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January 29, 2015 VO LU M E 51 | I S SUE 24 | 5 0 ¢
Northglenn-ThorntonSentinel.com
A D A M S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O A publication of
Thornton’s Ward 3 councilman sworn in By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com For SomXai Vue, serving as a Ward 3 Thornton city councilman is an opportunity to represent and help his fellow neighbors in a new way. “Since I graduated from college in 1998, I have always been volunteering for the communities locally and nationally, and I feel that I needed to come back to help my own city and my neighbors,” he said. “There are many minorities in the area that are still underrepresented and being a Thornton city councilmember, I can represent the residents and serve from a different angle than I have been doing.” Vue was appointed and sworn in to Thornton city council on Jan. 20 filling the vacancy left by Beth Martinez Humenik who was elected as state senator for Senate District 24 in November. Vue has lived in Thornton since 2000 and works for Fox Rothschild, LLP in the IS Operations Department. He also serves as the Chief Executive Director for Vue National Association, Inc. and is the chairman for the National Hmong Grave Desecration Committee Colorado Chapter.
As a city councilman, Vue is excited to have the opportunity to serve in his own city and voice his concerns. “I look forward to working with the city senior leadership team, the members of the council and the residents on important issues and continuing to build bridges within the city and the community, as well as with our neighborhood partners,” he said. “I also want to focus on bringing more small businesses, jobs and economic development to the city and work on education system improvements.” Vue sees Thornton as a city that will continue to grow and prosper. He said there are still several areas that can be redeveloped as well as new developments while still preserving natural wildlife. Vue also believes in the power of volunteerism and encourages residents to give their time to projects and volunteer positions to champion the quality of life for the entire community. “One of the great things as to why Thornton is a great place to live is that the city is a Home Rule city and has the responsibility and authority to adopt regulations, rules and ordinances that govern the operations of the community in the interest of the residents,” he said. “The city of
With his family beside him, SomXai Vue is sworn as the new Thornton Ward 3 city council member in by Thornton city attorney Margaret Emerich on Jan. 20. Courtesy photo Thornton is a fast growing city and we still have a lot of land to grow. We also have a great water system, recreational opportunities and parks.” Residents can contact Vue at 303-538-7532 or by email at SomXai.Vue@cityofthornton.net.
‘Since I graduated from college in 1998, I have always been volunteering for the communities locally and nationally.’ SomXai Vue
Walmart Neighborhood Market opens in Westminster By Ashley Reimers
areimers@coloradocommunitymedia.com
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NORTHGLENN-THORNTON SENTINEL (ISSN 1044-4254) (USPS 854-980) OFFICE: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the NorthglennThornton Sentinel is published weekly on Thursday by MetroNorth Newspapers, 8703 Yates DR., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WESTMINSTER, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
P L EA SE RECYC L E T H I S C O PY
Residents living in south Westminster have a new grocery shopping option after the opening of a Walmart Neighborhood Market at 72nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard. The 46,000-square-foot building opened on Jan. 21 during a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the employees who worked hard to prep the store for the opening. The ceremony was also an opportunity for Wal-Mart associates to present $8,000 worth of grants to nonprofit organizations including Growing Home, which received $2,500 and the South Westminster Arts Group, which received $1,500. The Westminster Wal-Mart provided 95 new jobs. Store manager Adiena Holder, who began
her Wal-Mart career in 2006 as an hourly associate in the garden center, said she’s proud to bring the new Walmart Neighborhood Market to Westminster to provide jobs and be a part of the community. “We look forward to serving our new customers and help them save money, so they can live better,” she said. The market offers fresh produce, a full of line groceries, bakery and meat departments and a pharmacy. Customers can also purchase pet products, cleaning supplies and beauty aids. Colorado products like La Favorita Foods, Celestial Seasonings and El Dorado Water are also in-store. President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver, Diedra Garcia attended the ribbon cutting in support of the new store. She said she’s excited the chamber has the opportunity to partner with Walmart.
Walmart employees celebrate the opening of the Walmart Neighborhood Market at 72nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard in Westminster during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 21. Photo by Ashley Reimers “I’m happy to be here to support the many jobs Walmart is providing in the community,” she said. Walmart Neighborhood Market,
at 7170 N. Federal Blvd., is open from 5 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/walmart6177.
Measure tackles TABOR-rebate plan Institute breaks down details of refund proposal By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com State Senate President Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, filed a bill that would mend some of the tax-refunding mechanisms outlined in the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights by refunding state tax money that is in excess of TABOR limits to the middle class. The important piece of legislation warrants further explanation, as adjustments to TABOR can often be complex.
The Colorado Fiscal Institute, which provides analysis on fiscal and economic issues, assisted Colorado Community Media in analyzing Cadman’s bill, Senate Bill 1. According to the institute, the bill would repeal the current six-tier sales tax refund and implement a three-tier state sales tax refund system in which greater percentages in rebates would be given to individuals with an adjusted gross income (AGI) between $36,000 and $117,000. The Department of Revenue is charged with determining a “single percentage” for TABOR refunds that will cause the total amount of refunds to equal the amount of excess state revenue, factoring in the number of taxpayers within a tiered refund structure.
The bill would require annual calculations of the adjusted gross income amounts based on the consumer price index. Under the bill’s proposed three tiers, the new mechanism imposed by SB1 has these impacts: Tier 1) AGI of $36,000 or less, the rebate will equal to $36,000 times the single percentage. Tier 2) AGI between $36,000 to $117,000 means the rebate amount would be the AGI times the single percentage. Tier 3) AGI in excess of $117,000, the rebate amount would be $117,000 times the single percentage. Under SB1, the earned income tax credit or EITC refund mechanism, which is more complex than the proposed change to the six-tier
sales tax refund, would remain unchanged. SB1 also includes provisions that prohibits individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors and felonies from receiving the TABOR sales tax rebate, and requires the Department of Revenue to direct TABOR rebates to pay for court ordered restitution or court ordered child support for taxpayers with outstanding balances. “CFI still believes the best investment in the middle class is to restore funding for schools and colleges and to fix our crumbling roads,” said Carol Hedges, executive director of the Colorado Fiscal Institute. “But if voters said they Plan continues on Page 21