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LightHawk volunteer pilot Rick Turley at the controls of his Cessna 182. (Photo courtesy Rick Turley/LightHawk) June 20, 2025 | NORTHERN COLORADO’S WEEKLY LOCAL INDEPENDENT | Vol. 33, N. 10 SEE THE STORY: PAGES 12-13 EXPLORE OUR LATEST PROMOTION TODAY! HIKING • FISHING • CAMPING • CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR • KITCHEN • GIFTS • FARM & RANCH • HARDWARE • GARDEN FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1955 | LAFAYETTE | BROOMFIELD | LOVELAND | FORT COLLINS | JAXGOODS.com SCAN HERE Aerial Awareness Northern Colorado Pilot Uses the Sky to Shine a Light on Water and Wildfire ChallengesWild Harebells and Yellow Groundsel grace a rocky hillside in Northern Colorado’s foothills in Bellvue, with pine forests and rugged peaks stretching into the distance. (Photo by Blaine Howerton)June 20, 2025 week of © 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.Over the past week, I had the chance to spend some quiet time at my property in Bellvue. Each year, I find myself in awe of the life that pulses through every corner of the land, once scarred by the High Park Fire. What was once ash and silence now hums with vitality. Hummingbirds dart and sing, eagles soar overhead, and bears—curious and calm—watch from a distance. This land is special to me. I’ve written about it in these pages before, and I’ll likely write about it again. It’s more than a place; it’s a reminder. What makes it even more meaningful is how I came to know this land: through a simple classified ad in this very publication, just eight years ago. North Forty News connected me to this place, and in turn, to a deeper appreciation for the resilience of nature and the bonds formed through local storytelling. It’s a testament to the kind of connections local media can make—not just between people, but between people and place. Even a single photo of a wildflower, a mountainside, or a nesting eagle can stir something inside us. It reminds us that our forests, our trees, and our mountains aren’t just scenic backdrops—they’re sacred spaces of serenity that deserve our respect and protection. So as summer rolls in, I encourage you to seek out these moments. Take a walk, snap a picture, share a story. And if one of those moments leads you to a place that changes your life, maybe—just maybe—it started here. —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 A Land Reborn, and the Power of Local ConnectionA Colorado Columbine blooms resiliently on the scarred hills of Bellvue—nature’s quiet reminder that beauty returns, even after fire. (Photo by Blaine Howerton)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. JAPANESE BEETLE BLUES 8-9 UNLOCK GROWTH WITH LESS EFFORT: MASTERING AUTOMATION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS 10-11 NORTHERN COLORADO PILOT USES THE SKY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON WATER AND WILDFIRE CHALLENGES 12-13 ACCESSIBLE FISHING DOCK OPENS IN FORT COLLINS, FULFILLING 37-YEAR VISION 14-15 SOUNDS OF SUMMER CONCERT SERIES RETURNS TO FRONT RANGE VILLAGE 16 TULAREMIA CONFIRMED IN LARIMER COUNTY RESIDENT 24 We Love your Photos! Send yours to photos@northfortynews.com. We will share them.Content Northern Colorado’s Weekend Forecast Triple-Digit Temps Kick Off Summer Weekend Friday is expected to reach a blazing 100°F, making it one of the hottest days we’ve seen so far this year. According to NOAA and CSU weather models, the heat will be accompanied by gusty breezes and dry air, so wildfire caution is a must. Saturday offers more of the same with sunshine dominating and highs hovering near 97°F, only dipping into the low 60s at night. It’s a good day for early morning hikes or hitting the water, but take it easy during peak hours. Sunday rounds out the weekend with a high near 95°F and more clear skies. CSU’s atmospheric data shows no significant monsoon moisture moving in, so we’re likely looking at a continued dry pattern. 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 CELEBRATES COMMUNITY SPIRIT DURING PARKS & RECREATION MONTH 17 ZESTY ONE-POT SAUSAGE PRIMAVERA BRINGS GOURMET TO THE FAMILY TABLE 18-19 TRUCK FIRE IN ERIE IGNITES GRASS BLAZE NEAR DECOMMISSIONED RAIL LINE 27 Greeley Greeley, a dynamic city in Northern Colorado, is rich in agricultural heritage and cultural diversity. MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 1,000 YEARS FOR 2022 BAR SHOOTING 22 MOBILE SPEED CAMERAS NOW ENFORCING FINES 22 LaPorte Laporte, Colorado, is a historic foothills community nestled along the Cache la Poudre River, just northwest of Fort Collins.. NEW FIRE STATION OPENS TO BOLSTER EMERGENCY SERVICES 23 SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING FORT COLLINS MAN NEAR WATSON LAKE 26NorthFortyNews.com Page: 8June 20, 2025 EDITORIAL: Andrew Scott | The Gardens on Spring Creek CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE. JAPANESE BEETLE BLUES If your garden has roses, grapes, hibiscus, hollyhocks, or cannas, they could be in for a world of hurt in the coming months. Active from mid-June through August, Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) are an unfortunately persistent pest in Northern Colorado with a voracious appetite for several ornamental perennials, annuals, and food crops. These destructive beetles first arrived in the United States in 1916, likely through a shipment of Japanese nursery stock that landed in New Jersey. It was thought they would remain an East Coast pest, unable to contend with the arid conditions of the West. While this was technically true, beetle eggs hitched yet another ride in nursery stock out west to where irrigated gardens and turf gave them the oases they needed. By the early 1990s, they were established in Colorado. Adults emerge from the soil in mid-June, and populations peak in July. They are thankfully easy to identify; about the size of a fingernail, these scarabs have shiny green heads and midbodies, bronze wing covers, and white spots/tufts around their sides. They also conspicuously skeletonize plants, eating all the tissue between the leaf’s vasculature and leaving lacey ghosts. After they have fed and mated, a female beetle will lay about 50 eggs in moist turfgrass areas throughout her life. After A Yellow Rose Heavily Infested And Being Devoured By Japanese Beetles (Photo from Shutterstock.com)NorthFortyNews.comPage: 9June 20, 2025 Six stunning sculptures. One inspiring journey through nature, friendship, and healing. Peace Walking is organized by Denver Botanic Gardens. may 2 - aug . 17 2025 The Gardens on Spring Creek | 2145 Centre Ave, Fort Collins, CO | 970.416.2486 | fcgov.com/gardens hatching, grubs will feed on turf roots and cause dead patches, hibernate over winter, and pupate the following spring to start the whole cycle over again. So what can you do? As with all pest management, there are mechanical, chemical, and biological controls available. One commonly recommended method is to hand-pick beetles off plants in the morning, when they are less active, and knock them into a bucket of soapy water to drown. This is a great option for homeowners with small infestations. While traps are commercially available, I wouldn’t recommend them. The sexual pheromone they use works a little too well, attracting beetles from all over the neighborhood to your yard, where they’ll stop at the leafy buffet and mate with others. According to retired CSU entomologist Dr. Whitney Cranshaw, the idea that crushing beetles releases an attractant pheromone is a myth; they’re actually drawn to compounds the plant releases when it’s being munched. For larger infestations, chemical applications come in liquid or granular formulations and can effectively control grubs in the soil. However, be sure to read the label and know the active ingredient you’re applying to your landscape. Insecticides based on diamides are generally safer to use around beneficial insects like bees visiting flowering turf weeds, but neonicotinoids and pyrethrins are lethal to all insects. While you can spray affected plants with chemicals, this method generally only controls beetles for a few weeks before degrading, allowing another population to move in and resume the damage. If you don’t wish to use synthetics, Dr. Cranshaw notes that a bacterial strain, Bacillus thuringiensis var. galleriae (Btg), is on the market, but it also has a short effect. Additionally, there is a bacterium that causes milky spore disease commercially available to control grub populations in lawns, but according to Dr. Cranshaw, its effectiveness is marginal at best. More promising is a fungus called Ovivesicula poppilliae (O.P.) that has around a 30% infection rate and gives beetles and larvae what is essentially a chronic kidney infection —one that increases overwinter grub mortality, shortens adult lifespan, and reduces reproductive capability. While this fungus isn’t yet commercially available, it is being utilized by municipalities up and down the Front Range. Some cities have also worked with the Colorado Department of Agriculture to release two species of wasps and a fly that parasitize Japanese beetles, though the establishment of these predators will take time. The battle against this beetle has been raging in Colorado for decades, but serious progress has been made thanks to researchers and gardeners like you. Whether treating your lawn for grubs in the spring or starting your summer mornings by drowning beetles, every bit helps to bring this exotic pest under control.Next >