Severance, Colorado

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Severance is a Statutory Town in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 597 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the Colorado Eastern Plains, northwest of Greeley, a crossroads of county roads. Founded in the late 19th century as an agricultural community, the town remained primarily a small rural farming community based on the raising of cattle, sugar beets, potatoes, and onions. In the 1990s it began to grow aggressively by the construction of new residential subdivisions in the nearby rural areas of Weld County, especially as growth spilled over from nearby Windsor. The construction of new residential communities near the town has left the original agricultural community surrounded by modern construction and contributed to an upsurge in population. The town limits, extended through flagpole annexations, reach in tendrils nearly to Windsor and Fort Collins. Since the economic base of the town is quite limited, many of the new residents commute to jobs in Greeley, Fort Collins, Windsor, and even to Denver. Like many communities in western Weld County, the town afford a panoramic scenic view of the Front Range to the west. Severance is famous within the region as the location of Bruce's Bar, a local watering hole founded in the 1950s. Located on the northwest corner of Fourth Avenue and Weld County Road 23, Bruce's was well-known for its offering of Rocky Mountain oysters. The bar was particularly popular as a gathering place for recreational motorcyclists within the region. This included the Two-Wheelers Motorcycle Club Nut Run in the fall of each year. Members from Cheyenne, WY and Denver would converge with thousands of other bikers in the region in a traditional end of riding season ride to Bruce's for music, beer and bikes. Owner Bruce Ruth died in August 2006, and the bar's survival had been in question after Ruth's death. It was thought that the bar went to his son, Steve Ruth, and two long time employees, Dennis Guffy and Linda Winter, who together had more than 65 years experience at the bar. However, the transfer of ownership stumbled because the Severance Town Council denied a liquor license due to building code and safety issues with the structure. Steve Ruth sent a fax from London on January 31, 2007 to bar manager Bary Brim telling the staff to close the bar. Apparently the younger Ruth could not justify the cost of making the necessary changes. In February 2008, Jairo Landeros of Berthoud, Colorado purchased the building. He and building contractor Bruce Carron made substantial repairs to the building and upgraded the kitchen. Bruce's Bar reopened in October 2008. The new ownership has engaged the services of former employees Linda Winter and Dennis Guffy, who was the long-time cook and prepared the Rocky Mountain Oysters. The new management has upgraded the facility, while attempting to maintain the atmosphere and much of the menu of the former Bruce's Bar. The "Nut Run", started by the owner of 2 Wheelers Motorcycle shop in Denver will once again have their annual festivities in September 2009. Severance is also the home of KYEN radio, a commercial-free classic-rock station with a far-reaching signal which can be heard as far away as Denver.