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January 9, 2015 VOLU M E 1 4 | I SS UE 7
CentennialCitizen.net A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Consumers paying less at the pump South metro area seeing prices below $2 a gallon By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com Gasoline prices have fallen to their lowest point in years, bringing relief to consumers at the pump. According to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report, which tracks and compares prices nationally, fuel prices in the Denver metro area have fallen more than a dollar since the same time last year. “I think it has been a big relief for a lot of people, especially considering how high the prices were a few years ago,” said Ryan Strange, a Denver resident who stopped to fill up at the Conoco station at 9010 Park Meadows Drive in Lone Tree.
An investigation into the crash of this small commercial aircraft could take 8-10 months and will look at such factors as mechanical failure and pilot experience. Photos by Christy Steadman
Pump continues on Page 10
Pilot killed in plane crash Centennial home nearly hit By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz @coloradocommunitymedia.com A pilot reported engine trouble shortly before his plane crashed into a Centennial neighborhood, killing him and narrowly missing an occupied home. The twin-engine Cessna 404 took off from Centennial Airport around 4:30 a.m. Dec. 30 and crashed a few minutes later in a neighborhood northwest of Arapahoe Road and Jordan Road. “The pilot reported a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff,” said Jennifer Rodi, a senior air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB arrived on scene within hours to begin its investigation. The pilot was later identified as Daniel Steitz, 55, of Aurora. Plane continues on Page 22
THE AVERAGE PRICE OF REGULAR UNLEADED GAS, ACCORDING TO AAA FUEL GAUGE:
DENVER AREA
UNITED STATES
JAN. 5: $2.05
JAN. 5: $2.19
DEC. 29: 2.19
DEC. 29: $2.28
DEC. 5: $2.70
DEC. 5: $2.71
YEAR AGO:
$3.14
A commercial aircraft crashed in a Centennial neighborhood near East Arapahoe and South Jordan roads Dec. 30, narrowly missing a home.
YEAR AGO:
$3.31
Photo illustration
Private school plans unusual approach Students will seek innovative solutions By Christy Steadman
csteadman @coloradocommunitymedia.com A new school is opening in Centennial in fall 2015, with the purpose of bringing about the future’s brightest leaders. Threshold School, which will be located on East Mineral Avenue near Interstate 25 and South Yosemite Street, is a sixth- through 12th-grade independent school. It prides itself on re-imagining education, said the school’s founder, Daniel Rirdan. The education received at Threshold School will reach outside the boundaries of what a conventional education offers, he added. Threshold School is a nonprofit entity and not dependent on state funds, Rirdan said.
Similar to other independent and private schools, he added, it is funded through tuition and donations. The heart of the program is to introduce students to the big projects, train them to understand the issues and coach them so they find innovative solutions, Rirdan said. “Threshold School aims to foster thought-leaders and Rirdan change-makers capable of confronting the big issues of this century,” Rirdan said. “We’re committed to introducing students to 21st-century learning and preparation to be accepted to the vast majority of colleges.” To do this, students will be engaged in what Rirdan calls pursuits. Pursuits may be restoring wildlife habitats or other sustainability Threshold continues on Page 10
SCHOOL DETAILS • Enrollment for Threshold School is currently open, and applications are being accepted for students entering sixth through 10th grades. Up to 50 students will be admitted. People are encouraged to submit applications by the end of March. • The application process also entails an interview with the potential student. Once the application process is completed, potential students will be notified, and those accepted will receive an enrollment contract. • Tuition for the 2015-16 school year is $17,500, plus $1,500 in material fees for middle school, and $18,000 plus $1,500 in material fees for high school. Material fees will also cover all-inclusive educational trips, whether overseas or overnight camps. There are no additional expenses. • Financial aid is available. Request for financial aid can be done at any stage of the application process.
However, eligibility will be determined prior to the issuance of the enrollment contract, which will reflect any possible financial award. Tuition assistance does not affect one’s chances for admission. • Students who are willing to commute from anywhere in the Denver metro area may attend Threshold School. • Options for homestays with screened host families are available for out-of-town and out-of-state students. These options may incur additional costs. • Applications for enrollment can be found online at www.thresholdschool.org by clicking the “Enroll” tab. • For more information on Threshold School, visit the above-listed website, or visit Threshold School’s Facebook page. Additional questions or inquiries can also be directed to Daniel Rirdan at 720-525-8951 or Kate Bachtel at 303-554-7300.