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May 26, 2016 VO LUM E 1 1 | IS S UE 52
GetAways 2016
Special Section Inside ArvadaPress.com J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Investigation continues into home fire that killed 2 Dispatch received call from woman who said she couldn’t open window By Crystal Anderson Canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com One of six people in an adult foster home — where a recent fire killed a 4-year-old girl and 39-year-old disabled woman — was trapped inside her room, Arvada Fire dispatch transcripts show. The call to fire dispatch came in at 1:32 a.m. on May 14. The caller, a woman, said she could see flames on the porch, but her window couldn’t be opened, according to the dispatch transcript. Arvada firefighters arrived at the home, 6152 Robb St., just three minutes later and found two people climbing out of a basement window, Arvada Fire Marshall Kevin Ferry said. The fire was extinguished by 1:56 a.m. The Arvada Fire Protection District continues to investigate the cause of the fire. And, citing the ongoing investigation, fire department officials said they could not say in what part of the house the girl, who has not been identified, and Tanya Bell, the 39-year-old woman, or the Fire continues on Page 15
“Bunches of bear hugs” reads the tag attached to a miniature plush brown teddy bear tied to the fence outside 6152 Robb St., a home where two people died from smoke inhalation on May 14. Three other teddy bears, a black stuffed Scottish terrier animal and a bouquet of artificial white daisies also lay alongside the fence. Photo by Crystal Anderson
HERE COME THE GRADS!
Council backs Rocky Flats trail extension Trail route kicks up radioactive worries for residents By Crystal Anderson canderson@colorado communitymedia.com
Many of Arvada’s Class of 2016 grads were handed their diplomas last week. See their celebrations: AWest on PAGE 3, Pomona on PAGE 4, Arvada on PAGE 5, and Standley Lake on PAGE 6. For more photos (including Ralston Valley) go to www.arvadapress.com .
PANTHERS PROVE TO BE THE FASTEST
The Pomona Panthers seized the 5A state track title last weekend. To see and read more about their championship accomplishment on PAGE 18. Photo by Katie Pickrell
To ensure the safety of citizens crossing Indiana Street and State Highway 128, Arvada’s City Council unanimously supported a federal grant that would create public crossings to the Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail at the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. “Approval allows us to have a seat at the table, to have a voice, and to ask about whatever testing needs to be done so the community has a voice,” Councilman David Jones said. On May 16, council listened to community members support or oppose a resolution for a federal grant that would fund an extension of the trail through the Rocky Flats refuge. Several community residents expressed worry about the area’s soil and air quality because of radioactive contamination, as well as safety for hikers, bikers and travelers who use Indiana Street and Colorado State Highway 128 — two heavily-trafficked roads in west Arvada and northern Jefferson County. Resident Marian Whitney said the area is unsafe because of unknown hazardous materials in the site’s soil. “No, I’ll tell all my family and friends not to go out there — we need much more thorough ongoing testing,” Whitney said. But Francisco Jeantette, a resident of Candelas – a development which backs up to the refuge — felt differently.
The zoomed-in map shows the construction on the trail. This segment of the project, extending from Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, is expected to be completed this summer. Map courtesy of the City of Arvada “We are not ignorant people,” Jeantette said. “And I would urge the council today to listen to not just the studies that were done 20 to 30 years ago that were valid at the time, but to look at the current science and the current education we have now … I urge you to support the Greenway Trail Project and help us turn what was something bad
into something beautiful.” Jeffco is partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Jeffco Open Space to apply for the $5 million to $6 million grant, which would fund project improvements, including additional soil sampling for contaminants. Each Trail continues on Page 5