January 21, 2016
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ElbertCountyNews.net A publication of
E L B E R T C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Arraignment delayed in Agate murder case Man allegedly killed partner in marijuana grow operation By Rick Gustafson Special to Colorado Community Media Shawn Geerdes appeared in Elbert County District Court on Jan. 11 for his scheduled arraignment on one count of first-degree murder, one count of arson, and a series of other charges relating to the slaying of Jason Dosa, a 44-year-old Parker resident. Geerdes’ public defender requested a delay for the arraignment, citing the need for more time to review new discovery
released by the prosecution the previous week. Prosecutor Doug Bectel raised no objection, and Judge Jeffrey K. Holmes granted the delay, setting a new arraignment date of Feb. 22. Geerdes was arrested in Douglas County on Sept. 23 and was originally charged in Jefferson County for the murder of Dosa. He was later charged in Elbert County when investigators declared that the slaying had occurred a few miles west of Agate. According to the affidavit filed in the case, Dosa, who was allegedly a partner with Geerdes in a marijuana grow in Elbert County that had “fallen apart,” was shot at least five times with a .22-caliber
firearm. His body was left in the trunk of a Nissan Maxima, which was found in a ravine in Deer Creek Canyon (Jefferson County) fully engulfed in flames just before noon on Sept. 20. Jefferson County investigators tracked the license plate and the VIN to a known associate of Dosa, and Dosa’s physical description was similar to the body found in the trunk of the Nissan. Investigators later found Dosa’s iPhone at his residence and were able to use the metadata attached to a photo stored on the phone to pinpoint the location of the greenhouse used for the marijuana grow near County Road 162 near Agate in Elbert County, a property co-owned by Geerdes. In partnership with the Elbert County
Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County investigators served a search warrant on the property, and found blood in various location inside the greenhouse along with two .22-caliber shell casings in proximity to the blood. In the nearby house, they found a box of .22-caliber hollow-point bullets similar to the five recovered from Dosa’s body. A witness living near the residence also reported that he heard “a series of 10 small-caliber gunshots” coming from the property in the early hours of either Sept. 19 or 20. Geerdes is being held without bond at the Elbert County Jail in Kiowa pending his arraignment and trial.
County moves to refinance its debt Loan offers better rate than deal made in 2009 By Rick Gustafson Special to Colorado Community Media
Parker resident J.C. Childers, left, offers her condolences to Nancy Gripman’s husband, Bill, during a celebration of life service Jan. 9. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
Celebrating a life of giving Nancy Gripman honored for selflessness
By Chris Michlewicz cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com After they were married in 1951, Nancy Gripman would greet her husband’s Navy ship every time it returned to port. She often was the only one standing on the dock. Her consistent presence upon his arrival caused Bill Gripman to be razzed by his shipmates, but he didn’t care. His wife was demonstrating her devotion. Nancy had four children with Bill
by their sixth wedding anniversary, and she was equally attentive to her children and their achievements. “She was president of each of our respective fan clubs,” said John Gripman, her son. Hundreds of mourners filled the pews at Parker United Methodist Church Jan. 9 to bid farewell to Nancy Gripman, a woman who made a monumental impact on Parker up until her death on Dec. 1. But it wasn’t a somber occasion — Nancy wouldn’t want that. Instead, it was a “celebration of life” ceremony that included lighthearted
Nancy Gripman speaks to a crowd last year during a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Parker Task Force headquarters. File photo
In a proposed deal that would save Elbert County taxpayers an estimated $1.7 million, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously passed a resolution designating Branch Banking and Trust (BB&T) as the financial entity to refinance $5.8 million of debt owed by the county. “The purpose of this action today is to select a financing institution to pursue this, and there will be a follow on action to actually consummate the deal,” said Commissioner Larry Ross at the BOCC meeting on Jan. 13. BB&T is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and according to its website, “is one of the largest financial services holding companies in the U.S. with approximately $208.8 billion in assets.” The BOCC selected BB&T over a proposal by Wells Fargo, the current underwriter of the debt, and if approved, the deal would set a fixed interest rate of 2.61 percent for 15 years, down from a 5.2 percent interest rate over 20 years set in 2009. In the wake of declining revenue, overspending and criminal activity involving some county elected officials leading up to 2009, Elbert County
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ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ELIZABETH, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 12 p.m. | Classifieds: Mon. 10 a.m. | Obits: Mon. 10 a.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.
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