SENTINEL EXPRESS C O M M E R C E
VOLUME 34 32
C I T Y
50cI
SSUE 48 16 ISSUE
WEEK, OF APRIL 21, 2022 TUESDAY NOVEMBER 24, 2020
New COVID-19ICE restrictions will prohibit indoor dining, personal14gatherings COLD EAGLE Adams gets
another opportunity State board to Adams 14: Come back with co-management plan BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With temperatures in the high 30s and gusty winds to match, it’s little wonder that Adams City’s Cesar Garcia sticks his hands inside his jersey before his leg of the 4-by-800-meter relay at the Norsemen Invitational April 13 in Westminster. He, Maximus Gutierrez, Alex Myers and Aaron Ramos-Lopez PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH finished ninth in a time of 11:08.04.
DENVER -- The Colorado State Board of Education told Adams 14 School District officials to present a comanagement plan next month. The vote from the state board was unanimous. A subcommittee recommended a district reorganization and closing Adams City High School. But after the April 14 meeting, closing the school apparently is not an option. Instead, the district has to tell the state board what it wants to manage and what it wants an outside firm to manage. In 2018, the state ordered the Adams 14 district to hire an outside management firm for at least four years. The local school board fired the management group, MGT Consulting, this winter. “We need a strong, clear contract,” said Superintendent Karla Loria. “There won’t be anything shady in there, I guarantee you. Having a clear contract and a clear scope of the work will help us as a district. We need assistance. We need the right assistance.” Adams 14’s test scores have been low for several years, so much so that the state had to intervene. A state review panel determined the district cannot reverse its present situation on its own. The district began looking for a new management firm several weeks ago. One unidentified firm expressed interest. It will be up to Loria to present the recommendation to the board, and it’s up to the Adams 14 board to make the decision. SEE OPPORTUNITY, P4
By Ellis Arnold
county is required to follow based on the severity of a county’s local virus spread. The dial grew out of the state’s safer-athome order — the policy that came after according to astay-at-home news release from the the statewide order this Commerce City Police Department, spring and allowed numerous types ofthe deaths were businesses tolinked reopen.to ingesting suspect fentanyl. The state recently switched to color identifiers — levels blue, yellow and Stiffer penalties orange rather thanwould numbered levelspenal— to House Bill 1326 increase ties for distributing, making, dispensavoid confusion. Until Nov. 17, level red ing or selling fentanyl. Those found meant a stay-at-home order. Now, levelto possess with the intent to distribute red —than “severe risk” —ofisthe thedrug secondmore 50 grams could
Fentanyl bill passes first test as overdoses skyrocket in North Metro area
A long line of cars outside the city of Brighton’s rapid testing site at Riverdale Regional Park. The site has had to close early many days in recent weeks due to high demand. Adams County’s 14-day test positivity rate on April 13. Department. was 15.9 percent, as of Nov. 17, accordingCommittee to Tri-County Health Afterrates morewere than 11 hours of testiBrighton and Commerce City’s test positivity both higher than mony on April 12, the bill passed 8-3 13 percent. Forty-five people in Brighton and 29 in Commerce City have with an added amendment that makes died from COVID-19 related health issues. To limit possessing the spreadmore of COVID-19, knowingly than 1 gram of fentanyl or a fentanyl com-and at least 15 counties moved to tighter restrictions that prohibits indoor pound for personal use a felony. Adding personal gatherings.
Addiction experts say treatment, not jail, the best way to handle problem BYLUKEZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A bill that raises penalties for possession and distribution of fentanyl passed Colorado’s House Judiciary
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the amendment passed on a 7-4 vote. The legislation comes as fentanylrelated deaths skyrocketed across the North Metro area inby 2021. Photo Belen Ward The Office of the Coroner for Adams and Broomfield counties reported
Colorado Community Media
As Denver metro counties continue to
inch deaths closer towhere local stay-at-home orders that fentanyl toxicity is included in the primary cause of death under Colorado’s system of coronavirusalmost tripled in Westminster from related restrictions, the state announced eight in 2020 to 22 in 2021, from four to a newinlevel of rules that indoor nine Northglenn andprohibits from one to dining and personal gatherings — a three in Brighton. change that applies to the majorityfrom of the In Thornton, deaths decreased 15 to 13 between 2020 and 2021 and in in Denver metro area and many counties Commerce City from six to four. other regions. However, in Commerce City, deaths in The state’s COVID-19 dial,recorded which hasn 2022 surpassed the number been in effect since September, the setin 2021 in one day. On Feb. 20, fiveisadults of different levels of restrictions thatand each Commerce City were found dead,
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