$48,075 was generated by Education Enhancement Tax in May 2010. Continued thanks to everyone who buys Black Hawk and supports Black Hawk’s commitment to education. The 1.5% Black Hawk Educational Enhancement Tax passed by Black Hawk residents in 2008 has generated a total of $718,064 since its inception.

Black Hawk Mayor David Spellman (center) and City Manager Michael Copp (right) welcomed Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (left) during Mayor Hickenlooper’s recent tour of Colorado Cities. A spirited discussion covered items of local concern and issues related to gaming. Mayor Hickenlooper was impressed with Black Hawk’s policies and strategies and spoke very highly of the new Ameristar Hotel and Spa.

BICYCLES PROHIBITED

City of Black Hawk Ordinances 2009-20 and 2010-3 states bicycles are prohibited within the City on certain streets. Signs are posted on Gregory Street, Main Street, Richman Street, Mill Street, Miner's Mesa Road, Bobtail Street, and Selak Street prohibiting bicycles.

2009-20 can be read here (pdf format)

2010-3 can be read here (pdf format)

City Police Officers will ticket anyone caught riding on these streets.

Everyone's A Winner with Black Hawk's Educational Enhancement Tax

PRESS RELEASE – Black Hawk, CO – A big thanks to all our residents and guests who visit, stay the night, shop, and participate in gaming in the City of Black Hawk, which in turn supports the city’s commitment to education.

The 1.5% Black Hawk Educational Enhancement Tax, passed by Black Hawk residents in 2008, generated a total of $481,326 in 2009. Black Hawk distributed these funds directly to the Gilpin RE-1 School District.

In addition to the Educational Enhancement Tax, Black Hawk’s scholarship fund has generated more than $450,000 distributed to 227 Gilpin RE-1 students since its inception in 1994.

Visit the City of Black Hawk's web page at www.cityofblackhawk.org or become a fan on the City's Facebook page for more information!

July 2, 2009

For Immediate Release

BLACK HAWK CREATES HISTORIC PRESERVATION

VIDEO FOR CITY WEBSITE

BLACK HAWK, CO – With the debut of expanded stakes gaming in Colorado’s gaming communities, the City of Black Hawk is reinforcing its approach to historic preservation and restoration with a new video on the city’s official website.

Narrated by famed cowboy poet Baxter Black, the video recounts Black Hawk’s history as a mining community of the mid - late 1800s, the decline of businesses and housing stock through 1990, and the resurgence of Black Hawk as a historical site and tourist destination with the onset of limited stakes gaming and Black Hawk’s second gold rush in 1991.

The video relates some of the challenges faced in preserving elements of Black Hawk’s history, such as the “Cornish walls” of mortared rock that support roadways and hold back steep slopes, and the extraordinary efforts to renovate and preserve the 64 historic residences still standing in the town of 110 residents.

“Baxter Black’s distinctive narrative style captures the spirit of Black Hawk’s illustrious history, and the video brings to focus the monumental accomplishments of the Black Hawk’s preservation and restoration program by “Preserving the Past, Preparing for the Future, Still Making History,” said Black Hawk city manager Mike Copp. The manager pointed out that the City has a stringent process that assures that the buildings being preserved maintain the character of their years.

Copp said the gaming proceeds provided the fund to launch Black Hawk’s historic preservation and restoration program, and also allows Black Hawk to have a well-staffed police department, fire and emergency medical services, and the infrastructure to handle 50,000 visitors daily.

The video is available for public viewing on the City’s website, cityofblackhawk.org. It was produced by the city’s public relations firm, Webb PR.

October 17, 2008

Media Contact: Melissa Greiner, 303-582-2292, mgreiner@cityofblackhawk.org

BLACK HAWK / BLM LAND EXCHANGE

Black Hawk, Colorado The City of Black Hawk recently completed the acquisition of approximately 360 acres of open space in and around the City of Black Hawk from the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (the “BLM”) in a land exchange.

In 2004, the City of Black Hawk entered into an agreement with the BLM which involved the City acquiring property in Fremont County near Cañon City that the BLM desired to attain. The sole purpose of the City acquiring the Fremont County property was to enter into the land exchange with the BLM to allow the City to acquire the property located in and around Black Hawk. After more than four years of proceeding through the federal regulatory process for exchanging the property with the federal government, which included the City doing various studies and having both the Gilpin County property and the Fremont County property appraised, the City and the BLM completed the transaction in late September.

The City of Black Hawk is now the proud owner of approximately 360 acres of open space surrounding the City, which will allow the City to preserve and maintain historic mining claims and the incredible vistas around the City.

For more information visit www.cityofblackhawk.org or call 303-582-2292.

PRESS RELEASE / SPECIAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

June 30, 2008

Media Contact: Melissa Greiner, 303-582-2292, mgreiner@cityofblackhawk.org

Note: Photo attached

‘BLACK HAWK’ Sculpture Dedication

Hosted by the Golden Gates Casino Group

What: Dedication of the new ‘BLACK HAWK’ Sculpture

When: Thursday, July 3^rd at 11:00 a.m.

Where: The Courtyard Patio of the Golden Mardi Gras Casino, 300 Main Street, Black Hawk, CO

Cost: Free admission and free parking

BLACK HAWK, CO Join Jeffrey Bauer, General Manager of the Golden Mardi Gras Casino, David Spellman, the Mayor of Black Hawk, and other dignitaries for the dedication of the City of Black Hawk’s newest bronze sculpture, ‘BLACK HAWK.’ Sandy Scott, Sculptor and John Kinkade, Executive Director of the National Sculptors’ Guild (NSG) will be present for the ceremony.

“While our monumental sculpture program is not unique to our municipality, it is certainly part and parcel to our City’s beautification program. The ‘Black Hawk’ sculptures, by the talented sculptor, Sandy Scott, were designed to be emblematic for the City of Black Hawk. These civic adornments are meant for the enjoyment of our residents and visitors alike and ultimately add to the ‘Black Hawk’ experience.” stated Black Hawk Mayor, David Spellman.

Ms. Scott captures the spirit of her subjects using personal observation while incorporating a sense of motion and mood through her craft in the calm of the studio. She observes her subjects in the wild by taking thousands of frames of 35mm film and strives to retain the feeling and emotion she experienced while observing, sketching and photographing in the wild. A licensed pilot for more than thirty years, she feels her knowledge of aerodynamics has been helpful in achieving the illusion of movement in her bird sculptures.

The City of Black Hawk commissioned the first of two ‘Black Hawk’ sculptures from Ms. Scott through The National Sculptors’ Guild in February 2002. The second sculpture was commissioned in June of 2003. The sculptures took approximately two years to sculpt and cast. John Kinkade, Executive Director of the NSG worked exclusively with Ms. Scott to bring the City of Black Hawk’s vision to fruition. The National Sculptors’ Guild is an association of nationally recognized sculptors chosen for their outstanding artistic abilities and varied style. Their primary objective is to conceive, seek out and execute monumental placements for member’s artworks. The NSG has successfully installed over 290 public art placements in 15 years, including additional placements within the City of Black Hawk. Ms. Scott’s work can be seen throughout Colorado in Aspen, Avon, Beaver Creek, Brighton, Denver and Fort Collins and in many other municipalities throughout the United States.

With a wingspan of 14 feet the imposing ‘Black Hawk’ is perched atop a majestic rock at its new home in the Courtyard Patio of the Mardi Gras Casino.

For more information visit www.cityofblackhawk.org or call 303-582-2292.

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