Story by Elisabeth Sherwin

Glen Haven resident Sibyl Gardner is a self-confessed writer. She writes everything from screenplays to novels, memoirs to essays.

In a recent talk at the Estes Valley Library, Gardner described her three decades in TV, working in New York and Hollywood, on projects as diverse as MTV music video production in the 1980s to screenwriting for “Law and Order” and “Nashville” in the 2000s.

She moved to Los Angeles in 1988 to make movies. While that didn’t happen, she’s still not ruling it out. She’s the kind of person who has a screenplay under her pillow.

What did happen in L.A. was a series of jobs on various TV shows like “Frank’s Place,” “Law and Order,” and “Saving Grace.”

“I wanted to do it all,” she said. “Movies, dramas, comedies, novels.”

Gardner said her career was full of ups and downs. But she managed to make a living. You could join the Writers’ Guild and make money off residuals when the episodes you wrote were rebroadcast. She had a friend who signed a million-dollar deal as a writer for “E.R.”

Previously, networks had to appeal to broad audiences. Shows couldn’t be too edgy.

Then came cable TV, then HBO, then streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube came along.

Now, writers can be very edgy, if you can find the work.

In the land of TV and movies, Gardner knows one thing is true.

“There would be nothing without the writers,” she said. “Actors can’t come up with it.”

She recalled once having to rewrite an episode of “Nashville” on a plane flight.

That’s the kind of pressure that writers occasionally have to face. She also stressed the need for sparse writing that goes into a TV script.

At the library meeting, Gardner read a descriptive paragraph from Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises.”

“You couldn’t get that information into a script,” she said.

She said the best job she ever had was writing for a friend’s TV show, “Any Day Now.” The plot followed a group of black and white kids, and she described it as way ahead of its time.

“You can see it on YouTube,” she said.

But she would hesitate to recommend a young person head out to Hollywood to chase down a writing career.

“Writers are not making the money they used to in salary or residuals,” she said.

Still, Gardner knew she would always return to family property in Colorado. She left Hollywood 11 years ago but hasn’t given up on her many projects.

She’s writing a novel called “Old Moms” and a time-travel novel. She has a comedy set in Boulder. She self-published her memoir, “Sibyl Rights.”

Who knows what will happen next?

Perhaps her novel, “Old Moms,” about new mothers in their 40s, will be made into a movie.

“Heck, it’s worth a try,” she said.

“I can’t stop writing,” she added. “I’m a writer.”

The skies over Estes Park have been filled with smoke, and the air quality has been poor due to several fires on Colorado’s western slope, including the Lee, Elk, and Twelve Fires west and south of Steamboat Springs, and the Windy Gap Fire near Granby, involving some 75,000 acres.

Particulates in the air can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, and those with asthma and other respiratory conditions are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of poor air quality. People with breathing issues have been advised to stay indoors, wear a filtering mask, and run their air conditioners.

According to an email from Stacey Sutherland, the Estes Valley Fire Protection District interim fire chief, “due to continued dry conditions, the danger of wildland fire, forest, and grass fires is still high in the Estes Valley, and to stay consistent with the Stage 1 Restrictions in unincorporated Larimer County above 6000’ and Rocky Mountain National Park, we are enacting the following: Pursuant to International Fire Code Section 307.1.1, I hereby issue an open burning RESTRICTION (Stage 1) within the Estes Valley Fire Protection District effective 13:00, Aug.7, 2025.”

The EVFPD recommends that people living in the Estes Valley learn about preparing their property for the risk of wildfire and be aware of the current fire restrictions.

The Larimer County Commissioners today voted unanimously to adopt fire restrictions in unincorporated Larimer County. Due to above-normal temperatures, lightning strikes, and windy, dry conditions, the danger of wildfires, forest fires, and grass fires is great.

The restrictions on open fires in the unincorporated portions of Larimer County will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on September 2, 2025.

Restrictions on the use of fireworks, combustible devices, public fireworks displays, and incendiary devices are also in effect.

This is not a fire ban, and the restriction only applies to unincorporated Larimer County over 6,000 feet.

Larimer County has implemented a zoned approach to restrictions to address fire risk while still accounting for different climate areas. The county is divided into three zones: below 6,000 feet, 6,000–9,000 feet, and above 9,000 feet.

To view a real-time, interactive map of the restriction area, click here.

Current restrictions include:

• uncontained open fires
• smoking in the open is prohibited, including on trails, parks, and open spaces.
• fireworks or firework displays
• incendiary devices, including sky lanterns, exploding ammunition, exploding targets, and tracer ammunition
• welding

What is allowed:

• fireplaces or wood stoves located inside a residence
• gas-fueled fires, including grills and camping stoves
• camping and cooking fires in developed camping areas
• fires in permanently constructed masonry fire pits

Any person who knowingly violates the restrictions can be fined. Click here to read the Ordinance for the Regulation of Open Burning in Unincorporated Larimer County.

EVV Emergency Information Directory

The Estes Valley Voice’s Emergency Information Directory can always be found on our website’s homepage.

Read full story here:

Story by Patti Brown & Barb Boyer Buck

The Estes Park Police have secured three arrest warrants for David Anthony Morales, wanted for allegedly providing alcohol to minors at a closed business and offenses relating to sex offender registration.

In February 2025, the Estes Park Police Department received a report of a party hosted by Morales at the Twisted Griffin Pub and Restaurant, located at 247 W. Elkhorn Ave, where alcohol was allegedly served to minors by Morales.

The warrants are for two counts of failure to register as a sex offender, a class 5 felony; nine counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a first-degree misdemeanor; and five counts of unlawful acts, a second-degree misdemeanor.

When the alleged incident occurred, the Twisted Griffin had just permanently closed. It had been owned by David Bard. Bards also owned and operated the Hyland Bard gift shop and the Griffin’s Nest Coffee and Tea Pub in Estes Park.

According to EPPD, a total of fourteen underage victims were identified and interviewed. During the investigation, it was discovered that Morales failed to register as a sex offender as required by Colorado State Law upon moving out of Estes Park following this incident.

In 2010, Weld District Court Judge Thomas Quammen sentenced Morales to 12 years in prison, followed by 10 years of sex-offender specific intensive supervised probation.

According to court records, Morales was initially charged with sex assault, overcoming a victim’s will, and sexual assault against a victim who was incapable of appraising conditions for an attack in 2008, according to court records. As part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and attempted sexual assault.

Estes Park Police believe that Morales is currently living in the Denver area. They ask the public to contact local law enforcement immediately with any information that could lead to his arrest. Morales’ most recent sex offender registration photo is attached.

According to EPPD Chief Ian Stewart, “This was a complex investigation requiring many interviews, hours of evidence review, and working non-stop to eventually secure the appropriate arrest warrants to bring the case to a successful conclusion. I am very proud of the work our team has done.”

by Mayor Gary Hall

It's summer and we just passed the 4th of July, so let’s talk tourism.

There’s a wide variety of opinions on the topic of what factors impact tourism behavior and numbers.

What levers do we change or adjust to keep our tourist trade healthy? As the Town Board considers all of its various business, we must weigh how our decision impact our tourism industry.

This was the topic when Jamie Palmesano (of Brownfield’s store fame) spoke at our June 24 Town Board meeting. (You can read her talk in the July 5, 2025, Estes Valley Voice.) Jamie’s talk was a shining example of how public discourse should be approached. Her gentle and insightful presentation was powerful and helpful.

Ms. Palmesano spoke of the myriad factors that impact tourism numbers and behavior. She mentioned RMNP reservations, paid parking, the Loop, “outrageous lodging prices,” the economy, politics, Visit Estes Park, even “complaining locals,” There’s probably others, like competition from other destinations, post-COVID societal changes and cost increases, and more.

Her point was that it’s the sum of many factors that are affecting visitation patterns and tourist behavior. She then asked the Town Board members to use our positions to ensure that visitation remains stable and healthy.

Indeed, we should.

Jamie ended her talk with a quote from Trustee Mark Igel that stated that the decisions we make today can fundamentally change the nature and character of Estes. I agree. You’ve heard me mention the Iroquois philosophy of the “seventh generation:” What impact do our actions have on our descendants seven generations from now?

I met with Jamie to explore her statements. We certainly agree that tourism is essential to the success of Estes. Since the first settlers realized that tourism was an effective way to earn a living up here, Estes has found ways to house, entertain, and feed our visitors, and has offered goods and services to sell to those guests.

We all benefit in some way from tourism. Even those of us not involved in the tourist trade rely on the Town services that are fed by the influx of tourism dollars.

Jamie’s key concern is that we have “overwhelmingly fewer repeat visitors.” Obviously, the world changes and generational cycles move forward, but are our policies and programs causing those visitors to now stay home or go elsewhere?

She believes that there are noticeably less people in town. (I’ll be eager to see the June and July economic dashboard reports when they come out; May shows Park numbers up.). Jamie also contends that the atmosphere, vibe, energy, pulse, of the town has changed. Vibe and pulse are certainly subjective considerations. I’ve always felt, and still feel, a palpable vibrancy and strong pulse in Estes, in the shops, the arts, the dialogue. But I’m just one person.

I do believe that the pulse of America has changed in recent decades, and not all for the good, with lots of bad behavior in the public and online eye. (I will continue to advocate for all of us to avoid joining in that negative culture.) Jamie said that they hear from countless people that Estes is less welcoming and friendly. That should concern all of us. Certainly, a welcoming and friendly attitude is the single most powerful tool we have.

Wouldn’t it be nice if “happy attitudes” solved all challenges? I’d love that, but we live in the real world. A cheery smile won’t address all of work on infrastructure, budgets, staff, policies, though it doesn’t hurt to maintain that cheery smile.

Read full story here: Friendly stewards

Story by Patti Brown

Estes Park Police arrested Thomas Chase Hill, 32, on Saturday, July 26, on second-degree burglary with forced entry, theft from burglary, first-degree arson with endangering life, and criminal mischief. Hill was booked at the Larimer County Jail in Fort Collins.

The charges relate to the burglary of weaponry from Blades, a knife and specialty weapons store that sells swords at 145 E. Elkhorn Ave., and a fire at the Haber Motel, 397 E. Elkhorn Ave. Both incidents took place late Friday night.

A man with the same name and birthdate was arrested in October 2020 and charged with first-degree arson and reckless endangerment for a fire in Kremmling that burned a shed and a car inside the shed.

The individual pleaded guilty to fourth-degree arson and was sentenced to two years of probation and 45 days in jail in addition to mental health and substance abuse evaluations and treatment.

According to reporting by McKenna Hartford of Sky-Hi News, when that man was being sentenced, he interrupted Grant County Judge Nicholas Catanzarite, saying that the judge would face consequences from God for sentencing him to jail.

Hill will make his first court appearance on Thursday, July 31, at 8:30 a.m. and is scheduled for another on Aug. 4.

The EPPD has asked the public for any information, including videos, that might aid their investigation. Anyone with information should contact EPPD Detective Mason at 970-577-3870 or email hmason@estes.org.

This is the second time this month that the EPPD has made an arrest on charges of arson. On July 10, Steven Allen Poff was arrested on charges of fourth-degree arson for allegedly starting an illegal campfire on West Elkhorn.

Story by Patti Brown

A structure fire broke out at the Haber Motel, 397 E. Elkhorn, late Friday night. The 911 call was received at 11:50 p.m. A second alarm was called at 12: hub 18 a.m., and the fire was called out at 2:33 a.m.

The smell of smoke was strong around the intersection of Wonderview and Big Thompson Avenues as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

The Estes Valley Fire Protection District, the Estes Park Police, and officers with the Larimer County Sheriff were on the scene within minutes.

More than a dozen firetrucks and law enforcement vehicles crammed into the parking lot between The Egg of Estes and the Estes Thai restaurants.

First responder vehicles also lined Wonderview Avenue on the east side of the two-story motel. Flashing red and blue emergency lights lit up the night sky, and flood lights were set up to illuminate the building during the incident.

Firefighters were seen going up and down an outdoor staircase at the six-unit motel and repeatedly entering rooms on the upper level.

One first responder at the scene told the Estes Valley Voice that no injuries had been reported.

According to a statement from the EVFPD this morning, “the fire originated outside of the hotel, the cause is under investigation. A fire investigator and dog were requested from the Division of Fire Prevention and Control to perform the investigation.”

Onlookers reported that shortly before the fire was reported, a white male smashed a window at Blades We’ve Got the Edge, a knife and weapons store at 145 E. Elkhorn Ave., across the street from the Wheel Bar.

Reportedly, a sword was taken from the store window. While the fire was being extinguished, an adult male was arrested for burglary. The police did not indicate if the individual was swashbuckling at the time of his arrest.

It is unclear if these two incidents are related. According to a statement received this morning from the EPPD, the police and the fire district are investigating the fire.

This story will be updated as more information about the fire and burglary becomes available.

March 17, 1955 to July 14, 2025

Douglas Paul Semeyn, longtime resident of Estes Park and a devoted 40-year employee of the YMCA of the Rockies, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on July 14, 2025, at the age of 70.

Doug was born March 17, 1955, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he grew up surrounded by the love of his parents, Thomas and Dorothy Semeyn, and his brother Steve. He fondly recalled childhood summer camping trips near Lake Michigan and later shared that love with his children.

A youthful fondness for swimming set a course to his future in Estes Park, where he first worked as a seasonal lifeguard for the YMCA of the Rockies in the summer of 1976. The YMCA and Estes Park captured his heart, and he continued to return to work there each summer until finishing graduate school, when he started his first year-round position. It was also here that Doug met his former wife, Kay, and shared the joy of raising their family in this special place.

During his years at the YMCA, Doug made lifelong friends, with many growing to feel like family. He became a welcoming presence for international staff, taking them on adventures in Rocky Mountain National Park and to Rocky Church, and earning nicknames like “Papa Doug.” His kindness, optimism, and love for the YMCA of the Rockies were evident to everyone who knew him.

Doug was also an avid photographer who found joy in capturing the natural beauty of Estes Park. He took and shared thousands of pictures that showcased his deep love for the area and his family.

Affectionately known as “Grandpops” to his grandchildren, he cherished spending time with his children and their families.

In recent years, he loved taking his daughter Ashley to music shows around Estes Park and at the YMCA during her summer visits and beautiful drives through Rocky Mountain National Park.

His other children, Lauren and David, along with their spouses and his three grandchildren, were fortunate to share many wonderful days with him in Estes Park shortly before his passing.

Doug’s absence will be deeply felt, and his legacy of kindness, generosity, and connection to others will live on in the hearts of his family and friends.

A celebration of life service will be held in Hyde Chapel at the YMCA of the Rockies at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 23, followed by a casual YMCA-style cookout reception at the Upper Cookout. All are welcome to attend either or both events.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations to the African Children’s Mission, where his son David serves as executive director, or the YMCA of the Rockies International Employee Fund with “international programs” designation.

Story by Patti Brown

Nick Mollé Productions and the Rocky Mountain Channel won two Emmy Awards Saturday night for their latest PBS film, “Water, The Sacred Gift.” Seán Doherty received the Emmy for outstanding photography, and Mollé received the Emmy for director.

The documentary tells the story of the watershed in the Rocky Mountains threatened by a changing climate. It debuted April 12, 2025, at the Historic Park Theater in Estes Park during the Rocky Mountain Channel’s Environmental Film Festival.

The ceremony for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Heartland Chapter was held in the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

The day before Mollé won the award for the PBS film, Congress cut $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, eliminating all federal support for NPR, PBS, and their member stations.

“I didn’t realize how much this would mean to me until they announced it, and having Sean follow me up as we won two, was a cosmic experience. Score two for educational television,” said Mollé.

In an interview with the Estes Valley Voice at his office on Elkhorn Avenue in May, Mollé said writing, editing, and refining the film took a year and a half. The award-winning documentary has also received a Silver Telly in Videography and Cinematography, a Silver Telly Award in Nature and Wildlife, and a Bronze Telly Award in Film and Shorts.

Molle’s next project is “Stream of Conscience,” a film whose title Molle says is intended as a pun about the Colorado River. That production will have a bit of the feel of his film “Wild Ride: The Peak to Peak Highway” and will take viewers on a journey along the waterway that begins at La Poudre Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park and flows 1,450 miles to the Gulf of California in Mexico.

The Colorado River is a critical resource relied on by seven basin states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming – and some 40 million people for drinking water, hydropower, agricultural irrigation, recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat.

Mollé and Doherty’s film can be streamed on PBS.