Transcript Golden
September 26, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourgoldennews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 147, Issue 43
Thefts rattle Wash Street shopkeeps No leads on suspects who stole jewelry, cash By Amy Woodward
awoodward@ourcoloradonews.com
Road to nowhere
Most of Highway 72 remains closed, as roads are either covered in debris or broken into pieces. Photos by Amy Woodward
Highway undercut by flood Repair of damages next step By Amy Woodward
awoodward@ourcoloradonews.com The worst may be over as the state dries out and warms up. But while the calming weather brings relief to the state, many Colorado residents — including those in Coal Creek Canyon — face the aftermath of a devastating rainfall that severed homes from driveways and left Highway 72’s asphalt looking like an incomplete jigsaw puzzle. Jeffco Sheriff’s Office posted flood updates Sept. 17 on its Facebook page, assessing county damage at about $6 million. Approximate structural damages include 14 residences destroyed, 215 damaged and 5,805 threatened. Around 27 commercial properties have been damaged, with 24 threatened. Numbers are higher for minor structural damage. The Colorado Department of Transportation was in the canyon, northwest of Golden, on Sept. 17, fixing a culvert break which caused severe flooding on one area of Highway 72 making the road impassable. Efforts continue to relocate residents from Coal Creek Canyon, especially after exposed gas lines were discovered. Most residents have been without running water and electricity for days. So far, rescue teams have saved three families from Coal Creek. “I think we’ll see more and more of that in the days to come,” Mark Techmeyer, public information officer for the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office said, adding that some families have chosen to stay behind. Highway 72 remains closed from Blue Mountain Drive to Pinecliffe. CDOT crews have begun to clear debris, as CDOT officials have selected the response teams to help construct roads for Highway 72. They estimate work to be completed by Dec. 1. Gas has been shut off in the canyon, and Xcel Energy does not have a timeline for restoration work on the lines, Gabriel Romero, spokesman for Xcel Energy said. Assessment began last week, but repairs may not start for several weeks. Several parks and trails throughout Jeffco Open Space were affected by floods, closing Apex Park and Lair o’ the Bear Park. The east trailhead at White Ranch Park is closed, as well as Sourdough Campground and portions of Rawhide, Belcher Hill, Longhorn and Mustang trails. Multiple trails are also closed at North Table Mountain Park.
One stretch of Highway 72 was damaged from roaring waters that tore through the canyon.
Exposed gas lines like this one were shut off, according to Mark Stutz, media relations at Xcel Energy Colorado. Jeffco Open Space will determine the best strategy to repair the parks and trails with restoration extending into spring 2014. Volunteers interested in helping to rebuilding can go to jeffco.us/parks/volunteer/trail-building/.
A few downtown merchants in Golden have experienced thefts in the last two weeks including the Red Wagon, the Silver Horse and Miners Alley Playhouse, according to incident reports at the Golden Police Department. All three thefts happened within a few days of each other. “We’ve been hit by shoplifters twice in the last week,” Susan Lusk, owner of the Red Wagon said. “We’ve never had problems.” Lusk reported clothing items stolen, she estimates to be about two weeks ago, with more clothing stolen on THIEF Sept. 15, along with DESCRIPTIONS a wallet that was RED WAGON stolen from a worker’s purse that was SUSPECT in the back room of White male, the store. between the ages “They’re very of 40 to 45, with bold,” Lusk said. short gray hair and The Silver Horse big teeth. He wore contacted Golden a black shirt with police Sept. 10 in gray or red writing. regards to thefts of SILVER HORSE handmade neckSUSPECT laces and rings valued at $573. Tonia Described as male, Carroll, owner of wearing “drab” the Silver Horse, clothing, approxireported to Officer mately 6 feet tall, Beck that she had in his 40s, bald with been working on no facial hair or the second level glasses carrying a of the store, when dark backpack. she saw the suspect and made eye contact with him. Minutes later after moving her way to the first floor, she discovered the suspect had left, and jewelry was missing from the display holder on top of the jewelry counter. The holder was supposed to have 10 handmade beaded necklaces on it but the holder was empty. A ring box missing five metal rings with gems was near the missing necklaces. Miners Alley Playhouse was a victim of theft two days after the Silver Horse incident on Sept. 13. Officer Skigen arrived at the playhouse where a locked metal cash box containing $100 in cash was stolen. In the box were keys to the Miners Alley unit, and owners have since changed the locks to their doors. Credit card receipts, and two credit cards left behind by patrons were also in the metal box. Len Matheo, executive director, Jonathan Scott-McKean, technical director and Brenda Worley Billings, bartender, told the officer the box was most likely taken when employees were not in the bar area between 7:40 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. Thefts continues on Page 21
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