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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

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  • Arapahoe County hiring 300 temporary workers to assist with General Election

    Arapahoe County hiring 300 temporary workers to assist with General Election

    Ballot Security Judges.jpg

    LITTLETON — Arapahoe County is looking to hire 300 paid temporary election workers for the 2016 General Election. Wages start at $12 per hour and paid training is required. Interested candidates can apply now at www.arapahoevotes.com/Apply.

    “Election workers will experience first-hand the excitement of the Presidential Election by assisting voters at one of 25 Voter Service and Polling Centers or by processing ballots at our Elections Facility,” says Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder Matt Crane. “We have a variety of positions to fill and are looking for individuals who like working with people and are proficient with computers or iPads.”

    Bobbie Ainsworth, 65, has served as an election judge since 2014 and anticipates applying to serve as a Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC) Judge for the Nov. 8 General Election.

    “One of my favorite parts of being an election judge is seeing 18 year-olds and new U.S. citizens voting for the first time,” said Ainsworth. “I really enjoy seeing voters– from the youngest to the oldest– taking part in the election process. It’s something that keeps bringing me back year after year.”

    As a VSPC Judge, Ainsworth has worked to verify voter eligibility, register new voters, update voter registration, prepare individuals to cast ballots on paper and electronic touch-screen tablets, and answer questions.

    “I’ve learned a lot about the election process and really enjoy ensuring people can vote,” Ainsworth said.

    Elizabeth Pearson, 22, served as an election judge for the 2016 Primary Election and is now working as a Voter Registration Specialist for the Arapahoe County Elections Division.

    “I recently graduated from college and earned a degree in International Relations. I want to work in the public sector and thought this would be a good opportunity to learn about government. The whole experience has been fantastic, and the people I worked with made the experience really enjoyable,” Pearson said.

    Applicants should be available to attend  training in October, as well as work weekdays and Saturdays, Oct. 17 – Nov. 9, although dates vary by position. Candidates who are computer proficient and/or fluent in Spanish are desired.

    All applicants must apply online, and an email address is required to apply. To review job descriptions and apply, visit www.ArapahoeVotes.com/Apply.

  • Eastbound Arapahoe Road Closed at I-25 Tonight 

    Eastbound Arapahoe Road Closed at I-25 Tonight 

    Greenwood Village — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is closing eastbound Arapahoe Road under Interstate 25 overnight tonight for bridge work. Lane restrictions begin at 7 p.m., with the full closure at 10 p.m.  All lanes will reopen by 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. Westbound Arapahoe Road will remain open.

    All work is weather permitting and subject to change.

    Traffic Detour

    Detour map

     

    The project team reminds motorists to allow extra time for your commute, adhere to speed reductions on I-25 and Arapahoe Road and avoid distractions. Alternate routes are advised. Watch for weekly construction update emails with the most up-to-date information regarding traffic impacts.

    Project Information: This $66 million Responsible Acceleration of Maintenance (RAMP) Project includes building an additional lane along westbound Arapahoe Road from Yosemite Street to Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, providing three left turn lanes from the I-25 off-ramps, realigning the frontage road in the northeast quadrant of the interchange, building noise walls near the Arapahoe Road and Yosemite Street intersection and widening Yosemite Street from Yosemite Circle on the north to Xanthia Street on the south. This project is designed to reduce congestion and improve traffic operations and safety. Substantial completion is slated for summer 2018.

     

     

    For More Information:

    Project website: www.codot.gov/projects/I25-Arapahoe

    Project hotline: (720) 580-2525

    Sign up for project updates by emailing: 

    To receive real-time updates about road conditions in your area, click here

    Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and be sure to “Like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot

     

    Due to ongoing construction activity in this area and nighttime travel impacts, alternative transportation modes are encouraged. For information on the Regional Transportation District’s Southeast Rail Line or local bus services, call 303-299-6000. For information on carpool and vanpool services, call 303-458-7665.

  • Front Range Action Day for Ozone

    Front Range Action Day for Ozone

    The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council have issued an OZONE ACTION DAY ALERT at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2016 for the Front Range Urban Corridor from El Paso County north to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver-Boulder area, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Greeley.

    Increased levels of ozone may occur in the foothills south and west of the Denver metro area due ozone transport from areas outside of the Denver/North Front Range.This Ozone Action Day Alert will remain in effect until at least 4 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2016.

    The highest Ozone related AQI at 1 o’clock PM Mountain Standard Time on July 28, 2016, is 49 which indicates Good ozone air quality. It was recorded by the AURE ambient ozone monitor

    FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST:
    Thursday, July 28, 2016, 2:30 PM MDT

    Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Moderate to possibly Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups rangeon Thursday and Friday. Ozone concentrations in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category may occur in the south and west suburbs of Denver, including the nearby foothills. Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion in those areas from noon until midnight on Thursday and Friday.

    Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Thursday andFriday. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on Thursday andFriday.

    Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Thursday and Friday.

    Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Thursday and Friday.

    Visibility is expected to be Poor on Friday.

    SMOKE FROM OTHER WILDFIRES:
    The 27,893 acre Beaver Creek Wildfire is located in northwestern Jackson County approximately 24 miles northwest of Walden. Increasing west to northwesterly winds are expected at the fire on Thursday which would tend to send smoke to locations east and southeast of the fire. Depending on fire behavior, smoke could impact areas far downwind today including Rocky Mountain National Park and parts of the Front Range region. Light winds are expected at the fire late Thursday night and drainage flow will likely pool smoke, perhaps heavy at times, to northern parts of North Park into Friday morning. This would mainly include the area to the north of the community of Cowdrey to the Wyoming state line.

    Areas of haze and smoke are possible across the Front Range region on Thursday. This is due to northwesterly winds aloft transporting in smoke from the Beaver Creek fire and other wildfires burning in Wyoming.
  • Gov. Hickenlooper to speak at Democratic National Convention

    Gov. Hickenlooper to speak at Democratic National Convention

    DENVER (AP) — Gov. John Hickenlooper is scheduled to speak during prime time on the closing day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

    Hickenlooper tells The Denver Post (http://goo.gl/75hWfk ) he will address convention-goers Thursday evening, not long before Hillary Clinton is expected to deliver her acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination for president. The governor did not say what he would talk about.

    Hickenlooper was considered a potential running mate for Clinton, who ultimately chose U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, of Virginia. Hickenlooper is still seen as a contender for a spot in Clinton’s cabinet if she wins the presidency.

  • CPW marks Colorado Day with free park entrance Aug 1

    CPW marks Colorado Day with free park entrance Aug 1

    • DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife marks Colorado Day, the commemoration of Colorado’s acceptance into statehood, with free park entrance at all 42 state parks, Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.

      “Colorado Day is an opportunity for everyone to get outside and experience the diverse natural beauty and recreational activities that our 42 state parks and 350 state wildlife areas have to offer,” said CPW’s Information and Education Assistant Director, Gary Thorson. “This day is also the agency’s opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to all of our residents and visitors who enjoy our state parks and for their continued support.”

      Colorado was first recognized as a state Aug. 1, 1876. The first addition to the Colorado state park system, Cherry Creek State Park, emerged some fifty-six years later. This Colorado Day, celebrate the statehood of Colorado in nature. Come play all day, watch the sunrise, float a boat, view wildlife, catch fish, ride or hike trails, explore, learn, picnic or climb.

      Most Coloradans live less than 30 minutes from a state park. Go tohttp://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Pages/parkMap.aspx to locate a state park near you and plan a visit to enjoy a variety of recreational activities.

      The state parks, scattered throughout Colorado, showcase the state’s diverse landscapes, including the prairies of the eastern plains at John Martin Reservoir State Park, the alpine beauty of the mountains at Sylvan Lake State Park near Eagle and the unique geological landscapes at Roxborough State Park. Colorado’s rivers at James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park near Grand Junction, the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area in Salida and Yampa River State Park near Craig offer serenity and adventure.  More outdoor fun is waiting at reservoirs at Trinidad Lake State Park, North Sterling State Park, Lathrop State Park near Walsenburg and Navajo State Park near Durango and others. See the 2015 Parks Guide, Park Finder and State Wildlife Area Map for more options.

      Park entrance fees are waived, but activities like fishing and camping will still require a valid license and permit.

  • CDOT Addresses “Killer Habit” in New Campaign

    68 Colorado Traffic Fatalities in 2015 Involved Distracted Drivers

    STATEWIDE — The first step in overcoming any bad habit is admitting you have one. And data suggests Coloradans do in fact have a dangerous habit — distracted driving. Last year in Colorado, 15,574 crashes and 68 traffic fatalities involved distracted drivers. Aiming to reduce distraction on Colorado roadways, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is unveiling a new public safety video and campaign, calling distracted driving exactly what it is — a Killer Habit.

     

    To download the Killer Habit video from the Drop the Distraction campaign, visit bit.ly/CDOTkillerhabit.

     

    “We’re calling on Coloradans to reduce distracted driving and avoid the compulsion to grab their phones while driving. Like any good habit, consistency is key,” said Sam Cole, CDOT Communications Manager. “Start with your next drive — lock your phone away and make it to your destination without once touching your phone. Kicking your distracted driving habit could safe a life.”

     

    Research commissioned by the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction suggests that while 98 percent of national survey respondents know distracted driving is dangerous, nearly 75 percent admit to having done it. Furthermore, a 2015 State Farm report indicates 84 percent of their respondents support measures prohibiting any physical interaction with cell phones.

     

    “There is no safe way to use your cell phone while driving,” said Cole. “We know that more than 15,000 crashes last year involved a distracted driver, but these numbers are likely underreported. Unlike alcohol-impaired driving, there’s no quick test, like a breathalyzer, to tell if someone was distracted at the time of the crash. Some drivers involved in crashes don’t admit they were driving distracted.”

     

    “Similar to alcohol, using a cell phone while driving impairs your ability to react to changing road conditions,” said Col. Scott Hernandez, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Even if you consider yourself an exemplary driver, distracted driving affects your ability to respond to immediate road hazards and other drivers. We’re seeing more and more crashes involving distracted driving.”

     

    CDOT plans to share the Killer Habit video with regional traffic safety partners, and beginning this week, will support the video with out-of-home movie theater ads, online pre-roll video, and Pandora audio, video and digital ads. There will also be spots during traffic updates on local radio calling for Colorado drivers to make it to their destinations without touching their phones.

     

    CDOT’s Drop The Distraction campaign educates motorists about the dangers of distracted driving. For more information about distracted driving in Colorado, visit distraction.codot.gov.

  • Colorado Nonprofits Needed for Book Giveaway Program

    Colorado Nonprofits Needed for Book Giveaway Program

     CA Foundation Seeks Local Groups to Help Distribute Thousands of Children’s Books;
    ‘Launch Into Learning’ Effort Geared to Help Youths Get Ready for School
     
    Local service organizations in the Denver area and elsewhere around the state are needed as distribution partners to help hand out tens of thousands of free children’s storybooks available from The Molina Foundation, a national nonprofit organization based in Long Beach, CA.
    Nonprofit groups, community agencies, public libraries, faith-based charities and health clinics are especially encouraged to apply for the giveaway program that offers new children’s books — including activity/ coloring/study materials — in English and Spanish from a variety of publishers.
    The “Launch Into Learning” program is designed to provide educational resources to help children in Colorado get ready for the return to school and aid families in building home libraries. Books can provide fun and simple opportunities for households to engage together in pleasure reading and other learning activities.
    Organizations interested in receiving books and distributing them to their communities or clients are encouraged to sign up right away — the online application process is easy and takes only a few minutes to complete. Applicants will be reviewed by The Foundation for eligibility.
    The Foundation will make all arrangements to have the books delivered free-of-charge and readied for convenient pick-up at a central location in the Denver area in mid-August.
    The application deadline: 5:00 PM (MDT), MONDAY, AUG. 1, 2016
    For more information about the program, or details on the application process, contact:
    Name:     I’Nella Douglass, Community Outreach Coordinator
    Phone:    310-375-6813
    For general information, go to: www.MolinaFoundation.org
  • Public meeting for Dry Creek Road/ I-25 Interchange & Corridor Study July 28

    Public meeting for Dry Creek Road/ I-25 Interchange & Corridor Study July 28

    Review and provide feedback regarding draft study recommendations

    LITTLETON — Arapahoe County with its partners of the City of Centennial and Southeast Public Improvement District are hosting a public open house for citizens to view alternative screening results and provide feedback regarding the draft study recommendations for the Dry Creek Road and I-25 Interchange and Corridor.

    The goals of the study are to develop a range of improvements to improve regional access, improve mobility and system reliability, improve congestion and safety, maximize existing infrastructure and consider all modes of transportation.

    The public open house is scheduled 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., July 28 at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 8545 E. Dry Creek Road, Centennial, 80112. Interested parties can view displays, learn more and get questions answered by project representatives.

    Graphic displays from the meeting will also be displayed on the project website beginning July 28 for submitting online comments. After input is gathered, study recommendations will be refined and prioritized.

    Visit the project website www.arapahoegov.com/DryCreekStudy for more information.

  • Full closure of 6th Avenue between Del Mar Circle and Potomac Street scheduled for July 19 through July 20

    Traffic will be rerouted to Colfax Avenue

     

    AURORA — Full closure of 6th Avenue between Del Mar Circle and Potomac Street is scheduled for Tuesday, July 19 from 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. and on Wednesday, July 20 from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Overnight work will include the erection of the pedestrian bridge as a part of the State Highway 30 Pedestrian Bridge Replacement project. Traffic will be rerouted to Colfax Avenue.

     

    Motorists can also expect eastbound and westbound single lane closures until Saturday, July 23. Pedestrians are encouraged to use the crosswalks at Del Mar Circle to cross 6th Avenue during the construction period. Flaggers will be directing traffic during single lane closures.

     

    PROJECT BACKGROUND: The State Highway 30 (6th Avenue) Pedestrian Bridge Replacement project began in early summer of 2016 and is scheduled to be completed by August 2016. Work on this project includes replacing the bridge structure with an ADA compliant structure and adding additional sidewalk on the south side of SH 30 from Vaughn Street to Potomac Street in order to improve the existing bus stop and overall pedestrian mobility.

     

    Stay Informed: For more information about this project, please call 720-583-8853 or email . Weekly lane closure information for all state highways is available on www.cotrip.org. Visit the project website at www.codot.gov/projects/sh30atvaughn to sign up for email alerts.

  • Rural Seat Belt Enforcement Begins Today Click It or Ticket Runs July 18-24

    Rural Seat Belt Enforcement Begins Today Click It or Ticket Runs July 18-24

    STATEWIDE — Seat belt usage rates for Colorado rural communities are some of the lowest in the state. In fact, according to a 2015 CDOT survey, three of the five lowest counties for seat belt use in Colorado are rural — Baca (67.1 percent), Delta (70.8 percent) and Montrose (75.5 percent).

    To improve road health in these rural counties, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and local police will conduct a rural Click It or Ticket enforcement period from July 18 to 24. Buckled motorists and passengers reduce their risk of death in traffic crashes by 45 percent.

     

    “CDOT is committed to ensuring all Coloradans are aware of the benefits of seat belts and the severe risks of neglecting them,” said Darrell Lingk, Director of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT. “We hope these enforcements remind rural communities that whatever the excuse may be, there is no acceptable reason for not buckling up.”

     

    To directly reach rural communities, CDOT will be running a targeted social media campaign to encourage seat belt use. The videos in the campaign focus on a simple idea: friends and family tell you to buckle up because they care about your safety — law enforcement does it for the same reason. View and download the videos at bit.ly/CIOTvideos.

     

    In a crash, unbelted passengers can become projectiles and severely injure themselves and other occupants. Unbuckled passengers are also 30 times more likely to be ejected — one of the most lethal outcomes of crashes. Unbelted rear-seat passengers increase the fatality risk for the driver by 137 percent.

     

    Fines for not buckling begin at $65, and parents or caregivers caught with an improperly restrained child will receive a minimum fine of $82.

     

    “Motorists may find citations frustrating, but it’s the best way for our officers to remind unbuckled motorists of the consequences of not wearing a seat belt in a crash,” said Col. Scott Hernandez, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “The intention of the seat belt enforcement is to ensure the well-being of all people on the road. Refusing to buckle up does not just affect you — you also put those around you at risk.”

     

    Colorado Seat Belt Laws

    • Adults — Colorado has a secondary enforcement law for adult drivers and front-seat passengers. Drivers can be ticketed for violating the seat belt law if they are stopped for another traffic violation.
    • Teens— Colorado’s Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) law requires all drivers under 18 and their passengers, no matter what their age, to wear seat belts. This is a primary enforcement, meaning teens can be pulled over simply for not wearing a seat belt or having passengers without seat belts.
    • Children— Colorado’s child passenger safety law is primary enforcement, meaning the driver can be stopped and ticketed if an officer sees an unrestrained or improperly restrained child under age 16 in the vehicle.

     

    In 2014, seat belts saved an estimated 12,802 lives nationwide, including 169 in Colorado. An additional 63 lives could have been saved in Colorado if all unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants five and older involved in fatal crashes had been properly restrained. For more information about seat belt safety and enforcement citation numbers, visit SeatBeltsColorado.com.