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January 2, 2020
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Trail attack survivor continues to fight Fire rescue personnel stand watch at the casket of former South Metro Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Troy Jackson Dec. 20 at Denver First Church Of The Nazarene in Cherry Hills Village. ELLIS ARNOLD
BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
‘So long to our Superman’ South Metro Fire’s Troy Jackson was known to make others laugh BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After a 6 1/2-year battle with cancer, Troy Jackson called on South Metro Fire Rescue Chief Bob Baker
and another high-level member of the agency to talk the afternoon before he died. And, in his trademark humor, he said: “Missed it by that much.” That was Troy. Jackson Baker told that story on stage at the memorial service Dec. 20 for Jackson, a former South Metro assistant chief of operations who died at age 51 after fighting
Vanessa Ursini says she still battles trauma; man sentenced to 90 years to life
a rare job-related terminal cancer. But the years of illness couldn’t shake the man who became an inspirational figure in the fire agency, remembered as steadfastly moral and always willing to help. Some words loved ones used to describe Jackson: Superman. He had a childlike grin. Christ-follower. Softball co-coach. “Troy laid many bricks in South Metro’s foundation,” Baker said.
Vanessa Ursini is still fighting. Nearly a year and a half after Ursini, 30, fought off a brutal attack by Johnny Dewayne Harris in the woods next to the Mary Carter Greenway trail in Littleton, she stood near him in court at his sentencing, describing in heartbreaking terms the battle she’s still waging. Since the day Harris threw a rope around her neck, dragged her into the woods, stripped off her clothes and hogtied her, Ursini said her life has been upended.
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INSIDE: VOICES PAGE 8 | CALENDAR PAGE 10 | SPORTS PAGE 11