January 30, 2014 Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 9, Issue 36 A publication of
arvadapress.com
Filings down for county, state
COURT OF OPINION
Jeffco sees 51 percent decrease in new foreclosures By Amy Woodward
awoodward@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
Around 35 community members came to the premiere Courtz-A-Palooza, listening to a panel of lawyers and city officials answer questions about the municipal court system. Photo by Crystal Anderson
Courtz-A-Palooza informs community Inaugural event shows ins and outs of Arvada courts By Crystal Anderson
canderson@ coloradocommunitymedia.com Arvada’s municipal court system was demystified for community members at the premiere Courtz-A-Palooza, Jan. 23. Courtz-a-palooza was held the afternoon of Jan. 23, in the Arvada City Hall Atrium, 8101 Ralston Road., as a way to inform the community about the procedures, challenges and activities involved in the Arvada municipal court system. ”Whether along the lines of customer service, how we handle defendants, or how the court is viewed, it’s important we balance the values of the community,” Arvada Judge, David Cooke said. The event was held in two parts, the first was a slew of presentations about
the court’s customers, the goals of the court, fine collection, court values and processes, among other items answering questions the community may have regarding the court processes. For Arvada Resident, Lila Schow, who came to the event to learn about the court system, the friendly, amenable system the city ran was surprising. “It’s good to know how the city works,” Lila Schow, an Arvada resident said, ”How nice and willing to work with people the city is really surprised me, I felt like I walked into a room of kindergarten teachers.” During the second portion of CourtzA-Palooza, a panel of administrators, including Mayor Marc Williams, Mayor Pro Tem Mark McGoff, Arvada Police Chief Wick and other attorneys and city officials. The panel answered questions and fostered discussion about the court system today, and the future of the Arvada court system.
“An institution can only survive if it adheres to its rules and community is that institution,” McGoff said regarding Arvada and the purpose of the Municipal Court. Around 35 people attended the event which was also used as a building block for court staff. “We asked you here to learn from you,” Cooke said. “This was info-gathering, we were learning from stakeholders, customers, lawyers, police — you’ve got to learn new stuff to be innovative.” While the first of it’s kind in Arvada, Cooke said they may host more CourtzA-Paloozas, as the community approach was effective and engaging. “The city as never utilized this strategy or approach,” he said. “This [event] shows the commitment of the city and the community to do this [the municipal court] with excellence.”
Rising star sweeps stock show Arvada Equestrian Center first-time riders win big at Stock Show By Crystal Anderson canderson@ coloradocommunity media.com
Shenia Beyer, 14, has had a deep passion for showing horses since she was two-years-old, and on Jan. 21, that passion came to fruition at the National Western Stock Show. ”She’s been preparing for this since she was 2,” said Robin Beyer,
Sheniah Beyer, 14, trots in her first class in the Open Horse Show at the National Western Stock Show, Jan. 21. Photo by Crystal Anderson Shenia’s step-mom and barn manager at A Rising Star. ”We’re proud of her for taking the responsibility to be here
and be a high honor-roll student. ” The Open Horse Show was the morning of Jan. 21 at the Na-
tional Western Stock Show, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver. The competition showed the best horses from across the nation in three types of classes: the English pleasure class, the English equitation class, and the English youth or adult pleasure class. This is the first Stock Show experience for Shenia, one she was both excited for and not expecting. ”I was excited more for the experience, it’s weird, different, the whole atmosphere (of the show), but it’s amazing — not what I expected at all,” Shenia said
after her first class. Over the course of the day, Shenia and her horse, Shimmer, a 13 year-old white Andalusian, walked, trotted and cantered in three classes and two championships. Each time she was being judged on the enjoyability of the ride, her skills as a rider, her form, control and balance with her horse. ”These horses are worked at least five days a week,” said Kelly Bell, Shenia and Shimmer’s trainer. ”They practice all the elements in a Show continues on Page 3
Jefferson County finished last year with a 51 percent decrease in new foreclosure fillings, according to a report by the Office of the Jefferson County Public Trustee. The decrease is significant since the 2009 spike which ended TOP 5 aReas wITh the year with forehIghesT RaTes 4,027 closures. The county began Countywide, the foreclosure their statistical rate in Jeffco for 2013 was 1 in record in 1999 every 3,476. but 2009 could Indian Hills have been the 1 in every 498 largest foreConifer closure intakes 1 in every 1,220 the county has Wheat Ridge seen said Mar1 in every 1,959 garet ChapPine man, Jeffco 1 in every 2,024 public trustee. Evergreen “We got rid 1 in every 2,622 of these really — Source data from ill-considered RealtyTrac loans written in 2005 when you didn’t have to show income,” Chapman said. “It’s very significant because it shows the economy is recovering, the housing market is recovering.” The state saw a 54 percent drop in foreclosure activity since 2012, with a foreclosure rate of 1 in every 2,577 housing units, according to a report released by RealtyTrac. Of the top five counties with the highest foreclosure rates — such as Teller and Montrose counties — Jeffco is not listed among them. “I knew it was going to drop, just not that fast,” Chapman said. Improved loan qualifications have added to the recovery of the housing market, along with shorter sales times, but as far as county reductions, Jeffco has always stood out from the rest because it never saw foreclosures as high as neighboring counties such as Arapahoe which peaked at 6,243 in the year 2009. Another contributing factor to Jeffco’s lower foreclosure rates could be a landuse factor with 232,108 acres of land in the county dedicated to recreation and conservation out of 494,660 total acres, according to Jeffco Open Space figures. “We just don’t have a lot of room to build, there just isn’t space,” Chapman said.
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.