Angela Rae Harris's Blog, page 24

Truck fire, multi-vehicle crash slow I-25 near Greenwood Village

Two separate incidents slowed down traffic along Interstate 25 near Greenwood Village in both directions Thursday evening, according to a Colorado State Patrol spokesperson.

The incidents took place around the Arapahoe Road exit and have backed up traffic since approximately 7 p.m.

The backups were caused by a multi-vehicle crash that occurred in the southbound direction, while a box truck caught fire due to a tire issue that happened while it was traveling northbound, according to Colorado State Patrol.

Pat Surtain vs. Ja’Marr Chase: CB-WR matchup is a must see on Monday night | Broncos notebook

ENGLEWOOD — The Broncos-Bengals game on Monday night is a showcase of best on best.  

Denver cornerback Pat Surtain vs. Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.  

Last year, in a late season 30-24 overtime loss to the Bengals, Surtain held Chase without a touchdown catch. Surtain explained his approach to success while defending top NFL wide receivers like Chase. 

“I just think it goes with my preparation, understanding, just being patient at the line. Because you know he’s a tough cover, so you have to be patient with him,” Surtain said. “Trusting your technique, switching it up on him. When I look at matchups like that, I always try to look at the routes that he succeeds in and how frequently does he get open in certain looks. I try to minimize that as much as I can. It’s just all about the preparation and study habits … on the field to prepare for matchups like that.” 

Chase had one breakout game this season with 14 receptions for 145 yards and one touchdown in a Week 2 victory over the Jaguars. Yet he was mostly pedestrian against the Browns (two catches/26 yards) and the Vikings (five catches/50 yards).

He’s been without starting quarterback Joe Burrow since Sept. 15 Burrow has been on injured reserve (turf toe). Backup Jake Browning will start against the Broncos.

Surtain did not allow a completion on just one target in the season opening win over the Titans. But the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year — in coverage snaps against the Colts and Chargers — gave up a combined 10 catches for 114 yards, according to Next Gen Stats.

“Two great players,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor told reporters at his Thursday news conference in Cincinnati. “I’m not going to make predictions on what they’re going to do to us. But a great corner. It’s always good to watch Ja’Marr matched up against great corners. If Tee (Higgins) gets matched up as well, we always expect our guys to hold their own and win. … A lot of respect for (Surtain). He’s a very willing tackler. He’s a physical corner. He can run. He can cover. He can make plays on the balls. I think he’s a really, really elite corner in this league. I think our guys are always up for that challenge.” 

Engram back at practice 

Broncos tight end Evan Engram returned to practice Thursday as a full participant after missing one game due to a back injury. 

Engram was hurt Sept. 14 at Indianapolis and did not practice all of last week. He then sat out last Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. 

Denver next plays at home Monday night against Cincinnati. If Engram is able to play, the Broncos will need to decide whether to activate three or four tight ends. They also have Adam Trautman and Lucas Krull, who have been active for the first three games, and Nate Adkins, who returned against the Chargers after missing the first two games following ankle surgery. 

All of Denver’s players on the 53-man roster practiced Thursday. Defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers was listed as limited due to a hip injury. 

Midnight navy jerseys 

The Broncos are wearing an alternate uniform Monday night for the first time this season.  

The midnight navy jerseys are a dark blue shade, and based on practice attire Thursday at Broncos Park, expect players to match it with midnight navy helmets and pants. It seems the all-blue look is a hit with players.  

“I think it’s a dope uniform combination. You’ve got all the navy,” safety Devon Key told The Denver Gazette. “It goes with the nighttime theme. It’s super cool.” 

Tight end Adam Trautman said midnight navy is the team’s “close second” favorite jersey behind the Orange Crush throwback uniforms. 

Briefly 

Broncos fullback Adam Prentice was grateful to be signed to 53-man roster this week. He told The Denver Gazette: “It’s a testament to the work I’ve put in at home for an opportunity when I got here. It’s just the beginning. I’ve got to keep working and keep earning it every day.” … Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto is keeping a positive perspective on Denver’s 1-2 start to the season. On Thursday, he said: “At the end of the day, we’re not trying to be Super Bowl champions in Week 3 of the season. Obviously, we want to be undefeated right now. But if we’re peaking in Week 3, it’s not going to be good.” … The Bengals are preparing for the high altitude at Empower Field. Taylor told reporters in Cincinnati: “Our guys understand what it’s going to feel like a little bit. You can get winded.” 

The Denver Gazette Broncos beat reporter Chris Tomasson contributed to this report. 

Broncos, Bo Nix look to find offensive rhythm against woeful Bengals defense

ENGLEWOOD – Sean Payton said Thursday he hopes the Broncos will find their offensive identity “soon.” So, would Monday Night Football against Cincinnati be classified as soon? 

Denver has had offensive issues all season, but perhaps the Bengals could be a cure for that Monday at Empower Field at Mile High. They are ranked No. 26 in the NFL in scoring defense and No. 25 in total defense, and are coming off a 48-10 loss at Minnesota. 

The Broncos, ranked No. 19 in the NFL in total offense, need some help to get their attack going. In their 1-2 start, they’ve struggled on early downs and had issues getting into a rhythm. 

“(There is) an identity relative to running and throwing the ball,’’ Payton, Denver’s third-year coach, said after a practice at Broncos Park. “I would say we’ve yet to establish that clearly for anyone watching or ourselves. So that’s us as coaches.” 

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said Thursday it “takes about three or four weeks each season” to establish an offensive identity. Well, it’s now Week 4 of the NFL season. 

Nix has gotten off to a difficult start in the first three games, with Denver defeating Tennessee 20-12 in Week 1 before losing on last-play field goals in Week 2 at Indianapolis, 29-28, and in Week 3 at the Los Angeles Chargers, 23-20. He is rated last by Pro Football Focus out of 36 NFL quarterbacks. 

“I think that’s a little bit of our thing is we’re not really catching a rhythm,’’ Nix said. “We’re just kind of hit or miss. As an offense, it’s tough, no matter if you’re trying to run the ball or throw it, you always want to get into a rhythm.” 

Against the Chargers last Sunday, Payton said the Broncos’ average third down was third-and-11. One reason for that has been penalties, with the Broncos having 10 for 90 yards in the game. Payton said penalties were one of the “topics” he emphasized Thursday to players. 

Also plaguing the Broncos has been an inability to mount a consistent running game. Running backs had only 13 carries against the Chargers. And while J.K. Dobbins finished with 11 carries for 83 yards, take away a three-play, third-quarter drive in which he had three carries for 66 yards, he had six attempts for 17 yards. 

Nix completed 14 of 25 passes for 153 yards for a passer rating of 87.6. But while he hit Sutton for a 52-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter on fourth-and-2, he overthrew a pair of deep balls to Marvin Mims Jr. and one to Sutton when they were open. 

“I’m going to miss several throws in the future and probably going to miss a few deep ones,’’ Nix said. “Just got to keep going.”’ 

Payton said Monday that Nix’s overthrows were “like 50th on my to-do list.” He continued Thursday to stand behind his quarterback. 

“You have to be careful (evaluating them) when they’re just off the fingertips,’’ Payton said. “Just keep firing. (Nix) is going to hit plenty of those.”’ 

The second-year quarterback appreciated the confidence Payton has in him. 

“You don’t want to be afraid of failure, don’t want to be afraid of missing,’’ Nix said. “You just go out there and shoot the shot, and we’ll hit them.” 

Denver players have talked often about how Nix is his toughest critic, and it apparently has been business as usual for him this week. 

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) looks to throw against Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (94) during the first half an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

“He obviously will watch his film and see what he’s doing wrong and get that stuff corrected to where he’s putting the passes, where they need be,’’ said wide receiver Troy Franklin, who’s been Nix’s teammate the past four seasons, two at Oregon and two with the Broncos. 

Nix said one issue on offense has been the adjustment of new players. 

“We’re still trying to fit them into our scheme, find out where we are as a team,” Nix said. 

Rookie running back RJ Harvey is still trying to find his niche backing up Dobbins. And tight end Evan Engram, a decorated free-agent signee, had four catches for 33 yards in the first two games before sitting out against the Chargers with a back injury. But Engram returned to practice Thursday as a full participant. 

For the season, Nix has thrown for 535 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions, and his passer rating of 83.4 is well below his rookie rating of 93.3. He insisted Thursday that Payton talking him up entering the season did not put any extra pressure on him. Payton predicted Nix would be a top-five NFL quarterback within two years and he talked about the Broncos being a legitimate Super Bowl contender. 

“It’s better than him talking about how tough of a season it’s going be,’’ Nix said. “I’d rather have the confidence (coming from a coach than) a coach that doesn’t really have confidence in us.” 

Nix also expressed appreciation that teammates have “got my back.” Dobbins, for one, was vocal in defending Nix when asked after the Chargers game about his overthrows. 

“We’ve got a lot to clean up, and everybody’s had a good mentality about it,’’ Nix said. 

That includes Nix. Despite some difficult moments, he said he is in “a great spot” mentally through the first three weeks of the season. 

“I feel I’m always going to leave plays out there,’’ he said. “That’s why I’m going to keep stepping back up to the podium and have an answer for them. Ultimately, you want to go out there and hit every single one of them. I’ve yet to actually play a game where I have hit all of them, so I’m working on it. … We’re all looking to find that rhythm and the right spots where we’re playing really good, being really efficient offensively.” 

Facing the Bengals could help in that regard. They are 2-1, but lost star quarterback Joe Burrow in Week 2 with a toe injury that will keep him out about three months. Replacement Jake Browning got his first start of the season in the ugly loss to the Vikings. 

And it is the same porous Cincinnati defense, despite there being a new coordinator in Al Golden. The Bengals, with Burrow, won a 30-24 overtime shootout over Denver in Week 17 last December, but Nix threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns with a passer rating of 114.9. 

Mark Kiszla: Why the Broncos need J.K. Dobbins to be their MVP

J.K. is the way.

While coach Sean Payton admits the Broncos have yet to firmly establish an identity, it’s hidden in plain sight under his stubborn nose.

Waiting for quarterback Bo Nix to grow up is no way for Denver to get back in the playoff hunt.

This team’s MVP is running back J.K. Dobbins.

Yes, I said it before the season.

Now, with Broncos Country in a here-we-go-again tizzy about a 1-2 start to this NFL season, kindly allow me to double down on my belief in Dobbins:

Stay calm, and hand the rock to J.K.

If Dobbins stays healthy, there’s only one thing that can stop Denver from making the playoffs:

The stubbornness of Payton.

One big reason Denver has blown fourth-quarter leads during its two-game losing streak is that Payton can’t seem to decide what team he wants the Broncos to be at winning time.

He gets too engrossed in his play sheet and too cute with personnel groupings to kick butt and take names. And Payton knows it.

“I think this sums it up, is to say, ‘Hey, this is an identity relative to running and throwing the ball. This is our identity,’ “ Payton confessed Thursday. “And I would say we’ve yet to establish that clearly for anyone watching.”

C’mon, coach.

If you’re the football genius, tell me what’s wrong with this picture?

The Broncos rank fifth in the NFL with 5.2 yards per rush. But they stand 20th in the league with 75 rushing attempts in three games.

Nothing against Nix, but it’s time to dial back Denver’s dependency on a young quarterback who’s pressing in a search to regain his mojo.

Dobbins is the answer. He’s a north-south runner who pays an orange-and-blue tribute to the legacy of Terrell Davis.

Dobbins between the tackles. An outside zone blocking scheme often operates counter to what he does best.

While rookie RJ Harvey can spin like a top, Dobbins doesn’t dance.

It shouldn’t have required anyone three regular-season games or his 5.4 yards per carry to realize Dobbins is far and away RB1 on the Broncos.

In addition to being on an early pace to become the first Denver back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Phillip Lindsay in 2019, advanced metric wonks far smarter than me insist that the only guy in the league producing explosive runs as frequently as Dobbins is Derrick Henry.

Yes, Dobbins arrived in Colorado with a well-documented and worrisome history of injury.

And fantasy football nerds are screaming into the darkness of the internet that Dobbins’ stock is destined to fall.

Newsflash: Fantasy football is not real life.

If Dobbins goes down, the Broncos won’t go far in the playoffs, or might not even reach 10 victories.

Football is not a game that can be played scared.

Keeping Dobbins rested and healthy should be the primary duty of Harvey as a capable back-up.

The national television date on Monday Night Football against Cincinnati should be the rock-em, sock-em coming out party for Dobbins as the focal point of Denver’s new identity as a bruising team on both sides of the football that opponents will feel in their bones for days after the final gun. 

Whether it was Payton, Denver players, or national media doing the drooling, all the breathless praise for the Broncos during the offseason was how this had become Bo Nix’s team.

As a leader, Nix is uncommonly mature and uber-respected for a pro with fewer than two dozen NFL starts on his resume.

But even before his three big, crucial misses on deep balls during a loss to the Chargers made it apparent to everyone, I tried to warn everyone that Nix was not ready to be a prime-time, follow-me-to-the-Super-Bowl quarterback.

He too frequently rushes his progressions, bails on a clean pocket, and unnecessarily throws off platform, as young NFL quarterbacks are apt to do.

Payton tried to make this Denver offense all about Bo.

It was utter nonsense, born of a coach bent on proving how smart he was to pick Nix with the 12th overall selection in the 2024 draft.

The success of this Denver team is built around cornerback Pat Surtain II, edge-rusher Nik Bonitto, and a defense that can do its job to a championship level if Payton will only take a chill pill and commit to playing complementary football.

Way back in June, the Broncos had a pretty good idea that the $5.25 million they offered Dobbins to pry him away as a free agent from their AFC West rival in Los Angeles was money well spent.

The head coach, however, was a little slow on the uptick to realize his most talented offensive player is Dobbins.

“He’s explosive, he’s decisive, he’s downhill, he’s powerful, he’s got good balance,” Payton said.

Well, well, well.

Maybe the light bulb has finally shined some humility into Payton’s thick skull.

Payton and his media minions can still declare this  Nix’s team, if it makes them feel smarter.

But this Denver offense will go as far as Dobbins carries it. 

Denver Parks and Rec to trim programs amid budget cuts

When it came to digging up money to run Denver’s Parks and Recreation Department (DPR) next year, Executive Director Jolon Clark said his department was “looking under every couch cushion” to make the 2026 budget numbers work. 

Like other agencies across the city, DPR is grappling with cuts to the general fund and employee layoffs as part of Mayor Mike Johnston’s efforts to address a $200 million city budget shortfall.

Altogether, Clark said, he lost a total of 50 vacant positions and eight filled positions. Still, the biggest cut will come from the reduction of 67 on-call personnel, such as lifeguards, pool attendants, yoga instructors and seasonal staff who come in for the summer to assist with mowing and other park operations.

Facing an 11.6% cut to the general fund, Clark acknowledged that his department had to get creative. 

“So, we opened up this budget puzzle to everyone across our organization, 2500 different job titles, and said, ‘What are your ideas? What are you seeing? Where could we cut in ways that would have the least impact on our residents?’” Clark said. “And those ideas are what formed this budget for us, which is difficult. But you will see that we were able to preserve core services.”

Denver Parks and Rec by the numbers

General Fund: $86.6 million (decrease of 11.6% from 2025)

Special revenue funds: $30.1 million
Golf enterprise fund: $37.9 million
Grants: $3.9 million
Capital projects: $54.2 million

Total 2026 budget: $212 million

Clark said that operating hours for the city’s recreation centers will remain unaffected, flower beds will still be planted, and commitments to capital projects, such as the Mestizo Curtis Pool, are still very much on the table, as is funding to support emergency repairs, and design and replacement of pedestrian/bicycle bridges within the park and trail network.

The department will see some increases in expenditures within its enterprise golf fund, among them $216,500 to cover the projected on-call employee minimum wage increase and salary compression, and $285,000 for workers’ compensation and billing services. 

There will also be changes to increase efficiency and effectiveness, permitting consolidation and volunteer programs.

“If you want to rent out a spot at one of our rec centers, or rent out one of our facilities, like the Cheeseman Park Pavilion, you, as a resident, have to call two different numbers, work with two different teams and two different processes,” Clark said. “We’re working to pull those together so that as a resident, that is a more seamless process for you, no matter what you’re trying to permit through us.”

Clark noted that in order to preserve many of his department’s core services, staff looked for cuts among less in-demand services.

With that in mind, residents will see the elimination of the Kid Watch program, which provides short-term, on-site childcare for children of parents and guardians using rec center facilities, as well as cuts to DPR facility cable television.

“We were really looking under every couch cushion to try to get to that place where we could protect those core items as much as possible,” Clark said.  

However, one of the more notable reductions is to Denver’s Be a Smart Ash program, a city-led initiative aimed at combating the emerald ash borer pest. The program, initiated several years ago, educates residents about the invasive and destructive insect, treats city-owned ash trees, and offers free planting of non-ash trees in the public right-of-way.

“Now, we need to pivot really to the reality that we are going to be losing many of those trees, and really focus on the protection of the highest value of those trees for as long as we can,” Clark said. 

This November, DPR’s annual 40% off membership sale will be reduced to 35% and then to 30% next year, to generate additional revenue.

Noting that several private greenhouses have closed over the years, Clark said DPR is also looking at renting greenhouse space.

“We think that we can generate $100,000 worth of new revenue for folks who are looking for greenhouse space, and we are now one of the few spots in Denver where you can do that,” Clark said.

Evergreen High School students return to school uplifted by community

Evergreen High School students returned to campus on Thursday morning, two weeks after a shooting shocked the small town.

Parents stood on the sideline, holding signs of support. More than 100 posters from Colorado cities, spanning from Telluride to Steamboat Springs, lined the school’s halls, sharing condolences and words of encouragement.

“It was difficult, for sure,” Tyler Guyton, a senior and one of two student body presidents, said. “For the past week, people have been trying to ignore it, but it’s hard to ignore it when you’re back in the school and see the posters on the wall, the new tiles and all that stuff.”

Don and Lisa Cygan hold signs in support of returning students to Evergreen High School after a student shot two classmates in the weeks prior, on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 in Evergreen, Colo. “We were two of the people who sheltered a lot of these kids after the shooting we live right up here and felt it was really important to show our support on such a challenging day,” Don said. (Tom Hellauer/Denver Gazette)

The staff had returned to the school Monday.

Thursday and Friday are “gradual” days for the students, with classes only running from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., including “connection” activities and lunch.

The school also plans to hold “gradual” days on Sept. 29-30 and resume full class schedules on Oct. 1.

“As we move forward together, there is one thing I am certain of — this school and this community hold the most incredible, the most courageous people I have ever known,” Principal Skyler Artes said in a video.

One of those group activities on Thursday, Guyton said, was discussing the new safety protocols put in place by the district.

When alleged shooter Desmond Holly, 16, entered the school with a revolver during lunch period on Sept. 10 — he critically injured two students and killed himself, authorities said — the full-time school resource officer (SRO) was on medical leave. Meanwhile, a deputy who assumed those policing duties on a part-time basis was working on a traffic crash nearby, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office had said.

In response, the sheriff’s office and Jeffco Public Schools announced that they will assign 14 full-time SROs to 12 Jeffco middle and high schools in unincorporated parts of the county chosen by the district, including in Evergreen High School.

The new full-time SRO at Evergreen is Deputy Odie Tucker.

Furthermore, the school will also have an armed Jeffco safety and security officer employed by the district, four full-time campus supervisors from the district’s safety team and video monitoring by the Jeffco Dispatch Center, according to a news release from the district earlier this week.

A community comes together

“From an hour after the incident till today, there has been constant support,” Guyton said of the Evergreen community coming together to support the students.

About 600 students were away from the campus during the shooting on a lunch break, while another 200 had remained in the halls, Guyton said.

The tragedy has struck them all, he said.

“Students are going to reconcile that they need some help, and the trauma doesn’t just go away after a week or two,” he said. “We have to face the harsh reality that it happened to us, but we have to get through it together.”

A school resource officer greets students as they return to Evergreen High School for the first time after a student shot two classmates two weeks prior on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 in Evergreen, Colo. (Tom Hellauer/Denver Gazette)

Guyton said the community has done a wonderful job.

The school staff was prepared to support anyone on Thursday, local restaurants have offered free food to students for the past two weeks and every student will be receiving a handwritten letter of encouragement from a community member in the next few days.

“In hearing from the community at EHS, I know there is a wide range of feelings about returning to school. Some feel ready, while others are not,” Rep. Tammy Story of Evergreen told The Denver Gazette. “It’s important that we are patient, we listen and we support our students, teachers, and staff no matter where they are in the process. Healing takes time, and this community has shown incredible resilience. They are processing a great deal after such a traumatic incident, and I want them to know my door is always open if they wish to reach out.”

While some may be uneasy returning to classes after the tragedy, Guyton said the normalcy and being around peers might help.

“We’re still kids. It’s our job just to be educated and to get back to school and some sort of routine,” Guyton said. “Nobody’s past two weeks have been normal. Everybody’s response has been drastically different, but one common theme between the majority of kids is that they want to get back to school and some sort of routine.”

Update on victims

Two students were critically injured and rushed to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood following the shooting.

One of the victims, 18-year-old Matthew Silverstone, is still in critical condition.

“All of us are heartbroken by what happened, but we are also deeply grateful that Matthew survived,” the family said in a public statement last week. “Doctors have let us know that Matthew will likely require lifelong, full-time care.”

A GoFundMe for Silverstone and his family has raised over $463,000 in less than two weeks.

The family said on Monday that they are seeing signs of improvement every day.

Students return to Evergreen High School for the first time after a student shot two classmates two weeks prior on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 in Evergreen, Colo. (Tom Hellauer/Denver Gazette)

The second victim, an unnamed 14-year-old boy, is also still in critical condition, according to a statement from the family Thursday. The family asked to remain anonymous.

“In those terrifying moments, our son showed a level of bravery, strength and will to survive that no child should ever be asked to display,” the family said. “He and his friend confronted the assailant, which undoubtedly allowed time for more students to flee and the school to lock down. This life-altering encounter happened before alarms were set off or lockdown announcements made.”

The student was shot at close range, but was able to escape, warn other students and make it to a first responder for immediate attention. A librarian also pointed him in direction of the exit.

After multiple surgeries, the student has been able to communicate in writing, first asking about the safety and health of everyone else at the school, the family said.

The family added that adults responsible for taking care of children must take real, meaningful actions.

“These children need more than momentary sympathy and support; they need lasting commitment. Stand with them and for them for the duration. Our immediate priority is our son’s recovery. Moving forward, we are committed to working together to ensure the long-term safety and wellbeing of all our children,” the family said.

Regarding the investigation into the shooting, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that it is continuing to look into the incident, alongside an investigation by the FBI.

The sheriff’s office said the alleged shooter acted alone, and no evidence of a “so-called ‘hit list’ or any intelligence suggesting an ongoing threat to the school, its students or staff” has been found.

7 corn mazes to explore around Colorado this fall

Corn mazes make for a fall experience that’s not quite like any other, and Colorado delivers many excellent options for this family-friendly activity around the state.

Here are some great corn mazes to enjoy this fall across Colorado:

Anderson Farms

Anderson Farms’ corn maze is 25-acres long, open day and night, and never haunted. The maze is split up into four sections with 18 checkpoints for guests to find. The maze has three games that guests can choose from as they wander along the paths.

2. Denver Botanic Gardens

The Denver Botanic Gardens does a corn maze at their Chatfield Farms location. This year, the maze is birds-of-prey-themed, and will feature eagles, falcons, and vultures. There will also be smaller maze for younger guests, and bird-watching opportunities.

3. Maize in the City

This 29-acre Thornton-area corn maze takes about 40 minutes to complete. The site also has a mini maze that is a shorter course, taking about 20 minutes to finish.

4. Diana’s Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze

Located in Cañon City, Diana’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze features plenty of fun fall activities including the corn bin, hay slide, duck races, horsey bouncers, and hay rides. This year, the corn maze will include a Pokemon game where participants can search for Pokemons (and maybe even find some new rare ones).

5. Mile High Farms

As well as two corn mazes spread over 11 acres, Mile High Farms’ fall festival includes a petting zoo, antique tractor hayride, pumpkin patch, barrel cart rides, corn pits, playground, entertainment, and concessions.

6. Fritzler Farm Park

Fritzler Farm Park in Weld County offers a giant corn maze, and pumpkin patch, beer garden, and other attractions.

7. Cottonwood Farms

This corn maze is two acres, and because it’s cut by hand the paths are narrower, giving it a more personal feel. Cottonwood Farms in Lafayette also has the Straw Bale Maze, which is great for kids.

Denver district attorney exonerates officers in shooting of man holding BB gun

Denver District Attorney John Walsh announced Thursday that Denver Police Department officers were justified in the shooting of a man holding a BB gun a month prior.

Cpl. Valentin Kerchev, as well as Officers Jonathan Hayes and Randall Wells shot and injured 62-year-old Allan Scott while responding to an Aug. 25 call that Scott was pointing a pistol at oncoming traffic from a parking lot in the 1200 block of West Alameda Avenue, according to a news release from the Denver District Attorney’s Office.

The investigation into the incident later determined that Scott was holding a P-22 bb gun that looked like a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, authorities said.

“After a thorough review of the evidence in the case, I believe that the use of force by all of the officers was justified based on Colorado law regarding use of force in self-defense and in defense of others,” Walsh said in the release. “Therefore, no criminal charges will be filed against any of the officers involved.”

The incident began after officers received an initial 911 call reporting Scott was aiming the gun at motorists in the area around 8:30 a.m. that morning. Upon arrival, police found him holding the firearm laying down next to a shopping cart containing his belongings.

After a prolonged standoff — depicted on body-worn camera footage that has been published by the Denver Police Department, during which officers repeatedly told him to put down his gun and show them his hands — police shot him. Scott was then taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds and survived the injuries.

Walsh noted in the release that Scott raised his right arm and pointed the gun at officers before they opened fire, and said that Kerchev and Hayes shot the man because they believed they were in imminent danger. After the initial shooting, Scott continued to wave his right hand and did not comply with continued orders to drop the gun.

Later, when Wells saw Scott move his finger onto the trigger of the gun, he shot the man in the face, according to the release.

Scott has been charged with one count of felony menacing in connection with the incident, according to the release. Citing the ongoing investigation into the case, the office did not release the full letter Walsh wrote to DPD Chief Ron Thomas that detailed the entirety of the shooting.

The shooting was the second in a span of a few days that involved Denver police officer shooting suspects holding non-lethal guns.

The other, which took place on Aug. 22, saw police fatally shoot 48-year-old Javier Nava-Carbajal while responding to a domestic violence call in the 4900 block of East Donald Avenue. The man was holding a replica revolver loaded with six rounds of live, 9mm ammunition, despite having no way to discharge the rounds.

Officials noted during an early September news conference about the twin shootings that both men did not cooperate with police instructions to give themselves up and put down their firearms, and that police only shot them because they thought the weapons presented an immediate threat.

“Apparently this is a growing trend and it will be something we continue to track,” said Thomas during the press conference, discussing the increasing possession of non-lethal guns by suspects. “These look so closely to a real weapon that I wouldn’t expect any officer to act differently.”

Denver area events for Sept. 25

If you have an event taking place in the Denver area, email information to  carlotta.olson@gazette.com  at least two weeks in advance. All events are listed in the calendar on space availability.

Thursday

Marilyn Manson — 7 p.m., Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St., Denver, $76. Tickets: ticketmaster.com.

Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas — Presented by Colorado Symphony, 7 p.m., Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St., Denver. Tickets: coloradosymphony.org.

Breaking Benjamin & Three Days Grace — With Return to Dust, 7 p.m., Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village, $41 and up. Tickets: axs.com.

Bonnie Raitt — With Jimmie Vaughn & the Tilt-a-Whirl Band, 7:30 p.m., Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, $175 and up. Tickets: axs.com.

Kali Uchis — 8 p.m., Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver, $52 and up. Tickets: axs.com.

Marc E. Bassy — With Dende, 8 p.m., Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, $36.81 Tickets: axs.com.

Filth, Narcotic Wasteland, Angelic Desolation, Spacecorpse — 8 p.m., The Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues, 1624 Market St., Denver, $32. Tickets: theblackbuzzard.com.

Reposer — With Pet Traits, Gila Teen, 8 p.m., Skylark Lounge, 140 S. Broadway, Denver, $14.47. Tickets: skylarklounge.com.

Big Wild — With Shallou, 8 p.m., Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder, $45.06-$47.13. Tickets: axs.com.

Thursday-Saturday

Craig Robinson — 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, 6:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Comedy Works South at the Landmark, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village, $39-$49. Tickets: comedyworks.com.

Kelsey Cook — 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 9:45 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Comedy Works Downtown in Larimer Square, 1226 15th St., Denver, $30-$35. Tickets: comedyworks.com.

Thursday-Sunday

Doors Open Denver 2025 — An opportunity to open the doors to the places and spaces that make the Mile High City such a special city, go online for list of tours and prices. Tickets: denverarchitecture.org.

CARLOTTA OLSON, The Denver Gazette

Metro Denver area things to do this weekend: Aurora Mini-Con and more

Each Thursday, explore Denver’s essential weekend events curated by The Denver Gazette. Dive into cultural experiences and entertainment delights across the city. Whether you enjoy art galleries, pottery, or outdoor sports, there’s something for everyone in Denver’s vibrant cultural scene. To submit an event for consideration, email listings@gazette.com.

SATURDAY

The whole family can dress in their favorite character costumes and celebrate everything pop culture at the free Aurora Mini-Con, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, at the Aurora Municipal Campus, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, as well as the Great Lawn, Central Library and  Aurora History Museum. Some of the fun: “trivia (Disney, DC vs. Marvel, video games), science with the Ghostbusters, laser tag and fandom crafts.” Also a cosplay contest, dance performances, Geek Garage vehicles, food trucks and the FIVE-O Gaming Trailer. Schedule: AuroraGov.org/Mini-Con.

SATURDAY

If you’ve ever wondered why Denver is such a perfect bicycle city, this is for you. Grab your bike or rent one and discover why in the huge Common Spirit Denver Century Ride with 25, 50, 85, or 100-mile courses. Cycle the city with hundreds of others through historic areas, past famous landmarks, beside the stadiums, through parks, on bike lanes and trails, through natural areas and see views of the mountains. Then the treat, a stop for ice cream. Register early:denvercenturyride.com

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

A special weekend as East High School celebrates 150 years. Activities ran for a homecoming week and conclude Friday and Saturday with a film festival including the premiere of a  documentary, “Angel Power!: 150 Years of East High School” in the school auditorium and alumni film screenings at Sie Theater. eastangelfoundation.org/support/ehs-150th-anniversary. 

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Really good news for aviation lovers, the Air Force Thunderbirds will make their second appearance in Colorado this month, headlining the Pueblo Wings of Pride Air Show Saturday and Sunday at Pueblo Memorial Airport, 31201 Bryan Circle. Add to that the Army Golden Knights and even more. Tickets $45, family pack $90.pueblowingsofpride.com This follows last weekend’s Great Colorado Air Show in Loveland. pueblowingsofpride.com

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

For 10 years this has absolutely been the place for all things ink: Colorado Tattoo Convention & Expo and this is the weekend at National Western Complex.See tattoo artists at work and as they compete. Maybe plan your next tattoo. Newest competition is Best Cover-Up. coloradotattooconvention.com

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Luminosity galore with a colorful hot-air balloon glow on the nighttime grounds of Inverness Glow Show 2025 at The Inverness Denver, a Hilton Golf & Spa resort, in Englewood. Lights everywhere during family activities and by LED dancers! Food and drink stations for purchases. 6-9 p.m., tickets good for both nights, $53.92+, children $12.68+. theticketing.co/e/glowshow

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

It’s a Michelada Fest and the Mexican cocktails will be served when the festival returns to Mile High Flea Market 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A carnival for the families, music, vendors, Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestling and street tacos to go along with the micheladas. 7007 E. 88th Ave I-76, Henderson. Free with regular $3 general admission. milehighfleamarket.com

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Visit the home studios of Central Park artists as they work in the Open Studios Tour of 25 artists. You can visit 13 locations starting at 11 a.m. each day. For a map: centralparkartists.org

SATURDAY

A challenge for cyclists in a beautiful natural setting, LifeTime The Rad Dirt Fest goes over gravel roads 114 miles, 10,300 feet over three different remote courses in the Spanish Peaks. Riders take off at 8 a.m. from Trinidad, $95-$195. Registration: theraddirt.com/info/#1631727028156-c8eea0f6-d665.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Oktoberfests continue this weekend, this time in Snowmass starting at noon Saturday and Sunday. Steins to hoist, pretzels to nosh on, Bavarian wear, a sausage-eating contest and Schuhplattler dances. gosnowmass.com/event/snowmass-oktoberfest/2025-09-27.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

More than 75 open-air galleries to visit during the juried Western and mountain fine art and craft show galleries during the sixth annual Evergreen Elk & Art Fest, opening at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Evergreen North Shopping Complex, 3719 Evergreen Parkway. coloradoartweekend.com/evergreen-elk-%26-art-fest

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

One of Colorado’s most interesting — and fascinating — festivals. All the furry tarantulas are covering fields as the males go courting for all the females, who climb up from underground. There’s a two-day celebration, La Junta’s Tarantula Fest, complete with a parade, tours, lots of merch and lots of nature education. visitlajunta.net

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

The challenging endurance obstacle course series Tough Mudder returns to Fort Carson for a second year. Open to all athletes ages 14 and older with two race options: 5km with more than 12 obstacles or 15km with more than 20. Races Saturday and Sunday, packages for 10 or more, spectator passes. toughmudder.com/events/colorado