Serving Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and beyond
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 21, 2024
VOLUME 41 | ISSUE 16
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From Lakewood to the big leagues
Jefferson County School Board set to approve sale of three closed schools for nearly $9 million BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
securing a PRCA permit, which requires riders to perform at five non-PRCA rodeos and submit evaluation reports alongside two recommendation letters, one from a top-five specialty act and another from a top-five rodeo announcer. Getting those recommendations takes time,” Clabaugh said. “I had to figure out who qualified to write these letters because it’s not just anyone. They have to have earned their status recently.” Clabaugh earned her permit in September 2023 after a year of working her way through the rodeo circuit. From there, she performed at five more PRCA rodeos to secure her full card in 2024, achieving her goal in record time. “Even at the PRCA level, you still have to prove yourself,” Clabaugh noted. “There are performers who have been doing this for years, and every performance is an opportunity to show that you belong.”
The Jefferson County school board is expected to approve the sale of three surplus properties in November, netting close to $9 million. The properties — Glennon Heights, Vivian and Thompson Elementary Schools — are slated to be sold following a process driven by extensive public input and collaboration with advisory committees, according to Jeffco Public Schools Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gatlin. The district’s Property Disposition Advisory Committee and ad hoc members specific to each property’s surrounding neighborhood spent months gathering community input to guide the sales process. Gatlin the top priorities included neighborhood compatibility, minimal disruption from new developments, facility reuse and the preservation of green spaces. “I want to express a warm message of gratitude to the community members who served on our Property Disposition Advisory Committee, including those who were the ad hoc members,” said Superintendent Tracy Dorland. “I believe they provided great representation of the immediate community’s interests and concerns as we work through this process.” Dorland said she believed that the open, collaborative process with the community has helped build trust with those invested in what happens to the closed school sites. Property sales recommendations The Property Disposition Advisory Committee, which includes ad-hoc members from each affected community, unanimously recommended the following: • Glennon Heights: Allow Jacob Academy, an early childhood care provider, to purchase the building and surrounding property for $3 million.
SEE JOURNEY, P2
SEE SALE, P6
WESTMINSTER Clabaugh performs a ticked called the hippodrome.
Cortney Clabaugh’s high-flying trick-riding journey BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Cortney Clabaugh isn’t your average 21-year-old from Lakewood. While many college students juggle classes and parttime jobs, Clabaugh splits her time between earning a Business Management degree at the University of Colorado Denver and captivating rodeo audiences with her adrenaline-pumping trick-riding performances. Clabaugh, who graduated from Green Mountain High School, discovered the world of trick riding (think gymnastics on a horse) at age 12. “Growing up, I was drawn to gymnastics, and when I saw trick riding, it’s kind of like the perfect blend of gymnastics and
MINSTER
horseback riding, which were two things that I loved,” she said. She started learning how to trick ride with the Westernaires, a youth equestrian organization, where she spent a decade honing her craft before deciding to go solo. “I knew that it was something that I wanted to do at a higher level. I just didn’t know really where to start,” she said. Trick riding isn’t for the faint of heart. “You’re essentially hanging off your horse at high speeds,” Clabaugh explained. The sport requires immense trust and communication between rider and horse. “You and your horse are a team,” she continued. “If either of you is off, it can get dangerous quickly. It takes a lot of time and effort to get to the higher level.” For Clabaugh, becoming a professional meant aiming for her Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association card, a coveted credential that’s no small feat to obtain. The journey to earn a PRCA card starts with
WINDOW
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 12 | CALENDAR: 15
WINDOW COURTESY OF CORTNEY CLABAUGH
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