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Week of December 15, 2022
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 26
12th Annual Arvada Firehouse Chili Cookoff raises $1,235 for AFPD
VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 26
Faith Christian High School closing due to multi-million dollar debt BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Youngsters hand out chili at the cookoff.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AFPD
Station 9 wins people’s choice for best chili BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Friends of the Arvada Fire Protection District — a nonprofit that supports the AFPD — hosted the 12th Annual Arvada Firehouse Chili Cookoff on Dec. 5 at the Arvada Elks Lodge, raising over $1,200 for the department. Station 9 won the people’s choice for “Best Chili.” Each Arvada Fire Station’s staff made home-cooked chili for entry in the contest, which was judged by a popular vote as over 250 attendees sampled and cast their ballots for their favorite entry. Last year, Station 5’s B shift took home “Best Chili” honors. Friends of Arvada Fire Protection District President Sue Steward thanked everyone who made this year’s event a success. “We had another successful chili cook-off with a great turnout, plenty of tasty chili, and generous support that enables us to support our firefighters, community and Arvada Fire,” she said. “We’re thankful to those who make this event possible, including the attendees, sponsors, volunteers and our hosts, Arvada Elks.”
The scene at the Arvada Elks Lodge for the Friends of Arvada Fire’s 12th Annual Chili Cookoff.
Faith Christian High School in Arvada will be closing at the end of the 2022-2023 school year due to mounting debt, Faith Christian Superintendent Andrew Hasz and Pastor Jason King announced in a video message to families. The high school, located on Carr Street, has been acquired by Grace Church of Arvada for $12 million. Grace will reopen the high school for the 2023-2024 school year under a new name and leadership team, according to Grace Church Pastor Rick Long. Faith Christian’s K-8 school, located on Ward Road, will remain open under Faith Christian Academy’s banner. Hasz did not respond for comment by press time but said a representative from the school would be available for an interview with Colorado Community Media within the next couple of days. Faith Christian Academy celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021 but mounting financial woes had been plaguing the church over the past two decades, according to King’s comments in the video message to families, posted to YouTube on Nov. 18. The ministry’s K-8 was founded in Denver in 1971, with the high school opening the following year. In an interview with the Arvada Press last year, Hasz said the school’s total K-12 enrollment was “a little under 850,” a figure he said was up 100 from the previous school year. Hasz said his father Martin founded the school with the goal “to have a school where the focus on God could be central and students would be encouraged to have a personal relationship with Jesus.” Faith also has been embroiled in a number of high-profile lawsuits, including a racial discrimination SEE CLOSING, P2