Sentinel
LAKEWOOD 3/14/13
Lakewood
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 89, Issue 31
March 14, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlakewoodnews.com
Pollution study examines Bear Creek Group working to ensure water cleanliness By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com The pollution in a six-mile stretch of water of lower Bear Creek from Bear Creek Reservoir to the confluence with the South Platte River is being investigated by scientists and residents, with the aim of finding a solution to the problem. The stretch has been been named on Colorado’s list of polluted waters because of elevated levels of E. Coli, a bacteria excreted
Jeffco schools alter district boundaries
by animals, according to information provided by the city of Lakewood. Using funds from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the nonprofit organization Groundwork Denver will work to come up with a watershed plan for lower Bear Creek, said program manager with Groundwork, Rachel Hansgen. “The nature of watershed plans are to be very thoughtful and comprehensive when looking at pollution and how to change it,” she said. “We want to look for an option that is financially feasible and easily implementable.” Hangsen said it is important to find a way to give water more time to get clean before it gets to the South Platte.
Getting public input and making sure the entire process is as transparent as possible is a key part of the work Groundwork is doing, and a steering committee has already been established, and by April there will be a stakeholder group as well. “We want to be very thoughtful about who the neighbors are that have an interest in this,” Hansgen said. “The steering committee is made up of seven members, and we tried to bring together people who have experience with the land.” Shakti, who also serves on the Advisory Commission for an Inclusive Community, is on the steering committee, and though its first meeting isn’t until March 19, said she is looking forward to working with the combi-
nation of community people and experts in the field. “I think the first thing we’re going to be doing is understanding the scientific issues that are here, then we’ll want to get community input, and then take all that and find a way to solve the issue,” she said. “I’m glad that the community is involved in how we want our environment to be.” Hangsen also said that educating and engaging the community is important, and that everyone who has something to say should have the chance. Groundwork will be hosting a free event in June called Fair on the Bear that will help to celebrate why its so important to have clean water.
BEYOND THE WARZONE
By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com By 3-2 vote, the Jefferson County School District’s Board of Education changed district lines. Board members Laura Boggs and Paula Noonan voted against the redistricting, saying they did not approve with how the new lines bisected some school articulation areas. The vote came during the board’s March 7 meeting, and alters the board district lines that were established in 2003. State law requires school districts to update district lines at least every four years. The state statute reads: Director districts shall be contiguous, compact, and as nearly equal in population as possible. Board members are elected by all members of the school district, but represent a specific section of the district. The version of the new boundaries was reviewed at the board’s Feb. 28 meeting. Among the larger changes, District 5 now extends west to take in Morrison in exchange for more of Littleton to go to District 2, along the western side of C-470. District 3 also gained the Pleasant View and Denver West neighborhoods near Golden. In the new population distribution, District 5 would have the least population,105,656; while the smallest geographic district, District 4, would represent the most people, 109,434.
New districts
District One: Treasurer Robin Johnson, representing Westminster and Broomfield. District Two: Second Vice President Laura Boggs, representing Evergreen and Conifer. District Three: Secretary Jill Fellman, representing Arvada and Wheat Ridge. District Four: Board President Lesley Dahlkemper, representing Lakewood. District Five: First Vice President Paula Noonan representing the Morrison and Littleton area. Population of 105,656.
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Army Spec. Cody Jones, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008-09 sits with girlfriend Sondra Welsh. The 12 Topics in 12 Weeks story features a look at challenges after returning from deployment. See Page 19. Photo by Andy Carpenean
Homicide probe ongoing Police seek assistance with information By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com Lakewood Police are investigating the homicide of Claudia D. Miller, 66, who was found at an office complex at 445 Union Blvd. on March 5. Miller was an attorney and had a family law practice in the building. Warren Dale Watson, 52, has been named as person of interest in the case, as he was found on video using Miller’s credit cards. Watson was arrested in Caldwell, Idaho, on March 8 on an outstanding unrelated warrant for a parole violation. Watson has not been charged in relation to the incident, and is in the Canyon County Detention Center in Caldwell on a no-bond hold. Police responded to a call at 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, about a deceased woman in the office building. A cleaning crew had found the body and notified the police.
Cause of death has not yet been released, but information from the Lakewood Police states there was trauma to the victim’s body. Detectives also believe Miller’s car was taken from the crime scene. The black 2012 Honda Accord has been recovered from a north Denver location. The car has been impounded and will be processed for any evidence that there may be in the car.
Theft committed in same building
Police are investigating a second crime that happened at 445 Union Blvd., in a different office suite, on March 5, though police currently do not believe it is related to the homicide of Miller. The police are seeking help in finding the suspect to confirm that there is no connection. A wallet was stolen out of an office, and credit cards from that wallet were used a several different locations. Video footage from those locations show a white male in his 20s wearing blue jeans, a dark shirt, and a burgundy coat with dark sleeves, using some of the credit cards. The video also shows the suspect using a fourdoor sedan, similar to a late ‘90s or early
2000 Toyota Camry. Anyone who feels they may have information that would assist the police in their investigations should call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. There may be a $2,000 reward.
Building owners respond
Dovetail solutions, the 445 Union Blvd. building owners, released a statement on March 8, in response to Miller’s homicide. “On behalf of the owners of this building, we want to tell the family and friends of Claudia Miller that our thoughts and prayers are with them. Claudia was a wellrespected lawyer who was beloved by all who knew her. We take the safety and security of our tenants very seriously, and our property has a long track record of being a safe facility. We learned today there has been a person arrested in connection with this case. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and will provide whatever information they need at a moment’s notice. As well, we would like to thank the Lakewood community for the support it has shown during this difficult time.”