May 22, 2014
50 cents Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 148, Issue 24
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Railroading into modern times Museum exhibit explores freight rail’s continued relevancy By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com The Colorado Railroad Museum opened its latest exhibit during a special reception on May 9, celebrating what remains one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways of moving goods, the railroad. The third installment for the Railroad Workers series reveals a detailed and interactive look on workers and railroads from 1970
to present while displaying a lifelike simulator model Ski Train locomotive. “The main purpose of this specific exhibit is to emphasize that railroads are not history, they’re not a thing of the past,” said Lauren Giebler, curator at Colorado Railroad Museum. “Railroads are a multi-million dollar business in America.” While most Class I locomotives merged into five large companies, the U.S. still depends on railroads to transport goods for both large and small businesses. In a year, trains move 2.1 billion apples, 65 million tons of corn and 34 million tons of wheat, all while employing over 100,000 na-
tionwide, according to the American Association of Railroads. The exhibit showcases the vital role that railroads play in transportation while underlining the importance of jobs such as the 3,000 various positions just in Colorado. “If you want to grow up to be railroad engineer, you can,” Giebler said. As technology advanced through the decades, railroads began incorporating new techniques to address repair and maintenance instead of relying on section men to walk the track. “Their constantly collecting Times continues on Page 5
“Railroading Now” is the newest exhibit and third installment in the Colorado Rail workers series at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. Photo by Amy Woodward
Tensions rise in negotiations with district
GOLDEN GAMES MEANS WHITE WATER
Jeffco School District negotiations remain uncertain By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com
Grady Kellogg, 18, warms up for the 4th annual Golden Games in Clear Creek on Friday, May 16. For three days, several river sporting events were held including races and how-to clinics which kicked off the water sporting season. Photo by Amy Woodward
A relationship forged over decades is falling apart. Through federal mediation, negotiating teams from the Jefferson County School District and the Jefferson County Educators Association (JCEA) agreed on a memorandum of understanding May 8, but a later amendment raised concerns the agreement won’t be ratified. Both sides said such a breakdown in negotiation had not occurred in recent memory. “I’m hoping the board will go ahead and ratify the agreement, and we can move forward together,” JCEA President Ami Prichard said. Shortly after the agreement was made, the board of education asked for a provision in the teacher compensation clause, asking that nonprobationary teachers rated ineffective or partially ineffective be ineligible for step increases, which are increases based on years of teaching experience. Prichard said the JCEA was in favor of teacher evaluation, but recent board decisions had raised red flags among some teachers regarding the amendment’s impacts. After speaking with its counsel, the JCEA negotiating team presented the agreement to its board without the amendment, and it was signed. The agreement was then voted on and approved by 88 percent of the association’s voting
Tension continues on Page 5 POSTAL ADDRESS
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(ISSN 0746-6382)
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