Local News

County Commissioner Kathy Hartman squared off against her election opponent, Republican Don Rosier, at a Plan Jeffco forum Sept. 21 in a civil albeit technologically impeded election debate.

Rosier, who was unable to attend the forum in person, appeared on a large projection screen behind Hartman in the county’s Open Space meeting room, frequently cutting out as the Internet connection slowed.

A fire apparently sparked by an attic fan broke out shortly before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in a South Jeffco home on the 10000 block of West Fair Avenue. West Metro Fire responded with more than two dozen firefighters, extinguishing the blaze within less than 30 minutes.

“It looked like an electric attic fan shorted out,” said Assistant Chief Keith Schneider. “We had five rigs come over and 25 firefighters … it took about 25 minutes to pull apart all the smoldering debris in the attic.”

A South Jeffco church is poised to break ground this week on a contentious 13,000-square-foot, two-story expansion that will include classrooms and a large gymnasium. The Rock of Southwest Baptist Church is waiting for necessary permits before starting construction on the new building, which will be linked to the existing 27,000-square-foot church via a small passage.

Residents have raised concerns about the potential for increased traffic, particularly in light of the facility’s proximity to neighboring Westridge Elementary School.

Dozens of Golden residents voiced vehement opposition at a Jeffco public hearing Sept. 28 to a plan that will extend a residential street leading to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and acquire six privately held properties through eminent domain.

Grievances over extending Moss Street north of South Golden Road ranged from concern about landowners being forced to vacate property to worries about the new section of road’s impact on wildlife.