June 2, 2016
RED ROCKS ROUTINE
VO LUM E 1 2 | IS S U E 1
Colorado music venue offers a scenic, challenging workout site. Read more on PAGE 12.
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Graduates go forward Over the last two weeks, graduates from across Arvada have celebrated graduation, including Ralston Valley (below) and Faith Christian. Eighty-six seniors graduated from Faith Christian
Faith Christian Principal Andrew Hasz, left, leads seniors in one final prayer before graduation. Photos by Crystal Anderson
Academy May 26 at the Faith Bible Chapel auditorium. “Alone, these accomplishments are worthless, alone any accomplishment is worthless,” Hannah Cook said in her senior response.
“We won’t remember everything from high school, but we’ll remember everything that high school has taught us,” said Faith Christian senior Alex Seeley in his senior response during graduation. And with a joyful jolt, 86 seniors tossed up their graduation caps, marking their last day of high school and first steps in the next chapter of their journey. Check out PAGE 9 for more photos. Ralston Valley grad Lindsey Gilgreest olds flowers received during the school’s 2016 graduation ceremony. She will be attending CSU in the fall. Photo by Terri Gilcreest
Ralston Valley seniors wait patiently for their names to be called to receive their diplomas on May 20, at the CU Events Center in Boulder. Photo by Mindy Faville
BREAKING NEW GROUND
Mother in Robb Street fire dies Death toll from May 14 fire up to three By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com
“What an exciting and beautiful day this is for Jeffco Schools,” said Dan McMinimee, Jefferson County Schools superintendent, of the groundbreaking at Arvada’s new school at 19486 West 94 Ave. in the Candelas housing development. The school, the first created in the past 10 years, will house 1,000 - 1,200 students in northwest Arvada. It will help alleviate capacity concerns at West Woods and Meiklejohn elementary schools. The site also has space to incorporate a high school later. Courtesy photo
On May 21, 24-year-old Cristina Covington died from injuries sustained in the May 14 fire that claimed the life of her 4-year-old daughter and a third resident of the home. Covington’s cause of death was reported as smoke inhalation and inhalation burns to her airways and lungs, according to Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Dan Pruett. Covington was a resident of the home at 6152 Robb St., which caught fire at 1:30 a.m., May 14. Arvada firefighters report arriving at the home three minutes after receiving the first 911 call. The fire was extinguished by 1:56 a.m. Six individuals were inside at the time, including Covington’s 4-year-old daughter, and two disabled individuals. Her daughter and one of the disabled individuals, 39-year-old Tanya Bell, both passed away from smoke inhalation on
May 14. All six of the fire victims were brought to area hospitals. At press time the health status of the other residents was not clear. The Arvada Fire Protection District continues to investigate the cause of the fire. The home was owned by Parker Personal Care Homes, which helps provide housing and caretakers for the disabled. “Parker Personal Care Homes, Inc. is deeply saddened to learn of the death associated with last week’s incident,” Scott Parker, owner of of the business, said in a statement. Parker declined further interview requests, citing the privacy of the victims. According to her Facebook page, Covington was married to Skylar Covington and working as an independent Herbalife distributor in Miami, Florida. Five GoFundMe pages have been set up by neighbors, friends and family of the Covingtons to assist in funeral costs and hospital bills. One of the four GoFundMe pages set up for Covington and her family mentioned additional family members were living in the house and are now displaced by the fire.