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February 20, 2014

50 cents Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 148, Issue 11

A publication of

goldentranscript.net

Public Health looks to improve county lifestyle By Amy Woodward

awoodward@ coloradocommunitymedia.com Jefferson County Public Health is showing dedication to the well-being of county residents through a community health improvement plan. The plan, CHIP for short, is based on a recently completed health assessment that gave public health workers a personalized look into the county’s health status. The undertaking took a little over a year but upon completion Jeffco Public Health released a 76-page county health assessment detailing the components of health

ECONOMICS OF HUNGER • In 2011, 12.2 percent of Jeffco children under the age of 18 lived in families below the federal poverty line, i.e., a family of four makes $22,000 a year or less. • A family of four can make almost $44,000 and still qualify for reduced lunches. • An estimated 31 percent of Jeffco students qualify for a free or reduced lunch. and reporting the latest county health stats including triumphs and failings. “We have a lot of work to do to educate the community of what we need to be doing and work together so that we can im-

prove our rates,” said Ana Marin Cachu, epidemiologist for Jeffco Public Health. Obesity rates for adults in Jeffco have grown 58 percent in the last 10 years, according to the assessment. “What we know is that chronic disease in the population is going up very quickly and Jefferson County is not the exception,” Cachu said. “Our obesity rates are lower than the nation but that doesn’t mean they are not going up.” Diabetes in adults has grown an alarming 89 percent as well in the last 10 years. Cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes are the top three leading causes of death for Jeffco citizens.

But as Cachu pointed out, data collected revealed the county’s health problems but did little to provide any solutions. That is where CHIP can help improve things with the help of many county partners including local hospitals, Jeffco Center for Mental Health, Jeffco Open Space, grocery stores and local recreation centers. “We really looked at what are the underlying risk factors for these diseases,” Erika Jerme, health planner at Jeffco Public Health said. After meeting with county partners and receiving community input, Health continues on Page 17

W Rail wins awards for project of year Public works association recognizes FasTrack’s first project By Clarke Reader

creader@ coloradocommunitymedia.com

Officer Mark Donohue, CSM Officer Cody Schroeder, Derek Skene, Chief Bill Kilpatrick. Officer Donohue and Officer Shroeder received the Life Saving Award after both officers sprung into action to save Derek Skene after he suffered from a heart attack at a gym. Both officers were off-duty and working out at the same gym when they heard the announcement “Code Blue Treadmills” over the fitness PA system. They started for the treadmill area where they found Skene faced down on the floor. Officer Donohue performed CPR while Officer Schroeder administered an AED. Photo by Amy Woodward

Banquet recognizes Golden’s finest Police officers, staff attend ceremony to celebrate great work By Amy Woodward

awoodward@ coloradocommunitymedia.com It was a night filled with gratitude and modest pride as 11 police officers received awards for their outstanding work last year during the 11th Annual Awards Banquet Wednesday night on Feb. 12. Volunteers, a Colorado School of Mines Officer and Park Ranger Roger Tremont were also presented awards including the department’s dispatchers.

In total, 14 awards were handed out including the Employee of the Year award which was accepted by Sergeant Marcus Williams. “I’m proud to be the police chief here in Golden because this is a great community, we have incredibly talented people who work here and it’s an honor to be the police chief,” Bill Kilpatrick, police chief for the Golden Police Department said. “We do great work.” The Life Saving Award was given to four officers in two unrelated incidents including saving a 13-year-old girl who accidentally hanged herself on a swing set and two off-duty officers who saved a man’s life at a gym after he collapsed with sudden cardiac arrest. “You don’t do things for an award but more for being proud that he’s alive and

here with us today,” Colorado School of Mines Officer Cody Schroeder said. “It’s a good feeling knowing that what we did saved a life.” Sergeant Matt Porter and Chaplain Kevin Shive were given the Professional Conduct Award for reuniting a homeless man with his family in Nebraska. Although all of the award recipients went above and beyond the call of duty, Sgt. Porter’s team effort with Chaplain Shive to get the homeless man into a treatment facility and back home with his family was exceptional. “People don’t think this is what police officer’s do,” Chief Kilpatrick said. “This is generally what police officer’s do but what Matt did, what Chaplain Shive did,

The W Rail took home two top prizes from transportation and design experts, highlighting the benefits the new line has brought to the region. The W Rail received the 2013 Project of the Year Award and the top transportation project of the year for a large community from the Colorado chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA). “We love to be recognized for all the hard work that went into the project,” said Brenda Tierney, public information manager with RTD. “We’re very excited that it’s been so successful and that people are noticing.” On hand to accept the awards were Rick Clarke, FasTracks assistant general manager of capital programs; Paul von Fay, design manager on the West Rail Line; and RTD Board Directors Bruce Daly and Lorraine Anderson. “It’s great to be honored by this association,” von Fay said. “A lot of the time project of the year doesn’t go to a transportation effort.” The APWA also recognized the City of Lakewood among its statewide winners for bike overpasses at Wadsworth Boulevard and Kipling Street built as part of the line, according to information provided by RTD. The W Rail will also receive a 2013 Project of the Year Award on Feb. 20 from the Colorado chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), the international professional organization that promotes women in transportation.

Banquet continues on Page 17 Rail continues on Page 17

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GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT

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OFFICE: 110 N. Rubey Dr, Unit 150, Golden, CO 80403 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Golden Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 110 N. Rubey Dr., Unit 150, Golden, CO 80403. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 110 N. Rubey Dr, Unit 150, Golden, CO 80403 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. | Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Tues. 12 p.m.

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