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September 24, 2020
ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
Northglenn-ThorntonSentinel.com
VOLUME 57 | ISSUE 7
The man who opened the Window has died Wilbur Flachman was a tireless newsman and community booster BY GLENN WALLACE GWALLACE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A longtime mainstay of the Denver Metro Area publishing scene and founder of the Westminster Window, Wilbur Flachman died last week at
the age of 83, following complications from pancreatic cancer. Flachman is survived by his wife Marilyn Flachman — the two celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in August; his daughter Angela “Angie” Flachman; son-in-law Paul Johnson; sister Kathryn Farkas of Wheat Ridge; sister Alberta Waldmeier (Richard) of Centennial; sister-in-law Shirley Flachman of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and grandchildren Shelton and Hannah; brothers-in-law Donald Brudi (Judy), Gary Brudi; sisters-in-law
June Dittmar, Sandra Weaver (Bill) of Illinois; and special friend Jacques Loui (Suzie) of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Flachman was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Georgia and his brother Leonard Flachman. For more than five decades, Flachman made Westminster his home, and championed both his community, and community newspapers. “He highly valued community, and SEE FLACHMAN, P13
Wilbur Flachman.
COURTESY OF THE FLACHMAN FAMILY
Thornton on track to hire new chief City Manager to choose from three candidates this month Westminster resident Matt Collins takes his first laps in the pool in months Sept. 14 at the Westminster Swim and Fitness Center. A regular lap-swimmer at the Westminster pool, Collins said he tried to make do with Yoga for exercise since COVID-19 forced the state and most cities to shut down in March. PHOTO BY SCOTT TAYLOR
Getting back in swim Westminster Swim and Fitness pool opens as city slowly brings back services BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
It might only be eight lanes right now, but they looked pretty good to swimmer Matt Collins.
“I haven’t been in a pool for six months,” Collins said as he prepared to swim laps in the Westminster Swim and Fitness Center Sept. 14. “I’ll be back tomorrow. And tomorrow, I’ll bring my girlfriend.” Collins was one of a handful of swimmer to get to enjoy the water at city pool on its opening day. The pool closed in March along with the rest of the city’s buildings and facilities at the start of the COVID-19 closings and stay at home order.
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
“It six months ago, almost to the day,” said Westminster Recreation Supervisor Deb Larsen. Westminster has begun slowly reopening it’s recreation facilities. The city’s outdoor pool at Countryside reopened July 3 and the city’s plans are to keep it open into October. But was cold comfort to swimmer when the temperatures turned cold earlier in September. SEE SWIM, P9
STAFF REPORT
Work replacing Police Chief Randy Nelson should wrap up before the end of September as the city decides between three candidates — law enforcement professionals from Arizona, Milwaukee and Washington State. Thornton Police Chief Randy Nelson announced his retirement effective June. 1. Thornton City Manager Kevin Woods elevated Deputy Chief Cliff Brown to take over temporarily, until the new chief can be found. The three candidates, former Mesa, Arizona Chief Ramon Batista, former Bellevue, Wash. Chief Stephen Mylett and former Milwaukee, Wis. Assistant Chief Terrance Gorden sat SEE POLICE, P8
QUITE THE SITES
The metro area offers interesting, sometimes overlooked, attractions P12