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Week of January 5, 2023
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
JeffcoTranscript.com
VOLUME 39 | ISSUE 24
Jeffco’s new climate action plan addresses emissions, climate change impacts
Year in review: Jefferson County
BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Melissa Jacobson (left), a parent from Kullerstrand Elementary, waits for the Jeffco Board of Education’s vote on whether to close PHOTO BY ANDREW FRAIELI 16 elementary schools. The Board voted unanimously in favor. BY ANDREW FRAIELI AFRAIELI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
While death threats and apartment fires have run as big news for Jefferson County this year, there were still other happy events happening. Small and local, the Benchmark Theatre held the world premiere of local actress Suzanne Nepi’s “The Covid Wife,” which gave a heartwrenching reenactment of her and her husband’s struggle with COVID. The Lakewood Cultural Center also hosted incredible musicians like the Baroque Chamber Orchestra and their performance of Vivaldi’s Seasons in October, or Daniel Hsu
delicately performing Schumann, Beethoven and Liszt in September. But, let’s look at what else has happened in Jeffco in 2022: Lakewood Apartment Fire
Halloween in Lakewood this year started with flames as Tiffany Square Apartments burned at 4 a.m., killing Kathleen Payton, 31, and her daughter Jazmine Payton-Aguayo, 10. The fire damaged 14 units and forced the residents of all 32 to be displaced with the American Red Cross helping find shelter at the time. The fire was found to be intentionally set according to the Lakewood Police though, and two
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 26
juveniles were arrested on suspicion of 1st Degree Murder and 1st Degree Arson on Nov. 6. Jeffco Board of Education voted to close 16 elementary schools
After almost three months of public hearings and meetings, the Jefferson County Board of Education unanimously voted to close 16 elementary schools on Nov. 10, approving a consolidation plan initially presented to the Board by the District on Aug. 25. Under-enrollment and lack of resources were continuously cited SEE YEAR IN REVIEW, P2
As Colorado becomes a hotter, drier place thanks to impacts from climate change, county officials want to make Jefferson County a more responsible, more resilient place. The county plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next dozen years and ensure residents and business owners are prepared for the increased risk of floods and wildfires. On Dec. 20, the Board of County Commissioners approved Jeffco’s first Climate Action Plan, which has been in the works since September 2020. “We have a single mission: to protect and hand on the planet to the next generation,” Commissioner Andy Kerr said. “Today, I am excited we are finally putting the ‘action’ in the Climate Action Plan.” Over the past year, county officials have been collecting public input on the plan with community meetings and a survey, including a public comment period this November. The Climate Action Plan outlines reducing the county’s greenhouse gas emissions by 73% from 2015 levels by 2035. It also wants to SEE IMPACTS, P5
SOCK IT TO ’EM Charity offering hosiery to homeless
P16