Transcript Wheat Ridge
November 22, 2012
50 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwheatridgenews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 29, Issue 22
Officers, citizens honored by sheriff By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com It was a fitting day for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department to recognize the outstanding achievements of the officers, and a few citizens, who went above and beyond the call of duty in 2012. Earlier in the day, Jeffco Sheriff Ted Mink and many of his staff had attended the funeral of Lakewood Police Officer James Davies, who died in the line of duty. “Certainly after an event like that, it’s good to come together, to heal. And we wanted to rise above that tragedy and recognize our citizens and employees who have really done incredible work,” said Mink after
the presentation ceremony. The awards event filled the county hearing room with award recipients, colleagues, and family. Among this year’s honorees were two citizens, and two department deputies who risked their own lives to pull an accident victim out of a flaming vehicle; several deputies who acted quickly to save the lives of suicidal citizens; and one deputy who handled two award-worthy situations in one day. Deputy DA Christian Gardner-Wood was given the Citizen Citation of Merit, and officers Dale Scott and Erik Nethken were given commendations for stopping a county inmate from attacking his public defender with a pen — “in what would otherwise
have likely been a serious injury incident,” according to the award citation. Four officers, David Bruening, Randy Barnes, Jason Hertel and Jerry Chrachol were given the department’s Medal for Valor for their evacuation efforts during the Lower North Fork Fire. The four actually became trapped by the flames and smoke at one point, and waited in a partially burned field until the fire line had passed them by. Then, they continued work on assisting evacuees. Deputy Elias Alberti was on patrol duty along Interstate 70 one day when reports of a Pontiac, traveling over 100 mph with no breaks and a stuck accelerator, came over
the radio. The deputy actually moved his car in front of the runaway vehicle, and used his breaks to eventually stop the car. Later that same day Alberti successfully talked a suicidal individual away from the ledge of a bridge. Other officers and citizens were recognized for excellent work, both heroic, and just helpful, like the bank employee who worked after hours with police to find a missing woman, or the Gavin Prejean, a state-recognized police and fire dispatch trainer. Ending the event were awards for 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service with the department, followed by a few promotions.
ROLLIN’ AND PAINTIN’
Adam Barratt teaches his daughter Angelika to bowl during Live Local Wheat Ridge “Grab the Kids and Let’s Roll”! Saturday at Wheat Ridge Lanes.
Nora Brooks with her daughter Becca, left, and Amy DeKnikker with her son Henry lend their hands to painting during Live Local Wheat Ridge “Grab the Kids and Let’s Roll”! Saturday at Wheat Ridge Lanes. The three-hour event included family bowling, children’s music, crafts and prizes. Photos by Andy Carpenean
Commissioners race results flip Tighe in front as provisional ballots are counted By Glenn Wallace gwallace@ourcoloradonews. com The race for Jefferson County’s District 2 County Commissioner seat is very close. Election night ended with appointed incumbent Republican John Odom holding on to a 133-vote lead over Demo-
crat Casey Tighe. Military, overseas and unsigned ballots were all processed last week. Those ballots equaled around 3,500 votes, and when counted up they did not just narrow the results, they switched them. As of the end of ballot counting last week, it was Tighe with a 215-vote lead — less than onehundredth of a percent advantage.
POSTAL ADDRESS
There is one more batch of ballots left to count — which was done on Tuesday of this week — an estimated 7,500 provisional ballots. “If for any case the validity of a voter at the ballot box can’t be verified, they can be given a provisional ballot,” said Jeffco Deputy of Election Josh Liss. “I’ve heard as high as 90-percent of the provisional ballots could be accepted, provided that they are an eligible voter who didn’t already vote somewhere else,” said Jefferson County Democratic Party Chair Chris Kennedy. Liss said with such a narrow margin between the candidates, and so many votes still to be count-
Tighe
Odom
ed, the race remained too close to call. Kennedy admitted to surprise that the Democratic candidate Tighe had actually pulled ahead in the count. “We’re just such a big county. It just shows that anything can hap-
pen when you still have more than 10,000 votes left to count,” Kennedy said. The Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder’s office will certify the final vote count this week. County sources and Kennedy said they expect the vote to still be close enough to trigger an automatic recount — vote totals being within one-half of one percent of each other. Liss said either candidate could also request a recount, but at their own expense. A county recount could be completed by the end of November, though the state deadline to complete it is Dec. 13.
GET SOCIAL WITH US Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.
The Wheat Ridge Transcript wants to share the news. Check out and like our page on facebook. Search for Wheat Ridge Transcript. While you are there search for Colorado Community Media's page too.