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December 10, 2020
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 14
Olde Town rings in the holiday season with Christmas tree lighting BY MICHAEL HICKS MHICKS@EVERGREENCO.COM
The crowd was smaller than usual and the temperatures brisk, but the lighting of the Olde Town Christmas tree — albeit virtually in 2020 — was vital to keep the holiday spirit ongoing, according to Mayor Marc Williams. “I think it’s so important that we keep our traditions and that we keep the spirit alive even during these crazy times, that we still keep the important parts of what we’ve done for years and years moving forward so that we know that there’s an end in sight down the road,” Williams, decked out from head to toe in a festive red suit, tie and shoes, said prior to the Dec. 2 lighting ceremony. Normally, there would be hundreds of children and families in Olde Town square for the ceremony, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, the city went with a smaller, yet vibrant turnout. The event was broadcast live via the city’s Facebook page and SEE TREE, P2
DA honors two of law enforcement’s finest The office of District Attorney Pete Weir announced this year’s winners BY BOB WOOLEY :BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Mayor Marc Williams (left) and “Christmas Elf” Wendy Brockman celebrate the lighting of PHOTO BY MICHAEL HICKS the Olde Town Christmas tree on Dec. 2.
Happy 150th Arvada Residents celebrates the city’s anniversary of its platting and naming BY MICHAEL HICKS BY MHICKS@EVERGREENCO.COM
Don Minges can trace his family history back to the first days of Arvada and he can thank his great grandfather George Calvin Swadley for that. Swadley was a prominent citizen of Arvada in 1870, homesteading here from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia because of SEE CITY, P8
VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 28
Pictured is the home of Benjamin Wadsworth, one of the initial landowners in Arvada. Wadsworth, left, lived there with his wife and son, Mary Ann and John, seen standing on the porch. On the far right is Wadsworth’s barn, which was possibly built before 1869 and is believed to be the current home of the Arvada Hair ComCOURTESY OF ARVADA HISTORICAL SOCIETY pany, located at 7316 W. 57th Ave.
The First Judicial District Attorney’s Awards for Investigator of the Year and Patrol Officer of the Year.were given out at the District’s annual law enforcement luncheon. Detective Jeremiah Brunner, Arvada Police Department,was awarded Investigator of the Year. “Detective Brunner is known for his tireless commitment to young victims of human trafficking and is involved with a task force dedicated to stopping it,” said District Public Information Officer, Pam Russell. In her remarks at the Dec. 2 luncheon, Deputy D.A. Katharine Decker, one of two prosecutors who nominated Brunner for the award, praised his ability to develop relationships of trust with the victims in the case he was nominated for, which was critical in moving forward with the prosecution, and said his commitment to young and particularly vulnerable victims of trafficking made her office’s job easier. Brunner said the award was a complete honor and very humbling. “It’s a nice surprise,” he said. “I didn’t see it coming. I also teach defensive tactics. Teaching and being a detective are the two things I love the most about doing this job.” He was proud that Decker had described him as real — that he wasn’t just another cop, to the two survivors of the case he was nominated for. “That meant a lot to me because that’s kind of what I’ve made my career on, just being myself and also being an officer and not having to separate the two,” he said. “I probably learned more about being a good detective because I was given experience in human trafficking cases. For about 6 and a half years now, I’ve had experience with them. I’m not officially assigned to the team, but I’ve been a go-to for them, when they happen.” SEE AWARDS, P6