North Jeffco
Westsider
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 46
November 23, 2012 A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Officers, citizens honored by sheriff By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com It was a fitting day for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department to recognize the outstanding achievements of the officers, and a few citizens, who went above and beyond the call of duty in 2012. Earlier in the day, Jeffco Sheriff Ted Mink and many of his staff had attended the funeral of Lakewood Police Officer James Davies, who died in the line of duty. “Certainly after an event like that, it’s good to come together, to heal. And we wanted to rise above that tragedy and recognize our citizens and employees who have really done incredible work,” said Mink after the presentation ceremony.
The awards event filled the county hearing room with award recipients, colleagues, and family. Among this year’s honorees were two citizens, and two department deputies who risked their own lives to pull an accident victim out of a flaming vehicle; several deputies who acted quickly to save the lives of suicidal citizens; and one deputy who handled two award-worthy situations in one day. Deputy DA Christian Gardner-Wood was given the Citizen Citation of Merit, and officers Dale Scott and Erik Nethken were given commendations for stopping a county inmate from attacking his public defender with a pen — “in what would otherwise have likely been a serious injury incident,”
according to the award citation. Four officers, David Bruening, Randy Barnes, Jason Hertel and Jerry Chrachol were given the department’s Medal for Valor for their evacuation efforts during the Lower North Fork Fire. The four actually became trapped by the flames and smoke at one point, and waited in a partially burned field until the fire line had passed them by. Then, they continued work on assisting evacuees. Deputy Elias Alberti was on patrol duty along Interstate 70 one day when reports of a Pontiac, traveling over 100 mph with no breaks and a stuck accelerator, came over the radio. The deputy actually moved his car in
front of the runaway vehicle, and used his breaks to eventually stop the car. Later that same day Alberti successfully talked a suicidal individual away from the ledge of a bridge. Other officers and citizens were recognized for excellent work, both heroic, and just helpful, like the bank employee who worked after hours with police to find a missing woman, or the Gavin Prejean, a state-recognized police and fire dispatch trainer. Ending the event were awards for 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service with the department, followed by a few promotions.
Tim Gates is seen through his sculpture “Perplexity” during Sculpture on 73rd Avenue Nov. 10, in the Historic Westminster Arts District. Photos by Andy Carpenean
Sprucing up streetscape
New sculptures on display in city
By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews. com
Seven new sculptures were unveiled in historic Westminster recently as part of the Sculpture on 73rd Avenue program. From a bronze sculpture of a young girl, to a sculpture made
out of pieces of old farm equipment, residents in Westminster are sure to find inspiration in the work displayed in their community. The Sculpture on 73rd Avenue program is sponsored by the South Westminster Arts Group with continued support from the city of Westminster. The art-on-loan program displays the sculptures for one year near the Rodeo Market Community Arts Center in the heart of
Debbie Teter talks about Damian Radice’s sculpture “Play Ball” during Sculpture on 73rd Avenue Nov. 10 at the Historic Westminster Arts District.
Westminster. Debbie Teter, chairperson for SWAG, said the sculptures are also available for purchase by local developers. “If a developer buys one of the sculptures, 20 percent of the purchase goes back to the Rodeo Market Community Arts Center,” she said. “Our hope is to really market this program more aggressively to the developers in the area.” The seven artists who have provided a sculpture for display include Damian Radice, Christopher Hecker, Richard Ferguson, Georgene McGonagle, Sue Quinlans, Tim Gates and Maureen Hearty. Each piece is unique with an interesting story. For Gates, his piece called “Perplexity,” was inspired by a meandering stream in circuitous tranquility. The stream has been a reoccurring theme in his work as a metaphor in life’s journey. “Most of my inspiration is subliminal and I didn’t realize that the colors that I chose reminded me of a butterfly,” he said. “At that point I started exploiting the colors a little bit, using iridescent colors to empathize that.” Gates said he likes to push the boundaries when it comes to the materials he uses. “I tend to used materials you normally wouldn’t think of,” he said. “I’ve been a sculptor for 42
Geogene McGonagle’s sculpture titled “High Hopes II” during Sculpture on 73rd Avenue Saturday Nov. 10 in the Historic Westminster Arts District. years and it has never been easy road, but one I’ve never deviated from.” Ferguson took a straight forward approach with his piece, “Mobious.” The artist created a large version of a Mobious, a two dimensional mathematical shape twisted into three dimensional space. He said he’s always been fascinated by the Mobious shape since he was a little boy and has made many over the years. “This is the biggest one I have ever made, and it took me three weeks just to get the two ends to match up,” he said. “It’s a really clean shape. It really fits in with my personal aesthetic that tends to be kind of stripped down and minimal rather than decorated.” The sculptures will be on display until Nov. 15 and people can find them in the sculpture garden adjacent to the Rodeo Market Community Arts Center, 3915 W. 73rd Ave. For information, visit www. southwestyartsgroup.com or call 303-501-0924.
Richard Ferguson dons a cooper cap while sharing a laugh during Sculpture on 73rd Avenue Saturday Nov. 10 in the Historic Westminster Arts District.
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