Serving the community since 1866
WEEK OF JUNE 15, 2023
VOLUME 157 | ISSUE 26
$2
The Orecart Golden’s Clear Creek ideal training ground for swiftwater rescues arrives: Golden
launches free downtown circulator shuttle BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
then they worked on establishing rope lines across the creek, escaping debris in the water and saving people stranded in the creek. According to Staley, less than a quarter of Golden’s firefighters are trained in swiftwater rescue. It’s a similar story at West Metro, where only 25-30 of its 400-plus firefighters are trained in swiftwater rescues. Typically, only those assigned to Stations 8 and 17 undergo the training. Station 8 includes the
Whether it’s downtown visitors who need a little help getting around or Colorado School of Mines students wanting to access the RTD rail lines, the four-wheeled solution has arrived. Mines and the City of Golden are launching the Orecart shuttle service this year, which will provide free public transportation around Golden, officials have confirmed. While that service won’t launch until August or September, the city’s hosting its own downtown circulator shuttle in the meantime, starting June 16. It will offer free transportation along a single downtown route on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays this summer. Golden planner Matt Wempe said the downtown shuttle will collect data, improve accessibility and help alleviate Golden’s summertime parking woes. Once the 2023-24 school year starts, Mines and the city will offer an expanded shuttle service with four routes: Gold, which will circulate around downtown; Silver, which will go around the Mines campus; Tungsten, which will go through the city
SEE RESCUE, P2
SEE SHUTTLE, P3
West Metro Fire Rescue firefighters conduct swiftwater rescue training June 9 near Clear Creek Canyon’s Tunnel 1. This training PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN scenario required firefighters to move a raft across the creek to save a stranded person on the other side. BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When the inevitable water rescue calls come in, Golden Fire Department and other rescue agencies must be ready. This month, swiftwater rescue trainees and instructors from across the Denver area and beyond have been swarming Clear Creek in and around Golden. Organizations like Dive Rescue International hosted trainees from local and out-of-state departments, while Golden and
West Metro Fire Rescue conducted internal training sessions. While the water’s been too high and fast for most users this month, rescuers train in these conditions so they’re prepared for the worst, Golden’s Lt. Marc Staley explained. The run-off season typically lasts about a month, and Clear Creek has become a proverbial hotspot because of its trail access and water features. Golden trained five swiftwater rescue swimmers June 9 and 11. They first practiced how to self-rescue with various combinations of gear,
VOICES: 14 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19 | SPORTS: 30
GOLDENTRANSCRIPT.NET • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Landmark 20th
July 28, 29 & 30
Evergreen Jazz Festival Big Talent! Small Venues! Great Setting!
Dancers Welcome!
Free Parking!
EvergreenJazz.org 303-697-5467