January 14, 2016
Voluntary Contribution
VO LUM E 1 1 | IS S UE 33
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Learn more about “Somnio,” a new independent sci-fi film, and its Arvada connection on PAGE 7.
JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Board revisits growth Community comes together issue A local Salvation Army food truck arrived at the scene of the Wadsworth Boulevard fire on Saturday, Jan. 2, to help feed the first responders on duty. Courtesy of the Arvada Fire Protection District
Businesses rally after tragic fire; several firms operated in building where counselor died At left, the Starbucks at 66th and Wadsworth Boulevard delivered freshly brewed coffee for the fire investigators and police on duty to show their appreciation and provide some energy. Courtesy of the Arvada Fire Protection District
By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com Despite tragic events of a Jan. 2 commercial fire, members of the seven businesses at 6475 Wadsworth Blvd. are rallying in aid and support. “We’re devastated by the loss of John, the man upstairs,” Robert Wolf, owner of Wolf Law, said after hearing of the death of John Rutter, an addictions counselor with Creative Treatment Options, a substance abuse treatment center which was located on the third floor. “We’re all kind of a community in there so we help each other out.” The Arvada Fire Protection District is still investigating the cause of the commercial fire, which left two injured and Rutter dead. It began shortly before 10 a.m. Jan. 2 in the Scenic Heights Professional Building, Arvada’s deputy fire marshal Deanna Harrington said. Wolf Law, Creative Treatment Options, KTS Tech II, a tanning salon, Lange Land Surveys and a medical practice were located in the building. Wolf, who was not on scene that day and who is now operating at GoFigure Accounting at 7607 Ralston Road and
Decision affects Northwest Arvada corridor experiencing population boom By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com At tonight’s meeting, the first of 2016, the Jefferson County Board of Education will take another look at a 1/12-year-old $40 million proposal to build a new school and renovate another in Northwest Arvada. “We are revisiting using COPs Jeffco continues on Page 16
out of his home, said the fire was devastating for these small businesses. They lost not only their offices, but original documents, tools, technology, records and personal items. Friends with one of the doctors on his floor and with the owner of Creative Treatment Options, Fire continues on Page 5
John Rutter, 55, an addictions counselor with Creative Treatment Options, a substance abuse program, helped more than 3,000 people on the path to sobriety. Read about how those who knew him are celebrating his life on PAGE 5.
Home of the Sabertooth Tigers, Sierra Elementary was built in 1971. In the early 2000s, the school saw some renovation and the addition of new classrooms. In 2012, a bond issue was passed for the completion of capital improvement projects including those left at Sierra, but with limited funds, the renovations were never completed. Courtesy photo
Students prepare for careers in HVAC industry Red Rocks Community College offers program for industry in need of workers By Clarke Reader creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com After years in social work, Ken Boettcher wanted a change in career. He was looking for something with more immediate results. Something he could point to as an accomplishment at the end of the day.
He found it working with HVAC. “I wish I had known about this industry from the start,” Boettcher said. “I would’ve jumped right into it.” Boettcher took advantage of the Red Rocks Community College program training workers to fill the spots vacated by an aging workforce in the HVAC industry, which stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. “Everyone in the workforce is aging out,” said Joan Smith, executive director of Red Rocks Community College’s Rocky Mountain
Education Center. “It’s really a perfect storm — high schools have really gone away from the technical fields. There are jobs in fields like plumbing, construction and HVAC that aren’t going away, but there is nobody to do them.” Anticipating the need, Red Rocks renovated its HVAC lab and launched the Ready2 Work Academy, which follows a “boot camp” model and was developed with employers from the building maintenance and energy efficiency industries. HVAC continues on Page 4
TO LEARN MORE For more information on the Ready2 Work Academy email Ed.hegwood@rrcc.edu, call 303-914-6202 or visit www. rmecosha.com and click the Energy Efficiency tab.