Local News

The defense team for Deer Creek Middle School shooting suspect Bruco Eastwood lost a round July 23, when a judge overturned a prior ruling that prevented prosecutors from accessing the defendant’s jail records.

District Judge Christopher Munch also denied a defense attorney’s request to close the motions hearing to the public.

  Republican Tim Kauffman was working as a commercial banker when he was called in 2008 and asked to replace newly elected Commissioner Faye Griffin as Jeffco treasurer. And though he was not new to politics, it took a bit of coaxing before he agreed to fill the office.

“My phone rang after the election in 2008. … They kept calling, and I realized this might be a really good fit,” said Kauffman, 42, a Westminster resident who served on the city council for seven years, four of which he was mayor pro tem.

  The Foothills Park & Recreation District is directing nearly $3 million to energy-efficiency upgrades at its facilities, as the district board voted July 13 to fund a contract with the McKinstry firm, which is guaranteeing Foothills will save on energy bills.

The board of directors also authorized the purchase of two new Zamboni ice-resurfacing vehicles to replace the 20-year-old units at The Edge Ice Arena.

Jefferson County recently resurrected a high-level position vacant since 2008, promoting former special projects coordinator Kate Newman to assistant county administrator.

Newman, whom County Administrator Ralph Schell promoted and had previously appointed as the county’s interim development and transportation director, will have few changes to her normal duties. She will be performing the same aspects of her coordinator position, though she now handles more administrative tasks.