Murray Trunnell gets some air at Goddard Middle School Feb. 25 2021, during a snow day off from school.

Parker the Snow Dog, the honorary mayor of Georgetown, enjoys a fresh heap of snow in his backyard in early 2021. Heavy snowfall and a wet spring helped lift the Front Range out of drought conditions, but an unusually hot and dry summer, then fall, then winter quickly reversed those gains.

Even the COVID-19 couldn't stop In-n-Out burgers, and the ensuing line of burger lovers from coming to Lone Tree for a grand opening on Feb. 22. The popular fast food chain opened up several locations around the metro area this year, using regular testing and masks to help minimize the virus' impact on staff and customers.

The Westminster Police Department held a press conference March 18 to denounce Asian American violence that featured representatives of the Denver-based Asian Chamber of Commerce. Hate crimes against Asians rose more than 70% in 2021, according to the FBI.

In May Jerry and Ann Healey, left, sold Colorado Community Media to a national and local partnership between the National Trust for Local News and the Colorado Sun designed to bolster local journalism. From left: Jerry Healey and Ann Healey, former CCM owners, Fraser Nelson and Marc Hand of the National Trust for Local News, Colorado Sun editors Dana Coffield and Larry Ryckman, National Trust CEO Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, and Lillian Ruiz of the National Trust.

Clear Creek junior Maya Berber-Corriero freezes as she feels a butterfly land on her head during the high school's prom at the Butterfly Pavilion. While some proms were canceled, many more took place this year, albeit with masks and capacity restrictions.

A video played during the trial against Devon Erickson showed how the defendant looked and behaved in the minutes following the May 7, 2019 shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch. The 13-day trial ended with the jury finding Erickson guilty of 46 criminal charges. The charges carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

Mural of Johnny Hurley outside the Rocky Mountain Commissary by Denver-based artist Grow Love. On June 21, Hurley witnessed a man ambush and kill Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesley. Hurley then used his concealed handgun to shoot and kill the assailant, only to be accidentally shot and killed by a just-arrived Arvada Police Department officer. Memorials and remembrances to Beesley, a much-beloved high school resource officer, and Hurley sprang up across Arvada as the community grieved.

Addie Rose plays with bubbles at this year's Western Welcome Week this August. The return of some, but not all, big summertime community events, was one of the joys of the year.

Garrett R. Uptain of Craig hangs on tight in the Saddle Bronc Riding event Aug. 6 at the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo.

Two students put on masks at American Academy on Aug. 25 as they work on a coloring assignment. In-person learning was tenuous at times across the metro area. Certain schools and districts still had to temporarily suspend in-person learning, though disruptions were much less than 2020. Still, the question of mandatory mask use, and whether or not to mandate vaccinations at the staff level, were very much topics of discussion among educators, health officials, parents and students.

Signs read, "Choice not mandate!" and "We stand for choice, parental rights" at a protest against school mask requirements on Aug. 30 in Arapahoe County. Similar protests by students and parents were seen across the metro area. Associated questions about how schools should approach COVID-19 issues were centerpieces of every school board election forum this year.

A photographer, left, captures the image of a mountain goat at the summit of Mount Evans. Both Mount Evans and the nearby Squaw Mountain were considered for renaming this year. Evans, due to then-governor John Evans role in facilitating the Sand Creek Massacre. It was the other peak that was renamed first though, now called Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain. The original name is considered a vulgar slur towards Native American women. The state naming board is likely to consider the Mount Evans proposal in 2022.

Holy Family players rejoice after winning the CHSAA 4A state softball championship at Aurora Sports Park Oct. 23.

Ashley Dodson holds onto her hat on a windy, witchy morning at Chatfield reservoir during a "witchy" standup paddleboard event.

The scene at the Douglas County School Board meeting shortly before security cleared the room on Tuesday, Oct. 26. It was quite the contentious year for the Douglas County School Board. Clashes with irate parents were common, but the district also sued the Douglas County Health Department this fall over interference in its masking policy. This November's election saw the board majority flip, from one one willing to instate masking mandates and prioritizing equity in education, to a slate largely opposed to those issues.

A view from inside Casa Bonita. After the iconic Lakewood eatery and entertainment destination closed down in 2020 due to the pandemic, many questioned if it would reopen, especially as the parent ownership company declared bankruptcy. This November however, a deal was announced, by which the creators of South Park would purchase the restaurant and revitalize it. Details and an opening date remain uncertain, but more cliff diving and sopapilla-related fun seems to be in our future.

Cherry Creek’s Max Rodridguez, 13, pulls in the first TD of the day as he falls to the endzone with Valor Christian’s Carter Forsythe, 43, in pursuit.

The intersection at Interstate 25 and Lincoln Avenue. Commuters in I-25 received an early Christmas present from CDOT this year. The I-25 South Gap from Monument to Castle Rock, a $419 million project began in September 2018 to relieve congestion and reduce traffic accidents along the highway, was finished more than a year ahead of time. The newly-built express lanes opened (with toll charges not yet being levied) on Dec. 10.

Miss Rita, a Willowbrook Place resident is all smiles at the Memory Care Center's Cookie Challenge and Exchange in December. After being extremely isolated during much of 2020, long-term care facilities like Willowbrook in south Jefferson County were able to restart resident enrichment programs and family visits in 2021 thanks in large part to vaccines.

A crowd of around 100 people attend a rally to demand a change in Colorado's sentencing laws and show support for Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, convicted of 27 counts for his role in a deadly crash on I-70. The governor would later commute his sentence to 10 years.