The NoCo Herald

Larimer and Weld counties, Colorado

Mostly Clear, 66° in Severance at 6:30 PM. High today 73, observed; forecast low 56.

Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support

·Severance·Weld County

From the Severance Town Council meeting of

One speaker used public comment to urge continued anti-trafficking work and prevention education.

A speaker with United to Stop Human Trafficking described it as a Colorado alliance of community leaders, law enforcement organizations, ministries and everyday citizens working together against trafficking. The speaker thanked the mayor and council members for their leadership and said council members declared three years earlier that Severance would not be silent about human trafficking. The speaker said the alliance has continued building relationships and breaking down walls between groups. Working in one accord, the speaker said, gives a survivor who might otherwise fall through the cracks a greater chance to be seen, protected and restored. A recent case involving a minor required nine agencies to come together, and the young woman is now thriving because they communicated, collaborated and stayed committed, the speaker said.

The speaker said Colorado children face an enormous online threat. The speaker cited 15,935 cyber tips related to online exploitation handled by Colorado's Internet Crimes Against Children in 2024, and 1.4 million reports of online enticement received by the Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2025, a national increase of 158% in one year. The speaker said the figures represent children and families and show prevention and awareness are not optional. The speaker urged council to support education programs such as United to Stop's Know How project, a prevention campaign designed to bring awareness, and to continue standing with the organization. The speaker said cities and leaders become stronger than traffickers and predators when they unite with people on the front lines.

More from this meeting

  1. Severance Town Council, Sept. 22, 2026

    Severance draft capital plan proposes park restrooms, pool and hockey rink; Severance appoints Marshall Keith Martin interim town attorney; Severance approves four-district plan for Bower North.

  2. Item A1Severance draft capital plan proposes park restrooms, pool and hockey rink

    Severance’s draft 2027 capital plan would increase funding for Blue Spruce Park restrooms and add an outdoor pool and roller hockey rink to the project list.

  3. Item C1Severance appoints Marshall Keith Martin interim town attorney

    The Severance Town Council adopted a resolution Sept. 22, 2026, appointing Marshall Keith Martin as interim town attorney.

  4. Item C3Severance approves four-district plan for Bower North

    The districts cannot issue debt until they reimburse the town for attorney and consultant review costs. They also cannot issue debt, impose debt-repayment levies or fees, or levy special assessments on or before development or land-use approvals take effect.