fbpx

The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Front Page

  • Adams County Commissioners Hosting Telephone Town Hall Meeting

    Adams County Commissioners Hosting Telephone Town Hall Meeting

     Thousands of residents will have the opportunity to discuss parks, policies, events, and activities with the Adams County Board of Commissioners on Monday, May 16, 6-7 p.m., during a telephone town hall meeting.
    Nearly 10,000 county residents will be called directly to encourage their participation. All residents can dial the toll free number, 1.877.353.4701, if they would like to join the call. Participants can engage commissioners with questions, or just listen to the conversation while taking part in poll questions.
    “A lot has happened in the county since our last telephone town hall meeting and we look forward to engaging our residents on the issues that matter to them,” said Commissioner Steve O’Dorisio. “We know it’s not always convenient for busy families to attend our traditional town hall meetings, so this is a great alternative that allows people to sit in their homes and still contribute to the conversation.”
  • Bennett Middle-Schooler Returns Home

    Bennett Middle-Schooler Returns Home

    A Bennett girl that went missing May 2 returned home May 8.
    Hailey Clark’s disappearance was not considered an abduction or a result of any other foul play. The Adams County Sheriff’s Department said it appeared the girl left home on her own volition.
    According to Adams County Sheriff’s officials, the girl was back at home Sunday.

  • A/D Works! offering Young Adult Industry Academies

    A/D Works! offering Young Adult Industry Academies

    LITTLETON – Finding a job can be difficult and finding a rewarding career can feel like an impossibility, especially for young adults. Luckily, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! is here to help young job seekers.

    The Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center is offering qualifying young adults the opportunity to gain hands on experience through a variety of young adult academies. The academies offer real work experience and leadership training in competitive industries like construction, hospitality and healthcare.

    All participants must qualify for the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act to enroll for the young adult academies. To qualify for WIOA, young adults must be between the ages of 16 – 24, out-of-school and have a barrier to education or employment. Barriers could include pregnancy or parenting, low income, justice involvement, disability and more. Young adults can get qualified for WIOA by calling 303-636-1260 or attending an informational session 2 p.m., Tuesday May 10, 17 or 24, at the Workforce Centers in Centennial and Aurora.

    Young Adult Academies include:

    • Future Tank: Two-week leadership academy, June 5 – 17. Young adults ages 18 – 24 will create marketing and outreach strategies to engage other young adults in services offered by A/D Works!. Academy participants will compete in a “Shark Tank” style competition and the winner will be eligible to receive $250 and have the chance at a paid work experience with a local company.

    • Construction Academy: Four-week boot camp, June 6 – July 1. Young adults over age 17 will learn specialty trades like demolition, siding and concrete and be prepared for immediate employment with Colorado Construction Institute’s industry partners. Participants will earn a $250 stipend, OHSA 10 certification, starter tool kit and referrals upon completion.

    • Healthcare Academy: Three-week pre-apprenticeship program, June 20 – July 8. Young adults interested in a career in healthcare will earn certifications in CPR, BLS, HIPAA, Bloodborne Pathogens and more, tour schools, meet professionals and receive individualized coaching. Participatns will earn a $250 incentive for completing the program.

    • Hospitality Academy: Four-week program, including two weeks of classroom training June 2 – 23 and two weeks of hands on experience. Young adults ages 18 – 24 will explore different pathways with the hospitality industry and receive Restaurant TRAC Server, Guest Service Gold and ServSafe certifications. Participants will earn $250 for passing all tests and complete a paid work experience at a hotel.

    Work experience opportunities are also available for young adults interested in different industries. The work experience program pairs young adults up with a local business to work in a real job setting and earn a paycheck, while being mentored by professionals.

    Qualified young adults can apply for the academy of their choice online at https://fs8.formsite.com/adworks/FutureU/index.html or in person at one of the informational sessions.
    Applications are due for the Hospitality Academy May 24 and for the remaining programs May 31.

    The Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Regional Workforce Center is located at 6974 S. Lima St., Centennial 80112. Workforce Centers also are located in Littleton, Aurora and Castle Rock. For more information on Arapahoe/Douglas Works! and their young adult program Future U, call 303-636-1260, visit the A/D Works! website at www.adworks.org or email .

  • Suspect Identified in Leadville Homicide

    Suspect Identified in Leadville Homicide

     

    LAKEWOOD — A warrant for first-degree murder has been issued for the suspect believed to be involved in the alleged homicide of a Leadville man occurring on May 2, 2016.

     

    Matthew James Haley (DOB: 10/17/1986) is wanted in connection with the stabbing death of Jordan Gausman, an employee at the Silver Dollar Saloon (315 Harrison Ave.) in Leadville, occurring at 11:30 p.m. on Monday night.

     

    Haley is considered armed and dangerous.

     

    Anyone with information about Haley’s whereabouts is asked to call police.

     

    It’s believed an argument between Haley and Gausman turned physical at the bar. Gausman later died from his injuries.

     

    The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Leadville Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office are investigating the incident.
    Matthew James Haley_leadville

  • FREE RIDE ON US 36 EXPRESS LANES FOR CU BOULDER’S GRADUATION ON SATURDAY, MAY 7

    FREE RIDE ON US 36 EXPRESS LANES FOR CU BOULDER’S GRADUATION ON SATURDAY, MAY 7

    Plenary Roads Denver waives tolls to thank commuters and communities along corridor as US 36 project completion draws near – Go Buffs!

    BOULDER — Plenary Roads Denver (PRD) today announced that tolls on US 36 Express Lanes will be waived for University of Colorado’s graduation on Saturday, May 7. This one-time free toll day will be effective from 6-9:30 a.m. in westbound lanes from Federal Boulevard through Foothills Parkway toll points and from 3-6:30 p.m. in eastbound lanes from Foothills Parkway through Federal Boulevard toll points.

    “As we near completion of this multi-modal project, we want to recognize the commuters and community members along the US 36 corridor who have been patient with us during construction. We’d also like to congratulate CU graduates and their family and friends who will be traveling to and from Boulder on graduation day by offering complimentary use of the US 36 Express Lanes,” said Terry Ostrom, PRD Senior Vice President. “We’ve seen many benefits of this project, with commuters now having access to biking, carpooling, transit, Express Lane travel options and reliable travel times, that we are excited to celebrate with our communities in this way.”

    The US 36 Express Lanes Project is a multi-modal, public-private partnership led by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Colorado High Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE), and PRD. The project includes two free general purpose lanes in each direction, one tolled Express Lane in each direction, and a bikeway along the US 36 corridor  – offering users the choice to ride the bus, carpool, bike, use the two free reconstructed general purpose lanes or pay a toll in the Express Lanes.

    HPTE Director and former CU student David Spector said, “I think waived tolls are a great graduation gift to CU graduates and their families. PRD is a new partner with HPTE and the community, and we thank them for doing it. Go Buffs!”

  • Bennett teenager missing

    Bennett teenager missing

    Adams County Sheriff’s deputies are currently searching for a 14-year-old Bennett girl, who is suspected of running away from home either late Monday night, May 2, or early morning May 3.
    Investigators have canvased Bennett Middle School for any information that could lead to finding the girl. Foul play or if the girl was abducted is unlikely.
    “It looks like a situation where the girl left home intentionally and she could be at risk for some bad stuff to happen,” said Adams County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Jim Morgen.
    The girl’s first name is Hailey. Cops did not release the girls last name but they did confirm that a post about her disappearance was posted on Facebook by her mother Judy Clark.
    No other particulars of the case are available but the investigation into Hailey’s whereabouts continues.

  • Search resumes for missing treasure hunter

    by SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN
    Associated Press

    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) _ Authorities on Wednesday resumed the search for a Colorado man who disappeared more than three months ago while hunting for a $2 million cache of gold, jewels and artifacts in a rugged part of New Mexico.

    Officials at Bandelier National Monument confirmed that a search-and-rescue mission was underway in an area of the monument off-limits to the public.

    Bandelier Superintendent Jason Lott declined to provide details but said authorities are encouraging people to stay out of the area, which covers steep slopes and a mass of loose rocks.

    “It’s rugged country and it takes a pretty high level of expertise to work in that area,” he said. “We’re actively pursuing the search and rescue and just ask that others don’t try to engage in this.”

    The search was triggered by the discovery of a backpack last weekend. Authorities wouldn’t say whether it belonged to Randy Bilyeu of Broomfield, Colorado, who disappeared in early January after he set out to raft a portion of the Rio Grande northwest of Santa Fe.

    Bilyeu’s dog and raft were found along the river, but authorities called off the search in mid-January when the trail went cold.

    Bilyeu’s ex-wife, Linda, has been helping to organize volunteers who have spent countless hours hiking along the river and using everything from drones to telephoto lenses and dogs to scan the area for clues.

    There has been only speculation and frustration until last week, when the blue backpack was spotted at the upper end of a scree field near a waterfall at Bandelier. Linda Bilyeu said her ex-husband had a blue backpack.

    It potentially marked the first clue in months.

    Linda Bilyeu and her family have been steadfast, saying they’re not giving up until they find out what happened to the 54-year-old father and grandfather.

    Randy Bilyeu had moved out West to live his dream _ finding the treasure of Santa Fe antiquities dealer and author Forrest Fenn. Thousands have been inspired over the last several years to search for the cache using cryptic clues provided by Fenn in his self-published memoir.

    Like Bilyeu, treasure hunters have scoured remote corners of New Mexico, Yellowstone National Park and other parts of the Rockies in vain for the small bronze chest.

    Fenn believes some 65,000 people have gone looking for the treasure. He said his intent was to get people outside and onto an adventure.

    Family and friends say Bilyeu bought a raft and set out on Jan. 5 after scouting for two weeks along the river west of Santa Fe. He had a GPS device, a wetsuit and waders, and brought along his little dog, Leo.

    More than a week passed before a worried friend reached out to Linda Bilyeu, who filed a missing person’s report on Jan. 14.

    Bilyeu left maps with markings in his car that fellow treasure hunters used in an attempt to narrow their search for him. He also left a sandwich, suggesting that he hadn’t planned to be gone long.

    The community that has formed around the search for Bilyeu shared their support and prayers Wednesday as the search-and-rescue team worked at Bandelier. They were all hopeful for some kind of news.

  • Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday, April 30

    The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office will once again partner with the Drug Enforcement Agency to collect potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. This take-back event is an opportunity for residents to help make their homes safer by disposing of their unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

    The Sheriff’s Office is hosting three collection locations:

    Kaiser Permanente – 5555 E. Arapahoe Road

    Centennial Medical Plaza – 14200 E. Arapahoe Road

    Smoky Hill Library – 5430 S. Biscay Circle

    Collection sites will accept any medications, prescription or over-the-counter, brought in for disposal. Collections sites cannot accept needles or sharps of any kind; mercury thermometers; oxygen containers; chemotherapy drugs or radioactive substances; or pressurized canisters. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.

    Many people are not aware that unused medications in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many people do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medication, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

    For more details, or to find a collection site near you, visit www.dea.gov. If you are unable to get to a collection site, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office has a medication drop box in the lobby of their headquarters at 13101 E. Broncos Parkway in Centennial. The lobby is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

  • 911 Education Open House

    911 Education Open House

     

    If you are trying to plan something fun to do this weekend, join us for our third annual 911 Education Open House from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2016, at the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, 13101 E. Broncos Parkway.

     

    This is a rare opportunity for the community to tour the Arapahoe County Communications Center and meet 911 operators. Children can learn how to call 911 on the 911 simulator telephone, and adults can register for Everbridge Emergency Notifications. It is the fastest way to get the information you need during an emergency.  Of course, no Sheriff’s Office event would be complete without K9 demonstrations!

     

    Complimentary refreshments will be served.

     
  • Arapahoe County Foundation fund for Southview Apartment Fire Victims established

    Arapahoe County Foundation fund for Southview Apartment Fire Victims established

    LITTLETON —  A fund has been established through the Arapahoe County Foundation to assist victims of the Southview Place Towers Apartments fire that occurred on April 6 in the 5800 block of S. Windermere St. More than 130 senior citizens have been displaced by the fire and although all are now in housing, the crisis is far from over and many of the current housing solutions are temporary.

    Residents were informed this week that their leases will be terminated and they will not be able to return to their apartments due to smoke and asbestos damage. Additionally, some residents were told that they must pack and move all of their furnishings and belongings within the next 10 days, and others were told that they could never retrieve their items due to contamination. Many of these seniors have lived here for years and lack the financial resources to cope with this disaster.

    Arapahoe County Commissioners voted to designate approximately $50,000 in grant funding to assist with security deposits and other rental requirements for eligible residents. Arapahoe County Community Resources staff is also working to locate housing options.

    “Our Arapahoe County community has always been generous and willing to give to those in need.” said Board of County Commissioners, Board Chair, Nancy Doty. “These seniors have lost their homes and most of their possessions, and we hope our citizens will join us in helping them during this time.”

    If you wish to contribute to the Southview Apartment Fire Victims Account through the Arapahoe County Foundation, please visit https://www.razoo.com/story/Southview-Towers-Apartment-Fire-Victims-Fund or you can mail a check payable to “Arapahoe County Foundation” to 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120. Please include “Southview Apartment Fire Victims” on the memo line of your check.

    The Foundation is a Colorado non-profit corporation organized as a 501(c)(3) and donors will receive a donation acknowledgement letter for tax purposes. All funding raised will be used exclusively to support the victims of the fire, through needs such as utility deposits, security deposits, moving expenses, initial supplies of food and necessities and other needs.

    A resource center is open daily at 5804 S. Datura St. in Littleton to assist victims and their families. Landlords are encouraged to contact the resource center through Arapahoe County Community Resources if they have affordable units available at 303-738-8040. Citizens can also contact Community Resources with questions or for more information.

    Photo of Southview Place Towers (credit: CBS)