Transcript Wheat Ridge 3/21/13
Wheat Ridge
March 21, 2013
50 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwheatridgenews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 29, Issue 39
More gun bills reach governor Background checks, magazine limits await signature By Vic Vela vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Two more gun bills await Gov. John Hickenlooper’s signature, following another week of polarized debate on firearm-related legislation in the General Assembly. A bill that would put in place universal background checks on gun sales and transfers has now cleared the General Assembly, after getting one last round of debate in both the House and Senate on March 15.
House Bill 1229 had previously passed both chambers, but lawmakers had to take up the bill again to deal with some minor amendments. Earlier in the week, on March 13, the House also passed House Bill 1224, which limits high-capacity ammunition magazines to 15 rounds. That bill had already passed the House last month, but lawmakers in the lower chamber had to vote on the legislation again in order to deal with amendments from the Senate. As was the case with earlier votes on these bills, debate was lengthy and at times emotional. Democrats continued to make the argument that background checks and
magazine limits must be put in place to prevent more criminals from terrorizing a state that is no stranger to mass shootings. And Republicans argued at length that the bills would do nothing to further community safety and would only make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights. The same Democratic lawmakers who voted against the bills did so again last week. Reps. Ed Vigil of Fort Garland, Steve Lebsock of Thornton and Leroy Garcia of Pueblo all voted against putting in place magazine limits. Vigil also voted against the background checks bill, along with Sen. Lois Tochtrop of Thornton. All Republicans voted against
me why I’m bald.” Wheat Ridge Police Crime Prevention Sgt. Kevin Armstrong hosted a St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event on March 16 for the sixth year to raise money in support of childhood cancer research. This year was the second time the event was hosted at Amici’s. “It’s a cause I believe in,” Armstrong said. “Shaving my head is a small sacrifice when it comes to poor kids suffering from cancer.”
Armstrong joined about 20 people in shaving their heads Saturday to raise awareness of childhood cancer. The event raised about $5,000 for the St. Baldrick’s foundation, which grants money to fund childhood cancer research. Though the money raised goes to St. Baldrick’s, Saturday’s event had a special guest of honor — 6-year-old Aiden Zeibeck, a neighbor of Armstrong’s in Gilpin County. “It’s kind of special to be here,” said Crystal Zeibeck, Aiden’s mother. “It’s a little overwhelming to see so much support.” Aiden was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in May 2012. Rhabdomyosarcoma is cancerous tumors on the muscles attached to the bones. “It was scary,” Zeibeck said. “He had five months of chemotherapy and now he’s been in remission for six months.” Zeibeck said it was great to see so many people out to support childhood cancer research. “I didn’t really know about St. Baldrick’s before, but once I found out I thought it was great,” she said. “It’s awesome to see so many people help fund research and find a cure.” Wheat Ridge firefighters and police officers joined Armstrong in shaving their heads as well as adult cancer survivors, including several women who proudly shaved their heads in support of children facing serious illness. Arvada resident Stacey Lister faced her own battle with breast cancer and has been cancer-free for three years and was at the event to get her head shaved. “I think (St. Baldrick’s) is great,” Lister said. “The more I read about it and the lack of funding for childhood cancer, it’s something really needed to help kids have a chance.” Every three minutes parents around the
both measures. House Bills 1224 and 1229 join the previously passed House Bill 1228 — which requires that gun buyers pay for their own background checks — as three major pieces of Democratic-sponsored gun-control legislation that have now reached Hickenlooper’s desk. The governor is expected to sign all three bills into law. Two other gun-control bills continue to work their way through the legislature: Senate Bill 195, which bans exclusive online training for those seeking concealed handgun permits; and Senate Bill 197, which would prohibit domestic-violence offenders from having access to guns.
St. Patrick’s Day cancer cause quite the buzz Wheat Ridge police officer, residents raise $5,000 in support of St. Baldrick’s By Sara Van Cleve
svancleve@ourcoloradonews.com While most people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the tradition of wearing green, a Wheat Ridge officer has started a new tradition of instead wearing a pin that says “Ask
Three-year breast cancer survivor Stacey Lister of Arvada has her head shaved for the first time in support of St. Baldrick’s childhood cancer research foundation.
Aiden Zeibeck, 6, was the sponsored child of a St. Baldrick’s head shaving event March 16 at Amici’s, 4300 Wadsworth Blvd. Zeibeck was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a tumor of the muscles attached to the bone, in May of 2012. After five months of chemotherapy, he has now been in remission for six months. Photos by Sara Van Cleve world are told their child has cancer, Armstrong said, which totals 175,200 children per year. “A lot of money goes to adulthood cancer research, but not nearly as much goes to childhood cancer research,” Armstrong said. “It’s great to see so many people give donations and get their heads shaved.” Armstrong said he plans to continue to host St. Baldrick’s events near St. Patrick’s Day in the coming years to continue to support childhood cancer research.
New park concept unveiled for site at 44th, Kendall Design features playgrounds, fields, picnic areas By Sara Van Cleve
svancleve@ourcoloradonews. com A master plan for new park near 44th Avenue and Kendall Street has been created 15 years after the city acquired the land.
A 2.5 acre site located north of 44th near Kendall was acquired in 1998 to build a neighborhood park, as outlined in the City of Wheat Ridge Park and Recreation Department Master Plan. According to the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Depart-
POSTAL ADDRESS
ment, the project is being funded through the Conservation Trust Fund’s lottery proceeds and Wheat Ridge’s share of Jefferson County Open Space tax. Additional funding of $211,000 has been provided through an open space grant. The park is budgeted to cost about $800,000. After two public meetings where design consultant DHM Design gathered citizens’ input on what they would like to see in the park, DHM unveiled a master plan for the yet-to-be-named park. “We’re excited about this plan,” Bill Neumann, a principal with DHM Design said. “We think it incorporates a lot of the comments that folks had.” The concept was presented to the public on March 13 during a public meeting; the plan still has
to be approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council. The Parks and Recreation Commission was presented with the plans on Wednesday, March 20, and council will hear the proposition on Monday, April 1. The plan presented to the public features a figure-eight like sidewalk — the outer loop of which is 900 feet long — and a number of recreational amenities. The proposed park would feature two playgrounds — one primary for younger children and one intermediate for older children. The details of what each playground will look like have not yet been determined though, Neumann said. The plan also outlines two picnic shelters as well as a few picnic
tables that are not under shade. In the public meetings, many residents said they thought two shelters would be better than one to allow guests some privacy while using them. The park would also feature two grassy areas with berming to allow picnic seating and flat areas to allow play as well as a half-court basketball court with two hoops. Two parking lots are also included in the design — one off West 44th Avenue and one off West 44th Place. Pedestrians and Park continues on Page 25
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.