June 25, 2015 VOLUME 149 | ISSUE 29 | 50¢
2015 WINNERS
INSIDE! 2015 WINNERS GUIDE GoldenTranscript.net J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
College student cycles to document lives of others Goal is to create ‘national empathy’
FOLLOW STERLING STOWE’S TREK
By Christy Steadman
csteadman@colorado communitymedia.com
On the first day of Sterling Stowe’s journey, traffic rushed past him on a busy highway in the pouring rain. And he got three flat tires on his bicycle. “I was really discouraged,” he said. “I thought, ‘I still have three more months and I can barely make it through the first day.’” But he did make it.
Stowe will be periodically checking in with The Golden Transcript to provide updates, photos and a tracking map. So look for his stories here every few weeks. But you can also follow his journey through social media: Blog: www.pursuingamerica.wordpress. com Facebook: www.facebook.com/pursuingamerica Twitter: www.twitter.com/pursuingamerica Stowe’s documentary is called “Pursuing America: Stories from the Seat of a Bike.” The trip and production of the documentary is self-funded. To contribute, a crowdfunding site has been set up at www. indiegogo.com/projects/pursuing-america.
POSTAL ADDRESS
Stowe stopped at a grocery store to buy some food and plan the route for the rest of the day, and discovered Neil Branson through a website that helps the cycling community find lodging. Stowe biked the 20 miles to Branson’s home in a small town called Seaside in Oregon. Branson, a retired high school counselor, welcomed him and gave him the words of encouragement he needed. “It’s the kindness of strangers who are helping me make it Cycle continues on Page 12
Progress so far for Sterling Stowe, who is attempting to ride across the country and is documenting the stories of the people he meets. Graphic by Stephanie Dyke
Sterling Stowe of Golden is biking the Trans-America Trail to document the lives of others. He began in Astoria, Ore., and the final destination point is Yorktown, Va. He left Colorado on May 28, started biking on June 1, and expects to return to Golden mid-to-late August — in time to start his senior year at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Courtesy photo
City searches for new head
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: 722 Washington Ave., Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legals: Fri. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 5 p.m.
PL E ASE RECYCLE T HI S C OPY
Golden gets to know who’s vying for city manager position By Christy Steadman The youth with Ride to Freedom camped at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds on June 18 before rallying at the state capitol in Denver on June 19. The group’s mission is to awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s persecutions of Falun Gong practitioners. Their journey began in Los Angeles on June 1 and will end in Washington, D.C., for a candlelight vigil in mid-July. Photo by Christy Steadman
Youth rally to save five orphans in China Group bikes to protest against Chinese government’s treatment of religious practice By Christy Steadman csteadman@colorado communitymedia.com
Eleven-year-old Aila Verheijke’s grandmother told her a story of being tortured until she was blind and deaf.
“If my grandma would have continued being tortured,” she said, “I might not have a grandma.” Jimmy Ma’s mother was jailed and missing for an entire year. “I never smiled once in that year,” Ma, 15, said. “Every single day, I tried to find my mom.” Verheijke’s grandmother and Ma’s mother, who now live in California, are Falun Gong practitioners who say they survived the Chinese Communist Party’s persecutions of the China continues on Page 16
csteadman@colorado communitymedia.com
Golden community members attended a meet-and-greet with the five city manager candidates on June 19 at the Golden Community Center. More than 75 members of the public, including city commission members, attended. Each candidate had an opportunity to deliver a speech and introduce themselves to the community. After each introduction the audience was given an opportunity to ask each candidate questions. After the presentations, attendees were given an opportunity to talk with the candidates one-on-one at his individual table. Community members were provided a comment card when they entered the Candidates continues on Page 4