Due to the lack of precipitation in the last 30 days, red flag warnings, windy conditions and the high fire danger as seen from the devastation of the Four-mile Canyon fire, Fire Chief Scott Dorman has issued open burning restrictions within the city limits of Estes Park. These restrictions (per Municipal Code Section 8.04.075) shall apply to all open fires including the following:

• Building, maintaining, attending or using fire for slash burning, campfire, recreational fires or educational fires.

• Use of all fireworks including approved fireworks (i.e. sparklers, fountains).

• Smoking on public property, except within an enclosed vehicle or building or an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

• Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with an open flame on outdoor property unless the area is clear of all flammable materials.

Exceptions shall include: campfires or charcoal fires in approved developed campsites or picnic grounds with permanently constructed stationary masonry or metal fireplaces or grills specifically designed for the purpose of combustion, portable charcoal grills on private property, LPG or natural gas fired portable grills, other petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices, flares used by Public Safety agencies to warn the public of danger, training fires used by Public Safety agencies or public fireworks displays with fire department presence.

These restrictions shall be effective from 5:00 p.m., September 7, 2010 until otherwise lifted or changed by the Fire Chief or his designee.

More than 80,000 attendees are expected for the 34th annual Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival taking place Thursday, September 9th through Sunday, September 12th at the Stanley Park Fairgrounds in Estes Park.

The festival began in 1976 and has grown to be the largest and most majestic Celtic festival in the U.S. with more than 50 events including jousting competitions, Highland games, musical acts, dance performances and dog show contests as well as plenty of Scottish and Irish food, drink and crafts. More than 40,000 spectators will line the streets for North America’s largest Celtic parade on Saturday, September 11th at 9:00 a.m.

“When we started the event 34 years ago, it was just two booths in at Centennial Plaza on Elkhorn Avenue,” said Dr. James Durward, festival founder. ”We are now considered to be one of the five largest events in Colorado. People come for the great food, entertainment and Scottish heritage.

World-class jousters headline the festivities as they vie for the sport’s largest purse in skill and accuracy events as well as the heavy armor competition. The Highland games showcase equally talented athletes displaying amazing strength and vying for the U.S. and international pro and amateur championships in the caber toss, hammer and stone throw.

Each day of the festival, Estes Park’s breathtaking mountains play backdrop to more than 1,000 Scottish, Irish and Welsh dancers while Celtic rock, folk and traditional bands liven up the evenings. Those seeking a true glimpse into Celtic culture can top it all off by sampling traditional food and drink as well as browsing the wares of more than 100 importers and crafters of Celtic goods. Visitors can also check out their own families’ genealogy by visiting the more than 70 Scottish family clan and society booths.

The festival kicks off Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. with Tattoo Estes- a traditional parade ground concert of military bands. Tattoo Estes, which features the Ontario Police Service All-Star Pipes and Drums, Tarton Terrors, Eddie Devine, U.S. Marine Band among others, will also take place on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the festival fairgrounds will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition Estes Celtic concerts and cheidlh and a barn dance will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings and many other activities will take place throughout the weekend.

For more information and to order tickets, call 1-800-90-ESTES, visit www.scotfest.com or go through Ticketwest at any King Soopers location.

Estes Park public schools are back in session and that means more pedestrians along Estes Park roadways. Police Chief Wes Kufeld reminds drivers to obey speed limits and to pay special attention to pedestrians at crosswalks. Chief Kufeld commented, “We all need to share the road and take responsibility for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists in our community.” He continued, “While our police officers are actively enforcing these reduced speed limits, we rely on drivers to be fully aware of their surroundings.”

School zones are clearly marked with signs indicating speed limits. While some signs advise drivers of a reduced speed limit when children are present, other signs flash a yellow light to advise drivers of reduced speed limits. Exact times vary, but signs generally flash on school days between 7:15 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. and from 2:50 p.m. until 3:40 p.m. During these times, the speed limit in the school zone along Highway 7 is reduced to 25 miles per hour while side street speed limits are reduced to 20 miles per hour. Fines for speeding in a school zone are doubled.

Even when school is out of session, drivers must watch for pedestrians at crosswalks, which are marked with lines on the roadway and bright yellow signage. Vehicles are required by law to stop for pedestrians at marked crosswalks; fines are doubled for disregarding a school zone crosswalk. Chief Kufeld commented, “People tend to forget about the numerous crosswalks on Highway 7.” Along Highway 7, crosswalks are positioned just south of U.S. 36 and at the intersections of First Street, Manford Avenue, Graves Avenue, Morgan Street, Lexington Lane and Pine Knoll Drive.

For more information, please contact the Town of Estes Park Public Information Office at 970-577-3701. To receive Town news in your e-mail inbox, please e-mail townadmin@estes.org.

Courtesy Town of Estes Park

The Town of Estes Park recently received two grants to improve traffic congestion in Estes Park. The grants, totaling $956,000, were awarded from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program to build a transit hub in the southwest quadrant of the Fairgrounds at Stanley Park. This area currently consists of a dirt and gravel parking area stretching from the Estes Park Senior Center on Fourth Street to the grandstand facility off of Manford Avenue.

The Town will match the grants with an additional $250,000. The new transit hub will consist of 408 parking spaces including spaces for large trailers and recreational vehicles. Bus stops will allow motorists to park and ride the Town’s free summer shuttle system throughout Estes Park. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2011 and will be complete by the summer season.

Public Works Director Scott Zurn accepted the grants on behalf of the Town, noting, “Construction of the transit hub at Stanley Park is a major step in executing the recommendations of our transit studies to reduce traffic congestion and help people move easily around town.” Zurn also noted that getting drivers to park their vehicles and ride a shuttle to their chosen destination will reduce vehicle pollution. He continued, “We’re committed to improving Colorado’s air quality – and that’s an important benefit of this important project.”

The two CMAQ grants, for $250,000 and $706,000, were awarded to the Town of Estes Park by the Upper Front Range Regional Planning Commission, which oversees long-range transportation planning for its region, mostly the rural areas of Larimer, Morgan and Weld counties.

The CMAQ program, jointly administered by the Federal Highway and Federal Transit Administrations, provides grant funding to State Departments of Transportation and transit agencies to invest in projects that reduce criteria air pollutants regulated from transportation-related sources.

The concept for a transportation hub at the Fairgrounds at Stanley Park was initiated after the Town commissioned two comprehensive transportation and parking studies in 2003 and 2005. The studies recommend a transit system to shuttle visitors from the Fairgrounds to downtown in order to assist with consistently high seasonal traffic. To receive Town news in your e-mail inbox, please e-mail townadmin@estes.org.

EP News Photo

On September 1, park officials will put closures in place for travel on foot or horse off established roadways or designated trails from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. These closures last through October 31 and are effective in Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow and Holzwarth Meadow in Rocky Mountain National Park. Fishing in the Fall River, Thompson River or Colorado River within the posted areas and during the closure period is prohibited.

The purpose of the closures is to prevent disturbance and harassment of elk during their fall mating period and to enhance visitor elk viewing opportunities. As always, elk calling and the use of spotlights or vehicle headlights for spotting wildlife is prohibited in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Donna Negus Rearick born October 11, 1943 into pioneer family of Edward and Martha Negus in Lompoc, California, ended her amazing journey in this world on August 30th, 2010.

Donna graduated from Lompoc High School in 1961. Married Charles O. Rearick in 1965 and had one son, Brandon Michael Rearick. Donna and Brandon moved to Estes Park, Colorado in August of 1980. She was a nationally certified massage and body work therapist as well as a registered polarity practitioner. Donna was such a caring person, that when she wasn’t doing massage, she was out helping in the community. For years Donna did the baking for Molly B’s restaurant in Estes Park. Donna cared so much for the people that she encountered; she would do everything that she could to help others. Whether it was cooking meals, providing clothes, stopping by to help with a task, or just to listen, Donna was there for others. She would give someone the shirt off her back, if the need presented itself. Donna was an energetic person that lived her life with that passion. When she was diagnosed with brain cancer, she did not look at it as a death sentence, but rather as an opportunity to show others that different ideas for treatment can and do work. Donna was not a believer in chemotherapy and radiation. So, she chose to take another path contradictory to conventional medicine. Donna amazed some of the conventional medical experts by enjoying her life past the finish line that they predicted with no treatment. Although Donna lived just five months past her diagnosis, she had a healthy, happy and fun life until she transitioned. She was not weak, sick or immobile from her treatment. This allowed her to spend time with the ones she loved, Brandon, Trey, Evan, Eileen, Al, Carl and all of her amazing friends.

When Donna left this world, it was in total peace and comfort surrounded by all of the people she loved.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Martha Negus, a sister, Annette Negus and a brother, Robert Negus.

She is survived by her son Brandon Rearick of Frederick, Colorado and his two sons. Trey Richard Rearick 8, and Evan Brandon Rearick 5. A brother, Carl Negus of Goleta, California, her sister Eileen Negus Brewer (Al Brewer) of Lompoc, California; Nephew J. Kris Lindegaard of Orville, California, and 4 nieces; Jennifer Retzloff (Todd Retzloff) of Red Bluff, California; Laura Holderfield (Dee Holderfield) of Red Bluff, California; Karin Granato(Gino Granato) of Milan, Italy and Kirsten Negus (Michael Primmer) of Berkley, California.

There will be a celebration of life for Donna on Tuesday September 14th at the Marina Pavilion starting at 2:30 p.m. To be followed by a reception at the Legion in Estes Park.

“I count myself in nothing else so happy as in a soul remembering my good friends.” ~William Shakespeare

Raymond J. Kelberer, 68, of Estes Park, passed away on August 31, 2010.

Ray was born on September 26, 1941, in Wolf Point, MT., to Raymond and Esther Kelberer. He grew up in Montana hunting, fishing and studying the accounting business. He received his undergraduate degree in Accounting in Minnesota at Mankato State College. He moved to Colorado in 1974 and later earned a Master degree in Accounting from the University of Colorado. He practiced accounting in Estes Park for the last 35 years and owned his own business.

Ray leaves behind his wife, Helen Marie Kelberer, who he married on June 18, 1992, three children and three grandchildren who will remember him through our hearts and many stories.

He loved his family, his God, country, as well as all of God’s creatures. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and greatly enjoyed these activities with his dog “Dewk.” We should all aspire to live such a full and adventurous life.

All who knew him appreciated his kindness, generosity, strength and loved him. He had a caring, gracious and calm nature. He was a loyal friend, beloved husband and father and will be greatly missed by his family.

A funeral service and celebration of his life will be at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church on Friday, September 3rd at 10:00 a.m. A reception at the church will follow.

Jeanne Helen Bedinger, 92, of Greeley and formerly of Estes Park died on August 7, 2010 at Grace Pointe in Greeley.

She was born on May 11, 1918 to Ethel (Chipman) and Merrick Hipson in Lynn, Massachusetts, where she spent her early years. The family moved to Savannah, Georgia, when she was a teenager. She attended Savannah’s Armstrong Junior College and the University of Georgia, where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

On June 16, 1941, one week after college graduation, Jeanne married Walton E. Bedinger, Jr. Following Mr. Bedinger’s military service in WWII, they moved to Sioux City, Iowa. In Sioux City, Mrs. Bedinger was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday school, was a member of the Memorial and Gifts Committee, and was the chairman of the Deaconess Board. She was also a member of P.E.O. and served as president of the Travelers Club, an organization dedicated to the continuing education of its members.

In 1986, the couple moved to Estes Park, Colorado, where Jeanne had wanted to retire ever since she first became aware of the town and its spectacular setting. She was a member of the Estes Park Community Presbyterian Church and of P.E.O. Chapter GJ.

The couple moved to Greeley, Colorado, in 2001.

Jeanne always wanted to be a pilot, and she earned her private pilot’s license in 1970. She went on to earn commercial, multi-engine, flight instructor, and air transport pilot ratings. She taught many flight students and flew many charter-plane hours. At the time of her retirement, she was Chief Flight Instructor for Graham Flying Service of Sioux City.

Jeanne was an FAA Accident Prevention Counselor and served several years on the Sioux City Airport Advisory Board. She was a life member of The Ninety-Nines (The International Organization of Women Pilots) and served two terms as chairman of the Iowa Chapter.

In 1976, Jeanne and a friend entered the final All Woman Transcontinental Air Race – the famous Powder Puff Derby. Flying Mrs. Bedinger’s Piper Cherokee Arrow, they finished first among first-time racers.

Mrs. Bedinger is survived by her husband; by sons Walt (Karen) of Greeley, Colorado, and Philip (Traci) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; by daughter Kathryn McDougal (James) of Tucson, Arizona; by seven grandchildren; and by several great-grandchildren.

Inurement services at the Estes Park Community Church will be held at a later date.

Memorial gifts may be made to the International Women Pilots, PEO International Peace Scholarship or Kappa Alpha Foundation, Inc. in care of Allnutt, 702 13th St., Greeley, CO 80631. Friends may view the online obit, sign the guest book and send condolences at www.allnutt.com.