September 22, 2016
VO LU ME 71 | ISSU E 46 | 50 ¢
AHOY THERE! The second annual Northglenn Pirate Festival splashed into town last weekend. Check out some of the sights from the event on PAGE 5.
A publication of
A DA M S C OU N T Y & J EF F ERS ON C OU N T Y, C OLOR A DO
WestminsterWindow.com
HELPING OUT AT HOLY CROSS FIESTA
Girl shot and killed at party in Thornton Police still searching for gunman Staff report A 16-year-old girl was killed at about 1:40 a.m. Sept. 17 in the 13000 block of Monaco Way in Thornton after allegedly being shot by a young man who police were still searching for as of press time Sept. 19. The gunshots came after a disturbance broke out Saturday during a house party on the block. People started fleeing the home, while the gunman apparently opened fire, Thornton police said. The victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was lying in the street when police arrived, according to Officer Matt Barnes of the Thornton Police Department. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Juan Ramirez, left, and daughter Gimena, of Westminster, help Jaime Olivarez, of Northglenn, prepare fruit for the beer garden booth at the Holy Cross Church Fall Fiesta, held Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Thornton parish. The congregation is led by Father Jorge Rodriguez, a native of Merida, Mexico, who has been the church’s pastor for two years. Photo by Stefan Brodsky
Shooting continues on Page 4
ITT Tech ‘He has taken away all the excuses’ students put focus on future Despite his wheelchair, Jack Knight — and his dog — march in high school band By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Standley Lake sophomore Jack Knight was born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an incurable genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and eventually robs patients of their ability to walk, move their arms, and care for themselves. But the diagnosis doesn’t stop the 16-year-old from doing one of the things he loves — marching band. “I think he has taken away all the excuses,” Standley Lake band director Crissy Duran said. “I feel like everyone works a little harder when they’re around Jack.” Two years ago, Knight lost his ability to walk and is now permanently in an electric wheelchair. He and his service dog, a golden retriever named Amber, have been inseparable for the past eight years and are starting their second season marching with the Gators. “When I joined the marching band, it
Local community colleges offer transfer information to students of closed for-profit college By Kyle Harding kharding@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Jack Knight and his service dog, Amber, play in the marching band at Standley Lake High School. Courtesy photo was only natural that Amber join, too,” Knight said, adding that the dog has been going to school with him fulltime since third grade. Amber is there to relieve stress and help Knight feel more calm. She picks things up when Knight drops them. And she presses the handicap access
button to open doors. “Also, girls talk to me because they want to pet dog,” Knight said, laughing and smiling while sitting in the backyard of his Westminster home. The Gator marching band performed
Thomas Westbrook had a feeling something was wrong at ITT Technical Institute earlier this year. “A few of us had an inkling something was fishy because they stopped taking new students in,” the Westminster resident said. He said school staff would get defensive when asked if there were problems. Westbrook was one quarter shy of earning an associate’s degree in network systems administration at ITT Tech’s
Knight continues on Page 11
WESTMINSTER WINDOW (ISSN 1072-1576) (USPS 455-250) OFFICE: 8753 Yates Dr., Ste. 200, Westminster, CO 80031 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams and Jefferson County, Colorado, the Westminster Window is published weekly on Thursday by MetroNorth Newspapers, 8753 Yates Dr., Ste. 200, Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WESTMINSTER, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 12 p.m. | Classifieds: Mon. 2 p.m. | Obits: Mon. 2 p.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.
College continues on Page 4