Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Tuesday January 5th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. 

 

Today - Can a few dozen residents find a way to install a $400,000 artificial turf facility? History says don’t count them out.

 

Before we begin, let’s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we take you back to January 5th, 1859 when George A Jackson found gold on the upper reaches of Clear Creek - what is now the town of Idaho Springs.

 

Now, our feature story. 

 

The field on the far northeast corner of Branson had sat mostly idle since the 1980s. 

 

But in 2016, Branson High School put together its first-ever varsity football team -- we’re talking the scaled-down, six-man variety here. This same parcel amid the windswept ranchland near Colorado’s southern border became its gridiron.

 

The field is brutally hard, treacherously knobby and has a pocked surface laced with prickly surprises. 

 

Thrilled just to be engaged in competition, players have embraced their circumstances. Nobody likes to play on their field -- and in a strange way, that’s how the Bearcats like it.

 

But a few weeks ago, during a Zoom call to talk about scheduling and other matters, one coach veered off the agenda and announced that his team would no longer play on Branson’s home field. Then several other coaches chimed in, seconding the notion.

 

Colorado Sun reporter Kevin Simpson is joining today to tell us more.

 

As Kevin mentioned, the total cost could be as high as $400,000, so how does a town of a few dozen residents make all this happen? 

 

Believe, that’s the first step. Less than two years ago, the town’s very existence was threatened by the desperate need for a new water filtration system. They managed to find and implement an affordable solution.

 

And that's where Branson stands now -- kicking its fundraising efforts into overdrive in a frantic attempt to create a future for football, and possibly additional outdoor sports, in Colorado’s southernmost town. Of course, a new field would mean letting go of the tough-guy aura the team adopted to deal with the sub-par conditions.

 

 

Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:

 

emails obtained by The Colorado Sun show that Gov. Jared Polis’ office was asked to meet several conditions insisted upon by Altria in exchange for one of the world’s largest cigarette companies agreeing not to fight legislation that put a question on the November ballot asking voters to raise tobacco and nicotine taxes in Colorado.

 

/

The state Department of Labor and Employment clarified its message on Monday after an email sent last week caused confusion among thousands of unemployed Coloradans who rushed to file for benefits. 

/

U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn on Monday became the second member of Congress from Colorado to join an effort against certifying the Electoral College victory of President-elect Joe Biden.

/

Aman arrested in an unrelated federal drug case helped Adre “Psycho” Baroz transport and burn bodies found on a rural San Luis Valley property in November, federal court documents say.

/

Colorado state parks report record high visitation rates in 2020

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. Now, a quick message from our editor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Tuesday January 5th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Today - Can a few dozen residents find a way to install a $400,000 artificial turf facility? History says don&rsquo;t count them out.
&nbsp;
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
&nbsp;
Today, we take you back to January 5th, 1859 when George A Jackson found gold on the upper reaches of Clear Creek - what is now the town of Idaho Springs.
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The field on the far northeast corner of Branson had sat mostly idle since the 1980s.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
But in 2016, Branson High School put together its first-ever varsity football team -- we&rsquo;re talking the scaled-down, six-man variety here. This same parcel amid the windswept ranchland near Colorado&rsquo;s southern border became its gridiron.
&nbsp;
The field is brutally hard, treacherously knobby and has a pocked surface laced with prickly surprises.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Thrilled just to be engaged in competition, players have embraced their circumstances. Nobody likes to play on their field -- and in a strange way, that&rsquo;s how the Bearcats like it.
&nbsp;
But a few weeks ago, during a Zoom call to talk about scheduling and other matters, one coach veered off the agenda and announced that his team would no longer play on Branson&rsquo;s home field. Then several other coaches chimed in, seconding the notion.
&nbsp;
Colorado Sun reporter Kevin Simpson is joining today to tell us more.
&nbsp;
As Kevin mentioned, the total cost could be as high as $400,000, so how does a town of a few dozen residents make all this happen?&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Believe, that&rsquo;s the first step. Less than two years ago,<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2019/05/06/branson-colorado-water-problems-rural/"> the town&rsquo;s very existence was threatened by the desperate need for a new water filtration system</a>. They managed to find and implement an affordable solution.
&nbsp;
And that's where Branson stands now -- kicking its fundraising efforts into overdrive in a frantic attempt to create a future for football, and possibly additional outdoor sports, in Colorado&rsquo;s southernmost town. Of course, a new field would mean letting go of the tough-guy aura the team adopted to deal with the sub-par conditions.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:
&nbsp;
emails obtained by The Colorado Sun show that Gov. Jared Polis&rsquo; office was asked to meet several conditions insisted upon by Altria in exchange for one of the world&rsquo;s largest cigarette companies agreeing not to fight legislation that put a question on the November ballot asking voters to raise tobacco and nicotine taxes in Colorado.
&nbsp;
/
The state Department of Labor and Employment clarified its message on Monday after an email sent last week <a href="https://coloradosun.com/2021/01/03/colorado-unemployment-email-benefits-ineligible/">caused confusion</a> among thousands of unemployed Coloradans who rushed to file for benefits.&nbsp;
/
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn on Monday became the second member of Congress from Colorado to join an effort against certifying the Electoral College victory of President-elect Joe Biden.
/
Aman arrested in an unrelated federal drug case helped Adre &ldquo;Psycho&rdquo; Baroz transport and burn bodies found on a rural San Luis Valley property in November, federal court documents say.
/
Colorado state parks report record high visitation rates in 2020
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>. Now, a quick message from our editor.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

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