By Rudy Hemmann

The Surveyor

I’m certain several of the town’s residents by now have asked themselves, “Where did last year go?” Hopefully, the article that follows will answer some of those types of questions. So let’s kick back, relax and take a look at some of the happenings in 2018. Sadly, the first story was a tragedy.

A Denver woman was killed in a multi-vehicle crash at the Highway 287 and Mountain Avenue intersection. The afternoon of Jan. 9, 2018, the 54-year-old Denver resident was riding her motorcycle westbound through the intersection along with three other vehicles when the motorcycle she was riding was struck by a northbound vehicle. She died of her injuries. The driver of the northbound vehicle, Stacie Alcoser of Fort Collins, was charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. She was arrested at her home on Feb. 16, 2018.

A two-alarm blaze Sept. 10, 2018, destroyed a home at Long Shadow Farms. According to Berthoud Fire Protection District representative, the fire started at the front of the single-family residence and quickly spread to the rest if the structure. The family was present when the fire broke out in the home located on South Bothun Road west of town. No injuries were reported.

File photo – Berthoud firefighters responded to a house fire west of Berthoud at Long Shadow Farm on Sept. 10. The home was a complete loss.

On Oct. 20, 2018, another two-alarm fire destroyed a single-family residence in the 4000 block of Karen Court. No one was at the residence when the fire broke out. There were no injuries among the firefighters. Cause of the fire was determined to be electrical.

Berthoud police and Larimer County Sheriff Office (LCSO) personnel responded to the report of a shooting in northeast Berthoud/unincorporated Larimer County on Sept. 25, 2018. LCSO deputies learned a 44-year-old Johnstown man was inside a building when a bullet entered the building and grazed his upper torso, causing minor injuries. He refused medical attention.

An investigation by LCSO deputies and Loveland police officers revealed people had been target shooting in the area at the time of the incident. Two persons of interest were questioned and released. Investigators conducted further screening and gave the information to the district attorney’s office to possibly pursue criminal charges.

Two Fort Collins residents, Ryan Holbrook, and Alison Steeley, were arrested Sept. 19, 2018, and charged with a series of residential break-ins and unlocked-car trespasses which began in early August 2018. Neighborhoods struck by the pair included Heron Pointe in north Berthoud and the Fairway West and Vanguard-Famleco neighborhoods in Loveland.

Thirteen-year-old Dakota Haas has made what is termed a “remarkable recovery” after suffering severe injuries when struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Highway 287 and Berthoud Parkway. He was attempting to cross 287 on his bicycle on Aug. 1, 2018.

A 62-year-old Fort Collins man, Gary Moody, died of injuries suffered when a bicycle he was riding struck a semi-truck Aug. 20. 2018. The incident occurred on Berthoud Parkway near the intersection of Bunyan Avenue. The death was ruled an accident.

On Dec. 15, 2017, Christopher Kirk signed an employment agreement with the Town of Berthoud to become the new town administrator. Originally from the Houston, Texas area, he comes to Berthoud from Tehachapi, Calif., where he was employed as assistant town manager. Kirk and his family moved to the Berthoud area, and he began working on Jan. 22, 2018.

A Berthoud man was arrested for attempted assault of sheriff officers. Deputies stated Scott Haymond, 23, became angry when they arrived at his residence in Berthoud on Jan. 31, 2018, and threatened them with “multiple knives.”

Spc. Gabriel D. Conde

Berthoud High Schoolgraduate killed in Afghanistan. Specialist Gabriel D. Conde, 22, was killed during a combat operation in eastern Afghanistan on April 30, 2018.

Southbound merge lane onto Interstate 25 from Highway 56 termed “an accident waiting to happen” by area and town residents. By state standards the acceleration/merge lane is too short and ends abruptly due to the Little Thompson River bridge abutment. Many say they avoid the intersection altogether – opting to use other interchanges.

Apublic hearing concerning a Farmstead development proposal drew a “standing room only” crowd to the council chamber at town hall to protest the proposed development. Most of those who spoke at the public hearing were from the Mary’s Farm subdivision which is located immediately to the west of the Farmstead project.

Larimer County opened a Loveland campus Sept. 25, 2018. The new facility will house the Economic and Workforce Development Department, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health and Environment and the Clerk and Recorder’s office, which administers vehicle licensing. Construction of the 46,000-square-foot, two-story facility began in July 2017.

Here are some stories worthy of at least an honorable mention:

Butch Hause and wife Sarah Lincoln announced plans to turn their 14-acre farmstead into a living history park and performing arts center, which is tobe named Newell Farm in honor of the original owners of the property, Ernie and Rose Newell.

Dr. Stan Scheer retires from superintendent of Thompson School District after 53 years in education.

Turner Middle School eighth grade student, Zoe Schoo won the Thompson School District Spelling Bee.