9 minute read
LOCAL
BY LIAM ADAMS LADAMS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Adams County and its municipalities were among the highest growing areas in Colorado, new 2020 Census data shows.
Adams County added 77,969 new people between 2010 and 2020, a nearly 18% increase. It ranked the fourth highest in Colorado for counties with the greatest numeric population growth. Weld County was fifth on the list because of its 72,513 new people, a 30% increase, according to 2020 Census data organized by the Redistricting Data Hub.
Adams County’s total growth is related to the population increases in its municipalities. There are 23,095 more people in Thornton, 16,505 in Commerce City, 10,203 in Westminster, 6,731 in Brighton, and 2,342 in Northglenn since 2010. Fort Lupton added 578 new people.
Thornton was sixth, Commerce City was ninth, and Westminster was 17th for the top 20 municipalities in Colorado with the greatest numeric population growth, the Redistricting Data Hub reported.
The U.S. Census Bureau released the first detailed population counts from the 2020 Census on Aug. 12. The data the Redistricting Data Hub provided has not been validated against Colorado’s redistricting body, the organization said. The recent data release includes population, demographic, and age information for counties and cities.
Forty-one percent of people in Adams County identify as Hispanic or Latino and 46% identify as White alone. According to the Washington Post, Adams County is one of 65 counties in the U.S. that became majority-minority in the past decade.
Thirty-six percent of people in Thornton, 23% in Westminster, 37% in Northglenn, 43% in Brighton, 49% in Commerce City, and 55% in Fort Lupton identify as Hispanic or Latino. The population of people who identify as White alone in each city is 51% in Thornton, 64% in Westminster, 52% in Northglenn, 49% in Brighton, 40% in Commerce City, and 40% in Fort Lupton.
Seven fire departments in the north Denver metro region received grant funding to purchase and install emergency access technology at commercial buildings.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is giving $1.25 million to the Thornton, Westminster, Federal Heights, and Brighton fire departments and the North Metro, Adams County, and South Adams County fire rescue districts to implement a new electronic rapid access system, according to a Thornton Fire Department news release.
The departments will use the funding to purchase small metal boxes, called Knox Boxes, to install at businesses that opens doors. Firefighters remotely access the boxes in emergencies to enter the buildings.
The North Area Fire Marshalls said in the news release, “Addressing fire and life safety issues is a top priority for our departments, and we are excited to be the largest regional effort to implement an Electronic Rapid Access System. This system reinforces our commitment to our community in providing professional and exceptional services for life and fire safety.”
Several North area fire departments have already started retrofitting a total of 6,400 businesses – at no additional cost to the departments.
Commerce City man faces murder charges after shooting
STAFF REPORT
BRIGHTON -- A 27-year-old Commerce City man faces first-degree and attempted first-degree murder after an Aug. 3 incident near Fairfax Park.
The 17th Judicial District Office filed the charges against Andrew Reineke Aug. 16. His next court appearance is at 9 a.m. Oct. 15 in Adams County District Court Division G. The DA also filed first-degree assault, menacing and crime of violence charges.
Authorities said Reineke shot and killed a 65-year-old man before taking a shot at a Commerce City police officer. A statement from Commerce City officials said six officers shot Reineke several times. Reineke went to an area hospital for treatment of several gunshot wounds.
The original call was for shots fired in the 77100 block of Grape Street. Officers found the deceased victim when they arrived at the scene. Officers then found a potential suspect in the 6900 block of Fairfax Drive. A city statement said while officers were talking to that person, another man started shooting at officers.
A bullet struck an officer’s sleeve; no officers were injured. Detectives searched the area for additional suspects but found none.
There’s no place like hope.
BECOME A CASA VOLUNTEER.
Children in foster care who have a CASA volunteer are more likely to succeed in school and adjust to change. And they’re half as likely to re-enter the foster care system later. As a volunteer, you can make all the di erence for a child who has experienced abuse or neglect in your community. Get involved, and change a child’s story.
Folk Music Legends
Saturday • October 2 Paramount Theatre
BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT
Just before the first day of school last week, Adams 14 administrators went out knocking on doors looking for students who had not yet registered for school.
New Superintendent Karla Loria was able to reach eight of the 12 students she was searching for, and by the end of the week, she had reached and enrolled all 12.
But despite the efforts, the district is starting the school year with about 5% fewer students than last year, another large decrease adding to a continual decline in enrollment made worse by the pandemic.
Loria has a plan. She is launching a marketing campaign that includes five billboards to advertise the district and help attract students back to Adams 14 schools.
“It’s asking, or inviting, our families outside of our district or inside of our district to enroll so we can start capturing students and attracting students from other districts as well,” Loria told the board.
The school board unanimously approved the $43,500 advertising project. The district will use $10,000 from a state grant that allows marketing of career and technical offerings at the high school and will also use money Suncor Air Monitoring Print Ads.pdf 2 8/10/21 10:38 PMfrom the communications budget.
Last year, Adams 14’s official student count was 6,066 students. On the first day of school this year, the district had about 5,300 students enrolled, which went up to about 5,743 students by the end of the week. That’s down from more than 7,000 just a few years ago.
Most metro area districts have seen a declining trend in the number of students, in part because of declining birth rates and the increased cost of living in the metro area. Currently, Loria pointed out, more than 30% of Adams 14 students also choose to enroll in other districts.
The Adams 14 district, which is under a state order to improve its performance, has experienced significant teacher turnover and community mistrust stemming in part from an investigation completed in 2014 that found discrimination against Hispanic students, who make up the majority of the district. Neighboring districts are just a short drive away and at least one has specifically marketed to students in Adams 14 in previous years.
Colorado funds school districts based on the number of students enrolled, so fewer students also means fewer dollars.
All the billboards will be in both English and Spanish and will be up for about eight weeks.
The first billboard, located at I-270 and I-76, features a student in a space suit with the words “Ready to visit Mars?” It’s meant to promote a new space STEM program that is offered at the newly built Alsup Elementary school. The school is working with the Aldrin Family Foundation on the curriculum.
The other billboards will highlight the district’s bilingual and dual language offerings — the district launched its first dual language program at one elementary school this fall — as well as various career and technical programs offered at Adams City High School.
The high school, which like the district is under state orders to improve, has focused on creating what officials call “pathways,” helping connect students with careers and giving them a leg up on experience or credentials toward jobs or degrees in those industries. The high school culinary arts team won a state competition in 2019, earning the students thousands of dollars in scholarships.
High school seniors were among the students targeted by district home visits last week, Loria said, and the reasons they hadn’t enrolled are complex. with the family foundation for Buzz Aldrin. It really shows our students here in Commerce City, that if you study hard and work hard you can go to Mars or the moon. It’s exciting and awesome that STEM is being brought here. I can’t wait to see the results,” said Senator Moreno.
Shelli Brunswick CEO of the Space Foundation and was formally in the U.S. Air Force working primarily on space. She also attended the event educating and inspiring students to what the future holds.
“This program is amazing because the growing global space economy is $447 billion. And it’s going to grow exponentially in the next 20 years to be over $3 trillion. We want these students to be able to be part of that growing space ecosystem. And that includes jobs right here on Earth, whether it’s entrepreneurs, business leaders, artists or astronauts, and rocket scientists,” said Brunswick.
Brunswick said the Space foundation wants to be a partner to help create that space inspires curriculum, so students can find a career path.
“So now there’s a U.S. Space Force and all these students who are here today, can be called guardians, and they can join the U.S. Space Force. They can operate satellites in space and protect all those channels of commerce. Just think as we go on to the Moon and Mars, we’re going to need those guardians to protect all of us so that we’re safe,” said Brunswick.
CCND Air Monitoring is now providing continuous air monitoring information for the Commerce City and North Denver communities.
Learn more at ccnd-air.com.
Mobile app coming soon.
