Westsider WESTSIDER 2.28.13
North Jeffco
POSTAL PATRON
March 1, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 8
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Nate Powell, Mikki LeVett, Susan Franklin and Danielle Reeves conduct the keynote discussion at the Power of Partnership Conference on Feb. 21. Photo by Glenn Wallace
Churches and county find ways to partner By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com The trinity of human services — churches, nonprofits and government — came together in Jefferson County last week to create and strengthen the many partnerships between the three. A keynote panel started the conference, with representatives from each group. Community Assistance Division Manager Susan Franklin said the conference began as a way to shore up those connections that helped all three groups take care of the community. “Together, we can accomplish more,” Franklin said. The Power of Partnership Conference, Feb. 21 at Waterstone Church in Littleton, was the third time the groups had gathered. Case workers with Jeffco Human Services, nonprofit organizers and community church volunteers all had a chance to meet each other, learn about other programs and organizations in the county, share ideas and make partnerships. Attendees were divided into separate areas depending on their passion: Building Communities, Education, Family, Housing,
LuAnn Turner, a multihousing pastor stands at her information table during The Power of Partnership Conference Thursday, Feb. 21, at WaterStone Community Church in Littleton. Photo by Andy Carpenean Hunger/Poverty or Special Populations. Among the attendees moving between groups was Gregg Scarato, a pastor at Living Hope Community Church in Westminster,
who said his first visit to the conference had been eye-opening. “It’s really tremendous when you come here and start seeing other options that
maybe hadn’t even occurred to myself and my congregation,” Scarato said. There was no lack of opportunities for those looking to help. The ministry organization Love Inc. for instance helps to match church volunteers with charitable programs and people in need. The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Jefferson County had a booth to attract volunteers to help work with abused or neglected children who end up in the court system. “They get messed up, of no fault of their own, and they need an advocate,” said fouryear CASA volunteer Tom Ashe. Ashe said the county only has enough volunteers to advocate for one out of every three children in need. Jefferson County Administrator Ralph Schell attended the conference, sitting in on a special session to discuss housing trends, and said the conference would have real benefits. “Human Services has done a great job of working with the faith-based communities to maximize the resources available to us, to help address issues in our community,” Schell said.
Judge finds probable cause in Trails get $2 million the case against Austin Sigg Big money for Rocky Mountain Greenway
Jessica Ridgeway’s accused killer to enter plea on March 12 By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews. com It was a full day of testimony during the preliminary hearing for Austin Sigg, the teenager accused of murdering Jessica Ridgeway of Westminster. During the proceedings, Sigg was clean shaven, wearing glasses and an orange Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office jumpsuit. He appeared calm. The outcome of the Feb. 22 hearing ended with Judge Stephen Munsinger declaring he found proof of evidence and great presumption for probable cause in 18 counts against Sigg. The counts include first-degree murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a child. Four counts were dropped, including attempt of sexual assault and attempted
murder. Both charges are connected to the attempted abduction of a jogger last May at Ketner Lake. His arraignment is schedSigg uled 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at which time Sigg will plead guilty or not guilty. Sigg is being held without bond.
Prosecution calls witnesses
During the preliminary hearing, the prosecution began with the lead detective on the Ridgeway case, Louis Lopez. He told the court about Jessica’s routine, according to her mother Sarah Ridgeway. He said normally, Jessica met with a friend named Jeremy before walking to school. On Oct. 5, 2012, Lopez said Jessica called Jeremy’s father to confirm if Jeremy was walking that day because of the weather, and the father replied yes. But Jessica
never showed up. Lopez said on Oct. 7 Jessica’s backpack was found in Superior. Jessica’s shirt, pants, underwear, boots, gloves and water bottle were inside the backpack. Lopez said there was male DNA found on some of those items. It was “touch DNA,” not semen or sperm, according to Lopez. That DNA matched the DNA found on the clothing of the jogger at Ketner Lake, Lopez said. Jessica’s remains were found on Oct. 10 in the Pattridge Open Space area in Arvada. Lopez said two men were picking up trash when they found a black, shiny trash bag. “They men said the inside bag felt funny, so they called their supervisor,” Lopez said. “Their supervisor came and cut open the bag with a pocket knife.” Inside the bag was a small, white, female torso. Lopez said the head, legs and arms were missing. Parental DNA testing from Sarah Ridgeway and JesSigg continues on Page 4
By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com Federal funds announced Feb. 18 strengthens the vision of a pedestrian and bicycle greenway corridor connecting three national wildlife refuges and the Rocky Mountain National Park with the Denver metro area. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff joined with Gov. John Hickenlooper and Jefferson County officials at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge to announce the $2 million in funding, to improve Metro Denver resident’s ability to walk and bike their way to nature. Of that grant money, $1,735,000 will go directly toward expanding the Rocky Mountain Greenway — a project to build trail connections between national wildlife refuge sites at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Two Ponds, and Rocky Flats, with eventual extensions to the Denver metro area trail system on one end, and north to the Rocky Mountain National Park on the
other. Specifically, the $1.7 million will build a seven-mile link between Arvada and the eastern edge of the Rocky Flats refuge. While the former nuclear weapon manufacturing area has been designated a wildlife refuge, the property remains closed to the public, and does not have the trail and visitor center amenities of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal site. The trail section lies within Jefferson County, and two commissioners attended the announcement: Chair Donald Rosier and District 1 Commissioner Faye Griffin. The grants are part of a total allocation of $12.5 million for 29 projects in 20 states “to improve access to America’s national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges,” according to the statement released by the FTA. Within Colorado, the municipalities of Estes Park and Durango also will receive some of the FTA funding, also for the completion of recreational and transportation trails.
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