September 11, 2014 VOLU M E 1 4 8 | I S S UE 40 | 5 0 ¢
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Senate candidates go head-to-head Grand Junction debate features Udall, Gardner By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com Although President Barack Obama isn’t on the November ballot this year, he was very much a part of a U.S. Senate race debate that was held in Grand Junction on Sept. 6. The president’s name dominated much of the fall’s first debate between Democratic Sen. Mark Udall and Congressman Cory Gardner, his Republican opponent in a race that is of pivotal political importance nationally. Gardner spent the early part of the debate hammering away at Udall for a voting record that is closely linked to the agenda of the Obama administration, which has long been mired in low approval ratings. Those attacks included Udall’s support
for the Affordable Care Act, Obama’s signature piece of legislation and a law that Gardner focused on much of the debate. “Barack Obama and Mark Udall have put tremendous stress on our country,” Gardner said. But Udall defended his support of Obamacare and said that putting millions more people on health insurance rolls and doing away with insurance companies’ restrictions on pre-existing conditions has been a good thing for the country. The senator also said Obamacare is better than the Republican alternative. “We had a system of health care in this country that discriminated against women and your party has refused to take action,” Udall said. While Gardner tried to tie Obama to Udall throughout the debate, Udall responded toward the end of the debate with an assault on Gardner’s record on women’s issues — something the Udall campaign has been doing since the start of the campaign.
Udall blasted Gardner over a congressional record that the senator said has fallen short on issues of importance to women. Udall highlighted Gardner’s previous votes to de-fund Planned Parenthood and Gardner’s prior support for the socalled “personhood” amendment, which would have resulted in an essential ban on abortion. “Why are you getting in-between women and their doctors?” Udall said. Gardner responded by pivoting to the economy and its impact on women. He also took issue with Udall’s advertising onslaught against Gardner’s record on women’s issues. “Millions of dollars of his message have simply and only been about social issues,” Gardner said. The two are locked in a tight race that could have an impact on the balance of power in the Senate. Democrats currently hold an edge, but that can change if Republicans flip a handful of seats this fall, including Udall’s.
Saving lives through blood drives By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com For 10 years, the Bonfils bloodmobile has pulled into
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OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 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, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. GE T SOCIAL WITH US
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the Golden Library’s west parking lot every 56 days to fill up on blood. “We love partnering like this,” said Rebecca Winning, manager of communications for the Jefferson County Public Library or JCPL. It’s a partnership that has supplied 1,442 units of blood, saving 4,326 lives from the Golden Library site, according to Bonfils which calculates one blood donation to be used on three people. “We are so pleased,” said public relations specialist Dianna Hemphill on Bonfils 10 year partnership with the Golden Public Library. During Bonfils partnership with JCPL which includes other library sites located throughout southern and western Jeffco such as Columbine Library and Stanley Lake, a total of 12,392 units of blood has been collected in the last 10 years. The Bonfils Blood Center has been an integral part in Colorado’s health care system for the past 71 years since it’s opening in 1943. Named after Belle Bonfils, the mother of Helen G. Bonfils, a philanthropist and co-founder of the Bonfils blood bank, the center was the first of its kind in Denver. World War II is historically credited as the catalyst that brought awareness to the importance of community blood supply which was seen as a new social responsibility. “Healthy people are the only source of blood,” said Diana Hemphill, public relations specialist for Bonfils Blood Center in Denver. Each year, the center collects 143,000 units of blood annually. It’s a source that is always in high demand with red blood cells having a shelf life of only 42 days, Hemphill said. “It is definitely used on a daily basis,” she said with donations being used for surgeries, transfusions and other medical procedures. Keeping a fresh supply for emergencies is also a primary mission for the drives. Blood bank supplies were used during the 2012 Aurora Theatre Shooting which killed 12 people and injured about 70 people. “It’s genuinely an act of self-
The two candidates also sparred on other issues, including energy development, Social Security and gridlock in Washington D.C. Interestingly, the two candidates were not asked about immigration reform — an issue that continues to go nowhere in Congress. Neither Gardner nor Udall asked each other about immigration when they were given the opportunity to ask their own questions toward the end of the debate. Mostly, the debate featured two Washington elected officials attacking each other’s records. After Gardner attacked Udall on issues that included water rights and homeland security, Udall mocked the congressman’s constant assault on his record. “I’m curious what problem facing our nation I haven’t caused,” Udall said to cheers from his supporters. Gardner’s base reacted similarly to the congressman’s response. “Me too.”
‘There is a high correlation between job growth and population change.’ Elizabeth Garner
Reasons to feel crowded
Metro-area population at 3 million By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Theresa Worsham, sustainability coordinator for the city of Golden from the community and economic development department, was one of nearly 40 generous donors during the Bonfils Blood Drive at the Golden Library’s west parking lot on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Photo by Amy Woodward
DID YOU KNOW? Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a transfusion of donated blood. — Source: Bonfils Bloods Center lessness,” said repeat donor, Terry Ploski of Golden. Sitting on an empty seat on the bloodmobile bus during the latest Bonfils blood drive on Wednesday, Sept. 3, Ploski said he donates blood at the library every two months. “It’s a life-long habit,” he said. “I’ve always made a commitment to donate.” Ploski confirmed that his understanding of the importance of blood supply came from his experiences as a combat medic with the 82nd airborne division
during his service with the U.S. Army in the 1970s. It’s about saving lives, making a difference and enriching the community, Ploski said. Nearly 40 people signed up for the drive including Theresa Worsham, sustainability coordinator for the city of Golden. She has been donating her blood off and on and for the last 20 years, usually two to three times a year. “It’s just a real easy way to give back and there’s no reason not to,” Worsham said. To learn more about donor eligibility requirements visit www.bonfils.org. The next blood drive at the Golden Library west parking lot, 1019 10th St., will be Wednesday, Nov. 12. To schedule an appointment call 303363-2300.
The population of the Denver metro area was expected to exceed 3 million last month, according to state estimates. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs uses the month of July to forecast population numbers annually. The department estimated that the Denver metro area’s population on July 1 would have been 2,994,534 and would have passed the 3 million mark in August. Elizabeth Garner, a state demographer, said the average monthly increase in population in the Denver metro area is 3,551, meaning its population reached 3 million in mid-August. Garner said the growing population can be attributed to a healthy economy in the Denver area. “There is a high correlation between job growth and population change,” she said. “We’re toward the top in the U.S. in terms of recovery and growing jobs.” Garner said population numbers in Larimer and Weld counties are growing at an even faster rate than the Denver metro area, thanks to high job growth in the oil and gas industry there. But other parts of the state, such as the Western Slope and parts of the southeast, are losing residents. Garner said that can attributed to jobs leaving those parts of the state and not coming back. “If you don’t have a job, it’s hard to stay,” she said.