January 30, 2014 Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 90, Issue 25 A publication of
lakewoodsentinel.com
Sheriff’s deputy killed in highway collision Sgt. David Baldwin, 50, was tragically killed in a head-on collision on Highway 93, just north of W. 64th Parkway.,on Sunday, Jan. 26. Baldwin was an Air Force veteran and served the sheriff’s office for 27 years. He would have celebrated his 51st birthday next week, Sheriff Mink confirmed. He is survived by his wife and son. At 10:05 a.m., Baldwin was traveling in the left northbound lane on his Harley-Davidson patrol motorcycle, entering a sweeping curve. A 2004 Saturn Vue SUV was traveling southbound through the curve when
it crossed a double-yellow line, traveling into the northbound lanes and passing at least one vehicle. The Saturn collided head-on with the Harley-Davidson. After the collision, Baldwin was thrown from the HarleyDavidson. Although he was wearing his helmet and eye protection, he sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. According to investigators, the Saturn’s driver, 83-year-old
Deputy continues on Page 19
Sgt. Baldwin was killed in the line of duty on January 26, 2014 at 10:05 a.m., after being struck on his motorcycle by a wrong-way driver on Hwy. 93. Courtesy photo
32 yearS of dedication
Reaching the goal Lakewood resident inducted to Colorado Football Hall of Fame By Clarke Reader
creader@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
T
he Colorado Football Hall of Fame isn’t just for those who give it their all on the field as Lakewood resident Blayne Van Dyke can attest to. On Dec. 7 he and five other members of the Jefferson County Football Chain Gang were inducted into the hall of fame in celebration of their decades of services to the football players of Jeffco. “This if the first year the hall has inducted members of the chains crew,” Pamela Seaholm, Van Dyke’s daughter, said. “You can’t go to games without seeing him on the side of the field.” He was nominated by his peer referees because of his 32 years of dedication in this position, and was selected by hall of fame trustees. Van Dyke was born in Colorado and has been a Lakewood resident for 52 years. “I became involved in sports when my kids became old enough to participate in them,” Van Dyke said. “I was involved with the Green Mountain and Alameda basketball program and was a referee for high school basketball for about 20 years, with 15 of those on the varsity level.” Seaholm said that her father coached for all kinds of sports while his children were playing, from softball and football to basketball, but once the children were finished he kept going to the games. “I wanted to coach my own family and I liked being around kids and making a little change in their lives,” Van Dyke said. “I kept attending the neighborhood kids’ games and I was told that if I was going to keep showing up, I might as well start getting paid.” Since then he has worked Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (until games switched to double-headers on Fridays) for 34 years, braving snow and rainstorms, heat and the occasional player hurtling toward him. One of his proudest achievements is working the chains during 4A and 5A
Lakewood resident Blayne Van Dyke got started with the Jefferson County Football Chain Gang after coaching his own children. He was inducted into the Colorado Football Hall of Fame in December. Photo by Clarke Reader state football in 2001, 2011 and 2013. While sports were a huge part of life in the Van Dyke household, Seaholm said that it wasn’t the only important thing. “He would come to my choir practices or Brownie events,” she said. “He was there for almost every event and has been busy attending the events of his 13 grandchildren.” For Seaholm, what makes this special is that he did all this during a time
when fathers usually only attended sports. Now Van Dyke is passing the love of the game on. Six of his seven grandsons and one great grandson have all taken a crack at working on the chains at games. “We go to games and so many people know him,” Seaholm said. “We can go to Hawaii and we’ll see someone who recognizes him from when he was on the field.”
Park to get urban farm Sprout City partners with Lakewood By Clarke Reader
creader@ coloradocommunitymedia.com If you build it, it will grow. That’s the hope of residents of the Two Creeks Neighborhood and residents near Mountair Park after a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23, with Sprout City Farms and the city. The meeting was about the creation of a farmable piece of land in the park that would be used to grow foods. “This is a really exciting moment for us to lay the groundwork for this project,” said Allison Hatch, director of development and outreach with Sprout City. “This would be your farm, and we want the community to think of it that way.” The program is part of the 20-minute neighborhood initiative, according to Allison Scheck, marketing and community relations manager with the city. The initiative is funded by the Denver Regional Council of Governments and focuses on enhancing the neighborhood around the Sheridan transportation hub and aims to make the community safer. “Community participants discussed a desire for healthy food and a community gathering place,” Scheck said. “This is something you in the community asked for.” According to Hatch and Meg Caley, director of farming operations and education with Sprout City, the plan is to develop a one-third acre piece of land in Mountair Park Sprout City, a nonprofit that is committed to creating community farms that provide both food and education, has set up one similar garden at the Denver Green School and is looking to establish its second farm at Mountair. “How it gets set up is we have a farm manager and our staff is mainly made up of interns and volunteeers,” said Caley. “We’re very volunteer based and are looking to set up opportunities for the community.” City staff wanted to hear from residents on their thoughts on expanding the garden to take up some of the existing basketball court space and the location in the park for a potential picnic shelter. Residents asked about the cost and current usage of the basketball court and participation from local schools, which is something schools like Molholm Elementary are very interested in. “This is really a resource for the community and we’re excited to bring it to the community,” Hatch said. “We’re hoping to break ground in March.” For more information, please contact Scheck at 303-987-7872 or allsch@Lakewood.org.
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