Sentinel Lakewood
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 90, Issue 1
August 15, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlakewoodnews.com
City works SUPPLIES ON DEMAND to repair water damage July 13 rainstorm caused flooding issues By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com
Lesley Dahlkemper, president of the Jeffco Board of Education, helps family register for school supplies at the annual Action Center School Supply giveaway on Aug. 5.
Photos by ClArke reAder
A stack of bags filled with donated school supplies for Jefferson County students. The annual event prevents families from making difficult decisions between putting food on the table or purchasing school supplies – supplies that cost nearly $100 per child.
Volunteers from Cardel Homes help families get backpacks and school supplies at the annual Action Center School Supply giveaway on Aug. 5
The city of Lakewood is working on repairs after a July 13 storm caused issues with debris and flooding. “In some areas we received about 3.25 inches of rain in two hours, which is a lot for Lakewood,” said Chris Jacobsen, maintenance engineer with the city. “We had several areas where the drainage and gulches are not as big as they should be.” According to Jacobsen, among the areas particularly hard hit was Lakewood Gulch, along Independence St., where a retaining wall collapsed. The wall was old and nonengineered, which Jacobsen said contributed to the collapse. In the McIntyre Gulch, along both Holland and Garrison streets, water flooded over the banks and washed out the sides of the roadway. The water also picked up commercial-sized dumpsters and washed them down gulches in several locations. According to information provided by Stacie Oulton, public information officer with the city, “improvements to McIntyre Gulch upstream from West Sixth Avenue are being designed, and construction is expected to start later this year. The design and construction for this project cost about $550,000, and the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District maintenance program, which also works to reduce flooding issues throughout the metro area, is paying for this project.” Another project in the works will result in drainage improvements on Iris Street from West 20th Avenue to 15th Place. Improvements are being designed, and construction is expected to start later this year. The design and construction for this project is expected to cost about $600,000, according to Oulton. Jacobsen said at this point, repair work is the focus, but somewhere down the road serious improvements will need to be made to some areas. According to information provided by
Damage continues on Page 7
Former lawmaker struck by encephalitis Legislators help raise funds for Summers’ expenses By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Lawmakers on both sides of the political divide came together on Aug. 7 to raise money for a former colleague who is battling a serious illness. Former state Rep. Ken Summers is suffering from West Nile virus-caused encephalitis and has been hospitalized since late July. The Lakewood Republican received a lot bipartisan support during a Denver fundraiser, where well-wishers gathered to offer the former lawmaker a helping hand. “Ken would be embarrassed and humbled by all these folks showing up and hearing what everyone is saying about him,”
said state Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, from inside the offices of the Capstone Group, a public affairs and government relations firm in Denver. A Colorado native, teacher and minister, Summers was elected to the House in 2006 and served three terms. He lived in Lakewood for more than 25 years before recently moving to Fort ColSummers lins. Christian Summers, Ken’s son, said his father is receiving treatment for encephalitis and meningitis at Loveland’s McKee Medical Center. He said the former lawmaker is “cognitively aware” of what’s happening, but is struggling physically. “He’s got a long road of physical recov-
ery ahead of him, but he’s mentally sharp,” Christian Summers said. “But I think he feels a little trapped in his body, and I can’t imagine what that’s like for him.” Support for the ailing Summers ranges from those who know him well to others who don’t, yet still hold him in high regard. “I had only met him a few times, but every time I saw him he was just enthusiastic and open and a caring person, somebody that you just wanted to get to know better,” said state Rep. Polly Lawrence, R-Littleton. State Sen. Andy Kerr knows Summers well. The Lakewood Democrat served in the House with him for six years before Kerr edged out Summers in the Senate District 22 race last year. Their hotly contested 2012 race is a thing of the past. Kerr has been tweeting and emailing updates on Summers’ condition since he learned that his former colleague
had been hospitalized. “A lot of people focus on the rivalry, the politics, the division at the Capitol,” Kerr said. “But at the end of the day, Ken and I worked together. We held town hall meetings together; had the opportunity to run against each other. We’ve knocked on hundreds, if not thousands of the same doors. We know a lot of the same people. And he and I get along great.” Contributions for Summers’ medical expenses can be sent to the Ken Summers Medical Relief Fund, c/o Teen Challenge, P.O. Box 239, Englewood, CO 80151.
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