Lakewood local

Local Lakewood posts.

By Charley Able • April 8th, 2011

Former AHS coach Wesley Specht could face as many a six felony counts when the District Attorney files formal charges. Specht remains in Jefferson County Jail in lieu of bond. Lakewood Police urge anyone with information or the suspect about the cases to contact them.

City of Lakewood, Denver Urban Gardens and local volunteers create community garden area in western Lakewood. Aspiring gardeners can register on-line. The cost is $30 plus a $30 refundable deposit.

County Commissioners table plans to purchase proposed relocation sites and sell other properties, including New York Building in Lakewood, as they scale back Capital Improvement projects. Move signals new direction in county policy.

Jeffco family’s frogs-in-winter video takes first place in nationwide contest, topping more than 180 other 30-second videos submitted in Primrose Schools’ Family Danceoff contest. Their win means $30,000 for Children’s Hospital and $5,000 for the family.

Firefighters achieve containment of wildfire that burned with a mile of Golden city limits. Investigators continue seeking information about anything or anyone that caused suspicion in the fire area on March 20. More than 400 firefighters were marshaled to fight the blaze, which scorched more than 1,500 acres. U.S. Highway 6, which was closed for days because of the fire, reopened Friday afternoon.

Summit Ridge Middle School’s message lacks a little something. Photo Courtesy Lisa Rizzo

Ann Crall could get as much as 15 years in prison when she is sentenced next month. The Highlands Ranch woman admitted she took nearly $60,000 under the pretext of needing the money to pay for costly cancer treatment and related expenses.

If the School Board approves, cuts would suspend Outdoor Lab program, close two elementary schools, eliminate 212 full-time jobs and reduce the number of days teachers work. The plan also would impose a transportation fee for students who ride school buses and increase athletic fees.

Former Alaska governor and Republican’s 2008 VP candidate will speak at Colorado Christian University’s “Tribute to the Troops with Sarah Palin” at the school’s Events Center in May. The event coincides with the first televised debate among GOP presidential hopefuls.

Grand Jury indictment accuses suspect of “fraudulently” soliciting $1.7 million from friends, acquaintances and coworkers over a 20-month period, repaying less than 5 percent of it. He is due in court next week.

Odom, a Golden resident, will serve the remaining two years of McCasky’s term after the county Republicans’ Vacancy Committee selected the small businessman from a field of nearly 20 applicants to represent Commissioner District 2.

LHA project is expected to provide up to 176 mixed-income units in three multi-story buildings at 6150 West 13th Avenue, fronting the light-rail line. Neighbors raised concerns over the increased residential density of the project as well as its effects on community safety and property values.

Team wins all-expense trip to New York to compete in International Public Policy Forum debates. The April competition carries a $10,000 grand prize for the team that emerges as the best from the original field of 340 entrants.

Marc P. O’Leary remains jailed on $5 million cash bond as a suspect in Golden, Westminster attacks after his weekend arrest. Other metro-area agencies, including Lakewood, are looking at O’Leary in other similar crimes.

Council expects to conduct a public hearing on proposed changes in April, well in advance of a state-mandated deadline of July 1. The proposal could cap the number of medical marijuana centers within the city and ban further commercial growing operations.

Police identify victim as Karen Marie Esquibel, 48. Detectives believe the victim, who was found unconscious at the Highland Square Apartment complex early Thursday morning, died of exposure.

Christine Sylvester admitted using her job as a billing clerk for the RV dealer in a scheme to divert funds from recreational vehicle transactions to pay for such things as vehicles, jewelry and vacations before an internal audit uncovered the plot.

Jeffco’s administrative offices re-opened Monday after cleanup crews worked through the weekend to mop up the water damage and make repairs. The leak apparently originated in a structure atop the county building.