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Former NFL player Rodney Adams returns a shot as he trains on his quest to become a pickleball professional player on March 18, 2025 at The Picklr Loveland. (Photo courtesy Mantooth Company) March 21, 2025 | NORTHERN COLORADO’S WEEKLY LOCAL INDEPENDENT | Vol. 32, N. 49 FORMER NFL RECEIVER AND TIMNATH RESIDENT CATCHING ON AT PICKLEBALL SEE THE STORY: PAGES 8-9 PICKLR© 2025 North Forty News New SCENE Weekly All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, incluiding photocopying or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the editor, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by the copyright law. For permission requests, write to the editor, addressed “Permissions”, at the address below. info@northfortynews.com NorthFortyNews.com The views expresses in this publication are those of the respective contributor and are not necessarily shared by the company or its staff. Silvery Lupine in Lory State Park (Photo by Dev Wolfe)March 21, 2025 week ofAs we near the end of the first quarter of 2025, I’m proud to share some exciting news about how far we’ve come as a community-driven publication. So far this year, North Forty News has welcomed more than 60,000 active users to our website. That number places us among the top-performing independent and hyperlocal news outlets in the country. In a world where smaller publications often struggle to gain traction online, this kind of growth is both rare and incredibly rewarding. What’s even more exciting is how our newly redesigned weekly e-edition is resonating with readers. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve seen: • 345,972 e-edition sessions • 413,458 total reads The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Readers have told us they love the magazine-style layout, the ease of clickable links, and the ability to print individual pages. If you haven’t checked it out yet, visit northfortynews.com/this-week to see what the buzz is about. TO STAY IN THE LOOP • Daily news emails are sent to subscribers—sign up at northfortynews.com/subscribe. • Weekly e-edition reminders go out every Friday—just enter your email on the front page of the e-edition. We’re so grateful for your continued support and your commitment to keeping local journalism alive in Northern Colorado. This growth belongs to all of us, and it proves that when we invest in community storytelling, our whole region thrives. Thanks for reading, thanks for sharing, and most of all—thanks for being part of the North Forty News family. Warm regards, Blaine Howerton Publisher, North Forty News PUBLISHER’S LETTER BY BLAINE HOWERTON Your support helps us provide coverage of Northern Colorado communities. Support North Forty News in the following ways: • Advertise - ads@northfortynews.com • Donate - northfortynews.com/donate-now • READ - northfortynews.com/this-week North Forty News Surges in 2025 Digital Growth(NORTH FORTY NEWS FILE PHOTO)Content Fort Collins Fort Collins, at the foothills of the Rockies, is Northern Colorado’s vibrant heart. Known for its historic Old Town, craft beer scene, and outdoor recreation, it blends urban energy with small- town charm. Home to Colorado State University, it’s a hub for innovation, culture, and community. FORMER NFL RECEIVER AND TIMNATH RESIDENT CATCHING ON AT PICKLEBALL 8-9 PRUNING 101 10-11 MOBILE-FIRST MARKETING: HOW TO REACH YOUR AUDIENCE ON THE GO 12-13 FORT COLLINS RALLY TO DEFEND USPS AMID NATIONAL PRIVATIZATION CONCERNS 15 THE EMPORIUM: AN AMERICAN BRASSERIE 16-17 THE LIL SMOKIES SET TO STIR FORT COLLINS WITH SOULFUL NEW SOUND 18-19 JUNIOR LEAGUE OF FORT COLLINS ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF CAREER CLOSET AFTER 15 YEARS OF SERVICE 30 We Love your Photos! Send yours to photos@northfortynews.com. We will share them. Wellington Wellington, a charming town located just north of Fort Collins, offers a close-knit community, scenic views of the Rocky Mountains, and a growing hub for local businesses and outdoor enthusiasts. FIRE DANGER INCREASES IN LARIMER COUNTY AS CREWS BATTLE MULTIPLE WILDFIRES 22Loveland Loveland blends creativity with small-town charm. It’s the Northern Colorado hub for Larimer County’s events. RED-LIGHT CAMERA IN LOVELAND NOW ISSUING CITATIONS: WHAT DRIVERS NEED TO KNOW 23 CPW OFFERS $1 MILLION IN GRANTS TO REDUCE HUMAN- BEAR CONFLICTS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES 29 Content Northern Colorado’s Weekend Forecast: Sunny Skies Ahead As we look ahead to the next three days in Northern Colorado, here’s what we can expect: Friday, March 21: The day will be partly sunny with winds picking up, reaching a high of 58°F (14°C) and a low of 34°F (1°C). Saturday, March 22: Anticipate mostly cloudy skies with increased winds in the afternoon. Temperatures will range from a high of 62°F (16°C) to a low of 34°F (1°C). Sunday, March 23: We’ll experience intervals of clouds and sunshine, with a high of 62°F (17°C) and a low of 35°F (2°C). (Sources: NOAA, CSU) It's not just news. It's your neighborhood. Be Informed. NorthFortyNews.com/subscribe Greeley Greeley, a dynamic city in Northern Colorado, is rich in agricultural heritage and cultural diversity. WELD COUNTY PARTNERS WITH VERSATERM TO IMPROVE VICTIM COMMUNICATION 14 NEENAN ARCHISTRUCTION BREAKS GROUND ON EXPANDED RESPITE CARE FACILITY 24 MURDER-SUICIDE IN GREELEY LEAVES TWO DEAD, CHILD FOUND UNHARMED 27 Windsor Windsor is a thriving town nestled between Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley. Known for its small-town charm and rapid growth, Windsor offers a perfect blend of modern amenities and a welcoming atmosphere. WINDSOR WIZARDS END 100-YEAR TITLE DROUGHT 25 NORTHERN COLORADO DISPATCHER HELPS FAMILY DELIVER BABY IN GARAGE DURING EMERGENCY 28NorthFortyNews.com Page: 8March 21, 2025 Former NFL Receiver and Timnath Resident Catching On at Pickleball CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE. When a professional athlete calls it quits on their first athletic career, it’s not unusual to see them look for another way to exercise their competitive nature. That’s how Rodney Adams, a former NFL wide receiver who now lives in Timnath, has found himself with a pickleball paddle in his hand. And just as with football, Adams has once again set his sights on competing at the sport’s top level. Adams, 30, drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2017, stepped away from football in 2022. He eventually discovered a passion for pickleball on the courts of The Picklr Loveland earlier this year. That’s where trainer and pickleball pro Eli Steiner, 2024 Pickleball Hall of Fame inductee Kyle Yates, along with The Picklr Loveland owner Leslie Arnold, are guiding Adams on his path to the next level. EDITORIAL & PHOTO | Mantooth Company Former NFL player Rodney Adams receives instruction from Eli Steiner, head pro at The Picklr Loveland, on March 18, 2025. NorthFortyNews.comPage: 9March 21, 2025 “Wherever Rodney ends up, he’ll get there because he believes in himself,” said Arnold. “We at The Picklr Loveland believe in Rodney and will ensure he has the tools and support needed to get where he is going. Our tagline is ‘Where Pros are Made,’ and we provide training for first-time players as well those aspiring to turn pro.” Adams has also been working with Yates, the former No. 1 pickleball player in the world and a co-owner of The Picklr franchises on the Front Range. “Rodney knows what it takes to train and compete at the highest level of sports, though pickleball should be a unique challenge for him – which seems only to motivate him even more,” explained Yates. “His determination is contagious; I’m excited to help him achieve his goals in this new sport. To get to where he wants to be, he must be trained by people who can get him there, and we at The Picklr have that experience.” Adams shared, “I never dreamed when I walked into The Picklr Loveland that I’d then be training with pickleball hall of famer Kyle Yates and he’d be providing the path for me to take my pickleball to the next level!” For Adams, his pursuit – like his “path to the draft” in football – means he is tapping into the same work ethic, intensity, and individual discipline he needed to make the NFL. In fact, he refers to The Picklr Loveland as “the facility,” the same term NFL players apply to their team’s training centers. A former football teammate – who played pickleball – first brought the sport to Adams’ attention; however, as an NFL player, Adams was contractually prohibited from participating in another sport. Still, he wanted to learn more about the sport. With football behind him, he was ready to tackle a new challenge. “My main focus is now to compete at the highest level. Pickleball gave me a glint in my eye – the same as I had with football – and I just knew where my next journey was,” explained Adams. “I then reached out for advice on how to turn pro, which led me to The Picklr Loveland.”Next >