WEEK OF MAY 8, 2025
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 45
FREE
Second man convicted in rock-throwing murder case BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
“I’m really glad we are to have our Advisory Committee for the mill,” Denham said. “Because they’ve been working really hard not only on putting together a masterplan for this wonderful structure but also putting together the gatherings that we have here and cleaning up what happened to our grounds and taking care of our structure and the equipment we have here.” The mill was recognized by the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, thanks in large part to the efforts of Lois Lindstrom, a local educator and a founding member of the Arvada Historical Society. The mill itself was built in 1926 by E.E. Benjamin, whose sale of “Arva-Pride Flour” became a staple of the community in its early years.
The second of three men who took part in the rock-throwing case that ended in the murder of Alexa Bartell has been sentenced, as Zachary Kwak received 32 years in prison on May 2. Kwak’s sentence is the lightest of the three. Fellow defendant Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik was sentenced to 45 yearson May 1, and Joseph Koenig was convicted of first-degree murder,which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. Koenig will be sentenced on June 3. In May 2024, Kwak took a plea deal and cooperated with authorities throughout their investigation into Bartell’s death. He testified against Koenig during Koenig’s murder trial last month, during which he maintained that Koenig threw the rock that killed Bartell and that Kwak himself threw no rocks on the night of April 19, 2023. As part of his plea deal, Kwak was facing 20 to 32 years in prison. Kwak was convicted of first-degree assault, second-degree assault and criminal attempt of second-degree assault. He was sentenced to 27 years for the first offense, and five years for the second, to be served consecutively. He was sentenced to eight years for the final offense, but that sentence will be served concurrently (at the same time as the others). After his time in prison, Kwak will be on parole for five years. “He has had lesser involvement than the other two,” Judge Christopher Zenisek said. “He has expressed remorse … his remorse might not look the same as what we might expect as laypersons.” Members of Bartell’s family advocated for Kwak to get the maximum sentence of 32 years, saying that he did not show accountability for his actions on the stand during Koenig’s trial. “I haven’t seen remorse, I haven’t seen a tear shed — nothing,” said Jenna Griggs, Bartell’s girlfriend. “I will never make sense of it.” Bartell’s brother, Ryan, read a letter he wrote for his sister. “While I may heal, I can’t erase the pain of losing you,” Bartell said. “I often find myself lost in memories … I miss you more than words can say.”
SEE FLOUR MILLS, P6
SEE TRIAL, P12
ARTY’S EXPRESS BRINGS ‘EXPLOSIVE’ TASTES P2
THERAPY HORSES HELP THOSE IN NEED P10
From left: Arvada Historical Society President Judith Denham, Opal Tiller, mill volunteer Karen Miller. PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN
Arvadans celebrate Flour Mill’s 50th year on the National Register of Historic Places Recent efforts have brought the mill back into good condition BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
RMAC ATHLETES BREAK RECORDS AT CHAMPIONSHIPS
P16
Fifty years after the Arvada Flour Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places, locals still gather and celebrate the community’s history at the historic building. On April 24, members of the Arvada Historical Society put on a celebration of the mill’s place in town history. Festivities included a mill-themed cake and mill-shaped cookies, along with refreshments and speeches from members of the Arvada Historical Society. Judith Denham, the president of the Arvada Historical Society, thanked the Flour Mill Advisory Committee for putting together a masterplan for the mill and bringing back regular mill tours.
VOICES: 8 | LIFE: 10 | CALENDAR: 13 | SPORTS: 16
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