Transcript Golden 4.18.13
Foothills
POSTAL PATRON
April 18, 2013
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourgoldennews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado
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DA plays defense Jeffco’s Weir requests added security By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com First Judicial District Attorney Pete Weir asked the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners for its support in improving security for his staff at a briefing last week. “We’re in a dangerous business,” Weir said, adding the threat seemed real enough, and close enough that there was little time to waste. He specifically cited the shooting death of Tom Clements, executive director of Colorado’s Department of Corrections, on March 19. Weir called Clements a respected colleague and a close personal friend. The suspect in that shooting was a parolee, Evan Spencer Ebel, 28, who was later killed in a car chase and gun fight with law enforcement in Texas. “Mr. Ebel was prosecuted by my office. It was a Jefferson County Court that first put him away,” Weir said. Ebel’s long rap sheet has its start in Lakewood in 2003 with armed robbery and fel-
ony menacing according to court records. His more recent crimes have a Jeffco connection as well. In a grassy field that offers a decent view of the Jefferson County Courthouse, just a five-minute drive away, Ebel is believed to have dumped his murder victim Nathan Collin Leon on March 17. Two days later, Ebel is also suspected of having shot and killed Clements at his Monument home. Investigators are still looking into whether the killing of Clements was an ordered assassination, or if Ebel was acting alone. Ebel was on parole at the time of the killings, and had spent the last few years in the Colorado prison system, where he became associated with the violent 211 white supremacist gang. The possible assassinations of a district attorney and an assistant district attorney in Texas have at least raised the possibility that prison gangs have chosen to target members of the justice system who helped put them behind bars, or help keep them there. “The problem is these dangerous folks also have dangerous associates, who are not in custody,” Weir said. Weir added that local law enforcement agencies have begun making extra patrols
Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff Rob Neville helps a woman go through the security checkpoint at the entryway to the court side of the county building at 100 Jefferson County Parkway. Photo by Glenn Wallace around the houses of some of staff residences. Among Weir’s suggestions: Designated parking near a secure “County Employee’s Only” entrance, a secure shuttle bus service for DA staff, added video surveillance of the county courthouse grounds. Weir said a few other security ideas were being discussed with county staff, but would require time
Conservation report looking sunny
BALANCING ACT
Golden conservation effort to focus on solar in 2013
SUSTAINABLE IN GOLDEN Golden offers many opportunities to be better stewards of
By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com
Golden resident Jon Woodhouse works on making his way across a slack line in Parfet Park on April 11. “It’s very addicting, and it’s hard to describe it, until you do it,” Woodhouse said, adding that the sport enjoys quite a bit of popularity in Golden. Photo by Glenn Wallace
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and money to be planned and implemented. The county sheriff’s department, which is responsible for courthouse security, is aware of the situation and has taken some steps to improve security, department Public Information Officer Jacki Kelley said. “They’re security measures, so we keep them pretty close to the vest,” Kelley said.
It should be a sunny spring for Golden, at least if the city’s sustainability plans are an accurate forecast. A raft of municipal solar projects, a pilot program for downtown recycling, and a rededication to some challenging goals were among the elements of the Golden Sustainability Board’s 2012 annual report during the April 11 Golden City Council meeting. The council met with members of the Community Sustainability Advisory Board (CSAB), including Golden’s Sustainability Manager Theresa Worsham, Chuck Baroch, Whitney Painter, Kurt Bendl, and Mark Campanelli. The CSAB 2012 report included a scorecard on the city’s progress toward those sustainability goals. Five years into the 10-year period, the city has already achieved its goal for green building, and has also nearly reached goals for reducing solid waste, providing for alternative transportation, and water conservation. “It’s just really impressive and from the report it looks like next year we’ll be making some good gains on electricity,” Mayor Marjorie Sloan said. Painter said the group was excited to have a “fired up year,” in 2013. Energy goals remain elusive for the city, according to the report, with only 10 percent of the city’s sustainability goals reached. The category was marked as CSAB’s highest priority for this year. Specifically, the city’s goals call for the entire city to cut energy usage by 20 percent, and increase the city’s energy supply portfolio to include 20 percent renewable sources. For city facilities, the goal is to reach 50 percent
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resources. Here are two upcoming opportunities. Water Wise Seminar The City of Golden is partnering with the Center for ReSource Conservation to provide a free seminar on Xeriscape Gardening and other water-wise landscape practices. The event is Thursday, April 18, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the City of Golden Community Center (Bear Creek South meeting room), 1470 10th St., Golden. The seminar is free and open to anyone. For more information, or to register, visit www.ConservationCenter. org, or call 303-999-3820, ext. 217. 4th annual Greener Golden Day Kick-off the growing season by joining the City of Golden on Saturday, May 11, for the fourth annual Greener Golden celebration. The event, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., will take place at the City of Golden Public Works Administrative building and the Golden Community Garden. Parking will be available at 1445 10th Street. Pick up for pre-ordered xeric Garden in a Box packs will be available. To order a Garden in a Box, go to Gardenstore. ConservationCenter.org or by calling 303.999.3820, ext. 222. Individual xeric plants and water wise products will also be available for sale. Other activities will include a tour of the Golden Community Garden’ Q and A session with CSU Extension Master Gardeners; a tour of Golden’s Water Treatment Plant; and learn about the city’s environmental services programs such as free sprinkler inspections. renewable energy consumption. Worsham said a CSAB-developed comprehensive package of photovoltaic energy generation on several city buildings. Step one, hiring a firm to conduct an energy audit and feasibility study, will be requested at the council’s April 18 meeting. “We’re excited. We’ve been wanting to see that,” Ward 4 Councilman Bill Fisher Report continues on Page 27
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