Westminster 8-15-2013
August 15, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 68, Issue 43
Medical experts to testify in Sigg case Next court date set for Aug. 29 By Ashley Reimers areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
A FAire to remember
The Home Depot workshop tent was a popular place for the little ones during the Westminster Faire on Saturday at City Park. Children also enjoyed carnival games and bouncing houses during the faire. Photo by Ashley Reimers
STEM school prepares for opening day By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews. com This was not the typical summer for Anthony Matthews, principal of Colorado STEM Academy in Westminster. The former Flynn Elementary principal has been very busy the past few months working to prepare the new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) school in Adams County School District 50. With the first day of school just around the corner — classes start on Aug. 19 — Matthews is excited to finally open the doors of the Colorado STEM Academy to 200 students in grades three through six for the first year. After the initial year, the school will increase in size to 250 students, followed by a build-out of 300 students by the 2015-16 school year with students in grades three through eight. For months, renovations have been made to the old Crown Pointe Academy building at 72nd Avenue and Irving
Street in Westminster, getting the building ready for its new focus. Matthews said the majority of the renovations have taken place in the west wing, and include the design and construction of larger classrooms, and science and engineering labs. “We have two big labs, a design lab and a build lab that will be utilized by all of the students,” he said. “The design lab includes a 3D printer and scanner, and a laser engraver. Our build lab has a variety of tools for the students to use to build items for projects and assignments.” Every classroom will have 15 iPads and 15 Chromebooks, and will be equipped with SMART Boards and a SMART sound system. Matthews said classrooms will also have some desktop computers, and the furniture will allow for a more collaborative approach to learning. “We purposely bought desks that could be maneuvered into different-sized groups so that the teachers have the freedom to set up their classroom the way they want to allow for their
Colorado STEM Academy, the first STEM school in Adams County School District 50, is opening on Aug. 19 and will feature a build lab equipped with power tools and other tools for student-use. Photo by Ashley Reimers students to be able to work collaboratively together,” he said. Edgar Lista, the technol-
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ogy education and engineering teacher at Colorado STEM Academy, said he is excited about collaborative teaching. Lista, who is new to the district and comes from the Douglas County School District, jumped at the opportunity to work in a smaller school where he could continually work with the same students from third grade to eighth grade. He said it’s exciting to work STEM continues on Page 16
Two expert witnesses were approved by District Court Chief Judge Stephen Munsinger during the Aug. 7 Austin Sigg motions hearing. Sigg, 18, is accused of kidnapping and killing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway, of Westminster, in October. He is also accused of attempting to abduct a woman jogging around Ketner Lake in May 2012. The judge ruled that Dr. Tracey Corey, a forensic pathologist, and Dr. Kathryn Wells, a pediatrician who specializes in child abuse, would have the opportunity to testify in court on the prosecution’s behalf. Both women testi- Sigg fied during the Aug. 7 hearing in Jefferson County court, describing their qualifications and involvement in the Ridgeway case. Corey, who testified via Skype, is the chief medical examiner for the state of Kentucky. She also works with the FBI and was called in to assist in the Ridgeway case. She was a consultant in the case with the Behavioral Analysis Unit. Wells, who testified in person, works for Denver Health and is the medical director at the Denver Family Crisis Center. She was asked by the prosecution to review case evidence regarding possible sexual assault. Jessica’s mother, Sarah Ridgeway, stepped out of the courtroom while the women described Jessica’s injuries. “I was asked to render an opinion of the forensic findings in the case,” Corey said. “My opinion was that there was evidence of blunt traumatic injury consistent with sexual assault.” Corey also testified that, based on her observations, Jessica’s body was dismembered after her death. The judge also ruled that statements made by Sigg and his mother over the phone when the mother called police will be admissible during the trial. Jury summonses were sent out the week of the hearing, and jury questionnaires will begin Sept. 20. Opening statements in the trial are scheduled to begin Oct. 3. The trial date for the Ketner Lake case was also set during the hearing and is scheduled for Jan. 13. Sigg’s next court appearance is Aug. 29. If convicted, he faces life in prison with a possibility of parole after 40 years. He faces 17 charges, including murder and sexual assault.