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August 28, 2014 VOLU M E 51 | I SS UE 2 | 5 0 ¢
Northglenn-ThorntonSentinel.com A D A M S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Lighting up the Skyview Friday night lights becomes a reality By Brent New Skyview senior Joe Herrera says he’s been hitting the tackling sleds a little harder and running a little faster in preparation for the most important game of his life. This isn’t the playoffs he’s working so hard for, just Friday night relevance. A couple weeks from now, Skyview’s football program will take a giant step forward in sports status when it hosts its first ever night game, thanks to the newly installed lights at Ditirro Stadium. The team — which combines athletes from all of the schools in the Mapleton Public School District — will kick off the season and turn on the lights for the first time against Summit on Friday night, Aug. 29. “I feel like I have been practicing harder for this one game,” said Herrera, a wide receiver and defensive back, who attends the Mapleton Expeditionary School of Arts. “Hopefully this means we’ll get more people out in the stands supporting Wolverine Football.”
The lights should be added incentive for a Wolverines team that played all of their home games on Saturday mornings and afternoons, and ended the season with a lowly 1-9 record. Despite it though, some, like senior lineman Jacob Finning, think the new additions to their home field could make for a different kind of story in 2014. “We’re all so excited. It’s going to be a big turnaround for this school. And, not playing in the heat is going to be nice. It will be amazing,” Finning said. “We’re looking solid. We have so much commitment from our team. The younger guys are excited about the lights, but for the older guys who have been playing for a while, a real Friday Night Lights game is going to make such a difference.” The lighting system was constructed by Musco’s Light Structure Green. It includes two 90-foot steel poles, a 1,500 watt luminary on each light and an energy saving of more than 50 percent over standard lighting. The Skyview football program is hoping for 2,000 people in attendance to help turn on the lights for the first time on Aug. 29 — a trend Brian Barringer, the team’s defensive coordinator, and former 2004 graduate from the Skyview football program, hopes will catch on. “It’s something we never got to experi-
The Skyview Wolverines practice on the field at DiTirro Stadium Aug. 21. For the first time, Mapleton will be able to host evening games thanks to the newly installed lights. Photo courtesy of John Marin ence. We played during the day to small crowds because everyone was at home watching college football,” he said. “Friday night football is for high schools. It’s going to help us continue to bring the
community together to support Mapleton’s kids.” Per district officials, the lights will turn on at 6:45 p.m. before kickoff at 7 p.m. on Aug. 29.
Death ruled suicide in house explosion Man intentionally detached gas line which led to June 19 blast By Tammy Kranz POSTAL ADDRESS
NORTHGLENN-THORNTON SENTINEL
tkranz@colorado communitymedia.com Officials have determined that Gary Pine, 59, wanted to kill himself when he intentionally detached the natural gas line to the furnace inside his Thornton home June 19. This act led to the home at 13072 Monroe Drive to fill up with natural gas, which resulted in the eventual ignition and home explosion, according to an Aug. 22 statement by Thornton Police. “The evidence indicates the victim, Gary Pine, engaged in an intentional act to commit suicide
…” the statement reads. Thornton Police Chief Randy Nelson led a community meeting Wednesday, July 16, to update the neighbors of that home on the investigation into the cause, the cleanup process and to reduce concerns about asbestos exposure. At that time officials told a crowd of more than 100 people gathered at Stargate Charter School that someone intentionally tampered with the natural gas line and that the line could have leaked for up to two hours before the explosion. However, it was not officially ruled a suicide at that point because Pine’s toxicology test results were still pending. Pine co-owned the home and lived in the basement. He lived with two roommates who were not Suicide continues on Page 14
Fire crews sift through the debris after an explosion leveled the home at 13072 Monroe Drive, killing a man, and damaging five other houses on June 19. Officials have determined that the gas leak was intentional and the deceased committed suicide. Photo courtesy of the city of Thornton
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County, cities reach temporary agreement
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.
Municipal inmate cap at county jail raised to 65
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By Tammy Kranz
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Thornton police Chief Randy Nelson talks to the media at a press conference May 28 about the Adams County sheriff turning away prisoners. From left, Brighton Chief Clint Blackhurst, Commerce City Chief Troy Smith, and Westminster Chief Lee Birk join Nelson. The cities of The cities of Thornton, Northglenn, Aurora, Commerce City and Federal Heights filed a lawsuit against the sheriff earlier this year. The parties have reached a temporary settlement. Photo by Tammy Kranz
Adams County and five of its municipalities have reached a temporary agreement regarding the inmate jail cap lawsuit. The parties have agreed to delay any litigation until May 15, 2015. The agreement allows for additional municipal inmates — a total of 65 — to be housed at the Adams County Detention Facility. The municipalities agreed to pay the daily fee for any inmate exceeding that cap. Domestic-violence of-
fenders do not count against that cap. “We are pleased that this temporary agreement will provide additional access for municipal inmates,” said Thornton Mayor Heidi Williams. “This issue has been worked on for years now, and we appreciate the efforts of those who negotiated this resolution.” The cities of Thornton, Northglenn, Aurora, Commerce City and Federal Heights filed a joint complaint on Feb. 19 against the Adams County Board of Commissioners and Sheriff Doug Darr for restricting or refusing to house municipal prisoners in the county jail. The County continues on Page 14