Westsider WESTSIDER 12.20.12
North Jeffco
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 50
December 21, 2012 A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Firefighters, police in for a cause By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
B Fitness personal trainer Chrystal Rodenacher shoots at a target while competing in Battle on the Mountain against the Westminster Fire and Police departments Saturday Dec. 15.
Matt Meyer, a firefighter with the Westminster Fire Department, flips a commercial size tire while competing in a fitness competition called Battle on the Mountain at B Fitness Saturday Dec. 15. Teams from the fire department in conjunction with the Westminster police and personal trainers from B Fitness competed.
Westminster firefighters and police officers went head to head against fitness trainers during B Fitness’ Battle on the Mountain Dec. 15. This year the competition of strength and endurance featured events geared around firefighting and police work. “This is the second year we have done this event, and it’s always so much fun,” said B Fitness owner Mike Byrne. “It’s also our way of giving back to the community, which is part of our business model.” This year Battle on the Mountain was sponsored by B Fitness in Westminster and the Westminster Public Safety Recognition Foundation. All the money raised will go to the Jessica Ridgeway Park Fund to help pay for playground equipment at the newly renamed Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park Although the competition was close, this year, the police department came out on top, followed by the fire department and
then the trainers. B Fitness general manager Matt Gazdik said adding elements of firefighting and police work was new this year, which created a whole new ball game. “We incorporated their equipment, like dragging dummies and shooting paintballs,” he said. “Last year it really revolved around the club aspect, so it was great to bring in events that our competitors do all the time.” Adam Geiger, director of fitness operations at B Fitness, said although the event is highly competitive, it’s the camaraderie between the trainers, firefighters and police officers that makes Battle on the Mountain unique. He said the teams do razz each other before and during the competition, but it’s all in good fun. “A lot of the set guys work out at B Fitness, so we know them, and the weeks before the competition we definitely give each other hard time,” he said. “But when it comes to the competition, we are all highfiving each other, pushing each other as much as we can and cheering each other to the end. The atmosphere is a lot of fun.”
Adam Giger of B Fitness runs with a dummy over his shoulders in a fireman’s carry while competing in Battle on the Mountain against the Westminster Fire and Police departments Saturday, Dec. 15. Photos by Andy Carpenean
Sigg charged with two new counts Teen faces additional charges, preliminary hearing set for Feb. 22 By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews. com Austin Sigg, the 17-year-old charged with the murder of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway, faces two additional charges. During a court appearance
Dec. 12, the court added a charge of sexual assault/sexual penetration and a charge of crime of violence, bringing Sigg’s number of charges to 19. Sigg was previously charged with 17 counts, including four counts of first-degree murder for the death of Ridgeway, two kidnapping charges, one count of sexual assault on a child and a robbery charge also connected to the Ridgeway murder. He faces one count of criminal attempt of sexual assault and one
count of criminal attempt of kidnapping in connection with the attempted abduction of a woman who was running at Ketner Lake in Westminster May 28. Ridgeway disAustin Sigg appeared Oct. 5 while walking to Chelsea Park in Westminster to meet friends before walking to school.
Her body was found days later in the Pattridge Park open space area in Arvada. Police received a call from Sigg’s mother that resulted in his arrest. He is being tried as an adult, and if convicted, could face life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years. Sigg’s next status hearing is 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, followed by a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22. First Judicial District Chief Judge Stephen Munsinger ruled that the public, including the me-
dia, will not be allowed inside the courtroom during Sigg’s preliminary hearing. This hearing will determine whether there is sufficient evidence against Sigg to charge him with Ridgeway’s murder.
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.