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Local News

  • Courier attorney: Access to county commissioners' e-mails falls short

    An online system that displays e-mails among the three Jeffco commissioners — created after the Courier confronted the commission over an apparent violation of the state Open Meetings Law — has been used just once.

    And, according to First Amendment attorney Chris Beall, the system still doesn’t bring the commissioners into full compliance with the law.

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  • Conifer and Evergreen libraries safe from budget cuts for now

    The Jeffco Public Library system stands to lose about $1.5 million in revenue next year, as county officials anticipate diverting 0.2 mills of the current library levy toward human services programs.

    Despite the expected loss, the library is not planning to close any locations or cut staff positions.

    Bethany Frisbie, promotions and marketing manager for the Jefferson County Library System, said libraries in Conifer and Evergreen are safe from closure for now.

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  • Playing-field fees to increase by $6 per person per season

    There will be a 40 percent increase, from $15 to $21, in the per-player fee for youth football, soccer, baseball, lacrosse and activities for the park district playing fields.

    The Evergreen Park and Recreation District board voted Nov. 18 against a series of gradual increases to $30 in 2013 and agreed to revisit the fee-increase policy by the end of the first quarter of 2010.

    The board rejected the idea of charging teams $45 per hour to use the synthetic turf fields, at least for the time being.

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  • Fire board undecided on cost-of-living adjustment for 2010

    The board of the Evergreen fire district has postponed until Dec. 8 a decision on whether to change or eliminate the cost-of-living raise included in the draft of the 2010 budget.

    Evergreen Fire/Rescue consists of 32 full-time and four part-time employees. There are also about 80 unpaid volunteer firefighters. The paid staff has received a 3.5 percent cost-of-living increase for the last two years.

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  • Wulf Rec Center to hold grand reopening to showcase expanded weight room

    Wulf Recreation Center is holding a grand reopening on Saturday, Nov. 21, to celebrate the remodeling and expansion of the old weight room and other improvements to the building on South Olive Road near Evergreen High School.

    From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors of all ages are invited to partake of activities, balloons, music, arts and crafts, and food and beverages. The day-care center is offering a one-hour-free deal, and there will be several free classes and demonstrations during the day. A ribbon-cutting will kick off the festivities at 9 a.m.

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  • Park district plans hearing Nov. 18 on field use fees

    The Evergreen Park and Recreation District will hold a special meeting and continuation of the budget discussion on Nov. 18 at the Evergreen Lake House to discuss the topic of field use fees and other matters.

    A regularly scheduled meeting of the board was held Nov. 17, but field usage fees were not discussed at that meeting.

    Public comment will be accepted under the budget discussion.

    The board expects to review and approve the entire budget at a special board meeting Dec. 11.

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  • Fire district to weigh wage increases at upcoming meeting

    The board posted notice of a special meeting at 3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20 at the fire department headquarters, 1802 Bergen Parkway. The budget approval date was pushed back to the next regular board meeting, 7 p.m. Dec. 8.

    The board is weighing whether a 3.5 percent cost-of-living increase for paid fire department staffers is justified given the economy. The Consumer Price Index in the first half of 2009 was negative 0.6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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  • Jeffco sets free H1N1 clinics for high-risk residents

    Long lines are expected, and attendees are advised to dress for the weather and be prepared to wait outside.

    The event is only for people at highest risk for developing complications from influenza.

    The vaccinations are for those who are unable to access H1N1 vaccine through their health care provider or who do not have a health care provider.

    The department asks that, due to limited supplies of vaccine initially in the state, only people in the priority category attend clinics. When more vaccine arrives, more clinics will be scheduled.

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  • Berry case will proceed

    Jefferson County District Judge Tamara Russell ruled in favor of proceeding in the case against the Evergreen couple accused of securities fraud after a two-hour preliminary hearing Nov. 12.

    The state of Colorado has charged Anne Wakeford Berry, 48, and her husband, Kenneth Gerald Berry, 66, with multiple counts of securities fraud in connection with their company, Biotech Information Systems Inc., which was incorporated in Nevada in June 2005.

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  • Marijuana counseling office opening downtown

    Medical marijuana dispensaries are popping up all over the Denver area, but there are none operating overtly in unincorporated Jefferson County.

    “The zoning resolution doesn’t allow them anywhere,” said Kathy Hartman, county commissioner for District 3, which covers the mountains.

    “It would require a change of the zoning resolution, and we are not moving in any hurry,” Hartman said. “I would like for Jeffco to wait. I don’t want to be in a position of changing zoning while the state law is in flux.”

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