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July 24, 2014 VOLU M E 5 0 | I S S UE 49 | 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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Gas line tampered with in home that exploded City officials hold community meeting on June 19 house explosion By Tammy Kranz
tkranz@coloradocommunitymedia.com A gas line inside the home was intentionally tampered with, leaking gas for up to two hours before it ignited, leveling the structure at 13072 Monroe Drive and killing a man inside on June 19. 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. Investigators discovered a flexible gas line was disconnected and the valve on the main gas line was found open, Nelson told a crowd of more than 100 people gathered at Stargate Charter School. It is not clear who intentionally tampered with the gas line or why. Officials would not release any more details at this point in the investigation, which Nelson said was in the final stages. The cause of death for 59-year-old Gary Lee Pine was pending toxicology test results, the chief said. Pine co-owned the home and lived in the basement. He lived with two roommates who were not at home during the explosion. The blast leveled the home and damaged
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. Nearly a month later, city of Thornton officials hosted a community meeting to update neighbors on the investigation into the cause and cleanup efforts and eliminate asbestos exposure concern. Photo courtesy of the City of Thornton five neighboring homes, which are now uninhabitable. Nelson explained that at about 12 hours into the investigation, crews started wearing hazardous material gear because of asbestos concerns. The home was built in the 1970s and had asbestos inside its popcorn ceilings. “What you saw was an overabundance of
caution,” he said. “We really did not know at that time what we were dealing with.” Mike Van Dyke with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment told the neighbors in his professional opinion their risk of exposure to asbestos was extremely low. He said while there is no way of knowing how much they were exposed to, the asbestos
was limited to the ceiling and that the drywall pieces were found in large chunks. “Much of the drywall was recovered intact still, as long as asbestos material is intact, there’s no health concern,” he said. House continues on Page 13
NMFR asks for 3.5 mill levy increase Board approves ballot question to raise funding POSTAL ADDRESS
By Tammy Kranz
tkranz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Northglenn voters will be asked to approve a 3.5 mill levy increase for the North Metro Fire Rescue District on the November ballot to meet the growing demand for services and update equipment and address aging fire stations. NMFR Board of Directors unanimously voted July 15 to place the question on the Nov. 4 election. A 24-member citizen-led task force in June recommended the board approve the ballot question to address the emergency needs of the community. The proposed mill levy increase of 3.5 mills will
cost homeowners an estimated $2.32 per $100,000 value each month. If this measure passes, the funding would be used to add firefighting personnel, address highest priority equipment needs (such as ambulances, fire engines, firefighting gear), and update and repair fire stations. Chief David Ramos said during a May interview that the district was funded with just enough money to operate and deferred costs as much as it could; however, it was unable to continue to do that. “Several factors, including the economic downturn of 2008, have resulted in our revenue not keeping pace with our needs and expenses,” he said. “In order to maintain our response times, services and equipment, we are looking for a better and more long-term solution to support our
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needs.” Ramos said the district has deferred repairs to the older stations in the district but those needed to be brought up to code to provide a better, safer work environment for the firefighters. Part of the reductions in the past included decreasing outside training, if the mill levy is approved, Ramos said that training would be increased. “The floods of 2013 are one example of why training is so essential, especially for high risk, low frequency events,” he said. “We have reduced our training below what we’d like to provide for our firefighters and would use some of the additional funding to increase our training.” Ramos said without a mill levy, the board and Mill Levy continues on Page 13
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Traditional meets new Adams County Fair celebrates 110 years By Tammy Kranz
tkranz@colorado communitymedia.com Traditional meets new is the idea behind year’s Adams County Fair, which is celebrating its 110th anniversary. Co-Fair manager Melanie Snodell said that while there have been a lot of changes over the last century, she feels the purpose of the event has remained the same — bringing people together. The five-day celebration kicks of Wednesday, July 30, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 3, at the Adams County Regional Park, 9755 Henderson Road in Brighton. The first United Power Grand-
stand event will be the fair’s traditional event — the Budweiser CPRA Rodeo at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 31. “We are celebrating the 110th at the rodeo — it has been part of the fair all 110 years,” Snodell said. “It’s not going to be the typical rodeo you’re used to having at the fair. We added a lot of surprises I think people will enjoy.” The event will feature traditional rodeo activities, along with mutton bustin’, appearances by the Adams County Fair Queen and the Sweethearts of the West Drill Team, and children in attendance will receive free cowboy hats. A new event this year that officials hope grows into a large, signature event of the fair is the Funnel Cake 5 & 10K Run/Walk, which takes place at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2. ProFair continues on Page 13
Children get ready for the annual United Power Mutton Bustin event at the Budweiser CPRA Rodeo during the 2013 Adams County Fair. This year, fair representatives will hold the official 110th Anniversary celebration during the rodeo at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 31. Photo by Ashley Reimers