September 24, 2015
VO LU ME 32 | ISSU E 13 | 50 ¢
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Festival Guide Inside WheatRidgeTranscript.com J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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CORRECTION The Sept. 17 edition of the paper contained a story about the Wal-Mart project planned near the corner of 38th Avenue and Wadsworth. The story did not make several facts clear about the development: That the proposed Wal-Mart is a neighborhood grocery store, not a superstore. That the store will be facing Wadsworth, not 38th Avenue. That the development plan includes smaller retail space along the intersection corner, and along 38th. That the Urban Renewal Board, and not the Wheat Ridge city council makes tax increment approvals. The newspaper regrets the errors. To report corrections and clarifications, call 303-566-4129
WHAT’S INSIDE Parkinsons: How area patients are living with the disease. See page 13 Slash: Jeffco yard waste project quite popular. See page 2
Farmers: Volleyball versus Thornton. See page 20
Robbers strike Youngfield bank Crime may be tied to other area incidents
The men, as seen on the bank
Staff Report A midday bank robbery off of Youngfield might be part of a string of similar crimes, according to Wheat Ridge police. On Friday, Sept. 12, around 11:40 a.m. two armed men entered the Wells Fargo Bank located at 3490 Youngfield St. The men, as seen on the bank security cameras, were clothed head-to-toe including hooded jackets and bandanas over their faces. One suspect was armed with a handgun and the other was armed with a large knife. The suspects hopped the counter, with one suspect forcing two bank tellers into the vault at knife-point while the second suspect held other bank employees at gunpoint. The suspects left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash. A witness outside of the bank saw a red Jeep Cherokee parked near the bank occupied by a third male suspect who was similarly dressed to the two inside the bank. When the driver of the red Jeep noticed the witness on the phone, he
security cameras, were clothed head-to-toe including hooded jackets and bandanas over their faces.
exited the Jeep and pointed a gun at the witness. All three suspects then left the area in the red Jeep, and were last seen driving westbound on Colorado Highway 58 toward Golden. No shots were fired during the incident and there were no injuries. The red Jeep Cherokee had a license plate of 647-SUF (Colorado), and was later identified as a stolen vehicle from Denver. The vehicle has not been located as of this time. The incident was investigated jointly by the Wheat Ridge Police Department and the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force. Sgt. Mark Moellenberg with Wheat Ridge PD said that the investigation is ongoing, but that police still believe the
Youngfield robbery could be related to several similar crimes that have occurred across the metro area recently. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Wheat Ridge Police Department at 303-237-2220, or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720913-STOP (7867). Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the suspects in this case. Callers can remain anonymous. If any possible suspects or the suspect vehicle is seen, call police immediately. Police caution against approaching the vehicle or suspects.
Golden school forum addresses technology, AP classes, student growth POSTAL ADDRESS
WHEAT RIDGE TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 1089-9197)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Wheat Ridge Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave., Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legals: Fri. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 5 p.m.
PL E ASE RECYCLE
Rotary Club sponsors third city education forum By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com Advanced Placement classes, the use of technology in schools and academic growth of students dominated discussion among Golden and Jeffco Public Schools administrators and leaders at the city’s third forum on the state of education for Golden students. Golden schools are “building thinkers,” Mitchell Elementary Principal Samantha Hollman said. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Golden, the forum took place Sept. 16 and brought together Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Dan McMinimee, Golden High School Principal Brian Conroy, Bell Middle School Principal Bridget Jones, Hollman, Golden Mayor Marjorie Sloan, Welchester Elementary PTA President Michelle Applegate and Golden Schools Foundation chair Kim Brock. About 45 citizens attended the forum in the city council chambers. The forum did not discuss topics related to the Jeffco school board election. “The panelists did an excellent job,” said Rotarian Tom Hughes, who moderated the event. Discussion “covered relevant issues.” Among them were Advanced Placement, or AP, classes, which are college-level courses that give students college credit if they score high enough on the final exam. AP classes provide a “very rigorous” curriculum that helps students prepare for college, said Conroy of Golden High School, where all students are encouraged to take AP classes. They “are the ticket to the university,” he said. Technology also is greatly changing learning in the classroom, educators said. “Technology is a tool,” McMinimee said, adding that Jeffco schools are “at a good place with technology.” Forum continues on Page 3
Beth Ertz’s second grade class work on addition problems during a math workshop last week in Mitchell Elementary in Golden. A recent city-wide education forum discussed how to improve Golden schools. Photo by Christy Steadman
IN THEIR WORDS The Golden Transcript asked attendees what they thought of the Golden school forum. This is what they said: “I thought it was interesting. I have two elementary school children, so learning about the middle school and high school was very helpful.” — Amy King of Golden “For me, I thought it was an extremely informative session in terms of learning what the challenges are in education today.” — Marv DeSelm of Golden “It is really gratifying that the senior high, junior high and elementary schools are all on the same page. They talk to each other and plan together and are able to find the gaps before they occur.” —Julia Andrews-Jones of Golden