Today's News

  Ashley Bissel is staring at the ceiling, trying to think of butterflies.

She lies on a platform, her head held motionless by a white mesh mask that looks like a prop from a low-budget sci-fi movie. Technicians in white coats circulate around a sparse room and prepare equipment, as her mother cradles her hand.

Then the time comes for everyone to leave — everyone except Ashley, who raises her fist. In it is a novelty foam brain, which she gives a pronounced squeeze. The symbolism is lost on no one.

Jake Thayer will play wherever Chatfield head coach Mike Yansak will put him. Primarily, the rising sophomore will play in the field, be it in the outfield or first base. But the smallest player on the team — he’s only 5-foot-9 and 135 pounds — Thayer will also pitch when he needs to.

  The Chatfield dog park will soon be fenced and reduced in size by a third, the Colorado State Parks board voted unanimously July 15 after a contentious public hearing.

The changes are necessary, park staff explained, for two reasons:

First, the Army Corps of Engineers, which owns the land and leases it to the state parks service, wants to keep dog park users out of the Platte River’s spillway channel, said Ken Brink, assistant director for field operations. The best solution, he said, is to simply build a fence.

Bob Snodgress realized it. He knew that his team needed a much-deserved break, so he granted them one.