissa and Juanita wondered if they would be friends when they grew up. So, if you ask Ernie where he met Trudee he will tell you with a straight face, “In bed.”

She grew up as a farmer’s daughter in Clarksfield. When Leona first went to school, there were two Leonas in the first grade so her father suggested that she go by Trudee. She has gone by that name to this day.

Trudee continued and finished her grade school years in the Clarksfield elementary school, then proceeded on to the high school in New London, the next bigger town. After finishing high school, she went to Atlantic Union College for one year.

Trudee re-met Ernie Wheeler when he came to work for her uncle, Elver Gibson, on his farm. Elver’s wife, Leona, figured Ernie should meet her niece Trudee so she invited her over for supper one evening. Unfortunately for Ernie, a cow kicked at him while he was milking and got her foot stuck in his pocket. His pants were ripped from stem to stern. What a way to meet the bosses’ niece!

Ernie and Trudee were married on October 21, 1945, the day before he was deployed to Germany by the Army.

In 1947, Ernie and Trudee had their first child, Cheryl Mae (who later changed her name to Amy Talitha). In 1950, their second child, Donna Lou, joined the family and made it complete.

Trudee was a remedial teacher for elementary level education and was a classroom teacher for approximately 9 years. Member of the Seventh-day Adventist faith, Ernie and Trudee together pastored 28 districts in the United States and served in the mission fields of Pakistan, Thailand, and the Sudan in Africa. In several places Trudee taught the church school or the mission school as the case may be. She dearly loved children and enjoyed teaching them.

Earl and Juanita Raver and Della Alice Raver preceded Trudee in death.

She is survived by  her loving and faithful husband, Ernie; her two daughters, Amy Clark (Ralph) and Donna Allen (Mike), all of Longmont; three grandsons, Aaron Testerman, Jeff Testerman (Melissa), both of California and Brian Matthews (Shannon) of Georgia; one great-grandson, Ethan Matthews; her brother, Clarence Raver (Jean), in Clarksfield, Ohio and her sister, Myrna Hotchkiss of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Funeral Service will be 10 AM Friday, September 3, 2010 at Longmont Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1712 Mountain View Ave., with Pastor Marcel Pichot officiating. Interment at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

May she rest in peace until Jesus comes to call her and we will see her again.

The commissioners decided not to “call up” the docket for a public hearing, which means the Land Use Department’s decision is final. But the commissioners said that the 67-acre Szymanski Farms, 10347 Yellowstone Road, will face other hurdles before marijuana can actually be planted there.

“They certainly cannot begin operations before the state and local licensing takes place,” said Commissioner Will Toor. “At this point, we do not know what the state licensing will look like, and we have not yet developed the local licensing. I think it’s an open question whether this operation will be able to make it through that process.”

At the beginning of June, the owners of Szymanski Farms submitted a “site plan review” application to the county to change the use allowed on their farm from commercial feed yard to intensive agricultural. Scott Mullner, of Laramie, Wyo., joined Cyd and Steve Szymanski on the application with the plan of buying the farm if the land-use change — which would allow medical marijuana to be grown and processed inside the five existing agricultural buildings on the property — goes through.

On June 8, the commissioners voted to revise the county’s land-use codes to restrict where medical marijuana dispensaries and growing operations can set up shop. The new rules forbid the operation of marijuana centers in any agricultural zone, but the Szymanskis’ application — which was turned in days before the changes were approved — is being judged by the older rules.

Earlier this month, the Land Use Department decided that the site plan review application did, in fact, meet the rules laid out in the older code.

The St. Vrain Valley School District coffers are a little more full, thanks to additional federal funding and a grant received in August by the district.

Last week, the district was notified that it would receive $5 million in funding through the federal Education Jobs Fund program. The money, which must be used to “save or create education jobs,” must be spent by Sept. 30, 2012.

Earlier in August, the U.S. Department of Education announced that SVVSD would receive a $3.6 million Investing in Innovation grant, provided that the district could raise a 20-percent matching amount from private donations. The five-year federal grant is targeted to improve student achievement in the district.

Superintendent Don Haddad said recently that the necessary matching funds have been secured.

“We have enough funds secured to be able to accept the grant,” Haddad said. “We have worked closely with our corporate partners, especially IBM and Ridgeview Tel, to make this grant a reality.”

District officials have said they plan to use the Investing in Innovation grant funds to expand student achievement among English-language learners and students considered at risk for literacy skills in the district. A portion of the funding will be targeted toward efforts at Skyline High School and its feeder schools, according to Regina Renaldi, executive director of priority schools.

“We expect to purchase 400 laptop computers for students in Skyline’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program (STEM) program to use,” she said. “And Ridgeview Tel, which operates Longmont’s citywide Wi-Fi system, is working to set up Internet access for those students.”

Those students need access to computers and the Internet in order to master the more technology-oriented assignments in the STEM program, which seeks to prepare the students for careers in the STEM fields, Rinaldi said.
This year, the district ran six-week summer school programs at Spangler and Rocky Mountain elementary schools as part of the district’s summer school literacy intervention program for elementary students, Rinaldi said.

“The innovation grant funding will pay for the existing summer school program and then provide the opportunity to expand it to Columbine and Loma Linda elementary schools,” Rinaldi said. “And because it frees up the district funds allocated to the summer school program, we can use those funds to add summer school programs at Indian Peaks and Northridge elementary schools.”

In addition, grant funds will be used to expand summer school classes at Skyline High School and Heritage Middle and Trail Ridge Middle schools, which feed into Skyline. The middle-school classes will focus on math skills, Rinaldi said.

Rinaldi said Spangler Elementary and Rocky Mountain Elementary teachers are reporting that the summer school programs have had “very positive” results for their students.

“We believe that our summer school program is a very strong intervention program for the students,” Rinaldi said. “We are seeing a strong start to the year.”

Haddad said district officials have not finalized plans for spending the $5 million in federal education jobs funds, and are working on recommendations to the school board on how to use the funds.

“We need to keep in mind that these job funds are only available for two years,” Haddad said.

While the district did not cut teaching positions for the 2010-11 fiscal year, it did eliminate classified positions in administrative areas and eliminated or reduced hours for some paraprofessional positions. The SVVSD Board of Education also approved a 2010-11 district budget with no increases in teacher salaries.

The St. Vrain Valley School District and the St. Vrain Valley Education Association announced Aug. 25 that teacher contract negotiations will resume in this month. District officials had declared the talks at an impasse in April, but district and teachers union officials recently agreed to go back to the bargaining table. Meetings are set for Sept. 15 and Sept. 21.

Email: kcglasscock@comcast.net

Perhaps Niwot`s new soccer coach can take a page from Walsh successor George Seifert`s book this fall and lead the Cougars to another state title in 2010.

Last season, under coach Steve Lepper, the program claimed its first title in boys soccer with a 1-0 victory over Rocky Canyon in the 4A title game at Dick`s Sporting Goods Park.

Niwot's Santiago Velez yells in celebration after winning the 4A State Championship soccer game in Commerce City, Colorado November 11, 2009. Velez kicked the game winning goal in overtime. Mark Leffingwell photo

This fall the Cougars will be circled on the schedule by every opponent.

“That`s a tough one,” Johnson said on the key to getting a championship team to repeat with a new coach. “One of the biggest things is realizing everyone knows what we can do. We`ll never surprise anyone and we have to make sure we`re prepared for that and weather those storms.”

Entering the 2009 campaign, motivation was not a problem for the Cougars, who had lost 3-0 to Rock Canyon in the 4A state championship.

Niwot is now the hunted with a veteran lineup returning, including Santiago Velez, who scored the winning goal in the title game last November.

“Our new coach is really stepping up well, and we have a lot of good players,” said Velez, a senior who is being recruited by a number of Division I programs. “We have players. I`m excited for the season to start. …

“Now we`re motivated again because we have a lot of expectations to fulfill.”
Niwot also returns senior midfielder Tyler Terry, defenders Robert Charles, Chris Gurule and Jason Pollard, and forwards Alex and Ben Braman and Tommy Xiong.
Two keepers, junior Jonny Cooper and sophomore Josh Watt, are competing to fill the cleats of the graduated Connor Wood.
“We’re well balanced,” Johnson said. “We’re not going to have a superstar who’s going to score 50 goals and we’re not going to give up a lot of goals.”
Velez, the two-time reigning Camera Soccer Player of the Year, ended the title game against Rock Canyon just over five minutes into overtime. He has scored 10 goals in 10 playoff games the past two seasons, personally eliminating strong Broomfield teams twice with game-winning goals.
“It’s mostly about my team,” Velez said when asked about his ability to find the back of the net in the most pressure-packed situations. “My team does everything right and that’s what allows me to have those moments.”
There are a number of Cougar players who also grind through vigorous club team schedules. Johnson said making sure they are all fresh for another playoff run will be the key.
“If we go 100 percent all the time they’ll be burned out by October,” he said.
And this is a team that has proven it can save its best for November.
“I think we have a good chance to do it again. Things just have to work out for you in the playoffs,” Velez said. “We have to pretty much work our way to peak right before the playoffs. In high school you don’t have as much time to train. My club team … we have a lot more time to get ready and we’re together a lot more. We usually peak before the season and keep it stable.
“(At Niwot) we’re just trying to get better with every practice, every scrimmage and every game until we get it right.”

After the Trojans` performance against Arvada West, they`d just as soon stick to playing later in the week.

The Trojans were right with the Class 5A Wildcats for most of Monday`s first half, but then a stinging six-play, 80-yard touchdown drive by Arvada West in the last 51 seconds of the second quarter turned a dogfight into a 38-7 blowout loss for Longmont.

“We had a little momentum and it took them five plays to get into the end zone,” senior Nick Chopp said. “It`s kind of demoralizing.”

One drive didn`t doom the Trojans as much as their own approach. Arvada West (1-0) is a bigger school but the Trojans felt they could play with them. They just didn`t in a rare Monday night game.

“That was the most physical team I`ve played against, but we didn`t put up the score we should have,” Dorian Finley-Garcia said. “We`re a better team than the score we put on the scoreboard. Our performance was OK, but a little lackluster.”

For a stretch in the first half they Trojans (0-1) were energized. Senior quarterback Mikal Merrill — who platooned with sophomore Forrest Wetterstram — capped an 80-yard scoring drive with a 23-yard keeper that tied the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter.

Wildcats quarterback Taylor Collins showed one quarterback is better than two, throwing for 224 yards and three scores and running for two other touchdowns.

Longmont coach Doug Johnson said he will still alternate quarterbacks when his team faces Skyline on Friday.

“We’ve got two good kids, and we like the two good kids,” he said. “We want to make sure we’re fair.”
Read more: Arvada West`s quick strike dooms Longmont – Boulder Daily Camera http://www.dailycamera.com/high-school-sports/ci_15947270#ixzz0yCROTIdH
DailyCamera.com

Irene Emmons

of Ft. Collins passed away peacefully August 26, 2010 surrounded by her family. She was 94.

Irene was born on August 14, 1916 in Denver, Colorado, to Harry Martin and Christine Martella Martin. Born two months premature, she was placed in a shoebox and put in the family kitchen oven to keep warm. This fostered her lifelong love of shopping, clothes and shoes.

Irene grew up in North Denver with two older sisters, Marion Slater and Mary Ann Martin. Her sister, Mary Ann recalls she was very athletic and used to climb the fence to sneak into Elitch Gardens. She graduated from North High School in 1934. On May 27, 1937 she married Joseph Franklin Emmons in Denver.

Joe and Irene began their married lives in Denver where Joe owned Tower Drug, in East Denver. In 1962, they moved to Longmont and she lived there until after Joe’s death, when she moved to Fort Collins.

Irene was a wonderful mother and wife, an outstanding cook and had a wonderful sense of humor. She was an avid golfer and bowler and loved to work in her yard. Tropicana roses were her favorite and she planted them wherever she lived. She also loved to knit and made many sweaters for family members and Project Linus’ blankets.

Preceding her in death are her husband, parents, and her older sister Marion.

Irene and Joe had three children, David Michael (Carol) of Missoula, Montana, Christy Wayne (Denny Giddings) of Ft. Collins and Peggy Lynne Reynolds (Bob) of Ferndale, Washington. She is further surveved by her sister Mary Ann Martin of Ft. Collins, 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

A private funeral services for the family will be held along with a private interment at Mountain View Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her husband

She will be greatly missed by her children, grand and great grandchildren, but we all know we’ll be together again someday when she gets off the back nine with Dad.

Contributions may be made to the Pathways Hospice, 305 Carpenter Road, Ft. Collins, Colorado 80525.

Born December 24, 1932 near Mead, CO to George and Mary Kroupp Smith. He graduated from Mead High School in 1951. He entered the Army in April 1953 and served for 2 years. Upon his discharge he married Joan McConnell July 2, 1955.

George worked at Mountain Farm Equipment, Beech Aircraft and St. Vrain Valley School District.

He is survived by his wife and children, Michael, Gregory ( Maggie), Timothy (Toy), Beth Lutz and Jill Lawley (Robert). Grandchildren Joshua (Melissa), Dustin, Taylor, Jordan, Megan, Ashley, Anthony and Tiffany. Step granddaughters, Brigette and Cheri. Great grandchildren Shyla, Mason and another boy to be born soon. Also survived by brothers LeRoy, Richard, Jacob, Leonard and Virgil, all of Longmont. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Mary Lou and Susan.

George never met a stranger and the highlight of his day for years was walking 2 miles to Aunt Alice’s to have coffee with his buddies until his Alzheimer’s prevented it. George believed family and friends were far more important than all the money in the world. Simple things gave him happiness, walking, puttering around in the garage and yard, most of all sitting on his front porch. So make the most of everyday.

No services are scheduled and donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or just give a helping hand to someone in need.

He will be missed by all of us.