Golden Transcript 0225

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February 25, 2016

VOTING STARTS NEXT WEEK!

VOLUME 150 | ISSUE 12 | 50¢

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Crossing sees three deaths in three years ‘It’s crazy at this corner,’ says one person who works near intersection By Crystal Anderson canderson@colorado communitymedia.com A teddy bear, a rosary taped to a signal pole and a large collection of flowers, small stuffed animals and prayer candles form three memorials along west Sheridan Boulevard at 80th Avenue, in remembrance of three people killed by drunken drivers. The most recent, Monica Zapata, 40, a single mother of three, was killed at about 10 p.m. on Valentine’s Day as she was driving west on 80th Avenue in Arvada. Police say a drunken driver sped through a red light, hitting her car, injuring her and her 15-year-old daughter, Jessica. Zapata died shortly after. Jessica suffered minor injuries and “will be healing with therapy,” according to a GoFundMe site set up to help care for Zapata’s children. “Our condolences to your family,” reads a card for Zapata, with a rosary of white, red, black and blue beads taped to a signal pole. “We don’t know you, but it’s hard to see bad things happen to good people.” Below the card are four unburned prayer candles.

People swear allegiance to the U.S. in Denver ceremony By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Zapata

Hundreds of people sat smiling in rows of folding chairs set up in a large room at the History Colorado Center in downtown Denver. The first few rows were filled with 49 of the United States’ newest citizens. In honor of Presidents’ Day, the 49 new citizens joined nearly 20,000 others like them across the country to take the Oath of Allegiance at more than 180 naturalization ceremonies held between Feb. 12 and Feb. 22 by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In — immigrants Colorado, naturalized in the Immigration U.S. last year Judge Melanie Corrin — administered immigrants the oath on naturalized in Feb. 17. Colorado last year The new citizens — number represented of new citizens 25 different who take the Oath countries of Allegiance per from six of the naturalization world’s seven ceremony put on by continents. the U.S. Citizenship They came and Immigration from cities Services in Denver throughout the Denver— number metro area, of naturalization including ceremonies held each Arvada, week in Denver Englewood, Lakewood, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster and Wheat Ridge. Some traveled from Colorado Springs and Fort Collins. No matter what country they originated from, all had to complete a series of steps to gain citizenship, said Andy Lambrecht, director of the Denver field office of citizen and immigration services. They each have their own story and their own reason for pursuing citizenship, he added. The first most important action on Feb. 17 was to raise their right hands and recite the oath, said Scott Koenigsberg, a supervisory immigration services officer. The second, he added, was to register to vote.

BY THE NUMBERS

729,995

Accident continues on Page 7

To learn more about Monica Zapata, who was killed by an alleged drunken driver, turn to PAGE 7

Ceremony welcomes 49 new citizens

9,657

New mementos were added to older memorials like this one at the corner of Sheridan Boulevard and 80th Avenue after Westminster mother of three, Monica Zapata, was killed Feb. 14 by an alleged drunken driver who ran a red light. The intersection has been the sight of three fatal accidents in three years. Photo by Crystal Anderson

NEW TO THE NATION

40-70

2-3

NATURE STARS IN GOLDEN FILM FEST Filmmakers, from left, Nils Aucante, Sellus Wilder and Chris Summerfield stand with Colorado Environmental Film Festival awards. For more about the festival, held in Golden last week, turn to PAGE 15. Photo by Christy Steadman

Wendy Zhou, left, receives her American flag and program from, from left, Karen Bartos, Marcy Kimminau and Jill Freeman who are members of the Golden-based Mount Lookout Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Zhou and 48 new American citizens were recognized at a special President’s Day naturalization ceremony Feb. 17 at the History Colorado Center in downtown Denver. Read more stories of recently-naturalized citizens on PAGE 10. Photo by Christy Steadman

GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382) 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: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 5 p.m. | Classifieds: Tue. 8 a.m. | Obits: Tue. 12 p.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.

Citizens continues on Page 10


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