Serving the community since 1866
WEEK OF APRIL 3, 2025
VOLUME 159 | ISSUE 14
$2
Geer to enter plea April 28 in crash that killed Golden police officer
PALEONTOLOGIST WRITES CHILDREN’S BOOK P2
NATIVE ART EXHIBIT OPENS AT GOLDEN MUSEUM
BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
P4 Micah, 8, throws the ceremonial first pitch during the Colorado School of Mines’ March 16 baseball game against New Mexico Highlands. Micah, who has been battling brain cancer, joined the Mines baseball team PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN as its Team IMPACT match.
Little star in the big leagues BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
KIDS ON THEIR OWN IN P12 MUNICIPAL COURT
Even though he’s only 7 years old, Micah has already signed with a college baseball team. The young Denver-area resident has joined Colorado School of Mines from Team IMPACT. The organization matches children facing serious illnesses and disabilities with college sports teams, “creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved,” according to its website. Several Mines teams have welcomed players from Team IMPACT before. Coach Robby Bales said the baseball team has had three during his 10 seasons coaching at Mines, but Micah is the first in about five years. Micah, who was diagnosed with brain cancer and recently went through chemotherapy treatment, was matched with the Orediggers in December, both Mines and Team IMPACT confirmed. Bales and his players said, so far, Micah has been a perfect match for the team. He loves baseball and has enjoyed visiting the Oredig-
gers since “signing” with them in December. “He’s a fearless kid,” junior first baseman Trent Nielsen said. “He comes in around 40 baseball guys … and he gets right in there. He’s a great sport. He loves being around us, and we love being around him.”
MINSTER VOTE NOW
Although he can’t officially play for Mines — yet — the Orediggers treat him like a member of the team. Mines hosted a signing day ceremony in December for Micah and his family to sign ceremonial papers. It also gave him a custom jersey, hat and other swag. Since then, he and his family have been joining the Orediggers for practices whenever they can, and the players have been helping Micah work on his batting, catching and throwing. On March 16, Micah showed off his pitching skills as he and his younger brother threw the ceremonial first pitch at Mines’ doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands. SEE BIG LEAGUES, P11
SEE GEER, P6
Joining the team
WINDOW
March 1st - April 15th
VOICES: XX | LIFE: XX | CALENDAR: XX | SPORTS: XX
The Nov. 6 incident
According to the arrest affidavit filed against Geer, at 4:38 p.m. Nov. 6, Golden police officers responded to eastbound Highway 58 just east of Washington Avenue. They were investigating a crash between a Toyota Tacoma and a Subaru Crosstrek. Amid slick and snowy conditions, the Toyota had reportedly lost control while the Subaru was trying to pass, hitting it, and both vehicles were now disabled near the median. All involved vehicles were on the far-left side of Highway 58, according to the affidavit, with a Golden Police vehicle positioned behind the other two. All other traffic was moving to the right, away from the original crash scene.
WESTMINSTER
2025
The Colorado School of Mines professor charged in the death of Golden Police Officer Evan Dunn is scheduled to enter a plea on April 28. Stephen Geer, 43, has been charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault after he reportedly drove into the scene of a Nov. 6 traffic accident along Highway 58, striking four people. Dunn, 33, died at the scene. GPD Officer Bethany Grusing was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, but city officials confirmed she has returned to work and has been recovering in the months since the incident. Two civilians were also injured, according to police reports. Geer appeared in person at the Jefferson County Courthouse March 20, where he and his attorney waived his right to a preliminary hearing. The case was bound over to the district court, and his arraignment was scheduled for 3 p.m. April 28 at the Jeffco courthouse. Geer is out of custody on a $250,000 cash/surety bond. He was still listed as a teaching assistant professor on the Mines website as of March 21.
WINDOW
GOLDENTRANSCRIPT.NET • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA