August 27, 2020
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
GoldenTranscript.net
VOLUME 154 | ISSUE 38
Golden shuts down all Clear Creek activities Indefinite closure after police contact over 900 about social distancing A new freshman poses for a photo outside Elm Hall after moving in on Aug. 20.
PHOTO BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO
Mines makes masked move-in Students return to Golden campus for unprecedented year BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
There was a point when Colorado School of Mines freshman Matthew Micha wasn’t sure if he should come
to campus this year. But as he walked around with a new friend on the morning of Aug. 14 with new friend Oliver Noyes after moving to campus earlier in the week, he said he was happy to be starting his freshman year there. “I sort of considered taking a gap year when all the schools started closing,” Micha said. “But I was really excited about coming to Mines, even if it is digital honestly.” Still, Micha admitted to being a
little nervous about coming to college in the time of COVID-19, even as he said he is ultimately optimistic all will be OK. That optimism seemed to be shared by many of the freshman who ventured to campus despite the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and the impact it might have on college campuses. “I have hopes,” said Noyes, who is SEE MINES, P6
Some Stern advice from Jefferson County County Clerk and Recorder talking mail-in ballot system nationally BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
County clerk and recorders aren’t usually in the business of chasing headlines. But in the past few months Jeffco Clerk and Recorder George Stern has been a subject of stories in not only local newspapers SEE ELECTION, P8
Jeffco Clerk and Recorder George Stern stands next to a ballot sorting machine, which is stored in the basement of the Jeffco Elections Office in Golden. PHOTO BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
STAFF REPORT
The summer tubing season appears to becoming to a premature end in Golden. On Aug. 20, Golden City Manager Jason Slowinski signed an administrative order prohibiting the public from accessing Clear Creek in the city. The city’s previous policy had been to allow those participating in recreation activities to legally get out of the water at Vanover Park if they had entered the creek in unincorporated Jefferson County. In addition to the administrative order, Golden Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick has also enacted temporary waterway restrictions prohibiting the operation of vessels in Clear Creek, including all inner tubes, belly boats and other single-chambered flotation devices. City staff made decided to reverse course and close the creek to recreation because of an increasing lack of compliance with social distance rules observed among those participating in creek activities, according to the release. On the weekend of Aug. 15 and 16, Golden Police and park rangers made over 900 contacts with people who they observed not following COVID-19-related city mandates. “We are seeing an increase in individuals trying to access the creek within the city limits, a decrease in those wearing masks, and a lot of gatherings that we presume would be in violation of public health orders,” Slowinski said in the city’s release. “This past weekend was far worse than each of the previous weekends and I believe that the status quo is not acceptable and more aggressive action is necessary.” The portions of the creek located in SEE CREEK, P8