Week of September 23, 2026
Week of September 23, 2026
In July of 2025, Cate and Chris Edwards moved their family to the Niwot area. For many years, the couple lived in Steamboat Springs, where they made the decision to expand their family, but they were drawn back to Niwot last year, coincidentally being the town in which Chris grew up. Cate describes Steamboat Springs as a "fairly isolated mountain town," leading local families to rely on community support. The most helpful resource that she found was the local families' Facebook group. "[It] was...
With the Boulder Valley School District board set to vote Sept. 22, on its Resilient Schools Proposal, parents from Douglass Elementary School say the plan is rushed, incomplete, and built on shifting criteria. They are urging board members to reject it and send the district back to the drawing board. The proposal, unveiled Aug. 25, impacts 16 of the district's schools with four school buildings set to close outright. Douglass, near 75th Street and Arapahoe Road, would be closed under the...
The Niwot Community Association published its report on "Road Stakeholder Meetings" on the NCA website Sept. 15. The meetings took place in May and June 2026 and included representatives from the Niwot Community Association (NCA), the Niwot Incorporation Committee (NIC), Neighbors for Niwot (NFN), Niwot Public Improvement District 2025 initiative, the Burgundy Park Homeowners Association which is subject to the only Public Improvement District in Niwot, and The Cove Homeowners Association. The...
The Niwot Incorporation Committee (NIC) hosted an open house on Thursday, Sept. 17, at Niwot Hall. As with prior open house events, there was no formal presentation. The event featured stations where attendees could ask questions. The stations covered the ballot, the pro forma budget, business vitality, and the roads. NIC volunteer Sara Hughes said there were about 25 people who stopped by. Niwot resident Sheryl Bellinger and her daughter, Alexis Bellinger, said they were in favor of...
On Sept. 19 and 20, members of the Niwot High School Class of 1976 gathered at Whistle Stop Park in Niwot and at La Mariposa restaurant in Longmont to celebrate their 50th high school reunion and their unique place in the history of Niwot High School (NHS). The Class of 1976 holds the distinction of being the very first graduating class to complete all four years at NHS and the only one to graduate during the U.S. Bicentennial, sharing in both nationwide celebrations and school spirit events...
In a longstanding tradition and in homage to their ancestors, the St. Vrain Valley Pioneer Association will hold its 121st Annual Meeting on Sunday, Sept. 27, at the fellowship hall of Hygiene United Methodist Church, 7542 Hygiene Road, with registration beginning at 12:45 p.m. The organization, dedicated to pioneer heritage, includes members who are descendants of settlers of the St. Vrain Valley region, including Niwot, prior to 1880. The association's region includes all of Boulder County,...
Election Information The ballots for the upcoming November 3rd election will be mailed Oct. 2, and 24-hour drop boxes will open that day. Vote Centers for in-person voting and voter assistance will open Oct. 19. The last recommended day to return your ballot by mail is Oct. 26. After that date, ballots should be returned at a drop box or Vote Center. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. If you live within the boundaries for the proposed town of Niwot, check your ballot when you receive...
ROAD NEWS 61st Street and Valmont Road Intersection Safety Improvements Boulder County Public Works is currently working on preliminary designs for improvements to the intersection of 61st Street and Valmont Road that will increase the safety of all roadway users. The proposed plan provides eastbound Valmont Road cyclists with a less stressful alternative for making a left-hand turn onto northbound 61st Street. This will be accomplished by constructing an off-street box that will have the...
The Road of Remembrance was the subject of a Niwot Historical Society Now & Then Lecture by Gail Elias, State Historian of the Colorado State Society, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, at Niwot Hall Sept. 16. You may have seen the towers at the intersection of Highway 287 and Arapahoe. You may not have known that they are a tribute to Boulder County's World War I dead. The Road was dedicated in 1928, ten years after America's entrance into WWI. Students of history...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We welcome Letters to the Editor written by local residents regarding local matters. Due to space constraints, please limit your letters to 300 words or less. We will print Letters to the Editor in the order received but are limited to four per edition. Should we receive Letters to the Editor on one...
On Friday, Sept. 18, the Rocky Mountain Christian Church (Rocky) hosted its annual Shine Prom. With volunteer assistance from over 300 church and community members under the direction of long-time Rocky staff member Teecy Christmas, the night ran seamlessly. Attendees of the dance were greeted by over 100 Niwot High School students, whose own homecoming football game would be later that night. Student athletes from the softball, baseball, and cheer teams came together to cheer on the red carpet...
Richard Johnston, who teaches English, language arts, and drama at Sunset Middle School, has been named Colorado State Middle School Thespian Teacher of the Year, an honor recognizing his work in middle school theater education. Colorado State Thespians is a statewide organization that promotes theatre arts in education and each year recognizes educators who show excellence in their field. Johnston, now in his ninth year at Sunset, received the award Sept. 9 at a St. Vrain Valley School...
Niwot High School celebrated Homecoming Week with a Howdy Hoco theme, bringing a cowboy inspired atmosphere to the school through spirit days, activities, the Homecoming Parade and the annual dance. The week began Monday Sept. 14 with class colors and a homecoming assembly, where fall athletes were recognized and students from each grade participated in games, chants and other activities. The cheer team and marching band also performed. The assembly then ended with the seniors winning the...
Sophomore Kolton Wolchek was not playing in Niwot High School's top lineup last week, but nobody on the Cougars' roster played a better round. Wolchek shot a 74 to finish second individually at the Granite Peaks League event hosted by Niwot on Monday, Sept. 14, at Twin Peaks Golf Course, leading the Cougars' third lineup to fifth place. The finish put them two spots ahead of Niwot's first team. The performance opened a week in which several Cougars stepped forward, beginning with senior Hogan...
Niwot High School's cross country team continues to set a strong pace this season with both boys and girls earning national rankings in the top 10. The Cougars, who have become a powerhouse program, look like they are just getting stronger. On Sept. 19 at the St. Vrain Invitational meet at Lyons High School, the varsity boys team placed first and the varsity girls placed second. In the JV races, boys and girls both placed first, establishing their dominance in the district. Leading the girls...
Niwot High School's cheer team got off to an early start this season with summer practice sessions and two cheer camps, one at home and the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) cheer camp at the Colorado School of Mines in July. Cheer Coach Wendy Coppersmith said about the UCA camp, "The team did fantastic. We took the gold ribbon on the first day, which is top notch. We took two blue ribbons the next day, which is equally as wonderful. We had door decorating contests for our dorm rooms and...
Niwot girls volleyball earned two straight 3-0 wins this week, defeating Longmont High School at home during Homecoming Week on Sept. 15 before sweeping Centaurus High School on the road. Niwot defeated Longmont 25-12, 26-24, and 25-15 before beating Centaurus 25-14, 25-19, and 25-23. Head Coach Tony Engel said the team has remained focused on improving and has continued to put in effort during practices. "The team is really focused on getting better," Engel said. "I'm seeing the kids put in...
Niwot High School softball took a pair of losses this week in high-scoring games, falling to Frederick High School 8-6 at home on Sept. 15, and to Silver Creek High School 16-12 on the road on Sept. 17. The Cougars' record is now 8-6. Niwot hosted Frederick on Sept. 15 and came out swinging with Mandy Roth in the circle for the Cougars. Madison Unruh singled to open the first inning, and Cat Carey followed with a triple that brought her home. Niwot sent nine batters to the plate in the inning...
Niwot High School boys soccer tied Greeley Central 0-0 at home this week on Sept 15, continuing a strong defensive stretch while showing progress in its attack, though it did not show up on the scoreboard. Jannik Stranzenbach recorded three saves in goal, and Niwot finished with eight shots on goal, but could not connect. Head Coach Stephen Dimit said the team played one of its better games with the ball, particularly in its passing and overall organization. "We played better, passed better,"...
Niwot High School opened Granite Peaks League play with a 49-0 loss to No. 2-ranked Timnath High School on Friday, Sept. 18, during the Cougars' homecoming game at the Art Stapp Sports Complex. Timnath took control early, scoring 14 points in the first quarter before adding 28 more in the second quarter to take a 42-0 lead into halftime. The Cubs added their final touchdown in the third quarter while holding Niwot scoreless through the night. Despite the final margin, head coach Nik Blume was...
Niwot High School hosted Roosevelt High School's gymnastics team on Sept. 16, with the Cougars posting the highest team score yet this season at 176.95. Niwot swept the top four all-around spots led by Genevieve Saunders with 36.35 points, followed by Sienna Wood (36.00), Charlotte O'Neill (35.15), and Kylie Wilson (34.90). O'Neill posted the highest individual score of the night with 9.45 on the beam. Saunders placed first in floor exercise with an energetic and artful program receiving a...
The Niwot boys tennis team competed against Boulder High School on Sept. 15 at home, finishing with a 6-1 victory. At No. 1 singles, junior Jacob Johansson won his match 6-4, 6-1. At No. 2 singles, senior Mataeus Duart swept his opponent 6-0, 6-0. Freshman Matei Henrich-Fusea also secured a win at No. 3 singles, defeating his opponent 6-2, 6-1. In doubles play, junior Liam Petersen and senior Charlie Danko fell 6-2, 6-2, for Niwot's only loss on the day. At No. 2 doubles, Niwot senior Parker...
To the Editor - LHVC, As loving community supporters of Niwot for over 40 years, Carrie and I have always worked towards place-making in town. What efforts could be made to make the town a better and more enjoyable place to live or visit? We are current and past opponents to the incorporation of Niwot. The best thing that we have seen about the current effort is that it has made more people actively aware of the special place we live. Both pro-incorporation and anti-incorporation supporters have been examining what we love about the town and...
Dear Editor, I am one of the many residents of Niwot opposed to the incorporation effort. I have lived in Niwot for over 30 years, and this would be a disaster economically for the majority of residents. It could be a windfall for the very small number of wealthy people pushing this proposal for reasons not at all transparent. Overall, this is a destructive solution to a relatively non-existent problem. Most concerning, it would drastically raise our taxes to pay for an unnecessary and unwieldy bureaucracy that, if the pro-incorporation...
Editor, Colorado has 273 cities. Poncha Springs (median) has a population of 1,358. Niwot (~4,300) is well above average at roughly the 70% percentile between Bennett (pop 3,916) and Vail (4,466). The NO side has several objections. Some have to do with costs and financial projections, some say the roads really aren’t that bad, and finally we have the alleged nefarious motives of those on the YES side. It’s hard to prove a negative and assure everyone that all financial assumptions are 100% correct. It’s also hard to rebut ridiculous...
