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Local News

  • Accident kills Littleton man

    Bradley J. Miller, 24, of Littleton died about 10:30 a.m. Aug. 27 when his car was broadsided by a truck at South Simms Street and West Bowles Avenue.

    Miller was stopped at a red light east on West Bowles, and police said he pulled his car into the intersection while the light was still red into the path of a Dodge Ram truck driven by Christopher Dalton, 20, of Littleton.

    Miller was pronounced dead at the scene. Krystle Rankin, 25, of Fort Collins was in the car with Miller and sustained serious injuries. She was taken to Swedish Hospital.

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  • Software takes on the hard job of planning road work

    To maintain county roads each year, the Jeffco Road and Bridge Department burns through 114,000 tons of asphalt and 650,000 gallons of diesel fuel — on a network of roads that adds up to 2,860 lane-miles.

    Add to that the soaring costs of fuel and asphalt and the tight times faced by the county budget, and the human mind boggles at finding the most cost-efficient ways to plug the potholes.

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  • Parent group gives failing grade to earlier school start

    The lack of enthusiasm for school openings in mid-August is beginning to take its toll.

    Jefferson County Schools started on Aug. 12, except Conifer and Evergreen schools, which started Aug. 19.

    But Superintendent Cindy Stevenson told parents Aug. 21 the district is reconsidering its decision to begin classes earlier.

    Speaking at a regular meeting of the school board, Stevenson said: “We are working on doing a later start. Everybody wants a later start. Everyone also wants a mini-break in October, and they want finals to end before Christmas.”

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  • Coffman, Eng squaring off in 6th Congressional District

    After Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman won the bruising, four-way Republican primary in the 6th Congressional District, many political pundits pegged him as the next congressman from the GOP stronghold.

    But Arapahoe County Democrat Hank Eng hopes to prove the pundits wrong.

    Eng, an engineer and pilot with experience in the Peace Corps and the U.S. Agency for International Development,      is quick to remind anyone that the 6th Congressional District "is not a Republican entitlement."

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  • Depault gets 42 years in Dylan Newman slaying

    Jeffrey S. Depault will have 42 years to think about his role in the murder of Dylan Newman.

    Jefferson County District Judge Dennis Hall sentenced Depault, 22, to 42 years after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, aggravated robbery and one violent crime count in Newman's slaying in February.

    Newman, 20, was shot by Adam Zamora during a purported marijuana deal April 3, 2007, in a South Jeffco home. Depault was accused of arranging the transaction.

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  • School board taking applications for Chowdhury vacancy

    The Jeffco school board is taking applications from South Jeffco residents interested in replacing board member Vince Chowdhury, who resigned Aug. 21.

    Chowdhury announced Aug. 19 he was leaving the board after nearly eight years following a July 8 guilty plea to third-degree assault. The plea came after his arrest June 17 on suspicion of slapping and choking his 16-year-old daughter. The board had passed a resolution July 8 urging him to resign.

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  • DNC's first day a whirlwind

    Attending day one of the Democratic National Convention in Denver was like going to a party, a game and an industry trade show simultaneously. From a logistical standpoint, the enormous production came off nearly seamlessly.

    The shuttle bus, the security, the sound system, the snack bars, the people-watching, organization, professionalism of the volunteers, general accessibility and the inspiring speeches by famous political figures made the evening go by entertainingly.

    If the rest of the days go off as well, it will be a big win for Denver and Colorado.

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  • Jeffco schools to seek tax increase, bond issue

    The Jefferson County school board voted unanimously Aug. 21 to ask voters for a 4.4-mill increase in property taxes and a $350 million bond issue in the Nov. 4 election to pay for more teachers, upkeep, buildings and technology upgrades.

    The mill levy is expected to cost taxpayers an extra $2.92 a month per $100,000 of assessed valuation. The bond issue is to replace the level of borrowing that is in already in place as that is paid off, and it will not result in a tax increase.

    The proposal could be a tough sell in view of the declining economic climate.

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  • Rabid bat found at Columbine Hills Park

    The Jefferson County health department is looking for anyone who may have come into contact with a bat that tested positive for rabies.

    The bat was reported to Jeffco Animal Control by a citizen on Aug. 12. Animal Control responded to Columbine Hills Park (near South Kendall Street and West Elmhurst Avenue), where the bat was found in the parking lot near some bleachers hissing and behaving strangely.

    Two boys of middle school age reported the bat to a local veterinary clinic nearby and were asked if they had handled the bat; both responded no.

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  • The buck stops here

    When Mark Hubbard starts work each morning in the Jefferson County treasurer's office, he has hundreds of millions of reasons to pay very close attention to his job.

    Hubbard administers the county’s 15 bank accounts and also manages Jeffco’s investment portfolio, which totaled more than $288 million as of July 30.

    "It's interesting to get to manage money," the unassuming Hubbard said. "Eventually, you get used to it, and it's just numbers."

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