Week of November 17, 2022
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
GoldenTranscript.net
VOLUME 156 | ISSUE 48
Fairmount Firebirds Burn Blue!
Bond reduced for Avila in fatal hit-andrun case Marquez scheduled for Dec. 16 preliminary hearing BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
felt likewise, describing how she was immensely proud of all the students, staff members and community members’ hard work. During the Nov. 9 celebration, Mills thanked the current and former students whose diligence has made this possible; all the teachers and staff members who’ve dedicated themselves to supporting students in the classroom and around the school; the parents, volunteers, PTA members and other supporters who make Fairmount feel like a community. Dorland said she was grateful to all those groups too, but also wanted to recognize Mills and Kruse for all their efforts as Fairmount’s principals.
The 25-year-old man who was arrested as an accessory in the fatal hit-and-run outside a Golden bar had his bond reduced from $100,000 cash to $50,000 cash. Ernesto Avila and co-defendant Ruben Marquez, 29, had separate court appearances the week of Nov. 7. The two were arrested on Oct. 9 after Marquez reportedly drove Avila’s truck into a crowd of people outside The Rock Rest Lodge. One man was killed, and several others were injured. The District Attorney’s Office has filed 17 charges against Marquez, including first-degree murder, vehicular homicide, and multiple assault charges. Avila, the truck’s owner, was believed to be a passenger during the incident outside The Rock Rest. However, Jeffco Sheriff’s deputies reported Avila was driving when JCSO stopped the vehicle shortly afterward. He’s been charged with one felony count of accessory to a crime. Avila appeared in court Nov. 7 for a bond reduction hearing. An arraignment was also scheduled, but was continued to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 9. Avila may enter a plea at that time.
SEE FIREBIRDS, P4
SEE REDUCED, P5
Teacher Mari Arleth, her kindergartners and other Fairmount Elementary School students wave to an overhead drone camera during the Nov. 9 Blue Ribbon award celebration. The entire student body and faculty, all wearing blue, arranged themselves in a ribbon for PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN the special photo to commemorate the prestigious award.
Local elementary school receives prestigious Blue Ribbon BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Firebirds of Fairmount Elementary School have transformed from red to blue — burning hotter and brighter than before — as the school recently received the prestigious Blue Ribbon award. In September, the U.S. Department of Education named Fairmount as a 2022 Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School. Only four schools in Colorado received the award this year, Prin-
cipal Sally Mills explained, and it was based on three years’ data and months of application work. Mills told the students that being named a Blue Ribbon School was like winning the state competition in sports and then going onto nationals. On Nov. 9, the Fairmount community — students, staff, parents and supporters — celebrated with a special aerial photo of the student body in the shape of a blue ribbon. The celebrations also included singing the school spirit song before eating popsicles and cookies. “You should be so proud of yourselves,” Jeffco Superintendent Tracy Dorland told the school community. “ … (This award) is welldeserved.” Assistant Principal Chris Kruse
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
CHOW NOW
Charcuterie boards gain in popularity
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