The Fort Report
Happy Friday, Belen Ward here! After last Friday's snowstorm, which melted quickly and sank into the soil, I’m seeing patches of green grass emerging.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac (www.almanac.com), its prediction for Colorado in 2026 is a hotter, drier-than-usual summer from late June through July, with a chance of the monsoon season or 50/50 chance of either a wet or dry season.
I hope there are no tornadoes. Last May, I got to watch a tornado as it came bearing down on me in Bennett, just as we were heading for the basement. The funnel detached from the cloud ceiling, and it turned into a dust cloud.
Another tornado touched down on the other side of the town of Bennett at the same time, causing some damage but no injuries or deaths. I had never in my life seen a tornado that close. It scared the daylights out of me.
This is the tornado that was coming towards me, but luckily dissipated.
Anyway, let’s get into this week’s news and events!
🗳 Weld seeking Voter Service sites for November’s election
Voter Service Locations are the closest things we have here in Colorado to the old polling places common before mail-in balloting. These are the spots where you go if you have trouble with your ballot, need to change an address or want to hand your ballot to a person, rather than entrust it to the Postal Service. Weld County needs to have at least 18 locations.
Ideally, from a voter’s point of view, there will be one right around the corner from where you are. But in a county the size of Weld, that can be a difficult ask. So the county is polling residents via email to find out where they should be and if they have specific suggestions for spots in your town.
The basic requirements for a Voter Service and Polling Centers include a public location that can accommodate a large number of people with sufficient parking. The site must also comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
Also, sites should be secure, climate-controlled, with least 900 square feet and extra space and electrical power for ballot marking devices and laptop computers.
If you know of a spot that’d fit that bill, let the county know at [email protected].
💵 Aims touts its economic impact on Northern Colorado
Every year, Aims hosts aviation day and invites prospective pilots and their families to visit its training center. There are simulators and the instructors give free rides. Programs such as this boost economic impact in the regions.
Aims Community College, with campuses in Greeley, Loveland and Fort Lupton, is a big part of the county life and has given a lot of residents the training they needed to do their jobs. They’ve had a big impact on the community.
But now the college is putting a number to that impact.
A 2025 study conducted on Aims Community College's job placement classes have generated a $395 million economic impact in the region, creating 5,645 jobs during the 2023 and 2024 academic years.
🏞 Koshio Park is getting a big upgrade this summer
The Koshio Park is situated at the intersection of Highway 52 and South McKinley Avenue.
With community surveys gathered at events, Fort Lupton’s downtown Koshio Park will be renovated into a modern, inclusive, accessible, and family-friendly gathering space.
Plans call for an ADA-compliant play area, plenty of shade, great walkways and new more benches, bathrooms and trees.
It’s a fitting tribute to the park’s namesake, Sam Koshio, the 1983 Fort Lupton Citizen of the Year, Grand Marshall for the Trappers Day Parade and a fixture in Fort Lupton classrooms where he and his wife talked about their heritage as Japanese Americans.
🚧 County selects designer for Judicial Center project
Weld County Commissioners have chosen Fentress Studios to renovate the Judicial Building from list of six proposed designs for the county’s new $490 million Judicial Center.
This is a big project for the county, one they’ve been talking about for almost three years. So, it’s nice to see it hit this benchmark.
Fentress Studios has extensive experience in designing civic courthouses around the world, including big productions in Virginia and Kansas, as well as the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Justice Center in Downtown Denver.
The Weld County Judicial Center will receive an upgrade.
One person participated in the poll, indicating that they were comfortable with having an AI data center built within the county.
📆 EVENTS AROUND TOWN
🐰 Fort Lupton Easter Egg Hunt 🥚
Easter Egg Hunt on March 28, 9 a.m., and take photos with Ms. Bunny! It will be held at Community Park at the Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Bunny arrives at 9 am - to take a free picture, have some coffee and donuts, and participate in games. The Easter Egg Hunt starts exactly at 9:30 a.m. for all ages from 0 to 12.
🍝 Spaghetti Dinner in April; date still to be determined
I guess you still need to keep your evening calendar open in April for annual RE-8 Spaghetti Dinner. It’s a fundraiser for school supplies for the Weld Re-8 School District. It will be held at the Recreation Center at 203 So. Harrison Ave.
🇺🇸 The Great Plains Field of Honor
One of the most stunning views in Fort Lupton is Pearson Park Fields when they are filled with US flags each year. This year, it will be held on April 23 and 25 at Pearson Park Fields, State Highway 52.
🤽♀ Water aerobics
The city’s water aerobics class meets from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Call 303-857-4200.
🧑⚕ Get trained to administer Naloxone
The Adams County Health Department’s Harm Reduction Team will supply all Automated External Defibrillator cabinets in government buildings with Naloxone this month. Naloxone will be made available to take home after these trainings.
If you have any questions about the training or other resources, contact our Harm Reduction team at 303-363-3077 or by email: [email protected]
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