High school friends help fire victim rebuild life

Tuesday, December 25th, 2012, 9:47pm

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. — Less than a week after losing every possession in a devastating apartment fire, a Northglenn woman is thankful for the support of friends who are helping her bounce back.

Sadie Whitworth, who lost her home in a fire on December 19at the Regatta Apartments, is excited to be celebrating Christmas in a brand new apartment with furnishings all donated by strangers and high school classmates.

“The living room set was donated by some really close friends,” said Whitworth while giving KDVR a tour of her new home on Christmas Day..

The fire, which destroyed clothes and Christmas presents, left the single parent in desperate need of help from people who’ve donated items like furniture and gift cards.

On Christmas, Whitworth spent the afternoon with friends, counting her blessings, and promising to pay it forward.

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Fort Lupton and Kersey CNG Stations Open in Weld County

Submitted by Jennifer Finch, Information Specialist, Weld County Office of County Commissioners

Thursday, December 20th, 2012, 5:35pm

Fort Lupton and Kersey CNG Stations Open in Weld County

The total number of public Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations located in Weld County reached four this week with station openings in Fort Lupton and in Kersey.

On Tuesday, December 18, 2012, The North Station, located at 7984 U.S. 85 in Fort Lupton, opened its CNG fueling station. Fort Lupton Mayor Tommy Holton and Councilmember Zo Hubbard attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and fueled Fort Lupton’s first CNG vehicle.

On Thursday, December 20, 2012, Kramer’s Wedge Store, located at 103 Hill St. in Kersey, became the fourth public CNG station in the county. Both stations are owned by Zeit Energy and mark a milestone for the Weld County Smart Energy program.

The other two CNG stations, located in Firestone and Greeley, are owned by SkyBlu.

“With stations now located in Firestone, Fort Lupton, Kersey and Greeley, drivers will be able to fuel with CNG throughout the county,” said Kirkmeyer.

Fort Lupton Mayor Tommy Holton and Fort Lupton City Council Member Zo Hubbard at the opening celebration of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station located at the North Station, 7984 U.S. 85 in Fort Lupton. The station is the third public CNG station to open in Weld County this year.

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Fire ruins holidays for several families at Northglenn apartments

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Wednesday, December 19th, 2012, 7:42pm

NORTHGLENN, Colo. — Just six days before Christmas, an apartment fire forces 15 people out of their homes in Northglenn.

Flames broke out just before 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Regatta Apartments off 104th and Irma Dr.

Northglenn police officers helped evacuate people from 16 units in Building 17.
Fifteen can’t go back.

And for the family where this fire started, it’s a devastating blow, so close to Christmas.

“I had lights in all my windows, a tree up, poinsettias on the table, it was all Christmas-y inside,” says fire victim Sadie Whitworth.

For the single mother, fire played Grinch for her holiday plans.

“I am in shock. I can’t even look at it anymore,” she says of her demolished and charred home.

Gone is her home. Gone are her 11-year-old son’s Christmas presents–one, a pair of Air Jordan shoes.

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Thief posing as Marine stealing Toys for Tots bins

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012, 4:14pm

DENVER – A man posing as a U.S. Marine is stealing Toys for Tots bins across Colorado.

According to the Denver Post, the man identifies himself as Gunnery Sgt. Mix and simply walks up to donation bins and stakes the entire box.

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. David Bull said police were notified Tuesday when he went to pick up a donation box and discovered it was already gone.

The thief is being described as a black man between 40 and 50 years old. As many as six locations from Aurora to Boulder have been hit.

The man wears a Marine uniform when he takes the toys. He does not check-in with the store owners nor show credentials.

The Post reported the thefts are especially worrisome because the Colorado branch of Toys for Tots is still about 45,000 toys short of their goal this year.

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Smartphone apps for more successful weight loss

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012, 11:41am

DENVER — You may want to think twice about leaving your cell phone in your locker when you hit the gym. Research shows taking advantage of fitness apps you can download to your smartphone can keep you slim and trim.

Busy sales representative Angela Toney works out six times a week and uses an app called My Fitness Pal to keep track of how many calories she’s burning as well as how many she’s taking in.

“It is mobile so wherever I am whatever I’m eating I can just put it in right there,” Toney said.

The app is free and also allows you to join a chat room where you can seek support.

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows those who use fitness apps lose about 15 pounds more weight on average, but the key is to combine the app with a human personal trainer.

Matrix Fitness sports and nutrition specialist Emilee Jones said fitness apps can be especially helpful for people just starting a plan.

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Marijuana legalization task force meets for first time Monday

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Monday, December 17th, 2012, 12:25pm

DENVER – The task force formed by Gov. John Hickenlooper to figure out how to mesh Colorado laws with the pot-legalizing Amendment 64 met for the first time Monday.

The Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force met at noon at the Department of Revenue’s building. The meeting was open to the public.

The task force – a group of 24 including marijuana activists, lobbyists, state lawmakers and state officials – will create regulations for the state’s new recreational marijuana industry.

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