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Today's News

  • Budgeting method resulted in $133,000 in personnel costs

    By Emile Hallez

    Staff Writer

    Jefferson County paid employees about $133,000 this summer to assemble labor-intensive zero-based budgets for the library system and Human Services Division, exercises that may not necessarily be repeated next year.

    Effectively, county staff spent an estimated 3,475 hours at the behest of the county commissioners, creating budgets that came to the same conclusion — each department needs more money next year than it was allocated in 2011 to maintain services.

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  • Eastwood jury appeared in matching clothes during trial

    By Emile Hallez

    Staff Writer

    Jurors in Bruco Eastwood’s attempted-murder trial displayed an unusual collective behavior during the second week of proceedings, donning uniform colors of clothing every day.

    On Sept. 26, each of the jurors walked into the courtroom wearing a shade of purple. The move raised a few eyebrows, though prosecutors and public defenders didn’t mention anything to Judge Christopher Munch.

    The following day, it was green. On Sept. 28 it was blue, then gray.

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  • School board candidates not specific about cuts

    By Emile Hallez

    Staff Writer

    About 150 people packed a Jeffco school board candidate debate Sept. 26 at Colorado Christian University in which the four candidates attempted to differentiate themselves but largely avoided suggesting specific changes in the school system.

    Jeffco District 3 candidates Jill Fellman and Preston Branaugh squared off, followed by District 4 candidates Jim Powers and Lesley Dahlkemper.

    Among topics in the District 3 discussion were union relations, education experience, fiscal responsibility and school vouchers.

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  • Woman dies after being injured by car in driveway

    By Emile Hallez

    Staff Writer

    A South Jeffco woman died early Tuesday morning after being injured by a car in her driveway the previous evening.

    Shirley Gallegos, 76, was attempting to enter the front passenger door of a 2006 Honda Accord at 7:15 p.m. at 9717 W. Peakview Drive as the vehicle was moving, the Colorado State Patrol said. Gallegos fell, and it is unclear how the car injured her.

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  • McDondle, Rebels run over Chargers

    LAKEWOOD — It’s probably safe to say that Cameron McDondle is back to his old self. It’s also safe to say that the Columbine senior running back loves playing rival Chatfield. After all, he’s had his way with the Chargers the past two years.
    McDondle rushed for a season-high 265 yards and four touchdowns — the second straight year he’s rushed for more than 200 yards and scored four times against Chatfield — as Columbine remained unbeaten with a 34-7 victory at Jeffco Stadium on Sept. 30.

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  • REBEL BALL: Chatfield rivalry a passionate one

    Columbine Courier Sports Editor Michael Hicks and Photo Editor Matthew Jonas are following head coach Andy Lowry’s Columbine Rebels from the start of practice throughout the 2011 season, a year after a 9-2 season and a disappointing second-round playoff loss. Third in a series.

    LAKEWOOD — Richard Hoffschneider doesn’t think too highly of Chatfield Senior High School, but he’s got his reasons.
    “I don’t really like them,” the younger brother of Columbine tight end/defensive lineman Nick Hoffschneider said.

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  • Jeffco League champion Columbine ready for regionals

    It wasn’t the kind of season Lorens Knudsen expected. The Columbine boys tennis coach had an experienced, but still a relatively young team. And Chatfield, for years, has been the perennial favorite in the 5A Jeffco League.
    But Columbine beat all those odds, scoring three shutout victories in league play, winning two matches by a 6-1 score and scoring a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Chatfield, in which the Rebels’ doubles team won all four matches, to take home league supremacy.
    So, was winning the league championship a surprise? In a word, yes.

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  • McDaniel, Haynes pay tribute to Sanders

    Zaq McDaniel transferred to Columbine High School two years ago after spending his freshman season at nearby Heritage. But make no bones about it, he’s a Rebel now.
    That pride was shining through after his 13th-place finish in Division 1 race at the Dave Sanders Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 30 at Clement Park.
    “It’s a good chance to represent Dave Sanders, a good chance to show everybody what Columbine is all about,” said McDaniel after he ran a time of 16 minutes, 44 seconds. Kyle Ames of Smoky Hill won in 15:54.

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  • Sports briefs

    SOFTBALL
    Chatfield locks up 5A Jeffco League championship with win
    WESTMINSTER     — Rebecka Mintz struck out 13 and Chatfield scored the game-winning run in the eighth for a 4-3 victory over host Standley Lake on Oct. 1.
    The win locked up the 5A Jeffco League softball championship for the Lady Chargers (14-3, 8-0 5A Jeffco League). Chatfield held a one-game lead over Dakota Ridge entering its regular-season finale on Oct. 4 at Lakewood. The Lady Chargers hold the tiebreaker, thanks to a 2-1 win over Dakota Ridge earlier this season.

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  • Ethics panel’s staff releases report on McCasky probe

    By Emile Hallez

    Staff Writer

    The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission released its staff report Oct. 3 in the investigation of former Jeffco commissioner Kevin McCasky’s hiring by the Jefferson Economic Council, an organization for which he sought additional funds while still serving as a commissioner.

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