WEEK OF DECEMBER 26, 2024
VOLUME 53 | ISSUE 29
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2024 in rewind for Clear Creek County
Cash-strapped Clear Creek County cuts hours and jobs BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A kazoo band marches in Rocky Mountain Village in Empire Nov. 16 to celebrate the life of Greg Markle. BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The year comes to a close in Clear Creek County with unresolved issues spilling over into 2025 including two murder trials, a county struggling and cutting to stay afloat financially and a town that lost several top administration roles in just weeks. Construction plans will reshape Idaho Springs and Clear Creek County lost a legendary figure who made us laugh. Here is a look at some of the top stories covered in the Clear Creek Courant that will shape memories of 2024 and define early 2025. Andrew Buen murder trial in death of Christian Glass ends with hung jury
After eight days of testimony and twoand-a-half days of deliberation, a Clear Creek County jury found Buen guilty of reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor, in the shooting death of 22-year-old Christian Glass. However, jurors were unable to reach a decision on the second-degree murder and official misconduct charges at proceedings on April 26. A retrial for Buen is scheduled for February, with prosecutors expecting to begin jury selection early next year. The last jury pool was selected following more than 2000 jury summons sent to county residents. Idaho Springs resident Paul Peavy is shot to death, suspect confesses and faces trial next year
During multiple interviews with in-
PHOTO BY CHRIS KOEBERL
vestigators, Sergio Ferrer of Georgetown admitted he shot Idaho Springs resident Paul Peavey to death. Ferrer used Peavey’s 9mm handgun, according to court documents obtained by the Clear Creek Courant. Peavey was well known to locals for his passion for breeding and raising Dobermans. Several of the puppies went missing after his murder and prosecutors say only a couple of the missing puppies were located. Clear Creek County forced to cut hours and jobs due to budget shortfall
Commissioners have been pointing to a significant budget shortfall for years. Now the county is cutting several full
SEE CUTS, P2
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SEE 2024 REWIND, P6
VOICES: 8 | LIFE: 10 | PUZZLES: 14
50’s Jolly Rancher
Clear Creek County commissioners have been pointing to a significant budget shortfall for years. Now the county is cutting several full time positions and announcing a four-day work week to manage what officials describe as “severe revenue challenges.” Declining sales tax revenues and state legislative actions that have reduced property tax revenue exacerbating the county’s longer-term trend of declining property tax revenue, according to county spokesperson Megan Hiler. Four full-time positions and four unfilled positions within the county will be eliminated, according to Hiler. “We deeply appreciate these employees’ hard work, dedication and the positive impact they have had on our organization and community,” Hiler said. “This decision in no way reflects their job performances.” Current employees in the positions of County Archivist, Geographic Information Systems Technician (mapping), Recreation Facilities Manager and Senior Planning Administrator will lose their jobs. Employees will maintain a full-time status working 32 hours a week and keep healthcare and other full-time benefits, according to County Commissioner George Marlin, who said the short week for employees is in lieu of wage increases. “Instead of giving them the raise they deserve, we’re putting them at 32 hours so we’re giving them some time back. That’s basically to defer giving them raises,” Marlin said.
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