Boosting the number of Colorado’s 4-year-olds enrolled in preschool and getting more kindergartners into full-day programs would reduce dropout rates, close achievement gaps and curb many of the problems that can emerge later in a child’s school career, the president of a children’s advocacy group said Monday.
Focusing on the youngest children in school would help those children in the future, said Barbara O’Brien, president of the Colorado Children’s Campaign.
In the 2005 “KidsCount in Colorado!” report released Monday, the organization outlined 20 goals for improving children’s lives.
KidsCount also provides county-by-county data on the percentage of kids who qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch, infant mortality rates, the percentage of English learners and other data, said Kay Boeke, director of research for the campaign.
CENTENNIAL
Sword-wielder in dispute recovering
A woman shot by Arapahoe County sheriff’s deputies after she allegedly attacked them with a sword remained in the hospital Monday.
The suspect, whose name was not released, swung at deputies with a “razor-sharp” 30-inch sword during a disturbance at her home Sunday evening, Sheriff Grayson Robinson said. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Deputies were sent to the woman’s condominium Sunday evening after several callers reported a domestic-violence incident. The deputies forced their way in after hearing an argument and found two women fighting.
The investigation is continuing, Robinson said, and authorities are waiting on the results of toxicology tests performed on the woman.
BOULDER
Crash kills one teen; driver, 17, held
One Boulder teen was killed and another was apprehended by officers after the car they were in hit a tree early Monday.
Tori Reiss, 19, was in the front passenger seat of the silver Lexus that crashed in the 5200 block of Cypress Drive. She died from her injuries, the Boulder County Coroner’s Office said.
Police said the driver, a 17-year-old male, attempted to flee the scene.
MOUNT EVANS
Two spend chilly night before rescue
Two men were rescued near Mount Evans by a snowplow driver early Monday after spending a frigid night camped out in a restroom.
The Denver-area men – identified as Daniel Welle, 36, and Cory Justice, 27 – were found about 9:30 a.m., about 24 hours after they began their attempt to climb the 14,265-foot mountain.
The two men were cold but otherwise unharmed, said Phil Luethy, a mission leader for the Alpine Rescue Team.
LYONS
Tow-truck driver pleads guilty in death
A Lyons man pleaded guilty Monday to stabbing his 65-year- old neighbor to death.
Willis Horn, 42, will face 16 to 40 years in prison in the death of Neal Blattner, who was found dead Nov. 20 in his home in the 300 block of Evans Street.
Horn, a tow-truck driver, reported the killing to police, saying he was checking on a suspected prowler when he found his neighbor dead in his bed. Blattner was stabbed 18 times.
Police said Horn confessed to the killing three days later.
DENVER
Juneteenth fundraising nets more than $38,000
Organizers of the 19th of June Community Celebration in Denver announced Monday that the effort raised $38,575 for its Juneteenth festivities this weekend.
The committee collected monetary and in-kind donations from Washington Mutual, Jammin 92.5 FM, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Urban League of Metropolitan Denver and others.
Juneteenth will be celebrated from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at 2600 Glenarm Place.
