The Senior Voice - August 2009

The Senior

I O C V E August 2009

Local Attractions • Scenic Places • History • Money • Health • News

Old Ghost West Town

North InColorado Northern Colorado and Wyoming

Longs Estes Park Peak

Pioneer Settler Climbers Abner Sprague

Outlaws In Early Early Colorado Towns Near Loveland Skiing Steamboat Money, Springs Health,

News

2 • August 2009 • The Senior Voice

Handling Probate Colorado Legislation By Ron Rutz, Attorney Financial Writer

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robate is a simple process used to settle an estate. The forms needed are available at www.courts.state.co.us/Forms/Index.cfm. For the preferred probate method known as unsupervised administration, four forms are needed if a Will is present: 1. The Application for Informal Probate of a Will and Informal Appointment of a Personal Re presentative (Form JDF 910). 2. The Acceptance of Appointment (Form JDF 911) where the Personal Representative indicates he or she agrees to act. 3. The Order of Informal Probate of Will and Informal Appointment of Personal Representative (Form JDF 913) that authorizes commencement of the probate and the appointment of the Personal Representative. 4. The Letters Testamentary (Form JDF 915), which shows that the Personal Representative is legally authorized to act. The forms are simple to fill out. The information contained in the death certificate and the Will, plus addresses of beneficiaries and the Personal Representative, are all you need.

The four forms along with the original Will and the filing fee of $304 are filed with the Clerk of the District Court in the county where the deceased resided. In addition to the original documents, also give the Court copies of the Application, Acceptance, and Order, along with seven copies of the Letters Testamentary, so a file stamped copy of each document can be returned to the Personal Representative along with seven certified copies of the Letters for use by the Personal Representative. The documents can be submitted to the Court by mail or delivered to the District Court Clerk. In case the Clerk cannot process the paperwork while you wait, bring a big, self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage, which the Clerk will use to return the processed documents to you. It is wise to make a copy of the Will for your use, but do not take the Will apart when copying. More on this next month; so save this column. ________________ Attorney Ron Rutz will answer questions sent to 2625 Redwing Road, #180, Ft. Collins, CO 80526. Phone 223-8388. Email [email protected]. ■

By B.J. Nikkel Colorado State Representative

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am pleased with many of the proposals that the legislature passed this year, including House Bill 1143, which makes affordable health care accessible to more Coloradans. Regretfully, Colorado’s retired citizens saw the repeal of the Senior Homestead Exemption Act. I fought against this repeal. I am proud of the fact that three of my four bills were passed by the legislature this session and were signed by the governor. They were: House Bill 1290— Colorado National Guard Financial Aid— increases the amount of financial aid available for Colorado National Guard members. House Bill 129—Veterans Information Resource Clearinghouse —provides a one-stop shopping information resource (with a website and 800 phone number) for veterans so they can easily find information they need on various public, private and government programs, showing services available to them. My proudest moment was the

passage of House Bill 1288—The Colorado Taxpayer Transparency Act. This Act puts the state’s checkbook online so taxpayers can view expenditures and revenues. Transparency in state government will help the state save money by allowing taxpayers to track government waste, fraud and abuse. Taxpayers have a right to know how and where the state spends our taxpayer dollars without having to pay for Colorado Open Records Act requests. As a state representative, I will continue to fight against more taxation and against implementation of more “fees” which are a burden to taxpayers, especially during hard economic times. I’ll also continue to fight for keeping local control and against mandates and burdensome regulation, because Coloradans know what’s best for them—and it’s not “nanny” government. ________________ Rep. B.J. Nikkel represents House District 49 for Weld and Larimer counties. She is on the House Judiciary Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee. Call her at 303-866-2907; email [email protected]. ■

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The Senior Voice • August 2009 • 3

First People in Our Area

Published Locally Since 1980 VOL. 29, NO. 9

970-229-9204 [email protected] theseniorvoice.net PUBLICATION INFORMATION The Senior Voice newspaper has been published locally the first of each month since 1980 for residents age 50-plus.

ADVERTISING Ad deadline is 20th of month. For rates, call 970-229-9204; email [email protected] or see theseniorvoice.net.

An Indian camp on the plains thousands of years after the first stone-age people arrived. Colorado Historical Society. By Bill Lambdin

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he colorful history of northern Colorado and Wyoming began long before the 1859 gold rush. Prehistoric people were here at least 10,000 years ago. Later the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians roamed our mountains and plains. And Spanish explorers may have prospected for gold below Longs Peak nearly 150 years before other miners arrived. Archaeologists believe prehistoric people crossed an ancient land bridge from Russia to Alaska and came along the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado. Their stone spear points and other artifacts have been found at numerous places in Wyoming, the Dent site near Greeley, and Lindenmeier site north of Fort Collins. These archaeological sites are among the most important in America, proving that primitive man once hunted mammoth and other animals here that long ago vanished from this continent. The people followed game herds across the prairie and into the mountains. Their stone spear points have been found even at the high elevations of Rocky Mountain National Park. Today in the Park you can still see ancient rock walls that some archaeologists believe early hunters used for game drives. One wall is very near Trail Ridge Road. More than 40 of these rock walls are in the Park. They were v-shaped so hunters could drive game toward

other hunters hiding in the rocks, say some archaeologists. Trail Ridge Road follows a trail used by prehistoric people. So does the Fall River Pass road and other trails in the Park. White settlers thought they were pathfinders when they built roads over these mountains, up Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins and over the Snowy Range in Wyoming. But they were really just following trails prehistoric people had used for thousands of years. The Ute Indians, especially, traveled through our mountains and canyons. Some archaeologists believe early Utes may have been the descendants of the first stone-age people in our region. When pioneer Abner Sprague arrived in Estes Park in the 1800s, he remembered seeing many signs that ancient people had been there. “That the Indians made Estes Park a summer (home) there is no question,” said Sprague. “Evidence of their camps were everywhere.” The Utes reigned as lords of the mountains for centuries and learned to use the buffalo for almost everything they needed: meat, clothing, tepee covers, thread, bowstrings, blankets. They dried the meat, reducing its weight by ten times and making it easily stored or transported. The flesh of two full-grown buffalo would dry to 100 pounds and sustain a family of six for a month. There may have been as many as 5,000 Utes in our mountains and valleys by the 1700s. Their greatest enemies, until white men arrived,

were the Arapaho, who roamed the plains just east of the mountains. The two tribes fought often for control of hunting grounds. The Arapaho frequently won because they were excellent horsemen and capable warriors. Though numbering only about 2,500, the Arapaho were a major influence in the region and considered this area their homeland, pushing the Utes into western Colorado during the 1700s. The Arapaho and other tribes also kept early Spanish explorers out of the area. In 1720 a Spanish expedition of 100 soldiers came up the front range from Santa Fe, along the South Platte River and into Nebraska. Indians attacked them and killed most of the 100. The remaining soldiers quickly dashed back to Santa Fe, and the Spaniards lost interest in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. But before they were attacked, that group of Spaniards may have been the first gold miners in Colorado, establishing a camp just east of Longs Peak. In 1859 prospector Samuel Stone believed that he found their mining camp. And fur traders in 1720 said they heard stories from Indians about Spaniards digging for gold in the Rockies. We live in an historic place, where America’s first humans walked thousands of years ago. ________________ COVER PICTURE: A young bear in a tree near Estes Park. Taken by photographer John Long, who lives in Loveland. ■

Wolfgang Lambdin Advertising Director Fort Collins, Colorado (970) 229-9204 [email protected] SALES OFFICES:

Ft. Collins and Loveland (970) 229-9204 Greeley (970) 454-3789 EDITORIAL DEADLINE Announcements and stories must be received by the 10th of the month.; ads by the 20th of the month. READER INFORMATION Subscriptions $48 a year. The Senior Voice welcomes readers' letters and contributions. The Senior Voice assumes no responsibility for damaged or lost material submitted by readers.

© Copyright 2009 The Senior Voice EDITORIAL OFFICE:

1471 Front Nine Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525 (970) 223-9271 email [email protected] www.theseniorvoice.net No material may be reproduced by any means without permission of the publisher.

Dr. William Lambdin, Publisher

4 • August 2009 • The Senior Voice

Stories from Early Days in Greeley Post years ago. Campbell once told about the time he and some friends were visiting Bonfils’ office. There was a small dog there that belonged to some member of Bonfils’ family. It was a cute dog but bouncing around all over the place, annoying Bonfils, who said, “I’ll give anyone

(Editor’s Note: Greeley historian Hazel E. Johnson wrote the following story years ago.) By Hazel Johnson

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arly Greeley resident Andy Campbell was a good friend of Fred Bonfils, owner of the Denver







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Pioneers at a sod house on the plains. Hazel Johnson Collection. Keota. She later recalled: $10 to get rid of that damn dog.” “We came with a group of 22 One fellow looked at Andy settlers, 15 of them school teachers. Campbell and said, “Well, Andy, I Teachers were very scarce in those guess we could do something about days. the dog for $10, couldn’t we?” “Our homestead was 160 acres “I reckon we could,” Andy of dry land. The teachers also took recalled. “Bonfils gave us the $10 up homesteads, and many of them and we left with the dog. We put it got jobs right away teaching school in a sack with some bricks, in their own cabins. intending to drop it in the Platte “One winter our meat supply had River. practically vanished. My husband “But on the way, I began to had gone to Greeley one afternoon weaken. I just couldn’t stand the when I noticed some wild ducks on thought of drowning the cute little a pond near our house. fellow.” “I had never used our 22 rifle, Suddenly they saw a kennel sign. but I had visions of a delicious duck “Why don’t you see if the lady there for supper. Taking our small son by will take the dog?” Andy asked his one hand and the rifle in the other, I friend. slipped down to the pond. She agreed. A few days later, the “I sighted in on a nice, fat duck Denver Post came out with a heartbreaking, tear-jerking story about and pulled the trigger. Bang! Away the little dog being lost and a young flew our supper. Bonfils family member who was “Later I found I had not only saddened. Bonfils offered a $100 missed the duck but had shot a pane reward for the dog. of glass out of a window in our The lady read the story, returned house. In those days, to lose glass the dog to Bonfils and collected the was as big a tragedy as having no reward. meat.” That’s my shaggy dog story. Margaret and her family Here’s one about a duck. managed to get through that and Pioneers Margaret Lewis, her many other trying times on the lonehusband and two small children took some plains. They were survivors, up a homestead northeast of Greeley as were many other settlers in early on the plains between Grover and Weld County. ■

Do You Have Food Allergies?

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ost of the people who think they have a food allergy don’t have one, and tests for such allergies are often inaccurate, say researchers at Johns Hopkins University and other medical schools. Only about one-fourth of the people who think they have a food allergy actually have one. About six percent of children have one and four percent of adults. Common blood tests for food allergies are often wrong or incorrectly interpreted. The only sure way

to find an allergy is by having a person eat foods in controlled conditions and under a specialist’s supervision. It takes a lot of time. Americans are becoming more sensitive to some things such as the gluten in breads and lactose in dairy products, say researchers. But misdiagnosis continues to increase. In American children, diagnoses of food allergies have increased by nearly 20 percent in the last ten years; many of them wrong, made by non-specialists. ■

The Senior Voice • August 2009 • 5

Memories of an Estes Park Pioneer By Peggy Hunt hen young pioneer Abner Sprague built his first cabin in Estes Park in 1875, the place was a paradise of wild game and natural beauty. He described the fishing: “It only took a few minutes to catch all we could use as there were no small ones to throw back...I would take my willow pole...about 20 feet of line, no leader, no artificial flies, just grasshoppers, and go out...and catch all (we) could carry to camp.” Sprague was 25 years old then, building a sod-roofed log cabin with his mother and father a few miles from Estes Park in what is now Rocky Mountain National Park. He lived to be 93, spending his life in this scenic place and becoming one of Estes Park’s most successful guest ranch owners. But he remembered that small cabin and its humble beginnings: “Into that cabin we moved, bringing as little furnishings as we could get along with. We had a small sheet-iron stove without an oven for heat, a Dutch oven in which to bake bread, pies, etc...Our furniture was of the Carrie Nation type, made with a hatchet... “When I think of the meals we had in the log cabin that summer and of the many banquets I have sat down to since, I have to keep

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my mind from harking back to those simple meals with my mother in that first log cabin...the best-tasting bread ever baked, and cake and wild huckleberry pie.” After a long life, Sprague wrote down his remembrances before he died in 1943. His nephew, Edgar Stopher, published them in a book, “My Pioneer Life: The Memoirs of Abner E. Sprague.” It was a fine book, written in the words of a true pioneer and providing a unique look at the early Estes Park area. When Sprague first climbed Longs Peak in 1874, he found a tin can on the summit with a message in it written in 1868 by John Wesley Powell, one of the first white men to climb the peak. He also found a message written by Anna Dickinson, one of the first women to climb the mountain. From Long’s summit, Sprague said he could see, “all the small towns from Pikes Peak to the Chalk Bluffs in Wyoming...I think one could climb Longs Peak every summer...and never become tired of the view.” He climbed it many times. The last time was in 1924, exactly 50 years after his first climb. He was 75 years old. “My Pioneer Life” was a 246page book with many photographs. It might still be available from Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO 80517; email: [email protected]. ■

Abner Sprague first climbed Longs Peak in 1874. Senior Voice photo.

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Dangerous Plastic Bottles

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he chemical bisphenol A (BPA) that is used in some plastic bottles and hundreds of other products easily gets into people’s systems, says a report in Environmental Health Perspectives. Scientists are not sure what harm the chemical might do, but they are concerned about it, especially its possible effects on children. Harvard University researchers found a 69 percent increase in BPA levels in the urine of people who drank for one week from plastic bottles containing the

chemical. Researcher Karin Micels said, “If you heat those bottles, as is the case with baby bottles, we would expect the levels to be considerably higher. This would be of concern since infants may be particularly susceptible to BPA’s endocrine-disrupting potential.” Other studies have raised questions about BPA, prompting some manufacturers to stop using it. But this is the first study that proves BPA from plastic bottles leaches into people’s bodies. ■

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6 • August 2009 • The Senior Voice

Latest Health Fads M

any people are taking the latest fad drug “resveratrol,” advertised as an anti-aging agent, treatment for cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and just about everything else that ails us. But those people might be taking serious health risks, say scientists like Rafael de Cabo, a National Institute on Aging researcher who has written most of the studies on resveratrol. No one knows how safe it is or what dosage should be taken. “They are taking their health in their own hands,” said Cabo. Resveratrol is sold as a supplement, like vitamins, under various brand names: Resveratin, Trans-Max, Sustain-Alpha and others. Some pills might contain 25 milligrams; some 1 gram. There’s no control of it because vitamins or supplements are not regulated by the FDA. Resveratrol supposedly contains the health benefits of red wine; but the products sold are actually made from a Japanese weed known as knotweed, not from wine or grapes, say researchers. Another fad product is the “hyperbaric chamber,” an enclosed

tube you lie in to receive extra oxygen and air pressure. Hospitals use them to treat victims of carbon monoxide poisoning and a few other conditions. Professional mountain climbers use portable versions to treat altitude sickness. But manufacturers are selling them as cures for autism, cerebral palsy, cancer and other things. They’re also advertised as a way to slow or reverse the aging process. Entertainer Michael Jackson used a hyperbaric chamber, say advertisers. But scientists say the product has limited uses, and that most people who buy one for their home are wasting their money. In fact, they might be risking their health because in some cases extra oxygen can be harmful, even toxic. Too much of it can damage the eyes and lungs, say specialists. Oxygen is also highly flammable. It can actually accelerate the ageing process, said Dr. Neil Hampson, a hyperbaric specialist at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Washington. ■

Fish Is Brain Food?

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any studies have shown that a diet rich in fish is good for the heart, and a recent study says it is also good for the brain. People who eat a lot of fish are less likely to develop dementia, says a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study included 15,000 people over age 65, making it one of the largest studies of its kind concerning the effects of eating Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish.

It included people who ate fish daily, those who ate it a few times a week, and those who seldom ate it. It showed, according to researcher Dr. Emiliano Albanese at King’s College in London, that “the more fish you eat, the less likely you are to get dementia.” On the other hand, he said, numerous studies have shown that the more red meat you eat the more likely you are to have dementia. ■

Gas-Hog Trade Incentives

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ere is some brief information about the so-called “cash for clunkers” program in which the federal government will pay you between $3,500 and $4,500 to trade your old car or truck for a new vehicle. Your old car must be less than 25 years old, get less than 18 miles per gallon, and be registered and insured for the past year. You must buy or lease a new (not used) vehicle that costs less than $45,000 and gets at least 22 mpg average for cars.

Requirements for trucks are different. You must make the trade by November 1, 2009 or when government money is exhausted (whichever comes first). A lease must run at least five years. A dealer must give you this credit in addition to manufacturer rebates, incentives, etc. Only one credit is allowed per car owner or joint owner. For details and exceptions, see www.cars.gov or www.edmunds. com/cash-for-clunkers/faqs.html. ■

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The Senior Voice • August 2009 • 7

Early Loveland and Nearby Towns By Lois Hall

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he town of Loveland was named for railroad pioneer William Loveland, early president of the Colorado Central Railroad. In l877 he was building his line north from the town of Golden to Cheyenne and decided to establish a depot along the Big Thompson River. That depot became the town of Loveland, which opened its first post office in l878. William Loveland became famous in early Colorado, and other places were named for him, including Loveland Pass west of Denver. He built a wagon road over that l2,000foot pass in l879. It was quite a feat, crossing the Continental Divide; and it helped to open Colorado’s western

slope to commerce and settlement. Several of the communities near the town of Loveland also have interesting histories. Berthoud was named for Edward Berthoud, surveyor and engineer for William Loveland’s railroad company. Berthoud was originally called Little Thompson, but the name was changed to honor the surveyor when the railroad line came through. The town’s first post office opened in l875. The little town of Campion south of Loveland was named for John Campion, an early businessman involved in mining, railroads and the sugar beet industry. West of Loveland near Estes Park, the village of Glen Haven originated in l9l7 when a church group called the Presbyterian Assembly

Association established what they hoped would be a mountain “haven” near a “glen” (Glen Haven). They sold cabin sites to their members and promoted the area as a beautiful mountain retreat. They told members it was such a pristine area that there were no snakes or spiders. “Not even a big bug,” said the promotional literature. “The latter all go to Estes Park.” The Big Thompson River that runs through Loveland was probably

named for a pioneer mountain man, Philip Thompson. As early as l837, he was in the area and stayed for a while at Fort Vasquez east of Loveland. The river might also be named for David Thompson, an early explorer and fur trader with the Northwest Company. By the time of John Fremont’s expedition to this area in l842, the river was already known as Thompson’s Creek. So it probably took its name from one of those men. ■

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Middle Class Bankruptcies

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edical expenses are a major cause of bankruptcies among middle-class Americans, says a report by Harvard University researchers published in the American Journal of Medicine. “Our findings are frightening,” said researcher Dr. David Himmelstein. “Unless you’re Warren Buffett, your family is just one serious illness away from bankruptcy.” He added, “For middle-class Americans, health insurance offers little protection. Most of us have policies with so many loopholes, co-payments and deductibles that

illness can put you in the poorhouse. And even the best job-based health insurance often vanishes when a prolonged illness causes job loss— precisely when families need it most. Private health insurance is a defective product, akin to an umbrella that melts in the rain.” Most of the people in the study were “solidly middle class” before they suffered bankruptcy. Two-thirds were homeowners and three-fifths had attended college. The researchers said we need a government-run health system, not the “counterfeit coverage” we now have from private insurance companies. ■

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“I enjoy the small town atmosphere here in Curtis. It is a quiet, clean town with wonderful stores. The convenience of small towns is nice, it’s just a couple of blocks to the grocery store, you definitely drive less here than in bigger cities. I didn’t like the traffic in Denver, the traffic here is much better for my temperament. We feel the biggest draw to the area is it’s a great retirement community. We have a medical clinic in town and a hospital just 40 miles away.” Pat Castor and her husband Doug, both retirees, moved here from Denver

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8 • August 2009 • The Senior Voice

We Help Solve the Mysteries About Hospice Care

Colorado Crosswords By Tony Donovan

Last year, 1.4 million dying Americans were served by the nation’s hospice providers, reports the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Yet there are many myths about hospice that keep people from getting this compassionate care when they need it most.

MYTH

REALITY

Hospice is where you go when there is nothing more a doctor can do.

Hospice is a philosophy of care providing medical, emotional, and spiritual care focusing on comfort and quality of life. Medicare beneficiaries pay little or nothing for hospice, and most insurance plans, HMOs and managed care plans include hospice coverage. Hospice patients and families can receive care for six months or longer, depending upon the course of the illness. Hospice places the patient and family at the center of the careplanning process and provides high-quality pain management and symptom control. Hospice goes to the patient and family at homewhether that's a private home, a nursing home or assisted living facility, or a hospice residence. Fifty percent of hospice patients are diagnosed with conditions other than cancer or AIDS. Hospice involves families, and offers them professional support and training in caring for their loved ones. Hospice serves anyone facing a Iife-limiting illness, regardless of age. Hospice offers grief and bereavement services to family members and the community.

Good care at the end of life is very expensive. Hospice is only for the last few days of life.

Choosing hospice means giving up all medical treatment. Everyone dies in a hospital.

Hospice is only for cancer or AIDS patients. Families are not able to care for people with terminal illnesses. Hospice is just for the elderly. Hospice only focuses on the dying process.

970-346-9700 LARIMER COUNTY SEAL COAT SCHEDULE - 2009 The Larimer County Road and Bridge Department begins their 2009 Seal Coat Program. The 2009 Seal Coat area includes the southern Loveland and Berthoud areas. Larimer County Road 20C is the northern boundary, and Larimer County Road 6 is the southern boundary. Informational signs will be posted on affected roads detailing exact locations and time frames. Please call our Seal Coat project line at 498-5666 or visit our web page for schedule updates.

ACROSS

DOWN

1.

1.

7. 13. 14. 15. 16. 18. 19. 21. 22. 23. 25. 27. 29. 31. 32. 33. 39. 40.

(http://www.larimer.org/roads/road_closures.cfm) Traffic will be limited to one lane in these areas, expect delays of 10-15 minutes. Motorists, bike riders and pedestrians may wish to choose alternate routes until the work is completed, usually no later than 48 hours after product application. We encourage all traffic to drive slowly through the work zones and obey the posted speed limit to prevent materials that are being applied to the road from getting on vehicles. Roads are listed in the order in which the work is expected to be completed.

STARTING AUGUST 1ST, WATCH FOR SPECIFIC DATES ON ELECTRONIC ROAD SIGNS! ROAD OR SUBDIVISION LCR 14 LCR 15H Mountain View Acres Bonnell West PUD LCR 13 LCR 14 LCR 10 LCR 16 LCR 16 LCR 16 LCR 17 LCR 20E LCR 21 LCR 21 LCR 23 & LCR 16 LCR 31 LCR 31 LCR 7 LCR 8 LCR 8E LCR 9

AREA TO BE SEALED From LCR 17 east to US-287 From LCR14 south to Rosewood Dr. Erving Ct., Bothun Rd., Lela Ct., Middle Rd. Wild Plum Dr., Pronghorn Ct., Blue Mtn. From SH 60 north to LCR 16E From LCR 23 east to LCR 17 From LCR 23 east to LCR 21 From McKenzie Dr. west to end of pavement From LCR 21 west to LCR 23 From LCR 15 west for 1/2 mile From 36th St. SW to Heart Wood Dr. From I-25 west to LCR 9 From LCR 14 north to LCR 18 From LCR 8 north to LCR 10 From LCR 14 north and east to LCR 21 From North Shore Rd. north to LCR 18E From LCR 8E south to end of pavement From SH 60 north to SH 402 From US-287 west to LCR 21 From LCR 27E west to LCR 31 From LCR 16 north to SH 402

• Work may occur anytime Monday through Saturday • Street cleaning may begin prior to the scheduled start date • Work may continue several days after the scheduled start date

• Work schedule is dependent on the weather – subject to change • Expect 15 to 20 minute delays • Slow down to prevent broken windshields or materials getting on your vehicle

41. 42. 47. 48. 49. 50. 53. 54. 55. 59. 61.

62. 63. 64.

Colorado town which has the state’s oldest church Fled the scene Tarzan Montrose County town whose name is a composite of two minerals of the area Chimp often found in #55 down ___ ___ Tora Caesar or Tuckman It flows from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Product of #61 across and #2 down Running back’s stats, briefly (Broncos’ Davis had 60) Sounds of satisfaction Denver to Minneapolis dir. Gave medicine to Gun type named for the inventor Folk music’s Guthrie Melo or Chauncey, briefly He went from Pony Express rider to showman Jackie’s second Delores County town known as “Pinto Bean Capitol of the World”: ___ Creek This shrine is near the grave of #33 across Trees inspiring sightseers in the fall It might be “Y” or “N” on a questionnaire Turner or Kennedy Sounds of discovery Prefix before carte or mode “There ought to be ___ ___.” Ritter title, abbr. ___ ___ Reservoir near the Poudre River Challenge again Silver mining town whose occupants included Bat Masterson, Bob Ford (Jesse James killer) and scam artist Soapy Smith. It’s now home to a renowned repertory theatre. Mercury or Saturn Swollen Town just northwest of Ft. Morgan

ANSWERS

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 14. 17. 20. 23. 24. 25. 26. 28. 30. 31. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 42. 43. 44.

45. 46. 51. 52. 53. 55. 56. 57. 58. 60.

His career included being a winter trapper, guide, Indiana scout and an Army General. San Miguel County mining town near Telluride Necessary Printing measures Leisure trips Desperate kick? Sign of success, briefly Locale’ east of Kremmling near Hot Sulphur Springs Gabor or Peron Blind ___. Lennon’s gal Air controllers’ overseer (briefly) Ouray, for one What streakers do 60s “acid” Prefix for business or culture Specialized plane not needing long runways Spanish for boy popularized by weather forecasters Souffle’ prominent flavor Clumsy one ___ & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Honest . County touching Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico Untruths Mine entrance ___ ___ Reservoir in northern Colorado Julesburg’s neighbor Minnesota Fats’ tool Internet acronym Shannon of Bronco fame John Wesley ___ was a one-armed surveyor who mapped areas of the Green River and upper Colorado in the northwestern part of the state City in central Japan Town between Walsenburg and Cuchara Italian actress who is reported to have said, “What you see I owe to spaghetti.” Taj Mahal site Intimidate Place of beakers and Bunson burners Sgt., for one Tigers, on the scoreboard Put two and two together Tiger’s was Earl

Colorado Crosswords are created exclusively for The Voice by Tony Donovan, who lives in Loveland.

The Senior Voice • August 2009 • 9

Indian Captives in Wyoming I

n 1861 Jacob Fletcher was traveling on the Overland Stage route in Wyoming in a caravan of wagons. With him were his wife, three sons, and two daughters: Amanda 13 and two-year old Lizzie. Jacob was an impatient man and chafed under the slow progress of the wagons pulled by oxen. His wagon was pulled by two fine horses with a backup of two mules. On the trail west of what’s now Laramie, he left the other wagons and headed on alone. Soon he was attacked by Indians who burned the wagon, killed his wife, and took Amanda and Lizzie captive. Jacob and the boys hid in the sagebrush and escaped death. Jacob was later picked up by freighters and taken to Salt Lake. The boys were rescued by other travelers and reunited with their father. The Indians traded Amanda, age 13, to one group of Indians; and Lizzie, age 2, to another group. Little Lizzie, with blue eyes and golden curls, was cherished by the Arapaho chief Cut Nose, who dressed her in fine buckskin. Amanda was not molested but suffered deprivation for five years. When Amanda was 18, she asked a white trader for a bar of soap. The trader saw that she was a white girl and ransomed her for $1,665 in trade goods, including his horse and gun.

He put her in the charge of Major E.W. Wynkoop at Fort Larned, Kansas, who turned her over to the ladies of the post. Amanda asked that she be sent back to Illinois to some friends of her family. She arrived there in 1866.

any people who try to cut back on the amount of salt they eat still get much more than they realize because food manufacturers use so much of it in the products we buy. That’s the conclusion of researcher Carolyn M. Reilly at Emory University. She and others studied people with heart problems who were trying to reduce their intake of sodium. The recommended daily intake for such people is 2,000 milligrams, but the people in the study averaged 2,671

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Location of an old stagecoach station west of Laramie. Senior Voice photo.

milligrams a day—even though they salted their food less and tried to watch what they ate. The American Heart Association recommends less than 1,500 mg of sodium daily for mature people and those with high blood pressure. Foods highest in sodium include hot dogs, canned soups, salad dressings, fast foods, lunch meats, pizza, bread, sausage, bacon and other processed foods. Manufacturers use sodium to improve taste and preserve foods. ■

Women’s Problem Ignored

H

eavy bleeding during menstrual cycles could indicate a serious problem that is often ignored by women and their doctors, according to a report in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. About 25 percent of women who experience heavy bleeding have an undiagnosed bleeding disorder, often a blood clotting problem. This is often ignored by their doctors, who think such bleeding is caused by hormones or fibroids, said researchers. “In some cases they recommend

According to the informants, the Indians treated Lizzie with great affection and always kept her clothed in the handsomest Indian garments. She was mentioned in Wyoming history as “the white Indian woman.” Amanda married, wrote an autobiography and lectured about her life as a captive. She lived to be 72 years old. Wyoming historian Virginia Trenholm later wrote about Amanda’s life. ■

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The trader remained a friend to Amanda, corresponding with her for the rest of his life. He considered her rescue the greatest deed of his life. General George Custer wrote to Amanda in 1867 about Lizzie. He said two people had told him they had seen Lizzie, still with the Indians. One person described her as strikingly beautiful with “hair a bright golden hue.” The Indians called her “Little Silver Hair.”

By Margaret Laybourn

removal of the uterus or offer another gynecologic explanation when the real contributing factor is a blood clotting disorder,” said Dr. Andra James at Duke University Medical Center. Women themselves often dismiss the bleeding because other women in their family experienced the same thing—which means they too were not diagnosed. Women should watch for other signs that include prolonged bleeding after minor wounds and dental extractions, bruises when no injury occurs, a family history of blood disorders. ■

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10 • August 2009 • The Senior Voice

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recent study shows that the number of Americans who use the Internet has more than doubled over the past 10 years, reaching nearly three quarters of the U.S. population. Nearly half of all Americans have a high-speed Internet connection at home, compared to only five percent at the start of the decade. The Internet is a gateway to more than media and entertainment. It is an accepted way to do business. As Americans become increasingly comfortable with the security and convenience of doing things on the Internet, online business is becoming more and more popular. There is much you can do at Social Security’s website from the convenience of your home or office. Here are some of our best online services: Use our Retirement Estimator to get a quick and accurate estimate of your future Social Security retirement benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/ estimator. Prepare for your retirement by

Local Events and Exhibits Red Feather Lakes Library Trip to historic Pinyon Grove, August 6. Road race Ft. Collins to Steamboat, August 7. Log cabin chinking workshop, August 8. Ebay basics computer class, August 15. Authors of “Rabbit Creek Country” speak and give tour, August 19. Readings by local authors, August 23. Book sale, September 5. Call 8812664. Fort Collins Music Concerts Wednesday nights, 6:30, at the lagoon on the west side of the Lory Student Center at Colorado State University. August 5, the northern

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Colorado band DoKaJoVI. August 12, all-female band Chaotic Serenity. Bonell Summerfest in Greeley August 8, 11 am to 3 pm, dixieland music, food, entertainment and exhibits by local agencies at Bonell Good Samaritan Center in Greeley, 708 22nd Street, phone 352-6082. Loveland Stone Age Fair September 26-27, 545 North Cleveland. Free exhibits of Native American artifacts and talks by experts from the Smithsonian Institution and other groups. Call 303-732-1085, email [email protected]. ■

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visiting our Benefits Planner where you can get all your ducks in a row. You can also go here to use the disability and survivors’ planners to find out how much you or your family might qualify for if the need arises. See www.socialsecurity.gov/ planners. Retire online. You can complete and submit your retirement application in as little as 15 minutes at www.socialsecurity.gov/retireonline. Apply for disability benefits online at www.socialsecurity.gov/ applyfordisability There’s even more you can do at www.socialsecurity.gov. So whether you’re interested in planning your retirement or applying for disability, learning about Social Security’s history or finding out about how the system works, our online office is the most convenient one to visit. In survey after survey, Social Security’s online services top customer satisfaction lists. That’s because doing business with Social Security online is fast, convenient and secure. The next time you’re online, visit www.socialsecurity.gov. ■

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The Senior Voice • August 2009 • 11

Homesteaders in Early Wyoming By Bill Lambdin

D

r. Bessie Rehwinkle was a remarkable young woman who homesteaded near what is now the little town of Carpenter, Wyoming, on the plains east of Cheyenne. She had lost her Iowa medical practice, her home and everything she owned in the financial panic of 1907. She had exactly 75 cents left after having a house built on the Wyoming claim and buying the supplies she needed. “That was my total cash possession to begin life with in this new country,” she recalled. She had no way of letting other homesteaders and ranchers know that her medical services were available, but a fortunate incident occurred. “There was an urgent knock at my door,” she said. “When I opened it, I was confronted by a man with an anguished look on his face, and he said: ‘Are you the new doctor?...One of my horses is very sick, and I might lose him if I am not able to get imme-

diate help. I have only one team, and if I lose this horse I am ruined.’” She explained that she was not an animal doctor, but the man insisted, “If you can cure people, you can also cure horses.” He described the animal’s symptoms, and she thought it might be an extreme case of something like colic. She finally relented and gave him some medicine. He gave his horse four times the amount normally given a person, and the horse recovered. The man was so pleased that he told everyone in the community what had happened. “This man was my friend ever after and my best publicity agent when I needed one most...The 75 cents I received for my services doubled my financial holdings, and I now had a total of $1.50 in my treasury.” Dr. Rehwinkle loved the wide-open spaces of Wyoming and the friendly people she knew there. Eventually she married and left, but she never forgot her experience. She said:

A woman on horseback behind a buggy and wagons. Wyoming History Museum. “Here I was to learn...what it takes to build a new country and what it had cost in sweat and tears and suffering to make America what it is.” Another woman homesteader, Helen Coburn, settled near Worland and wrote about her love for Wyoming: “If you have breathed the air of her hills and plains, if you have watched her in the gloaming, “If you have felt her pride when the horsemen ride, you will drink the toast—Wyoming!”

Their stories are told in an unusual book, “Staking Her Claim: Women Homesteading the West,” by Marcia Hensley. It is available for $19.95 from High Plains Press, 403 Cassa Road, Glendo, Wyoming 82213; call 800552-7819; email editor@highplains press.com; or see www.highplains press.com. The book contains many interesting letters and stories from brave young women who settled in Wyoming, Colorado and other areas. ■

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12 • August 2009 • The Senior Voice

Cataract Surgery

“After moving from a small town, I didn’t think I would find this type of personal care, but Dr. Kirk put me at complete ease.” — Elaine Bonnell Loveland

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hen a teacher/librarian is forced to give up books because she can’t see the type, it is a sad day indeed, but that’s what happened to Elaine Bonnell. A local optometrist referred Elaine to Dr. Kirk because of cataracts. John D. Kirk, MD, FACS & John W. Colvin, OD

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“From the very first visit, I knew that a small town, supportive atmosphere existed here at Kirk Eye Center. Dr. Kirk put me at complete ease, and skillfully removed my cataracts. His concern continued after I got home – he personally called to check on my progress following surgery.” Elaine could not believe the difference cataract surgery made. She could see detail again. “Dr. Kirk gave me the most wonderful Christmas gift ever! I started a new book and I intend to finish reading every last word.”

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She Has Seen a Lot By Arlene Ahlbrandt

D

elpha Miles of Fort Collins has seen a lot in her 103 years. She was born in 1906 in west central Kansas near a place called Amy, now a ghost town. Her parents Ivan and Della Wolf were homesteaders. Food was scarce then, often consisting of wild deer and cottontail rabbits. They moved to a farm in southeastern Colorado and experienced the Dust Bowl years. Two of Delpha’s brothers served in World War I, another in World War II, and her son had an Air Force career. Her family moved to Fort Collins in 1923, and she graduated from high school here. In 1929 Delpha married Herschel Miles, and they moved to a sod house near present-day Carr on the plains northeast of Fort Collins. They raised their son and daughter there and built a house and dairy barn. Later Delpha worked as a secretary for the Athletic and Physical Education Department at Colorado State University. After retiring, she

Fort Collins resident Delpha Miles. and her husband traveled until he died in 1997. Today her grandson is the band director at Fort Collins High School. Delpha serves as an inspiration to everyone she meets. ■

Root Canals or Implants?

D

ental root canals should be preferred over implants, according to a report in the Journal of Endodontics. The reason? Implants require much more follow-up treatment; and it’s better to save original teeth if possible, which root canals do. Implants require pulling teeth and replacing them with false teeth that are attached to metal posts inserted into the bone. Root canals require removing inflamed pulp inside a tooth that causes pain, cleaning the tooth inte-

rior, filling the interior and sealing it. Both procedures have high success rates, and sometimes implants are the best treatment. “While implants may be an appropriate solution for people with missing teeth, endodontic treatment (root canals) should be the first choice for restoring a compromised tooth,” said Dr. Louis Rossman with the American Association of Endodontists. In this study, 12.4 percent of implants required follow-up treatments while only 1.4 percent of root canals required follow-up. ■

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The Senior Voice • August 2009 • 13

About Cancer Tests A

re Americans getting too many unnecessary screening tests for cancer? Some researchers think so. “There are five things that can happen as a result of screening tests, and four of them are bad,” said Dr. Ned Calonge at the United States Preventive Services Task Force. His group of experts makes recommendations to Congress about which preventive medical services work and which don’t. The one good result from cancer screenings, he said, is that some lifethreatening cancers are identified in time to be treated successfully. The four bad things are false positives that cause unnecessary anxiety, procedures and complications; tests that identify cancers that would never be life-threatening and are treated needlessly; tests that find life-threatening cancers that are not changed by early detection; and tests that fail to detect cancers. Most experts recommend asking your doctor what tests to get and ignoring media hype and other influences. And they recommend the standard pap smears, colonoscopies, etc.

But giving mammograms to women under age 40, for instance, is generally a bad idea unless there is a family history or other problems, said breast cancer surgeon Dr. Susan M. Love. The breast tissue in younger women is too dense for mammograms to be effective. Such tests unnecessarily expose women to radiation, can cause unnecessary anxiety and treatments. Similarly, campaigns that constantly badger men about prostate cancer prompt unnecessary tests, surgeries and worry. Many surgeries are done on prostate cancers that would never be life-threatening, leaving many men with impotence, urinary incontinence and bowel problems. Current prostate screenings simply cannot determine which cancers are threatening and which are not. Such tests can leave men in the awkward, worrisome position of trying to decide whether to risk the effects of treatment—or which one of the treatments available to select. Overall needless screenings and unnecessary treatments increase America’s healthcare costs by billions of dollars every year. ■

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time they can spend with patients. Researchers believe one doctor expressed the opinion of many when he said, “The whole thing has spun out of control. I plan to retire even though I still love seeing patients. The process has just become too burdensome.” Over 12,000 doctors responded to the survey. Other studies show there is a serious shortage of primary care doctors but not of specialists. Researchers say only 10% of medical school students choose to be family doctors. ■

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14 • August 2009 • The Senior Voice

Why Did They Call It That? By Lois Hall

W

hen I travel in northern Colorado, I often see the name of a place and wonder, “Why did they call it that?” That’s why I like to know the origins of places like these: Laporte, a small town north of Fort Collins, is a French word meaning “the gateway.” Early French-Canadian mountain men considered the place the gateway to the mountains west of here, reached by the Cache la Poudre River canyon, also named by the French. These trappers were the first white pioneers in Colorado, arriving in the 1830s, long before the gold seekers came in the 1860s. History on the Poudre goes back a long way. The Laramie River west of Fort Collins runs from Chambers Lake to the town of Laramie, Wyoming. Both were named for fur trapper Jacques LaRamie. He was another of the French-Canadian mountain men who saw the unspoiled West before settlers arrived. Several small towns near Greeley were named for early settlers. Gilcrest takes its name from William Gilcrest, who owned land here and established the original townsite. Johnstown was named for John Parish, the young son of pioneer H.J. Parish, who platted the town and named it for his boy. Keenesburg was first called Keene, for homesteader Les Keene. The “burg” was added when a post office was established so mail would not go to Keene, Nebraska. Keota, on the plains northeast of Greeley, may take its name from an ancient Indian word meaning “the fire is gone out.” Historians are not

A scene along the Laramie River northwest of Fort Collins. Senior Voice photo. sure of this and say the name may also come from the Indian word “Keokuk,” the name of a town in Iowa. Gunbarrel Road between Longmont and Boulder got its name from an event that occurred in 1860. Pioneer Alonzo Allen was hauling logs east from the foothills to build a cabin near a cottonwood tree he had spotted in the distance. His son later recalled: “Father drove as straight toward the tree as possible. The heavily loaded wagon cut a deep rut, which was followed by other teamsters, so that a well defined road was the result. It was called Gunbarrel on account of its straightness.” Hygiene, near Longmont, reflects the clean, healthful place members of the Church of the Brethren established in the 1870s.

They built a sanitarium for people wanting to recover from tuberculosis. Colorado’s dry mountain air was famous for its curative powers

as soon as pioneers discovered the state. Many people with TB or other health problems were actually cured here. ■

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The Senior Voice • August 2009 • 15

Laughter Is the Best Medicine L

ate one night, a drunk took his buddy to see his new apartment. In the bedroom was a large brass gong and mallet. The friend said, “Whas’ that?” “A talkin’ clock.” “How’s it work?” The drunk picked up the mallet, banged the gong, and the noise shook the entire room. A voice from the next apartment yelled, “You idiot! It’s three in the morning!” An attractive young woman walked into a Las Vegas casino and bet $50,000 on a single roll of the dice. But before she threw the dice, she said to the two dealers, “I hope you don’t mind, I feel luckier when I’m nude.” And she took off all of her clothes.” She threw the dice and yelled, “I won! I won!” She hugged the two dealers at the table and walked away with her money and clothes. The dealers stared at each other dumfounded, and finally one said, “What did she roll?” The other said, “I don’t know. I

thought you were watching.” Hallmark cards you won’t see: My tire was thumping I thought it was flat. When I looked at the tire I noticed your cat. Heard your wife left you How sad you must be But don’t fret about it She moved in with me.

one asked the other, “Where does your grandpa live?” He replied, “At the airport. When we want him, we just go there and get him.” A grandmother sent her grandkids to bed, then removed her makeup, put on some old slacks and a baggy shirt, and washed her hair. When she heard the kids playing and screaming, she tied a towel around her head, walked into the bedroom and

A little boy asked his grandmother how old she was. “I’m sixty-two,” she replied. He thought a minute and said, “Did you start at one?” A little girl and her grandfather entered the family vacation cabin at night, and he kept the lights off briefly. “Why did you leave the lights off?” she asked. “So mosquitoes would not follow us into the cabin.” She saw a lightning bug inside and said, “Too late, Grandpa. They followed us in with a flashlight.”

yelled, “You kids get in bed now!” As she left, she heard one little girl say, “Who was that!” A doctor asked a 90-year-old male patient, “Do you still have intercourse?” The old man thought a while and said, “Just a minute.” He stepped into the waiting room and said to his wife, “Do we have intercourse?” She said, “I’ve told you a dozen times. We have Blue Cross.” ■

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Two little boys were playing and

Buying Power. People over age 50 have it. • They have twice the spendable income of other consumer groups (U.S. Consumer Research Center). • They are the fastest growing segment of Northern Colorado’s population (U.S. Census Bureau).

Advertisers have discovered it pays to reach these buyers.

They read The Senior Voice every month. Published locally since 1980. Fort Collins/Loveland (970) 229-9204 • Greeley (970) 454-3789

16 • August 2009 • The Senior Voice

T

his may be the best time to make your move.

Maybe you had plans to sell your house, move to a senior community and start getting more out of life. What now? Do you have to put your life on hold because of the economy? Not an easy decision. In times like these, it pays to know what your options are. Perhaps it’s time to give the Good Samaritan Society – Communities of Northern Colorado a call. We’ve helped seniors weather storms like this for more than 85 years. We’ll be happy to help you understand your options, at no cost or obligation. Getting good advice can make all the difference. For more information or to find a community near you, call 1-888-877-1058. Bonell (Greeley) | Estes Park | Ft. Collins | Fox Run (Greeley) | Loveland | Water Valley (Windsor)

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