BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT CAUGHT: At around 2:45 p.m. yesterday afternoon, an off-duty cop apprehended a person suspected of robbing Premier Bank, 1630 Stout St., according to the Denver Police Department (DPD). The suspect allegedly walked into the bank, passed a note demanding money and received the money. The police officer realized what was going on and caught the suspect in an alley behind the bank, according to DPD.
MANY TASTERS: Approximately 525,000 people showed up to last weekend’s A Taste of Colorado, according to the Downtown Denver Partnership. Attendees consumed a total of 40,000 ribs, 50,000 ears of corn, 15,000 tortillas and 3,000 pounds of pizza dough. Yum.
CHSAA COMMISSIONER TO RETIRE: Dr. William Reader, commissioner for the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) for the past eight years, announced yesterday that he will retire at the end of the current school year. Prior to joining CHSAA, Reader served two years as athletic director and assistant principal at Englewood High School.
DISTRACTED DRIVERS: As kids head back to school, new research from Safe Kids USA shows that one out of every six drivers in school zones is distracted. Use of electronics (such as cell phones, PDAs and smartphones) was the leading category of distraction while driving at 9.8 percent. This is a 2.5 percent higher than a 2008 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey that showed a rate of 7.3 percent. Other distraction observed were eating, smoking, reaching behind, grooming and reading. The study also found that unbelted drivers are 34 percent more likely to be distracted than belted drivers, afternoon drivers are 22 percent more likely to be distracted than morning drivers, and females are 21 percent more likely to be distracted than males. The study, “Characteristics of Distracted Drivers in School Zones: A National Report,” consisted of more than 40,000 observational road-side surveys conducted by local Safe Kids researchers in 20 locations across the United States. Safe Kids Denver Metro was one of 20 coalitions that participated in this national study, making 3,325 observations near Ken Caryl Middle School. In Littleton, the findings were different from the national results with a higher rate of distracted drivers (19.8 per 100 vehicles) as compared to 17.0 for the whole study group. Drivers in Littleton had lower cell phone use rate but higher eating/drinking/smoking and reaching/looking behind behaviors then the national results. For more information about the new report on distracted drivers, tips for drivers and pedestrians or background on the Walk This Way program, visit www.usa.safekids.org/wtw
ART SHOW: The Zimbabwe AIDS Treatment Assistance Project will hold its fifth anniversary art show in the Hirschfield Gallery at the Women’s College at the University of Denver, The Chambers Center for the Advancement of Women, 1901 E. Asbury Ave., through Oct. 31. Spectacular Zimbabwe artwork and Chapungu sculpture will be on display and available for sale by contacting email@zataproject.org. The artwork includes bright, colorful and professionally framed paintings from prominent Zimbabwean artists, such as Mind Shana, Zacharia Mukwira, Pamela Tapfumanfyi, Peter Kwangware, Justin Gope and Charles Nkomo.
‘TORTURE FREE MEETINGS’: Lauri Osborne and CJ Juleff will present the Leadership Workshop “Torture Free Meetings” from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce offices at 1624 Market St., Suite 340. The workshop is $20 for members, $25 for non-members and walk-ins. Attendees can register online at www.cwcc.org. Osborne and Juleff want to help solve the common problems businesses have when hosting meetings, including meetings that never seem to end; having to hold a hallway meeting after the “real” meeting to figure out what just happened; and how to run a meeting that does not waste time or resources. During this workshop, participants will learn proven techniques to plan and facilitate productive meetings that get results and actually getting out on time.
PUBLIC HEARING: A public hearing will be held today about general planning concepts being envisioned for the River South Greenway Master Plan. The objective of the River South Greenway Master Plan is to generate a park, recreation and open space plan that sets a vision for the South Platte River and creates development, financial and regulatory guidelines for parkland along the river between 20th Street to the Denver-Englewood/Sheridan city limits on the south. The meeting will be held tonight from 7-9 p.m. at Overland Golf Course, 1801 South Huron St. For more information, contact Jeff Shoemaker, 303-818-8078.
ALPINE WASTE & RECYCLING HONORED: The health department has named Alpine Waste & Recycling to the bronze level of its Environmental Leadership Program. The award recognizes members that voluntarily go beyond compliance with state and federal regulations and are committed to continual environmental improvement. Alpine is the Denver area’s largest privately held waste-hauling and recycling company, and it has reaped numerous environmental recognitions from various groups and agencies in recent months, including the “Outstanding Business” award from the Colorado Association for Recycling.
CAREER AND RESOURCE FAIR: Today, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment will partner with six metro area Workforce Centers to produce an event for job seekers at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St. The three E’s in the title refer to the three components that will lead Colorado back to economic recovery: education, economic growth and employment. The E3 Career and Resource Fair brings together education and training providers, businesses and governmental entities, all working together for Colorado’s success in the year ahead. A variety of workshops will be offered during the day and Workforce Center staff will be on hand to talk about the many free services they can provide, answer questions and provide résumé advice and assistance. Among the many other service providers on hand will be representatives from higher education who can help individuals set a course of action to put new careers within reach. And at the heart of the event are many job opportunities. More information about this free event is available online at www.coworkforce.com/e3. Job seekers should register for the E3 Career and Resource Fair and that can also be done quickly online. The fair will be in full swing from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
CHERRY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL COMES THROUGH FOR JERRY’S KIDS: Students from Cherry Creek High School in Denver appeared on the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s 44th annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon this past weekend. Stacy Michas, Alex Givan and Evan Barrett were recognized by DECA National President Ryan Dyck for the high school’s fundraising efforts for MDA and the trio having won DECA’s National Community Service competition. For more information on MDA fundraising programs, visit mda.org/help/natevents.html.
TRENKA TO BE PRESIDENT OF DENVER BOARD OF REALTORS: Mark Trenka of Trenka & Associates, Inc., will be installed as president of the Denver Board of Realtors (DBR) during the association’s 121st Inaugural at Coors Field Sept. 11. An active DBR board member since 2004, Trenka will serve a one-year term leading the oldest real estate trade association in Colorado, representing more than 3,400 members. Formed as a family business in 1995, Trenka & Associates concentrates its real estate practice on the downtown Denver market, having completed the successful conversion of Brooks Tower to condominiums and lofts in the late 1990’s as one of its premier projects. Under Mark Trenka’s leadership, the company, which he has managed since 2004, has seen steady growth and increased profitability. DBR has selected fourth generation Realtor Justin Knoll of Coldwell Banker Residential to a one year term as president-elect. Roberts will continue to serve the association as member of the board of directors and as immediate past president.
PRESERVATION: Colorado Preservation, Inc. announced yesterday that the state of Colorado has been chosen as the incubator for a new preservation initiative modeled after community service programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps and Peace Corps. The U.S. Forest Service and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado are launching HistoriCorps, a public-private partnership that will engage a network of volunteers and professionals to preserve and rehabilitate historic places.
