Local News

Republican Justin Everett convincingly won the election for state representative from House District 22 against Democrat Mary Parker with 22,698 votes, or 53 percent. Parker, a political newcomer, garnered 18,867 votes in the Republican dominated district.

A South Jeffco native and former president of CoHOPE, Everett launched the campaign season by winning a tough primary against Republican Loren Bauman.

Parker came on strong with an energetic campaign, experience as a small-business owner, volunteer experience and a working mom. 

In a Jeffco race that attracted a considerable amount of money from outside groups, Democrat Andy Kerr won over Republican Ken Summers in state Senate District 22.

Kerr captured 52.37 percent of the vote to Summers' 47.63 percent.

South Jeffco residents were flooded with mailers targeting both Kerr and Summers in the last few weeks leading up to the Nov. 6 election.

Jefferson County Open Space unveiled a list of goals for 2013, including building 4 miles of natural surface trail on South Table Mountain.

Amy Ito, manager of park planning and construction, outlined the plans in a study session at the monthly meeting of the Open Space Advisory Committee on Nov. 1.

The $3.45 million budget includes $1.4 million to complete a design/build contract for 4 miles of the Peaks to Plains trail from Mayhem Gulch west to Clear Creek County along Clear Creek.

 As home foreclosures level off in Jefferson County, the home price index for the Denver area increased 5.5 percent from August 2011 to August 2012 — not exactly a surge, but perhaps a mini-surge.

It was the eighth year-over-year increase in a row for Denver and the largest year-over-year increase since January 2002, according to the Case-Shiller home price index released Oct. 30.