A June 1 fire at Weber Elementary School in Arvada caused an estimated $6.5 million in damages, Jefferson County School District officials estimate.
The fire, believed to be the result of arson, caused extensive smoke, fire and water damage to the core of the building, including the library, computer room and classrooms, officials said.
The cleanup began this week with workers removing soot throughout the school, cleaning up water damage, replacing portions of the roof and salvaging 1,600 books in the library.
The district is still determining how long the repairs will take.
Tyler John Newhart, 19, is accused of starting the fire. New hart remains in the custody of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department on $50,000 bail.
Additional local news briefs:
DOUGLAS COUNTY
Water-stranded hikers talked out to safety
Rising waters from a severe thunderstorm stranded four hikers in Castlewood Canyon on Tuesday afternoon. The hikers emerged unharmed from the canyon, east of Castle Rock, after about an hour, as rescue crews gave the hikers directions to walk out safely.
The group of four called 911 about 5 p.m., saying they were stuck in the canyon. They had crossed a creek earlier in the day, said Parker fire spokeswoman Becky O’Guin. But then a thunderstorm dropped several inches of rain in the area, swelling the creek and making the return crossing dangerous.
Rescue crews and firefighters, some with swiftwater rescue training, responded.
Crews from the Franktown Fire Protection District directed the hikers out, O’Guin said.
NORTHEAST COLORADO
Heavy rains, flooding close two highways
Flooding forced the closure of two highways Tuesday in northeastern Colorado, an area which received up to 8.2 inches of rain over two days.
Colorado 23 and U.S. 6 east of Holyoke were closed after heavy rains flooded small creeks and streams, the National Weather Service said.
No injuries were reported and no houses were threatened by the flooding, a Phillips County sheriff’s dispatcher said.
The Weather Service said a spotter reported 8.2 inches of rain in Phillips County. About 7 inches was reported near Amherst, but other areas of the county reported only about 3 inches.
GARFIELD COUNTY
Prisoner found hanged in his cell
A prisoner at the Garfield County Detention Facility committed suicide Monday night, authorities said.
Timothy Schilz Jr., 25, of Parachute, was found hanging in his cell during a security check in the maximum security unit.
Schilz was a pretrial inmate being housed on two contempt-of-court charges and failure to register as a sex offender.
Schilz was not under any suicide or behavioral watch.
WESTERN SLOPE
Salazar, Udall try to delay Roan drilling
Two Colorado congressmen will try this week to delay federal funding for new energy leases on top of the Roan Plateau to give the state and public more time to study the federal management plan and consider alternatives.
Democrats John Salazar and Mark Udall are sponsoring an amendment that says no money in the Interior Department’s appropriations bill could be used to open new oil and gas leases on federal land on the western Colorado landmark.
After seven years of study, hearings and comment from state agencies, the Colorado office of the Bureau of Land Management finalized a plan last week that authorizes up to 1,570 new natural gas wells on and around the Roan Plateau over 20 years.
The House is expected to debate the bill later this week.
CHEYENNE
Seven seeking to fill U.S. Senate vacancy
The number of people who said they wanted to replace Sen. Craig Thomas more than doubled on Tuesday to seven.
Four people told The Associated Press they were entering the race: former state Treasurer Cynthia Lummis, Cheyenne attorney Tom Sansonetti, former Wyoming House Speaker Randall Luthi and Cheyenne attorney Bruce Asay.
On Monday, three stepped up: state Rep. Colin Simpson; former Wyoming U.S. Attorney Matt Mead; and state Sen. John Barrasso, R-Casper.
Republican Thomas died June 4 while undergoing treatment for leukemia. He was 74.
State law gives a state GOP committee until June 20 to submit the names of three nominees to Gov. Dave Freudenthal, who will then have five days to choose Thomas’ successor.
The new senator will be appointed to serve until early 2009. A special election in November 2008 will determine who completes Thomas’ term, which runs through 2012.
LOS ANGELES
Cop-turned-reporter cleared of sex charges
A retired police sergeant-turn ed-TV reporter was acquitted of allegations he inappropriately touched two 12-year-old boys aboard a cruise ship last fall.
A federal jury Monday deliberated for about two hours before finding Roderick “Rod” Bernsen not guilty on two counts of abusive sexual contact with a minor.
“My life will never be the same,” Bernsen said outside court. “I will have to live with the stigma every day of my life.” Prosecutors declined comment.
Bernsen, who now lives in Colorado, was arrested Oct. 7 by FBI agents investigating a complaint by the mother of one of the boys.
Authorities said the boys claimed Bernsen exposed himself and inappropriately touched one boy and slapped the other’s bare buttocks.
He has denied touching the boys or making sexual remarks.
