“It’s A Safe Town…However”

By Donna Currie

Several downtown Niwot businesses have been burglarized recently, with thieves getting away with cash and equipment. Makes Scents was burglarized “on the Friday night of Memorial Day weekend,” according to Susan Julio, owner. And although there were other items of potential value present, the thief only took cash. Change and a check were left behind in the register.

At first, Julio thought the burglar had used a key to get in, but then found the evidence of forced entry. “I was glad it was a break-in,” she said, rather than the work of someone she trusted.

There was evidence that the thief also was in the adjoining Enchanted Bookstore, but there was no money in the register; apparently nothing else was of interest. Detective Ali Bartley, who is investigating the burglary at Make Scents, said, “There was a lot of stuff that they could have taken that they didn’t.”

Bartley is also investigating the theft of restaurant equipment from a concession trailer belonging to Abo’s. She doesn’t think that those two cases are related, but she does think that another burglary, being investigated by Detective Jason Oehlkers, may be related to the Makes Scents incident.

Oehlkers is investigating a June 9 burglary at Cottonwood Quilts, as well as a break-in at the adjoining office of attorney Daniel Olsen. At Cottonwood Quilts, only cash was taken, “just the stuff we work for,” owner Susan Ryan said.

Ryan noted that there were things of value in the store, “but I’m thinking like a quilter,” she said. Sewing machines may not be that attractive to a thief, and as far as the quilts themselves, like any artwork, the thief would have to know where to sell them where they wouldn’t be recognized.Bartley had some advice for store owners and for those who may be considering setting up a retail store in the future. First, foremost, and often repeated was, “Take the money out of the registers.”

That, and keeping doors and windows secured, and not leaving furniture or other things outdoors would reduce “crimes of opportunity,” where a thief takes things simply because they are easily accessible.

Bartley said, “Niwot is a safe town…however, there is probably nowhere left where you can leave doors unlocked.” She stressed that the recent crimes were not crimes of opportunity; there was forced entry, so the store owners had tried to secure their property. However, there is always more that can be done.

Ryan said, “Things will be changing around here, I can tell you that.” She didn’t want to discuss what changes she would be making, but she pointed out that the burglaries could have been worse. “It doesn’t end at cash,” she said.

Bartley suggested that businesses should locate the cash register near the front of the store where it is visible from outside. “Then take the cash out and leave the drawer open.” Bartley said. That way it’s obvious that there is no money to steal.

Law enforcement officers and Tom Smathers from Abo’s think that the June 4 burglary was probably not related to the other incidents. “It took a bunch of people – and big people,” Smathers said, to move the things that were taken from the trailer.

Among the missing items are three commercial refrigerators weighing 300 to 400 pounds each. “Really big commercial refrigerators – it’s not something you would use in a home,” Smathers said, puzzled at what someone would do with these items.

Along with the refrigerators, thieves made off with stainless steel tables, a hot holding unit for pizza, and stainless steel shelving. “The stuff was so bulky,” Smathers said. It had to be several people who were organized enough to be able to remove and transport the equipment. In addition, the trailer was in plain sight, parked under a street light, so this wasn’t a quick, sneaky endeavor.

As for the investigations, Bartley said, “We don’t have too much to go on,” but they do have fingerprints as well as a few leads they are following up on.

Oehlkers asked that people be more proactive about calling the police. More often, the police will hear from people after a crime, when they say that they noticed something unusual. But after the crime has been committed, it may be too late to do very much good.

“People don’t want to report these things,” Oehlkers said, because they don’t want to be a bother. But the police don’t mind investigating suspicious activity, Oehlkers said. It might be nothing, but it might stop a crime in progress. “If people see something they think is suspicious, call,” he said.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Department is interested in talking to anyone with information about the recent crimes. You can contact Detective Ali Bartley at 303-441-3650 and Detective Jason Oehlkers at 303-441-4763.

Lobster Bash A Smashing Good Time

By Mary Wolbach Lopert

By all accounts, the June 11 Lobster Bash was a rousing success. According to organizer Diane Atwood, this is the fifth year for the event. This year, 570 lobsters were ordered.

In the past, profits from the event have been ploughed back into the town, resulting in brackets for flower pots (and the flowers) that now hang from Niwot’s lampposts, as well as flags, tables and 300 chairs for future events.

Another bash is scheduled for Aug 13, to coincide with “Left Handers’ Day” and a concert at the bandstand.

A big thank you goes to Atwood and the Niwot Ladies Club for the great efforts and wonderful results.

Left Hand Laurel, Dave Fowler:Have Video Camera, Will Travel

By LuAnn Piccard

This year’s Niwot High School graduation held special meaning for Dave Fowler. Not only did his son Robbie graduate, but many of the graduating football team members are like sons to him.

Fowler has attended nearly every football game that his son Robbie and most of his classmates have played since they were in middle school. Not only was he a fan and father, but he was also the “camera man” who recorded every game – rain, shine, wind or snow.

Fowler’s game tapes have been used for seven years by the coaches and players to improve their play, from middle school through a final four appearance in the state playoffs last year. Fowler also prepared the highlight films for the annual football banquets.

Fowler didn’t stop there. For the past several years, he has made customized tapes to provide exposure for many players pursuing college athletic scholarships. Not only did he provide customized films for star athletes, he also provided highlight films for other players who received enough exposure to receive scholarships or walk-on invitations. Not wanting to take any credit, Fowler said, “What they did earned them scholarships. I just helped give them the tool.”

This year’s senior class has a remarkable number of athletes who will compete in college football next year, including Jeremy Hauck (Colorado), Matt Braman (Georgia Tech), Thomas Bauer (Northern Colorado), Matt Hendrick (Colorado State), and Clint Stapp (Montana). Several more athletes, including some from other sports, may find a place to continue their careers before the summer is over, thanks in part to Fowler’s filming efforts.

It all began when Robbie Fowler and his friends started playing together in the sixth grade. Mark Braman (whose son, Matt, was on the team) and John Arbeznik, both volunteers and local business executives, coached the team. Braman, a defensive back, and Arbeznik, an offensive guard, were teammates at the University of Michigan where Arbeznick was a captain of the football team and earned All Big-10 honors in 1979.

Dave Fowler wanted to be involved, but had no football experience. So he channeled his career experience from Colorado Memory Systems and Hewlett Packard and his hobbies of video production and music into providing game tapes. To everyone’s credit, from the sixth through ninth grades, the team was undefeated.

When the team moved into high school, NHS coach Ron Tesone welcomed Fowler’s contribution. Fowler filmed nearly every game, missing only one game per year. His son Joey, who will be a junior at Niwot next fall, filmed those games. Beth, his wife of 28 years, was another important member of the team, lending her support to the filming, often working into the wee hours to get a first cut done in time for the next day’s practice.

Fowler said, “I have every play of every game stored on my computer. At one time I had a terabyte of game film data.” When he first started doing banquet highlight films, they were shown at the Grange Hall, with a bed sheet as the screen. Time and technology helped improve the finished product to include slow motion, focused highlights and voice-over capabilities.

Some of Fowler’s tapes have traveled the world. Bill Mikulak sent his game tapes to his brother in the Merchant Marines. Some players will just have a record of the great plays they made and the fun they had with their team. “Every kid has at least one or two great plays,” Fowler said. “It was not just about the stars, but about the team.”

Fowler was inspired by his father Robert, a World War II and Korean War veteran, who died when Fowler was 17. He learned by his father’s example of the difference a life of committed volunteerism could make. One of his father’s many accomplishments was helping get baseball fields built in his hometown of New Carlisle, Ohio. For Fowler, his father was “the guy who always helped out.”

While cherishing the lifetime friendships he has developed and the lives he has touched, the self-described “old Hendrix guy” is also anxious to spend more time with his son Joey, a member of the NHS marching band, orchestra and jazz band, and invest time in some of his other interests, in particular playing the guitar. Next season, he’ll enjoy the games as a spectator, knowing the contribution he’s made to the lives of the players, their families and the football program.

With tears in his eyes, Fowler recounted a recent conversation in which he thanked his son Robbie, a wide receiver for the NHS football team last fall, for letting him be part of it all. All Robbie said was, “Dad, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

Photo by LuAnn Piccard

Dave Fowler poses in front of one of his most prized processions, an autographed picture of the 2005 senior football players on the Niwot High School Varsity Team.

Born On The 4th Of July!

By Bruce Warren

Niwot businessmen Tim Wise and Ken Fucik had a vision of celebrating Niwot’s past by drawing attention to the unique shopping experience of modern-day Niwot. Last year saw the completion of the first incarnation of that vision, the Niwot Caboose, which now stands alongside the railroad tracks near Bank of the West, proclaiming, “Welcome to Historic Niwot” to all passersby. On July 4, a newly constructed Niwot Bandstand, located just south of the Niwot Caboose, will be dedicated to the community as the next phase of the effort to recognize Niwot’s historic past and provide an outdoor venue for concerts and other performances.

The festivities begin with a pancake breakfast, sponsored by The Niwot Market, at Cottonwood Square from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.. From there a parade featuring kids, pets, bikes, fire trucks, horses and various dignitaries (and not so dignitaries), will depart at 10:30 a.m., making its way down Second Avenue to Murray Street and the Niwot Bandstand.

The parade is an outgrowth of a loosely organized event started by long-time community supporter Pat Murphy several years ago. Kids of all ages are encouraged to show up at Cottonwood Square at 10 a.m. with pets on leashes to participate in the parade. According to organizers, preregistration is neither required nor encouraged.

The first performance at the bandstand is slated for 10:45 a.m., and will feature a somewhat loosely reorganized Niwot Community Band, followed by the renowned John Philip Sousa Band of Colorado. The community band is rumored to consist of a dozen local musicians, young and old, who have been rehearsing at the Grange and at Rocky Mountain Christian Church for at least two weeks. The Sousa Band is one of only a few in the country allowed to use the Sousa name.

Anne Dyni, president of the Niwot Historical Society, will describe the history of the Niwot bandstand’s predecessor, which stood at the corner of Second Avenue and Murray Street for many years.

Rockin’ Robin Abb of the Niwot Business Association (NBA), sponsor of the project and the event, will act as emcee and recognize the many volunteers and organizations which contributed to the bandstand project. Wise will be on hand to pass out awards, but Fucik is out of the country on business and will be unable to attend.

The concert is the first in a series of monthly performances at the bandstand, which are sponsored by the NBA with partial funding from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District through the Longmont Council for the Arts. Future performances are scheduled for August 13 in connection with the next Lobster Bash organized by Diane Atwood, September 9, as a kickoff to the Nostalgia Day celebration the next day, and October 15, in conjunction with a wine tasting and art festival.

Following the concert, Dyni will lead a walking tour of historic Niwot. Area residents are encouraged to be part of the parade and plan on staying for the concert at the bandstand. Left Hand Grange is furnishing free ice cream for the event, and several local merchants will have food and drink available. Several Niwot merchants will be open for business that day as well.

Photo by Bruce Warren

The new Niwot Bandstand under construction, next to the Niwot Caboose.

Pioneer Roots

The Jones and Schlagel Families

By LuAnn Piccard

With the recent passing of Doyle E. Jones and LeRoy Schlagel, our community lost two local treasures. However, they will forever remain connected to the community through their families and their legacy of contribution.

Jones was born in Niwot in 1905 and lived to be just shy of 100 years old. In March he and his wife, Lou, celebrated their 79th wedding anniversary while riding atop a horse-drawn carriage in a parade down Berthoud’s main street.

On a sunny afternoon, I reminisced with Lou at the Longmont home of Delmar and JoAnn Jones, her nephew and niece. I knew I was in for a treat when she asked if the lemonade that JoAnn offered had “a little lift in it”, and said about her family, “One’s just as bright as the other, and we’re not bragging.” When I asked what the best thing was about being 100 old, she said, “I’m back to zero and can start the clock again.”

Both Doyle and Lou were born and raised on farms in Niwot. Doyle’s childhood home is now the Niwot Honey Farm on Neva Road. At that time, there was no “Diagonal,” just the railroad and country roads. As a child, Lou would take the train to visit her uncle’s farm in Berthoud, which was a major adventure.

Lou and Doyle were high school sweethearts. He was a catcher for the Niwot baseball team and she was the only girl among four brothers. “Doyle used to come over and run around with my brothers. I liked to play tricks on them and then I’d run like the dickens to get to the house before they could get me.”

They married in 1926 in Niwot and lived on their Neva Road farm until 1961, when they then moved to a dry land farm purchased from Lou’s uncle in the 40’s. Later, they moved into Lou’s uncle’s house in Berthoud.

Even in the 1920s and 30s, Niwot was a small, full-service community. There was a hotel and a main street garage as well as the Grange Hall where people enjoyed social events. Lou said it was a close knit town where everyone met on weekends for card parties and get-togethers. People spent a lot of time walking the railroad and the country roads surrounding Niwot. Lou said, “It was just a different kind of life.”

Doyle and Lou played in a band named the Jailbirds nearly every weekend at barn dances from Boulder to Estes Park. Several band members later went to New York City to play professionally. Doyle played banjo, saxophone and drums and Lou played piano.

Late one night, she kept playing the piano for the audience while the other band members packed up their gear. “When they were done packing up the car, the guys pulled up outside and I had to run and jump in the car so we could make a get-away.”

Lou also played piano every Sunday at Church. “Yes, I’d play dance music on Saturday nights and church music on Sundays,” she said.

Lou and Doyle enjoyed camping and traveling the countryside with JoAnn and Delmar, and they also visited Israel and Europe. Lou said, “I had a chance to travel the world, but the best place is still home.”

LeRoy Schlagel, husband to Alberta and brother of JoAnn Jones, made many contributions to the economy, environment, community and children of the Niwot/Longmont area, where he lived all of his life.

Born in Longmont in 1929, LeRoy married Alberta Humphrey in 1951. They had two sons, Gary and Eddie, and two daughters, Cindy and Roxanna. LeRoy was a member of the United States Marine Corps and served as a corporal in the

Korean War.

One of LeRoy’s greatest pleasures was participation in the 4-H. As a delegate to the National 4-H Camp in Washington, D.C., he met President Truman, and a A 4-H soil conservation project won him a trip to Chicago.

Farming was LeRoy’s pride and passion. He attended the National FFA Convention while he was in high school, and as an adult, he won several High Ten Sugar Beet Growers awards. LeRoy dedicated much of his life to children’s education through the 4-H and on the board of the Nelson School and the St. Vrain Valley School District. He helped the Longmont area school districts grow from a small, rural system to the vibrant school system of today.

He was also instrumental in helping to secure water resources for the Niwot/Longmont area, serving for 34 years on the board of the Left Hand Water District, and participated in some of the growth and its predeccessor.

LeRoy was a dedicated member of the Jaycees, Longmont Soil Conservation District, the Longs Peak Post 2601 Veteran’s of Foreign Wars and the John Harold Buckley Post 32 American Legion.

Along with fishing, softball, traveling and wood-working, LeRoy took great pleasure in his six grandchildren: Tyler, Brandon, Philip, Tia, Tasia and Jeff; his greatest pride was watching their sporting events. He was a fixture at Niwot High school basketball games even after his health declined.

Both Doyle and LeRoy will be missed but their lifetimes of contributions will continue to benefit the people, the community and the families they left behind.

Photo by LuAnn Picard

Lou Jones with Delmar and JoAnn Jones reminisce about the joys of the simple life in Niwot.

Niwot Signage -

Effective Marketing Or Visual Pollution?  

By LuAnn Piccard

Boulder County, the Niwot Rural Community District and Cottonwood Square Shopping Center have regulations governing signage. The question is how many people pay attention to those regulations?

The issue for many residents and merchants is the proliferation and inconsistency of temporary commercial and political signage. In interviewing area residents, visitors and merchants, the general feeling is that the hand-made “Burma Shave” signs along Niwot Road that announce community events are fine.

The same feeling generally applies to the temporary signs that announce daily specials, which are put away at the end of the day. Announcements for non-commercial, short-term events, such as political campaigns, that are removed promptly at the conclusion of the event, are also fine.

Most people interviewed dislike the growing trend towards posting commercial signs along the “Burma Shave” route. “The community event signs have character,” said one resident. “The other signs just look tacky.”

Some Cottonwood Square merchants feel that the additional signs at the shopping center entrance are necessary to build consumer traffic for businesses that are tucked away from the main drag. “It isn’t obvious to visitors what goods and services are available within Cottonwood Square unless they drive through the shopping center,” one merchant said.

Inconsistency is another concern voiced by local businesses. Whether in Cottonwood Square or Historic Downtown Niwot, not everyone plays by the same rules. “Most of the signs, whether fully approved or not, seem to generally reflect the historic feel of downtown,” said one business owner.

Another business owner said, “It’s important for businesses to be unique, but I’d like to see everyone following the county and Niwot Rural Community District requirements more consistently.”

One issue voiced universally by Historic Downtown Niwot and Cottonwood Square merchants and visitors is the lack of signage on the Diagonal Highway directing visitors to Historic Niwot. “I don’t want a billboard or anything,” said one merchant, “but it would be nice to let the 40,000 cars that drive by Niwot on the Diagonal each day know what’s available here.” At press time, a “Discover Niwot” banner has been hung from the bandstand noting Niwot’s award as runner-up for best shopping area in a recent poll.

A Sign Of The Times

By Ron Goodman

Photos by Ron Goodman

Signs are everywhere. They provide information, alert us to danger, identify buildings, businesses, cities and towns, and tell us the name of the street we are driving on. Signs can also distract us, visually pollute an area and be a general nuisance and safety hazard. As a consequence, most governmental bodies have a sign ordinance, which is usually a part of the Land Use Code.

Boulder County recently began a review of its existing sign control legislation; Article 13 of the Land Use Code is appropriately titled SIGNS. Land use in the county is not enforced by regular inspection. Enforcement is only initiated in response to a complaint.

Because of the ongoing sign regulation review, the Courier decided to look at the plethora of signs in Niwot to see how the signage “stacks up” against the existing code. For this task we enlisted the help of Boulder County Planner Dale Case. The comments about the photos below are based on our conversation.

In addition to the countywide regulations mentioned above, the Niwot Rural Community District (generally Second Avenue from Murray to Niwot Road.) is governed by an overlay code. This code also contains sign guidelines for the district. It requires flush or projecting signs that become part of the overall building design. Except for the Bader House, no freestanding signs are allowed.

Signs In A County Right-Of–Way Generally signs in county right-of-way are not allowed. Signs may not be attached to utility poles. One two-foot square sign is permitted to identify a property (Jones Farm). Signs may not obstruct traffic control devices, obstruct the view or distract drivers.

For Sale Signs One “For Sale/Rent” sign is permitted with a maximum face area of six square feet, for a total of 12 square feet. No illumination is allowed. It must not exceed six feet in height and must be set back 15 feet from the front lot line.

Temporary Signs With the exception of permitted signs noted above and political signs, all signs displayed require a permit from the county. There is a returnable $25 fee. All temporary signs may be displayed 90 days before an event and 15 days after the event for a total maximum of 105 days. The location is governed by the setback and sign area limitations of the district in which the temporary sign is placed.

Signs On Buildings The total square footage of building signs is capped at 150 square feet. Signs may not exceed 25 percent of the building wall area or be larger than two square feet for each horizontally measured foot of building length. There are many regulations and nuances contained in both zoning/sign regulations summarized above. This overview is not meant to be complete or definitive. Each sign is different. Check with a county planner for details.

From Trash To Treasure

Recycling 101

By LuAnn Piccard

Did you ever wonder what happens to old landscape, construction or demolition materials, computers, plastic bags or hazardous waste?

According to Dan Matsch, manager of the Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM), recycling efforts have flattened out at 33 percent of the waste stream,“We have done a great job of recycling containers, glass, aluminum and paper. We have a long way to go to significantly reduce or eliminate the rest.”

Fifty percent of the waste stream can be composted. Fifteen to 17 percent is hard-to-recycle material. CHaRM, part of Ecocycle, a private non-profit organization partially funded by the City of Boulder, can recycle much of that percentage, and the goal is to add one new hard-to-recycle material to the list each year.

CHaRM currently accepts books, electronics, plastic bags, shoes and textiles. Plastic bags are sold to Trex, which mixes the plastic with sawdust to create decking material. Roughly seven percent of the electronics are refurbished for re-use; the rest are recycled.

CHaRM works with environmental groups to educate manufacturers about green policies which minimize use of toxic materials and maximize use of recycled and recyclable materials. According to Matsch, a computer monitor contains lead and other toxic substances which can leach into the water system if landfilled

ReSource (formally Resource2000) is part of the nonprofit Center for ReSource Conservation. ReSource sells reusable building materials including lumber, doors, cabinets, windows, fencing, fixtures, masonry, tile, flooring, roofing bricks, flagstones, and metal goods, all at reasonable prices.

While inventory changes daily, the staff tries to accommodate special requests. McCaren Avalon, ReSource operations manager, noted some current items: a dental chair, claw-foot tub and chicken coop. Old-growth wood reclaimed from barns is popular with woodworkers, while hardwood flooring, cabinets, doors, windows and antique fixtures are most popular.

Avalon said, “For many items, ReSource is the last stop on the way to the landfill. It’s a great place to bring things that can be used by other people or get a good deal.”

Boulder County residents can dispose of hazardous waste at the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-off site free of charge. Examples are motor oil, antifreeze, drain cleaner, pool chemicals, auto batteries, paint, and fluorescent light tubes. The HHW Drop-Off site does not accept ammunition and explosives, asbestos insulation, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, medical waste, radioactive materials and smoke detectors. Reusable products are available free of charge to the public during operating hours.A typical home contains three to eight gallons of hazardous material. Products are considered hazardous if they are toxic, highly flammable, corrosive or explosive. When not taken care of properly, this material can pose a threat. It can impact fish and wildlife, get into streams, leach out of landfills or injure sanitation workers.

Landscaper Scott Deemer of Outdoor Craftsmen uses “green” practices. He said, “We recycle as much as we can. When doing renovation work to existing landscapes, we always try to reuse as much as possible to minimize debris. We use composted material when amending the soils used for planting. I have found Colorado Materials to be a good local supplier for both supply and disposal of organics.”

According to Deemer, xeric gardens require less water, chemicals and overall maintenance. This trend, which incorporates more stone, architectural elements and drought-resistant plants, is gaining popularity.

Deemer said, “When it comes to bulk materials, such as old flagstone or concrete, we try to reuse some as base material and if viable, as a different landscape element. With good resource management our clients can be environmentally conscious and have a beautiful outdoor space.”

Photo by LuAnn Piccard

McCaren Avalon, ReSource operations manager, stands outside her office made from recycled materials and built with volunteer labor.

Yesterday’s News -- Prairie Sentinels

By Anne Dyni

Here in the St. Vrain Valley, silos are one of the most enduring reminders of our agricultural past. Seemingly indestructible, they don’t decay or sag with age the way barns do. Built to withstand wind, weather and moisture, they have evolved from the concrete-stave silos of the late 1890s to the metal and fiberglass giants seen today.

Yet, with the rapid urbanization of Boulder County, most of those remaining have outlived their function and are gradually disappearing from the landscape. If you look closely, you’ll discover that not all silos are alike. The earliest ones in Boulder County were made of 2” boards stacked horizontally, much like a rectangular granary. Wood is subject to rot, of course, and air trapped in the corners allowed the silage to decay. As a result, few wooden silos are left.

Stuart Anderson, however, still maintains the wooden octagonal silo built by his grandfather, Emil Anderson, around 1920. Empty now and leaning just a bit, it still stands on the family homestead at 8556 Arapahoe Road.

The first poured concrete silo in Boulder County dates from 1907, when Nels Anderson brought two 16-foot-diameter forms with him from Minnesota. With this new technology, he built two silos to store silage for his feed cattle west of Niwot.

Nels paid his son Ted 10 cents a bushel to gather rocks for the concrete mix. After the first layer of concrete had hardened, subsequent layers were poured until the desired height was reached. Both Anderson silos are still standing at 5939 Niwot Road. “My dad built a concrete silo like that in 1921,” Wayne Arbuthnor recalled. “They hauled the sand from a gulch on Table Mountain and screened it for dirt. They didn’t have concrete mixers, (so they used) a mixing box.”

Poured concrete silos were not without drawbacks. Expansion and contraction of their thick porous walls sometimes resulted in cracks extending from top to bottom.Stave silos are still fairly common throughout the west. They were constructed of tongue-and-groove concrete blocks stacked alternately, much like a circular brick wall. At eight- to 15-inch intervals, steel strapping hoops were tightened around the exterior to prevent leakage.

Although their introduction dates from the 1890s, it wasn’t until about 1914 that stave silos appeared in Boulder County. That’s when the Colorado Cement Stave Silo Company of Longmont began marketing their Playford model. The sales brochure described them as “scientifically correct” with steel reinforcements so exactly balanced that the walls would never crack. In addition, the interior was treated with a waterproof coating to make it impervious to the acid juices of the ensilage.

Alfonso Schofield bought one of the first Playford silos in 1914. The company erected it, forming the cement blocks on site using sand from nearby Boulder Creek. Current owner Joe Distel still has one of the molds used to make the 10 by 30 inch blocks. The Schofield/Distel farm, now a county historic landmark, is just north of Arapahoe Road at 2203 111th Street.

Another Playford silo was built in 1923 by Danish farmer Carl Carlson at 10050 Plateau Road, east of Longmont. It was landmarked in 1999 because it is purported to be the tallest silo in the county, measuring 54 feet, eight inches in height.

Next time you’re driving through the countryside, slow down at the next silo and take a closer look.

Because of our semi-arid climate, the Nels Anderson silos, like most other silos in Boulder County, were never roofed.

NYS U12 Cougars Off to Triple Crown World Series

Special to the Courier

The Niwot Youth Sports sponsored 12 and under baseball team qualified for the Steamboat Springs Triple Crown World Series by placing second in the Ft. Collins Memorial Day Classic Tournament. The Triple Crown World Series, held in Steamboat July 19 – 23, is a prestigious national event, attracting over 300 teams from all around the United States.

The team plays in the Ft. Collins Baseball League, which is part of the Northern Colorado Sports Conference. The young Cougars finished with an 11 – 4 league record and a 27 - 8 season record. The Cougars advanced to the semi-finals of the Ft. Collins League Tournament and will participate in at least one other tournament before the World Series.

Top hitters for the team are Daniel Haan (.562), Blake Spencer (.538), Connor Messinger (.500), Andy Wegleitner (.429), Jacob Fischenich (.424) and Teagan Kramer (.379). Messinger leads the team in RBI’s, followed by Kramer and Spencer. The team had three over-the-fence home runs, one each by David Bote, Fischenich, and Messinger.

The pitching staff was lead by Wegleitner, Bote, and Messinger with Bote leading the team in both innings pitched and strike-outs. However, pitching duties have been shared this season with all players contributing. It is the team’s philosophy to give all players experience as pitchers. This pitching depth has contributed greatly to the team’s success, especially in tournaments.

The team’s emphasis on fundamentals contributed to a strong overall defense. The infield defense was solid throughout the season, with Ryan Schramm, Mitchell Dow, and Connor Phillips at first base, Haan at second, Messinger at third, and Bote at shortstop. The strength from the outfield came from Ben Walters, Sam Frutchey, Mitchell Dow, Kramer and Fischenich. As a utility player, Wegleitner showed great versatility playing various positions wherever needed depending on the pitcher. Spencer was rock-solid behind the plate throwing out an impressive 28 base runners this season, while Kramer in the outfield and Haan in the infield had flawless records with no errors.

Photo by Robin Wegleitner

NYS U12 Cougars: Top row (l to r): Jacob Fischenich, Andy Wegleitner, Ryan Schramm, Connor Messinger, Ben Walters and Mitchell Dow; Bottom row: Sam Frutchey, David Bote, Blake Spencer, Daniel Haan, Teagan Kramer and Connor Phillips.